Hong Kong: Tech chief visits Abu Dhabi Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong and a delegation from the innovation and technology (I&T) industry began their visit to Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. Their morning schedule included a tour of Masdar City, which is a business and research and development hub with a comprehensive ecosystem that drives innovation to realise greener and more sustainable urban living. While there, they were briefed on the innovative design and technology projects of the sustainable urban community. Prof Sun later met Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry Board Member Noor Al Tamimi to discuss forging closer business and trade ties between Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi and strengthening co-operation in areas such as I&T and new industrialisation. Prof Sun pointed out that both Hong Kong and the UAE are leading regional financial and business centres, and have huge potential for co-operation in the area of I&T development. Afterwards, the tech chief visited Hub71 to learn more about how the technology centre supports corporates to innovate and start business, as well as the centre's various programmes and funding support for its member startups. He and his delegation then listened to a presentation about Abu Dhabi's I&T ecosystem and had an exchange with Director General of Abu Dhabi Investment Office Badr Al-Olama, Executive Director of Abu Dhabi Residents Office Hareb Al Mheiri and Executive Director of Industrial Development Bureau Arafat Al Yafei. In the evening, Prof Sun attended a dinner hosted by Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the UAE Zhang Yiming. He introduced to Mr Zhang the latest initiatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to promote the development of I&T and new industrialisation in Hong Kong, which support the high-quality development of the city's economy. Prof Sun concluded the visit and returned to Hong Kong in the evening. This story has been published on: 2024-03-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Military urged to strengthen innovation 08:17, March 08, 2024 By Zhao Lei ( China Daily President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force at the second session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua] President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China's military should improve its strategic capabilities in emerging spheres, during a meeting with lawmakers from the nation's armed forces. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, told national legislators from the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force that strategic capabilities in emerging spheres new frontiers originating from innovation and applications of science and technology are closely related to the country's socioeconomic development, national security and military power, and are of great significance to modernization efforts and national rejuvenation. The CPC Central Committee has called for the accelerated growth of new quality productive forces since the 20th CPC National Congress, and that provides valuable opportunities for the building of strategic capabilities in emerging spheres, Xi said, asking the armed forces to integrate the new quality productive forces and new-type combat power and strengthen their mutual development. The president stressed that the military must prioritize key projects and fully implement related plans. He called for the integrated planning of naval operations, maritime rights protection and the marine economy in order to boost the nation's sea power. He also called for the improvement of the nation's space capabilities and the formation of a cyberspace defense system, which can help to safeguard the country's internet security. Research of intelligent technologies will be given more attention, and such technologies will be further promoted, according to Xi. He said members of the armed forces should be confident in their creative capacities. They should strive to bolster independent innovation and give momentum to new quality productive forces and new-type combat power, he added. Xi said that emerging spheres will be crucial fields when the military deepens its comprehensive reform, calling for a supportive atmosphere and an optimized policy system. He also noted that the defense technology sector should be further reformed to suit the needs of and developments in emerging spheres. Before addressing the uniformed lawmakers, Xi listened to thoughts and suggestions shared by six military deputies who spoke about topics such as maritime awareness capabilities, artificial intelligence and the management and use of space-based assets. There are 271 national legislators from the armed forces attending the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, which opened in Beijing on Tuesday. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) BAGHDAD, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and another wounded in a Turkish airstrike in Duhok province in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region on Friday, a Kurdish security source said. A Turkish aircraft bombed them in the morning when they were collecting herbs in a mountain near their village in the province's Shiladze area, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The Turkish forces often carry out cross-border operations in northern Iraq against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, especially in the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the group. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades. - In contrast to thermal coal production where China keeps on - With Zhao being a committee member at Chinas consultative conference, his calls for limiting output and consolidating smaller coking coal producers into state-owned enterprises might resonate in Beijing. - Zhao Jianze, chairman of Chinas largest coal miner, said the countrys coking coal industry needs state protection to reduce disorderly competition amidst flatlining prices, trending around 1,750 per metric tonne ($240/mt). - Guyana is expected to produce more than 1 million b/d by late 2026, with production further boosted by the 250,000 b/d Yellowtail, 250,000 b/d Uaru and 250,000 b/d Whiptail projects. - Sverdrup differentials soared to multi-dollar premiums at the end of last year as Red Sea disruptions prompted Europe to buy locally, but now the Norwegian grade sells for a -$3 per barrel discount. - With the increasing flow of Guyanese cargoes, Europes own medium sour grade Johan Sverdrup, the largest producing field across the continent, has seen an unprecedented decline in its prices. - Guyanese crude exports to Europe hit an all-time high in February, moving to 432,000 b/d, as the continents buyers mopped up additional barrels coming from the recently launched Payara Gold stream. 1. Guyana Takes Over European Oil Markets - Guyanese crude exports to Europe hit an all-time high in February, moving to 432,000 b/d, as the continents buyers mopped up additional barrels coming from the recently launched Payara Gold stream. - With the increasing flow of Guyanese cargoes, Europes own medium sour grade Johan Sverdrup, the largest producing field across the continent, has seen an unprecedented decline in its prices. - Sverdrup differentials soared to multi-dollar premiums at the end of last year as Red Sea disruptions prompted Europe to buy locally, but now the Norwegian grade sells for a -$3 per barrel discount. - Guyana is expected to produce more than 1 million b/d by late 2026, with production further boosted by the 250,000 b/d Yellowtail, 250,000 b/d Uaru and 250,000 b/d Whiptail projects. 2. Chinas Coking Coal Industry Asks for State Protection - Zhao Jianze, chairman of Chinas largest coal miner, said the countrys coking coal industry needs state protection to reduce disorderly competition amidst flatlining prices, trending around 1,750 per metric tonne ($240/mt). - With Zhao being a committee member at Chinas consultative conference, his calls for limiting output and consolidating smaller coking coal producers into state-owned enterprises might resonate in Beijing. - In contrast to thermal coal production where China keeps on hitting record after record, Chinese steelmakers are increasingly relying on coking coal imports, mostly from Australia. - Chinese coking coal production was hindered by waves of government checks following a spate of fatal mining disasters across the country, with more than 50 casualties since September in Henan, Heilongjiang, and Shaanxi. 3. Irans Oil Production Stays Strong Despite Sanctions - Pressure from the White House notwithstanding, Iranian oil production trends at its highest post-sanctions levels with crude-only output exceeding 3 million b/d since August 2023, prompting calls in the US for tighter sanctions enforcement. - According to Kpler data, Irans seaborne oil exports have risen to 1.38 million b/d in January-February, up 17% compared to the same period last year, as China continues buying most of its exports. - According to experts, the Biden administration is unlikely to get any more hawkish on Tehran to avoid escalating tensions in the Middle East and to keep the door open for renewed nuclear negotiations in 2025. - Meanwhile, the US called on Iran to dilute all of the uranium it enriched to at least 60% purity, arguing that even if Tehran downblends its nuclear capacity, it still has enough material to fuel two nuclear weapons by IAEA standards. 4. Risk of Government Sanctions Prompts Carbon Price Rally in China - Chinas carbon allowances started rising to record highs as spot prices hit 83 per metric tonne ($11.6/mt), extending gains since the end of January to almost 20%. - Whilst Chinas carbon prices are still one-fifth of Europes, there is a sizable upside in them as Beijing will be launching its new interim regulations in May, reducing the volume of free allowances, and ratcheting up penalties for transgressors. - Analysts believe that the price rally might not last beyond May, arguing that it is stemming from power producers that have not successfully completed their compliance in past years and now are panic-buying. - Chinas carbon market currently covers only the thermal power generation sector, with the refining, chemicals, steel, construction, and aviation sectors expected to be added in 2025. 5. Asias Diesel Heat Set to Cool Down - Asias diesel cracks have been holding up nicely in 2024 so far, staying above $20 per barrel, but increased production from India and China will put middle distillate profitability under pressure. - Chinese refiners have withheld their diesel production for the domestic markets to meet excess demand during the week-long Lunar New Year holidays, with exports ticking in at a mere 180 kbd, down 65% year-on-year. - With peak holiday travel no longer restricting Chinas sellers, March should see a much larger volume of Chinese diesel in the market, similar to India, a country that is gradually resuming diesel exports to Europe after Red Sea attacks halted that flow in January. - The longer-term outlook for diesel cracks in Asia remains optimistic as Asias refinery maintenance season gets underway in April-May, curbing the supply of the product to markets. 6. Africa Pines for Higher LNG Supply - Africas leading LNG producers Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya, and Nigeria are hoping to get their mojo back after several years of unimpressive stagnation, although each of them is facing their own set of headwinds. - Nigeria has historically been the largest LNG exporter in Africa, however as the 2022 force majeure on LNG exports is still yet to be lifted, it posted its fourth consecutive year-on-year decline last year, supplying only 13.40 million tonnes. - Egypts LNG exports have been mostly geared towards the winter season when domestic gas demand is weaker, however ever since Israels offshore gas fields stopped supplying the countrys export terminals, Egyptian LNG flows plunged to a mere one to two cargoes per month. - Algeria and Angola have both posted solid year-on-year growth numbers but ultimately Africas LNG outlook depends on the health of European buying, with the Old Continent accounting for two-thirds of African exports. 7. Zinc Breaks Free from Gloom of Record Shorts - Zinc has become one of the best-performing metals across the globe, having rebounded from record short positions on the London Metal Exchange on news of tighter supplies. - China has been in the limelight this week, holding the consultative National Peoples Congress, with the former central bank governor suggesting a new way to kickstart the countrys ailing property sector, with the government insuring pre-sale proceeds. - Bullish sentiment of a Chinese recovery, with strong demand data, and South Koreas Young Poong cutting refined zinc production at its Seokpo smelter have all added up to send zinc rallying to $2,540 per metric tonne. - Even though analysts expect zinc to run into resistance above $2,600 per metric tonne, it seems that expectations of a zinc glut will not materialize as miners struggle to boost output. Venezuela has announced an election date - July 28 - and Maduro is the only candidate, with a return of U.S. sanctions at stake. Maduro banned the only opposition candidate, Maria Corina Machado, from running in what the opposition says are politically motivated allegations of financial misconduct. Washington has so far resisted a reinstatement of sanctions, even as Maduro has attempted to create an international incident by declaring the takeover of Guyanas oil-rich Essequibo region, and even after banning the opposition in contravention of the conditions of the sanctions relief, which called for free and fair elections this year. Washingtons response to Venezuelas election date announcement was to note that sanctions will be restored in mid-April when the trial period ends if Machado is not allowed to run in the presidential race. There is very little time for the opposition to choose a new candidate and campaign. It will be a messy setup for traders and E&P companies like Chevron if sanctions return in April. But Chevron has been here before, and its VP of Midstream told Reuters this week that it would keep pumping as long as it could. The oil major is also preparing to drill 30 new wells in the Orinoco Belt, which would give it an extra 250,000 bpd by next year if sanctions are not restored. The level of production Chevron is targeting reflects its short-term view of Venezuela. The VP of Midstream told Reuters The total number of active drilling rigs for oil and gas in the United States fell this week, according to new data that Baker Hughes published on Friday. The total rig count fell by 7 to 622 this week, compared to 746 rigs this same time last year. The number of oil rigs fell by 2 this week after rising by 3 in the week prior. Oil rigs now stand at 504--down by 86 compared to this time last year. The number of gas rigs fell again this week by 4 to 115, a loss of 38 active gas rigs from this time last year. Miscellaneous rigs fell by 1 to a total of 3. Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil production fell to an average of 13.2 million bpd in the week ending March 1, easing off the all-time high of 13.3 million bpd. Primary Visions Frac Spread Count, an estimate of the number of crews completing wells that are unfinished, rose again in the week ending March 1. Completions rose by 2 to 272 for the week to the highest point yet this year. The Permian saw a 2-rig decrease after increasing by 1 the week before. The count in the Eagle Ford stayed the same again this week after seeing no movement in the two weeks prior. Oil prices were trading down on Friday morning. At 12:16 p.m. ET, the WTI benchmark was trading down $0.82 (-1.04%) on the day at $78.11, down roughly $2 per barrel week over week. The Brent benchmark was trading down $0.76 (-0.92%) at $82.20, down roughly $1.50 per barrel from a week ago. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: French President Emmanuel Macron recently caused a kerfuffle over Ukraine, dropping a bombshell suggestion that NATO troops could be deployed in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Over in the South Caucasus, garnering far less attention in the West, French actions are also stirring tension. While Atlantic Alliance allies quickly shot down Macrons troop deployment trial balloon, French diplomacy in the Caucasus, specifically in recent months moves to bolster military cooperation with Armenia, is flying under the Wests radar. But it is not escaping the notice of Azerbaijan, which is striving to freeze Paris out of the ongoing Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process. France has traditionally been Armenias strongest supporter within the European Union, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Macron in France in late February to reaffirm the close, bilateral relationship. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Macron reiterated his country's support for Armenia, its independence, territorial integrity, democratic process and peaceful aspirations. He later described Azerbaijans use of force in a February 13 exchange of gunfire along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border as disproportionate. Four Armenian soldiers died in the firefight. Macron also called on Azerbaijan to honor a World Court ruling to ensure the safe return to Nagorno-Karabakh of any Armenian refugee who wanted to do so. He additionally placed the onus on Azerbaijan for reducing lingering military tension following Azerbaijans reconquest of Karabakh in 2023. Baku has been pressuring Armenia to permit a land corridor to connect Azerbaijan proper to its Nakhchivan exclave, a move that in effect would give Azerbaijan extraterritorial rights on Armenian territory. I think it is more than necessary for Azerbaijan to dispel any ambiguity regarding the territorial integrity of Armenia, as far as maps are concerned, then conscientious work should be done for border delimitation and demarcation, which will serve as a basis for the withdrawal of forces from both sides of the border, Macron said. Armenias defeat in the Karabakh conflict sparked a souring of Yerevans relations with Russia, which had long been viewed by Armenians as their primary protector. The falling out with Russia, in turn, has heightened the importance of Yerevans relationship with France. Since Azerbaijan completed its takeover of Karabakh last fall, France has concluded a variety of military assistance deals with Armenia, including providing armored vehicles, arms, equipment and munitions, as well as improving air-defense capabilities. Officials have stressed that the assistance is defensive in nature. Related: How To Profit From Europes $800 Billion Energy Crisis On a visit to Yerevan on February 23, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said helping Armenia was a foreign policy priority for France. It is because Armenia needs us right now that we're here," Lecornu told reporters. Frances support, stated Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, means we can look forward to long-term planning in the years ahead. Pashinyan, in an interview with the France24 television channel, alleged that Azerbaijan is intent on further territorial conquests, noting that Azerbaijani officials have not officially recognized the current frontier between the two states. Given the statements coming out of Baku, Pashinyan said in the interview, we come to the conclusion that, yes, an attack on Armenia is very likely. Germany hosted peace talks involving the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers on February 28. The talks did not produce tangible signs of progress on a settlement, but pro-government media outlets in Baku did not waste an opportunity to take a swipe at France, promoting the idea that Paris is biased and cannot be part of the peace process. At the same time, Azerbaijani state media cast Germany as an honest broker. Germany has offered to expand cooperation while maintaining its neutrality, stated a commentary published by the pro-government outlet, Report.az Germany can be an alternative to France. The German government can strengthen relations and its position in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan gives Germany this chance in the region. Related: 2 Companies That Could Help Europe Win Its Energy War With Russia More broadly, Baku has bristled at what it portrays as French meddling. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry labeled Macrons comments on the February 13 firefight as unacceptable. The ministry statement went on to accuse Paris of holding a diplomatic double-standard, pointing out that Paris did not speak out against Armenian aggression and the occupation of Azerbaijani territories for almost 30 years, as well as the continuing occupation of 8 villages of Azerbaijan by Armenia. ADVERTISEMENT France was one of the three co-chairs, along with the United States and Russia, that led the OSCE Minsk group, which provided a framework for the peace process from the end of the first conflict in the 1990s until 2020. During that time, Armenian forces controlled Karabakh and surrounding Azerbaijani regions. Today, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev seems to harbor particular animus for Macron. I had the opportunity to communicate quite closely with President [Jacques] Chirac, President [Nicolas] Sarkozy and President [Francois] Hollande, and our relations were quite balanced, quite friendly, Aliyev said at a CIS summit in 2022. We always perceived the activities of previous French presidents, despite, of course, a certain factor of the Armenian diaspora in France, as balanced. However, the current French leadership has effectively crossed out all this. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Chinas CNOOC has announced a sizeable discovery offshore that could contain as much as 100 million tons of oil equivalent. The discovery was made in the South China Sea, in an already producing area of the Pearl River Delta, the company said, as quoted by Reuters. The resources in it are light crude. CNOOC, whose net oil and gas production hit an all-time high of 675 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2023, now aims at an output of between 700 million and 720 million barrels of oil equivalent this year as it significantly raised its production targets in the 2024 business strategy and development plan. The new discovery will help the company achieve its targets as new output from such discoveries offset declining production from older fields onshore. A significant portion of CNOOCs investments recently have been focused on this offsetting through the development of new fields. "The majority of China's oil fields are in a mature phase, facing natural production declines, (while) the scarcity of substantial new discoveries poses a challenge to sustaining long-term production growth at current rates," Rystad Energy analyst Lin Chen said last December in comments on the outlook for Chinese oil production. CNOOC has been at the forefront of the reserve replacement rush after domestic oil output fell by 12% between 2015 and 2018. It appears things have been going well, with production forecast for solid growth in the coming years. The companys net production target for 2025 was set at 780 million to 800 million boe, and output in 2026 is planned to further rise to between 810 million to 830 million boe. The company expects major new projects in China and the Mero3 project in Brazil to strongly support production growth this year. CNOOC will also look to boost natural gas exploration activity in the South China Sea, the Bohai Sea, and onshore China. ADVERTISEMENT By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Germany could still expropriate Rosnefts German assets, the countrys economy ministry said on Friday, in a warning to the Russian oil giant to propose potential buyers of its assets. Germany extended its trusteeship over Rosnefts assets in Germany for the third time earlier this week, but new signs that Rosneft could be open to finding a buyer for its assets in Germany stopped the Energy Ministry from moving to expropriate the assets. Germany said it would need to approve possible buyers to ensure they conform to the Foreign Trade and Payments Act, and it would also be looking at ways to keep Rosneft from buying back in through substitute owners. The assets in question include three refineries and two other German holdings in Germanys MiRo and Bayernoil refineries. Rosneft holds a 54.1% stake in the Schwedt refinery in Germany, which, along with other Rosneft assets, has been under a trusteeship since 2022. It is unclear what the precise value is of Rosnefts assets in Germany, although estimates have been made in the $7 billion range. So far, Germany has already nationalized one midstream company, Sefeassets formerly held by Gazprom. Russia, too, has gotten into the nationalization game, taking control over Germanys assets in RussiaUniper and Wintershall Dea. However, the issue of expropriation may extend beyond Germanys energy assets, putting Fortum, Carlsberg, Danone, and hundreds of other non-energy businesses that do business in Russia at risk. German law allows for expropriation to secure its energy supply, which is enforceable under the Constitution based on its benefit to the public. Germany said last fall that it sees no way back to energy relationship with Russia that we saw before the way. This relationship has ended. ADVERTISEMENT By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Keystone pipeline carrying crude from Alberta to Nebraska resumed operations late on Thursday after being put briefly offline as a precautionary measure. The pipeline with a capacity to transport 622,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil was safely placed back into operation on Thursday, after a brief suspension of services as a precautionary measure, Keystones operator TC Energy said. The pipeline is intact and no oil has been released, TC Energy confirmed. Earlier on Thursday, the company had reportedly notified shippers of the suspension of the services, due to operational issues, an industry source told Reuters. TC Energy didnt go into details about the operational issues, the source added. The 2,687-mile Keystone Pipeline System plays a key role in connecting Albertas crude oil supplies to U.S. refining markets in Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as connecting U.S. crude oil supplies from the Cushing, Oklahoma, hub to refining markets on the U.S. Gulf Coast through the Marketlink Pipeline System. The brief halt to the pipelines operations sent U.S. benchmark crude oil prices, WTI Crude, higher on Thursday and early on Friday, before prices pulled back after news broke about the restart of the Keystone pipeline. In the latest update, the company reported that the pipeline is safely operating after a brief suspension, although details on supply disruption are not available yet, ING commodities strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey said on Friday. The 622Mbbls/d oil pipeline which transports heavy Canadian crude to the US Midwest and Gulf Coast has a long history of disruptions, including a 12Mbbl spill in December 2022, leading to a two-week-long shutdown of the line, they added. TC Energy shut down the Keystone pipeline in early December 2022 following the detection of a leak in Nebraska. The leak was contained within several days, with the pipeline spilling a total of 14,000 barrels of crude into a creek. Keystone has been operating at a reduced pressure since the spillage incident. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The OPEC+ groups combined crude oil production in February was little changed from January and still above the overall output quota that OPEC and its allies pledged when they announced extra voluntary supply reductions, according to the latest Platts survey by S&P Global Commodity Insights. The survey showed total OPEC+ oil production flat in February from January at around 41.21 million barrels per day (bpd), which, per Platts estimates, was about 175,000 bpd higher than the overall quota. OPEC+ members collectively decided to voluntarily cut 2.2 million bpd from the groups production this quarter, although much of that was production cuts that were already in effect, including Saudi Arabias 1 million bpd voluntary cut. Last weekend, the members of the OPEC+ alliance that had pledged the Q1 cuts announced they would roll over the supply reductions until the end of the second quarter. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Oman, and Russia are now cutting their respective crude oil production and exports in the first half of 2024 with extra voluntary reductions, on top of voluntary cuts OPEC+ previously announced in April 2023 and later extended until the end of 2024. The production estimates for February have shown that some of these especially Iraq and Kazakhstan continued to overproduce above their respective quotas. In the middle of February, both Iraq and Kazakhstan pledged to comply with the cuts they had announced. OPECs second-largest producer, Iraq, is committed to its voluntary cut in the OPEC+ agreement and will produce no more than 4 million bpd of crude oil, Iraqs Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani said last month. Non-OPEC oil producer Kazakhstan, for its part, vowed to compensate over the coming months for a lack of compliance with the cuts in January. Kazakhstan has always supported the initiatives of the OPEC+ member countries, the countrys Energy Ministry said in a statement in February. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Via Metal Miner The West African state of Guinea recently approved a joint development deal between the government, Rio Tinto/Simfer, and the Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS) consortia to develop the Simandou iron ore mining project. The National Transition Council (NTC), Guineas legislative body under the interim regime, announced the deals approval on February 3. In short, this agreement provides forthe construction of railway and port infrastructure, no later than December 31, 2025 and the start of iron ore production in the first quarter of 2026, NTC said in a statement. Simandou has 2.4 billion metric tonnes of estimated reserves, from which it can produce 2.25 billion metric tonnes of 65% Fe iron. Under the agreement, WSC will develop Blocks 1 and 2, while Rio Tinto / Simfer will develop the remaining two blocks. Combined, this represents over 1.46 million square kilometers of iron ore mining potential. The Rio Tinto / Simfer consortium comprises the metals and mining multinational, which holds 53% in the two blocks. Meanwhile, the Simfer joint venture between Chalco Iron Ore Holdings and the Guinean government holds the remaining percentage in Blocks 1 and 2. Finally, Singapore-headquartered conglomerate Winning International Consortium, Chinas Weiqiao Aluminium, and London-registered United Mining Suppliers comprise WSC. An Untapped Resource Hub for Iron Ore Mining Simandou is in Nzerekore Region of southern Guinea, roughly 900 kilometers away from the capital and port city of Conakry. The council also mentioned the potential construction of a steel mill with an annual capacity of 500,000 metric tonnes, though it did not indicate if that would be crude steel or cast and rolled products. Related: How To Profit From Europes $800 Billion Energy Crisis NTC added that work is also underway to construct a 670-kilometer, double-tracked line to Forecariah Prefecture on the Atlantic coast and a deep-water port at that site. Currently, it seems Chinese steelmakers will be the likely end-users of Simandou iron ore. Switching from Iron Ore Mining to Coal: Russias Elga Port According to a Russian media report, Russian coking coal producer Elgaugol plans to finish constructing a 530-kilometer rail line to connect the Elga coking coal mine directly to the Elga port. The planned port is on the Sea of Okhtosk, which gives access to the Pacific Ocean. Company information states that the site will have a through capacity of 30-50 million metric tons. Related: 2 Companies That Could Help Europe Win Its Energy War With Russia he Elga coal deposit is located in the southeastern part of the Sakha Republic and is one of the largest untapped coal deposits in the world. The Elga coal complex includes a coal mine, a washing plant, and infrastructure for transporting the coal. Under the current setup, coal from the mine travels along a 360-kilometer rail branch that connects with Russian Railways (RZhD) Baikal-Amur Mainline at Ulak. Cargoes then travel at least 1,000 kilometers south to ports in eastern Russia for export. Elga Port Impact on Global Trade Information on Elgaugols website also indicated that the Elga open-pit coal mine has up to 2.2 billion metric tonnes of JORC-compliant resources. It also achieved annual production of 45 million metric tonnes in 2023. The site likewise noted that steelmakers in the APAC region are the primary end users of Elgaugols coal. ADVERTISEMENT Russian metals and mining company Mechel developed the coal mine and built the original rail connection of this century, with production starting in 2012. However, the group sold it to Moscow-headquartered A-Property conglomerate in 2020 in an effort to restructure its debts. Mechel was also losing money on the rail link and wanted RZhD to take control of it in 2016, though reports now indicate that the railroad was reluctant to do so. By Christopher Rivituso More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: file photo () When you move to Japan, you may find a peculiar sight when you crack open an egg for breakfast an orange yolk. You'll also notice many restaurants serve eggs raw over rice. Why are the eggs in Japan orange and is it safe to consume them raw? First, the color is different than what youre used to back home because the chickens in Japan are fed a highly nutritious feed which may include either carotene, yellow flower petals or carrot powder. And, yes, eggs in Japan are safe to consume without cooking. This is because Japan follows a very strict egg protocol which farmers adhere to. Once youve been in Japan for a while and have waited at red lights to cross a little street, blinked your lights to other drivers to say thank you, watched the owner of a car drive out of a dealers lot with 2-3 workers in suits bowing, seen the trainman pointing the trains direction for safety, police cars with their lights flashing all the time, onsen with little fish that clean your feet, cow owners massaging their cattle, and trains that are 99 percent on-schedule, youll know the country is serious about its rules. Egg farmers use technology to neutralize salmonella before the eggs reach your table, according to the Japanese Poultry Association. The process includes safe production, washing of the eggs and strict requirements for egg selection. There is also contact tracing for contamination, so all eggs come from the same farm as their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Additionally, for disease control, farms in all the prefectures are near each other and close to major roadways. The farms also have strict rules on who can enter the premises and precautions are taken to keep insects, wild birds and animals out. Workers are also required to wear special uniforms while working in the facilities. After the eggs have been laid, they are collected and sent off for testing. They are checked for defects with a sophisticated machine. If the eggs dont meet the standards, they are sold with labeling saying they cannot be eaten raw. Japanese eggs are also packaged maintaining the high standards of the Japanese Poultry Association. The average Japanese person eats about 320 eggs per year, according to the International Egg Commission. The demand for eggs in Japan is so high that the poultry population is almost equal to the human population of 120 million residents. With eggs that are farmed with strict standards and marked for taste, its no wonder that eggs here are delicious, nutritious and a popular addition to many meals. Expiration date meaning Each producer of eggs lists the expiration date for flavor, not for when they must be eaten. Further, this expiration date is for when the egg should be eaten raw. After that date passes you can still eat the egg, however, it needs to be fully cooked. Commissary vs. local At the military commissary you can purchase local Japan eggs for about $2.40 for 10 large eggs. American eggs cost more now because of shipping costs. Youll be happily surprised by the taste of the local eggs, whether cooked or raw. Two Popular Egg dishes America Deviled eggs Boiled eggs cut in half. Then the yolk taken out and mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, relish, salt and pepper. Mixed as a soft creamy egg and put back into the two halves of the eggs, topped with paprika. Japan Tamago kake Gohan This is a delicious and simple dish that consists of steamed white rice topped with a raw Japanese egg. Easy to make fun to eat. TEHRAN, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian envoy to the United Nations said his country reserved the "legitimate and inherent" right to respond to any threat or action by Israel against its security and national interests, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported Friday. Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's permanent representative to the UN, made the remarks Thursday in a letter to the president of the UN Security Council for March, Yamazaki Kazuyuki, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in response to the anti-Tehran claims and accusations by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz in an earlier letter to the world body. In his letter, Katz claimed that Iran had increased arms deliveries to the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which is backing Hamas against Israel. Iravani warned against any "adventurism or destructive action" by Israel, rejecting Katz's claims and accusations as "completely baseless." He stressed that the Israeli foreign minister, in his letter, had "lied, provided disinformation, and made baseless claims against Iran," which were decisively rejected by Tehran. Iravani said the letter was another "desperate bid" by Israel to divert the international community's attention away from its "flagrant crimes" against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He added that Iran underlined the inherent rights of Syria and Lebanon under international law to take the necessary measures in the face of any threat, attack, or aggressive act by Israel against their sovereignty and territorial integrity. A 6-year-old male Western lowland gorilla has joined the bachelor group at Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. Ajabu has been a member of the Philadelphia Zoos Western lowland gorilla troop, a press release said. Ajabus father, Motuba, arrived in Omaha at six days old in 1985. Tubby, as Motuba is called by some staff and guests, was a member of Omahas bachelor group until 2014, when he was moved to Philadelphia per the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Western Lowland Gorilla Species Survival Plan. Motuba is the father of 21-year-old Bambio, a current member of the zoos family group and Ajabus half-sister. Ajabu was moved to his new home in Hubbard Gorilla Valley after completing his quarantine period. Introductions have begun with 7-year-old male Kgosi, in the hopes of forming a new bachelor group. In their natural environment, blackback or juvenile male Western lowland gorillas will leave their family groups around this age, Ryan Sears, curator of large mammals, said in the press release. Introducing Kgosi to Ajabu at this age will play a key role in their development into silverbacks. Kgosi and Ajabu are expected to be visible in Hubbard Gorilla Valley on weekends this spring once their introduction is complete, the release said. During the week, they will be in a private area working with the animal care team in the hopes of introducing them to an established group of silverbacks: Timmy and Samson. We are excited to have Motubas son in Omaha, Christine DuPre, supervisor of great apes, said in the release. We are looking forward to welcoming a new generation and dynamic into our bachelor group. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2024 An Omaha man accused of shooting his father will have the criminal charges against him thrown out after the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled his right to a speedy trial was violated. On Friday, the states highest court reversed decisions from the Nebraska Court of Appeals and the Douglas County District Court, both of which denied motions from a criminal defendant to dismiss the case against him after his trial was continued over his objection. The defendant, 27-year-old Justin Rashad, faced charges of first-degree assault and use of a firearm to commit a felony after he allegedly shot his father in the head in 2021. Under Nebraska law, defendants have a statutory right to have their case presented to a jury within six months of the date the charging document was filed. Rashads trial was scheduled for 10 months after he was initially charged. The primary burden to ensure a trial takes place within speedy trial guidelines is on the state. If a case is not prosecuted in a timely manner, the defendant is entitled to have the case dismissed, unless good cause for a delay is shown. There is no statutory definition of good cause, and it is decided on a case-by-case basis, though the Supreme Court noted the findings must be supported by the evidence in the record, and the State bears the burden of establishing facts showing that good cause existed. Rashad was charged with the two felonies in April 2021. By June, Douglas County District Court Judge Marlon Polk set the case for trial in October. But shortly before the trial was set to begin, according to court documents, the parties were informed the trial would be continued because the judge had another trial scheduled on the same week. At a hearing on Oct. 26, 2021, Rashad said he was very concerned about his speedy trial rights and objected to the continuance, requesting that he be tried in November to comply with speedy trial requirements. Rashads request was denied, and Polk set the trial for February 2022. Days before the February trial was set to began, defense attorney Korey Taylor filed a motion to dismiss the case for speedy trial violations. State preference or convenience does not usurp the speedy trial rights of defendants, Taylor wrote. By the time trial is now scheduled to commence in this case, over 10 months would have passed. Polk denied the motion, finding there was good cause to grant the continuance. Rashad appealed to the Nebraska Court of Appeals, which affirmed Polks ruling in April 2023 in a split decision. He then appealed the case to the Nebraska Supreme Court. In its Friday opinion, the court said it didnt find evidence of good cause to continue the trial, meaning the request for absolute discharge should have been granted. In previous cases, docket congestion or the courts busy schedule has been recognized as good cause for a continuance. But the court said there wasnt sufficient evidence to prove docket congestion was to blame in this case. The situation here could have been avoided if the trial court had issued a written order on the motion for a continuance, the opinion reads. Additionally... the State could have introduced other evidence to substantiate docket congestion, such as scheduling issues or case priorities. The State took no such steps in this case. People often tell Gracie Grote that shes lived a lot of life in just a few years. It started when Gracie became a single mom in 2019 after giving birth to her son, Hayes. Then in quick succession, Gracies mom died, Gracie battled depression and her father was diagnosed with cancer. Simultaneously, Gracie also completed the radiography program, the sonography program and a post-baccalaureate certificate through the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Gracie, now 24, will graduate with her masters degree from the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions in May. Shes also getting married that month. To get through it all, Gracie learned how to ask for help. She relied on her family, friends, UNMC faculty and mental health professionals. They helped take care of Hayes, they helped make new plans in the face of roadblocks and encouraged her to keep going. It was a really dark time so trying to see any positives was very difficult, Gracie said. But since then as Ive gotten out of that dark spot and pushed through and made it through that is the biggest thing ... making it. Gracie said she wants people to know that if she did it, then other people can too. Everybody has potential and can be successful, theyve just got to push through the hard stuff, Gracie said. And theres always a reward at the end. Inspired by her mother to enter medical field Gracie grew up watching her mother give ultrasounds to pregnant dolphins in Hawaii and X-rays to large pythons in Texas. Trisha Grote, also a graduate of UNMCs radiography and sonography programs, worked with people before she switched to animals. She traveled all across the country, often bringing Gracie with her. Patients might not think about the crucial role radiographers and sonographers play in health care until they encounter one. A patient goes to doctors with symptoms or questions, but its the images produced by radiographers and sonographers that help doctors determine whats going on. We provide a missing piece of the puzzle, said Tammy Webster, who was the director of UNMCs radiography program when she met Gracie. And sometimes, like in the case of Trisha, they put the puzzle together all by themselves. In May of 2010, Trisha was testing out the image quality on a new ultrasound machine and scanned her own liver. She discovered several tumors and was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. She received a liver transplant at age 40. She was young, she was healthy, she didnt really drink, she didnt do any of that, Gracie said. She took really good care of herself so I think that helped in getting her a liver so quickly. Gracie knew she wanted to follow in her mothers footsteps. After one year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Gracie applied and was accepted into UNMCs radiography program. She was pregnant while interviewing for a spot in the program, but she didnt know it at the time. When they met to discuss Gracies pregnancy, Webster told Gracie that she could delay starting the program for a year to adjust to being a single mom. Gracie said no. Its going to be a lot harder taking care of a 1-year-old than it will be a newborn, in my opinion, Gracie told Webster. Lets just get it done. Webster kept following up with Gracie. Together, they made plans and strategies on how Gracie could manage school and being a new mom. I think Gracies story tells us that lets not overlook a creative approach to what feels very very structured with no opportunity for flexibility, Webster said. She found the rocky road separate from the paved. You still get to where you wanted to go. And thats OK. Its a different way of doing it but youre still doing it. Find a new roadmap. She did that. Gracie started the program at UNMCs Kearney campus in fall of 2019 and gave birth to her son, Hayes, a few weeks later. Trisha picked Gracie and Hayes up from the hospital and the three of them lived together in Overton, Nebraska. My mom was my rock. She was my go-to for everything, Gracie said. She did everything for my brother and I. She would go to the ends of the Earth. Gracie took three weeks off from school for maternity leave and then went back. Shed be up at all hours of the night with Hayes and then get up at 5 a.m. so she could make it to Grand Island for clinic duty at 7 a.m. I look back and I dont even remember a lot of it because I think I was just in survival mode of how I could keep my grades up and take care of Hayes and be where I needed to be, Gracie said. Very time consuming. Very demanding. New mom loses her own mother When Hayes was about 9 months old, Trisha got sick again. It came on fast. Gracie chatted with Trisha in the morning about grabbing lunch and by that afternoon, Trisha was in the hospital. Gracie said her mother got sick often in the years after her transplant and likely needed a new liver but didnt talk about that with Gracie or her brother. She didnt want us to worry, Gracie said. She didnt want us to think she was giving up on us, but I know the 10 years after her transplant were rough on her, and I dont think she wanted to do it anymore. Which is understandable now. Trisha died August 8, 2020. When someone close to you like that dies, the world just keeps going, Gracie said. It doesnt stop like yours does. That was probably one of the hardest parts for me. I didnt have time to grieve. I still had to go to school, I still had to take care of my son. For Gracie, it eventually became too much. I would come home from clinic every day and just cry, she said. It was just a really really dark time for me. In November of 2020, Gracie reached out to her mental health counselor. I remember calling her and telling her, I cant do this anymore. I cant be the mom my son deserves. Im incredibly sad. I need help. We have to do something. Gracie spent three days at a hospital in Kearney. In the coming years, she regularly visited a psychiatrist and counselor and took medications, including antidepressants. Gracie said sometimes people are ashamed to take antidepressants or even admit they might need them, but it doesnt mean someone is weak or crazy. It just means that you need a little help right now, but its temporary, Gracie said. It doesnt have to last forever and even if it does, thats fine. Gracie missed more time at school while getting the help she needed, but Webster was there and ready to help her make a new plan. Webster said Gracie was eager, willing and dedicated, but she also had the courage to ask for help when she needed it. Thats a very vulnerable thing to do, Webster said. You want everybody to think, I got this. I got this. And you do, you have it. And its OK to have support to have it. That doesnt diminish you as an individual. Gracie said the staff at UNMC was like another family, which is something she never expected from a university. She got on my level and she almost understood where I was coming from, Gracie said of Webster. She heard me. She saw me. And she was willing to do whatever it took to push me through this and help me through this. In May 2021, Gracie received a bachelors degree in medical imaging and therapeutic sciences. Then she started UNMCs sonography program in August. It takes a village to raise a child In the months between the two programs, Gracie used her new radiography training and worked three jobs to make ends meet. She studied for several big tests that were required in order for her to work in clinical settings. And she got ready for the yearlong sonography program. As part of the program, Gracie had three nine-hour clinical shifts a week and two eight-hour class days a week. Some of Gracies days started before 7 a.m. and ended around 9:30 p.m. To make it all work, family and friends rallied around her. They took turns babysitting Hayes and occasionally kept him overnight or picked him up from day care. They were great positive influences that kept encouraging her, kept loving her and she got her mind right and she focused and she just keeps achieving goals, Larry Grote, Gracies father, said. People called and texted to check in. Sometimes theyd offer to have Gracie and Hayes stop by, just so Gracie could get a break for a few hours. I understand now what people mean when they say it takes a village to raise a child, Gracie said. This boy wouldnt be who he is without all those people. And we would not be where we are without all those people either. It was just like PTSD A few months into her sonography program, Gracie got a phone call from her father. Larry told his daughter that he had cancer. It was just like PTSD. It was fear, Gracie said. It was just so many emotions in one just because I just did this ... with my mom. Larry moved in with Gracie and Hayes while he received treatment. Larrys treatments were successful and hes now in remission. Gracie said having her father around was comforting as she finished up the sonography program and graduated in August 2022. She waited a few days, but then started classes to get her masters degree. She graduates in May. Gracie now works as a general sonographer for Advanced Medical Imaging in Lincoln. When people come in to Advanced Medical Imaging, they often have questions about their health and puzzles that need to be solved. Sometimes, theyre scared, anxious and wondering what will come next. Gracie knows the feeling well. Im treating my patients, the way I think of it, how I would treat my mom if she was in there, Gracie said. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 The vision to redevelop the historic Plaza de la Raza in South Omaha is getting closer to becoming a reality. South Omaha leaders announced plans on Thursday to break ground on the three-phase Adelante project later this year. The first phase will see the plaza transform from a parking lot capable of hosting festivals to a more permanent space that will include a playground, a stage, seating areas, green spaces and activity areas. In a press conference at the site of the plaza at 24th and N Streets, Itzel Lopez, co-founder and CEO of the Latino Economic Development Council, said the plazas transformation will create an attractive and accessible space that will become a beacon for economic growth and future development of this area. The projects second phase includes the building of a parking garage with retail spaces. The third phase will consist of the creation of the Latino Economic Development Center. The center will offer workforce development opportunities for a growing Latino community that, according to LEDC Vice President Marcos Mora, is projected to account for 25% of Nebraskas population in about 20 years. This is moving us forward into the future, Mora said in an interview. The whole project is expected to cost about $50 million, Mora said. Right now, about $25 million has been secured through the federal American Rescue Plan Act and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The City of Omaha and Douglas County Board combined to award another $1 million through their respective shares of the ARPA funds. The $25 million (already on hand) gives us enough to start on the plaza and the parking structure. It will give us some money to go into the development center, Mora said. But we still need to raise the other $25 million. Mora said organizers hope to raise nearly all of that through private donations. Douglas County Board member Roger Garcia, whose district includes the area, expressed optimism that those philanthropic efforts will come to fruition now that about half the funding has already been secured. We have a very helpful, supportive philanthropic sector here in Omaha, he said in an interview. Now that our potential funders in the community see that the state funds have come through and the county funds have come through that well start to see more partners in philanthropy also join the effort to really revitalize South Omaha. The progress on the plaza renovation marks the beginning of a hopeful chapter for an area of 24th Street whose businesses, as Garcia noted, were challenged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scars from the pandemic appeared to have mostly faded as vehicles filled nearly all of the parking stalls along the street on Thursday afternoon. There is a lot of pride here (and) a lot of vibrancy here on 24th Street, Garcia said at the press conference. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2024 The invitation list for President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Thursday speaks volumes about what Democrats and Republicans want to focus on as the 2024 election season heats up. Biden and Democratic lawmakers invited several health care providers and women whose lives have been impacted by stricter abortion laws in states with Republican-controlled legislatures following the landmark 2022 Supreme Court ruling that stripped away constitutional protections for abortion. First lady Jill Biden also invited union leaders, a gun control advocate and others that she and her husband met as they traveled the country promoting his agenda. Republican lawmakers invited guests who place heavy focus on the nation's broken immigration system, an issue that voters say is a central concern ahead of the November election. The guests invited to sit in the galleries for Biden's speech also include at least a few people whom nearly everyone in hyper-partisan Washington should be able to cheer. A look at some of those expected to be in attendance for Biden's address and the issues they bring into focus: Reproductive health Kate Cox is a Texas woman who was denied an emergency abortion by the state's Supreme Court late last year even though her health was in danger and her fetus had a fatal condition. The mother of two eventually had to go out of state for the procedure. She is a guest of Jill Biden. Dr. Caitlin Bernard is an Indianapolis OBGYN who came under attack in 2022 for providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim. She will be the guest of Rep. Judy Chu of California. Elizabeth Carr, 42, is the first person born in the U.S. via in vitro fertilization. She will be a guest of Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. He said he invited Carr to spotlight concerns after the Alabama Supreme Court's ruling last month that frozen embryos can be considered children led the state's three major IVF providers to pause services. Roshni Kamta, a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 22 and decided to freeze her eggs before undergoing treatment. The experience inspired her to advocate for wider access to fertility treatments for breast cancer patients. She's a guest of Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. Tammi Kromenaker spent nearly 25 years in Fargo, North Dakota, helping operate the Red River Women's Clinic, the state's sole abortion provider. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, North Dakota enacted some of the country's strictest abortion laws. Kromenaker moved the clinic to the neighboring city of Moorhead, Minnesota. She's a guest of Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn. Immigration Tammy Nobles is the mother of a young woman, Kayla Hamilton, who was killed in 2022. The suspect was an MS-13 gang member who had entered the U.S. illegally. Nobles was invited by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. Border patrol agent Brandon Budlong, president of the National Border Patrol Council Local 2724, will be the guest of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the chair of the House Republican Caucus. Valeria Delgado, a student at Chapman University in California who has benefited from the policy created to protect young migrants brought to the U.S. as children, will be the guest of Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif. Russia, Israel and NATO Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will be in the first lady's box after Sweden completed the formal process of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Sweden and Finland moved to join NATO after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, the parents of detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, will attend as guests of Johnson. The Louisiana Republican said he invited them to spotlight "unjust" detention of their son, who has been jailed in Russia since last March on espionage charges. Gershkovich and the U.S. government dispute the charges against him. Lawmakers also are hosting victims and relatives of people killed or held hostage by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Among those expected to attend are Mia Schem, who was abducted by Hamas and released as part of a temporary cease-fire between Hamas and Israel after spending more than 50 days in captivity. Labor United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain will be among those in the first lady's box. Other union representatives joining her will be Samantha Ervin-Upsher, a United Brotherhood of Carpenters apprentice, and Dawn Simms, a third-generation union autoworker. The UAW announced in January it endorsed Biden. Voting rights, gun control Jazmin Cazares, a gun control advocate, spent her senior year of high school traveling the country telling the story of her sister Jackie, who was among the 19 students and two teachers shot and killed during a May 2022 shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. She is a guest of the first lady. Minnesota state Rep. Cedrick Frazier is the author of legislation that restored voting rights to more than 55,000 Minnesotans who completed felony sentences but remain on parole, probation, or supervised release. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., invited Frazier to put the spotlight on voting rights efforts in her home state as she presses for similar legislation on the federal level. Former Scottsbluff Police Capt. Brian Wasson has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the theft of drugs and money from police evidence. The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office said in a press release that it filed charges Tuesday in Scotts Bluff County District Court, bypassing the filing of charges in county court and other proceedings. Wasson pleaded guilty to two felony counts of theft by unlawful taking in excess of $5,000. The first count alleges that between March 2021 and April 15, 2023, Wasson stole controlled substances in excess of $5,000. The second count alleges that between those same dates he also stole currency in excess of $5,000. Wasson surrendered himself, according to the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office. He was booked in the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center but had reportedly already posted bail. Wassons sentencing is scheduled for April 23 in Scottsbluff. Wasson resigned from his position at the Scottsbluff Police Department, where he had served for 25 years, on Sept. 6, according to a change of status form filed with the Nebraska Crime Commission. He voluntarily surrendered his law enforcement certification in October. LINCOLN The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday reversed a Tax Equalization and Review Commission ruling upholding a decision by the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners not to lower the property value of a downtown Lincoln insurance building torched by protesters in 2020. At issue on appeal is whether a fire caused by arson is a calamity for purposes of Nebraska Revised Statute 77-1307(2)(a), Chief Justice Michael Heavican wrote in the decision. We conclude that it is. It all came down to the definition of calamity and whether the fire that destroyed Inland Insurance Companys building at 610 S. 12th St. during what started with George Floyd protests the night of May 30, 2020, fit the definition. In 2020, Inland asked the commissioners, sitting as the County Board of Equalization, to reduce the value of the building at 12th Street and Lincoln Mall under a then-new state law that allowed property owners to seek a lower valuation if their property sustained significant damage as the result of a calamity between Jan. 1 and July 1. In its request, the company said: In its current state, the building is not usable and has no windows, electricity, water, or services. Earlier that year, the Lancaster County assessors staff had valued the corner property at $793,800, the basis for determining its annual property tax bill. It since has been torn down. In August 2020, the board denied the request to alter the valuation on the advice of the Lancaster County Attorneys Office, which said state law implied only damage caused by Mother Nature could be grounds to lower a value. At the time, Commissioner Rick Vest said he and other commissioners believed they were legally bound to deny the request. When Inland appealed to TERC, the commission concluded that the fire that had destroyed the property was not a calamity as defined by the law. In the statute at issue, calamity is defined as a disastrous event, including, but not limited to, a fire, an earthquake, a flood, a tornado, or other natural event which significantly affects the assessed value of real property. Inland appealed again. On cross-appeal, the Board of Equalization had asserted portions of the law were unconstitutional because it allowed some property owners to choose a different point in time from all other property when actual value is determined. But in its decision Friday, the court did not address that question because the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office hadnt been served with notice, so the matter may return at a later date. Inlands attorneys had argued that under their reading of the law, the board of equalization was required to lower the value as requested by the landowner and, if it disagreed with the new valuation, the County Assessor could protest. In the end, the Supreme Court found no merit to that claim, saying it overlooked a subpart of the statute that says the board of equalization shall consider any report of destroyed real property and make an assessment. But it did find traction with Inlands argument that the arson that destroyed the building qualified as a calamity. The central dispute decided by TERC was whether a fire started by arson was a calamity under 77-1307(2)(a). TERC concluded that it was not. On appeal, Inland argues that this was error, and based upon our reading of the statute, and in considering the entirety of the relevant statutes, we agree, Heavican wrote. He said TERC effectively redefined a calamity as a natural event. But that definition does not conform to the law, which says it is simply a disastrous event. On Friday, Sean Flowerday, chairman of the Lancaster County Board, said the board welcomes the clarification by the court. The county attorneys interpretation of the statute was that it had to be a fire from natural causes, like a lightning strike. Now, if the board can handle all fires the same, it will be much easier, he said. We were sort of under the impression our hands were tied. I think the board is happy about it, Flowerday said. Lancaster County Assessor Dan Nolte said his office follows the law, and it will have to look at how the ruling changes how they handle things going forward. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Board of Equalization heard an appeal of a house damaged by a natural gas explosion and, based on the interpretation of that law, it recommended not changing it because it wasnt a natural disaster as defined in the state law. Lincoln Journal Star staff writer Margaret Reist contributed to this report. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2024 The Nebraska State Board of Education held an emotional discussion Friday on whether sexually explicit material belongs in school libraries and what students are allowed to read. The lengthy debate came on a proposal from board member Kirk Penner to revise state regulation Rule 10 to prohibit pornographic materials or sexually explicit content in all Nebraska public school libraries. The majority of the board voted against discussing it further, letting Penners proposal die on a 5-3 vote. Jacquelyn Morrison, Patti Gubbels, Patsy Koch Johns, Lisa Fricke and Deborah Neary opposed it. Kirk Penner, Elizabeth Tegtmeier and Sherry Jones voted for the proposal. While the entire board said they agreed pornography doesnt belong in classrooms, the majority said Penners proposal didnt follow the right procedures, was too vague and could target specific student populations. Im disgusted because I dont know anyone anywhere who wants pornography in our libraries and who wants to groom children and all the things that were said today, Neary said. In everything Ive read, everybody points out that these book bans overwhelmingly target books about race, racism, gender, sexuality and books by Black and LGBTQ authors. Morrison said Penners proposal didnt follow the correct procedures for rule revisions. The State Board of Education also worked on revising Rule 10 for an entire year and book content was never brought up, Neary said. 'The Bluest Eye' and 'All Boys Aren't Blue' targeted Fricke said it bothered her that Penners proposal said schools could lose accreditation and teachers could lose their certifications if they didnt comply. Penner introduced his revision with a presentation that highlighted specific books like The Bluest Eye by Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison and All Boys Arent Blue by activist George M. Johnson. Both books have been banned in some schools around the U.S. for their graphic content and include topics of race, sexual abuse and gender identity. In my opinion, the vast majority of educators in the state do not like this content in their schools, Penner said. I believe with many other aspects of education that is regulated by the (board), schools are looking for guidance. Without a doubt, there is sexually explicit content in some Nebraska schools. Koch Johns said she believed Penners proposal would strip school districts of local control. Penner argued that having sexually explicit content in libraries shouldnt be a local control decision. When we look at these, we know they are not appropriate for certain ages, Koch Johns said. However, I think that there needs to be a process that occurs in this. Who decides what is obscene? Penners proposal followed months of book challenges for schools across Nebraska and the nation. Districts in the Omaha metro area have been receiving a record number of requests from community members to remove books they find inappropriate for students. In January, a school board member with the Plattsmouth Community Schools was recalled after leading an effort to remove dozens of books from the high school library. More than 30 people spoke during public comment, both for and against Penners proposed rule revision. The discussion at times was heated, with speakers calling out others in the audience or interrupting board members. We serve kids with conservative parents and liberal parents Former teacher Sarah Mitchell said her collection of books helped support inclusion in her school one student felt more comfortable wearing her hijab because of books that depicted her culture. Certified librarians are vital, knowledgeable and incredible in supporting literacy, Mitchell said. They are trained to curate their unique collections to specifically meet their district curricular needs and interests of their students. Nebraska mother Heather Hall said she understood some books with explicit content have important literary meaning, but others are so descriptive they are too graphic for minors. Last year, I emailed my sons English teacher to ask for the required reading list for that year. I recognized books I knew contained sexually explicit content, Hall said. This was for 15- to 16-year-old students. My son would have read these books without my consent. Several board members agreed with critics of such books, saying theres no place for any sexually explicit content in school libraries. No child needs access to sexually explicit materials. Unfortunately, porn doesnt disappear if you read the whole book, Jones said. I think superintendents are waiting for some guidance. Difficult topics can be taught without using sexually explicit books. Other people were concerned about aspects of the proposal that would have removed requirements for schools to purchase new library books. Right now, all public middle and high schools are required to purchase 150 new books each year to boost inventory. Elementary schools have to purchase at least 25 new books per teacher annually, with a maximum book purchase of 150 for one year. School libraries in Nebraska serve every child who comes to them. We serve kids with conservative parents and liberal parents, said Chris Haeffner, president of Nebraska School Library Association. If our students are looking for a map to build their lives, our libraries need to provide the current, complex and meaningful books to do that. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2024 LINCOLN The Appropriations Committee delivered a budget package to the Legislature on Thursday that would hold spending to a 3.1% increase and leave a record amount of state money unspent. The package makes some changes to the current state budget, which was passed last year and covers the two fiscal years ending June 30, 2025. It sticks closely to the budget recommendations made by Gov. Jim Pillen in January. State Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood, the Appropriations Committee chairman, announced the distribution of budget books with shamrock green covers Thursday morning, along with the more formal delivery of the budget bills. He said debate about the bills will begin Tuesday. The plan would leave a record balance of $574.9 million in the states general fund by the end of the budget period and another $904 million in the separate cash reserve fund. Clements has warned lawmakers that the general fund cushion is needed to make last years tax cut and school aid package sustainable into the future. Based on legislative fiscal office projections, the cushion will shrink to $68.6 million for the next budget biennium, which ends June 30, 2027. The committee plan calls for an average increase in state spending of 3.1% over the two-year budget period. Thats up from the 2.3% average approved by lawmakers last year for the same period. Much of the spending increase in the committees budget resulted from a higher-than-expected calculation of state aid to schools for next year. School aid had been projected to drop $28 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year, compared with the amount appropriated in last years budget. Instead, the total increased by $65 million once state education officials incorporated actual school spending figures into their aid calculations. The recalculation was done in January, after school finance reports had been submitted. Legislative Fiscal Office staff said a handful of districts, including the Omaha Public Schools, drove the increase. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area said OPS spending increased because of teacher salary boosts made possible with federal pandemic dollars. The budget package also includes $20 million to cover rising costs for foster care and $15 million to increase nursing staff at the Lincoln Regional Center, the state-run psychiatric hospital. The regional center has relied on contract nursing staff and overtime hours to get by, both of which add to costs. Pillen requested both of the increases, which are in the current fiscal year. The committee did not include increases in payment rates for hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and other health care providers during the second year of the budget period. Last year, Pillen vetoed $15.2 million worth of rate increases for that second year. Lawmakers this year are looking to pay for provider rate increases through a complicated mechanism that would bring in an estimated $1 billion of federal Medicaid dollars. Nebraska hospitals have pushed for the state to adopt the mechanism through separate legislation. The Appropriations Committee budget plan still leaves room for lawmakers to increase spending or cut taxes by up to $23 million per year. The committee signed off on sweeping about $230 million out of various cash funds to boost the states general fund. Pillen had proposed transferring nearly $274 million to the general fund to help pay for his plan to cut property taxes 40%. The plan calls for the cash fund transfers to help keep the budget in the black until new sources of state revenue kick in. Some of the transfers included in the Appropriations Committee proposal faced opposition at the public hearing. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 A weather system that brought record amounts of snow to areas of western Nebraska proved to be a minor inconvenience to Omaha-area commuters Friday morning. The National Weather Service in North Platte observed 17.4 inches of snowfall as of noon Friday. That total included an all-time single-day record set Thursday, when 15.3 inches of snow fell. Thursdays single-day record shattered the previous record of 13.9 inches that was set Jan. 18, 2023. The systems slow-moving nature led to the high amounts of the wet and heavy snow, said Jaclyn Gomez, a meteorologist with the North Platte office. It just kind of stalled out over the area, she said. It was very slow moving it didnt really move too much kind of along areas of Lincoln County into Custer County. Thats what created these higher amounts. North Platte wasnt the only place to see prolific amounts of snow. Gomez said Big Springs in the Panhandle reported 14 inches and the Custer County community of Merna in central Nebraska had 12 inches of snow. The central Nebraska town of Broken Bow also had 12 inches. Most of the snow fell between 6 p.m. and midnight Thursday, Gomez said. The snowstorm closed well more than 100 miles of Interstate 80 lanes from as far west as the Wyoming border to as far east as Kearney, according to data from the Nebraska Department of Transportations 511 website. By late Friday afternoon, the website showed the highway reopened as the storm gave way to sunshine and snowplows cleared the roads. Snow in the metro area ranged from less than an inch at the National Weather Service office in Valley to 2.9 inches in Bellevue, meteorologist Katie Goss said. The official measurement at Eppley Airfield was 1.4 inches as of noon Friday. The snow was preceded by rain that came into the Omaha area Thursday night. Rainfall measured less than one-tenth of an inch, meteorologist David Pearson said. He added the rain transitioned to snow around 3 a.m. Friday. Even for the hardest hit areas, the snow is expected to be temporary. The storm system had mostly cleared out of Nebraska by midafternoon Friday. The temperatures are to increase in the coming days. The high temperature in the North Platte area is expected to reach the mid-40s Saturday and then increase to the 60s early next week. Its a similar case in Omaha. High temperatures for the area are expected to hit the low 50s Saturday and then reach the 70s early next week. Thats a good thing with these spring systems. When they come through, they do have that potential to drop that heavier snow just because of the extra moisture they have, Gomez said. In a couple of days, then its melted away. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2024 NAIROBI, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Experts gathered in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Friday to discuss how to raise tax revenues in Africa. The conference on reforming tax policy and institutional measures brought together more than 100 delegates, including senior government officials, researchers and scholars from across Africa, to explore ways to develop policy instruments to increase government revenues. In his opening remarks, National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u said that in recent years, Kenya has seen a decrease in tax collection as a share of gross domestic product (GDP), dropping from about 18 percent in 2013 to 14 percent in 2023. "This decline in tax revenues as a share of the economy is due to a number of factors, including low tax compliance and a rapidly growing informal sector that is difficult to tax," Ndung'u said. Ndung'u added that Kenya is in the process of reforming its tax laws to enhance its revenue yield to meet the East African Community bloc's target of 25 percent of GDP. Dominique Njinkeu, interim executive director of the African Economic Research Consortium, a think tank, said African countries should broaden their tax bases to bring more people into the tax net and generate tax revenues to finance public spending. Njinkeu noted that African tax authorities should aim to increase tax revenues without affecting economic output as a way to reduce reliance on public debt to fund social services such as education and health. Barely 10 days after the Yobe State Chairman of the PDP, Sani Nguru, defected to the APC, more officials of the opposition party have also defected to the governing party. Ali Makinta, former chairman and nine ward officials of PDP, have defected to APC in Machina local government on Sunday. MaiMala Buni, Yobe APC governorship candidate, who received the defectors, urged the electorate in the state to vote massively in the governorship election. Mr Buni said this would prove their resilience and justify the votes cast to President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election. There were claims by the PDP that the presidential election results were manufactured in the state. We should use this opportunity of the governorship election to defend the votes scored by the president in Yobe State, he said. Mr Makinta, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, described PDP as a dead party and had nothing to offer the state and the country. We will vote massively for APC in the governorship and state assembly election to improve the votes scored by APC in the presidential election, he said. Earlier, Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, commended the electorate in the state for being resolute and politically principled. Since 1999, the people of Yobe had remained with the opposition party until 2015 under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. So, the governorship and state assembly election will justify our commitment as a people, to the APC and leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, he said. Mr Lawan said Yobe was lucky to have Mr Buni as the governorship candidate, adding that he would consolidate the achievements of the Gaidam administration. We, in the National Assembly will protect the interest of the party to get what is due for the state and support President Buhari to move Nigeria to the next level, he said. (NAN) The Senator-elect for Osun East Senatorial District (Ife/ Ijesa land), Chief Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi has appealed to all Ijesa sons and daughters to be calm and peaceful. In a press release by his media assistant, Sam Segun-Progress and made avail able to journalists in Osogbo, Fadahunsi noted that meaningful development can only take place in a peaceful atmosphere. According to him, Ijesa land and Ife land has been destined for greatness, no evil force can disturb the district from realising this lofty goal. He therefore charged the youths not to allow themselves to be used as agents of division and retrogression of the destined growth and development of Ijesa land. Ijesa land has always enjoyed communal life where love and care for one another above all other considerations existed. There is need to reinvent the Ijesa spirit of oneness and brotherhood of the old when peace and harmonious relationship existed amongst all Ijesa sons and daughters. We have evolved over the years a virile and trusted leadership capable of making the electricity distribution company see reason for cooperation with Ijesa land in order to achieve success. Ijesa culture of orderliness, peace and justice should be sustained by all and sundry. We need to thread softly and not allow foreign culture of hooliganism and disorderliness destroy our much cherished glorious past. He equally called on Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to be more responsible and responsive to the yearnings of their customers. This is because there is need for symbiotic relationship for cordiality to exist. It would be recalled that aides of Fadahunsi rescued some Journalists from being attacked by the irate youths protesting blackout in Ijesa land. Fadahunsi therefore enjoined all to team up with our monarchs and community leaders to find a lasting peace to the festering relationship between Ijesa and the power distributing company saying, peace ends all wars. Share this: A Nigerian man decide to surprise the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with as he proposed to her with a new car in Onitsha, Anambra State. The excited lady said YES She wrote; I never saw this coming! I found my other half. Our together is Forever! My special! Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has asked Nigerians not to despair over the various challenges including violence and insecurity facing the nation. Jonathan stated this in a touching Easter message to Nigerians on Saturday, April 20, 2019. Read his full statement below: Easter is a time Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who offered Himself as a sacrifice for the remission of the sins of the world. Christs resurrection as a testimony of the new covenant is the justification for Christians commemoration of the triumph of life over death, freedom over bondage and hope over despair, at this time. I, therefore, urge us not to give up on our ourselves and our nation no matter the challenges that confront us today. At all times we must remain resolute on our love for God and our nation and work towards building a country that we can all be proud of. Through our faith and collective actions, we will overcome the tempests of violence, misery and insecurity that threaten our nation. We are more than conquerors and the future of our nation is bright, if we work as one. May God fill our homes with peace, love and joy even as we enjoy the abundance of Grace that Easter brings. Happy Easter! Senate president Bukola Saraki has said the All Progressive Congress might lose hold of the incoming 9th National Assembly if care is not taken as what happened in 2015 might play out again. Saraki during the formation of the 8th Senate in 2015 emerged Senate President against the wish of the APC even though he belonged to the party at the time. He defected to the PDP last year. Although he lost his bid to return to the red chamber, Saraki has warned leaders of the ruling party to behave matured or risk enforcing what played out in 2015 when the 8th Senate was inaugurated. He stated this in a statement signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. One of those he warned is the national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu, who recently attacked the leadership of the National Assembly. It is now clear that those who took Senators away from the chambers contrary to the directive contained in the proclamation signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 9, 2015 are mistake personified, Saraki said. It is obvious that if they repeat that arrogance during the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly, they will fail again because Nigeria is greater than them. The institution of the legislature is bigger than the over-bloated egos of these power mongers and dirty schemers, he warned. Saraki also slammed Tinubu for attacking the National Assembly under his leadership. He said the former Lagos governor has formed the habit of attacking the legislature quarterly. He restated insinuations in some quarters that the former governor is strategically planning to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari when the tenure of the latter hopefully winds down in 2023. Let us repeat again that we know that a Machiavellian politician like Tinubu will forever agonize over his erroneous belief that Dr. Saraki frustrated his ambition from becoming running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari through a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2015. An Abuja based pastor has been arrested for alleged involvement in employment scam, a report by The Nation has shown. The Pastor of Spirit Embassy church located in Gwagwalada area of Abuja, who was working with one Alhaji, claimed they had connection and could get interested job seekers employment into the Nigeria Immigration Service. 25-year-old Egbunu Vincent Onuche said he collected between N150, 000 to N300, 000 from 16 people who indicated interest in the employment. The interested people, according to him, were church members, friends and family members. He, however, claimed the Alhaji made over N2million from the interested job seekers, adding the Alhaji gave him N100, 000 from the whole money they realised. Speaking on how he was arrested, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT, CP Bala Ciroma said: On the 7th May, 2019 at about 1600hrs one Egbunu Vicent Onuche m age 25yrs was arrested by our operative, upon a report by one Ijeoma Ebenje that Vincent collected the sum of N200, 000 from her with a promise to get her a replacement employment with the Nigeria Immigration Service. Upon interrogation he admitted to the crime and explained he met one Alhaji Sanusi Musa sometimes back who told him that if he knew anybody looking for employment that he can assist. Vincent then informed his friend Ekene Ijeomas brother who then told her about the offer. She was asked to pay the sum N200, 000 which she did and even got a confirmation email from the fraudsters created Immigration E-mail Address. He said 16 other people paid him N200, 000 to N300,000 for employment into the Nigeria Prison Service and replacement into the Nigeria Immigration Service. He explained that crisis started when on the date of the said interview and collection of appointment letters, One Maimunat that is supposed to facilitate the process asked for additional foN450,000 collectively from all of them. Narrating how he got involved in the employment saga, he said: I am the senior pastor of Spirit Embassy located in Gwagwalada. I am also a victim. I was the one that brought people in. I brought 16 people and some of them paid 150,000 while others paid N200, 000. When I was introduced to him, I also paid N200, 000. The Police arrested me because the Alhaji is currently at large and the people want me to provide their money. Out of the whole deal, I got N100, 000. I met the Alhaji through a programme. He came with a lady called Maimunat and they asked me if I had people who were looking for jobs and I said yes. He then gave me his card reading OC to the President, one SP Halidu and he said we should address our acceptance letter to him. He continued: There was no interview but I didnt suspect anything because he did not act in a suspicious manner. Some of the people I brought are family members, friends and members of the church. I did not know that the job was not real. We were all waiting for documentation and it was on the day of the documentation that he started asking for extra money and that was when it crossed our mind that the man might play a fast one on us. We started investigation and found out that the letters were not genuine. Ciroma said all his victims came forward with their proof of payment to Vincent for employment into the Nigeria Prison Service. He also said investigation was on going to arrest the said Maimunat and Alhaji Sanusi Musa. PRESS STATEMENT As security challenges in Benue State continued to be a challenge, the State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia is working hard to solve the problem Sadly, the Governors effort to solve the problem appears misunderstood by many on the basis of recent postulations by some highly placed Nigerians including the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. Arise News reported on its television a reaction from the Senate to the complaint of the Senator representing Benue North East Senatorial District, Emmanuel Udende brought to the red chamber that over fifty constituents were killed by armed herders in latest attacks on the communities. On the strength of this complaint, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio remarried that the complaint should have been the first line of thought by Governor Alia and not Senator Udende! According to the news, the Senate President accused Governor Alia of inaction and that the situation required the use of security votes, which is a duty to safeguard the state as expected but Alia has not or cried out and failed to marshal out the plans with security operators within the state to handle the matter before we can bring the issue to the President. The government of Benue State appreciates the Senate for attending to the motion promptly and in particular for drawing the attention of the Service Chiefs with Commanders and other security chiefs saddled with the duty to listen and rise to the duty even as the government differs on some concerns the Senate President has raised! It is necessary to stress that no discerning leader can afford to keep quiet on the level of insecurity in the state today This explains why Governor Alia has reinforced the security measures with the full implementation of the States Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017 to stop the criminal activities of the armed herders in the state! To mitigate the security challenges, the State Security Council Meeting headed by the Governor resolved previously to give fourteen days as an ultimatum believed to be a non kinetic approach to enable the criminals pull out of the state. The ultimatum expired on March 6th, 2024 and the state government has authorized security agents to enforce the compliance of the law, while the violators who carry with them violent weapons are treated as dangerous criminals! These measures are in the public places no one must keep away or feign ignorance that Governor Alia is silent on security challenges of the state. By the way, security for life and property is a universal duty, but more for those elected and mandated to exercise power for the people. Under the circumstance, it beats the imagination why the Senate President would choose and pick who to praise or vilify on the universal duty? Moreover, findings from both formal and informal sources have indicated that the recent attack on Gbagir, a settlement area in Ukum was a militia clash. Two local militia gangs fighting for supremacy where another engaged the services of some herders militia to complement its strength to undue another. Sen. Udende is not oblivious of this. He hails from this same area. He needs to explain to Nigerians why he chose to shed the militia in his locality from this particular attack and misled the President of the senate and Nigerians to believe the attack was carried out by the Fulani militia. Sir Tersoo Kula, MNIPR Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State. Related The Police in Rivers State said it has arrested a man identified as Michael Chidozie, for allegedly beating his wife and strangling her in their residence in Mile 4, near Port Harcourt, the state capital. Though it was not clear how the incident happened, it was learned that the victim and mother of three, Mrs Ufuoma Eriera Chidozie, who hails from Delta State allegedly died after sustaining injuries after he was assaulted in the early hours of Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The children of the couple are aged 10, seven and five respectively, all males. A source in the area who pleaded anonymity said the deceased husband put a call across to his late wifes brother to come that there was an emergency at home but fled before his in-law arrived. When the late womans brother arrived, the house was open and quiet. He then went in only to find the lifeless body of his sister. He shouted and called out the name of the womans husband. But he was nowhere to be found and there was no trace of him. Since then they have been looking for him and even reported the matter to the police, the source explained. He further revealed that before now the couple had been having issues, adding that the man had been complaining to some of his close friends. It was gathered that the suspect was however arrested Wednesday morning by the Agip Police Division, Mile 4, Port Harcourt. The spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect was in detention and that an investigation is ongoing. Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, disclosed that following his arrest, the suspect was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Port Harcourt for discreet investigation. She said, The suspect has been arrested. He has been transferred to the SCIID for discreet and proper investigation. Our correspondent learnt that the womans corpse had been deposited in the mortuary, as the police and the family had agreed on an autopsy as part of the investigation before she would be buried. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, welcomed the British Deputy High Commissioner, Lagos, Jonny Baxter, to Ibadan, the state capital. Their meeting focused on bolstering trade and economic growth within the agribusiness sector, as well as strategising for job creation and strengthening the relationship between the United Kingdom and Oyo State. Baxter shared insights from the encounter via his social media handle on Thursday, March 7. Accompanied by snapshots from the meeting, Baxter wrote, Great to meet the Oyo State Governor #seyiamakinde yesterday in Ibadan. Had good discussion on improving trade & economic development opportunities in agribusiness as well as how to create jobs and build a more prosperous relationship between and Oyo State. Guard well your thoughts when alone and your words when accompanied. Roy T. Bennett. I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen. Ernest Hemingway. A tradition exists in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in which the head of that strategic national institution, is specifically charged with making public pronouncements to corpers at the different camps of the NYSC at both the end of the orientation and the passing out parade. Over the past year, the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Yushua D. Ahmed has kept faith with this well entrenched tradition aforementioned. An interesting dimension in these messages over the past year since he emerged as the head of the NYSC, is the symbolism of empathy and fatherly sensitivity towards advancing the security, well-being and welfare of the youngsters put in his charge as participants in the annual national service scheme which commenced over half a century ago. The opening quotes by Roy T Benett and Ernest Hemingway are therefore intertwined with the essence of this reflection. This is because in Africa, we are told that the words of elders must of necessity embody words of wisdom. It is therefore our responsibility in this brief analytical observation to attempt comprehensive HARMENEUTICS of these pieces of speeches by the DG which often enjoy broad-based media coverage going by the telos of those messages and what the youngsters stand to benefit should they meticulously imbibe those wise words and then externalise these lessons encapsulated in these speeches of the head of the NYSC. I must confess that due to the brevity of my current media intervention, it is not practically feasible to digest the entire body of knowledge encompassed in those speeches which in any event, yours faithfully takes very meticulous interest in keeping press cuttings of these speeches since the last 17 years. So our focus would be on just a few of these most recent speeches of the DG of the NYSC. It is hoped that our attempt at reaching a clearer HARMENEUTICS of these speeches, will serve as a positive tonic to energise a sense of patriotism and the pursuit of excellence by the hundreds of thousands of the participants of the scheme. This is because, whatever they can take away whilst on this national service, will significantly contribute towards engineering the kind of future careers that they have been academically formed whilst in their courses of study at the tertiary education institutions. I remember that in my 100-level Philosophy class, we were brought face to face with a statement made by one of the earliest founding fathers of Philosophy who said that: We become what we eat. This analytical observation will start from the point of the most important then we go down the lanes of other speeches that equally embody wider utilitarian values within themselves. We start by looking at what the corpers were told about the hazards of interfering in local politics. The reason for this warning is that in most places in Nigeria, politics is a very hazardous enterprise and the country has had its own fair share of violent crises instigated by political hirelings and armed thugs who are often recruited by desperate politicians to win elections by crooked means. A good example of how so dangerous politics is, can be deduced from stories of a few of the corpers engaged in election duties during the last years General election. These corpers were almost lynched over alleged involvement in election rigging which the NYSC authority denied. So this word of wisdom is coming at a good time because Edo and Ondo states will have their governorship elections and the electoral umpires rely a lot on the assistance of corpers deployed for election duties to undertake some of the core election related assignments. The corpers are actually the field officers deployed by INEC to conduct the election. So if any of the corpers is known to be politically aligned with one of the local political forces, it will be difficult if not impossible for any sort of public trust to be repose on such a politically motivated corper who is drafted to do election duties. The best approach is for corpers to remain absolutely non-partisan and neutral. So, telling corpers to stay away from local politics is such a nice idea. Secondly, the word of wisdom from the DG urging corpers to embrace entrepreneurship and skills acquisition, is a great idea. This is because, due to high unemployment in the Country, the best way for Youths to become useful is for them to imbibe skills and get vocational training to empower them with divergent skills so they are in a position to be on their own and become wealth creators rather than wander about in the city centres in search of the elusive white collar jobs. The DG asked corpers to get use to their environment of posting and shouldnt be asking for redeployment. This is basically the core aim of NYSC which is all about integration and getting to know the divergent cultures of the different people of Nigeria. Importantly, the DG asked corpers to avoid night journeys and to become very sensitive to their own security. The lesson from here is self explanatory going by the heightened state of insecurity in the country. From all that have been stated above, if you are reading this, kindly inform a corper that you know to digest the speech of the DG, read at their end of orientation camp so they can very well enjoy their stay and and be safe during their service year. For the avoidance of semantic doubts, the next few lines are drawn from some of those speeches we have just rendered a comprehensive hermeneutics with the view to getting the corpers to be safe. For a start, we read that the Director General of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier-General Yushau Ahmed warned serving corps members against meddling in local politics during their service year. The DG, while addressing Corp members at the closing ceremony of 2024 Batch A stream 1 in Sokoto on Wednesday further urged them to accept their posting in good faith. Discouraging corps members against seeking redeployment, the NYSC boss enjoined them to associate well with their designated communities and contribute to their growth. Represented by the Sokoto State NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Usman Yakubu Yaro, the DG urged corps members to respect the culture and traditions of their host communities and to remain peaceful and resilient while adding value. He further charged them to take their security seriously. Also take your security seriously. Take time to read the instructions in your manual and abide by them accordingly. Your security is our concern, but no one can secure you more than yourself. He emphasized the need of developing skills and encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset inside the Scheme. Ahmed urged corps members to seize the chance to become self-sufficient and become job and wealth creators after their service year. He thanked the Government of Sokoto State and the Sultanate Council for their unflinching support to the NYSC. A passing out parade for the 2024, witnessed a successful ceremony in the Camp during the Passing Out Parade for the 2024 Batch A Stream 1 Corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Dazigau, Nangere Local Government area of Yobe state. The NYSC Director General Brigadier-General YD Ahmed has urged the 2024 batch A stream 1 corps members to embody the ideals of the scheme, he implored them to become good and exemplary ambassadors of fostering unity in any society they find themselves. The Director-General who was represented by the State Coordinator NYSC Yobe, Mrs. Hafsat Yerima gave a stern caution against engaging in criminal activities, and that the Corps members should uphold the good reputation of their families and NYSC at large. Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has advised corps members to take advantage of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme of the Corps. Ahmed made the call during a working visit to the Permanent Orientation camp of the Anambra Branch of the scheme, on the occasion of their cultural carnival on Saturday. He said the Federal Government, through the NYSC, had an agreement with corporate organisations to provide zero interest loans to corps members. with bankable proposals. This is unprecedented because theres nowhere you can borrow money and return it without interest. So, take advantage of the SAED programme which enables you to be self-reliant, he said. The DG, who was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Dikeora I of NYSC, Anambra, told the corps members to be prepared for wherever they would be posted to for their primary assignment. He said Anambra was safe and the people accommodating while urgjng them to respect the culture and ways of the people of their host communities. According to him, do not waste your time asking for relocation out of the state. The state is peaceful and the people are loving. Be peaceful, resilient and ready to contribute to the progress of the community you were posted to. On her part, Mrs Ekene Iruma, the Coordinator of the NYSC in Anambra, said a total of 1,532 Corps Members, comprising 694 males and 838 females, registered for the 2024 Batch A Stream 11 in the state. Iruma said the camp was peaceful and all camp officials worked as a team to achieve success in the Orientation Course. I am pleased to inform the DG that since the installation of CCTV cameras and the repair of the collapsed fence, this camp has been enjoying a safe and secure environment. The enhanced security measures have contributed to the overall safety and wellbeing of our corps members and staff. Your support, in implementing these improvements, is highly appreciated. We cherish your coming to be a blessing to us. As we are basking in the euphoria of your visit, we assure you we will make you proud, she said. Conferring the title on the visiting DG, Igwe Joel Egwuonwu of Umuawulu, one of the host communities, said they were pleased with what Ahmed was doing for the scheme. He prayed for the DG and extended the good wishes of the people of Anambra to him. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 10 major cultural areas in Nigeria were represented by the 10 platoons who competed in culture displays, egg race, fastest kit-up and other games. Around November of last year, the Director-General (D-G) of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Yushau Ahmed, had lamented that the scheme has lost many corps members to night journeys, while warning them against such fatal actions. Ahmed, at a working visit to the Kaduna State NYSC temporary orientation camp on Tuesday, reminded the corps members the dangers in night journeys, adding that they sometime lead to the loss of lives. I have harped on avoiding of night journeys in every NYSC camp and fora I find my self, my first priority is safety of your lives. If you take the decision to embark on night journey, remember the dangers associated with it and rethink, your lives are precious to us too. Once you are on a journey and realised itis already 5:pm, break up the journey, have a place to sleep and continue the following day,Ahmed advised. He said that most of the drivers were not familiar with the roads, which usually causes accident, among other factors like driving when tired. The director-general also advised the corps members to be security conscious, saying that no one would secure their lives more than they would do so. Ahmed further advised them to restrict social media to their personal consumption, while tasking them on respect for constituted authorities. Ahmed also tasked them on continuing with the regimentation they undergone in camp after their service year, adding that it would help them achieve greatness in all their endeavors. Uphold the ideals of patriotism, diligence, loyalty, respect for others culture/tradition and self-empowerment while in service and beyond, he added. Ahmed commended the camp officials and corps members for their orderliness and regimentation spirit, while restating his administrations committment in taking the scheme to greater heights. Earlier, the State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Hassan Taura, explained that the orientation course was designed to mould the corps members into highly disciplined and patriotic youths, capable of leading the country to greater heights. For that reason, he said, they participate in all the activities in camp which include military drills, skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development training, language studies, leadership and martial arts trainings as well as lectures on national topical issues. Taura, therefore, appealed to the director-general for better operating environment and addressing some challenges faced in the orientation camp like inadequate amenities. He, however, thanked him for his positive disposition to the smooth operation of the scheme. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high point of the event was cultural dance and cash donation to some of the corps members who distinguished themselves in camp activities. NAN also reports that the corps members, who were of the 2023 batch C stream 1, officially began the orientation course on November 7. *Emmanuel Onwubiko is the head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and was NATIONAL COMMISSIONER OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA NAIROBI, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Friday marked International Women's Day with senior officials renewing their commitment to eliminating cultural and economic barriers that hinder the realization of gender parity in public life. President William Ruto presided over the International Women's Day celebration in the central Kenyan county of Embu, vowing to advance the welfare of women and girls in all spheres. "Our country is inching closer to realizing the goal of equal rights for both men and women. We have enacted sweeping legislative and policy reforms to ensure that dignity, rights and privileges for women are protected," Ruto said. The 2024 edition of International Women's Day was held under the theme of "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," underscoring the importance of gender-inclusive economic development. Ruto said the government is committed to narrowing the gender gap in elective positions besides leveraging punitive legislation to eliminate harmful practices like gender-based violence, female genital mutilation and forced marriages. While decrying the growing crisis of femicide in the country, Ruto pledged to mobilize resources and place security apparatus on alert to boost the safety of women and girls. Ruto said the implementation of a bottom-up economic transformation agenda focusing on affordable housing, food security, financial inclusion and universal health coverage will also benefit women. He added that women's economic empowerment will also be realized through investments in value addition for agricultural produce, the establishment of industrial parks and digital superhighways. To demonstrate his commitment to gender parity in public service, Ruto announced the appointment of 10 women ambassadors and six deputies who will soon be posted in the country's foreign missions. Aisha Jumwa, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage, said the government is committed to the affirmative action agenda to ensure women occupy senior elective and appointive positions. The mother of three who hailed from Delta State , allegedly died after sustaining injuries following the assault in the early hours of Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Mrs Ufuoma Eriera Chidozie The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Michael Chidozie for allegedly beating his wife and strangling her to death in Mile 4, near Port Harcourt. Mrs Ufuoma Eriera Chidozie, a mother of three who hailed from Delta State, allegedly died after sustaining injuries following the assault in the early hours of Tuesday, March 5, 2024. She died leaving behind her sons aged 10, 7, and 5. A source in the area who pleaded anonymity told Punch that the victims husband called his late wifes brother to come that there was an emergency at their home but fled before his in-law arrived. The source said: When the late womans brother arrived, the house was open and quiet. He then went in only to find the lifeless body of his sister. He shouted and called out the name of the womans husband. But he was nowhere to be found and there was no trace of him. Since then they have been looking for him and even reported the matter to the police. He further revealed that the couple had been having issues. The suspect was however arrested Wednesday morning, March 6, by the Agip Police Division, Mile 4, Port Harcourt. The spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect was in detention and that an investigation is ongoing. The womans corpse has been deposited in the mortuary pending an autopsy. Bandits launched an attack on LEA Primary School in Kuriga community, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducting of over 280 pupils. Sani Abdullahi, a teacher from Government Secondary School Kuriga, confirmed that 287 students were missing at the attack on Thursday, March 7. Speaking to Governor Uba Sani during his visit to the community, Abdullahi revealed that the bandits invaded the schools around 8am. The teacher said the bandits killed a member of the Kaduna State Vigilante Service (KADVS) who attempted to confront them. At GSS Kuriga, 187 students are presently missing. In the primary school, 125 pupils were initially missing, but, 25 of them escaped and returned home, Abdullahi told the governor. Abdullahi recounted the moment of the attack, explaining that while signing the staff register in the acting principals office, they suddenly discovered the school surrounded by bandits. He said, I resumed work by 7:47 am and entered the acting principals office to sign the staff register when the bandits surrounded the school premises. All of a sudden, the acting principal asked me to look at my back and when I turned, we discovered that bandits had surrounded the school premises, Abdullahi said. We became confused, we didnt know where to go. Then, the bandits ordered us to enter the bush, so we obeyed them because they were many. So, when we entered the bush, I was lucky to escape alongside many other people. I returned to the village and reported what happened to the community. Immediately our vigilante and personnel of Kaduna Vigilante Service followed the bandits, but the vigilante did not succeed. The bandits killed one of the vigilantes, we just buried him a short while ago. It was when we came back that we briefed the village head and we started making efforts to find out the actual number of pupils and teachers taken by the bandits. In his remark, Governor Uba Sani expressed deep concern for the abducted children, emphasizing that every child in Kaduna State is his responsibility. Since I received the sad news of this incident, I have not had rest of mind because every child in Kaduna state is my child. So, I dont want you people to be disturbed. Let us pray to God to help and on our part as a government, we will not rest until these children return home, Sani said. He assured the community of government efforts to ensure the safe return of the children and pledged to establish a police station and build a permanent military camp in the area. The governor also informed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, about the attack and assured that security forces would be deployed to rescue the abducted children. Governor Sani concluded by affirming the governments commitment to supporting the community until the safe return of the children is achieved. We will do whatever we need to do to ensure the safe return of these children, even if it means coming to Kuriga to stay with you, he said. KanyiDaily had also reported how bandits allegedly killed a 53-year-old baker, Tijani Amedu and abducted his 13 relatives, mainly children, who were traveling with him in the Katari area of Kaduna state. President Bola Tinubu has strongly denounced the recent abductions in Borno and Kaduna states, issuing urgent directives to security and intelligence agencies to launch immediate rescue operations for the victims. In Borno State, on Thursday, February 29, approximately 200 internally displaced persons (IDPs), including women, boys, and girls, were reportedly abducted by suspected terrorists while gathering firewood in Gomboru-Ngala and Dikwa council areas. Similarly, in Kaduna State, armed bandits stormed a school premises in Kuriga, Chikun council area, kidnapping around 287 pupils and teachers. In response to these distressing incidents, President Tinubu, as conveyed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, expressed his condemnation and assured swift action to rescue the victims. The President condemns the heinous incidents of abduction, involving very vulnerable victims: internally displaced persons in Borno State, and students in Kaduna State, the statement read. Tinubus directive emphasized the immediate rescue of the victims and the pursuit of justice against the perpetrators. He extended sympathies to the families affected, assuring them of imminent reunions with their loved ones. I have received briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered, Tinubu affirmed. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has been summoned by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), over the unlawful detention of the Chief Executive Officer, Alliance Hospital Abuja, Dr Christopher Otabor. Rep. Mike Etaba, Chairman, House Committee on Public Petition, ordered the Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs Fatima Waziri-Azi, to appear before it on April 18. The committee said the D-G should come and answer questions concerning the unlawful detention of Otabor. He said that failure to appear would leave the committee with no choice than to issue a warrant of arrest. The chairman said that it was unfortunate that NAPTIP, which detained Otabor for four days, was not at the investigative hearing. The committee also urged the police officer who handled the case surrounding the alleged organ harvesting leveled against Otabor before NAPTIP arrested and detained him to also appear before it. We will handle this matter the way it should, we will be thorough in our investigation and whoever is found guilty will be punished. This country is not a lawless country; whoever violated the Nigerian constitution will be dealt with severely. Everybody that is supposed to respond to the petition must be here, or we will issue an arrest warrant, he said. The committee said it was unfortunate that NAPTIP relied on social media to obtain information that led to Otabors detention. The committee said such action could tarnish someones image, adding that such conduct was unacceptable, this matter is too gross for our hearing. We must get the date of the arrest and those involved in the arrest, including the statement from the IPO. Why we are discouraging the Japa syndrome, some who are preventing and helping this country to grow are hounded down, this investigative hearing will be a fact finding mission, he said. Rep. Victor Ogene (LP-Abia), a member of the committee, commended the CEO of Alliance Hospital for bringing the matter before the lawmakers. This is the peoples house; this suggests that you have nothing to hide, though I am not exonerating you. All the law enforcement agencies that are supposed to come and present their cases arent here. The D-G of NAPTIP should be summoned before this committee; she knows why she did the illegal detention. The law has prescribed a term of detention. We have an organisation paying a bill of over N70 million and if the staff were driven away, you know how that will affect them and their family, he said. Earlier, Otabor said the police had earlier questioned him over allegations of organ harvesting, and found that it was untrue and some of his staff earlier detained were released. He said following the video circulating on social media that he was involved in organ harvesting, NAPTIP without investigation ordered his arrest and detained him for four days. Otabor said such allegation was an attempt to damage the goodwill and the reputation he had enjoyed for years, adding that NAPTIP`s action was calculated to embarrass and lower his image. He accused NAPTIP D-G of displaying wanton show of power, force and intimidation against him, adding that he had been a reputable multi-specialty healthcare service provider. In the four days I spent in detention at the premises of NAPTIP, no questions were asked regarding any investigation into any matter and my phone was not searched. He said all the allegations against him about organ harvesting were borne out of hatred, adding that he had equally sued the newspaper that indicated his hospital in such dastard act. Today , I visited my big brother, Alhaji Aliko Dangote GCON @AlikoDangote, the president of the Dangote group in his office in Lagos We discussed possible ways of collaboration between Osun and the Dangote group to deliver on our on going road construction projects across the state. We exchanged ideas and discussed the possibility of the state using concrete cement to build strong and lasting road networks. Our deliberation concluded on setting up a collaborative meeting between the officers of the Osun State Ministry of works and the engineers of Dangote Group for further discussion on building lasting road networks using concrete cement and, most importantly, engaging indigenous engineers from Osun during the construction process. I was also delighted to have the daughter of Alhaji, Fatima Aliko-Dangote with us at the meeting. he problem of insecurity in Nigeria is getting worse by the day. He lamented that the media has been awash with terrifying news of banditry, kidnapping, and bloodletting that has turned the country into, perhaps, one of the most terrorized territories on earth. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Friday decried that t Atiku noted that within one week, there have been many reported cases of mass abduction of hapless citizens in the Northwest and Northeast regions of the country. Atiku in a statement on Friday, @atiku highlighted that in the early hours of Thursday, school children numbering over 280, together with their teachers, were abducted in Kunga, Kaduna State, by bandits riding on motorcycles, without any challenge by security agencies. He added that earlier in the week, it was reported that scores of women and children fetching firewood were abducted by gun-totting bandits suspected to be members of Boko Haram. It was also reported that over 200 people, mostly women and children, were abducted from the IDP camp in Ngala in Bornu State. The cases are endless, and the problem seems interminable. The APC-controlled government has failed woefully to give the people the basic things expected of a responsive government. It is a clear manifestation of the failure of governance. The government has continued to play the ostrich while the nation is plagued by insecurity. While the weak and vulnerable are neglected, the government is making empty rhetoric about reforms. And while our young men are abducted, killed, or conscripted into the army of the terrorists and our women and girls are ravished and subjected to different forms of gender-based violence, the authorities do nothing. This is in negation of the constitutionally guaranteed commitment that the security and welfare of citizens is the primary responsibility of government. I stand in solidarity with my fellow citizens and sympathise with the victims and their families. I urge the security agencies to rise up to the challenge and save innocent citizens from the horrors of banditry and terrorism. -AA By Izunna Okafor, Awka The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye has bagged another award recognition for his leadership style and excellent performance as the Police Chief in the State. The honour, Leadership Excellence Award, was presented to the him by the All for Women Initiative, Nigeria (A-WIN), at a conference to herald the 2023 International Womens Day, which held in Awka on Thursday. CP Adeoye, recognized for his advancement in security and proactive policing, was also a Guest Speaker at the event that held in Awka on Thursday, where he spoke on Role of Women in Proactive Policing and Peaceful Society. Addressing the participants, the Commissioner, who hailed the initiative and the platform given to him, explained that proactive policing relies heavily on community collaboration, adding that women play a crucial role in achieving that. Giving an overview of the security situation in the state, CP Adeoye highlighted the successes achieved by security agencies in the State, which he said were achieved through community engagement and intelligence gathering, in addition to other giant strides so far recorded by the States Police Command under his watch. He further emphasized the importance of womens vigilance in their neighborhoods, as well as reporting suspicious activities/movements, and working with the police to maintain peace in the society. While congratulating the women for their strength and resilience, the CP further urged them to become active partners in promoting safety awareness within their respective families, communities, and other areas of endeavours. Chaired by former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, the well-attended event also attracted dignitaries and top government functionaries, including the States Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo; her counterpart in the Ministry of Homeland Affairs, Chief Chikodiri Anara; as well as the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne. Also present at the event were the Traditional Ruler of Umueri, Igwe Ben Emeka; the wife of CP Aderemi and Chairperson of Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) in Anambra State, Mrs. Bolanle Adeoye; the Founder, Solution Kitchen, Mrs. Ngozi Obikwelu; as well as representatives from different groups, including the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other women-affiliated groups. Themed, Women Gear Up, Aspire and Win, the event, aside recognizing the efforts and exceptional leadership of CP Adeoye, also served as a platform to motivate and sensitize the women, as well as highlight the significance of their involvement in ensuring peace and security within the state. Recall that CP Adeoye had earlier, in January this year, also received similar honour Award of Excellence in Security Architecture from the Association of Past President Generals of Anambra State (APPAS), all in recognition of his tireless efforts and the outstanding performance of the States Police Command (under his watch) in promoting safety and strengthening the security architecture of the State. Related Students of various universities and polytechnics in Imo State have matched on the streets of Owerri, the state capital, protesting what they referred to as a hike in school fees and poor education. The students displayed several placards with different inscriptions such as, Stop the hike in our school fees, We need a conducive learning environment, Government should equip our schools with modern facilities, We are suffering too much to pay our fees, We are unduly extorted through handouts and textbooks, Students are dropping every day due to fee increment among other exhibitions. The students made up of those from Imo State University (IMSU), the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Alvan Ikoku University of Education (AIUE), Federal Polytechnic Nekede and Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Umuagwo took to the major streets of Owerri and the demonstration climaxed at the Imo State Government House on Thursday morning. Speaking during the protest rally, the Vice President of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Aheneku Valentine Nzubechi, lamented over the high cost of living, accommodation, and school fees occasioned by the prevailing economic crisis, calling on the government of Imo state to come to their rescue by mediating for them in their various institutions. He said, We are on this peaceful protest to register our grievances on the high cost of living in the state nay, the country. This is a joint gathering of IMSU, FUTO, ALVAN, POLYNEK and IMSUAES. We have come to let the Imo government know about the level of suffering we have been subjected to by our various schools. We have come to say no to the hike in our school fees. Imo students are paying through their noses to be in school yet we are being heavily extorted through handouts and textbooks by our lecturers. The current economic situation too has worsened it all. Government and our schools should provide us with a conducive learning environment, equip our school medical centers by providing functional medical equipment. The government should save our future by ensuring equality and qualitative education for Imo students. Education is our right. And our voices must be heard. The students further urged the government to make and effectively implement good education and people-oriented policies to cushion the effects of hunger and poverty in the system. Related The Women of Orji Autonomous Community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State are protesting over the alleged illegal arrest, detention of their Woman Leader, Mrs. Prisca Mbaoma and her husband Mr. Joseph and their children on a trumped up charges by the Traditional Ruler Eze Innocent Opara and his cohorts. The Women in their uniforms numbering over 1000 under the aegis of Orji Women Federated said that there ancestral Nkworji Market which was renovated by former government of Senator Rochas Okorocha regime and peacefully handed over to the women before the Traditional Ruler Eze Innocent Opara connived with the former Commissioner for Trade and investment Hon. Simeon Ebegbulem and Members and leadership of Imo State Amalgamated Market Traders Association ISAMATA introduced what they described as a criminal market Developer one, Eze-Elect Kelechi Igwe to destroy the market in a ploy to rebuild it into an ultramodern market stalls with a view to hand back to the original owners. Speaking, Lolo Stella Williams, said that the women abi-nie-tio resisted such move to deprived the women their Fortunes because it was the only market serving the entire community. According to her, Eze Innocent Opara convictions that the developer will hand over after the market is completed when he debunked the rumours on the accusations of his attempt to outright sales of the market which he openly denied. She pointed out that, the issue got twisted, when the developer who was assured to hand over after completion of the project have started selling the newly constructed one Hundred and Ninety Eight shops at the whopping sum of 7 to 8 million Naira per each shop without giving the shops back to the original owners (Women) as earlier agreed. She pointed out that all the attempts meant to correct the anomaly proves abortive as the traditional ruler and his cohorts vehemently refused to deal with the original shops owners which she said that the women rejections of the illegal taking over of the shops has resulted to crisis and intimidations and the current illegal arrest and detention of the Woman Leader Mrs Prisca Mbaoma and her family members in a Commando style by the alleged Members of Nigeria Police Force Imo State Command. We are members of Orji Women Federated, ( Ndiom Orji) and the reason why we came today been 7 March 2024, at Owerri Imo State Capital was to inform the governor Senator Hope Uzodimma and the police Commissioner Imo State Command CP Aboki Danjuma on the maltreatment, illegal arrest detention by the police on trumped up charges from the Orji Autonomous Community Traditional Ruler, Eze Innocent Opara and his cohorts in the government and also the self acclaimed Nkworji Market Developer who has indirectly cornered our business shops numbering over 198 stalls and was selling same to the highest bidder. Thereby depriving us our ancestral Nkworji Market. Our resistance lead to harassment, intimidation and illegal arrest of our own woman leader Mrs Prisca Mbaoma, her husband Mr Joseph Mbaoma and their children in the early hours of 7 March 2024, causing Orji Women to go on rampage and we will continue to protests or even go naked until the anomalys are corrected. Governor Rochas Okorocha build the market and handed it over to us and now Senator Hope Uzodimmas boys in contractions with our traditional ruler want to take it away by force by outrightly sales to highest bidder at the high cost of 7 to 8 million Naira. Lolo Stella Williams said. All attempt meant to get the developer to react before filling the report proves abortive and the Traditional Ruler Eze Innocent Opara phone number was not connecting while the action of Women attracted many individuals and some prominent persons from the community who stormed the Imo police Command in their large number to seek for the release of the arrested persons on bail. Related FRONT line members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, on Friday issued one year ultimatum to the national body to improve the fortunes of the members or have the party go into extinction in the state. The party faithful issued the threat during an interactive roundtable meeting with Vice President Yemi Osibanjo in Awka, the Anambra State capital. Former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Chief Fort Dike, said APC members in the state have been hungry, angry and ashamed at the way they are being treated. This is the first time since I joined politics in 1979 that members of the ruling party would be so relegated. Party democracy is never run by gangs, cliques or cabals, he said. He as consequently carried shoulder high as the audience went into an uncontrollable applause. Dike further lamented that although the APC is at the centre, the members in the state are all in pains, suffering bitterly and gnashing their teeth. Its like the members, especially in the state are being deceived, as there were no jobs, no appointments or any way of carrying the people along, he said. Read Also: Osinbajo calls for unity among Anambra APC members A key national board member of the party, Chief Olisa Onyeka, in his presentation requested for 400 board appointment slots for the state. Anambra has only 326 electoral wards and if each ward gets one slot, it would go a long way to buoy the electoral fortunes of the party in the state immensely and even win the governorship in next poll. He alleged that the party has been turned to a regional party by the way its being administered, adding: The way the party and the federal government affairs are being run have rendered APC a regional party. We have been so sidelined in the scheme of things that it is really in doubt whether any of the leaders is thinking of how to shore up the party in the state and zone. Onyeka went further to give the APC leadership a one year ultimatum to change and improve on the welfare of her members in the state or there would be no more APC in the state. He said that while the party prides itself on Next Level, its Last Level in the state. Former Deputy Speaker of the state, Mike Ugwa ,wondered why key policies and programmes of the APC including Trader Moni, Schools Feeding and other such programmes were handed over to opposition parties. He said it has brought a lot of shame and disdain to members of the party. The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says he is confident that Anambra State would join the All Progressives Congress (APC) train during the 2021 governorship election in the state. He stressed that party members must first work as a unit to dislodge the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the election. RIGA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Latvia's ban on imports of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products came into effect on Friday, local news agency LETA reported. The bill, adopted on Feb. 22, bans the imports of grain and grain products, vegetables, fruit, meat, fish and byproducts used in animal feed from Russia and Belarus. These products account for 96 percent of Latvia's imports of Russian agricultural and food products, according to the Food and Veterinary Service. The ban will be effective until July 1, 2025, but can be extended in the future if necessary. The government is expected to report to the parliament the ban's impact on the national economy. Last year, Latvia imported 423,732 tons of grain products from Russia, an increase of 59.9 percent from 2022, according to data from the State Revenue Service. National Pension Commission (PenCom) has directed all Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to update the records of all retirement savings accounts (RSAs) to include Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN). This directive was contained in a notice by the PenCom directing PFAs to carry out a recapture exercise to link BVNs and NIN with RSAs. The directive indicated that the new development is in line with the Federal Government mandate to improve the National Identity System in Nigeria. The federal government of Nigeria has made it mandatory that every Nigerian must have a National Identification Number (NIN). To enable the Pension Industry comply, the National Pension Commission has directed all Pension fund administrators to update the records of their clients, the notice read. Recently, PenCom introduced an Enhanced Contributor Registration System (ECRS) to replace Contributor Registration System (CRS) as part of efforts to sanitise the database of participants in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Gunmen on Saturday kidnapped six people at Gurin village in the Fufore/Gurin Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Alhaji Shuaibu Babas, the member representing Fufore/Gurin Constituency in the State House of Assembly, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the incident occurred in the early hours of the day. I was out of town and was just briefed about the incident. I want to call for calm from my people. This is a shocking development and I urged government to do something about the growing trend. Security needs to be enhanced alongside intelligence gathering to check this ugly development, Babas said. A resident of Gurin community, who identified himself simply as Dahiru, said the incident took place on the outskirts of the village when the kidnapped people went to check their cattle at a grazing area. The kidnappers first attacked a car with five people where they picked four people and later allowed one to go. They later attacked two people on motorcycle adding them to the four to make the number six, Dahiru said. He described the incident as devastating to the village which shares border with Cameroon. We are devastated and look onto God for divine intervention, Dahiru said. The spokesman for the Adamawa State Police Command, DSP. Suleiman Yahaya, could not comment on the development. His phone rang out when he was called repeatedly to comment on the abduction. (NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission has revealed plans to meet the National Assembly to seek parliamentary action on electronic transmission of results in the 2023 general elections. The body also said it had started training the ad hoc workers for the 28 reruns scheduled for January 25. We will engage the National Assembly when we finish internal consultations. We are working towards that (electronic transmission of results), INEC Director (Voter Education and Publicity), Osaze Oluwole-Uzzi, said in an interview with journalists in Abuja. He said they were ready for the reruns because all the non-sensitive materials had been sorted out and ready for distribution. Oluwole-Uzzi said, We have recruited ad hoc staff and training has commenced. The first set of training has been concluded in all the affected constituencies and senatorial districts. Non-sensitive materials have been sorted and they will arrive before the elections. British Airways and Emirate Airlines are among the carriers unable to land at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and were instead rerouted to Ghana. The diversions are roiling travel plans for many of their customers, according to statements emailed to affected passengers and reviewed by CNN. The diversion was as a result of poor weather in Lagos, which is Nigerias commercial hub, and inadequate equipment to check visibility, according to the countrys Ministry of Aviation. Tweets by fmaviationng The airport is in the process of replacing the old category 2 Instrument Landing Systems with the newly procured category 3 system that allows for the lowest visibility landing, said James Odaudu, director of public affairs for Nigerias Ministry of Aviation. Instrument Landing System (ILS) works as a signal navigation aid that guides pilots when landing in low visibility. Airport authorities in Lagos experienced difficulties replacing their old ILS with a new one, making it impossible for airplanes to land. Unfortunately, there was a malfunctioning of certain components, which, coupled with the unforeseen weather conditions, made landing at the airport difficult, Odaudu said in the statement. Passengers stranded at the Kotoka International Airport in the Ghana city of Accra have reacted angrily, saying it would have been easier if flights had been rerouted to Abuja, Nigerias capital city. Fola Olatunji-David, a technology entrepreneur whose February 11 flight to Lagos was diverted, says British Airways has not made provisions to take them back to Nigeria after initial promises to do so. We landed in Accra on Tuesday night and they kept stringing us along. They kept changing the time, saying, We will leave at 11 pm, we will leave at 2 pm but we are still here, he said in reference to British Airways, in an interview with CNN. Olatunji-David and other passengers have been in Accra for about three days, waiting for flights back to Lagos. He says many flights are fully booked, making it difficult to secure tickets back home. The airline became culpable when they left us to find our way home. There are minors on this flight, pregnant women, people who are now forced to get home on their own, he added. British Airways has not responded to multiple requests from CNN, seeking comment. But according to statements sent to passengers and reviewed by CNN, the airline blamed poor visibility at the Lagos airport and promised to cover passengers hotel, internet, and refreshments costs. We regret to inform you that due to the operational constraints, we have had to cancel this flight. We recommend that you make your own travel arrangements to Lagos as we are unable to operate safely in the coming days, the statement to passengers read. In the meantime, the aviation ministry says it is trying to get back to normal. Officials approved diversion of more recent flights to Abuja, the countrys capital city. Airlines like Qatar Airlines have already applied to redirect their flights to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport in Abuja and got approval for it, Odaudu said. CNN. Share this: President Muhammadu Buhari has raised an alarm of coronavirus affecting the revenue of the country. President Buhari made this known while receiving workers in the health sector under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly Healthcare Professionals Associations yesterday, March 10. Buhari who urged the health workers to moderate their demands on government as it could affect the economy, stated that his administration is looking for different ways to address the challenges the outbreak of the virus poses to the Nigerian economy. In a statement released by Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu, Buhari said; Your case is certainly receiving attention, but you must bear in mind the condition that the country is in now. Coronavirus is not improving matters. It is affecting what we very much depend on, the petroleum industry and therefore revenue. So, please try and help us with your people. Let us be patriotic, let us look at the ways and means of the government and appeal for restraintWe have to emphasize that it is very important we maintain cohesion together, because if we allow sentiments or popularity to overwhelm our reasoning faculties, we will be in trouble and it will be too late for us to adjust, so please bear with us. President Buhari also expressed hope of his administrations drive for food sufficiency in the last four years, coming in handy with the drop in government revenue. He added; Now that its the second week of March, I cant help but think of the events four years ago when COVID-19 changed our lives. It was two weeks to flatten the curve that turned into years with long-lasting consequences. But just this past week, we saw some progress. For the first time since 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said having COVID no longer means isolating for five days. The new guidelines recommend staying home if youre sick, and returning to work or school when you feel better and are fever-free for 24 hours. As the Wall Street Journal put it, Its the latest sign of the virus normalization four years after it upended our lives. Of course, COVID hasnt completely gone away. In fact, a friend of mine got it again just last week, for the fourth time. Fully vaccinated, shes come down with the virus every year since 2020. We still cant figure out why shes so susceptible to it. Despite our compulsive hand-washing and vaccines, my husband, stepfather and I all came down with COVID in early 2022. It meant 10 days away from the nursing home where my mom lives, but thank goodness, the dreadful ban on all visitors at health care facilities was reversed by then. On March 10, 2020, I was newly retired and traveling to Chicago by train. Earlier that week, Amtrak had reported a single passenger on the St. Louis to Chicago route tested positive for COVID. So, I wore a mask, a deluxe N95 model purchased in 2019. (My best friend was undergoing chemotherapy back then, and I wore a mask to help protect her immune system.) With the face covering, I stuck out like a sore thumb; people did a double take at the sight of me. I was literally the only person wearing a mask. As I emerged from Union Station, I did the unthinkable. After wearing it less than three hours, I tossed the N95 mask into a trash can. Oh, I can always get another one, I thought. Ha! It was about to become a highly-coveted piece of personal protective equipment. But, in those early days, we just didnt know what we didnt know. A few weeks later, as my husband and I sat in the kitchen, his nose twitched. Whats that awful smell? he asked. Im not cooking anything I said, and then recognized the overpowering floral scent that filled the room. Oh, its hand sanitizer from the gas station. The smell of gasoline was more preferable than the stench of the sickly sweet sanitizer. At the tiniest whiff, our eyes watered and the dogs barked. The gallons of sanitizer we went through varied from slimy goop to sticky syrup, and most of it smelled gross. Like Lady Macbeth, I obsessively rubbed my hands and cursed, Out, damn sanitizer spot! But my husband is a firm believer in waste not, want not, and we used every drop of the liquid gel we purchased in bulk. Even if it took us four years to do it. Lighter moments that spring were rare, but we had a few, like cringe-worthy home haircuts. My family still laughs at the terrible buzz I gave my husband, making him a dead ringer for Woody Woodpecker. And, after I used a dog trimmer on my stepdads hair, he looked in the mirror and barked. We all went through the challenging pandemic journey together, and looking back, its kind of amazing we made it. The crisis complicated our lives, and made dealing with hardships like Alzheimers disease, cancer, unemployment, addiction, loneliness, etc., even harder. Many families suffered heartbreak, and some are still dealing with the aftermath. But four years have passed, and there have been positive signs. The separation of loved ones is over. Businesses those that survived are open. Schools are back in session. Church doors are open. We havent forgotten, but weve moved on. Does Long COVID cause Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome? An analysis Does Long COVID cause Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome? An analysis What is Long COVID? Other conditions associated with Long COVID What is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)? What causes POTS? Why does Long COVID cause POTS? BLOOMINGTON A 50-year-old man is facing felony charges after police said he delivered cocaine twice. Levi E. Townsend is charged with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Court records indicated he is accused of delivering less than 1 gram of cocaine to a confidential informant for Illinois State Police Task Force 6 on Dec. 4 and 1-15 grams on March 5. Court records show Townsend did not provide an address or city of residence to authorities. Townsend was released and ordered to follow all statutory conditions of pretrial release, in addition to refraining from consuming or possessing any alcohol, cannabis or controlled substances without a valid prescription in his name. An arraignment in the case is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 15. States whose residents are struggling the most financially States Whose Residents Are Struggling the Most Financially Approximately one third of Americans rely on credit cards or loans for regular expenses Financial struggles broken down by income and race and ethnicity 15. New York 14. Florida 13. Hawaii 12. West Virginia 11. California 10. Alabama 9. Texas 8. South Carolina 7. Louisiana 6. New Jersey 5. Oklahoma 4. New Mexico 3. Arkansas 2. Nevada 1. Mississippi NORMAL With a year already under his interim belt, Aondover Tarhule has been selected to remain at the helm of Illinois State University. On Friday, the university's presidential search committee announced Tarhule is expected to be appointed by the Board of Trustees at a special meeting March 18, voting him in as the 21st president of ISU. The board is also expected to review and approve the terms and conditions of an employment agreement for the president, according to ISU's announcement. Over the past two weeks, four candidates for the top job participated in on-campus public forums as part of the interview process, including Tarhule, Donald R. Easton-Brooks, dean of the University of Nevada at Reno's College of Education; Elizabeth "Liz" R. Mullenix, provost and vice president of Miami University in Oxford; and Valerio C. Ferme, provost and vice president of academic affairs for the University of Cincinnati. Tarhule said Friday he was excited and grateful for the opportunity to be able to move forward into the position this year, though he still has to wait for March 18 for it to be official. During his candidate forum, Tarhule said he identified the creation of a Redbird Promise program to expand financial aid for students from low-income families and an increased focus on diversity, equity and inclusion for students and faculty as priorities. The leadership vacancy was created by the abrupt resignation of Terri Goss Kinzy in February 2023, who said only that she intended to pursue other opportunities when she resigned 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. Tarhule was first hired at ISU during the summer of 2020 as the vice president of academic affairs and provost, having previously worked at Binghamton University as vice provost and graduate school dean. 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. Behind the masks: Photos from the Midnight Masquerade Ball Shelleigh and Kevin Birlingmair, Amber Gruenloh, Easterseals Central Illinois Community Vice President Pat Messinger helps her husband Dean with his mask. Pat and Dean Messinger Mark and Sara Larsen Cindy and Mark Segobiano Jason and Jill Stahr, Dr. Vijay Misra, Dr. Rishi Shukla Marcia and Fred Basolo Mark and Melissa Isenburg Tremper Mary and John Burns Mary and John Burns, Mark and Cindy Segobiano, Doris Zink, Pat and Dean Messinger, Melissa and Mark Tremper Scott Miller taking a selfie with Melissa Isenburg Tremper Sara Quah, Marcia Basolo Geneva and Brett Aberle check out the auction items Drs. Tom Nielsen, Kathy Bohn Michael and Bev Stevens Alyssa and Russell Edelman Cathy and Tom Holbrook Morgan Falconer, Geneva Aberle, Lyndsey Ramsey Tyanez and Anthony Jones Shelleigh Birlingmair bids on a basket as Dr. Tom Nielsen, Dr. Kathy Bohn and auction organizer Bev Stevens peruse the many unique items Sara Quah chats with jazz pianist Michael Gardner as he performs for the appreciative crowd. Rob Lipic, Kim Ensign, Kate Burcham, Erin Williams, Pam Deaton, Amber Gruenloh, Annie Swanson, Andrea Arduini Jonell Kehias, Erin Williams Dana and Chris Shafer Josh and Brittney Jackson, Evan and Betsy Aughenbaugh Easterseals Central Illinois President/CEO Melissa Riddle, Tony Riddle Doris Zink, Mary Burns Annie Swanson, Katie Rife Bob Dobski, Sonja Reece, Steve Dobski Bob Dobski, Doris Zink Scott Schahrer, Meghan Meyer, Tori Howard, Tyler Davis Peter Heinle, Alicia Bury Ted Foos, Jimie Alexandre Uma Balakrishnan, Paige Meyer Carolyn and Bruce Sutter Valerie and Ryan Hypke Fire has always been a concern for homeowners, but the United States has faced even more fires than usual in recent months. If you're taking precautions in case of a fire in your home, here's what you need to know. CHICAGO A child staying at a migrant shelter on Chicago's Lower West Side developed a confirmed case of measles, city public health officials announced Friday. It was the second case of measles reported in the city this week. Officials said the child has recovered and is no longer infectious. The City of Chicago is responding with a host of resources, a city spokesman said in a statement Friday morning. Those who have been vaccinated can go about their normal business while those who have not been vaccinated will have to remain indoors to watch for symptoms, said the spokesman. Chicago Public Schools issued a statement that said the child was not a CPS student and that all families residing at the shelter were advised to remain in place and that no school-age resident at that shelter should attend school Friday. The site of the newly confirmed case is the most crowded shelter in the citys web of 23 buildings currently housing over 11,600 migrants, thousands who have arrived on buses sent by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott many who come fleeing a failed economy and health infrastructure in Venezuela. It is a large warehouse that has received skepticism from health advocates and volunteers helping migrants after a 5-year-old died there in December. Migrants outside the shelter Friday said theyd been told by shelter staff about the measles case at around 12:30 a.m. They were told to quarantine for 10 days, but migrants said theyd received mixed messages about what that meant. They werent sure if they could go to work or school. The news and confusion led to several fights breaking out in the shelter, said Tibisay Luna, 43, from Valencia, Venezuela. Her daughters 9-year-old Franmaris Luna and 11-year-old Frayeli Luna hugged her legs and cried as they waited for a bus. I received a call from the school that they were missing from class this morning, said Luna, who moved into the shelter with her family at the end of December. So were going to talk to their teachers to tell them whats going on. She said her daughters arent vaccinated for measles, but she hoped they would be soon. Early Friday morning, several doctors arrived at the shelter to begin a round of vaccinations. Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, said in a statement Friday that he had just visited the shelter site on Tuesday and that his office continues to hold bi-weekly meetings with the city and shelter staff to coordinate efforts for preventive care, vaccination, and treatment. Historically, communities of color experience a lower rate of vaccinations due to generational systemic barriers, in many instances not aided or even exacerbated by government-run institutions. We understand the intersectional needs that our communities face, therefore we implore the county, state and federal government to provide immediate assistance to the city of Chicago, Sigcho-Lopez said. Our city continues to face a public health crisis created by the lack of support from the federal government and agencies, and all the aforementioned entities who have not stepped up to support our new arrivals mission in the same way they previously supported migrant communities dignified integration such as Ukrainian refugees. The citys Department of Public Health is working with other city agencies to ensure all migrants at the shelter who may have come in contact with the child are informed and vaccinated. Officials said migrants and staff who have been asked to remain in place will be given increased meal services and protective equipment. Thursday, officials identified the first case of measles in the city since 2019 on the citys Northwest Side. Though the source of the infection was unknown, officials said people who were at the Galter Medical Pavilion at Swedish Hospital or riding the CTA 92 Foster bus the morning of Feb. 27 may have been exposed. That contagious period ended Wednesday. Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It is particularly dangerous to babies and young children. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or when a person comes into contact with an infected persons mucus or saliva, according to state public health information. Health officials say children with measles may experience unpleasant symptoms like high fever and rash. A small proportion of children can develop complications from measles that can be life-threatening, usually an infection of the lungs or brain. Most cases of measles are related to international travel. Since 2011, there have been several confirmed cases of measles in Chicago. Most people born in the United States are vaccinated against the disease, but city officials are urging anyone not vaccinated against measles to do so immediately. Larry Kociolek, an infectious diseases physician at Lurie Childrens Hospital, said infections that are spread through the air like measles and chickenpox can spread quickly in congregate settings like shelters. And Kociolek said many migrants dont have vaccine records. Families tend to be good historians and can accurately report whether or not theyve gotten vaccines If you wanted to confirm you can you can check a blood test for measles immunity, he said. But thats not always feasible particularly in a situation like this. The vaccine is available at most doctors offices and pharmacies. Keywell Barrios, 30, said his wife worked as a nurse in their home city of Valera, Venezuela. Because of that, their family had their vaccinations and immunization records. But Barrios said many inside the shelter on the Lower West Side dont. People were panicked when they heard the news, he said. They thought they would be put out on the street and have to start from ground zero, he said. Barrios rolled a suitcase of dirty laundry from the door of the shelter. His son Johangel Barrios, 5 followed closely behind. Chicago Tribunes Caroline Kubzansky contributed. Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 BAGHDAD, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Two paramilitary fighters from a local tribal force affiliated with the Iraqi Hashd Shaabi forces were killed and four others wounded on Friday in a roadside bomb explosion in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a police officer said. The bomb, which was planted by the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, was detonated near a vehicle carrying the fighters who were on patrol in a desert area near the town of Rawa, some 300 km northwest of Baghdad, said Mohammed Adnan, a police officer in Anbar province. The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has denied reports that it has signed a military co-operation agreement with Russia. "There is, to date, no military co-operation agreement signed recently between Russia and the Democratic Republic of Congo," the ministry of communication and media said in a statement on Thursday. The denial follows an article published by Russian state-owned news agency TASS on Tuesday, which said that Russias government had approved a draft military co-operation agreement with DR Congo. TASS, citing a government document, reported that the agreement entailed joint drills and exercises, military training and "visits by warships and warplanes at an invitation or request". DR Congo says the draft agreement in question was initiated by the two countries in 1999, but is yet to be signed. "Currently, there is no bilateral discussion between the two parties for the effective implementation of this draft agreement. Under current conditions, the Democratic Republic of Congo is not considering any either," the communications ministry added. Russia has been boosting its military deals with African countries as it seeks to extend its political influence on the continent. Through the Wagner mercenary group, Russia has been providing military assistance to the Central African Republic and the junta-led governments of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Zambia has announced it will start rationing its electricity, as the effects of the drought that's hitting much of southern Africa continues to bite. Eight hours of load shedding per day will begin by the start of next week, announced the managing director of the state-owned power company Zesco on Thursday. Victor Mapani said the move was a result of the low water levels at Kariba Dam which is used to generate most of Zambia's hydroelectricity. He said Zambia would continue importing power from Mozambique to cushion the energy deficit on the economy. Mr Mapani advised consumers to use alternative sources of energy. Zambias President Hakainde Hichilema has declared the drought a national emergency and urged local and international partners to help in fighting its effects. Besides affecting the countrys energy sector, the dry spell is already hurting Zambias agriculture sector with an estimated one million subsistence farmers having their planted crops damaged. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The number of women and girls undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) has risen by 15% in the past eight years, according to the UNs childrens agency Unicef. There are now 230 million women and girls around the world who have been subjected to genital cutting, says Unicef, which is 30 million more than the previous data. Most of these are in Africa, with more than 144 million cases, followed by Asia (80 million) and Middle East (six million). Around 40% girls and women who have undergone female genital mutilation live in countries affected by conflict or instability, including Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sudan. But Unicef also says that there has been a progressive decline in others. Some of the countries where FGM cases have declined are Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Kenya. However, Somalia, Guinea, Djibouti and Mali still have high numbers, with at least 89% of the women there between 15 and 49 years having undergone the cut. "We're also seeing a worrying trend that more girls are subjected to the practice at younger ages, many before their fifth birthday," Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell says. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Founder of the Pan African Heritage Museum, Mr Kojo Yankah, has underscored the need for Africans to put up more museums to help remember their past and preserve their cultural heritage. He lamented that out of about 55,000 museums spread across the world, the whole of Africa could only boast of about 900, while the United States of America (USA) alone had about 35,000, with about 15,000 in Europe. It becomes evident from the figures I have shared with you that Africa needs more museums. The reason is very simple; if we want to keep our story; if we want to preserve and save our history, we must find a place to keep them and thats in the museum, he said. Mr Yankah, a former Member of Parliament and former Minister of State, was speaking at an event held in Accra last Wednesday to raise funds for the construction of the Pan African World Heritage Museum in Winneba. Ignorance Mr Yankah said it was sad that most Africans were ignorant about the most significant parts of their history, culture and even the physical continent because they were never taught or heard it from the perspectives of those who sought to oppress them, making Africans strangers to one another. Ghanaians and Nigerians quarrel over jollof but barely know the similarities they have with each other. It is unfortunate that in South Africa theres xenophobia because the borders that divide us were created without our permission, he bemoaned. He added that Africas educational system had failed to teach generations about the varieties of minerals and their economic values which made it easy for those who did not have the minerals but had learnt extensively about them to come to the continent and exploit us. Mr Yankah, who is also a former Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Graphic, stressed that the time had come for Africans to heal themselves of prejudices and xenophobia which were born out of ignorance and segregation. He said the time had come to disabuse the minds of people of stories of achievements, discoveries and inventions by Africans, adding that the exhibition of the continents heroes would go a long way to inspire more Africans to make greater contributions to humanity. Nobody will tell our story for us unless we take the trouble to tell it ourselves, Mr Yankah, founder of the African University College of Communications (AUCC), said. Project The six-storey ultramodern structure, sitting on a 10-acre land, is currently under construction with the core vision to curate and tell the story of Africa using African voices, tools and culture. It will ensure that Ghana and Africas rich culture, traditions, customs, innovation, inventions, religion and art are depicted with truthfulness. When completed, the project would have a rolling terrain covered in greenery to serve as a home to various medicinal plants and herbs. In addition to the main museum, the complex will also feature a mall, a school, an eatery, among others, to reflect a true museum city. There will be two versions of the museum: a physical one and a virtual one. The digital virtual version will be an interactive site modelled on the physical version to give anyone from around the world access to African art, artefacts and commentaries by leading scholars. And for those who cannot travel but have internet, the virtual version is an opportunity for limitless access. The event was attended by high- profile personalities from across Africa, including government officials, traditional leaders, diplomats, renowned musicians and cultural figures, among others. Some notable figures were a former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings; a former President of Botswana, Seretse Khama Ian Khama; Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante; President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu, and daughter of Ghanas first President, Samia Nkrumah. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Atik Mohammed has expressed disappointment in President Nana Addo over his inability to fight galamsey (illegal mining). The former General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC) asked why the President has failed in his promise when he has all resources at his disposal to fight this economic menace. It could be recalled that the President, prior to the 2016 elections, promised Ghanaians he would stop the illegal mining when voted into power. This was generally part of the reasons why the President won the 2016 elections but galamsey doesn't seem to come to an end any time soon. Speaking during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Atik Mohammed slammed the President saying "for the life of me, I cannot just understand it to say that the fight against galamsey, we have lost it. How is that possible? We have every and anything it takes to win that fight but I can't understand why we can't. It's because we are pretending to be fighting this galamsey when indeed we are not doing anything". Atik doubted the President's commitment to the fight stating "we know the sources of galamsey. We know the people involved in galamsey and if the President really and truly is committed to fighting this canker, he knows what to do". "I feel the President has let us down," he added. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has slammed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for inviting President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, to join the celebration of Ghana's 67th independence anniversary. Ghana celebrated her 67th independence at Koforidua in Eastern Region. The event was attended by high-profile dignitaries from across the country and outside with Alassane Ouattara being the Guest of Honor. Speaking on Peace FM's Thursday edition of "Kokrokoo" programme, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, a Governance Lecturer at the Central University, says Mr. Ouattara didn't deserve to celebrate Ghana's independence. "Why Ouattara? President Akufo-Addo, why Ouattara? A person who has changed his constitution to be in power for three terms instead of two terms. He doesn't deserve to have been here because he has disgraced ECOWAS. He isn't a person that should have been invited," he blasted President Akufo-Addo. Watch video below Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Atik Mohammed has condemned the pressure from the international community on President Nana Akufo-Addo not to assent to the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. Ghana's Parliament has passed the anti-LGBTQ+ bill to outlaw the activities of homosexuals, however it awaits presidential assent before it becomes law. Following the passage of the bill, countries like the United States have threatened to stop lending Ghana their support if the President doesn't cancel it. The US ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Evelyn Palmer says the bill is an infringement on the rights and freedom of the LGBTQ+ society. I am saddened because some of the smartest, most creative, most decent people I know are LGBT. The bill Parliament passed takes away not only their basic human rights but those of all Ghanaians because it undermines their constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press. It will be bad for public order and public health. If enacted, it will also hurt Ghanas international reputation and Ghanas economy, she wrote on the embassys X (formerly twitter) page. President Akufo-Addo also seems to be dilly-dallying with the bill as he issued a statement saying "a challenge has been mounted at the Supreme Court by a concerned citizen to the constitutionality of the proposed legislation. In the circumstances, it would be, as well, for all of us to hold our hands, and await the decision of the Court before any action is taken. The operation of the institutions of the Ghanaian state will determine the future trajectory of the rule of law and human rights compliance in our country." Addressing the issue, Atik Mohammed blasted the western world for trying to force Ghana to denounce its cultural values. He described this as "cultural imperialism", stating "it is the next face of imperialism and it's something that every sovereign State endeavors to resist". He questioned the United States and other countries pressuring Ghana to disregard the bill why they are not exerting the same energy on Russia and the Arab countries where LGBTQ+ has been completely outlawed and offenders face death penalties. "Why don't they go to Russia to preach these things? It has been outlawed in Russia. When you to a lot of the Arab countries, this abomination has been outlawed. Why are they not taking their advocacy there? Why are they not taking their threats there?", he fumed. To Atik, President Akufo-Addo should sign the bill and "damn" the consequences thereof. "Already, we are in hardship. You are not bequeathing to us a strong economy. You cannot bequeathed to us a legacy of LGBTQ", he told Presenter Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, adding "Ghana is blessed with all kinds of things, what remains is leadership...As a matter of fact, we should be working ourselves away from aid". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Atik Mohammed has warned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo against not signing the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. The President, in a statement dated March 4, indicated that the bill is not yet on his desk. He also cited a Supreme Court case by some persons in the country challenging the constitutionality of the bill and due to this, has asked the nation to hold our hands, and await the decision of the Court before he takes any action. I think it will serve little purpose to go, at this stage, into the details of the origin of this proposed law, which is yet to reach my desk. But, suffice it to say, that I have learnt that, today, a challenge has been mounted at the Supreme Court by a concerned citizen to the constitutionality of the proposed legislation. In the circumstances, it would be, as well, for all of us to hold our hands, and await the decision of the Court before any action is taken. The operation of the institutions of the Ghanaian state will determine the future trajectory of the rule of law and human rights compliance in our country, portions of the statement further read. The President's response has been interpreted by some people to mean he doesn't want to assent to the bill. Contributing to "Kokrokoo" panel discussion show on Peace FM, Atik Mohammed cautioned the President saying he will leave a bad legacy for his party and the nation if he refuses to sign the bill. "He's going to hurt the NPP and his candidate forever. It's going to be a tag on the NPP as a party that endorses homosexuality and that's going to be a terrible tag that will haunt the NPP for a very long time to come," the former PNC General Secretary warned. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanaian actor John Bredu Peasah, famed for his portrayal of Drogba in the widely acclaimed series YOLO, has made a heartfelt plea to the public for assistance following the revelation of his ongoing health battle. Taking to his official Instagram account, affectionately known as Drogba, Peasah disclosed his diagnosis of demyelinating disease, a condition affecting the protective covering of nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord. The actor disclosed that he has been undergoing treatment for the past two and a half years, emphasizing the financial strain it has placed on him. Peasah's appeal for financial aid underscores the urgent need for support to cover his medical expenses during this challenging period. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Twelve Tribes has been the center of numerous controversies in its half-century of existence. The Yellow Deli claims that "fear ... has caused some to circulate unfounded rumors about us." Some of the allegations regarding the Twelve Tribes include: Advertisement Child Abuse Allegations Allegations of Child Abuse on Twelve Tribes compounds have made headlines since the 1980s. In 1984, police and social workers raided Twelve Tribes locations in Island Pond, Vermont, planning to examine the children for signs of physical abuse. However, a judge ruled the raid unconstitutional, and the children were returned to their families. Decades later, a similar raid took place in Germany after hidden camera footage revealed parents regularly caned children in German Twelve Tribes communities. The 40 children removed from the Twelve Tribes were placed in foster care, a decision the European Court of Human Rights upheld in 2018, according to AP News. The Court found that the Twelve Tribes promoted a form of institutionalized violence against minors and called caning "inhuman or degrading treatment, which is prohibited under absolute terms under the European Convention." The Twelve Tribes admit to using corporal punishment, which is illegal in some countries, but not in the United States. ("We spank them with a small reed-like rod," the Twelve Tribes' FAQ page reads.) Some former members allege the beatings are more violent than the group suggests: In 2018, former member David Pike told the Southern Poverty Law Center he "saw some kids gettin' switched till they bled." Twelve Tribes members are under intense pressure to physically discipline their children. One former member told the Denver Post: "If you are not beating your kids, you are going to be in big trouble. According to AP News, there has been at least one incidence of a Twelve Tribes member going to court over child abuse allegations: In 2000, a Connecticut couple pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree assault and cruelty after hitting their children with a fiberglass rod. Labor Allegations Members of the Twelve Tribes are expected to work (without pay) for their community. This necessarily raises questions about the group's labor practices. "The Twelve Tribe members work members to death," one former member told the FBI. The group has also been found in violation of child labor laws. In 2018, The New York State Department of Labor found multiple violations at a Twelve Tribes cosmetics factory in Washington County, NY, according to the Times Union. Drug Allegations The Twelve Tribes claims "drug and alcohol use is an attempt to fill the emptiness and soothe the pain caused by a bad conscience" and "they have no place in our life because we are forgiven." However, multiple former members of the Twelve Tribes alleged to the FBI that they were unknowingly drugged. According to the FBI interviews, "there is drug use at the commune through baking drugs into 'ritual' bread. LSD and hallucinogenic plants are usually used." Racism On its FAQ page, the Twelve Tribes responds to the question "Are you racist?" with "No. Inside the Community, Yahshua's death for our sins removes all hostility between the races." Some ex-members see things differently. In his memoir, "Better Than a Turkish Prison: What I Learned From Life in a Religious Cult," Sinasta Colucci describes how Black Twelve Tribes leader Yohanan Abraham (formerly John Stringer) "believed that Nathan Bedford Forrest was a righteous man, and he believed that the KKK, in its early days, had a righteous purpose." (Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate general who led a massacre against Black Union troops; After the Civil War, he became the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist terrorist group.) According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, one of the Twelve Tribes' teachings is that [i]t is horrible that someone would rise up to abolish slavery. What a marvelous opportunity that blacks could be brought over here to be slaves so that they could be found worthy of the nations. One FBI interviewee claimed that "[Redacted] has a slave named [redacted]. The slaves are Black." Sexual Abuse Allegations In collected FBI interviews, there are multiple allegations of sexual abuse within Twelve Tribes communities. Law enforcement has received complaints of child sexual abuse from Twelve Tribes locations in Hiddenite, North Carolina, and Manitou Springs, Colorado. One interviewee alleged that "punishment within the cult is being beaten with a rod and having your wife or children sexually assaulted by cult members." Homophobia The Twelve Tribes community is openly homophobic. Their website reads: "Homosexual behavior is immoral and can be mortally dangerous." According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Twelve Tribes founder Elbert Spriggs taught that homosexuality is a capital offense. Misogyny The Twelve Tribes is a patriarchal society. On its website, the group states: "In reality there is practically nothing that [women] 'can't do,' but we choose not to do certain things." Former Twelve Tribes member Jenny Lynn Fiore told the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2018: "I saw very controlling, overbearing husbands treating their wives pretty badly, and there was no real recourse they were basically kitchen slaves." According to the Twelve Tribes website, "many of us [women] run household kitchens that are the equivalent of sizable restaurants, organizing the serving of home-cooked meals at least three times daily, not to mention hospitality for guests and special gatherings and meetings at a moment's notice." CANBERRA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are at greater risk of suicide than the general population, research from a government-commissioned inquiry has found. According to the research, which was released by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide on Thursday, the suicide rate for males serving in the ADF was 30 percent higher than that for the male employed population nationally between 2011 and 2020. The findings contradict evidence given to the inquiry by the Department of Defence in 2021 and the Chief of the Defence Force, Angus Campbell, in 2022 that being a serving member of the military offered a level of protection against suicide. Their testimony was based on Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) research that found the suicide rate was 50 percent lower among males serving in the ADF than the general community but 21 percent higher for ex-serving men and 127 percent higher for ex-serving women. Asked by commissioners to respond to the new research, Richard Marles, Australia's Minister for Defence, said the government wanted to get to the bottom of the issue. The royal commission was established by the former government in 2021 to inquire into the systemic issues and common themes among military and veteran suicides. It is due to hand down its final report in September after the current government in 2023 rejected a request from the three commissioner's for a second 12-month extension. Marles on Thursday conceded the decision to deny an extension would leave the evidence of some families of veterans who took their own lives unheard but said the government needed to get started on implementing change. "We need to see change happening now -- like we need to get moving on this," he said, "We wanted to get your recommendations this year." The inquiry handed down its interim report in August 2022, making 13 urgent recommendations, five of which related to clearing a backlog of 42,000 pending veterans' compensation claims. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Months of record breaking temperatures and the El Nino weather phenomenon pushed the heating up of the world's oceans to a new peak in February, scientists said. Oceans cover 70 percent of the planet and have kept the Earth's surface livable by absorbing 90 percent of the excess heat produced by carbon pollution from human activity since the dawn of the industrial age. The world's oceans have been getting progressively hotter for around a decade, but last year scientists have said the temperatures were "off the charts", as the effects of human-caused climate change combined with the short term warming impacts of the naturally-occuring El Nino. That trend has continued into 2024, with February seeing average sea surface temperatures of 21.06 degrees Celsius, the highest for any month on record, according to Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) data released on Thursday. Overall across the planet last month was the hottest February on record globally, the ninth straight month of historic highs, C3S said. Copernicus' data from across the planet goes back to the 1940s, but Carlo Buontempo, director of C3S, said that taking into account what scientists know about historical temperatures "our civilization has never had to cope with this climate". Buontempo said heat levels in the upper oceans were "remarkable". That's because they show just how much of the extra energy and carbon pumped into the climate system by human activities the oceans have absorbed. Many climate-related records were broken in the last year by enormous margins, scientists have said, particularly temperatures in the oceans. 'Worrying' Sea surface temperature influences weather and climate patterns. Hotter oceans means more moisture in the atmosphere, leading to increasingly erratic weather, like fierce winds and powerful rain. Warmer waters also impact marine life, from coral reefs to migratory species like humpback whales. Since last year, El Ninowhich warms the sea surface in the southern Pacific and leads to hotter weather globallyhas intensified the longer term global warming that has driven a relentless increase in ocean temperatures over years. "Ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific clearly reflect El Nino," World Meteorological Organization chief Celeste Saulo said on Tuesday. But she added that was only part of the story. "Sea surface temperatures in other parts of the globe have been persistently and unusually high for the past 10 months," she said. January's sea surface temperatures were "by far" the highest on record for the month, she said, adding: "This is worrying and cannot be explained by El Nino alone". Respite? Copernicus has said last year's global temperatures were likely the hottest in over 100,000 years. The period from February 2023 to January 2024 marked the first time Earth had endured 12 consecutive months of temperatures 1.5C hotter than the pre-industrial era. And February continued the record-breaking stretch, averaging 1.77C warmer than the monthly estimate for 1850-1900, the pre-industrial benchmark. That does not mark a breach of the 2015 Paris climate deal limit of "well below" 2C and preferably 1.5C, which is measured over decades. And respite may be around the corner. A rapid return of the cooling La Nina weather phenomenon in 2024 may actually decrease the risk that 2024 smashes last year's record heat, Europe's climate monitor told AFP. El Nino peaked in December 2023, and the transition back to neutral is expected by the end of the Northern Hemisphere's spring and then to La Nina over the summer, according to Buontempo, though "there are some indications suggesting a transition to La Nina is happening faster than expected". It means while 2024 "was on track to become another very warm year, potentially a record-breaking year... the chance may actually decrease," he said. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Winter temperature (red solid curve) increases over past decades. Within the study period (19892021), the number of extreme cold days (blue solid line) in North China increases around the year 2003 and then decreases around the year 2013. The dashed lines are 5-year-smoothed data. Credit: Zhu Yali How extreme weather and climate events change is an intriguing issue in the context of global warming. As IPCC AR6 points out, cold extremes have become less frequent and less severe since the 1950s, mainly driven by human-induced climate change. However, cold extremes could also exhibit robust interdecadal changes at regional scale. A study by researchers from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, presents robust interdecadal changes in the number of extreme cold days in winter over North China during 19892021, and the findings have been published in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters. Specifically, the number of extreme cold days increased around the year 2003 and then decreased around the year 2013, with a value of 8.7 days per year during 19892002, 13.5 during 20032012, and 6.6 during 20132021. During 20032012, the SiberianUral High strengthened and the polar jet stream weakened, which favored frequent cold air intrusion into North China, inducing more extreme cold days. In addition, the intensity of extreme cold days in North China showed no significant difference in the three periods. However, the related cold air could influence a larger area, which was especially the case for the stronger cold air center located to the west of Lake Baikal during 20132021. The increase in the number of extreme cold days in North China in 20032012 probably arose from natural decadal variability. However, as pointed out by the corresponding author of this study, Prof. Yali Zhu, "This is still a challenging issue that needs further exploration to quantify the relative contributions of natural variability and human activity to regional extreme events." More information: Yali Zhu et al, Interdecadal changes in the frequency of winter extreme cold events in North China during 19892021, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.aosl.2024.100468 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: Sex ratio at birth, Spain, 19001930. Credit: Cliometrica (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s11698-023-00267-y "Missing Girls in Historical Europe" is a major research project at NTNU in which researchers have looked into numbers of girls and boys in European countries over a 250-year period. They found that the number of male children was higher in several countries during periods of poverty and poor living conditions. The researchers noticed this trend in Southern and Eastern European countries. It was most obvious in Greece, but can also be seen in Norway. "We found similar patterns in all of these countries, albeit to varying degrees. In the other European countries, the problem was minimal," says Francisco Beltran Tapia. Tapia is a professor of history at NTNU and is leading the research project. Findings from the project have been published in articles in a number of journals, including Cliometrica and The Economic History Review. Spanish school statistics Francisco Beltran Tapia first noticed the phenomenon while researching gender distribution among school-age children in Spain throughout history. He discovered that in some regions and in some periods, there were more significantly boys than girls. This piqued his interest, so the researchers included the whole of Europe in the "Missing Girls" project. The research project is examining whether discriminatory practices increased female mortality rates during infancy and childhood in Europe from 1700 to 1950. Girls have a biological advantage Girls have a natural biological advantage when it comes to survival from the fetal stage onwards. The majority of stillbirths and miscarriages are boys. Baby boys are also more vulnerable to stress than baby girls, and more prone to diseases. Females are also better equipped to survive famine and epidemics. An international research team established this by studying historical data from seven different crises that have occurred over the past 250 years. Despite this, the source material collected during "Missing Girls" shows that more girls than boys died during certain periods in some European countries and regions. But why? Boys were prioritized and given more food The reason is that boys experienced better living conditions and were prioritized by their parents during difficult periods of poverty and famine. Boys were given more food than girls, mothers tended to breastfeed boys longer, and boys received better care and living conditions. In environments with high mortality rates, the way girls were treated when they got sick, as well as the amount of work they were required to do, could have led to more of them dying from the combined effects of malnutrition and disease. Of course, this was not true for all families, but the numbers speak for themselves. The researchers collected their data by examining censuses, population statistics, birth records and death records. They have also looked at the number of abandoned infants who ended up at orphanages. It turns out that the majority were girls during difficult periods, especially in certain parts of Europe. Widespread phenomenon in Asia This is a known phenomenon in some Asian countries. "Gender discrimination in the form of sex-selective abortion, the killing of female infants and fatal neglect of young girls is found in developing countries, especially in South and East Asia," Beltran Tapia said. The Indian economist, philosopher and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, helped highlight this problem 30 years ago. "Economic and cultural factors have influenced the perception of women's value in these regions for a long time, resulting in millions of 'missing girls.' We have now found that the same phenomenon has also been far more prevalent than previously thought in Europe, especially in Southern and Eastern Europe," Beltran Tapia said. Girls were an economic burden Boys were considered more valuable than girls. In recent European history, this is most clearly expressed in Greece. Boys were able to get work and contribute to the family economy. Girls' and women's work in the home was not valued or considered financially profitable. "We find descriptions of girls being of less value in stories and songs from Greek folklore. Girls were often considered a burden," says Beltran Tapia. One important aspect was the traditional practice of marrying girls off, which meant that the girl's family had to pay a dowry. In other words, girls were expensive. "A strong preference for sons clearly increased female mortality around childbirth and throughout infancy and childhood in Greece, at least until the 1920s. Our estimates indicate that more than 5% of girls 'disappeared' between 1861 and 1920," says Beltran Tapia. A strict patriarchal system Ph.D. candidate and researcher Eftychia Kalaitzidou has focused on Greece and reviewed interviews of elderly people from the 1970s and 1980s. They said that the birth of a baby girl was not met with much enthusiasm, and usually quite the opposite. "In Greece, we found that the family system was a clear cause of sexist practices," says Beltran Tapia. This was evident in various case studies. "This view is supported by a large body of qualitative evidence such as contemporary accounts, folklore traditions and anthropological studies. These all highlight the fact that girls were neglected because of their lower status in society," says Beltran Tapia. "The Greek findings reflect some of the conditions that have been associated with female neglect in South and East Asia, namely a strong patriarchal system based on strict kinship and dowry systems," he says. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Greek men emigrated from Greece. This further weakened women's position in the marriage market due to a shortage of potential husbands. "It is likely that female status was also weakened by a fear of conflicts and blood feuds, a trait that was reinforced by the concept of honor that was characteristic of Greek culture and other Mediterranean cultures," says Beltran Tapia. Also evident in Spain These practices are also evident in Spain in the 19th century, although they are less extreme. "Extensive church records actually give a more detailed picture. They confirm not only that some families neglected their female babies, but also that sexist practices continued throughout childhood," says Beltran Tapia. However, this behavior was less prominent during the first year of life. This is related to the fact that once babies were accepted into the family, they were protected by breastfeeding. Gender differences in mortality rates clearly re-emerged when the children were weaned. "Discriminatory practices seem to have been part of a generalized cultural system that favored boys in terms of access to food and care. However, the findings appear to be most prevalent among poor, landless families who were exposed to harsh economic conditions," says Beltran Tapia. The Spanish Civil War The phenomenon is evident in Spain until the 1940s, due to the Spanish Civil War (1936 to 1939), which led to widespread poverty in the country. There was extensive rationing in Spain in the first decade after the civil war, agriculture was decimated, and there was a severe shortage of food. Lack of fuel made the distribution of basic products difficult. Infanticide and child marriage Information on more than 300 populations in historical Europe taken from the Mosaic project shows that gender differences among children tended to be greater in places with patrilocal norms. This is where women were married at a young age and couples lived near or in the same house as the husband's parents. "The intensity of patriarchal values explains much of the regional differences," Beltran Tapia said. It was also not unheard of for female babies to be killed by their parents. "This aspect probably gets the most attention, but it is just a small part of the whole picture. It is the other mechanisms that had the greatest impact: that girls got less food, often shorter breastfeeding periods, poorer care and generally worse living conditions than boys," says Beltran Tapia. What happened in Norway? Ph.D. candidate and researcher Marko Kovacevic has investigated Norwegian population statistics. The phenomenon has not been so widespread in Norway, but during periods of severe food shortages in the 18th century, researchers see the same tendency where boys were prioritized and likely to be given more food than girls. 1741 was a terrible year in Norway; grain crops and other harvests failed. It was the start of a famine that led to many people dying of starvation. Those who survived were severely malnourished, and many died from dysentery. From 1741 to 1743, there were 50% more deaths than births, and the population decreased by 3.5%. More girls than boys died during this perioddespite the fact that girls have a biological advantage in terms of survival. Marko Kovacevic's study of the situation in Norway will eventually be published in book form. Girls and education Discriminatory patterns affecting women's mortality early in life disappeared during the first decades of the 20th century in Europe. As economic, social and cultural changes improved the standard of living, overall mortality rates declined and undermined the son preference. An improved standard of living and long-term efforts to improve gender equality also gave girls and women better access to education. This led to financial independence, knowledge, increased status and better health. Nowadays, in many countries women make up the majority of people taking higher education. More information: Rebeca Echavarri et al, Economic development, female wages and missing female births in Spain, 19001930, Cliometrica (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s11698-023-00267-y Francisco J. Beltran Tapia et al, Missing girls in Liberal Italy, 18611921, The Economic History Review (2023). DOI: 10.1111/ehr.13257 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The research team investigated genetic changes of Metarhizium fungi during infection of the invasive Argentine ant, shown here are its workers, on the right with brood. Credit: Sina Metzler & Roland Ferrigato, ISTA Researchers at the Kiel Evolution Center have investigated for the first time in detail how a fungus important for biological plant protection can pass on an advantageous chromosome horizontally, using a previously little-studied way of exchanging genetic information. Sustainable plant protection measures that are not based on chemical pesticides rely on various organisms and biological agents to protect crops from pests. Such organisms used for biological plant protection are, for example, microscopic fungi of the genus Metarhizium, which can attack and kill a variety of plant-pathogenic insects and are used, for example, in South American sugar cane cultivation. The molecular mechanisms of fungal infection and the immune response of insects are in an ongoing process of mutual evolutionary adaptation. In a joint project with colleagues from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), a research team from Kiel University investigated the genetic changes in the fungus during infection of the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). The researchers examined the genomes of different strains of the fungi Metarhizium robertsii and Metarhizium brunneum from an earlier co-infection experiment in which ants had been infected with the fungus mix. In the study, the outgrowing spores were used to infect new ants over 10 consecutive infection cycles. When analyzing the fungal genomes from these infection series, the fungal geneticist and first author of the study, Dr. Michael Habig from Kiel University, made an exciting observation: his analyses showed that a single chromosome was very frequently exchanged horizontally between two different strains. This chromosome contains certain genes that the scientists suspect may give the fungus an advantage in infecting its hosts. The horizontal transfer of entire chromosomes has rarely been described scientifically and has now been studied in detail for the first time. The researchers from the Kiel Evolution Center (KEC) and ISTA published their results in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Horizontal chromosome transfer detected in insect-damaging fungus Scientists use the term horizontal gene transfer to describe how living organisms can transfer genetic material between different individuals, including those of other species. In this way, bacteria exchange extensive genetic information, often in the form of plasmids, in order to quickly adapt to changing environmental conditions or to adapt to the host. The rapid evolution of various pathogens is based on such mechanisms, among other things. "In fungi and many other so-called eukaryotic organisms, however, horizontal gene transfer in the form of entire chromosomes is very rare and has hardly been researched to date," says Dr. Michael Habig, research associate at Kiel University. "The analysis of the genetic information of the fungal strains shows that M. robertsii independently transferred a single chromosome a total of five times during the co-infection experiments, but no other genetic information from one strain to another via horizontal transfer," continued Habig. Further analyses also indicated that the same chromosome can also be found in the distantly related, also insect-damaging fungus species Metarhizium guizhouense, whose common evolutionary origin with M. robertsii dates back around 15 million years. "The chromosome in M. guizhouense is significantly less altered than would be assumed for the long period of separate evolution of the two fungal species. The chromosome therefore also appears to have been passed on naturally between these different fungal speciesand probably horizontally," says Habig. Analysis of the chromosome indicates possible survival advantages for the fungus The chromosome examined is a so-called accessory chromosome. This means that it does not occur in all individuals of a species and contains non-essential genetic information. "The experiments showed that, under certain conditions, the fungus that had received the accessory chromosome had competitive advantages over fungi of the same strain that had not received the chromosome and were able to prevail against them. We want to investigate the details of these advantages in more detail in the future," says Habig. The Kiel research team has already been able to derive initial indications from the analysis of the genes on the chromosome. "The chromosome contains hundreds of genes whose potential functions we will only be able to decipher in the future. However, we have already been able to identify 13 candidate genes that could presumably be responsible for so-called effector proteins, which can interact with the insects' immune system, for example," Habig continues. The transfer of the chromosome may therefore have advantages for the fungus, the functional basis of which is still unclear. However, one plausible possibility is the transfer of certain genes that produce chitin-cleaving enzymes and can thus improve the ability to infect the insects. "It is remarkable that we have found the genes of three such enzymes, among others, which presumably play a role in the degradation of the chitin-containing cuticle of the host insect. This could influence a crucial step in the infection process, as the fungal spores are dependent on penetrating the protective exoskeleton of the host in order to infect it," says Professor Sylvia Cremer, last author of the study, from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). Overall, the research work offers interesting new aspects on a way of exchanging genetic information that has been little studied in fungi to date. "Our new work shows that horizontal chromosome transfer occurs regularly in fungi and that this mechanism can confer advantages to the recipient strain, at least in experiments under certain conditions," says Habig. The Kiel research team and its collaboration partners from ISTA thus describe in detail for the first time a new aspect in the genome evolution of fungi, which may be able to use bacteria-like mechanisms of rapid evolutionary adaptation, for example to increase their virulence or harmfulness to their host organism and to transfer genetic information across species boundaries. In the future, the researchers want to use the example of M. robertsii to investigate the relationships between horizontal chromosome transfer, possible fitness advantages and the mutual adaptation of fungi and insects in detail and thus gain further insights into this organism, which is important for plant protection. More information: Michael Habig et al, Frequent horizontal chromosome transfer between asexual fungal insect pathogens, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316284121 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 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: Seizure of about 1000 tarantula spiders of different species at Tom Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2009. Illegally transported by a British pet store owner, the spiders were on their way from Paraguay to Europe to be sold as pets. Credit: IBAMA ArchiveBrazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources Wildlife trade affects all kinds of species, from insects and fungi to large plants and mammals. The global trade of numerous species poses a significant threat to their survival, increasing their risk of extinction. The European Union is a major global hub for the illegal and unsustainable trade of those species whose international trade is not regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and new measures recently adopted in the region to mitigate it are not enough. Pedro Cardoso, a conservation biologist at the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C), at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (Ciencias ULisboa), says, "We need better information on the trade of the vast majority of species that are not listed by CITES, to guarantee that the sourcing of these species was made legally in their country of origin and that this sourcing was made in a sustainable way." According to the involved team of biologists, law experts, and economists united under EU project GLITSSGlobalization, Illicit Trade, Sustainability and Security, the EU falls short in ensuring that trade is documented, legal and sustainable, with possible consequences on the survival of the involved species. The first proposal of the team is to create a database of all tradelegal or illegalof all species, regardless of their inclusion in specific regulations. Currently, any species not listed is not registered by EU countries, and there is no information vital to ensure the trade is traced to its origins. The second proposal is the establishment of a regulation in the EU akin to the Lacey Act in the United States, which establishes that if the capture or export of a species is illegal in the country of origin, it is illegal in the US. Adopting similar legislation in the EU would prohibit the import of specimens that violate the laws of their country of origin, not only mitigating regulatory gaps but also contributing to biodiversity preservation in nations facing enforcement challenges due to resource limitations. Finally, the third proposal demands the presentation of evidence supporting the sustainability of trade practices. Even when legal, the trade of many species is putting them under threat. The EU should demand some evidence that the specimens were captured without affecting the sustainability of the populations, particularly important if they were sourced from the wild. These proposed measures aim to transform the EU from being a global hub for unregistered, illegal, or unsustainable wildlife activities into a model of environmental protection concerning wildlife trade. The work is published in the journal Science. More information: Pedro Cardoso et al, Reform wildlife trade in the European Union, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.ado1142 Journal information: Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The National University of Colombia's valuable collection of some 44,000 stuffed birds is housed in metal pull-out drawers in a delapidated public building. Under a cracked and leaky ceiling, Andres Cuervo works on a colorful, dead hummingbird for the ornithological collection of the National University of Colombia, the country with more bird species than any other. Condors, eagles and even extinct birds receive a "second life" at the table of the biologist, who preserves them for science and posterity. But rather than a pristine setting with regulated temperature and moisture levels, the valuable collection of some 44,000 stuffed birds is housed in metal pull-out drawers in a dilapidated public building. And in January, a heavy downpour over Bogota put Cuervo's collection at risk. The water "fell in cascades on these cabinets," he recalled, pointing, clearly still distressed at nearly losing his "irreplaceable" avian stockpile. One drawer contains hundreds of blue and green hummingbirds each no larger than a bumblebee. From another, Cuervo pulls a huge harpy eagle with a wingspan of over two meters (6.5 feet). There are also several specimens of a bird that went extinct in the 1970s. "We got out the buckets, the plastic (sheets), anything to protect the collection," recounted his colleague Gary Stiles, a preeminent American ornithologist who has worked in Colombia since 1990 and discovered several new species. Fortunately, the damage could be limited to the tails of a handful of birds and the labels that identified them. This time. With about 2,000 different species -- a fifth of the global total and 82 of them endemic -- Colombia is known as 'the country of birds' 'Ironic' "It is ironic that with the most diverse avifauna (on the planet) we have one of the most endangered collections," said Stiles of conditions at the Institute of Natural Sciences, where the ornithological collection is held. With about 2,000 different speciesa fifth of the global total and 82 of them endemicColombia is known as "the country of birds," according to green group WWF. "It is partly due to the topography. Only in Colombia do the Andes divide into three distinct high mountain ranges, separated by deep valleys that form natural barriers," explained Stiles. "This facilitates the isolation of populations and the formation of diverse species." But this natural wealth contrasts with the economic difficulties faced by public universities in Latin America's fourth biggest economy. Successive rectors of the National University have decried a lack of financing. According to research by the institution itself, the country's 33 public universities have a shortfall of about 18 billion pesos or some $4.8 million. The birds at the institute are not on display. They leave the metal cabinets only to be studied. State funding has been cut almost by half from 1994. The shortfall is evident in the corridors of the institute. In August 2023, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake shook the capital and "magnified some cracks" in the walls, recalled Cuervo. A classroom had to be shuttered due to a risk of collapse. "I go home every day thinking about this collection... the accumulation of small incidents can lead to something quite serious," the biologist said. 'Unique and irreplaceable' The birds at the institute are not on display. They leave the metal cabinets only to be studied. "They are unique and irreplaceable because they were collected in different places and at different times. They represent the geographical history of the country," said Cuervo of his life's work. Each specimen has a label with its place and date of collection. The oldest dates from 1914, its colors still intact. Andres Cuervo, curator of the ornithology collection of the Institute of Natural Sciences, believes it holds secrets that can help 'solve problems that have to do with biodiversity' Thanks to the collection, researchers have been able to study how warm weather species have colonized new territories as global temperatures rise due to climate change. They can also see how savanna and grassland birds have thrived even as forest species have declined as their habitat has been destroyed for farming or construction. "As a society we can use (the information gathered) to solve problems that have to do with biodiversity," added Cuervo before starting work on a new hummingbird. He makes an incision in the tiny chest to separate the bird's skin from the flesh. He then stuffs the skin with cotton and places it in a small cardboard oven that works only with lightbulbs to prevent any degradation. Humidity and light are the main threats to his stuffed birds. "Colors, proportions and plumage are preserved over time. It's almost like immortalizing an individual," Cuervo said proudly of his work. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: The Conversation Public interest journalism was already under significant stress in Australia. And now the pressure is ratcheting up even further. While still experiencing the pandemic's aftershocks, the industry has simultaneously been hit with the increasing cost of doing business, rising costs of living and declining advertising spend. All of this has made it harder to report the news that matters, educates and informs. With Meta announcing last week it will not renew its commercial agreements with news outlets in Australiaworth an estimated A$70 million per yearit's not an understatement to say it's been a bad time for journalism. Where news in Australia is vanishing Public interest journalism is a vital service in a healthy democratic society. It creates social cohesion, informs decision making and strengthens democracy. The funding provided by tech giants under the agreements made as part of the landmark News Media Bargaining Code in 2021 provided a significant source of revenue for media companies. One regional news company estimated in its submission to the Regional Newspapers Inquiry that once the agreements were fully implemented, the revenue would fund up to 30% of its editorial wages. But as that money dries up, it's clear Australia's public interest journalism sector must find a new way to survive and thrive. And that method must be supported by data that clearly identifies the areas of Australia most lacking in comprehensive, accurate journalism. The Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) has been tracking public interest news production in Australia since 2019, and our research reveals a clear divide across metropolitan and regional audiences and markets. Regional and remote areas of Australia have fewer news outlets generally, compared to areas along the east coast and around capital cities. Overall, PIJI has identified almost 500 changes in news production around Australia since 2019, with the majority of these being contractions. This includes media outlets closing, shrinking their services or ending their print editions. But the decline is not limited to rural and regional areas. Our data also identify thinning in metropolitan markets, with 135 contractions compared to 61 expansions. However, the data also suggest the nature of the changes in metropolitan markets is different from that of regional markets. Fifty-three percent of contractions in major cities were local suburban newspapers ending their print editions and shifting to digital-only delivery. And just over a third of contractions were outlets that ceased operations altogether, a share that has been steadily increasing. In regional areas, we've seen more substantial changes with outlets closing (51% of regional contractions) or decreasing their service by cutting the frequency of publications or the level of output (21%). The shifting of content from print to digital represented just 16% of the changes seen in the regions. Concerningly, we have also identified areas where news is completely lackingso-called "news deserts". According to our latest quarterly data, there are no print, digital or radio local news producers in five Australian local government areas. Excluding radio, we could not identify any print or digital local news outlets in 29 local government areas. Many of those areas are regional and remote areashighlighting once again the discrepancy between metropolitan and regional news coverage. Credit: The Conversation More data on the industry is vital This data also underscores where future support should be directed. Local and especially regional news urgently needs support in the face of significant industry upheaval and transformation. There is a clear need for long-term engagement and collaboration between government and researchersboth independent and government-basedgiven the complexity of issues facing the industry. Longitudinal data and independent analysis will be of the utmost importance in this. Analysis must be at arms length from both government and industry, but should engage with each side, informed by daily practice and policy. Impartial, third-party research will also assist with understanding and assessing the impact of any policy interventions, as well as tracking and informing industry transformation, whether that be changing business models or new start-ups. We have known this for some time. In April 2022, the Regional Newspapers Inquiry pointed to the need for core, longitudinal industry data. This is why PIJI has gathered timely data on market changes in news production across Australia, the location of these outlets and how they are connected with one another. This assists communities, researchers, industry leaders and policymakers to better understand the health of Australia's news media landscape. Such data can provide the impetus for policy decisions that will support news businesses and producers. Innovation is sorely needed in this area to address journalism's broken business model. What could help? One potential new avenue of revenue would be the development of a not-for-profit journalism sector in Australia. This has been repeatedly recommended in parliamentary and regulatory inquiries over the past decade. There is evidence from overseas, particularly the United States, to suggest a not-for-profit news sector would increase media diversity and address the lack of commercially viable options in investigative journalism or less-represented geographical, cultural and linguistic markets. The Productivity Commission's inquiry into philanthropy appears to be giving this option some consideration; its draft report, released last year, proposed extending deductible gift recipient status to public interest journalism. PIJI would welcome the support this could offer news producers and outlets. There is also potential in commercial measures like research and development tax rebates for public interest journalism. Again, we can be guided by success overseasCanada implemented a similar rebate system a few years ago. Evidence and a clear focus on the role of news as a public good must lead the way in identifying paths forward to service our communities. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In celebration of the mathematical constant pi, JPL is releasing the annual NASA Pi Day Challenge: a set of illustrated math problems involving real-world science and engineering aspects of agency missions. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech March 14 marks the annual celebration of the mathematical constant pi, aka the Greek letter . Its infinite number of digits is usually rounded to 3.14, hence the date of Pi Day. For some people, the occasion marks an annual excuse to eat pizza or pie (or both), but to truly honor this wondrously useful number, a serving of mathematics is in order, too. NASA is here to help. Continuing a decade-long tradition, the Education Office at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has cooked up a set of illustrated math problems involving real-life NASA science and engineering. With the NASA Pi Day Challenge, students can use the mathematical constant to: determine where the DSOC (Deep Space Optical Communications) technology demonstration aboard NASA's Psyche spacecraft should aim a laser message containing a cat video so that it can reach Earth (and set a NASA record in the process) figure out the change in asteroid Dimorphos' orbit after NASA intentionally crashed its DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft into its surface measure how much data will be captured by the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite each time it orbits our planet, monitoring Earth's land and ice surfaces in unprecedented detail calculate the distance a small rover must drive to map a portion of the lunar surface as part of NASA's CADRE (Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration) technology demonstration that's headed to the moon Answers to all four challenge questions will be available on March 15. The NASA Pi Day Challenge is accompanied by other pi-related resources for educators, K-12 students, and parents, including lessons and teachable moments, downloadable posters, and illustrated web/mobile backgrounds. More than 40 puzzlers from previous challenges are also available. Provided by NASA This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Has the United States confirmed sightings of alien craft, or worked to reverse-engineer extraterrestrial technology? A more than 60-page Pentagon report released Friday says no, pouring cold water on popular conspiracy theories about government cover-ups of contact with aliens. The report was mandated by Congress, which required the submission to lawmakers of a "written report detailing the historical record of the United States government relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs)," more commonly known as UFOs. The Defense Department's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) "found no evidence" that any government investigation, academic research or official review "has confirmed that any sighting of a UAP represented extraterrestrial technology." Instead, "all investigative efforts, at all levels of classification, concluded that most sightings were ordinary objects and phenomena and the result of misidentification," said the report. It also "found no empirical evidence for claims that the USG and private companies have been reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology." AARO said the inaccurate reverse-engineering claims are "in large part the result of circular reporting from a group of individuals who believe this to be the case, despite the lack of any evidence." In putting together the reportthe first of two volumesAARO reviewed US investigative efforts since 1945, researched archives, conducted more than two dozen interviews and worked with intelligence and defense officials responsible for oversight of controlled and special access programs. Sean Kirkpatrick, the since-retired head of AARO, told lawmakers last year that it had not identified signs of alien activity. AARO "has found no credible evidence thus far of extraterrestrial activity, off-world technology, or objects that defy the known laws of physics," Kirkpatrick said. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Deep within the forest, monkeys can be very social creatures: they play, fight, vocalize, and even groom one another within their social groups. But as University of Toronto Mississauga primatologist Laura Bolt and her colleagues have recently discovered, these primates are quick to alter their natural social behaviorsand adopt new ones to ensure their survivalwhen their environments are impacted through deforestation. "One trend we're seeing with primates worldwide is that when their forests are cut down, they're either able to adapt in some way, or their population declines," explains Bolt, an adjunct professor of anthropology UTM. She is also a member of the board of directors of Maderas Rainforest Conservancy in Costa Rica and the director of a research project at the La Suerte Biological Research Station (LSBRS) called "The La Suerte Forest Fragmentation and Primate Behavioral Ecology project." Primatology in Costa Rica is at a pivotal juncture, Bolt says. "We wanted to survey them before they're on the edge of extinction, as a way of maybe informing conservation plans to preserve some of their landscapes." Bolt, along with research collaborator professor Amy Schreier at Regis University, detail their findings in their paper "Edge effects and social behavior in three platyrrhines," which was published in the American Journal of Primatology. This study is also co-authored by former students from around the world who gained experience at the LSBRS field school and returned to continue their research. The primate field school is open to UTM undergraduate students as a course credit. Between 2017 and 2023, Bolt and her colleagues studied the social behavior of monkeys at the LSBRS primate field school, which is located in northeastern Costa Rica and operated by the Maderas Rainforest Conservancy. The site is an anthropogenically altered tropical rainforest, meaning part of it has been changed by humans. It includes human-altered forest edge areas that are close to clear-cut areas such as cattle pasture or agricultural fields. The site also has undisturbed forest interior areas located further away from clear-cut areas. Bolt and her colleagues specifically studied the social behavior of Central American spider monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, and mantled howler monkeys. They observed these primates' social behavior when they lived in the undisturbed forest area, and compared it to how they behaved in clear cut areas along the forest's edge. While observing spider monkeys, the team discovered that these primates engaged less in social behaviors overall when living along the forest edgelikely because they had to conserve their energy. "Spider monkeys are adapted to be in the highest parts of the canopy all the time when they move. They also prefer to eat specifically lipid-rich fruit like figs, which tend to come from very tall and mature trees," says Bolt. "In forest edges, trees tend to be a lot smaller. That means spider monkeys can't find what they need in terms of food, and they don't have sufficiently tall trees to be able to travel quite as easily. So, they try to use less energy in general when they're in forest edges." The research team also found that white-faced capuchin monkeys, which are quite small and vulnerable to predators, engaged in behavior that wouldn't draw attention to themselves. For example, these primates vocalized and fought less often while living along the forest edge. "If they're in an area with smaller trees, where it's easier for predators to see them, they're especially vulnerable," Bolt says. "It makes sense that the capuchins would try to avoid getting eaten, essentially." Howler monkeys, however, didn't appear to change their social behavior along the forest edgewhich Bolt says was a somewhat surprising finding. In previous research, she and her colleagues have found that howler monkeys change how much they eat and travel while living in different forest areas. But, past research has also shown that howler monkeys aren't as adaptable overall when living in different environments. "This could be a concern long-term for howler monkeys. They might be only capable of living one way and then they persist until suddenly, they die out because they're not able to cope," Bolt explains. She says that studying primates' social behavior builds on her previous work related to how habitat destruction impacts species on the verge of distinction, for example, ring-tailed lemurs in Madagascar. "Studying social behavior is such a good way of understanding their quality of life, and whether they're happy," she says. "Understanding how species behave is a way of better understanding them, and better understanding how to conserve them." More information: Laura M. Bolt et al, Edge effects and social behavior in three platyrrhines, American Journal of Primatology (2024). DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23610 NICOSIA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday announced the immediate launch of a project to establish a maritime aid corridor from Cyprus to Gaza. "We are now very close to opening this corridor, hopefully this Saturday-Sunday, and I'm very glad to see an initial pilot will be launched today," she told journalists after visiting Cyprus's Joint Rescue Coordination Center in the port city of Larnaca. "We are launching this Cyprus maritime corridor together: the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States," she added. In a joint statement endorsed by the European Commission, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the European Commission said: "Together, our nations intend to build on this model to deliver significant additional aid by sea, working in coordination with UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag - who is charged with facilitating, coordinating, monitoring, and verifying the flow of aid into Gaza under UN Security Council Resolution 2720." The Amalthea Initiative was proposed by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides due to Cyprus' proximity to Gaza. It was coordinated by the United Arab Emirates, aiming for shipment before the start of the Muslim month of Ramadan. The United States has pledged to construct a floating platform off the coast of Gaza for the unloading of aid, while Israeli officials have vetted the aid to address concerns about potential military equipment. The death toll of Palestinians from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,878, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Friday. Five months ago, Israel began a large-scale military campaign against Gaza in response to a surprise Hamas attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the enclave, in which Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and took more than 200 others as hostages. 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: Illinois advertising professor Michelle Nelson says voters should expect to see a lot more generative AI in political ads during the 2024 election cycle, warning that it might be difficult-to-impossible to tell what's real and what's fake. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer It's estimated that $12 billion will be spent on political ads this election cycle30% more than in 2020. The sheer volume of ads is remarkable, and there is vast potential to use this political information to contribute to democracy: to reach more potential voters and provide accurate information. There's also more potential than ever for generative artificial intelligence to misrepresent candidates and policies, leading to confusion in the voting booth. News Bureau editor Lois Yoksoulian spoke with advertising professor and department head Michelle Nelson about the topic. How is AI used in political ads, and what are some recent examples of AI-generated political ads? After President Joe Biden announced his re-election bid, the Republican National Committee released an AI-generated political advertisement that depicted a dystopian world should Biden be re-elected. The video ad features a number of "what if" questions (e.g., What if crime worsens?) with AI-generated images. This is a classic fear appeal-negative attack ad. Emotional ads reach us, and we remember themlike the famous Daisy political ad used during the 1964 election cycle or the Willie Horton ad used in 1988. But they may also get some backlash for being too negative, too manipulative, especially because they are using AI. Some say the Joe Biden RNC ad is the first AI-generated ad, but it's hard to prove. However, in the top left corner of the ad, you see a disclosure in a small font: "Built entirely with AI imagery." The video description on the GOP's YouTube page says, "An AI-generated look into the country's possible future if Joe Biden is re-elected in 2024." So they are not hiding the use of AI. There's also a spoof ad that ran on The Daily Show, which uses an AI-generated voiceover for Biden. It's pretty easy these days to use AI tools to create content and make it look pretty real. Are the entities behind these types of ads required to disclose that AI has been used? The Federal Election Commission, the governmental body that regulates political communication, including advertising in the U.S., sought public comments on amending a regulation related to the use of deliberately deceptive AI in campaign ads at their meeting titled 2023: REG 2023-02 Artificial Intelligence in Campaign Ads. They have not yet made a ruling here. However, states such as California, Texas, Michigan, Washington and Minnesota have enacted new state laws where any deepfake AI images, video or audio need to be labeled in. A similar law is being discussed here in Illinois. It's not clear how these state laws relate to the Constitution. Some tech companies have started requiring disclosures. For example, Google indicated that all AI-generated political ads shown on YouTube or other Google platforms "that alter people or events" must have a prominent disclosure. There is also a verification process for political ads in some regions. Microsoft has started their "Content Credentials as a Service" which is like a watermarking toolit lets users digitally sign and authenticate the mediawhether it's an image or video through their Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity. The idea is that the watermark serves as metadata so users can see the history of the content. For example, "how, when, and by whom the content was created or edited," whether by a person or AI. This information stays with the content so anyone can see the origin. To what extent AI-generated political content is now being watermarked or disclosed I have no idea. It seems difficult to police all of these images at this moment in time. What is the potential harm of using AI in political ads? The concerns for harm relate to possibilities for deepfakes and disinformation. Others can re-create something using AI voice or images without authorization to create stories and content that are absolutely untrue. We've had tools and technology in the past, like Photoshop to manipulate existing images. Do you remember the 2004 ads featuring altered photos depicting John Kerry, the Democratic nominee for president, and Jane Fonda at an anti-Vietnam War rally? Ads are regularly embellished or altered: The colors or lighting are changed to make people look ominous or more youthful. But this is different. This is a whole new level. Anyone can make AI messages using free tools such as Open AI's ChatGPT or Google's Bard. This may be good when used responsibly, or it may be harmful. Our research shows that many people don't know that the First Amendment protects political advertising in the U.S. Political advertising is not held up to the same standards as commercial advertising, say for a cheeseburger. The Truth-in-Advertising laws by the Federal Trade Commission do not apply to political ads. That means political ads can legally be deceptive or lie. Of course, there are libel laws, but they are rarely used in this arena. Beyond this regulatory difference in commercial and political advertising, the idea is that we want free-flowing political information to contribute to a dialogue that can enhance our democracy. Too much regulation can have a chilling effect on political speech. Yet the potential today with AI to lie and deceive and to deploy these messages in a personalized manner and at a grand scale offers a challenge perhaps to our thinking about regulation and political advertising. Do you have any advice on how consumers can spot the use of generative AI in political ads? They can't. You can look for irregularities like the number of legs on the cat. But it is getting harder and harder to tell if AI makes an image or video. Whether it's Taylor Swift, an image of Trump in jail or a funny meme, we can't always tell, especially as we scroll through our social media feeds. The best we can do is hope that the tech industry develops systems able to trace the origin of the content so we can see who made the image and when and how. If this tech is built in, it's harder to fool people. We could also encourage disclosure mandates among tech companies. But in the age of this kind of media and in an election year, we need to focus on the basics of media literacylooking for reliable sources of information, watching the political debates and trying to form our own informed opinions. 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: University of Glasgow The unique properties of quantum physics could help solve a longstanding problem that prevents microscopes from producing sharper images at the smallest scales, researchers say. The breakthrough, which uses entangled photons to create a new method of correcting for image distortion in microscopes, could lead to improved classical microscope imaging of tissue samples to help advance medical research. It could also lead to new advances in quantum-enhanced microscopy for use across a wide range of fields. The team's paper, titled "Adaptive Optical Imaging with Entangled Photons," is published in Science. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Laboratoire Kastler Brossel in France also contributed to the research. Microscopes have been invaluable tools for scientists for hundreds of years. Advances in optics have enabled researchers to resolve ever-more detailed images of the fundamental structures of cells and materials. However, as microscopes have developed in complexity, they have begun to run up against the limits of conventional optical technology, where even tiny flaws in the elements which resolve images can produce blurred images. Currently, a process called adaptive optics is used to correct image distortions caused by aberrations. Aberrations can be caused by small imperfections in lenses and other optical components or by flaws in the sample under the microscope. The key to adaptive optics is a "guide star"a bright spot identified in the sample under the microscope which provides a reference point for detecting aberrations. Devices called spatial light modulators can then shape the light and correct for these distortions. Reliance on guide stars poses problems for microscopes that image samples like cells and tissues which don't contain bright spots. Scientists have developed guide star-free adaptive optics using image processing algorithms, but these can fail for samples with complex structures. In the new paper, researchers from the U.K. and France outline how they used entangled photons to sense and correct for aberrations that normally distort microscope images. They call the process quantum-assisted adaptive optics. The paper describes how they use their new technique to correct for distortion and retrieve high-resolution images of biological test samplesthe mouthpiece and leg of a honeybee. They also demonstrate aberration correction for samples with three dimensional structuresa situation where classical adaptive optics often fails. They used entangled photon pairs to illuminate the samples, allowing them to capture a conventional image and measure the quantum correlations at the same time. When the entangled photon pairs encounter aberration, their entanglementin the form of quantum correlationsbecomes degraded. The researchers show that the way these quantum correlations are degraded actually reveals information about the aberrations and allows them to be corrected using sophisticated computer analysis. The information contained in the correlations allows for a precise characterization of aberrations, enabling their correction with a spatial light modulator afterward. The paper shows that the correlations can be used to produce clearer, more high-resolution images than conventional brightfield microscopy techniques. Patrick Cameron, of the University of Glasgow's School of Physics & Astronomy, is the paper's first author. He said, "Complex samples like biological tissues can be challenging to image using conventional approaches to microscopy, where the bright star technique can fail because there are rarely natural bright spots in human or animal tissue. "This research shows that quantum-entangled sources of light can be used to probe samples in ways that are much more challenging, if not impossible, with traditional microscopy. Identifying and correcting aberrations and distortions with entangled photons allowed us to produce sharper images without the need for a guide star." Dr. Hugo Defienne began work on the research at the University of Glasgow's School of Physics & Astronomy before moving to the Paris Institute of Nanosciences at Sorbonne University, where he is now based. Dr. Defienne, last author on the paper, said, "This new technique could be broadly applied to all kinds of conventional optical microscopes to help improve imaging of a wide range of samples. We demonstrated its effectiveness on biological samples, suggesting that it could be used in medical and biology sectors in the future. "It could also be applied to the emerging field of quantum microscopy, which has tremendous potential to produce images beyond the limits of classical light." The team still have some technical hurdles to overcome before the technique can be widely adopted in optical microscopes. Professor Daniele Faccio, who leads the University of Glasgow's Extreme Light research group, is a co-author of the paper. He said, "The next generation of cameras and light sources are likely to help improve the speed which images can be resolved using this technique. We will continue to work on refining and developing the process and look forward to finding new real-world applications for advanced microscopy as we progress." More information: Patrick Cameron et al, Adaptive optical imaging with entangled photons, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adk7825 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: Bar plots depicting the relationship between all variables manipulated and controlled for in the study and the frequency of sellers honest/dishonest behavior. Credit: PLOS ONE (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296746 The limited number of shoppers during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the unfavorable behavior of sellers toward buyers. The fewer shoppers in the shop, the more likely the sellers were to keep their change, a study by scientists from SWPS University shows. For shoppers, it is a signal to remain vigilant; for decision-makers, it is a practical tip for shaping policies during crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, various restrictions were introduced in Poland and many other countries to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These restrictions included wearing masks in public areas, a ban on gatherings and a limited number of people shopping at the same time. Shops, masks and social distancing Researchers from SWPS University decided to look at the lesser-known effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. They investigated how pandemic restrictions introduced in shops affected the behavior of shop assistantsand published their research results in PLOS One. "Our goal was to demonstrate that reducing social interactions by covering faces and maintaining distance. These measures may loosen social norms and lead to tangible material losses," says study co-author Dr. Maciej Koscielniak from the Institute of Psychology at SWPS University. The researchers emphasize that while masks are a proven measure of protection against the spread of the virus, covering the face leads to a change in human interactions. It limits the possibilities of drawing conclusions and increases the sense of anonymity. The study was conducted in 216 grocery shops in Poland in JuneSeptember 2021. The majority of participating shop assistants (over 78%) were women. The shoppers, played by research assistants (two adults in their 50s and two teenagers), were tasked with buying a specific product and giving the seller an amount greater than the actual price of the product. During the study, some research assistants wore non-transparent masks covering the nose and lower part of the face, and the other group wore plastic visors. Shopping with others means a greater chance for fair treatment It turned out that wearing a mask or a transparent visor had no impact on the sellers' honesty. What did matter was the number of customers in the shop. A customer who shopped in the presence of other people was more than three times more likely to receive correct change than one who was alone with the seller. The researchers were surprised to find that sellers were more likely to give correct change to shoppers of the same gender as themselves. The study provides practical insights for policymakers responsible for establishing regulations and social policies during a health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. While maintaining social distance is vital for public health, it could inadvertently encourage fraudulent practices. Retail outlets should, therefore, consider introducing more rigorous monitoring systems. Customers, on the other hand, should be more vigilant to minimize the risk of being cheated, comments the researcher from SWPS University. The authors of the publication point out that the scientific discussion tends to overlook the less obvious but significant consequences of pandemic restrictions. Noticing them is crucial for developing informed policies that will protect the social fabric during times of crisis, Dr. Koscielniak concludes. More information: Maciej Koscielniak et al, COVID-19 masks and limited number of shoppers as determinants of shop assistants' (dis)honesty, PLOS ONE (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296746 Provided by SWPS University 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: Violin plots showing the distributions of hope for peace and hope for victory Among Israeli Jews (Study 1, N = 306) and among Pakistanis (Study 2, N = 253). Credit: British Journal of Social Psychology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12722 Research on group-based hope typically focuses on the positive effects of hope, such as peace and harmony. However, a new research project shows that another collective hope can stand in the way of peace in armed conflicts: the hope of defeating the enemy. In particular, the researchers have investigated what has been behind the hopes of Israeli Jews in recent years' conflict with the Palestinians. "Here we see that the hope of victory for the Israelis is clearly associated with more support for extreme war policies, while the hope for peace generally shows the opposite picture," says Milan Obaidi, Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Copenhagen. In another study, the researchers examined the hopes of Pakistanis in the country's dispute with India. Again, only the hope of victory significantly reflects violent, extremist intentions and rejection of compromise. When hope is divided But is it really that simple to hope for either victory or peace in an armed conflict? No, according to a third study conducted by researchers. Again, they looked at the hopes of Israeli Jews and found a significant proportion of "dual hopers"people who hope for both peace and victory. In the study "Between Victory and Peace: Unravelling the Paradox of Hope in Intractable Conflicts," published in the British Journal of Social Psychology, an international group of psychologists examined group-based hope for victory and peace in conflicts. Through four studies, the researchers found a clear correlation between hope for victory and support for extremist actions and policies that can exacerbate conflict. It may seem paradoxical that one can hope for both. However, the researchers believe that the high number of dual hopers reflects the complex and multifaceted nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which can provoke a desire for a peaceful resolutionand in the same people, a need to assert their rights and achieve victory. "Our results indicate that even though the Israeli left has weakened, there is still a widespread desire for peaceeven among right-wing individuals who have a strong hope for victory over the Palestinians," says Obaidi. In a final study, the researchers find that hopes for either victory or peace fluctuate with the intensity of the conflict. "As the conflict between Israel and Palestine intensified in the spring of 2021, there was a strong increase in hopes for victory, accompanied by a significant decrease in hopes for peace. This shift was accompanied by an increased willingness to support and participate in extreme acts of war and violencebordering on war crimes," says Obaidi. Dim the hope of victory to promote peace According to the researchers, the new insights into collective hopes for victory and peace can be used to counter extremism and promote reconciliation between warring parties. "Our study shows that it can actually be beneficial to reduce the hope for victory, because this hope can lead to extremism and thus exacerbate conflict," says Obaidi. "We suggest that trusted institutions and leading figures of warring parties inspire hope for peace and reduce the expectation of an imminent victory. This can be done by emphasizing the high costs of war and the limits of power," he states. Obaidi notes that when you force the so-called dual hopers to choose between victory or peace, most of them hope for peaceeven though most of them are on the right side of the political landscape. "This bodes well for the prospects of peace. But the willingness of dual hopers to engage in violence and support radical policies is almost as high as those who only hope for victory. This emphasizes the need for interventions that dampen the hope for victory and instead strengthen the hope for peace," he concludes. More information: Maor Shani et al, Between victory and peace: Unravelling the paradox of hope in intractable conflicts, British Journal of Social Psychology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12722 The Glens Falls Planning Board expressed enthusiasm about the potential of The Lofts on Warren developmenta new four-story apartment building, boasting 60 apartments on the top three floors. Ethan Hall of Rucinski Hall Architecture, the architect for the project, proposed the building to be in an L-shape, depending on funding in two phases of the project. Hall estimated the project to cost around $15 million. As previously reported, the Lofts on Warren will be located at 109-117 Warren Street, previously occupied by a Daly Chrysler dealership. The apartment building is expected to include 21,235 square feet of commercial space on the main floor as part of the popular mixed-used commercial design, according to Glens Falls Planning Board documents. Several planning board members were impressed with the buildings architecture and red brick appearance that would seamlessly fit the diverse Warren Street neighborhood. Others were pleased that there was finally a proposed development on the lot. Its good to see someone finally using that property, planning board member Art Beldon said. Planning board member Tom Landry added: It sat vacant for a long time. I dont think I could have imagined a better use for that property. Great site. Its a great project, Landry said. The proposal shows that the building will consist of one to two-bedroom apartments, ranging anywhere from 636 square feet to upwards of 1,226 square feet in size. Climate controlled storage will be offered in the back of the building, as well, according to Hall. An additional feature in the proposal will be the inclusion of Zipcar rentals for tenants to use if they dont have access to a vehicle. There will also be 112 parking spaces available, Hall said. It is clear that the city in its 3.8 square miles needs to be creative about growth, Pat Dowd, Community Development Director for Glens Falls, said. Adaptive reuse and infill development are part of the smart growth principles that underpin our planning and progress, and properties like that on Warren Street are current examples of why we are seeking a Brownfield Opportunity Area in that corridor, Dowd continued. The New York State Brownfield Opportunity Area Program provides grant funding to municipalities and private developers to create a plan for a brownfield location. The program is supposed to rebuild blighted areas, transforming them into catalytic properties that facilitate community investment and improvement, the states website says. Locations are generally considered brownfields when they have some environmental damage. The brownfield program, however, is also aimed at clean but rundown properties. Currently, there is no tenant to occupy the large 21,235 square feet of commercial space on the first floor. All discussions surrounding a tenant is strictly preliminary at this time, according to Hall. The project as proposed is both adaptive reuse of a property and infill development which is building on unused or underused land. I am interested to see how the project progresses through the required steps, Dowd told The Post-Star. With the planning boards positivity toward the project, plus barring any unforeseen circumstances, theres a strong possibility the project will be approved in the near future. The projects site plan review will go before the Zoning Board on March 18, and then likely return to the Planning Board sometime in April. For the next planning board meeting, Hall promised to include a stormwater management plan. Site plan approval may be granted after that. Physical therapist Denise Buher has broadened her Queensbury practice with a significant investment in weight loss and body sculpting technology. In September 2023, Buher took out a five-year loan to purchase an Emsculpt Neo for use at her practice, Orthopedic and Spine Physical Therapy. From BTL Aesthetics, the Emsculpt Neo delivers high-intensity focused electromagnetic and radio-frequency energy resulting in more fat reduction and more muscle growth, the website states. The therapist straps an Emsculpt paddle to a muscle such as the biceps, triceps, or abs. The Emsculpt will then build muscle through contraction and relaxation, while providing a radio frequency that creates heat to burn the fat cells, according to Buher. To see the best results, recommended use is four treatments at 30 minutes a session. Aside from weight loss and body sculpting advantages, another fundamental reason Buher invested in this technology is to reestablish core strength in her patients. A lot of the frustration relates to core strengthening, especially with a lot of these balance patients, she said. They dont have core strength and its hard for them to strengthen their core. They cant do a sit-up to strengthen their abs, shoulder joints are too sore to do any arm strengthening, knees are too painful to get a good contraction of the quad. Its a challenge, so thats why any technology that I can find out there to assist my patients into meeting their goals, thats what Ive really investigated, Buher continued. Orthopedic and Spine Physical Therapy is a McKenzie-certified practice that deals with patients from all ages, with a whole host of issues including balancing difficulties, post-replacement surgery rehab, neck and back pain, and much more, according to Buher. She said they evaluate and assess the joint through repeated movements and end-range movements and pain behavior and then develop a treatment program based on those movements. Buher worked as a Physical Therapist Assistant at Glens Falls Hospital before she completed her Bachelors degree from the University Connecticut in 1991. She then returned to the hospital and worked there for another five years as a Senior Staff Therapist. A part-time practice that began in 1996 operated out of a small space on Quaker Road, according to Buher. I had outgrown it after five years and couldnt find a place to go, so my real estate agent Dave Strainer found me this lot. I just designed the building on a piece of paper and gave it to an architect and we built it, Buher said. The building at 3 Hunter Brook Lane in Queensbury boasts cathedral ceilings and big windows. Atmosphere is important to me. Its good for the mindset and really upliftingnatural light and high energy, she said. Buher also operated another state-of-the-art facility on Route 9 in South Glens Falls, about a mile from Exit 17. That facility closed in 2020 due to a lack of patients from the COVID Pandemic. With the Emsculpt Neo from BTL, Buher hopes to market older people beyond the age of 50 who start to lose muscle and gain fat. However, younger people will also be interested in the technology for body sculpting purposes, Buher said. Buher also purchased an Emsella from BTL as part of a package deal. The Emsella is essentially a padded seat that uses electromagnetic energy to cause deep pelvic floor muscle stimulation. This technology helps patients with incontinence and sexual health, according to Buher. Orthopedic and Spine Physical Therapy is holding a kick-off event with demos on April 11. ATLANTIC CITY Weed-motivated tourists want more than just marijuana, Brian Applegarth said during a panel discussion Thursday. They want something to do after they imbibe. The California-based founder of the Cannabis Travel Association spoke at Destination Cannabis: Spotlight on Atlantic City, a webinar presented by the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton Universitys School of Business and Stocktons Cannabis and Hemp Research Initiative. This was the fourth year for the conference, which started before the first legal cannabis sales in New Jersey. Rob Mejia, a teaching specialist with the schools cannabis studies program, led the discussion, which also included Christina Casile, CEO and owner of Design 710 in Atlantic City, and Jon Cohn, founder and CEO of Agri-Kind Brands in Chester, Pennsylvania, who is involved in several high-profile cannabis projects in Atlantic City. Applegarth, who tracks cannabis travel trends, told the panel one recent trend is the inclusion of cannabis as a precursor to other events, such as before a meal, a concert or a visit to a museum. Were looking at cannabis as the new vermouth, as a precursor to a Michelin-star meal, Applegarth said. Legal weed remains a relatively recent development in New Jersey, with the first legal sales outside the medical marijuana market taking place almost two years ago. Atlantic City's 3rd recreational marijuana dispensary to open Monday Legal Distribution will open at 3112 Atlantic Avenue, just blocks from the Stockton University campus and minutes from the Atlantic City's downbeach section. There are now more than 100 licensed dispensaries in New Jersey, and Atlantic City saw its third adult-use shop open this week. California first allowed medical use almost 30 years ago and voted to allow recreational sales in 2016, a few years behind Colorados legalization referendum in 2012. Cannabis in California is now a multibillion-dollar-a-year industry. Applegarth spoke about cannabis lounges, suggesting they can provide visitors with a variety of experiences, including music and other entertainers. Thats the plan for High Rollers LLC, a dispensary and consumption lounge being built in the Claridge Hotel, with plans to become the regions first consumption lounge. Owners want to open by April 20. Cohn said the investors have put about $4 million into renovating the space. There are tight rules on lounges in New Jersey, preventing the sale of any food or beverages. Cohn said High Rollers is putting in a full bar anyway, giving away soda at first, and creating kiosks where visitors can order food directly from Claridge room service. State rules also say the lounge has to be connected to a dispensary. Cohn said plans are to provide a separate entrance and potentially rent the space out for private events. Atlantic City draws more than 27 million visitors each year, according to the citys figures. If recent information from Gallup is correct, and 17% of Americans indulge in marijuana, about 4.59 million of those visitors are likely to visit a cannabis business. So far, a significant portion of the business at Design 710 comes from people who live in or near Atlantic City, Casile said, but they have had visitors from well out of state, including from Texas. She said she expected a drop in business after the summer in her first year in operation, but that was minimal and sales seem to be picking up for next summer already. Casile said she and her partners looked at the possibility of a consumption lounge, but the return on investment did not seem very attractive, especially considering there would be no food or beverage sales. Cohn expects those rules to change as the market evolves and matures. The lounge will not be a major revenue generator at first, he said, but the plan is to get established in the space early. We expect a lot of changes in the regs, he said, suggesting the New Jersey Casino Regulatory Commission wants to move very carefully while establishing the market. I just think theyre walking before they run, which makes sense. Cohn is involved in other major projects, including a cannabis grow planned for an existing building on Baltic Avenue and a multiphase, larger growing and manufacturing facility on Atlantic Avenue near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. That site has been cleared, but work has been delayed by environmental concerns. Cohn said 13 underground tanks were discovered after an inspection had been completed, and some of the tanks were damaged. In the long term, the Atlantic Avenue plans include a cannabis museum that will be separate from the dispensary and open to the public, Cohn said. He expects that to serve as a destination in its own right, allowing visitors to see how the plant is grown and processed. Each of the projects will mean large-scale investments, with tens of millions of dollars to be spent on the Atlantic Avenue and Baltic Avenue sites. Atlantic City officials see cannabis as a major economic driver in the coming years, with members of Mayor Marty Small Sr.s administration saying it could become the cannabis capital of the East Coast. There are some issues. For instance, Casile said there are few opportunities to work with Atlantic Citys biggest economic players, the casinos, because of federal regulations. Weeds ongoing listing as a Schedule I narcotic by the federal government presents other drawbacks, Cohn said. For instance, cannabis businesses cannot deduct business expenses in their tax reporting the way other companies can. He said it was ironic, because the companies can deduct the cost of the product they sell, even though it is that product that is listed as an illegal drug. Applegarth described four types of cannabis travelers, those curious about the experience, the cannabis connoisseurs, the wellness travelers and those who use cannabis as part of a ceremonial or spiritual practice. Casile said businesses have to make both those new to cannabis and those who are immersed in the culture feel welcome and safe, and that staff should be ready to guide people unfamiliar with the effects on the likely intensity, dosing and available products. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. Nineteen fire departments in Atlantic County, six in Cape May County and 16 in Cumberland County were awarded grants from an American Rescue Plan program for protective, cleaning and sanitization equipment, Gov. Phil Murphy said this week. Atlantic City received $70,000 in funding. Brigantine and Ventnor each received $75,000. Galloway Township received $196,000 the five volunteer fire companies that serve the municipality: Oceanville, Bayville, Pomona, Germania and South Egg Harbor. North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest received $158,000 in total grant funding. Middle Township Fire District 3 received $24,000, Stone Harbor received $37,000 and Upper Township received $63,000. In Cumberland County, recipients included Bridgeton ($73,000), Millville ($50,000) and Vineland ($70,000 or $75,000 for each of six stations). I am pleased that my administration was able to double the allocation of ARP funds in this years budget from $10 million to $20 million to fire departments, which provide critical, life-saving services in our communities, Murphy said in a news release. The continuation of the American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant Program for a second cycle means local governments dont have to break the bank to get firefighters the gear and equipment they need. Were putting our federal tax dollars to use here in New Jersey communities for essential services. Fire departments in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Ocean counties will be able to buy breathing apparatuses, personal protective equipment and protective clothing, like helmets, gloves and footwear. They also will be able to buy cleaning equipment and other fire and/or virus protection equipment, as long as they are deemed appropriate by the state Division of Local Government Services. The health and safety of firefighters should be a top priority for everyone in our state. This grant program goes a long way in supporting the well-being of our NJ firefighters who serve in career and volunteer departments," said Robert F. Ordway, president of the New Jersey State Firemens Association. "Having proper protective equipment and the ability to maintain that equipment in an uncontaminated condition will help shield the health and safety of firefighters throughout NJ. New Jersey lawmakers are set to consider legislation Monday that critics warn would gut the states public records law, threatening transparency in a state notorious for corruption. The bill Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) introduced last Monday is the latest legislative effort to add new hurdles to the Open Public Records Act, which was meant to expand public access to government records and is commonly referred to as OPRA. A series of bills that proposed similar restrictions failed to advance in the last legislative session. Sarlo didnt respond to the New Jersey Monitors request for comment last Monday, but lawmakers in the past have blamed commercial requesters for blitzing municipalities with so many requests theyve had to hire more staff. Supporters of amending the law also cite privacy concerns. Transparency crusaders said proposed restrictions would impact all records requesters, not just those with a commercial interest. The more controversial changes would allow agencies to exempt records and seek a protective court order if they deem requests harassing; make draft documents private, which critics worry would be abused to deny access; and end a now-mandatory rule that requires public agencies that lose records disputes in court to pay the winning parties legal fees. This gets pretty close to a repeal of OPRA. Its going to hobble it to a point to make it practically useless, said John Paff, a prolific records requester who chairs the New Jersey Libertarian Partys open government advocacy project. Committees in the Senate and the Assembly are scheduled to consider the bill at separate 10 a.m. public hearings Monday at the Statehouse in Trenton. What the bill would do Cape May takes steps to head off 'First Amendment audits' CAPE MAY An ordinance recommended by City Council member Shaine Meier proposes new restric Sarlos proposed restrictions take up 29 pages. The bill would give custodians more time to respond to some requests. State law now requires a response within seven business days, although custodians routinely flout that. The new legislation would lengthen the timeline for clerks to produce records in storage and to accommodate Daniels Law, which prohibits the disclosure of home addresses for certain public officials like judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers. Other provisions would: Restrict access to emails and calls by exempting logs of both and requiring requesters to list a specific subject matter and discrete and limited time period and identify the employee by name (not title) whose email must be searched. Create a uniform definition of personal identifying information, which records custodians often redact, and exempt email and home addresses from disclosure. Mandate the use of a standard OPRA request form statewide. While some governments now have their own forms and portals, people arent required by law to use them and can submit records requests in any format. Create a task force to examine existing public access to police records and recommend changes. The legislation specifies that the chair would be the state attorney general or his designee and directs four other members to represent law enforcement; county or municipal prosecutors; the New Jersey League of Municipalities; and the New Jersey Association of Counties. Give a records custodian more discretion to deny duplicative and anonymous requests. Atlantic City school board told to clamp down on information released by members ATLANTIC CITY School board members are breaking ethics rules and perhaps the law when they The bill also has several provisions unlikely to spark objections, such as encouraging public agencies to digitize documents and make them searchable online, and allocating state funding to facilitate such a shift. It also would add more public members to the Government Records Council, the understaffed body that responds to complaints from people denied records. That council typically takes two years to resolve cases and has a case backlog numbering in the hundreds. The bill contains an unspecified $8 million appropriation to carry out its provisions. Fast-tracked bill ignites fast-tracked backlash Sarlo introduced the bill last Monday, but its text wasnt publicly available until late Tuesday. The details unleashed a furor on social media, where longtime political columnist Charles Stile renamed it the New Jersey Closed Access to Public Records Act of 2024 and former Sen. Loretta Weinberg, a longtime OPRA defender, denounced it as a complete gut of OPRA. Many noted the irony of Sarlo introducing it just before Sunshine Week, which began Sunday and runs through Saturday, a dedicated time of advocacy for those demanding government accountability during an era of media decline. This bill would move New Jersey back into the dark ages when it comes to government accountability, Weinberg wrote on social media. Call your senator. Im embarrassed that a Bergen County senator is the prime sponsor. The legislation has support from municipal officials, who have long griped that responding to OPRA requests takes up an increasing amount of their time. In particular, they say, commercial requesters have saddled crippling costs on municipalities. Sarlos legislation would restrict commercial access by prohibiting records requests made by or for data brokers. Atlantic City Council finally gets detailed budget figures ATLANTIC CITY City Council finally received a detailed 2022 city budget that includes how We are not opposed to transparency or public access. But no one should stick their head in the sand and say that there havent been abuses, which impact the municipal operations, impact privacy concerns, and ultimately, the costs are borne by the taxpayers, said Michael Cerra, executive director of the New Jersey League of Municipalities. Cerra couldnt quantify how many commercial requests municipalities receive, nor how much they might have consequently spent to increase staffing. A lot of it is anecdotal, he said. But I dont think theres any question that there theres an overabundance of third-party commercial requests that essentially have the public records custodians doing their due diligence for them. Cerra also cited privacy concerns, saying OPRA hasnt caught up to technological advances in the past two decades that have expanded information access. Twenty years ago, we didnt have that identity theft, data mining, cyberattacks because of exposure of metadata. The law has not kept pace with technology and the world around it, Cerra said. Nothing is perfect, but I think this is an effort to modernize the act to address those legitimate privacy concerns. Paff said if commercial requesters are the problem, then policymakers should narrowly amend the law to target the problem, rather than subjecting it to wholesale gutting. He rejected supporters complaints that OPRA compliance has become too costly. The larger the government gets, the more it needs to be held accountable. Yes, maybe you need to hire another deputy clerk. But why is it a non-starter to hire somebody for $85,000 a year to manage OPRA, but no one objects when (Gov. Phil) Murphy wants to hire another aide? Paff said. What is an appropriate amount of money to keep citizens informed? Rather than cost concerns, Paff blamed politicians propensity for secrecy as their motivation for trying to tweak OPRA. He likened them to the Wizard of Oz who doesnt want anyone to look behind the curtain. Ive been to these hearings before, and a lot of times, minds are made up. Some shaky arguments are advanced and accepted as the unvarnished truth and things just get gaveled through, Paff said. I hold out hope there will be actual, genuine, authentic questioning and analysis. Attorney Walter Luers, who specializes in public records cases, predicted the bill would backfire because it would result in more records denials and more lawsuits from people fighting those denials, which will drive up municipalities costs. It also will hurt low-income requesters who lack the resources to challenge denials in court, he added. They want to get fewer OPRA requests, but theyre going to get more subpoenas, Luers said. Instead of resolving OPRA cases quickly or resolving them pre-suit, theyre going to go to litigation. And instead of being litigated quickly at summary proceedings, theres going to be fights and briefing over all these other different issues, in terms of counsel fees, in terms of whether someones a commercial provider, and in terms of whether someones making an OPRA request related to some other litigation. He added: If they want to go and shoot themselves in the foot, thats fine, because theyre holding the gun. This story first ran on the New Jersey Monitor. Muslim terrorists killed two Christians and kidnapped dozens of others in an attack on the outskirts of the city of Kaduna in northern Nigeria, sources said. The assailants invaded Gonin Gora, a predominantly Christian village in Chikun County, southern Kaduna state, the night of Feb. 28, area residents said. The attackers, who we know to be Muslim bandits terrorizing Christians in Kaduna state, attacked the Angwan Auta area of Gonin Gora and killed two Christians, area resident Patience Ali told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News in a text message. They also broke into about 10 houses belonging to Christians and kidnapped dozens of members from these households. Dozens of other Christians were wounded in the attacks, she said. Jedidiah John, another resident of the area, also reported the deaths of the two Christians, saying, about 11 houses were broke into by the terrorists. An unspecified number of Christian residents were also abducted and taken to unknown place. Resident Sunday Audu said the Muslim bandits attacked at about 11 p.m. and did not leave until the early morning of Feb. 29. The Muslim bandits killed two Christians and abducted many other Christians who are now being held captive, Audu told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News in a text message. Police confirmed the attack on the Gonin Gora community and said security personnel were deployed to the area to curtail the incessant attacks there. Samuel Aruwan, commissioner of the state Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that his office received distress calls from the Gonin Gora community. TheKaduna state government has directed security agencies to as a matter of urgency deploy their personnel to the area to repel the attackers, Aruwan said. Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300. Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report. In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year. Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report. They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states. Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds. A group of Senate lawmakers spent five hours Thursday scrutinizing the states bail structure seven years after it was overhauled in an effort to eliminate cash bail and revamp the criminal justice system. Their concerns mostly focused on what they say is a rise in recently released accused offenders committing new crimes. Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) said hes heard several constituents and mayors of towns in his district report repeat offenders stealing cars and breaking into peoples homes. I have to figure out, at least for my constituents, before going into the summer, how I can assure them that when somebody is arrested, they will not be back in their neighborhood literally a week later, Gopal said, a point he made several times during Thursdays discussion in front of the Senates judiciary committee. Still, criminal justice reformers, county prosecutors, and court administrators who testified in front of the panel argued that reforms have reduced jail populations and that crime remains low, hailing the 2017 criminal justice overhaul as a success. This legislation helps address inequities in the criminal justice system and prevents individuals accused of low-level crimes from remaining in jail strictly because they cannot afford monetary bail, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. Judge Glenn Grant, acting director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, pointed to a recent judicial report on criminal justice reform, which was written by a committee of 26 people that included representation from the Attorney Generals Office, the Office of the Public Defender, police and sheriffs, social justice advocates, civil rights organizations, and local and county governments. He said the members agreed that overall, the current bail system is working better than the former cash-bail model. Grant gave New Jerseys bail reform a B-minus grade, and said New Jerseys system is held up as the best in the nation. We can always do better. There is no perfect pretrial release system, because you are always dealing with human beings, youre dealing with futility and the inability to predict how were doing, he said. Atlantic County prosecutor leads state in detaining serious criminals, officials say The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office seeks to detain the most dangerous criminals under current bail law, and has the highest success rate in the state in detaining them, Prosecutor William Reynolds said Friday. During pre-detention hearings, New Jersey uses a risk-based assessment to determine a defendants risk of reoffending, not appearing in court, or committing a violent crime. It also considers their past criminal history and age. Sen. Mike Testa (R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic), an attorney, said there must be more judicial discretion to prevent people who commit serious crimes from getting a quick release from jail. At times, Thursdays conversation turned from bail reform to increasing penalties for certain crimes. Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Union) wondered whether the Legislature should implement greater penalties for people who commit new offenses while on pretrial release, upgrade certain crimes to second-degree offenses, or implement mandatory minimum jail sentences. He said bail reform doesnt appear to be the solution to ensure bad guys go to jail. If were not going to seriously incarcerate people prior to the trial, then there must be a deterrent effect when someone steals a second car the immediate solution, this Legislature could do in a day, he said. Sen. Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) pushed back on the idea that violent crime is surging and said he rejects the fear his colleagues expressed. He urged lawmakers to revisit the states crime statistics, which show violent crime is trending down, according to the Attorney Generals Office. He said hes hopeful that the lengthy conversation held Thursday will lead to additional measures to tighten up bail reform, but reminded lawmakers to not lose sight of the fact of why we did this in the first place. He noted that innocent people can be arrested and jailed, stuck behind bars because they cant afford bail. We started this journey on bail reform to really get in the root of that. I think if we look at it in totality, we dont want to throw it out completely, he said. Murphy signs anti-car theft bill package into law Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday signed into law a set of bills his administration says will crack down on vehicle thefts. If you ever wondered what it takes to become a saint, see Cabrini. Unrelenting, the Catholic nun (stoically played by Cristiana DellAnna) doesnt take no from anyone the pope included as she tries to make life better for the downtrodden in New York, specifically, Italians. Sent to Five Points, a Manhattan neighborhood filled with racist thugs, Francesca Cabrini and her fellow nuns try to handle the issues internally. Priests and others, however, dont want to rock the boat. So, she appeals to everyone she can find. When they say no (or tell her to stop trying), she forges on. Its a powerful lesson of perseverance but its also one filled with repetition and more subtitles than an American audience should have to bear. At one point, Cabrini speaks English with the pope (Giancarlo Giannini). Why this is the time to ditch the subtitles is anyones guess. Still, director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde digs in, using lighting to good effect and showcasing the scenery in deep, saturated tones. He gets cameos from David Morse (as Archbishop Corrigan) and John Lithgow (as the mayor), but theyre really a way to pull people in. The roles are slight and, in both cases, fairly one-note. What bothers most is the frequent use of ethnic slurs. Theyre all here and they do get the intended reaction. Monteverde, however, could have spent more time showing us more about the non-crusading Cabrini to fully understand what propelled her. We also dont get many moments where shes not in arm-twisting mode. DellAnna is a forceful actress, able to make her case in many languages. Shes also the kind of person youd want representing you in a court of law or a court of God. How Cabrini gained sainthood is left to the closing narration and, even then, its not as clear as it could be. If the film is meant to parallel the plight of immigrants today, its powerful. But it should have shown why non-immigrants in the late 19th century were so threatened. To reduce it all to slurs? Even Morse and Lithgow should have known better. Where Cabrini gets its strength is in those moments DellAnna defies orders and bulldozes. Shes like Mamma Rose getting her daughters on the vaudeville circuit and her results are impressive. Very operatic, the story might have played even stronger as a musical. There are moments just waiting to be captured in song and they wouldnt have had to retrace old themes. Like its subject, Cabrini wills its existence. It may not be as riveting as Dune: Part Two but its oftentimes just as intense. Shane Brown Follow Shane Brown 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 I've always taken pride in being a forward thinker. Even as a kid, I loved sci-fi dreams of flying cars and household robots to carry out my every need. I've always been a fan of breaking new ground and pushing boundaries. New technology fascinates me. I look to the stars and seek the answers to life, the universe, and everything. I am Shane, embracer of progress. At least, that's the story I try to tell myself. Truth be told, I'm a future-fearing fuddy-duddy. I hate change. There is comfort in the routine and familiar. Sure, I love going to new places and trying new things, as long as I know I can drive home on familiar streets to the same house in the same condition I left it, where all my stuff is in the same place I know it to be. Knowing how things work and knowing what to expect yields confidence, something my brain has always woefully lacked. I pretend to be a cheerleader for progress, but here's the truth. About a year ago, we re-arranged the cubicles at my office. I was NOT a happy camper, and spent the better part of a week throwing what, in hindsight, can only be described as a hissy fit. I liked my old cubicle. I liked its views, its size, and its proximity to the break room. But here's the thing. Our cubicles at work are identical. They all have the same views: cubicle walls. They're all the exact same size. My new cubicle is a few more paces to the breakroom, but a few less paces to the photocopier, so it's a fair trade. By and large, it's the exact same. But the mere idea of being forced to change was enough for me to throw a tantrum and act like some great injustice had been thrust upon me. I'm a sad, silly person. And yet the future keeps coming. Artificial intelligence is moving at such leaps and bounds that in just a few years, we might be going to the theater to watch movies scripted, produced and acted by computers. Popular music sounds more and more like angry robots every day. Cars are driving themselves. Don't get me started on politics and what the future (or potentially lack thereof) may hold. But there's a couple things happening locally that are causing my irrational fear of change to max out. Don't be surprised if you soon see me outside picketing with a sign that says, "I HATE THIS AND I CAN'T OFFER A RATIONAL EXPLANATION WHY." In less than 2 weeks, the Government Bridge to Arsenal Island will close for the remainder of spring and a good part of the summer. Why? Because Davenport is taking out the perfectly functional intersection at the end of the bridge and replacing it with a roundabout or, as I like to call them, a WHEEL OF ETERNAL FEAR. I despise roundabouts. And I come from Galesburg, where we had one in our downtown before roundabouts were even cool. I don't understand the need, the point, or the advantages. Ergo, I looked it up. All you have to do is type "roundabout" into Google, and you're immediately greeted by not one, not two, but SEVEN articles from assorted state governments entitled, "THE BENEFITS OF ROUNDABOUTS." Note: If your state's government has to publish articles about why roundabouts are a good thing, it likely means there's a whoooole lot of people who need convincing. The basic pro-roundabout arguments: They're less dangerous. There's a 90% reduction in fatal collisions. They slow down dangerous traffic and risky behavior. They control the flow of traffic without the need for stoplights. One article even argued they curb pollution, which is hooey. At best, they curb pollution at that particular intersection. But the cars are still polluting, whether they're stopped at your light or toodling down the road. They're just helping disperse the pollution. All these pro-roundabout arguments only work if you assume that (a) you're not an idiot, and (b) neither are any of the other drivers around you. That's a big ask. When I merge into a roundabout, my blood pressure raises and I white-knuckle the steering wheel through the whole process. I never know when to smoothly merge or let others merge. There's always a crazy person cruising the inside lane like they're turning laps at Bristol. There's honking and scowls and friendly greetings from middle fingers aplenty. I suppose the statistics don't lie, but in my world, it takes more brainpower and stress to navigate a circle than stop and watch a pretty light turn from red to green. The roundabout, though, is just a pre-cursor to the main event, which is when Davenport converts their downtown one-ways into two-lane stop-and-go streets in a year or two. I'm also not a fan of this plan, but I also have NO justifiable reason for my outrage, other than my 6-minute commute will likely become a 9-minute commute. I plan on spending those three bonus minutes pouting and grumbling under my breath. Be prepared. The downtown one-ways can certainly be hazardous. There's nothing kids love more than treating those stretches of road like their own personal drag strips, and it's intimidating to cross them on foot. There's also morons who turn the wrong way down those one-ways. I should know, I was one of them once. Back in high school, shortly after procuring my license, I tried to impress a girl I was sweet on by driving her up to the Quad Cities without my parents knowing (sorry, Mom, if you're reading this.) She wasn't especially impressed when I turned the wrong way onto 3rd Avenue and almost made fast friends with an oncoming truck. I get the arguments, but I still don't want things to change. I can't help but feel like the little kid in me would be horribly disappointed not just by my fuddy-duddy attitude, but by our entire concept of future reality. After all, we were promised jetpacks and flying cars. Thus far, the only thing the future holds is stop-and-go traffic and driving around in circles. In the meantime, I'd better go clean my kitchen. It appears my robot maid must be taking a personal day. Common conditions that can affect driver safety The vast majority of weather-related crashes involve wet pavement One of the two people charged with a double homicide in Davenport is requesting a new attorney. Adriana Blake faces two counts of first-degree murder in the January slaying of Brian L. Goodwin and Amy M. Smith. Devon Braet, 34, also is charged. Both had been in Scott County Jail since Jan. 18, when they were arrested for being felons in possession of a firearm and various warrants. Blake and Braet were officially charged with the murders on Feb. 7. They appeared in court as co-defendants on Feb. 16. Blake was represented by Public Defender Troy Smith. Braet was represented by Amy Kepes of the Des Moines-based Special Defense Unit. In a letter written on Feb. 25, Blake asked Judge Michael Motto for a different attorney and named private attorneys Andrea Jaeger and "Eric," for whom she does not give a last name. The second could could be Jaeger's partner, Eric Tindal, at the law firm Keegan Tindal & Jaeger. Blake claims she is not being adequately represented by Smith. "Troy (Smith) also told me when I had court on the 16th that he would be here last week to speak with me and never came," Blake wrote in the letter. When Blake was originally arrested on Jan. 18, she was booked under the name "Adriana Prieto." In the letter, Blake asks for all her documentation to show her last name as "Blake." She said she was married on July 4, 2023, and has identification showing her married name. The bodies of Goodwin and Smith, both 44, were found Jan. 16 by Davenport firefighters after a fire was reported at Goodwins residence at 5210 N. Division St. They had gunshot wounds. According to their arrest affidavits, Blake and Braet also lived at the residence. Under Iowa law, first-degree murder carries an automatic sentence of life in prison upon conviction. During the Feb. 16 court hearing, Davenport Police investigator Brandon Askew testified that Blake was recorded on video bragging about "killing two people" in a hotel room in Galesburg, Illinois. Askew also testified that Blake and Braet were in possession of the firearms believed to be used in the murders when they were arrested on Jan. 18. According to the arrest affidavits, Blake and Braet killed Goodwin and Smith between 4:30 and 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 15. Another woman also was arrested Feb. 7 in connection with the case. Melisa Marie Weber, 49, is charged with two counts of abuse of a corpse and one count each of accessory after the fact and second-degree arson. Blake and Braet, along with Weber, placed combustible materials inside the residence where the bodies of Goodwin and Smith were located, authorities allege. They set fire to the materials in the hopes of altering the crime scene. The fire damaged the bodies of Goodwin and Smith. Investigators say Blake and Braet possessed firearms during the commission of the crimes. Arresting officers said that when Blake and Braet were taken into custody on Jan. 18 they had 4.3 grams of heroin and 11 grams of meth. Braet and Blake are charged with two counts each of first-degree murder, assault while participating in a felony causing serious injury, and abuse of a corpse. The pair also are charged with one count each of second-degree arson, going armed with intent, possession of a firearm by a felon, use of a dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime, and possession of a controlled substance. After helping to start the fire, Weber helped Prieto and Braet avoid apprehension following the murders of Goodwin and Smith, the affidavits said. One city's surprising tactic to reduce gun violence: Solving more nonfatal shootings One city's surprising tactic to reduce gun violence: Solving more nonfatal shootings Other cities have woken up to Denver's example The firms that investigated the partial building collapse at 324 Main St. are expected to produce a report that will advise the City of Davenport on its building inspection ordinances and processes. The city is contracting SOCOTEC Engineering Inc. and White Birch Group to review city codes, Nicole Gleason, assistant city administrator and public works director, confirmed in an email. Since the six-story apartment building collapsed May 28, killing three people, residents have clamored for answers about why residents were still living in the building and unaware of documented structural concerns. Although city council members have discussed wanting a review of rental codes, inspections, and enforcement after the collapse, it was not previously clear how a review would be conducted or who would do it. Davenport city council members heard Tuesday a draft of the city's coming year's administrative workplan, a high-level guide for the next year of goals and projects the city wants to accomplish. Included in the workplan were goals to update city's fire and building codes, review rental codes and enforcement, and review a study, once completed, of the city's building codes and procedures by the forensic engineering firms that investigated the cause of the partial collapse. "They (SOCOTEC Engineering and White Birch Group) were contracted to conduct a review of our current processes, our ordinance language, and also looking at things like our chief building official position and if there are any modifications that need to be made with that," Interim City Administrator Mallory Merritt told city council members on Tuesday. "I would expect that report to be finalized here within a month or two and we'll certainly make sure that we have a good debrief with you on that and present the findings." SOCOTEC Engineering Inc. and White Birch Group were initially contracted by the city to "conduct a cause and origin report" of the collapse. The companies released a report in September that identified two "root causes" of the collapse: 1) workers removed wythes of brick in the days before the collapse and 2) did so without adequately shoring the structural brick west wall. The report did not, however, give the public any explicit answers on what the city could have or should have done differently to ensure the safety of the residents at 324 Main St. The initial report stated that its conclusions were limited to the building design, construction, and repair, and that "evaluation of municipal procedural and policy related implications, and any contributory factors thereof is beyond the scope of the WBG and SEI investigation." In her email on Thursday, Gleason wrote that the new proposal to review city codes occurred after the forensic engineers' other services were completed. "The original work did not contemplate the codes or policies," Gleason wrote. The new contract for policy work was proposed at a lump sum of not-to-exceed $20,000 for SOCOTEC and not to exceed $20,000 for White Birch, Gleason wrote. The new proposal hasn't appeared on a city council agenda yet because payments and contracts less than $50,000 do not require council approval. Typically, completed payments and purchases between $10,000 and $50,000 are listed on a Committee of the Whole agenda for public viewing. Since the building collapsed, several Davenport council members and candidates for council said they supported a thorough review of the city's rental inspection and building codes and enforcement procedures. Reviewing and refining rental inspection processes was a common goal submitted by council members during goal-setting in January. When the council approved an agreement with SOCOTEC in July, some council members indicated they wanted the city to use the firms' eventual findings to guide policymaking. A work authorization agreement with SOCOTEC Engineering Inc. stated the city engaged the company to "perform a forensic investigation to attempt to determine the cause and origin of the partial building collapse." White Birch Group, LLC, run by forensic engineer Scott Nacheman, provided a proposal to the city for investigative services June 2. The scope of services included 14 items, including performing site evaluations, technical analysis of the conditions encountered, preserving evidence, and providing expert witness testimony in a trial. SOCOTEC and White Birch Group have appeared on the city council agenda three times in the past year, according to a search of council agendas: The cycle of July 5, 2023, when the city council approved $55,000 in emergency authorized funding of work already completed by SOCOTEC and approved another $150,000 for the company to begin a second phase of work. Aug. 16 Committee of the Whole, under purchases between $10,000 and $50,000 White Birch Group LLC was listed for $36,050 for "324 Main Street engineering services." Sept. 6 Committee of the Whole, White Birch was listed for $38,628 for "professional services for 324 Main Street." Gleason wrote that White Birch Group was paid $8,450.28 on Sept. 12, which did not appear on an agenda because it was less than $10,000. Other goals and projects The draft workplan presented to council members on Tuesday also included a number of other neighborhood, public safety, infrastructure and administrative goals and projects the city plans to make progress on or accomplish. In neighborhoods, the plan also included continuing the Annie Wittenmyer property transition, continuing Extreme DREAM, the program that aids developers looking to rehabilitate abandoned homes, finishing construction on the Fairmount Library Community Center and plan for its operations, and continuing parks upgrades, including installing multi-sport courts, Dohse Splash Pad, Cork Hill Splash Pad and Emeis Inclusive Play. Police creating online data portals The Davenport Police Department is working on making more statistics publicly available online, including a database of police calls for service. "The goal would be to put those as public data portals to where people can enter an address and then get calls for service," Davenport Police Chief Jeff Bladel said. "We spend a lot of time with our staff researching calls or requests, so this will help get us that public information right out there on a portal." Other public safety action items included: evaluating the department's response to intimate partner violence and mental health incidents exploring community paramedicine aligning dispatching services continuing the Group Violence Intervention strategy evaluating IT capacity especially for police videos police officer and firefighter recruitment and retention implementing a study of police schedules continuing work and negotiations with the Humane Society of Scott County for animal services transitioning to the new Fire Station 3 and exploring options for the previous building proposing an outdoor service area ordinance amendment. Relating to infrastructure, the draft workplan included: implementing the capital improvement plan for the calendar year neighborhood inflow and infiltration study, which would look at how the city can reduce storm water getting into sewer pipes and resulting in excess water in the Water Pollution Control Plant Duck Creek interceptor extension completing the HR Green Water Pollution Control Plant evaluation study and identify a financial strategy for its capital needs. It also includes finishing the berms and pumping stations around the WPCP and updating sewer ordinances. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern rail merger-funded projects, including quiet zones along the riverfront and a bridge near the WPCP. flood mitigation projects, including upgrades at the intersection River Drive and Marquette, Blackhawk Creek berm restoration, Union Station protections, and storm sewer upgrades on River Drive from Federal to 3rd Streets. Multi-modal trail construction On finances, the plan included: reviewing TIF policies, implementing the fiscal 2025 budget with new requirements set by state lawmakers last session conducting a sewer rate study and transit fund analysis continuing work on the NorthPark Mall market study and analysis evaluating city facilities and investments needed bond sales and analyzing the city's liquidity policies continue implementing the city's allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds In governance, items included: recruiting permanent leadership positions, including the city administrator and city attorney. deciding on and implementing an elected official code of conduct incident management evaluation and training A priest has been reinstated after an allegation that he sexually abused a minor "wasn't proved" in an investigation, the Diocese of Davenport announced Thursday. In 2023, the Diocese of Davenport received a report of "inappropriate conduct with a minor" by Father John Stack, with the alleged conduct in the mid-1990s, according to a news release sent to area media outlets Thursday. The diocese reported the allegation to the Scott County Attorney, complying with an agreement with the attorney's office. The case was returned to the diocese, and Stack was removed from the ministry while the allegation was investigated, according to the diocese's news release. The investigation was done by a private investigator hired by the Diocese of Davenport's attorney, Deacon David Montgomery wrote in an email to the Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus. "The accusation wasn't proved," Montgomery wrote of the results of the investigation. The Diocesan Review Board sent the case in October 2023 to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, according to the news release. The office evaluates cases of abuse submitted by bishops. On Dec. 22, 2023, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith sent Father Kenneth Kuntz, diocesan administrator, a letter "entrusting the matter to his pastoral governance," the news release stated. "According to canon law, 'Any person is considered innocent until the contrary is proved,'" the news release stated. "After consultation with the Diocesan Review Board, the College of Consultors, and the Priests' Personnel Board, Fr. Kuntz is restoring Fr. Stack to priestly ministry according to Diocesan policy and canon law. He may assist priests who are ill, on vacation, etc. Any future assignment will be determined by the next bishop." Allegations that Stack abused minors in the 1980s emerged in 2013, but a trial found those to be "not proven," and Stack continued to serve in the diocese. Photos: Pope begs forgiveness of Indigenous for Canada school abuses East Moline hopes to continue the momentum and achieve great things for years to come, the mayor says. Mayor Reggie Freeman delivered the annual State of the City address Thursday, emphasizing the future growth of the city and how far they have come over the past year. Freeman highlighted large projects that the city hopes will spur more economic growth. These projects, he said, couldn't be done without the work of partners and city officials. "East Moline is not just a city it's a vibrant community of dedicated individuals working tirelessly to build a better tomorrow," he said. "Let us remember that progress is not achieved alone but through collaboration, innovation and shared vision for a brighter future." The biggest project for East Moline is connecting The Bend, The Rust Belt and 15th Avenue/downtown. In 2022, the city was awarded nearly $24 million in federal infrastructure funding through a RAISE grant to help with downtown revitalization. One of the goals with the project is to create a more walkable and bike friendly downtown. At a public input meeting in February, City Engineer Tim Kammler said the project has three primary goals: improve connectivity and connection through infrastructure improvements, placemaking and signage; continue to support economic development; and facilitate safe pedestrian and bicycle travel between the riverfront and residential areas. The project is broken into three phases, with the first phase focusing on The Bend; second phase on The Rust Belt; and the last phase extending the 15th Avenue district to the Rust Belt and Bend. The city's goal is to finish the last phase in 2027. Freeman also highlighted priorities and goals council has established. Five priorities and goals established by council are: undertaking a comprehensive review of city revenues; developing a five-year staffing plan; creating a community development department; creating a rental housing code and inspection program; and creating communications plans. "This year, the city has budgeted for a neighborhood stabilization fund to help with land acquisition, demolition and stabilization of problem properties," Freeman said. According to the city's fiscal year 2024 budget, it is being funded with $300,000. Freeman also said they are working with the Quad City Land Bank Authority to identify and manage problem properties; exploring the adoption of new policies and ordinances for abandoned and vacant buildings; and creating a rental housing code and inspection program. Council also passed a resolution recently to undertake facilities master planning for water and wastewater facilities that are nearly 70 years old or older, Freeman said. "Such planning will tell us about needed upgrades to improve operations," he said. Public safety is receiving $1.5 million in new equipment, Freeman said, after being awarded a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. According to the slides Freeman used, the grant will help cover the cost of a new fire engine; drone; TASERS; K-9 program; radar units for squared cars; and more. The city also is proposing a business development district to attract new investment and growth. A business development is a program that allows the city to apply an additional sales tax in a specific area to increase local services, amenities, employment opportunities, and sales and property taxes. The city also is exploring expanding the Quad Cities Enterprise Zone to cover older and distressed neighborhoods to help reduce rehab costs and a tax increment finance, or TIF, district. Other achievements Freeman said 2023 saw new developments start such as plans for a new car wash, coffee shops and other retail. "If you got money you want to invest, invest in car washes and drive up coffee shops because they are going everywhere," Freeman joked, getting a wide laugh from the room. Residential development at The Quarter also has reached the third phase, in which duplexes are being sold. Freeman said over the past 15 months there have been 36 units completed with 20 being occupied. Another 14 are under construction with an additional 14 planned for future development. In 2023, Living Lands and Waters purchased the former Visitor Center, or Beacon Harbor, for office space. Freeman also highlighted the organization's Rivers Careers Classroom Barge, "Mississippi Institute" for classes in the Quad-Cities and up and down the Mississippi. New employees also joined the city in key positions, including a new city administrator, finance director, wastewater treatment plant director and community development director. Freeman also said the city hopes to recruit a new fire marshal to undertake life-safety inspections and a new crime analyst to focus on public safety efforts. Close People gather at the The Bend in East Moline for Mayor Reggie Freeman's 2024 State of the City address on Thursday. People gather at the The Bend in East Moline for Mayor Reggie Freeman's 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024. People gather at the The Bend in East Moline for Mayor Reggie Freeman's 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024. People gather at the The Bend in East Moline for Mayor Reggie Freeman's 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman delivers the 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at The Bend. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman delivers the 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at The Bend. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman delivers the 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7th, 2024 at The Bend. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman delivers the 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at The Bend. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman highlights upcoming business developments during the 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at The Bend. Photos: East Moline 2024 State of the City address East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman delivered the 2024 State of the City address at The Bend on Thursday, March 7th, 2024. People gather at the The Bend in East Moline for Mayor Reggie Freeman's 2024 State of the City address on Thursday. People gather at the The Bend in East Moline for Mayor Reggie Freeman's 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024. People gather at the The Bend in East Moline for Mayor Reggie Freeman's 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024. People gather at the The Bend in East Moline for Mayor Reggie Freeman's 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman delivers the 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at The Bend. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman delivers the 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at The Bend. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman delivers the 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7th, 2024 at The Bend. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman delivers the 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at The Bend. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman highlights upcoming business developments during the 2024 State of the City address on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at The Bend. Police in Pakistan are pressuring a young Christian woman to withdraw charges against two Muslims who raped, blackmailed and tried to forcibly convert her to Islam, sources said. The 26-year-old woman, a resident of Islamabad whose name is withheld as a rape victim, said Sub-Inspector Muhammad Mehboob was harassing and warning her to drop the charges against Raja Waleed and Shah Hussain, alias Badshah. Blackmailing her into silence with mobile phone video recordings of the sexual assaults, Waleed and Hussain raped her multiple times over the past four months, she said. In September Hussain borrowed a large sum of money from the womans mother, and the following month he told the young woman to accompany him to the home in Rawalpindi of a friend who would give him the money so he could repay her, she said. When we reached the house, Hussain left me in a room on the pretext of making a phone call, she told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. As soon as Hussain left, his friend Waleed entered the room brandishing an AK-47 rifle, she said. He fired a bullet on the wall to scare me and then sexually assaulted me, disregarding my cries for mercy, she said. I cannot express the horror I suffered in those moments as my mind and body went completely numb. After assaulting me, Waleed made videos of me with his cell phone and threatened that he would share them on social media if I reported the incident to the police and did not surrender to his demands. The nightmare was only beginning, she said, as Waleed continued to blackmail her with videos, compelling her to meet with him repeatedly. I was completely helpless and had no choice, she said. My father has passed away, and I did not want my widowed mother to suffer the pain of my harrowing fate. Waleed also started forcing me to meet with his friends, threatening to release the videos if I did not comply with his wishes. In November she found out that she was pregnant due to the repeated assaults, she said. When I told Waleed and Hussain about my condition, they forced me to convert to Islam on gunpoint, she said. When I resisted, Waleed attacked me with kicks and punches, resulting in a miscarriage. As the ordeal continued, she decided she had to share her plight with her mother. My mother broke down when she heard about my suffering, but she told me not to worry, she said. She then took me to the police station where I narrated my story, showed evidence of the blackmailing and filed a rape case against Waleed and Hussain. I also appealed to the police to recover the blackmail content from their phones. The charges were filed on Feb. 13, but instead of arresting the two suspects, police tipped them off, and they obtained pre-arrest bails, she said. Since that time, they have been threatening me and my mother to withdraw the case or face the consequences, she said. The victim said she registered another case against the two Muslims for threatening to kill her and her mother, but that police have taken no action. Instead of giving me justice, the police investigating officer, Mehboob, is pressuring and intimidating me to withdraw the case, she said. He has repeatedly said that since Im a Christian, I dont stand a chance against the powerful criminals. Mehboob hindered her medical examination, delaying it under various pretexts and threats, and is now blocking evaluation of her DNA samples, she said. This is sheer injustice for me and all other minority girls who have fallen victim to such predators, she said. Ive resolved not to give up my pursuit for justice no matter what happens now, and I appeal to the Christian leadership for support in this legal battle. When Christian Daily International-Morning Star News asked Mehboob for comment, he denied favoring the suspects and threatening the victim. The police registered both cases filed by the victim and is extending all possible legal help to her, he said. The date of hearing of the accused for confirmation of their pre-arrest bail is due in this week, and we will try our best to get the bails cancelled. Christian political activist Shahzad Imran Sahotra said he and some Christian attorneys met with the victims family and assured them of their support. We met the Rawalpindi police chief along with the victim and informed him about his subordinates attitude towards the complainant, Sahotra told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. The officer has now assigned a senior police official to investigate the case and conduct the victims medical examination. Sahotra, the only Christian in Pakistan who ran for a general seat in Islamabad in Feb. 8 general elections but lost, confirmed that the two suspects have considerable influence over local police. Waleed and Hussain are in the real estate business and have criminal backgrounds, he said. They know how to maneuver in such cases, but we are determined to get justice for our Christian daughter. Pained by her suffering for months, Sahotra said it was encouraging to see her take a stand against them. Her act will set a precedent for all other girls who are silently suffering in similar situations due to fear for their own lives and reputation and the lives of their loved ones, he said. Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year. One of the 131 dogs seized from Sunset Valley Farm in Riverside is seen here shortly after being relocated to the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center. (Photo courtesy of Iowa City Public Safety) A Johnson County dog breeder who surrendered 131 dogs in his care has been charged with 41 counts of animal neglect. Loren Yoder, 62, owner of the Sunset Valley Farm dog breeding business, is charged with five counts of animal neglect with injury, a serious misdemeanor, plus 36 counts of animal neglect without injury, a simple misdemeanor. According to the Johnson County Sheriffs Office, deputies were contacted last August by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship with regard to animal-welfare issues discovered at Sunset Valley Farm, located at 3027 540th St. SW in the town of Riverside. IDALS had been conducting an inspection at the facility and had concluded that a large number of dogs were the victims of neglect, according to the sheriffs office. Yoder subsequently agreed to surrender his 131 dogs to the care of Iowa City Animal Services. Physical exams conducted by veterinarians led to a determination that many of the dogs had developed conditions caused by a failure to provide adequate care, the sheriffs office said, and those conditions contributed to unjustified distress, suffering, and pain to the affected animals. Yoder has yet to be arraigned and has not entered a formal plea, according to court records. He has been released without bond and has applied for a court-appointed attorney, listing assets of $1.5 million, and debts of $1,000. The court has yet to rule on that application. Yoder has surrendered his commercial breeders license, although that action does not always indicate that a breeder is shutting down. Some of the dogs at Sunset Valley Farm were reported by the sheriff to be too nervous or frightened to be fully examined. One of them, suffering from an infection, was so scared it pancaked to the floor during an attempted examination, according to the sheriffs office. Among the other injuries reported by the sheriff in court filings: Open wound: A 10- month-old golden retriever had to be transported to another veterinarian for more extensive treatment after being surrendered. The dog had a very large, deep, and open wound on its left hind limb, authorities said. Pain and fear: One dog was not touchable for an exam, authorities said, while others were frozen in fear. A veterinarian noted one such dog had an obvious infection of his back paws due to overgrown nails that had curled into its paws. This is another painful issue that is easily preventable, the veterinarian told the sheriffs office. Lacerations: One dog had wounds on its left side flank, left thigh, and right front paw, while another showed signs of a three-inch laceration on the top of its head, a small laceration on the center of its back, and multiple healing wounds. Another dog had a one-inch laceration on a rear knee and an infected 2 -inch wound on the underside of its neck. Fleas, disease, matted coats: Many of the dogs that were deemed to be neglected but uninjured were described as thin and frightened with heavily matted coats, while others showed signs of infections, severe dental disease or fleas everywhere. One such dog is described in court papers as extremely matted with fecal matter very badly matted into all four paws. The dog was described as very thin and extremely frightened. Another dog was described as being matted with feces and suffering from a severe infection of the ear canal, as well as an umbilical hernia in which the abdominal lining or one portion of an abdominal organ was bulging or protruding. Yoder canceled his USDA license in 2022 After being cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for violations in the first, second and third quarters of 2022, Yoder was issued an official warning from the USDA for violations found during a September 2022 visit. Yoder then canceled his USDA license in an apparent effort to avoid additional inspections by the USDA. However, the business continued to operate at the same property, and it remained subject to state oversight and continued to be inspected by IDALS. The state report for IDALS Aug. 24, 2023, inspection of the property cited several deficiencies: Whelping barn In the business whelping barn, where female dogs were confined with puppies for the first few weeks after theyre born, the inspector noted the temperature was in the 90s and there were not enough fans to remove sweltering heat from the area. Roughly 16 mothers were in heat distress, the inspector reported. The whelping building also had an over-abundance of flies, the inspector stated. Outdoor runs In the outdoor runs, there was an excessive number of weeds and holes in the ground were not being filled to prevent injury. A golden retriever was running loose at the time of the inspection, and the outdoor enclosures were equipped with self-feeder mechanisms marred by what the inspector called a heavy presence of flies indoors and out, dead and not. Staffing levels The number of personnel employed by the kennel was insufficient for the number of dogs on hand, the inspector reported. By their own admission Loren, Lloyd, and Uncle David Lee have been providing all 131 animals with less than minimal supervision or care, the inspector wrote in her report. In January 2023, Loren Yoder was cited by IDALS for several violations, although the published report provided few details of conditions inside the facility. Bedding must be provided at all times to your outdoor population during inclement weather! the inspector reported. Her report also included a bold-faced warning that IDALS might limit the number of animals allowed in any housing, but the report didnt state why that warning was issued. The report also stated that all animals pictured needed medical attention, although no pictures were published as part of the report. During the September 2022 visit, a USDA official cited Yoder for one direct violation and six noncritical violations pertaining to the attending veterinarian and inadequate veterinary care, the method of animal identification, recordkeeping, animal housing facilities, primary enclosures, and feeding of the animals. The inspector noted that three dogs appeared to be seriously underweight, and yet Yoder was unaware of two of the dogs condition and none of the three had been evaluated by a veterinarian. During the inspection, four adult poodles were spotted running loose on the property and had to be rounded up and returned to their enclosure. More than 300 Samoyeds were seized from an Iowa puppy mill in 2018. Where are they now? niko samoyed tesla niko and tesla 2 .jpg lua shelby skyy stella samoyed samoyed cartier kevin thor Valkyrie Mishka samoyed lucy samoyed Ollie samoyed hudson boo everest meka henry samoyed kody kota apollo samoyed samoyed gus Olive juneau bodhi and phoebe fenix samoyed gus (williams) samoyeds juno and masey roo harper winston umka inara gracie samoyed Toshi samoyed juno diamond samoyed Ronan samoyed arya (hazel) Finley houston luka tina Lucy max and polar buddy izzy with water bowl.jpg Iowa Samoyed rescue Niko Iowa Samoyed Niko chasing a ball Iowa Samoyed rescue Lua Iowa Samoyed rescues Stella and Skyy Iowa Samoyed rescue Finley Iowa Samoyed rescue Thor Iowa Samoyed rescues Valkyrie and Mishka Iowa Samoyed rescue Lucy (now in Texas) Iowa Samoyed rescue Hudson Iowa Samoyed rescue Everest Iowa Samoyed rescue Kody sings Iowa Samoyed rescue Apollo Iowa Samoyed rescue Gus (Huling) Iowa Samoyed rescue Olive Iowa Samoyed rescue Juneau Iowa Samoyed rescue Juno Iowa Samoyed Rescue Masey Iowa Samoyed rescue Gus (Williams) gets the Zoomies Iowa Samoyed rescue Harper Iowa Samoyed rescue Winston Iowa Samoyed rescue Gracie Iowa Samoyed rescue Juno and pal Hana Iowa Samoyed Rescue Ronan Iowa Samoyed rescue Houston Iowa Samoyed rescue Izzy Iowa Samoyed rescue Kody DES MOINES State lawmakers this week advanced a bill that would dismantle citizen review boards that probe alleged police misconduct like those established in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Coralville, University Heights and Dubuque. Senate File 2325 would make changes to city civil service commissions that oversee the testing, hiring, promotion and discipline for police officers, firefighters and other civil service positions. The bill passed the Senate 37-9 after being amended to insert a provision that states a city with a civil service commission shall not adopt, enforce, or otherwise administer or establish a board or other entity for the purpose of citizen review of the conduct of police officers. Skylar Limkemann, an attorney for the Iowa Fraternal Order of Police, said the bill aims to improve due process in disciplinary hearings for civil service employees, including police and firefighters, by incorporating case law and clarifying procedures. The group represents about 2,000 of the roughly 7,000 law enforcement officers in the state. Limkemann, who represented a former Cedar Rapids police officer who unsuccessfully appealed his firing for being dishonest about 2016 traffic stop and violating department policies, said the bill aims to standardize the civilian review process for law enforcement in Iowa. What this bill does is it says we already have a civil service commission process here in the state of Iowa. We do not need a civilian review process, Limkemann told members of a House subcommittee that advanced the bill Thursday. Additionally, Iowa law does not provide regulations for how civilian review boards operate. As a result, each of the communities that has one has adopted different processes and purposes for their police review board, Limkemann said. Unfortunately, what we've seen really since 2019 and 2020 is just a continual attack of our law enforcement officers by some of the civilian review boards, he said. He didnt cite any specific incident where a board's review has escalated to the point of officers receiving additional consequences. Representatives for the Iowa League of Cities and the cities of Iowa City, Coralville, Des Moines, Cedar Falls expressed concerns to lawmakers about eliminating citizen review boards even if their city does have them in place citing their role in increasing transparency and accountability. Kelly Paschke, representing the Iowa Peace Officers Association, argued that the civil service system is broken and stacked against police officers, saying they often face political interference and lack of due process. Employees appealing disciplinary decisions before a civil service commission would be allowed to request the production of documents and depose witnesses. The bill states a civil service employee could be removed, discharged, demoted or suspended only with just cause and upon a finding by a preponderance of evidence they violated the law, city rules or policies, or is physically or mentally unfit. We have their back Sen. Scott Webster, a Republican from Bettendorf, during Senate floor debate criticized past discussions about policing policy by Iowa Citys Community Police Review Board. Webster also asserted citizen review boards give no due process to a police officer at all. The Iowa City Community Police Review Board, according to city code, has no power to review police officer personnel records or disciplinary matters and has only limited civil, administrative review powers, and has no power or authority over criminal matters. Webster also said the legislation is needed to defend law enforcement from political interventions by citizen review boards and the media frenzy that goes along with them. Today we send a clear message to the brave men and women who put on their uniform every day, who stand on that thin, blue line: We have their back. We stand with them. We respect them, Webster said. Sen. Janice Weiner, a Democrat who represents Iowa City, took umbrage with Websters comments about Iowa City's board, and defended it when she spoke on the Senate floor the next day. As for our community police review board, facts are super helpful. Theyve helped build relations within the community, Weiner said. Theyre citizens who in some cases may have had difficult relations with police in the past and want to improve them, citizens who just want to be part of the process, as well as others who have experience with policing. Local-control issue In Cedar Rapids, the Citizen Review Board is focused on public engagement and improving community-police relations, advising the city on police department policies and practices, reviewing citizen complaints and serving on the committee that hires the police chief a process the city just recently completed. The board was created in 2021 after racial justice advocates, led by the nonprofit Advocates for Social Justice, pushed for stronger civilian oversight of local law enforcement after George Floyds murder by Minneapolis police in 2020 as one of seven demands for reform. But the board itself doesnt have disciplinary authority over officers. When the city receives a complaint against an officer, the police departments Professional Standards unit conducts an investigation and delivers findings to the police chief, who then reviews that report and may request additional information. Afterward, the chief provides a report to the board, which may provide its own report to the City Council if a board majority disagrees with the chief's findings. Under the ordinance, detailed written findings of fact and evidence concerning the allegations in the complaint are provided the board, but identifying information such as faces or names of witnesses, officers and victims are edited out of the materials. Rep. Eric Gjerde, a Democrat and Cedar Rapids police officer, said theres merit in changing civil service procedures to ensure every civil service employee has due process, but objects to eliminating citizen police review boards. This comes back to, in my opinion, a local-control issue, Gjerde told The Gazette. I think the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the city of Cedar Rapids and the Cedar Rapids police review board has a positive relationship and should be able to continue. Bill would silence marginalized voices In a statement, the Advocates for Social Justice board urged the community to call state representatives and ask they vote no on the bill. The advocates say the Cedar Rapids City Council's approval of the board affirmed its role in strengthening community-police relations and law enforcement accountability. "SF 2325 is yet another example of our state legislature trying to silence the Black, Brown and other marginalized voices of the citizens of Iowa, the group said. After all the protests, community forums and negotiations, it is disgusting, heartbreaking and telling that we are still having to navigate repeated attacks and setbacks. ASJ affirms that the states action to ban citizen review boards is an act of white supremacy and one that is intentional act to uphold violent and racist systems in our state, all while undermining local agency. Rep. Sami Scheetz, D-Cedar Rapids, said House Democrats plan to offer amendments to preserve and protect the existence and operation of citizen review boards across Iowa. While I recognize and support many aspects of the civil service bill that provide necessary protections for public-sector workers, eliminating the police review boards undermines the progress we have made in establishing crucial platforms for dialogue, accountability, and reform within our policing systems, Scheetz said. The presence of citizen review boards has proved to be an invaluable asset in building trust and fostering a constructive relationship between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. The bill now heads to the full House Local Government Committee for consideration and passage before a March 15 legislative deadline. DES MOINES Iowa House Republicans passed legislation Thursday intended to crack down on the smuggling of undocumented immigrants into the state and prevent them from accessing public assistance programs. House File 2608 passed 60-32 with all Democrats opposed. The bill expands the verification process for public assistance benefits by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to check the citizenship status of those applying under a push by Republicans to block undocumented immigrants from accessing taxpayer benefits. It also creates a new state crime of human smuggling. The bill would make it a felony to encourage or induce a person to enter or remain in the country in violation of federal law by concealing, harboring, or shielding that person from detection. Catholic charities and religious orders that house and assist asylum-seekers have expressed concerns they could be targeted should the bill be signed into law. The bill was amended to specify a person commits the offense of smuggling of persons if done knowingly, for payment or some other benefit. Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, the lead Republican on the bill, said the law is aimed at people engaged in human smuggling, not churches or other organizations, and that the amendment added to the bill alleviates those concerns. I think we have prosecutorial discretion. I think we have law enforcement discretion, and I think the language is plenty tight, Holt said. He also noted the state already checks the citizenship status of those applying for public assistance benefits as a result of existing federal law. Holt, however, argued it was important to codify the practice in state law should that change. Democrats said the bill was unnecessary and that concerns about immigration and border security need to be addressed at the federal level. "I think we can all agree that the immigration system needs some work, said Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque. There has been bipartisan legislation worked out across the line on the federal level that imploded because of the politics of Donald Trump and the Republican do-nothing Congress. We shouldnt even be having this discussion today. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, speaking to reporters before the House vote, echoed James. So the bills like that that are out there are simply playing into a national narrative, national politics and trying to rile up a base, Konfrst said. That's not how we're supposed to write policy. We're supposed to write policy in a way that addresses what Iowans need. This bill doesn't do that. Rather, she said Republicans should be focused on improving and expanding access to mental health service and child care, and better funding public schools. Republicans argued the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border has reached critical levels, with significant increases in fentanyl and other drug seizures and human trafficking they attributed to a surge in illegal border crossings. Holt and Rep. Mark Thompson, R-Clarion, emphasized the urgent need for legislation to protect both Iowa residents and immigrants exploited by human smugglers and trafficked for sex or forced labor. Human smuggling is a business. It is a disgusting business, but it's a business. So it has supply and it has demand. The supply comes from mostly south of our border. But some of that demand is right here, Thompson said of immigrants who come to Iowa to work on farms, at meatpackers and elsewhere. We're not doing anyone coming across our border any fair shake, any favors, by letting them come across and just come up to Iowa, he said, asserting their immigration status is used against them as blackmail to deny them a decent wage or prevent them from complaining about work conditions. Creating a state crime for human smuggling will allow law enforcement to take action in the absence of sufficient enforcement of federal immigration laws at the U.S.-Mexico border, Holt said. It's a clear and present danger to our nation and our state, Holt said. The very real, profoundly serious crisis on our Southern border demands that we stand up as a state and protect our citizens and ourselves, and, perhaps, discourage human trafficking, labor trafficking, sex trafficking and all of the garbage that is happening on our Southern border and transferring into our state. Ravalli County Commissioners approved the Sapphire Valley Estates subdivision Monday, after imposing conditions on the developer following months of planning and dozens of comments received by the public. The subdivision will bring 33 residential lots on nearly 50 acres of former agricultural land near the intersection of Eight Mile Creek Road and Upper Woodchuck Road east of Florence. Nearby residents expressed concerns with water usage amid observed declining groundwater levels, as well as traffic impacts that would emerge with the development of Sapphire Valley Estates. Water usage concerns expressed by the public led to commissioners adding a condition of approval for the developers. Well water usage will be monitored by a meter in the subdivision to make sure the subdivision doesnt exceed the allotted amount. Each unit is to rely on its own groundwater well in the subdivision. Halfway through the Sapphire Valley Estates planning process, a Montana District Court ruled that developers and Broadwater County Commissioners didnt properly account for environmental impacts in the proposal and eventual approval of the subdivision. The ruling essentially placed an expectation on the county to fully consider the quality and quantity of water, according to Commissioner Jeff Burrows in the hearing on the subdivision. In an interview with the Ravalli Republic, Commissioner and Chair Dan Huls said the commissioners and developers tried to apply findings from the ruling as well as they could with Sapphire Valley Estates. The Broadwater County case came at an unfortunate time for the county, as it was already going through the hearing process, he said. In my time as commissioner, this has been the most thoroughly scrutinized subdivision Ive ever been a part of, Huls said. Placing a meter on the wells could help address some of the environmental concerns and expanded expectations the county now has to confront. Yet with groundwater monitoring, there is still little direction on how exactly that will be reported. But the problem is, who do you report that to? Huls said. The DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) does not have a place to do it. The DNRC (Department of Natural Resources and Conservation) doesn't have a method to do it. And so, we're going to be collecting some data that there's no established review for at a state level, and we certainly don't have anything at the county level. But the developer agreed to provide that, and to do that, regardless. Huls hopes the Broadwater County case is appealed. Otherwise, the county will need greater direction from the state on how to properly monitor water usage going forward. And if it gets upheld on appeal, then we will definitely need to partner with our state agencies to see how to best meet those requirements, Huls said. Colleen Curran Living Editor Follow Colleen Curran Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Brick House Diner broke ground on its new building in Midlothian this week. The family-owned diner is moving its original location at 13520 Midlothian Turnpike farther west to Westchester Commons. The building will be larger at 5300 square feet and a brand-new build from Fultz & Singh Architects. It gives us a little more parking and our own property, co-owner Vic Routsis told the Richmond Times-Dispatch last year. The restaurants lease is up at 13520 Midlothian Turnpike at the end of the year. Brick House Diner is aiming to open the new Westchester Commons location at 100 Schofield Road by October. The Midlothian Turnpike location will close when the new location opens. Brick House Diner is known for its half-pound steak burgers that are ground every day, an extensive breakfast menu, and desserts homemade daily. The new location will have the same hours and the same menu as the current location: Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Were family-owned and -operated so were hands-on for everything, Routsis told The Times-Dispatch earlier. Were definitely not a chain. Were four brothers looking to continue what our father started years ago. The Routsis familys restaurant legacy began when Routsis father opened Four Brothers Steakhouse in Chesapeake. Now, there are two locations of Brick House Diner in the Richmond area. In 2022, a location opened in the city at 3336 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., the former Kitchen 64 space. Brick House also has a location in Virginia Beach. Titos now open in former Mojos spot Titos Taqueria & Bar is now open in the former Mojos space at 733 W. Cary St. The taqueria from Tito Padilla has been in the works for about a year. Titos Taqueria is serving a variety of tacos including trompe tacos (where the meat is cooked on a trompe), birria tacos, fajitas and more. Presentation is a big focus at Titos with several special cocktails served in novelty glasses like a mini-bathtub and shots that arrive in a ceramic bull. It looks festive and fun. Nathan Hughes of Sperity Ventures represented the landlord on the space. Well have more details soon. The restaurant is located near the Virginia Commonwealth University Monroe campus. Mojos was a popular spot for the VCU crowd. Titos hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Black Restaurant Experience kicks off Sunday Richmond Black Restaurant Week kicks off Sunday with Mobile Soul Sunday in Monroe Park from noon to 5 p.m. Over 20 food trucks will be serving a variety of cuisine from BBQ to Caribbean to soul food and much more along with music and local vendors. The week is a chance to purposefully dine at Black-owned restaurants such as Mama Js, Pennys Wine Shop, Ms. Girlees Kitchen and many more. Now in its eighth year, the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience aims to celebrate the diversity and excellence of Black-owned restaurants in Richmond. Find the full list of participating restaurants at rbre365.com. St. Patricks Day shenanigans St. Patricks Day is about a week away this year it falls on a Sunday, March 17 and Richmond restaurants are already celebrating the luck of the Irish. Three Notchd Brewing Co., where you can throw axes and drink beer in Scotts Addition, has turned into a St. Patricks Day pop-up bar with a themed cocktail and food menu. Cameo Cakery & Cafe is decked out with a rainbow and pot of gold outside and a themed menu inside. I took my kids to McDonalds for our annual Shamrock Shake pilgrimage and it was glorious. RTD dining correspondent Megan Marconyak will have lots more details on St. Pats dining picks coming next week. And pace yourself, Richmond, next weekend is going to be a blowout with Shamrock the Block and the Irish Festival in Church Hill being held on the same weekend the first time thats happened in a while. Well have more coverage on all the festivities next week. Were still taking recommendations for our first-ever Richmond Times-Dispatch fried chicken bracket in honor of March Madness. Readers have sent in some great suggestions; thank you! Keep sending them, and well launch the fried chicken bracket later this month. Top five weekend events: Shamrock the Block, Irish Festival, GalaxyCon Irish Festival Shamrock the Block David Spade and Wanda Sykes Maymonts new otter GalaxyCon The pharmaceutical manufacturing partnership in greater Richmond is getting a $1 million boost in funding. The partnership, called the Alliance for Building Better Medicine, received a National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines Development Award. The team was one of 15 winners across the country. A group of 16 companies and government organizations make up the alliance, which focuses on building cheaper medicine and building it in the United States. Members include Civica Inc., Phlow and Virginia Commonwealth Universitys Medicines for All. An additional 23 organizations provide support. In 2022, the alliance received $53 million from the federal governments Build Back Better Regional Challenge. It also got $14 million in local donations and more than $40 million in state funding. The federal government designated the area an advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing global tech hub, which opens the door for further funding. Civica, the nations only nonprofit drug manufacturer, is readying a facility in Petersburg to make generic insulin at the relatively low cost of $30 per vial and $55 for a box of five pens. Phlow won a $354 million federal contract to build up the countrys national reserve of medicines and make ingredients for critical drugs. Medicines for All redesigns medicines using cheaper building blocks. Today in history: March 7 1911: William Howard Taft 1926: Radio-telephone 1936: Adolf Hitler 1965: Edmund Pettus Bridge 1994: Roy Orbison 1999: Stanley Kubrick 2005: George W. Bush 2012: The Indianapolis Colts 2016: Peyton Manning 2017: CIA 2021: Team LeBron 2021: Oprah Winfrey Construction on an 800-home development in eastern Henrico County will begin this summer, now that the developer owns the land. East West Communities purchased 260 acres, a realty company announced last week, to build a neighborhood of single-family homes and town houses near Route 5 and Route 895, just east of Varina High School. The neighborhood, called Arcadia, was approved by Henricos Board of Supervisors last year. Some residents responded with pushback, demanding leaders Dont Short Pump Varina. At a cost of $4.5 million, the developer bought the land from the family of John W. Nelson Jr. The Nelsons have lived in Varina for more than a century, said David M. Smith, a vice president for Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer who handled the sale for the family. One of their ancestors, Thomas Nelson Jr., was Virginias fourth governor, a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. This family are legitimate Varina residents, Smith added. The land, which consists of about 12 parcels, used to house a dairy farm. Bill Nelson still farms corn and soybeans in another section of eastern Henrico, Smith said. The homes will cost from the mid-$300,000s to above $500,000, said Mark Smith, a senior vice president for East West. It will take roughly 10 years for the whole neighborhood to be built. The western side will go up first and will feature 250 single-family homes and 250 town houses. East West currently is not planning any condominiums. The buildout of the remaining 300 homes will come later. As part of an agreement between the developer and Henrico, no homebuyers will move into residences on the east side until the year 2030. The countys Board of Supervisors rezoned the land in January 2023. Residents said the influx of new residents would overwhelm the roads and overcrowd the schools. Residents also worry the neighborhood will ruin Varinas rural character. Mark Smith said the neighborhood will be built more than 500 feet from Route 5, 80 acres of land will remain open, and the neighborhood will include walking trails. Its a balancing act, to be honest, with being able to achieve a purchase price that makes the sellers happy and balancing that with density, Mark Smith said. East West, which has been in business for 51 years, has developed about nine neighborhoods in greater Richmond, including Brandermill and Woodlake in Chesterfield County. Tyrone Nelson, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said Arcadia is one of two planned developments that are the largest to come to eastern Henrico in a decade. The other is Dry Bridge Commons, at Dry Bridge Road and Route 60 near the airport, which is expected to have roughly 1,000 single-family homes and town houses and a Wawa convenience store. That neighborhood drew far less opposition from residents. Throughout her life, Martha Mason Hill believed in the value of education, which was demonstrated in part by sending the seven children and two grandchildren she raised off to college. Today, Hills family is continuing her mission through the Martha Mason Hill Memorial Foundation, which provides resources to Chesterfield County Public Schools. When she died, my sisters and I decided her legacy was worth carrying on, Hills daughter Alberta Stith said. We established the foundation in her name and her memory, carrying on her spirit of caring and giving and promoting education, higher education particularly. The nonprofit was established more than 25 years ago to grant scholarships to Chesterfield students. Since then, the foundation has added numerous outreach initiatives to help schools in the county. One of those schools is Carver Middle School. The foundation has worked with Carver for the past five years and, in early February, donated a collection of diverse, high-interest books to supplement the schools literacy efforts. The book selection included Lo & Behold, a graphic novel by New York Times bestselling author Wendy Mass. It looks cute, and its very interesting, Carver sixth-grader Ezeyiona Lewis said. I would say if anyone wants to read it, thats a good one. Carver is a participant in Communities In Schools of Chesterfield, a branch of the national CIS program that aims to prevent student dropouts. CIS of Chesterfield partners with organizations and foundations such as the Martha Mason Hill Memorial Foundation to provide resources that students need. Theyve just been so critical to helping us realize these dreams that we have and making it all a reality, said Rebecca Hayes, Communities In Schools site coordinator for Carver, about the foundation. Its been an absolute pleasure working with them. Faith and education Hill, a Chesterfield native, worked as a housekeeper at Virginia State University for 40 years. While she had a fifth-grade education, her emphasis on education played a big role in getting all seven of her daughters and two of her granddaughters to receive an education from VSU. She valued education because I would argue she was of a generation that was denied education, said James Stith, Albertas husband. They realized that people got ahead by education, so it became a major focus of that family to ensure that our children get an education. Hill was also deeply committed to her faith as a lifelong member of Union Grove Baptist Church in South Chesterfield, where she served on several boards and ministries. Many of the churchs members currently serve as leaders or volunteer for the foundation. It was core to her being, Alberta Stith said. I tell folks that she did two things: She raised us in the church, and she made us stay in school. Carrying on a tradition of service After Hill died in 1985, her daughters wanted to create something that not only honored their mother, but also served future generations of students. The foundation was created in 1998 to give scholarships to underrepresented minority students who are graduating from high school. Later on, the foundation expanded its operations to aid schools with high percentages of students from low-income families. Individual schools provide lists of needs to the foundation, which then collects donations from their own ranks or from outside sources. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation created graduation packets to give to Ettrick Elementary fifth-graders, since they were not able to have an in-person ceremony. The foundation also gifted clocks to Ettrick. Last fall, the Childrens Museum Book Bank in Richmond donated 1,000 books to the foundation, which were then passed out to Matoaca Middle School students. Additionally, the foundation stocked Matoacas clothing closet with 100 hoodies, 100 gloves and 100 pairs of socks. If youre in a position where you do not have the proper clothing, then you are not going to learn because your focus is more on the basic needs, said Nancy Ross, member of the foundations outreach committee. You have to look at the basics in order to open the mind for the other skills. Each initiative the nonprofit partakes in from school supply drives to summer reading programs to college tours for middle schoolers is built on a foundation of supporting educational excellence for Chesterfield students. A few years ago when every sixth-grader walked out with a book, they were excited, they were talking about reading, they were sharing what book they were excited about, they were smiling, said Bryan Hicks, Carver principal. Our students are excited to know that someone cares about them and wants them to have the things that they need. In September, the foundation will hold its annual awards program and present three $1,500 scholarships to Chesterfield graduates who are attending four-year colleges. Following the awards, the foundation continues to support the winners by sending care packages to their respective colleges. Other students are also sent care packages. The awards program also gives out service awards to volunteers who make significant contributions in their communities. This year, a youth volunteer service award will be added to the program for 10th- and 11th-graders. According to Hills family, it took time to realize the wide scope of philanthropic work she did because Hill was not the type to publicize her good deeds. Now, the foundation remembers her through its education ventures, as well as the acknowledgment of todays unsung heroes. She was well-known in this community, in many communities, said Arlene Moore, Hills niece and a committee member for the nonprofits awards program. And even when she didnt have anything, she saw to it that other people had it. Compassion was her thing. Gallery: Virginia State University campus Virginia law makes clear local governments maintaining an atmosphere of secrecy are at odds with the Freedom of Information Act, and that government records are presumed public unless they meet a few narrow exemptions. But in Richmond, city officials in Mayor Levar Stoneys administration have chosen a different path. A whistleblower lawsuit filed March 1 by the citys former Freedom of Information Act officer brought to light what local journalists and citizen record seekers have long complained about: City officials routinely flout both the spirit and the letter of the law in their handling of public records requests. Beyond the recent lawsuit, the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team observed a pattern of city officials denying, delaying or charging exorbitant amounts for accessing public records, including: Failing to respond to multiple FOIA requests within the five-day time frame required by Virginia law, or at all. One department outright refused a reporters request despite the city noting there was no legal justification to withhold the records. Regularly charging hundreds and even thousands of dollars to access public records, including a $3,866 charge to review email correspondence related to FOIA requests made to the city. Withholding documents and public records based on dubious exemptions to FOIA, including refusing to release the mayors calendar in response to a FOIA by dubbing it a working paper and deliberative document. The problems are boiling to the surface as the nation begins to mark Sunshine Week, a nonpartisan effort among the journalism, civic, education, government and private sectors that aims to shine a light on the importance of public records and open government. The extent of the issues in Richmond were surprising even to national experts in FOIA, such as Dave Cuillier, director of the Freedom of Information Project at the University of Floridas Brechner Center for the Advancement of the First Amendment. Cuillier has spent the past 20 years studying a national epidemic of secrecy and gaming the system to hide information from the public. Cuillier described Richmond officials actions as just so brazen and flabbergasting. They need a wakeup call, Cuillier said. If theyre trying to play games and hide records, its a huge disservice to the people of Richmond. If I lived there, Id be outraged. The problems have caught the attention of the Virginia FOIA Council, the state agency that helps resolve disputes over open records issues between the government and the public. Executive Director Alan Gernhardt said the council, which does not have enforcement authority, has heard about issues with FOIA compliance in Richmond from several members of the public. I cant say whether theyre true or not, but theyre clearly alleging a pattern of intentional FOIA violations, Gernhardt said. You never want to hear that. Richmond restaurant named Best New Restaurant in Virginia by Southern Living magazine Over 20,000 Southern Living readers voted on their favorite places across the South for the April issue, now available. And at least one Richmond City Council member, Andreas Addison, told The Times-Dispatch that he is considering urging the council to conduct an emergency audit of the FOIA request process in the city. We are the oversight and audit function for the city for these exact types of things, Addison said. Whats at stake is the need to restore trust in our government operations and response to the press. We need to restore that people can trust that the city is providing the right information in a timely manner that can answer the questions being asked by its people. The problem isnt limited to City Hall, either. The Richmond Police Department, for example, tried to charge nearly $8,000 to release a copy of its general policies, something that other police departments generally post online or provide for free. And Richmond Public Schools refused to release an investigative report conducted in the wake of the Huguenot High School graduation shooting until it was forced to in court. The Times-Dispatch sued the school system to get the document, which revealed that school officials knew about ongoing threats to one of the shooting victims before the ill-fated graduation ceremony. Two people were killed in the shooting outside the Altria Theater on June 6. The report also revealed information about the security presence at the event that day. We shouldnt have to rely on lawyers and the courts to make that known, Cuillier said. Thats just awful. These issues do not just matter to journalists and public transparency advocates. Secrecy by public agencies prohibits the publics ability to understand important issues and right wrongs. We are a government of, by and for the people (so) the people are entitled to understand and have information about the decisions that are being made in their name, said Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government. It is unique, I think, right now to see so many of these entities that do have independence, all taking actions that are in my opinion, are stretches of what the Freedom of Information Act says literally, as well as the spirit of the law as it is intended to be applied. Chaotic and mismanaged The whistleblower lawsuit filed by former FOIA officer Connie Clay, who claims she was unjustly fired by Stoneys administration earlier this year because she pushed back against the administrations approach to FOIA, lays out allegations about the citys FOIA culture, calling it chaotic and mismanaged. Clay declined an interview for this article. Among the charges Clay raised in the lawsuit: City officials were instructed to delay responding to requests by waiting until the day the response was due and then (invoking) an extension of seven working days regardless of whether the city could timely produce the required information. In at least one instance, Clay said she believed city officials attempted to avoid complying with FOIA by imposing an unreasonable fee to produce the records. Clay also alleged that certain city officials refused to cooperate with processing FOIA requests and that she had been directed by a superior, Petula Burks, the citys communications specialist, not to release public records pertaining to the mayor. On January 4, 2024, Burks sent Clay a text message instructing her not to release any more mayor files until further notice, according to the complaint. The mayors office is not commenting on the lawsuit, according to a statement from Stoneys press secretary, Gianni Snidle. City Attorney Laura Drewry told another media outlet that Clays claims were baseless. However, in an email sent to City Council members on March 2, Stoneys Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders acknowledged several recent issues regarding timely (FOIA) responses that have been reported by the local media and several challenges in dealing with FOIA. If proven, some of the charges in the lawsuit would be a violation of Virginia code, which clearly spells out that government records are presumed public unless they meet specific exemptions, and the various rules for responding to FOIAs, Gernhardt said. It is improper, for instance, to automatically delay a FOIA response if you can actually do it more quickly, Gernhardt said. And while the government is allowed to recoup its actual costs for complying with records requests, it is not allowed to impose extraneous or exorbitant fees. If youre intentionally raising costs to deter requests, that would be a violation, Gernhardt said. Thats a no-brainer for me. The claims in Clays lawsuit match up with The Times-Dispatchs own experiences. One reporters request for taxpayer penalty-related documents was denied by the citys finance department, despite Clay telling the RTD at the time of the request that Im not aware of any provision in VA FOIA that would allow the withholding of the redacted records. The Times-Dispatch and the Lee Public Service Journalism Team also requested a series of routine items in mid-February including 2023 public employee earnings, 911 call logs and the mayors calendar from various local government departments, including Stoneys office, the Richmond Police Department, the City Council and Richmond Public Schools. The responses where we received them were illuminating. The city did not respond to a request for city worker salaries within five days of it being filed on Feb. 13, despite the state deadline. The city did acknowledge the request on Friday, 24 days later. In addition, a FOIA request for 911 call logs from 2024 was ignored. A request to the mayors office to view his calendar appointments for the past six months was partially denied, with city officials stating Stoneys calendar was exempted under a portion of the state public records law that shields working papers of certain city officials. Sunshine Week: What to know ABOUT SUNSHINE WEEK National Sunshine Week was launched in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors, which sought to promote the importance of open government and freedom of information. ABOUT VIRGINIA FOIA The Virginia General Assembly approved the Freedom of Information Act in 1968. The legislation, which has been modified over the years, gives the public access to the meetings and records of elected officials, with several exceptions. YOUR TURN Do you have a Freedom of Information Act story our journalists should pursue? Tell us about it at richmond.com/news-tip. State statute defines working papers as those records prepared by or for a public official identified in this subdivision for his personal or deliberative use, though calendars are not specifically exempted. I dont see that a calendar would easily fall within the category of deliberative use, said Andrew Bodoh, a Richmond-area FOIA attorney. Bodoh also pointed out that calendar appointments are often shared with participants, including people outside the mayors office, casting doubt on whether they are for personal use. Yet another request to the City Council to view emails between two council members and city employees on the recent meals tax debate brought back an estimated fee of $893.43 which the agency dubbed as a conservative estimate, noting that if the newspaper went ahead with its request, it could likely cost more. Peek behind the curtain Cuillier, the University of Florida FOIA expert, said the litany of stories out of various Richmond agencies sound like an abuse of power that goes beyond the norm. Some agencies are worse than others, he said. Its dependent on the leadership and whether theyre open and accountable and able to remember who they serve, which is the public. Or (if) they are agencies who think they own the records, which they dont, and they play games to hide information that the public should know about. While issues with FOIA in Richmond have been ongoing, the whistleblower complaint addresses the question of motives in a way that has not been done before, Rhyne said. We dont have to tiptoe around this, she said. Here is someone saying this is why a high fee was being imposed. We dont often get to peek behind the curtain like we are right now. - We are a government of, by and for the people (so) the people are entitled to understand and have information about the decisions that are being made in their name." Megan Rhyne, executive director for the Virginia Coalition for Open Government Bodoh said there are many legitimate reasons for withholding records, and those are laid out in the law. But he said it is concerning when the government uses words on a paper as a weapon against the public to try to withhold records. As long as you have FOIA and the need to balance legitimate secrecy with public transparency, theres always going to be a struggle to decide where that line should be, Bodoh said. That struggle, in some sense, is quite important to the democratic aspect of our government. Calls for sunshine Advocates for public access said the issues that have come to light in Richmond present an opportunity to push for FOIA reform more broadly in Virginia. Its not just Richmond, said Mechelle Hankerson, board president of the Virginia Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, which advocates for open records and is a partner in the Sunshine Week movement. Any journalist in Virginia will tell you that what this former employee is detailing is a very common experience. I think it just validates that perhaps this is a purposeful strategy. It speaks to a larger cultural issue about the way we in Virginia regard open government and FOIA. We act like it is extra or that it is not a core function of local government, and it is. Cities are operating off of our tax money. That shouldnt be happening in the darkness. Hankerson, for example, called for a very serious and earnest discussion about capping FOIA fees statewide. Virginia budget deal includes 3% raises for teachers, state employees Gov. Glenn Youngkin vows to fight for $2 billion arena project, calling its exclusion from the proposed budget a "colossal mistake." Somebody needs to just draw the line, Hankerson said. Its not fair to residents who are trying to participate in democracy. I dont believe its reasonable to ask regular people to pay tens of thousands of dollars to get information that should already be public. Stoneys administration said it is working to centralize our FOIA process so that ease of use, access, and transparency are at the helm. Saunders, the chief administrative officer for the mayors office, said the city sees up to 80 requests per week, with many of the requests being expansive in nature. We are committed to continuously improving our processes, especially as it relates to FOIA, Saunders told the council members. FOIA training for Richmond officials could be another solution. Gernhardt said he has seen courts prescribe training as a remedy in FOIA cases. He said the city made a request to set up training last year, but then it was canceled. To a certain extent, Im going to defer to whatever happens in the lawsuit, Gernhardt said. Well see what the court orders. We do training for anyone who wants training. But ultimately, multiple advocates said, training will not work if there isnt buy-in about the importance of FOIA. The words on the page dont matter as much as the culture of compliance, Rhyne said. That culture starts at a higher level and filters down. Top 5 weekend events: Mobile Soul Sunday, 'Alice in Wonderland', World Oddities Expo Mobile Soul Sunday 'Alice in Wonderland' 'Into the Woods' World Oddities Expo Children's Business Fair Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Friday that the budget rewrite that senior General Assembly members just negotiated includes a $2.5 billion tax hike that will disproportionately hit low- and moderate-income Virginians. He said legislators are misleading the public on the impact of an expansion of sales taxes to cover digital services. Ive now had a chance to preliminarily review the budget, its early, we havent dug in, but what I can tell is that this is a backwards budget, Youngkin told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. House and Senate budget negotiators on Thursday released their compromise spending package. It does not include Youngkins proposed $1 billion in tax cuts. It includes a version of just one part of his tax package to expand application of the sales tax. Youngkin said the General Assembly budgets expansion of sales taxes would have a bigger impact than the $1 billion the budget forecasts for the general fund the state government account that tracks tax revenue and how it is spent. Instead, he asserted that it would amount to a $2 billion tax increase over the next two years when Virginians go shopping. They dont want anybody to see that theyre raising taxes, Youngkin said. He said thats because a portion of the 5.3% sales tax goes to a separate account, the Commonwealth Transportation Fund, to be used for highways and transportation projects. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, that amounted to $1.4 billion. In addition, not quite one-fifth of the sales taxes people pay goes directly to localities, he noted. Youngkin also criticized language in the budget that would require Virginia to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a program under which power plants have to pay to buy allowances for every ton of carbon they emit. He said that would amount to an additional $500 million tax on Virginians electricity bills. Youngkin pulled Virginia out of the program last year. Everything weve done in the past 2 years, theyre taking us backwards, he said. Youngkin said the sales tax is regressive, which means that it takes a relatively bigger chunk of low- and moderate-income individuals funds than those of people who are better off. Thats because low- and moderate-income people spend a higher percentage of their income on goods and services than do higher-income individuals. Youngkins proposed version of the budget had included an expansion of the sales tax to digital services, but Youngkin argued that the impact was more than offset by income tax rate reductions and an increase in the earned income tax credit that the General Assemblys rewrite left out. Meanwhile, the legislature rewrite eliminates Youngkins exemption for business purchases of digital services. Thats going to really hurt small businesses, said Del. Joe McNamara, R-Roanoke County, an accountant who is the House GOPs point person on tax issues. The tax would come on purchases of software, digital audio and audiovisual products, reading materials, and other data or applications, that the purchaser owns or can continue accessing by downloading or streaming. It would also apply to software application services, computer-related services, website hosting, and design and data storage. Youngkin said the budget also takes the state back on public safety and economic development. He said it reduces what he sought for help recruiting police officers and for school resource officers. The General Assembly budget rewrite also cuts back his proposal for money to prepare sites to be ready as the state tries to woo new businesses or secure existing firms expansions. The budget rejects the $2 billion arena and performing arts project in Alexandria that Youngkin called the biggest economic development project in Virginia history. So the governor doesnt like the budget: huh! said an unsurprised Senate Finance Committee Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth. She has said she was the roadblock that kept the arena deal out of the budget. House Appropriations Committee Chair Luke Torian, D-Prince William, said: I dont have any reaction. Its a good conference report and a good budget. Lobby Day at the Virginia General Assembly 2024 China calls for promotion of political solution to Sudan conflict Xinhua) 08:25, March 08, 2024 UNITED NATIONS, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on the international community to promote a political solution to the conflict in Sudan. Continued conflict has caused massive civilian casualties and a grave humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The international community should work together to seek a political settlement and bring about peace at an early date, said Dai Bing, the charge d'affaires of the Chinese mission to the United Nations. Fighting has erupted in many parts of Sudan recently, leading to inestimable losses and growing spill-over effects. The most urgent task now is to end fighting as soon as possible, he told the Security Council. "We call on the relevant parties to work with each other to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible and to create conditions for peace talks," he said. "We call on the international community, especially traditional donors, to continue to increase their assistance to the country and help Sudan and regional countries in humanitarian relief." In the meantime, as Sudan's conflict has triggered a grievous humanitarian crisis, it is critical to ensure humanitarian access, he said. Regional mediation efforts must be supported, said Dai. China welcomes the mediation efforts of the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and Sudan's neighboring countries. The international community should continue to support those regional efforts, respect Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and avoid the imposition of solutions from outside, he said. The UN Security Council should strengthen coordination with the AU and other regional organizations and work in synergy with regional mediation efforts. The council's actions should be conducive to diplomacy and avoid exacerbating tensions, he said. The United Nations should continue to play a constructive role in Sudan. The UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) has just completed its withdrawal from Sudan. However, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said, the withdrawal does not mean the end of cooperation between the world body and Sudan. China hopes that the United Nations and Sudan will have candid communication to explore cooperation that can meet the country's actual needs. It is also important to draw lessons from UNITAMS' experiences so as to further mutual trust in future cooperation with Sudan and provide tangible support for its peace and development, said Dai. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) With a soaring number of blasphemy allegations in Pakistan in 2023, rights activists are reiterating demands for legislation against blatant abuse of the countrys notorious blasphemy laws. At least 329 persons were accused of blasphemy under the law in 2023, according to the Center for Social Justice (CSJ), an advocacy group based in Lahore. Among those accused, 247 were Muslims, 65 were Ahmadis, 11 were Christians and one was Hindu, while the religious affiliation of five others was unknown. There has been a spike in blasphemy allegations in recent years, according to Lahore High Court attorney Lazar Allah Rakha. The state must legislate against false accusations of blasphemy, because this abuse hangs like the sword of Damocles on the heads of all citizens regardless of their faith affiliations, Rakha told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. The situation has aggravated to the extent that people are now being targeted over minor disputes on almost a daily basis. Due to the risks attached to blasphemy cases, judges tend to adjourn hearings, which results in prolonged incarceration of suspects, which Rakha said is a serious violation of their human rights. The entire system needs to be reviewed in the larger interest of justice, said the attorney, who has successfully defended many people falsely accused of blasphemy. Punjab Province had the highest number of people accused of blasphemy, with 179, followed by 79 in Sindh Province, 37 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 32 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, according to the CSJ report. It added that seven persons accused of blasphemy were killed extra-judicially in 2023, including four in Punjab and one each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir. Reportedly 95 blasphemy suspects were killed extra-judicially between 1994 and 2023. The only conviction and sentencing for such killings was that of Mumtaz Qadri, who was executed in February 2016 after assassinating former Punjab Gov. Salmaan Taseer in January 2011. At least 2,449 persons have been accused of committing blasphemy between 1987 and 2023, according to the CSJ report. The highest number of accused by religion were 1,279 Muslims (52 percent), followed by 782 Ahmadis (32 percent), 291 Christians (12 percent), and 45 Hindus (2 percent), while the religion of other (2 percent) was unconfirmed. The highest number of cases by area was 1,770 in Punjab Province (72 percent), followed by 471 in Sindh (19 percent), 99 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (4 percent), 55 in Azad Jammu Kashmir (2 percent), 35 in Islamabad, 12 in Balochistan and seven in Gilgit Baltistan. The CSJ cited data from the Punjab Prison Department revealing that as of Feb. 13, there were 587 prisoners confined for blasphemy under sections 295-A, B and C of Pakistan Penal Code in jails across the province. Among these, 515 are under trial, including 508 males, six females, and one juvenile prisoner. The CSJ further urged the incoming government to establish a commission of inquiry under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act, 1956. This commission should be tasked with investigating the misuse of blasphemy laws and determining the scale and motives behind such cases, so that justice is served and innocent lives are protected. It is crucial to address the root causes of these issues and to promote a culture of tolerance and social harmony in Pakistan, the report stated. CSJ Executive Director Peter Jacob said there is an urgent need to develop and implement short-term and long-term strategies to counter growing religious intolerance in Pakistani society. There are centers of intolerance, indicators and factors that continue to generate certain behaviors and incidents of religious intolerance which the administration has chosen to treat symptomatically and on ad-hoc basis, Jacob told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. This is why every time we have certain policy initiatives in the form of the National Action Plan or the Action Plan for Human Rights, the message has not penetrated, and incitement to violence in the name of religion has not decreased by any chance. Jacob, who was recently awarded with the U.S. State Departments International Religious Freedom Award, said that each manifestation of such intolerance should be taken seriously. We should now draw closer to a comprehensive policy which should include legislative review of the blasphemy laws, educational and awareness programs, etc., he said. The first step in this direction should be the formation of a commission of inquiry, not against one incident, but the whole phenomenon of religious intolerance in relation to the abuse of the blasphemy law. In October, the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights was informed that 179 people were under detention and facing trials across the country on charges of blasphemy, while 17 had been sentenced. The findings were submitted to the Senate panel by the National Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (NHRC). Earlier, Sen. Walid Iqbal, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, had sought details of blasphemy cases from the NCHR during a meeting called days after the Aug. 16 attack in Jaranwala, when a violent mob destroyed church buildings and dozens of Christians houses and businesses over allegations of blasphemy. Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year. A motorcycle driver from Mechanicsville was killed early Friday in a crash in Goochland County. Shawn Michael Jones, 49, died at the scene on Interstate 64 about 2 miles east of Shallow Well Road, Virginia State Police said in a statement. Police said Jones was driving a 2013 Harley-Davidson when it was rear-ended by a 2024 Kia Forte driven by a 20-year-old male from Louisa. Jones lost control and hit the guardrail, police said. He was wearing a helmet. The Kia rolled onto its side and also hit a guardrail. That driver had non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The crash is under investigation. This past Tuesday, voters from 15 states and the U.S. territory of American Samoa took part in democracy by casting their ballots in presidential primaries. In the Richmond area, tens of thousands made their way to libraries, train stations and firehouses to place their votes under the helpful direction of local poll workers. The results were unsurprising to most as President Joe Biden swept the commonwealth in the Democratic contest and former President Donald Trump did nearly as well on the Republican side. However, the city of Richmond and a handful of other localities did lean toward former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the GOP race. In the days leading up to Super Tuesday, both Haley and Trump visited the city in juxtaposing rallies. Although a crowd of hundreds gathered midweek at the Westin Richmond Hotel in western Henrico County to see Haley, thousands crammed into the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Saturday to watch Trump. Where the Thursday gathering lacked vigor from the crowd, the weekend affair brought a raucous energy from supporters who began lining up around the block more than eight hours before the former president spoke. There has been no word yet whether Biden will visit the river city before Election Day in November, but Austin Browning, a Trump campaign staffer, hinted at a future visit for the former president, pointing out that Virginia is a swing state. Close Steve Pederson, a supporter of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, waits to enter a campaign rally at the Westin Richmond in Henrico County on Feb. 29. Sandra Kozlowski waits for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to take the stage during a rally at the Westin Richmond in Henrico County on Feb. 29. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signs an autograph during a rally at the Westin Richmond in Henrico County on Feb. 29. Haley suspended her presidential campaign a day after Trump dominated Super Tuesday. A woman buys a magnet in support of former President Donald Trump outside the Greater Richmond Convention Center prior to his rally on March 2. Kenny LHeureux, dressed as former President Donald Trump, waves an American flag outside the Greater Richmond Convention Center prior to Trumps rally. Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on March 2. Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on March 2. Thousands crammed into the facility on Saturday to watch Trump. Donna Johnson, center, explains how to track voter turnout to Pam Miller, left, and Ed Adams at Main Street Station in Richmond on Tuesday. A voting sign directs people inside Main Street Station on Tuesday. Tens of thousands in the Richmond area made their way to libraries, train stations and firehouses to place their votes. Art from Richmond Public Schools students is displayed on the wall behind voting booths at the Main Library of the Richmond Public Library system on Tuesday. Through Our Lens: Campaign visits and Super Tuesday Steve Pederson, a supporter of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, waits to enter a campaign rally at the Westin Richmond in Henrico County on Feb. 29. Sandra Kozlowski waits for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to take the stage during a rally at the Westin Richmond in Henrico County on Feb. 29. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signs an autograph during a rally at the Westin Richmond in Henrico County on Feb. 29. Haley suspended her presidential campaign a day after Trump dominated Super Tuesday. A woman buys a magnet in support of former President Donald Trump outside the Greater Richmond Convention Center prior to his rally on March 2. Kenny LHeureux, dressed as former President Donald Trump, waves an American flag outside the Greater Richmond Convention Center prior to Trumps rally. Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on March 2. Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on March 2. Thousands crammed into the facility on Saturday to watch Trump. Donna Johnson, center, explains how to track voter turnout to Pam Miller, left, and Ed Adams at Main Street Station in Richmond on Tuesday. A voting sign directs people inside Main Street Station on Tuesday. Tens of thousands in the Richmond area made their way to libraries, train stations and firehouses to place their votes. Art from Richmond Public Schools students is displayed on the wall behind voting booths at the Main Library of the Richmond Public Library system on Tuesday. Authorities seize Tulum restaurant after bodies found Tulum, Q. R. A property was seized Thursday by state officials in the town of Tulum. The property is located in the coastal area and was seized after human remains were found. Authorities began investigating the property Wednesday. Elements of the investigation unit of the FGE for the Disappearance of Persons arrived at the kilometer 7.3 Boca Paila-Tulum location late Wednesday in response to a tip. Several bodies were reported found in grave on the property that will be identified pending the results of forensic tests. Police were tipped off to the location by an anonymous call Wednesday. Municipal, state and federal armed forces verified the report of a clandestine grave then proceeded to cordon off the area during a search operation. Authorities were at the scene around 8:00 p.m. where two bodies were reportedly found late that night along with other human bones that could correspond to three different people. The property was seized by the state after reports of found bodies. Photo: March 7, 2024. The property was insured by the FGE of Quintana Roo under the Investigation Unit of the Prosecutors Office Specialized in Combating the Disappearance of Persons. Jonathan Glazer has been nominated for two Oscars, as writer and director of The Zone of Interest, a movie about Nazis that was also nominated for Best Picture and Best International Film. The day the movie premiered in Cannes, last May 19, the novelist whose work inspired Glazer, Martin Amis, died. Im not sure we have any impressive novelists in English anymore. Our culture is now cinema. Glazer won the Grand Prix in Cannes and was also nominated for the Palme DOr. He has since won BAFTAs and other awards, and his movie has received endless nominations around the world. Back to the Nazis. Its hard to make interesting movies about Nazis anymore, but its also hard to make movies about anything else. In previous times, people may have feared the devil and hellfire; now they have been replaced by Hitler and the Holocaust. Everything about modern morality and power seems to turn on it. Its rarely clear whether we are horrified because Nazism is an attack on civilization or because we ourselves also reject civilization, identifying it with both inhuman and political technologies, whether ideological or bureaucratic. Amis The Zone of Interest is the story of a fictitious love affair in the shadow of Auschwitz; the issue for Amis is whether human nature can have any part of beauty in the face of horror. Glazers movie is much more direct: it follows camp commander Rudolph Hoss and his family, who are trying to live the most pleasant and even luxurious life they can while he works. The Holocaust is his job and he worries about losing credit or his position, but he doesnt take the work home. His children know nothing; he hides everything he can. Humanity is a Polish girl hiding apples by night in the trench where the slave workers will toil by day; its the true story of a woman, Alexandra, whom the director met when she was 90. Glazer accordingly doesnt show the horror of the extermination camp. Its just background noise. Gunshots. Hoss deals with the problem by hiring a guy to rev an engine next to his house, to drown out that noise. Half an hour into the movie, we finally hear the sounds of horror, men, women, and children crying and screaming as theyre offloaded from a train and taken to the camp where theyll be humiliated and murdered. The movie starts with ominous music over a black screen, for minutes, to prepare for this theme. The title of the film is a euphemism, revealing the care put into hiding the ugly reality of genocide. Its important to know that the Nazis felt it was useful, maybe necessary, to hide what they were doing. Hoss orders the camp guards to stop picking lilac flowers; the bushes are meant to be ornamental. The women of his household enjoy the loot the men take from the female prisonersthe clothes, for example. We always ask how sophisticated modern people, among the most educated in the world, could have done something so barbarous? How can humanity be so weak and unprotected? Even Hoss knows fear. Every night he locks the doors of his house, methodically, and yet as though he were careless of the very things that make him lock down in the first place. Hes horrified when his children, bathing with him in the river, are polluted by the consequences of the extermination camp. The major theme of the movie seems to be the opposition between loving ones family and committing terrible injustice against the families of strangers. Whats missing in the story is politics, the activity and way of life that makes for civilization or tyranny, the best or worst in us. Glazer shows domestic life and invites viewers to wonder whats missing in it that could leave people vulnerable to such terrible corruption. This points to a fundamental problem in modern life, that we all prefer private life and are therefore not able to act publicly. Its that absence that invites tyranny. There is something in our own innocence that needs rethinking, because while being blameless, committing no crime, we do not fulfill public duties that would demand noble sacrifice, win honor, and fend off horror. That emptiness is exploited by the manly nihilism of the Nazis. Hoss goes around on horseback, in cavalry breeches, everyone coming to toast his health at his birthday party is in uniform, and his sons like their uniforms, too. You could call this playacting, or LARPing. But its also a way of revealing that domestic life calls somehow for noble protection and manly strength. Despised or neglected, that spirit gives power to evil. Glazer, in avoiding showing the horror, spares his viewers. But in not using art to brutalize sentiment, he encourages viewers to consider the problem of humanity, to not reduce Hitler or Hoss to the devil, to remove thus the glamour of evil, the suggestion that its overpowering, inevitable. Evil is in some sense human, yet its hard to say how. Glazer shows that much of family life should have led Hoss to avoid evil, not to work with intelligence and diligence to design and execute murder with industrial power. Every attempt to conceal the crime reveals the shame of which even the servants of tyranny are capable. There is much thats persuasive about The Zone of Interest, but its not equal to its task, that of revealing decadence and tyranny. The problem for art is that there are not enough noble men among us. Artists looking for some tragic insight, some combination of innocence and guilt, seem stuck looking at criminals and madmen. And meanwhile in our own lives we despise nobility, humiliate men, and so have ended up in such a sorry state in both America and Britain that we cant encourage young men to join the military. Failing recruitment in a volunteer army in a democracy should shock public opinion. As decadence goes, theres a relation between the vicious and the weak, those who are paralyzed and those who are outrageous. We must learn again what it means to protect whats delicate and human. Heather Kristene Johnson, 32, said Wednesday that she "just lost it" after struggling with the death of her fiance and the loss of her childre A Franklin County jail inmate died after what the sheriffs office reports was an unknown medical emergency. The county Sheriffs Office, in a news release said it is saddened to report that the inmate, Dwaine Craig Hinton, died at a local hospital Thursday. Hinton, 42, of Roanoke, was transported from the Franklin County Jail to Franklin Memorial Hospital after experiencing the medical emergency. Soon after his arrival at the hospital, Hinton became unresponsive and medical providers had to provide CPR, according to the release. After approximately 45 minutes of unsuccessful life-saving measures, Hinton was pronounced deceased, according to the release. Hinton had been taken into custody at the county jail just over an hour prior to his medical emergency, after his bond was revoked in circuit court. The sheriffs office has requested Virginia State Police to conduct an independent investigation into this incident. The body of the deceased has been transported to the Medical Examiners Office in Roanoke for autopsy and to determine cause of death, according to the release. We would like to offer our condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Hinton. Regardless of the circumstances that led Mr. Hinton into our custody, any loss of life is a tragedy. We ask for patience as this incident is investigated with the commitment to provide full transparency with the findings at the conclusion of the investigation, the release reads. A man has been charged with in connection with a stabbing Wednesday in northwest Roanoke, according to a city police report. Joseph P. Roscoe, 36, of Roanoke, faces one count of malicious wounding in connection with the assault, according to a press release. A protective order was also obtained and served on him. At about 10:10 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to an active assault in the 100 block of Westside Boulevard Northwest, according to a news release. Inside a residence in that area, officers found a man and a woman, who has not been identified, engaged in a physical disorder, the release reads. Officers separated the man and the woman and noticed that she had injuries that, while found later to not be life-threatening, appeared consistent with a stabbing, according to the release. Police rendered aid to the woman until Roanoke Fire-EMS Department personnel arrived and transported her to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Officers detained Roscoe, who was questioned and later taken into custody. He was being held without bond Friday at the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center. While an investigation is ongoing, police reported that a verbal altercation that escalated led to the incident. The two knew each other, and police said there is no threat to the community. A Roanoke County jury has found a West Virginia man guilty of charges related to the shooting of a motorist along Interstate 81 in September 2022. Tyler K. Jones, 29, of Martinsburg, was found guilty Thursday of shooting into an occupied vehicle, attempted malicious wounding, aggravated malicious wounding, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to a state police news release. The incident occurred at approximately 6:35 p.m. Sept. 11, 2022, in Roanoke County. Jones was operating a green Harley-Davidson motorcycle and was traveling north on I-81 when he pulled up alongside a Chevrolet pickup truck and fired several rounds at the truck. The driver, an adult male from Virginia, was wounded and was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of serious injuries, according to the release. The shooting was investigated by the Virginia State Police, along with Roanoke County Police, Roanoke Police, Salem Police, Botetourt County Sheriffs Office, Rockbridge County Sheriffs Office, Shenandoah County Sheriffs Office, Mount Jackson Police Department, Berkeley County Sheriffs Office, Martinsburg Police Department, West Virginia State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Jones was arrested and charged on Jan. 11, 2023. Mountain View Elementary student Sadie Clarks art will be used on thousands of thank you notes that will be distributed to Virginia public school teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week in May. Clark was surprised by an announcement Friday morning at the Roanoke County school. She was one of three statewide winners of the Virginia Lotterys Thank a Teacher contest. Clark also received a $200 gift card and $2,000 for her schools art department. Clark said she chose the flower design of her artwork and to wrote, Teachers help us bloom, because, They just help you and teach things that you need in life. She uses watercolor paint, color pencil and marker to create her artwork. Photos: Roanoke County student wins 'Thank a Teacher' art contest Roanoke Catholic Schools Shamrock Hill Run 5K returns at 9 a.m. March 16. The St. Patricks Day weekend event is a 5K and a fun run that starts and ends at Roanoke Catholic and features a new route that winds its way through the Gainsboro neighborhood and Lick Run Greenway. Chip-timing will be provided by Run Roanoke. Medals will be awarded in all mens and womens age groups, along with special prizes to the best St. Patricks Day costumes following the race at the Celtic-themed awards ceremony in Roanoke Catholics Gillespie Family Gymnasium. Race registration, which is available online through runsignup.com, is $25. All proceeds benefit Roanoke Catholic School. For 30 years the Shamrock Hill Run served as one of the areas first races of the running season until the pandemic canceled it in 2020. Recently, Roanoke Catholic hosted Celtic Fest on the Hill as the family-friendly, all-things-Celtic celebration following the downtown Roanoke St. Patricks Day parade. As a school founded 135 years ago this year by families of Irish and Scottish immigrants, Roanoke Catholic has always cherished St. Patricks Day, said Megan Potter, interim head of school. Were thrilled to bring back this iconic event for the region. FemCity marks Womens History Month FemCity Roanoke is celebrating seven years of organization and inviting women in the community to participate in several special programs during March, Womens History Month. Womens History Month recognizes womens vital historical contributions, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, said Melinda Hill, FemCity Roanokes DEIB chairperson. As research shows escalating implicit bias towards women, underrepresented groups and persons with disabilities, now is the crucial time to celebrate womens accomplishments. The group holds monthly events, such as a coffee conversation and FemMingle, an after-hours social, for professional and entrepreneurial women, and The Signature Collection Event, an educational lunch to give members the opportunity to network. FemCity Roanoke is one of over 70 FemCity communities in North America founded by Violette de Ayala. The organization provides opportunities for women to grow their businesses, succeed in their professions and live a happy life. FemCity Roanoke extends an invitation to its Fem-Mingle celebrating Womens Month on March 6 at The Grandin Theatre from 5-to-7p.m. A free viewing of A League of Their Own, the first in a series of movies celebrating Womens Month at The Grandin, is included. A March 11 Connection luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at The Maridor will feature guest speaker Abrina Schnurman, executive director of the Batten Leadership Institute at Hollins University. Registration is required by March 7. The cost is $30 for FemCity members and $45 for non-members. Other events include a Coffee Connection on March 19 at Skin Firm on Starkey Road; a March 26 event at Smith Mountain Lake. For more information about Womens History Month events and FemCity membership contact Beth Boyd Bell at beth@femcity.com or visit femcityroanoke.com. Excel Center approved Goodwill Industries of the Valleys has received approval from the Virginia Department of Education to operate an Excel Center, making it the first Goodwill agency to operate an adult high school in the state. The Excel Center will allow adults to finish high school courses in a supportive environment while simultaneously earning industry-recognized workforce credentials. More than 670,000 adults in Virginia do not have a high school diploma, according to a Goodwill email news release. Lack of a high school diploma is connected to decreased income, decreased life expectancy, and increased health concerns for the individual. At the community level, high dropout rates lead to less spending and tax revenue while increasing public costs for crime, health, and public assistance. The Excel Center, part of Goodwills initiative to address poverty, healthcare concerns and food accessibility in Roanoke, is designed as a cornerstone of the agencys Melrose Plaza facilities. It also will address barriers for adult students by providing wraparound services that include childcare, transportation services, and college and career navigation. Courses will be offered at an accelerated pace and at times that accommodate working students. Goodwill agencies across the country have used the evidence-based, proven educational Excel Center model since 2010. We know there are many Virginians who are missing only one or two classes to earn their high school diploma. A GED isnt as logical for these students because of the time and monetary investment required. The Excel Center creates another option for students. At the Excel Center, students will take advantage of accelerated coursework and smaller classes to expedite their learning, said Zenith Barrett, vice president of business and community engagement. Addressing economic disparities, community health, and quality of life concerns must first begin with education, said Goodwill Valleys CEO Richmond Vincent, Jr. The Excel Center aims to address this concern for residents in the Roanoke Valley. Netherlands-based international music label, Pentatone, has recently announced the world premiere recording of 'The Shining' opera by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec and Pulitzer Prize-winning librettist Mark Campbell. The recording is based on the critically acclaimed stage performances of Lyric Opera of Kansas City's 2023 production of the two-act 2016 opera of the same name. Grammy nominee Gerard Schwarz reprises his role as a conductor from the Kansas City-run show in the forthcoming recording and will lead the Kansas City Symphony and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City Chorus for it. The stage masterpiece is set to grace all major streaming platforms, while also being available as a 2-CD set, by April 12. 'The Shining' Opera Recording's Cast and Other Info Similarly, baritone Edward Parks also returns from the stage opera to sing as Jack Torrance, the main lead of the production based on Stephen King's best-selling and classic novel. Performing opposite Parks are soprano Kelly Kaduce as Wendy, and Tristan Hallett as Danny. "The Shining" opera was the first joint project between Moravec and Campbell, that said, they have since been working together and have produced three oratorios as partners, namely: "All Shall Rise," "A Nation of Others," and "Sanctuary Road." Of his work on "The Shining" oratorio, Moravec said: "Much of the music takes us inside Jack Torrance's mind and central nervous system so that we can feel and follow the transformation of this basically decent guy trying to do the right thing as he is overwhelmed by madness and evil." Moravec also explained his thought process while composing for the horror-mystery production, saying that he created a set of "distinctive leitmotivs," or a recurring compositional theme, for "evolution" and "interaction" that occurred in the drama. "The two realms of the "natural" and the "supernatural" are reflected in contrasting musical sound worlds that periodically converge as the drama requires," he said. The to-be-released project was recorded live in March of last year at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas and was balanced, mixed, and mastered by Mark Donahue. Blanton Alspaugh served as the recording producer. For more information on the recording, visit PentatoneMusic.com Read Also: Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal to Star in Broadway Production of Shakespeare's 'Othello' 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. In 2023, the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors challenged the town of Pulaski and Dublin councils, the county School Board and the community to help address the issue of roadside trash. The One Bag Challenge brought the community together to clean-up littered areas and roadways and proved to be a great success in 2023, according to a county news release. By the end of last years challenge 237 participants had collected 849 bags of trash and 275 tires throughout the county. according to the release. Not only did the challenge clean up the county, it also won a Virginia Association of Counties Achievement Award. After a lot of trash talk the board of supervisors is once again challenging the community to clean up, according to the release. This year the board of supervisors is teaming up with the Pulaski County School Board to issue the 2024 One Bag Challenge. The challenge: Pick up at least one bag of trash (multiple bags are always welcome) along a littered area or roadway throughout the county, according to the release. Participants are asked to take a before and after photo along with your bag(s) and send it to Laura Walters, the supervisors chairwoman, at lwalters@pulaskicounty.org. These photos will be posted on the countys website and social media platforms in an effort to recognize those who are setting a great example by displaying their Pulaski County Pride in our community by helping to keep our roadsides clean, according to the release. Participants could win a $100 VISA gift card for their photo submissions. For each full bag of trash collected, the participants name will be entered into a monthly drawing, according to the release. The board of supervisors and school board will each draw three names at their monthly March, April, May, and June meetings. Participants can pick up reflective safety vests, gloves, trash pickers, and trash bags at the County Administration Building, located at 143 Third Street N.W., in Pulaski. The release continues: Please remember littering is illegal and totally unnecessary. We want to keep the county we live in clean and welcoming. - The Roanoke Times A man was hospitalized Thursday evening after he was struck by a vehicle while walking across a northeast Roanoke road, city police reported. At about 8:20 p.m., police were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian near the northeast intersection of Plantation Road and Fleming Avenue, according to a news release. Officers found a man lying in the roadway with injuries that appeared serious but not life-threatening. Roanoke Fire-EMS Department personnel transported him to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Police said a preliminary investigation indicated that the man, who has not been identified by law enforcement, entered the road in front of oncoming traffic and was struck by a vehicle. The driver of that vehicle, who also remains unidentified by police, remained on the scene of the crash and cooperated with investigators. Police said no arrests have been made in connection to the incident and an investigation continues. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has reported six other pedestrian-involved crashed in Roanoke so far this year, according to the departments interactive crash map. In 2023, it reported 45, four of which featured fatalities. Members of the public may have been exposed to measles while attending the emergency department in Galway University Hospital between 9pm on Sunday 3rd of March and up to 5pm on Monday 4th of March, the HSE has warned. The alert was issued by the Department of Public Health HSE West and North West this afternoon, and advises people to be aware of the signs and symptoms of measles. It also said that the alert relates to those who attended the emergency department in Galway University Hospital during the specific times outlined above. If you were born in Ireland before 1978, or had measles illness, or received two MMR vaccines, you are probably immune, the HSE said. If you are not probably immune we ask you to be particularly vigilant for symptoms of measles for 21 days from exposure. The Department of Public Health HSE West and North West is advising: 1. Be aware of signs and symptoms of measles for 21 days from the time of possible exposure. If you attended ED at Galway University Hospital during the dates and times above, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of measles, which include: Cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing and a cough Sore red eyes A temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above Rash, which usually appears on head and neck first and spreads to rest of body If you develop these symptoms, please seek medical advice. Phone ahead prior to attending any healthcare setting to let them know that you have these symptoms, so they can make necessary arrangements to prevent potential further spread to others. It is also advising people who are not vaccinated against measles with two doses of MMR, to please contact their GP during normal working hours to discuss whether they require vaccination. If you were born in Ireland before 1978 or had measles illness, you are unlikely to require vaccination, as you are probably immune, the statement said. The best way to protect yourself and those around you against measles is by MMR vaccination. Please make sure that you and your family are up to date with MMR vaccines. This can be arranged with your GP. Children should receive their first dose of MMR vaccine at one year of age and a second dose in junior infants at 4-5 years of age. There is also a free catch-up MMR option via participating GPs for those who may have missed their vaccination when younger. Further information about measles is available here. . Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. " " An artist's impression of what Earth's Black Box will look like when it is built in Tasmania, Australia. Earth's Black Box In autumn 2021, as leaders from across the globe converged on Glasgow to talk about the impact of human-caused climate change, a coalition of artists, architects and researchers in Australia devised a way to document the apocalypse. How? By storing data in a massive metal monolith in Tasmania, an island off the coast of Australia. Known as Earth's Black Box, the project, equal parts art installation and time capsule, aims to document the physical changes wrought by global warming and humanity's geopolitical response to them. Advertisement The installation's name is a nod to a common aviation practice. Commercial airplanes and many private aircraft are equipped with a "black box" (otherwise known as a flight recorder), a mechanism that automatically logs important flight details like altitude, airspeed, time elapsed and equipment functionality. These boxes, which are usually bright orange rather than black, are designed to withstand extreme temperatures as well as immense amounts of force and pressure. They are sometimes the only objects that survive a plane crash intact, allowing investigators to reconstruct a timeline of what went wrong in the aftermath. Earth's Black Box draws inspiration from these mechanisms. The vault will be made from specially designed, 3-inch (76-millimeter)-thick reinforced steel, chosen for its resilience to fire and water damage as well as its general toughness. Along with the University of Tasmania and an artists' collective called the Glue Society, Clemenger BBDO, an Australian communications firm, plans to build the 33-foot (10-meter)-long vault in a remote part of western Tasmania. They chose the location for its relative geological and geopolitical stability. "We believe it should withstand any foreseeable natural events," says Jim Curtis, executive creative director at Clemenger BBDO, via email. Unlike an airplane's flight recorder, however, Earth's Black Box is not meant to withstand total planetary destruction if Earth were to (somehow) explode, for instance, it probably wouldn't survive. Instead, the artists and data scientists behind the project think of it as a way to log the progression of Earth's current ecological collapse, which is already profoundly changing the environment. "At its core, the box is intended to be a symbol of the catastrophic situation we find ourselves in," says Curtis. "And importantly, it's intended to hold our leaders to account by being an unmissable structure that reminds them that their actions or inaction will be recorded for generations to come." The box will record two types of data: primary and contextual. The primary data will consist of the planet's vital signs, ranging from daily temperatures to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration to sea level. The contextual data, which Curtis says will be drawn from sources like government documents, social media and pieces of journalism, is intended to show world leaders' responses (or lack thereof) to the climate crisis. A capsule containing the first products manufactured in space by Varda Space Industries and protected by a heat shield made at NASAs Ames Research Center in Californias Silicon Valley lands at the Utah Test and Training Range on Feb. 21, 2024. Credit: Varda Space Industries/John Kraus Things are heating up in the atmosphere, and NASA is helping space start-ups stay cool. NASA has decades of expertise in creating technology that protects spacecraft from the intense heat generated when entering an atmosphere. As emerging companies develop innovative ways to do business in space, they know where to turnand the agency is responding by offering its know-how and the advanced materials invented here to help enable new uses for space with big benefits for humanity. Since 1951, when Harvey Allen, an engineer at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, showed a blunt-shaped capsule helps deflect the heat of atmospheric entry, Ames has led the agency in designing, developing, and testing thermal protection systems (TPS). These heat shields protect re-entering spacecraft and their cargo, such as pieces of a 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid or astronauts who will travel in the Orion crew capsule. "In the past, the government was the only entity that needed heat shields," said David Hash, chief of the Entry Systems and Technology Division at Ames, "That's changing dramatically today. Companies that see new opportunities for commercial activities in space now have a business case to launch spacecraft and bring them back to Earth. NASA is uniquely positioned to show them how to do it." NASA works to encourage commercial growth. With an increasing number of start-ups who have smart ideas but limited funding and spaceflight experience, NASA experts at Ames and Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, are doing their part to help. And success is already in the airor passing safely through it. On Feb. 21, Varda Space Industries of El Segundo, California, in partnership with Rocket Lab U.S. of Long Beach, California, returned to Earth the first product processed on its autonomous, free-flying, in-space manufacturing platform. The product is a pharmaceutical that may gain unique properties by forming in the near-absence of gravity. Ames made the spacecraft's heat shield material, and Langley assisted Varda in developing their re-entry capsule through aeroscience expertise, systems design and analysis, and trade studies support. Through a partnership agreement, Ames produced the thermal protection material, called C-PICA (Conformal Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator), intended to bring down products from Varda's factory in orbit for its first four missions. The material was originally developed at Ames, and February's re-entry marked the first time a NASA-manufactured C-PICA heat shield ever returned from space. A heat shield made by NASA is visible on the blunt, upward-facing side of a space capsule after its landing in the Utah desert. Varda Space Industries returned to Earth the first product processed on its in-space manufacturing platform on Feb. 21, 2024. Credit: Varda Space Industries/John Kraus "We performed extensive testing on the ground, in our arc jet facilities, where we can simulate the high temperatures of entry," said Mairead Stackpoole, chief of the Thermal Protection Materials Branch at Ames, "but there's nothing like a real spaceflight to test our systems. The Ames TPS team will soon take samples from the heat shield to analyze its performance in detail." NASA's partnership with Varda will continue through a Tipping Point award from the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). Managed by STMD's Flight Opportunities program, this award will leverage technology transfer from Ames of the C-PICA production process, helping the small business establish its heat shield production and fully enter the space market, as well as a flight test to evaluate the material's performance. A joint effort between NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and Varda will also provide more flight tests of C-PICA, helping to fully mature this technology relevant for future Mars missions and more. NASA's thermal protection experts can work with any space company on tackling the complex challenges of re-entry. Current collaborations include two companies targeting flights in the coming year. The first flight of Inversion Space of Torrance, California, will take place in 2024 with the goal of using space to transport cargo. Inversion's vehicle will re-enter the atmosphere using a C-PICA heat shield and a backshell, which protects the "downstream" end of the vehicle, made of another material developed at Ames: silicone-infused refractory ceramic ablator (SIRCA). Later, NASA will support the first private mission to Venus with Rocket Lab. The spacecraft will use NASA's Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology, developed at Ames, and a SIRCA backshell. These and other projects NASA is enabling are born of 21st-century innovation, yet Hash sees similarities with the formation of commercial airlines in the 1920s and 30s. As the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum explains, when Congress passed the Air Mail Act in 1925, it allowed the U.S. Postal Service to transport mail using commercial air carriers. Because companies could not rely on paying passengers in the early years to survive, this government participation encouraged and enabled the development of commercial aviation. NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, had the important role of advancing technologies to enable this new market. "We need to do the same thing they did for the airways, only for the spaceways," said Hash. "That's our job, now. It's the perfect role for government, and it will increase economic prosperity for our country." Provided by NASA LAKE CITY Negativity and misinformation posted to Lake Citys social media sites were enough Wednesday that Mayor Yamekia Robinson conducted a press conference to confront and clarify what the city is doing specifically in the search for a new police chief and the citys new recreation center. First, I want to say that our city is and should be about unity. Where there is unity, there is strength. Where there is division, there is no success or growth, Robinson said. Our city is a great place to live, work, play and visit. We have grown in so many areas over the past few years, Robinson said as she launched her press conference. Our downtown has grown tremendously. We have worked hard in the past year to get dilapidated structures in various communities demolished. We have grown in our city staff count. We have partnered with different community members, organizations, and the school district to help bring more positive opportunities for our youth. Lake City is on the rise. We are growing, she said. Robinson started with the search for a new chief of police, a position for which Bennettsville Police Sgt. Emmanuel Williams was announced as the new police chief and then withdrew from consideration after an incident was reported in the media before it was discovered on his background check. Yamekia Robinson's post press conference question session Your browser does not support the audio element. Robinson said she was to blame for how the announcement of a new chief of police was handled. Yes, the news was released that Mr. Emmanuel Williams was selected to be our next police chief. At that point, the rest of the background check was pending, she said. We took all this into consideration and had additional conversations with Mr. Williams. After these conversations, an email was received stating that effective immediately, Mr. Williams withdrew from the position of police chief at the city of Lake City. The only thing we did wrong, and I will take ownership of, is that we took part along with Mr. Williams in announcing him as our next police chief too soon, Robinson said. Lesson learned on our part. The search for police chief continues. The hiring committee will reconvene in the next couple of weeks to discuss how we will proceed with this search, Robinson said. We will have a police chief for the city of Lake City soon, a person who will lead this department and serve our community to the best of their ability. And I must add, it will not be based upon their age, if they are female or male or the color of their skin, Robinson said. Lets stop pulling the race card for everything, she said. Pull that card when it really needs to be pulled for fighting the real racial battle. Robinson said the decision on the next police chief will be made by the hiring committee and there is not a single person who makes such decisions. Ive told the entire staff and administration there is not one person or one department that can run this city alone. We all have minds of our own. We all have our opinions. We know its OK to disagree, Robinson said. But still we come up with a decision that would benefit the staff, the departments and the community. The department is currently overseen by Florence County Sheriffs Office Capt. Darrin Yarborough. Robinson also tackled misinformation about the citys new community center a site that was and still is intended to provide recreational opportunities for the citys youth. This center announcement came out recently on social media as LC-278 coming this summer, book your event, Robinson said. Yes, this is a place where you can host your different types of events, but it will also be a place for our youth to come and enjoy as well, Robinson said. This would be the revenue stream we will need to maintain the facilities so that our youth and entire community will always have a place. It will be home to our youth Esports program and it will provide space for other city of Lake City youth programs in progress, Robinson said. This is only phase one. Phase two will add a multipurpose facility beside it. Robinson said the language in the grant application had to be changed to ensure the city got the money for the project. As your mayor, I value your input. I value our city, our youth, the present, and the future. This is my hometown too, I would never make a decision that could be detrimental to my own hometown, Robinson said. I am working to the best of my ability to see Lake City grow for all of us. That goes for my entire staff and administration as well. Robinson asked residents to get the facts for themselves before taking to social media. Come and ask the questions, concerns or issues that you have for yourself so that you can have a better understanding of how local government works for you and your family, Robinson said. The spread of negativity and misinformation, yes, misinformation in the community and on social media can and has had detrimental effects on our communities, harmony and well-being. SIOUX CITY Food Truck Fridays is returning from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 7 to Pearl Street Park (at Seventh and Pearl Street). The 13-week season of Food Truck Fridays runs through Aug. 30. Organizers are seeking local food trucks to participate in the weekly congregation of food trucks, now in its ninth year. Food truck operators interested in participating are encouraged to attend a vendors' meeting, 6 p.m. April 17. The meeting will be held on Zoom. To receive a link invitation to the meeting, contact Jesse Hinrichs at (712) 898-0872 or email jesse@simpco.org. Over half of the countries that acted as signatories of a declaration advocating for the Washington Principles, which are a set of standards that aims to facilitate the return of Nazi-looted artworks, have made "little or no progress" in the restitution of these stolen properties across the 25 years since the first drafting of the declaration. This statistic was shared by the World Jewish Restitution Organization, or WJRO, in a report publicized last Tuesday, March 5. Progress in Realizing the Principles Within the 2009 Terezin Declaration The restitution framework itself was established amid the 1998 Washington Conference on Holocaust Era Assets. All in all, it consisted of 11 non-binding principles that were meant to be malleable to each signing country's specific systems of law, concerning Nazi-stolen art and how to properly approach issues regarding these artworks. Additionally, the principles also push the signing countries to research and identify suspected cultural property and promptly return pieces that are confirmed to have unlawfully transferred hands during World War II. In the report, the WJRO tallied up the progress of all 47 signatories of the 2009 Terezin Declaration, a document that incorporated the aforementioned principles. Sharing the tally results, the organization wrote: "Seven countries have made major progress; three countries have made substantial progress; thirteen countries have made some progress; [and] twenty-four countries have made little or no progress." These ratings were based on whether the country has done historical research regarding the restitution of art stolen amid WWII; has investigated the provenance of all of its collections; has established a processing system for claims regarding looted art suspects; and has made a sizeable amount of actual restitutions. Of this overall progress, JRO President Gideon Taylor was quoted in the report saying: "This report underscores the critical need for advancement in art and cultural property restitution." "Restitution from public bodies or private individuals is not just about returning what was taken," he continued. "It's about reconnecting families and communities with their heritage. Over the past 25 years, there has been significant progress, but much work lies ahead." The exemplary implementors of the Washington Principles among the signatories comprise Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US. On the other hand, countries that belonged to the majority - those who made little progress since the Washington Principles' drafting 25 years ago - include Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Ireland, Russia, Spain, and Turkey, among others. Read Also: University of Houston Cancels Art Event Over Controversial Sculpture Deemed 'Satanic Other Findings Regarding the Restitutions as Reported by WJRO Although the set of principles informing the restitution of stolen art was primarily made to cover private collections, the report said that there is less work being done to restitute artwork held by individual collectors. When it comes to collecting institutions, the report found that most of the museums across the globe continue to "ignore" research-related efforts. It continued by saying that in most countries, investigating the provenance of collections is not part of the standard institutional procedure. That said, compared to this, WJRO explained that there are still many more improvements to be made regarding provenance investigations, transparency, and the facilitation of restitution claims in terms of dealing with private art collectors. In contrast, claims processes have been integrated into the systems of most of the countries that signed into the declaration, however, only a measly 5 out of the total 47 nations have gone and established a restitution commission to more efficiently handle the claims. The report also found that there has been an improvement in the public's awareness regarding the subject, including the fact that most of the displaced artworks previously belonging to Jewish communities are yet to be restituted by the private hands that currently hold them. Chairperson at the Center of Organizations of Holocaust Survivors in Israel, Ambassador Colette Avital, was quoted by the report saying: " For us Holocaust survivors [these] works of art are part of our cultural heritage, part of our lives, part of our past." "They are the silent witnesses of the lives and loves of individuals, families, and communities who were murdered cruelly and whose memories we cherish," she exclaimed. Read More: Multi-Genre Artist Swamp Dogg Explores the Black Origins of Bluegrass With New Album 'Blackgrass' 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Announcing your ideal acreage set up: a large brick ranch style home, a Quonset building, storage shed and the cutest little country store all packaged up and sitting on 4.19 square acres. This can all be found on a hard surface road just a few minutes outside the quaint town of Merrill, IA. The home greets you with its covered open porch. Upon entry you will find a light filled living room, a large eat-in kitchen with eating peninsula and a formal dining which walks out to the Screenbuilders back porch. The south wing of the main floor has three nice sized bedrooms and shares a full bath that has a new sink. On the north side of the main floor you will find the guest quarters which houses the 4th bedroom, laundry facilities and a 3/4 bath. This area has its own rear entrance and a pocket door separates it from the remainder of the main floor which offers endless opportunities for living. The full basement offers a large L-shaped entertaining room. There are also two additional large storage areas in the lower level. The home is all-electric, has a 99 gallon water heater and a whole house water filter. The 42x60 Quonset building has a concrete floor, work bench and loft area. It would be ideal for storage and a variety of hobby purposes. The 10x14 storage shed has a wood burner and is also great for storage use. One of the shining stars of the property is the sweetest Country Store one has ever seen. This 912 sq. ft. building is heated, cooled, sheet rocked and painted. It has most recently been used as an antique shop. There is a garage door at the rear of the building and would be great for an accessory dwelling unit (would just need water and a bathroom), a nice studio space or whatever else you desire. There is a neighbor that has cash rented some of the land on the south and east sides for corn. This is really a nice, unique and totally livable property just ready for its new owner... View More SIOUX CENTER, Iowa With less than half of her final semester left, Dordt University senior Miranda Munson has been doing plenty of traveling. This week, she and her fellow Dordt University Concert Choir members spent their spring break performing concerts in Montana, Washington, Idaho and South Dakota, as well as in British Columbia, Canada. Next month promises to be even more eventful. She was one of approximately 125 students from across the country chosen for a fellowship at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), taking place the week of April 21, in Washington, D.C. This event will allow Munson, a theatre arts and design major, to participate in master classes while meeting with peers and, most important, theatrical professionals. Munson earned this privilege after picking up a merit award during a regional finals of KCACTF, held in January. "We were encouraged to select something we were passionate about," the Lakeville, Minnesota, native explained. "I was passionate about being the stage manager for Dordt's mainstage production of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,' and that's what I was chosen for. "I was absolutely stunned when they announced my name," Munson recalled. "I accepted the award and called my parents right away. I remember saying, 'Hi, I just won a national fellowship!' That felt pretty special." After all, Munson comes from a family with a strong interest in the performing arts. Her parents first met when they were both cast in a production of "Hello, Dolly." Her twin sister Isabel is currently an organ performance major at Dordt. Munson's first experience on stage was as an Irish dancer at age 5. Throughout her childhood, she participated in both shows and in choirs. "Even when I was young, I was fascinated by the stuff what was going on backstage," she said. "I was always wondering how did that thing work or why are they doing things that way." In other words, Munson was already thinking like a stage manager. "The role of a stage manager is very important, she explained. "You're the go-between when it comes to the actors and the director." Which was Munson's role in Dordt's stage adaptation of C.S. Lewis' classic book, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." "As a senior, I was working with a cast that was made up of mainly freshmen, who were working on their first college production," she remembered. "Even my assistant stage director was a freshman." Throughout rehearsal, Munson carried a legal pad filled with notes. "My assistant questioned me about my pad, which I consider to be a must-have for any stage manager," she said. "By opening night, my assistant also had a legal pad that was crammed with notes." Throughout her years at Dordt, Munson has had internships which allowed her to work in children's theater and to take part in a Gilbert and Sullivan summer festival. All of these experiences have given her to understand the importance of stage management. While contemplating graduate school choices, Munson said she'd love to be a stage manager at a Broadway show. Yet she wouldn't mind working in regional theater. "There are so many options to choose from," Munson said. Perhaps she'll find more inspiration during her fellowship at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. "It is such a privilege for me," she said. "I can't wait." SERGEANT BLUFF -- Iowas Small Business Person of the Year is Cathy Bishop, president of Aggies, Inc., a BBQ catering company in Sergeant Bluff. The announcement was made Thursday by the Small Business Administration, which administers the award in each state. Honorees will be received at the National Small Business Week Award Ceremony April 28-29 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Washington, D.C., according to a press release from the SBA. Aggie's was started by Bishop, a 1983 graduate of Texas A&M (the Aggies), who returned to Sergeant Bluff in 1994 following a decade as a bank examiner in Colorado. The venture was initially a restaurant offering some catering, but in 2009 Bishop pivoted, turning to catering full time and remaking the restaurant into a venue. Aggies began offering COVID Carryout during the pandemic, where customers could place pick-up orders from a daily menu posted on Facebook. This concept, along with two PPP loans and a Restaurant Revitalization Fund award from SBA, helped Aggies survive the pandemic without laying off any employees. Aggies has grown since and currently employs over 50 full and part-time employees. SIOUX CITY -- The membership of the Municipal Federal Credit Union of Sioux City has voted to merge with Des Moines' Premier Credit Union. Municipal Federal's branch at 103 S. Fairmount St. will become a branch of Premier Credit Union in early May, according to a press release from Premier. Most members of Municipal Federal will not likely see their account numbers change, according to an FAQ page on the credit union's website, though it is possible that 5 percent of members will need a new account number due to duplication within the combined organization. The Municipal Federal Credit Union's routing number will transfer to Premier Credit Union, and as such there shouldn't be disruptions to direct deposits, IPERS benefits and the like. Premier will honor current loan and savings rates, according to the FAQ page. Automated bill pay will not transfer over and will have to be set up anew. All Municipal Federal members will receive a new debit card. The Municipal Federal Credit Union (originally the Municipal Credit Union) dates back to the Great Depression; it was granted a Certificate of Organization on Feb. 21, 1938. Originally the membership consisted of City of Sioux City employees and Woodbury County employees and their families. On Sept. 1, 2022, the credit union became the Municipal Federal Credit Union, which opened membership to Plymouth County, Dakota and Dixon County, Nebraska and Union County, South Dakota. The Premier Credit Union was founded in 1933 as the Bankers Life Employees Credit Union. In 1986, Bankers Life Company changed its name to Principal Financial Group and the credit union changed its name to Principal Financial Group Employees Credit Union. The name changed again in 2001 to Premier Credit Union. SIOUX CITY -- A 19-year-old Sioux City man was arrested Thursday for allegedly sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl and providing marijuana to her. Jason Michael Haire Jr. is facing charges of second-degree sexual abuse and delivery to a minor, both class B felonies. According to a criminal complaint filed in Woodbury County District Court, a 13-year-old female was taken to UnityPoint Health -- St. Luke's on Feb. 24, after she disclosed to her parents that she was sexually assaulted by Haire at a family friend's house in Sioux City the evening of Feb. 19. During a post Miranda interview, the complaint stated that Haire admitted to having sexual contact with the victim and providing marijuana to her numerous times between January and February. SIOUX CITY -- A second person believed to be involved in an assault that included a stabbing in downtown Sioux City has been arrested. Pesamino Noa, 28, of Sioux City, was arrested Thursday on a charge of assault with intent to inflict serious injury, an aggravated misdemeanor. His bond was set at $5,000. He's accused of following and striking a man in the 500 block of Fifth Street at approximately 9:30 p.m. Feb. 5. According to court documents, security footage showed Noa punching the man and knocking him to the ground. The man then was stabbed multiple times by Darfus Stewart. While the victim was still on the ground, Noa kicked him in the head. The victim sustained a head injury and a stab wound in the lower right arm that caused a large amount of blood loss. Stewart, 23, of Sioux City, was arrested March 1 on a charge of willful injury, a Class D felony. WASHINGTON U.S. President Joe Biden announced a plan Thursday for the U.S. military to help establish a temporary port on the Gaza coast to increase the flow of aid into the territory during the Israel-Hamas war, acting amid an international push to create a sea route for food and other aid as U.N. and U.S. officials warn of famine among Palestinian civilians. The announcement during the State of the Union speech signals further deepening U.S. involvement in the war and the escalating tensions and fighting in the region amid growing criticism of the Biden administration's own handling of the conflict. Five months of war and tight Israeli control of aid trucks left virtually the entire population of 2.3 million people desperately short of food, the U.N. says. Medical workers in northern Gaza this past week reported 15 children dead of starvation there, with six other children on the verge. In a meeting pressing Israel Ambassador Michael Herzog to provide access and security for more aid trucks, the U.S. international development director, Samantha Power, warned that blockaded Gaza faced a real risk of famine," her office said Thursday. Israel accuses Hamas of commandeering some aid deliveries. Hopes for reaching a cease-fire before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts in the coming days, stalled Thursday when Hamas said its delegation left Cairo, where talks on a deal were being held. The outline for the cease-fire would have included a wide infusion of aid into Gaza. Aid groups say their efforts to deliver supplies to Gaza are hampered because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of public order. It is even more difficult to get aid to the isolated north. U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the planned operation will not require American troops on the ground to build the pier that is intended to allow more shipments of food, medicine and other essential items. One of the options under consideration is for the military to provide a floating pier called a JLOTS, or Joint Logistics-Over-the-Shore, another U.S. official said on the condition of anonymity. The large floating pier allows supplies to be delivered without having a fixed port in place, alleviating the need to have troops on a dock on shore. Ships can dock at the pier, which would be secured by anchors. Aid moving into the pier would likely be by commercial ship or contracted vessel, the official said. Defense Department spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement Thursday that U.S. officials and international partners were looking at options, including using commercial companies and contractors. The pier will allow shipments to flow into Gaza via Cyprus from the U.S. military and allies, the administration officials said. American Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that he briefed officials on such a maritime option. He said Central Command provided options for increasing the number of trucks taking aid to areas in northern Gaza. Kurilla also said Thursday that exploding violence in the Middle East, fueled by Iran, presents the most likely threat to the U.S. homeland, and the risk of an attack by violent extremists in Afghanistan on American and Western interests abroad is increasing. Kurilla said the Islamic State groups Khorasan affiliates in Afghanistan and Syria retain the capability and the will to attack and could strike in as little as six months and with little to no warning. In other comments, he said the U.S. has been using directed energy weapons to shoot down drones but could use more of those so the Navy doesnt have to use large, expensive missiles to take out smaller threats. The Biden administration's latest move provides one more layer to the extraordinary dynamic that emerged as the United States has had to go around Israel, its main Mideast ally, and find ways to get aid into Gaza, including through airdrops that started last week. Biden has been a vital partner to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military offensive following the Hamas military group's Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. However, administration officials have grown increasingly frustrated that Israel isn't doing more to reduce civilian deaths and to allow in humanitarian aid. "This is an expensive, inefficient workaround to a problem that has other ready solutions," Brian Finucane, a former State Department official now with the International Crisis Group, said of the U.S. announcement on a temporary port and wartime sea route. Its another symptom of the pathology of the overall approach to the war in Gaza which is that the Biden administration is unwilling to use U.S. leverage either unilaterally or multilaterally" to try to influence conduct of the war by Netanyahu, Finucane said. Pressure on the Biden administration surged last week after Gaza health officials reported more than 100 people killed at an attempted aid delivery to the isolated north. Witnesses and medical workers said most of those killed and injured were shot when Israeli forces fired into the crowds of hungry people. International mediators hoped to alleviate some of the immediate crisis with a six-week cease-fire, which would have seen Hamas release some Israeli hostages, Israel release some Palestinian prisoners and aid groups allowed to get a major influx of assistance into Gaza. Palestinian militants are believed to be holding around 100 hostages and the remains of 30 others captured during Hamas Oct. 7 attack. Egyptian officials said Hamas agreed to the main terms of such an agreement as a first stage but wants commitments that it will lead to an eventual more permanent cease-fire. They say Israel wants to confine the negotiations to the more limited agreement. Today in history: March 7 1911: William Howard Taft 1926: Radio-telephone 1936: Adolf Hitler 1965: Edmund Pettus Bridge 1994: Roy Orbison 1999: Stanley Kubrick 2005: George W. Bush 2012: The Indianapolis Colts 2016: Peyton Manning 2017: CIA 2021: Team LeBron 2021: Oprah Winfrey WASHINGTON More than a quarter of female Black voters describe abortion as their top issue in this year's presidential election, poll results released Thursday by health policy research firm KFF reveals. The findings signal a significant shift from previous election years, when white, conservative evangelicals were more likely to peg abortion as their biggest priority when voting. Those voters were highly motivated in recent presidential elections to cast ballots for Donald Trump, who promised to appoint U.S. Supreme Court judges who would take away the constitutional right to an abortion. Just months ahead of the first presidential election since the court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, that voting dynamic is drastically changing, KFF's poll suggests. "It's a complete shift," said Ashley Kirzinger, a KFF pollster. "Abortion voters are young, Black women and not white evangelicals." Overall, 12% of voters surveyed said abortion was the most important issue in this year's election. Certain female voters, however, were more likely to identify the issue as top of mind. They include 28% of Black women, 19% of women living in states where abortion is banned, and 17% of women who are under age 50. Of voters who said abortion was their most important issue, two-thirds said they believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. For decades, white evangelicals eager to see abortion banned turned out to vote on the issue, Kirzinger said. Trump, a Republican, spent nearly a decade courting those voters with promises to support conservative judges and with a cohort of religious surrogates who warned evangelicals that his Democratic rivals would dramatically expand abortion access in the U.S. Trump received overwhelming support from white evangelicals in the previous presidential elections. But as states continue to clamp down on abortion access and Trump braces for a rematch against Democrat Joe Biden, the demographics of the abortion voter shifted, Kirzinger said. Biden vowed to protect abortion access since the court overturned the right. "Abortion it's clearly resonating with this group," Kirzinger said. "When we think about abortion access and who is disadvantaged, it's Black women." Women and Black women, in particular were crucial to Biden's win over Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Last week, Biden's campaign announced that first lady Jill Biden would lead a nationwide effort to mobilize that voting bloc again. More than half of Black Americans live in Southern states, most of which swiftly introduced strict abortion laws once the Supreme Court's ruling was announced. As of last year, roughly 25 million women were living in states that enacted new restrictions following the court's decision, an Associated Press analysis found. Nearly two-thirds of voters polled by KFF oppose a national abortion ban beginning at 16 weeks of pregnancy. Trump has not publicly backed such a ban, but reports circulated that he privately told people he supports one. The tools Trump could use to curb abortion access if he's elected The tools Trump could use to curb abortion access if he's elected At noon last Sunday, March 3, visitors of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum witnessed a pair of activists from the group This is Rigged pour a pot full of porridge and jam down a bust of Queen Victoria amid recent protests, according to Art News. Demonstrations at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and George Square The activist group themselves claimed responsibility for the two demonstrations, both of which were held at the Glasgow institution and the nearby George Square. The protest at the museum, in particular, also saw one of the vandals spraying the word "cunt" in pink paint on the front of the plinth where the marble sculpture, which was made by Francis John Williamson in 1888, stood. In the video posted by This is Rigged on X (formerly Twitter), the activist duo can be heard saying: "We refuse to be dragged back to the Victorian era. Diseases of starvation including scurvy and rickets are on the rise." A day after, on March 4, the demonstration at the square was held, where bronze statues in the likeness of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert riding horses were similarly sprayed with food, this time the protesters used fire extinguisher-propelled soup. The statues were made by Italian-French sculptor Carlo Marochetti, whose public monuments are scattered and well-known across Britain. Of the two demonstrations, This is Rigged told the art publication that their goal was to raise awareness of the skyrocketing cost of food and this issue's connection to climate change, following the media's failure to cover the aforementioned problems. The activist group is asking for local supermarkets to bring down the price of baby food and for the Scottish government to financially support community food hubs as an action against the mounting severity of malnutrition and cases of rickets in the region. In an Instagram post, This is Rigged confirmed the identity of the activist pair as 30-year-old Sorcha Ni Mhairtin and 23-year-old Hannah Taylor. After the stunt, both Mhairtin and Taylor were arrested by local authorities and charged with the crime of breaching the peace. Glasgow Life, the charity in charge of Glasgow's museums, has reached out to the art publication to say that the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum bust of Queen Victoria has since been cleansed and the graffiti plastered on the plinth removed. Read Also: Pentatone Announces the World-Premiere Recording of 'The Shining' Opera 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. DES MOINES, Iowa The third-party presidential movement No Labels decided Friday to field a presidential candidate in the 2024 election after months of weighing the launch of a so-called "unity ticket" and discussions with several prospects. Delegates voted in favor of moving forward during an online convention of 800 of them from every state, said Mike Rawlings, a former Dallas mayor who is affiliated with No Labels. The group was not expected to name its presidential and vice presidential nominees Friday. It will announce its candidate selection process on March 14, Rawlings said. "Even though we met virtually, their emotion and desire to bring this divided nation back together came through the screen," Rawlings, Friday's convention chair, said about the delegates in a written statement. No candidates yet The decision to move forward comes as a number of would-be candidates turned down the idea of running, including former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who suspended her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination after former President Donald Trump won big across Super Tuesday's GOP primary map. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan weighed running for president under the No Labels banner but since decided to seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate from his state. Retiring West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, said he will not run for president. Romps by Trump and President Joe Biden, a Democrat, on Super Tuesday all but ensured a November rematch of the 2020 election. Polls suggest many Americans don't have favorable views of Biden or Trump, a dynamic No Labels sees as an opening to offer a bipartisan ticket. No Labels weighed whether to present a ticket aimed at appealing to voters unhappy with Biden and Trump. The group's strategists previously said they'll give their ballot line to a bipartisan ticket, with a presidential nominee from one major party and a vice presidential nominee from the other, if they see a path to victory. Group officials said they are communicating with several potential candidates but have not disclosed any names. Fears of siphoning votes No Labels stockpiled cash from people it declined to name, including former Republican donors who became disenchanted with the party's direction in the Trump era, and has worked to secure ballot access in every state. Biden supporters worry No Labels will pull votes away from the president in battleground states and are critical of how the group won't disclose its donors or much of its decision-making. The executive director of the group MoveOn, which is aligned with Democrats, said a No Labels ticket would help Trump win. "Any candidates who join the No Labels presidential ticket will be complicit in making it easier for Donald Trump and MAGA extremists to win a second term in the White House," Executive Director Rahna Epting said in a written statement. Third Way, another group that is aligned with Democrats and opposes a No Labels ticket, noted No Labels was moving forward without having first found a candidate. "Time and again, voters, candidates, and election experts have told No Labels that a third-party presidential ticket can't win and would help Trump," Third Way Executive Vice President Matt Bennett said in a written statement. Politico first reported No Labels' decision. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia Over the past decade, Grace Subathirai Nathan graduated from law school, got married, opened a law firm and had two babies. But part of her is frozen in time, still in denial over the loss of her mother on a missing Malaysia Airlines plane in 2014. There has been no funeral service, and Grace, 35, still speaks of her mother in the present tense. When she got married in 2020, she walked down the aisle with a picture of her mother tucked in a bouquet of daisies chosen because of her mother's name, Anne Catherine Daisy. The Malaysian criminal lawyer has become one of the key faces of Voice 370, a next-of-kin support group, as she channeled her grief into keeping alive the quest for answers in the mysterious disappearance of Flight MH370 that has ripped many families apart. In terms of going on, I progressed in my career, in my family life but I am still trying to push for the search of MH370 to continue. I am trying to push for the plane to be found, so in that way I havent moved on, said Grace, whose mother was originally not meant to be on the flight. She was due to fly a week earlier but delayed her trip to care for Grace's ailing grandmother, who died months after the plane's disappearance. Logically in my brain I know I am probably never going to see her again, but I havent been able to accept that fully, and I think emotionally, theres a gap that hasnt been bridged due to the lack of closure. The baffling disappearance of flight MH370 still captivates people around the world. The Boeing 777 left Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on March 8, 2014, but dropped off radar screens shortly after and never made it to Beijing, its destination. Investigators say someone deliberately shut down the planes communications system and took the plane off course. The jet is believed to have plunged into a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean based on satellite data, but a massive underwater search was fruitless. No wreckage or bodies have ever been found except for some fragments that washed ashore on the eastern African coast and Indian Ocean islands. Families of those on board, many from China, have found different ways to cope with the grief over the years, but one thing is constant their mission for justice and answers. The pain continues to torment some families in China, who are skeptical of theories of the plane's fate and hang on to hope that their loved ones may one day return. Like Grace, Chinese farmer Li Eryou also has not held a funeral or memorial service for his only son. He has a board at home on which he counts each passing day since MH370 disappeared. Li Yanlin, 27, had a promising career as an engineer with a Chinese telecommunications company that was cut short by the tragedy. The pain comes easily, triggered by a sound, an object, even a flower, Li said. All these years Ive been drifting along in life like a ghost, Li said in Chinas Handan city. "When I meet my friends and relatives, I have to put on a smile. At night, I can become true to myself. When all is quiet in the dead of night, I weep without people knowing. Li recently moved to stay with his daughter due to poor health. At his former residence, newspaper clippings of the missing aircraft that have yellowed with age still hang on the wall and his sons room is kept largely untouched. I believe my son is still on the flight, that hes still around. Or he is living on a remote island like Robinson Crusoe, Li said, in a reference to his sons favorite book. Li and his wife seldom travel but have made multiple trips to Malaysia to seek answers and to Madagascar, where parts of the aircraft have washed up on beaches. The lack of answers merely deepens their agony. They are among about 40 Chinese families that have rejected a small compassion payment from the airline. They have sued five entities including Malaysia Airlines, Boeing and aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce, seeking larger compensation and answers over who should be held accountable. Court hearings started in Beijing in November and a verdict could take months. On the 100th day after the flight vanished, Li penned his first poem expressing his longing for his son. Since then, he has written about 2,000 that have helped him cope with the grief. We shouted to the Earth: Malaysia Airlines 370. The Earth roars, it is silent and does not go away. Its not here, not here. Dont you see the heavy backpack on my sons shoulders? Drops of sweat from hard work shine on his forehead, says one verse. We appeal 10,000 times, restart the search. I wrote down my feelings. The only reason I could survive all these years is because of these words, Li said. There is now new hope for closure. During a 10-year remembrance event in Kuala Lumpur last Sunday, Malaysia's government said it will consider a proposal for a new search by U.S. marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity, which conducted a no find, no fee hunt in 2018. It is unclear whether Ocean Infinity has new data to pinpoint the location of the plane. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said during a speech Thursday that he was inclined to support reopening an investigation into what happened to MH370 but the decision must be based on compelling facts. It is unclear whether Ocean Infinity has new data to pinpoint the location of the plane. Once we know what happened, only then can a true form of healing begin until those questions are answered, no matter how much you try to move on or how much you try to close that chapter, it will never go away, Grace said. Top 10 safest airlines to fly on right now Top 10 safest airlines to fly on right now Hawaiian Airlines Delta Airlines Alaska Airlines American Airlines United Airlines International: Qatar Airways International: Qantas Airways International: Etihad Airways International: Air New Zealand International: Singapore Airlines Safest low-cost airlines in 2023 A measure pushed by Nebraska State Board of Education member Kirk Penner to remove so-called pornographic materials from school libraries failed at a packed meeting Friday afternoon. After hearing dozens of public comments both for and against the proposal, the board voted 5-3 against proposed changes to Rule 10, which details many regulations for accredited schools in the state including those for school libraries. Board members Patsy Koch Johns, Lisa Fricke, Patti Gubbels, Jacquelyn Morrison and Deborah Neary voted against the proposal, while Kirk Penner, Sherry Jones and Elizabeth Tegtmeier voted for it. The changes would have banned books with content pertaining to sexual intercourse or related topics, whether that be in the format of text or images, and removed a requirement for schools to purchase a minimum number of new materials each year. More than 30 people most of whom supported the changes spoke at the board meeting, while 175 more submitted written comments, both for and against the changes. Additionally, two people spoke against the measure at the board meeting last month, and seven more submitted written comments against it. Terri Cunningham-Swanson was one of around 20 people who spoke to the board in favor of the proposed changes. She said sexually explicit content can be damaging for students and that she's surprised this is still a conversation. Cunningham-Swanson was previously a member of the Plattsmouth Community Schools Board of Education but was voted out of her position by the community in January after her attempt to ban dozens of books there. "I'm sorry, but the time for niceties is over. And the time has come to maybe start flipping some tables and maybe flipping some board seats," she said. "Of course, our library should not have obscene content. It should not contain graphic description of naked body parts, depictions of violent rape." Another woman from Kearney told the board she wished it would focus on stimulating the minds of children, not their genitals, which she believes some content in school libraries has the ability to do. Heather Hall, who also spoke in favor of the changes, said if she had not been proactive, her child would have been exposed to sexually obscene content at school. "I'm not a proponent of banning books, but that's not what this role changes," she said. "This is about curating material that is age appropriate for our kids." Jamie Bonkiewicz, who spoke against the measure, said the decision of what content is deemed appropriate or inappropriate should be left up to the individual parents and certified school personnel, not to the board. "This is setting a dangerous precedent for our state board of education. Once again, your beliefs are your beliefs, your religion is your religion. Reach out to your own kids and your grandkids. My kids are not yours," she said. "I trust the teachers and administrators in my children's schools." DES MOINES Iowa teachers and school staff could see a pay increase if a bill Iowa House lawmakers passed on Thursday becomes law. The bill, House File 2630, would raise the states minimum teacher salary to $50,000 over the next two years and require a $15 minimum wage for any non-salaried school staff. House lawmakers were overwhelmingly united on the need to increase the pay for teachers in the state. Lawmakers said the increase would improve the states ability to attract teachers and increase the quality of living for the states educators. A teacher in Iowa will be at or near the top of purchasing power in the entire nation with what Iowa pays them, said Rep. Bill Gustoff, a Republican from Des Moines. This will be the largest single boost to teacher pay in the history of the state. The bill passed 92-1. Rep. Mark Cisneros, a Republican from Muscatine, was the sole no vote. The bill emerged from negotiations over a proposal from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to overhaul the states area education agencies, which provide special education support to Iowa schools. Reynolds proposal, which would allow school districts to retain their state and federal special education funding and seek special education outside the AEAs, included a provision to increase Iowas starting teacher salaries to $50,000 and increase teacher pay with 12 years experience to $62,000 a year. The proposal has been heavily amended as it has made its way through the lawmaking process. House lawmakers opted to run the teacher pay increase as a separate bill and pass their own proposal to change the AEA system. Senate Republicans have included the pay increase in their amended version of Reynolds proposal, which has not passed out of the chamber. The Senate bill would set the minimum teacher salary at $46,251. With multiple teacher salary increases proposed in the Legislature, education advocates said last week they preferred the House approach to run the increases as a standalone bill. Democrats also commended House Republicans for taking up the measure in a separate bill and working on a bipartisan proposal. I am pleased that we are able to talk about this bill and that we are able to send a bipartisan message to the Senate and to the governor to tell them that the House of Representatives is united in support of paying our teachers, paying our educators, paying our paraprofessionals in a way that is not politicized, that is independent and that is good for Iowa kids, said House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights. The bill is eligible for consideration in the Republican-controlled Iowa Senate, and lawmakers will need to come to an agreement on a proposal before sending it to Reynolds desk for a signature. Representatives for Reynolds and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Iowa State Education Association President Mike Beranek said he was appreciative of the bipartisan action in the House to pass the bill that aids beginning teachers, support staff and veteran teachers. "We implore the Senate and Governor to act in a timely fashion and pass HF 2630. Doing so will help to retain and attract professionals who skillfully guide and teach Iowas most precious resource our children, Beranek said. Bill increases state spending on K-12 education The House bill would increase the minimum teacher salary to $47,500 in the 2024-25 school year and set it at $50,000 the following year. It would set the minimum wage for non-salaried staff to $15, and spend an additional $22 million for schools to increase the pay of existing teachers. The three initiatives would cost a combined $63.4 million in the coming year, according to the Legislative Services Agency. Increasing teacher pay would cost $27.4 million and increasing support staff pay would cost $14 million, along with the $22 million from the state. Those costs would increase each year as the state's supplemental aid to school districts increases. The current mandatory minimum salary for Iowa teachers is $33,500. According to the National Education Association, the average salary for starting teachers in Iowa is $39,208, which ranks 35th among the 50 states. With an average starting salary of $50,000 Iowa would rank sixth in the nation for starting teacher salary. Combined with the 3% school funding increase House lawmakers passed already this year, Gustoff said the proposed spending represents the largest school funding increase in more than 20 years. Delaying budget statements The bill also would extend the deadline for school districts to submit a draft budget to their county auditor, a requirement imposed by a new property tax law last year. Although lawmakers were required by law to pass their school funding appropriation by Feb. 9, the deadline passed without agreement between the House and Senate. House lawmakers passed a bill to increase school funding by 3%, but the Senate has not settled on their proposed rate of increase. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called for a 2.5% increase in her budget proposal. The lack of certainty from state lawmakers has left schools attempting to craft their budget statements without knowing how much money they will receive. The bill would extend the deadline from March 15 to 35 days after the law setting state aid to school districts takes effect, giving schools more time to submit those statements. Democrats criticized Republicans in a press conference on Thursday for failing to come to an agreement on school funding and preventing districts from finalizing their budget. Im not sure how school districts are to get a budget put together when it is still unknown how much funding the state of Iowa is even going to be providing to educate each student in this state, said Senate Democratic leader Pam Jochum of Dubuque. Who's counting? A glimpse into the world of math teachers Who's counting? A glimpse into the world of math teachers Math teacher salary demographics Math teacher racial demographics Math teacher age demographics Math teacher gender demographics LINCOLN Nebraska lawmakers signed off on changing the structure of the state's tourism board Thursday along with passing more than a dozen other bills. Legislative Bill 624 would give the Department of Economic Development director a seat on the Nebraska Tourism Commission. The bill passed its final round of debate in a 41-1 vote. Introduced by State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, the bill would shift the commission from its current 11 members to 13 members, including the DED director and a representative of a state chamber of commerce. In an earlier debate, McDonnell said he offered the bill because he was displeased with the tourism slogan the commission selected five years ago: Nebraska. Honestly, its not for everyone. That same week, commission executive director John Ricks told lawmakers that the slogan was going to be dropped. Despite this, McDonnell said its important to improve communication between two agencies that handle similar issues. Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, the sole no vote on LB 624, previously said he would filibuster the bill on its second round of debate, though he never did. He has said he disagrees with the existing structure of the commission, but expressed doubt that McDonnell's bill would fix the issues he sees. The commission needs to represent more regions and perspectives in Nebraska, he said. Theres no diversity of thought, Wayne said in an earlier debate. Among the other bills passed Thursday: Adjutant general. The adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard could work another two years under LB 848, passed 44-0. The bill, introduced by Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, would allow the adjutant general to stay in that position until reaching 66 years old. Current law sets the age limit at 64. Amusement license. Pool halls, bowling alleys, roadhouses, dance halls, carnivals, shows, amusement parks and other places of public amusement outside of city limits would no longer have to get licenses from county government under LB 936. The bill, introduced by Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, passed 44-0. The current law dates to the 1930s. Licenses cost $10 in general but the pool halls and bowling alleys must pay $10 for each of the first three tables or lanes and $5 each for additional ones. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 DES MOINES In a rare legislative move, Iowa House Republicans on Thursday shelved their own bill designed to require fathers to financially support mothers for costs associated with pregnancy after Democrats pointed out what they believed to be serious legal issues with the proposal. As legislators debated the proposed legislation Thursday on the Iowa House floor, two Democratic state lawmakers, Rep. Brian Meyer, a lawyer from Des Moines, and Rep. Megan Srinivas, a doctor from Des Moines, said that based on their reading of the bill, it would allow for a man with ill intentions to force a pregnant woman to be subjected to an in utero paternity test without her consent. Such tests can threaten the health or even life of the fetus, Srinivas noted. What concerns me is mother, against her will, could be forced to have a big jab directly into her body, directly into the space where she is growing a child, at risk of losing the pregnancy without her consent, Srinivas said during debate. That doesnt sound like were respecting the mother or the child. Rep. John Wills, R-Spirit Lake, said the bill, House File 2363, was designed to hold fathers financially accountable through a mothers pregnancy. Once Srinivas completed her remarks, Republican House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, deferred on the bill, which removed it from floor debate while keeping it eligible for consideration later this session. Windschitl said later that based on concerns raised during debate, the bill will be put on pause while legislators consider ways to improve it. DES MOINES The potential legal impact of a legislative proposal to increase penalties for the nonconsensual termination of a pregnancy was the source of debate among state lawmakers Thursday at the Iowa Capitol. Republicans who proposed the bill said it merely heightens penalties for individuals whose actions cause a pregnancy to be terminated. Currently, nonconsensual termination of a pregnancy is a felony punished at different levels depending upon the circumstances under which the pregnancy was terminated. The bill increases those penalties to higher felony levels. This bill is very simple. It increases penalties for crimes that are ridiculous, killing a mother and or her unborn baby, Rep. Skyler Wheeler, R-Hull, said during debate. However, the bill also replaces in state law the terms human pregnancy with unborn person, and defines an unborn person as from fertilization to live birth. That is the provision that led Democrats to argue the bill could be legally applied to make in vitro fertilization illegal. In vitro fertilization is a fertility treatment by which a womans egg is combined with a mans sperm in a medical lab, and then planting those embryos in the womens uterus. The Mayo Clinic says it is the most effective fertility treatment. Democrats argued the proposed legislation could make IVF illegal because as part of the process, extra embryos are sometimes frozen, stored or discarded. They argued the bill does not sufficiently exempt fertility treatments. As written, this bill does not explicitly protect IVF and sets a precedent with new language of unborn person, Rep. Heather Matson, a Democrat from Ankeny, said during debate. For years many of us have made the case that legislation or judicial rulings for fetal personhood would potentially make IVF illegal. Democrats referred to a recent decision by the Alabama Supreme Court, which ruled that frozen embryos are children regardless of whether they are in or out of a uterus. Clinics in Alabama paused some of their services in the wake of the ruling. That states Republican governor signed a hastily passed bill Wednesday aimed at protecting IVF patients and providers there from legal liability. Mazie Stilwell, public affairs director for the political arm of the womens reproductive health care and abortion services provider Planned Parenthood, issued a statement criticizing the bill as reckless and Republicans for advancing it instead of tackling other health care issues. Republicans who control our state government want to continue their far-reaching, long-term strategy to undermine the rights and well-being of pregnant Iowans, Stilwells statement said. We will fight every step of the way to ensure Iowans have access to the essential health care they so desperately need. The bill, House File 2575, passed out of the Iowa House on a 58-36 vote, with only Republicans supporting and three Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition. The Republican no votes came from Reps. Mark Cisneros of Muscatine, Zach Dieken of Granville and Brian Lohse of Bondurant. With its passage out of the House, the bill is now eligible for consideration in the Iowa Senate. From the minute Lou (Kristen Stewart) catches a glimpse of Jackie (Katy OBrian) lifting weights at the gym where Lou works as a front-desk clerk, its overit being Lous formerly dull day-to-day existence as a lonely lesbian in a small New Mexico town, as well as the audiences last hope of maintaining a normal resting pulse. Within hours of first sharing a cigarette in the gyms parking lot, the two have hooked up, steamily, at Lous place. By the next morning, Jackie has all but moved in, and their amour is about to get very fou, very fast. The year is 1989, and thanks in part to the superstardom of Arnold Schwarzenegger, getting shredded is all the rage. Jackie, a drifter newly arrived in town, is an aspiring competitive bodybuilder whos already a champion at using her bodyits raw sexuality and brute strengthto get what she wants. She finds work as a waitress in the grubby restaurant of a shooting range on the outskirts of town after some transactional back-seat-of-the-car sex with the bosss son-in-law (Dave Franco), who also happens to be Lous much-loathed brother-in-law. Loathed, at least, by Lou: Lous sister Beth (Jena Malone) stands by her man despite the regular insults and beatings she endures at his hands, while their father, Lou Sr. (a menacing, extravagantly bewigged Ed Harris), tolerates his daughters ongoing abuse, claiming he is merely respecting Beths wishes by refusing to confront her husband. Lou Sr., we discover in a series of demonically red-lit flashbacks, is more than just a sexist gun-range owner. For decades hes been running guns across the border and in the areas criminal underworld, enabled by a local cop on the take and, for a time, assisted by his namesake daughter. Lou has been trying to steer clear of her dangerous dad and deadbeat brother-in-law, but her affair with Jackie brings her back into their orbit, with violent results for all concerned (not to mention several innocent bystanders). Soon it becomes clear that the very qualities that draw Lou so strongly to Jackieher ferocity, her righteous rage, her total lack of impulse controlare the ones that threaten to get them both thrown in jail or worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Love Lies Bleeding can claim cinematic kinship with a lot of movies past. Its a neo-noir lesbian romance a la Bound, a go-for-broke road movie in the tradition of Thelma and Louise, and, by moments, a work of surrealist body horror that pays homage to both David Cronenberg and David Lynch. The erotic close-ups on Jackies popping veins and oiled-up muscles even overtly reference the purple-pants-shredding transformations of Bruce Banner into the Incredible Hulk. But the result of all this remixing is neither a tired retread nor a hollow genre pastiche. Instead, this movie is its own thing, a proudly queer, stubbornly deranged romance with a self-assurance worthy of its steroid-shooting heroinesor are they antiheroines? Advertisement Director and co-writer Rose Glass, whose 2021 debut Saint Maud was a psychological horror film about a would-be religious mystic, goes in a completely different direction stylistically here, though both movies share a fascination with female self-transformation. Where Saint Maud, a claustrophobic two-hander set in a foggy seaside village in Northern England, was austere to the point of bleakness, Love Lies Bleeding is as gleefully maximalist as its setting in the wide-open American Southwest: Its jampacked with fantasy sequences, workout montages that segue seamlessly into raunchy sex scenes, and periodic eruptions of gore so shocking they had the audience I saw it with gasping and covering our eyes in near-comical unison. Advertisement The last hour of this less than two-hour movie makes for a relentless suspense ride as the couples crimes, and the local cops suspicions, start to add up. The doomed lovers, often filmed beneath a clear night sky as if to remind us of their star-crossed fate, make one bad choice after another, sometimes to avenge or protect each other, sometimes to save their own skins. The script, by Glass and Weronika Tofilska, disrupts the simplistic strong female lead stereotype by showing us a co-dependent relationship between two indisputably strong but deeply flawed and at times pathologically disturbed women. Advertisement Advertisement The events that befall Lou and Jackie in the final act grow ever less plausible as roid-fueled hallucinations and erotic fantasies start to interfere with their and our perception of external reality. But the dynamic that exists between the two feels real even to those of us who have never, say, left our partner behind to clean up a crime scene while we run off to Las Vegas to compete for a bodybuilding prize. Surely weve all felt from time to time like the one left behind with a bloody corpse and a bottle of Fantastik. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate How Kristen Stewart Went From Object of Mockery to Best Actress Nominee Read More Glass has said she wrote the role of Lou specifically for Kristen Stewart, who immediately accepted upon reading the scriptas she has said in conversation with the director, I thought, Who the hell else is going to play this role? Stewart does indeed seem born to play Lou, a lovesick enabler who both desires and resents her role as personal trainer, home chef, and, eventually, in-house crime fixer for the imperious, impetuous Jack (Lous androgynous nickname for her iron-pumping beloved). In the grand tradition of film-noir couples, these two together are far more dangerous than either one could be on her own, and the chemistry between Stewart and OBrian, a real-life bodybuilder found in an extensive talent search, is believably combustible. In a strange way, their twisted bond is a queerer and crueler variation on the one between the lead couple in the movie series that first catapulted Stewart to fame: the Twilight saga. Jacks physical strength, often shown by Glass as seen through Lous adoring eyes, is a kind of superhuman power; her dependence on her girlfriend is nothing if not vampiric, and Lou, for her part, desires nothing more than to exist in the orbit of Jacks glittering sun. Advertisement Advertisement Whether you consider this a threat or a promise, its important to go in knowing that on both the sex and violence fronts, Love Lies Bleeding goes extremely hard. There will be blunt-force trauma to the face, dead bodies disposed of in sickening ways, point-blank executionsand, on the sex side, kink play that runs the gamut from toe-sucking to fisting to something involving a strategically smoked cigarette. The film is sex-positive in that it posits pleasure and desire as necessary and life-giving forces, but its far from a feel-good ode to sapphic bliss. The final twist, which runs underneath the closing credits, is a grim joke that plays on the audiences expectations about Bonnie-and-Clyde-style stories of outlaw love. Its as if the question Glass wants to leave us asking is Be gay, do crime and then what? Advertisement Above all, for reasons that are hard to describe without sending the reader to see the film, which I would emphatically do, Love Lies Bleeding left me asking what Rose Glass will do next. Even when, in the second half, Glass occasionally seems to be pushing too hard for a visceral response (theres a gross-out moment involving Ed Harris character that edges, intentionally or no, toward Grand Guignol), the viewer always feels herself to be in the deft hands of a truly cinematic filmmaker. The crime plot, if at times far-fetched, never feels thrown together as a mere pretext for the action scenes: The characters choices flow directly from who they are, and Glass knows how to use pacing, framing, and music (the thrumming score by Clint Mansell invokes both sci-fi and pulpy exploitation flicks) to lock in the audiences attention. Wherever these two love-crazed lesbians poorly-thought-out plans take them, were along for the dizzying ride. The Heritage Foundation, an established conservative think tank that has committed more than $500,000 in support of Republican candidates so far in the 2024 cycle, is staunchly against recreational sex. In a 2023 post made by the organizations Twitter accountwhich is, of course, emblazoned with a gold checkmark, indicating its status as a verified organizationHeritage encourages its fellow partisans to restore sex to its true purpose, ending an age of mutual pleasure if its impetus is more carnal than procreative. This is a wild take, and in a saner age it would set you adrift in the political Arctic. But since 2016, the untoward freaks and weirdos of society have concentrated footholds of genuine electoral influence. Case in point: Two weeks ago, Christopher Rufo, a far-right activist best known for his elevation of the critical race theory debacle, affirmed Heritages position. He, too, believes in a post-sex world. Recreational sex is a large part of the reason we have so many single-mother households, which drives poverty, crime, and dysfunction, he wrote in a tweet that garnered 1.8 million views. The point of sex is to create childrenthis is natural, normal, and good. Rufo is not a fringe actor. He was a frequent guest on Tucker Carlsons Fox News show, and his keening anxiety about critical race theory singularly influenced Donald Trump to limit diversity training in some Washington bureaus near the end of his term and recently kicked off a plagiarism panic that led to the firing of Harvard President Claudine Gay. Given the former presidents prestigious record of philandering, it seems unlikely that Trump shares Rufos belief that orgasm must only ever be achieved in Christian solemnity. But there is no doubt that men like him are worryingly close to the levers of power. Rufo facsimiles are popping up everywhere you look: Late last year, the New Yorker reported that the powerful anti-LGTBQ+ legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom has won 15 Supreme Court cases, with the ultimate pursuit of banning the birth control pill nationwide. Simultaneously, Oklahoma Republicans have introduced laws bent on making the consumption of pornography a felony, while also outlawing sexting, a term so loosely defined and impossible to adjudicate that it makes me absolutely certain that those castrated state legislators have never engaged with the practice itself. Meanwhile, on YouTube, former alt-right luminariesyou know, the men who once considered themselves to be something like the edgy punk rock of conservatismare now claiming that OnlyFans, a digital storefront structured around independent sex work, will lead to the crumbling of Western civilization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This, my friends, is an opportunity. The Republicans have a number of advantages heading into November: They have successfully catalyzed the border issue with white nationalist vigor, and Trump has done his damnedest to hoodwink seemingly half the country to believe that the ballot counters in Georgia were compromised by the deep state. But if you are looking for an acute vulnerability in the ossifying MAGA field, start with the fact that Republicans have grown increasingly retrograde and cosmically weird about human intimacy. Its not just abortion they hate. Its sex too. The 2024 Republican platform is coming into view: If they had their way, nobody would be fucking. (And Im sorry: Several million years of evolution confirms that this will never be a popular position.) Biden needs at least one big-tent issue that can marginalize the ghouls on the extreme fringes, and at last, one has fallen into his lap. If Democrats want to win, they must become the party that loudly proclaims one simple truth: Sex is good, and furthermore, everyone should be doing it. Advertisement Like any candidate up for reelection, Biden must confront the social upheaval of his first term. He has done himself no favors with his support of Netanyahus sociopathic regime, and he was the top dog during an era in which LGBTQ+ rights have plummeted in so many states and Roe v. Wade evaporated before our very eyes. Thus far, to broaden his coalition and convince the American people that he deserves four more years, the president has structured the bulk of his stump around the idea that a vote for Trump is a vote for the terminus of American democracy. Thats obviously a worthy cause, but if youre going by the polls alone, its clear that that message isnt resonating in the way it needs to be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, I ask you to imagine the alternative. What if Biden took the stage at this years DNC with exactly one message in hand: The Democrats will protect your right to contraception, to pornography, to sexting someone you just met on Tinder, and to fuck whomever you want (consensually), for any conceivable reasonaimless boredom, debilitating horniness, post-breakup mania, and, yes, the desire to have a child? What if he made it clear that those rights are under assault by some of the most out-of-touch zealots in the country, and in November, we all have an opportunity to make them feel utterly diminished? What if he reiterated, over and over again, that weirdos like Chris Rufo are a core part of Trumps constituency, and as president, hed need to cater to their grotesque psychosexual asceticism? Who knows if it would guarantee Biden a spot in the White House, but hed certainly be speaking to a basic need shared by millions of Americans. After all, municipal limits on consenting adult sexual behavior are, in a word, evil. We need to be reminded of that far more than we currently are. Advertisement In Bidens defense, he has entertained some of those talking points. The resuscitation of Roe v. Wade, and the fears of a national abortion ban, is one of his most popular causes, and that alone is an issue tied up with a generational history of sexual freedom. But Bidens personal philosophy about abortion is often devastatingly out of touchevidence of long-gestating Catholic hesitancyand as a voter, he has exhibited deflating hedges on the issue. However, if youre analyzing Biden by some of his off-the-record comments, its clear that he, too, is a proponent of a passionate sexual culture. When COVID ushered the world into lockdown, Biden lamented the impact the pandemic would have on young peoples ability to make love. (Perhaps without realizing it, he was echoing a wealth of scholarship about the loneliness epidemic, rooted in a decline of person-to-person intimacy among young people.) More recently, a book published about the lineage of first ladies quoted Bidens belief that a long-lasting marriage requires good sex, an old cliche that has become increasingly radical in todays cloistered environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether he realizes it or not, Biden has his finger on the pulse. Ninety-four percent of Democrats support legislation guaranteeing a right to contraception, compared to a whopping 68 percent of Republicans. To be 81 years old is to be alienated from so many vectors of popular culture, but on this issueand perhaps this issue alonethe president is one of us. So please, Joe Biden, shout your truth from the mountaintops. Unanimity is hard to come by in this world, but if nothing else, surely we can agree that all types of consensual, adult sex are fun and normal. Let us come together. Literally. Its unusual for a president to start and finish a State of the Union Address on foreign policy, but Joe Biden had a purposesubstantive, political, and electoralin doing just that. He swung right into it, no throat-clearing bromides. His opening line: In January 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt came to this chamber to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary moment. Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world. Tonight, Biden went on, I come to the same chamber to wake up this Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either, and, unlike in FDRs time, freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas at the very same time. Advertisement Vladimir Putins Russia is on the march, and if he sweeps through Ukraine, he wont stop there. Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs, but assistance to Ukraine is being blocked by those who want to walk away from our world leadershipthose people being Donald Trump (referred to as my predecessor) and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who, at Trumps urging, is blocking a Ukraine aid bill from coming to the floor for a vote. My message to Putin: We will not walk away, we will not bow down, Biden bellowed. I will not bow down. Then Biden moved into the Jan. 6 insurrectiona dagger at the throat of American democracyand the Republicans who seek to bury the truth about what happened on that day and the need to defend against all threats, foreign and domestic. And there was the theme: The world is dangerous in a way we havent seen since World War II. American democracy is threatened in a way unseen since the Civil War. And in both spheres, the Republicans are walking away, but I, Joe Biden, will do what needs to be done. Advertisement Then, at the end of the speechafter delivering a forceful defense of womens rights, a fairer tax code, and his administrations record on the economy, crime, and health care (all of which he linked to various forms of freedom)he returned to foreign affairs. After repeating his position on the Middle East (support for Israel but insistence that Israel do more to aid Palestinian civilians and to negotiate toward a two-state solution), he concluded where he started, with Franklin Roosevelt. This time he drew an explicit link between himself and FDR, aiming to turn his chief electoral liabilityhis ageinto a strength. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know I dont look like it, but Ive been around for a while, he said, provoking a laugh (so the camera showed) from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. I was born amid World War II, when America stood for freedom in the world. He segued into a precis of his political life, starting when he was a 29-year-old senator. In my career, he said, Ive been told Im too young and Im too old. Whether young or old, Ive always known what endures. Ive known our North Star, the very idea of America. Weve never fully lived up to that idea, but weve never walked away from it either. And I wont walk away from it now. Advertisement It was a clever, at times brilliant speech, celebrating freedom at home and abroad, presenting himself as the defender of both, and his predecessor (along with those who do his bidding in Congress) as a threat to bothand then, as a capper, not only acknowledging but touting his age as the marker of his experience, his firsthand familiarity with the nations values worth fighting for. Related From Slate Much Ado About Bidens Ice Cream Read More Finally, he delivered the speech forcefully. This, of course, was the big mystery going into the speechwhether Biden would make it through without stuttering, stumbling, freezing, possibly fainting. Some pundits had even wondered whether he might surprise everyone by announcing that he was dropping out of the race and looking forward to a spirited contest among the many worthy members of his party. If nothing else, this speech should torpedo the doddering-old-man meme that has plagued Biden these past few months in headlines, talk shows, and polls. Whether or not the speech has any impact on U.S. policy toward Ukraine, China, the Middle East, or the worlds other hot spots, the debate over whether Biden should run for reelectionwhether hes too old and dispiritedis, or anyway should be, over. As we manage challenges at home, were also managing crises abroad, including in the Middle East, President Joe Biden said during his State of the Union address on Thursday night. He presented a timeline of events beginning on Oct. 7: a massacre by Hamas; 1,200 slaughtered, sexual violence endured; the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust; hostages taken. There were family members of some of the hostages sitting there as he spoke. Israel has a right to go after Hamas, he said, and Hamas could end this conflict by releasing the hostages and surrendering those responsible, and Hamas, he said, has an added burden, because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population. But, he added, Israel also has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. And here, too, he ran through the destruction: tens of thousands of innocent people killed; children orphaned; millions displaced; people starving. And he described what the United States was planning on doing about it: pushing for a six-week cease-fire and directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters. Israel had to allow more aid in, he said, and humanitarian assistance isnt a bargaining chip. He concluded the section by arguing that the only solution for Israelis, Palestinians, the region, and America is a two-state solution. Advertisement One can see what Biden was trying to do, as it was what he often tries to do: hold the centerone expansive enough for Democrats, independents, and perhaps even some Republicansby supporting traditional American foreign policy and support for Israel while also considering human rights, peace, and stability. He was putting forth a vision in which the status quo makes sense. Perhaps he was also trying to communicate that U.S. support for Israel in this war fits within his broader program of preserving liberal democracy and upholding multilateralism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Biden Turned His Biggest Weakness Into His Strength at the State of the Union Read More The problem with all of this is that, thus far, Israel has not protected civilians in Gaza, and families of hostages are themselves protesting the Israeli government. Israel does appear to be using humanitarian assistance as a bargaining chip, so much so that the United States is now building a port to get aid in. (Responding to the speech, the International Rescue Committee said in an emailed statement, Palestinians in Gaza need a sustained ceasefire and they need it now. A temporary pier that could take weeks to construct or airdrops are not a solution.) And Israeli leadership has said, repeatedly, that it will not allow a Palestinian state. And all of this is being done with American financial and diplomatic support. Advertisement Biden described himself as a lifelong supporter of Israel. But the Israel he is supporting in theorythe Israel that would support a Palestinian state if it could, that prizes civilian life over alland the very real Israel, led by the real Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is widely believed by his own citizens to be invested in prolonging this war for domestic political purposes, are not the same. To listen to this speech was to wonder: If this war is deadlier than all other wars in Gaza combined, as Biden pointed out, why is the United States blocking cease-fire resolutions at the United Nations? If Israel is using humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip, why is the United States in turn not conditioning military aid to Israel? And if the only solution is a two-state solution, why is Biden providing his support to a leader who has repeatedly said he will never allow one to be created? If U.S. policy works under the conditions that Biden outlined, and those conditions are not being metwhat, then, of the policy? Advertisement Advertisement Increasingly, this is the position many are coming toincluding both those who were staunch supporters of a cease-fire from the first days of the war and, increasingly, those who originally supported Bidens policy toward Israel and the war. The pro-Israel, pro-peace advocacy group J Street and the Reconstructionist movement (a politically and religiously progressive movement of Judaism established in the United States in the early 20th century that understands Judaism as the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people) recently joined calls for a cease-fire, signing on to a letter that read, We firmly believe there is no military solution to this conflict. Haaretz recently shared that, on Oct. 23, 75 percent of subscribers polled supported Bidens Israel policy; earlier this month, that number was down to 31 percent. They supported the war at the beginning. Perhaps they supported the war in theory. But they have found themselves no longer able to support the war as it is actually being carried out. Advertisement Israels war has the potential to be a major political issue for Biden this November. Before the State of the Union, his motorcade was blocked by anti-war protesters on its way to the Capitol. His staff is reportedly planning events to minimize the chance that hes protested. Some members of Congress held up signs calling for a cease-fire during the address. But the issue is not going to simply go away. Nor is it going to change based on what Biden might want it to be. Bidens speech should have reflected the war as it is, not as he hopes it might be. His policy should, too. Understanding how to prepare for a wildfire is extremely important for businesses, particularly in areas where these devastating fires are a real threat. The speed at which wildfires spread can catch many off guard, posing significant risks to physical assets, operations, and employee safety. A comprehensive preparedness plan is not just a safety measure but a business necessity. In this article, well navigate through the steps and strategies to mitigate these risks and keep your business resilient in the face of natures fury. Understanding the Risks of Wildfires to Businesses Wildfires dont just threaten homes; they pose a serious risk to businesses too. The impact of a wildfire on a business can be multifaceted, ranging from direct to indirect consequences. Lets break down these risks: Direct Damage: The most immediate and visible impact is the physical damage to your business premises. This includes destruction or harm to the building, equipment, products, and other tangible assets. Operational Disruptions: Even if a wildfire doesnt directly hit your business, the repercussions can still be severe. Evacuation orders, road closures, or utility outages can halt business operations unexpectedly. This disruption can lead to loss of revenue, delays in service delivery, and can strain customer relationships. Effects of Smoke: The impact of smoke is often underestimated. Smoke can travel far from the fire source, affecting air quality and visibility. This can pose health risks to employees, disrupt outdoor operations, and even damage sensitive equipment or inventory, such as electronics or perishable goods. Developing a Wildfire Emergency Preparedness Plan Key Element Description Risk Assessment Assess business's specific risk exposure to wildfires, including location, environment, and vulnerabilities. Emergency Procedures Outline procedures for wildfire response, including initial steps, evacuation protocols, and securing assets. Communication Plan Establish a strategy to keep employees informed before, during, and after a wildfire. Employee Training Regular training on the plan, including fire safety, evacuation drills, and first aid. Business Continuity Strategies Develop strategies to maintain or resume operations during/after a wildfire, like remote work, backup suppliers, or alternate locations. Review and Update Regularly review and update the plan to reflect new risks, business changes, or past experiences. A Wildfire Emergency Preparedness Plan is not just a document; its a roadmap to safety and continuity. Businesses must proactively craft this plan, which serves two critical purposes: ensuring the safety of employees and minimizing operational disruptions. Collaborating with local authorities and emergency services is key to creating an effective and comprehensive plan. Heres how to get started: Risk Assessment: Begin by assessing your businesss specific risk exposure to wildfires. This includes evaluating your location, surrounding environment, and any particular vulnerabilities your business may have. Emergency Procedures: Clearly outline the procedures to follow in case of a wildfire. This should include initial response steps, evacuation protocols, and processes for securing critical assets. Communication Plan: Establish a reliable communication strategy to keep employees informed. This should detail how you will disseminate information before, during, and after a wildfire. Employee Training: Regularly train your staff on the plan. This includes fire safety training, evacuation drills, and first aid. Business Continuity Strategies: Develop strategies to maintain or quickly resume critical operations during and after a wildfire. This could involve remote working setups, backup suppliers, or alternate locations. For more comprehensive strategies, consider developing a business continuity plan tailored to your businesss unique needs and challenges. Review and Update: Wildfire preparedness is not a one-time task. Regularly review and update your plan to reflect new risks, changes in the business, or lessons learned from past experiences. Identifying and Marking Evacuation Routes In the chaos of a wildfire, clear evacuation routes can be the difference between safety and peril. Businesses need to: Identify Multiple Routes: Map out multiple evacuation routes from your business premises. Wildfires can change direction quickly, so having alternatives is crucial. Clear Signage: Install clear, visible signs directing people to the evacuation area. In times of panic, these signs can guide employees to safety. Accessibility: Ensure that evacuation routes are accessible to all employees, including those with disabilities. Practice Drills: Regular evacuation drills can help employees familiarize themselves with these routes, reducing confusion during an actual emergency. Installing a Portable Air Cleaner for Wildfire Smoke Mitigation During wildfires, indoor air quality can deteriorate rapidly due to smoke, even at considerable distances from the fire. Portable air cleaners are essential tools for businesses to: Reduce Health Risks: They help in filtering out particulate matter and harmful toxins present in wildfire smoke, protecting the health of employees. Maintain Operational Efficiency: Good air quality can help maintain a conducive working environment, ensuring operational efficiency is not compromised. Choosing the Right Air Cleaner: Select an air cleaner that is appropriate for the size of your space and is effective against the types of pollutants present in wildfire smoke. Setting Up an Emergency Alert System Timely information can save lives in a wildfire. An effective emergency alert system should: Utilize Multiple Platforms: Leverage technology by using SMS, emails, social media, and internal communication systems to disseminate alerts. Regular Testing: Regularly test the system to ensure it works when needed and that employees are familiar with it. Clear Messaging: Ensure that alerts are clear, concise, and contain actionable advice. Post-Wildfire Communication: The system should also be used for post-wildfire updates, informing employees about the status of the business and any necessary recovery steps. Preparing for a Wildfire Evacuation When a wildfire threatens, being prepared for evacuation can make all the difference. Heres what businesses should consider: Disaster Supply Kit: Pack essential items such as non-perishable food, water, flashlights, a first-aid kit, batteries, and important documents. Also, include items specific to your business needs. Securing the Premises: Before evacuating, ensure all utilities are turned off and windows and doors are securely closed. Move flammable items away from windows and exterior walls. Employee Safety: Ensure that all employees are accounted for and understand the evacuation plan. Have a designated meeting point outside the danger zone. Transportation Plan: Organize a transportation plan for employees, especially for those who might not have personal vehicles. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of the latest updates from local authorities and communicate these to all employees. Its also crucial to understand how to prepare your business for a natural disaster, as the principles can be similar across different types of emergencies. Training Employees on Wildfire Preparedness Regular training on wildfire strikes is essential in ensuring that employees know how to respond during a wildfire: Evacuation Procedures: Regular drills will help employees remember the evacuation route and procedures. First Aid Training: Basic first aid knowledge can be vital during a wildfire, especially if emergency services are delayed. Smoke Safety: Educate employees about the dangers of smoke and measures to protect themselves, including the use of N95 masks. Fire Extinguisher Use: Teach employees how to use fire extinguishers correctly. Stay Updated: Ensure employees are aware of how to stay informed about wildfire threats and updates. Protecting Business Assets and Data Safeguarding your businesss physical and digital assets is a critical aspect of wildfire preparedness: Fire-Resistant Materials: Use fire-resistant materials for critical areas of your business premises. Offsite Backups: Regularly backup critical data to offsite locations or cloud services. Fireproof Safes: Store important documents and hard drives in fireproof safes. Insurance Coverage: Review and update your insurance policies to ensure adequate coverage for wildfire damage. Inventory Documentation: Keep an updated inventory of assets for insurance purposes. Collaborating with Local Fire Departments and Emergency Services Working with local authorities enhances your preparedness: Stay Updated: Regularly communicate with local fire departments for the latest wildfire emergency alerts and risk assessments. Guidance and Resources: Leverage their expertise to refine your wildfire preparedness plan and training sessions that would also help you to evacuate quickly. Community Meetings: Attend community meetings on wildfire safety to stay informed and build relationships with local emergency services. Compliance with Regulations: Ensure your business complies with local fire safety regulations and guidelines which should also include escape routes in case of a fire. Post-Wildfire Recovery and Business Continuity After a wildfire, the journey towards recovery and resuming normal operations can be challenging. Here are key strategies to navigate this phase: Damage Assessment: Conduct a thorough assessment of your premises to determine the extent of the damage. Document everything for insurance purposes. Insurance Claims: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to start the claims process. Provide detailed documentation of damages and losses. Resuming Operations: Develop a phased approach to resume operations, starting with critical business functions. Communicate transparently with customers and suppliers about your status and expected timelines. Employee Support: Offer support to employees affected by the wildfire, including flexible work arrangements and mental health resources. Coordination with Local Authorities: Work with local authorities to understand any ongoing safety concerns and to ensure compliance with post-disaster regulations. This is also a good opportunity to review your strategies for preparing your business for a winter disaster, as different seasons can bring different challenges. Review and Learn: Use this experience to review and improve your wildfire preparedness and business continuity plans. FAQs: How to Prepare for a Wildfire How frequently should wildfire evacuation drills be conducted? Wildfire evacuation drills should be conducted at least annually to ensure everyone is able to evacuate quickly. If your business is in a high-risk area, consider more frequent drills, such as semi-annually. Regular drills ensure employees remain familiar with evacuation procedures. What are the best practices for data and asset protection against wildfires? To protect data and assets: Regularly back up data offsite or on cloud services. Dangerous fires spread quickly. Use fire-resistant materials and safes for important documents and hardware. Keep an updated inventory of assets for insurance and recovery purposes. For appropriate safety measures, review and enhance insurance coverage to include wildfire damage. How should flammable materials and propane tanks be stored to reduce wildfire risks? Flammable materials and propane tanks should be stored in a secure, ventilated area, away from main business premises and potential ignition sources that could make dangerous fires spread quickly. Ensure they are easily accessible for quick removal in case of evacuation. Regularly inspect storage areas for appropriate safety measures. ANNAPOLIS (March 7, 2024)Maryland lawmakers this session are debating their possible role in funding a high-speed rail project from Washington, D.C. to New York City, with some convinced the answer is clear: the state shouldn't have any role at all. Those who back the project continue to push for the construction of the Northeast Maglev, a high-speed rail that would run through Maryland on its course through the northeast. But some Maryland lawmakers vow they won't let the state pay for one inch of it. Del. Nicole Williams, D-Prince George's, sponsored the measure this year that would have prohibited any state funding for the project, even though none has yet been requested. "I felt like this project should not be built with their taxpayer money," said Williams. "It's a funding issue. It's also an impact issue of the communities that it will traverse through." Maglev supporters consider it silly to debate a bill that would outlaw funding that no one has asked for. Williams' no-funding bill is currently stalled in committee, leading some Maglev fans to conclude a majority of the Maryland General Assembly is supportive of their high-speed rail project. "I think the fact that the bill has been turned down (several) times tells you that it's not something that the General Assembly supports," said Wayne Rogers, Chairman and CEO of the Northeast Maglev project. Similar measures have been introduced since 2021. For years, the U.S. has debated the idea of a high-speed rail system like the Northeast Maglev that would travel from New York City to Washington D.C. in just an hour. Maryland's leg of the trip would allow passengers to travel between Washington DC and Baltimore in just fifteen minutes, as opposed to the hour it currently takes. High-speed transit is a popular concept, in theory. Some 63% of Americans said they would use high-speed trains if they were available in the U.S., according to a 2015 study by the American Public Transportation Association. However, decades since the idea was first proposed, little progress has been made in constructing these high-speed railways. Lawmakers and advocates disagree about what's preventing the project from making headway, though. In the 1970s, Robert Embry, the former Baltimore Housing commissioner, was invited to Japan to study their new railroad technology known as magnetic levitation, a step up from bullet trains. Embry came back home and promoted the Maglev project in its earliest days. "My view was that America's ground transportation was inadequate and too slow and that this was the new technology," Embry told Capital News Service. Embry said that even today, this sort of high-speed rail could have a "significant benefit" to Maryland, encouraging tourism and commercial growth in Baltimore. Connecting Washington and Baltimore via high-speed rail may not be so simple, though. First, getting federal funding requires an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), said Embry. This comes from Maryland residents concerned with the project's alignment and whether it travels through their communities. Funding issues aren't the sole reason the Maglev project hasn't broken ground yet, according to Rogers, the Maglev CEO. The project has to go through a "review and approval process with 30 federal, state and local agencies" before it can get permitted. The Maglev project, which would run completely underground, would give commuters the opportunity to travel between Washington and Baltimore without the use of crowded roadways, Rogers said. "We're not 10 years behind on our infrastructure, we're 50 years behind," he said. "If we don't do something, we're drowning in congestion. We're eliminating economic opportunities because we can't even connect two cities that are 30 miles apart." As it stands, the Maglev project would not rely at all on state funding; it would be solely funded by Japanese private enterprise and U.S. government loan and grant programs. However, Maglev officials say they don't want to rule out the possibility if the project faces funding concerns in the future. "While this project is not immediately requesting dollars from the state, the conversation is about the possibility ofin the futurethe state supporting the project financially," said Maglev advocate Adrian Harpool of the Maryland Minority Business Counts Initiative. Supporters of the project emphasized the need to keep improving transit options in Maryland. "The bill would signal that the state is closed to innovative, future-oriented solutions to worsening transportation challenges," said Ian Rainey, senior vice president of the Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail. While a high-speed rail might be needed in some parts of the U.S., some question whether it's necessary in Maryland. The sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, Sen. Alonzo T. Washington, D- Prince George's, said there are opportunities for high-speed rail elsewhere in the country, but he opposes the project in Maryland. "It is not needed. We believe the MARC train is doing exactly what this project is trying to do," Washington said in the Senate bill hearing. Del. Williams said she plans to keep bringing up her no-funding bill until it passes. "I will continue to fight for this issue." A box of Narcan nasal spray, the opioid-reversing medication that has been approved for over-the-counter use, sits on a pharmacy counter on Feb. 22, 2024. (Photo: Sapna Bansil) ANNAPOLIS (March 7, 2024)Jackson Taylor remembers when a peer passed out from an overdose across from his high school. He knows friends who have struggled with addiction. One has been in and out of rehab.Those experiences help explain why the Rockville High School senior now trains his peers on how to administer naloxone, a lifesaving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. They're why he carries naloxone at school and why he wants all districts to let their students do the same."It's just like a student having a heart attack," said Taylor, who runs a student task force on drug and opioid issues in Montgomery County. "It might be rare, but on the off chance it happens, you want to be able to save them and help them."Currently, a disparate and ambiguous set of district-level policies has created confusion on the role students may play in preventing opioid deaths among their peers. But a bill before the Maryland General Assembly aims to provide a clear and uniform set of standards. The measure, HB 1268, would explicitly authorize students across the state to possess and administer naloxonealso known by its brand name, Narcanas adolescent opioid deaths surge and teens lobby for urgent solutions.While the practice is already permitted for students in Montgomery County, others have gotten punished for carrying naloxone in school, according to the bill's sponsor, Del. Joe Vogel, D-Montgomery."We know that our student populations are uniquely vulnerable when it comes to [the opioid] issue," Vogel said. "And this [bill] is, to me, a common-sense step to say, 'Hey, you should not be punished for carrying naloxone with you in a school hallway, and you should not be punished for saving a classmate's life if they're overdosing.'"At a hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, Taylor, 18, was among those who testified in support of the measure. So, too, did Maryland's Special Secretary of Opioid Response, Emily Keller, an indication that the bill has the backing of Gov. Wes Moore's administration."Empowering people and giving them the tools necessary to help is a vital strategy, especially with young people," Keller said in her testimony. "Making naloxone accessible with every Marylander is one of our priorities because we know it's the number one life-saving tool."The bill responds to an alarming national trend: Between 2018 and 2022, adolescent deaths from opioids quadrupled, according to an analysis by KFF.The rise in overdoses has coincided with two factors, said Patricia Kapunan, the medical director for Montgomery County Public Schools. One is the use of social media to market pills without a prescription. The other is the rise of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is being mixed with illegal drugs, often unbeknownst to the user and with deadly effects.In 2021, fentanyl was involved in nearly four times as many fatal overdoses among young people in Maryland as the next deadliest drug, cocaine, according to the state's Vital Statistics Administration."Suddenly, [fentanyl] is showing up everywhere, and suddenly one pill can kill," Kapunan said.In response to the opioid crisis, lawmakers have mandated that school districts take preventive actions. The Start Talking Maryland Act of 2017 required public schools to teach kids about the dangers of opioids and have naloxone available on campuses. It also authorized nurses and other health and school personnel to administer the medication in overdose emergencies.Most districts have not extended the same permission to students. In Cecil County, students are not necessarily punished for possessing naloxone, according to director of student and school safety John Roush. But "they would be talked to by their school administration about it and informed that we don't have a policy for [them] to carry that in schools," he said.Roush thinks the bill is a good idea and may help save lives, though he anticipates challenges with implementation and logistics."We have over 15,000 kids in our system here," he said. "How do you get Narcan out? How do you get information out? How do you make them educated on the use? How do you make them aware? It seems like there would be a lot of time and details to be worked out in that regard."While the bill requires schools to educate students about the benefits of naloxone, it does not specifically address one major logistical consideration: training kids on how to dispense the medication.Available over the counter as a nasal spray, Narcan must be administered by tilting the person's head back and firmly pressing the plunger. Because the medication's effects are temporary and overdose symptoms may return, it is critical that the individual providing Narcan also call 911 and seek medical aid.To the American Medical Association, the benefits of expanding naloxone access in schools still outweigh the risks. Following a debate on the issue, the group approved a resolution last year encouraging "states, communities and educational settings to remove barriers to students carrying safe and effective overdose reversal medications.""Narcan saves people quickly, and lack of Narcan kills people quickly," said Kenneth Certa, an AMA delegate from the American Psychiatric Association, which co-sponsored the policy. "When somebody is turning blue and cold, you don't have much time. And to wait until a dose gets from another part of the building can be too late."In Montgomery County, which saw a 78% spike in youth overdoses from 2021 to 2022, a policy permitting students to carry naloxone took effect on May 1, 2023.Kapunan, who crafted the measure, said students were never punished for possessing overdose-reversing medications and were already protected under good samaritan laws if they acted in an emergency. But teen advocates nonetheless pressed for a policy change that eliminated ambiguity and codified their right to intervene."Those levels of permission were really important to students," Kapunan said. "For me, it was a very small part of the regulation. For them, it was hugely empowering."Kapunan says the policy does not mean schools are depending on kids to save lives. During the 2022-23 school year, naloxone was dispensed on school grounds in Montgomery County 18 times, almost always by nurses. Since the policy change, there have been no known instances of a student administering naloxone to a peer at school.But to supporters, the measure remains an important preventive step, permitting those in closest proximity to an overdose to act without fear of repercussion."Students know before the teachers do, is the truth," Taylor said. "I'm a lot more likely to know, 'Hey, my friend has a pill in his bag that he's thinking about taking, and it could have a repercussion' than a teacher would know."Vogel, who is running for the open U.S. congressional seat in Maryland's 6th District, said expanding policies like the one in Montgomery County has become a necessity. Six months ago, he met with student leaders who spoke to the urgency of the opioid crisis and their desire to help address it."A lot of them have taken matters into their own hands," Vogel said. "A number of them have stepped up and said, 'We want to get trained on how to administer naloxone, and we want to be able to carry naloxone.' That's what this bill is in response to." ANNAPOLIS (March 6, 2024)Lawmakers are moving toward consensus on changes to Maryland's juvenile justice system, discussing how to address crime by children ages 10 to 12 and get them into rehabilitation programs that can help. The House and Senate have each passed their own version in this effort, and lawmakers are now turning to the task of agreeing on a shared solution. The main point of contention between the two bills now is whether kids who are being shielded from prosecution should go to programs without Department of Juvenile Services involvement or, instead, go into a DJS process that would play out in court. "I think that what it comes down to is both sides want to find some way prior to the child being put directly into DJS, of having a stop on the way before that happens," said Del. Luke Clippinger, D-Baltimore City, co-sponsor of the House bill. Sen. Will Smith, D-Montgomery, co-sponsor in the Senate, said that in discussions to agree on a single bill, lawmakers will "do whatever makes sense to ensure that, obviously, our youth have the supports to succeed and public safety is upheld." But as the measures advance, they also differ on the crimes that would trigger mandatory rehabilitation. The House bill would give kids accused of auto theft or firearms violations for the first time a chance to avoid court by participating in a so-called "diversion program" chosen by the arresting officer. Such a program is meant to offer services and divert a child from entering the juvenile justice system. The Senate bill would send kids accused of auto theft for the first time to court through an existing DJS procedure, known as the "Child in Need of Supervision" process. In current law, when law enforcement or a member of the public reports someone as a Child in Need of Supervision, a DJS intake officer can decide whether to refer the young person to services or file a "CINS petition" in court. A CINS petition asks the judge to assess the case and decide on an appropriate intervention. The amended Senate bill would require the filing of a petition in court, but only in cases of children under 13 accused of auto theft for the first time. While a judge could choose from a range of options in such casessuch as community-based services, a substance abuse rehabilitation program or an out-of-home placementincarceration would not be on the table. And if a child did not complete the rehabilitation, the judge could recall them to court. Both bills would require police to file a written report with DJS when they refer a young person to services or take them into custody. The CINS petition required in the Senate bill would also create a written record in a child's case history. Smith said that by requiring an intake officer to send children before a judge, the Senate bill will allow children "to have the ability to get services and support, but there will be a level of accountability there." Both bills would specify that if a child repeats the same offense a second time, they could be sent to court with the possibility of incarceration. Clippinger said he's "happy to hear more from the Senate" but that creating a separate CINS process for children ages 10 to 12 accused of auto theft could create confusion. Some youth advocates are still skeptical. "Only one diversion for a kid who's 10, 11 or 12 is not going to solve the problem of whether they're competent to stand trial," said Kimber Watts, attorney in the Forensic Mental Health Division at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. When a young person is charged with a crime, they undergo a process to determine whether they are "competent" to understand the court proceedings. During this process, they can only receive services to help them attain competency. In cases when children are ruled incompetent, Watts said, "then we're high and dry, and we can't get them whatever it is they need." Both versions of the bill moved through their chambers with largely favorable votes, with support from Democrats and Republicans. Sen. William Folden, R-Frederick, said that while the Senate bill wasn't "as far-reaching as we would like to have had," it would help hold kids accountable for their rehabilitation. "That's an important component, being able to have that recall authority of the judge to say that their sentencing and their guidelines have some teeth," Folden said. Neither bill would change a 2022 law that bars police from interrogating minors before they have consulted with an attorney. "There are parents that want law enforcement to be in contact with their child and say, 'Listen, you're going down a bad path. Don't do this. This is why,'" said Folden. "That type of candid dialogue is now gone because the officer can't talk (with the young person) even with parental consent." RICHMOND, Va. (March 7, 2024)State lawmakers around the United States concerned about the integrity of elections ahead of the 2024 presidential vote have proposed and enacted a significant number of laws regarding voting rights and ballot access.In the shadow of the 2020 presidential election, states enacted more "restrictive" and "expansive" laws related to voting in 2021 and 2023 individually than in any other years in the last decade, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Because of this, voters in 27 states will face new requirements that weren't in place when they voted in 2020.From outlawing guns in polling places to proposing bills that require the identification of people who deliver advanced ballots on behalf of others, states across the country continue to consider new legislation that modifies the voting process, and imposes new regulations on ballot counting, absentee and early voting, polling places and election workers."Generally among legislators at the state and national level, concerns about voter fraud have become more pronounced," said David Kimball, a political science professor at University of Missouri-St. Louis.Kimball said this sort of legislation has increased since the 2020 election, after then-President Donald Trump made accusations that electronic voting equipment was making mistakes.For example, at least 13 bills to regulate or ban electronic ballot tabulators were introduced in eight states this year, including Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and West Virginia, according to Voting Rights Lab data.Pending legislation in Missouri proposes that all ballots should be cast on paper and hand counted. The bill outlaws the use of automatic tabulating equipment and voting machines, except those needed for accessibility purposes. More than 90% of U.S. election jurisdictions use ballot tabulators, according to the nonprofit Bipartisan Policy Center.Ballot-counting scanners are widely used in states like Missouri even though people still vote on paper ballots, Kimball said. Counties will hand-count a random sample of ballots to ensure it matches up with the machines."It's not like they're relying entirely on the scanners," Kimball said. "In big, big counties with hundreds of thousands of voters and ballots counted by hand, it's going to take time and can be very frustrating and prone to errors."How advanced voting and absentee ballots are handled is a hot-button topic.Mail-in, advanced and absentee voting are under scrutiny in many states, including Florida, Kansas, Missouri, and Virginia.According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 28 states offer "no-excuse" absentee voting, where voters can request and cast an absentee or mail ballot with no excuse or reason necessary.Florida allows "no excuse" absentee voting, but Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, tried to change that. Ingoglia proposed SB 1752, which would allow voters to cast mail ballots only if they couldn't vote in person because they were out of town during an election, hospitalized or in jail. A similar measure was introduced in Virginia, but also failed to advance.Ballot drop-off in several states is subject to change, too.One Kansas bill sparked controversy during its February hearing. HB 2572 mandates personal delivery of a ballot and requires individuals to have their pictures taken and their information recorded when delivering advance voting ballots on behalf of others. Detractors nicknamed this the "mugshot bill." Despite many claiming that absentee ballot voter fraud is negligible, there are documented cases which reached the judicial level. In 2023 a judge ordered a new mayoral primary in Bridgeport, CT after a city employee was caught on video stuffing envelopes into absentee ballot drop boxes on multiple occasions [ youtu.be/cRE7NJdIrBI?si=sTzNj6ArH-8eIWD2&t=36 ]. In 2020, 4 people were indicted in Gregg County, Texas for illegally obtaining mail-in ballots for people without their permission and used them to sway the 2018 primary election in favor of their candidate [ www.youtube.com/watch?v=stZtdiJw9Eo ].In Florida, the Republican-led State Affairs Committee proposed a bill that would limit the number of ballot drop-off locations during early voting periods across the state.Florida's Republican-controlled legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis previously banned official ballot drop-off boxes that aren't physically guarded at all times when they're available, which made it more expensive for county election administrators and reduced the number of drop-off locations.Separately, Florida Republicans required voters to request a new ballot before every election. Before the change, a voter could receive a mail ballot by making a single request every four years. Far more Democrats in Florida cast ballots by mail and during early voting periods, while Republicans tend to show up on Election Day.Polling places and election workers around the country are facing new rules, too.New Mexico's Senate recently passed a bill, SB 5, that makes bringing a loaded or unloaded gun within 100 feet of a polling place's door while voting takes place a misdemeanor.SB 5 specifies that law enforcement and concealed carry permit holders are two exceptions. Some conservatives and rural Democrats opposed the bill, and it passed the state House by a single vote.New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has until March 6 to sign the bill, which she is expected to do.The Virginia General Assembly recently passed a similar measure proposed by Del. Irene Shin, D-Fairfax. The bill passed both chambers on party-line votes, but still faces a Republican governor.In Missouri, SB 926 would expand the regulation of exit polling, sampling and electioneering to apply not only to polling places on Election Day, but during the absentee voting period as well.The bill would also create the offense of "tampering with an election official," which includes harassing, intimidating or deceiving an election official or their family members. Committing the offense could result in imprisonment and a $2,500 to $10,000 fine."On the safety side, this is something I think has become an increasing concern since 2020: threats to election workers," Kimball said, adding, "that's spurred, I think, some legislators to propose measures to increase safety."To alleviate staffing gaps at polling stations, Kansas considered a bill to broaden the pool of eligible poll workers. Kansas HB 2616 would expand eligibility to include active military members, their spouses or dependents and full-time college students regardless of residency or registered voter status."The best way to improve voter confidence is to have them be a poll worker," Kansas Rep. Pat Proctor, R-Fort Leavenworth, told the committee. "When you actually see how the process works and all the safeguards that are in place, it really does make you think there is no way to corrupt this. The more people we can get to participate the better."At least 240 bills that would change early voting availability in 41 states were introduced, and some enacted, since January 2023, according to Voting Rights Lab data.For example, as a response to the poll worker staffing shortage, Kansas HB 2512 would mandate at least four hours of early voting on the Saturday before the election starting this year and then take away the Monday in-person early voting period starting in 2025.Texas HB 1217, which went into effect Sept. 1, aims to standardize voting hours for rural and urban communities by requiring all counties to offer extended early voting hours.According to an analysis of the bill, inconsistent voting times between counties meant residents in rural counties had "less time to vote than if they lived in a metropolitan area." Polling locations in most metropolitan areas already operated under extended early voting hours.Additionally, Texans from rural parts of the state can expect to see more polling locations with longer hours this election cycle.Nearly 90 counties, most of them rural, are a part of the state's Countywide Polling Place Program, which allows residents from any precinct in the county to vote at any location. The program, which counties voluntarily opted into, allows counties to combine smaller precincts and consolidate voting locations since residents could vote throughout the county.But under Texas SB 924, which also went into effect Sept. 1, combined precincts in counties participating in the program cannot contain more than 10,000 voters, making them need more polling locations to comply with the law.Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization, reported that some smaller Texas counties will have to double their polling locations to comply with the new law, while bigger counties that already offer a large number of voting locations may not need to add any.Kimball, the political science professor, said that while the overall increase in the volume of proposed legislation is a reaction to fears related to the voting process, needed improvements can still result.Richardson, digital editor with the Virginia Commonwealth University Capital News Service, reported from Richmond, Virginia. Luetkemeyer, assistant city editor at the Columbia Missourian at the University of Missouri, reported from Columbia, Missouri. Reporters Allie Haggar at the University of Kansas, Brody Foster at the University of New Mexico News Port, and Morgan Severson and Amelia Kimball at the University of Texas at Austin also contributed to this reporting.This collaboration is a project of the Center for Community News to elevate high-impact, university-led statehouse reporting. The man doesn't have to be German, an expert says. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share The skeletal remains of a soldier from the Second World War along with trenches were found by archaeologists in Senica, Trnava Region, during a dig at the building site. The research at the end of last year was led by Robert Olvecky from the Pamarch archaeological society. "The soldier's body was buried in a shallow grave in a former field between the neighbourhoods of Sotina and Kunov," Matus Sladok from the Regional Monuments Office told the TASR newswire. According to the position of the body belonging to a 35-year-old man, who lay on his back, the find is interpreted as the quick burial of an already stiffened corpse by local people. The skull and right hand were damaged by an excavator, the pelvis area was damaged earlier, probably during ploughing. Buttons from the uniform - shirt, blouse and trousers - as well as a hook and leather remnants from the straps, suggest that this could be a member of the Third Reich's armed forces. However, Sladok said that it did not necessarily have to be a German. "Soldiers from other European nations also served in the German army, including Slovaks," he stated. The blade of an ordinary knife was found among the personal items. Other common equipment, such as a helmet, a field bottle, a shovel, a weapon, as well as hygiene items, were useful for his comrades-in-arms or the people who buried him, which is why they were not found in the grave pit. The discovery of a WWII grave is not uncommon in the Trnava Region, according to Sladok. The first one was accidentally found in 2015 in the village of Bukova. A soldier killed by a grenade explosion was buried in it. Ashtray with oldest depiction in Central Europe of two-wheeled cart with sled on display Read more In addition, archaeologists also examined the remains of unburied soldiers. In 2005, in Dechtice, during the research of a trench, they found bones belonging to an unknown number of soldiers. In 2009, in Hlohovec, they found a trench destroyed with a mortar shell, containing the remains of at least three soldiers. In all cases, the remains belonged to soldiers of the Third Reich. A selection of short feel-good stories from Slovakia. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent. Slovak astrobiologist heads for the highest peak in Antarctica Slovak astrobiologist Michaela Musilova plans to climb the highest peaks of North America and Antarctica this year. She is among a small group of scientists who examine the origins and future of life in the universe, including beyond Earth. The expeditions to the summit of Denali (formerly Mount McKinley) in Alaska (6,190 metres) and Mount Vinson (4,897 metres) in Antarctica are part of the Astro Crown of the Earth project, prepared in cooperation with NASA and various universities and companies from across the globe. The aim is to climb the highest peaks on each continent. Part of these expeditions is research linked to space and climate change. It is also part of the preparation for Musilovas further space projects and collaborations. So far, the astrobiologist has led expeditions to the highest peaks in Africa Kilimanjaro (5,895 metres) and South America Aconcagua (6,961 metres). We collected many samples for NASA and Comenius University, as well as other European and American institutions, Musilova said, as quoted by the TASR newswire, when talking about the expedition to South America. This included samples of extremophiles, organisms that are able to live in extreme environments, and various geological samples that are of interest to NASA. They want to find out in what conditions some extreme forms of life can survive, and compare these to the geology on Mars. At the same time, she announced a cooperation with the Slovak space company Space scAvengers, which is exploring a new way of handling and eliminating space debris. The aim of their collaboration is to promote space science and research via popular science lectures and discussions, said Tomas Balog, co-founder of Space scAvengers, as reported by the TASR newswire. Aurora visible in Slovakia again The aurora borealis as seen above the village of Domadice, near Levice in southern Slovakia, on March 3. (Source: Tadeas Valent) People in Slovakia got to see an unusual show recently, after the aurora borealis lit up the skies in the evening of March 3. It was visible particularly in areas with a nearly cloudless sky, the iMeteo.sk website reported. Apart from Slovakia, the effect, also known as the northern lights, could be observed in Poland, Czechia, Hungary, the UK, and other parts of Europe. Seeing the northern lights in these areas is quite rare, and it's hard to predict when it will happen. Even though the forecasters knew a geomagnetic storm was coming, they thought it would be weaker, iMeteo.sk wrote. People in Slovakia were able to glimpse the aurora borealis a couple of times last year too, in April and November. Grannies' blankets for newborns Two women in their 90s, who are currently living in the retirement home in Senec, western Slovakia, are knitting woollen blankets for babies born at the recently established Bory Hospital, near Bratislava. The blankets are given to newborns during their stay in hospital. Five feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator to read: Political meme of the week (Source: Zomri.online) Caption: Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala: So we wont be meeting... Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico: Then Ill fire you... The meme published by the satirical website Zomri.online on its Facebook profile reacts to the recent deterioration in Slovak-Czech relations. Czech premier Petr Fiala recently decided to suspend informal joint sessions of the Slovak and Czech governments for the foreseeable future following changes to Slovakias foreign policy and provocative public moves made by Slovak representatives, most notably a meeting between Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Russia is continuing to wage a war against Slovakia's neighbour, Ukraine, which has costs the lives of tens of thousands of innocent Ukrainian civilians. You can send me your tips on good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: radka.minarechova@spectator.sk. Thank you! He claims it was a staged artistic event. The owners are not convinced. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share The art scene in Kosice has been roiled in recent days by the reported theft of an important artwork from a public cafe by none other than the dean of the local university's art faculty. The curious series of events began to unfold on Monday afternoon (March 4) when the painting went missing from the Muse Cafe on Hlavna Street, the main street in Kosice's historical centre, the Korzar daily reported. In security camera footage, a man can be seen casually removing the small painting from the cafe's wall as he walks past, before leaving soon afterwards. The cafe's owners noticed that the artwork was missing about half an hour after its removal. After posting the surveillance video online and asking the public for help in identifying the thief, the finger of suspicion quickly turned towards Tibor Uhrin, the dean of the Faculty of Arts at Kosice's Technical University (TUKE). The cafe owners later met Uhrin at a police station and, after a conversation, agreed to withdrew their criminal complaint. He returned the painting, apologised and described the artwork's removal as part of a "bet". video //www.youtube.com/embed/5m1MZc-zwSQ However, later, in an online post addressed to students, he portrayed the painting's removal as a "happening," a term used in the art world to describe a type of improvised, staged event or performance. There is no evidence that the act was recorded in any other form than on the cafe's security video. The cafe owners were less than impressed by this explanation, expressing their dismay at what they saw as an attempt to downplay the incident as a "performance" and emphasising that the stolen painting, by renowned artist Herta Viktorin Ondrusova, was of considerable value. Art theft sparks dispute and ongoing investigation A claim by the dean that he was unaware of the artwork's origin also prompted doubts among the cafe owners, given his background in the arts. Herta Viktorin Ondrusova's paintings are highly regarded and works of the type taken are typically valued at around 1,000. The artist, known locally as "Lady Mozaikova," contributed significantly to Kosice's artistic landscape with her mosaic works. The cafe owners called for a more sincere acknowledgment from the dean, who, in turn, maintained that the incident was misunderstood and said he was trying to address concerns among students. The rector of TUKE, to which the Faculty of Arts belongs, did not respond to a request by Korzar for comment; the university later confirmed that an ad hoc ethics committee was being appointed. When the daily reached Dean Uhrin he insisted that no crime had occurred and that the incident had been a "happening" based on a "fictitious concept". "I want to point out that no one was hurt and I didn't want to hurt anyone. I don't want to say more about it," he stated, asking: "Why do you want to write about this? A painting taken by the dean without consent. (Source: Korzar/Elena Dankova) An artwork by Herta Viktorin Ondrusova in Kosice. (Source: Korzar/Elena Dankova) Resignation The faculty condemned the ex-dean's behaviour. Uhrin, who has worked at the faculty for more than 20 years, resigned several days after the scandal. "I apologise to everyone, I'm very sorry, and I'm stepping down as dean," the ex-dean said on March 11, as quoted by Korzar. He admitted that he was a troublemaker but refused to be called a thief, calling his action "probably the biggest mistake of my life" and "nonsense" he couldn't explain. It's not clear if he will continue teaching at the faculty. If he was sacked by the faculty, the design study programme would most likely end. In 1993, Uhrin designed the children's construction kit Gringo, for which he won the main prize in the competition of the Slovak Design Centre - Good Design, and which is still produced today. He creates interior design accessories and objects for dining. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/biden-pledges-to-keep-troops-out-of-ukraine-in-worst-state-of-the-union-speech-ever-1117201996.html Biden Pledges to Keep Troops Out of Ukraine in 'Worst State of the Union Speech Ever' Biden Pledges to Keep Troops Out of Ukraine in 'Worst State of the Union Speech Ever' Sputnik International POTUS Joe Biden delivered annual State of the Union Address. In his speech he directly compared himself to Franklin Roosevelt and used History is watching refrain in order to impress the audience. 2024-03-08T06:46+0000 2024-03-08T06:46+0000 2024-03-08T06:46+0000 americas us joe biden donald trump franklin roosevelt ukraine israel hamas houthis state of the union speech https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/1c/1117027112_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_dd9493cc482247dcca41d01f638c5adf.jpg The US will not send its soldiers to Ukraine, Acting President Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address."In fact, there are no American soldiers at war in Ukraine. And I am determined to keep it that way," Biden said. But he lamented that funds for Kiev were being blocked by those US politicians "who want us to walk away from our leadership in the world.He also criticized Donald Trump's approach to foreign policy, which resulted in the US president "bowing to a Russian leader."Biden urged Congress to pass the Ukraine funding bill immediately, calling the current situation "an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union.Russian officials have repeatedly stressed that no amount of military aid delivered to the Kiev regime will affect the course of the special military operation, adding that Western funds and weapons only fuel the conflict and worsen the security situation.Biden Orders to Build Temporary Port in GazaJoe Biden ordered the construction of a hub on the Gaza coast in the Mediterranean Sea to provide "humanitarian aid" to Palestinians.Tonight, I'm directing the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters, Biden stated. He added that while he sees no alternative to a two-state solution, he believes Israel is free to hunt down Hamas.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier slammed US for vetoing ceasefire resolutions in the Gaza crisis.Commenting on the Red Sea crisis, Biden vowed to defend US citizens and citizens of allied nations from Houthi attacks in Yemen. The Houthi military organization has vowed to attack all ships with any connection to Israel in the wake of the violence in the Gaza Strip.I've ordered strikes to degrade Houthi capabilities and defend US Forces in the region. As Commander in Chief, I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and military personnel, he said.Russia slammed the anti-Houthi operation as a "complete disregard for international law" by Western countries "for their own destructive purposes."Embarrassment to Our CountryUS presidential candidate Donald Trump said Biden's speech may have been "the angriest, least compassionate and worst State of the Union ever," adding that the POTUS' words were "an embarrassment to our country!"Earlier in the day, Trump expressed concern that the world may not survive until Biden is finally forced out of office. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/us-history-billions-spent-on-the-military-amid-record-homelessness-lack-of-healthcare-1117202663.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240306/kamala-harris-call-for-ceasefire-ignores-reality-of-israels-brutal-occupation-1117173766.html americas ukraine israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sergey Lebedev Sergey Lebedev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sergey Lebedev us, biden speech, biden adress, biden ukraine, biden roosevelt, biden hamas, trump biden https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/bidens-state-of-union-speech-deceived-americans-on-border-crisis---border-patrol-union-1117205039.html Biden's State of Union Speech Deceived Americans on Border Crisis - Border Patrol Union Biden's State of Union Speech Deceived Americans on Border Crisis - Border Patrol Union Sputnik International US President Joe Biden's State of the Union address was a slap in the face of all Americans after he deceived the US public about reality of the immigration crisis on the US southern border, US National Border Patrol Council vice president Art Del Cueto told Sputnik. 2024-03-08T07:53+0000 2024-03-08T07:53+0000 2024-03-08T07:53+0000 americas us joe biden us customs and border protection (cbp) congress state of the union speech https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1e/1116480847_0:103:3276:1946_1920x0_80_0_0_21678cd7d1328b18665343d19840fb06.jpg Biden during his address called on Congress to pass a $118 billion foreign aid bill that includes border policy reforms. The bill was blocked by Senate Republicans last month over concerns it did not do enough to resolve the border crisis.Biden also argued that his policies are designed to keep drug cartels and human smugglers from profiting off the border crisis. However, according to the US House Homeland Security Committee, criminal organizations in Mexico made an estimated $13 billion in 2021 from human smuggling on the US southern border. A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official previously said migrants pay cartels about $8,000 to $12,000 to smuggle them into the United States. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows that the Biden administration has experienced three consecutive years of record numbers of illegal migration on the US southern border with at least eight million immigrants crossing into the United States illegally. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/texas-border-dispute-shows-entire-us-constitutional-system-collapsing-in-multiple-ways-1116422032.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International joe biden state of union speech, joe biden speech, joe biden border crisis, biden speech, biden migration https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/canada-to-lift-pause-on-unrwa-funding-continue-to-seek-accountability-1117213064.html Canada to Lift Pause on UNRWA Funding, Continue to Seek Accountability Canada to Lift Pause on UNRWA Funding, Continue to Seek Accountability Sputnik International The Canadian Government has decided to lift its temporary pause in funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Canadas foreign ministry said on Friday. 2024-03-08T21:33+0000 2024-03-08T21:33+0000 2024-03-08T21:33+0000 palestine-israel conflict world israeli-palestinian conflict canada humanitarian crisis humanitarian catastrophe humanitarian disaster genocide unrwa israel-gaza conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/0f/1097352357_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_fe979db1b760b268b059a7bded791acb.jpg Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced that Canada will be lifting its temporary pause on funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said. Canada believes UNRWA plays a vital role in the provision of humanitarian assistance to the over two million inhabitants of Gaza and more than four million in the region, GAC added. Moreover, in support of Jordanian airdropping operations over the Palestinian enclave, Canada will be contributing C$100,000 to the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation for the purchase of supplies, GAC said.The Canadian Armed Forces will also be providing nearly 300 cargo parachutes to the Royal Jordanian Air Force to support airdrops of critical supplies in Gaza.Previously, alongside the United States, Australia, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Japan, Austria, Romania, and the United Kingdom, Canada had suspended its donations to UNRWA following Israel's accusations that some of the agency's staff participated in the Hamas attacks on the Jewish state on October 7.Some 31,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military operations and more than 76,000 have been wounded, according to the local authorities. More than 1.9 million Palestinians out of 2.3 million in Gaza have been displaced and more than half are facing hunger and starvation as a result of Israel's blockade. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/un-has-no-plan-b-to-secure-funding-for-unrwa-after-donors-pause-aid---spokesman-1116503624.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240128/as-palestinians-in-gaza-face-mass-famine-us--allies-cut-funding-to-un-aid-agency-1116442762.html canada palestine gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International unrwa funding, funding suspension, genocide, ethnic cleansing, humanitarian disaster, humanitarian catastrophe, killings of civilians, civilian infrastructure, civilians dead, civilians die, israel kills civilians, civilian casualties, civilian deaths, indiscriminate shelling, indiscriminate killing, war crimes https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/canadian-city-dismantles-monument-honoring-ukrainian-nazi-paramilitary-force-1117211929.html Canadian City Dismantles Monument Honoring Ukrainian Nazi Paramilitary Force Canadian City Dismantles Monument Honoring Ukrainian Nazi Paramilitary Force Sputnik International The city of Oakville in Canadas province of Ontario dismantled on Friday a monument built to honor a Ukrainian Nazi paramilitary force, the 14th Waffen SS Grenadier Division also known as 1st Galician." 2024-03-08T16:56+0000 2024-03-08T16:56+0000 2024-03-08T16:56+0000 americas canada ukraine nazi monument https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/19/1113639601_332:0:2561:1254_1920x0_80_0_0_7a8362813d6dfd7deafff8e304563032.png The memorial, which was known was Monument to the Glory of the UPA a nationalist paramilitary force formed in Ukraine to fight the Soviet Union during the Second World War was built in 1988 in the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery. Shortly after the monuments construction, a cenotaph displaying the emblem of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS was erected beside alongside it. The cenotaph bears an inscription that reads, For Those Who Died For the Freedom of Ukraine." The monuments existence was first brought to public attention by the Russian Embassy in Ottawa in 2017, when it shared via X, which was then known as Twitter, images of the memorial and a bust of SS Roman Shukhevych, a commander of Ukrainian Nightingale Battalion and the UPA, in Albertas Edmonton. Journalists, activists and Jewish organizations such as Bnai Brith Canada and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, among others, had long called for the monuments dismantlement due to its controversial nature. Such calls were echoed by Mayor Rob Burton who had expressed his disgust with the memorials existence but said his hands were tied by provincial legislation prohibiting its demolition. Calls for its removal were renewed following the major scandal that occurred in September 2023 at the Canadian House of Commons when the entirety of the countrys federal legislature gave two standing ovations to 98-year-old Ukrainian Nazi SS veteran Yaroslav Hunka, an individual who fought for the 1st Galician. Hunka had been invited to attend Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address at the Parliament. Canada has had a long and controversial history of granting safe haven to former Nazi veteran, oftentimes including those convicted of crimes in the Soviet Union. In the mid-1980s, the Canadian government launched the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals, also known as the Deschenes Commission, to investigate the immigration of individuals with a Nazi-background into the country. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240214/russia-receives-note-from-canada-on-refusal-to-extradite-nazi-collaborator-hunka-1116770763.html americas canada ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International canada nazi monuments, canada ukrainian nazi https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/eastern-europe-underrepresented-in-eu-institutions-are-we-equals-or-not--1117210387.html Eastern Europe Underrepresented in EU Institutions: 'Are We Equals or Not?' Eastern Europe Underrepresented in EU Institutions: 'Are We Equals or Not?' Sputnik International NATO and EU member states will soon decide on who will get key positions in these two organizations, something that is expected to go to representatives of Western Europe once again. Sputnik explores. 2024-03-08T14:25+0000 2024-03-08T14:25+0000 2024-03-08T14:25+0000 world european union (eu) nato western europe representatives structures https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/08/1117210172_0:0:2049:1153_1920x0_80_0_0_3f1a3750cad99ec835a2078a40851d83.jpg Eastern European politicians have been absent from top positions in the EU and NATO, as well as in other key EU structures for the past 20 years, such as the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament.Such a disparity comes, at least in the EU's case, despite Brussels formal stance claiming that all members are equal within the bloc.Two decades after entering the EU and NATO, Eastern European countries are now concerned that they will again be ignored as the top jobs of both organizations are reshuffled later this year.Spat Over NATO's Top Job While Dutch Prime Minister Mark Ruttes likely appointment as the new chief of NATO is endorsed by the US, the UK, France and Germany, the alliances newer members from the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) are not that happy.Its worth recalling in this regard that other contenders for the NATO secretary general position include Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, whose ministers notified NATO of his possible candidacy in February, and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who has not submitted a bid but voiced interest in 2023.He recalled that since the 2004 enlargement, there are 110 million people living in Central and Eastern Europe who now belong to NATO and the EU. There are five big positions in the EU and NATO, and they rotate every five years, so thats 25 jobs in total. During that time, 20 percent of the EU gets 7 percent of the jobs, Ilves added.Kallas, for her part, told Politico that if one thinks about a geographical balance, its going to be the fourth [NATO] secretary general from the Netherlands.Kallas was echoed by former Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, who referred to the selection process for the NATO top job and said: We feel that we were not consulted enough.EU RaceEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to receive another term after the EUs top positions are redistributed later this year following Junes European Parliament election.At the same time, the race for the other posts European Council president, European Parliament president and the EUs high representative for foreign policy remain open.The upcoming European Parliament election will come against the backdrop of ongoing differences between Western and Eastern Europe over Ukraine. Bloomberg news agency recently reported that Europes East is losing faith in its West over the issue of arming Ukraine.Bloomberg cited an unnamed top European official as saying that the mood in diplomatic circles is that should Russia ultimately win its war in Ukraine, Western Europe will not be forgiven and the whole European integration project since the fall of the Berlin Wall could be jeopardized as that rift becomes an indelible scar.More Active Colleagues?Milan Uhrik, member of European Parliament (MEP) from the Slovak Republic and leader of the REPUBLIKA political movement, has meanwhile told Sputnik that he would not be surprised if an Eastern European name appears in the management [of NATO or the EU], which would try to be even more active than its colleagues from the West.But the type of functionaries I am talking about - and they can be found in almost every country - do not care too much about their own nation. Their interest lies in defending the center or strongest element of these organizations and individual careers, the MEP pointed out.He added that each and every country entered the EU knowing what power it would have in this organization, and that each country knows about it before, knows it now. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240227/danish-pm-grilled-for-urging-eu-to-cut-social-spending-and-prepare-for-conflict-with-russia-1117021677.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240222/nearly-40-of-europeans-believe-eu-played-negative-role-in-ukraine-conflict---poll-1116911578.html western europe Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg eastern europe's underrepresentation in eus political institutions, upcoming european parliament elections, eastern european politicians https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/french-politician-accuses-macron-nato-of-doing-everything-to-drag-out-ukraine-conflict-1117211450.html French Politician Accuses Macron, NATO of Doing Everything to Drag Out Ukraine Conflict French Politician Accuses Macron, NATO of Doing Everything to Drag Out Ukraine Conflict Sputnik International The leader of French right-wing party The Patriots, Florian Philippot, on Friday accused President Emmanuel Macron and NATO allies of doing everything to keep the conflict in Ukraine going after the French leader appeared to have acknowledged that Moscow was open to a ceasefire. 2024-03-08T15:51+0000 2024-03-08T15:51+0000 2024-03-08T15:51+0000 world emmanuel macron florian philippot nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/1a/1107827079_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_0ef4b915a5b78833fa413197b9c1bb89.jpg French Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel cited Macron as saying during Thursday's talks with the opposition that Russia had requested a ceasefire, but the West could not agree to it over concerns that the battlefield situation would be frozen, allowing Russia to rearm. "This is a real bomb, it proves that Macron and his cabal in NATO are doing everything to protract the conflict in Ukraine. Back in April 2022, they banned Ukraine from negotiating. Let's stop them for the sake of peace!" Philippot wrote on X. Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russian and Ukrainian delegations have engaged in several rounds of peace talks since then, but the negotiations ultimately reached an impasse. In October 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree stating that Kiev could not hold peace talks as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin remained in office. In November 2023, Ukraine's former chief negotiator with Russia, David Arakhamia, said that then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson talked Kiev out of signing an agreement with Moscow to end the conflict in spring 2022. Johnson denies it. Moscow has consistently said it was open to peace negotiations as long as Kiev recognizes the territorial gains Russian forces have made since the launch of the special military operation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240301/france-will-not-send-troops-to-ukraine-to-conduct-military-operations---foreign-minister-1117074855.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International france nato ukrainian conflict, france macron criticism https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/from-worst-to-first-ukraines-former-top-general-zaluzhny-appointed-envoy-to-uk--1117201694.html From Worst to First? Ukraine's Former Top General Zaluzhny Appointed Envoy to UK From Worst to First? Ukraine's Former Top General Zaluzhny Appointed Envoy to UK Sputnik International Zaluzhny was fired from his former post by Volodymyr Zelensky in early February after months of spat between the two, with General Oleksandr Syrsky being appointed the new Ukrainian commander-in-chief. 2024-03-08T05:58+0000 2024-03-08T05:58+0000 2024-03-08T05:58+0000 world ukraine volodymyr zelensky valery zaluzhny removal russia special operation https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/12/1111260023_0:157:3000:1845_1920x0_80_0_0_c0bbe5e8911524cd0b2608818b252c48.jpg Former Ukrainian commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny has been appointed as the country's new ambassador to Britain, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has announced.Zaluzhny was fired as commander-in-chief on February 8, with Volodymyr Zelensky citing the need for "new approaches" and "new strategies" to prevail in the Ukraine conflict. Zaluzhny was replaced by General Oleksandr Syrsky, then head of the Ukrainian ground forces.Zaluzhny's dismissal came in the wake of a months-long public spat between him and President Zelensky.The dispute was covered by the Western media, with the Washington Post reporting last fall that Zaluzhny, who remains popular among his fellow citizens, could pose a threat to Zelensky if he decided to pursue a political career.A recent poll conducted by Ukraine's SOCIS Center for Social and Marketing Research showed that the former commander-in-chief would win the country's presidential election if it were held later this year.Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, also known by its Russian acronym SVR, revealed in late January that the U.S. had asked the Ukrainian president to remove from state posts officials who had lost Washington's trust. The SVR said the White House had promised to publish a corruption dossier on the Kiev regime leader's entourage if Washington's demand was not met.According to the SVR, the Biden administration wants Ukrainian Ambassador to Washington Oksana Markarova - a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington - to become prime minister of Ukraine. In general, the US has begun to form a colonial administration in Kiev, the SVR noted. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240210/zaluzhnys-photo-with-banderite-a-threat-to-zelensky-1116718815.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240202/zaluzhnys-new-essay-for-ukraines-nato-sponsors-designed-to-pump-him-up-as-zelensky-alternative-1116565229.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg firing of ukrainian commander-in-chief valery zaluzhny on febriuary 8, nomination of general oleksandr syrsky for the post of ukrainian commander-in-chief, russian special military operation, ukraine's botched counteroffensive https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/germany-stokes-war-with-russia-insists-theyre-the-good-guys-this-time-1117200182.html Germany Stokes War With Russia, Insists Theyre the Good Guys This Time Germany Stokes War With Russia, Insists Theyre the Good Guys This Time Sputnik International Will Russians once again be forced to save the world from European brutality? 2024-03-08T05:59+0000 2024-03-08T05:59+0000 2024-03-08T05:59+0000 analysis military & intelligence mark sleboda garland nixon boris pistorius russia ukraine germany nato bundeswehr https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/08/1117202316_0:21:513:309_1920x0_80_0_0_d00ada234e7da5b338db12ad946764aa.jpg The German military plans to reinstate compulsory service, it was reported this week.German defense chief Boris Pistorius is seeking proposals to restore conscription by April of this year, and hopes to implement the measure before parliamentary elections in 2025. The country has required military service for most of its postwar history but suspended conscription in 2011, instead moving towards a professional all-volunteer force.The announcement comes after Russia leaked telephone conversations between Pistorius and US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland revealing Ukrainian plans to attack Russia using Germanys top-shelf Taurus missile system. The incident prompted major controversy in Germany, revealing the depth of anti-Russia sentiment among the Bundeswehrs leadership even as Chancellor Olaf Scholz assures the country he wont formally send German troops to the Donbass.As the European country takes another step towards what many fear may be an inevitable war on Russia and perhaps China security analyst Mark Sleboda joined Sputniks The Critical Hour program on Thursday to provide context for the development.The situation that they are all really preparing for, they won't tell their own citizens this why are they talking about conscription? Because they want to put troops in Ukraine, said Sleboda. They want to put NATO troops in Ukraine.Sleboda noted European countries already have a documented presence in Russias neighboring country, originally justified under the pretense of training and advising Ukrainian troops to operate specialized weaponry. News has also emerged of foreign mercenaries killed in action by Russia, with observers speculating about the Western role in organizing their deployment.Host Garland Nixon argued Western leaders are at war with their own people, attempting to manufacture consent for a conflict against the wishes of a war-weary populace. I'm in the US and the taste for any war or anything else with Ukraine even sending money to Ukraine here is collapsing, he said.Meanwhile Nixon noted that European citizens are seemingly far more fixated on economic concerns than war with Russia, with major protests bringing European capitals to a standstill over the past several months. When Europeans have weighed in on issues of war and peace its been to reject the political establishment, Nixon argued, pointing to the recent election of pro-Palestine firebrand George Galloway in the United Kingdom.According to a YouGov poll taken just last year, only 11% of Germans are ready to defend Germany with weapons if it is attacked, and only 5% of those would actually volunteer for that job, said Sleboda. A full quarter of the population would leave Germany as soon as possible.Another recent poll found Germans also reject the defense ministers proposal to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine.If it can be done in Ukraine, why couldn't it be done in Germany or in New Jersey?Western leaders are able to draw from a deep well of historic anti-Russian sentiment to attempt to stoke domestic support for Ukraine. Russophobia in the United States is deeply ingrained within many older Americans who came of age during the heated ideological struggle of the Cold War. In Germany anti-Russian sentiment arguably goes back further, with the threat of so-called Judeo-Bolshevism forming a major part of the Nazis propaganda.Germany was forced to repent for the crimes of the Nazi regime when the Soviets rolled into Berlin. But the country, and the continent as a whole, has never faced a similar reckoning with the colonial past that undergirds its modern hegemony.Today Russia threatens this dominance by insisting on its own sovereignty, just as it did a century ago. And again it seems Europe is committed to protecting its power at almost any cost. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/britons-mock-warmongering-lecture-by-uk-defense-secretary-1116214172.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240305/cia-orchestrated-2004-haiti-coup-galloway-shocks-uk-elite-biden-facing-more-uncommitted-voters--1117139287.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/german-party-congress-opens-with-gratitude-to-soviet-army-for-liberating-auschwitz-1116435370.html russia ukraine germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg russians saved the world, russia beat the nazis, germany war, germany conscription, germany compulsory military service, europe drive towards war, european hegemony, european colonialism, germany-russia relations, germany russia war https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/international-womens-day-meet-remarkable-women-of-the-world--1117202856.html International Women's Day: Meet Remarkable Women of the World International Women's Day: Meet Remarkable Women of the World Sputnik International On March 8, the globe is celebrating International Womens Day a holiday that marks the role of women in politics, business, social life, science and culture. 2024-03-08T10:30+0000 2024-03-08T10:30+0000 2024-03-08T10:30+0000 multimedia newsfeed valentina tereshkova russia international women's day science & tech women https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/08/1117204124_0:227:2818:1812_1920x0_80_0_0_32f42b7197b1cf59f3036889fbf301c5.jpg The idea of International Womens Day arose in the early 1900s. The first Women's Day was celebrated following the decision of the Socialist Party of America on February 28, 1909. American women celebrated it on the last Sunday of February until 1913.In 1910, at a meeting of the Socialist International in Copenhagen, Denmark, it was proposed to establish International Women's Day to celebrate the movement for women's rights and help to establish universal suffrage. The proposal received unanimous support from a conference with more than 100 women from 17 countries, but no specific date was set for the day.Women's Day in tsarist Russia was established on March 2, 1913, in St. Petersburg at a meeting on equality between men and women.In the USSR, the holiday was accompanied by glorifying the image of a Soviet woman - worker, mother and communist. In 1963, the USSR hosted the World Congress of Women, and in 1965, March 8 became an official day off. The USSR became the first, and for a long time remained the only European country where March 8 was celebrated at the state level. The Soviet Union played an important role in popularizing the holiday around the world.Since the dawn of human civilization, the world has seen many women who influenced the course of history. Have a look at Sputniks photo gallery to learn more about them. russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International international women day, girl power, women changed world, woman in history https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/plead-to-the-union-1117199214.html Plead to the Union Plead to the Union Sputnik International It is predicted that he will use his time to try and appeal to voters, as the speech comes on the heels of Super Tuesday, which has all but guaranteed a rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump in the presidential election this year. 2024-03-08T01:31+0000 2024-03-08T01:31+0000 2024-03-08T01:31+0000 donald trump joe biden us politics americas us political cartoons comics sputnik cartoons presidential candidate presidential campaign https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/07/1117199029_0:217:2000:1342_1920x0_80_0_0_d3a96508864f904412e76edd912769e2.jpg The US President is scheduled to deliver his third State of the Union address on Thursday. It is predicted that he will use his time to try and appeal to voters, as the speech comes on the heels of Super Tuesday, which has all but guaranteed a rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump in the presidential election this year.White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients said on Wednesday that Biden will also use the speech as an opportunity to highlight his agenda for a potential second term.He may also urge Congress to pass a $118 billion national security agreement that includes funding for Israel and Ukraine as well as resources and policies that will address the issues at the Mexico-US border.There seemed, at one point, to be a unanimous agreement on passing the bill between both aisles, but Biden and other democrats have accused Trump of commanding Republicans to torpedo the bill in order to help himself in the presidential race. The supplemental first passed in the Senate on a bipartisan basis with 70 votes but requires further action to be taken by House Speaker Mike Johnson.Biden is also expected to defend his administrations stance regarding the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Israel and the US have maintained that the military action they have taken against Hamas is in self-defense, but organizations, constituents, lawmakers, entire countries and others have criticized the assault on Palestinians as being too aggressive, and have accused the Israeli military of carrying out a genocide against Palestinians. The nations oldest president is also expected to try and quell voters concerns regarding his age. But the president has made a handful of gaffes in his speeches throughout his first term. Special Counsel Robert Hurs report, published last month, was also incredibly shameful for Biden as it described him as a well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. And just last week, Biden confused the president of Egypt with the president of Mexico. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/the-senility-wars-1115273391.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg biden, joe biden, presidential election, us presidential election 2024, state of the union address, us elections, us presidential elections, 2024 us elections, 2024 us presidential elections, joe biden poor memory, demented biden, old man, biden's too old, bidens too old, demented biden, crooked joe, biden's memory, memory loss, dementia https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/putin-congratulates-russian-women-on-international-womens-day-1117199965.html Putin Congratulates Russian Women on International Women's Day Putin Congratulates Russian Women on International Women's Day Sputnik International Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated all Russian women on International Women's Day and wished them mutual understanding, success and happy moments. 2024-03-08T02:22+0000 2024-03-08T02:22+0000 2024-03-08T11:16+0000 russia vladimir putin russia international women's day motherhood family family values russian culture https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/08/1117199804_0:92:3070:1819_1920x0_80_0_0_eaead6bce8db1ddec09df1981670a239.jpg Dear women, I cordially congratulate you on International Womens Day. We look forward to it with joy and excitement. We are preparing in advance for this wonderful spring holiday. And today in every home, in every family, the most tender, warm wishes are expressed to our mothers, wives, daughters, grandmothers, friends, Putin said in a video message. The president emphasized that motherhood is a glorious mission for women. The president assured that the Russian authorities would do everything possible to support families in Russia. "The family, its interests and needs are in the spotlight and an absolute priority in Russia today. We will certainly do everything we can to ensure that families with children, including large and young families, young mothers, feel supported and assisted by the state," he said.Putin specifically addressed women serving in the area of Russia's special military operation."Again and again, you prove that a womans heart is truly an irresistible force, providing an example of perseverance and confidence that good and truth are on our side," Putin said. russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International international women's day, russian president, maternity, family values, family, traditional values, russian traditions, russian values, russian culture, russian women, motherhood https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/russian-valkyrie-how-blue-eyed-ballet-dancer-turned-into-military-commander-1117193413.html Russian Valkyrie: How Blue-Eyed Ballet Dancer Turned Into Military Commander Russian Valkyrie: How Blue-Eyed Ballet Dancer Turned Into Military Commander Sputnik International A Russian ballet dancer-turned-female warrior sat down with Sputnik to tell her story about life and her fight in the special military operation in Ukraine. 2024-03-08T07:00+0000 2024-03-08T07:00+0000 2024-03-08T08:18+0000 russia russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine europe us military military & intelligence volunteer forces volunteer https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/07/1117193621_0:90:1280:810_1920x0_80_0_0_78222c98d0f48f99b01cc53f03edc597.jpg Valkyrie had no combat experience when she came to the conflict zone: she is a ballet dancer by profession. One could have hardly imagined that this beautiful slim blue-eyed woman would one day put on a military uniform and take up an assault rifle.She is no tenderling: her call sign originates from her bike-riding hobby."I am a member of the international women's motorcycle club 'Night Valkyries'," she explained. "I came here with my 'road' name."Valkyrie initially started to assist Russian volunteer battalions as a humanitarian worker. One day she was contacted by Mikhail Turkanov, call sign Pitbull, a commander of the Russian Espanola brigade, who invited her to join their ranks.According to Sputnik's interlocutor, there's a rule that when men and women are standing shoulder to shoulder in the combat zone female soldiers have no privileges, they fight on a par with men."When women fight alongside men, there are no difficulties at all, because on the battlefield we are all fighters," the female soldier said. At the same time Espanola warriors completely understand that women have their own daily necessities, Sputnik's interlocutor continued.These daily necessities completely pale in comparison with the joy of seeing your comrades-in-arms returning safe and sound from the battlefield, she emphasized.Valkyrie initially joined Espanola as a member of the assault group, but soon she was elevated to deputy company commander.She said that she never sought a senior position in the first place. However, her commander allows his subordinates to learn from him and passes on his experience. "He is always with us at the training grounds, always with us both in training and on the front line."Once, when he was seriously wounded, he decided to make Valkyrie one of his deputies."He said that I have some organizational skills. The fighters of our assault company and the commander himself could say whether I handled it well. Espanola's motto is: 'Never retreat and never give up.' They promoted me, and so far it seems to be working."She wasn't scared to lead an assault group, but she feared to let her companions in arms and her commander down.When the special military operation is over, the soldier wants to educate youths in patriotism, sports, and survival skills."I don't want the younger generation to be sort of pampered flowers on the lawn. Let them develop in sports, let them develop as true patriots. I will look for those talents who want to go to the top." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230422/we-are-together-russian-surgeon-saves-hundreds-in-donbass-1109765628.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240306/russia-is-your-friend-putin-unites-young-people-from-across-the-world-1117169922.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova russia, russian female soldiers, russian special military operation, ukraine conflict, ukraine war, war in ukraine, espanola brigade, espanola battalion, private military company (pmc) espanola https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/scott-ritter-on-bidens-state-of-the-union-address-americas-running-away-from-ukraine-1117208208.html Scott Ritter on Biden's State of the Union Address: 'America's Running Away From Ukraine' Scott Ritter on Biden's State of the Union Address: 'America's Running Away From Ukraine' Sputnik International US President Joe Biden began his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Thursday by urging additional funding for the Kiev regime. 2024-03-08T12:14+0000 2024-03-08T12:14+0000 2024-03-08T13:00+0000 world ukraine us russia joe biden speech address aid conflict us congress https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/08/1117208049_0:0:3073:1730_1920x0_80_0_0_308e1a260fdb3a4afc9266d6ee055645.jpg "Instead of a State of the Union address, the US Congress and indeed the American people were treated to a rousing campaign speech which POTUS was using to kick off the 2024 presidential election campaign," former US Marine Corps intelligence officer and independent military analyst Scott Ritter told Sputnik.Quoting POTUS as saying during the address that America "will not walk away from Ukraine," Ritter noted that "in many ways, the 46th US president is right."He suggested that Biden hinted at the necessity of releasing the $64 billion funding package during the Thursday speech because it's tied to domestic American politics and perhaps the most contentious issue of the day, that is border security immigration reform.The $64 billion package is "being held hostage by Republicans in the House of Representatives. [] If Biden isn't going to change his approach to immigration, the Republicans aren't going to release the money - Ukraine isn't going to get the assistance it needs," according to the analyst.Ritter suggested that the Ukraine conflict "will die a natural death, so to speak, a tragic death for the Ukrainian people, but one that the American public will not be meaningful and engaged in something that the former US Marine Corps intelligence officer said he took away from Bidens State of the Union address.During the speech, the POTUS specifically called on the US to "stand with Ukraine and [continue] to provide the weapons it needs to defend itself."Moscow has repeatedly emphasized that the US and its allies support for the Kiev regime will not alter the course of the Russian special military operation but will only exacerbate the conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/tucker-carlson-bidens-address-to-congress-most-un-american-speech-ever---1117206887.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg conflict in ukraine, russian special military operation, us president joe biden's state of the union address, former us president donald trump, sotu 2024 https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/sending-nato-troops-to-ukraine-not-under-discussion---french-defense-minister-1117208986.html Sending NATO Troops to Ukraine Not Under Discussion - French Defense Minister Sending NATO Troops to Ukraine Not Under Discussion - French Defense Minister Sputnik International The issue of sending NATO troops to Ukraine is not under discussion now, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Friday, adding that other options of assisting Kiev are being considered. 2024-03-08T11:15+0000 2024-03-08T11:15+0000 2024-03-08T11:15+0000 military russia-nato showdown https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1a/1116403730_0:0:3281:1847_1920x0_80_0_0_0ac61f0331d7d6ec152d04914f7a6d22.jpg "We wanted to tell our allies about other options that we have, we discussed different hypotheses, but not sending military personnel to participate in hostilities, as some people interpreted it. The president [of France, Emmanuel Macron] said that we would not become complicit [in the Ukraine conflict]. Nevertheless, have we tried everything in this field between sending weapons, as we are doing now, and complicity, that means direct war with Russia? Are there any ways that have not been tried yet?" Lecornu told the RMC broadcaster. The French defense minister pointed to the option of Western presence in Ukraine for mine clearance activities and training of Ukrainian troops. After a Paris-hosted conference on Ukraine in late February, Macron said Western leaders had discussed the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine and reached no consensus, but nothing could be ruled out, and they would do everything to prevent Russia from winning. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal later echoed his remark, adding that France would not be able to "accept the prospect that at some point Russia could win." Western countries have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/us-history-billions-spent-on-the-military-amid-record-homelessness-lack-of-healthcare-1117202663.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia-nato showdown, france ukraine, nato soldiers ukraine,. lecornu ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/the-instrumentation-of-fascism-and-canadas-hidden-nazi-past-1117201430.html The Instrumentation of Fascism and Canadas Hidden Nazi Past The Instrumentation of Fascism and Canadas Hidden Nazi Past Sputnik International Yaroslav Hunka is far from the only fascist veteran who found refuge in the country after the Second World War. 2024-03-08T05:25+0000 2024-03-08T05:25+0000 2024-03-08T05:25+0000 analysis pierre trudeau justin trudeau canada russia ukraine nazi nazis cia germany https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/19/1113639601_332:0:2561:1254_1920x0_80_0_0_7a8362813d6dfd7deafff8e304563032.png Author and political activist Yves Engler joined Sputniks The Critical Hour program on Thursday to discuss an unflattering aspect of Canadas history thats come to light amidst the Western-backed proxy war against Russia in the Donbass.Obviously this became a big issue a few months ago when the former SS member Yaroslav Hunka was given two standing ovations at the House of Commons when [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky was there, said Engler, recalling last years embarrassing incident in Canadas Parliament. He was a former SS soldier, which was obviously a very bad look.Engler explained how the incident with Hunka was not the first time Canadas status as a safe haven for former Nazis has received scrutiny. The country convened a commission in the 1980s to study the issue, but its findings were suppressed when it was discovered that former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the father of Canadas current leader Justin Trudeau, had himself tried to discourage investigation into the matter in the late 1960s.The discovery was revealed last month in a report backed by Canadian Jewish institutions who pressed to shed light on the subject.In the book Conjuring Hitler: How Britain and America Made the Third Reich, author Guido Giacomo Preparata examines the many connections between Western political and financial leaders and the Nazi regime.Even during the war, there were American banks financing the Nazis, noted host Garland Nixon. It only stands to reason that this reality is, I think, starting to come to [light]: in the same way that a Nazi-fied Ukraine is a project of the West to take out Russia, the Nazi-fied Germany was a project of the West to take out Russia.And when that project turned on them and collapsed, they tried to take as much of it as they could that was left and get started over again. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/canada-shelling-out-millions-in-grants-to-ukrainian-groups-honoring-wwii-nazis-investigation-finds-1114136557.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231113/neo-nazi-ideology-has-lot-of-clout-in-canada-holds-trudeau-govt-hostage---un-envoy-1114911487.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231203/kissinger--the-americas-how-the-us-built-order-on-the-ashes-of-genocide-1115362379.html canada russia ukraine germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg canada nazi past, canada nazi safe haven, canada nazis, former nazis in canada, ukrainian nazis in canada, ukrainian fascists in canada, cia nazis, klaus barbie, western support for nazis https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/tucker-carlson-bidens-address-to-congress-most-un-american-speech-ever---1117206887.html Tucker Carlson: Biden's Address to Congress 'Most Un-American Speech Ever' Tucker Carlson: Biden's Address to Congress 'Most Un-American Speech Ever' Sputnik International US journalist Tucker Carlson on Friday called President Joe Biden's State of the Union address to Congress "possibly the darkest, most un-American speech" ever delivered by a US president, saying that it had been focused not on US's national interests, but on pouring billions of dollars into military aid to Ukraine. 2024-03-08T10:44+0000 2024-03-08T10:44+0000 2024-03-08T10:44+0000 americas us joe biden tucker carlson russia ukraine us congress https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/07/08/1083335988_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_fa09eeed1625b6f09656c94be45a20cb.jpg "That was possibly the darkest, most un-American speech ever given by an American president," Carlson said during a broadcast published on his X account, calling Biden a "cruel and vicious demagogue." The US journalist described the president's address as a "lie," saying that Biden "quickly explained" that his top priority "has nothing to do with America" and was related to "sending billions more to Ukraine." On Thursday, Biden delivered the State of the Union address to the US Congress. The speech comes amid Washington's efforts to provide further aid to Ukraine for use in its conflict with Russia. However, some Republican lawmakers have called on Congress and the Biden administration to address border security before approving more foreign aid. The president called on the US Congress to pass a $118 billion foreign aid bill that includes border policy reforms. The bill was blocked by Senate Republicans last month over concerns it did not do enough to resolve the border crisis. Biden also said that his policies are designed to keep drug cartels and human smugglers from profiting off the border crisis. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/bidens-state-of-the-union-address-why-us-vow-to-fight-till-last-ukrainian-is-not-reassuring-1117205367.html americas russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International carlson on biden speech, biden adress, biden speech, biden un-american speech, biden un-american adress https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/two-people-killed-one-injured-in-attack-by-ukraine-in-russias-belgorod-region---governor-1117210830.html Two People Killed, One Injured in Attack by Ukraine in Russia's Belgorod Region - Governor Two People Killed, One Injured in Attack by Ukraine in Russia's Belgorod Region - Governor Sputnik International Two people were killed and another one was injured as a result of an attack by Ukrainian drone on the village of Rozhdestvenka in Russia's Belgorod Region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor, said on Friday. 2024-03-08T14:05+0000 2024-03-08T14:05+0000 2024-03-08T14:05+0000 russia ukrainian drone attacks on russia ukrainian crisis belgorod region russia's belgorod shelled by ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/1f/1115907605_0:132:3173:1917_1920x0_80_0_0_770b3d5a442071d05c98213689ea3e2d.jpg "The outskirts of the village of Rozhdestvenka ... was attacked by the Ukrainian armed forces with the help of three kamikaze drones. As a result of the explosions, two people were killed and a third man was seriously injured. An ambulance team has left for the scene, and as soon as the operational situation allows, the victim will be taken to a medical facility," Gladkov wrote on Telegram.Ukrainian militants regularly shell Russian territories, including the Belgorod region and new regions that joined Russia in the fall of 2022. The Ukrainian Army uses kamikaze drones to attack civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings and hospitals, as well as send sabotage groups. Russian authorities are crystal clear on this issues Ukraine resorted to deliberate terrorist attacks while Western backers of the Kiev regime are turning a blind eye on Ukrainian tactics. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240227/putin-was-right-western-complicity-in-ukraines-terrorism-proves-wisdom-of-special-operation-1117001814.html belgorod region Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian terrorism, ukraine terror attacks, belgorod shelling, ukrainain crisis, belgorod terrorist attacks https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/us-actions-on-gaza-conflict-shows-washington-not-a-peacemaker-in-the-region-1117212418.html US Actions on Gaza Conflict Shows Washington 'Not a Peacemaker in the Region' US Actions on Gaza Conflict Shows Washington 'Not a Peacemaker in the Region' Sputnik International Washington continues to quietly support Israel with over 100 arms sales as the latter wages its brutal military campaign in the Gaza Strip. 2024-03-08T18:59+0000 2024-03-08T18:59+0000 2024-03-08T18:59+0000 analysis us israel gaza strip un security council (unsc) ceasefire https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/0c/1116739846_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_79358ef80b96630bf9bdbe865b22eab9.jpg After the October 7 Hamas attack and the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip that followed, the US has quietly approved and delivered over 100 sales of weapons and munitions to Israel, The Washington Post has reported, citing a classified briefing to members of Congress.Despite often portraying itself as the champion of peace, Washington also vetoed three UN Security Council draft resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.Commenting on the situation in the region, Mehmet Rakipoglu, a researcher on international affairs at the UK-based Dimensions for Strategic Studies think tank, argued that the United States is essentially a part of the problem.Rather than trying to stabilize the situation, the United States will provoke conflicts in the region, Rakipoglu suggested, arguing that radical policymakers in the US may even be trying to provoke Iran and Israel.He further pointed out that the United States is directly responsible for not reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict as it is blockading or not allowing a ceasefire from the UN Security Council. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240304/majority-of-americans-disapprove-of-bidens-policy-regarding-gaza-conflict---poll-1117117656.html israel gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us israel cooperation, us gaza ceasefire, us sending arms to israel https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/us-in-process-of-preparing-forces-to-deploy-in-gaza-pier-mission---pentagon-1117212663.html US in Process of Preparing Forces to Deploy in Gaza Pier Mission - Pentagon US in Process of Preparing Forces to Deploy in Gaza Pier Mission - Pentagon Sputnik International The United States is in the process of preparing to deploy forces for the Gaza pier mission to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave, Defense Department spokesperson Pat Ryder said on Friday. 2024-03-08T20:54+0000 2024-03-08T20:54+0000 2024-03-08T20:54+0000 military us pentagon us navy us forces humanitarian aid israel humanitarian crisis humanitarian catastrophe humanitarian disaster https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/08/1117212736_0:0:3067:1725_1920x0_80_0_0_976e41e5a9ae368266c61180a3a4c80e.jpg "The department is moving quickly to deploy its joint logistics, over-the-shore capability to provide the expeditionary pier to enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza," Ryder said during a press briefing. "We are in the process of identifying, sourcing, and, in some cases, preparing forces to deploy [to Gaza]."The Pentagon anticipates it will require more than 1,000 US military personnel to build a temporary port in Gaza.The effort is expected to take several weeks, likely up to 60 days, Ryder said.The Gaza pier mission is said to involve presence of US military personnel being on military vessels offshore, and not on the shore in Gaza, the Defense Department claimed.According to the spokesperson, the mission will involve an offshore floating pier that will be able to receive commercial vessels with aid that will be offloaded onto the floating pier and then transloaded onto Navy support vessels. Those vessels will then take it to the floating causeway, which is approximately 1,800 feet or 500 meters long, and then transported onto land and then distributed into Gaza.Meanwhile, the US has reportedly made more than 100 "quiet" weapons sales to Israel, including thousands of bombs, since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas. Despite half-baked calls from the administration for Israel to spare civilian lives, the US has continued to restock their supply of weapons, helping to create one of the most intense bombing campaigns in military history.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 31,000 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240308/us-actions-on-gaza-conflict-shows-washington-not-a-peacemaker-in-the-region-1117212418.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240307/even-democrats-warn-biden-about-israeli-rafah-invasion-plan-violating-military-aid-conditions--1117173507.html israel palestine gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International gaza pier mission, us marines, us navy, us soldiers, us troops, genocide, ethnic cleansing, humanitarian disaster, humanitarian catastrophe, humanitarian ceasefire, israel-hamas conflict, gaza strip crisis, shelling of gaza, gaza devastation, israel-palestine conflict, palestine-israel conflict, israeli-palestinian conflict, palestinian-israeli, zionist regime, zionists, hamas attack, israeli strikes, israeli forces, hostages, israeli military, hamas fighters, hamas soldiers, hamas military, killings of civilians, civilian infrastructure, civilians dead, civilians die, israel kills civilians, civilian casualties, civilian deaths, indiscriminate shelling, indiscriminate killing, war crimes, us military, us involvement, us army, us military, us-israel military cooperation, american advisors The Vincent Delaney Memorial Committee is pleased to announce the addition of the Bernie Kelly International Ladies Charity Race to the Vincent Delaney Memorial Festival weekend. The race is named after Bernie Kelly, who served as racing secretary, organizer and stalwart supporter of the Delaney family since the inception of the VDM Racing Weekend. Bernie sadly passed away in 2019 after a tough battle with cancer. The Bernie Kelly International Ladies Charity Race will raise money for Cancer Trials. This charity works to maximize access to cancer trials in order to expand cancer research and also prolong patient lives. Bernie was a firecracker of a woman who was full of life, said VDM Chairman Derek Delaney, and her presence is felt not only on the race day itself, but during the whole planning process. It feels right to be able to do this in her honour. The drivers (subject to change) will be: Charlie Flanagan Ireland Chelsie ODriscoll Ireland Grace Kelly Ireland Alexis Laidler United Kingdom Claire Bousfield United Kingdom Vicky Gill United Kingdom Jasmin Arnold United States Kimberly Butt New Zealand Lauren Tritton Australia The VDM Racing Weekend will be held on Aug. 10-11, 2024 at Wolverhampton Racecourse. International visitors who are interested in attending and need help planning can contact Derek Delaney at [email protected] for assistance. (Vincent Delaney Memorial Committee) A Texas woman is accused of stealing thousands in property from a Mooresville home and shipping it to another state. Athena Lian Wattanakone, 25, of Richland Hills, Texas, was charged with felony larceny and a magistrate set bond at $15,000. In a news release, Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said deputies answered a call on Jan. 10 at a home on Fern Hill Road near Mooresville. The victim said jewelry and clothing valued in the thousands had been stolen while they were out-of-town. Detective Charles Davidson of the Criminal Investigation Division began an investigation, learning the owners had left their home in care of a family friend, Wattanakone. Wattaanakone was taken into custody on Feb. 27. Campbell said detectives are still attempting to recover the stolen property. Lisa Noble, the former St. Amelia Church business manager suspected of stealing $465,000 from the Town of Tonawanda parish, was captured in North Carolina on Friday. She was caught late this morning, she is in custody, and I cannot provide any other details at this moment, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn told The Buffalo News on Friday afternoon. Noble has been the subject of a manhunt by the U.S. Marshals Service and other police agencies for more than six months. She has been identified by church and law enforcement officials as the prime suspect in a theft of $465,000 from St. Amelia Church. Her former boss at an audiology business in the Northtowns also told The News that he has reported to police that she also stole more than $500,000 from his company. Also known as Lisa Prynn, Noble, 43, had intended to take a plea deal in connection with the thefts in November, her attorney, Michael Dwan, said. But Noble failed to show up at two scheduled meetings at the DAs office and left town, Dwan said. Early Friday afternoon, Flynn declined to comment when asked whether Noble has been indicted. If there was an indictment, and it was unsealed, I would be able to say more about the case after that happens, Flynn said. He did confirm that his office has been investigating large-scale thefts at St. Amelia and also at Audiology Service Associates, a company which recently said it had to close its doors because of employee theft. Under the name of Prynn, Noble has been caught stealing from other employers four other times. She was sentenced to a prison term in Niagara County more than 10 years ago. Healthy hotspots: The most physically active counties in North Carolina Healthy hotspots: The most physically active counties in North Carolina How physical activity varies across the country #25. Madison, North Carolina #24. Lincoln, North Carolina #23. Haywood, North Carolina #22. Clay, North Carolina #21. Guilford, North Carolina #20. Durham, North Carolina #19. Watauga, North Carolina #18. Cabarrus, North Carolina #17. Camden, North Carolina #16. Transylvania, North Carolina #15. Henderson, North Carolina #14. Iredell, North Carolina #13. Mecklenburg, North Carolina #12. Carteret, North Carolina #11. Union, North Carolina #10. Polk, North Carolina #9. Chatham, North Carolina #8. Moore, North Carolina #7. Currituck, North Carolina #6. New Hanover, North Carolina #5. Brunswick, North Carolina #4. Buncombe, North Carolina #3. Dare, North Carolina #2. Orange, North Carolina #1. Wake, North Carolina Shuwayer narrowly escaped a Jordanian airstrike targeting his residence in the village of Um Shama two months ago. Two individuals accused of drug trafficking were fatally shot by a local group. In the city of Salkhad, a local armed group attempted to intercept a vehicle carrying Shaker and Awad al-Shuwayer, who were implicated in drug-related activities. During the ensuing gunfire exchange, Awwad Shuwayer succumbed to his injuries immediately, while Shaker Shuwayer later succumbed to his wounds. Shaker Shuwayer was noted as one of the prominent figures involved in the drug trade along the Syria-Jordan border. A resident from his village revealed that Shuwayer had ties with officers in the army and security services (of the Assad regime), which he exploited for smuggling operations in the region. Shuwayer narrowly escaped a Jordanian airstrike targeting his residence in the village of Um Shama two months ago, during which warplanes believed to be Jordanian launched airstrikes on various locations in the Daraa and Suweida countryside on December 18. Documents obtained by Suwayda 24 affirm that Shuwayer is not merely a conventional smuggler but a major trafficker, akin to Marai al-Ramthan, with some likening him to the successor of Marei al-Ramthan in the smuggling trade. The assassination of Marai al-Ramthan in May of q2023 is regarded as a significant achievement by the Jordanian authorities, as he was primarily responsible for smuggling drugs into Jordan and had previously received a sentence of hard labour ranging from 20 to 25 years by the State Security Court. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The interior of the I-Soon office, also known as Anxun in Mandarin, is seen after office hours in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan Province on Feb. 20, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Dake Kang, File The hotel was spacious. It was upscale. It had a karaoke bar. The perfect venue, the CEO of the Chinese hacking company thought, to hold a Lunar New Year banquet currying favor with government officials. There was just one drawback, his top deputy said. "Who goes there?" the deputy wrote. "The girls are so ugly." So goes the sordid wheeling and dealing that takes place behind the scenes in China's hacking industry, as revealed in a highly unusual leak last month of internal documents from a private contractor linked to China's government and police. China's hacking industry, the documents reveal, suffers from shady business practices, disgruntlement over pay and work quality, and poor security protocols. Private hacking contractors are companies that steal data from other countries to sell to the Chinese authorities. Over the past two decades, Chinese state security's demand for overseas intelligence has soared, giving rise to a vast network of these private hackers-for-hire companies that have infiltrated hundreds of systems outside China. Though the existence of these hacking contractors is an open secret in China, little was known about how they operate. But the leaked documents from a firm called I-Soon have pulled back the curtain, revealing a seedy, sprawling industry where corners are cut and rules are murky and poorly enforced in the quest to make money. Leaked chat records show I-Soon executives wooing officials over lavish dinners and late night binge drinking. They collude with competitors to rig bidding for government contracts. They pay thousands of dollars in "introduction fees" to contacts who bring them lucrative projects. I-Soon has not commented on the documents. Mei Danowski, a cybersecurity analyst who wrote about I-Soon on her blog, Natto Thoughts, said the documents show that China's hackers for hire work much like any other industry in China. "It is profit-driven," Danowski said. "It is subject to China's business culturewho you know, who you dine and wine with, and who you are friends with." Hacking that's styled as patriotic China's hacking industry rose from the country's early hacker culture, first appearing in the 1990s as citizens bought computers and went online. I-Soon's founder and CEO, Wu Haibo, was among them. Wu was a member of China's first hacktivist group, Green Armya group known informally as the "Whampoa Academy" after a famed Chinese military school. Wu and some other hackers distinguished themselves by declaring themselves "red hackers"patriots who offered their services to the Chinese Communist Party, in contrast to the freewheeling, anarchist and anti-establishment ethos popular among many coders. In 2010, Wu founded I-Soon in Shanghai. Interviews he gave to Chinese media depict a man determined to bolster his country's hacking capacity to catch up with rivals. In one 2011 interview, Wu lamented that China still lagged far behind the United States: "There are many technology enthusiasts in China, but there are very few enlightened people." With the spread of the internet, China's hacking-for-hire industry boomed, emphasizing espionage and intellectual property theft. High-profile hacks by Chinese state agents, including one at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management where personal data on 22 million existing or prospective federal employees was stolen, got so serious that then-President Barack Obama personally complained to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. They agreed in 2015 to cut back on espionage. For a couple of years, the intrusions subsided. But I-Soon and other private hacking outfits soon grew more active than ever, providing Chinese state security forces cover and deniability. I-Soon is "part of an ecosystem of contractors that has links to the Chinese patriotic hacking scene," said John Hultquist, chief analyst of Google's Mandiant cybersecurity unit. These days, Chinese hackers are a formidable force. In May 2023, Microsoft disclosed that a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group affiliated with China's People's Liberation Army called "Volt Typhoon" was targeting critical infrastructure such as telecommunications and ports in Guam, Hawaii, and elsewhere and could be laying the groundwork for disruption in the event of conflict. Today, hackers such as those at I-Soon outnumber FBI cybersecurity staff by "at least 50 to one," FBI director Christopher Wray said January at a conference in Munich. Documents reveal a seedy state-led industry Though I-Soon boasted about its hacking prowess in slick marketing PowerPoint presentations, the real business took place at hotpot parties, late night drinking sessions and poaching wars with competitors, leaked records show. A picture emerges of a company enmeshed in a seedy, sprawling industry that relies heavily on connections to get things done. I-Soon leadership discussed buying gifts and which officials liked red wine. They swapped tips on who was a lightweight, and who could handle their liquor. I-Soon executives paid "introduction fees" for lucrative projects, chat records show, including tens of thousands of RMB (thousands of dollars) to a man who landed them a 285,000 RMB ($40,000) contract with police in Hebei province. To sweeten the deal, I-Soon's chief operating officer, Chen Cheng, suggested arranging the man a drinking and karaoke session with women. "He likes to touch girls," Chen wrote. It wasn't just officials they courted. Competitors, too, were targets of wooing over late night drinking sessions. Some were partnerssubcontractors or collaborators on government projects. Others were hated rivals who constantly poached their staff. Often, they were both. One, Chinese cybersecurity giant Qi Anxin, was especially loathed, despite being one of I-Soon's key investors and business partners. "Qi Anxin's HR is a green tea bitch who seduces our young men everywhere and has no morals," COO Chen wrote to Wu, the CEO, using a Chinese internet slur that refers to innocent-looking but ambitious young women. I-Soon also has a complicated relationship with Chengdu 404, a competitor charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for hacking over 100 targets worldwide. They worked with 404 and drank with their executives but lagged on payments to the company and were eventually sued over a software development contract, Chinese court records show. The source of the I-Soon documents is unclear, and executives and Chinese police are investigating. And though Beijing has repeatedly denied involvement in offensive hacking, the leak illustrates I-Soon and other hacking companies' deep ties with the Chinese state. For example, chat records show China's Ministry of Public Security gave companies access to proofs of concept of so-called "zero days", the industry term for a previously unknown software security hole. Zero days are prized because they can be exploited until detected. I-Soon company executives debated how to obtain them. They are regularly discovered at an annual Chinese state-sponsored hacking competition. In other records, executives discussed sponsoring hacking competitions at Chinese universities to scout for new talent. Many of I-Soon's clients were police in cities across China, a leaked contract list showed. I-Soon scouted for databases they thought would sell well with officers, such as Vietnamese traffic data to the southeast province of Yunnan, or data on exiled Tibetans to the Tibetan regional government. At times, I-Soon hacked on demand. One chat shows two parties discussing a potential "long-term client" interested in data from several government offices related to an unspecified "prime minister." A Chinese state body, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, also owns a small stake in I-Soon through a Tibetan investment fund, Chinese corporate records show. I-Soon proclaimed their patriotism to win new business. Top executives discussed participating in China's poverty alleviation schemeone of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's signature initiativesto make connections. I-Soon CEO Wu suggested his COO become a member of Chengdu's People's Political Consultative Conference, a government advisory body comprised of scientists, entrepreneurs, and other prominent members of society. And in interviews with state media, Wu quoted Mencius, a Chinese philosopher, casting himself as a scholar concerned with China's national interest. But despite Wu's professed patriotism, leaked chat records tell a more complicated story. They depict a competitive man motivated to get rich. "You can't be Lei Feng," Wu wrote in private messages, referring to a long-dead Communist worker held up in propaganda for generations as a paragon of selflessness. "If you don't make money, being famous is useless." Lax security, poor pay among hacking workers China's booming hackers-for-hire industry has been hit by the country's recent economic downturn, leading to thin profits, low pay and an exodus of talent, the leaked documents show. I-Soon lost money and struggled with cash flow issues, falling behind on payments to subcontractors. In the past few years, the pandemic hit China's economy, causing police to pull back on spending that hurt I-Soon's bottom line. "The government has no money," I-Soon's COO wrote in 2020. Staff are often poorly paid. In a salary document dated 2022, most staff on I-Soon's safety evaluation and software development teams were paid just 5,600 yuan ($915) to 9,000 yuan ($1,267) a month, with only a handful receiving more than that. In the documents, I-Soon officials acknowledged the low pay and worried about the company's reputation. Low salaries and pay disparities caused employees to complain, chat records show. Leaked employee lists show most I-Soon staff held a degree from a vocational training school, not an undergraduate degree, suggesting lower levels of education and training. Sales staff reported that clients were dissatisfied with the quality of I-Soon data, making it difficult to collect payments. I-Soon is a fraction of China's hacking ecosystem. The country boasts world-class hackers, many employed by the Chinese military and other state institutions. But the company's troubles reflect broader issues in China's private hacking industry. The country's cratering economy, Beijing's tightening controls and the growing role of the state has led to an exodus of top hacking talent, four cybersecurity analysts and Chinese industry insiders told The Associated Press. "China is no longer the country we used to know. A lot of highly skilled people have been leaving," said one industry insider, declining to be named to speak on a sensitive topic. Under Xi, the person added, the growing role of the state in China's technology industry has emphasized ideology over competence, impeded pay and made access to officials pivotal. A major issue, people say, is that most Chinese officials lack the technical literacy to verify contractor claims. So hacking companies prioritize currying favor over delivering excellence. In recent years, Beijing has heavily promoted China's tech industry and the use of technology in government, part of a broader strategy to facilitate the country's rise. But much of China's data and cybersecurity work has been contracted out to smaller subcontractors with novice programmers, leading to poor digital practices and large leaks of data. Despite the clandestine nature of I-Soon's work, the company has surprisingly lax security protocols. I-Soon's offices in Chengdu, for example, have minimal security and are open to the public, despite posters on the walls of its offices reminding employees that "to keep the country and the party's secrets is every citizen's required duty." The leaked files show that top I-Soon executives communicated frequently on WeChat, which lacks end-to-end encryption. The documents do show that staff are screened for political reliability. One metric, for example, shows that I-Soon checks whether staff have any relatives overseas, while another shows that employees are classified according to whether they are members of China's ruling Communist Party. Still, Danowski, the cybersecurity analyst, says many standards in China are often "just for show." But at the end of the day, she added, it may not matter. "It's a little sloppy. The tools are not that impressive. But the Ministry of Public Security sees that you get the job done," she said of I-Soon. "They will hire whoever can get the job done." 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The USS Portland test-fires a laser weapon. The photo captured infrared light to make the beam visible. Credit: Staff Sgt. Donald Holbert/Marine Corps Nations around the world are rapidly developing high-energy laser weapons for military missions on land and sea, and in the air and space. Visions of swarms of small, inexpensive drones filling the skies or skimming across the waves are motivating militaries to develop and deploy laser weapons as an alternative to costly and potentially overwhelmed missile-based defenses. Laser weapons have been a staple of science fiction since long before lasers were even invented. More recently, they have also featured prominently in some conspiracy theories. Both types of fiction highlight the need to understand how laser weapons actually work and what they are used for. How lasers work A laser uses electricity to generate photons, or light particles. The photons pass through a gain medium, a material that creates a cascade of additional photons, which rapidly increases the number of photons. All these photons are then focused into a narrow beam by a beam director. In the decades since the first laser was unveiled in 1960, engineers have developed a variety of lasers that generate photons at different wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, from infrared to ultraviolet. The high-energy laser systems that are finding military applications are based on solid-state lasers that use special crystals to convert the input electrical energy into photons. A key aspect of high-power solid-state lasers is that the photons are created in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and so cannot be seen by the human eye. When it interacts with a surface, a laser beam generates different effects based on its photon wavelength, the power in the beam and the material of the surface. Low-power lasers that generate photons in the visible part of the spectrum are useful as light sources for pointers and light shows at public events. These beams are of such low power that they simply reflect off a surface without damaging it. Higher-power laser systems are used to cut through biological tissue in medical procedures. The highest-power lasers can heat, vaporize, melt and burn through many different materials and are used in industrial processes for welding and cutting. Lasers work by turning electricity into photons and bouncing them back and forth between two mirrors through a special gain material that creates a cascade of many more photons. Credit: Shigeru23/Wikimedia, CC BY-SA In addition to the power level of the laser, the ability to deliver these various effects is determined by the distance between the laser and its target. Laser weapons Based in part on the progress made in high-power industrial lasers, militaries are finding an increasing number of uses for high-energy lasers. One key advantage for high-energy laser weapons is that they provide an "infinite magazine." Unlike traditional weapons such as guns and cannons that have a finite amount of ammunition, a high-energy laser can keep firing as long as it has electrical power. The U.S. Army is deploying a truck-based high-energy laser to shoot down a range of targets, including drones, helicopters, mortar shells and rockets. The 50-kilowatt laser is mounted on the Stryker infantry fighting vehicle, and the Army deployed four of the systems for battlefield testing in the Middle East in February 2024. The U.S. Navy has deployed a ship-based high-energy laser to defend against small and fast-moving ocean surface vessels as well as missiles and drones. The Navy installed a 60-kilowatt laser weapon on the destroyer the USS Preble in August 2022. The Air Force is developing high-energy lasers on aircraft for defensive and offensive missions. In 2010, the Air Force tested a megawatt laser mounted on a modified Boeing 747, hitting a ballistic missile as it was being launched. The Air Force is currently working on a smaller weapon system for fighter aircraft. Russia appears to be developing a ground-based high-energy laser to "blind" their adversaries' satellites. A U.S. Army Stryker armored fighting vehicle configured with a high-energy laser weapon, the extensions at the top rear of the vehicle. Credit: Jim Kendall, U.S. Army Limitations of laser weapons One key challenge for militaries using high-energy lasers is the high levels of power needed to create useful effects from afar. Unlike an industrial laser that may be just a few inches from its target, military operations involve significantly larger distances. To defend against an incoming threat, such as a mortar shell or a small boat, laser weapons need to engage their targets before they can inflict any damage. However, to burn through materials at safe distances requires tens to hundreds of kilowatts of power in the laser beam. The smallest prototype laser weapon draws 10 kilowatts of power, roughly equivalent to an electric car. The latest high-power laser weapon under development draws 300 kilowatts of power, enough to power 30 households. And because high-energy lasers are only 50% efficient at best, they generate a tremendous amount of waste heat that has to be managed. This means high-energy lasers require extensive power generation and cooling infrastructure that places limits on the types of effects that can be generated from different military platforms. Army trucks and Air Force fighter jets have the least amount of space for high-energy laser weapons, and so these systems are limited to targets that require relatively low power, such as downing drones or disabling missiles. Ships and larger aircraft can accommodate larger high-energy lasers with the potential to burn holes in boats and ground vehicles. Permanent ground-based systems have the least constraints and therefore the highest power, making it potentially feasible to dazzle a distant satellite. Another important limitation for platform-based high-energy laser weapons relates to the infinite magazine concept. Since the truck, ship or airplane must carry the power source for the laser, and that will limit the power source's capacity, the lasers can only be used for a limited amount of time before they need to recharge their batteries. The U.S. military is field-testing several high-energy laser weapon systems. There are also fundamental limits to high-energy laser weapons, including diminished effectiveness in rain, fog and smoke, which scatter laser beams. The laser beams also need to remain locked onto their targets for several seconds in order to inflict damage. Current prototype laser weapons are also proving a challenge to maintain in combat zones. No fire from the skies A new type of conspiracy theory has emerged in recent years claiming that nefarious entities have used airborne high-energy lasers to start wildfires in California, Hawaii and Texas. This is highly unlikely for several reasons. First, the power level needed to ignite vegetation with a high-energy laser from the sky would require a large power source installed on a large aircraft. A plane that size would have been highly visible right before any fires were ignited. Second, in some images that claim to show the fires being started, the laser beams are green. Beams from high-energy lasers are invisible. What comes next In the future, high-energy laser weapons are likely to continue to evolve with increased power levels that will expand the range of targets they can be used against. Emerging threats posed by low-cost, weaponized drones like those in use in conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine make it more likely that high-energy lasers will also find nonmilitary applications such as defending the public against terrorist attacks. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Granulobot is composed of simple gear-like units with magnets. This design allows the individual units to move as a whole, much like a swarm of bees. Credit: Saintyves and Jaeger Schools of fish, colonies of bees, and murmurations of starlings exhibit swarming behavior in nature, flowing like a liquid in synchronized, shape-shifting coordination. Through the lens of fluid mechanics, swarming is of particular interest to physicists like Heinrich Jaeger, the University of Chicago Sewell Avery Distinguished Service Professor in Physics and the James Franck Institute, and James Franck Institute research staff scientist Baudouin Saintyves, who apply physics principles to the development of modular, adaptive robotics. A swarm's ability to flow like liquid, act in concert without a leader, and react to its environment inspired Saintyves and Jaeger's latest creation, which they call the "Granulobot." It can split apart, reassemble, and reorganize to adapt to its environment. And depending on its configuration, it can act like either a rigid solid or a flowing liquid. The aggregate system "blurs the distinction between soft, modular, and swarm robotics," says the team. Developed in collaboration with Matthew Spenko, professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology at Chicago, the prototype is described in a paper published in Science Robotics. Soft machines The "granular robot" is a collection of simple, cylindrical, gear-like units, outfitted with two magnets that can rotate around the cylinder's axis. One magnet rotates freely while a battery-powered motor drives the other. This design allows the individual units to connect magnetically and once coupled, push their neighbors and cause them to spin. The contact between each unit moves the aggregate as a whole, much like a swarm. Red arrows represent the actuated magnets direction of rotation. Blue arrows represent Granulobots in the process of reconfiguration. (A) Individual Granulobot units can roll and attach magnetically into larger assemblies, which then can move using a subset of units as wheels. (B) Exerting torque onto their neighbors, individual units, and groups of units can reposition themselves and thus rearrange the assemblys shape. (C) By exerting torque larger than the magnetic binding between neighbors, units can split off and form autonomous robots on their own. Credit: Baudouin Saintyves "The field of soft robotics is particularly interesting for applications where robots interface with humans," says Jaeger. "You don't want people to get hurt." Yet the necessity for soft robotics extends beyond safety into suitability. A robot that can change shape can crawl into "nooks and crannies," says Jaeger, or manage uncertain terrainboth useful for search and rescue, for instance. For a robot to change shape and perform different functions, its ability to fluctuate between rigid and soft predictably and reversibly is key. Granular materials possess inherent properties that make this transformation possible. This class of materials can transition between liquid and solid behavior based on contact rather than temperature. That transition is caused by a phenomenon called jamming, which happens when particles in a disordered, chaotic system are so close together that they push against each other, and their flow stops. Jaegera condensed matter physicistdescribes driving on a highway: Sometimes you're cruising along, but sometimes you hit bumper-to-bumper cars, and traffic grinds to a halt. When this happens in a granular material, says Jaeger, "it's essentially a big traffic jam." Jamming can be seen in action with a brick of vacuum-sealed coffee: Break the seal and the coffee grounds can pour out. Ground coffee works so well in this regard that Jaeger used it to create a soft robotic gripper that can grasp and hold objects regardless of their shape. A Granulobot cylinder is far bigger than a coffee ground, but the principle is the same. "Jamming is the foundation for the Granulobot to be able to transition from a malleable, more liquid behavior," says Jaeger, "to something much more like a solid." Credit: University of Chicago Scalability The Granulobot is designed to demonstrate the team's modular, self-organizing approach, but in the future, perhaps the modules could be extremely smallthousands of units so tiny that the group appears to be a singular mass, notes Jaeger. "Another direction that could be really fun to think about is to make them much, much bigger." Physics often relies on specific conditions, says Jaegerextremely small or hot or cold. "Many of my colleagues must work in certain environments, otherwise their whole physics won't work. The same can be said for life." Yet the physics principles underpinning the Granulobot are not tied to scale or temperature. "They could work underwater; they could work in outer space," says Jaeger. The Granulobot promises exciting advances in robotics, but Saintyves and Jaeger are physicists. They are using this research to also find new ways to think about matter. "Depending on the self-coordination and the transfer of energy around the environment, your system will either be a programmable material or an autonomous robot. That's a continuum," says Saintyves. But "we're blurring the frontier between matter and robotics." Within a classical programmable matter approach, the material is a machine; "Here we are exploring the idea that the machine is a material." More information: Baudouin Saintyves et al, A self-organizing robotic aggregate using solid and liquid-like collective states, Science Robotics (2024). DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adh4130 Journal information: Science Robotics 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: National Renewable Energy Laboratory A new approach to grid planning could make it possible to power your home with the nation's best and lowest-cost wind and solar energy, no matter where you live. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) led the analysis with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) studying the economics of building long-distance, high-voltage transmission lines that are anchored to interregional renewable energy zones (IREZs), or areas with very high concentrations of the lowest-cost developable renewable energy potential. The envisioned transmission lines would cross hundreds of miles and link the nation's best renewable energy resources to the biggest load centers. Based on the NREL analysis, the IREZ approach could save money overall, help keep the lights on, and prudently speed up the pace of decarbonizing the nation's electric grid. Modeled benefits of interregional renewable energy zones Today, almost all transmission lines are local or regional, as opposed to interregional, which would cross planning authority seams. Transmission lines were originally designed to bring power from power plants to nearby communities. But most of the nation's best wind and solar resources are located hundreds of miles away from areas with lots of electricity demand. For this study, NREL modeled 20 IREZ scenarios focusing on cost, reliability, and electricity rate impacts. Nearly all wind IREZ regions are in the Midwest, and all solar IREZs are in the Southwest. IREZs provide the potential to optimize energy generation costs, with costs per kilowatt-hour less than that of wind and solar elsewhere. Each zone contains an IREZ hub, where transmission substations collect power from various renewable energy plants and connect them to bulk power systems. Power from an IREZ is sent along high-voltage direct current transmission paths across state lines to major load centers (pictured in red above). Using IREZ transmission planning, low-cost renewable electricity could be sent from areas like southern Wyomingwhich has one of the highest wind energy potentials in the countryto cities like Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Many of the modeled IREZ corridors already have high-voltage transmission projects that are either in advanced planning stages or are already under construction. Additionally, many of the IREZ corridors were modeled in areas identified in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Grid Deployment Office's National Transmission Needs Study that need deployment to meet future demand, generation, and reliability needs. NREL found the potential savings from the low cost of renewable generation offset the cost of building the long-distance interregional transmission corridors. Plus, the IREZ corridors could provide more reliable resources to help keep the lights on than depending solely on local or regional resources. Mapping out interstate collaboration for IREZ corridors A crucial component to the potential creation of IREZ corridors is collaboration between states. "Long-distance transmission between planning regions was always harder to get through the approval process than new lines within the same region," NREL researcher and lead author David Hurlbut said. "But over the past few years the power sector has been changing in ways that might make interregional transmission a more compelling option than it used to be." The NREL study assumed that the path of least regulatory resistance was collaboration among states leading decisions on development of IREZ corridors. "States are crucial decision makers in the transmission process," Hurlbut said. "The IREZ analysis is designed to make it easy for states to answer the regulatory questions they need to satisfy in order to get beneficial interregional lines moving." States along the same corridor could work together to pursue the most cost-effective options for transmission planning and means to compensate landowners where proposed transmission lines could go. The study assumed that once states reach agreements on IREZ corridor development, they could reach out for federal financial, regulatory, and analytical support. The study also explored the implications for tribal lands, notably those in western Oklahoma, northwestern Montana, and southeastern Arizona. The hope is that the findings from the study could help inform tribal decisions about how they wish to participate in the nation's energy transformation with respect to land access, employment, tribal revenues, and other IREZ corridor development questions. IREZs are an actionable piece of a larger national picture that NREL and PNNL have been studying for more than two years. The National Transmission Planning Study (NTP Study), conducted by NREL and PNNL, aims to identify transmission options that will provide broad-scale benefits to electric customers, inform regional and interregional transmission planning processes, and identify interregional and national strategies to accelerate decarbonization while maintaining system reliability. The NTP Study will be complemented by several companion reports, the first of which is the IREZ report. The NTP Study and its key findings will be released later this year, along with a companion report to IREZ that explains the regulatory challenges to interregional transmission that have historically prevented realizing many of the benefits quantified in the NTP Study technical scenarios. More information: Interregional Renewable Energy Zones: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy24osti/88228.pdf This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An EU project built apartments in southwestern France to showcase wood's potential in construction. Credit: BASAJAUN, 2024 Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements. In France's southwestern Gironde department, where half the area is covered by forests, authorities in 2022 built a secondary school with wood from local pine trees. The Pian-Medoc school, located between the city of Bordeaux and some of France's most famous vineyards, reflects a push to find practical uses for wood from nearby trees while protecting forests. Showcase housing "The aim was to preserve the existing trees as much as possible and to repurpose those that inevitably had to be cut down," said Maxim Peveri, a project manager at the Gironde department. The department became a central part of a Europe-wide research project that received EU funding to promote the use of wood, which is both a versatile and a recyclable material. Called BASAJAUN, the project is due to end this month after four and a half years. The flagship result of the initiative is a wooden apartment building that is located adjacent to the Pian-Medoc school and will house some staff members. The two-story structure with 16 flats highlights how forest resources can aid rural areas, be sustainably managed, and help green the construction industry. "This building serves as a demonstration showcase," said Dr. Javier Garcia Jaca, coordinator of BASAJAUN and a project director at the Tecnalia Research and Innovation Foundation in Spain. The building, due to be inaugurated in April 2024, is made of non-local wood from Spanish and Swedish suppliers of pine, poplar, and spruce. The facade was designed to be disassembled for reuse. It consists of a bio-composite frame, structural insulated panels and a cladding. The panels are plywood boards with natural wood fiber as the insulation material instead of the usual synthetic foam. While having the same required technical properties as synthetic foam, natural wood fiber is less polluting. The facade was made by an Italian company named Focchi and the insulation panels were manufactured by Spain-based Garnica. Sweden-based Moelven supplied the wood for the internal structure beams. All three companies are partners in BASAJAUN. "This building stands as proof that we can transform and improve the construction sector, which has a very high environmental impact," said Garcia Jaca. Green growth BASAJAUN advances one of the European Green Deal's goals of profoundly transforming production to achieve climate neutrality, including in rural areas. And connecting the European Green Deal to people's daily lives and living spaces is the New European Bauhaus initiative, which fuses architecture with sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion. The EU is organizing an NEB festival in the Belgian capital Brussels on 9-13 April. In the EU, buildings are responsible for around 40% of energy consumption and 35% of greenhouse-gas emissions. Furthermore, traditional building materials such as concrete and steel are themselves energy-intensive, adding to the greenhouse-gas emissions that cause climate change. By contrast, trees mitigate climate change by storing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the atmosphere when they grow. And wood used in construction continues to store CO 2 , reducing the carbon footprint of the building industry. "By incorporating more wood, buildings can lower emissions and even become carbon sinks," said Garcia Jaca. In the groove Around 39% of the EU land areaor 159 million hectaresis covered by forests, making them a valuable domestic source of building materials. The EU's goal is to ensure that wood is sourced sustainably. That means managing forests in a way that promotes biodiversity, protects ecosystems, and supports local communities. The carbon storage potential of new residential wood buildings in the EUif the opportunity to build them were fully exploitedis 55 million tons a year, according to BASAJAUN. That's equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 12 million petrol-powered passenger cars. Bio-based materials, including wood, account for just 3% of the mass of building material used in Europe, according to a 2022 report. Of that share, wood accounts for two-thirds. BASAJAUN has brought together partners from 11 EU countries, stretching from Finland to Portugal. It includes one non-EU participanta university from Chile. Besides the apartment building near Bordeaux, the project has developed a system for digitally tracking wooden materials used in construction from start to finish. Identifying all the steps in the supply chainbeginning with an individual tree and ending with a specific item in a buildingpromises a clearer picture of the economic, environmental, and social benefits of wood, according to the project. To ensure the wood sector's voice is heard within the New European Bauhaus, the BASAJAUN team has forged an industry alliance called Wood4Bauhaus.eu. Chips are down Other EU-funded researchers are seeking to ensure that more used wood in Europe gets recycled. Their project, called WOODCIRCLES, estimates that less than half of European wood waste50 million tons a yearis being recycled at present. The project runs for four years through May 2027. Wood waste consists of non-virgin timber such as shavings, chippings and large, intact pieces. It gets used by companies in what is known as the particle board industry. The main challenge with wood waste is its highly variable quality, according to Dr. Anders Kjellow, the coordinator of WOODCIRCLES and center project manager at the Danish Technological Institute near Copenhagen. "Dismantling a building can result in a large pile of wood in various shapes and sizes, potentially mixed with metals and substances or even showing signs of rot," he said. The particle board industry addresses this challenge by grinding everything down into small particles. These are then glued and pressed together to make a low-cost product that is mainly for non-load-bearing applications. Architects to academics The WOODCIRCLES team will try to find a way to reuse large pieces of wood without going through the whole process of grinding them down into particles and using those to make load-bearing construction products. The pan-European project has brought together 20 organizations covering the entire wood-construction value chain. They include architects, developers, contractors, timber suppliers, academics, and digital designers. "Our aim is to create complementary value chains to minimize waste and resource consumption," said Kjellow. WOODCIRCLES also has a strong design focus. It's working on a wood-based building system that can be disassembled for easy re-use, according to Kjellow. The idea is to think about reusing wood from the start to avoid the current bottleneck caused by wood waste. "Wood epitomizes sustainable material," he said. "It's imperative that we also use it in a sustainable manner." That's why, decades from now when the wooden apartment building near Bordeaux is decommissioned, its facade will be easily dismantled and the components given a new life in another construction. More information: BASAJAUN WOODCIRCLES This article was originally published in Horizon the EU Research and Innovation Magazine. Local police and fire department chiefs held a luncheon panel Thursday to discuss the importance of community engagement and hiring challenges as part of the Texas A&M University Bush School City and County Governance Symposium. The five-person panel included Brazos County Sheriff Wayne Dicky, College Station Police Chief Billy Couch, Bryan Police Chief Eric Bruske, A&M Police Chief Mike Johnson and Bryan Fire Chief Rich Giusti. Throughout the hourlong discussion, the panel took questions from facilitator and UPD Lieutenant Jennifer Enloe, as well as several questions from the audience. One of the largest issues facing police and fire departments across the county has been the substantial decrease in the applicant pool. Johnson, who has been in law enforcement since 1993, said not just anyone can become a police officer. I take very seriously who we hire and who we bring into our department and we are asking to go out and engage in being represented in our community as a law enforcement officer, he said. We are not only looking for someone that can go out and enforce the law but more importantly, what type of person are they? Are they able to really think on their feet? Are they able to maintain the integrity and be adaptable? Johnson said finding a candidate to hire is only part of the battle and that training an officer takes a substantial amount of time. All of them [potential hires] are a risk one way or another because they came with whatever baggage they had growing up, he said. They came with those habits and those things, so we have to unravel that understanding and teach them the service model. From the time we hire someone as a police officer until the time they take their first call for service is 11 and a half months. If your attrition rate is 8 to 10 a year, you can see how difficult this problem is to continue hiring and rehiring. Giusti, who has been the Bryan fire chief for nearly three years, said finding recruits dedicated to services is key to maintaining a fully staffed department. We have people that are in public safety and Id call some of them mercenaries that will be like, I want to go here because its higher pay or here because I like this schedule, he said. I dont want them. I want the people that are here for the community. I want the people that here for the organization. I want a person thats going to be committed, thats going to believe in what we believe here. One important aspect of building and maintaining community trust is transparency. Couch, who has over 40 years of police experience, said that transparency should apply both externally and internally. In the last year, we hired a company, thats a survey company, and they work with 911 so if someone calls 911 they get a call back from the survey company once the police are off the call, he said. They ask how the service was with the officers involved, and weve been encouraged by the results. We have actually extended it now to where our police officers get called and asked how they thought about the departments [response.] Responding directly to residents and community members concerns is also vital to maintain trust, Dicky said. A sheriff I spoke with recently on this topic used a phrase that I liked and its that We should strive to be open and engaging and I think thats what everybody has said here, he said. When we fall short, we have to pursue that and correct it and do our job. Officers need to be a real part of their community in order to serve it properly, Johnson said. I think it is incredibly important to be involved with our community, he said. I think also just who we are as men and women even outside of the uniform, who are we in the grocery stores with our community? Who are we in church with our community? How are we engaging in these roles because we are the community as well. Toroso Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Free Report) by 9.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 43,296 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 3,611 shares during the quarter. Toroso Investments LLCs holdings in Aflac were worth $3,323,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Machina Capital S.A.S. grew its holdings in shares of Aflac by 366.6% during the 2nd quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S. now owns 9,701 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $677,000 after purchasing an additional 7,622 shares during the period. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Aflac by 12.7% during the 3rd quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 48,745 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,741,000 after purchasing an additional 5,477 shares during the period. Great Lakes Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Aflac by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 81,346 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,678,000 after purchasing an additional 520 shares during the period. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC purchased a new position in Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $803,000. Finally, MML Investors Services LLC purchased a new position in Aflac in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $5,237,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 66.75% of the companys stock. Get Aflac alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. UBS Group upped their price target on Aflac from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Aflac from $82.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Raymond James increased their target price on Aflac from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Aflac from $61.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Aflac from $85.00 to $80.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Aflac has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $80.36. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Masatoshi Koide sold 30,493 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.91, for a total transaction of $2,436,695.63. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 86,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,879,451.90. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Masatoshi Koide sold 30,493 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.91, for a total transaction of $2,436,695.63. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 86,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,879,451.90. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Arthur Reginald Collins sold 3,000 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.73, for a total value of $239,190.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,592 shares in the company, valued at approximately $445,850.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Aflac Trading Up 0.2 % NYSE:AFL opened at $82.29 on Friday. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $60.20 and a 1 year high of $86.20. The stock has a market cap of $47.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.62, a PEG ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.91. The business has a fifty day moving average of $81.27 and a 200-day moving average of $79.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a current ratio of 0.06. Aflac (NYSE:AFL Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The financial services provider reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.47 by ($0.22). The firm had revenue of $3.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.44 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 24.92% and a return on equity of 17.59%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.29 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.41 earnings per share for the current year. Aflac Profile (Free Report) Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. It operates in two segments, Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Aflac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aflac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alps Advisors Inc. trimmed its holdings in shares of Tellurian Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:TELL Free Report) by 3.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,122,431 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after selling 38,571 shares during the period. Alps Advisors Inc. owned approximately 0.18% of Tellurian worth $1,302,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Tellurian by 8.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,864,314 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $2,629,000 after purchasing an additional 150,846 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Tellurian by 576.8% in the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 232,967 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $270,000 after purchasing an additional 198,546 shares in the last quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Tellurian by 70.8% in the 3rd quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 41,000 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 17,000 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Tellurian by 12.8% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,362,138 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $5,060,000 after purchasing an additional 495,864 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Tellurian in the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. 32.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Tellurian alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Tellurian from $2.50 to $1.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. Tellurian Price Performance Shares of TELL opened at $0.82 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $0.91. Tellurian Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $0.36 and a fifty-two week high of $1.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Tellurian (NYSEAMERICAN:TELL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 23rd. The oil and gas producer reported ($0.01) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.04) by $0.03. Tellurian had a negative return on equity of 22.05% and a negative net margin of 100.03%. The company had revenue of $39.96 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $55.22 million. On average, research analysts expect that Tellurian Inc. will post -0.19 earnings per share for the current year. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Jonathan S. Gross bought 120,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $0.67 per share, for a total transaction of $80,400.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 460,000 shares in the company, valued at $308,200. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 6.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About Tellurian (Free Report) Tellurian Inc engages in the natural gas business worldwide. The company is developing a portfolio of natural gas production, liquefied natural gas (LNG) marketing, and infrastructure assets that includes an approximately 27.6 million tons per annum LNG export facility and an associated pipeline. It owns interests in 27,689 net acres of natural gas assets and 143 producing wells located in the Haynesville Shale trend of northern Louisiana. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TELL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Tellurian Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:TELL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Tellurian Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tellurian and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK Get Free Report) and Nampak (OTCMKTS:NPKLY Get Free Report) are both industrial products companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends. Profitability This table compares Graphic Packaging and Nampaks net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Graphic Packaging alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Graphic Packaging 7.67% 35.66% 8.28% Nampak N/A N/A N/A Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Graphic Packaging and Nampak, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Graphic Packaging 1 3 5 0 2.44 Nampak 0 0 0 0 N/A Valuation & Earnings Graphic Packaging currently has a consensus price target of $28.22, indicating a potential upside of 5.42%. Given Graphic Packagings higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Graphic Packaging is more favorable than Nampak. This table compares Graphic Packaging and Nampaks revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Graphic Packaging $9.43 billion 0.87 $723.00 million $2.35 11.39 Nampak N/A N/A N/A $1.80 11.67 Graphic Packaging has higher revenue and earnings than Nampak. Graphic Packaging is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nampak, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Dividends Graphic Packaging pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.5%. Nampak pays an annual dividend of $0.11 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. Graphic Packaging pays out 17.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Nampak pays out 5.9% 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. Institutional and Insider Ownership 99.7% of Graphic Packaging shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of Nampak shares are held by institutional investors. 1.2% of Graphic Packaging shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Graphic Packaging beats Nampak on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Graphic Packaging (Get 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. The company offers recycled, unbleached, and bleached paperboards to various paperboard packaging converters and brokers; and paperboard packaging products, such as folding cartons, cups, lids, and food containers primarily to consumer packaged goods, quick-service restaurants, and foodservice companies; and barrier packaging products that protect against moisture, hot and cold temperature, grease, oil, oxygen, sunlight, insects, and other potential product-damaging factors. It also offers various laminated, coated, and printed packaging structures that are produced from its recycled, unbleached, and bleached paperboard grades, as well as other grades of paperboards that are purchased from third-party suppliers; designs and manufactures specialized packaging machines that package bottles and cans, and non-beverage consumer products; and installs its packaging machines at customer plants and provides support, service, and performance monitoring of the machines. The company markets its products primarily through sales offices and broker arrangements with third parties in the United States, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Graphic Packaging Holding Company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. About Nampak (Get Free Report) Nampak Limited manufactures and sells metal, plastic, and paper packaging products in South Africa and rest of Africa. It offers HDPE and PET bottles and jars, plastic closures, and crates and drums for the fruit juice, dairy, carbonated soft drink, water, alcoholic beverage, bakery, agriculture, chemical, petroleum, personal care, and household markets. The company also provides aluminum beverage cans and ends for the alcoholic, carbonated soft drink, fruit juice, energy drink, vegetable juice, and ice tea markets; tinplate food cans for the canned food market; and aluminum and tinplate cans, including aerosols, monoblocs, and paint and shoe polish cans to the personal care, household goods, and industrial markets, as well as crowns for the beverage market. In addition, it offers beverage cartons for milk, fruit juice, water, and traditional beer; self-opening paper bags for the flour and sugar markets; and corrugated cases/boxes for the tobacco, poultry, and food and general commercial markets, as well as labels and folding cartons for the tobacco, food, and beverage markets. The company is headquartered in Sandton, South Africa. Receive News & Ratings for Graphic Packaging Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Graphic Packaging and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP raised its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 478.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 25,082 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 20,749 shares during the quarter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LPs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $1,377,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SCHW. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Providence Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Charles Schwab during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Charles Schwab during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. State of Wyoming lifted its position in Charles Schwab by 71.0% during the 2nd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 624 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in Charles Schwab during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.61% of the companys stock. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Price Performance Shares of SCHW opened at $68.17 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $120.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.84, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.00. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $64.94 and a 200 day moving average price of $60.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.43 and a quick ratio of 0.43. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $45.00 and a 12 month high of $76.47. Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $4.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.49 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 21.33% and a net margin of 26.90%. The firms revenue was down 18.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.07 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, February 9th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.47%. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 39.37%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was 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 $2,425,533.39. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was 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 $2,425,533.39. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Carolyn Schwab-Pomerantz sold 9,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.29, for a total value of $587,610.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 585,057 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,198,371.53. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 172,616 shares of company stock worth $11,181,109. 6.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades SCHW has been the topic of several recent research reports. Redburn Atlantic began coverage on Charles Schwab in a research report on Friday, December 1st. They set a sell rating and a $52.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Charles Schwab from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded Charles Schwab from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $75.00 to $70.00 in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Raymond James dropped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and set a $71.00 price objective (up from $70.00) on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $69.92. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Charles Schwab Charles Schwab Company 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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in Camden Property Trust (NYSE:CPT Free Report) by 8.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 427,463 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 33,380 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co.s holdings in Camden Property Trust were worth $40,429,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its stake in Camden Property Trust by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 97,859 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $9,272,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in Camden Property Trust by 11.3% in the second quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 156,338 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $17,021,000 after purchasing an additional 15,851 shares during the period. MBB Public Markets I LLC raised its position in Camden Property Trust by 201.2% in the third quarter. MBB Public Markets I LLC now owns 235,013 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $22,228,000 after purchasing an additional 156,985 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotia raised its position in Camden Property Trust by 13.8% in the third quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 10,519 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $995,000 after purchasing an additional 1,277 shares during the period. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System grew its stake in shares of Camden Property Trust by 7.2% in the second quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 306,937 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $33,416,000 after acquiring an additional 20,622 shares in the last quarter. 95.04% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Camden Property Trust alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have commented on CPT shares. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Camden Property Trust in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $112.00 price target for the company. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Camden Property Trust in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $103.00 price objective on shares of Camden Property Trust in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on shares of Camden Property Trust from $111.50 to $110.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Camden Property Trust from $95.00 to $98.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $104.12. Insider Activity at Camden Property Trust In other Camden Property Trust news, CEO Richard J. Campo sold 38,336 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.22, for a total transaction of $3,765,361.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 267,132 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $26,237,705.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Camden Property Trust news, CFO Alexander J. Jessett sold 9,803 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.21, for a total transaction of $962,752.63. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 114,893 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,283,641.53. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Richard J. Campo sold 38,336 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.22, for a total value of $3,765,361.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 267,132 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,237,705.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 55,957 shares of company stock worth $5,495,920. 1.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Camden Property Trust Stock Performance Shares of CPT opened at $98.73 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $96.43 and a two-hundred day moving average of $96.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The stock has a market cap of $10.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.68, a PEG ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 0.83. Camden Property Trust has a one year low of $82.81 and a one year high of $114.82. Camden Property Trust (NYSE:CPT Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The real estate investment trust reported $2.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.72 by $0.31. Camden Property Trust had a net margin of 26.15% and a return on equity of 8.07%. The business had revenue of $387.59 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $387.33 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.74 earnings per share. Camden Property Trusts quarterly revenue was up 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Camden Property Trust will post 6.78 earnings per share for the current year. Camden Property Trust Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be given a dividend of $1.03 per share. This is a positive change from Camden Property Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.17%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. Camden Property Trusts payout ratio is presently 108.11%. Camden Property Trust Profile (Free Report) Camden Property Trust, an S&P 500 Company, is a real estate company primarily engaged in the ownership, management, development, redevelopment, acquisition, and construction of multifamily apartment communities. Camden owns and operates 172 properties containing 58,634 apartment homes across the United States. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CPT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Camden Property Trust (NYSE:CPT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Camden Property Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Camden Property Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ Free Report) (TSE:CNQ) by 5.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 421,856 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after buying an additional 20,254 shares during the quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Canadian Natural Resources were worth $27,281,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of CNQ. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in Canadian Natural Resources during the 1st quarter valued at $960,796,000. Capital International Investors lifted its stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 88.2% during the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 7,930,544 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $491,064,000 after purchasing an additional 3,716,523 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 6.2% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 40,235,475 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $2,493,796,000 after purchasing an additional 2,332,528 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lifted its stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 43.2% during the 3rd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 7,640,000 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $494,262,000 after purchasing an additional 2,305,000 shares during the period. Finally, BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp lifted its stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 842.8% during the 2nd quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 2,486,809 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $139,791,000 after purchasing an additional 2,223,039 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.88% of the companys stock. Get Canadian Natural Resources alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Canadian Natural Resources from $101.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $94.00. Canadian Natural Resources Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of Canadian Natural Resources stock opened at $72.12 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $64.64 and a 200-day moving average of $64.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The company has a market capitalization of $77.27 billion, a PE ratio of 13.02 and a beta of 1.53. Canadian Natural Resources Limited has a 1-year low of $48.81 and a 1-year high of $73.19. Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.774 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This is an increase from Canadian Natural Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. This represents a $3.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.29%. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.25%. Canadian Natural Resources Profile (Free Report) Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO). Read More Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Natural Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Natural Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM Free Report) by 4.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,222 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 449 shares during the period. Crestwood Advisors Group LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF were worth $1,568,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Coastal Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF in the second quarter worth about $29,000. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 1,428.6% in the second quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 214 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF in the first quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 44.9% in the first quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC now owns 271 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the period. Get iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Price Performance Shares of MTUM opened at $189.24 on Friday. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has a one year low of $81.37 and a one year high of $113.60. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $170.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $154.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.77 billion, a PE ratio of 19.35 and a beta of 0.91. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Profile The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities, selected and weighted based on price appreciation over 6- and 12-month periods and low volatility over the past 3 years. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MTUM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 5,186 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $724,000. Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC boosted its position in Dover by 15.6% in the 3rd quarter. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC now owns 6,733 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $939,000 after buying an additional 907 shares during the last quarter. Payden & Rygel boosted its position in shares of Dover by 15.3% in the 2nd quarter. Payden & Rygel now owns 137,680 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $20,329,000 after purchasing an additional 18,300 shares during the last quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Dover by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 2,925 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $408,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its position in shares of Dover by 53.1% in the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 528,857 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $74,415,000 after purchasing an additional 183,529 shares during the last quarter. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Dover in the 3rd quarter worth $3,775,000. 83.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Dover alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Dover In other Dover news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 18,410 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.01, for a total transaction of $3,001,014.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 23,909 shares in the company, valued at $3,897,406.09. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Oppenheimer raised their price target on Dover from $175.00 to $177.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. StockNews.com downgraded Dover from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Dover from $146.00 to $153.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Barclays raised their price objective on Dover from $150.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on Dover from $167.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $168.18. Read Our Latest Research Report on DOV Dover Stock Performance DOV opened at $171.89 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.40 and a quick ratio of 0.90. The company has a market capitalization of $24.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.27. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $156.21 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $146.28. Dover Co. has a 1 year low of $127.25 and a 1 year high of $172.30. Dover (NYSE:DOV Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.44 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $2.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.16 billion. Dover had a return on equity of 25.95% and a net margin of 12.52%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.16 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Dover Co. will post 9.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. Dover Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.19%. Dovers dividend payout ratio is currently 27.13%. Dover Company Profile (Free Report) Dover Corporation provides equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services worldwide. The company's Engineered Products segment provides various equipment, component, software, solution, and services that are used in vehicle aftermarket, waste handling, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, industrial winch and hoist, and fluid dispensing end-market. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DOV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Dover Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dover and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,342 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 386 shares during the period. Crestwood Advisors Group LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $542,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 92,570,288 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $5,919,870,000 after acquiring an additional 858,922 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors grew its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 12.8% during the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 69,296,006 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $4,431,517,000 after acquiring an additional 7,878,833 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 39,034,341 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,489,314,000 after acquiring an additional 225,065 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth about $1,873,696,000. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 25,292,711 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,467,989,000 after acquiring an additional 1,394,158 shares in the last quarter. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance BMY opened at $53.28 on Friday. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12-month low of $47.58 and a 12-month high of $71.07. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $107.74 billion, a PE ratio of 13.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.38. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $50.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $53.36. Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.55 by $0.15. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 17.83% and a return on equity of 50.95%. The company had revenue of $11.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.19 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.82 EPS. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 EPS for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, December 7th that allows the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the biopharmaceutical company to purchase up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 5th will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.50%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 4th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is presently 62.18%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have issued reports on BMY. TheStreet cut shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. They set a hold rating and a $55.00 price target for the company. Redburn Atlantic lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the company from $77.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $58.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $61.12. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE Free Report) by 24.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 89,262 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 17,455 shares during the period. Dana Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise were worth $1,550,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 10.8% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 74,736 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,249,000 after buying an additional 7,285 shares during the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. boosted its stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 12.6% in the 1st quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 16,151 shares of the technology companys stock worth $270,000 after buying an additional 1,809 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. boosted its stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 46.4% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 16,080 shares of the technology companys stock worth $269,000 after buying an additional 5,095 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 9.8% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 332,584 shares of the technology companys stock worth $5,557,000 after buying an additional 29,819 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aviva PLC boosted its stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 45.8% in the 1st quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 634,757 shares of the technology companys stock worth $10,607,000 after buying an additional 199,382 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.15% of the companys stock. Get Hewlett Packard Enterprise alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on HPE shares. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded Hewlett Packard Enterprise from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and cut their target price for the stock from $20.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. StockNews.com downgraded Hewlett Packard Enterprise from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on 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. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $19.00 to $18.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Nine 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, Hewlett Packard Enterprise currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.25. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Trading Down 3.1 % Shares of HPE stock opened at $18.18 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $15.86 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $16.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.63. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a 1 year low of $13.65 and a 1 year high of $20.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.54, a PEG ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.19. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The technology company reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) 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 analysts expectations of $7.09 billion. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a net margin of 6.81% and a return on equity of 9.12%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 13.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.38 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Hewlett Packard Enterprise will post 1.86 earnings per share for the current year. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.86%. Hewlett Packard Enterprises payout ratio is currently 35.86%. Insider Transactions at Hewlett Packard Enterprise In other news, CFO Jeremy Cox sold 1,773 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.93, for a total value of $30,016.89. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 14,374 shares of the companys stock, valued at $243,351.82. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, EVP Justin Hotard sold 10,612 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.37, for a total value of $173,718.44. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 47,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at $781,454.69. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Jeremy Cox sold 1,773 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.93, for a total value of $30,016.89. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 14,374 shares in the company, valued at approximately $243,351.82. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 303,575 shares of company stock valued at $4,989,141. 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. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada reduced its position in Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW Free Report) by 14.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,997,023 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 698,748 shares during the quarter. Royal Bank of Canada owned about 0.66% of Edwards Lifesciences worth $276,915,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Truvestments Capital LLC increased its stake in Edwards Lifesciences by 260.0% in the 2nd quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 270 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 195 shares during the period. Castleview Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences during the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Janiczek Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 108.6% during the 3rd quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 582 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares during the period. 79.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Edwards Lifesciences alerts: Edwards Lifesciences Stock Up 6.2 % EW opened at $93.81 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $80.77 and a 200 day moving average price of $74.36. The company has a market cap of $56.41 billion, a PE ratio of 40.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.43 and a beta of 1.05. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 1 year low of $60.57 and a 1 year high of $94.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 2.40 and a current ratio of 3.38. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Edwards Lifesciences ( NYSE:EW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The medical research company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.64. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 23.35% and a return on equity of 23.56%. The company had revenue of $1.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.50 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.64 earnings per share. Edwards Lifesciencess revenue for the quarter was up 13.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current year. A number of research firms have recently weighed in on EW. Bank of America raised shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Edwards Lifesciences from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $94.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $70.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Wolfe Research cut shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $57.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. Finally, Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Edwards Lifesciences has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $87.38. Read Our Latest Report on Edwards Lifesciences Insider Buying and Selling at Edwards Lifesciences In other news, VP Daniel J. Lippis sold 1,715 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.98, for a total transaction of $156,030.70. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 17,213 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,566,038.74. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Edwards Lifesciences news, insider Larry L. Wood sold 8,658 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.86, for a total value of $622,163.88. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 213,794 shares in the company, valued at $15,363,236.84. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Daniel J. Lippis sold 1,715 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.98, for a total value of $156,030.70. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 17,213 shares in the company, valued at $1,566,038.74. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 220,967 shares of company stock valued at $17,740,350 over the last 90 days. 1.29% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Edwards Lifesciences Company Profile (Free Report) Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Edwards Lifesciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edwards Lifesciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Empire State Realty Trust (NYSE:ESRT Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report released on Monday. Separately, Evercore ISI cut Empire State Realty Trust from an outperform rating to an in-line rating and set a $9.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Monday, November 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have issued a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Empire State Realty Trust currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $8.33. Get Empire State Realty Trust alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on ESRT Empire State Realty Trust Stock Performance Empire State Realty Trust Dividend Announcement Shares of ESRT stock opened at $9.64 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $9.87 and a 200 day moving average price of $9.03. The stock has a market cap of $1.57 billion, a PE ratio of 31.08, a P/E/G ratio of 3.51 and a beta of 1.30. Empire State Realty Trust has a 1 year low of $5.39 and a 1 year high of $10.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 7.04 and a current ratio of 7.04. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a $0.035 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.45%. Empire State Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.16%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Empire State Realty Trust A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ESRT. Raymond James & Associates raised its holdings in shares of Empire State Realty Trust by 25.0% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 276,068 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,711,000 after acquiring an additional 55,271 shares during the last quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Empire State Realty Trust in the first quarter worth $141,000. Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in Empire State Realty Trust by 7.6% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 27,846 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $276,000 after purchasing an additional 1,955 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Empire State Realty Trust by 36.4% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 67,238 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $660,000 after purchasing an additional 17,932 shares during the last quarter. Finally, APG Asset Management N.V. acquired a new position in Empire State Realty Trust in the first quarter valued at $1,515,000. 80.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Empire State Realty Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Empire State Realty Trust, Inc (NYSE: ESRT) is a NYC-focused REIT that owns and operates a portfolio of modernized, amenitized, and well-located office, retail, and multifamily assets. The company is the recognized leader in energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. ESRT's flagship Empire State Building the "World's Most Famous Building" includes its Observatory, Tripadvisor's 2023 Travelers' Choice Awards: Best of the Best the #1 attraction in the US for two consecutive years. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Empire State Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Empire State Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Tidewater Inc. (NYSE:TDW Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 3,083 shares of the oil and gas companys stock, valued at approximately $219,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of TDW. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in Tidewater by 36.0% in the first quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,021 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 270 shares during the last quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc bought a new position in Tidewater during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $51,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC bought a new position in Tidewater during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $71,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in Tidewater by 46.1% during the 2nd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,489 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $83,000 after buying an additional 470 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank bought a new position in Tidewater during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $90,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.19% of the companys stock. Get Tidewater alerts: Tidewater Stock Up 0.5 % TDW opened at $79.69 on Friday. Tidewater Inc. has a one year low of $37.76 and a one year high of $86.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a current ratio of 1.80. The stocks fifty day moving average is $70.20 and its 200-day moving average is $66.93. The company has a market capitalization of $4.17 billion, a PE ratio of 43.55 and a beta of 1.17. Tidewater ( NYSE:TDW Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, March 1st. The oil and gas company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.73 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $302.66 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $309.46 million. Tidewater had a return on equity of 13.37% and a net margin of 9.62%. The businesss revenue was up 62.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.30 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Tidewater Inc. will post 4.94 EPS for the current fiscal year. Tidewater declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase plan on Thursday, February 29th that permits the company to repurchase $48.60 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the oil and gas company to reacquire up to 1.1% 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. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CFO Samuel R. Rubio sold 19,641 shares of Tidewater stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.36, for a total transaction of $1,597,991.76. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 98,036 shares in the company, valued at $7,976,208.96. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CFO Samuel R. Rubio sold 19,641 shares of Tidewater stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.36, for a total transaction of $1,597,991.76. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 98,036 shares in the company, valued at $7,976,208.96. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, COO David E. Darling sold 17,821 shares of Tidewater stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.08, for a total value of $1,462,747.68. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 85,959 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,055,514.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 45,462 shares of company stock worth $3,716,739 in the last three months. 9.59% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Johnson Rice assumed coverage on Tidewater in a report on Friday, February 9th. They set a buy rating and a $88.00 target price on the stock. Pickering Energy Partners initiated coverage on Tidewater in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. They set an outperform rating for the company. StockNews.com upgraded Tidewater from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their target price on Tidewater from $87.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $88.25. Read Our Latest Research Report on TDW About Tidewater (Free Report) Tidewater Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides offshore support vessels and marine support services to the offshore energy industry through the operation of a fleet of marine service vessels worldwide. It provides services in support of offshore crude oil and natural gas exploration, field development, and production, as well as windfarm development and maintenance, including towing of and anchor handling for mobile offshore drilling units; transporting supplies and personnel necessary to sustain drilling, workover, and production activities; offshore construction, and seismic and subsea support; geotechnical survey support for windfarm construction; and various specialized services, such as pipe and cable laying. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Tidewater Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tidewater and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the eleven brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, five have given a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $14.35. A number of research firms recently commented on FHN. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of First Horizon from $11.50 to $14.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. UBS Group upgraded shares of First Horizon from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $15.50 to $16.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Raymond James upgraded shares of First Horizon from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $13.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Friday, January 5th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $16.00 target price on shares of First Horizon in a research note on Friday, January 19th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of First Horizon from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Get First Horizon alerts: Read Our Latest Report on First Horizon First Horizon Stock Up 0.6 % NYSE:FHN opened at $14.99 on Friday. First Horizon has a fifty-two week low of $8.99 and a fifty-two week high of $21.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.80, a P/E/G ratio of 4.32 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 0.95. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $14.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $12.72. First Horizon (NYSE:FHN Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $784.20 million. First Horizon had a net margin of 17.80% and a return on equity of 9.94%. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.51 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that First Horizon will post 1.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. First Horizon Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.00%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. First Horizons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.22%. First Horizon declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, January 23rd that permits the company to buyback $650.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to repurchase up to 7.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often an indication that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Horizon Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of First Horizon by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 56,946,272 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $806,359,000 after purchasing an additional 171,222 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of First Horizon by 5.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 24,689,257 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $281,883,000 after purchasing an additional 1,321,075 shares in the last quarter. North Reef Capital Management LP increased its holdings in First Horizon by 14.2% in the 4th quarter. North Reef Capital Management LP now owns 10,162,500 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $143,901,000 after acquiring an additional 1,262,500 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in First Horizon by 10.1% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 9,641,140 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $136,526,000 after acquiring an additional 883,503 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LSV Asset Management increased its holdings in First Horizon by 62.2% in the 4th quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 8,898,809 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $126,007,000 after acquiring an additional 3,411,600 shares in the last quarter. 76.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. First Horizon Company Profile (Get Free Report First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through three segments: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for First Horizon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Horizon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 30,800: ministry Xinhua) 08:46, March 08, 2024 Palestinian workers bury bodies at a grave for victims killed in the Hamas-Israel conflict in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,800 since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Thursday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) GAZA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,800 since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Thursday. Israeli army killed 83 Palestinians and wounded 142 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 30,800 and injuries to 72,298, the ministry added. Palestinian medical sources said that the bodies of at least 45 Palestinians and dozens of injured people were transferred to the Al-Aqsa Hospital in the city of Deir Al-Balah during the past 24 hours. The sources said most of the victims were children and women, noting that some of the casualties remain trapped under debris. The sources reported that a large number of injured people died due to the lack of medical resources in the hospital. The Israeli army announced in a statement on Wednesday that a soldier was killed and 13 others were injured, with six of them sustaining serious injuries, in the ongoing battles in the southern Gaza Strip. The death toll of Israeli soldiers has risen to 587, with 3,053 others injured since Oct. 7, 2023, according to data released by the Israeli army on Wednesday. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. Palestinian workers bury bodies at a grave for victims killed in the Hamas-Israel conflict in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,800 since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Thursday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) A Palestinian boy squats by a grave for victims killed in the Hamas-Israel conflict in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,800 since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Thursday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) Palestinian people attend a mass funeral for victims killed in the Hamas-Israel conflict in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,800 since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Thursday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Nampak (OTCMKTS:NPKLY Get Free Report) and Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK Get Free Report) are both consumer cyclical companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, earnings, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Nampak and Graphic Packaging, as provided by MarketBeat. Get Nampak alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Nampak 0 0 0 0 N/A Graphic Packaging 1 3 5 0 2.44 Graphic Packaging has a consensus price target of $28.22, indicating a potential upside of 5.42%. Given Graphic Packagings higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Graphic Packaging is more favorable than Nampak. Dividends Insider and Institutional Ownership Nampak pays an annual dividend of $0.11 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. Graphic Packaging pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.5%. Nampak pays out 5.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Graphic Packaging pays out 17.0% 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. 0.0% of Nampak shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 99.7% of Graphic Packaging shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.2% of Graphic Packaging shares are owned by company 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. Profitability This table compares Nampak and Graphic Packagings net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Nampak N/A N/A N/A Graphic Packaging 7.67% 35.66% 8.28% Earnings & Valuation This table compares Nampak and Graphic Packagings gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Nampak N/A N/A N/A $1.80 11.67 Graphic Packaging $9.43 billion 0.87 $723.00 million $2.35 11.39 Graphic Packaging has higher revenue and earnings than Nampak. Graphic Packaging is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nampak, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Graphic Packaging beats Nampak on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Nampak (Get Free Report) Nampak Limited manufactures and sells metal, plastic, and paper packaging products in South Africa and rest of Africa. It offers HDPE and PET bottles and jars, plastic closures, and crates and drums for the fruit juice, dairy, carbonated soft drink, water, alcoholic beverage, bakery, agriculture, chemical, petroleum, personal care, and household markets. The company also provides aluminum beverage cans and ends for the alcoholic, carbonated soft drink, fruit juice, energy drink, vegetable juice, and ice tea markets; tinplate food cans for the canned food market; and aluminum and tinplate cans, including aerosols, monoblocs, and paint and shoe polish cans to the personal care, household goods, and industrial markets, as well as crowns for the beverage market. In addition, it offers beverage cartons for milk, fruit juice, water, and traditional beer; self-opening paper bags for the flour and sugar markets; and corrugated cases/boxes for the tobacco, poultry, and food and general commercial markets, as well as labels and folding cartons for the tobacco, food, and beverage markets. The company is headquartered in Sandton, South Africa. About Graphic Packaging (Get 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. The company offers recycled, unbleached, and bleached paperboards to various paperboard packaging converters and brokers; and paperboard packaging products, such as folding cartons, cups, lids, and food containers primarily to consumer packaged goods, quick-service restaurants, and foodservice companies; and barrier packaging products that protect against moisture, hot and cold temperature, grease, oil, oxygen, sunlight, insects, and other potential product-damaging factors. It also offers various laminated, coated, and printed packaging structures that are produced from its recycled, unbleached, and bleached paperboard grades, as well as other grades of paperboards that are purchased from third-party suppliers; designs and manufactures specialized packaging machines that package bottles and cans, and non-beverage consumer products; and installs its packaging machines at customer plants and provides support, service, and performance monitoring of the machines. The company markets its products primarily through sales offices and broker arrangements with third parties in the United States, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Graphic Packaging Holding Company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Receive News & Ratings for Nampak Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nampak and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Free Report) by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 63,397 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 3,728 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. owned 0.05% of Humana worth $30,853,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Humana during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $28,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in Humana in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Baystate Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Humana by 84.1% in the second quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 81 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new stake in Humana in the third quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Nvwm LLC raised its position in Humana by 41.0% in the third quarter. Nvwm LLC now owns 86 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the period. 91.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Humana alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Jorge S. Mesquita purchased 545 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $367.09 per share, with a total value of $200,064.05. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,578 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $946,358.02. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes HUM has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. TheStreet lowered Humana from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Stephens dropped their price target on shares of Humana from $550.00 to $430.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of Humana from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $595.00 to $360.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Humana from $593.00 to $575.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Finally, Truist Financial restated a hold rating and issued a $550.00 price target on shares of Humana in a research note on Friday, January 19th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Humana presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $494.00. View Our Latest Report on HUM Humana Price Performance Shares of NYSE:HUM opened at $340.72 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $392.64 and a 200-day simple moving average of $455.20. Humana Inc. has a one year low of $334.54 and a one year high of $541.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a current ratio of 1.59. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.19, a PEG ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.45. Humana (NYSE:HUM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The insurance provider reported ($0.11) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by ($0.87). The business had revenue of $26.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $25.47 billion. Humana had a net margin of 2.34% and a return on equity of 19.44%. Humanas quarterly revenue was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.62 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Humana Inc. will post 16.05 EPS for the current year. Humana Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Investors of record on Friday, March 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.885 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $3.54 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.04%. Humanas dividend payout ratio is currently 17.86%. Humana Profile (Free Report) Humana Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HUM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Humana Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Humana and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated their hold rating on shares of International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT Free Report) in a report issued on Monday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has a $30.00 target price on the stock, down from their previous target price of $31.00. A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on IGT. StockNews.com cut International Game Technology from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Truist Financial reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $30.00 price target (down previously from $32.00) on shares of International Game Technology in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $29.00 price target (down previously from $36.00) on shares of International Game Technology in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, International Game Technology currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $36.00. Get International Game Technology alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on IGT International Game Technology Stock Up 1.7 % Institutional Trading of International Game Technology Shares of NYSE IGT opened at $25.15 on Monday. International Game Technology has a one year low of $22.30 and a one year high of $33.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.76, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $26.07 and its 200-day moving average price is $28.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.01 billion, a PE ratio of 52.40 and a beta of 1.95. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of International Game Technology by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 6,207,288 shares of the companys stock valued at $153,195,000 after purchasing an additional 220,574 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors increased its stake in International Game Technology by 102.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 6,193,990 shares of the companys stock worth $169,777,000 after acquiring an additional 3,129,559 shares during the last quarter. Parsifal Capital Management LP increased its stake in International Game Technology by 40.8% in the 4th quarter. Parsifal Capital Management LP now owns 4,290,025 shares of the companys stock worth $117,590,000 after acquiring an additional 1,243,514 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in International Game Technology by 23.1% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,717,801 shares of the companys stock worth $74,495,000 after acquiring an additional 509,722 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its stake in International Game Technology by 87.3% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,343,145 shares of the companys stock worth $43,488,000 after acquiring an additional 1,092,029 shares during the last quarter. 44.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About International Game Technology (Get Free Report) International Game Technology PLC operates and provides gaming technology products and services in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It operates in three segments: Global Lottery, Global Gaming, and Digital & Betting. The company designs, sells, operates, and leases a suite of point-of-sale machines that reconciles lottery funds between the retailer and lottery authority; provides online lottery transaction processing systems; produces instant ticket games; and offers printing services, such as instant ticket marketing plans and graphic design, programming, packaging, shipping, and delivery services, as well as iLottery solutions and services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for International Game Technology Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Game Technology and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Journey Advisory Group LLC boosted its stake in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI Free Report) by 18.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,025 shares of the communications equipment providers stock after purchasing an additional 638 shares during the quarter. Journey Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Motorola Solutions were worth $1,096,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 1.3% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,019,371 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $2,064,642,000 after buying an additional 88,158 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 3.5% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,531,492 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $1,008,362,000 after buying an additional 119,907 shares during the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 1.9% during the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 3,337,453 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $978,808,000 after buying an additional 60,733 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 1.6% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,350,325 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $639,853,000 after buying an additional 37,718 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 3.4% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 2,059,176 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $560,590,000 after buying an additional 67,528 shares during the last quarter. 82.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Motorola Solutions alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Motorola Solutions in a report on Friday, February 9th. StockNews.com raised shares of Motorola Solutions from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 12th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Motorola Solutions from $333.00 to $352.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Motorola Solutions in a research report on Friday, January 19th. They set a buy rating and a $350.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $328.29. Insider Activity In other news, SVP Cynthia Yazdi sold 4,744 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $334.30, for a total value of $1,585,919.20. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 8,858 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,961,229.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock. Motorola Solutions Stock Performance MSI stock traded up $1.73 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $335.93. The company had a trading volume of 115,090 shares, compared to its average volume of 618,480. The firm has a market cap of $55.80 billion, a PE ratio of 33.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.37, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.00. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a 12 month low of $255.85 and a 12 month high of $339.63. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $323.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $305.26. Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The communications equipment provider reported $3.90 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.63 by $0.27. Motorola Solutions had a net margin of 17.12% and a return on equity of 441.65%. The business had revenue of $2.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.82 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.38 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 11.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Motorola Solutions Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a $0.98 dividend. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Motorola Solutionss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.48%. Motorola Solutions Company Profile (Free Report) Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Motorola Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Motorola Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc trimmed its position in shares of Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN Free Report) by 4.5% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 1,610,736 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 76,657 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plcs holdings in Global Payments were worth $185,863,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Waverly Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Global Payments by 60.5% during the 3rd quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC now owns 19,593 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,261,000 after acquiring an additional 7,387 shares in the last quarter. Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. grew its holdings in Global Payments by 14.5% during the 3rd quarter. Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. now owns 99,276 shares of the business services providers stock worth $11,455,000 after acquiring an additional 12,560 shares in the last quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 3,112 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $359,000 after buying an additional 156 shares during the period. ING Groep NV boosted its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 148.4% in the 3rd quarter. ING Groep NV now owns 491,320 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $56,693,000 after buying an additional 293,550 shares during the period. Finally, Comerica Bank acquired a new position in shares of Global Payments in the 2nd quarter valued at about $523,530,000. 85.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Global Payments alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently commented on GPN shares. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Global Payments from $185.00 to $180.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 15th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Global Payments from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Global Payments from $154.00 to $172.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. B. Riley raised their price target on shares of Global Payments from $180.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their price objective on Global Payments from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and twenty have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $151.92. Global Payments Stock Performance Shares of Global Payments stock opened at $129.10 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $33.31 billion, a PE ratio of 34.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 0.96. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $132.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of $122.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Global Payments Inc. has a 12 month low of $94.05 and a 12 month high of $141.77. Global Payments (NYSE:GPN Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The business services provider reported $2.65 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.64 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $2.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.18 billion. Global Payments had a return on equity of 11.44% and a net margin of 10.22%. Global Paymentss revenue was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.30 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Global Payments Inc. will post 10.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. Global Payments Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.77%. Global Paymentss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.46%. About Global Payments (Free Report) Global Payments Inc provides payment technology and software solutions for card, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Merchant Solutions, Issuer Solutions, and Consumer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization, settlement and funding, customer support, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security, and consolidated billing and reporting services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GPN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Global Payments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Global Payments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of MaxLinear, Inc. (NYSE:MXL Free Report) by 23.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 292,479 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 88,718 shares during the period. Kennedy Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.36% of MaxLinear worth $6,508,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its position in MaxLinear by 354.9% during the third quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 39,519 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $876,000 after buying an additional 30,832 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in MaxLinear by 5.3% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 632,251 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $14,068,000 after buying an additional 31,589 shares during the period. Hsbc Holdings PLC increased its position in MaxLinear by 111.2% in the 3rd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 113,497 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $2,534,000 after purchasing an additional 59,760 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its position in MaxLinear by 97.1% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,482,949 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $77,496,000 after purchasing an additional 1,716,026 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund acquired a new position in MaxLinear in the 3rd quarter worth about $920,000. 87.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get MaxLinear alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades MXL has been the topic of several research reports. Needham & Company LLC dropped their target price on MaxLinear from $28.00 to $25.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. StockNews.com raised MaxLinear from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered MaxLinear from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $35.00 to $25.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, MaxLinear has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $25.18. MaxLinear Stock Performance MXL opened at $21.12 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $1.73 billion, a PE ratio of 45.09 and a beta of 1.99. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $20.55 and a 200-day moving average of $20.53. MaxLinear, Inc. has a 52-week low of $13.43 and a 52-week high of $36.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 1.75 and a current ratio of 2.20. MaxLinear (NYSE:MXL Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The semiconductor company reported ($0.17) earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of ($0.17). MaxLinear had a positive return on equity of 4.77% and a negative net margin of 10.55%. The firm had revenue of $125.35 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $125.06 million. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that MaxLinear, Inc. will post -0.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. MaxLinear Profile (Free Report) MaxLinear, Inc provides communications systems-on-chip solutions worldwide. Its products integrate various portions of a high-speed communication system, including radio frequency, high-performance analog, mixed-signal, digital signal processing, security engines, data compression and networking layers, and power management. See Also Receive News & Ratings for MaxLinear Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MaxLinear and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scotiabank began coverage on shares of Metals Acquisition (NYSE:MTAL Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Monday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm issued a sector outperform rating and a $14.50 price objective on the stock. A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on MTAL. National Bank Financial began coverage on shares of Metals Acquisition in a report on Thursday, December 14th. They issued an outperform rating and a $14.00 price objective for the company. Eight Capital set a $15.00 target price on shares of Metals Acquisition and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Metals Acquisition has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $13.92. Get Metals Acquisition alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on MTAL Metals Acquisition Stock Up 2.9 % Institutional Inflows and Outflows Shares of Metals Acquisition stock opened at $12.57 on Monday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $12.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $11.40. Metals Acquisition has a 1 year low of $8.49 and a 1 year high of $13.47. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in MTAL. Regal Partners Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Metals Acquisition by 1.2% during the third quarter. Regal Partners Ltd now owns 303,705 shares of the companys stock worth $3,638,000 after buying an additional 3,705 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS acquired a new stake in Metals Acquisition in the first quarter valued at $108,000. Kepos Capital LP bought a new position in Metals Acquisition during the 3rd quarter worth $210,000. Sea Otter Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Metals Acquisition during the 4th quarter worth about $219,000. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Metals Acquisition in the 3rd quarter valued at about $386,000. Institutional investors own 76.10% of the companys stock. Metals Acquisition Company Profile (Get Free Report) Metals Acquisition Limited focuses on operating and acquiring metals and mining businesses. The company operates the CSA copper mine in Cobar, Australia. Metals Acquisition Limited is headquartered in Saint Helier, Jersey. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Metals Acquisition Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Metals Acquisition and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group decreased its holdings in shares of Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD Free Report) by 16.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 32,132 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 6,194 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group owned about 0.15% of Mettler-Toledo International worth $35,605,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in Mettler-Toledo International by 22.9% in the third quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 23,755 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $26,327,000 after acquiring an additional 4,431 shares during the last quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP acquired a new position in Mettler-Toledo International in the third quarter valued at $236,000. AXQ Capital LP boosted its holdings in Mettler-Toledo International by 242.0% in the third quarter. AXQ Capital LP now owns 684 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $758,000 after acquiring an additional 484 shares during the last quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Mettler-Toledo International by 84.6% in the third quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,250 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $1,385,000 after acquiring an additional 573 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Glenmede Trust Co. NA boosted its holdings in Mettler-Toledo International by 4.5% in the third quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 2,003 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $2,219,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.11% of the companys stock. Get Mettler-Toledo International alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have commented on MTD. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,185.00 to $1,030.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 13th. StockNews.com cut Mettler-Toledo International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 19th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,425.00 to $1,270.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Citigroup restated a sell rating and set 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. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,520.00 to $1,300.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $1,223.71. Insider Activity at Mettler-Toledo International In related news, Director Elisha W. Finney sold 251 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,177.35, for a total transaction of $295,514.85. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $372,042.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, Director Elisha W. Finney sold 251 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,177.35, for a total value of $295,514.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 316 shares in the company, valued at $372,042.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Shawn Vadala sold 300 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,210.83, for a total transaction of $363,249.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 4,914 shares in the company, valued at $5,950,018.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 951 shares of company stock valued at $1,170,256 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. Mettler-Toledo International Trading Up 3.2 % Mettler-Toledo International stock opened at $1,353.00 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $29.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.70, a P/E/G ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 1.15. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $1,205.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1,139.95. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. has a 1-year low of $928.49 and a 1-year high of $1,615.97. Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The medical instruments supplier reported $9.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $10.32 by ($0.92). The company had revenue of $934.90 million during 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 businesss revenue for the quarter was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $12.10 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Mettler-Toledo International Inc. will post 39.91 earnings per share for the current year. Mettler-Toledo International 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mettler-Toledo International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mettler-Toledo International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of State Street Co. (NYSE:STT Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 9,301 shares of the asset managers stock, valued at approximately $623,000. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Raymond James Trust N.A. boosted its stake in shares of State Street by 29.3% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 4,505 shares of the asset managers stock worth $392,000 after buying an additional 1,021 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its stake in shares of State Street by 14.3% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 17,756 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,547,000 after buying an additional 2,216 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of State Street by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 280,353 shares of the asset managers stock worth $24,436,000 after buying an additional 10,187 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC purchased a new position in shares of State Street in the 1st quarter worth $812,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in shares of State Street by 16.5% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 23,170 shares of the asset managers stock worth $2,019,000 after buying an additional 3,276 shares during the last quarter. 89.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get State Street alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have recently issued reports on STT. Wells Fargo & Company restated an overweight rating and issued a $83.00 price target on shares of State Street in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on State Street from $89.00 to $86.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on State Street from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised State Street from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $69.00 to $92.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on State Street from $75.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and four 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 target price of $81.83. Insider Buying and Selling at State Street In other State Street news, EVP Anthony Bisegna sold 2,606 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.00, for a total transaction of $190,238.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 17,737 shares in the company, valued at $1,294,801. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, EVP Anthony Bisegna sold 2,606 shares of State Street stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.00, for a total transaction of $190,238.00. Following the completion of 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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Eric W. Aboaf sold 12,000 shares of State Street stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.90, for a total transaction of $886,800.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 149,063 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,015,755.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 18,864 shares of company stock worth $1,390,597 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.25% of the companys stock. State Street Trading Up 0.5 % Shares of STT stock opened at $72.61 on Friday. State Street Co. has a 12-month low of $62.78 and a 12-month high of $86.41. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $74.32 and its 200-day moving average price is $71.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 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 the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $3.04 billion during 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%. The firms revenue was down 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.07 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that State Street Co. will post 7.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. State Street Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Investors of record on Monday, April 1st will be given a $0.69 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 28th. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.80%. State Streets dividend payout ratio is currently 50.27%. State Street Profile (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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding STT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for State Street Co. (NYSE:STT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for State Street Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for State Street and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. lifted its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report) by 6.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,297 shares of the restaurant operators stock after buying an additional 832 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $26,202,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of CMG. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 4th quarter worth $450,560,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 4th quarter worth $248,604,000. Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 65.8% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 375,736 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $521,332,000 after buying an additional 149,115 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2,334.9% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 153,400 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $328,123,000 after buying an additional 147,100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.7% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,052,227 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $4,389,714,000 after buying an additional 54,820 shares during the last quarter. 91.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Up 0.1 % Shares of CMG stock opened at $2,691.79 on Friday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $2,463.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $2,177.84. The company has a market cap of $73.81 billion, a PE ratio of 60.69, a PEG ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.29. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 12-month low of $1,502.25 and a 12-month high of $2,733.74. Insider Activity at Chipotle Mexican Grill Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The restaurant operator reported $10.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $9.73 by $0.63. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 44.41% and a net margin of 12.45%. The business had revenue of $2.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.49 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $8.29 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 15.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 53.07 earnings per share for the current year. In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, insider Roger E. Theodoredis sold 898 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,622.25, for a total transaction of $2,354,780.50. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,009,420.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Albert S. Baldocchi sold 750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,608.51, for a total value of $1,956,382.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 37,271 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $97,221,776.21. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Roger E. Theodoredis sold 898 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,622.25, for a total transaction of $2,354,780.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,529 shares in the company, valued at $4,009,420.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 4,744 shares of company stock valued at $11,607,678 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently issued reports on CMG. Barclays raised their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,246.00 to $2,400.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Raymond James lifted their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,450.00 to $2,550.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,225.00 to $2,525.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 5th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,699.00 to $3,016.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Wedbush reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $2,400.00 target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Chipotle Mexican Grill currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $2,469.88. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on CMG About Chipotle Mexican Grill (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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. lessened its holdings in Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Free Report) by 1.9% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 797,869 shares of the oilfield services companys stock after selling 15,689 shares during the quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Halliburton were worth $32,310,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. purchased a new stake in Halliburton in the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Quarry LP bought a new position in Halliburton in the 1st quarter worth approximately $34,000. KB Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Halliburton in the 1st quarter worth approximately $35,000. Ancora Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Halliburton by 443.8% in the 3rd quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 881 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 719 shares during the period. Finally, ST Germain D J Co. Inc. bought a new position in Halliburton in the 2nd quarter valued at $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.09% of the companys stock. Get Halliburton alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have commented on HAL. Raymond James cut their price target on shares of Halliburton from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Halliburton from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Atb Cap Markets cut shares of Halliburton from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $45.00 price objective on shares of Halliburton in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Susquehanna restated a positive rating and issued a $49.00 price objective on shares of Halliburton in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Halliburton presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $48.63. Halliburton Stock Up 2.4 % Shares of Halliburton stock opened at $36.19 on Friday. 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 has a twelve month low of $27.84 and a twelve month high of $43.85. The company has a market cap of $32.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.99. The companys 50 day moving average is $35.18 and its 200 day moving average is $37.73. Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Get Free Report) last posted its 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 analysts expectations of $5.78 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.72 earnings per share. Halliburtons quarterly revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Halliburton will post 3.43 EPS for the current year. Halliburton Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 5th. This is a boost from Halliburtons previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.88%. Halliburtons payout ratio is currently 23.21%. Insider Activity at Halliburton In other Halliburton news, Director Margaret Katherine Banks sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.30, for a total transaction of $176,500.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 9,625 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $339,762.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Halliburton news, Director Margaret Katherine Banks sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.30, for a total transaction of $176,500.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 9,625 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $339,762.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Jeffrey Allen Miller sold 377,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.30, for a total transaction of $13,308,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 759,015 shares in the company, valued at $26,793,229.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Halliburton Company Profile (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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Halliburton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Halliburton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group decreased its holdings in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM Free Report) by 13.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 369,812 shares of the restaurant operators stock after selling 58,537 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group owned 0.13% of Yum! Brands worth $46,204,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Yum! Brands by 16.8% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 24,692,484 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $3,421,144,000 after purchasing an additional 3,549,709 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Yum! Brands in the 4th quarter worth about $315,239,000. Capital International Investors grew its holdings in shares of Yum! Brands by 20.1% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 13,169,962 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,824,305,000 after purchasing an additional 2,207,942 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Yum! Brands by 75,766.0% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,640,982 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $210,177,000 after purchasing an additional 1,638,819 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG grew its holdings in Yum! Brands by 121.8% during the 3rd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 1,819,809 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $227,367,000 after acquiring an additional 999,443 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.17% of the companys stock. Get Yum! Brands alerts: Yum! Brands Trading Up 0.6 % NYSE:YUM opened at $140.38 on Friday. Yum! Brands, Inc. has a 1-year low of $115.53 and a 1-year high of $143.24. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $132.19 and a 200 day simple moving average of $127.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.49 billion, a PE ratio of 25.11, a P/E/G ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.10. Yum! Brands Increases Dividend Yum! Brands ( NYSE:YUM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The restaurant operator reported $1.26 EPS 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 the consensus estimate of $2.11 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.31 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up .8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Yum! Brands, Inc. will post 5.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.67 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 20th. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.91%. This is an increase from Yum! Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. Yum! Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.94%. Insider Activity at Yum! Brands In related news, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total value of $1,285,799.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 18,661 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,419,025.43. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,792 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.17, for a total value of $493,604.64. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 57,325 shares in the company, valued at $7,461,995.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total value of $1,285,799.97. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 18,661 shares in the company, valued at $2,419,025.43. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 17,467 shares of company stock valued at $2,264,717 over the last quarter. 0.31% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Yum! Brands from $144.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday. Oppenheimer raised shares of Yum! Brands from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $154.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, January 5th. Stifel Nicolaus reissued a hold rating and set a $135.00 price objective on shares of Yum! Brands in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Yum! Brands from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, Guggenheim upped their target price on shares of Yum! Brands from $145.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Yum! Brands presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $144.94. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on YUM About Yum! Brands (Free Report) Yum! Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants worldwide. The company operates through four segments: the KFC Division, the Taco Bell Division, the Pizza Hut Division, and the Habit Burger Grill Division. It operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches, Mexican-style food categories, and other food products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Yum! Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Yum! Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group grew its position in Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report) by 7.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,142,088 shares of the natural resource companys stock after purchasing an additional 80,794 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Groups holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $42,588,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of FCX. Scotia Capital Inc. grew its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 11.1% during the 3rd quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 384,424 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $14,337,000 after acquiring an additional 38,301 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. increased its stake in Freeport-McMoRan by 6.6% in the 3rd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 518,068 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $19,319,000 after buying an additional 31,891 shares during the last quarter. Kingfisher Capital LLC lifted its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Kingfisher Capital LLC now owns 103,236 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $3,850,000 after buying an additional 956 shares in the last quarter. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the 3rd quarter worth about $200,000. Finally, Lido Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 45.9% in the third quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 37,060 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $1,382,000 after acquiring an additional 11,667 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.96% of the companys stock. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Freeport-McMoRan Trading Up 4.4 % Shares of FCX stock opened at $39.81 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $39.34 and a 200-day moving average of $38.22. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 1-year low of $32.83 and a 1-year high of $44.70. The stock has a market cap of $57.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.35 and a beta of 2.02. The company has a current ratio of 2.42, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Freeport-McMoRan Dividend Announcement Freeport-McMoRan ( NYSE:FCX Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The natural resource company reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.23 by $0.04. Freeport-McMoRan had a return on equity of 8.41% and a net margin of 8.09%. The company had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.85 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.52 EPS. The firms revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.52 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 12th were paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 11th. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 23.62%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have weighed in on FCX. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Freeport-McMoRan from $41.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $55.00 price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Raymond James boosted their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $42.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Eight Capital set a $55.00 price target on Freeport-McMoRan and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $42.00 to $41.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Freeport-McMoRan presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $44.95. View Our Latest Report on FCX Freeport-McMoRan Profile (Free Report) Freeport-McMoRan Inc engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FCX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Freeport-McMoRan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freeport-McMoRan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group trimmed its holdings in Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX Free Report) by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,226,935 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 22,089 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Groups holdings in Ternium were worth $48,955,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Citigroup Inc. purchased a new position in Ternium in the first quarter worth about $85,000. Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in shares of Ternium by 6.0% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 150,775 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $6,883,000 after buying an additional 8,595 shares in the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Ternium during the 1st quarter valued at about $201,000. Employees Retirement System of Texas lifted its position in shares of Ternium by 12.4% during the 1st quarter. Employees Retirement System of Texas now owns 61,459 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $2,806,000 after buying an additional 6,781 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Ternium by 6,399.5% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,060,919 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $48,429,000 after buying an additional 1,044,596 shares in the last quarter. 12.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Ternium alerts: Ternium Stock Performance Shares of Ternium stock opened at $39.27 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $39.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.30. The company has a market capitalization of $7.71 billion, a PE ratio of 11.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a quick ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 3.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. Ternium S.A. has a 52 week low of $35.22 and a 52 week high of $45.58. Ternium Increases Dividend Ternium ( NYSE:TX Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The basic materials company reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.79. Ternium had a return on equity of 10.84% and a net margin of 3.84%. The business had revenue of $4.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.94 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.20 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 39.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Ternium S.A. will post 8.1 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 3rd will be issued a $2.20 dividend. This is a boost from Terniums previous Semi-Annual dividend of $1.10. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 2nd. Terniums dividend payout ratio is currently 63.95%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently weighed in on TX. Bank of America raised Ternium from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $47.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 20th. TheStreet raised Ternium from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, January 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Ternium presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $49.83. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Ternium Ternium Company Profile (Free Report) Ternium SA, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, processes, and sells various steel products in Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, the United States, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. It operates through two segments, Steel and Mining. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ternium Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ternium and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scotia Capital Inc. grew its position in shares of Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV Free Report) by 1.3% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 1,388,888 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 17,863 shares during the period. Scotia Capital Inc.s holdings in Ambev were worth $3,583,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Ambev by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 555,024 shares of the companys stock worth $1,432,000 after buying an additional 5,245 shares during the period. Stansberry Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Ambev by 1.4% in the third quarter. Stansberry Asset Management LLC now owns 522,293 shares of the companys stock worth $1,348,000 after purchasing an additional 7,070 shares during the period. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group increased its position in shares of Ambev by 37.2% in the third quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 16,021 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 4,348 shares during the period. Morningstar Investment Services LLC increased its position in shares of Ambev by 5.9% in the third quarter. Morningstar Investment Services LLC now owns 324,493 shares of the companys stock worth $831,000 after purchasing an additional 18,156 shares during the period. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in shares of Ambev by 580.9% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 85,515 shares of the companys stock worth $221,000 after purchasing an additional 72,955 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.37% of the companys stock. Get Ambev alerts: Ambev Stock Performance Shares of ABEV stock opened at $2.55 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $2.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.69. Ambev S.A. has a 12 month low of $2.42 and a 12 month high of $3.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.14, a PEG ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. Ambev Cuts Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The company also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 26th were paid a dividend of $0.1443 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 22nd. Ambevs payout ratio is 144.44%. A number of research analysts recently commented on ABEV shares. Barclays cut Ambev from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $3.50 to $3.00 in a research report on Monday. StockNews.com started coverage on Ambev in a research note on Friday, January 26th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Citigroup started coverage on Ambev in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. They issued a hold rating and a $2.86 price objective on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Ambev from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Four 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, Ambev has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $3.20. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on ABEV Ambev Profile (Free Report) Ambev SA, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of beer, draft beer, carbonated soft drinks, other non-alcoholic beverages, malt, and food products. It offers beer primarily under the Skol, Brahma, Antarctica, Brahva, Budweiser, Bud Light, Beck, Leffe and Hoegaarden, Bucanero, Cristal, Mayabe, Presidente, Presidente Light, Brahma Light, Bohemia, The One, Corona, Modelo Especial, Stella Artois, Quilmes Clasica, Pacena, Taquina, Huari, Becker, Cusquena, Michelob Ultra, Busch, Pilsen, Ouro Fino, Banks, Deputy, Patricia, Labatt Blue, Alexander Keith's, and Kokanee brands. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABEV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ambev Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ambev and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scotia Capital Inc. reduced its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 4.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 41,762 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,036 shares during the quarter. Scotia Capital Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $3,866,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in Philip Morris International by 3.9% in the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 116,185,273 shares of the companys stock worth $11,342,014,000 after purchasing an additional 4,368,323 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its holdings in Philip Morris International by 1.0% in the second quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 106,291,477 shares of the companys stock worth $10,376,231,000 after purchasing an additional 1,092,991 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 95,439,062 shares of the companys stock worth $9,316,761,000 after purchasing an additional 1,056,110 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Philip Morris International by 3.1% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 58,592,611 shares of the companys stock worth $5,793,812,000 after purchasing an additional 1,745,868 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 4.9% during the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 51,558,741 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,033,166,000 after acquiring an additional 2,430,519 shares in the last quarter. 79.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, November 16th. They set 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 objective for the company from $105.00 to $86.50 in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Societe Generale raised Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. Argus reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price 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. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $105.40. Philip Morris International Stock Performance NYSE:PM opened at $91.51 on Friday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52-week low of $87.23 and a 52-week high of $101.92. The firm has a market cap of $142.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.23, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.61. The businesss fifty day moving average is $92.01 and its 200 day moving average is $92.64. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.44 by ($0.08). Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 116.29% and a net margin of 8.53%. The firm had revenue of $9.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.99 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.39 earnings per share. Philip Morris Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 EPS for the current fiscal year. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 21st will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 20th. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is currently 103.59%. Philip Morris International Profile (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Seven Eight Capital LP acquired a new position in Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (NYSE:HLX Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 81,919 shares of the oil and gas companys stock, valued at approximately $915,000. Seven Eight Capital LP owned about 0.05% of Helix Energy Solutions Group as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in HLX. Quarry LP grew its holdings in Helix Energy Solutions Group by 576.3% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,760 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 3,204 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new position in Helix Energy Solutions Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $66,000. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its position in Helix Energy Solutions Group by 91.4% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 6,907 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 3,298 shares during the last quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Helix Energy Solutions Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $59,000. Finally, Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust bought a new stake in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $87,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.58% of the companys stock. Get Helix Energy Solutions Group alerts: Helix Energy Solutions Group Trading Up 2.4 % Shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group stock opened at $9.59 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $9.61 and a 200 day moving average of $9.95. Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $6.18 and a 52 week high of $11.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a current ratio of 1.56. Helix Energy Solutions Group Profile Helix Energy Solutions Group ( NYSE:HLX Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 26th. The oil and gas company reported ($0.19) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.10 by ($0.29). The firm had revenue of $335.16 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $326.59 million. Helix Energy Solutions Group had a negative net margin of 0.84% and a positive return on equity of 3.40%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.09 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. will post 0.71 EPS for the current fiscal year. (Free Report) Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, an offshore energy services company, provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry in Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, the East Coast of the United States, North Sea, the Asia Pacific, and West Africa regions. The company operates through Well Intervention, Robotics, Production Facilities, and Shallow Water Abandonment segments. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HLX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (NYSE:HLX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Helix Energy Solutions Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Helix Energy Solutions Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Skyline Champion Co. (NYSE:SKY Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the five ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $71.40. Several analysts have recently issued reports on SKY shares. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Skyline Champion from $69.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Wedbush reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $72.00 target price on shares of Skyline Champion in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. StockNews.com raised shares of Skyline Champion from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on shares of Skyline Champion from $61.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Get Skyline Champion alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Skyline Champion Insider Buying and Selling Hedge Funds Weigh In On Skyline Champion In other Skyline Champion news, Director Keith A. Anderson sold 18,750 shares of Skyline Champion stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.00, for a total value of $1,368,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 238,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,381,154. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . 7.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Skyline Champion during the second quarter valued at $57,000. Comerica Bank acquired a new stake in Skyline Champion during the 3rd quarter worth about $62,000. KBC Group NV purchased a new stake in shares of Skyline Champion during the 4th quarter worth about $65,000. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in shares of Skyline Champion by 8,505.3% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,635 shares of the companys stock worth $90,000 after purchasing an additional 1,616 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale purchased a new stake in shares of Skyline Champion during the 3rd quarter worth about $94,000. Skyline Champion Trading Up 1.8 % NYSE SKY opened at $83.84 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $75.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $68.11. Skyline Champion has a 12 month low of $52.12 and a 12 month high of $86.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 2.56 and a quick ratio of 1.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.02 and a beta of 1.53. Skyline Champion (NYSE:SKY Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 5th. The company reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.70 by $0.12. Skyline Champion had a net margin of 10.19% and a return on equity of 15.45%. The company had revenue of $559.46 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $505.20 million. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Skyline Champion will post 3.19 earnings per share for the current year. Skyline Champion Company Profile (Get Free Report Skyline Champion Corporation produces and sells factory-built housing in North America. The company offers manufactured and modular homes, park models RVs, accessory dwelling units, and modular buildings for the multi-family and hospitality sectors. It builds homes under the Skyline Homes, Champion Home Builders, Genesis Homes, Athens Park Models, Dutch Housing, Atlantic Homes, Excel Homes, Homes of Merit, New Era, Redman Homes, ScotBilt Homes, Shore Park, Silvercrest, and Titan Homes brands in the United States; and Moduline and SRI Homes brand names in western Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Skyline Champion Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Skyline Champion and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF (BATS:IBMQ Free Report) by 9.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 20,890 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,775 shares during the period. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC owned about 0.29% of iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF worth $510,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF by 32.8% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 20,393 shares of the companys stock valued at $522,000 after purchasing an additional 5,038 shares in the last quarter. Colony Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $222,000. Parallel Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $138,000. Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF by 2.9% in the third quarter. Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 206,216 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,034,000 after purchasing an additional 5,765 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hills Bank & Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,967,000. Get iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF alerts: iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF Stock Performance Shares of IBMQ stock traded up $0.04 during trading on Friday, reaching $25.45. The companys stock had a trading volume of 22,055 shares. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $25.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of $25.04. iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF Company Profile The iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF (IBMQ) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks the investment results of an investment-grade U.S. municipal bonds index expected to mature or be redeemed before mid-December 2028. IBMQ was launched on Apr 16, 2019 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Muni Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC lowered its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 6.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,306 shares of the companys stock after selling 293 shares during the quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $181,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of MO. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 108,222.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 18,590,308 shares of the companys stock valued at $849,763,000 after acquiring an additional 18,573,146 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 8.5% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 96,401,945 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,367,008,000 after buying an additional 7,546,851 shares during the period. Barclays PLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 84.1% in the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 5,426,522 shares of the companys stock valued at $245,823,000 after buying an additional 2,478,576 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Altria Group by 6.4% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 36,302,349 shares of the companys stock worth $1,896,798,000 after buying an additional 2,178,596 shares during the period. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Altria Group by 54.1% during the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 4,710,670 shares of the companys stock worth $198,084,000 after acquiring an additional 1,653,455 shares in the last quarter. 58.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Altria Group alerts: Altria Group Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of NYSE MO traded up $0.31 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $41.86. 1,173,925 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,488,891. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $39.06 and a 12 month high of $48.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $73.82 billion, a PE ratio of 9.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.65. The companys 50 day moving average price is $40.73 and its 200 day moving average price is $41.57. Altria Group Announces Dividend Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $5.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.06 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 33.21% and a negative return on equity of 244.55%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.18 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.07 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Monday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $0.98 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 22nd. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.36%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is 85.78%. Altria Group declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Thursday, February 1st that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to reacquire up to 1.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In MO has been the topic of a number of research reports. UBS Group reaffirmed a sell rating and issued a $36.10 price target on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $47.22. Get Our Latest Research Report on MO Altria Group Profile (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $90.58 and last traded at $90.35, with a volume of 176052 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $89.34. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on TXT shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Textron from $84.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Textron from $102.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating and set a $98.00 price target on shares of Textron in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. StockNews.com raised shares of Textron from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Textron from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $87.50. Get Textron alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Textron Textron Trading Down 0.3 % The firm has a market cap of $17.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.77, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 1.29. The firms fifty day moving average is $83.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $79.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. Textron (NYSE:TXT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The aerospace company reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.53 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $3.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.97 billion. Textron had a net margin of 6.73% and a return on equity of 16.05%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.07 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Textron Inc. will post 6.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Textron Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a $0.02 dividend. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.09%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Textrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 1.75%. Institutional Trading of Textron Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. CVA Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Textron in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp boosted its stake in Textron by 109.0% in the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 443 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont bought a new position in Textron in the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its stake in Textron by 393.9% in the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 489 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morton Brown Family Wealth LLC bought a new position in Textron in the 4th quarter worth about $40,000. 85.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Textron Company Profile (Get Free Report) Textron Inc operates in the aircraft, defense, industrial, and finance businesses worldwide. It operates through six segments: Textron Aviation, Bell, Textron Systems, Industrial, Textron eAviation, and Finance. The Textron Aviation segment manufactures, sells, and services business jets, turboprop and piston engine aircraft, and military trainer and defense aircraft; and offers maintenance, inspection, and repair services, as well as sells commercial parts. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Textron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Textron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 339.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 16,795 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 12,976 shares during the quarter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $922,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 60,391,016 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,422,963,000 after buying an additional 398,367 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its stake in shares of 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 worth $1,634,700,000 after buying an additional 6,195,934 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of 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 worth $1,413,244,000 after buying an additional 391,238 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 62.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,255,649 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,853,005,000 after buying an additional 8,563,389 shares during the period. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 7.8% in 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 last quarter. 81.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Stock Performance NYSE SCHW opened at $68.17 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $120.90 billion, a PE ratio of 26.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a current ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. The Charles Schwab Co. has a twelve month low of $45.00 and a twelve month high of $76.47. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $64.94 and a 200-day simple moving average of $60.27. Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $4.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.49 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 21.33% and a net margin of 26.90%. The companys revenue was down 18.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.07 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, February 9th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.37%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently commented on SCHW. Raymond James reduced their price objective on Charles Schwab from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. TD Cowen began coverage on Charles Schwab in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. They issued a market perform rating and a $77.00 price objective for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $71.00 price objective (up from $70.00) on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Citigroup downgraded Charles Schwab from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $75.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded Charles Schwab from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $75.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $69.92. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on SCHW Insider Activity at Charles Schwab In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 16,390 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.94, for a total transaction 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 16,390 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.94, for a total transaction 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 5,500 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were 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 of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,584,333.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 172,616 shares of company stock worth $11,181,109 in the last three months. 6.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Charles Schwab Company 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company trimmed its stake in shares of Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD Free Report) (TSE:ABX) by 1.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 7,152,970 shares of the gold and copper producers stock after selling 72,075 shares during the quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company owned about 0.41% of Barrick Gold worth $104,643,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Cito Capital Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Barrick Gold by 13.3% during the 3rd quarter. Cito Capital Group LLC now owns 17,000 shares of the gold and copper producers stock worth $247,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in shares of Barrick Gold by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 519,525 shares of the gold and copper producers stock worth $7,559,000 after buying an additional 2,242 shares during the last quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP bought a new stake in shares of Barrick Gold during the 3rd quarter worth $871,000. Legal & General Group Plc raised its position in Barrick Gold by 6.9% in the third quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 7,190,418 shares of the gold and copper producers stock valued at $104,926,000 after purchasing an additional 461,480 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. bought a new position in Barrick Gold in the third quarter valued at about $14,550,000. 58.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Barrick Gold alerts: Barrick Gold Trading Up 1.3 % NYSE GOLD opened at $15.91 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $15.72 and a 200 day simple moving average of $16.07. Barrick Gold Corp has a one year low of $13.76 and a one year high of $20.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $27.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.10, a P/E/G ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 3.16 and a quick ratio of 2.40. Barrick Gold Cuts Dividend Barrick Gold ( NYSE:GOLD Get Free Report ) (TSE:ABX) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The gold and copper producer reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.06. Barrick Gold had a return on equity of 4.64% and a net margin of 11.16%. The business had revenue of $3.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.13 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.13 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Barrick Gold Corp will post 0.9 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be paid a $0.074 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.86%. Barrick Golds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 55.56%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have commented on GOLD shares. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on Barrick Gold from $26.00 to $24.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. StockNews.com upgraded Barrick Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. TD Securities dropped their target price on Barrick Gold from $22.00 to $21.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Citigroup dropped their target price on Barrick Gold from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $18.00 target price on shares of Barrick Gold in a research report on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $22.05. View Our Latest Analysis on Barrick Gold About Barrick Gold (Free Report) Barrick Gold Corporation is a sector-leading gold and copper producer. Its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GOLD and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ABX. In January 2019 Barrick merged with Randgold Resources and in July that year it combined its gold mines in Nevada, USA, with those of Newmont Corporation in a joint venture, Nevada Gold Mines, which is majority-owned and operated by Barrick. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GOLD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD Free Report) (TSE:ABX). Receive News & Ratings for Barrick Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barrick Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Townsquare Capital LLC boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report) by 162.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 144,544 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 89,419 shares during the quarter. Townsquare Capital LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $7,073,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Asset Dedication LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 14,255 shares of the companys stock valued at $694,000 after buying an additional 212 shares in the last quarter. Warner Financial Inc. grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Warner Financial Inc. now owns 30,415 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,488,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Stephens Inc. AR grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 13,430 shares of the companys stock valued at $652,000 after purchasing an additional 249 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 31,848 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,559,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northwest Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Northwest Wealth Management LLC now owns 98,909 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,840,000 after purchasing an additional 286 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Stock Up 0.9 % Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF stock opened at $53.55 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $17.99 billion, a PE ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 12-month low of $49.15 and a 12-month high of $59.57. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $51.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $50.23. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Value Index. The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $60.49 and last traded at $60.49, with a volume of 4018628 shares. The stock had previously closed at $60.04. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently weighed in on WMT. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of Walmart from $62.33 to $59.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Walmart from $54.33 to $58.67 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 19th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $56.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a report on Friday, November 17th. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on shares of Walmart to $67.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 26th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Walmart from $60.00 to $58.33 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 17th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $61.03. Get Walmart alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on WMT Walmart Trading Down 0.4 % The businesss 50 day moving average price is $55.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $54.13. The company has a market capitalization of $487.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.54, a P/E/G ratio of 3.96 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. Walmart (NYSE:WMT Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 20th. The retailer reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $173.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $170.85 billion. Walmart had a net margin of 2.39% and a return on equity of 21.08%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.57 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 2.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Walmart Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.2075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $0.83 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.38%. Walmarts payout ratio is 39.72%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Walmart news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 500,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.39, for a total transaction of $29,195,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 653,067,261 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,132,597,369.79. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 500,000 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.39, for a total value of $29,195,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 653,067,261 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,132,597,369.79. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director S Robson Walton sold 479,469 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.67, for a total transaction of $24,772,565.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 692,821,251 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,795,764,635. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 39,032,156 shares of company stock worth $2,217,713,412. 46.51% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of Walmart Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Seven Mile Advisory boosted its holdings in Walmart by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Seven Mile Advisory now owns 3,953 shares of the retailers stock worth $632,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Flynn Zito Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Walmart by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Flynn Zito Capital Management LLC now owns 1,636 shares of the retailers stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC boosted its holdings in Walmart by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC now owns 6,074 shares of the retailers stock worth $955,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. ICW Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Walmart by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. ICW Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,451 shares of the retailers stock worth $2,436,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avaii Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Walmart by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter. Avaii Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,908 shares of the retailers stock worth $305,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 33.18% of the companys stock. Walmart Company Profile (Get Free Report) Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, and other units worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com, walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, and samsclub.com; and mobile commerce applications. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL Free Report) by 99.9% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 255 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 220,824 shares during the quarter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLCs holdings in Markel Group were worth $375,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Balentine LLC raised its stake in shares of Markel Group by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Balentine LLC now owns 294 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $407,000 after buying an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Asset Dedication LLC increased its holdings in Markel Group by 72.7% in the second quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 19 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC increased its holdings in Markel Group by 1.8% in the first quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 514 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $758,000 after buying an additional 9 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in Markel Group by 0.4% in the second quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,821 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $3,902,000 after buying an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue increased its holdings in Markel Group by 0.4% in the third quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 2,368 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $3,486,000 after buying an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.96% of the companys stock. Get Markel Group alerts: Markel Group Trading Down 0.4 % Markel Group stock opened at $1,500.27 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $19.67 billion, a PE ratio of 10.21 and a beta of 0.70. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $1,450.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $1,445.23. Markel Group Inc. has a 52 week low of $1,186.56 and a 52 week high of $1,560.00. The company has a current ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Markel Group ( NYSE:MKL Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The insurance provider reported $56.48 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $23.58 by $32.90. The firm had revenue of $3.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.75 billion. Markel Group had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 12.63%. Equities research analysts predict that Markel Group Inc. will post 82.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. A number of research analysts have issued reports on MKL shares. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Markel Group in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. They issued a sell rating and a $1,275.00 target price for the company. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Markel Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their target price for the company from $1,680.00 to $1,500.00 in a report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $1,475.00 target price on shares of Markel Group in a report on Friday, February 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $1,412.50. Read Our Latest Research Report on Markel Group Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $1,414.74 per share, for a total transaction of $141,474.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 45,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,718,474.86. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Markel Group news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner purchased 100 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was bought at an average price of $1,414.74 per share, for a total transaction of $141,474.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 45,039 shares of the companys stock, valued at $63,718,474.86. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director A. Lynne Puckett purchased 72 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $1,409.28 per share, with a total value of $101,468.16. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 960 shares in the company, valued at $1,352,908.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 1.75% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Markel Group Profile (Free Report) Markel Group Inc, a diverse holding company, engages in marketing and underwriting specialty insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The company offers general and professional liability, personal lines, marine and energy, specialty programs, and workers' compensation insurance products; and property coverages that include fire, allied lines, and other specialized property coverages, including catastrophe-exposed property risks, such as earthquake and wind. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MKL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Markel Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Markel Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Calvary Lutheran craft fair set for March 15, 16 Calvary Lutheran Church, 1304 N Custer, will host a craft fair from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, March 15, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 16. The food court will be open both days, serving coffee and rolls, as well as lunch. This year the groups famous beef burgers will be served. Some of the vendors and available items for the fair include: Color Street, Magic Mix, GelMoment, Young Living Essential Oils, vintage collectibles, lots of crafts and jewelry, and baked goods in addition to a raffle table. Homemade enchiladas will also be available for purchase. While it may be a long process, publishing a book can be very fulfilling. On Jan. 15, a childrens book called Special Seeds, was available to purchase on Amazon. The book is about a young girl learning how to grow seeds and farm from her grandfather. That book was self-published by Abby Elsbury, who currently resides in Doniphan with her husband and three children, two sons and a daughter. Elsbury has also been teaching first grade at Newell Elementary School in Grand Island for 19 years. Elsbury knew she wanted to be an author since she was a girl. When I was younger, Elsbury said. (An author) was actually one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up. She originally wrote down some ideas for a book while on maternity leave for her 11-year-old son. However, it took her until March 2021 before she put pencil to paper on Special Seeds. Cause spring break, Elsbury said. I was just telling my husband, Im like I think I get Olympic projects done on my spring breaks. Elsbury felt comfortable writing a childrens book. With experience from raising her own children and teaching first graders, Elsbury thought she knew what the age group might enjoy and what would get a giggle out of them. I love to read novels and Im an avid reader, she said. But writing-wise, (childrens books are) where my niche is. Inspirations and illustrations While Special Seeds is fictional, Elsbury included elements of her real life in the book. There were dates, nicknames and little details in the illustrations based off of her family. For example, the farm in Elsburys book was inspired by the farm owned by her parents. I wanted to incorporate my parents and the farm, Elsbury said. And just that bond (between) my kids and my parents. Elsbury herself even makes an appearance in the beginning of the book, which all of Elsburys students noticed when she read the book to them. The very first page my kids were like, I see you! and Im like, Yeah, thats me, Elsbury said. I mean, theyve seen pictures of my family, so they know who all of those people are. So I think thats part of the enjoyment too, is knowing having some connection to the people in the pictures. Elsbury had trouble finding an illustrator for the book, however. None of the illustrators were able to capture what she had envisioned. She also wanted one familiar with Nebraska farming. My first illustrator, I thought I had (a good match), I even paid him, Elsbury said. And then he was putting mountains in the back of my picture and I was like, You do know where I live, right? That was until Elsbury found Joe Hox when searching for Midwest illustrators on Instagram. Hox was very familiar with Midwest farming, because he also grew up on a farm in Iowa. According to Elsbury, even when she was talking to other illustrators, she kept going back to Hox. Even before Elsbury hired Hox, she could tell that he wanted her to succeed since he was nice and giving her feedback on the book. I would assume most people are like me, where they dont know if their stuff is good enough, Elsbury said. So I had a lot of people read it and many people just said it was great and Im like, I wanted I wanted to know what I could change and feedback. While Hox had not been able to start right away, Elsbury ended up hiring him for the book. It was actually probably Gods blessing (that) we got him, Elsbury said. Because he did great. The process of self-publishing Since Special Seeds, was self-published, Elsbury had to do more than just write the book. She learned about the behind-the-scenes work that a normal publisher would have done. One of the things Elsbury learned was that she needed to buy a barcode. I did have to send a copy to the Library of Congress so it could actually be considered a book, Elsbury said. I didnt know all of this, like I wanted it to be legit and be in libraries and my library in my school was like, Well then you have to have a barcode. When asked if Elsbury would seek out a publisher for any potential future books, she was unsure. If I would have just sent it to a publishing company, I dont think I would have gotten any of the creative freedoms, Elsbury said. And I want like, thats kind of what I wanted, as I wanted the pictures to be set just in a certain way. Now that Elsbury is familiar with the self-publishing process, she believes she could publish another book faster. While she doesnt currently have plans for another book, she would like to publish more in the future. Elsbury even said both of her sons wanted to be the main characters at some point. They were telling me what they wanted the topics to be, Elsbury said. And I go, Well mommys probably gonna need to, like, sit down and really digest that. Overcoming the nervousness Currently, Special Seeds, is available for purchase on Amazon or through Elsbury, who can be found on her Instagram account aelsbury_childrensauthor. I dont have it in any stores yet, Elsbury said. But hopefully youll see it out and about. While Elsbury is happy to have finally published her book, she is still nervous about whether her book is good or not. Elsbury said that her friends have sent her pictures and told her its a great book, but she thinks they are just being nice. I still think its not real, Elsbury said. I mean, I am so excited to just hold it and theres many times Ive reread it and I look at the pictures, (but) I do still I dont know how much I believe that. Elsbury didnt start to think differently until she was invited to read her book to the residents of Tabitha at Prairie Commons on Tuesday, March 5. The residents enjoyed her book, with a few even purchasing copies of it. Reading it to these wonderful people, and they dont know me from anywhere, and they were giggling and they liked it, Elsbury said. I think this is probably my first time really realizing that maybe, maybe I do have a good book. David Kaufmann made an impact on Grand Island, the state and far beyond. And in return, the community has supporting the people bringing his story to life in film. Filming continues on A Life Well Lived, a documentary that will highlight the impact of Kaufmann, a German Jewish immigrant who helped hundreds of people before the Holocaust. Supported by Hall County Historical Society and the Institute for Holocaust Education, Chimney Rock Media is making the film. The documentary will feature a number of reenactment scenes filmed around the city, including at the Liederkranz and Stuhr Museum. A full day of filming is planned Saturday, with the filmmakers hitting the Hargis House, Burlington Station and Grand Theater, in addition to getting exterior shots at Kaufmanns former home, according to Hall County Historical Society Vice President Michelle Setlik. The premiere is schedule for Aug. 4 at the Grand. While not nationally famous, some Grand Island natives might have heard of David Kaufmann. Kaufmann was a local businessman, the proprietor of Kaufmanns department store, the Grand Theatre and he was the president of the commercial National Bank in the 1930s. Kaufmann was treasurer for the Hall County Historical Society, as well as one of its founding members. Kaufmann was also a civic leader and philanthropist, seeking to help people where he could. While Kaufmann received the 1934 Community Service Award in Grand Island, he did his philanthropy quietly and never sought out recognition. Kaufmann would even offer help for more personal issues. Hall County Historical Society Secretary Annette Davis recalled a time when she was a young girl and Kaufmann had helped her. When Davis was out with her father, she had lost her purse and life savings, which she said was probably not more than a dollar and a half. When they went to the financial office, Kaufmann came to help. A David Kaufmann collectible Scroll down to check out old Independent pages restored by Fly By Night Printing of Grand Island. The pages published in the March 8 Independent print edition and will be used as a prop in the documentary about David Kaufmann, "A Life Well Lived." Though the purse had been turned in, Kaufmann poured the change into his hand and counted it to make sure nothing was taken. If there was some missing, Kaufmann was going to give Davis the amount. He didnt want me to suffer financial loss but it was so compassionate, Davis said. He was so kind about knowing that I lost my life savings, it really impressed me, Ill never forget it. While Kaufmann was known to help those in the community, some of his most important humanitarian work was done for people outside of Nebraska. Kaufmann was not only born and raised in Germany, but he was also Jewish. With a rise in antisemitism and limited career opportunities, Kaufmann decided to immigrate to America and was able to become a successful businessman. Kaufmann was able to get away from the Nazi regime on his own, but other Jewish people were unable to do so. To help with that, Kaufmann financially sponsored at least 80 Jewish families who were fleeing Germany in the lead-up to World War II. According to Setlik, after the Immigration Act of 1924, Germanys immigration quota was 26,000 people after it took over Austria. In 1938, there were 160,000 people on the list, Setlik said in a previous interview with The Independent. And by 1939, there were over 300,000 people on the list wanting to get out of Germany (and immigrate) to the United States. Immigrants also had to go through an intensive process, which included having a financial sponsor. Through sponsoring, Setlik estimates that Kaufmann saved around 200 people in the late 1930s. While Kaufmann never spoke publicly about his sponsoring, the families never forgot what he had done for them. Neither did the generations that have followed. Most of us have more good thoughts than we have bad ones, and all we have to do is follow the good thoughts, Kaufmann said while accepting the 1934 Grand Island Service Award. The handicap is that often the good thoughts are not followed by required action. Scott Littky didnt know much about the story of Kaufmann until he became the executive director of the Institute for Holocaust Education. That was when Littky learned that a family hes known for around 35 years were helped by Kaufmann. Littky said that in many ways, Kaufmann rescued those Jewish families from Germany. If not for Kaufmann, those people could have been victims of the Holocaust. (Kaufmann) did what many people did not do, Littky said in the late summer of 2023. Meaning that he reached out and used his ability, because of his success, to help other people and its (really something) we need to see more of in this world. The documentary will feature interviews with members of the Hall County Historical Society, people that have history with Kaufmann and members of the families Kaufmann sponsored. Setlik said Thursday the documentarians have been to Arizona, Colorado and elsewhere to talk to the descendants of those Kaufmann helped. It was a ripple effect, she said. The work he did. Even though he might not have thought it was that much of an ask, given his resources, it had a ripple effect for generations. Thats the really cool thing about this whole project, how far reaching his impact was. The Hall County Historical Society is still raising funds for the project, with people being able to donate in-person at 603 N. Plum St. or online at HallNEhistory.com. The Chimney Rock Media website will also accept donations through the Institute for Holocaust Education. Setlik lauded the numerous people in Grand Island whove helped, through monetary donations and much more. The Grand Island Little Theatre has helped with actors and costuming, while the Heartland Antique Mall helped with props. The leaders at various sites have been accommodating to filming. Setlik noted Afternooners plans to donate food for the film crew on Saturday, while on April 18 The Chocolate Bar is hosting a eat cake, donate day, with a portion of the proceeds going to the project. And the Hall County Historical Society will donate all general fund proceeds from the United Ways Go Big Give 24-hour giving event on May 2 to the film project. Not to mention the donation of the various locations for filming. And the next four pages of todays Independent will serve as a prop in the documentary. Grand Island has been amazing. Theres been so much support from the community for this project, Setlik said. Ive been blown away by the generosity. There are also plans to make the film available to Nebraska schools to incorporate into their curriculum once the project is finished, according to Setlik. More on the film is available at shorturl.at/sEKN2. Hall County Historical Society President Fred Roeser said, Were trying to memorialize him and let everybody know all the good things that David Kaufmann did. So many people really dont know about his life at all. Soon many more will know about a life well lived. Former Scottsbluff Police Captain Brian Wasson has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the theft of drugs and money from police evidence. The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office said in a news release that it filed charges Tuesday in Scotts Bluff County District Court, bypassing the filing of charges in county court and other proceedings. Wasson, who previously served as a police captain for the Scottsbluff Police Department, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of theft by unlawful taking in excess of $5,000. The first count alleges that between March 2021 and April 15, 2023, Wasson stole controlled substances in excess of $5,000. The second count alleges that between those same dates he also stole currency in excess of $5,000. Wasson surrendered himself, according to the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office. He was booked in the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center, but had reportedly already posted bond. Wassons sentencing is scheduled for April 23 in Scottsbluff. Wasson resigned from his position at the Scottsbluff Police Department, where he had served for 25 years, on Sept. 6, according to a change of status form filed with the Nebraska Crime Commission, and he voluntarily surrendered his law enforcement certification in October. Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 In a bulletin distributed to Omaha Police Department officers recently, OPD leadership alerted officers to a large increase in narcotics distribution across Omaha specifically methamphetamine tied to Mexican cartels. Both state and federal data show a significant uptick in meth seizures over the past five years, according to information from the Omaha police and other law enforcement agencies. According to the bulletin, most of the drugs seized in Omaha originate from two Mexican cartels: Sinaloa Cartel, a well-established drug trafficking syndicate, and Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a powerful group considered by the U.S. Department of Justice to be one of the five most dangerous transnational criminal organizations in the world. The bulletin, obtained exclusively by The World-Herald, also makes allegations of criminal activity against two men shot and killed by off-duty police officers in early February outside a South Omaha nightclub Fernando Rodriguez-Juarez, 26, and Jonathan Hernandez-Rosales, 28. Police alluded to potential cartel connections in the bulletin, but did not confirm if either man was directly connected to cartel or trafficking activity. Lt. Neal Bonacci, an Omaha Police spokesperson, said the bulletin is meant for internal use. Its more informational than it is anything else, but it gives officers an idea of how to deal with whatever theyre coming across, he said. Emily Murray, a spokesperson for the Drug Enforcement Administrations Omaha office, said meth seizures in Nebraska reached a five-year high in 2023 and have been steadily increasing in recent years. The DEA seized 260 pounds of meth in 2019, 580 pounds in 2021, and nearly 1,100 pounds in 2023. Those numbers dont include seizures by local or state law enforcement agencies, Murray said. The Nebraska State Patrol has seized 56 pounds of meth so far in 2024, according to spokesperson Cody Thomas. The State Patrol reached a seven-year peak of 315 pounds seized in 2022, which decreased in 2023 to 221 pounds. The Douglas County Sheriffs Office could not immediately retrieve records of meth seizures for past years, but Sheriff Aaron Hanson said his offices Special Operations Group alone seized 127 pounds of meth in 2023. Though Bonacci could not provide a full breakdown of seizures by year in time for publication, a quarterly report from December 2023 indicates a significant increase in meth seizures by OPD from 2022 to 2023. According to the report, OPD seized 235 pounds of meth in 2022. In 2023, that number jumped to 506 pounds an increase of 139%. Involved in the illicit distribution of narcotics The bulletin alleges that Hernandez-Rosales and Rodriguez-Juarez, the men Omaha officers shot and killed in February, were involved in the illicit distribution of narcotics, though it does not specifically mention ties to meth trafficking. Two off-duty officers working security at Extasis Nightclub on the morning of Feb. 3 opened fire on a car containing the two men after Rodriguez-Juarez fired a shot in the direction of a group of people, according to police. Preliminary investigation into the cellular devices from the [officer-involved shooting] suspects indicates they are involved in the illicit distribution of narcotics in Omaha and additional areas of the United States, the bulletin reads. The investigation involving other areas in the U.S. have direct links to Mexican based narcotics source of supplies, controlled by the Mexican Drug Cartels. According to Bonacci, Omaha police officers searched Rodriguez-Juarezs and Hernandez-Rosales phones after their deaths as part of the investigation into the shooting, which showed indications of criminal activity. When asked why Rodriguez-Juarez and Hernandez-Rosales were specifically mentioned in the bulletin despite their deaths, Bonacci said a death doesnt always mean the end of an investigation. Once someone is deceased and you can determine its their phone, there is no right to privacy, Bonacci said. Even if someone is deceased, if there is evidence found through cell phones or computers or things like that, that can lead to further investigation. The bulletin also lists general indicators of narcotics trafficking, to include the worship of unofficial saints Jesus Malverde or Santa Muerte. Jesus Malverde is known as the narco-saint and the unofficial patron saint of narcotics traffickers. Santa Muerte is a folk saint sometimes associated with criminal activity, but she is also a central figure in other aspects of Mexican folk Catholicism. The bulletin notes officers should be aware that persons not involved in drug trafficking will pray to Santa Muerte or other unofficial saints. A photo appearing to be a shrine to Santa Muerte is included in the bulletin. It depicts money, beer bottles and candles placed around a statue of Santa Muerte, who is depicted as a female skeletal figure holding a scythe. Photos of a stack of money and a handgun are also included. Vietnam labor minister faces disciplinary action for bidding violations By Tri Duc Fri, March 8, 2024 | 8:34 pm GMT+7 Vietnam's Central Inspection Commission has proposed disciplining Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung for his involvement in the Advanced International JSC (AIC)-related bidding scam. In a Friday announcement, the commission said that Dung, also a Party Central Committee member, "committed violations to the point that he must be disciplined". It also noted that the Party delegation of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) for the 2016-2021 and 2011-2016 tenures violated democratic centralism rules and working regulations, while showing lackluster responsibility and leadership. "This resulted in some individuals and organizations violating Party regulations and State laws related to vocational training and bidding packages implemented by AIC and the company's ecosystem. Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung. Photo courtesy of the ministry. Other violators include Pham Thi Hai Chuyen, a former Party Central Committee member and former minister; former deputy ministers Nguyen Ngoc Phi, Huynh Van Ti, Doan Mau Diep, and Le Quan; head of the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) Truong Anh Dung; and former DVET heads Duong Duc Lan and Nguyen Hong Minh. The Central Inspection Commission also announced violations related to the Peoples Court of Kon Tum province, Phu Yen province, Gia Lai province, Ha Giang province, and the Ministry of Justice. Over the past two years, AIC has been investigated for bidding violations in units and localities. In January 2024, Nguyen Nhan Chien, former chief of Bac Ninh province's Party Committee, was arrested for accepting bribes in a bidding scam related to AIC. In December 2023, many AIC leaders and staff members were accused of wrongdoing in a case that occurred at the Vietnam Computer Emergency Response Center (VNCERT) under the Ministry of Information and Communications. In 2022, the police launched investigations into AIC-related violations occurring at Dong Nai General Hospital, Quang Ninh province's Department of Health, and the Ho Chi Minh City Biotechnology Center. AIC chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan has been accused of wrongdoings in five cases but is on the run. An international arrest warrant for her was issued, and she was tried in absentia in some cases. Analytics Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Launches Data Visualization Tool to Track Student and School Performance The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and data analytics company SAS have partnered to launch a web-based tool that provides reports and analysis on performance, achievement, and growth at all K12 schools in the state to help guide decision-making about effective learning strategies. The Missouri Data Visualization Tool (MO DVT) is hosted on the SAS website. Reports are available on two separate pages: a public page for general LEA information, and a restricted login page for school personnel to access student cohort and individual growth projection data. "The focus is on student growth rather than student proficiency on the state assessment," the MO DVT website states. "The Missouri Data Visualization Tool (MO DVT) provides visualizations of these data, helping educators identify best practices, design instruction to best meet the needs of their students, and make informed decisions about where to focus resources to ensure growth opportunities for all students." The public access site provides Local Education Agency (LEA) reports for subject, year, and grade. Users can select data for each separate school, see trends over time, and run comparisons. "This feature can help provide insight into the effects of educational practices on student learning," the release noted. A help feature gives detailed information about how the reports are generated and how to interpret them. On the restricted site, the model uses data from previous years to determine how much growth a student made in a year, according to SAS. It also uses assessment data to project how a student might score on state proficiency exams at the course and grade level in order to help school personnel plan for intervention and allocate resources. "I believe MO DVT will provide our teachers and principals with a deeper understanding of how we can improve," said Sam Duncan, New Madrid County R-I School District superintendent. "Our educators are currently digging into individual student data from MO DVT and look forward to learning more about how this tool can help us track and improve student growth." To learn more, download help guides, and access the building and LEA growth, performance, and comparison reports for individual institutions, visit the SAS MO DVT welcome page. To view the public site to see building and LEA growth, performance, and growth, and comparison reports for individual institutions, visit the MO DVT tool and click on the Public Access button. Also scroll down to learn more about the MO DVT and download help guides for using it. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code COLUMBIA The VA has announced that all veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military at home or abroad are now eligible to enroll directly in VA health care. This means that all veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 are eligible to enroll in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Additionally, veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States are eligible to enroll. Denis McDonough U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough is 52. This expansion of VA health care eliminates the phased-in approach called for by the PACT Act meaning that millions of veterans are becoming eligible for VA health care up to eight years earlier than written into law. This is a critical step forward because veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than non-enrolled veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings. Additionally, VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for veterans. Get TheTandD.com for $1 for 26 weeks Support local journalism by becoming a member at www.TheTandD.com. View our latest offer at https://thetandd.com/subscribe. If youre a veteran who may have been exposed to toxins or hazards while serving our country, at home or abroad, we want you to come to us for the health care you deserve, said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. VA is proven to be the best, most affordable health care in America for veterans and once youre in, you have access for life. So dont wait, enroll today. Today, were making millions of veterans eligible for VA health care years earlier than called for by the PACT Act, said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. With this expansion, VA can care for all veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11. We can also care for veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty here at home by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more. We want to bring all of these veterans to VA for the care theyve earned and deserve. House passes $460 billion package of spending bills. Senate expected to act before shutdown deadline The House passed a $460 billion package of spending bills Wednesday that would keep money flowing to key federal agencies through the remainder of the budget year. The Senate is expected to take up the legislation before a midnight Friday shutdown deadline. The staff at Columbia VA Health Care System are ready to serve our veterans who are now eligible to receive care under the expanded PACT Act. I encourage all eligible veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411 to apply for VA health care today. It is an honor to care for our Nations heroes and ensure they get the benefits they have earned. said Rebecca Strini, Acting Medical Director of the Columbia VA Health Care System. In addition to expanding access to VA care, this decision makes it quicker and easier for millions of veterans to enroll. Many veterans believe they must apply to receive VA disability compensation benefits to become eligible for VA health care, but this is not correct. With this expansion and other authorities, millions of eligible veterans can enroll directly in VA care without any need to first apply for VA benefits. This expansion of care covers Vietnam veterans, Gulf War veterans, Iraq War veterans, Afghanistan War veterans, veterans who deployed in support of contingency operations for the Global War on Terror (Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedoms Sentinel, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Resolute Support Mission), and more. This expansion also covers many veterans who never deployed as a part of a conflict but were exposed to toxins or hazards while serving in the U.S. Specifically, under this expansion of care, any veteran who participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) at home or abroad is eligible for VA health care. VA has determined that veterans who were exposed to one or more of the following hazards or conditions during active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training participated in a TERA: air pollutants (burn pits, sand, dust, particulates, oil well fires, sulfur fires); chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, depleted uranium with embedded shrapnel, contaminated water); occupational hazards (asbestos, industrial solvents, lead, paints including chemical agent resistant coating, firefighting foams); radiation (nuclear weapons handling, maintenance and detonation, radioactive material, calibration and measurement sources, X-rays, radiation from military occupational exposure); warfare agents (nerve agents, chemical and biological weapons); and more. VA will use all available information to determine if veterans participated in a TERA, including military records and service connection. VA is executing a nationwide campaign to ensure that as many veterans as possible enroll. To date, VAs PACT Act outreach campaign has included more than 2,500 events nationwide, $13 million in paid advertising, 88,000 earned media clips, more than 400 million emails and letters to veterans, VAs first-ever text messaging campaign, the creation of a one-stop-shop PACT Act website, and more. This is the largest outreach campaign in VA history, which has one goal in mind: ensure that all veterans and their survivors get the health care and benefits they deserve under the PACT Act. To get more information on eligibility and to apply for care or benefits today, visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411. The Orangeburg-Wilkinson Alumni Choir announces the revival of the African American Sacred Music Festival, set for 6 p.m. March 22- 23 at Edisto Fork United Methodist Church. This event aims to celebrate African American sacred music, its cultural significance, and legacy. African American Sacred Music Festival set The Orangeburg-Wilkinson Alumni Choir announces the revival of the African American Sacred Music Festival. This event aims to celebrate Africa Under the leadership of Sheneice Duckett Smith, the African American Sacred Music Festival was a signature program of the Orangeburg-Wilkinson Choral Department. Now, with the Orangeburg-Wilkinson Alumni Chorus, this festival returns. Get TheTandD.com for $1 for 26 weeks Support local journalism by becoming a member at www.TheTandD.com. View our latest offer at https://thetandd.com/subscribe. The festival theme, "Preserving the Legacy of African American Sacred Music," underscores the importance of honoring and safeguarding the musical heritage that has shaped generations. Orangeburg International Festival planned A parade, cuisine, music and fashion show will be among the features of the inaugural Orangeburg International Festival set for April. The Orangeburg-Wilkinson Alumni Chorus comprises award-winning vocalists. Voorhees holds 2nd annual GEAR UP day Approximately 200 ninth-graders attended Voorhees University's second annual GEAR UP day event. "We are thrilled to revive the African American Sacred Music Festival and carry forward its legacy of musical excellence," said Sheneice Smith, Artistic Director. "This event is not only a celebration of our shared heritage but also a testament to the transformative power of music to unite, uplift, and inspire." Doors will open at 6 p.m., and performances will begin at 7p.m. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend. Choral alumni may learn more details and register to participate in the event at mandsmusicstudios.com/alumni-chorale. For more information about the African American Sacred Music Festival or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sheneice Smith at (803) 747-0842 or sdsmith1ow@aol.com. CORDOVA A young Cordova firefighter rescued a dog from flames surrounding its dog kennel on Feb. 25. The rescue happened when Cordova firefighters were called to a structure fire near the local school in the afternoon. Volunteer Jackson Giacomarro, was among the firefighters. Jackson, when he arrived, he noticed that a large area of the backyard was on fire as well as the fire was approaching a dog kennel, Cordova Fire Chief Kyle Hardison said. Jackson entered the dog kennel, rescued the dog and saved him, Hardison said. Giacomarro said, There was fire on the front side of the dog kennel when I entered. I made sure the dog was all right, wasnt going to bite me and then I helped it out and made sure it didnt walk through the fire and get burned. After Giacomarro rescued the dog, he and Hardison cleaned out the kennel, provided fresh water and placed the dog inside. Giacomarro has been part of the Cordova Fire Department for more than a year. After he finishes high school, he wants to be a K-9 deputy at the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office and continue to volunteer at the fire department. The Cordova fire department currently has 19 members, which includes both EMTs and firefighters, Hardison said. The department averages about 50 to 60 calls a month, with some of those calls being for mutual aid to other agencies. Over the past year-and-a-half, the department added four nationally certified firefighters. Hardison became the departments fire chief on Sept. 11, 2023. On Saturday, March 9, the fire department is holding a boot drive to raise money to purchase equipment needed for rope rescues. The boot drive will take place from 9 a.m. until noon at the intersection of Legrand Smoak Street and U.S. Highway 301. The goal is to raise $7,000, Hardison said. He noted that the equipment will come in handy when the department performs grain bin rescues. He also said the equipment will allow the department to help other agencies with rescue needs. DENMARK Denmark Technical College has inducted 14 distinguished alumni into its inaugural class of the Alumni Hall of Fame. The 14 honorees span generations of Denmark Tech graduates, going back to the colleges formative years as South Carolina Area Trade School, and are an impressive example of the HBCU excellence the college has become known for. dtc hall of fame inductees Denmark Technical College has inducted 14 distinguished alumni into its inaugural class of the Alumni Hall of Fame. The inductees are Margaret The inductees include leaders in business, engineering, government administration, education and industry who have made significant contributions to their fields, community and the college. The Alumni Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the college to alumni, said Willie L. Todd Jr., Ph.D., president and CEO of Denmark Technical College. Each alumnus selected has demonstrated a significant commitment to Denmark Technical College and has achieved a high level of professional success. Their efforts have continued to shine a light on the good work being done at Denmark Tech and we are honored to have the opportunity to celebrate them in this meaningful way. The inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame class includes Margaret Belk, James W. Bowden Sr., James Byrd, Vicky Carter, Roosevelt Chaplin, Betty Dowling, Deloris Frazier, Richard Freeman, Ellis Nelson, Helen Palmer, Alvin Richardson, A. Ronald Sanders, Roosevelt Scott and David Wilkerson. I am honored to be inducted among this stellar group of DTC alumni, said James W. Bowden Sr., president of the Denmark Technical College National Alumni Association and DTC Area Commissioner. This distinguished group of honorees has achieved so much professionally and, more importantly, have continued to give back to younger generations of students so that they can reach their educational goals and continue on the legacy of this great HBCU. The Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony was held earlier in February, during the 2024 Presidents Legacy Scholarship Gala, a centerpiece of DTCs annual homecoming celebration which raises thousands for student scholarships. Each inductee contributed to the annual scholarship fund. We are elated to add the Alumni Hall of Fame to our homecoming festivities and are exited to see it grow to become an annual highlight for Denmark Tech. I thank our executive vice president, Dr. A. Clifton Myles, for his vision and leadership in making this a reality. added Todd. Dr. James Salleys generosity toward South Carolina State University is nothing new. Having earned membership in his alma maters prestigious Thomas E. Miller Society, which recognizes benefactors who have given $100,000 or more to the university, Salley has been a regular contributor. He has endowed three scholarships along the way. On March 3, as he concluded his keynote address for SC States annual Founders Day celebration, Salley surprised SC State President Alexander Conyers with his latest gift, a check for $10,000. Quoting civil rights icon and SC State alumnus Benjamin E. Mays and Bible verses, Salley delivered a sermon-like challenge to Bulldog alumni to generously contribute to the universitys upcoming capital fundraising campaign. SCSU Founders Day 2024 Dr. James Salley presents a check for $10,000 to SC State President Alexander Conyers at Founders Day. Whatever we do from this podium here, lets make it a God-size vision and raise that $50 million-plus for South Carolina State, Salley said. Some of you millionaires, get up off of that money. All that I am or could ever hope to be, I owe to God, family, the church and South Carolina State University, he said before calling Conyers up to the podium. This is a seed for that $50 million that youre going to raise. Heres the first gift for that campaign, Salley said, pulling a check from his sport coat pocket. Heres a gift of $10,000. Gun-sniffing dog: S.C. State prepares for new security measure As South Carolina State University prepares to bring a gun-sniffing dog to campus, it held a demonstration for students and university officials on Tuesday. You dont have to pay me, he said, having joked earlier about not receiving an honorarium for his speech. Ill pay you. I still owe South Carolina State. All my life, Ill be paying South Carolina State. Salleys gift was immediately met with a standing ovation from the Founders Day audience, as well as a matching $10,000 pledge from his brother-in-law, Hubert Daniely. To join Salley and Daniely in supporting SC State, visit scsu.edu and click Give to SC State. Salley is president and CEO of Africa University, TN Inc. and associate vice chancellor for institutional advancement of Africa University in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe. Get TheTandD.com for $1 for 26 weeks Support local journalism by becoming a member at www.TheTandD.com. View our latest offer at https://thetandd.com/subscribe. Salley is a native of Orangeburg and was educated in the public schools of Orangeburg and graduated from Wilkinson High School and South Carolina State University. He has done additional studies at Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities in Nashville, Tennessee and holds certificates in management and business studies and institutional advancement. Steves & Sons Inc. CEO Edward Galt Steves has submitted a $2.3 million bid to buy convicted felon Chris Pettits Alamo Heights mansion at 555 Argyle Ave. Brothers Edward Galt Steves, right, and Sam Steves operate Steves & Sons, a door manufacturer that is San Antonios oldest family-owned business. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer Ex-attorney Chris Petitt was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for defrauding his law clients. Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer The Alamo Heights heights property was initially listed for sale at just under $4 million in late 2022. San Antonio Board of Realtors The Alamo Heights property has views of the Olmos Dam and Olmos Basin. San Antonio Board of Realtors Chris Pettits former Alamo Heights property is set to be sold. San Antonio Board of Realtors Edward Galt Steves, CEO of San Antonio door manufacturer Steves & Sons Inc., has submitted a $2.3 million bid to buy ex-lawyer and convicted felon Chris Pettits Alamo Heights mansion. The house at 555 Argyle Ave. overlooking the Olmos Dam and Olmos Basin is the last real estate holding in Pettits bankruptcy estate left to be sold. Last month, a federal judge sentenced him to 50 years in federal prison for looting tens of millions of dollars from his law clients. He had used the money to support a high-end lifestyle that included buying expensive homes and fancy cars. He sought bankruptcy protection for himself and his law firm before surrendering his law license and shuttering his firm in 2022. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Steves has been designated the stalking horse bidder, a term for an initial bidder who enters into a sales contract that establishes a minimum bid for an asset ahead of a bankruptcy court auction. Other parties will have the opportunity to acquire the property at an April 1 auction overseen by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Antonio, provided a judge approves the sale procedures. A court filing Wednesday shows that bidding at the auction would start at Steves bid of $2.3 million plus $25,000 called the initial topping bid. Subsequent bids have to be in increments of $25,000. The contract would allow Steves to buy the furniture on the property for $5,000. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He didnt respond to a phone message left for him at Steves & Sons. Steves & Sons, the company he runs with his brother Sam Steves, is San Antonios oldest family-owned company. The brothers great-great-great grandfather, a German immigrant also named Edward Steves, founded it in 1866 as a lumber producer. In the early decades of the 20th century, it changed its focus to making windows and doors. The brothers took it over in 1985, upgrading plants in San Antonio, Tennessee and Virginia before opening a plant in Utah last year. Tiered design The 6,500-square-foot Alamo Heights property features three bedrooms and four bathrooms. The house was designed by architect Tom Pressley and built by Bartlett-Cocke in 1986. It sits on 0.72 acres and features four levels of patios and terraces with floor-to-ceiling arched windows, according to the sale listing. Its been described as the Wedding Cake house for its tiered design and is one of the San Antonio areas most recognizable residential properties. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pettit did not live in the house when his world collapsed, instead splitting his time between a mansion in Stone Oak and another at Disney World in Florida. Despite its notoriety, the house has been a tough sell. It hit the market with an asking price of just less than $4 million in November 2022. The price was reduced six times over the next 15 months to $2.8 million. Eric Terry, the trustee overseeing the Pettit bankruptcy estate, said Steves contract provides the highest and best current value for the house in light of lengthy marketing and the state of the market. Terry has sold various residential properties and office buildings that Pettit owned, generating about $16 million in sales. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A new auto repair and tire business is opening on Russell Street. Paul's Car Care Center plans to open at 1680 Russell St. at the former Ford's Tire and Automotive. The tentative target date for opening is Friday, April 19. The store looks to employ five or six. The business will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will be closed on Sunday. "We are a growing company," owner Paul Johnson said, noting he foresees the Orangeburg location becoming "the hub for outlying areas." Paul's Car Care Center Paul Johnson, owner of Paul's Car Care Center, is planning to open at 1680 Russell St. at the former Ford's Tire and Automotive. The tentative There are also plans to open in Holly Hill at 102 Franklin St. in the third quarter of 2024. Paul's Car Care Center repairs brakes, air conditioning units, tires and does alignments. The business also sells all major tire brands. "What separates us from our competitors is that we are probably the largest installers of engines and transmissions probably right now in the state of South Carolina," Johnson said. "We specialize in engine repair and replacement." Johnson said the business also has "very strong diagnostic capabilities" related to check engine lights. "We like to be the leaders in our markets in technology," Johnson said. The tune of retirement: Ford's Tire and Auto closes after over 2 decades A locally owned and operated downtown Orangeburg tire and service shop has closed after more than two decades in operation. For example, Johnson said the business has the latest in Freon equipment technology and will have the Advanced Driver Alert System technology. He said ADAF enables the business to "calibrate all sensors back to factor specs" when replacing parts. "In Charleston we are one of the top three leaders with our technology," Johnson said. "We plan on being number one in Orangeburg." Specific services provided include: electrical services, electronic services, engine and transmission, European and import vehicle repair, heating and cooling, quick lube, towing and transmission. The business also offers service coupons on its website. It is Paul's Car Care Center's first entrance into the Orangeburg market. The business started in Ladson in 2017 and has since expanded into North Charleston, Summerville, Oak Brook and Walterboro. Johnson noted the business is a NAPA car care center and customers can qualify for the nationwide "Peace of Mind Warranty," which covers parts and labor on qualifying repairs and services for 24 months/24,000 miles. Get TheTandD.com for $1 for 26 weeks Support local journalism by becoming a member at www.TheTandD.com. View our latest offer at https://thetandd.com/subscribe. Paul's Car Care Center will open on the heels of Ford's Tire closing Feb. 16 after 24 years in operation. Former owner Freddie Ford said Johnson and Paul's Car Care seem to be "the right fit at the right time." "He is a family-run operation," Ford said. "Our stories are very similar. He came up through Goodyear and I came up through the Firestone chain. They both teach you how to sell tires." "He is a genuinely nice guy. I think he is a great fit for the town," Ford said. "I think he will continue the tradition that we have started and been there for the last 24 years." Ford said the expectations are to make the transition as "seamless as possible." For more information visit: paulscarcarecenter.com or on Facebook by searching Paul's Car Care Center. A Carapan resident will have the rare chance of functioning in the capacity of Resident British Commissioner (RBC) for a day. On Monday 5, the British High Commission (BHC) announced that Alysha Cornwall, a second-year student at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College Division of Arts, Science and General Studies, had been chosen to be the Resident British Commissioner on International Womens Day (March 8, 2024). Cornwall, who hails from Carapan Village, Stubbs, was selected as the top entrants after she submitted a video detailing her thoughts about violence against women in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and how she thought that the country can reduce the incidence of this crime. In February, the British High Commission SVG in partnership with the DMV-SVG Mutual Aid Relief launched the Resident British Commissioner for a Day initiative with the aimed of providing exposure to Vincentian Women desirous of gaining hands-on career experience in the field of diplomatic relations. To be successful, female candidates between the ages of 18 and 25 had to submit a two- or three-minute video explaining why they wanted to be the RBC for a day and to recommend one way of addressing gender-based violence against women, among other things. The Carapan Village resident said that she was extremely happy and excited when she heard she had won the competition, and she would like to encourage others to participate in further competitions. Cornwall said that she took grabbed the opportunity hoping to widen her horizons and forge greater connections for the future. The RBC for the day will allow Cornwall to gain insight and a better understanding of the role of the Resident British High Commission. It will also provide an excellent opportunity for Cornwall to engage with the work on a deeper level and enhance her professional work experience. In an interview with THE VINCENTIAN newspaper, current Resident British High Commissioner in SVG, Geoff Patton said that Cornwalls presentation was of very good quality. "We had four questions you had to answer in the video and Alyshas answers were really excellent, really top quality. All the videos that were submitted were of great quality but Alyshas were standing out as the best one we saw and unfortunately it a competition that could only have one winner. " I wish I could make more people RBC for the day but we might have another competition further down the road, said Patton, while promising a busy and exciting day. "I am very excited about what we have planned for Alysha and looking forward to spending the day with her. It is my hope that Alysha will have an interesting day and that she gains valuable insight from the experience, he further noted. Heads of State and Governments and invited delegations at the 8th Summit of CELAC. The 8th Summit of CELAC concluded at the Sandals Resort, St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the evening of Friday 1st March, 2024. In additions to the Heads of State and Government and delegations of the 33 member countries of CELAC, an invitation to the Summit was extended by host St. Vincent and the Grenadines to a number of regional, hemispheric and international organizations, to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and a representative of the government of the Peoples Republic of China. The conclusion of the Summit was marked by the adoption of the "Kingstown Declaration, a document that maps out the pathway for CELAC going forward. Toward that end, the document addresses issues of peace, South-South cooperation, reparations, climate change, crime and security, poverty alleviation, food security, migration, and the Cuban blockade, among others. Dr. Gonsalves addresses Summit Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of host country St. Vincent and the Grenadines, addressed the gathering. In his address, he called for establishing a permanent secretariat for CELAC. "There are functions to be performed by CELAC that cannot adequately be performed with the current structure. I am calling for us to give serious and urgent consideration to a permanent and nimble secretariat for CELAC to carry out his requisite functions, Dr. Gonsalves stated. Dr. Gonsalves said CELAC has a roadmap for confronting meaningfully the challenges and encumbrances, burdens, weaknesses and limitations, and from our inherited and existing conditions "Our draft Declaration of Kingstown, of nearly 100 paragraphs, which I expect to be adopted unanimously today, contains the necessary and desirable pathway in the 12 headings, Dr. Gonsalves stated. He highlighted significant projects that were carried out during this country tenure as CELAC pro tempore president. These included: elaboration of the health sufficiency plan; proposal for the establishment of the Latin American and Caribbean centre for the development of science; the platform for food security; the push for enhanced air and sea transport, technology, and innovation; the joint promotion of an environment for open, secure, stable, accessible, and peaceful information and communications technologies. UN Secretary-General calls for peace In his address to the Summit, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for solidarity for peace and security. Latin America and the Caribbean, he said, "have shown how uniting for peace is possible and makes a difference. We have just witnessed it today. The peace process in Colombia has made significant strides, with invaluable contributions from CELAC countries. He also referenced the Argyle Declaration for dialogue and peace between Guyana and Venezuela, as another example of the regions commitment to seek peaceful solutions. He commended the members of CELAC for their efforts in this regard. Honduras becomes CELAC pro tempore president. President Xiomara Castro de Zelaya of Honduras said she was honoured to lead CELAC until 2025. If Prime Minister Gaston Browne has his way, LIAT 2020 would take to the skies in two months. (Source: Loop News) If all goes according to plan, LIAT 2020 is expected to start servicing routes in the Caribbean within the next two months. This optimism was expressed by Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and the driving force behind the new entity, which is being heralded as a replacement for the defunct regional airline LIAT (1974) Ltd., whose major shareholders were the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Browne shared his optimism during the 46th regular meeting of CARICOM leaders in Guyana. LIAT 2020 is being formed in partnership with Air Peace, a private Nigerian airline founded in 2013. Browne announced that "significant progress has been made towards the launch of the airline, as the other shareholding governments had agreed to allow Antigua and Barbuda to purchase three aircraft, part of the LIAT (1974) Ltd. fleet. Indications are that Antigua and Barbuda will buy three LIAT 1974 Limited aircraft through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for $12.1 million. Antigua and Barbuda will deposit $4.1 million to buy the first aircraft soon. However, as it stands, there has been no confirmation from the CDB about this sale. CDB took possession of the aircraft after LIAT (1974) Ltd had reneged on a CDB loan made available for the purchase of the aircraft in the first place. But Browne is unmoved as he made known that his government will be investing around US$25 million in the initiative, and Air Peace will be putting in close to US$65 million. Together, the total investment in the project will range from US$80 million to US$90 million, Browne estimated. Notwithstanding what makes for an appreciative investment, the new entity will also have to be granted an operating certificate before it can take to the skies. This is anticipated to be forthcoming within the next two weeks. In anticipation of all outstanding matters being successfully addressed, Air Peace is said to be making arrangements to send three Embraer 145 charter jets, which should arrive in Antigua and Barbuda within the next two weeks. If the demand is such that there is a requirement for additional aircraft, Air Peace has already indicated a willingness to send more to the Caribbean. According to Browne, "From all indications, Air Peace will be a great private sector partner and will bring significant expertise in terms of management of LIAT 2020 and to ensure that we can operate an airline, LIAT 2020, that will be sustainable, profitable. Atiba Stanislaus (left) and Trevon Robertson in the back (tray) of a police transport as they left the court on Monday. The three Grenadians suspected of killing U.S. citizens Ralph Hendry and his common-law-wife Kathy Brandel are now in the hands of the authorities in Grenada. THE VINCENTIAN was reliably informed on Wednesday that the local Coast Guard, this week, escorted Ron Mitchel, 30; Trevon Robertson, 25; and Atiba Stanislaus, 23; to their homeland, where they were handed over to the custody of authorities there. The suspects are all from Paradise, St. Andrews, Grenada. Removal order The suspects were removed from St. Vincent and the Grenadines after Senior Magistrate Colin John issued a removal order for the men at the Kingstown Magistrates Court on Monday, after hearing the facts related to four immigration charges. The Magistrate reasoned that justice would best be served if the men were removed from the state, and sent back to Grenada, and ordered that they be sent back as soon as practicable. The order was issued one week after the men pleaded guilty to four charges related to their illegal entry into St. Vincent and the Grenadines, following their escape from lawful custody, on February 18, while being held at the South St. George Police Station in Grenada on charges of rape, robbery and other serious offenses. When the men initially appeared at the Kingstown Magistrates Court on February 26, five days after being recaptured here, they pleaded guilty to entering the state of SVG other than at a port of entry; entering by boat and disembarking without the consent of an immigration officer; being a prohibited immigrant entered the state by boat without a passport; knowingly and willfully allowing themselves to land as prohibited immigrants. The Grenadians, who were unrepresented, were remanded until Monday, March 4 for presentation of facts and sentencing. The search for the men The facts showed that on February 21 Corporal 615 Lafleur Williams of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU), acting on information, headed a party of RRU and Narcotics personnel on duty in the North Western Division. On reaching Petit Bordel, in the vicinity of the beach, they saw a dingy, and a grey Yamaha outboard engine, about 20ft from the dingy. While the RRU and Narcotics personnel were on the beach, the local Coast Guard arrived with Sergeant 6 Elmore Alexander of the Crime Scene Unit (CSU) and Sergeant 563 Alex Primus of the Major Crime Unit (MCU). They dealt with the scene and went in search of the men. When they got to Spring Village, Corporal Williams received a phone call, and based on that, they turned back and headed to Petit Bordel. On reaching a 2-storey dwelling house on the beach, they met a man, later identified as Ron Mitchel, dressed in black short pants lying face down on the ground at the back of the house. Corporal Williams and the other officers approached, identified themselves, and informed the man of their duty. However, as they attempted to place handcuffs on his hands, he leaped for Sergeant Smiths firearm and was shot in the process. He was taken to the Chateaubelair Smart Hospital for treatment. The search continued in the area, and the other two men were found hiding in the bushes. When questioned as to how they got there, the men told the police they came to SVG on a yacht captained by Ron Mitchel, abandoned the yacht at Cumberland, then used a dingy from the yacht to go to Petit Bordel. Criminal charges in Grenada When asked if they cleared with the authorities, they said no. As a result, they were arrested, taken to the Central Police Station in Kingstown, and handed over to the Immigration authorities. When cautioned and interviewed, Mitchel and Stanislaus gave statements while Robertson declined. Prosecutor Corlene Samuel told the Court that Stanislaus and Mitchel had ten and nine convictions respectively in Grenada, for several offenses of house-breaking and theft, in addition to one for causing harm in relation to Stanislaus, and one for assault in relation to Mitchel. Robertson has none. A local police report last week stated that investigations, thus far, into the disappearance and presumed death of the U.S. couple, indicated that the men hijacked the couples yacht named Simplicity which was moored at Grande Anse Beach in Grenada, and kidnapped the couple. While sailing from Grenada they committed several criminal acts, including bodily harm to the couple. Up to press time Thursday, the bodies were not recovered, but the crime scene, when processed by the police, was found to be consistent with signs of violence. A joint investigation involving local Law Enforcement and their Grenadian counterparts into the disappearance and presumed death of the U.S. couple is ongoing. A distinguished Vincentian-born accountant in New York has published two books on "Growing Up in Vincy and "Vincy Lifestyle. Dr. Nicholette Spring a Valley Stream, Long Island, New York resident, who is the chief financial officer at an undisclosed private company in Manhattan told THE VINCENTIAN that "Growing Up in Vincy was published in Chicago, Illinois. on Feb. 7, and that "A Collection of Poems Vincy Lifestyle was published on February 17 in North Haven, Connecticut. "Growing up in Vincy Dr. Spring, who is also an online tutor and professor at the Princeton Review, New York, said that "Growing Up in Vincy is "a narrative of her life experiences as a child growing up in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the communities of Dickson, OBriens Valley and Mangrove, along the western coast of mainland St. Vincent. "It speaks of my experiences as a school child having games in school, playing moonlight games, going to the beach during the long August school vacation, stories about jumbie, customs back in the day, said Dr. Spring, who is also chief executive officer of the Dr. Nicholette Spring Charitable Foundation, Inc., which sponsors educational activities for schools on the windward side of mainland St. Vincent. The purpose of "Growing Up in Vincy, said Dr. Spring, is "to leave a trail of the life we lived as children growing up in the 70s, 80s and 90s in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. "While my experiences are specific to Dickson, Langley Park and Mangrove/Byera areas, the experiences are like those who grew up in other parts of the island, she added. "Therefore, everyone can relate. In "Growing Up in Vincy, Dr. Spring, a former Qualified Assistant Teacher in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, writes about, among other things, mountain, river, beach and roadside cooking; "liming and drinking on the block; bathing of babies; bathing at the rivers mouth; and sea and waterfall "saps. "River cooking is the most popular, she writes. "We take the animal and butcher it at the riverside to make a fresh boil. The head, feet and tripe are cooked in callaloo soup. Sometimes, the meat is curried and served with ground provisions. The food is served on banana leaves and is called the feast. While the origin of river cooking is not clear, Dr. Spring declares, "what is certain is the constituency of North Central Windward (Park Hill, South Rivers and Byrea) has been an area that can take bragging rights, and she list persons like Dennis "Das Da Silva, Allison Balcombe and "Uncle Toad. As having popularized the pastime. She laments that, while St. Vincent and the Grenadines has many traditions that may or may not be exclusively Vincentian and were passed down from generation to generation "slowly, they are dying. "I made it my business to take my children to St. Vincent (and the Grenadines) at six weeks old to be barked, she added. "I also make it my business to get a good sea or river sap whenever I visit. "Is it tradition, superstition or just because? Dr. Spring asks. "I have no idea, but it surely makes the body feel good. "A Collection of Poems Vincy Lifestyle Dr. Spring describes "A Collection of Poems Vincy Lifestyle as a book of random poems on the lifestyle of Vincentians. "The poems are based on all aspects of the Vincy lifestyle from cookouts, school days, some villages to politics, said Dr. Spring, disclosing that the poems are based on "random thoughts that came to my mind at different times of the day and night. "Although the poems are based on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, others around the world can also relate, she added. In one poem, "St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Spring writes in part: "Home to the city of arches/With majestic waterfalls, serene beaches/Lush valleys with mountains surround/St. Vincent & the Grenadines where love abounds/Farmers, fishermen, and men in suits/Mangoes, guavas, plums, passion fruits/Bananas, breadfruits, ground provisions/Are found in abundance all year round. The books are available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and eight other platforms. The books are also registered at the London Book Fair and the Los Angeles Book Fair. Artist Elizabeth Rodriguez sets up an altar to remember Texas musicians who have recently died in Main Plaza on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. Three altars for Dia de los Muertos are on display at the site. One, by artist Laura Varela, honors the deceased in the WalMart mass shooting on Aug. 3, 2019. Another, by Kathy Sosa, is dedicated to victims of domestic violence. Billy Calzada/Staff Photographer Artist Elizabeth Rodriguez Courtesy of Elizabeth Rodriguez Artist Elizabeth Rodriguez. Courtesy of Elizabeth Rodriguez Poster for an upcoming play. Courtesy It was the kind of conversation that happens when youre sitting across from an artist on the West Side, in a fabulous dive called Rays Drive Inn, and the friendly waiter brings her a cold Dos Equis before she orders it. Elizabeth Rodriguez agreed to pull herself away from her work down the street to talk about her March 16 exhibit called, Las Munecas en la Calle Guadalupe. It promises to be both powerful and provocative. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Munecas, Spanish for dolls, refers to the Mexican papier-mache creations that might still serve as inexpensive toys in some parts of Mexico. Theyve also become collectible folk art, even for museums. But, at some point, the dolls also became synonymous with prostitution. Place one on your front windowsill and youre open for business. At least, thats the story. For Rodriguez, the dolls link up a history of prostitution on Guadalupe Street. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I love the beauty in that irony. Prostitution and Guadalupe provide antithetical images of women. But even streetwalkers had someone looking out for them on a road named for Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, the brown-skinned virgin mother who appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 on a hill called Tepeyac to bring comfort to a suffering people. It may be coincidence that Rodriguez lives in a building on Guadalupe Street that neighbors tell her once served as a brothel or a motel, or both. It will be the site of the one-night-only show, from 7-10 p.m. at 2622 Guadalupe, featuring the work of 14 artists. Six giant munecas will be mounted outside of the building, the largest 15 feet tall. Rodriguezs free exhibit, which received funding from the citys Department of Arts and Culture and the League of United Latin American Citizens, wont be the first foray for munecas as art in San Antonio. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 2003, a Fiesta poster depicting munecas spurred controversy. It involved the Conservation Society of San Antonio, which was well on its way to mass producing its newest Night in Old San Antonio Fiesta poster featuring the dolls. The group commissioned the work, then vetted and approved it. But it had no clue the dolls were representative of a lot of nights in old San Antonio around the citys red light district, which enjoyed a national reputation as one of the most notorious. The San Antonio Express-News front-page headline read, NIOSA is here, but poster isnt: Artist says her work rejected because of Mexican dolls symbolic links to prostitution. The posters rhythmic slogan read, All Dolled Up and Ready to Go to a Night in Old San Antonio. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ELAINE AYALA: Presidential double-hitter at the border is political theater The ladies of the Conservation Society, bless their hearts, feigned ignorance, saying there was no particular reason why it decided against the work, the story reported. Rodriguezs exhibit will do the opposite. It plans to pay tribute to the women who made their living on Guadalupe Street in a nonjudgmental remembrance, Rodriguez said. Its how she recalls them. Some might have shaken their heads as they drove past, but for her and her friends, the street scenes, the colorful outfits, the poses werent shocking, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I remember them, too. Guadalupe was lined with cantinas, and my Aunt Emma ran one of them. Outside, the women going about their business were often young. They wore makeup, short skirts and high heels to walk the length of Guadalupe Street from about Brazos to Zarzamora. My mother warned us never to go there, but we drove past them all the time, and they were hard to miss. They were also residents and part of the neighborhood. In the early 1980s, Rodriguez rode the No. 68 bus east on Guadalupe Street to get to Lanier High School. Her parents lectured her to not walk alone after getting off the bus. There were a lot of things wrong with the West Side, then and now, chiefly poverty and low educational attainment. Yet many who live here also see it as beautiful, culturally and historically significant, and under threat of gentrification. The latter may be one of the saddest, most threatening aspects of living on the West Side just now. Nearby, other kinds of walkers are part of the neighborhood now. Theyre walking their dogs along Apache Creek. Theyre jogging. Houses are undergoing renovations as residents are hounded by people who want to buy their homes. Even so, negative perceptions of the West Side linger. At Rays, Rodriguez asks to speak to the owner. A new generation is running the place now. She asks the woman whether her late father held on to one of Rodriguezs paintings of a young prostitute sitting in a window, another muneca across an ocean in Amsterdam, where Rodriguez once lived. Its a nude. The woman says her father collected a lot of nudes, but she remembers that particular painting. Shes going to look for it. (TBTCO) - Sang nay, gia vang the gioi chua co bien ong moi. Cac chuyen gia cho rang, quan iem va quyet inh lai suat cua cac ngan hang trung uong se tac ong en huong i cua vang tuan nay. Trong nuoc, tai thoi iem 6h30, vang SJC tai Ha Noi van uoc niem yet o moc 81,72 trieu ong/luong o chieu ban ra. at hon gia vang the gioi 15,684 trieu ong/luong. 07/03/2024 hummel, in conjunction with Evertons official retail partner, Fanatics, have announced the release of a limited-edition shirt that pays tribute to Seamus Colemans loyal 15-year reign at Goodison Park. The warm-up shirt, which incorporates squad number 23, also celebrates the Club captain recently becoming Evertons record Premier League appearance maker. And with St Patricks Day approaching, the green and blue warm-up top - which carries a bespoke pattern of shamrocks makes the perfect way for fans to celebrate the occasion. Allan Vad Nielsen, hummel CEO, said: Were honoured to celebrate a player of Seamus Colemans stature with this design, which features a unique shamrock pattern, the Clubs modern Tower crest and Seamuss iconic number 23. Article continues below video content With the integration of Ireland's signature green as the primary colour, complemented by the Club's classic blue, our intention is to pay tribute to one of the most popular players in the club's history. We hope fans will wear this warm-up jersey with pride, uniting with us in celebrating Seamus's incredible journey at Goodison." Coleman, along with Everton Womens Irish duo Courtney Brosnan & Heather Payne, are pictured wearing the new shirt, which will be available online at Evertondirect.com and Fanatics.co.uk from Thursday, 7 March and in-store at Everton One and Everton Two from Friday 8 March*. The shirt is available in in mens and womens versions, priced at 50 for adults and 40 for juniors. *Limited stock available at Everton One and Everton Two. Click/tap here to buy one now online Quotes sourced from Everton FC press release Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () How to get rid of these ads and support TW ToffeeWeb You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). Both Chambers of the Legislature heard the final budget proposed by a committee early Friday morning. The Senate and House of Representatives each received a 2025-2026 budget set forward by the Joint Appropriations Committee and amended the budget to the chambers disposition. The Joint Appropriations Committee is composed of members from both chambers of the Legislature and is tasked with setting and managing the states expenditures. Amendments to the budget resulted in a roughly $1.1 billion difference between the House of Representatives that added $362 million more to the initial Joint Appropriations Committee budget and the Senate, which cut $767 million to the JAC budget. The budget presented on Friday, prepared by a Joint Conference Committee, totaled $11.5 billion roughly $1.2 billion more than the $10.3 billion 2023-2024 budget, and roughly $200 million less than the initially proposed JAC budget. Rep. Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander, who helped present the budget, told other representatives $1.3 billion is double counted. We are probably about $500 million higher this year over the last biennium, Larsen said. A large portion of the budget will be placed away for savings which helps to defer the need to raise taxes, according to Larsen. Weve been focusing on savings, he said. We really are starting to realize the power of our savings. The $3.8 billion general fund, the states main operating budget, will increase by roughly $100 million. The final presented budget allocates $750,000 to reimburse Wyoming law enforcement for costs associated with volunteer agreements to assist border state law enforcement efforts. The University of Wyoming will have to cut its office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion following a $1.7 million cut in funds. Initial Senate amendments would have cut the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, barred the university from teaching gender studies courses and required the university to submit an itemized budget every year. Similar amendments proposed in the House of Representatives failed. Cutting the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion would impair the ability for the university to attract federal research dollars, Legislative Service Office Budget and Fiscal Administrator Don Richards said during a legislative committee meeting last week. The university will be receiving $40 million for its Center of Innovation for Flow Through Porous Media. The final budget allocates $100 million for Gov. Mark Gordons Large Project Energy Matching Funds. The compromise also pays for the fund using the legislative stabilization reserve account rather than the general fund. The initial appropriation was for $200 million and a Senate amendment would have cut the appropriation entirely. Mental Health Funding through the 988 system trust fund will receive $10 million an initial House Budget amendment provided $40 million for the fund. Most capital construction projects were funded but a $69 million remodel for a veterans home in Buffalo was not funded, nor was a Riverton state office renovation. Projects funded were mostly paid using non-general fund money. For example, Central Wyoming Colleges Jackson Outreach Center will now be funded using American Rescue Plan Act funds, two projects one at Camp Guernsey and one at F.E. Warren Air Force Base will be funded using federal funds. Gov. Mark Gordon will have the option to choose from several bills which to sign to provide property tax relief in Wyoming. All bills differ on approach on how to provide relief. Homeowners saw an average increase of 20.3% in 2023 and 16% increase the year before that. House Bill 3, which provides a 50% exemption of the assessed value for one property of Wyoming residents over the age of 65 that have also paid property taxes for at least 25 years, passed the Senate on Wednesday. The Senate on Thursday approved for the third time House Bill 4, which expands eligibility under the existing property tax relief program and House Bill 45, which provides tax exemptions on single-family residential structures. The property tax relief program was created last year and provided nearly 9,000 households with an average refund of more than $900. The current program caps eligibility for household incomes over 125% of the county or state median household income. House Bill 4 will increase the cap to 165% of county or state median household income. House bill 45, sponsored by Rep. Barry Crago, R-Buffalo, essentially implements a 5% cap on yearly property tax increases for single family residential structures the bill does not affect land. Capping property taxes in Wyoming would require amending the constitution but the wording of the bill provides for a cap by being structured as an exemption exemptions are permissible under the states constitution. The exemption would not be applicable if the structures value increases due to major changes such as new construction or additions and if ownership of the structure changed during the last calendar year. The House of Representatives also passed two bills on Thursday. Senate File 54 cuts property tax for primary residences by 25% but the exemption shall not exceed $200,000. Only one exemption can be made per year. Senate file 89, sponsored by Sen. Ed Coooper, R-Ten Sleep, would provide veterans an annual exemption of $6,000 in assessed value. 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. Camila Alves and Matthew McConaughey attend Austin City Limits Music Festival on Oct. 7, 2023, at Zilker Park in Austin. Rick Kern/WireImage Matthew McConaughey and wife Camila Alves opened up this week on why they ditched their Malibu home for a new life in Texas. In a cover story for Southern Living, the couple revealed that they decided to move to Austin while visiting McConaughey's family to help during a crisis. The Uvalde-born actor remembered his wife popped the question when they were stopped at a red light, noticing how her husband's mood brightened during their time in Texas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "You want to move here, don't you?" he recalled her saying. Although it was an adjustment from the glitz and glamour of California living, both quickly found that the pace of life in Austin was suited to their family. "Time slowed down," McConaughey told Southern Living. "Part of that is just the distance between places and the way people move. But its also the hospitality, the courtesy, the common sense, the lack of drama. They embraced the sense of ritual that life brought after the 2014 move, from Sunday church to family dinners. Since returning to his Texas roots, McConaughey has solidified himself as one of the state's biggest cheerleaders, sharing political aspirations and securing funding for school safety post-Uvalde. 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. Lawrence Brownlee got an intriguing offer as the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel came into focus in 2022. Carnegie Hall wanted him to return, but the tenor best known for his bel canto roles in operas by Rossini and Bellini didnt want to return with the same-old-same-old repertoire of Mozart, Strauss and his go-to Italian favorites. He wanted his post-pandemic return to be meaningful to him. Thats when he struck on an idea: Wouldnt it be great to take the music of young African American composers to one of the countrys most storied stages to celebrate coming out of one of the countrys darkest chapters? Thus was born the Grammy-nominated, critically acclaimed 2023 album Rising, which Brownlee will bring to Tucson on Wednesday, March 13. The recital, presented by Arizona Opera, is part of the Tucson Desert Song Festival. So many people think that music written by Black people is only for them. Yes, a lot of it may talk about our struggles and our difficulties of the past, the 20-plus-year opera veteran said during a phone call last week. But if you were to take the writings of Claude McKay and Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, youll realize that everything isnt about the Black experience. They talk about love and they talk about family and so many other things and then people will realize and understand its for all of us. Rising, which Brownlee and his accompanist Kevin J. Miller introduced to the Carnegie Hall audience in March 2022 before releasing the album last June, grew out of the pandemic isolation. We were all sitting at home and we were looking around and doing some introspection of what we were going to do coming out of the pandemic, he recalled. We also were captivated by the May 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of police officers. In the rhythm of life, we are going in different directions, we have things to do, its easy to miss something. But when we were in the pandemic, we were sitting at home. Nothing was going on except the major event that was the George Floyd incident, Brownlee said. Floyds death was a turning point for the country and, arguably, the world. Protests erupted worldwide, and so did the conversation about equality and social justice. Brownlee said many of his classical music colleagues asked him and other Black artists if what they were seeing painted a true picture of what it was really like for African Americans. Our colleagues were reaching out to us, I never knew it was this difficult, he recalled. But for him and others, its not jarring to us because this is our reality. Those difficult conversations led to changes, some small and gratuitous, but others that had the feeling of lasting. A lot of people, myself included, thought that it would be short-lived, but I have to say that there has been an effort to try to mainstream inclusivity, more opportunity, more diversity in the arts, he said. I think you can see that in the casting of different operas and concerts. You can see more diversity across the board, so that has been meaningful. Brownlee, accompanied by Miller, is devoting half of Wednesdays recital at the University of Arizonas Holsclaw Hall to Rising. The other half will feature songs and arias from composers who have influenced Brownlees career. The recital is one of two Song Festival events next week. On Tuesday, March 12, the Mark Morris Dance Group brings The Look of Love Songs of Burt Bacharach with Broadway actress and vocalist Marcy Harriell to Centennial Hall. If you go What: Lawrence Brownlee recital with Kevin J. Miller Presented by: Arizona Opera as part of the Tucson Desert Song Festival When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13 Where: Holsclaw Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road, on the University of Arizona campus Tickets: $40 through tucsondesertsongfestival.org Also this week: Arizona Arts Live is bringing Mark Morris Dance Group's "The Look of Love Songs of Burt Bacharach" with Broadway actress and vocalist Marcy Harriell to Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. on the UA campus, on Tuesday, March 12. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $39-$69 through tucsondesertsongfestival.org. PHOENIX Two Democratic lawmakers are lashing out at Republicans for refusing to even consider their measure to enshrine the right to contraceptives in Arizona law. The proposed law says individuals have the right to obtain any drug, device or biological product intended for use in the prevention of pregnancy. It then lists various items ranging from oral contraceptives to mechanical devices. But Republican leaders refused to assign it to a committee where sponsors could advocate for passage. I found that cowardly, said sponsor Sen. Priya Sundareshan, D-Tucson, at a Thursday news conference at the Capitol. Our bodies do not belong to the government, said Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, also a Tucson Democrat and sponsor of the measure. Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli said there is no need for such legislation. Nobodys proposing any kind of plan to ban contraceptives, the Lake Havasu Republican told Capitol Media Services. And, for the moment, the right to contraceptives is protected by a 1965 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court which said their use falls within the zone of privacy protected by the Bill of Rights. But Bre Thomas, CEO of Affirm Sexual and Reproductive Health, pointed out that the constitutional right to abortion also was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court at least until it wasnt, when the justices voided that prior decision two years ago. In fact, Justice Clarence Thomas, in a concurring opinion on the 2022 abortion case, suggested his colleagues now revisit earlier decisions based on the same perceived constitutional right to privacy. Those include the rights of gays to marry, protections for same-sex contact, and the right to use contraceptives. Even if the decision on contraceptives stands, the reversal of the Roe v. Wade right to abortion paves the way for new conversations abut the legality of certain forms of birth control including Plan B, also known as the morning-after pill. This over-the-counter medication, taken within days of unprotected sex, can prevent a woman from ovulating. But there have been claims so far refuted by the Food and Drug Administration that it can work as an abortifacient, preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. This comes as the Arizona Supreme Court is debating whether the reversal of Roe v. Wade reinstates an Arizona territorial-era law that outlaws all abortions except to save the life of the mother. At Thursdays news conference, Sundareshan said contraceptives allowed her to start her family after I pursued my education and pursued my career, gaining important legal and advocacy experience in D.C. and continued to come home to Arizona and pursue my career and have my family when I was ready to. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs also said statutory protections are needed. Millions of women across the country are worried about what fundamental right will be taken away from them next, said Hobbs, who has been making issues related to reproductive rights a key part of her already up-and-running campaign for reelection in 2026. Since the fall of Roe, extremists in this state have made it clear they wont just stop at restricting access to abortion, Hobbs said. That includes measures on in-vitro fertilization, she said. She cited legislation last year that would have increased the penalty for a domestic violence assault of a woman if the assailant knew or had reason to know the victim was pregnant. Hobbs called that a dangerous, extreme bill that would have threatened access to IVF. With my veto, I sent a clear message that I will protect reproductive freedom in this state, the governor said Thursday. In her veto message, Hobbs called the legislation unnecessary, saying courts already consider the pregnancy of a victim as a factor in sentencing. But gubernatorial press aide Christian Slater said there also was fear the proposal by Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, could become a back-door way of providing some legal status to a fetus. That wasnt Gress only foray into the area of providing some legal recognition of a fetus. Another of his measures sought to expand existing laws that provide a tax credit for children to also include the number of months a woman was pregnant during the tax year. Gress also sponsored legislation to allow pregnant women to drive in the lane reserved for carpooling. He said he sees no difference between a woman who may be ready to give birth and a woman who puts her day-old child into an infant seat and qualifies under current law to use the high-occupancy vehicle lane. Neither measure cleared the House. Hobbs said Thursday that legislation to guarantee a right to contraception deserves at least a hearing. While members of the legislative majority continue to use their offices to push political divisive bills, this basic, common-sense proposal hasnt made it past Step 1, she said. Stahl Hamilton, in decrying the lack of a hearing on legislation on contraceptives, specifically mentioned the decision of the Alabama Supreme Court declaring a frozen embryo in a lab can be considered a child under state law. Alabama lawmakers have since amended the law to protect IVF. But Stahl Hamilton said that provides no comfort. She said theres a connection between that issue to help women get pregnant and contraception that is sought to prevent pregnancy in the first place. Were seeing both ends of taking away peoples rights for when they get to choose when to start their families, when to create another human being, Stahl Hamilton said. There is another option: Take the issue directly to voters. That is what a coalition of groups is trying to do now, to put a right to abortion in the Arizona Constitution. Backers have until July 3 to get the legally required 383,923 valid signatures to put the issue on the November ballot. There was discussion at one point about also including a right to contraception. But organizers noted that constitutional ballot measures are supposed to be limited to a single subject. And they feared that adding a second issue could invalidate the entire measure. Sundareshan, however, said a ballot measure shouldnt be necessary. She said there is bipartisan support for access to contraception, broader than support for abortion. And, yet, now this (legislative) session we have the proof that Republicans will not even protect that right, Sundareshan said. The way a Tucson business coalition sees it, the explosion of retail theft requires something more than store owners waiting for police to arrive. Our businesses, our assets were just being destroyed, said Josh Jacobsen, a member of the Tucson Crime Free Coalition of more than 7,000 business owners and others. And theres just no relief. On their behalf, Tucson Republican Sen. Justine Wadsack is proposing to expand existing state laws on citizen arrests to allow anyone to make an arrest for shoplifting, regardless of the value of the items being stolen. The Arizona Senate approved the measure this week. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover thinks its a terrible idea because people could get hurt including nearby shoppers. All too often, what starts as a little scuffle is turning into a fatal incident because firearms are far too present, theyre within reach, Conover said. Current law does allow for a citizens arrest when someone is witnessing a felony. In the case of theft, that means a value of more than $2,000. Theft of less than that amount is a misdemeanor. In those cases, the law allows an individual to make an arrest only when there is a breach of the peace, generally defined as disorderly or dangerous conduct. Wadsacks Senate Bill 1613 would extend that permission to allow individuals to make an arrest in a case of a theft of property from a retail store. Approved by the Republican-led Senate on a 16-14 party-line vote, the measure would cover not just the store owner or employee but any private person. Conover said people who go into a store to steal something, often with the idea of selling it to get some cash, are not thinking clearly. Having a private citizen try to take them into custody can lead to lots of people getting hurt, including the shoplifter, the person making the arrest, and anyone else nearby, Conover told Capitol Media Services. Conover said thats not just her view. She said it is shared by Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar. Jacobsen disagrees, saying this kind of legislation is necessary to deal with an increasing problem of retail theft, not only in Tucson but throughout the state. I think the people are fed up with watching this happen right in front of them, Jacobsen said in an interview. Jacobsen, who owns a Lucky Wishbone franchise, said the business coalition got involved because of how the problem is affecting them. Part of the problem is an insufficient number of police officers, he said. But he also takes issue with Conover, saying her office does not prosecute cases, even in felonies. The community has to have resources or means to protect themselves if we cant get law enforcement here, if we cant get the results we need when our assets and livelihoods are being destroyed, Jacobsen said. Conover countered that prosecutions are taking place. She said they dont require anyone to try to detain a shoplifter. We have an extremely high charge rate of organized retail theft because 90% of this is on camera, she said. Let the surveillance cameras do their job safely, hands off, allowing authorities to identify and issue warrants for serial offenders, Conover said. And thats the safe way to get it done. The county attorney said having individual citizens step in is just too unpredictable. If a person who is perhaps quite likely not thinking clearly, stealing food or property to sell theyre not exercising judgment, she said. The last thing we want to is have people confront them instead of waiting for the police. The proliferation of firearms only makes things worse, said Conover, an elected Democrat. What starts out to be, Oh, Im just going to hold the person until the police come can end up being fatal, she said. And thats why were out there counseling, Dont do it. Let it go. Jacobsen, however, said there are times when individual intervention is appropriate. Lets say Im in a sporting goods store and I see someone do this, he said. If I see them grab everything, yeah, Ill probably detain you and sit on you until the cops get there. Jacobsen said the decision to intercede or not is not automatic. Im going to size them up and determine the risk, he said. But not doing anything in any situation is not a reasonable alternative, he said, even if the person doing the shoplifting is not using judgment. Should we just let that person go because theyre trying to go get drugs, and this is just a situation where they have no other recourse? he asked. Also, even just changing the law to allow anyone to nab shoplifters may have a deterrent effect, Jacobsen said. Word does travel on the street, he said. If would-be thieves understand that they have to fear not only the police but everyone else in the store, maybe people would start thinking twice about it. Sen. Anna Hernandez, D-Phoenix, who voted against the bill when it was approved in the Senate, said there are other problems with the measure. Those start with the question of empowering untrained people to decide when a crime like retail theft is taking place, she said. SB 1613 opens up potentially dangerous interaction between anyone who may or may not be intending to steal from a retail store and a bystander who is observing what they think is theft, Hernandez said. Then theres the dual risk to the person making the arrest, she said. It does not give a person immunity in a situation if the suspected individual is injured, she said. And it could very easily cause the person who is intervening to be the one thats harmed. The measure now goes to the House. Arizona water officials gave the green light to Maranas growth for another decade by affirming the town has enough water to serve that much more development for 100 years. The Arizona Department of Water Resources draft decision in Maranas favor will, when finalized, allow for more than doubling of the population living inside the towns water service area by 2034. The decision came over written objections of well over 50 people and groups who argued, among many other things, the town was betting too much of its future on pumped groundwater. ADWR found the objections had no legal basis, and that the town proved its groundwater supply will be physically, legally, and continuously available for 100 years. Under state law, new subdivisions built in urban areas such as those of Tucson and Phoenix must have a state-designated, assured 100-year water supply. In response to one objection, however, ADWR did issue a potential future warning about assured water supplies, to Marana and other cities and towns that take Central Arizona Project water from the Colorado Rivers declining flows. In the future, the department may consider amending its assured water supply rules for Colorado River and CAP water supplies ... once additional information becomes available on what future Colorado River management might look like, ADWR said. Today, ADWR is required by state rules to assume that cities and towns can rely on having 100% of their CAP supplies when the department determines if they have an assured water supply. Marana gets about 15% of its water from CAP, with 72% coming from native groundwater and the rest mainly from treated sewage effluent. Marana Water Director Jing Luo said the decision will help Marana chart a path to a sustainable water supply and allow it to focus on making more renewable supplies available. Working with ADWR officials, together, we have navigated complex data analysis, groundwater modeling, and stakeholder engagement to demonstrate all criteria required for the new (designation) that incorporates all of its existing development plans, Luo said. Mark Johnson of the Tortolita Alliance said the decision simply confirms his view that the states 44-year-old, nationally heralded groundwater law isnt consistent with prudent groundwater management. But, after considering the application, the objections, and Maranas response, the department determined that the application satisfies all of the requirements for a designation of assured water supply, wrote David McKay, manager of ADWRs Recharge, Assured & Adequate Water Supply Program, in a letter last week to the objectors and to Marana officials. State requirements for financial capability of delivering the supply, its water quality, and its consistency with the states management plan and goals for the Tucson area were also met, McKay wrote. The agencys Feb. 26 decision amounts to a modification of its 2018 finding that the town had an assured water supply. It was needed because Maranas development has outrun the amount of assured water supplies certified by past state decisions. The 2018 decision re-certified the same amount of assured supply as had been approved in 2007, and since then, development has boomed in Marana, Luo said. This ... modification is especially meaningful for the fast-growing Marana community, Luo said. As examples of new renewable supplies, she cited a project, expected to start design in early 2025, to double the capacity of Maranas wastewater treatment plant. She also cited a $3 million state grant of which the town will match $1 million to expand an effluent recharge facility at the sewage treatment plant site. These initiatives are best management practices, demonstrating our commitment to a sustainable water future, Luo said. The Tortolita Alliance, a nonprofit activist group that led the parade of objections, penned ADWR a letter last week saying it wont appeal the agencys decision. It is clear that any appeal will be denied based on strict legal interpretation of existing statutes, the alliance wrote. But Alliance President Johnson notes that some of his groups objections echo the findings of two reports from Arizona State University researchers that decried the continued use of groundwater to support population growth. When finalized, this draft decision will allow Marana water service area population to reach about 74,200 in a decade, town officials say. Maranas total population was nearly 56,000 in July 2022, said the most recent U.S. census report. But many existing residents live in parts of Marana supplied by the Tucson Water utility rather than by Marana Water. Marana has long been one of Arizonas fastest-growing municipalities. Marana Mayor Ed Honea says the towns total population could hit 100,000 by the late 2020s. The regional Pima Association of Governments has projected 78,300 people living there by 2035 and 86,000 by 2040. The alliance had raised 17 concerns about Maranas application. Many other objectors followed the alliances footsteps in their letters. Johnson is also concerned about officials ability to keep recharging Colorado River supplies from the Central Arizona Project into the aquifer due to the likelihood of future river water shortages. His objection letter said Maranas projected future population and water demands are unrealistic and unsustainable. His objection took particular aim at Maranas projection that continued pumping there could cause the aquifer in the area to fall to up to 800 feet deep. While a 1,000-foot reduction in groundwater levels is allowable under state law, he said it would still leave the aquifer severely impacted with significant drawdown in water levels. Marana Water has said that projection is unlikely to materialize because it expects the recharge of CAP water into nearby basins will keep the water table from falling that far. Some specific ADWR responses to objections raised by opponents of Maranas request: Objectors argued for revising downward Maranas future water demand projections to account for the prospect of less water available due to climate change and future conservation requirements. ADWR responded, Neither statute nor rule currently require the Department to consider impacts from climate change or future water conservation in reviewing demand projections or physical availability requirements. Objectors said the Town Council should approve no new subdivisions until renewable and permanent water supplies are secured to service new growth and ensure long-term safe yield is achieved and maintained. Safe yield is accomplished when no more groundwater is pumped from an aquifer than whats replenished naturally or by human efforts. But not only do state laws and rules prohibit modifying a designation if it has already approved specific development plans and agreements, such plans support the projected demands included in the application by Marana, ADWR said. While the state law allows groundwater in urban areas to be pumped up to 1,000 feet deep, opponents said the application shouldnt be approved until it can be shown via computer modeling that safe yield can be achieved. The towns current plan is inconsistent with the states management plan and management goals for the state-run Tucson Active Management Area for water, the opponents said. But ADWR said an entity can be consistent with a state management goal of safe yield by joining the three-county Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District. The district must replenish enough groundwater to compensate for whats pumped by Maranas new development for the next 10 years. Objectors said the towns application should not be approved until additional permanent and renewable sources of supply are secured, citing state law. But that law not only explicitly authorizes the use of groundwater as part of an assured water supply application, it is the first water supply on the list of acceptable supplies, ADWR said. The alliance, in its letter saying it wont appeal, asked ADWR to impose five new conditions on Marana as part of its approval. The most consequential of those requests is for the state to agree to modify or revoke Maranas assured supply designation if CAP supplies are appropriately adjusted downward due to over allocation of the Colorado River. Another request is to require Marana Water to post on its website the current population and future population projections for the entire service area and each of five individual water systems for every year until they are completely built out. Opponents also want the town to conduct at least three public workshops concerning the latest ADWR decision and any future modifications of Maranas assured supply status. Marana officials do not believe these proposed conditions are required or appropriate, Luo told the Star. Marana Water will continue to engage in the state and regional-level planning efforts that are necessary to support a reliable water future. Additionally, Marana Water looks forward to sharing more information with the community through websites, social media, and public engagement events in the very near future, Luo said. If the Legislature sends a delegation to Israel through itrek for a lopsided look at complex issues, who pays? Itrek, an NGO based in New York City, offers trips for graduate students, combining education, culture, and fun [itrek.org]. I dont think grad students lurk in the Arizona Legislature, and fun does not apply to fact-finding in a war zone. Accepting travel subsidies from itrek might constitute a bribe by a foreign nation, if there is even a shadowy connection with the Israeli government. Harvard students declare the Israeli military sponsors itrek, and Georgetown University students cancelled a trip over policy concerns [Wickipedia]. If the State of Arizona pays, I strenuously object to this use of tax dollars. Are the travelers paying for themselves? Is this a re-election ploy to impress voters? Will the legislators spend equal time with Gaza and Palestine spokespersons, to assure balanced perspectives? Legislature, you have important work here. Stay home, produce a budget, fund public schools. Ila Abernathy Midtown Migrants wait to be called in a waiting room at the City of San Antonios Migrant Resource Center, 7000 San Pedro Ave., on Tuesday. The center, which opened in July, is a stop for many migrants who have entered the United States at the Texas-Mexico border in hopes of gaining asylum. Most people receive nourishment, service referrals, a cot to sleep on before continuing their journey to other destinations. Billy Calzada / Staff photographer If Congress doesnt authorize more money for migrant assistance, the city of San Antonio may have to pull from other federal program dollars if it wants to keep the Migrant Resource Center open. At its current rate of spending, the city is on track to run out of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds by September though those dollars were intended to cover the citys costs for the facility through September 2025. Catholic Charities operates the Centro de Bienvenida, commonly referred to as the Migrant Resource Center, under contract with the city. The religious nonprofit is expected to exhaust its FEMA dollars by December. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After August, the San Antonio Food Bank wont be able to provide meals to the center. We are you cant ignore it in the middle of a political vortex of our country right now, and there seems to be folks that would rather thrive on chaos rather than help us deal with the issue, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said during Thursdays City Council meeting. Last month, Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan border security deal that would have provided $1.4 billion for cities and states to reimburse costs associated with migrant assistance. Meidi holds her daughter, Yvana while outside the Migrant Resource Center. Meidi, her two daughter and husband arrived in San Antonio from Honduras 11 days ago and have been sleeping outside. The family left their home fleeing violence and hoping for safety in the United States. Jessica Phelps Migrants line up for food cooked by Sonya Walker on Christmas Eve. Walker and her friends and family distributed the food, rice and beans, rice and chicken and tamales, along with cupcakes, coffee and clothing for migrants who are staying at the Migrant Resource Center. Jessica Phelps Migrants line up for food cooked by Sonya Walker on Christmas Eve. Walker and her friends and family distributed the food, rice and beans, rice and chicken and tamales, along with cupcakes, coffee and clothing for migrants who are staying at the Migrant Resource Center. Jessica Phelps Migrants gather outside of the San Antonio Migrant Resource Center on San Pedro on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. A surge of migrants, mostly from Venezuela, has arrived at the Texas/Mexico border in recent days. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer Since 2021, more than 600,000 asylum seekers have passed through San Antonio after crossing the border, according to the city. Most of those people spend some time at the resource center on San Pedro Avenue. The facility helps migrants coordinate transportation to their final destinations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Of the $35.6 million that FEMA has allocated to San Antonio, the city has spent just over $25 million, or about $1.3 million per month to lease the facility, provide janitorial services and security, and transport asylum seekers to San Antonio International Airport. Since May, the city has staffed an Airport Transfer Center where migrants wait to be shuttled to the airport an effort to alleviate overcrowding at the resource center, which can hold only 700 people indoors. The city has started reducing staff at both the resource and airport centers in an effort to cut costs. That might extend FEMA dollars for three months beyond September at best, said Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez. A potential backup plan would be to reallocate unused federal coronavirus relief dollars. Another option would be to pull from $14 million the city has set aside in case the federal government doesnt reimburse it for costs stemming from the February 2021 freeze and the pandemic. As a last resort, the city could pay for migrant assistance out of the general fund budget, which is part of the citys overall $3.7 billion budget, and which pays for basic city services, such as parks, streets, libraries and public safety. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Closing the Migrant Resource Center wasnt one of the options staff shared with City Council on Thursday. District 10 Council Member Marc Whyte, the councils lone conservative, favors that approach. But Nirenberg and the nine other council members dont. The council, however, didnt come to a consensus about how to keep the center doors open when FEMA dollars run out. I heard no clear directions to use local dollars here today, City Manager Erik Walsh told reporters after the meeting. Nor would I recommend that at this point. We have federal dollars. We need to continue to advocate. We are not going to use local dollars to amplify this effort. When will the council be asked to decide on a funding Plan B? Walsh said that will depend on how many people pass through San Antonio in the coming months. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Business leaders and advertising partners of The Tulsa World may not know that the companys multi-media sector, Tulsa World Media Company, is a powerhouse capable of helping businesses grow through innovative digital marketing solutions, not just locally but across the country and beyond. In 2020, The Tulsa Worlds advertising department expanded its service offerings and transitioned into a full-fledged agency model, following the media companys acquisition by Lee Enterprises, a publisher in 73 U.S. markets and communities. This shift at The Tulsa World was driven by a digital-first approach and went from servicing clients with local needs to national and international reach. Were excited to announce that weve evolved into a full-service marketing agency, ready to partner with Tulsa businesses and organizations to tell their stories and reach their audiences in powerful, innovative ways, said Misti Rinehart, vice president of advertising at Tulsa World Media Company. Client partners can turn to Tulsa World Media Company for an array of services: content strategy and creation, video production, SEO, social media ads and management, influencer campaigns, local, national and international media buys, pay-per-click ads, special event management and beyond. Another way Tulsa World Media Company helps support and grow businesses is through recruitment efforts and a robust online jobs board. The company hosts a popular career fair that helps connect businesses with talent. Targeted reach, meet your customers where they are The full functioning digital agency is equipped with data and insight tools that can reach niche audiences in any market across the United States and across the globe. We have a strong readership, and its a very affluent audience. But we also can reach any place in the U.S. nationwide that a client wants to reach, Rinehart said. This capability extends to global markets, as evidenced by her recent interaction with a client based in Italy, highlighting The Tulsa Worlds ability to connect businesses with audiences far beyond the local scene. An increasingly popular way to target audiences, she observed, is distributing ads on streaming services. We can help get you in front of those who are now streaming on different platforms, she said. This service is particularly relevant in todays media landscape, where traditional marketing channels are increasingly supplemented or even replaced by digital streaming platforms. Solutions for every budget Customers needing help with small to comprehensive campaigns can count on Tulsa World Media Company. We can help customers with a range of budgets, and we stretch your dollars as far as they can go, Rinehart said. A new era From crafting digital campaigns that spark engagement to creating print materials that leave a lasting impression, we offer a comprehensive suite of services, said Rinehart. Think of us as the storyteller youve always known, now armed with a multimedia toolbox and a passion for helping your brand thrive. So, lets rewrite the narrative together. With a broad array of services, from digital advertising to event management, and a commitment to leveraging data for client success, The Tulsa World stands ready to meet the advertising needs of businesses both locally and globally. The Tulsa World, where its heritage as a trusted news source is just the beginning of what it has to offer. To learn about how Tulsa World Media Company can help grow your business, send an email to advertising@tulsaworld.com, call 918-581-8510 or complete the form at tulsaworld.com/forms/advertise and someone will be in touch with you. This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com. Editors note: The Tulsa World is re-issuing a profile of Oklahoma actor Wes Studi that was originally published in 2022. Studi made history when he became the first Native American to win an Oscar in 2019. <&rule> When Oklahoma actor Wes Studi was presented an Academy Award for career achievement in 2019, it was important and meaningful to include historical context. Studi, who is Cherokee, became the second Indigenous person from North America to be honored with an Oscar. The first was was Cree musician Buffy Sainte-Marie, a Canadian who, in 1983, won an Oscar for co-writing the song Up Where We Belong. Confirmed: Studi is up where he belongs on theater screens and on television screens. Studi was asked during a phone interview if there was anything he watched as a youth that made him yearn to be on the screen. There was never any exact moment like that, but I did ask about Jay Silverheels. I used to watch The Lone Ranger on television as a young man. I once asked my dad if we could do something like that, be on TV. He said, No, I dont think so. Most of the people on TV are like 6-foot tall and blond-haired and blue-eyed. And I pretty much took that as probably not. But I did enjoy seeing Jay Silverheels (as Tonto). He was the anomaly. He was not the regular thing. At that time, I guess maybe he and Chief Dan George were about the only real Natives that were working in show business well, not the only ones who were working, but (they were) identifiably so as actors. Studi recently became part of the critically acclaimed and groundbreaking series Reservation Dogs, which features Indigenous creatives in front of and behind the camera. Studi debuted as the character Bucky in the fifth episode of season one and he returned as Bucky throughout the shows three-season run. Reservation Dogs was shot primarily in Okmulgee and is centered on four Indigenous youths Elora Danan (Devery Jacobs), Bear Smallhill (DPharaoh Woon-A-Tai), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis) and Cheese (Lane Factor) who hatched a plan to leave rural Oklahoma and head to California. If you grew up in small-town Oklahoma, you might feel like you grew up with some of these characters. Absolutely, Studi said. In a way, it was what I decided to do, which was to leave Oklahoma and go to L.A. back when I was younger. Studi made his trip west in pursuit of an acting dream realized. He has appeared in more than 40 films, including Dances With Wolves, The Last of the Mohicans, Geronimo: An American Legend, Heat, Avatar, Hostiles and A Love Song, a July release that gave him an opportunity to play a romantic lead. Oklahoma home The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, when announcing Studi had been selected for an honorary Oscar, credited him for portraying strong Native American characters with poignancy and authenticity. Studi is Nofire Hollow authentic. Nofire Hollow is between Tahlequah and Stilwell. His family had allotments there. Thats where I spent the first five years of my life, he said. It was in the 1940s, so it was a matter of no electricity, no running water. We lived off the land, more or less. I think the only things we bought from the stores at that time were the staples like flour, sugar, salt and that kind of thing. It was definitely a different lifestyle, depending on how old you are. Cherokee was his first language. A 2021 GQ profile said Studi was sent to school in Muskogee when he was 5 and, after he returned for the summer, he had to ditch English and re-embrace his Native language. Said Studi in the profile: There I am in my grandmothers house and my grandmother looked at me after I said something in English and said, Oh, no, we dont speak that. Not in my house. Studi said his family didnt have electricity and running water until after his father got back from Korea. The family relocated from Nofire Hollow to little towns north of Tulsa. His father was a ranch worker. Korea was his dads war. Vietnam awaited Wes. Vietnam service After attending Chilocco Indian School (his vocational major was dry cleaning, according to U.S. Veterans Magazine), Studi enlisted at age 17 in the Oklahoma National Guard. He volunteered for active service and spent 12 months in Vietnam. It was suggested to Studi during the phone interview that volunteering seems brave or gutsy. Hes not sure about that, but on one hand, I wanted to see what it was like to actually live out the stories that I heard returning veterans tell while I was stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia. I was in a company of mostly returning people from Vietnam, and they just had so many stories that they were able to tell, both tragic and lighthearted, as well. It was just something that I wound up kind of testing myself. What would I do in that kind of a situation is what I kept asking myself, so the only way to find out was to go over there and see. And so I did. So he put his life at risk to satisfy curiosity? Well, luckily I came back OK fairly OK, he said. In 2018, one year before Studis honorary Oscar, the Academy Awards needed someone to go on stage during the awards ceremony and pay tribute to veterans. That someone was Studi. A montage of scenes from military movies was shown. He spoke about his Vietnam service and said this: As a veteran, I am always appreciative when filmmakers bring to the screen stories of those who have served. Over 90 years of the Academy Awards, a number of movies with military themes have been honored at the Oscars. Lets take a moment to pay tribute to these powerful films that shine a great spotlight on those who have fought for freedom around the world. Veterans werent the only folks who appreciated Studis words. So did Cherokees. Heres why: He concluded by speaking in Cherokee. The Cherokee Nation (Studi once worked for the Cherokee Nation) followed with a tweet that provided a translation: Hello. Appreciation to all veterans & Cherokees whove served. Thank you! Studi was amazed at how much positive feedback was generated by what he said at the Oscars. Cherokees were thrilled to hear their language spoken on Hollywoods biggest night. Post-war activism Studi, a proponent of Native rights, gravitated to activism after returning from Vietnam. The GQ profile said he joined hundreds of other activists at the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Wounded Knee was occupied for 71 days as a protest against rez conditions. The GQ story said Studi was intercepted by federal agents while on a decoy mission and was jailed. Studis post-war activism also included joining a 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties march on Washington, D.C., and standing up against a proposed Black Fox nuclear power plant in Oklahoma. Those things got me on the FBIs list for a while, Studi told the Tulsa World in 2019. I came back to Oklahoma, and I had a house in Tulsa after Wounded Knee, and I could walk outside in the morning and see this car parked outside. After a while Id wave at the guys. They were keeping an eye on me, and on others who were arrested at Wounded Knee. Acting career Acting didnt become part of Studis story until the 1980s. If you can believe everything you read on the Internet, he got involved in theater (A) because a friend suggested it would be a good place to meet girls or (B) he needed a school credit. Both are true, Studi said. I was at a point where I wanted to meet different people. I was kind of changing my life from living over in Tahlequah to living in Tulsa. My friend Jay WhiteCrow was part of the American Indian Theater Company at the time, which was growing. Within a year, or maybe two, was when they were able to actually mount an equity show (Black Elk Speaks) with David Carradine and Will Sampson. Studi was in the cast of the show, which he said ran for a number of weeks at the Performing Arts Center, which means his first paid gig was in downtown Tulsa. Studis appetite was whetted for something bigger than community theater. He did the Rez Dogs thing and trekked to California. Probably the worst critic of that move would have been my own self, simply because of the fear of failure, he said. I think one of the first things that ever popped in my mind when I was even thinking about going out there was that I could go out there, find no work and then have to come back home with my tail between my legs. The opposite occurred. Studi beat the odds and became a working, successful actor. Luck and opportunity is what I think happened, he said. It turned out to be a good time in terms of there being productions and the fact that I had prepared myself to a certain extent. I had only done two things in front of a camera before going to L.A. ... In a way that sort of prompted me to go out there and see if there was anything I could do out there. Take a chance. See if I could do it rather than the rest of my life saying what if I had? Thats essentially it. When did he know he could do this? He laughed and said, Im not sure I know it yet. After each and every job, its still the same old thing, I think, in terms of will I ever work again? But its just a part of being an actor is that uncertainty that many times brings itself on. And I am happy for that. Studi credits The Last of the Mohicans as being a game-changer in his career. His performance as Magua was buzzworthy. He earned a most promising actor nomination from the Chicago Film Critics Association That year, I was even on the Academy Awards betting list, Studi said. Tulsa World film writer Michael Smith wrote in 2011 that Studi should have secured a best supporting actor nomination for his work in The Last of the Mohicans. Wrote Smith: Michael Manns take on the James Fenimore Cooper novel set during the French and Indian War was overlooked at Oscar time in multiple categories, and perhaps none more so than Studis frightening, tragic character of Magua, the duplicitous Huron Indian guide. Continuing, Smith said the role required an Indigenous actor, but it fits the test of any deserving Academy Award-nominated performance: Its impossible to imagine anyone else in this role, and the film wouldnt be of the same caliber without Studi, the Cherokee County native who began acting in community theater in Tulsa. Studi finally got his Oscar when the Academy saluted his body of work in 2019. His career came full circle when he was asked to be part of Reservation Dogs, co-created by Taika Waititi and Tulsa filmmaker Sterlin Harjo. Studi lives in the Santa Fe area and got to return to home turf to play Bucky. Studi said Reservation Dogs was a giant step forward for Indigenous representation on television, especially the kind of show that it is. Its a dramedy. Its a coming-of-age kind of story about some young people that are surrounded by familiars. Remember: When Studi was young, he looked for Natives on TV and saw Tonto. The world of Reservation Dogs is populated with an all-Indigenous cast. Those of us that are Native, we have never seen this on screen before, Studi said. And here we are... It took a while. Tulsa World Scene podcast: What Reservation Dogs means to Native Americans and Oklahoma The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. 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 literary games begin with the very first word of Jennifer Crofts novel, The Extinction of Irena Rey. Warning: A Note from the Translator informs the reader that what follows is the English translation of a manuscript written in Polish by an Argentinean writer, recounting the events surrounding the disappearance of the famed novelist Irena Rey. In 2017, Rey had summoned eight people to her home in Poland, located near the border of Belarus and on the edge of the Biaowieza Forest, the only remaining original forest in Europe. Rey is to deliver to these eight translators the final draft of what she believed would be her magnum opus, which the eight would collectively translate into their respective languages. That the group includes Emilia from Argentina, and the American Alexis, who are seemingly responsible for the book one holds in ones hands, is just the beginning of the many literary and philosophical layers that make up The Extinction of Irena Rey. I know of some writers who have had this sort of set-up, of bringing translators together to work on a project, said Croft, a Tulsa native whose translation of Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuks novel Flights earned them the International Booker Prize. Gunter Grass always got his translators together when a new book was ready, she said. And I know that the translators of (Haruki) Murakami get together, although Murakami isnt a part of it. And Ive spent some deal of time with other translators of Olgas work, and I came away from that thinking these were some really spectacular, very smart human beings, and all of us were so focused on this one great literary figure. It got Croft thinking about giving that situation a twist imagining a group of translators who were somewhat less perfect, who find themselves adrift when the person they refer to as Our Author suddenly disappears, and as they try to figure out what has happened, discover secrets about Rey that make them wonder just how well they knew this person to whom they have devoted a good portion of their lives. She had also spent time in the Biaowieza Forest, visiting there in 2017 when the Polish government announced it was going to begin logging operations in this region that home to species of animals, plants and fungi not found elsewhere. That was really the start of the book, because I knew I wanted to write about the forest and at least let people know it exists, she said. Then, when I got the idea about the translators, and how these power dynamics and other hierarchies among them might play out, that felt to me like the right plot of set in the forest, so that I could kind of let the translators go fully feral. The Extinction of Irena Rey is Crofts first novel; she is also the author of the memoir Homesick and has published a dozen translations of works by Tokarczuk, Federico Falco, Pedro Mairal and Romina Paula, among others. In addition to the International Booker Prize, Crofts works have earned her a Guggenheim Fellowship, the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing and American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature. She is also a former Tulsa Artist Fellow, whose fellowship ended in December; her husband, poet and translator Boris Dralyuk, is a current fellow. The couple are also professors at the University of Tulsa. The Extinction of Irena Rey explores a wide range of serious ideas about the work of writing and translating, of individuality and collaboration, about environmentalism and ethics. While it is not a conventional mystery, it has elements of a thriller, as the translators scour Reys house and the nearby forest for clues to her disappearance. It is also quite funny especially in the footnotes that translator Alexis appends to Emis text, which the snarky humor emphasizes how unreliable either writers account of what happened might be. I wanted to show translators in action, not only on the page or not only within the plot, but also by deciding to make the narration that were reading a translation by the arch nemesis of the narrator, Croft said. I thought it would be easier to show people how are dependent on the translator and how much control the translator has over what theyre reading. Crofts story is also interspersed with photographs, some of which are clues the translators use to try and figure out why Irena Rey disappeared. Crofts memoir Homesick also made use of photographs along with the text. I think it has to do with my interest in blurring lines and testing boundaries, she said. I just love the idea of mixing media if I knew how to incorporate music, or if I could paint or something like that, I would be doing that, too. Its something that helps me go a little bit deeper in my thinking about the language itself. Theres something about the interaction between words and images that just gives me a different perspective, and it helps me think things through. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Fire turned a fun night of singing carols, enjoying refreshments and exchanging gifts into tragedy at a Christmas Eve celebration in 1924. It also created a mystery that wasn't solved for 32 years. The fire in the one-room Babb Switch School near Hobart left 36 dead and many injured and also led to a new state law that was copied by all other states. The mystery involved the one person unaccounted for -- Mary Elizabeth Edens, a 3-year-old girl who had been sitting on the lap of her aunt, Alice Noah, when the fire began. Santa Claus Dow Bolding set off the blaze when he reached into the branches of the cedar Christmas tree for one of the last presents and knocked over a burning candle. "The candle touched a little limb, and the tree was so dry that one whole side was blazing almost instantly," a witness recalled. Noah died the next day after telling the girl's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Edens, that she had handed the child to someone outside the fiery building. The parents at first thought the child might have been taken to Hobart by one of the rescuers. But no one could account for her. The aunt's story was borne out by a count of the missing and dead. The bodies of 36 of the 37 who were missing were found, but Mary Elizabeth's body was not among them. Mary Elizabeth's disappearance remained a mystery until 1956, when an accountant in San Bernardino, Calif., read a newspaper story about the search for the missing girl and connected it with a woman he knew as Mary Reynolds, a Barstow dress shop owner. The accountant, a Lions Club member, wrote the Hobart Lions Club president that "I have, among my clientele, a prominent young businesswoman who does not know who her father and mother were nor has she been able to find out anything as to possible relatives." The Hobart Lions provided information about a scar on the missing girl's foot and pictures that were compared with pictures of Reynolds when she was about the same age. There also was information that the woman in question, as a child, had been "very fond of bacon rinds." Back in Oklahoma, her Aunt Bertha recalled snatching bacon rinds from the missing girl's hand and telling her they were bad for her. On the night of the fire, she apparently had been handed to a vagabond couple who took her to a series of nomadic camps in Arkansas and Kansas before arriving in California, where she was abandoned. She later worked for her room and board and finally was adopted when she was 15. The woman who adopted her failed in an attempt to learn about her background. After her identity was confirmed, the long-missing woman returned to Hobart to get acquainted with her parents and other relatives. She later wrote a book, "Mary, A Child of Tragedy," under her new married name of Grossnickle and told her story on national television. She told her parents she had early memories of "first one family, then another." About 200 people had crammed into the small building for the event, which was a typical rural Christmas Eve party until the fire. Attempts by several men to put out the fire failed. The revelers tried to escape through the only door, the Dec. 25, 1924, Tulsa World reported. However, the door opened inwardly and the crowd trying to get out kept it from being opened wide enough for escape. The trapped victims broke every window, but heavy screens that had been bolted over them to keep prowlers out kept the victims in. The broken windows also created a draft that fed the flames, farmer Andrew Jackson related after his escape. "Within three minutes the dry wood of the room was a mass of flames that licked at the heels of the frenzied, pawing mob that fought for freedom." Gov. Martin Trapp launched a campaign immediately after the fire to require strict safety regulations in rural school buildings. As a result, the Legislature passed laws requiring that all doors swing out and banned steel netting on the windows of public buildings. The laws also required proper use of gasoline lamps and prohibited the use of candles on trees in public buildings. Buildings also were required to have more than one exit and more windows. The new Oklahoma safety laws were copied by the legislatures in the other 47 states. Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive. Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today A Tulsa man who admitted to fatally shooting a 13-year-old boy in 2021 has been sentenced to federal prison. Christian James Harrison, 21, will serve 25 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, in connection with the fatal shooting of Brayden Walley. Walley was shot to death Dec. 22, 2021, following an argument at the Parkview Terrace Apartments, 1615 W. 59th St., according to police. Walleys brother told police that on the night of the shooting he was arguing with a woman in an apartment there and kicked an air conditioner on his way out. Harrison, hearing the commotion, followed Walleys brother outside and argued with him, according to court records. Walleys brother told police he walked across the street to speak with his brother before the two returned to Harrison, who is alleged to have pulled out a gun. (Walleys brother) asked Harrison if he was going to use the gun instead of fight, an FBI agent wrote in a criminal complaint. Harrison said yes and shot approximately seven times. Harrison fled after Walley was struck by three bullets. Harrison was arrested six days later in Locust Grove. Harrison was charged in federal court because he is a member of the Seminole Nation and the crime occurred within the Muscogee Nation reservation. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Kevin Canfield Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Kevin Canfield Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Mayor G.T. Bynum will consider vetoing a proposal to increase base pay for city elected officials if the salaries are set too high, he indicated Wednesday. City councilors have spent more than a year working on a proposal to increase the salaries of the mayor, the city auditor and city councilors. If approved, the increases would not take effect until after this years municipal elections and new terms of office begin in December. City councilors do not have the authority to change their own salaries. Their role in the process is to put any proposed pay modification on the ballot in the form of a City Charter amendment. They do have the authority to change the mayors salary and, indirectly, the city auditors salary though an ordinance amendment. According to the City Charter, the city auditor is paid 70% of what the mayor earns. The latest version of the proposal from a City Council working group calls for boosting the mayors salary to $190,000 from $105,000 and increasing city councilors salaries to $32,000 from $24,000. But during a committee meeting on Wednesday, several councilors argued for higher salaries: from $200,000 to $210,000 for the mayor and approximately $50,000 to $52,000 for city councilors. The proposal also calls for elected officials pay to be increased or decreased at the start of each new term based on the Consumer Price Index. The salary adjustments would be certified by the city treasurer, not the City Council or mayor. Councilor Phil Lakin, who sits on the working group, cautioned councilors that the mayor had told him he does not support increasing the proposed salaries further. I do not want to move forward with any of these without his signature on these documents, Lakin said. I think its very critical and important that we have consensus not only in this room but in both branches of government. Bynum said Wednesday that he is always willing to sit down with councilors to discuss the pay raise proposal but that based on the arguments I have heard to date I think Councilor Lakins assessment is accurate. He added: And I do not believe a charter change has ever been approved in Tulsa when it was opposed by the mayor. The working groups proposed pay increases were determined by totaling the annual Consumer Price Index adjustments since the salaries were last increased. For the mayor, that was in 2002, when the salary was $70,000. Tulsans voted to increase city councilors pay from $18,000 to $24,000 in 2014. Bynum, who once served on the City Council, said he likes the methodology used to come up with the new salary proposal. A CPI adjustment is a clean, logical update, he said. What was good enough for those who served before us is good enough for whoever is going to be elected this year. Councilors arguing for higher city councilor salaries cited a number of reasons, including the workload and a desire to make the pay high enough to attract working class residents from across the city who otherwise could not afford to run for office. Councilor Crista Patrick said she would like to see councilors base pay set at 25% of the mayors salary. She is not seeking reelection in part because she lost her full-time job and cant afford to live on her council salary. This is not the same job as it was back in the day when my dad (former Councilor David Patrick) first started this job, Patrick said. The city has grown; the responsibilities of the council have grown. There needs to be a significant pay raise so that people can sit at this table that dont work white collar jobs or are independently wealthy or retired. I feel very, very, very, very strongly that it needs to be at least 25% of the mayors salary, whatever that is. Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper also expressed support for that formula. Thats fair, and it would help, Hall-Harper said. But, again, if we can continue to lowball, were going to ensure that there is only a certain class economic, social serving as councilors. Councilors advocating for increasing the proposed mayors salary beyond $190,000 noted that the city has a strong-mayor form of government in which the mayor essentially serves as CEO and city manager of an organization with more than 3,000 employees. In the private sector, they argued, that position would be paid multiple times $190,000. And city managers in Broken Arrow and Oklahoma City earn $238,759 and $267,197, respectively, according to a report provided to councilors. Bynum, who was not able to attend Wednesdays council meeting, said he sees serving as mayor or on the City Council as a public service. They are not careers, Bynum said. So I have never compared my pay as mayor with the professional civil servants who have built careers over decades at the city of Tulsa. I also think the City Council works best when people approach it as a part-time way to give back and not as a full-time job. I have served with very effective councilors from every part of the socioeconomic spectrum who approached the position in that spirit. Bynum said his focus is on providing better pay for city employees who respond to emergencies, maintain infrastructure and support critical operations. As elected officials, I think we have a responsibility to put them first and ourselves last, Bynum said. Councilors are expected to discuss the pay proposal with the mayor at an upcoming committee meeting. If push comes to shove, votes from six of the City Councils nine members would be needed to override a veto by the mayor. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today An Oklahoma appellate court on Thursday affirmed a lower court ruling that acknowledged the continued existence of the Wyandotte Nation Reservation in northeastern Oklahoma. The 6,700-member tribe, located in Ottawa County, is the ninth tribe in Oklahoma to see its reservations status acknowledged as intact by either the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, we celebrate affirmation of the continued existence of the Wyandotte Reservation, Wyandotte Chief Billy Friend said in an emailed statement. A Tribal Nations jurisdictional authority over its lands is a bedrock principle of our inherent sovereignty. The 4-1 ruling came in the case of Steven Leon Fuller, a Cherokee Nation member who claimed that the state of Oklahoma had no criminal jurisdiction to prosecute him for driving under the influence and other traffic crimes because the alleged crimes occurred within the Wyandotte Nation Reservation. Under federal law, tribal members who commit crimes in Indian Country can be prosecuted by either tribal or federal authorities, depending on the facts of the case. This is the fourth Ottawa County tribal nation to have its reservation status deemed intact by the Court of Criminal Appeals. Others previously deemed intact include the Ottawa, Peoria and Quapaw tribal nations. In May 2023, the Court of Criminal Appeals ruled against the state of Oklahoma in a case involving tribal member Winston Brester, finding that the Peoria and Ottawa tribes reservations were still intact. After the Brester ruling, the state of Oklahoma all but abandoned its Fuller appeal, which was already before the appeals court. Upon careful review of the record by us, and in light of the States concession that its argument is foreclosed by Brester, we find the district courts determination that the Wyandotte Reservation has not been disestablished by Congress and remains Indian country for purposes of federal criminal law was not an abuse of discretion, the appeals court ruled. The ruling was authored by Presiding Judge Scott Rowland, with Vice Presiding Judge William Musseman, Judge Robert Hudson and Judge David Lewis concurring, the latter in part. Lewis concurred that the Wyandotte Nation Reservation had never been disestablished, but he opposed what he described in a dissent as the Court of Criminal Appeals continued use of dicta in a footnote in a U.S. Supreme Court case as a charter for a counterrevolution in Indian law. Lewis was referring to the U.S. Supreme Courts Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta ruling, issued in June 2022, which said the state of Oklahoma shared co-jurisdiction with federal and tribal authorities in cases on reservation land when a nontribal member is a suspect in a criminal proceeding where a tribal member is a victim. Some have claimed that the ruling also opened the door to further state prosecution of tribal members in cases in Indian Country if so-called balancing tests showed that it did not infringe on tribal sovereignty. Forced by the Supreme Court in McGirt (v. Oklahoma) to recognize the undiminished reservations of some of Oklahomas tribes, this court seems to now have set its sights on diminishing tribal sovereignty itself, Lewis continued, referring to the majority judges who point to Castro-Huerta as possibly giving the state of Oklahoma criminal jurisdiction over tribal members. Rather than indulge in the dangerous inference about the meaning of Castro-Huertas footnote that currently captivates this court, I will wait for stronger evidence that Congress or the Supreme Court has sanctioned this unprecedented state court intrusion upon tribal and federal sovereignty, Lewis wrote. Rowland discounted the counterrevolution claim in the majority opinion. We see only this Court, diligently striving to interpret and apply the decisions of the United States Supreme Court in an area of law that is in the midst of a sea change, Rowland wrote. He called claims that the majority seeks to diminish tribal sovereignty an unfair attack on the courts motives and factually unsupported. Flowery rhetoric and ad hominem attacks aside, this boils down to a disagreement over how to interpret Castro-Huerta, Rowland continued. Judge Lewis takes a very narrow reading and finds it applicable to only non-Indians charged with crimes in Indian Country, Rowland wrote. He disagrees with the majoritys view that in Castro-Huerta, the Supreme Court held that the General Crimes Act, by its very text, does not preempt state jurisdiction in any case and that any such preemption comes about as a result of the so-called Bracker balancing test, Rowland wrote. Judge Gary Lumpkin, meanwhile, dissented outright, claiming that after the state dropped most of its challenges in light of the Brester ruling, it was requesting what amounted to an advisory opinion, which the Court of Criminal Appeals is not empowered to do. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today A recommendation to repurpose the U.S. Postal Service Processing and Distribution Center in Tulsa drew about 200 highly skeptical participants for a public hearing on the proposal, which includes shipping mail received at the Tulsa facility to Oklahoma City for processing. For over an hour USPS officials listened to concerns about the proposal that ranged from the impact the move would have on the delivery of time-sensitive items such as medications to how one would get a Tulsa postmark on mailed items after the change. This is going to delay our mail, said Debbie Cottrell, an Express Mail clerk, who, like many at the meeting, held an American Postal Workers Union sign that said Save Our Service. USPS officials told the crowd that the Tulsa Processing and Distribution Center facility, at 2132 S. 91st East Ave., would remain open for other Postal Service uses and that no layoffs of career employees would occur as it receives millions of dollars in investments for modernization efforts and deferred maintenance. The move is part of the Postal Services Delivering for America plan, a $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and improve processing, transportation, delivery networks and employee experiences across the country, according to the USPS. Tulsas is among at least 17 Processing and Distribution Centers that have been identified through a review for conversion across the country as part of the Postal Services Delivering for America plan, launched in March 2021. Plans call for repurposing the existing Tulsa plant as a local processing center. Mary Steelman, executive plant director at the Processing and Distribution Center in Fort Worth, said during the public hearing that delivery service in Tulsa would be unaffected by the change, prompting a wave of guffaws from the audience. The USPS announced in a Jan. 10-dated letter that it was considering moving some mail processing operations currently performed in Tulsa to Oklahoma City. A Feb. 28-dated letter on the USPS website indicates that moving Tulsa Processing and Distribution Center operations to Oklahoma City would be a good business decision. The repurposed Tulsa local processing center would be co-located with a new Sorting and Delivery Center, where 181 delivery routes would originate. The Sorting and Delivery Center would have infrastructure needed to support new electric delivery trucks and charging stations to power them, according to USPS documents. The USPS has opened 31 Sorting and Delivery Centers since the Delivering for America plan launched, with 38 more planned openings in coming months. Steelman stressed that no career layoffs are part of the initiative. The USPS projects a net decrease of 15 craft and three management positions once the initiative is completed. The people in those positions would be offered transfers to other locations, Steelman said. Noncareer employees are described as temporary in nature and not receiving the same employee benefits as career employees. Asked about the fate of the noncareer employees, Steelman said the Postal Service would follow the contract, without elaborating. Some reductions in the noncareer labor force could also occur through attrition, she said. Repurposing of the Tulsa facility would result in a revitalized, modernized and upgraded facility with improved employee amenities and a better working environment, according to the USPS. Local Processing Centers are described as critical nodes in the USPS new end-to-end network model. They are the connective node between Regional Processing and Distribution Centers to Sorting and Delivery Centers and ensure a streamlined flow of mail and packages in a logical and integrated manner, according to the USPS. Within a region, Sorting and Delivery Centers will expand the USPS network reach. Sorting and Delivery Centers will aggregate delivery units into fewer, larger, centrally located sites to provide faster and more reliable mail and package delivery over a greater geographic area, as compared to traditional delivery units. Employee amenities such as lighting, restrooms and breakrooms will also be improved. Steelman discounted as a myth talk that the change would affect election-related mail. Asked about postmarks, Steelman said customers will still be able to obtain one at retail locations in the community. Others noted that the change would be burdensome for those who live in rural areas where the local post office is sometimes open only two to six hours a day. One audience member said the change in post marking would likely result in long waits for customers needing several items mailed with a manual Tulsa postmark. Steelman said no final decision has been made regarding the Tulsa facility. She noted that some proposed repurposing of facilities in other locales has resulted in the process being halted. A final decision on the future of the facility will be made in one to two months, according to the USPS. The public has 15 days to submit written comments regarding the proposal. Comments can be left at surveymonkey.com/r/mpfr-tulsa-ok. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Anna Codutti Tulsa World Breaking News Editor Follow Anna Codutti Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today A state task force focused on large-scale illegal marijuana operations has netted seven indictments after three separate busts in Muskogee, Wagoner and Pottawatomie counties. The Office of the Attorney Generals Organized Crime Task Force said in a news release that the November seizure of 72,000 pounds of marijuana, found in a metal barn in Wagoner County, was the largest in state history. Bobby Lee Hailey, 41, has been arrested and charged with aggravated manufacturing of a controlled dangerous substance and aggravated trafficking, a news release states. The menace of illegal marijuana grows run by foreign nationals is a dire threat to public safety in Oklahoma, Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in the release. This threat can only be eliminated through the concerted efforts of dedicated law enforcement professionals. Aggravated manufacturing is punishable by 20 years to life in prison, as well as a $50,000 fine. Aggravated trafficking is punishable by no more than 20 years in prison and no less than a $100,000 fine. Information submitted through the Attorney Generals Illegal Marijuana Tipline resulted in a Jan. 11 bust at Monster Farms in Muskogee. The bust led authorities to an alleged half-million-dollar marijuana stash house in Bixby, the Attorney Generals Office said. Kangbin Lee, 29, has since been charged with aggravated trafficking and manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance. In another November seizure, task force agents and Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority compliance inspectors were serving warrants at several marijuana grow facilities near Prague in Pottawatomie County. Authorities found 77,000 untraceable and untagged marijuana plants and nearly 2,000 pounds of untraceable and untagged harvested marijuana plants. Paul Wayne Baxter, 67, faces five counts of aggravated manufacturing of a controlled dangerous substance. Min Yong Chen, 56; Beng Di Chan, 46; Zeng Chen Lau, 54; and Chen Fu Lin, 36, are accused along with Baxter of submitting false information to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority about the true ownership of Cannabaxter Farms. The Muskogee County Sheriffs Office, Wagoner County Sheriffs Office, Bixby Police Department and Tulsa County Sheriffs Office partnered with the task force on the seizures related to these seven indictments. I am grateful for the tremendous partnerships we have with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, OMMA, and a host of tribal, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, Drummond said in a statement. Together, we will continue targeting and prosecuting anyone involved in this dangerous and illegal conduct. Those wishing to submit tips or complaints through the Attorney Generals Illegal Marijuana Tipline can go to oag.ok.gov or email illegalgrow@oag.ok.gov. Tipsters may remain anonymous. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Melissa Jacques Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Melissa Jacques Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today OKLAHOMA CITY Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday sued Attorney General Gentner Drummond over a recent AGs opinion that forced a member of the governors Cabinet to resign. Filed in Oklahoma County District Court, the lawsuit asks for a judicial declaration that Cabinet secretaries who serve as agency heads are not violating the states prohibition against dual office-holding and that the gubernatorial appointment and Senate confirmation process cannot be challenged by an attorney generals opinion. Stitt is joined as plaintiff in the suit by Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, Secretary of Human Services Deb Shropshire, and Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Shelley Zumwalt. The case has been assigned to Oklahoma District Judge Richard Ogden. The contested opinion from Drummond on the prohibition on dual office-holding led to the resignation of Tim Gatz, who was serving as the secretary of Transportation, director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Stitt has pointed to precedent in his criticism of the opinion, noting that the last four governors of Oklahoma had members of their Cabinets who also served as state department heads. Phil Bacharach, communications director for the attorney general, said: As the opinion makes clear, Gov. Stitts own executive orders, combined with a recent law he signed, have given Cabinet positions new authority that rises to the legal definition of a public office. Under previous governors, that was not the case. The lawsuit points to a section of state laws that says a Cabinet secretary may be appointed as a position funded by the Office of the Governor from funds available to that office, or appointed as a cabinet Secretary from among the agency heads within the cabinet area. The most recent AG Opinion concerning Tim Gatz is flat wrong, and in order to continue working to make Oklahoma a top 10 state, a court will need to fix the mess the Opinion created, Stitt said in the press release. I have the best people in Oklahoma running my state agencies, and it only makes sense to have them be my advisers, Stitt said. Just after the governor announced his lawsuit, Drummonds office put out its own release saying the attorney general stands behind his legally binding opinion and welcomes the opportunity to respond to the lawsuit in a future filing. The governors press release announcing the lawsuit included comments of support from his dual-serving Cabinet members. Arthur serves not only as secretary of agriculture but also as the director of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. I saw firsthand the positive impact a person serving in both capacities can have, she said. I look forward to clarity being provided on this issue and doing all that I can to help agriculture thrive in Oklahoma. Zumwalt, who is both the secretary of tourism, wildlife and heritage and the director of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, said she agrees that the Governor should be able to select a Cabinet of their choice. Shropshire, who serves as both the secretary of human services and director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, said: I was appointed by the Governor and remain focused on my work to end child abuse and strengthen families. I am dedicated to leading an agency that creates hope and positive outcomes for our states most vulnerable families and welcome clarification on the issue at hand. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Shannon Sims, San Antonio Animal Care Services Director, right, speaks as a member of a panel with Judge Carla Obledo, Municpal Court Presiding Judge, left, and Judge Lisa M. Gonzales, Municipal Court No. 4, during a public safety town hall focusing on animal control regulations hosted by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito at Grace Lutheran Church, 950 Donaldson Ave., on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer Patrick Saunders expresses his fears and frustration from living next to a neighbor with a pit bull during a public safety town hall focusing on animal control regulations hosted by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito at Grace Lutheran Church, 950 Donaldson Ave., on Thursday, March 7, 2024. "We would sell our house if we could, but we can't," Saunders said. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer Robin Foster, with the Montecello Park Neighborhood Association, takes notes during a public safety town hall focusing on animal control regulations hosted by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito at Grace Lutheran Church, 950 Donaldson Ave., on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer San Antonio Police Chief William McManus speaks about crime during a public safety town hall focusing on animal control regulations hosted by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito, left, at Grace Lutheran Church, 950 Donaldson Ave., on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer Concerned citizens attend a public safety town hall focusing on animal control regulations hosted by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito at Grace Lutheran Church, 950 Donaldson Ave., on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer Vicki Steerman, left, expresses her concerns during a public safety town hall focusing on animal control regulations hosted by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito at Grace Lutheran Church, 950 Donaldson Ave., on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer Northwest Side residents attend a town hall on animal control regulations hosted by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito at Grace Presbyterian Church, 950 Donaldson Ave., on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer Patrick Saunders expresses his fear and frustration over living next to a neighbor with a pit bull during a town hall on animal control regulations hosted by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito at Grace Presbyterian Church, 950 Donaldson Ave., on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer A crowd of Northwest Side residents vented their fear of dog attacks and anger over what they saw as Animal Care Services' inaction during a town hall meeting on Thursday night. Several attendees told tales of dogs that terrorize their neighborhoods and repeated calls to the city that have gone unanswered. Anita Kegley, a home inspector, said she was attacked by a pit bull in November. The dog bit her leg. She said the wound took three months to heal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Patrick Saunders spoke of a neighbors dog that howls almost constantly and has rammed his fence in an attempt to attack, though luckily never succeeding. We would sell our home and leave San Antonio if we could, but we cant because there is a dangerous dog that would come out and try to attack anyone who came to look at the house, Saunders said. I dont know what my next steps are. The town hall, organized by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito, started off as an informational forum on the citys animal control efforts. The first-term councilwoman lobbed questions at ACS Director Shannon Sims and two municipal judges, one of whom oversees dog-related cases. But when the floor was opened to residents, many of their questions were sharp and anger-tinged as they grilled the officials, whom several speakers said had been unresponsive to their pleas for help. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Beatrice De Los Santos practically shouted into the microphone as she alternately addressed Sims and the other officials and the crowd of about 40 attendees at Grace Presbyterian Church on Donaldson Avenue. Beatrice De Los Santos, wife of Max De Los Santos, who lost both of his legs in a pit bull attack in November, expresses her concerns and disappointment with the city's handling of the incident during a town hall on animal control regulations hosted by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito at Grace Presbyterian Church, 950 Donaldson Ave., on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer Her husband, 77-year-old Max De Los Santos Jr., lost both of his legs after he was mauled by a neighbors dogs while in his own yard in August. Hed been released from the hospital just 10 days before the town hall, Beatrice said. Every single one of you who even goes to the grocery store, walking on the street, you better be cautious because I wouldnt want that to happen to any other person in this city, she told the audience. Addressing the city officials, she said, You guys need to start doing your work. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Athena Santos, 36, said she has complained to the city for two years about problem dogs that belong to two separate people in her Northwest Side neighborhood. One of the dogs owners allows the pet to roam the streets. She saw it attack a leashed dog on a walk with its owner. Santos said she witnessed the same dog barking at an elderly neighbor and her grandchildren, menacing the three so much that they were afraid to move. Santos ran outside to shoo away the dog, armed with her Taser in case anything went wrong. Santos spoke directly to Sims about the problems after the meeting, but she told the Express-News that she wasnt holding her breath. My hopes arent that high, Im not gonna lie, Santos said. Santos said shes made about 30 calls to the city since 2022, voicing concerns about aggressive and noisy dogs in her neighborhood but has never seen anyone from ACS come to investigate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Many calls to ACS have gone unanswered. Last year, city officials said ACS responded to only 44% of calls involving aggressive dogs or animal cruelty and neglect. But with an injection of funding in this years budget, the goal is to increase the response rate to 64%. The city plans to continue increasing ACS funds in future budgets to continue improving that percentage. The department got a 33% boost in this fiscal years budget, which took effect on Oct. 1. The new money is being used to hire 15 new officers, including eight who can investigate dog-bite cases and to ensure that owners of dogs that have been designated as dangerous are complying with city regulations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Weve got to grow at the rate this city is growing, said Sims, who announced in November that he planned to leave ACS by June, citing personal reasons. And weve got 10 or 15 years of catching up to do. And we have got to do it quick. A city ordinance defines severe dog bites as those causing death, broken bones or disfigurement. There were 297 such cases last fiscal year, marking a 58% jump over the previous year, when 188 severe dog bites were reported in San Antonio. Anita Kegley, left, a victim of a pit bull attack in November, expresses her frustrations in dealing with Animal Control Services about her case during a town hall on animal control regulations hosted by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito at Grace Presbyterian Church, 950 Donaldson Ave., on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer Between fiscal years 2018 and 2022, the number of severe dog bites surged from 110 to 188 a 70% increase. Sims said new officers are already having an effect, with more roaming animals taken off the streets, more dog and cat adoptions, and more criminal citations issued. Still, Sims said the department will require time to fully train and equip officers to continue improving. Animal welfare has always been on the bottom of the totem pole, in every city, when you start talking about funding, he said after the meeting. And were finally at a point that we cannot ignore the problem anymore. Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Legislation that raised such a ruckus within the medical marijuana sector that its author spiked two other bills as a lesson passed the full House of Representatives on Thursday with minimal muss and fuss. House Bill 3361, by Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, would require marijuana distributors to ship their product in packages of 3 ounces or less beginning June 1, 2025. Dropped from the version that passed through a House committee last week was a section that would have prohibited logos and packaging that appeal to children. Marti has struggled to define that term and said Thursday that we will continue to work on that in a Senate bill. Prepackaging is an issue for some in the medical marijuana business because, they say, it adds to the cost with no clear benefit for consumers. Marti restated his case that prepackaging makes the products easier to track and cuts down on diversion theft and black market sales while keeping the cannabis fresher and safer for consumers. Prepackagings most vocal critic, Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, said it benefits only the prepackaging industry. He predicted that the packages will be opened and the contents combined in large containers by retailers for what is called deli-style display. Marti disagreed and said the complaints are from a relatively small number of dispensaries. They say things like, My patients wont be able to smell the marijuana. Its already illegal to do that, Marti said. And thats the No. 1 complaint Ive gotten about this bill. For some the underlying issue may be product tracking and attempts to control what law enforcement says has been a large illegal marijuana market operating in the nooks and crannies of the states medical marijuana landscape. HB 3361 passed 57-23, with 21 members not voting and seven Republicans in the opposition. The bill now goes to the Senate. Also Thursday: In another indication that criminal justice reform is running out of steam in the Legislature, the House voted down a measure that would have automatically expunged misdemeanor arrests after 10 years, provided the offender kept a clean record. HB 3729, by Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, got only 35 of the 51 votes needed for passage and came as the Republican majority demonstrates a greater willingness to create more felonies and enforce longer sentences for certain crimes. The House did pass HB 3499, by Rep. Tammy West, R-Bethany, which would bar landlords who receive low-income housing tax credits from rejecting potential tenants based solely on a prior conviction. The bill would require an individualized assessment of each applicant and allow rejection if the person is judged a threat to the health, safety and peaceful enjoyment of the other residents. The paper voter registration cards issued by county election boards would no longer be sufficient voter identification under legislation approved Thursday. HB 3717, by Rep. Terry ODonnell, R-Catoosa, would require Service Oklahoma to provide photo IDs to registered voters who request them. Currently, the photoless voter registration cards or any government-issued photo identification is accepted. ODonnell, though, said the photoless cards confuse poll workers and could make fraudulent voting, especially by illegal immigrants, easier to accomplish. No such cases of fraud have been reported in Oklahoma, and opponents of the measure said ODonnells admission that relatively few people use the voter registration card for identification indicates that it is not an issue. Instead, they maintained, the law would create a hardship for legitimate voters without easy access to Service Oklahoma. HB 3717 passed 71-17 along party lines. , by Rep. Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinita, which would provide up to $35 million in rebates to Vinita for water and sewer projects related to a proposed 320-acre RV park and campground, passed 69-17. Bucking and snorting by members suspecting a boondoggle did not prevent passage of , by Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, which would set aside $8.3 million to renovate the Oklahoma State Penitentiary rodeo arena. One of the 29 members voting against the deal, Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City, said the state should fix the state pens toilets instead of its arena. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Ginnie Graham Tulsa World Editorials Editor Follow Ginnie Graham 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 Chronic absenteeism isnt as simple as kids cutting class or parents not caring enough to get their kids to school. Most of the problems are beyond the control of families and schools, requiring a different approach to upping school attendance. Thats the condensed explanation from Delia Kimbrel, who has been studying this issue for years as the head of research and data strategy for Impact Tulsa. On Wednesday, she presented findings at a City Council committee meeting that focused on the effect evictions have on absenteeism. About 3 years ago, Impact Tulsa started tracking eviction cases. In that time, about 4,400 evictions were filed on families with a Tulsa Public Schools student living in the home. Of those, 72% of those TPS students were found to be chronically absent, which means they missed at least 10% of the school year. The absences worsened in the year after the eviction, Kimbrel said. These are not all low-income families or students qualifying for free- and reduced lunches, she says. Oklahoma has struggled to update its Oklahoma Residential Landlord Tenant Act, especially compared to other states. Tulsa officials are working to reduce homelessness and increase housing stock, with eviction policies and practices a critical part of this discussion. Evictions have a destabilizing effect on our students, Kimbrel said. Thats not a family or student problem; thats a structural problem in public policy that allows landlords to evict families in five to 10 days and not have adequate notification or legal representation. Thats just one example of how an issue seemingly unrelated to schools has a direct effect on education. There are other domino effects into classrooms stemming from the outside, such as access to health care, transportation, jobs and environment. Some things we are finding and still trying to understand the one-to-one effect, Kimbrel said. A lack of transportation seems an obvious challenge related to absences because we live in a state and city that are largely dependent on personal vehicles. Tulsas public transportation has limited routes in many areas, and public options are nonexistent in rural towns. School districts are not required to provide busing except for some students who are disabled. Plus, state funding for buses doesnt cover the costs. A lack of neighborhood sidewalks makes it harder on kids who must walk to schools or bus stops. The walks become dangerous when having to cross major streets without crossing guards. Imagine sending a kindergarten student to walk a mile in the rain to a bus stop in a neighborhood that doesnt have sidewalks. These are real scenarios. Our data shows there are structural, economic and environmental factors that create significant barriers to attending schools, Kimbrel said. The onus is on the system to change policies in these areas. If we want attendance to improve, then these sectors and disciplines can no longer be treated separately. We are trying to make connections with collaborative action and design. This is not about kids not wanting to go to school. State law defines chronically absent as missing at least 10% of school, which equates to about 10 days a semester at TPS. Schools are punished on their State Report Card grades if they have a high rate of students in that category. The law does not exempt students with excused absences. That means students with ongoing medical conditions are not differentiated from those dealing with truancy. Lawmakers ought to change the law to exempt students with documented health conditions. They also ought to stop the penalty on this metric, especially since districts are not legally required to get students to school. Parents and guardians often need help, and this shouldnt come with a punishment. At Tulsa Impact, we are very diligent in moving schools away from punitive approaches toward addressing chronic absenteeism, Kimbrel said. The same goes for TPS not considering chronically absent students when they apply for magnet programs. A provision exempts students with severe, chronic or life threatening conditions. But there isnt one for kids catching new viruses every few weeks from their classmates. Statewide, 20% of Oklahoma students missed more than 10% of the school year in the last academic year, according to the State Report Card. Thats worse than in the years before the pandemic. The poorest levels of attendance are in the years of kindergarten and eighth grades, both at 14% chronically absent. Both are also transition years. Those state trends reflect similar data at the local levels. COVID just exacerbated the disparities that were already there and worsened conditions for students and families that maybe were not as bad before COVID, Kimbrel said. Were seeing problems broaden and spread. In TPS, the overall chronic absenteeism rate is about 40%. Superintendent Ebony Johnson said the four biggest reasons stem from physical and mental health, safety, housing insecurity and transportation. The issue does not follow low-income boundaries. Every surrounding Tulsa-area suburban district has at least one school receiving an F or D on the State Report Card in the category of chronic absenteeism. Many post high marks in other metrics such as academics, graduation rates, post-secondary opportunities and reading proficiency. Anecdotally, some school administrators say higher numbers of parents are pulling children from classes for more non-excused reasons, like a good deal on a vacation. Perhaps a consequence of the pandemic is parents having an unrealistic view of how quickly students can get caught up on lessons if not in a classroom. A question posed by the Rogers College High School student leadership class at the Feb. 27 Tulsa Public Schools candidate forum at the University of Tulsa was about why attendance is necessary when all lessons and work are based online. Educators may need to make a better sales pitch of why in-classroom lessons are better. They have to find curriculum that makes attending worthwhile. Parents also have a different view of mental health needs, particularly as record numbers of young people are showing signs of anxiety, depression and other mood disorders. They are more likely to agree to mental-health days at home, similar to employers granting workers personal time off. Mental health therapy sessions, just like other pediatric medical appointments, are almost always scheduled during school hours. All those medical visits count against the district. When lawmakers consider updating the definition and use of chronic absenteeism, these shifting views ought to be considered along with the other factors. Maybe students ought to be allowed some PTO, just like their working parents. Kimbrel says data hasnt picked up on those trends or account for curriculum differences or shifting parental views. Our data shows the structural, economic and environmental barriers that are outside the control of the students and families, she said. Our goal is to really emphasize the importance of finding solutions in health, in safety, in housing and in transportation. We need greater collaborations and greater connections between practices, policies and resources around health, safety and housing if we are to adequately address attendance. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Shipments of Vietnamese tuna products to the European Union (EU) surged 96 percent year on year in January 2024 to reach over US$17 million, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP). Of these, fresh, frozen, and dried tuna exports soared 317 times. A VASEP leader attributed the positive results to tax incentives from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Military conflicts have raised the demand for non-perishable food products, such as canned tuna. Nevertheless, some tuna exporters voiced concerns over obstacles caused by the Red Sea conflict. Nguyen Thu, the owner of a company specializing in purchasing and exporting tuna from Binh Dinh Province in south-central Vietnam, noted a significant rise in shipping costs, leading to higher product prices and dampening import demand. The European Commissions 'yellow card' on Vietnamese seafood has yet to be lifted, exerting an impact on the export of tuna. Vietnam currently exports the fish to 21 EU markets. Italy is the largest buyer of Vietnams fresh and frozen tuna. In January 2024, Vietnams tuna exports to Italy skyrocketed 364 percent over the same period last year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! International Women's Day provides a moment to applaud our shared strides in achieving complete gender equality and empowering women. It also serves as a chance to evaluate areas where progress is lacking and to recommit ourselves to intensified efforts aimed at ensuring equal rights and choices for all, regardless of location. I recently met Mai (not her real name), a retired teacher and survivor of domestic violence who shared her story with me at one of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-supported One-Stop-Service Center in Vietnam. Mai endured pain for many years from a violent husband and felt blamed by others in her community. Yet with psychosocial support and advice from practitioners, Mai is now in a much better position: she feels independent, knowledgeable, and confident about her future. And she wants other women to feel the same. This years theme is 'Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.' Over recent years, dedicated investments in the health and rights of women and girls have improved and saved millions of lives. But progress is slow. Globally, in the last twenty years maternal mortality rates have declined by 34 percent, yet a woman still dies every two minutes during pregnancy or childbirth pointing to a hidden global crisis. Vietnam has made great strides surpassing the global trend to reduce maternal mortality by 46.5 percent over the same period. The focus must now shift to areas where rates are still high such as among ethnic minorities in rural and mountainous regions. Another success story is the number of women using modern contraception which, globally, has doubled to 77 percent over thirty years. Yet more than 250 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using family planning. In Vietnam, the use of modern contraceptives is around 60 percent also an increase. However, the unmet need is four times higher for unmarried women than it is for married women. This tells us we have much more to do in ensuring services reach adolescents and young people. In other areas there is still more to do. Ending gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices such as child marriage and son preference remains critical. Nearly one in three women globally experience violence in their lifetime. In Vietnam, the 2019 National Study on Violence Against Women found that nearly two-thirds of women experience intimate partner violence and that 90 percent of these women never seek help. Our response is threefold: to support services such as the national GBV hotline and One-Stop-Service Centers; to tackle root causes such as gender inequality to prevent violence; and to change the stigma associated with violence. Of particular concern are rising levels of online violence with women and girls particularly at risk of image-based abuse. UNFPAs global #bodyright campaign draws attention to this and calls on governments and technology companies to do more to protect everyone online. This International Womens Day UNFPA in Vietnam is running an online challenge and webinar to raise awareness and share experiences of young people protecting themselves online. This year is a double celebration as we reach the thirtieth anniversary of the groundbreaking International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994, where 179 governments, including Vietnam, put gender equality, womens empowerment, and human rights at the center of development. This international agreement forms the basis for prosperity, growth, and building resilient societies. Indeed, achieving gender equality has a positive impact on families, communities, and the wider economy. Every US$1 invested in maternal health can return $8 in economic benefits by 2050. The return on investment for family planning is even higher at $10. Investing in womens participation in the labor force could boost global per capita GDP by nearly 20 percent, and businesses can increase productivity by 15 percent by subsidising sexual and reproductive health care for workers. During my time in Vietnam, I am keen to support investment in cervical cancer screening and accelerate the roll-out of HPV vaccinations simple actions that can save the lives of many women from preventable illness. Its important to remember that we are not just one story there are many parts that make up our identities and our lives. For this reason, I am committing UNFPA in Vietnam to ensuring that our projects and programs work for everyone who needs them. To achieve this, we must be people-centered and reflect their wishes and needs. Womens leadership is critical to Vietnams social-economic growth. I've seen women take leadership roles across various sectors, from healthcare providers in Can Tho addressing sexual and reproductive health for people with disabilities to community leaders in Thanh Hoa establishing self-help clubs for the elderly. There are educators tailoring maternal health communications for ethnic minorities in remote areas, advocates adapting sexual health initiatives for youth and LGBTQ+ individuals, and social workers in Da Nang and Quang Ninh ensuring respectful access to services for survivors of gender-based violence. The arguments for gender equality for individuals, communities, and the economy are clear. Together we can create societies where women and girls are empowered to make their own decisions. These actions will help to ensure that we leave no one behind. TOKYO -- Male office workers at a telecoms firm in Tokyo have experienced simulated menstrual pain to help them become more sympathetic toward female colleagues ahead of International Women's Day on Friday. EXEO Group workers winced at a company event on Thursday as a "perionoid" device sent electric signals via pads placed below the navel to stimulate the lower stomach muscle and induce a cramping sensation. A male employee of EXEO Group Inc., attaches a piece of device the Osaka Heart Cool developed VR electrical device 'Perionoid' which releases electrical stimulation that feels like experiencing women's menstrual pain to his lower abdomen during a workshop ahead of the International Women's Day at the company headquarters in Tokyo, Japan March 7, 2024. Photo: Reuters "I couldn't move. It hurt to the point where I couldn't stand," said 26-year-old Masaya Shibasaki after using the device jointly developed by researchers at Nara Women's University and startup Osaka Heat Cool. "I now understand women have to work while fighting this pain every month. It's actually amazing how women can do that. I really respect them," Shibasaki said. The piece of the device of Osaka Heart Cool developed VR electrical device 'Perionoid' which releases electrical stimulation that feels like experiencing women's menstrual pain is seen during a workshop ahead of the International Women's Day at the headquarters of EXEO Group Inc. in Tokyo, Japan March 7, 2024. Photo: Reuters EXEO said it wants to create an environment where its more than 90% male workforce can be more supportive of female peers, including when it comes to taking menstrual leave. Companies in Japan are legally required to allow women to take menstrual leave. However, there is no requirement for the time off to be paid and surveys showed around half of female workers never take it. "We hope those who experienced (menstrual pain) today go back to their workplace and speak about how they felt, and spread their understanding," said EXEO public relations officer Maki Ogura. LONDON -- Ocean temperatures hit a record high in February, with the average global sea surface temperature at 21.06 degrees Celsius (69.91 degrees Fahrenheit), the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said on Thursday. February's average sea surface temperature surpassed the previous record of 20.98 C (69.77 F) set in August 2023, in a dataset that goes back to 1979. The concerning marine record arrived during what was also the hottest February on record, marking the ninth consecutive month with such a milestone for the respective month. Marine scientists warned this week that a fourth global mass coral bleaching event is likely unfolding in the Southern Hemisphere, driven by warming waters, and could be the worst in the planet's history. Corals bleach under heat stress, expelling the colourful, helpful algae that live in their tissues, leaving behind a pale skeleton. This makes them vulnerable to starvation and disease, and many die. This can lead to the collapse of fragile reef ecosystems, with coastlines left unprotected from erosion and storms and fisheries falling short. A surfer rides a wave in the Atlantic Ocean off Belmar, New Jersey, U.S., November 27, 2023. Photo: Reuters An El Nino climate pattern, borne out of warmer than usual surface waters in the Eastern Pacific, alongside human-caused climate change is fueling the extra heat. "What is more surprising is that sea surface temperatures are at record levels over regions far away from the centre of the El Nino action, such as the tropical Atlantic and Indian Ocean," said climate scientist Richard Allan of the University of Reading. A sperm whale is seen swimming on the Indian Ocean surface during the Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise expedition at the Saya de Malha Bank within the Mascarene plateau, Mauritius March 14, 2021. Photo: Reuters This, he said, pointed to the strong influence of rising greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. While the global average sea surface temperature record excludes the polar oceans, things are in bad shape there, too. Antarctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent in February, registering its third lowest extent on record at 28 percent below average. El Nino is now weakening in the equatorial Pacific, C3S said, but air temperatures over the oceans remain at an unusually high level. Visitors will be banned from entering private alleys in Kyoto's famous geisha district, a local representative said on Thursday, as the ancient city tackles overtourism after the pandemic. Kyoto residents have long expressed frustration with tourists behaving badly, especially in the city's Gion district, home to teahouses where "geiko" -- as geisha are locally known -- and their young "maiko" apprentices, perform. In December, a Gion district council comprised of residents urged Kyoto City to tackle the issue, saying their neighbourhood "is not a theme park". One member previously told Japanese media about an instance of a maiko's kimono being torn and another who had a cigarette butt put in her collar. With the problem ongoing, the council decided to step up its response. "We will ask tourists to refrain from entering narrow private streets in or after April," Isokazu Ota, an executive member of the council, told AFP. "We don't want to do this, but we're desperate," he said, adding that they will put up signs. Gion's main Hanamikoji Street, which is public, will remain open to tourists. Ota said groups of tourists sometimes "act like paparazzi" when geisha emerge from narrow streets, which are just one or two metres (3-6.5 feet) wide. In 2019, the Gion district council put up signs saying "no photography on private roads" warning of fines of up to 10,000 yen ($67 at today's rates). Despite common misconceptions, geishas are not prostitutes, but rather entertainers and raconteurs highly skilled in traditional Japanese dance, musical instruments and games. Tourism to Japan has been booming since pandemic-era border restrictions were lifted, and other major attractions are also taking steps against overtourism. This summer, hikers using the most popular route to climb Mount Fuji will be charged $13 each, with numbers capped to ease congestion and improve safety. Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at a hall meeting with the Vietnamese citizens in Canberra on Thursday that he had proposed Australia's recognition of the Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority during recent discussions with Australian leaders. The meeting is part of Chinh's ongoing official visit to Australia, lasting from Thursday to Sunday. According to Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Australian leaders have acknowledged the proposal and will consider it. The Vietnamese community in Australia comprises approximately 350,000 individuals and ranks fifth among foreign ethnic communities in the country. Some 160,000 of them live in Queensland and New South Wales while 130,000 dwell in South Australia and Victoria. During Thursdays meeting, Tran Ba Phuc, chairman of the Vietnamese Business Association in Australia, proposed that the Vietnamese Party and government review regulations on issuing passports and identification cards to overseas Vietnamese. Phuc also advocated for more Vietnamese trade representative agencies in Australia. Chu Hoang Long, chairman of the Vietnamese Intellectual Association in Australia, suggested support for connecting Vietnamese intellectuals and students abroad to aid in their home countrys development. Currently, four of Australias eight states and internal territories have opened trade offices to invest in Vietnam, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam. With the Vietnamese student population in Australia currently standing at 32,000, the continuous increase has led to the formation of a Vietnamese Australian Students Association. In response, PM Chinh expressed gratitude for the Vietnamese communitys contributions to national development and emphasized the importance of fostering innovation within the community. He urged them to continue maintaining unity, compliance with Australian laws, and active integration into the local society to further contribute to Australias development. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Female soldiers of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force at the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) Mission in Africa visited and donated colostrum to local childbearing women to help improve the health conditions of newborns this week. Female staff of a sapper unit under the Vietnamese force at the UNISFA Mission distributed colostrum to expectant women at Abyei Hospital at noon on Thursday, said Colonel Nguyen Viet Hung, commander of the force and also head of the sapper unit. Such gifts are essential to strengthening newborns immune and digestive systems, for Abyei is an area where almost all children suffer from malnutrition as a result of an underdeveloped health system, challenging natural conditions, and difficult living circumstances, the official said. A Vietnamese peacekeeper visits and offers colostrum to a woman with a newborn in Abyei, Africa, March 7, 2024. Photo: Vietnamese sapper unit at UNISFA Mission The donation was made following a meeting earlier organized by the force for its female soldiers and their counterparts from different agencies of the UNISFA Mission as well as women representatives in Abyei a disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan, covering about 10,000 square kilometers. Participants in the meeting discussed plans to offer health and education support to local women in the coming time. Colonel Hung extended his best wishes to all female staff of the mission and other women in Abyei on the occasion of International Womens Day (March 8). Aluel Achuel Kiir, who represented local women, expressed her thanks to the Vietnamese soldiers for supporting indigenous people, especially women and children, through many volunteer activities. Vietnamese peacekeepers pose for a photo with women representatives from agencies of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) Mission in Africa, March 7, 2024. Photo: Vietnamese sapper unit at UNISFA Mission Vietnamese 'blue beret' soldiers have made substantial contributions to enhancing the lives of the local population in Abyei through various initiatives, Kiir said. These include free medical examinations and treatment, agricultural guidance, clean water supply, repairs and construction of classrooms, provision of cartoons for children, as well as donations of food and stationery. The leadership of Abyei Hospital expressed profound appreciation for the voluntary efforts of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force in supporting the local community. This support includes activities like road repairs leading to the hospital, donations of antibiotics, and most recently, the provision of colostrum to expectant women. The Vietnamese sapper unit plans to organize a gathering for all Vietnamese female soldiers at the UNISFA Mission by Friday. During the event, they will receive gifts in celebration of International Womens Day. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! San Antonio police are looking for a couple involved in a physical altercation with a security officer at a Mexican restaurant last year. Sujata Jana / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm San Antonio police are looking for a couple who assaulted a security officer at a Mexican restaurant. On Dec. 2, an unidentified man and woman were allegedly causing a disturbance at Rockys Taco House on Dollarhide Avenue on the Southeast Side. A security officer began escorting them out of the restaurant when they started attacking him. Advertisement Article continues below this ad SAPD released video footage from the incident, which shows the security officer on the ground trying to detain the man near the restaurants exit. While the officer was dealing with the man, the woman entered the restaurant again, jumped on the officers back and scratched his eyes. The officer released the man, who then started punching the officer, who was now on the floor. The video shows the officer with visible scratch marks and facial swelling. He was later diagnosed with a concussion, police said. If they are found, the couple will face assault bodily injury against a security officer charges. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Authorities in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam have bestowed honorary citizenship upon Andrea Teufel from Germany and Kazuyo Watanabe from Japan for their great contributions to cultural heritage preservation and pediatric healthcare in the province. The two foreign women received the Honorary Citizenship title at a ceremony held by the provincial administration on Thursday on the occasion of International Women's Day (March 8). Teufel is chief representative of Germanys Society for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage while Watanabe is the founder and president of Japan-based Asian Childrens Care League (ACCL). She is a heritage conservation expert and has been involved in the revitalization and promotion of Hue heritage sites for 21 years. One noteworthy project led by Teufel and her colleagues involved restoring the entrance gate, folding screens, and 'hon non bo,' a nature-inspired landscape miniature, at Phung Tien Temple in Hue City, the capital of the province. Constructed in 1829, the temple served as a sacred place of worship for several emperors and their consorts during the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam's final monarchy, which officially concluded in 1945. The temple was mostly destroyed by war in 1947 and is located in the western area of Hue Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Expressing joy and pride, Teufel shared her happiness at being recognized by Hue and being granted honorary citizenship of both the city and Thua Thien-Hue Province. She expressed a deep connection to the region, considering it her second home. Meanwhile, Watanabe is a Japanese expert who has made great contributions to the process of transforming the Hue Central Hospital Pediatric Center into a spectacular treatment facility for pediatric cancer patients. Through ACCL, a nonprofit, Watanabe was able to bring modern equipment and machinery from Japan to Hue Central Hospital in order to treat pediatric cancer patients. Thanks to the Japanese woman and her associates great efforts, Watanabe has helped reduce the rate of families abandoning cancer treatment for their children at Hue Central Hospital from 50 percent to less than five percent, thereby helping prolong life for hundreds of pediatric patients. Nguyen Van Phuong, chairman of the Thua Thien-Hue administration, said that every foreigner living and working in the province is willing to contribute to its development through their enthusiasm, dedication, and participation in social activities. Presenting the Honorary Citizenship title to the two foreign experts can be seen as a sincere thank you from local authorities to Watanabe and Teufel for their continuous devotion to the province, Phuong said. The provincial leader conveyed his best wishes to the two honorary citizens on the occasion of International Womens Day and expressed his hope that they would continue contributing to the provinces sustainable development, the Vietnam News Agency reported. The two foreign women expressed their pride in the title and extended thanks to local authorities, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, and Hue Central Hospital for supporting their activities over the past years. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! What you need to know today in Vietnam: Politics -- Addressing the Vietnamese community in Australia on Thursday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh mentioned proposing to some Australian leaders the recognition of the Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority in the country during their recent discussions. Chinh is on an official visit to Australia, lasting from Thursday to Sunday. Society -- Vietnam's Thua Thien-Hue Province has bestowed honorary citizenship on Andrea Teufel, a German, and Kazuyo Watanabe, a Japanese, on the occasion of International Women's Day. -- Vietnamese forces participating in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in the Abyei region of Africa organized a gathering on Thursday to bring together female soldiers from Vietnam, representatives of women from various agencies and units working at the mission, as well as local women representatives, in commemoration of International Women's Day (March 8). -- Viet Duc University Hospital in Hanoi on Thursday announced it had admitted a 13-year-old boy from Hai Duong Province, northern Vietnam who suffered multiple injuries following the explosion of his laptop. He is now in intensive care. -- About 60,000 tonnes of household waste is discharged into the environment in Vietnam a day, according to statistics released at a seminar in Hanoi on Thursday. Lifestyle -- The 2024 Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival kicked off at Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in District 1 on Thursday. The fest will run for 10 days with 15 activities and contests. Sports -- V-League 1 side Hanoi FC on Thursday announced their one-year contract with Tim Hall, a Luxembourg international. Born in 1997, Hall is 1.90 meters tall. He will play as a centre-back at Hanoi FC. World News -- "Six people from Sri Lanka, including a mother and four young children, were knifed to death in the Canadian capital Ottawa late on Wednesday, police said on Thursday, rocking a country where mass murders are rare," Reuters reported. -- "Ocean temperatures hit a record high in February, with the average global sea surface temperature at 21.06 degrees Celsius (69.91 degrees Fahrenheit), the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said on Thursday," according to Reuters. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A fuel retail business in Thai Binh Province, northern Vietnam has been subjected to an administrative fine of VND259.9 million (US$10,600) for putting nearly 6,000 liters of substandard petrol up for sale, according to the General Department of Market Surveillance. The chairperson of the provincial administration imposed the fine on Thuong Hoang Phat Trading Company, located in Vu Thu District, following a raid by market surveillance forces on the companys gas station. After testing samples of RON 95-3 gasoline at the station, the forces concluded that its gasolines quality failed to meet technical standards, resulting in nearly 6,000 liters of RON 95-3 gasoline at the station subject to the fine. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ho Chi Minh City received the prestigious title of Asias Leading MICE Tourism Destination for the fourth consecutive year at the 2023 World MICE Awards gala ceremony recently held in Berlin, Germany. The annual award also went to the southern Vietnamese metropolis in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The recognition underscores the citys position as a top MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) tourism destination, affirming its international appeal and capabilities. During her reception speech at the gala ceremony in Berlin on Wednesday, Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, emphasized the city's aim to flourish as a premier Asian tourism destination and establish itself as an open, youthful, and desirable city to live in by 2030. This accolade not only signifies progress toward these goals but also reflects global confidence in the citys tourism potential. The department is committed to enhancing the city's MICE infrastructure and services, thereby reinforcing its position on the regional and global tourism map, Hieu said. Graham Cooke, founder and president of the World Travel Awards, praised Ho Chi Minh City as a unique destination with rich cultural heritage, poised to become a prominent regional and global MICE tourism hub in the future. The World MICE Awards is an esteemed annual ceremony recognizing outstanding destinations, hotels, airlines, venues, and specialized MICE tourism service providers. It is an integral component of the prestigious World Travel Awards series. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! ABC is reporting the headmaster of Sydneys prestigious Cranbrook School, Nicholas Sampson, has resigned following a Four Corners report on Monday. The report by Louise Milligan exposed allegations around an unnamed teacher who remained on staff after claims of multiple graphic emails sent to a former female student where he had previously taught. The teacher was still working at Cranbrook this week but is now on immediate leave pending an investigation. Cranbrooks school council held an emergency meeting on Thursday night after becoming aware of the revelations. The council approached Mr Sampson, who then offered his resignation. This comes after a Four Corners investigation this week exposed allegations of a toxic culture at the boys school and ahead of the schools move to go co-educational in 2026. In a statement to the school community on Friday morning, the council said: The circumstances of the matter and subsequently Mr Sampsons failure to disclose the matter to the current School Council in the context of this weeks ABC Four Corners broadcast, have led to an irrevocable breakdown of trust between the Headmaster and the School Council. The School Council communicated this to Mr Sampson and this morning received his resignation. The council said it, deeply regrets the distress to our students, our staff, our parents, our alumni and the broader Cranbrook family arising from the current circumstances. Iranian ballistic missiles are displayed during the ceremony of joining the Armed Forces, in Tehran Iranian ballistic missiles are displayed during the ceremony of joining the Armed Forces, in Tehran By Parisa Hafezi, John Irish, Tom Balmforth and Jonathan Landay DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran has provided Russia with a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, six sources told Reuters, deepening the military cooperation between the two U.S.-sanctioned countries. Iran's provision of around 400 missiles includes many from the Fateh-110 family of short-range ballistic weapons, such as the Zolfaghar, three Iranian sources said. This road-mobile missile is capable of striking targets at a distance of between 300 and 700 km (186 and 435 miles), experts say. Iran's defence ministry and the Revolutionary Guards - an elite force that oversees Iran's ballistic missile programme - declined to comment. Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The shipments began in early January after a deal was finalised in meetings late last year between Iranian and Russian military and security officials that took place in Tehran and Moscow, one of the Iranian sources said. An Iranian military official - who, like the other sources, asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the information - said there had been at least four shipments of missiles and there would be more in the coming weeks. He declined to provide further details. Another senior Iranian official said some of the missiles were sent to Russia by ship via the Caspian Sea, while others were transported by plane. "There will be more shipments," the second Iranian official said. "There is no reason to hide it. We are allowed to export weapons to any country that we wish to." U.N. Security Council restrictions on Iran's export of some missiles, drones and other technologies expired in October. However, the United States and European Union retained sanctions on Iran's ballistic missile programme amid concerns over exports of weapons to its proxies in the Middle East and to Russia. Story continues A fourth source, familiar with the matter, confirmed that Russia had received a large number of missiles from Iran recently, without providing further details. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said in early January the United States was concerned that Russia was close to acquiring short-range ballistic weapons from Iran, in addition to missiles already sourced from North Korea. A U.S. official told Reuters that Washington had seen evidence of talks actively advancing but no indication yet of deliveries having taken place. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the missile deliveries. Ukraine's top prosecutor said on Friday the ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea to Russia had proven unreliable on the battlefield, with only two of 24 hitting their targets. Moscow and Pyongyang have both denied that North Korea has provided Russia with munitions used in Ukraine. By contrast, Jeffrey Lewis, an expert with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, said the Fateh-110 family of missiles and the Zolfaghar were precision weapons. "They are used to point at things that are high value and need precise damage," said Lewis, adding that 400 munitions could inflict considerable harm if used in Ukraine. He noted, however, that Russian bombardments were already "pretty brutal". U.S. AID DELAY WEAKENS UKRAINE'S DEFENCES A Ukrainian military source told Reuters that Kyiv had not registered any use of Iranian ballistic missiles by Russian forces in the conflict. The Ukrainian defence ministry did not immediately reply to Reuters' request for comment. Following the publication of this story, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force told national television that it had no official information on Russia obtaining such missiles. He said that ballistic missiles would pose a serious threat to Ukraine. Former Ukrainian defence minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk said that Russia wanted to supplement its missile arsenal at a time when delays in approving a major package of U.S. military aid in Congress has left Ukraine short of ammunition and other material. "The lack of U.S. support means shortages of ground-based air defence in Ukraine. So they want to accumulate a mass of rockets and break through Ukrainian air defence," said Zagorodnyuk, who chairs the Kyiv-based Centre for Defence Strategies, a security think tank, and advises the government. Kyiv has repeatedly asked Tehran to stop supplying Shahed drones to Russia, which have become a staple of Moscow's long-range assaults on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, alongside an array of missiles. Ukraine's air force said in December that Russia had launched 3,700 Shahed drones during the war, which can fly hundreds of kilometres and explode on impact. Ukrainians call them "mopeds" because of the distinctive sound of their engines; air defences down dozens of them each week. Iran initially denied supplying drones to Russia but months later said it had provided a small number before Moscow launched the war on Ukraine in 2022. "Those who accuse Iran of providing weapons to one of the sides in the Ukraine war are doing so for political purposes," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said on Monday, when asked about Tehran's delivery of drones to Russia. "We have not given any drones to take part in that war." Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a Philadelphia-based think tank, said a supply of Fateh-100 and Zolfaghar missiles from Iran would hand Russia an even greater advantage on the battlefield. "They could be used to strike military targets at operational depths, and ballistic missiles are more difficult for Ukrainian air defences to intercept," Lee said. DEEPENING TIES WITH MOSCOW Iran's hardline clerical rulers have steadily sought to deepen ties with Russia and China, betting that would help Tehran to resist U.S. sanctions and to end its political isolation. Defence cooperation between Iran and Russia has intensified since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu met the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force, Amirali Hajizadeh, in Tehran in September, when Iran's drones, missiles and air defence systems were displayed for him, Iranian state media reported. And last month, Russia's foreign ministry said it expected President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi to sign a broad new cooperation treaty soon, following talks in Moscow in December. "This military partnership with Russia has shown the world Iran's defence capabilities," said the military official. "It does not mean we are taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine conflict." The stakes are high for Iran's clerical rulers amid the war between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas that erupted after Oct. 7. They also face growing dissent at home over economic woes and social restrictions. While Tehran tries to avoid a direct confrontation with Israel that could draw in the United States, its Axis of Resistance allies - including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen - have attacked Israeli and U.S. targets. A Western diplomat briefed on the matter confirmed the delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia in the recent weeks, without providing more details. He said Western nations were concerned that Russia's reciprocal transfer of weapons to Iran could strengthen its position in any possible conflict with the United States and Israel. Iran said in November it had finalised arrangements for Russia to provide it with Su-35 fighter jets, Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yak-130 pilot training aircraft. Analyst Gregory Brew at Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, said Russia is an ally of convenience for Iran. "The relationship is transactional: in exchange for drones, Iran expects more security cooperation and advanced weaponry, particularly modern aircraft," he said. (Additional reporting by Steve Holland and Phil Stewart in Washington; Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Daniel Flynn) A pilot and co-pilot were simultaneously asleep for approximately 28 minutes during a Batik Air flight from South East Sulawesi to the capital Jakarta (ADEK BERRY) The Indonesian air safety agency has called for better pilot fatigue monitoring mechanisms, after an investigation revealed that both pilots of a commercial aircraft had recently fallen asleep in-flight. A pilot and co-pilot were simultaneously asleep for approximately 28 minutes during a Batik Air flight from South East Sulawesi to the capital Jakarta on January 25, a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) said. The report, seen by AFP on Friday, was uploaded to the agency's website in late February. Indonesia is a vast archipelago with a poor air safety record, despite relying heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands. One of the pilots had not rested adequately on the night before the flight, the report said. The incident resulted in a series of navigation errors, but the Airbus A320's 153 passengers and four flight attendants were unharmed during the two-hour-and-35-minute flight. About half an hour after the plane took off, the captain asked permission from his second-in-command to rest for a while, with the request being granted. The co-pilot then took over command of the aircraft, but also inadvertently fell asleep, the report said. "The second-in-command had one-month twin babies. His wife took care of the babies and he assisted while at home," the report said. A few minutes after the last recorded transmission by the co-pilot, the area control centre in Jakarta tried to contact the aircraft. It received no answer. Twenty-eight minutes after the last recorded transmission, the pilot woke up and realised his co-pilot was asleep and that the aircraft was not on the correct flight path. He immediately woke his colleague up, responded to the calls from Jakarta and corrected the flight path, the report said. The plane landed safely after the incident. Investigators did not identify the pilots, but said they were both Indonesians and were aged 32 and 28. KNKT urged Batik Air to create detailed procedures to conduct proper and regular cockpit checks and to ensure that pilots and cabin crew were well-rested before their flights. Batik Air did not immediately respond to questions when contacted by AFP. dsa-ebe/aha Searle Lina from the Philippines said Taylor Swift's music helped her get over a heartbreak (Mohd RASFAN) About 300,000 Taylor Swift fans from Singapore and around the region were expected to flock to the city-state this week for the megastar's six sold-out concerts. As the only stop in Southeast Asia for Swift's blockbuster Eras world tour, Swifties splashed out on flights and hotels to see their idol. Ahead of the last gig on Saturday, AFP spoke to six diehard fans, known as "Swifties", about their favourite Taylor Swift song and what she means to them. - 'Unpaid therapist' - Searle Lira, 33, became a Taylor Swift fan in high school with the song "Teardrops on My Guitar". It helped her to get over her own heartbreak from unrequited love. "As a person, I feel she's the unpaid therapist of girls," said Lira, a freelance journalist from the Philippines. "All the things that girls go through you can find a Taylor Swift song that you can relate with." - 'Love myself right' - Lauren Fang, 23, first listened to Taylor Swift when she was in hospital receiving treatment for lupus. Fang, a human resource specialist from Taiwan, was 18 at the time and said Swift's songs helped her recovery. Her favourite song is "Back to December" which is about regret for leaving someone. She tweaked the lyrics for herself to say: "If I can live again, I swear I will love myself right." "The song taught me that if I can redo my life, I swear I will live my own life right," Fang said. - 'Humble and kind' - Sarah Lui, 21, began listening to Taylor Swift in primary school -- and never stopped. "I will still be a Swiftie even if I become a lawyer," said Lui, who is about to graduate from a criminology programme in Hong Kong and embark on a law degree. The thing about Swift she most admires is her kindness. "She's been so good to her team, her fans and to everybody. She's humble and kind, that's what everybody in the world should do," Lui said. Story continues "She's a superstar but she's never been arrogant because of her fame. She is making use of her fame to do good." - 'She inspires me' - Men Ratiee, 23, a communications student from Bangkok, first heard about Swift on the news in 2014, when her concert in Thailand was cancelled following a coup. His favourite song is "Shake It Off" because it makes him feel better. "She is an inspiration. I learn English from her songs. I sing them," he said. "As a woman she inspires me because she is a good person. Her life is so amazing." - 'She is fearless' - Mona He got her first smartphone when she was 15 and the first song she downloaded was Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me". Now, 24, He said attending Swift's concert was the fulfilment of a nine-year dream. "I admire her because she is fearless," said He, who runs a business in China. "Although she has haters she never, never gives up." - 'Be who you are' - Renzo Gonzales, 26, said he liked Swift's message that people should be themselves. "Regardless if you have a lot of insecurities, you just have to be who you are and be happy," said Gonzales, who is from the Philippines and works on an international oil tanker. He said Swift became his role model because "you don't need to be like what everybody is telling you to become, you can be yourself". Gonzales said his favourite song was "Daylight" because it taught him that "love can be a rainbow". mba/amj/aha Xi attends plenary meeting of NPC annual session Xinhua) 09:12, March 08, 2024 The second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) held its second plenary meeting on Friday. Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the meeting. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Evadulia Orta, left, mother of shooting victim Rojelio Torres, left, hugs, Felicha Martinez, mother of victim Xavier Lopez, during a Uvalde City Council meeting about the May 24, 2022, school shooting. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado delivers his investigative report on the Uvalde Police Departments actions during the Robb Elementary School shooting on May 24, 2022. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Ulvade City Council members listen to public comments after Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado delivered his investigative report on the Police Departments actions during the Robb Elementary School shooting on May 24, 2022. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Family members of Mayah Zamora address Uvalde City Council after Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado delivered his investigative report on the Police Departments actions during the Robb Elementary School shooting on May 24, 2022. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Veronica Luevanos, left, hugs Nazarea Silguero, right, family member of Jailah Silguero, while listening to public comment after Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado delivered his investigative report on the Uvalde Police Departments actions during the Robb Elementary School mass shooting. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Uvalde Mayor Cody Smith listens to Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado deliver his investigative report on the Uvalde Police Departments actions during the Robb Elementary School mass shooting on May 24, 2022. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Kimberly Mata-Rubio comments on Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado's investigative report on the Uvalde Police Departments actions during the Robb Elementary School mass shooting on May 24, 2022. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Evadulia Orta, mother of Rojelio Torres, listens to public comment after Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado delivered his investigative report on the Uvalde Police Departments actions during the Robb Elementary School mass shooting on May 24, 2022. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Kimberly Rubio gives public comment demanding Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado return to the room, after he initially left after delivering his investigative report on the Police Departments actions during the Robb Elementary School mass shooting on May 24, 2022 to the Ulvade City Council at SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center on Thursday, March 7, 2024 in Ulvade, Texas. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Austin-based police consultant Jesse Prado, right, was hired to assess the performance of the Uvalde Police Department during the May 24, 2022, mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. Prado briefed City Council members on his findings Wednesday, saying local officers could not be faulted for the confused law enforcement response and heavy loss of life. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Ruben Zamora Sr., father of shooting victim Mayah Zamora, listens to public comment after Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado delivered his investigative report on the Uvalde Police Departments actions during the Robb Elementary School mass shooting on May 24, 2022. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Mayor Cody Smith, left, speaks to Brett Cross, right, guardian of Robb Elementary school victim Uziyah Garcia, after Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado delivered his investigative report on the Police Departments actions during the Robb Elementary School mass shooting on May 24, 2022 to the Ulvade City Council at SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center on Thursday, March 7, 2024 in Ulvade, Texas. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Abel Lopez, left, and Felicha Martinez, right, parents of Xavier Lopez, give public comment after Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado delivered his investigative report on the Police Departments actions during the Robb Elementary School mass shooting on May 24, 2022 to the Ulvade City Council at SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center on Thursday, March 7, 2024 in Ulvade, Texas. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News UVALDE A police consultant who examined the actions of Uvalde police during the Robb Elementary School massacre said Thursday that local officers were not to blame for the confused law enforcement response and the heavy loss of life. Jesse Prado met with the City Council as a crowd of around 150 people packed the civic center here. He said Uvalde officers saw "no solutions" to the situation they confronted at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022. A teenage gunman had shot up a pair of connected classrooms with an assault-style rifle and was holed up in one of the rooms with dead and wounded victims. Prado said two officers who tried to storm the room and confront the shooter were driven back when he fired through the wall, grazing both of them. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police had no clear shot at the gunman and they lacked a ballistic body shield sturdy enough to withstand high-velocity rounds from his rifle, Prado said. "There were many failures on the part of police that day, but no violations of policy on the part of local officers," Prado, a retired Austin police detective with more than 24 years of experience, told the council. He noted that two months before the Robb massacre, Uvalde officers attended an active-shooter training designed to prepare them for just such a scenario. But none of the officers gathered in the hallway outside the classrooms saw a way to neutralize the gunman. There were no solutions given, other than they needed a shield," Prado said. "I believe there were not solutions given because there were no solutions for this. There was never a scenario they put on that covered this exact issue that was happening there at Robb." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nineteen fourth graders and two teachers were killed that day. The gunman was finally shot dead by members of a Border Patrol tactical unit who breached the room where he was hiding 77 minutes after police received the first call for assistance. By then, a so-called rifle-rated ballistic shield, strong enough to protect officers, had been delivered to the school. The Border Patrol officers stood behind it as they entered the room. Prado's findings infuriated family members of the victims, who denounced his report as a whitewash. Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose 10-year-old daughter Lexi was killed in the shooting, said three Uvalde police officers who were in the hallway had active-shooter training, and yet they chose their lives over the lives of children and teachers . and for that they should be terminated." Speaking during the public comment period, Mata-Rubio asked council members to imagine that their family members were cowering in a barricaded room "with a deranged person," waiting for police to arrive. Are these the people you want responding to your loved ones?" she said. "Guaranteed its not. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "They stood there 77 minutes and waited after they got call after call (saying) the kids were still alive in there," she said. Do whats right. Terminate them these people should not be serving. Brett Cross, guardian of 10-year-old Uziyah Garcia, one of the children killed in the massacre, brought forward one of the fourth graders who survived. "I want you to look at Adrian right here, every single one of y'all," Cross said. "This child was shot and he sat in there for 77 minutes while those (expletive) cowards did nothing." Cross said the families of the victims were tired of seeing law enforcement duck accountability for the shooting. "We're sick of it," he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At least two council members agreed with the boisterous crowd that the report fell far short of their expectations. "I'm disappointed. I'm very insulted by this report," Councilman Hector Luevano said. "The parents deserve more." He said the community was owed a "thorough investigation and thorough explanation. I'm sorry, I don't accept this report." Councilman Chip King III said he had been "sitting here shaking for the last hour." He told audience members, "I assure you this is not what we wanted." Prado's review was the latest in a series of official inquiries into the police response to the Robb massacre. Unlike the others, his focused exclusively on the Uvalde Police Department's role. In all, 380 officers from two dozen agencies were on the scene that day. The U.S. Justice Department in January released the results of an exhaustive investigation. It found that a chaotic law enforcement response caused needless delays in taking out the gunman while children lay bleeding to death in their classroom. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Among the department's findings was that no one took on the job of acting as the on-scene commander, a critical misstep that worsened a cascade of poor decisions. Ultimately, those errors delayed the confrontation with the shooter, DOJ investigators said in their 575-page report. Had law enforcement followed generally accepted practices in an active-shooter situation and gone right after the shooter to stop him, lives would have been saved, and people would have survived, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in releasing the report. The victims and survivors of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School deserved better, he said. The law enforcement response at Robb Elementary ... was a failure. As a consequence of failed leadership, training, and policies, 33 students and three of their teachers many of whom had been shot were trapped in a room with an active shooter for over an hour as law enforcement officials remained outside." A report by a Texas House investigative committee, released in 2022, said the school district didn't adequately prepare for the risk of an armed attacker, that "there was a regrettable culture of noncompliance by school personnel who frequently propped doors open and deliberately circumvented locks," and that no one had locked any of the three exterior doors to the west building of Robb, allowing the shooter to enter. The House committee also said that "law enforcement responders failed to adhere to their active shooter training, and they failed to prioritize saving the lives of innocent victims over their own safety." Even though the Uvalde school district's then-police chief, Pedro "Pete" Arredondo, and the commander of the Uvalde Police Department SWAT team quickly arrived on the scene, "there was an unacceptably long period of time before officers breached the classroom, neutralized the attacker, and began rescue efforts," the committee said. A criminal investigation into the shooting is still underway. A Uvalde County grand jury is reviewing evidence collected by the Texas Rangers. District Attorney Christina Mitchell, who is leading the investigation, has said issues to be examined include whether anyone illegally helped the gunman buy weapons and ammunition. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home India Watch: Delhi Police Officer kicks, shoves Muslims offering Friday prayers by roadside In the shocking video, the officer in-charge of a police post in Delhi's Inderlok area, is seen kicking the Muslims from behind while they were in Sujood (prostration). Read More Friday March 8, 2024 7:38 PM , ummid.com News Network New Delhi: In an act termed inhuman, a Delhi Police Officer has been caught on camera kicking and shoving away some Muslims who were offering Friday prayers by roadside in the Indian capital New Delhi. In the shocking video, the officer in-charge of a police post in Delhi's Inderlok area, is seen kicking the Muslims from behind while they were in Sujood (prostration). The Muslim men were offering the Friday prayers by the roadside outside a mosque in the neighbourhood which was full to its capacity. In the video, the Police Officer seems to even strike one worshipper on his neck. Some Muslims who were present there tried to persuade the Police Officer, requesting him not to act in this manner as they were offering Namaz. The Police officer however did not budge. Watch video Outrage and then Suspension The shocking behaviour of the Police officer has sparked outraged. The Police Officer kicking the worshippers in prostration does not know the basic ethics ad principles of humanity. What kind of hatred is this which has taken over this policeman? Imran Pratapgarhi, Congress leader and a Member of Rajya Sabha, said. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Mahmood Madani has also condemned the police officers physical attack on worshippers during the Friday prayers. In a letter to the Home Minister of the Government of India, Mahmood Madani pointed out that such incidents not only deepen a significant trust deficit but also tarnish the country's global reputation. He emphasized the lasting psychological impact on the Muslim community when law enforcement becomes the perpetrator, particularly the brutality faced by individuals engaged in prayers. "As guardians of law and order, the police must uphold their duty and exercise caution when dealing with religious matters to avoid exacerbating the trust deficit and global reputation damage", he said. Mahmood Madani also expressed concern about the alarming anti-Muslim atmosphere in Delhi, aggravated not only by anti-social elements but also exacerbated by the involvement of state machinery, including the police. He asserted that the officer's conduct reflects a deep-seated Islamophobic attitude influenced by communal forces, highlighting the need for the officers ideological reformation and training for responsible behavior. In his letter he urged the immediate termination of the police officer responsible for the hate-filled actions. After the outrage, the Delhi Police suspended the officer seen in the video. "In the incident which happened today, the police post in-charge - who was seen in the video - has been suspended with immediate effect. Necessary disciplinary action is also being taken," MK Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Delhi North), was quoted by news agency PTI. Mosques in the Indian capital and other areas of India are normally full to their capacities. This forces to Muslims offer Namaz that last lasts for 5-10 minutes by roadside without blocking the traffic. Moreover, this is not any special privilege granted to the Indian Muslims as worshippers of different religions are regularly seen blocking roads to celebrate their festivals. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Education & Career AISSEE 2024 result to be released at exams.nta.ac.in/aissee The National Testing Agency (NTA) had released AISSEE 2024 Answer Key on February 25, 2024. Read More Saturday March 9, 2024 0:36 AM , ummid.com News Network Sainik School Entrance Examination 2024-25 Session: Candidates and parents whose wards appeared for the All India Sainik School Entrance Exam 2024 (AISSEE 2024) should note that the the Sainik School Exam Result 2024 will be released on the website 'exams.nta.ac.in/aissee'. The National Testing Agency (NTA) had conducted AISSEE 2024 on January 28. Before that the NTA had launched a dedicated website for AISSEE. Parents should note that the NTA has not confirmed the exact date and time to release the AISSEE 2024 Result and Scorecard. It will however release the same very soon. The candidates should also note that the NTA will release the AISEE scorecard and result in the next few days. It will however release the AISSEE 2024 Merit List later on. Candidates should note that the NTA had released the AISSEE 2024 Answer Sheet on Feb 25, 2024. The NTA also asked the candidates to raise objections, if any, till Feb 27, 2024. The OMR Answer Sheet released by the NTA on Feb 25 was provisional. Based on objections raised by the candidates, the NTA will publish the AISSEE Final Answer Key before declaring the result. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. HA NOI Increasing women's participation and status in the economy has been a key economic and developmental objective, as well as gender equality goal in Viet Nam in recent decades. Currently, women make up 50.1 per cent of the Southeast Asian country's population and 46.7 per cent of its labour force, according to a Grant Thornton report. Women also lead 20-24 per cent of a total of 900,000 active companies in Viet Nam, making Vietnamese women significantly more likely to own and run a business compared to their peers in the ASEAN region. The report said the highest leadership positions among Vietnamese women were human resource directors (61 per cent) and chief financial officers (44 per cent), higher than the averages in the region and the world. In recent years, Viet Nam has ranked consistently among the world's top 10 countries with the highest number of women in business leadership positions. In 2019, the country reported 37 per cent of its business executives were female. In 2021, the figure improved to 39 per cent. In the last two years, it suffered some drawbacks but remained high at 34 per cent, higher than the averages in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Of these, up to 68.6 per cent of Vietnamese female executives hold a bachelor's or master's degree in business administration, only slightly lower than the same figure for males at 71.9 per cent, showcasing the country's successful attempt at bridging the gap in education between the sexes. However, barriers and challenges remain as businesses led by women often face difficulties in terms of development scale with the majority of them being small or medium-sized, or operating in the informal sector of the economy. They also tend to operate in labour-intensive industries, with low technology adoption leading to lower profits and less resilience to economic fluctuations. Female entrepreneurs in Viet Nam have been said to face additional hurdles in starting businesses compared to men, resulting in the country's ranking, while improved in terms of quantity, flatlining in terms of quality of female entrepreneurs. The majority of women's businesses in Viet Nam are small-scale, mainly in trade and narrow business scopes. Many female entrepreneurs said they struggled with limited access to capital and financial support. As few women entrepreneurs could produce tangible assets it's difficult for them to secure loans from commercial banks. Financial institutions have been said to show little confidence in women's businesses with just 37 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises led by women in Viet Nam having access to bank loans, compared to 47 per cent for businesses owned by men. In addition, when asked about their entrepreneurial motivation, Vietnamese women often attributed it to economic reasons, which could impact their businesses' long-term vision and effectiveness. They also suffered from a lack of knowledge and skills in business management, such as business administration, human resources, finance and marketing. Family responsibilities remain a major factor hindering women in business as they are expected to dedicate a considerable amount of time to care for family members and dependents. Numerous policies, laws and programmes supporting women's entrepreneurship and business development have been implemented with the goal of building up confidence among Vietnamese businesswomen. Economists and policymakers have long called for additional policies to support women in entrepreneurship, using both financial and non-financial resources, as well as stronger administrative reforms. Another key priority is to provide female entrepreneurs with regular training and knowledge enhancement activities such as courses in business planning, business management, operational management and marketing. Female entrepreneurs also need to learn how to divide their time effectively, ensuring a balanced approach between business and family responsibilities. VNS National Guardsmen are seen apprehending a small group of migrants who crossed the US/Mexico border from Piedras Negras, MX into Eagle Pass, TX as seen from Piedras Negras, MX on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 . Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 09: People protest against Texas Senate Bill 4 during a rally hosted by the ACLU of Texas at the State Capitol on March 09, 2024 in Austin, Texas. People gathered to protest Texas Senate Bill 4, which would allow state law enforcement officials to detain and arrest migrants suspected of illegally crossing into the U.S. The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily halted the bill which could likely go into effect as early as next week. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Brandon Bell/Getty Images Alejandra Segovia, 6, lays on Rafael Martinez as she tells him she doesnt feel well while staying at a migrant encampment near the international bridge connecting Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico on Friday, March 1, 2024, in Matamoros . Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer *** BESTPIX *** AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 09: Members of the Ollinyolloti Danza Mexica group participate in a protest against Texas Senate Bill 4 during a rally hosted by the ACLU of Texas at the State Capitol on March 09, 2024 in Austin, Texas. People gathered to protest Texas Senate Bill 4, which would allow state law enforcement officials to detain and arrest migrants suspected of illegally crossing into the U.S. The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily halted the bill which could likely go into effect as early as next week. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Brandon Bell/Getty Images AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 09: People protest against Texas Senate Bill 4 during a rally hosted by the ACLU of Texas at the State Capitol on March 09, 2024 in Austin, Texas. People gathered to protest Texas Senate Bill 4, which would allow state law enforcement officials to detain and arrest migrants suspected of illegally crossing into the U.S. The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily halted the bill which could likely go into effect as early as next week. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Brandon Bell/Getty Images WASHINGTON Texas Republicans see their new migrant deportation law as an opening for the U.S. Supreme Court to dramatically reshape immigration enforcement, giving states a power now reserved for the federal government. We as a state can take control of our own border, just like the federal government, because were being invaded, theyre not doing their job, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a recent interview on Fox News. And if the Supreme Court will uphold our bill, Texas will take control of the border. But if the states recent record is any indication, the Supreme Court justices are not likely to let Texas have its way. Texas has lost both immigration-related cases it has taken before the courts new conservative majority, with Trump appointees siding against the state in both cases. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Legal experts say it seems unlikely that the court would side with Texas on the deportation law, given how significant a departure it would be from current precedent. The law, known as Senate Bill 4, empowers any law enforcement officer in Texas to arrest migrants they suspect of entering the country illegally and allows judges to order their removal. A federal district judge in Austin last month blocked the law from taking effect, calling it patently unconstitutional. The conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals briefly set aside that ruling before the Supreme Court stepped in last week and put the temporary hold back in place. By allowing state and local officials to essentially take over immigration enforcement, SB4 would open the door to every other state deciding their own border enforcement rules, immigration experts said. And the new law would raise serious foreign relations concerns a point the high court has stressed in past immigration rulings as Texas authorities try to send asylum seekers from all over the world across the border into Mexico. The court is very reluctant in this area to just let (Gov. Greg) Abbott and the rest of the GOP have their way, said Daniel Morales, an immigration law expert at the University of Houston Law Center. There are just really serious national concerns at stake. From a legal standpoint, its just so obviously dangerous to let too many chefs in the kitchen, Morales said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The offices of Patrick, Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton did not respond to requests for comment for this article. Abbott, a former Texas attorney general, has said he believes the law was crafted in a way that can and should be upheld in the courts on its own and is necessary to stem the record number of border crossings under the Biden administration. He has cast the law as an opening for the high court to reconsider a landmark Supreme Court ruling from 2012 that held that only the federal government has the power to enforce immigration laws. In that case, the high court struck down portions of an Arizona law that authorized police to arrest anyone suspected of being in the country illegally. Then-Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the opinion. Arizona may have understandable frustrations with the problems caused by illegal immigration while that process continues, but the state may not pursue policies that undermine federal law, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Texas has been unable to sway the Supreme Court in more recent immigration cases. In 2022, the court ruled 5-4 against Texas and Missouris joint attempt to stop President Joe Biden from ending a Trump-era policy requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are decided. Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, which said forcing the administration to send asylum seekers back to Mexico imposes a significant burden upon the Executives ability to conduct diplomatic relations with Mexico. The next year, the court ruled 8-1 that Texas and Louisiana did not have standing to challenge Bidens immigration enforcement priorities. Justice Samuel Alito was the lone dissenter. Kavanaugh wrote the opinion, which again stressed concerns about foreign relations, saying presidential enforcement discretion implicates not only normal domestic law enforcement priorities but also foreign-policy objectives. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kavanaugh noted the decision did not indicate any view from the court on whether Biden was complying with statutory obligations when it came to border enforcement, however. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the majority in a 5-4 order allowing Border Patrol agents to cut razor wire the state strung up along the Rio Grande. The court did not explain the order or issue a final judgment on the ongoing dispute, but experts say it nonetheless is an indication of the states uphill battle. It is clear that there are at least four votes against Texas ability to take the mantle of immigration enforcement upon itself in contravention of the desires of the federal government, said Leon Fresco, an immigration attorney based in D.C. There is a significant possibility that either Justice Coney-Barrett or Justice Kavanaugh might join these four justices on maintaining this federal supremacy in future cases, as they have already done in various past cases filed by Texas. Conservatives, however, argue record border crossings may change the calculus. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I suspect that given the change in circumstances its the worst border crisis I think in the entire history of the United States I think the court in some ways might pull back a little from its previous holdings, said Hans A. von Spakovsky, a legal expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation. Texas Republicans say the crossings amount to an invasion that the federal government is not doing enough to stop, so the state has the right to protect itself. It is an argument that was pushed by former Trump administration officials, but one that has so far not stood up in court. In blocking the law last month, U.S. Judge David A. Ezra, a Ronald Reagan appointee, rejected the argument, writing that, to discuss invasion at length is to take the argument more seriously than it deserves. READ MORE: President Biden uses Texas border visit to urge GOP to revive dormant immigration deal Von Spakovsky said that even if the court is inclined to block SB4, it may not toss out the entire law. He noted that even in the landmark Arizona ruling from 2012, the court halted only some aspects of that law and allowed much of it to take effect including the so-called show me your papers provision that required state authorities to check the immigration status of anyone they stop or arrest. The provision was seen as a centerpiece of the law and one of its most controversial aspects. As in the Arizona case, von Spakovsky said the court will look at all aspects of SB4 to determine whether they are preempted by federal law or interfere with federal immigration enforcement. He said he sees no problem with state authorities arresting migrants something they have been doing at the border for years now. On the other hand, I dont think a state can say someone should be deported unless the feds do it, von Spakovsky said. That would essentially open the door for other states to decide their own immigration enforcement, he said. California, for instance, could pass a law legalizing migrants, regardless of their federal immigration status, he said. HCM CITY Viet Nam's aquatic product exports could reach US$9.5 billion in 2024, said Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, chairwoman of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). Data from VASEP showed that aquatic product exports raked in over $1.3 billion in the first two months of 2024, up 23 per cent year-on-year. Of which, both shrimp and tuna exports increased by 37 per cent compared to the same period last year while tra fish (pangasius) exports rose by 15 per cent and other types of fish by 8 per cent. Kim Thu, a shrimp market expert, said by the end of February, shrimp export turnover reached approximately $460 million. Such markets as China, the US, Japan, Canada and Australia, have all seen substantial increases, she added. In January, China surpassed the US to become Viet Nam's largest shrimp importer. It is forecast that China's shrimp imports in 2024 will increase, creating more opportunities for Vietnamese shrimp. Pangasius export turnover in the first two months of this year was also positive after recording consecutive declines in 2023, raking $275 million. Exports to some markets like the US and China will bounce back due to reduced inventories and increasing demand. The pangasius market of China is expected to be more vibrant thanks to the countrys support policies to stimulate consumption in the first half of 2024. However, insiders said there are still challenges to overcome such as oversupply, high inventories, lower purchasing prices and increased competition. Tensions in the Red Sea leading to increased transport costs, the European Commission's "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood and anti-subsidy lawsuits will likely pose additional difficulties for businesses this year. VASEP Director for Communications Le Hang said that the US and EU's bans on Russian aquatic products as well as China's ban on Japanese aquatic products, and the US and EU's warnings against forced labour at China's processing factories are motivating US, European and Japanese businesses to seek processing partners in Viet Nam. Hang advised Vietnamese businesses to review their market strategies and suggest them focus on the domestic market with a population of 100 million as their living standards have improved. VASEP Chairwoman Thu Sac urged businesses to take measures to turn these challenges into opportunities, exploiting and developing suitable products for international markets. VNS Singapore LNG terminals and downstream infrastructure company AG&P LNG, a subsidiary of Nebula Energy, announced on March 7 that it has acquired a 49 per cent stake in Cai Mep LNG Terminal located in Ba Ria- Vung Tau Province in southern Viet Nam. Fully constructed, the Cai Mep LNG Terminal was developed by Hai Linh Company Limited, a prominent petroleum product import terminal and trader in Viet Nam. AG&P LNG CEO Karthik Sathyamoorthy said: Cai Mep LNG Terminal will play a pivotal role in enhancing the energy security of Viet Nam, paving the way for energy transition in Viet Nam. Strategically located, Cai Mep LNG will enable reliable LNG access to multiple power plants in its vicinity, including Hai Linhs Hiep Phuoc Power Plant - currently under construction - and to the industries in the southern Viet Nam region. AG&P LNG team has already worked closely with the Cai Mep LNG Terminal team to operationalize the terminal by Q3 2024. We are privileged to work with Hai Linh and make LNG available quickly and safely to the Vietnamese market. Hai Linh Company Limited CEO Le Van Tam said: We are very excited to welcome AG&P LNG as our shareholder in our Cai Mep LNG Terminal Company. With this partnership, we will be able to expedite the terminals start-up and commissioning and LNG terminal operations into Viet Nam and serve the exponentially growing LNG demand in our country. The Cai Mep LNG Terminal has pipeline connectivity to Viet Nams largest power generation complex, the Phu My Industrial Zone, with gas-fired capacity of 3.9 GW. The terminal is strategically located near the Mekong River Delta and has three onshore tanks totaling to a capacity of 220,000 cubic metres of LNG storage, and LNG break-bulk capabilities that allow it to reload LNG into smaller vessels. With a total of 14 bays for CNG and LNG truck-loading, the Cai Mep LNG Terminal is well-connected via multiple highways to several nearby demand centers to provide reliable access to LNG. VNS HCM CITY The India Vietnam Business Conference 2024 was held in HCM City on March 8, creating business cooperation opportunities for enterprises of both sides. Jointly held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industrys HCM City branch (VCCI HCM) and Indias Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), the event drew the participation of leading Indian firms who are operating in steel, coal, IT, electronics, industrial machines, building materials, transportation, tourism, among others. The businesses were updated with information on business climate as well as policies to develop economic and trade ties of Vietnam and India. According to VCCI HCM Director Tran Ngoc Liem, India is one of Viet Nams top ten trading partners while Vietnam is an important country in Indias Act East Policy, and is among four ASEAN member states having trade relations with India. Two-way trade in 2023 was 14.36 billion USD, with Viet Nams export rising 6.8% year-on-year to US$8.5 billion and import falling 17.2% to $5.86 billion. Statistics from the VCCI showed that most of Viet Nams exports are computers, mobile phones and parts, steel, chemical, wood and wooden products, footwear, and coffee. In the meantime, India is an important supplier of raw materials and finished products for Viet Nam regarding steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, garment and textiles and animal food. India has registered some $1 billion in more than 400 projects in Viet Nam, making it the 26th largest investors among 141 countries and territories with investments in the country. Liem said as the two countries target $20 billion in two-way trade revenue in the coming time, they should bolster collaboration in the fields that they hold strengths and competitive edge such as mining, chemicals, healthcare-pharmaceuticals, supporting industry and IT. For his part, RCCI President Sunil Kaya said that Viet Nam and India boast huge potential to cooperate, given the signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, the agreement on encouragement and protection of investments, and the one on trade and economic cooperation. On the basis of the positive development in the bilateral trade and investment ties, the conference was organised to help business communities of both sides to enhance business relations in the time ahead. Experts at the event held that along with studying Indian market, Vietnamese enterprises should understand Indian culture so as to set up sustainable relations with their partners. Additionally, they should adjust marketing strategies to suit the Indian market's taste and trends, the experts stressed. VNA/VNS HA NOI The female billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao has shown that with talent, hard work and a bold heart to dream and make dreams come true, any woman can break the glass ceiling and contribute to the development of their homeland. The Dream of Vietjet Air Few people know that the birth of Vietjet, a private airline, originated from a question full of aspirations from a poor ethnic mother of a revolutionary family in a mountainous area: "Please tell me how many tonnes of rice it takes to buy an airplane ticket?" This seemingly simple question made businesswoman Thao realise the burning desire of most Vietnamese people: to set foot on an airplane to travel across the country, explore the world, and beyond that, to change their lives and connect Viet Nam with the world. The meeting with the poor mother from the highlands swayed the mind of Vietjets founder to her idea of building a five-star airline that everyone could afford and enjoy flying with. The birth of Vietjet was a breath of fresh air bringing vitality into the aviation industry. The initial doubts about the private airline model were dispelled when Vietjet relentlessly expanded its flight network, turning the dream of flying for millions of people into a reality. With constant innovation and creativity, Vietjet's secret to success lies in the absolute focus on service innovation and cost management. The airline took the lead in transitioning from paper tickets to e-tickets and online payments, continuously improving operational processes, and aiming for standardisation and streamlining. Vietjet owns one of the latest and most modern fleets in the world, along with a team of employees from various countries who are young, enthusiastic, and have a high team spirit. The journey of Vietjet, like many other businesses, has been through ups and downs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was an extremely challenging time for the entire global economy. However, it was also a period when Vietjet teams demonstrated their resilience to overcome difficulties and the spirit of creativity and innovation. When passenger transport was suspended as the government was trying to prevent the spread of the pandemic, Vietjet strategically shifted its focus to freight transport. Leveraging this advantage, the airline capitalised on the opportunity to expedite its recovery process. Vietjet has carried out hundreds of flights to transport anti-pandemic forces, medical equipment and supplies, and vaccines, among others, to epidemic-stricken areas and has facilitated the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of passengers from epidemic zones. They have supported mass testing with over two million testing samples and millions of vaccine doses. Though the pandemic forced Vietjet to delay some expansion plans, the airline made every effort to make up for lost time. The pandemic was not deemed as a barrier, but rather an opportunity for Vietjet to innovate, rise with confidence, and emerge stronger than ever. Immediately after the pandemic was brought under control, the airline, within the last year, has led the opening of 33 new international routes, becoming the largest airline flying to Australia and India, while continuing to expand in established major markets such as China, Japan, South Korea and new destinations in its traditional market of Southeast Asia. A trendsetter In the Vietnamese business community, it is never a difficult feat to find a talented female leader who has made significant contributions to the country's economy. However, successful women in the aviation industry like Madame Thao are rare gems worldwide, as the sector has traditionally been a male-dominated field. As a female billionaire, Thao always places the protection and promotion of women's rights at the core of the corporate culture and actively works for gender equality. Vietjet has provided opportunities for many women to pursue their dreams of becoming pilots, captains, aircraft technicians and information technology workers. Like many other Asian women, Thao undoubtedly faces the pressure of balancing work and family responsibilities. This pressure forces women to work twice or three times as hard as men. However, she has never felt constrained by her gender. In addition to establishing Vietjet, Thao, armed with her knowledge as an economist and an expert in automation, takes an interest in various sectors of the economy. She even goes beyond that and starts to pay attention to other fields such as technology, education, and healthcare to bring a better life for the people. Her businesses, operating closely with the entrepreneurial community, have played a pivotal role in advancing the development of the private sector and fostering an image of Viet Nam as an integrated, self-reliant, innovative and progressive nation. Thao is a well-known figure among those who take an interest in the development and integration of Vietnam's economy and stock market. She hopes to contribute to bringing the Vietnamese stock market to a level comparable to major markets like London and New York by 2045, creating a brighter future for the country's economy. Dreams from a kind heart Every Vietnamese woman is taught about the spirit of sacrifice, caring, meticulousness, elegance, generosity and putting others before oneself. Women are also often dreamy and romantic. For Thao, dreaming is actually aspirations that stem from a kind heart to bring the best to the community. These are big dreams, and by following her journey, you can see that she acts like an angel to turn those dreams into reality. She has spread and realised these dreams for all her employees and the community through various charitable activities. During the COVID-19 period, her businesses operated numerous free flights to airlift medical personnel, vaccines and supplies to pandemic hotspots, provided hundreds of thousands of meals in HCM City, sponsored ambulances and testing kits for localities, and played a leading role in building an online contribution website for the COVID-19 Prevention Fund to mobilise donations from both domestic and international sources. The fund raised nearly VN12 trillion. During the Lunar New Year holidays, Vietjet and HDBank have regularly organised free flights to bring poor workers and orphaned students back to their hometowns to reunite with their families. Each take-off brings happiness to every household. On weekends or during holidays, Thao regularly dedicates her time to go to places where she can turn dreams into reality. She often visits and gives gifts to young children in orphanages and cooks charity meals. Tens of thousands of gifts are also sent by her to remote areas across the country during the Tet holiday every year. The success of the multi-industry female entrepreneur Thao, together with her team, and the success of the business community and Vietnamese women, though quietly, has significantly improved the well-being of the people, fostering happiness and propelling the development of the country, and last but not least, constantly bringing Viet Nam closer to the world. VNS HCM CITY Bao Minh Insurance and Australian insurtech firm Hillridge have entered into a partnership to offer parametric Typhoon Index Insurance, a new product in Viet Nam that will protect farmers from the countrys devastating typhoons. The product is based on a simple, online purchasing process. Payouts are calculated by a satellite-based system that measures the severity of the typhoon and the distance of the farm from that storm. Policies are available from VN10 million (US$406) to 75 per cent of the entire insured value of a farmers assets. Unlike traditional indemnity-based insurance, where pay-outs are determined through a damage assessment that can see cumbersome processing times and delayed claims, parametric insurance pays out typically within 10 days based on a transparent, predetermined calculation, Hillridge CEO Dale Schilling said. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Bao Minh Insurances executive vice president, said this means farmers would be able to quickly replenish their stocks and replant their crops rather than wait for a prolonged assessment and claims period. We see tremendous opportunities for this product for farmers in sectors including aquaculture, forestry and crops like fruits, sugarcane and rubber, notably in central provinces such as Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Nam, Binh inh, and Binh Thuan, which face devastating storms every year. At a ceremony held in HCM City on March 7 Hiep Thuan Agricultural Cooperative of Quang Nam Province signed a deal with Bao Minh to insure farmers with over 154 hectares of acacia plantations against adverse weather incidents and the impacts of longer-term climate change, becoming the products first customer. USAID is supporting the first year of the insurances implementation along with other technical assistance to Hiep Thuan. Viet Nam, which is typically hit by four to six major tropical storms each year, has a particularly vulnerable agricultural sector that is frequently devastated when they strike. But less than 5 per cent of farmers are insured against adverse weather events. VNS HA NOI National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong inh Hue on Thursday requested agencies to make greater efforts, determination and responsibility to quickly bring the NA's decisions to fruition. Speaking at the second national conference on implementing laws and resolutions of the 15th NAs sixth session and fifth extraordinary session, NA Chairman Hue acknowledged ministries and localities for proactively and firmly implementing laws and resolutions in recent years. He emphasised a number of key tasks that need to be focused on in the coming time. The NA Chairman assigned NA committees to review, give opinions, and verify reports of the Government on implementing laws and resolutions, and report to the NA for consideration and discussion in case of necessity. He required concerned organisations to soon issue documents detailing laws and resolutions, and arrange resources and conditions to ensure missions are completed on schedule. NA Chairman Hue requested the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, the State Audit and central agencies to contribute opinions on the development and promulgation of documents detailing laws and resolutions. They should educate people about the laws in appropriate forms, and encourage people from all walks of life to strictly follow the laws and resolutions. Law on Land The Law on Land 2024 has many important new and groundbreaking contents that contribute to the goal of perfecting policies, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of land management and use, said Chairman of the NA's Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh. Thanh said that this year, it was planned to issue decrees implementing the Land Law on different contents such as Regulations on basic land surveys; Registration and issuance of land use rights certificates, Ownership of assets attached to land and land information system; Regulations on compensation, support and resettlement when the State recovers land; and Regulations on land development funds. The Economic Committee, the Ethnic Council, and other NA committees within their respective fields of responsibility will supervise the promulgation of decrees and circulars detailing the assigned contents in the law. The decrees and circulars must ensure stability and development of the land legal system. They must have consistency and synchronisation with documents detailing the Law on Housing, Law on Real Estate Business and the legal system. Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Minh Ngan said that the Law on Land 2024 had a number of new contents such as land planning and use; recovery, compensation and support for resettlement; land allocation, land lease and permission to change land use purposes; issuance of land use transfer certificates; land policies for ethnic minorities; and land database. According to the Prime Minister's Decision, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) was assigned to compile six decrees and four circulars. The ministry urgently established a drafting committee and an editorial team. It has collected opinions from affected organisations and individuals, and at the same time organises conferences in regions to receive comments on the draft documents. The documents will be submitted to the competent authority for consideration and approval in May this year. The Decree on Sea Reclamation Activities will be submitted this month following simplified procedures to take effect from April 1 this year. The MONRE will preside and coordinate with concerned ministries and units to develop a project on commercial housing through agreements on receiving land use rights and submit it to the competent authority as soon as possible to ensure progress. VNS GENEVA Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations in Geneva, on March 7 affirmed the importance the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) attaches to fisheries cooperation and Viet Nam's achievements in developing this sector. He delivered two speeches while attending an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food. On behalf of ASEAN, Dung stated that the bloc always attached importance to fisheries cooperation and considered this one of the economic integration priorities that plays an important role in ensuring food security, promoting economies and boosting livelihoods across the region. He also shared many initiatives of the regional grouping aiming to assist small-scale producers, including the Strategic Plan of Action on ASEAN Cooperation on Fisheries (2021-25) that identifies strategic priorities such as enhancing the fisheries and aquaculture sectors resilience to climate change and natural shocks, and helping small-scale producers improve productivity and competitiveness. The ASEAN Leaders Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises, adopted last September, emphasised the commitment to facilitating fishermens access to finance to improve the long-term resilience and sustainability of fisheries, the diplomat noted, adding it also stressed the necessity to utilise available resources in ASEAN for food production, especially for small-scale farmers, fishermen and other groups vulnerable to food insecurity. Delivering the speech of Viet Nam, Ambassador Dung highlighted the countrys efforts and achievements in fisheries development and gave a brief presentation of Viet Nam's strategy for fisheries development by 2030, with a vision to 2045. He affirmed that Viet Nam would continue promoting and protecting the rights of workers, especially women, in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. It will assist them to access finance, market information, capital and suitable technology while ensuring stable-income jobs and safe networks for them. Earlier, at the dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Minister Counsellor Cung uc Han, Deputy Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN, noted the countrys commitment to enhancing cultural rights and inclusive participation in science. "The Constitution of Viet Nam protects all peoples right to scientific or technological research and literary or art creation, and their entitlement to benefits from those activities," he said. Echoing the UN Special Rapporteurs recommendations that aim to boost the effective engagement of vulnerable groups, Han said that under the socio-economic development strategy for 2021-30 with a vision to 2045, Viet Nam had carried out many initiatives to remove barriers and open up more opportunities for exploration, reform and sustainable development. VNS ALGIERS Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Tran Quoc Khanh laid a wreath at the memorial plaque located on the Journalistes Viet Nam 8/3/1974 Street, Bir Mourad Rais District, Algiers on Thursday, in memory of the Algerian journalists who died in an accident in Viet Nam 50 years ago. On March 8, 1974, 15 journalists and technicians from Algeria, along with nine Vietnamese journalists and three flight crew members, lost their lives in a plane crash while accompanying then President of Algeria Houari Boumediene on his official visit to Viet Nam. To remember the deceased, both Viet Nam and Algeria erected memorial plaques in each country. In Viet Nam, a memorial site was built at the location of the accident - in Ha Nois outlying district of Soc Son, during the State visit to Viet Nam by President of Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika in October 2000. The site has undergone renovation by the municipal People's Committee and will be reopened on the 50th year since the accident. In 2013, the Algerian Government also erected a memorial plaque for the 15 journalists and named a street "Journalistes Viet Nam" in the capital city. Earlier on Wednesday, Ambassador Khanh attended a forum held by Algeria's national newspaper El Moudjahid and dedicated to commemorating the journalists. VNS HA NOI The coming official visit to New Zealand by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds special significance as it is an occasion for the two sides to further intensify bilateral cooperation and strategic partnership, said Vietnamese Ambassador to the South Pacific country Nguyen Van Trung. He told Vietnam New Agency that the visit on March 10 - 11, to be made at the invitation of PM Christopher Luxon, is the first to New Zealand a strategic partner of Viet Nam since 2020 by PM Chinh, who is also the first foreign government leader to arrive in New Zealand since this country shaped a new government. Trung noted that the visit is a step to implement the foreign policy identified at the 13th National Party Congress, which attaches importance to developing cooperation with Asian-Pacific countries, among which New Zealand is an important strategic partner. Since mid-2022, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the cooperation and strategic partnership between the two countries have recorded highly positive progress in such spheres as politics, diplomacy, trade, education - training, science - technology, security, defence, and people-to-people exchange. The visit is a crucial occasion for Viet Nam and New Zealand to further intensify the cooperation and strategic partnership on the threshold of the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2025. It is also a chance for people in the South Pacific nation to learn more about the Southeast Asian countrys oi moi (Renewal) achievements, including fast and sustainable development, active integration into the world, and enhanced cooperation with the Pacific, thereby contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation, and development in the world, according to the diplomat. He went on to say that during the trip, the two sides will discuss measures to realise the action plan for implementing the strategic partnership 2021 - 2024 and also specify the focuses and new cooperation areas matching the new context. Trung said PM Chinh will engage in a number of important activities, including holding official talks with his counterpart Luxon, witnessing the signing of cooperation documents, and having meetings with the Governor-General and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand. He is scheduled to deliver an important policy speech at the Victoria University of Wellington and meet students, experts, and lecturers of the school. Besides, the Vietnamese Governments delegation will visit Auckland, the biggest city of New Zealand that houses a large Vietnamese community. The PM will also visit the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research and a cooperation project on tropical crop and fruit varieties. The PM is set to meet with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy, representatives of the Vietnamese community, and science - technology experts of Vietnam. He will also join leading businesses of New Zealand in a seminar, the ambassador added. Trung expressed his belief that the visit will create a new impetus for bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, education - training, security, and defence while exploring and capitalising on cooperation potential in new areas so as to contribute to economic growth, social stability, and sustainable development. In addition, it will also help the bilateral strategic partnership develop more intensively and strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. VNA/VNS HA NOI National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue hosted a reception in Ha Noi on March 8 for Chinese Ambassador to Viet Nam Xiong Bo, during which they discussed relations between the two Parties, countries and legislatures. Chairman Hue highly evaluated the progress in relations between the two Parties and countries over the past time. He conveyed the regards from General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong and other key leaders of Viet Nam to General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President of China Xi Jinping and other senior leaders of China. The NA Chairman congratulated the Chinese Party, State and people on their achievements over the past decade, especially the successes in 2023 - the first year to implement the Resolution adopted at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. He also congratulated the National People's Congress of China (NPC) on the opening of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference with important issues related to socio-economic development being discussed and decided. Both sides agreed to maintain regular high-level exchanges and meetings in flexible forms; realise high-level common perceptions on enhancing people-to-people exchanges, actively raise public awareness of Viet Nam-China friendship and achievements in each countrys reform, raise mutual understanding between the two countries people, especially among young generations; and offer mutual support in multilateral frameworks like the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, ASEM, Mekong-Lancang and at multilateral parliamentary forums in the region and the world. Xiong, for his part, spoke highly of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Trongs visit to China in 2022 and General Secretary of the CPC and President of China Xi Jinpings visit to Viet Nam in 2023 when the two Party leaders announced the building of a China-Viet Nam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, marking a great milestone signaling the development of the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era. Regarding legislative ties, Chairman Hue highlighted concerted efforts to foster political trust between the Vietnamese NA and the NPC, with regular exchanges through online talks, the exchange of leaders of committees, specialised agencies and friendship parliamentarians groups; and mutual support at regional and global parliamentary forums, especially the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). The host and guest pledged to continue promoting the bilateral ties and facilitating future visits of leaders and officials from legislative bodies. The top legislator expressed his belief in the Ambassadors ability to continue serving as a bridge to effectively boost the bilateral relationship, thereby realising the common perceptions of high-ranking leaders and materialising new achievements and contents of the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, ensuring that the ties between the two Parties and countries will be further deepened and stablised in the long term. VNS Shown is the expected location of the cold front at 3 p.m. Friday. Temperatures will range between and 30s and the 80s across Texas. Pivotal Weather A strong storm system is pushing through Texas on Friday, and its responsible for a variety of weather conditions throughout the state. Severe thunderstorms are expected from the Hill Country and into Central Texas early in the morning. A few storms could produce large hail, and a few early morning tornadoes are not out of the question. San Antonio could see a few showers and storms between 4 and 8 a.m., but severe weather will stay farther north. Most of the storms will push off into East Texas after sunrise. Then, the focus will be on a strong cold front that will move quickly across Texas throughout the day, crashing into the San Antonio metro area by late Friday night. Its not an arctic front, so San Antonio wont experience any freezing temps. But it will be chilly, potentially acting as winters last gasp before spring weather sets in again. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fridays forecast After the rain chances end in San Antonio by 9 a.m., much drier air will move into South Texas from the west. Relative humidity values will plunge to around 20%, setting the stage for bright sunshine across the South Texas sky. Shown are the expected high temperatures in South Texas on Friday. Pivotal Weather Thanks to the dry air, temperatures will warm up to above-average levels yet again. The Alamo City will be in the mid-70s at 11 a.m., before rising into the low 80s in the afternoon. At the same time, temperatures in the Texas Panhandle will be in the 30s. A cold front will bring some of that cold air to the south. Cold front arrives The cold front will not arrive until late Friday night, so early evening temperatures will still be pleasant, hovering in the 70s. Northerly winds will start to increase by 9 p.m., signaling the fronts arrival. Wind speeds will reach about 25 mph late Friday and into the overnight hours. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Temperatures will quickly drop into the 50s after 10 p.m. and sink into the 40s overnight through Saturday morning, when temps are expected to be between 45 and 47 degrees in San Antonio. Gusty winds will cause feels like temperatures to drop into the 30s. Farther north, in the Hill Country, temperatures will drop an additional 5 to 10 degrees. Shown are the expected low temperatures Saturday morning in South Texas. Wind chill values will be 5 to 10 degrees colder. Pivotal Weather Weekend forecast San Antonios taste of winter will be brief. After the chilly start, temperatures will warm nicely throughout the day on Saturday. By noon, South Texas temperatures will approach 60 degrees, before topping out in the low to mid-60s. Sunday morning will start similarly to Saturday as morning temperatures drop into the 40s. High temperatures will be similar too, rising to the mid-60s once again. The only major difference will be an increase in cloudiness by Sunday afternoon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A look at next week Temperatures will rise back to the 70s on Monday and Tuesday, before rising again into the 80s by Wednesday. CANBERRA Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 8 received executives of some leading enterprises of Australia planning cooperation and investment in Viet Nam. At the meetings in Canberra, part of his official visit to Australia, PM Chisnh highly valued the firms fruitful investment and business activities while welcoming their investment intentions and current operations in Viet Nam. He asked the enterprises to coordinate closely with Vietnamese ministries, sectors, businesses, and partners to implement their projects in line with regulations, apply modern technology, and increase support and technology transfer to help Vietnamese businesses further engage in global supply chains. He pledged the best possible conditions for the enterprises to operate effectively and sustainably, stating that Vietnam always protects the rights and legitimate interests of investors. Meeting with the Vietnamese leader, an executive of Corio Generation, a portfolio company of Macquarie Asset Management, said Corio has participated in some renewable energy projects in Viet Nam since 2019 and hopes to invest in offshore wind power development in the country. The company is working with Vietnamese partners, ministries, sectors, and localities to make investment preparations but it is facing some problems, he noted, proposing the PM order ministries and sectors to facilitate its project. In reply, PM Chinh said Viet Nam approved the National Power Development Plan 8 in 2019 to provide an important legal basis for attracting more foreign investment to power, renewable energy, and energy transition projects. He demanded the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and related ministries and sectors give guidance and streamline procedures to promote the project of Corio. The Government leader asked Corio to coordinate closely with the Vietnamese parties to take the next steps of project implementation to bring about tangible benefits for both sides. He called on the company to thoroughly consider the projects feasibility, transfer wind power technology to Viet Nam, and cooperate with experienced and capable businesses of Viet Nam like the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) to reduce production costs. PM Chinh had separate meetings with Jeffrey Gandel, Non-Executive Chairman of ASM an emerging Australian group in mining; and Oliver Kleinhempel, Chairman & Non-executive Director of EQ Resources a leading Australian group in the production and distribution of tungsten - one of the important raw materials in electronics manufacturing. The groups are seeking investment opportunities in Viet Nam and they share the wish to inject capital into mining and developing mineral supply chains in the country. At the meetings, the PM said Viet Nam boasts relatively large mineral reserves, which have been highly valued by partners, noting the country has been devising a planning scheme and selecting investors in this sector. Chinh suggested the businesses consider and roll out feasible, effective mining projects in Viet Nam, apply high-tech, transfer mining technologies to the country, and help it join global mineral and metal supply chains. The two groups pledged to closely coordinate with Vietnamese ministries, agencies and enterprises, as well as relevant partners to implement projects in line with regulations, and in the spirit of harmonising interests and sharing risks as suggested by the PM. PM Chinh also received CEO Paul Serra of the SunRice Group the largest rice production and distribution conglomerate in Australia, having about 90% of the country's rice market share. Serra said the group, operating in Viet Nam since 2008, has been coordinating the implementation of a project on developing a high-quality rice supply chain in the Mekong Delta since 2022 with the aim of developing high-yield, high-quality and sustainable varieties serving the international consumer market. The SunRice Group wants to expand its investment in Viet Nam in the time to come, he affirmed. The Government leader informed the businessman on Viet Nams current implementation of its green transition strategy to develop green and clean production, especially in agriculture. He lauded the groups existing projects in Viet Nam and welcomed its intention of future investment expansion. PM Chinh recommeded the conglomerate to continue working directly and supporting Vietnamese farmers in farming production, seeking Vietnamese partners, investing in warehouses, promoting e-commerce, and supporting Vietnams participation in global supply chains. He also suggested SunRice Group engage in Vietnams conduction of a project on growing 1 million ha of high-quality, low-emission rice and developing green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030. The group is encouraged to collaborate and invest in the countrys halal food, seafood, fruit industries. Earlier the same day, PM Chinh visited the hydrogen project model in Australia of SK Group from the Republic of Korea. The group is looking to invest in an LNG exploitation and hydrogen production project in Vietnam. PM Chinh said that Viet Nam is focusing on implementing its green transition strategy, including energy transition and measures to realise its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. He said the SK Group's investment plan is in line with Viet Nam's policies. According to him, Viet Nam has advantages and experience in the gas and oil exploitation industry and has large gas reserves. Viet Nam prioritises LNG gas exploitation projects for electricity production, which will then serve for hydrogen production. PM Chinh said that many corporations want to cooperate and invest in Viet Nam and Viet Nam will select qualified ones based on the spirit of respecting market mechanisms and competition rules. He requested the SK Group to coordinate with experienced and potential Vietnamese partners to quickly prepare project proposals and submit them to competent authorities for consideration. He called on the group to develop a long-term investment strategy in Viet Nam. VNS HCM CITY Viet Nam is facing the dual challenges of micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition, which are having severe impacts on the productivity and health of its population, particularly children, experts said at a meeting in HCM City on Thursday. Speaking at the forum, Ernest Bethe, the Agribusiness Advisory Manager for Asia at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), said micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition are major global health challenges that have significant negative effects on health, human capital, and child development. These issues also result in billions of dollars in lost productivity and healthcare expenses globally each year, he added. In Viet Nam, the impact on the health and development of the population, especially children, is severe and demands attention. According to a report by UNICEF, an estimated 19.6 per cent of children under five in Viet Nam are affected by micronutrient deficiencies. The Southeast Asian nation is among 34 countries facing the highest burden of chronic malnutrition, impacting 1.8 million children under the age of five and posing a risk to their physical and cognitive development. Experts recommended introducing food fortification as a means to improve physical and mental health and increase the competitiveness of food producers in the industry. Food fortification can help reduce healthcare costs and create new private sector business opportunities, they noted. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Natia Mgeladze, the lead for IFC Global Food Fortification Advisory, told Viet Nam News: Food fortification is a cost-effective way to bring vital micronutrients to vulnerable populations without requiring changes in food or eating behaviours. Viet Nam has committed to sustainable agriculture and food systems as stated in its National Action Plan to transition to a transparent, responsible, and sustainable food system by 2030. The forum, titled Fortifying the Future: Challenges and Opportunities in Food Fortification, was organised by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, in partnership with the Japanese Government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It brought together key stakeholders in the agribusiness sector to share insights and discuss opportunities for adopting fortification. The one-day event also discussed lessons learned from global food fortification initiatives and practical solutions for fortifying food. VNS CANBERRA Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday (local time) visited the Australian National University (ANU) and attended an education forum in Canberra, as part of his official visit to Australia. In his remarks, the PM highlighted the close and practical friendship between Viet Nam and Australia, and the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership made on the occasion of his visit. PM Chinh called educational cooperation a bright spot in the Viet Nam-Australia ties with various achievements gained over the past time, contributing to raising personnel quality in service of national development. Australia is one of the most favourite destinations of Vietnamese students, he said, noting many of them had gained success and made significant contributions to national development as well as bilateral relations after returning home. The leader affirmed that Viet Nam always paid due heed to education-training, and human resources development, especially high-quality personnel, which was expected to be also one of its three strategic breakthroughs, along with institution and infrastructure. Viet Nam prioritised attracting foreign investment to education-training, yet such influx remained limited, especially to higher education, the PM said, stressing that ample room remained for the two countries to enhance their cooperation in this field, thus maintaining its role as an important pillar of the relationship and contributing to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership. To boost the collaboration, the two countries should further review and perfect relevant institutions, mechanisms and policies, he suggested. "The Vietnamese Government commits to protecting legal, legitimate rights and interests of foreign educational institutions and investors, for mutual benefits," the leader said. PM Chinh commended the establishment of a joint working group by the two countries ministries of education and training to support Australian universities to open their branches in Viet Nam. He also suggested raising the volume and quality of cooperation programmes between educational institutions of the two countries, with more attention to science-technology research, development and application, and such areas as AI, big data, green energy, and biotechnology, which are Viet Nams needs and Australias strengths. Resources should be mobilised and optimised to implement key projects that are consistent with Australias strengths and interests, and Viet Nams demand, the leader continued. PM Chinh expressed his hope and belief that the forum would open up a new period of educational cooperation between the two countries, and that there would be more Australian educational institutions to operate in Viet Nam, and diverse, effective cooperation and research forms, with special attention to projects at the regional level. At the forum, PM Chinh and representatives from ministries and agencies witnessed the exchange of eight cooperation documents between the two countries universities, covering the exchange of students and lecturers, and training in new and important fields like AI, big data, semiconductors, health sciences, environment, digital technology and green energy, among others. More than 80,000 Vietnamese students have studied in Australia so far, and over 200 Vietnamese and Australian educational institutions have engaged in cooperation programmes. VNS CANBERRA Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia in Canberra on Friday as part of his official trip to the country. At a working session with CSIRO leaders, the Vietnamese Government leader expressed his impression of the sound cooperation between Viet Nam and CSIRO over the past time, and congratulated the organisation on its valuable research that has contributed significantly to Australia and the whole world. He highlighted that the organisation had been on the right track with its studies on digital transformation, green transition, innovation and agriculture, among others, which are in line with Viet Nams development policies. He suggested CSIRO and its Vietnamese partners make efforts to remove roadblocks in their cooperation, adding the Vietnamese Government would pen mechanisms and policies to ensure that cooperation programmes would be carried out smoothly. The PM asked Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities to step up cooperation with CSIRO, stressing as collaboration in science-technology, innovation, climate change response, digital transformation and green transition is boundless, they need to fully tap the Australian Governments A$2 billion (US$1.3 billion) finance facility for trade and investment promotion with ASEAN so as to implement practical and specific programmes and projects. Meanwhile, Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts said as sci-tech and innovation cooperation programmes are a pillar in the bilateral relations, which has been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Australian Government committed to enhancing the sci-tech cooperation with Viet Nam through specific projects. Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh at said that Australias innovation programmes managed by CSIRO had helped Viet Nam develop its fisheries, plantation and modern production sectors on the basis of the commercialisation of the research results. For his part, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that cooperation with CSIRO would help Viet Nam handle challenges in agriculture that the country is facing. Viet Nam hoped to receive CSIROs support to develop low carbon emission tra fish and shrimp farming models, he added. On the occasion, at and CSIRO Chief Executive Doug Hilton exchanged an agreement on sci-tech and innovation cooperation in the presence of PM Chinh. Established in 1916, the Australian national science agency has been one of the worlds largest mission-driven science and research organisations, with 5,500 staff and 57 establishments across Australia and representative offices in the US, Chile, France, Singapore, Indonesia and Viet Nam. The organisation has close cooperation ties with the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology for years. Both sides signed agreements on research support in the fields of CSIROs strengths such as agriculture and food, healthcare and bio security, energy, manufacturing industry and land and water resources. VNS Ba Ria-Vung Tau A high-speed ferry service connecting Vung Tau City (in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau), HCM City, and Con ao Island (in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province) was launched on March 8 by Phu Quoc Express JSC. The three-storied high-speed boat, named Thang Long, which is 77.46m in length and 9.5m in wide, will better serve the travelling demand between Con ao Island and the mainland. Vu Van Khuong, director general of Phu Quoc Express JSC, said as the biggest express boat in Viet Nam, Thang Long can carry up to 1,017 passengers. The ferry will set out on its first trip from Cau a Port in Vung Tau City on March 9 and return the next day, he continued, adding that all tickets have been sold out. Con ao is an island located 180km from Vung Tau city, and about 230km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. It is well known for beaches with white sand, deep blue water and colorful coral reefs. French colonialists and the Americans turned the island into a prison to jail Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers in wartime. The island has attracted many local and foreign visitors in recent years. VNS MEKONG DELTA The Coast Guard has seized 50,000 litres of contraband diesel from a fishing boat off the south-western coast. Senior Lieutenant Colonel Phan Nhan Hau, head of the ong Nai Province-based Coast Guard Intelligence Division No 2, said his patrol teamin collaboration with Coast Guard Region No 3 Command spotted boat TG 91387 TS from the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tien Giang on March 5, and officers boarded it and found the oil of unknown origin. On board were its captain, Vo Van Tien, 37, of Ca Mau Province and four crew members. Tien failed to furnish documents to prove the origin of the oil, and none of the crew had the certification required to be a sailor. The patrol team brought the boat ashore on March 7, and handed the case over to the Coast Guard Region No 3 Command in Vung Tau city for investigation. VNS HA NOI A drone light show will sparkle the Ha Noi sky this coming weekend, part of the capital city's plan to push tourism in 2024. The municipal Department of Tourism has launched a programme entitled Get on Ha Noi - Scent of Tay Ho 2024, which will be held on March 9-10 at the Tay Ho Creative Cultural Space at Trinh Cong Son walking street. According to organisers, the programme will bring visitors a new experience, a combination of modernity and an epic story based on Ha Noi history through a semi-realistic art show and a light show with laser mapping technology. The highlight will be a light show of hundreds of drones taking off in the night sky that will promise a spectacle of dancing lights in the night sky, synchronised to music, leaving people in awe and wonder. The 15-minute unique artistic light work beginning at 9.30pm on March 9 will allow visitors to explore famous scenic spots found throughout the capital, starting from Tay Ho District. Meanwhile, the drone lights will also depict beautiful stories and images of Vietnamese culture. Prior to the show, there will be culinary and specialty experiences along with booths displaying tourist products, areas for taking photos and check-ins, and traditional folk games. A exhibition will give visitors a glimpse of the charming capital city captured in award-winning works of the recent photo contest Welcome Ha Noi City. During the event, organisers will hold a ceremony to announce a decision of the City People's Committee on recognising Tay Ho District's Nhat Tan Tourist Area as an urban-level tourist destination. The recognition will help the district deploy its promotional activities to attract visitors to visit, explore and enjoy local cuisine and tourist sites. Main attractions include Nhat Tan Communal House, Tao Sach Pagoda, Nhat Tan traditional peach blossom craft village, West Lake flower valley and a water park. "The programme aims to promote the image of Ha Noi as a safe, friendly, quality and attractive destination," said ang Huong Giang, director of the Ha Noi Department of Tourism. "It is to attract more and more tourists to Ha Noi, actively boosting the development of Viet Nam's tourism and making a positive contribution to the capital's socio-economic development." The Get on Ha Noi is one of the activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the capital's Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2024). It is also the opener of many interesting cultural, festival and tourism activities throughout 2024. More than 50 events, including Ha Noi Tourism Festival 2024; Ha Noi Tourism Gift Festival 2024; Ha Noi Autumn Festival; Craft Village Culinary and Tourism Festival; and Ha Noi Ao Dai Festival 2024, will take place. The city targets to host around 27 million visitors this year, up 9.2 per cent from a year ago. This includes 5.5 million international arrivals, up 16.4 per cent from the 2023 benchmark, and 21.5 million domestic visitors, up 7.5 per cent. Total revenue from tourists is expected to reach VN104 trillion (US$4.2 billion), up 11.1 per cent compared to 2023. VNS CAN THO Authorities of Can Tho and a delegation from Germanys Wernigerode city led by Mayor Tobias Kascha agreed to strengthen cooperation in various fields, with a focus on sustainable green tourism, during a working session in the Mekong Delta city on March 8. Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Duong Tan Hien said Can Tho boasts a strong agricultural sector, with 80% of its land for farming (nearly 115,000 ha). The city is a hub for services and tourism, with rice, seafood, fruit trees and animal farming forming the backbone of its agricultural industry. Last year, the city accommodated roughly 6 million visitors, generating a revenue of VN5.42 trillion (US$225.8 million). Leveraging the advantages provided by the Governments pilot specific policies and mechanisms for Can Tho's development, the city aims to maximise its potential and become a stronger economic force. Hien emphasised the mutual benefits of increased agricultural cooperation between Wernigerode and Can Tho, saying that it aligns perfectly with Can Tho's strategic focus on developing its services- tourism. The city commits all possible support for firms from Germany, particularly those from Wernigerode to do business there, he said. Hien wished that Mayor Kascha would act as a bridge, facilitating information exchange and business opportunities for Can Tho enterprises seeking to expand into Wernigerode. Mayor Kascha expressed his desire for deeper cooperation across various sectors. He highlighted Germany's existing twinning relationships with HCM Minh City and Hoi An, which he believes provide a solid foundation for further locality-to-locality partnerships between Viet Nam and Germany. Wernigerode, like Can Tho, prioritises tourism as a key economic driver, he said, noting the German city's extensive experience in sustainable green tourism models. He expressed his willingness to share this expertise with Can Tho while learning from the Mekong Delta city's successful models, particularly those focusing on green tourism adaptable to climate change. According to the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs, Can Tho exported $18.15 million worth of goods to Germany last year, with rice, aquatic products, agricultural and processed agricultural products, apparel and handicrafts as key currency earners. Its imports from Germany reached $260,000, mostly pharmaceutical materials, machinery and equipment. VNS Johnathan Ooi, leader, Entrepreneurial & Private Business, PwC Vietnam and La Tran Minh, senior manager, Workforce Transformation, PwC Vietnam One of the significant challenges in the transition process is the divergence in ideologies, values, and capabilities among generations. In family businesses, success is often intertwined with the legacy and reputation of the founder, who played a dual role as both owner and manager during the establishment and development of the enterprise. Nevertheless, in the context of numerous changes and fluctuations in the economic and social environment, predecessors need to comprehend the capabilities, personal values, and harmonise the values and abilities of the succeeding generation. The generational transition is a nuanced process, demanding active participation from both the current and future generations. It necessitates a mindset of respect and proactive communication, fostering an environment that empowers the next generation to assert their unique values and capabilities. Changing management plays a crucial role in the success of generational transitions. Alongside adequately preparing both in terms of capabilities and mindset for the incumbent and successor before the generational shift, effective change management also contributes to ensuring a successful transition and minimising undesired impacts or risks to the business. The management of change during generational transitions involves a series of continuous interactive activities among the involved parties from the incumbent and successor to other family members and other stakeholders of the business. Similar to any other transformational project, generational transitions also require appropriate change management to ensure organisational cohesion and minimise disruptions at the lowest possible level. Two key factors with the potential to significantly impact the transition process are changes in the corporate culture and the trust of the management team in the new leader. Firstly, changes in culture can stimulate other changes or lead to a sense of uncertainty and resistance to change. Secondly, a decline in the management teams trust in the new leader can result in a series of decisions to leave the business. Effective succession planning is paramount for ensuring a smooth transition, alleviating concerns about potential talent loss or disruptions to business operations. Companies dedicating time to meticulous change management within their succession plans are better equipped to navigate a seamless transition, particularly amid economic uncertainties. The process of handling change during succession involves a structured four-step approach. In the initial stage, known as organisational preparation, leadership critically evaluates the nature and direction of the succession plan. This pivotal step necessitates a thorough examination of the successors potential impact on the organisation, especially the management team, considering both internal and external pressures associated with leadership changes. Prioritising active listening to employees and addressing their concerns becomes paramount as leadership works towards minimising uncertainties and threats. Moving forward to the second step, building the implementation plan, the organisation forms a dedicated change management team. This team is entrusted with defining the succession plan and exploring various change options based on insights from the first step. Rigorous scrutiny is applied to each option, evaluating aspects such as clarity, alignment with organisational goals, cultural compatibility, anticipated impact on the current structure, resource alignment, and consistency with the business owners personal goals. The third step, communication and employee engagement, underscores the critical role of communication as a tool to shape the firms culture and foster commitment to change. The change management team identifies departments and individuals most affected by the new leader, gaining insights into their emotional responses to change. Successful implementation of change relies on consistent, timely, and personalised communication of core messages. While conflicts and resistance are inevitable, effective dialogue and consultation in the initial phase can minimise conflict levels. Resolving resistance requires identifying and appropriately handling symptoms and origins. Lastly, the evaluation stage occurs before businesses assess the generational transition process. The successor requires sufficient time to gain confidence in their new role. The evaluation process identifies emerging issues, such as changes in organisational structure or the need for restructuring the management team. This evaluation marks a continuous cycle, with each successfully implemented change serving as motivation for the subsequent one. Family businesses: Continuing the future of a legacy KPMG Enterprise, in collaboration with the STEP Project Global Consortium, has conducted an in-depth global survey of nearly 2,500 family business leaders. Following that, a series of roundtable discussions with family business CEOs, academics, and advisers were carried out in February, before the survey report was released in May. Family governance of utmost priority for business success Family business owners in Vietnam are being confronted with formidable challenges building trust among family members, according to a PwC conference last week, focused on fostering trust in family enterprises. A helicopter rescues crew members on the Barbados-flagged True Confidence cargo ship. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Cairo The Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt and Djibouti is taking citizen protection measures for Vietnamese sailors working on the Barbados-flagged True Confidence cargo ship which was struck by a Houthi ballistic missile off the coast of Yemen on March 6. Ambassador Nguyen Huy Dung said that one of the four Vietnamese crewmen on the ship died in the attack and his body is now kept at a hospital in Djibouti city, Djibouti. Meanwhile, the remaining three, along with other alive crewmen, were evacuated to Laurie Hotel, Djibouti city with the help of Indias navy, and are now in stable health condition but have lost all of their personal documents due to the attack. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti stands ready to support the Vietnamese seafarers with necessary documents to return home, he said, adding the Vietnamese embassy is preparing measures to reissue passports for the crewmen as well as related procedures to bring the body of the deceased home as soon as possible. Dung said in case of necessity, the embassy will send its staff to Djibouti to support the sailors. The embassy is contacting competent sides to identify a specific repatriation route for the nationals, he said. There were 20 crew members, consisting of 15 Filipinos, four Vietnamese, and one Indian, on board the True Confidence when the Houthi forces fired a missile at the ship. The strike also resulted in the deaths of two Filipinos. The United States plans on building a temporary port on the Gaza shoreline in the next few weeks to allow for delivery of humanitarian aid on a much larger scale than would be possible with trucks. It is being reported by The Guardian that Joe Biden is preparing to announce the recent development in his upcoming State of the Union speech. "We are not waiting on the Israelis. This is a moment for American leadership," a senior US official said on Thursday. The statement and action can easily be interpreted as meaning the United States is growing frustrated with what it feels is Israel's obstruction of road deliveries on a substantial scale. US military engineers will be tasked with building the pier will be operating from ships just off the Gaza coastline and they won't even need to step ashore, according to US officials familiar with the plan. The deliveries themselves will be shipped from the port of Larnaca in Cypress, which will become the main relief hub. "Tonight, the president will announce in his State of the Union address that he has directed the US military to undertake an emergency mission to establish a port in Gaza, working in partnership with like-minded countries and humanitarian partners," the official said. " This port, the main feature of which is a temporary pier, will provide the capacity for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day. "The United Nations believes Israel is deliberately trying to starve Palestinians. Biden will reportedly also announce the opening of a new land crossing into the occupied territory and the coastal strip. President Biden has faced stiff criticism from within the Democratic Party for failure to open up Gaza to more aid, and a looming famine, and have accused him of complicity in the deaths of 30,000 Palestinians. The Israelis will be able to conduct inspections of the aid shipments in Larnaca, administration officials said. "We will coordinate with the Israelis on the security requirements on land and work with the UN and humanitarian NGOs on the distribution of assistance within Gaza," a senior official said. "Initial shipments will come via Cyprus enabled by the US military and a coalition of partners and allies. This new significant capability will take several weeks to plan and execute. The forces that will be required to complete this mission there are either already in the region or will begin to move there soon." The White House said that the operation would not involve US military personnel in Gaza, as the port and its temporary pier could be built from off the coast. "The concept that's been planned involves the presence of US military personnel on military vessels offshore but does not require US military personnel to go ashore to install the pier or causeway facility that will allow the transportation and humanitarian assistance ashore," a senior official said. Foreign investors have invested in 38 cities and provinces nationwide in 2024 so far. Hanoi leads the way with the total registered foreign direct investment (FDI) of nearly $914.4 million, accounting for 21.3 per cent of the total registered investment capital and surpassing the same period in 2023 by 24.4 times. Hanoi Statistics Office reports that in January, the capital attracted $866.8 million in FDI. Of this, 10 newly-licensed projects accounted for $859.4 million, while six projects underwent adjustments with an additional registered capital of $5.1 million. Foreign investors contributed capital or purchased shares in seven ventures, totaling $2.3 million. In February, Hanoi approved 17 new foreign-invested projects with total registered capital of nearly $10 million. Additionally, 11 projects underwent adjustments, resulting in increased registered capital of $4 million. Foreign investors contributed capital or purchased shares in 12 instances, reaching a total of $17.3 million. Hanoi is recognised as a region with an investment-friendly environment for high-tech investors. The city not only focuses on establishing favourable policies for investors but also strives to enhance the development of industrial zones, particularly those specialising in high technology. According to a Foreign Investment Agency report, Hanoi's investment capital saw a significant increase due to a large new project totaling over $662 million from Singapore, focusing on the development of a new urban area in the west of Hanoi. This is also considered to be one of the largest real estate transactions in Southeast Asia. Tran Quoc Phuong, Deputy Minister, MPI During a government press conference on March 2, Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong outlined three breakthrough strategies aimed at attracting even more large-scale foreign ventures. The first is to focus on improving infrastructure and land quality. According to the deputy minister, "Large-scale, foreign-invested projects require substantial land area and infrastructure. Therefore, our focus will be on completing infrastructure connectivity projects. At the same time, we will promptly implement guidelines on land laws." The second strategy is to concentrate on training and building a high-quality workforce. Currently, the MPI is coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Training to urgently implement the training of high-quality human resources, for the semiconductor industry. Third is the need for institutional improvement. The deputy minister stated that the National Assembly has recently issued many breakthrough policies, such as laws on procurement and land. In addition, the government has issued numerous regulations to improve the business environment by streamlining administrative procedures. "These new policies will undoubtedly make significant contributions to promoting the attraction of foreign initiatives in Vietnam," said Phuong. Semiconductor industry hoped to attract half of FDI investors in Da Nang Some potential investors are exploring investment chances in central Da Nang city, and its Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Zones Authority (DHPIZA) hopes that 50 per cent of those FDI businesses will invest in the local semiconductor industry this year. FDI operations blossom on large scale Vietnams increasing allure for foreign investment is expected to brighten further for the rest of this year. How has Vietnams innovation startup ecosystem developed in recent times? Pham Hong Quat, director general of the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology The development of Vietnams national innovation ecosystem is highly appreciated by international organisations through their assessment of the innovation index and innovation ecosystem capacity index. All have seen improvements in recent times. Supporting organisations for the national innovation ecosystem, both in the public and private sectors and in localities, has strongly increased in number and innovation capacity. The efficiency of developing new products, and new business models, as well as calling for domestic and foreign investment has been improved in both number, scale and quality. A series of tech-fest events at national-and international level have had wide spillover effects, contributing to encouraging young people to develop new tech-backed business models. What is the growth potential of the countrys innovation startup ecosystem in 2024 and beyond? Vietnam is facing challenges and huge opportunities in global integration and digital transformation, green growth, circular economy, and sustainable development. These are the priorities of international organisations when they work with Vietnam. We are working with international organisations such as the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme to organise many forums to support the local innovation community in approaching investment funds and supporting programmes. They can bring outstanding stories of Vietnam to the globe, and bring international stories to Vietnam. High growth potential is forecast in food tech, health-tech, logistics, green growth, and carbon credit. They are expected to provide opportunities for Vietnamese young people to develop in the international arena. Administrative procedures have not yet met the requirements of businesses. What are the priorities in the sectors administrative reform and legal framework to help innovation startups attract venture capital funding? To support the development of the national innovation ecosystem, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has been paying attention to administrative reform. The ministry proposes the government to build a decree on innovation and innovation startups as a step to complete the legal framework with basic concepts about subjects in the innovation ecosystem, such as what an innovation startup is, what supporting organisations are, and what angel investors are. These concepts are not available in existing documents. We expect that the decree will be soon issued to promote the involvement of subjects in the ecosystem. Venture capital funds are often seeking for innovation startups and businesses when they already have initial market and capacity to grow their business scale and market. Therefore, creating an initial market for new products of innovation startups and businesses is critical. To this end, the MoST has proposed the Ministry of Planning and Investment to include innovation startups and businesses in the list of prioritised units enjoying incentives in a decree guiding the Law on Public Procurement about selecting bidders. If approved by the government, this is an important step, creating new advantages for public procurement of innovation products. We also encourage domestic and international powerful groups to pilot new products of innovation startups and businesses. This is considered an initial market for investors to find sustainable innovation business models in Vietnam which have competitive edge, thus attracting more venture capital funds for the development of the local innovation startup ecosystem in the future. Hanoi attractive city for startup and innovation Hanoi has been honoured for its attractiveness in startup and innovation under the Vietnam Smart City Award 2023 programme series. Israeli free trade pact to build on existing ties, illustration photo The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is now completing the final procedures of the ratification dossier of the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). The dossier will be soon submitted to the government for consideration in Q1 before the National Assembly can ratify it. The same move is also expected to be taken by Israel soon. The deal was clinched in July last year and will take effect right after ratification of both sides. At present, the MoIT is implementing internal procedures as per regulation carved in the Law on International Treaty 2016, and then submitting it to the government for adoption before putting it into force in early 2024, the MoIT said. We will formulate and carry out different activities to spread the content and commitments of the VIFTA to the business community. The agreement includes 15 chapters and a number of appendices attached to the chapters with basic contents such as trade in goods, services, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, and other provisions including sanitary and phytosanitary measures, customs, trade remedies, government procurement, legal and institutional. The deal will ultimately remove duties on at least 86 per cent of Vietnamese products and 93 per cent of Israeli products. It is also expected to be a lever to help reinforce the bilateral ties between the two economies in investment, services, digital transformation, and technology. The VIFTA aims to remove hurdles to most trade activities such as tariffs, import quotas, other non-tariff barriers. After passing the trade deal, Vietnam and Israel will soon enact action programmes with concrete schemes on tariff reduction and removal under roadmaps. The two countries have exchanged their requirements and offerings on opening doors to their respective goods markets. They have also determined their respective expectations on the levels and roadmaps of tariff reductions, especially for the groups of goods that can bring about big benefits and are their own competitive advantages. Vietnam exports as many as 70 items of all kinds to Israel on an annual basis. The staple goods exported include electronics and mobile phones and their spare parts; agro-forestry-fishery products; garments and textiles; footwear; machinery; and wooden products. Meanwhile, for Israel, they include refined oil and petrol, pharmaceutical products, machinery and equipment, medical equipment, computer soft and hardware, farm produce, and chemicals. Figures from the MoIT indicated that two-way trade turnover rose from $1.2 billion in 2019 to about $2.2 billion in 2022. In the first 10 months of 2023, Vietnams total exports to Israel hit $553 million, and its imports to Israel reached $1.82 billion. It is expected that the two-way trade value will climb to as much as $3 billion this year or in 2025. Israel currently has 42 valid projects in Vietnam, registered at $151.5 million. According to law firm Dezan Shira & Associates, the future of trade between Vietnam and Israel is very promising for enterprises and consumers in both nations. Vietnam and Israel have complementary economies, with Vietnam being a major producer of agricultural and manufacturing products, while Israel is a leader in technology, research and development, and innovation, Dezan Shira & Associates said. Over the years, Vietnam and Israel have established robust bilateral relations, marked by an increasing number of high-level visits and exchanges between the two countries. Overall, the future of trade between Vietnam and Israel looks bright, with significant opportunities for foreign investors to tap into these dynamic and growing markets. As both countries continue to strengthen their economic ties, businesses can expect to see continued growth and success in the years to come, the law firm continued. The firm sees great cooperation potential in some sectors to be induced by the VIFTA, including agriculture, footwear, and electronics, among others. At present, Vietnam and Israel are strongly riveting ties in high technology, agriculture, and more. For example, Vietnams TH Group is expanding its cooperation with Israeli businesses in its projects worth billions of US dollars to produce milk and agricultural products. Israels Afimilk is providing consultancy, an automatic milking system, and cow management software for THs $1.2 billion high-tech centralised dairy farming and processing project in the central province of Nghe An. Meanwhile, Israeli company Amiad provides water treatment solutions, while Lachish and One1 also provide feed mixing software and equipment. This project has received a fund worth $100 million from Israels government in order to import machinery, technology, and cows. Israeli Ambassador has faith in Vietnam organising elections successfully Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Nadav Eshcar has voiced his belief that Vietnam will effectively and safely hold the upcoming elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and members of all-level Peoples Councils in the face of unpredictable developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. FTA opens up opportunities in Israeli market: experts The Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement, which was signed on July 26 after seven years of negotiations, would create a conducive atmosphere for the export of Vietnamese products to Israel, according to many experts. Israeli Economic Minister's visit to Vietnam spurs investment fund proposal During his visit on August 14-16, Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat put forth a proposal for the establishment of a collaborative fund aimed at facilitating investment in Vietnam, emphasising its vital role in ensuring the success of Israeli businesses as they enter the Vietnamese market. JBSV also has a plan to raise its ownership stake to approximately 5 per cent depending on the performance of the collaboration with Infina. Hanoi-based JBSV, a foreign affiliate of JB Financial Group, specialises in investments, stock trading, brokerage, and the issue of corporate bonds. It launched the Finavi online brokerage platform in September last year, foraying into the brokerage and margin lending industry. JBSV also intends to grow its client base by strategically partnering with fintech firms in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Infina is an asset management service provider in Vietnam with about 1.3 million customers and 500,000 monthly active users. Founded in 2018, Infina has lured investments from the worlds biggest venture capital funds including Y Combinator and Sequoia. "In the Vietnamese stock market, which has great potential for growth, collaborating with various local partners such as fintech companies is a desirable way to expand our customer base," said JBSV CEO Kim Doo-yoon. "We plan to build a win-win ecosystem with fintech companies through close cooperation with Infina." "Infina is a fintech platform whose mission is to collaborate with financial companies that can be trusted by their customers, and we chose to partner with JB Financial Groupy because of its high financial and technological level and strengths in fast decision-making," said Infina CEO James Vuong. "This partnership will be a great opportunity for JB Financial Group to expand its business in Vietnam and overseas." JB Financial to expand footprint in Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia South Korea-headquartered JB Financial emphasised that it would actively pursue M&A opportunities overseas, including ramping up investment in Vietnam and its neighbours. JB Securities strives to contribute to development of Vietnam's capital markets While Vietnam's capital markets are still in early stages relative to its global counterparts, there's significant potential for the growth of the markets. Kim Doo Yoon, CEO of JB Securities Vietnam, spoke about its newly launched securities brokerage business, and the company's commitment to the development of Vietnam's financial markets. PwC drew insights from its Global Hopes and Fears Survey 2023, to compile the Inclusion Matters research, sharing fresh gender-focused perspectives from close to 54,000 workers globally, almost 23,000 of whom are women. The research includes a Workplace Inclusion Indicator Index that measures three key dimensions of inclusion: belonging, fairness, and inclusive decision-making - and finds a statistically significant gender gap in favour of men. Inclusion is key to achieving gender parity in the workplace PwCs Inclusion Matters research confirms that disparity in pay is a pain point for women in the workplace: only 39 per cent of women feel they are being fairly rewarded financially for their work. The research finds that there is a significant gap between the inclination of men and women to ask for promotions (-9 points) and pay raises (-8 points). However, women with Inclusion Index scores in the top quartile are 1.4 times more likely to ask for a raise, and 1.5 times more likely to ask for a promotion. They are also 2.2 times more likely to recommend their employer as a place to work. Womens turnover intentions increased (+8 points) this year, with one in four women planning to change employers in the next 12 months, just slightly below the turnover intention rate for men (at 27 per cent). This highlights a further reason why inclusion matters: women with higher inclusion scores are 1.2 times less likely to change employers. The report also finds that inclusion is positively correlated with self-driven development: women feeling higher levels of inclusion are 1.7 times more likely to be actively seeking out opportunities to learn and develop new skills. The women who feel the greatest impacts of workplace inclusion are significantly more likely to actively seek progression and development opportunities (Source: PwCs Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2023) Inclusion supports greater readiness from women to future-proof their careers, which will be critical in driving gender equity gains at work. Women with high inclusion scores foresee greater benefits to their jobs from AI (+6 points), have a clear sense of how the skills their jobs require will change in the next five years (+14 points), and are more confident their employers will support with upskilling on key development skills (+21 points). Both women and men who have hybrid work patterns defined as a mix of in-person and remote working have the highest inclusion scores when it comes to work patterns. Women with higher inclusion scores are also less likely to be feeling the impact of overwork, and 1.4 times less likely to say that their workloads are frequently unmanageable. In term of job level, women in senior executive and management positions are feeling significantly higher levels of workplace inclusion than women in non-management positions (+9 points). Millennial women feel the highest level of inclusion in the workplace, followed by Gen Z. However, Gen Z is the only generation where women feel similarly included to men. Women working in the technology industry had the highest Inclusion Index score across all 26 industries included in the research; the technology industry was one of only four industries in which women had slightly higher inclusion scores than men. What can employers do? Inclusion at work is a catalyst for womens development and advancement, and positions them more strongly to respond to key workforce developments, such as skills and AI reinvention. Employers can accelerate their progress on inclusion by focusing on what women say as important, and combining this with a strategic approach to Inclusion and Diversity. To help achieve this, here are four ways in which companies can create greater gender equity: Listen, measure and establish accountability To enhance women's representation and advancement, employers should adopt a data-driven approach by measuring gender proportionality in various aspects like hires, performance ratings, promotions, and departures. Predictive analytics can then identify the most impactful measures to address potential gaps. Employers can further gather insights through surveys and listening tools, segmenting data by location, business unit, or identity factors such as ethnicity or disability (where legally possible). Regular assessments can establish a baseline, track progress, define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and develop an accountability infrastructure. Build inclusive leadership skills The right training can help leaders to learn and understand the ways in which unconscious biases can distort their decision-making about people and business issues, particularly those biases stemming from gender stereotypes and entrenched perceptions that often hold women back. Inclusive leadership also requires the capacity to show empathy, appreciation, and respect for every individuals unique lived experience, while fostering an environment of psychological safety in which everyone feels empowered to speak up. A focus on inclusion from day one, and for everyone This research highlights that women are experiencing significantly lower levels of workplace inclusion than men, and that women in non-management positions have the lowest Inclusion Index scores. Broad and sustainable progress across organisations will only be achieved by combining a laser focus on leadership diversity, with substantive action that drives an inclusive talent culture and talent systems from day one and from the ground up. This means establishing critical Inclusion and Diversity interventions that work throughout the whole talent lifecycle. Without tackling the systemic challenges that arise earlier in the talent process, organisations will continue to face the same diversity gaps in the succession pipeline at the top. Make pay schemes fair This Inclusion Matters research confirms that pay is a pain point for women in the workplace. Tellingly, only 39% of women feel they are being fairly rewarded financially for their work. In any discussion of financial compensation, the key words are objective and fair. It follows that creating reward and pay schemes that are fair and based on merit, and preventing the potential impacts of unconscious bias will be critical in achieving stronger gender equality in the workplace. So, alongside the gender proportionality of things like hires and promotions, reward is a further table-stakes data point on diversity that should be measured rigorously and consistently. And monitoring reward is not a one-off exercise: theres a need for ongoing measurement and correction, paying particular attention at events and inflection points that might influence pay fairness across the workforce including major initiatives such as acquisitions, headcount reductions, or efforts to attract talent with in-demand skills. Angela Yang, inclusion and diversity Leader of PwC Vietnam, said, At PwC, we truly believe that inclusion matters in driving progress towards gender parity. Our research shows that workplace inclusion is an important lever in propelling womens development and advancement, and that a workplace where women feel that they belong, are included in decision-making, and are treated fairly and equitably, is a workplace where women can thrive. Nestle Vietnam contributes to elevating the role of women across the supply chain With a strong commitment to empowering women, especially those in rural areas, Nestle Vietnam is implementing many initiatives across its supply chain, such as the NESCAFE Plan and the Nestle Accompanies Women programme. KBTG Vietnam spearheads gender inclusivity in technology In the rapidly evolving, male-dominated technology industry, KBTG Vietnam the local technology arm of KASIKORNBANK (KBank), one of Thailand's leading commercial banks stands out not just for its technological innovations but also for fostering a culture of female empowerment and leadership. The project was announced on January 26 with construction expected to commence in the third quarter of 2025 and operations to begin by 2030. It will employ advanced and environmentally friendly technology that produces no sulphur dioxide. Once operational, it is estimated the project will provide approximately 10 billion kWh per year to the national grid, supplying electricity to the northern region and contributing to national energy security. Thai Binh LNG holds significant importance for the socioeconomic development of the province, said Ngo Dong Hai, secretary of Thai Binh Party Committee. The project will also open a new chapter by transforming abundant natural gas resources beneath the sea into a source of energy, and as LNG emits about 45 per cent less carbon than coal and 30 per cent less than oil, it is a much more environmentally friendly option than many other fuels. Alongside contributing to the economic restructuring, enhancing the province's economic scale, increasing budget revenue, addressing employment issues, and playing a crucial role in the industrialisation and modernisation of Thai Binh province, the project is also expected to make a significant contribution to national energy security and the implementation of a politburo resolution to develop LNG-based power, making it a core source of energy and creating an economic space with reduced net emissions, aiming towards zero carbon. Thai Binh LNG is a mark of the success of the Vietnam-Japan economic forum and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's first official visit to Japan last November, and further illustrates the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. "Thai Binh LNG is the largest foreign-invested project in the province to date. Consequently, the province has actively participated and focused on implementing solutions in accordance with the government's Power Development Plan VIII and the relevant procedures and regulations related to the investment and construction of the project," said Nguyen Khac Than, Chairman of Thai Binh People's Committee at the inauguration ceremony. Thai Binh LNG has a strong capability of consortium of investors. Tokyo Gas, established in 1885, is renowned as one of Japan's largest gas companies, holding a significant position in the global gas industry. Currently supplying gas to over 11 million customers in Japan, Tokyo Gas is a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) provider for prominent cities such as Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Chiba. To date, Tokyo Gas has participated in over 35 overseas LNG terminal projects and 20 LNG terminal projects in Japan, sharing its expertise and knowledge with numerous countries worldwide. Kyushu Electric Power Company (Kyuden), established in 1951 with registered capital of $2.2 billion and total assets exceeding $46.6 billion, ranks among the top five power plant developers in Japan. There is also a domestic investor, TTVN Group, established in 2012 initially as Truong Thanh Vietnam Development Investment Co., Ltd, chaired by Dang Trung Kien. By 2017, the company had increased its capital to $25 million and rebranded as Truong Thanh Vietnam Group JSC (TTVN Group). From a small enterprise, by the end of 2022, TTVN Group has grown into a diversified conglomerate with capital of $133.33 million, consisting of 20 subsidiaries and affiliated companies operating in 18 provinces across the country, focusing on clean energy projects as its strength and a priority investment direction. Tokyo Gas makes progress on $2 billion LNG power project in Thai Binh province On January 24, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. announced the establishment of Thai Binh LNG Power JSC for the development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) to power project in Thai Binh province in collaboration with Truong Thanh Vietnam Group and Japan's Kyuden International Corporation. Taiwanese firm breaks ground on 45 mln USD computer plant in Thai Binh Good Way Cayman Co. Ltd. from Taiwan (China) held a groundbreaking ceremony for a large-scale plant manufacturing computers and their peripheral equipment at the Lien Ha Thai Industrial Park in the northern province of Thai Binh on February 19. Thai financial powerhouse SCBX last week announced its acquisition of Home Credit Vietnam Finance, in a deal valued at approximately $865 million. The move aligns with the overarching strategy of SCBX in seeking robust growth opportunities in neighbouring countries. Home Credit Vietnam Finance logo Specifically, SCBX subsidiary Siam Commercial Bank will acquire all shares of Home Credit Vietnam from the Netherlands-based Home Credit. The transaction is scheduled for completion by mid-2025. Home Credit Vietnam, established in 2008, stands as Vietnams second-largest consumer finance company, boasting a significant footprint. With a vast network of 14,000 point-of-sale locations, the company has served 15 million customers. Amid an anticipated population decline in Thailand, the financial sector faces heightened competition, prompting key players to diversify their portfolios and expand beyond national borders. Vietnam, with its burgeoning economy and youthful population, presents an attractive landscape for growth, the company said. SCBX CEO Arthid Nanthawithaya said, This strategic acquisition strengthens our presence in the high-growth ASEAN market. It is the beginning of our expansion into Vietnam and brings a 15-million customer base, 14,000 point-of-sale locations, and an experienced management team comprising both European and Vietnamese members. According to Nikkei Asia, SCBX had faced competition from rival Kasikornbank (Kbank), which had also expressed interest in buying Home Credit Vietnam. SCBXs successful bid underscores its commitment to expanding its footprint and leveraging growth opportunities in the dynamic Southeast Asian market, the news outlet said. Meanwhile, Kbank has set its sights on acquiring more than 8.4 million Vietnamese customers and injecting over $1 billion into Vietnam by 2027. Chairman Pipit Aneaknithi made the announcement late last year, outlining that the majority of the investment, a substantial $735 million, was earmarked for banking operations. The remaining funds will be allocated to KBanks two subsidiaries in Vietnam the investment fund KVision ($336 million) and the technology company KBTG ($7 million). Vietnam is strategically positioned as a crucial point for our development in the Southeast Asian region, he added. With its advantage of a young population and a considerable number of engineering graduates, Vietnam holds the potential to deeply integrate into the global supply chain, Aneaknithi explained. Coupled with government policies steering the economy in the right direction, it makes Vietnam a crucial part of Kbanks regional expansion. Establishing supremacy Central Group, another Thai giant, is strategically targeting Vietnam due to cultural similarities, consumer behaviour alignment, and an established retail infrastructure through its subsidiary Central Retail, as outlined in the companys February announcement regarding establishment of a legal entity in Vietnam through real estate arm Central Pattana. The newly established entity, named CPN Global, will primarily operate in the retail real estate sector. Central Retail is poised to expand its presence significantly in Vietnam with a substantial investment of over $3 billion, affirming its ambitious foray into the countrys flourishing retail real estate market. Yet, with Southeast Asias retail real estate sector attracting major players like Lotte, AEON, Vincom Retail, and THACO, the Thai giant anticipates formidable challenges ahead. Meanwhile, the investment of ThaiBev in Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (SABECO) is driven by a long-term vision, aiming to establish supremacy in the Vietnamese beer market as a strategic foothold for broader expansion into the Southeast Asian region despite market volatility. SSI Research exercises caution when contemplating SABECOs trajectory for 2024, acknowledging potential influences from both stricter regulations on drink-driving and a potential reduction in consumer incomes. Drawing insights from Chinas experience, where stringent driving laws effective since 2011 significantly slowed beer consumption, it posits that similar strict regulations implemented in Vietnam since 2020 will play a pivotal role in decelerating beer consumption growth. However, SABECO reported a substantial market share gain in the first nine months of 2023, capitalising on its competitive edge in the mainstream segment as consumers tightened their spending, shifting from premium to mainstream products. We expect this trend to persist into 2024. The more favourable malt price (down by 17 per cent) in 2024 presents a significant opportunity, as SABECO is poised to lock in material prices over the next nine months, from August to September 2024, SSI said. Similarly, WHA Group, a Thai developer specialising in industrial estates, logistics facilities, industrial utilities, and power, is actively extending its footprint in Vietnam. In addition to progressing with WHA Industrial Zone 1 Nghe An, the company plans to expand its footprint with three new industrial projects across an extensive land plot. Stock selling pressure Thailand has solidified its position as Vietnams top ASEAN trading partner, boasting nearly $20 billion in total trade volume. The surge in Thai investments reflects a tripling of projects to 735, valued at over $14 billion, marking Thailand as the ninth-largest foreign investor in Vietnam, said Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura. We anticipate a promising 2024 that envisions an elevated comprehensive strategic partnership, fostering strengthened bilateral ties and contributing to subregional and regional stability and prosperity. Beyond direct funding and acquisitions, a surge in Thai indirect investment is anticipated in Vietnam. Certain foreign-invested enterprises are exploring stock exchange listings in Vietnam, prompting the need to swiftly facilitate the listing of eligible businesses, said Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc at an event in Hanoi last week. Vietnam, considered a frontier market, has not garnered much attention from significant investment funds, an industry insider told VIR. The domestic market itself, characterised by modest capitalisation, makes foreign companies less attractive. Consequently, the potential for listing on the Vietnamese stock market is not highly regarded, he said. Furthermore, in the final weeks of December, foreign investors resumed significant selling pressure in the Vietnams stock market, a trend attributed by some experts to the active participation of Thai investors. Some Thai funds, including K Vietnam Equity Fund, Bualuang Vietnam Equity Fund, and United Vietnam Opportunity Fund, have actively participated in Vietnams equity market. However, noteworthy returns have not yet materialised. According to SHS Securities, the selling pressure may stem from Thai investors, reacting to the upcoming changes in personal income tax regulations for foreign investments set to take effect in early 2024. Specifically, the Thai Revenue Department issued rules last September as a guideline to assist tax officers in determining the personal income tax implications for foreign-sourced income brought into Thailand by Thai tax residents. Previously, Thai residents only paid tax on foreign-source income if the income was brought to Thailand in the same calendar year. The move effectively eliminates the loophole, requiring any income earned overseas from employment, business, or property to be declared and taxed in the year the income is earned, regardless of when it enters Thailand, according to consultancy firm Dezan Shira & Associates. Thailand strives to be among top 10 global aviation hubs Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin unveiled a "Thailand Vision 2030" on March 1, 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. Thailand plans to amend surrogacy law Thai authorities are preparing to change the surrogacy law to help foreign couples access the service in the country, according to the Department of Health Service Support. Thailands WHA Group plans 1,200-hectare industrial park in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Thailands WHA Group has made a proposal to invest in the Chau Duc service-urban-industrial park on an area of 1,200 hectares in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. In 2023, we worked together to leverage this opportunity and to forge new collaborations between British and Vietnamese businesses across a diverse range of sectors. The celebration became a catalyst for dialogue and cooperation in areas ranging from education and health to agriculture, technology, finance, energy, and infrastructure. The groundwork laid in 2023 set the stage for an even more robust economic partnership in 2024. Emily Hamblin, British consul general in Ho Chi Minh City The UKVFTA, a pivotal component of our partnership, has already demonstrated its efficacy. The removal of tariffs on a range of goods has led to a surge in bilateral trade volumes. According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, in the first 10 months of 2023, total trade in goods between the UK and Vietnam reached $5.92 billion, including Vietnams exports of $5.27 billion - up 2.5 per cent on-year, and imports of $652 million - up 2.8 per cent on-year. Top exports from the UK to Vietnam include medicinal and pharmaceutical products, beverages, and cars. Going in the other direction, we see the UK importing goods such as telecoms and sound equipment, footwear, clothing, agricultural goods, and furniture from Vietnam. The current upward trajectory in the two economies trade relationship is expected to persist into 2024: Alongside removal of 99 per cent of tariffs by full implementation, the UKVFTA includes a host of other measures which are collectively helping to lay the foundation for an increasingly resilient and dynamic economic partnership. The UK successful accession to the CPTPP in 2023 also marked a seminal moment in our trade relations with Vietnam. This multilateral agreement encompasses 11 dynamic markets and offers the UK and Vietnam an expanded platform for trade liberalisation, market access, and regulatory harmonisation. By joining this dynamic and diverse trade bloc, the UK has gained access to a market of over 500 million people. This strengthens our trade links with Vietnam and broadens the horizons for British businesses, enabling them to tap into new markets and forge supply chains across the Asia-Pacific region. The UK and CPTPP parties are now taking the steps needed to bring the agreement into force, which is expected in the second half of 2024. Meanwhile, the UK and Vietnam are increasingly working together to explore joint initiatives that promote innovation and digitalisation. For example, at Vietnams International Digital Week at the end of 2023, the UKs head of the Southeast Asia Digital Trade Network shared the UKs perspectives and experience in developing and governing AI and its applications. And we are now looking forward to hosting the UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week in Ho Chi Minh City in March. The UK is firmly committed to working with Vietnam to shape a future where technology is a force for positive change, driving innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable global growth, and to building commercial partnerships across the tech sector. Moreover, in 2023 The City UK, an industry-led body for financial and professional services, was appointed by the UK government to support Vietnams ambitions of developing a financial centre. This commitment underscores the UKs dedication to aiding Vietnam in achieving its ambitious goals, through further improving the business environment, and fostering a deeper financial and business connection between our two nations. Foreign investors, including those from the UK, are increasingly attuned to sustainability issues and the UKVFTA requires attention to environmental and climate issues. To support Vietnams transition to a greener future, the Just Energy Transition Partnership, co-chaired by the UK and initiated in 2023, aims to mobilise more than $15 billion to expedite Vietnams shift to renewable energy, helping to position Vietnam as a regional leader in sustainability. Investing in clean infrastructure and high-tech climate solutions attracts more UK investors and supports Vietnamese products in meeting stringent environmental and quality standards in markets like the UK. Going forward, sustainability will need to be increasingly integrated into decision-making at all levels of government, and the commitment to sustainability is a key pillar in the UK-Vietnam relationship and is expected to unlock further avenues for trade and investment. In 2024, the outlook for UK-Vietnam trade cooperation is brimming with promise. The commitments made through the aforementioned trade deals, coupled with the ongoing dialogue facilitated by our annual Joint Economic and Trade Committee, lay the foundation for a robust partnership. Challenges must be met with strategic foresight, while opportunities should be seized with innovation and collaboration. British official in Vietnam to boost accession to CPTPP Minister of State Greg Hands of the UK Department for International Trade arrived in Hanoi on February 1 for high-level trade talks on how the UK joining of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will boost the economic firepower of the worlds most dynamic trade bloc, according to the British Embassy. Vietnam-UK trade bond underway After nearly two years of entry into force, the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, in addition to Vietnams improved investment and business climate, have facilitated both nations to increase trade and investment. Vietnamese, foreign contributors to community in UK honoured The Ladies of All Nations International UK-Vietnam (LOANI VNUK) on May 7 (local time) held a ceremony to honour Vietnamese individuals and organisations for their contributions to the community. UK Festival celebrates 50 years of UK-Vietnam relations The UK festival will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and Vietnam, showcasing the enduring friendship and collaboration between the two nations. Xcel Energy on Thursday acknowledged its involvement in the Smokehouse Creek fire, which started last week and quickly became the largest wildfire in state history, burning more than 1 million acres. Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire, the company said in a statement Thursday. Xcel said it has been cooperating with investigations into the wildfires and conducting its own review of the incident since it started. However, the company disputed claims in the same statement that the company acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure. However, we encourage people who had property destroyed by or livestock lost in the Smokehouse Creek fire to submit a claim to Xcel Energy through our claims process, the statement says. Xcel also mentioned the Windy Deuce fire, the second large fire threatening the Panhandle that has burned more than 142,000 acres. Xcel said the company does not believe its facilities caused that fire and is not aware of any allegations. Texas A&M Forest Service officials said they have concluded their investigation and found that power lines ignited both the Smokehouse Creek and the Windy Deuce fires. Last week, Xcel Energy revealed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that attorneys asked the company to preserve a fallen utility pole near where the fire may have started. In the SEC filing, Xcel Energy said that investigations into origin, cause, and damage of the wildland fires burning in or near the service territory of SPS, including the Smokehouse Creek Fire, are underway. The company also said it is working with emergency responders to assist those impacted by the fires. A lawsuit filed last week by homeowners accused the power company of neglecting to maintain power lines. Homeowner Melanie McQuiddy filed the initial lawsuit against the company in Hemphill County on Friday, claiming that a splintered pole ignited the fire when it fell. On Saturday, Salem Abraham, who owns land in Canadian, told The Texas Tribune he plans to file a suit this month against Xcel and Osmose Utility Services, a Georgia-based company that inspects Xcels equipment, over the pole for damages to his ranch and his brothers land. Abrahams lawyer Kevin Isern, of the Amarillo law firm Lovell, Isern & Farabough, told the Tribune they are thankful Xcel is acknowledging what we already know is true. The issue now becomes, did the fire start from a lack of their oversight, or lack of oversight of one of their subcontractors? Isern asked. Isern said he is preparing to file four lawsuits Thursday, and possibly more next week. Isern said he would like to see lawmakers pass legislation to make companies more responsible for their equipment in areas that are particularly vulnerable to fire. There needs to be more oversight of electric, oil and gas companies that provide this type of service, Isern said. We live in a tinderbox ready to go up at any time, and they know it. Mike Adams, CEO of Osmose Utility Service, said in a statement the company is closely following reports from the fire and taking the allegations seriously. We immediately launched an in-depth investigation and we are committed to fully cooperating with any other local investigations into the cause of the fire, Adams said. We stand by the quality and accuracy of our utility pole inspections. Xcel Energys subsidiary Southwestern Public Service Co. serves the area where the fire is burning, according to the SEC filing. The location is outside of the jurisdiction of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the power grid that provides electricity for most of the state. According to Xcels statement, 47 homes in Hemphill County and up to 17 homes in Roberts County were destroyed by the fire. CEDAR FALLS Central Rivers Area Education Agency Chief Administrator Joel Pedersen, other administrators and three employee groups will all receive roughly 1% wage and benefit increases. The agencys board of directors approved the contracts and bargaining agreements Wednesday for the fiscal year starting July 1. The other groups include nonunion support staff and employees represented by the Central Rivers Education Association and Communications Workers of America Local 7170. Pedersen will be paid a salary of $242,448, an increase of $2,448 or 1.02%, as he begins his second year in the position. That brings his total package compensation to $269,734, or just under 1% more. That also includes medical insurance of $10,800, or $900 per month, and a $16,486 annuity. The annuity is an annual investment that provides a future fixed income stream. The board held Pedersens annual evaluation during a closed session before the meeting. Debra Rich, board president, praised him in a written statement. Joel is a leader of integrity and authenticity who is providing extraordinary leadership in a time of considerable uncertainty for the AEA system, she said. The board appreciates his dedication to those we serve and tireless passion for what is right. Hes a fierce advocate for our schools and the students we serve. Iowas AEA system, which provides special education and a number of other services to school districts, has been the subject of proposals by Gov. Kim Reynolds and bills in the Legislature this year that would reshape it in a variety of ways. If current legislation goes forward, districts could use funding the agencies now receive for providing those other services to work instead with organizations outside of the AEA system. Legislation would also shift the nine AEA boards to an advisory role, moving decision-making power to a state agency, and limit chief administrator salaries to 125% of the average pay for superintendents in the districts they serve. Clearly this is an unusual year for us with all of the uncertainty in the Legislature, Karl Kurt, Central Rivers assistant chief administrator and director of human resources, said in a written statement. Still, we have a responsibility to move forward with staffing for next year and solidify contracts. The families, educators and students we serve are counting on us to be here ready to serve. The total package increase for all administrative staff is also 1%, with salaries ranging from $114,367 to Pedersens pay of $242,448. Pedersen and Kurt are among 23 agency administrative staff including the chief financial officer, executive directors and regional administrators. Certified staff represented by Central Rivers Education Association which includes 400 positions such as special education teachers, reading consultants, school improvement consultants, and speech-language pathologists will receive a 1.02% total package increase. Salaries in the group will range from $31,453 to $92,046. Staff members represented by Communications Workers of America which includes 96 employees in roles such as print technician, custodian, and educational assistant will receive a 1.04% total package increase, which equates to 20 cents more per hour. Their hourly rates will range from $16.75 to $27.65. Nonunion support staff, which includes 44 employees, will receive a 1% total package increase. Group members work in areas such as technology, business and human resources office, professional development, administrative assistants, certified occupational therapists and early access education. Their hourly rates will range from $18.86 to $58.29. 10 incredible Airbnb rentals for your spring break getaway 1. Dome Sweet Dome 2. The Chuck Wagon at Ocoee Riverside Farm 3. True Cold War Relic Atlas F Missile Silo 4. Cheese Wedge Cabin on an Idyllic Farm 5. Outside-the-Box Geodesic Dome in the Outer Banks 6. Gingerbread House Tower in the Berkshire Hills 7. The Bloomhouse 8. Unique Oasis Silo Barn 9. The Barkhouse TreehouseTopia 10. Hobbit Style Underground Cabin Leaders of several major French political parties said President Emmanuel Macron declared on Thursday that France would consider all options to defend Ukraine two years into Russia's invasion. Speaking after the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, the party leaders expressed their concerns, with some accusing Macron of using the conflict to strengthen his coalition's standing ahead of crucial European elections this summer. Opposition Criticizes Macron With the meeting on Thursday, Macron hoped to unite people in support of Ukraine or, short of that, to expose opponents who are still too weak-kneed or servile to Moscow. He told the party leaders, "Faced by an enemy that imposes no limit on itself, we cannot allow ourselves to impose our own." However, the president received criticism after the three-hour meeting. Jordan Bardella, the president of the far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen, said that Macron was prepared to back Ukraine with "no limit" and "no red line," calling his approach "irresponsible and extremely dangerous for peace in the world." Far-left heavyweight Manuel Bompard added he arrived worried and left even more anxious. Recalling that Macron had stated that Putin "obviously has no limits," Green Party leader Marine Tondelier claimed it was "extremely worrying" to see Macron say that they must show no limits. The president's arguments also failed to persuade others. Fabien Roussel, the secretary of the Communist Party, claimed that Macron had used a map to show possible advances of ascendant Russian troops toward the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and the southern port of Odesa. Furthermore, Macron called on Ukraine's allies not to be "cowards" in helping the former Soviet nation combat the Russian invasion earlier this week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on Thursday that Macron has continued to raise the level of France's direct involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. Read Also: Senegal's Government Sets March 24 as New Date for Presidential Election After Controversial Delay France to Vote on Ukraine's Strategy France's parliament will have a chance to vote on the country's Ukraine strategy, including a bilateral security treaty signed with Kyiv last month. Debates and non-binding votes will take place next Tuesday in the National Assembly lower house and the Senate upper house on Wednesday. Macron also met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu on Thursday, and the two signed a bilateral defense deal agreement and an economic roadmap. However, no details were provided. Later on Thursday, France was scheduled to convene a video conference with around 30 nations, including Ukraine, to discuss proposals addressed at an international meeting on Ukraine that Macron hosted last week. After the negotiations, Hollande pleaded for increased support for Ukraine and European unity. Hollande said the only possible response was to show that they were with the Ukrainians in total solidarity and give them all the support they needed without participating in any combat. Related Article: Kremlin Warns of NATO Conflict Over Ukraine Deployment WAVERLY Parents with preschool-aged children living in the Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District will soon have more day care options. The district is expanding its state-supported voluntary preschool programming for 4 year olds in the fall. This comes as two new schools are constructed to replace three existing buildings. Among those, Southeast Elementary School is being eyed to house preschool classes. Superintendent Ed Klamfoth said with the extra space and the communitys need for preschool, Waverly-Shell Rock will move forward with the program. Ever since I started, comments have been made (asking for preschool), he said. We exist to serve the community and this is a way we can do it. He retires at the end of this school year after 11 years leading the district. He said incoming Superintendent David Hill is supportive of the program. Southeast Elementary, at 809 Fourth St. S.E., includes eight classrooms. Iowas preschool programming rules state that a preschool class is limited to 20 students and there must be one adult for every 10 students. If every room is fully staffed, 160 children could be served. This is in addition to the 20 preschool spots at Shell Rock Elementary. Shell Rock has had a preschool program for more than 25 years. After early registration, Klamfoth said 50 children are enrolled for preschool in the 2024-25 school year 30 more than previous years. As the expanded program starts up, Klamfoth said it may take place in two classrooms at the new Prairie West Elementary School, 2915 Fifth Ave. N.W. If numbers grow, the preschool could move to Southeast. The new program, as well as the preschool in Shell Rock, will offer programming from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Shell Rock currently operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Klamfoth said the program will cost a little less than other area day cares at $450 per month. Preschool classes follow the districts school year schedule and will not be offered in the summer months. The district is in the process of hiring teachers and associates for the expanded program. As for the Southeast building itself, Klamfoth said not many changes are required to accommodate younger students. So far, he expects only having to buy the curriculum and smaller furniture. Parents still have time to enroll their children for preschool. The child must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 15. Interested parents can contact any elementary school secretary for more information. Waterloo native Robert Fulton, the shortest-serving governor in Iowa history, died Feb. 21 at the age of 94 in Minneapolis. Fulton, who was born in Waterloo and attended East High School, the University of Northern Iowa (then Iowa State Teachers College) and the University of Iowa, was Iowas 37th governor and served for just 16 days. According to his obituary, he was a founding member of a successful Waterloo law firm before pursuing a career in politics. He was elected to the Iowa House in 1958, the Iowa Senate in 1962 and served as lieutenant governor from 1965 to 1969. According to the National Governors Association website, On Jan. 1, 1969, Governor Harold Hughes resigned from office, and Fulton, who was the lieutenant governor at the time, assumed the duties of the governorship. He served in this capacity until Jan. 16, 1969, when newly-elected Governor Robert D. Ray was sworn into office. Fulton later served as a member of the 1971 Democratic National Committee. Fulton ran for a full term as governor in 1970 but was defeated by Ray. In 2007, Fulton was named to the Iowa Democratic Partys Hall of Fame. A Courier story published at the time listed just some of his accomplishments while in the Legislature. He devised a permanent reapportionment plan, calling for regular population-based redrawing of legislative districts. It met with some resistance from legislators whose districts would be redrawn or eliminated. But it had support from the League of Women Voters and labor, the story said. As Fulton pointed out in the story, Iowa has since become known nationwide for its method of redistricting. During his time as a legislator and the lieutenant governor, the state also changed the governors term in office from two to four years; established the community college system; and, on a social issue of which Fulton was particularly proud, ended the death penalty for state crimes. According to his obituary, he shepherded the death penalty bill through the Senate. He married Rachel Breault in 1955. They eventually settled in Waterloo and Rachel served two terms on the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors. She died in 2015. I knew Bob well, said Dave Nagle, a local attorney who was chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party from 1982 to 1985 and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993. He was a remarkable man, politically and otherwise. And he was very modest about it. He was never much in terms of self-promotion. He completed the task at hand and moved on. Another thing I like about him was the fact that when someone achieves a high level of success in politics, they leave for bigger, greener pastures Bob came back to Waterloo. He created one of the premier law firms in the area, said Nagle. He was a very quiet man. He was a mentor and adviser to young attorneys, because he was first-class lawyer. If you had political ambition, Bob was one of the people you sought out, because his political instincts were very good. Many people with political aspirations would seek him out and from both parties. Nagle said it is not hard to point to Fultons contributions to Iowa. When you witness the trauma other states are going through with the death penalty, Bob killed it. He and Harold Hughes built a viable Democratic Party. Nagle recalls a photo in a newspaper from the era when Fulton got involved in politics showing Iowas three Democratic legislators meeting in a phone booth. Thats all we had back then, he said. Bob and people like him built an alternative and gave the voting public a choice. And he continued that role by the counsel and advice he gave. Fulton is survived by daughters Susan Fulton of Overland Park, Kansas, and Mary Fulton (Ewart Martens) of Minneapolis, Minnesota; son Jack Fulton (Rena Haus) of St. Michael, Minnnesota; and several grandchildren. A private internment service will be held at a later date. WATERLOO Entering Mary K. Williams apartment at Landmark Commons, it is clear a special occasion has taken place. Colorful flower arrangements adorn every flat surface in sight. Theres more in the bedroom, Williams said with a grin. A box of dozens of greeting cards is displayed on the living room coffee table. If you squeeze the button on that one, it plays music, she said, clearly delighted. Williams is still reveling in the well wishes she received from a recent birthday. She turned 106 on Feb. 27. They had a special coffee for me at church and they had cake here, she said. Williams, an only child, was born in Cherokee in Northwest Iowa and grew up on a farm. My dad was a farmer, and my mom was a teacher, she said. I always admired her. My mom lived until she was 98. My dad died much younger. She attended a one-room school house and graduated from Marcus High School in 1935. She then studied at Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) to become a teacher herself. My first job was in Traer teaching kindergarten, she said. I really enjoyed it. We had a wonderful superintendent who was very supportive. Williams has no problem recalling the names of the schools where she worked or the dates she was there. Her tenure in Traer would mark the beginning of a 40-year career teaching Iowa kindergartners. After brief stints in Clarinda and Webster City, Williams came to Waterloo in 1944, where she had family. She would spend 36 years in the Waterloo Community Schools, initially at Whittier Elementary School, located at West Third Street and Kimball Avenue. They turned it into an apartment house, she said. She spent the most years at Longfellow Elementary, 233 Edwards St., which was demolished in 2019. She retired from teaching in 1980. I still hear from many of my students, she said, pulling out a photo of herself and one of her former students. This one is special. Thats Imogene Jones. She was the first black reporter to work at The Courier. Her pride is evident. Williams has found ways to fill the years since retirement. She remained active in her church, First Presbyterian, as an elder, a deacon and in its womens organization. I joined that church in 1955, she said. And I still go every Sunday that I am able. A friend picks me up. Williams also volunteered at the YWCA. I helped with scheduling their trips, she said. I went on a lot of them, too. She received an award for her volunteer work with the organization in 2010. In 2014, she was named one of The Couriers Eight over 80 honorees. These days, Williams enjoys reading novels and newspapers and doing puzzles. Thousands of schools at risk of closing due to enrollment loss: An exclusive report Thousands of schools at risk of closing due to enrollment loss: An exclusive report 'The future is uncertain' Multi-unit housing restrictions are one underlying threat to school districts 'Center of our neighborhoods' The 20-year-old woman has been taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics after reportedly being struck at the entrance of a Ceda Iowas members of Congress received calls on Thursday from TikTok users who were prompted by the app to call their representatives in response to House legislation targeting the social media platform. The aggressive move by the wildly popular social media app came the same day the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed a bill that would ban TikTok from U.S. app stores unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the app. President Joe Biden said on Friday he would sign the bill if it reaches his desk. TikTok users on Thursday were greeted with a message warning that Congress is planning a total ban of TikTok, and prompting them to call their congressional representative. Rep. Ashley Hinsons office had a significant number of young people call their office on Thursday, a spokesperson said, and most sounded like they were in middle school. Hinson, a Republican and one of the bills co-sponsors, sits on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, the committee that originated the bill. At one point on Thursday, Hinson was personally answering phones and explaining to callers the intent of the bill, seen in a video posted by Daily Mail editor Kelly Laco. TikTok has no regard for kids mental health. China has a vested interest in hurting our youth & theyre using this app to do it. If TikTok wants to keep its users in the US, they will have to cut ties with China & ByteDance. I am a mama bear on a mission to protect our kids. https://t.co/2FKy7N4hYs Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) March 7, 2024 The parent company is ByteDance, and they are directly tied to the bad people in China, Hinson says in the video. ...Theyre trying to use your information and your data, and thats what theyre doing. In a statement provided by a spokesperson, Hinson called TikToks lobbying approach gross exploitation tactics and said it reinforced the need for the legislation. When I realized kids were calling our office, I went into mom mode, and wanted to explain to them why the CCPs ownership of TikTok is problematic. To all parents: the CCP controls TikToks algorithm, and theyre intentionally feeding harmful content to American kids, including targeting teenage girls with eating disorder videos and pushing videos that downplay 9/11, she said. Time is up for TikTok either they sever all ties to the CCP so we can protect our kids and national security, or they will lose their American users. The bill is the latest in a string of legislation targeting the short-form video platform, which has more than 150 million U.S. users. Lawmakers from both parties have warned that ByteDances ties to the Chinese government pose a threat to national security. TikTok has repeatedly denied that government authorities in China have any influence over the U.S.-based app. The company says U.S. users data is stored in the U.S. and not accessible by Chinese entities. In a statement on Thursday, TikTok said the bill was an encroachment on the free expression of millions of Americans and it would hurt businesses and creators on the app. "This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States, the company said. Our statement on today's Committee vote: "This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States. The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) March 7, 2024 A spokesperson for Republican Rep. Zach Nunn said his office received a high number of calls about the bill. In a statement provided by the spokesperson, Nunn said the bill was aimed at limiting the influence of China on Americans. "Yesterday, TikToks Chinese owners used their grip on our nations young people to instill fear by sharing misleading and deceptive information about a bipartisan proposal," he said. "This legislation is not a ban of TikTok but is a ban of the Chinese Communist Partys influence on Americas young people." According to Paul Chan's budget speech, at undisclosed taxpayer expense, HK is supposed to produce a machine 3 times more powerful than the world's current fastest, within 2 years, and without using the best chips which were banned by the USA from export to HK following imposition of the National Security Law on HK. The HK budget supercomputer hallucination Deep into this week's HK budget speech by Paul Chan Mo Po at paragraphs 107-109, we find some rather fanciful statements about one of HK's most famous white elephants, the Cyberport: Cyberport is expediting the establishment of an AI Supercomputing Centre to meet the demand of research institutes and the industry for computing power. The first phase facility is expected to start operating within this year at the earliest. By early 2026 at the soonest, the computing power of the supercomputing facility is expected to reach 3 000 petaFLOPS. The scale of such power is equivalent to the capacity of processing nearly 10 billion images in one hour. We will allocate $3 billion to Cyberport for the launch of a threeyear AI Subsidy Scheme to support local universities, research institutes and enterprises to leverage the Centre's computing power and achieve scientific breakthroughs. The subsidy will also be used to strengthen the cyber security and data protection of the Centre, and launch promotional and educational activities, etc. to encourage Mainland and overseas AI experts, enterprises and R&D projects to come to Hong Kong. According to the latest (Nov-2023) Top500 list of supercomputers, the world's fastest machine is "Frontier", in the USA at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), with an Rmax computing power of 1,194 petaflops. A distant second place is "Aurora" at Argonne National Laboratory, clocking 585 petaflops. So Mr Chan thinks that we can beat Frontier by roughly a factor of 3 "by early 2026 at the soonest" - in other words, 2 years from now "at the soonest", HK will lead planet Earth in supercomputing power, assuming the rest of the world doesn't grow computing power even faster. We're also assuming that the FLOPS (Floating-point Operations Per Second) that he's talking about are the 64-bit precision (FP64) of the Top500 list and not the less precise FP32, FP16 or even less. Although there's an allocation of HK$3bn for a subsidy scheme for users of this facility, nowhere does the budget state the expected cost of the facility itself. Frontier at ORNL is reported to have cost US$600m (HK$4.68bn). It is also unclear why taxpayers should fund such a facility, given that if there is demand from "the industry" then the private sector will fund it, either overseas or in HK, and HK institutes and businesses can rent such power in the cloud. Secondly, how is HK supposed to build this world-beating machine given that the US has prohibited exports of the most advanced chips to mainland China and Hong Kong? There was a time when HK might have been granted an exception to such prohibitions, but those days are gone. In Dec-2020, HK was removed as a separate destination under the US export administration regulations, following the President's Executive Order 13936 of 14-Jul-2020, in response to the imposition of the National Security Law on HK. Of course, they could just build it out of earlier-generation chips using larger scale and energy, but that would be less efficient. Hence the use of the weasel words "at the earliest" and "at the soonest" in Mr Chan's speech. One might be forgiven for thinking that this part of the speech was written by a hallucinating AI chatbot. Webb-site.com, 2024 Organisations in this story People in this story Topics in this story Sign up for our free newsletter Recommend Webb-site to a friend Copyright & disclaimer, Privacy policy Back to top https://ru.usembassy.gov/security-alert-avoid-large-gatherings-over-the-next-48-hours/ Location: Moscow, Russia The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours. Actions to Take: Avoid crowds. Monitor local media for updates. Be aware of your surroundings. Again I am posting such items for data collection of the activities that the USA and West are doing like this. I also see that the UK has posted a warning also And we know who are the extremists! WtR Update: The US Embassy has issued a very suspicious warning for Americans in Moscow: The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to attack large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts, and US citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings for the next 48 hours . I do hope that the USA passed on known information to the appropriate channels? Or else the USA is guilty in crimes committed. Either way, the USA is behind it all Update: On the website of the British Foreign Office there was also a message about a possible threat of terrorist attacks in the Russian Federation in the next 48 hours. Yes, the nasty twins are being nasty St. Josephs Hospital in Chippewa Falls has informed patients and the community the hospital will close permanently in less than three weeks. According to a letter sent to hospital patients last month and communications with the Chippewa Falls Fire and Emergency Services chief, HSHS St. Josephs is expected to close at noon March 22. A posted notice at HSHS St. Josephs hospital says the same. Sacred Heart is expected to close April 21, said Chippewa Falls Fire and Emergency Services chief Jason Thom. This is the date HSHS has stated since the first announcement of the hospital closures. The Chippewa Herald reached out to HSHS for comment but did not receive a response. The information comes as a shock to some Chippewa County residents. Its been confusing. The website for HSHS is unclear. We thought we had more time, former St. Josephs patient Rebekah Kristofferson said Monday. Of course, we knew this was coming, but this is just two weeks away. Its devastating. An alert posted on HSHS St. Joseph's website states: It is with a heavy heart that we announce that HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital and HSHS St. Josephs Hospital (including L.E. Phillips Libertas Treatment Center), and Preveas Western Wisconsin health centers are closing. St. Josephs Hospital and Sacred Heart will close around the end of the first quarter of 2024 and our Prevea partners on or before April 21, 2024, in western Wisconsin. Earlier this year, a Jan. 22 joint news release announcing the HSHS and Prevea closures stated the majority of closures were expected to be completed on or before April 21, with the exception of the Prevea residency clinics. The health centers were due to close on or before June 30, the release says. According to letters sent to HSHS patients, St. Josephs planned to close the third week of March. A Jan. 26 statement from HSHS says: HSHS and Prevea are committed to a safe and organized wind-down of all operations. Our thorough planning process has determined that we can safely close St. Josephs Hospital on or before March 22, 2024, due to longstanding low patient census in addition to operational and staffing challenges. We shared this date in patient letters and HR packets the day we announced the closures, and it is noted on signage posted at St. Josephs. Our team is committed to providing patients with information and resources to support the transition of their care as well as supporting employees in every way possible. The patient letter says St. Josephs will close by March 22. A Jan. 22 communication with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Dislocated Worker Unit states all St. Josephs Hospital Chippewa Falls facilities would close on March 22 or within 14 days thereafter. That includes not only St. Josephs Hospital, but also L.E. Phillips Libertas Center, which closed Feb. 2, in addition to the Prevea Health Center on County Highway I in Chippewa Falls, the Prevea Health Center on Lake Avenue West in Ladysmith and the Prevea Health Center on West Avenue in Rice Lake. The closures account for 248 employees in total, which includes 14 salaried employees and 234 hourly employees. Registered nurses are the hardest hit career field in the bunch, accounting for 86 of the employees who are out of a job. This closure is expected to be permanent, the communication reads. The company does not have a job bumping system. The date referenced in HSHS communications has led some patients to be confused and frustrated. Thomas Miller said Tuesday that he struggled to understand why the closing date was a moving target. I dont think it needed to be this complicated. I dont think its right or fair to do to the local patients, Miller said. HSHS should have picked a date and stuck to it. Now it seems everyone is running around thinking different things. Chippewa Falls Mayor Greg Hoffman said Monday that he wasnt surprised by the date because he had heard St. Josephs would be closing on or around March 21. I've had a couple of people that were surprised, and they've contacted me, he said. While I wasnt surprised, I am frustrated and very sad that we have come to this point. Hoffman said regardless of what happens with the St. Josephs and Sacred Heart Hospital facilities in the future, the disassociation from HSHS is difficult for local communities. HSHS hospitals have been here serving the Chippewa County and Eau Claire communities for 100-plus years. The sisters and everything they've done in the community over the years has been outstanding. And it's a very valuable part of the community, Hoffman said. If you stopped and looked at it and all the people that gave money to them for donations, were talking about millions of dollars. People invested in them, and they did a great job here. Hoffman said its difficult to think about the number of employees who are losing work because of the hospital closures. I feel bad for the employees, so many devoted employees that have been there for 20, 30, even 40 years. I feel bad for everybody, Hoffman said. But we're working hard. We're trying to see what we can do. And were not giving up. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form A justice system activist in NYC has been arrested on charges in connection to a headless torso found in a Bronx apartment. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the individual wearing blonde wigs and moving a large plastic box from the crime scene. Sheldon Johnson Jr., 48, was captured on Thursday with regard to a dismembered body discovered in a blue bin and a head hidden in a freezer inside the Bronx apartment located two days earlier. Former Bloods Gang Member Turned Advocate Arrested An investigation began after a neighbor reported hearing gunshots coming from Johnson's unit. Also, the witness saw Johnson's questionable actions, as he went inside and out of the building several times throughout the night, with various cleaning supplies in hand. Surveillance footage showed Johnson holding cleaning items and a full black garbage bag outside his apartment's front door. Sheldon Johnson, a former high-ranking member of the Bloods gang, had spent 25 years in prison for attempted murder, according to a local news report. Since his release, he had been working with the Queens Defenders office, advocating for criminal justice reform and discussing his journey on platforms like 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast. Law enforcement sources revealed that upon reviewing the surveillance footage, they searched Johnson's apartment, leading to the discovery of the victim's dismembered body parts, including legs, arms, and head, stored in the freezer. The victim's torso and foot were found in a blue bin inside the unit, with the head bearing a bullet wound. The suspect's father, Sheldon Johnson Sr., was shocked by his son's alleged connection to the crime. Johnson Sr., who is hearing impaired along with his wife and daughter, stated that his son had recently secured a job as a client advocate for Queens Defenders and appeared dedicated to making progress in his life. Read Also: Hamas Pushes Back Ceasefire Talks to Next Week; Truce Before Ramadan Unlikely Troubled Past of Suspect Revealed Johnson Jr. has a history of incarceration at Sing Sing Correctional Facility and has faced legal issues, such as a 1997 robbery and criminal possession of stolen property. However, he appeared to be working on improving himself by discussing his experiences of intergenerational incarceration on different platforms. Regardless of Johnson Sr.'s claim that his son was on the verge of revolving his life around, authorities are investigating drugs as a potential reason for the brutal killing. Johnson Jr.'s previous involvement with drugs, which traces back to his teenage years selling drugs in Harlem, is now the primary center of the investigation. It also depends on Johnson Jr.'s hard history, which includes another occurrence in 2008 where his son, Sheldon Johnson, became involved in a deadly assault on a Columbia University graduate student. Young Johnson was sent to a juvenile detention boot camp for the manslaughter charge. As the investigation progresses, the community actions with the dangerous distinction between Johnson Jr.'s recent advocacy work and the disturbing claims against him. The Queens Defenders office has not yet provided a statement, leaving a lot of unanswered questions about the alarming instances that have happened, Daily News reported. Related Article: Philippines: French 'Spiderman' Alain Robert Arrested Following Daring Makati Skyscraper Climb Israeli soldiers carry the casket Israeli solider Staff sergeant David Sasson as mourners gather in grief during his the funeral in Netanya, Israel, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Sasson, 21, was killed during Israel's ground operation in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli army has been battling Palestinian militants in the war ignited by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack into Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) FILE - Tens of thousands of people march through a Hong Kong street Tuesday, July 1, 2003, to protest the Hong Kong government's plans to enact an anti-subversion bill that critics feared would curtail civil liberties. The bill was withdrawn after the march. Hong Kongs plan to enact a new national security law, on top of a sweeping legislation that was imposed by Beijing and used to crack down on dissent, is deepening concerns over the erosion of freedoms in the former British colony.(AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File) Chow down in The Town: Oakland Restaurant Week is back. Discover new favorites or support your tried and true by tasting your way through special prix-fixe menus March 14th through 24th. Plus, get respectfully rowdy at St. Paddys Day block parties, grab a slice on Pi Day, take to the rooftops for a Holi music festival, experience RuPaul unscripted, and much more. Have a good one. (Courtesy Besharam) Join Chef Heena Patel for a celebration honoring the traditions of Gujarati women. At this family-style tasting experience described as Chef Heena's "story on a plate" shares a personal tribute to the profound influence of her mother's cooking; Wednesday from 5pm. // Besharam, 1275 Minnesota St. (Dogpatch); reservations at resy.com No matter how you slice it, you wont want to miss Pi Day. Join the 37th annual celebration of the never-ending ratio that helps describe circles of all sizes. There will be math-inspired activities, a pi parade and, of course, pie; Thursday, 11am to 3pm. // Exploratorium, Pier 15 (Embarcadero); tickets at exploratorium.edu Bring your pup for a few rounds of bingo to raise funds for Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. Take in views of the Bay, beers, and treats for your pups too; Thursday, 5pm to 7pm. // Harmonic Brewing Thrive City-Patio, 7 Warriors Way (Mission Bay); tickets at eventbrite.com Chow down in the Town with the return of Oakland Restaurant Week when more than 100 eateriesfrom food trucks and newcomers to Michelin-recommended and local gemswill be offering unique menus and specials at lunch and dinner; Thursday through March 24. // See all participating restaurants and make reservations at visitoakland.com. Thank you to our partners at Visit Oakland. Taste five caviars from around the world during Caviar 101, a masterclass led by Caviar Co. founder Petra Higby. You'll learn about the history of caviar and how to taste it along with unique Champagne and food pairings; Thursday at 6pm. // The Caviar Co., 46a Main St. (Tiburon); tickets at opentable.com Sashay your way to the Curran for an unscripted evening with RuPaul. The pop culture icon and international drag superstar will celebrate the release of their memoir, The House of Hidden Meanings. A copy of the book is included with your ticket; Thursday at 7:30pm. // Curran Theater, 445 Geary St. (TenderNob); tickets at bookpassage.com Canadian comic Russell Peters is bringing his "Act Your Age" tour to town. The Emmy winners special takes on topics such as cancel culture and aging (as the name would suggest); Friday at 7pm. // The Warfield, 982 Market St. (Tenderloin); tickets at axs.com Pretend youre in Dublins Temple Bar and get your fix of Jameson and green beer on a St. Paddys Day pub crawl. Choose from three days of shenanigans; 6pm to 11pm Friday, 2pm to 10pm Saturday, and 4pm to 11pm Sunday. // Mayes Oyster House, 1233 Polk St. (Russian Hill); tickets at crawlsf.com Load up on sausages and soda bread aplenty. As usual, Schroeders is closing down Front Street for a St. Paddy's Day block party filled with drink specials, green beer, and pub food. Plus, music and the beloved stein-holding contest; Friday, 3pm to 10pm. // Schroeders, 240 Front St. (FiDi); details at schroederssf.com Wear green and grab a pint: It's time once again for SF's best annual St. Patrick's Day block party. There will be two days of live music, bangers and mash, drink specials...you know the drill; Saturday and Sunday 1:30pm to 11:30pm. // The Irish Bank, 10 Mark Ln. (FiDi), theirishbank.com Feel the luck o' the Irish at the 173rd Annual San Francisco St. Patricks Day Parade. Afterward, make your way over to a post-parade party hosted at the United Irish Cultural Center(2700 45th Ave.) with Irish dancing, bars, corned beef and cabbage, and live Irish music; Saturday. Slainte! // The parade begins at 11:30am at the corner of 2nd & Market Street; details at eventbrite.com Experience the San Francisco debut of The African-American Shakespeare Companys presentation of Pipeline, a powerful and emotionally charged drama by MacArthur Fellow Dominique Morisseau, which debuted at Lincoln Center in 2017; Saturday through March 31. // Taube Atrium Theater, 401 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center); tickets at cityboxoffice.com Play with colors at a rooftop Holi music festival. You can expect live music performances spanning Bollywood, Pop and EDM, plus Holi specialty food and drink options, a photo booth, and tons of nontoxic colors to transform your white attire; Saturday, noon to 5pm. // SVN West, 10 Van Ness Ave. (SoMa); tickets at eventbrite.com Snap a selfie with Chelsea Clinton: She'll be signing copies of her childrens book, She Persisted, at the Ferry Building; Saturday at 11am. // Book Passage (Embarcadero); tickets at bookpassage.com Indulge in delicious brunch items, live music, and explore the vibrant marketplace at Bizerkeley Brunchfest, kicking off this weekend. Bring your dogs and kids for a day of family-friendly fun; 11am to 4pm every third Sunday. // Fourth Street Maker's Row, 1901 Fourth St. (Berkeley), fourthstreetmakersrow.com Thank you to our partners at Fourth Street Maker's Row. Say cheese! The 18th Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival returns with farm and producer tours in Marin and Sonoma counties, cheese tastings, pairings, and seminars. Don't miss the Cheese Crawl at The Barlow in Sebastopol or the grand finale, the Artisan Cheese Tasting & Marketplace, at Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa; March 22-24. // View the complete schedule and get tickets at artisancheesefestival.com. Thank you to our partners at California Artisan Cheese Festival. In a significant move targeting Chinese tech giant ByteDance and its popular short video app TikTok, the US House of Representatives is poised to fast-track a vote on legislation that would compel ByteDance to divest from TikTok within six months or face a potential ban in the United States. This development comes after the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved the measure on Thursday. Congressional Vote Looms Amid National Security Concerns The bill has gained notable momentum. The committee's 50-0 vote indicated strong bipartisan support for the crackdown on TikTok, which boasts approximately 170 million users in the US. This marks a pivotal moment in ongoing efforts to address national security concerns related to the app's Chinese ownership. "This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States," TikTok stated following the vote. "The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression." House Majority Leader Steve Scalise affirmed that lawmakers are set to vote on the bill next week, emphasizing the aim to sever ties between TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party. This move underscores the growing scrutiny surrounding TikTok's data handling practices and its potential implications for national security. While TikTok has vehemently denied sharing US user data with the Chinese government, concerns persist among policymakers. The proposed legislation aims to address these concerns by compelling ByteDance to divest from TikTok, effectively severing its ties with Chinese entities. However, ByteDance has expressed skepticism about the feasibility of such a divestment within the stipulated time frame. The company argues that the bill effectively amounts to a ban on TikTok in the US, raising questions about the potential impact on businesses, artists, and creators who rely on the platform for their livelihoods. Before the committee's vote, lawmakers received a classified briefing on national security concerns related to TikTok's Chinese ownership, highlighting the gravity of the issue at hand. Read Also: Virginia Legislature's Attempt to Ban TikTok for Children Falters Gallagher: Bill Not Intended to Ban TikTok Republican congressman Mike Gallagher, who chairs the House select committee on China, clarified that the bill is not intended as a ban on TikTok. He stressed the importance of separating the app from entities controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Despite vocal opposition from TikTok and concerns about the potential impact on users and businesses, the bill enjoys rare bipartisan support and strong backing from the White House. This suggests that lawmakers are resolute in their efforts to address the perceived threats posed by TikTok's Chinese ownership. Looking ahead, the proposed legislation will undergo further scrutiny and debate as it progresses through the legislative process. If approved by the House, it will then proceed to the Senate for consideration before potentially being signed into law by the President. Related Article: WATCH: Congress To Consider TikTok Ban or Sale by Chinese Owner A tire fell off the landing gear of a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 that had just taken off from San Francisco International Airport on Thursday morning, Mar. 7. United Flight 35 was bound for Osaka but was diverted to Los Angeles due to the incident, NBC Bay Area reported. As for the tire, it ended up landing in an airport employee parking lot and damaged several vehicles, SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel said. No injuries were reported. Read Also: United Announces Resumption of Direct Flights to Israel Video footage obtained by local media captured the moment when the tire from the plane came off the rear landing gear seconds after the plane took off. Yakel added that the runway was briefly closed to allow crews to clear debris. There was no further impact on airport operations. According to the airline, a Boeing 777 has six tires on each of its two main landing gear struts. It is designed to land with missing or damaged tires. Related Article: Boeing Given 90 Days by FAA to Develop New Safety Plan as DOJ Opens Inquiry In a persistent endeavor to elevate prominence in the South Asian and the global advertising industry, The Advertising Club (TAC) has unveiled a campaign for the upcoming ABBY Awards powered by One Show 2024. Positioning the Awards as the unequivocal benchmark of excellence in the advertising industry, the campaign highlights the collective spirit of the industry, encouraging professionals to unite and contribute to shaping the future of the industry collectively. The ABBY Awards stands out as the sole creative award show in India administered by the industry and endorsed by one of the best in the world The One Show. The laurels achieved at the ABBY Awards powered by One Show 2024 hold significant weight, with winning works also triumphing at prestigious global platforms such as Cannes Lions, The One Show, and D&AD. The esteemed jury panel comprises the creme de la creme of the global creative fraternity, ensuring a rigorous and impartial selection process, further endorsed by The One Show. Speaking on the initiative, Ajay Kakar, Chairperson, Awards Governing Council, ABBY Awards powered by One Show 2024 and Managing Committee Member, The Advertising Club, said, At The Advertising Club, we are committed to bringing forward and honouring the masterpieces and the masterminds. The ABBY Awards powered by One Show 2024 serve as a testament to the extraordinary work that our industry creates and its potential to shape the future. With this campaign, we invite the industry to come forward, submit their best work, and together elevate the collective creativity to unparalleled global heights. Alok Lall, Executive Director, McCann Worldgroup India, further added, We believe in celebrating not just the present achievements, but also the future that we are collectively building for our industry. The ABBY Awards powered by One Show 2024 serve as a beacon for the creativity that defines our industrys trajectory. The Advertising Club invites all industry stakeholders to actively participate in this celebration of creativity, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Scheduled to take place on May 29, 30 and 31, 2024, during Goafest at Grand Hyatt, Bambolim in Goa, the ABBY Awards powered by One Show 2024 will represent the South Asia region, which includes India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, and has been doing so since 2004. Entries are now open for ABBY Awards powered by One Show 2024. Click here to know more. On the occasion of the 49th International Womens Day, Amazon India reaffirms its dedication to honoring the diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives that women bring to the workforce. Aligned with this years theme, Inspire Inclusion, the company brings to the centerstage 49 multifaceted programs and initiatives that it created over the years and their significant impact on women within its ecosystem. Amazon India has implemented a range of policies, programs, and initiatives aimed at enhancing women's representation and facilitating their professional growth within and outside the organization. The initiatives aim to support women employees at various stages of their careers, from recruitment to talent development. Key programs include the rekindle offering a launchpad for women re-entering the workforce; Ramp Back, facilitating a gradual return to work after maternity or parental leave; AmVoice listening sessions, providing a platform for senior leadership to address the concerns of women employees; and Women in Night Shifts (WINS), ensuring a safe and supportive work environment for women across all shifts. In addition to internal programs, Amazons initiatives extend to making a positive impact on women beyond its workforce. Examples include Amazon Saheli, a pioneering program that was launched in November 2017, aimed at empowering and enabling women entrepreneurs across the country to sell their products on the Amazon.in marketplace; AmazeWIT, a forum that brings together technology companies, industry experts, NGOs, Government, to formulate interventions and programs aimed at encouraging participation of women in STEM education as well as careers in the fields of Engineering and Technology; Amazon WOW, a network platform launched in 2021, that provides a space for women in engineering to connect with Amazon leaders, recruiters, and the broader Amazon community; Amazon Future Engineer, for which Amazon has partnered with several education-focused non-profit organizations, including Leadership for Equity and Quest Alliance to take computer science education to more than 10,000 schools in India. Sharing her thoughts on the occasion of the International Womens Day, Deepti Varma, Vice President, People Experience Technology at Amazon India, Japan, and Emerging Markets, shares, At Amazon, inclusion isn't merely a goal; it's ingrained in every aspect of our culture, a fundamental way of life. We foster an environment where the journey of our women employees is not just recognized, but celebrated, propelling us towards a future where every individual has the opportunity to flourish and contribute their unique talents and perspectives to our collective success. As one of our Leadership Principles, Success and Scale bring broad responsibility we are committed to embracing and uplifting women from diverse backgrounds through our numerous programs and benefits. These initiatives are continuously assessed and adapted based on the evolving needs of our women employees, associates and partners. To mark the occasion, Amazon India has launched the third edition of She Is Amazon campaign spotlighting the women behind Amazons success in India. The campaign showcases 49 compelling narratives stories showcased in a life size photo gallery installed in its offices across the country. Featuring the diverse roles and contributions of women, from Seller Partners to Operations Network Partners, Community Beneficiaries, Employees, and Associates, the gallery underscores the pivotal influence of women in enriching Amazon's diverse customer base. Beyond celebrating their achievements, the campaign emphasizes the myriad benefits, programs, and initiatives tailored to empower women both within and beyond the organization, thereby advancing their professional journeys and exemplifying Amazon's unwavering commitment to women's inclusion. Through the #SheIsAmazon campaign, Amazon India aims to inspire inclusivity, celebrate diversity, and empower women to reach their full potential while demonstrating its commitment to creating a workplace where all voices are heard and valued. Leading up to the International Womens Day, Amazon India recently announced the launch of Women in Night Shifts (WINS) at one of its large Sort Centre in Haryana. In addition to Amazons existing initiatives, WINS is designed to provide a safe and supportive work environment for women, ensuring equal opportunities for all to work in various shifts, and championing inclusivity for all. Amazon India also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME), to collaborate and promote digital growth of women entrepreneurs in India, especially in Tier-2, Tier-3 cities and beyond. Through this partnership, Amazon India will aim to support approximately 25,000 women entrepreneurs and artisans in their digital entrepreneurial journey. Amazon India further announced several key initiatives as part of its ongoing commitment to women's empowerment, focusing on menstrual hygiene, entrepreneurship development, digital financial literacy, and social entitlement awareness. These include a) ensuring easy access to sanitary napkins and safe disposal of menstrual waste in schools, benefiting over 1900 adolescent girls across 19 schools, b) conducting entrepreneurship development training for women entrepreneurs involved in advanced sanitary napkin manufacturing units, equipping them with the necessary skills for self-sustainability, c) launching a digital financial literacy program reaching out to over 2000 women from underserved communities, empowering them with the knowledge and skills needed for financial independence, d) Community camps to raise awareness and facilitate enrolment in social entitlement schemes, with a focus on promoting schemes that empower women and girls. American Tourister India launched their Womens Day campaign - Give her Space to challenge the gender norms that surround women travelers to this day. Be it parents, inquisitive relatives or even friends, women are asked a number of questions when they announce their decision to travelsolo or otherwise. And while these questions may seem harmless to the ones asking, they inherently carry the bias in them. American Touristers campaign took the insight and flipped the script on it by asking the questions to men and capturing their raw reactions. The same questions when asked to men seem futile and irrelevant and also makes them feel weird and uncomfortable since they havent been asked those questions before. Some of the questions asked where - Does your partner let you travel solo? Or Do you always share your location wherever you go? The answers reflected the fact that men dont actually have to think about their partners or parents consent while traveling and neither do they have to think about giving a constant update about their whereabouts to their family or friends. The campaign champions the idea of giving autonomy to women travelers. It's all about showcasing that women travelers can handle themselves just fine, minus the unnecessary societal rules trying to rain on their parade. We wanted to strike a cord with our audience this Womens Day by bringing forth the subtle biases that affect women to this day, even when it comes to traveling. Travel being a part of the brand DNA, American Tourister wants to initiate conversations that paves the way for a safe and equal space for women, enabling them to travel according to their own rules, says Pradnya Popade, Marketing Communications Head at Samsonite South Asia Pvt. Ltd. Despite carrying a heavy message on its shoulders, the main campaign film was vibrant and light in its tone, maintaining the easy-going aura of American Tourister. The questions raised encapsulated the essence of the campaign without getting too serious or preachy. Yashtika Vaswani, head of Digital Servicing at Makani creatives, the agency that worked on the campaign said, Our aim was to put across a compelling message this womens day steering away from the usual formal and preachy route. The idea came to fruition when we sought AI-generated questions commonly faced by both male and female travelerscue the unexpected answers that left us wide-eyed! Thats when we decided to initiate a not-so-serious conversation about the imbalances in travel. American Tourister India continues to innovate and create award-winning luggage with world-class quality and features while encouraging conversations around travel in its own youthful ways. To know more about American Tourister or the Give her Space campaign, visit https://www.americantourister.in/ or https://www.instagram.com/amtouristerin/ Nutanix, Inc., a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, today said Forever New modernised its infrastructure by using Nutanix technology to support its maturing cloud strategy and to help ready it for a customer experience evolution. Established in Melbourne, Forever New is a global womens fashion retailer known for its feminine silhouettes, quality fabrics, and timeless styles. With an eCommerce platform, over 400 retail and concession stores, and a presence in 26 markets the brand is on a global growth march. Naresh Teckchandani, General Manager IT, Forever New, said that infrastructure refresh was required to lay the foundations for its hybrid multicloud strategy one in which workloads are transferable between private and public clouds, promoting operational agility for a better customer experience. Our Melbourne datacentre powers everything from our very own Chadstone shop floor to our stores on Singapores Orchard Road and Londons White City, said Teckchandani. With multiple ways for shoppers to reach us all around the world for a seamless shopping experience backend performance is the essence of a better, more personalised customer experience (CX). With Nutanix, weve woven confidence into our infrastructure outfit. Forever News initial implementation in 2016 included Nutanixs hyperconverged infrastructure, which collapsed the previous three-tier array of separate server, storage, and networking technology in its datacentre. In February 2023, Forever New completed its infrastructure modernisation project, replacing its Dell infrastructure running Hyper-V for Nutanix AHV, which sped up infrastructure and enterprise applications essential to running Forever News business. Ben Tobgui, Group Head of Infrastructure, Forever New said: Since completing the migration, middleware errors have gone, and our Warehouse Management System is more accurately providing shop staff and customers real-time inventory data. Performance of the underlying infrastructure has immensely improved. Our offshore teams and stores, who access the information they need through Citrix, have felt it too. Logins which used to take minutes now connect in seconds. Performance improvements also extend to online application programming interfaces (APIs), payroll systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and product lifecycle management all of which are running much faster. Ease of migration, cost of migration, cloud readiness, and future proofing were core motivations behind the infrastructure refresh. According to Teckchandani, when benchmarked against these four factors, Nutanix beat the competition in every category, particularly aligning with the organisations maturing hybrid multicloud strategy. Our eCommerce platform largely lives on AWS, while corporate workloads run on Azure. But not everything is cost effective in public cloud, so we use a combination of on-premises private cloud and public clouds. This keeps cloud costs controlled, and ensures applications run where they best fit, Teckchandani said. Nutanix simplifies managing this environment through a single pane of glass, giving us the flexibility to move workloads across clouds as new assets enter the business or as needs change this aligns perfectly with our hybrid multi cloud strategy, Tobgui said. Forever New worked closely with Melbourne-based IT partner Perfekt, which saw hybrid multicloud as an essential thread in Forever News futureproofing strategy. The migration ran from November 2022 to February 2023 during the retailers busy Christmas season. According to Teckchandani, Perfekt remained extremely responsive, closely guiding Forever New along its cloud journey. Not only are we now getting the most out of cloud, but we have also cut power consumption by slashing our former stack of 16 nodes down to just 10, so thats around a 40 per cent reduction, said Teckchandani. Forever New has also seen major improvements in backup performance. Eight-hour ERP backups are now completed in under one-hour, and data warehouse backups that took 12 hours are down to two hours. Our infrastructure is on autopilot. Its working, and Im not living in it day-to-day only when we need to add resources or run other maintenance. You dont need a training course to learn how to use an iPhone, and Nutanix is the same. Its intuitive, self-explanatory, and the support is great, Tobgui said. Sport and style come together like never before, Mumbai Indians and Skechers unveil 2024 seasons jersey designed by the renowned designer Monisha Jaising. The jersey, representing the unbreakable bond between the team and its passionate fanbase paltan, showcases Mumbai Indians' pride and a design that embodies the spirit of Mumbai. Full collection featuring the official Men's Match jersey 2024, the official Mens Replica jersey 2024, among a wide range is available on MI Shop. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant hues of Mumbai Indians' iconic blue and gold, Jaising has designed the jersey that will stand as a symbol of steadfast dedication and allegiance. Inspired by initialism, the design is derived by using the initial M placed in a grid format on an art deco pattern with a play of thin and thick lines in shades of royal blue reflecting a geometry thats precise and clean. While royal blue signifies confidence and strength, Jaising has used imperial blue to exude empathy and dependability all emotions that stand true for the Mumbai Indians and its fans. Marrying this with a dash of gold, to harness energy and power from the sun, through a racing graphic along the sides of the jersey that is meant to emphasise the powerful torso of the champion player. Speaking on the unveiling, Mumbai Indians Spokesperson, said, As our players don the iconic blue and gold jersey colours, they carry with them the hopes and dreams of our MI Paltan, fuelled by the spirit of Mumbai Meri Jaan. The jersey is a badge of honour, a symbol of pride for all who wear it, as they get to express their love for the team while carrying with them a piece of its illustrious legacy. Designer Monisha Jaising said, The spirit of Mumbai & MI has always been a force to be reckoned with, and it lies in the relentless energy, diversity, undying optimism, the heart and the hard work that drives its favourite team and fans. It is this very essence that I have tried to capture in the design, inspiring both players and fans, knowing that they carry with them the heart of Mumbai and Mumbai Indians. The MI Paltan, Mumbai Indians fan army, will have the chance to cheer for their team from their fortress: The Wankhede Stadium. Coinciding with the launch of the jersey, MI has launched its membership packages, across multiple tiers for fans across all age groups. Memberships range from Rs. 2199 for Gold, Rs. 699 for Silver and Rs. 699 for the Junior package. Members will get early access to home match tickets, special discounts on exclusive merchandise, access to events, and special content from the MI family. The tickets for the fans have gone live now. Mumbai Indians will play their first home game on April 01, 2024. The national carrier of the State of Qatar has broken new ground at ITB Berlin 2024 with the successful launch of its holographic virtual cabin crew, Sama 2.0. Qatar Airways is the worlds first airline to develop the Artificial Intelligence powered digital human cabin crew to assist its passengers in designing curated travel experiences. Sama, meaning sky in Arabic, has taken centre stage at the new Qatar Airways stand during ITB Berlin. The biggest travel and tourism trade event saw the revolutionary showcase of Sama, who continues to interact with both visitors and media alike. Enabled by industry-leading conversational AI, she will continue to learn and develop over time to improve responses through passenger interactions. Sama 2.0 is ready to answer questions in real time such as Qatar Airways FAQs, destinations, support tips and more, and will be accessible through QVerse , Qatar Airways immersive digital platform, as well as through the Qatar Airways app. Sama is developed by Qatar Airways in partnership with UneeQ, a leader in AI digital human technology. This collaboration between Qatar Airways and UneeQ harnesses UneeQs innovative platform to enhance the digital travel experience and sets new standards in the aviation industry. The one-of-a-kind cabin crew is also poised to create benchmarks for personalised and functional service interactions in air travel. Qatar Airways Vice President Marketing, Babar Rahman, said: Sama 2.0 represents our relentless pursuit of innovation, and embodies Qatar Airways values of exceptional service and hospitality. This is a monumental point in spearheading the successful synergy between technology and human connection not only for Qatar Airways, but also for the industry at large. Qatar Airways affirms its commitment to leading and collaborating with innovation experts to create pioneering products and services for its customers. UneeQ Chief Executive Officer, Danny Tomsett, said: Sama embodies UneeQ's commitment to blending technology with empathy and personalisation, providing an innovative solution that aligns with Qatar Airways reputation for world-class service. She's a testament to the endless possibilities of AI, capable of delivering personalised and engaging interactions that mirror human conversation. Owing to its marked success in introducing and implementing the latest technologies to enhance passenger experiences, Qatar Airways has been continually lauded for its innovative efforts, with the latest recognition received from the World Travel Tech Awards for the Worlds Best Airline Website. Qatar Airways recently also unveiled its Generative AI experience for hassle-free and personalised travel planning at the Web Summit Qatar. The experience utilises comprehensive visual interactions and an interactive 3D map to understand customers' travel preferences, thereby eliminating the need for manual searches. Customers can thus seamlessly receive suggestions for their dream journeys across Qatar Airways network of over 170 destinations. March 8 marks the International Womens Day a day to celebrate women and their incredible strength, determination, contribution, achievements, and more. However, gender inequality is still existing in our world in the present times, requiring our immediate attention. According to the United Nations, there will be a staggering annual deficit of $360 billion in gender equality measures by 2030. The theme for Womens Day this year is Invest in Women: Accelerate progress, with the campaign theme being Inspire Inclusion, focussing on addressing the issue of economic disempowerment, putting great emphasis on the recognition of the importance of empowerment, diversity in several spheres of society, and the vital role of inclusion in the advancement of gender equality. Women are present in every walk of life, be it at homes where they play the role of mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, or domestic help and others, be it in educational institutions where they play the role of learners, educators, workers, be it in corporate offices where they deliver on their promises and take charge, or be it as decision makers and in other capacities, making significant contributions every day and being a source of inspiration for many. While some women get the required education, complete their schooling, and enter the workforce, many are deprived of even basic education but hold great potential requiring enough support. Women also sometimes lack self-belief and hesitate to be more than what they are because of societal pressure, trauma, and other reasons. Female labour force participation is approximately half of the global average of 47.3%, according to the World Bank. Indias ranking in Gender Gap rankings in the World Economic Forum stood at 127 out of 146 in 2023, behind Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Bangladesh. As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which came out on February 12, the male urban LFPR was 74.1% between October and December 2023, with the female urban LFPR standing at 25%. The participation of women in the organised sector witnessed an increase from 33% in the year 2023 to 36% in 2024. This Womens Day celebrating the economic, social, political, and cultural accomplishments of women worldwide, we should pledge to move towards a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse world where there is no discrimination against women in any form and inspire inclusion. Adgully spoke to a cross-section of women leaders who shared their inspiring insights on this Womens Day. Shruti Choudhari, Director - Projects & Strategy, B L Kashyap: On this International Womens Day, lets honour diversity and inclusivity by acknowledging the valuable contributions of individuals irrespective of gender. At BL Kashyap, a significant milestone has been reached in our ongoing campus placements. For the first time, we've had an equal number of shortlisted junior civil engineers, both men and women, from across India. It's noteworthy that many of the aspiring women engineers come from marginalized backgrounds and defy conventional norms. This significant shift reflects a changing societal and cultural mindset in a traditionally male-dominated bastion of Civil Construction. A milestone such as this fuels our continued commitment towards equal opportunity based on merit and demonstrates our confidence in the substantial potential of women in the construction sector. Over time, we've observed a steady increase in female participation in civil engineering roles, with women leading the charge in design, planning, billing, contracts, and today, even preferring to be part of execution on construction sites. Our goal for 2024 at BLK, is to continue cultivating an inclusive atmosphere, forging a path towards a brighter, more equitable future where everyone, regardless of gender, can flourish and succeed. Change is on the horizon, and it's unstoppable. Veronika Folkova, Senior Director, People Business Partners, Global Legal Organisation and APAC Region: Not only can women compete with men, they can excel too. Many women I talk to speak of imposter syndrome. Changing that mindset can be a difficult task. But it can be done. Women need to realize that they do have the skills to do jobs traditionally done by men. They need to be confident that their skills are good enough not just to develop their career, but to excel and reach the top flight. Not only do Women need to believe in themselves, but they also need to create the foundations for success. They need to surround themselves with a support network that will help them grow. Equal opportunity having equal representation between men and women at all stages is vital. Everyone brings something different to the table and everyone should be embraced as an individual. No matter who you are, believe in yourself. If nothing else, that's one superpower we all possess. Archana Shiroor, Chief Human Resource Officer, Yes Bank: Celebrating the brilliance of women on this day makes me realize the boundless potential waiting to be unleashed. And together we hold the incredible power within ourselves to mentor and empower one another on this collective journey. I am personally committed as a sponsor to the cause. Happy International Womens Day to all the wonderful women making a difference in the world! Anita Kukreja, Head of Strategic Alliances & Brand, IceWarp India: As we celebrate International Women's Day 2024, let's embrace the power of unity and inclusion in shaping a world where every woman's voice is heard, every dream is nurtured, and every opportunity is within reach. Together, let's forge pathways of empowerment and resilience, breaking barriers and redefining norms. Let this day serve as a reminder of the remarkable strength and potential inherent in every woman. As Head of Strategic Alliances & Brand at IceWarp India, I am proud to stand alongside incredible women everywhere, driving progress and shaping a future where equality and opportunity flourish. Radhika Singh, Global Lead, Learning, and Development (US, Europe, Japan and India), Creative Synergies Group: Career progression of female employees is intrinsically linked with the level of investment companies make in their profession, highlighting the role of nuances in progress assessment. While it is crucial to assess whether organizations prioritize the advancement of their female workforce, it is equally important to take the methodologies into account. After all, organizing a few learning and development workshops does not directly translate to tangible growth. In 2023, only 30% of organizations globally measured the impact and outcomes of their D&I initiatives. Measuring results is the cornerstone for enhancing programs and initiatives year-on-year. Embracing these progressive changes not only helps women hone their skill sets and develop their professional competencies, but it also fosters a culture where they feel acknowledged and valued. Strategically designed learning and development initiatives inspire inclusion, uplifting the organizations values and outlook in the long run. At Creative Synergies Group, we ensure that all our employee-based initiatives are followed by extensive feedback and assessment, thereby elevating the success rates of our programs, creating a culture that embraces change. Shalini Nair, Co-founder and Board Director, Ennoventure, Inc: The theme, Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, spotlights the importance of investing in women for the betterment of society and businesses alike. Research consistently shows that companies that prioritize gender diversity are more innovative, profitable, and socially responsible. A McKinsey report revealed that firms in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to experience above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile. This underscores the significant impact that women bring to the table driving innovation, fostering creativity, and leading sustainable practices. The empowerment of women triggers a ripple effect that benefits everyone. When women are supported, they elevate communities, boost economies, and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society. Their contributions are transformative, setting the foundation for a future where everyone can prosper. The multiplier effect of investing in women is profound, with every dollar spent generating a significant return in terms of social and economic outcomes. We understand the transformative power of investing in women, which is why our initiatives are geared towards maximizing their potential. This International Womens Day, Ennoventure, Inc. reiterates its dedication to advancing gender equality, inviting collaboration to further this crucial cause. Kanthi Aneesh, General Manager, Evolve Back, Evolve Back, Kuruba Safari Lodge, Kabini: Inspired by this years theme, Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, Evolve Back reaffirms its dedication to empowering women in the hospitality industry. Our commitment stems from the belief that by nurturing and uplifting the talents of women within our organisation, we not only expedite progress within our own sphere but also extend positive ripples to the communities we serve. At Evolve Back, we are privileged to have women who are intimately connected to the very locales where our resorts thrive. As we commemorate International Womens Day, let us unite in our efforts to cultivate an inclusive and equitable future. We envision a landscape where every woman in hospitality is empowered to flourish and contribute significantly to our industry. Recognising that investing in women is not just a moral imperative but a strategic imperative for the advancement of our collective journey towards excellence and sustainability in hospitality. Together, let us champion the cause of women's empowerment and accelerate progress for a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow. Dr Sasha Lake, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomy, St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada: International Womens Day, observed on March 8th, commemorates the exceptional contributions of women and honours their remarkable achievements. The history of humanity shows that women have been traditionally relegated to subordinate roles in society, including within the medical profession. However, time has changed, and more women are entering medicine. For women in healthcare, having access to supportive mentors and sponsors can be instrumental in overcoming barriers and achieving their professional goals. Both mentors and sponsors play critical roles in fostering the professional growth and success of individuals, especially in healthcare fields where it can be competitive. By providing both career and psychosocial support, mentors help you as their mentee develop the skills, confidence, and resilience needed to advance in their careers. Meanwhile, sponsors can significantly impact your career trajectory by actively advocating for you and opening doors to new opportunities. Embarking on the journey to become a doctor is both challenging and gratifying, especially for women considering entering the field. Trust in your passion for medicine and your commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. It will be important for you to have a game plan with goals that you will need to achieve to allow you to get into medical school. Do not be afraid to challenge yourself to develop leadership skills. Take on leadership roles in school clubs, community organizations, or research projects. Developing leadership skills will serve you well as a future healthcare professional. Seek out opportunities to gain exposure to the medical field through volunteering, internships, or shadowing experiences. This will give you valuable insights into the day-to-day life of a doctor and help you confirm your passion for medicine. While you are keeping yourself busy, remember to develop healthy habits and routines, and work-life balance. It is important to recognize the importance of maintaining a work-life balance throughout your academic journey and professional career, therefore take time to develop healthy habits, mindsets, and routines. Remember that a balanced lifestyle contributes not only to your well-being but also enhances your effectiveness as a future compassionate and dedicated healthcare professional. Chaitanya Bhamidipaty, Co-Founder, Roastea said: "Its Women's Day, and here at Roastea, we're doing something special to honor the incredible women in our lives. We're swapping out our usual coasters for something extra meaningful ones that celebrate the essence of womanhood. But thats not all. Whether you walk into our store or place an order online, you'll find these special coasters with your favorite drink. Why? Because it's about more than just a coaster. It's about recognizing and appreciating the remarkable contributions that women make every single day. From the big moments to the small ones, women are the backbone of our communities, our families, our workplaces you name it. So, as you reach for your cup and see one of these special coasters underneath, I want you to take a moment. Think about the women who have inspired you, supported you, and lifted you up. Think about the strides they've made, the barriers they've broken, and the dreams they've chased all while juggling a million other things. This isn't just about one day of recognition. It's a reminder to celebrate, to uplift, to stand beside the women who make our world brighter, stronger, and beautiful. So, here's to the moms, sisters, daughters, friends. Here's to the trailblazers, innovators, leaders, and fighters. Here's to every woman who has ever dared to dream and to make a difference. Go ahead, grab your beverage, and raise a toast to the women who inspire us, empower us, and to the women who make our world a better place. Cheers." The Federal Council Bern, 08.03.2024 - During its meeting on 8 March 2024, the Federal Council appointed Christoph Baumann, currently Deputy Head of the Planning and Strategy Division at the State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF), as Switzerland's representative on the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C., United States. The four-year term of office will start on 1 November 2024. He will initially be Deputy Executive Director for two years and then Executive Director. Christoph Baumann, aged 39, has been with SIF since June 2020 and is currently Deputy Head of the Planning and Strategy Division. In this role, he is envoy for sustainable finance, Switzerland's G20 Finance DD, and coordinator of Switzerland's participation in the G20 Finance Track. Before joining SIF, he worked at the Swiss National Bank in the area of financial stability, and was previously involved in establishing a securities dealer. He holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Zurich and various additional qualifications. Christoph Baumann's four-year term of office in Washington D.C. will begin on 1 November 2024, when the term of office of the current Executive Director, Marcel Peter, ends. In accordance with the alternating directorship of the Executive Board, Christoph Baumann will initially serve as deputy to the Polish Executive Director for the first two years, after which, subject to election by the IMF constituency, he will take over as Executive Director. Switzerland's representative on the Executive Board defends the country's interests in strategic, operational and administrative issues in the IMF. Aside from Switzerland and Poland, the members of Switzerland's constituency in the Bretton Woods institutions include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Address for enquiries Communications State Secretariat for International Finance SIF Tel. +41 58 462 46 16, info@sif.admin.ch Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html State Secretariat for International Financial Matters http://www.sif.admin.ch After a month of public consultation, Hong Kong presented a new draft security law on Friday, March 8. The document proposes life imprisonment for offenses including treason and insurrection. Other crimes, such as inciting a member of the Chinese military forces to mutiny and collaborating with foreign forces to harm or undermine public infrastructure in order to jeopardize national security, will carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. The proposed 20-year jail term for espionage was in the draft Article 23, whereas offenses involving state secrets were to carry a 10-year penalty. Prior to becoming law, the proposal must undergo a thorough examination by lawmakers throughout many rounds of discussion. Better National Security Protection On Thursday, March 7, Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee stressed the need to pass the bill quickly in light of the increasingly complicated geopolitical background. He stated: "The means taken to endanger national security can come in many different forms and the threat can emerge all of a sudden." He also pointed out that quicker legislative work means better national security protection. According to the official WeChat account of China's Ministry of National Security earlier this week, the proposed law is essential for Hong Kong to carry out its constitutional obligation to protect mainland security. Public consultation results revealed overwhelming support for the measure, with 98.6% of opinions in favor, as per a government statement. See Also: Hong Kong Customs Detain 7 Suspects Involved in $1.8 Billion Money Laundering Scandal Possibility of Suppressing Opposition In a report by CNBC, numerous pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong were arrested when a contentious legislation was enforced by Beijing four years ago, stifling criticism. China's 2020 national security legislation sought to outlaw terrorism, foreign meddling, secession, and the undermining of state authority. Meanwhile, the United States Department of State voiced its concerns on Article 23 in late February regarding the potential repression of dissent in Hong Kong by means of the threat of arrest and detention. See Also: Hong Kong Offers $2,500 Incentive for New Parents, but Housing Costs Still Pose a Challenge A controversial bill that would ban diversity efforts in state institutions and schools has passed the Alabama House of Representatives and is now just two steps away from becoming law. SB129, authored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, would prohibit government institutions, including state agencies, public schools and colleges, from funding a diversity, equity and inclusion office and from sponsoring DEI programs or any program that advocates for a divisive concept. It also would prohibit higher education institutions from allowing individuals to use a restroom that is different from their sex as assigned at birth. After nearly four hours of debate Thursday, the Alabama House passed an amended version of the bill on a 75-28 vote along party lines. The Senate will have to concur on the amendment before it goes to Gov. Kay Iveys desk to sign into law. Co-sponsor Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, on Thursday called diversity and inclusion programs radical and divisive offshoots of critical race theory that force students to accept a far-left ideology. After questioning, Oliver gave only one example of so-called indoctrination, noting a student who he said withdrew from a class after a teacher criticized law enforcement. Several Democrats challenged Olivers characterization of DEI programs, crediting those offices for improving diversity and student success on campus. Some lawmakers said they wouldnt be able to be on the floor today without the help of policies and programs aimed at improving educational access for Black students. Others questioned the sponsors intent, suggesting the bill was part of a larger political motive. I dont know how anybody can believe that your bill says that were all Gods children, and that we shouldnt be spending any money to make sure children are treated equally, Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, told Oliver. Origins of the bill Divisive concepts bills first emerged after a 2020 Executive Order from former President Donald Trump, which targeted diversity trainings in government institutions and took aim at critical race theory, a 50-year-old legal concept typically taught in law school classes. Alabamas bill, which originated in 2021, has been moving swiftly through the legislature this year unlike previous versions that never reached final passage. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, at least 22 states have introduced legislation targeting college diversity and inclusion efforts as of July 2023. In Florida and Texas, some colleges have already terminated dozens of DEI positions and have threatened funding for student groups. In Alabama, at least eight public colleges have a specific office dedicated to diversity and inclusion efforts. Combined, the institutions reported at least $16 million in spending on wide-ranging diversity efforts, including student and staff recruitment, improving graduation rates, and supporting cultural events and programs on campuses. Oliver noted a legislative review of the expenditures, claiming the costs of DEI efforts were outpacing improvements in campus diversity. What we believe at this point is that these programs dont work, he told legislators. A fiscal note now says that the legislation could reduce expenditures by an undetermined amount, depending on how much institutions are currently spending on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. What the bill would do The original legislation listed nine so-called divisive concepts, with most covering topics related to race, ethnicity, sex, religion and national origin. The bill will no longer prohibit college staff from discussing whether slavery and racism are aligned with the founding principles of the United States. It will add specific protections for womens sports, the state Office of Minority of Affairs, funding for student and staff organizations, and would add sex to the list of protected classes in places where it was omitted. The bill also says it will not impede federal reporting requirements or support services, prohibit housing or organizations that are segregated by sex, or affect student group activities or certain circumstances relating to accreditation. Students or staff may host a DEI program or event, it added, but must not use state money to fund it. Rep. Prince Chestnut, D-Selma, offered an amendment Thursday that would add protections for academic freedom, intellectual diversity and free expression. The House unanimously approved the change. AL.com asked a handful of universities the UA System, Auburn, The University of South Alabama and Alabama State University whether they would eliminate DEI offices and staff roles if the bill passed. So far, no universities have given a direct answer, but some said they will continue to work with legislators and act consistently with the law. As a land-grant university, Auburn is committed to delivering exceptional experiences and support to all of our students with particular emphasis on providing access and opportunity to the citizenry of Alabama so that they benefit fully from an Auburn education, an Auburn spokeswoman said in a statement. We work hard each day at Auburn to create an environment where our faculty, staff and students are welcomed, valued, respected and engaged. We remain committed to providing these exceptional experiences while continuing to support academic freedom and freedom of expression. As always, Auburn will act consistently with applicable state and federal law. The Alabama State Department of Education has not responded to a request for comment by the time of publication. No public school systems appear to have a DEI office or dedicated DEI staff, but some student clubs could be affected. We must be honest In a statement Thursday morning, Montgomery Public Schools Superintendent Melvin Brown said the bill could also thwart efforts of local educators, who work hard to create a culture of belonging, and ensure their classrooms allow students to feel safe and prepared for a changing world. Given the historical context of our countrys experiences, we must be honest about who we have been, who we are, and who we want to be, the statement read. Everyone deserves to see that he or she is reflected in and celebrated by our society. In a news release Thursday, the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund called the bill unconscionable and said it would set a dangerous precedent for students and teachers. Advocates noted how, over the past few weeks, the legislation has sparked protests across Alabama college campuses and in the state house halls. Students want diversity, equity and inclusion in their schools and institutions of higher learning because they know that when these programs are in place, they can freely be themselves without fear of harm, said Jerome Dees of the SPLC Action Fund. A petition created by students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to oppose SB129 has gained over 5,400 signatures as of Wednesday evening. At UA, after nearly 200 students rallied in support of the schools DEI programs, the student government passed a resolution opposing the bill. On Wednesday, more than 100 students representing colleges across the state traveled to the state capitol to tell lawmakers how diversity programs have improved their campus experience, made them more equipped for the workplace, and, at some points, saved their lives. Some said the bill would threaten programs that helped female students get jobs, and made accommodations for veterans and international students. Others said their professors are terrified of losing their jobs. Students also worried about the future of HBCUs in the state. At the rally, Miguel Luna, the co-founder of a Hispanic-led organization at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, credited a DEI employee for improving access to bilingual families. The school now offers tours for prospective students in Spanish, thanks to her work. This progress is an example of what DEI programs can do, and its another example of how much can be taken away, he said. The Senate remains in session and will need to concur on the amended bill before it goes to the governor. If the Senate does not concur, the bill will go to a conference committee. Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Neil Young is heading out soon with the rock band Crazy Horse for their 2024 Love Earth Tour. The tour begins April 24 in San Diego, Calif., and ends May 23 in Chicago. The tour will bring Young and Crazy Horse to Huntsville, Ala., to perform May 5 at the Orion Amphitheater. The show then travels to Alpharetta, Ga. on May 7 to perform at the Ameris Bank Amphitheater, and FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin, Tenn., May 8. Neil Young performs at the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival at Napa Valley Expo in Napa, Calif., in 2019 (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)Amy Harris/Invision/AP The tour supports for their joint album FU##IN UP, which will be released in full on April 26. Among the numerous awards in his long career, Young has been inducted into the Hall of Fame as a solo performer and with Buffalo Springfield. Fans of Neil Young and Crazy Horse can find tickets on secondary market websites, such as StubHub, Vivid Seats, TicketNetwork and Ticket City. Slutty Vegan CEO Pinky Cole will appear in Birmingham this weekend at Avondale Gallery and Loft for a ticketed lunch event and public book signing. The vegan restauranteur is not just known for her multiple Slutty Vegan locations, but also her Bar Vegan location in Atlanta, philanthropy work, and teaming up with her husband Derrick Hayes on other vegan business ventures. Since Cole opened the Birmingham Slutty Vegan location, the first outside of Atlanta, she has opened other locations in Dallas and New York City. However, she makes it clear that Birmingham was where she had to learn all the ropes of opening a restaurant in another city, and it set her up for success in opening her other out-of-state locations. Birmingham was the springboard to be able to identify things will be different...I was used to Atlanta systems, county and state taxes. So coming to Alabama, the laws and permits are set up differently, Cole told AL.com. So there were a lot of learning curves that took us over a year to be able to identify. But now, I feel like we have arrived and were past the toddler stage. Last summer, the Birmingham Slutty Vegan location was vandalized after someone threw a brick through the glass entrance door. Cole said they didnt open an investigation. The reality of it is theres so much going on, and we have insurance, she said. It was unfortunate, but it allowed us to focus on best practices. So we installed shatter proof windows and doors in our restaurants. I have a policy that when s--t happens, we put policy in place. So when things happen in my businesses, we just learn from them. The location was also temporarily closed for about a week at the end of 2022 and early 2023 due to an unforeseen mechanical issue. But when AL.com asked Cole about how the business has performed since opening in Birmingham, she said the restaurant meets her expectations. Birmingham Slutty Vegan is actually profitable, Cole said. That is one of my profitable locations. Which Im happy about because if you know anything about the restaurant industry, restaurants arent profitable. We have new management in place, we have new team members in place. We have a good group of people. I dont have to worry about Birmingham the store because I have people properly running the store. In the last few years, Coles personal life has drastically changed with the having three kids in three years and getting married to Hayes last summer. She mentioned that the transition has taken her away from her businesses, but plans to be back in full force in 2024. I had other people running the business. I just came back to run the day to day operations, she said. My motto for 2024 is get that old thang back. She offered advice to mommy hustlers who are trying to balance it all: Some people may not like this advice, but if you are an entrepreneur, a creative, or work a 9-to-5, utilize your money in a way that will bring you a peace of mind. Money shouldnt just only buy clothes, money shouldnt just only pay rent. Money should allow you the ability to hire some body to do your laundry so you can lock in on business. Money is going to give you the ability to hire a night nanny, so you can get some rest if youre a newborn mom. Money is going to give you the ability to be able hire an assistant, so that you can focus on making the main thing the main thing and going out and speaking, and representing your brand. So that you can get to a space afford to have money, all you got to do is prioritize where your money goes. Cole also offered advice to Birmingham restauranteurs: Always be a student. Even for me, with six years of Slutty Vegan, I still dont know what I dont know. You should always be a student. You should always try to learn how to be a better operator of a better business. Gone are the times that were running mom and pop shops. Even if the business is small, even if there isnt a lot of revenue, we treat our brands like billion dollar brands because you never know who is watching. This is an opinion cartoon. My colleague, AL.com journalist Williesha Morris has done impeccable work in straight-arrow, factual reporting of the Alabama libraries book ban challenges issue. Please, read the comprehensive overview of her work in the latest story: Inside the blistering battle over Alabama libraries: Burn the freaking books - al.com Unfortunately, as an opinion cartoonist and half-ass columnist, I dont have to abide by the same code of conduct as my polite professional colleague, Ms. Morris. Alabama libraries are under fire by a bunch of rabid right-wing modern day witch burners. No surprise. Its another example of Alabama politics at its worst. Political fear mongering, paranoia and ignorance fuels this firestorm. The villains represented in this cartoon are (L-R): Clean Up Alabama, Moms for Liberty, Eagle Forum, Gov. Kay Ivey and State Sen. Chris Elliott. (Youre welcome, yall.) Others, such as Alabama GOP Party chair/Alabama Public Library Service board member, John Wahl, 1819 News guy Bryan Dawson and Alabama AG Steve Marshall are crouching behind the burning stake. Here are a few excerpts from Morriss story: After opening in prayer at a church about 15 miles northwest of the state capital, panelists spoke of pornography in libraries, calling library board members cowards for not doing their jobs. Then the leader of a political website remarked about book challenges in Alabamas public libraries. Burn the freaking books, said Bryan Dawson, the president of 1819 News, a website that publishes articles and conservative political commentary. Burn them. I dont care. Which books get challenged in Alabama libraries? See the list. The group behind many recent book challenges across the state is Clean Up Alabama, a nonprofit that first formed in Prattville, a city northwest of Montgomery. The group last fall hosted a forum titled Fighting to End the Sexualization of Children in Libraries, where Dawson suggested burning books that are included on Clean Up Alabamas list of inappropriate books, a recording of the event shows. Gov. Kay Ivey threatened to defund libraries that expose children to inappropriate materials. Months later, Steve Marshall, the attorney general of Alabama, affirmed that the states public library service can withhold funding from local libraries. Some librarians moved young adult books to the adult section, a move that qualifies as censorship, according to library advocacy organizations. One library in north Alabama even flagged a book for removal because the authors last name is Gay. LeVar Burton addresses book flagged by Alabama library because authors last name is Gay - al.com Read Me a Story, Stella, the childrens book by Canadian author Marie-Louise Gay, found its way onto that list because of the authors last name, sparking national headlines and jokes on late-night talk shows. Months later, LeVar Burton, the longtime Reading Rainbow host, mentioned the snafu in Banned Book Rainbow, a parody sketch on Jimmy Kimmel Live. When 55 books were challenged in Fairhope, the community packed public meetings in protest. This is a form of censorship, said library board chair Anne Johnson during one crowded city council meeting in September. There are young people in our community who may be struggling with their identity, with the teen years, who may not have a support system at home, or at school or at their church, who may be being bullied or even suicidal. And we may have books in the library that can help get them through a difficult period. No one person or group has the right to dictate what books and information others have access to. I think that what Clean Up Alabama has done is they have made people afraid of something that is not even happening, said Prattville resident Angie Hayden, who helped create the group Read Freely Alabama to combat book challenges. Library critics, without evidence, have even suggested that librarians are distributing sex toys and pornographic magazines to children. At Clean Up Alabamas sexualization of children forum, Dawson said hed prefer Playboy magazines over current library offerings. Dawson did not respond to requests for comment from AL.com. The debate over library books has become so sensitive that Gov. Ivey has weighed in and threatened to cut state funding if changes werent made to ensure that local libraries dont expose children to inappropriate materials. Read all of Williesha Morriss report here. More stories about censorship and Alabama libraries Amish romance books, Rush Limbaugh under review after complaints to Alabama library agency - al.com Alabama library updates book policy after challenges: No one is grooming children - al.com Alabamas inappropriate book list may not help local staff make decisions: Librarian - al.com More cartoons by JD Crowe GOP owns this IVF minefield: Theocracy is a dangerous playground - al.com Vote frozen embryo for Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice - al.com Steve Marshalls law: Alabamas war against diversity - al.com Latest Alabama star in transfer portal hits Nick Saban hard - al.com True stories and stuff by JD Crowe The mysterious Bubble Guy of Fairhope and the art of bubble Zen - al.com How I met Dr. Seuss Robert Plant head-butted me. Thanks, David Coverdale I was ZZ Tops drummer for a night and got kidnapped by groupies Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @jdcrowe@al.com. The state trial for Carlee Russells appeal of her municipal conviction of faking her own abduction has been canceled and a plea hearing set. Russells trial was set for March 18 before Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff Circuit Judge David Carpenter. The judge on Thursday ordered the trial removed from the docket and set a March 21 plea hearing date. Russells attorney, Emory Anthony, said he could not comment on what may or may not happen at the plea hearing. Russell, 26, pleaded not guilty on Oct. 11, 2023, to charges of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident. Despite her plea, Hoover Municipal Judge Brad Bishop found her guilty based on the recommendation of state prosecutors. Bishop recommended one year in jail and $17,874 in restitution. He also recommended two fines of $831 each. In municipal court, there is no jury trial. The constitution allows anyone who faces jail time to have their case heard and decided by a jury of their peers. Often defendants will appeal a verdict to Jefferson County Circuit Court to take the case to a jury trial. Anthony said following last years municipal hearing they would appeal the verdict because state prosecutors want Russell to serve jail time. Anthony said Russells legal team completely disagrees with jail time for a Class A misdemeanor, especially when its Russells first offense. Alabama lawmakers are seeking to toughen the consequences for making a false abduction claim. A bill before the legislature would make faking an abduction a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Read full coverage of the case here Russell seemingly vanished Thursday, July 13, after calling 911, and a family member, to report seeing a child, about 3 or 4 years old only wearing a diaper, walking alone on I-459. The family member reported hearing a scream, and then only interstate noise through the open cell phone line. Russells disappearance sparked a massive search and widespread concern. Two days later, Russell showed up alone at her parents Hoover home. She was taken to UAB Hospital for evaluation. While in the hospital, Russell told Hoover police she escaped the clutches of a man and woman who abducted her. She did not speak with Hoover investigators again after that initial interview. Asked why Russell faked her own abduction, Anthony previously said thats something that will eventually come to light. Were dealing with issues with Carlee, and we want the best for Carlee, Anthony said. We realize a mistake was made but we dont want to just pile on right now. A shooting inside a Birmingham warehouse that left a man critically injured resulted from a dispute over money between two employees, according to authorities. Birmingham police on Thursday night announced the arrest of 36-year-old Antoine Dailey. He is charged with attempted murder in the wounding of the victim. Just before 8:50 a.m. Monday, officers were dispatched to Dawson Tarpaulins Inc. at 2617 24th Street North on a report of a shooting. The business manufactures tarps for 18-wheelers. Officer Truman Fitzgerald said they arrived to find the victim an adult male employee- shot multiple times. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service rushed him to UAB Hospital with critical injuries. He remains in stable condition. The victim, whose identity has not been released, was working when police say Dailey entered the warehouse and fired shots. Police said Dailey also worked at the business. Officer Truman Fitzgerald said Dailey surrendered to police on Wednesday. The Jefferson County District Attorneys Office obtained warrants against him on Thursday. Fitzgerald said the motive in the shooting appears to be an ongoing dispute over the victim owing Dailey money. Daileys bond is set at $60,000. The U.S. Department of Justices investigation into how the Southern Baptist Convention handled allegations of sexual abuse in its individual churches and institutions may not be over. Victims, advocacy groups and activists say they have been told the probe is still ongoing. Earlier this week, The Tennessean reported that a statement from denominations executive body said the investigation had been completed. On February 29, 2024, counsel for the SBC Executive Committee was informed that the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York concluded its investigation into the EC (executive committee) with no further action to be taken, SBC Executive Committee interim president/CEO Jonathan Howe said in statement following a request for comment. Howe did not comment on whether other SBC-affiliated agencies, or entities, are still under investigation. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment. However, the Religious News Service is reporting that advocates and victims were told that the lead DOJ investigator had no more questions for the Executive Committee, and but that the investigation remains open. Then, on Thursday, Baptist Press reported that legal counsel for the SBC confirmed that the investigation into the SBC as a whole remains open and ongoing, The DOJ has never publicly commented on the case, as it was the convention itself that announced in August 2022 that federal investigators were looking into multiple Southern Baptist Convention entities. The investigation began after a scathing 288-page investigative report issued in May 2022 showed conventions leaders stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse over almost two decades while seeking to protect their own reputations. The report named 34 Alabama ministers. The SBCs Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF) released a statement through its website: Southern Baptists initiated the work of sexual abuse reform not in response to criminal inquiries or threats of lawsuits but due to an increasing burden and awareness that vulnerable people were suffering harm in many of our churches and institutions, which were vastly underresourced to care for and protect them. In fact, Southern Baptists have recognized this need for significant and effective abuse reform as early as the 2018 SBC Annual Meeting, more than four years before the Department of Justice mounted its inquiry into the SBCs handling of sexual abuse. For nearly two years, the ARITF has carried forward the work of abuse reform in the SBC driven by the urgent need to ensure churches have the help and resources required to prevent and respond to sexual abuse. Irrespective of any actions the Department of Justice may or may not take, the goal of abuse reform is to ensure SBC churches and entities are consistently able to protect and care for the vulnerable with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. That is not only a worthy goal, but a gospel imperative. Several of the survivors who have spoken publicly about their experiences posted on social media about the news: B I N G O Winner winner https://t.co/1RWJPKKNIN Tiffany Thigpen (@ThigpenTiffany) March 8, 2024 Much ambiguity about whether @SBCExecComm statement was accurate. Multiple reports say it wasn't. But EVEN IF it was, non-pursuit of federal criminal charges against 1 SBC entity is incredibly limited; it's NOT a vindication. https://t.co/E5gj7SM3ak https://t.co/oirD1Qk7SW Christa Brown (@ChristaBrown777) March 7, 2024 Naomi Ruth Barber King, the widow of the Rev. Alfred Daniel A.D. King and the founder of a service foundation bearing his name, has died. Known as Butterfly because of her love for butterfly pins and jewelry, she was 92. Our beloved and cherished Butterfly has taken flight, her daughter Alveda King said. Words cannot express our joy and sorrow. Thank you for your love and prayers. Alveda King said she died peacefully Thursday. A private family memorial service will be held March 15. The family has not released details of a public service scheduled for March 16. Her passing marks the close of a generational chapter for the King family. Each sibling of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and their spouses have died. Naomi Kings husband, A.D. King, drowned in 1969. Martin Luther King Jr.s sister, Christine King Farris, died in June of 2023. Her husband, Isaac Newton Farris Sr., died in 2017. A statement by the King Center noted that Naomi King was a strong supporter of the family and its work. For years, she worked in the King Centers bookstore and regularly traveled with Coretta Scott King. She continued her work with youth at The King Center, serving 10 years as a consistent panelist for Students with King, the King Center wrote. The students were often intrigued by her presence and were always eager to ask her personal questions about the King family and her relationship with Dr. and Mrs. King. Naomi Ruth Barber was born on Nov. 17, 1931, in Dothan, Alabama. She was raised by her mother, Bessie Barber. In 1944, when she was 13, she and her mother moved to Atlanta. She met A.D. King at a YMCA dance. I saw a charming young man in him, she said in 2014. He was very lovable and outgoing, and he had a wonderful personality. After graduating from Washington High School in 1949, she enrolled at Spelman College. She and A.D. married in June 1950. Spelman at the time had a rule that pregnant students were not allowed. When Naomi was pregnant with Alveda, who was born in 1951, she had to drop out. A.D. worked a string of jobs, and his family settled into the King family home, now known as The Birth Home. Four more children Alfred, Derek, Esther and Vernon followed. In 1961, A.D. took over as pastor of First Baptist Church of Ensley, just outside Birmingham, Alabama. Before Birmingham, his civil rights activities had been limited. But he and his church would play a key role in Birmingham, where he was arrested several times. In 1963, their Birmingham home was bombed. The family moved to Kentucky in 1965 after A.D. took a job as pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Louisville. There, he formed the Kentucky Christian Leadership Conference and fought for fair housing. On occasion, he would travel with his brother, and he was with Martin in Memphis on April 4, 1968. She bravely endured the bombings of their Birmingham home and one of the churches her husband pastored in Louisville, the King Center wrote in a statement. She continued to support Rev. A.D. King until his untimely death in 1969, which she publicly labeled a murder. On July 21, 1969, 15 months after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, A.D.s body was discovered in the bottom of the familys swimming pool. Although the death was ruled accidental, his family has long believed that A.D. was murdered. Three of Naomi Kings children also died before her. Losing my husband was one degree of sadness, Naomi King said in 2014. But losing three children was even more heartbreaking. You never get over it. In 2008, Naomi created the A.D. King Foundation. It is dedicated to the empowerment of youth and women and the advancement of strategies for nonviolent social change. Mrs. King set an example of courage, resilience and grace in the face of injustice, uncertainty and heartache, the A.D. King Foundation wrote in a statement. In 2022, the foundation released a documentary about her that built on those themes, The Butterfly Queen: From Tragedy to Peace. As we grieve her departure from this life, we do so with hope and gratitude. We thank God for the blessing of our beloved Naomi King who modeled Jesus love, serving as an anchor of our community and an inspiration to many around the world. King is survived by Alveda King; a son, Derek King; ten grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. I know she is in a better place. When I look at pictures of her from the good days, I know she is rejoicing, said granddaughter Celeste Beal. Knowing that she is not in pain, I am not sad. I dont feel like I lost her, she gained a body that matches her spirit. Instead of gifts and flowers, the family is asking that donations, as well as condolences, be sent to the A.D. King Foundation. _____ 2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Madison County investigators have charged a man with murder following a death Thursday. According to the sheriffs office, deputies received a call reporting a dead man at 1790 Capshaw Road in the Harvest community. The man, later identified as Derek Franklin Walls, 54, of Harvest, was found inside a residence. Detectives have arrested and charged Kyle Hayden Lewter, 36, with murder. Investigators believe a physical altercation between the two, who knew each other, led to Walls death. Lewter was taken to Madison County Jail to be held without bond until an Aniahs Law hearing. Along with the constant threats of bombings, famine has loomed over Gaza and the West Bank for months. Now, the Associated Press has reported that acute hunger in northern Gaza has caused the deaths of at least 20 people due to malnutrition at Kamal Adwan and Shifa hospitals, according to the Health Ministry. Most of the dead are children, as well as a 15-year-old boy and a man in his 70s. Children are particularly vulnerable to malnourishment for several reasons, but their still-developing brains and bodies are primary among them. These deaths took place in the north, which was the first portion of Gaza to suffer bombardment and bore the brunt of the early Israeli invasion. However, the effects are starting to be felt in the South as well. 16 premature babies have died of malnourishment at Emirati Hospital in Rafah over the past five weeks, according to senior doctors on the scene. "The child deaths we feared are here," Adele Khodr, UNICEF's Middle East chief, lamented in statement earlier this week. It is difficult to fathom the agony of slow death due to malnourishment, which strikes children and the elderly first and hardest. Additionally, underfed mothers have difficulty breastfeeding due to a lack of proteins. Also, the destroyed sanitation and water infrastructure has become a catalyst for diarrheal diseases which leave victims unable to retain the nourishment they are able to ingest, according to UNICEF. The Israeli offensive has largely slowed the delivery of food, water, medicine, and supplies to a virtual trickle. In signature fashion, Israel has blamed the looming famine and dearth of supplies on UN agencies' failure to distribute supplies. UNRWA, the largest U.N. agency in Gaza, says Israel restricts some goods and imposes cumbersome inspections that slow entry. Additionally, the UN says convoys are regularly turned back by Israeli forces and the military often refuses passage during combat. This week Israel has said it will open crossings for aid into northern Gaza and allow sea shipments.Dr. Husam Abu Safiya, the acting head of Kamal Adwan Hospital, told the AP his staff currently treats 300 to 400 children a day, and that 75% of them are suffering from malnutrition. The United States and other countries have employed airdrops into Gaza but the amounts are nothing compared to the volume of truck deliveries. UNRWA says Israel has not allowed deliveries in northern Gaza for months. Last week, the Israeli military organized a food delivery in Gaza City that resulted in the deaths of 120 people as troops guarding the convoy opened fire on what they say was a perceived threat, with some being trampled in the ensuing chaos as well. At Emirati Hospital, Dr. Ahmed al-Shair, deputy head of the nursery unit, said the recent deaths of premature babies were rooted in malnutrition among mothers. Malnourishment and extreme stress are both factors causing premature, underweight births, and doctors say anecdotally cases have risen during the war, though the U.N. does not have statistics. Last week HNGN reported that the United States military has been ordered by the Biden administration to build a temporary port for the delivery of supplies to the stricken Palestinian population. This will allow for the delivery of aid capacity that is far greater than can be done by airdrops and convoys. A man charged with murder in Madison County Thursday has ties to several Alabama Republican campaigns and organizations. According to the sheriffs office, deputies received a call reporting a dead man at 1790 Capshaw Road in the Harvest community. The man, later identified as Derek Franklin Walls, 54, of Harvest, was found inside a residence. Detectives have arrested and charged Kyle Hayden Lewter, 36, with murder. Brent Patterson, spokesman for the Madison County Sheriffs Office, said the case is not tied to Lewters political activity. The factual circumstances of this death investigation are not related to any political activities that Mr. Lewter was engaged in, Patterson said. Investigators believe a physical altercation between the two, who knew each other, led to Walls death. In a Facebook post, the sheriffs office said Walls was not shot. Lewter, in a 2017 interview, said he had done campaign work for former U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks and former U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions. A social media post from 2022 identifies him as the chairman of Madison County Young Republicans. WHNT is reporting that Lewter had a paid position with Alabama State Sen. Tom Butler. Attempts to reach Butlers office for comment were not immediately successful. In a statement to WAFF, Butler said news of Lewters arrest left him speechless and saddened for all families involved. Lewter was taken to Madison County Jail to be held without bond until an Aniahs Law hearing. Shelby Thorson, who identifies herself as the daughter of Derek Walls, has set up a GoFundMe page to pay for funeral expenses. My dads life was taken from him in the middle of the night on March 6th, the post reads. Due to this unexpected passing nothing was in place to help with any of the funeral expenses. I would like to have a small service where everyone can get together in remembrance of my father. If anyone would like to donate to help get things together that would be wonderful. Thank you all so much for the love and support. A team of firefighters worked for at least 1 1/2 hours to rescue a U-Haul driver who was trapped under a collapsed concrete beam on Birminghams Southside. The rescue operation began about 12:30 p.m. Friday in the parking deck at Cortland Vesta apartments on Highland Avenue. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Battalion Chief Clay Hendon said the driver of the U-Haul was trying to enter the parking deck but did not have the height clearance to do so. The top of the truck hit the beam, which caused it to collapse. The beam came crashing down on the cab of the truck. The beam is about 40 feet long and estimated to weigh 60,000 pounds. Two passengers in the U-Haul were able to self-extricate and were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver was trapped in the cab from the knees down. He was alert and talking with firefighters throughout the ordeal. Firefighters specializing heavy rescue worked to stabilize the beam so it didnt move further. Once that happened, Weil Wrecker brought in three large trucks which were able to use hydraulics to lift the beam enough - only inches - so firefighters could cut the truck and free the driver. Shortly before 3 p.m., the driver was rescued. He was taken to UAB Hospital in stable condition with injuries to at least one of his legs. This is an opinion column. Dont adjust your television. What we saw wasnt an AI deepfake. That was Katie Britt. That speech happened. But dont call it real. The junior Senator from Alabama gave up being genuine a while back, and on Thursday night, her phoniness rose to the surface in full view of millions of Americans. Theres nothing I can quote from Britts speech that can convey the strangeness of it the mismatched emotions, the smiles in the wrong places, the jaw clenched when it shouldnt have been just the indescribable weirdness. It was something that had to be seen, but even then, couldnt be understood like postmodernism, avant-garde performance art or an involuntary behavioral science experiment. It was supposed to be a rebuttal to the State of the Union, but the best argument for Britts success was that, after it was over, no one was talking about Joe Bidens speech. Katie Britt glitched out on national television and left millions of Americans asking what the heck they just watched. Even had she not, the odds were stacked against her. The rebuttal to the State of the Union has always been a trap for the politically ambitious. It doesnt matter how many bleached bones lie at the bottom of that pit, someone new will try to jump across when given the chance a dangerous shortcut to becoming a national political figure. And theyll be impaled at the bottom on its spikes with all the rest somewhere between Bobby Jindal and Marco Rubios water bottle. Thursday night, it was Britts turn to try. All she had to do was look into the camera and read, but she tried to do more. Too much more. Her handlers attempted to brand this political newcomer as Americas mom, but instead, she came off as the aunt whos been spending too much time on Facebook, and if you dont change the subject soon, shes going to tell you about sex dungeons beneath the pizza parlor. I supposed we should focus on the substance of Britts speech, instead of its delivery, but that, too, seemed written by ChatGPT. There was a lot of talk about illegal immigration and the border. Only Britt lacks the standing anymore to speak to such things. She lost it after she helped put together a deal to fund border security (and aid for Israel and Ukraine) and then voted to kill that deal because it might hurt Donald Trumps political odds in the fall. The border talk was as phony as her smile. There was the anecdote about the retiree in Chilton County who had to work a gas station cash register to pay for his medication. For a second, I thought Britt might get behind Medicaid expansion and then I reminded myself shes a Republican from Alabama and we dont do that here. Nor did she offer other options. And then, there was the story of the sex-trafficking victim she says she met at the border. Her description of the crimes was horrific and such criminality deserves our attention, only Britt didnt say what should be done for such women except building an impenetrable wall. And how are we to take such talk seriously from someone who endorsed Trump for president after a jury found him liable for having sexually assaulted a woman and then defaming her when she complained about it? Britt seems to care about sexual predators except when theyre picking running mates. For months, Britt hesitated to back Trump, saying she wanted to remain neutral as the political process played out only to endorse him hours before other GOP hopefuls debated in her home state. Weve seen this sort of thing before in Alabama. Years ago, Congressman Artur Davis had such ambitions for higher office. A political robot, he couldnt find a path through the bizzaro world of Alabama politics, either, and rebooted himself again and again until he couldnt win a campaign for Montgomery City Council. And then, of course, there was George Wallace, who ran as a racial moderate until he realized that wasnt how he could get elected in Alabama, then flipped again after the Voting Rights Act put ballots in the hands of Black Alabamians. Britts problem is an old one in Alabama politics she couldnt be genuine and win. So she chose to be fake. There might be a simple explanation for Britts odd delivery Thursday night: Perhaps she couldnt believe what she was saying either. And like so many Alabama politicians before her, she left us asking Was she ever real? Kyle Whitmire is the 2023 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for commentary. You can follow him on Threads here and subscribe to his weekly newsletter, Alabamafication. For months, the prognosticators labeled Alabamas newly drawn 2nd Congressional district as a Democratic district, removing it from so-called toss up categories by noting that President Joe Biden would have won it by 12 percentage points in 2020. But Tuesdays primary turnout illustrated that its a whole new ballgame. Democrats cast only 161 more votes than Republicans during the primary contest within the counties that consist of the newly drawn district. And Republicans, with two candidates from Montgomery and amid consistent low turnout in Mobile, now believe they got a shot to pull an upset. I think what that shows us is this district is in play for Republicans, said Angi Horn, a Montgomery-based political strategist. John Wahl, chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, said the turnout was competitive, illustrating how close general election results will be. We know the federal court openly designated this district to lean Democrat; however, we believe the Republican Party better represents the people of District 2 and the values they believe in, Wahl said. Several factors from Tuesdays primary illustrate the competitiveness of the district, according to political observers: Mobile County continues to struggle with turnout. With the largest number of voters in the 2nd district, the county had 36,964 voters show up, or 18.6% of their voting-age population who were eligible to cast a ballot in the 2nd district congressional race. Montgomery County, by comparison, had 38,592 voters show up Tuesday more than 1,600 voters than Mobile County despite having 21,000 fewer voting age residents living within the 2nd district. More than 6,500 Montgomery County Democrats showed up to cast a ballot over Republicans whereas the reverse was true in Mobile County where more than 2,100 Republicans cast a primary ballot. The district is purple, and the two candidates on the GOP side could be presented as moderate choices former State Sen. Dick Brewbaker, who has participated in Democratic-leaning candidate forums and political novice Caroleen Dobson who, despite strong conservative messaging ahead of the primary, has been loosely compared to current Republican U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, according to political observers. Jon Gray, a political strategist in Mobile, said he believed a female Republican candidate has the potential to appeal to moderate voters. The Alabama State Democratic Party has a recent history of internal strife and a lack of resources to support a candidate in a fierce campaign. Those divisions resurfaced on Monday when, less than 24 hours before the primary, longtime Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC) head Joe Reed blasted the eventual two frontrunners in the primary Shomari Figures, an ex-aide to former President Barack Obama and Alabama State Rep. Anthony Daniels, the House Minority Leader for receiving support from groups with Republican ties. You had 11 Democrats, the ADC, the New South Coalition, Shomari Figures, Napoleon Bracy, two state senators, four to five elected officials all running that is the height of local campaigning and these people turned out 57,000 voters? Thats it? Gray said. What makes anyone think they will do better than that in a general election in a state where Donald Trump is a foregone conclusion (to win the general election), and you do not have a viable Democratic Party apparatus? Get out the vote The Alabama Democratic Party did not respond to a request for comment on the turnout, but Mobile County Democratic Party Chairman Ben Harris said he is anticipating a significant boost in Mobile County in November with the presidential election on the ballot. The county had an overall 20.7% turnout rate on Tuesday, despite the entire countys voting age population eligible to cast a ballot in either the 2nd district congressional race or the 1st congressional Republican primary pitting two incumbent congressman Jerry Carl of Mobile and Barry Moore of Enterprise. Moore, with strong support and higher turnout from the Wiregrass area, defeated Carl, who had 73% support in Mobile County. Harris said the countys Democratic Party will be focused on a get-out-the-vote effort ahead of November. We think (the 2nd district) gives us a really unique and remarkable opportunity to do that while encouraging Democratic voters, he said. We certainly have in Mobile County, something to vote for in November and in the runoff in April. We are excited about that, and we do think we will see a significant boost in turnout. The Democratic candidates are also confident that the voters will show up as the campaign progresses, and after the 18-candidate field has been whittled down to four following Tuesdays primary. The primary runoffs in the 2nd district are set for April 16. Daniels said that Democrats outpaced Republicans in turnout albeit slightly and believes there is already enthusiasm. From the recent IVF rulings by the Alabama Supreme Court to ongoing Republican attempts to restrict reproductive choice, Medicaid expansion, and public-school funding, Democratic voters in the 2nd district are energized by the frustration of being overlooked, he said in a statement to AL.com. The Figures campaign is planning for its grass-roots approach so voters can get to better know the candidate who is the son of longtime state Sen. Vivian Figures and the late Michael Figures, who was also a state senator. We are confident voters will come out again to support a candidate who will fight to lower health care costs, improve access to quality education, and make this economy work for all of Alabama, said Lindsey McAdory, campaign manager for Figures. Mobiles troubles 19 1 / 19 Voting in Mobile, Alabama But the frustration with Mobile Countys paltry turnout continues to loom over the congressional races, and the increasing likelihood that one of the states largest regions might not be represented in Congress by a coastal Alabama resident. State Rep. Sam Jones, D-Mobile who served as the City of Mobiles first Black mayor from 2005-2013 said he has witnessed what he says is a troubling trend of a lack of interest among the county and citys voters. Mobile County, two years ago in the midterm election primary featuring races for governor and the U.S. Senate, turned out only 17.4% of its voters. That was the lowest among the states largest counties. The subsequent primary runoff that year drew an abysmal 8.4% turnout in Mobile County. There are a number of voters who have not been going to the polls, Jones said. Usually what we see are most of our older voters and people over 45, are going more than the younger voters. I dont know what the issue is, but that seems to be the case. Quin Hillyer, a former Republican candidate for Congress who is a Mobile-based political writer and columnist for The Washington Examiner, said he believes Mobile voters hurt themselves badly, time and again, by not turning out to vote. Hillyer has been critical of the federal courts not keeping Mobile County whole through redistricting. Much of the City of Mobile is in the 2nd district, while a sizable chunk of Mobile County is in the highly conservative 1st district. Before redistricting, Mobile and Baldwin counties were together within the 1st district. Alabama's new 2nd Congressional District on a map approved by a federal court in October. The map will be used for the first time in the 2024 elections. (Image from the Legislature's Reapportionment Office)Mike Cason/AL.com A three-judge panel approved the new congressional map in October that created a second congressional district in which Black voters have an opportunity to select a candidate of their choice. The 7th district is a majority Black, and the 2nd districts voting age population is 47.6% Black-45% white. The federal courts activities came after the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote last June determined that Alabamas Republican-drawn congressional map was in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Geography definitely matters, which is why the Legislature, and the courts should have kept Mobile County whole, as it always had been before, Hillyer said. Yet whether it matters more than governing philosophy or personal character, or other considerations is for candidates to persuade voters to consider, and for voters to decide. Republican quandaries The Republican candidates competing against each in the April 16, 2024, primary runoff election - Caroleen Dobson (left), and Dick Brewbaker (right)John Sharp/jsharp@al.com David Mowery, with the Brewbaker campaign, said they were pleased with the candidates performance in winning two of three media markets while staying within a few thousand votes of the leader in Mobile, referring to Figures. Brewbaker had the second highest vote total of the 2nd district candidates on Tuesday, trailing Figures by 2,200 votes. He said that Brewbakers base in Montgomery will ultimately prove impenetrable. The Dobson campaign could not be reached for comment. Gray, the Mobile-based strategist, said the success for either party could come down to whether Republicans living in Mobile County. He said the GOP will be posed with an interesting scenario the prospects of voting for their only homegrown candidate that gives them local congressional representation but who would be a Democrat -- or backing a Republican from Montgomery. Figures, who finished first in the Democratic primary with 43.5% of the vote, is the sole remaining Mobile County resident in the contest. Daniels, from Huntsville, has touted his past support of backing efforts to divert more BP oil spill settlement money to coastal Alabama. Daniels placed second with 22.4% of the vote. The chamber of commerce crowd in Mobile, who do they vote for? Gray said. Do they vote for the local guy, Figures, who they know will stand up for the I-10 bridge project, and who is the son of a state senator who was a city council member in the (Mike) Dow administration at the risk of flipping Congress to the Democrats and undoing Donald Trumps plans, or do you stick with a Republican ballot by putting someone in there from mid-Alabama who is not focused on South Alabama issues at all? said Gray. That question became more important with the loss of Jerry Carl. Bradley Byrne, president & CEO With the Mobile Chamber, said hes know Figures since he was a little boy and considers him a fine young man who comes from a storied Mobile family in politics and who knows this area very well. Ive talked with him, and he assured me if congressman from this area, hell take care of Mobile, said Byrne, a former Republican member of Congress from 2014-2021. I believe him. That doesnt mean the other (candidates) wont (support Mobile as well). Shomari has a closer connection here. Gray also said for Republicans, they might want to change their messaging. He said the constant haranguing over redistricting, and the creation of a Democratic-leaning district, is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy that could scare away outside political interests who otherwise would be willing to invest in a competitive seat. Wahl said he believes the large percentage of minorities in the congressional district dont like the leftist policies coming out of the Biden Administration and could support a Republican. We are going to work hard to earn their trust and let them know the Republican Party is committed to defending their rights and freedoms, securing economic opportunity, and helping keep families safe, he said. Gray said that past modeling on the new District 2, while showing Democrats winning a majority of the time, was based on older voter data including vote totals from six years ago during the 2018 governors election when Democratic Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox was on the ballot. For all the people saying a Republican cant win here, its a self-fulfilling prophecy and who will invest money in that district? Gray said. The Democrats will fund it. Where else in the U.S. will they find a good pick up (in the U.S. House)? But does the Republican Congressional Committee just forgo the district and give it up to the Democrats? I dont know what they will do. But people with money will ask, Why would I get involved in this race if a Republican cant win? If you cant raise money, you cant win. And a Republican has an incredibly strong shot at winning. From her kitchen table in Montgomery, Katie Britt gave an impassioned rebuke of President Bidens border policies during her rebuttal to the State of the Union address, claiming those policies contributed to the death of Laken Riley. Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was slain last month on the University of Georgia campus while on a run. Local authorities said an undocumented immigrant is responsible for her killing. This could have been my daughter. This could have been yours, Britt said. Alabamas junior senator said crime stemming from the presidents border policies are impacting communities across the country. From fentanyl poisoning to horrific murders, there are empty chairs at kitchen tables just like this one, she said. During his address, Biden held up a white button that Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene had handed him earlier bearing Rileys name. Authorities say she was killed by a Venezuelan national who unlawfully crossed into the U.S. in September 2022. Greene, decked out in pro-Trump paraphernalia, shouted at Biden during his address. Laken Riley, Biden said, calling her an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. He expressed condolences to her family, saying his heart goes out to them. While Biden finally said her name during the State of the Union, Britt said, he refused to take responsibility. Mr. President. Enough is enough, she said. Americans are dying and you only have yourself to blame. Britt, 42, was the first woman elected to the Senate from Alabama in 2022 and is the youngest sitting senator. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., will hit President Biden on the economy, border, crime and foreign policy when she gives her rebuttal to Bidens State of the Union address Thursday night, according to excerpts of her speech. The country we know and love seems to be slipping away. It feels like the next generation will have fewer opportunities and less freedom than we did, Britt will tell the nation, according to the excerpts provided by her office, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana. I worry my own children may not even get a shot at living their American Dreams. Watch Britt speak live here The senator, the first Alabamian to deliver the response to the State of the Union, will also dispute Bidens claim that the state of the union is strong. The true, unvarnished State of our Union begins and ends with this: Our families are hurting. Our country can do better, Britt will say, according to the excerpts. President Biden needs a reality check. In just a few minutes, I'll deliver the Republican Response to the State of the Union. pic.twitter.com/P7aDKU5lwA Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) March 8, 2024 Britts speech will attack Bidens southern border policy as a disgrace. President Biden inherited the most secure border of all-time. But minutes after taking office, he suspended all deportations, halted construction of the border wall, and announced a plan to give amnesty to millions, the senators prepared remarks state. We know that President Biden didnt just create this border crisis. He invited it with 94 executive actions in his first 100 days. President Bidens border crisis is a disgrace. Its despicable. And its almost entirely preventable. Britt will also use a biting Southern phrase to describe the presidents economic policies. Hardworking families are struggling to make ends meet today. And with soaring mortgage rates and sky-high childcare costs, theyre also struggling to plan for tomorrow. The American people are scraping by while the President proudly proclaims Bidenomics is working! Bless his heart, Britt will say. We know better. Britt will also blame the Biden administration and the left for crime in the country. For years, the left has coddled criminals and defunded the police all while letting repeat offenders walk free. The result is tragic but foreseeablefrom our small towns to Americas most iconic city streets, life is getting more and more dangerous, she will say. On foreign policy, Britt will criticize Biden for withdrawing from Afghanistan, accusing the president of breaking a promise to the country. Where Im from, your word is your bond. But for three years, this President has demonstrated that Americas word doesnt mean what it used to, she will say. From abandoning allies in his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan... to desperately pushing another dangerous deal with Iran, President Biden has failed. Weve become a nation in retreat. And the enemies of freedom see an opportunity. Britts speech includes criticizing Biden for weakness on the world stage. Right now, our Commander in Chief is not in command. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defense are the cornerstones of a great nation, she will say. Britt will make the case that Republicans can get the country back on track. There is no doubt were at a crossroads. We all feel it. But heres the good news: we the People are still in the drivers seat, she will say. We get to decide whether our future will grow brighter, or whether we settle for an America in decline. Well, I know which choice our children deserve and the choice the Republican Party is fighting for. Originally published in The Fuller Project. Skyrocketing rates of syphilis a disease that once seemed to be on the wane is imperiling the lives of thousands of newborns as mothers who have gone untreated pass the sexually transmitted ailment on to their babies, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control shows. If it isnt diagnosed and treated promptly, syphilis can cause seizures, heart failure and permanent organ damage in children and adults. The statistics are harrowing: By the end of 2022, syphilis hit a 72-year high, with 205,000 total cases. More than 3,500 of those were in babies up from just 300 a decade prior, according to CDC statistics. Of those cases nearly 10% resulted in stillbirth or infant death. Indeed, not since 1950 have more pregnant women and babies been sick with syphilis a perfect storm of slashed public health funding and the spread of so-called maternity-care deserts, defined as counties lacking maternity-care hospitals or obstetric providers. By one estimate, some 6.9 million U.S. women live in places with no or low access to maternity care. The tragedy of this is that syphilis, when caught early, is curable with modern-day forms of penicillin although long-undiagnosed and asymptomatic cases can pose a more complicated treatment regimen. There really should never be a baby born with congenital syphilis. Its so treatable, says Dr. Kimberly Stanford, an emergency medicine specialist whose University of Chicago Medicine screening program diagnoses at least two dozen syphilis patients in her ER every month. Almost half of the patients screened are women of reproductive age about 1,000 of whom were pregnant last year. From Stanfords perspective, lack of access to prenatal care is clearly a main driver of the increase in syphilis cases. In a society like ours, all pregnant women should have access to that care, she says. A preventable condition like this that causes such severe consequences in infants, I think it really gets peoples attention, as it should. The surge is wreaking havoc across the country. Houston declared it an official outbreak last July, unlocking funds to support a city-wide response. Since 2020, California health officials have sent increasingly urgent demands for local providers to screen, based on state law. In 2022, syphilis in Mississippi babies jumped 1,000% from 2016, prompting state officials to mandate universal screening for pregnant people one of the last states to do so. But so far, these interventions havent curbed the spread and federal agencies have been slow to react. CDC cuts have knee-capped state contact tracing programs that were just starting to get their arms around local transmission patterns. Nine out of ten cases of congenital syphilis, passed to babies through the womb, are preventable with adequate prenatal treatment, according to the most recent CDC data. Almost all map out multiple missed opportunities where providers could have intervened. More than a third of the parents of babies born with syphilis werent tested themselves. Of those that were, more than half never received treatment. Black and Hispanic women were least likely to receive treatment, according to the same report, creating a disproportionate syphilis burden on parents and babies of color. Stanford understands the value of screening. As an ER physician and infectious disease researcher, she was one of the first in the country to launch a universal opt-out syphilis testing program in the University of Chicago Medical Centers emergency department. Many of Stanfords pregnant patients live in under-resourced communities and dont have regular access to care, she says, echoing national trends of declining primary care. And those are the same communities where syphilis is most predominant. Theyre coming to the ER for their care. It is absolutely the best opportunity to reach them for syphilis screening early in pregnancy, she says. We can and should try to fix all of the reasons why theyre here, but in the meantime, we need to understand that this is what people are doing and meet them where they are. Making a bad problem worse A long-brewing shortage of bicillin, the gold-standard penicillin shot to treat syphilis and the only approved treatment for pregnant patients has made treating the sometimes tricky infection even more difficult, says Dr. Irene Stafford, OBGYN at Houstons University of Texas hospital who specializes in perinatal infectious diseases. At least once a week, Stafford struggles to get enough penicillin for her patients. The bicillin shortage has been a tremendous problem, she says causing a time-consuming dance between hospital and private pharmacies, and calling in favors from the Houston Health Department. Its just penicillin. But if theyre not making it at the rate that youre consuming it, then thats a problem. Pfizer, the sole manufacturer of bicillin, blames the shortage on sudden spikes in demand over the last few years. The pharmaceutical company says theyve invested millions to ramp up production and alleviate the shortage by spring. As early as 2017, CDC noted global shortages of bicillin. It has long-been listed as an essential medicine by the World Health Organization. The first similar list in the U.S. also listed it in 2020. The Biden administration in 2021 cited low reimbursement rates and cheap Chinese production costs as straining the bicillin supply chain . Providers say they were caught off guard with sudden demand too, and by the time syphilis showed up in babies, it was too late. Since 2023, regulators have urged providers to ration bicillin for pregnant patients with syphilis, and use a 14-day regimen of doxycycline an antibiotic with antiviral properties for everyone else. But like many drugs, doxycyclines safety and efficacy as a bicillin substitute for pregnant women is problematic because it hasnt been studied in pregnant patients. We havent done anybody any favors by excluding pregnant women from these trials, Stafford says. There are very few studies looking at alternatives. Taken together, the shortage has been in the making for years, yet regulators have been slow to react. It wasnt until January that the FDA secured an alternative from France thats currently being imported. On a call with federal health officials, I was begging were waving our white flag here. Were SOS, Stafford says. How can we say we care about equity and minority populations that are underserved? How do we say that was a straight face? But its not just the shortage syphilis, in certain stages, can be a hard infection to diagnose and treat. More than half of Staffords patients are asymptomatic. You just kind of slowly brew a syphilis infection, she says. If you do have a lesion, you may think youve cut yourself. Ive heard flea bites, eczema you name it. Because it doesnt hurt or burn, you dont feel that bad. And all the while, its transmissible. Nationally, Staffords patients mirror the national demographics. Like Stanfords Chicago patients, most are uninsured or on Medicaid, and lack regular access to care and transportation. To avoid risk of losing track of them, she needs the drug on-hand to start treatment right away. Amid federal cuts to its state Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) programs, much of CDCs recent syphilis work has focused on galvanizing widespread testing among providers. But despite the recent spikes in pregnant patients and babies, the agency hasnt updated its syphilis screening guidelines, which call for all pregnant women to be screened at their first prenatal visit. Adding confusion for providers, each state has different screening guidelines calling for testing during the first trimester, all three, birth, or none at all. But meanwhile, CDC reports reiterate that more than a third of syphilis cases among babies had parents who didnt have access to prenatal care. What we need is already in the screening recommendations. CDC cannot do this alone. says Dr. Robert McDonald, medical officer in CDCs Division of STD Prevention. Equitably stopping the syphilis epidemic and addressing the nations broader STI challenges requires a coordinated and sustained effort shared by federal leadership, state and local health departments, healthcare systems, providers, and private industry. How we got here Syphilis was nearing eradication in the U.S. by the end of the 1990s. Aggressive STI prevention campaigns driven by the HIV/AIDS epidemic coupled with federal and state funds devoted to testing and treatment tapered much of the spread. By 2000, there were just 6,000 new cases per year, and almost no congenital syphilis. But by 2012, syphilis started to spike again mostly in men. Due to the successful public health campaigns the decades prior, much STI-specific funding to local health departments, especially for staffing, had waned. Public health systems have been neglected. The increase in STIs track with the deterioration of our infrastructure, says Dr. Laurie Bachmann, CDCs STI prevention branch director. Compounded by COVID lockdowns and slashed reproductive health funding, 2020 was a tipping point for new STI infections, according to CDC. Still, syphilis was mainly spreading among men. But federal screening and treatment guidelines never updated accordingly instead, only recommending it for high riskand pregnant patients. Providers say this outdated advice can give a false sense of reassurance to some. If youre having sex youre at risk, period, Stafford says. When more and more cases were finally getting downstream to women, most on-hand penicillin treatments were already snapped up. By the time the FDA issued a shortage warning last June, it was too late for the more than half of providers that dont have systematic policies for tracking shortages. Now that syphilis has become more common, I think it has opened peoples eyes, says Stanford in Chicago. Were seeing people getting really, really sick in a way that a lot of us hadnt ever seen because it had largely disappeared. Stafford agrees and says congenital syphilis is a canary in the coal mine of U.S. healthcare failures. Looking at this baby who is profoundly sick and seizing in the NICU, all I can think is how did we even get here? Its a failure of our public health care system to take care of pregnant women, she says. Thats why both physicians are pushing ahead with universal opt-out programs where most patients are offered testing right on the spot, but can decline instead of waiting for impending federal guidelines. But across the country UT Houston and University of Chicago are unique most hospitals arent on board, despite having similar CDC-recommended programs for HIV. University of Chicago Medical Center ER has tested nearly 90,000 patients for syphilis since 2019. UT Houston also launched a universal opt-out rapid testing program for all patients in their prenatal clinics, coupled with on-site treatment for anybody whos positive. As the biggest city in a state with one of the highest transmission rates, its the only option to stem further spread, says Stafford. Syphilis diagnosis is incredibly timely because if you dont get on top of it youre going to end up unfortunately with a sick baby, Stafford says. And sometimes, before they even get to the third trimester, a dead baby. The remarkable journey of the COVID-19 virus from bat caves in Laos to freezers in Wuhan, through test tubes and gene-editing machines and humanized mice, and finally out into the rest of the world and through your lungs and mine, often two or three or four times by now has made a lot of people think long and hard about whether they can trust scientists, as a whole, to do the right thing. As well it should have. Defenders of the status quo are quick to admonish the plebs for not trusting the experts, as they point to the fact that most professional virologists are in favor of keeping gain-of-function research going. How can you, a pleb, act as though you know more about virology than the average virologist? And yet the problem with trusting the experts isnt that they dont know enough about their chosen fields of expertise. Rather, its that most of them are biased in favor of their own institutions and, for a mixture of emotional and careerist reasons, they avoid thinking too hard about the chance that they are employing their prodigious knowledge in service of useless or even harmful ends. The virologists in Wuhan really did know a lot more about virus evolution than the man on the street. Hence their ability to modify bat viruses to infect human beings. I lack the knowledge to do this, or even to describe in detail how it can be done, and in all likelihood, so do you. And its true that these scientists work did contribute, in a small and marginal way, to the body of scientific knowledge, by answering questions like what modifications to a bat viruss spike proteins will best enable it to get past the human immune system? But having knowledge isnt the same thing as having wisdom. Its one thing to ask if you can do something and another to ask if you should do it. Its difficult for people who can answer the first question with a yes, and who naturally want their hard earned expertise to be important and useful, to answer the second question with a no. Nor is this a peculiarly Chinese thing. Obviously, Chinas lax lab safety standards, plus the low value the CCP places on human life, made this kind of research easier to do in China than in the United States. But one must not forget that the American government had a hand in funding it. And if you want another reminder that our own country isnt that innocent, just think about our contributions to psychopharmacology, a field thats been chock-full of tawdry conflicts of interest since before gain-of-function research was a glimmer in Anthony Faucis eye. If you want to see another dismal story of scientists placing their genuine knowledge and expertise in the service of absurd or harmful ends, just consider how Americas medical authorities got into the habit of putting about one in ten of their countrys children on mind-altering drugs to treat conditions mainly ADHD that werent considered diseases at all just a few decades ago. This topic has been in the news recently due to the slow-rolling shortage of ADHD medications, mainly stimulant drugs like Ritalin, Adderall, and Vyvanse. Most of these stories are filled up with the usual boilerplate expressions of sympathy for the millions of children and adults struggling to get the drugs theyve become dependent on, plus speculations on who is to blame the manufacturers? The DEA? One particular factory on Long Island? One might think that, in a civilization thats been drugging some 5 to 10 percent of its children for ADHD for about 30 years by now, scientists would have a good physical model of what causes this disorder. But they still dont. Consider, for instance, the chaotic scientific literature of which this paper is a typical example on the question of whether various brain regions are smaller or larger in children with ADHD, and whether these differences, if they exist at all, are natural or caused by medication. Hundreds of studies have been done on this topic, but even in the most recent (and, supposedly, largest and best) meta-analysis, only 44 percent of the studies even bothered to distinguish between children who had already been exposed to drugs and those who hadnt. (Other subfields of ADHD science are even worse for instance, almost all of the studies on Google Scholar that look at the links between childhood ADHD and adult income or unemployment rates dont distinguish between drugged and undrugged children, and some of them include only drugged children, but still conclude with a exhortation that the negative life outcomes they just saw are yet more evidence that ADHD is a serious illness and that early treatment is necessary.) Amid all this confusing literature on the physical effects of ADHD drugs, a few facts manage to stick out. One is that stimulant drugs suppress childrens growth. While some studies bury this conclusion by using a test group comprising mainly of children who took the medication only briefly or irregularly, the best studies (which focus on children who were on heavy dosages for three years or more) show strong evidence of a permanent height reduction. Another fact is that, while ADHD is often blamed on a chemical imbalance in the dopamine transporter protein in the brain, ADHD patients who have never been medicated have normal amounts of dopamine transporters. But, as shown here and here, patients who have been on drugs for a long time suffer a steady increase in transporter concentrations (meaning less free dopamine). Nor is this the only chemical anomaly at issue; this Dutch study from 2017 showed that exposure to Ritalin in childhood leads to lasting deficiencies in the neurotransmitter GABA+, a chemical associated with impulse control, which the drug is boosting in the short term. Then add to this all the psychological harms of long-term drug dependency the insomnia, the social isolation, the low motivation, the erratic moods, the narcissism and lack of self awareness. Anyone with a drug-addled relative or close friend will have some idea of what its like, and while most of us dont like to use the word addict to describe a ten- or twelve-year-old who meekly takes the speed pills that his doctor gave him, the biological processes behind drug dependency are the same, whether the drug came from a licensed or an unlicensed pharmacist. So why do we keep doing it? Why do Americans (and, to a lesser extent, the citizens of every other wealthy country) keep getting their children started on lifelong drug dependencies in order to treat elementary-school behavior issues that, two generations ago, were not considered medical problems at all? The answer? Because it works. Perhaps not in the long run, since most of the studies show that the academic benefits of putting a schoolchild on ADHD drugs are strong for the first year or two, drop off after that, and might become negative in the end. But the evidence that starting a child on medication leads to an instant drop in disruptive behavior, an improved ability to sit still, and a better focus on homework is so strong that hardly anyone bothers to argue with it. And millions of parents and teachers can tell you that their lives got much easier the moment their troublesome child was medicated. But in the big picture, were looking at the same sort of ethics failure that gave us the COVID pandemic. In both cases, science has given people an effective way to satisfy their immediate wants. In China, it was up-and-coming virologists who wanted to pad their resumes, and possibly get tenure, by cataloguing the hundreds upon hundreds of bat viruses that are just a few mutations away from infecting humans. And in the United States and Europe, it is parents and schoolteachers who want their children to write more neatly, and to sit still for eight hours a day without squirming too much or talking out of turn. (You can tell that this is mostly about policing classroom behavior by looking at the fact that children born in December, who are constantly being compared with classmates a little older than themselves, are 47 percent more likely to be medicated for ADHD than children born in January.) Back in the Victorian era, it was common for parents of fussy toddlers to give them morphine for their teething pain. In the United States, the commonest brand was Mrs. Winslows Soothing Syrup, which at its peak sold more than 1.5 million bottles per year. As one might imagine, this remedy created more problems than it solved, and the Soothing Syrup finally disappeared at around the same time that cocaine and lithium were disappearing from our sodas. One might be tempted to read this odd piece of history as a tale of science triumphing over superstition. But the truth isnt that simple, because the key fact here is that Mrs. Winslows Soothing Syrup actually worked! The core scientific claim of the people who sold this drug was that giving a one- or two-year-old morphine will ease the pain of a new tooth coming in and nobody disagrees with this! Our ancestors just decided that the syrups benefits werent as important as its harms. The question, for our own time, is whether we will be as wise as our forebears, who knew that science and ethics are not quite the same thing, and who knew that the question of Can we do it? and the question of Should we do it? will often have two different answers. An earlier generations scientists were wise enough to see that while they could use opiates to relieve the pain and suffering of infants, they probably shouldnt. One can only hope that, sooner or later, the present generation will realize that much the same logic applies to using meth analogues to relieve hyperactive grade-schoolers, or manufacturing deadly viruses in a not-quite-sealed-off lab in order to add to mankinds stock of publishable (but not exactly useful) scientific knowledge. Twilight Patriot is the pen name for a young American who lives in Georgia, where he is currently working toward a graduate degree. You can read more of his writings at his Substack. Image via Pexels. Imagine the following (which is, for now, hypothetical): in 2010, the U.S. Government publishes multiple documents which explain government plans to collaborate with academia and industry to develop technologies which combine radar, radio frequency weapons, electromagnetic technologies, and medical imaging technologies like hyperspectral infrared imaging, ultrasound, and MRI to remotely and secretly affect, harm, and surveil the human brain and body of Americans. The plans are for what U.S. national security employees describe as large systems of systems and other governments plan to develop the same systems. Say the technology utilizes something that can not only see into homes and buildings, but it can also remotely and secretly be used to observe or scan the ongoing activity in any human brain at any moment no matter where a person is -- including underground. The resulting brain images are similar to other surveillance video except this is a surveillance system of the condition of the brain; thus, government employees call it a neurological conditions surveillance system. The technology records the ongoing movement of substances in the brain, or simply the activity of the brain, while a person is thinking. At the same time, a computer determines, based off of many years of machine-learning, what words or things the person is thinking. (While it is slightly off subject, in reality, not hypothetically, brain scans can reportedly detect emotions; human brain scans of emotions, which somewhat resemble the more familiar QR code technology, are machine-readable. The technologies recognize patterns. Mind-reading technology might not be as unimaginable as some presume.) While brain neurons are small, the (for now, hypothetical) surveillance and machine-learning technology is able to zoom in and expand the brain much like zooming in on satellite images from space. This hypothetical technology also utilizes magnetic properties of naturally occurring substances in the brain (like iron) combined with advanced electromagnetic and directed energy technologies to remotely and secretly force words or things to be thought of in a targeted persons brain. The technology is a type of mind control, although the government does not describe it as mind control. The technology moves at the speed of light and can affect a persons brain or body while they are moving, much like drones can affect moving targets. The U.S. government then explains to Americans that such technologies are for their protection; government describes them as investigative and interrogative technologies which can either remotely and secretly determine a persons intentions or remotely and secretly interrogate/question a person. Government national security employees describe the technologies as being able to detect, as early as possible and in real-time, an event of national concern that presents a risk to the United States or the infrastructure or key assets of the United States. That ends the hypothetical scenario. Would it be accurate and reasonable to suggest that those government employees and their technologies are a threat to Americans and should be punished for those technologies? The hypothetical technology and the government employees operating the technology are able to remotely, secretly, forcefully, and physically affect the human brain; would it be reasonable to suggest that those government employees are a physical threat to Americans? Unfortunately, at least some of the previous scenario might not be merely hypothetical. In 2010 during the Obama-Biden Administration, U.S. government national security officials and scientists published a document entitled, Research Directions in Remote Detection of Covert Tactical Adversarial Intent of Individuals in Asymmetric Operations on plans for new surveillance technologies. Government scientists presented the plans at an international conference in the United Kingdom, also in 2010. The article describes that the U.S. government (and other governments) planned to develop technologies which literally determine peoples unspoken intentions. The plans included potentially developing brain surveillance technologies (measuring electrical activity of the brain is brain surveillance) which were suggested to be used on Americans (civilian economy use), The U.S. government scientists summarize the article as follows: The U.S. Government expects to support R&D programs with the objective of producing theoretically founded designs of a prototype system for remote detection of covert tactical adversarial intent of individuals in asymmetric operations. The Government also expects to provide broad support for academic and industrial efforts in remote detection of adversarial intent and in areas (such as linkage of these systems with databases, media, and human input) that are useful for larger systems of systems. Other governments have expressed similar plans. Again, the article was written in 2010, during the Obama-Biden Administration; at that time, the Obama-Biden Administration expects and had the objective to produce a system for remote detection of human intentions which are useful for larger systems of systems. The paragraph, in the context of the article, apparently implies potentially mind-reading systems of systems. Throughout the article, the U.S. government scientists elaborate: We attempt to highlight sensing technologies that we believe can measure useful data for assessing adversarial intent Some potential sensor domains and expected contributions are as follows E-Field: Passive free-space electrodes (capacitively coupled) can detect electrical activity of the heart, brain, muscles, and hidden electronic devices. E-field could refer to electrical field or electromagnetic field technologies. (Other medical research describes electric fields that can manipulate the human brain; this is also known as transcranial alternating current stimulation.) Putting it together, the U.S. government stated that potential sensor technologies and expected contributions might include detect[ing] electrical activity of the brain to determine peoples secret intentions. The U.S. government scientists also might imply using the same technology to elicit specific responses. Thus, forcefully interrogating the brain with remote technology might be implied. Another technology is mentioned by the U.S. government scientists which has the potential to be used for mind reading (remote detection of covert intent). It is hyperspectral imaging which detects subsurface blood-flow. The government scientists do not specify their intent to use such technology on the brain, but infrared and near-infrared technologies are usually included in hyperspectral imaging technologies, and hyperspectral imaging can be used on the human brain. The rest of the U.S. government document continually describes the U.S. government plans to develop remote threat detection technology which involve neurophysiological science components (the brain and the rest of the body), cognitive neuroscience, (again, the brain), and psychophysiological psychology (the brain, emotions, and how those relate to human behaviors). U.S. government scientists conclude by suggesting the remote detection of covert intent technologies and their planned larger systems of systems could have dual uses in the civilian economy, including crowd control, antidrug and anticrime operations, border security, and ensuring the security of government and private personnel and property. In other words, such potentially remote and secret brain or neurological surveillance systems were suggested to be used by law enforcement and/or investigation entities like the FBI. A potentially significant fact is that on December 13, 2016, after the Obama-Biden Administration lost the election to Donald Trump, Congress and President Obama enacted National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System laws. (130 STAT. 1076-1079) It seems reasonable to suggest that Congress and State governments should be specifying in laws that such technologies and methods are unlawful. Congress and State governments should likely also provide severe punishments, potentially including punishments which apply retroactively (in part because physical force is used in brain manipulating technologies and many types of unwanted physical force are crimes of violence) for the use of, production of, conspiring to use, knowingly allowing others to use, and any other prohibition applicable to such technologies or methods. Image: Gratis Graphics Nation's rich cultural heritage continues to captivate 09:31, March 08, 2024 By Wang Ru ( China Daily A standing bronze statue is moved into a cabinet for an upcoming exhibition at the Shanghai Museum ahead of the inauguration of a new venue in Pudong New Area. The statue, unearthed from the Sanxingdui Ruins in Sichuan province, demonstrates the high level of civilization in Sichuan some 3,000 years ago. LIU YING/XINHUA During the recent Spring Festival holiday, China witnessed a notable surge in domestic tourism, with record-high expenditure spent on domestic travel. Liu Jieyi, spokesman for the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, emphasized at a news conference on Sunday that the surge reflects the significant consumption potential of the Chinese people, driven by a desire to enhance their quality of life, and is poised to become a strong driver of economic development. The surge in tourism coincided with increased demand to visit museums during the holiday, leading to challenges for many individuals in securing tickets. Museums have become a widely discussed topic, prominently featured during the provincial two sessions in many regions. Statistics from the National Cultural Heritage Administration revealed that last year, museums in China welcomed 1.24 billion visits, surpassing the 2019 pre-pandemic figure of 1.23 billion. "The popularity of museums has not only recovered to the state before the pandemic, but also surpassed it," said Pan Shouyong, a museum expert at Shanghai University. Further bolstering museums, progress has also been made in cultural heritage protection, archaeological studies and talent cultivation in this area, with China seeing "major progress made in the cultural heritage field in the last year", Li Qun, director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said at a national conference held in Beijing in January. Pan worked with cultural heritage professionals at a seminar in February to evaluate the performances of museums in the last year, and has issued lists of the most influential museums and exhibitions based on their popularity. Hang Kan (second from left), head of the Yungang Research Institute, discusses methods of restoring wall paintings at the institute in Datong, Shanxi province, last month. ZHAN YAN/XINHUA "Museums have become one of the most important tourist destinations for Chinese people," said Pan, explaining that people's demand for visiting museums surged last year, especially during the summer vacation when families flocked to museums. "More than 200 of the 6,565 museums in China faced challenges of how to accommodate a great number of people in a short time. As a result, people might have found it difficult to book tickets," said Pan. Moreover, people have become more demanding about the quality of exhibitions, and their themes have often been discussed online. A highlight of the exhibitions last year was An Epic of Chinese Jade for 10,000 Years at the Nanjing Museum in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. "The exhibition was well-acclaimed and popular. Jade has a long history in China and is distributed in places such as the Liangzhu city ruins near Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang province, and sites of Hongshan culture in Northeast China. This display showed them together and covered the development of Chinese jade from 10,000 years ago. It means researchers at the museum did a lot of research on the subject," said Pan. Visitors are increasingly pursuing an immersive experience when visiting museums, according to the expert. "The China Grand Canal Museum in Yangzhou, Jiangsu, has been extremely popular. It's not known for its exhibits, but for its interactive activities. You can also find many visitors, and not limited to young people, wearing traditional Chinese costumes at the museum. The trend has been followed by people at other museums, becoming a ceremonial and popular way of visiting museums now," said Pan. However, he pointed out the uneven popularity of museums in China, saying except for the more than 200 popular museums, others, even some at the national or provincial level, did not see a significant growth in visits last year. Archaeologists preserve and restore sculptures at the Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing in January. DU LIANYI/CHINA DAILY Protection efforts Officials and experts have illustrated attempts to protect cultural heritage across the country. A major one was the start of the fourth national census of cultural relics in November. According to Zhang Wenrui, director of the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, this census is being conducted 12 years after the previous one. "Since the relics are often located out in the open or buried underground, they may have disappeared or changed due to the influence of human activities. As a result, the census is important to provide a reference for our future protection efforts," said Zhang. According to Deng Chao, director of the artifact and historical site department of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, this census is different from the previous three as publicity departments at different levels have jumped on board this time to help the cultural heritage authority accomplish the tasks. All ancient architecture, sites, tombs, cave temples and carvings made before 1911 will be covered in the census. At the same time, efforts to crack down on criminals threatening the safety of cultural relics and heritage sites have been intensified. "The number of criminal cases related to cultural relics has dropped by 43 percent, from 2,300 in 2020 to 1,300 in 2023. And the number of accidental fires at heritage sites decreased from 15 to five in the past four years," said Chen Peijun, director of the supervision department of the National Cultural Heritage Administration. He stressed the role of technology in protecting such sites, and said all key historical and cultural sites under national-level protection will be installed with satellite remote sensing for monitoring and law enforcement by 2026. "Shandong and Zhejiang provinces and Shanghai have started monitoring with satellite remote sensing. Other provinces should follow suit and cooperate with natural resources authorities to promote the sharing of such technologies," said Chen. Wang Wanfu, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress who is also deputy director of the department of conservation research at the Dunhuang Academy, proposed to establish a National Key Laboratory on the protection of cultural heritage. "China has abundant cultural heritage resources of various types, which face threats from the environment and others," said Wang on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th NPC. "As a result, I hope to establish such a laboratory to gather top professionals so that they can study and tackle the bottleneck problems in the protection of cultural heritage and support the development of this industry." A calligraphy scroll attracts the attention of visitors during an exhibition for poet and calligrapher Su Shi (1037-1101) in the Hainan Museum in Haikou, Hainan province, last month. PU XIAOXU/XINHUA Archaeological studies Since 2002, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has issued an annual honors list of the six most important archaeological finds in China last year. In this year's list, experts said the Mengxihe Site in Ziyang, Sichuan province, stood out as a Paleolithic site with especially rich material and remains of human activity. A series of Neolithic sites along the coast of Fujian province indicated the origins of Austronesian peoples. Excavations at the Qujialing Site in Jingmen, Hubei province, enriched understanding of prehistoric people's water management systems. Moreover, the large-scale Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) tombs at the Zhaigou Site in Qingjian county, Shaanxi province, revealed possibilities of the existence of local states, which coexisted with the central Shang regime. Nestorian temple ruins at the Xipang Site in Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, are evidence of cultural exchanges on the ancient Silk Road. Excavation at a large architectural site south of the Shangjing city ruins of the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) promoted understanding of the Liao capital. These sites were chosen from 265 active archaeological excavations and 1,367 excavations in preparation for urban construction projects carried out in the last year, according to Chen Xingcan, a member of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC. He is also the head of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Archaeology. "The six programs have a large time span and wide geographical ranges. We chose them according to their academic significance. For example, the Mengxihe Site is a rare example not only in China's Paleolithic archaeology, but also in that of the whole world. The origin of Austronesian peoples is not only important for China, but has worldwide significance," said Chen Xingcan. According to him, in the last year, major programs like Archaeology China and a program to trace the origins of the Chinese civilization continued to yield new progress. Studies on "the formation and development of China as a country with multiple ethnic groups" continued to deepen. "The pace of 'going global' in China's archaeology is increasingly solid and steady, with rapid developments in archaeometry (scientific methods and technology used in archaeological study), and underwater archaeology. Moreover, a number of high-quality TV programs on archaeology have been produced and broadcast, expanding its social influence," said Chen Xingcan. Technologies used to analyze human bones have unveiled the historical landscape of the formation, development and integration of various ethnic groups in ancient China. Their use in zooarchaeology constructs a framework for understanding the origins of domesticated animals in China and the ways in which animal resources were obtained and utilized, he added. Important progress has been made in underwater archaeology after Chinese archaeologists explored two shipwrecks deep in the South China Sea last year, unveiling commercial and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), according to Song Jianzhong, a researcher at the National Center for Archaeology. "China has built up its strength in archaeology. This has driven innovations in China's archaeological theories and technical capacities, established the disciplinary, academic and discourse systems for Chinese archaeology, and offered archaeological wisdom and strength to the construction of modern Chinese civilization," said Liu Guoxiang, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of History. Visitors tour an exhibition hall of bronzeware at the Yinxu Museum in Anyang, Henan province, last month, as the museum officially opens. JIANG DONG/CHINA DAILY More talent needed With a growing emphasis on cultural heritage work, a lack of talent has become a major concern attracting the attention of some NPC deputies. Hang Kan, a deputy to the 14th NPC, who is also director of the Yungang Research Institute in Datong, Shanxi province, suggested that cultural heritage courses be better arranged at universities and efforts increased to cultivate more people who will support the protection of cultural heritage in China. According to Deng, the cultural heritage official, among all the 760,000 immovable cultural heritage sites, more than 400,000 are architecture. However, only 737 professionals are engaged in the protection and research of ancient architecture in China, which means there is only one professional per more than 550 sites. To tackle the problem, cultural heritage authorities and institutes at the national, provincial and lower levels have increased the number of positions with stable social security and health insurance to attract more people. "China has so many sites, archaeological programs and museums, but only several thousand qualified archaeologists and less than 200,000 museum professionals. There is a huge demand in this area," said Pan. "Moreover, a person's growth in this area is slow and accumulative. They may find it difficult to see their progress in just several years' work. Only after decades can they become experts. As a result, this arrangement leaves room for their growth," he added. He pointed out that since interdisciplinary research is required in cultural heritage work, people specializing in different areas are needed. "Generally speaking, cultural heritage majors now have more opportunities. Most of them can find a job suited to their training at universities. But their income still needs to be raised, or such jobs are less appealing compared to other professions like teaching." Pan said the lack of talent is especially outstanding in grassroots areas, where a large number of cultural heritage sites are actually located. But few graduates want to work in these places. He highlighted a program being carried out in Shanxi to cultivate cultural relics professionals from 2022 to 2027, which provides students with free education and requires them to work in city, regional, county and lower-level cultural relics protection institutes in the province after graduation. The expert hoped more measures could be taken to tackle this problem. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) (Photo : Getty Images) Joe Biden delivers his State Of the Union address ahead of the 2024 presidential election President Joe Biden referred to Laken Riley's alleged killer as "an illegal" during his Thursday evening State of the Union address, rankling fellow Democrats who were quick to object to his use of the term. Pressed by firebrand Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to "say [Riley's] name," Biden held up a button bearing Riley's name, but appeared to mistakenly call her "Lincoln." "Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal," the president said. "That's right. But how many of the thousands of people being killed by illegals - to her parents, I say my heart goes out to you. Having lost children myself, I understand." Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was beaten to death while jogging through a park on the University of Georgia's campus on Feb. 22. Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national who illegally entered the United States in 2022, has been charged with Riley's murder. Biden came under fire from a number of Democratic lawmakers for referring to Ibarra as "an illegal.""It's dangerous rhetoric," Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro said, according to the Texas Tribune. "I just don't get why the president will go down that road.""As a proud immigrant, I'm extremely disappointed to hear President Biden use the word 'illegal,'" Rep. Chuy Garcia, of Illinois, wrote on social media. Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar in added her own social media post, "Let me be clear: No human being is illegal." Stalwart Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, of California, however, played down Biden's use of the term during a post-address appearance on CNN."Now, he should have said 'undocumented,'" Pelosi said. "But that's not a big thing, OK? ... His focus was on the sympathy for the family." Riley's murder - and its allegedly coming at the hands of the undocumented Ibarra - has come under the political spotlight as Biden faces continued scrutiny over surging border crossings ahead of November's presidential election. If you add the numbers among the Greatest Generation, the Silent Generation, the Baby Boomers, and Gen X (born 1964-1980), you will find roughly 153 million potential voters. If you add the numbers of Millennials, Zoomers, and Gen Alpha (born 2013 and beyond), you land somewhere in the in the range of 110-120 million potential voters today, and can expect that therell be around 180 million voters among them by 2040. Now, consider this. Boomers still outnumber Gen Xers, but sadly, a member of the Boomer generation dies every 15 seconds, while Gen Alpha children are being born every 8 seconds. As years pass, Gen X voters are becoming increasingly outnumbered by younger generations who tend to view big government policy prescriptions much more favorably. And bear in mind, thats Gen Xs rosiest of outlooks, as it disregards the invasion by millions of illegal aliens and welfare migrants that has rapidly advanced in the past few years during the Biden administration. This is a numbers battle that Gen X is destined to lose. And in the Utopian democracy being pitched by progressive Democrats in todays world, thats a pretty bleak, and probably deadly, prospect. Today, fewer Americans than ever believe, as our Founders did, that government is a necessary evil that only exists to protect liberty, or that the natural propensity for government to violate liberty means that government must be restrained. Huge numbers among younger generations didnt grow up believing any of that. Theyve been taught that government exists to confiscate, ration, and distribute resources as decided by a democratic majority. This is evidenced by the fact that 7 in 10 Americans between the age of 15 and 34 favor a single-payer healthcare system. And 2020 saw a leap toward the progressives Utopia across all age demographics. When asked in 2019 if government had a responsibility to provide healthcare coverage for all, 59% of them said yes. In 2020, that percentage had grown to 63%. America seems only a momentous vote away from government bureaucrats having total control over who will receive healthcare, and what care will be received. And most importantly, that government will decide who will pay for all this care, and how much they will pay. This has been the dream for generations of American Marxists, and now it is near their grasp. But government programs like this present dangerous circumstances for older citizens. Once you stop paying taxes and start collecting retirement income and healthcare from the government, youre nothing but red on the ledger for some woke Millennial bean counter in Washington. And the older you are, the more your care tends to cost the government. The massive Boomer generation, which enjoys government health benefits in a system that restrains government authority to some degree, has wielded a political cudgel for decades on issues like healthcare because of their sheer numbers advantage. Gen Xers will not have the numbers to be similarly effective in the democratic defense of its interests, and once single-payer is instituted, the government will be largely unrestrained. This all portends the very real possibility of large-scale elimination of life-saving care for elderly citizens in order to preserve resources for other, more productive beneficiaries of the single-payer system. This isnt some far-fetched fantasy. Canadians have already found a creative way to eliminate life-saving care to elderly patients -- they eliminate the patients. An honest way to describe what theyre prescribing would be coerced suicide for the benefit of the State, but the preferred marketing in Canada, currently, is Medical Assistance in Dying, or MAID. Acronyms like that tend to dull the sting of tried-and-failed euphemisms like assisted suicide or medically assisted death. But the fact is, says Aaron Trachtenberg of the University of Calgary, in a resource-limited healthcare system cost has to be a part of the discussion. Its just the reality of working in a system of finite resources, he says. And it costs a lot to die in a government-run hospital, as you can imagine. Canadians die in hospitals more often than in America, he says, because Canada has a lack of palliative care services. But theyre trying to improve that, he says. What is obvious, but goes unsaid because it would highlight the inferiority of a single-payer healthcare system, is that America has better and more plentiful avenues for end-of-life care outside of hospitals because Americans arent generally entitled to end-of-life care funded by the government, and they thus pay for it themselves in a growing private market which provides more comfortable options at a cheaper price than the hospice option provided by a government healthcare monopoly. And lucky for the government, theres no shortage of Canadians signing up for the program. Medically assisted death says Dr. Robert Malone, has really taken off as a major cause of death in Canada. The Canadian politburos and academics like Trachtenberg would have you believe that its only cancer patients with days left to live allowing doctors to kill them, but thats not the case. Interestingly, there are a large number of people taking the government offer to help them kill themselves because they are disabled, and just cant pay their bills. Joannie Cowie, a 52 year-old Canadian, had epilepsy since she was six years old, but was able to work for most of her life. But her disabilities piled up, and as of 2022, she and her daughter lived on a government disability support program stipend of $1,228. Its not enough. We have about $59 to buy groceries in a month because our home, we have to have housing insurance. Rent. Hydro is high. Gas is high, she says. Solution? Call the Medical Assistance in Dying hotline, of course, which will inform you that youve reached the provincial health services authority telephone line for assistance in dying They will provide doctors for her, she says. They can have me dead in 90 days. Thats what I was told. Canada has a government so benevolent that it will care more for your needs that the United States government, say American progressives. Theyll allow you free healthcare, and will grant you a pittance upon which you cannot live because the Canadian governments environmental policies are driving up the price of necessities like energy, food, and water. Then, when your misery exceeds your desire to live, it will also be kind enough to assist in the cost of your death. That is the reality of the progressive, democratic utopia promising us nationalized healthcare. A nation where government exists only to maintain its own power by any means necessary, rationing and distributing resources on behalf of the democratic majority that provides the mandate for government authority. Theres no reason to think that our own government, crippled by debt, wouldnt also craft very dark public healthcare policy prescriptions, like Canada, to curb healthcare costs. And since the few retired Gen Xers will be consuming wildly disproportionate healthcare resources and offer little to the coffers in twenty or so years, government may very easily convince the masses that, for the greater good of the collective and in the name of equity, Gen X should be ushered onward to the tranquil bliss of the next life. Maybe it will look something like Canadas propaganda for assisted suicide to free up healthcare costs. When I imagine my last days, a speaker tells those being encouraged to willingly commit suicide, I see bubbles. I see the ocean. I see music You just have to be brave enough to see it. Maybe itll be something like that, but at a much larger scale. Of course, not all of us Gen Xers will want to die when that time comes, so maybe itll be more like the Carousel of the dystopian film Logans Run -- only the Runners will be much slower, and America will certainly will be too broke by that time to allow for such grand production values. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Joe Bidens State of the Union (SOTU) was unlike anything Ive seen before, and I started watching these speeches in the mid-1980s. No president has ever been so maniacally wired, periodically incoherent, or viciously angry. That was style. The substance was worse. Biden opened by calling Trump a Nazi, shifted to Ukraine, promised to stamp out insurrections, and attacked Republicansand then ended by calling for non-partisanship and comity. Throughout it all, he lied and then lied some more. This was a Dark Brandon campaign speech, not an SOTU. If you didnt watch Bidens SOTU, count yourself lucky. It was a deeply disturbing experience. The best comment about Bidens demeanor came from Greg Gutfeld, who skipped over the usual take that Biden was completely hopped up on a variety of prescription amphetamines: Think we found out who that coke belonged to GregGutfeld (@greggutfeld) March 8, 2024 When it came to the frenzied speed behind the speech, Ari Fleischer had the second-best description: Remember when Biden told parents to play the phonograph for their kids at bedtime? Well, Biden is going at 78 RPM for a speech that would be better delivered at 33 RPM. Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) March 8, 2024 Joe Biden was an angry Grandpa Simpson, with the volume cranked up and the speed out of control. This was the kind of guy who, in a rage, would readily push the red button. That alone was unnerving, demonstrating that we have a maniac in officeand, worse, his rage is against the American people. Biden didnt open by speaking to Americans about our wonderful country. He began by saying that America is facing a dystopian moment because Donald Trump is effectively Hitler, a point he returned to in an ad-lib during the speech. (All quotations are from the official White House transcript.) In January 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation. He said, I address you at a moment unprecedented in the history of the Union. Hitler was on the march. War was raging in Europe. President Roosevelts purpose was to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary moment. Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world. Tonight I come to the same chamber to address the nation. Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union. And yes, my purpose tonight is to both wake up this Congress, and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either. Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault here at home as they are today. Biden compares Trump to Hitler: He talks about the blood of America being poisoned, echoing the same exact language used in Nazi Germany. pic.twitter.com/GFylOg6sLt TheBlaze (@theblaze) January 5, 2024 After telling Americans were all about to come under the thumb of the new Third Reich, Biden didnt even return to America. Instead, he spent several minutes telling Americans we must fund the war in Ukraine. Yup. Americas under threat from Putins war in Eastern Ukraine. Show Joe the money. Next in the Democrat dog-and-pony show was January 6, the darkest day in American history. January 6th and the lies about the 2020 election, and the plots to steal the election, posed the gravest threat to our democracy since the Civil War. Most Republicans and a large share of Democrats and Independents believe that the 2020 election was riddled with fraud. That truly poses a grave threat to democracy (the voice of the people). Biden actually fears that reversing that fraud is the gravest threat to the Democrat party since the Civil War. No wonder Biden implicitly warned Americans, again, that if they push back against fraud, they will get a visit from the FBI. Having threatened Americans, Biden did a weird fistshake at the Supreme Court. Naturally, he complained about the Dobbs decision destroying a constitutional right when, in fact, the decision said no federal right ever existed, with abortion being a states right matter. But it was what followed that was so disturbing in tone, content, and incoherence: Biden basically threatens the Supreme Court justices to their faces over abortion and struggles to read the teleprompter while doing it. pic.twitter.com/zMJvgPqbjg Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 8, 2024 Is any of this normal? Nor is it normal for the president during a SOTU, which is supposed to tell Congress and the American people how were doing in terms of the economy, national security, and other national metrics, to keep attacking his election opponent. Biden didnt stop at calling Trump the new Hitler. Instead, according to the official script, he referred negatively to Trump 13 times. (He ad-libbed multiple other insults): SEE IT: Speaker Johnson shakes his head in disgust as Biden attacks Trump, and 'liar' is heard across the hall. WATCH pic.twitter.com/7T3Y7xM8nX Simon Ateba (@simonateba) March 8, 2024 Then there were the flat-out lies. One of the most obvious was Bidens claim that he, personally, brought the cost of insulin down from $400 per month to $35 for seniors: Instead of paying $400 a month for insulin seniors with diabetes only have to pay $35 a month! And now I want to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American who needs it! For years people have talked about it but I finally got it done and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs just like the VA does for our veterans. The truth is that Trump had already lowered insulin prices via executive order. On his first full day in office, Biden reversed that order, causing prices to shoot up. Then, he signed his own order, for which he now takes credit: Biden is actually the one who REVERSED a Trump order and RAISED insulin prices. pic.twitter.com/GpOCqR7YmN Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) March 8, 2024 Its a Herculean task to go through Bidens SOTU and find every lie, whether by commission or omission, about national security, the economy, education, or anything elseand thats the point. As Alex Jones told Tucker following the SOTU, its easy to rebut one lie. Its almost impossible to rebut a hundred. Alex Jones and Tucker Carlson on Joe Biden's SOTU address: "They wanna tell so many lies that you don't have time to counter it all." pic.twitter.com/3c9N92qPk7 The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 8, 2024 He's right. As a litigator, I saw that it takes a sentence to tell a lie but a paragraph or more to rebut it. Most people (judges included) have no patience for the rebuttal, especially when there are a hundred rebuttals. The Big Lie is equally effective when presented as 100 smaller lies. Throughout it all, the Democrats in the audience responded with partisan fervor, screaming, Four more years, not just when Biden entered the chamber but throughout his speech. Democrats broke out in another chant of four more years after Biden declared, The State of our Union is strong and getting stronger. #SOTU2024 Follow live: https://t.co/qk9uimlVYo pic.twitter.com/lfuxwyRluh The Hill (@thehill) March 8, 2024 I think that because they were in the House chamber for an official proceeding (its in the Constitution!), this was a clear Hatch Act violation, as well as violating House ethics rules. Jamie Raskin gleefully tagged Marjorie Taylor Greene for wearing a hat that wanted to Make America Great Again, which is a sentiment every American politician should endorse: MTG in direct violation of the rules of the House by wearing campaign insignia on the House floor. Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) March 8, 2024 Greene, incidentally, scored the best moment of the SOTU when she demanded that Biden say Laken Rileys name. Biden processed the request and decided on the fly that hed better comply. Therefore, he acknowledged that Lincoln Riley was killed by an illegal (infuriating his base) before saying actual Americans are more dangerous and, by the way, did you know that his son died, too: Here's Why Biden's Now-Infamous "Say Her Name" Response May Be Worse Than People Think "Lincoln, Lincoln Riley. An innocent woman who was killed by an illegal. That's right. But how many of the thousands of people being killed by LEGALS (?)." If Biden meant to say LEGALS, Joe pic.twitter.com/r6XTtoPkvg Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) March 8, 2024 Biden also demanded (again) that Republicans vote for the border bill, insisting that it will stem the flow of illegal aliens by giving him the power he needs. Another fact: Biden already has plenary power to stop all illegal immigration instantly. What the bill will do is weaken Americas existing immigration laws to paper over the crisis Biden created by violating those same laws. The only unexpected part of a speech that had included predictable demands for gun control, crocodile tears about book banning, an effort to lessen election integrity, and a huge, boats-on-the-water relief effort for the same people in Gaza who enable Hamas, was Bidens bizarre claim that Democrats are the pro-police party. Marinate on that one for a while. After this unnerving display of anger, hysteria, vengefulness, hate, and dishonesty, Biden closed his speech this way: Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas. But you cant lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back. There is nothing beyond our capacity when we act together! A coked-up demagogue is not what America needs, but its all that the Democrat party has to offer. Image: YouTube screen grab (cropped). I had no intention of watching the SOTU, preferring instead to scan the headlines this morning for key takeaways, but this one caught my eye: HuffPost via AOL reports this morning: Steve Nikoui, whose son in the Marines was killed during the 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan, screamed at President Joe Biden as he gave his State of the Union speech. Nikoui was arrested. Nikoui seemed to yell Marines and Abbey Gate, referring to the site of a terrorist attack where Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui and 12 other American troops died as the U.S. military pulled out of Kabul. TV footage captured the elder Nikouis outburst that caught the attention of Biden as the president talked about America being safer under his leadership. Nikoui is then shown being escorted out of the gallery. Nikoui was charged with a misdemeanor for Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding, ABC News reported. Capitol Police said it had warned Nikoui to stop before taking action. This is a routine charge on Capitol Hill. People who illegally demonstrate/disrupt Congress typically are released after they pay a $50 fine, so the misdemeanor charge is resolved without going to court, officers wrote, per The New York Times. Joe Biden's State of the Union was long, at least an hour long, and boring as heck, going into minutia about ticket prices, shrinkflation, and abortion as "care," amounting to essentially a campaign speech. Left unsaid was any mention of one of the worst failures on his watch, the horrendous U.S. pullout from Afghanistan. While he's running for re-election, he'd rather that be ... forgotten. Well, not everyone has that luxury of forgetting and moving along. According to the Daily Mail: The Gold Star father of a Marine killed during the catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal was arrested during Thursday's State of the Union for heckling President Joe Biden during his speech. Steve Nikoui, the father of slain Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, shouted 'Remember Abbey Gate!' 'United States Marines!' and 'Abbey Gate!' from the balcony of the House chamber in the middle of the president's remarks. Abbey Gate is where Nikoui's son Kareem and 12 other service members were killed by a suicide bomber during the chaotic American exit from Kabul on August 26, 2021. The 51-year-old, who has blamed Biden for his son's death, was quickly removed from the public gallery and placed in handcuffs. The Gold star father began his protest after Biden said 'Americas safer today than when I took office.' O.K., I can understand removing him from the speech owing to his heckle. When you make up your mind to do that, you pretty well know that you'll be stopped and taken out. What's obnoxious here is that they saw fit to handcuff him, like a drunk or criminal, when he was clearly an aggrieved father who sought to have his son's needless death remembered given that it was done in selfless service to his country. Biden, remember, looked at his watch several times when his son's body was brought back in a box from Afghanistan. Had this father not been treated this badly by the Bidenites these past few years, his shoutout never would have happened. But for that, they slap the cuffs on him, which is a lot more than they do for illegal aliens literally breaking into our country through its Southern border. The sheer lack of proportionality here, along with the extreme leadership failures that led up to his son's death does call for an explanation from Joe and his miserable lieutenants out on their Hamptons vacays. But Joe doesn't want anyone to so much as remember this, let alone the lives of the 13 innocent servicemembers who were needlessly killed on the way out. That explains the draconian response on a Gold Star father. Democrats have screamed outrage at President Trump for his tiffs with some gold star families with activist agendas in other contexts. Where is their outrage now? Image: Twitter screen shot Is the U.S. legal system even guided by the rule of law anymore? More and more, we are seeing stories that the agencies like the FBI, IRS, and Department of Justice have been weaponized against conservatives. Liberal prosecutors and district attorneys are no longer even pretending to be unbiased. Now, public schools have been a bastion for liberal indoctrination for far too long. Our students dont learn how to read, multiply, or even think, but they can tell you about climate change, transgenderism, and abortion in great detail, even if they are parroting their teachers talking points. That is why charter school students, homeschool students, and even students whose parents were able to choose the public school to send their students to do better. Parents choose education. The education system chooses indoctrination. Recently, it seems the education system is getting frustrated with not being able to indoctrinate every student in the country. In Michigan, the state board of education has been discussing the possibility of using warrantless searches against homeschool families in the state. To their credit, the board of education isnt on board with the idea...yet. It was presented by Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel. She basically said, we want this list so that we can have unwarranted home entry, without a warrant. Warrantless home entry into homeschool, board member Tom McMillin said. Why do they want to do this? Because the state wants to inspect homeschooling homes. In our legal system, you need proof that is presented to a judge of a crime happening in a home. Then the judge will sign off on a warrant that states what law enforcement can search for in the home. Otherwise, there needs to be some sort of immediate threat to allow a warrantless search. Neither of these would be the case with homeschooling families. McMillin said this list is not a record-keeping list. Its gonna go beyond registration, he said. Theyre either naive or theyre being disingenuous for anybody to say all we wanna do is have a list. Its gonna go significantly further than that. Theyre gonna either want to know exactly whats being taught or theyre gonna want entry into the houses. The excuse Nessel is using is that the state relies on teachers to spot signs of abuse and report it. They cant do that if the child is homeschooled, so the attorney general wants to allow officers to do this illegally. Even if the officers were to find signs of abuse, they have laid the framework to have the case tossed because of an illegal search. It is intimidation. Under threat of arrest, parents will indoctrinate their children the way the Democrats want them indoctrinated, or else Democrats will scare the parents into sending their children to a public school. It is blatantly illegal, but that no longer seems to concern Democrats. They are losing the argument of ideas, and rather than cede power, they are going to hold onto it illegally. It doesnt matter if Nessel thinks its okay. Its a violation of the parents Fourth Amendment rights, and federal law trumps state law. At least for now. Michael A. Letts is the CEO and Founder of In-VestUSA, a national grassroots non-profit organization helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. Image: jarmoluk via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Were living on the edge. The nation is on the edge. Maybe the whole planet is. It is very daunting, and I dread imminent catastrophe in two guises: political and military. We Americans must turn out in November to vote en masse to get Donald Trump back into office and, once hes there, he must act decisively to protect the country from crippling enemy attacks. Political Catastrophe: Just days ago, a New York Times/Siena College poll had Trump opening a 5.5 point nationwide lead over Joe Biden. Trump himself says he doesnt need Nikkis voters, and Jim Geraghty says that 6% of the undecided will turn the trick. Those referenced in the above paragraph are all channeling from somewhere that the voters will decide the election. However, the voters did not decide the election in 2020. Why would they decide it in 2024? Have the Democrats livestreamed that they have repented of cheating? A 5.5 or 6-point margin is not safe enough for Trump. Instead, it is close enough for the cheaters to prevail. Were living on the edge. I pray to Almighty God to cause the cheaters to stumble and allow the voters to determine the 2024 election. Image: Americas choices by AI. Military Catastrophe: Russia is now dominating Ukraine, as was inevitable ever since Ukraine foolishly went on the offense. Russia is out-conscripting Ukraine. Victor Davis Hansons analysis shows that Russia and Ukraine are contenders from different weight classes. To turn things around on that faraway battlefield, America and the European Union must pump in many more munitions into Ukraine for it even to stay in the field. But there is now something new. Russia is moving to a new theater by threatening space nukes. China is making the same threat. The Norks are singing from the same music. A nuke blast 25 miles over Kansas will effectively be an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack to obliterate the US electrical grid. While in office, Trump issued an Executive Order mandating that the federal government harden the grid. The anti-Trumpers in the administration blocked implementation, and Biden abandoned it. So, notwithstanding the risks, the USA remains vulnerable to an EMP attack. We are totally exposed to the threat. William R. Forstchens powerful novels describe the new dark age following an EMP attack. In the first book, Newt Gingrichs forward and US Navy Cpt Bill Sanderss afterward are illuminating and daunting. Item numero uno on Donald Trumps January 2025 bucket list must be seizing actual control of the executive branch, precisely as Josh First prescribes. Then, he must take immediate action to harden the grid against EMP. I realize the bucket list is extensive, but first things first. Right now, there are three EMP-ready enemies (China, North Korea, Russia), and they will soon be joined by a fourth: Iranthanks to Obamas and Bidens joint efforts. Iran has virtually announced its intent to attack when capable, which could be any week now. A return to the 19th Century (if were even that lucky) is in the cards. I pray to Almighty God to spare our land from EMP attack and allow us to return to order and civilization. It is a cliche among many: before the womens rights movement of the early 20th century, women were property and never held any power. They were treated as breeding stock in a male-dominated patriarchy that exists today. Women were never allowed to hold any formal power except through their husbands. Allow me to shatter that myth. Between 1700 and 1914, a woman ruled one of the Great Powers of Europe for 151 of the 214 (70%) years in this period. Great Britain, Austria, Spain, and Russia all had female rulers. Prussia and France did not have a female ruler in this period. Britain Queen Anne I: 1707-1714 (12 years) Queen Victoria I: 1837-1901 (64 years) Russia Empress Catherine I: 17251727 (2 years) Empress Anna: 1730-1740 (10 years) Empress Elizaveta Petrovna: 17411762 (21 years) Empress Catherine II (Catherine the Great): 17621796 (34 years) Austria (Holy Roman Empire) Empress Maria Theresa: 17401780 (did not formally become empress until later) (40 years) Spain: Queen Isabella II (Regnant): 18331868 (35 years) There of these women, Victoria I, Catherine the Great, and Maria Theresa, were some of the most powerful rulers in history. They were ruled vast empires and waged global wars with kings and emperors centuries before the suffragette movement. Throughout European history, few conflicts were as epic as the struggle between Empress Maria Theresa of Austria and Frederick the Great of Prussia. They fought over control of the rich Polish land of Silesia, and the conflict bled over into North America for various reasons, culminating in the French and Indian War (in Europe called the Seven Years War). While George Washington was battling it out against the French as an officer on General Braddocks staff, Maria Theresa and Frederick were marshaling massive armies against each other and engaging in immense intrigue that determined the fate of nations. Maria Theresa was the more conservative of the two: a devout Catholic, she centralized the disorganized Holy Roman Empire and brought the might of dozens of different ethnicities and nationalities into a potent weapon. Managing a government and army is not easy when the courtiers and soldiers speak German, Polish, Latin, Italian, French, Czech, Dutch, Hungarian, Slovene, Serbian, Croatian, Romanian...you get the idea. It is interesting to note that throughout this period of conflict, both Frederick the Great and Maria Theresa sold their personal jewelry to fund their nation's military operations. I doubt todays leaders would sacrifice their overpriced electric vehicles so our soldiers could eat. Catherine the Great did not have sex with horses, but she did have sex with men if it would advance her power and benefit Russia. A woman whose Russian Machiavellianism could make Nikita Khrushchev blush, she not only assassinated her husband (the weak Peter III), but brutally suppressed rebellions and expanded Russian territory at the expense of the Ottoman Turks, the major Muslim power at the time. Seeing Russia fall behind the other Great Powers of Europe, she continued Peter the Greats efforts to modernize the country. These efforts ranged from education to land reforms and played a key role in Tsar Alexander Is victory over Napoleon in 1812. Queen Victoria I of Great Britain (and empress of India) has been the subject of much media. The Victorian Era stands out in history as Britains Imperial Century, where it truly surpassed Rome in relative influence and power. By the end of her reign, one in four human beings on Planet Earth was a British citizen or subject. The Handmaids Tale myth of history is more suited to the convenience of the 21st-century activist than the serious individual. It is a myth that feeds into the far-left fantasy: Before activists like me showed up, the world was terrible, combined with Nobody from the past has anything to teach us. If any of the female rulers on this list thought that way, she likely would have been deposed by courtiers looking for weakness, some of whom may have had a grievance with her sex. In the end, such attitudes are not only stupid, but not of people fit to rule. Julian R. Sinclair Twitter: @sinclairjulianr. Image via Flickr, public domain. So the killing of a college student by someone who doesn't belong in this country doesn't bother the left as much as Joe Biden's use of the word 'illegal' to describe him. According to Forbes: President Joe Biden responded to heckling from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., demanding he say the name of murdered Georgia college student Laken Riley by offering his condolences to her parents in an unscripted moment during Thursdays State of the Union addressas the immigration debate has become a key issue in the 2024 presidential election. Biden reached under the dais and retrieved a pin commemorating Riley in response to Greene, who yelled say her name and what about Laken Riley? as Biden criticized Republicans for blocking bipartisan border security legislation. Biden said Riley was an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal after Greene interrupted him, adding to her parents I say, my heart goes out to you. after Greene interrupted him, adding to her parents I say, my heart goes out to you. An undocumented migrant from Venezuela, Jose Ibarra, has been charged with murdering Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student, while she was on a run at the nearby University of Georgia campus last month. Here's a video: MASK SLIPS: With hard drugs wearing off fast Joe Biden has a truly shocking moment of honesty & lucidity. After MTG screams Laken Rileys name Biden goes off prompter, rattled and admits: THOUSANDS of Americans are being Killed by ILLEGALS. Joe knows. He doesnt care. pic.twitter.com/P6T0RBDQtS Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 8, 2024 That "triggered" the responses seen on Twitter: When I tell you my jaw dropped upon hearing Biden refer to undocumented people with a very overtly racist and derogatory word. People's lives are not illegal. Their entire existence does not lie within the context of our legal system. Nancy Cardenas Pena (@ncardenastx) March 8, 2024 He just said illegals twice, Alex. I think what everything hes done in regard to the border, asylum, and immigration during his term, we know where DACA falls. Roza Calderon (@rozacalderon) March 8, 2024 No Human Being is Illegal. Period.#DropTheIWord Erika Andiola (@ErikaAndiola) March 8, 2024 With all due respect, @MSNBC pundits, calling immigrants illegals is not just something people on the left will care about. Its something that immigrants care about. We have worked hard to stop people from calling us that because its demonizing and dehumanizing. Period. Erika Andiola (@ErikaAndiola) March 8, 2024 It sounds that time of month for her. Here's one who thought the accused killer of the nursing student deserved a pathway to citizenship: No human being is illegal. We must create a pathway to citizenship for dreamers. Americans support Dreamers. Dreamers support America. #DACA #SOTU2024 @UNITEDWEDREAM @FWDus Rep. Sylvia Garcia (@RepSylviaGarcia) March 8, 2024 Here are more of the robotics from the illegals industrial complex: No human being is illegal. Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project (@FlorenceProject) March 8, 2024 "I will not demonize immigrants" Biden says, moments after referring to "an illegal," cool cool Liliana Segura (@LilianaSegura) March 8, 2024 Nice defense of an accused killer here: No human is illegal. Democrats cant abandon their promises we need humane and beneficial immigration reform. A pathway for dreamers and status for the undocumented who built their lives here. #SOTU2024 #Biden Juan Nunez (@JuanIVNunez) March 8, 2024 Here's one who confused Latinos with people who fail to follow U.S. immigration law, forgetting that a hundred-plus countries are now represented in the Biden border surge: As a Latino. No human is illegal. We need to do better with our word choices. Carlos Cardona (@CardonaLebron) March 8, 2024 Speak for yourself, pal. Most Latinos are here legally and abhor illegal immigration. Perpetuate stereotypes much? Seen any polls lately? How long do you think it took her to assemble that tweet? Did not like President Bidens use of the Republican term illegal. Glad he said he will not demonize immigrants, but using illegal as a noun plays into the hands of the GOP. Republicans are still much worse on immigration, but lets not fall into their traps. Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) March 8, 2024 Good luck with that, Sam. That horse has already left the barn. Wow, Biden just said "illegals" in #SOTU Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 8, 2024 No human being is illegal. https://t.co/qU0XeB0BtA Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) March 8, 2024 Daniel DiMartino, a U.S. citizen originally from Venezuela whose family immigrated legally to the U.S. after fleeing socialism had a choice curation, too: Last night, members of Congress and left-wing activists were very upset that President Biden called Laken Riley's killer an "illegal." Really? That's what upsets them? What do they have to say to the victims of crime? Jose Ibarra KILLED a girl. He does not deserve politeness. pic.twitter.com/NxVNCEQvvp Daniel Di Martino (@DanielDiMartino) March 8, 2024 Another pointed out the irony of the whole thing: Biden saying "an illegal" in his speech is notable. Shortly after he was elected, his administration cut the use of "illegal alien" in government communications. https://t.co/c3jvBhqWWy Hamed Aleaziz (@Haleaziz) March 8, 2024 So someone can be fired for using the word 'illegal alien' in government proceedings, but Joe exempts himself. House Democrat Nancy Pelosi tried to do damage control on the old dotard, who probably talks like that in private, saying that the important thing was Biden's support for open borders: Commenting on Bidens use of the word illegal, a phrase his administration has avoided using, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told CNN: Now he should have said undocumented...we usually say undocumented. He said illegal. I dont think its a big deal. I dont think its a big deal because I think his focus was on the sympathy for the family. Its a terrible tragedy. 'Tragedy' is an interesting word here, given that in the classical definition of it, it's something you did to bring about your own demise, not something Joe Biden or the man he let into the country or the New York officials who let him off after a string of earlier crimes did. She's blaming the victim with that word and excusing Joe. President Trump's immigration advisor, Stephen Miller, cut the problem down to the quick: Laken Reillys murder is now front and center. Here is what every American must know: Biden set her accused murderer free. He adopted a policy to mass release fighting-age illegal males into the US. Now, innocent Americans are being raped and murdered by the illegals he freed. Stephen Miller (@StephenM) March 8, 2024 What's obnoxious here is this entire focus on semantics. Who the heck cares what Biden called the dirtbag after sufficient evidence came out there that he had murdered this young woman in cold blood, had gang connections, had committed a string of previous crimes and didn't belong in this country? Biden calls this monster an 'illegal' and the response echoes the use of the 'n' word, never mind the real crime, which was in the killing. That doesn't bother them, but the word 'illegal' does. This tells us all we need to know about the left -- and we heartily hope they all punish Joe by staying home on Election Day to teach him a lesson. Image: Twitter screen shot Apple has always been one to have a tight grip on everything within its iOS ecosystem, and this week that led to the company blocking the Epic Store that Epic Games had planned for iOS because of a ban on Epics account. Epic released an official statement about Apples decision on March 6. In it, the company noted that Apple had revoked its developer account which led Epic to have to put its plans for an Epic Games Store on iOS on hold. Epics plans for this third-party store were in accordance with the EUs mandate outlined in the DMA (Digital Markets Act). Stating that Apple was required to allow third-party store offerings on its mobile platform in Europe. Epic says Apples decision to ban its developer account violates the DMA. Now, EU regulators are looking into Apple and investigating its decision for the ban. Advertisement Advertisement The EU will investigate whether or not Apple violated the DMA terms with the Epic Store ban Apple is already in hot water with the EU after abusing its dominant place in the market. This led EU regulators to fine Apple a total of $1.9 billion. Now regulators say they will be looking into Apples reason for the ban. Epics CEO Tim Sweeney feels that Apples decision was revenge. That might be hard to prove. Epic would need to link Apples decision for the ban to something Epic said or did directly. And then show that Apple banned Epics developer account as a response to those things. As it turns out, Apple may have just given Epic and the EU a reason to see things this way. As 9To5Mac points out, Apples response to Epics statement reads like the ban was a move made because Epic dared to be critical of Apples policies. Advertisement You have described our DMA compliance plan as hot garbage, a horror show, and a devious new instance of Malicious Compliance. And you have complained about what you called Junk Fees and Apple taxes, Apple executive Phil Schiller said. Schillers response was in reference to a tweet that Tim Sweeney made. Whether or not Apple canceled Epics developer account for this tweet is uncertain. But the EU is certainly going to be looking into it. Apple will then likely have to explain its reasoning. Which in the end, could result in Epic getting its developer account back. But, time will tell. In one of the most disruptive hacks against American healthcare infrastructure, security experts say it will take at least several months for UnitedHealth Group to make a full recovery from the cyberattack. Hacking group ALPHV, also known as "BlackCat," infiltrated the largest US health insurer's computer systems on Feb. 21. Since the breach of security, United Health reports it continues to work on restoring the impacted channels and that some of its systems are returning to normal. "The amount of disruption suggests they don't have alternate systems at the ready," said Chester Wisniewski, a director at the cybersecurity firm Sophos. "It's been 13, 14 days, and that is already longer than I'd expect for backup systems to be spun up." Reuters reports change processes about 50% of medical claims in the US for around 900,000 physicians, 33,000 pharmacies, 5,500 hospitals, and 600 laboratories. About 1 in 3 US patient records are touched by its health technology offerings, creating an ideal target for hackers in search of easy access to a large swathe of healthcare data. Patients directly impacted may see a quicker turnabout, "but the back end, it takes a couple of months, or upwards of a year," said Wisniewski, who has tracked such breaches for over 20 years. A spokesman from UnitedHealth indicated the company is focusing on the investigation behind the hack and restoring operations at Change Healthcare as quickly as possible. To contain the situation, US officials have stepped in to help control the chaos. The breach also affected smaller medical care providers who were hit particularly hard, with many struggling to process payments. The giant healthcare company has not revealed whether ALPHV demanded a ransom, but an online post to a cybercrime forum claims the company paid $22 million to the hackers to regain access to its locked systems and around eight terabytes, or eight million megabytes, of data that was stolen. Such decryption can take "unreasonable amounts of time, depending on the file sizes and systems in question," said Kurtis Minder, co-founder of cyber intelligence firm GroupSense. According to Minder, recovery timelines range from a few weeks to "long and longer." Ahead of its most damaging hack, ALPHV was hitting hospitals and small healthcare providers. Minder has helped several companies negotiate ransoms, including an eye care clinic that was an ALPHV target last year. "To Truly Disrupt These Folks, You'd Have To Arrest Them" "Of the groups that we've dealt with in ransomware, ALPHV has been some of the more antagonistic or difficult to deal with," Minder said, adding that the gang was particularly persistent against its targets and stubborn at negotiating ransoms. ALPHV is a Russian-speaking cybercrime gang and since 2021 has provided its own malicious software and infrastructure to other hacking units. In December, the FBI obstructed its operations, which were considered the world's second most prolific 'ransomware-as-a-service' entity. At the time, the FBI claimed it had seized several ALPHV websites and received insight into its computer network. However, the Change hack has raised concern over how instrumental the agency's actions really were. Signs are pointing to an unusual silence from ALPHV. Following the Change Healthcare hack, the cybergang appears to have disappeared. But it is common for such groups to rebrand and resurrect themselves, analysts say." To truly disrupt these folks, you'd have to arrest them," said Minder. Such arrests are difficult, he said, given that these gangs are often based in countries the US does not have extradition treaties with. Samsung is rolling out a new update to the Galaxy Watch 6 series. It brings the Workout Tracker feature, adding the ability to see your workout data from the watch on a TV. The update is currently available in South Korea but should soon reach other markets. Galaxy Watch 6 gets TV Workout Tracker with a new update Workout Tracker is a new feature Samsung introduced to its 2024 TVs and other Tizen OS-powered devices, including smart monitors. It allows you to view workout data from your watch on a big screen. Everything from your heart rate to workout duration is available on the TV or monitor in front of you. This eliminates the need to scroll through the data on your watchs tiny screen. Advertisement Advertisement The workout data is displayed on top of any video that you were already watching on the TV. While you can pause the video, this flexibility ensures that you can continue watching a workout video while simultaneously checking out the stats. Note that you must pair your Galaxy Watch 6 with a Samsung TV launched in 2024 to use this feature. Both devices should be signed in with the same Samsung Account. Besides Workout Tracker, the latest update for the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic brings improvements to the touch screen panel (TSP). Samsung doesnt specify what improvements it has pushed. The official release notes say the TSP has been updated to the latest firmware version. The update also contains system stability improvements for the new watches. On top of this, the Galaxy Watch 6 lineup is picking up the March 2024 security patch. It is only the second Samsung product to receive the latest security patch, after the Galaxy S24 series. The company will soon push the new release to other models, including the Galaxy S23 series. It contains several dozen vulnerability patches for Samsungs Android-powered Galaxy phones and tablets. The update should soon roll out globally This update for the Galaxy Watch 6 series should soon roll out globally, including in the US. In Samsungs homeland, i.e., South Korea, the update comes with the firmware build number ending in AXB7 and has a download size of around 285MB for the base model. The build number and file size may vary depending on the market and model but the changelog should remain the same. You can check for updates from the Settings app on your watch or the Galaxy Wearable app on your connected smartphone. Google Chrome is expected to offer the ability to Install page as an app as a Progressive Web App (PWA). The feature, discovered inside the Canary (beta) version of the popular web browser, isnt new but Google is finally simplifying the process. The Chrome browser for desktops and laptops will easily install any website as an app. The browser is essentially offering the ability to create a shortcut to a website on users home screen or desktop. Regardless, websites are increasingly offering multiple functions and rivaling dedicated apps, and this feature will allow users to run websites as apps. Advertisement Advertisement Google Finally Makes It Easy To Quickly Add Website Shortcuts As PWAs On Desktops Google has long believed in the idea of PWAs. These arent apps in the traditional sense, but instead, have launch shortcuts that quickly take the user to the website. For all practical purposes, these weblinks appear and even behave as natural apps and programs installed on a desktop. Chrome users have been actively installing PWAs for years. Moreover, websites have been clamoring to be as accessible as possible. Needless to mention, the load times for PWAs are lesser than traditional apps. Additionally, PWAs do not consume disk space. As a bonus, PWAs also reduce the number of apps that need to be updated at regular intervals. In Chrome Canary now all pages are "installable", Google has added a new "Install page as app" item to the Save and share submenu:https://t.co/79NFQQmMf3 .https://t.co/r8AL0zOJWy pic.twitter.com/yorewXO1F2 Advertisement Leopeva64 (@Leopeva64) March 7, 2024 How To Add Websites As PWAs In Google Chrome? Although PWAs have existed for several years, Google has finally made it easy to quickly add a websites shortcut as a PWA. The latest Chrome Canary build, which is updated daily and is usually a glimpse of an upcoming stable build, offers a straightforward way to install PWAs. Multiple popular websites including YouTube and Reddit have had their PWAs for quite some time. Moreover, they have been regularly prompting users to install them. The ability to add PWAs is now included in the easily accessible Save and Share submenu. Moving forward, after opening a website, users will be able to click on Install page as app to place the websites shortcut on the desktop. Specifically speaking, Chrome will create a new app for the website. This shortcut will have the icon of the website and a dedicated listing in the users app drawer. Incidentally, Google Chrome already offers the ability to add PWAs. However, the search giant hadnt activated the setting in the stable release of the web browser. Nonetheless, users who are interested in activating the setting, have two ways to do so. The experimental flags #web-app-universal-install and #shortcuts-not-apps are available. However, it would be wise to wait for a little while because Google should include the feature in the upcoming stable release of the web browser. Samsung aims to reshape the landscape of wearable wellness technology with its Galaxy Ring. The smart ring arrives later this year as a comprehensive health monitoring device. While it is shaping up to be an exciting product, the company may proceed conservatively with its production. It plans to produce just about 400,000 units of the Galaxy Ring in the first batch. Samsung to make less than half a million Galaxy Ring Smart rings have existed for a few years but are still a relatively niche product. Samsung is the first major global tech company to enter this market. The Korean firm hasnt yet revealed everything about the Galaxy Ring. It shared a few key details at MWC 2024, but a formal launch isnt expected before July. From what we have heard from Samsung so far, it is confident in the product it has made. Advertisement Advertisement However, the company may have yet to gauge the market demand for smart rings. Perhaps it is difficult to tell how well the Galaxy Ring will sell. After all, smart rings arent mainstream yet. Hence, it plans to start with a small number of units. According to the Korean media, Samsung will only make about 400,000 Galaxy Rings in the first batch of mass production. The company will decide on the production volume for the second batch depending on the market response. Since the Galaxy Ring is a small product and there is no shortage of components, it can quickly ramp up inventory if the demand is high. The company may also want to evaluate which sizes sell more before expanding production. The wearable will reportedly come in nine sizes. Mass production of the Galaxy Ring will begin in May. Samsung plans to launch the ring alongside its sixth-gen foldables in July. Rumors are that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 will debut in the first half of July. Sales may begin later that month. The Galaxy Ring may also arrive on the market at the end of July or in August. You can expect more leaks and rumors about it in the build-up to its launch. The ring will lack medical device certification Samsung says the Galaxy Ring can be a substitute for your Galaxy Watch as an everyday wellness device. However, unlike the watches, the first-gen ring will lack a medical device certification, at least at launch. The company has to obtain regulatory approval before it can sell the wearable as a medical device. It is unclear whether Samsung plans to obtain a medical certification for the Galaxy Ring. Pieces of tech history are some of the most exciting things you can find at an auction. This time, a $200 check written by Apples legendary CEO, Steve Jobs, is preparing to go under the hammer. While a check for paying a telephone bill might not seem exciting for auction, it offers a glimpse into Apples early days. As 9to5mac reports, the check, dated July 8, 1976, was written to pay Apples telephone bill to Pacific Telephone. A company known as Pacific Bell Telephone Company now. Apples first address in Palo Alto, California, is also engraved on the top of the check, and it requires the recipient to cash it From the account of Apple Computer Company. Advertisement Advertisement Apples $200 telephone bill is available on auction The history of this address goes back to when Apple was just a small company and operated in Jobs garage. The address was used for answering service and a mail drop. The check goes on auction on RR Auction in a fine condition. with Jobs signature on it. The auction house says this piece of Apple history is encapsulated and graded by PSA/DNA as GEM MT 10. A desirable Jobs-signed check paying Apple Computers telephone bill some 31 years before the release of the first iPhone on June 29, 2007. RR Auction added. Those interested can submit their bids until March 21 at 7:00 PM EDT. Of course, winning such items in an auction is not easy, and you have to compete with dozens of other people. At the time of writing this article, the check is bidding at $27,121, and the next bid is set at $29,834. Up to now, 18 bids have been submitted. Back in December, another $4 check written by Steve Jobs was auctioned at $46,043. While Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, this $200 Apple telephone bill is an artifact to preserve his memory. It would be interesting to see if current Apple executives propose a bid to buy the check. (Photo : JACK GUEZ / AFP) A picture taken from a position in southern Israel on February 29, 2024, shows a parachute belonging to the Israeli Army dropping a box over destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Five people were killed and several more injured when the parachute of an aid package airdropped Friday over war-torn Gaza failed to deploy, leaving the parcel to plummet on top of them, according to reports. The incident unfolded around 11:30 a.m. local time as the United States, Belgium, Egypt, France, Jordan and the Netherlands conducted the humanitarian airdrop over the Al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza, CBS News reported. Video posted to social media - which could not immediately be verified by HNGN.com - shows a passing plane dropping dozens of aid packages. The parachute attached to one package, however, appears not to open properly, making its descent far more rapid than the others. Officials from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, as well as an eyewitness, told CBS that five people were killed on the ground, including two boys. Several more were reportedly injured. CBS put that number at 11, while CNN said 10 people were injured, citing Khader Al Zaanoun, a journalist on the scene. The injured ranged in age from 30 to 50, CBS reported. A U.S. defense official told CBS that an initial review suggested that the U.S. airdrop was not to blame for the incident, but that further investigation was required. The U.S. began conducting the airdrops last week in an effort to address the spiraling humanitarian conditions in Gaza, amid Hamas' war with Israel. The war began on Oct. 7 with Hamas' surprise attack on Israel, which saw indiscriminate killing and hostages taken back to Gaza. Since, Israel has responded with an air and land campaign aimed at ousting Hamas from Gaza. Civilians represent the majority of those killed on both sides. Musicians in the Afghan Youth Orchestra (AYO) have said it is a fantastic experience to play in the UK after initially being denied visas to enter the country. The Home Office had refused the AYOs entry applications, but reversed the decision on Monday. The orchestra fled Afghanistan after the return of the Taliban, and its musicians have lived and studied in Portugal, where they were granted asylum, since December 2021. The performers were granted asylum in Portugal (Lucy North/PA) Farida Ahmadi, 14, and Ali Sina Hotak, 16, members of the 48-person musical ensemble, said the last week had been complicated, but they were excited to have new friends in the UK and meet new people. Ali told the PA news agency: It was complicated but in the end it was OK thats the musician life, and its amazing to be here now. Its really nice to have new friends from the UK and to meet new people and its a fantastic experience to play in such a great hall. The Home Office initially refused the AYOs application for visas (Lucy North/PA) The orchestra, whose musicians are aged 14 to 22, has toured countries in Europe including France, Italy and Germany to perform their music, which focuses on the struggles of Afghan people and the repression of women under Taliban rule. The Sama Arts Network artistic director, Jay Visvadeva, whose organisation arranged the UK tour, said the Home Offices original decision was callous and inhumane. After working for seven months and spending several thousand pounds in visa, biometric and surcharges, my heart sank in disbelief at (the Home Offices) callous and inhumane decision, Mr Visvadeva said. The orchestra performed in London as part of their Breaking the Silence tour (Lucy North/PA) We shared our disappointment through social media of the Home Offices decision and within hours, they finally woke up after arriving at a highly damaging and a detrimental decision. Once the pressure had reached the Home Office, the penny had dropped and they realised their error of judgment and slowly started to reverse its decision. On Thursday evening, the group played the first show of their UK Breaking the Silence tour at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. The musicians had fled Afghanistan after the return of the Taliban (Lucy North/PA) Ali said: The silence is the silence of Afghanistan. Nowadays, theres no music in Afghanistan. Nowadays, women cannot go to school in Afghanistan. We are the voice of women in Afghanistan. We are the voice of the people in Afghanistan who just want to live and thats why we are here to break the silence. Mr Visvadeva added he hoped that collaboration between the young British and Afghan musicians would inspire and give hope to those highly traumatised young members of the Afghan orchestra. After the provision of additional information, the Government granted entry to the orchestra (Lucy North/PA) Farida said she was looking forward to meeting and working with new people in the UK: Im experiencing new things and its good that when we go to another new place, we meet new friends. We show our music to people, we get to share music, and its really great. The musicians will also perform in Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. The ensemble said they had met new friends in the UK (Lucy North/PA) The youngsters said they were also excited to sight-see in the UK. Farida said she was hoping to visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour, whilst Ali wants to visit the Royal Academy of Music. A Home Office spokesperson said: Musicians and performers are a valued and important part of UK culture. Applications must be considered on their individual merits in accordance with the immigration rules with the responsibility on applicants to demonstrate they meet these rules. Whilst their initial applications were refused, after the provision of additional information we are pleased they will be able to travel as soon as possible. The BBC has announced it will broadcast a host of short films created by Aardman Animations which have been voiced by viewers from across the UK. Three of the six films will air on Friday and feature unscripted dialogue from audience members matched with stop-motion clay animal characters created by the studio behind the Wallace And Gromit and Shaun The Sheep films. The first of the 30-second films features a family from Port Talbot in Wales, transformed into hamsters, who talk about the TV shows they like to watch, and a family from Birmingham, reimagined as foxes, talk about their love for MasterChef. A family from Birmingham have been transformed into foxes (BBC/Aardman Animations/PA) There will also be a father and son from Paisley, near Glasgow, depicted as dogs in the back seat of a car, who will discuss how they related to a son and father team who appeared in Race Across The World. The three films will air on BBC One on Friday before The One Show and will appear across BBC coverage throughout 2024, as well as in cinemas and across social media platforms. The shorts, with dialogue from audiences descriptions of BBC content, form part of the corporations Things We Love campaign, which aims to provide an entertaining insight into the UKs favourite BBC content. The collaboration between the broadcaster and the animation studio is a return to Aardmans Creature Comforts format, which originally appeared as a short film in a documentary style and applied it to the lives of wild animals and pets. The families in the films were discovered through the corporations audience engagement programme, where thousands of people are interviewed each year about their opinions on the BBC and its coverage. Three more films created by Aardman Animations, representing other parts of the UK, will be released later in the spring. The independent studio is also known for 2000 film Chicken Run, which was recently followed by a sequel, Dawn Of The Nugget, released on Netflix in late 2023. Charlotte Moore, BBC chief content officer, said: We have a long-standing relationship with Aardman, and as ever their brilliantly distinctive creative flair is stamped all over these charming films. I think Aardman have perfectly captured the essence of the affection we know audiences across the UK feel for our programmes, and I hope they make everyone smile. Sarah Cox, chief creative director at Aardman, said: Aardman is very proud of our long-standing relationship with the BBC so we were delighted to revive our much-loved Creature Comforts format for its Things We Love campaign. A father and son canine duo (BBC/Aardman/PA) The magic and joy of this type of animation is that all the dialogue is unscripted and selected from real conversations with members of the public from across the UK and thats where so much of the warmth and the humour and the storytelling comes from. The interviews inspire the claymation animal character scenarios. We hope that viewers love these new creatures as much as we do. The family from Port Talbot said: We are so chuffed seeing our family in this film! Its captured our everyday laughter, banter and chit chat. Im sure every family can relate to times like these. Enjoying every moment, all from a place of love. The One Show will take a behind-the-scenes look at how the films were made and introduce the voices behind them when the show airs on Friday at 7pm on BBC One. Watch Carol Vorderman hit back at critics who judge her looks What did you miss? Confident at 63, Carol Vorderman had a message for the people who have criticised her for the way she looks. The former Countdown host was invited to speak on Good Morning Britain to mark International Women's Day. She may be most famous for her TV work on Countdown but the star is using her platform to speak freely on social media about politics and to do what she feels will hold politicans to account. Conversation turned to women and Vorderman said she has faced judgement all of her life for the way she looks in her role as a TV presenter. But taking no notice of others, she said: "Now I'm in my sixties I feel that I should speak out." Carol Vorderman hit back at those who criticise the way she looks. (ITV screengrab) (ITV screengrab) What, how and why? Vorderman drew attention to Shaun Bailey's comments that she couldn't be "both" a "serious political commentator" and have "pictures of her bum and boobs" on Instagram. She said: "On the subject of women, it is about calling it out. I had Lord - Lord! - Shaun Bailey who is misogynist." TV host Charlotte Hawkins responded: "So he made comments about you saying you couldn't be a serious political commentator and then put photos that you do on Instagram." To which, Vorderman summed up what Bailey had said about her: "You can't wear a bikini and talk politics basically." Carol Vorderman is a glamorous star who is most famous for her time on Countdown. (Getty) (Dave J Hogan via Getty Images) Hawkins then asked Vorderman what her own personal opinion was of the people who judge her. "What do you make those people?" She said. "What do you make of those people who are judging you by the way you look?" However, Vorderman said she doesn't take notice of those critics and she will speak her mind freely. People judging her for the way she looks is something she said she has experienced all her life. She said: "But here's the thing Charlotte, I've had it all of my life - as a TV presenter. I won't go with the society rules at the time. Now I'm in my sixties I feel that I should speak out on behalf of other people." What happened with Carol Vorderman and Shaun Bailey? Conservative's Shaun Bailey criticised Carol Vorderman. (Getty) (Victoria Jones - PA Images via Getty Images) In January this year, Vorderman had called out Bailey for his comments about her "bum and her boobs" on social media. Lord Bailey sparked outrage on social media with his comments on GB News: "Look, on one hand she's got all that stuff, you know, she's a serious political commentator, and then if you look at her Instagram it's all pictures of her bum and her boobs. So what is it here? She can't be both." Furious, Vorderman hit back on social media platform X saying: "Tory Shaun Bailey is a MISOGYNIST #SexistShaun - the Jingle & Mingle Partygate apologist." She added: "Shaun thinks that women who wear lycra in the gym shouldn't be allowed a political opinion.... or I assume a vote! Failed mayoral candidate #SexistShaun was made a lord last year. Yet another Tory honour for dishonour." At the time, celebrities spoke out for Vorderman in the wake of Bailey's remarks. Catherine Tyldesley, Gemma Atkinson and Ashley James were among the stars who threw their support behind Vorderman. Following the fallout, Bailey then said in a statement: "In a recent panel discussion, I used a clumsy form of words to describe Carol Vordermans Instagram posts. "The point I was trying to make is Carol lives in a world of glitz and celebrity, as her Instagram portrays, but simultaneously demonises and bullies those who hold different political views to her own. I strongly support free speech. I dont support bullying." Yahoo News has approached Shaun Bailey for further comment. Read more This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/carol-vorderman-hits-back-judged-looks-105940527.html Deepfake abuse is the new frontier of violence against women and creating such content should be outlawed, according to a former adviser to Boris Johnson. Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge warned existing legislation only bans the non-consensual sharing of deepfake material and does not tackle the non-consensual creation of the content. Peers heard there has been an increase in so-called nudify apps, which allow users to create fake nude images or videos of other people through generative artificial intelligence widely known as deepfakes. Conservative peer Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (PA) Lady Owen said the ability to create such content on the apps in a matter of seconds represents a very real threat to all women. Replying for the Government, equalities minister Baroness Barran said she acknowledged the points raised and wanted to hold talks with Lady Owen and justice ministers to explore this issue further. Conservative Lady Owen, who became the youngest life peer in the House of Lords last summer at the age of 30, told the International Womens Day debate in the Lords: Women are disproportionately affected by the creation of deepfake material. Research published by Home Security Heroes in 2023 found that of all deepfake videos, 98% were pornographic and of those 99% were of women. Lady Owen said the use of apps and the creation of deepfake porn for private use is currently legal, adding: The largest site creating deepfakes receives an average of 13.4 million hits a month. The rapid proliferation of these nudification apps, 80% of them having launched in the last 12 months alone, has created an environment where anyone can perpetrate harm with ease and it is not recognised as misogyny. Lady Owen continued: The creation of this material in and of itself without a persons consent causes serious harm, regardless of whether a person is aware of its creation and has a much wider societal impact in the normalisation of online misogyny and hate. Were now at the precipice of a new age of technology and it is vital that we act now to ensure that in embarking on this brave new world, which can offer many exciting opportunities, we do not risk creating a technological gender gap which would further limit the economic inclusion of women in society. The ability to create these images and videos using apps and platforms in a matter of seconds represents a very real threat to all women. A woman can no longer choose who owns an intimate image of her. They can be created by anyone, anywhere at any time. Lady Owen said it can have a silencing effect, including women withdrawing from social media and normal life. She added: Many women are fearful of this happening to them. The current law as it stands is prioritising freedom of speech and expression of the creator over that of a woman. Lady Owen also said: Whilst were still learning about AI, it is crucial that we educate society to differentiate between what is real and what is not in a world where we can no longer trust images that are put in front of us. Time is of the essence. We must not miss the chance to act by legislating against the creation of non-consensual deepfake content. We must prevent the normalisation of misogyny. Deepfake abuse is the new frontier of violence against women and we must all take a stand.# Elsewhere in the debate, independent Crossbench peer Baroness Boycott said there will be a Mothers Manifesto hunger strike taking place near Parliament from Mothers Day on Sunday. The former newspaper editor said: This is on behalf of lots of groups of mothers because guess who is skipping meals in this cost-of-living crisis? It is not the blokes, I am sorry, but it is not. One-in-four mothers in this country are currently skipping a meal. But 50 years ago, nobody skipped a meal. I am not saying it was all fun and roses, but we certainly did not skip meals. If someone had said to me, In 50 years time, youre going to stand up in Westminster and talk about food poverty, I would have said that they were bonkers. Crossbench peer Baroness Casey of Blackstock used her maiden speech to follow the lead of Labour MP Jess Phillips by reading out the names of more than 100 women killed in the UK in the last 12 months where the main suspect is a man. Lady Casey, the Governments former rough sleeping adviser, said the list acted as a reminder of the true horror of our collective failure to tackle the problem. She added: Yet there are thousands and indeed millions of decent men. As Womens Aid discussed only today, we, women need the decent men in this House but also across the country to stand up to that task or we will never, ever deal with the problem. We, women, cannot keep picking up the pieces and at worst being on the receiving end of abuse and violence largely from men. Lady Casey said change is definitely possible, adding: The country I love is pretty much, it feels, on its knees. Its too stretched, were too divided and too much of the discourse is too fractured. You can blame the pandemic, you can blame Russia, you can blame politics or we can blame each other, but its just too tough for too many people. And yet I have such hope. For almost 40 years I have worked in public service and that has instilled that hope in me. The creator of the Dragon Ball manga series Akira Toriyama has died at the age of 68. The Japanese artist and author died on March 1 of acute subdural hematoma pressure from bleeding in the brain his website said on Friday. Dragon Ball Z booth at New York Comic Con (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) A statement from Bird Studio read: Its our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm. Also, he would have many more things to achieve. However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world. Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years. We hope that Akira Toriyamas unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come. His Dragon Ball series began in 1984 and spawned various TV series, games and films by focusing on the story of a monkey-tailed boy called Son Goku who goes on various adventures in search of seven magical balls while defeating the villains who get in his way. The cover of Dragon Ball (Bird StudioSHUEISHA via AP) Born in Nagoya in 1955, his first works first appeared in 1978 in the manga section of the Japanese magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. A series, Dr Slump, about a female robot, Arale Norimaki, living in Penguin Village was his first hit before beginning the Dragon Ball series. The sequel to the original series, Dragon Ball Z, also introduced Gokus son Gohan, and the 2022 film continued this story with Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero by seeing him team-up with his fathers old rival Piccolo. Various characters including alien villains Vegeta and Frieza take their names from the words linked to food. In the case of these two names they echo the words for vegetable and freezer. In 2019, Toriyama was made a French knight of the Order of Arts and Letters and was announced as a 2024 winner of Tokyo Anime Award Festivals lifetime achievement honour along with Dragon Ball voice actor Toshio Furukawa. Toriyamas website statement also said: We inform you this sad news, with gratefulness for your kindness during his lifetime. Funeral service was held with his family and very few relatives. Following his wishes for tranquillity, we respectfully inform you that we would not accept flowers, condolences gifts, visiting, offerings and others. His family have asked for privacy, and a commemorative gathering is planned. A cruise ship worker smuggled 2 million worth of cocaine to UK waters before lowering it from the liner to a waiting boat and two accomplices who have been jailed for their part in the conspiracy. Milos Bigovic, from Serbia, had hidden the 28kg of cocaine on the Marella Discovery 2 in Cartegena, Colombia, before the liners Caribbean voyage was abandoned in March 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The passengers disembarked and the ship returned to Europe, where it moored off the Isle of Wight. It was on April 25 2020, that Bigovic dragged the holdall containing the drugs from his cabin to a port-side deck and attached a rope to it. He lowered it down to his accomplices, Benn Bath, 36, and Joshua Paige, 31, who were waiting in a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (Rhib) below, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA). Milos Bigovic, from Serbia, who had hidden 28kg of cocaine on the Marella Disovery 2 in Cartegena, Colombia, was jailed for 11 years in 2021 (National Crime Agency/PA) A NCA spokesman said: The drugs, which were smuggled on to the cruise ship, were so heavy the rope burned the skin from Bigovics hand. Bath and Paige were experienced seamen who worked in the maritime industry. In the preceding days, they had sailed Baths own boat, the Chatham Albatross, from the River Medway in Kent to the Isle of Wight. They had bought the Rhib for 5,000 and towed it from the Albatross so they could get close to the Marella and accept the drugs under cover of darkness. It is not known for sure whether it was Bath or Paige who manned the Rhib and sailed it solo from the Chatham Albatross, which was waiting nearby, to the cruise. Benn Bath, 36, was sentenced to 18 years (National Crime Agency/PA) Their movements were being observed by NCA officers and video footage of the drugs being dropped has now been released. The spokesman added: The 28kg of cocaine was originally supposed to be smuggled ashore somewhere in Europe. But when the Marella Discovery changed course because of lockdown, the organised crime group (OCG) behind the drugs had to change their plans. Bigovic, of Pozarevac, near Belgrade, was jailed for 11 years in 2021 having admitted importing cocaine. Bath from Staplehurst, Kent, was sentenced to 18 years and Paige from High Halstow, Kent, to eight years after being convicted at Winchester Crown Court of the same charge. Joshua Paige, 31, was jailed for eight years at Winchester Crown Court (National Crime Agency/PA) NCA investigators then uncovered a second conspiracy involving Bath to import another 90kg of cocaine into the UK onboard a barge from Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Liam West, 31, of Rochford, Essex, who skippered a tug that towed the barge was jailed for 14 years and accomplices Christopher Mealey, 47, of Liverpool, and Paul Farrell, 44, of Bolton, were jailed for 22 years and 23 years respectively. NCA operations manager Jules Harriman said: This OCG clearly had international connections and was able to orchestrate crimes with accomplices abroad that damaged the UK. The NCA has the reach and capabilities to tackle such harmful crime groups that have strands overseas and we work with key partners, such as Border Force, to protect the public from the Class A drugs threat. Officers involved in the investigation into the murder of Emma Caldwell will willingly work with the public inquiry into failings around the case, a body representing senior operational leaders has said. The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents said it will work to provide the answers that are needed, after the inquiry was announced by Scotlands Justice Secretary Angela Constance. Miss Caldwell, 27, vanished from Glasgow on April 4, 2005 and was found dead in Limefield Woods, South Lanarkshire, on May 8 that year. Last week, Iain Packer, 51, was convicted of murdering Miss Caldwell and a litany of crimes against 21 other women, and is believed to be Scotlands worst sex offender. Margaret Caldwell met Police Scotland chief Jo Farrell earlier this week (PA) He was interviewed by police the month after Miss Caldwells body was found, but only went on trial this year. Packer has indicated he will appeal against his convictions and the 36-year sentence handed down at the High Court in Glasgow. Police Scotland has already apologised to the family of Miss Caldwell and his other victims, saying they were let down. Her mother Margaret Caldwell met with the Crown Office, Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell, First Minister Humza Yousaf and Ms Constance this week in a bid to secure an inquiry, after campaigning for justice for nearly 20 years for her youngest daughter, who had turned to sex work to fund a heroin addiction. The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents said the inquiry should focus on all the authorities involved rather than just the police. Iain Packer has been handed a life term for the murder and a series of other crimes against a number of women (Police Scotland/PA) In a statement, it said: The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents notes the Scottish Governments decision to launch a public inquiry into the police action over the murder of Emma Caldwell. Our thoughts, as always, remain with Emmas family and friends at this time. Police officers are the most scrutinised of public servants. Decisions taken at all levels can be looked at for years with the benefit of hindsight that comes with the nature of the job and we all accept and appreciate this. Our colleagues who were involved in this investigation will willingly work with the inquiry to provide the answers that are needed. Whilst accountability comes with the role even long after retirement we also must remember that there needs to be fairness, balance and understanding when it comes to looking into decisions made many years ago under extreme pressure and with best intentions. This public inquiry should be about learning lessons for all involved across the criminal justice system, not just those working in policing, acknowledging the progress made and better practices now well established. We as a staff association will be supporting our members still serving and those now retired through the inquiry process, and we would hope that it can be concluded to the satisfaction of all concerned in an appropriate timescale. Mrs Caldwell rejected an apology from police, in a statement made through her lawyer outside the Scottish Parliament. Margaret Caldwell made a statement outside the Scottish Parliament on Thursday (Andrew Milligan/PA) Ms Constance on Thursday confirmed a statutory public inquiry will take place with consideration being given to whether a judge from outside of Scotland should be appointed to take the work forward. She said: It is time to apply fresh scrutiny to this case, to understand what went wrong, to ensure that lessons are learned for the future and to provide answers to all victims and survivors in this case. The initial investigation by Strathclyde Police, which ceased to exist when Police Scotland was created in 2013, involved a surveillance operation on a Turkish cafe which identified four suspects who were charged with murder in 2007. The charges were dropped due to issues with translation. Caldwell family lawyer Aamer Anwar said it was estimated to have cost more than 4 million. Packer gave multiple interviews to police between 2005 and 2007, including admitting using sex workers, visiting Limefield Woods and having had previous sexual relations with Miss Caldwell, with no action taken. Following a Sunday Mail newspaper story which branded Packer the forgotten suspect in 2015, Police Scotland launched a re-investigation of the case after being instructed to do so by the Lord Advocate. Dinosaurs have returned to Texas, after a 65-million-year hiatus, in a larger-than-life production that is expected to bring thunderous receipts to the Houston area. Jurassic World: The Exhibition opens a six-month run at Katy Mills Mall today. While it employs about 200 area residents, the exhibit is expected to sell more than half a million tickets, which start at $24 for visitors ages 3 to 15 and $31.99 for those 16 and older. As the name suggests, the exhibition, which had its world premiere in 2016 in Australia, is inspired by the film franchise and designed to give visitors a taste of the fictional theme park experience, minus the disasters that have transpired in the movies as a result of those classic human weaknesses, greed and hubris. Dinosaurs on display include brachiosaurus, velociraptors and a Tyrannosaurus rex as well as Bumpy, a baby ankylosaurus who stars in a spinoff animated series, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. Secured animatronic velociraptors are lined up on a wall as attendees pass by the exhibit during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor It truly is immersive, said Kurt Baker, senior vice president of global marketing and PR for Neon, an events company that partnered with Universal Studios and NBC to create the exhibition. You are entering Isla Nublar. You are up close with the dinosaurs to the point that you can touch some of them. It hits on all the emotions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The exhibition is family-friendly, he added, although children should keep their wits about them. The T. Rex is always lurking, Baker said. An animatronic tyrannosaurus rex menaces attendees in one of the exhibits during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor A display of an insect inside a chunk of amber in the Hammond Creation Lab, showcasing the science behind regenerating the dinosaurs, during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor Attendees enter the Hammond Creation Lab, showcasing the science behind regenerating the dinosaurs, during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor Jurassic World: The Exhibition is coming to Katy Mills Mall on Friday, March 8, 2024. Courtesy/Jurassic World: The Exhibition The head of an animatronic brachiosaurus in one of the exhibits during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor Dusty Thiele, left, mayor of Katy, and Rep. Mike Schofield, right, Dist. 132, sit in a mock up of a gyrosphere at on of the exhibits during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor Feeding time for an animatronic of an indominus rex dinosaur as it sniffs a hanging carcas of meat in one of the exhibits during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor An animatronic tyrannosaurus rex menaces attendees in one of the exhibits during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor A secured animatronic velociraptor in one of the the exhibits during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor An animatronic tyrannosaurus rex menaces attendees in one of the exhibits during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor Various dinosaur themed items for sale on display in the gift shop during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor Attendees brush away sand to uncover fossils at a sand table in one of the exhibits during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor A staffer points out a display of insects inside chunks of amber in the Hammond Creation Lab, showcasing the science behind regenerating the dinosaurs, during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor An animatronic stygimoloch pops itOs head out in one of the exhibits during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor Attendees wait to enter the exhibits during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor Stuffed baby dinosaurs on display in the gift shop during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES: Meow Wolf Houston enlists Houston artists for Fifth Ward space Jurassic World: The Exhibition has, like the movie franchise, proved to have global appeal since it first launched in Australia in 2016 with one set, Baker said. Since then, Neon has built five complete sets, which are visited by several million people each year at locations around the world. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The set being used at Katy Mills debuted in Dallas in 2021, Baker said, and went to Denver, San Diego and Atlanta before coming to Houston. Transporting the set requires six containers, or 21 trucks, and building the robotic animatronic dinosaurs is a significant investment in the first place. We spend millions of dollars on each of the sets, so in order to recoup that, we need to have long-term staying power, Baker said. Three baby parasaurolophus figurines inside an incubator at the Hammond Creation Lab exhibit, showcasing the science behind regenerating the dinosaurs, during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor Shows are currently scheduled through October, and producers are expecting at least 500,000 visitors, although the shows run could be extended if the demand persists. I would love it if its a million (visitors), Baker said. And we will come back with more exhibitions if its a million. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Jurassic World exhibition opens as immersive experiences have surged in popularity, to the point where some shows are not living up to the hype. A Willy Wonka Experience that recently opened in Glasgow, for example, drew the derision of the internet after pictures circulating on social media showed a ramshackle warehouse staffed by bleak-looking characters, like something from one of Roald Dahls more frightening short stories. Staff operate a puppet of OBumpyO, a baby ankylosaurus, during a media tour of the new OJurassic World: The ExhibitionO, featuring the dinosaurs themes made famous in the movie franchise, held in a big tent outside of Katy Mills Mall Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024 in Katy, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor But post-COVID, thousands of Houstonians have flocked to shows such as Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, which ran for several months in 2021. Currently, art enthusiasts are awaiting the opening of Meow Wolf Houston, an art installation that originated in Santa Fe 15 years ago and is expected to open its Fifth Ward location sometime this year. Jurassic World: The Exhibition is expected to be a hit here, having been well-reviewed and well-attended in previous cities. Since 2016, Neon says, more than 8 million people have attended around the world, and the company is building three additional sets to bring the show to more cities. Like other immersive experiences, Baker noted, Jurassic World: The Exhibition has been boosted in recent years by the post-COVID demand for getting out of the house. But this exhibition is also helped by the enduring appeal of its stars, he added. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Everyone just has a connection to dinosaurs, Baker said. A major report into the Armys top agent in Northern Ireland during the Troubles will be published later. The interim findings of Operation Kenova will be revealed after an investigation lasting seven years and costing approximately 40 million. Kenova has probed the activities of the agent Stakeknife within the Provisional IRA. Stakeknife was part of the terror groups internal security unit and Kenova examined crimes such as murder and torture, and the role played by the security services, including MI5. The PA news agency understands the 200-page report will call for apologies from the UK Government and the IRA to bereaved families and surviving victims. Former Police Scotland chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone replaced Jon Boutcher as head of Operation Kenova (Robert Perry/PA) It is also expected to call for a review into the UK Government policy of neither confirming nor denying sensitive information relating to intelligence issues. The agent Stakeknife was widely believed to be west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who was in his 70s when he died last year. However, it is understood Scappaticci will not be named in the report when it is published. The Kenova investigation was originally headed up by Jon Boutcher but he left the position to take up the role of chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Last week the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland announced that no prosecutions would be pursued after consideration of the last batch of files from the investigation. Some 32 people, including former police, former military personnel and people linked with the IRA, were considered for prosecution on a range of charges from murder and abduction to misconduct in public office and perjury. However, the PPS found there was insufficient evidence to pursue cases. Current Kenova head Sir Iain Livingstone expressed frustration at the decision. He said the team had built a strong and compelling case which we are frustrated will now not be tested before a court. At a public meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday, Mr Boutcher was asked if he agreed. I can tell you now I agree with Iain Livingstone and I will be dealing with all of this tomorrow. Shauna Moreland said Operation Kenova had not failed victims (Niall Carson/PA) However, the daughter of an IRA victim insisted Operation Kenova has not failed victims, despite the lack of prosecutions. The body of Belfast woman Caroline Moreland, a 34-year-old Catholic mother of three, was found near Rosslea, Co Fermanagh, in July 1994. Shauna Moreland was 10-years-old at the time of her mothers death. She said: If these cases had been properly investigated at the time there could have been prosecutions. We have been failed by the system since 1994 and it was only when our cases were moved outside Northern Ireland that we got a process we could believe in. Right from the start, Jon Boutcher told us that Kenova would be a victims-first approach and thats what he gave us. She added: There was nothing until Kenova gave what my mother deserved. They showed that my mum mattered and she was not just a statistic. The Government has pledged to respond to a major investigation into a top Army agent within the Provisional IRA after it makes its final report. Operation Kenova probed the activities of the agent known as Stakeknife, who was part of the Provisional IRAs notorious internal security unit (ISU) which was involved in abductions, torture and murder during the Troubles. The interim report of the investigation concluded that more lives were probably lost than saved through the operation of Stakeknife. It also calls on the UK and the IRA to apologise to bereaved families and victims of the ISU; the security forces for failings amid a maverick culture for handling agents and intelligence; and the IRA for the abduction, murder and torture of people it suspected of being agents, and linked campaigns of intimidation against their families. Left to right, officer in charge of Operation Kenova Sir Iain Livingstone, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Chris Todd, and former victims commissioner Judith Thompson at Stormont Hotel in Belfast for the publication of the Operation Kenova Interim Report into Stakeknife (Liam McBurney/PA) Responding, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the Government could not comment on the detail of the report until the final version was published. He paid tribute to the work of Kenova, saying it had gained the trust of many victims families seeking answers about what happened to their loved ones. As this is an interim report, I will not comment at this time on behalf of the Government on the detail of the report. It contains several specific, very serious allegations that remain subject to consideration by the courts, the minister said. It would not be right for the Government to make any comment on the substance of the interim report until the conclusion of litigation related to it. I note the recent decisions made by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland in relation to files passed to them by Operation Kenova, which once again go to show how difficult it is to achieve criminal justice outcomes in legacy cases. Due to numerous related civil cases, however, that remain ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. There is also the prospect of appeals against any of the recent decisions made by the Director for Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland. Mr Heaton-Harris added: I would like to put on record again my deepest sympathy with all the families who lost loved ones during the Troubles including as a result of the actions of the Provisional IRA. Meanwhile Downing Street said it would not comment on the report published by Operation Kenova until the inquiry had completed its work. A Number 10 spokeswoman said: We would want to extend our deepest sympathies with all the families who lost loved ones during this very dark period in Northern Ireland and its important we do not forget the thousands of victims, their families and neighbours from all communities who have suffered as a result. On this interim report, it would not be right to comment on the substance of it while it is an interim report. We will respond in full in due course following the full and final report and also following the conclusion of litigation which is related to the substance of this report. The Ministry of Defence has no credible plan to fund the armed forces the Government wants, leaving the UK increasingly reliant on its allies, MPs have warned. The gap between the MoDs budget and the cost of the UKs desired military capabilities has ballooned to 16.9 billion, its largest deficit ever, despite an injection of 46.3 billion over the next 10 years. But the influential Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has warned that the real deficit could be closer to 29 billion as some parts of the armed forces only included capabilities that were affordable rather than all those the Government had requested. Dame Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the cross-party PAC, said: In an increasingly volatile world, the Ministry of Defences lack of a credible plan to deliver fully funded military capability as desired by Government leaves us in an alarming place. Labour said the report was more proof that the Conservatives had failed to deal with the deep problems in the MoD. But a Treasury minister said he did not recognise the findings. Prioritising the Defence Nuclear Enterprise risked further squeezing budgets for conventional capabilities, the Public Accounts Committee warned (James Glossop/The Times/PA) In a report on the MoDs Equipment Plan published on Friday, the PAC warned that gaps in military capabilities had left the UK more reliant on its allies to protect its own interests, while the credibility of Britains armed forces had been undermined. The MPs pointed to widely reported recruitment issues, with more people leaving the armed forces than being recruited, and the mothballing of Royal Navy vessels due to crew shortages. In January, ministers had to deny reports that assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark would be mothballed ahead of their planned retirement dates in the mid-2030s due to a lack of available crew. The MPs said: With the support of its allies, the UKs armed forces continue to fulfil a crucial international role. However, many of its allies are facing similar challenges to the UK, which might affect their ability and willingness to continue providing extensive support. Delays in procurement of new kit, such as the troubled Ajax armoured vehicle, had left gaps in military capability, the PAC found (Ben Birchall/PA) The PAC urged the Government to develop plans to mitigate the impact on the UK of the risk that allied support might be curtailed or withdrawn. MPs also renewed their criticism of the MoDs procurement processes, saying that slow delivery of new systems had caused gaps in military capability. Only two of the MoDs 46 equipment programmes are currently rated as highly likely to be delivered to time, budget and quality, while successful delivery seems unachievable for five projects including nuclear submarine reactors, new communications technology and missiles. The report accused the MoD of dodging major decisions about cancelling procurement programmes it cannot afford, relying too much on an assumption that defence spending will rise to 2.5%, in line with the Governments long-term ambition. Ministers have been forced to deny that the assault ship HMS Albion, and its sister ship HMS Bulwark, were being mothballed due to a lack of crew (Paul Faith/PA) It also highlighted that the decision to prioritise the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, which manages the UKs nuclear deterrent, had increased the deficit and risked further squeezing budgets for conventional forces. Dame Meg said: This problem is not new. Year-on-year our committee has seen budget overruns and delays in defence procurement. A lack of discipline in the MoDs budgeting and approach has led to an inconsistent plan that just isnt a reliable overview of the equipment programmes affordability. Were disappointed that not only are the same problems were used to seeing on display here, but they also appear to be getting worse. Despite a budget increase, this years plan shows a clear deterioration in affordability. The MoD must get to a better grip, or it wont be able to deliver the military capabilities our country needs. John Healey, Labours shadow defence secretary, said: Conservative ministers might talk a good game on defence but this report is more proof of their failure to deal with the deep problems in the MoD. Ministers have lost control of the defence budget, failed to fix the broken defence procurement system and wasted billions of pounds of public money. With war in the Europe and conflict in the Middle East, ministers risk leaving our armed forces without the equipment they need to fight and fulfil our Nato obligations. Labour has a plan to defend Britain better. In government, we will establish a new military strategic headquarters and appoint a national armaments director to make sure our forces are ready to fight and defend Britain. Treasury minister Gareth Davies said he did not recognise the findings, adding there was record funding going into defence. He told Sky News: We have got, I think, over 50 billion being spent this year on defence, it was uplifted by 11 billion at the last spring budget, so money is going into our defences. But the nature of conflict has also changed in that we need technology and a different way of tackling conflict and being ready to do so. A Number 10 spokeswoman said: The Prime Minister has overseen the largest sustained defence spending increase since the end of the Cold War and a 24 billion uplift in cash terms over the spending review period. We are ensuring that we have the largest defence budget in history, increasing spend and ensuring that we have the funding that we need to protect UK national interests. Freddie Scappaticci, widely named as the Army's IRA agent 'Stakeknife' - CHP The actions of Stakeknife, the British Armys top spy within the IRA, probably cost more lives than he saved, a damning report has found. The notorious double agent, who had been linked to 50 murders, ignored handlers, acted outside orders and his actions should have rung alarm bells among senior army figures who treated him as the crown jewel of British intelligence. The spy, who was believed to be Freddie Scappaticci, a former bricklayer, worked secretly for the British Army while he was part of the IRAs Internal Security Unit (ISU), which tortured and killed suspected informants. The ISU later became known as the Nutting Squad, a nickname derived from the method of killing suspected informants with a shot to the back of the head. Stakeknife kidnapped, tortured and killed victims while passing on intelligence to the IRA. An interim report of Operation Kenova, the seven-year, 40 million investigation into Stakeknifes links to kidnap, torture and murder, said that during the Troubles preventable and serious crimes took place and went unsolved and unpunished as a result of steps taken by the security forces to protect and maintain their agents. The operation investigated 101 murders and abductions relating to the Nutting Squad. It finally linked Stakeknife to 14 murders and 15 abduction incidents. Freddie Scappaticci pictured in west belfast in 2003 - CHP The report said the ISU was responsible for torture, inhumane and degrading treatment and murder, including of children, vulnerable adults, those with learning difficulties and those who were entirely innocent of the claims made against them. It added that a core part of the activities of the ISU included physical beatings with iron bars and hammers and the shooting of victims in their legs, elbows, knees or feet, sometimes simply because they were accused or suspected of being involved in crime or anti-social behaviour. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, the reports author who works for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said that claims Stakeknife saved countless or hundreds of lives were false and based on unreliable and speculative internal assessments. He said these conclusions had become widely accepted within the security forces and they have led many on the inside to view the case through rose-tinted spectacles and to feel defensive about Stakeknifes reputation. In reality the claims are inherently implausible and should ring alarm bells: any serious security and intelligence professional hearing an agent being likened to the goose that laid the golden eggs, as Stakeknife was, should be on the alert because the comparison is rooted in fables and false tales. The report dismissed conspiracy theories relating to Stakeknife. It said that myths about the spy ranged from claims security forces directed loyalist paramilitaries away from Stakeknife to protect him to wild nonsense about the agent meeting Margaret Thatcher and other government ministers and visiting Chequers. Chief Constable Boutcher also addressed theories that Scappaticci was not really dead or took his own life. Mr Scappaticci died in March 2023 aged 77, he said. Since this was made public, it has been suggested to me that Mr Scappaticci is still in fact alive, whilst others have claimed that he took his own life. Speculation and rumours of this kind are unhelpful for all concerned. I have independently verified when, where and how Mr Scappaticci died and can confirm that he died of natural causes following an illness. Stakeknife worked for the British Armys Force Research Unit, which spied on terror groups during the Troubles, but he said the agent often went against orders and his continued involvement cost lives. Chief Constable Boutcher said that the number of lives saved through intelligence obtained by Stakeknife was between high single figures and low double figures and nowhere near hundreds sometimes claimed, but this does not take account of the lives lost as a consequence of Stakeknifes continued operation as an agent. The report noted: From what I have seen, I think it is probable that this resulted in more lives being lost than saved. Furthermore, there were undoubtedly occasions when Stakeknife ignored his handlers, acted outside his tasking and did things he should not have done when very serious risks were run. He later added: I have already touched on the widespread belief among some in the security force that Stakeknife saved countless or hundreds of lives. He did not. That claim emanates from the FRU, which made a similar and equally exaggerated claim about Brian Nelson [another agent]. He said that while the FRU kept success books for some of its agents remarkably given his crown jewel status, one for Stakeknife has never been recovered. Scappaticci, who enjoyed the protection of the British state for 20 years, died in April 2023 while living in England. The report stopped short of naming him as Stakeknife but said prior to his death last year, the PSNI was considering a number of files which I believe contained strong evidence of very serious criminality on the part of Mr Scappaticci. Chief Constable Boutcher said the identity of Stakeknife would have to be officially confirmed at a later point but for now it suffices to say that Mr Scappaticci was and is still inextricably bound up and a critical person of interest at the heart of Operation Kenova. It will never be known whether he would have been prosecuted and, if so, pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial, but it is my view that he could and should have been. I believe that we have found strong evidence of very serious criminality on the part of Mr Scappaticci and his prosecution would have been in the interests of victims, families and justice. The investigation has pursued 12,000 lines of enquiry, taken more than 2,000 statements and interviewed more than 300 people, with 40 interviewed under caution. More than 35 files have been referred to the police. Addressing the actions of security forces more generally, Chief Constable Boutcher said that agents committed murders including cases in which one agent murdered another and acted against orders or where it was arguable they were acting on behalf of the state. He said that there were cases where murder was carried out as a punishment against suspected agents, who were innocent. Murders could have been prevented but security services decided not to take action because this might have exposed or compromised an agent, the report said. He added that on some occasions handlers were aware that their agents were involved in very serious offences and there was a curious lack of professional curiosity from the very senior leadership of the Army in relation to the recruitment and running of agents. Our Kenova investigations have established the agents were regularly involved in inciting and committing serious criminal acts. He said the UK Government should apologise to bereaved and surviving families where individuals were attacked or murdered because they were suspected of being an agent or where perpetrators were not brought to justice. The spy worked secretly for the British Army while he was part of the IRA's Internal Security Unit The report also took aim at the republican leadership for failing to apologise for its actions which were the most shameful and evil I have ever encountered. The republican leadership should issue a full apology for the the Provisional IRAs abduction, torture and murder of those it accused or suspected of being state agents during the Troubles and acknowledge the loss and unacceptable intimidation their families have suffered. The report suggested MI5 had obstructed its investigation, noting that, despite the support of the spy agencys director general, Chief Constable Boutcher had significant concerns about access to information it holds relating to the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Force Research Unit. Chief Constable Boutcher said he had several meetings with MI5 about access to information, but documents were marked as Top Secret instead of Secret and solicitors representing former agents were given greater and unorthodox access to MI5 materials and my concern that its strategy was one of delay. The report said that Kenovas relationship with MI5 has endured some extremely fractious spells and the process of extracting information from it has sometimes felt like a hard-fought uphill battle. Given that MI5 had very little involvement in running security force agents in Northern Ireland during the course of the Troubles and Stakeknife himself was run by the FRU, this may appear surprising and certainly troubled me. Northern Irelands Public Prosecution Service said last week no prosecutions are to be pursued following consideration of the final files from the investigation into Stakeknife. The final cases involved five retired soldiers and seven alleged IRA members. Responding to the report, Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said the Government could not comment on the detail of the report until the final version was published. He paid tribute to the work of Kenova, saying it had gained the trust of many victims families seeking answers about what happened to their loved ones. As this is an interim report, I will not comment at this time on behalf of the Government on the detail of the report. It contains several specific, very serious allegations that remain subject to consideration by the courts, the minister said. It would not be right for the Government to make any comment on the substance of the interim report until the conclusion of litigation related to it. I note the recent decisions made by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland in relation to files passed to them by Operation Kenova, which once again go to show how difficult it is to achieve criminal justice outcomes in legacy cases. Due to numerous related civil cases, however, that remain ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. There is also the prospect of appeals against any of the recent decisions made by the Director for Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland. Mr Heaton-Harris added: I would like to put on record again my deepest sympathy with all the families who lost loved ones during the Troubles including as a result of the actions of the Provisional IRA. Ten recommendations also included a call to review of the use of the Neither Confirm Nor Deny policy that currently prevents the identification of agents and whether it is being used appropriately. It said the dogmatic policy was linked to a failure to secure prosecutions in some Troubles cases and a review was needed to ensure the policy was not allowed to obscure wrongdoing by the security forces or serious criminality by agents. The report recommended the longest day, 21st June, should be designated as a day to remember those lost, injured or harmed as a result of the Troubles. Lord Harrington, who served as Theresa May's pensions minister, described the issue as a 'question of priorities' - Aaron Chown/PA Income tax thresholds should be raised to help retirees, former Conservative pensions ministers have urged Rishi Sunak after millennials were prioritised in the Budget. Lord Harrington and Therese Coffey called on the Prime Minister to do more for pensioners as it emerged they will collectively be paying 8 billion more in taxes by the end of the current parliament. Pensioners face an average hit of 1,000 from Mr Sunak and Jeremy Hunts stealth raid, analysis by the Resolution Foundation showed, in the wake of a six-year freeze on income tax thresholds. Mr Hunt came under fire over his decision to make further cuts to National Insurance, which pensioners will not benefit from, in lieu of taking any action on income tax. Lord Harrington, a Tory peer who served as Theresa Mays pensions minister when he was an MP, said: I think its a question of priorities that every Chancellor has to juggle. Im guessing he thought with the triple lock and other things for pensioners, he was going to concentrate on the working population. Its the sort of balance that these chancellors have to do. Personally, I think fair enough. But I think an increase to tax thresholds needs to be done, and I hope that the Chancellors got the financial ability to do it. Therese Coffey said a balance needed to be considered - Jeff Gilbert Ms Coffey, a former work and pensions secretary, added: The amount of money still being spent on pensioners is still significantly increasing. Im conscious that people would like to see thresholds raised, and I think theres a balance there that still needs to be considered. Of course, the Chancellor may consider further measures later in the year. Very clear commitment The Institute for Fiscal Studies warned earlier this week that pensioners who pay higher tax rates face a hit of 3,000 as a result of policies announced in this parliament. Damien Green, another former work and pensions secretary, told The Telegraph the most important commitment the Government could make ahead of the next general election was to promise to keep the triple lock. That should be seen as a given to continue to help pensioners, especially those living entirely or largely on the state pension, he said. I also want to see measures taken that enable older people to have greater opportunities to move into appropriate housing. While 59 per cent of over-65s voted Tory at the last election, The Telegraphs poll of polls suggests that this figure has fallen to an average of 39 per cent across recent surveys. Downing Street insisted its commitment to pensioners was very clear, with the Prime Ministers official spokesman noting that both the current government and previous governments had maintained the triple lock. The Chancellor set out the priority with National Insurance, which is obviously to cut tax on hardworking families, but he also obviously set out an ambition to end the unfairness of double taxation of income, the spokesman told reporters. Now clearly, those above the state pension age already benefit from that. They do not pay National Insurance contributions, even if theyre receiving income from employment. So in some senses, people above the state pension age already have achieved that ambition of not being double taxed on income. The full yearly basic state pension is 3,700 higher than it was in 2010, around 1,000 more than it would have been if it was uprated either by prices or earnings. Sir Iain Livingston, of Operation Kenova (left), Northern Irelands chief constable, Jon Boutcher (centre), and Chris Todd, the deputy chief constable (right) at a press conference on Friday. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty More lives were lost than saved because of the activities of a man alleged to have been the highest-ranking British intelligence agent in the IRA during the Northern Ireland Troubles, according to a seven-year investigation into his activities. The Kenova report published on Friday finds that the agent Stakeknife saved between high single figures and low double figures of lives but nowhere near hundreds [as] sometimes claimed. The report recommends that the UK government and the republican leadership acknowledge and apologise for their failures over the spys actions. Freddie Scappaticci, a west Belfast man who died in April last year, denied being the agent codenamed Stakeknife. He is not named as the agent in this report. Related: Stakeknife inquiry ends without any prosecutions of final 12 suspects He was linked to more than a dozen murders during his time as a senior member of the Provisional IRAs ruthless internal security unit known as the nutting squad, which was tasked with identifying and killing security force informers. Its victims were often found shot in the head with their bodies dumped along the border after suffering torture. Many families of victims believe the security forces allowed their loved ones to die to protect Stakeknifes identity. They say that the IRA man charged with rooting out British informers was himself an informer, with one former senior intelligence officer once describing him as the golden egg. Operation Kenova, which has cost more than 38m, was established in 2016 to investigate his alleged activities, and those of former British army and RUC intelligence handlers. Its 208-page report by the former chief constable of Bedfordshire Jon Boutcher has resulted in no prosecution. Boutcher has since become chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. During the press conference at the reports publication, Boutcher paid tribute to the dignity of the families of victims. He said the Kenova team, now led by Sir Iain Livingstone, a retired chief constable of Police Scotland, could now proceed to its final report. He condemned the IRAs actions aimed at subjugating its own community and added that the security forces were often presented with dilemmas for which there was no right answer, but that there was a lack of proper oversight. He said that was a serious failure and murders that should have been prevented were allowed to take place. In the report, Boutcher says he and his investigation were troubled by some extremely fractious spells in extracting information from the Security Service, MI5. He concludes that not sharing intelligence with investigators or sharing it in a limited fashion is not compatible with the requirements of an ECHR-compliant investigation and must stop. He says the public does not expect institutions to be infallible but the security forces seem to have been motivated by the view that they need to be protected from criticism so as not to damage public confidence in them. He is also critical of the continuing failure of governments, public authorities, political parties and those who fought in the Troubles to acknowledge the hurt inflicted on the families of those who were murdered, or to provide them with a meaningful examination of the circumstances of their death. He describes the IRAs actions as the most shameful evil I have encountered. Boutcher suggests that 21 June, the longest day of the year, should be designated as a day when we remember those lost, injured or harmed as a result of the Troubles. Kevin Winters, the solicitor for 12 of the families of Stakeknifes victims described the report as a damning indictment of the state. and aded that the state could have intervened to save lives. That this didnt happen is legally and morally reprehensible, he added, We are left with the horrendous conclusion that both state and the IRA were co-conspirators in the murder of citizens. He said the decision not to name Scaapticci as Stakeknife was difficult for some families but they hoped that would change. Last week, the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute seven alleged IRA members and five former soldiers who worked with the armys Force Research Unit. Three of the soldiers had been handlers and the other two were more senior. Scappaticci, who died last year in England, aged 77, is the only person to be found guilty of any offence by the investigators. In 2018, he was given a three-month suspended sentence after officers from Operation Kenova found extreme pornographic images on his laptop when they searched his home. It has been alleged that Scappaticcis handlers allowed him to take part in criminal activities that went well beyond what was permitted in the relevant guidance they were supposed to follow. UK Home Office guidelines state that an agent should not actively engage in planning or committing crimes and should play only a minor role. The guidelines also state: The need to protect an informant does not justify granting him immunity from arrest or prosecution for the crime if he fully participates in it with the requisite intent. Hernandez at the Cop climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AP The former president of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez has been convicted of cocaine trafficking, securing a place in infamy for the one-time US ally in the war on drugs. Hernandez is the first former head of state to be found guilty of drug trafficking in the United States since Panamanian strongman Gen Manuel Noriega was convicted in 1992. Related: Ex-Honduran leader praised by Trump faces trial in US for running narco-state A jury on Friday found Hernandez, 55, guilty on three counts of drug trafficking and weapons conspiracy. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison. During the two-week trial, witnesses described bribes paid to Hernandezs political campaigns, including $1m from the notorious former leader of the Sinaloa cartel Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. During closing arguments on Wednesday, assistant US attorney Jacob Gutwillig told the court that a corrupt Hernandez had paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States. Hernandez took the stand in his own defense, highlighting his role in passing anti-crime legislation and cooperation with the United States on counternarcotics measures, and calling the witnesses professional liars. But prosecutors made the case that while Hernandez went after some drug traffickers, he protected others including his brother, former legislator Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez, who was convicted of drug trafficking in the same courthouse in 2019. He protected their drugs with the full power of the state, said Gutwillig in closing remarks. The conviction marks a major victory for the US Drug Enforcement Agencys strategy of targeting public officials whose support traffickers rely upon, but also raises questions about the US governments past collaboration with the former president. Attorney Damian Williams said he hoped the conviction sends a message to all corrupt politicians who would consider a similar path: choose differently. Hernandez was long considered a top US ally in Central America, particularly by the Trump administration, which was willing to turn a blind eye so long as the Honduran government complied with its migration agenda. [Hernandez] did what no other [Honduran] president had done: he worked with the United States, said one of his lawyers, Renato Stabile, while highlighting his cooperation with Washington in opening remarks. Hernandezs political ascent coincided with his countrys plunge into turmoil as drug trafficking routes shifted from Mexico and the Caribbean into Honduras, flooding the nation with easy money and making it one of the worlds most dangerous countries. Related: The narco-highway creating chaos in a Honduran rainforest Hernandez campaigned for president in 2013 as a hardliner against crime, touting his role in the passage of a constitutional amendment that paved the way for the extradition of Honduran traffickers for the first time. It would ultimately be his own undoing. But the court heard that his election victory was fueled by drug traffickers who testified that they paid millions of dollars in bribes to his campaign. Soon after Juan Orlando took office in 2014, rumors about his brother Tonys links to traffickers began circulating in the media. Tonys rise as a drug trafficker was because of the defendant, the defendants power, said Gutwillig. As his first term in office came to an end, Hernandez made the controversial decision to seek re-election as president despite a constitutional prohibition against it. The following 2017 election was marred by allegations of fraud and violence. The United States provided Hernandez the recognition he needed to secure victory, despite calls for a new election. Even after he was clearly implicated in his brothers October 2019 drug-trafficking trial, Trump, then the president, praised Hernandez for his help with stopping drugs. But when Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he shunned his Honduran counterpart. Hernandez was arrested on 15 February 2022, just weeks after completing his second term as president. He was extradited to the United States two months later. The much-delayed trial was hotly anticipated by Hondurans who are tired of impunity in their country and eager to see corrupt politicians brought to justice. During the trial, witnesses described a political system in Honduras in which traffickers and elected officials had a symbiotic relationship. The narcos dont have a political party, said Hernandez, under cross-examination from the government. They support everyone, he said, pausing for a moment before adding: Or at least they try. Just like you, Mr Hernandez? responded assistant US attorney Kyle Wirshba. Chris Kaba was killed on 5 September 2022 in Streatham. Photograph: Inquest/AP A Metropolitan police firearms officer has denied the charge of murdering Chris Kaba, who was shot dead by police in south London in 2022. Martyn Blake, 40, entered his formal plea of not guilty during a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey in London. An order preventing the naming of the officer was lifted by the judge Mark Lucraft KC, the recorder of London on Friday. The officer had until this point been known publicly only as NX121. Kaba, who was 24, was killed by a single gunshot fired by a police officer on 5 September 2022 in Streatham, south London. He was in a dark Audi car which came to a stop and was surrounded by police. The single shot pierced the car windscreen and Kaba was pronounced dead hours later. Blake spoke when the formal murder charge was put to him by a court official. When asked to plead, the firearms officer replied not guilty, watched by friends and family of Kaba who were also in court. A date for the full trial before a jury was set for 2 October and will be presided over by Mr Justice Goss. Blake was asked to stand as the recorder of London explained to him the dates of forthcoming pre trial hearings. He was released on bail. The decision to name the officer was welcomed by a charity supporting the Kaba family. Deborah Coles, the director of Inquest, said: Police cannot and should not be above the law. Accountability for police officers and forces involved in death, even where evidence of criminality and wrongdoing is identified, is extremely rare. In any other murder trial, the accused would be publicly named. This case is no different. We welcome todays decision. Kim Jong-un and his generals watch troops take part in military drills - AFP A smiling Kim Jong-un watched as major artillery drills were conducted within striking distance of Seoul, the South Korean capital, on Thursday. This year, Pyongyang has declared Seoul its principal enemy, jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over even 0.001 mm of territorial infringement. The North Korean leader, wearing a leather jacket and appearing jubilant alongside his generals, urged his soldiers to vigorously push forward the work for making preparations for regular combat mobilisation to take the initiative with merciless and rapid strikes in the event of an actual war. The remarks came after the United States and South Korea started their annual spring military exercises on Monday with double the number of troops participating compared to 2023. The Norths live-fire drills on Thursday involved border units that put the enemys capital in their striking range, Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, referring to Seoul. The North's live-fire drills on Thursday involved border units 'that put the enemy's capital in their striking range' - AFP Seouls military also confirmed that the North had carried out live-fire artillery drills involving rocket launchers and self-propelled howitzers in the western port city of Nampho. Our military is closely monitoring North Koreas signs of provocation ... while maintaining a firm joint defence posture and conducting the ongoing Freedom Shield exercises and joint drills, Seouls joint chiefs of staff said. If North Korea commits a provocation, we will punish overwhelmingly and firmly in accordance with the principle of immediately, strongly, and until the end. On Tuesday, North Korea warned that Seoul and Washington would pay a dear price over the large-scale military exercises, urging the allies to cease frantic war drills. North Korea has long condemned the joint military exercises, describing them as rehearsals for an invasion. The nuclear-armed North has in the past carried out weapons tests as a response to such joint exercises. North Korea has warned that Seoul and Washington would pay a 'dear price' over their joint military exercises - AFP As he watched the drills on Thursday, Mr Kim expressed his great satisfaction that the units are fully ready for constant mobilisation for battles, according to KCNA. On Wednesday, he visited a major operational training base in the countrys western region, with photos released afterwards showing him talking to troops and overseeing firing drills. Last week, Yoon Suk Yeol, South Koreas president, called for the international community to back unification efforts to free everyone on the peninsula. Bombs more horrific than Hiroshima have been dropped on Gaza, a peer said as she insisted protest marches will continue until the slaughter stops. Baroness Uddin said she hopes the marches will yield peace and justice, adding the cause of Palestine has been awakened in the hearts of all citizens throughout the nations. She added the UK Government is so complicit with Israels breaking of international laws and breaching the international norms of war. The non-affiliated peers remarks came as the House of Lords held its International Womens Day debate. The ongoing war in Gaza was sparked by Hamass deadly raid into Israel on October 7 that killed 1,200 people and saw militants seize about 250 hostages. Israels retaliatory strikes have left more than 30,000 Palestinians dead, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. The United States dropped the worlds first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6 1945, destroying the city and killing 140,000 people. Lady Uddin spoke of the importance of protest in Bangladesh, where she was born, before highlighting that she has marched many times for various causes, including demanding an end to the Iraq war and for better NHS services, during her more than 50 years as a Londoner. She went on to raise the first UK womens liberation march in 1971 and said this has evolved into a movement of one million women. Equalities minister Baroness Barran said she would absolutely refute the description given by Lady Uddin on the UK Governments position on Gaza (UK Parliament/PA) Lady Uddin told the chamber: This coming Saturday, this global movement of one million women will rise and coalesce alongside hundreds of thousands of men and women of every background, creed, colour and faith, or none. They will stand in solidarity for all oppressed, occupied and violated women of our world, and in opposition to the killing of women and children in their thousands. They will call for an immediate halt to the killing fields of Palestine, where 30,000 women, children and their families have been murdered, tens of thousands buried under tonnes of rubble, bombs more horrific than Hiroshima, 70,000 more have been injured, maimed or burned with phosphorus, starving children, women without water, basic food or medicine. For which we must hold the perpetrators to account. Until such time, together with many hundreds of thousands, I shall march in peace and solidarity, giving voice to those who cannot. In honour of the Palestinian mothers, daughters and granddaughters who have been slaughtered, I will walk in the tradition of my country, this country, and shout out to demand that our Government must stop its support for the Israeli occupying force and its brutal warfare on the Palestinian people. In a message to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Lady Uddin said: The PM should rest assured that no marches shall stop until that slaughter stops. She added: I hope that these marches will continue to oppose the actions of our Government, who are so complicit with Israels breaking of international laws and breaching the international norms of war. The PM standing and declaring war on protesters may provide temporary cover over his conscience. Allying them with extremist behaviour will do nothing to dissuade me, my neighbours, my children or my grandchildren from marching in the tradition of the Suffragettes, and for all those who march today for freedom and justice, as they have done for hundreds of years. Yes, to call for freedom and justice across all the rivers, of all the seas, of all the continents, until all women in all nations are free and triumph over occupation, oppression, wars and genocide. Equalities minister Baroness Barran said she would absolutely refute the description given by Lady Uddin on the UK Governments position on Gaza. She said: The priority must be an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out and then progress to a sustainable and permanent ceasefire, and the Governments been quite clear about that. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and Gov. Greg Abbott, right, talk during a swearing in ceremony on the first day of the 88th Texas Legislative Session in Austin on Jan. 10, 2023. Eric Gay/Associated Press Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the north steps of the State Capitol to supporters at a Texas Public Policy Foundation Parent Empowerment rally on March 21, 2023 in Austin. Abbott and his supporters were pushing to have a voucher system, also known as school choice. Ricardo B. Brazziell/Associated Press Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 23. Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press Texas oil tycoons Tim Dunn, left, and Farris Wilks, right, have financed conservative candidates for years, donating the bulk of the money for Ted Cruzs 2016 bid for the GOP nomination for president. ""Dunn photo: Tim Fischer / Midland Reporter-Telegram; Wilks photo: Ronald W. Erdrich / Abilene Repo The Republican Party activists are ready to test their brands limit in Texas. For decades, they have pushed Republican elected officials to move further to the right. They have largely succeeded in changing conservative orthodoxy and how the public perceives politicians. Not long ago, Republicans could support abortion rights, oppose the open carry of handguns, support local schools and demand ethical behavior. Not anymore. The most dedicated 20% of Republican voters bagged a dozen RINOs, and they are targeting more. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I miss the old-school conservatives that todays crowd calls Republican in Name Only. I hope the reasonable wing will take their party back, but they may need to abandon it for a while to succeed. Party leaders historically do not interfere when an incumbent is running for reelection. However, this year, Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick decided to purge their ranks of anyone questioning their agenda. Obedience to the leaders is paramount. The governor targeted 15 GOP state representatives. He defeated seven, while four others survived. Four face runoff races in May. Paxton campaigned against state representatives who impeached him on corruption charges last year. He was less successful than Abbott but knocked out three top criminal court judges who defied his attempts to expand his powers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan achieved a hat-trick by angering Abbott, Paxton and Patrick. Now hes in a runoff to keep his seat, the first speaker to face such a challenge since 1972. Many people mistake politicians for leaders, but most are approval seekers who, like everyone else, want to keep their jobs. In a functioning democracy, they stay in office by representing the people who elected them. Not in Texas. Democracy tends to break down when one party dominates, and patronage becomes more important than votes. When districts are drawn to guarantee victory for a party in the general election, and only the most extreme 20% of party members participate in the primaries, broad public approval is unimportant. Pleasing your partys patrons becomes critical, lest they turn against you. Oil billionaire Tim Dunn has led the financing of Texas most right-wing political activists for over 20 years. The groups have gone by many names: Empower Texans, Texas Scorecard, Defend Texas Liberty, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Hexagon Partners, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and others. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dunn and his allies are unabashed Christian nationalists who believe the United States should follow the Bible and that only Christians should hold leadership positions. They oppose secular public schools, which they consider immoral, and they want to stop renewable energy, which challenges the source of their wealth. Dunns operatives are the conservative movements knee-cappers, according to in-depth reporting by CNN and most recently by Texas Monthly. If a Republican politician does not march in lockstep with their agenda, these groups recruit a subservient candidate and launch a well-financed primary challenge. Dunn financed Paxtons longshot yet successful campaign to become attorney general against two more established but moderate candidates. When Abbott wouldnt play ball, Dunn-backed groups financed Don Huffines, who forced Abbott to shift to the right. When the Texas House impeached Paxton, Dunn gave $3 million to Patrick, who oversaw Paxtons acquittal. Dunns donations have since helped Paxton and Patrick campaign against Republicans who impeached the attorney general, including Phelan. Wall Street billionaire Jeff Yass gave Abbott $6 million to oust rural Republican lawmakers who opposed using taxpayer money to finance private schools. Those lawmakers instead represented their constituents desire for greater investment in public schools. But only a fifth of voters show up for the primaries. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hence, a test is coming in November. The Republican brand is strong with Texans, many of whom have never voted for a Democrat, but polls show the party is farther to the right than voters. Most Texans support some gambling, marijuana and abortions. Most oppose book bans and support clean energy and some gun restrictions. Yet they vote based on their party identity. I miss the Bush dynasty, former Gov. Rick Perry, retired state Sen. Kel Seliger and others who wanted to make Texas a better place to live, not a theocracy. Democracy is at its best when Republicans and Democrats debate and find common ground, not when they try to annihilate one another. I expect most Republicans will stay true to their party in November. But when they do, theyll vote for the oligarchs vision for the future, not their own. One of the Conservatives most high-profile local politicians could be on course to lose his post, as a poll suggests Labour is set to win the Tees Valley mayoralty. Just 19% of people in Tees Valley said they intended to vote for Ben Houchen, the Conservative incumbent, compared with 45% who backed Labours candidate Chris McEwan, according to the poll by Censuswide. Lord Houchen, who was ennobled in Boris Johnsons resignation honours list and is seeking a third term as mayor, has been hailed by Conservative ministers as a model for metro mayors and an example of what the party can achieve in devolved authorities. But an investigation into his flagship Teesworks redevelopment scheme found governance failings and a lack of transparency, although it uncovered no evidence to support claims of corruption. Ben Houchen (Danny Lawson/PA) The Censuswide poll, commissioned by communications agency Yasper, found 38% of people thought Lord Houchen had done an effective job, while 29% thought he had not, but still suggested he was on course to lose the mayoral election on May 2. A defeat for Lord Houchen would be a significant reversal after he secured re-election in 2021 with almost 73% of the vote. The same poll found Labour was also due to retain the West Yorkshire mayoralty, despite only 31% thinking incumbent Tracy Brabin had been effective and 16% saying she had delivered on her 2021 election pledges. Some 41% said they would still vote for Ms Brabin, who is coming to the end of her first term, against just 12% saying they would vote for the Conservative candidate, Arnold Craven. Julian Pearce, managing director at Yasper, said: National politicians of various colours continue to tell us that levelling up is a key policy and that devolution is working. In this poll, we look at public perception of whether that is the case. Overall, we have seen a high degree of scepticism in the role and its telling that the majority of people cant identify their mayors name, even when given a shortlist of options. This trend is particularly prevalent among younger voters, with just 9% of under-24s in West Yorkshire correctly identifying that their mayor was Tracy Brabin, and 11% of the same demographic correctly selecting Ben Houchen as Tees Valley mayor. Labours Tracy Brabin (Danny Lawson/PA) This is not a definitive verdict on whether levelling up, devolution or, indeed, mayors, are working. But it is a salient reminder as we approach some key elections that public perception needs to be a key consideration for politicians on all sides. Only 33% of voters in Tees Valley could identify Lord Houchen as their mayor, while just 28% in West Yorkshire could name Ms Brabin. In Tees Valley, the poll found 7% of voters said they would support a Reform UK candidate, more than backed the Liberal Democrats or Greens, although 13% said they were undecided. In West Yorkshire, 8% said they would back the Greens, 7% supported Reform and 6% would vote for the Liberal Democrats, with 18% still to make up their minds. The poll was carried out during February and surveyed 1,000 voters in Tees Valley and 1,000 in West Yorkshire. May 2 will also see elections for mayors in London, Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, South Yorkshire and the West Midlands. Voters in the East Midlands, the North East and York and North Yorkshire will go to the polls to elect their own regional mayors for the first time. A pro-Palestinian activist has slashed and sprayed paint on a picture of the British politician who cleared the way for the foundation of modern Israel. Footage shared on X showed a woman defacing the 1914 painting of Lord Arthur Balfour at Trinity College at the University of Cambridge on Friday. Lord Balfour was behind the Balfour Declaration a 1917 document which pledged the formation of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. The post by activist group Palestine Action said: Balfours declaration began the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by promising the land away which the British never had the right to do. The defacing was intended to symbolise the bloodshed of the Palestinian people since the Balfour Declaration was issued in 1917, the group said. A Trinity College spokesman said: Trinity College regrets the damage caused to a portrait of Arthur James Balfour during public opening hours. The police have been informed. Support is available for any member of the College community affected. Cambridgeshire Constabulary said it received an online report of criminal damage to the painting on Friday. BREAKING: Palestine Action spray and slash a historic painting of Lord Balfour in Trinity College, University of Cambridge. Written in 1917, Balfours declaration began the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by promising the land away which the British never had the right to do. pic.twitter.com/CGmh8GadQG Palestine Action (@Pal_action) March 8, 2024 Officers were at the scene to secure evidence and progress the investigation, but no arrests have been made. Palestine Action describes itself as a direct-action network of groups and individuals aiming to act against the sites of Elbit Systems and other companies complicit in Israeli apartheid. The incident comes after a report by the United Nations human rights office said the establishment and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem amounted to a war crime. Foreign secretary Lord Cameron said on Friday the UK would join the US and other allies to create a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to Gaza. The UK Government has also called for a humanitarian pause in the fighting to enable aid to get into Gaza and hostages held by Hamas to be released. Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April. The British food assurance body sparked uproar from farmers across the UK last year when it announced the Greener Farms Commitment (GFC) an optional standard for farmers that meet certain environmental criteria. Farmers feared the GFC would eventually evolve into a requirement for market access and would mean they foot the bill for implementing sustainability measures on behalf of supermarkets. Following the backlash, Red Tractor halted the development of the GFC as the National Farmers Union (NFU) carried out a governance review into the organisation. The probe, which was published last week, found Red Tractor was facing an existential crisis due to a lack of support from farmers. The NFU and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) both founding members of Red Tractor have since called on the board to stop the development of the GFC. In a joint statement, they said: The UK Farming Unions and AHDB are very clear that the Greener Farms Commitment will be unable to command any level of support no matter what consultation is put in place. Resumption of work on the Greener Farms Commitment module would be extremely damaging to Red Tractors reputation. The Red Tractor logo on meat packages (PA) The bodies said the board needs to begin from first principles in full consultation mode and once trust has been re-established, to offer the best basis for propelling action on these issues. Red Tractor told the PA news agency on Friday that the GFC will not be launched on April 1. The assurance body said it will be discussing its next steps at a board meeting later this month, after which it will give an update on how it plans to move forward. It has not ruled out introducing a green standard in future, with chair Christine Tacon telling BBC Radio 4: When we move forward with it again and Im not saying if, it is a when were doing it with the support and in a way that everyone is happy with so we do get to the right answer in the end. Leicestershire farmer Joe Stanley said announcing the GFC as a voluntary bolt-on without a premium and without properly consulting farmers was wrong. He told the PA news agency: What it was asking farmers to do at the behest of the retailers was to help them meet their own sustainability targets without paying for it, and then subsidise their shareholder returns. Fundamentally farmers are not being paid enough for the food they produce and its unsustainable, he added. We do not have the money to invest in sustainability. Mr Stanley said that there has been growing discontent with assurance schemes amongst British farmers for years but the GFC was the straw that broke the camels back. He joined calls for the body to start the process all over again and consult farmers on how it might work for them. Mr Stanley also warned that the GFC would have torpedoed an emerging market where suppliers are paying farmers more to introduce environmental measures. Retailers would have said we can now get farmers to do this for free, he said. Meanwhile, Clive Bailye, a farmer from Lichfield, Staffordshire, argued that Red Tractor should not be involved in a green assurance scheme at all because the market for carbon and environmental credits needs to evolve organically. Supermarkets are very welcome to buy my carbon sequestration service or my ability to make a biodiversity net gain but that can happen in a free open market where they are bidding against the likes of Mastercard and Shell, he said. That is the only way we will determine the true value of greener farming. Steve Ridsdale, a farmer based near Bielby, East Yorkshire, said there is now some uncertainty as to what will happen. He said: I think they will back down for now and they will turn to build on a new sustainability model from the beginning because they have to have it. But theyve got to talk to us, theyve got to get agreement from us, and theyve got to find a way of paying for it. The issue has caused controversy in the farming community (Danny Lawson/PA) Elsewhere, Andrew Blenkiron, director at Euston Estate in Suffolk, said he would be incredibly disappointed by any decision to cancel the GFC and highlighted the fact that it was a voluntary standard. If we are not careful our customers will buy from elsewhere in the world from those who will produce to their requirements, he said. Another great danger is that another assurance body will provide the conduit required from farm to retailer and that would simply undermine the 20-plus years of hard work that so many have put into the introduction and development of Red Tractor. In a statement, Red Tractor said the NFU review found that its governance was sound and that its Assured Food Standards board is considering every aspect of the report carefully. This process is clearly a priority and will be completed properly before any decisions are taken on next steps, they said. The Governance Review is an essential opportunity for us to reflect and refresh the way Red Tractor delivers its role for all stakeholders. Balancing differing views across the supply chain is difficult at any time, but we hear loud and clear the level of frustration farmers feel in the current operating environment, and we will listen carefully and take these views into account. Crowds gathered in the grounds of City Hall on Friday afternoon as actors in period costume spoke of social activists and campaigners Mary Ann McCracken and Winifred Carney. Ms McCracken, born in the Northern Ireland capital in 1770, was part of the revival of the Irish language and a supporter of the United Irishmen movement. She also worked to help those in poverty, particularly women and children, and campaigned against slavery. Ms Carney, born in 1887, was an Irish Republican and trade unionist who took part in the Easter Rising in Dublin against British rule in Ireland in 1916. She went on to campaign for the right of women to vote and stood for election in Belfast in 1918. They are the first non-royal women to receive the honour of a statue in the grounds of Belfast City Hall. Gerry Murphy, president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions also addressed the crowds, and described the statues as important recognition of two of the most important female historical figures in our city. Mary Boyd (left) poses with her sister Eileen McKay as she takes a selfie with a newly unveiled statue of Winifred Carney (Liam McBUrney/PA) Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy described them as two absolutely fantastic Belfast women. With today being International Womens Day it seemed really appropriate for the unveiling, he said. It is about who those women were, inspirational leaders, campaigners, socialists, abolitionists. They really will inspire a new generation of people to go out and continue that fight for equality and womens rights. The resignation of thousands of striking junior and trainee doctors in South Korea in response to a government initiative to increase medical student admissions has left the healthcare system in disarray. The government said on Monday it was ready to take legal action against the striking trainee doctors after a prior ultimatum failed to break the deadlock. About 70 per cent of the countrys junior and trainee doctors, totalling around 9,000, have been on strike since 20 February, disrupting medical services and emergency departments. South Korea has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios among major economies and recently the government proposed to add 2,000 slots to the current annual quota of 3,000 medical students. The plan was immediately criticised by doctors, who took to the streets to protest with signs that read end of healthcare. The striking doctors argue this expansion wont solve the actual shortages in certain specialities, where conditions and pay are poor, and could degrade medical service quality. The government had previously warned the doctors of potential administrative and legal consequences, including the possibility of having their medical licenses suspended, and facing fines or imprisonment if they did not return to work by the end of last month. On Monday, health minister Cho Kyoo-hong announced that officials will conduct hospital inspections to ascertain if doctors have resumed their duties, vowing to enforce the law and take action according to the law and principle without exception. During a broadcasted briefing, he warned that doctors who have not returned to work could face significant repercussions affecting their professional careers. We are deeply disappointed and concerned that the collective action by trainee doctors has led to a disruption in medical services, vice health minister Park Min-soo said at a news briefing recently. We cannot give justification to the actions of the doctors leaving their patients behind to protest a policy despite knowing what the collective action could result in. He added that the government was deeply disappointed in the situation where trainee doctors are refusing to work. The government had asked doctors to return to work, issuing direct orders and threatening legal actions against those leading the strike. In fact, emergency measures to mitigate the impact on healthcare services have been introduced, including telemedicine expansion and the utilisation of military hospitals. South Koreas health ministry announced it will permit telemedicine services across all hospitals and clinics to address the challenges posed by the walkout by trainee doctors. The medical system has been collapsing for a while, Park Dan, the head of the Korean Intern Residents Association told The New York Times. He resigned from his job at the emergency wing of Severance Hospital in Seoul on Monday. I couldnt see a future for myself working in emergency for the next five or 10 years. Doctors warned the government they will take unbearable steps and could walk off the job indefinitely if the government continues to threaten interns and residents opposing its plan, according to The Korea Times. Earlier, South Korea escalated its health alert to the highest level in response to the widespread strike. The prime minister also announced that public hospitals would increase their operational hours to tackle the increasing pressures on the healthcare infrastructure. South Korea Doctors Protest (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The Korea Medical Association (KMA), representing the majority of doctors in South Korea, made the statement after the ruling People Power Party (PPP) said theyll take strict action against striking doctors. We express strong regret over the governments inappropriate comments threatening to revoke licenses and discouraging the individuals will to voluntarily step down as a trainee doctor, the KMAs emergency committee said. If they continue to intimidate, we warn that we could seek legal action, the committee added. On Sunday, thousands of South Korean doctors participated in a large-scale demonstration organised by the Korean Medical Association [KMA], which speaks for private practitioners, openly challenging government demands for striking trainee doctors to resume their duties. We have nowhere to retreat any more. We will not just sit idly by the government acting undemocratic, Lee Jeong-geun, the interim head of the KMA, said on Sunday. Kim Taek-woo, head of the KMA emergency committee, told reportersearlier: By collection action, we dont mean a day off, but an indefinite strike. A proposal in 2020 to increase medical school admissions by 4,000 students over a decade sparked similar protests and a strike, ultimately resulting in the abandonment of the plan. According to 2022 data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], doctors in South Korea are among the highest earners globally, with specialists at public hospitals averaging nearly $200,000 (159,000) annually. This salary significantly surpasses the national average income. However, some have also criticised the striking doctors. More doctors mean more competition and reduced income for them... that is why they are against the proposal to increase physician supply, Prof Kwon Soon-man, a public health expert at Seoul National University told BBC. South Korea Doctors Protest (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) South Koreas president Yoon Suk-yeol asked the doctors to go back to their jobs and said that they were taking peoples lives and health hostage. The plan to boost admissions to medical schools is a component of a broader health care policy strategy unveiled by Mr Yoon several months ahead of an important parliamentary vote in April. As he has maintained his position against the medical professionals, his approval rating has slightly risen. Public opinion in South Korea appears largely supportive of the governments plan, contrasting with the medical communitys concerns over the implications for healthcare quality and working conditions. A Gallup Korea poll last week revealed that 76 per cent of the respondents reacted positively to the governments plan for medical school quota expansion. Observers note that the existing structure of insurance and government reimbursements enables only doctors in certain fields, such as cosmetic surgery, to earn a substantial income. Moreover, the doctors opposing the governments plan argue that boosting the number of medical professionals could inadvertently foster increased competition, potentially resulting in the overtreatment of patients. Authorities have temporarily revoked the medical licenses of two high-ranking officials from the Korea Medical Association. They have reportedly been warned that these licenses will be permanently revoked if investigations confirm they incited the strike. Police have also indicated they might arrest the strikes organisers. We are considering measures that involve cooperating with prosecutors to indict and arrest the leaders of the medical community who are responsible for the mass resignations, Yoon Hee-keun, the commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, said during a press conference. South Korea Doctors Protest (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Earlier this week, reports of disruptions in medical services across the country were being shared widely, with Severance Hospital, among the nations largest healthcare facilities, announcing reductions in services and the cancellation of half of its scheduled surgeries. Hong Jae-ryun, a brain cancer patient in his 50s from Daegu, reported that his chemotherapy treatments have been indefinitely delayed due to the ongoing situation, despite the cancer spreading to his lungs and liver. Its absurd. In the midst of the conflict between the government and doctors, what can powerless patients say? It feels like a betrayal, Mr Hong was quoted as saying by AFP. When there is no one to trust and rely on other than doctors, it seems excessive to handle things in this manner. Another patient, Lee Jin-wook, 52, who is scheduled to undergo brain surgery at Severance Hospitals Sinchon location told Hankyoreh Shimbun: All around the ward, patients and their families are talking about surgeries being delayed. Hospitals have turned away patients amid a strike over a government plan to boost the intake of medical students. More than 6,400 trainee doctors across South Korea have tendered their resignations and 1,600 junior doctors walked off the job on... (@NahsingleMam) February 20, 2024 It looks like theyre pushing back all non-essential operations. It is particularly troubling for patients who live outside Seoul and regularly travel to the capital for treatment. Originally, we scheduled an operation for the beginning of March. But the strike has pushed that back to the end of March, one person identified as Cho, 44, a resident of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province told The Korea Times. Chos father is being treated for esophageal cancer at Gangnam Severance Hospital. We tried contacting other hospitals, as my father needs his operation as soon as possible, but they all turned us down, Mr Cho added. My father managed to get his first session of checkup today, but the operation schedule really concerns me. The patients really have no choice or power, he said. Physicians from Gyeonggi province gathered for a demonstration in central Seoul. They wore red headbands bearing the message (We) fiercely oppose the expansion of medical school admissions and displayed banners with the words Stop populist healthcare policies pushed by socialist leftist scholars and bureaucrats. Hankyoreh Shimbun quoted a Severance Hospital insider as saying that emergency surgeries [at hospitals in Sinchon and Gangnam] are being conducted as normal, but surgeries in other departments are under 50 per cent capacity. Meanwhile, it is the nurses who have been left to manage the patients at the hospitals and clinics in the absence of doctors. They too have called for doctors to resume their duties, despite expressing their opposition to the reform. South Korea Doctors Protest (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The Korean Young Nurses Association appealed to doctors sense of duty to their patients in a social media post stating: Do not ignore your conscience toward the patients being left behind. Kim Jae-heon, the secretary-general of a non-profit organisation that promotes free medical care and counts medical doctors among its members, criticised the mass resignation of trainee doctors as unjustified. Opposing the expansion of medical school admissions to ensure greater profitability by reducing competition when they establish their own practices in the future is unlikely to garner public support, he said. Joo Soo-ho, a spokesman of the Korean Medical Association, said last month that under current conditions, it was impossible for doctors to take care of patients with a sense of mission. The World Medical Association, a group representing physicians, said in a statement on Sunday it strongly condemns the actions of the Korean Government in attempting to stifle the voices of elected leaders within the Korean Medical Association, adding it affirmed the right of doctors to collective action, including strikes. The Independent has reached out to the Korea Medical Association for comment. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -A federal appeals court on Friday revived a lawsuit where investors accused Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, of violating U.S. securities laws by selling unregistered tokens that lost much of their value. In a 3-0 decision, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said investors in the proposed class action plausibly alleged that domestic securities laws applied because their purchases of tokens had become irrevocable in the United States once they paid for them. Circuit Judge Alison Nathan said Binance's use of domestic Amazon computer servers to host its platform supported this outcome, given how Binance "notoriously denies the applicability of any other country's securities regulation regime." The appeals court also said investors could pursue claims arising from purchases made within the year before they sued. Friday's decision reversed a March 2022 ruling by U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter in Manhattan, and returned the case to him. The appeal covered investors who had bought seven tokens - ELF, EOS, FUN, ICX, OMG, QSP and TRX - through Binance starting in 2017, and which soon lost much of their value. They claimed that Binance failed to warn them about the tokens' "significant risks" and sought to recoup what they paid. Binance argued that U.S. securities laws did not apply because its exchange was located outside the country. It cited 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Morrison v National Australia Bank, that limited the extraterritorial reach of domestic securities laws. Binance and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Jordan Goldstein, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said his clients were pleased that the court "unanimously acknowledged the strength of our claims." The case is separate from Binance's recent guilty plea and more than $4.3 billion penalty for violating federal anti-money laundering and sanctions laws. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to related money laundering violations and stepped down as chief executive. His sentencing is scheduled for April 30. The case is Lee et al v Binance et al, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-972. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York, Editing by Franklin Paul) Jeff Spicer/Getty Images Paul Giamatti is head over heels for his beautiful girlfriend, Clara Wong and the pair have been professionally linked for years. Giamatti confirmed his romance with Wong during his acceptance speech at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards in January, where he took home the prize for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Film for his role in The Holdovers. I want to say, I love my beautiful girlfriend, Clara Wong. Why you bother with me, I dont know why, he said on stage shortly after the pair walked the red carpet together. Prior to his relationship with Wong, Giamatti was married to producer Elizabeth Cohen from 1997 to 2000. The former spouses share one adult son, Samuel. Paul Giamatti Through the Years: The Holdovers and More Its unclear when the pair began dating, but they seemingly first crossed paths when Wong appeared on Billions. She continued in the recurring role of Troy, a dominatrix who kept Giamattis character, Chuck Rhoades, entertained, in seven episodes throughout 2016 to 2023. The costars quietly hinted at their off-screen relationship in January 2019 when they attended a New York Rangers game. The pair have also attended several events through the years, and Wong called Giamatti a sweet soul while wishing him a happy birthday in June 2023. Keep reading to learn five things about Wong, proving shes a perfect match for Giamatti. Shes an Actress In addition to Billions, Wong has appeared on screen in Louie, The Eyes of My Mother, What We Do in the Shadows, You Hurt My Feelings and more. Cindy Ord/WireImage) Shes a Scorpio Born on October 29, Wongs astrological sign is a Scorpio. Giamattis June 6 birthday makes him a Gemini. Could this be the secret to their strong bond? Shes a Midwesterner Wong hails from Skokie, Illinois, and she seemingly began her acting career in New York City. Celebrities Who Started Dating After Years of Friendship Shes Close With Her Family My sweet sister was in town! We held each other and ate food! Wong captioned an October 2019 Instagram photo hugging her sibling in NYC. Shes a Theater Kid at Heart Given her career, it comes as no surprise that Wong has been acting since she was a child. In May 2020, she shared a throwback photo via Instagram of herself in high school singing while performing in Seussical, a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Amanda Edwards/Getty Images A dog named Messi, who became the breakout star of Anatomy of a Fall, is not expected to attend the 2024 Academy Awards. The 7-year-old border collie, who played Snoop in Justine Triets Oscar-nominated drama, wont be in Los Angeles for the Sunday, March 10, awards show, per The Hollywood Reporter. Messi was the main attraction at the Oscar nominees lunch last month, with Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and more raving over the dogs attendance. The big moment was with Billie Eilish, who bonded with Messi for almost 10 minutes, Messis trainer and owner Laura Martin told THR of the event. They were hugging and petting and they really had a vibe. Then Bradley Cooper bumped into him in the hallway. The dog went right to him, so they also had a connection. Margot Robbie and More Stars Who Are Continually Snubbed by the Oscars While plenty of A-listers and Oscar nominees were thrilled to be in Messis presence, other Academy insiders grew concerned about the pups charm. According to THR, multiple companies with nominated films complained about Messi attending the lunch out of fear that his presence might sway voting decisions in the films favor. Anatomy of a Fall, which is nominated in five categories at Sundays ceremony including Best Picture, stars Sandra Huller as a writer on a mission to prove her innocence in her husbands demise. Messis heartwarming performance as the loyal sidekick to Hullers character left audiences in tears, winning him the Palm Dog award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Amanda Edwards/Getty Images All of this attention began at Cannes, Martin told THR. There were a few interviews in France, but what weve been experiencing here in America with the attention to this dog and his acting its beyond anything we anticipated. Its probably the maximum that you can accomplish in this field. Triets vision for the film required a dog to play dead, a skill Messi already had in the bag. What we did need to work on throughout was how to be able to carry him and have him remain in this play acting of being inert, Martin told Variety in February. This was something I added over time by working every day. It started on the bed, and it was just how much disturbance was this dog going to be able to withstand whilst remaining limp. Stars React to 2024 Oscar Nominations: Emma Stone, Bradley Cooper and More Martin told the outlet she was a little bit scared that Messis star performance would cause him to be typecast in roles where he has to die, adding, These are the kind of roles were being asked to do now. Despite Messis absence from the Oscars on Sunday, the show must go on. The red carpet will be rolled out at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood to celebrate the most outstanding films released in 2023. Oppenheimer leads the pack with an impressive 13 Oscar nominations, more than any other film this year. Poor Things closely follows with 11 nods, while Barbie garnered eight chances to win. A day after claiming that Taylor Swift should be president, billionaire investor Ray Dalio walked back his comments while insisting that neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden is ideal for the job. The founder of the massive hedge fund Bridgewater Associates posted a selfie at a Taylor Swift concert in Singapore on Thursday and wrote that he was inspired by her ability to bring people together. @taylorswift13 for President! I just saw her at her concert in Singapore and realized that she can bring together Americans and people in most countries much better than either of the candidates he posted on X, formerly Twitter. It was clear he had a great time: Watching this concert with people from all over the world made me and them feel good and connected and reminded me how powerful that universal culture is, he wrote, before posing a question about politics: Wouldnt it be great if we had two candidates who could lead that culture and make smart leadership decisions too? A day later, Dalio offered up a clarification and no, he added, he wasnt drunk when he said Swift should be the leader of the free world. Though obviously, he added, I need to work on my selfies. He called his endorsement of Swift both a joke and a half-truth, clarifying that he thinks she can bring people together a lot better than either of the presidential candidates and bringing people together is one of the most important things a president should do. He added that her superstardom is a great illustration of Americas cultural power worldwide and that politicians should take her as an example. After all, geopolitical power is largely a battle for the hearts and minds of others, he wrote. His ideal presidential candidate, he added, could bring people together the way Swift does, and would also be smart enough to make the right decisions and strong enough to lead most people to do the right things for most people. Unfortunately, I dont actually see such a candidate [in this election]. Re: my Taylor Swift for president! comments, no I wasn't drunk (though obviously I need to work on my selfies) and yes it was a joke, which is a half-truth. The half thats true is that I think she can bring people together a lot better than either of the presidential candidates https://t.co/nqvfEWEUZx Ray Dalio (@RayDalio) March 8, 2024 Dalios clarification comes a day after President Biden made his State of the Union Address in which he attacked Republicans on tax break policies and proposed increasing taxes on billionaires and corporations. Bidens address showed that politicians continue to be at ends and in a constant state of gridlock as November's presidential election approaches. The partisanship is so bad that the 118th Congress, whose session ends in 2025, is on track to be one of the least productive in history, passing only 34 bills in the first year of its two year session. For comparison, the 117th Congress, which met during Bidens first two years as President, passed more than 300 laws. Dalio previously sounded the alarm about political polarization at Fortunes Global Forum in Abu Dhabi in November, insisting that the U.S. instead needs a very strong middle approach. Before she dropped out of the presidential race this week, Dalios preferred candidate was former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who he said is smart and can work across party lines. He added that a rematch of the 2020 election would be bad for everyone. I pray that we do not have another Trump-Biden election, because that will produce a lot of problems, Dalio said. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Even as the list of Nikki Haley's primary defeats grew longer before she ultimately suspended her campaign this week, her financial support never dried up. The donors that stuck with the former South Carolina governor in the final weeks and months of her bid against former President Donald Trump -- some of whom spoke with ABC News before and some who spoke after she left the race -- say their loyalty was less about her path forward and more about showing an unwavering support for a candidate they believe in. That echoes her own argument that someone needed to give Trump skeptics in the party an alternative even as many conservatives embraced him once again. "There is a hunger for about 40% of this country that wants a return to normalcy, and she has presented that it may not be the winning formula this go round," said Ozzie Palomo, a Republican bundler who has been raising money for Haley for a long time. "But if things play out pretty negatively for Republicans come November, she has two legs to stand on and to say, 'I've shown you a different path and let's play ball going into the midterms in '26, and then the presidential cycle in 28,'" Palomo continued. Palomo, who cohosted multiple recent fundraisers for Haley, said there was great enthusiasm from both her fundraisers and campaign rallies. He said the Haley campaign raised at least $125,000 from one of the VIP receptions in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., where Haley saw the first of two victories. (The other was in Vermont, hours before she ended her campaign.) Palomo said that he doesn't see himself voting for President Joe Biden over Trump in the general election. "To be honest with you, I'd probably sit back and assess the situation," he said. "Flipping the Senate would be probably priority No. 1 for me, and protecting the House would come close." MORE: Nikki Haley exits race with a message Trump may not want to hear: ANALYSIS PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign rally, March 4, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Emil Lippe/Getty Images) Another longtime Haley donor, who asked to remain anonymous to speak freely, however, indicated she will not vote for Trump in November. This donor said she still plans to go out to vote on Election Day but will write-in Haley's name for the presidential race and then focus on down-ballot races. "I'm sure there's a percentage that will vote Republican no matter what -- I used to be that way, but I'm not anymore," this donor said. The donor, who has also attended at least one of Haley's fundraisers in recent days, said Haley's message to her supporters -- which turned out to be something of a closing message -- had been consistent. "It's a narrow path, it's a tough path, but it's worth fighting for our country," the donor said, paraphrasing Haley. "We need a voice of clarity in issues where we used to all commonly agree." After she publicly announced the end of her campaign Wednesday morning, Haley had a short call with a small group of her donors and finance leadership team, during which she mainly thanked them for their support, multiple donors who were on the call told ABC News. In a way, Haley's losses had fired up some of her supporters even more: Her campaign said it raised $1 million within the 24 hours of her defeat in the South Carolina Republican primary in late February. But overall, her fundraising throughout the month of February slowed down, with the campaign announcing a $12 million total raised across her campaign committee and other fundraising vehicles compared to $16.5 million from January. MORE: Haley says fractured GOP primary proves Trump will lose to Biden. History suggests otherwise Some of Haley's new fundraisers were picked up as the GOP field narrowed -- like with Virginians Bobbie and Bill Kilberg, previously supporters of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who suspended his 2024 presidential campaign earlier this year. The Kilbergs, who hosted one of Haley's Virginia fundraisers last week, are vocal Trump critics and have raised money for former Rep. Liz Cheney, one of the most prominent anti-Trump Republicans. Bill Kilberg described him and his wife as "Reagan people": "We want to support Ukraine, we want to support Israel, we're upset with the behavior in the House, and she's out there saying those things, standing tall with enormous energy. And that's all we need." "To be honest, we don't focus on the path forward," he said. "Maybe there is one in the Republican Party, maybe there isn't. The way we look at it is we don't have a choice." PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley waves to the crowd at the conclusion of a campaign rally at the Sawyer Park Icehouse bar, March 4, 2024, in Spring, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) "We're not comfortable either with Biden or with Trump, and Haley gives us the opportunity to support somebody who is a great communicator, whose views we respect and largely agree with," Bill Kilberg continued. He faulted Haley, slightly, on one point. "Would I prefer that she also be clearer and stronger with regard to Trump's failings? Yes, but she's not. And we're making that compromise because she's out there, otherwise leading the fight," Bill Kilberg said in an interview before Haley suspended her campaign. While leaving the race on Wednesday, she said, "It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and those beyond it to support him. I hope he does that." More than 700,000 people cast ballots for Haley across the GOP nominating races so far, compared to about 1.5 million for Trump. In a social media post, he reached out to her voters while also taking another swipe at her, and he has previously said that "I'm not sure we need too many" of her supporters. David Wilkins, a former U.S. ambassador to Canada under President George W. Bush, who has long been an ally and fundraiser for Haley, praised her campaign, saying she did "remarkably well" considering the "formidable task" she was faced with. "I was proud that she won a state," he said of Super Tuesday, referring to Vermont. "I was disappointed she didn't win more delegates that evening but again, keep in mind, former President Trump is a very formidable campaigner and has a very strong base, and I don't think the results were surprising to most people." Unlike some Haley donors, Wilkins is looking ahead and has made up his mind to support Trump now that Haley isn't running anymore. "I'm a proud Republican -- have been all my adult life," he said. He said he doesn't know if he'd fundraise for or donate to Trump, and he hasn't been asked to do so yet. He's seen Republican donors around him split between those willing to support whomever the Republican nominee is and some that don't want to support Trump, he said. But he believes the party will be able to coalesce behind Trump eventually. "I know that I'm going to support the Republican nominee for president," he said, "and that obviously is going to be Donald Trump." ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Nicholas Kerr contributed to this report. After Haley's exit, her donors divide on whether to switch to Trump or vote against him originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Claire Hao is a Hearst Fellow for the Houston Chronicle's business desk, where she is covering electricity, renewable energy and the Texas power grid. She also spends one day a week covering breaking and trending news. Claire can be reached at claire.hao@houstonchronicle.com. Claire spent her first-year fellowship rotation on the climate and environment team of The San Francisco Chronicle. She has previously interned on the news desks of Bloomberg Law and The Chicago Tribune as well as on the editorial board of The Washington Post. She is a 2022 graduate of the University of Michigan, where she was the 2021 editor-in-chief of her college paper The Michigan Daily. Fox News host Sean Hannity dubbed President Biden Jacked-up Joe on Thursday night after what he called a hyper-caffeinated State of the Union address, painting a sharp contrast to former President Trumps derisive nickname of Sleepy Joe for his likely 2024 rival. Tonight, America saw, lets say, a very different Joe Biden, I might call him Jacked-up Joe, and thats being charitable, Hannity said on Fox News following the speech. He sounded like a hyper-caffeinated, angry old man. Biden spoke for more than an hour before a joint session of Congress, often shouting at Republicans over issues such as abortion and border inaction, and repeatedly calling out his predecessor Trump, without naming him. The president also sparred with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) over Laken Riley, a Georgia college student who police say was killed last month by an immigrant who entered the country illegally. Hannity argued that Biden used the speech to lay out his radical wish list for America and that his speech was so hyped up it was bizarre. He quipped that unlike Biden, he would not be shouting for the whole hour of his post-address show. The conservative commentator has long criticized Biden, 81, for his age, mental and physical competencies and performance as president. He said the State of the Union address was so at odds with everyday Joe that it was frightening. He spent most of the night shouting, speeding through the speech and clearly overcompensating from the normal everyday Joe that can barely string two sentences together, Hannity said. Others welcomed Bidens energy in the annual speech. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Biden came out SWINGING in his address. Just a knock out speech. Way to go, Mr. President, Murphy posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. MSNBCs Joe Scarborough said Bidens performance was a tour de force. Ive sat through a lot of things, and I have never seen one side put in so many uncomfortable positions as the Republicans were last night, Scarborough said Friday in comments highlighted by Mediaite. Because they were on the wrong side of history. They were on the wrong side of the polls. They were on the wrong side of politics. They were on the wrong side of decency. Trump also weighed in with real-time reactions to Bidens address, and an interview with Fox News Digital on Thursday night. He was angry, mentally disturbed, and misrepresenting a lot of the facts concerning almost every subject he discussed, Trump reportedly said. But he got through it. He is still breathing, and they didnt have to carry him out in a straight jacket, he added. Other than that, I think he did a terrible job. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Kansas moved closer Thursday to requiring abortion providers to ask patients why they want to terminate their pregnancies and report the answers to the state. It would join other states with Republican legislatures that ban most abortions even though Kansas voters have affirmed abortion rights. The House approved, in an 81-39 vote, a bill that would require providers to ask patients 11 questions about their reasons for terminating a pregnancy, including that they cant afford another child, raising a child would hinder their education or careers, or a spouse or partner wanted her to have an abortion. The bill goes next to the state Senate, where it also is likely to pass. At least seven states require similar reporting, but none have had a statewide vote on abortion rights as Kansas did in August 2022. In the first state ballot question on abortion after the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, voters decisively protected abortion rights under the state constitution. House Health and Human Services Committee Chair Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, left, consults with Majority Whip Susan Estes, R-Wichita, right, in front of House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, foreground, during a debate on abortion legislation. Democrats are frustrated because Republicans and anti-abortion groups have pursued new rules for abortion providers and aid to anti-abortion counseling centers despite that vote and votes affirming abortion rights in other states, including GOP-led Kentucky and Ohio. Quite honestly, I dont understand it, you know, because I think Kansans made it very, very clear how they want Kansas to operate in this arena, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, a strong abortion rights supporter, said during a brief Associated Press interview this week. Why would an elected official whos facing an election in November go against the wishes of their constituents? Both chambers have large anti-abortion majorities and both sides believe theres a strong chance abortion opponents could override a Kelly veto of the reporting bill. Last year, Republicans overrode Kellys vetoes of other restrictions on providers. But Republicans are sensitive enough to criticism that their proposals go against the wishes of Kansas voters to argue that their proposals since the August 2022 ballot question have not reduced access to abortion. Kansas allows most abortion up until the 22nd week of pregnancy, and that would not change under the reporting bill. This bill has nothing to do with eliminating abortion in Kansas, doesnt ban it, doesnt touch on that whatsoever, said House health Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican. Ive respected that vote. Backers of the bill argued the state needs more and better data about why women and girls have abortions so lawmakers can create programs to address their concerns. If were looking to protect unborn children and its a socio-economic reason, then maybe a state can step up, said Ingrid Duran, state legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee. In Kansas, a doctor who provides an abortion already must report the patients age and ethnicity, whether the person was married and the method used to terminate a pregnancy. States requiring doctors to report the reasons for an abortion include Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah. Minnesotas Democratic-controlled Legislature repealed its similar reporting requirement last year. Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, center, participates in an impromptu meeting of the House Rules Committee in a hallway during a debate over abortion legislation. The law in Oklahoma, where most abortions are banned, includes a list of more than 30 questions a provider must ask a patient about her motives. Potential reasons include relationship problems and not feeling mature enough to raise a child. Isabel Guarnieri, a spokesperson for the Guttmacher Institute, which researches abortion issues and supports abortion rights, said such data can be useful in public health. But she said such mandates also should be assessed in the context of lawmakers long history of trying to restrict access and stigmatize abortion. Alesha Doan, a University of Kansas dean and professor who studies policy and gender, called the bill approved by the House an unnecessary way for the state to continue to surveil peoples health decisions. Democrats, particularly female lawmakers, attacked what they saw as the unfairness of requiring women to face detailed questions about their motives for seeking health care when men would not. They started with vasectomies. Then, Kansas City-area Democratic Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton suggested requiring doctors to ask male patients whether they wanted to treat erectile dysfunction because a spouse wanted that or because it caused the man stress or embarrassment. Because I am still fertile right now, I dont have that right to privacy, she said after Thursdays vote, summarizing what she sees as the bills real message. Why am I less of a person than a post-menopausal woman? Why am I less of a person than a man? But that tactic prompted an eye-roll from Landwehr during a post-vote interview. She said Democrats should favor better data collection. You know, it amazes me that they dont support this, she said. Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas could soon make doctors ask patients why they want abortions John Eplee Over the past 20 years, our nations struggle with opioid addiction has evolved into the far-reaching and disturbing crisis that we now find ourselves in today. As a Kansas family physician, I sit across from many patients in the exam room, good and hardworking people, who have become unwitting soldiers in a battle against addiction. Nationwide, the figures are grim about 9.3 million Americans have fallen into the grip of prescription opioid misuse each year. The narrative is all too familiar, and Ive heard it time and again through my experience as a physician and my work as vice chair of the Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee. A patient comes in, reeling from the pain of a shattered limb or an invasive surgery, and they leave with a prescription meant to ease their suffering. But too often, that prescription becomes a pandoras box, leading to addiction and in cases all too common, death. The specter of opioid dependency is a menacing reality, an unwanted companion in the journey toward healing. But today, we stand at the cusp of a transformative moment. Years of extensive research and trials have borne promising developments. The FDA is on the verge of approving a non-addictive, non-opioid medication(s) for acute pain management. This could be a defining moment in our struggle against the opioid crisis, providing patients a chance to heal without the fear of addiction. But for this promising breakthrough to assist all who need it, it requires legislative support and public awareness. At the federal level, the Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation Act (Alternatives to PAIN Act) represents a bipartisan commitment to make non-opioid pain treatments accessible and affordable for the 65 million seniors who depend on Medicare, the federally run health care program. While lawmakers in D.C. take proactive steps to make non-opioids more accessible, we serving in the Kansas Legislature should do the same. Our local communities look to us in Topeka to take decisive action. Education is the first step. Without awareness of these non-opioid alternatives, patients will continue to walk the perilous tightrope of addiction. The introduction of Kansas House Bill 2670 in February was a much-needed initial step. This bill seeks to charge the Kansas Department of Health and Environment with the critical task of creating and distributing educational resources about non-opioid pain management options to both providers and patients alike. However, education alone is not enough. We must also explore every possible avenue to ensure that these forthcoming non-addictive treatments are not just known, but readily accessible and affordable to every Kansan in need. The opioid crisis is a complex and deep-rooted issue that has woven itself into the fabric of our communities. Unraveling it will not happen overnight. It demands a clear, unwavering understanding that to overcome such a pervasive challenge, we need a comprehensive, all-hands-on-deck approach. We must employ every strategy, embrace every innovation, and unite every resource to turn the tide. I stand with my fellow Kansans, my fellow physicians, and my fellow legislators in urging swift action. We must rally behind the Alternatives to PAIN Act and HB 2670 with a sense of urgency and collective responsibility. Providing education through HB 2670 is just the beginning of the fight against addiction. Let us work together to ensure that these newer, safer medicines are not just a promise on the horizon but a reality in the hands of those who need them most. The health and future of our communities, our state, and indeed, our nation hinge on the actions we take today. Let us not delay another moment. John Eplee is a state representative for Kansas 63rd District. He lives in Atchison, where he has practiced family medicine for 42 years. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas physician backs Alternatives to PAIN Act to end opioid addiction (Photo Credit: Cavan Images | Getty Images) Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb recently signed the puppy mill bill into law, a decision that has been met with strong opposition from the Humane Society of the United States. House Bill 1412, also known as the canine standard of care, aims to set regulations for commercial dog breeders and pet stores. However, it simultaneously overturns 21 local ordinances that prohibit the sale of dogs at retail pet stores, including those in St. Joseph County. Proponents argue the bill is a step towards eliminating puppy mills, but critics, including the Humane Society, warn that it might achieve the opposite effect. Humane Society of the US strongly opposes Puppy Mill Bill The legislation requires pet stores, animal care facilities, and rescues to register with the Board of Animal Health, a measure that at first glance appears to tighten regulations around the breeding and sale of puppies. Yet, the Humane Society of the U.S. has raised concerns that this bill inadvertently opens the door for puppy mills to operate under the guise of legitimacy per ABC57. By invalidating local bans on the retail sale of puppies, critics argue that the bill removes an important layer of protection against inhumane breeding practices. Samantha Chapman, the Indiana State Director for the Humane Society of the U.S., highlighted the challenges presented by House Bill 1412. So, it really allows pet stores to operate business as usual, Chapman stated, emphasizing that while the bill introduces some new standards, it fails to provide the necessary funding for their enforcement. This shortfall, she warns, could lead to increased burdens on local governments and animal shelters already grappling with overpopulation issues. In light of these concerns, the Humane Society continues to advocate for adoption as the most humane and responsible option for those looking to welcome a pet into their home. We really encourage people to go to their local shelters and rescues and adopt, to foster, to donate, volunteer, and to support our animal shelters, Chapman said. The controversial puppy mill bill will take effect this July. The post Puppy Mill Bill Criticized by Humane Society for Harm Risks appeared first on DogTime. (Photo Credit: Su Arslanoglu | Getty Images) Virgin Australia is pioneering a groundbreaking initiative to revolutionize air travel for pet owners. It plans to become the first airline in Australia to allow pets onboard its flights. This innovative move will enable small cats and dogs to accompany their owners on specific domestic flights. Virgin Australia plans to introduce pets in cabins scheme for its domestic flights Australias airline, Virgin Australia, has unveiled plans to make history by becoming the nations inaugural airline to permit pets onboard, as per Daily Mail. Thus, in the near future, small cats and dogs will be able to fly with their owners in the cabin, making the travel experience stress-free for both pets and pet parents. Moreover, the announcement marks a significant step towards greater inclusivity and convenience in air travel for pet lovers across Australia. Subject to regulatory approval, Virgin Australia anticipates rolling out the new service within the next 12 months. Virgin Australia has announced that its pets in cabin service will only allow small cats and dogs. However, the airline has not provided specific criteria for defining small, as per The Guardian. This approach mirrors practices in the United States, where carriers implementing similar schemes often impose restrictions on specific breeds. Nevertheless, the airline has specified rules about how the owners will carry their pets. Pets must be transported in an approved carrier provided by the airline and placed beneath the seat in front of their owner throughout the flight. Additionally, Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka expressed her excitement regarding their pet-friendly initiative. In her words, Our love for animals has always been in the Virgin Australia DNA and we are excited at the prospect of taking off with Australias first-ever pets in cabin flights. According to her, the airlines guests consistently demonstrate a strong desire to travel with their pets. Therefore, Virgin Australia wants to make this aspiration a reality. Its something that commonly happens overseas and is proven to work well, she said. The post Virgin Australia Welcomes Small Dogs in Cabin for Domestic Flights appeared first on DogTime. A six-year-old Bernese/Labrador mix went missing in Colorado for an entire ten days and rescue efforts weren't turning up any clues, except for some paw prints in the snow they weren't even sure belonged to the dog, named Pepper. It wasn't until one of the rescuers brought along his dog named Finn that they discovered Pepper in a pretty remarkable place. The Facebook post explains that pepper went missing from her home on February 22. The family called the rescue a few hours later and their volunteers got to work with them. They sent them their standard search protocols- put out a scent station on their front porch (owner's dirty clothes and dog bed), set up cameras, made social media posts to spread awareness, hung neon signs in the neighborhood, and boots on the ground search. Flyers were also made and handed out to their neighbors for them to check their garages, decks, tree wells, any place that she could be stuck. The rescue explains that the snow is VERY deep down in Blue River with very high snowbanks. Related: Community Bands Together to Find Dogs Lost in Utah Snowstorm The rescue explains that they saw paw prints but never saw Pepper on the cameras they had set up and here is where this rescue gets super remarkable. The rescue posts on Facebook, "Finally, on DAY 10, our volunteer Kevin and his dog Finn, who spent many days and hours searching, went down by the creek again to search. There was a lot of deep snow and fallen trees down there and not easy to get to, but Kevins dog Finn was very interested in this location. After further investigation, they saw that PEPPER WAS STUCK in a small area of the creek surrounded by steep snowbanks and taking shelter under a fallen tree. A black dog under muddy black tree roots made it very hard for Kevin to see her, but his dog Finn did. Eventually, Kevin saw her tag shining on her collar. He immediately contacted the owner who arrived with his son to help. They did calming techniques and snowshoed/post-holed in the deep creek, and it took 3 of them to get her out!!!! PEPPER WAS SAFE!! Ultimately, she was stuck 714 feet from her house!!" It's amazing that Pepper was found that close to her house! What an absolutely incredible rescue! We are so happy this sweet pup is safe and sound at home again! What To Do if Your Lose Your Dog Losing your dog can be such a scary experience, but the good news is that according to the ASPCA, 93 percent of lost dogs are eventually recovered, and 90 percent of them are found within the first 12 hours. One thing you can do is have your dog microchipped, so that if they are lost and they end brought to a vet it can be determined that you are the actual owner. Make sure your dog always wears a collar with your name and contact information on it. It's also a good idea to take current photographs of your dog in case they do go missing, and photographs of you with your dog in case you need further proof of ownership. Contact friends and family immediately, the non-emergency number of your local police department, as well as your veterinarian, your local Humane Society and Animal Shelters, and make postings on social media lost and found groups for your area. Create flyers with your contact information plus a current photo of your pet and distribute them to local businesses and neighbors. If your dog has a keen nose, they might be able to sniff their way back to you. Take something that smells like you, such as a worn shirt, a blanket, a toy, or a crate. Leave the items where you last saw your dog. Like the Summit Lost pet Rescue did, which was to create a scent station on the owner's front porch (owner's dirty clothes and dog bed) to lure the pup home. Hopefully your dog will be at home with you safe and sound in no time! If you would like more information about the Summit Lost Pet Rescue and the amazing work they do, you can visit their website here. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Iran is responsible for the "physical violence" that led to Mahsa Amini's death, a UN fact-finding mission says. The 22-year-old died in police custody in 2022 after being arrested for allegedly violating rules requiring women to wear the headscarf. Her death sparked protests unlike any the country had seen before. The UN mission also found "disproportionate use of lethal force" by security forces against protesters. The crackdown killed more than 500 people, rights groups say. There was no immediate comment on the report from Iran, which has consistently denied being responsible for Ms Amini's death. The UN report says Mahsa Amini was brought to Iran's Vozara detention facility to undergo a "re-education class", but collapsed after 26 minutes and was taken to a hospital 30 minutes later. At the time, a UN human rights expert said evidence showed she had died "as a result of beatings". The authorities rejected this and Iran's state coroner attributed her death to pre-existing medical conditions. Now the fact-finding mission says it has "established the existence of evidence of trauma to Ms Amini's body, inflicted while in the custody of the morality police". This along with the "patterns of violence by the morality police" satisfied the mission that Ms Amini was subjected to physical violence that led to her death. Protests broke out after Ms Amini's funeral in the western city of Saqqez, when women ripped off their hijab in solidarity. Demonstrations spread across Iran, with women setting their headscarves on fire, and protesters calling for the overthrow of Iran's governing system. The UN fact finding mission said the authorities used shotguns, assault rifles and submachine guns against demonstrators, "thereby committing unlawful and extrajudicial killings." It also found that protesters were often shot intentionally in the eye. As these injuries permanently marked the victims, the report claims that in this way they were "branded" as protesters. Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of rape and sexual violence Security forces characterised women's demands for equality and non-discrimination as a "willingness to get naked" and "spreading immorality", justifying sexual violence on the basis that this was "the freedom they wanted", the report said. "Some of the detainees faced sexual violence, including rape, rape with an object, threats of rape, electrocution to the genitalia, forced nudity, groping, touching and other forms of sexual violence," it said. It cites the case of one female protester who it says was arrested in November 2022 in Kermanshah province, taken to an unofficial detention facility and interrogated before being taken to another room for a "body search". The report says: "As she was undressing, one male agent and one female agent in a chador [shawl] came into the room and forced her down to the floor and, as they were holding her down, another male agent raped her. Following this, the same agent who had restrained her also raped her." These methods were used as the security forces played on social and cultural stigma connected to sexual and gender-based violence to spread fear and humiliate, according to the report. "These acts form part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against the civilian population in Iran, namely against women, girls, boys and men who have demanded freedom, equality, dignity and accountability," said Sara Hossain, chair of the UN inquiry, urging the Iranian authorities to "halt the repression". Analysts say the UN report is unlikely to have any impact on the policy of the Iranian government dominated by ultra conservatives. They say a low turnout in elections last week showed Iranians' disenchantment with their country's politics. That feeling when you finally come home after a long day is unmatched by anything else. Maybe it's that return to the familiar or the sense that you can truly be yourself in a space that's all your own, but there's no denying how nice it is to feel safe and relaxed finally. The same can go for animals, too! Even if they haven't found somewhere to call home, many animals can sense when they're somewhere safe. That's precisely what happened with horse rescuer Bree's newest resident as he slowly realized where he was. He and his brother were saved from horrible neglect, but the beautiful horse finally started to relax and trust his owner on March 4. Check out the heartwarming video! Aww--how sweet! It's clear to see just how gentle Bree is being with this rescued horse, and it's paying off so well. He's completely relaxing! It looks almost as if he was going to rest his head on her back, but it may take a few baby steps to get there. Related: Moment Bullied Horse Finally Realizes He's Safe at Sanctuary Is a Tear-Jerker When you think about it, the fact that he lets her brush his legs so soon after meeting her shows what a calming, trustworthy energy she has. This horse's body language is completely relaxed, but if you ask me, he looks exhausted, too. Poor guy! This Appaloosa horse is one of two brothers, Tofu and Bonsai, who arrived at @healing_with_horseplay at the end of February. They were malnourished, dirty, and in major need of hair and hoof care, but Bree was there to help the horses get a whole new lease on life. Horses Need Rescuing, Too If you've scrolled through social media recently, you've likely seen plenty of dog rescue videos. There are tons of humane societies, animal rescues, and nonprofits dedicated to finding loving homes for dogs, cats, and small animals, but there aren't nearly as many organizations dedicated to horses. But that doesn't mean they aren't out there! Bree's Minnesota horse rescue is just one of dozens--if not hundreds--of programs meant for horses and farm animals. Believe it or not, there are a few rural humane societies that help rescue and rehome horses, too! These facilities with barns or stables are few and far between in some areas, however, so you'll need to do your research if you're considering adopting a horse. These animals can be joyful additions to hobby farms and animal sanctuaries, so I hope to see more stories like Tofu and Bonsai's making the rounds on social media soon. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Moscow police asked the public for help last week regarding the killing of four University of Idaho students when it sought information about a white Hyundai Elantra. It was a rare glimpse into the investigation. Many details of the case still remain a mystery as police aim to keep information confidential to maintain the integrity of the investigation. They have yet to name a suspect or find the weapon used in the attacks that took the lives of U of I seniors Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur dAlene, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum; junior Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls; and freshman Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Washington. Heres what we know about the investigation and what happened the weekend of Nov. 12-13. What are the latest developments? Moscow police asked for the publics help on Dec. 7 in locating a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra, but they do not know the license plate. Police said that the vehicle was in the vicinity of the King Road residence in which the students were killed and wish to speak to the driver of the vehicle, as well as any passengers. A white Hyundai Elantra was spotted on body cam footage of a police officer responding to a separate alcohol-related incident on the night of the attacks, but Moscow Police Chief James Fry said Thursday that its not the vehicle they are looking for. Neighbors of the residence on King Road told Idaho Statesman reporters that the Saturday night/early Sunday morning leading up to the four students deaths was unusually quiet. One neighbor told the Statesman that oftentimes shed have to sleep wearing earplugs because of nearby parties, but on the night of the killings it was calm. She said she woke up at around 2 a.m. because of her dog and stayed awake until around 5 a.m., but did not hear anything unusual. The university held its winter commencement Saturday, for which the Moscow Police Department said it had plans with Idaho State Police to provide additional security throughout the city and on the college campus. What happened on that weekend? Shortly before noon Pacific time on Sunday, Nov. 13, Moscow police officers responded to a 911 call about an unconscious person in a house near the U of I campus. They walked in to find the four victims bodies. Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt reported that the students had been stabbed to death with a large, fixed-blade knife in the early morning hours. The coroners report did not include times of death, and police told the Statesman last week that they have yet to settle on and release a time frame for the attack. Autopsies confirmed that all four students died from multiple stab wounds and were all likely asleep when the attacks started. Some victims showed defensive wounds, however, the coroner said. None of the victims showed signs of sexual assault, she added. There also wa no sign of forced entry at the household, Moscow Police Chief James Fry said at a press conference on Nov. 16. Police are still trying to determine the actual entry point of the home, a spokesperson told the Statesman last week. Steve Goncalves revealed at a memorial vigil on Nov. 30 that his daughter and Mogen died together. The two victims had been close friends since sixth grade. They went to high school together, he said in a speech at the University of Idahos Kibbie Dome. Then they started looking at colleges. They came here together. They eventually get into the same apartment together. And in the end, they died together, in the same room, in the same bed. The three female victims Kernodle, Mogen and Goncalves lived at the King Road home with at least two other roommates, both of whom survived. Letters from those two roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, were read at a memorial in Post Falls on Dec. 2. Chapin was staying the night with Kernodle, whom he was dating, according to family. The four victims in the mass killing at the University of Idaho pose for a photo recently with their two roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke. At top left is Madison Mogen, 21, who is on the shoulders of Kaylee Goncalves, also 21. Ethan Chapin, 20, has his arm around Xana Kernodle, 20, his girlfriend. Where did the 911 call come from? Police revealed that the 911 call was made from inside the house on one of the surviving roommates cellphones. They summoned friends to the house because they believed one of the victims on the second floor had passed out and was not waking up. Multiple people there talked with the 911 dispatcher before officers arrived, the Moscow Police Department said. The two surviving roommates had been out around town that night, but not together. Police have said both were home by about 1 a.m. and did not wake up until later that morning. Police said they are aware of a sixth person listed on the lease in the six-bedroom home, but that person was not present on the night of the stabbings and police do not believe this person has any involvement. That person moved out of the home prior to the start of the school year, police said. Mortensen and Funke had bedrooms on the first floor, police said. The victims were found on the second and third floors two on each. Police have not specified which victims were where. What do we know about the shelter-in-place order the day of the killings? U of I told people to stay away from the area and shelter in place at 2:07 p.m. Pacific time on Nov. 13 as the police department investigated a homicide. Nearly 90 minutes later, the university tweeted that the shelter-in-place order was lifted, but called for Moscow residents to remain vigilant. According to the U of I website, a shelter-in-place order can be issued by the University Office of Public Safety and Security in response to a hazardous spill, hostile intruder or weather emergency. An order is sent out using the Vandal Alert system. It requires students, faculty and visitors to take refuge in an interior room with no or few windows. You can sign up for the Vandal Alert System online to receive future alerts. Do police know why this happened? Police have given little information about a possible motive for the killings, but have repeatedly said they believe it to be a targeted attack. They have declined to provide further information about that. To be honest, youre going to have to trust us on that at this point because were not going to release why we think that, Moscow Police Capt. Roger Lanier said two weeks ago. At another press conference, Fry declined to say whether they think the attack was carried out by a single person or multiple people, and could not say whether one of the victims was explicitly targeted. Moscow police Capt. Roger Lanier, right, speaks at a news conference Wednesday, Nov. 23, on progress in the investigation of the Nov. 13 stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. At left is Moscow police Chief James Fry. Police asked for the publics help on Dec. 7 in locating a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra, although they do not know the vehicles license plate. Police said that the vehicle was in the vicinity of the King Road residence in which the students were killed and wish to speak to the driver of the vehicle, as well as any passengers. What were the victims doing before the attack? Kernodle and Chapin were at a party at the Sigma Chi fraternity house less than a 600-foot walk from the house on King Road and returned home at about 1:45 a.m. Sunday, police said. Goncalves and Mogen spent the evening at the Corner Club bar before stopping at a food truck parked downtown on the way home. They used a private party for a ride home from the food truck, police said. Both women were home at around 1:56 a.m., police said. A map and timeline provided by the Moscow Police Department shows the locations and whereabouts of the four University of Idaho students that were stabbed to death on Saturday evening until early Sunday. Multiple calls were made from Goncalves and Mogens cellphones between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. to a male who did not answer. A sister of Goncalves, Alivea, said the calls were made to a her sisters ex-boyfriend. Alivea said her sister was known for frequently making late-night phone calls, according to The New York Times. A nearby neighbor told the Statesman that it was unusually quiet on the night of the killings. The neighbor, referred to as Anna C., said she would oftentimes wear earplugs to bed because of nearby parties from the local college students. But on the night of the killings she woke up at 2 a.m. because her dog began heaving. Anna told the Statesman that she couldnt fall back asleep until about 5 a.m., but noticed the unusual peacefulness and that she did not hear anything overnight that seemed concerning. Have police cleared anyone? Detectives have said they do not believe that the two surviving roommates, the sixth roommate on the lease, or any individuals summoned to the household on the morning of the deaths were involved. Police dont think 911 caller, roommates were killers in U of Idaho student stabbings The police also cleared a male singled out in surveillance footage of the Grub Truck food truck, the driver who took Goncalves and Mogen home early that morning, and the male who Goncalves and Mogen called several times in the early morning hours Sunday. The Latah County Sheriffs Office and Moscow police have addressed numerous rumors and questions surrounding the homicides. This includes a reported incident involving a dog attacked with a knife elsewhere in Moscow that the sheriffs office said was unrelated. Moscow police also said that the Moscow stabbings are not tied to a 1999 double stabbing in Pullman, Washington, or a 2021 double stabbing in Salem, Oregon. On Nov. 23, Lanier first acknowledged that police had been unable to validate reports that Goncalves had a stalker. Police later elaborated on what could have led to the reports. In mid-October, two males were seen inside a local business; they parted ways, and one male appeared to follow Kaylee inside the business and as she exited to walk toward her car, they said in a press release. The male turned away, and it did not appear he made any contact with her. Police also said a February 2022 death in Moscow was not related to the quadruple homicide investigation. Police said the Latah County Coroners Office ruled that death an overdose. The coroners office and the Moscow Police Department each denied public records requests from the Statesman for more information in that case, citing an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Reports that a red Mustang on South Deakin Street was being processed as part of the investigation were not true; the vehicle is not connected to this incident, police have said. Moscow police also said in a press release that an incident at Taylor Avenue and Band Field in the early hours of Nov. 13 was unrelated. The incident was an alcohol-related offense and was addressed by an on-scene officer, according to law enforcement. What is the school doing? U of I President Scott Green told students in a memo ahead of Thanksgiving break that the school would remain flexible through the end of the semester. University faculty were asked to prepare both in-person and remote learning options so students who did not wish to return to Moscow until the spring semester could finish their fall courses online. Drop-in counseling for students through the Counseling and Testing Center will remain throughout the semester. Students can also make an appointment at (208) 885-6716. The phone line provides 24-hour-a-day access to counselors. The universitys Safe Walk program will be available throughout the semester. The service allows students, faculty and guests to call (208) 885-7233 and have a campus security officer meet them anywhere on campus and walk them to their destination. U of I held a candlelight vigil on Nov. 30 inside the universitys Kibbie Dome. More than 1,000 people attended. The families of Chapin, Mogen and Goncalves attended the vigil. Boise State University students along with people who knew the four University of Idaho students who were found killed in Moscow on Sunday pay their respects at a vigil held in front of a statue on the Boise State campus on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. A homicide investigation into the deaths of four University of Idaho students is ongoing. During U of Is winter commencement on Dec. 10, Moscow police worked with Idaho State Police to ensure additional security throughout the city and at the college campus. Police reminded the public to stay vigilant, travel in groups, and communicate with family and friends as you travel in a news release as an influx of guests arrived in Moscow for the event. Reporter Kevin Fixler contributed. A heckler was removed from President Joe Bidens State of the Union on Thursday night as he repeatedly shouted remember Abbey Gate in the middle of the address. The president was over an hour into his high-stakes speech where he had railed at his unnamed predecessor Donald Trump and vowed to restore reproductive rights when the man began screaming from the gallery. Remember Abbey Gate! US Marines! the protester shouted. He was seen being escorted out of the House by Capitol police and being placed in handcuffs. The man was later identified as Gold Star parent Steven Nikoui, whose son US Marine Kareem Nikoui was one of the 13 US troops killed in the Kabul airport bombing in August 2021 as the US withdrew troops from Afghanistan. House Speaker Mike Johnson had invited other Gold Star parents Alicia Lopez and Darin Hoover who also lost their children in the terrorist attack as his guests to the presidents speech. A protester shouts at President Joe Biden as he delivers his third State of the Union address (via REUTERS) President Bidens hasty, unconditional withdrawal from Afghanistan was a failure for America and its allies. It led to the tragic deaths of brave American servicemembers, including Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover and Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Mr Johnson said in a statement to ABC News before the speech. Mr Hoover and Ms Lopez released a joint statement prior to attending where they called for transparency and justice from the Biden administration. Taylor and Hunter are great men, dedicated Marines and incredible sons who made our families proud every day. They paid the ultimate sacrifice along with the 11 others killed and 45 wounded for our great country, but more than two years since their death, the President has left us without answers, they said. A protester is escorted out by security (AP) As parents, we deserve transparency and we demand justice. Were grateful to be joining Speaker Johnson at the State of the Union to commemorate our sons and demand accountability from this Administration, they added. Abbey Gate was the scene of a horrific terrorist attack outside Kabuls Hamid Karzai International Airport back in August 2021, during the USs withdrawal from Afghanistan. In the attack, 13 American service members 11 Marines, a Soldier, and a Sailor were killed. Around 170 Afghan civilians were also killed. The 26 August 2021 suicide bombing terrorist attack came days into the USs withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. It marked the deadliest day for American troops in Afghanistan in around a decade. Since then, families of some the 13 service members killed have demanded answers from the Biden administration while Republicans have launched investigations into the withdrawal. Houstons Memorial Park is ready to celebrate its centennial with the grand return of The Biggest Picnic in Texas: 100th Birthday Edition. When is The Biggest Picnic in Texas? Hundreds of people attend the Biggest Picnic in Texas at Memorial Park in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The event is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Memorial Parks Picnic Loop, located at 301 N. Picnic. It is free and open to the public. Do families need to bring their own food? Patricia Hernandez, Lucia Coley, Vitaly Guerra and Melody Flores play a card game while picnicking at the Biggest Picnic in Texas at Memorial Park in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Guests can bring their picnics and blankets or make use of shaded picnic tables. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the event. Advertisement Article continues below this ad MORE FROM ANA KHAN: Best spring break destinations near Houston: Rodeo, museums and more How should I get to Memorial Park? Hundreds of people attend the Biggest Picnic in Texas on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at Memorial Park in Houston, TX. The event marks the opening of the 100-acre Kinder Land Bridge and Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Native Prairie. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer If you drive, free off-site parking is encouraged. Memorial Park Conservancy will be offering a complimentary shuttle service, with 11 stops throughout the park, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the day of the event. Guests can check the parking map and find more information here. Whats planned for the Biggest Picnic in Texas? Memorial Park Conservancy presents The Biggest Picnic in Texas: 100th Birthday Edition. Courtesy of MPC The festivities include complimentary birthday cupcakes (while supplies last), appearances by Houston Astros' mascot Orbit and the Shooting Stars, food, drinks, treats from H-E-B, Holly the Jolly Trolley and kids' activities such as face painting, arts and crafts and a magic show. Live music will play on the Biggest Picnic Stage, featuring DJ Johnny J, country artist Payton Howie, cover band The Slags and the Shakira tribute band, She Wolf. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Memorial Parks history Memorial Park Land Bridge Courtesy Nelson Byrd Woltz In 1924, Houstons largest urban greenspace was officially named Memorial Park. A century later, this urban park stands as a cherished haven for Houstonians seeking activity, relaxation and connection with nature. Spanning 1,500 acres, nearly twice the size of Central Park, Memorial Park holds a unique national distinction due to its central location in the heart of Houston. Adding to the significance of the parks name is its cultural history as the former WWI training camp, Camp Logan, where 70,000 soldiers once trained for battle. Most of the soldiers who trained at Logan went on to fight in France, where many were lost. But Camp Logan is most notorious for the fate of the 24th Infantry, one of the four Buffalo Soldier regiments in the U.S. Army. A military court convicted 110 Black soldiers of mutiny, murder and assault in 1917, the largest murder trial in U.S. history. Nineteen of the soldiers were executed at Fort Sam Houston. The U.S. Army overturned their convictions in a historic reversal in November 2023. Wayne L. Smith, an engineer in the Washington, D.C., area, scoffed at an image he saw last week of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gleefully nestled among a group of smiling Black people. Seeing the image immediately alarmed him. Everything he does to try to get Black people to like him is fake, Smith said. Why wouldnt that photo be fake, too? It just didnt feel right. Smiths instinct about the photo was correct; it was created by Trump supporter and conservative radio host Mark Kaye, who admitted he used artificial intelligence to create the image and posted it on social media for his 1 million Facebook followers to see. Kaye did not respond to an NBC News request for comment. Im not out there taking pictures of whats really happening. Im a storyteller, Kaye told BBC News, which tracked down the images origins. He added, If anybodys voting one way or another because of one photo they see on a Facebook page, thats a problem with that person, not with the post itself. Trumps campaign did not respond to an NBC News request for comment on this article, but last week one campaign official said: The only ones using AI to meddle in an election are President Trumps opponents. The Trump Campaign has absolutely nothing to do with these AI images. Nor can we control what other people create and post. In this election cycle, Trump has made some headway with Black voters. Sixteen percent of them said in an NBC News poll published in February that they would consider voting for Trump if the election were held today. Thats compared to the 12% who supported Trump in 2020. Still, this photo generation was the latest in a series of awkward efforts including claiming hes being persecuted in the legal system by Trump, his campaign and his supporters to try to show a connection with Black voters. They want our vote but dont know how to get it, Smith said. Bidens no peach, but hes not Trump. And they know that. Thats why they are trying anything. Tricks. Deception. And, to me, theyre just making it worse by insulting us. On one hand, said Rhonda Sherrod, who ran for a Democratic Illinois Senate seat this year, these moves to appeal to Black voters rely on racist stereotypes and can be insulting. In a recent NBC News focus group of likely Black voters, participants all generally agreed that Trumps rhetoric can often be racist. I got indicted for nothing, for something that is nothing, Trump said to a group of Black conservatives last month in South Carolina before the states primary. And a lot of people said thats why the Black people like me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as Im being discriminated against. Its been pretty amazing but possibly, maybe, theres something there. All the while, these efforts to illustrate Black voters embracing Trump may also appeal to white voters who have found his previous statements and actions discomforting, said Calvin Lawrence, an IBM chief training officer for responsible and trustworthy AI. What about those independent white people who dislike him and wont vote for him for the mere reason they think hes a racist? Lawrence said. When you see these deep fake videos and images generated by AI with him wrapped up with Black folks, theyre also targeting those white voters and saying, Look. Im not a racist. Hes not a racist. They are using AI on a larger scale. Beyond the AI-generated photographs, Trump has also boasted that Black people will connect with him because he has had a mug shot taken. My mug shot, Trump said to the Black conservative group. Weve all seen the mug shot, and you know who embraced it more than anybody else? The Black population. You see Black people walking around with my mug shot, you know. They do shirts, and they sell them for $19 apiece. Its pretty amazing millions by the way. In February Trump unveiled the Never Surrender High-Top Sneaker, a limited edition $399 pair of gold shoes with American flag details, a day after he and his company were ordered to pay a $453 million penalty for real estate fraud. Raymond Arroyo, a Fox News contributor, said in February that Trumps release of golden sneakers will be attractive to Black voters because they love sneakers. These efforts are nothing more than bigotry concealed as campaigning, said Rahna Epting, executive director of the progressive grassroots organization MoveOn. Black voters have real concerns about tangible issues like the economy, safety and health care. Ray Richardson, a retired government worker in Atlanta, agreed. Donald Trump views me and my Black vote as a cheap whore on the street corner, Richardson said. I want passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill, criminal justice reform. He has no regard for my intelligence or interest. Its insulting and disrespectful. How artificial intelligence will affect Black voters and the electorate at large For many, the disingenuous use of AI is particularly alarming. Elizabeth M. Adams, an artificial intelligence expert, told NBC News that the images of Trump generated by Kaye using AI is the epitome of weaponizing or misusing the tools purpose. But it also was not surprising to Adams, the CEO of EMA Advisory Services, a company that focuses on responsible use of AI. Artificial intelligence really is training a computer to think fast, like a human, but at a much faster pace, she said. And so, when, in a case like this, its being weaponized, it is also a mirror of society. Its all the things that people think the biases people have. Its also troubling, Adams said. Very unfortunate, but it is a consequence of what happens when you dont have a good vision for how A.I. should be used, Adams said via a phone interview from a conference in Saudi Arabia. If you have bad actors before AI, theyre just going to use the tools and continue being bad actors. IBMs Lawrence wrote a book, published last year, Hidden in White Sight: How A.I. Empowers and Deepens Systemic Racism. For the last four years, he said he has been cautioning about the exploitation of AI. With Trump and his supporters, Lawrence said he sees the manifestation of his concerns and more. The bigger picture wont affect Black voters who know what Trump stands for, Lawrence said. The bigger goal is the long-term effect of the deep fake to create a zero trust society, where people no longer believe what you say or what they see. With a zero trust society, you cant distinguish the truth from falsehood. Truth gets eroded. He cited the George Floyd murder in 2020 as an example. Imagine if the nation thought that womans video was a deep fake, thought it was AI-generated? he said of a bystanders cellphone video of Floyds fatal encounter with Minneapolis police. If people didnt believe what they saw, would we have had a social justice movement? Half of the responses to questions about politics by AI chatbots like ChatGPT4 and Google Gemini were completely inaccurate, according to an analysis published by the AI Democracy Project last month. This is only the beginning of AI influx into the election, Adams and Lawrence said. For Chicago psychologist Sherrod, who ran for the state senate this year, that is concerning. Its going to be a bruising political season, said Sherrod, author of the 2021 book, Surviving, Healing and Evolving: Essays of Love, Compassion, Healing and Affirmation for Black People. In this cycle, the legitimacy of democracy is at stake. The volatility of the campaign with its racial undertones and potential for misleading information, despite some companies having policies against such acts and the specter of Trump returning to the White House can take a toll on Black voters, Sherrod said. From a psychological standpoint, so many of us are already tired. Weve been bombarded with so much information, and because there are so many different information sources including AI that Black people have to protect themselves psychologically, she said. A lot of times that means that if you see something that strikes you a certain way, you need to try to look at some other sources of information to figure out whether or not it is credible. Its a shame we have to go through all those hoops, but thats the world we live in. But they are worth going through to make sure we get the right person in the White House. For more from NBC BLK, sign up for our weekly newsletter. Bargain basement? Pirates Inn, Barbados the cheapest hotel on the island tonight, price 135 (Booking.com) Passengers stranded in Barbados by Tui after an aircraft was hit by a vehicle were told they could not claim more than 180 (153) per household for accommodation, meals and additional travel. For a family of four, the figure works out at less than 40 per person for an overnight stay and all meals on one of the most expensive islands in the Caribbean. Stranded travellers were notified of the limit after their flight home to London Gatwick on Thursday evening was cancelled. The Boeing 787 jet was being prepared for departure when a ground service vehicle struck the plane. Passengers spent about five hours aboard the stricken aircraft. Initially they were assured that hotel rooms were being sourced. But Tui found accommodation only for the aircraft crew, families with young children, and older or infirm passengers. The remainder were faced with spending the night trying to sleep on chairs at Barbados airport, or finding hotels themselves. Tui sent stranded passengers a message reading: If you manage to find suitable accommodation, well reimburse up to 180 per household to help cover any extra travel, meal, or accommodation costs you may incur. One passenger, Toni Agland, successfully found somewhere to stay. She tweeted: After checking in at the hotel we received an email stating Tui would reimburse 180 per household for accommodation, food and transport! Had anyone from Tui tried to book a hotel in Barbados for 180? Communication has been exceptionally poor and the helpline was useless. In a later message to stranded customers, Tui increased the allowance to 180, or 45 each for a family of four. On Friday, the cheapest hotel room for two was 135 at the two-star Pirates Inn near the islands capital, Bridgetown. A taxi to and from the hotel would add the equivalent of at least 50, breaking the second limit imposed by Tui even before any meals were taken. Under UK air passengers rights rules, airlines that cancel flights are required to provide accommodation, meals and transport as required. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidance says: The airline must provide you with these items until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it. But in many cases the carrier cancelling the flight hands over the task to stranded passengers. The CAA guidance is: Sometimes airlines are unable to arrange care and assistance for all passengers. This can happen when staff are stretched during major disruptions. If this happens, in our view you have the right to organise reasonable care and assistance yourself, then claim the cost back later. If you end up paying for things yourself, keep every receipt and do not spend more than is reasonable. The airline is allowed to provide guidance on reasonable costs, according to the CAA. But it cannot stipulate the maximum reimbursement, as Tui did twice. After the holiday company was contacted by The Independent, Tui said there was no longer any cap. A spokesperson for the CAA said: Caps on welfare, expenses and self-re-routing costs could leave consumers out of pocket or deprive them of their entitlements. Were pleased that Tui has amended an error in its system and apologised to consumers for any confusion caused. In the financial year ending in September 2023, Tui reported profits of almost 1 billion. Listen to Simon Calders travel podcast on Tuis cancellation and subsequent behaviour For many Filipinos, Jollibee is more than just a fast food restaurant its a celebration of their identity and culture. Filipino immigrants have spoken at length about how the popular chain is heavily tied to childhood memories and offers comfort for those in its diaspora. Thats why music producer Benny Blancos now-viral reaction to trying food from the chain and spitting it out has elicited such strong reactions from the community. On Feb. 29, Blanco (@itsbennyblanco) took to TikTok to share his first time trying Jollibee. Blanco prefaces the video by saying that he grew up eating Filipino food because his stepmom is from the Philippines. He then tries the adobo rice and fried chicken known as Chickenjoy before getting to the spaghetti. Filipino-style spaghetti is a sweet spin on traditional Italian spaghetti and is notably topped with hot dogs and grated cheese. All right, this s*** smells like f***ing vomit. What the f***? Let me get a fork, he says before taking a bite of the spaghetti and immediately spitting it back out. Wait. I feel like that just ruined my night. A representative for Blanco did not immediately respond to Yahoo Newss request for comment. Blancos video, which has more than 6.7 million views and 29,000 comments, has drawn backlash from TikTok users, many of whom are of Filipino descent. These creators are calling out Blancos disrespect of Jollibee and note that having a Filipino stepmom does not make his reaction permissible. Some creators have even brought Selena Gomez, his girlfriend, into the conversation. Okay I dont get it selena, one user wrote in the comments. Idc if Benny Blanco doesn't like Jollibee. Not everyone does. BUT the fact that he has to show how disgusted he is verbally and to even spit the food in a video seen worldwide... This guy has no manners, that's it. Selena should wake up that she's dating a again pic.twitter.com/J8y6B8bCTj janielevs (@janielevs) March 3, 2024 The 35-year-old music producer posted another video in which he again tries Filipino food, this time with a more positive response, though many have noted that the damage had already been done. Jollibee was founded in 1975 in Manila, Philippines. The chain currently has more than 6,800 restaurants across 33 countries from the United States to the United Kingdom. Its eponymous mascot, a bee in a red suit with a chefs hat, is believed to encapsulate core Filipino values and represent Filipino optimism. Blatantly and intentionally showing disrespect Noreen Dimacuha (@r33nberger), a Filipino American creator on TikTok, addressed Blancos reaction in a video of her own, noting that Jollibee is deeply embedded in Filipino culture. Jollibees tagline is Bida Ang Saya. It basically means joy comes first when youre at Jollibee. Its one of the only places where we get to forget about the struggles, she says. Our version of spaghetti is deeply rooted [in] the fact that poverty is high in the Philippines. A recent Philippine Statistics Authority report revealed that in the first half of 2023, 22.4% or 25.24 million people were living in poverty in the Philippines, a country with an estimated population of 118 million. A family of five on average, according to the report, requires a minimum of 13,797 Philippine pesos, or $246 a month, to meet minimum food requirements. A lot of Filipino families make do [with] whatever they have available. ...That spaghetti symbolizes a very distinct Filipino trait that we will rise out of a struggle, Dimacuha added. In a follow-up video, Dimacuha also points out exactly where [Blanco] went wrong. Benny Blanco made a conscious effort to violate the cultural significance Jollibee holds for us Filipinos most especially Filipinos who are overseas and consider Jollibee as the closest thing they have to home, Dimacuha, who lives in Philadelphia, told Yahoo News. I wasn't even gonna make a video about it because he's just another foreigner rage-baiting the Filipino community, but the fact that he was actively pressing the record button while spitting food out and making sure he was on the frame as he was overemphasizing his disgust after tasting our food did it for me. He had the chance to reflect on whether or not the video will offend Filipinos and he actively decided on posting it. benny blanco saying that he grew up eating filipino food THEN full on disrespecting jollibee and its filipino food ESPECIALLY filipino spaghetti pic.twitter.com/3WHvLeb1JL potato chip (@johnnysfatblunt) February 29, 2024 Thats your opinion. Thats your right John Dela Cruz, known as Nurse John (@nurse.johnn) on TikTok, is a Filipino Canadian registered nurse and creator in Montreal. Dela Cruz, who has 6 million TikTok followers, has also weighed in on the discourse surrounding Blancos review and is asking that people dont hate on him in a video thats since been deleted in the U.S. (The video is still available in Canada.) To Benny Blanco. Thats your opinion. Thats your right. But I think what people are seeing is the blatant disgust and disrespect that you showed [toward] the food that we love, Dela Cruz says. [Jollibee] is something that we are looking for, as immigrants who [dont] live in the Philippines anymore, to feel [closer to] home. Does it feel completely [like] home? No. But does it give a sense of home? Yes. Dela Cruz has since seen Blancos follow-up video and believes the music producers reaction to trying Filipino food was more respectful the second time around. I think he learned and reflected [on] what other people were saying in the first video he made, and I think he [has] the right to redeem himself, Dela Cruz told Yahoo News. I believe we can all make mistakes. Being more considerate and sensitive of others if it [is] something that holds a deep meaning [to them] should always [be a] practice. Bridgit Mendler has opened up about one aspect of her education that hasnt been made entirely clear. The former Disney Channel star recently made headlines when she announced that she was adopting her foster son and revealed shes the chief executive officer of satellite data startup, Northwood Space. However, she has since taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to clarify the academic achievements listed on her LinkedIn page, which previously stated that she has earned degrees from the University of Southern California (USC), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is currently finishing up her last year of Harvard Law School. The page previously made it appear as if she had earned her PhD from MIT, but she posted on Thursday 7 March that she hasnt finished yet. It came to my attention that something on my linkedin profile is causing confusion that I want to clarify: I am two months away from a JD and I dont already have a PhD, her post on X began. The PhD is something I started working towards in 2020 and I pursued it jointly with my law degree but when I moved to California last summer and decided that for family reasons we would stay on the west coast, it had to go on pause. I apologise I really should have updated my LinkedIn page sooner. Ill still fight for it, but how it gets completed is up to the administration and my principal investigator and what they think is appropriate. Her post continued as she went on to justify why she decided to leave the program, mentioning that she was juggling hard things and that resulted in making hard choices. Hey people. It came to my attention that something on my linkedin profile is causing confusion that I want to clarify: I am 2 months away from a JD and I dont already have a PhD. The PhD is something I started working towards in 2020 and I pursued it jointly with my law degree Bridgit Mendler (@bridgitmendler) March 7, 2024 (Side note, if anyone has a recommendation for how to best express my circumstance wrt the PhD on LinkedIn (sic), would happily take suggestions as I make the edit), the post ended. In the post, Mendler also reflected on her mindset in recent years as shes gone through life changes - like becoming a mother to her foster son in 2022, which she announced on X. The other news I wanted to share is Im a mama to a sweet four-year-old boy. Started fostering in 2021 adopted near Christmas of 2022. Im so lucky being a parent is the biggest gift and most defining experience there is, her tweet read alongside a photo of two people on a beach during a sunset. Thats my news for now folks. The Good Luck Charlie actor, 31, also broke the news that she is launching a career in the space industry with Northwood Space, which will create a data highway between earth and space. We are designing shared ground infrastructure from first principles to expand access to space, Mendler wrote on X. We have a lot of work ahead of us but thats the fun part. If you like building quickly and seeing your work deployed in locations around the globe with real impact, we want you at Northwood, she added, along with a link to a hiring page. Speaking to CNBC, Mendler explained that the California-based startup aims to mass produce ground stations - large antennas that connect to satellites in space. Her company has already received around $6m in funding from investors including Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, and Also Capital. Space is getting easier along so many different dimensions but still the actual exercise of sending data to and from space is difficult. You have difficulty finding an access point for contacting your satellite, she told the outlet. WASHINGTON The U.S. Capitol Police said Friday that they had arrested a man who was trying to enter the building with a hammer. The hammer was discovered Friday when 33-year-old Christopher Snow was going through security at the Capitol Visitor Center, according to Capitol Police. The hammer inside a plastic bag. (Capitol Police) An officer discovered the hammer inside the man's backpack as it went through an X-ray machine, but the man "attempted to grab the bag and became combative" when the officer tried to look inside the bag, USCP said in a press release. During a "struggle," officers "deployed a Taser to stop the individual and take him into custody," according to the press release. These officers did what they were trained to do and stopped this man from getting into the U.S. Capitol, USCP Captain Andrew Pecher said in the press release. Great work from the officer who spotted the hammer, to the officers who quickly took the suspect into custody. The incident took place at around 3:40 p.m. Snow, from Canton, Ohio, is being charged with assault on a police officer, according to the USCP. The Senate is currently in session. The USCP has made about a dozen arrests this month so far for charges including driving under the influence, theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle, according to public arrest reports. WASHINGTON Democrats are putting reproductive rights front and center at the State of the Union on Thursday night, inviting guests affected by the Supreme Courts reversal of federal abortion protections and Alabamas controversial court ruling on in vitro fertilization last month. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., will bring with him the nations first IVF baby, Elizabeth Carr, who was born in 1981. I was aware of her story after the Alabama decision, Kaine told NBC News on Wednesday. I saw an interview first where she said, I feel like an endangered species. And that made me say lets reach out and see if shell come to the State of Union. And Im very, very glad she is. Follow live updates on the State of the Union address House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., has invited Jodi Hicks, the CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, as his guest. Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the Democratic whip, is bringing a Texas woman, Amanda Zurawski, who was denied urgently needed abortion care in Texas. Rep. Judy Chu of California will be joined by Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an OB-GYN who came under fire for speaking out about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old girl who had been raped. And a trio of Senate Democratic women, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and President Pro Tempore Patty Murray of Washington, also invited women directly affected by the landscape of patchwork reproductive laws across the country. Sen Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Dr. Amanda Adeleye (Frank Thorp V / NBC News) Duckworth, who had both of her children via IVF, is bringing Dr. Amanda Adeleye, an OB-GYN, with her to the address. She and other Democrats chose their guests, she said, because theyre on the front lines. Theyre living in these challenges, and I think the most powerful testimony is the real-life testimony of women and providers all across this country. Asked what she hopes to hear from President Joe Biden, Tammi Kromenaker, a Minnesota-based womens clinic director who is attending as Tina Smiths guest, replied: I want to hear the word abortion. Its not a dirty word. And I want to hear it said loud and proud. In an interview, Kromenaker shared the harsh reality of operating a clinic that provides abortions in a state surrounded by others that restrict the procedure. Every week, our patients have to drive into our parking lot with protesters standing right there yelling and screaming at them, she said. We have a protester who stands on a ladder at the fence of the property next door and yells at them over the fence. Its constant. Its every week. Its relentless. Kayla Smith, a guest of Murrays, was pregnant with her second child in 2022 when, at 19 weeks, she learned that her baby had serious and fatal fetal anomalies. Because of Idahos restrictive abortion laws, Smith said, she was forced to take out a $16,000 loan and relocate her family from Idaho to Washington state to obtain care. The whole situation was a traumatic situation. Again, we were trying to have a baby and it kind of felt like we got struck by lightning, Smith shared in a room flanked by the other women. Kayla Smith (Frank Thorp V / NBC News) Smith said her physician had since moved out of Idaho, too, fearing that she would be criminally prosecuted for providing care to women. Idaho bans abortions in nearly all cases, and providing the procedure is a felony punishable by imprisonment. So, OK, pro-life, well, what about my life, too? Smith said, holding back tears. Because I also had severe preeclampsia with my [first-born] daughter, like with severity. I was admitted to the hospital. I had her at 33 weeks, so I was also at risk for that. Adeleye, who is based in Illinois and focuses on IVF and using research to close the gap on fertility-related disparities, said Alabamas IVF ruling is really frustrating, its disappointing, but its not surprising. Im fortunate to be at a point now where Im trying to help people build families, but it doesnt always lead to, you know, a bundle of joy nine months later. Theres so many ups and downs, Adeleye said in an interview in the Capitol on Thursday. And so what really bothered me was even after Dobbs, I had patients in my office crying, asking me about whats going to happen to my embryos? And I just said Im not a lawyer, I dont know. I cant predict the future. And that is just something I never expected to have to say or think about, she added. Or to address fear in my patients. Sadness, loss, excitement, all those things are expected. Fear? I wasnt expecting that. Dr. Amanda Adeleye (Frank Thorp V / NBC News) At a news conference Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., flanked by the trio of senators and their guests and by advocates from Planned Parenthood, promised to preserve the right to IVF despite a failed effort by Duckworth to codify that right last week; it was blocked by Republicans on the Senate floor. He highlighted the story of Kate Farley, a New York woman who is pregnant via IVF and will join him as one of his guests at the presidential address. How dare these right-wing ideologues say that she shouldnt be able to have children or millions of other mothers who have beautiful children through the miracle of IVF, through the advances of medical science? Schumer said. Adeleye stressed that she hopes Biden will champion education and science and medicine. Quite frankly, this whole Alabama nonsense wouldnt have happened if people on the ground understood medical science in a way that was clear and accurate, she said. Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama in 1982. (JIJI Press / AFP/Getty Images) Legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama, the creator of the internationally popular "Dragon Ball" series and character designer on the "Dragon Quest" video games, died Friday after suffering an acute subdural hematoma, his Bird Studio announced Thursday. He was 68. "He has left many manga titles and works of art in this world," the announcement said. "Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years. We hope that Akira Toriyama's unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come." The Japanese artist was best known for creating "Dragon Ball," a serialized manga that originally ran from 1984 to 1995. The bestselling manga series follows a young martial artist named Goku as he grows up, traveling and training to become more powerful. He's later revealed to be an alien invader-turned-refugee who has saved the Earth more than once. Toriyama's manga was adapted into two anime series: "Dragon Ball" and "Dragon Ball Z," which originally aired in Japan from 1986 to 1996. The anime, which was later dubbed into numerous languages including English, is among those that helped propel the popularity of the medium outside Japan. Over the years, the ever-growing "Dragon Ball" franchise has expanded to include two sequel anime series, 21 films and a number of video games. A mural of Goku, the main character from Akira Toriyama's popular "Dragon Ball Z" series, at a video game and virtual reality festival in Barcelona in 2019. (SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images) The publishers of "Shonen Jump," the weekly manga anthology that published Toriyama's work, shared some remembrances and reactions from manga artists who were influenced by Toriyama and his work on its website. "It's too soon," read the Japanese-language statement from "One Piece" creator Eiichiro Oda. "The hole he has left is much too big." After recalling how much it meant that Toriyama had considered him a friend, Oda added that he "hoped heaven is as pleasant as [Toriyama] had envisioned in his work." Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto, who grew up reading "Dragon Ball" and Toriyama's first major manga, "Dr. Slump," called the artist "a savior and the god of manga." Kishimoto was able to get through rough times growing up because there were new chapters of "Dragon Ball" to look forward to every week, he wrote in Japanese. "If I really could have one wish granted by Dragon Balls," he added, "I'm sorry, I know it's selfish but ... I'm devastated. ... Everyone around the world was still looking forward to more of your work." Read more:Review: The new Dragon Ball movie shines a deserving spotlight on the franchises best dad "Dr. Slump," which was originally serialized from 1980 to 1984, launched Toriyama's career in Japan. Where "Dragon Ball" is an action series known for its over-the-top fight scenes, "Dr. Slump" is an extreme comedy that follows an inventor and his young girl robot who is naive but unusually strong. The characters occasionally appeared in crossover episodes of "Dragon Ball." Although Toriyama was known for his character design work on video games such as "Dragon Quest" and "Chrono Trigger," among other projects he worked on over the years, he would often return to the world of "Dragon Ball." The most recent film in the franchise, "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero," featured Toriyama's involvement in its story, screenplay and character design. Bird Studio's announcement also noted that Toriyama had several projects still in progress at the time of his death. Among those is the upcoming anime series "Dragon Ball Daima." A "Sand Land" anime series, based on another of Toriyama's manga, is expected to hit Hulu this year. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Michele Kambas CAIRO/LARNACA, Cyprus (Reuters) -The head of the European Commission said on Friday a maritime aid corridor could start operating between Cyprus and Gaza this weekend, part of accelerating Western efforts to relieve the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave. Ursula von der Leyen's comments came a day after President Joe Biden announced plans for the U.S. military to build a "temporary pier" on Gaza's Mediterranean coast, amid U.N. warnings of famine among the territory's 2.3 million people. Negotiations on a possible ceasefire in Israel's war against Hamas, now in its fifth month, remained deadlocked in Cairo, with time running out to reach a truce in time for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, expected to begin on Sunday. EU Commission President von der Leyen said a pilot test run of food aid collected by a charity group and supported by the United Arab Emirates could be leaving Cyprus as early as Friday. "We are launching this Cyprus maritime corridor together, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States," she said after visiting facilities in Larnaca, Cyprus. "We are now very close to opening this corridor, hopefully this Saturday-Sunday and I'm very glad to see an initial pilot will be launched today." U.S. officials say building the pier described by Biden could take weeks. Meanwhile, hospitals in northern Gaza are already reporting children dying of malnutrition. The U.N. says opening up more land routes should remain the priority. "No U.S. boots will be on the ground," said Biden, who did not indicate where the planned pier might be located. Most of Gaza's coast is beach and larger ships would be unable to approach it without dredging. "It's going to take time to build," British foreign minister David Cameron told reporters, adding that Israel should open its port at Ashdod north of Gaza for more aid deliveries in the meantime. Some aid agencies say discussions of elaborate air and sea routes to bring aid into Gaza are a distraction when Israel is restricting existing access routes by land. "There's an easier, more efficient way of bringing in assistance and that is via the road crossings that connect Israel with Gaza," said Juliette Touma, spokesperson for UNRWA, the U.N. relief agency for the Palestinians. Michael Fakhri, a U.N. special rapporteur on the right to food, told reporters in Geneva, it was "absurd" that Washington was discussing complicated new routes to reach a territory blockaded by its own ally. "From a humanitarian perspective, from an international perspective, from a human rights perspective, it is absurd in a dark, cynical way," he said. Israel says it is not blocking aid through two checkpoints on the southern edge of Gaza, and blames U.N. and other agencies for failing to transport and deliver enough of it. Humanitarian agencies say that is nearly impossible in a war zone, and Israel is responsible for ensuring safe access. 'STOP THE KILLING' Hassan Maslah, a displaced Palestinian from Khan Younis now sheltering in Rafah, said instead of promising to build a new port, Washington should stop arming Israel. "All these American weapons are killing our kids, and killing us wherever we go. We don't need aid from them, we need them to stop the killing, stop the death," he said, as Gazans sifted through rubble nearby after another Israeli airstrike. The United States and other countries have also been airdropping supplies, though the amounts involved are small. Five Palestinians were killed and several were wounded when boxes of aid dropped by planes fell on them by mistake in northwest Gaza on Friday, said Mahmoud Basal, spokesman of the Civil Emergency Service in Gaza. Some footage showed dozens of people running as the boxes were dropped, shouting to one another to avoid the boxes. Separately, Palestinian health officials said eight people from one family had been killed in an Israeli air strike on their house in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. CEASEFIRE TALKS STALLED Time is rapidly running out for ceasefire talks to reach an agreement on a proposed six-week truce that Washington had hoped would be in place by Ramadan, expected to start on Sunday. Egyptian security sources have said the ceasefire talks, taking place in Cairo without an Israeli delegation, would resume on Sunday, amid fears that violence could escalate across the region during the Muslim holy month. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken repeated Washington's assertion that an Israeli-approved ceasefire proposal is on the table, and it is now up to Hamas to accept it. "The issue is Hamas. The issue is whether Hamas will decide or not to have a ceasefire that would benefit everyone," Blinken said. "The ball is in their court. We're working intensely on it, and we'll see what they do." Hamas rejects this characterisation of the talks as an attempt by Washington to deflect blame from Israel should the negotiations fail. Israel has said any ceasefire must be temporary and that its goal remains the destruction of Hamas. Hamas says it will release its hostages only as part of a deal that ends the war. The Islamist group precipitated the war by killing 1,200 people and abducted 253 in a rampage into Israel on Oct. 7, according to Israeli tallies. In response, Israel launched a ground offensive and aerial bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip which, as of Friday, had killed at least 30,878 Palestinians and wounded 72,402, according to the Hamas-run enclave's health ministry. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Gareth Jones and Peter Graff; Editing by Alex Richardson and Ros Russell) The FBI arrested the founder of a Washington, D.C., nonprofit that served homeless LGBTQ youth on money laundering and fraud charges after her return to the United States from El Salvador. Ruby Corado allegedly transferred at least $150,000 in emergency relief funds intended for Casa Ruby to private bank accounts in El Salvador and hid it from the IRS, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for D.C. She had received more than $1.3 million in funding from the paycheck protection program and the economic injury disaster loan program Ruby Corado (Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post via Getty Images file) When news Corado was under investigation became public in 2022, she sold her home in Prince Georges County, Maryland, and fled to El Salvador, the U.S. attorneys office said. Casa Ruby stopped operating in July 2022, failing to pay rent and employees and closing its transitional housing, the U.S. attorneys office said. FBI agents arrested Corado at a hotel in Laurel, Maryland, Tuesday. Bank fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Wire fraud carries up to 20 years. The money laundering charges carry up to 20 years. Casa Ruby Founder (Linda Davidson / The Washington Post via Getty Images file) In November 2022, the D.C. Attorney Generals Office filed a complaint stating Corado funneled more than $400,000 from Casa Ruby to her personal accounts between April 2021 and September 2021. Corado denied those allegations when she spoke to NBC Washington from El Salvador, insisting she was targeted for her criticism of Mayor Muriel Bowsers administration and a complaint she filed against the D.C. Department of Human Services. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) on Thursday quipped the single most important factor of President Bidens State of the Union speech will likely be his ability to keep his energy up for the entire address. Biden has two huge challenges. The first is a performance challenge. Hell gain a little bit if he gives a good speech with energy and can actually stand there for an hour and a half, Gingrich said Thursday during an interview on Fox Newss America Reports. But he will lose an enormous amount if at any point in the speech, he clearly stumbles, has a cognitive problem or in some way loses track of what hes saying. So, in that sense, a personal performance component of this speech is probably the most important single factor, he continued. Gingrichs remarks came just hours ahead of Bidens expected State of the Union address at the Capitol on Thursday night. The address is widely seen as a chance for the president to sell voters on his administrations accomplishments in his first term, while also assuring them he is best equipped for another four years in the Oval Office. Biden faces rising concerns about his age and mental acuity, especially in the past month after a special counsel report described the president as an elderly man with a poor memory. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll found 73 percent of registered voters polled strongly or somewhat believed Biden, 81, is too old to be president, including 56 percent of Democrats. About 43 percent of registered voters in the survey said the same about former President Trump, who is poised to be Bidens presidential challenger after former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trumps only remaining GOP challenger, suspended her campaign earlier this week. Gingrich, a longtime ally of Trump, argued Bidens second challenge of the speech will be that whatever he says, hes in conflict with reality. Its a reality that an illegal immigrant that Biden allowed to come into his country killed a young college student at the University of Georgia. Its a reality that Venezuelans that Biden allowed to come into this country beat up a New York policeman. You go down the list, the average person knows that its a reality that food is too expensive, he said. Gingrich was referencing the recent death of 22-year-old Laken Riley, who was found dead near the University of Georgia campus after not returning from a run. Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen 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. Trump and his GOP allies have attempted to use Rileys death to criticize Bidens border security policies. Gingrichs second reference was regarding a January brawl between New York City officers and a group of suspects, some of whom were believed to be migrants, though it was not confirmed by authorities. So, when you look at peoples reality, no matter how many words Biden says, he cant unlock the failures that are directly affecting people, and thats why I think he has a very, very big challenge tonight, Gingrich said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Conroe Tower is seen in 2023. Conroe mayoral hopeful Councilman Todd Yancey and Mayor Pro Tem incumbent Curt Maddux and might be ineligible to appear on the ballot after their applications were notarized and filed without the men appearing in person, a violation of state law. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The Conroe Tower is seen in 2021. Conroe mayoral hopeful Councilman Todd Yancey and Mayor Pro Tem incumbent Curt Maddux and might be ineligible to appear on the ballot after their applications were notarized and filed without the men appearing in person, a violation of state law. Gustavo Huerta, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Conroe mayoral hopeful Council Member Todd Yancey and Mayor Pro Tem incumbent Curt Maddux might be ineligible to appear on the ballot after their applications were notarized and filed without the men appearing in person, as required by law. The Texas Secretary of State's Office confirmed Monday that, according to law, personal appearance is required for the notarization process. In a letter sent to the Houston Chronicle and city council members late Friday, City Secretary Soco Gorjon said applications for city council can be accepted in "many different ways" and the procedure used for Maddux and Yancey has been in place by the city for many years. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I am not invalidating the applications based on this technicality," Gorjon said. She said she was advised that it is not in the public interest to invalidate applications on this basis, because public offices should be decided by "fair and vigorous" elections, according to case law provided by Interim City Attorney Mike Garner Gorjon stated she contacted the Texas Secretary of State's Office, and it was recommended that "the city of Conroe notarize documents with elected officials as specified by code rather than the city of Conroe's standard operating procedures that were in place." According to the applications obtained by the Houston Chronicle, Maddux's and Yanceys applications were notarized at 8 a.m. Jan. 17 by Administrative Assistant Pamela Brown and signed by Gorjon as the citys filing officer. City Administrator Gary Scott said Gorjon instructed Brown to notarize the applications. Brown declined to comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gorjon confirmed that Maddux and Yancey were not present when the applications were notarized and filed. Maddux and Yancey did not respond to requests for comment. MORE ELECTION NEWS: Wheeler defeats Noack in Montgomery County Republican primary, Henderson headed for runoff Yancey is running for mayor against Kristin Wilkinson-Guardino and former Council Member Duke Coon. Maddux is seeking a second term for Place 2 and is facing Shana Arthur and Betty Boren Avery. Filing for the May 4 election began Jan. 17 and ended Feb. 16. Both Todd and Curt left their signed applications on their desk and I was instructed to pick them up and receipt them at 8 am on January 17, 2024, Gorjon said in a March 1 email. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Scott said that while most city staff report to him, the city secretary reports to the City Council. Also, state law gives the city secretary full authority over acceptance or rejection of applications for public office as the municipality's election authority. "Any discussion or corrective action would rest on the council," Scott said. He said he will instruct Garner to notify all city staff with notary responsibilities to follow all statutory legal requirements. "I take it seriously and our staff should as well," he said. Council Member Marsha Porter said she learned of the application issue late Thursday. "I received an email from Mike Garner late last night officially confirming that we had election ballot issues," she said. "I swore an oath to uphold the law, as did all members of council. I will uphold the law. I hope that all my fellow City Council members feel the same the way." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Council Member Harry Hardman said that "it is a shame that my fellow councilmen have caused this issue, but the election process is a sacred part of our democracy, and it should be strictly followed and respected." The council will meet Wednesday. Scott said state law allows challenges to applications for a place on the ballot until the 50th day before the May 4 election, which is March 15. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) responded to Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) call for decorum during the State of the Union by saying it would depend on President Bidens remarks. People have asked me a lot about decorum, Greene said Thursday outside the Capitol. And my answer back is the House of Representatives, Congress as a whole and even the White House has broken decorum a long time ago. The American people are $34 trillion in debt, and the Biden administrations open-border policies with over 10 million illegal aliens, 2 million got-aways and innocent Americans like Laken Riley being murdered that broke [decorum]. She continued, So it depends on what the president has to say tonight. Well see what I think and feel at the time. Johnson had called for decorum during a closed-door GOP conference meeting Wednesday, multiple members present told The Hill. Greene was among the GOP lawmakers who heckled the president during last years speech. Greene called him a liar while he discussed potential cuts for Social Security and Medicare as part of the deal on the debt limit, and calls of secure the border could be heard in the chamber. Greene on Thursday also said Biden should apologize to the country for his administrations southern border policies, which she says caused Rileys death. Riley, a University of Georgia nursing student, was found slain last month. Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen who authorities said had entered the country illegally, was charged with murder in Rileys death. I think he needs to apologize to America because its his open border policies that caused her murder, and honestly have caused many Americans to die, Greene said. Laken Riley is the state of our union. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors voted on Thursday to demand Russia withdraw from Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), in a resolution passed days after the two-year anniversary of the plant's capture by Russian troops. It was the board's fourth resolution condemning Russia's actions against Ukrainian nuclear facilities. The first was passed in March 2022, the day before Russia captured Europe's largest nuclear plant. The last was in November 2022. "Resolution has been adopted by the majority of votes," Ukraine's mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency said on X. The text adopted late on Thursday said the board called "for the urgent withdrawal of all unauthorized military and other unauthorized personnel from Ukraine's ZNPP and for the plant to be immediately returned to the full control of the competent Ukrainian authorities". The board also "reiterates its grave concern that the Russian Federation has not heeded the previous calls ... to withdraw its military and other personnel from the ZNPP", it said. The plant is near the front line in territory Moscow claims to have annexed from Ukraine. All six of its reactors are shut down, but it still needs constant power to keep fuel in those reactors cool and prevent a potentially catastrophic meltdown. At this week's quarterly meeting of the 35 member-state board, delegates have shown support for Ukraine by dressing in its national colours, blue and yellow, or displaying them with lanyards, ribbons or flowers. The IAEA, which has a small number of staff at Zaporizhzhia, says safety there remains precarious. In the past 18 months the plant has been cut off from external power eight times, forcing it to rely on diesel generators. Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for shelling that has downed power lines. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Peter Graff) By Sakshi Dayal and Krishn Kaushik NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India said it had uncovered a "major human trafficking network" which lured young men to Russia with the promise of jobs only to force them to fight in the war in Ukraine. About 35 men have been sent to Russia in the scheme so far, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said late on Thursday, an increase from the 20 men that the Indian foreign ministry had earlier mentioned. At least two men who went to Russia expecting to work as "helpers" in the army have died while fighting at the front, their families have said. The Indian Embassy in Russia confirmed one of those deaths. The traffickers, operating across several Indian states, targeted people using social media platforms and through local agents, the CBI said in a statement. The CBI's criminal case says that some of the men were also offered admission to "dubious private universities" in Russia along with "free discounted visa extensions" to draw them in. "The trafficked Indian nationals were trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes," the CBI said, adding that some of the victims were also "grievously injured" in the war zone. The CBI said searches were being conducted at a number of locations, including in the capital New Delhi and financial capital Mumbai, and cash amounting to 50 million rupees($605,000) had already been seized along with some documents and electronic records. "Certain suspects have also been detained for questioning at various locations," it said. The foreign ministry has said that every case of Indians being duped into fighting in the war had been "strongly taken up" with Moscow. In videos circulating on social media this month, seven men have sought the Indian government's help to return home, saying they travelled to Russia on tourist visas but are now being forced to serve in its army. "We have seen some videos and are trying to contact those people," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday. The Russian foreign ministry has not responded to requests for comment on the issue. Thousands of people have died on both sides since Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb. 2022 in what Moscow termed a "special military operation". New Delhi and Moscow have enjoyed a close relationship for decades and India has refused to condemn Russia over the war with Ukraine, urging the two sides to end the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. India has also stepped up its purchase of cheap Russian oil, much to the frustration of Western capitals. ($1 = 82.6680 Indian rupees) (Editing by YP Rajesh, Kim Coghill and Hugh Lawson) GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that an Israeli offensive in Gaza's border town of Rafah could not be allowed to happen because it would cause massive loss of Palestinian lives. "Should Israel launch its threatened military offensive into Rafah, where 1.5 million people have been displaced in deplorable, subhuman conditions, any ground assault on Rafah would incur massive loss of life and would heighten the risk of further atrocity crimes," said Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the U.N. Human Rights Office. "This must not be allowed to happen." Defying international calls to halt its military operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel would push on with its offensive against the Hamas movement that runs Gaza, including into Rafah, which he described as "the last Hamas stronghold". About 1.5 million people are estimated to be crammed into Rafah, on the southernmost fringe of the enclave against the border with Egypt, most of them having fled homes further north to escape Israel's onslaught. Israel has also said it is reviewing possible curbs on access to Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem over Ramadan as Hamas called for Palestinians to march to mosque at the start of the Muslim fasting month. "We also fear that further Israeli restrictions on access by Palestinians to East Jerusalem and the Al Aqsa mosque during Ramadan could further inflame tensions," Laurence said. Al-Aqsa is one of the holiest sites for Muslims and its compound overlooks the Western Wall, the most sacred place of prayer for Jews, who believe the hill is the site of the first Jewish temple. As such, the area has long been a flashpoint for potential violence, particularly during religious holidays. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Oksana sits in her Aberdeen flat, thinking about her husband. She has not spoken to him for almost two years now. She is wearing a wristband in the colours of Ukraine, and a wedding ring which shines on her finger. Her husband Alexei - not his real name - was captured by the Russians while fighting for the Ukrainian army in Mariupol in April 2022. Almost two years later, Oksana, who works as a housekeeper in the Aberdeen area, is pleading for the release of her partner. The 28-year-old, who has lived in Scotland for the last 18 months after fleeing the war, believes he is in a Russian prison. The BBC is choosing not to name her husband and has blurred his face in photographs. Oksana fights back tears. He is a very kind, caring person. He is always there for me. He always makes me smile. Oksana has not heard from Alexei since she received a letter from jail in September 2022. Having spoken with other released prisoners since and by searching social media like Telegram channels, she thinks he was still in prison in January this year. She reflects: He will come back to me, and we will have a beautiful future together. The two of us, and our cat. I dont know about kids now. A life together Oksana met Alexei when they were both teenagers and studying in the same college in southern Ukraine. After a year of being close friends, romance bloomed. They enjoyed cycling and running together. He liked playing games such as Call of Duty on his Playstation. Oksana says he was always a patriotic Ukrainian, and in 2015 he signed up for the armed forces as soon as he turned 18. He served in Donetsk, where Russian-backed forces had taken control years before. When the Russians launched their full-scale invasion two years ago, everything changed. Outbreak of war On the morning of 24 February 2022, Oksana woke up to a call from her friend. She told me the war had started. Alexei packed up his things and was ordered to go to Mariupol. How did he feel? He was excited about it, said Oksana. I think he was playing Call of Duty too much! He was excited about defending Ukraine. Before he left, he drove Oksana to another part of the country to be with her family. We saw the Russian planes and snipers. Everything was on fire. Once her husband left, Oksana sheltered as best as she could. I heard explosions. The whole house was shaking. We were hiding in the basement, but we could still hear the explosions, the planes, and shooting. After a few weeks, the Russians occupied their area. There was no electricity, but she eventually managed to speak to her husband on the phone to let him know she was OK. But it was not safe. They (the Russians) were checking cars, they were checking people. They went to houses to find some signs that we were sending messages to Ukrainian soldiers about their location. They took some people. I dont know what happened to them next. It was scary to go out of the house. I only went out once a week to church. The Siege of Mariupol Alexei, meanwhile, was in the middle of some of the fiercest fighting of the war. He was in Mariupol, a key strategic target for Russian forces in the early days of the invasion, as it links Crimea and the Donbas. The brutal battle lasted more than 80 days, before Russia eventually seized control. He told me everything was really bad, and we dont have a way out of the city. In one call, Alexei revealed the Russians had bombed his unit. Several soldiers who he had served with for years were killed. He was left with shrapnel in his head and his hand. He was devastated, said Oksana. I was crying all the time, but I was trying not to show him that Im so scared because he was in a worse situation than I was. He called her a few weeks before he was captured to say there was no chance to survive, with weapons, ammunition, food and water all depleted. He asked me to care for his family, and to take care of myself. Then, on 12 April 2022 Alexei called to say he was alive but had been taken prisoner. He asked her to get back to Ukrainian territory, and she later moved to a friends home in the west of Ukraine. The road to Aberdeen and search for her husband Oksana is living in Aberdeen, but wants to return to Ukraine one day with her husband. While there, Oksana read about the opportunity to escape the war and move to the UK. After applying via a Scottish government refugee programme, she arrived shortly afterwards on her own in August 2022, with her family and friends all still back in Ukraine. A month later, she received a letter from her husband from a Russian prison. It said he was alive, he was OK, he was being treated well, and that he loved me, but it looked like they had dictated what to write. There were no feelings in it. It is the last time she has heard from him. Since his capture, Oksana says she has been in touch with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations and the Ukrainian government but to no avail. 'It is up to Russia' In July last year, she had heard from another prisoner who had been with her husband. He said Alexei had lost weight, and was losing hope. Then, a second prisoner who had been with Alexei was also released. She says he revealed Oksanas husband was still in in Russian prison on 3 January this year. Nobody can help, says Oksana, fighting back tears. It is only up to Russia. Since arriving in Scotland, she has lived in a hotel in Dyce, student accommodation, and is now in her council flat in Aberdeen. She spends her days working as a housekeeper in a hotel in the local area, longing for a return to Ukraine with her husband. She remains in touch with a community of other Ukrainians who have also fled the war and ended up in Scotland. The first thing after my husband called me and said he was in captivity, it was like thats better. He will be alive, and he will be fine, but it is already two years. I know many cases where people never come back from captivity. They were tortured or killed. I love this country. The Scottish people I have met have always been extremely nice. They support me. But one day, I want to go back. After my husband comes back, I want to stay in Ukraine because it is my home. I love him, and I will be waiting for him. Roman Catholic bishop Rolando Alvarez, an outspoken critic of the Nicaraguan government, was detained by police Friday. (Moises Castillo / Associated Press) Nicaraguan police Friday raided the residence of a Roman Catholic bishop who is an outspoken critic of President Daniel Ortegas government, apparently detaining the senior clergyman and several other priests who had been holed up inside for two weeks after police set up a cordon. The raid came after Nicaraguan authorities had accused Matagalpa Bishop Rolando Alvarez of organizing violent groups and inciting them to carry out acts of hate against the population. Ortegas government has moved systematically against voices of dissent. Dozens of political opposition leaders were arrested last year, including seven potential candidates to challenge him for the presidency. They were sentenced to prison this year in quick trials closed to the public. The congress, dominated by Ortegas Sandinista National Liberation Front, has ordered the closure of more than 1,000 nongovernmental organizations, including Mother Teresas charity. Early Friday, the Matagalpa diocese posted on social media, #SOS #Urgente. At this time the National Police have entered the Episcopal rectory of our Matagalpa diocese. In a video message, Pablo Cuevas, a lawyer with the nongovernmental Permanent Committee on Human Rights, condemned Alvarezs detention but said it was not unexpected. What was obviously going to happen has happened, the arbitrary and abusive arrest of Msgr. Alvarez, Cuevas said. Edwin Roman, a Nicaraguan parish priest exiled in the U.S., said on Twitter: MY GOD! How outrageous, they have taken Monsignor Rolando Alvarez, with the priests who were with him. Police said Aug. 5 that the investigation would also target a number of people who wont be allowed to leave their homes during the inquiry. Alvarez has been a key religious voice in discussions of Nicaraguas future since 2018, when protests against Ortegas govern- ment led to a sweeping crackdown on opponents. We hope there would be a series of electoral reforms, structural changes to the electoral authority free, just and transparent elections, international observation without conditions, Alvarez said a month after the protests broke out. Effectively the democratization of the country. At the time, a priest in Alvarezs diocese had been wounded in the arm by shrapnel while trying to separate protesters and police in Matagalpa. He has kept up such calls for democracy for the last four years, infuriating Ortega and his wife, First Lady and Vice President Rosario Murillo. Fridays arrests follow weeks of heightened tensions between the church and the government. Ortega has had a complicated relationship with Nicaraguas predominant religion and its leaders for more than four decades. The former Marxist guerrilla angered the Vatican in the 1980s but gradually forged an alliance with the church as he moved to regain the presidency in 2007 after a long period out of power. Now he appears to once again see political benefit in direct confrontation. Ortega initially invited the church to mediate talks with protesters in 2018 but has since taken a more aggressive position. Days before last years presidential election, which he won for a fourth consecutive term with his strongest opponents jailed, he accused the bishops of having drafted a political proposal in 2018 on behalf of the terrorists, at the service of the Yankees. ... These bishops are also terrorists. In March, Nicaragua expelled the papal nuncio, the Vaticans top diplomat in Nicaragua. The government had previously shut down eight radio stations and one television channel in Matagalpa province, north of Managua, the capital. Seven of the radio stations were run by the church. The Aug. 5 announcement that Alvarez was under investigation came just hours after Murillo criticized sins against spirituality and the exhibition of hate in an apparent reference to Alvarez. The Archdiocese of Managua had earlier expressed support for Alvarez. The conference of Latin American bishops decried what it called a siege of priests and bishops, the expulsion of members of religious communities and constant harassment targeting the Nicaraguan people and the church. The Vatican remained silent about the investigation of Alvarez for nearly two weeks, drawing criticism from some Latin American human rights activists and intellectuals. That silence was broken last Friday when Msgr. Juan Antonio Cruz, the Vaticans permanent observer to the Organization of American States, expressed concern about the situation and asked both parties to seek ways of understanding. The Vatican again offered no comment Friday and didnt report the news immediately on its in-house media portal. While staying mum, apparently in hopes of not inflaming tensions, the Vatican has been publishing regular expressions of solidarity from Latin American bishops in recent days on its Vatican News site. The president of Nicaragua's Episcopal Conference did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Huge street protests across Nicaragua in 2018 called for Ortega to step down. Ortega claimed that the protests were a coup attempt carried out with foreign backing and the support of the church. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota is seeking reelection. In a video released Thursday, the first-term Republican senator announced his plans. He was first elected in 2018 in a closely watched race against then-Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, the last Democrat to hold statewide office in North Dakota. Cramer, a staunch Donald Trump ally, held North Dakota's single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013-19, and was previously a public utilities regulator from 2003-12 and a state GOP chairman. Democrat Katrina Christiansen, an assistant engineering professor at the University of Jamestown, is running against Cramer. She ran unsuccessfully in 2022 against Republican Sen. John Hoeven and Rick Becker, a Republican former state lawmaker who ran an independent campaign. Hoeven won a third term. North Dakota's Democratic-NPL and Republican parties will hold endorsing conventions for statewide and congressional candidates in April in Fargo. Heitkamp's 2012 Senate victory was the last time a Democrat won a statewide election in North Dakota. Democrats narrowly control the U.S. Senate. WHITEHALL, Ohio (AP) Two Ohio lawmakers are looking to ease a looming financial burden on law enforcement agencies in their state that will have to replace marijuana-sniffing dogs after voters approved a plan last year to legalize recreational marijuana use. Nearly 400 police dogs in Ohio trained in the detection of marijuana will need to be retired because they cannot be reliably retrained. That means any alert they give to the presence of drugs could be challenged in court because they cannot unlearn the smell of cannabis. State Rep. Sean Brennan, a Democrat from Parma, called that an unintended consequence of the decision by Ohio voters in November to legalize recreational use. Brennan and Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania, are the lead sponsors of a bill that would provide each agency with up to $20,000 per dog to offset the cost of acquiring, training and equipping narcotics dogs that dont alert to the smell of marijuana. I dont think that anybody that voted for the issue, either intended or knew that this was even going to be a problem for our police departments, and its a real concern," Brennan said. He noted that acquiring the dogs and training them is a major expense. The fact that were now going to need 300 canines, like overnight in Ohio, the demand for dogs and for training is going to be at a premium," he added. Whitehall Police Officer Matthew Perez, a trained dog handler who serves with his canine partner Rico, said the measure would greatly help communities such as his. These dogs can range (in price) from $7,500 to $11,000, and some places might sell them more, Perez said. He encouraged support for the bill. I think the (grant money) would be super beneficial for some departments that may not have as much money or profit coming in, you know, and theyre needing a dog, or theyre wanting a dog and theyre wanting to continue that program, he said. Whitehall Police Deputy Chief Dan Kelso said the dogs on staff live with their handlers and the handlers will be able to buy the dogs from the city for $1 when theyre retired. Under the referendum approved by voters, adults in Ohio can legally legally grow and possess cannabis at home. However, they cannot legally buy it yet since the state legislature and state regulators are still debating exactly how the new rules will be phased in. A hearing on that plan was held Thursday, but it's not clear when a final decision will come. Shipkowski reported from Toms River, New Jersey. By Patrick Wingrove and Maggie Fick (Reuters) -Novo Nordisk's CEO on Friday said the company was working with authorities in several countries to tackle counterfeit versions of its popular diabetes drug Ozempic, as new reports emerge of patient harm across the world. "This is something we take very seriously," Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, CEO of the Danish drugmaker, told Reuters. The company has been testing suspect products and collaborates with authorities in the countries where counterfeits are found to assist in legal cases, he said. "We cannot take action on our own." Surging demand for Novo's drugs that promote weight loss, known chemically as semaglutide, far outpaces supply, increasingly giving rise to concerns about unregulated and counterfeit medicines. Counterfeit Ozempic has been found in as many as 16 countries to date, according to the Partnership for Safe Medicines, an anti-counterfeiting group. Reports obtained in the last week by Reuters via Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests show patients were harmed after taking fake Ozempic in Belgium, Iraq, Serbia and Switzerland last year. While Ozempic is approved for diabetes, it has the same active ingredient as Novo's powerful weight-loss drug Wegovy and has been used off-label for weight loss. The World Health Organization has said global shortages of these drugs is linked to rising reports of suspected counterfeits. Last week, U.S. FDA head Robert Califf said there were likely more cases of online sales of fake obesity drugs than reported. The reports, made by Novo to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, showed that people suffered dangerous drops in blood sugar, called hypoglycemia, after taking suspected or confirmed fake versions of the drug. They add to previous confirmed reports of such cases in countries including Austria, Britain, Lebanon and the U.S. INSULIN SOLD AS OZEMPIC A report filed with the FDA on a 45 year-old woman in Belgium stated that she suffered a seizure and ended up in a diabetic coma after taking suspected fake Ozempic to lose weight. Her doctor said she had injected at least 18 doses of pure insulin, almost five times the recommended dose for someone with diabetes, the report showed. The incident appears in the FDA's public adverse events reporting database, but the details were obtained by Reuters. In a separate report, Novo Nordisk wrote that it investigated a suspected fake injector pen in Iraq and concluded it was possibly an Apidra Solostar insulin pen from French drugmaker Sanofi that had been relabeled. The drugmaker told Reuters separately that it had found a Semglee insulin pen in the U.S. last June, made by Indian drugmaker Biocon, that had a suspected counterfeit Ozempic label glued onto it. Jorgensen said he had also heard of cases in which insulin pens were relabeled and repackaged as Wegovy, noting that it's easier to print a box than develop a fake injector pen. COMPOUNDING Jorgensen, echoing comments from the FDA's Califf, also said compounded semaglutide in the United States was a serious health issue, and that the raw materials, or active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), for these products were coming from unregulated facilities in Asia and elsewhere. "We don't know them, and we have really no insights or ability to understand what the API is in a certain compounded product," he said. While fake drugs often do not contain any of the medication advertised, compounded drugs are custom-made medicines that are based on the same ingredients as branded drugs. Because Wegovy and Ozempic are in short supply, they can be legally produced by licensed pharmacies in the U.S. Further reports obtained by Reuters through FOIA requests show that one person died last year from abnormal blood clotting after taking a drug that was advertised as compounded semaglutide. Three others suffered severe vomiting and nausea, sensory loss in their legs, and a drop in blood platelet levels. The doctor whose patient died reported that the event was possibly linked to use of compounded semaglutide. The Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, which represents compounding pharmacists and technicians, did not respond to a request for comment but has said drugs that are not made at state-licensed pharmacies are not compounded medicines. (Reporting by Patrick Wingrove, Maggie Fick and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot) Adding to his lengthy record of prior sex crimes, 28-year-old Port Royal resident Jaquan Duvall Barnes has been charged with sex trafficking of a minor after Hardeeville police pulled him over and found an underage girl in his car. Officials say Tuesdays arrest marks the first time this specific sex trafficking charge has been applied in the region. Receiving a local tip Tuesday about a suspect wanted for sex trafficking in Georgia, patrol officers pulled over Barnes vehicle near the U.S. 17/I-95 junction in Hardeeville around 11:30 that morning. Barnes attempted to run and climb a nearby fence, but he was pulled down and arrested, said Hardeeville Police Department spokesperson Chief Sam Woodward. Inside the car, police found an underage girl who was acquainted with the suspect and had been reported missing from Beaufort County. They also found marijuana in Barnes pockets, charging him with simple possession. Woodward would not give additional details on the sex trafficking allegations made against Barnes, although South Carolina law defines the felony offense as the transportation of a person for the exchange of sexual acts. When the victim is less than 18, perpetrators could be punished by up to 30 years in prison. A search of records dating back to 2016 showed no other instances of sex trafficking of a minor in South Carolinas 14th Judicial Circuit which includes Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties according to Jeff Kidd, a spokesperson for the 14th Circuit Solicitors Office. The charge did not exist in state law until 2018, when a rewrite of the sex trafficking statutes added harsher penalties for cases with underage victims. A spokesperson from the S.C. Attorney Generals Office could not be reached Thursday afternoon to verify that the charge was the first of its kind in the area. That incident was far from Barnes first sex crime charge: In 2015, he pleaded guilty in Beaufort County court to two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, an offense for the possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or child pornography. And in Fulton County, GA, Barnes had previously been charged with pimping a minor and trafficking a person for sexual servitude. Both counts stem from a May 2018 incident in Sandy Springs, a city north of Atlanta: While conducting surveillance for a prostitution investigation in the area, police reportedly saw Barnes bring an underage female into a Marriott hotel. As officers approached Barnes outside the hotel, he attempted to drive away, crashing into two patrol cars in the process. Two policemen opened fire, with one round striking Barnes in the hand. He faced a flurry of felonies after being released from the hospital but he failed to appear at a court proceeding in September, leaving the charges pending in Fulton County court. Barnes also reportedly shot a man twice in Conway, S.C. during a January 2018 drug deal, while he was already wanted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) for aggravated assault charges. While his charges of attempted murder and illegal weapons possession were dropped, he pleaded guilty in 2019 to armed robbery and received a prison sentence of about three years. Judicial records from 2013 to 2015 show Barnes has nearly a dozen additional convictions in Beaufort County, primarily for theft: two counts of felony larceny, five counts of larceny from a vehicle, one for tampering with a vehicle, possession of cocaine and two burglaries, one violent and one non-violent. Sgt. Bonifacio Perez of the Bluffton Police Department says his agency has three outstanding arrest warrants for Barnes related to fraudulent checks. Barnes was in custody at the Jasper County Detention Center as of Thursday afternoon. He will likely be transported to the Beaufort County jail and into Georgia for his outstanding warrants, although a timeline for his extraditions was not immediately clear. The charges brought forth Tuesday will be prosecuted by the 14th Circuit Solicitors Office. Huyen Trang Buddhist Temple Director Suco Susan Nguyen opens a window that was damaged following a Nov. 5 arson of the New Caney temple on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10k in the information leading to the identification of the person responsible. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer As a local attorney referenced 12 to 15 burglaries, attacks or robberies on Buddhist temples in and around Houston, HPD sought to reassure a frustrated community that the incidents were being investigated. Thuy Le, an attorney representing Thanh Long Tu Temple, and her assistant have been contacting area temples to ask about past burglaries or attacks. Investigators say they believe that the crimes are being carried out by a group of at least four men who have been targeting temples, particularly around the Lunar New Year. Le pointed to the language barrier between police and Vietnamese residents who have had issues reporting crimes without translators. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For many of these temples that I have spoken to, its that they do not feel that there is anybody in law enforcement or in the community to really help them because theres a cultural divide, Le said. Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Ban Tien said he wanted to reassure those who gathered at the Bayland Community Center annex that authorities were investigating the burglaries, including a November crime that involved a Molotov cocktail thrown into a temple. HPD has identified five recent crimes committed against Buddhist temples. You have my commitment: We will be working diligently to identify, and the goal is to apprehend a suspect, Tien said. But, I have to be honest, we just dont have enough police officers, you know, to patrol like every single moment at the temples. He advised temples to call 911 or non-emergency lines and said that it is not too late to report past burglaries or attacks. He said he hopes to make temples harder for criminals to target by connecting residents with crime prevention tips and resources. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In November, the Huyen Trang Buddhist Meditation Centre in New Caney was attacked when an unknown person threw a Molotov cocktail through an open window, lighting a fire in the main place of worship. There were no serious injuries. Local authorities from FBI Houston, the Montgomery County Fire Marshals Office and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives held a news conference months later to ask for the publics help finding the suspect. The FBI offered up to $10,000 in exchange for information on the attack. Earlier this year, HPD opened an investigation into the burglaries of the Cam Lo Community Center and Tu Vien Huong Nghiem Temple in southwest Houston, according to Chron.com. Le said her count could be lower than the actual number of burglaries or attacks. That number does not include the messages weve left for some of the other temples that said they were burglarized that did not want to be identified, she said. Three inmates who escaped prison in Grenada last month have been charged with capital murder in the deaths of an American couple presumed dead after their yacht was hijacked. Ron Mitchell, 30, Atiba Stanisclaus, 25, and Trevon Robertson, 23, were charged with two counts of capital murder by intentionally causing the deaths of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel, the Royal Grenada Police Force announced Thursday. The three men had escaped custody on the island of Grenada on Feb. 18, "commandeered" a yacht called Simplicity docked in the St. George area, and made their way to the nearby island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where they were recaptured on Feb. 21, police had said. Kathy Brandel, front left, and Ralph Hendry, front right, with family. (Courtesy Hendry Family) Simplicity was Hendry and Brandel's sailing yacht and they were on board at the time. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police said last week the couple is presumed deceased. Royal Grenada Police Commissioner Don McKenzie also said last week the couple was most likely disposed of at sea by the escaped prisoners. McKenzie said theres a low probability Brandel and Henry might be alive. The scene on the couples boat was consistent with signs of violence, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Superintendent Junior Simmons said last week. Several items were strewn on the deck and in the cabin, and a red substance that resembled blood was seen on board, he said. There was no discovery of bodies on board the yacht. The three inmates were also charged with escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery, and two counts of kidnapping. Stanislaus was additionally charged with one count of rape though police did not say who Stanislaus is accused of raping. All three made their first court appearance in court Thursday and were remanded to prison. They are due back in court on March 27. Hendry and Brandel, American retirees and sailing enthusiasts, traded their life in Alexandria, Virginia, for their longtime dream of life at sea, experiencing "a different adventure every day," Brandels son, Nick Buro, told NBC Washington. The couple had been planning the trip down to Grenada their first to the Caribbean island for years and years and years, training themselves, preparing the boat, preparing themselves ... to make the trip, Hendrys son, Bryan Hendry, told the station. The family of Hendry and Brandel released a statement on Feb. 27 through the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, which the couple had made their voyage to the Caribbean with. We are incredibly saddened to hear the news that our parents Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry are now presumed dead. We remain optimistic in the on-going search led by the St. Vincent Coast Guard," the statement said. "While the end of their life may have been dark, they brought light, and that light will never be extinguished from the hearts and minds of the people who knew, loved and cared so deeply about them," it continued. Ralph and Kathy lived a life that most of us can only dream of, sailing the eastern coast of the United States, living on their home Simplicity, making friends with everyone they encountered, singing, dancing and laughing with friends and family thats who Ralph and Kathy were and thats how they will be remembered in our hearts." A man later identified as Steven Nikoui heckles President Biden during the State of the Union address. (Andrew Harnik/AP) A man who heckled President Biden during his State of the Union address on Thursday night was removed by Capitol Police officers and arrested, the U.S. Capitol Police confirmed in a statement to Yahoo News. The heckler was identified as 51-year-old Steven Nikoui, whose son, U.S. Marine Kareem Nikoui, was among 13 U.S. service members and 170 civilians who were killed in an attack by a suicide bomber at Abbey Gate outside Hamid Karzai International Airport as American troops were withdrawing from Kabul, Afghanistan in 2021. Steven Nikoui was heard yelling "Abbey Gate!" before he was led out of the gallery by police. He was later seen in handcuffs. See more of our State of the Union coverage: Tonight at approximately 10:15 p.m., a man disrupted the State of the Union Address by yelling, the U.S. Capitol Police said in an emailed statement. Our officers warned him to stop and when he did not, the man was removed from the House Galleries and was arrested for D.C. Code 221307 - Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding. Disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is illegal. The Biden administration faced harsh bipartisan criticism over the U.S. military's chaotic withdrawal from the war in Afghanistan during the presidents first year in office. A Texas power company has admitted its equipment may have sparked one of the devastating wildfires that ravaged the state in recent days, killing at least three people and burning across nearly 1,700 square miles. In a statement released on Thursday, Xcel Energy said it had been cooperating with the investigations into the wildfires, while also carrying out its own review. Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire, the statement read. Xcel Energy disputes claims that it acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure; however, we encourage people who had property destroyed by or livestock lost in the Smokehouse Creek fire to submit a claim to Xcel Energy through our claims process. Locals had accused the company of being responsible for the fire, claiming that a wooden utility pole near Stinnett was blown over by strong winds and then set fire to dry grass and brush. Authorities have said that the blaze was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of cattle and forced evacuations. Across Texas, multiple raging fires have killed at least two civilians and one volunteer fire chief. Joyce Blankenship, 83, was found dead in her Stinnett home on Wednesday 28 February, while Cindy Owens, of Amarillo City, was found dead after she exited her vehicle for an unknown reason and the fire simply overtook her the following day. Multiple homes and other structures were lost in the Smokehouse Creek fire, while hundreds of others were destroyed across the Texas Panhandle. Xcel Energy, through our Southwestern Public Service Company (SPS) subsidiary, has operated in the Texas Panhandle for more than 100 years, Bob Frenzel, Chairman, President and CEO of Xcel Energy said in a statement. The people in this region are our friends, neighbours and relatives. We are deeply saddened by the losses incurred in this community, and we are committed to supporting its renewal and recovery. Xcel did point out that another fire in Windy Deuce was not likely caused by any of its equipment. The company said it will work with authorities to evaluate the risks of wildfires and engage in activities which mitigate those risks and keep the public safe. A group of Texas students have asked the US Supreme Court to intervene in a campus ban on drag shows, alleging that the schools president is infringing on their First Amendment rights. Spectrum WT, a student-led LGBT+ organisation at West Texas A&M University, as well as two of its student leaders, claim that the public universitys president Dr Walter Wendler engaged in viewpoint-based discrimination when he suddenly cancelled the groups planned charity drag show event last year. The plaintiffs, represented by Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, allege Dr Wendler invoked his personal opinion of drag shows to prevent them from putting on the event, just 11 days before it due to take place on campus. Dr Wendler sent a 700-word email to the campus community barring drag shows because they stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes and are deceive, divisive and demoralizing, the students say. Now, theyre asking Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to pause the ban immediately so that they can host the on-campus event this 22 March and to also limit public college and university officials from censoring expressions based on personal opinion. The First Amendments promise of neutrality is at its zenith at Americas public colleges and universities, where students must always remain free to inquire, to study and to evaluate, to gain new maturity and understanding; otherwise our civilization will stagnate and die, the plaintiffs say in their lawsuit. The case arrives at a time of heightened political tensions on school campuses across the country. Over the last few years, schools on every level from elementary to higher education have had to address or make rules on social issues due to the current climate. A growing conservative moment is pressuring schools to diminish teaching or speaking about race, gender, sexual orientation and more. Higher education institutions are being pushed to end or prevent diversity and inclusion programs and a lawsuit challenging affirmative action recently made its way up to the Supreme Court. Separately, anti-drag rhetoric and legislation have become mainstream among conservatives. Last year, Florida unsuccessfully tried to enact a law barring children from attending drag show performances, in part, thanks to an unsubstantiated claim that it indoctrinates children. A similar law was declared unconstitutional in Texas last year as well. A Drag Queen performs during a show at the Swan Dive nightclub on March 20, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Getty Images) Spectrum WT and its students claim that in preparing to host their drag show they enacted policies to make it less controversial, like prohibiting the presence of minors without a parent or guardian, instructing performers to avoid profane music or lewd conduct and making the show appropriate for those over 13 years old. But Dr Wendler insisted a drag show was discriminatory toward women and that it was impossible to put together a harmless drag show. Though the students ended up holding the event off-campus they still sued in the district court. The court declined to pause the ban saying they had not clearly established that all drag shows are inherently expressive. The students submitted an expedited appeal to the Fifth Circuit but the appeals court declined to hear the case quickly, only agreeing to hear oral arguments the week commencing 29 April. Now, the case lies in the hands of the Supreme Court. Justice Alito has asked West Texas A&M to respond to the students application by 13 March. West Texas A&M has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. (Reuters) - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, is set to win more than $5 billion in federal grants from the U.S. government for setting up a chipmaking plant in Arizona, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. The award is yet to be finalized and it is unclear whether TSMC will tap the loans and guarantees also on offer from the 2022 Chips and Science Act, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. TSMC and the U.S. Commerce Department did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. TSMC, which makes chips used in Apple's iPhones, has said it would invest about $40 billion in its Arizona plant, among the largest foreign investments in U.S. history. The U.S. has been vying to increase domestic semiconductor production through the U.S. CHIPS Act, which was passed in 2022 and provides $52.7 billion in funding, including $39 billion in subsidies for semiconductor production and $11 billion for R&D. The Biden administration said last month it was awarding $1.5 billion to contract chip manufacturer GlobalFoundries under the Act. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo had said in February, the department plans to make several funding awards within two months. TSMC's advanced manufacturing processes are used in the production of Nvidia's industry leading artificial intelligence chips. The Taiwanese chipmaker had said in January that demand for advanced packaging was very strong and it couldn't offer enough capacity to support customers, which will continue to next year. Lagging capacity for advanced packaging has been a central bottleneck for the scaling up supply of complex AI chips. (Reporting by Arsheeya Bajwa in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a decree on Thursday providing for conscripts serving in the two-year-old war against Russia to be discharged into Ukraine's reserves within the next two months. The decree will allow some respite for service members who have been engaged in the military since even before Russian troops poured over the border in February 2022. In addition, those discharged will be exempt from further call-ups for 12 months. "Today, we have a decree for the discharge to reserves of conscripts -- those who were called up for military service before the full-scale invasion began," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. "At the request of the military command, several weeks are needed for preparatory procedures, replacing individuals in terms of defence tasks, and from April, conscripts will be transferred to the reserves." A little more than two years into the invasion, Ukraine faces shortages of both men and equipment. Russia has made some gains along the 1,000-km (600-mile) front in the east and south, including the capture by Moscow's forces last month of the town of Avdiivka, but there has been little movement along the front lines. Western countries continue to pledge support to Ukraine's campaign to oust Russian troops, but a promised aid package from Washington has stalled amid disputes in the U.S. Congress. A bill on mobilisation to ensure sufficient numbers of Ukrainian service members in the campaign is making its way through Ukraine's parliament, punctuated by lively debate among deputies and in society at large. (Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; editing by Jonathan Oatis) A damaged car is seen in an airport employee parking lot after tire debris from a Boeing 777 landed on it at San Francisco International Airport on Thursday. (Haven Daley / Associated Press) A United Airlines plane departing San Francisco International Airport on Thursday morning lost one of its tires shortly after takeoff but landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport. The tire that fell damaged several vehicles in an employee parking lot at San Francisco International Airport, but no one on the ground was injured. In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate the cause of the accident. The incident happened at about 11:35 a.m. as United Flight 35 was en route to Osaka, Japan, according to Doug Yakel, a spokesperson for the SFO airport. He confirmed there were no injuries but said the runway was briefly closed off to clear fallen debris and had since reopened to regular operation. According to LAX representative Dae Levine, the flight successfully landed in Los Angeles at 1:23 p.m. with "no issue." "Operationally, this didn't have an impact," said Levine. "They were able to pull up to the gate." The plane that malfunctioned was a Boeing 777, which is designed to descend safely even with missing or damaged landing gear, United Airlines said in a statement. The plane carried 235 passengers, 10 flight attendants and four pilots but no injuries were reported by the airline. Read more:Beverly Hills school district expels 8th graders involved in fake nude scandal "We are arranging for a new aircraft to continue this trip for our customers," United said. U.S. regulators are currently investigating Boeing's quality controls after a door plug on a 737 Max aircraft blew out midflight earlier this year. There have yet been no groundings reported for other United planes in response to this event. 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. Great River Energy now has a plan to make the electricity it sells 90% carbon-free by 2035. The plan approved Thursday by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission represents a major transition from the current energy mix of the coal-heavy Maple Grove-based cooperative, a wholesale electricity provider. The cooperative estimated its power mix last year would be 35% carbon-free, with much of its energy coming from a massive coal-powered plant in North Dakota. Great River provides electricity for roughly 1.7 million people through 27 mostly rural cooperatives, ranging from northeast Minnesota to the Iowa border. At the heart of Great River's plan which stretches until 2037 is its relationship with Coal Creek Station, which it sold in 2022 to Rainbow Energy Center. Before the deal, Great River had planned to close the unprofitable plant. Instead, it struck a deal to buy from Rainbow much of the power Coal Creek produces. North Dakota officials viewed the potential closure as a big economic hit given the plant and an adjacent coal mine together employ hundreds of people. Still, Great River plans to follow existing contracts that slash the amount of power it buys from Rainbow over time until its agreements expire in 2031. The plan approved Thursday would replace the power through buying energy from wind farms, and adding battery storage and solar plants. While the Public Utilities Commission passed the plan unanimously, with support from trade unions and the Minnesota Department of Commerce, there were concerns raised. The Sierra Club wanted Great River to also retire its Spiritwood Station coal and natural gas plant, also in North Dakota, and use tax breaks and other federal funding to invest in more clean energy to ensure a hard break from Rainbow. In filings with the PUC, Sierra Club said the proposal was possible when accounting for tax breaks and other federal funding like $970 million Great River could win through what's known as the New Era program. Under state law, the PUC plays an advisory role on resource planning for cooperatives like Great River, giving it less oversight compared to private utilities like Xcel Energy. These utility plans cover 15 years but must be filed every few years. The state Department of Commerce said in an August filing with the PUC that the cooperative had some financial risk from relying on purchases in the open energy market that can be expensive when energy demand is high. But the agency said it was generally fine with Great River's plan and that reserve power should theoretically provide enough cushion to shield its customers. However, Commerce also noted Rainbow might be out of compliance with some federal rules including one tied to disposal of ash from the Coal Creek plant, which could pose risk to Great River and its customers. PUC commissioner Hwikwon Ham, an independent on the five-member board, said he had considered rejecting the energy plan because of those issues. Instead, the commission directed Great River to check back in should any federal rule significantly impact Coal Creek and the energy it provides the utility. Great River said in PUC filings that it owns and maintains $2.9 billion in assets, including nine power plants that run on gas, diesel, coal and fuel. The coop also buys power from eight wind farms. In November, the PUC approved a Great River plan to convert a natural gas plant in Cambridge to also run on fuel oil. The coop said it could help deliver reliable and cheaper power during winter storms. Commission member Joseph Sullivan, a Democrat, said he "would feel a lot better about where the world is going" if every utility were slashing their carbon emissions by as much as Great River. The 12-year-old who died last month at a North Carolina wilderness program for troubled adolescents spent his first and only night there on the floor of a bunkhouse. His sleeping bag was inside a small tent with an alarm pinned to the zipper, rigged to go off if he tried to get out, a staff member told authorities. He had been loud and irate when he arrived earlier that day and had refused to eat dinner, the counselor told detectives, adding that the boy had a panic attack just after midnight. The counselor said staff checked on him twice before discovering him unresponsive at 7:45 a.m. with his pants and underwear lying next to his shoulder, search warrants stated. Little else is known about the boys brief time at Trails Carolina in Lake Toxaway, and his cause of death is still under investigation. But interviews with 14 people who attended Trails Carolina between 2013 and 2022 and three former staff members, along with a review of state inspection reports and court filings, reveal that there have long been concerns about how children were treated at the camp. For many of the former participants who spoke to NBC News, those problems began in their first days with protocols that left them confused and scared. They described strip searches, bathroom restrictions and having to read upsetting letters from their parents aloud. I know if I had died on my first night, I would have died believing that I was unloved and unwanted, said Rebecca Burney, 21, whose parents sent her to Trails Carolina the day after her 14th birthday. A 12-year-old boy does not deserve any of that. Caroline Svarre, whose parents paid to have her transported by two strangers in the middle of the night to Trails Carolina when she was 14, said she was in shock her first day. Ive never cried so hard, said Svarre, who attended the program in 2013. I cried because I felt betrayed. trails carolina (Courtesy Caroline Svarre) The Transylvania County Sheriffs Office identified the boy who died only by his initials, CJH, and said the Feb. 3 death was being investigated as possible manslaughter. In a statement, the office said the death appeared to not be natural but the manner and cause of death is still pending. Through a representative, the boys family declined requests for an interview. The states Department of Health and Human Services has since suspended admissions to the program until April, noting in a letter to the camps executive director Feb. 16 that conditions at Trails Carolina are detrimental to the health or safety of the children in your care. All 18 children at the camp were removed the same day. The department declined to comment on the conditions at the camp, citing an ongoing investigation. Trails Carolina, a for-profit program, has said that preliminary information indicates the boys death was accidental. In an emailed statement to NBC News earlier this week, Trails Carolina spokesperson Wendy DAlessandro offered no details about the circumstances, other than to say staff members offer compassion and patience to children when they arrive. The camp declined to comment on specific childrens experiences. The former Trails Carolina participants who spoke to NBC News ranged in age from 12 to 16 when they attended the program. They said that news of a child who had died so early in his stay brought back memories of their own first days at Trails Carolina, which they recalled as full of fear and humiliation. Each said that their time at the wilderness camp began with a strip search, in some cases with no underwear, by a staff member. One former staff member, who worked at the camp from 2020 until 2022 and requested anonymity because he said he feared retaliation, said searches were conducted if the staff thought a child might have drugs or other contraband. Most children arrived with just the clothing they were wearing, but some said they also brought personal items, such as books and stuffed animals, which were promptly confiscated. DAlessandro did not comment on the searches or confiscation, and said the camp follows state regulations to ensure a safe and dignified intake process for new students. After they were searched, the former participants said, staff gave them sets of hiking clothes and took them to cabins or campsites to meet the other children. The first thing I noticed was the smell just a putrid mix of urine and B.O., said Lily, 18, who said she was sent to Trails Carolina in 2018 because her middle school kicked her out. She asked to only be identified by her first name to avoid damaging her college prospects. It was the worst smell Ive ever smelled in my life, she continued. And then this little 10-year-old girl in my group comes up to me, looks at me and goes, Wow, youre so clean. trails carolina (Courtesy Lily) Lily, who was 13 at the time, said she soon learned that because staff limited the number of bathroom breaks on hikes, many children would wet themselves. The children were only able to shower about once a week, she and others recalled. Trails Carolina said that children on hikes were sometimes asked to wait to take bathroom breaks and said everyone welcomes a shower and fresh clothes after a hike. I just remember thinking, Where the hell am I? What on Earth is this? Lily said. After Burney arrived at Trails Carolina in 2016, she had no contact with her family for three long days. Finally, a staff member handed her a letter from her parents, which detailed the reasons they had sent her to the camp. Burney said she had to read it out loud to her new bunkmates, a practice the other former participants who spoke to NBC News also recounted. trails carolina (Courtesy Rebecca Burney) It is basically a letter telling you everything youve done wrong and putting all the blame on you, Burney said. Its the first time youre reading it, and the staff will tell you, you have to read it word for word. Seven of the former participants, who were there as recently as 2022, said on the first night, staff made children sleep in what the camp called a burrito a tarp folded over their sleeping bag and tucked in that restricted their ability to move. A staff member slept beside them on the tarp so they would wake up if a child tried to get out, according to the former participants and two former employees. Alex Rudder, 23, said she was in the burrito not only on her first night, but also at other times, when she disobeyed or complained. You couldnt sleep, said Rudder, who went to Trails Carolina in 2017. Youd sit there and have panic attacks all night. A lawsuit filed last month against Trails Carolina, by a former participant who alleged she was sexually assaulted by a girl in her camp group in 2016, also referenced the burrito. The suit said the camp placed the accused assailant inside a burrito multiple times so she could be bound throughout the night while field staff slept. The camp disputed the suits allegations in a court filing this week and asked that a judge dismiss it. DAlessandro said in a statement that the camp stopped using the burrito last year, though it was still used as a back-up until recently. It now uses tent-like weather-proof covers to support the psychological and emotional well being of the children, she said. The 12-year-old boys death is the second since Trails Carolina opened in 2008. In 2014, a 17-year-old died from injuries he sustained after running away. An inspection by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services last year found that children had attempted to flee or walk away without permission at least 21 times from March to June 2023 and were restrained following 20 of those incidents for anywhere from 10 seconds to 15 minutes. DAlessandro said Trails Carolina uses restraints for childrens safety. But advocates said the statistics indicate a problem. Trails Carolina needs to be shut down, said Meg Appelgate, CEO of Unsilenced, a nonprofit that advocates for increased regulation of programs for at-risk youth. If people are running away from treatment, that indicates youve got a problem with that said treatment. Unsilenced has been campaigning for Congress to create the first federal law to regulate wilderness therapy camps like Trails Carolina, as well as other programs at boarding schools, residential treatment centers and ranches that make up the so-called troubled teen industry. Activism in recent years by former participants in these programs has caused state agencies to take tougher oversight actions. Trails Carolina last year issued a press release acknowledging that the industry has had a history of abuse, but argued that its program is different. It said it uses evidence-based practices, and has a commitment to the mental health of struggling adolescents, unlike the harmful, unregulated programs of the past. Following the 12-year-olds death, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, a nonprofit organization that certifies programs that meet certain standards, suspended Trails Carolinas accreditation. Another accreditation group, the Association for Experiential Education, said it is collecting information to determine if it should take further action regarding Trails Carolinas accreditation. Four parents interviewed by NBC News who sent their children to Trails Carolina defended the program and said they hoped it would be allowed to reopen soon. I know its hard for other people to understand this, said one mother, whose daughter was at Trails Carolina at the time of the boys death and has a history of depression and self-harming behaviors. We have already been worried about our children taking their own life or doing something that causes them to lose their life. Were in a very different place than, you know, the average parent. The mother, who lives in New England and asked not to be identified to protect her daughters privacy, said the camp had been a refuge for parents who have tried everything they can. David Bloom, whose daughter attended Trails Carolina in 2022, said the program may not work for everyone, but for his child, It just changed the whole trajectory of her life. She had tools to manage her anxiety and tools to manage her anger, said Bloom, who lives in New York. She had hope that she didnt have to live with these horrible, bad feelings forever. Like others who attended, his daughter had to read a letter aloud from her parents that outlined the reasons she had been sent to Trails Carolina, which Bloom said was awful to write. Yet, the letter and other challenging parts of the program do have a therapeutic purpose, he said. The way it was described to us is that every kid there is part of every kids therapy, he said. Youre learning from each other as much as from your therapist, or whatever the staff is on hand. Still, those who attended Trails told NBC News they felt abandoned and alone without their families. You dont get to talk to your parents only through letters, said Zoe Aridas, 19, who attended Trails in 2019. And if theres something in those letters that they dont want sent out to your parents or guardians, they take it out. trails carolina (Courtesy Zoe Aridas) Trails Carolina acknowledged in a 2023 court filing that letters written from children to their parents were screened by staff. After a licensing inspection in 2021, the state cited Trails Carolina for blocking some children from calling their families. The camp said in response that it would allow calls if the students therapist at the camp deemed them therapeutically beneficial and that parents would be notified if there were requests for contact that were denied. In its statement to NBC News, Trails Carolina said it also allows Zoom and FaceTime calls, based on the childrens mental health and well-being. In response to questions about screening letters, Trails Carolinas spokesperson said, Asking students to reconsider or think about a statement they wrote teaches them to pause, process their emotions, and reflect on their actions. A week and a half into her stay at Trails Carolina, Burney got her period for the first time and said she was permitted to send a 40-second audio clip to her mom to inform her but only if she also apologized to her family for her past behavior. Burney shared the audio clip, in which her voice breaks as she says, Id really like some help from you and some support from you. I love you so much and Im so sorry for the pain that I caused the family. Burney said she is still coping with trauma from her time at the camp. Things like that, she said, they are things that stick with you for the rest of your life. Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics teams latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill. In today's edition, Mike Memoli and Ghael Fobes, who cover the ins and outs of Joe Biden's White House and campaign, report on how "freedom" has become a key pillar of the president's re-election effort. And stay tuned for a special post-State of the Union edition of From the Politics Desk tonight. Biden seeks to refresh FDRs Four Freedoms for 2024 By Mike Memoli and Ghael Fobes When President Joe Biden launched his re-election campaign last April, the first word he uttered was Freedom. Its a theme that will not only be a key pillar of his State of the Union address tonight, but of his re-election bid going forward as he turns his attention to a rematch with Donald Trump. The Biden teams focus on freedom and threats to democracy as a defining electoral issue has often invited criticism from allies, at a time when Americans perceptions of the economy, and of the 81-year-old president himself, are also expected to dominate the months ahead. Do you have a news tip? Let us know Advisers understand the importance of Bidens delivery in answering questions about his age, and agree on the need to help better connect the administrations economic agenda and accomplishments to the improvements in voters everyday lives. But none of that will matter, aides counter, if Americas democracy falters, a reality the president will starkly warn is possible, and one his advisers say voters have already responded to. Biden plans to invoke Franklin Roosevelts 1941 address to Congress, which became known as the Four Freedoms speech, in his own speech tonight. FDR defined what he called the four essential human freedoms of speech and expression, of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Biden, who has a framed painting of Roosevelt displayed prominently in the Oval Office, has offered his own version of the four freedoms for the 21st century. Well be voting on many issues: on the freedom to vote and have your vote counted, on the freedom of choice, the freedom to have a fair shot, the freedom from fear, Biden said during a speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, earlier this year. Its become a consistent theme for the president, one that his advisers felt was made all too clear in the events of Jan. 6 80 years from the day of the Roosevelt speech Biden will reference. Read the full story here Stay tuned for a special State of the Union edition of the newsletter tonight Keep an eye out for a special edition of the From the Politics Desk newsletter tonight, where we will be recapping and analyzing Bidens State of the Union address, which starts at 9 p.m. ET. As NBC News Alex Seitz-Wald, Gabe Gutierrez and Monica Alba report, the president will begin to lay out a second-term agenda, highlighting the post-Covid economic recovery and outlining the administrations plans to revamp the tax code, expand housing supply and reduce the federal budget deficit. He will also announce plans to add a port that will be used by the U.S. and its partners to get aid into Gaza. And he will aim to create a stark contrast with Trump on issues ranging from health care costs to the Russia-Ukraine war, while seeking to ease growing unhappiness inside his own party about his handling of the Israel-Hamas war, NBC News Peter Nicholas and Mike Memoli note. Freshman Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama is set to deliver the official Republican response to Bidens address. Stay up to speed on all the latest developments with NBC News State of the Union live blog. And well be back in your inbox tonight shortly after Bidens address. Thats all from The Politics Desk for now. If you have feedback likes or dislikes email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner speaks to the media during a press conference about the 250,000-plus cases that were suspended for lack of staffing at HPD Headquarters on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Houston police investigators dropped a womans report of rape with the click of a button in 2022, when they decided they didnt have enough staffing to find her assailant, according to two law enforcement sources whose accounts were verified by the Houston Chronicle. Now that case is in the middle of a sweeping inquiry at the Houston Police Department that has already led to two high-profile demotions and waves of apologies from Police Chief Troy Finner. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The woman supplied officers with virtually everything they needed to find her attacker, court records show: his name, his address and the license plate number of the car he drove. She also agreed to have physical evidence collected from her body at a hospital, at their request. But when police failed to immediately locate the man or his vehicle, they shelved the report, saying they didnt have the resources to pursue it anymore. A little over a year later, according to police records, the same man broke into a Houston home while fleeing from a Fiesta Mart robbery and raped a woman who was getting ready for work. The link between the two reported crimes was discovered by federal authorities last October, according to court records, drawing attention to the departments long-standing practice of using an administrative code to suspend investigations for lack of staffing. Finner has since announced a massive review of over 264,000 cases, including more than 4,000 sexual assaults, that were dropped for that reason since 2016, when the code was created. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mayor John Whitmire and Finner have called the practice unacceptable, and the police chief said he ordered his staff to stop using lack of manpower as an excuse to suspend cases in 2021. The code continued to be used despite his order. Finner on Thursday announced progress in the departments analysis, saying more than 3,000 of the suspended sexual assault incident reports have been reviewed. Interviews are scheduled with more than 100 victims, he said. But some victims could not be reached by phone, and investigators hoped to find them at their last known address. "I want the survivors to know that we're going to fix this," Finner said. "We've made a lot of progress in just a few weeks." He also released an exhaustive list of the suspended cases ranging from break-ins to assaults. Whitmire is appointing an independent panel to review the departments handling of the suspended cases, in addition to an HPD internal investigation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thursday night, Gov. Greg Abbott called for the state to impose consequences for the dropped cases. 250,000 crime victims in Houston never even had their crime investigated. That includes thousands of sexual assault victims, Abbott wrote on X. The state must impose consequences for this neglect & provide solutions to prevent acts like this that allow criminals to go free. Suspect had been deported from U.S. Houston detectives suspected that the assailant in the Fiesta robbery and sex assault had likely committed other crimes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Due to the way that he acted in these incidents, we do not believe this is his first time, Sgt. Ben LeBlanc said at a news conference. Federal agents found evidence of that while reviewing DNA evidence, according to court records. The investigators matched the DNA to the case from 2022, when the woman identified her rapist as Jose Luis Reyes-Martinez, who has since been charged in connection with the 2023 case. He is in federal custody, the records show. Reyes-Martinez is a suspect in the earlier case but has not been charged. Authorities kept details about the 2023 sexual assault at a minimum during the news briefing, but court records went into greater detail. Reyes-Martinez, who escaped the robbery on a bicycle, allegedly broke into the womans home and caught her by surprise, according to the records, which say he also forced her husband out of bed and tied him up. Reyes-Martinez is accused of raping the woman. He stole the couples Apple watches, jewelry and vehicle, according to court records. Using the GPS tracking on the couples watch, police traced their stolen vehicle to an apartment complex. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The woman in the 2023 report declined to comment, while the victim in the 2022 case could not be reached for comment. Police arrested Reyes-Martinez in October after finding him hiding out at his mothers apartment. He is also charged with returning to the United States after he was deported to Mexico in 2012. A public defender on Reyes-Martinezs federal case did not respond to a request for comment. Case missing from HPD crime data The suspended case also calls into question the reliability of the monthly crime statistics that police release to the public. The 2022 report of the sex assault is absent from the public-facing National Incident Based Reporting System data that HPD has routinely published to its website since 2019. The intel is eventually shared with the FBI to be compared with law enforcement agencies nationwide. The local and national data is often cited in criminal justice studies and news reports. Kese Smith, a Houston police spokesman, said the departments ongoing case review will also delve into any problems discovered with its crime statistics. He declined to comment on the 2022 case or why it was initially suspended. As evidence mounted to charge Reyes-Martinez in connection with the 2023 allegations, investigators unraveled what the first woman reported. She told officers she had appealed to Reyes-Martinez, whom she had known for a year, needing a place to crash for the night. She said she fell asleep on a mat in his bedroom and woke up hours later in another room, her clothing in disarray. She had no memory of what happened, she told police, and Reyes-Martinez forced her to leave as she questioned him. The license plate she relayed to authorities when she made her report ultimately matched a vehicle registered to Reyes-Martinezs mother. An American Airlines jet photographed at LaGuardia Airport on February 4, 2024 in the Queens borough of New York City, United States. Friends and family of a woman who died while aboard an American Airlines flight to North Carolina in late February have identified her as an Indiana mother of two in multiple media reports. Stefanie Smith, 41, reportedly fell ill Feb. 28 while on the Charlotte-bound flight from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Crew members on the flight administered medical aid to Smith until the flight was diverted to an island southeast of the Bahamas so she could be transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died. A GoFundMe page set up to help her son and daughter described Smith as " a daughter, sister, best friend, and an amazing mother of two beautiful children." "Her endless love for her family, friends, and community will leave a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing her," the GoFundMe page stated. Colorado jury verdict: Denver woman wins $3.8 million verdict after SWAT team wrongly raids her home Family members say Smith appeared healthy before flight, according to reports Smith had reportedly been returning home after vacationing in the Dominican Republic with her boyfriend, the woman's friend Maria Yannotti, told ABC News. Friends and family quoted in several media reports expressed shock about Smith's sudden death, stating that they had no reason to believe she had any pre-existing conditions. "She loves going to the gym every day, even while we were in the Dominican," Yannotti, who traveled to the Dominican Republic separately, told ABC News. "She made it a point to get up every morning to go to the gym and run on the beach." Yannotti told the outlet that Smiths boyfriend was sitting next to her on the flight when her eyes rolled back and she started convulsing. Smiths brother Chris Volz told ABC News that she was the mother of two children: an 18-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter. "Stefanie will be so deeply missed by every single person who knew her, and we pray that the memory of her kind soul will live on forever," the GoFundMe stated. "Please keep the family in your prayers during this devastating time." Autopsy will determine cause of death The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the agency that investigated the incident, received a call just after 6 p.m. local time during the day of the flight from the Air Traffic Control Tower requesting medical assistance. A medical team and police were dispatched to the Providenciales International Airport where the flight was diverted to transport Smith to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Medical examiners are conducting an autopsy to determine a cause of death, the police said. American Airlines had no new information to share when reached Friday by USA TODAY. USA TODAY left a message Friday with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force seeking to verify the woman's identity and cause of death that were not immediately returned. Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stefanie Smith identified as woman who died on flight to NC: Reports Im Brian Gordon, tech reporter for The News & Observer, and this is Open Source, a weekly newsletter on business, labor and technology in North Carolina. The largest business advocacy group in North Carolina issued a stark warning the day after this weeks primary election. In a blog post Wednesday, the NC Chamber deemed certain outcomes, specifically on the GOP side, a startling warning of the looming threats to North Carolinas business climate. The chamber, which tends to give money to more establishment candidates, identified two primary winners as particularly problematic. One is Michele Morrow, a home-school mother who bested incumbent Republican Catherine Truitt in the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Morrow attended the Jan. 6 rally to support then-President Donald Trumps unfounded claims of election fraud. We are here to stop the steal, Morrow said in a video that she posted online while attending the protest. We are here to ensure that President Trump gets four more years. The other candidate the NC Chamber cautioned against is Luke Farley, who edged out Jon Hardister in the primary for labor commissioner. Luke Farley is a far-right candidate whose two main campaign platform items were banning vaccine requirements for employees and Making Elevators Great Again, the chamber wrote. But these platforms appealed to Republican voters. On X, formerly Twitter, Farleys campaign spokesperson David Capen fired back against the chamber, saying, There is nobody more qualified than @LukeFarleyNC to serve as Labor Commissioner. Capen was commenting on an article from Business NC, which first reported the NC Chambers stance. He emphasized Farley had earned the support of longtime labor commissioner Cherie Berry. In its post, the chamber said it fears having such polarizing, populist figures head the education and labor departments would dent the states sterling business reputation. CNBC has ranked North Carolina best for business each of the past two years. Open Source Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein also warned at his primary victory party Tuesday night that Republican nominee Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson would scare away businesses and cost the state billions of dollars. The NC Chamber also more generally warned against polarizing candidates on both sides of the aisle. But only Farley and Morrow were identified. I asked the NC Chamber this week about its endorsement plans for the general election. A spokesperson said it is too early to make determinations. Onto the rest of this weeks news: Why did 63 workers lose their jobs without warning? An entire Wake County warehouse abruptly shut down last Friday, which isnt normal. Under federal law, plant closures affecting at least 50 workers typically requires the employer file a WARN notice at least 60 days in advance, giving employees time to land somewhere new. So why werent the 63 workers at The Body Shop distribution center in Wake Forest warned? The reason involves private equity and British insolvency procedures. In January, the UK-based Body Shop International was acquired by the German private equity firm Aurelius Group, and after selling certain parts of the ethically-tested cosmetics company, Aurelius sent The Body Shop into administration, a system for UK businesses facing debts they cant pay. Aurelius was not only the companys owner but also its top secured creditor, which allowed it to appoint the administrators who would take control of The Body Shops finances. Aurelius picked the private firm FRP Advisory. Its the administrators job to maximize the proceeds of creditors, Julian Franks, a finance professor at the London Business School, told me in an interview this week. Their job is not to preserve employees. Believed to be the largest secured creditor, Aurelius is set to be paid back first as Body Shop assets are sold. The Body Shop distribution center in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Employees learned they would be out of jobs as the cosmetic company lacked funds to continue operating. The Body Shop in the United States was a subsidiary of its UK-based parent, and they shared a centralized cash system. Starting in January, employees at the North Carolina warehouse began to hear from vendors who complained they werent getting paid. Then last Friday, The Body Shop in North America announced its parent company, controlled by UK administrators, had halted its funding. On March 1, Wake Forest employees were called to an early morning meeting where they were told theyd be out of a job without severance. Its just not fair, said Nataly Guerra, an operations supervisor at the plant. SAS keeps layoff number secret SAS Institute made more job cuts this week as it confirmed layoffs in its retail solutions division. The prominent Cary software analytics giant reduced its workforce by around 1% last year, and while SAS didnt share how many employees lost jobs this week, a spokesperson reaffirmed the company has been slowly shifting some divisional structures to better align with corporate priorities. How companies communicate layoffs varies. Some, like Red Hat and Epic Games, posted messages online after making large cuts last year. SAS in contrast has kept its reductions vaguer. It certainly isnt the only business to do this, but the gap of public messaging has created a steadier drip of speculation. The entrance to the SAS corporate campus in Cary, North Carolina. The feud continues Apple and Carys Epic Games are fighting again if they ever really stopped. The spat started in August 2020 when the North Carolina video game company briefly bypassed Apples payment system (and its 30% fees) to sell in-game Fortnite currency directly to players. Three years of court cases ensued. Under the European Unions Digital Markets Act, Epic was working to return the Epic Games Store to iOS devices on the continent. But Apple terminated the companys developer account, Epics launch point into the EU, claiming the Triangle-based gaming company was verifiably untrustworthy and cited a past tweet from Epics co-founder/CEO Tim Sweeney that was critical of Apple. Sweeney and Epic were incensed by the decision. This is a serious violation of the (Digital Markets Act) and shows Apple has no intention of allowing true competition on iOS devices, Epic spokesperson Natalie Munoz said in a statement Wednesday. Short Stuff: Keeping it clean Veep in Bull City. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Durhams historic Black Wall Street district last Friday to announce $32 million in federal funding for North Carolina women- and minority-led businesses. The money will go to 10 venture capital firms who have women or minority leaders. Spiffy getting busy. Research Triangle Parks mobile cleaning startup Spiffy acquired the vehicle cleaning company NuVinAir Global, for an undisclosed amount. Spiffy CEO Scot Wingo, who also leads the Triangle Tweener Fund, said Spiffy now has a staff of 70 at its North Carolina headquarters. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks while visiting Durhams historic Black Wall Street district on Friday March 1, 2024. Vice President Harris is joined by Gov. Roy Cooper. National Tech Happenings The prices of Ethereum and Bitcoin are rising again, with each crypto coin up more than 50% since Jan. 1. A deepfake AI-generated image showing former President Donald Trump surrounded by not-real Black supporters has been circulating online. And in a story that wouldve seemed like futuristic satire a decade ago, Spain has banned an eye-scanning company headed by OpenAI founder Sam Altman that pays people cryptocurrency for their biometric data. Thanks for reading! Editors Note: Errol Louis is a political anchor of Spectrum News, a network of local news channels. The views expressed here are his own. Read more opinion on CNN. After several high-profile violent attacks, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared war on crime in the citys subway system. But she may be fighting the wrong battle with the wrong weapons in a situation that needs a scalpel, not a sword. Errol Louis - CNN Under Hochuls plan, 750 members of the New York National Guard will be deployed underground, decked out in camouflage and armed to the teeth with body armor, sidearms and rifles. They will be joined by 250 officers from the New York State Police and MTA Police, who will set up random bag search checkpoints. No one heading to their job or to visit family or to go to a doctor appointment should worry that the person sitting next to them possesses a deadly weapon, said Hochul. They shouldnt worry about whether someones going to brandish a knife or gun. Thats what were going to do at these checkpoints. In addition to the ostentatious show of force, Hochul is calling for many more surveillance cameras, stiffer criminal penalties for repeat offenders and a new law that would ban people from the subways for at least three years if found guilty of committing violent crimes underground. Hochuls strong measures come in response to a spate of violence that has rattled New Yorkers. A subway conductor named Alton Scott recently suffered horrific wounds after an unknown person slashed his neck when Scott stuck his head out of the conductors cab to make sure the train was ready to depart. A few weeks earlier, three people were arrested in connection to the fatal shooting of 45-year-old William Alvarez, after an argument escalated. And Iain Forrest, a subway musician, was bashed in the head with a bottle; the woman who hit him has since been arrested. Sending nearly 1,000 members of the National Guard and cops into the subways is strong medicine, but is it the right cure? According to an analysis by The New York Times, there was one serious violent crime in the subways for every million passenger trips in mid-2022. But public safety is partly about perception: People often get nervous walking down a dark street in the middle of the night, even when theres no immediate threat of harm. Spotting a cop on the corner of an otherwise deserted street can certainly calm those fears in that situation but thats not what Hochul is proposing here. New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a press conference to announce new subway safety measures at NYCTA Rail Control Center on March 6, 2024 in New York City. - Adam Gray/Getty Images Deploying soldiers to do random bag checks at high-volume stations during rush hour might make some commuters feel better and it certainly creates a striking image for the news cameras but theres no evidence it would have prevented a random slashing or a burst of anger between passengers in the wee hours of the morning. Weve had a very unfortunate spate of crimes and attacks in the subways as of late, but the data still shows that the perception is worse than the actual reality, New York State Sen. John Liu told the New York Post. I can understand that the governor wants to look like shes addressing this, but the efforts have to be more sustained and not just off the cuff. The New York Police Department, which is primarily responsible for patrolling the subways, doubled the number of officers underground in 2022 in response to a shooting, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams who was a transit cop before turning to politics has publicly mused about somehow installing metal detectors throughout the systems 472 subway stations. But many of the problems underground in substance and definitely in perception spring from the disorder linked to the thousands of seriously mentally ill people who are estimated to be on the streets and subways of the city. The shocking murder of Michelle Go, a woman pushed onto the tracks in 2022, was committed by a mentally ill homeless man. Jordan Neely, a subway performer whod suffered from addiction and mental illness, was choked to death by a man now facing manslaughter charges (to which he has pleaded not guilty), after Neely began shouting and acting out on a subway car, frightening passengers. Approaching and offering treatment to mentally ill people is tough, demanding work that requires social workers, not soldiers. Hochuls plan calls for more teams of social workers to scour the subways and offer assistance to people in distress but it plans to supplement these teams with law enforcement officers. That sends the wrong message: seriously mentally ill people need help, not handcuffs, and should be contacted by medical professionals rather than cops. It doesnt result in photo ops, but it may be the right way to get control of a safety issue that seems about to go off the rails. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Officers this week recovered more than 500 pieces of stolen mail from Folsom and El Dorado Hills after they spotted two people acting suspiciously at a shopping center, police said. About 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Folsom Police Departments problem oriented policing unit noticed a woman acting suspiciously as she entered the Nordstrom Rack clothing store at the Palladio shopping center. Police said one of the officers headed toward the parking lot where police saw her coming from and spotted a man in a nearby vehicle begin to act suspiciously, police officials announced Thursday in a Facebook post. The officer approached the man while asking other officers to speak with the woman in the store. When the officer spoke to the man in the vehicle, later identified as a 42-year-old Stockton man, he gave the officer a false name and said he was from the Stockton area, according to the Police Department. Police said the officer spotted a package in the vehicle that did not appear to belong to him, because it looked like it was postmarked and had a Folsom delivery address. The officer suspected the package might be stolen and detained the Stockton man. Nordstrom Rack employees told the officers that the suspicious woman was seen stealing clothing from the store, police said. The officers found and detained the suspect, later identified as a 28-year-old Stockton woman. The woman was on parole, so the officers searched the vehicle and found a large black garbage bag in the trunk that contained more than 500 pieces of mail from addresses in the Folsom and El Dorado Hills areas, according to the Police Department. Police investigators have referred the suspected mail theft to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for further investigation. The pair from Stockton were arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property, police said. The man faces an additional charge of giving a false name to police. Folsom Police Department reminds residents that the best defense against mail theft is to pick up your mail daily, police officials wrote in the Facebook post. If you plan to leave town for several days, consider stopping your mail delivery with the United States Postal Service or asking a trusted neighbor or friend to collect your mail for you. Officers asked residents who see suspicious activity near a mail box to call the Police Department at 916-355-7231. STONY POINT More than 1,200 showed up to "Rally in the Valley" Friday, calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to include a fair wage in her 2025 budget for the workers who aid 140,000 vulnerable New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The rally took place at Kirkbride Hall, one of the few revamped buildings that once made up the expansive Letchworth Village Developmental Center. At several points, participants chanted, "We are not going back to that!" The state-run institution, like the infamous Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, was shuttered after a 1970s expose showed maltreatment and launched a movement to close institutions and serve people in their communities. Direct Support Professionals, or DSPs, work in group homes and day programs and provide other supports for people with developmental disabilities like autism, Down syndrome and various genetic and neurological conditions. DSPs earn about 7% over minimum wage, on average. Now, agencies that operate group homes and day habilitation programs are facing a severe staffing shortage statewide. They report it's near impossible to find and retain staff when they pay so low. And, they warn, without staff, they cannot provide individualized services for people who need it. Diana Hess of Jawonio speaks at a rally for wage increases for Direct Service Professionals, or DSPs, the workers who help in group homes and day hab programs March 7, 2024 at Kirkbride Hall in Stony Point. What's asked of Hochul vs. her offer Nonprofits operate most group home and day program supports that serve New Yorkers with disabilities. The nonprofits employ the DSPs, but the state sets DSP wages through Medicaid reimbursements. Care crisis: Rockland rally to demand higher pay for workers who aid New Yorkers with disabilities Hochul's 2025 budget plan includes a 1.5% cost-of-living increase, or COLA, for agencies. Agencies and activists want Hochul to include a 3.2% COLA for agencies. That money is used to cover increased operational expenses, they say, with just a portion going to higher pay for workers. Advocates also want the governor to budget for a $4,000 wage enhancement per worker a pay boost that goes directly into DSPs' pockets. Alirio Magana, Jawonio assistant receptionist, attends a rally for wage increases for Direct Service Professionals, or DSPs, the workers who help in group homes and day hab programs March 7, 2024 at Kirkbride Hall in Stony Point. An issue of equity The lack of investment in DSP wages has gone on for years and has degraded the field, agency leaders and activists say. Agencies are dealing with a 25% vacancy rate in jobs statewide, and that comes after many programs and group homes shuttered during the COVID pandemic and never reopened or were scaled back when they relaunched. "It angers me that half of our workforce struggles to buy food for their families," said Bill DeVoe, vice president of communications and advocacy at Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State, citing a recent study that found half of DSPs face food and housing insecurity, while 85% expressed job satisfaction. "You can't bring job satisfaction to the grocery store to buy bread." DeVoe framed the low pay as a matter of equity. "Most workers are women of color," he said. Helping people to live their best life Mary Jean Marsico, retired COO of Rockland BOCES, joined Friday's rally. As a teen, she performed community service at Letchworth. It launched her on a career path. She also met a little boy who lived in one of the cottages there. After years of red tape, she and her then-husband adopted Wayne Brola when he was 12. Petition demands access: Should a NY library ban a man with autism from children's room? Wayne died at the end of January, at age 56. He had been residing in an ARC Rockland community. She said she witnessed what staff did for Wayne on a daily basis, and knows what a DSP job can encompass. DSP jobs can include cooking meals that are balanced and figuring out myriad prescription medications for residents. They may need to lift, dress and toilet the people they care for. They reinforce skills and help teach new ones. Marsico said it was difficult for her to be there; she pointed out that Wayne's cottage is now incorporated into North Rockland's Fieldstone Middle School across Willow Grove Road. But, she said, it was important to stand for the DSPs who had helped Wayne live his best life. "What they get paid for and what they do," Marsico said, as she shook her head. Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy for lohud.com and the USA Today Network New York. Reach her at ncutler@lohud.com; follow her at @nancyrockland on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Threads. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Hochul told to boost pay for workers who aid developmentally disabled Netflix "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Slight spoilers ahead for The Gentleman on Netflix. In Netflix's new show, The Gentleman, Theo James plays Eddie Horniman, the second son of the Duke of Halstead. He never expected to inherit his father's Dukedomso he attended Sandhurst, and forged a career in the British Army (sound familiar?). However, when his father is dying, Eddie is called back from his service, and at the reading of the will, it is announced that Eddie, not his older brother Freddy (Daniel Ings) will be the new Duke of Halstead. This sets off a whole chain of events which we won't spoil here, but viewers may be wondering: Is there really a Duke of Halstead? In short, there isn'tand an aristocratic Halstead family does not seem to exist. Per Ancestry.com, Halstead is an English name from Yorkshire and Lancashire, described as "habitational name from any of various places bearing this name for example in Essex (Haltesteda in Domesday Book) Kent and Leicestershire all of which are probably named from Old English h(e)ald refuge shelter + stede site or possibly Hawstead in Suffolk which has the same origin." In real life, there are 30 Dukes in the United Kingdom, which include six royal Dukedoms (Gloucester, Kent, Cambridge, Sussex, York, and Edinburgh). The other 24 Dukes inherit their titles by birth, and it passes to the eldest son. Though The Gentleman shows the (fictional) Duke of Halstead passing to his second son, Eddie, instead of his eldest, Freddy, this would not happen in real life. The Gentleman filmed at Badminton Estate, home of the Duke of Beaufort, who guided James in the world of the British upper classes. (The current Duke of Beaufort is Henry Somerset, the 12th Duke of Beaufort.) "Until we filmed The Gentlemen Id never met a Duke or had any entry into that kind of world," James said in an interview with Netflix about the aristocracy. "I had no understanding of it at all. So it was really helpful to film on the Badminton Estate and to meet the Duke of Beaufort who, like the Duke of Halstead, is dealing with all the modern problems of the landed gentry. Its a huge estate and, in his case, he helps to finance it by allowing film crews on his property." James said, "Well, when youre in these places it makes you very aware of this huge family lineage that dates back centuries. There are oil paintings of ancestors on the walls, so you can literally see how wealth and land is handed down through the generations. The idea of how deep set privilege and class is in our society is really at the very heart of The Gentlemen and you feel it viscerally in those locations." The Badminton Estate also served as a filming location for Bridgerton and its prequel, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. You Might Also Like If you've rescued an animal before, you'll know there are good days and not so good days, But you have to celebrate the days when your pet is really feeling its best. One rescue Macaw in Columbus, Ohio was having one of those good days recently, its owner even caught it doing a little happy dance after a bath. Kristen Collazo Suarez managed to capture her Macaw Merlin shaking her groove thing in the cutest video online. Merlin was just chilling at the top of her cage celebrating a successful bath time when she felt the music overtake her. She was rocking as the song played in the background. Honestly, we don't blame her. Who doesn't love listening to your favorite tunes when you get out of the shower? Related: Macaw's Reaction to Seeing Her Favorite Snow Globe Is Simply the Best "Merlin took a bath in her water bowl and then danced to music. She had a good day!" her mom wrote in the caption. A second video on her TikTok page shows Merlin grooving to the Backstreet Boys' song "I Want it That Way." "My little dancing queen! She loves music," her mama wrote under the video. Parrots Love Music It is true that Macaws, which are a type of Parrot, love music. They may not understand the lyrics, but they do react to music like we do. Birds even make their own music when they're in each other's company. Many studies have been conducted to find out why this is; like a 2012 study from Emory University which sought to determine if birdsongs are a musically rewarding trait. Researchers were hoping to find if there was a moment of "reward" when birds hear birdsongs. What they found was that female birds, when they hear birdsongs, respond to music similarly to how people do. The neural pathways that the human brain employs when it listens to music are the same ones that a bird brain employs. Pretty neat, right? The same can't be said for male birds, who had a variety of different responses to music. Some music even made male birds angry. But when a bird does like the song they're hearing they really like it. They'll bob and weave, move back and forth, or display other physical responses to songs just like we do. There are certainly types of music that birds respond to more so than others. Some like calming classical music while others like louder music with a faster beat. It's up the bird, really. You'll never know what your bird will like until you start hitting play on Spotify. Who knows, they may even be a fan of your favorite musician, then the two of you could dance together. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. A Russian state-backed group that Microsoft said hacked into its corporate email accounts was able to gain access to its core software systems, the company announced on Friday. Microsoft said its security team detected the attack in January and identified the group responsible as Midnight Blizzard, "the Russian state-sponsored actor also known as Nobelium." PHOTO: A Microsoft logo adorns a building in Chevy Chase, Md., May 20, 2021. (Eva Hambach/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) "In recent weeks, we have seen evidence that Midnight Blizzard is using information initially exfiltrated from our corporate email systems to gain, or attempt to gain, unauthorized access," Microsoft said in a blog post update on Friday. "This has included access to some of the company's source code repositories and internal systems." The company said it has found no evidence that Microsoft-hosted customer-facing systems have been compromised due to the breach. As of Friday, the incident has "not had a material impact" on Microsoft's operations, the company stated in an SEC filing. "The Company has not yet determined that the incident is reasonably likely to materially impact the Company's financial condition or results of operations," the filing stated. MORE: Microsoft corporate emails hacked by Russian-backed group, company says Midnight Blizzard is apparently attempting to use "secrets" that it has found in the hack, according to Microsoft. "Some of these secrets were shared between customers and Microsoft in email, and as we discover them in our exfiltrated email, we have been and are reaching out to these customers to assist them in taking mitigating measures," Microsoft said. The volume of some aspects of the ongoing attack has intensified, increasing as much as 10-fold in February compared to January, Microsoft said. That includes "password sprays," in which a user uses a single common password against multiple accounts on the same application, the company said. "Across Microsoft, we have increased our security investments, cross-enterprise coordination and mobilization, and have enhanced our ability to defend ourselves and secure and harden our environment against this advanced persistent threat," Microsoft said Friday. "We have and will continue to put in place additional enhanced security controls, detections, and monitoring." MORE: US disrupts Russian hacking campaign that infiltrated home, small business routers: DOJ The attack began in November, Microsoft said. The company was able to remove the hacker's access to the email accounts on Jan. 13, according to a company filing with the SEC. The company said in its SEC filing on Friday that it continues to coordinate with federal law enforcement on the ongoing investigation into the incident. Russian state-backed hackers breached Microsoft's core software systems, company says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) will make a surprise appearance at the Capitol Thursday for President Bidens State of the Union address, two sources familiar confirmed to The Hill, roughly three months after he was expelled from the House in a historic, bipartisan vote. Despite being expelled in December, Santos retains privileges to access the House floor. It is unclear if he will sit on the floor or in the public gallery. Santoss trip to Capitol Hill for the annual speech marks the first time he is back in the building since his ouster late last year, he told Fox News. Its the State of the Union, why not, he said when asked why he decided to return. Its a privilege. The House voted 311-114-2 to oust Santos on Dec. 1, making him the sixth lawmaker in history to be booted from the lower chamber. On his way out of the chamber during that vote, he told reporters to hell with this place. His expulsion which was successful on the third attempt to remove him from office came after he was charged with 23 criminal counts connected to allegations that he misled donors, fraudulently received unemployment benefits, and charged his donors credit cards without authorization. Santos has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to go to trial in September. The final straw in his congressional career, however, was the release of a damning report from the House Ethics Committee that said he violated federal criminal laws. Thursdays State of the Union will be the second time Santos has listened to the annual speech in the House chamber. Last year, he drew headlines before the speech after having a heated encounter with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on the House floor. I dont know the exact words I said. He shouldnt have been there. Look, hes a sick puppy. He shouldnt have been there, Romney told reporters after the speech, speaking about Santos. I dont think he ought to be in Congress, and he certainly shouldnt be in the aisle trying to shake the hand of the president of the United States and dignitaries coming in. Its an embarrassment, he added. Santos responded, I think its reprehensible the senator would say such a thing to me. It wasnt very Mormon of him. In November, one day before his expulsion, Santos said he was not sure if he would ever return to the Capitol to use his floor privileges, but he noted it would not happen soon. I dont know, Santos told a small group of reporters during an interview when asked if he would ever make an appearance in the Capitol again. Not in the near future, I dont believe. Its [a] sour relationship with a lot of people in the body, so I dont think I would come back to this format of Congress, he added. Santos told Fox News on Thursday that he met with a bipartisan group of his former colleagues before the speech. Asked how it is to be back in the Capitol, Santos said: its different. Definitely the Peoples House, its always a humbling experience and its always great to be back, he added. Pressed on if it would be his last time returning to the building, he said: I dont know. Updated at 7:55 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Special counsel Jack Smiths team slammed a series of arguments from former President Trump seeking to toss his case involving mishandled classified records at his Florida estate, rebuffing claims he is immune from prosecution and that the documents were his personal property. The prosecutions five briefs come after Trump last month fired off as many motions seeking to topple the case, rehashing his claims of presidential immunity, which are now set to come before the Supreme Court, as well as others more specifically tailored to the 40-count indictment. Smiths team argues Judge Aileen Cannon has little to consider in weighing Trumps claims he should be immune to prosecution for actions he took as president, noting he took all the documents after exiting office. The Superseding Indictment does not charge Trump for any acts that he undertook as President, let alone an official presidential act, prosecutors wrote. Even though Trump lost the authority to possess documents containing national defense information after his term as President ended, he nonetheless willfully retained such documents. Prosecutors also spent ample time reviewing Trumps claims that the charges should be dismissed as a selective and vindictive prosecution a path that requires showing prosecutors did not bring charges against similarly situated defendants. But Smith dismissed Trumps claims the lack of charges for President Biden means he was unfairly targeted, noting the cases have only superficial similarities. Trump, unlike Biden, is alleged to have engaged in extensive and repeated efforts to obstruct justice and thwart the return of documents bearing classification markings, which provides particularly strong evidence of willfulness and is a paradigmatic aggravating factor that prosecutors routinely rely on when making charging decisions, prosecutors wrote. They also noted that special counsel Robert Hur said he failed to find evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Biden intentionally kept the records. Additional distinctionsrelating to the volume, sensitivity, and storage of the classified documentsfurther confirm that the two cases are not nearly identical and that there are legitimate reasons for viewing them differently,' they wrote. Trump is charged with violating the Espionage Act, which prohibits the willful retention of national defense information, as well as obstruction of justice and other charges related to his efforts to conceal them from investigators. Smith was also dismissive of claims from Trump that the more than 300 classified records found among a significant tranche of other records from his presidency constitute personal records under the Presidential Records Act. The charged documents are indisputably presidential, not personal, and Trump offers no basis to conclude otherwise, his team wrote. Finally, Smiths team attacked Trumps arguments that he is facing an unconditionally vague prosecution. Trump is charged with the unauthorized possession and willful retention of national defense information. The statutes prohibitions are clear. And as a former President, Trump could not have failed to understand the paramount importance of protecting the Nations national-security and military secrets, including the obligations not to take unauthorized possession of, or willfully retain, national defense information, prosecutors wrote. Trumps actions are paradigmatic violations of [the Espionage Act] and there is nothing vague about the application of the statute to him. The filings come as the court is likewise weighing a rescheduling of the May 20 trial. Trump has asked to delay the trial until after the November election, while Smiths team suggested a July trial. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Rising North China leopard population reflects wildlife protection success Xinhua) 09:34, March 08, 2024 TAIYUAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A healthy North China leopard was recently spotted in the wild in Shanxi Province, further confirming the increasing population and expanded activity range of this rare species. The North China leopard is one of the world's nine subspecies of leopards. Its population is mainly distributed in northern China, with the total population across the country estimated to be fewer than 400. In the past, the North China leopard was widely distributed in the Taihang Mountain area. However, today, populations are fragmented, with each cluster containing fewer than 50 individuals, facing a high risk of extinction in certain regions due to poaching, environmental changes and human interference. As a flagship species in the forest ecosystem, the rare leopard has specific habitat requirements. Fortunately, recent population trends indicate steady restoration, showcasing encouraging progress in the local ecological environment. Thanks to a series of ecological protection initiatives in China, such as the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), a large-scale afforestation project, and the natural forest resource protection project, the ecological quality of the Loess Plateau, home to Shanxi Province, has greatly improved. The apex predator of the local ecosystem, these leopards have been increasingly spotted in Lyuliang Mountain, Taihang Mountain, and other nearby mountain ranges in recent years. In 2019, North China leopards were spotted in Chengde in Hebei Province, only 100 km north of Beijing. Another key factor contributing to the continuous rise in North China leopard population is the harmony between humans and wildlife, according to Song Dazhao, one of the founders of the Chinese Felid Conservation Alliance (CFCA), a non-profit organization specializing in the protection of wild cats in China. With the expansion of human activities, wildlife habitats are inevitably encroached upon, Song explained, noting that in some cases, local villagers have resorted to retaliatory hunting against wildlife due to past instances of predation on their livestock. To help address the problem, the CFCA launched a project named "Buy Steak for Leopards" in Shanxi in 2015. "When the leopard faces the threat of retaliatory hunting, ecological compensation is the most direct way to solve these problems and reduce the risk of such hunting," Song said. The project not only protects the property of local villagers but also provides sanctuary for the North China leopard. In order to further strengthen biodiversity protection, Shanxi Province, where the North China leopard is frequently sighted, is striving to enhance the diversity, stability and sustainability of its ecosystem. The provincial department of ecology and environment plans to establish and improve the province's coordination mechanism for biodiversity protection, and work with other related departments to promote the comprehensive protection of ecosystems, biological species and genetic resources, thus accelerating the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Michelle Williams, president of the Houston Education Association, speaks against the approval of a new evaluation system for principals during the public comment session of the Houston ISD Board of Managers meeting on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, at Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Houston Education Association President Michelle Williams, who leads the smaller of Houstons two teachers unions, was removed from her teaching post at a Houston ISD elementary school Wednesday and assigned to work at a bus depot while the district moves to terminate her over her social media activity. In a memorandum reviewed by the Houston Chronicle, West Division Superintendent Laura Stout informed Williams, who worked as a third-grade teacher at Shadowbriar Elementary School, that she was being reassigned to the Northwest Motor Pool due to alleged inappropriate conduct. A second memo from Stout states that the district is moving to terminate her contract due to violations of board policy namely, that Williams consistently posted on social media during the workday. As a consequence of your continued failure to meet the Districts expectations and focus on high quality instruction, the district is moving forward with the proposed termination of your contract, Stout wrote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad THE REPORT CARD: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicles weekly newsletter recapping HISD news Stout, in the memo, took issue with a livestreamed video Williams posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, just after 6 a.m. Wednesday, accusing Williams of recording the video in her classroom at Shadowbriar. The memo also points to unspecified social media posts on four days in February as evidence that the video is part of a pattern of behavior of posting online during the workday. Williams denied filming the video at Shadowbriar, saying that she recorded it at home in front of the set that she uses for her YouTube channel, which is decorated to look like an elementary school classroom, before she left for school in the morning. Photos shared with the Chronicle appear to show the same backdrop from the livestream situated in a room in a home, along with an elaborate audiovisual setup. Receipts from the Harris County Toll Road Authority also appear to indicate that Williams was commuting at 6:47 a.m. and 7:02 a.m. Wednesday. A review of Williams and the unions X accounts does demonstrate occasional posts during the school day. Williams said a union staffer schedules posts on her behalf, including those that appear on her personal account. Williams declined to comment further. Houston ISD officials said the district does not comment on personnel matters but that it is the expectation of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) that our employees comply with HISD Board policy and the Employee Standards of Conduct. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The 12-year HISD veteran took over as president of the Houston Education Association, which represents about 200 teachers across the district, in 2021. The HEA, a branch of the Texas State Teachers Association and National Education Association, is the smaller of Houstons two teachers unions the Houston Federation of Teachers, which is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers and Texas AFT, represents over 6,000 educators. TSTA officials declined to comment. The NEA did not immediately respond to a press inquiry. Williams has become one of the most vocal opponents of appointed Superintendent Mike Miles and his administration since they were installed by the Texas Education Agency to lead HISD in June, regularly criticizing district leadership on social media and at monthly Board of Managers meetings. The four-minute video that led to Williams reassignment Wednesday focused on the districts recently released compensation manual for teachers next year, which Williams called a slap in the face to all teachers at HISD. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Some parents at Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy are expressing outrage at disciplinary action handed down to a handful of students over how they reacted upon learning their classmate showed up to school armed with a gun. Mesquite police rushed to the public charter school on February 19 after an assistant principal called 911 reporting an armed student was holed in an office. Body camera video shows officers trying to talk down the teen before opening fire after he appeared to raise his arms while holding a firearm. The teen suffered a minor injury and was taken into custody. NBC 5 has learned that at least three students have been suspended for not allegedly reporting their classmate brought a gun to school, according to the parents of two affected students. Marta Fonseca asked NBC 5 to hear directly from her 15-year-old daughter about what happened that morning and why she reacted the way she did. Gabriela Rodriguez, a PTAA 9th grader, says she showed up to class about 20 minutes late when she noticed the boy move to sit next to her. He decides to just open his backpack and start flashing the gun at me, she said. He said he was going to do it one day so today was that day. He was going to do it and how hes only going to be going after the English teacher. That everybody should just leave the classroom after. Rodriguez says she initially thought the gun was fake. I sat there shocked because I didnt think it was a real gun, she said. I sat there for like five minutes just thinking this isnt real, this isnt real. This isnt happening. Rodriguez says the bell rang a few minutes later so she left and headed to her next class without alerting any adults. Yes, I couldve tried but at this point, its just my mind thinking: Would this kid turn on me and I get hurt instead of anyone else, she said. Fonseca says while she has taught her girls to see something, say something, she should not be shamed for her response under stress. Thats a lot putting on a child who just saw a kid with a gun in a classroom, said Fonseca. Shes still growing and her mentality is not fully developed. To place something that big on her, she in fact feared for her life. Students, she says, have already been traumatized by the subsequent shooting and should not face any discipline. Edgar Villa says his daughter shared a class with the gunman but was not told about the gun that morning. Villa says he and other parents are rallying around suspended students and their families, claiming it is the school that failed them. Several students tell NBC 5 school leadership never fully educated or prepared students or staff for such an emergency. Whats more, claims Villa, students lack of trust keeps them from alerting staff. Maybe they werent feeling comfortable telling teachers because of the way the teachers are treating them, said Villa. When it comes to the importance of reporting threats, especially because law enforcement often says teens are often the first to learn about potential school shootings, Villa and Fonseca argue minors should still not be reprimanded. Asked if she has any regrets about her decisions that day, Rodriguez said: Honestly, I have zero regrets. Yeah, maybe I shouldve done this differently, but at this point as long as Im safe and others are safe, which thankfully we are, Im ok with this. PTAA sent a statement to NBC 5 late Tuesday afternoon that reads in part: We are aware of the inquiries regarding the disciplinary actions taken in connection with the incident. Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), PTAA is restricted from discussing specific student cases publicly. We assure the community that all decisions are made with thorough consideration, adhering to our established policies and ensuring the well-being of our students and staff. Educating our students about safety, responsibility, and the importance of reporting concerns is a continuous process. PTAA is devoted to instilling these values through our curriculum and community engagement initiatives. We believe in learning from incidents to build a safer, more aware, and cohesive school environment. PTAA is in the process of arranging further meetings and discussions with specific parents and students. These forums will be designed to listen, share updates, and collaboratively work towards enhancing our schools safety and security measures. File photo of a hand holding a phone with the TikTok logo American politicians are being inundated with calls from TikTok users unhappy at plans to force its parent company to sell the social media app. A bill that would mandate the sale within six months or see TikTok facing a ban was approved by a US congressional panel on Thursday. Earlier, users of the app had received a notification urging them to act to "stop a TikTok shutdown." A congressional aide told the BBC their office had received dozens of calls. One Congressman said he had been contacted by children over the matter TikTok confirmed to the BBC it had sent a notification urging TikTokers to "call your representative now" to urge them to vote against the measure. The bill is expected to go to a full House floor vote next week. It has been proposed by a cross-party group of 20 lawmakers who form the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. It was approved unanimously 50-0 on Thursday by the Energy and Commerce Committee. The Senate would need to approve it before it became law. The committee chairwoman criticised TikTok's mobilisation of its users, to which the platform responded: "Why are members of Congress complaining about hearing from their constituents? Respectfully, isn't that their job?" The bill pledges to "protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications". Lawmakers say TikTok's owner ByteDance has links with the Chinese Communist Party - something denied by ByteDance and TikTok. The bill makes specific reference to ByteDance - which would be forced under the terms of the bill to sell TikTok, or face removal from mobile app stores in the US. It does not contain any provision for individual users of the app to face legal action. "America's foremost adversary has no business controlling a dominant media platform in the United States," said committee chairman Mike Gallagher, a Republican of Wisconsin. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, said TikTok posed "critical threats to our national security" because its parent company was "required to collaborate" with China's political leadership. The bill's proponents deny the move amounts to an overt ban on TikTok, arguing that ByteDance is being given a window of about six months to comply. But in a statement posted to X, TikTok described the move as "an outright ban... no matter how much the authors try to disguise it". "This legislation will trample the First Amendment rights of 170 million Americans and deprive 5 million small businesses of a platform they rely on to grow and create jobs." The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) agreed, saying the move represented an effort to score "cheap political points during an election year". The ACLU further highlighted that many Americans relied on the app for information and communication. The proposed legislation represents the latest attempt by American lawmakers to curb TikTok. The app is banned on US government devices - although the re-election campaign of President Joe Biden has an account. An attempt by former US President Donald Trump to ban TikTok and Chinese-owned WeChat hit legal obstacles and never came into force. Allison Arnold Nothing says springtime quite like the smell of freshly blooming flowers. And this year, Starbucks is highlighting a flowery seasonal ingredient in its spring menu: lavender. The flavor is a popular request from Starbucks baristas, so the coffee chain is launching two brand new lavender-forward drinks. The Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte and the Iced Lavender Oatmilk Matcha will be available in the U.S. starting today. Each drink features a proprietary lavender powdernot a traditional syrup. We found a powder to be the best expression of the subtle sweetness of lavender," said Patrick Penny, a Starbucks lead beverage developer. "It reminds me of lavender ice cream because of the light and soft vanilla flavor. While I love lavender, I was worried the drinks were going to be too sweet or floral. But after trying both, I was pleasantly surprised. Here's my rundown of the two new drinks and what to expect. Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte Allison Arnold The new latte features Starbucks Blonde Espresso, oat milk, and lavender powder. It even has a very subtle purple tint. I expected this to be overly sweet, but it was surprisingly balanced, likely because of the powder instead of a syrup. And no, it did not taste like soap. Iced Lavender Oatmilk Matcha Allison Arnold With pastel purple and green coloring, the Iced Lavender Oatmilk Matcha screams spring. It's a classic iced matcha with oat milk, but topped with lavender cream cold foam. (FYI, the cold foam does contain dairy.) Matcha and lavender? I didn't think the flavors would pair well together, but they blended well for creamy drink I couldn't put down. You can find the new spring menu at Starbucks stores across the U.S. for a limited time, while supplies last. And if you're looking for more refreshing drinks to sip on as the weather warms up, check out our picks for the best Starbucks iced drinks. You Might Also Like U.S. intelligence agencies plan to provide briefings to former President Donald Trump this year if he secures the Republican presidential nomination, even though he faces federal criminal charges that he mishandled classified information after he left office. The intelligence community is likely to adhere to past practices for nominees and has no plan to cancel the briefings if Trump becomes the GOP nominee, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. Scrapping the briefings for Trump could open President Joe Biden up to accusations of politicizing access to intelligence, one of the sources said. Launched by President Harry Truman in 1952, intelligence briefings for presidential nominees are designed to ensure a smooth transition of power and to prepare a prospective commander in chief for office. The briefings are not required by law. But Trumps candidacy poses an unprecedented circumstance for intelligence officials due to his track record. During his time in the White House, Trump was accused of revealing secret information, and he was indicted on federal criminal charges for allegedly retaining a trove of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after he left office. Federal prosecutors say investigators found boxes of sensitive documents stored in various parts of Mar-a-Lago, including in a bathroom, a ballroom and his bedroom. The former president, who has pleaded not guilty, faces multiple charges, including willful retention of national defense information, false statements and representations, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, and corruptly concealing a document. Trump and his lawyers have rejected the charges, arguing that he had a right to possess the documents, that he should be immune from prosecution because he removed the papers while he was president and that he is being singled out for prosecution unlike other former officeholders. Intelligence briefings to presidential nominees focus on national security threats and are typically not as detailed as those provided to sitting presidents or presidents-elect, according to former intelligence officials. The briefings do not include classified documents or information related to intelligence sources, the former officials said. Trumps former national security adviser, John Bolton, said it would be a mistake to provide intelligence briefings to the former president. No prior presidential candidate has ever been under indictment for compromising classified information. That alone is reason to withhold intelligence briefings. There is no legitimate argument that denying the briefings would impair Trumps campaign he doesnt understand what they would brief anyway, Bolton said. He added that if the White House does decide to provide briefings, they should only be to Trump, alone, with no aides. That way, any leaks would by definition be from Trump himself. Larry Pfeiffer, a former chief of staff at the CIA and now the director of the Hayden Center for Intelligence at George Mason University, said the briefings offered to presidential candidates are usually not as highly classified as the presidents daily briefing. The briefings are aimed to keep a candidate informed enough to not say something stupid during the campaign that would upset national security issues or diplomatic issues or potentially box in a future president, Pfeiffer said. Former CIA Director John Brennan agreed that the information provided to nominees is limited. Im pretty certain my former intelligence colleagues will provide briefings that are not going to do any type of damage to sources and methods in terms of providing information to Donald Trump that he could misuse, Brennan told MSNBCs Nicole Wallace on Thursday. But they will provide analytic overviews about some of the hot spots letting Donald Trump know what the assessments are at this point," said Brennan, who served under President Barack Obama. "I think its going to be analysis that will be devoid of the sources and methods. Pfeiffer said that, ideally, Trump should decline any classified briefings until his court case is resolved or if he is re-elected, but that appears unlikely. Biden, soon after he entered office, prohibited Trump from receiving intelligence briefings that are usually offered to former presidents because of what he described as Trumps cavalier handling of sensitive information. Last month, Biden was accused by special counsel Robert Hur of mishandling classified information, as well. But Hur found that the evidence wasnt strong enough to justify a prosecution. A United Airlines flight rolled off the runway at a Houston airport Friday morning, the airline said in a statement. The Boeing 737 plane had landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport around 8 a.m. when it rolled onto the grass as it exited the runway for the gate, United and Houston Airports and Houston Spaceport said in separate statements. The flight, which left from Memphis International Airport, had 160 passengers and six crew members on board. Passengers deplaned on the taxiway and were bused to the terminal. No one on board was injured. The incident did not disrupt other flights. A spokesperson for Houston Airports said flights into and out of the airport continued Friday without interruption. Its not clear what caused the plane to veer off the runway. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident. This is just the latest mishap involving a plane. On Monday, a United Airlines flight from Texas to Florida had to make an emergency landing after flames started shooting out of the engine. Last month, a United Airlines plane experienced stuck rudder pedals after landing at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. That incident prompted an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Sergeant Korbein Shultz was arrested on Thursday 8 March 2024 after allegedly selling secrets to China (US Army/Department of Defense ) An active-duty United States Army intelligence officer has been accused of selling sensitive information on Taiwan to China for around $42,000. Korbein Schultz, 24, was arrested at Fort Campbell, on the KentuckyTennessee border, on Thursday. The sergeant, from Wills Point in Texas, allegedly used his top secret security clearance to download classified government records, including maps, plans and notes, on national defence. Announcing his indictment, the Department of Justice said Sgt Shultz worked with an individual known as Conspirator A from June 2022 until his arrest. Conspirator A asked him to use his clearance to gather information on US weapons systems and the militarys plans should Taiwan come under military attack. One of the documents the sergeant sent was a manual on using intercontinental ballistic missiles. "I will just keep sending you an abundance of information, the sergeant told Conspirator A in a message on 26 August 2022, having just downloaded seven more documents. The individual told Sgt Shultz that he lived in Hong Kong and worked for a geopolitical consulting firm. Much of the information sent was related to China, according to prosecutors. Sgt Shultz, who told Conspirator A that he wanted to be like the fictional spy Jason Bourne, has now been charged with six counts including conspiracy and bribery, the DOJ said. Protecting national defence information is absolutely critical to our countrys safety and security, US Attorney Henry Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee said in a statement. The unauthorised sale of such information violates our national security laws, compromises our safety, and cannot be tolerated. Part of Sgt Shultzs job was to instruct others on the proper handling of classified documents, say officials. At the same time, the officer allegedly received at least 14 payments from the mystery person, who at one point told him he wanted to turn their relationship into a long-term partnership. According to a US Army spokesperson, Sgt Shultz has received multiple awards, including the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon. We cannot tolerate any betrayal of trust, and we remain vigilant in our mission to protect national defence information crucial to our security, Brigadier General Rhett R Cox, Commanding General of the Army Counterintelligence Command said. We encourage all members of the Army team, past or present, to remain vigilant and report any potential suspicious activity." Thursdays announcement comes after a 22-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was jailed for 16 years after he leaked classified military documents to his friends online. Also earlier this week, a former Air Force employee and retired Army lieutenant colonel pleaded not guilty to charges that he shared classified information about Russias war with Ukraine on a foreign dating site. The U.S. State Department is encouraging American citizens to leave Haiti following an ongoing spate of gang violence. A series of coordinated gang attacks began against a number of government institutions last week, with prisons, dozens of police stations and the international airport all targeted. The violence has paralyzed the country, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti has a warning on its website advising citizens to "monitor local news and information on security conditions from commercial transportation providers and arrange to leave Haiti when security conditions and commercial transportation options permit doing so." PHOTO: Police officers patrol outside the police headquarters as Haiti continues in a state of emergency, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 6, 2024. (Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters) MORE: 'Rust' armorer found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in on-set shooting How U.S. citizens can make it out of the country, however, remains unclear. Haiti's airport has been temporarily closed and is inoperable. Gangs attempted to seize control of it on Monday, ABC News previously reported. A land crossing into the Dominican Republic, which Haiti borders, is also almost impossible to travel from Port-au-Prince as the route is dominated by gangs. There are no widely used ports for passenger travel by sea. This is the second time in just days that the U.S. Embassy in Haiti posted a notice for Americans to leave. It issued the same security alert on March 3. Haiti is under a state of emergency and nighttime curfew amid the surge in violence, after armed gangs attacked several of the countrys largest prisons and freed thousands of inmates. The Haitian government declared the 72-hour state of emergency on Sunday evening and imposed a curfew from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. in an effort "to restore the order and to take appropriate measures in order to regain control of the situation," according to a press release. The government cited "the deterioration in security, particularly in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, characterized by increasingly violent criminal acts perpetrated by armed gangs, causing massive population displacements and consisting in particular of kidnappings and assassinations of peaceful citizens, violence against women and children, ransacking and theft of public and private property." Of the nearly 4,000 inmates estimated to have been behind bars at the facility prior to Saturday's assault, fewer than 100 were still inside as of Sunday according to the officials, who cautioned that the actual number of escapees remains unknown. The Haitian government said in a statement on Sunday that those responsible for the attack were "heavily armed criminals wanting at all costs to free people in custody, particularly for kidnapping, murder and other serious offenses," and that several inmates and prison staff were injured in the fighting. A Haitian law enforcement source who was at the scene when gangs attempted to seize control of the airport Monday told ABC News earlier this week that an estimated several dozen gunmen from gangs breached the perimeter wall of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport on the outskirts of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. MORE: New York cheese producer pleads guilty to causing listeria outbreak that killed 2, hospitalized 8 The assailants exchanged gunfire with Haitian police and soldiers as they tried to reach the airport's main buildings to take over the facility, but were ultimately stopped before doing so, the source said. At least one Haitian police officer was wounded and later died at a nearby hospital, according to a Haitian police source. An unknown number of attackers were also injured or killed. The U.S. Embassy said Wednesday its facility in Port-au-Prince would be conducting "limited operations" Thursday and appointments for all services through March 12 have been canceled. In an update on Thursday evening, Brian Nichols, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, said Secretary Blinken spoke on the phone with Haitian leader Ariel Henry. The State Department didnt release a readout from the call, but Blinken reiterated the need to speed up the transfer of power, according to Nichols. Officials are still closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Haiti, but say there are no imminent plans for an evacuation of the U.S. Embassy or a government-led evacuation of Americans in the country. -- ABC News' Will Gretsky, Shannon Crawford and Aicha El Hammar Castano contributed to this report. State Department urges Americans to get out of Haiti, but how is the question originally appeared on abcnews.go.com remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Downtown Houston is seen Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. The Houston Housing Authority is being sued for allegedly paying contractors without proper oversight. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A whistleblower lawsuit accusing the Houston Housing Authority of fraud will be allowed to proceed after the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed an earlier judgment to dismiss the case. The lawsuit filed by the United States of America accused the housing authority of paying contractors without necessary oversight. Its based on information from Karen Miniex, who was once the housing authoritys vice president and general counsel. The reversal hinged on whether the housing authority had already been sued or fined for the allegedly inappropriate procurements and whether the suit at hand was specific enough. The U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the district courts dismissal because it argued that a federal audit, which found the authority inappropriately paid more than $3.2 million in federal funds, was not an administrative civil money penalty. The court of appeals also ruled that Miniex had given specific enough details on how the housing authority agreed to oversee spending, instances when it had failed to do that and how that caused the federal government to reseek funds. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Now, the case against the housing authority will return to the district court with a newly amended complaint. The new complaint does not include allegations that the Housing Choice Vouchers department took bribes in 2015 and 2016, which were part of the original complaint filed in 2018. Miniexs lawyer declined to comment on why the other allegations were dropped. A spokesperson for the housing authority declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. But in its motion to dismiss the case filed Feb. 26, housing authority lawyers called the case opportunistic and framed it as Miniexs latest effort to achieve private financial gain. Miniex won $2.2 million in a previous suit, alleging the housing authority retaliated against her. The motion also argued that since her allegations of fraud have already been publicly disclosed by an audit performed by the Office of Inspector General, she offered nothing new in her whistleblower suit. According to federal law, a suit can be dismissed if substantially the same allegations or transactions as alleged were publicly disclosed. Developments in the years-old case regarding events that took place under a previous president who left in 2020 come as the authoritys leadership again faces charged allegations. After the housing authority paused the issuance of new Housing Choice Vouchers in February, Mayor John Whitmire, in a highly unusual move, replaced five of the seven members of the authoritys board. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Whitmire, in a release, accused housing officials of poor leadership and mismanaged finances. Following that decision, outgoing board chair LaRence Snowden said in a release that any insinuation of financial mismanagement was unfounded. He said the pause was due to rules about voucher issuance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Allegations The Houston Housing Authority provides housing to low-income residents in the city, a job that involves managing and maintaining 5,600 apartments, according to its site. Since housing authority staff doesnt paint walls or tune up HVAC systems, the organization pays contractors to do so. And since its money comes from the federal government, it agrees to put policies in place to make sure it does not waste taxpayer money or fall prey to conflicts of interest. In the housing authority, the bigger the contract, the more stringent the oversight to make sure it is spent prudently and fairly. The lawsuit accuses the housing authority of failing to use appropriate oversight of how it spends tax dollars in a number of ways. The allegations include not getting independent cost estimates, splitting what should have been one bid into multiple bids so that each was small enough not to trigger greater oversight, and using cost changes to increase bids that were approved at sizes small enough to avoid greater oversight. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A federal audit also identified the failure to get independent cost estimates. Miniexs lawsuit includes an internal email sent during the audit in which a legal department employee asked staff to do some digging for any documents that could support 25 contracts. The contracts included payments for replacing an HVAC system, replacing flooring, and maintaining the air conditioners and heaters in 100 units of a housing complex. Miniexs suit points to another email from a housing authority employee to support the allegation that the organization avoided oversight by splitting bids into smaller amounts. In 2015, as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments Office of Inspector General investigated the housing authoritys spending, the authority made a significant policy change. It moved a substantial portion of the spending from its control to its property management company partners. Those property management companies were able to make all decisions of less than $25,000 without oversight from the housing authority. In September of that year, a housing authority employee emailed his concerns about the lack of oversight. Currently several properties are paying weekly and bi weekly for lawn care services to the same vendor with no contract, he said. He also raised concerns that a company doing electrical work for one property management company could not produce an electrical license and that he had seen two children, maybe 10 or 8 years old painting an apartment. When asked for instances when a change order was used to increase a bid, Miniexs lawyer, Jamison Joiner, declined to comment. The lawsuit points to an email in which a housing authority employee asked Miniex to look at the number of amendments on the bid solicitation site hosted on the property manager Allied-Orion Groups website. But while the link included in the 2016 email still opens the bid solicitation site, it is unclear which bid solicitations from 2016 were amended, and what the original award amounts were. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The case will not be heard until at least May 2025. YEREVAN, MARCH 8, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of the official visit to the Republic of Estonia, the delegation led by the Armenian National Assembly President Alen Simonyan met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna, the press service of the Armenian National Assembly said. The parties confirmed the existing warm interstate relations between Armenia and Estonia, which are based on common democratic values. At the beginning of the conversation, the current security situation in the South Caucasus was discussed. Alen Simonyan mentioned that Armenia is committed to the agenda of establishing peace in the region and presented the process of Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations. Regional communications should operate according to the principles of sovereignty, jurisdiction, equality and reciprocity. Delimitation and demarcation should be carried out on the basis of the Alma-Ata Declaration, Alen Simonyan underscored. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia highly appreciated Armenias commitment to the peace agenda. Armenia is a friendly country for us. Estonia is ready to support Armenia in every possible way in establishing peace and security in the region, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said. A number of issues regarding the development of Armenia-Estonia, Armenia-EU relations, as well as the situation in Eastern Europe, were discussed. Diversified has hired former Atos Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ) managing director James Berry as its newly-established managing director for Asia Pacific (APAC). The IT services and consulting company is based in the US, with offices in the UK and Japan in addition to its Melbourne office in Australia. It was founded in 1993 initially as a systems and media technology integration company and now offers consultancy, managed and design services, as well as various technology as a service solutions across audio visual, digital signage and payment solutions. Before Berrys appointment, Diversified had a Australia-only managing director in Andrew Morrice, who retired in December 2023. The new role meanwhile was created as part of Diversifieds growth strategy in the APAC region and will also see it establish the companys foothold across Asia. Berry joins the company with more than 30 years of experience across technology-focused roles in Australia, Asia and Europe, with more than half of this time, at 18 years, in Asia. His most recent position prior to his with appointment was at Atos, where he worked for the last three and a half years. "His deep knowledge across various sectors, including technology, financial services, supply chain and health managed services, combined with his rich understanding of various international markets, positions him as an ideal leader to continue driving our growth in the APAC region, which is a strategic priority for Diversified, Eric Hutto, Diversified CEO, said. Australian IT services group DWS won a temporary injunction last month blocking former customer the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) from accessing information related to a key government transformation project. The injunction aimed to suspend the effect of a contractual notice issued by the Department on Dutch software escrow services provider Codekeeper. The notice required Codekeeper, which was also injuncted, to release information owned by DWS and related to the replacement of Internal Affairs aging births deaths and marriages registry. The registry was being replaced as part of the Departments key Te Ara Manaaki transformation project until the NZ$30 million contract with DWS was terminated late last year, as reported by Radio New Zealand. Once certain undertakings were provided to DWS by the Department, the interim injunction was discharged. Information released on 8 March further revealed as of the June 2023 financial year, the expected total cost of Te Ara Manaaki rose from NZ$152.8 million to NZ$203.4 million. The project was also expected to take a year longer than the four initially projected. The Department entered into a master ICT agreement with DWS for the delivery of a civil registration solution relating to "life milestones" such as births, deaths and marriages in 2022. The parties also entered into an escrow agreement, requiring source code created by DWS to be held for the Department's benefit by Codekeeper. The evidence indicates the project has not been without difficulties, High Court justice Isac wrote of his decision to dismiss the interim injunction. A gateway review by Treasury last year found cost pressures from COVID-19 had impacted the Te Ara Manaaki program's original business case. Perhaps more tellingly, the review found the introduction of two new delivery partners, each with different methodologies and a different delivery "cadence", also presented a new and more challenging risk landscape if strong and effective program governance was not applied. A Parliamentary estimates examination also noted a delay in delivery of the civil registration system due to a revised delivery plan with the vendor, following their discovery that more work is needed to meet our unique New Zealand requirements. In dealing with the injunction, the court noted that differences arose between DWS and the Department that led the latter to issue a notice of termination of the master ICT agreement in December. More recently, the court said, the Department issued a notice on Codekeeper purporting to require it to release source code said to belong to DWS and to contain valuable proprietary information. This is what led DWS to seek an urgent interim injunction suspending the operation of the Department's release notice until differences between the parties had been resolved through the dispute resolution process under the master ICT agreement. The Department confirmed it had terminated its contract with DWS. As a consequence of the above, a decision has been made to stop work on the development of the replacement civil registration system at this point in time, it said. The Department cannot discuss details of our confidential discussions with the vendor or other matters relating to this program of work while those discussions are ongoing. DWS, now owned by HCL, was asked for comment. Microsoft's NZ cloud region was chosen to host the new civil registration system in 2022. The system was to replace 25-year-old, end-of-life technology and to give people more control over their information and be more efficient, secure, and reliable. The registers contain approximately 80 million records. DWS was chosen in part because it had previously performed similar, much larger data migrations for the Victorian and NSW governments. DXC Technology, meanwhile, is replacing DIA's citizenship system and services as part of the program as well as improving its passports system. The new system is a customer-centred management solution built on Microsoft Dynamics 365. Says it will ease burden, benefit 'Nari Shakti' The Central government has decided to reduce LPG cylinder prices by 100 in view of International Women's Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a reduction of Rs 100 in cooking gas cylinder prices on Friday on the occasion of International Women's Day. This will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting Nari Shakti (women power), Modi said in a post on X. By making cooking gas more affordable, we also aim to support the well-being of families and ensure a healthier environment. This is in line with our commitment to empowering women and ensuring ease of living for them, he said. In a related decision, the government announced the extension of Rs 300 per LPG cylinder subsidy to poor women under the Ujjwala Yojana for the next fiscal starting April 1. Later, addressing the National Creators' Awards at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital amid chants of "abki bar 400 paar", Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that he will address next year's function as well. He said that this is not Modis guarantee, but the guarantee of 140-crore citizens of India. He also urged the content creators to start the Create on India Movement. Noting that the Lok Sabha polls were round the corner, Modi said, "I give you the guarantee that on the next Shivratri, which could be on some other date, it will be me who will preside over such a programme." The Prime Minister said that he is confident that the BJP-led NDA will do well in the impending Lok Sabha polls because he believes that people feel strongly for him. "You feel strongly for me, as I live for you. There are many people willing to die for those who live for others," he said, asserting that the people of the country are his family. The Prime Minister urged the content creators to spread awareness among the youth and first-time voters in the country to instill the feeling that voting is not carried out to declare winners and losers in an election but to become a part of the decision-making process that crafts the future of such a massive country. He noted that even though many nations became prosperous in different ways, they eventually opted for democracy. India has taken the resolve to become a developed nation by taking pride in 100 per cent democracy, the Prime Minister said. In a veiled message to the Opposition parties, the Prime Minister said that there is going to be a "safai" (clean-up) in the upcoming elections. Handing out the Swachhta Ambassador Award to Malhar Kalambe, Mr Modi took a dig at the Opposition and said, "Har prakaar ki safai mein kaam aa sakta hai, iss chunaav mein bhi safai hone wali hai (There is going to be a clean-up in this election too)." Speaking after presenting the first-ever National Creators Award, Mr Modi urged the content creators to start a Create on India Movement and share the countrys stories, culture, heritage and traditions with the whole world. Modi said: Come, let us start a Create on India Movement. Let us share Indias stories, culture, heritage and traditions with the whole world. Let us Create on India and Create for the World. The Prime Minister urged the content creators to engage the global audience to create content that not only makes for maximum likes for the creator but also for the country. Noting the curiosity of the world towards India, the Prime Minister urged content creators to develop work in UN languages such as German, French, Spanish, among others, to amplify their reach. The Prime Minister underlined that the potential of content creators can take India's branding to a new height at the national and international levels. Highlighting the impact of a multiplier effect of one scheme or policy on the development journey of the nation, Mr Modi mentioned the data revolution in the last 10 years and the availability of low-cost data. He credited the Digital India campaign for the formation of a new world for content creators and lauded the efforts of the youth in this direction. "Youth, with their positive actions, have urged the government to look towards content creators, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister wished women on International Women's Day and urged content creators to showcase the capabilities of "Nari Shakti" of India and gave ideas of a mother conducting her daily tasks and women from rural and tribal areas engaging in economic activity. Content creation can help in rectifying incorrect perceptions, he said. Urging to create content that highlights the negative effects of drugs on youth, Mr Modi said, We must say drugs are not cool. More than 1.5 lakh nominations across 20 different categories were received for the National Creators' Awards. Subsequently, in the voting round, about 10 lakh votes were cast for digital creators in various award categories. Following which, 23 winners, including three international creators, were decided. Those awarded included Ranveer Allahbadia, who was named the "Disruptor of the Year". Jaya Kishor was given the award for "Best Creative for Social Change", Lakshya Dabas bagged the honour of "Most Impactful Agri Creator". The "Best International Creator Award" was won by Kiri Paul from Tanzania, Drew Hicks from the United States of America and Cassandra Mae Spittmann from Germany. Mr Hicks received the award from Mr Modi. The "New India Champion" award was given to Abhi and Niyu, the "Heritage Fashion Icon Award" to Jahnvi Singh, the "Best Creative Creator" (female) award went to Shraddha and RJ Raunaq received the "Best Creative Creator" (male) award. The award for "Best Creator in Food" went to Kabita's Kitchen, Naman Deshmukh received the award in the "Best Creator in Education" category, Ankit Baiyanpuria was given the "Best Health and Fitness Creator" award, Nischay was given the "Gaming Creator" award, Aridaman was adjudged the "Best Micro Creator", Piyush Purohit won the "Best Nano Creator" award and Aman Gupta, famous for his involvement in the television programme "Shark Tank India", was given the "Best Celebrity Creator" award. Out of the 39 candidates, 15 are from the general caste and 24 are from SC/ST/minorities New Delhi: The Congress on Friday released its first list of 49 candidates for Lok Sabha elections. The party again declared the candidature of Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad. Shashi Tharoor will fight from Thiruvananthapuram, a seat he has held for three terms, while former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel will make his Lok Sabha electoral debut from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh. Some of the other big names on the list are Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal, who will contest from Alapuzzha in Kerala a seat he had won in 2009 and D.K. Suresh, brother of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who has been fielded from Bengaluru Rural. Seven names have been announced from Karnataka, six from Chhattisgarh and four from Telangana. The remaining are from Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Lakshadweep. Out of the 39 candidates, 15 are from the general caste and 24 are from SC/ST/minorities. As the first list was announced, the Congress said senior leadership put much thought behind the judicious mix. The names were finalised after the first meeting of the central election committee that took place on Thursday under the leadership of president Mallikarjun Kharge. Rahul Gandhi attended the meeting through a Zoom call. As the suspense over whether Rahul Gandhi will contest a second seat and whether that will be Uttar Pradesh's Amethi is not yet over, the party said the remaining states will be taken up for discussion in the next meetings. On Delhi seats for which names have not been finalised, K.C. Venugopal said the party is only looking for the best of the candidates and there is no conflict. The tickets are being given only on the basis of winnability, Venugopal added. The next meeting of the CEC is expected to be held on Monday March 11 by Sumon Corraya Her organisation, Banchte Shekha ('Learn to Survive') helps those who are abused by their husbands. In the course of her life, Angela Gomes, originally from the Mathbari parish in Gazipur, has, however, also had to face many challenges: "They have given me more strength to be a voice for those who do not have one. Jessore (AsiaNews) - When Achya Akter Boby began to suffer mistreatment from her husband, she didn't know where to turn. The marriage had been organized by the girl's parents with a man called Shaidul Islam, who not only asked for a dowry of 150 thousand taka (1,260 euros), but began to beat his wife. Until one day Achya ended up in the hospital. Her parents then decided to turn to Banchte Shekha, an NGO run by Angela Gomes, a Catholic, which deals with women who suffer abuse and mistreatment. "Angela Gomes saved my family and I am grateful to her," Achya told AsiaNews after undergoing a process of reconciliation with her husband. Salma Khuton also turned to her NGO - whose name in Bengali means "Learn to Survive" - after her husband, Mohammad Israfil, started beating and mistreating her for giving birth to two disabled children. Angela Gomes is doing amazing work for abused women like me. If she weren't there, many women could kill themselves, victims of their husbands." According to the latest report published by the Bangladesh Institute of Statistics in 2015, around 73% of women have been victims of violence by their husbands at some point in their lives. 39% do not feel the need to report the violence. And around 27% feel ashamed to report the incident to the police due to social pressure. Angela Gomes, 72, has been working in this sector for 48 years, in Jessore and other southern districts of Bangladesh. The purpose of her organization, she explained, is to help battered women obtain justice, honor and dignity: To resolve problems between husband and wife, we sit both parties down and give them our advice. Most of the time we manage to solve the problems, but if the husband leaves his wife demanding a dowry or making other illegal demands, we help the women obtain justice, she told AsiaNews. Gomes, who won the 1999 Magsaysay award for community leadership and has also received several other awards, belongs to St. Augustine of Hippo Church of Mathbari Parish in Gazipur, near Dhaka. However, she has had to face many challenges throughout her life: One day some Muslims threw human feces at my head, but I didn't stop. On the contrary, it gave me more strength to be the voice of the voiceless women in Bangladesh, shared the Catholic woman, who is convinced that if women received an education and empowered themselves economically, they would have a better chance of achieving equality enrich society with men. But to do this you also need the support of men, she said. by Fady Noun Within the Lebanese army and among retired soldiers, anger and protest are mounting: the collapse of the economy has squandered the purchasing power of their salaries. Today they receive between 9 and 12 per cent of what they were entitled to before the 2019 crisis. The indifference of the political and ruling class, aid from foreign countries. Beirut (AsiaNews) - The Book of Ecclesiastes is one of the most accessible in the Bible. Surprisingly timely, it expresses practical wisdom. In particular, he says that some things are particularly "pleasing to God", such as "neighbors who get along", but that others sadden him. Among the latter, the book of wisdom includes "the warrior who grows old in misery". After all, the profession of arms has always been different from all others: soldiers carry within them the memory of their homeland and the dangers it faced. What was true in Bible times is even more true today. Retired Lebanese army personnel, the "old warriors", are taking to the streets to demand the adjustment of their service allowances. In Riad el-Solh square they almost came to blows with the young recruits who were stationed in front of them. In this military force of over 70 thousand members, the pay of an ordinary soldier is negligible (220 dollars), due to the economic collapse of 2019, which caused the Lebanese currency to lose 95% of its value. Anger and indignation among retired soldiers exploded when they realized that the recent salary adjustments decided by the Mikati government made them equal to fifth category public employees. The leader of the protest, retired general Georges Nader, seriously wounded in the 2007 battle between the army and the Islamic extremist group Fateh el-Islam in the Palestinian camp of Nahr el-Bared, tells AsiaNews: "I served 35 years in the 'army. Before 2019, my salary was 4 thousand dollars; today it is 580 dollars, or 12% of what it once was. Without my plot of land in Akkar and without my two children, how do you think I could have lived?. The former officer continues his story: Believe me, there are some of us who live in poverty, who don't even have enough money to offer you a cup of coffee if you go to visit them. And sure, there are some of us for whom we occasionally take up a collection to help them. Does all this seem right to you?. "On average, current salaries and allowances - explains the senior officer - are around 9% of what they were before 2019. We will fight to bring this percentage to 40%". The military hero also adds that he was summoned to court which, according to him, seemed like a real humiliation. He was accused of wearing military uniform and a T-shirt with the army motto during a demonstration." To allow the troop to remain operational, since 2021 many countries have occasionally supported the army with donations of fuel, food baskets and even cash payments for the soldiers. In June 2022, Qatar offered the Lebanese army million in aid, contributing to the payment of soldiers' salaries. A year later, in June 2023, at least 70 thousand soldiers benefited from a donation of 55.5 million dollars from the United States and the United Nations, at the rate of 100 dollars per month for a total period of six months. Last March 1, the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), General Jospeh Aoun, participated in a meeting in support of the army in Italy, together with the leaders of the armies of Italy itself, France, Spain, Germany and Great Brittany. General Aoun explained the current situation of the army and the challenges it faces in various aspects. There have been discussions on how to support and strengthen its capabilities but, in practice, no concrete decisions have been made so far. Lack of political will Brigadier General Chamel Roukoz, former head of the army commando corps, deplores this assistance from abroad. These temporary subsidies are not a solution, he explains. Forced to look elsewhere for additional income that would allow them to take care of their families, soldiers "lose morale and no longer give their best." Many of them currently find work in small part-time jobs - including delivery boys, waiters in restaurants, parking attendants, mechanics - "to cope with the needs and unexpected events of daily life". In normal times, they would have the confidence of a lion, knowing that for every need they can count on their agent. Today, their mind he states is elsewhere. Some of these soldiers are losing hope and deserting, or are even thinking of leaving Lebanon forever. Others are forced into debt. My compensation was 12 million pounds (about 120 dollars), when the bill for medicine was 15 million, Antoun D., a married soldier in his fifties, told AsiaNews. For the officer, who is also the son-in-law of President Michel Aoun and father of two children, Lebanon's riches are being plundered and only the lack of political will keepse the country in poverty. At a time when there is talk of increasing the number of army personnel to meet the demands of rigorous implementation of Resolution 1701, retired members of the armed forces suffer from the indifference of the political class towards their fate. They have to take to the streets, but they do so reluctantly. More than a simple institution, the armed forces are for them the first school and the last bastion of national unity. And they are convinced that it is a shame that their last battle is fought over their salaries. Listening to them, we can better understand why the author of the sacred text says that God "gets sad" when he sees a warrior "in misery". It's like stepping on a flag. Because some causes are sacred. by Steve Suwannarat The government blames US-based Montagnard Support Group Inc and Montagnard Stand for Justice for attacks on Communist Party headquarters in the Dak Lak area. Despite recent overtures, Vietnams Christian minority is still victimised and persecuted. Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) Two more US-based groups advocating on behalf of ethnic minorities in Vietnams Central Highlands have been listed as terrorist organisations, further evidence that the Montagnards remain a thorn in the side of the Vietnamese government. The Montagnard Support Group Inc (MSGI) and the Montagnard Stand for Justice (MSFJ) have been blamed for attacks in June last year on Communist Party headquarters in the Dak Lak area that killed nine people, including four police officers and local party officials. Encouraged by the countrys authorities, Vietnamese mass media immediately linked the events in Dak Lak to "terrorist" groups abroad, including Boat People SOS and the MSFJ, unleashing a hate campaign against minority communities. Vietnam's state-run media have a long history of discriminatory bias and creating tall tales against ethnic minorities, said recently Phil Robertson, deputy director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) Asia. Despite the lack of any evidence against the targeted foreign-based Montagnard groups and their leaders, generally seen as reactionary, Vietnams intelligence service accuses them of orchestrating the attacks and having a secessionist agenda, charges the two latter deny. Like other groups, the MSGI and the MSFJ have been accused of training and instructing members of ethnic minorities to "carry out terrorist activities, incite protests, kill officials and civilians, sabotage state assets and try to establish their own states. Such charges carry heavy consequences and can be applied to anyone who receives funds from any foreign-based groups. In addition to terrorism accusations against such groups, Vietnam has also released a list of individuals involved in human rights advocacy, mainly based in the United States and Thailand. Vietnamese authorities have threatened to target anyone involved with anyone they consider a risk to national security. The Montagnards remain under a cloud of suspicion because they backed South Vietnam during the Vietnam War that ended on 30 April 1975 and are mostly Christian, an element of their identity that they have preserved in spite of pressures and decades of persecution. Nevertheless, Montagnards treatment is not that different from that of activists and groups seeking greater civil liberties, human rights, and participation in a country that has experienced spectacular economic progress and shown some flexibility vis-a-vis demands for greater liberty and religious freedom. In fact, Vietnam remains under the undisputed power of the Communist Party while exhibiting significant variation in terms of social and cultural progress. Fascinating? Alexei Navalney was fascinating. Above: After Navalny's death, flowers and signs were placed outside the Russian Consulate in New York. John Lamparski/Getty Images Ive noticed this fascination with putin (Vladimir Putin) among Americans who consider themselves freedom-loving. Words freedom and putin shouldnt even appear in one sentence. It hurts my religious feelings: My religion is freedom. I remember meeting professor Noam Chomsky. As a philosophy student, I had so much admiration and respect for Chomsky, that I was petrified when I got to interview him. Chomsky was brilliant. He was a god. Until he started to talk about Russia, and then he became way too apologetic about putin. (Yes, small p. I wont write his name any other way.) I was fresh out of jail, where I spent more than a year for a peaceful protest art action. I was arrested on the birthday of my daughter, who was turning 4, thrown into barracks with no running water and forced to sew police uniforms and dig trenches. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So with Chomsky, I felt betrayed. I thought, Professor Chomsky is so smart that hell be able to see me and my struggle. But I dont think he was able to. Upon leaving him at MIT, I sat on the floor, cried my eyes out and refused to move for a while. Nadya Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot. Mat Hayward/Getty Images There are people like the left-wing blogger Aaron Mate, who cold-heartedly wrote on Feb. 16, the day of my friend Alexei Navalnys murder: Navalny was a marginal opposition figure who polled at around 2%. putin didnt fear him; it served putin to have him seen in the West as his main opposition. Navalny was supported by dozens of millions who dreamt of a free, peaceful, democratic Russia. Theres no way to measure the exact numbers, since were living in dictatorship, but look how many people watched a single video produced by Navalny: 130 million. Only about 146 million people live in Russia. I encourage Aaron to move to putins Russia and try living under putins rule. Im not sure what makes Western bloggers, sitting in the comfort of their homes, write off our lives, blood, fight and suffering we who oppose putin in Russia and those who heroically fight him in Ukraine and dehumanize us as NATOs psy-ops. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Then there are these bright Western bloggers who want to interview putin for whatever reason. I need to hear him out, they say. No, I dont think you need to give a megaphone to a maniac torturing his victim. You need to lock him up and take good care of the victim. Tucker Carlson, by giving putin a platform and failing to ask putin about Alexei, spits in my face. The late Alexei Navalny, seen here leading an anti-Putin rally in 2018. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images putin is fascinating, they say. No, hes not. Hes a random thug who grabbed power. Nothing fascinating. Its just a regular, boring, dull dictatorship. putin took hostages in my entire country, millions of people who disagree with him but cant say a word, because theyre too scared to lose their freedom or their lives. Hundreds of other political prisoners, from teenagers to 70-year-old babushkas, got caught posting a flag of Ukraine. A young lesbian artist Sasha Skochilenko who did a microscopic anti-war action with stickers in St. Petersburg got sentenced for seven years. My murdered friend Alexei Navalny left us a simple message: Im not afraid, and you shouldnt be afraid either. Ideas, unlike us humans, are immortal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Theres nothing fascinating about dictatorships. Its dull and always the same: A dude grabs all the power in his own hands. How new. How fascinating. Whats fascinating are stories of courageous people who find it in them to stand up to a dictator. Artist Alexandra Skochilenko was given a seven-year sentence after changing supermarket price tags for tiny messages criticising Russia's invasion of Ukraine. OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images Instead of hearing more about putin, lets hear Sasha Skochilenkos story. Lets hear about her bravery, optimism, her art, her inexplicable hope for Russia, the love story with Sashas girlfriend whos patiently waiting for Sashas return from jail. Its going to be a long wait. You cant love freedom and be apologetic towards putin. Its an oxymoron. Lets make dissidents voices sing. Lets listen to them, empathize with them. Ilya Yashin, serving 8 years, Vladimir Kara-Murza, serving 25 years for standing up against putin and supporting Ukraine. Resilience and inner strength of a human being is what truly fascinates me, alongside (wo)mans search for meaning even in the darkest places. To truly honor our values of freedom, we must listen to and amplify the voices of those who have faced oppression head-on, recognizing that their fight for freedom reflects the very essence of what it means to defend liberty, no matter where we are in the world. Android Auto sometimes exhibits the strangest bugs, leaving even Google perplexed and struggling to find a fix. Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution This also seems to be the case with a new error that makes running Android Auto dangerous, with users recommended to pull over and disconnect their phones immediately.Several readers told me lately that Android Auto triggers a "phone overheating" warning when they connect their mobile devices to the head unit, with various recommendations appearing on the screen, including turning off the camera (despite the camera not even being turned on).After a bit of research online, I discovered that the problem was first reported in February, with more users complaining of similar behavior in their cars.Here's everything you need to know about this bug.The first thing you must remember is that I've also seen people complaining of false overheating alerts , so while Android Auto might warn of excessive heat, it doesn't mean your device is ready to explode. Even if overheating occurs, phones now come with extra protections it's one of the lessons the whole world learned after the Samsung Galaxy Note7 fiasco, with smartphones now coming with additional overheating safeguards.The overheating alerts pop up immediately after Android Auto launches. Readers told me that the notification tells them that the "phone is getting too hot" after they plug in their phones the bug occurs exclusively with Android Auto wired, as the wireless version doesn't seem to cause this strange overheating behavior.The error message is triggered by different "overheating" causes, including the phone camera or the screen. The cause seems to be picked randomly so that the message could be different on every occasion. Two of the warning messages tell users to "try turning off the camera" and "try turning off the screen."One of our readers told me they received the camera warning without the camera app running on their smartphone. Launching and closing the camera app didn't make a difference despite the phone feeling hot.These specifics suggest the phone indeed suffers from overheating, so the alerts generated by Android Auto are correct. However, considering phones do not feel warm before connecting them to the head unit indicates that Android Auto is responsible for the excessive heat.It's not a surprise that some Android Auto users feel uncomfortable with using the app due to this problem. Some told me they immediately pulled over, while one said they struggled to disconnect the mobile device even if the vehicle was in motion. You can imagine how dangerous this can be, and it's why I must remind you that the phone would eventually suspend the running processes to deal with the excessive heat It means you don't have to immediately disconnect it, as you can safely pull over and then remove the cable.Some users don't even disconnect their iPhones, trying to continue running Android Auto in their cars. Interestingly, access to Android Auto is not restricted, but the app becomes very laggy, so using navigation and interacting with what runs on the screen is almost impossible. The lag is an overheating symptom and typically happens because the phone's cooling systems can't deal with the excessive heat.Strangely, someone says on Google's forums that they got their phone repaired, and the overheating no longer occurs. They owned a OnePlus 8 Pro running Android 13, which suffered from overheating when launching Android Auto, and after getting a replacement mainboard and battery, everything returned to normal in their car.The report suggests the overheating was caused by a hardware issue and wasn't related to Android Auto, though it's unclear why it only occurred when the phone was connected to the infotainment system.The issue affects phones from various brands, including Google Pixels, but it's impossible to tell if a hardware issue is the culprit in every case. However, Google has already asked for more information, including the Android Auto version running on the affected devices, so we should learn soon if a patch is required or not.Meanwhile, there's not much to do if you receive the same overheating warning in your car. One reader told me they switched to running Android Auto wirelessly, and the overheating message no longer appears. They used an AAWireless Android Auto wireless adapter to ditch cables, and everything returned to normal despite using the same mobile device and infotainment system. The same Android Auto version that triggered the overheating warning runs on the new setup without issues.It's too early to tell when a patch could land if one is indeed required but you should keep the app up-to-date anyway. The latest stable build is Android Auto 11.4, with Google already giving the finishing touches to version 11.5 . This build landed in the beta program not long ago, and if everything runs correctly and no major bug is discovered at the last minute, the rollout to all production devices should kick off in the coming days. The first-ever Land Rover classic converted into an EV by Everrati has just arrived in the United States. It is called "The Polo Commission" and was handed over to a polo enthusiast, who also happens to be a big car fan. kWh EV An electric Land Rover Series IIa was shipped to the US following the conversion carried out by Everrati . The model was completely hand-built, restored, and re-powered with an advanced powertrain that grants it 150 horsepower (152 metric horsepower) and 221 pound-feet (300 Newton meters) of torque.These parameters can be delivered to either the rear axle or to both, depending on the driving mode the one behind the wheel needs and which of them the ride surface requires. A lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 60stores enough energy for the electric Land Rover to drive as far as 150 miles (241 kilometers).Regenerative braking, as well as AC and DC fast charging capability are on the menu. The powertrain is designed and built by Everrati at its headquarters in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England.And it is not just engineering that Everrati did. The team also worked on the looks of the vehicle. The model wears a limestone paintwork and features a canvas roof. Passengers will take their seats on the benches mounted in a face-to-face layout, while the driver will control the L and Rover with the help of a wooden steering wheel.Everrati handed over thein the so-called "Disneyland of Polo" at the prestigious Grand Champions Polo Club, in Wellington, Florida. Craig is the owner of the classic.He also owns a corporate and equestrian law practice and is a car, design, architecture, and fashion enthusiast. He is also passionate about protecting the environment. So this is how he ended up contacting Everrati and asking them to convert his classic off-roader, which rolled off the production line in 1971.The result impressed him down to the very last bolt, and he described the vehicle as being "a work of art" both in terms of design and engineering. Craig, the owner of the first-ever Everrati-made Land Rover Series IIa to set wheels on American soil, will be commuting to the office in his electric Land Rover or will be driving to polo fields across the country.Justin Lunny, CEO of Everrati, calls it a "monumental occasion," which marks the brand's global growth. He claims that the electric classic Land Rover encapsulates the brand's mission and commitment to preserving the legacy of iconic vehicles while making them sustainable and without altering their DNA.The classic Land Rover joins another Everrati-made model: the first-ever electric Porsche 911 (964) delivered in the United States. The Porsche arrived in America last year. 6x6 SUV EV These are all pretty bonkers builds, and most of them rely on the extreme adventure factor ofvehicles. Modified Jeep Gladiators, Ram 1500 TRXs, and Ford Broncos, anything goes including Raptors and Hellcat-level V8s. The company's motto is simple: 'Trucks of the apocalypse - unleashing performance, defying limits.'Interestingly, because it seems the manufacturer of custom 6x6 off-road rigs is quite successful during this day and age, the company quickly expanded its roster after initially working solely on three Jeep Gladiator models with diesel or V8 engines. The quickly added increasingly extreme variants of the Ram 1500 TRX with 6x6 chassis and modifications that would make even a tank battle commander blush. Then, they also converted the Ford Broncointo a 6x6 pickup truck to show off their technical skills.But that wasn't enough, of course. Next up came the novelpickup truck field, and while the Nirvana based on the Rivian R1T and StrikeForce based on the GMC Hummer EV are not 6x6 vehicles, they aren't any less outrageous, frankly. Naturally, now there was only one way up the MSRP ladder into premium and luxury SUV territory. For example, they recently showcased on social media a fully lifted (by nine inches!) Land Rover Defender 100 that looked like it could crawl on rocks to the Moon and back.Alas, you can't say that you're an accomplished SUV aftermarket specialist if you haven't worked at least once on a member of the novel ultra-luxury CUV establishment like the Bentley Bentayga, Lambo Urus, Maserati Levante, Ferrari Purosangue, or BMW XM and Rolls-Royce Cullinan, right? As such, the good folks at Apocalypse now allow us to glimpse their version of the iconic Inferno. Only that it's not a place but a Lamborghini Urus (most likely a Performante or Urus S, given the company's 660-hp rating) drenched in everything needed to make it a beast that can survive any off-road trail, not just a visit at the local mall.The aftermarket outlet says their Apocalypse Inferno Lambo Urus 'truck' can still reach 62 mph (100 kph) in a blistering-fast three seconds but now comes with a full murdered-out appearance for the "fully custom, handcrafted wide body, a dynamic computer-controlled suspension that is the most advanced on the market, () stunning 33-inch Nitto tires mounted on 22" x12" forged custom wheels, an armored handmade roof rack with support for KC LED spotlights, as well as skid plates to protect against off-road" perils. Of course, the rigs are up for sale, but the brand doesn't have an upfront quotation for them. Don't expect it to be cheap, though! Kia's US and Canadian divisions have issued separate recalls concerning the 2018 through 2023 model year Stinger and 2019 through 2020 model year K900. The problem is exclusive to vehicles equipped with the 3.3L twin-turbocharged V6. NHTSA Photo: Kia kWh kW WLTP Over in Canada, no fewer than 5,526 vehicles have been recalled. Thelists 36,248 units in the United States, bringing the grand total to 41,774 sedans. According to the South Korean automaker, the left turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly are prone to deteriorating, therefore leading to an oil leak. If said oil gets on a hot component (think exhaust manifold), that would greatly increase the risk of an underhood fire.Sambo Motors of South Korea is the supplier of the left-hand turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly, which bears part number 28240-3L100 in the parts system. Vehicles equipped with suspect assemblies were produced between and September 21, 2017 and June 29, 2022. The Stinger and K900 for North America came from the Sohari plant.Kia Corporation became aware of the aforementioned condition in June 2023, when it also informed Kia North America of a report involving a Korean market K900 that experienced smoke from the engine compartment. In December 2023, the automaker's North American division received a dealer techline report for a Stinger involving an oil leak and engine compartment fire while driving.Said vehicle was analyzed in January 2024, with Kia identifying localized melting in the area surrounding the driver-side exhaust manifold. The investigation further indicated that the underhood fire had started due to oil leaking at the left-hand oil feed pipe and hose assembly. Given these findings, Kia Corporation decided to analyze a number of assemblies from both the US and Korean markets.Two of five collected assemblies exhibited fine surface cracking, whereas the subsequent duplication testing identified a deteriorated hose and signs of leaking. Before deciding on a safety recall, Kia North America singled out 25 vehicles that experienced an oil leak from the left turbocharged oil feed pipe and hose assembly. The incidents were reported in the period between January 24, 2018 and February 7, 2024. By model, said vehicles are split between 14 units of the Stinger and 11 K900s.All owners will be notified by first-class mail no later than April 26, with dealers to be instructed on April 24 about the recall condition. Dealer technicians are required to replace the assembly with an improved one. The new assembly features a different material that makes it less susceptible to deterioration. Kia introduced the improved assembly in vehicle production on September 16, 2021, yet a single 2023 Stinger was equipped with a V6 engine produced before the cut-off date.As you're well aware, both the Stinger and K900 were dropped from the North American lineup, beginning with the K900 due to poor sales. From the standpoint of a numbers man, the Stinger wasn't exactly hot stuff either. The rear-drive liftback sedan's best year in the United States was 2018, when Kia moved 16,806 units. By comparison, Dodge sold 80,226 examples of the Charger.Similar to the all-electric Charger for the 2024 model year, the Stinger will be replaced by an electric sedan. Kia's codename for the newcomer is GT1. Allegedly based on the upcoming eM platform, the GT1 reportedly packs a 113.2-battery and up to 450(603 horsepower) from a dual-motor setup. Hearsay further suggests between 700 and 800 kilometers (435 and 497 miles) of range, presumably in the Understandably, new superyacht launches get the most attention in the yachting world, but for those who understand and appreciate the finer things in life, there is nothing more precious than a classic yacht. They may not be as flashy and pretentious as modern yachts, but these decades-old vessels are a living work of art and are bound to turn heads whenever they cruise by. Madiz, one of the few yachts from the early 20th century still on the water today, is one such beauty and a priceless piece of yachting history. Photo: Camper & Nicholsons Photo: Camper & Nicholsons Photo: Camper & Nicholsons Delivered in 1902 by Ailsa Shipbuilding in Troon, Scotland, Madiz (originally named Triton) is as majestic as it is unique and is looking for a new discerning yachtsman who wants to own and love a grand classic. The 122-year-old yacht is offered for sale by broker Jean-Marie Recamier and yacht sales advisor Jessica Ruez of Camper & Nicholsons International.To better understand the historical significance of this vessel, know that Madiz is the oldest yacht in the world with a steel or iron hull to have Lloyd's classification, and at 55.4 meters (182 feet), it is also the largest classic motor yacht currently for sale. According to the listing, there is no other yacht of this age, size, and original standing still in existance.As mentioned, it was built by now-defunct Scottish yard Ailsa Shipbuilding on the banks of River Clyde, the cradle of one of the first and most famous shipbuilding industries in the world. In the 1900s, one-quarter of all the vessels built in the world were constructed there, with the "Clyde-built" denomination becoming synonymous with high quality and exceptional craftsmanship.Commissioned by James Coates Jnr, a super-rich and successful Scots businessman, as a support vessel for his schooner, Madiz was designed by legendary naval architect George L. Watson, who established the very first yacht design studio office in the world. The famous yacht designer was also behind several other prestigious classics like Britannia, the most successful racing yacht of all time, and the America's Cup challengers Thistle, Valkyrie, and Shamrock II.From delivery to the present day, Madiz has lived a pretty eventful and exciting life. It was used as a purely pleasure watercraft until 1914, then it was put into service as a patrol boat in both World Wars, and eventually returned to private usage and served as a pleasure cruiser in the Mediterranean. The classic vessel has passed through the hands of several distinguished owners and was last refitted in 2007.In the late sixties, Madiz was acquired by Greek businessman Costas Keletsekis, who was captivated by its rich heritage and timeless elegance. The yacht, however, was long past overdue for an overhaul by this point in time, and Keletsekis saw its true potential and committed to rebuilding it from the keel up to bring it back to Lloyds classification.The hull and mechanical systems were thoroughly restored to a high modern standard, and the original coal-fired steam engines were replaced with new diesel engines from MTU Mercedes Maybach. Luckily, much of the original woodwork, including the teak decking and interior paneling, was salvageable, so the yacht still retains its original charm and unique features, with the added benefit of modern upgrades.Madiz exudes the unmistakable style and grace of its era, but despite the fact that it has survived two World Wars and has sailed thousands of miles, it doesn't look aged. It is fully operational and offers the same level of comfort and luxury as its contemporary counterparts. Those lucky enough to step onboard will notice that much of its interior retains the Cuban mahogany used in the master staterooms and the oak used in salons and other social areas.If you're wondering what it's like to cruise onboard this classic gem, nowadays, the yacht dazzles guests with its unique finish, great attention to detail, and extravagant interior style that follows the same British Victorian themes of the 1900s. Madiz offers accommodation for as many as 14 guests across seven spacious staterooms on the main and lower deck. It operates with a crew of ten to ensure a relaxed and hassle-free luxury yacht experience and is served by two elegant 6-meter (20-foot) tenders.The owner of Madiz will enjoy private deck access from their lavish master suite, as well as a Jacuzzi-style tub. Guests onboard will benefit from ample outdoor deck areas with dedicated spaces for dining and lounging, such as an open sundeck with excellent water views and shaded seating areas.In terms of performance, the revamped vessel is powered by twin diesel Mercedes engines delivering 550 hp. It can reach a maximum speed of 11 knows and a comfortable cruising speed of 10 knots, with an impressive range of up to 2,750 nautical miles (5,092 km) from its 50,000-liter fuel tanks.This one-of-a-kind vessel received further mechanical updates in 2009 and was available for private charter before the 2020 health crisis. Madiz is currently lying in Perama, Greece, where it can be viewed by appointment. The asking price for this classic beauty is 9,750,000 ($10,675,860) with VAT paid. R134a succeeded R12 almost 30 years ago due to the latter's potential for damaging the ozone layer. In recent years, certain automakers turned to R1234yf. Although it's better for the environment, R1234yf is a flammable refrigerant. Mercedes has recently issued a recall for the G 550 and G 63 over HVAC systems filled with an incorrect refrigerant due to an increased risk of a fire in the event of a crash. NHTSA Mercedes-Benz USA doesn't specify R1234yf anywhere in the safety recall report attached below, yet the remedy for this condition is to fill the air conditioning system with R134a. The German automaker became aware of this condition in mid-2023 during a quality audit at the assembly plant.Before going any further, it should be mentioned that Manga Steyr assembles the G-Class on Merc's behalf in Austria. The contract manufacturer's Graz-based facility is also tasked with assembling the Jaguar I-Pace, E-Pace, BMW Z4, Toyota GR Supra, Fisker Ocean, and W Motors Fenyr SuperSport Turning our attention back to the chronology of events leading up to the recall, Mercedes-Benz AG identified a data mismatch between the refrigerant used for a certain vehicle and the intended refrigerant. As highlighted earlier, chances are Magna Steyr filled 'er up with R1234yf instead of R134a.This finding prompted a thorough analysis, which confirmed that other vehicles had been filled with the flammable refrigerant. After much investigation and many reviews, the Stuttgart-based automaker decided to conduct a recall due to the safety risk posed by the flammable refrigerant.Fortunately for Merc, the contract manufacturer, and the affected owners, the automaker is not aware of any field reports alleging underhood fires or worse. Documents filed with theindicate that Magna Steyr introduced a change in the G-Class production procedure on April 12, 2023.Owners will be informed via first-class mail no later than April 30, 2024, which is almost a year after Magna Steyr corrected the problem at Merc's behest. The iffy refrigerant bears part number A0009890448, whereas R134a is known as A0009890348. For some reason or another, Googling for A0009890448 returned a meager two results for the flammable refrigerant, both from Chinese sites.Unfortunately, neither page mentions R1234yf refrigerant. Whatever type of refrigerant may have been used in the affected vehicle population, it doesn't really matter because it will be replaced for R134a in the near future. The vehicles in question were assembled for the 2022 and 2023 model years between June 28, 2022 through April 20, 2023.The grand total is nine vehicles for the US market, namely four units of the G 550 and five units of the G 63 . At the moment of reporting, the G-Class retails at $143,000 and $179,000, respectively, excluding the $1,150 destination freight charge. Rivian has just unveiled the R1S's little brother with three powertrains, up to 300 miles of range, and a price that will make competitors jealous. But the model isn't just a grocery getter and highway cruiser; it can also play the part of a camper. EV SUV To support the camping part, Rivian came up with several features that would make occupants comfortable away from the urban jungle.The all-new Rivian R2 will hit the market in the first half of 2026 for the US customers, while those in Europe will have to wait until 2027. The good news is that it starts at $45,000. If the model qualifies for the $7,500tax credit, we're looking at anstarting at a very interesting $37,000 MSRP in the United States.When it arrives, it will be packed with features that turn it into a genuine camper. The vehicle can be fitted with a Travel Kitchen, mounted at the rear. It includes a water tank, a cooler, an induction cooktop, and a cookware set, turning the vehicle into a mobile cooking station.Hanging lights will make cooking in the dark easier. There will also be storage space for everything someone who prepares a meal at night.A detachable cargo box with handles and wheels can be moved around wherever necessary while keeping the clutter out of the cabin and then wheeled back into its place. It is like an extra trunk that adds to the storage space that the frunk and the dual glove box offer.The roof of the Rivian can be fitted with either a cargo box or a Treehouse. It is not an actual treehouse but a rooftop tent with a rectangular shape and "windows," so those inside can still enjoy the view.An aluminum ladder provides access to the Treehouse, and the list of accessories also includes a flashlight, which is stored in the driver's door, where Rolls-Royce stores the umbrella. It's not like a flashlight would be useless when you spend the night in the middle of nowhere.Furthermore, the rear seats, as well as the front seats, fold down to provide a completely flat surface in case you want to throw in a mattress for a comfortable night out in the wild in case the tent won't do.The R2 is truly an adventurer's car. The automaker also offers a bike mount that can be linked at the rear of the vehicle to store two bikes. We have yet to see how it works, but Rivian claims that installation does not involve any tool.The automaker attempted to offer a Camp Kitchen with the R1T and R1S SUV. However, the set was offered for $6,750 more and turned out to be a complete failure, so Rivian decided to shelve it. While more and more Tesla Cybertruck owners are trying to flip them in America, the model hasn't even reached the Middle East. Until now. Someone is selling a Cybertruck in Dubai, and it is terribly cheap compared to what these vehicles go for in the United States. The model hasn't officially been launched in the United Arab Emirates. Tesla is only delivering the electric pickup trucks in the US, with the customers in Canada hoping they will get lucky toward the second quarter of 2024. The UAE will not be on the list any time soon. But where there is a will, there is a way, and those desperate to get their hands on a Cybertruck have found it.The first Tesla Cybertruck has already arrived in Dubai with an asking price of 520,000 Dirham, which translates to $141,577 at the current exchange rates. The model is for sale on Dubizzle, an online free classifieds website in the UAE.The listing includes several photos of the electric truck as it is being unloaded from the trailer truck and another one of the interior, revealing the leather seats, the minimalist button-free dashboard, and the 18.5-inch touchscreen.According to the listing, the model comes with 845 horsepower (857 metric horsepower). That is the Cybertruck Foundation Series, the only that being delivered right now, which makes it a $120,000 affair.Selling it for around $141,000 doesn't bring much of a profit to the seller. Furthermore, Tesla came up with a clause in the purchase contract that forces the customers who flip their cars during the first year of ownership to pay a penalty of $50,000 or whatever they make from the sale, which would leave this particular seller with a huge dent in their bankroll. Selling a Cybertruc k for cheap and willingly causing oneself a hole in the pocket must really be the decision of someone who is desperate to get rid of it.In the United States, a Porsche dealership from Orlando bought a brand-new Cybertruck for $244,500 last week in an online bidding. That was $124,000 more than what the owner must have paid for it. The dealership is now selling it for $289,000. That makes it two times more expensive than the vehicle selling in Dubai. A Ford dealer followed in their footsteps and bought one as well.Since then, Give Me the VIN bought two more Cybertrucks and sold them for $195,500 and $189,000, respectively. Those prices surely cover the penalty imposed by Tesla.In the land of sand dunes and extravagant, expensive vehicles, the Cybertruck will surely turn out to be popular, with Dubai especially joining the frenzy. It probably won't take long before the UAE Police gets one to join their fleet of exotics.But customers in the United Arab Emirates still have to wait for the official launch, which might take place later this year. It's a great moment whenever an innovative concept is turned into a real object for the real world. In the world of electric air taxis, the CityAirbus NextGen was one of the most highly-anticipated models because it's the only one designed and developed by aerospace giant Airbus. The final commercial version isn't here yet, but a prototype was finally unveiled to the public. Those who attended the special Airbus ceremony at the company's facility in Donauworth, Germany, this week were the lucky few who got to admire the first CityAirbus NextGen prototype in full glory. It was also the right moment to find out more about the specs of the eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing).We now know that the Airbus-designed air taxi boasts a 40-foot (12-meter) wingspan and an eight-propeller configuration with 16 electric motors. Performance-wise, the CityAirbus NextGen promises a moderate range of 50 miles (80 km) and a top speed of less than 100 mph (75 mph/120 kph).The high-performance cabin will be able to seat up to three passengers in addition to the pilot. According to Airbus, these features were specifically designed to allow a wide variety of urban operations ranging from commutes to EMT services.Although highly anticipated, this unveiling is only a stepping stone towards something even bigger. Airbus is getting ready to launch a flight test campaign later this year when the CityAirbus NextGen prototype will take to the sky. An essential asset for the upcoming campaign is the company's new testing facility in Donauworth, which was specifically built for this eVTOL . In fact, the official prototype unveiled coincided with the center's inauguration a two-in-one debut that will speed up Airbus's eVTOL journey.Airbus officially started building this new center back in 2022. The Donauworth facility will initially be used to conduct tests for the air taxi's electric motors, rotors, flight control, and avionics. In the future, however, it will gradually expand to other Airbus-developed electric aircraft. Unfolding over 1,000 square meters (10,760 square feet), this new center has the potential to become one of the most important eVTOL testing hubs globally.In addition to its striking cabin and wing design, the CityAirbus NextGen is set to incorporate a wide range of top-notch technologies from some of the best players in the industry.Crouzet has developed a dedicated human-machine interface concept that will allow the pilot to easily switch from fully automated flight to manual control. Eaton is responsible for the power distribution unit that will be integrated into the eVTOL's electrical propulsion system and connected to the Airbus-designed batteries. The innovative "Millennium" single-stick control was also recently tested with the help of FlightLab, one of the three Airbus Helicopters flying laboratories.The CityAirbus NextGen prototype is set to take off on its maiden flight later this year. Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the north steps of the State Capitol to supporters at a Texas Public Policy Foundation Parent Empowerment rally on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in Austin. Abbott and his supporters are pushing to have a voucher system, also known as school choice. (Ricardo B. Brazziell /Austin American-Statesman via AP) Ricardo B. Brazziell/Associated Press Texas Governor Greg Abbott, speaks during a press conference at Calpine, 717 Texas Ave., Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Last year, two dozen Texas House Republicans were celebrating their opposition to private school vouchers with pins that said 24 and Texas schools over a silhouette of the state. The pins were to commemorate their solidarity and remind them to continue to stand together. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But after a wave of special sessions, unprecedented political pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott and millions of dollars in campaign spending from wealthy donors, their ranks have been gutted, and the question of vouchers appears no longer if, but when and to what degree. Of the 24 holdouts, just six who stood firm against school vouchers won reelection last week, with four others heading to runoff elections May 28. In each of those four, Abbott will support their challengers, making it an uphill climb for reelection. There was this bloc of rural Republicans who essentially held the cards in terms of success or failure for school choice legislation, said John Colyandro, a pro-voucher lobbyist who previously served as Abbotts policy director. After the runoffs, youll have at least 12, if not 15 new pro-school choice members. The Legislature isnt scheduled to meet again until January, at which point there will likely be enough House members to pass a voucher bill in the chamber for the first time. And with enough members on board, there wont be the same urgency for Abbott to negotiate on important education policy proposals that he had used as bargaining chips including teacher pay raises, elimination of the STAAR tests and billions of extra school dollars. With Tuesdays results likely breaking the decadeslong blockade on vouchers, the fate of those other policies is now in flux. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the climax of the voucher fight last year, most of the Republican holdouts voted with Democrats to strip vouchers from a broader bill that included those other, widely popular education items effectively dooming the legislation. Ironically, they may now get their wish to disentangle the two. Texans are one step closer to empowering every Texas family, Abbott said after Tuesdays election results. Republican primary voters have once again sent an unmistakable message that parents deserve the freedom to choose the best education pathway for their child. Abbotts office did not respond to requests for comment, but lobbyists and advocates on both sides of the voucher debate said they expect a standalone bill next time, likely resembling last years voucher proposals that would have provided about $10,500 per child to be used on educational expenses including private school tuition, transportation, uniforms, tutoring or others. Half a billion dollars was set aside for a voucher program in last years school budget, with an additional $4 billion for public schools, but that $4.5 billion will be freed up next year to be spent however the next Legislature wishes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad House Bill 1 was truly a piece of compromise legislation that these Republicans and all Democrats opposed because of the school choice component, said Nathan Cunneen, a political strategist with the pro-voucher American Federation for Children. Proponents often refer to the vouchers as school choice because they would allow families to use public dollars for private education that may otherwise be unaffordable. The degree to which compromise is necessary now is unclear, Cunneen said. Although Abbott has criticized public schools as hotbeds of indoctrination, he also has boasted about boosting their budgets and has pledged to keep them fully funded if a voucher program is enacted. There is a broad consensus in Austin that teachers should get raises, that the special education funding system and school funding formulas need reforms, and that the STAAR tests need to be tweaked or eliminated, Colyandro said. He expects each of those to pass in the 2025 legislative session. This almost binary choice that you can do something more for the pub ed system or youre for school choice, thats just a false choice, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Advocates of traditional public schools who oppose vouchers because they believe they unfairly defund school districts noted that vouchers are not inevitable. Theres no political mandate for the policy, they said, as voters were misled by dishonest messaging and huge amounts of outside spending. And there is still time before the Legislature reconvenes. But even those advocates admit that things arent looking good. If we were to magically say all the people who were elected last Tuesday were now actually in office and were starting session tomorrow, then yes I think that it would be very likely that they would just do whatever Abbott asked them to do, said Monty Exter, a lobbyist with the Association of Texas Professional Educators. He added that there are still unknowns, such as whether Abbott was tapped for a role in a possible second Trump administration. Exter said he doesnt see extra public school funds, teacher pay raises and other education policy proposals as a priority for the governor now, other than as a sweetener for vouchers. I dont think that any of the people that were just elected need a carrot in order to pass that voucher bill, Exeter said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad HD Chambers, executive director of the Texas School Alliance, which represents 46 of the states largest school districts, said school leaders are still processing Tuesdays election results, although they are an undeniable disappointment. Many of the House members that we felt had supported good public ed policy were defeated, he said, adding that this has changed the dynamics of the conversation around school vouchers in the Texas House, making eventual passage more likely. It comes amid a further deterioration of Armenias relations with Russia, its longtime ally, and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians apparent efforts to reorient his country towards the West. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stressed the importance of the non-interference of outsiders in regional affairs when he met with Papikian, a key member of Pashinians political team, late on Thursday. Allowing outsiders to interfere will not bring security; security and peace will be guaranteed only by the cooperation of the countries of the region themselves, Raisi was quoted by his office as saying. Irans Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani was similarly reported to tell Papikian on Wednesday that seeking security outside the region could only bring about more challenges to regional peace and stability. Tehran has repeatedly conveyed the same message to Yerevan in the past several months. Pashinians administration has been seeking closer security ties with the United States and Europe amid its unprecedented tensions with Russia. It also prefers Western mediation of peace talks with Azerbaijan. Pashinian seemed to acknowledge last month that his governments declared efforts to diversify Armenias foreign and security policy are prompting concern from not only Moscow but also Tehran. Armenian opposition groups say Iran's stance is another reason why Yerevan should exercise caution in its dealings with the West. They argue that unlike Western powers, Iran could intervene militarily to prevent Azerbaijan from opening an extraterritorial corridor to its Nakhichevan exclave through Syunik, the only Armenian region bordering the Islamic Republic. While signaling concerns about the pro-Western tilt in Armenian foreign policy, Raisi praised the current state of Armenian-Iranian relations. He said he hopes Papikians talks with Ashtiani will result in a major boost to regional security. The Armenian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that the ministers reached a number of understandings on issues of mutual interest. It did not elaborate. 8 March 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Fatime Letifova Read more The fact that Armenia is searching for a new provocation tool, concentrating on the news in the Azerbaijani media, indicates the hollowness of the country's agenda and the ineptitude of the propaganda used in the political sphere. The Armenian media used the opportunity to complain to the international community and exaggerate the situation following the recent Toplum TV incidents in Azerbaijan. Still, one must question how free the Armenian people actually are and what is the current situation about the human rights and freedom of press in Armenia. In retrospect, in April 2002, for example, two independent television stations, Noyan Tapan and A1+, revoked their broadcasting licenses in what was widely seen as a politically motivated move. Subsequent efforts to renew those licenses have failed; as recently as October 13, 2003, A1+ was turned down again. In October 2002, independent journalist Mark Grigorianthen preparing an investigative report on the 1999 terrorist attack in the Parliament which resulted in eight deathswas himself the victim of a grenade attack (which he survived). In December 2002, Tigran Nagdalian, Chairman of the National Public Television Board, was murdered. In April 2003, journalist Mger Galechian was seriously beaten after the newspaper for which he worked, Chorrord Ishkanutyun, ran an article critical of the head of Armenias National Security Services. Journalists were also the victims of harassment and intimidation during presidential elections in 2003. On September 27, 2003, Gayone Mukoyan, editor-in-chief of Yerevans Or newspaper, was beaten. If these events seem too old to talk about, we might as well look through recent years. Upon assuming office, one of Pashinyan's primary targets was the director of Haynews.am, Mher Yeghiazaryan, who was charged with fraud and passed away in prison on January 26, 2019, following a hunger strike. As a result, there were coordinated attacks on the site's editorial office even after his incarceration. After the Second Garabagh War, more than two thousand protesters demanding Pashinyan's resignation were arrested on the streets of Yerevan. Although defamation was decriminalized last year, politicians and private businesses often bring civil cases against journalists and media outlets, dragging them into lengthy legal battles, and threatening heavy financial penalties. A local media advocacy group reported that media outlets faced 23 new defamation suits from January through September. In March 2023, parliament passed amendments establishing additional grounds for denying public information requests. Under the new regulation, an agency can refuse to provide information if it contains official information of limited distribution, vague language that opens the door to unwarranted censorship. According to the Human Rights Watch report, not only the media but also the civilian population of the country are subjected to various pressures. In June last year, the independent Monitoring Group of Institutions for Children, Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities reported violence against children at a child support center and alleged that a police officer mistreated one of the children. Authorities did not investigate the allegations, claiming that the report did not include enough factual information. In another case, Armenian law enforcement bodies dropped a criminal investigation into the April beating by a senior police officer of a 17-year-old child who was working as a waiter in a restaurant at the time. The prosecutor claimed that the perpetrator fully regretted his actions and apologized to the victim. Following public outcry, law enforcement bodies reopened the investigation, suspended the officer from active duty, and charged him with causing a child severe physical pain. These represent but a handful of the numerous offenses against common individuals and the civilian populace that remain undisclosed to the press. Naturally, when it comes to the media, the government that engages in this hooliganism against its people is more vicious. Despite the fact that Armenia has no media freedom, this country even has the audacity to blame the Azerbaijan government for being cruel to the media and free speech. It should not be forgotten that those who turned Azerbaijan into an independent country were free Azerbaijanis who once stood against the Soviet regime and sacrificed their lives in this way. The freedom of expression and determination of the Azerbaijani people are the main reasons why Azerbaijan is developing today and conveying its voice to the world. As for the initiation of police searches against "members of the media" in the country, it is enough to call it an exaggeration of the issue by the behind-the-scenes forces who use it as a tool for their own purposes. The media is just a tool for the West to push itself through the hole that seems to be tough enough, which makes it possible to carry out plans through many social media channels. But why did the Western institutions not react to it when the territories of Azerbaijan were under occupation and the rights of more than a million refugees and internally displaced persons were violated. Today, the arrest of a group of people who are trying to create panic and agitation in the country and present themselves as "media representatives" is more interesting to the West? After all, how is it that these institutions, which ignore the violated rights of more than a million people, are so concerned about a few media rackets? If they are talking about free media, then they should remember the Second Garabagh War in 2020. At that time, a dark cloud was hovering over the country. Western media organizations "defending free speech" launched a campaign against Azerbaijan. According to them, everything seems to be right in the world, only Azerbaijan was disrupting the world order. However, the truth found its place, Azerbaijan got rid of an element as dangerous as Armenian separatism. Today, the struggle continues against the Western forces that support them. Azerbaijan's struggle is not to stifle free speech, but to expose those who commit heinous acts under the slogan of "free speech". --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 16:59 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev has met with Young Climate Champion of the COP28 hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Shamma Al Mazrui, UAE Minister of Community Development. The discussions focused on preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is set to be hosted Azerbaijan, as well as the prospects for cooperation. Youth Climate Champion for COP29 Azerbaijan Leyla Hasanova was also present at the meeting. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 09:39 (UTC+04:00) A two-day international scientific conference themed Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 has today kicked off in Baku, Azernews reports. The conference, dedicated to the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, is co-organized by the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre, Azerbaijans Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR), the G20 Interfaith Dialogue Forum, and the Baku Initiative Group. Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev read out President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyevs address to event participants. In his opening remarks, Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center Ravan Hasanov said that the during the conference held for the second time, the participants will discuss on how to tackle Islamophobia at the international level. Today, everyone sees the isolation and discrimination of Muslims in the world. These cases are observed especially in Western countries. Acts of hatred against Muslims continue. We can all live in peace, he mentioned. Speaking at the conference, Chairman of the Board of the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) Farid Shafiyev noted that Christians also become victims of discrimination in today's world. Therefore, the whole world should tackle this discrimination. It is very important to discuss gender issues when talking about Islamophobia. Political and international steps are needed to combat Islamophobia, he mentioned. Assistant Secretary-General of Political Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef M. Al-Dobeay said that the designation of March 15 by the United Nations (UN) as the International Day to combat Islamophobia is a significant step in the fight against Islamophobia. We have a great responsibility in this fight, he added. He mentioned that during these years, Azerbaijan has hosted various high-level events dedicated to the fight against Islamophobia, taking exemplary steps. Todays event also reflects Azerbaijans strong commitment in this regard. "The OIC is looking forward to the results of today's conference," he added. The OIC Assistant Secretary General drew attention to the fact that provocative acts continue to be committed around the world, noting that people are being targeted because of their religious beliefs. Yousef M. Al-Dobeay stressed the need to take various measures to prevent oppression and discrimination against Muslims. The OIC calls on international organizations and civil societies to unite and mobilize their efforts against these cases," the Assistant Secretary General emphasized. Addressing the conference, President of the G20 Interfaith Dialogue Forum Prof. Cole Durham said: We must fight Islamophobia with all our strength and eradicate this problem. He said that adequate response should be given to biased and negative trends against the religion of Islam worldwide, adding that the broader efforts are needed to tackle Islamophobia. The conference continued its work with plenary sessions. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 09:57 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the international conference themed Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 in Baku, Azernews reports. The text of the address was read by the Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department for Foreign Policy of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev. "Dear Conference participants, I welcome you to the international conference themed "Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024," held in Baku. The timing of this event, on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan for the Islamic world and the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, holds significant symbolism. Regrettably, Islamophobia trends across the world are on the rise. We are witnessing the portrayal of Islam as a potential threat, with doubt, discrimination and open hatred against the Muslims becoming increasingly widespread with each passing day. As stated in the UN resolution on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, rise in instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence directed against religious communities are the source of concern. It is deplorable that today, Islamophobia has become integrated into the state policies of numerous Western countries that consider themselves democratic. These countries account for 80 percent of all the manifestations of Islamophobia that occurred around the world in the last year. In some European countries where Islamophobia has skyrocketed and been promoted as an official ideology, such insulting actions as the burning of our holy book of Quran and publishing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad, are presented as the freedom of speech. France, along its traditional neocolonialism policy, is pursuing a policy of open pressure and discrimination, staging various Islamophobic campaigns. Legislative acts and political decisions that exclusively target Muslims, limiting their rights and freedoms, are often disguised as secularism. In this country, mosques, Muslim community centers and cemeteries are desecrated in one way or another, and Muslim citizens endure oppression. Instead of combatting these manifestations that insult the feelings of the Muslims and holding the perpetrators accountable, the governments of those countries are inflaming the Islamophobic sentiments, encouraging the persecution of Muslims and aiming to keep these subjects high on the agenda. Unfortunately, certain Western institutions that also portray themselves as democratic are engaging in anti-Islamic activities. Today, the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have become platforms that promote Islamophobia and pursue policies based on this ideology. The present negative trend is also evident in the operations of some global media entities. They deliberately target Islamic faith and Islamic culture, distort the true essence of Islam, trying to equate it with terrorism and smear it. We strongly condemn these trends that increasingly aim to tarnish our religion. Looking at a world map, we can see that Muslims are the ones that suffer from terrorism the most. Azerbaijan is also a country that suffers from Islamophobia. Among the dire consequences of Armenias 30-year long occupation of our lands was a deliberate destruction and annihilation of our cultural heritage of universal value, including the monuments associated with the Islamic faith. While initial estimates suggested that 65 mosques had been razed to the ground during the occupation, unfortunately, that number is steadily increasing as numerous new examples of Armenian vandalism against Islamic heritage continue to emerge. Furthermore, discoveries have been made regarding the hundreds of Muslim cemeteries razed to the ground, with the deliberate alteration and falsification of the designation of Muslim places of worship, mosques, and tombs. In most cases, these sites were used as barns for animals considered haram in our religion. Such offensive actions insult not only our feelings but also those of the Muslims of the world. In the meantime, destruction of Azerbaijans Islamic historical and cultural heritage in Armenia is regrettable. Azerbaijan has raised this matter with UNESCO, calling for a technical mission to be sent to that country for assessing the conditions of our cultural and religious sites subjected to destruction in Armenia for years. Unfortunately, to this day, UNESCO is yet to respond to our request. We take pride in Azerbaijan being a multinational and multiconfessional country. Representatives of all religions and ethnic groups live here in peace as one family. Religious equality and inclusivity, safeguarded in our country as an asset, embody the way of life for the Azerbaijani people, serving as a source of strength. Stemming from that, it is only natural that respect for multicultural values constitutes one of priority directions of our state policies. On the global scale as well, our country is doing its utmost to encourage and promote peace, peaceful coexistence, and humanism values. Azerbaijan supports harmonic relations among diverse cultures, and spearheads numerous global initiatives focused on intercivilizational and intercultural dialogue to foster mutual understanding. A vivid testimony to that is the long-standing tradition of hosting the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku in May. In the XXI century there must be no place for Islamophobia, xenophobia or racism. Associating terrorism and extremism with any civilization or ethnic group is an erroneous approach. Using religion for political motives only serves to divide and incite confrontation in the societies. Such manifestations also deprive the humankind from the ideals of humanism and universal values, ultimately resulting in intercivilizational conflicts. Todays event showcases Azerbaijans determination to combat Islamophobia as one of the challenges of the modern era. I am confident that this conference will make a contribution to concerted efforts in combatting Islamophobia, and generating fresh initiatives aimed at promoting the culture of tolerance and peace founded on respect for religious and faith diversity. I extend my best wishes to you and wish conference success. Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 7 March 2024" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 14:10 (UTC+04:00) President of Government of Spain Pedro Sanchez has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on his confident victory in the presidential election, Azernews reports. The letter reads: " His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mr. President. On behalf of the Government of Spain, I wish to extend my congratulations on your re-election as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the elections held on February 7. I wish you great success in your new mandate, express the intention of the Spanish Government to continue the development of relations between our countries, including in the economic domain, where significant progress has been made in recent years, and note that there is a great potential for mutually beneficial cooperation. I also wish you all that is necessary to continue efforts that have been made on the road to peace until now, and extend to you my wish for ensuring a peace in the Caucasus region soon that is just, sustainable and respected by international law. You know that Spain and the European Union support you in this. I avail myself of this opportunity to express to you, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration. Sincerely, Pedro Sanchez President of the Government of Spain" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 17:39 (UTC+04:00) The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan prepared a congratulatory video on the occasion of March 8 International Women's Day, Azernews reports, citing the ministry. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 21:20 (UTC+04:00) The first day of the international conference on "Protection of Diversity: Fighting Islamophobia in 2024", which started in Baku on March 8, has ended. Azernews reports that the last session of the first day of the conference was dedicated to the topic "Fighting Islamophobia in the context of higher education". In the session moderated by Agil Shirinov, rector of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology, Chairman of the Brain Research Center "Muslim Institute" (operates in Islamabad and London), Prime Minister of Junagadh, India, Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali, who spoke about Islamophobia, said that the West does not know enough about Islam. . He noted that the recent increase in Islamophobia is related to certain factors. It was emphasized that in recent years, hate crimes have increased in different parts of the world, and they wrongly associate it with Islamophobia. Pointing out that Islamophobic elements have increased in the West over the past 20 years, Sultan Ahmed Ali stressed the importance of teaching Islam in a wide range of schools in order to scientifically prevent Islamophobia. Mahjoob Ahmed Suleman Zweiri (Qatar), director of the "Gulf" Research Center of Qatar University, stressed that those who created Islamophobia are not sure of themselves. According to him, the period of fourteen hundred years and more has already proven that Islam is against conflicts, wars, women, children and in general all kinds of violence. Speaking about the conflicts, Mahjoob Ahmed Suleman Zveiri said that those who talk about Islamophobia should take care of themselves and not push us to become radicalized. He drew attention to the importance of educating high school students in this spirit in order to fight Islamophobia. Tural Ganjaliyev, MP of Milli Majlis, stressed that Azerbaijan has suffered from occupation for 30 years, and our cultural and historical monuments have been destroyed. He said that this is Islamophobia itself. T. Ganjaliyev said that the Armenian diaspora uses churches as a means of manipulation. He pointed out that some of them are appointed to positions because of their "services" by talking about Islamophobia and against Azerbaijan and Turkey. The MP also drew attention to the existence of a "political vaccine" in the fight against Islamophobia. "We will fight Islamophobia until the end. The vandalism of the statue of Khurshidbanu Natava, the daughter of Karabakh Khan in France, shows the true nature of those who talk about Islamophobia," added Tural Ganjaliyev. Mohamed Alshahhat Abdulhamid Mohamed Algindi, rector of Nur-Mubarak Egyptian University of Islamic Culture, said that Muslims are currently being labeled as fanatics, people who are against human rights and democracy. Islam is shown as a religion against democracy, human rights, modern humanity, civilization, human values, and progress. We are witnessing such views regarding the majority of Muslim countries. Therefore, it is necessary to know the exact essence of Islam. "All Muslim countries have accepted the UN Declaration of International Human Rights without exception. Muslim countries are members of the UN. There is a need for modern dialogues about Islam. We have to solve this issue from the roots," he said. The rector said that unfortunately, they do not listen to the people of Islamic countries. If we want to engage in global dialogue, it must be based on peace, tolerance, tolerance, moral values and principles. Western countries should also be aware of this issue. Director of the Family and Youth Institute of the United States, Samir Ahmed, noted that Islamophobia has both institutional and individual effects. It is a complex, at the same time, multifaceted phenomenon. It encourages aggression both directly and indirectly. He pointed out that Islamophobia does not affect the actions of students in higher education institutions, and the problem of approach and support is evident at this time. It was reported that today Muslim students are worried about their personal safety in Western countries. Muslims are persecuted for their political beliefs. This affects students' living conditions and raises questions about their safety. As a result, those young people are forced to stay out of all processes, as a result, they are isolated from society. This is the negative consequences of Islamophobia. A complex approach is needed to solve such problems. Other speakers emphasized the importance of the fight against Islamophobia, shared their views and voiced their suggestions regarding the teaching and promotion of Islam in a wider spectrum, and the education of students in the direction of the fight against Islamophobia in higher schools. It should be noted that the international scientific conference on "Protecting Diversity: Combating Islamophobia in 2024" is being held with the joint support of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism, the Center for the Analysis of International Relations, the G20 Interreligious Dialogue Forum and the Baku Initiative Group. Scientists from 32 countries of the world, experts of international organizations, religious figures and more than 130 representatives of non-governmental organizations are participating in the conference. The event was attended by Cole Durham, President of the Interfaith Dialogue Forum of the G20 Summit (USA), Yousef Aldobeay, Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (Saudi Arabia) for Political Affairs, Khalid Fathal Rahman Omer Mohamed, Director of ISESCO's Center for Inter-Civilizational Dialogue (Sudan), European Conference of Churches. Human rights defender Elizabeta Kitanovic (Serbia) and other well-known persons attended. It should be noted that every year March 15 is celebrated as the International Day of Combating Islamophobia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for the intensification of practical military exercises during a visit to the main base of the Korean People's Army, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets. On March 6, Kim Jong-un visited a large operational training base of the Korean People's Army in the western part of the country, where he inspected the training base and monitored the practical maneuvers of military units. He was welcomed by North Korean Defense Minister Kang Song Nam and Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army Lee Yong Gil. "In order to overcome the constant threat of superior enemy forces, consistently prevent the slightest attempts to start a war, and accurately perform important tasks during emergencies, our army must impose the strictest requirements on itself. To increase practical training to quickly increase combat readiness to ensure full readiness for war under changes and its modern forms," Kim Jong-un was quoted as saying by the agency. The North Korean leader's statement coincides with when South Korea and the United States are conducting major joint military exercises called "Freedom Shield", which will last 11 days. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Edward McKinley reports on Texas state government and politics from the Hearst Bureau in Austin for the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News, with a particular focus on education issues. He can be reached at edward.mckinley@houstonchronicle.com. He is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and Georgetowns Masters in American Government program. He previously reported for The Albany Times Union and the Kansas City Star newspapers, and he originally hails from the great state of Minnesota. 8 March 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) By Azernews reports The volume of tea exports from Turkiye in January-February of this year increased by 85 percent compared to the same period in 2023, reaching 6 million 63 thousand 44 dollars, Azernews reports, citing the deputy head of the Board of the Association of Exporters of the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkiye Shaban Turgut. He said that Turkish tea is successfully sold in 85 countries around the world. He also noted that in January-February of this year, 1,347 tons of tea were sold abroad for a total of 6 million 63 thousand 44 dollars. In comparison with the same period last year, when the revenue from the sale of 661 tons of tea amounted to 3 million 274 thousand 872 dollars, tea exports from Turkiye increased by 104 percent in physical terms and by 85 percent in monetary terms. Belgium, the USA and the UK are among the TOP 3 importers of Turkish tea. During the period under review, Belgium purchased tea in the amount of $2,825,932, the United States - for $637,645 and the United Kingdom - for $501,389. Turgut also noted that Turkish tea is in demand in the markets of Mauritania, Japan, Liberia, Croatia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Syria, Chile, Egypt, Hong Kong, Singapore, Burundi, Gambia, Venezuela, Cuba, Djibouti, Brazil, Dubai, Angola and Cambodia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 15:20 (UTC+04:00) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Turkiye today, March 8. This was informed by the Office of the President of Ukraine. According to Azernews, during the visit, the Ukraininian President will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discuss the peace formula, peace summit, shipping in the Black Sea, food stability and the release of Ukrainian prisoners and political prisoners. Also, special attention will be paid to general projects in the defense industry. Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the shipyards where the construction of corvettes for the Ukrainian Navy is underway and will meet with representatives of Turkish defense companies, Ukraine President's Office said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 15:45 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Racial and religious hatred is the biggest plague in the modern world. Unfortunately, despite all social and economic developments, some people or communities have such hideous mindsets. They consider themselves and their religious thoughts superior in comparison with other ethnicities. Mankind has observed many wars and clashes between different religions and races but it has never witnessed such kind of hatred that the modern world bears. Unlike wars and clashes in the Ancient world and the Middle Ages, some modern wars, driven by racial and religious hatred, are observed with ethnic cleansing. Today, an international event themed "Protecting Diversity: Fighting Islamophobia in 2024" held in Azerbaijan is dedicated to increasing joint efforts against the mentioned radical thinking. During the event, the representatives of OIC, UN, ICESCO and a number of organizations gave speeches and put forward valuable ideas on preventing the concept of Islamophobia. Speaking at the opening of the event, President Ilham Aliyev pointed out that today the European Union Parliament and PACE have become a platform that promotes Islamophobia. Unfortunately, certain Western institutions that also portray themselves as democratic are engaging in anti-Islamic activities. Today, the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have become platforms that promote Islamophobia and pursue policies based on this ideology," the President said. To distinguish the concept of Islamophobia, one can start with the mass cleansing policy of Armenia against the Muslim community in the South Caucasus. The First Garabagh War, and the expulsion of Muslims, more precisely Azerbaijanis and Kurds, from Armenia in the 1990s is the best example of the said clashes. Armenians, driven by the sense of Islamaphobia and hatred against Turks, were not limited to expulsion of Azerbaijanis and Muslims from their hometowns but also destroyed all cultural heritages. They tried to erase all tracks of Muslims from Armenia and Garabagh. It is worth noting that such kind of barbarity does not occur only in Asia, but in Europe as well, which is considered the Lokomotive of the modern world. For example, well-known Islamaphobic Dutch politician Geert Wilders called Muslims cockroaches, and several times insulted Quran, the holy book of Islam. Another example of an Islamophobic event has happened recently in France against Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijani culture. In the modern world, where there is a fight for women's rights, the statue of Azerbaijani poetess Khurshud Banu Natavan is subjected to barbaric attacks in the Middle of Europe, which is considered the headquarters of the women's rights struggle. The officials of France, where there are thousands of statues of different people, could not tolerate the statue of a Muslim poetess who did not have any relations with politics and dismantled it in Evian-les-Bains. Such behavior of France, once again revealed the main character, literally hatred against Muslims, once again. In a comment to Azernews on the issue, Irish political analyst and historian Patrick Walsh noted that the Armenians have an ideology that denies the genuineness of Azerbaijan as a nation. He said that the land upon which the Azerbaijan state was established has been subjected to Armenian claims for over a century. The destructive activity has essentially been aimed at erasing evidence of non-Armenian presence. In form it is Islamaphobic since it is directed at the expression of Islam, the main religion of Azerbaijanis but in substance it is an ethnic form of violence, Walsh said. As for the statue of Azerbaijani poetess Khurshud Banu Natevan, he said that the attacks on the statue are probably inspired by an Armenophile tendency in French society mixed with Islamaphobia. He also pointed out that there is increasing Islamaphobia across the West and much of this is anti-migrant and the Muslim communities are the special target of right-wing parties across Europe. Anti-Muslim has increased in recent months in response to demonstrations in support of the Palestinians in Gaza. The right, which used to be antisemitic is now strongly pro-Zionist. It sees Muslims as the enemy today. Of course, these groups are often pro-Armenian too, because they identify the Armenians as a Christian people under attack from the Muslim hordes, the Irish historian underscored. He also touched on Geert Wilders issue and said that he is the most extreme example of what I have described - anti-migrant and anti-Muslim. Patrick noted that he is a provocative character with a total intolerance of Islam engaging in highly inflammatory stunts that most people would find unacceptable. In the UK for example such behaviour would be criminal. However, the Dutch have a strong libertarian culture that is opposed to the multiculturalism one finds in the UK or Ireland. This permits attacks on religion which we would find outrageous and a danger to the public good. Unfortunately, this form of politics is on the rise across Europe and even in the UK there are manifestations of it, though less open and extravagant. Basically, the anti-Islamic sentiment found in the West is an anti-migrant phenomenon. The West has a declining birth rate and needs migrants. However, the large amounts of immigration seen lately have enabled right-wing anti-Islamic groups to increase their support, directing their ire at society problems at incoming Muslims, the pundit concluded. --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 19:05 (UTC+04:00) Turkish and Romanian F-16 fighter jets conducted interception training Thursday as part of NATO's enhanced air policing mission, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. "As part of NATO Enhanced Air Policing Block-64 mission, a press day was held in Romania, Fetesti Borcea Air Base. Around 50 press members attended the press day activity and also air-to-air shots were captured," the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on X. In December, four Turkish F-16 fighter jets arrived in Romania to participate in the mission until the end of March. The jets fly sorties alongside their Romanian colleagues to safeguard NATO airspace on the eastern flank. At Fetesti Air Base, the Turkish F-16s conducted training scrambles simulating the alarm chain from fighter preparation to take-off for an intercept. "Since 2014, Romania has hosted NATO enhanced Air Policing of fighter detachments from eight Allies and now Turkiye at its air bases near the Black Sea Coast, said Captain Cornel Pavel from the Romanian Defense Ministry was quoted as saying in a NATO statement "This has been a major contribution to NATOs collective effort to show its commitment to collective deterrence and defense and the close cohesion among Allies," Pavel added. Air policing is a peacetime mission that aims to preserve the security of Alliance airspace. It is a collective task and involves the continuous presence of fighter aircraft and crews, which are ready to react quickly to possible airspace violations, according to NATO. As a part of the broad set of assurance measures introduced following Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, allies are providing additional assets to enhance air policing along NATOs eastern borders, it added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 20:05 (UTC+04:00) The Georgian National Wine Agency on Friday said Georgian wine was gaining popularity in the Asian market, highlighting the ongoing showcase of 16 wines from the country at Foodex Japan, an annual international food and beverage exhibition in Tokyo, Azernews reports, citing Agenda. The Agency cited Georgian wine producers as saying participation in the exhibition was an excellent opportunity to discover new trade partners and boost exports. During the exhibition, representatives from the Agency and producers met with Japanese marketing, trade, and consulting companies. These meetings are expected to significantly contribute to future cooperation and development, the body said. The Agency noted 28,000 bottles of Georgian wine were exported to Japan between January and February, a 549 percent increase over the same period of 2023. In order to popularise Georgian wine in Japan, a number of important events are planned to be held this year with the support of the Wine Agency and the Embassy of Georgia in Japan, Davit Tkemaladze, the Deputy Chairman of the Agency, said. Tkemaladze added the goal of the body was to promote winemaking as a constituent part of the ancient Georgian culture. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 21:10 (UTC+04:00) The head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kyrgyzstan Temir Sariev met with representatives of a German company W. Hass Future GmbH & Co. The press service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported, Azernews reports, citing 24.kg news agency. The company was founded in 2017 and specializes in the installation of photovoltaic systems throughout Europe. Its annual turnover exceeds 30 million. It has orders until 2030. The company employs people from around the world, including more than 40 citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, who are trained in the latest technologies. Temir Sariev and the head of the company, Waldemar Hass, discussed investing more than 300 million in the construction of solar power plants, as well as the potential and opportunities for cooperation in the field of using wind energy. In addition, the German side offers training in new approaches and technologies for specialists from Kyrgyzstan with subsequent employment at planned joint ventures. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 March 2024 22:50 (UTC+04:00) According to preliminary data, the incidence of tuberculosis decreased last year in Kyrgyzstan, Azernews reports, 24.kg news agency. In 2022 the incidence rate was 65.5 per 100,000 people, and in 2023 60 cases per 100,000. Mortality rates are also decreasing. At the same time, the executive director of Partnership Network Association, Aibar Sultangaziev, believes that the detection of tuberculosis patients in the country has simply decreased. According to the World Health Organization, the number of such patients in the world is not particularly decreasing, but their detection has decreased after the COVID-19 epidemic, he said. WHO predicted that up to 1,000 people with drug-resistant tuberculosis will be detected per year in Kyrgyzstan. The National Center insisted that there would be more than 1,800 patients, the country committee expected 1,200 but the maximum is 800 detected patients. The problem is that patients are detected at late stages, with an advanced form. People do not go to medical institutions; alertness is low. Based on the symptoms, medical workers can diagnose any of the diseases, but not TB. Although the disease has not gone away. And if measures are not taken, the number will increase in any case, Aibar Sultangaziev told 24.kg news agency. He noted that the National Phthisiology Center plans to use the funds saved on medicines for its own needs. We propose to allocate money for detection, to work more with the population in the regions (screening, fluorography, diagnostics, and so on). There has been a discussion for several years about the creation of a diagnostic laboratory in the south of Kyrgyzstan, but the National Center is actively resisting this. Although calculations have already been made, the new laboratory could deal not only with tuberculosis, added Aibar Sultangaziev. Abdullaat Kadyrov noted that Aibar Sultangaziev has no evidence base. In 2019, we had 1,067 laboratory-confirmed cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis, in 2020 748, in 2021 870 and in 2022 936. There is no decrease, the drug-resistant form of TB is spreading all over the world. According to our forecast, in 2024 there will be 1,100 cases in the Kyrgyz Republic, and according to the WHO forecast 1,050, the difference is only 50 cases, the head of the center said. He noted that from 2020 to 2022 there was an increase in the incidence of TB in the republic, which just indicates an improvement in detection. We are introducing innovative methods. Nine digital X-ray machines using artificial intelligence were purchased at the expense of funds from the Global Fund. We are currently training specialists and will soon start working. We plan to buy four more such devices and conduct continuous screening of the entire population in Kyrgyzstan. All tuberculosis patients are 100% provided with medicines, treatment is free, there are no problems, Abdullaat Kadyrov said. As for the anti-tuberculosis laboratory in Osh, he said, major repairs are currently being completed there. Earlier, the Ministry of Health reported that this year the bed capacity of the anti-tuberculosis service in the country would be reduced by 35 percent due to a stable decrease in incidence and mortality over the past 10 years. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Congressman Joaquin Castro, TX-D, speaks as he joins Jesus Saenz, San Antonio Airport System, Director of Airports to discuss federal funding for the San Antonio International Airport for renovations and future expansion efforts on Monday, Mar. 21, 2022. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer Steven Price went to the doctors office after suffering headaches in 2019. He was shocked by the diagnosis: leukemia. The San Antonio resident and veteran connected his diagnosis to his service in the Panama Canal Zone in the 1980s. Price, 64, said the military used Agent Orange and other toxic herbicides to control vegetation growth and kill mosquitos. Those herbicides now have been linked to diseases among veterans and Panamanian citizens. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Price is among the Panama Canal Zone veterans who were left out of the PACT Act, passed by Congress in 2022 to ease the process of receiving health care benefits for former service members who were exposed to herbicides. The U.S. government does not want another Camp Lejeune, Price said, referring to the military base in North Carolina where veterans were exposed to contaminated drinking water in the 1970s and 80s. The exposure led to a wave of litigation. What they are doing, basically, is discriminating based on location and theyre discriminating based on the cost factor. Now, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, is leading a bipartisan effort to ease the process of receiving health care benefits for Panama Canal Zone veterans who served from 1958-99. While the PACT Act left out veterans like Price, it gave the Department of Veterans Affairs the power to identify additional groups of veterans in need of benefits. Last month, Castro and 18 other members of Congress sent a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough urging him to use those powers to extend benefits to veterans who served in Panama. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The letter cited at least 400 Panama Canal Zone veterans who have developed cancer, heart disease or other conditions linked to herbicide exposure. However, the VA does not recognize herbicide use in Panama, despite the first-hand accounts The testimonials from the service members who served there over the years tells a very different story, and they have communicated that to the VA, Castro said in an interview. Unfortunately, its a lot of the same skepticism that service members who encountered burn pits faced in the early years of their pleading for coverage. In a statement, VA press secretary Terrence Hayes said the agency continues to review all available evidence with the Department of Defense on the use of herbicides in Panama. If the DoD informs VA that there is sufficient evidence that Agent Orange or tactical herbicides were ever used, transported, tested or stored in Panama, that information would be added to the DoD list, Hayes said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Castros letter argues that available records and veteran accounts corroborate the use of herbicides in Panama. A 2021 study written by a retired University of Illinois professor and a director at Military Veterans Advocacy organization that has examined the environmental impact of herbicide use, backs the recollection of veterans. Tactical herbicides were not officially offloaded and/or applied to the landscape in Panama, but commercial herbicides were used, it said. According to the study, the U.S. stopped spraying tactical herbicides like Agent Orange in the 1970s. However, planes previously used to spray tactical herbicides were the same planes used to spray commercial herbicides, leading to contamination and possibly higher concentrations of harmful chemicals. Trace amounts of Agent Orange and Agent Blue could have been added to the soils and water of the Panama Canal Zone, the study stated. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The VA doesnt keep a record of how many veterans served in the Panama Canal Zone, but historians have estimated several thousand U.S. military personnel and their dependents were living in the region in the late 1980s. In 1999, the Dallas Morning News reported that the U.S. military conducted secret tests of Agent Orange in Panama during the 1960s and 70s. Price said the VAs denial of the use of the herbicide leaves veterans stuck between politics and policy while waiting for health care benefits. Those veterans that are getting denied, those veterans like myself who are getting old and getting left behind, what do you think they believe the answer is its suicide, Price said. Price is the founder of The V.O.I.C.E.S. of our Veterans, a veterans advocacy organization to raise awareness about veteran suicide. Without health care benefits, Price said veterans like himself feel abandoned and often fight their diseases alone. Advertisement Article continues below this ad How long am I going to live and how long am I going to live with it when it does start to take me? Price said. How am I going to face my kids? Last March, Castro filed a bill to expand PACT Act health care benefits to Panama Canal Zone veterans, but it was referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and has been there since last April. 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? The White House has declared March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to recognize cancer survivors, caregivers and their loved ones and raise awareness about the growing rates of CRC. On Jan. 16, 33 organizations reached out to President Joe Biden to advocate for the recognition, according to a Feb. 29 press release from Fight Colorectal Cancer. In addition, Fight Colorectal Cancer, a national advocacy organization, is installing 27,400 blue flags representing the color of colorectal cancer on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from March 10 to March 22. The display serves as a visual reminder of the 27,400 people under 50 who are projected to be diagnosed with colorectal cancers in 2030. An oral surgeon who surrendered his license in California received a license to practice dentistry in Idaho, according to a March 7 report by NBC affiliate KCRA. David Webb, DDS, closed his practice in Vacaville, Calif., and gave up his license in the state after several patients filed sexual assault charges against him in 2022. The charges are still pending, and the trial for the criminal complaints against Dr. Webb is scheduled for May 15. According to court records, Dr. Webb is facing eight counts of misdemeanor sexual assault. The Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses is aware of the complaints against Dr. Webb, who received a "special status license" in Idaho, as the Idaho Board of Dentistry cannot deny licensure based solely on a pending criminal charge. Conditions of Dr. Webb's license, according to an order the news outlet obtained from the dental board, include: Applicant shall obey all applicable state and federal laws and shall have no convictions for criminal offenses relevant to his practice of dentistry whether in matters new or currently pending; Applicant shall not own his own dental practice nor engage in a solo practice of dentistry; Whenever working with a patient, another adult will be present with Applicant; Applicant shall complete a continuing education course in maintaining proper boundaries with patients; and At the request of Board staff, Applicant shall forward patient dental records to staff for the purposes of monitoring and review. Dr. Webb's special status license expires at the end of September, the report said. A dentist recently purchased a medical office building in Shrewsbury, Mass., for $2 million, Worcester Business Journal reported March 8. The 5,514-square-foot building was acquired by Milford Downtown, which is managed by Patrick Assioun, DMD. Dr. Assioun is the founder and CEO of Passion Dental Services, a DSO that supports offices in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and New York. The building is currently leased to two entities operated by Reliant Medical Group. Passion Dental Services and Reliant Medical Group did not respond to Worcester Business Journal's request for details about the future of the property. Scripps Mercy Chula Vista (Calif.) hospital, part of San Diego-based Scripps Health, is transferring its obstetrics care services and Rady Children's neonatal intensive care unit to its Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego campus. "Scripps Mercy Chula Vista's emergency room visits average 170 patients per day, and frequently top 200 or more per day," a March 7 Scripps Health memorandum shared with employees and obtained by Becker's said. "We have been exceeding our licensed med/surg capacity every day over the past 12 months, resulting in long waits for many of our Emergency Department (ED) patients to be placed in an available med/surg bed." The decision to consolidate the obstetrics unit with Scripps Mercy San Diego, which will take three to four months to transition, is designed to allow room for adult medical and surgical patients in need of a bed at the Chula Vista hospital, according to the memorandum. "While inpatient beds at Chula Vista are currently occupied at or beyond full capacity, on average only about half the beds in the OB unit are in use," the memorandum said. The change in services will affect around 135 employees at Scripps Mercy Chula Vista. "We will be making every effort to identify other opportunities for them within Scripps and with our community partners," a spokesperson for Scripps Health said in a statement shared with Becker's. The conversion of Mercy Chula Vista OB unit is expected to bring in 28 medical-surgical and observation beds, which will require staff. "Some OB staff may have the current skill set to make this move while others would require training," the spokesperson said. "But the timing of adding the medical-surgical and observation beds will depend on regulatory requirements.". Miami-based North Shore Medical Center, part of Dallas-based Steward Health Care, has started conducting layoffs as part of cuts to some of its programs amid the health system's continued financial struggles. NSMC has laid off around 152 employees who are part of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, a healthcare union that represents more than 500 employees at NSMC, a spokesperson for the union told Becker's. The hospital has more than 700 employees in addition to 400-plus medical staff, according to its website. The affected employees received a letter, obtained by the Miami Times, from Steward in January that detailed NSMC would be shuttering its neonatal intensive care unit, obstetrics unit and behavioral health unit. While around 152 people represented by 1199SEIU were laid off, the union spokesperson told Becker's that that number could be higher, as their members do not represent every employee at NSMC. "The abrupt closing of the Psych and Women's Services departments at Steward Health Care-owned North Shore Medical Center puts our patients and community at risk," the union spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker's. "It also creates a real hardship for many committed caregivers who need these jobs to support their own families." The letter detailed that the NICU and behavioral health units would close Feb. 9 and that the obstetrics unit would close March 10. "We could not continue to provide services for which we were not paid or for which we are chronically underpaid and maintain the hospital's other vital services to the community," a spokesperson for Steward said in a statement shared with Becker's regarding the behavioral health unit. However, the obstetrics unit closed earlier than planned on Feb. 14 due to staffing shortages. "This early transition was caused by a few factors including staffing level challenges and adjustments to our overall business plans," the Steward spokesperson said regarding the obstetrics closures. "There are no plans to reduce any other services at NSMC. The impacted employees were offered the opportunity to apply for open positions at North Shore or any other Steward hospital." News of NSMC's layoffs and unit closures come as some of Steward's eight Florida hospitals have faced lawsuits over claims regarding unpaid bills and hospital bat infestation removal. (Photo : Unsplash/M. Rennim ) ALDI, the fastest-growing grocery retailer in the United States, recently announced its ambitious expansion plans to open 800 new stores within the next five years. The goal is to offer quality products at the most affordable prices across the U.S. ALDI's Nationwide Expansion Plans The German-owned company headquartered in Illinois plans to invest over nine billion dollars to strengthen its Northeast and Midwest presence, with nearly 330 new stores designed by the end of 2028. ALDI also plans to expand its retail footprint in the West, particularly in Southern California and Phoenix, and enter new markets in Las Vegas. What Attracts Customers to Patronize ALDI? According to CEO Jason Hart, the company's growth is propelled by customer demand. He emphasizes that its 40% savings on groceries, stocking high-quality products, and providing an excellent shopping experience attract new customers and retain existing ones, driving customer loyalty, apart from its competitive pricing. The commitment to adding 800 stores over the next five years aligns with ALDI's goal of being accessible to its shoppers and contributing positively to the communities it serves. In the Southeast, ALDI's acquisition of Southeastern Grocers, including Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets, is a significant part of its expansion plans. Alongside opening new stores, ALDI will convert Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets to its format over the next few years. The conversion process will begin in mid-summer, with around 50 stores expected to transition in the latter part of 2024, reopening as ALDI stores in 2025. ALDI intends for several Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets to maintain their current branding. They are both dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition and providing exceptional value and service to their customers. READ ALSO: Walmart to Remodel 650 Stores Next Year, Plans to Add 150 More Over Next 5 Years ALDI Leading the Grocery Retailer in The U.S. As reported by SupermarketNews.com, ALDI was the 13th largest U.S. grocer as of last summer, edging slightly ahead of Dollar General in market share. However, it has since surged to become the fastest-growing grocery retailer in the United States. Aldi's ambitious expansion plans, known for its cost-effective private-label products, represent a significant challenge to established competitors, particularly in southeastern regions such as Florida, as indicated by a report from market research group Dunnhumby. According to a report on Aldi featured on GroceryDive.com last summer, retailers worldwide are advised to reassess their private brand, pricing, product selection, and digital and real estate strategies in light of Aldi's actions to establish protective measures against an uncertain future. As ALDI expands with new and revamped stores with easy-to-navigate designs, customers may expect the same enjoyable shopping experience with top-quality products at affordable prices. ALDI aims to attract new customers while maintaining its commitment to positively impacting and minimizing its environmental footprint by renovating stores with sustainable features such as energy-efficient LED lighting, eco-friendly refrigeration systems, rooftop solar panels, and more. RELATED ARTICLE: Macy's Grapples with Declining Sales, Shutting 150 Underperforming Stores to Step Up Its Luxury Brand 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jellico (Tenn.) Regional Hospital will close March 9, according to local news outlet WVLT. Jellico Regional has been on diversion, but after the CEO resigned and the company that ran the hospital Oxford, Miss.-based Progressive Health Group pulled out, CMS intervened to officially shut the hospital down, Jellico Mayor Terry Sandy told ABC affiliate WATE. The hospital temporarily suspended services due to a staffing shortage in December, according to WYMT. The facility will remain closed until Campbell County can find another entity to take over management duties. Becker's has reached out to the hospital and the mayor's office and will update this story as more information becomes available. Medicare Advantage continues to see unprecedented enrollment growth, but not for everyone. As of February, a record 33 million people are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. For-profit payers account for nearly three-quarters of that enrollment, while health system-owned MA plans continue to lose market share, according to a March 5 analysis from Chartis. Though health system-owned MA enrollment has grown overall recently, it has underperformed with respect to the largest payers and currently makes up 13% of the MA market, compared to 17% in 2019. "The continued erosion of provider-sponsored health plan membership in Medicare Advantage means that these plans are missing out on the nation's largest growth segment and are likely not capturing the full value of plan-provider integration for growth," Chartis' analysts wrote. The eroding MA market share for providers comes as several health systems recently have exited the insurance space. In February, Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health reached a deal to sell Health New England to Point32Health, the parent company of Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. In January, Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica said it planned to sell its insurance subsidiary, Paramount Health, to Medical Mutual of Ohio. In November, Ascension Wisconsin finalized a deal to sell all of its stake in Network Health to Froedtert Health. The Milwaukee-based system is now the sole owner of Network Health, which offers health plans in 23 Wisconsin counties. At least one system-owned plan has shut down in the past year. In October, Fredericksburg, Va.-based Mary Washington Healthcare said it would not offer its Medicare Advantage plan in 2024. Though some systems are moving away from Medicare Advantage, others are moving full steam ahead. Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health, which recently added Michigan to its list of states where it operates the system's MediGold MA program, also operates it in Connecticut, Ohio, Idaho, New York and Iowa. "Everyone is competing in this space pretty aggressively as we are in each of our regions as well," Trinity COO Ben Carter told investors in October. "We are continuing to evolve MediGold by investing in and growing it." Susan Sedory, CEO of The American College of Emergency Physicians, will step down in June 2025, the organization announced March 8. She has held the position since 2020. During her tenure, Ms. Sedory helped pilot the organization through the pandemic and helped launch its Emergency Medicine Data Institute. A search committee and search firm will be enlisted to identify her successor, which will likely be announced in early 2025. New Bedford, Mass.-based Southcoast Health has expressed interest in buying Fall River, Mass.-based Saint Anne's Hospital, part of Dallas-based Steward Health Care. The interest comes amid growing concerns about the fate of Steward's nine Massachusetts hospitals due to the health system's ongoing financial troubles. "Southcoast Health is actively engaged with appropriate stakeholders in discussions about our region's evolving healthcare landscape," David McCready, president and CEO of Southcoast Health, said in a statement shared with Becker's. "We believe strongly that the best solution for our community and its people is for St. Anne's Hospital to join the Southcoast Health family." In a Southcoast Health community letter, obtained by Becker's, Mr. McCready said that the next step in the process is to determine if an acquisition of any degree would be viable. "We are announcing our strong interest in having St. Anne's Hospital join the Southcoast Health family," Mr. McCready said in the letter. "Ultimately, our goal is to further provide our region with patient-centered, community-based healthcare, and to offer employment opportunities to talented caregivers and healthcare workers currently serving Steward's patients." Southcoast Health is a nonprofit, community-based health system that comprises three hospitals: Fall River-based Charlton Memorial Hospital, New Bedford, Mass.-based St. Luke's Hospital, and Wareham, Mass.-based Tobey Hospital. The Centurion Foundation, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, has hit back at a nurse union over claims that its plan to acquire two Providence, R.I., hospitals is "not credible or viable." The United Nurses and Allied Professionals urged state officials to reject the proposed acquisition of Our Lady of Fatima Hospital and Roger Williams Medical Center part of CharterCare Health Partners from Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings since Centurion has never owned or operated a hospital and will not be bringing any new capital to the facilities. A spokesperson for Centurion told Becker's it is "unfortunate that UNAP has only now announced its opposition" to the proposed transaction, which was announced in May. The nonprofit also maintains that its proposal provides the best path to economic and workforce stability for CharterCare. "In fact, the Centurion acquisition will recapitalize CharterCare and provide the financial wherewithal for CharterCare to offer our union employees, and all employees, fair and market competitive compensation, which our present financial conditions prevent," according to a statement from Centurion. After months of negotiations, the nonprofit said that it has made a commitment to assume UNAP's existing collective bargaining agreements should the deal be approved. "UNAP has made several negotiating demands that are not achievable within CharterCare's present financial condition, nor are they reflective of current market and labor realities around the Rhode Island hospital industry," a spokesperson for Centurion said. "We believe that UNAP should not make unmet union demands a condition of approval of our proposal to acquire CharterCare." UNAP also alleges that Centurion insists on making the hospitals and facilities pay it several fees and charges, but will not outline what the fees and charges are for, or how much they will be. Lynn Blais, RN, UNAP president and a nurse at Fatima Hospital, called on state regulators to dismiss the application, arguing that the model does not work for patients, employees or the community. The Rhode Island attorney general and state department of health are expected to make a decision on the proposed transaction in the coming months. Kittanning, Pa.-based Armstrong County Memorial Hospital signed a definitive agreement March 6 to join Pennsylvania Mountains Care Network, marking the latest in a series of partnerships, mergers and acquisitions between hospitals and health systems in the Keystone State. In February, Lewisburg, Pa.-based Evangelical Community Hospital signed a definitive agreement to join York, Pa.-based WellSpan. Evangelical has been an independent community hospital for nearly 100 years, but CEO Kendra Aucker said that with an aging population and growing costs, the model was no longer sustainable. Ms. Aucker said joining WellSpan will allow for better clinical services in its service area where the population is aging and deaths outnumber births. WellSpan is planning to invest more than $100 million in Evangelical over the next three years, which will be used to improve technology, renovate facilities and potentially expand clinical services. In January, the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia and Doylestown (Pa.) Health signed a nonbinding letter of intent to explore the possibility of integrating Doylestown into Penn Medicine. Penn Medicine said the deal would lay the foundation to develop new clinical programs and expanded services across the greater Philadelphia region and build upon existing clinical integrations between the systems. Philadelphia-based Jefferson and Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network in late December signed a nonbinding letter of intent to combine. Jefferson CEO Joseph Cacchione, MD, said that as the healthcare landscape and communities' needs are changing, leading systems must evolve and invest in the future of care and wellness. LVHN CEO Brian Nester, DO, said "Jefferson has done a fabulous job in establishing a highly successful health plan with a sharp focus on the well-being of Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries," and added that "Jefferson Health Plans will help drive improvements in health outcomes, especially in vulnerable populations." Butler (Pa.) Health System and Greensburg, Pa.-based Excela Health combined in January 2023 to create a 5-hospital system called Independence Health System. The combined system cut its losses by 14% in its first year, with the biggest boost to revenue coming from eliminating 200 administrative positions across the system. Nurse shortages have plagued healthcare in recent years, but with the workforce showing signs of bouncing back, many leaders are turning their attention to retention over recruitment. The nursing workforce is 6% larger in 2023 than in 2019, a JAMA Health Forum study found, suggesting a rebound to pre-pandemic numbers. The field is expected to grow by 1.2 million full-time registered nurses by 2035. However, nurses and nurse leaders are reporting more burnout, with 72% of leaders saying they are burned out and 31% considering leaving their jobs, an AMN Healthcare report found. Health systems and nursing associations are doubling down on retention strategies to keep more nurses in the field. Below are eight efforts Becker's has reported on since February. 1.The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses launched a knowledge assessment tool designed to provide personalized training to streamline onboarding for ICU nurses and avoid unnecessary or redundant training modules. 2. Omaha-based Nebraska Medicine turned to artificial intelligence to streamline and automate workflows and create deeper employee engagement. The system has reduced first-year nurse turnover by 47% since its implementation. 3. New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals launched a systemwide nurse residency program that enrolls all new hires into the one-year training, education and mentoring services. Nurses participate in monthly sessions and work on evidence-based practice projects. Since its implementation in 2018, the system has seen its retention rate rise from 46% to 91.8%. 4. Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health focused on creating a strong culture, investing in nurse leadership development and implementing a strong employee referral program to drop its nurse vacancy rate to 6.5%. The referral program offers a $5,000 referral bonus for nurses with two or more years of experience who joins part time or full time from an employee referral, and a $10,000 bonus for operating room positions. In the last year, 1,085 people were referred to the system and 255 joined from those referrals. 5. Mercy Fort Smith (Ark.) Hospital launched a new 18-bed unit, which will have a 4-to-1 patient-to-nurse ratio. The unit is designed to provide close-contact, hands-on training for student nurses by allowing them to care for medical telemetry patients under the supervision of an experienced nurse. The team, consisting of one Mercy nurse and two students, cares for up to four patients at a time with the additional aid of a clinical rotation preceptor. 6. Seattle-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is implementing virtual nursing as an innovative staffing model. Virtually Integrated Care provides an additional layer of care to better support bedside nurses and patients. 7. Miami-based Jackson Memorial Hospital established a process where nurses have regular touch points from the nurse manager level to the senior leader level to ensure that all are aligned with each nurse and employee's specific goals. With these touch points, leadership works to facilitate those goals and visions, whether it be moving to a unit with a higher level of care, joining a committee or being part of a project that provides exposure to the community. 8. Houston-based University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center established the Meyers Institute for Oncology Nursing in November to provide wellness, educational and professional resources tailored to oncology nurses and nurse scientists. The hospital also is launching the Nurse Leadership Academy, an internal effort to advance nurses' leadership capabilities and create programs to support nurses throughout their careers. Jamie Dornan has appeared on the latest episode of the Hot Ones Jamie Dornan said he hopes Irish people dont want to punch him in the face over his 2020 film Wild Mountain Thyme because everyone hated it. The admission came as Dornan became the latest celebrity to take on the Hot Ones spicy chicken wings challenge on the popular YouTube show and admitted that with every bite, it feels like more of a mistake. The Co Down actor was interviewed by host Sean Evans as the wings got increasingly hotter. The tagline for the latest episode described Jamie as getting punched in the face by spicy chicken wings. Other celebrities who have previously taken part in the challenge include Jennifer Lawrence, Will Ferrell and even Gordon Ramsey. During the chat the Holywood man was asked in what film role he would have a pint bought for him at an Irish pub, and what one he would be punched in the face for. I... did a film with Emily Blunt Wild Mountain Thyme and everyone hated it, so I think this one, but I hope no one would punch me in the face for it. Before beginning the challenge, Jamie admitted: Im not like a crazy chilli head or anything, and you might find that out really quickly here . First up was the buffalo hot sauce followed by the Smokey J sauce, where he took another bite. The third sauce was Funkys Hot Sauce which caught him off-guard. Jamie Dornan has appeared on the latest episode of the Hot Ones After taking a bite, he said: This is like someones starting the party a little bit, like doing a shot, before taking a sip of milk. Next up was Los Calientes Verde creeping up the Scoville level to 34,000. The Scoville Scale expresses the level of pungency or heat based on the levels of capsaicin in a pepper. Jamie admitted he liked it and was going in again. Feeling confident, the Belfast actor announced: I tell you what, at this stage, I feel better than I thought I would . Reading the name of the next one Morita Bourbon Maple Reaper hot sauce the actor said you say reaper and Im already scared before adding if someone told me 10 or 15 years ago, Id be doing something like this this was not in my future when I was younger. Jamie Dornan has appeared on the latest episode of the Hot Ones La Pimenterie The Forbidden Fruit Scoville tipped the scales in the challenge, with the level reaching 124,000. Im switching between wanting more of it then thinking Im going to die, he said. After tasting Da Bomb hot sauce after that, he simply shook his head, and looked obviously uncomfortable. Is that even street legal? he asked. Christ on a Gondola I can only talk on out breaths. After trying the final sauce which scored a whopping 2,693,000 on the Scoville level The Last Dab Jamie raised his chicken wing and said Slainte before taking his last bite. An American comedian is hoping to raise enough money to apply for UK citizenship after falling in love with Northern Ireland. Jazmyne Sierra, (31), who is originally from Florida but now living in Co Antrim, arrived in Northern Ireland for the first time in September 2021 and it was quite literally a dream come true. Despite admitting the story makes her sound like a crazy person, she dreamt that she lived in Ireland and thats what eventually led to her coming here. I had never been here before, explained Jazmyne. The only reason I knew where I was was because an intern in my workplace was from Ireland. Jazmyne had some money saved up and decided to take the risk and move to Northern Ireland from Philadelphia where she was based. Its funny because Im originally from Florida and before I moved here I had moved from Florida to Philadelphia, she said. I got to Philadelphia and I said to myself, This is only for now, but once I came here I said Wow, this is where Im going to stay forever. Jazmyne said she has been welcomed with open arms into the local comedy scene and even had an offer from popular Holywood comedian Shane Todd to open one of his shows. Jazmyne Sierra The comedy community has been so welcoming here, everyone here is just so lovely and they have been so good to me, she said. I have had so many surreal moments here, like Shane Todd asking me to open for him. It was just crazy. In order to stay in the UK, Jazmyne is applying for citizenship, but must raise 5,000. I need 5,000 to apply, she said. Im hoping to apply around mid-April so Im hoping I can raise the money in time. Its definitely not impossible so hopefully I can do it. Jazmyne is running a comedy gig in the Sunflower from 8pm on Saturday to try and raise money for her application. I know that it is very last minute but Im hoping we can get a good crowd and Im planning to organise more gigs to help, she said. Jazmyne said her parents are fully supporting her decision to apply for citizenship in the UK. They said to me, This is where you want to be and where you are meant to be. While Jazmyne has now fully embraced life in Northern Ireland, the comedian said it took her some time to adjust to Northern Irish customs. Jazmyne Sierra It took me a while to get used to the calling culture here, said Jazmyne. I didnt realise people just came over to your house to chat. It took me a while to realise I needed to have tea and coffee in the house in case someone called over. I love that about living here though. I find myself just waiting around the house hoping that someone will call over. Jazmyne said she has fully embraced NIs culture and has even taken a liking to a jambon. I love, love, love a jambon, she admitted. I just love to go to Centra and get myself one, they are amazing. The comedian also added the dating culture in Northern Ireland is very different from the US. I want a culchie boy, she said. I kind of like a wee culchie accent. I try to explain to my parents what a culchie is and they dont really understand. Family of Inayat Shah pays tribute to kind, loving and charitable man Michael Lenaghan has been sentenced to a a minimum of 20 years for the murder of 67-year-old Inayat Shah. Michael Lenaghan has been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years for the murder of B&B owner Inayat Shah (inset) in Ballymena. A callous killer who stabbed a Ballymena guesthouse owner 55 times insulted his victims family as he was jailed for at least 20 years. Michael Lenaghan killed Inayat Shah in a horrific and savage attack in March 2020. Mr Shah, who ran the Traveller's Rest on the Galgorm Road in the Co Antrim town, provided accommodation for people who found themselves homeless, had just been released from prison or had complex needs. Jailing Lenaghan (55) at Belfast Crown Court today, Judge Patricia Smyth said: "Mr Shah provided a valuable public service and it cost him his life." As he was led away from the dock, Lenaghan cruelly made an obscene finger gesture at Mr Shahs heartbroken relatives. Earlier, Judge Smyth spoke of the loss the death of Mr Shah (67) has had on his loved ones. In a victim impact statement, his daughter spoke of her loss, grief and depression since her father's death and the "searing pain" of his absence. Mr Shah's son described him as a "kind, loving and charitable" man who would help anyone in the community. In his statement, he asked: "Why was the defendant free to commit this terrible crime?" Mr Shah's partner also spoke of his generosity and said "the people of Ballymena have been robbed of a great man." Michael Lenaghan has been sentenced to a a minimum of 20 years for the murder of 67-year-old Inayat Shah. Outside court, Detective Inspector Jennifer Rea said: Michael Lenaghans actions were horrific and savage. This was an unprovoked attack, and one which took the life of an innocent man. She said Mr Shah was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather. That terrible day, and the months and years that have followed, have been sheer torment for this loving family," the detective said. "No one should ever have to experience such horror and loss. "I hope that todays sentencing will bring some closure, but I know their worlds have been turned upside-down and their hearts remain broken. My thoughts are with them. The PSNI was asked to provide a photograph of Michael Lenaghan, given the gravity of his offending, but refused to do so. The court heard that on the afternoon of March 21, 2020, Lenaghan - who at the time had been living in a self-contained flat in the Travellers Rest - threatened to kill a resident. He then stabbed another resident in the chest, who made his way to Mr Shah's living quarters to get assistance. The wounded man then left the properly, followed by Mr Shah, who at this stage was on the phone with the emergency services. As they made their way to Lenaghan's accommodation, he approached them aggressively whilst carrying the knife. Mr Shah started to run from the armed man, but he slipped on the ground and was stabbed repeatedly. As Mr Shah was still on the phone, the entire attack was recorded on the 999 call in what Judge Smyth described as "harrowing detail." She said Mr Shah's "repeated screams" can be heard along with him offering money to Lenaghan in return for his life. The wounded man ran back to the hostel shouting 'the old man has been stabbed'. Despite their best efforts, life was pronounced extinct at 3.57pm - and a post-mortem examination revealed he sustained 55 stab wounds including defensive injuries. Lenaghan, who was described in the aftermath of the murder as being 'calm but out of it' and covered in blood, walked back to his accommodation. He told the resident he threatened earlier that day 'you'll end up like Shah there, dead in the street.' A short time later, Lenaghan was approached by police and said that thing is in the alley. I did it. It's me you're looking for. When arrested for murder, Lenaghan asked 'is he dead?' and when told this was the case, he replied 'f*****g good'. He was overheard by Mr Shah's daughter shouting 'happy days.' He was aggressive and abusive to officers and to custody staff at the PSNI station. During a police interview, he gave a largely 'no comment' response - but subsequently pleaded guilty to charges of murdering Mr Shah, wounding one fellow resident and threatening to kill a second. He said he felt Mr Shah was a 'tout' and was trying to get him sent back to prison. Today, Judge Smyth referred to Lenaghan's "relevant" criminal record, consisting of over 130 offences as well as his consumption of alcohol and drugs prior to the murder. She also noted that medical experts agreed that he was suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning at the time. Judge Smyth said she had read statements provided by Mr Shah's loved ones, and it was clear he provided a "unique" public service to those with complex needs. Branding the fatal knife attack as both "brutal" and "ferocious", Judge Smyth imposed a minimum term of 20 years which Lenaghan must serve before he is considered eligible for release by the Parole Commissioners. (Photo : Unsplash/Markus Winkler) Elon Musk blasted MacKenzie Scott's charitable donations in an X post, which he deleted shortly after it was published online on Wednesday evening. Despite his attempts to remove the post, screenshots criticizing Scott, the wealthy philanthropist and former wife of Jeff Bezos, have already circulated online. Bezos recently surpassed Musk as the world's wealthiest person, donating billions to various causes she supports. Elon Musk Lashing Out on MacKenzie Scott's Charity Musk wrote that "super rich ex-wives who hate their former spouses should be listed among "Reasons that Western Civilization died." Since acquiring the social media platform, Musk has been recognized for exhibiting typical human behavior. However, even someone who strongly supports free speech sometimes removes posts when they cross a certain boundary. Musk's post was a response to a user on X who criticized Scott for donating money to organizations focused on race and gender-related issues following her divorce from the Amazon founder in 2019 after 25 years of marriage. Musk deleted the post a few hours later. Musk dislikes Scott for her charitable donations to political action committees supporting the Democratic Party. In May 2022, Musk claimed on social media that Scott was funding PACs masquerading as charities. Musk suggested that Mackenzie Scott is not supportive of her ex-husband, noting that many others get "caught in the crossfire." READ ALSO: Paul Walker Alive: Younger Brother Cody Carries On 'Fast & Furious' Star's Charity Work; Actor's Father Pays Loving Tribute To Late Son In Exclusive Interview MacKenzie Scott as One of The Wealthiest Woman Globally Scott, according to her website, has given hundreds of millions of dollars to racial equity, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, public health, climate change, and democracy causes, including the Obama Foundation, Black Lives Movement, Jackie Robinson Foundation, Morehouse College, Howard University, Planned Parenthood, and the Presidential Center of George W. Bush. Scott's net worth, estimated by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, stands at thirty-six billion dollars as of Wednesday. This wealth is believed to have come from her 1.9% ownership stake in her former husband's e-commerce company, Amazon. According to SEC filings, Scott received a 4% stake in her divorce settlement with Bezos, valued at thirty-six billion dollars at the time, positioning her as one of the wealthiest women globally. Scotts Exhausting Her Safe Advocacy to Philanthropy Scott sold 65.3 million Amazon shares, approximately 25% of her company ownership, valued at ten point four billion dollars at the time of sale, as per Bloomberg News in late January. Scott, who pledged in 2019 to donate half of her wealth to charity, has contributed over sixteen point five billion dollars to numerous charities following her divorce from Bezos. In the past year, Scott has over 360 organizations that received two point one five billion dollars. In a letter on the Giving Pledge website, a non-binding promise made by billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth, Scott expressed her commitment to thoughtful philanthropy. She stated that while it will require time, effort, and care, she will not delay her efforts and will continue until the safe is empty. Musk has also given some of his wealth to philanthropy. RELATED ARTICLE: Elon Musk Taking Drugs with Tesla Board Members, Sparks Concerns About Management Independence and Security 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Co Down man has been remanded into custody accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a shopping centre. Appearing today at Newtownards Magistrates Court by videolink from police custody, Lee Carlisle (35) faced a total of nine charges across two indictments. The court heard that Carlisle, from Mossvale Avenue in Ballygowan, was in breach of bail conditions attached to a charge of assaulting police on February 24, but the substantive case, encompassing eight charges, were allegedly committed on March 6. In that case, Carlisle is accused of sexual assault, theft of a 1 can of cider from Asda, using disorderly behaviour at the Ulster Hospital, damaging a police vehicle, assaulting two police officers, resisting a constable and possessing Class A drug cocaine. A police officer gave evidence that she believed she could connect Carlisle to each of the offences and stated there were objections to Carlisle being freed due to risks that he would reoffend. Revealing that the defendant has more than 60 previous convictions, the officer also emphasised how the latest offending, by which Carlisle is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman in a shopping centre, was committed while on bail for assaulting police two weeks ago. Defence solicitor Chris Logue lamented that if ever there was an advertisement for not drinking, this is it. He told the court that Carlisle was so intoxicated that he cannot remember anything of the alleged incidents and that when the allegations were put to him at interview he had been shaking his head in disbelief. Commenting that Carlisle is remorseful and embarrassed, Mr Logue said the defendant had just taken steps in the past few weeks to try to tackle his issues, and so he could be granted bail with conditions to allow him to continue with those tentative steps. Deputy District Judge Joe Rice was scathing, however, and labelled Carlisle as a danger not just to himself, but also to members of the public. He said that, on the face of it, the defendant has committed a serious sexual offence that must have been a terrible ordeal for the lady in question, adding: And then he compounds it all by having a bag of cocaine in his pocket Without any hesitation, bail is refused. Carlisle was remanded into custody and the case was adjourned to April 3. A Co Tyrone man is to stand trial this autumn on a charge of murdering a man whose remains were discovered in a reservoir. Stephen McCourt appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court today, where he was charged with murdering Cookstown man Damien Heagney. Mr Heagney (47) was last seen in December 2021. He was reported missing in July 2022 and his remains were recovered from a reservoir in Cappagh the following month by a police search team. McCourt, from Riverview in Augher, confirmed his identity to a court clerk and was then charged with murdering Mr Heagney on a date unknown between December 29, 2021, and January 7, 2022. Damien Heagney When the single charge was put to him, the accused (40) was asked how he pleaded, to which he replied: Not guilty. Crown barrister Gary McHugh KC told Mr Justice OHara that a trial is expected to last between three and four weeks. The court also heard that the defence is seeking experts for a number of issues including the forensic analysis of bloodstaining and forensic pathology in respect of the remains of the deceased. Mr McHugh added that the investigation in this case was complex. Mr Justice OHara noted the delay in the case, which he said must be truly miserable for the Heagney family. The senior judge set a date for the trial as October 7, with the provisional venue as Dungannon Crown Court, and said he would review the case in May to make sure everything is on track. Ex-nurse struck off for asking junior staff member to lie for her at Belfast private hospital Medic with 31 years of experience tells watchdog she regrets entire episode and intends to retire Hunter worked for Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Belfast Stephen Gordon Fri 8 Mar 2024 at 07:30 A senior nurse found to have pressurised a junior colleague at a private hospital to lie for her has been struck off. There are fears the introduction of car parking charges at some of the north coasts most popular spots may have a worrying impact on tourism and locals alike. It was confirmed yesterday that some car parks around the north coast are to become private charged car parks, including West Strand in Portrush, Seafront in Ballycastle, Harbour car park in Ballycastle and Ferry Terminal car park in Ballycastle. The tariff will be 50p per hour for the charging period, which will be put in place on a seasonal basis and be in operation from April 1, 2024 until September 30. The charging hours will be 8.30am to 6.30pm. Last month, the Coleraine Chronicle reported that ramping up car parking income was among the measures Causeway Coast and Glens Council has chosen to keep rates bills down. It comes after councillors struck a new district rate of 6.86 per cent in February. SDLP councillor Margaret-Anne McKillop said she thinks the change may have an impact on tourism for the area, but added concern lies primarily with locals who regularly avail of the car parks. Its a worrying introduction not just for tourists but also for locals, she told the Belfast Telegraph. Ive never voted for parking charges, our party voted against rates in the first place, but car parking charges in these seaside towns wont be welcomed. We have seen an increase in sea swimmers in these areas as well as people who enjoy regularly walking here along the shorefront. People use these car parks all year round. The councillor for the Glens District Electoral Area which covers Ballycastle and Rathlin said that constituents are also concerned about the charges for the car park adjacent to the Rathlin Island Ferry. We want to encourage tourism within Glens and Ballycastle is one of the smaller seaside towns so it will be interesting to see how its going to impact business, she said. This is, however, only a temporary measure for this summer season so time will tell, we will only know for sure what the impact of this will be next year when we find out some statistics of how it has gone. DUP councillor Mark Fielding said that the introduction is about creating equality throughout towns across the council area and disputed the idea of an impact on tourism as a result. Other towns like Ballymoney and Limavady have charged car parks, so why cant Ballycastle and Portrush? he said. Other tourist areas across the UK charge for car parking, we arent unique in that sense, and I dont think it will have an impact on tourism in the area. Councillor Fielding represents the Causeway DEA which covers Portrush and Portstewart. Introducing these charges is a way for the council to bring revenue back into the area and council have to maintain them at the end of the day so I dont think its unreasonable, and there will still be a certain level of free parking in Ballycastle and Portrush, he explained. People will come to these seaside resorts because this is where they want to visit, they will still come despite the charges. A spokesperson for Causeway Coast and Glens Council added: As part of the rates setting process for 2024/25, revenue raising options were considered and car parking charges were identified and considered along with inequalities of parking charges in some towns against others. "Revenue from these four charged car parks is proposed to raise 257k per annum. Police at the scene of a incident in the Cupar Street Upper area of west Belfast where a man has died on March 6th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police at the scene of a incident in the Cupar Street Upper area of west Belfast where a man has died on March 6th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police at the scene of a incident in the Cupar Street Upper area of west Belfast where a man has died on March 6th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police at the scene of a major incident in the Cupar Street Upper area of west Belfast on March 6th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police at the scene of a incident in the Cupar Street Upper area of west Belfast where a man has died on March 6th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Joseph Brennan died outside a bar close to the Springfield Road (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) A 35-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder after a man died in west Belfast has been released on bail. Earlier today, the Major Investigations Team had been given an additional 36 hours for questioning after the attack on Wednesday night. The man who died following the assault has been named as Joseph Brennan. Its understood he was punched outside a licensed premises on Cupar Street Upper. He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in an ambulance but passed away. On Friday evening the PSNI said the 35-year-old had been released to allow for further police enquiries into the investigation. Watch: Police at scene of serious assault in west Belfast In a statement, PSNI Detective Inspector Sean Armstrong reiterated an appeal for information. Our enquiries are continuing, and Im asking anyone with information to get in touch if you happened to witness the altercation and exactly what happened on Wednesday evening, shortly after 8pm. If you think you can help, contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 1768 06/03/24. Photos and footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam footage, can be shared with police through the Major Incident Public Portal. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online. Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey expressed his condolences with the family and friends of a man who died. The West Belfast MP said: I would appeal to anyone with information on this death to immediately bring it forward to the police to assist with their inquiries. A Northern Ireland Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 20:00 on Wednesday 6 March, following reports of an incident on Springfield Road. NIAS despatched two emergency crews to the incident. Following assessment and treatment at the scene, one patient was taken by ambulance to RVH. More lives were probably lost than saved through the British Armys operation of its top agent inside the IRAs internal security unit during the Troubles, a major independent investigation has found. The interim findings of Operation Kenova examined 101 murders and abductions linked to the IRA unit responsible for interrogating and torturing people suspected of passing information to the security forces during the conflict. Operation Kenova, which was undertaken by Bedfordshire Police and ran for seven years at a cost of approximately 40 million, examined the role of the Armys prized agent embedded in the heart of the IRAs Internal Security Unit (ISU), an individual known as Stakeknife. Jon Boutcher was in charge of a team of officers conducting a series of independent historical investigations as part of Operation Kenova (Liam McBurney/PA) The agent Stakeknife was widely believed to be west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who was 77 when he died last year. The Operatio Kenova report stops short of confirming Scappaticci as Stakeknife. However, it says that the Kenova team had passed strong evidence of very serious criminality by Scappaticci to prosecutors in Northern Ireland prior to his death. The report also dismisses rumours that Scappaticci might still be alive. Among 10 recommendations in the 208 page report, is a call for the UK authorities to review the application of the Neither Confirm Nor Deny policy (NCND) that currently prevents the identification of agents involved in many historical Troubles cases. (left to right) Former police ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Baroness Nuala OLoan, Officer in charge Operation Kenova, Sir Iain Livingstone, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Chris Todd, and former victims commissioner Judith Thompson (Liam McBurney/PA) It links the dogmatic policy with a failure to secure prosecutions in some Troubles cases. The report also calls on the UK and the IRA to apologies to bereaved families and victims of the ISU, the security forces for failings amid a maverick culture for handling agents and intelligence; and the IRA for the abduction, murder and torture of people it suspected of being agents, and linked campaigns of intimidation against their families. The Kenova investigation was originally headed up by former Bedfordshire Police chief constable Jon Boutcher but he left the position to take up the role of chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Last week the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland announced that no prosecutions would be pursued after consideration of the last batch of files from the investigation. Some 32 people, including former police, former military personnel and people linked with the IRA, were considered for prosecution on a range of charges from murder and abduction to misconduct in public office and perjury. However, the PPS found there was insufficient evidence to pursue cases. In the report, Mr Boutcher said various myths and erroneous stories have built up around Stakeknife. He said those within the security forces are defensive about the agent, viewing through rose tinted spectacles and claiming Stakeknife potentially saved hundreds of lives while people outside the establishment overestimate the number of crimes the agent was responsible for. Mr Boutcher said the suggestion Stakeknife saved countless lives was not grounded in fact. In reality the claims are inherently implausible and should ring alarm bells: any serious security and intelligence professional hearing an agent being likened to the goose that laid the golden eggs, as Stakeknife was, should be on alert because the comparison is rooted in fables and fairy tales, he said. Stakeknife was undoubtedly a valuable asset who provided high quality intelligence about PIRA at considerable risk to himself, albeit that this intelligence was not always passed on or acted upon and, if more of it had been, he could not have remained in place as long as he did. Mr Boutcher said Kenova reviewed around 90% of intelligence reports attributed to Stakeknife. He said he estimated the number of lives saved as a result of intelligence provided by Stakeknife was in the high single figures or low double figures and nowhere near the hundreds that have been claimed. Crucially this is not a net estimate because it does not take account of the lives lost as a consequence of Stakeknifes continued operation as an agent, he added. And, from what I have seen, I think it probable that this resulted in more lives being lost than saved. Furthermore, there were undoubtedly occasions when Stakeknife ignored his handlers, acted outside his tasking and did things he should not have done and when very serious risks were run. First Minister Michelle ONeill said we must never forget those who have died or been injured and their families (Liam McBurney/PA) Republicans cannot disown the suffering they caused during the conflict in Northern Ireland, Sinn Feins vice president has said, as she apologised to the families of alleged informers killed by the IRA. First Minister Michelle ONeill was speaking in her position with Sinn Fein amid calls for republican leadership to apologise for the crimes of the IRAs internal security unit (ISU). It follows the publication of the interim findings of Operation Kenova which examined 101 murders and abductions linked to the Provisional IRAs so-called nutting squad responsible for interrogating, torturing and murdering people suspected of passing information to the security forces during the conflict. The report calls on the republican leadership to apologise to bereaved relatives and victims of the ISU and those who suffered under linked campaigns of intimidation against them. Speaking in her role as Sinn Fein vice president, Ms ONeill apologised to the families of alleged informers who were killed by the IRA. Asked by reporters if she accepted that the murder of alleged informants was wrong and if she wanted to take the opportunity to apologise to their families, Ms ONeill said: Yes, Ive said it before and Im going to repeat it again today for all those families out there that lost a loved one. I am sorry for every single loss of life and that is without exception. Thats for every person who was hurt or impacted by our conflict. I think its important that today as the Sinn Fein new generation, Good Friday Agreement generation, that I would repeat that for those families. I can only hope because this is ultimately their day that they can take some comfort from that. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher at Stormont Hotel in Belfast for the publication of the Operation Kenova Interim Report (Liam McBurney/PA) Ms ONeill made the comments at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, where she also said there was a deep legacy of suffering and trauma due to injustices of the past. She added: We must never forget those who have died or been injured and their families. I am sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict without exception. Regrettably the path cannot be changed or cannot be undone. Neither can the suffering, the hurt or the political violence of conflict be disowned by republicans or by any other party to the conflict. Peoples lives from every section of the community were trespassed upon during the conflict by British state forces, republicans, loyalists, and unimaginable grief and hurt and pain and suffering was inflicted. I would never ask any mother, father, wife, husband, son, daughter, brother or sister to forget the past or to move on. While thankfully the conflict is long over, the legacy of our past remains unresolved. The interim findings of Operation Kenova have been published (Liam McBurney/PA) The report calls on the Government to apologise for the security forces failings amid a maverick culture for handling agents and intelligence. Ms ONeill said an apology from the Government should be forthcoming. Additionally asked if she believed it was feasible that the IRA could make an apology, Ms ONeill said: We all know the IRA have left the stage. What I wanted to do today in terms of responding to the report is speak directly to all those families out there. That Im so sorry that we were born into conflict, that Im so sorry that people were hurt, and that I am determined to try and look towards the future and build a better future for us all, because I think we all deserve that. Army agent Stakeknife cost more lives than were savedBoutcher expects government to authorise naming of StakeknifeONeill says republicans cannot disown suffering they caused during TroubleDUP leader questions value of report First Minister Michelle ONeill said we must never forget those who have died or been injured and their families (Liam McBurney/PA) A report which found the Armys top agent inside the IRA probably cost more lives than he saved is a damning indictment of the actions of the state during the Troubles, a lawyer representing victims said. Kevin Winters was speaking as the interim findings of a 40m probe into the activities of Stakeknife were published. The seven-year investigation examined the role of the Armys prized agent embedded in the heart of the IRAs so-called nutting squad. Stakeknife was widely believed to be west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who was 77 when he died last year. Mr Winters, who represents some of the families directly impacted by the report, called for a public inquiry into the level of state penetration of the IRA. Mr Winters said that Scappaticci was not the only Stakeknife, adding: Todays report does not end the Stakeknife saga. He said the report was a damning indictment on the state. We are left with the horrendous conclusion and takeaway message that both the state and the IRA were co-conspirators in the murder of some of its citizens. Kenova apology 'should be forthcoming' from Government - O'Neill Operation Kenovas interim report, authored by now PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, called on the Government and republican leaders to apologise to bereaved families and surviving victims in cases where individuals were tortured or murdered due to suspicions they were informers. The report did not identify the mole as Scappaticci, who was linked to multiple murders carried out by the nutting squad. However, it did confirm some allegations were directed against him: For now it suffices to say that Mr Scappaticci was and is inextricably bound up with and a critical person of interest at the heart of Operation Kenova. The report adds it cannot be known if he would have been prosecuted or convicted if he had not died last year. But it is my view that he could and should have been, Mr Boutcher added. More Troubles lives probably lost than saved in Stakeknife operation Mr Boutcher paid tribute to the families impacted by the Kenova investigation and said they should receive an apology from the I believe that we found strong evidence of very serious criminality on the part of Mr Scappaticci and his prosecution should have been in the interests of victims, families and justice. The report dismissed exaggerated claims the intel passed on by the valuable asset known as Stakeknife saved countless or hundreds of lives, saying it led to many on the inside viewing the agent through rose-tinted glasses. The claims are inherently implausible and should ring alarm bells, the report stated. Any serious security and intelligence professional hearing an agent being likened to the goose that laid the golden eggs as Stakeknife was should be on the alert because the comparison is rooted in fables and fairytales. The report puts the number of lives saved in high single, or low double, digit figures and stresses it does not take account of the lives lost as a consequence of the agents continued operation. I think it probable that this resulted in more lives being lost than saved, Mr Boutcher added. Freddie Scappaticci He said a lack of legal framework to govern the use of agents during the Troubles created a maverick culture where handling such people was considered a high stakes dark art practised off the books. First Minister Michelle ONeill said republicans cannot disown the suffering they caused during the Troubles as she apologised to the families of alleged informers killed by the IRA. She repeated her apology, made on the day she took office last month, for all deaths during the conflict, adding: I am sorry for every single loss of life and that is without exception. Thats for every person who was hurt or impacted by our conflict. I think its important that today as the Sinn Fein new generation, Good Friday Agreement generation, that I would repeat that for those families. Ms ONeill added: Regrettably the past cannot be changed or cannot be undone. Neither can the suffering, the hurt or the political violence of conflict be disowned by republicans or by any other party to the conflict. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson described the work of security services as a just cause as he slammed the 40m cost of inquiry, which examined 101 murders and abductions. The fact that the security services had so many agents working at the top of the PIRA is testament to their success, he said. Whilst having lessons to learn for the government, the report reminds us that the intelligence agencies had infiltrated the PIRA to such an extent that they rendered the organisation almost inoperable. Mr Donaldson said the huge bill begs the question if that money might have been better spent on proactive policing, especially in the absence of a single prosecution. Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris said the report contained several specific, very serious allegations that remain subject to consideration by the courts, meaning he can not comment in depth. Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin said findings that state agencies withheld information to protect agents were a profound failure and an appalling dereliction of duty. (Photo : Unsplash/ History in HD ) A British Judge ordered Former President Donald Trump on Thursday to pay $382,000 in legal fees to a company he unsuccessfully sued in London over the Steele Dossier. Reported by multiple news outlets, the order came last month after the judge dismissed Trump's lawsuit against Orbis Business Intelligence, which is a firm founded by former British spy Christopher Steele, saying the complaint was bound to fail. Orbis Business Intelligence's Accumulated Legal Fees Orbis Business Intelligence said it accumulated $809,000 in legal fees battling Trump's lawsuit. Still, London Judge Karen Steyn deemed the amount excessive, considering she dismissed the case after a one-day hearing. Steyn rejected the former president's case against Orbis last month, citing no compelling reasons for the claim to proceed to trial. The amount of money Trump owes Orbis for legal fees may increase further as a judge will later decide the total costs for the failed lawsuit he filed in September. Orbis has requested around $760,000. The Steele Dossier Lawsuit Steele Dossier, authored by Christopher Steele, contains a series of memos about Trump's connection to Russia while vying for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, which Trump vehemently denied, claiming it was commissioned by Fusion GPS for opposition research purposes. The dossier was published in early January 2017 after it was leaked to BuzzFeed just before Trump's presidential inauguration. READ ALSO: Trump to Pay Legal Cost of $400,000 As Lawsuit Against NYT Reporters Gets Dismissed During the October 2023 hearing, Trump's lawyer, Hugh Tomlinson, informed the judge that his client's reputation suffered due to the shocking and scandalous claims made by the former MI6 agent's firm in the dossier on allegations about Trump engaging in "sex parties" and "golden showers" with Russian prostitutes, and accepting bribes from Russian officials. Trump's Counterattack on Baseless Allegations Trump's lawsuit claimed that Orbis had breached British data protection laws by compiling the "Steele dossier" and that its baseless allegations were highly inaccurate. Orbis had been hired by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign through intermediaries to uncover damaging information about Trump before the November 2016 election, which was initially released by BuzzFeed News in January 2017. Orbis' Dismissal Appeal Orbis successfully contended that Trump's lawsuit should be dismissed because the dossier's findings were not intended for public disclosure and were published by BuzzFeed News without permission from Steele or Orbis, aside from the lawsuit being filed after the applicable deadline. A federal judge in Florida threw out Trump's similar lawsuits against Steele, Clinton, and former high-ranking FBI officials in 2022, rejecting the claims by the leading GOP candidate for the 2024 election that they collaborated to initiate the Russia investigation, which dominated much of his presidency. However, in 2022, Clinton and the DNC settled with the Federal Election Commission, agreeing to pay fines totaling $113,000 for violating campaign finance laws by inaccurately reporting expenditures related to commissioning the dossier. RELATED ARTICLE: Trump Media Faces Lawsuit As Co-Founders Allege "Stock Grab" Ahead of a Merger 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Naomi Long said the incident happened following the Alliance conference The Alliance Partys Michael Long has made an appearance at the unveiling of a new statue at Belfast City Hall just days after he suffered a "massive seizure". On Thursday, Mr Longs wife, Justice Minister Naomi Long revealed he had been ill and thanked paramedics and hospital staff for their response. She posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday that her husband suffered the seizure following the party conference on Sunday evening. She thanked paramedics and staff. It was a terrifying experience, but they got us through it and provided the reassurance and care we needed. Still processing everything that this means for us, but grateful to everyone for their understanding and support in the meantime. Mr Long also had a seizure in 2020. Alliance leader Mrs Long said on X: "He has no memory of it at all. I can see nothing else when I close my eyes. "He had a seizure in August 2020 for the first time and we'd hoped that was it, but I think now we just need to accept this might be an ongoing issue." The couple had attended the Alliance Party's annual conference last weekend. On Friday, Mr Long took to social media himself to write that he hadnt been well but didnt wish to miss the unveiling of a statue of social activist Mary Ann McCracken in Belfast. "Haven't been well, but I was not missing the installation of the statue to #MaryAnnMcCracken, which I proposed. Have worked for a decade on making our grounds more reflective. Today is a major step forward. A wonderful woman for #InternationalWomensDay, the councillor posted alongside several photos of himself at Belfast City Hall. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Mr Long represents the Lisnasharragh area on Belfast City Council and is also a former lord mayor of the city although he spent just 23 days in the post in 2022, replacing party colleague Kate Nicholl who had to leave the role early when she was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. DUP MP Gavin Robinson and DUP MLA Diane Dodds were among those who sent well wishes to the minister following the announcement, as well as former First Minister Arlene Foster. Party colleague John Blair MLA also wished Michael well in his recovery in addition to SDLPs Sinead McLaughlin and UUP leader Doug Beattie. The Alliance party declined to comment on the matter. Last week, the Belfast Telegraph reported Alliance leader Naomi Long was selected to run for her party in east Belfast in this years Westminster election. During an appearance on Sunday Politics on the same day as the party conference, Mrs Long said, that is not a conversation that weve had internally about her standing in the constituency. Ive just taken up a role in the Department of Justice, she added. Im enthused about that, and I want to be able to deliver in that role and thats 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. An Alliance spokesperson then confirmed a previous selection meeting was held in the context of no operating Assembly and the result was conditional on that situation continuing. A service which has been creaking is about to be revived, says Translink and NI passengers will see the greatest benefit after years of inequality Northern passengers will be able to book seats on the Enterprise train by the summer, and an hourly service between Belfast and Dublin will be in place before Christmas, Translink has said. The cross-border train service, which began in 1947, has been increasingly overcrowded and unreliable, with trains regularly packed to standing room only for a journey which is meant to take two hours and five minutes, but often takes far longer. That has been exacerbated by the fact that passengers travelling from Belfast can only book return tickets with Translink and that means they cant book a guaranteed seat (unless in first class). By contrast, passengers booking with Irish Rail are all allocated guaranteed seats, leaving northern passengers standing in the aisles, sometimes for the entire journey. The publicly-owned company has a financial incentive to resolve this. As growing numbers of northern passengers book a single fare from Translink and a single fare from Irish Rail to guarantee a seat on the return journey, Translink is losing money which it would otherwise be getting. Two weeks ago, the Irish Government announced 25m of funding to double the capacity of the service by this time next year. Capacity on the Enterprise should be doubled by Christmas - but long before then a major improvement should benefit NI passengers Some rail experts wondered how that could be achieved when buying a single new Enterprise train would cost about that amount and take years. Now Translink has set out how the hourly timetable will be achieved, and has said it will happen far sooner than originally suggested. The service will also be moving to Belfasts Grand Central Station the replacement for Great Victoria Street on the day that it opens in the autumn. That will mean a far more spacious comfortable station, and will also reduce the journey time by several minutes. Translink has also said it is talking to Irish rail about southern tickets being considerably cheaper than those purchased in Northern Ireland despite the fact passengers are sitting side by side in identical conditions. Ian Campbell, Translinks director of service operations, told the Belfast Telegraph that they are engaging with Irish Rail about the fares varianceultimately we are working towards a standard product. He said that for seat booking, by the summer, we will have the exact same access for Translink customers. Mr Campbell also said: We recognise we want to get trains into Belfast and Dublin earlier in the morning, so there will be earlier departures. Work is under way to improve onward connections to and from Londonderry. He said that the Irish Rail timetable has an existing slot for hourly Enterprise services to pass through the congested track into Dublin, even though that hasnt been used. The senior Translink figure also outlined plans to radically improve the Enterprise service over the next six years, almost doubling passenger numbers in that period and investing in new trains, track, and other improvements. Milos Bigovic, Benn Bath and Joshua Paige were jailed as part of the conspiracy (National Crime Agency/PA) A cruise ship worker smuggled 2 million worth of cocaine to UK waters before lowering it from the liner to a waiting boat and two accomplices who have been jailed for their part in the conspiracy. Milos Bigovic, from Serbia, had hidden the 28kg of cocaine on the Marella Discovery 2 in Cartegena, Colombia, before the liners Caribbean voyage was abandoned in March 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The passengers disembarked and the ship returned to Europe, where it moored off the Isle of Wight. It was on April 25 2020, that Bigovic dragged the holdall containing the drugs from his cabin to a port-side deck and attached a rope to it. He lowered it down to his accomplices, Benn Bath, 36, and Joshua Paige, 31, who were waiting in a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (Rhib) below, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA). Milos Bigovic, from Serbia, who had hidden 28kg of cocaine on the Marella Disovery 2 in Cartegena, Colombia, was jailed for 11 years in 2021 (National Crime Agency/PA) A NCA spokesman said: The drugs, which were smuggled on to the cruise ship, were so heavy the rope burned the skin from Bigovics hand. Bath and Paige were experienced seamen who worked in the maritime industry. In the preceding days, they had sailed Baths own boat, the Chatham Albatross, from the River Medway in Kent to the Isle of Wight. They had bought the Rhib for 5,000 and towed it from the Albatross so they could get close to the Marella and accept the drugs under cover of darkness. It is not known for sure whether it was Bath or Paige who manned the Rhib and sailed it solo from the Chatham Albatross, which was waiting nearby, to the cruise. Benn Bath, 36, was sentenced to 18 years (National Crime Agency/PA) Their movements were being observed by NCA officers and video footage of the drugs being dropped has now been released. The spokesman added: The 28kg of cocaine was originally supposed to be smuggled ashore somewhere in Europe. But when the Marella Discovery changed course because of lockdown, the organised crime group (OCG) behind the drugs had to change their plans. Bigovic, of Pozarevac, near Belgrade, was jailed for 11 years in 2021 having admitted importing cocaine. Bath from Staplehurst, Kent, was sentenced to 18 years and Paige from High Halstow, Kent, to eight years after being convicted at Winchester Crown Court of the same charge. Joshua Paige, 31, was jailed for eight years at Winchester Crown Court (National Crime Agency/PA) NCA investigators then uncovered a second conspiracy involving Bath to import another 90kg of cocaine into the UK onboard a barge from Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Liam West, 31, of Rochford, Essex, who skippered a tug that towed the barge was jailed for 14 years and accomplices Christopher Mealey, 47, of Liverpool, and Paul Farrell, 44, of Bolton, were jailed for 22 years and 23 years respectively. NCA operations manager Jules Harriman said: This OCG clearly had international connections and was able to orchestrate crimes with accomplices abroad that damaged the UK. The NCA has the reach and capabilities to tackle such harmful crime groups that have strands overseas and we work with key partners, such as Border Force, to protect the public from the Class A drugs threat. Juan Orlando Hernandez has been found guilty of conspiring with drug traffickers (Andy Buchanan/Pool via AP, File) Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted on Friday in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tonnes of cocaine to make it unhindered into the United States. The jury returned its verdict at a federal court after a two-week trial, which has been closely followed in his home country. Hernandez, 55, served two terms as the leader of the Central American nation of roughly 10 million people. He was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the US in April of that year. Juan Orlando Hernandez was extradited to the United States on drug charges (AP Photo/Elmer Martinez, File) US prosecutors accused Hernandez of working with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, saying he took millions of dollars in bribes as he rose from rural congressman to president of the National Congress and then to the countrys highest office. Hernandez acknowledged in trial testimony that drug money was paid to virtually all political parties in Honduras, but he denied accepting bribes himself. He noted that he had visited the White House and met US presidents as he cast himself as a champion in the war on drugs who worked with the US to curb the flow of drugs to the country. In one instance, he said, he was warned by the FBI that a drug cartel wanted to assassinate him. He said his accusers fabricated their claims about him in bids for leniency for their crimes. They all have motivation to lie, and they are professional liars, Hernandez said. But the prosecution mocked Hernandez for seemingly claiming to be the only honest politician in Honduras. During closing arguments on Wednesday, assistant US attorney Jacob Gutwillig told the jury that a corrupt Hernandez paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States. Defence lawyer Renato Stabile said his client has been wrongfully charged as he called for an acquittal. Trial witnesses included traffickers who admitted responsibility for dozens of murders and said Hernandez was an enthusiastic protector of some of the worlds most powerful cocaine dealers, including notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who is serving a life prison term in the US. Hernandez, wearing a suit throughout the trial, was mostly dispassionate as he testified through an interpreter, repeatedly saying no sir as he was asked if he ever paid bribes or promised to protect traffickers from extradition to the U.S. His brother, Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in 2021 in Manhattan federal court for his own conviction on drug charges. People gather around an area were gunmen kidnapped school children in Chikun, Nigeria (AP) Residents told the Associated Press the assailants surrounded the government-owned school in Kaduna States Kuriga town just as the pupils were about to start the school day. Sani Abdullahi, the headteacher, told Kaduna governor Uba Sani when he visited the town that the total number of those missing was 287. We will ensure that every child will come back. We are working with the security agencies, the governor told the villagers. The Nigerian army have been sent to the scene (AP) Abductions of students from schools in northern Nigeria are common and have become a source of concern since 2014 when Islamic extremists kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls in Borno states Chibok village. In recent years, the abductions have been concentrated in the north west and central regions where dozens of armed groups often target villagers and travellers for huge ransoms. The attack in Kuriga occurred days after more than 200 people, mostly women and children, were abducted by extremists in north-eastern Nigeria. Hundreds of children are missing (AP) Women, children and students are often targeted in the mass abductions and many victims are released only after paying huge ransoms. Observers say both attacks are a reminder of Nigerias worsening security crisis which resulted in the deaths of several hundred people in 2023, according to an AP analysis. Bola Tinubu was elected president of Nigeria last year after promising to end the violence but there has been no tangible improvement in the security situation yet, said Oluwole Ojewale, West and Central Africa researcher with the Africa-focused Institute for Security Studies. President Joe Biden turned his State of the Union speech into an animated argument for a second term as he laced into Republican frontrunner Donald Trump for espousing resentment, revenge and retribution and jeopardising freedom at home and abroad. Over and over, Mr Biden delivered broadsides at my predecessor without ever mentioning Mr Trump by name 13 times in all raising his voice repeatedly as he tried to quell voter concerns about his age and job performance while sharpening the contrast with his all-but-certain November rival. It was a far feistier tone from Mr Biden than his prior State of the Union addresses and it was designed to banish doubts about whether the 81-year-old is still up to the job. For 68 minutes in the House chamber, Mr Biden goaded Republicans over their policies, invited call-and-response banter with fellow Democrats on economic issues, taxes and healthcare and seemed to revel in the fight. Freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time, Mr Biden said as he appealed for Congress to support Ukraines efforts to defend itself against Russias invasion. History is watching. Mr Biden quickly pivoted to the threats at home, referencing the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol by Mr Trumps supporters seeking to overturn the 2020 election, and calling for the threat to democracy to be countered. My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6 I will not do that, Mr Biden said. This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Heres a simple truth. You cant love your country only when you win. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbour. Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me. The president showcased his accomplishments on infrastructure and manufacturing, and pushed Congress to approve more aid to Ukraine, tougher migration rules and lower drug prices. He also sought to remind voters of the situation he inherited when he entered office in 2021 amid a raging pandemic and a contracting economy. The 81-year-old president was being closely watched not just for his message, but for whether he could deliver it with vigour and command. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson after delivering his State of the Union address (J Scott Applewhite/AP) White House aides said Mr Biden was aiming to prove his doubters wrong by flashing his combative side and trying to needle Republicans over positions he believes are out of step with the country, particularly on access to abortion, but also tax policy and healthcare. Taking a victory lap in selling his legislative accomplishments, such as one that bolsters manufacturing of computer chips nationwide, Mr Biden veered from his prepared script to take a dig at Republicans who voted against such policies but are eager to take credit for them back home. If any of you dont want that money in your districts, Mr Biden said, just let me know. The president was speaking before a historically ineffective Congress. In the Republican-led House, Speaker Mike Johnson took power five months ago after the chaotic ouster of former speaker Kevin McCarthy. Legislators are still struggling to approve funding bills for the current year and have been deadlocked for months on foreign assistance bills to help Ukraine stave off Russias invasion and support Israels fight against Hamas. The State of the Union address is a marquee night on the White House calendar, offering presidents a direct line to a captive audience of lawmakers and dignitaries in the House chamber and tens of millions of viewers at home. But even so, the night has lost some of its lustre as viewership has declined. Mr Bidens aides inside the White House and on his campaign had hoped for some fresh viral moments like when he tussled last year with heckling Republicans and chided them for past efforts to cut Medicare and Social Security. Mr Johnson, eager to avoid a similar episode this year, urged Republicans in a private meeting on Wednesday to show decorum during the speech, according to a person familiar with his remarks to lawmakers. He appeared to have limited success. A number of House Republicans began to stand up and leave the chamber as Mr Biden discussed raising taxes on billionaires and corporations. Other, like Mr Johnson, remained in their chairs and shook their heads. Protesters block Pennsylvania Avenue during a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the US Capitol (Luis M Alvarez/AP) Mr Biden engaged in a loud call and response with lawmakers as he rhetorically questioned whether the tax code was fair and whether billionaires and corporations need another 2 trillion dollars in tax breaks, as he charged Republicans want. One of the most contentious moments of his speech came during his remarks on immigration, when Mr Biden was running down the endorsements by conservative groups of the bipartisan border legislation that Republicans killed last month. Some in the audience appeared to yell and interject, and Mr Biden shot back: I know you know how to read. As Marjorie Taylor Greene, decked out in pro-Trump paraphernalia, continued to shout at Mr Biden, the president held up a white button that the Georgia Republican had handed him earlier bearing the name of Laken Riley, who authorities say was killed by a Venezuelan national who unlawfully crossed into the US in September 2022. Laken Riley, Mr Biden said, calling her an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. He expressed condolences to her family, saying his heart goes out to them. And congressional Republican leaders were showcasing one of their newest lawmakers through the State of the Union rebuttal in order to make a generational contrast with Mr Biden. Alabama Republican Katie Britt, the youngest woman in the Senate, delivered a stinging election-year critique of the president. She said: The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. America deserves leaders who recognise that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets and a strong defence are the cornerstones of a great nation. Mr Biden painted an optimistic future for the country as the massive pieces of legislation he signed into law during his first two years in office are implemented. But he also was set to warn that the progress he sees at home and abroad is fragile and particularly vulnerable if Mr Trump returns to the White House. Mr Trump, for his part, said he planned to respond in real time to Mr Bidens remarks on his Truth Social platform. This year, Mr Biden faced heightened emotions particularly among his base supporters over his staunch backing for Israels war against Hamas in Gaza. Mr Biden gave his address to a historically ineffective Congress (Shawn Thew/Pool via AP) The White House had initially hoped a short-term ceasefire would be in place by the speech. It blames Hamas for not yet accepting a deal brokered by the US and its allies. A slew of Democrats and Republicans wore pins and stickers in honour of the Israeli hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Meanwhile, several House progressives wore Palestinian keffiyehs, the black and white chequered scarfs that have come to symbolise Palestinian solidarity. Mr Bidens motorcade took a circuitous route to the Capitol, as hundreds of pro-ceasefire demonstrators tried to disrupt its path from the White House. Amid growing concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Mr Biden announced in his address that he has directed the US military to establish a temporary port on the Gaza coast aimed at increasing the flow of aid into the beleaguered territory. The president also issued an emphatic call for lawmakers to pass sorely needed defence assistance for Ukraine. Acute ammunition shortages have allowed Russia to retake the offensive in the two-year-old war. The Republican-controlled House has refused to act on a Senate-passed version of the aid legislation, insisting on new stiffer measures to limit migration at the US-Mexico border, after Mr Trump used his influence to help sink a bipartisan compromise that would have done just that. Access to abortion and fertility treatments was also a key component of Mr Bidens speech, especially in light of a controversial ruling from Alabamas Supreme Court that has upended access to in vitro fertilisation treatment in the state. One of first lady Jill Bidens guests for the speech was Kate Cox, who sued Texas, and ultimately left her home state, to obtain an emergency abortion after a severe foetal anomaly was detected. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land again, Mr Biden said. Several House Democratic women were wearing white a symbol of womens suffrage to promote reproductive rights. The White House also invited union leaders, a gun control advocate, and others that Jill Biden and her husband have met as they travelled the country promoting his agenda. Smoke-free generation has its benefits but people have rights A smoke-free generation has its benefits but people have rights Famous smoker David Hockney Fionola Meredith Fri 8 Mar 2024 at 08:00 This week we learned that Northern Ireland could be included in a Westminster bill which aims to phase out the sale of cigarettes. The bill would make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1 2009, when they turn 18. Religious groups and radical feminists alike have strong feelings about the issue Since its launch in 2016, the online platform, which sees users subscribe to content creators for videos and photos, has grown to 120 million registered users and two million content creators. Its rise in popularity has been met with outrage by religious groups and radical feminists alike, who believe that sex work exploits women. OnlyFans creator Meghan ONeill says that her career choice has been met with a horrific stigma in Northern Ireland. A bill introduced by the DUP in 2015 to combat sex work and human trafficking has only convicted one person. Does sex work reclaim womens sexuality, or exploit it even more? Why have the NI governments attempts to curb the trade failed? And what would happen if it was decriminalised? Olivia Peden is joined by adult actress and OnlyFans content creator Meghan ONeill, along with Belfast Telegraph columnist Fionola Meredith. Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama (center) poses with supporters in Buka, Bougainville on Sept. 23, 2020 following his election. UPDATED at 2:39 a.m. ET on 2024-03-08 The Bougainville region of Papua New Guinea, which voted unambiguously for independence in 2019, has refused to recognize the central governments appointment of a senior police officer in the latest sign of tensions over the autonomous territorys future. Bougainvilles government wants to achieve its independence aspirations by 2027 but faces opposition from Papua New Guineas leaders who fear it could encourage secessionist movements in other regions of the volatile Pacific island country. An estimated 10,000-15,000 people died in a decade-long war between Bougainville and Papua New Guinea, according to an Australian government report on the conflict. Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama said the appointment earlier this week of a deputy head of police for Bougainville by Papua New Guineas police commissioner had usurped his government and was a breach of the 2001 peace agreement that officially ended the civil war. The national government ignored my government in this decision and we were never consulted nor privy to the process, Toroama, a former commander in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, said in a statement Thursday. This appointment will not be recognized by the Autonomous Bougainville Government as it is unconstitutional and breaches the Bougainville Peace Agreement, he said. The anger at the police appointment comes as frustrations simmer over lack of progress in getting Papua New Guineas Parliament to ratify the results of the independence referendum. Papua New Guinea, the most populous Pacific island country with an estimated 12 million people, is a focus of intensifying U.S.-China rivalry for influence in the Pacific. Some analysts have said Bougainville, home to about 300,000 people, would add a new dimension to the great power competition in the region if it were an independent nation. Taiwans government reportedly wrote to Toroama in 2020 following his election, offering support. A report from the Washington-based Heritage Foundation in January said China was already preparing for possible Bougainville independence and has previously offered U.S. $1.0 billion for economic development through its contacts with Sam Kauona, a former general in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and a former presidential candidate. A statement Thursday from Bougainville Attorney-General Ezekiel Masatt said the central government is treating Bougainvilles people and the law with careless disregard and disdain. Papua New Guineas government has devious and devilish intentions and strategies, he said. National Police Commissioner David Manning, at a general press conference on Friday, said that the police force only consults the Bougainville government on the appointment of the head of police in the region, a police spokesperson told BenarNews. The Panguna mine is seen in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea in this Planet Labs satellite photo received by Reuters on Sept. 26, 2017. [Planet Labs/Handout via Reuters] Bougainville, which makes up the easternmost islands of Papua New Guinea and borders the Solomon Islands, is the site of the long-inactive Panguna copper and gold mine the historical source of conflict with the central government that spiraled into civil war as Bougainville suffered the environmental costs but got little of its substantial earnings. The Bougainville government in February renewed the exploration license of Bougainville Copper, a company in which Bougainville and Papua New Guinea each have 36% shareholdings. The renewal paves the way for redevelopment of the mine in the coming years, the company said citing Toroama, and offers a potential windfall for impoverished Bougainville as the mine has among the worlds largest copper deposits. Masatts statement also criticized the failure of Papua New Guineas Parliament to consider ratification of the results of the independence referendum, which got more than 97% support from Bougainvilles voting public. Despite an agreement between Toroama and Prime Minister James Marape, Parliament did not address the issue in 2023 and failed to address it at its first sitting for 2024 in February, he said, instead adjourning the legislature until May. Papua New Guinea police did not immediately comment on the Bougainville governments statements, but said Police Commissioner David Manning would hold a press conference on Friday. The oppositions Bougainville shadow minister, Puka Temu, said the police appointment is an example of the government failing to maintain respectful relations with the Bougainville administration. The government continues to shift the goal posts with their handling of the ratification of the referendum results, he said. It is becoming clear, Temu said, that the government is not making enough effort to consult with the ABG [Autonomous Bougainville Government], and this is unnecessarily frustrating a straightforward process. This story was updated to include comments from Police Commissioner David Manning. A Thai Muslim woman holds the front of a banner during the parade honoring a Chinese goddess in Thailands Deep South, Feb. 27, 2024. [Nava Sangthong/BenarNews] Locals on motorcycles make their way through the streets of Pattani after the water-wading ceremony, Feb. 28, 2024. [Nava Sangthong/BenarNews] A main event of the celebration involves carrying the statue across the Pattani river, Feb. 28, 2024. [Nava Sangthong/BenarNews] Members of the traditional folk-dance group Manohra perform in a parade paying tribute to Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao in Pattani, Thailand, Feb. 28, 2024. [Nava Sangthong/BenarNews] For outsiders, Pattani is a predominantly Muslim-majority city in Thailands Deep South plagued by insurgency, but a closer look at this capital of the province with the same name reveals a melting pot. Here, people from diverse backgrounds including ethnic Chinese blend their cultures. Chinese migrants started to move into Pattani beginning in the 16th century as people from Chinas Fujian region who had migrated to nearby Songkhla saw opportunities to improve their lives in Pattani. By the 19th century, the Chinese community that had settled in Pattani slowly grew into what became a bustling market town. Ethnic Chinese make up a minority of the population in the Muslim-majority Deep South while the country is majority Buddhist. Now, Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao Shrine, the worshipping place for the goddess of mercy in Chinese folklore, holds an annual religious celebration each February. Part of the celebration involves parading the statue of the goddess throughout the city. Buddhists and Muslims join in the celebration that attracts thousands of tourists from across Thailand and from nearby Malaysia. Bennington, VT (05201) Today More clouds than sun. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Occasional snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this morning. High near 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%.. Tonight Occasional snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. AI significantly empowers cyberattack chain: top political advisor 09:49, March 08, 2024 By Guo Yuandan and Leng Shumei ( Global Times AI's extensive and deep empowerment in all industries and social fields is an inevitable trend in history, Xiao Xinguang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and chief software architect from Chinese cybersecurity company Antiy, told the Global Times. Xiao made the comment as, with the emergence of ChatGPT and Sora, the development of the AI industry is accelerating, and human society is speeding into the AI era. At the same time, the potential problems and uncertainties related to it may bring negative impacts on and challenges to humanity, while security issues arising from the field of AI have also been put on the agenda. Embracing AI requires a more open and collaborative mind-set, said Xiao, noting that different departments have different focuses. The field of cybersecurity should focus on three major risks: the risks from AI technologies such as algorithms and data; application risks of platforms such as data leakage; and the risks of upgrading network attack capabilities under AI empowerment, Xiao said. As a member of the national cybersecurity agency, Xiao described how he and his colleagues encounter cases of "AI-enhanced network attacks" in their daily work. "The graphic and textual content of phishing emails from some overseas attack organizations in the past two years are clearly generated by large model platforms. In cybercrime cases, deepfake technology has been frequently used." According to Xiao, AI significantly empowers the entire attack chain. "We must pay attention to the challenges of content generation and deepfake for cognitive confrontation, and we must also conduct in-depth analysis and research on the deep empowerment of AI throughout the network attack process," Xiao said. The US has been the first to associate AI technology with the so-called Chinese hackers launching attacks on the US. In response, Xiao said the US continues to conduct network intrusions and intelligence activities in cyberspace to support its global hegemony system. By using its own behavior to judge others, the US was trying to shift its attack activities onto China in order to muddy the waters in international diplomacy and public opinion. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) A sign hangs at the entrance to Machimooodus State Park, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Moodus, Conn. A small earthquake hit the small Connecticut town of East Hampton on Wednesday, but that's nothing new. Seismic sounds known as "The Moodus Noises" have been reported in the East Hampton area and the nearby village of Moodus for centuries. In fact, Moodus is short for Machimoodus or Mackimoodus, which means "place of bad noises" in the Algonquian dialects once spoken in the area. Pat Eaton-Robb/Associated Press EAST HAMPTON Mysterious shaking and noises reported by some local residents this week were caused by a small earthquake, the United States Geological Survey said. The magnitude 1.7 earthquake was recorded 2 kilometers about 1.2 miles east of East Hampton on Wednesday. It happened around 8:24 a.m. Twenty-three people told the USGS they'd felt the quake. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a Facebook post, East Hampton officials attributed the quake to "Moodus Noises," geological activity that occurs in the area south of the Salmon River they said has been happening for centuries. "After checking the area of the south end of the town and having no specific reports of issues or problems at this time, we, too, attribute the situation to the 'Moodus Noises,'" the post said. The post said the "noise and shaking" occurred a little before 9 a.m. Wednesday. Robert Thorson, an earth sciences professor at the University of Connecticut, said booms, rumblings and rattling have been recorded in the East Hampton area, including the nearby village of Moodus, for centuries, dating back well before a larger earthquake, recorded on May 16, 1791, knocked down stone walls and chimneys. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In fact, Moodus is short for Machimoodus or Mackimoodus, which means place of bad noises in the Algonquian dialects once spoken in the area. A local high school has even nicknamed their teams The Noises, in honor of that history. The occurrences were frequent enough that the federal government, worried about the possible effect of seismic activity on the nearby, now-decommissioned Haddam Neck Nuclear Power Plant, conducted a study of the Moodus Noises in the late 1980s, Thorson said. What they found was that the noises were the result of small but unusually shallow seismic displacements within an unusually strong and brittle crust, where the sound is amplified by rock fractures and topography, he said. There is something about Moodus that is tectonic that is creating these noises there, Thorson said. And then there is something acoustic that is amplifying or modifying the noises and we dont really have a good answer for the cause of either. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thorson said there could be a series of underground fractures or hollows in the area that help amplify the sounds made by pressure on the crust. Thats going to create crunching noises, he said. You know what this is like when you hear ice cubes break. It doesnt mean the area is in danger of a big quake, he said. Rift faults that we used to have here (millions of years ago) are gone, he said. We replaced that with a compressional stress. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That stress, he said, has led to the crunching and occasional bangs and small quakes associated with the Moodus Noises. Ali Louis Bourzgui once played the lead in Pittsfield High's production of 'Footloose.' Now, he's in 'The Who's Tommy' on Broadway You are the owner of this article. Bill Schmick says it's no wonder, given the escalating costs of higher education and years of student-debt payments, that the debate over the value of higher education is a hot topic today. This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle. Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter NORTH ADAMS Almost exactly a decade since the former North Adams Regional Hospital closed, the new NARH is poised to open its doors to patients by the end of March. And while it is still awaiting a few formalities, including state licensure, the hospital held an open house Thursday evening to show off renovations to what will be its inpatient unit. Dozens filed in promptly at 5 p.m. for tours of the renovated space. Both those who had been at the hospital when it closed in 2014, and those who have just begun working there, said they are excited to be starting a new era of medical care from scratch in Northern Berkshire. Anesthesiologist Dr. David Wilson, who was working at the hospital when it closed almost 10 years ago, said its wonderful to be expanding and hes extremely grateful for whats changing. We have an upgrade to now-state-of-the-art facilities and supplies, Wilson said. I was doing outpatient surgeries prior to this. Now, well be doing surgical cases of increased complexity, including overnight surgical patients. TIMELINE Berkshire Health Systems last June announced plans to reopen the hospital, which it purchased months after NARH abruptly closed in 2014. As the North Adams Campus of Berkshire Medical Center, it has since opened an emergency department, a cardiac rehabilitation unit and resumed providing numerous outpatient services. The company has since completed a $2.85 million renovation meant to prepare the building to open with 18 inpatient beds. A recent change in federal guidelines made it possible to reopen the facility with up to as many as 25 inpatient beds. The plan is to start with three or four patients, and work up to 10 filling all 18 beds is a goal for down the road, officials said. As part of the transition, BHS has nearly concluded a long local, state and federal process that demanded, among other things, it obtain a determination of need from the state, a license and a federal designation as a critical access hospital from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The state Department of Public Health conducted the licensure survey last week, and BHS is awaiting the report. Once the hospital has its license, it must obtain radiation control and lab certificates. Massachusetts Controlled Substances, the states drug control authority, also will conduct a survey. Once BHS clears these hurdles, it can begin serving patients, though it cannot pay for patients through the Medicare and Medicaid refund that comes with being a critical access hospital until the state DPH, acting on behalf of CMS, conducts an unannounced survey. It could happen three days after we open, it could happen two weeks after we open, it could happen 60 days after we open, said CEO and President Darlene Rodowicz. Were hoping sooner rather than later because we wont be getting paid between when we close BMC North and open North Adams Regional until the survey happens. The work to renovate 18 existing bed spaces was arduous, according to Joe LaRoche, the vice president of facilities planning and construction management at BHS. State requirements dictate that the rooms and bathrooms must qualify as private rooms. Some of the work included updates to the bathrooms, headwalls, fixtures, medical infrastructure and HVAC systems. At Thursdays open house for the new inpatient care unit, BHS officials offered tours of the renovated space. Rodowicz said in the lead-up to the event that the company was hosting it so that Northern Berkshire residents can examine the facility, meet its dedicated team, and discover the variety of health care services that have been specifically designed to keep their care closer to home. STAFFING A February job fair at the hospital campus drew more than 100 applicants, surpassing the health systems expectations. There were for 47 available positions, and BHS offered jobs to 22 would-be employees on the same day as the job fair. Bob Boebert, the senior director of operations at the hospital, said that to start, there will be 10 nurses on staff. That number will increase as more patients come in. Laurie Lamarre, the vice president of NARH, said that out of a total of 67 open positions within the health system, there have been 41 new hires, and then floating some services, and specialty services from BMC. An overhead view of Middletown High School. Patrick Sikes / For Hearst Connecticut Media MIDDLETOWN Swastikas were found in a bathroom at Middletown High School, the second such incident at a city school in in recent days, according to officials. Superintendent of Schools Alberto Vazquez Matos informed members of the school community Thursday that swastikas were found in a bathroom at the high school, a week after it was reported that swastikas were found in a bathroom at Beman Middle School on multiple occasions. "There is no place for such behavior in our schools, not now, nor will there ever be," Vazquez Matos wrote in a letter to the community. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Let me be clear: Middletown Public Schools will not tolerate hateful, derogatory, disparaging, or offensive language, symbols, or acts," he wrote. Vazquez Matos said an investigation is underway with the Police Department, and all necessary steps would be taken to identify the person responsible for the vandalism and hold them accountable. In addition, administrators will be implementing educational programs to address antisemitism and promote tolerance within the schools, he said. "Under my leadership, Middletown Public Schools will not stand idly by in the face of such hatred. We, as a learning community, have a profound responsibility: we educate young people," Vazquez Matos wrote. "As such, we must foster a culture of respect for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background." Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Most Christians are familiar with Proverbs 3:5-6 and many have memorized the verses. My father wrote these verses in the front of my Bible when I left for college because he believed I would need their instruction not only to make wise choices during my college years, but also throughout my life. These two verses in Proverbs are listed among the top ten most popular Bible verses and, according to World Vision, they are also listed among the Scriptures most searched for online. Proverbs 3:5-6 is often used to counsel and encourage believers as they make decisions in life. Notice the simplicity and strength in these two verses: Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. These beloved verses both educate and inspire, and they deserve further examination. What Does This Verse Mean? At least 3,000 proverbs were attributed to wise King Solomon. They were not meant as guarantees that if we do what God asks, He will do exactly what we want or in the way we want it. Rather, Solomons proverbs are principles for a blessed, prosperous life. Davids son wrote the book of Proverbs to help his people gain wisdom and instruction so they could act prudently, justly, and righteously. His instruction had several audiences: Jewish believers in general, parents seeking wisdom, and young people. Solomon said in Proverbs 1:5, let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. In verses three and four, Solomon focused on two virtues every child of God should adopt steadfast love and faithfulness because they reflect two of Gods attributes. Solomon noted in verse seven that to fear the Lord, which is to respect and obey Him, is the beginning of the kind of knowledge that brings wisdom. In particular, Solomon offered wise counsel to the young. Proverbs 3 is part of the kings advice to his son, but he was not necessarily addressing one of his own sons, such as Rehoboam or his other progeny. MacLarens Expositions says the term my son is the address of a teacher to his disciples, rather than of a father to his child. Solomon, in Proverbs, takes on the role of both counselor and teacher. His advice to the young and perhaps taught to his own children as part of their education begins in 1:8 and continues throughout the book. Proverbs 3 is sometimes called an admonition discourse, because it contains warnings and instruction on how to live. It also speaks to the well-being that wisdom bestows. For example, wisdom tells us to shun evil, honor God with our wealth, and not despise His discipline. Wisdom is personified by a woman in verses 13-18. This is not connected to literal gender, but is a grammatical rendering in the Hebrew that Solomon employs as he make comparisons between the wise and foolish. One such example is his contrast between the elegant lady of wisdom who is more precious than rubies (verse 15) and a foolish woman described as a prostitute, adulteress, and folly who will cause loss, destruction, or death. Proverbs 3:5-6 comprises one unified theme: the wisdom of depending on God versus depending on self especially when it involves choices and direction. Why Should We Not Lean on Our Own Understanding? Proverbs 3:5 includes two complementary commands, one positive and one negative. Trust in the Lord is at the beginning of a series of admonitions about the relationship between God and man. Solomon urges Gods people to place their trust in God rather than leaning on their own understanding. To trust God means to place our total security in Him. God is faithful and trustworthy, and the more we choose to know and trust Him, the more we will understand His will for us. Our perspective is limited, but Gods perspective is not. We can have worldly smarts or insights, yet lack biblical wisdom. Our intelligence and emotions may mislead us, or we might not have all the information; but God who is all-wise and already exists in our future wants us to arrive at the right solutions and make the right choices. Trusting in God, leaning completely on Him, is set in contrast to not leaning on our own understanding. Whats actually at stake is whether we are God-sufficient or self-sufficient. Certainly, each believer has God-given intellect, emotions, and abilities that are often good and helpful; but if we lean on them if we depend solely on them and leave God out of the picture we wont tap into His wisdom. Whenever we think we are capable of fighting our battles, determining our choices, or moving forward in our strength alone, were on dangerous ground. We need Gods help, guidance, and power. Two of mankinds greatest idols are self-rule and self-reliance. The current world system promotes this by encouraging people to only listen to and act on their personal truth. To do so, the culture says, leads to success and happiness. But the wisdom of the world is so unlike the wisdom found in the Bible. We need to separate from anything that diverts our attention away from recognizing and honoring God, and seeking Him for guidance and the right course of action. The problem is, those who have spiritual, emotional, and mental strengths learn over time to lean on them, which means even though they may never express this they have less need to lean on God. Paul wrote to the proud, worldly-wise Corinthians, the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:25). He was not suggesting that God is weak in any way. In fact, in The Message, the verse shows the word weakness in quotation marks. The simple truth is that if God were weak, His so-called weakness would infinitely surpass mankinds puny, perceived strength. We desperately need God and His wisdom. Human wisdom simply cannot compare. A person may believe its possible to be both God-sufficient and self-sufficient, but that doesnt work. No confidence in ourselves can rightly coexist with confidence in God. Also, although God expects us to be prudent, when we seek and trust Him, were not to have a Plan B just in case He doesnt come through. Only in trusting God with all our heart wholly trusting Him in everything we do and in every detail of our lives do we find the understanding and wisdom we need. What Does It Mean That God Will Make Our Paths Straight? Many Christians grew up with Bible versions of Proverbs 3:6 that say, In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (nkjv). Some newer versions say, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (niv). Which is correct? They both are. Acknowledging God is not simply going to church to meet with God or turning to Him in a panic in tough circumstances. To acknowledge God is to recognize that He is the sovereign God with supreme authority over us. To submit to God means that, based on His supreme authority, we yield to Him. Submission a process of surrendering our hopes and desires to our loving Heavenly Father. He is not a tyrant. He loves us and blesses us as we obey and follow Him. As Christians, we cant place our perceived right to understand all things and choose our own way above Gods sovereign right to govern our lives as He sees fit. The word submit is the Greek word hupotasso. It was used as a military term meaning to arrange troop divisions in a military fashion under the command of a leader. In submitting to God, we arrange ourselves under His sovereign command. God gives those who trust in Him plenty of opportunities through the circumstances of life to learn how to submit. Proverbs 3:6 continues the thought begun in verse five, describing or picturing what an all your heart kind of trust in God looks like in action. When we wholly trust in God, submit to Him and seek His will in all we do, He makes our paths straight or clear. Then, led by the Spirit of God, we can move forward confidently and with purpose. Solomon strongly suggested that if we dont acknowledge the Lordship of God in our lives if we dont submit to Him we cant expect Him to lead us. In all your ways means we come to God with everything. No circumstance is too small to seek His wisdom; and no problem is so big that He would ever be overwhelmed for He is God. Through Solomon, God invites us to trust Him with anything and everything, believing that He will illuminate our way through the Word and show us the next step. How Does This Verse Encourage Us Today? The guiding principles in Proverbs 3:5-6 serve as a spiritual compass for Gods people. According to these verses, we all have a choice. We can either live according to our own understanding and personal preferences, or we can willingly live under Gods righteous, wise rule. To acknowledge and submit to God is radically countercultural, and Satan would have us believe the lie that we know whats best for us and God does not. The world has certainly become more complex, but we deal with the same heart issues our ancestors faced. Though created in the image of God and being renewed in regeneration (Genesis 1:26; Colossians 3:10), Christians still deal with a heart thats prone to wander from God. We can either operate out of pride and self-sufficiency, or we can acknowledge the God of heaven, bow our knee to Him, and let Him take the reins of our heart. The unspoken word in Proverbs 3:5-6 is wisdom: Gods incredible wisdom. Even when we make foolish mistakes by trusting only in ourselves and hopefully learn from those mistakes our Father in Heaven wisely works it all together for our good (Romans 8:28-29). He has the power to redeem the worst of our choices as He refashions us into masterpieces of grace for His glory. God will cultivate spiritual wisdom within us as we learn to continually trust Him. Solomon encourages us to boldly place our confidence and hope in God, trusting Him with our entire being: mind, emotions, and will. His words might be paired with encouragement from the writer of Hebrews: Let us then approach Gods throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). In Jeremiah 9:23-24, God said, Let not the wise boast of their wisdom but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the lord. This is a good complement to Proverbs 3:5-6. When we wholly submit to and trust God rather than our own wisdom, He will guide us; and we will open the door to more resilient strength, perfect peace, a more hope-filled outlook, and best of all, the blessing of a closer relationship with our Creator. Photo credit: Getty Images/Tinnakorn Jorruang Dawn Wilson has served in revival ministry and missions for more than 50 years. She and her husband Bob live in Southern California. They have two married sons and three granddaughters. Dawn assists author and radio host Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth with research and works with various departments at Revive Our Hearts. She is the founder and director of Heart Choices Today, publishes Upgrade with Dawn, and writes for Crosswalk.com. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. The Middletown Youth Services Bureau podcast, "Talks Too Much," is led by young people who have honest conversations about their experiences growing up in the city. From left are Gabe Labella; Marco David, the show's host; Juliana Pappa; Ava Steiner and Sydney Tuttle. Gabe Labella / Contributed photo Middletown Youth Services hosts the podcast "Talks Too Much," during which high schoolers discuss topics important to them, such as mental health and social media. It allows them to engage in honest conversations about growing up in the city. Middletown Youth Services Bureau MIDDLETOWN A Middletown youth-led podcast is turning the teacher notation Talks Too Much on its head by way of a forum for high school students to speak frankly about the issues they struggle with and others they celebrate. Middletown Youth Services youth worker Marco David hosts each episode, facilitating conversations on topics such as mental health, the LGBTQIA+ community, applying to college and navigating social media. The series, which launched in November, is an opportunity for adults to learn how to best support youth in Middletown. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They loved the idea of calling a podcast Talks Too Much that comment on a report card and this notion that theres a time and place for youth voice, and recognize that we believe the opposite of where that comment generates from, said Justin Carbonella, Youth Services coordinator. We want our young people talking too much, and giving them this platform to talk through their issues, experiences, needs and their vision for Middletown, he said. Some were cautious at first, asking if they have license to discuss various feelings, such as being critical of adults, David said. Once it starts flowing, the walls fall down, the conversation is easier, and the space gets created naturally. The podcast is also meant to educate high school teachers, David said, as well as foster healthy youth development. That allows them to speak freely. We dont know what they want unless we hear what theyre saying. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One criticism is the lack of a sense of pride at the high school, David explained. The students bring viewpoints from diverse perspectives, he said, such as race and gender identity. You can learn something from each episode, he added. Discussions range from what makes a good friend and how to navigate heartbreak to how everything happens for a reason, according to the show notes. The initiative began in 2020 with members of the Mayoral Youth Cabinet, which hosted a teen summit that identified several priorities. One of them was wanting the community to better understand the life of a teenager, Carbonella said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So much of the adolescent experience in 2024 is exactly the same as what I experienced in the mid-90s: the same struggle about friends, relationships and balancing work, and not knowing what I want to do in life, the coordinator said. In some ways, their concerns are completely different, Carbonella said, when you contextualize things against technology, the presence of social media and how that has changed relationships." The first episode focused on how the pandemic colored every year of their high school experience, Carbonella said, when students had four to five months of normal schooling followed by an unprecedented change in learning. In March 2020, the world shut down. Theres only one group of people on this Earth (freshmen at the time) whove experienced high school as a student during a pandemic, Carbonella said. None of us has a relatable experience in our lives. I cant even fathom what that experience would be like. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Adults sometimes minimize and trivialize the experience of young adults because its easier, he said. They have real levels of stress, real challenges, worries and concerns, and they should be listened to. During the most recent episode, Romeo, who identifies as a transgender male, talks about mental health issues and how the city and high school provide a host of resources. David often shares his experiences being in therapy to encourage kids to feel comfortable around professionals and community members to work out their issues. Staff are working to reinstate the youth cabinet, which went on hiatus during the pandemic. Some members have even been elected to the Board of Education and Common Council, a great way to promote civic engagement, Carbonella said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They are also in the process of developing an index of resources in Middletown and those that dont. Students so enjoy the experience, David said, that as soon as production wraps, they immediately ask me when they can come back and record another episode. Viewership has been robust since the beginning, he added. After one session involving four teens, some posted the link on social media, which garnered 490 downloads by that evening and some 600 by the following morning, David said. For more information, including how to be on the show, email marco.david@middletownct.gov. To stream the podcast, visit buzzsprout.com. Dr Pragya Yadav, Scientist 'F' and Group Leader, Maximum Containment Laboratory, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virologya , Pune, became a household name after the release of the movie "Vaccine War." As we celebrate International Women's Day, we spoke to Dr Pragya about the various aspects of being a researcher, particularly a woman researcher. A majority of the scientists involved in vaccine development were women scientists, who worked long hours. How challenging was it for you and your colleagues? Working long hours was not new to us. The COVID-19 pandemic simply highlighted the extraordinary efforts of our scientists. Recalling moments like the 2009 H1N1 outbreak, where I worked ceaselessly for six months, testing about 3000 samples daily, or the 2015 Ebola outbreak, necessitating almost 24-hour shifts due to mandatory screenings for those coming from affected countries. Similar challenges were faced during the Zika, Yellow Fever, and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) outbreaks. Despite our predominantly female team facing unique challenges during the lockdown, managing responsibilities at home, we successfully navigated through. The culmination of these efforts came with the creation of the vaccine, a moment that brought immense joy and pride on January 16, 2021, as the vaccine was rolled out to frontline healthcare workers. Developing a vaccine at such an unprecedented speed was a remarkable achievement. It was the result of relentless work and countless sleepless nights. How did your team overcome the initial challenges in scaling up testing capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic? Initially, we did face challenges in scaling up testing capacity but with excellent support and guidance from leadership of ICMR especially Dr Nivedita Gupta and Dr Varsha Potdar from National Influenza centre and commitment of Govt of India as a cumulative work force exhibited unwavering determination to expedite the process. We formed teams, used video assistance, and emphasized the need to be available for any task that came our way, regardless of the time. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I witnessed how individuals and institutions came together to combat this unprecedented health crisis. I believe this experience will help our country emerge as a leader in science. Has the process of developing the COVID-19 vaccine changed anything in our research ecosystem? The development of the COVID-19 vaccine has boosted our confidence and had a positive impact on the entire research ecosystem. Every institution is now dedicated to strengthening its research and development capabilities. Researchers in India have not only employed established methods but have also successfully developed an RNA vaccine, which is an emerging technology. Post-pandemic, there is a heightened emphasis on pandemic preparedness by the World Health Organization (WHO). Meetings within the G20 have deliberated on prioritizing diseases for vaccine development, with 30 expert groups dedicated to crafting prototype vaccines for specific families of potentially perilous viruses. This strategic approach enables swift vaccine production during crises. Additionally, increased government funding has been directed towards research, fostering open conversations to address challenges faced by researchers. What do we need to promote research in the country? Enhancing scientific research requires domestic production of essential raw materials, machinery, and equipment. The current reliance on imported machines from Germany and the US incurs significant expenses. Implementing robust policies and stringent market controls is crucial to ensure that domestically produced items meet the highest quality standards. Regarding the establishment of a science ecosystem supportive of women's advancement in the field, prioritizing education, providing well-equipped and secure facilities for female students, and creating childcare centers during later career stages are essential components. What do you believe is necessary to establish a science ecosystem that supports the advancement of women in the field? I believe the first and most important aspect is to prioritize their education. It is crucial to ensure that women do not drop out of school and that there is a college nearby that offers science studies and provides well-equipped and safe hostels for female students. In the second phase of their careers, we need to ensure that there are childcare centers where women can leave their children while at work. Collaboration with prominent industrialists and pharmaceutical companies could aid in setting up these centers, extending beyond metropolitan areas to smaller towns. I strongly believe that if we can guarantee the safety of their children, women will be able to pursue their careers. Workspaces should take these factors into account. How do the challenges and biases faced by women impact their opportunities for professional success? You see, women are talented and can excel in their respective fields. But consider the recruitment biases against young, newly married women who may want to have a family. In the past, there were no provisions for maternity leaves for women at the project level. If women have a family and children to care for, they require support at the individual, family, and institutional levels. What is the next vaccine you are working on? We are working on developing a vaccine against Kyasanur forest disease, which is prevalent in the Western Ghats. This disease is transmitted through infected tick bites in forest areas, primarily affecting poor farmers who venture into the forests. It is passed from monkeys to humans through tick bites. COVID-19 vaccine was given emergency use authorization. Do you think this shortened route can be used to approve future vaccines? We didn't skip any vital steps in the vaccine development process; rather, we streamlined it. Previously, approval for non-human primate studies took a year, but during COVID-19, online meetings expedited the process, with approvals granted within a month from CPCSEA. Procuring mice for the study, which used to take six months, now takes just a week. The focus was on eliminating unnecessary delays in the approval process, transitioning to online procedures where meeting minutes are promptly sent the same evening. Importantly, these changes maintained the integrity of the scientific process. Adjustments in the regulatory framework are needed to expedite research in exceptional cases. Consider the Zika virus vaccine, where third-phase clinical trials are challenging due to limited eligible patients. Instead of halting vaccine efforts, alternative approaches should be explored beyond traditional third-phase trials. Gunjan Sharma (gunjan.sharma@mmactiv.com) Prison reform activist Sheldon Johnson, who Joe Rogan featured on his podcast last month as a victim of "systemic racism," was arrested on Thursday for dismembering a man and storing his severed head and other body parts in his freezer. Last month, Joe Rogan had "prison reform activist" Sheldon Johnson on to discuss the unfairness of the US justice system. Johnson was just out after serving a 25 year jail sentence. He explained how unfair it was that he was sent to prison for as long as he was, and Joe pic.twitter.com/0iW5AKqEdU Keith Woods (@KeithWoodsYT) March 7, 2024 "Last month, Joe Rogan had 'prison reform activist' Sheldon Johnson on to discuss the unfairness of the US justice system," Keith Woods reported. "Johnson was just out after serving a 25 year jail sentence." "He explained how unfair it was that he was sent to prison for as long as he was, and Joe Rogan agreed that Johnson's story reflects a huge problem of racism in the justice system," he continued. "Today, Johnson was arrested after police found a severed head and limbless torso in his apartment. The victim's neighbours reported hearing 'Please don't. I have a family!' before hearing two gunshots. The police found the victims decapitated head in Johnson's freezer and the limbless torso in a blue bin in his apartment." "Maybe the problem here isn't systemic racism," Woods commented. Johnson was charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon, ABC 7 reports. Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds and Telegram. When journalist Danny Casolaro was found dead in a hotel bathtub, police ruled it a suicide. But his family and colleagues believe he may have been murdered for investigating a conspiracy he called The Octopus - a hidden organization connected to stolen government spy software, a string of unsolved murders, and some of the biggest political scandals of the 20th century. Years later, researcher Christian Hansen pushes to uncover the secrets behind Casolaros death, and the story that killed him. From Stardust Frames, Duplass Brothers Productions, and director Zachary Treitz - this four part docuseries untangles a mystery decades in the making. Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81183737 Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on Thursday, March 7. The president's speech lasted just over one hour, in which time he highlighted several issues that have been at the forefront for Connecticut lawmakers. Shawn Thew/Pool via AP President Joe Biden spoke for 67 minutes on Thursday evening about the present state of the union and his priorities for Congress over the coming year. In that time, he managed to highlight at least three pieces of legislation that are notable for being championed by Connecticut's representatives in Washington, D.C. The State of the Union, delivered each year in front of Congress, is an opportunity for the president to present a legislative agenda, and at times chide lawmakers to failing to take action on past proposals. Every member of of the House and Senate is also allowed to invite a guest, which they often use to highlight their home states or personal initiatives. The night was also notable for another Connecticut native, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, who was tapped to serve as the designated survivor from Biden's cabinet in the event of a catastrophic attack on the Capitol. Luckily, the night went on without a a hitch. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Here's the points in Biden's speech that reflected policies being pushed by Connecticut lawmakers: Assault Weapons Ban What Biden said: "Im proud we beat the NRA, when I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years because of this Congress. We now must beat the NRA again. Im demanding a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Pass universal background checks. None of this, none of this I taught the Second Amendment for 12 years none of this violates the Second Amendment or vilifies responsible gun owners." How it related to Connecticut: Biden began this section of his speech by calling out one of his guests at the State of the Union, Jazmin Cazares, whose younger sister was one of the students killed in the 2022 massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The shooting which many compared to the earlier tragedy at Connecticut's Sandy Hook Elementary School prompted U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., to assemble a bipartisan group of senators to pass legislation expanding background checks, close the so-called "boyfriend loophole" and direct federal funds towards community violence intervention programs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Biden signed the bill, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, making it, as he said, the first successful effort to pass a federal gun control law since the 1990s. Murphy, who is widely seen as one of the leading voices on gun control in Congress, has also been a proponent of universal background checks and restoring the federal ban on assault weapons. However, he conceded last year that "there are not the votes" in the Senate to pass such a ban. Protecting Kids Online What Biden said: "Pass bipartisan privacy legislation to protect our children online." Advertisement Article continues below this ad How it related to Connecticut: This short line came near the end of Biden's speech, but it was part of a larger section in which he urged Congress to send him more bills that enjoy broad bipartisan support. The specific bill he was referencing, the Kids Online Safety Act, is being led by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and his Republican counterpart from Tennessee, Sen. Marsha Blackburn. The legislation would require social media companies to take greater care in ensuring that their platforms do not expose children and teens to harmful content, and would give parents better oversight of their kids' online activities. The latest version of the bill already has the support of more than 60 senators, giving it an excellent chance of passage. Before the speech, Blumenthal sought to engage his fellow senators to support the bill by introducing them to his guest for the evening, New Britain High School student Shayan Raghoo, whom he met last month during a round-table discussion about teens and social media. In a short interview Friday, Blumenthal said that he was "enormously gratified" but not surprised, having been given a heads up by the White House that Biden would make a brief mention of his bill. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Every piece of support is important, but when it's the president of the United States, it has a special force," he said. Child Tax Credits What Biden said: "The child tax credit I passed during the pandemic cut taxes for millions of working families and cut child poverty in half. Restore the child tax credit. No child should go hungry in this country." How it related to Connecticut: Biden was referring to a policy that has been the brain child of Connecticut's longest-serving congresswoman, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-New Haven. Advertisement Article continues below this ad DeLauro, who serves as the top Democratic on the powerful Appropriations Committee, succeeded in getting an expansion of the tax credit of up to $3,600 per child included in American Rescue Plan Act, which Biden signed in 2021. However, the expansion was not made permanent, and Congress allowed the tax credit to revert back to it's current maximum amount of $2,000 per child after one year. During that year, however, many advocates credited the expansion of the child tax credit with helping to slash rates of child poverty, which subsequently increase after the credit expired. The credit is partially refundable, meaning eligible families can get it in the form of a check, and DeLauro wants to make it fully refundable to increase those payments. There have been continued calls, including from some Republicans, to restore DeLauro's expansion of the credit. Most recently, the House passed its version of a tax bill that included the full $3,600 credit. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A British woman who was caught at Dublin Airport transporting over 500,000 of cannabis herb has been jailed. Yejeida Johnson (27) was detained at Dublin Airport on September 2nd last year by customs officials. She had arrived from New York's JFK airport and was due to take a connecting flight to Manchester. Advertisement She had boarded this flight, but was flagged as a suspect through profiling and taken off the plane before it left. A large quantity of cannabis herb was found in her luggage, the court heard. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Friday that it was initially suspected that Johnson's luggage contained 37kg of cannabis herb. However, analysis confirmed the weight of the drug was actually 26kg, with a value of 520,340. She was arrested and made limited admissions during interview. Johnson accepted ownership of the luggage and said a friend had asked her to transport it. She also told gardai that she thought the luggage contained high-end handbags and luxury goods. Advertisement Johnson, with no fixed address in Ireland, was sent forward from the District Court on signed pleas to counts of possessing and importing a controlled drug for sale or supply. Advertisement She has no previous convictions in Ireland, but one minor unrelated conviction in the United Kingdom from 2018. An investigating garda agreed with defence counsel that his client told them she was asked to transport the luggage. It was also accepted that she provided an address in Tottenham, London, to gardai. A letter of apology and a reference were handed to the court by defence counsel. He said his client has had no visitors while in custody, but two members of her family had travelled to support her in court. Advertisement Counsel said Johnson was at the disposable end of the scale and difficulties in her life made her more open to be taken advantage of by third parties. He said his instructions are that Johnson knew she was doing wrong but had no idea of the amount of drugs involved. He also asked the court to take into account her signed guilty pleas and her work history. Judge Martin Nolan said the court accepted Johnson was imposed upon to transport the drugs into this jurisdiction. He continued by noting that it's not clear if the drugs were to remain here or continue to the UK. He said Johnson seems to be a well-meaning lady and that he had taken into consideration the mitigating features of the case. The judge expressed the view that it is unlikely Johnson will re-offend in future by virtue of her previous good behaviour. However, he said she has to suffer imprisonment as she transported a large amount of drugs into this jurisdiction. He imposed a sentence of four-and-a-half years, backdated to September 4th last year. Irelands birth rate has dropped sharply over the past decade to reach its lowest level in over 60 years in 2022, according to new EU figures. The fertility rate in the Republic which was the highest in the EU for most of the period between 1998 and 2011 is now just above the EU average. Advertisement New figures published by the European Commission have highlighted a dramatic decline in fertility rates in the Republic since 2010 including a significant annual drop of 13.5 per cent in 2022. It places Ireland with the ninth-highest birth rate in the EU down from fourth place just 12 months earlier. Ireland had enjoyed a surge in births in 2021 when the fertility rate reversed a downward trend and reached a five-year high which was attributed to a baby boom linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. Advertisement However, the latest figures show the birth rate in the Republic fell from 1.78 live births per woman in 2021 to 1.54 in 2022 compared to the EU average of 1.46. Advertisement In 2021, a total of 60,553 babies were born in Ireland but the figure dropped to 54,411 the following year. The birth rate had peaked in Ireland this century in 2008 and 2009 at 2.08 live births per woman compared to the EU average at the time of 1.57. In contrast, the birth rate in Ireland in 1960 was 4.07 live births per woman but the figure has declined steadily over subsequent decades due to various factors including increased participation by females in the labour force and increased availability of contraception. The 13.5 per cent reduction in the birth rate in Ireland in 2022 comes as the annual number of babies born in the EUs 27 member states also hit a record low. Advertisement The number of annual births in the EU fell below 4 million for the first time on record in 2022 with 3.88 million births recorded over half the annual total of 60 years ago when it was just under 7 million. France currently has the highest fertility rate in the EU with 1.79 live births per woman followed by Romania (1.71), Bulgaria (1.65) and the Czech Republic (1.64). In contrast, the lowest birth rates are found in Malta with 1.08 live births per woman, Spain (1.16) and Italy (1.24). All fertility rates in the EU are below the 2.1 live births per woman estimated to be required to maintain constant population levels. Advertisement The steady decline in the EUs population is likely to raise fresh concerns about the blocs demographics with ageing populations, falling birth rates and labour shortages. The issue is also likely to lead to calls for immigration to be used as a solution to address falling populations. The latest figures also show that women in the EU are becoming mothers later in life. The average age of all women at childbirth rose from 29.0 years in 2001 to 31.1 years in 2022 with Irish women having the oldest average at 33.1 years its highest level in the past decade. The same trend is also evident for the age of first-time mothers, with the average increasing from 28.8 in 2013 to 29.7 in 2022. The average age of a woman at the birth of her first child in Ireland in 2022 was 31.5 years the 3rd highest after Italy and Spain. The share of children born to foreign-born mothers in the EU in 2022 was 22 per cent. In Ireland, the proportion of children born in 2022 to non-native nationals was 24.3 per cent the 10th highest rate in the EU. The Covanta Plant on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Bristol. Jim Michaud / Hearst Connecticut Media The Covanta Plant on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Bristol. Jim Michaud / Hearst Connecticut Media The Covanta Plant on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Bristol. Jim Michaud / Hearst Connecticut Media The Covanta Plant on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Bristol. Jim Michaud / Hearst Connecticut Media The Covanta Plant on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Bristol. Jim Michaud / Hearst Connecticut Media BRISTOL A persistent humming noise has been keeping residents in a cluster of Connecticut towns up at night, wreaking havoc on their daily lives and wellbeing, they say. Its in the air, said Bristol resident Ben Miller. Like it's an ambient environmental noise. Fellow Bristol resident Iwona Serwinski describes the noise as "this womping, droning sound that just swells and ebbs and swells and ebbs." Advertisement Article continues below this ad You can come out on virtually any night and go stand anywhere within the vicinity of that plant and hear that that noise is coming from them, she said. That plant she describes is the Covanta renewable waste-to-energy plant, located in Bristol. The plant has been operating in town for decades, but Marco Palmeri, director of health at the Bristol-Burlington Health District, began receiving dozens of complaints about five months ago regarding the noise. Those complaints are not just from Bristol residents, however. They are coming from towns within a six-mile radius of the facility, including Miller who lives five miles away. Sound can travel, but this is insane, said Miller, who admits his sleep has been disrupted since moving to town six months ago. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Just what exactly is causing the issue and why it has escalated in recent months remains under investigation. Covanta had already conducted acoustic testing in December after resident complaints, which found the sound was below Bristols noise ordinance noise limits for both residential and business types of zones, according to a noise summary report released to the public. Covanta did not respond to a request from CT Insider for the full report. We are treating this matter with utmost seriousness and are working closely with city officials and third-party experts to identify the noise source. Should it be linked to us, we will promptly address and rectify the issue, according to a Covanta statement to CT Insider. Our operations are conducted in compliance with our permits, and we remain committed to transparently addressing the concerns of our neighbors. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What's causing the sound? While there is no denying the sound, Palmeri said, actually enforcing any rules is complicated if rules are not being broken. Bristol's noise ordinance measures sound through decibels, which is different from the humming and droning type of sound residents have been reporting. These are lower frequency. They do not, in most circumstances, even come close to the threshold or to the maximum decibel levels permitted," Palmeri said. "So, these aren't a situation where we can just tell them, 'You exceeded the levels permitted by either state law or a local ordinance.'" Still, the health district is currently working on conducting its own investigation, Palmeri said, and measuring sound in various residents' homes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "People are complaining that this facility is contributing to a diminished quality of life, and I'm going to do my best to remove or mitigate the effects of whatever Covanta is doing to create them," Palmeri said. The Covanta Plant on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Bristol. Jim Michaud / Hearst Connecticut Media It's also complicated because the sound's intensity seems to be affected by several external factors, like weather conditions and time of day, Miller said. For example, a cloud cover or rainy conditions significantly enhances the sound and affects people more, and wind conditions affect different groups of people more depending on which way the wind is going, he said. "There'll be periods where it feels like it's in my house," Miller said. "And then there are days where it doesn't exist at all." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Palmeri also said that there were certain days where Covanta wasn't receiving as much solid waste and isnt operating at full capacity, and resident complaints pause. But then there were days where the facility is at full capacity, and another string of complaints come in. That's why the health district wanted to conduct the study over a longer period of time, he said. "So we can capture the good days, the bad days, the slow days, the really high volume days." The noise summary report noted that the survey did detect an unusual noise phenomenon. It is believed the sound may be emanating from the facilitys two ID fans that exhaust into the stack. Covanta is moving forward to explore the potential causes of this phenomenon, according to the noise summary. The summary noted that they have engaged acoustic engineers to help define the root cause(s) of this sound, and, if necessary, to explore abatement options. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "They're not denying that they have anything to do with it, they wouldn't be taking the steps that they've taken already and they wouldn't be doing the other things that they're doing already if they don't believe that they at least are contributing to this," Palmeri said. "So I think we already know that they are a very strong, likely source of this sensation." Noise persists Miller and the other residents now regularly correspond with the mayor, the Bristol-Burlington Health District and Covanta regarding their complaints, but at this point don't know when they will see some change. "We're in this kind of like purgatory," Miller said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Palmeri said he hoped that ultimately, the health district will eventually complete a reliable, scientific and impartial study, with findings that they could forward to Covanta and give them the opportunity to correct it. "So we're okay with taking some time to do this, to assure that we have a strong hypothesis and a strong, confident answer to our question," he said. "We don't want to just do a knee-jerk reaction just to appease the public, because that's not doing the public due diligence." Theresa Murphy, who lived less than a mile from the facility until recently, urged increased transparency. Murphy moved out of town because she said the noise became unbearable. "There's no escape from it," she said. Once I started hearing the noise, it was just nonstop. And it caused me stress and anxiety and sleeplessness. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And like many other residents, Miller and Murphy have had enough, and recently created a Facebook group to gauge just how many other people are experiencing the same thing. The Covanta Plant on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Bristol. Jim Michaud / Hearst Connecticut Media "There are people who have sold their homes, there are people who have moved into their basements, there are people who are not sleeping at night, Serwinski said. Serwinski said she has been aware of the sound since she moved into her home almost two decades ago, but over the years it has shifted from a noise she heard every once in a while to an every night occurrence that has grown in intensity and duration. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "There's just no peace and quiet. I can't be inside my home. I can't be outside of my home to enjoy the peace and quiet of my property because this noise is constant," she said. "There's just no break from it." That group now has just over 250 members, and not only from Bristol, where the facility is located. Residents from Southington, Plainville and Wolcott have all taken to the social media platform in shared frustration. Miller said he was just grateful that this issue was finally being brought to light. "It validates a lot of what people have been doing, which is that they're kind of suffering with this thing alone," Miller said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the mean time, Murphy and Miller say they and other residents are requesting that the plant at least be shut down overnight, but have not had much luck with that either A man accused of phoning in a bomb threat to the house of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has been found guilty by a jury. Michael Murray (52), formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7th, 2021. Advertisement The eight-day trial heard that an anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans claiming to be from the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and said explosives had been planted at the home of the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee. The jury in the trial returned the verdict on Friday after five hours and 10 minutes of deliberation. Murray made no reaction as the verdict was handed down in court. Advertisement He has previous convictions for rape, false imprisonment, sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill, harassment, theft and armed robbery. Advertisement In 2013, Murray was convicted of abducting a mother and her four-year-old son and repeatedly raping the woman for hours. He received a sentence of 19 years' imprisonment for this. He was then sentenced to 16 further years in prison for a campaign of harassment and death threats directed at his victim and the prosecuting lawyers in that trial with the judge calling his actions an unprecedented and deliberate abuse of process. During his sentence hearing for those charges, he threw a bible at the judge. That judge described his actions as a fundamental attack on our system of justice. Judge Patricia Ryan thanked the jurors for their service and adjourned the matter for sentencing next Friday. She remanded Murray in continuing custody. More lives were probably lost than saved through the British armys operation of its top agent inside the IRAs internal security unit during the Troubles, a major independent investigation has found. The interim findings of Operation Kenova examined 101 murders and abductions linked to the IRA unit responsible for interrogating and torturing people suspected of passing information to the security forces during the conflict. Advertisement Operation Kenova, which was undertaken by a police force in England and ran for seven years at a cost of approximately 40 million (47 million), examined the role of the British armys prized agent embedded in the heart of the IRAs Internal Security Unit (ISU), an individual known as Stakeknife. The agent Stakeknife was widely believed to be west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who was 77 when he died last year. Advertisement The Operatio Kenova report stops short of confirming Scappaticci as Stakeknife. However, it says that the Kenova team had passed strong evidence of very serious criminality by Scappaticci to prosecutors in the North prior to his death. Advertisement The report also dismisses rumours that Scappaticci might still be alive. Among 10 recommendations in the 208-page report, is a call for the UK authorities to review the application of the Neither Confirm Nor Deny policy (NCND) that currently prevents the identification of agents involved in many historical Troubles cases. It links the dogmatic policy with a failure to secure prosecutions in some Troubles cases. The report also calls on the UK and the IRA to apologise to bereaved families and victims of the ISU, the security forces for failings amid a maverick culture for handling agents and intelligence; and the IRA for the abduction, murder and torture of people it suspected of being agents, and linked campaigns of intimidation against their families. Advertisement The Kenova investigation was originally headed up by former Bedfordshire Police chief constable Jon Boutcher but he left the position to take up the role of chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Last week the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland announced that no prosecutions would be pursued after consideration of the last batch of files from the investigation. Advertisement Some 32 people, including former police, former military personnel and people linked with the IRA, were considered for prosecution on a range of charges from murder and abduction to misconduct in public office and perjury. However, the PPS found there was insufficient evidence to pursue cases. Advertisement In the report, Mr Boutcher said various myths and erroneous stories have built up around Stakeknife. He said those within the security forces are defensive about the agent, viewing through rose tinted spectacles and claiming Stakeknife potentially saved hundreds of lives while people outside the establishment overestimate the number of crimes for which the agent was responsible. Mr Boutcher said the suggestion Stakeknife saved countless lives was not grounded in fact. In reality the claims are inherently implausible and should ring alarm bells: any serious security and intelligence professional hearing an agent being likened to the goose that laid the golden eggs, as Stakeknife was, should be on alert because the comparison is rooted in fables and fairy tales, he said. Advertisement Stakeknife was undoubtedly a valuable asset who provided high quality intelligence about PIRA at considerable risk to himself, albeit that this intelligence was not always passed on or acted upon and, if more of it had been, he could not have remained in place as long as he did. Advertisement Mr Boutcher said Kenova reviewed around 90 per cent of intelligence reports attributed to Stakeknife. He said he estimated the number of lives saved as a result of intelligence provided by Stakeknife was in the high single figures or low double figures and nowhere near the hundreds that have been claimed. Crucially this is not a net estimate because it does not take account of the lives lost as a consequence of Stakeknifes continued operation as an agent, he added. And, from what I have seen, I think it probable that this resulted in more lives being lost than saved. Furthermore, there were undoubtedly occasions when Stakeknife ignored his handlers, acted outside his tasking and did things he should not have done and when very serious risks were run. Republicans cannot disown the suffering they caused during the Troubles, Sinn Feins vice president has said, as she apologised to the families of alleged informers killed by the IRA. First Minister Michelle ONeill was speaking in her position with Sinn Fein amid calls for republican leadership to apologise for the crimes of the IRAs internal security unit (ISU). Advertisement It follows the publication of the interim findings of Operation Kenova which examined 101 murders and abductions linked to the Provisional IRAs so-called nutting squad responsible for interrogating, torturing and murdering people suspected of passing information to the security forces during the conflict. The report calls on the republican leadership to apologise to bereaved relatives and victims of the ISU and those who suffered under linked campaigns of intimidation against them. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking in her role as Sinn Fein vice president, Ms ONeill apologised to the families of alleged informers who were killed by the IRA. Asked by reporters if she accepted that the murder of alleged informants was wrong and if she wanted to take the opportunity to apologise to their families, Ms ONeill said: Yes, Ive said it before and Im going to repeat it again today for all those families out there that lost a loved one. I am sorry for every single loss of life and that is without exception. Thats for every person who was hurt or impacted by our conflict. Advertisement I think its important that today as the Sinn Fein new generation, Good Friday Agreement generation, that I would repeat that for those families. I can only hope because this is ultimately their day that they can take some comfort from that. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher at Stormont Hotel in Belfast for the publication of the Operation Kenova Interim Report (Liam McBurney/PA) Advertisement Ms ONeill made the comments at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, where she also said there was a deep legacy of suffering and trauma due to injustices of the past. She added: We must never forget those who have died or been injured and their families. I am sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict without exception. Regrettably the path cannot be changed or cannot be undone. Advertisement Neither can the suffering, the hurt or the political violence of conflict be disowned by republicans or by any other party to the conflict. Peoples lives from every section of the community were trespassed upon during the conflict by British state forces, republicans, loyalists, and unimaginable grief and hurt and pain and suffering was inflicted. Advertisement I would never ask any mother, father, wife, husband, son, daughter, brother or sister to forget the past or to move on. While thankfully the conflict is long over, the legacy of our past remains unresolved. The interim findings of Operation Kenova have been published (Liam McBurney/PA) The report calls on the British government to apologise for the security forces failings amid a maverick culture for handling agents and intelligence. Ms ONeill said an apology from the British government should be forthcoming. Additionally asked if she believed it was feasible that the IRA could make an apology, Ms ONeill said: We all know the IRA have left the stage. What I wanted to do today in terms of responding to the report is speak directly to all those families out there. That Im so sorry that we were born into conflict, that Im so sorry that people were hurt, and that I am determined to try and look towards the future and build a better future for us all, because I think we all deserve that. President Michael D Higgins was among those to vote on proposed changes to the Constitution. Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina voted at their polling station at St Marys Hospital in Phoenix Park on Friday morning. Advertisement It is the first time Mr Higgins has been seen in public since he was discharged from hospital on Thursday. President and Sabina Higgins have cast their votes in todays referendums pic.twitter.com/to8yIuKjAx President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) March 8, 2024 Advertisement Mr Higgins (82) was admitted to St James Hospital in Dublin last Thursday evening after experiencing a mild transient weakness. After a seven-night stay, he returned to his official residence, Aras an Uachtarain, on Thursday. Advertisement Polls opened on Friday morning on the twin referendums. The referendums propose changing the wording of the Constitution relating to the areas of family and care. Advertisement Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also voted in the referendums. Advertisement This is referendum day. I've just voted YES, YES at St Anthony's Boys National School to the two proposals that are before us. To have a more inclusive family definition in our Constitution. To remove the archaic language in terms of women on our Constitution. pic.twitter.com/MFTIjKbtde Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 8, 2024 Advertisement The family amendment proposes extending the meaning of family beyond one defined by marriage and to include those based on durable relationships. The care amendment proposes deleting references to a womans roles and duties in the home, and replacing it with a new article that acknowledges family carers. The Constitution is the fundamental legal document for the country and can only be changed with the approval of Irish citizens through a national vote. The campaigns have led to national debates over the role of women in the home, what responsibility the State has for care and the meaning of family. Yes badges at an event in Dublin (Cillian Sherlock/PA) The Irish Government is campaigning for a yes vote in both amendments. It says the changes will remove sexist language, recognise family care and extend protection to families not based on marriage. Advertisement All Irish citizens that are at least 18 years old are eligible if they have registered to vote. Registered voters are given polling information cards directing them to their nearest polling station. The family amendment will be on a white-coloured ballot paper while the care amendment will be on a green-coloured ballot paper. President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina voting in the referenda on care and family. pic.twitter.com/zNmu0aDbfX Cate McCurry (@CateMcCurry) March 8, 2024 The polls are open between 7am and 10pm. The result of the referendums, which are decided by majority, are expected on Saturday. Counting of the ballots happens at a constituency basis at various centres around the country. However, the overall national result will be declared at Dublin Castle. The family amendment will be counted and declared first. The results for the care amendment will not be processed until the family count is finished. The legacy of two women was celebrated on International Womens Day with the unveiling of new statues at Belfast City Hall. Crowds gathered in the grounds of the building on Friday afternoon as actors in period costume spoke of social activists and campaigners Mary Ann McCracken and Winifred Carney. Advertisement Ms McCracken, born in Belfast in 1770, was part of the revival of the Irish language and a supporter of the United Irishmen movement. She also worked to help those in poverty, particularly women and children, and campaigned against slavery. Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, looking at the newly unveiled statue of Winifred Carney on the grounds of Belfast City Hall. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Ms Carney, born in 1887, was an Irish Republican and trade unionist who took part in the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916. Advertisement She went on to campaign for the right of women to vote and stood for election in Belfast in 1918. They are the first non-royal women to receive the honour of a statue in the grounds of Belfast City Hall. Advertisement Gerry Murphy, president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions also addressed the crowds, and described the statues as important recognition of two of the most important female historical figures in our city. Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy described them as two absolutely fantastic Belfast women. Advertisement With today being International Womens Day it seemed really appropriate for the unveiling, he said. It is about who those women were, inspirational leaders, campaigners, socialists, abolitionists. They really will inspire a new generation of people to go out and continue that fight for equality and womens rights. Some 3,000 homes and businesses have been affected by water outages across Cork City this evening, while repair works are underway to fix a burst watermain in the area. Water service engineers have implemented a water outage on Thursday evening, from 7pm until 1am, in order to carry out repair works during off-peak hours. Advertisement As the Irish Examiner reports, the burst watermain occurred on Military Road, Cork City, on Thursday morning, potentially affecting homeowners in Old Youghal Road. Junction of Audley Place to Gordons Hill, Military Road, Wellington Road, Gardiners Hill, Middle Glanmire Road, Montenotte, Lover Walks, Lower Glanmire Road, Ballyhooley Road, Ballyvolane New Road, Banduff Road and surrounding areas. Those living in the affected areas are warned of discoloured water in their taps, as a result of sediment dislodged from the old cast iron pipes. Advertisement "If your tap water is discoloured, running the tap for up to 20 minutes will usually restore water to a clear colour. Water is safe to drink once the water is running clear. Uisce Eireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water," the statement read. Advertisement "inconvenience" caused by these outages, adding: We have been able to maintain the water supply to customers in the area throughout the day, but we will need to carry out repairs overnight, which will require a water outage. "We anticipate that normal supply will be restored to all customers by the morning. Following repair works, it typically takes two to three hours for normal supply to fully restore to all areas as the water refills the network, especially for those on higher ground or at the end of the network. A ship will head to Gaza carrying humanitarian aid, the European Commission president said, as international donors launch a sea corridor to supply the territory, which faces widespread hunger and shortages of other essential supplies after nearly five months of war. A ship belonging to Spains Open Arms will make a pilot voyage to test the sea corridor, Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Cyprus, where she is inspecting preparations for the sea corridor. Advertisement It has been waiting at Cypruss port of Larnaca for permission to deliver food aid from World Central Kitchen, a US charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres. She said the EU, together with the US, the United Arab Emirates and other involved partner countries are launching the sea corridor to deliver large quantities of aid to Gaza to respond to a humanitarian catastrophe, speaking at a news conference with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. Advertisement Europe is financing a major humanitarian aid effort for Palestinians. 250 million euros this year alone. But the key challenge is getting this aid to people in Gaza. This is why were launching the Cyprus Maritime Corridor, with the US and UAE https://t.co/mrNBl9WsHb Advertisement Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 8, 2024 Efforts to dramatically ramp up aid deliveries signalled growing frustration with Israels conduct in the war in the United States and Europe. Advertisement The previous day, US president Joe Biden announced a plan to open an offshore port to help deliver aid, underscoring how the United States is having to go around Israel, its main Middle East ally and the top recipient of US military aid, to get aid into Gaza, including through airdrops that started last week. Israel accuses Hamas of commandeering some aid deliveries. Efforts to set up a sea route for aid deliveries come amid mounting alarm over the spread of hunger among Gazas 2.3 million people. Hunger is most acute in northern Gaza, which has been isolated by Israeli forces for months and suffered long cut-offs of food supply deliveries. After months of warnings over the risk of famine in Gaza under Israels bombardment, offensives and siege, hospital doctors have reported 20 malnutrition-related deaths at two northern Gaza hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement While reiterating his support for Israel, Mr Biden used his State of the Union speech to reiterate demands that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow in more aid to Gaza. To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Mr Biden declared before Congress. Tonight, Im directing the U.S. military to establish a temporary pier on the Gaza coast that can receive shipments of food, water, medicine, and shelter. To Israel, I say humanitarian assistance cannot be secondary. Protecting and saving innocent lives must be a priority. Advertisement President Biden (@POTUS) March 8, 2024 He also repeated calls for Israel to do more to protect civilians in the fighting, and to work toward Palestinian statehood as the only long-term solution to Israeli-Palestinian violence. US officials said it will likely be weeks before the Gaza pier is operational. Aid groups have said their efforts to deliver desperately needed supplies to Gaza have been hampered because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of public order. It is even more difficult to get aid to the isolated north. Sigrid Kaag, the UN senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, told reporters late on Thursday that air and sea deliveries cannot make up for a shortage of supply routes on land. Advertisement For the past week, #OpenArms, in collaboration with chef Jose Andres' @WCKitchen, has been docked in the port of Larnaca, Cyprus, awaiting authorities to open a humanitarian maritime corridor to the #Gaza Strip. Onboard, we have tons of food and water intended for the pic.twitter.com/wNL6nkoJW6 Open Arms ENG (@openarms_found) February 23, 2024 EU Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said on Wednesday the bloc would consider air drops, but this would be a last resort and cannot replace ground access to the enclave. Mr Ujvari said the EU has so far carried out around 40 flights to deliver aid to Gaza, primarily through Egypt. Meanwhile, efforts to reach a ceasefire before Ramadan appeared stalled. Hamas said on Thursday that its delegation had left Cairo, where talks were being held, until next week. International mediators had hoped to alleviate some of the immediate crisis with a six-week ceasefire, which would have seen Hamas release some of the Israeli hostages it is holding, Israel release some Palestinian prisoners and aid groups be given access to to get a major influx of assistance into Gaza. Palestinian militants are believed to be holding around 100 hostages and the remains of 30 others captured during Hamas October 7 attack, in which militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took some 250 hostages. Advertisement Several dozen hostages were freed in a week-long November truce, and about 30 are believed to be dead. Egyptian officials said Hamas has agreed to the main terms of such an agreement as a first stage but wants commitments that it will lead to an eventual more permanent ceasefire, while Israel wants to confine the negotiations to the more limited agreement. More than 230 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation, most of whom live in Africa, according to a report issued by the United Nations childrens agency. In the last eight years, some 30 million people have undergone the procedure, in which external genitalia are partially or fully removed, Unicef estimated in the report, which was released on International Womens Day. Advertisement The percentage of women and girls who experience female genital mutilation is declining, Unicef said, but it warned that efforts to eradicate the practice are too slow to keep up with fast-growing populations. The practice of female genital mutilation is declining, but not fast enough, the report said. "Female genital mutilation harms girls' bodies, dims their futures, & endangers their lives. @unicefchief UNICEF is calling on leaders & communities to urgently invest, promote & prioritise girls' rights to end gender discrimination & inequality.https://t.co/wDbpaaH6t8 Advertisement Advertisement UNICEF (@UNICEF) March 8, 2024 The practice, incorrectly believed to control womens sexuality, can cause serious bleeding and even death. Advertisement Girls are subjected to the procedure at ages ranging from infancy to adolescence. Long term, it can lead to urinary tract infections, menstrual problems, pain, decreased sexual satisfaction and childbirth complications, as well as depression, low self-esteem and post-traumatic stress disorder. Were also seeing a worrying trend that more girls are subjected to the practice at younger ages, many before their fifth birthday. That further reduces the window to intervene, said Unicef executive director Catherine Russell. Some 144 million women and girls have been through female genital mutilation in Africa alone, followed by Asia and the Middle East with 80 million and six million respectively, the report said. Somalia tops the list of countries where the practice, also known as female circumcision, is prevalent, with 99% of the female population between the ages of 15 and 49 having been circumcised. Advertisement Burkina Faso made the most significant progress, reducing the proportion of women between 15 and 49 who were circumcised from 80% to 30% over three decades. The report also showed that four in every 10 survivors live in conflict-torn countries with high population growth rates, adding that political instability disrupts efforts prevent the practice and provide support to victims. Advertisement Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sudan account for the largest numbers of girls and women who have undergone female genital mutilation in conflict-affected countries, the report said. Although the report hailed the progress made in some countries, it warned that the world is falling short of what would be needed to meet the UNs goal of eradicating the practice globally by 2030. Advertisement In some countries, progress would need to be 10 times faster than the best progress observed in history in order to reach the target by 2030, said the report. Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted on Friday in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tonnes of cocaine to make it unhindered into the United States. The jury returned its verdict at a federal court after a two-week trial, which has been closely followed in his home country. Advertisement Hernandez, 55, served two terms as the leader of the Central American nation of roughly 10 million people. He was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the US in April of that year. Juan Orlando Hernandez was extradited to the United States on drug charges (AP Photo/Elmer Martinez, File) Advertisement US prosecutors accused Hernandez of working with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, saying he took millions of dollars in bribes as he rose from rural congressman to president of the National Congress and then to the countrys highest office. Advertisement Hernandez acknowledged in trial testimony that drug money was paid to virtually all political parties in Honduras, but he denied accepting bribes himself. He noted that he had visited the White House and met US presidents as he cast himself as a champion in the war on drugs who worked with the US to curb the flow of drugs to the country. In one instance, he said, he was warned by the FBI that a drug cartel wanted to assassinate him. Advertisement He said his accusers fabricated their claims about him in bids for leniency for their crimes. They all have motivation to lie, and they are professional liars, Hernandez said. But the prosecution mocked Hernandez for seemingly claiming to be the only honest politician in Honduras. During closing arguments on Wednesday, assistant US attorney Jacob Gutwillig told the jury that a corrupt Hernandez paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States. Advertisement Defence lawyer Renato Stabile said his client has been wrongfully charged as he called for an acquittal. Trial witnesses included traffickers who admitted responsibility for dozens of murders and said Hernandez was an enthusiastic protector of some of the worlds most powerful cocaine dealers, including notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who is serving a life prison term in the US. Advertisement Hernandez, wearing a suit throughout the trial, was mostly dispassionate as he testified through an interpreter, repeatedly saying no sir as he was asked if he ever paid bribes or promised to protect traffickers from extradition to the U.S. His brother, Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in 2021 in Manhattan federal court for his own conviction on drug charges. France has inscribed the guaranteed right to abortion in its constitution, a powerful message of support for womens rights on International Womens Day. French justice minister Eric Dupond-Moretti used a 19th-century printing press to seal the amendment in Frances constitution at a special public ceremony. Advertisement Applause filled the cobblestoned Place Vendome as France became the first country to explicitly guarantee abortion rights in its national charter. The measure was overwhelmingly approved by French lawmakers earlier this week, and Fridays ceremony means it can now enter into force. The seal of the abortion right article 34 into the constitution at the Palace of Versailles on Monday (Emmanuel Dunand/Pool Photo via AP) Advertisement While abortion is a deeply divisive issue in the United States, it is legal in nearly all of Europe and overwhelmingly supported in France, where it is seen more as a question of public health rather than politics. French legislators approved the constitutional amendment on Monday in a 780-72 vote that was backed by many far-right lawmakers. Advertisement Fridays ceremony in Paris was a key event on a day focused on advancing womens rights globally. Marches, protests and conferences are being held from Jakarta, Indonesia, to Mexico City and beyond. The French constitutional amendment has been hailed by womens rights advocates around the world, including places where women struggle to access birth control or maternal healthcare. Advertisement French president Emmanuel Macron called it a direct result of the US Supreme Court ruling in 2022 rescinding long-held abortion rights. Mr Macrons critics questioned why he pursued the measure in a country with no obvious threat to abortion rights but where women face a multitude of other problems. While some French women saw the step as a major win, others said that in reality not every French woman has access to abortion. Its a smokescreen, Arya Meroni (32) said of the event. Advertisement The government is destroying our healthcare system, many family planning clinics have closed, she said at an annual Feminist Night March in Paris on the eve of International Womens Day. France has a persistently high rate of women killed by their partners and challenges remain in prosecuting sexual abuse against women by powerful celebrities and other men. French women also see lower pay and pensions especially women who are not white. Advertisement Mr Macrons government said the abortion amendment was important to avoid a US-like scenario for women in France, as hard-right groups are gaining ground and seeking to turn back the clock on freedoms around Europe. Mr Macron presided over the constitutional ceremony. French justice minister Eric Dupond-Moretti used a 100-kilogram press from 1810 to imprint the amendment in Frances 1958 constitution. Advertisement It will include the phrase, the freedom of women to have recourse to an abortion, which is guaranteed. France follows in the footsteps of the former Yugoslavia, whose 1974 constitution included the phrase: A person is free to decide on having children. Yugoslavias successor states retained similar language in their constitutions, though they did not spell out guaranteed abortion rights. Ron Wenzel of Hebron, foreground, explains the workings of his evaporator in the making of maple syrup to a full house in his sugarhouse, during the Hebron Maple Festival in 2018. Hearst Connecticut Media file photo HEBRON What could have turned into a sticky situation for two eastern Connecticut maple festivals has turned into a sweet treat for those who love the syrupy, late-winter concoction. For Hebron, early March means the annual Hebron Maple Festival, which, since 2016, had been sponsored by the Windham Region Chamber of Commerce. But this year, Hebron's Town Center Project has taken over the role of organizing the event, which will be held March 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Main Street and surrounding areas of town. The chamber, in turn, has branched out on its own, hosting the Eastern Connecticut Maple Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, just a few towns over at E.O. Smith High School in the Storrs section of Mansfield. Advertisement Article continues below this ad President Diane Nadeau said the change will give the chamber's festival one central location and will include vendors from all over the state. "Vendors from all over came and took up the entire downtown green area," she said of last year's festival in Hebron. "There were concerns because people couldn't get in and out of their apartments. We moved to Mansfield and now we have more space." Nadeau said that Mansfield festival will include 14 different food trucks, and in keeping with the spirit of the festival, there will be maple-flavored goodies, including cannoli, kettle corn, and cotton candy. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Everybody loves maple," Nadeau said. "Everyone's been couped up for the whole winter. This is a great way to be outside for the day, walk around, get some of that fair food that you haven't had since October, maybe, or September." There will be live music both days, as well as games and activities for children, educational information, and a nurse who will speak about the health benefits of maple syrup. As for next week's original Hebron Maple Festival, it go back to its roots with a more localized agenda, beginning with it's theme, "Bringing It Home." Town Center Project President Holly Habicht said the festival, which started in 1989, has always been a vehicle for town's nonprofits to raise money, adding that it originally began as a fundraiser for one of the town's libraries. Habicht said that although the festival is no longer run by the chamber, she thanks its members for keeping the festival going for the past several years. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "They definitely grew it, and we thank them for keeping it alive," Habicht said, adding that having two events is beneficial to the area. "We also know it's two very different festivals. The world can't have enough maple in it." Habicht said Hebron's festival will include local restaurants with maple-theme menus, as well as food trucks featuring maple-flavored foods and Girl Scout cookie booths. There will also be ax throwing, woodcarving, a scavenger hunt, and a chance to meet donkeys and sled dogs. This year's event will be dedicated to festival co-founder Russell Schaller, who died in October. His son, David Schaller, said his father and others humbly began opening their sugar houses to the public for tours, which evolved into what the festival is today. "It wasn't started to turn into something this big, but it's what it became," Schaller said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Schaller now runs the sugar house his father built, Woodyacres Sugar House on Cone Road, which makes maple syrup and maple walnuts. He said his father did all of the machining and tooling. "It was a hobby for him in the winter," Schaller said of his father's sugar house. "Something for him to do to pass the time." Schaller said he was happy to know that the festival would be dedicated to his father because it allows him and others to reminisce on how the festival came to be. "It's something to go back on and look at where it is because of him and the other sugar houses involved," Schaller said. US president Joe Biden turned his State of the Union speech into an animated argument for a second term as he laced into Republican frontrunner Donald Trump for espousing resentment, revenge and retribution and jeopardising freedom at home and abroad. Over and over, Mr Biden delivered broadsides at my predecessor without ever mentioning Mr Trump by name 13 times in all raising his voice repeatedly as he tried to quell voter concerns about his age and job performance while sharpening the contrast with his all-but-certain November rival. Advertisement It was a far feistier tone from Mr Biden than his prior State of the Union addresses, and it was designed to banish doubts about whether the 81-year-old is still up to the job. For 68 minutes in the House chamber, Mr Biden goaded Republicans over their policies, invited call-and-response banter with fellow Democrats on economic issues, taxes and healthcare and seemed to revel in the fight. Advertisement Advertisement Freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time, Mr Biden said as he appealed for Congress to support Ukraines efforts to defend itself against Russias invasion. History is watching. Mr Biden quickly pivoted to the threats at home, referencing the January 6th, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol by Mr Trumps supporters seeking to overturn the 2020 election, and calling for the threat to democracy to be countered. Advertisement My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6 I will not do that, Mr Biden said. This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Heres a simple truth. You cant love your country only when you win. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbour. Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me. Advertisement The president showcased his accomplishments on infrastructure and manufacturing, and pushed Congress to approve more aid to Ukraine, tougher migration rules and lower drug prices. Advertisement He also sought to remind voters of the situation he inherited when he entered office in 2021 amid a raging pandemic and a contracting economy. The 81-year-old president was being closely watched not just for his message, but for whether he could deliver it with vigour and command. Advertisement US president Joe Biden shakes hands with speaker of the House Mike Johnson after delivering his State of the Union address (J Scott Applewhite/AP) White House aides said Mr Biden was aiming to prove his doubters wrong by flashing his combative side and trying to needle Republicans over positions he believes are out of step with the country, particularly on access to abortion, but also tax policy and healthcare. Taking a victory lap in selling his legislative accomplishments, such as one that bolsters manufacturing of computer chips nationwide, Mr Biden veered from his prepared script to take a dig at Republicans who voted against such policies but are eager to take credit for them back home. If any of you dont want that money in your districts, Mr Biden said, just let me know. The president was speaking before a historically ineffective Congress. In the Republican-led House, speaker Mike Johnson took power five months ago after the chaotic ouster of former speaker Kevin McCarthy. Legislators are still struggling to approve funding bills for the current year and have been deadlocked for months on foreign assistance bills to help Ukraine stave off Russias invasion and support Israels fight against Hamas. Advertisement The State of the Union address is a marquee night on the White House calendar, offering presidents a direct line to a captive audience of lawmakers and dignitaries in the House chamber and tens of millions of viewers at home. But even so, the night has lost some of its lustre as viewership has declined. Mr Bidens aides inside the White House and on his campaign had hoped for some fresh viral moments like when he tussled last year with heckling Republicans and chided them for past efforts to cut Medicare and Social Security. Mr Johnson, eager to avoid a similar episode this year, urged Republicans in a private meeting on Wednesday to show decorum during the speech, according to a person familiar with his remarks to lawmakers. He appeared to have limited success. A number of House Republicans began to stand up and leave the chamber as Mr Biden discussed raising taxes on billionaires and corporations. Others, like Mr Johnson, remained in their chairs and shook their heads. Protesters block Pennsylvania Avenue during a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the US Capitol (Luis M Alvarez/AP) Mr Biden engaged in a loud call and response with lawmakers as he rhetorically questioned whether the tax code was fair and whether billionaires and corporations need another 2 trillion dollars in tax breaks, as he charged Republicans want. Advertisement One of the most contentious moments of his speech came during his remarks on immigration, when Mr Biden was running down the endorsements by conservative groups of the bipartisan border legislation that Republicans killed last month. Some in the audience appeared to yell and interject, and Mr Biden shot back: I know you know how to read. As Marjorie Taylor Greene, decked out in pro-Trump paraphernalia, continued to shout at Mr Biden, the president held up a white button that the Georgia Republican had handed him earlier bearing the name of Laken Riley, who authorities say was killed by a Venezuelan national who unlawfully crossed into the US in September 2022. Laken Riley, Mr Biden said, calling her an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. He expressed condolences to her family, saying his heart goes out to them. And congressional Republican leaders were showcasing one of their newest lawmakers through the State of the Union rebuttal in order to make a generational contrast with Mr Biden. Alabama Republican Katie Britt, the youngest woman in the Senate, delivered a stinging election-year critique of the president. She said: The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. America deserves leaders who recognise that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets and a strong defence are the cornerstones of a great nation. Advertisement Mr Biden painted an optimistic future for the country as the massive pieces of legislation he signed into law during his first two years in office are implemented. But he also was set to warn that the progress he sees at home and abroad is fragile and particularly vulnerable if Mr Trump returns to the White House. Mr Trump, for his part, said he planned to respond in real time to Mr Bidens remarks on his Truth Social platform. This year, Mr Biden faced heightened emotions particularly among his base supporters over his staunch backing for Israels war against Hamas in Gaza. Mr Biden gave his address to a historically ineffective Congress (Shawn Thew/Pool via AP) The White House had initially hoped a short-term ceasefire would be in place by the speech. It blames Hamas for not yet accepting a deal brokered by the US and its allies. A slew of Democrats and Republicans wore pins and stickers in honour of the Israeli hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Meanwhile, several House progressives wore Palestinian keffiyehs, the black and white chequered scarfs that have come to symbolise Palestinian solidarity. Mr Bidens motorcade took a circuitous route to the Capitol, as hundreds of pro-ceasefire demonstrators tried to disrupt its path from the White House. Amid growing concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Mr Biden announced in his address that he has directed the US military to establish a temporary port on the Gaza coast aimed at increasing the flow of aid into the beleaguered territory. The president also issued an emphatic call for lawmakers to pass sorely needed defence assistance for Ukraine. Acute ammunition shortages have allowed Russia to retake the offensive in the two-year-old war. The Republican-controlled House has refused to act on a Senate-passed version of the aid legislation, insisting on new stiffer measures to limit migration at the US-Mexico border, after Mr Trump used his influence to help sink a bipartisan compromise that would have done just that. Access to abortion and fertility treatments was also a key component of Mr Bidens speech, especially in light of a controversial ruling from Alabamas Supreme Court that has upended access to in vitro fertilisation treatment in the state. One of first lady Jill Bidens guests for the speech was Kate Cox, who sued Texas, and ultimately left her home state, to obtain an emergency abortion after a severe foetal anomaly was detected. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land again, Mr Biden said. Several House Democratic women were wearing white a symbol of womens suffrage to promote reproductive rights. The White House also invited union leaders, a gun control advocate, and others that Jill Biden and her husband have met as they travelled the country promoting his agenda. ABC managing director David Anderson raised concerns about broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf being on air on the first day of her intended week-long stint before she shared a social media post about Gaza, the Fair Work Commission in Sydney has heard. Lattouf has launched legal action against the national broadcaster after she was dismissed over the Human Rights Watch Instagram post. She alleges that the ABC unlawfully terminated her for sharing political opinions and that race was also a factor. Antoinette Lattouf (centre) arrives at the Fair Work Commission for her hearing against the ABC. Credit: Kate Geraghty She was engaged as a casual presenter to fill in for Sarah Macdonald on ABC Radio Sydney from Monday, December 18, to Friday, December 22, last year, but was asked not to return after three morning stints. The ABC says Lattouf was paid for all five days but not required to complete her final two shifts because she failed to heed a directive from management to avoid posting on her social media about topics considered controversial. We went outside, and a bunch of neighbours all around us started coming out and they were like, did you feel that?, so everyone was confirming that everyone had felt it and no one was going crazy. Hollis said there wasnt any obvious damage to her house and surrounding properties, and that all residents seemed to be fine. Other reports came in from Katoomba and Leura, while Koleta and Terry McDonald felt the quake in Woodford, just to the east of Lawson. I was in one room, just watching the TV in this room and my husband Terry was in the other room watching the Panthers game, and the house shook and made a rumbling noise, Koleta said. He (Terry) said to me, I honestly just thought it was the Panthers he was in there cheering and he felt it, but I think because he was cheering and clapping ... he gets very animated when it comes to the Panthers ... he didnt quite get it as much as I did because I was just sitting watching quietly. So when he did hear it, he just thought it was a car. A woman has been charged with murder over the death of a three-month-old baby in 2011. Paramedics were called to a Redland Bay address on September 2, 2011, over reports that the baby was not breathing. A woman has been arrested after new information on a babys 2011 death came to light. The girl was rushed to Redland Bay Hospital, and later to Mater Childrens Hospital, where police said she died four days later. The matter was investigated at the time, with the status of the investigation remaining undetermined, police said in a statement on Saturday morning. For more than 90 minutes on Thursday, the name and face of accused murderer Patrick Orren Stephenson was out in the public domain. The local footballer from Mount Clear, a semi-rural suburb of Ballarat, had been arrested and charged with killing missing mother Samantha Murphy. Patrick Stephenson has been charged with murdering Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy. Credit: The Courier/Adam Trafford But as he appeared Ballarat Magistrates Court for the first time late on Thursday afternoon a court order banning publication of his name, date of birth and address plunged major details of the case into a black hole for the next 19 hours. The events across Thursday have raised serious concerns about the prevalence of unnecessary or potentially ineffective suppression orders being issued in Victoria some to accused charged with the states most serious of crimes. Whether its the Asian financial crisis, the military coup in Myanmar or the Rohingya refugee disaster, ASEAN has a firm stance of studied paralysis. And now that China is taking some of their territories, one by one, the group is sticking to its finely honed stance. Why? Apart from its traditional uselessness, there is the China veto over ASEAN. Loading Because ASEAN works on consensus, it only takes one member to block any statement or action. And China has two Cambodia and Laos are vassals of China. They wield the China veto that guarantees ASEAN never will speak or act against the interests of the Chinese Communist Party. And other ASEAN members, like Malaysia, hope Beijing will shower it with bountiful investment. So Beijing can pretty much do as it pleases, as it did this week at the Second Thomas Shoal, with no risk of ASEAN intervention. Xi continues to use grey zone tactics, a level of bullying and interference just below kinetic warfare. He used them in taking other islets and reefs in the South China Sea over the past decade. Once his forces grab them, they build military installations on them. Then move on to the next. And next is the Second Thomas Shoal, a small reef in the Spratly Islands group. Its about 200 kilometres from the Philippines coast, well within the countrys exclusive economic zone. Its 1100 kilometres from Chinas coast. Loading To establish a territorial marker, the Philippines grounded a decrepit navy ship, the Sierra Madre, on the shoal in 1999. Manila keeps a handful of troops on the ship and periodically resupplies them with food, water and fuel. And these resuppply trips are Chinas target. This week Manila sent two small wooden boats, escorted by two larger coast guard vessels, to resupply its troops on the Sierra Madre. Beijing sent five coast guard vessels and 18 ships from Beijings maritime militia supposed fishing vessels that do remarkably little fishing to surround the Filipinos. Standing a little further out to sea were two Chinese warships and a military helicopter, according to the Philippines Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela. The Chinese coast guard vessels blocked the resupply mission, leading to a collision between a Chinese ship and a Filipino one. In another tactic, two of the Chinese coast guard ships raked a wooden Filipino boat with water cannon fire, force enough to shatter the boats windows and slightly injure four crew. Its a case study of salami-slicing incrementalism. In 2021, China had an average of one ship positioned to harass each resupply mission. In 2022, it was 4.4 and last year reached an average of 13.9, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. If the current trends continue, says Hung Tran of the Atlantic Council, future run-ins could lead to fatalities on either side, possibly elevating the dispute to a level where the US may feel the pressure to come to the Philippines defence. Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, meets a koala at Government House. Credit: The US has a mutual assistance treaty with the Philippines; the Philippines allows the US access to nine of its military bases. But so far, American support for Manila is limited to the diplomatic. Beyond the obvious of its continuous campaign of conquest, Beijing stands to gain a bonus in taking the reef the more littoral military bases it can install around the South China Sea, the better to mount any future move on Taiwan or any other target. Philippines President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos stood fast in Melbourne to repeat his pledge that we will never surrender a single inch of territory, but the other leaders gave him no overt support. Loading So why bother with ASEAN if the action is elsewhere? Rory Medcalf says: Australia is playing a multi-level game in the Indo-Pacific, though youre not going to hear the PM shouting it from the podium. You need a diversified web of friendships, and ASEAN is a vital building block for a durable multipolar order. And some big and important things are best done with the region as a group. For example, the Albanese governments new economic strategy for the ASEAN region, written by former Macquarie Bank chair Nicholas Moore, sets out a plan for intensified economic relationship. Indonesia alone, the regions giant, is projected to become the worlds fourth-biggest economy in the next 20 years but economic ties with Australia are woefully weak. The regions digital economy is set to grow fivefold, says the Moore strategy. Loading The government now has adopted 23 of the strategys 75 recommendations, and Moore is pretty happy: Its a great response, its very positive. Among the recommendations, Albanese this week announced a $2 billion credit facility to invest in the regions renewable energy transition. Its timely. As Chinas economy stalls and political risks mount, investors are ready to look beyond China. The Melbourne ASEAN summit drew together the heads of 50 of the regions biggest businesses and 50 of Australias. The big picture, says Moore, is that most people are on board for what we see in South East Asia the export-led growth, the urbanisation and the building of skills and education that we saw in North East Asia. In other words, the same sort of takeoff that lifted Japan, South Korea and China already is under way in ASEAN. On another level, Australia has put great energy into strengthening its bilateral relations in the region, notably with Vietnam and the Philippines. Similarly, the most willing of ASEANs members Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are tightening military ties with each other to defy China. Another level, of course, is Australias intensifying of relations with bigger Indo-Pacific powers Japan, India and the US. Diplomacy is about building networks of influence, and thats Australias mission. Importantly, the opposition supported the governments ASEAN venture. Shadow foreign minister Simon Birmingham conducted his own meetings on the sidelines: The summit met expectations and it was important that it be done again. We have moved on from a brief period of some AUKUS angst and the bilateral relationships are in good shape. It was striking that only Paul Keating sought to disrupt the national effort and, once more, mock the foreign affairs minister. It doesnt take much to encourage Penny Wong, sporting her deeply concerned frown, to rattle the China can, Keating said. Birmingham says of Keating: Its interesting how willingly destructive hes decided to become. Its actually irresponsible for him to come out in the middle of an ASEAN summit the way he did. Washington: US President Joe Biden had three things he had to achieve in his final State of the Union address before this years presidential election. First, he had to assuage concerns that he is too old and unfit for another term. US President Joe Biden delivered a fiery State of the Union address. Credit: Bloomberg Second, he had to convince a sceptical nation of what hes achieved over the past three years and lay out a vision for another four. And third, he had to draw a contrast with Donald Trump and make their looming rematch a referendum on the former president, when elections are often referendums on the incumbent. Prince William and Prince Harry wrote heartfelt statements about Prince Philip. (Photo: Toby Melville/REUTERS/ File Photo ) Prince Harry's recent 24-hour visit to the United Kingdom to see his father, King Charles, amid the monarch's cancer treatments has highlighted the ongoing rift between the Duke of Sussex and his estranged brother, Prince William. Despite Harry's reported attempt to reach out to William before the trip, the brothers did not meet, leaving their once-strong relationship in a state of disrepair. A palace insider told PEOPLE magazine, "Families are complicated. They may be a high-profile family, but they still have a lot of the same issues as everyone else." The lack of interaction between the brothers during Harry's brief visit has underscored the depth of the divide within the royal family. According to a former courtier, Prince William's "principal concern is his wife," Kate Middleton, who is recovering from abdominal surgery and is expected to return to public duties sometime after Easter. Harry's decision not to visit his brother's family during his short stay has been described as "terribly sad" by a source close to the royal household. "It would be the normal run of things to go and see your sister-in-law who's had a serious operation and also see your niece and nephews. But it isn't normal. It's terribly sad," the source told PEOPLE. Catherine Mayer, author of the biography "Charles: The Heart of a King," added, "The family torment is an open sore. There is such a profound breach there." The broken trust between the brothers remains a significant issue, exacerbated by Harry's memoir, "Spare," and the Netflix series featuring his wife, Meghan Markle. Royal author Robert Lacey explained, "This is all to do with William's wish to protect the institution of the monarchy, which he feels Harry can't be trusted with. I don't think William will ever agree to readmission of Harry into the family unless he clearly apologizes and moves forward." King Charles, who may only have a few years left to live if his cancer spreads to vital organs, is hopeful that his sons will reconcile, but he is aware of the challenges they face. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward noted, "Of course he would like Harry to be the prodigal son and come back and would be much happier if William and Harry were friends again. But he realizes that is just not about to happen." During Harry's brief meeting with his father, which lasted about 30 minutes, Queen Camilla made a deliberate effort to be present in the room. This gesture highlights the complex dynamics within the royal family and the ongoing efforts to navigate the strained relationships. Harry may have another opportunity to reconnect with his family in May when he is expected to visit the U.K. for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. However, a reconciliation with his brother seems unlikely, and it is even more doubtful that King Charles will mediate any healing between his sons. As the royal family continues to grapple with the profound breach between Prince Harry and Prince William, the public remains fascinated by the ongoing drama. The brothers' strained relationship serves as a reminder that even the most prominent families face challenges and complications, and that the path to reconciliation is often fraught with obstacles. The future of the royal family and the potential for healing the rift between the once-close brothers remains uncertain. As Prince William focuses on his wife's recovery and Prince Harry continues to build his life in the United States with Meghan Markle, the world will be watching to see if the brothers can find a way to mend their fractured bond and move forward as a united family. A gray whale that was spotted around 30 miles off of the shore of Nantucket, Massachusetts. New England Aquarium / contributed A gray whale that was spotted around 30 miles off of the shore of Nantucket, Massachusetts. New England Aquarium / contributedNew England Aquarium / contributed Nicknamed the devil fish, a whale that was thought to have largely vanished from the Atlantic Ocean recently rose from New England waters. A gray whale was found by an aerial survey team from the New England Aquarium on March 1, while they were around 30 miles south of Nantucket, Mass., the aquarium wrote in a news release. The aquarium regularly conducts aerial surveys in order to identify populations and changes in habitat use for marine mammals, turtles and fish, it wrote on its website. Gray whales are thought to have "largely disappeared" from the Atlantic Ocean by the early 1700s, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. They were once commonly found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, but after having their population greatly reduced by commercial whaling, now live mainly in the North Pacic Ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Advertisement Article continues below this ad My brain was trying to process what I was seeing, because this animal was something that should not really exist in these waters, New England Aquarium research technician Kate Laemmle wrote in a news release. "We were laughing because of how wild and exciting this was to see an animal that disappeared from the Atlantic hundreds of years ago! New England Aquarium scientists also told the Cape Cod Times that "there's no evidence of a breeding population" of gray whales in the Atlantic Ocean. Aside from the recent sighting, one also was observed in the waters off the coast of Florida in December 2023, which the aquarium scientists believe is the same whale. The rare sighting might be linked to climate change, New England Aquarium Associate Research Scientist Orla O'Brien wrote in the news release. The Northwest Passage, an area of the sea that links the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, has been ice-free during recent summers due to rising temperatures, making it easier for whales to travel. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A juvenile gray whale, Gerard Soury/Getty Images These sightings of gray whales in the Atlantic serve as a reminder of how quickly marine species respond to climate change, given the chance," O'Brien wrote in the news release. The aquatic mammals earned the nickname devil fish because of their aggressive reaction to being harpooned, according to NOAA. Gray whales are now protected from being hunted, harassed or captured through laws like the Marine Mammal Protection Act. However, they are still at risk of being entangled in fishing gear, being hit by boats or being negatively affected by climate change, the NOAA added. A gray whale that was spotted around 30 miles off of the shore of Nantucket, Massachusetts. New England Aquarium / contributed The whale appeared to be feeding at the time it was spotted, diving under the water and resurfacing, researchers added. Gray whales are known to be bottom feeders and feast on organisms like amphipods, which are similar to shrimp, the NOAA reports. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sources said the government has decided to implement this proposal given to farmer groups as it seeks to promote diversity The government is planning to undertake guaranteed procurement of pulses -- tur, urad and masoor -- and maize at MSP from farmers if they opt for diversification from paddy crop, sources said. The Centre also mulling procuring cotton at minimum support price (MSP) without any condition of diversification, they said. The government agencies like NAFED and NCCF may enter into contracts with farmers for five years, official sources said. According to sources, the government could consider procurement of pulses, maize and cotton at MSP without any quantative restrictions, in case the farmers opt to move away from the water-guzzling paddy crop. A portal is being created by the Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry where farmers can register by providing details like their Aadhaar Card number. In the portal, farmers will have to self-certify and mention diversification into these pulses and maize crops. Last month, a panel of three Union ministers proposed buying of these five crops by government agencies at MSP for five years after entering into an agreement with farmers, as part of the government's efforts to end farmers' protests at the Punjab-Haryana border. ALSO READ: Farmer leaders will see reason, call off protest, says Piyush Goyal However, farmer groups had rejected the government's proposal and are continuing with their protest. Sources said the government has decided to implement this proposal given to farmer groups as it seeks to promote diversity. Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai held four rounds of talks with farmer leaders over their demands, including a legal MSP guarantee. A large number of farmers are camping at the Punjab-Haryana border to press for their demand. "Cooperative societies like the NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will enter into a contract with those farmers who grow 'tur dal', 'urad dal', 'masoor dal' or maize for buying their crop at MSP for next five years. "There will be no limit on the quantity (purchased) and a portal will be developed for this," Goyal had said. The source stressed the need for diversification from paddy crops, which requires a lot of water, in states like Punjab and Haryana, and asserted that the Centre will procure these crops from farmers at MSP from across the country. The move would also help boost domestic production of pulses and reduce import dependence. The government also wants to enhance maize production for its ethanol blending programme. It wants to discourage the use of rice for the production of ethanol. The Centre has achieved 12 per cent blending of ethanol with petrol and has set a target of 20 per cent by 2025. Globally, the source said, maize is used widely for ethanol production. The state-owned Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) already procures cotton whenever the domestic prices fall below the MSP. Highlighting the urgency for reform, Kamboj said the world and the future generations can wait no longer | Photo: ANI India has presented a detailed model on behalf of the G4 nations for Security Council reform that includes new permanent members elected democratically by the General Assembly and displays flexibility on the veto issue. Participating in the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform (IGN) on Thursday, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said the UN's 80th anniversary next year serves as a milestone to achieve concrete progress on the long-pending subject. Kamboj presented the G-4 model' on behalf of Brazil, Germany, Japan and India for debate, dialogue and finally negotiations. The proposals elicited strong support from wider UN members. The realities of 1945, when the Council was established, have long been superseded by the geo-political realities of the modern era and a new century; with the need for change being felt across the board, Kamboj said as she shared the exhaustive G4 model with UN Member States in the General Assembly. Catering to these new realities, the G4 model proposes that the Security Council's membership increase from the current 15 to 25-26, by adding six permanent and four or five non-permanent members. Among the six new permanent members, two each are proposed to be from African states and Asia Pacific states, one from Latin American and Caribbean states; and one from Western European and Other states. The G4 model notes that the current composition of the Security Council, with its glaring under-representation and un-representation of key regions in both categories of membership, is detrimental to its legitimacy and effectiveness. It stressed that the Council's inability to address critical conflicts and maintain international peace and security underscores the urgent need for reform. Any reform that does not address the lack of representation, particularly in the permanent category, would only exacerbate the current imbalances in the Council's composition and render it ill-equipped to address today's international challenges, she said. Kamboj highlighted that it is important to note that the G4 model does not specify which member states will occupy the new permanent seats. This decision will be made by the General Assembly in a democratic and inclusive election. She told the UN membership that the world has undergone a sea change since 1945 and the new realities need to be reflected in the permanent membership. Any proposal that does not address the issue of representation of the Global South, including Africa, Asia and Latin America, in the permanent category does a grave injustice to the aspirations of developing countries for equality. The G4 model offered flexibility on the veto, an issue that has been a contentious topic among member states as they try to move the needle forward on the reform process that has moved at a snail's pace over the years. While the new permanent members would, as a principle, have the same responsibilities and obligations as current permanent members, they shall not exercise the veto until a decision on the matter has been taken during a review, Kamboj said. "Nonetheless, we should not allow the veto issue to have a veto over the process of Council reform itself. Our proposal is also a gesture of displaying flexibility on the issue for a constructive negotiation, she said. Currently, only the five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the UK and the US - hold veto powers and through its use have stalled action in the Council to address global challenges and conflicts such as in Ukraine and Gaza. The remaining 10 nations in the Council are elected to sit as non-permanent members for two-year terms and do not have veto powers. Highlighting the urgency for reform, Kamboj said the world and the future generations can wait no longer. The ambitious Summit of the Future scheduled to be held at the UN this September and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations next year are important milestones towards which we should aim to make concrete progress. We must push forward a reform heeding the voice of the young and future generations, including from Africa, where the demand to correct the historical injustices grows ever stronger. Otherwise, we simply risk sending the Council down the path of oblivion and irrelevance. France's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere said his country has long supported the candidacy of India, Japan, Brazil and Germany for permanent membership. In addition, France fully subscribes to the spirit of the model for comprehensive reform of the Security Council which has just been presented. It is in line with the strong expectations expressed by the vast majority of this Assembly, he said, responding to the G4 model. The US said it is clear that the strong majority of UN member states, including all 54 African countries, support expanding both permanent and non-permanent seats on the Security Council. For the Security Council to best derive the benefits of both categories, it is important that both the permanent and non-permanent membership be representative of the world as it is today, not the world as it existed in the wake of the Second World War. Over the past decade, Grace Subathirai Nathan graduated from law school, got married, opened a law firm and had two babies. But part of her is frozen in time, still in denial over the loss of her mother on a missing Malaysia Airlines plane in 2014. There has been no funeral service, and Grace, 35, still speaks of her mother in the present tense. When she got married in 2020, she walked down the aisle with a picture of her mother tucked in a bouquet of daisies chosen because of her mother's name, Anne Catherine Daisy. The Malaysian criminal lawyer has become one of the key faces of Voice 370, a next-of-kin support group, as she channelled her grief into keeping alive the quest for answers in the disappearance of MH370 that has ripped families apart. In terms of going on, I progressed in my career, in my family life ... but I am still trying to push for the search of MH370 to continue. I am trying to push for the plane to be found, so in that way I haven't moved on, Grace said in an interview. Logically in my brain I know I am probably never going to see her again, but I haven't been able to accept that fully, and I think emotionally, there's a gap that hasn't been bridged due to the lack of closure. The baffling disappearance of Flight 370 still captivates people. The Boeing 777 left Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on March 8, 2014, but dropped off radar screens shortly after and never made it to Beijing, its destination. Investigators say someone deliberately shut down the plane's communications system and took the plane off course. The jet is believed to have plunged into a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean based on satellite data, but a massive search was fruitless. No wreckage or bodies have ever been found except for fragments that washed ashore on the African coast and Indian Ocean islands. Families of those on board, many from China, have found different ways to cope with the grief, but one thing is constant their mission for justice and answers. The pain still torments some families who are sceptical of theories of the plane's fate and hang on to hope that their loved ones may return. Like Grace, Chinese farmer Li Eryou also has not held a funeral or memorial service for his only son. He has a board at home on which he counts each passing day since MH370 disappeared. Li Yanlin, 27, had a promising career as an engineer with a telecommunications company that was cut short. The pain comes easily, triggered by a sound, an object, even a flower, Li said. All these years I've been drifting along in life like a ghost, Li said in an interview in China's Handan city. "When I meet my friends and relatives, I have to put on a smile. At night, I can become true to myself. When all is quiet in the dead of night, I weep without people knowing. Li recently moved to stay with his daughter due to poor health. At his former residence, newspaper clippings of the missing aircraft that have yellowed with age still hang on the wall and his son's room is kept largely untouched. I believe my son is still on the flight, that he's still around. Or he is living on a remote island like Robinson Crusoe, Li said, in a reference to his son's favourite book. Li and his wife seldom travel but have made multiple trips to Malaysia to seek answers and to Madagascar, where parts of the aircraft have washed up on beaches. The lack of answers merely deepens their agony. They are among about 40 Chinese families that have rejected a small compassion payment from the airline. They have sued five entities including Malaysia Airlines, Boeing and aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce, seeking larger compensation and answers to who should be held accountable. Court hearings started in Beijing in November and a verdict could take months. On the 100th day after the flight vanished, Li penned his first poem expressing his longing for his son. Since then, he has written about 2,000 that have helped him cope with the grief. We shouted to the Earth: Malaysia Airlines 370. The Earth roars, it is silent and does not go away. It's not here, not here. Don't you see the heavy backpack on my son's shoulders? Drops of sweat from hard work shine on his forehead," says one verse. We appeal 10,000 times, restart the search. I wrote down my feelings. The only reason I could survive all these years is because of these words, Li said. There is now new hope for closure. During a remembrance event in Kuala Lumpur last Sunday, Malaysia's government said it will consider a proposal for a new search by U.S. marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity, which conducted a no find, no fee hunt in 2018. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said during a speech at Australian National University in Canberra on Thursday that he was inclined to support reopening an investigation into what happened to MH370, but that the decision must be based on compelling facts. It is unclear whether Ocean Infinity has new data to pinpoint the location of the plane. Once we know what happened, only then can a true form of healing begin ... until those questions are answered, no matter how much you try to move on or how much you try to close that chapter, it will never go away, Grace said. Her mother was originally not meant to be on the flight. She was due to fly a week earlier but delayed her trip to care for Grace's ailing grandmother, who died months after the plane's disappearance. MH370 extends far beyond our need for closure and I just want everybody to know that MH370 is not history. It's the future of aviation safety because until we find MH370, we cannot prevent something like this from happening again, Grace said. Jacquita Gomes, whose husband Patrick was an inflight supervisor on the plane, said 126 books have been written and numerous documentaries have been made about MH370, but much of that has been speculation with no real answers. "We keep the memories of him alive and constantly talk about him. He might be gone but not forgotten and never will be, so we urge for the search to go on." she said. We need to make sure that flights are safe again. ... Let's not forget all those on board. Britain said Thursday that it would provide 10,000 drones to arm Ukraine in its fight against Russia. The announcement by Defense Secretary Grant Shapps during a visit in Kyiv with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy includes an investment of 125 million pounds ($160 million) on top of 200 million pounds ($256 million) previously committed for drones. The weaponry will include 1,000 one-way attack or kamikaze drones and models that target ships. Ukraine's Armed Forces are using U.K. donated weapons to unprecedented effect, to help lay waste to nearly 30% of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, Shapps said. On Tuesday, Ukrainian sea drones reportedly sank another Russian warship in the Black Sea, the latest in a series of strikes that has crippled Moscow's naval capability. Boston Metal, a global metals technology solutions company, celebrates today the inauguration of the first facility for its Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE) technology platform to recover high-value metals from mining waste in Brazil. This deployment is a major milestone for Boston Metals technology and operations as it works toward commercializing MOE for green steel in 2026. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307594443/en/ Boston Metal inaugurated the first facility for its Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE) technology platform today in Brazil. The company's first commercial deployment of the technology will be to recover high-value metals from mining waste. (Photo: Business Wire) The inauguration ceremony for Boston Metal do Brasil is taking place today with the governor of the state of Minas Gerais, local authorities and multiple representatives from the companys investor syndicate in attendance. This first commercial deployment represents a beacon of progress in advancing sustainable metals production, said Tadeu Carneiro, CEO of Boston Metal. As proud as we are today, this is only the beginning. Our high-value metals business will expand rapidly and will support us as we scale our MOE platform to meet the growing global demand for green steel. In Brazil, Boston Metal will empower mining companies to recover value from a liability while advancing a circular economy for the metals industry. The companys MOE technologythe same platform that will eventually be used in commercial deployments of its green steel solutionuses electricity to selectively extract valuable metals from complex, low-concentration materials that are currently considered waste. This enables mining companies to reduce the financial and environmental liabilities of slag by leveraging this natural by-product of metal production to create new revenue streams. This facility is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our incredible team, said Itamar Resende, president of Boston Metal do Brasil. Were committed to excellence and look forward to transforming the future of metallurgical production with our high-value metals business. The company is already mobilizing for the construction of the next phase of its operations in Brazil. This includes growing the local team of 80 to over 250 employees in the coming years. In addition, Boston Metal has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to establish a chromium metal manufacturing plant in Weirton, West Virginia to onshore production of a material critical to the aerospace, chemical processing and nuclear industries. To learn more about Boston Metals high-value metals business, visit https://www.bostonmetal.com/high-value-metals/. For more information on Boston Metal do Brasil, visit https://br.bostonmetal.com/. About Boston Metal Boston Metal is commercializing Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE), a tonnage metals technology platform powered by electricity, to decarbonize steelmaking and transform how metals are made. MOE provides the metals industry with a scalable, cost-competitive and green solution for the production of steel and high-value metals from a variety of feedstocks and iron ore grades. Backed by visionary investors and led by a world-class team, Boston Metal is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts and has a wholly owned subsidiary in Brazil. Learn more at bostonmetal.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307594443/en/ - . In a compelling session at India Global Forums Annual Investment Summit NXT10 on 6 March on the power of storytelling and communication, bestselling authors Amish Tripathi and Jeffrey Archer shared insights into their craft and the impact storytelling has on shaping narratives.Drawing parallels between leadership and storytelling, Tripathi cited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis example as someone inspiring others to believe in a shared vision. "A good leader in many ways has to be a good storyteller," he explained. "He actually has to see that dream, believe that dream, convince others that it's worth it walking the path towards a dream."I genuinely worship the Gods I write about. I dont do what could be called creative liberties. What I do is a respectful reinterpretation. Tripathi said, explaining his approach to Indian mythology.Tripathi emphasised the instinctual nature of storytelling. "Storytelling is essentially the art of grabbing attention," he remarked. "It just comes instinctively, you just have to be able to read the room, read the person you're talking to and just come to instinctively what you must say."Archer, renowned for several bestsellers including Kane and Abel and The Clifton Chronicles, also underscored the importance of simplicity in storytelling. "Storytelling mustn't become convoluted, it mustn't become complicated," he insisted.We are storytellers and that is a Godgiven gift. Too many people think that writing is something they can just do one weekend. I've been doing it for 40 years and it is hard work... I do 14 drafts of every book and even after 40 years and 30 books, it isn't getting any easier. If anything, it's more demanding because of fans out there, particularly in India. So, you can't let the standard down, Archer said.Quoting noted Indian author RK Narayan, Archer highlighted the significance of authenticity. I cant write an Indian novel. That can be done by Amish since he has the feel for it, the history of it. I am an Englishman. I can write about politics, theatre, business, and even engineering. RK Narayan taught us, You can only write about a small village in India if you have lived in a small village in India.'"Click here to watch the sessions and access photos from the day here Sysdig, the leader in cloud security powered by runtime insights, today announced that the company was named a Strong Performer one of only two vendors to receive the recognition in Gartner Peer Insights Voice of the Customer for Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) Tools. Sysdig is the only cloud security platform to receive the maximum of five stars in the report, which was derived directly from verified customer feedback, and synthesizes reviews and ratings received as of November 30, 2023. In addition to receiving the highest overall rating, Sysdig received top marks in each category: Product Capabilities : 4.9/5 : 4.9/5 Sales Experience : 4.9/5 : 4.9/5 Deployment Experience : 4.9/5 : 4.9/5 Support Experience: 5/5 As the cloud landscape continues to evolve, Sysdig is at the forefront of cloud security innovation, offering active cloud risk prioritization, vulnerability management, and compliance solutions that go beyond traditional static checks. The company's dedication to providing comprehensive visibility and robust security measures has garnered widespread acclaim from its user base, as it believes is evidenced by its exceptional ratings in the Gartner Voice of the Customer report. "Customers demand and deserve excellence, and we are thrilled to receive such high praise in the Gartner Voice of the Customer report. We believe a 5 out of 5 rating underscores our commitment to CISOs and boards to keep their cloud environment safe," said Knox Anderson, SVP of Product Management at Sysdig. "The industry knows Sysdig as the leader in CNAPP, and now they can feel confident knowing how much our customers love our CSPM solution." Read the full Voice of the Customer report for Cloud Security Posture Management Tools. Sysdig Customers Praise Productivity Driven by Runtime Insights The cloud is a dynamic environment where new risks and threats can appear at any time. Most CSPM solutions perform periodic scanning, which only shows static risk and leaves visibility gaps for attackers to exploit. Sysdig empowers organizations to strengthen their cloud security posture through unified findings with active risk prioritization, agentless scanning, attack path analysis, inventory, and real-time security posture checks. Using runtime insights, Sysdig offers unparalleled visibility into active cloud risk, such as real-time configuration changes, suspicious user activity, in-use permission and packages, and workload threats. By prioritizing active cloud risk, security teams can work more productively by reducing alert fatigue and focusing on addressing the most imminent active threats in their cloud environment. In essence, Sysdig strengthens organizations approaches to cloud security posture management, from risk prioritization and vulnerability management to proactive threat detection and compliance, giving them peace of mind that their assets are protected when cloud attacks can happen in a matter of minutes. Customer feedback highlighted Sysdig's unique approach to CSPM, with users praising the platform for its comprehensive cloud-native security features and ability to improve incident response times. But CSPM is only one part of the Sysdig cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP), which combines CSPM with cloud workload protection, cloud infrastructure entitlement management, and detection and response in a single security platform to provide customers with end-to-end coverage, from prevention to defense. With Sysdig, organizations can mitigate security issues fast, bolster operational efficiency across multi-cloud environments, and protect the entire software development life cycle. What our Customers are Saying in Gartner Peer Insights Im genuinely impressed with the level of real-time security posture checks [Sysdig] brings to our cloud infrastructure. The solution has proven to be an invaluable asset in ensuring the safety of our cloud-native application and data. [Read the full review here] - Director of Strategic Initiatives; Software Company Sysdig CSPM provides unmatched insight and fortified security for cloud-native infrastructure with state-of-art technology. Powered by Falco, it offers comprehensive visibility, empowering businesses to monitor and safeguard cloud assets efficiently [Read the full review here] - VP, IT Security and Risk Management; Financial Company Our adoption of Sysdig CSPM was fueled by the growing complexity of our cloud environment. As our presence expanded rapidly, robust security and compliance became imperative. We required a unified solution that could monitor, detect, and manage risk across both AWS and GCP. [Read the full review here] - Director of Strategic Initiatives; Software Company Since implementing Sysdig CSPM, our incident response time has drastically improved, allowing us to mitigate security issues promptly. [Read the full review here] - Information Security Officer; IT Services Company Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences, and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, PEER INSIGHTS is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and both are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. This graphic was published by Gartner, Inc. as part of a larger research document and should be evaluated in the context of the entire document. The Gartner document is available here. Resources About Sysdig In the cloud, every second counts. Attacks move at warp speed, and security teams must protect the business without slowing it down. Sysdig stops cloud attacks in real time, instantly detecting changes in risk with runtime insights and open source Falco. Sysdig correlates signals across cloud workloads, identities, and services to uncover hidden attack paths and prioritize real risk. From prevention to defense, Sysdig helps enterprises focus on what matters: innovation. Sysdig. Secure Every Second. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307640009/en/ Former Stamford High School teacher Tracey Bass chats with her students on a walk to Avon Theatre in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. Bass was elected to the Democratic City Committee on Tuesday, defeating incumbent opponent Megan Cottrell by one vote. Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media STAMFORD A single election in Stamford's District 4 came down to one vote on Tuesday. Tracey Bass narrowly unseated incumbent Megan Cottrell for a position on the Democratic City Committee by a count of 101-100. Two other candidates were involved in the district election, in which the top two vote-getters won seats on the committee. Incumbent Eva Padilla barely outpaced all candidates with 103 votes, while Douglas B. Taylor Sr. finished last with 80. On Thursday, a recount upheld the final vote totals and Bass won the seat by a single vote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bass, who was a school teacher for 47 years and taught at Stamford High School, Cloonan Middle School and the now-defunct Rippowam High School, said she was guided by her faith when deciding to run. "I want to do something to help the community," she said. Bass was one of a select group of Black students from Norfolk State University in Virginia who came to New Canaan to teach in almost exclusively white classrooms as part of a program known as The New Canaan Experiment that started in 1969 and lasted almost 10 years. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That move led to her becoming a Stamford teacher. She was married to former Stamford High School principal Rodney Bass and raised four kids in the city. Cottrell, who serves on the Board of Representatives and has announced that she would not seek re-election when her term ends in 2025, praised Bass and said she will "do a good job" on the committee. The representative said she was not surprised by the results of Tuesday's election, in which one faction within the Democratic Party more aligned with Mayor Caroline Simmons and the local party establishment dominated district races. That group, called Democrats United for Stamford, counted Bass among its ranks. Cottrell was part of the opposing side, called the Stamford Dems for Responsive Government. The United side came away with 27 of the 34 seats up for grabs in Tuesday's election to serve on the DCC. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Reflecting on her narrow victory, Bass said she hopes it teaches others an important lesson. March 7, 2024 Ottawa, Ontario National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, welcomed Latvias Defence Minister, Andris Spruds, to Canada. This is Minister Spruds first visit to Canada since his appointment as Latvias Minister of Defence. Minister Blair and Minister Spruds held a bilateral meeting at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. The Ministers condemned Russias illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. Minister Blair commended Latvias military support to Ukraine and the Ministers reaffirmed that both Canada and Latvia will continue to provide Ukraine with comprehensive military assistance. To further develop Ukraines drone capabilities, Minister Blair committed to Canada joining the Ukraine Defense Contact Groups Drone Capability Coalition, co-led by Latvia and the United Kingdom. As a member of the Capability Coalition, Canada will continue to look for ways to boost Ukraines drone capabilities. To date, Canada has stepped up significantly to contribute to Ukraines drone capabilities by donating over 100 made-in-Canada, specialized drone cameras to Ukraine from L3 Wescam. Building on these drone camera donations, Minister Blair announced an additional donation of over 800 drones from Teledyne FLIR last month in Waterloo, Ontario. The Ministers also participated via video link in a videoconference on support for Ukraine, hosted by Frances Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Stephane Sejourne, and Frances Minister for the Armed Forces, Sebastien Lecornu. The two Ministers discussed current efforts to scale up the multinational NATO Battle Group in Latvia, which Canada has led since 2017. Minister Blair thanked Minister Spruds for Latvias hospitality to the approximately 1,000 Canadian troops currently deployed in Latvia. Canada is more than doubling its military presence on Operation REASSURANCE from about 1,000 troops to a sustained deployment of up to 2,200 troops by 2026, as Canada committed in the July 2023 Roadmap on Scaling the eFP Latvia Battle Group to Brigade. Canada is also deploying additional capabilities to the Battle Group. In late 2023, Canada deployed a Canadian Army Tank Squadron of 15 Leopard 2 Main Battle Tanks to Latvia, and starting this summer, Canada will begin to deploy Royal Canadian Air Force helicopters to the Battle Group, as Minister Blair announced in December 2023. Minister Blair also highlighted that Canada is investing in new military capabilities for the Canada-led Battle Group. In 2023, Canada announced that it was designating three key capabilities for Canadian troops in Latvia as Urgent Operational Requirements. Since then, Canada has finalized the procurement of all three capabilities: anti-tank weapons; an air defence capability; and anti-drone equipment. This equipment will begin to flow to Canadian Armed Forces members this year. Minister Blair and Minister Spruds reaffirmed that Canada and Latvia are dedicated to maintaining a close, productive relationship as NATO Allies. The two Ministers agreed to stay in close, regular contact. Shelton Police Department, in Shelton, Conn. Oct. 18, 2022. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT A Shelton police officer pleaded not guilty Thursday to stalking the police chief. David Moore, who had been fired by Shelton Police Chief Shawn Sequeira in 2020 and then recently ordered rehired by a state arbitration panel, pleaded not guilty to one count of third-degree stalking before Superior Court Judge Scott Jones. Moore requested a jury trial. The judge continued the case to April 15. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Moore and his lawyer, John R. Gulash, declined comment as they left the Golden Hill Street courthouse. Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Craig Nowak also declined comment on the case. Moore is accused of stalking Sequeira last August. He is barred from carrying a gun because Judge Burns previously imposed a protective order on Moore as a condition of Moores continued release on a written promise to appear in court. Sequeira had previously obtained a civil protection order against Moore, court documents show. Moore was one of three officers fired in 2020 over what Sequeira said was a mishandled domestic violence complaint. rehired by a state arbitration board. The other two officers also have gotten their jobs back. Moore conducted the internal investigation into the complaint and knowingly and intentionally omitted vital information to paint two fellow officers in a better light, Sequeira said at the time. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a four-page affidavit seeking the order filed Sept. 25, 2023 in state Superior Court in Milford, Sequeira said Moore followed him in August from Route 8 in Shelton to a parking garage at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, where Sequeira teaches classes in criminal justice. In the affidavit, Sequeira said he had seen a vehicle following him for about a month, and that he saw it again while on his way to HCC. He said he tried to let the vehicle pass, but it stayed behind him, according to the affidavit. According to Sequeira's affidavit, the chief complained to state police about Moore following him. Sequeira, citing a follow-up conversation with state cops, said Moore admitted to state police that he was hiding in his vehicle in the parking garage, but said he was "conducting surveillance," according to the affidavit. The affidavit does not elaborate, but says Moore stalked Sequeira by recording cellphone video of the chief while he was working a traffic detail in 2020 and "has intentionally driven by past residences with his cellphone as he slowly watches me." Interview: Malaysia to benefit from China's economic growth: expert Xinhua) 10:06, March 08, 2024 KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Developing nations, including Malaysia, will find it profitable to take advantage of the niche areas within China's technological advancement in high-tech industries, according to a Malaysian expert. China has made substantial gains in several new emerging fields, particularly in artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, fintech, high-speed trains, and other high-tech sectors, creating the demand for commodities and finished products that Malaysia produces, Shankaran Nambiar, a senior research fellow at the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research, told Xinhua in a recent interview. Nambiar said as Malaysia's largest trade partner since 2009, China will be the key economic driver in the region. Malaysia should avoid being caught in bloc confrontation while taking advantage of the opportunities to draw investments and carry out technological cooperation, the expert added. During the recent 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit held in Melbourne, Australia, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that the United States and some of its allies should not preclude Malaysia from being friendly to China. China has maintained its position as the largest trading partner of Malaysia for 15 consecutive years and has been Malaysia's main source of investment for many years. Market demand from China will become an important force in driving Malaysia's export growth in 2024, according to a recent Kenanga Research report. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Jin Fu Hot Pot co-owners Hu Ping-Dolph, left, and her husband, Jonathan Dolph, are photographed in their new restaurant on Whitney Avenue in New Haven on March 7, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker speaks at a celebration of the opening of Jin Fun Hot Pot on Whitney Avenue in New Haven on March 7, 2024 as owners Hu Ping-Dolph and her husband, Jonathan Dolph look on. Mark Zaretsky / Hearst Connecticut Media The owners of Jin Fu Hot Pot on Whitney Avenue in New Haven, Hu Ping-Dolph and her husband, Jonathan Dolph, speak to Alexandra Daum, Yale University's associated vice president for New Haven Affairs and University Properties at a celebration of the opening of their third restaurant in downtown New Haven. Mark Zaretsky / Hearst Connecticut Media Hu Ping-Dolph speaks at a celebration of the opening of Jin Fun Hot Pot on Whitney Avenue in New Haven on March 7, 2024 as her husband, Jonathan Dolph looks on. Mark Zaretsky / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN Hu Ping-Dolph and her husband, Jonathan Dolph, want you to know how Chinese people really eat. They also thoroughly enjoy introducing people to new experiences and they love owning and running restaurants in New Haven. How else could you explain the fact that they now own three totally different regional Chinese restaurants in New Haven? The couple have Taste of China at 954 Chapel St., Steamed at 77 Whitney Ave. and now the latest creation, Jin Fu Hot Pot at 68 Whitney Ave. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They also have owned the original, Sichuan-style Taste of China in Clinton since 2000 and have additional Steamed locations in Madison and Middletown, offering northern China-style dumpling. "I do really authentic Chinese food," Ping-Dolph, who grew up in Nanjing, China, said Thursday, sitting at a table amid the rich, wood-paneled interior of her new restaurant. "I want to show what we eat in China." Jin Fu Hot Pot, which is in the midst of a soft opening after opening its doors on Feb. 29, offers a traditional, yet modern take on a warming and healthy Chinese dish, hot pot in this case with individual hot pots with warming elements built into the tables. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to Ping-Dolph who met her American-born husband in Singapore when she was a student and he was an English teacher they saw a totally empty space on Whitney Avenue and decided to follow their dreams to make something happen there. "We made a wonderful restaurant," Ping-Dolph said. "We made a wonderful space here." Jin Fu Hot Pot is next door to Katalina's Bakery. Ping-Dolph spoke on a day when officials from Yale University Properties and the City of New Haven plus some close friends joined her and her husband for some spicy Cheng Du dumplings, sparkling wine and other treats to celebrate Jin Fu Hot Pot's opening. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Part of Ping-Dolph's goal over the years opening Taste of China in New Haven in 2012 and Steamed in 2016 has been to show people a different, more authentic kind of Chinese food in a different kind of restaurant with perhaps a little more style than some others, she said. Jin Fu Hot Pot is not the first hot pot restaurant in New Haven. The Great Wall, which used to be across the street where Chef Ziang is now, had them, as did the short-lived Chuan Du Hot Pot on Temple Street. With the individual hot pot elements built into the tables at Jin Fu Hot Pot, Ping-Dolph said it's easy to tailor a meal to one's own personal tastes. Customers build off of one of four soup bases: a chicken-based fish maw broth, a chicken-based pork tripe broth, a vegan matsutake mushroom broth and their Jin Fu Special MaLa brothe, which is chicken-based and spicy, using Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers. Separate plates of meat or vegetables are then ordered to add. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We teach people how to eat and how to make the sauces," she said. While eating hot pot may be a somewhat new experience for many customers, "all Asian people know hot pot," Ping-Dolph said, adding it's great when the weather is cold. Jin Fu Hot Pot currently is using a special soft opening menu and will shift to a more extensive menu once the place gets better established, Ping-Dolph said. At a brief outdoor ceremony to celebrate the opening, Alexandra Daum, the former state commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, who now is Yale's associate vice president for New Haven Affairs and University Properties, welcomed the latest addition to what's becoming a hotspot for Asian restaurants along Whitney near Audubon Street. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Others nearby include Tiger Daddy, K-food, Chef Jiang, Steamed, The Whale Tea, and around the corner on Audubon Street, the Hawaiian-Japanese accented Pokemoto. Daum said the restaurant business is hard but Ping-Dolph "has made it work six times." "It is clear how excited people are for the opening of your third restaurant in New Haven," Mayor Justin Elicker told the couple. Several of Ping-Dolph's Chinese-born friends were looking forward to stopping by. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "It's beautiful," said Tony Zhou, a commodities trader who was born in Hunan Province and now lives in Woodbridge. "Hot pot is one of the favorites of the Chinese people," Zhou said, calling it "healthy, less oily" and good for a party or a group of friends. Charles Lu, of Madison, another friend who was born in China and has lived in the United States for 38 years, said it's a step up from the low-cost, inexpensively-decorated, Americanized Chinese restaurants that once dotted the landscape. "She has such a nice sense of decoration, high standards," Lu said, adding Ping-Dolph's restaurants are "culturally very rich." GCCA supports major decarbonising talks in Paris on the built environment 08 March 2024 Leading organisations from the cement and concrete industry are attending international talks in Paris, where parties are hoped to agree a framework to decarbonise the built environment. The Global Buildings and Climate Forum, which take place this week, involves discussions between government ministers, local authorities, businesses, and other stakeholders, from across the world. The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) together with France Ciment, the national industry cement body in France, held an official side event at the Forum. The joint event was exploring the positive role of cement and concrete in the large-scale deployment of sustainable, decarbonised and resilient buildings. More than 1000 delegates from across the world are expected to attend the Global Buildings and Climate Forum, over the next two days. The forum has been co-organised by the French government and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to develop an agreement on how to cut emissions in the built environment. It follows the official launch of the Buildings Breakthrough initiative at COP28 in December last year. The UN Breakthrough Agenda aims at strengthening international collaboration on the decarbonisation of high-emitting sectors. Thomas Guillot, CEO at the GCCA, spoke at todays official side event, hosted by the GCCA and France Ciment. Mr Guillot said. Our industry has been leading the way on decarbonisation through the implementation of our 2050 Net Zero Concrete Roadmap. Cement and concrete will obviously continue to play a vital role in the built environment, due to concretes in-built properties such as resilience and resistance to damage from heat, wind, fire and floods, especially as our climate changes. And as our Roadmap sets out, we are committed to fully decarbonising this essential material. Architects, designers and developers across the built environment can also play their part in using our material with reuse and repurpose in mind and using concrete more efficiently in the future, to reduce embodied carbon in new structures. Published under Strong start to 2024 for Senegal cement ICR Newsroom By 08 March 2024 Domestic cement sales in Senegal grew 3.3 per cent YoY in January 2024, coming in at 0.666Mt compared to 0.645Mt in January 2023, according to the countrys national statistics office, DPEE. For 2023 as whole, cement sales rose nine per cent YoY to 7.044Mt, up from 6.46Mt in 2022. Strong population growth, which averaged 2.7 per cent YoY in the decade to 2023 (versus just 0.6 per cent in the US), as well as proactive infrastructure and urbanisation policies will underpin demand heading forward. Cement production rose 10.7 per cent YoY in the first month of 2024, reporting 0.889Mt, up from 0.803Mt a year earlier. Production was 9.017Mt for 2023, up 12.9 per cent from 7.99Mt in 2022. Capacity utilisation rates were 86 per cent in 2023, down from over 100 per cent previously, thanks to the addition of new capacity, which is set to be extended further in 2024 with the anticipated completion of a 1Mta greenfield plant at Pout by Ciments de LAfrique Senegal SA. Cement exports grew 25.1 per cent YoY to 0.244Mt in January 2024, from 0.195Mt a year earlier. Exports jumped 32.3 per cent in 2023 to 1.988Mt from 1.503Mt in 2022. While Senegal will remain an important regional cement exporter, ongoing unrest in key export destination, Mali, is a downside risk. Published under New Haven man Rashod Newton, who was convicted of killing the mother of his child in a 2021 shooting, was sentenced to 35 years in prison Thursday, according to state officials. New Haven Police Department NEW HAVEN A man convicted of killing the mother of his child in a 2021 shooting was sentenced to 35 years in prison Thursday, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice. Rashod Newton, then 29, of New Haven, pleaded guilty to murder in connection with Alessia Mesquitas death and first-degree assault in connection with an unrelated 2020 West Haven shooting in state Superior Court in New Haven on Dec. 1, state officials earlier said. Mesquita, 28, died in the presence of the baby she shared with Newton. Police and family said Newton and Mesquita were in a relationship and had a 1-year-old daughter at the time of the shooting. On the morning of March 22, 2021, Newton told investigators, they became involved in an argument, according to police. Snapping, Newton allegedly admitted, he shot Mesquita approximately four times around 9:20 a.m. outside a parked car as a child, identified by police as their daughter, sat in the back seat. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Following the shooting, Newton fled with the child, according to police. He was eventually apprehended on Eastern Street and arrested on an outstanding warrant charging him with first-degree assault, police said. The child was transported to the hospital as a precaution. The Mesquita case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Stacey M. Miranda with assistance from Inspector Alfonso Vazquez, according to state officials. States Attorney Doyle wishes to express his sincere condolences to the family of Mesquita and extend his gratitude to the New Haven Police Department for their thorough investigative efforts in this case, officials said in a statement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad New Haven City Hall Helen Bennett / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN An investigation found that a city employee reported more non-citizen marriages to federal immigration authorities than previously thought, officials announced Friday. Patricia Clark, the registrar of the Office of Vital Statistics in charge of issuing birth, death and marriage certificates, reported 93 marriages to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in 2023, officials said. Of the applicants reported to a federal immigration officer, 80 percent were from India, according to the report. Clark had flagged 73 out of 215 marriage licenses as questionable or potentially fraudulent to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services over a three-month period last fall alone. In some cases, she was unnecessarily requiring birth certificates and other documents like bank statements and deeds, according to officials. Advertisement Article continues below this ad New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said Clark chose not to refute, explain or otherwise respond to the charges against her. He said Clarks actions showed blatant disregard for proper procedure. The report covers that Ms. Clark shared information, denied services, created barriers to accessing services to members of the public who she believed to be undocumented residents or non-U.S. citizens with legal status, Elicker said. The report found that Ms. Clark acted inappropriately and outside the scope of her job responsibilities. Neither Clark nor her union representative responded to a request for comment Friday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Clark was placed on paid administrative leave on Nov. 30, 2023 pending an independent investigation into whether her actions violated Elickers sanctuary city order, which, among other directives, prohibits city employees from sharing information such as immigration status with federal authorities. Clark was notified of the investigation's findings and then retired the same day she was set to have a hearing before city officials on Feb. 26, Elicker said Friday. Because of that, she will not face consequences and she will get a pension. The report said Clark was acting as a self-appointed agent for the USCIS by requiring additional documents and sharing them with federal authorities. It states she referred to applicants as green card marriages, created a state of quid pro quo, and misused her authority. The report stated Clark's concerns were "justifiable," but her actions were not. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "That there was an issue with an increase in marriage applications wherein the applicants exhibited suspicious behavior and came in groups is not contested," the report reads. "However, the fact that Clark reported these individuals to Immigration Officer Ellis O'Briant without consulting or bringing any aspect of this problem to her supervisor's attention until late October of 2023 is entirely problematic." Maritza Bond, the director of New Havens Health Department, which oversees marriage licenses, said they have instituted monthly meetings and training for workforce development for employees. The department also said it changed the language regarding marriage licenses and what's needed to get one back to reflect the city's policy. Bond and Elicker emphasized that Clarks behavior does not represent the values of the department or the city. I want to underscore that the health department is committed to ensuring the wellbeing of our New Haven residents with a central focus of health equity, Bond said. General Assembly passes ELVIS Act Tennessee first in the nation to protect voice from AI misuse The General Assembly this week unanimously passed first-of-its-kind legislation protecting artists identity and work from misuse of artificial intelligence (AI). The Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, now heads to Gov. Bill Lees desk for his signature. As technology advances, we must ensure intellectual property and humanity is protected. Consumers should be fully informed when they encounter artificial content, Lamberth said. The ability of artificial intelligence to replicate someone elses legitimate voice and likeness should deeply concern us all. The ELVIS Act sets critical safeguards that protect creators against harm, exploitation and theft. While Tennessees existing law protects name, image and likeness, it does not address new, personalized generative AI cloning models and services that enable human impersonation and allow users to make unauthorized fake reproductions in the image and voice of others. The emergence of artificial intelligence threatens the careers of artists whose image, likeness, and voice are replicated, as well as the future of the music industry and the jobs it supports. Tennessee is home to more than 68,000 songwriters. The state ranks No. 1 in the nation for music industry employment, with jobs growing by 21 percent over the last five years. Overall, Tennessees music industry supports nearly 62,000 jobs across the state, contributes $5.8 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) and fills more than 4,500 music establishments. The ELVIS Act is the first legislation of its kind in the nation to build upon existing state rule protecting against the unauthorized use of someones likeness by adding voice to the realm it protects. Once signed by the governor, the legislation takes effect July 1. Tennessee Prevention of Drunk Driving Act advances Legislation to reduce drunk driving in Tennessee advanced out of the House Departments and Agencies Subcommittee this week. The Tennessee Prevention of Drunk Driving Act, sponsored by State Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, would create a 12-member advisory task force to review impaired driving and boating statewide, and offer solutions to reduce those crimes from occurring. The Impaired Driving Advisory Council would also be required to submit all of its reports, strategic plans and recommendations annually to the General Assembly. Additionally, law enforcement officers investigating fatal wrecks involving a suspected drunk driver would be required to determine if the individual was served alcohol at a licensed establishment. The findings would be reported to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) within 48 hours. Impaired driving is destroying families, Gant said Wednesday. Law enforcement across this state is doing everything they can, but they need help solving this problem This bill is meant to identify the problem and come up with solutions that will save lives here in Tennessee. There were 6,135 wrecks statewide that involved an alcohol-impaired driver in 2022, according to the most recent data from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. There were 324 fatalities and more than 3,700 injuries as a result. The legislation would also require the ABC to regularly report to the legislature ways to prevent underage drinking, drunk driving and other harmful uses of alcohol in Tennessee. Adults who begin drinking as a teenager are more likely to develop an alcohol dependence at some point in their lives, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The study of 43,000 U.S. adults also found that nearly half of those who developed alcoholism had become alcohol-dependent by the age of 21. House Bill 2845 is scheduled to be heard in the State Government Committee on March 13. Republicans fight to combat illegal immigration in Tennessee The House State Government Committee this week advanced Republican legislation that seeks to combat illegal immigration in Tennessee. House Bill 2124, sponsored by State Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, would ensure all law enforcement in the state notify the appropriate federal authorities if an individual they come into contact with is found to be in the country illegally. Notification is currently not required under state law. The federal government continues to put the safety of every Tennessean at risk by not properly securing our nations borders, Grills said. We are either a nation of laws or we are a lawless nation. Until this crisis is over, we must ensure the proper authorities know about individuals who are found to be in this country illegally. This legislation will better protect our communities and make sure those wishing to come here do so the right way. There were more than 2.4 million encounters at the nations southwest border during the 2023 fiscal year, according to the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. Since 2021, there have been at least 1.7 million individuals who illegally entered the country and successfully evaded authorities. House Bill 2124 is scheduled to be heard in the House chamber on March 11. The companion version of the legislation is still advancing through the Senate. If approved, the new law would take effect July 1. House advances legislation protecting Tennesseans from debanking Legislation to protect Tennesseans from discrimination by financial institutions for personal beliefs advanced in the Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee on Tuesday. House Bill 2100, sponsored by State Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, would prohibit financial institutions and insurers from discriminating, denying or canceling their services to Tennesseans based on political opinions, religious beliefs, social credit scores and other factors. The practice is commonly referred to as debanking. The trend of freezing bank accounts based on religious or political beliefs is deeply worrying to me, Zachary said. We will put a stop to this dangerous practice in Tennessee because having to self-police speech for fear of being denied financial services is not representative of our states values. Tennessee Republicans will continue protecting the right of citizens to freely express their convictions. Debanking for political and religious reasons has increasingly become an issue in the United States. The bill would make debanking by financial institutions with more than $100 billion in assets for beliefs and other criteria an unfair or deceptive practice under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, which is a Class B misdemeanor offense. House Bill 2100 is scheduled to be heard in the Commerce Committee on March 12. Republicans introduce Family Rights and Responsibilities Act Republicans have introduced legislation that explicitly lays out 12 fundamental rights of parents in Tennessee law. The Family Rights and Responsibilities Act, sponsored by House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, protects parents fundamental rights and responsibilities to make education, health care, moral and religious decisions for their child. The bill aims to protect children from being indoctrinated by ideologies contrary to the values taught by their parents without interference from a government entity. This legislation honors the fundamental role moms and dads play in the lives of their children as lead decision-makers and protectors, Faison said. It shields families from government overreach by ensuring a parents inherent right to instill personal values, beliefs and cultural practices is preserved. The bill further codifies that only parents and legal guardians can give consent for the collection, storage, or sharing of biometric data, such as facial images and fingerprints, or DNA and blood. House Bill 2936 is currently advancing in the House and Senate chambers. If approved, the legislation would take effect July 1. Additional protections from child gender-disfiguring procedures advances Legislation to further protect children in Tennessee from gender-disfiguring procedures advanced out of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee this week. House Bill 2310, sponsored by State Rep. Bryan Richey, R-Maryville, seeks to stop anyone from knowingly taking a minor across state lines without parental consent in order to receive a prohibited medical procedure like the removal of the childs healthy body parts in order for them to identify as a gender that is different from their biological sex. This is just to prevent bad actors from coming in and taking our children to go somewhere else without that childs parent or guardian giving them permission to do that, Richey said. Any adult who recruits, harbors or transports a minor for a restricted medical procedure could be charged with a Class C felony and held civilly liable by the childs parent or legal guardian under the proposed legislation. The General Assembly last year passed the Protecting Children from Gender Mutilation Act. The legislation provided the nations strongest protections against disfiguring gender mutilation surgeries and treatments on minors. House Bill 2310 is scheduled to be heard in the Civil Justice Committee on March 13. Bill to prevent swatting advances The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday advanced legislation to increase protections against the intentional false reporting of emergencies in Tennessee, often referred to as swatting. House Bill 2395, filed by State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, would make it a Class C felony to knowingly make a false report of an active shooter and hostage situation in order to draw a large law enforcement response to a specific location. This is absolutely frightening our community, Davis said regarding recent swatting incidents in Tennessee. Someone is going to get seriously hurt in response to some of these false reports. It is already illegal under state law to intentionally make a false report regarding a past, present or future bombing or fire. House Bill 2395 is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on March 12. House approves bill allowing overdose reversal drug in schools The House chamber this week unanimously passed legislation aimed at increasing the availability of potentially life-saving medication on school campuses that would counteract the effects of a drug overdose. House Bill 2311, sponsored by State Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, would allow students, employees or visitors to carry an opioid antagonist, such as Naloxone, while on school property or attending a school-sponsored activity held off-campus. The legislation would also ensure the medication is stored properly at the school. Naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan, is a pressurized nasal spray that is designed to be given to someone experiencing a drug overdose to rapidly reverse it. This is a potentially life-saving medication, and I believe it is vital that it is readily available in our schools or at school-related events, should it ever be needed, Baum said. The companion version of House Bill 2311 is still advancing through the Senate. Bill increasing protections from bullying, cyberbullying advances The Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week advanced legislation to further protect students in Tennessee from bullying and cyberbullying. House Bill 2590, sponsored by State Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore, would classify the crimes as forms of harassment. The legislation would also require an officer who has knowledge of bullying or cyberbullying to make a report of the incident and notify a parent or guardian when the victim is a minor. A common factor in acts of violence and suicide seems to lead back to the person being bullied. If passed, this bill will hopefully define what bullying is and notify the childs parents when they have been a victim of bullying, Russell said. House Bill 2590 is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on March 12. House passes bill to ensure local governments enforce laws Legislation to ensure police can properly investigate suspected traffic-related crimes in Tennessee was approved by the House chamber this week. House Bill 1931, sponsored by State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, prevents local governments or officials from limiting the ability of law enforcement to conduct a traffic stop if a local, state or federal law is believed to have been violated. All were saying is that local law enforcement has to enforce state law, Gillespie said Thursday. There is nothing more to this legislation than just that. The companion version of House Bill 1931 is still advancing through the Senate. Briefly Child Victims Privacy Act: The House chamber on Monday passed legislation to protect the privacy of child victims of violent crime and their families. The Child Victims Privacy Act, sponsored by State Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, ensures county medical examiner and autopsy reports of minors who are victims of violent crime remain private except in certain circumstances. The bill protects sensitive information generally included in autopsy reports like a victims medical history, photos, toxicology, and communications with family members and law enforcement. The reports would still be allowed to be released in certain circumstances, including when a parent or guardian is not a suspect in the death of a child and gives explicit consent. A court may also order the release of the records upon showing good cause. The companion version of House Bill 1695 is still advancing through the Senate. Deterring juvenile crime: Legislation aimed at curbing violent crimes committed by juveniles in Tennessee was approved by the House chamber this week. House Bill 2126, sponsored by State Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, allows local district attorneys and judges to determine if a juvenile age 15 and older should be transferred to adult criminal court when they are charged with committing or attempting to commit organized retail crime or theft of a firearm. The legislation addresses a dangerous trend in which minors are being recruited by adults to steal or break into businesses, homes or cars because there are fewer consequences for their actions. The companion version of House Bill 2126 is still advancing through the Senate. Orders of protection: The House Criminal Justice Committee this week advanced legislation to increase protections for domestic abuse victims in Tennessee. House Bill 2168, sponsored by State Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, would require an order of protection related to allegations of domestic abuse to remain in effect during an appeal unless otherwise order by the general sessions judge or official. The legislation is scheduled to be heard in the House chamber on March 11. The companion version of the bill is still advancing through the Senate. Protecting children: The House chamber on Monday passed legislation to ensure anyone that produces and distributes illegal obscene material can be held civilly liable for injuries and damages to victims. House Bill 2159, introduced by State Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, will discourage the production and distribution of child pornography and obscenity in Tennessee. Individuals and entities who produce, sell, send, or distribute obscene material are already in violation of state and federal law. The companion version of House Bill 2159 is still working its way through the Senate. Campus safety: The House chamber on Monday approved legislation to ensure Tennessee college students can protect themselves on campus without facing criminal charges. House Bill 1909, introduced by State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, clarifies that it is not a crime for adults to carry certain non-lethal weapons in most buildings, recreation areas and other facilities on public college campuses in the state. Non-lethal weapons include items like pepper spray, mace, a stun gun or other conducted energy device. The companion version of House Bill 1909 is still advancing through the Senate. Consumer protection: The House chamber on Monday approved legislation to ensure that foods sold at grocery stores in Tennessee are properly labeled if they contained a vaccine intended for use in humans. House Bill 1894, sponsored by State Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, would classify the foods as drugs under the Tennessee Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The legislation is a preemptive consumer protection measure to address potential advances in technology that could lead to vaccines or vaccine material being used in consumer foods. The companion version of House Bill 1894 is still advancing through the Senate. Victims rights: The House chamber on Monday unanimously approved legislation to update Tennessees Safe at Home Program, which provides protections for victims of domestic abuse, stalking, human trafficking and other sexual crimes. House Bill 1858, introduced by State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, allows individuals who apply for the home address confidentiality program to reside at addresses not previously identified in any public records. The companion version of House Bill 1858 is still advancing through the Senate. Public safety: A bill to strengthen Tennessees bail laws and improve public safety passed the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week. House Bill 1718, sponsored by State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, would require defendants charged with a Class A, B, C or D felony to submit to pretrial monitoring if the magistrate issues conditions of release. Courts must also forfeit bail and may issue an arrest warrant if a defendant fails to comply with the conditions. House Bill 1718 is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on March 12. Street racing: Legislation to create a task force to explore ways to curb illegal street racing in Tennessee advanced out of the House Transportation Subcommittee on Wednesday. House Bill 2062, sponsored by State Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, would task the group with determining how to implement recommendations at the local level, and whether additional state laws are necessary. House Bill 2062 is scheduled to be heard in the Transportation Committee on March 12. Month of prayer and fasting: The House chamber this week approved House Joint Resolution 803, sponsored by State Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, which designates July as a time of prayer and fasting in Tennessee. Those who are physically able and spiritually inclined to do so are encouraged to participate. The 30 days of prayer and fasting coincides with the start of the states 2024-25 fiscal year. House Joint Resolution 803 will now head to the Senate for approval. Threats of mass violence: The Criminal Justice Committee advanced legislation to increase the punishment for juveniles who threaten mass violence in Tennessee. House Bill 1698, sponsored by State Rep. Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna, would add a one-year suspension of driving privileges to the punishment for any minor who threatened to commit mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity in the state. The child would not be able to obtain a drivers license during that period as well. The legislation is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on March 12. General Assembly: A bill to ensure the Tennessee General Assembly can follow the state constitution when determining rules for its proceedings was approved by the House chamber on Monday. House Bill 1652, sponsored by State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, would transfer jurisdiction for all legal challenges to the rules, regulations and procedures of the Tennessee House or Senate from state to federal court. The companion version of the bill is still advancing through the Senate. A Criminal Court jury found 21-year-old Marvin Menifee guilty on two charges on Friday afternoon. Menifee is charged in the 2021 murder of Alfred Pitmon on Seventh Avenue. He was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and especially aggravated robbery. The jury in the courtroom of Judge Boyd Patterson began deliberating on Friday morning. The defense did not put on any proof. The jury listened to a three-hour video of Menifee being quizzed by police. Detective Daryl Slaughter said he changed his story several times as he told him of proof he had. Menifee still faces another murder charge. He had been out on bond two weeks on the Pitmon case when he was charged with killing Deountay Brown in a drive by shooting. That happened last April 14 on Dodds Avenue. The daughter of Pitmon, who was described as a small time marijuana dealer, said Menifee was at her father's home with four teens on the night he was killed. She said they were all wearing ski masks, and she saw Menifee lock the front door as she drove off with a friend in an Uber. The daughter said she was raised along with Menifee and that her father had help bring him up. She called him "Little Marvin." It was testified that some projectiles found at the murder scene came from a Hi-Point 40 handgun that Menifee left in a closet on the Westside after the slaying. Menifee's cell phone was also left in the Pitmon back yard. Police located a neighbor's video showing Menifee and the other youths walking toward the Pitmon residence that night. The victim was shot four times. Josh Duggar had visitors early this week, just a day after her turned 36. His wife appeared to be a no-show, though. Josh Duggar turned 36 on March 3, but the in-prison celebration was nothing like the ones he had back home in Arkansas. In FCI Seagoville, where Josh will reside for the next decade after being convicted of receiving and possessing child pornography, its just a normal day. Still, the disgraced former reality TV star did get a visit following his birthday. His brother and brother-in-law were reportedly present for a visit on Monday. His wife, however, was not. Josh Duggars brother and brother-in-law visit him in prison An alleged insider spoke to the U.S. Sun and revealed that Josh Duggar did, in fact, have visitors for his birthday. Some of his closest family members were no-shows, though. According to the insider, Joseph Duggar, Joshs younger brother, and David Waller, his brother-in-law, appeared at FCI Seagoville for a visit with the convicted sex offender. They sat and chatted during visiting hours. Josh Duggar | Kris Connor/Getty Images While it isnt the first time David Waller, who lives just an hour from the facility, has visited his brother-in-law, it is the first time Joseph Duggar has been spotted at the federal lockup. David Waller is married to Anna Duggars sister, Priscilla Waller, and has been a staunch supporter of Josh Duggar. Duggar family followers were shocked to learn Joseph Duggar made the drive from Arkansas to Texas to see Josh Duggar. While Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have openly supported Josh Duggar since his arrest in April 2021, most of his siblings have either condemned his actions or stayed relatively quiet. Joseph Duggar is one of the siblings who did not issue a public statement after his arrest. He did not appear at the courthouse during Josh Duggars trial. Anna Duggar did not appear at the facility An insider noted Joseph and Davids presence at Seagoville. Still, a familiar face appeared to miss the birthday festivities. The same onlooker did not spot Anna Duggar on the property. Joshs wife of 14 years opted to sit this visit out. Anna Duggar | TLC/YouTube Anna Duggar has been spotted at the prison multiple times since Josh was moved to the federal facility in June 2022. Since he was sent to solitary confinement for having contraband on his person in January 2023, a visit has not been reported. That, of course, does not mean Anna Duggar isnt visiting her troubled husband in prison. She may have been on the property without anyone spotting her. Shes gone almost entirely underground since Joshs arrest. Shes opted to delete her social media accounts and rarely appears in photos on her extended familys social media accounts. Prince Harry has seen his father, King Charles, once since Charles' cancer diagnosis. But a royal expert is 'certain' that Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, are planning more trips to the United Kingdom. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made very few trips to the United Kingdom as a couple ever since they relocated to the United States in 2020. The two have attended major events across the pond, but Meghan hasnt returned to the U.K. since Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral in 2022. However, in early 2024, it was announced that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer and would undergo treatment. Harry hinted that he has plans to return to the U.K., and one PR expert is certain that he and Meghan will be making frequent trips. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage Could Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spend more time in the UK? Harry and Meghan have been raising their two children in California; Harry has returned to the U.K. on a number of occasions since leaving. He has been in court fighting numerous legal battles and returned to celebrate his fathers coronation ceremony in May 2023. But after Charles cancer diagnosis, Harry hopped on a plane and saw his father immediately. In an interview with Good Morning America, Harry also said that he has a number of trips planned that will see him in the U.K. and that he will try to visit his family often. But will Meghan fly across the pond with him? A PR expert thinks so. During his Good Morning America interview, Harry mentioned that he had several planned trips for the year, allowing him to visit his family in the UK as much as possible, Lynn Carrett of Press Box PR said to Daily Mirror, via Express. Carrett added that she is certain Meghan and Harry will be making more frequent trips together and then offered advice on how Meghan could win back the British public. To become more relatable to the British public, [Meghan] could also consider toning down her use of designer labels and opting for frugal options, like Kate, Carrett said. Showing herself as an average working mum facing the same challenges as others would also help. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Steve Back/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle likely would not become working royals again Harry and Meghan stepped back from those roles several years ago and likely would not return to them. However, Harry and Meghan could potentially start spending more time in the U.K. to get back in the British publics good graces. The two seem to be living their own lives in California, and thats fine, except people would probably like to see Harry and Prince William work through their differences and become loving brothers again. For now, Harry has not returned to the U.K. since he visited his father in February 2024. He did not say how frequently he would head back, and time will tell if the experts are right and Meghan will end up joining him. Is it possible to convert CO 2 back to fuels or other useful chemicals? Absolutely but not in a very targeted way just yet. Empa researcher Alessandro Senocrate is looking at defects in materials that will help us achieve this goal. Empa researchers designed this system to analyze several platform chemicals simultaneously. Empa Can we undo the burning of oil, gas and coal? With a renewable source of electricity, some water and a suitable catalyst, the excess CO 2 in the atmosphere could become a resource, for example for the production of synthetic fuels, so-called synfuels. This promising idea is drawing a lot of research, including at Empa, because the conversion is challenging to implement. For instance, a reaction using a copper catalyst the most commonly studied catalyst for the conversion of carbon dioxide yields around 15 to 20 different types of molecules, from carbon monoxide and methane to propanol and acetic acid. "Some of these compounds are liquid at room temperature, others are gaseous," says Empa researcher Alessandro Senocrate. "It is extremely difficult to separate all these products from each other." Senocrate, who works in Empa's Materials for Energy Conversion laboratory led by Corsin Battaglia, intends to investigate a possible solution to this problem over the next four years. The project is funded by a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Ambizione grant and embedded thematically into the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis. The goal of the project is to develop novel catalysts for CO2 conversion. For this, Senocrate is focusing not on the material itself, but on so-called defects. Defects in a crystalline material occur, e.g., when an atom is missing in its crystal lattice or is replaced by a different atom. These defects introduce different properties in their host materials, and thus can serve as unique active sites, where catalysis takes place. Where batteries aren't an option First, the researcher plans to investigate which defects lead to which reaction products. "Ideally, we can use this knowledge to design catalysts that produce specific molecules during the CO 2 conversion instead of a mixture," he explains. Some of the potential target molecules are of particular interest to industry. These include carbon monoxide and ethylene. These molecules are so-called platform chemicals: They are the starting materials for numerous chemical processes, including the production of most plastics. "We already have a complete value chain for such platform chemicals," says Senocrate. "However, today they are almost exclusively produced from fossil sources." Alternative, greener sources for carbon-based chemicals whether from CO 2 conversion or from biomass are thus in high demand. In addition to plastics, platform chemicals can also be used to make fuels. Other research projects at Empa focus on the production of synfuels. "Cars can be electrified very well," says Alessandro Senocrate. "But it's a different story for aircraft and for many energy-intensive industrial processes." The advantage of liquid fuels such as kerosene is their very high energy density, which can exceed that of batteries by a factor of up to 100. Fuels produced with renewable energy are therefore also an especially attractive option for seasonal energy storage. The infrastructure for the transportation and storage of synfuels is already in place, as they are almost identical to fossil fuels in terms of their composition. The only thing missing is the ability to produce them on a large scale. Senocrate is optimistic: "I've only been working in this field for a few years, and yet I have already seen incredible progress," says the scientist. "Of course, it will also require major political and societal change. But from a materials science perspective, the progress is rapid." Perfecting the technology Before Senocrate can contribute to this progress with his Ambizione project, he still has a few challenges to overcome. One of the biggest: introducing enough defects into the target material to achieve a measurable catalytic effect. This is because the researcher deliberately uses an inert starting material that has no influence on the electrochemical reaction without the defects. "This allows me to determine very precisely what effect the respective defects have," he explains. Once the defects have been characterized, they can also be inserted into existing catalytic materials. "Ideally, at the end of the project, we will be able to improve an existing system for CO 2 conversion in a targeted manner," says Senocrate. Such systems are already in use in the Materials for Energy Conversion lab, where researchers are developing different catalysts and electrode materials. Crowds leave St. Michael Church on Wooster Square during the festa of the St. Andrew the Apostle Society possibly in the 1910s. The society was founded by immigrants from Amalfi. Collection of Joe Taylor Crowds leave St. Michael Church on Wooster Square during the festa of the St. Andrew the Apostle Society possibly in the 1930s. The society was founded by immigrants from Amalfi. Collection of Joe Taylor Co-chairs of the 116th annual Italian Festa at St. Andrew the Apostle Society, the late Theresa Argento, second from left, and Anthony Abbagnaro, at far right, with Marie Consiglio Apicella and Anthony Pisanelli, who had the honor of unveiling the St. Andrew statue on June 23, 2016, signifying the opening of the four-day festival at St. Andrew's. Catherine Avalone / New Haven Register From left: Andrew Colavolpe, Bill Iovanna, Andy Calabres III and Andy Calabrese Jr., all members of the St. Andrew the Apostle Society, load the statue of St. Andrew on "Knot Easy," a boat owned by Casper "Cappy" Amodio Sr. The boat was then brought out to New Haven Harbor for the 110th annual "Blessing of the Fleet." Peter Casolino / New Haven Register The 116th annual Italian Festa at St. Andrew the Apostle Society on June 23, 2016. Catherine Avalone / New Haven Register St. Andrew Apostle Society members, from left, Larry Amendola, Frank Proto, the late Theresa Argento, Mollie Iovanne and Frank Gargano pull back the curtain to the statue of St. Andrew during the official opening of the St. Andrew the Apostle Society's 111th Italian Festa Celebration on Chapel Street near Wooster Square in New Haven in 2011. Peter Hvizdak / New Haven Register New Haven Pastor Ralph Collcchio of St Michael's Church blesses the fleet in New Haven Harbor. Andrew Calabrese III of New Haven, left, and Dominic Proto of Cheshire, right, carry the statue of St. Andrew off the boat as part of a boat blessing event in New Haven harbor in 2012. Mara Lavitt / New Haven Register Tyler Withycombe of Wallingford, 13, left, and Gabe Scrivani of North Haven, 15, right, wait for the St. Andrew the Apostle Society procession to start at the society's club grounds on Chapel Street during the society's 108th anniversary. T Peter Hvizdak / New Haven Register NEW HAVEN For about 120 years now, Wooster Square and its Wooster Street shopping and restaurant strip have been New Haven's "Little Italy." But at this point, many of the people who made it Little Italy during its heyday have died. Many others whose families came as immigrants have moved to the suburbs over the years although many of those families still have a connection to the old neighborhood. Now a multigenerational group of people who grew up in Wooster Square, or whose parents or grandparents did, are looking to preserve as much of the history that remains of the enclave as they can before more of it gets lost to time. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They've formed the Wooster Square Italian Immigrant Historical Society, a tax-exempt, 501c3 organization, and are seeking memorabilia and recordings of or to record people telling their stories of life growing up in Wooster Square to preserve for others to learn from. The Wooster Square Italian Immigrant Historical Society "is working to preserve the history of the Italian immigration experience in Wooster Square," said Frank Carrano, now of Branford. Carrano, a former president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers and instructor at Southern Connecticut State University, writes a column about old Wooster Square for the New Haven Register. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Carrano came up with the idea, although others have since jumped on board. "I was born there. I lived there until we had to leave because of redevelopment," he said. "I have a very strong connection to Wooster Square." The society will get the ball rolling on its efforts to expand and preserve the information that is available this weekend. It will present a program Saturday focusing on the impact of the various Italian-American religious societies in Wooster Square and the city. The program will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at Maresca Funeral Home, the former Gov. James English residence, at 503 Chapel St. Advertisement Article continues below this ad U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, is scheduled to speak at 3 p.m. Why begin the effort now? "We decided we're at a virtual point where there's a lot of information that's got to be saved for the future or it's going to be lost," Carrano said. He pointed out that St. Michael's Church in Wooster Square, once the center of life in the neighborhood, is down to one mass a week and without a permanent pastor. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Especially, we hope that we'll hear stories from people whose parents or grandparents might have immigrated here," Carrano said. "On Saturday, anybody who comes and would like to spend a few minutes telling a story, we'll be happy to record it for them." "There will be displays. They'll set out pictures," said Carrano, whose family came from Amalfi, Italy, and whose grandparents were involved in St. Andrew's of the Apostles Society, which honored Amalfi's patron saint. Dan Elliott, a local attorney who is president of the Wooster Square Italian Immigrant Historical Society, said that last summer, Carrano "started emailing a bunch of people who he knows have an interest in preserving the history of the Italian Americans of Wooster Square." "We're kind of reaching a point where a lot of the elderly members of our generation who have a strong memory of the heyday of Wooster Square" are gone, Elliott said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We're trying keep these old stories alive, preserve them and promote them for future generations," Elliott said. "We're talking about how we can encourage people to tell us their stories" and "give us their artifacts." While most of New Haven's Italian American societies have faded into history, back in the early 20th century, there were close to 80 Italian-American societies in New Haven, he said. According to Carrano, "One of the first things that immigrants did after they settled here is try to recreate what they left behind. Every little city and town in Italy has a patron." Although the Wooster Square area generally is considered to be New Havens Little Italy, very little in the way of records exists regarding the actual historical events that led to the establishment of the enclave, said Carrano. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We are collecting information and memorabilia from the entire Italian American community, not just those who lived in Wooster Square," Carrano said. Saturday's program will focus on five societies some still well-known, others not as well known. They include: The Santa Maria Madelena Society (Societa Santa Maria Maddalena,), which celebrated its 125th anniversary last year and traces its roots to the southern Italian village of Atrani. St. Andrew the Apostle Society (Societa SantAndrea Apostolo), which was founded on Nov. 1, 1900, by immigrants from Amalfi, Italy, and will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2025. San Catello Society (Societa San Catello), which was established in 1901 by immigrants from Castellammare di Stabia, Italy, and is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Santa Maria delle Virgini Society (Societa Santa Maria delle Vergini,), which was founded on July 19, 1906, by immigrants from Scafati, Italy, Santa Trofimina Society (Societa Santa Trofimena,) which was founded in December 1908 by immigrants from Minori, Italy. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The latter two societies are dormant, but younger people are trying to reestablish them, said Carrano. Group members are also looking to translate a a book written in 1921 by Antonio Canelli that offered "a wonderful history of the Italians and how they arrived in New Haven," Elliott said. The book, "La Colonia Italiana di New Haven," was written and published only in Italian, not English, he said. Canelli was a publisher who had a print shop in New Haven. His grandson still operates the print shop in West Haven, Elliott said. When people first rediscovered the book, "There was such a groundswell that we printed 50 copies and sold them at the St. Andrew's Festival," Eliott said. This electron microscope image provided by the National Institutes of Health shows human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) virions, colorized blue, and anti-RSV F protein/gold antibodies, colorized yellow, shedding from the surface of human lung cells. On Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, health officials said they are investigating whether there's a link between two new RSV vaccines and cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare nervous system disorder, in older U.S. adults who got the shot. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Its no secret that dogs are extremely therapeutic pets to have around and have helped people heal after all different kinds of trauma. For a long time, war veterans have found immense comfort in adopting a dog after serving to have loyal companions that help them adjust to normal routines again. Thankfully, theres one organization that provides services to benefit veterans and shelter dogs who need to be rescued. K9s For Warriors is an amazing organization that pairs veterans with rescue service dogs in hopes of benefiting and saving both of their lives. Shari Duval was the wonderful woman who founded K9s For Warriors in 2011. According to the organizations website, Shari had the idea to found K9s For Warriors after her son Brett, who served in Iraq as a K9 police bomb dog handler, came home from serving with PTSD. Despite seeking help from doctors, Shari noticed Brett only felt at peace when he had his faithful service dog by his side. Thats when she decided to form a service that would pair healing veterans with comforting service dogs that could give them a second chance at life. Better yet, part of K9s For Warriors mission is training rescue shelter dogs to be service dogs so they also have a second chance at life. According to their website, 60% of K9s For Warriors adoptable service dogs are shelter dogs, while the rest are service-bred dogs and puppies whose volunteers train to be service dogs. Many veterans who come home from service with disabilities or PTSD are often at risk of suicide and poor mental health, which makes it feel almost impossible to live a somewhat normal life. K9s For Warriors has seen many success stories and has found ways to bring families back together through the healing power of service dogs. Veterans who are interested in taking home a service dog from the organization can easily apply and complete an approval interview process before getting paired with their ideal dog at no cost. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Chocolate has been a treat enjoyed by humans for centuries. In several countries, the confection is a significant part of their cultures and cuisine. Last year, the remains of a chocolate factory from the 19th century were uncovered at a construction site in Barcelona, Spain, during renovations of a four-story building in the Cuitat Vella. The Barcelona Archaeology Service intervened to investigate the ancient remains. The architectural structure once functioned as a workshop for Clemente Guardia, a Catalonian chocolate company. However, before it became a chocolate factory, the building served several other purposes. For instance, studies of its doors, walls, and arches show that it was a medieval mansion in the 14th century. The home was owned by Pia Almoina, a Barcelona charity dedicated to helping people in poverty. Between the 15th and 16th centuries, the mansion was utilized as a hostel called the Hostal de Sant Pere. In the early 18th century, it was split up into three properties. Seven large ceramic containers were found dating to this period, but archaeologists have not yet determined its contents. Researchers also located large tongs within the site. It wasnt until the late 1800s that part of the space finally became a chocolate factory. The existence of the workshop was confirmed after referring to historical records that documented Barcelonas 1888 Worlds Fair. The fair was held to celebrate the citys industrial and cultural development. About 30 other countries, such as China, Japan, and the United States, attended the festivities. In the Almanac of the Universal Exhibition of 1888, the factory appears referenced in the address of Placa de la Llana, 23 as: Guardia (Clemente). Chocolate and pastillaje,' wrote the Barcelona Archaeology Service in a translated statement. In addition, advertisements published in the 19th century in La Vanguardia, a Spanish newspaper, state that Clemente Guardia began running in 1824. They also detailed some of the goods that the chocolatier made, such as vanilla and stone chocolates. At the factory, researchers from Global Geomatica SL, a cartography and topography company, found lead plates that were used to make labels. The plates featured elaborately designed illustrations, the name of the confectionarys brand, and the word Barcelona. In addition, researchers have also scanned and created digital three-dimensional images of the site, allowing people to see what the workshop looked like when it was still in operation. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Home News Biden warns of threats to democracy at home and abroad in State of the Union address President Joe Biden delivered his third State of the Union address Thursday night, which detractors derided as an overtly political and angry broadside against his presumed opponent, former President Donald Trump, and those who support him. Biden, who showed up to the House chamber late, opened his speech by invoking Hitler and the Civil War to illustrate the gravity of the threat he claimed faces democracy both at home and abroad. "Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault here at home as they are today," he said. "What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Biden issued harsh words for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of "sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond," and assured his audience that his territorial ambitions do not stop at Ukraine. Biden quickly pivoted from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to domestic concerns such as the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, suggesting those who question the 2020 presidential election and seek to restrict abortion rights exhibit a similar threat. He repeatedly referenced Trump without naming him, referring to him as his "predecessor." "My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6 I will not do that," Biden said. "This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here's a simple truth: you can't love your country only when you win." Biden then slammed the U.S. Supreme Court for overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling, taking the Lord's name in vain as he appeared to threaten the attending justices who sat silently as those around them stood and applauded. "Many of you in this chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom," he said. "My God, what freedoms will you take away next?" "Clearly, those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America," Biden said. "They found out though when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again, in 2024." Biden introduced his guest Kate Cox, a mother he claimed had to flee Texas to obtain an abortion for a baby with a fatal condition known as trisomy 18. He also pledged to "restore Roe v. Wade" if American voters provide him a Democrat-controlled Congress. Biden's comments against the Supreme Court prompted backlash from Republican members such as Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who tweeted, "It's disgusting that Joe Biden threatened the Supreme Court for upholding the Constitution at the State of the Union. Joe Biden is a disgrace, a clear threat to democracy, and unfit for office." Biden also faced live heckling from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., when he got to the issue of illegal immigration and the border crisis approximately 40 minutes into his address. Greene was decked out with a MAGA hat and T-shirt emblazoned with "Say her name," in reference to Laken Riley, the 22-year-old Christian nursing student at Augusta University who was murdered by an illegal immigrant while jogging on the campus of the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens. Biden, who repeatedly responded to the hecklers in the audience, botched Riley's name as he replied to Greene, calling her Lincoln Riley and acknowledging she was "killed by an illegal" before asking, "How many thousands are being killed by legals?" Biden also boasted of his accomplishments regarding infrastructure and manufacturing and urged Congress to give more money to Ukraine, strengthen migration laws and lower drug prices. He also urged his listeners to remember that he entered office amid a pandemic and flagging economy. Biden's speech was panned by Republicans such as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who was visibly irritated at various moments as he sat behind the president, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. "[Biden] tried to suggest that we're in great shape and the state of the union is strong," he told Fox News opinion host Sean Hannity. "We all know that's not true. The state of the Union is in decline in every measurable category on the world stage, our sovereignty, our safety, our economy. Everybody knows it." "Gaslighting the American people is not going to work," he added. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called the speech "astonishing" and likened it to "an exceptionally bad campaign speech." "Joe Biden was angry, he was bitter, he was screaming the entire night," Cruz said. "He was radical and extreme." This is a drawing of the proposed apartment building at 2 Mohawk Drive in the Pine Rock Park section of Shelton. Shelton Planning and Zoning Department/Contributed SHELTON The Planning and Zoning Commissions denial of an affordable housing project on Mohawk Drive was based not on facts but speculation about its potential impact, according to an appeal filed last week by the project's developers. The commission, at its Feb. 14 meeting, voted to deny plans by property owners Agim Ismali and Shprza Ismali to have the site changed to a Planned Development District, allowing for a four-story 12,000-square-foot structure with 40 apartments, an outdoor parking lot and indoor parking under the building. According to the plans, which had come under fire from hundreds of neighbors in the Pine Rock community and even Board of Aldermen members, the developers would designate 30 percent of the apartments, 12 units total, as affordable under state statute 8-30g. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "There was no evidence of any public health or safety reasons to deny the 8-30g application, said attorney Dominick Thomas, Jr., who represents the owners, and we are confident the appeal will be sustained. Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Virginia Harger would not comment on the suit. The appeal, filed Feb. 28 in Milford Superior Court, states that the commission failed to identify and quantify a harm to a substantial public interest in the health, safety or other matters that the defendant may legally consider, which clearly outweighs the need for affordable housing, as required (by 8-30g). Advertisement Article continues below this ad The appeal goes on to state the commission ignored evidence from the applicants experts. The commissions denial even went against the peer review it ordered, the appeal further states, and based its ruling on potential and/or speculative concerns not supported by evidence in the record. The commission in its denial stated that the apartment plan for 2 Mohawk Drive would adversely impact public safety and the environment while overburdening an already tight Pine Rock area. Allowing this poorly integrated development in a suburban area generates emissions much higher than if it were appropriately located, the commissions resolution states. Left unchecked, the resolution stated, this trend of mandated high-density development, without supporting infrastructure and services, will be counterproductive to the tenants and worsen air quality, noise pollution, traffic levels and groundwater runoff qualities within the community. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In its resolution, the commission stated the site was not suitable for such a development, adding that the plan raised serious concerns relative to public safety, inadequate infrastructure, overburden on the city, environmental health, inconsistency with the (Plan of Conservation and Development) and other deficiencies in site planning. The commission pointed to potential environmental risks, particularly those related to methane gas and water contamination, which would necessitate a reevaluation of the project's viability. At this time, the Commissions commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of our community, preserving our environmental heritage, and fostering sustainable development guides our perspective on this matter, compelling us to err on the side of caution, the resolution reads. The resolution also pointed to the lack of off-street parking in the area, which it stated would exacerbate the on-street parking issue for residents, unnecessarily strain the enforcement efforts by the Shelton Police Department and create hazards for emergency vehicles, snowplowing, school buses and large delivery services. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It called sidewalks and safe crosswalks critical to qualify this development as conducive to public transit and pedestrian access. The commission also stated the plan deviates from the Plan of Conservation and Development, which included the Pine Rock Park area as a Village District, for which the commission intended to develop a master plan with specific standards and guidelines. The (proposed development) effectively strangles the potential for a Village District concept encompassing the Pine Rock Park area and accommodating pedestrian mobility, the resolution states. The proposal offers no recreational opportunities or pedestrian facilities consistent with the standards and guidelines necessary in a Village District. The plan, which was submitted in 2022, immediately sparked outrage from neighbors and some city officials. Advertisement Article continues below this ad More than 600 people signed a petition opposing the proposal, and dozens spoke at the commissions four public hearings, citing traffic safety concerns and negative impacts to the character and property values in the Pine Rock hamlet which is sprinkled with small, single-family homes on narrow streets. Another issue of concern is blasting causing more methane to be released from the nearby capped landfill. According to city officials, the landfill still collects methane gas through an elaborate piping system before burning it off. Home News Homeschool parent defeats NC public schools chief; parental rights candidates win in Texas A homeschool parent whose campaign centered on parental rights defeated North Carolina's incumbent State Superintendent of Public Instruction while several candidates supportive of parental rights ousted incumbent members of the Texas House of Representatives during the Super Tuesday primary elections. While much of the Super Tuesday coverage focused on presidential contests taking place across more than a dozen states Tuesday, primary elections for several boards of education and state superintendent of public instruction races in addition to other down-ballot races that will impact education at the state level took place in some states. Candidates in support of education reform and/or homeschooling experienced strong support in Tuesday's elections. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Results from the North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Election compiled by Ballotpedia show Michele Morrow defeating incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt in the Republican primary. Morrow received 52.1% of the vote while Truitt earned 47.9% of the vote. According to her website, Morrow has "16 years of classroom homeschooling experience" with "expertise in developing robust high school curricula for civics, history, science, and English." Morrow will go on to face Democrat Mo Green in the general election. Morrow's campaign website identifies the candidate as "known throughout North Carolina for working with voters and elected officials that protect parental rights and girls in sports." Additionally, Morrow's campaign website notes that she was the "leader of state-wide groups that exposed and defeated [critical race theory] in schools" and has spoken at "school board meetings opposing CRT & porn in schools." The website also describes Morrow as a missionary and nurse. Morrow ran unsuccessfully for the Wake County school board in 2022. According to The Associated Press, the candidate accused Truitt of not being conservative enough and delaying implementation of a "Parents' Bill of Rights." Tuesday's election results come as many parents in school districts across the nation have complained about the presence of what they contend is sexually explicit material in school libraries as well as school curricula. In the Lone Star State, the Texas Home School Coalition, which describes its mission as "supporting parents to homeschool with freedom" and to "encourage, equip, and advocate for families in their home education journey," announced several of its preferred candidates won their races Tuesday. "Home school families saw vast numbers of pro-family and pro-homeschool candidates in Texas win their elections outright last night," the group asserted in a statement Wednesday. Examples of "huge wins" enjoyed by THSC-supported candidates included the reelection of Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine, the defeat of incumbent Republican State Representative Travis Clardy by homeschool mom Joanne Shofner in Texas House District 11, the ouster of State Rep. Ernest Bailes by Janis Holt in Texas House District 18, the victory of homeschool dad Wes Virdell in the Republican primary for Texas House District 53 and the victory of homeschool mom Hillary Hickland over Republican State Rep. Hugh Shine in Texas House District 55. Additional victories for the parental rights organization included the victory of Mike Olcott against incumbent Republican State Rep. Glenn Rogers in Texas House District 60, Shelley Luther's defeat of incumbent Republican State Rep. Reggie Smith in Texas House District 62, the victory of Caroline Fairly in the Republican primary for the open seat in Texas House District 87 and Marc LaHood's ouster of Republican State Rep. Steve Allison in Texas House District 121. Half of the races mentioned by the Texas Home School Coalition as "huge wins" do not have Democrat candidates running in the election, meaning their preferred candidates are on a glide path to winning their races in the fall. The Texas Home School Coalition remarked, "the large number of victories in the Texas House almost certainly secures enough votes to move major parental choice legislation and other pro-family priorities through the legislature." The Texas Home School Coalition noted that several preferred candidates have seen their races go to Republican primary runoff elections scheduled for May 4. Specifically, Alex Kamkar will advance to a runoff in Texas House District 29, A.J. Louderback will appear on the ballot in Texas House District 30, Alan Schoolcraft will compete in a runoff in Texas House District 44 and Helen Kerwin will advance to a runoff in Texas House District 58. Texas law requires all candidates to receive at least 50% of the vote in primary elections. In races where no candidate receives at least 50% of the vote, the two candidates who received the highest number of votes in the primary advance to a runoff. The Texas Home School Coalition also acknowledged that several of their endorsed candidates came up short. Joshua Feuerstein failed to unseat incumbent Republican State Rep. Keith Bell in Texas House District 4. Paulette Carson failed to oust incumbent Republican State Rep. Trent Ashby in Texas House District 9. Liz Case came up short against incumbent Republican State Rep. Stan Lambert in Texas House District 71 and Stormy Bradley failed to unseat incumbent Republican State Rep. Drew Derby in Texas House District 72. Republican State Rep. Charlie Geren's renomination in Texas House District 99 was listed as another one of the "most notable losses" from Tuesday's elections as was the renomination of Republican State Rep. Ken King, described as "one of the most consistently bad votes for families in the Texas House," in Texas House District 88. Meanwhile, the 1776 Project PAC, which characterizes itself as a political action committee that "helped elect over 200 un-woke school board members the last two years," saw its two preferred candidates for seats on the Alabama State Board of Education win their primaries Tuesday: Kelly Mooney of District 3 and Allen Long of District 7. In the past few years, grassroots advocacy groups such as Parents Defending Education and the 1776 Project PAC have emerged in response to the concerns about the inclusion of sexually explicit material and other educational content deemed as "indoctrination" by critics in public schools. These concerns first materialized following the COVID-19 pandemic, when parents first became aware of the concerning content as virtual learning kept their children home from school. Home News Korean Methodist Church excommunicates pastor who held LGBT blessing ceremony South Korea's Methodist Church has excommunicated a pastor for his participation in LGBT activism, according to a church statement provided to media this week. The Korean Methodist Church upheld its lower church ruling to excommunicate pastor Lee Dong-hwan after it discovered the pastor's involvement in pro-LGBT activities in a country where gay marriage is not recognized, according to AFP. "The church doctrine stipulates acts of agreeing or sympathizing with homosexuality amount to rules violations," the church said in a verdict. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "Participating in and officiating a blessing ceremony to bless sexual minorities by scattering flower petals, performing a performance waving a large rainbow flag in the square in front of Seoul City Hall, proposing a blessing ceremony for homosexuals ... are all acts of approval or agreement with homosexuality." Almost a quarter of South Korea's population of 51 million inhabitants identify as Christians, with many holding a traditional biblical stance opposing same-sex marriage as sinful. The pastor was subject to a church tribunal after praying a blessing for LGBT individuals. On Monday, the Korean Methodist Church's General Assembly Tribunal Committee rejected his appeal of the church's Dec. 8 ruling that he violated canon law by engaging in "pro-homosexuality and sympathy activities." Lee was also accused of slandering the church in media interviews. According to the Korean daily newspaper Kyunghyang Shinmun, the Gyeonggi Provincial Council of the Korean Methodist Church's General Assembly Tribunal defrocked Lee, the denomination's most severe form of disciplinary action. Lee will not be given the opportunity to appeal Monday's final decision. The 43-year-old pastor called the verdict "shameful." "Excommunicating a pastor for blessing sexual minorities will go down in history of Protestantism as dark history that will only invite laughter later," Lee told AFP. Lee is considering legal action to contest his excommunication. Attempts to enact measures to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation have failed in the last decade and a half amid opposition from churches and civic groups. The global methodist body has been divided over the issue of same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBT clergy. In the United States, over 7,000 churches have left the United Methodist Church in the last two years over denominational leaders' refusal to enforce its ban on same-sex marriage and gay clergy ordination. In April 2022, the regional body of the United Methodist Church based in Eastern Europe voted to leave the UMC. In March 2023, the UMC Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference opened the door for regional church bodies to pursue departures from the denomination. While thousands of congregations across the United States have disaffiliated from the UMC, some congregations had their disaffiliation votes rejected by their regional conferences or faced other obstacles in their bid to leave. Some of those churches have filed legal action against their respective conferences, accusing them of either not correctly following the disaffiliation process or arguing that the process is unfair. In early November 2023, a court in Alabama ruled against 42 congregations trying to leave the Alabama-West Florida Conference, concluding that, as a secular court, it did not have the authority to intervene in the churches' complaints. Thousands of congregations that disaffiliated from the UMC have joined the Global Methodist Church, a theologically conservative denomination launched as an alternative to UMC launched in 2022. Home News Protesters want voucher funding stripped from church school over pastor's comments on rape Residents in North Carolina's Union County have gathered the last two Sundays in protest of a pastor who made controversial comments about rape, with some calling into question government voucher funding his church's private school receives. Pastor Bobby Leonard, the 85-year-old longtime leader of Bible Baptist Tabernacle in Monroe, issued an apology last month after a clip of an August 2023 sermon in which he said he wouldn't convict a man for raping a woman who was wearing shorts if he served on a jury went viral. Since then, the church has faced protests by community members who shared their distaste for what they view as unacceptable and dangerous rhetoric. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "I'm appalled and indignant," one community member, Rebecca Frick, told a local news outlet WCNC Charlotte. "We don't like [what he said]," another demonstrator named Sanders told WCNC. "We're done with it, so he needs to be gone." Specifically, protesters are upset that Tabernacle Christian School, affiliated with the church, receives funds through the state's private school voucher program. State lawmakers created the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship program in 2013 to award scholarships based on a family's household income. The scholarships can be used to pay tuition and fees so students can attend eligible private schools of their choosing. According to the NC State Education Assistance Authority, Tabernacle Christian School is among dozens of eligible private schools that students and families can choose from for an opportunity scholarship. The NC Education Assistance Authority displays how Tabernacle Christian received over $900,000 of the over $184 million the state dished out for its state voucher program for the 2023-2024 school year. The state distributed just over $5 million for eligible students in Union County. Local Callie Price told the outlet that she is displeased with how the funds are being used to support the church and the pastor. "Why should our money go into this school?" Callie Price told WCNC. "This church that preaches this message, and is not protecting women and children, and is promoting rape culture, and it's just something we've got to stand up against in this community." Demonstrators said they plan to continue to protest until action is taken. "We need accountability for this man and leadership and these people in leadership for these statements," Price noted to WCNC. "They need to be held accountable." "I want to take our tax dollar dollars out of this school because I'm not paying for a school that has an environment for rapists and sexual assault," Sanders added. In response to the controversy, Bible Baptist Tabernacle posted an apology message from Leonard on its marquee sign in front of the church. "I am sorry for any hurt, I was wrong," the sign stated. The clip of Leonard's sermon, which was reportedly recorded in August 2023, was first shared by Bad Sermons on Instagram on Feb. 20. It went viral after it was shared by The Roys Report founder Julie Roys in a post that has received over 3.4 million views. "Yes, a man is a man not an animal. And HE is responsible for controlling himself. This pastor needs to resign," Roys wrote in a post on X. Home News Dennis Quaid, 'Jesus Revolution' and 'Sound of Freedom' win big at Movieguide Awards Films Jesus Revolution and Super Mario Bros Movie, along with actors Dennis Quaid and Lori Loughlin, took home top honors at the 31st annual Movieguide Faith & Values Awards Gala honoring the best in cinema and television that uplift family and faith values. Hosted by Trevor Donovan and Danica McKellar of Great American Family, the event was held on Feb. 9 at the iconic Avalon Theatre in Hollywood and debuted on Great American Family on March 7. "Super Mario Bros Movie" was named Best Family Movie, while "A Paris Christmas Waltz" took home the award for Best Family TV. "Jesus Revolution" won Best Movie for Mature Audiences, and "Chicago P.D." episode New Life was awarded Best TV for Mature Audiences. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In recognition of films and shows that highlight freedom and faith, the Faith & Freedom Award for Movies was awarded to "Sound of Freedom," starring Jim Caviezel. For TV, the award went to Prime Videos "A Million Miles Away." The Grace Prize, celebrating outstanding performances that exemplify Gods grace, was given to Quaid for On a Wing and a Prayer and Loughlin for A Christmas Blessing in their respective categories. I didn't ever see this happening. I love making movies; I'm really blessed to do what I love, so thank you, the Full House actress said while accepting her award. The evening also featured a number of musical performances, including one from Quaid and Grammy-nominated artist Blessing Offor, who performed Brighter Days. The night concluded with a prayer led by Full House actress Candace Cameron Bure. This was the most entertaining, enthusiastic and blessed Movieguide in 31 years. I am grateful for Gods grace and everyone involved who made it great, said Ted Baehr, executive producer and publisher of Movieguide. Overall, 2023 marked a successful year for faith-based and uplifting films and television series. Lionsgates Jesus Revolution, which hit theaters in early 2023 and stars Kelsey Grammer, grossed $52 million domestically and was given an A+ CinemaScore grade by moviegoers. Angel Studios Sound of Freedom grossed nearly $250 million worldwide, outperforming big-budget films including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One. A Million Miles Away, starring Michael Pena, Rosa Salazar and Julio Cesar Cedillo, tells the inspiring true story of devout Christian Jose Hernandez, a migrant turned NASA astronaut. The film garnered several award nominations, earned the No. 1 spot on Amazon Prime for several weeks and received a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Andy Erwin, one of the directors of Jesus Revolution, told The Christian Post that the success of such faith-based films and the star power they are attracting is evidence of Hollywood's awakening to the underserved faith community. I think it's really a moment in time where there's been a group of individuals that have all been trying to work behind the scenes to tell stories of faith. But collectively, whether it's through The Chosen or Sound of Freedom, or what we did with Jesus Revolution, all of a sudden, it's been legitimized, he said. Home News Greek Orthodox Church bans politicians who voted to legalize gay marriage A Greek Orthodox Church regional body has banned two local politicians for their support of the legislation that legalized same-sex marriage in the Eastern Mediterranean nation. Church authorities on the northwestern island of Corfu issued a statement Tuesday banning the politicians for committing "the deepest spiritual and moral error" in voting for the law. "For us, these two (local) lawmakers cannot consider themselves active members of the Church," stated the bishopric of Corfu, as quoted by The Associated Press. "We exhort them to repent for their impropriety." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The two lawmakers, who were not named in the report, will be barred from receiving communion and attending Orthodox Church events, and they will not be given formal honors from clergy at official ceremonies. The regional body commended another politician for voting against the gay marriage legislation, stating that this was "the kind of politician, irrespective of other convictions, that we need in our country." The Panhellenic Socialist Movement, a political party that supported the legalization of same-sex marriage to which one of the banned lawmakers belongs, called the bishopric of Corfu's decision "unacceptable," according to AP. Last month, Greece's Parliament passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage by a vote of 176 in favor and 76 against, coming off of a lengthy period of polarizing debate over the issue. In addition to legalizing gay marriage, the law also allowed married same-sex partners to adopt. However, this measure did not include allowing same-sex gay couples to receive children through surrogate mothers. The law was drafted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's center-right government, which had the support of left-wing parties. "This is a milestone for human rights, reflecting today's Greece a progressive, and democratic country, passionately committed to European values," stated Mitsotakis, according to CNN. The new law makes Greece, which previously had legalized civil union partnerships for same-sex couples, the first majority Orthodox Christian nation to have legalized gay marriage. Mitsotakis stated that he was unwilling to presently deal with the question of surrogacy, saying that the notion of "women who are turned into child-producing machines on demand that is not going to happen." According to the United States-based LGBT advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign, 36 countries worldwide have legalized gay marriage, with 25 doing so through national legislation. Last year, the Eastern European nation of Estonia passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage, with the measure taking effect on New Year's Day. The move of the Corfu bishopric comes as church officials in Piraeus made a similar move impacting local lawmakers who voted in favor of same-sex marriage. Home Opinion Imagine Joe Rogan visiting with John the Baptist Less than 3 years after referring to Christianity as mythology, star podcaster Joe Rogan may be changing his tune. He recently made these comments that went viral: I think as time rolls on people are going to understand the need to have some sort of divine structure to things, some sort of belief in the sanctity of love and of truth. And a lot of that comes from religion we need Jesus. I think for real. Like if He came back now, it would be great. Like Jesus, if youre thinking about coming back, now is a good time. I started to wonder: What might John the Baptist say to Joe Rogan in response to those comments? I can imagine the conversation going something like this: Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe John: I was intrigued Joe by what you said the other day about Christs return. I appreciated you telling your millions of listeners that we need Jesus, and that this is in fact a real need. Joe: Thanks John. I said it because I meant it. With all the problems facing us today both individually and collectively, I believe we need Jesus now more than ever. John: I couldnt agree with you more Joe. The world seems to be going to Hell in a handbasket. And I am so glad you recognize that Jesus is the only solution. By the way, do you mind if I ask you something? Joe: Sure, whatever you want. John: You seem quite sure that Jesus will literally return to Earth one day. Do I understand you correctly? Joe: Yeah, I really do believe that now. And to tell you the truth, I am very surprised to be at this place in my thinking today. For years I assumed Christianity was simply mythology, but my perspective has changed. John: I see. But what about the Messiah's first appearance? Have you come to any conclusions about why He came here in the first place? Joe: I am still working on that one and trying to wrap my mind around it. He sure did a lot of good for a lot of people. You know, He healed the sick and He loved the outcasts of society. That sort of thing. And He didnt judge people. John: No doubt about it. But if I may, I would love to share with you a few of the things I announced when I was sent by God to prepare the way for His first coming. Joe: Sure. Go ahead. John: I had a simple message Joe: Make straight the way for the Lord (John 1:23). In other words, I told people to turn away from anything sinful and prepare their hearts to humbly receive the Messiah. I preached, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near (Matthew 3:2). Joe: How did people seem to respond to it? John: Some people heeded the message and repented of their sins, while others simply ignored my message or made fun of me. But you know what Joe that did not discourage me at all because I knew for a fact that Jesus truly is the Messiah and the Savior sent from Heaven. And that's why when I saw Jesus walking in my direction I said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). Joe: Why did you refer to Jesus as a lamb? Because He is the Son of God? John: You see Joe, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, He began fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies that had been written about the coming Messiah. And the animal sacrifices that had been performed by Gods people for centuries were no longer necessary. The ultimate sacrifice was Jesus, the Lamb of God, dying on the cross for our sins. Anyone can be forgiven today by turning to Christ and receiving Him as their Savior. Its just like Jesus said: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Joe: I am familiar with that verse. John: I am not surprised because it is actually the most popular passage in the Bible. And what is especially powerful Joe is that you can put your own name into that verse, like this: God so loved Joe, that He gave His one and only Son, so that if Joe believes in Jesus, Joe will not perish, but Joe will have everlasting life. Joe: Sounds like a good deal to me. John: Definitely. And you know what else? Joe: Whats that? John: The message of John 3:16, the good news of the Gospel, it is for real. It is just like what you said regarding Jesus returning to Earth. It is real, not make-believe. Joe: It certainly gives me a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing that with me John. John: My pleasure Joe. Joe: I do have one more question though. I realize that you are in Heaven now John, but would you mind telling me how your life on Earth ended? John: I was actually executed by beheading. It turns out that if you have an influential platform the way I did and you start pointing others to Jesus, some people will hate you because of their hatred for Christ. But dont worry Joe. I got my head back and I am loving my new digs. And I sure hope to see you here in Paradise one day. Joe: Wouldnt that be something. We will see how Joe Rogans thoughts about Christianity evolve, and whether or not he decides to learn more about the Lord and grow in his appreciation for Jesus. With Easter just around the corner, perhaps Joe Rogan will come out of the tomb of unbelief and become a devoted follower of the risen Christ. Home Opinion Ukraine: Americas honor and world peace are at stake! Economists often like to use the phrase the full faith and credit of the United States. That phrase encompasses the economic well-being of the American economy. Is the economy stable? Can the government pay its debts? Is its credit reliable? When it comes to the United States of America, full faith and credit includes military as well as economic security. The reality is that since the end of World War II, the USA has been, and continues to be, the ultimate guarantor of the freedom of every country of the world not under the yoke of the emerging triumvirate of tyranny Russia, China, Iran, and their puppet accomplices. As former president Richard Nixon observed more than a half-century ago, the fact that people anywhere went to bed at night with any degree of freedom and security was mainly due to the fact of the armed might of the United States of America and her willingness to employ that might to defend others. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In addition, for most of that post-World War II period, the really bad guys who were up to really bad things had to ask themselves, if we do this, will the Americans come? When the evil-doers dont have to ask that question, really bad things happen to the weak and vulnerable and the world becomes a much more dangerous place. Most Americans are uncomfortable with this role as the worlds policeman. However, time and again we have seen what happens when Americans do not shoulder this responsibility. Even our closest allies most often will not arouse themselves to action unless America takes the lead. Back in the 1990s, even our NATO allies would not intervene to stop genocide in Bosnia on their own continent until President Clinton and the United States led the charge. For multiple millions of people around the world whether America keeps promises and commitments is a life and death issue. Nowhere is this more vividly illustrated than in the nation of Ukraine. The Ukrainian people have been under invasive attack by the totalitarian Russian bear on and off for almost a decade. For the last two years, Ukraine has been under direct assault by the Russian armed forces. Behaving like war criminals, they have committed massive war crimes against the civilian population including, kidnapping approximately 500,000 children who have been taken from their parents and sent to Russia for permanent adoption. The whole world has been inspired by the Ukrainian peoples brave and courageous defense of their homeland. Unfortunately, American assistance has been insufficient from the beginning, the Biden administrations assistance has been a dollar short and a day late. The Ukrainians are not asking us to risk American lives to defend their freedom. They are only asking for the military equipment with which to defend themselves and their freedom. For those who say we cannot afford more aid, it should be remembered that most of this money is spent in the US, paying US manufacturers to produce weapons and ammunition for the Ukranians to use to defend themselves. Aid to the Ukranians is directly in line with American foreign policy in Europe since the beginning of the Cold War. And we must never forget, Americas word and honor are definitely at stake in Ukraine. In 1991, when the Soviet Union disintegrated, the newly independent nation of Ukraine (including part of Moscows nuclear arsenal) was for one brief moment the worlds third leading nuclear power. Ukraine had control of over 1800 nuclear weapons, more than any nation but the U.S. and Russia. The Clinton Administration, rightly concerned about these weapons ending up in the hands of terrorists, made it a high priority to urge Ukraine to surrender its weapons in return for economic and security guarantees. Ukraine did so in return for the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances in which Ukraine gave up its nukes and signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and Russia, Britain, and the U.S. pledged to protect Ukraines territorial integrity. The pledge has proven to be the emptiest of promises given Russias invasions and the lack of full British and American response. Does anyone really believe that Russia would have annexed Crimea and invaded Ukraine if Ukraine had retained even a small portion of the nuclear weapon they then possessed? Nations around the world are drawing their own conclusions. Can America be trusted? Should we seek our own nuclear weapons to defend ourselves? Those questions make the world an inherently much more dangerous place. Americas honor and the worlds peace are at stake. Will America keep her word to Ukraine? I hope you will join me in praying that we will. Our honor and the peace of the world are at stake. Home Opinion Why my focus is not on Donald Trump This article is not intended to influence how you vote on Tuesday, November 5, nor is it intended to influence how you view former president Donald Trump. Instead, it is to help you keep a godly, faith-filled, and sane perspective in the months leading up to Election Day, since things could get pretty crazy before then. During his presidency, Trump was sometimes called the great disrupter (or, disruptor.) If things got dull, even for a moment, he was sure to stir them up. As stated in an October 2018 article on The Hill by Thomas Hicks Jr. and Curtis Ellis, President Trump the Great Disruptor who is challenging the premises and practices that all the Serious People tell us are immutable is disrupting business-as-usual in Washington, New York, Geneva, Brussels and Beijing. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe For his supporters, this was great news. For his detractors, it was a disaster. Either way, the Trump presidency was anything but a time of peace and calm, a maintaining of the status quo. Thats why Trump was also likened to a whirlwind, generating headlines like this one, posted on Yahoo News in May 2017: To Evangelicals, Trump is The Whirlwind. And theyre fine with that. Opinions about Trump became so polarized that I wrote an article in October 2018 titled, Donald Trump is Not the Christ and Donald Trump is Not the Antichrist. I was reminded of this when a colleague sent me a 2023 YouTube video claiming to present, 15 Bible Verses That Identify Donald J. Trump as the Antichrist. At present, the video has more than 533,000 views. This stands in stark contrast to the 2022 bookPresident Donald J. Trump, The Son of Man The Christ. And for those who are undecided, there is also the 2023 bookDonald Trump Servant of Jesus Christ or ...of satan?: Have we been deceived? Judge for yourself! Note also that this video and these books were all issued when Trump was not in office. Can you imagine what the coming months will bring? We have barely seen the whirlwind yet. In fact, from the recent court rulings against Trump, accompanied by massive fines, to the Supreme Courts unanimous ruling that Trump could not be removed from state ballots as an alleged insurrectionist, you could say that things are just beginning to heat up. Added to this are the threats from some Democratic leaders that they might not certify the 2024 presidential election results if former President Donald Trump wins, and it is easy to see how chaos could erupt at any moment. This means that the next 8 months (and perhaps those immediately following too) will be marked by election fever on steroids. If Trump wins the election, one side warns us sternly, there will be a civil war. If Trump loses the election, the other side counters forcefully, there will be a civil war. Either way, according to some, here comes a civil war. Then there are the concerns about the health and mental acuity of both likely candidates, President Biden and Donald Trump, along with declared and potential third-party candidates, not to mention other, potential legal battles the two principal candidates will face. The media will have a field day with this, as will social media influencers weighing in with the latest clickbait video. Here comes wall-to-wall madness. Here comes turmoil by the hour. Here comes non-stop agitation. And I have not mentioned the endless polling, often designed to influence as much as inform if not simply to inflame. Thats why neither Donald Trump nor the elections are going to be my primary focus in the months ahead. Thats why, by Gods grace, Im not going to allow anything outside of me to steal my peace, take my eyes off the Lord, or get me off my mission. When it comes time to vote, Ill do so in an informed, God-fearing way. But getting agitated and worked up and frustrated wont help us personally, nor will it help our candidate of choice get elected. Come Election Day, we get one vote and one vote only. And, unless we are called to political action, to get out the vote by campaigning, fundraising, or educating, we do best to focus our attention on things that build us up spiritually, strengthen us emotionally, and fortify us morally. We can pray for justice in the courts and a fair and free election. But getting worked up over the daily drama wont change the outcomes in the least. Thats why, as believers, we do best to focus on ways to unite us around Jesus rather than divide us over a candidate, to give ourselves to things that equip and empower our brothers and sisters rather than tear them down and ridicule them. Doesnt this make good sense, both practically and spiritually? The psalmist said, I keep my eyes always on the LORD (Psalm 16:8). We do well to follow his lead. And Paul gave this wise counsel: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. He then added, Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things (Philippians 4:68). Lets do our best to heed these words in the volatile months ahead. It will do our souls well and, in the end, do our nation well. 8 prominent Charismatic elders declare Mike Bickle 'unfit' for ministry (CP) Eight prominent Charismatic elders, including theologian and media personality Michael Brown, have declared embattled International House of Prayer Kansas City founder Mike Bickle "unfit" for ministry, warning that the 24/7 prayer ministry has some "dangerous cult-like tendencies" that need to be addressed. In a joint statement published Thursday on the website of his syndicated "Line of Fire" radio programme, Brown, along with elders in the Charismatic movement Jack Deere, Dan Juster, Patricia King, Joseph Mattera, Sam Storms, Michael Sullivant, and Terri Sullivant declared Bickle "unfit" for public ministry. They cited mounting evidence, including reports and public testimony of Bickle's alleged clergy sexual abuse. Those testimonies include Tammy Woods, who alleged last month that Bickle groomed and sexually abused her in the 1980s when she was just 14. "First, we are deeply grieved for those who have presented testimony that they were manipulated and sexually abused by Mike Bickle. We can think of few sins more damaging and destructive than that of manipulative, clergy sexual abuse, all the more in the case of a minor," the elders wrote. "We are also deeply grieved for those whose personal faith has been shattered and whose worlds have been turned upside down because of the alleged agonizing events. This is a spiritual tragedy of international proportions, affecting millions of believers worldwide and bringing great dishonor to the name of Jesus as well as disgrace to the reputation of the Spirit," they added. "After considering the reports we have reviewed, we must state categorically that he is, sadly, unfit to lead a ministry. Even with full repentance and personal restoration in the Lord, he is disqualified from public ministry. (Restoration to full fellowship is of course possible.) Mike himself, in his statement of December 12, 2023, acknowledged that his stepping down from ministry 'may be long and it may even be permanent,' and that was before the most serious charges against him had even been raised." Mere hours before Tammy Woods alleged in an interview with The Kansas City Star that Bickle abused her in the 1980s when she was just 14, her former pastor allegedly sought her advice amid mounting abuse allegations from multiple women. In posts highlighted on both X and Facebook, former IHOPKC staffer Ben Anderson shared a copy of a script Bickle was reportedly planning to use for himself and his wife, Diane, to create a video on Jan. 30. The video would have responded to allegations that he, for example, routinely told his alleged victims that his wife would die young, suggesting that he would be able to have a future with them at some point. Using her maiden name, Woods told The Kansas City Star that Bickle abused her in St. Louis, where he pastored a church before moving to Kansas City and starting IHOPKC in 1999. Woods said Bickle abused her in his car, at her home, in the church and his office. She said the abuse, which began when she started babysitting his two sons, involved sexual contact but not intercourse. "He would kiss my neck, he would kiss my cheeks, he would kiss my forehead," Woods was quoted as saying, recalling the first time Bickle kissed her romantically at her house when she was just 14. "The first, like, 'kiss' kiss was in my house. He kind of pulled me into my bathroom. And he kissed me like a man kisses a woman." Woods' story emerged after an independent report was released to the public on Jan. 31 and prepared by attorney Rosalee McNamara. In that report, Bickle confessed to engaging in "consensual sexual contact" with a woman connected to the 24/7 prayer ministry in addition to a previously confessed relationship with a primary Jane Doe, who alleged she was his kept woman for several years. Another woman, identified as "TH," told The Roys Report that Bickle began grooming and sexually abusing her when she was 15 and he was a 20-year-old church intern in the mid-1970s. "We say this with agony of heart, as Mike has been a dear friend to some of us and a respected co-worker for years, and it is hard to believe that the man we knew was capable of leading such a double life," Thursday's statement from the Charismatic movement leaders stated. "Yet we cannot deny the evidence that spans many decades, and which continues to accumulate, some of which has been confirmed and some of which awaits a formal investigation and the adjudication of a panel of elders." The statement noted that while there are many sincere supporters of IHOPKC, "we recognize that the evidence points to some dangerous cult-like tendencies that emerged over the years that need to be addressed and adjusted." "There has also been a lack of a formal structure of accountability for those serving in various capacities at IHOPKC, overseen by local elders, resulting in a failure to deal properly with serious sexual sins, and not just pertaining to Mike," they said. "We do not deny that the broad outline of the IHOPKC history was credible, but it appears that, in some ways, it has crossed over into areas of spiritual elitism. IHOPKC has also admitted that its structure was woefully deficient in handling serious sin allegations and now professes to be changing its whole structure to address this." The leaders called for a more formal accountability structure in the larger independent Charismatic church world and hope to address it with a "united, biblically based, Spirit-led effort" over time. "Having said this, we decry the exalting of people and personalities. There are no superstars in the Body, only servants. And no matter how much fame or public influence any of us may have, we are all utter wretches outside of God's transforming grace and there is not a single thing we can do of eternal value that has not been birthed and empowered by the Spirit. Apart from the Lord, we can do nothing, and we are nothing (John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9)," the Christian elders wrote. "It is one thing to give honor and respect to spiritual leaders who walk worthy of God's high calling. It is another thing to turn servants into celebrities and to look to them as if they were in a different category from the rest of the Body. This is not only dangerous, but it is another form of spiritual idolatry." Bickle has publicly admitted to past "moral failures" but denied committing sexual abuse or "the more intense sexual activities that some are suggesting". The Christian Post Greek Orthodox Church bans politicians who voted to legalize gay marriage (CP) A Greek Orthodox Church regional body has banned two local politicians for their support of the legislation that legalized same-sex marriage in the Eastern Mediterranean nation. Church authorities on the north-western island of Corfu issued a statement Tuesday banning the politicians for committing "the deepest spiritual and moral error" in voting for the law. "For us, these two (local) lawmakers cannot consider themselves active members of the Church," stated the bishopric of Corfu, as quoted by The Associated Press. "We exhort them to repent for their impropriety." The two lawmakers, who were not named in the report, will be barred from receiving communion and attending Orthodox Church events, and they will not be given formal honors from clergy at official ceremonies. The regional body commended another politician for voting against the gay marriage legislation, stating that this was "the kind of politician, irrespective of other convictions, that we need in our country." The Panhellenic Socialist Movement, a political party that supported the legalization of same-sex marriage to which one of the banned lawmakers belongs, called the bishopric of Corfu's decision "unacceptable," according to AP. Last month, Greece's Parliament passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage by a vote of 176 in favor and 76 against, coming off of a lengthy period of polarizing debate over the issue. In addition to legalizing gay marriage, the law also allowed married same-sex partners to adopt. However, this measure did not include allowing same-sex gay couples to receive children through surrogate mothers. The law was drafted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's center-right government, which had the support of left-wing parties. "This is a milestone for human rights, reflecting today's Greece a progressive, and democratic country, passionately committed to European values," stated Mitsotakis, according to CNN. The new law makes Greece, which previously had legalized civil union partnerships for same-sex couples, the first majority Orthodox Christian nation to have legalized gay marriage. Mitsotakis stated that he was unwilling to presently deal with the question of surrogacy, saying that the notion of "women who are turned into child-producing machines on demand ... that is not going to happen." According to the United States-based LGBT advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign, 36 countries worldwide have legalized gay marriage, with 25 doing so through national legislation. Last year, the Eastern European nation of Estonia passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage, with the measure taking effect on New Year's Day. The move of the Corfu bishopric comes as church officials in Piraeus made a similar move impacting local lawmakers who voted in favor of same-sex marriage. The Christian Post Youths raise their hands to show police they are not carrying weapons during an anti-gang operation at the Portail neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Odelyn Joseph/AP A police aims during clashes with gang members in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, March 1, 2024. Odelyn Joseph/AP A bus set on fire by gang members is seen at the Portail neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Odelyn Joseph/AP Residents flee their homes during clashes between police and gang member at the Portail neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Odelyn Joseph/AP Pedestrians walk past a court building that was set on fire by gangs moments before in the Delmas 28 neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Odelyn Joseph/AP A woman crosses a street after clashes between police and gunmen at the Portail neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Odelyn Joseph/AP A man climbs the fence of an office of Haiti's power company set on fire during a protest to demand the resignation of the Prime Minister Ariel Henry in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, March 1, 2024. Odelyn Joseph/AP Workers put down a fire set at an office of Haiti's power company during a protest to demand the resignation of the Prime Minister Ariel Henry in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, March 1, 2024. Odelyn Joseph/AP MIAMI (AP) When Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry filled the void left by the assassination of the countrys president in 2021, he did so over the protest of wide segments of the population but with the full-throated support of the Biden administration. Now, almost three years later, Henrys grip on power is hanging by a thread, and Washington is confronted by even worse choices as it scrambles to prevent the country's descent into anarchy. They messed it up deeply, James Foley, a retired career diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to Haiti, said in an interview about the Biden administrations support for Henry. They rode this horse to their doom. Its the fruit of the choices we made. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The embattled prime minister left Haiti 10 days ago and has since crisscrossed the world from South America to Africa to New York and now Puerto Rico all while staying silent as he tries to negotiate a return home that seems increasingly unlikely. The power vacuum has been exacerbated by the almost complete withdrawal of police from key state institutions and a mass escape of hundreds of murderers, kidnappers and other violent offenders from the countrys two biggest prisons over the weekend. Haiti remained paralyzed Thursday after another night of attacks on police stations and other targets by armed groups that have vowed to force Henrys resignation. The country's acting prime minister, filling in for Henry while he is abroad, extended a poorly enforced nighttime curfew through Sunday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Stubborn U.S. support for Henry is largely to blame for the deteriorating situation, said Monique Clesca, a Haitian writer and member of the Montana Group, a coalition of civil, business and political leaders that came together in the wake of Jovenel Moise 's murder to promote a Haitian-led solution to the protracted crisis. The group's main objective is to replace Henry with an oversight committee made up of nonpolitical technocrats to restore order and pave the way for elections. But so far, Henry, who has repeatedly promised to hold elections, has shown no willingness to yield power. While in Guyana last week for a meeting of Caribbean leaders, he delayed what would be Haiti's first vote in a decade yet again, until mid-2025. Hes been a magician in terms of his incompetence and inaction, said Clesca. And despite it all, the U.S. has stayed with him. They've been his biggest enabler. Advertisement Article continues below this ad By any measure, Haiti's perennially tenuous governance has gotten far worse since Henry has been in office. Last year, more than 8,400 people were reported killed, injured or kidnapped, more than double the number reported in 2022. The United Nations estimates that nearly half of Haitis 11 million people need humanitarian assistance. But even as Haiti has plunged deeper into chaos, the U.S. has stood firmly by Henry. He is taking difficult steps, Brian Nichols, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, said in October 2022, as Haitians poured into the streets to protest the end of fuel subsidies. Those are actions that we have wanted to see in Haiti for quite some time. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When demonstrations resumed last month demanding Henry's resignation, the top U.S. diplomat in Haiti again rushed to his defense. "Ariel Henry will leave after the elections," U.S. charge daffaires Eric Stromayer told a local radio station. But the Biden administration isnt the only U.S. administration that failed to get Haiti right. The country has been on a downward spiral for decades as rampant poverty, corruption, lawlessness and natural disasters overwhelm any effort to rebuild the economy and democratic institutions. Factionalism among political elites, some with ties to the flourishing criminal underworld, has also taken its toll, making it especially hard for the U.S. to find partners it can trust. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its an occupational hazard with Haiti," Foley said. Its just too hard, too complicated, too insoluble. The Biden administration has defended its approach to Haiti. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre, without specifically endorsing Henry, said the U.S. long term goal of stabilizing the country so Haitians can hold elections hasn't changed. But in what may be a telling slip that speaks to the neglect Haiti has suffered in Washington of late, Jean-Pierre confused the Haitian president, the country's top elected official, with the prime minister, who is picked by the president and subject to parliamentary approval. "It's the Haitian people they need to have an opportunity to democratically elect their prime minister, Jean-Pierre, whose parents fled Haiti, said Wednesday. Thats what were encouraging. But weve been having these conversations for some time. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nichols said he and Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Henry on Thursday and urged him to broaden his political coalition. He said the U.S. would work to speed up the deployment of a multinational security mission to combat the gangs led by Haiti under the auspices of the United Nations but that other countries needed to step up their support in the way the world is working together to address humanitarian needs in Ukraine and Gaza. Weve got to do more, weve got to do more urgently, Nichols said at an event hosted by the Council of the Americas in Washington. The crisis in Haiti has the humanitarian proportions that demand a global response. The U.S. bears much of the blame for the country's ills. After French colonizers were violently banished in 1791, the U.S. worked to isolate the country diplomatically and strangle it economically. American leaders feared a newly independent and free Haiti would inspire slave revolts back home. The U.S. did not even officially recognize Haiti until 1862, during the Civil War that abolished American slavery. Meanwhile, U.S. troops have been an on-and-off presence on the island, dating from the era of gunboat diplomacy in the early 20th century when President Woodrow Wilson sent an expeditionary force that would occupy the country for two decades to collect unpaid debts to foreign powers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The last intervention took place in 2004, when the administration of George W. Bush diverted resources from the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq to calm the streets following a coup that removed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Foley said he sees many parallels between the Aristide crisis he had to navigate as ambassador and the one confronting the Biden administration. Then, as now, Haitian political leaders have proven incapable of consensus and state authority has collapsed, even if the magnitude of the security and economic free fall is far deeper. Re-engineering democracy will take years of painstaking work. Neither the White House nor the Pentagon wants to send troops into Haiti with a proxy war taking place in Ukraine against Russia, the Israel-Hamas conflict at risk of spreading and the growing rivalry with China in the Indo-Pacific. Politically, any such move just months from the U.S. presidential election would be seized on by Biden's likely opponent, Donald J. Trump, as another example of futile nation building by the U.S. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But Foley said the situation is deteriorating so fast that the Biden administration may have no choice. He's pushing for a limited troop presence, like the one that in 2004 handed off to U.N. peacekeepers after only six months. Unlike the U.N. peacekeeping mission, which was hastily organized, Kenya has been working for months on a multinational force to combat the gangs. I completely understand the deep reluctance in Washington to have U.S. forces on the ground," Foley said. "But it may prove impossible to prevent a criminal takeover of the state unless a small U.S. security contingent is sent on a temporary basis to create the conditions for international forces to take over. But whether yet another U.S. intervention helps stabilize a desperate Haiti, or just adds more fuel to the raging fire, remains an open question. And given the recent American track record, many are doubtful. The U.S. for too long has been too present, too meddling," said Clesca. "Its time for them to step back. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ___ What do we know about the queens in the Bible? In the Bible, it was not just men who ruled as kings, but also some women reigned as queens in their own right. This is their story... Types of queens in the Old Testament In the Bible there are five different types of queens. In English we have one word for 'queen' to cover the roles of what are sometimes words in Hebrew. The Hebrew word for a reigning queen was "malkah", being the female form of "mlek" for king, which is used to describe the Queen of Sheba. A "shegal" was a queen consort, and a "gebirah" was a queen mother. In the Old Testament there are examples of some queens regnant who ruled in their own right as monarch, or female king. Most of the queens were queen consorts, who were married to the king. Some kings had more than one wife, but they would not all be called queen. Queen mothers were the mother of the reigning king, who was usually the previous queen consort. A queen consort might become a dowager queen when she was widowed, and retain the title of queen when a new king came, which may or not may be her son. Queen mothers might be queen regents who were the actual ruler, ruling on behalf of their young son, or occasionally grandson, who was the official king in name only, but not old enough to reign. Some of these roles overlapped and a dowager queen might be a queen mother and a queen regent. Queen consorts Queen consorts were women married to the king, or Emperor or Pharaoh. Bathsheba was married to King David (2 Samuel 11 and 12; 1 Kings 1 and 2) and was the mother of King Solomon. Some kings had many wives in a harem, and these women were not all considered as queens, such as King Solomon's harem in 1 Kings 11:3. There are some well-known queen consorts in the Bible such as Queen Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab of Israel, who was notorious for introducing pagan worship (1 Kings 16 2 Kings 9). Esther The most famous queen consort in the Bible is Queen Esther, who was married to the Emperor of Persia, who replaced Queen Vashti in his affections. The biblical book of Esther tells her story, which is recalled each year in the Jewish festival of Purim. Queen mothers in in the Bible Many queen mothers are specifically named in the Old Testament. In the books of 1 Kings, 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, when the text introduces a new king of Judah, it nearly always mentions the name of the king's mother, who was the queen mother. Often, she was the most powerful woman in the court. The queen mother would sometimes intercede on behalf of others. In 1 Kings 2: 13-21 we read of Adonijah who went to the queen mother, Queen Bathsheba, to intercede with King Solomon for his request. The role of queen mother could be removed. In 1 Kings 15:9-13 we read that king Jeroboam of Israel removed Maacah from being queen mother because she made an idol to Asherah. In Proverbs we read about King Lemuel's mother, who was probably a queen mother. Her name is not recorded, although she gives her son excellent advice and wisdom in his leadership role in Proverbs 31:1-9. Queen regents When kings were very young, the queen mother was often the actual ruler, ruling as regent in the name of her son, until he was old enough to rule. In 2 Kings 21:1 it says that Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king, and his mother was Hephzibah. In 2 Kings 22:1 we read that King Josiah was 8 years old when he became king and his mother was Jedidah. In 2 Chronicles 24:1 we read that King Jehoash (also called Joash) of Judah was 7 years old when he became king, and his mother was Zibiah. The queen regent was not always the mother, but sometimes the grandmother. In 1 Kings 15:9-15 we read of the queen regent, Queen Maacah who was actually King Asa of Judah's grandmother. Queens regnant As well as queen consorts and queen mothers, the Bible records a number of queens regnant who ruled in their own right. These are the Queen of Sheba and Queen Athaliah of Judah. Queen of Sheba The Queen of Sheba is the first ruling queen mentioned in the Bible. The story of her visiting King Solomon of Israel can be read in 1 Kings 10:1-13 and 2 Chronicles 9:1-12. She is unnamed but the narrative indicates that she was ruler in her own right. In the New Testament in Matthew 12:42 and Luke 11:31, she is called the Queen of the South, which most scholars believe was southern Arabia, around modern-day Yemen and maybe across the Red Sea into modern-day Ethiopia. As often happens the lack of detailed information in the Bible is filled in by tradition. The Queen of Sheba plays a prominent role in the Ethiopian "Kebra Nagast" ancient narratives. According to this tradition, the Queen of Sheba was called Makeda, and she had a son by King Solomon who became King Menilek I, founder of the royal house of Ethiopia. Queen Athaliah People sometimes think that Judah and Israel only had kings, but this is not quite true. The Old Testament describes one queen regnant of Judah. Queen Athaliah ruled Judah in her own right for six years. Her story is recorded in 2 Kings 8:16-11:16 and 2 Chronicles 22:10 to 23:1. It used to be much better known, and she was made famous by an oratorio called "Athalia", which was written by Handel in 1733. Queen Alexandra Queen Athaliah was not the last queen regnant of Judea, but the last one is not mentioned in the Bible, but is worth mentioning. Queen Alexandra was from the Hasmonean dynasty. She is described by Josephus and is mentioned in the Talmud and in the Dead Sea Scrolls. She supported the Pharisees over the Sadducees. She was a ruler of Judea and died four years before the Roman conquest, and a few decades before the birth of Jesus. Queen Candace In Acts 8:27-39, we read the story of Philip the Evangelist who met the treasurer to the court of Queen Candace. Candace in fact was a title, like Pharaoh or Caesar, rather than the name of a specific person, and referred to a queen. The Candaces were a line of queens who ruled in Cush, which is in modern-day Sudan, in an area then known as Ethiopia in Greek. It is not clear which category of queen she was, but may have been a queen mother. The Books of Kings The Bible does not have any specific law that only men can reign or be rulers. Before the monarchy, Israel was ruled by the Judges and one of the most famous of these was Deborah. In the Septuagint translation of the Bible, from which our name of the books of Kings comes, the name of the books can better be translated as "Reigns". By calling them the book of Kings, we can be misled into forgetting that these books also tell the stories of queens. Conclusion Some queens were good, and some are portrayed as bad. Others are just mentioned by name, and some are not named at all. The Queen of Sheba who comes across as a good queen is never named. The only ruling queen of Judah was Queen Athaliah who is not a good queen. Some people have argued that because she was not a good queen, that is a reason why women should not be rulers, but considering that there are more examples of bad kings, by that logic men should not be rulers either. The monarch was usually a man but sometimes a woman, and the monarch had ultimate authority. However, it seems that the queen mother came second in authority, and if she was the regent, she held the actual authority until her son was old enough. There is nothing in the Bible which says that women could not take the role of king, and it seems that many did. Overview Happy International Women's Day. Join Lee Rennick and Tina Mathas, CTO, General Bank of Canada, as she discusses leadership, technology innovation and diversity in tech. Register Now President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive at Philadelphia International Airport, Friday, March 8, 2024. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Washington. Standing at left is Vice President Kamala Harris and seated at right is House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. (Shawn Thew/Pool via AP) Shawn Thew/AP President Joe Biden, right, arrives to deliver the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Washington. Looking on at second left is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. (Shawn Thew/Pool via AP) Shawn Thew/AP MIAMI (AP) President Joe Biden faced disappointment and anger from some allies Friday for calling the suspect in the killing of a Georgia nursing student an illegal during his State of the Union speech. Other Democrats backed him as better on immigration issues than former President Donald Trump, his likely rival in November's election. The moment occurred during an exchange in which Biden pressed Republicans to pass a bipartisan border security deal that fell apart after Trump opposed it. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a stalwart Trump ally, then shouted at the president to say the name of Laken Riley, the Georgia woman killed last month, adding she was killed by an illegal. By an illegal, thats right, Biden responded immediately, before appearing to ask how many people are being killed by legals. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Referring to people who arrived or are living in the U.S. illegally as illegals was once common but is far less so today, particularly among Democrats who more fully embraced immigrant rights issues during Trumps presidency. Biden campaigned four years ago against many of Trumps immigration policies and changing official guidelines to stop using the term illegal aliens, but he is now pushing for new border restrictions in the wake of record numbers of people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, straining federal authorities and Democratic-run cities forced to open emergency shelters. Biden has adopted some of Trumps own language, saying hed shut down the border if given the power, which he also brought up again in Thursday's address. His campaign on Friday argued the incident would not affect his efforts to reach Latino voters and other communities of color that are part of the Democratic base. Several allies on Capitol Hill defended him even as they criticized his use of the term. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It was an unfortunate choice of words, but I think he could easily correct it, said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus. I think that the inclusive vision that he painted of immigration was exactly what I was looking for. Cesar Cuauhtemoc Garcia Hernandez, chair of civil rights and civil liberties at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, said Bidens use of the term was an off-the-cuff moment but also reflective of both the long time he has been in public office and also his recent shift on immigration. I think it is very revealing of the president, who really honed his chops on politics in an era in which that kind of language was routine, and its reflective of the fact that his administrations immigration policies have increasingly moved to the right, trying to outmaneuver Republicans and to use the language that Republicans continue to try to wield," Garcia Hernandez said. Some progressive Democratic lawmakers said they were disappointed to hear the term from Biden. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Just like we should not be implementing Republican policy, we should not be repeating Republican rhetoric, said Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass, who added that she had never heard the president use that word before. The rhetoric President Biden used tonight was dangerously close to language from Donald Trump that puts a target on the backs of Latinos everywhere, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Castro acknowledged there was a lot of good in Bidens speech, but called his rhetoric about immigrants incendiary and wrong. Others were ready to give Biden a pass on using the term. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is what happens when you engage with the boneheads, said Rep. Nanette Barragan of California, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Republicans celebrated the moment with Greene saying Democrats were melting down. As he departed for a campaign trip to Philadelphia, Biden was asked by a journalist if he regretted using the term illegal. He first hesitated saying well I probably, before pausing and saying I dont" and appearing to start saying the word regret. Then he stopped again and said, Technically not supposed to be here. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On a call with reporters on Friday, Biden campaign officials were asked whether his use of the word could impact his efforts to reach Latino voters. Our community knows Joe. They know who is fighting for our community. They know who is fighting for us, said Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Bidens reelection campaign manager. His values of faith, of family, of hard work. All of those are so consistent with what our community stands for." A Pew Research Center study conducted in January found three-quarters of U.S. Hispanics describe the large number of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. through the border with Mexico as a major problem or a crisis. A similar number said U.S. government is doing a bad job handling the influx. Non-Hispanics were more likely than Hispanics to describe the situation as a crisis, or to say the migrant situation is leading to more crime in the U.S. Campaign spokesman Michael Tyler argued that Trump and top Republicans are using immigrants as their primary political punching bag. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tyler said Bidens campaign wants to treat people here with the dignity and respect that they deserve, and we are going to contrast that against Donald Trump and his hate-fueled rhetoric and his hateful extremism when it comes to the substance of the issue. The term was common in the past before some started to advocate against its use. In 1972, the same year Biden was first elected to the U.S. Senate, Latino labor activist Cesar Chavez Julie Chavez Rodriguez's grandfather used the terms wetbacks and illegals in a TV interview to describe migrant workers from Mexico who were brought in to break a strike. After Bidens address, some quoted Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel in saying no human being is illegal, a phrase that was used by immigrant rights advocates to push people to move away from using illegal and illegal immigrant first used by the British toward Jewish refugees entering then-Mandatory Palestine without authorization. In 2013, The Associated Press made the change to no longer use illegal immigrant to describe a person, just an action of living in or immigrating to the country illegally. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ___ Anunt concurs pentru post vacant Institutia Publica Centrul de Consiliere Agricola si Rurala (CCAR) este in cautare de un profesionist dinamic si dedicat, pentru pozitia de Sef/a de Sectie la sectia Inovare si transfer de cunostinte in cadrul institutie Our raison detre at the National Brain Appeal is to support people with neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain cancer, epilepsy, Parkinsons disease and dementia by funding pioneering research, innovative treatments and world-class facilities at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the UCL Institute of Neurology in Queen Square, London. Ive been at the charity for 10 years with the last five as major appeals manager. Last year was significant for us, thanks to our 1m partnership with Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation (IFCF), Iceland Foods and The Food Warehouse stores. By wedninth, Adobe A workers union is planning legal action on behalf of staff at a domestic abuse charity after they were given no notice of its sudden closure this week. Unite said its members at Glasgow East Womens Aid (GEWA) only found out about the charitys decision to close through the media. A statement on the charitys website now confirms its closure and says its priority will be to support its beneficiaries. We will continue to liaise with partners, including the regulator, Care Inspectorate, funders, and the council, throughout this difficult time, it reads. Staff previously voted for strike action after allegedly being dismissed and suspended after making bullying allegations. Unite: One of the worst cases of mismanagement we have come across In October, 13 of Unites members at GEWA voted to take part in industrial action after claims that five employees were dismissed and others were suspended after allegations of bullying were made. At the time, GEWA would not confirm whether employees had been let go and said that strike action was not justified. Unite said it secured a legal victory for the five dismissed workers last year, who were reinstated in January 2024. The union said first heard that GEWA had been placed into administration by media sources. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the lack of consultation from the charity prior to the closure was potentially illegal and that it would contact members to progress protective award claims being lodged against the organisation. The mismanagement at Glasgow East Womens Aid is one of the worst cases we have ever come across, she said. Make no mistake we will get to the bottom of this sorry mess and we will fight for all our members to secure justice. It is our understanding that the organisation being placed in administration was primarily due to public monies either being withheld or withdrawn by Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government. We are urgently seeking clarity on whether this is in fact the case because there has been zero transparency. A spokesperson for the Scottish charity regulator, OSCR, said: OSCR has been engaging with Glasgow East Women's Aid and partner organisations. The charity has sought and received OSCR's consent to wind up and we are working to ensure that it takes the necessary steps to do this, and that those currently using services continue to receive the support they need. A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council told Civil Society: We are aware of the GEWA intention to close. While it is extremely disappointing the board has had to take this decision, the focus now is to maintain the continued delivery of support and services to women and children affected by domestic abuse. Officers, along with representatives from other funders of GEWA, have been working closely with the organisation during this difficult period and will continue to do so. GEWA: The board has taken advice from liquidators A spokesperson for the board at GEWA said: We are deeply saddened by the closure of the centre. The board has taken advice from liquidators and employment specialists around the closure process. It is confident that all legal processes have been followed. Staff have been offered support through the employee assistance programme and we continue to be in communication with them and their representatives to help them transition through this difficult time. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sacha Deshmukh joined Amnesty International UK after an exodus of its former leadership team following racism and bullying allegations at the organisation. He joined on an interim basis in May 2021 before being appointed as a permanent replacement in June 2022. An inquiry into the charity found that it exhibited institutional racism and had failed to properly embed equality, inclusion and anti-racism practice. Now, Deshmukh says the charity is working on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation. I was brought in when there was a bit of an organisational crisis as the issues to do with racism had become public, he says. And I say it that way around, because actually, the crisis was really the inherent issues rather than just them becoming public. The issue wasnt the news coverage. The issue was the issue itself. Amnesty had not really evolved for a decade When he arrived, Amnestys external human rights work positively amazed Deshmukh but he felt its internal operations had frozen. The organisation in the way that it worked and ran had not really evolved in any way for a decade or so before I arrived. He believes this was one of the underlying drivers behind the issues at the charity, which allowed institutional racism and bullying to spread. While issues may have existed beforehand, Deshmukh says that during the decade before his arrival there had been no proactive, intentional work to improve its culture. One of the first things Deshmukh did when he became chief executive at Amnesty was acknowledge the truth of the allegations. I think thats sometimes what charities struggle with. They go: Is this an issue of reputation? No. A reputation is the result of an issue of substance; its not a thing in and of itself. The people who have raised their hands and had the courage to say there are problems in this organisation have pointed to actual problems that are either deeper or affect more people than just the people whove raised their hands. With reports of bullying in the organisation as well, Deshmukh says this was an extremely damaging manifestation of the issues that presented themselves at Amnesty. Amnesty now aims to tackle the causes of bullying and institutional racism rather than just treating their symptoms, he says. Deshmukh says the charity aims to create a very empowered culture, which is the opposite of a bullying culture. Mission and culture interlinked Deshmukh says Amnestys cultural transformation must involve its external work on human rights as well as its internal workings. The two things interlink, because I dont believe you can do the first well if you arent also really trying to transform yourself on the second. We have very significantly transformed our focus on not just race but other areas where discrimination tends to be very prevalent. Deshmukh says that a couple of years ago, Amnesty would have been the type of organisation to have tweeted Black Lives Matter; but if prompted on how they were trying to address racial issues, it would have provided an answer with little substance. Its not enough to say were doing a lot everywhere and Im sure it gets soaked up in everything that we do. It actually should be driving you. We need to be the kind of rigorous organisation about how we run ourselves in the same way that were actually very rigorous, very evidential, very organised about our human rights work, and you need to put that under a really clear direction or goal as well. 21 years is too long for anyone to run an organisation Deshmukh took over as Amnesty UK CEO from Kate Allen, who has led it since 2000. My predecessor was around for 21 years and I think for 10 years did a great job of running it as an organisation. But perhaps 21 years is a long time. Now its natural for anyone over a 21-year period, in the second part, to focus more on the issues in the outside world only. And I dont think I would have the imagination to reinvent the way an organisation ran 10 years into running it. So, its not a criticism that that person somehow should have been able to do that. I think 21 years is too long, personally, for anyone to lead an organisation. Deshmukh is on a fixed-term contract of eight years, an arrangement that was introduced with his appointment, after which he says the charity will need something fresh. He says that organisations can struggle to evolve without diversity of thought and perspective. I think its very, very difficult to be deeply involved in a quite complex ecosystem for around a decade, and then be the one who imagines how that could be different. I think youd have to be superhuman to be able to do both of those things. Taking accountability Deshmukh believes a lack of strong decision-making contributed to the issues that occurred within Amnesty UK, and thinks this could be a sector-wide issue. Even though the organisation was quite conflict-ridden before, there was an absence of leadership willing to make decisions. You might say how strange because if it had all of those problems, you would have assumed that it was somehow an autocracy of decisions being made, but actually it wasnt. It was an absence of both responsibility and sufficient accountability. I dont think the leaders in the organisation felt empowered to or indeed practice making decisions and colleagues wanted people to but they also wanted them to be clear and open and transparent and then be able to buy into that judgement. Amnesty becoming more accountable for its decision-making has been part of its culture change, Deshmukh says. It takes two to tango but one person has to stand on the dancefloor first. And at the end of the day, if youre a leader thats what youve been asked to do. You know youre getting given that responsibility. Deshmukh says staff have responded positively to changes made over the past few years. He quotes an internal survey in which the number of staff saying they would recommend Amnesty UK as a place to work went up by 23 percentage points to 75% between June 2022 and December 2023. Charities sleepwalk through their growth Charities can sometimes employ a brilliant issue expert as their leader and mistakenly expect this means they have the skillset to run the organisation, Deshmukh says. As charities grow in size, leaders must make choices to maximise this, he says, with grassroots organisations that start with a few people sometimes growing to have hundreds of employees. Charities do sleepwalk through their growth. And did that affect Amnesty as much as any other charity? Im sure it did. There are massive achievements as you grow and they should be congratulated. But you have to think about what helps an organisation evolve from the point where there are 20 of you to when there are a couple of hundred of you. If you become deeper and more mature and broader, not everyone has the skills to run something bigger than when its a handful of you round a kitchen table. Messages for other charities Deshmukh is thankful for the people who shared their negative experiences of Amnesty International UK, as it has meant the organisation has been able to examine itself more deeply, he says. Id say to the sector as a whole: dont think its somehow isolated to some individuals who didnt find their experience at Amnesty what they delivered. It wasnt even isolated to the experience at Amnesty. We had to recognise it as something deeper here. But to the rest of the sector, Id say, actually think about how any organisation like ours might end up where we are. And I think it is those things like drifting through your growth and thinking about delivering the next fundraising project. Of course, its both those things, but then do you actually think about what its like to manage the business plan, to have your structures and skills you need in place? Most people probably just think that will flow behind those first two, rather than give it the same depth of thought. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Happy Friday, dearest reader. This columnist hopes you had a better week than Anne, a 72-year-old cleaner who went viral this week for being hoisted into the air by some shop shutters. This week also marked the launch of Count Binfaces party political broadcast, which may benefit one charity. The politician formerly known as Lord Buckethead is fundraising for his deposit fee but has pledged that any excess will be withdrawn and donated to homelessness charity Shelter. My campaign is non-profit and aims to raise awareness of homelessness, said an uncharacteristically sincere Count Binface, who hopes to make 2024 the year of Bindependence. Charities get creative as Facebook goes down This week, Meta went down, much to the dismay of many social media managers. Instagram and Facebook were inaccessible for the longest time period since 2019. Luckily, animal charity Battersea kept itself entertained by posing animals next to pieces of technology looking dumbfounded. Naturally, X formerly Twitter was overjoyed by this development, and quickly forgot anything was wrong. Mr Darcys shirt auctioned for charity Colin Firths famous Mr Darcy shirt from the BBCs adaptation of Pride and Prejudice was sold for 25,000 this week, with all proceeds going to arts education charity the Bright Foundation. One of Diarys colleagues heard the announcement on the radio, where the designer began describing Mr Firths anatomy so avidly that she was hastily cut off by the producers. The words handsome and bulge featured. Funnily enough, the same thing happened when Diary began divulging the specifics of the wet-shirt scene to the rest of the editorial team. But how else does one get through the spring budget? The famous wet shirt now dry was one of 69 costumes from film and TV that were sold for the arts charity. Kerry Taylor Auctions, which hosted the sale, said the top price of the auction was 40,000 for the Christian Dior gown worn by Madonna in the film Evita. This was followed by 24,000 for Johnny Depps black police uniform from Sleepy Hollow. Children paint pretty pebbles for penguins Children supported by Edinburgh Childrens Hospital Charity were given the chance to paint pebbles for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotlands penguins this week. The rocky display is to mark the start of the animals breeding season. While one bird seemed very happy to peck at the pebbly creations, another looked down at them with the worried stare of a new father. Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Celinda Lake, one of President Bidens top pollsters on his 2020 campaign, was recently conducting a focus group with swing voters for another client when a response stopped her cold. Lake had asked how the voters felt about former president Donald Trumps pending criminal court cases related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. They go, What court case around January 6? she recalled. These were swing voters, and about half of them werent sure what we were talking about. And I said, Well, you know, the insurrection and that he was the one that provoked it. They go, Oh, yeah. I kind of forgot about that. For journalists and the types of highly engaged voters who watch the news every night, Trumps lock on renomination has been near-certain for at least six months, and his various transgressions and incendiary comments are well known. But its easy for political obsessives to lose sight of how little attention many normal people pay to day-to-day politics. Even now, as Trumps Super Tuesday victories this week mark the all but official start of the 2024 presidential general election, a significant portion of voters remain largely disengagedespecially those swing voters whose choices will likely decide the election. People really havent focused yet on the real idea that Trump is going to be the nominee and could be the president, Lake said. And they also are really in kind of a collective amnesia about what the Trump term was like. The polls back this up. A recent survey of voters who did not support Trump in 2020conducted in three key swing states by Democratic pollster Geoff Garin and shared with the New Republicfound that less than a third of them had heard a lot about Trumps most recent authoritarian statements, like his vow to be dictator for one day, and his description of his political opponents as vermin. Sign up for CJR 's daily email The question is whether voters just dont really careor if theyll turn against him once they are reminded of Trumps record in office and plans for a second term. The New York Times Jennifer Medina and Reid Epstein tackled this question earlier this week with a piece aptly headlined Do Americans Have a Collective Amnesia About Donald Trump? Its very much worth a read. They write: More than three years of distance from the daily onslaught has faded, changedand in some cases, warpedAmericans memories of events that at the time felt searing. Polling suggests voters views on Mr. Trumps policies and his presidency have improved in the rearview mirror. In interviews, voters often have a hazy recall of one of the most tumultuous periods in modern politics. Part of the problem is that many voters, especially the crucial bloc of younger ones, simply dont remember Trump that well. Those turning eighteen and eligible to vote for the first time this fall were just ten years old and in grade school when Trump won the presidency, in 2016; the January 6 Capitol riots happened back when most of them were just starting high school. The rest of us dont have memories that are as sharp and reliable as wed like to thinkits not just Joe Biden and Donald Trump who regularly get names wrong or forget in what year things occurred. And the past eight years have been particularly intense. I barely remembered a few of Trumps quotes tested in the Garin poll, and I cover this for a living. Weve all just grown numb, overwhelmed by the chaossomething thats often reflected in our coverage and in how voters respond. The first time Trump ventures into new rhetorical territory, its still news. The second or third time he says something that once would have been far outside the pale of political rhetoric, it doesnt even rate a mention. Case in point: When Trump launched his 2016 campaign by calling Mexican immigrants rapists and murderers, it dominated the news and became one of the most-remembered lines of the campaign. His recent claim that immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country generated headlines but didnt dominate coverage. On Thursday, he declared in his State of the Union prebuttal that Biden is keeping the hordes of illegal migrants and illegal aliens pouring into the country, and claimed that many come from mental institutions, many come from prisons, theyre terrorists. Few major news organizations wrote stories focusing on the comments. Even if they had, its also important to remember how few people are reading stories like these. Nearly 159 million Americans voted in the 2020 presidential electionthe highest rate of eligible voters in more than a century. Just a tiny fraction of those voters are actually consuming mainstream media on a regular basis: Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN combined for an average of 3.65 million total weekly viewers in 2023. The New York Times, the largest-circulation newspaper in the country, has about 10.3 million total paid subscribers. And the breathless reporting of Trump said x crazy thing doesnt generate the attention it used to. I can personally attest to this, having seen traffic on these stories drop steadily ever since he first ran for office. As GOP pollster Patrick Ruffini tweeted Thursday morning, The moral panic about Trump is palpably a lot less than it was 8 years ago. All this doesnt mean that people dont have strong opinions about the two candidates, or who theyll vote for. Trump and Biden are two of the best-known and most polarizing figures in modern American history. Potential voters who dont read the news wont be able to escape what could be a combined $1 billion in campaign spending in the swing states. Its been a lot easier to avoid Trump since he left the White House and Twitter. That wont be so true in the heat of a presidential general election. Journalists have to keep in mind that voters in swing states may not be thinking of all the details now, but theyre likely to be much more attuned by the time they vote. Cameron Joseph is a freelance political reporter with recent work in The Guardian, the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, and Politico Magazine. A recipient of the 2023 National Press Foundation Dirksen Award for distinguished reporting of Congress and the 2020 National Press Club award for excellence in political journalism, he previously worked for VICE News, Talking Points Memo, the New York Daily News, The Hill and National Journal. Nancy Zailo is at the back of the line. Shes behind Jeffrey Stein, the Rite Aid Corp. chief executive collecting $300,000 paychecks every month. Shes behind consultants at Alvarez & Marsal, who have billed the pharmacy chain $75 million and counting. Shes behind bondholders and behind $2,000-an-hour lawyers from Kirkland & Ellis. And shes behind lenders like Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co. that are collecting millions of dollars in interest from a credit line carrying the company through bankruptcy. Only after theyve all been paid along with many, many others could some of whats left go to thousands like Zailo who allege the drug-store chain ignored red flags as it fed their opioid addictions for years. I lost everything, she said. Heres what shes expected to get: Nothing. The plight of people like Zailo, it turns out, does little to bend the rigid structures of the US Bankruptcy Code. In fact, insolvency rules make it pretty easy for Rite Aid to nearly ignore its opioid claimants altogether. Rite Aid, which has denied wrongdoing, faced more than 1,600 opioid lawsuits when it filed for bankruptcy in October. While rivals Walmart Inc., CVS Health Corp. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. agreed to pay more than $13 billion combined to settle opioid lawsuits, Rite Aid never reached a similar accord before its bankruptcy filing put litigation on hold. The company told opioid plaintiff lawyers it didnt have the funds, according to people with knowledge of the negotiations, who asked not to be named because the talks were private. And unlike drugmakers that have gone bankrupt, the retailer doesnt expect it will wind up with any money to pay opioid victims. Bankruptcy is perceived as a strategic tool that provides enormous leverage in negotiations with injured people, said Melissa Jacoby, a law professor at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Its a real problem that bankruptcy is being used this way, even when a company has other financial problems. Rite Aid Shares Plunge After the Company Lowered Its Years Outlook Rite Aids restructuring talks have focused on how much it can afford to repay its secured creditors before either selling itself or reorganizing into a new company, immune from future opioid lawsuits. People like Zailo are simply lumped in with every other general unsecured creditor, meaning theyre among the last to get any compensation. Bankruptcy is notoriously expensive, and large companies advisory fees often climb into the hundreds of millions. Just five months into its court proceedings, Rite Aid is facing at least $200 million in fees from lawyers, consultants and bankers, according to court records. In January it hired additional consultants to liquidate its assets. So high are the fees that some of the companys creditors, themselves no strangers to expensive lawyers, have grown concerned about how rapidly theyve been piling up, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be named because the discussions were private. Rite Aid and Wells Fargo declined to comment. Kirkland & Ellis, Alvarez & Marsal and Bank of America didnt respond to requests for comment. Prescriptions were a major part of Rite Aids business. Dispensing medication regularly accounted for around 70% of the companys total drugstore sales over the years, regulatory filings show. Drugs were a buoy for the retailer as it fell into disrepair amid stiff competition and shifting shopping habits. Pharmacists are required to conduct due diligence when filling prescriptions to make sure they are for a legitimate medical purpose. A whistleblower lawsuit filed by three Rite Aid pharmacists in 2019 alleged the company illegally filled hundreds of thousands of invalid prescriptions and billed the US government for ones that were covered by Medicare and Medicaid. The US Justice Department intervened in the case in March 2023 to file its own complaint in support of the allegations, saying Rite Aids practices opened the floodgates for millions of illegal opioid pills. The company deleted pharmacists internal notes that raised concerns about certain prescribers, including ones as blunt as cash only pill mill??? and writing excessive dose[s] for oxycodone, according to the DOJ. The company also had systems in place to ensure pharmacists were working as fast as possible, regardless of how suspicious a prescription might be, according to the whistleblower suit. Rite Aid filed a motion to dismiss the case soon after the DOJ intervened, arguing that the governments allegations rest on nothing more than its disagreement, with the benefit of hindsight, with doctors prescribing decisions. The company also added that its pharmacists used professional judgment in filling prescriptions, and that the firm helped to support them. Rite Aid was Zailos go-to pharmacy after she shattered her wrist when she was thrown through the windshield of her car in 1994. The pharmacy was across from her doctors office in Denville, New Jersey, and it soon became a frequent stop for her. She said her prescriptions always came quick, even as her daily dose of OxyContin rose to 800 milligrams enough to last a typical patient two weeks. She says she also got other drugs like Percocet, Vicodin and Xanax there. The pharmacists would even fill Zailos prescriptions early if she was willing to pay in cash, she said. She says she saw multiple pharmacists over the years there, and none of them questioned her outsize dosage or early fills. A graphic designer at the time of her accident, she eventually ended up homeless for a time before recovering from her addiction around eight years ago. She now relies on social security disability assistance because of a stroke she suffered during an episode of withdrawal and supplements her income by selling hand-crocheted garments. After Rite Aids bankruptcy, Zailo volunteered to serve on the proceedings official tort committee, a group that represents people who say they were hurt by the company. Although she wasnt among those who sued Rite Aid before its financial collapse over its alleged role in the opioid crisis, she has joined those who are now asserting a claim against the company for damages. Its the last chance she has to try to get compensation. Fortunately, the opioids are gone, she said over Zoom in late February. Unfortunately, the pains still here. The company earlier agreed to pay at least $42 million to settle separate cases brought by New Yorks Suffolk County, three other local governments and the state of West Virginia. But it never reached a global settlement. Thats in part because Rite Aid has been struggling for years. A much bigger rival, Walgreens, tried to buy the company for about $17 billion in 2015, but the deal got hung up on antitrust concerns and Walgreens settled for buying close to half of Rite Aids stores instead. What was left of the chain started racking up annual losses in 2019, and three years later, then-CEO Heyward Donigan acknowledged that the traditional retail part of its business was in a deteriorating state. Last year, Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, listing debts of $8.6 billion, close to $1 billion more than the value of its assets at the time. The company got a new $200 million loan in Chapter 11 and continued access to an existing credit line from a group of its secured lenders after it agreed to bump up more than $3 billion of their old debt in the repayment line. Rite Aid is still trying to sell its retail business. But its back-up plan involves shedding a lot of debt, shutting down more than 600 stores and giving the remaining pharmacy business a fresh start. Mediated talks with the committee of mass tort claimants are ongoing, so their outcome could change if a deal is struck. But Rite Aid said in court papers as recently as Feb. 20 it doesnt expect for there to be any money left for opioid plaintiffs after paying higher-ranking debts. Companies often dole out millions to advisers in the months leading up to a bankruptcy filing, and Rite Aid was no exception. The company paid around $90 million to advisers, investment bankers and lawyers in the months before the bankruptcy, according to court papers. Consultants at Alvarez & Marsal and lawyers at Kirkland & Ellis charged the company $34 million and $16 million, respectively, during the bankruptcy case through the end of December. Their fees from January and February have not yet been disclosed. Then there are the executive bonuses. Rite Aid paid more than $18 million in bonuses to executives before filing for bankruptcy. Stein, who was appointed as the companys chief executive officer the day it went bankrupt, is due to get a payout of as much as $20 million when the company emerges from the court process, according to a regulatory filing. Thats not far from what Walmarts chief executive officer received in salary last year. Meanwhile, Zailo is waiting alongside thousands of other opioid victims to definitively find out if the company will compensate her at all. The bankruptcy is the last real chance for them to argue that Rite Aid should have to pay opioid victims. Once a federal judge signs off on the companys restructuring plan, it will be largely cleansed of previous wrongdoing and shielded from future lawsuits. The company had a responsibility to monitor what doctors were prescribing and patients were taking and how often, Zailo said. There should have been a better system in place. I knew what was going on wasnt right. Top photo: Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty Images North America. Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. ASHTABULA, Ohio Two women propped up a dead man in the passenger seat of their vehicle and then went to a banks drive-thru in an attempt to withdraw money from his account, police say. Records at Ashtabula Municipal Court show Karen Casbohm, 63, and Loreen Bea Feralo, 55, have been charged with gross abuse of a corpse and theft from a person in a protected class. Casbohm was ordered held on a $5,000 bond, records show. Police tell the Ashtabula Star Beacon that on Monday the two women dropped off the body Douglas Layman, 80, at Ashtabula County Medical Center. They reportedly did not identify Layman or themselves before leaving the hospital. But police later learned that before going to the hospital, Casbohm and Feralo and first went to a bank with Laymans body in an attempt to withdraw money from his account. Police say Layman was positioned in a way so that he would be seen. The bank had allowed this previously as long as they were accompanied by him, Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell tells the Star Beacon. The two women told police that Layman had died at his Ashtabula home. Police are still investigating and additional charges are possible, WKYC Channel 3 reports. LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Fifty-one years ago, a noteworthy event occurred in our countrys history. It wasnt Pearl Harbor Day, D-Day or Sept. 11, but it should be remembered by Americans, especially military veterans. About two weeks after the Paris Peace Accords were signed on Jan. 27, 1973, officially ending U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, the first of 591 American prisoners of war were repatriated. About a month after that, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. John McCain, who later became a longtime Republican U.S. senator and two-time presidential candidate, was one of 108 POWs released by communist North Vietnam on March 14, 1973. Nearly 5 1/2 years earlier, on Oct. 26, 1967, I was a fun-loving 18-year-old freshman with a college draft deferment at Kent State University. But on that day some 8,000 miles away, life was much tougher for McCain. He was on his 23rd bombing mission when a Russian missile ripped off the right wing of his aircraft and sent it into a vertical spin toward Hanoi. After he parachuted into a lake with broken bones in his leg and arm, a group of Vietnamese pulled him from the water, stripped his clothes off, smashed his shoulder with a rifle butt and rammed a bayonet through his foot. Likely due to reporting that McCains father was a high-ranking, influential naval officer, his life was spared, but his suffering and misery were not. In the spring of 1968, I lost my college draft deferment. In February 1969, I arrived for duty with the U.S. Navys riverine forces in Vietnam. A year later, I was transferred to a helicopter anti-submarine squadron onboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal, where McCain had barely survived a flight-deck conflagration that killed 134 sailors three months prior to his capture. During his captivity, McCain endured more than two years of solitary confinement in what was known as the Hanoi Hilton prison. Following his fathers promotion to commander in chief of U.S. Pacific forces, he was given several opportunities for release. But, citing the code-of-conduct provision against accepting special favors and his conviction that those who had been imprisoned longer should be released before him, he repeatedly declined. As I served in my four-year military enlistment and then returned for my sophomore year at Kent State, McCain continued to suffer regular beatings, stomping and broken bones. Anyone with common decency, certainly those who served in wartime, would recognize John McCain as a true American hero. But, as we all should know, Donald J. Trump has no common decency. Speaking of McCain in July 2015, Trump said, Hes not a war hero. Hes a war hero because he was captured. I like people that werent captured. Speaking of his sexual escapades and the AIDS epidemic with shock jock Howard Stern in 1993, draft-dodger Trump said, You know, if youre young, and in this era, and if you have any guilt about not having gone to Vietnam. We have our own Vietnam. Its called the dating game. Dating is like being in Vietnam. Youre the equivalent of a soldier going over to Vietnam. Dave Lange, a retired editor who holds a masters degree in political science, is a member of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame and author of the memoir Virginity Lost in Vietnam. He writes from Lakewood.Tony Lange Does anyone really doubt Trumps 2005 recorded boast that he can do anything with women and that he could just grab them by the you know what? Can anybody honestly discredit the unanimous decision by a jury whose selection included voir-dire review by Trumps attorneys that he sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s? And what about the $130,000 in hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels over a 2006 carnal encounter? There was a time when moral, law-abiding, honorable, courageous heroes like John McCain, George H.W. Bush, Bob Dole, Gerald R. Ford and Dwight D. Eisenhower were stalwarts of the Republican Party. Those days are history. Dave Lange, a retired editor who holds a masters degree in political science, is a member of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame and author of the memoir, Virginity Lost in Vietnam. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com Jonathan XV, UConn's mascot, appeared in a video testimony on Friday before the legislature's Government Administration & Elections Committee, along with UConn student Laura Centanni Ken Dixon/Hearst Connecticut Media Retired UConn mascot Jonathan XIV, right, looked at his successor, Jonathan XV, after a 2024 ceremony in Storrs. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) Jessica Hill/Associated Press Elementary school children and a live dog's testimony started off the General Assembly's normally combative Government Administration & Elections Committee on Friday, adding a cheeful note to end of the week. Both Democrats and Republicans for a few minutes anyway enjoyed themselves as they heard testimony in favor of novelty legislation that included the possible designation of a new state candy, state dog, and state insect. Jonathan XV, the Siberian Husky who is the current mascot of the University of Connecticut, testified virtually from the Storrs campus in favor of his species being named the "state dog." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The 10-month-old puppy who only recently took over his official duties from a retiring Jonathin XIV, pressed his wet nose into the camera as his UConn student respresentative, Laura Centanni, read his testimony. They noted that Jonathan I, who arrived on the campus in 1935, was named after Connecticuts first Governor, Jonathan Trumbull. "Obviously being one myself, one could certainly accuse me of bias when championing the traits of a Siberian Husky," Centanni read in the remote testimony with the dog sitting nearby in a chair, mugging for the video camera. And while committee members praised the school kids who in their testimony called the current state insect the European mantis a violent foreigner that eats pollinators, they were non-committal over the two previous attempts to unseat the mantis from the perch it's held since 1977, when then-Gov. Ella Grasso arrived at a Vernon School in a helicopter to give the good news to that generation of children. But sweets started the public hearing in the Legislative Office Building with Jacqueline Glick, a sixth grader at Roger Ludlowe Middle School in Fairfield, promoting the lollipop, invented in New Haven in 1908, for a new designation as the "state candy." Fairfield students have been pushing the legislation for four years in a row, in testament to how long some bills take to come to fruition. This year it has been combined with the state dog appellation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Lollipops are one of the most-popular candies in the world and we should claim it," Glick told the panel. "They are part of Connecticut's candy history and a symbol of our pride. Currently, there is no state with a state candy." Cheering on Glick was Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, D-Fairfield, who noted that Gov. Ned Lamont is a big fan of the Orange-based Pez candies and dispensers. Glick noted, however, that a commercial company cannot win the state designation. "When are you going to run for state rep?" asked first-term Rep. Seth Bronko, R-Naugatuck. State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the committee that typically focuses on election-related legislation that often sharply divides Democrats and Republicans, seemed glad to have a lighter subject for a change. He complimented Glick for researching the origin of the name lollipop, which was the nickname of a horse owned by the inventor of the flavored-sugar-on-a-stick treat. Blumenthal also noted Glick's four-year campaign for the sticky sweet. "Unfortunately, one of the things you've learned is that things often take a while," he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Connecticut designations include dozens of items, from the Sperm Whale as the state mammal, to the American Robin as the state bird and Nathan Hale as the state hero. Katherine Boye-Williams, an 11th grader at the private, 275-student Watkinson School, said she spent hundreds of hours researching and promoting the insect issue, finally winnowing down a list of 19 state insects to find the perfect one to represent Connecticut. "By having the non-native European Praying Mantis as the state insect, we are overlooking the thousands of native insects that are present in Connecticut eco-systems," she told the committee. State Sen. Mae Flexer, D-Killingly, co-chairwoman of the committee, was also realistic about the dueling proposals to topple the praying mantis and give the state insect crown to the native Spring Azure Butterfly, as promoted by the Watkinson students or the Autumn Meadowhawk Dragonfly, the candidate from the same Vernon school that promoted the praying mantis in 1977. "If we can't come to consensus on this, could we potentially charge you and your fellow students to sit down with your fellow students from Vernon and look at the dragonfly and the butterfly and maybe do some additional research?" Flexer asked. "I'm a little concerned that we may not be able to make the determination this year." Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We would be willing to do that," Boye-Williams responded. First-term state Rep. Kevin Brown, D-Vernon, speaking for fifth grade students at Vernon's Center Road School, looked back to reports of the 1977 visit by Grasso when the praying mantis won the title. "However, that current state insect is not a native species and is known to eat some of our pollinating insects, such as bumble bees," he said, adding that the Vernon students first proposed the change in 2022, when they were in third grade. After the student testimony, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas asked the committee to approve a resolution for an amendment to the state Constitution, which would have to be approved by voters, to allow 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote, taking effect when they are 18. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ARLINGTON, Virginia -- Since the spring of 2022, Iryna Tkachenko has worked to welcome Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. As a refugee resettlement agency case manager in Cleveland, she meets with Ukrainians who have arrived in the area. She helps Ukrainians sign up for English classes, advises them on enrolling their children in school, and gets them connected to other services. Tkachenko arrived in the United States from Ukraine in 2016, so she draws on her own experiences when she works with newly arriving Ukrainian families settling in the community. But for the last several months, she and other resettlement staff around the country have been in the extraordinarily difficult position of turning Ukrainians away. Ukrainians fleeing the war are not refugees under U.S. law. Arriving Ukrainians have largely been granted parole, a temporary status to enter and stay in the United States. In May 2022, Congress allowed Ukrainians arriving through parole to receive the same benefits as refugees, such as federal support like food stamps or resettlement services that local agencies and nonprofits offer. This bipartisan vote to support Ukrainians has been critical for the United States to welcome well more than 100,000 Ukrainians through the Uniting for Ukraine program, a parole process set up by President Joe Bidens administration in the spring of 2022. But the law passed by Congress only grants this eligibility to Ukrainians who arrived through parole in a certain window of time from the start of the Russian invasion through the end of September 2023. Congress has kept the federal government open in recent months through short-term continuing resolutions. But lawmakers have not renewed language for newly arriving Ukrainians to be eligible for resettlement services like refugees. This omission has meant that Ukrainians arriving after Sept. 30, 2023, are largely cut off from accessing support in the United States that thousands of their compatriots had otherwise received without controversy for more than a year. Its heartbreaking to talk to these families, hear their stories, and tell them we cant help because they didnt arrive in time, Tkachenko said. The federal government expects at least 80,000 Ukrainians to arrive in the United States in the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. If youre Ukrainian and arrived with parole by Sept. 30, resettlement agencies can serve you with a wide array of services but if you arrived Oct. 1 or later, in most cases they cant, said Daniel Salazar, a policy analyst with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. This arbitrary cut-off has put thousands of Ukrainians who have lost their homes many of them women, children, or the elderly in the lurch. It has also affected the U.S.-based sponsors who signed up to help welcome Ukrainians in communities across the country. The U.S. Senate recently took a massive step toward addressing this lapse by passing a foreign assistance-focused supplemental after a previous Ukraine and southern border deal fell apart. In addition to funding for housing, medical, legal, and other refugee-related assistance to newcomers, the bill would extend access to benefits for Ukrainians who have arrived since Sept. 30 of last year. Crucially, this extension would allow Ukrainians to receive more support in their new communities. Eskinder Negash is president and CEO of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants The Senate-passed supplemental did not include this sort of extension for newly arriving Afghan parolees, who have faced a similar cut-off for benefits as newly arriving Ukrainians have. These issues point to a larger challenge in resettlement: the need for lasting protections for individuals seeking safety, such as allowing Afghans and Ukrainians to more easily pursue a permanent immigration status. But until that day, Congress can make a vast impact with a simple fix, one that has already passed one chamber. Thousands of families and those who seek to welcome depend on it. Eskinder Negash is the president and CEO of U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio Cleveland Hopkins International Airport will debut its fifth international destination this Saturday, with the launch of new service to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Frontier Airlines, which announced the new route in December, will fly to the popular Caribbean vacation spot three times per week. With the addition of Jamaica, Cleveland will have nonstop flights to five international destinations Dublin, Ireland; Toronto, Canada; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Cancun, Mexico. (United Airlines also briefly offered weekly service to the Bahamas, starting in late 2021, but that flight was short-lived.) In 2023, Cleveland Hopkins welcomed 212,919 travelers on international flights a 40% increase over 2022. Much of that increase was due to the addition of the new flights to Dublin on Aer Lingus, which started in May. Cleveland has not had scheduled, commercial service to Jamaica for at least 20 years. In 2017, Vacation Express, a charter service, briefly offered weekly flights between Cleveland and Montego Bay. Cleveland-area travel agent Kathy Yarian said the new flight is proving to be popular with her clients. Ive sold Jamaica a lot more this year because of the convenience of the flight, she said. The four-hour flight will run Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting Saturday. Flights from Cleveland will depart at 9 a.m., landing in Jamaica at 11:56 a.m. Return flights will leave Montego Bay at 1:16 p.m., landing in Cleveland at 6:08 p.m. (Note: Jamaica does not observe daylight saving time so Jamaican winters are on Eastern Standard Time, while spring and summer are on Central Standard Time.) Yarian, with Travel Leaders in North Olmsted, added that Jamaica is one of her favorite destinations. The water is super blue. The sandy beaches are incredible. And the people are very friendly, she said. Jamaica is the third-most visited island destination in the Caribbean behind the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Frontier also flies from Cleveland to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, as well as Cancun; United Airlines also flies from Cleveland to Cancun. The U.S. Department of State recently updated its Level 3 travel advisory for Jamaica, which recommends that travelers reconsider travel to the island nation due to crime and medical services. The advisory includes details about specific areas in the country to avoid, including downtown Kingston, as well as parts of Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and other areas popular with tourists. It strongly encourages travelers to purchase travel insurance, including medical evacuation insurance, before their trips. Officials in Jamaica have pushed back strongly against the new travel advisory, arguing that crime in Jamaica is at a 22-year low. In an interview with Travel Weekly last month, Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted serious crimes against the 3 million U.S. visitors who annually vacation in Jamaica has held steady at about 0.01% -- significantly lower than crime rates in many U.S. cities. Travel agent Yarian said she has never felt unsafe in Jamaica and advises travelers to read the full text of any State Department advisories, which offer much greater detail about specific areas to avoid. You want to always pack your patience, pack your smarts, and dont do anything that you wouldnt do in North Olmsted, she said. The State Department also recently updated travel advisories to Mexico and the Bahamas. Read more: Frontier Airlines adds nonstop flights to 10 new destinations from Cleveland Hopkins Frontier Airlines to open crew base at Cleveland Hopkins airport, with more than 400 new jobs K9 Broko served with the Connecticut State Police until he was killed in the line of duty last December during a confrontation with a suspect in Stonington, who was shot and killed. A proposed state law would hold defendants liable for restitution in cases of injury or death to police dogs. Connecticut State Police/Contributed Photo There's more than an emotional toll when a K-9 police dog is killed or injured in the line of duty. There's also a financial impact, say law enforcement officials who want animal assailants to be held responsible and pay restitution. Towns and cities spend between $20,000 and $45,000 buying and training police dogs to work for their police departments, officers told lawmakers on Thursday during a public hearing on the proposed legislation. But at least one member of the legislative Public Safety & Security Committee wondered how effective a new restitution law would be on criminals who already face Class D felony charges for injuring or killing on-duty police dogs, and might not have have tens of thousands of dollars. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Enfield K-9 Police Officer Michael Colantuono said during the public hearing on the proposed legislation that hundreds of hours of training were required before his current partner dog "Dunkin" was certified for law enforcement operations. He said that most law enforcement dogs are bred in Europe and brought to the United States at about one year of age, with no training. "All they know is how to eat, fight and hopefully play with a ball, and it's a bonus if they are house-trained," Colantuona said. "They have to go through a rigorous screening and a selection process to choose the right dog for the handler, for the initial patrol-dog school. The bond has to immediately commence. Civilians outside of law enforcement probably think we get a nice little dog, load him into the cruiser and the show goes on." Dunkin is Colantuono's third K-9 partner, and was selected after a two-day visit to a facility in western Pennsylvania. For the following six months, Colantuono hand-fed the dog twice a day as part of the bonding, as training proceeded. "We tell everyone that these dogs do everything we ask them to do because they love us, but in reality it's for the ball we always carry in our pockets," he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The canine training academy can take as long as 16 weeks as the dogs learn handler protection, evidence recovery, and tracking missing persons and criminal suspects. They may eventually take cross-training in specialized procedures, including bomb detection. "That's approximately 20 to 22 weeks, cumulative, for an officer and/or a trooper to be off the road getting certified as a team, let alone all the hours and training that's done in your off time to keep the dogs in top cardio shape and proficient in their obedience," he said. "We honestly spend more time with our partner than we do with our families." Colantuono said that law enforcement has many unknowns, such as suspects who might suddenly become violent. Canine training in de-escalation is very important, as well. "There have been more times than I can count where we rolled up on a hectic scene and all it takes is a few good barks from the back of the car and everything starts to cool down," he said. There are hundreds of law enforcement K-9 handlers in the state, and in case of injury or death, the costs of veterinary treatment and obtaining and training for new dogs should not fall on local taxpayers or the state, Colantuono told lawmakers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Under questioning from state Rep. Greg Howard of Stonington, a top Republican on the committee who is also a police officer, Colantuano said that during the extended training, handlers and their dogs are not on regular patrol, adding further costs to municipalities and the State Police, especially in overtime. "We can't lose track of the cost to the municipality that happens here," Howard said. "These dogs have tremendous value to us emotionally, but they also have tremendous fiscal value to the municipality and I think we need to look at that holistically, when we talk about restitution and what it would take to replace that animal if that were to happen." Rep. Michael Quinn, D-Meriden and committee member, said the practical matter of retrieving restitution seems a major real-world obstacle to getting such a law, if enacted, to work. "The way that it reads, to me the restitution would be part of any probation period that they would get in addition to any time served," Quinn said. "And then not paying restitution would be a violation of probation." The deadline for the committee to act is March 19. The legislative session ends at midnight May 8. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In December, a suspect who killed a State Police dog named "Broko," was shot dead by troopers during an incident in the Pawcatuck section of Stonington, near the Rhode Island border. K-9 Broko heroically served with unwavering dedication, saving lives by locating missing individuals, apprehending dangerous suspects, and providing a steadfast shield to his handler. K-9 Broko ultimately sacrificed his life doing what he was known best for, state police said at the time of Broko's death. In written testimony, Stacey Ober, regional manager of government relations for the American Kennel Club, wrote that she supported the legislation. But Ober stressed the need for more scientific research and breeding programs to ensure more domestically bred canines are used for law enforcement. "We value the contribution that working and detection dogs make to national security and the extraordinary role that these dogs play in protecting the peace and security of individuals, communities, and nations against extremist threats," Ober wrote, adding the AKC's Reunite's Adopt a K-9 Cop program has provided several dogs to Connecticut police departments, including Newtown, Monroe, Westport, Redding, Middletown, Fairfield, Wilton and Stratford. Dr. Linda M. Holoman (left) accepts a proclamation designating March 15-17 as Midland (MI) Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Weekend to celebrate its 40th anniversary from Midland Mayor Maureen Donker (right) on March 4, 2024 in City Hall. Isabelle Pasciolla/Midland Daily News Dr. Paulette C.Walker, national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., seated center, helped current and former members of the Midland Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta celebrate its 30th year of service in the Midland community. Also present were current and past national and regional leadership. Photo provided For more than 100 years, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has been making a positive impact on society in all the ways that matter, especially those that improve the lives of children and women. And, for 40 of those year, the Midland Alumnae Chapter has been doing the same as leaders in education, philanthropy, political engagement and physical and mental wellness. It was not by accident that Delta Sigma Theta made as its first public act participation in the Womens Suffrage march in 1913, says Linda Holoman, current president of the local chapter. It is significant that an organization whose foundational principles emphasize sisterhood, scholarship, service and social justice would be in line with one of the most important acts of womens rights. This has been the case internationally, regionally, and locally. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded January 13, 1913 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Today, the private, nonprofit organization has more than 1,000 chapters across the globe. Midland is one of them. The Midland Alumnae Chapter was chartered March 17, 1984 by 12 African American women who embodied the vision of the origin 22 DST founders. The charter group consisted of college-education Black women who were represented law, social work, education, science and entrepreneurship. The goal was to create opportunities where we could see ourselves in the community and have a positive impact in the process. Because we are community and philanthropic minded, the vision for DST in Midland is ongoing, says Holoman, who pledged Delta Sigma Theta as a college student and was one of the 12 to charter the Midland chapter. In 1984, Midland was home to a growing group of young Black professionals who would come to the area to work for The Dow Chemical Co. or Dow Corning Corp. Some came from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) but not everyone. Likewise, some of the young professionals were members of a Divine Nine Organization that is the name for the nine historically Black fraternities and sororities that offered for Black collegiates what traditional Greek organizations of the period would not. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Holoman said her hope for establishing a graduate chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was to increase feelings of community through sisterhood and culture. We brought African American culture to Midland through our programs and outreach. From the very beginning, everything we did was within that framework, she recalled. We had a Kwanzaa Celebration, our Roots and Wings program recognized our trailblazers within the community, we offered Black history programming every year in the schools. We wanted our presence to be known. Even when you think about Dr, Betty Greene being the first black female chemist hired at Dow, which was an existing example of Black excellence. Growing up I was surround by Greek in my church and I was always fascinated by sisterhood because I was an only child, says Ahsha Davis, one of the last initiation lines into the Midland Alumnae Chapter. When I learned about their role in the womens right movement, I remember thinking thats really cool that they were part of this significant part of womens history. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The focus on individual and family development has been rooted in the chapters service plan since its beginning. During its history, the Midland Alumnae Chapter has awarded $160,000 in scholarships to local high school graduates and $40,000 to local service agencies that support family enrichment. The Midland Alumnae Chapter was the chapter that I was raised in, says Jacqueline Leapheart, who was initiated into Delta while an undergraduate at Central Michigan University. MAC was the chapter that I watched my mother serve in alongside other women in the chapter that I admired. I wanted to be a part of that one day. Just as Leapheart is a legacy of the chapter, Anita H. Jenkins is the regal statesperson with a serious attitude for community engagement. Where you live is where you should serve, Jenkins says unapologetically. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As one who has been a Delta for 60-plus years, Jenkins has been serving the sorority longer than half the Midland Alumnae Chapter has been alive. Not only is she OK with that. Continuous service is expected. Its a promise that I made, says Jenkins, who was initiated into Delta while a collegiate at the University of Michigan. It is a lifetime commitment, and this is what we said we would do. Throughout the years, the holistic development of youth has been a primary focus of the Midland chapter, along with cultural awareness, social action and educational opportunity. Over the years, the chapter has encouraged college completion by providing scholarships to graduates from Midland County schools. Then, their attention expanded to include Midland and Mount Pleasant. The chapter has offered scholarships for the entirety of its 40-year history, including the awarding of 24 scholarships to all high school graduates that participated in its historic Beautillion-Cotillion. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In honor of its 40th anniversary, the MAC has established endowed scholarships with both the Midland Area Community Foundation and the Mount Pleasant Area Community Foundation to help support the chapters legacy of elevating the importance of higher education and degree completion. Chinese Embassy in Mongolia holds reception to mark Int'l Women's Day Xinhua) 10:53, March 08, 2024 ULAN BATOR, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Mongolia hosted on Wednesday a reception to mark International Women's Day, which falls on March 8 annually. Present at the event were representatives of the Mongolian government, political parties, media, and social groups as well as staff of foreign embassies and consulates and Chinese-funded institutions in Mongolia. "Women hold up half the sky in poverty alleviation. In fact, women hold up half the sky in every one of our families and in every sphere of society, especially in Mongolia," Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Shen Minjuan said at the reception. Shen expressed her hope that in the Year of the Dragon, which symbolizes auspiciousness, all women will enjoy good health and happiness, and bilateral relations will see greater development. During the event, the Chinese ambassador handed over an emergency assistance of 100,000 yuan (14,000 U.S. dollars) donated by the Beijing Red Cross Society to the Mongolian Red Cross Society for fighting the extreme wintry weather, known as "dzud." More than 3 million head of livestock have perished across Mongolia due to dzud. "Dzud" is a Mongolian term for a severely cold winter when a large number of livestock die because the ground is frozen or covered by snow. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A group plays a game of wheelchair basketball during Disability Network of Mid-Michigan's annual celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act anniversary in July 2023. Provided by Disability Network of Mid-Michigan Kelly PeLong, executive director of Disability Network of Mid-Michigan. Provided by Disability Network of Mid-Michigan Disability Network of Mid-Michigan Executive Director Kelly PeLong poses for a portrait March 1, 2021 inside the DNMM offices in Midland. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net) Members of the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan board hold a December 2023 gathering. Provided by Disability Network of Mid-Michigan The Disability Network of Mid-Michigan (DNMM) has served as a center for independent living for the disabled since 1990. Over those 34 years, the nonprofit has grown to assist an increasing number of people with disabilities in the Great Lakes Bay Region. For four years, Kelly PeLong has been executive director at DNMM, previously having worked as a program manager for 25 years. In her 29 years at the nonprofit, PeLong has witnessed an increase in the organizations outreach and awareness. The Daily News recently had an opportunity to speak with PeLong on the benefits of the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan as well as whom they serve and what they are looking forward to next. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What is the purpose of your nonprofit; how does it serve the community? We are a center for independent living, a grassroots advocacy organization that is run by people with disabilities that provide services to people with disabilities. We are one of 15 centers of independent living in Michigan between the 15, we cover every county in the state. DNMM covers 12 counties Alcona, Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Iosco, Isabella, Midland, Ogemaw, Roscommon and Saginaw. Our mission is to promote and encourage independence for all people with disabilities. We can assist anyone with any disability at any age. We also work with family members who care for disabled loved ones and focus on creating awareness in our community. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Specifically, what services do you offer? We are required to provide five core services. These include: Peer Support Program, where people with disabilities empower and support other people with disabilities. Independent Living Skills Training Program, where anyone at any age can learn necessary skills in order to live independently with either an existing disability or a newly acquired disability. Community Transition Program, where we work with youth on preparing for life after high school as well as helping folks currently living in nursing facilities transition back into the community. Individual and Systems Change Advocacy, where we help folks to advocate for themselves if they feel that their rights have been violated and with local governments up to the state level to discuss changes that may need to be made in policies or laws for people living there with disabilities. Information and Referral, where we can assist people with navigating the numerous resources that they might need. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In addition to these core services, each center for independent living is allowed to provide other services as needed by the community. An example of this with DNMM is our contracts with Community Mental Health in Midland, Saginaw and Bay counties where we help folks with developmental disabilities and health disabilities by providing in-house support services and case management. Other than Community Mental Health, what other agencies do you partner with? We work with all disability organizations in each of our counties, we also work with the Arnold Center here in Midland, VOICE, and the Midland County Disability Coalition. You mentioned your nonprofit is run by people with disabilities, is that a requirement? Advertisement Article continues below this ad We are federally required to have 51% of our staff and 51% of our board of directors be individuals with disabilities. At DNMM, were in the 80-90% range. Most of our 52 employees, including administrators, program managers and service members, are people with disabilities. How many people do you serve? In our last fiscal year, we helped over 2,300 people with direct services and roughly 1,280 people without disabilities who were looking for referrals for others. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One in four people in this community are living with some sort of disability with 70% of them not being born with it. Anyone can acquire a disability at anytime through an injury, accident, illness, or even through aging. Its important that we recognize that there are people with disabilities all around us and help them to feel included in their community and live as independently as they choose. Has DNMM always served this many people across 12 counties? Since 1990, we have always served the 12 counties. It was definitely a challenge in the beginning with our one office in Midland. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Incorporating offices in Bay, Saginaw, Gratiot and Gladwin counties over the years has helped with awareness and outreach. In the past five or six years alone, we have grown exponentially in terms of those we serve. Who is eligible to benefit from your programs/services? Any person with a disability within one of the 12 counties we cover is eligible. We dont require any medical verification or a doctors note if they self-identify as having a disability, we can assist them. What regular events do you hold? Advertisement Article continues below this ad Each July we celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was put into effect on July 26, 1990. We put on a community picnic with free lunch and some activities. We also collaborate with other groups for our Disability Literacy Program. This is where our volunteers will read books to school kids which highlight a disability topic and/or feature a character with a disability in order to start the conversation with children at a young age. The kids also get a packet of related activities and a copy of the book to take home. Any plans for Disability Awareness Month (March)? Advertisement Article continues below this ad Because March is an awareness month for so many different disabilities developmental disability, cerebral palsy, brain injury, multiple sclerosis (MS) its a lot to do any sort of specific event. However, we will continue to highlight some of these awareness topics on our social media throughout the month. What does the future look like for DNMM? We want to focus more on community engagement and education moving forward. Our long-term vision is creating accessible and inclusive communities across all 12 counties urban and rural areas included. Were here to be a resource for people and to help folks understand that they can live independently in their community, even if they have a disability. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Those interested in learning more or contacting the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan may visit https://www.dnmm.org, call 989-835-4041 or stop into any of their offices. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS When President Joe Biden launched his campaign last April, the first word he uttered was "Freedom." As he gives his most important speech as a candidate for re-election Thursday night, the president will return to the theme as a key pillar in making his case to the country. Biden will do so quite starkly, once again leaning on the example of one of his iconic predecessors. As the 46th president addresses the 118th Congress, he will invoke the 32nd president's address to the 77th Congress, according to a copy of the speech that was visible in a photo his office published on X. In 1941, Franklin Roosevelt said he was speaking at an "unprecedented moment" in American history months before the United States would join World War II with the Great Depression still fresh in mind. The Biden team's focus on freedom and threats to democracy as a defining electoral issue has often invited criticism from allies, at a time when Americans' perceptions of the economy, and of the 81-year-old president himself, are also expected to dominate the months ahead. Advisers understand the importance of Biden's delivery in answering questions about his age, and agree on the need to help better connect the administration's economic agenda and accomplishments to the improvements in voters' everyday lives. But none of that will matter, aides counter, if America's democracy falters, a reality the president will starkly warn is possible, and one his advisers say voters have already responded to. "There was language in the 2020 campaign that democracy and decency were on the ballot. There were voices that thought this was academic too remote but now there have been two elections whose results prove that not to have been the case," the historian Jon Meacham, an informal adviser to the president who helped him prepare his speech, said in an interview. Roosevelt's 1941 address became known as his "Four Freedoms" speech; he defined what he called the "four essential human freedoms" of speech and expression, of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Biden, who has a framed painting of Roosevelt displayed prominently in the Oval Office, has already offered his own version of the four freedoms for the 21st century. In a speech that opened 2024, Biden said that freedom itself was on the ballot this year. "We'll be voting on many issues: on the freedom to vote and have your vote counted, on the freedom of choice, the freedom to have a fair shot, the freedom from fear," he said near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Each will be woven through his speech to Congress on Thursday, according to sources familiar with the address, who emphasized that it was still subject to further revisions. Biden's State of the Union address Thursday will be one full of both symbolism and substance, with every policy discussed and even the delivery itself seen through the lens of November. But to the small circle of advisers crafting the address, it is quite simple. "This is a speech about Joe Biden," as one senior administration official put it. Biden, they said, will "frame this moment in history, and offer a path for the future." In Biden's re-election announcement video, he said the question facing Americans is "whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer." It's been a consistent theme that even pre-dated the launch, though, one that Biden advisers felt was made all too clear in the events of Jan. 6 80 years from the day of the Roosevelt speech Biden will reference. And it was brought into a new context by the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision in 2022, which showed the threats to individual freedoms more broadly. Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been traveling on a "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour, made that immediate connection after the release of the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion. "The great aspiration of our nation has been to expand freedom, but the expansion of freedom clearly is not inevitable," she said then. "It is not something that just happens not unless we defend our most fundamental principles." She repeated that Sunday during remarks in Selma, Alabama, calling the right to vote "the freedom that unlocks all others." In recent campaign appearances, Biden has also warned that former President Donald "Trump and his MAGA friends are determined to take away our fundamental freedoms." And in advocating for securing funding for Ukraine, Biden has presented a choice: "Are you going to stand up for freedom, or are you going to side with terror and tyranny? Are you going to stand with Ukraine, or are you going to stand with Putin? Will we stand with America or or with Trump?" It shows what one Democratic strategist who works closely with the White House said was the great quality of freedom as a theme its versatility. "It's definitely something that all Democratic pollsters are testing more now, taking their cues from the speeches they hear" from the administration, the strategist said. "Republicans tried to run with that, but they became the party of banning books and banning LGBT clubs on school campuses, banning abortion and banning people's rights." Republicans, of course, haven't fully conceded the theme. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a possible Trump vice presidential choice, used her State of the State address to highlight what she called her "freedom works here" agenda, including the "freedom to keep and bear arms," the "freedom to farm and ranch," and "freedom to be secure." But to Biden, freedom and democracy are intertwined as unique themes in part because of the threat he believes Donald Trump poses. "Democracy is nothing if it does not defend individual freedom against the whims and ambitions of an autocratic force. So I think an argument about freedom is the natural extension of the defense of democracy because they're so closely entwined," Meacham said. "Like any responsible president, President Biden has adjusted the intensity of the argument as the facts have warranted. It's an organic argument, not a static one." The runway was briefly closed to allow crews to clear debris, Yakel said. There was no further impact to airport operations. The tire from United Flight 35, which later arrived safely in Los Angeles, landed in an employee parking lot, SFO spokesman Doug Yakel said. No injuries were reported. A tire fell off a United Airlines plane taking off from San Francisco International Airport Thursday morning and landed in a nearby parking lot, damaging several vehicles, officials said. The tire from a United Airlines plane lands in long term parking at San Francisco International Airport on March 7, 2024. Flight 35 was headed for Osaka, Japan, before being diverted to Los Angeles International Airport, where it landed safely. The plane, a Boeing 777-200, has six tires on each of its two main landing gear struts, according to the airline. It is designed to land with missing or damaged tires. The plane was carrying a total of 249 people 235 customers, 10 flight attendants and 4 pilots, according to the airline. United said customers boarded a new plane at LAX to Osaka. "We're grateful to our pilots and flight attendants for their professionalism in managing this situation. We're also grateful to our teams on the ground who were waiting with a tug to move the aircraft soon after it landed and to our teams in the airport who assisted customers upon their arrival," United said in a statement. "We will work with customers as well as with the owners of the damaged vehicles in SFO to ensure their needs are addressed." UnitedHealth Group on Thursday said it expects to restore Change Healthcare's systems by mid-March, offering a potential resolution to the ransomware attack that has disrupted crucial operations across the U.S. health-care system. The company discovered that a cyber threat actor breached part of the Change Healthcare's information technology network on Feb. 21, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. UnitedHealth isolated and disconnected the impacted systems "immediately upon detection" of the threat, the filing said, but doing so interrupted pharmacy services, payment platforms and medical claims processes. UnitedHealth said in a release Thursday that electronic prescribing is "now fully functional," and payment transmission and claim submissions are currently available. The company said it expects electronic payment functionality to be restored by March 15, and it will start to test connectivity with its claims network and software on March 18. There is "no indication" that any other UnitedHealth systems were compromised in the attack, the company said in the release. "We are committed to providing relief for people affected by this malicious attack on the U.S. health system," UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty said in the release. On Friday, UnitedHealth announced a temporary funding assistance program to help health-care providers that are experiencing cash flow problems as a result of the attack. The company said Thursday it is providing "further funding solutions" for providers, which will mean "advancing funds each week." UnitedHealth said it recognizes that the program does not meet the needs of every provider, so it is expanding the program to include those " who have exhausted all available connection options, and who work with a payer who has opted not to advance funds to providers during the period when Change Healthcare systems remain down," according to the release. UnitedHealth said the advances will not need to be repaid until claims flows are back to normal. In late February, Change Healthcare said that ransomware group Blackcat was behind the cybersecurity attack. Blackcat, also called Noberus and ALPHV, steals sensitive data from institutions and threatens to publish it unless a ransom is paid, according to a December release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Ransomware attacks can be particularly dangerous within the health-care sector, as they can cause immediate harm to patients' safety when life-saving systems go dark. UnitedHealth did not specify in the release what kind of data was compromised in the attack or confirm whether the company has paid a ransom to bring its systems back online. TikTok Music has launched on Wednesday in Australia, Singapore and Mexico to a small group of users. Jaap Arriens | Nurphoto | Getty Images When Joe Biden joined TikTok on the eve of the Super Bowl last month, political scientist Maggie Macdonald was struck by what she called the "meta" nature of the president's first post. In the video, Biden poked fun at a conspiracy theory that he rigged the Super Bowl in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs to somehow help his reelection efforts. "Yeah, I'm old, but I'm on TikTok, and I'm on this super online place talking about this super online concept," Macdonald, an assistant political science professor at the University of Kentucky, said of the messaging and tone of Biden's video. While Biden's debut on the wildly popular social media app came in a playful manner, his use of TikTok in this year's reelection campaign is at the heart of a heated debate in Washington, D.C., about whether the service should even exist in the U.S. The app, owned by China's ByteDance, is viewed as both an invaluable tool in trying to reach masses of young potential voters who are unplugged from mainstream media and an easy way, allegedly, for the Chinese government to spy on American consumers. Members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party introduced a bill this week that would require ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a U.S. ban, following earlier federal and state-led efforts that never came to fruition. On Thursday, the committee voted 50-0 to send the bill to the House floor. Shortly after the committee advanced the bill, Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio, called TikTok "a surveillance tool used by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on Americans and harvest highly personal data." TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has denied in Senate hearings any ties between the app and the CCP. In a statement to CNBC on Thursday, TikTok said, "The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression," an act that "will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country." TikTok's CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2024. Nathan Howard | Reuters Since Biden's playful intro post, his campaign's TikTok account has notched over 222,000 followers and over 2.4 million likes. With eight months until the general election and a likely rematch of the 2020 contest, Biden narrowly trails Republican challenger Donald Trump in most national polls in what's expected to be a tight battle to the end. Biden's age has shown up as a persistent concern in polling data, so experts say reaching out to younger audiences is key in trying to win over undecided young voters, and mobilize a traditional Democratic constituency whose members sometimes stay home on Election Day. "It's really important for him to have a presence, and for him to interact directly with voters, not just through creators and influencers," said Aaron Earls, CEO of social media influencer firm Activate HQ, which specializes in political campaigns. "The turnout in 2020 was really significant with that younger audience and, everyone's suggesting that maybe there will be a similar turnout with the younger audience again." During the State of the Union address Thursday evening, Biden's campaign posted clips of the speech on TikTok, a sign that the president plans to stick with the app despite swirling concerns in Washington. But it's a particularly convoluted matter for Biden because, should the bill pass the full House and the Senate, it would hit the president's desk. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday that, "This bill is important, we welcome this step." She said the administration plans to "meet the American people where they are," adding that, "It doesn't mean that we're not going to try to figure out how to protect our national security." Biden said on Friday that he will sign the bill if Congress passes it. The Biden campaign didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. TikTok is trying to generate support from users following the House's action on Thursday. On the app, users were greeted with a screenshot warning them that Congress was "planning a total ban of TikTok." Multiple staffers and lawmakers told CNBC their offices were flooded with calls, mostly from kids. TikTok goes to Washington U.S. political campaigns more broadly are trying to figure out how best to utilize TikTok. In recent cycles, Facebook has been the social media app of choice for campaigns because of its ability to narrowly target users with fundraising ads and informational posts. However, Apple's 2021 iOS privacy update made it much harder to target audiences, raising the cost of ad campaigns across Meta's platforms. Additionally, Facebook has skewed older over the years, with younger groups gravitating to TikTok. The challenge for campaigns is that TikTok says it doesn't allow for political ads or "content such as a video from a politician asking for donations, or a political party directing people to a donation page on their website." To date, major campaigns have relied on high-profile TikTok influencers to help rally support for specific issues. Last April, for instance, the White House said it was enlisting a squad of volunteer TikTok and Instagram influencers to help spread awareness of the Biden campaign. Earls says it's a strategy that's long been employed in politics. TikTok just presents a new medium. "That has historically been a tactic that's happened since the Kennedy days, but just more in traditional media," Earls said. "Like you're going to get an endorsement from Marilyn Monroe or Joe DiMaggio or whatever." Political groups are scouring TikTok for influencers with positions that resonate with would-be voters, and are targeting certain swing states that could be critical in deciding an election. During the 2022 midterm elections, the Democratic National Committee and communications groups like Climate Power enlisted the help of TikTok and influencers to discuss issues like abortion rights and to mobilize voters. watch now Even with its growing popularity, TikTok remains a niche tool in politics. Anupam Chander, a Georgetown University Law Center professor, released a study with some colleagues last year showing that fewer than 10% of members of the U.S. Congress have a "TikTok account from which they post content," most likely because of the app's connection to China. In total, the report said, 34 House members and seven senators had an official TikTok account. Among major politicians using TikTok, an overwhelming majority are Democrats, the study showed. Some of Republicans' resistance could tie back to Trump's vow which was ultimately unsuccessful to ban TikTok during his administration. Reaching 'young Americans where they are' One of the few high-profile Republicans now on the app is former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who said during a primary debate that "part of how we win elections is reaching the next generation of young Americans where they are." As to whether Trump will use TikTok in his campaign, Earls said he wouldn't be surprised to see it. The decision, he said, likely has less to do with China and is more about Trump's connection to his own social media platform, Truth Social, where he posts with frequency. "We've seen him do whatever it takes to win an election including trying to stop the peaceful transition of power," Earls said. "He will do what he thinks will help him win so I suspect we'll see his campaign join TikTok in the coming months depending upon how things develop with his ability to monetize Truth Social." The Trump campaign didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Anish Mohanty, communications director for Gen-Z for Change, said his nonprofit advocacy group was originally called TikTok for Biden when it formed in 2020 as part of an effort "to defeat Donald Trump." The group changed its name the following year, and now taps its network of hundreds of TikTok social media influencers to advocate for multiple progressive issues related to climate change, universal health care and for Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Given the many challenges Biden faces with younger groups, his mere presence on TikTok isn't enough to win votes, Mohanty said, particularly if the president's campaign is "just using it to post cringy memes about Trump." "Young people care about issues, that's why young people are so unhappy with Biden over action on climate change, over the situation in Gaza," Mohanty said. "Just because Biden is posting on TikTok, that's not what's going to pull young people over." Still, Macdonald sees a big opportunity for Biden. "If you want to reach younger people who are very apathetic, they're on TikTok," said the University of Kentucky professor. "You have an incentive to reach them on TikTok, and it does seem that the Republican Party as a unit is just not doing it." WATCH: Denying a platform isn't denying free speech. (This is CNBC Pro's live coverage of Friday's analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) An industrial giant and Chinese electric vehicle play were in focus among Friday's analyst calls. JPMorgan upgraded shares of General Electric to overweight. Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank initiated Li Auto with a buy rating. Check out the latest calls and chatter below. All times ET. 8:30 a.m.: Melius ups estimates on Advanced Micro Devices, calls stock the 'Nvidia-Mini' Melius Research upped its price target on shares of Advanced Micro Devices to $265 from $192, citing improving data center prospects. "With a chip optimized for the inferencing explosion, AMD is just getting going as AI models move into production," wrote analyst Ben Reitzes. "While our rapid revisions look like misprints it shouldn't be all that surprising since you saw what happened with Nvidia last year when buying picked up." Shares of Advanced Micro Devices have surged 43% so far in 2024, with the firm's price target implying another 25% upside. He anticipates the company's MI300X product to benefit as AI enters its inferencing phases. Reitzes likened AMD's chart to a "mini-Nvidia on a delay," but said that its progress shouldn't have an "adverse impact" on Nvidia's momentum given the AI darling's dominant position in the market and the large total addressable market. "Nvidia continues to do AMD and everyone else a favor by expanding the market and driving awareness," he said. Samantha Subin 8:18 a.m.: Citi hikes price target for Instacart Instacart has the runway to continue its hot start to the year, according to Citi. Analyst Ronald Josey reiterated a buy rating on Instacart and raised the price target to $42 per share from $36, citing improved visibility into orders. The new target is more than 20% above where the stock closed Thursday. "While we acknowledge competition is ramping across the online grocery sector, we believe Instacart's longstanding partner relationships, its deep technology integrations, and order history create significant competitive advantages," Josey said in a note to clients. The valuation for instacart remains attractive even if its growth profile is not eye-popping, according to Citi. "Growth remains below that of its online grocery peers, but with shares trading at ~10x our '25 EV/EBITDA, we believe the risk-reward is favorable as execution continues to improve," the note said. The stock has already jumped more than 40% year to date. Jesse Pound 7:34 a.m.: Bank of America downgrades Vail Resorts on weak visitation Despite improving snow conditions, Vail Resorts isn't seeing a strong rebound in visitation, Bank of America said. The bank downgraded the ski resort to neutral from buy, citing a more challenging setup from here. Analyst Shaun Kelley sees a risk to Vail's full-year guidance due to the weak visitation and a risk to its 2025 estimates as its year-over-year organic growth is slower than anticipated. Vail had already narrowed its guidance to the lower half of its original guidance after the season got off to a weak start. "We think this was predicated on trends improving through the season, which now seems optimistic given 1) Placer visitation to domestic resorts is -8% Y/Y since the early season update, and 2) recent Inntopia mountain lodging data shows winter (Nov-April) occupancy -6% Y/Y," Kelley said. He also lowered his price target to $250 from $285, suggesting nearly 11% upside from Thursday's close. Michelle Fox 7:31 a.m.: Bank of America upgrades aircraft manufacturer Textron to a buy rating Textron has room to fly higher, according to Bank of America. The bank upgraded shares of the aircraft manufacturer to a buy rating from neutral. Textron stock has popped 12% this year, but the bank's updated price target of $105, up from $85, implies that there is still room for a further 16% upside. "Textron has been one of our better performing large caps YTD, up 12.31% (vs. S & P 500 +8.17%). However, concerns around Industrials, falling bizjet demand, and poor defense sentiment have peaked, translating into a multiple that is roughly one standard deviation below the historical average," wrote analyst Ronald Epstein. "Our higher multiple accounts for 1) stronger Aviation performance despite the post-COVID demand decline, 2) efforts to consolidate costs at Industrial, and 3) a robust Systems pipeline that should materialize in stronger outyear growth," Epstein said. Due to the company's aging portfolio and possible future budgetary cuts, Epstein provided the caveat that his relative multiple remains below Textron's historical average. One catalyst the analyst cited was a strong outlook this year for the aviation industry. And although industrials remain underappreciated by the market, Textron is making the right moves to cut costs and unlock underlaying business value such as through reducing headcount, Epstein said. "Fundamental conditions remain strong, and demand and utilization remain above historical norms," he wrote. "Near-term revenues are buffered by an already robust backlog. We now expect 2024 revenue growth of 13.6% Y/Y." Meanwhile, the company plans to prioritize share buybacks through 2024, an approach which should be well-received by investors, the analyst added. Lisa Kailai Han 7:08 a.m.: Goldman Sachs upgrades Coinbase, pointing to crypto tailwinds Shares of Coinbase could continue to rally alongside the crypto market, according to Goldman Sachs. The investment bank upgraded shares of the cryptocurrency exchange platform to a neutral rating from sell, citing bitcoin's moves to all-time highs as a catalyst. Increased retail participation has pushed Coinbase's daily volumes to between $3 billion to $5 billion, levels not seen since 2021, analyst Will Nance said. Shares of Coinbase have rallied 40% this year, alongside the broader cryptocurrency market. Nance's 12-month price target of $282, up from $170, implies that there could be another 16% to go. "We attribute the outperformance in shares to the significant increase in crypto prices, as well as the company's commitment to managing towards more consistent profitability over time, which we had underestimated," the analyst wrote. "While we still see limited use cases for crypto at present, the 'beta' to the price action has significantly outweighed any alpha from not seeing an acceleration in retail adoption over time." The company's renewed commitment to increasing profitability while controlling expenses presents another tailwind. Coinbase could also benefit from higher interest rates, due to the firm's revenue shares in interest income. Nance also attributed Coinbase's outperformance to more focused regulation in the crypto market. "Ultimately this regulatory crackdown has benefited Coinbase given its historical focus on regulatory compliance, manifested in trading market share gains over this timeframe (despite a dramatically smaller market)," he wrote. Lisa Kailai Han 6:58 a.m.: D.A. Davidson upgrades MongoDB, sees room to rally D.A. Davidson sees positive upside ahead for MongoDB . The firm upgraded shares of the database stock to a buy rating from neutral. Analyst Rudy Kessinger accompanied this move by raising his price target to $430 from $405. Shares of MongoDB are fractionally higher this year. Kessinger's updated price target indicates that they could edge 4% higher from here. "We are buyers on the weakness as the FY25 guide is very conservative, particularly on implied Atlas growth," the analyst wrote. "We see significant upside to estimates as likely throughout the year & find shares attractive at 13x EV/CY25 Rev with that in mind." Kessinger noted that the firm's first-quarter and full-year guidance for the year 2025 remain on the lower end. "This seems very, very conservative, particularly as consumption growth in FY25 is expected to be similar to FY24, newer products such as Relational Migrator will likely drive stronger new workload acquisition, and mgmt. is accelerating sales capacity additions," he wrote. Furthermore, Kessinger believes that artificial intelligence could be a long-term growth driver for the firm. "Mgmt. noted that it's going to take AI applications being deployed at scale for it to really positively impact their business, which is expected to be 'at least another year' out," he added. Lisa Kailai Han 6:56 a.m.: Victoria's Secret gets double downgraded by Bank of America Underwhelming comparable sales and weaker-than-expected guidance have Bank of America throwing in the towel on Victoria's Secret . Analyst Alice Xiao downgraded the stock to underperform from buy. She also slashed her price target to $15 from $34. The new target calls for a 16.7% decline. The stock this week has lost more than 36% after the company reported full-year operating income guidance that was well below what the Street expected. VSCO mountain 2024-03-01 VSCO this week "We see risk to F24 sales guidance, as it assumes the broader lingerie market will stabilize in 2H after declining MSD in 1H, as well as the impact of initiatives in sport and technology materializing," Xiao wrote. "We see downside risk to these assumptions should the broader lingerie market continue its secular decline throughout the year given the deflationary shift to less structured, more casual, and multi-functional bras." 6:36 a.m.: Citi cuts Apple price target, moves stock down from top picks Apple's woes aren't likely to evaporate anytime soon, according to Citi. The bank lowered its price target for the tech titan to $220 from $225, implying that shares still have a potential 33% upside from their Thursday closing price of $169. The "Magnificent Seven" member is down 12% so far in 2024, weighed down by weak iPhone sales in the Chinese market. At least in the near term, analyst Atif Malik expects this trend to continue. "We lower our Mar-Q China unit estimates modestly down by 0.4M, or -21% Y/Y from prior -17% on continued weak consumer confidence and Huawei patriotism," he wrote. "We now model total iPhone units flat in CY24 at 231M." However, Malik underscored that premiumization supported by services growth and AI smartphones is enough to justify his buy rating on the stock. Citi also moved Apple down from its previous status as its number-two communications stock pick, "as the upside case of AI adoption in smartphones appears more of a 2025 event," Malik wrote. Lisa Kailai Han 6:23 a.m.: RBC upgrades Carvana to sector perform from underperform RBC Capital Markets is betting that a bright outlook could push Carvana higher from here. The firm upgraded shares of the automobile e-commerce platform to sector perform from underperform. Analyst Brad Erickson more than doubled his price forecast for the stock to $90 from $45, implying that shares could rise 13% from here. Carvana has already rallied an eye-watering 50% this year. CVNA YTD mountain CVNA year to date "We believe CVNA's recent run has the potential to trade even higher before reasonable valuations may matter again making risk/reward on an Underperform rating infeasible for the foreseeable future," Erickson wrote. The analyst added that an "extremely favorable" setup in Carvana's unit acceleration could push the stock "well above" $100. Meanwhile, he believes that analysts may be underestimating the company's amount of cash generation per car. "Investors routinely note the company burns significant cash/ car when normalizing for quarterly fluctuations in inventory and timing differences between finance receivable originations and sales," he noted. "After spending time with the company, it appears further adjustment below the operating cash flows is necessary to reflect steady state operations and points to modest cash burn in Q3 and cash generation/car in Q4 steady state," the analyst added. Although Carvana owes an estimated $7.4 billion in the next seven years, Erickson believes the company's improvements in per car profitability could provide some leeway to cover future debt costs. "This, combined with any further rise in the stock would become self-reinforcing, enable improving access to refinancing and reduces any lingering future liquidity concerns even further," he added. Lisa Kailai Han 5:56 a.m.: Oppenheimer downgrades Figs as near-term challenges linger Time to move to the sidelines on Figs , according to Oppenheimer. The firm downgraded shares of the health care apparel company to perform from outperform. Analyst Brian Nagel accompanied this change by removing his price target for the stock, which was previously set to $9. Figs is down 23% this year, but Nagel still doesn't believe the stock has presented an attractive enough entry point for investors to buy in. "While the valuation of FIGS tracks well below recent highs, multiples for shares are not necessarily 'washed out' and still somewhat susceptible to further unfavorable rerating amid prospects for ongoing, nearer-term fundamental malaise," he wrote. While Nagel remains constructive in the long term on Figs, he said the company faces too many internal and external challenges in the near term to ignore. "2024 is shaping up as another post-pandemic, transitional year for FIGS, impacted by stepped up, somewhat 'catch up' related, outsized investment spending, and still sluggish purchasing activity, on the part of core consumers," he wrote. "While we are optimistic that sub-algo trends in 2024 are likely to give way to strengthening dynamics in subsequent periods, we are hard-pressed, at least at this juncture, to envision meaningful upside to current subdued, nearer-term forecasts and guidance for FIGS," Nagel added Nagel thinks these concerns will translate to EBITDA margins slowing to 11-12% in 2024, down from 15.8% in 2023. Additionally, he also expects the company's top-line expansion to be depressed. Lisa Kailai Han 5:48 a.m.: Morgan Stanley upgrades UBS to overweight, cites pickup in investment banking activity A pickup in investment banking activity could lead to big windfalls for UBS , according to Morgan Stanley. Analyst Giulia Aurora Miotto upgraded the bank stock to overweight from equal weight. U.S.-listed shares of UBS have edged nearly 4% lower this year, but Miotto thinks they could recover as the bank finally realizes the tailwinds from its acquisition of rival Credit Suisse. UBS YTD mountain UBS year to date "2024 and 2025 will be transitional years as UBS executes on the merger with CS," she wrote. "But our analysis suggests that cyclically the stars are aligned for IB and WM to outperform, leading UBS to beat rebased estimates." Miotto expects a strong comeback of the investment banking pipeline in 2024 and 2025, and predicts that cash will flow away from the money market into fixed income first and then equities. "We think these trends are very supportive to UBS's business model and are not captured in consensus yet (we are 20% higher on IBD revenues for UBS)," she added. Meanwhile, UBS' wealth management business is a fantastic driver over the long run. "Long-term, we like the exposure to Wealth management, where we see structural growth coming from global wealth creation, vs a more muted outlook for European banks," the analyst said. Lisa Kailai Han 5:41 a.m.: Deutsche Bank initiates Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Li Auto as buy Li Auto looks primed to capitalize on the growing Chinese electric vehicle market, according to Deutsche Bank. The bank initiated coverage of the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer at a buy rating. Analyst Bin Wang cited the company's market positioning as one of its greatest catalysts and called it a top pick. "Li Auto is the largest 6 / 7 seater vehicles manufacturer in China with a 13.8% market share in 2023, which is the sweet spot of the automobile electrification mega-trend in China," he wrote. Wang noted that the firm is slated to enter the pure electric vehicle market this month with the Mega MPV, its new flagship vehicle. Li Auto also plans to strengthen its position as the second-largest plug-in hybrid electric vehicle maker through the launch of its L6 large-size SUV next month. Li Auto is also emerging as an industry leader in the AI-powered autonomous driving field, Wang added. Additionally, the company had the highest gross margin among China new energy vehicle manufacturers, with the figure coming out to 21.2% in the first half of last year. "This is a result of Li Auto garnering a higher average selling price (ASP) from its 6 / 7 seater vehicle segment exposure and best-of-breed execution efficiency, which leads to a lower-per-unit fixed cost than peers," Wang said. U.S.-listed shares of Li Auto have slipped close to 3% this year. Lisa Kailai Han 5:41 a.m.: JPMorgan upgrades GE to overweight General Electric has been on a roll recently, and JPMorgan expects the outperformance to continue. The bank upgraded the conglomerate to overweight from neutral. It also hiked its price target to $180 from $166, implying upside of 13%. "It is clear that GE is the premier large cap name in Comml Aero with regard to 1) the business, 2) where that business is in the cycle, 3) the balance sheet, and 4) the mgmt team," analyst Seth Seifman wrote. "Some of this is priced in and valuation is an obstacle ... but it is the only obstacle for us right now and with upside remaining, we think the companys fundamental strength wins out," Seifman added. "Vernova looks promising as well based on rebounding margins and cash flow, as well as diversified exposure to the long-term energy transition." GE shares rose 1% in the premarket following the upgrade. Year to date, they are up more than 30%. DIS YTD mountain DIS year to date Fred Imbert Tim Sweeney, chief executive officer of Epic Games Inc., speaks during an interview in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. Apple has approved Epic Games' developer account in Sweden, which will allow the company to offer a competing app store on iPhones in Europe under a new antitrust regulation, the Digital Markets Act. Earlier this week, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said Apple had retaliated against the company for lawsuits and social media criticism by blocking the Sweden account, citing an email from Apple App Store chief Phil Schiller to Sweeney. The episode was one of the first challenges to the European DMA from one of the technology giants it regulates, and raised questions about whether the law's fines and penalties would be sufficient to curb some of the practices targeted by the law. Apple's quick about-face suggests that European regulators will be able to enforce the law. "This sends a strong signal to developers that the European Commission will act swiftly to enforce the Digital Markets Act and hold gatekeepers accountable," Epic Games said in a statement. Apple's App Store takes 30% of game purchases and 15% of most online subscriptions. Before Europe's DMA, it was essentially the only way to install apps on an iPhone. The new regulation forces Apple to allow third-party app stores on iPhones in Europe, but Apple says it can charge half of a euro per download, a pricing strategy that has drawn criticism from app developers. European regulators immediately said after Epic's announcement that they would press Apple for answers about the incident. On Friday, Sweeney said on social media that Apple had allowed Epic Games to launch the store after a European Commission inquiry. Earlier this week, Sweeney said that Apple continuing to block the company's developer account in Europe was egregious. Schiller, Apple's App Store chief, wrote a letter to Sweeney asking if he would comply with Apple's contracts going forward in light of the 2020 lawsuit and Sweeney said yes. Still, according to emails provided by Epic Games, a lawyer for Apple rejected Sweeney's statement and blocked Epic's European account. An Apple spokesperson confirmed that Epic Games' account had been restored after Epic told Apple it will follow its platform policies. "Following conversations with Epic, they have committed to follow the rules, including our DMA policies. As a result, Epic Sweden AB has been permitted to re-sign the developer agreement and accepted into the Apple Developer Program," a spokesperson told CNBC in a statement. Epic Games said it would use the account to publish Fortnite for iPhones in Europe as well as its own Epic Games store. The conflict between Epic Games and Apple goes back to 2020, when Epic Games updated the shooter game Fortnite to bypass Apple's 30% cut of App Store sales. Apple kicked Fortnite off of its stores, and Epic sued in the U.S. to force Apple to open up its platform. Epic mostly lost the suit but won some concessions under California law. Huawei's Aito electric cars are manufactured by Seres in Chongqing, China. China News Service | China News Service | Getty Images BEIJING China revealed this week it aims to spend more than a billion dollars to bolster manufacturing and domestic tech in a bid to remain globally competitive, while divulging little new support for the struggling real estate market. Industrial support clearly ranked first on Beijing's priority list for the year ahead, according to three major plans released this week as part of China's annual parliamentary meetings. One of those reports, from the Ministry of Finance, said the central government would allocate 10.4 billion yuan ($1.45 billion) "to rebuild industrial foundations and promote high-quality development of the manufacturing sector." While that's down from the 13.3 billion yuan earmarked for the same category last year, the sector overall gained greater prominence. In 2023, plans to spend on industrial development came second to support for consumption. "Unlike other economies that went through a wrenching adjustment in their housing market, China's investment rate isn't falling," HSBC's chief Asia economist Frederic Neumann and a team said in a report Friday. "Instead, [capital expenditure] is shifting towards infrastructure and, importantly, manufacturing." watch now They noted how the shift "cushions the impact of a deflating property market on growth," but also bears the same risk as over-investment in property. "Unless demand keeps pace with investment, and does sustainably so, a harsh adjustment ultimately beckons," HSBC economists said. Chinese authorities in 2020 intensified a crackdown on real estate developers' high reliance on debt for growth. Property sales have since plunged while developers have run out of money to finish many projects, cutting into what was once about 25% of China's GDP when including related sectors such as construction. UBS analysts late last year estimated property now accounts for about 22% of the economy. Despite widespread attention on whether Beijing would bail out the property sector, real estate got no mention in the finance ministry's spending plans, and limited attention in a ministry-level press conference about the economy during the parliamentary meetings. Instead, the housing minister was included in the lineup for a press conference about people's livelihoods. "Supporting the modernization of the industrial system" came first in the finance ministry's report, followed by "supporting the implementation of the strategy of invigorating China through science and education." Within that second priority, the finance ministry said it would allocate 31.3 billion yuan for improving vocational education. Amid high youth unemployment, especially for university graduates, electric car company BYD and battery maker CATL are among those working with vocational schools to train staff for their expanding workforce. Support for consumption came third in the finance ministry's priority list this year, with no monetary value listed. The report from the National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planner, reiterated government plans to support some developers' financing needs under the eighth item on the priority list that called for preventing financial risks. The government work report presented by Premier Li Qiang gave real estate a similar level of prominence. Tech and industrial development by contrast received more attention, especially given the new political catchphrase "new productive forces" and strong emphasis on China's leadership in electric cars. China faces growing pressure from the U.S., which in the last two years has cut Chinese businesses off from the high-end semiconductors necessary for most advanced artificial intelligence training. While Chinese companies are working hard on developing their own high-end chips, analysts generally predict it will take at least a few years for China to catch up. Pressure on tech comes as the world's second-largest economy has slowed its pace of growth after double-digit increases in decades past. Beijing this week set a national growth target of around 5% for the year ahead, a goal many analysts called "ambitious" for the level of announced government stimulus. Local emphasis on tech and manufacturing Eli Lilly 's experimental Alzheimer's treatment hit another hurdle with U.S. drug regulators. It pushed out the timeline for potential approval but did not rattle our investment thesis in the company. The Food and Drug Administration plans to call a meeting of a key advisory panel to review trial data for Eli Lilly's donanemab, the Indianapolis-based drugmaker said in a press release Friday. As a result, Lilly said the FDA's ruling on the treatment for the memory-robbing disease will no longer happen before the end of March, as had previously been expected. The delay is surprising and disappointing, Jim Cramer acknowledged Friday, but it is not a major cause for concern due Eli Lilly's booming GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drugs, Zepbound and Mounjaro. "It's a great story. Nothing's changed there," Jim said. Shares of Eli Lilly fell more than 2% on Friday to around $764 each as investors digested the donanemab decision delay. Lilly entered Friday's session up more than 33% year to date, extending its strong 2023 stock performance on the back of investor optimism around Zepbound and Mounjaro. Those injectable drugs are the foundation of our position in Eli Lilly, representing the primary drivers of revenue growth in the short and long term for the company. Lilly shares hit their most recent all-time high just above $800 each on Monday. Jim has long said tirzepatide, the active ingredient in both Zepbound and Mounjaro, could become the best-selling drug of all time. LLY 1Y mountain Eli Lilly's stock performance over the past 12 months. In convening the advisory panel, Lilly said the FDA is seeking a better understanding of donanemab's safety data and how the design of the clinical trials which used a first-of-its-kind approach for Alzheimer's studies to determine patient eligibility impacted the efficacy of the drug. No date has been set for the meeting yet. Donanemab is one of Eli Lilly's most closely watched experimental drugs, but its financial contributions early on are expected to be minimal due to bottlenecks in the U.S. health-care system that make it difficult for patients to get onto this new class of Alzheimer's treatments. Those bottlenecks, which include access to dementia specialists who can properly diagnose the complex disease, have contributed to slower-than-expected uptake for Biogen 's Leqembi, the lone rival Alzheimer's drug to donanemab on the market. Donanemab is expected to represent just 4% of Eli Lilly revenue in 2030, Morgan Stanley analysts said Friday, meaning it's not the main contributor to the company's future earnings. Both Leqembi and donanemab delivered by intravenous infusion try to slow the disease by reducing abnormal clumps of amyloid protein that build up on the brain. Those clumps, often referred to as amyloid plaques, have long been associated with Alzheimer's, though their exact role in the disease is up for debate. Co-developed by Biogen and Japanese pharmaceutical firm Eisai, Leqembi secured full FDA approval in July the first drug that slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease, albeit modestly, to receive that clearance. An earlier, controversial Alzheimer's drug developed by Biogen and Eisai received only conditional approval and has been a commercial failure. In January, Biogen said it was discontinuing that drug, known as Aduhelm. Both Aduhelm and Leqembi were reviewed by the same group of FDA advisors now tasked with reviewing donanemab, Eli Lilly noted Friday. Investors, including the Club, primarily own Eli Lilly for its lineup of weight-loss and diabetes drugs, which are part of the fast-growing class of drugs known as GLP-1s. Some analysts predict the market for GLP-1s which mimic a gut hormone to improve blood-sugar control and effectively suppress appetite, leading to weight loss could be worth $100 billion by the end of the decade. Drugmakers and investors alike are keenly focused on the health benefits of GLP-1s beyond diabetes and obesity, such as treating a liver disease called MASH and reducing the risk of heart attacks. Those additional uses for GLP-1s could boost their commercial potential even further, in part by expanding insurance coverage for the pricey drugs, which has so far been somewhat limited for obesity treatment. Eli Lilly and Denmark's Novo Nordisk are the main players in the GLP-1 category currently, though drug companies of all sizes are investing heavily to secure a place in the market. Though some smaller firms such as Zealand Pharma and Viking Therapeutics have posted positive trial data in recent weeks, Wall Street analysts generally believe Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk will dominate the GLP-1 market for the foreseeable future due, in large part, to their head starts in building the manufacturing capacity needed to produce the drugs. While not expected to be nearly as big as GLP-1s, Lilly has spent decades and billions of dollars in pursuit of a successful Alzheimer's treatment. Donanemab is the company's best effort to date. The FDA in early 2023 rejected Eli Lilly's attempt to receive accelerated approval for donanemab, citing the need to see data from a larger, late-stage clinical trial. In that larger trial, which lasted 18 months, donanemab slowed cognitive and functional decline by 35% in one early Alzheimer's patient group compared with a placebo group. In its own 18-month study, Biogen and Eisai's Leqembi slowed the progression of Alzheimer's by 27% versus the placebo. The safety of donanemab has long been an area of focus, though. Anti-amyloid drugs can cause brain swelling and bleeding in patients. In general, Leqembi is seen as having a better safety profile than donanemab. The FDA's decision to convene the advisory group at this stage in the review process was "unexpected," Anne White, the president of Lilly Neuroscience, said in the release Friday. Nevertheless, White said the company is "confident in donanemab's potential to offer very meaningful benefits to people with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease." (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long LLY. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. David Ricks, CEO, Eli Lilly Scott Mlyn | CNBC US President Joe Biden (L) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meet in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 18, 2023. (Photo by GPO/ Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images) GPO | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Visible tensions are appearing in the historically close relationship between the White House and Israel, as the war in Gaza becomes a worsening humanitarian disaster and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resists the Biden administration's push for a change in course. While Biden vocally supports Israel's stated goals of defeating Hamas and rescuing the hostages that the Palestinian militant group took captive during its Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel that killed some 1,200 people, he and other administration officials have expressed increasing criticism of the way in which Israel is carrying out its operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and expanding ground invasion, as well as the cutting of Gaza's water and power supplies, have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians there, according to Gaza's health ministry, which is run by Hamas. And Israeli restrictions on the aid that can enter the besieged enclave, which is blockaded on all sides, have pushed more than 500,000 people into famine, according to the United Nations. Still, the Biden administration has rejected pulling back the military aid it is providing to Israel, and consistently provides diplomatic cover for it at the U.N., often being the sole country vetoing international demands for a cease-fire. An aerial view of the heavily damaged buildings, part of which collapsed, after Israeli attacks in Rafah, Gaza on February 12, 2024. Yasser Qudih | Anadolu | Getty Images Biden has also stressed what his administration says is the need for an independent Palestinian state as part of the path to a durable peace something Netanyahu ardently opposes. The right-wing Israeli leader has also rejected Biden's proposals of a leading role for the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority in Gaza's future once the war ends. "These and other divisions are putting the entire 'special relationship' between the U.S. and Israel under pressure I have never seen before in my lifetime," Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, told CNBC. "The relationship [between Biden and Netanyahu] is absolutely terrible." A report by Politico in early February cited unnamed Biden administration officials describing the president calling Netanyahu a "bad fng guy." His spokespeople have denied it, saying that the leaders have "a decades-long relationship that is respectful in public and in private." Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz (L) meets US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, at the US Capitol on March 05, 2024. Roberto Schmidt | AFP | Getty Images The reported rift appeared to worsen as Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz, a longtime rival of Netanyahu and considered to be more moderate, paid a visit to Washington this week at the invitation of the White House. According to a report by Axios, the visit "enraged" Netanyahu, "who ordered the Israeli embassy in Washington to not take any part in the visit or assist Gantz in any way." Gantz reportedly faced a barrage of harsh questions and critiques from the administration over Israel's handling of the Gaza war. CNBC has reached out to the White House and the Israeli Prime Minister's Office for comment. Election worries and 'campaign mode' As the U.S. General Election nears, promising a rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump, Biden is facing a domestic challenge over his support for Israel's war in Gaza, particularly from many young liberals and Muslim and Arab Americans. This threatens to cost him crucial votes, particularly in swing states. Vice President Kamala Harris issued harsh comments in a speech on Sunday urging a cease-fire, saying "People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane." And during his State of the Union speech Thursday, Biden lamented the scale of suffering in Gaza, saying, "To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority." He was later heard on a hot mic expressing his frustration with Netanyahu, saying that the two leaders will need to have a "come to Jesus meeting." A man explains the importance of voting 'uncommited' as he hands out fliers outside the Islamic Center of Detroit to ask voters to vote 'uncommitted' in Michigan Primary elections on Tuesday, in Michigan, United States on February 26, 2024. Mostafa Bassim | Anadolu | Getty Images But Netanyahu is adamant that a cease-fire would threaten the Israeli Defense Force's momentum, and that "total victory is within reach." Some observers say his rhetoric is aimed at staying in power as his domestic approval rating sits at its lowest of his more than 16 years at the helm. "It seems to me that Netanyahu is in a full campaign mode, and that presently, its main theme is resisting the emerging Biden strategy and the president himself," said Nimrod Novik, a fellow at the Israel Policy Forum, which is dedicated to advancing a two-state outcome to the conflict. Particularly telling, Novik said, is "Netanyahu's decision to preempt the emerging Biden strategy which offers Israel a way out of Gaza, a hopeful change on the West Bank, as well as Saudi normalization and regional integration by distorting this unprecedented offer and portraying it as an imposition." "The prime minister is focused on securing and energizing his ever-shrinking base," he said of Netanyahu. "That base is as hard line as they come and responds best to nationalist machismo as in his promise to defend Israel from the imagined Biden imposition of a Palestinian state." About 200 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, cooking gas and fuel enter the Gaza Strip during the humanitarian pause between Israel and Hamas in Gaza City, Gaza on November 28, 2023. Ashraf Amra | Anadolu | Getty Images "I've watched the [Biden] administration express its being fed up with the Netanyahu policy, from haggling over every truck of humanitarian assistance, through announcing West Bank triggering settlement expansion at such an explosive moment, to provocations on Temple Mount on the eve of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan," Novik said. But this is going largely ignored in the Israeli administration, he noted. "What might sound in Washington as a scream is hardly a whisper in Jerusalem." Ibish had similar observations. "All the American support, especially from Biden personally, is being met with total ingratitude and actually with disdain," from Netanyahu's government, he said. "If Biden were getting more cooperation from Netanyahu [and] the Israelis, he would not be pulling away from them, albeit carefully and subtly. This is, after all, an election year, and he will have to be very careful." Unprecedented support Yonatan Freeman, an international relations and media lecturer at Israel's Hebrew University, believes the historically close relationship between the two countries will supersede the relationships between individual administrations and leaders. "I think looking from a bird's eye view we have to really focus on U.S.-Israel relations. And I don't remember another war that Israel fought where it received so much support from a U.S. administration," Freeman said. "Just as one example, the airlifting of U.S. military equipment to Israel occurred almost immediately it never stopped." Still, he added, there is a broad perception among Israelis and many American Jews that former president Donald Trump was the most pro-Israel president in U.S. history. "I think that this might be critical in some of the swing states where we have large Jewish and Israeli-American populations." Roughly a quarter of Americans also identify as Evangelical Christian, a group that typically is very pro-Israel. "So yes, this is something that could impact the elections," Freeman said, adding that Biden's hope of achieving normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia is also on hold for the time being. "That would bring him great points in terms of Israel, but also in terms of foreign policy, where Biden is looking for successes on the world stage," he said. "But it seems like there aren't many." Flutist Josean Delgado of Fusion Winds will join four other woodwind players for a concert in Big Rapids, part of Tuba Bach's MSU College of Music series. Courtesy of Ed Mallett Bassoonist Erika Clippinger of Fusion Winds will join four other woodwind players for a concert in Big Rapids, part of Tuba Bach's MSU College of Music series. Courtesy of Ed Mallett Horn player Becca Frederick of Fusion Winds will join four other woodwind players for a concert in Big Rapids, part of Tuba Bach's MSU College of Music series. Courtesy of Ed Mallett Clarinetist Juan Tovar of Fusion Winds will join four other woodwind players for a concert in Big Rapids, part of Tuba Bach's MSU College of Music series. Courtesy of Ed Mallett Oboist John DeBiase of Fusion Winds will join four other woodwind players for a concert in Big Rapids, part of Tuba Bach's MSU College of Music series. Courtesy of Ed Mallett BIG RAPIDS The Tuba Bach Festival is returning to Big Rapids, featuring Fusion Winds as part of the "Tuba Bach presents ... MSU College of Music" series. Fusion Winds, a woodwind quintet comprised of graduate students from Michigan State University, will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 726 Fuller Ave., in Big Rapids. Led by flutist Josean Delgado, a doctoral candidate from Puerto Rico, the ensemble promises a program sure to delight audiences of all ages. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The quintet, featuring the talents of oboist John DeBiase, clarinetist Juan Tovar, hornist Becca Frederick and bassoonist Erika Clippinger, boasts a repertoire spanning classical masterpieces to contemporary compositions. From the works of Malcolm Arnold and Carl Nielsen to the sounds of Astor Piazzolla and Arne Running, Fusion Winds offers a unique musical experience. Ed Mallett, the artistic director of Tuba Bach, expressed his excitement for the upcoming performance. "This is a great group of musicians coming to Big Rapids. We haven't had a woodwind ensemble come up from MSU before, and I look forward to hearing them," he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mallet said the concert serves as an opportunity for young woodwind players to learn. "I hope that some of our local middle school and high school woodwind players are able to take advantage of the opportunity to hear these talented graduate students," he said. The concert welcomes all music enthusiasts. As with all Tuba Bach events, admission is free, inviting the community to come together and appreciate live music. Two more concerts are scheduled in the coming weeks: Chinese pianist Qianshan Yun on Sunday, March 17, and Melo Trio, with violin, clarinet, and piano, Sunday, April 7. Both concerts are at 4 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In this article GOOGL Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT watch now During a keynote speech in New York on Monday from the managing director of Google's Israel business, an employee in the company's cloud division protested publicly, proclaiming I refuse to build technology that powers genocide. The Google Cloud engineer was subsequently fired, CNBC has learned, marking another dark moment for Google, which has been thrust into an escalating number of political and cultural conflicts in recent years and has struggled to quell employee dissent. There was more internal controversy this week, also tied to the crisis in Gaza. Ahead of an International Women's Day Summit in Silicon Valley on Thursday, Google's employee message board was hit with an influx of staffer comments about the company's military contracts with Israel. The online forum, which was going to be used to help inform what questions were asked of executives at the event, was shut down for what a spokesperson described to CNBC as "divisive content that is disruptive to our workplace." Google's role as a provider of technology to militaries in the U.S. and abroad has been a source of workforce consternation since at least 2018, when employees protested a Defense Department contract called Project Maven. Then came controversy surrounding Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion artificial intelligence and computing services agreement among Google, Amazon Web Services and the Israeli government and military that began in 2021. That outrage has spread to a host of other issues, often leaving CEO Sundar Pichai on the defensive when confronted by employees at company events. The escalation of the Middle East conflict over the past five months has increased the tension level at Google even further. In October, Hamas launched multipronged and deadly attacks on Israel, leading to a military response that's killed at least 30,000 Palestinians, with many more injured and facing starvation, according to the Palestinian enclave's Health Ministry. watch now In recent weeks, more than 600 Google workers signed a letter addressed to leadership asking that the company drop its sponsorship of the annual Mind the Tech conference promoting the Israeli tech industry. The event on Monday in New York featured an address from Barak Regev, managing director of Google Israel. A video of the employee protesting during the speech went viral. No cloud for apartheid, the employee yelled. Members of the crowd booed him as he was escorted by security out of the building. Regev then told the crowd, Part of the privilege of working in a company, which represents democratic values is giving the stage for different opinions." A Google spokesperson said the employee was fired for "interfering with an official company-sponsored event" in an email to CNBC on Thursday. "This behavior is not okay, regardless of the issue, and the employee was terminated for violating our policies." The spokesperson didn't specify which policies were violated. More questions about Gemini Google is far from alone among U.S. companies in facing increased pressure since the latest war broke out between Hamas and Israel. In October, Starbucks sued Workers United, which has organized employees in 400 U.S. stores, over a pro-Palestinian message posted on a union social media account. Starbucks said it was trying to get the union to stop using its name and likeness, as the post also drew protests from pro-Israel demonstrators. Boycotters said the company wasnt adequately supporting Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. McDonald's has been the subject of a boycott effort after a local franchisee in Israel announced in October that it was providing free meals to Israeli soldiers. Ahead of Google's International Women's Day summit on Thursday, called Her Power, Her Voice, some women filled the company's internal discussion forum Dory with questions about how the Israeli military contract and Google's AI chatbot Gemini are impacting Palestinian women. Some of the comments had hundreds of "upvotes" from employees, according to internal correspondence viewed by CNBC. One employee asked about Gemini's bias. Specifically, the person wrote that when asking Gemini, "Do women in Gaza deserve human rights?" the chatbot didn't have a response and directed the user to try Google search. But when the employee asked the same question of women in France, Gemini answered "Absolutely," followed by multiple bullet points backing up the assertion. CNBC replicated the search Thursday afternoon and found the same results. Late last month, Google paused its Gemini image generation tool after saying it offers "inaccuracies" in historical pictures, in response to a barrage of user complaints. Another highly-rated comment on the forum asked how the company is recognizing Mai Ubeid, a young woman and former Google software engineer who was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza along with her family late last year. (Some employees and advocacy groups gathered to honor Ubeid in New York in December.) One employee asked, "Given the ongoing International War Crimes against Palestinian women, how can we use the 'Her Power, Her Voice' theme to amplify their daily struggles?" The comment received over 100 upvotes. "It's essential to question how we can truly support the notion of 'Her Power, Her Voice,' while at the same time, ignoring the cries for help from Palestinian women who have been systematically deprived of their fundamental human rights," another said. As the number of comments swelled, Google prematurely shut down the forum. Google's spokesperson didn't address any of the individual posts but provided the following statement to CNBC: "We were pleased to host an event to celebrate International Women's Day. Unfortunately, before the event a series of off-topic and divisive questions and comments were posted to internal forums. Our internal community guidelines team routinely removes divisive content that is disruptive to our workplace, and did that here." WATCH: Google vs. Google Three Senate Democrats from auto manufacturing states on Thursday urged the Biden administration to hike import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to address national security risks, the latest push by lawmakers to protect the U.S. auto sector. Three Senate Democrats from auto manufacturing states on Thursday urged the Biden administration to hike import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to address national security risks, the latest push by lawmakers to protect the U.S. auto sector. "Allowing heavily subsidized Chinese vehicles to enter the U.S. marketplace would endanger American automotive manufacturing," said the letter first reported by Reuters, from Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. "Artificially low-priced Chinese EVs flooding the U.S. would cost thousands of American jobs and endanger the survival of the U.S. automotive industry as a whole." Auto industry officials told Reuters last month Biden is considering hiking tariffs on Chinese EVs and the letter is the latest in growing pressure on the White House to take further steps to prevent Chinese vehicle imports. The letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai urged "additional action this year to combat the economic and national security threat presented by China's efforts to infiltrate our U.S. market." The senators also asked Commerce to focus on the threat from potential imports of "highly connected Chinese vehicles and high-risk China-controlled connected and autonomous technologies." USTR did not immediately comment. India is seeking the release of its nationals who have been "duped" into serving in the Russian army, a spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said Friday, in a rare rift from Moscow. "Several Indian nationals have been duped to work with the Russian army. We have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian government for early discharge of such internationals," said spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. "A case of human trafficking has been registered against several agents." He appealed to Indian nationals to "not be swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian army. This is fraught with danger and risk to life," stressing that New Delhi remains "committed to early release of our nationals serving as support staff with the Russian army and the eventual return home." Late on Thursday, the Central Bureau of Investigation of India said it had raided several "major human trafficking networks" that were "targeting gullible youths" with offers of lucrative jobs abroad. The CBI identified at least "35 instances" of Indian citizens being sent abroad as a result of these operations. "These traffickers have been operating as an organized network and were luring Indian nationals through social media channels like Youtube etc and also through their local contacts/agents for highly paid jobs in Russia," the CBI said in a statement. Following their recruitment, Indian nationals were "trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes, thus, putting their lives in grave dangers." "It has been ascertained that some of these victims also got grievously injured in the war zone," the agency said. It comes amid a domestic labour crisis that has incentivized Indian nationals to seek jobs abroad. India's unemployment rate climbed to 8% in February from 6.8% in January, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), an independent think tank, as the country's economic expansion sharply outpaces job creation. A woman mourns in front of the grave of a fallen soldier killed during the current Russian-Ukraine war, in a graveyard in Lviv, Ukraine. When Mohammed Asfan from India's Hyderabad city travelled to Russia to work as a "helper" in the army, his family never imagined he would end up fighting in the Ukraine war, much less die there. Asfan is among several Indian men who, their relatives say, were lured to Russia with the temptation of lucrative job opportunities, only to be forced to fight at the front against their will. India's foreign ministry has said that every such case brought to its attention has been "strongly taken up". "We have an understanding that something like 20-odd people are stuck, we are trying our level best for their early discharge," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week. The Russian foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It was a post on YouTube promising a job and permanent residence after six months that led Asfan, previously a manager at a clothing store, to Russia, leaving behind his wife and two children, both under the age of two. "He called us from the Ukraine border to tell us his passport had been seized and he was being made to fight...he asked for help but by then he was already stuck," his brother, Imran, said, speaking to Reuters a day after being informed of Asfan's death. An Israeli army with large number of tanks, armored personnel carriers, military bulldozers and helicopters continue to attack from air and ground ahead of Ramadan in Khan Yunis, Gaza on March 7, 2024. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images An Israeli tank crew killed a Reuters reporter in Lebanon in October by firing two shells at a clearly identified group of journalists and then "likely" opened fire on them with a heavy machine gun in an attack that lasted 1 minute and 45 seconds, according to a report into the incident published on Thursday. The report by the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, or TNO which was contracted by Reuters to analyze evidence from the Oct. 13 attack that killed visuals journalist Issam Abdallah found that a tank 1.34 km away in Israel fired two 120 mm rounds at the reporters. The first shell killed Abdallah, 37, and severely wounded Agence France-Presse, or AFP, photographer Christina Assi, 28. A Reuters investigation in December covered TNO's preliminary finding that a tank in Israel had fired at the journalists. In its final report on Thursday, the institute revealed that audio picked up by an Al Jazeera video camera at the scene showed the reporters also came under fire from 0.50 caliber rounds of the type used by the Browning machine guns that can be mounted on Israel's Merkava tanks. "It is considered a likely scenario that a Merkava tank, after firing two tank rounds, also used its machine gun against the location of the journalists," TNO's report said. "The latter cannot be concluded with certainty as the direction and exact distance of (the machine gun) fire could not be established." Photographers take pictures of the damaged camera of late Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah (portrait) during a joint press conference by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International in Beirut on Dec.7, 2023. The Israeli strike that killed Abdallah, 37, and injured six others in southern Lebanon on October 13 merits a "war crime" investigation, the rights groups said. - | Afp | Getty Images Reuters could not independently determine if the Israeli tank crew knew it was firing on journalists, nor whether it also shot at them with a machine gun and, if so, why. Neither of the two surviving Reuters reporters or another AFP journalist at the scene remembered the machine gun fire. All said they were in shock at the time. In response to Reuters questions about the TNO report, the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, said it responded to attacks from Lebanese militants Hezbollah on Oct. 13 near Hanita with artillery and tank fire to remove the threat, and subsequently received a report that journalists had been injured. "This incident will continue to be examined by the General Staff's Fact Finding and Assessment Mechanism, which is an independent, expert body, responsible for examining exceptional events that take place during war," it said in a statement. "The IDF deplores any injury to uninvolved parties, and does not deliberately shoot at civilians, including journalists. The IDF considers the freedom of the press to be of utmost importance while clarifying that being in a war zone is dangerous," the IDF said. International humanitarian law bars attacks on journalists as those in the news media have the full scope of protection granted to civilians and cannot be considered military targets. "We condemn, in the strongest terms, the attack on a clearly identifiable group of journalists, working in the open. The attack killed our colleague Issam Abdallah and injured several others. We reiterate our calls on Israel to explain how this could have happened and to hold those responsible to account," Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni said. AFP Global News Director Phil Chetwynd reiterated his call for a thorough and transparent investigation by the Israeli military. "If reports of sustained machine gun fire are confirmed, this would add more weight to the theory this was a targeted and deliberate attack," he said. watch now Ihtisham Hibatullah, Al Jazeera's manager of international communications, urged the Israeli government to disclose the findings of its own investigation. "This incident strongly indicates intentional targeting, as confirmed by investigations, including by TNO," he said. Lebanon's Minister of Information did not respond to a request for comment. To read the 70-page TNO report, which explains how the independent research institute in The Hague triangulated the firing point of the tank rounds and analyzed the audio of the machine gun fire, click here. TNO noted that the seven journalists were wearing blue flak jackets and helmets, most with "PRESS" written on them in white letters. They had been filming cross-border shelling from a distance in an open area on a hill near the Lebanese village of Alma al-Chaab for nearly an hour before the attack. Video footage of the aftermath of the attack also showed a black car belonging to Reuters marked "TV" in large yellow letters made out of tape on both the hood and the roof. TNO said there was a clear line of sight from where the tank rounds were fired to the scene of the attack. In the live TV feeds ahead of the attack, one or more drones can be heard and an Israeli helicopter was also visible overhead in some footage. The institute was able to determine exactly where the two tank rounds came from because it had video of the second round's muzzle blast and flight, in addition to audio files recorded at the scene of the incident. TNO's analysis of the machine gun fire showed that the "only reasonable match" was for a 0.50 caliber weapon fired from 1.34 km away the same distance as the tank rounds but the audio recordings were not sufficient to determine the firing point. However, the fact the bursts of bullets came so quickly after the tank rounds, coupled with the analysis, led TNO to conclude it was "likely" they came from the same place. The independent institute did not offer any other scenario for the origin of the machine gun fire. About 30 seconds after the second tank round, there was a burst of some 25 shots from a machine gun, followed by bursts of nine and 12 shots. Just over 30 seconds later, there were three shots, then a single shot and a metallic ping, which may have been the bullet hitting a low wall near the camera, TNO said. Reuters photographer Thaier Al-Sudani, 47 cameraman Maher Nazeh, 53, as well as two journalists from Al Jazeera and another from AFP were also wounded in the attack. Ofcom said it received evidence showing Microsoft makes it less attractive for customers to run its Office productivity apps on cloud infrastructure other than Microsoft Azure. Customers also couldn't rely on perpetual licenses they had already purchased to run Microsoft applications on so-called "listed providers" like Alibaba, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft itself. They'd have to buy new licenses, instead. Meanwhile, some software, including Office 365 Windows Apps, was forbidden from running on rival clouds. The allegations stem from tweaks Microsoft made to its licensing terms in 2019. Under those rules, Microsoft required firms to purchase a Software Assurance license and "mobility rights" if they wanted to deploy their Microsoft software on hosted cloud services offered by rival providers. The claim came in a complaint from CISPE, a trade body for "infrastructure as a service" cloud firms in Europe. It also comes as the Redmond, Washington-based technology giant is facing intense scrutiny over its cloud computing and software licensing practices in the European Union, as well as the U.K. and U.S. Microsoft was accused Friday of abusing the dominance of its Azure cloud computing unit to squeeze a and, in some cases, evaporate the profit margins of rival cloud platforms in Europe. The terms are the source of intense anger from competing cloud firms in Europe, like France's OVHCloud and Italy's Aruba, as well as Big Tech competitor Amazon. It also formed the basis of an investigation from the European Commission seeking to determine whether Microsoft's cloud practices are anti-competitive. "This information is outdated, adds nothing new, and appears to be more of the same advocacy funded by Amazon seeking to maintain its market position," a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC via email. "We continue to focus on working with European cloud providers to resolve any concerns they have." In 2022, Microsoft President Brad Smith previously wrote a blogpost saying it was revising its licensing deals and making it easier for cloud providers to compete. In its complaint Friday, CISPE which is heavily funded by Amazon showed an example in its research where one member cloud firm, the name of which was not disclosed, saw revenues from selling Microsoft products including Windows Server, and SQL Server services climb over 300% since 2018, contributing to Microsoft's own growth. But the growth of the unnamed cloud vendor's profit margins didn't match Microsoft's, and in fact the competing cloud vendor saw their margins fall from a positive mid-twenties percentage in 2018 to double-digit negative profit margins in 2023. The biggest decline in profit margins for this cloud firm occurred in 2019, the same year Microsoft changed its licensing terms to favor licensing software on Azure, the CISPE said. From 2019 to 2020, the CISPE member concerned saw their margin collapse from over 20% to zero. CISPE also said that members shared evidence that the price they were charged for Microsoft's SQL Server was much higher than the price quoted by Microsoft for customers using Azure. For example, a company licensing Microsoft's software for hosting and delivering their applications would have to pay 612.27 euros ($670) per 2-core SQL Server Enterprise product, 92.01 euros more than what Microsoft charges customers using Azure on average (520.26 euros), according to the CISPE's data. The complaint and the findings add to previous research from Frederic Jenny, a professor of economics at ESSEC Business School in Paris who specializes in competition law, for CISPE. Jenny found that Microsoft effectively charges businesses a 28% "tax" to run its software products on competing cloud services. The AI tool now also blocks requests to generate images of teenagers or kids playing assassins with assault rifles a marked change from earlier this week stating, "I'm sorry but I cannot generate such an image. It is against my ethical principles and Microsoft's policies. Please do not ask me to do anything that may harm or offend others. Thank you for your cooperation." "This prompt has been blocked," the Copilot warning alert states. "Our system automatically flagged this prompt because it may conflict with our content policy . More policy violations may lead to automatic suspension of your access. If you think this is a mistake, please report it to help us improve." Prompts such as "pro choice," "pro choce" [sic] and "four twenty," which were each mentioned in CNBC's investigation Wednesday, are now blocked, as well as the term "pro life." There is also a warning about multiple policy violations leading to suspension from the tool, which CNBC had not encountered before Friday. Microsoft has started to make changes to its Copilot artificial intelligence tool after a staff AI engineer wrote to the Federal Trade Commission Wednesday regarding his concerns about Copilot's image-generation AI. When reached for comment about the changes, a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC, "We are continuously monitoring, making adjustments and putting additional controls in place to further strengthen our safety filters and mitigate misuse of the system." Shane Jones, the AI engineering lead at Microsoft who initially raised concerns about the AI, has spent months testing Copilot Designer, the AI image generator that Microsoft debuted in March 2023, powered by OpenAI's technology. Like with OpenAI's DALL-E, users enter text prompts to create pictures. Creativity is encouraged to run wild. But since Jones began actively testing the product for vulnerabilities in December, a practice known as red-teaming, he saw the tool generate images that ran far afoul of Microsoft's oft-cited responsible AI principles. The AI service has depicted demons and monsters alongside terminology related to abortion rights, teenagers with assault rifles, sexualized images of women in violent tableaus, and underage drinking and drug use. All of those scenes, generated in the past three months, were recreated by CNBC this week using the Copilot tool, originally called Bing Image Creator. Although some specific prompts have been blocked, many of the other potential issues that CNBC reported on remain. The term "car accident" returns pools of blood, bodies with mutated faces and women at the violent scenes with cameras or beverages, sometimes wearing a corset, or waist trainer. "Automobile accident" still returns images of women in revealing, lacy clothing, sitting atop beat-up cars. The system also still easily infringes on copyrights, such as creating images of Disney characters, including Elsa from "Frozen," holding the Palestinian flag in front of wrecked buildings purportedly in the Gaza Strip, or wearing the military uniform of the Israeli Defense Forces and holding a machine gun. Jones was so alarmed by his experience that he started internally reporting his findings in December. While the company acknowledged his concerns, it was unwilling to take the product off the market. Jones said Microsoft referred him to OpenAI and, when he didn't hear back from the company, he posted an open letter on LinkedIn asking the startup's board to take down DALL-E 3, the latest version of the AI model, for an investigation. Microsoft's legal department told Jones to remove his post immediately, he said, and he complied. In January, he wrote a letter to U.S. senators about the matter and later met with staffers from the Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. On Wednesday, Jones further escalated his concerns, sending a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan, and another to Microsoft's board of directors. He shared the letters with CNBC ahead of time. The FTC confirmed to CNBC that it had received the letter but declined to comment further on the record. Microsoft on Friday said that Russian group Nobelium, which the company refers to as Midnight Blizzard, has been trying to access its internal systems and source code repositories. "In recent weeks, we have seen evidence that Midnight Blizzard is using information initially exfiltrated from our corporate email systems to gain, or attempt to gain, unauthorized access. This has included access to some of the company's source code repositories and internal systems," Microsoft said in a blogpost. "To date we have found no evidence that Microsoft-hosted customer-facing systems have been compromised." Microsoft said Midnight Blizzard was trying to access secrets, including those shared between Microsoft and its customers, but that it was reaching out and helping affected customers. "Midnight Blizzard has increased the volume of some aspects of the attack, such as password sprays, by as much as 10-fold in February, compared to the already large volume we saw in January 2024," it said. "Here we are in front of the ship in Cartagena, Colombia, during our first port." Last year, I paid $50,000 to go on a four-month cruise that took my family and me to 30 countries. My husband, our 12-month-old daughter and I shared one room that doubled as my floating office. We spent 60 days at sea and 50 days in port, and we visited six continents. This was the most expensive trip we've ever taken, but it was worth it. I see the money spent as an investment not just in travel, but in a collection of memories that we will treasure forever. Here's why it was some of the best money I ever spent: I didn't have to plan everything for a change I'm no stranger to long-term travel. From 2015 to 2018, we lived in our RV and drove across the country. For the last five years, we lived on our sailboat full-time, and I ran my online business, Making Sense of Cents from there. DON'T MISS: The ultimate guide to earning passive income online We love this lifestyle, but managing it takes a lot of effort. You have to account for repairing broken equipment, sailing in overnight shifts, keeping track of multiple routes and preparing for all kinds of weather and potential dangers. "Our room for four months months on the cruise, with our balcony view." Photo: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner We spent so many years constantly on the move, but I couldn't remember the last time we took an actual vacation. Stepping onto the ship, a lot of that mental load lifted. We only unpacked once and the cruise line handled most of the visa process for us. It was so nice to not to have to cook or do dishes for four months. We did do a fair amount of laundry inevitable with a baby but we booked our room next to the laundry room on our floor to avoid any additional hassle. "Here we are in front of the ship in Cartagena, Colombia, during our first port." Photo: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner I bonded with my family in a unique way After our daughter was born, the idea of a world cruise piqued our interest. While she was still young, we thought it would be fun to slow down, travel with fewer responsibilities, and focus on being new parents. When we embarked on our adventure, our daughter the youngest passenger on board. She was a veteran seafarer at that point, having lived on our sailboat (which we docked in Florida while we were away) since she was just a day old. "My daughter and I swimming at a public beach in Moorea, French Polynesia." Photo: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner Since the rooms on the ship were so close together, at first we were concerned that a crying baby wouldn't exactly endear us to our neighbors. It turned out that the cruise was full of grandparents who missed their grandkids, so it actually worked out quite well. There were few families on board, but we befriended another couple with a toddler and got together for many playdates. I set a goal to go to as many international playgrounds as we could, and we visited at least 20. Our daughter even took her first steps on the trip, on a beach in Moorea, French Polynesia. I got to experience many different cultures The cruise started in Florida. Then we we traveled through the Panama Canal, the lush tropical islands of French Polynesia, the beautiful scenery of New Zealand, amazing cities in Asia and historic sites in the Mediterranean. We're usually very slow travelers. For example, when we lived on our sailboat, we spent six months in the Bahamas every year. So it was a rare opportunity to see so many different places in such a short time frame. "We visited Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Oman." Photo: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner Some of my favorite stops were Australia, Oman, Thailand, Turkey, Montenegro, Spain, Mexico and the Canary Islands. While the sights were incredible, to me, one of the best parts of the journey was being a part of this ephemeral, floating community. I loved getting to know everyone on board, guests and crew. We're still in touch with many of our neighbors and we took some genuine friendships home with us. I became better at living in the moment I can stare at the ocean forever. That's one of the reasons why I loved living on our sailboat for so many years. We even splurged on a room with a balcony, so we could go outside and take in beautiful views whenever we wanted. The tranquil days at sea were wonderful, although I think it was a little easier for me to relax than my husband. He was so used to being the captain of our boat, dealing with weather and fixing everything, but eventually he embraced the slower pace, too. "Our last stop of the cruise, at the beach in Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain." Photo: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner Shares of Nvidia have risen 280% over the past year thanks to surging sales of its chips that power artificial intelligence applications. However, the Silicon Valley company isn't alone in the AI-fueled rally. Investors are also ploughing their money into companies buying these chips, amid expectations that AI will help improve productivity and profits. CNBC Pro screened for companies that are customers of Nvidia, and also have total returns that are highly correlated with the chip giant in other words, their share prices tend to rise and fall in tandem with Nvidia's. Super Micro , Tokyo Electron Device , Meta Platforms , Tata Motors and Mitsui are among the stocks that have seen the most significant gains over the past year. According to FactSet, their share price movement correlates between 93% and 98% of the time with Nvidia's stock. The above table also shows the strength of the monetary relationship between the AI chip buyers and Nvidia, according to FactSet. Microsoft , for example, holds the relationship rank of No. 1 as it is Nvidia's biggest customer of AI chips. TSMC is ranked No. 2 as it is Nvidia's near-exclusive contract chip manufacturer. Meta While the drivers of each stock's rally might vary, Meta revealed earlier this year that it is spending billions of dollars on Nvidia's popular computer chips, which are at the heart of artificial intelligence research and projects. The owner of Facebook and Instagram needs these heavy-duty chips as it pursues research in artificial general intelligence (AGI), which Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has described as a "long-term vision" for the company. Super Micro Super Micro, which makes computer servers, has benefitted directly from using Nvidia's AI chips in its products. Tech investor Paul Meeks, co-chief investment officer at Harvest Portfolio Management, told CNBC Pro that Super Micro is his favorite alternative AI stock . The stock has risen by over 1,000% over the past 12 months. " Super Micro makes customized servers that are used by AI customers, so it uses Nvidia's chips in their servers and ... [Super Micro] sells their servers to folks like Microsoft, and then they put them in a data center. And so Super Micro has done a pretty good job of transitioning its focus to AI customers," said Meeks. Tokyo Electron Device Tokyo Electron Device is a distributor of Nvidia's chips in Japan. The country wants to become a leading investment destination for generative AI deployments and has relaxed laws that typically raise copyright infringement risks in developed markets. Tokyo Electron Device is a listed subsidiary of Tokyo Electron , Japan's largest chip-manufacturing equipment maker. Shares of the company have rallied more than 180% over the past 12 months. Mitsui Japanese conglomerate Mitsui is building Tokyo-1, a supercomputer that is designed to power generative AI for the pharmaceutical industry. The supercomputer will utilize a large number of Nvidia's most powerful GPUs. The stock is up almost 60% over the past 12 months. CNBC's Jonathan Vanian and Weizhen Tan contributed reporting. Gateway Healthcare is at 1549 Washington Street. It's the first space in the Midland Towne Center as you enter from Washington. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Nurse Practitioner Shawn Bunch, left, and Practice Manager Jen Purifoy are shown at Gateway Healthcare in Midland. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Patients enter this reception area at Gateway Healthcare in Midland. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Gateway Healthcare offers fruit, coffee, tea and water in the reception area. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News This is an isolation room at Gateway Healthcare in Midland. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News This is a handicap-accessible scale at Gateway Healthcare in Midland. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News This is a handicap-accessible patient examination place at Gateway Healthcare. It can be automatically lowered to floor level. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Practice Manager Jen Purifoy empathizes with every patient who comes through the door at Gateway Healthcare in Midland, because she sees herself in them. "Im ALICE. Im the population that we serve," Purifoy said, explaining that her family was without health care for 13 years due to not qualifying for Medicaid based on her income, but also not being able to afford office visits. Gateway, a nonprofit clinic offering family and urgent care which opened in 2022, aims to fill the health care gap for those in the category of asset limited, income constrained, employed, or ALICE. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We dont treat somebody based on their ability to pay," Purifoy explained. "So if youre qualified, which is 300% of the federal poverty limit for one person, thats about $44,000 and youre either uninsured or underinsured, you will never pay more than $40 for an office visit with us." Gateway also recently introduced a Basic Share Plan, which offers employers a way to ensure health care for part-time employees by paying $8 a week in exchange for an annual physical and any office visits during the year with a $15 co-pay. "That will help us be sustainable long-term," Purifoy said. Gateway, which has its own board of directors and is overseen by Messiah Lutheran Church, is located at 1549 Washington and is the first space in the Midland Towne Center plaza as one enters from Washington. The clinic is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When a patient comes in for the first time, Gateway will typically spend an hour getting to know them and their needs - including employment, food, transportation, child care, or any other areas. As part of a network of nonprofits connected to Messiah, Gateway is able to help patients find assistance with those other needs. "We tap into other community resources that we partner with to help address those issues if they have them," Purifoy said. "Well give them a gift card to go to The Bridge (Food Center) and get healthy food options. If they have transportation issues, were going to send them over to His Hands Auto." Gateway Clinic Director Jim Mier also emphasized this idea of what he called "wrap-around care." Advertisement Article continues below this ad "The people that we're helping, they're broken in a lot of ways," Mier said. "We don't just treat them for medical issues. We spend time talking about food, housing, counseling, transportation. ... We've had patients come back and say, 'I was suicidal. You saved my life.'" Mier explained that the clinic was born from a conversation between Messiah Pastor Ed Doerner and a member of Messiah who runs Midland Express Urgent and Family Care. "We would go to The Bridge Food Center and we just kept running into people who were choosing between health care and food," Mier said. "Ed approached me about three years ago with the idea of starting a clinic." Gateway originally opened as part of Midland Express at Cambridge and Dartmouth in July 2022 and then moved to its current location last May. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gateway is a faith-based clinic, but Purifoy emphasized that it's open to everyone regardless of their background. "What differentiates us in that aspect is we offer to pray with our patients," she said. "If our patients say no, thats fine. If they say yes, then we do so. We dont push that onto patients." Shawn Bunch, one of the two nurse practitioners at Gateway, said MyMichigan Medical Center's emergency room sometimes refers patients to Gateway if a doctor is not available at the time. "They get (patients) over there and they cant find somebody to take them once they get discharged from the emergency room. So they call us, and were the only people who will take people directly from the emergency room," Bunch said. "And the hospital does the best they can, I think. But theres just not care (available) for a lot of people." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Purifoy said Gateway is eager to serve more people from the community, even though they know they may soon outgrow their current space. And the clinic depends largely on donations. "Bring us the patients, and it doesnt matter how much or how little insurance you have," she said. "We do accept insurance, but realistically we will never be profitable off of insurance because of the demographics that we serve, which is fine. So donations are huge, especially reoccurring donations." Purifoy anticipates a large increase in patients, saying that about 400,000 Michigan residents this year will be losing Medicaid coverage that was provided due to COVID. "Ideally, if we could eventually purchase a building instead of renting, that would be more cost-effective," she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Only 43% of women have asked for a raise, according to a study by Indeed. Asking for a pay raise is no easy feat, particularly for women. More than half of women around the world have never asked for a raise before, according to a 2024 study by job listings site Indeed. Of the 43% who asked, three in four received a pay increase. Additionally, 61% of women globally believe "they need to work harder for recognition than their male counterparts," according to the survey, which polled more than 14,500 women across 11 countries. According to research from Indeed, here's the percentage of women who have asked for a raise in each country surveyed: One Asian country stands out from the pack: India. Women in India were the most confident, with 65% of the respondents saying they have sought out a pay raise in the past. "Female respondents in India were consistently more optimistic than their global counterparts," Nishita Lalvani, marketing director for India and Southeast Asia at Indeed, told CNBC Make It. Indian women also reported having more satisfaction when it comes to steps their employers were taking to close the gender wage gap. However, women in Japan and Singapore were the least confident when it came to asking for a salary increment, the survey showed. Only 13% of women in Japan and 32% in Singapore said they've asked for a raise before. Globally, 24% of the women surveyed said they lacked opportunities to ask, while 28% said they were afraid of negative consequences. Additionally, 28% of women said they did not have the confidence to bring up the conversation. "Women generally find it more of a challenge to self-advocate for a promotion and/or pay raise," Aileen Tan, chief human resources officer with AIA Singapore said. Having the drive and ambition are crucial if you want to build a successful and fulfilling career. This must be coupled with the ability to deliver and execute on plans. Alieen Tan Chief human resources officer, AIA Singapore "I learnt early in my career that 'nothing ventured, nothing gained,'" she told CNBC Make It. "It is equally important to be willing to raise your hands and step out of your comfort zone because all opportunities will come with its own set of risks." Here are six tips on how to best navigate a salary negotiation, according to HR experts. Do your research Prior to the conversation, it is important to find data on salary benchmarks for your role online and discuss with peers so you can be best informed before entering the meeting, said Pooja Chhabria, career expert and Asia-Pacific head of editorial at LinkedIn. It's imperative to have "clarity of thought" about what you think your compensation should be prior to the discussion, she told CNBC Make It. Be confident Although having the salary conversation can be daunting, ultimately, being well prepared will help you find confidence during the conversation. Practicing with a friend or a mentor beforehand can also help you identify ways to perfect your delivery. "I always believe that it takes a lot of effort to look effortless. So that confidence will always come from having that clarity of thought having done that research," she adds. It is also important to understand what your manager and company cares about, and to keep that in mind throughout your conversation. After all, the point of a negotiation is to reach a "mutually beneficial outcome." Prepare your pitch Preparing your pitch should begin before the conversation is set to take place. It is important to include specific achievements, and be prepared to address any objections from your manager. "Be very clear about what is it that you're going to tell your manager, starting with showcasing your value [and] giving examples of industry benchmarks," Chhabria suggests. It's also important to "address concerns where there could be constraints around budgets," she said. Additionally, "having a mentor to advocate for you is key," says Aileen Tan. "[My mentor] helped me build up confidence and provided a good sounding board." Schedule a meeting It is important to schedule a meeting in advance and to make clear that you would like to discuss compensation and career development. Don't spring the conversation on your manager unexpectedly or frame it casually. Additionally, be strategic with the timing of the meeting. "For example, if everybody's really busy with the launch a new product launch and everybody's really all hands on deck, maybe that's not the right time," she says. Showcase your value As they like say for college essays: "Show, don't tell." It's the same with salary negotiations. It's crucial to bring examples of how you've helped solve problems and create a positive impact in the past. Quantifying your examples with numbers can also help during your negotiation. "Communicate the impact that you've driven through your role, through your work, through the results that you've driven, tying it back to what the company and your team objectives are," Chhabria suggests. Be professional Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jrgensen on Friday said the company's experimental weight loss pill, amycretin, could eventually become a best-in-class treatment for obesity. The Danish drugmaker is racing to capitalize on the runaway success of its blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy by developing a new generation of treatments for obesity, including more convenient and potentially cheaper pills. His remarks came one day after Novo Nordisk impressed investors with early-stage trial data on amycretin. Patients on the pill lost about 13.1% of their weight after 12 weeks, Jrgensen said on CNBC's "Money Movers." That surpasses the 6% weight loss seen in those who took Wegovy after the same time period. It also adds to the growing enthusiasm around the potential of weight loss pills. Ivy League schools faced a slew of controversies in the last year over admissions policies, political stances and elitism. But many college-bound students are undeterred. Harvard College ranked as the top "dream school" for students applying to college this year, a recent Princeton Review survey found. Several other Ivy League institutions Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University and Brown University also made the top 10. There's plenty of good reasons students may want to attend an Ivy League or similarly prestigious institution. The data supporting an Ivy League education's positive impact on future earnings and overall success is well documented. As such, it's getting harder and harder for high schoolers to get into the ultra-competitive schools. Still, you don't need an Ivy League degree to make a good salary after college. While Ivy League schools and private colleges more broadly often dominate rankings for colleges where graduates earn the most, plenty of public colleges and universities boast high earnings for graduates and, often, more accessible pathways to success. Compensation research firm Payscale compiled data on how much college alumni earn early in their careers (with 0-5 years of experience) and later in their careers when they have 10-plus years of experience. These are the public schools where grads earn the most based on their early career salaries: 1. United States Merchant Marine Academy* Median salary, early career: $98,400 $98,400 Median salary, mid-career: $165,200 *Enrollment comes with a five-year service obligation. 2. Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus Median salary, early career: $89,700 $89,700 Median salary, mid-career: $163,500 3. University of California Berkeley Median salary, early career: $88,300 $88,300 Median salary, mid-career: $167,000 4. Colorado School of Mines Median salary, early career: $87,800 $87,800 Median salary, mid-career: $165,700 5. State University of New York Maritime College Median salary, early career: $86,800 $86,800 Median salary, mid-career: $165,400 6. California State University Maritime Academy Median salary, early career: $82,600 $82,600 Median salary, mid-career: $156,200 7. Oregon Health & Science University Median salary, early career: $82,100 $82,100 Median salary, mid-career: $117,600 8. Missouri University of Science and Technology Median salary, early career: $81,600 $81,600 Median salary, mid-career: $141,500 9. SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Median salary, early career: $81,000 $81,000 Median salary, mid-career: $121,700 10. Massachusetts Maritime Academy Median salary, early career: $81,000 $81,000 Median salary, mid-career: $132,600 Several factors can influence how much money you make after graduation, from the major you choose to the city you live in after school. Notably, many of these schools may have high-earning alumni because of their emphasis on science and technology degree programs which often translate to high-paying jobs. Ultimately, if get your bachelor's degree, there's a good chance you'll be better off financially than those who didn't. The first step to earning that degree is choosing the right college for you based on your academic, social and financial needs. That might be an Ivy League school with international recognition and a proven record of successful alumni. But it could also be a lesser-known college that gives you a better financial aid package or offers a better program for your field of study. With the right mindset, you may find a fulfilling and lucrative career regardless of the college you attend. Want to land your dream job in 2024? Take CNBC's new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview to learn what hiring managers are really looking for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay. CNBC Make It readers can save 25% with discount code 25OFF. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. Microsoft on Friday said that Russian group Nobelium, which the company refers to as Midnight Blizzard, has been trying to access its internal systems and source code repositories. "In recent weeks, we have seen evidence that Midnight Blizzard is using information initially exfiltrated from our corporate email systems to gain, or attempt to gain, unauthorized access. This has included access to some of the company's source code repositories and internal systems," Microsoft said in a blog post. Microsoft said Midnight Blizzard was trying to access secrets, including those shared between Microsoft and its customers, but that it was reaching out and helping affected customers. "Midnight Blizzard has increased the volume of some aspects of the attack, such as password sprays, by as much as 10-fold in February, compared to the already large volume we saw in January 2024," it said. Microsoft first said in January that it had detected a cyberattack from Nobelium, which saw the Russian group hack emails from top executives. Sophie Kiderlin Trump advisor Steve Bannon (L) watches as President Donald Trump greets Elon Musk, SpaceX and Tesla CEO, before a policy and strategy forum with executives in the State Dining Room of the White House February 3, 2017 in Washington, DC. Former President Donald Trump and his allies on the Republican National Committee want to convince Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to speak at the GOP convention in July, people familiar with the matter told CNBC. Republican leaders believe that giving Musk a speaking slot at the convention could lead to some of his fans boosting what has been the party's historically lagging support among young adult voters on Election Day, said a source with knowledge of that belief. Trump is expected to be confirmed at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, event as the Republican presidential nominee, setting up a rematch of his 2020 contest against President Joe Biden in the election this November. Musk's potential speaker role was disclosed after he reportedly met with Trump and a group of wealthy Republican donors last weekend in Palm Beach, Florida. It is not clear if Trump or his allies have raised the idea with Musk. That sitdown came days before the former president's landslide victories in the Super Tuesday primaries, which led his last major challenger, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, to drop out of the nomination contest. The people who spoke to CNBC for this story were granted anonymity to describe private conversations. If Musk, who also owns the social media site X, does appear at the convention, it would be an implicit, and possibly explicit, endorsement of Trump's candidacy. Peter Thiel, who is Musk's long-time financial backer and fellow PayPal co-founder, served a similar purpose when he spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention, which first nominated Trump for president. One of the sources familiar with the matter noted that interest from RNC leadership to have Musk speak at the convention had already been discussed with Ronna McDaniel, the RNC chair who resigned at the committee's Houston meeting on Friday. That source said that new RNC chair Michael Whatley likely will be in favor of inviting Musk to speak, as will the new RNC co-chair Lara Trump, the former president's daughter-in-law. Representatives for Trump and the RNC did not reply to requests for comment. Musk did not reply to a request for comment. It remains to be seen if the RNC will invite Musk, or if he wants to attend the convention. Musk, who has a reported net worth of nearly $200 billion, this week said that he does not plan to donate money to the campaigns of either Trump or Biden. But a person familiar with last weekend's Florida meeting said that some of Trump's advisors are hoping that Musk will start supporting the Republican candidate. Musk has not publicly ruled out donating money to a pro-Trump political action committee, or a nonprofit organization supporting the former president's policies. Musk previously voiced support for the Republican presidential candidacy of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who suspended his campaign in January after dismal primary results against Trump. Musk also hosted an event last year on Twitter Spaces for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is seeking the White House as an independent candidate. Musk did not endorse Trump in the Republican's two prior campaigns, in 2016 and 2020. And the two have clashed in the past. In June 2017, Musk abandoned a Trump White House advisory council, citing the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris climate accord. In July 2022, Trump blasted the mega-billionaire for saying he had never voted for a Republican before casting a ballot earlier that year for a GOP candidate in Texas for a special House election. "He said the other day, 'Oh, I've never voted for a Republican,' " Trump said at that rally. "He told me he voted for me, so he's another bulls--- artist." Musk within days tweeted, "I don't hate the man, but it's time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset. Dems should also call off the attack don't make it so that Trump's only way to survive is to regain the Presidency." While Musk has continued to characterize himself as "moderate," his public political commentary has been moving rightward for years. And his social and political commentary in posts on X have become more bombastic since late 2022, when he led a leveraged buyout of the social media company, then known as Twitter. Earlier in 2022, Musk said that he would vote for Republicans over Democrats in the congressional midterm elections that year. In a series of tweets on Tuesday, as voters around the United States were casting ballots in presidential primaries, Musk baselessly accused Biden of "treason," while bashing his handling of immigration in the United States. When he took control of X, Musk said that he would reinstate Trump's account on the platform, which Twitter's prior leadership had banned for life in the wake of the deadly riot by Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. That riot disrupted for hours a joint session of Congress that was meeting to confirm the Electoral College victory of Biden. Trump, who subsequently launched his own social media company, Truth Social, previously had said that he would not return to X even if Musk reversed the ban. Trump made an exception to that vow last summer, when he posted his jailhouse mug shot taken after he was booked on Georgia state criminal charges related to his attempt to undo his loss to Biden in that state's presidential election in 2020. That post is linked Trump's campaign website, which allows people to donate to his reelection effort and a to political action committee that pays for his mounting legal bills Thiel, a former Facebook board member, told The Atlantic last fall that he does not plan to financially back any Republican candidates, including Trump. Thiel also said in that interview that Trump's presidential administration, which spanned January 2017 to January 2021, was "crazier" and "more dangerous than I thought." "They couldn't get the most basic pieces of the government to work," Thiel told the media outlet. "So that was I think that part was maybe worse than even my low expectations." Female members of the Ukrainian Army's 128th Carpathian Mountain Assault Brigade train in different combat scenarios as they prepare to join the frontline in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on July 15, 2023. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images War, the military, combat, the frontline all traditionally seen as a "man's world" despite the many official and unofficial contributions that women have made both on the battlefield and on the home front in conflicts over the centuries. Women's role in warfare is rapidly changing in the modern age, however, and particularly in Ukraine where Russia's invasion has prompted thousands of women to sign up and serve in the military, both on the frontline and in non-combat roles. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense said last October that almost 43,000 women are currently serving in the military, a 40% increase since 2021, before Russia's full-scale invasion. Female combatants in Ukraine say the war is changing societal perceptions of a woman's strength, capabilities and worth, but change doesn't happen overnight. Sexism, prejudice and discrimination are still rife, they told CNBC, and they feel they constantly have to prove themselves to their male colleagues. Female members of the Ukrainian Army's 128th Carpathian Mountain Assault Brigade train in July, 2023. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images "On the battlefield, due to the fact that you are a woman, you must prove your ability to perform a combat mission with quality. On the other hand, if you're a man, you don't need to prove anything," noted Iryna Tsybukh, a combat medic in the Hospitallers Medical Battalion for the last four years. "This discrimination is manifested in the doubt of the commander who does not want to give you difficult tasks because he is afraid that you will not fulfil them because you are a woman," she said in emailed comments to CNBC. Tsybukh described her current role as a "crew chief in a very female-friendly unit," saying she felt safe and respected by her peers because of the high-quality of her work. "But my example does not affect their general prejudice against women. They consider me and people like me to be an exception to the rule and they would [rather] choose a man, not a woman, for the task." A decade of change The status of Ukrainian women in the country's military started to change significantly 10 years ago when Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in Donbas in eastern Ukraine. A simmering conflict in the region turned out to be a precursor to Russia's full-scale invasion of Feb. 2022. The conflict in Donbas acted as a call to arms for many women in Ukraine with the number of female military personnel more than tripling in the last decade; in 2014, the number of military servicewomen was around 14,000, Ukraine's defense ministry stated. By 2020, their number had more than doubled with more than 31,000, representing 15.6% of the total number of personnel at that time. As of Oct. 2023, there were around 43,000 servicewomen with an estimated 5,000 on the frontline, the ministry said. Female members of the Ukrainian Army's 128th Carpathian Mountain Assault Brigade train. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images In the past, women in the armed forces had also been restricted to certain roles such as logistics, communications or medical roles, although that has changed in the last few years. In 2016, Ukraine's defense ministry opened more combat positions for women and this was expanded in 2018, allowing women to officially serve in roles such as as infantry commanders, armored vehicle gunners and snipers. Former journalist and current sniper Olena Bilozerska told CNBC that she recognized that some very physical roles were better suited to men, but that didn't preclude women from performing a variety of military roles well. "Of course, I'm not treated exactly as men are, but this is impossible at least, because an average woman will always be physically weaker than an average man, and this has to be taken into account," she said via email. "At anything else, military women are no different from men ... [and] the more women there are who perform their duties well, the better the attitude towards military women becomes. Of course, the attitude cannot change fundamentally in one day, or even a year, it is a long process," she said. Bilozerska has been able to see that process take place, having first joined a volunteer battalion in 2014 when Russian proxies were advancing in Ukraine's east. She became prominent in the movement calling for women to be able to take up combat roles in Ukraine's armed forces, a move that came into force in 2016 and to have their previous service recognized. Bilozeska became an officer in 2018 and was then the commander of an artillery platoon for two years in Donetsk before "retiring" in 2020. Olena Bilozerska, a Ukrainian journalist who became a sniper in 2014. Bilozerska has raised the profile of female soldiers in Ukraine and has become a target of Russian propaganda, falsely declared dead a number of times. Olena Bilozerska A week before Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022, she said she, her husband and other "brothers in arms" signed up at a military unit in anticipation of the invasion. Since 2022, she has returned to her role as a sniper and has achieved a legendary status in Ukraine for her abilities and courage, so much so that Russia has tried to spread fake news about her "elimination." It's something she's positive about, however, saying it means the Russians haven't forgotten about her: "That means they are afraid," she says. Nonetheless, Bilozerska has her own experience of discrimination among her peers, noting "every woman in the military has her own story, even several, about how she was not allowed somewhere because she was a woman, or that somebody was allowed to make offensive remarks." Ukrainian female soldiers are seen before heading to the frontline as Ukrainian displaced civilians continue to swarm around the train station to flee due to ongoing Russian attacks, in Lviv, Ukraine on March 24, 2022. Metin Aktas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Bilozerska recalled one of her own experiences when she was in a truck with eight other male colleagues, including a commander. The truck got stuck in Ukraine's infamous mud and the men got out to push the vehicle. "I didn't go as I considered it unnecessary because there were more than enough men and I wouldn't even have a place near that truck (although when there were only three of us in a similar situation, then I pushed together with the men). The guys quickly pushed the truck out, turned back, and the commander tells me: 'That's why I'm against women being accepted into the army. Because we have nine fighters on paper, but only eight in reality'," she said. "Of course, the longer the war lasts, the more women are on the front lines, the better the treatment becomes," Bilozerska noted, "although there are still military men who are convinced that if there are no girls at the front lines in their unit, then there are no girls at the front lines at all." Reinvention Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeatedly praises the efforts of the country's female defenders; last International Woman's Day thanking "all the women who work, teach, study, rescue, heal, fight fight for Ukraine." Ukraine's defense ministry is also keen to highlight efforts it has made to level the playing field for female recruits. Last October, it said it had "canceled all restrictions on the access of servicewomen to all positions" in the army, noting that "earlier, women could serve mainly in positions of medical specialties, communications workers, accountants, clerks and cooks. Now, a woman in the army can be a driver, grenade launcher, deputy commander of a reconnaissance group, commander of BMP [a Soviet-era infantry fighting vehicle], repairman, machine gunner, sniper, etc," the ministry said on Telegram. Previously, a contract for military service was signed by women aged 18 to 40, while men did not face the same restriction. "Now, from 18 to 60 years of age, representatives of both sexes can become contractors," the ministry noted. It's a far cry from 2021 when Ukrainian female troops were photographed practising for a parade wearing high heels with onlookers calling the policy sexist and idiotic. While positive changes are being made to encourage equality in the forces, there is still some way to go with reports of sexual harassment as well as discrimination, although the ministry has vowed to root "unacceptable" behavior out. Women in military uniforms pose for a photo during the presentation on February 1, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has held a presentation of military uniforms for women with 50,000 sets produced in Ukraine. Global Images Ukraine | Global Images Ukraine | Getty Images One area of progress has been propeled by women, for women, and that's in the area of uniforms, protective gear and essential supplies. Kseniia Drahaniuk was a blogger before the war but she now runs a not-for-profit that has developed and made properly-sized army clothing and equipment for women. "[Before] women improvised various solutions, sewing their own uniforms with local tailors, altering men's clothing to fit, or using belts for adjustments. However, dealing with these challenges during full-scale war significantly impacted their service productivity. These were not tasks military servicewomen should have been burdened with," she told CNBC. She says her organization, Zemlyachky, has now fulfilled 15,000 individual requests for uniforms, body armor, helmets, properly-sized footwear, undergarments, and other necessities. It has also provided psychological support and rehabilitation to female soldiers. For some, it has even offered free weddings as soldiers try to continue to have a "normal life." For many, war has forced a complete change of identity with former lives barely recognizable to their service on the frontline now. Yuliia, who preferred not to give her last name for security reasons, was a model before the war but volunteered soon after Russia's invasion and is now serving as a paramedic in an assault regiment in the war's hotspot, Donetsk. Yuliia, whose call sign in "Diia" or "Action" (call signs are used to quickly identify colleagues and speed up communication in the army) is part of a medical crew evacuating wounded fighters, civilians and even animals. "I also meet the bodies of fallen soldiers, this is the most difficult line of work," she told CNBC over email. Former model Yuliia has served as a paramedic in an assault regiment in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. Yuliia Browser Compatibility Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Looking for something to do this weekend? Here's a list of nonprofit and community events taking place in Mecosta County in the next two weeks. Pioneer image Looking for something to do? The Stay Local events calendar publishes a list of nonprofit and community events Tuesdays and Fridays. Please check with your club or organization to be certain of meetings, outings and classes. If any listing is inaccurate or to submit an event, contact Julie Norwood at 231-592-8358 or julie.norwood@pioneergroup.com or darren.iozia@hearst.com. (Deadline is noon Sundays for Tuesdays paper and noon Wednesday for Fridays paper.) Empowering Womens Conference: 6 p.m. Friday, March 8, and 10 a.m. Saturday, March 9, at Big Jackson Church, 4001 E. 13 Mile Road, Paris. Speakers include Sherry Underwood, Jane Rozier, Lori Jewett and Luz McGhee. Includes coffee/desert Friday evening and lunch Saturday. Cost: Free Morley Community Easter Event: 3 p.m. Saturday, March 9. More than 6,000 colored eggs filled with goodies will be scattered throughout the grounds. In addition to a bounce houses and a contest for best Easter trunk or treat, the Easter bunny will be on hand for pictures. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tuba Bach Presents MSU College of Music Series: 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 726 Fuller Ave., in Big Rapids. Featuring Fusion Winds, a woodwind quintet comprised of graduate students from Michigan State University. Scott Galloway presentation: 2 p.m. March 10 and 24, at Morley Community Center 151 E. 7th St., Morley. Former Morley Stanwood student will share stories of his many adventures. For more information visit morleycenter.org or call 231-598-1861. Apple Tree Pruning Workshop: 3-5 p.m. Friday, March 15, at 18900 14 Mile Road, Big Rapids. A hands-on, outdoor demonstration. Please bring pruning shears if possible. Free event. RSVP by March 1 at 989-309-9229. Presented by the Mecosta Conservation District. Annual Spring Indoor Market: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at Morley Community Center, 151 E. 7th St., Morley. Local crafters, artisans and vendors including new, repurposed and vintage items. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tuba Bach Presents MSU College of Music Series: 4 p.m. Sunday, March 17, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 726 Fuller Ave., in Big Rapids. Featuring pianist Qianshan Yun. Souper Supper: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, at Three Girls Bakery, 106 N Michigan Ave., Big Rapids. Tickets are $20; $10 ages 6-17; age 5 and younger free available at the door or at projectstarburst.org/souper-supper. Proceeds support Project Starbursts food pantry. AAUW Book Sale: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, March 22, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at First United Methodist Church, 304 Elm St. Proceeds fund scholarships for nontraditional Ferris students. If you have questions, please call 614-282-4396 or email aauwbigrapids@gmail.com. EGGstravaganza: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at Trinity Fellowship EFC, 15085 220th Ave., Big Rapids. Family event with Egg Hunts (toddlers to fifth grade), craft stations, bounce houses, face painting, snacks, and more! Advertisement Article continues below this ad Spring Craft Show and Expo: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at the Big Rapids Eagles, 18361 16 Mile Road, Big Rapids. Features jewelry, soaps, woodworking, crocheting, bake sale, raffles and lunch with soup options, sandwiches and hot dogs. Proceeds support donations to local charities made by the Eagles Auxiliary. BIG RAPIDS PARK AND REC. For more information, contact Josh Pyles at 231-592-4038. Co-ed Volleyball: Every Sunday beginning Jan. 14 at the Big Rapids Middle School, 500 N. Warren Ave. Time is to be determined. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Delay the Disease Fitness for Parkinsons: 1-1:45 p.m. Thursdays through May 9 at the Style Station, 1619 Catherine St. Cost: $2 per participant. Groove: 6-7 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 11-May 16, at the Big Rapids Middle School Cafeteria, 500 N. Warren Ave. Cost: $5. Latin Dance Fusion: 6-7 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 8-May 13, at the Big Rapids Middle School, 500 N. Warren Ave. Cost: $5. Pickleball: 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 8-10 a.m Fridays through May 10 at Ferris State University Racquet Facility, 14342 Northland Dr. Cost: $5. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Walking Program: 4-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday through March 31 at the Big Rapids Middle School, 500 N. Warren Ave. No walking program Fridays or any non-school days. ONGOING PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES Kiwanis Club of the Big Rapids Area: 6:30 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month at United Church Fellowship Hall, 120 S. State, Big Rapids. For more information, visit facebook.com/bigrapidsmikiwanis. Mecosta County Historical Museum: The museum is closed for the winter. To schedule a private tour, call 520-334-0123, 231-796-4662, or 231-867-3311. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mecosta County Genealogical Society: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. second Saturday of each month, or by appointment, at 424 N. Fourth Ave., Big Rapids, next to Recycle. Open for the public to research genealogy or the history of Mecosta County and surrounding areas. Volunteers needed to help with sorting and indexing. Call Maureen Nelson at 231-250-5555 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Reed City Heritage Museum: Open from 1-4 p.m. Friday through Tuesday at 138 W. Slosson Ave., Reed City. Free admission. Groups are welcome. Mecosta County Sheriff Posse: 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Mecosta County Jail basement training room, 225 S. Stewart Ave., Big Rapids. This volunteer group is always looking for more members. For more info call 231-250-9241. Wheatscouts: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the second Saturday of each month (October-May) at the Gladys Wernette Classroom, 7251 50th Ave. Remus. A free workshop for kids that introduces folk arts and traditional music. All ages welcome. Parents required to stay on-site during the event. RSVP by calling 989-967-8879 Advertisement Article continues below this ad Wheatland Jamboree: 2-5 p.m. the second Saturday of each month at the Wheatland Cabin, 7251 50th Ave Remus. A free informal gathering of acoustic musicians. Open to the public; all levels and abilities welcome. Morley Community Center: 151 E. 7th St., Morley. For more information please visit the Morley Community Center Facebook page or call 231-598-1861. Cardio Drumming: 3-4 p.m. Sundays. Cost: $2 per session. Pickleball: 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays. Requested donation: $5. Free Kids Play Group: 9-11 a.m. Mondays, 5-7 p.m. Thursdays. Euchre Night: 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays. Requested donation: $5. Community Coffee: 9-11 a.m. Fridays Garage Sales: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Community Potluck: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. first Thursday of each month. Blood Drive: second Monday of odd numbered months. Feeding America Food Distribution: third Thursday of even numbered months. Community Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Third Avenue United Methodist Church, 226 N. Third Ave., Big Rapids. The community lunch program has re-opened. This is a free meal service, although donations are appreciated. For more information call 231-796-4157 or 231-796-6779. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Swiss Steak Dinner: 4-6:30 p.m. the last Friday of every month from April-October at the Barryton Senior Center, 71 Northern Ave., Barryton. Open to the public; everyone is welcome. Meal includes Swiss steak, potato, gravy, veggies, roll, beverage and pie. Cost: $10. Proceeds support the senior center. ARTWORKS CLASSES, EXHIBITS 106 N. Michigan Ave. in Big Rapids / 231-796-2420 / artworksinbigrapids.org After School Art: 3:45-5:15 p.m. Wednesdays. For ages 7-13. Cost: Free. Class capacity is 12 children; drop-ins are welcome on a first come, first serve basis. Registration is encouraged by calling 231-796-2420 no earlier than the Monday prior to each weeks class. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Open Pottery: 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost: $10 per session, $70 for an eight-session punch card. (Additional fees may apply.) Call 231-796-2420 to schedule your session. Open Basket Weaving: 6-8 p.m. Thursdays, March 7-April 25. Cost: $10 to drop in. This is not a class; its an opportunity to work on individual projects in a group setting. Bring your own project; kits available for $30 each. No need to preregister. Art Attack Exhibit: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, March 4-April 12 in the Baldorff Gallery. Opening reception is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, March 10. John Battle Exhibit: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, through March, in the Alley Gallery. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. An all-sky aurora, during a level 7 to 9 geomagnetic storm, as the display began already active in the twilight of a solstice night at the south shore of Crawling Valley Lake and Reservoir in southern Alberta. VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Friday, March 8, is forecasted to be an active night for viewing the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Weather permitting, active auroral displays will be visible overhead from Inuvik, Yellowknife, Rankin and Iqaluit to Juneau, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Sept-Iles, and visible low on the horizon from Vancouver, Great Falls, Pierre, Madison, Lansing, Ottawa, Portland and St. Johns, read a portion of a report from the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a visual map of the northern lights forecast for March 8, 2024. NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The aurora sky show is forecasted in response to a hyperactive solar cycle that is expected to peak this year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad NASA describes the phenomena as a sun burp, adding the sun has lots of energy and small particles, many of which the planets magnetic field offers protection from, and there is a constant streaming solar wind, and there are also solar storms. During one kind of solar storm called a coronal mass ejection, the sun burps out a huge bubble of electrified gas that can travel through space at high speeds, a portion of NASAs website states. The particles then interact with gases in our atmosphere, resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky. Of all the gullible saps in Arlen, Texas, there might not be a single one who is easier to trick than Strickland Propanes own Hank Hill hell, just ask Buck Strickland. Hanks earnest traditionalism makes him the perfect protagonist for King of the Hill. Not only does he firmly believe that there is one right way for all red-blooded, rule-abiding American men to live their lives, but Hank also automatically assumes that everyone he meets lives by his own narrow code until proven otherwise and, sometimes, for a long while after that. Hank is honest to a fault, which means that he has a harder time sniffing out dishonesty than he does smelling marijuana, or, as he thinks its called, an inferior grade of tobacco. Damn NAFTA. Hanks honorable naivety has led to some of the most iconic moments in King of the Hill history, which we have power ranked for propane enthusiasts everywhere. Here is our list of Hanks best Oh, honey! moments, starting with 5 Hank Thought Gale Was Just Smoking A Hand-Rolled Cigarette With A Weak Flame Ah, the light that launched a thousand bong decals. You gotta wonder whether, when Hank unintentionally ripped the reefer in High Anxiety, he ever would have figured out that Gale was on the ganja if the eBay aficionado hadnt told Hank what he just smoked. You can imagine Hank getting home and firing up the propane grill to cook up a couple medium rare steaks while remarking to himself, That Mexican tobacco sure does make a man hungry. Still, this slip-up is nothing compared to what happened later in the same episode when Advertisement 4 Hank Let Buck Convince Him That He Killed Debbie in A Doobie Haze Buck Strickland probably wasnt planning on Hank finding the shotgun shell he planted in Hanks truck the very night he launched his scheme to frame Hank for his mistress murder. But Buck definitely didnt anticipate that, upon finding the faked evidence wedged into the front seat of his ride, Hank would actually believe Bucks lie and convince himself that he committed the crime in a marijuana-induced stupor that somehow wiped his memory of the events. Thankfully, Hanks actual memory of Gales eBay auction was better than his understanding of weed. Advertisement Advertisement 3 Hanks Plan to Lose Snoop Dogg During the Car Chase Ho Yeah! was probably the greatest episode in King of the Hill history for exploring Hanks naivety of the nastier side of the world, but arguably the best bit in the entire episode was when Hank thought that the sleazy pimp Alabaster Jones, voiced by the D-O-Double-G, would consider breaking traffic laws to be a bridge too far in his criminal career. The Mack Daddy of Heimlich County was mistaken. Advertisement Advertisement 2 Hank Tried to Help Luanne Join the Mile High Club As heinous as that sounds to us, that title wouldnt mean much of anything to the most gullible uncle-niece duo in Texas who thought that some airport creep was trying to help Luanne join an esteemed association of air travelers in Happy Hanks Giving. Well, technically, thats exactly what the off-screen sleazeball was trying to do to Luanne, but she and Hank would be shocked and surprised to find that the application would be more of an audition. Advertisement Advertisement Like standup comedy where every single thing is funny and doesn't waste your time? Follow Cracked Comedy Club on Instagram and YouTube for exactly that. Self-proclaimed Alpha King Nima Yamini went viral earlier this week with his video claiming that as an up-and-coming comedian, he and another young hopeful were promised online stardom by two Hollywood executives. There was only one caveat they would have to exchange certain oral favors for fame and fortune. I immediately got up and walked to the door, Yamini said, describing how the other comedian was hard at work servicing both executives at the same time before he could even get out of the room. That guys name was Matt Rife. The outrageous story was clearly made up with details too ridiculous to possibly be true. But Rife, rarely one to ignore online jabs, isnt letting this provocation go. TMZ reports that Rife believes the video constitutes defamation and hes considering legal action. We're told Matt's sick of people using his name to gain clout which is obviously how he feels about Nima here, who appears to have no serious track record in comedy and our sources say Matt wants to stand up for himself. Rife isnt saying anything on his social media, but the report has Yamini backpedaling hard and fast. First, he pinned a tweet accusing TMZ of not getting his side of the story. Yamini admits that TMZ did contact him but he was with his wife, so it doesnt count. No wonder nobody trusts media these days. Advertisement Advertisement Then earlier this morning, Yamini posted a new video that reveals the truth between Matt Rife and me. Advertisement Advertisement It was a parody video, Yamini explains, though what exactly he was parodying isnt clear. Its satire! Its jokes! The problem wasnt the original lies but the conspiracy account that reposted Yaminis video as truth. Not my intention, no permission, Yamini says about his publicly posted video that can be retweeted and shared by anyone without permission. Dont know Matt Rife, Yamini says. Never met him. But my silly joke should not discredit him or his hard work Translation: My silly joke should not become the basis of a defamation lawsuit. Yamini goes on to compare himself to The Onion, asking the online community to stop hating based on rumor, gossip and lies. Fair enough but where exactly does the Alpha King think those rumors and lies started? Although it was canceled after only a handful of episodes, Dana Carveys primetime sketch show, the aptly-titled The Dana Carvey Show, has maintained a cult following over the years, thanks in no small part to the talent that was involved with the show; the writing staff included future Oscar-winner Charlie Kaufman (as well as future comedy pariah Louis C.K.), and a cast that boasted Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Robert Smigel and Bob Odenkirk. In retrospect, it seems pretty wild that any network would cancel a show featuring these future mega-stars, not to mention objectively hilarious material like the recurring stupid pranksters sketches, in which Carvey and Carell bailed on people after either paying them or providing free labor. But The Dana Carvey Show was pretty much doomed from the start, as evidenced by how it kicked off the entire show with a memorably bizarre sketch in which Bill Clinton breastfeeds a baby and several adorable puppies simultaneously, thanks to his numerous lactating nipples. Oh and Clinton has also been surgically fitted with a hens ass to keep a nest full of eggs warm. Even David Cronenberg would be weirded out by this stuff. Advertisement Advertisement Today, the show is mostly remembered for being very funny, but ultimately too weird and daring for network television at the time. That being said, not all episodes were winners. One sketch in particular was shockingly, mind-bogglingly racist. Like, this show had a sketch called Skinheads From Maine and thats not even the sketch were talking about. Advertisement Advertisement Yeah, by far the worst sketch in the history of The Dana Carvey Show was themed around the Academy Awards. The joke is that the nominees for Best Foreign Language Animated Short Subject are from countries other than the U.S., and therefore, theyre total morons who dont understand how award shows work. In the two-minute segment that Carell likely wishes could be obliterated from the internet forever, the future star of The Office donned brownface to play a Pakistani filmmaker, while Carvey played a South Korean filmmaker with an accent so horrific, were surprised that Lorne Michaels didnt burst through the set like the Kool-Aid man to immediately offer him an SNL hosting gig. The only reason we can think of as to why there wasnt a massive backlash to this sketch is that nobody on Earth was actually watching The Dana Carvey Show. These days, the creatives behind the show seemingly understand that the sketch was totally unacceptable. In the 2017 documentary Too Funny to Fail: The Life & Death of The Dana Carvey Show, Colbert accurately noted that it was "possibly the most racist sketch ever committed to tape" and potentially career-ending today. You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). "Mirador De La Flor," the Selena memorial statue in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 6, 2024. Robin Bradshaw This month marks the 29th anniversary of the murder of Selena Quintanilla-Perez, and while her death touched fans around the world, her legacy has continued for nearly three decades. Selena, the South Texas Tejano star known as the Queen of Tejano, was one of the first break-out stars representing the Mexican-American community. Her untimely death made headlines in 1995 when her then-manager, Yolanda Saldivar, shot her in a Corpus Christi hotel at the age of 23. While her life was cut short, theres no denying her long lasting legacy and relevance to this today. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Mirador De La Flor," the Selena memorial statue in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 6, 2024. Robin Bradshaw "Mirador De La Flor," the Selena memorial statue in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 6, 2024. Robin Bradshaw In most recent years, the Netflix Selena series was released in 2020, the Selena MAC cosmetics line is rumored for a re-launch after much success, and Moonchild Mixes, the new digitalized album in 2022 was released, a young Selena recording at age 13 with cumbia beats and early ballad tracks her brother created and not to mention the celebrated landmarks in her hometown of Corpus Christi. The entire town is a tourist attraction honoring Selena, offering a tour guide to explore and experience all things" Selena. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Mirador De La Flor," the Selena memorial statue in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 6, 2024. Robin Bradshaw Known as the Mirador La Flour the Selena statue and memorial site is a tourist attraction where, on any given day, a flock of fans are listening to her music and biography on speaker while overlooking the bay with florescent lights showcasing the statue. Riots police stand in front of the Parliament as a fire from a molotov cocktail is seen in the background during a students demonstration in Athens, Greece, Friday, March 8, 2024. Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Athens to oppose government plans to introduce privately-run universities, following weeks of demonstrations including scores of university building occupations by students. Lawmakers were to vote on the measure later Friday with the bill expected to pass. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Riots police clash with students in front of the Parliament during a demonstration in Athens, Greece, Friday, March 8, 2024. Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Athens to oppose government plans to introduce privately-run universities, following weeks of demonstrations including scores of university building occupations by students. Lawmakers were to vote on the measure later Friday with the bill expected to pass. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP University students march during a demonstration in central Athens, Greece, Friday, March 8, 2024. Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Athens to oppose government plans to introduce privately-run universities, following weeks of demonstrations including scores of university building occupations by students. Lawmakers were to vote on the measure later Friday with the bill expected to pass. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP University students march during a demonstration in Athens, Greece, Friday, March 8, 2024. Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Athens to oppose government plans to introduce privately-run universities, following weeks of demonstrations including scores of university building occupations by students. Lawmakers were to vote on the measure later Friday with the bill expected to pass. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP University students march during a demonstration in Athens, Greece, Friday, March 8, 2024. Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Athens to oppose government plans to introduce privately-run universities, following weeks of demonstrations including scores of university building occupations by students. Lawmakers were to vote on the measure later Friday with the bill expected to pass. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Riots police clashes with students in front of the Parliament during a demonstration in Athens, Greece, Friday, March 8, 2024. Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Athens to oppose government plans to introduce privately-run universities, following weeks of demonstrations including scores of university building occupations by students. Lawmakers were to vote on the measure later Friday with the bill expected to pass. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Riots police stand in front of the Parliament as fires from molotov cocktails thrown by protestors are seen in the background, during a students demonstration in central in Athens, Greece, Friday, March 8, 2024. Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Athens to oppose government plans to introduce privately-run universities, following weeks of demonstrations including scores of university building occupations by students. Lawmakers were to vote on the measure later Friday with the bill expected to pass. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Riots police clashes with students in front of the Parliament during a demonstration in Athens, Greece, Friday, March 8, 2024. Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Athens to oppose government plans to introduce privately-run universities, following weeks of demonstrations including scores of university building occupations by students. Lawmakers were to vote on the measure later Friday with the bill expected to pass. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Riots police stand in front of the Parliament as fires from molotov cocktails thrown by protestors are seen in the background, during a students demonstration in central in Athens, Greece, Friday, March 8, 2024. Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Athens to oppose government plans to introduce privately-run universities, following weeks of demonstrations including scores of university building occupations by students. Lawmakers were to vote on the measure later Friday with the bill expected to pass. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Riots police stand in front of the Parliament as fires from molotov cocktails thrown by protestors are seen in the background, during a students demonstration in central in Athens, Greece, Friday, March 8, 2024. Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Athens to oppose government plans to introduce privately-run universities, following weeks of demonstrations including scores of university building occupations by students. Lawmakers were to vote on the measure later Friday with the bill expected to pass. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Riot police clash with university students during a rally in Athens, Greece, Friday, March 8, 2024. Thousands of protesters have gathered in central Athens to oppose government plans to introduce privately-run universities, following weeks of demonstrations including scores of university building occupations by students. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greek lawmakers approved sweeping reforms early Saturday that will end the state monopoly on university education, breaking what powerful left-wing student groups have long regarded as a major taboo. Hours before the vote, which began Friday evening and ended after midnight, protesters attacked police outside parliament with petrol bombs and firecrackers as some 18,000 people demonstrated in central Athens against the proposed legislation. Police charged a few dozen violent demonstrators and fired tear gas. A police statement said nine members of the public and seven officers were injured, while three suspected rioters were arrested. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Friday's rally followed weeks of demonstrations that included scores of university building occupations by students. Nevertheless, opinion polls indicate that most Greeks agree with the creation of privately-run universities. Lawmakers present in the 300-seat parliament voted 159-129 in favor of the bill. Announcement of the result was delayed until after midnight by three lawmakers from a small leftwing party, who remained seated and studied a printout of the draft law for over two hours after everyone else had cast their ballots and left. The party had earlier said it would vote against the bill. Greeces center-right government has argued that the reform would help attract skilled workers back to the country. We must say a resounding yes to this measure as a guarantee of greater freedom and greater access to knowledge for all Greek students, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament ahead of the vote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At Friday's rally which was mostly peaceful the students were joined by a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and marchers from an event marking International Women's Day. Among them was Anna Adamidi, a philosophy student, whose placard bore the words, "International Womens Day: We Struggle. We Strike. We Fight. This government wants to privatize everything ... but at the same time, the cost of living is going up and up and our wages remain pitiful, she said. The private sector comes in and dismantles public (education), making use of resources that they will pay nothing for. Opposition parties were broadly against the bill, arguing that it violates the constitution and could create a two-tier system for students. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The (government) is introducing the concept of meritocracy paid by tuition fees. Whoever has money will study: the power of privilege, lawmaker Harris Mamoulakis, for the main left-wing opposition party Syriza, said during the three-day debate. Education reforms in Greece are often politically charged, with university activism historically linked to pro-democracy movements but also later used as a refuge for violent protest groups. Although some private higher education is already legal in Greece, the new law would make degrees from vetted private institutions equivalent to public universities. Overseas universities would be allowed to open branches in Greece using a nonprofit status, despite charging tuition fees. More than 650,000 students are currently enrolled at state-run universities in Greece and an additional 40,000 are studying abroad, according to Education Ministry officials who briefed lawmakers before this weeks debate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Russian state-sponsored attackers who breached the corporate email accounts of several senior Microsoft employees and security team members in November have been using information stolen from those mailboxes to access internal systems. Some of the emails also included secrets that Microsoft exchanged with customers and which could potentially be used in further attacks, the company warns. In recent weeks, we have seen evidence that Midnight Blizzard is using information initially exfiltrated from our corporate email systems to gain, or attempt to gain, unauthorized access, the company said in an update on its investigation Friday. This has included access to some of the companys source code repositories and internal systems. To date we have found no evidence that Microsoft-hosted customer-facing systems have been compromised. Midnight Blizzard is Microsofts designation for a group also known in the security industry as Nobelium or APT29 and which according to the US and UK intelligence agencies, is part of Russias Foreign Intelligence Service, the SVR. APT29 has been responsible for many high-profile attacks over the years, including the 2020 SolarWinds supply chain compromise. In January, Microsoft announced that the group managed to gain access to a legacy test tenant account on its infrastructure using a password spraying attack. This is a technique where attackers attempt to access an account using a list of passwords compromised in other breaches. In this case the attackers limited the number of attempts and the time between them to evade detection and automatic rate limiting. The test account did not have multifactor authentication turned on and had access to an OAuth application that had further elevated access to Microsofts corporate environment. The attackers then created their own OAuth applications and used the compromised account to give them the full_access_as_app role to the companys Office 365 Exchange Online. This role provides full access to mailboxes. The attack happened in November, but Microsoft detected it on January 12, so the attackers had access to Microsofts corporate email system for over a month. During this time, they accessed the mailboxes of employees working in leadership, cybersecurity, and legal positions, including employees who were investigating the APT group itself. Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photos: Getty When our landlord warned my husband and me in the early pandemic that wed eventually have to leave our apartment to make way for his college-age son, I shook his outstretched hand. Id moved around a lot; the prospect of relocating didnt seem dramatic. There were so many things I couldnt have imagined then. I didnt know that Montreal, the city I grew up in, where rents remained relatively stable for most of my life, would succumb to a global housing-affordability crisis. I didnt know that mortgage rates would skyrocket, or that the publishing industry would contract and Id lose my job. I sure as hell didnt know that Id have a baby. As all of these details revealed themselves, I told my landlord that I planned to give birth at home, or rather under the roof hed loaned us and would soon reclaim like an overdue library book. Oh, thats great, he said. The place will be full of good vibes for my boy. One year later our lease was terminated. Between the time I learned that I was pregnant in October 2021 and my daughters first birthday in June 2023, which coincided with the last month of our tenancy, the average price of a rental in the United States and Canada increased by about 20 percent. Meanwhile, the housing-vacancy rate in Montreal plummeted to 1.5 percent, as it did in New York City. During night feedings, clutching the phone so as not to drop it on the babys bobbing head, I browsed the meager listings for places twice the cost and half the size of the one we were giving up. In the dark I convinced myself that we should hold out for something decent, that our child deserved and demanded it. I was furious that we were in the position of hoping for two bedrooms in this economy. Is it possible were being too picky? my husband dared ask. The following week I filled out applications for two different rentals and didnt so much as get a call back. If you werent the first to visit, you didnt stand a chance. We saw dozens of apartments, each more cramped and shittily constructed than the last. We also applied to 50 housing cooperatives, and had a couple of interviews, but came up empty-handed. We couldnt find anything we could afford that wasnt a subbasement or falling apart. Mostly, we shrugged off our looming eviction until, finally, we couldnt. Over the course of a summer weekend, I packed our boxes with the baby strapped to my torso and we shuttled them to a storage cube. Our friends offered up the spare bedroom in their modest flat. We could stay as long as we wanted, they said. Before I was a mother, I sustained myself under capitalism by erasing my body. Thats a thing you can do when youre in relatively good health and no one depends on you. For two years I lived in New York without insurance; once, when the pain was so great I couldnt ignore it anymore, I goaded a friend into performing a minor medical procedure on my scalp in his TV room. In one of my apartments, the shower butted up against a mini-fridge topped with a hot plate, so I could cook while I rinsed my hair. To avoid the astronomical cost of living, I have slept on other peoples couches, shared too-small rooms with too many roommates, made a home in a tent and also in a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan with stow-and-go seats. If youre willing and able enough to disregard all of your physical needs, it becomes possible to avoid confronting the busted institutions that are supposed to help us care for ourselves. But my child is pure physical need. She dragged me back to my body. She needed to nurse every two hours, and I needed a comfortable place where I could feed her and be naked all of the time. She needed to crawl, and then waddle, down the corridor. Her needs, though rudimentary, manifested as countless objects: a high chair, a play mat, a white-noise machine, blackout curtains. In the grip of the housing crisis, I briefly fantasized about selling them all and stuffing her back into the shelter of my uterus. We werent keen on moving into the van with a kid. We couldnt share a loft with four student musicians and separate the beds with curtains. Even if our landlord hadnt intervened, we would sooner or later have had to face the facts: We didnt have a nursery but a tiny, windowless office directly underneath the neighbors stairwell. Or maybe we would have tried to hang on to that apartment for all eternity. That home that seemed almost expensive when we began to rent it in February 2020 and that four years later seems so deliciously, improbably cheap. The only home our kid had ever known, the site of her entire existence. On moving day, I walked through the empty house with her; shed only recently taken her first steps. Here is the shallow bathtub you were born in and the tank that ran out of hot water right as I started to push. Here is the doorway your baby jumper hung from, so that you could bounce to your hearts content and we could job-hunt for five frantic minutes. Heres the room that held our dining table, until, in the last days of my pregnancy, we collapsed it and made way for the thin foam mattress where we spent the first hours of your life. For two weeks I lay on that mattress instead of in our bed. Then one night some visitors showed up for dinner and we brought the table back, only I was bereft to see it there. So we carried it out again, and in again, and out again. Were we still in that twilight that descends after birth or were we ready to entertain? Which part was over and which part was beginning? I hadnt been able to tell. Now both the dining table and the mattress were gone. The friends who took us in, whom my daughter calls Tata and Calico, are gorgeous and young and childless. They have an apartment thats perfect for a gorgeous, young, childless couple. And they keep it very clean. As in, they wash the dishes immediately after eating off them. They were aware of the messes and the dead-of-night crying and they invited us to live with them anyway. They said they wouldnt mind. I believed them because I know how much they love us and because I had to, but that did little to quell my anxiety. As soon as we arrived, the baby marched to their kitchen and emptied three drawers of utensils onto the floor. She tried to pull a ceramic bowl of fruit off the shelf. That evening, like most other evenings, she announced she was finished eating by upending her plastic Ikea plate and scattering corn niblets across the gray tile like seeds for next years harvest. Out of nerves, I swept twice a day. Tata swept four or five times a day. For the two months we camped out in our friends spare bedroom, the three of us me, my husband, and a 1-year-old who sleeps sideways shared a queen bed. I wedged baby clothes into an armoire filled with Tata and Calicos books. There was hardly any room for toys, so we packed them away in plastic tubs and left a few stuffed animals, a walker, and a sand pail in a corner of the living room, next to the printer and Calicos finished canvases. Every morning one of us drove half an hour to the only available day care while the baby protested in the backseat. Every afternoon, once wed returned, I chased her from one side of the apartment to the other, prying dirt from the plants from her grubby fists. I couldnt bear to ask our friends to childproof their space, even as she kept eating their small, fragile things. It was rough. It was also remarkably beautiful. Our friends cooked us dinners: breakfast burritos and coconut curries and green-bean casseroles. They surprised us with treats from the grocery store. They added our laundry to their own loads, moved our car on alternate-side parking days, watered our plants, mixed us drinks. We encouraged each others art. We cried in each others arms. Suddenly my husband wasnt the only adult around on the regular, which did wonders for our marriage. At a moment when I might have suffered from intense isolation, I was regularly enjoying and unburdening myself with companions. While the baby was sleeping, we chain-watched movies and ordered in dessert. While she was awake, they adored her so well that she repeated our four names like a mantra: Maman, Papa, Tata, Calico. One evening I heard her giggling like a maniac, which made me laugh before I even arrived at the scene: Calico was hunched over and pulling her around the kitchen in a cardboard box. Youll kill your back! I kept shouting at him giddily. But around and around they went, she in her footed pajamas, her hair still wet from the bath, her head pitched backward in delight. She wasnt lacking a single goddamn thing. There is no silver lining to systemic collapse. We dont owe a debt of gratitude to the housing authority that allowed for our eviction; it did not show us the way to community life. On the contrary, public policy insists on a culture of individualism and, when you come to rely on other people, society attempts to sell you the narrative that youve failed. We have not failed, of course. Our institutions have failed us. Community is a good solution to that failure a better solution than neglecting the body and pretty much the only way to manage with a dependent or an aging parent or a disability or a chronic illness if you arent rich. But community living shouldnt be a survival mechanism. As activist Mia Birdsong writes in How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community, Being free is, in part, achieved through being connected. In an alternate world where our systems work to keep us safe and secure and thrust us together rather than apart, caring for and being cared for by other people is not an act of desperation. It is a means of freedom, prosperity, and pleasure an avenue toward our thriving. A few months ago, we finally moved into a place close to day care, with a bedroom for the baby and a big old bathtub. We inherited the previous tenants rent, set in 2021, which is both under market and sufficiently high to have us in a choke hold. I wanted to feel some relief. Instead, I was overcome with stress and loneliness. In the end, we wanted all of it. A home spacious and affordable enough for two families, where the five of us could keep living together with ease. Lets look for something bigger, wed say to one another, though we knew that there was nothing bigger that wouldnt bankrupt us. In that crowded apartment, with our community, I started dreaming. I was feeding someone else, constantly, and so at last I let myself be hungry. Michael J. Cecchini Photo provided by City of Bay City Former Bay City Public Services Director Michael Cecchini pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault and battery Tuesday in Bay County District Court and was given a delayed sentence. Cecchini, 57, pleaded before Bay City District Court Judge Mark Janer. Cecchini, 57, to assaulting and battering a 19-year-old Bay City man, Travis Kram. The teen also filed a federal lawsuit against Cecchini in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on Jan. 25, 2023. Kram accused Cecchini of violating his constitutional rights and that case was settled monetarily. On Sept. 17, 2022, Cecchini reportedly struck Kram with a flashlight in the lower chest in Bay City. Kram was with two friends, riding Bird scooters. There was a verbal altercation before the alleged strike. The altercation continued until police arrived. One of the teens recorded the incident with a cellphone camera. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cecchini said the teens were disturbing the peace. On the video, he threatens to beat Kram's a--. The incident occurred at Ninth Street in front of Rivers Edge Apartments. The event was investigated by the Michigan State Police and turned over to Bay County Prosecutor Nancy Borushko. Cecchini announced his retirement on Oct. 2, 2022. Tereasa Nims can be reached at Tereasa.Nims@hearstnp.com Kirk Douglas and New York Governor Mario Cuomo meet in Amsterdam on June 1, 1985, the day city residents welcomed home their native son. About 28,000 people attended the parade for the s actor. . . TO THE EDITOR: A recent opinion letter by conservative columnist Marc Thiessen praised the legacy of departing Senate leader Mitch McConnell. What Mr. Thiessen failed to point out was that McConnell ALWAYS put himself and his political party ahead of his country. Advertisement Article continues below this ad McConnell wouldn't let the Senate consider Obama's Supreme Court nominee early in the 2016 election year. Then he later changed the Senate rules so he could ram through two conservative justices in 2020 before Trump left office. One could make a strong case that Mitch McConnell is the primary reason Roe vs. Wade was overturned, which then allowed many states to impose abortion bans. Despite overwhelming evidence that Trump tried to blackmail Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election, McConnell voted not to impeach him. He didnt support Trump's big lie about the 2020 election, and he publicly condemned Trump for provoking the Jan 6th insurrection. But then he refused to do the right thing and voted to acquit Trump yet a second time. At every opportunity he voted for big tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations that have increased the national debt by trillions, never created the investment and jobs promised, driven wealth upward, and stagnated middle-class income. McConnell likewise voted multiple times to repeal the extremely popular Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and deny healthcare to millions. He opposed rational gun control in the face of multiple mass shootings and majority public opinion, preferring instead to fill Republican coffers with support money from the gun lobby. He likewise fought against immigration reform, voting rights, and sensible campaign finance rules. He earned the nickname Moscow Mitch for blocking legislation to prevent future Russian interference in US elections. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Despite the view of pundits like Mr. Thiessen, history won't be kind to Mitch McConnell. He was an early architect for much of the dysfunction and extremism that dominates the Republican Party now. He really did nothing worthwhile for the majority of Americans and most are happy to see him gone. The only downside is that someone even more partisan and corrupt is likely to take his place. CRAIG SILVIS Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade in the government of national unity, Mohamed al-Haweij, has discussed with the Director General of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) aspects of cooperation in the implementation of the economic development plan and the location of industries in the country 'Study history. Study history,' Sir Winston Churchill told a Coronation lunch held in Westminster Hall in May 1953. 'In history lies all the secrets of statecraft.' One of the reasons Churchill was an historian himself was because he profoundly believed that a primary purpose for studying the past was to inform and encourage action in the present. So what are we to make of Foreign Secretary David Cameron's recent reference to history his powerful speech to the United Nations last month in which he equated Russia's actions towards Ukraine with the way that Adolf Hitler and the Nazis behaved in the 1930s? After the Russian ambassador tried to accuse Volodymyr Zelensky of being a Nazi, Lord Cameron responded by pointing out, correctly, that, 'The only people behaving like Nazis are Putin and his cronies who thought they could invade a country, take its territory and ultimately the world would look away.' Of course, there are serious political consequences that follow upon equating Vladimir Putin to Hitler, and one of them is that you need to put your money where your mouth is. 'Study history. Study history,' Sir Winston Churchill (pictured) told a Coronation lunch held in Westminster Hall in May 1953. 'In history lies all the secrets of statecraft' You cannot make the perfectly valid comparison, but then not spend the necessary money to counter the threat that you have just articulated in front of the whole world. You cannot act as Churchill did before the Second World War, which was to warn the world of the impending threat, but not then do what Churchill also did, which was to call for large-scale rearmament to deal with it. And yet there are absolutely no signs that the Government is prepared to do this. In Wednesday's Budget, Jeremy Hunt made no commitment to spending more on defence. Britain currently pays barely ONE-FIFTIETH just 2 per cent of her national income on her defence, and that figure can be reached only by adding the costs of such indirect defence items as widows' pensions and the intelligence services. At a time when we are witnessing the worst war in Europe since 1945 one that the Hitler-lite, Putin, now appears to be starting to win the British Army cannot fill its already-depleted ranks, the Royal Air Force is mothballing its fighter squadrons, and the Royal Navy can barely put a flotilla together to protect shipping in the Red Sea, while its recent Trident missile test was an embarrassing failure. Meanwhile, Russia is threatening to put nuclear weapons into space. In the 1930s, Churchill articulated the pressing need for boosting spending on all three services to deter the Nazis if at all possible, or to defeat them if not. Churchill started warning of the danger Nazi Germany posed within weeks of Hitler becoming Chancellor, telling the Commons on April 13, 1933, that, 'As Germany acquires full military equality with her neighbours... while she is in the temper which we have unhappily seen, so surely should we see ourselves within a measurable distance of the renewal of European war.' By November 1933, Churchill was speaking of 'the obvious fear which holds all the nations who are neighbours of Germany'. This also has its modern parallels with the way that Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland view Putin's Russia in a 2021 essay written before the full-scale invasion in which Putin laid claim to Ukraine being Russian, he mentioned Lithuania in a similar vein no fewer than 17 times. Of course, there are serious political consequences that follow upon equating Vladimir Putin to Hitler (pictured), and one of them is that you need to put your money where your mouth is Yet the British Army is in danger of becoming merely 'a domestically-centred land force' with no capacity for projecting force overseas to defend our allies, according to a leaked letter from General Sir Patrick Sanders, the Chief of the General Staff. As early as February 1934, Churchill was saying the RAF needed far more fighter and bomber aircraft, warning of how, after a declaration of war by Germany, 'within the next few hours the crash of bombs exploding in London and cataracts of masonry and fire and smoke will apprise us of any inadequacy which has been permitted in our aerial defences'. He was not listened to by a nation still mourning the Great War and fearing that rearming might provoke another, or by a government which thought him an opportunistic warmonger. Churchill recognised that far from provoking war, heavy Western rearmament might instead deter the man whom Lord Cameron has now compared to Putin. 'I could not see how you could prevent war better,' Churchill said in July 1934, 'than by confronting an aggressor with the prospect of such a vast concentration of force, moral and material, that even the most reckless, even the most infuriated leader would not attempt to challenge those great forces.' Instead, however, British rearmament was postponed until it was almost too late. 'Moral and material.' Churchill understood that the demoralisation of the West, the sense that democracies such as Britain and France were weak and divided, influenced the decision-making of the totalitarians in Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan. Similarly, moral vigour is desperately needed on the part of the United States, the G7, Nato and Britain today in order to deter countries such as Russia, China and Iran from ripping up the rules-based international order. No message would be stronger, especially in the aftermath of the suspicious death in custody of Alexei Navalny, than if the West were to sequester the $300billion of Russia's frozen assets presently being held in Brussels by Euroclear, and give it to Ukraine for its defence and reconstruction. That would be the Churchillian thing to do but does our Government have the anti-appeasing moral vigour to do it? We should all hope so fervently. In fact, the Government needs to do more than this. It must increase defence expenditure to a minimum of 3.5 per cent of GDP. The Budget would have been an ideal moment to show it plans to do so, but as we have seen Mr Hunt continues to sit on his hands. It's not as if an increase to 3.5 per cent would be an earth-shattering break with custom and practice. Historically, defence spending was around 5.5 per cent of GDP during much of the 1970s, and reached 6 per cent in the Falklands War in 1982. Neville Chamberlain's government finally woke up to the Nazi threat, and it was able to build the Hurricanes and Spitfires that saved Britain. The year of peace bought by the humiliating Munich Agreement was used by the Nazis to build much more weaponry and train many more soldiers than Britain, but nonetheless British air defences were in a much better state in 1940 than in 1938. Modern defence industries require far longer research and development lead times today than in the 1930s, so if rearmament is to take place using new technologies, there is no time to waste. We currently have only enough 155mm shells the standard type in this country for one week of fighting at the rate experienced in Ukraine today. Churchill would be sickened at the brinksmanship being practised by Britain in the presence of a clearly growing global threat to democracy by evil totalitarian and murderous regimes. Beside my desk is a framed letter from Aldous Huxley, who wrote, 'That men do not learn the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach us.' Given that the Foreign Secretary correctly used the Second World War as the analogy by which to judge our present dangers, where is the clear counterpart to that namely large-scale rearmament? Churchill wrote in his war memoirs how, back in the 1930s, his exhortations were ignored by fellow MPs. 'Although the House listened to me with close attention,' he said, 'I felt a sensation of despair. To be so entirely convinced and vindicated in a matter of life and death to one's country, and not to be able to make Parliament and the nation heed the warning, or bow to the proof by taking action, was an experience most painful.' Must we really undergo that pain all over again? Jude aims to break taboos around incontinence and open up the conversation A female-founded healthcare company has won 250,000 of DMG advertising after transforming the way society thinks about bladder care. DMG's Media Maestro competition, which launched just over a month ago, saw hundreds of start-ups compete to win the sought-after prize to help take their business to the next level. And winning company Jude aims to break what it calls Britain's 'last health taboo', opening up the conversation surrounding incontinence and the fact that 14 million people in the UK suffer from bladder problems (more than those with asthma, diabetes and epilepsy put together). For one in three women, a sneeze, a belly laugh, or a croaky cough can all end up with a side order of bladder leak. The healthcare company aims to break taboos around the bladder, open up conversations about incontinence and help people move on with their lives, leak-free. Peony Li is the founder of Jude, a healthcare company that aims to break the taboos around incontinence Selling supplements, underwear, and pads, it also offers personalised bladder care plans and a like-minded community. The company is founded by Peony Li, who has overseen dramatic growth for Jude in what can be a stigmatised sector, with the firm now seeing big sales through retail partnerships and Amazon. Peony Li, Founder at Jude, said: 'The alignment between Jude's customer base and DMG's readership is remarkably synergistic. 'Winning the MediaMaestro competition is fantastic for Jude because we can reach and re-engage with audiences in ways that online channels have not fully realised. 'I am especially enthusiastic about collaborating with the DMG team to challenge and dismantle the stigma associated with bladder care.' Taos Edmondson, Principal at dmg ventures, added: 'Following 200+ applications and a highlight competitive selection process, we're thrilled to be partnering with Jude and its brilliant founder, Peony, to bring their important message and products to our audience.' The competition saw 200+ applications from brands of all sizes, specialising in everything from made-to-order fashion to low and no-alcohol drinks. But Jude won over the panel as it is a community-led business tackling a large social taboo. Its strong community ethos and willingness to challenge the status quo align well with dmg media's strengths and values. For one in three women, a sneeze, a belly laugh, or a croaky cough can all end up with a side order of bladder leak Selling supplements, underwear, and pads, it also offers personalised bladder care plans and a like-minded community The judges also loved Jude's female focus as International Women's Day approaches on March 8. Many DMG titles, including MailOnline have readerships which skew strongly toward women - in total being read by 10 million women aged 45 and over every month. Jude also has a phenomenal female founder in Peony, whose background in operating and investing in start-ups, as well as investment banking, has proved a solid foundation for the business. The final factor was timing as Jude is at the ideal stage to test dmg media's platforms as it seeks to build brand awareness. As the winner, Jude will also get direct consultation with DMG's media experts, research from our award-winning insights team, and access to first-class account management and design with our in-house creative team. Don't worry if you missed out this year dmg ventures plans to bring Media Maestro back in 2025. In the meantime you can keep a look out for Jude's advertising to appear across the DMG titles soon. Click here to find out more. The actress, 50, was initially hesitant about signing up for the Channel 5 thriller Horror stories about middle-aged divorcees scammed out of their savings by chancers theyve met on holiday are sadly all too common these days. Flattered by the attentions of often younger men, theyre sweet-talked into romance before handing over money until their bank accounts are empty. Thats why Sally Lindsay was initially hesitant about signing up to Channel 5 thriller Love Rat, about a fiftysomething woman conned out of her fortune by a foreign ladies man. Everybodys seen these British women getting together with some ripped 25-year-old, says Sally, 50. But I said, Hes got to be the same age as me or Im not doing it. I really respect the people who watch me and I respect their intelligence, so that was something I was paranoid about that they would believe the story. In a career filled with Northern everywoman roles, Sally doesnt play suckers. Thats why this was perfect, were all age-appropriate. Im not saying you cant be with a 35-year-old bloke at my age, Im saying I dont think thats representative of me. In tense new drama Love Rat, Sally Lindsay's divorcee fights back after falling victim to a Romeo swindler on holiday Sally plays newly divorced Emma, whos on her first solo trip to Cyprus, where she used to go with her now ex-husband Pete (Neil Morrissey) and their daughter. Emotionally still raw, Emma falls for handsome hotel owner Niko, played by Casualty star Gerald Kyd, 51. A heady affair leads Niko to ask Emma to move into a stunning villa hes buying, until the sale falters and she agrees to lend him over 200,000 to seal the deal. The money is her divorce settlement, which shes promised to her daughter to buy a beauty salon. Sallys quick to point out that the plot differs from many real-life tales. Niko doesnt ask for the money, and thats what sold me on the script. I was very concerned about the idea, but when Emma puts the money in his account despite his objections I thought, OK, I understand that, she believes theyre buying this villa. Shes seen it and believes shes in love with him. Even my agent said, I wouldve given him the money. When Niko is revealed to be a scammer and disappears, Emma puts her life on the line to track him down and recoup her losses. But nobody is quite who they seem, and a series of plot twists will leave viewers gripped. Neil Morrisseys Pete weaves in and out as a steadfast support to his ex-wife in her hour of need. Pete feels hes been let down by Emma divorcing him, but hes so stoic hell help her anyway, explains Neil, 61. Hes the knight in shining armour. But the reasons for the divorce are hazy, and Petes intentions become ambiguous. Putting middle-aged people front and centre on our screens has become something of a passion for both Sally and Neil. Thats why I started my own company, explains Sally, who co-founded Saffron Cherry, the female-led production company that makes her hit Channel 5 murder series The Madame Blanc Mysteries. Neil Morrissey plays Pete, Emma's ex-husband who still helps her out in times of crisis Sally Lindsay (pictured) was initially hesitant about signing up to Channel 5 thriller Love Rat, about a fiftysomething woman conned out of her fortune by a foreign ladies man Its why I make Madame Blancs Judith and Jeremy [Sue Holderness and Robin Askwith] so sexy. Theyre in their seventies and gorgeous, so why shouldnt they be bouncing around the bedroom? Fifty is nothing now. Neils keen to see more older women on screen too. When you go to the pub you dont see 50-year-old blokes with 25-year-old girls, you see age-appropriate couples. So for TV to carry on creating this myth is wrong, he says. We dont give enough parts to older women on television. Love Rat was filmed in Cyprus in 2022 on a five-week turnaround, despite Sallys exhaustion. When I got the Love Rat offer I was like, I cant go away again, Ive only just finished Madame Blanc, says the mother-of-two. But her husband, drummer Steve White, urged her to take the job. Thereve been a few dramas recently where Ive got to the last episode and gone, Oh, she says, miming disappointment. But Love Rat is brilliant. There are plot twists I didnt see coming... and I write mysteries! 'Have you any detailed plans to commit suicide? asks the nice psychiatric nurse in the Mental Health Unit at University College Hospital, London. Its the third Tuesday in January and the mental illness that has had me in its toils since the start of November has tightened its grip. I have woken up with the blackest mood Ive yet had and the conviction that I wont live through the day. I am not sure I want to. The bitter cup of antidepressants and sedatives I have been prescribed by my GP isnt working. I cant cope with another 12 hours of living side by side with It, as I have begun to call my illness and tormentor. I telephone my friend Sarah and say something about not wanting to go on. I am wondering whether to throw myself down the stairs, but I am worried about ending up a paraplegic. I know I wont be able to hang myself as I hate the sensation of choking. If I put my head in the gas oven the smell will be awful. I dont live near water, so drowning isnt an option, either. Besides, I dont fancy getting wet. I have had low moods before, but nothing like this. Even when my mother got dementia and attacked me with a carving knife, I muddled through, turning the horror into dinner party anecdotes. Mental illness is no respecter of privilege or social class. Despite a life some would see as a fairy tale, my perch was not as secure as I had thought, writes Petronella Wyatt I used wit as a stalking horse under the cover of which my anguish lay effectively concealed. I have been a best foot forward person, chirping determinedly from my perch, which seemed to me unassailable. My life, after all, has been one of privilege and glamour. My father was the Labour politician-turned-Thatcherite, Lord Wyatt. My christening was attended by the then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, and one of my godmothers was a duchess. Growing up I mixed with luminaries and men of affairs such as Rupert Murdoch, spending holidays with him and his children, and flying in his private plane. When I was 13, I was introduced to Margaret Thatcher. I met the most influential people in the land and socialised with members of the Royal Family, including the Queen consort, Camilla. I also was lucky enough to receive the best education money and my wits could buy, first at St Pauls and then at Oxford. All seemed set fair when I got my first job in journalism, aged 21, and later became deputy editor of The Spectator. But mental illness is no respecter of privilege or social class. Despite a life some would see as a fairy tale, my perch was not as secure as I had thought. My doctor calls. My friend Sarah had called him in a panic and he is sending paramedics and an ambulance to my home. He tells me to sit in a comfortable chair until they arrive. None of my chairs feel comfortable, so I sit on the floor. My doctor calls every ten minutes to check on me. I try to distract myself from the dark thoughts that have taken over my mind by smoking. I smoke one cigarette after another until there is a knock on the door and two men in green scrubs appear. I feel bilious and dizzy. I am sobbing, great dry unsatisfying sobs as we head for the hospital in the ambulance. I notice, vaguely, that there is no siren. My illness started last October when a small source of freelance income ended abruptly. I was so irrationally hysterical that I sobbed for six hours. The crying only increased, fed by thoughts of things that had happened last year. In no particular order these included my mothers gradual decline into an ethereal, unreasoning creature who no longer knew me; a sexual assault by a man who had been a friend of my late father and the stalking that had followed, accompanied by obscene telephone calls; my sadness at turning 55 in a state of childlessness; the unbearable anxiety that sometimes preys on people who live alone, as I do. Nobody warns you about clinical depression and how bad it is, though serious mental illness in the UK has increased in the past two years, and one in five adults experience suicidal thoughts. I wouldnt wish It on anyone. Its not the blues, its the mean reds that burn like the flames of Hades. Its not that I hadnt sought help before, though I had left it too long out of a stupid sense of shame. Petronella says she was 'lucky enough' to receive the best education money and her wits could buy, first at St Pauls and then at Oxford In early November, desperate and crying, I had gone to see my private GP, who had given me antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. I took them for two months but all they did was feed the angry and insatiable enemy. It didnt want me to get better. It wanted to inhabit me totally, like a body snatcher. Over Christmas, It nearly had its way. I will never forget December 21. I had avoided festive parties but had dragged myself to a lunch at the Chelsea Arts Club, where I sat next to the award-winning screenwriter, and creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes, who gallantly ignored the halting staccato in my speech and the spillage of a roast potato I was too nauseous to eat on to his lap. I didnt repeat the exercise. Talking to a group of people was so frightening that anticipating it brought on panic attacks. Putting on make-up was quite beyond me. I had pulled chunks of my hair out of the back of my head (a common symptom of severe depression). Having a shower was like climbing a vertiginous ravine. I couldnt even walk to my local shops. That morning, which broke dark and cold, there was no food in the house apart from a stale croissant in the dustbin. When I tried to feed my dog, Maxi, I spilled his food all over the floor yet was too physically weak to pick it up. I knew It was killing me. I thought, quite calmly, about my funeral and the fact that I wouldnt see the New Year. I wondered what would happen to my dog after my death. I used to love Christmas but, this time, I hadnt even been able to put up my cheery ornaments let alone get a tree or wrap presents. I thought I heard the doorbell and someone leaving a package, but still I lay there. My eyes focused on a pair of scissors but I was too weak to reach out and grasp them, despite wild thoughts of cutting myself. I fell into a fitful sleep. It was dark when I woke up. It was nearly 4pm. I crawled to the door and opened it. On the step was a present and a card, a small thing, from relatives, but it was enough to make me cry real tears. I didnt want to die that day after all but the next morning brought more terror. T o suffer from major depression in the modern world is very difficult. The instinct of humans is to socialise, yet mental illness makes that impossible. You cannot cease to think about worrying topics. Thinking about them while alone and when no action can be taken leads to nightmarish insomnia, which sedatives do little to alleviate. The midnight madness clings to you in the morning. Small problems became insurmountable obstacles, while big ones brought on panic attacks. My once orderly mind ceased its logical workings. If the doorbell rang, I was convinced it was someone coming to kill me. Petronella's mother developed dementia and gradually declined into an 'ethereal, unreasoning creature' who no longer knew her daughter I envied those with purely physical diseases, most of which can be cured, or the symptoms alleviated, by medicine. Soon, however, my body became ill as well. Depression and its bedfellow insomnia destroy the immune system and I fell prey to infections. A series of bad colds was followed by pneumonia. My doctor, increasingly concerned, sent me to a psychiatrist, who barely looked at me throughout our 20-minute appointment, after which he concluded that I was bipolar. I was neither impressed nor convinced by his argument. I had never had a manic episode in my life, only depressive ones. He insisted, nonetheless, that I take two types of antipsychotic medication. They only made me vomit and one gave me an angry rash. I was now taking six types of medication, none of which seemed to be helping. I missed New Years Eve, of course. January came and the feelings of hopelessness continued. I withdrew from people altogether. I stopped replying to emails and texts. Even when I received a worried email from a member of the Royal Family, who I have known since my youth, I couldnt stir myself to reply. What could I have answered? Most people, however otherwise enlightened, are alarmed and embarrassed by mental illness. They dont know what to say. Buck up and Snap out of it, though well meant, have a deleterious effect. I wished I could, but its like telling someone to snap out of cancer. One dark January morning, I had forced myself to take the dog out, even though I felt dizzy. The pavement was slippery and wet, and I fell. I muttered a reassurance as the passerby who picked me up helped me to my front door. Once inside, I collapsed on the stairs. Nothing was broken, but angry, bloody cuts and bruises covered my face, legs and arms. A few days later, I made a decision. I was unfit to go on living. It would be better if I was dead, but I didnt know how to accomplish this. I didnt even recognise myself when I looked in the mirror. My face was apple white, with angry scarlet marks under my swollen eyes. My mouth had been dragged down at the corners. I was hideous. Perhaps I was developing dementia and would end up like my mother, insensate and unknowing. I wondered again about throwing myself down the stairs and placed myself on the top step. Then my dog barked and I paused. There was a look in his eyes that held worlds of love. It made me pick up the phone and call my friend. So it was that an hour later I found myself in the Mental Health Unit at University College Hospital, waiting to see a psychiatric nurse. They put me in a secure room with a pillow, a mattress and a bean bag, after removing any sharp objects from my bag. I told the nurse that I had had enough. She assured me that things would get better. After five hours, during which I was blessed by the caring kindness of the NHS, I was ready to be discharged. The nurse said if I felt unsafe at home I should call 999 or go to my nearest A&E. My local Home Crisis Team, dedicated, trained volunteers and doctors who make visits to people like me, would come every day, she said. They wouldnt let me die. I managed to get into a taxi. The cabbie asked how my day had been and I said, truthfully, that it had been bloody. He replied that every 24 hours was a blessing from God. I ruminated on this once I had got home. I had begun to realise that I didnt really want to die. That it was the illness, not me, that sought my destruction. I slept fitfully that night and waited for the crisis team to come the next morning. Two cheerful but concerned looking women appeared on the doorstep at 11am. They asked me if I had eaten and how I was feeling. My answers, like my emotions, were addled but I was glad they were there. Kindly and worried, they wanted to heat up a can of soup for me. They suggested painting by numbers to distract me. I replied that I didnt think that would help, but thanked them all the same. After a week of their visits, Im ashamed to say, I began to dislike them. Then it occurred to me that I was at last feeling something other than despair. I was feeling irritation. Was this finally a turning point on a bleak road I had thought never ending? To my astonishment, I was able to go to the cinema that day to watch a film. For the first time in four months, I managed a fragile laugh. My appetite returned as if by stealth and I was able to eat some fried chicken and a bar of chocolate. Last week I saw a new psychiatrist, who was funny and wise. Both my parents were volatile and prone to black moods (my Hungarian mother once had a nervous breakdown, while her great aunt regularly threw herself into the Danube). As a result, he thinks I have a vulnerable gene. Its like any other disease, he said, of which no one should feel ashamed. The chemistry of my brain needs readjusting. He observes that some of the medications that have fed It are sedatives, which he informs me only paper over the cracks and befuddle the mind, and cuts my prescription to just two tablets a day. Very slowly, I feel incrementally better. Its hardly noticeable, but one morning I wake up and find myself almost looking forward to walking to the shops. My face is not quite so deathly white. On Sunday, I buy a newspaper and read the front page without crying. I talk to one of my old friends and tell him what has been happening. He wonders why I didnt phone him before, but even in our 21st century society, mental illness still carries an unwarranted stigma. I cant say Im happy and I cant say Im well, but that afternoon the sun seems to shine marginally brighter as I pick up a book and am able to concentrate on parts of the plot. These might seem like little things, but, after the hell of the past few months, they are small miracles. For help and advice call Samaritans on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org Nobody has worked harder or plumbed greater depths of personal revelation than likeable actor, director and producer Bradley Cooper, who is in dogged pursuit of a Best Actor Oscar this year, at the fifth time of asking. His film Maestro, about the life of composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, is nominated in seven categories and Cooper, 49, has campaigned so hard for it that he's ended up discussing naked showers with his father, his six-year-old daughter talking to him when he's on the toilet, and posed for a magazine cover in an icy river in just his underwear. He even wept on camera when discussing how much he 'missed' Bernstein, who he actually never met. While Bernstein's adult children looked on. Netflix has been equally busy or is that desperate? spending a figure placed by sources at 'at least' $20 million on trying to propel Cooper into the winner's circle, in a year when the atomic epic Oppenheimer has unstoppable momentum. Nobody has worked harder or plumbed greater depths of personal revelation than Bradley Cooper, who is in dogged pursuit of a Best Actor Oscar this year, at the fifth time of asking. Pictured: He lost out on the Oscar in 2014 for Best Supporting Actor His film Maestro (pictured), about the life of composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, is nominated in seven categories and Cooper, 49, has campaigned hard for it The streamer has an equal hunger for Oscars, having never won best picture, although there is talk that it had agreed to a certain level of promotion for Maestro in order to land the prestige project in the first place. In one week earlier this year, Netflix sent out gifts of Maestro chocolates, coffee table books and vinyl records to media. Meanwhile, for months it has been spending big on billboards all around Hollywood not to mention $90,000-a-time 'For Your Consideration' adverts in the trade magazines, also for months. There was also a Bernstein concert in the Lincoln Center in New York in February, at the peak of the awards voting season. That's when Cooper pulled his stripped-to-his pants stunt which landed him on the cover of the New York Times magazine. The feature, which included other Oscars nominees, was ostensibly about what actors do in their down-time, but obviously all anyone wanted to talk about was Bradley Cooper and his Oscar hunger. Days later, he made an appearance on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast, during which he laid bare - quite literally - his love of being naked in his own home, revealing that he used to shower naked with his father. In an equally stunning revelation, he went on to reveal that he and his daughter Lea, whom he shares with his supermodel ex Irina Shayk, regularly chit chat while he is on the toilet. 'We talk where I'm on the toilet, she's in the bathtub; that's sort of the go-to,' he confessed. Sadly for him, it looks like all the activity has resulted in a freeze-out, with bookies reckoning he has around a one per cent chance of winning. That's despite having talked ever since the actors strike finished in November about how devoted he was to the project, spending six years learning how to conduct, how he wrote, produced and directed it, the pains he took over the physical and vocal resemblance and so forth. In February, Cooper pulled his stripped-to-his pants stunt which landed him on the cover of the New York Times magazine He even wept on camera when discussing how much he 'missed' Bernstein, who he actually never met He itched so to promote the film that he actually attended the New York Film Festival Screening of the film 'as a guest' during the strike period, even though he wasn't allowed to walk the red carpet, or speak, or be photographed. Cooper has previously been nominated for the Best Actor award at the Oscars for Silver Linings Playbook (2012), American Sniper (2014) and A Star Is Born (2018). He was also tipped for Best Supporting Actor in American Hustle (2013) but lost out once again. The onscreen star previously made his feelings very clear when he didn't receive any Oscars love for his directorial debut in 2018's A Star Is Born. The movie was a critical success and nominated for eight Academy Awards, but Bradley said he was 'embarrassed' because he wasn't up for Best Director. The actor-filmmaker opened up during Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations from Times Square, confessing: 'I was embarrassed. 'I was at a coffee shop in New York City and looked down at my phone and Nicole [Caruso, his publicist] has told me congratulations and said what we had been nominated for. 'They didn't even give me the bad news. I was embarrassed because I felt I hadn't done my job.' Cillian Murphy, who took part in a brisk shoot to play J Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, is a total contrast. He loathes campaigning - there are dozens of TikToks of his bored face in interviews and has said of the press tour system: 'I think it's a broken model. The model is everybody is so bored.' Cooper has previously been nominated for - but missed out on - the Best Actor award at the Oscars for Silver Linings Playbook in 2013 (left) and American Sniper in 2015 (right) The onscreen star previously made his feelings very clear when he didn't receive any Oscars love for his directorial debut in 2018's A Star Is Born (pictured at the award ceremony) A Star Is Born was a critical success and nominated for eight Academy Awards, but Bradley said he was 'embarrassed' because he wasn't up for Best Director (pictured with Lady Gaga in the movie) He was actually pleased when the strike hit just as Oppenheimer opened. Oh - and he's a shoo-in to win. A spokesman for Netflix says that they 'never' discuss budgets. An insider says: 'A figure of $20m is entirely possible for marketing on what is their key awards title this year. Their total marketing budget stretches well into 10 figures.' Michael Niederman, professor of cinema at Columbia College Chicago, said: 'I understand how extraordinarily proud he is of the work he did on Maestro. 'I get that - it's a personal, well-crafted piece that means the world to him. But if I don't see a picture of Bradley Cooper for six months, that will be OK.' Michael Shulman, who wrote Oscar Wars, said: 'I just feel like the Bradley Cooper media machine backfired on him. 'Some of his quotes are hilarious he's giving interviews about walking around naked in his house. He's made a number of mis-steps. Netflix put a lot of money behind it but it did not work. There is a perception that he's a try-hard.' Netflix reputedly spent $40 million on trying to get an Best Picture Oscar for Roma in 2019, twice the film's budget, but failed. This year, film head Scott Stuber has just left with incoming Dan Lin expected to make far fewer original films 30 rather than 80. There is also talk of Netflix possibly spinning of a prestige awards division, like Fox did with Searchlight pictures, now a part of Disney. A woman who lost her hearing while serving in the army has blasted 'lazy' comedian Jimmy Carr, claiming he 'mocked' and 'belittled' her with jokes about her disability during a show. Carly Ahlen, 46, went to see the comedian at the Orchard West Theatre in Dartford last Thursday but claims she was left feeling 'shocked' by his 'vile' jokes about the deaf community. She claims that, after she revealed her hearing aid to Carr, he joked that you can 'say anything to deaf people because they can't hear you'. Carly, from Canterbury, told FEMAIL that Carr also at one point 'made sounds mimicking how a deaf person (who is unable to regulate the sound) would sound'. She said: 'It was shocking, I couldn't believe it!' Carly Ahlen, 46, went to see the comedian at the Orchard West Theatre in Dartford last Thursday but claims she was left feeling 'shocked' by his 'vile' jokes about the deaf community Carly claims Jimmy Carr joked you can 'say anything to deaf people because they can't hear you' Carly was left profoundly deaf after hitting her head in a cargo truck crash while serving in the Royal Logistics Corps, and had been wearing a beret during the performance which covered up her hearing aid. To be able to follow the show, she had her phone in her hand, on which she was using a transcription app. She sat near the front as she needs to be able to read lips to follow the performance, but was soon picked on by the comedian for wearing a beret. Carly claims Carr, 51, later spotted her on her phone and, referencing her beret, asked her if she was 'going to call for backup from the French resistance'. The 46-year-old told FEMAIL: 'I was clear in front of him and signed to my hearing aids so that he would gently back off and understand I was in no way able to stand up for myself against him roasting when I was quite clearly deaf! 'He then started towards the audience making jokes about deaf people and the good thing about them not knowing you're taking about them because they cannot hear. 'He also at one point and looked at me briefly when doing this, made sounds mimicking how a deaf person who is unable to regulate the sound would sound.' Carly added: 'Is it acceptable to be mocked or belittled because you have hearing loss? She claims that, after she revealed her hearing aid to Carr, he joked that you can 'say anything to deaf people because they can't hear you' 'I spent many years, far too many, feeling miserable and ashamed of my hearing loss because of the inaccurate stigma attached to it.' Carly, who runs charity Gabo Wildlife, said she was so upset that she 'ran out' as soon as the event ended. She has even contacted the British Deaf Association for advice on the matter. 'It is extremely easy to make jokes about those unable to hear and therefore defend themselves... but that makes you a lazy writer,' she said. Asked what her advice would be to Carr, Carly added: 'Making jokes at the expense of people based on race, sexual orientation, religion, mental stability or disability is no longer tolerated. 'Why is it still ok to make fun of hearing loss?' Carly, who runs charity Gabo Wildlife, said she was so upset that she 'ran out' as soon as the event ended Asked what her advice would be to Carr, Carly added: 'Making jokes at the expense of people based on race, sexual orientation, religion, mental stability or disability is no longer tolerated. Why is it still ok to make fun of hearing loss?' Carly previously told Pick Me Up! magazine she joined The Royal Logistics Corps in 1998, following in the footsteps of her father who had been a lieutenant colonel and had travelled around the world. However in 2002, she crashed while driving a cargo truck and suffered a head injury in the accident which caused her to suffer from memory loss for two weeks. After being released from hospital, she went out for a walk in the Kent countryside and realised she couldn't hear the birdsong as clearly as she had previously. A visit to the GP confirmed Carly had been left 'profoundly deaf' by the truck crash. As Carly takes Carr to task over his joke about deafness, it seems she isn't the first person to have raised issues with his content. In 2018, he told an audience he had received complaints for saying: 'Deafness is getting to be quite a problem for me and I never thought Id hear myself say that.' The comedian also found himself in hot water for a joke he made about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people in a Netflix special - with Downing Street condemning the comment as 'deeply disturbing'. Mr Carr has found himself in hot water before for joking about deafness In his 2022 special His Dark Material, Carr had joked that the deaths of 'thousands of Gypsies' at the hands of Nazis had been one of 'the positives' of the Holocaust. Carr said: 'When people talk about the Holocaust, they talk about the tragedy of 6 million Jewish lives being lost to the Nazi war machine. But they never mention the thousands of Gypsies that were killed by the Nazis. 'No one ever wants to talk about that, because no one ever wants to talk about the positives.' A spokesperson for Boris Johnson at the time said: 'Those comments are deeply disturbing and it is unacceptable to make light of genocide.' Carr's show on February 29 was a gig in which the comedian was testing out new material ahead of his Laughs Funny tour, which begins in May. It comes after Mr Carr was recently branded 'painfully unfunny' by viewers after he shared a selection of his controversial jokes from his Netflix show to plug his US tour. The comedian took to X - formerly known as Twitter - last September to share a reel of 'the time I tried to tell a 9/11 joke to a room full of Americans' ahead of his tour in the states, Terribly Funny. Carr's show on February 29 was a gig in which the comedian was testing out new material ahead of his Laughs Funny tour, which begins in May In the clip, Jimmy compared the 2001 New York terror attacks which saw nearly 3,000 people lose their lives to the moment Zayn Malik left One Direction in 2015. He said in the show, A Netflix Is A Joke Festival: 'What I'm saying onstage tonight is barely acceptable now. In ten years' time, f**king forget about it. 'Now you might think this is silly, but its absolutely true. When Zayn left One Direction, for me, it was like 9/11 I didnt care about that either. 'I was actually supposed to be on one of the planes on 9/11, but the more interesting story is how I met Osama. 'I can see there's a real generational divide. Some people are looking at me like, "9/11 steady on" and other people are looking at me like "don't take their name in vain".' Other jokes in the three minute clip included asking if anyone was in a controlling relationship and one-liners about paying for sex. But the jokes fell flat for those watching the clip too with viewers branding the segment 'cringe' and trying 'too hard to be edgy'. One wrote: 'God that was so bad,' and 'He fell off so bad, what is this'. 'The joke were so bad', said another. 'These were so cringe'. FEMAIL has contacted Jimmy Carr for comment. A woman who has won the lottery multiple times says she has been made to feel like a 'criminal' after being put under investigation. Amelia Barnham, 69, who lives in Hammersmith, London, with her husband Tony, 69, revealed she has won a total of 23,600 in small prizes over several years. Amelia, who works in finance, revealed she spends 60 a week on Lotto tickets, but after her latest win of 800 on a 1 HotPicks ticket she was put under investigation by new operator Allwyn. Speaking to The Sun she said: 'This has stressed me out so much and I am fuming. I have been treated like some sort of criminal.' The mother-of-three claimed an ex-detective came to her house and demanded she prove her identity, taking pictures of her passport and demanded to see bank statements. Amelia Barnham, 69, who lives in Hammersmith, London , won the Lottery so many times that she has been put under investigation and made to feel like a criminal Two days after the draw Amelia went to the Post Office to try to collect her winnings, however the staff told her she had to go back to Tesco, where she bought the ticket to collect her money. At Tesco she was told she needed to contact Allwyn, which replaced Camelot as Lotto operator in February. The company asked the 60-year-old for pictures of the front and back of the ticket. She was then given a claim number and was told an investigator would visit her house a few weeks later. Amelia said the 'intimidating' experience made her feel 'very uneasy and upset' and she admitted it will put her off buying another Lotto ticket. 'I will never ever buy tickets again not if I'm going to have this sort of trouble getting winnings which are owed to me. 'I would warn other players not to buy tickets as I'd hate to think others will have to go through the same situation as it's quite disturbing.' Amelia has still has not received her winnings after getting three of the five numbers in the draw on February 3. An Allwyn spokesperson told FEMAIL: 'This is a new claims process following the Post Office's decision to no longer pay National Lottery retail prizes between 500.01 and 50,000. Amelia, who works in finance, revealed she spends 60 a week on Lotto tickets, but after her latest win of 800 on a 1 HotPicks ticket, she was put under investigation by new operator Allwyn 'The time the process takes will vary depending on, for example, if we need any further information from the player in order to process their claim, as well as how long it takes for us to receive the ticket or Scratchcard from the player. 'Security checks also form a key part of the process of validating a winning ticket to ensure we maintain the integrity of The National Lottery. 'All of our players are very important to us and we aim to provide them with as positive an experience as possible, so we're sorry to hear of Ms Barnham's concerns and we'll certainly follow up with her as we're keen to address those with her.' It comes after reports Lottery scratchcard winners are allegedly being forced to wait more than a month to collect their winnings. The Swiss company, that took over from Camelot, wants punters to verify their numbers via phone or online and then send their ticket by post for inspection before they receive any cash. It also wants those claiming money to provide their official ID and photographs of themselves. Last year, the Post Office ended its group contract with the National Lottery, meaning that around a fifth of branches are expected to stop selling the tickets and scratchcards. The previous contract stated that the Post Office would cover the cost of the cards. But now individual shops must pay for them themselves. The operator stated that 900 of the 4,800 branches that had previously stocked National Lottery products have not chosen to continue. It says more than 600 had chosen not to, while up to 200 were unable to because of county court judgements. Allwyn stated that reasons ranged from religious beliefs to low sales of tickets. The Post Office, who took around one per cent commission from each transaction, terminated its contract because postmasters wanted to get the full amount of cash from ticket and scratchcard sales. Sanna Marin, 38, was in city of Bucha with the international group HALO Trust Former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin has shared photos on Instagram of her visit to war-torn Ukraine this week - in a trip reminiscent of her time in the top job. Marin, 38, who resigned as leader of Finland's Social Democrats last September to join the Tony Blair Institute, was in Bucha, the site of the mass murder of around 500 Ukrainians at the start of the war in March 2022. She was in the city with the HALO Trust, which works globally to clear unexploded landmines. In Ukraine, Marin says around 19,000 explosives have been neutralised since the war with Russia began. While in the war-torn country, the ex-Finnish PM - who was just 34 when she took office in 2019 - also had a brief return to diplomacy as she met with the Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. She said: 'I had the opportunity to engage in numerous discussions about the state of the war, reconstruction, and Ukraine's European future. Former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin this week visited war-torn Ukraine to meet with top ministers - and watch efforts to clear unexploded mines 'It was also very interesting to visit a humanitarian de-mining site in Bucha, where an international organisation HALO Trust works to make war-torn areas safe safe by clearing landmines and other explosives.' Dusting off her political hat for a moment, Marin posed for photographs with Mr Shmyhal, and sat down for talks with the Finnish ambassador to Ukraine over lunch. She said: 'It was a great honour to meet Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna. 'With more than two years of brutal war, the need for international attention is more crucial than ever. 'In order to win the war, Ukraine needs even further political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support. Sanctions must be enforced.' Marin announced she was stepping down as leader of Finland's Social Democrats last September, to instead work as a strategic councillor for the Tony Blair Institute. Dusting off her political hat for a moment, Marin posed for photographs with Mr Shmyhal, and sat down for talks with the Finnish ambassador to Ukraine over lunch Marin, 38, who resigned as leader of Finland 's Social Democrats last September to join the Tony Blair Institute, was in Bucha, the site of the mass murder of around 500 Ukrainians at the start of the war in March 2022 Marin announced she was stepping down as leader of Finland's Social Democrats last September, to instead work as a strategic councillor for the Tony Blair Institute It could be that Marin is missing being in the thick of diplomacy after she was photographed on the ground in war-torn Ukraine this week As Finland's prime minister, Marin was one of Europe's youngest leaders, and oversaw her country's successful application to officially join NATO. Announcing her resignation from politics, Marin told Finnish broadcaster YLE that it was 'time to move on'. She said: 'I am eager to step into a new role. I also believe that it can benefit the whole of Finland. I believe that I can serve those voters [in Finland] well and maybe even better in the new assignment'. But it could be that Marin is missing being in the thick of diplomacy after she was photographed on the ground in war-torn Ukraine this week. The 38-year-old said: 'I had the privilege of visiting a mine clearance site alongside First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko.' Announcing her resignation from politics, Marin told Finnish broadcaster YLE that it was 'time to move on' It's the most prestigious dog show in the world, with people training for months and travelling far and wide to get show off their pooches So it's no wonder, that, in some cases owners at Crufts start to look like their dogs. More than 150,000 people head to the NEC arena in Birmingham to celebrate Crufts every year. And some it seems, look like their dogs, from long silky hair to matching clothes and facial expressions. Channel 4 presenter Sophie Morgan struck the same pose as an adorable Bichon today, while Carol Roberts from Spain, posed with Cooper, a Maltese, which was the Best of Breed - the pair had matching silky hair. Here, FEMAIL looks at the owners and visitors morphing into their the show dogs... Channel 4 presenter Sophie Morgan struck the same pose as an adorable Bichon today Carol Roberts from Spain with Cooper, a Maltese, which was the Best of Breed winner today. The pair have the same light, long and sleek hair Jack Wood from East Sussex with Pike, an English Toy Terrier, Jack matched his black and tan suit to the colour of his dog, who won best in breed Both this adorable Chow Chow and a groomer struck the same smile at the event in Birmingham Wavy auburn locks stole the show for this pooch and groomer today Beccie Woods from Tauton with Manny, a Miniature Schnauzer, which was the Best of Breed winner today. The pair both have sleek and silky long hair Well-coiffed and blonde was the look of the day for this groomer and her pup These Spanish water dog matched their curly hair to their owners American cocker spaniel's ginger wavy hair matched their owners too Wavy locks and matching tops seemed to be popular with humans at Crufts Asha Maria from Iceland with Rafa, a Papillon, the pair both looked directly into the camera and wore their hair over their shoulders This owner certainly showed up in style to match her Standard Poodle today A Labrador and its handler wait for their in the show ring, both concentrating with blonde tufts on hair Pippa Moore from Bridgewater with Baxter, a Schnauzer, who won best in breed.Pippa matched her black and white jacket to Baxter's fur Women who shine in all walks of life Chinadaily.com.cn) 13:39, March 08, 2024 Editor's note: As International Women's Day is celebrated, we are proud to present the stories of eight extraordinary women who excel in various fields. Through their hard work, intelligence, and leadership, these role models not only make significant contributions to their respective industries but also serve as guiding lights for future generations. Bai Hua, rural veterinarian, Ningxia Hui autonomous region Bai Hua, a veterinarian from Guyuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, breaks occupational stereotypes to impress and inspire many youngsters with her unusual story. Bai always wears a pink jacket and gloves and carries a pink medicine box and stethoscope while dealing with sick animals in cowsheds and sheep pens, earning the nickname the "Pink Vet". "Pink represents my passion for my profession and my love for animals. I want to convey my positive attitude towards my career and life through this vibrant color," she said. Despite weighing only 44.5 kilograms, she can independently lift calves weighing 40 to 45 kg. She even had a nickname, "Bai Yi Zhen," which means "one shot, accurate and to the point". She performs surgeries on cows, assists with deliveries and trims their hooves. Bai shared her daily work and medical knowledge on social media as a move to show the fun of her work and to encourage more young people to join the veterinary industry. Yu Jing works with a smile in booth. [Photo by Chen Xinyu/chinadaily.com.cn] Yu Jing, expressway toll collector, Anhui province Yu Jing, 27, an expressway toll collector in Anqing, Anhui province, said she was proud of all the friendly smiles she had shared over the past six years, even though people seldom knew her name. She said she feels the smiles made a difference. Yu leans out the window of her booth to take a toll card handed up by a driver. She states the toll sum, takes cash or guides a driver making a mobile payment. As she returns the invoice, she wishes every driver a happy journey and life. During her eight-hour daily work shift, Yu keeps smiling as long as drivers can see her face. The simple smile effectively improves travelers' experience, reducing conflicts and even accidents. "Working in our small booths, each of us may encounter hundreds or thousands of people every day," Yu said. "If smiling were not a must, we might find ourselves displaying negative emotions sometimes, and it would be sad to make customers feel bad." Instead, many drivers now greet her in a friendly way, sometimes praising her professionalism with a compliment or thumbs-up, she said. The positive feelings go both ways. "I become happier when I know the drivers are happy," she added. Lu Weiying, 59-year-old doctor, Hainan province Lu Weiying is a 59-year-old doctor with over 27 years of experience as a reproductive specialist in South China's Hainan province, allowing her to witness the rapid development of reproductive medicine in the region. "Hainan's assisted reproductive technology has become advanced, making it one of the few types of technology in Hainan's medical industry to be exported," she said. Lu is driven to promote women's health. Since 2019, Lu has championed activities at free clinics throughout Hainan every month. By establishing a network of 18 groups consisting of medical workers across the province, she has provided an avenue for grassroots doctors to enhance their expertise. "We carry out free diagnoses that allow locals to enjoy high-quality medical resources at their doorstep, and also encourage medical staff to remain at the grassroots level," she said. Since December 2021, Lu and her colleagues at the reproductive medicine center at the Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center also livestream fertility-related information on WeChat every weekday at 8 pm. This initiative has served as a crucial avenue for patients to gain a comprehensive understanding of infertility and learn preventive measures. Also as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, considering the needs of those who may not be in a position to start a family at the traditional childbearing age, Lu proposed exploring the feasibility of allowing egg freezing for single women in an orderly manner and establishing egg banks to retain future fertility options this year. Meng Ermei, Party secretary of Luopoling community, Beijing "As long as we still have a bite to eat, we'll leave it to the strained passengers." The firm promise made by Meng Ermei, Party secretary of the Luopoling community, Mentougou district of Beijing, has moved many people when a whole train of passengers got stuck near her community due to a massive rainstorm in July 2023. Then, power and water in Luopoling had been cut off as a result of strong rains. Not only that, the train K396 carrying about a thousand passengers was stranded and forced to stop at Luopoling train station, facing food and water shortages, signal interruptions, power outages and other difficulties. Meng stood up to the urgent situation. She made quick and meticulous response to transfer and settle the strained passengers, mobilizing the local residents door by door to offer a helping hand, such as dry clothes, free food and places to rest. Under her leadership and arrangement, all strained passengers were transferred to the community safely amid continuous rain and received good care there, which is home to about 300 residents, most of which are elderly people. Meng has served her community for 23 years and is considered as the most reliable and trustworthy grassroots official by the residents. Dong Lina, content creator, Liaoning province Dong Lina, 40-year-old, is the first visually impaired person in China to get a master's degree in radio and television broadcasting. Born into a farming family in Dalian, Liaoning province, Dong was diagnosed with congenital amblyopia and lost her sight at the age of 10 but she never stopped pursuing her education, even during the three years she worked as a masseuse after graduating from secondary school. Dong started her full-time master's candidate journey at Communication University of China in 2020. By using accessibility technology provided, such as Braille test papers and electronic documents, Dong read tens of thousands of pages in Chinese and English using screen reading software, conducted interviews with visually impaired people, and screened around 100 accessible movies to complete her 60,000-word thesis. Dong made a speech at the university as the representative of the 2023 graduating class. Later, she became a freelancer, who manages her own accounts on social media. "I also want to do more creative things to communicate with other people, and create more resonance," she said. Subinur Ahat, chemical technician, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region Subinur Ahat chose to work at Karamay Petrochemical Co in her hometown of Karamay, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, after graduating from China University of Petroleum in Beijing. Over the past seven years, she has been promoted despite fierce competition in an industry often regarded as unsuitable for women. To ensure safety standards, the company's oil refining equipment is closely monitored 24 hours a day. For the first four years of her job, Subinur patrolled late at night to check whether pipelines and instruments were functioning properly. Sometimes she had to climb 10 meters in freezing conditions to inspect equipment with a flashlight. On other occasions she had to figure out a quick solution to problems while protecting herself from hazards such as toxic fumes, fire or explosions. Her position requires her to act quickly and offer solutions to problems within five minutes. "Though there is more stress at work, I feel a great sense of achievement. Every time I see black crude oil turn into clear, clean, pure oil, I feel that my work to maintain stable and safe production has great meaning," she said. At the age of 32, Subinur Ahat became one of the youngest female chemical technicians at her company. Last year, she was elected a deputy to Xinjiang People's Congress. She was surprised but honored. Zhang Jinyuan, retired nurse/volunteer, Jiangxi province Zhang Jinyuan graduated from a nursing college in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, and started practicing nursing at a local hospital around the same time the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. During her 45 years as a practicing clinical nurse, Zhang was committed to exploring and developing innovative nursing care tools and techniques, including changing bedsheets in a way that prevents raising dust, using a strap to help move heavy patients and creating a prototype device for sending alerts when intravenous infusions malfunction. Zhang, now 95, still volunteers to visit and care for the elderly after her retirement and has no plans of stopping anytime soon. "I want to keep working hard in my 100th year, and being able to work through to the age of 110 would be a dream come true for me," she said. Last year, she received the 2023 International Achievement Award from the International Council of Nurses and the Florence Nightingale International Foundation, making her the first Chinese nurse to win the prestigious global award. Baima Cuo, scholar, Xizang autonomous region Baima Cuo, born in Nagchu in the northern Xizang Plateau, is an anthropologist whose primary research focus is on Tibetan herders. Baima Cuo underwent thorough anthropological training right from undergraduate to doctoral studies. After obtaining her PhD in 2012, she delved into extensive and long-term field research in anthropology, aligning with the trajectory of her field. "Foreign experts and scholars should come to Xizang to see for themselves. Only by truly witnessing it can one understand what the life of the Tibetan people is like and what they aspire to," Baima Cuo expressed her opinion about the misconceptions about her hometown. Baima Cuo said her female identity has provided her with a distinctive and nuanced perspective. She highlighted the increasing involvement of Tibetan women in fields such as anthropology and other social sciences. This year, as a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, Baima Cuo has submitted several suggestions from field study, including solving the issue of continuing special education for disabled adolescents in the Xizang autonomous region and lowering the age line for elderly subsidies. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General on Thursday called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan and unhindered humanitarian access as the country teeters on the brink of further disintegration Crown Prince Leka II and his ex-wife must keep a distance of five metres from each other following an alleged incident of domestic violence. The Civil Court of Tirana signed two protection orders for Leka, 41, and Princess Elia Zaharia, also 41, following an alleged physical altercation between the former couple and Elia's father, Gjergj Polikron Zaharia, 73. The court ruling follows a video that surfaced online on Tuesday of Leka allegedly involved in a physical tussle with Elia and her 73-year-old father. The protection order comes two months after the pair, who share a three-year-old daughter, Princess Geraldine, announced the end of their marriage, saying the union had 'lost its function'. The sour series of events continued this morning during a court session, which determined that Leka can only see his daughter in the presence of a nanny, according to Tirana Post. Prince Leka of Albania and Princess Elia must keep five metres from each other, according to a new court ruling. Seen with their daughter Princess Geradine in 2021 The court examined three separate protection claims during the session, one for Leka, Elia, and Elia's father Gjergj. The glamorous mother-of-one was present for the appointment, while Leka was represented by his legal team. Leka and Elia each filed claims for a protection order from the other; both of which were accepted by the court. However, Gjerj's application for a protection order was declined. It comes after Crown Prince Leka II sought police intervention following an alleged incident of domestic violence involving his ex-wife and ex-father-in-law. A video surfaced online on Tuesday of Leka allegedly involved in a physical altercation with Princess Elia and her father, Gjergj Polikron Zaharia. The Palace issued a statement after a clip of the fight surfaced online and claimed Leka was 'physically attacked with strong objects by his ex-wife and ex-father-in-law' and had handed the video to the police as evidence. Elia broke her silence on the 'terrible' conflict on Wednesday and claimed her involvement in the fight was merely her trying to stop it, according to Albanian Daily News. The glamorous mother-of-one claimed that she returned home to find Prince Leka is a tussle with her 73-year-old father. Prince Leka can only see his daughter, Princess Geraldine, three, in the presence of a nanny. Seen in 2021 Crown Prince Leka and Princess Elia have caused shockwaves across Albania after a video surfaced online of the couple allegedly engaging in a physical brawl with Elia's 73-year-old father. Seen in 2022 with their daughter Princess Geraldine 'It is a very difficult situation for me and my family, as it is not easy to return home and find Leka trying to violate my 73-year-old father,' she wrote. 'The conflict has nothing to do with me, except that I tried to stop it. I am following the judicial path for everything,' she added. The Albanian royal court similarly issued a statement about the conflict via social media channels, and accused police of leaking the footage. The statement read: 'Prince Leka on the afternoon of March 5 was physically attacked with strong objects by his ex-wife and ex-father-in-law and the videos of this moment have been made public on social networks. 'The videos have been submitted only to the police station by Prince Leka ll Zogu, as material evidence for violence inflicted on him. But despite being considered a secret, these materials, together with the statement, circulated widely on social networks and in the media transmitting unpleasant images and with violent content. 'The Royal Court deeply expresses disappointment with law enforcement institutions that we suspect have violated the right to anonymity by distributing third-party videos. 'The Royal Court also seeks the intervention of the police and relevant institutions for deleting these images from social networks and media.' Elia claimed she attempted to stop a physical altercation between her ex-husband and father. The pair are seen during happier times in 2021 The Albanian Royal Court addressed the drama on social media and sought police intervention MailOnline has contacted the Albanian royal court for comment. It comes after the former couple, who were married in 2016, declared their separation via an official statement shared on Instagram. Despite being a claimant to a now defunct throne following the dissolution of the Albanian monarchy in 1943, the prince and his glamorous wife had won over the public's hearts from the moment they tied the knot eight years ago. The lavish ceremony was attended by more than 20 royal families from across the world, including Prince Michael of Kent - who is the second cousin of King Charles. In a translation statement, a spokesperson maintained that Princess Geraldine remained the centre of her parent's attention, while also pleading with 'well wishers' to respect the family's privacy. Crown Prince Leka II and Princess Elia of Albania have announced the end of their eight-year marriage in January. Pictured after their wedding ceremony in 2016 The message read: 'Hello friends and well-wishers, by means of this post I officially inform you that Prince Leka and Elia Zaharia have agreed to end their marriage. 'Since the marriage has lost its function, they saw the way to resolve it by mutual consent by starting the necessary legal procedures. 'Despite the trust in the institution of the family, Prince Leka believes that the values of mutual respect and understanding will form the basis of the relationship in its continuity, which will have as its motive the growth and education of Princess Geraldine!!! '[Her] spiritual and physical well-being of the girl will remain at the center of their attention, dedicated to ensuring a happy and safe life for Geraldine.' The statement also said that the prince would not be offering any further comment at this time - and requested that his 'right to privacy be respected regarding this matter'. Albania's Crown Prince Leka II and Crown Princess Elia announced the birth of their first child, a baby girl named Geraldine in October 2020. The couple pictured in 2016 The couple, who were married in 2016 in the European nation's second ever royal wedding and the first since the end of communism, welcomed their daughter in 2020 at the Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital in Tirana. They named their daughter Geraldine - a meaningful tribute to the little one's paternal great-grandmother, Queen Geraldine, who died on October 22, 2002, 18 years to the day before her namesake's birth. Queen Geraldine was married to King Zog I, who was the first monarch of Albania after it gained independence from the Ottoman Empire but fled his homeland in 1939 when Italy's fascists occupied the Balkan state. Despite the monarchy having been dissolved, Zog's son King Leka I remained head of the House of Zogu and claimant to the throne until his death in 2011 and was succeeded by his only son, Leka II. The Crown Prince, who attended Royal Military College Sandhurst and has worked as an adviser to Albania's president, took over his father as head of the House of Zogu, and titular King of the Albanians. Princess Elia, Prince Leka and Crown Prince Nicolas of Montenegro pictured at the 80th Birthday of King Simeon of Bulgaria in 2017 As Leka II currently does not have any sons, his current heir presumptive is Skender Zogu, his first cousin once removed. Leka II and Elia, who were engaged in Paris in 2010, also presided over the Queen Geraldine Foundation. The prince has also worked as an adviser within the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and the Albanian Presidents Office, while the princess works at the Albanian National Theater. Albania's royal family was expelled from the country in 1939 after it was invaded by Italian fascists. After World War II, when the Communists took over the country, King Zog and his family were considered traitors and stripped from power completely and removed from history books. Following their exile, the Albanian royal family spent time in Greece and Turkey before settling in England, where they briefly resided at The Ritz in London. King Zog and his family then moved to Egypt before the monarch spent the remainder of his life in France. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle enjoyed a touching throwback to their first date when they paid a visit to Soho House in Austin on Thursday night - and it seems the nostalgia continued today when the Duke was seen sitting alongside the private members' club mogul who helped to matchmake the Sussexes eight years ago. The Duke of Sussex, 39, flew to Austin to support his wife as she appeared in an International Women's Day Panel at SXSW on Friday, when he was seen cheering her on from the front row, while seated alongside Markus Anderson, the man who is widely credited with helping the pair's romance to flourish in its earliest days. Harry was spotted adoringly watching the former Suits star, 42, from the front row as she stepped on stage with Brooke Shields and Katie Couric for the female-focused discussion. He was joined by Soho House director Markus, 43, who played a major part in setting the actress and the royal up back in 2016. Dressed in a salmon sweater, Markus was the epitome of cool as he listened to his longtime pal Meghan speak, while Harry, looked sleek in a navy suit jacket and button-down white shirt. Prince Harry sat next to Meghan Markle 's old friend and confidante Markus Anderson as he supported his wife at SXSW on Friday The Duke of Sussex, 39, was spotted watching the former Suits star, 42, from the front row as she stepped on stage with a slew of other stars for an International Women's Day panel He was joined by Soho House director Markus, 43, who played a major part in setting the actress and the royal up back in 2016 Markus has been by Meghan's side for years and accompanied her to numerous major appearances in the past, like at the Invictus Games in 2017 (seen) He acted as her 'bouncer' as she made her way through the drones of photographers outside a New York hotel for her baby shower in 2019. They're seen during the NYC trip in 2019 Markus has been by Meghan's side for years and accompanied her to numerous major appearances in the past: he was with her when she made her first public outing with Harry at the Invictus Games in 2017; and he acted as her 'bouncer' as she made her way through the drones of photographers outside a New York hotel for her baby shower in 2019. The businessman, who grew up in Peterborough, Ontario - a Canadian town 90 miles north-east of Toronto - moved to London at age 18, where he landed a job as a waiter at the A-list members-only club Soho House. He quickly caught the eye of founder Nick Jones, and rose through the ranks while developing an immense network of celebrity friends. Nick soon sent him back to Canada to set up a Soho House in Toronto and in 2011, he met a young Meghan after she moved to the country to film the first season of her TV legal drama Suits. The two quickly grew close, with Meghan once writing on her now defunct website The Tig: 'What would I do without you, my loving, supportive, and endlessly fun friend? 'I know what I would be bored, and life would be infinitely less interesting. I love you SO much. Happiest of days for you now and always. Love you.' Meghan even referred to Markus as 'uncle' to her two dogs Guy and Bogart, and was photographed on a lavish vacation with him in Madrid in 2016. Well-connected Markus soon began introducing her to his celebrity clientele and friends, including George and Amal Clooney and Jessica Mulroney daughter-in-law of ex-Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who went on to become one of Meghan's closest pals before a rumored falling-out divided them in 2019. The businessman, who grew up in Peterborough, Ontario, moved to London at age 18, where he landed a job as a waiter at the A-list members-only club Soho House He quickly caught the eye of founder Nick Jones, and rose through the ranks while developing an immense network of celebrity friends. He's seen at Meghan's wedding to Prince Harry Nick soon sent him back to Canada to set up a Soho House in Toronto and in 2011, he met a young Meghan after she began filming Suits. They're seen together in 2016 While Meghan and Harry are widely believed to have first met on a blind date in London set up by designer Misha Nonoo, it was in Canada and more specifically at Markus' Soho House that their love blossomed. He reportedly arranged for the couple to meet secretly in private rooms at the club, and helped them escape on romantic weekend getaways together. The consultant has been dubbed as the 'second most important man in her life,' so it seems only fitting that he and Harry cheered Meghan on at the event together. Meghan was joined actress Brooke Shields and longtime news anchor Katie Couric on-stage at the prestigious festival, where she lead a panel discussion about 'breaking barriers' and 'women's representation.' The Duchess, dressed in an off-white striped skirt and shirt combo, began by gushing about her 'excitement' to be joining the panel, before going on to tout the many female-focused initiatives that she and Prince Harry work on through their nonprofit, the Archewell Foundation. 'Im so excited to be here and to be with such incredible women, so much brilliance on this panel and this is just such an amazing way to celebrate IWD,' she said. When asked about the Archewell Foundation's decision to fund a recent report calling for 'true representation' for mothers on TV, Meghan explained that she and Harry had chosen to get involved with the project for 'three key reasons.' 'My husband and I, our foundation helped to fund it because I think from our standpoint, and certainly from mine, there are three key reasons why it felt vital to see the information they were going to be pulling from this report,' she said. 'On a personal level, Ive just always loved understanding women and our stories and our lived experiences and our shared experiences so I was really curious to see what the report was going to uncover. The two quickly grew close, with Meghan once writing on her now website The Tig: 'What would I do without you, my loving, supportive, and endlessly fun friend?' They're seen in 2014 Meghan even referred to Markus as 'uncle' to her two dogs Guy and Bogart, and was photographed on a lavish vacation with him in Madrid in 2016 (seen) Markus reportedly arranged for Meghan and Prince Harry (seen in 2017) to meet secretly in private rooms at his club, and helped them escape on romantic weekend getaways together 'Oftentimes as women, the way that we see ourselves is reflected back to us, sometimes accurately, and sometimes, much to our disservice, inaccurately, in what we see in media. 'So to be able to have the findings to propel that, to make sure women are really being seen in a way that is reflective of who and how we are and how we move through the world, felt important. 'From a philanthropic standpoint there is obviously a lot of work to be done in supporting women and moms. You can begin with paid leave.' Meghan went on to open up about the hatred she received online while pregnant with her children, Archie, now four, and Lilibet, now two. 'I keep my distance from [social media] right now for my wellbeing but the bulk of the bullying and abuse I was experiencing in social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili, and with a newborn, with each of them,' she said after being asked about the trolling she has faced. 'You just think about that and to wrap your head about why people would be so hateful. it's not catty it's cruel. Why you would do that when you're pregnant or as a mom at such a tender and sacred time.' She questioned how anyone could 'do that' to a an expectant or new mother - noting that much of the vitriol she was seeing online was coming from women trying to take down other women. '[It's] women completely spewing that to other women and I cannot make sense of that,' Meghan continued. It caused the brand to sell out of a $135 kit three times Sculpting beauty brand Biotyspa has been endorsed by Kourtney Kardashian An Australian brand sold out of its 'body sculpting' kit three times after making it onto Kourtney Kardashian's list of gift recommendations. Beauty brand Biotyspa was endorsed for its Body Sculpt Kit - an innovative product promising shoppers the benefits of a spa-like French lymphatic massage at home. Customers who have used the $135 kit claim to have noticed a difference in the way their skin looks and feels after just two weeks, and described the body oil scent as 'divine'. Following the endorsement one kit sold every two minutes and caused the brand to sell out of stock for two months. It's the third time the brand has sold out globally. Reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian (pictured) endorsed Australian sculpting beauty brand Biotyspa for its Body Sculpt Kit The TV star included it in her 2023 'Poosh Holiday Gift Guide'. The $135 kit is designed to give you the benefits of a spa-like French lymphatic sculpting massage at home The reality TV star included it in her 'Poosh Holiday Gift Guide' in December last year. The stimulating massage is designed to be used on the stomach, thighs, and buttock. The kit includes a sculpting kit, hydrating shower gel and firming body oil. With daily use the brand claims the kit can reduce the appearance of cellulite, enhance circulation and 'sculpt' the body. One mum who had a cesarean birth started using the kit when she was 10-weeks postpartum and called it a 'must-have'. 'I hadn't been moving around much at all and I was feeling quite loose all over. Especially my stomach (obviously). After about two weeks of using this product and seeing results so quickly I was hooked,' she wrote on the Biotyspa website. 'My baby is only five-months-old and I'm feeling bikini season ready already!' The kit retails for $135 Co-founder Deborah Levy was 'shocked' to find the megastar included the brand as part of her Holiday Gift Guide and described it as a 'pinch-me moment'. Ms Levy said: 'Since the article and socials went live it has been crazy with a Biotyspa Sculpt Kit sold every two minutes across the day. 'We have since sold out three times since and which was totally unexpected we never expected this and are so excited that the Kardashian family has found our incredible brand!' Before and after images pictured: Customers who have used the $135 kit claim to have noticed a difference in the way their skin looks and feels after just two weeks Co-founder Deborah Levy (pictured) was 'shocked' to find the megastar included the brand as part of her Poosh Holiday Gift Guide, and described it as a 'pinch-me moment' The product has an average star rating of 4.9 out of five on the website, with happy customers leaving raving reviews. 'I've been using this duo for two weeks now and can already begin to see my skin smoother!' one wrote. 'Devine. It hurts a bit at the start and I had some bruises at first (from suctioning too hard) but once you get the hang of it, it's a great shower ritual. The products all smell amazing and I get compliments from the oil. The only downside is it doesn't come with bigger bottles!' another said. 'It is quite a sensation and takes a bit to get used too. Preservation is required. Baby steps or you'll probably not continue. I've purchased a different gel to get used to how it works to save wasting the good stuff.' a third added. How to use the kit To use the kit, use one squeeze of the hydration shower gel and apply to target area in the shower on damp skin until it starts to foam. Add a few drops of the firming body oil if desired for a better glide. Then grab the sculpting cup and locate the three dots at the top and bottom which indicate where to position your fingers to press. Place your fingers on the dots and gently press down to create suction. Start with a light to medium pressure, but don't go too hard at first. If the pressure is too strong, unplug the cup and adjust to a lighter pressure. The best results occur from consistency, not from intensity. No bruising should occur. Depending on the target area will determine the massage motion. After massaging each area for three minutes, rinse then apply a few drops of the firming body oil. The brand recommends drinking a glass of water following the massage to assist the body with detoxification and enhance results. For best results, it's also recommended to use the kit daily in the morning or evening for three weeks at the recommended intensity, then maintain every two days. For the full step-by-step guide, watch the 'how to' video here. Renee, from Victoria, was shocked after she opened her box of Froot Loops A mum is outraged after realising she spent $10 on 'barely half' a bag of Froot Loops - dubbing the 'surreal' situation 'highway robbery'. Renee, from Victoria, said that her hands were tied because her children mostly eat Froot Loops for breakfast and turn their noses up at other cereal. 'I was absolutely shocked when I opened the box,' she told FEMAIL. 'It's highway robbery. I know we pay based on weight, but $10 for that amount is ridiculous. I almost died.' Renee shared an image of the brand new bag on Facebook which prompted dismay from hundreds of other shoppers. '$10 for half a bag of Froot Loops - the world has gone mad,' she said. A mum is outraged after realising she spent $10 on 'barely half' a bag of Froot Loops Renee told FEMAIL that she had 'learned her lesson' about the expensive buy. 'I'll only buy it when it's on special from now on, because I'll be lucky if the box lasts a week with my family of four.' Many echoed the sentiment. 'I can't understand how companies get away with charging $10 for cereal at all,' one said. 'Everything is like that these days it's ridiculous and a rip off,' another mum said. 'It's like buying a packet of chips. Five chips and a bag full of air. $10 is ripping off and taking advantage of every day Australians in already hard times.' Shoppers have turned too off-brand Froot Loops amid the cost of living crisis 'Oh my god. The bags use to be almost full,' another reminisced. One mum had some advice: 'I purchase my cereals when they are half-price. They usually go on a six-week cycle so I get enough to last until the next special.' But others didn't understand why people refused to switch to off-brand products instead. 'The Aldi brand tastes the same - plus it's cheaper and fuller,' one said. 'Chocopop at Aldi is bigger if you want something else. It's almost the actual size of the box,' another shared. 'It's sold by weight, not volume. The air in the bag prevents them being squashed and protects them. Same for all goods like this,' a shopper pointed out. Influential transgender health doctors and activists successfully helped shape NHS policies for more than a decade, it can be revealed. Standards of Care documents, produced by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, have been used as a basis for guidance to medical practitioners across the NHS. Such was the level of WPATH's influence it saw a director of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust tell a committee of MPs its treatment protocols were based on the organisation's guidelines. It was previously reported hormones blocking the onset of puberty were given to almost every child referred to specialists by the Tavistock clinic. The NHS gender identity services own data showed 96 per cent of children sent for assessment to endocrinology clinics were given puberty blockers - 98 per cent then went on to be given cross-sex hormones. Such was the level of WPATH's influence it saw a director of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust tell a committee of MPs its treatment protocols were based on the organisation's guidelines This aligns with the seventh version of WPATH's Standard's of Care - relied on by the NHS and others - calling for trans people to have 'gender-affirming care', including treatments such as hormones, surgeries and puberty suppression. Its eighth version, which was published to widespread criticism, included an entire chapter on Eunuchs and advocated for medical professionals to consider whether they should castrate a person who identified as such. Former Tavistock director, Dr Bernadette Wren, told the Women and Equalities Committee in 2015 the clinic's protocols were 'based on WPATH guidelines which are almost universally observed in Europe'. At the time Tavistock was the largest provider of transgender services in England it is currently earmarked for closure, to be replaced by regional hubs, this year. NHS guidance documents for staff, published in 2013, repeatedly make reference to WPATH and state they are 'informed' by the organisation's seventh edition of its guidance. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Trans-influencer and BBC Dr Who voiceover actor who moved out of London threatens to take down her GP 'after being refused hormone treatment' in profanity-laden social media posts Charlie Craggs when she attended 'The Crown' Finale Celebration in London in December Advertisement Contracts for NHS England's Gender Identity Development Service, covering 2016-2020, state services 'will be delivered in line with relevant national and international guidelines for the care of children and adolescents with GD such as the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards Of Care'. The document goes on to cite the seventh version of WPATH's standards of care. It states: 'When assessing children and adolescents who present with GD, the service's mental health professionals will broadly conform to the following guidelines taken from the WPATH SOC v7.' WPATH has since updated its Standards of Care document, with a 'version eight'. These are still signposted to as guidance for professionals by some trusts in NHS England. WPATH's Standards of Care document has been criticised for pushing a model where clinicians facilitate patients' transitioning, rather than providing objective healthcare. The organisation refers to its Standards of Care as 'internationally accepted guidelines' and discusses at length medical interventions for children and adolescents. Professional medical bodies have also published guidance either endorsing or signposting their members to WPATH's guidance. The GMC and BMA have directed their members to WPATH's standards of care, while the BMA cited them in its 'core principles of supportive care'. The Royal College of Psychiatrists made repeated reference to WPATH's Standards of Care in its 'Good Practice Guidelines' report in October 2013. A review of the document was planned in April 2023, although it is unclear when it was due by. The Scottish Government recommended the adoption of Standards of Care in 2012 and in 2021 advised the guidance should be updated. In 2022 it reviewed whether to implement the eighth version of WPATH's Standards of Care, but stopped short following a backlash. Last year, Dr Hilary Cass submitted her interim review to NHS England on gender identity services for children and young people. The Cass review criticised the Tavistock clinic the sole provider of specialist care in England as 'not a safe or viable long-term option'. WPATH's Standards of Care document has been criticised for pushing a model where clinicians facilitate patients' transitioning, rather than providing objective healthcare (stock image) Her review noted the Tavistock adopted a 'predominantly an affirmative, non-exploratory approach', to treating patients and advised a more cautious approach. Hundreds of messages by WPATH members who include surgeons, GPs and therapists were published this week after being sent to American activist Michael Shellenberger, who previously published bombshell leaks from Twitter staff. The material also includes a recording of an internal panel discussion held in May 2022 which featured a lengthy discussion of how to deal with gender-questioning teenagers who want to be prescribed puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones yet do not understand the consequences for their fertility. Dan Metzger, a hormone specialist at a children's hospital in Canada, told the meeting: 'I think the thing you have to remember about kids is that we're often explaining these sorts of things to people who haven't even had biology in high school yet.' He later said: 'It's always a good theory that you talk about fertility preservation with a 14-year-old, but I know I'm talking to a blank wall. 'We try to talk about it, but most of the kids are nowhere in any kind of a brain space to really talk about it in a serious way. That's always bothered me, but we still want the kids to be happy, happier in the moment, right?' Dr Metzger did not respond to requests for comment. In one exchange on its messageboard, a nurse asked what the right thing to do was with a patient who wanted to start hormone treatment but had been diagnosed with depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and 'schizoid typical traits'. Dr Dan Karasic, who helped write the mental health chapter of WPATH's latest guidelines, replied: 'I'm missing why you are perplexed. The mere presence of psychiatric illness should not block a person's ability to start hormones if they have persistent gender dysphoria, capacity to consent, and the benefits of starting hormones outweigh the risks.' He insisted when approached by the Mail: 'Treatment is only prescribed when the patient has capacity to give informed consent and the medical provider and patient agree that the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks.' President Dr Marci Bowers, who is transgender, said following the publication of the messages: 'WPATH is and has always been a science- and evidence-based organization whose recommendations are widely endorsed by major medical organizations around the world. 'We are the professionals who best know the medical needs of trans and gender diverse individualsand stand opposed to individuals who misrepresent and de-legitimize the diverse identities and complex needs of this population through scare tactics. 'The world is not flat. Gender, like genitalia, is represented by diversity. The small percentage of the population that is trans or gender diverse deserves healthcare and will never be a threat to the global gender binary.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland do not have a working relationship with The World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH). Specific questions related to its standards, or their development, should be directed to WPATH. 'It is not correct to say that NHS Gender Identity Services in Scotland follow WPATH V8 guidelines, a wide evidence base helps inform the delivery of NHS gender identity services in Scotland.' A GMC spokesman said: 'As the regulator for individual doctors in the UK, we do not set clinical guidance. The guidance we provide is high-level and our Trans healthcare ethical hub shows ways in which our professional standards can be applied and signposts to resources.' A spokesperson for the Royal College of Psychiatrists said: 'All our position statements are informed by a wide variety of sources, as well as our own member's professional expertise, and are not dictated by any single individual or organisation. Our position paper on transgender health was written in 2013 and we will update it following the outcome of the Cass Review.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'NHS England is transforming children's gender identity services, in line with the Cass Review recommendations, and moved away from WPATH guidelines more than 5 years ago. 'The Tavistock clinic will close at the end of March and the new services will open in April, with robust safeguarding processes in place and staffed by experts in paediatric safeguarding.' An NHS England spokesperson said: 'The NHS has well-established methods and processes in place to enable the development of policies and specifications for NHS gender services in line with clinical evidence and expertise. 'While we are aware of WPATH standards, we are clear that these do not determine NHS policy.' The BMA was approached for comment. Ministers have hired Steve Rowe to ensure the NHS Productivity Plan, out later this year, 'improves care throughout England' A former M&S boss has been hired as an NHS productivity tsar after taking the High Street chain 'out of the doldrums'. Health secretary Victoria Atkins said the 'stalwart' turned around its fortunes by 'embracing modernity' and is demanding the health service does the same. Her department has hired Steve Rowe to ensure the NHS Productivity Plan, out later this year, 'improves care throughout England'. It comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a 3.4billion investment in NHS productivity during Wednesday's Budget. In a keynote speech at the Nuffield Trust think tank's annual summit, Ms Atkins said the 'enormous amount of money' would be transformative. It will be used to expand the use of AI, reduce paperwork for medics and improve access for patients. A major project will involve AI listening in to doctors' appointments so it can automatically generate patient notes. Ms Atkins said it will cut the time medics spend on admin, so they are free to see more patients. She told the summit: 'We are standing on the cusp of a medical revolution, where technology, personalised therapies and better data can transform outcomes for a generation who are more health conscious than any that came before them. 'The NHS must seize this opportunity and look to the future, not restrict ourselves to what has always been done. In fact, it needs to have - to borrow a phrase - an M&S moment. 'This much loved British brand - a stalwart of our high streets for decades - realised that change was needed and embraced modernity, pivoting towards the next generation willing them over and securing its long term future. 'This is what the NHS needs to do to make sure it's there for the next 75 years.' Health secretary Victoria Atkins said the 'stalwart' turned around its fortunes by 'embracing modernity' and is demanding the health service does the same It comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a 3.4billion investment in NHS productivity during Wednesday's Budget. In a keynote speech at the Nuffield Trust think tank's annual summit, Ms Atkins said the 'enormous amount of money' would be transformative Ms Atkins continued: 'I love M&S and very happy to welcome Steve Rowe into the Department. 'The reason we're doing that is precisely because of the turnaround story that M&S has experienced in the last five, six, seven years, whereby it's fair to say they were in the doldrums and we all worried about stores closing. 'Now, many of the time I've had a conversation with colleagues admiring their beautiful new jacket and they say, "Oh yes, it's M&S". 'And it's because they have listened to what their customers have said, but they've also acknowledged they need to move forward and I think that bringing Steve to the Department, helping us with the productivity plan, but other forms of delivery as well, it will be a very significant step forward.' Mr Rowe served as M&S chief executive from 2016 to 2022, when he quit after nearly 40 years at the firm. He had previously led their food and clothing sections. A vast chunk of the money will help turbocharge the NHS App to make it the 'single front door' through which patients can access NHS services and manage their care. Patients will be able to book and amend appointments and take a digital health check that will allow doctors to identify those at high risk of diseases and intervene early. It is hoped the expansion will save staff time by reducing up to 500,000 missed appointments and help keep the nation healthier and in work. Only this week, the current boss of M&S said that doing business in Britain is 'like running up a downwards escalator with a rucksack on your back'. Dennis Reed, director of over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, expressed concerns about the use of AI to record doctors' appointments. He said: 'If patients are embarrassed about their medical issues they may not be as frank as they need to be during a consultation when it is being listened to by AI. 'This could lead to them getting the wrong diagnosis or treatment and cause harm.' Sam Smith, from privacy campaign group medConfidential, said: 'Patients should recognise this as the creepy overreach of technology that it appears to be.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Trust is the most important issue when implementing new technologies that have a direct impact on patient data. 'Patient confidentiality will always be a top priority. Any suggestion that the implementation of new technologies will undermine this confidentiality is wrong and irresponsible.' 'Creepy' plans to have AI listen in to patients' private NHS medical appointments have sparked outrage. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the scheme, which will see AI automatically generate notes in the background, will improve productivity by cutting the time medics spend doing paperwork. However, privacy and patient safety campaigners voiced 'huge concerns' over the safety of patients' data, warning people could come to harm because they may be too embarrassed to discuss medical issues freely while being recorded. Others fear the notes could be inaccurate. An AI tasked with transcribing Ms Atkins's speech announcing the plan mistakenly recorded her referring 'Chris Whitty', England's chief medical officer, as 'Christmas'. Her announcement yesterday followed that of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiling a 3.4billion investment in NHS IT to boost productivity. Health secretary Victoria Atkins said the plans will cut the time medics spend on admin so they are free to see more patients AI will listen in to doctors' appointments and automatically generate patient notes in a bid to improve productivity in the NHS (stock image) In a keynote speech at the Nuffield Trust think tank's annual summit, Ms Atkins said said the 'enormous amount of money' would be transformative. She said she had listened to complaints from doctors and nurses on wards that 'antiquated' computers hold them up and vowed to modernise them, using the 'exciting opportunity' that AI could bring. Ms Atkins added: 'I don't think we've quite had a full public conversation yet about what AI will mean for healthcare, I think we're beginning to see signs of it in the States.' She said voice activated AI 'is part of our plans for this productivity plan'. For time-strapped doctors it will mean rather than 'having to go and type up for 20 minutes' after an appointment, 'the notes will be created, thereby cutting down the amount of time you have to spend tapping into a computer', Ms Atkins said. 'I want you looking after patients not looking at computer screens.' Dennis Reed, director of over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, said he has 'huge concerns' about the use of AI to transcribe medical notes. He said: 'There are significant privacy issues here, which the NHS needs to take seriously. 'Patients value the confidential nature of the relationship they have with a doctor and many will be concerned to learn that their conversations are being recorded. 'If they are embarrassed about their medical issues they may not be as frank as they need to be during a consultation when it is being listened to by AI. 'This could lead to them getting the wrong diagnosis or treatment and cause harm. 'There's also the issue of what happens to the recording once it has been saved into the cloud. There is always the possibility that it could be hacked. 'Having used AI myself for some tasks, such as internet searches, it is clear that it is not always 100 per cent accurate. 'In a medical context, errors in transcription may be damaging. And if it is picking out the key bits of the conversation, it may highlight minor details and overlook important ones. 'This means doctors will need to spend time checking the transcriptions are accurate, which means it may not end up be time-saving at all.' Sam Smith, from privacy campaign group medConfidential, said: 'Patients should know how data is used, which includes who is recording them and where the transcripts are going. 'Patients should recognise this as the creepy overreach of technology that it appears to be.' Cori Crider, a director at tech-justice group Foxglove, said: 'With waiting times through the roof, GPs are under unbelievable pressure to see as many patients they can, as quickly as possible. Patient groups warned people could come to harm as they will be too embarrassed to discuss medical issues freely while being recorded (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. 'But two years ago, during the GPDPR fiasco, patients gave a pretty unanimous 'up yours' to the notion of the government, or anyone else, spying on private conversations with their doctor with a million patients opting out of sharing their data in one month. 'If the government treats people like adults and gives them clear and transparent control and consent over how this tech is used, this could be a quite literal lifesaver. 'But there are no shortcuts to winning that trust and government has a terrible track record of trying to slip new NHS tech past patients without bothering to get their permission. READ MORE: Controversial NHS plans to promise millions of patients 'same-day access' to a GP are binned after fierce backlash Officials promised that the original scheme, covering almost 3million residents in North London , would help patients get an appointment easier. But it later transpired that patients would only have a one in 15 chance of actually seeing a doctor Advertisement 'Both doctors and patients need government to stop trying to skip this essential step and do better.' Ms Atkins also revealed the Department of Health has appointed former M&S chief executive Steve Rowe to ensure that the productivity plan 'improves care throughout England'. She said: 'We are standing on the cusp of a medical revolution, where technology, personalised therapies and better data can transform outcomes for a generation who are more health conscious than any that came before them. 'The NHS must seize this opportunity and look to the future, not restrict ourselves to what has always been done. In fact, it needs to have - to borrow a phrase an M&S moment. 'This much love British brand a stalwart of our high streets for decades, realised that change was needed and embraced modernity, pivoting towards the next generation willing them over and securing its long term future. 'This is what the NHS needs to do to make sure it's there for the next 75 years.' Ms Atkins continued: 'I love M&S and very happy to welcome Steve Rowe into the Department. 'The reason we're doing that is precisely because of the turnaround story that M&S has experienced in the last 5,6,7 years, whereby it's fair to say they were in the doldrums and we all worried about stores closing. 'Now, many of the time I've had a conversation with colleagues admiring their beautiful new jacket and they say, 'Oh yes, it's M&S'. 'And it's because they have listened to what their customers have said, but they've also acknowledged they need to move forward and I think that bringing Steve to the Department, helping us with the productivity plan, but other forms of delivery as well, it will be a very significant step forward.' Ms Atkin also used the speech to warn local NHS leaders that they must be held accountable as they spend taxpayers' money. She added: 'We have to recognise that as public services are funded by the public for the public, that attitude is not acceptable and must please change.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Trust is the most important issue when implementing new technologies that have a direct impact on patient data. 'Patient confidentiality will always be a top priority. Any suggestion that the implementation of new technologies will undermine this confidentiality is wrong and irresponsible.' Critics called the changes a slap in the face' for families 'paying more for less' NHS dental fees are being hiked by another 4 per cent in April in a 'slap in the face' for patients. It means the price of a basic check-up will rise from 25.80 to 26.80. Meanwhile fillings will become an extra 3, with patients charged 73.50 instead of the current 70.70. The most complicated treatment, such as dentures, will cost another 12.30 with it now being priced at 319.10, up from 306.80. The British Dental Association said the charges wont 'bring NHS dentistry back from the brink' and that hard-pressed families will be forced to 'pay more for less'. NHS dental treatment prices are set to rise from April 1 this year Your browser does not support iframes. It comes amid an NHS dental crisis, with millions of patients in England struggling to access state-subsidised dental care. Desperate Brits have queued from 4am for limited NHS appointments, while others have flown to war-torn Ukraine for cheaper private dentistry. Some have even resorted to DIY dentistry at home. Despite the incoming price hike, the cost of NHS treatment will still be cheaper than going. Basic check-ups at private check-ups can cost upwards of 75. Crowns can cost up to around 800. How much will NHS dentistry now cost? There are 3 NHS charge bands with the new prices coming in from April 1: Band 1: 26.80 Covers an examination, diagnosis and advice. If necessary, it also includes X-rays, a scale and polish, and planning for further treatment. Band 2: 73.50 Covers all treatment included in Band 1, plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal treatment and removing teeth (extractions). Band 3: 319.10 Covers all treatment included in Bands 1 and 2, plus more complex procedures, such as crowns, dentures and bridges. Advertisement Shawn Charlwood, chair of the British Dental Associations (BDA) general dental practice, said: 'This latest hike is another slap in the face for hard-pressed families across England. 'This wont put a penny in to bring NHS dentistry back from the brink. 'The Government is asking the public to pay more for less of a service.' Mr Charlwood demanded ministers explain why they hadn't taken a similar approach to Wales and kept prices of NHS treatment down. The price of NHS dental treatment across the border can be almost half that in England. Basic NHS dental check-ups in Wales cost just 14.70, while getting crowns closer to 200. Mr Charlwood said: 'Ministers need to explain why patients in England are expected to pay 100 more than their Welsh cousins for identical NHS treatment.' The BDA warned price rises can have real-world impacts on Brits oral health. A poll conducted by the union last year found nearly one in four Brits surveyed had delayed or gone without dental care due to the price. Responding to the BDA's comments a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We provide a wide range of support to ensure everyone who needs dental care can afford it.' 'Over 47 per cent of people are eligible for free dental care and last year the NHS delivered over 15.4 million courses of free treatment under these exemptions, including children, those on low incomes and pregnant women. 'Where charges do apply, it is important they are updated to reflect increases in the cost of delivering NHS dental care.' Only a limited number of Brits are entitled to completely free NHS care everyone else has to pay. Those that get free treatment include children, pregnant women and new mothers, and people on some benefits. Last month, the Government finally unveiled its long-awaited NHS dental recovery plan, with the goal of 'putting NHS dentistry on a sustainable footing'. The crisis in NHS dentistry has been brewing for years, with some Brits forced to pull out their own teeth with pliers or travel abroad to see a dentist due to a lack of slots in the UK. Others have queued from 4am to gain a spot at dentistry practices that have opened up their list to NHS patients. Pictured, the line of people outside of Saint Pauls Dental Practice, in St Paul's, Bristol, which police were forced to break up last month Despite queuing for hours patients were met with a sign on the door saying: 'We are not enrolling anymore patients.' Pictured, the sign outside St Pauls Dental Practice earlier this week Under PM Rishi Sunak's bold blueprint to fix the appointments crisis plaguing millions, dentists will be offered up to 50 to see patients who haven't had a check-up in the last two years. Additionally, up to 240 dentists willing to relocate to 'dental deserts' will be paid a 20,000 'golden hello'. The Government is also planning to controversially add fluoride to the drinking water of millions of Brits in a bid to passively protect their oral health. But the overall plan unveiled 10 months after it was promised was slammed by dental bosses and politicians for not going far enough. The BDA has said that it amounted to 'rearranging the deckchairs' and it won't bring the desired, and much-needed, change. Health leaders instead called for 'radical reform' of the NHS dental contract, accusing Mr Sunak of U-turning on his pledge to restore the crippled industry. Figures show 24,151 dentists took on NHS work in England in 2022-23, down from 24,272 in the previous financial year a drop of 121 year-on-year. The total is also roughly 500 fewer than the number of dentists carrying out health service work in 2019-20, the last year before the Covid pandemic struck. The BDA fears numbers could drop even further to below 24,000, a figure not recorded since 2014-15. Experts have also raised the terrifying prospect that cases of mouth cancer, which are typically spotted in their earliest, and most treatable, stages during routine dental check-ups, are going missed due to the appointments crisis. The revamped NHS app is part of a 3.4bn investment into the health service Doctors will soon use the NHS app to track patients step counts under government plans to crack down on obesity and help get tens of thousands back to work. The move, part of a wider scheme to completely revamp the app, would help ensure 'we as a nation feel healthier', Health Secretary Victoria Atkins claimed. But the 'nanny state' measure has already sparked alarm among critics who warned it would backfire. One doctor even labelled it 'horribly Big Brother-ish'. Funded by the 3.4billion investment into new technology, announced in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's budget, the NHS will make use of the 'wealth of data' collected by smartphones. Ms Atkins said it would enable to health service to link up step count and heart rate data, routinely stored on smartphones, to help medics provide personalised advice, screening and treatment. The move, part of a wider scheme to completely revamp the app, would help ensure 'we as a nation feel healthier', health secretary Victoria Atkins (pictured) claimed Funded by the 3.4billion investment into new technology, announced in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's budget, the NHS will make use of the 'wealth of data' collected by smartphones. Ms Atkins said it would enable to health service to link up step count and heart rate data, routinely stored on smartphones, to help medics provide personalised advice, screening and treatment Responding to the measure on X, formerly known as Twitter, NHS doctor and author Dr Rachel Clarke said: 'Horribly Big Brother-ish overtones to this headline. 'I won't be electronically tracking any of my patients without their consent, not acting as an outpost of the Department of Work and Pensions either.' The medic, who recently co-wrote the ITV Covid hospital drama 'Breathtaking', added: 'Our patients are people, not economic productivity widgets.' Meanwhile, Dennis Reed told MailOnline: 'This is the nanny state in the extreme. People will wake up to find apps controlling their lives, literally every step they take. 'Thankfully, most older people are very suspicious of apps and if this proposal comes to fruition many will delete the app because of the civil liberty implications. 'The Secretary of State's unthinking approach on new technology will backfire badly unless she gets a grip on her enthusiasm for all things digital.' Around 430million of the 3.4billion investment will be put into the NHS App, Ms Atkins said. She told The Times the reforms had a 'really important role' in bringing down the record 2.8million people who are currently off work with long-term sickness. 'A strong economy helps pay for the NHS but actually a strong NHS helps a growing economy,' she said. Ms Atkins added: If you think of the data that we have on our phones, healthcare is absolutely going to be there encouraging people to find out what is a healthy lifestyle for them. 'How can they help quit smoking, talking therapies on the NHS App these are all things that are going to be helping us in future.' The wider 3.4billion investment will also see AI assistants introduced to help write up doctor's notes and interpret scans for diseases like cancer faster. But the AI assistant note plan itself has also faced backlash, with patient safety campaigners warning people may be too embarrassed to discuss medical issues freely while being recorded. Others fear the notes could be inaccurate. On Wednesday, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt claimed it would stop NHS staff wasting time filling out forms and instead boost the number of appointments tackling the NHS backlog. Some 1billion will also be used to introduce an NHS staff app to make it easier for staff to move employment records around the system. Earlier this week the Office for Budget Responsibility warned that the number of people out of work would stay high for years as economic inactivity proves 'more persistent' than previously thought. Responding to the measure on X, formerly known as Twitter , NHS doctor and author Dr Rachel Clarke said: 'Horribly Big Brother-ish overtones to this headline. 'I won't be electronically tracking any of my patients without their consent, not acting as an outpost of the Department of Work and Pensions either.' The medic, who recently co-wrote the ITV Covid hospital drama 'Breathtaking', added: 'Our patients are people, not economic productivity widgets' Others have long also projected that benefit payments could rise by 9billion between 2019 and 2027. MailOnline understands there are around 3,000 people claiming personal independence payments benefits available to those with a long-term condition or disability with the primary condition being 'obesity'. It comes as Ms Atkins yesterday told a a Nuffield Trust summit that the NHS needed a 'turnaround' like Marks and Spencer to ensure its productivity plan 'improves care throughout England'. Announcing the appointment of former M&S chief executive Steve Rowe as an NHS productivity tsar, she said: 'We are standing on the cusp of a medical revolution, where technology, personalised therapies and better data can transform outcomes for a generation who are more health conscious than any that came before them. 'The NHS must seize this opportunity and look to the future, not restrict ourselves to what has always been done. In fact, it needs to have - to borrow a phrase an M&S moment. 'This much love British brand a stalwart of our high streets for decades, realised that change was needed and embraced modernity, pivoting towards the next generation willing them over and securing its long term future. 'This is what the NHS needs to do to make sure it's there for the next 75 years.' California lawmakers are seeking to ban decaffeinated coffee or force companies to change their recipes to remove a chemical linked to cancer. The majority of decaffeinated coffees are made using methylene chloride, also found in paint stripper, which is used to remove caffeine from the coffee beans during the manufacturing process. Both the EPA and International Agency for Research on Cancer have labeled methylene chloride as a 'probable carcinogen', after studies linked it to cancers in the blood, breasts and other parts of the body. But under new legislation, filed by Democrat Assembleymember Eloise Reyes, the state would ban decaf coffee produced using this chemical forcing manufacturers to switch recipes or face a $10,000 fine. The above graphic shows how decaf coffee is made using the European method, the most common method for making decaf coffee. Tests show trace amounts of methylene chloride remain in the coffees even after treatment California is considering a ban on decaffeinated coffee made using methylene chloride (stock pic) It comes after California became the first state in the US to ban four candy chemicals linked to cancers and hyperactivity in children. Coffee manufacturers insist the chemical is washed out of the beans after treatment, with any amounts left then evaporating when the beans are heated to 400F (204C) during roasting. But testing by consumer watchdogs has shown this is not the case and that trace amounts still remain in decaffeinated coffee. Consumer Group Clean Label Project found that 10 out of the 25 decaf coffee brands it tested contained the chemical in 2020, with brands including Amazon Fresh and Kroger's own being the worst offenders. The levels were low, however, with none exceeding the FDA maximum recommendation as a safe level of 10 parts per million. The bill in California called AB2066 was introduced to the assembly last month and will need to pass a vote before being handed to a committee. It will also need to pass another vote in the House, a committee stage and vote in the Senate and obtain the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom before it becomes law. If it comes into force, the bill would ban decaf coffees made using the chemical in the state by 2027. It is not clear whether the bill would also ban the sale of decaffinated coffees made outside the method that had used methylene chloride. But the National Coffee Association has raised concerns, labeling it a 'decaffinated coffee ban'. Its CEO Bill Murray said: 'Banning European Method decaf would defy science and harm Americans' health. 'The overwhelming weight of independent scientific evidence shows that drinking European Method decaf is safe and furthermore that drinking European Method decaf, like all coffee, is associated with decreased risk of multiple cancers and other significant health benefits.' European Method decaf is the name of the method of making decaffinated coffee that uses the chemical. It accounts for the vast majority of decaffinated coffees. There are other options available, including ones using carbon dioxide and water, but these are more time consuming and expensive. About 10 percent of Americans or 26million people drink decaffeinated coffees every day, estimates show. California does not produce much decaf coffee, with the vast majority of America's supplies coming from Germany. Coffee manufacturers argue any ban would cause a shortage in supplies of decaf coffee and raise prices for consumers. The FDA is also considering a petition filed by consumer group Environmental Defense Fund which seeks to outlaw the use of methyl chloride in making decaffeinated coffee. Californian assemblymember and Democrat Eloise Gomez Reyes has proposed the bill to ban the use of the chemical in the manufacture of decaffeinated coffee The European Union and the FDA currently allow the manufacture of coffee using methylene chloride. But the FDA says its levels cannot exceed 10 parts per million in products. No studies have yet shown a link between decaf coffee and any negative health effects, including cancer. Previous studies have warned, however, that exposure to methyl chloride even at low levels although above those in decaf coffee may raise the risk of cancer. Animal studies reported by the EPA linked exposure to the chemical to a higher risk of liver and lung cancer. A meta-analysis published in 2013 involving more than 3,000 adults also found participants had a higher risk of multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. Participants were adults who manufactured camera film which contains the chemical and were exposed to about 20 to 40ppm regularly via breathing in contaminated air. A separate meta-analysis in 2011 also pointed to a potential link between the chemical and brain, breast and liver cancer in the group. An EPA review in 2022 also warned the chemical could cause other complications including problems with the nervous system and developmental problems. This was in part based on a study in mice which showed the chemical could cross the placenta and cause bone development problems in animals. The CDC says online: 'Methylene chloride is a colorless liquid that can harm the eyes, skin, liver and heart. 'Exposure can cause drowsiness, dizziness, numbness and tingling limbs and nausea. It may cause cancer.' They say workers exposed to paint, who work in factories that do metal cleaning or degreasing or who work in pharmaceuticals are most at risk. Decaf coffee is favored by many consumers for the chances to gain some of the benefits of coffee without suffering from the jitters or disrupted sleep caused by the caffeinated version. Previous studies have suggested these may include a lower risk of an early death, consumption of more antioxidants and even a lower risk of colon cancer. Studies have also linked drinking coffee to multiple health benefits including a lower risk of heart disease, which is thought to be linked to its caffeine content. The Hi-Ridge Motel in Wethersfield, where police say two women were with a man before he was robbed in Hartford. Police say the women set up the man, who ended up being shot. Google Streets This is the Hungerford Street neighborhood in Hartford where a man was shot and robbed after being with two women in a Wethersfield motel, police say. Google Streets HARTFORD A man who was hooking up with two women at a Wethersfield motel last year ended up in Hartford with no car, money or cellphone and a bullet wound to his arm, according to arrest warrants. The 41-year-old man later told police that the women, whom he knew as Kitty and Beba, had set him up, the warrants said. The man continues to recover from his gunshot wound, police said this week. Katrice Johnson, who, besides Kitty, is known as Kat, and Katherine Beba Espinal, also known as Kat 2, teamed up with two felons for the Nov. 3 crime, during which the four netted only $100, police said in the warrants for their arrests. The crew was taken into custody, one by one, over the last three months. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Marquis Henry, 36, of Granby Street in Hartford, was arrested Dec. 7 on nine charges, including first-degree assault, robbery by carjacking and criminal use of a weapon. He is custody at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield on a total bail of $1,021,000, which includes bails for separate drug charges, state records show. He is on probation for narcotics and threatening convictions. Khadafi Castro, 45, of Jefferson Street in Hartford, was arrested Dec. 14 on five charges, including robbery by carjacking and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. He has a long history of felony convictions, which include gun and drug charges, and he is on federal probation, his arrest warrant states. Johnson, 38, of Hungerford Street in Hartford, was arrested Feb. 29 on four charges: conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, robbery by carjacking and second-degree larceny. She is at the York Correctional Institution in lieu of $250,000 bail. And Espinal, 26, of High Path Road in Windsor, the last person to be arrested, was charged Monday with conspiracy to commit the following: first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, robbery by carjacking and second-degree larceny. She is at York in lieu of $150,000 bail. Espinal orchestrated the holdup, according to the warrant for her arrest. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 'He got money and we can get him' According to the warrants for their arrests, the crime was planned at the last minute in Room 204 of the Hi-Ridge Motel in Wethersfield, where Johnson and Espinal were spending time with the victim and sending a steady stream of texts to update Castro on their status. He got money and we can get him, he has the money in his inside pocket like big money, one of the women texted Castro at 4:16 a.m. Im in the bathroom and he wants me next, she wrote, according to the womens warrants. Castro answered: I am saying how do you want to do this? They decided to do the robbery in Hartford, the warrants said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Have him drop us off and yall get him there! one of the women wrote. The warrant didnt specify which one sent the text. Car, Money, Pills and all, the warrant said. Plans were still being made at 5:02 a.m., with basic details being exchanged between the women and the men who would carry out the robbery, according to the warrants. Okay yea we going to be ready but babe what kind of car yall in? Castro wrote, according to the warrants. The answer, according to police: In an ugly green Pontiac. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And, at 5:21 a.m., when the two women arrived with the victim at Johnsons home on Hungerford Street (or Hungry, as the text messages said), one exclaimed, He here! the warrants said. The victim told police he dropped off the women, but Johnson called and told him to come back, saying she left her wallet in the car. He came back and as soon as Johnson opened the door, a white Audi pulled up and parked behind the Pontiac, the warrant said. Two men who police said were Henry and Castro got out and approached the Pontiac, and the two women ran away, the victim told investigators, according to the warrants. The victim said one of the men pulled out a gun, pointed it directly at him and fired one shot, which went through his driver side window and struck him in the left arm, the warrant said. The armed man continued to hold the victim at gunpoint while the second robber opened the passenger door, went through the victims pockets and stole $100 and his cellphone, the warrants said. The robber with the gun ordered him out of the car, which the second man then got into and drove off, the warrant said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As the victim started running away, the first robber fired two more shots before getting into the Audi and also driving off, the warrants said. Detectives used a number of ways to find the four suspects, including surveillance camera footage, interviews and DNA, according to the warrant. They found the Audi on Granby Street, where Henry lives, and seized the vehicle, the warrants stated. When police searched the getaway car, they found some blood in it that matched Henry, the warrants said, although its not clear why he would have bled. As for the ugly Pontiac, the crew didnt hold onto it for long, the warrant said: Police later found it less than a half-mile away on Wolcott Street, the warrants said. READ MORE: Feel like everyone's getting sick lately? CDC maps reveal hotspots A stomach bug that causes violent diarrhea and vomiting is still surging throughout the country, particularly the northeast, health officials have announced. The latest CDC data update shows that 16.5 percent of tests given to hospitalized patients in the northeast came back positive for norovirus at the beginning of March - nearly a three percent increase from a month earlier. This is up from just four percent in November, when the outbreak started. Cases are also rising throughout the rest of the US, with 15 percent of swabs now detecting the virus compared to nine percent in November. Dr Darin Detwiler, a former FDA and USDA food safety advisor told DailyMail.com that norovirus 'imposes a significant public health and economic burden on the country.' Norovirus is the most common foodborne illness in the US, affecting about 21 million people every year 'The high contagiousness can lead to widespread outbreaks, affecting schools, healthcare facilities, and food service establishments.' 'This results in increased healthcare costs, lost productivity, and in severe cases, hospitalizations and deaths, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and young children.' Positive tests are going up fastest in the South, surging by nearly 10 percent in just four months. Norovirus sickens about 21 million Americans - six percent of the population - every year. Of these, roughly 109,000 are hospitalized, and 900 die. Cases normally peak around February and March, alongside other ailments, because people are forced to spend more time indoors by cold weather. CDC's latest data, which was updated March 7, showed that the test positivity rate - the proportion of swabs done in hospitals that come back positive for the virus - was 16.5 percent the week of March 2 in the northeast. One month earlier, the rate was 13.8 percent. Cases are rising in other regions as well. In the south, 12.6 percent of tests have come back positive as of March 2, up from nine percent a month earlier. At the start of the outbreak in November, the positivity rate was just four percent. Last month, Fairhope West Elementary School in Alabama had to shut down after nearly 800 children and half the school's staff called in sick with a mysterious stomach bug. This graph from the CDC shows how cases have jumped to 16.5 percent in recent weeks Fairhope West Elementary (pictured) closed for a few days last month for deep cleaning as officials attempt to get on top of the outbreak State officials said they were investigating the outbreak but believe it is most likely caused by norovirus. A nearby school, Fairhope East Elementary, has also said it is recording a surge in norovirus cases with the principal saying she is 'monitoring the situation'. Diego Moreno, whose son goes to Fairhope West Elementary which goes up to sixth grade or 12 years old told reporters he had to take his son to the hospital. 'Yesterday, our son have a vomiting during four or five times in the night, all the night. 'And today, we are going to the hospital and they told for us that a lot of kids is sick right now.' Philis Spencer, whose grandchildren are at the school, also told reporters: '[This is] very alarming, very alarming. 'I've never experienced this in all the years that I've had my own children and these grandchildren so... very alarming indeed.' She was also filmed wearing a face mask as she rushed to the school to collect the youngsters. The midwestern region reported a 13.4 percent positivity rate as of March 2, up from 10 percent a month earlier. And in the west, 12.8 percent of tests came back positive for norovirus as of March 2, uip from 11 percent in early February and five percent in November. Data from September to the start of February this year shows that Minnesota and Wisconsin have been hardest hit with norovirus with both reporting more than five outbreaks over this period. They are followed by California, Florida, Ohio and Virginia which have all reported four outbreaks so far. But experts say cases are now also starting to take off in states within the North East including New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Norovirus spreads easily through contact with contaminated surfaces and then touching the area around the mouth or nose. Infections typically cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach ache and watery diarrhea as well as a fever and a headache. Excessive vomiting and diarrhea can also lead to dehydration, which causes decreased urination, dry mouth and throat, and dizziness when standing. In the vast majority of cases, symptoms clear within two days with little treatment needed besides bed rest. The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom, after changing a diaper, before handling food, and before giving yourself or someone else medicine. 'It is important to continue washing your hands often even after you feel better,' the agency states. 'Norovirus can be found in your vomit or feces (poop) even before you start feeling sick.' 'The virus can also stay in your poop for two weeks or more after you feel better and you can still spread norovirus during that time.' Dr Detwiler also recommended disinfecting surfaces regularly and washing laundry frequently. 'Implementing these practices can significantly reduce the risk of norovirus infection and help prevent its spread within households and communities,' he said. An unexpected move by the FDA to delay approval of a potentially life-changing Alzheimers drug has let down doctors and patients eagerly awaiting its availability. Eli Lilly, the maker of the drug known as donanemab, said the approval would be delayed beyond March as the FDA plans to call a last-minute meeting of outside experts to review its safety and efficacy. The medicine had been expected to obtain approval by the end of the first quarter of the year, after clinical trials showed that it was able to modestly slow the rate of cognitive decline associated with the disease. But the FDA wants an independent view on the drug's major side effect - it can cause fatal brain swelling. Donanemab was shown to slow down cognitive decline by 60 percent in patients in early stages of disease Donanemab is given to Alzheimer's patients through an IV infusion once a month. The monoclonal antibody a man-made version of proteins produced by the body to fight-off harmful substances travels to the brain. Once inside the organ, donanemab binds to toxic build-ups of amyloid plaque a hallmark sign of the memory-robbing disease. This prompts immune cells, known as microglia, to clear them The FDA wants outside experts to examine the companys unique trial design, which allowed patients to stop taking the drug once plaques believed to cause Alzheimers were cleared from the brain. The move is a setback for Alzheimers sufferers and their advocates, who are urging the FDA to take swift action to do all it can to approve the drug. Professor Robert Howard, an expert in geriatric mental health at the University College London, said: 'This is very bad news for Lilly. 'The longer [competitor] lecanemab has a licence but donanemab doesn't, the more the available (but limited) US capacity to treat patients with amyloid antibodies will be blocked (for 18 months) by the first drug to hit the market.' Donanemab belongs to a growing class of drugs that aim to reduce clumps of a sticky protein called beta-amyloid, which is believed to be a primary driver of this particular type of dementia. In the companys clinical trial, the monthly injection, 60 percent of patients showed a slowdown in cognitive decline after a year of taking it based on criteria of one type of symptom rating scale, and by 46 percent per another scale. Among patients with early Alzheimer's whose brain scans showed low or medium levels of a protein called tau, the drug was found to slow clinical decline by 35 percent. Levels of tau are another marker of how far the disease has progressed. There is debate in the field of dementia research over whether amyloid buildup is the cause of the disease or if its tau. This protein undergoes abnormal changes in the brain and becomes tangled with other strands of proteins. The build-up of these tangles impedes brain cells from effectively communicating with each other. The FDAs decision was a blow to advocates like the Alzheimers Association. A spokesperson from the advocacy group said: While the decision is a surprise at this stage in the review process, the safety and appropriate administration of treatments is paramount. On behalf of everyone who could benefit from this treatment, we strongly urge the FDA to move swiftly in this next stage of its review. The drug, as well as a similar treatment Leqembi by Biogen, is meant for people with mild cognitive impairment in the early stages of Alzheimers. Around six million Americans have the disease, and roughly 300,000 are in the early stages and would likely qualify for the drug. The field of Alzheimers treatment development has been plagued with failures over safety concerns, brain bleeds and swelling being chief among them, as well as doubt that they would actually work. Past studies have shown only mild declines in the speed at which the disease causes the mind to waste away, which has instilled doubt in the minds of reviewers charged with approving or denying the drug companies applications. Still, plenty of evidence shows that some of the nearly 1,800 people enrolled in Lillys trial have benefitted from the drug, including Connecticut native Jim Sirois, now 68. He was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2020 after struggling to speak and becoming so forgetful he couldn't remember where he had been the day before. But his wife said the drug effectively halted the condition over the span of 2023. Jim Sirois and his wife Sue. Jim was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's more than three years ago and, since starting donanemab, his disease 'really hasn't progressed' Myra Garcia, from southern California, pictured above with her husband Richard, was also put on the drug after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. She told DailyMail.com that everyone who gets the chance should take the drug Sue Sirois, 64, said: 'I compare Jim's decline to a friend I know who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 56. She died recently, and only lasted six years, whereas Jim is now over three years in and he is now still pretty much the same as what he was.' Other patients in the drug's trials hailed it as helping them to continue doing 'normal things' like going to classes and doing the laundry. Myra Garcia, 64, from southern California, is also receiving donanemab after being enrolled in a separate trial. She told DailyMail.com that she would get the drug approved tomorrow if she could, adding that it has worked beautifully. She added: 'I am in three choirs, my church choir, the Hillcrest choir, and a Bach choir. 'I also exercise with my husband, we do something together every morning, but then I do cooking and laundry and the things that everybody does.' A Florida man who went to doctors complaining of persistent migraines was found to be suffering from a parasite in his brain. The unnamed patient, 52, sought medical help after his chronic headaches became more frequent over the past four months and his medications stopped working. Scans showed multiple cysts in both hemispheres of his brain, as well as swelling, which infectious disease experts confirmed was the result of a pork tapeworm that had laid eggs in his brain and was irritating the tissue under his skull. It's believed that he contracted the illness from eating undercooked bacon after the patient told doctors about his 'preference for soft bacon'. Scans showed multiple cysts in both hemispheres of his brain, as well as swelling, which infectious disease experts confirmed was the result of pork tapeworm that had laid eggs in his brain and was irritating the tissue under his skull. The doctors speculated that their patient contracted NCC after eating undercooked bacon The patient, from Orlando, told doctors in Orlando that his normal medications no longer stopped the migraines, which now occurred almost every week. He said that he had not travelled outside of the country recently or eaten any raw foods, though he did prefer light cooked, non-crispy bacon. WHAT IS A TAPEWORM? Tapeworms have evolved specialized 'heads' that carry an arsenal of spines or retractable hooks to attach themselves to the intestines of their hosts. These parasites don't have a gut of their own. Instead, they use their outer surface to absorb nutrients and excrete waste. Beyond the 'head' and 'neck,' areas, a tapeworm is just a series of segments, each with its own male and female sexual parts. Eventually, they mature and make eggs. Tapeworms infest a wide variety of animals. Whales get tapeworms, and in these huge mammals the parasites can grow to 100 feet or more. If left untreated in humans, the patient's life may be in danger as the infestation can affect key areas of the intestine. Advertisement CT and MRI scans showed multiple cysts in both sides of his brain. He was diagnosed with the parasitic infection neurocysticercosis. The condition is used to describe when larval cysts - enclosed sacs containing the immature stage of a parasite - of the pork tapeworm infect various parts of the body and cause inflammation. The patient's doctors believe the parasite entered his body via undercooked food, then traveled from the intestine to the brain through the bloodstream. 'Our patients lifelong preference for soft bacon may have led to instances of undercooked bacon consumption,' the physicians wrote. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that there are between 1,320 and 5,050 cases of neurocysticercosis every year in the US. A person can catch it by swallowing microscopic eggs passed from the feces of someone who has an intestinal pork tapeworm. This is called an autoinfection. Living with someone who has a pork tapeworm and eating food prepared by someone with one can also cause it. These infections are most common in rural areas of developing countries where pigs roam freely and eat human feces, as well as where there are poor hygiene practices. It's rare in people from developing countries like the US or UK. Symptoms of NCC depend on where any how many cysts are found in the brain, though they most commonly include confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, balance issues, and excess fluid in the brain known as hydrocephalus. The experts who treated the patient also noted that seizures occur in about 80 percent of patients with NCC. These symptoms can start months or years after infection, most often when the cysts begin dying. The doctors said that changes in patients who have migraines should warrant further testing on them to rule out infections like NCC. 'It is historically very unusual to encounter infected pork in the United States, and our case may have public health implications,' they wrote. The patient was taken to the intensive care unit and given the corticosteroid dexamethasone four times a day to reduce the swelling in his brain. He was also given albendazole and praziquantel for two weeks, which are used to treat worm infections. The patient's cysts went away, and his migraines improved. The case was published in the American Journal of Case Reports. aela Penney, from Liskeard in Cornwall, was sent home with painkillers An estate agent has claimed she could have died after being told her leg pain was down to her being a 'lazy student'. Maela Penney, from Liskeard in Cornwall, made an urgent appointment with her GP surgery in October 2019. But the 22-year-old was sent home with painkillers by a nurse practitioner who told her she was 'laying in bed too long', she claimed. As her symptoms worsened, Ms Penney was forced to return to the same practice in a wheelchair just 24 hours later. It was only during the second appointment that the nurse practitioner diagnosed her with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and advised she visit A&E. Maela Penney (pictured), from Liskeard in Cornwall, made an urgent appointment with her GP surgery in October 2019. But the 22-year-old was sent home with painkillers by a nurse practitioner who told her she was 'laying in bed too long', she claimed After attending A&E, Ms Penney was also given blood thinning injections before being taken to theatre where her clots were removed. She had a second operation days later to insert a stent in her leg. Pictured during her hospital stay The painful condition occurs when a clot forms in a vein, usually in the leg. It can be life-threatening if part breaks off and blocks the blood supply to the lungs, known medically as a pulmonary embolism. Scans taken in hospital the following day revealed she had six clots, some of which were the 'size of a 50p coin'. Recalling her ordeal, Ms Penney said: 'I started to get really bad hip pain. 'It was aching and keeping me up in the night. I didn't think it was anything serious at that time. 'I rang my doctors in the morning and I explained I was in agony. 'At this point, I couldn't walk very well but I could still walk. My grandad came with me and helped me walk to the doctors. 'When I got there I was seen by a nurse practitioner. She asked if I was an active person and at the time I wasn't really doing much because I was in college. 'She said spending a lot of time in bed can cause your muscles to seize up. She was basically saying I was a lazy student who wasn't getting enough exercise and staying in bed too long.' After attending A&E, Ms Penney was also given blood thinning injections before being taken to theatre where her clots were removed. She had a second operation days later to insert a stent in her leg. These expand against blocked or narrowed vein walls, acting as a scaffold to keep veins open. Ms Penney was also prescribed blood-thinning tablets which she was recommended to take for the rest of her life to reduce the risk of further clots. She added: 'I probably would've been dead if I hadn't pushed it. I had a scan before all the clots were removed and the clots were all leading up to the main artery in my heart. 'It was only a matter of time, it could've been a bad outcome if I'd just stayed at home.' DVT symptoms include redness, pain, a heavy ache and sometimes swelling, usually in the calf or thigh. In severe cases, chest pain, breathing difficulties, a faster heartbeat and coughing up blood can be signs of a pulmonary embolism. Research suggests 40 per cent of patients who die from a pulmonary embolism complained of nagging symptoms for weeks before their death. For every pulmonary embolism diagnosed in time, there are at least another two where the diagnosis was missed and resulted in sudden death, according to the charity Thrombosis UK. The number of deaths caused by blood clots has also risen in England from 12,457 a year in 2019/20 to 14,846 in 2021/22. Ms Penney said she had now 'lost trust' in medical professionals and urged people to get a second opinion if they 'know something's not right'. She added: 'I'm disappointed the nurse didn't spot the signs because looking back now it's obvious what the problem was. 'After that happened I feel like I've lost trust in medical professionals. If I can avoid going to the doctors, I will. 'If something's not right, I wouldn't take that for an answer if you're not happy. I would ask for a second opinion and keep pushing because you yourself know when something's not right. 'Don't just accept the first answer if you're not happy. I knew something wasn't right. In these situations, you have to be persistent especially if it's going to save your life.' Deterring Armageddon: A Biography of Nato By Peter Apps (Wildfire 25, 624pp) During the freezing depths of the Cold War, 40 years ago, I pestered friends in Brussels to get me some Nato bumper stickers to put on my car. I wanted to irritate and challenge my modish, foolish, gullible Oxford neighbours, victims of Moscow propaganda. Those neighbours were the very people who have now become warmongering Blairites keen for us to bomb distant countries. But back then they hated Nato. They plastered their houses with peacenik posters. Many camped out at the U.S. Air Force base at Greenham-Common, protesting foolishly against the presence of American cruise missiles. They were utterly deluded, except for those among them (and there were some) who actively wanted the Soviet Union to dominate all of Europe. And they failed, though it was quite a narrow thing. They failed because Nato held together under very great pressure from the Kremlin and from the European Left. The consequences were vast. Polish soldiers hold up the Nato flag after a multinational training exercise in Poland in 2022 The leaders of Nato countries gather for a meeting at the Palai de Chaillot in 1957. Then prime minister of the UK Harold Macmillan sits second from the right Having exhausted itself in one last failed effort to destroy the Free West, the Communist Evil Empire sickened and died. Many things contributed to that death, but I am still sure the battle over cruise missiles, and the resolve of Nato, were decisive. Now here is the odd thing. The Nato alliance, set up in 1949 specifically to prevent a Soviet takeover of Western Europe, still exists almost 33 years after the collapse of the Soviet empire. I can think of no other alliance created to deal with a particular menace, which still exists long after that menace melted away. Even more surprising, Nato has actually got bigger since its enemy vanished. Something needs to be explained here. We should therefore be very grateful to Peter Apps, a British Army reservist and Reuters columnist, for writing a thorough history of Nato from birth in 1949 to today. Czech students take to the streets to voice their disapproval of the Soviet Union in 1968. The Prague Spring, as it was called, was suppressed after Soviet and Warsaw Pact allies invaded Nato's founding membership kept its influence to countries outside the Soviet sphere of influence. It stood aside when Moscows tanks crushed the 1953 East Berlin rising (pictured) The book started life under the rather exalted working title Sacred Obligation. But it should be called The Worlds Most Successful Bluff. For, like most such security pacts, a bluff is what Nato was and still is. Mr Apps spends a great deal of his time chronicling the endless unresolved tension between the mighty, rich U.S., Natos backbone and muscle, and Europe, its vulnerable and weak underbelly. It was of course this tension which the USSR ceaselessly sought to exploit. Natos famous promise, that an attack on one would be attack on all, was and remains a very wobbly gamble. History features sad examples of such bluffs being called and exposed. The normally bellicose Lord Palmerston wriggled out of Britains 1860s pledge to defend Denmark against Prussia when he realised it would get us into a war we would lose. Neville Chamberlains 1939 guarantee to protect Poland from Germany failed to deter Hitler from invading. Even worse, when the invasion came, Britain did nothing. As for relying on the U.S. in the age of Donald Trump, beware. Do not forget (Trump hasnt) how fiercely determined America was to stay out of European quarrels in 1939 and for years afterwards. Washington only went to war against Berlin after Hitler declared war on America, not the other way round. Any careful reader of this book will begin to wonder whether Nato, far from being a promise of aid in time of trouble, is in fact a good way of avoiding any real obligation to fight. The much-touted Article 5 of Natos charter is not quite the magnificent guarantee of armed support from the strong to the weak that it appears to be. Members pledge to assist an attacked nation by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force. Read carefully, this means that if a Nato member does not deem armed force to be necessary, it can send a note of protest instead, or make a fierce speech at the United Nations. Workers staged an unexpected unrising in East Berlin. It was violently crushed by Soviet forces The U.S. would never have signed or ratified a treaty which obliged it to go to war, which is why the clause is so weak. All the small, poor ill-armed countries on Natos eastern edge would be well advised to read it very carefully. The key first 40 years of Nato show how cautious, limited and risk-averse it has been. Its recent reinvention as a kind of mini-United Nations task force has been mainly outside its original area, in former Yugoslavia, Libya and Afghanistan. Its founding membership was carefully restricted to countries already well outside the Soviet sphere of influence. It stood aside when Moscows tanks crushed the 1953 East Berlin rising, the 1956 Budapest revolt, and the 1968 Prague Spring. It did precious little when Moscow ordered Polands Communist rulers to strangle a democratic and Christian rebellion by imposing brutal martial law there from 1981 to 1983. Where the West did stand up to Soviet power in Europe, mainly in West Berlin, it tended to be the U.S. which did most of the standing. I suspect it is still much the same. In a fascinating passage, Apps describes a recent scene at Natos Joint Force Command in the Dutch town of Brunssum. He says officials in its 24-hour operations room described their main role as stopping the Ukraine war spreading to alliance territory. Well, quite. For who knows what stress would be placed on Nato if, thanks to some rash incursion or off-course missile, it faced a direct war with Russia? Of course, the task of avoiding the spread of war into Nato territory would be much easier if Nato had not expanded so far east in the past 30 years. But its leaders were warned. In 1997, the greatest and toughest anti-Soviet U.S. diplomat of modern times, George Kennan, said shortly before he died: Expanding Nato would be the most fateful error of American policy in the entire post-Cold-War era. Recalling his generations successful handling of Soviet power, he sighed: This has been my life, and it pains me to see it so screwed up in the end. MUSIC THE LIVERBIRDS By Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders (Faber 20, 305pp) To those of a certain vintage, The Liver Birds (two words) was a classic Carla Lane sitcom, broadcast throughout the Seventies. It starred Polly James and Nerys Hughes, as spirited young flatmates trying not to be too dependent on men. As we now discover from this sassy book, the Liverbirds (one word) was also the name given to Britains first female pop band. We got a lot of publicity, write Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders, the sole survivors, even though we couldnt play a note. Mary, Sylvia, and their bandmates, Valerie and Pamela, grew up in Liverpool during the war, when 4,000 civilians were killed and 70,000 rendered homeless. This memoir pungently describes the girls shared background bad sanitation, damp housing, five to a bed, fireguards draped with nappies, poverty in general. Education was provided by angry nuns, and most people were Catholics with Irish blood. Folk melodies and harmonies were discernible in the Scouse sound, especially the Beatles. From left, Liverbirds Sylvia Saunders, Pamela Birch, Mary McGlory and Valerie Gell In the postwar north of England there were very few career opportunities for young women, who were forced to settle for being secretaries to groping bosses, factory hands making Spam, or book-keepers at Littlewoods. There was certainly no expectation that girls could play music in bands, yet after seeing the Beatles at the Cavern, the future Liverbirds decided, Oh we want to do that, lets be the first girls to do it! These early-days scenes are enchanting. Mary, Sylvia, Valerie and Pam were full of restless energy, twisting and shouting at the Cavern regularly, when the Beatles drummer was still Pete Best. The cloakroom attendant was Cilla Black. The venue was so sweaty and hot, with a weird earthy, musky smell. Occasionally there were riots, and Ringo ended up with a broken nose. The girls went backstage to meet their heroes. More than ever, we wanted to be up on stage like them making the crowd rock. They got to know Lennon and McCartney, who were down to their underpants in the dressing-room, getting changed. Wed never seen men in their underpants before, so us four teenage girls just stood staring at them. Lennon, hearing of their ambitions, was sexist and sarcastic: Girls dont play guitars, he said categorically. Undaunted, the Liverbirds bought guitars and drums on hire purchase. For a long time, they didnt know how to assemble the kit, plug in the amplifiers, and the rest. Mary was electrocuted by a microphone. It was bewildering. Eventually, they took lessons with a teacher in Birkenhead, who showed them the rudiments of chord structures. They practised for months, and performed for pensioners, who drank tea and played bingo. Before long, perhaps because girls in the rock n roll world seemed a gimmick, word got about and the Liverbirds appeared at the Cavern. We loosened up, lost our nervousness, and just enjoyed the gig. With a repertoire comprised of Shadows songs, television theme tunes, and Henry Mancini numbers, the Liverbirds started getting more bookings seven pounds each to play in Wigan, Freckleton, and the Club-A-Go-Go, Newcastle. In 1963, in Nuneaton, they supported an emerging band called the Rolling Stones. The audience pelted Charlie Watts with cream buns. Bill Wyman mended a broken guitar string for the girls. What a gentleman. In June the following year, the Liverbirds supported Chuck Berry, who invited them to open for him in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, he wants you to play topless, so sadly nothing came of this big chance. They also encountered Jimmy Savile, who was at the centre of the music industry and a very influential man. He organised press interest, and did nothing more untoward than wear a tiny pair of silk shorts, a bit odd and over-revealing. Gary Glitter was similarly at large. He went in for grotesque make-up and a curly wig, because he was balding. After a business meeting with Brian Epstein, and having recorded a demo song in Dean Street, where a passing Mick Jagger shook the maracas, the Liverbirds were offered a six-week residency at the Star Club, Hamburg. They stayed for four years, on their nights off watching Coronation Street dubbed into German. The venue was packed out with everybody from Russian sailors on shore leave to teenage hipsters to a lot of drag queens, lesbians and trans people. The Liverbirds stock items by now included Little Richard, Bo Diddley and James Brown covers. We became louder on stage and more confident as players. They recorded albums in 1965 and 1966, which were Top Five hits in Germany. The Liverbirds toured Europe, including Scandinavia, and spent six weeks in Japan. And then suddenly it was over. The girls grew up, wanted to get married, start families. They returned to Britain in 1967. The Star Club, redeveloped as a giant sex club featuring live intercourse on stage, became a favourite hang-out of Liza Minnelli, who apparently found it hilarious. The Liverbirds in Hamburg. They recorded albums in 1965 and 1966, which were Top Five hits in Germany The final chapters of this book, detailing the afterlife of band members, are melancholy. Pam worked as a receptionist, a cashier in a garage, and got a job in a restaurant ironing tablecloths. She died of lung cancer. Dixie, a stand-in drummer, qualified as a plain-clothes policewoman, sat in a bath with a bottle of gin, and shot herself. Val descended into alcoholism, was sectioned in a closed hospital ward, and died of blood cancer. Sylvia tried her hand at being a Blackpool landlady and ran a bar in Benidorm, where she lived in a static caravan. Mary married the man who wrote Yes, Sir, I Can Boogie, and was widowed in 2017. The old age of the Beatles and Rolling Stones did not quite involve such bathos, it is fair to say. The Liverbirds, after a burst of fame, and having tasted the high life, had to revert to being ordinary always a tall order. This well-written book, about hopes and dreams, admirably doesnt contain a single ounce of regret or self-pity. There is instead a ton of Liverpudlian grit, good sense and wry humour. Reinvigorating London share markets so they are more willing and able to back UK start-ups and nurture British companies is critical to Jeremy Hunt's agenda as Chancellor. The idea of the British ISA, unveiled in the Budget, is part of a broader effort to back UK stocks, which includes more transparency on pension fund investments. The idea of capturing British pension money for backing UK tech, such as green technologies, is also on the growth menu of Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Broke the mould: It is easy to dismiss Direct Line as just another general insurer in a crowded field where competition has been blown wide open by comparison sites The focus on British-listed equities comes at a moment when several FTSE 350 companies find themselves under siege from overseas buyers. In every case, the premium looks generous. But we shouldn't forget that London wrongly has suffered a Brexit discount to New York and other financial markets, even though City and business services are leading the world. There is good reason to think that over time the cyclical discount will vanish. That is why it is ever more imperative that UK boards show dogged determination in batting away opportunistic takeovers, especially from firms with muddled ownership. A key brand at insurer Direct Line is Churchill with its famous bulldog logo. It is incumbent on the group's chairman Danuta Gray to show her Yorkshire grit and see Belgium invader Ageas off the field of battle following the launch of a 3.1billion bid. It is easy to dismiss Direct Line as just another general insurer in a crowded field where competition has been blown wide open by comparison sites. That is to ignore a special place in the UK marketplace. As an offshoot of the Royal Bank of Scotland, created by serial insurance innovator Peter Wood, it was a game changer. When it came up with the idea of dealing directly with consumers, using the telephone, it broke with the old practice of brokers placing policies and the distortions of commission structures. It is ironic that having broken the mould, Direct Line has been undermined by regulatory breaches and failure to move speedily enough into the digital world. The arrival a week or so ago of Adam Winslow from Aviva as chief executive should encourage investors that if Direct Line were to modernise its systems and simplify brand options, a wounded enterprise can be turned around. Direct Line also benefits from a share register where respected UK funds Schroder and Liontrust could help to stymie an unwanted deal. Too often, short-term performance decides these matters and big battalion investors are happy to take the cash and run. In the current political atmosphere, when getting behind London markets and asset management is so important, UK institutions need to show patience and fortitude or face the wrath of Whitehall. Bidder Ageas presents itself as a good owner with bags of insurance experience. But it is more complicated than that. One of its previous UK ventures, ownership of Kwik-Fit (UK), which offered motor and home insurance, ended up in the High Court amid allegations by Ageas that it had overpaid. Ageas ownership also needs to be closely scrutinised. The insurer was a breakout from the trans-European financial group Fortis which was rescued in the great financial crisis. Among the current shareholders is the opaque Chinese holding company Fosun, and a rump stake is still held by the Belgian government. As honourable as Ageas's intentions might be, placing the fate of 10m customers in such hands does not fill one with confidence. It is daft that the UK, with a history in insurance dating back to the coffee houses of the 17th Century, should be so uncaring about its legacy. There is also reason to be disgruntled about the way in which the board of telecoms concern Spirent headed by Sir Bill Thomas, a Labour Party small business adviser, so quickly agreed to a bid from a US competitor Viavi. Valuable British R&D and tech should not be sacrificed so easily. Company chairmen too easily ignore the national interest. Packing a massive 670 horsepower, it goes on sale later this year Dodge has unveiled its new blue-blooded electric American muscle car the Dodge Charger Daytona. Gone is the grumbling V8 engine, replaced instead by dual electric motors, all-wheel drive and a 100.5kWh battery. The first all-electric car from the US brand will pacify performance petrolheads with blisteringly-fast 0-to-60mph acceleration in 3.3 seconds and a huge 670 horsepower - be in almost entirely silent. That said, it might still sound like iconic Chargers of years gone by - such as the famed 'General Lee' from hit eighties TV series The Dukes of Hazzard - though this will be a synthetic burble boomed from external speakers. The decision to make the Charger an EV could play into the hands of rival Ford, which launched its latest seventh-generation Mustang pony car with V8 power in 2022 and made plenty of noise about keeping to tradition and shunning batteries and electric power. Dodge has unveiled its first all-electric car - pacifying performance petrolheads with 0 to 60mph in 3.3 seconds and a huge 670 horsepower The Charger Daytona will go on sale later this year with prices to be confirmed nearer the time. Targeting a range of 317 miles for the 460hp R/T version and 260 miles for the 670hp Scat Pack, Dodge has been clear it's following the muscle car mantra of performance and horsepower above efficiency. A bit like Tesla's 'Ludicrous' mode, all Charger Daytona models will have a 'PowerShot' feature capable of delivering an extra 40hp in 15 seconds the supercharger of the new electric vehicle (EV) muscle car era. While it might have the performance boxes all ticked, the near-silent nature of EVs means it can never replicate the rambunctious chorus of noise created by its V8 forefathers. But Dodge has even tried to resolve this. Its engineers are currently fine-tuning its 'Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust', which uses a pair of external speakers to provide a synthetic soundtrack you can activate at the touch of a button. Press it and the car booms out the sound of a combustion-engined Hellcat Charger. The Charger EV will offer 11kW home charging as well as 350kW DC ultra-rapid charging that'll deliver 20 to 80 per cent top up in around 28 minutes. The electric Charger Daytona goes on sale later this year, with prices to be confirmed nearer the time but it's likely to cost north of 47,000 The Charger is an American muscle car icon. The most famous of all is arguably the General Lee from 1980s hit TV series The Dukes of Hazzard Looks wise, the new Charger stays true to the concept Dodge revealed in 2022. Modern and aerodynamic, it's a futuristic update on the current Dodge Challenger. The large front air intake ('R-Wing') is the big EV centrepiece other than that it still puts the muscle into muscle car. Dodge has also said all 2024 Charger Daytonas will get the Track Package Brembo brakes. Charger Daytona models will have a 'PowerShot' feature capable of delivering an extra 40hp in 15 seconds the supercharger of the new EV muscle car era Looks-wise, the new Charger to stay very true to the concept Dodge revealed in 2022 with a modern aerodynamic yet retro look It will offer home charging up to 11kW as well as 350kW DC ultra-rapid charging which should deliver 20 to 80 per cent top up in around 28 minutes Dodge has also said all 2024 Charger Daytonas will get the Track Package Brembo brakes The interior also mimics the concept car of 2022 with a freestanding 10.3-or-16-ich digital dial cluster and 12.3-inch central touchscreen and squared-off steering wheel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as digital key and smartphone app connection are the headliner tech options. Additional extras like a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, 18-speaker sound system and leather seats can be added with certain packages. Initially, the Charger EV will come as only a two-door version, with four-door models following in 2025. And next year expect a SRT Banshee max-performance version with a two-speed transmission. There's a surprise in store for loyal Dodge fans in 2025 too. Back in 2022, Dodge announced it would end production of the central Charger and Challenger models, in favour of an EV, with the future of its gas-guzzling unspecified. But, with sales of electric cars growing slower than predicted in the US, Dodge has made the decision to proceed more cautiously. As such, the electric Charger Daytona will be followed next year by a refreshed internal combustion Charger with a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged, six-cylinder Hurricane engine. Initially only supposed to be electric, Dodge has announced the Charger Daytona EV will be accompanied by a refreshed internal combustion Charger with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo Hurricane engine Dodge is currently fine-tuning its Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust its synthetic soundtrack you can whip on to hit the same sound levels as the Hellcat Charger Drag strip Americana buyers should compare stats before buying though, because the EV Scat Pack will be faster over the quarter mile covering it in 11.5 seconds compared to the old ICE V8 Charger's 12.2 seconds. And there'll be a selection of driving modes, too, with Scat Pack models naturally getting the top performance ones. Expect launch-control, Drift and Donut modes and Race Prep mode for the racetrack. Considering the current top-level Charger and Challenger price points are around 47,000, be prepared to play north of this when the Charger Daytona hits the road. For those still pining for a genuine American muscle car, the latest Ford Mustang still has a burbling 5.0-litre V8 engine under its bonnet. At its public unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show in 2022, Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company, said: 'Investing in another generation of Mustang is a big statement at a time when many of our competitors are exiting the business of internal combustion vehicles.' The seventh-generation Mustang is only the second iteration to be sold as an official UK car in right-hand drive layout. Not only does it have a completely revised eight-cylinder petrol powerplant but also updated styling and a redesigned digital cockpit, with the US brand promising that it will be the 'most fun-to-drive Mustang ever'. AIM-market farm out deals are back and that's big news for two oil explorers in particular, with their short and medium-term financial positions now looking significantly brighter. Challenger Energy shares immediately reacted to the company's newly improved proposition, with the price more than doubling with the news that Chevron will now lead its exploration project offshore Uruguay. The US oil major is paying Challenger $12.5million in cash and it agreed to commit $35million of investment to advance the project and drill a high-impact exploration well. It leaves Challenger as a rarified position on AIM comparatively cash rich, with an active and funded exploration programme Shares saw a correction as the week wore on, but still closed a healthy 24 per cent higher. Black gold: Challenger Energy shares more than doubled with the news that Chevron will now lead its exploration project offshore Uruguay Challenger wasn't alone- after a long wait, like a proverbial London bus, AIM market investors saw two major farm-out deals arrive at once. Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas expanded its joint venture with big-name additions as French major TotalEnergies and Qatar Energy each bought into a project offshore South Africa. Like Challenger, Eco will receive a vital injection of cash, up to $12million in phases, and future costs will be covered by the new partners. Shares initially ran up 22 per cent to 11.9p in mid-week trades before correcting to 9.92p come Friday. Investors across the sector will now look to their other small-cap exploration holdings, hoping this is more than a coincidence and more industry deals may follow. It was a pretty flat week for the AIM All-Share Index, which fell 0.24 per cent to 740p come Friday, roughly on par with the FTSE 100 blue-chip index's performance. The market responded generally well to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget, as evidenced by the mid-week swell in equities prices, though with few surprises on offer, the Budget's impact was over before it started. One curio came in the form of an import levy on nicotine-based vaping products. Specifics of the levy were not disclosed, but for reasons unclear, prominent AIM-listed vape distributor Supreme plc shot up 18 per cent following the announcement. This week in London Stock Exchange delistings was brought to you by AIM-listed professional services group Mattioli Woods. Mattioli on Friday agreed to be taken off the stock exchange by private equity player Pollen Street Capital for 432million. Pollen Street is paying 804p per share in cash for Mattoli Woods; a 34 per cent premium to last Thursday's closing price. Investors took kindly to ImmuPharma plc's financial update in which the group said it 'is in active discussions with a broad range of potential commercial partners with the objective of completing deals across the portfolio in 2024'. Noting the untapped value within the business, it said its 10.8 per cent holding in Incanthera is worth 916,000, while it also has 7.3 million warrants that can be exercised at any time. Shares shot up 54 per cent. Active Energy Group plc shot to the top of the AIM movers leagues following news of a settlement deal with Player Design, resulting in a $1.65million cash payment. It recoups funds earmarked for the development of the Ashland Facility and includes the transfer of some non-essential production equipment. Shares rocketed 123 per cent higher. Tlou Energy Ltd was another top mover in the energy sector, adding 34 per cent in a week that saw the Africa-focused developer's interim results. 'The company has made excellent progress over recent months and remains on track to get gas-fired power into the grid in Botswana later this year,' said the group. Itaconix plc continued to rally on the back of last week's trading update. The plant-based polymers group noted a record year of revenues and there were more share price gains in the tank with the stock adding 30 per cent this week. Lastly, Harland & Wolff Group Holdings plc, operator of the iconic Port of Belfast dockyard, was awarded preferred bidder status for the Falkland Islands Port Replacement Project issued by the Falkland Islands Government. It was a welcome development for the shipbuilding and fabrication firm after having its bid approach for an Isles of Scilly Steamship Company contract rejected in November. H&W's shares spiked 26 per cent on the news. Experience: Chair of the Treasury Select Committee Harriett Baldwin had a 20-year career in the City Our financial services sector is world-beating and well-paid. Its a part of the economy that benefits women and men across the UK and its growth, competitiveness and profits rely on attracting and retaining the very best people. I enjoyed a successful 20-year career in the City before politics, so Im no stranger to the issues which affect women in financial services. Much has changed since, but you only need to look at the woefully low number of female chief executives in finance to see that there is room for improvement. In 2016, when I was City Minister, I shone a light on the issue by launching the Women in Finance Charter, which now has over 400 signatories covering more than 1m employees. Before my time on the Treasury select committee, in 2018, it had found there was a toxic alpha-male culture in the City that made it difficult for talented women to prosper. Now, with me as chair, our committee decided to look again in order to see what has (or indeed, hasnt) changed in the last six years. Disappointingly, what weve discovered is that the answer is not much. In fact, progress is moving at a snails pace. We spoke with industry leaders, regulators, womens advocacy groups and Government ministers to understand what they were doing about it. What was really crucial, though, was to understand the reality. We hosted a private event with women who had worked across all levels and areas of financial services. Their evidence was anonymous, enabling them to share honest experiences of working in a male-dominated industry without fear of reprisals. We were appalled. Women described their experiences of misogyny, sexual harassment and bullying, up to and including serious sexual assault and rape. We received particularly disturbing testimony regarding non-disclosure agreements, which we were told firms were using to cover up sexual harassment. Not only does this silence victims of abuse, it also leaves the door open for those responsible to continue abusing with impunity. I feel strongly that businesses need to take responsibility for tackling sexism in the City. Boardrooms and senior managers shouldnt have to look to the Government or regulators before they act to give women a fair deal. If boardrooms became aware of an employee siphoning off profits, would they wait for an authority figure to tell them that was wrong and that they should act? Of course not. Its not all doom and gloom. We did see some incremental improvement on issues such as the gender pay gap and female representation in senior roles. But its not enough. A recent study by BlackRock showed that gender-balanced firms outperform their peers, which shows the competitive advantage on offer when efforts are made to attract and retain great people. Some progress has been made but there is much still to do. The City must be able to draw on the widest possible pool of talent and boardrooms need to play their role in rooting out the sexist culture which still taints some corners of the industry. Failing to do so is not only immoral, but its bad for business. Harriett Baldwin is the Conservative MP for West Worcestershire and Chair of the Treasury Select Committee. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released this photograph after taking samples of Ouleout cheese from the Vulto Creamery in Walton, N.Y. as part of a listeria investigation. Centers for Disease Control A New York state creamery that made cheese linked to the deaths of Connecticut and Vermont residents was rife with unsanitary conditions, according to federal documents. Johannes Vulto, former owner of the defunct Vulto Creamery, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Syracuse to causing the introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce. The plea stemmed from a listeria outbreak in 2016-17 traced to raw milk cheeses made at the Walton, N.Y.-based creamery. Vulto, 64, is to be sentenced on July 9 and faces up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A guilty plea also was entered by the company, carrying a maximum fine of $500,000, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The Connecticut victim was not identified in the court documents. The Vermont victim was identified in court documents as Richard Friedman, 73, of Putney. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Vulto shut down the creamery and issued a full recall in 2017 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration linked the creamerys cheese to an outbreak of listeriosis that resulted in eight hospitalizations and two deaths. The cheeses were sold in Connecticut at a Whole Foods store in Fairfield, according to the FDA. Listeriosis is a life-threatening bacterial illness caused by eating food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. Pregnant women, newborns, elderly people and others with weakened immune systems are among the most at risk of severe illness. Federal and New York state inspections of the Walton facility in February and March 2017, according to federal documents, found the following unsanitary conditions: Employees did not wash their lower or upper arms before submerging them in whey to stir and break up cheese curds. One worker employed in this work had multiple cuts and abrasions on his arms. A heavy buildup of black mold in multiple locations in the facility, including the cement walls in the manufacturing room and washroom. Concrete floors in the manufacturing and cheese aging rooms were cracked and pitted, with moisture accumulated in the cracks and pits. accumulated in the cracks and pits. A long piece of sticky fly tape, "heavily populated with dead insects," hung directly over uncovered cheeses in the aging room. A fan in the manufacturing room used to dry the floor had "a very heavy buildup of unknown debris" on its spinning arms and face. Wooden boards used for aging cheeses were not designed to be appropriately cleaned and sanitized, and the uneven surfaces allowed collection of moisture and debris, "a potential harborage area for filth and microorganisms." collection of moisture and debris, "a potential harborage area for filth and microorganisms." Vulto failed to perform microbial testing where necessary to identify sanitation failures and possible food contamination and failed to use a procedure for equipment and utensil cleaning and sanitizing ... "in that Defendants repeatedly found Listeria throughout the facility, even after re-cleaning and re-sanitizing." Advertisement Article continues below this ad In discussions with FDA officials following the outbreak, Johannes Vulto acknowledged he did not understand the significance of testing results that showed listeria and did not understand that the results indicated his cleaning and sanitizing treatments were inadequate in controlling contamination, according to federal documents. An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Connecticut was among states affected by a recent nationwide outbreak linked to California-based Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc. Some of the company's products were sold in Connecticut, but the FDA listed no illnesses here. Often, however, people recover without reporting illness, federal officials say. Pollen Street Capital is set to be buy AIM-listed wealth manager Mattioli Woods in an all-cash deal worth 432million. The 804p per share offer, which Mattioli Woods board is recommending investors back, represents a 34 per cent premium to the groups closing share price on Thursday. Pollen Street said it was hoping to capitalise on a significant opportunity in the UK wealth market via Mattiolis distinctive and diversified range of solutions, which are underpinned by a highly trusted brand, client-centric culture and technology-enabled processes. Another listed firm set to go private: Pollen Street to buy Mattioli Woods for 432m Mattioli Woods shares were up by 31.7 per cent to 790p approaching midday on Friday, roughly 11.2 per cent below their December 2021 peak. The deal, should it go ahead, will represent another in a rapidly consolidating wealth and asset management industry as a result of the growing importance of scale in the sector. Leicester-headquartered Mattioli Woods has grown substantially since listing on AIM in 2005, amassing more than 15billion of assets under management via organic growth and acquisitions. Its core proposition integrates asset management and financial planning to serve a market predominantly consisting of the mass affluent, controlling directors and owner-managers, professionals, executives, individuals, families and retirees. Pollen Street Mattioli Woods would benefit from a move to private ownership, which would give its management team the flexibility to take longer-term decisions to maximise the growth potential of the business. The private equity firm, which is FTSE All-Share listed, said it was attracted by Mattiolis vertically integrated, holistic model with its high-quality brand and client base and clear organic and inorganic growth opportunities across its wealth and asset management and employee benefits business. It follows a similar deal in 2019 when Pollen Capital bought wealth manager Kingswood Holdings. Lindsey McMurray, managing partner of Pollen Street Capital, added: Pollen Street Capital has strong heritage in supporting companies in the financial and business services sectors and we are excited by the opportunity to work with Mattioli Woods in achieving our ambitious goals for the business. What you need to know about the British Isa The Chancellor's announcement that a new British Isa will be rolled out to investors has thrown up many questions. Many will be wondering which investments will qualify, when the extra 5,000 British Isa allowance will arrive, and who it will benefit. While some in the investment industry are dubious about the announcement, investors seem keen. Here is everything we know so far. > Everything you need to know about the British Isa Backing the takeover, the Mattioli Woods board said: The delivery of the group's growth strategy would be both slower and more uncertain without considerable further capital funding, which will be difficult to raise in the public markets at the current share price without materially diluting existing shareholders. Boss Ian Mattioli added: Since our admission to AIM in 2005, we have seen significant expansion in both the size and nature of our business, integrating asset management, financial planning and employee benefit services to serve personal and corporate clients throughout the UK. We have a strong track record of combining like-minded businesses that share the same culture and ethos of putting clients first. The team at Pollen Street Capital share our passion for delivering exceptional client outcomes and have demonstrated their ability to partner with entrepreneurial financial services business. I believe that with Pollen Street Capital's support and access to capital we can accelerate the delivery of our strategy and provide our clients with the proactive advice and bespoke investment solutions they require. Malaysia knows where the wreckage of doomed flight MH370 is but refuses to acknowledge the 'shameful truth' about the crash, Australia's leading aviation expert says. Geoffrey Thomas, a 50-year aviation industry veteran, said the Malaysia Airlines plane's remains lie 1,933km due west of Perth after experts traced the final flightpath of the plane. Mr Thomas said aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey has tracked the route of plane using radio waves and believes 'one more search in 2024' will reveal its final resting place. Analysis of the plane's final moments and the recovered debris found the pilot was 'was pushing down on the control column' to crash the plane in a high-speed dive, designed to 'ensure the aircraft broke up into as many pieces as possible'. Mr Thomas said the decade of speculation since the plane vanished had left relatives of the victims 'on a ghastly rollercoaster ride as ridiculous theories are floated'. 'What the MH370 crash was, is pilot suicide and mass murder of the worst kind, because no-one could escape,' he told Daily Mail Australia. But Mr Thomas said the Malaysian government has previously refused to instigate a fresh search and the pilot's family had rejected 'what obviously happened'. Captain Zaharie had built his own flight simulator in a bedroom on which investigators found the doomed MH370 flight path he'd tested then wiped before March 7, 2014 The diverted flight path of MH370 flew almost seven hours south and crashed into the sea 'in a high-speed dive designed to ensure the aircraft broke up into as many pieces as possible' On Monday, Malaysian Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook finally announced the country may renew the hunt for the missing plane, which disappeared 10 years ago. 'OBSESSED AND SUICIDAL' PILOT It comes after growing international concern among aviation and aerospace experts that Malaysia was refusing to revive the search which was halted in 2018, even though it had been offered a 'no-find, no-fee' proposal by a US marine search company. The Malaysia Airlines flight departed for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur on the evening of March 7, 2014 but diverted from its planned flight path and turned south before it vanished. The plane, carrying 227 passengers including seven Australians, and 12 crew, is believed to have crashed into the Indian Ocean. It was later revealed the pilot Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah had practised the flight on his own home-made flight simulator, and had been having well-documented mental and marital problems, said Mr Thomas. He was also openly ranting against the Malaysian government on Facebook and sending obsessive, sexualised messages to a pair of twin sister models aged in their 20s. 'The pilot committed suicide obviously. He flew the same route that he had taken on his own flight simulator, going off the standard route and flying due south,' Mr Thomas said. '(Captain Zaharie) wiped it off his simulator, but the Malaysians recovered it. My understanding is Malaysia Airlines knew that night that the captain was responsible. 'He had exhibited all sorts of strange tendencies - he was stalking the models, posting anti-government stuff on Facebook. 'No country wants to own an air crash. It's a massive dent to their national pride, and no-one wants to own a suicide.' Debris from the MH370 crash formed a trail across the Indian Ocean, washing up on islands like Reunion and Madagascar and the coast of eastern Africa Zaharie was obsessed with twin sister Malaysian models Qi Min Lan and Lan Qi Hui, then 26, begging them to come to Kuala Lumpur and sending creepy comments on Facebook Mr Thomas said Zaharie's rabid political rants in the year leading up to the MH370 disaster should have seen him fired. 'It should have raised serious alarm bells with the airline that you have someone flying who has such strong anti-government views,' he said. 'If a Qantas pilot did something like that, he would be spoken to and grounded. In 50 years [as an aviation expert] Ive covered 10 pilot suicides theres been 13 or 14 of major aircraft, and usually you have the most monumental cover-up. 'I don't think the Malaysians want to find MH370 and wish it would go away.' PM'S BOMBSHELL CLAIM Australian Prime Minister at the time, Tony Abbott, said top Malaysian officials believed Captain Zaharie had deliberately downed the jet soon after it vanished. UK aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey has charted MH370's flight path once it was hijacked by the captain and flown until it ran out of fuel and crashed into the Indian Ocean Aishah Zaharie (pictured with her father, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, pilot of MH370) left Australia after the crash and did not respond to inquiries about the disaster 10 years on 'My very clear understanding, from the very top levels of the Malaysian government, is that from very early on, they thought it was murder-suicide by the pilot,' Mr Abbott said. A Malaysian-led investigation in 2018 said the planes course was changed manually but did not name a suspect, and said the cause of the disappearance couldnt be determined until the wreckage and the planes black boxes are found. Mr Thomas said it was uncertain if they would be operational after 10 years on the ocean floor, and there was an urgent need to find them now that Mr Godfrey had charted Captain Zaharie fatal flight path. TELL-TALE RADIO TRACES Mr Godfrey, former lead engineer for the European Space Agency Spacelab, tracked the flight path using weak radio signals continually produced by amateur radio operators that cover the earth. The technology, known as 'weak signal propagation report' or WSPR, used the radio waves as 'electronic tripwires' that triggered invisible signals when aircraft crossed them. Mr Thomas said that since 2009 a record of all the waves has been kept on an international data base. 'If you go back to March 8, 2014 you can start tracking MH370 by the disturbance,' he said. Richard Godfrey's report tracks MH370 from take-off, on its accepted flight path to the point where it was nearing Vietnamese air space when the plane dropped out of contact, and then for the six-and-a-half hours it flew until it crashed into the sea. Captain Zaharie with his wife Faizah Khan (above) was said by a 777 pilot friend to be in a fragile emotional state with his marriage crumbling in the months before the disaster MH370's remains lie 1933km due west of Perth at a depth of 4,000m in a very mountainous area with deep ravines and a volcano according to Richard Godfrey's analysis Leading aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas said the MH370 next of kin ''have been on a ghastly roller coaster ride' since the crash and it was up to the Malaysian government to acknowledge the truth An hour into the flight Zaharie spoke the last words the world would hear from MH370 before turning the plane around and heading south: 'Good night. Good night. Malaysian three-seven-zero.' The Boeing 777 crashed because it ran out of fuel, but Mr Thomas believes the passengers and crew would long have been dead. PASSENGERS 'PUT TO SLEEP' 'Hopefully (Zaharie) put them all to sleep by depressurising the plane, to disable everybody, to prevent people from breaking into cockpit,' he said. 'The co-pilot could easily have been gotten rid of get me a glass of water and as soon as hes out of cockpit you put the deny entry" on lock. He then would have donned his own oxygen supply.' In the immediate wake of the disaster, Captain Zaharie's family and friends angrily refuted that the pilot had been distracted, withdrawn and possibly suicidal before the doomed flight. The pilot's daughter Aishah Zaharie, then a Deakin University architecture student in Geelong, wrote on Facebook in the weeks afterward about a Daily Mail report of the pilot's mental state 'You can bet your ass I will not forgive you'. Zaharie's wife, Faizah Khanum Mustafa Khan, denied she had said her husband 'retreated into a shell', spending time alone in the room with the flight simulator he had built himself. However, It has since emerged that Zaharie was probably clinically depressed, that his wife had moved out of the house where he had the flight simulator and into their second house. 'Family hit out, they always do,' Mr Thomas said. 'But it is important to recover the plane and solve the mystery ... it's closure for the relatives [of the passengers and other crew].' A young Captain Zaharie (above) became a senior Malaysia Airlines pilot but a year before the crash began anti-government rants on Facebook which should have set off alarm bells The daughter of the MH370 pilot Aishah Zaharie was studying architecture in Melbourne at the time of the disaster and now works as an architect in Malaysia, for firm Akiprima Aishah Zaharie has since been quoted as saying she her father had changed and during her final conversation with him 'she barely recognised him'. An unconfirmed News Corp report claimed Ms Zaharie added: 'He wasnt the father I knew. He seemed disturbed and lost in a world of his own'. Ms Zaharie now works as an architect for the firm Akiprima in Selangor, Malaysia, after having worked for Port Philip Building Services in Melbourne and ZH&S architects in Kuala Lumpur, according to her linkedin.com profile. Neither Ms Zaharie, nor her mother Faizah Khanum Mustafa Khan, nor the pilot's sister Sakinab Shah responded to Daily Mail Australia's inquiries about MH370 and Captain Zaharie. CREEPY MESSAGES TO TWIN MODELS According to a report by The Atlantic aviation expert William Langewiesche, Captain Zaharie's chaotic personal life and fragile emotional state likely caused him to crash the plane. A 777 pilot and lifelong friend of Zaharie told Langewiesche he had come to that conclusion reluctantly. 'Zaharie's marriage was bad. In the past he slept with some of the flight attendants. And so what? We all do,' he said. 'You're flying all over the world with these beautiful girls in the back. But his wife knew.' He admitted Zaharie's emotional state 'may have been a factor.' Zaharie became obsessed with Qi Min Lan, one of two model sisters, sending 97 Facebook posts including invitations to visit and sexualised messages Zaharie's message to Qi Min Lan after she posted a photo of herself in the satin robe was 'just shower?' As well as sending Facebook messages to the twin models, Qi Min Lan and her twin Lan Qi Hui, then 26, begging them to come to Kuala Lumpur where he lived with his wife, Zaharie bombarded them with creepy comments. When Qi Min Lan posted a photo of herself in a bathrobe, he wrote, 'Just shower?' Zaharie also revealed publicly on his own Facebook page his disgust with the ruling regime, branding then-Prime Minister Najib Razak a 'moron' and posting 119 times before the 2013 election. 'The posts and messages in Malay were recorded,' Mr Thomas said. The pilot directed 97 separate Facebook comments at Qi Min Lan, his 'favourite' of the sisters. Ms Min said later that she did not know Zaharie at all, and that he had been 'just a social networks fan of mine'. 'I have many followers in my social network - he is just one of them. Anyhow the pilot no disturb my life because I no reply to him at all.' Captain Zaharie and his wife Faizah (above) had grown apart in the years leading up to the crash and a fellow pilot said his emotional state 'may have a been a factor' in the crash LARGEST HUNT IN HISTORY Immediately after the crash it was Australia, working on Malaysias behalf, which coordinated what became the largest and most expensive search in aviation history. From October 2014 to January 2017, a comprehensive survey was made of 120,000 km of sea floor about 1800km southwest of Western Australia. During those years an extraordinary debris trail across the Indian Ocean left parts washing up on islands such as Reunion and Madagascar and on the coast of eastern Africa. But the main body of the aircraft has never been recovered. Richard Godfrey said the amount of debris showed that the crash was 'anything but a soft landing on the ocean'. 'The level of damage with fractures on all sides and the extreme force of the penetration right through the debris items leads to the conclusion that the end of the flight was in a high-speed dive,' he said. On 22 January 2018, a search by private US marine exploration company Ocean Infinity began. Ocean Infinity used the ship Sea Bed Constructor (above) to search for MH 370 in 2018 and the private US marine exploration company will now recommence the hunt for the plane This last search for MH370 was approved by the Malaysian government, provided payment of up to $70m would be made only if the wreckage is found. The search ended unsuccessfully in June that year, and in March 2019 the Malaysian Government said it was only willing to look at any credible leads or specific proposals regarding any further searches. 'Ocean Infinity stated it was ready to resume the search on the same no-fee no-find basis based on Richard Godfreys research, but the Malaysian Government has shown no interest, citing the "no new credible leads" reason,' Mr Thomas said. The Malaysian Government has now said it would be willing to recommence a search using Ocean Infinity. Aishah Zaharie (above in Sydney) lived and studied in Australia but now works as an architect in Malaysia with her family not publicly commenting about MH370 On Monday, the company's CEO, Oliver Plunkett said it hoped to 'get back to the search soon' now the government had invited the firm to discuss resuming the search called off six years ago. Mr Thomas said despite Malaysia previously saying there had been no new credible leads, Mr Godfrey's flight path and ocean drift analysis showed investigators had explored the wrong area of seabed. He believed it was time for the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to take over the crash investigation and retrieve the plane from the bottom of the ocean. Richard Godfrey's report states that MH370 impacted the ocean west of Perth at 33.177S 95.300E and lies at a depth of 4,000m in a very mountainous area with deep ravines and a volcano. He said the crash location area, found using the WSPR technology and drift analysis by the University of Western Australia, had not been previously searched. 'MH370 is an extraordinary event almost unprecedented in modern history,' Mr Thomas said. 'But it has been made more of a mystery because of the reluctance of Malaysia, which seems to find every reason not to go look for it. After Air France Flight 447 crashed into the Atlantic in June 2009, they didnt discover it for three years and the black boxes were both readable and they were able to extract all the data. After 10 years, who knows? A jilted husband who watched his wife abandon their marriage for a steamy affair with TV chef Stephen Terry has said his life has been turned upside down by the pair's 'selfish' actions leaving him on the brink of financial ruin and contemplating suicide. Just two years ago, Paul Browning, 37, was living the perfect suburban family life with his wife Jo Browning, 32 and their young daughter in leafy Abergavenny in South Wales. But his wife's chance meeting with Stephen Terry in the town wine shop sparked a series of events that has seen him lose his house, his marriage and his peace of mind. Now, Paul says, his wife who he had intended to spend the rest of his life with, is 'dead to him'. Terry, 56, who was best man at Gordon Ramsay's wedding and is a well known TV chef on programmes like Great British Menu, was also having an affair under the nose of his wife Jo Terry, 54, who Paul says has been left in the same lurch as him. Paul Browning says his wife Jo is 'dead to him' after she left him for TV chef Stephen Terry Stephen Terry has put his award-winning restaurant up for sale after splitting with his wife to get together with Mr Browning's wife Jo Terry's new lover is Jo Browning, 32, who is 24 years younger than him Terry (left) was best man at Gordon Ramsay's wedding and has appeared on shows such as Great British Menu Mr Browning pictured at home in South Wales with some of his daughter's toys Terry trained under Marco Pierre White at Harveys and became best friends with Gordon Ramsay when they worked together. Terry's The Hardwick restaurant won awards including a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide, being named the best restaurant in Wales in consecutive years and named the 19th best gastropub in the coveted Estrella Damm 50 Best Gastropubs list in 2020. Father-of-three Terry was running the restaurant with his wife Joanne after her family helped fund the purchase and they added plush rooms for guests to stay. He announced its sudden closure after 18 years in October last year and his affair with Miss Browning was revealed soon after. Speaking at the time, Terry said: 'I regret the pain it's caused my family and I will for the rest of my life. 'But you've only got one life. I'm supporting my wife the best I can. I don't want this to be messy.' According to Paul, 'messy' is an understatement. Speaking to MailOnline, Paul claimed Terry and Jo's behaviour during and after the divorce has pushed both of their jilted families to breaking point. Paul first got wind of Jo's dalliance with Terry in 2022. He explained: 'They first met when he first saw her working in Chester's wine merchants in Abergavenny. 'I actually got her the job. She wanted to quit this job, and I said, No, you need this. This is for you. You need to have your own piece of life, your own work, because our daughter's growing up. 'He made mention to the owner of Chester's wine merchants that he liked her. 'She even said this to me, saying "oh, he's got a thing for me", and I did warn her to be careful.' Shortly after this chance meeting, the two began their affair, which they managed to keep a secret for over a year until Stephen's daughter's found out, prompting Jo to finally tell the truth. Paul said: 'My wife came clean about the affair in May last year. She actually only came clean after Stephen Terry's daughters had seen her name pop up on their dad's phone and she knew that I was going to be told. 'Sure enough, the next day one of Stephen's daughters messaged me.' Divorces are rarely easy, but Paul claims his has been fraught with difficulty and he is now facing financial ruin whilst his wife holidays abroad with Terry and drives around town in a car he bought her via a personal loan. He said: 'I've been left to pay the mortgage and all of the outstanding bills. 'Despite paying the bills, they go off away on weekend trips together.' Mr Browning says he has been left in financial dire straits by the divorce from his wife Terry (pictured right with Ramsay) trained under Marco Pierre White at Harveys and became best friends with the Kitchen Nightmares star when they worked together Mr Terry's 54-year-old ex-wife Jo (left), the mother of his three children, said she has been 'devastated' by the split Mr Terry's restaurant The Hardwick in Abergavenny, Wales was one of the country's best restaurants prior to its closure During the divorce, Paul says he had begged Jo to keep the house they shared with her disabled mother so as not to 'financially ruin' both of them. Jo however refused and now Stephen lives alone and only sees his daughter on the weekends. He explained: 'The house which we bought is on the market for 600,000 at the moment. I still have an outstanding mortgage of 130,000 pounds. 'I told her we can't afford to move out. We have a daughter. The school is just down the road. I work away Monday to Friday. We can live on separate floors. It's a 3-storey house. 'We can live on separate floors and just wait and get it done to save us both financially. 'My daughter is 8 years old. She knows something is up. It's difficult, she's now living with a man who she doesn't know.' And whilst Paul suffers in silence, he says Jo and Terry have been living the high life on a series of luxury holidays including most heartbreakingly of all a dream trip to Paris that he had organised himself for Jo. He explained: 'We had Blink 182 tickets in Paris and she took him. We had paid with them from our joint account and I said I would go with a friend. 'She just took the Airbnb and the tickets and they swanned off to Paris. Throughout the whole sorry affair, Paul has found unlikely solace in the form of Jo Terry, the jilted wife of Stephen. Together they have attempted to navigate the new chapter of their lives which he says has been dogpiled by the destructive wake of their former partners. He revealed: 'They have both destroyed two families. I've been on a suicide line as at the moment I just don't know where I am, where I'm going. 'Emotionally, Jo Terry has been fantastic, we do speak occasionally as we're the only two people in the world who know how the other feels.' Looking forward, Paul is determined to be there for his young daughter and forge a new life for himself, putting all memory of Jo and her TV lover behind him. As is expected, he has no warm feelings for either of them. He remarked: 'They've both got his and hers Minis. I think he's having a mid-life crisis. 'He will probably leave my ex in a sticky situation. That's her choice. She is now dead to me. 'Oh, and by the way, she has been described in the media as a "wine expert" - she's not. She's done one very basic course.' A 45-year-old woman with breast implants potentially linked to a rare and deadly form of cancer has been told she can only get them removed if she develops signs of the disease. Businesswoman Annabelle Baugh, from Birmingham, had textured Biocell implants inserted when she was 24-years-old, opting for ones manufactured by pharmaceutical firm Allergan due to the company's impressive safety record. Then five years ago, she learned of the supposed link between the implants and a rare form of blood cancer known as anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Breast implant-associated ALCL has already led to the deaths of more than 60 women in the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says. But to get her implants removed by the NHS, Annabelle would have to have symptoms of the cancer - or face spending up to 9,000 on private surgery, with no compensation available - something she cannot afford. Although UK-based law firm Leigh Day are currently representing 10 women in the UK who have BIA-ALCL, Annabelle fears thousands of other women around the world could be unaware of the concerns raised in the US. Annabelle Baugh, 45, from Birmingham, had textured Biocell implants inserted when she was 24-years-old Annabelle (pictured) believes there could be thousands of women across the globe living with these implants who cannot afford to have them removed or might be unaware of their link to BIA-ALCL Five years ago, Annabelle learned of the link between the implants manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Allergan and a rare form of blood cancer known as anaplastic large cell lymphoma The FDA recalled the Biocell implants in 2019 after evidence suggested they were linked to patient deaths, but the UK's Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) maintains there is 'no evidence' of an 'increased risk to patients'. As of June 30, 2023, the FDA has received a total of 1,264 U.S. and global medical device reports (MDRs) of Breast Implant-Associated ALCL (BIA-ALCL), with 63 related deaths 59 per cent of these (37) were related to Allergan implants. A spokesperson said: 'We do get a steady stream of people coming forward having just learned about the risk of BIA-ALCL. There isn't much awareness, there is a certain degree and its growing but they previously had no knowledge about it. 'Our concern with Allergan Biocell implants is the MHRA guidelines changed in 2018 when there was much more awareness for GPs and doctors to be advising about this. 'I think a lot of the patients we are seeing were at a time when there wasn't as much awareness about it and they're in a really difficult position because who is their recourse about now? 'Although there is some awareness now it isn't as widespread as it should be so patients can make informed decisions.' Annabelle believes there could be thousands of women across the globe living with these implants who cannot afford to have them removed or might be unaware of their link to BIA-ALCL because it has not been as widely publicised as, for example, the PIP implant scandal. Surgery to remove breast implants is unavailable on the NHS unless a patient meets specific criteria, including if they have recurrent infections, if they rupture, if it is a PIP implant or if someone develops BIA-ALCL. This means that people living with these textured breast implants would need to pay privately, which could cost anywhere between 3,000 to 9,000. Speaking to MailOnline, Annabelle said: 'It's leave them in and hope for the best or pay to get them removed or exchanged yourself. That's the situation and there's no recourse in any other way. 'I definitely think I will have them replaced but at the moment I'm not in a financial situation to do that.' Annabelle cannot get her potentially 'deadly' implants removed on the NHS unless she develops symptoms of BIA-ALCL While Annabelle said she didn't regret having implants, she admitted the fear of getting BIA-ALCL is 'always in the back of my mind. It might be a really low risk but it's the fact that you know you can do something about it.' London-based plastic surgeon Naveen Cavale told MailOnline: 'Concerns regarding Allergan textured breast implants are not uncommon among women and I have had new patients come to me with this enquiry. 'My advice mirrors recommendations from plastic surgery regulatory bodies such as BAAPS, BAPRAS, and ISAPS: while there's no need to panic, it's crucial not to disregard any concerns. Regular self-examinations for lumps or abnormalities are advisable. This should be standard practice for all types of breast implants.' Annabelle said: 'I knew I wanted implants from about the age of 15 when I first saw Pamela Anderson on Baywatch and realised you could have them because my mother and my sister are both small busted so I knew it wasn't very likely I was going to have a big bust.' While Annabelle said she didn't regret having implants, she admitted the fear of getting BIA-ALCL is 'always in the back of my mind' A year-and-a-half after her first procedure, Annabelle spoke to her surgeon who was working with the pharmaceutical company Allergan on a new teardrop implant. She 'jumped' at the chance of having the implants and said: 'I had it done. I was really happy, I finally looked in the mirror and thought 'yeah, they're the size I want'. It was a huge relief because after the first and second one I was a bit disappointed. Symptoms of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) to watch out for Swelling - This is the most common symptom and is caused by a build-up of fluid in the area of the breast implant. People can notice an increase in size of the affected breast over a few weeks. Lumps - In some cases there might be a lump next to the implant's surface or in the armpit, although this is rare. Enlarged lymph nodes Skin rash Fever Weight loss BIA-ALCL symptoms tend to develop on average, over seven to 10 years, but they can develop sooner. Source: breastcancer.org and Gov.uk Advertisement 'I chose Allergan because they're one of the top manufacturers of breast implants. They have excellent safety records. 'They're commonly called gummy bear implants because if you cut them open they're like jelly, so they can't leak and you haven't got the worry of them rupturing and leaking into your lymph nodes.' Before surgery, Annabelle measured at a 34A cup, but is now a 34F. At the time they cost 1,200 plus the cost of surgery, which came to around 3,000. Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is an uncommon type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The most common symptom of BIA-ALCL is fluid collecting around the implant or an increase in size of the affected beast. In very rare cases, a lump has developed next to an implant. FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernethy, said in 2019: 'Although the overall incidence of BIA-ALCL appears to be relatively low, once the evidence indicated that a specific manufacturer's product appeared to be directly linked to significant patient harm, including death, the FDA took action to alert the firm to new evidence indicating a recall is warranted to protect women's health.' Dr Janine Jolly, MHRA Deputy Director of Benefit/Risk Evaluation, said: 'Patient safety is our top priority. 'Based on our analysis of the latest evidence and expert clinical input, our advice remains unchanged. There is no need for people with breast implants who do not have any signs or symptoms of BIA-ALCL to have them removed. 'If you have breast implants and notice any changes such as lumps, swellings or distortions in your breasts, neck or armpits, please speak to your surgeon or GP. 'It is important anyone undergoing breast implant surgery discusses the risks and benefits with their surgeon and following this discussion understands the relative risks involved. 'Detailed guidance on BIA-ALCL for patients, healthcare professionals and the public is available in our website. If you have experienced an issue with a breast implant, please report it to our Yellow Card scheme so we can investigate further.' Allergan issued the following statement in 2019: 'Allergan plc today announced a voluntary worldwide recall of Biocell textured breast implants and tissue expanders. 'Allergan is taking this action as a precaution following notification of recently updated global safety information concerning the uncommon incidence of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 'Biocell saline-filled and silicone-filled textured breast implants and tissue expanders will no longer be distributed or sold in any market where they are currently available. 'Effective immediately, healthcare providers should no longer implant new Biocell textured breast implants and tissue expanders and unused products should be returned to Allergan. 'Allergan will provide additional information to customers about how to return unused products. 'Patient safety is a priority for Allergan. Patients are advised to speak with their plastic surgeon about the risks and benefits of their implant type should they have any concerns.' Allergan has been contacted by MailOnline for a further comment. Annabelle has collated resources for men and women who are concerned about BIA-ALCL. To find out more, visit cosmeticsurgeryadvancements.com. Anyone who has received a diagnosis of BIA-ALCL is asked to get in touch with Leigh Day on 020 4502 3777 or by emailing allergan@leighday.co.uk. Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53, was pilot of the fateful Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, abbreviated to MH370, which went missing on March 8, 2014. MH370 was scheduled to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing but dropped off radars shortly after takeoff. All 239 people on board were lost. A decade on, the BBC have looked back at how the plane went missing in their documentary Why Planes Vanish: The Hunt for MH370. But what of its veteran pilot who had thousands of hours of flight time under his belt, and lived a seemingly idyllic life? Read more about Zaharie Ahmad Shah and the rumours which emerged about him after the flight's disappearance below. Zaharie Ahmad Shah (pictured) was pilot of the fateful Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, abbreviated to MH370, which went missing on March 8, 2014 MH370 was scheduled to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing but dropped off radars shortly after takeoff. All 239 people on board were lost (stock image of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777) Who was Zaharie Amad Shah? Zaharie Amad Shah was 53 when MH37 went missing and came from a poor background in Malaysia's state of Penang. He became a cadet pilot with Malaysia Airlines in 1981, and was a second officer at the airline two years later. His sister, Sakinab Shah, told the BBC in 2016 that becoming a commercial pilot was 'a dream come true' given his background, and by 1991 Mr Shah was promoted to captain of Boeing 737-400. Another seven years later he was captain of Boeing 777-200 - the aeroplane type which he would eventually pilot for the last time on March 8, 2014. Mr Shah amassed 8,659 hours on 777s and was a well-respected and accomplished veteran by 2014. He was also married and a father to three children by then, and enjoyed cooking and fishing alongside his work and family life. His family lived in a mansion in the Laman Seri complex - a luxury gated community in Kuala Lumpur - where he is said to have built his own flight simulator. Mr Shah and his family lived in a mansion in the Laman Seri complex (above) - a luxury gated community in Kuala Lumpur What was discovered about Zaharie Amad Shah after the plane disappeared? After MH370 vanished, rumours circulated that Mr Shah's wife had left home, leading the pilot to crash the plane in a murder-suicide. The Atlantic reported in 2019 that friends of the pilot claimed he was 'lonely and sad', even 'clinically depressed', at the time of the flight. One unnamed friend, and a fellow pilot, suggested that Mr Shah might have diverted his co-pilot out of the cockpit and locked the door, before crashing the plane. The Independent Group which worked on the case claim he murdered those on board by flying at a staggering 40,000 feet to depressure the cabin and suffocate the passengers. Psychologists also claimed that Mr Shah was 'self destructive' after he sent sexually suggestive messages to 26-year-old twin sisters Lan Qi Hui and Qi Min Lan, begging them to come to the Malaysian capital. He also used social media to target his government, who own the airline he worked for, calling prime minister Najib Razak a 'moron'. He also urged his followers: 'There is a rebel in each and every one of us. Let it out!' Aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey claimed in a report in May 2021 that the route taken by Mr Shah seemed 'carefully planed'. He said that the changes in direction and speed were to avoid 'giving a clear idea where he was heading'. The plane took an unexpected U-turn from its planned flight path and was instead tracked on military radar over the Malacca Strait before losing contact altogether. Despite a four-year, $200million international search effort covering more than 120,000sqm, the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines plane has never been found, sparking the world's biggest aviation mystery. Though the aircraft has never been found, pieces of debris were fished out of the sea in Mauritius, Madagascar, Tanzania and South Africa, leading suggestions the crash site could be in the Indian Ocean - with currents carrying debris to Africa. Aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey claimed in a report in May 2021 that the route taken by Mr Shah seemed 'carefully planed' Who was Zaharie Ahmad Shah's M370 co-pilot? MH370's co-pilot was Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27, who was on his first flight on a 777 as a fully approved first officer, but had flown five times before with a 'check co-pilot' overseeing him. He also had 2,763 hours experience flying other jets before moving to the larger aircraft. Mr Hamid was revealed to have been the last person to communicate from the cockpit after the communication system was cut off. Theorists have also suggested that Mr Hamid might have been responsible for the crash, again citing personal problems, but on the other hand Fariq was reportedly planning to marry his girlfriend. He was engaged to Captain Nadira Ramli - a then-26-year-old pilot at another airline. Taxpayers have footed a 20,800 bill for Labour frontbencher Thangam Debbonaire's Arabic lessons over the past six years. The shadow culture secretary has racked up the costs - which came to 4,344 last year alone - on classes to learn the language. The annual bill has surged since 2017-18, when spending was 2,697. According to details disclosed to MailOnline under FOI rules, Ms Debbonaire booked 73 hours worth of classes in 2022-23 - although she cancelled three lessons. There is no suggestion that the MP has broken rules, with the Commons offering politicians 'training in accordance with their parliamentary duties'. Over the years MPs from all parties have taken classes in Mandarin, Russian and Icelandic as well as more traditional languages such as French and German. Taxpayers have footed a 20,800 bill for Labour frontbencher Thangam Debbonaire's Arabic lessons over the past six years Notably, records show that Conservative backbencher Daniel Kawczynski has enjoyed around 25,000 of Polish lessons. However, Mr Kawczynski does not feature on the list for 2022-23, meaning that Ms Debbonaire's costs are catching up. She has previously argued that the Arabic lessons 'help communicate with the diverse population' in the Bristol West constituency she has represented since 2015. During a Commons debate in June 2018, Ms Debbonaire said: 'I've been learning Arabic for the last 18 months in order to make a better MP for the Syrian and other Middle Eastern refugees in my constituency 'The idea is to make that welcome as genuine and sincere as possible.' The Commons said that since 2001 MPs have been able to 'receive training in accordance with their parliamentary duties'. 'As a result of this, a provision was established to enable Members to learn a language or develop existing skills,' a statement on the Parliamentary website said. 'The service is arranged by the Members' Services Team and courses are run by approved training providers.' Ms Debbonaire has found herself embroiled in controversy this week after branding performances of Rule Britannia at the Last Night of the Proms 'alienating'. In an interview for the Spectator's Women With Balls podcast, Ms Debbonaire welcomed a 'debate' on whether the music should be dropped, while stressing that politicians should not 'tell people how to run cultural events'. Ms Debbonaire has found herself embroiled in controversy this week after branding performances of Rule Britannia at the Last Night of the Proms 'alienating' Ms Debbonaire also suggested the historic green benches in the House of Commons should be replaced because they are too big for women Tories waded in to accuse her of 'political correctness' and having 'very little pride in Britain'. Ms Debbonaire also suggested the historic green benches in the House of Commons should be replaced because they are too big for women. The Labour frontbencher - who is 5ft 1in tall - complained that it is 'ridiculous' that her legs dangle off the end. A female dine and dasher is thought to have cheated at least six restaurants and bars out of hundreds of pounds by enjoying slap up lunches - then leaving without paying her bill. The same woman has been caught several times on CCTV accompanied by two different men and sometimes with a toddler. In a carefully rehearsed routine, the woman runs up a significant bill then goes to pay with a credit card which is always declined. She then tells staff she has to go to a cashpoint - and never returns. She is aged in her early 30s and is always heavily made-up and often wears designer clothing. The woman shamelessly posts photos of her plates of food on social media and her illegal act is so widely known that one of her followers has asked her 'did you rob that place too?' A female dine and dasher (pictured, with toddler at Pinocchio restaurant in Christchurch, Dorset) is thought to have cheated at least six restaurants and bars out of hundreds of pounds by enjoying slap up lunches - then leaving without paying her bill The same woman (pictured, leaving Chicken & Blues in Christchurch, Dorset last week) has been caught several times on CCTV The woman has been accompanied by two different men and sometimes with a toddler She recently posted on Facebook of how she was on a date night at a Miller & Carter restaurant. When one of her friends jokingly asked her 'aren't you most wanted for restaurants?' she replied with three emojis of a laughing face. It is believed the woman has scammed restaurants in the Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole areas of Dorset over the past 12 months. Her latest ruse took place at the Chicken & Blues eatery in Christchurch last Tuesday. She and a man with short dark hair attended the restaurant with a young boy and racked up a bill of 80 before coming up with the credit card ruse. Owner Josh Simons posted photos of the pair on social media, prompting people to identify the woman. Other restaurant owners recognised her from when she pulled off the same stunt in their premises. Mr Simons said: 'This lady and gent visited Christchurch Chicken & Blues recently for lunch and ran up an 80 bill, which is plenty of food and drink for two people. 'After it appeared their card didn't work, they then "had to visit the ATM" and never returned, causing undue stress to our hard-working team.' She is aged in her early 30s and is always heavily made-up and often wears designer clothing It is believed the woman has scammed restaurants in the Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole areas of Dorset over the past 12 months In a carefully rehearsed routine, the woman runs up a significant bill then goes to pay with a credit card which is always declined. She then tells staff she has to go to a cashpoint - and never returns The owner of The Place restaurant in Bournemouth, claimed the woman (pictured at the restaurant) targeted her business last summer Her latest ruse took place at the Chicken & Blues eatery (pictured) in Christchurch last Tuesday Mr Simons added: 'It turns out that a lot of people know them and they're quite notorious for doing this stuff to other restaurants in the local area. 'They are apparently habitual scammers of restaurants. 'Posting about this was not about the money, it was more about raising awareness that this sort of thing is happening locally, and with these people in particular. 'It doesn't seem to be the first time they've pulled this trick, but if the community gets together, it would be nice if it's the last time they get away with it.' Mr Simons has given the pair the opportunity to come in and settle their bill, after which the company will match the 80 and donate 160 to its charity of the year, Bournemouth Foodbank. Joanna Nowokunski, who owns The Place restaurant in Bournemouth, claimed the same woman targeted her business last summer but with a different man. Ms Nowokunski said: 'They came in for lunch. They were very polite and quite well dressed. They had starters and a main course of half-a-grilled chicken each and had lots to drink, the best whisky that we had. 'When it came to paying their bill, which was about 80, their card declined. The woman shamelessly posts photos of her plates of food on social media and her illegal act is so widely known that one of her followers has asked her 'aren't you most wanted for restaurants?' 'The man said he would go to a cashpoint and the woman stayed behind. Then he came back to say the cash machine had swallowed his card and that is when I got suspicious. 'They left a mobile number. I called it and reminded them they had to come back and pay. I then texted it and when I rang it again they had blocked me. 'We had just opened at the time and were struggling and so every penny counted. 'I saw the woman about a month later, she walked past the restaurant. I went out and reminded her she owed us money and she got aggressive and started swearing, saying "f*** you" and showing the finger. 'You don't do that to people. She is obviously proud of what she does because she has done it so many times.' The owner of the Italian restaurant Pinocchio in Christchurch claimed the same woman did it to her last year. She said: 'A man and a woman came in with a young child. They ordered a lot of food and drink, worth 115. Then they said their card wasn't working and they would have to get some money out. 'She waited for him but when he didn't come back she walked out with the pushchair. 'I called the police but nothing came of it. It is definitely the same woman who has done it to Chicken & Blues.' Eva Nedna, who used to work in a cafe in Poole, wrote on the Chicken & Blues post how the same couple didn't pay for their food last year. One person who shared an Instagram post by the suspect with photos of several plates of food from another restaurant, asked the question: 'Wonder if she paid for this meal?' Jane Ayles, the business and events manager at the Poole Quay Hotel, quickly replied: 'No they didn't. This happened in our hotel. Same excuse. We confronted them and they started to get aggressive.' Joanna Nowokunski (pictured), who owns The Place restaurant in Bournemouth, claimed the same woman targeted her business last summer but with a different man Ms Nowokunski said: 'The man said he would go to a cashpoint and the woman stayed behind. Then he came back to say the cash machine had swallowed his card and that is when I got suspicious' She added: 'They left a mobile number. I called it and reminded them they had to come back and pay. I then texted it and when I rang it again they had blocked me' Ms Nowokunski said: 'We had just opened at the time and were struggling and so every penny counted' She added: 'I saw the woman about a month later, she walked past the restaurant (pictured). I went out and reminded her she owed us money and she got aggressive and started swearing, saying "f*** you" and showing the finger' A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: 'It is reported that between 1.30pm and 2.35pm on Tuesday customers left Chicken & Blues in Church Street in Christchurch without paying for their food. 'The incident was reported to Dorset Police at around 2.10pm on Wednesday. Officers will be carrying out enquiries into this matter. 'No arrests have been made.' McDonald's has launched a new personalised 'inclusive' uniform that allows staff to wear the clothes 'they feel most comfortable in'. The fast food giant has announced a uniform trial that will give workers the option to wear beanies, bucket hats, and bandanas - as well as jeans, chinos, denim skirts and even joggers. Employees can 'create a personalised uniform that best reflects their own identity' and have the choice between classic and tailored fits to ensure that 'all preferences are catered for', McDonald's said. This will be the time that the fast food chain has made changes to its uniform since 2016. McDonald's say that the new range has been designed in response to employee feedback to ensure it is 'modern, inclusive and functional'. It follows other big corporations changing their uniforms to be more inclusive. In 2022, Virgin Atlantic announced that crew, pilots and ground staff could wear whichever uniform they feel most comfortable in 'no matter their gender'. Meanwhile, last year British Airways relaxed the rules around its strict uniform policy and also went gender-neutral. McDonald's has launched a new personalised 'inclusive' uniform that allows staff to wear clothes 'they feel most comfortable in' During the McDonald's trial, crew will be able to chose whatever clothes they feel comfortable in, varying from 'classic' to 'tailored' fits. The new uniform will be trialled in selected restaurants in the next few weeks ahead of a full launch in all UK and Ireland restaurants next year. Staff will be able to choose from t-shirts and polo shirts and jeans, chinos and denim skirts. Accessories such as bucket hates, bandanas, beanie hats and other new cap designs. It's understood that each item designed will be fully recyclable when it comes to the end of its life. McDonald's will also launch new versions of religious headwear and maternity wear in the near future. Both are currently available, but the new designs will be improved in terms of comfort and style and will incorporate feedback from multi-faith groups within the business. James Thorne, Chief People Officer, McDonald's UK&I, said: 'Our people are at the heart of everything we do, so I'm really excited to get their feedback on what we think is a fantastic range. The collection will give team members the opportunity to really create a look that reflects who they are while still absolutely looking and feeling like part of the team. Combined with the fact that the collection has been designed with the circular economy in mind and is made from recycled or sustainable materials - it's a collection that we know our people will feel proud to wear.' The new uniform will be trialled in selected restaurants in the next few weeks ahead of a full launch in all UK and Ireland restaurants next year. Bukky, a team member at McDonald's in South London, said: 'Having the option to choose what I wear at work is so important to me and I'm really looking forward to trialling the new range on my shifts and helping to shape the final designs before they are rolled out next year.' Phil Harland, Director of Client Management at the company Dimensions, who created the new collection, said: 'I'm extremely proud to have been part of the team that has created the new workwear for McDonald's. 'We have worked hard to design a unique collection that is modern, comfortable, and sustainable. 'Feedback from Crew has been vital to developing the range and the trials will help us to continue to take these inputs on board to ensure all the items are perfectly suited to the restaurant environment.' As well as airlines changing their uniforms in recent years, Girl Guides and Brownies also launched an 'inclusive' uniform following a row over trans children joining the organisations. The inclusive uniform redesign is set to launch in 2026 and will mark the first change since the charity collaborated with British designer Jeff Banks in 1990. The historic children's group - which is now called Girlguiding - has said that 'affordability, sustainability and inclusivity' will be at the forefront of their redesign - as their partner HemmingwayDesign says that 'ethics and environment' are they key considerations in the new clothes. It comes less than two years after Girl Guides sparked a trans row when they published an interview with the parents of a child who began 'living as a girl' from the age of five. The largest organisation for girls in Britain was branded 'dangerous' after it boasted of its 'trans inclusive' credentials as it told the story of 'Rainbow', one of its newest 'Brownies', in its summer magazine. A real-estate tycoon and heir to an Indian diamond empire who testified his businesses are worth 'zero' must pay a total of $10 billion to his brothers for keeping them out of the family business. On Thursday, a California jury ordered Haresh Jogani to pay $3billlion to his four estranged siblings. The same jury already found Jogani bilked his four brothers- Shashikant, Rajesh, Chetan and Shailesh- out of $7 billion for not living up to an oral agreement that divided the family's extensive real estate portfolio among them. John Lee, Haresh's attorney, told DailyMail.com the judge didn't allow his client to provide an explanation when he testified earlier this week that his vast real estate empire was worth 'zero to negative.' Lee said Haresh has amassed about $144.5 million in his diamond business and other investments. Haresh Jogani testified his vast real estate portfolio was now worth 'zero, negative' after a Los Angeles jury found he owed his four brothers $10 billion for cutting them off the family business Attorneys for brothers Rajesh Jogani (left) and Chetan Jogani (right) said they are 'elated' after a jury found their other brother, Haresh, acted in 'trickery and deceit' in keeping billions of earnings to himself He also had about $1 billion in his real estate investments, but with the recent judgment against him, the attorney said Haresh's real estate portfolio is now worth less than zero. 'We are obviously very disappointed,' Lee told DailyMail.com after Thursday's hearing. 'Unfortunately, the case was plagued with an incredible number of irregularities, including that he wasn't even allowed to talk about his current net worth. Lee continued, 'Once you subtract [the jury's judgment] out, Haresh is far in the negative.' Lee said they plan to appeal the decision. Rajesh Jogani was awarded $450 million in punitive damages on March 7, 2023 One of the bothers, Shailesh Jogani, did not attend the five-month trial in Los Angeles and was not part of the punitive damages portion of the case. However, his attorney Larry Ecoff told DailyMail.com that Haresh refused to provide all the documentation to show just how many more billions of dollars could be hiding in other accounts, including foreign banks. 'He completely fabricated everything,' Ecoff said of Haresh's testimony. 'During the course of the trial, it was pointed that [Haresh] was the greatest businessman alive and how he was responsible for the creation of this billions-of-dollars empire. 'But all of a sudden, during the punitive damages portion of the case, he basically said he's impoverished. There were a lot of factual misstatements.' Haresh Jogani, who now must pay $10 billion to his four brothers, testified his real estate company has gone bust The case has been dragging on for 20 years, with multiple claims filed by four of Haresh's brothers The suit stems from Haresh buying about 2,600 of Shashi's units - which now include Sunset Pointe Apartments in Van Nuys - and hired his brother as a consultant, using his knowledge of the business to find other potential units The sibling squabble began about 20 years ago when Shashikant filed the lawsuit against Haresh , who claimed he was the sole shareholder of the real estate companies the brothers operated in California, Nevada and Texas since the late 1960s The sibling squabble began about 20 years ago when Shashikant filed the lawsuit against Haresh, who claimed he was the sole shareholder of the real estate companies the brothers operated in California, Nevada and Texas since the late 1960s. Over the years, the real estate portfolio grew into more than 170 apartment buildings and 17,000 units, mostly in the San Fernando Valley, California. The five Jogani brothers- who range from 60 to 70 years old- have bee embroiled in the nasty lawsuit as far back as 2003 when Shashikant Jorgani sued brother Haresh for not living up to their oral agreement. Haresh Jogani claimed he was the sole shareholder of the real estate companies, but the other four brothers claimed they held a nominal title on the properties as well. However, a contract was never signed between the brothers. Chetan Jogani, the youngest of the five brothers, paced the courtroom hallway on Thursday and was on the phone with family shortly after the jury awarded him $1.05 billion in punitive damages alone. William Akerman, a forensic accountant, previously testified he was unable to assess just how much Haresh made in his real estate companies, assets, investments and trusts because Haresh did not provide 32 of his tax returns. He said Haresh also has not turned over documents for his various bank accounts, including accounts in the United Arab Emirates and Israel. 'There was an indication that Haresh got $50 million in 2021 and $100 million in 2022, but how was that accounted for we don't know,' Akerman said. 'It might be right on front of me, but I haven't been provided documentation to find the trail.' Yash Jogani, Chetan's son, said the family is happy to put the case behind them Chetan Jogani rushed out of court on March 4, 2023 John Lee, Haresh's attorney, said his client plans to file an appeal With Thursday's verdict, Rajesh Jogani was awarded $450 million in punitive damages and $1.5 billion for Shashikant. Chetan's son, Yash, told DailyMail.com the case had weighed heavily on the entire family for decades, especially his grandmother, who is in her 90s. 'The family is very happy that we finally have closure,' Yash Jogani said. 'My grandmother is very happy that all of her sons got what they wanted and what they had agreed to. 'It was really hard for my grandmother. The one thing she never wanted to see was her kids fighting.' Peter Ross, Chetan's attorney, said the four brothers- Shashikant, Rajesh, Chetan and Shailesh - are grateful for the jury's decision. The judge still has to decide how Haresh's vast real estate properties will be divided among the brothers, Ross said. 'The clients are elated and feel grateful to the jury,' the attorney said. 'Justice has finally been served after 20 years. 'Four of the five brother brothers have already come together, but there is always a chance for reconciliation.' No Labels have voted to move forward with putting a third-party in the 2024 race in could hurt President Joe Biden's re-election campaign, but have not yet found a name to put on the ticket. Around 800 delegates from the bipartisan group unanimously approved the plan for a 2024 'unity ticket' to take on Biden and Donald Trump in November at a virtual gathering on Friday. But they now face a time crunch to pick a nominee, with many state deadlines to get on the general election ballot rapidly approaching. The group said it will now be 'accelerating' its search for a candidate as concerns grow that a third-party candidate could swipe votes from Biden. The decision comes after three big names already told the group no: Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin. Before Friday's virtual No Labels convention former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (left) and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (right) bowed out on running on a 'unity' ticket It's unclear who the group could attract with the same kind of cross-partisan star appeal. The idea was to run one Republican and one Democrat on a 'unity' ticket to appeal to the disgusted American middle as both parties have moved to the right and to the left. But one thing Haley, Hogan and Manchin have in common is that they don't want Trump, who is close to mathematically clinching the Republican nomination, elected in the fall. New York Magazine reported Monday that former Democratic President Bill Clinton urged both Hogan and Manchin to stand down - cornering them on separate occasions and warning them they could become the spoilers who delivered Trump a second term. Hogan launched a bid for the U.S. Senate instead, vying to take over retiring Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin's seat, while Manchin announced in mid-February he would not seek the White House in 2024. He previously announced his retirement from the U.S. Senate. Haley said prior to dropping out that she had no interest in running as a No Labels candidate because she didn't want a Democrat on her ticket. Former Republican candidate Nikki Haley also said she wasn't interested in joining the effort, explaining she didn't want a Democratic running mate 'If I were to do No Labels, that would require a Democrat. I can't do what I wanted to express with the Democrats,' she said during a recent gaggle with reporters. 'I've always believed if you do something, do it right or don't do it.' Puck reported that No Labels leadership has decided a Republican must be on the top of the ticket to prevent Trump from being reelected instead. The lack of an obvious candidate hasn't derailed the operation On Tuesday, Axios reported that ahead of Friday's virtual convention a super PAC related to the effort was asking donors for dollars. No Labels itself is a 501(c)(4) and can't run a traditional presidential campaign. The group does not disclose its donors. The super PAC can act as the funding mechanism. The PAC aims to bring in $300 million toward a general election effort. A worker puts the finishing touches on a sign before the start of the grand opening celebration for Budr Cannabis, Danbury's first adult-use cannabis retailer, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. File photo / H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Recreational cannabis products are displayed at Fine Fettle Dispensary in Stamford, Conn., on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Fine Fettle is an adult use and medical marijuana dispensary with multiple locations in Connecticut. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media A variety of medical cannabis products are displayed at Fine Fettle cannabis dispensary in Stamford, Conn., on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Fine Fettle Dispensary in Stamford, Conn., photographed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media NEW MILFORD In voting to extend a moratorium, the Town Council agreed that New Milford has a lot to learn before it can allow recreational cannabis sales in town. In a unanimous vote, the Town Council voted to extend New Milford's temporary moratorium on recreational cannabis sales for another year at its Feb. 26 meeting. The moratorium was imposed in January 2023 to gain more time to better understand Connecticuts legislation for recreational cannabis sales and its impact on towns. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Town Councils initial vote to impose the moratorium in 2023 came the day before legal recreational cannabis sales began in the state. Town Council members decided at the councils Feb. 26 meeting to revisit the issue in another year. The town will look at other towns that have allowed recreational cannabis sales in their communities, Bass said. Danbury, Newington, New Haven, Stamford and Meriden are among the Connecticut towns with recreational cannabis dispensaries. They just wanted to take a wait to see as the industry matures how other towns are handling it, Bass said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad New Milford will also look at data on cannabis retail establishments, traffic generated by the dispensaries, crime created by the dispensaries' presence and other issues towns might face by allowing recreational cannabis dispensaries, he said. RSL Queensland is facing backlash over a new Acknowledgment of Country that is set to be read out at Anzac Day ceremonies. Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said the day is about remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend Australia and should not be politicised. 'Where do these things stop?' the former Deputy Prime Minister asked. A pamphlet outlining RSL Queensland's intended program for Anzac Day, which includes the Acknowledgement of Country, was shown on Sky News on Thursday evening. 'We, today's warriors, acknowledge the very first warriors who stood as the guardians of this ancient country on which we meet today,' the statement read. 'We salute their commitment to an unbroken line of duty that began tens of thousands of years ago and continues to this very day.' The Returned and Services League (RSL) in Queensland is copping backlash over a change that is claimed will 'politicise' Anzac Day The RSL Queensland pamphlet outlines a new Acknowledgement of Country Mr Joyce said including the Acknowledgement of Country in the ceremonies would risk drawing in political debate to Anzac Day and 'nobody wants that'. 'I just don't like the idea of politicising Anzac Day, of saying, ''Oh we've got to have these ameliorating issues, we've got to make addendums to what it is'',' Mr Joyce said. 'People in Australian uniforms who went overseas, who supported the defence of our nation, who paid the supreme sacrifice, who were injured, who remained, whose families fell apart, whose wives and partners left, this pain that goes around the necessary defence of our nation. 'It's (about) those who wore the Australian uniform and to bring in other items ... where do these things stop? 'You can find a virtuous reason to bring it in, but then of course it just leads to the next virtuous reason and the next, and the next. 'And we do something that nobody wants, to politicise Anzac Day.' Crowds are seen at the North Bondi RSL Sub-branch dawn service on April 25, 2022 in Sydney The pamphlet states the Acknowledgement of Country was crafted by RSL Queensland State President Stephen Day DSC AM with help from the Australian Army's Indigenous Elder Aunty Lorraine Hatton OAM. An RSL Queensland spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the inclusion of an Acknowledgement of Country was not a requirement but up to the event organisers. 'This story has been made about Anzac Day. It is not about Anzac Day,' the spokesperson said. 'Delivering an Acknowledgement of Country has always been, and remains, the discretion of the individual RSL member or organisation that is putting on an event, ceremony or service. 'There are a variety of versions of Acknowledgements of Country in use across Australia, as well as differing views on the content, structure and worth. 'Some of our members wanted a veteran centric option. Nothing has changed apart from adding that veteran centric option.' Some commenters voiced their dissatisfaction online. 'Contacting my local RSL to lodge a complaint, won't be renewing my membership,' one said. 'The RSL is in decline, it doesn't attract younger veterans and now it's going woke,' another added. The parents of a German schoolgirl stabbed to death by her two young classmates has sued her killers' families for 165,000. Luise Frisch, 12, was found dead in the woods near her hometown of Freudenberg, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with 74 stab wounds to her body in March last year. Luise's best friends, Luisa Halberstadt, then 13, and Anna-Marie Hoffman, then 12, eventually admitted the killing - but they couldn't be prosecuted because they were younger than 14, the age of criminal responsibility in Germany. The schoolgirl's parents are still trying to get justice and have now taken the only legal avenue they can as they filed a lawsuit against the killers and their parents demanding at least 165,000 in total over the 'coldly planned execution' of their daughter. They demand at least 43,000 (50,000) in compensation per killer as well as survivor's benefits of at least 26,000 (30,000) each for Luise's parents and sister, according to German tabloid Bild. The girls could be ordered to pay themselves as soon as they are earning money - an order that could be valid for 30 years, as their parents aren't obligated to take on their debt. Children aged seven upwards, under the condition that the child was aware they were doing something 'harmful', can be ordered to pay damages under German civil law. The victim, known only as Luise, was found in a pool of blood on March 12 in a wooded area near the town of Freudenberg, in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, after she was stabbed more than 70 times Luise, 12, was stabbed more than 74 times with 'a nail file' by two girls aged 13 and 12 'in revenge' after she told an adult they had been bullying her for months, according to German newspaper Bild. Other theories include that she was killed after fighting about a boy Flowers and candles were placed where Luise's body was found in the woods near Freudenberg No trial date has been set yet but the parents of one of the killers have already demanded for the lawsuit for compensation to be dropped as they disputed 'the length of Luise's suffering as alleged by the plaintiffs'. Luisa's father, a locksmith, told Westfalenpost: 'How is my daughter, who is 14 years old, supposed to pay tens of thousands of euros or more? How are we supposed to pay so much money?' Her mother expressed understanding for Luise's family and said: 'I am a mother, I understand the victim's mother. Her daughter's bed remains empty. I, on the other hand, still have my daughter.' Luise went missing on the afternoon of Saturday, March 11, after a sleepover from Friday to Saturday with Luisa at her house, in Freudenberg's Hohenhain district, two miles from Luise's own home. Later that day, Anna-Marie joined in and the trio walked to a nearby forest. There, they allegedly stabbed Luise more than 70 times in a case that shocked Germany. Luise's body was found in the woods the following day, March 12, after her parents reported the schoolgirl missing on Saturday afternoon, sparking a massive police search of the area. The two killers, who were spotted by a neighbour as they were walking into the woods with Luise, 'made statements about the matter and in the end admitted the crime', said Florian Locker, head of Koblenz police's homicide department. Theories on the motive included that the girls bullied each other and that her friends killed Luise over a boy, but prosecutors never confirmed what led the two girls to commit the murder. After the stabbing, the girls returned to Luisa's house, where Anna-Marie was later picked up by her father. Luisa posted a video of herself dancing on TikTok that day. Afterwards, the older girl called Luise's parents and told them a tale of lies, saying Luise started making her way back home at 5.30pm and wanted to let her know once she had arrived. As Luise had failed to call, Luisa allegedly phoned her several times as she was 'worried' about her, while she knew all along where Luise really was: stabbed and left to die in the woods. Police said that during the search and later under questioning, the two girls made contradictory statements and both finally confessed on Monday, March 13. The two girls attended the same school as Luise and they were said to be friends. The cold-blooded teenage killers had also researched for the age of criminal responsibilities online in the days leading up to the killing, local media reported. Luise's disappearance triggered a frantic search operation that featured a helicopter, sniffer dogs and drones. When she was found dead with multiple stab wounds, the community in the small town with just 18,000 residents was shocked. Luise's disappearance triggered a frantic search operation that featured a helicopter, sniffer dogs and drones The Esther Bejerano Comprehensive School in Freudenberg that Luise and the two killers attended is pictured Luisa and Anna-Maria are thought to have led Luise to her death through a disused railway tunnel which leads from the village of Hohenhain Police said on March 20 that they gave up on trying to find the murder weapon - said to be a nail file - after not being able to locate it after a week-long search. Now, less than a year later, justice officials are preparing to release the Luisa and Anna-Marie back into society after they concluded the investigation in September without being able to bring charges due to the girls' ages. District administrator Andreas Mueller told local media that social workers are preparing to 'pave the way for the perpetrators back into society', although both girls will remain in therapy until they turn 18. One of the killers already lives in a residential group and is attending school again, while the other is still in the psychiatric ward and is expected to live in a sheltered residential group where her progress will be monitored. The parents of Luisa have already tried to take their daughter home with the intent of moving abroad, but this has been unsuccessful, according to local media. The local Head of Social Affairs, Thomas Wuest, said at the time: 'In such a case, the youth welfare office turns to the family court, which then makes a decision.' Their families have since moved away from Freudenberg, after the killers' identities were circulated on social media and people flocked to their homes to demand justice for Luise. They are said to still be in contact with their daughters. Child therapist Miriam Hoff doesn't believe the girls can return to a 'normal life' any time soon as she told Bild: 'It will take years of therapy to get over a crime like that. 'Also crucial: Do the perpetrators have personality disorders that manifested early on? Or do they have a history of mental illnesses?' she added. Another psychologist, Dr Albert Wunsch, said: 'If they both grew up within good social structures and if they acted in the heat of the moment, they will be confronted with feelings of guilt about their actions their whole lives.' But he also told the newspaper that the brutality and the lack of remorse point toward a conscious act: 'Luise's death wasn't an accident. She wasn't pushed in a fight and hit her head. Many things indicate it wasn't an act in the heat of the moment.' Meanwhile Luise's family has talked openly about the heartbreak of losing their daughter. In one message, they wrote: 'Luise. Our home is now so quiet. Your place will always be empty. Luise's violent death has brought with it unbearable pain. Luisa Halberstadt (pictured) posted a video on TikTok showing herself dancing just hours after Luise's body was found Because of their age neither of the killers could be tried under German law and officials have moved them and their families out of the area for their own safety 'But through the uncountable gestures from those who also showed their sadness and willingness to help us get through this, we have learned that we are not alone. 'From our hearts, we thank everybody for your support in the hardest time of our lives. We also thank the fast response and support of the emergency services and volunteers who worked day and night to try and find our Luise. 'We are grateful for every kind word, every hug, every silent glance when the words fail. Death has once again shown us the importance of many things in life. To look after each other, to respect, to stay together and be there for each other. 'This is especially when everything collapses, happiness, dreams, and life together. When that happens, the one thing that remains is what really counts, which is love. Luise, you will forever be in our hearts.' The pastor in her hometown of Freudenberg, Thomas Ijewski, told Bild this week as the anniversary of Luise's death approaches: 'A year ago we experienced that evil entered our lives. 'Basic assumptions in life that children are good were shattered. Wounds may heal, but scars will remain. De-Zoysa has been charged with six counts of murder and one count of attempted murder A Sri Lankan student has been charged with the mass murder of a mother, her four children and their friend. Febrio De-Zoysa, 19, is accused of killing the family and their lodger, who had recently immigrated from Lanka, inside a home in Ottawa, Canada. The victims are: Mom Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake, 35 Their lodger Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, 40, Inuka Wickramasinghe, seven, Ashwini Wickramasinghe, four Rinyana Wickramasinghe, two Kelly Wickramasinghe, two months old They were discovered at a home just before 11pm on Wednesday after police received several frantic 911 calls. No motive has been released for the heinous killing. A 19-year-old Sri Lankan student has been charged with the deaths of six people in Ottawa including four members of the same family and their lodger Police officers hold up a sheet as members of the coroner's office remove a body at the Ottawa home after the Wednesday night murders Police said the victims were a mom and her four kids as well as an acquaintance of the family who was living with them. Her husband was also injured Cops arrived at the house to find a man outside yelling for help. He was later taken to the hospital with serious wounds, but is now said to be in a stable condition. Inside the home, authorities discovered his wife, their children and the acquaintance. Five of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, one was rushed to a nearby hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries. Images taken at the scene show blood smeared over the front door to the property, as forensic teams and police officers investigate. De-Soyza has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Cop said he was arrested at the scene 'without incident.' Investigators said he was an acquaintance of the family and was living in the home at the time although no motive has been established yet. They added that an 'edged' weapon was used during the killings. 'There are a lot of questions about why this tragedy occurred. This is the focus of our homicide unit as [they] diligently investigate this tragic crime,' Ottawa Deputy Police Chief Trish Ferguson said during Thursday's press conference. Members of the coroner's office stand outside the scene of a homicide on Thursday morning According to authorities in, six people were found in a home just south of the downtown Ottawa area of the city around 11pm Wednesday night Police tape blocks access to an alleyway at the scene where six people were found dead in the Barrhaven suburb of Ottawa on Thursday 'Our investigators and forensic teams are working very hard to determine all of the facts and ensure justice is done but that also means we must maintain the integrity of the investigation for court,' she added. 'This was a senseless act of violence, perpetrated on purely innocent people,' Chief Eric Stubbs said. 'We have been working to advise the families of the deceased, many of whom are overseas. 'I want to emphasize that this was a senseless act of violence perpetrated on purely innocent people. 'I know our whole community is shocked and mourning this event. 'I want to offer my condolences to the loved ones of all of the victims for this unimaginable loss.' The murders, which have rocked the community of Barrhaven, were addressed by the country's prime minister, Justin Trudeau. 'Obviously our first reactions are all ones of shock and horror at this terrible violence,' he said. An Ottawa Police Service officer stands near a door smeared in blood at the property in Barrhaven, Ontario In a statement, police said that the investigation into the deaths would be 'tragic and complex' 'We are expecting that the community reaches out to support family and friends as Canadians always do, and we expect the police of jurisdiction to be doing the work and keeping us all informed of this terrible tragedy.' Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe also sought to reassure the public there is no wider danger. 'While it will be difficult for many of us to go about our usual routines in the face of such tragedy, again there is no risk to the public. 'We are fortunate to live in a safe city where these events are extremely rare, but everyone understandably will react to this news today, and feel less safe and secure.' An Army intelligence analyst with Top Secret security clearance has been charged with conspiring to sell US secrets to Taiwan for $42,000. Korbein Schultz was arrested on Thursday at Fort Campbell in Kentucky and is facing a six-count federal indictment with charges including conspiring to collect and disclose military defense information and bribery to a public official. He faces life in prison. Schultz, originally from Wills Point, Texas, has also been charged with exporting technical data related to defense articles and conspiracy to export defense articles, both without a license. A conspirator specifically tasked Schultz with obtaining information related to U.S. military weapons systems, and information related to the country's 'potential plans in the event that Taiwan came under military attack.' Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Departments National Security Division said: 'As part of the conspiracy, the defendant provided sensitive government information to his coconspirator in exchange for thousands of dollars, placing personal profit above the security of the American people. Army intelligence analyst Korbein Schultz was arrested on Thursday at Fort Campbell and was charged with conspiracy to collect and share highly classified military information. He is seen in a video from 2021 Schultz, originally from Wills Point, Texas , has also been charged with exporting technical data related to defense articles and conspiracy to export defense articles, both without a license 'Todays arrest shows that such a betrayal does not pay the Department of Justice is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who would break their oath to protect our nations secrets.' Schultz was an Army Intelligence analyst in the 506th regiment at Fort Campbell who has Top-Secret security clearance, according to prosecutors. U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis revealed that Schultz was involved in a 'multi-year conspiracy.' The indictment alleged that from June 2022, up until his arrest, Schultz conspired with another unidentified individual called 'Conspirator A.' Schultz disclosed plans, maps, documents, notes, writings, and photographs that all related to the country's national defense, prosecutors said. It added that Schultz 'had reason to believe' that the secretive shared information 'could be used to injure the Unites States or be 'used to the advantage of a foreign nation.' According to the release, the co-conspirator 'recruited' Schultz and had him gather sensitive U.S. military information and documents. The indictment alleged that from June 2022, up until his arrest, Schultz conspired with another unidentified individual called 'Conspirator A' Specifically, he shared details about the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, studies on the future development of U.S. military forces, information on hypersonic equipment, studies on major countries like China, and summaries of military operations and drills. In exchange for the loads of classified information, Conspirator A, who told Schultz he lives in Hong Kong, paid him a total of $42,000 in 14 separate payments from July 2022 to October 2023. The co-conspirator told the former Army intelligence analyst they worked for a geopolitical consulting firm based overseas, according to investigators. Three of the documents that Schultz shared included an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for the HH-60W helicopter, which is a combat rescue helicopter. He also shared an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for the F22-A fighter aircraft, and an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for intercontinental ballistic missiles, the release said. The sharing of those three manuals violated the Arms Export Control Act, according to the release. 'The conduct alleged in today's indictment represents a grave betrayal of the oath sworn to defend our country,' federal officials said. A conspirator told Schultz that he lives in Hong Kong and worked for for a geopolitical consulting firm based overseas. They paid him $42,000 in 14 separate payments from July 2022 to October 2023 'Instead of safeguarding national defense information, the defendant conspired with a foreign national to sell it, potentially endangering our national security.' In a video from 2021, Schultz discussed his previous role as an intelligence analyst for 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade. He explained the process of coordinating the support of Afghans as part of Task Force McCoy at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. His role at the time was to make sure that guests at the base had all of the necessities they needed, like general hygiene, food and clothing. 'I love being here actually, so I joined the Army to help out people because I love to help out people,' Schultz said in the video. 'It's one of my, some people would say bad talents, but helping people out if possibly the greatest thing that I could ever do.' Detectives started to close in on Samantha Murphy's alleged killer two weeks ago when they launched a targeted search in the area where they now believe she was allegedly murdered. Ms Murphy, 51, vanished on February 4 when she left her home in Ballarat East to go for a run. No trace of the mother-of-three has been found and Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, from the nearby suburb of Scotsburn was on Thursday charged with her alleged murder. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said on Thursday police will allege Ms Murphy died on the day she disappeared in Mount Clear, where Stephenson's parents live, and about 6km away from where she lived with her family. It's also about 12km away from the accused's home in Scotsburn. Detectives started to close in on Samantha Murphy's alleged killer two weeks ago when they launched a targeted search in the area where they now believe was where she was murdered Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, (centre) from the nearby suburb of Scotsburn was on Thursday charged with her alleged murder 'We will be alleging that murder occurred at Mount Clear on the day she disappeared,' Mr Patton said. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Father of Sam Murphy reveals the way he found out about her alleged murderer's arrest Advertisement Two weeks earlier on February 22, police launched a new high-profile ground search in the Mount Clear area following a breakthrough in mobile phone data which led them there, they said at the time. Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad led the 'targeted search' of bush around Mount Clear, south of the Canadian Forest where Ms Murphy regularly ran. Mount Clear is closer to the phone tower in Buninyong which was said to have registered a ping from Ms Murphy's mobile phone at about 5pm on the day she vanished. A significant number of detectives, including from the sex crimes, counter-terror, fraud and armed robbery divisions joined local police in the hunt. Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt had also earlier raised the possibility that Ms Murphy's body may have been moved from the Mount Clear area. Commissioner Patton was tight-lipped on Friday when asked how Ms Murphy was allegedly murdered, but he did rule out one theory. When asked by a reporter whether Ms Murphy's death was the result of a hit-and-run, he said: 'No.' Detectives were seen scouring the Mount Clear area on February 23. The area is where police believe Ms Murphy was killed He also refused to say whether the alleged killing had any sexual element. 'I will not canvass any details to do with the evidence in respect of the murder,' Mr Patton said. However, Commissioner Patton did say it will be alleged that Ms Murphy's alleged killing was a 'deliberate attack'. Samantha Murphy left her Ballarat home at 7am February 4 to go for a run in the nearby state forest and did not return home. Police launched a major new ground search after phone data led them to a specific area of bushland 6km from where she was last seen The 22-year-old accused has allegedly not disclosed where Ms Murphy's body is, police said. It was revealed at the start of the week that police were examining data from nearby phone towers in a bid to work out who else was in the Mount Clear area in the hours during and after Ms Murphy went running. At this stage, it is unclear if they have any other evidence, whether it's CCTV footage or witness sightings, that place the suspect in the area at the relevant time. Commissioner Patton said police were able to make an arrest due to 'painstaking detective work with greater assistance from the public'. 'He's been located through a range of investigative outcomes that have come together and as you are aware we have been pinging phones and following up on investigation reports from members of the public,' Mr patton said. Police are yet to reveal details on how Ms Murphy was allegedly murdered 'We have done ground searches, we have done doorknocks so it's a whole range of information that has come together.' Whatever they discovered eventually led them to the Scotsburn home of Stephenson on Wednesday morning. He is due to face court again in August. Britain has no credible plan to fund the Armed Forces the country wants, a damning report concludes today. The military is facing a record shortfall between what is expected of it and what the Ministry of Defence can afford, leaving the country reliant on allies at a time of escalating global threats. A funding 'black hole' of up to 29 billion was identified by the influential public accounts committee (PAC) the day after the Chancellor failed to find any money in his Budget for defence. The staggering deficit between the MoD budget and the cost of the UK's desired military capabilities has ballooned to 16.9 billion the widest gap on record, MPs on the committee found. But they said the true figure could be closer to 29 billion because the Army 'could need around 12 billion more' as its accounts excluded certain costings. The military is facing a record shortfall between what is expected of it and what the Ministry of Defence can afford, leaving the country reliant on allies at a time of escalating global threats (stock image) A funding 'black hole' of up to 29 billion was identified by the influential public accounts committee (PAC) the day after the Chancellor (pictured) failed to find any money in his Budget for defence Despite Britain facing a gathering storm of a possible war with Russia, a widening conflict in the Middle East and the rising threat of China, Jeremy Hunt has refused to commit to a significant rise (pictured: Russia's president Vladimir Putin) MPs accused defence officials and ministers of having no plans to pay for armoured vehicles, warships and jets, and of relying on good luck in their calculations. They warned this left the country in an 'alarming place'. The Daily Mail today launches a campaign, Don't Leave Britain Defenceless, calling on ministers to increase funding for the Armed Forces in response to the growing threats around the world. The shocking report into the MoD's Equipment Plan the gap between the price of kit and what the services can afford piles further pressure on the Chancellor to perform a U-turn on defence spending. Despite Britain facing a gathering storm of a possible war with Russia, a widening conflict in the Middle East and the rising threat of China, Jeremy Hunt has refused to commit to a significant rise. And it comes as French president Emmanuel Macron warned that the West could be forced to step in to protect Ukraine. There was widespread dismay on Wednesday when the Budget failed to include a cash boost for the Armed Forces. Mr Hunt has maintained it would be financially imprudent to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP. But this claim was rubbished by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which said he could have afforded it. Director Paul Johnson said: 'Remarkably, Mr Hunt stuck with the claim that he wants defence spending to rise to 2.5 per cent of national income 'as soon as economic conditions allow'. 'Well, economic conditions allowed a 10 billion cut in NICs (National Insurance contributions) this year. So they could have allowed a 10 billion increase in defence spending instead. That would have just about met the target. Actions speak louder than words.' The PAC warned that without such a commitment, major equipment programmes would have to be axed a move which could leave troops more vulnerable in combat scenarios. The Daily Mail today launches a campaign, Don't Leave Britain Defenceless, calling on ministers to increase funding for the Armed Forces in response to the growing threats around the world (stock image) The shocking report into the MoD's Equipment Plan the gap between the price of kit and what the services can afford piles further pressure on the Chancellor (pictured) to perform a U-turn on defence spending Personnel of 40 Commando Brigade and the Joint Force Head Quarters deployed to Cyprus in support of an operation to remove personnel from Sudan in 2023 Committee chairman Dame Meg Hillier said: 'In an increasingly volatile world, the Ministry of Defence's lack of a credible plan to deliver fully funded military capability as desired by the Government leaves us in an alarming place. 'Despite a budget increase, this year's plan shows a clear deterioration in affordability. 'The MoD must get a better grip or it won't be able to deliver the military capabilities our country needs.' Labour defence spokesman John Healey said: 'Conservative ministers might talk a good game on defence but this report is more proof of their failure to deal with deep problems in the MoD. 'With war in Europe and conflict in the Middle East, ministers risk leaving our Armed Forces without the equipment they need to fight and fulfil our Nato obligations.' The PAC said gaps in military capabilities had left the UK more reliant on its allies to protect its interests and had 'undermined' the credibility of the Army, Navy and Air Force. MPs also pointed to recruitment issues with targets for new troops being missed by a third and as many as three people leaving the Services for every new recruit. Meanwhile, the UK's enemies are militarising their economies, manufacturing weapons at unprecedented rates and ploughing funds into their armies. The defence select committee has issued a demand for Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to appear before its members as soon as possible to discuss the funding crisis. Last night, the MoD said: 'Our Armed Forces stand ready to protect the UK and as a leading contributor to Nato we continue to defend our national interests and those of our allies. 'We are delivering the capabilities our Forces need significantly increasing spending on defence equipment to 288.6 billion over the next decade, including a new procurement model and confirming our aspiration to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence.' Families of hostages in Gaza have blamed 'cancel culture' for the silence of prominent women on the matter of their release. A 'Bring Back Our Girls' campaign has been launched for 19 women who remain in captivity, in a nod to the slogan that called for the return of girls taken by Boko Haram jihadists ten years ago. Feminist icons, including former First Lady Michelle Obama and actress Angelina Jolie, previously rallied to the cause of the captured Nigerians. But aside from UK figures including Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt and Countdown maths whizz Rachel Riley, the A-listers who fell over each other to pose with 'Bring Back Our Girls' signs in 2014 have stayed silent. First Lady Michelle Obama previously rallied to the cause of the captured Nigerians But aside from UK figures including Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, the A-listers who fell over each other to pose with 'Bring Back Our Girls' signs in 2014 have stayed silent Naama Levy (L) and Agam Berger (R) were snatched and remain in captivity Gili Roman, 39, whose sister-in-law Carmel Gat, also 39, is among the 19 female captives, said: 'I am 100 per cent sure that Michelle Obama thinks it is wrong to take hostages. 'So the only question is why doesn't she talk about it? 'What I've learned from my visits in the US is the level of cancel culture. It's basically a bullying tactic to keep people quiet, and it works.' Ashley Waxman Bakshi, 38, whose 19-year-old cousin Agam Berger is a captive, also told of her pain over celebrities ignoring their cause. 'It's disappointing, frustrating and actually frightening to see the hypocrisy of celebrities worldwide,' she said. 'They were quick to recognise that it's never OK to kidnap innocent people when it was done in Nigeria, but continue to fail to condemn it when it is done to Israelis.' The image of the former First Lady holding a banner helped send the 2014 campaign viral. But her response to the hostage crisis in Gaza has disappointed many Israeli families. Yoni Levy, 52, whose daughter Naama was snatched on October 7, has previously spoken of his anguish, given that the 19-year-old idolises Mrs Obama. He told the New York Post: 'Why has she, and all these other famous women Naama looked up to, and all of the human rights organisations she believed in, stayed silent about what has happened to my Naama and all the other girls?' Ms Mordaunt yesterday told Parliament: 'We cannot let these poor women and girls suffer what they must be suffering a moment longer.' Ms Riley also shared the slogan online to mark 150 days since the kidnappings. Hamas yesterday announced it was withdrawing from ceasefire talks as it stuck to demands for Israel to withdraw from Gaza. An Idaho man faces criminal charges after his heartbroken ex-girlfriend accused him of fatally shooting her beloved horse after they ended their relationship. Shawn Brayden Jones, 24, had recently broken up with Mailee Cooper, 22, and her 12-year-old horse Bree had been staying on his property. Cooper had raised the horse since she was just three years old. Jones allegedly told police the horse had not 'been fed or taken care of' and wasn't of any use, so 'he needed to put it down.' Jones claimed he shot the horse four times with a lever-action .22-rifle, according to the East Idaho News. After the horse's death, Cooper posted a heartbreaking tribute online and noted Bree 'wasnt just my best friend she was my faithful companion and protector.' An Idaho man faces criminal charges after his heartbroken ex-girlfriend accused him of fatally shooting her beloved horse multiple times after they had ended their relationship Shawn Brayden Jones, 24, had recently broken up with Mailee Cooper, 22, and her 12-year-old horse Bree had been staying on his property He said no one had visited the horse since January 31, a full six days before police arrived to question him. On February 6, sheriff's deputies in Bingham County met with Jones after a call for help. Deputies claimed Jones smelled of alcohol and 'the smell grew has he spoke more.' He 'stammered and was unable to describe what exactly was wrong' when they asked why the horse was unwell. When deputies went out back to photograph the horse, they found that other than having been shot, 'the horse appeared to be in good health' and 'there were no signs of malnourishment or neglect.' A family member spoke to the deputy privately and admitted Jones 'was out of control' and 'did not need to shoot the horse,' recommending he be charged. The deputy said to the man that there had been 'no logical reason for his first step to be to shoot the animal' and wondered why he never called animal control if the horse was in bad shape. Cooper was contacted a few hours later and said she had been at the property to see the horse hours earlier and that a friend even fed it on February 2. She was 'adamant the horse was not mistreated at all.' She added Jones was drinking and had been 'irate' over their breakup, which led her to go find a truck and trailer to pick the horse up. Jones allegedly told police that the horse had not 'been fed or taken care of' and wasn't of any use, so 'he needed to put it down' Cooper told police said she had been at the property to see the horse hours before it was shot She added Jones was drinking and had been 'irate' over their breakup, which led her to go find a truck and trailer to pick the horse up Cooper, while driving to go get the trailer, was called by the relative of Jones to say he'd shot Bree. She said the horse was worth $10,000 and had been registered with the American Quarter Horse Association. Jones reportedly admitted to shooting the horse after Cooper had come to visit and was offering to pay half what the horse was worth. Deputies eventually subjected Jones to a breathalyzer test, where he registered over double the legal driving limit. After the horse's death, Cooper wrote a tear-jerking remembrance for Bree on her Facebook page. 'The loss of my horse is a profound sorrow that weighs heavy on my heart,' she wrote. Cooper wrote a tear-jerking remembrance for Bree on her Facebook page 'She wasnt just my best friend she was my faithful companion and protector. The pain of her passing is intensified by the knowledge that she saved my life, bravely stepping in harms way and taking a bullet for me,' Cooper said Cooper hopes the justice system will give her retribution for her beloved horse's death 'She wasnt just my best friend she was my faithful companion and protector. The pain of her passing is intensified by the knowledge that she saved my life, bravely stepping in harms way and taking a bullet for me. Her selfless act of heroism is a testament to the deep bond we shared, a bond forged through countless hours of trust and companionship.' Cooper told reporters that Bree had 'pretty much took a bullet for me' and that she wants justice. A GoFundMe has been started by a friend of Cooper to help her raise the cash to buy a new horse. Jones remains incarcerated on $30,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for him on March 13. A conviction could see Jones face up to five years in prison. President Joe Biden will urge Congress on Thursday night to introduce sweeping tax hikes on billionaires and corporations to make sure they 'pay their fair share'. The proposals include raising the corporate minimum tax for companies worth more than $1 billion to 21 percent, up from the 15 percent that went into effect last year. The president will also call for a 25 percent tax on individuals with wealth of more than $100 million and the abolition of tax deductions on corporate jets. Biden has insisted that his plans will not increase taxes for Americans making less than $400,000. But those not in the top one percent of American earners could still feel pinch. DailyMail.com has spoken to experts about Biden's bold tax scheme and whether they believe it will impact the middle class. White House officials said Biden would preview the steps that will be part of a proposed fiscal 2025 budget released next week that aims to cut the federal deficit by $3 trillion while cutting taxes for low-income Americans David Williams, president of the conservative Taxpayers Protection Alliance, warned when Biden brags about the economy, he will call for increases which will hurt taxpayers, consumers and businesses. 'Bidens Robin Hood approach of taxing the rich to give to the poor will backfire when companies raise prices to accommodate for the tax increases because we all know that companies will pass those increases to consumers,' he said. According to White House officials, the steps are part of his proposed 2025 budget which will be released next week and are aimed at reducing federal deficits by $3 trillion over the next decade. At the same time, the president continues to call for reversing parts of the 2017 Republican tax law passed under President Donald Trump. Biden wants to raise the corporate tax rate to 28 percent, up from its current 21 percent but still below the 35 percent it was before the GOP law passed. 'Raising the corporate rate will also incentivize companies to leave the country, thereby threatening thousands of American jobs,' said Williams. Garrett Watson from the Tax Foundation, a center-right nonprofit, said the likely proposals by the president are in line with the approach they've seen over the past few years, which have largely not earned political support. The Tax Foundation found raising the corporate tax rate to 28 percent would end up reducing growth by 0.7 percent. Both the Tax Foundation and Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) estimated it would raise revenue by $1.3 trillion. Biden would extend child tax credits and not raise taxes on anyone earning under $400,000 Tax cuts introduced and passed under Donald Trump run out in 2025 But the ITEP, a more liberal leaning non-partisan organization, has argued that claims in favor of a lower rate are weak and based on a misunderstanding of how corporations respond to tax changes. They claim corporate tax cuts largely benefit shareholders and have been used for stock buybacks not investing and jobs creation. The ITEP previously found that, in the first five years after the corporate tax rate was set at 21 percent, Fortune 500 companies and S&P 500 companies that were consistently profitable during that period were actually paying much less. Due to tax breaks and loopholes they were effectively paying a rate of 14.1 percent. They have been impacted by Biden's corporate minimum tax of 15 percent and that would go up under the president's newest proposal. Biden will also renew his 'billionaire tax' proposal, which is actually significantly below that level. It imposes a 25 percent minimum tax on income for those Americans with wealth of over $100 million. Biden is targeting tax breaks on corporate jets According to Howard Gleckman, senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, the proposal to further tax the very wealthiest Americans would not have much impact on everyday Americans. 'There might be sort of an indirect effect in that those very very rich people might make fewer investments on the margin,' he said. 'And to the degree they make fewer investments it would create less demand for stock and reduce stock prices. 'But I can't imagine it would have very much effect on the average American stock investment,' he added. The average American worker paid about 25 percent tax in 2022, the OECD reports. White House research found the wealthiest individuals paid about 8 percent from 2010 to 2018. At the same time, Biden will also call for Congress to approve far stricter limits on business income deductions for executive pay, limiting them to $1 million for any given employee. Current law already prohibits deductions on compensation for chief executive officers, chief financial officers and other key positions. White House officials said the new proposal would cover all employees paid more than $1 million, and raise over $250 billion in new corporate tax revenue over 10 years. ITEP estimates the move would have a $270 billion impact over ten years but warned more details are needed to understand exactly what the president is proposing. Biden will also go after business income deductions for the use of corporate jets, an area already targeted for audits by the Internal Revenue Service. This includes extending the depreciation period for corporate jets to seven years, the same as commercial aircraft, from five years currently. That will reducing the annual deductions on jets, an administration official said. What would have the greatest immediate impact on average Americans is whether Biden and Republicans can reach a deal as many of the tax cuts passed in 2017 are set to expire at the end of 2025. Biden will pledge to extend Trump-era tax cuts for those earning under $400,000, call for restoring a COVID-era expansion of the Child Tax Credit that paid eligible families up to $3,600 a year per child, and increase a tax credit for low-wage workers. Republicans by contrast want to extend all provisions in the Trump law includin tax cuts for those above the $400,000 threshold. No matter what new corporate tax proposals or 'billionaire' taxes the president proposes, they are not going to pass in Congress. 'Clearly what Biden is trying to do is distinguish his tax agenda from Trump's tax agenda,' said Gleckman. However, Trump has not laid out his future tax agenda. What he has talked about as he campaigns to return to the White House is tariffs. He has talked about raising them by as much as 60 percent on Chinese goods. Such a move would have a substantial impact on Americans' purchasing power. Sexists and bullies in the City of London are operating with 'impunity', a damning report by MPs warns today. The Treasury select committee found a 'shocking' prevalence of sexual harassment and bullying within finance, which it said 'holds back progress for women'. The culture remains largely unchanged since a previous investigation was published in 2018, the MPs claim. Evidence given to the committee highlights the widespread misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and poor whistleblowing procedure. The report found companies regularly use legally binding contracts to 'cover up' abuse and to make problems 'go away', while HR teams tend to prioritise the reputation of the business over the wellbeing of staff. The Treasury select committee found a 'shocking' prevalence of sexual harassment and bullying within finance, which it said 'holds back progress for women' Evidence given to the committee highlights the widespread misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and poor whistleblowing procedure MPs warn this underpins a common view that male perpetrators of harassment suffer few consequences because of their behaviour. They cite the experience of one woman, who says that she was pushed to leave her job after reporting her manager for putting his hand up her skirt, while her boss kept his job. 'Not now, Stacey' banker whose pay fell behind men's Stacey Macken won more than 2million after being subjected to a campaign of sexist abuse, including being called 'sexy' and having a witch's hat left on her desk. The City banker sued French bank BNP Paribas after she was belittled by her boss, who kept telling her 'not now, Stacey', a phrase he used so often that colleagues copied it. Stacey Macken sued French bank BNP Paribas after she was belittled by her boss The 120,000-a-year finance specialist claimed that over a four-year period she received hundreds of thousands of pounds less than her male peers in salary and bonuses, and after she complained, managers targeted her with unfair treatment. Ms Macken won 2,081,449 after suing the international bank in 2022 reportedly one of the largest awards ever made by a British tribunal. Having previously been a vice-president at Deutsche Bank, Ms Macken was hired by BNP Paribas in 2013. She later learned that a man with the same job title and responsibilities as her was being paid a 160,000 salary. Advertisement The report comes just weeks after a survey from the same committee found that taking maternity leave is perceived as more damaging to a woman's career than sexual misconduct allegations are for men. The findings also follow a string of recent scandals including accusations of sexual harassment and assault levelled by women against fund manager Crispin Odey, as well as sexual misconduct allegations at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Although the committee notes there has been some improvement in the industry, including better representation of women in senior positions and a small reduction in the average gender pay gap, it warns progress is still too slow. 'As in 2018, the overarching problem behind all these issues is that of impunity for perpetrators and culture, and the limited progress since 2018 can largely be ascribed to a lack of cultural change in the sector,' the report says. 'The era of impunity for perpetrators of sexual harassment and bullies must now end.' The committee is calling for a ban on the use of NDAs in harassment cases, as well for the Government to legislate for stronger protections for whistleblowers in sexual harassment cases. In December, minister for women Kemi Badenoch confirmed that the Government was looking into 'an elegant solution' for preventing the misuse of NDAs more widely. In a statement, Harriett Baldwin, chairman of the Treasury committee, said: 'The UK's financial services sector is the crown jewel of this country's economy admired by the international community and takes pride in being ahead of the curve. 'That's why it's frustrating that efforts to tackle sexism in the City are moving at a snail's pace.' Gwen Rhys, founder of campaign group Women in the City, said: 'I welcome the call for greater transparency in all matters relating to the sexual harassment of women. It's hard to believe that this is still happening nearly a quarter of the way into the 21st century.' MPs also recommended that companies should be banned from asking for salary histories to help tackle the gender pay gap. They also advised that the Government should introduce a legal requirement to list salary bands when advertising a job. At the moment, only companies with more than 250 employees have to publish an annual report into their gender pay gaps. The MPs said that this requirement should be reduced to 50 employees for firms in the financial services sector. Companies that record wide gender pay gaps should then be forced to explain why these exist and publish an action plan, the MPs added. FILE - This Jan. 15, 2020, image taken from dashboard camera video released by the Connecticut State Police, shows Trooper Brian North, left, after he discharged his weapon beside a vehicle stopped in West Haven, Conn. North testified in his defense Friday, March 8, 2024, that he believed he had to open fire because the man was armed with a knife and made threatening movements toward other officers.(Connecticut State Police via AP, File) AP Connecticut State Trooper Brian North testifies during his trial in Connecticut Superior Court, Friday, March 8, 2024, in Milford, Conn. North is charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020 in West Haven after a chase from Norwalk on Interstate 95. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool) Ned Gerard/AP Connecticut State Trooper Brian North testifies during his trial in Connecticut Superior Court, Friday, March 8, 2024, in Milford, Conn. North is charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020 in West Haven after a chase from Norwalk on Interstate 95. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool) Ned Gerard/AP Defense attorney Frank Riccio, left, listens as lead prosecuting attorney Robert Devlin, right, during Connecticut State Trooper Brian North's trial in Connecticut Superior Court, Friday, March 8, 2024, in Milford, Conn. North is charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020 in West Haven after a chase from Norwalk on Interstate 95. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool) Ned Gerard/AP Defense attorney Frank Riccio questions his client defendant Connecticut State Trooper Brian North as he testifies during his trial in Connecticut Superior Court, Friday, March 8, 2024, in Milford, Conn. North is charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020 in West Haven after a chase from Norwalk on Interstate 95. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool) Ned Gerard/AP Lead prosecuting attorney Robert Devlin cross examines defendant Connecticut State Trooper Brian North as he testifies during his trial in Connecticut Superior Court, Friday, March 8, 2024, in Milford, Conn. North is charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020 in West Haven after a chase from Norwalk on Interstate 95. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool) Ned Gerard/AP Defendant Connecticut State Trooper Brian North testifies during his trial in Connecticut Superior Court, Friday, March 8, 2024, in Milford, Conn. North is charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020 in West Haven after a chase from Norwalk on Interstate 95. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool) Ned Gerard/AP Defendant Connecticut State Trooper Brian North stands in the witness stand prior to resuming testimony in his trial in Connecticut Superior Court, Friday, March 8, 2024, in Milford, Conn. North is charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020 in West Haven after a chase from Norwalk on Interstate 95. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool) Ned Gerard/AP Connecticut State Trooper Brian North, foreground,a nswers questions from his defense attorney Frank Riccio as he testifies during his trial in Connecticut Superior Court, Friday, March 8, 2024, in Milford, Conn. North is charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020 in West Haven after a chase from Norwalk on Interstate 95. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool) Ned Gerard/AP Lead prosecuting attorney Robert Devlin cross examines defendant Connecticut State Trooper Brian North as he testifies during his trial in Connecticut Superior Court, Friday, March 8, 2024, in Milford, Conn. North is charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020 in West Haven after a chase from Norwalk on Interstate 95. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool) Ned Gerard/AP Defense attorney Frank Riccio questions his client defendant Connecticut State Trooper Brian North as he testifies during his trial in Connecticut Superior Court, Friday, March 8, 2024, in Milford, Conn. North is charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020 in West Haven after a chase from Norwalk on Interstate 95. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool) Ned Gerard/AP A Connecticut state trooper who shot a 19-year-old man to death in a stolen car in 2020 testified in his defense Friday that he believed he had to open fire because the man was armed with a knife and made threatening movements toward other officers. Trooper Brian North, 33, took the stand on the fifth day of his trial in Milford, Connecticut, on a charge of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm. He fatally shot Mubarak Soulemane in West Haven on Jan. 15, 2020, after a high-speed chase, with police radio reports that Soulemane had earlier committed a carjacking and was armed with knife. North, Trooper Joshua Jackson and a West Haven police officer surrounded the stolen car after it crashed into another vehicle after exiting Interstate 95. The West Haven officer broke the passenger side window, and Jackson fired his Taser at Soulemane, which didn't work. Advertisement Article continues below this ad North, who pleaded not guilty, fired his handgun seven times through the driver's window at close range when he said Soulemane pulled out a knife and turned toward to the other officers. He said he thought the other officers were trying to get into the car and were in danger. The shooting happened less than a minute after police got out of their cruisers and approached the car. Its almost like an oh my God feeling. This is happening, while the West Haven officer Im thinking is in the window (because) I can't see him," North testified in his first public comments about the shooting. "And I was afraid that he was going to be stabbed in the face or the neck, which obviously can be a fatal injury. . I felt that I had to act in that moment or the West Haven officer, even potentially Trooper Jackson, could have been killed. Under questioning by his lawyer, Frank Riccio II, North said he still thinks about the shooting every day and loses sleep over it. He said it was a difficult experience to live with, given that he became a trooper to try to help people. Right after shots were fired, theres not really any training you can do to mentally prepare yourself for that," he said. "And I remember immediately after that happened, it was just a horrible feeling that comes over you, (because) you train for having that possibility because you know this is a dangerous job. But you never actually think that something like that will ever happened to you. Advertisement Article continues below this ad State Inspector General Robert Devlin, who investigates all uses of deadly force by police in Connecticut, filed the manslaughter charge against North, alleging the shooting was not justified because neither North nor the other officers at the scene were in imminent danger from Soulemane. He also said officers made no attempt to de-escalate the situation. In his cross-examination of North, Devlin said officers had the car boxed in, the car's windows were up and Soulemane was sitting in the driver's seat not moving when officers ran up to the car. Officers' body camera video also showed neither officer on the other side of the car appeared to try to enter it. In fact, now that youve seen all the videos and heard the testimony of those officers, in fact there was no danger to anybody outside the car ... correct?" Devlin asked North. Not from what I could see now and after hearing testimony. But what Im perceiving at the time is that there was danger, North said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Devlin said in his questioning that the officers could have tried to talk to Soulemane on their cruiser PA systems instead of rushing to the car and escalating the events. North acknowledged other actions were possible. But he testified earlier that de-escalation and communication did not appear to be possible at first because Soulemane seemed unconscious initially. After the passenger-door window was broken, Soulemane became alert and pulled out the knife, a series of events that happened within seconds and forced North to respond, North said. North also acknowledged that firing his weapon could have seriously injured the officers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad North was the first witness of the defense's case. Devlin rested the state's case on Thursday. To find North guilty, the six-person jury must find beyond a reasonable doubt that he killed Soulemane in extreme indifference to human life and his conduct was reckless, according to state law. First-degree manslaughter with a firearm carries up to 40 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years behind bars. Soulemanes mother, sister and girlfriend were the first people to testify at the trial on Monday. They said he had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and his mental health problems appeared to be worsening in the days before the shooting. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police said the series of events on Jan. 15, 2020, began when Soulemane displayed the knife at an AT&T store in Norwalk, and he unsuccessfully tried to steal a cellphone. The NYC fire chief blasted the hecklers as embarrassments and not fit to wear the uniform New York Attorney-General Letitia James has been booed by unruly firefighters who shouted Donald Trump's name as she gave a speech. James was speaking at a New York Fire Department promotion ceremony Thursday and the jeers began before she even took the stage. No sooner than she was announced as the next speaker at Christian Cultural Center's Brooklyn Campus, the boos were mixed in with cheers. 'Come on, we're in a house of God... simmer down... thank you for getting it out of your system,' she said, before beginning her speech. James was speaking weeks after she won a $355 million judgment against Trump for inflating the value of his properties. He was also banned from business in New York for three years. The small, but noisy, section of the crowd did not simmer down, continuing to boo for another minute - then loudly chanting Trump's name. Eventually, the hecklers ran out of steam, until James ad-libbed her speech as she thanked the firefighters who tried to save her mother, who died of breast cancer. 'Pray for those firefighters who stood with me when my mother was dying, and they worked on her for an hour in my house, not knowing who I was,' she said. 'I thank those members of FDNY who worked on her body and prayed over her body when she died. Some may even be here. Some might even be booing me. But nonetheless, I pray for them.' That comment set off another round of booing alongside cheers from better-behaved sections of the audience. New York Attorney-General Letitia James has been booed by unruly firefighters who shouted Donald Trump 's name as she gave a speech The firefighters were jeering James for her successful lawsuit that ended with a $355 million judgment against Trump FDNY chief John Hodgens blasted the firefighters who heckled James at the ceremony for distracting from the event. 'Today's ceremony was about one thing: the accomplishments of the members being promoted,' he said. 'The members whose behavior distracted from that celebration were an embarrassment and not befitting of the world's best fire department.' James' office declined to comment. Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump and his sons Eric and Donald Jr of civil fraud in the case spearheaded by James. He ruled they conspired to inflate the value of properties on financial statements to banks and insurers, and altered Trump's net worth to gain tax and insurance benefits. 'From 2011-2021, Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization knowingly and intentionally created more than 200 false and misleading valuations of assets on his annual Statements of Financial Condition to defraud financial institutions,' James office explained in 2022. Trump made a rare appearance at the trial on October 3, and learned how much he would have to pay last month James speaks outside a Manhattan courthouse on the day of the start of the trial Independent officials will monitor Trump's businesses in New York to ensure no further lawbreaking. Trump has appealed the ruling, but faces mounting interest of $1 million every nine days until he pays up, and his assets could be seized if he doesn't. A Brooklyn firefighter told the New York Post the heckling was directly related to the lawsuit, which he claimed was a 'witch hunt'. 'She has no problem, bragging that she convicted Trump, so this is how hard-working New Yorkers, who put their life on the line, feel about her actions,' he said. Trump's election campaign countered that James was 'an embarrassment to the people of New York' and that's why she was heckled. 'The rank and file of the FDNY know they have no greater friend than president Trump. The president is honored by, and grateful for their very vocal support,' it said. The ceremony honored 65 firefighters and civilian support staff who were promoted, and Reverend Pamela Holmes, who was appointed chaplain. A federal judge has Donald Trump's effort to delay enforcement of an $83 million jury award against him in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, leaving the former president just three days to raise the cash or post bond. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled against Trump's effort to push off the enforcement deadline, while the former president faces an even more staggering sum following a judge's order against him in his Manhattan fraud case. That boosts the staggering pressure on Trump to line up an acceptable bond during his expected appeal. Kaplan said Trump had only himself to blame. 'Mr. Trump's current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions,' he wrote Thursday. 'He has had since January 26 to organize his finances with the knowledge that he might need to bond this judgment, yet he waited until 25 days after the jury verdict ... to file his prior motion for an unsecured or partially secured stay pending resolution of post-trial motions.' A judge is giving former President Trump three days to raise $83 million or a secure a bond in the E. Jean Carroll case after he sought a delay following a January 26 jury award The legal and financial challenge comes just a day after Trump cleared his last major challenger to the Republican presidential nomination when Nikki Haley dropped out of the race. The financial penalties against him pending appeals in the pair of civil cases present Trump's most immediate legal challenge against Trump, after the Supreme Court's intervention in his January 6 case raised the prospect it could get delayed until after the election, and his criminal prosecution in Georgia was up in the air following stunning revelations about a 'romantic relationship' Fulton County DA Fani Willis had with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Trump faces a staggering order to pay $464 million in penalties in interest in his New York fraud case, a sum Trump appears unable to raise after his lawyers offered to provide less than one quarter of the amount. Trump'a lawyers called that fine 'exorbitant and punitive' and persuaded a judge to back down from lending restrictions. 'The exorbitant and punitive amount of the Judgment coupled with an unlawful and unconstitutional blanket prohibition on lending transactions would make it impossible to secure and post a complete bond,' his team wrote in filing to Judge Arthur Engoron. Carroll called Trump the 'least trustworthy of borrowers' 'Mr. Trump's current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions,' Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote Thursday. In the Jan. 26 verdict in the Carroll case, jurors agreed with the writer, a former Elle magazine advice columnist, that Trump had defamed her in June 2019 by denying he had raped her in the mid-1990s in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan. Kaplan made the verdict official on Feb. 8, and gave Trump 30 days to post a bond or come up with cash during his appeal, which is expected to challenge the jury's finding of liability and the amount of damages. Trump had sought to delay enforcement of the verdict until the judge ruled on his motions to throw it out, which he filed on Tuesday. But the judge said Trump should not have waited 25 days after the verdict before seeking a delay. He also said Trump failed to show how he might suffer 'irreparable injury' if required to post a bond. 'Mr. Trump's current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions,' the judge wrote. Lawyers and a spokeswoman for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Carroll's lawyer Roberta Kaplan, who is not related to the judge, declined to comment. In seeking to avoid posting a big bond, or any bond at all, lawyers for Trump rejected Carroll's claim that his finances were strained. They assured that Carroll was 'fully protected,' and said a $24.5 million bond would be more than enough to 'secure any minimal risk' to her. Carroll disagreed. She said Trump's finances were opaque, called Trump the 'least trustworthy of borrowers' and said his request 'boils down to nothing more than 'trust me.'' Trump's financial flexibility deteriorated last month, when the judge who found him liable in New York Attorney General Letitia James' civil fraud case ordered him to pay $454.2 million. He offered to post a $100 million bond in that case, but James said any bond should cover the entire judgment. An appeals court judge on Feb. 28 denied Trump's request to delay enforcement during the appeal. Asked on March 5 if he could pay what was owed or post bond in both cases, Trump told Fox News: 'I have a lot of money. I can do what I want to do. ... I don't worry about the money.' Uber and Lyft say they could pull out of the city and the state by May 1 when the increase is set to start Ride hailing services Uber and Lyft have threatened to pull out of Minnesota after Minneapolis officials approved plans for a $15 minimum hourly wage for drivers. The companies warned they could cease operations by May 1, the same day the increase would start. Mayor Jacob Frey wants to veto the law, but enough of the city council voted in favor that they could override the veto. The plan, approved on Thursday, guarantees drivers $1.4 per mile and 51 cents per minute, with motorists offering wheelchair-accessible vehicles given $1.81 per mile. However Uber and Lyft say the rates would squeeze their margins too greatly and force them to double fares for riders, which would drive so many away their business model would collapse. Ride hailing services Uber and Lyft have threatened to pull out of Minnesota after Minneapolis officials approved plans for a $15 minimum hourly wage for drivers Uber and Lyft warned they could cease operations by May 1, the same day the increase would start Mayor Jacob Frey has wants to veto the law, but enough of the city council voted in favor to override the veto The Minneapolis City Council tried to pass a similar measure last year, but the mayor vetoed it. Council members did not have enough votes to override his veto then. The state legislature also tried to pass a driver pay plan, though it was vetoed by Governor Tim Walz amid pushback from the platforms. 'For the second time in less than a year, the bill-sponsors have willfully chosen to ignore offers to collaborate, instead choosing to rush through the most extreme figures possible,' a statement from Lyft reads. 'We implore Mayor Frey to veto this legislation and instead join our efforts to pass a statewide minimum earnings standard that can balance the needs of all. Otherwise, we will no longer be able to operate in the city once the bill takes effect on May 1.' Uber also issued a comment saying it, 'supports comprehensive statewide legislation that guarantees drivers $35/hr minimum earnings while working and protects their flexibility and independence.' Many of the drivers in Minneapolis are African immigrants who have been pushing for higher wages at the state and city levels since 2022. 'We have been waiting for this for a long time. Almost two years,' said Ahmed Ahmed, one of the dozens of ride-hailing drivers who attended the meeting to see the vote and celebrate when the measure passed. Minneapolis city council members voted in favor of the plans 9-4 The plan guarantees drivers $1.4 per mile and 51 cents per minute, with motorists offering wheelchair accessible vehicles given $1.81 per mile. Pictured: A ride share driver in Minneapolis 'We implore Mayor Frey to veto this legislation and instead join our efforts to pass a statewide minimum earnings standard that can balance the needs of all. Otherwise, we will no longer be able to operate in the city once the bill takes effect on May 1,' Lyft stated Matthew McGlory, who has driven more than 10,000 rides, welcomed the decision and told the Star Tribune that even with a tip, he ends up earning less than half the price the app shows to riders. 'Why should we let the big corporations make all the money when we as little people make nothing?' Driver Marianna Brown asked. It was a position reflected among council members who voted in favor 9-4. 'If employers leave because they are paying sub-minimum wages and companies step in who pay minimum wages, I believe that's a win for our city,' Council Member Jason Chavez said. Prior to the vote, Frey had urged the council to wait for the publication of a state report that would help explain how much drivers are paid, something which is hard to pin down due to dynamic pricing. Frey had been advocating a minimum payment of $1.20 per mile and 35 cents per minute. However this demand fell short and the vote proceeded. More than 300 drivers signed an online petition opposing the pay increase. However, those at the vote hailed the decision as 'historic'. Other opponents to the plan include hospitality leaders and some in the disability community who rely on ride share platforms. Seattle and New York City have passed similar policies in recent years that increase wages for ride-hailing drivers, but Uber and Lyft still operate in those cities. Post Office boss Nick Read was yesterday accused of giving 'misleading' evidence to MPs as they called for the firm to be stripped of its role in delivering compensation to victims of the Horizon IT scandal. A report by the Commons business committee suggested Mr Read, who is under internal investigation over his conduct, misled MPs on 'at least two counts'. These included the use of gagging orders and whether the Post Office had hired PR specialists to help deal with the crisis engulfing the firm. The report branded the Post Office 'not fit for purpose' to administer payouts to postmasters. It called on the Government to immediately step in and remove the Post Office from 'any involvement in delivering redress' amid reports of a 'toxic' culture. Post Office boss Nick Read was yesterday accused of giving 'misleading' evidence to MPs It branded the beleaguered firm's leadership as being in 'utter disarray' amid claim and counter-claim about alleged bullying and sexism. The Post Office runs two compensation schemes and plays a key role in administering a third. READ MORE: Falsely accused subpostmistress Jo Hamilton settles with the Post Office over Horizon IT scandal - but admits the figure is less than she hoped for Advertisement In one particularly damning passage, the report said: 'The Post Office is not fit for purpose to administer any of the schemes of redress required to make amends for one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history.' Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongfully prosecuted after they were blamed for non-existent shortfalls in their accounts produced by faulty Fujitsu software, called Horizon. But just a fifth of the budget set aside for compensation has been paid out, the report said. It added: 'The Government must immediately remove the Post Office from any involvement in delivering redress for sub-postmasters and the Government should set out to the Committee how it proposes to deliver swift and effective redress for sub-postmasters, and in what legally binding time frames.' Last month, the committee was told that some postmasters were receiving 'insultingly low' compensation offers. Regarding evidence given in recent months by Mr Read, it added: 'Mr Read concurred that reform of the Post Office's culture is still a 'work in progress,' not 'job done.' 'In that context, we note that Mr Read has supplied misleading evidence on at least two counts, relating to the Post Office's use of, first, non-disclosure agreements and, secondly, PR firms.' Last month it emerged that the Post Office had hired PR firm TB Cardew on a 15,000 a month contract to help it deal with the fallout from the scandal. Mr Read was also forced to clarify to the committee in a letter last month whether the Post Office used confidentiality agreements in reaching settlements with wronged postmasters But, in January, Mr Read denied that the Post Office had hired PR advisers in the wake of the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. Mr Read was also forced to clarify to the committee in a letter last month whether the Post Office used confidentiality agreements in reaching settlements with wronged postmasters. He had originally said 'no' when asked by MPs if it continued using confidentiality agreements. But his letter said: 'On occasion Post Office enters into settlement agreements with postmasters, for example, to resolve disputes that may arise between Post Office and postmasters in the ordinary course of business. 'Such settlement agreements include confidentiality provisions, as is the case in most organisations.' A man who was brutally attacked by his paranoid schizophrenic cousin could have been saved if a call to the police had not been left on hold for more than 40 minutes, an inquest has heard. Killer Ashley Glennon chased his main carer, Ryan Lowry, down the street and struck him 13 times with an axe in Trafford, Greater Manchester, on February 27 2020. Glennon, then aged 32, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January 2021. Stockport Coroners' Court heard evidence from Sgt Dominic Brady, of Greater Manchester Police's professional standards branch, who investigated the way the force dealt with calls made about Glennon on the day he killed Mr Lowry. He explained how the chain of events leading to police checking on Glennon broke down and how a potential opportunity to detain him was missed when a 101 caller who tried to report the would-be killer was put on hold for 40 minutes. Ryan Lowry (pictured) was axed to death in the street by his cousin on February 27 2020 Greater Manchester Police is being investigated over how it dealt with calls made about Glennon on the day he killed Mr Lowry (pictured) Police on Moss Lane in Partington, Greater Manchester, where Mr Lowry was fatally wounded in 2020 The court heard how in the early hours of February 27, Glennon - also known as Ashley Rowen - had kicked down the door of Alan Lambert, the father of his ex-partner Ashley Lambert. In a written statement read in court by assistant coroner Adrian Farrow, Mr Lambert said he had been asleep and in the middle of a dream when he was woken by a 'really irate voice' at around 4am. Mr Lambert said he heard someone shout: 'Get down here, I'm going to take your f***ing head off.' He then heard a 'loud bang', followed by a 'smashing sound', and described the ordeal as 'carnage'. The court heard Mr Lambert obtained CCTV footage of the incident from a neighbour and showed this to his daughter, who said it was her ex-partner, Glennon. Mr Lambert had contacted GMP about the incident at 4:24am, before officers were allocated to the incident at 7:30am and arrived at his home 19 minutes later. Officers carried out door-to-door enquiries after speaking to Mr Lambert and viewed CCTV footage of the incident, but the video was deemed 'not of sufficient quality', the court heard. On the same day, Glennon followed his ex-partner Ms Lambert and her children, Mr Farrow told the inquest. Mr Farrow said: 'She had alerted the school to the fact because, in her view, he was displaying signs of being mentally unwell.' Ms Lambert called police on 101 at around 11:15am, but hung up after being put on hold for more than 40 minutes, the inquest heard. Mr Lowry was attacked on Moss Lane later that night. Mr Lowry (pictured) was killed after Ms Lambert called police on 101 at around 11:15am, but hung up after being put on hold for more than 40 minutes The officer faced questioning from Mr Farrow, the barrister for Mr Lowry's family, Sefton Kwasnik, GMP's legal representative, Lujzka Halsall-Fischel, and members of the jury, Sgt Brady explained that Ms Lambert's call should have been passed on to the force's control centre. He told the court that from that moment, police would have prioritised her safety, and the safety of her children. They would have taken further details from Ms Lambert about the incident and about Glennon. Sgt Brady told the court that 'based on the information' available to him, he would have expected a welfare check to have been carried out on Glennon, within 'three or four hours'. Sgt Brady said: 'There would be no point in GMP declaring that it has concern for welfare for an individual and then putting it off for tomorrow to deal with it.' He said that if Ms Lambert had the opportunity to tell police Glennon had targeted her father's home that morning, officers would have had 'grounds to arrest' him. The officer also explained how police could have detained Glennon under the Mental Health Act, if police felt he did not have capacity, and was outside his home at the time. The inquest has heard how Glennon had a 'long history of mental illness' - while he admitted he had not been taking his medication prior to killing Mr Lowry. The inquest continues. Greater Manchester Police said it could not comment during an ongoing judicial inquiry. An appeal has been launched by police to find a boy and his father who have gone missing from the Lake Illawarra region in NSW. Mason Simpson, aged nine, was last seen in Corkwood Street, Albion Park Rail - a suburb of Shellharbour - on Thursday February 29. He is believed to be in the company of his father, Leon. The pair might be in the Goulburn area and driving in a black Ford SUV registration CA-51-CB. Police are asking for the public's help to locate Mason Simpson (left) and his father Leon (right) Officers released pictures of a black SUV they believe the pair might be travelling in Mason has failed to attend school on a number of days with police and his family holding concerns for his welfare because of his young age. Mason is described as white, about 140cm to 145cm tall, of medium build, with shoulder length brown hair, and brown eyes. Anyone who has seen either of them or knows of their whereabouts is asked to contact police via Lake Illawarra Police Station or Crime Stoppers. Heart-stopping drone footage has captured the moment a beach-loving dog, managed to escape a crocodile lurking in the water just metres away. The nailbiting video showed the massive reptile stalking the dog as it wandered the shoreline of Loyalty Beach, near Cape York in far north Queensland on Wednesday. The dog appeared to be unaware it is was being stalked by the five-metre croc as it walked at the shoreline. The crocodile treaded the water patiently hoping to pounce on the pooch. The dog then retreated further away from the water, forcing the crocodile to lose interest in its potential meal. A drone zoomed in more closely on the reptile and showed it in an unmoving pose after the dog had moved on Aerial footage of the incident was uploaded to Instagram by photographer Jerry Ahmat. Dozens of social media users who commented on the post were left in disbelief after the pooch managed to escape. 'Spewing, I thought the dog was going to be eaten,' one user said. 'Omg get the dog away from the waters edge!!!,' another wrote. Others said the dog would have recognized the danger which is why it eventually ran away from the water's edge. 'The dog was aware of the croc,' one social media user said. 'The dog probably already knew it [crocodile] was there before it arrived,' another wrote. Heart-stopping footage has emerged of a dog that had a close encounter with a large crocodile on the shores of Loyalty Beach (pictured) in the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland Some users chimed in saying the dog should have been rescued earlier, instead of being allowed to venture close to the shore. 'Don't understand why the dog wasn't called back when the croc was spotted,' one social media user said. Mr Ahmat, however, said that beachgoers tried to call the dog back before it went close to the water. He said the pet appeared to be a stray dog as an owner was not sighted at the beach. 'We have a lot of stray dogs up here, they say it belongs to someone in Seisia,' Mr Ahmat told the Cairns Post. 'We tried our best.' Mr Ahmat was flying his DJI Mavic Air drone at the time the dog had the close encounter with the croc. He said crocodiles often make their were to the shores of the beach and surrounding areas including Seisia and off the coast at Red Island. Angela Rayner's 'refusal' to answer 'basic questions' about where she lived before being elected to Parliament 'is not being given the attention it surely warrants' after police found no evidence of wrongdoing, a Tory MP warned yesterday. James Daly asked Greater Manchester Police to look into whether Ms Rayner breached electoral law over her living arrangements following her 2010 marriage. She has denied claims she falsely registered to vote at her own former council house in Stockport while in reality living with her then husband Mark a mile away. Last night, it emerged the investigation into the allegations had been completed and found 'no evidence regarding any offences'. Angela Rayner's 'refusal' to answer 'basic questions' about where she lived before being elected to Parliament 'is not being given the attention it surely warrants', a Tory MP said James Daly asked Greater Manchester Police to look into whether Ms Rayner breached electoral law over her living arrangements following her 2010 marriage Mr Daly told the Mail: 'I'm very concerned that in a year in which we will have both a general election and local elections this matter is not being given the attention it surely warrants. 'She is steadfastly refusing to answer the extremely basic questions. It's a far cry from the standards she demands of others.' Ms Rayner was approached for comment. A Labour source said: 'Tory MPs shouldn't be wasting police time, they should be concentrating on governing.' The claims first emerged in Lord Ashcroft's forthcoming biography of Labour's deputy leader, which will be serialised in the Mail. Republican fabulist George Santos has made a dramatic return to the Capitol three months after he was expelled - and announced he will be running for Congress again. The Long Island Liar arrived in the House for President Joe Biden's State of the Union and spoke to former colleagues in the shock appearance. He said he will be launching a primary challenge against his New York Republican nemesis Nick LaLota. 'New York hasn't had a real conservative represent them since I left office arbitrarily, thanks to RINO, empty suits like [LaLota],' Santos wrote on X. LaLota launched the effort to kick Santos out of Congress. 'Pathetic little man Since you refuse to move to the district, Im coming in hot!' Santos seethed, calling him a 'Democrat RINO with an abysmal record!' Republican fabulist George Santos has made a dramatic return to the Capitol three months after he was expelled. He sat next to Lauren Boebert Santos said he will be launching a primary challenge against his New York Republican nemesis Nick LaLota. LaLota shot back on X, along with a link to donate to his campaign: 'To raise the standard in Congress, and to hold a pathological liar who stole an election accountable, I led the charge to expel George Santos. If finishing the job requires beating him in a primary, count me in.' The Constitution does not have any provisions barring expelled members from entering Congress again. Santos and LaLota have sparred for months. 'I don't like Nick LaLota. He's a traditional meathead,' Santos said in November. 'If he faces a true challenger, well funded, one person without a spoiler candidate, he might not win,' Santos continued. 'He's not well-liked. He's an arrogant person. He's not a nice guy. He's cocky. He's a traditional meathead, somebody that's not nice to you for no reason.' The ousted GOP member who fabricated most of his resume and used campaign funds on botox and OnlyFans still has privileges that mean he can get on the House floor. He joined the rest of the lawmakers who arrived ahead of the 81-year-old president's big speech. The Long Island Liar arrived in the House for President Joe Biden's State of the Union and spoke to former colleagues in the shock appearance The ousted GOP member even caught up with Democrats: Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, left, and Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., right Santos and LaLota have sparred for months. 'I don't like Nick LaLota. He's a traditional meathead,' Santos said in November The Long Island congressman, who stole donor funds to spend on OnlyFans and Botox, in December became just the sixth House member in history to be kicked out. After bombshell reports revealed Santos had made up much of his resume and personal background, the Department of Justice indicted him on 23 counts including wire fraud, money laundering and falsifying federal records. Santos has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging multiple wide-ranging fraud schemes, including the unauthorized use of credit card numbers stolen from campaign donors. Since getting the boot, Santos has taken up a lucrative career on Cameo, selling personalized videos of himself. Several hundred fired-up Pro-Palestinian protesters sat in the street to block President Joe Biden's motorcade between the White House and Capitol for his State of the Union address Thursday. A massive Palestinian flag was unfurled on the street with demonstrators sitting and standing around it and others held a banner with the message: 'Biden's legacy is genocide.' The protesters had bullhorns, held 'ceasefire' signs and wore black shirts with messages demanding Biden get tough on Israel. They were surrounded by law enforcement officials from all sides as police helicopters circled Washington, D.C. Pro-Palestine protesters stand in the middle of the street in attempts to block President Joe Biden's motorcade between the White House and Capitol for his State of the Union address on Thursday evening. Pictured: Jewish Voice for Peace activists join a pro-Palestinian protest on Pennsylvania Ave. on March 7, 2024 Pro-Palestine protesters rallied near the White House just hours before Biden's State of the Union address The stand is mostly symbolic since there are many routes to take from the White House to the Capitol that would avoid the protesters. Meanwhile, down the street another group of pro-Palestine protesters stood outside Republican Capitol Hill watering hole Bullfeathers and chanted at staffers dining and drinking ahead of the State of the Union. 'Staffers, staffers you can't hide! We charge you with Genocide,' they shouted at Hill employees and demanded they 'quit your jobs.' 'Get a job!' the Republican House staffers shouted back at the protesters interrupting their evening. Biden departed the White House at 8:50 p.m. for the short trip over to the Capitol for his third State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. There appeared to be no hiccups with the few-minute drive on Thursday evening despite the protesters. Demonstrators were sitting and marching in the middle of Pennsylvania Ave. hours before Biden departed on one of the more direct routes between the White House and Capitol. 'When I say genocide, you say Joe,' one demonstrator with a bull horn prompted the call and response chant. Progressives and pro-Palestine factions of the Democratic Party are highly critical of Biden's handling of Israel's war in Gaza after Hamas terrorists attacked the Jewish State in October. 'When I say genocide, you say Joe,' one demonstrator with a bull horn prompted the call and response chant The demonstrators projected an image of Biden's face on the side of a building with the message 'Genocide Joe' Protesters sat in the middle of the street around a Palestinian flag on the ground of Pennsylvania Ave. as they projected 'Biden's legacy is genocide' on the side of a nearby building Biden has strongly backed Israel, but lately has seen backlash for that stance. In Michigan's Democratic presidential primary last month, more than 100,000 voters cast their ballot for 'uncommitted' in protes. In his speech Biden will announce the U.S. military will constructing a temporary floating port off of Gaza to more easily send humanitarian aid to Palestinian people. The move was expected to placate disgruntled members of his own party. Hamas launched their attack on Israel October 7, 2023 and carried out the largest single-day atrocity against Jewish people since the Holocaust. Thursday marks the five-month mark of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that started that day in October. But protesters in the U.S. have accused Israel of conducting attacks against the Palestinian people. Israel maintains it is defending itself against Hamas and terrorists operating out of Palestinian enclaves. A couple of heavily armed New York National Guard soldiers patrol Grand Central terminal, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul is sending the National Guard to the New York City subway system to help police search passengers bags for weapons. Mary Altaffer/AP A couple of heavily armed New York State troopers patrol Grand Central terminal, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in New York. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced plans Wednesday to send the National Guard to the New York City subway system to help police conduct random searches of riders' bags for weapons following a series of high-profile crimes on city trains. Mary Altaffer/AP A heavily armed New York National Guard soldier stands guard at Penn Station, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in New York. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced plans Wednesday to send the National Guard to the New York City subway system to help police conduct random searches of riders' bags for weapons following a series of high-profile crimes on city trains. Mary Altaffer/AP Commuters walk past a couple of New York National Guard soldiers stand guard a the Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in New York. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced plans Wednesday to send the National Guard to the New York City subway system to help police conduct random searches of riders' bags for weapons following a series of high-profile crimes on city trains. Mary Altaffer/AP A commuter walks past a couple of New York National Guards soldiers stand guard a the Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in New York. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced plans Wednesday to send the National Guard to the New York City subway system to help police conduct random searches of riders' bags for weapons following a series of high-profile crimes on city trains. Mary Altaffer/AP Evidence markers dot the ground following a shooting in Northeast Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Four shootings over four days in Philadelphia left three dead and 12 injured, many of them children violence that put renewed focus on safety within the sprawling mass transit system and gave ammunition to critics of the city's progressive chief prosecutor. Joe Lamberti/AP NEW YORK (AP) Fear of crime on subways and buses is back as a top concern in some U.S. cities, and so are efforts to persuade public officials to take the issue seriously. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday she would task 750 members of the National Guard with helping patrol the nations busiest subway system, saying she felt New York City police need reinforcements after a shooting on a train platform and a conductor getting slashed in the neck. Pennsylvania legislators created a special prosecutor to go after crimes committed in the transit system that serves the southeast of the state. In Philadelphia, where a spate of transit-related shootings left three dead and 12 wounded, many of them high schoolers, Mayor Cherelle Parker also promised Thursday to beef up police patrols. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Enough is enough, she said on WURD radio. It remains to be seen whether such moves will have any effect on reducing crime in these massive public transit systems. Hochul acknowledged that calling in the National Guard was as much about soothing fears and making a political statement as it was about making mass transit safer. The citys subways were already safe, the Democrat reasoned, but a show of force might help dispel anxieties more than any statistic. If you feel better walking past someone in a uniform to make sure that someone doesnt bring a knife or a gun on the subway, then thats exactly why I did it, Hochul said Thursday on MSNBC. I want to change the psychology around crime in New York City. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Im also going to demonstrate that Democrats fight crime as well, she added. So this narrative that Republicans have said that were soft on crime, that we defund the police? No. Major crimes in the New York City transit system dropped nearly 3% from 2022 to 2023, with five killings last year, down from 10 the year prior, according to police. Overall, violent crime in the subway system is rare, with train cars and stations being generally as safe as any other public place. In Pennsylvania, overall crime has declined in recent years on the regional transit system, though there were six killings in 2023, up from a total of seven during the previous three years. Still, the issue of safety on buses and trains is one that keeps resonating with voters particularly as some systems recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, when passengers stayed away. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Recently its been a little unsafe. So I think they should control it before it gets out of hand, said Alan Uloa, a 43-year-old New York resident. The other day they slashed the conductor, and thats not cool. New York Republicans hammered Democrats on crime during the 2022 midterms, a message that helped the GOP capture suburban congressional seats. But heightened law enforcement presence can be a double-edged sword, said Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and the former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics. For some people, theyd like to see the added security, he said. And for other people, theyll say were overreacting. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The political tough talk can also gloss over the reality that transit crime accounts for just a tiny percentage of all crime, said Vincent Del Castillo, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former chief of New York Citys transit police. You can have 10 to 12 murders in the system when there are literally hundreds across the city, he said. But because its so rare, it gets a lot of attention. The four shootings linked to Philadelphia's bus system began Sunday, when a man was killed by another passenger shortly after they got off a bus. Two more bus-related shootings in the next two days left two more dead and four injured. Then on Wednesday eight teenagers waiting to take a city bus home after school were shot, leaving a bus riddled with bullet holes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Charles Lawson, chief of the city's transit police, vowed that officers will take an aggressive approach, using every criminal code on the book" to crack down on crime. Were going to target individuals concealing their identity, he said. Were going to target fare evasion. Were going to target open drug use. The Guard troops in New York won't be that active. Instead they have been tasked with helping police conduct random searches of bags, a practice in place for nearly two decades. Passengers have the right to refuse such searches, though if they do they are asked to leave the subway system. Guard troops can't make arrests, but if they witness a crime, they can detain someone until police arrive, just as any civilian can do. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The troops were deployed Thursday, but transit riders might not have noticed as they weren't widely visible at stations or in trains. Some were seen patrolling major hubs, including Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station, where they have been a regular presence since the terror attacks of Sept. 11 , 2001. Riders have long been split over bag checks, which are infrequent but can hold people up as they race for a train. Searches have also long been a subject of concerns iver racial profiling, though the NYPD says it takes steps to avoid that. Sometimes when Im in a hurry and I have a bag, I dont like to be stopped, said Jerome Brooks Jr., a 44-year-old actor and musician. So then I try to see, do they stop me if theyre going to stop somebody else that doesnt look like me? Cheryl Ann Harper, 46, said she welcomed the precaution. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We need it, she said, noting that similar checks are common at theaters. I do it all the time. Not a big deal. If you dont have anything to hide, why you cant open up your bag? ___ Associated Press reporters Anthony Izaguirre and Michael Hill in Albany, Ted Shaffrey and Michael Sisak in New York City, Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia and Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed. ___ Advertisement Article continues below this ad An Afghanistan Gold Star mother has arrived at the Capitol for Biden's State of the Union as she seeks closure over two years since the deadly withdrawal. Shamblin is the mother-in-law of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, who was one of the 13 US troops killed in the terror attack in Kabul during the Afghanistan withdrawal in August 2021. Earlier Thursday, Shamblin surprised CNN anchor Abby Phillip after she disclosed that President Biden has never reached out to her family. 'He does talk to families that have lost loved ones because of his own experiences,' CNN anchor Abby Phillip said, citing how Biden frequently speaks about the deaths of his wife, daughter Naomie and son Beau. 'Have you spoken to him?' Phillip asked. 'No. He's not reached out to our family,' Shamblin said about Biden, who is known as the 'consoler in chief.' 'We've actually reached out to the White House and have never heard back. We asked to meet with them to understand where their thinking was in calling this a success, and we've not received a response. It's been months.' Im honored to have Christy Shamblin as my guest at tonights State of the Union. Her daughter-in-law, Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, was killed during President Bidens deadly Afghanistan evacuation. Her presence is a sobering reminder this administration must be held accountable. pic.twitter.com/hjahhv7qxF Michael McCaul (@RepMcCaul) March 8, 2024 Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, said that the Biden administration's labeling of the withdrawal as a 'success' is like a 'knife in the heart' 'I'm sorry to hear that,' Phillip said in disbelief. Christy Shamblin is a guest of House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul. He called it 'an honor' to have her as his guest, saying her presence is a 'sobering reminder this administration must be held accountable.' Guests have been slowing streaming onto the House floor for Biden's big address Thursday night. Three months after he was booted from Congress, embattled congressman George Santos made his way back for Biden's State of the Union. Santos promptly took a seat next to Rep. Lauren Boebert The Americans killed in the blast were: (left to right, starting with top row) Cpl. Daegan W. Page - Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo - Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover - Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza - Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum - Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui - Cpl. Hunter Lopez - Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz - Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss - Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez - Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak - Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola - Sgt. Nicole L. Gee Because he is a former member of Congress, he is allowed to keep floor privileges. He was spotted wearing a classic navy sweater vest, blazer and rhinestone stone collared shirt. Santos promptly took a seat next to Rep. Lauren Boebert. Do YOU know the people involved? Do YOU know the people involved? A London priest arrived to conduct a funeral at one of the capital's most historic churches only to find the mourners were fake and the coffin was empty. The bizarre mystery left locals in one of the capital's most exclusive boroughs baffled. At 11am on Monday, a lavish funeral was set to take place at the London Oratory Roman Catholic church in South Kensington. There was a horse-drawn hearse, two luxury vintage cars, men in top hats, a full choir and a church full of photos of a young man. There was even a director filming the tragic day. Yet the funeral was cancelled when the priest leading the service was stunned to find the body was missing from the coffin and the mourners were paid actors. Father Rupert McHardy, 49, had prepared a sermon and was in his robes, ready to start the service when the choirmaster took him aside. The funeral was said to be for a 23-year-old Latvian man who was reported missing at New Year. It is unclear whether he is even dead - or whether his family are also innocent victims of the sinister scam. The organiser claimed to be Clyde Zaube, who said he was the brother of the 'dead' man, Lauris Zaube. Clyde said Lauris was found frozen in ice. The funeral directors, T Cribb and Sons, were even provided with a death certificate - although it was allegedly from Russia. However, while Lauris Zaube is a 23-year-old Latvian man who went missing after a New Year's Eve party near an iced-over dam, his body has seemingly not yet been found and he doesn't appear to have a brother called Clyde. In another shocking twist, Father Rupert said he believes the man who organised the funeral is actually a convicted paedophile, who MailOnline is not currently naming. Do YOU know the people involved? Email harry.s.howard@mailonline.co.uk The funeral was meant to be that of 23-year-old Latvian man Lauris Zaube (pictured). However, while it is true Lauris has been missing since New Year's Eve, his body has seemingly not been found as the funeral's organiser allegedly claimed Father Rupert McHardy, 49, (pictured) had prepared a sermon and was in his robes, ready to start the service at the London Oratory on Brompton Rd, South Kensington, when the choirmaster took him aside It is believed that a convicted peadophile is the man who organised the funeral at the London Oratory church in South Kensington (pictured) Fr Rupert told MailOnline: 'The funeral [request] came in three or four weeks ago. 'We said, ''is there a connection [to the church]?'' and they said yes, from someone proposing to be his brother, Clyde Zaube. 'He chose the readings. 'On the day of the funeral, it all started to unravel. 'The undertakers were going to collected the body and then at the last minute they were told, ''there is no body, we have ashes.''' Fr Rupert said there were two groups of people in the church. The first group, who turned out to be actors, were respectful and polite, although one of them complained that they hadn't been paid. He said: 'There was another group of people in puffer jackets and balaclavas, Clyde Zaube included. 'They had hoods and dark glasses. They were sinister-looking. 'I tried to speak to this Clyde Zaube and he wouldn't speak to me. 'It became clear he wasn't who he claimed to be. 'It was all some sort of fake funeral. 'They pretended there was a body and mourners. 'One of the actors knew the name of the person who had contacted them to come. Pictured: Police in Riga search for missing Latvian man Lauris Zaube The 23-year-old went missing near an iced-over dam after a New Year's Eve party His body has seemingly not yet been found and he doesn't appear to have a brother called Clyde 'He's quite an unpleasant character. 'I'm pretty sure he's the one claiming to be Clyde Zaube. 'When I realised it wasn't a real funeral we said we can't do this. Do YOU know the people involved? Email harry.s.howard@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement 'We told them to leave and they all left relatively happily. 'If they had been a real family they would have been weeping and crying. 'We were paid. The funeral directors were paid. We haven't lost any money but it's very, very weird. 'I was quite shaken afterwards. I felt very disturbed by it. 'Normally you take people at their word. 'No expense was spared - top hats, a horse-drawn hearse, two expensive vintage cars, a full choir. 'I was worried there was going to be some sort of violence. 'I thought, I have got to stop it because it's all fake. 'It was very spooky.' MailOnline has contacted Riga Police for comment. Pullos claims the crash was Wilder's fault and wants the case dismissed in court Driver she reportedly hit, Courtney Wilder, sued her after being seriously injured General Hospital star Haley Pullos has denied responsibility for a horror highway smash, even though she was allegedly drunkenly driving on the wrong side of the road. Instead, she claims the man whose car she plowed into in the crash is to blame, despite her preparing to admit to DUI charges. Pullos hit the other car so hard that she had to be extracted from the mangled wreck with the 'jaws of life' by firefighters on the 134 Freeway in Pasadena, California. Police alleged she was involved in a separate hit-and-run moments before the crash on April 29 last year and was driving on the wrong side of the freeway. General Hospital star Haley Pullos has denied responsibility for a horror highway smash, even though she was drunkenly driving on the wrong side of the road After the crash, California Highway Patrol and Pasadena fire officials released photos of the aftermath, showing both Pullos' and the 23-year-old victim's cars completely totaled and sprawled along Arroyo Seco Parkway The 25-year-old pleaded not guilty to DUI and leaving the scene of an accident, but her lawyers are working towards a plea deal. She faces up to three years in prison. Courtney Wilder, the driver of the other car, sued Pullos after he suffered serious injuries in the crash and was rushed to hospital. Pullos' defense to the lawsuit denied 'generally and specifically each and every allegation' and insisted Wilder was the negligent one. Pullos wore a brace on her ankle for several weeks after the crash Her lawyers argued the crash was 'proximately caused by either the sole negligent and/or intentional conduct of plaintiffs'. Should any damages be awarded to Wilder, they should be 'reduced by an amount proportionate to the amount by which plaintiffs negligent and/or intentional conduct contributed to the alleged damages', they claimed. Pullos' defense also denied Wilder 'sustained, or will sustain, any loss or damage in the manner or amount alleged.' The document also claimed his injuries were 'either wholly or in part, intentionally or negligently caused by person, firms, corporation, or entities' outside Pullos' control. She demanded the lawsuit be dismissed and Wilder be ordered to pay her legal fees along with 'other and further relief'. Wilder accused Pullos in his lawsuit of 'attacking' and abusing first responders in a 'rage' at the accident site, and even hitting and yelling at a fireman for touching her expensive designer shirt. 'Haley Pullos acted maliciously and without any regard for the safety of others, as evidenced by her rage when she was pulled from her vehicle by first responders,' said Wilder in a written declaration to the court. Marijuana edibles and tequila bottles were found during a search of Pullos' white 2019 Ford, which photos show sustained severe damage in the accident 'She acted maliciously by attacking the officers and yelling profanities in front of witnesses and directed toward those who were trying to help her. 'In her fit of rage, Haley Pullos battered a firefighter and yelled at him to take his hands off her '$400 f**king shirt.' 'Despite having just caused two accidents, one of which resulted in serious, life-threatening injuries, she cared more about her overpriced clothing than she did the safety and all-being of the victim of her reckless, intentional and despicable conduct. 'As more evidence of her abhorrent behavior, Haley Pullos continued to fight medical staff and was forced to be sedated. 'Not only was she driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, but she was drinking behind the wheel, as evidenced by the edible wrappers and empty alcohol bottles which were found in her vehicle.' Wilder added Pasadena's No Comment Lounge where Pullos was working as a hostess the night of the accident as a defendant in his civil lawsuit, accusing the popular nightspot of plying her with booze, then letting her drive herself home. He also sued the State of California Transportation Department, claiming the road where the accident happened was in 'dangerous condition.' Wilder accused Pullos in his lawsuit of 'attacking' and abusing first responders in a 'rage' at the accident site, and even hitting and yelling at a fireman for touching her expensive designer shirt If Pullos changes her plea to guilty, prosecutors would be more likely to agree to a lower sentence resulting in less or no jail time, a suspended sentence or even house arrest. At a hearing in Pasadena, north of Los Angeles last month, Judge Terry Smerling heard that the LA District Attorney and Pullos's attorneys were working on a 'potential settlement'. The judge scheduled another hearing April 8 which he said after numerous unresolved hearings since last July 'should be the final'. Deputy District Attorney Melany Avanessians told Judge Smerling that if no plea agreement is in place by April 8, 'we will send her to a preliminary hearing' meaning Pullos would be on her way to a full trial. Pullos who has played Molly Lansing-Davis on the popular daytime soap opera since she was 11 - was not in court for that hearing. Weeks after the crash, Pullos whose own injuries have never been revealed in detail told Soap Opera Digest she was taking a break from her role on the long-running daytime show to recover from the crash. 'Unfortunately, I was involved in an automobile accident and I'm doing OK, but I am going to need a little time to recover,' she told the publication at the time. 'I will be back as soon as possible!' Shortly afterward, in May 2023, she was spotted by DailyMail.com checking into a luxury rehab facility in Malibu. President Joe Biden on Thursday night used the backdrop of Congress and his biggest set piece speech of election year to deliver a sharply political message that democracy is under threat at home and abroad. It was not so much a State of the Union as a state of the race. He channeled his message through the prism of Donald Trump, referring to 'my predecessor' 13 times, without once uttering his name. He attacked him on Russia. He attacked him on reproductive rights, on affordable healthcare, on the border crisis, on gun control, on the January 6 attack, and on his handling of the pandemic. 'A president, my predecessor, failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to American peoplethe duty to care,' he said. 'I think that's unforgivable.' President Joe Biden delivered a forceful performance as he set out his platform for the election during his State of the Union address to Congress on Thursday evening 'I've been told I'm too old,' said Biden. 'Whether young or old, I've always known ... what endures. I've known our North Star: The very idea of America is that we're all created equal.' Commentators said it was the most partisan State of the Union address they could remember as Biden used the occasion, eight months before the election, to compare himself repeatedly to the alternative facing voters. He even found a way top use his 81 years to his advantage. 'I've been told I'm too old,' he said. 'Whether young or old, I've always known ... what endures. I've known our North Star: The very idea of America is that we're all created equal.' While he was looking to the future, he added, others were looking backwards to 'anger, revenge, retribution.' Trailing in the polls, the oldest president in U.S. history needed to kickstart his campaign. And the live TV audience gave him a chance not just to deliver a message but to also showcase his vigor and fitness for the job. The result was a president with historically poor approval ratings delivering a nakedly populist speech, with tax hikes for billionaires and promising action on the border crisis. Republican strategist John Feehery described it as a convention speech rather than a State of the Union. 'The elephant outside the room was Trump,' he said. 'You can't escape Trump. 'And all the things he talked about, the populism, the border, the immigration, these are all things that are on his territory.' If the idea of the speech was to rile Trump, it worked. Biden channeled his message through the prism of Donald Trump , referring to 'my predecessor' 13 times, but pointedly refused to use his rival's name President Joe Biden poses for a photo as he makes his way across the House floor 'That may be the angriest, least compassionate, and worst State of the Union speech ever made,' the former president posted. 'It was an embarrassment to our country!' The address is one of the best chances for Biden to harness prime time TV and a direct line into sitting rooms across the nation. But declining audiences have taken some of the oomph out of the night. Instead, aides hope that he might be able to generate viral moments, such as last year when he put down Republicans who heckled him on cuts to Medicare and Social Security. This year, in a reminder of the president's fragility, his attempt at a similar ad lib to heckles went awry when he picked up a pin handed to him earlier by Republican controversialist Marjorie Taylor Greene. 'Lincoln, Lincoln Riley,' he said. 'An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal.' The case has become a cause celebre among Republicans highlighting the crime threat from migrants, but Biden managed to botch the name of 'Laken Riley,' and use a term'an illegal'disliked by his party. Republican Georgia Marjorie Taylor Greene tried repeatedly to disrupt the speech Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with House Speaker Mike Johnson at the end Democratic members of Congress cheer President Joe Biden during the State of the Union address - many Democratic women lawmakers wore white to show their support for reproductive rights Even so, Democrats were delighted by his vigorous delivery and the way he set the tone for an election in which they argue they are fighting for democracy. 'Freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time,' he said as he opened his speech with an appeal to Congress to support Ukraine. And he compared his opposition to Russian leader Vladimir Putin with Trump's stance. 'Now my predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin quote, do whatever the hell you want,' he said, his voice dripping with contempt. 'That's a quote. A former president actually said that ... bowing down to a Russian later. 'I think it's outrageous. It's dangerous and it's unacceptable.' He used a similar formula throughout, setting his policies and views in contrast to his predecessor's. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and other Democrats wore scarves to show their support for Gaza A packed chamber to hear Biden's biggest setpiece speech ahead of the election in November 'My predecessor, and some of you here, seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6 I will not do that,' he said. 'This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here's a simple truth. You can't love your country only when you win.' Democratic strategist Brad Bannon said just 48 hours after Super Tuesday, and with the two election candidates pretty much decided, it made sense to set out the battle lines with the State of the Union. 'I think it was a good illustration of what his reelection campaign is going to be like,' he said. 'He made clear his goal is to to fight against attempts to subvert democracy at home by Trump and internationally by Putin.' And Bannon said he dealt with the age issues with both a forceful delivery and by tackling the question head on. 'My fellow Americans,' said Biden as he wound up to his conclusion, 'the issue facing our nation isn't how old we are its how old our ideas are? 'Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas. 'But you can't lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back. 'To lead America, the land of possibilities, you need a vision for the future of what America can and should be.' A Palestine charity fundraiser meal has been cancelled by organisers due to 'security issues'. The event was due to host 79-year-old Leila Khaled as a guest speaker in a move that had seen backlash. Khaled is a Palestinian who described the Hamas terrorists who carried out the October 7 attack as 'freedom fighters' and was the world's first woman to hijack a plane. She was going to appear at the 25 charity three-course buffet dinner hosted by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) West Midlands branch in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, via video. The event has now been cancelled due to 'security issues'. Described by organisers as a 'veteran Palestinian freedom fighter', Khaled is a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - which is listed as a terrorist organisation by the European Union, the US, Canada and Japan, but not the UK. The move to have Khaled as a guest speaker stirred backlash including from West Midlands Mayor Andy Street who told LBC earlier this week that he would see if the event could be stopped by police. The event was due to host 79-year-old Leila Khaled as a guest speaker. Pictured: The cancelled event due to 'security issues' Khaled remains a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. She is pictured here in 1970, the year she tried to hijack a flight from Amsterdam to New York He said: 'I will be following up whether it is appropriate that this should occur and whether the police could stop it occurring for reasons of public order.' Her appearance sparked fury and concern among Jewish campaign groups who described the move as 'extremely disturbing'. In reaction to the event, Lord Walney, the government's adviser on political violence and disruption, told The Times: 'Even by their own recent standards, it is staggering that the PSC wants to give a platform to [Khaled]. 'The decision to host Leila Khaled underlines the importance of all mainstream party leaders making clear their MPs and councillors should not be engaging with the PSC while they are in the grip of this militancy. 'The PSC's hardline approach is undermining their own cause by opening the door to extremism and intimidation in communities.' Khaled would have spoken alongside Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action which protests against British companies it claims provide weapons to Israel. A spokeswoman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism said: 'Just when you thought that the PSC could not stoop any lower, they welcome a plane hijacker to inspire their activists. 'They tell the public that they are a purely peaceful organisation, but hosting Leila Khaled would seem to tell a different story. Given that it is the PSC which is mobilising the mobs marching down our streets, this latest move is extremely disturbing.' Pictured: The event poster before cancellation due to 'security issues' In an interview last month, she claimed that Hamas terrorists did not target civilians in the horrific October 7 attacks. She told activist blog Green Left: 'The freedom fighters did not attack ordinary people [on October 7], they attacked the military settlements. But when the borders were open, some other people took civilians. 'Neither Israel nor the western media could prove that there were massacres. The civilian hostages [who were released in one of the deals negotiated] said they were dealt with very kindly. So why are they speaking like this about massacres? Just to say that the freedom fighters are terrorists. 'So they made lies because they did not have any evidence. Even when [President] Biden showed some pictures, CNN said that he did not have evidence that this was what happened on October 7.' There are also calls to block her from receiving a visa ahead of a scheduled talk at an event in Australia in June. Khaled, the world's first female plane hijacker, first struck in 1969 when she took control of a plane from Rome to Tel Aviv. A photo of her holding an AK-47 rifle was published around the world, leading to her reportedly undergoing plastic surgery to hide her identity. The following year, Khaled attempted to hijack another plane - this time from Amsterdam to New York. The aircraft was diverted to Heathrow and she was released in a hostage exchange. Palestinian resistance veteran and two-time plane hijacker Leila Khaled speaks at a women's group forum in Manila on November 11, 2015 Khaled continued to come back to the UK for talks until 2002, although the British embassy refused her a visa in 2005 when she tried to attend a meeting at a festival in Belfast. Last month, MailOnline revealed that PSC director Ben Jamal organised projecting 'from the river to the sea' onto Big Ben. The 'deeply offensive' slogan is widely seen as anti-semitic and a call to drive Jews out of Israel. MailOnline has contacted PSC for comment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Sweden is 'more protected' after the country joined NATO as Putin has stayed silent over the historic move and the West are bracing for 'countermeasures'. Zelensky hailed Sweden's membership, saying: 'One more country in Europe has become more protected from Russian evil.' 'Now, at a time of Russian aggression against everything that has made Europe peaceful and united, everyone sees how important it is to maintain alliances and partnerships, to strengthen our own security and to take care of the security of neighbours,' he added in his evening address. It's taken nearly two years of political jousting and a war of words with multiple member states - not to mention a series of menacing threats from Vladimir Putin - before Sweden formally joined NATO in a break with a its policy of military neutrality. Surprisingly Putin has stayed silent so far, despite the accession of Sweden and Finland - which shares a 1,340km border with Russia - constituting a significant blow for the Russian president. He has sought to prevent any further strengthening of the NATO alliance and threatened to take unspecified 'political and military-technical countermeasures' in response to Sweden's move. Zelensky (pictured) hailed Sweden's membership, saying: 'One more country in Europe has become more protected from Russian evil' Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, previously promised that Russia would take military-technical steps in response to Sweden's NATO membership. She said: 'We will closely monitor what Sweden will do in the aggressive military bloc, how it will realise its membership in practice ... based on this, we will build our response with retaliatory steps of a military-technical and other nature. 'Sweden's accession to NATO is accompanied by the ongoing fuelling of anti-Russian hysteria in the country, which, unfortunately, is encouraged by the Swedish political and military leadership, but its main source is abroad. 'It is not the Swedes themselves who are making the choice; this choice has been made for the Swedes.' Prompted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Scandinavian nation and its Nordic partner Finland conducted a comprehensive review of its longstanding national security policy and just two months later applied to join the mammoth bloc. Twenty-two months later, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson yesterday handed over the final documentation at a ceremony presided over by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, after which Stockholm's 'instrument of accession' to the alliance was officially deposited at the State Department. 'This is a historic moment for Sweden. It's historic for the alliance. It's history for the transatlantic relationship,' Blinken said, with Kristersson adding that Sweden is now 'a safer country'. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also described it as 'a historic day' that will see Sweden 'take its rightful place at NATO's table, with an equal say in shaping NATO policies and decisions.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called NATO 'the most successful defensive alliance in history' and Germany's foreign ministry said of Sweden, 'It's good to know you are firmly by our side.' A Swedish flag will be hoisted outside NATO headquarters in Brussels from Monday. As NATO's newest member, Sweden will now benefit from the alliance's common defence guarantee under which an attack on one is regarded as an attack on all. 'We have to face the world as it is not how we sometimes wish it were,' Kristersson said after Hungary became the last NATO member to ratify Sweden's accession last week, recognising that Russia's invasion of Ukraine destabilised the European security landscape and necessitated a break with a non-aligned foreign policy. In return, Sweden will add cutting-edge submarines and a sizable fleet of highly capable, domestically produced Gripen fighter jets to NATO forces. Pictured: Two Swedish Airforce JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft in close formation. Sweden will bring state of the art submarines and a fleet of highly capable Gripen fighter aircraft to NATO's forces Swedish soldiers from the Norrlandsbrigade in Boden on a combat vehicle 90 during training together with Finnish hunting units in Hetta, northern Finland, 05 March 2024 A JAS 39 Gripen C/D takes off from Lulea-Kallax airport during military exercise Nordic Response 2024, Sweden, 04 March 2024 Seamstress Tove Lycke at work with new NATO flags, at the flag manufacturer 'Flagghuset', in Akersberga, outside Stockholm, Sweden, 07 March 2024 Sweden's accession to NATO constitutes a significant blow for the Russian President, who has sought to prevent any further strengthening of the alliance and threatened to take unspecified 'political and military-technical counter-measures' in response Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson speaks during a press conference at the government headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden It will also be a crucial link between the Atlantic and NATO's Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - long seen as an Achilles heel for the alliance. War planners have struggled to work out how to stop those countries from being cut off from their allies if Russian land troops were to seize the 65-kilometre (40-mile) Suwalki Gap between Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. But Sweden's position, straddling both the North and Baltic Seas, would allow NATO to 'deploy forces to reinforce the Baltic Sea nations in a timely manner, but especially the frontline states,' said Tuuli Duneton, Estonian undersecretary for defence policy. Not only this, but the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO could dramatically enhance Western cooperation over the approach to the Arctic, a region whose importance is set to grow exponentially in the coming years. As the High North undergoes unprecedented changes due to climate change, the melting of the ice opens up a massive new frontier, unlocking a treasure trove of previously untapped natural resources, new trade routes, and strategic superiority. Despite relations between East and West being at their lowest ebb in decades, Arctic cooperation has continued relatively unchanged, even as the war in Ukraine continues to rage on - but the status quo is almost certain to change as the prospect of capitalising on what the Arctic has to offer becomes more tangible. Now though, with Sweden joining Finland in NATO, seven of the eight Arctic nations are also members of the security bloc. This could greatly improve the Arctic Council's ability to set forth a more rigorous, multilateral security approach to tackle Russian technological and military dominance, and make up for any one country's shortcomings. But analysts warn that while Sweden's entry makes it easier for NATO to exert control and reinforce its vulnerable Baltic states, Russia can still menace the region from heavily-armed exclave Kaliningrad and threaten undersea infrastructure. 'If you look at a map then geographically the Baltic Sea is becoming a ''NATO lake'', yes,' said Minna Alander a research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. 'But there is still work to do for NATO.' A recent poll by Swedish broadcaster SR said that most Swedes believe the country made too many sacrifices to join NATO, although more than three-quarters believed NATO would strengthen the country's security. While Stockholm has been drawing ever closer to NATO over the last two decades, membership marks a clear break with the past, when for more than 200 years, Sweden avoided military alliances and adopted a neutral stance in times of war. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban shake hands after a press conference following their meeting in Budapest, Hungary, on February 23 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg pictured in July Sweden's membership will enhance the military bloc's defences in the Baltic Sea region facing Russia. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin A B-1B Lancer and a B-52 Stratofortress, escorted by Swedish Jas 39 Gripen, pass over Stockholm, Sweden, 06 March 2024 Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson smiles during a news conference in Budapest, Hungary, Feb 23, 2024 After World War Two, it built an international reputation as a champion of human rights, and when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, successive governments have pared back military spending. As recently as 2021, its defence minister had rejected NATO membership, only for the then-Social Democrat government to apply, alongside neighbour Finland, just a few months later after Putin sent his tanks and warplanes screaming across the Ukrainian border. The country has since made an about-face in terms of its national security and defence policy, with its Defence and Civil Defence Ministers recently calling on the public and private sectors to prepare for the prospect of war in Europe in the coming years. While Finland joined last year, Sweden was kept waiting as Turkey and Hungary, which both maintain cordial relations with Russia, delayed ratifying Sweden's accession. Ankara had refused to give Stockholm the green light to NATO membership for over a year, urging Swedish lawmakers to toughen their stance on local members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Kurdish political and militant movement which Turkey treats as a terrorist group. In response, Stockholm introduced a new anti-terrorism bill that makes being a member of a terrorist organisation illegal. Sweden, Finland, Canada and the Netherlands also took steps to relax policies on arms exports to Turkey, while the U.S. approved the sale of a fleet of F-16 fighter jets to the Turkish air force. When Turkey ratified Sweden's accession to NATO in January, Hungary and its pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orban represented the final hurdle. Orban's government faced mounting pressure from NATO allies to fall in line and seal Sweden's accession to the alliance, but Hungary delayed its move until Kristersson made a goodwill visit to Budapest on February 23, where the two countries agreed a fighter jet deal. 'The parliaments of all NATO member states have now voted in favour of Swedish accession to NATO. Sweden stands ready to shoulder its responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security,' Kristersson said in a statement on X following the meeting. Sweden's NATO membership was supported by 188 lawmakers in Hungarian parliament, with 6 against and no abstentions. Hungary ratified Sweden's application days later. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg immediately welcomed Hungary's ratification. 'Sweden's membership will make us all stronger and safer,' he said on X. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban hold a press conference following their meeting in Budapest last month Russian T-72B3 tanks fire at Ukrainian fortified positions in Ukraine in undated footage Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline take part in a medical training in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on January 14 Sweden's accession to NATO comes days after Germany's defence minister declared that Putin's army could launch an attack on allied countries within 'five to eight years'. Boris Pistorius said the US, UK and EU 'hear threats from the Kremlin almost every day... so we have to take into account that Vladimir Putin might even attack a NATO country one day'. Pistorius told German outlet Der Tagesspiegel: 'Our experts expect a period of five to eight years in which this could be possible. 'We have to learn to live with danger again and prepare ourselves militarily, socially and in terms of civil defence,' he concluded, pointing to an alarming speech made by Sweden's Civil Defence Minister earlier this year in which he called on Swedish citizens to prepare for the prospect of war. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas believes a Russia-NATO confrontation is even more imminent, giving a timeframe of just three to five years for Europe to prepare for a serious military threat on the alliance's eastern flank. Meanwhile Admiral Rob Bauer, the chairman of NATO's Military Committee urged both civilians and governments to prepare for cataclysmic conflicts and the chilling prospect of being conscripted. 'We have to realise it's not a given that we are in peace. And that's why we [NATO forces] have the plans, that's why we are preparing for a conflict with Russia,' Bauer told reporters after a meeting of NATO defence chiefs in Brussels last week. 'But the discussion is much wider. It is also the industrial base and also the people that have to understand they play a role.' In a stark warning, he said civilians must be ready for a conflict in the next 20 years that would require wholesale change in their lives. Bauer said large numbers of civilians will need to be mobilised in case a global war breaks out and governments must make sure their nations are 'war ready'. King Charles's longtime friend Ian Farquhar has died at the age of 78 at the monarch's Highgrove Estate. The renowned huntsman was also the Queen Mother's equerry and even served in the Queen's Own Hussars, a cavalry regiment of the British Army. Mr Farquhar was also close with Queen Camilla, living on the King's estate for many years in a rented farmhouse. It is said that he died there on Wednesday morning. Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, first husband and friend of Camilla, told the Mail's Richard Eden that the situation was 'very sad' and that he had been in poor health for the past few months. He described his friend as 'wild as a hawk in his youth, but always great fun'. Parker Bowles added that 'The Captain', as Farquhar was known, will be 'judged by history as one of the great Master of Hounds'. King Charles's longtime friend Ian Farquhar has died at the age of 78 at the monarch's Highgrove Estate Mr Farquhar would drive over and have dinner with the monarch, a source told Richard Eden The renowned huntsman also served as equerry to the Queen Mother and even served in the Queen's Own Hussars, a cavalry regiment of the British Army A source said that he used to go across the fields to meet the monarch for dinner, but would abandon his car 'when it became hopelessly bogged down' and would instead wait for it to be rescued by tractors. Ian married Pammie-Jane Chafer after he left the army and the pair had three daughters. Farquhar and Charles became intertwined further when Prince William briefly dated Rose Farquhar in 2000 after he finished his A-levels at Eton. The pair met at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire and she was described as the Prince of Wales's 'first love' at the time. William and Rose would go on romantic picnics in the Gloucestershire countryside together before he met Kate at St. Andrews University in Scotland. They are still friends to this day, as the Prince attended her wedding to George Gemmell in 2022. Farquhar and Pammie-Jane separated and as time went on, they managed to rekindle their friendship, but they continued to live separately. Mr Farquhar was also Master of the Beaufort Hunt for 34 years. It is the West Country's oldest and largest fox hunt. Fox hunting was made illegal in 2004, but the Hunting Act allows groups to trail hunt using the scent of animals. In an Instagram post, the page shared a video containing multiple images of Ian throughout his life and wrote: 'It is with broken hearts we send our love and condolences to the family and friends of our own Captain Ian Farquhar, who so brilliantly piloted us for 34 years and passed away peacefully this week. Farquhar and Charles became intertwined further when Prince William briefly dated Rose Farquhar in 2000 after he finished his A-levels at Eton William and Rose (pictured) are still friends to this day, as the Prince attended her wedding to George Gemmell in 2022 Mr Farquhar was also Master of Beaufort Hunt for 34 years, one of the oldest and largest fox hunting packs in England '"Captain" as he was known by many was loved and cherished by the entire hunting community, as someone who was supportive, kind and always there with excellent forward thinking advice for anyone who asked him. 'He had a wicked sense of humour and anyone who was lucky enough to be in his company and listen to tales of his extremely varied and adventurous life both in the army and the hunting world will hold onto those memories forever.' The post said that Mr Farquhar's passions in life were his 'hounds, his family and dogs' and that he was a 'true countryman and gent'. The news of his friend's passing comes as King Charles continues treatment for his cancer while undertaking royal duties on the side. He met with High Commissioner of Jamaica, Alexander Williams, who was joined by his wife Carol Watson-Williams, at Buckingham Palace yesterday. The King has postponed all public-facing engagements while he continues his treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, but he has been carrying out audiences and desk duties behind Palace walls. High commissioners and ambassadors based in London have a customary audience with the monarch shortly after taking up their role. Charles' meeting came after he held a video call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The King earlier met with the Ambassador of Algeria, Nourredine Yazid, and Samba Mamadou, Ambassador of Mauritania. The King was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer following hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate earlier this year, which was unrelated. He was treated in the same hospital as the Princess of Wales, who underwent abdominal surgery for an unknown condition in January. The parents of an 18-year-old New York University student who died after falling from an arts building last month are searching for answers and don't believe their daughter jumped to her death. Doreah Salti fell five stories from the university's Barney Building on Stuyvesant Street in the East Village on February 10. Police found her unresponsive with severe bodily trauma and transported her to Bellevue Hospital, where she later died from her injuries, reported the New York Post. At first, police said it appeared the 18-year-old had jumped to her death, but the investigation remains ongoing. Her parents told The Post they are '100 percent confident Doreah would never take her own life.' Doreah Salti fell five stories from New York University's Barney Building on Stuyvesant Street in the East Village on February 10 Her parents searching for answers and don't believe their daughter jumped to her death George Salti, her father, said he spoke to a city medical examiner who told him Doreah's broken head, hands and wrists are an indicator she tried to protect herself as she fell. 'The medical examiner indicated she does not think she jumped. She went head-first and covered her face,' George said. 'Somebody who covers their face is trying to protect themselves, they are not trying to kill themselves.' The Saltis, from Hinsdale, Illinois, described their daughter as a happy young woman and do not believe she would have died by suicide. George said his daughter has just returned from visiting a museum and was deciding where she should go study abroad before she died. They were speaking on the phone and she asked him to purchase opera tickets for them to attend. 'There was no mental health history, no [suicide] note, no bad grades, no substance abuse, no family history of mental health issues,' he said. 'It never occurred to us for even one second that Doreah would do such a thing,' her mother Maria said. 'She would never, ever.' Doreah's twin sister Isabella described her as 'a happy, happy 18 year old,' and said they were planning a trip to Miami for their birthday. In her last TikTok posted on January 23, Doreah joked about commenting inappropriate things on videos and hoping her future employers don't find them. 'Doreah was a bundle of joy. She was intelligent, funny, joyful, creative, a deep thinker, always looking forward a dynamo,' said Maria, 'Part of her college essay was about being a stand-up comedian. She was witty, she was smart.' The Salti family has hired a private investigator and retained the services of international law firm Cohen & Gresser as they search for answers as to how their daughter died. 'Nobody saw her jumping, they assumed. And we have to deal with the consequences of that assumption,' Maria said. 'We don't want to speculate, we want the truth based on facts. This is the least I can do for my daughter.' Police found her unresponsive with severe bodily trauma and transported her to Bellevue Hospital, where she later died from her injuries George Salti, her father, said he spoke to a city medical examiner who told him Doreah's broken head, hands and wrists are an indicator she tried to protect herself as she fell At first, police said it appeared the 18-year-old had jumped to her death, but the investigation remains ongoing Two days before Doreah died, another New York University student was found dead in her dorm. On February 8, 19-year-old Jacqueline Beauzile was found unresponsive in her suite at Lipton Hall, reported Our Town New York. Residents of the first-year housing building along with their parents, were notified about the incident via email approximately five hours after paramedics responded. 'It is our somber duty to let members of the Lipton Hall community know that late this afternoon, a member of the Lipton Hall community was found unresponsive in her suite by University personnel,' stated the email, authored by a group of NYU officials. The email noted mental health services are available for NYU students. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is serving as this year's designated survivor for the State of the Union address. The 48-year-old educator and favorite travel companion of Dr. Jill Biden was missing from the U.S. Capitol Building where President Joe Biden will address a joint session of Congress in front of droves of dignitaries. A White House official confirmed to the Associated Press that he was serving in the designated surivor role. Cardona is 15th in line for the presidency. Every year the designated survivor is taken to an undisclosed location in case the U.S. Capitol were attacked during the State of the Union, which would wipe out most of the federal government. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is serving as this year's designated survivor for the State of the Union address Interior Secretary Deb Haaland took a selfie featuring other members of the Cabinet, with Cardona noticeably absent A popular television show, starring Kiefer Sutherland, was based entirely on this concept. Unlike other members of the Cabinet, Cardona wasn't an elected official before his tenure working in the Biden administration, but had been appointed to serve as Connecticut's commissioner of education. Alberto Gonzales, who was attorney general under President George W. Bush, was the designated survivor in 2007. Gonzales said it was 'kind of cool' but also a 'sobering moment'. He was approached by Bush's chief of staff a week beforehand. Gonzales was then given two options of where to be on the night. One of them was on a plane and he chose that because 'it would be kind of cool to fly around as the president gave the State of the Union.' When he got to Andrews Air Force Base to board the plane he was greeted by officials from every major government department. They had 'big binders of protocols and procedures to advise me in the event that I became president.' Then he 'settled in' on the plane and watched the speech. The owner of an acai bowl cafe on Sydney's northern beaches who claims that a rival store has 'copied' her shop's menu 'almost word for word' has called in the lawyers. Blessed Bowls in Freshwater made headlines on Thursday after posting a furious letter in its window accusing a nearby dessert store, Mr Gelato by Matteo of copying its menu. Matteo Dominici, who co-owns Mr Gelato strongly denied he'd done anything wrong. 'They don't have the right to say I have copied them because everyone makes them [acai bowls] so similar,' Mr Dominici told Daily Mail Australia. 'There are a lot of places on the strip [that] offer acai bowls, but for some reason they are against us - and I don't know why.' Matteo Dominici co-owns Mr Gelato by Matteo in Freshwater and Collaroy - and denies that his chain has copied the menu of Blessed Bowls cafe Blessed Bowl founder Ella Rose Stevenson (above) took to Instagram to break her silence after her note accusing a rival business of copying her menu went viral A sign pinned to the window of Blessed Bowls (pictured) went viral on Thursday for claiming its lovingly curated menu had been ripped off by Mr Gelato by Matteo Blessed Bowlers founder Ella Rose Stevenson broke her silence on Friday responding to Mr Dominici's statements. 'It was disappointing then about a month ago to see that one of our neighbouring businesses, Mr Gelato by Matteo had put up a copy of our menu in his window and was selling our exact products,' she began. 'Both our acai bowls and our coco soft serve products. The names, ingredients, sizes and prices were exactly the same.' 'Lots of businesses around the Northern Beaches sell great acai products and we love being part of that community, however we have never copied each other's products or menus and at BB, we never will,' she added. Ms Stevenson claimed she has already engaged a lawyer in a bid to get Mr Dominci to altar his acai menu. 'People have also asked why we put up the sign and didn't contact our lawyers. Well, we did. 'Our lawyers sent Mr G a letter a couple of weeks ago asking him to remove our menu from his window and stop selling our exact products,' she said. Mr Gelato's acai bowl menu is seen here Blessed Bowl's acai menu is seen here Blessed Bowls has seven franchises across Sydney Ms Stevenson said the rival owner hadn't responded but now appeared to have changed his menu. 'We never wanted to stop Mr G from selling acai or soft serve, but we had to draw the line at copying our menu almost word for word,' she fumed. The acai bowl menu at Mr Gelato offers a number of the items also on sale at Blessed Bowls. Some of the ingredients are listed word for word - including the Biscoff Bowl acai, Brownie acai and Snickers acai. 'We offer a much larger selection of acai bowls and they are named after the main ingredient, not because we copied [Blessed Bowls],' Mr Dominici told Daily Mail Australia of the similarities. He decided to add the berry dessert to his menu three months ago after his young customers were always asking if he served them. Mr Gelato owner Matteo says there is enough business in Freshwater for other cafes to thrive 'Acai is the trend and it matches with gelato. Of course I'm going to offer it to my customers,' he said. 'They are a big franchise; we are a small family business. I run this one and my sister runs the shop in Collaroy,' he added. 'If we are copying them, then why have they opened another store near us in Collaroy?' Mr Dominici said there was enough business on the quant Lawrence Streep strip for all businesses selling acai to thrive. 'There is business on the strip for everyone so let's give our customers what they want,' he said. A Tesla charging station at an Interstate 95 rest stop in Fairfield. On Thursday, Connecticut lawmakers revealed that they were scrapping to set a 2035 deadline to mandate that vehicle manufacturers equip all new vehicles with electric, zero-emission or plug-in hybrid engines. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media HARTFORD After months of fighting to put Connecticut on a path toward mandating that new cars come equipped with electric, zero-emission or plug-in hybrid engines, top Democrats this week said they would abandon their efforts after failing to convince colleagues of the feasibility of the plan. On Thursday, lawmakers released a much-anticipated EV bill that included provisions to distribute more rebates to help people in low-income communities purchase electric and hybrid cars and create a new council to monitor the states progress in transitioning toward an all-electric future. Absent from the legislation, however, was any mention of adopting Californias air quality regulations, which would phase-out the sale of new, gas-powered cars by 2035. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The omission revealed a reality that many lawmakers had begun to acknowledge in recent weeks: that there is simply not enough support within the Democratic-controlled legislature to commit to such a timeline. To me, we are transitioning to electric vehicles, that's inevitable, hybrid cars, those things will happen, said House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford. I just cant tell you the timing of that. The decision to move on from the battle over the California plan came weeks after the New York Times reported that President Joe Bidens administration is planning to delay its own, more cautious timeline for shifting to electric vehicles. That plan would have required the auto industry to steadily increase production of EVs until they made up roughly two-thirds of all new sales of cars and light-duty trucks by 2032. With demand for the vehicles slumping, and both unions and automakers questioning the economics of a rapid transition, the Biden administration agreed to slow the start of rollout by several years, according to the Times. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Under federal law, states are given the option of following either Californias regulations governing vehicle emissions, or the looser national standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. For people that were skeptical that we could meet the harder standard, and then you have the president and the White House saying they cannot meet the lower standard, you can imagine how that caucus would have gone, Ritter said. Its like saying, If we can't hit the 40 mph fastball, howre we going to hit the 80 mph fastball? The decision to pull back from the California plan frustrated both environmental activists and Gov. Ned Lamont, who had touted the 2035 deadline as a way to spur the auto industry into making more affordable EVs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and cleaning up the states notoriously dirty air. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Lamont said he was disappointed by the legislatures alternative proposal, which he called a nothing burger. I thought at least a goal would let the private sector know where we want to be over the next 10, 11 years, Lamont said. I think politically, folks got a little nervous. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Samantha Dynowski, the state chapter director of the Sierra Club, noted that more than a dozen states have already committed to following California's timeline for transitioning toward electric vehicles, including neighbors New York, Vermont and Rhode Island. "We're going to lose out on making sure that our air is cleaner and that there's less health impacts," Dynowski said. "We don't win when the polluters win, and that's what happened here." Without support to adopt the California regulations, both Ritter and Lamont said the state would, at least for the time being, revert to following whatever federal standards are put in place by Bidens EPA. Republicans, meanwhile, continued to accuse Democrats of seeking to force electric-vehicle mandates on consumers, without regards to the cost or ability to charge. (Neither the California nor the federal standards would apply to sales of used cars, which could continue to be bought and sold regardless of engine types). Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Thursday, House Minority Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, dismissed the proposed council as a ploy to simply adopt the California plan at a later date, adding that its task should instead be figuring out a way to move permanently toward the federal standards. Its been delayed, its not been taken off the table, Candelora said. The legislation would require the council made up local and statewide officials, environmental activists and representatives of the car dealers, electric utilities, automakers and transportation industries to deliver a "Zero-Emission Vehicle Roadmap" to the General Assembly no later than January, 2025. In addition, it would require that at least 40 percent of state rebates to aid the purchase of electric and hybrid cars be delivered to low-income Census tracts by 2030, addressing concerns raised by many urban Democrats about the affordability of EVs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The bill was assigned to the legislature's Transportation Committee, where it is expected to have a public hearing next week. The House chair of the committee, state Rep. Roland Lemar, D-New Haven, called the bill a "show-me opportunity" for supporters of a stricter timeline to gather the necessary support for their plan. Georgia's firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene put on her red MAGA cap, shook President Biden's hand and said to him: 'say her name' in reference to the tragic death of college student Laken Riley. The Republican congresswoman was wearing a red blazer and a shirt with 'say her name' on it, taking her cause straight to the president on the House chamber floor as Biden entered to give his State of the Union address. 'I know how to say the name,' Biden said back to Greene. 'Joe Biden has no excuse. I handed him a pin to remember Laken Riley. He refused to SAY HER NAME!' Greene wrote on X of the encounter. Laken Riley, a 22-year-old University of Georgia Student, was recently discovered dead and disfigured on campus. She was allegedly brutally killed by an unlawful migrant. It came after Republicans passed a bill in her honor that would crack down on illegal migrants who break the law. Greene didn't stop there with her trolls and outbursts throughout the speech. During Biden's discussion on his tax plan, she shouted 'tell Hunter to pay his taxes!' Joe's son Hunter pleaded guilty to a nine-count indictment accusing him of spending millions 'on 'drugs, prostitutes and exotic cars' while avoiding paying taxes. Greene getting ready to confront President Biden President Biden's perplexed response to Greene shouting 'say her name' at him The Republican congresswoman was wearing a red blazer and a shirt with 'say her name' on it The 'Laken Riley Act' which passed 251 to 170 requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain migrants who have been charged with theft and other crimes. Notably, 37 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure. Her alleged killer, Jose Antonio Ibarra, is a 26-year-old Venezuelan national who is illegally in the country. Ibarra was arrested in New York for endangering a child and was cited in Georgia for shoplifting, but wasn't detained by ICE immediately before Riley's murder. The bill passage came just hours before President Biden's State of the Union speech. He placed blame Republicans for not voting on a Senate-led $118 billion bill to secure the border during remarks. Joe Biden has no excuse. I handed him a pin to remember Laken Riley. He refused to SAY HER NAME! pic.twitter.com/jxv8uD6uqK Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) March 8, 2024 Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested for the murder of Laken Riley and appeared in court on February 24th when he was formally charged with the young woman's murder Officials have confirmed that Ibarra is not a US citizen and did not know or have any kind of relationship with Riley The White House finally broke its silence on Riley's death days after she was killed sparking outrage nationwide. 'We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Laken Hope Riley,' a White House official said in a statement to DailyMail.com at the end of last month. 'People should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law if they are found to be guilty. Given this is an active case, we would have to refer you to state law enforcement and ICE,' the White House official said. The statement notably left out any mention, by name, of illegal Venezuelan immigrant Ibarra. Ibarra, since his 2022 entry into the U.S., has been cited for shoplifting and child endangerment. The act would also enable individual states to sue the federal government if it or its citizens are harmed by immigration related actions. The new legislation by Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., would have required Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain Ibarra after his first offense and before he could have the chance to attack Riley. Collins represents Georgia's 10th Congressional District, which contains the community where Riley was killed. The act would 'require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft, and for other purposes,' a copy of the bill obtained by DailyMail.com states. Just five months ago, Ibarra was arrested and charged 'with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation,' according to ICE. Ibarra, who had been working for food delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats, was caught driving his wife's son on the back of a gas-powered moped without a helmet or restraint for the child in New York City. The NYPD released him 'before a detainer could be issued,' the agency said. New York City is also a 'sanctuary city,' which usually restricts law enforcement from complying with ICE detainers. Rep. Mike Collins, who represents Athens, Georgia, in Congress, wrote the 'Laken Riley Act' Jose Ibarra entered the U.S. in 2022 with his brother Diego, ICE confirmed In 2022, Ibarra was charged with shoplifting at a Walmart in Athens, Georgia. However, he was allowed to remain in the country. The 'Laken Riley Act' would have required Ibarra be detained after his shoplifting citation. The bill also contains phrasing condemning the Biden administration's handling of the U.S.-Mexico border. 'Congress finds that the Nation mourns the devastating loss of Laken Riley and other victims of the Biden administration's open borer policies; honors the life and memory of Laken Riley and other victims of the Biden administration's open borders policies.' A number of Democratic women lawmakers made a fashion statement at the State of the Union address on Thursday night by wearing white. Wearing white suits has become a reoccurring choice for Democratic women for the president's annual speech and has long been the chosen color of the women's suffrage movement. The Democratic Women's Caucus posted ahead of the address 'For tonight's State of the Union address, we're in white and wearing "Fighting for Reproductive Freedom" pins.' It comes as Democrats have been fighting to restore abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with a landmark decision in 2022. Abortion rights has become a huge motivator to get voters to elect Democrats across the country and is expected to be a top issue in 2024. A number of Democratic women lawmakers wore white for the State of the Union address 'Our message is clear: we won't stop fighting until all women can access the health care they need to control their own lives and futures,' the post on X continued. Democrats have also seized on the need to protect IVF after clinics paused fertility treatments amid legal concerns after the recent Alabama Supreme Court ruled embryos are children. The president during his speech called on Congress to 'guarantee' IVF nationwide. Biden also slammed former president Trump in his speech blaming him for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and said those bragging about overturning Roe v Wade had no clue about the power of women and touted Democrat victories in 2022 and 2023. 'If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again,' Biden said in his speech. Democratic women lawmakers wore pins to highlight their support for abortion rights to the State of the Union address For tonights State of the Union address, were in white and wearing Fighting for Reproductive Freedom pins. Our message is clear: we won't stop fighting until all women can access the health care they need to control their own lives and futures. pic.twitter.com/A7nEOjI51l Democratic Women's Caucus (@DemWomenCaucus) March 7, 2024 A number of Democratic lawmakers brought abortion rights advocates or women with personal abortion stories as State of the Union guests. First Lady Jill Biden also invited women impacted by an abortion ban and the Alabama Supreme Court IVF decision to sit with her in her box for the address. Latorya Beasley from Birmingham, Alabama is one of her guests. She and her husband were trying to expand their family when her in vitro fertilization (IVF) process was abruptly canceled in the wake of the controversial Alabama ruling. Also joining the First Lady is Kate Cox, a mother of two, who publicly spoke out about her experience trying to get care after Texas banned abortion. Cox sought a court order for an abortion after it was determined the fetus had a genetic condition and could not survive and her life was at risk. She ended up having to travel out of state to receive an emergency abortion. Experts say it can still be saved Hundreds of sites across most of the Great Barrier Reef are turning white from heat stress in the fifth mass coral bleaching event in eight years. Aerial surveys over two-thirds of the reef have confirmed 'widespread' bleaching, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said on Friday. Climate change is the biggest threat to tropical reefs worldwide, and coral bleaching is caused by heat stress. Our latest Reef health update is now available. Learn about the latest data on Reef health, including current coral bleaching events, as well as our management actions. Read and watch the full update here: https://t.co/GlSGaj9Buk. #ReefHealth #LovetheReef pic.twitter.com/lw1CyAyKzE Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (@gbrmarinepark) March 7, 2024 It's not always fatal but corals are likely to die if temperatures remain higher than normal for too long. Reef Authority chief scientist Roger Beeden said bleaching had been recorded at 300 sites from Cape Melville north of Cooktown to just north of Bundaberg. 'The results are consistent with what we have seen with above average sea surface temperatures across the marine park for an extended period of time,' Dr Beeden said. He said there was prevalent shallow-water coral bleaching on most surveyed reefs, but noted heat stress this summer had varied with location. Over two thirds of the Great Barrier Reef hs suffered 'widespread' bleaching (pictured, the Great Barrier Reef: left 2021, right same coral in 2024) In response to the news Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said that the government has already invested $1.2billion to save the reef. 'We need to act on climate change. We need to protect our special places and the plants and animals that call them home. And that is exactly what we are doing,' she told the Courier Mail. 'We've legislated to reach net zero, with a 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 and committed to reaching 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030. Australian Marine Conservation Societys Dr Lissa Schindler said that acting now could save a $6billion sustainable tourism industry and the 64,000 jobs created by the Great Barrier Reef. Climate change is the biggest threat to tropical reefs worldwide, and coral bleaching is caused by heat stress (pictured, stock Great Barrier Reef pre-bleaching) But the bleaching mirrors what has happened to other reefs around the world in the past year. The Australian Institute of Marine Science, which collaborated on the aerial work, said teams needed to get into the water to determine the severity of the bleaching. The Australian Marine Conservation Society said the latest mass bleaching showed the federal government must lift emissions targets and end fossil fuel projects to keep global temperatures in a survivable range for reefs. 'We need to do much more to address climate change, which is driving the marine heatwaves that lead to coral bleaching,' Dr Schindler said. 'The former coalition federal government failed to heed the alarm sounded by four mass coral bleaching events. 'Australia's current target of a 43 per cent cut in carbon pollution by 2030 is consistent with a 2C warming pathway, which equates to the loss of 99 per cent of the world's coral reefs.' Senator Katie Britt appeared on the verge of tears at times as she tore into the policies President Joe Biden emphatically defended during his pivotal State of the Union. The Alabama Republican was impassioned and visibly furious, but also optimistic, as she delivered her party's official rebuttal to Biden from her kitchen. The 42-year-old, who is married for former NFL linebacker Wesley Britt, slammed the president's policies on immigration and economy and went after his age and fitness for office. 'The American Dream has turned into a nightmare,' she said. Britt delivered heartbreaking stories about sexual assault of a girl trafficked and repeatedly raped at the southern border and the recent tragedy of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, 22, who was murdered by an illegal immigrant released into the country with undocumented status in 2022. 'Ya'll, as a mom, I can't quit thinking about this,' the emotional mother-of-two said in her rebuttal. 'I mean, this could have been my daughter. This could have been your's.' Alabama Sen. Katie Britt (pictured) got emotional at times during her Republican rebuttal to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Thursday Britt tore into Biden's defense of her border and economic policies delivering heartbreaking illegal immigration-related stories and saying he is out of touch. 'The American people are scraping by while President Biden proudly proclaims that Bidenomics is working. Goodness ya'll, bless his heart. We know better' 'And tonight, President Biden finally said her name,' she added. 'But he refused to take responsibility for his own actions. Mr. President enough is enough. Innocent Americans are dying and you only have yourself to blame.' She said the American dream has now 'turned into a nightmare.' Britt sat at a spot at her family's kitchen table in Birmingham, Alabama on Thursday night for the rebuttal remarks to Biden's speech where she discussed kitchen table issues with tuned-in Americans. Specifically she discussed the disconnect Biden has with his economic policies and how they actually impact average Americans. 'The American people are scraping by while President Biden proudly proclaims that Bidenomics is working,' she said, then added on the southern insult of: 'Goodness ya'll, bless his heart. We know better.' The rising Republican star who was elected to her seat at age 40 brought up Biden's age, which she nearly halves, as she insisted he cannot relate to the average American today and is therefore out of touch with how to lead the nation forward. Britt said the 81-year-old doesn't understand the economic plights of American families as he pushes his Bidenomics agenda. Britt, who has two children and is married for former NFL linebacker Wesley Britt (right), slammed the president's policies on immigration and economy and went after his age and fitness for office. Britt pictured with Vice President Kamala Harris with her husband and two children as she was sworn into her U.S. Senate seat on January 3, 2023 Britt was chosen for the rebuttal as a rising star in the Republican party. She accused Biden of being out of touch with the rest of America 'What we saw was the performance of a permanent politician, who has actually been in office longer than I've been alive,' she said of the president's speech. 'One thing was quite clear, though President Biden is out of touch.' 'Let's be honest, it's been a minute since Joe Biden pumped gas, ran a carpool or even pushed a grocery cart,' Britt added later in her less than 20-minute remarks. 'Meanwhile, the rest of us see our dollar and we know it doesn't go as far. We see it every day.' Notably, Britt's state has been under a microscope lately after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that fertilized eggs for In Vitro fertilization (IVF) are classified as a human life. This decision has led to mass confusion over how clinics should handle these eggs in Alabama especially in light of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Alabama was a state with trigger laws, meaning once the decision was overruled, abortion became essentially totally illegal in the southern red state. Biden brought up this conundrum in his remarks earlier on Thursday evening and called out the Supreme Court justices six of whom were attending his speech for the decision that put an end to nationwide rights for a woman to receive an abortion. 'This is the United States of America and it is past time, in my opinion, that we start acting like it,' Britt said in her rebuttal. 'President Biden's border policies are a disgrace. This crisis is despicable. And the truth is, it is almost entirely preventable,' she added. 'From fentanyl poisonings to horrific murders, there are empty chairs tonight at kitchen tables just like this one because of President Biden's senseless border policies.' 'Right now, our commander-in-chief is not in command,' she said in closing her remarks. 'The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader.' 'America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets and a strong defense are actually the cornerstones of a great nation.' President Joe Biden took on the powerful Supreme Court during his State of the Union speech, calling it out for overturning Roe v. Wade in an election year where the court's decisions are already playing an outsized role. It was one of many pointed political barbs during the speech, this time directed at the handful of justices gathered inside the House chamber for the speech. 'With all due respect, justices, women are not without electoral or political power,' Biden said after bashing the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization by a 6-3 conservative majority in 2022. 'Many of you in this chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom,' Biden said in a remark directed at House and Senate Republicans. 'My God! What freedom else would you take away?' President Joe Biden took a shot at Supreme Court justices over striking down Roe v. Wade, telling them 'women are not without electoral or political power' Then he delivered a slam on the court, after its ruling struck down nationwide abortion rights protections, freeing up states to pass a range of new restrictions. 'And with all due respect, justices, women are not without electoral electoral power electoral or political power.' Biden was drawing on language from the Dobbs decision itself. The majority wrote: 'Our decision returns the issue of abortion to those legislative bodies, and it allows women on both sides of the abortion issue to seek to affect the legislative process by influencing public opinion, lobbying legislators, voting, and running for office. Women are not without electoral or political power.' He then went after people who were 'bragging about overturning Roe v Wade' and said they had 'no clue about the power of women. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot' in 2020 and 2020 'and will win again in 2024.' Biden's 2024 rival Donald Trump regularly takes credit for appointing three conservative justices who voted to strike down Roe. Three justices who joined the 6-3 opinion striking down Roe were in the chamber Biden greeted Chief Justice John Roberts on the way into the chamber Democrats believe they can score continued gains over the abortion issue The justices were at a disadvantage. By tradition they can't clap or respond to the political rhetoric in the room The attack on the court came in a speech where Biden went after his predecessor and called out House Republicans on tax cuts and the border The justices weren't in much of a position to respond. By tradition those who attend do not applaud or otherwise engage in activity that could appear partisan. Chief Justice John Roberts, who Biden greeted on the way into the chamber, was prsent, as were a handful of justices. The author of the opinion, Justice Samuel Alito, wasn't there. Biden didn't mention it, but the high court has been making critical decisions in recent weeks that are shaping the political terrain of 2024. One struck down a Colorado ruling that struck Donald Trump off the ballot. Another set up oral arguments on Trump's claim of absolute immunity for actions as president. But the timetable could end up pushing Trump's January 6 trial in Washington, D.C. until after the election, when he could try to wipe away his prosecution if elected. A border town inundated with 900 immigrants a day has extended a state of emergency to keep shelters open. El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser extended the disaster declaration in the Texas city on Thursday for a fourth time as the crisis showed no signs of ending. Lesser's declaration has to be re-signed every week after the city council failed to renew a longer-term ordinance due to one holdout councilman. The disaster was extended on the same day President Joe Biden tore into Congressional Republicans for blocking a bipartisan immigration bill during his State of the Union speech. Biden accused his likely election opponent Donald Trump of pressuring Republicans to reject the legislation that he argued would have relieved the border crisis. El Paso, a Texas border town inundated with 900 immigrants a day, has extended a state of emergency to keep shelters open Lesser said the declaration was needed to maintain emergency plans that allowed public buildings to be used as shelters, and helped charities deliver aid. 'The City of El Paso remains unwavering in its dedication to addressing the pressing humanitarian and public safety issues brought about by the influx of migrants,' he said. 'We recognize the importance of collaborative efforts with the NGOs and humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to those in need, which is why I intend to sign the local Disaster Declaration. 'The impending disaster declaration is a crucial step in mobilizing essential resources and ensuring a coordinated response to the challenges we face in our community.' El Paso's longer disaster declaration must be unanimously approved by the council, and Josh Acevedo single-handedly blocked it last month. He said the declaration was not clear enough about how long National Guardsmen and state troopers would be stationed in the city. 'There is not clarity around the exact amount of state resources and law enforcement personnel that have been invited to our community because of these declarations,' he said. Acevedo said he could change his mind if there was more transparency around certain details in the declaration. The mayor said the declaration was needed to maintain emergency plans that allowed public buildings to be used as shelters, and helped charities deliver aid President Joe Biden tore into Congressional Republicans for blocking a bipartisan immigration bill during his State of the Union speech Biden used part of his State of the Union address to Congress to speak about the border crisis, mostly calling on Republicans to pass the immigration bill. Senators from both parties hammered out a deal that would have toughened border policies and provided funding to slash wait times for asylum hearing to six months, among other measures. However, House Republicans killed the bill under pressure from Trump, who wanted to use the issue to clobber his opponent in the election campaign. 'If my predecessor's watching instead of paying politics and pressuring members of Congress to block the bill, join me in telling the Congress to pass it. We can do it together,' he said. 'I will not demonize immigrants saying they are poisoned in the blood of our country. I will not separate families. I will not.' Biden argued the bill would have lessened the 'incentive' for immigrants to pay people smugglers $8,000 to sneak them over the border. Migrants are often released into the US after surrendering to border patrol, and don't face a hearing on their asylum claims for years. He argued the bill would reduce that time to six months or even six weeks, dissuading migrants who were not genuine refugees from trying their luck. El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser extended the disaster declaration in the Texas city on Thursday for a fourth time as the crisis showed no signs of ending Groups of migrants of different nationalities arrive at the Rio Grande, to cross it and surrender to the American authorities in El Paso Hammering Biden on the border has been a successful political issue for Trump. Two weeks ago, the men made dueling trips to the southern border to examine the situation there. Biden went to Brownsville, Texas, where border crossings are down. Trump went to Eagle Pass, where it was still a huge problem. 'We can fight about fixing the border, or we can fix it. I'm ready to fix it,' he said. 'Send me the border bill. Now.' Border crossings peaked at about 10,000 over the middle of winter, most notably at Eagle Pass, before easing in recent weeks. El Paso Border Patrol officer Claudio Herrera said numbers were expected to rise as the weather got warmer, but they were lower than the previous year. 'Overall, the encounters here in El Paso Sector have significantly decreased. We're talking about, approximately, a 50 percent decrease compared to the previous fiscal year, 2023,' he said. Groups of migrants of different nationalities arrive at the border fence before crossing into the US near El Paso The City of El Paso's website explained about 70 percent of asylum-seekers were from Venezuela, fleeing political and economic turmoil Opportunity Center for the Homeless deputy director John Martin said numbers in homeless shelters were rising. 'I think there is a level of concern among all the shelters at this point. And we share the same level of concern. But we're going to continue to operate in the manner that we have for the last 30 years,' he told ABC news. 'We're starting to see a few trends going up at this point, but nothing to be concerned with at this time. 'The numbers seem to be increasing as it relates to the number of encounters -- those currently in custody -- as well as the number of community releases that are being coordinated.' The City of El Paso's website explained about 70 percent of asylum-seekers were from Venezuela, fleeing political and economic turmoil. '[The city] places our priority on the individual migrant, providing food and water, connectivity, transportation assistance, and temporary shelter if needed,' it read. 'The people crossing come from all parts of the world to escape economic devastation and extreme crime.' New York Governor Kathy Hochul told subway riders who refuse to submit to bag checks to 'go home.' Her comments came as she defended stationing 750 national guard members at the Big Apple's busiest stations in a bid to clamp down on the rampant violence rocking the network. The guard members will be checking passengers' bags for weapons as they enter the system. Talking to Fox5, Hochul was asked what passengers who did not want their belonging searched should do. 'Go home,' she answered bluntly. 'We're not going to search youyou can say no. But you're not taking the subway.' Hochul was pressed on the five-point plan she announced on Wednesday aimed at tackling the spike in violent subway crimes. New York Governor Kathy Hochul told subway riders who refuse to submit to bag checks to 'go home' Her comments came as she defended stationing 750 national guard members at the Big Apple's busiest stations in a bid to clamp down on the violent crimes rocking the network Hochul was pressed on the five-point plan she announced on Wednesday aimed at tackling the spike violent subway crimes Hochul has partnered with Mayor Eric Adams, who announced he was bringing back bag checks for subway riders on Wednesday She has partnered with Mayor Eric Adams, who announced he was bringing back bag checks for subway riders on Wednesday after a 13 percent crime spike. Bag checks were first brought in on the subway following the 2005 London bombings. The policy appears reminiscent of New York's previous stop-and-frisk searches on the street, which were ruled unconstitutional almost a decade ago. 'My No. 1 priority is the safety of all New Yorkers,' Hochul said. 'If people are anxious in any aspect of their lives, particularly the lifeblood of our regiondownstate does not function without a healthy subway system that people have confidence inI have to do this for them.' Recent criminal activity on the trains making headlines include a cellist who was bludgeoned over the head by a stranger wielding a water bottle as he performed, as well as a shooting that killed one and injured five others. Hochul further cited a subway conductor who had his throat slashed as among the 'fever' sweeping the transport system. The conductor survived thanks to the quick thinking of a doctor who was on board. She also mentioned another MTA conductor who was hit on the head with a glass bottle as further evidence of the dire situation. Bag checks were first brought in on the subway following the 2005 London bombings The policy appears reminiscent of New York's previous stop-and-frisk searches on the street, which were ruled unconstitutional almost a decade ago 'There's no search-and-frisk, there's no stop-and-frisk, there's no profiling. All this is a deterrent saying: "You want to commit a crime? Go somewhere elsenot on our subways," Hochul said 'We're gonna take some strong action,' Hochul said. 'There's no search-and-frisk, there's no stop-and-frisk, there's no profiling. All this is a deterrent saying: "You want to commit a crime? Go somewhere elsenot on our subways."' Hochul said the troops' presence would further dissuade fare dodging. 'You want to look in the eyes of the police officer or the MTA transit police or National Guard and still jump theskip the fare? Go ahead,' she added. The governor hopes that eventually the entire network will be covered by cameras to deter criminality. 'I'd rather be in the business of preventing crimes than having to solve them,' she said. 'And if people know they're being watchedthat there's a camera that will record if they harm someone, assault, bring out a gun, have a knife, that they're going to get caughtI think that's going to have a powerful effect on the psychology of the criminals.' There will be 94 bag screening teams sent to 136 stations each week, though the exact locations will be determined. The city is also reviewing technology to detect metal objects entering the transit system. Screening teams will be able to check bags of any passenger for weapons under the policy that has long been dormant. Adams says he will add more police presence in subway stations and return bag checks and checking backpacks after a 13 percent crime spike 'We know people feel unsafe,' Adams, himself a former transit police officer, admitted The national guardsmen join an additional 1,000 cops stationed in subways by Adams following a 45 percent increase in major crimes in January compared to the same time last year. The national guardsmen join an additional 1,000 cops stationed in subways by Adams following a 45 percent increase in major crimes in January compared to the same time last year. Knives, box cutters, clubs and guns are reportedly among the weapons the NYPD is searching for. Subway crime has been on the rise of late, with 2023 showing the most subway assaults since 1996. There have been three homicides on the rails to start the year, compared to none at this point last year. The Transit Workers Union slammed their bosses at the MTA for failing to protect them. 'We stand ready to assist Local 100 as they confront this plague of violence - and transit executives who are either inept or indifferent to the harm inflicted on their own employees day and night,' said TWU President John Samuelsen. 'On workplace safety, the MTA has been an abysmal failure. Assaults against transit workers in the subway increased nearly 60 percent last year.' President Joe Biden bragged about wiping out $138 billion in federal student loan debt since taking office despite the Supreme Court blocking his student loan forgiveness plan. The president touted canceling the debt during his State of the Union address Thursday night just feet from where the Supreme Court justices were seated in attendance. 'When I was told I couldn't just universally change the way in which we did debt with student loans I fixed two student loan programs that already existed to reduce the burden of student debt for nearly four million Americans including nurses, firefighters and others in public service,' Biden said. Last June, the Supreme Court ruled against Biden's $400 billion plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for millions of Americans. But Biden vowed to continue to fight in other ways. To date he has canceled student loan debt for nearly 3.9 million borrowers despite the Supreme Court killing his plan last June. President Biden touted canceling student loan debt for four million Americans since taking office during his State of the Union address Keenan Jones (left) who benefitted from the public service loan forgiveness program was in attendance for the State of the Union address as a guest of First Lady Jill Biden Some of the steps the White House has taken include changes to the public service loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment programs. One of First Lady Jill Biden's guests for the State of the Union address on Thursday was Keenan Jones, a public school educator from Minnesota, who benefited from the public service loan forgiveness program and received a shoutout from the president. 'Hes educated hundreds of students so they can go to college. Now he can help after debt forgiveness get his own daughter to college,' Biden said. 'Such relief is good for the economy because folks are now able to buy a home, start a business, start a family,' the president continued. During his State of the Union address, Biden also called for a raise for public school teachers, a line that got a big cheer from some members in the audience. 'While we're at it, I want to give public school teachers a raise,' Bide said. But while Biden has vowed to work to cancel more student loan debt, his efforts have not come without criticism. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona standing alongside President Biden at the White House after the Supreme Court blocked the president's original $400 billion plan to cancel student loan debt The Biden administration has been working on several approaches to cancel student loan debt after the Supreme Court blocked the previous plan including launching the SAVE plan and going through the rulemaking process Republicans and some critics have slammed the move to cancel student loan debt arguing it is a burden of taxpayers who chose not to take out student loans or pursue expensive college degrees and an overreach of the president's authority. But advocates calling for student loan forgiveness celebrated the president including the issue in his annual address. 'The Biden Administration has now cancelled the most student loan debt in American history,' said Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center. 'Behind these numbers are real-life Americans whose lives have been changed for the better due to the Biden Administration's efforts to tackle the student loan debt crisis,' Pierce continued. The group said the president must finalize and deliver on his plan. The administration is working through the rule making process on further cancel student loan debt. Last month, the White House announced it would start canceling debt for borrowers enrolled in the new Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. The SAVE plan is an income driven repayment plan for borrowers who have been making payments for at least ten years and had originally taken out $12,000 or less for college. Moving forward, the Education Department will continue to identify and cancel student loan debt under the plan on a regular basis. Republicans have tried to block the plan but have not had the numbers in Congress to do so. A public servant has won a landmark work-from-home legal fight meaning he will only have to go into the office one day a week. Daniel Hume, a Queensland-based health worker, applied to work entirely from home in March 2021, claiming it made him more productive and enabled him to spend more time with his family. After a senior director denied his request, saying he should come in to the office two days one week and three days the next, he engaged in a legal fight to overturn the decision. Mr Hume appealed to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC), arguing Queensland Health had taken a blanket approach and did not take his circumstances into account. He also argued that he had less distractions and more time to exercise when he worked from home because his commute time was eliminated. Daniel Hume, a Queensland-based health worker, applied to work entirely from home in March 2021, claiming it made him more productive According to the Courier Mail, the QIRC determined that he would only have to work in the office one day a week. Queensland Health took the matter to the states Industrial Court, taking the position that spending more days in the office helps workers switch off after work and avoid a sedentary lifestyle. They also argued that Mr Hume needed to have face-to-face interactions as part of his job as a manager. The Industrial Court Deputy President threw out Queensland Health's appeal last Friday, saying the decision handed down by the QIRC was correct. Mr Hume resigned in August 2022, on the same day as the QIRC handed down their ruling. President Joe Biden, 81, tackled his age issue head-on during Thursday's State of the Union address, making jokes about it, but also hinting that his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, 77, will lead with 'ancient' ideas. He got those in the chamber laughing when he said, 'I know I may not look like it, but I've been around awhile.' Biden then struck a more serious tone about the differences between he and Trump as leaders. 'My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isn't how old we are, it's how old are our ideas,' the president said. 'Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are the oldest of ideas, but you can't lead America with ancient ideas and only take us back.' He told the crowd that 'when you get to be my age, certain things become clearer than ever.' President Joe Biden, 81, tackled his age issue head-on during Thursday's State of the Union address, making jokes about it, but also hinting that his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, 77, will lead with 'ancient' ideas 'I know the American story,' the 81-year-old said. 'Again and again I've seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our nation.' 'Between those who want to pull America back to the past and those that want to move America to the future,' Biden continued. 'My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, a future based on core values that have defined America - honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor,' the president added. He then alluded to his rival, Trump, as the general election kicked off this week in earnest, with Trump's final challenger, Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, bowing out. 'Other people my age see it differently,' Biden said. 'The American story of resentment, revenge and retribution.' 'That's not me,' he said. At least year's Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump told the crowd: 'I am your retribution.' Biden then reminded voters of his folksy biography. 'I was born amid World War Two, when America stood for the freedom of the world. I grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Claymont, Delaware among working class people who built this country,' he said. 'I watched in horror as two of my heroes - like many of you did - Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated and their legacy inspired me - a career in service,' Biden continued. Kennedy's son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is running against Biden in the general election as an independent. 'I left a law firm and became a public defender because my city of Wilmington was the only city in American occupied by the national guard after Dr. King was assassinated, because of the riots,' he noted. 'I became a county councilman almost by accident. I got elected to the United States Senate when I had no intention of running at age 29.' He then boasted about how he served alongside historic firsts noting he was 'the vice president to our first black president, now president to the first women vice president.' 'In my career, I've been told I was too young,' he said. 'By the way they wouldn't let me on the Senate elevators for votes sometimes. Not a joke.' 'Now I've been told I'm too old,' he said. 'Whether young or old I've always known - I've always known what endures,' the president said. He spoke of the vision of every American being equal, something 'we've never fully lived up to' but something never to be walked away from either. 'And I won't walk away from it now,' Biden pledged. Biden said a future under his leadership would include defending democracy, restoring the 'right to choose' and ensuring the wealthy would pay their fair share of taxes. 'I see a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis and our country from gun violence,' he said, mentioning two important issues for younger voters. 'Above all, I see a future for all Americans. I see a country for all Americans. And I will always be president for all Americans. Because I believe in America. I believe in you the American people,' he said. 'You're the reason we've never been more optimistic about our future than I am now. So let's build a future together.' Trump has said he doesn't even want Haley's former supporters to be a part of his MAGA movement. Biden brought up what is viewed as his biggest political liability as he wrapped up the speech. 'Let me close with this,' the president said. When audienced members cheered, Biden joined them saying, 'Yayyy!' 'I know you don't want to hear anymore Lindsey, but I've gotta say a few more things,' he said, giving a poke to his former friend turned MAGA Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham. He ended his speech with his trademark line about being optimistic about the future of the country. 'Let's remember who we are. We're the United States of America and there's nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we act together,' the president said. The state capitol building in Hartford, Conn., on Sunday Jan. 17, 2020. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media State Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport, co-chairwoman of the legislative Housing Committee Contributed / Rep. Tony Scott of Monroe, a top Republican on the legislative Housing Committee. Ken Dixon/Hearst Connecticut Media A competitive $50-million grant program for municipalities willing to develop more low- and moderate-income housing is the centerpiece of several bills the Housing Committee's Democratic majority approved on Thursday. The primary bill, which next heads to the floor of the Senate, would give tax credits to developers converting commercial properties into housing. It also creates a 1-percent conveyance fee for residences purchased by institutional investors, such as real estate investment trusts, and reduces the state sales tax from 6.35 percent to 3 percent for builders involved in projects with 50 or more residential units. The bill would also codify existing law allowing local housing authorities to expand beyond their jurisdictions with the support of the communities targeted, and give $200,000 to the state Housing Department to perform a study of rents statewide. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Passage of the legislation was a victory for state Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport, co-chairwoman of the committee, who answered numerous questions on the wide-ranging bill from Republicans, who are outnumbered 11-5 on the committee. "There's no doubt that housing costs and availability in Connecticut are front and center on everyone's mind," Moore said. "Our recent public hearing on this and other housing bills went 12 hours, and we heard from more than 200 people. I think the Housing Committee has done more work in the past four years since the COVID-19 pandemic turned housing prices and availability upside-down in Connecticut than we've done over the past decade. But it's a gradual process." About 70 towns and cities would be eligible for the $50 million Housing Growth Fund, which Rep. Steve Weir, R-Hebron, criticized for possibly excluding communities with fewer municipal employees, such as his eastern Connecticut district, which includes Andover, Bolton, Marlborough and Glastonbury. "Some of my towns are very small," said Weir. "They have a small back office, if you will. Some of my towns have very limited resources, a lack of infrastructure in the office setting. It concerns me when we put a mandate on them that is unfunded." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Moore said a variety of metrics would be used to determine how much individual towns and cities would be eligible for in the grant program. "The town has to approve two percent of the state's total housing permits, or the town's poverty rate is above the state average," Moore said. Dwelling units approved for construction would also have to be triple the number approved for demolition in a given year, while 10 percent of local housing units would have to be deemed affordable. "You have to have certain documentation to show that you've met the goals," Moore said to Weir. Besides being concerned about small towns with limited resources and personnel, Weir claimed the added conveyance tax for corporate owners would hurt the eventual tenants of the units. "That's going to be borne, likely, by the person renting, whether that cost is spread over 100 units, or two, or 50," Weir said. "That increase will go down to the renter," agreed Rep. Tony Scott of Monroe, a top Republican on the committee. "It's going to trickle down on the backs of the renters of the state of Connecticut." Scott also recalled that the state Housing Department opposed some of the proposals including the conveyance tax, and highlighted the fact that the thorny state affordable housing statute called 8-30g, is not addressed in the bill. Advertisement Article continues below this ad State officials say there's a need for 169,000 to 200,000 new dwellings in Connecticut at a time when there are an estimated 100,000 job openings. Earlier in the week, the bills, some of which were the result of a roundtable led by Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Haven, included incentives to make the construction of affordable dwellings more attractive to developers. Xcel Energy has taken the blame for a downed powerline that sparked the fires The devastation from the Texas wildfires have killed more than 7,000 cows - with officials estimating the number of dead bovines could reach 10,000. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told CBS News the number is expected to go because cows will be euthanized because of injuries sustained in the fires. 'Their hooves are burned off, their utters are burnt beyond- they can't nurse their babies. We'll actually end up having to put a lot of cattle down just because they won't be able to make it, even though they survived,' Miller said. As of Thursday morning, more than 1million acres of land have been destroyed in the wildfires fires and 66 counties in the state have burn bans in place, according to Texas A&M Forest Service. More than 5,400 people in Texas were without power for a day last week as lines went dead due to fire damage. Xcel Energy has since taken blame for the downed lines and said that its equipment appeared to have sparked the Smokehouse Creek fire. The devastation from the Texas wildfires have killed more than 7,000 cows - with officials estimating the number of dead bovines could reach 10,000. As of Thursday morning, more than 1million acres of land have been destroyed in the wildfires fires and 66 counties in the state have burn bans in place Texas A&M Forest Service officials reported three active fires are still raging - the Grape Vine Creek Fire in Gray County, which is 96 percent contained, the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Hutchinson County, which is 74 percent contained and the Windy Deuce Fire in Moore County that is 89 percent contained. The Smokehouse fire, which took over an estimated 1,059,570 acres is the largest wildfire in the state's history. 'It's very stressful. Let's say you're the sixth, seventh, eighth generation, you're in charge of the family heritage. It becomes, at some point, you no longer own the land, the land owns you,' Miller said. 'All the family memorabilia is gone. All the heritage, all their memories are up a lot of them only have the clothes on their back.' Miller said that with over 11million heads of cattle in Texas, he has estimated that the final number of lost cattle could reach 10,000. He said he doesn't believe that the loss will have an 'overall price effect over the whole market' across the country, but that it is still 'devastating.' 'And those cows, right now, are worth from $2,500 to $3,000 and there's no insurance on those. That's just a total wipeout,' he said. The Smokehouse fire, which took over an estimated 1,059,570 acres is the largest wildfire in the state's history According to Wise Voter , in 2023, Texas was the leading meat producer in the country According to Wise Voter, in 2023, Texas was the leading meat producer in the country. Miller said that a couple who 'just started out' in the cattle industry lost their entire herd of 200 cows, and that another rancher lost 700 cows. Chance Bowers, the operator of the X-Cross-X Ranch told the Associated Press that across his three ranches, he has 1,000 cattle and believes he lost 250 of them to the wildfires. Bowers said: 'I've spent the last 15 years building this cow herd up," he said. "And you can lose it overnight. We've been very blessed, very fortunate that we're only gonna lose 200, you know?' He said that besides the tragic loss of the cows, farmers have also lost their cotton production in the fiery disaster. Rick Yantis, a farmer from Lamb County, told Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network that 'the ground is toast' and that the winds and heat felt 'more intense' than last year's fires. 'The dryland cotton is blistered and burned. A lot of the crop is turning brown and dying. I've never seen it get to this point,' he added. Aerial view of wildfires in Texas as they rip through forest and farmland Texas wildfire grows to more than 500,000 acres - the second-largest ever in Lone Star State - as nuclear weapons facility is temporarily evacuated and 4,000 are left without power Approximately 120 miles of powerlines were burnt in the fires and also left seed and seven-grain dealers 'completely wiped out.' Without the seed and grain, there was no food left for the surviving cows, along with electricity and water, Miller said. He said an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 miles of fencing was destroyed in the blazes and that just one mile costs around $10,000. Miller said he is not only heartbroken about the animals that were lost in the fires, but the mental state of the famers who have been left with virtually nothing. 'The highest rates of suicide in the nation are our veterans and our farmers,' Miller said and added that his office offers mental health support for people in the industry, called the AgriStress Helpline. The wildfires sweeping across the Texas Panhandle led to evacuations, power outages, temporary shutdown a nuclear weapons facility, countless animal deaths and killed two people. More than 5,400 people in Texas were without power for a day last week as lines went dead due to fire damage. Xcel Energy has since taken blame for the downed lines and said that its equipment appeared to have sparked the Smokehouse Creek fire The wildfires sweeping across the Texas Panhandle led to evacuations, power outages, temporary shutdown a nuclear weapons facility, countless animal deaths and killed two people Last week, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties in his state experiencing the impact of the out-of-control flames. 'Texans are urged to limit activities that could create sparks and take precautions to keep their loved ones safe,' Abbott said. The community has since depended on assistance through donations like farming equipment, food, clothing, and one woman even said she is providing nebulizers for animals who inhaled the toxic wildfire smoke. The Pantex plant, the country's main facility that assembles and disassembles America's nuclear arsenal, evacuated most of its personnel on Tuesday night. By the next morning, however, Pantex announced that the facility was 'open for normal day shift operations' and that all personnel were to report for duty according to their assigned schedule. Ffire crosses a road in the Smokehouse Creek fire in the Texas panhandle. The blaze grew to more than 850,000 acres since igniting More than 5,400 people in Texas were without power for a day last week as lines went dead due to fire damage Another rancher, Shane Pennington, 56, told CNN that he lost dozens and dozens of cattle in the Smokehouse Creek Fire. He said that his staff found around 50 dead cattle, as some nursing cows desperately search for their lost calves. 'We're not finding many calves,' he said. 'So I know they burned up.' The flames that engulfed the ranch just a few days ago decimated Pennington's herd, causing horrible injuries to some of the cows that weren't killed. Some of the animals' tails were burned, others were blinded by the flames. 'It's extremely hard to see 'em suffer. I've raised some of them since they were babies,' he said. 'It's just hard.' The Gold Star father of a Marine killed during the catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal was arrested during Thursday's State of the Union for heckling President Joe Biden during his speech. Steve Nikoui, the father of slain Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, shouted 'Remember Abbey Gate!' 'United States Marines!' and 'Abbey Gate!' from the balcony of the House chamber in the middle of the president's remarks. Abbey Gate is where Nikoui's son Kareem and 12 other service members were killed by a suicide bomber during the chaotic American exit from Kabul on August 26, 2021. The 51-year-old, who has blamed Biden for his son's death, was quickly removed from the public gallery and placed in handcuffs. The Gold star father began his protest after Biden said 'Americas safer today than when I took office.' Gold Star father Steve Nikoui was removed from President Joe Biden's State of the Union speech for shouting about his son's death in Afghanistan The 51-year-old was quickly removed from the public gallery and placed in handcuffs The father has previously said he blames Biden for his son's death Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, Calif. - one of 13 service members who were killed during the disastrous 2021 exit from Afghanistan The Gold star father began his protest afterBiden said 'Americas safer today than when I took office.' Florida Republican Rep. Brian Mast, who is a veteran, invited Nikoui to the State of the Union Address as his guest. 'For the last three SOTU speeches, Joe Biden REFUSED to say the names of the 13 U.S. servicemembers who were killed by his disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal,' Mast wrote on X after the father's protest. 'I couldnt support this effort more. Say their names!' Mast later added: 'Steve Nikoui, the father of fallen Marine LCpl. Kareem Nikoui, was my guest to the State of the Union. 'He was arrested because he cried out to Joe Biden to remember his son.' After Nikoui's slaying during the frantic evacuation from Hamid Karzai International Airport, the family was engulfed in tragedy. The 51-year-old, who has blamed Biden for his son's death, was quickly removed from the public gallery and placed in handcuffs. The father and son are pictured together Marine Corps carry team transfers the remains of Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui of Norco, California, on August 29, 2021 at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware The Marine's brother Dakota Halverson killed himself just days shy of the one-year anniversary next to the public memorial in California. Nikoui was arrested and charged with misdemeanor protest, according to a post by reporter Matthew Foldi on X. Security quickly escorted Nikoui out of the chamber, after his interruption. Biden did not visibly react. Other members of Congress reacted to Nikoui's protest as well as another Gold Star parent. 'That's shameful if he was arrested,' said Rep. Mike Waltz to the Daily Mail after the speech. 'I was with the all of the Gold star families just before the speech.' Nikoui's (right) brother Dakota Halverson (left), killed himself just days shy of the one-year anniversary next to the public memorial The public memorial for Nikoui in California is pictured above Nikoui would send his family photos of him with his fellow Marines outside Kabul International Airport, before the devastating suicide attack Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla. posed with Nikoui before going into the House chamber. He also invited a Gold Star mom to the speech Paula Knauss, mother of fallen Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, also expressed her disappointment with Biden Waltz invited Gold Star mother Paula Knauss, who lost her son, Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, after the blast at the Afghanistan airport. 'He has yet to say that 13 names, whether to them privately, publicly, in a speech anywhere. It's infuriating,' Waltz said. Knauss said she 'almost got kicked out myself' during the speech because she was furious with Biden for failing to say her son's name and apologize for the disastrous exit from Afghanistan. 'This was the start of the tumble that he's had in this administration. It has spiraled since,' she concluded. The House of Commons is where elected British politicians gather for debate that often turns rowdy Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney likened the outbursts to the British parliament Mitt Romney has likened Biden's raucous State of the Union speech and GOP heckling to the UK's House of Commons where politicians from both sides of the aisle regularly face off. The senator made the comparison between Thursday night's address and the scenes normally found in the British parliament. 'It's beginning to sound more and more like the House of Commons in London,' Romney was quoted as saying by Politico journalist Nicholas Wu. The House of Commons is a lower house in the British parliament where elected members from all parties gather for debates which notoriously often descend into shouting and jeers. Romney's comments came after a Biden delivered a spirited State of the Union speech that was marked by outbursts from both sides of the political spectrum. Mitt Romney likened Biden's raucous State of the Union speech and GOP heckling to the UK's House of Commons President Joe Biden started off his State of the Union address by attacking Donald Trump Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) calls out to Biden to 'say her name,' referring to murdered nursing student Laken Riley The rowdy scenes were reminiscent of the chaos that often unfolds in the British House of Commons where politicians from both sides often end up in shouting matches mediated by the speaker (pictured) The president got into several back-and-forths with Republican lawmakers during his remarks, in which he repeatedly attacked his GOP presidential rival, Donald Trump. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., shouted 'lies' as Biden criticized Trump's Covid-19 response. Most Democrats stood and cheered throughout the entire speech, except a minority of progressives who protested the president's response to Israel's bombing of Gaza. When Biden talked about a bill to increase border security that was killed by Republicans after Trump came out against it, GOP lawmakers booed him. 'Five thousand a day!' Republican members shouted, referring to a provision that would shut the border after an average of 5,000 migrants tried to cross. Among the most vocal was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who had many outbursts throughout the night. She urged Biden to 'say her name', in reference to murdered University of Georgia student Laken Riley who is thought to have been killed by an illegal immigrant. Greene, who was wearing a shirt with Riley's name, shouted at Biden 'say her name'. He acquiesced, but called the slain nursing student 'Lincoln' in an embarrassing blunder. A protester yelled out at President Biden and was removed from the House Chamber Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) (left) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts) (right) hold up signs supporting a ceasefire in the Middle East There was further disruption when an unidentified protester began screaming in the House chamber during Biden's remarks. Images of the protester posted online show that he was in the guest seating area. It appeared to be a Gold Star family member who shouted 'Abbey Gate' referencing the location where 13 servicemembers were killed in the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. It has been reported the protester was escorted out of the chamber shortly after his outburst. The rowdy behavior was reminiscent of scenes commonly seen across the pond, where the House of Commons has its own rule allowing the speaker to adjourn without taking a vote in the case of 'grave disorder.' The rule was introduced following several heated sessions, some of which even resulted in physical clashes. One of the more recent instances of chaos in the Commons occurred two weeks ago, after the three biggest political parties sought to out-maneuver each other over a vote on a ceasefire in Gaza. Tempers flared and several lawmakers ended up storming out of the chamber after a decision by the speaker to ignore precedent and allow a vote which helped the opposition Labour Party avoid a large-scale rebellion among its own lawmakers over its position on the Israel-Hamas war. In one section addressing the war in Ukraine Biden thundered, 'I will not bow down' as he urged Congress to stand up to Putin Democrats were rowdy during President Biden's speech, cheering often Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) cheer as Biden delivers his annual State of the Union address But even when he wasn't being interrupted, Biden put on a spirited display, at times banging his fist and shouting to get his points across. In one section addressing the war in Ukraine he thundered, 'I will not bow down' as he urged Congress to stand up to Putin. Democrats also booed loudly as Biden described Trump's more laissez-faire approach to the Russian autocrat. Biden quoted Trump as saying 'do whatever the hell you want' in Europe, prompting jeers from the audience. The president also made pointed remarks towards the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v Wade as he made an impassioned pledge to restore abortion rights. The United Jewish Federation of Utah condemned the bar for its 'biased policy' Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services referred the post to the state Attorney General's office to review if it violates discrimination laws A Salt Lake City bar owned by a former mayoral candidate is being called anti-Semitic after announcing on social media it has a 'no Zionists' allowed policy. Weathered Waves, a cider bar, posted on Instagram Monday that it is 'banning all Zionists forever from our establishments.' The bar is part of the Six Sailor Cider group, which is owned by former Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Michael Valentine - who received 7 percent of the city's vote in 2023. Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services, which gave Weathered Waves its license on February 29, have referred the bar to the state Attorney General's Office to investigate if the policy violates discrimination laws, reported FOX 13. 'We are horrified by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and are even more horrified to see so many Americans ignore and rationalize ethnic cleansing. That is why we are pleased to announce we are banning all Zionists,' the bar said in its post. Weathered Waves, a cider bar, posted on Instagram that it is 'banning all Zionists forever from our establishments' 'Zionism is hate speech. It is white supremacy and has nothing to do with the beautiful Jewish faith. We forever stand firmly with the people of Gaza and humanity.' 'We dream of a free and prosperous Palestine. Ceasefire Now,' the bar said. Shortly after, the United Jewish Federation of Utah condemned Weathered Waves for its 'biased policy,' reported ABC4. 'In the guise of Anti-Zionist rhetoric this business owner is demonizing those who believe in the right of existence of a Jewish state as well as applying a double standard to Israel and our community,' the Federation said. 'Anti-Zionist rhetoric can and is often used in the context of anti-Semitic acts.' 'No group should be banned from a local business based on their perceived or real identity or beliefs,' said the Federation. Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services spokeswoman Michelle Schmitt told The Salt Lake Tribune the agency received 'several comments from members of the public' about the post. Schmitt said the department referred the post to the state Attorney General's office 'so they may conduct an investigation on whether the business is violating discrimination laws.' The bar is part of the Six Sailor Cider group, which is owned by former Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Michael Valentine - who received 7 percent of the city's vote in 2023 Valentine said his establishment has received thousands of messages, including a threat to burn the bar down which he reported to the police, since the putting out the post The department is also reviewing its own 'legal options for responding to discrimination at DABS licensed establishments.' Valentine said his establishment has received thousands of messages, including a threat to burn the bar down which he reported to the police, since the putting out the post. 'None of us are calling for violence. Were demanding a ceasefire, a unilateral ceasefire on both sides,' Valentine told ABC4. In a follow up post the bar said, 'For the record, we are banning Zionists, not Jews.' The Weathered Waves Instagram account has since posted pictures of reviews people have left criticizing them for the 'no Zionists' policy. Republican lawmakers ripped Joe Biden's State of the Union address as being divisive and more akin to a campaign speech than a unifying moment. President Biden spoke for just over an hour on his administration's accomplishments like cutting medical prescription costs and stabilizing a turbulent economy. He also took shots at Republicans for hindering his agenda and slammed them for restricting reproductive rights and not supporting his recent efforts to pass border security measures. He took many shots at former President Donald Trump, whom Biden referred to multiple times as 'my predecessor,' but never by name. Members of the GOP, meanwhile, said after the State of the Union that Biden did more to split Americans than bring them together. 'It was out of touch and perhaps the most divisive State of the Union I have ever seen,' Sen. Schmitt, R-Mo., told DailyMail.com. President Joe Biden started off his State of the Union address by attacking Donald Trump Democratic members of Congress cheer President Joe Biden during the State of the Union address - many Democratic women lawmakers wore white to show their support for reproductive rights 'There was no effort to bring people together,' he said, adding Biden's remarks were 'like an angry great grandpa screaming at people to get off his lawn.' Many of his Republican colleagues felt similarly. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson called the speech 'overly partisan.' Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., similarly said, 'Joe Bidens angry, hyper-partisan speech was packed with falsehoods and completely out of touch with the American people.' 'He neglected to take any accountability for the many crises he has created. The American people deserve better.' Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, also weighed in on X: 'Tonight was a missed opportunity for [Joe Biden] to unite the country on pressing national security issues.' 'Within minutes, his speech became one of the most partisan and divisive SOTU speeches Ive ever heard in the Senate.' 'Tonight, Joe Biden threatened Supreme Court justices, promised to send billions of tax dollars overseas, and mocked concerns about the border crisis that he caused,' Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted on X. 'The State of the Union will be stronger when Joe Biden has nothing to do with it.' Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., called Biden's remarks 'a proof of life speech.' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., yelled multiple times during Biden's speech A bizarre partisan speech from @POTUS Biden. If you vote for Biden, youd get a puppy, unicorn, and pot of goldall for FREE! And apparently weve been saving trillions on the deficit? Surreal. pic.twitter.com/5TSmtjucsZ Rep. Victoria Spartz (@RepSpartz) March 8, 2024 Senator Marco Rubio: It was a proof of life speech. pic.twitter.com/4Vq20e3rhR Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 8, 2024 'This SOTU speech is hyper partisan, its angry, and its completely out of touch,' Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, wrote on X. 'That was a campaign speech,' Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., said. 'That was just complete partisanship.' The State of the Union was also chalk full of partisanship from the crowd. Biden got into several back-and-forths with Republican lawmakers during his remarks, in which he repeatedly attacked his GOP presidential rival, Donald Trump. Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., began shouting at the president during his remarks. She demanded Biden say the name of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old student who police claim was murdered by an illegal immigrant. Greene's outburst came while Biden was speaking about border security. On the other side of the aisle, many Democrats wore white in solidarity for women's rights. The trend, though, began as a rebuke to Trump during his first address before Congress in 2017. Former President Donald Trump had a juvenile response to his nemesis President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on social media. In the bizarre post on the ex-president's Instagram account following Biden's high stakes speech at the U.S. Capitol, Trump used a video of the president's address from last year. The clips included four different filters over the president's and Vice President Kamala Harris' faces to distort them. One of the Snapchat filters showed Biden and Harris with bulging eyes. The next had the pair in hats with pigtail style braided hair. Another showed Biden with a Pinocchio-like nose while the fourth filter imposed a dog's head speaking on Biden's body. The videos appeared to have been chosen at random, and there was no caption with the post. Trump responded to Biden's State of the Union address with a series of posts on Truth Social where he pushed back on some of Biden's remarks but also made fun of his appearance One of Trump's Instagram posts the night of Biden's State of the Union was a bizarre series of clips from Biden's previous address with a series of filters over him and Vice President Harris It was one of several posts Trump put out throughout the evening has Biden blasted Trump during a prime-time address without ever mentioning Trump by name, only referring to the likely Republican presidential nominee as 'my predecessor.' Trump was also furiously posting on his Truth Social account throughout the night after promising live commentary of the State of the Union address. Some of the more than 50 'truths' he posted included images. There were a few short lines on Iran, Putin, Ukraine and the border. But some of his responses focused entirely on Biden's appearance rather than policy. In one he wrote 'His hair is much better in the front than on the back!' In another he wrote Biden 'looks so angry when hes talking.' Another was 'He is so angry and crazy!' Biden delivered a high-stakes State of the Union address where he went after his 'predecessor' but never mentioned Trump by name At the same time, it appeared the social media website used by Trump had issues throughout the president's address. Downdetector, the online platform that provides users with information on the status of various websites, showed Truth Social having disruptions. There was a massive jump in reported outages starting around 9pm just when the president was set to deliver his address. The outages lasted until about 11pm, well after the president had finished his speech. Some users who tried to visit Trump's page found a loading wheel and were unable to see what he was posting. The Biden campaign mocked the Trump rapid response operation by sending out an email with one word 'sad' and an image of what appeared to be Truth Social not working. Despite the bizarre nature of Trump's Instagram video, his followers on the platform seemed to like it, giving it more than 284,000 likes by the end of the night, with users commenting on how 'hilarious' it was. Others did not think it was as 'funny' as others. With one user writing 'Yeah this is mature.' President Joe Biden, 81, accidentally invited Americans to fly with him to 'Moscow' in a State of the Union blunder as he tried to brush off concerns about his advanced age. In what was one of the more noticeable flubs of the night, Biden name-dropped the Russian capital. He likely inserted it for another city's name as he read his hour and seven-minute address from a teleprompter. 'Folks I'm going to get in trouble for saying it, but anyone who would get in Air Force One and fly with me to Toronto, Berlin, Moscow, excuse me, well even Moscow probably,' he said, garnering laughs. 'And bring your presciption with you and I promise you, I'll get it for you 40 percent of the cost you're paying now. Same company, same drug, same place,' the 81-year-old commander-in-chief added. President Joe Biden , 81, accidentally invited Americans to fly with him to 'Moscow' in a State of the Union blunder as he tried to brush off concerns about his advanced age 'Folks I'm going to get in trouble for saying it, but anyone who would get in Air Force One and fly with me to Toronto, Berlin , Moscow, excuse me, well even Moscow probably,' he said, garnering laughs. A picture of the Kremlin in Moscow While Biden's speech contained a couple moments of mumbling the president tackled the age issue head on. He got those in the chamber laughing when he said, 'I know I may not look like it, but I've been around awhile.' Biden then struck a more serious tone about the differences between he and 77-year-old former President Donald Trump as leaders. 'My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isn't how old we are, it's how old are our ideas,' the president said. 'Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are the oldest of ideas, but you can't lead America with ancient ideas and only take us back.' He told the crowd that 'when you get to be my age, certain things become clearer than ever.' 'I know the American story,' the 81-year-old said. 'Again and again I've seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our nation.' 'Between those who want to pull America back to the past and those that want to move America to the future,' Biden continued. 'My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, a future based on core values that have defined America - honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor,' the president added. He then alluded to his rival, Trump, as the general election kicked off this week in earnest, with Trump's final challenger, Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, bowing out. 'Other people my age see it differently,' Biden said. 'The American story of resentment, revenge and retribution.' 'That's not me,' he said. At least year's Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump told the crowd: 'I am your retribution.' Biden then reminded voters of his folksy biography. 'I was born amid World War Two, when America stood for the freedom of the world. I grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Claymont, Delaware among working class people who built this country,' he said. 'I watched in horror as two of my heroes - like many of you did - Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated and their legacy inspired me - a career in service,' Biden continued. Kennedy's son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is running against Biden in the general election as an independent. 'I left a law firm and became a public defender because my city of Wilmington was the only city in American occupied by the national guard after Dr. King was assassinated, because of the riots,' he noted. 'I became a county councilman almost by accident. I got elected to the United States Senate when I had no intention of running at age 29.' He then boasted about how he served alongside historic firsts noting he was 'the vice president to our first black president, now president to the first women vice president.' 'In my career, I've been told I was too young,' he said. 'By the way they wouldn't let me on the Senate elevators for votes sometimes. Not a joke.' 'Now I've been told I'm too old,' he said. 'Whether young or old I've always known - I've always known what endures,' the president said. He spoke of the vision of every American being equal, something 'we've never fully lived up to' but something never to be walked away from either. 'And I won't walk away from it now,' Biden pledged. Biden said a future under his leadership would include defending democracy, restoring the 'right to choose' and ensuring the wealthy would pay their fair share of taxes. 'I see a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis and our country from gun violence,' he said, mentioning two important issues for younger voters. 'Above all, I see a future for all Americans. I see a country for all Americans. And I will always be president for all Americans. Because I believe in America. I believe in you the American people,' he said. 'You're the reason we've never been more optimistic about our future than I am now. So let's build a future together.' Trump has said he doesn't even want Haley's former supporters to be a part of his MAGA movement. Biden brought up what is viewed as his biggest political liability as he wrapped up the speech. 'Let me close with this,' the president said. When audienced members cheered, Biden joined them saying, 'Yayyy!' 'I know you don't want to hear anymore Lindsey, but I've gotta say a few more things,' he said, giving a poke to his former friend turned MAGA Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham. He ended his speech with his trademark line about being optimistic about the future of the country. 'Let's remember who we are. We're the United States of America and there's nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we act together,' the president said. A defence lawyer has issued dire advice over a concerning text sent out to 50,000 people warning that they might have links to organised crime. Jahan Kalantar, from Sydney-based Executive Law Group, warned his followers on TikTok to check if they had received a text from NSW Police on Thursday. 'The NSW Police Force: Strike Force Wessex has identified this number engaging with an organised crime drug supply 'dial-a-dealer' phone. If this continues you may be subject to further investigation. Cease all contact now,' the message reads. The text is linked to a strike force launched which is attempting to break down the city's 'dial-a-dealer' drug supply system. Sydney-based defence lawyer Jahan Kalantar warned his followers on TikTok that a dubious message sent out to 50,000 people was legitimate For those who receive the text, it means that their phone number had been found in the contact list of an alleged drug dealer. Mr Kalantar recommended that anyone who has been contacted by NSW Police in this way to delete the suspect contact immediately. 'If you received this message it is highly likely that your phone is in some way shape or form, compromised,' he said. 'I think you would be very, very wise to delete those people from your phone that may be part of this.' NSW Police announced on Thursday that the strike force was a success and that 26 alleged drug running services have been shut down already. Mr Kalantar said that the subsequent texts sent out were simply a warning for those who 'may have been involved in a serious syndicate' to stop what they were doing. 'It may be nefarious, it may be not nefarious, but it means that somehow your phone has had some sort of relationship with a phone that has had something to do with the supplied naughty stuff,' he told news.com.au 'Maybe you're a pizza delivery guy or an Uber driver who gave someone a lift once using this number. Maybe you are somebody who had nothing to do with this at all, and your number somehow got into their system, because you know, there was a mistake in the text, it could be anything.' Simply receiving the text however does not mean that the recipient is under investigation. Mr Kalantar warned anyone who received the text to delete suspect contacts from their phone immediately The lawyer added that the unprecedented operation was a 'brilliant swoop' meant to scare anyone who though their secrets were safe. Strike Force Wessex also recently seized an additional eight phones belonging to alleged known criminal syndicate members. Police will allege in court that some of the phones had been in operation for up to 10 years prior to their confiscation. Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor said the operation was unprecedented and the first time NSW Police had ever dismantled crime syndicates in this way. 'Exploiting new technological capabilities, and using our relationship with various Australian telecommunication companies, we've been able to shut down these phones that were running up to millions of dollars' worth of drugs per week anything from cannabis to cocaine to ice,' Det Supt Taylor said. 'Now we've disrupted the dealers' direct line to their customers, we can turn our attention to those at the top the criminal syndicate controlling these phones and we'll be coming after them next.' Parents are outraged that a nude photo of a student allegedly stolen from his phone circulated for weeks among an elite private school's community before any concerns were raised. A group of Marist College Ashgrove students allegedly gained access to a classmate's iPhone and forwarded the image, which was intended for a girl, to themselves and then distributed it widely over the Christmas holidays. The photo was still being circulated to students up until last week when a parent finally notified the school. An unnamed parent expressed their dismay over the incident. An elite Catholic boarding school in Brisbane, Marist College Ashgrove, has been rocked by a nude photo of a student being circulated READ MORE: Balmoral State High School issues calendar featuring disturbing images of teachers Advertisement 'My son received the photo, like many students in the year level, but I don't know how far (further in the student community) it went,' they told the Courier Mail. 'You pay thousands and thousands expecting your child to receive an elite education, but then you hear about things like this happening. 'The school needs to do more to keep the kids safe. It is Marist's latest scandal and the incident has made me lose faith in what we signed up for when sending him to the school.' A school spokeswoman said the incident occurred during the holidays and that it took immediate action. 'As soon as the college was informed of the incident in February we acted promptly to investigate the matter,' she said. 'Those students involved were counselled and their parents were informed. 'All child protection processes were also enacted, including notifying all appropriate authorities.' There were conflicting reports as to whether police have been contacted about the incident. Police told the publication that they were not aware of the alleged incident. Daily Mail Australia contacted Queensland Police for comment. It comes after it emerged that teachers at another Queensland high school posed for sexually suggestive photos, which were turned into a staffroom calendar. The photos showed staff at Balmoral State High School in Brisbane posed in compromising positions, with one teacher dressed as a nun and another in a sparkling gold mankini with his legs splayed. Furious parents say they expect more from the school where they pay thousands to let their children attend A whistle blower raised concerns about the calendar after a staff complaint in December resulted in the denial of its existence. One photo shows a teacher wearing a gold mankini bent over on all fours, while a teacher wearing a nun outfit puts a foot on their lower back. Another shows a teacher pouring a carton of milk onto another teacher. The leaked photographs have drawn mixed reactions from the public, with some suggesting they cross the line, while others say they shouldn't be taken too seriously. 'I don't want to be a prude... they're probably having a bit of fun,' Queensland senator Matt Canavan said on Today. 'It's probably more embarrassing for them than it is for anyone else.' Nine reporter Heidi Murphy said the 'worst part' was the photos being been leaked out of the staffroom and put 'on the national stage'. A whistle blower told the Courier Mail the calendar is evidence of a toxic culture at the school. They also said the calendar was on desks in a staffroom, where students may have seen them. 'It's the lack of professionalism, it's the fact they've involved a nun and he's dressed as some gay guy it's completely inappropriate and totally unacceptable,' they said. The Department of Education said it was 'looking into the matter', but that it 'does not comment on individual employee matters'. It added that the school said no students or parents had been shown the calendar. S This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is slammed for insisting that Joe Biden should have called Laken Riley's suspected murdered 'undocumented' rather than 'illegal.' The president flubbed the name of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student was killed while out jogging on February 22, during Thursday's State of the Union address. Biden, holding up a pin of Riley, said, 'Lincoln, Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal.' During an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Pelosi was asked about that part of the speech. 'Now he should have said undocumented, but that's not a big thing, ok? What's the big thing,' Pelosi said. During an interview with CNN 's Dana Bash, Nancy Pelosi said, 'Now he should have said undocumented' Nancy Pelosi on Joe Biden saying Laken Riley was killed by an illegal: He should have said undocumented. pic.twitter.com/BRhIJpIqrn ALX (@alx) March 8, 2024 President Joe Biden, holding up a pin of Riley, said, 'Lincoln, Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal' 'Well, we usually say "undocumented." He said "illegal." I don't think it's a big deal. I don't think it's a big deal because I think his focus was on the sympathy for the family. It's a terrible tragedy.' An Illegal Venezuelan immigrant, Jose Antonio Ibarra, has been charged with Riley's murder. Social media users have criticized the congresswoman for focusing on how Ibarra's immigration status should be referred to rather than Riley's murder. A user named DD said on X, 'How can this woman be elected so many times and be such a despicable person. A young woman is dead and she's only concerned with systemics.' 'They are immigrants and they came here illegally, that makes them illegal immigrants,' said Shirley Williams on X. '"It's not a big thing" is no different than "what difference does it make,"' said another user. 'Perhaps he should have said murderer," said X user Steven Thomas. Just hours before Biden's remarks, the House passed the 'Laken Riley Act' which requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain migrants who have been charged with theft and other crimes. Ahead of Biden's remarks, congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene handed out pins paying tribute to Riley. Ibarra has been charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, concealing the death of another and failure to appear for a finger printable charge. Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student was killed while out jogging on February 22 An Illegal Venezuelan immigrant, Jose Antonio Ibarra, has been charged with Riley's murder His illegal status prompted Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to publicly fault the Biden administration for its immigration policies. Ibarra was arrested in 2022 after entering the US illegally and was 'paroled and released for further processing,' according to a statement from ICE. Just five months ago, Ibarra was arrested and charged 'with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation,' according to ICE. Ibarra, who had been working for food delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats, was caught driving his wife's son on the back of a gas-powered moped without a helmet or restraint for the child in New York City. The NYPD released him 'before a detainer could be issued,' the agency said. FILE - In this July 1, 2020 file photo a sales associate at Mid-K Beauty, helps a customer to select a wig in Portland, Ore. A Colorado law aimed at protecting workers and students from discrimination against race-based hair traits went into effect Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The law, also known as the "CROWN Act" was passed by lawmakers in March and aims to prevent hair-related discrimination in public education, employment practices, housing, public accommodations and advertising. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus) AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus HARTFORD New Haven resident Gia Cook said she has experienced discrimination because of her hair texture and is backing a bill that aims to prevent that from happening to others. "No one should be made to feel that the hair that naturally grows out of their head is bad or unruly and this bill is a huge first step to ensuring these sentiments are eradicated by empowering and educating cosmeticians to provide their services to all ranges of people, she said at the recent hearing on a new state Senate Bill. The bill would require schools to train student barbers and hairdressers to work with textured hair, or hair that is coiled, curly or wavy. Advertisement Article continues below this ad During her testimony, she said passing the bill would be a huge step to fostering inclusivity in Connecticut. The bill received support from several advocates and the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, who said access to equitable hair care is a civil rights issue. There were a little over 4,000 professional hairdressers, hair stylists, and cosmetologists in Connecticut in May of 2022, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, many of them are not trained to work with textured hair, which creates an additional cost for consumers with textured hair, who are also often people of color. Because straight hair is the norm in the beauty industry, customers with textured hair are also often required to travel and pay extra to receive services from curl specialists. Hair is something that we dont talk a lot about in this committee, but it impacts a lot of us in our day-to-day lives, said committee co-chair state Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, D, Fairfield. It does have an impact on peoples health and well-being. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The bill also received support from the Henkel Corporation, which owns the well-known curly hair care brand DevaCurl. Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations Brian Heindl said DevaCurl is a founding member of the Texture Education Collective, an alliance of professional hair industry leaders that work together to influence cosmetology state board licensing requirements and curriculums to be inclusive of all hair textures and types. He added that this bill builds on the CT CROWN Act signed by the governor in March 2021. The name stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair and the law expands civil rights protections to prohibit discrimination based on hairstyles that are commonly associated with people of color, such as afros, braids, twists, headwraps and wigs. Its discrimination when you walk into a salon or a barbershop and youre turned away because you have textured hair and they dont know how to cut it, Heindl said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The new bill, identified as Senate Bill 178, was introduced by state Sen. Patricia Billie Miller, D, Stamford, who is also the chair of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. There are already similar guidelines in place in New York and Louisiana, and a similar bill is in process in New Jersey. The bill was presented in the Public Health Committee, where it received a large majority of votes in favor and was referred to the Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis on Monday afternoon. The legislation would not create an additional cost for beauty schools or add hours to the curriculum, Marisa Tukpah, manager of research and development and regulatory innovation at DevaCurl, said during the public hearing. Instead, it is intended for future hairdressers and barbers to have familiarity with textured hair and be able to work with two mannequin heads: one with straight hair and one with curly. We dont want curly hair to be separate from any hair," she said. "Hair is hair. Everyone should be educated on how to cut it, how to use it, how to style it. But if you want additional specifics and additional help, we can offer that." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Even though most of the committee voted in favor of the bill, state Rep. Anne Dauphinais, R, Killingly, was one of three Republican members of the committee who voted against it. She raised concerns because it would be a state mandate and the cost of additional training. Theresa May is drawing a line under 27 years in the Commons after declaring she will not stand at the election. The former PM said she was taking the 'difficult decision' to step down so she can focus on campaigning on modern slavery and human trafficking. The 67-year-old, who led the Tories through three years of torrid Brexit infighting in the wake of the EU referendum, joins a growing list of MPs opting to quit the House voluntarily. Mrs May had an 18,000 majority in Maidenhead in 2019, and would have been expected to hold on to the seat even on a grim night for the party. Rishi Sunak led tributes to her public service - although Labour swiped that it was evidence MPs had 'no confidence' in the PM. Known for her fondness for bold kitten heels - in contrast to her buttoned-down public persona - Mrs May has been a major player in the Conservatives since the early 2000s. She famously told activists at their 2002 conference that they were seen as the 'nasty party'. Mrs May, a self-professed 'bloody difficult woman', was one of the longest-serving Home Secretaries in modern political history during David Cameron's premiership. She surprised many by grabbing the top job in 2016, becoming Britain's second woman PM after Cameron quit and Boris Johnson's bid imploded. But the writing was on the wall after she called a snap election the following year and ran a disastrous campaign, notoriously U-turning on social care plans while awkwardly insisting 'nothing has changed'. After quitting as PM Mrs May has intervened sparingly, but has been ready to criticise the government at key moments. She is likely to be elevated to the House of Lords if she wishes. In a statement to the Maidenhead Advertiser, Mrs May said: 'It has been an honour and a privilege to serve everyone in the Maidenhead constituency as the Member of Parliament for the last 27 years. Theresa May pictured outside Downing Street with her husband Philip in 2019 Theresa May has revealed she is stepping down at the next General Election as an MP Rishi Sunak led tributes to her public service - although Labour swiped that it was evidence MPs had 'no confidence' in the PM 'Being an MP is about service to one's constituents and I have always done my best to ensure that I respond to the needs of local people and the local area. 'Since stepping down as Prime Minister I have enjoyed being a backbencher again and having more time to work for my constituents and champion causes close to my heart including most recently launching a Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. 'These causes have been taking an increasing amount of my time. 'Because of this, after much careful thought and consideration, I have realised that, looking ahead, I would no longer be able t o do my job as an MP in the way I believe is right and my constituents deserve. 'I have therefore taken the difficult decision to stand down at the next General Election.' Speaking to reporters in the West Yorkshire town of Keighley, Mr Sunak said: 'Obviously on International Women's Day, it's important to recognise that Theresa was our second female prime minister, which is an extraordinary achievement. 'And actually beyond that, she just has the most amazing track record of dedicated public service over two decades. And that is an extraordinary and inspiring example to anyone. 'Anyone who spent time with her knows how committed she is to public service, not just in her community, but the country. And everyone will miss her sorely.' Julian Smith, who served as Mrs May's chief whip, said: 'I am very sorry to see that Theresa May is standing down as an MP. Our second female Prime Minister is an exceptional public servant with the highest integrity, relentless work ethic & total commitment to all parts of the United Kingdom in addition to her passionate campaigning for vital causes around the world.' Nus Ghani, who gained her first ministerial role under Mrs May, said: 'Theresa will be missed, she has integrity, determination and made time to support and help so many of us MPs as we learnt the snakes and ladders of Parliament.' Caroline Nokes, immigration minister under Mrs May, said: 'On (International Women's Day) I want to celebrate a colleague who showed us all the importance of hard work, commitment to your constituency and integrity. Parliament will be poorer (and I'm a bit sad too many women standing down).' Mrs May tearfully quit as PM in 2019 after three years of bitter Tory infighting on Brexit Theresa May was responsible for negotiating a Brexit deal with the European Union (Pictured in September last year) Mrs May served as UK Prime Minister from July 2016 for three years until July 2019 (Pictured at Battersea Arts Centre in November last year) But Labour frontbencher Anneliese Dodds said Mrs May's decision to stand down was evidence of a lack of confidence in Mr Sunak. She told GB News: 'This is obviously a very significant decision from Theresa May to stand down at the next election. 'As you said, it is a surprise but of course we've heard this from a large number of Conservative sitting MPs. They've decided not to stand for the next election, and I think that does reveal that frankly there's no confidence in Rishi Sunak, nor indeed in the Conservative Party to be a party of government for the future. 'I think this really strengthens those calls for change, those calls for a general election.' Mrs May served as home secretary under Lord Cameron between 2010 and 2016 before succeeding him as PM. She arrived in Downing Street in July 2016 on a wave of enthusiasm and was responsible for negotiating a Brexit deal with the European Union. She triggered Article 50 on March 29, 2017 promising to take Britain out of the EU in two years. Mrs May marked her arrival with an impassioned promise on the steps of Number 10 to tackle the 'burning injustices' which hold back the poor, ethnic minorities, women and the working classes in modern British society. But a gamble snap election in June 2017 cost her any majority and her entire premiership was dominated by tortuous negotiations in Brussels and vicious infighting within her own party over the terms on which the UK would leave. The 2017 result saw the Tory majority wiped out while a visibly distraught Mrs May had to turn to the DUP to prop her up in Parliament, promising 1billion in extra Government funds for Northern Ireland. That December she attempted to salvage the Brexit deal by finalising a Withdrawal Agreement with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. Mrs May first came to widespread public attention when she took to the stage at the 2002 Tory Party Conference in a pair of leopard-print kitten heels, and reprimanded her colleagues for their reputation as the 'nasty party' A keen follower of fashion, Mrs May has boasted of her huge shoe collection and in 2014 chose a 'a lifetime subscription' of bible Vogue as her luxury item Mrs May said it was 'the honour of her life' to serve as prime minister (Pictured in March 2019) However, the 2017 agreement introduced the controversial 'backstop' customs arrangements for Northern Ireland which were to be fiercely opposed by the DUP and hardline Tory Brexiteers in the European Research Group. Eventually, opposition to her proposed Brexit deal saw Conservative MPs hold a confidence vote in her leadership, and although she survived her authority was diminished and she announced her resignation five months later in May 2019. Speaking during her leaving speech at the time, she said: 'I will shortly leave the job that it has been the honour of my life to hold. 'The second female prime minister, but certainly not the last. I do so with no ill will, but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love.' The grandmother of an 11-year-old boy who died inhaling toxic fumes has vowed to battle the deadly social media craze to stop more children dying. Tommie-lee Gracie Billington, 11, died in hospital on Saturday after reportedly taking part in the 'chroming' social media challenge during a sleepover at a friend's house in Lancaster. Chroming refers to the practice of inhaling aerosols such as deodorant or spray paint, which can provide a temporary high but can easily go fatally wrong. Tommie-lee's grandmother Tina Burns pledged on social media that she will do her best to ensure that no other children will die because of the same social media challenge. She wrote: 'Never felt pain like this. Tommie-lee Gracie Billington my whirlwind, I just love you so much mate. My baby boy - you will forever be in my heart. 'I will make sure to the best of my ability that your name and your beautiful face will become the reason that other children's lives will be saved and other families don't have to suffer this deep, deep hurt.' Tina Burns (left), the grandmother of Tommie-lee Gracie Billington (centre, his father Graham Billington right), 11, who died inhaling toxic fumes has vowed to battle the deadly social media craze to stop more children dying Tommie-lee (pictured) died in hospital on Saturday after reportedly taking part in the 'chroming' social media challenge during a sleepover at a friend's house in Lancaster This comes after experts called for more protection for under 18s to exposure to the trend such as through television, as they warn it can cause coma, cardiac arrest and even death. Social media expert Hannah O'Donoghue Hobbs told MailOnline yesterday that terrifying trends - including chroming - are 'deathly dangerous' and 'absolutely shocking'. She added: 'It really scares me as to how they can gain any reach whatsoever. No child should lose their life as a result of videos and backwards influencing like this.' Paramedics were called to an address in Greenset Close, Lancaster, on Saturday where Tommie-lee was found unresponsive. Mrs Burns took to social media this week to warn other families and said her grandson died 'instantly' after he and a friend 'tried the TikTok craze chroming'. Tommie-lee's family now want TikTok taken down completely and children under 16 to be banned from all social media. The social media platform has blocked any videos or searches using the term. Chroming has been used as a slang term to describe the trend of inhaling toxic fumes to get a high since before TikTok's launch in the UK in 2018. Tommie-lee pictured with his father Graham Billington - his family have said he died after inhaling toxic fumes from aerosols Lancashire Police was called to the scene by North West Ambulance Service shortly after 12pm on Saturday. The boy was transferred to hospital but was later pronounced dead. The grandmother said she had received many messages from other parents 'thanking her' for raising awareness of the challenge. Tina said she knew of one woman who had 'no idea' about the social media crazes and her children 'happily' sit on TikTok in their bedrooms. 'She has now removed all social media from their devices and is so grateful that we are openly talking about it,' the teacher added. Tina, who works with year five and six, has also spoken to the headteacher at the school where she works, in order to spread the message even further to other educational institutions in the area. She paid tribute to her grandson and told the outlet that he had a 'heart of gold', adding that the family have been left 'utterly devastated' by the loss of Tommie-lee, who was 'bright', 'energetic' and the 'life and soul of any room'. The word 'chroming' is an informal word that originates from Australia. It involves inhaling fumes from a toxic source such as an aerosol can, a spray deodorant or a paint container. Inhaling the fumes affects the central nervous system and slows down brain activity which results in a short-term high. But the practice is extremely dangerous and can result in dizziness, hallucinations, vomiting, heart attacks, suffocation and can permanently damage the brain, liver and kidneys. Tommie-lee pictured with his father Graham Billington A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: 'We were called by the ambulance service at 12:04pm on Saturday, March 2, to an address on Greenset Close in Lancaster to a report of a sudden death. 'Emergency services attended an address and found an 11 year old boy unresponsive. Sadly he was later pronounced dead. 'The death is currently being treated as unexplained and the Coroner has been informed. 'A police investigation is ongoing and the boy's family are being supported by officers. Our thoughts are with the boy's loved ones at this incredibly sad time. 'If anyone has any information they are asked to contact Police on 101 Log 0527 of March 2.' TikTok previously said the platform 'does not allow dangerous challenges, and we proactively find 99 per cent of content removed for breaking these rules'. Haiti 'will go hungry soon', it has been warned, as looting sparks a food shortage in the Caribbean country where out-gunned police are battling rampaging gangs. Despite Haiti's government on Thursday extending a state of emergency and nighttime curfew by a month to try and curb the violent gang attacks, US government officials fear that law and order could collapse within hours. Meanwhile, Haiti's main port was forced to close - days after thousands of inmates were broken out of two prisons, swelling ranks of gangs already enforcing their control of much of the nation - including the capital city. Port-au-Prince has been paralysed in a fierce battle for political power, with Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier - an influential gang leader in Haiti - having warned of civil war and 'genocide' unless embattled Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns. Henry travelled to Kenya last week to negotiate a UN-backed multinational police mission to stabilise his country. However, as he attempted to fly back to Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, he was prevented from landing by gang attacks on the airport. He landed in the US territory of Puerto Rico instead, where he is believed to remain. Haiti could go hungry soon, it has been warned, as looting sparks a foot shortage crisis in the country currently wracked by gang violence Port-au-Prince has been paralysed in a fierce battle for political power, with Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier (pictured on Tuesday) - an influential gang leader in Haiti - having warned of civil war and 'genocide' unless embattled Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns Out-gunned police in the Caribbean country are battling rampaging gangs The attacks began a week ago, shortly after Henry agreed to hold general elections in mid-2025 while attending a meeting of Caribbean leaders in Guyana. Gangs have burned police stations, shot up the main international airport, which remains closed, and raided Haiti's two biggest prisons, freeing more than 4,000 inmates. An initial three-day curfew was announced over the weekend. But Despite the crackdown, gangs have continued to attack police stations and other state institutions at night with Haiti's National Police struggling to contain the violence with limited staff and resources. In many cases, the gangs are better armed than the police. 'The people with the guns are essentially the current arbiter of Haitian politics,' said Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia. 'The gangs have won the battle so far.' Dozens of people have died in Haiti's recent gang attacks, including several police officers. The violence also has left more than 15,000 people homeless, in addition to some 300,000 Haitians who lost their homes to gang wars in recent years. In addition, there were reports that gangs on Thursday looted shipping containers filled with food at the main port in Port-au-Prince, raising concerns that provisions in the capital and elsewhere would dwindle quickly. 'If we cannot access those containers, Haiti will go hungry soon,' said Laurent Uwumuremyi, Haiti director for Mercy Corps. The operator of the port, Caribbean Port Services SA, said in a statement Thursday that it was suspending all operations because of 'malicious acts of sabotage and vandalism.' UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the insecurity has forced the World Food Program to suspend its maritime transport service. The service is currently the only means of moving food and medical supplies for aid organisations from Port-au-Prince to other parts of the country. Two dozen trucks with equipment, medical supplies and food are stuck at the port in Port-au-Prince, he noted. He also said the UN special envoy for Haiti, Maria Isabel Salvador, is calling for the immediate deployment of a UN-backed force 'to prevent the country from plunging even further into chaos, as gang violence in Haiti has reached unprecedented levels.' Salvador remains in close contact with the prime minister, the government and other parties across the political spectrum 'to encourage a peaceful and constructive inter-Haitian dialogue to promote a nationally-owned political solution to this crisis,' Dujarric said. Gangs have burned police stations, shot up the main international airport, which remains closed, and raided Haiti's two biggest prisons, freeing more than 4,000 inmates. Pictured: A protester holds a Haitian flag as tyres burn in the street behind him People, carrying Haitian flags, march during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, on Wednesday A man, carrying a Haitian flag, is seen during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry Gangs again targeted police late Wednesday by setting fire to a headquarters in Bas-Peu-de-Chose, a neighborhood in the capital. Officers escaped before the attack, which also destroyed several police vehicles, according to Haiti's police union Synapoha. Gunfire still echoed in parts of Port-au-Prince on Thursday, with blazing tires blocking some areas as people demanded new leaders for the battered country. Schools and businesses remained closed, but calm returned to a handful of neighborhoods that saw some stores and banks open under a limited schedule. Germain Andre, a 40-year-old shop owner who sells rice, oil, beans, milk and other basic goods, said he is having trouble finding provisions given dwindling food supplies across Port-au-Prince as people move around in fear. 'Traveling is very scary,' he said, noting that armed groups have stopped cars. 'No one is secure. Everyone is scared of each other now. We don't know if they're gang members.' Haiti's worsening crisis prompted the Royal Bahamas Police Force to announce Thursday that it had set up a blockade in the southeast part of the archipelago given the two jail breaks and the 'mass displacement' of Haitians. The Bahamas, about 530 miles to the north, is a popular destination for Haitians fleeing their country. The US has grown increasingly alarmed with the developing situation. An aerial view of the slums of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 7 'The country is falling apart, and everyone is watching,' said Fatton, who criticised the US government for not taking action more than two years ago and lamented the current state of Haiti. 'I am dumbfounded. I thought I had seen everything.' Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry to ask for an 'urgent' political transition, said a US official. Blinken spoke with Henry about 'the urgent need to accelerate transition to a broader, more inclusive government today,' said Brian Nichols, the top US diplomat for the Western hemisphere. Blinken pressed on 'the need for a more inclusive government that includes many more political forces and has the breadth to take the country through the electoral period,' Nichols said at the Council of the Americas trade group. Meanwhile, a US Defence official said a Marine Corps Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team, or FAST team, was to be deployed to Haiti to protect the US Embassy. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the deployment, the Associated Press said. A final decision on the deployment has not yet been made. On Wednesday, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said the US has asked Henry to 'move forward on a political process that will lead to the establishment of a presidential transitional council that will lead to elections.' Shortly afterward, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller echoed her remarks, saying Henry 'needs to expedite the transition to empowered and inclusive governance.' Henry has not made any public comments since the gang attacks began last week. On Thursday, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said Caribbean leaders have been working around-the-clock to help find a political consensus to alleviate Haiti's crisis as they continue to talk to local stakeholders. 'It is indeed a distressing situation for the region, but we have a responsibility to do everything we can do to enable the Haitian people to find a consensus and to find a path that is Haitian-led and Haitian-owned in bringing together a level of stability and normalcy that the Haitian people so richly deserve,' he said. Police intervene with tear gas canisters against demonstrators in Haiti on March 7 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is seen flanked by Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry (left) and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, (right) in this photo taken during a meeting on September 22, 2023 In power since the 2021 assassination of president Jovenel Moise, Henry was due to leave office in February but instead agreed to a power-sharing deal with the opposition until new elections are held. When the latest unrest broke out, Henry was in Kenya to negotiate a UN-backed multinational police mission to stabilise his country. Now, his power is hanging by a thread. Henry filled the void left by Moise's assassination to the protest of wide segments of the population, but with the full-throated support of the Biden administration. 'They messed it up deeply,' James Foley, a retired career diplomat and former US ambassador to Haiti, said in an interview about the Biden administration's support for Henry. 'They rode this horse to their doom. It's the fruit of the choices we made.' Stubborn US support for Henry is largely to blame for the deteriorating situation, said Monique Clesca, a Haitian writer and member of the Montana Group, a coalition of civil, business and political leaders that came together in the wake of Jovenel Moise 's murder to promote a 'Haitian-led solution' to the protracted crisis. The group's main objective is to replace Henry with an oversight committee made up of nonpolitical technocrats to restore order and pave the way for elections. But so far, Henry, who has repeatedly promised to hold elections, has shown no willingness to yield power. While in Guyana last week for a meeting of Caribbean leaders, he delayed what would be Haiti's first vote in a decade yet again, until mid-2025. 'He's been a magician in terms of his incompetence and inaction,' said Clesca. 'And despite it all, the U.S. has stayed with him. They've been his biggest enabler.' Henry has not commented on the surge in unrest and was last confirmed to be in Puerto Rico as gang violence at Haiti's main airport made his return risky. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk said Wednesday the violence was 'beyond untenable' with 1,193 people killed countrywide this year by gangs. Last year, more than 8,400 people were reported killed, injured or kidnapped, more than double the number reported in 2022. The United Nations estimates that nearly half of Haiti's 11 million people need humanitarian assistance. The United States urged Henry to hold fair elections, but added it was not calling on him to resign - a key demand of Haiti's gangs. Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry gives a public lecture at the United States International University (USIU) in Nairobi, Kenya, March 1, 2024. A new wave of violence broke out in Henry's home country of Haiti during his visit to Kenya US diplomat Nichols called for greater assistance from the world. 'We've got to do more urgently. The crisis in Haiti has the humanitarian proportions that demand a global response, the way the international community is responding to the challenges in Ukraine or in Gaza,' he said. Haiti, the Western hemisphere's poorest nation, has been in turmoil for years, and Moise's assassination plunged the country further into chaos. No elections have taken place since 2016 and the presidency remains vacant. Channel 4 presenter Cathy Newman has revealed a boy took out his penis and put her hand on it at school as she detailed a career-long battle with sexism. The journalist had a scholarship in the early 1990s to attend 47,500-a-year Charterhouse boys' public school in Surrey, which only had girls in the sixth form. Newman, now 49, described being 'marked out' at the elite institution, adding: 'One time, a boy I was sitting next to got his penis out and put my hand on his c***. The presenter, who is also a married mother-of-two, added that her bottom was 'pinched repeatedly at parties when I was a young journalist, which was tedious'. Another time at a party conference, she went up to bed but 'got a call minutes later from a national newspaper editor who was in the bar' who asked her if he could 'come up and sleep in my room as, mysteriously, his hotel room had gone missing'. Cathy Newman, pictured at Grease The Musical at London's Dominion Theatre in June 2023 Newman attended 47,500-a-year Charterhouse boys' public school in Surrey on a scholarship Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman with Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Jon Snow in 2011 Newman detailed her experiences of sexual harassment and intimidation in an interview with Metro yesterday as she promotes her new book The Ladder. The book looks at her interviews on Times Radio with prominent women in Britain such as Nicola Sturgeon, Angela Rayner, Clare Balding and Davina McCall. She told the newspaper: 'There are always challenges. Women overcome such huge obstacles to get to the top of their careers. It's never a straight route up.' Newman also claimed she faced discrimination while working at the Financial Times newspaper, saying she was 'repeatedly asked to do the filing' and it was 'assumed' she was a personal assistant because she was a woman. She added: 'Also, I found out a friend of mine got paid 10,000 more than me to do the same job I'd done, even though he was more junior. Cathy Newman at Advertising Week Europe at London's Picturehouse Central in March 2019 Cathy Newman's famous interview with Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson in 2018 'My boss said, 'What do you need the money for? You don't have a mortgage or family.' That was straightforward sexism. As a woman in your career, you have to battle and overcome.' Her interview comes six years after she hit out at her employer ITN, which makes Channel 4 News, after it revealed a 20 per cent gender pay gap. Newman's most high-profile moment was her interview in 2018 with controversial Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson who attracted a following among the 'alt-right' for his views on gender. Two years earlier he rose to fame through a video lecture series that saw him profess his right to free speech meant he would not use gender-neutral pronouns to address transgender students at the University of Toronto. Newman at 'Tina: The Tina Turner Musical' at London's Aldwych Theatre in September last year Newman at home in a portrait photograph for the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine in 2018 Newman married writer John O'Connell in 2001 and they have two children together Newman's interview was notable for being combative, but it also saw her face death threats which led to Channel 4 News calling in security specialists. She told Metro: 'I enjoyed the interview, a good old joust. The aftermath death threats and relentless trolling abuse was bruising. I was sent knives dripping in blood online. 'I was doxed, so my home address was put out online. I've had stalkers in the past, so that was not welcome. Even though it was six years ago, I still get trolled about it and I find that tedious.' Newman is married to writer John O'Connell. Her new book 'The Ladder: Life Lessons From Women Who Scaled The Heights & Dodged The Snakes' is out now. MailOnline has contacted Charterhouse and the Financial Times for comment. On her toughest days in Downing Street, Theresa May's husband Philip would wait up late into the night to pour his wife a stiff whisky before bed to help her sleep. Mr May, the first male spouse in No 10 since Dennis Thatcher, would also whip up beans on toast for his wife because she preferred it to the Champagne and canapes served at state receptions. And as her political demise became imminent, her protective banker husband became so irked by the wall-to-wall reporting of his wife's Brexit woes as Boris Johnson circled, he took to switching off all TV news bulletins to protect her feelings and curb his own anger. The self-confessed 'bl**dy difficult woman' had grabbed power after David Cameron's resignation in 2016 following the EU referendum result and she enjoyed rocketing approval ratings as she triggered Article 50 in March 2017 and promised: 'Brexit means Brexit'. Away from politics, Mrs May also became somewhat of a fashion icon, particularly for her suits and trademark kitten heels. But by May 2019 she was forced out with Boris Johnson waiting in the wings after a disastrous decision to call a snap election that lost her a majority. She also cut out Brexiteers from EU negotiations, leaving her unable to push through the 'soft Brexit' she said was her 'duty' to deliver for the UK as her authority collapsed. In those short years in power, she went from steely schoolmistress to the 'Maybot', as the public poked fun at her awkward expressions and bad dancing. She was also afflicted by coughing fits, stage mishaps and even being handed a p45 during key speeches as her authority drained away. On one occasion her speech ended with letters falling off the backdrop behind her and she was further lampooned when she said the naughtiest thing she had ever done was 'running through fields of wheat' as a child. One insider who worked in Downing Street told MailOnline today that she arrived in No 10 on the crest of a wave and ended up 'presiding over three years of total political paralysis'. Mrs May plans to focus on passions such as fighting modern slavery, but no doubt more time with her beloved husband, who she met at a Tory party disco in 1980, will also be on the agenda. Mrs May breaks down as she announces that she is leaving the job 'she loved' after being swept in to power in 2016 Mrs Thatcher, one of Theresa May's idols, also left Downing Street in tears in 1990 Mrs May as a child. The vicar's daughter with a burning ambition to be PM Theresa May dreamed of being PM, photographed standing next to her husband Philip in 1980 after marrying Theresa May and Philip May on their wedding day in 1980 with her family including her vicar father on the right and his mother and father on the left. Both died shortly after the happy day Theresa May, pictured with her smiling husband Philip, chose to wear a blue two-piece suit when first elected in 1997, as Mrs Thatcher did when she entered Downing Street in 1979. The couple moved into Downing Street in July 2016 but was gone in three years Perhaps her most fatal mistake was calling a snap election that lost her MPs rather than gained them (pictured having chips and a coffee on the campaign trail in Mevagissey, Cornwall, on May 2, 2017) Former Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with fellow attendees during the International Women of Courage Award ceremony in the East Room of the White House this week. She says she wants to concentrate on women's issues and modern slavery campaign The former prime minister revealed her decision to stand down as MP for Maidenhead on Friday, saying she would focus on championing causes including the fight against modern slavery. Timeline: The rise and fall of Theresa May Theresa May (pictured aged 13) won a scholarship to the local grammar school and by then knew she wanted to move into politics 1956: Born to father, vicar Hubert Brasier, and mother wife Zaidee in Eastbourne, Sussex 1974: Attended St Hugh's College Oxford, to study Geography, where she meets her future husband Philip 1977-95: Worked at the Bank of England and then from 1985 at the Association for Payment Clearing Services 1986 - 1994: Tory Councillor in London borough of Merton 1997: Elected to Parliament as MP for Maidenhead at 1997 election in which Tories lost more than half their seats 1998: Promoted to first front-bench post as Shadow Spokesman for Schools, Disabled People and Women. 1999: Joins shadow Cabinet, as Shadow Education & Employment Secretary 2002: Becomes Chair of the Conservative Party - the first woman to hold the post. While wearing what would become trademark leopard-print heels, she told Conference the Tories were seen as 'the nasty party' by many 2002 - 2010: Shadow Cabinet posts including Education, Transport, and Work and Pensions 2010: Appointed Home Secretary in coalition government 2014: Becomes longest-serving Home Secretary for 50 years 2016: Becomes leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister unopposed after multiple rivals dropped out of the race 2017: Calls snap June election to improve majority and Brexit negotiating position. Loses Tory majority January 15, 2019: Her deal is put before MPs, who threw it out by 230 votes - the worst defeat for a Government in modern history. March 12: The second meaningful vote on her deal took place, defeated by 149 votes. March 29,: A third vote on her deal - on the day Britain was meant to leave the EU - but she loses by 56 votes. May 23: The Government pulls its Brexit bill - killing off the PM's deal May 24: Theresa May announces she will quit as Tory leader March 8. 2024: After four years on the backbenches, Mrs May announces she will stand down as a MP. Advertisement In a statement to her local newspaper, the Maidenhead Advertiser, she said: 'Since stepping down as prime minister I have enjoyed being a backbencher again and having more time to work for my constituents and champion causes close to my heart including most recently launching a Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. 'These causes have been taking an increasing amount of my time. 'Because of this, after much careful thought and consideration, I have realised that, looking ahead, I would no longer be able to do my job as an MP in the way I believe is right and my constituents deserve.' Being Prime Minister had been her lifelong dream - and she was clear that Philip's support had helped her achieve it. 'I always say he is my rock. It's hugely important to have somebody there who is supportive of you, not involved in the intricacies of politics, but there to provide human support', she said recently. Despite all both achieved, there inability to have children hurt. 'You accept the hand that life deals you', she said once - and poured her energies into politics. Mr and Mrs May came across each other as students during an Oxford debate where a young Theresa spoke against a motion called 'the sex is good but success is better'. They were then properly introduced at a Conservative Party student disco. At the time it was Philip, two years her junior, who was viewed as the potential rising political star like his close friend Benazir Bhutto. But it was Mrs May who would become the longest serving Home Secretary in modern history and Britain's second female Prime Minister and he went into finance. Much like Britain's first, Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May knew she wanted to be a MP from a young age. Both women were inspired to pursue a life of public service by their fathers. Mrs Thatcher's dad was a grocer and preacher, Mrs May's was a priest. Although she was billed by supporters 'new Iron Lady', Mrs May's time in No 10 was much more short-lived that Mrs Thatcher but both premierships ended in tears on the steps of Downing Street. And both women were brought down by disagreements over Europe and a decline in popular support for their governments with them at the helm. The ousting of Mrs May as PM ended an extraordinary frontline political career that began on a local council in South London and led her to Downing Street. Mrs May has always drawn strength from her long and settled 40-plus year marriage to husband Philip, with whom she lives in Sonning, Berkshire, as well as her Christian faith. He would help make her beans on toast in the Downing Street kitchen and pour her a large whisky after a particularly hard day. She spoke about her marriage, her faith and how she coped with Tory plotters sniping at her for two years and the threat of being deposed. Asked if she lost any sleep, she laughed and said: 'It depends how strong the whisky is, or how much Philip has poured for me!' Describing an occasion when she returned from seeing the now King at Clarence House, Philip was waiting in their Downing St kitchen with more modest fare than the champagne and fine canapes at the royal birthday party. 'We went up to the flat for a quick bite Philip cooked beans on toast I think I opened the tin. He made the toast and did the washing up. Then it was downstairs for a quick meeting and home [in Sonning] by 9.30pm so I could get the washing on and leave it to dry overnight.' She added: 'When you are PM you wake up each morning and never quite know how the day is going to pan out.' It was largely through her father's work that Theresa May decided, aged 12, that she wanted to be a politician. Around the Oxfordshire countryside the Rev Hubert Brasier was a popular figure in the community. He and his wife Zaidee would talk about current local affairs over meals with their only child. 'You didn't think about yourself the emphasis was on others,' Mrs May has said. Becoming a politician was, a friend said, 'a calling, a vocation, not seen as work'. Mrs May was close to his parents and in 1981 Rev Braiser was killed when his Morris Marina collided with a Range Rover on the A40 near Oxford A few months later Mrs May's mother Zaidee, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, also died (pictured together Then Shadow Education Secretary Theresa May landing in the lap of Richard Allan, Lib Dem MP for Sheffield Hallam, as they tussle for a seat during a game of musical chairs in 2001 Mrs May was Home Secretary under David Cameron, the longest serving in history, taking over from Mr Cameron after he lost the EU referendum Home Secretary Theresa May speaks at the Police Federation annual conference in Bournemouth as Home Secretary Prime Minister Theresa May danceing as she arrives on stage to make her keynote speech at the Conservative Party annual conference, dancing on to stage poking fun at herself She remains a regular churchgoer, and is photographed leaving Mass every Sunday with Philip. At 13, she won a scholarship to the local grammar school, Holton Park Girls, in Wheatley. Mrs May sailed through school and at 18 she was off to St Hugh's College, Oxford, to read geography. No one spotted any star potential in the fairly quiet blonde girl, but she was a good speaker at the Union and an active member of another student debating group, the Edmund Burke Society, which in her last year she chaired, presiding over proceedings with a meat tenderiser as a gavel. In fact it was her boyfriend and future husband two years her junior who attracted attention as a potential rising political star. Philip May was the toast of the debating chamber, a friend of Benazir Bhutto, the future Prime Minister of Pakistan who was to be assassinated in 2007. It was Benazir who introduced Philip to Theresa at a Conservative association disco he the centre of much attention, she the barely-noticed ex-grammar schoolgirl and vicar's daughter. Theresa and Philip married in 1980, soon after he graduated, though before coming down he persuaded her to return for one last Edmund Burke society debate. She spoke against the motion 'That sex is good but success is better' but they say they cannot recall who won. A year after they married her father Hubert Brasier died in a car crash and Theresa's mother, already in a wheelchair with multiple sclerosis, died a year later. But the tragedies brought Mr and Mrs May closer together. The fact that Mr and Mrs May, who met at Oxford University, have no children is a matter of sadness. 'You see friends who now have grown-up children, but you accept the hand that life deals you,'' she told The Mail On Sunday in 2016. Friends see this as part of the reason she immersed herself so very deeply in her work and would trawl through her ministerial red boxes often until 2am even on Christmas Eve. Being without children is something she has in common with Germany's Angela Merkel, whom she admires for 'getting things done' and who, like her, is also the daughter of a clergyman. At the time of her father's death in 1981 Mrs May was working as an analyst for the Bank of England. But already she was taking a first step in politics, later becoming a councillor in Merton, South-West London, with responsibility for local schools. She had a family link to the Wimbledon area her paternal grandfather Tom Brasier, a World War I regular soldier decorated as a Sergeant Major with the Royal Green Jackets, was born there. As Philip made his way in the City, Theresa's political ambitions took her to two losing seats, and then she landed the plum constituency of Maidenhead, not far from where she spent her childhood. Mrs May entered Parliament at the time of the New Labour landslide of 1997, and two years later became the first of the new intake to be appointed to the shadow cabinet, as education spokesman and then Shadow Education Secretary under William Hague. She became the longest serving Home Secretary in modern history before becoming Prime Minister. The self-confessed 'bl**dy difficult woman' grabbed power after David Cameron's resignation in 2016 and the 62-year-old enjoyed rocketing approval ratings as she triggered Article 50 in March 2017. She is pictured with Prince William and Theresa May in the Royal Box Wimbledon. The public gave her the nickname the 'Maybot' and her awkward mannerisms, with her laughing in the Commons becoming one of a number of popular gifs The Tory needed to nail her conference speech in 2017 after the snap election disaster, but suffered a coughing fit (left) and then the set with her new slogan fell apart (right) As Brexit negotiations continued she was hit by resignations by key ministers including Boris Johnson, who many said was actively vying for her job. Even after pulling another vote on her deal a defiant Theresa May threw down the gauntlet to MPs and questioned whether they were really serious about delivering Brexit. But her warnings to fell on deaf ears. The calculated gamble to call a snap election three months later was a disastrous mistake that left her with a hung parliament. She then spent two years negotiating a deal with the EU without seeking input from Brexiteers in her cabinet or the wider Conservative Party - and then presented a deal inevitably filled with compromises at a Chequers summit in July 2018. In the days after Chequers it appeared that she could pull it off, as her ministers all seemingly got behind her deal that sought to tread a middle ground between a so-called hard and soft Brexit. But two days later, the wheels began to come as first Brexit Secretary David Davis announced his resignation. Boris Johnson came hours later saying he couldn't accept her watered down EU divorce, with her closest friend in politics Damian Green saying this was the moment she lost control of Brexit. She was then forced to beg the EU to extend Article 50 twice her authority was shot and with Nigel Farage's Brexit Party expected to decimate the Tories at European elections she promised would never happen her ministers and MPs refused to back her Withdrawal Agreement Bill and pulled the plug. Ministers complained that she was too private and would often not speak as they gave their views on major issues, including on Brexit, keeping her own opinions for her closest advisers and Mr May. While the public called her the 'Maybot', and poked fun at her gurning expressions and bad dancing. In May 2019 she announced her resignation, tears coming as she left 'the job she loved', but she will remain Prime Minister until the Tories choose a replacement, with Boris Johnson immediately the favourite to replace her in No 10. She quit watched by her husband Philip, and she was overwhelmed by tears while voicing her pride at having served the country. Mrs May, her voice cracking, concluded her speech saying: 'I will shortly leave the job that it has been the honour of my life to hold. 'The second female prime minister, but certainly not the last. I do so with no ill will, but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love.' Theresa May will leave Parliament after 27 years in which she reached the height of political power and hit significant lows. The UK's second female prime minister revealed her decision to stand down as MP for Maidenhead to a local newspaper on Friday. Elected seven times, the 67-year-old has been the Tory MP for the Berkshire constituency since 1997. She occupied Downing Street from 2016 to 2019, a period of extraordinary tumult in British politics in the wake of the Brexit vote. When she entered No 10, Mrs May was seen as the 'safe pair of hands' supposed to successfully negotiate a departure agreement with the European Union. Steely and principled with the brisk, no-nonsense air of a school headmistress, she had already survived six years as home secretary, the longest holder in more than 60 years of an office traditionally regarded as a political graveyard. Branded a 'bloody difficult woman' by her former cabinet colleague Ken Clarke, she embraced the jibe saying that was exactly what the country needed as it entered talks with Brussels. However, she proved unable to bridge the bitter divisions opened up within the Conservative Party and in the country at large by the referendum. Having supported remain - albeit with little visible enthusiasm - she was never fully trusted by Brexit ultras. In Europe, her perceived intransigence and lack of 'soft' diplomatic skills meant she struggled to build the kind of alliances which might have smoothed the UK's departure. After seeing her proposed withdrawal agreement with the EU roundly defeated three times in the Commons, she finally announced she was quitting in a tearful statement on the steps of Downing Street. 'I have done my best,' she said, but admitted it had not been enough. She never really recovered from her disastrous decision to call a snap general election a year after entering No 10. She had hoped to capitalise on her early popularity, but instead saw her majority wiped out after an ill-judged campaign which saw the hasty withdrawal of the so-called 'dementia tax' manifesto pledge. It gravely undermined her authority and left her reliant on the votes of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionists to prop up her government. Initially she delighted Brexit supporting Conservatives with her insistence that Britain would not remain part of the EU single market or customs union. Mrs May and Donald Trump together at Chequers hours after the US President said she had fluffed talks with Brussels The PM's negotiations with the EU hit an impasse over the Irish backstop, which Brexiteers and the DUP refused to accept Theresa May and Philip May left Downing Street grim-faced yesterday as her time as Prime Minister came to an end after failing to take Britain out of the EU But her plan for Britain to remain close to EU regulations in a order to maintain the open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic - a key element of the Good Friday peace agreement - proved hugely controversial. An instinctively private woman, as prime minister she at times appeared to struggle with the additional scrutiny the top job brought - her sometimes awkward and stilted manner leading to her being dubbed 'the Maybot'. On the international stage, she won kudos for the way she stood up to Vladimir Putin after the Salisbury nerve agent attack when Russian agents tried to murder former spy Sergei Skripal. But her reputation as home secretary was tarnished by the Windrush scandal, with her policy of creating a 'hostile environment' for illegal immigrants blamed for the mistreatment and wrongful deportation of scores of those who had come to the country legally from the Caribbean in the years following the Second World War. From 2012 onwards, she required daily insulin injections after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes - in No 10 she would order staff to bring her Jelly Babies when her blood-sugar levels dropped. In the aftermath of the EU referendum, she was determined to show the UK's impending withdrawal from the bloc did not mean stepping back from the world stage. She rushed to Washington in January 2017 to become the first foreign leader to meet new US president Donald Trump, only to suffer ridicule when he was pictured apparently briefly holding her hand. The Tory conference that year was reduced to farce after a prankster handed Mrs May a P45 on stage, she lost her voice, and ended her speech with letters falling off the backdrop behind her. It was inevitably Brexit, however, which was to define her time in office. The cabinet was summoned to the prime minister's country residence at Chequers in July 2018 to endorse her blueprint for future economic relations with the EU. However, it resulted in the resignations of foreign secretary Mr Johnson days and Brexit secretary David Davis, two of more than 50 ministers to resign during the course of her three-year tenure in No 10 - more than half over Brexit. The mood within the Tory party was becoming ever more rancorous and that December she had to fight off a no-confidence motion by rebellious MPs. When her Brexit plan was finally put to MPs in January 2019, it was defeated by a majority of 230 - the biggest government defeat in modern political history. Two more votes followed with two more heavy defeats for the government, and when talks with the Labour Party to find a cross-party way forward collapsed, she announced her resignation. Despite the humiliating circumstances of her departure, Mrs May chose to carry on as a backbench MP in Parliament, emerging as a periodic critic of her successor Mr Johnson including over the partygate scandal. Detailing her exit from the Commons, Mrs May said causes such as tackling modern slavery were taking an 'increasing amount' of her time. But her political legacy will chiefly be remembered as one dominated by wrangling over Brexit. The daughter of the Titanic expert killed when a submersible imploded near the doomed liner says trips to the wreck should continue. Paul-Henri Nargeolet was one of five killed when the OceanGate submersible, Titan, catastrophically imploded near the wreck of the Titanic on June 18 last year. Also killed was OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, businessmen Hamish Harding and Shahzada Dawood, and Mr Dawood's teenage son Suleman. A former Navy diver, Mr Nargeolet earned the nickname 'Mr Titanic' because of his multiple expeditions down to the wreck. His daughter Sidonie claims that OceanGate never made contact after the disaster. Speaking from her home in Ordino, Andorra, the 40-year-old said that she had still not heard from anyone at the company eight months after her loss. She said: 'My anger is mostly because no one from OceanGate contacted us to say we are sorry for your loss, which I'm angry about. 'At least I think they could have contacted us to say we are sorry for your loss'. The daughter of Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who was killed when a submersible imploded near the doomed liner, says trips to the wreck should continue. Sidonie claims that OceanGate never made contact after the disaster Mr Nargeolet was one of five killed when the OceanGate submersible, Titan, catastrophically imploded near the wreck of the Titanic on June 18 last year. Above: Wreckage from the sub is seen being brought onto land in Newfoundland after being discovered shortly after the tragedy Mr Nargeolet (left) was in the sub along with Stockton Rush (right) - CEO of the OceanGate Expedition - and three others Despite the fate of her father however, she believes that expeditions to the Titanic wreck should continue. 'I think they have to do it,' she said. 'We don't have to make a confusion with a bad sub and a good one, you know? 'I think it's good that people go on the sub and it's good to take artifacts from the Titanic, but just not to play with security, the lives of people.' Prior to the disaster, Miss Nargeolet had no idea that her father's dives might be dangerous. She said: 'I have always been used to it, so I think it was like normal for me. 'So I never wondered if the submersible was a good one or not. 'He told me that the Titan was a new kind of sub, but he didn't tell me he was worried about it.' She continued: 'I didn't know anything about this sub, I didn't know how it was made. 'Now from what I heard, it seems that so many people said it was a bad sub, so why has it been able to go into the sea?' The first sign of the unfolding tragedy came in a text from Mr Nargeolet's wife, Anne Sarraz-Bournet. A desperate search for the sub was launched after it lost contact with its mothership and vanished during an expedition to the Titanic wreck on Sunday June 18, 2023 The Titan submersible before the disaster. It catastrophically imploded Also onboard was British billionaire adventurer Hamish Harding and Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman A young Mr Nargeolet in a diving suit. He spent more than 20 years in the French navy Mr Nargeolet in his French navy uniform. He was a veteran of expeditions to the wreck of the Titanic Ms Nargeolet as a young girl with her father. She says expeditions to the wreck should continue Speaking from her home in Ordino, Andorra, the 40-year-old said that she had still not heard from anyone at OceanGate eight months after her loss 'She sent me a WhatsApp telling me that my dad had been on the sub and he didn't come back on time,' said Sidonie. 'At the moment when I read the message I was in total panic, because I thought "it's a sub, if there is a problem it's really bad". 'But with time and some explanation, I started really to have hope and to think, "no, maybe they lost radio contact, it's going to be fine". 'I don't know if it was because there was really a hope or because it's my dad and I didn't want to think he was dead.' In any case, her hopes were shattered when the US Coast Guard announced to the families that Titan had been lost. She said: 'We had four days to get prepared for it, but anyway, it's hard to accept. 'We heard it was all done, but it's really hard to to realise because we don't see any body, you know? 'So it's like he's gone okay, but we have nothing to say goodbye to.' Banging noises were detected in 30-minute intervals by underwater sonar devices called 'sonobuoys'. Graphic shows how they were used during last year's search According to experts, the 'banging' could have been from search equipment in the area, marine life such as whales or even just sounds from the depths of the Atlantic French-born Mr Nargeolet detailed his experiences diving the Titanic wreck in a book, Dans les profondeurs du Titanic (In the depths of the Titanic). Now the book has been translated into English under a new title, The Secrets of the Titanic. The Secrets of the Titanic, translated by Laura Haydon, is available now for Kindle on Amazon, with a paperback version coming in June. Ms Nargeolet said: 'I'm really happy. Last May, my father told me that his book started to be translated in English. 'For sure, he hasn't seen the result, but I'm happy that he said it to me and now it's going to go out. 'I've learned many things in the book, and it's something that will always make him be present.' An OceanGate representative said they made contact with the Nargeolet family after the accident. Mr Nargeolet spent more than two decades in the French Navy before leading several expeditions to the wreck of the Titanic. His 'unparalleled' knowledge of the Titanic and the images he captured during his world renowned dives there helped inspire his friend James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster film. Nargeolet's love of diving and the oceans began at the age of nine when he discovered his 'first wreck' by following divers in Morocco. And that passion led him to join the French Navy where he served for 22 years in mine disposal before becoming a 'leading authority' on the Titanic. The mariner, born in Chamonix, France, was the first person to have brought up an object - a silver plate - from the Titanic in 1987 and in 2022 he told Le Parisien that he had read '200 to 300 books' on the wreckage. The initial disappearance of the Titan sub sparked a frantic and high-profile search, with rescuers initially hoping that they would find its occupants alive in the ocean. Initial theories about what might have happened included that it may have lost radio contact or steering and propulsion capability. The world held its breath as militaries, navies and private companies from across the world flocked to Newfoundland to help find the missing sub before its oxygen ran out. However, after days of searching, a search team found debris from the sub around 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic. Titan had imploded as a result of enormous water pressure bearing down on the vessel - killing everyone on board in what was likely a matter of milliseconds. Its occupants had been on an expedition to view the wreck of the Titanic liner, which has been the subject of global interest ever since it sank after hitting an iceberg in April 1912. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided a large-scale live-fire artillery drill involving a unit Pyongyang says is capable of striking Seoul as it prepares for 'actual war' with South Korea, the North's state media said Friday. The tyrant was pictured on Thursday wearing a black leather jacket, looking on over columns of self-propelled artillery systems firing into the sky in unison in a startling show of force. The drills involved border units 'that put the enemy's capital in their striking range,' Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, referring to Seoul. As he watched the drills, Kim 'expressed his great satisfaction' that the units are 'fully ready for constant mobilization for battles,' according to KCNA. Kim urged his soldiers to 'vigorously push forward the work for making preparations for regular combat mobilisation' to 'take the initiative with merciless and rapid strikes' in the event of an 'actual war', according to KCNA. Self-propelled artillery units conduct training drills in North Korea, March 7, 2024 Artillery fires in a startling show of force in North Korea as troops watch on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, supervises artillery firing drills in North Korea Thursday, March 7, 2024 Kim urged his soldiers to 'vigorously push forward the work for making preparations for regular combat mobilisation', KCNA reported KCNA reported Kim 'stressed the need to train all the artillery men of the whole army into experts in artillery engagement ... and set forth important tasks for rounding off the artillery war preparations' at Thursday's event. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event shown in images distributed by the North Korean government. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said North Korea's military had test-fired multiple rocket launcher shells and self-propelled artillery shells toward the Yellow Sea between 11 a.m. (0200 GMT) and 5 p.m. (0800 GMT) on Thursday. They took place in North Korea's western port city of Nampho toward the Yellow Sea, it added. The JCS said it was monitoring the North's military activities as joint drills conducted by South Korean and U.S. militaries are underway. The drills, known as the Freedom Shield exercises, kicked off on Monday with twice the number of troops joining compared to last year. 'Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's signs of provocation ... while maintaining a firm joint defense posture and conducting the ongoing Freedom Shield exercises and joint drills,' Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. 'If North Korea commits a provocation, we will punish overwhelmingly and firmly in accordance with the principle of 'immediately, strongly, and until the end''. Seoul's defence minister, Shin Won-sik, also visited the Capital Defense Command on Thursday and ordered a firm response if North Korea made provocations aimed at the capital. Pyongyang has already this year declared South Korea its 'principal enemy', jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over 'even 0.001 mm' of territorial infringement. The latest announcement came after Washington and Seoul started their annual spring military exercises Monday with double the number of troops participating compared to 2023. Seoul's military also confirmed the North had carried out live-fire artillery drills involving rocket launchers and self-propelled howitzers The North Korean government shared photos of the drills apparently taking place Thursday North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, supervises artillery firing drills in North Korea Thursday, March 7, 2024 According to KCNA, the drill was conducted to increase combat readiness and actual warfighting capabilities of participating artillery units North Korea on Tuesday warned that Seoul and Washington would pay a 'dear price' over their joint large-scale military exercises, urging the allies to cease 'frantic war drills'. North Korea has long condemned joint US-South Korea military exercises, calling them rehearsals for an invasion. The nuclear-armed North has in the past carried out weapons tests as a response to such joint exercises. On Wednesday, the North Korean despot visited a major operational training base in the country's western region, with photos released afterward showing him talking with troops and overseeing firing drills. Last week, South Korea's hawkish President Yoon Suk Yeol called for the international community to back 'unification efforts' to 'free' everyone on the peninsula. A teenager has been tragically killed after a bus mounted the kerb and pinned her against a building during the evening peak hour in Brisbane's CBD. Emergency services were confronted with chaotic scenes when they arrived at the scene near Anzac Square on Edward Street around 5pm on Friday A woman, 18, died at the scene, despite the frantic efforts of paramedics. It's understood she had just walked out of a nearby beauty salon after having her eyelashes done when she was struck by the bus. Nine people on board the bus, including the driver were also injured. Some of the passengers were thrown from their seats. Queensland Fire and Rescue said that officers arrived to find the woman pinned between the bus and a building in front of horrified bystanders. It's understood that the bus lost control and crashed into a light pole before mounting the kerb near the intersection of Adelaide Street. A woman has died after a bus mounted the kerb in Brisbane's CBD on Friday. Pictured are police at the scene Emergency services were called to Edward Street in the heart of Brisbane's CBD 5pm READ MORE: Scooter rider killed after being hit by a car in Sydney Emergency services were called to the intersection of Epping Road and Lane Cove Road, in Sydney's northwest, at 5am on Friday following reports of a collision Advertisement Paramedics treated nine people on board the bus including the driver Three were taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital and another two to Mater Hospital. Injuries included whiplash and soft tissue injuries. District Duty Officer Senior Sergeant Steve Watterson told the Courier Mail that it was a 'horrendous scene'. 'Emergency services were confronted with quite a horrendous scene with a person caught under the bus,' he said. 'We were lucky at the time there was only nine passengers on the bus with three sustaining minor cuts and bruising as a result of the impact and exiting the bus through some emergency windows.' Witnesses told the publication that everything 'happened so suddenly' and that bricks were 'flying everywhere'. 'The bus was going straight and then turned quickly it all happened so suddenly,' one woman said. 'The poor girl she is only young. I don't know what to do I'm just so horrified.' Police teams are now reviewing CCTV of the footpath and attempt to track down the victim's family. Nine others onboard the bus, including the driver, were treated by paramedics on the scene Sen Sgt Watterson added that the bus would be removed from the scene and inspected by the forensic crash unit. First responders said that the driver was still buckled into the driver's seat when they got there 'suffering the affects of shock'. Police will investigate how the crash unfolded. Firefighters are still assisting police on the scene and traffic is currently being diverted while drivers have been urged to avoid the area. Edward Street remains fully closed and Ann Street is partially closed. The crash caused traffic delays as police urged AFL fans heading to the Gabba for the opening round clash between Brisbane and Carlton to plan their trips. Traffic has been diverted and drivers have been urged to avoid the area. Pictured is an aerial shot of the crash scene Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner described the incident as 'truly devastating'. 'My heart goes out to everyone impacted by this tragedy,' he said. 'Hearing this news has absolutely shocked me and I'm sure the entire Brisbane community will be feeling this tonight. 'None of us going about our daily lives ever expect anything like this.' President Joe Biden fiery State of the Union address Thursday earned plaudits from most sections of the media but many have pointed that the 81-year-old's fiery speech was in stark contrast to his recent bumbling and gaffe-laden remarks. Biden laid out his case for re-election in a speech that accused Donald Trump of threatening democracy, kowtowing to Russia and torpedoing a bill to tackle U.S. immigration woes. In a 68-minute address to Congress, the president drew sharp contrasts with his Republican rival and gamely challenged Trump's supporters in the chamber during a speech that was watched as much for the president's performance as it was for his policy proposals. As the speech wore on, the word 'Adderall,' a pharmaceutical stimulant used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, became a trending topic on Twitter. MAGA influencer Carter Hughes joked: 'How many milligrams of adderall did Joe Biden take tonight?' Another wrote: 'Joe Biden is on the most adderall I've ever seen anyone ever be on.' Biden laid out his case for re-election in a speech that accused Donald Trump of threatening democracy, kowtowing to Russia and torpedoing a bill to tackle U.S. immigration woes As Biden delivered his remarks, the word 'Adderall' became a trending topic on Twitter Right-wing figures on X had a field day, accusing Biden of taking pharmaceuticals In recent months, Biden speeches have become synonymous with gaffes as he mixed up names and places while also appearing lost when being asked to move. DailyMail.com earlier reported that Biden spent the past five days preparing for his address, trying to cover all the possibilities: drinking tea to keep his throat smooth, reading a print out of his remarks - with giant type in case the teleprompter goes out, and hours of practice sessions. Another right-wing figure, Insurrection Barbie tweeted: 'Joe Biden needs Archie Bunker reruns and a glass of Ovaltine not 60 mg of Adderall and a national audience.' 'There is an Adderall shortage in DC. Joe Biden consumed it all tonight,' joked another person. Taking a step further, The Federalist editor-in-chief and Fox News contributor Mollie Hemingway said: 'Plot twist: It was Joe Biden's cocaine in the White House!,' an apparent reference to the small amount of cocaine that was found in the West Wing in 2023. In more standard remarks, former presidential candidate Sen. Ted. Cruz, whose wife was called 'ugly' by Donald Trump in 2016, told Sean Hannity: 'Joe Biden was angry, he was bitter, he was screaming the entire night. He was radical and extreme.' The official GOP response saw Alabama Republican Senator Katie Britt call Biden 'diminished.' Britt, a 42-year-old rising star in the Republican party, delivered the speech from her kitchen. 'Right now, our commander in chief is not in command. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets and a strong defense are actually the cornerstones of a great nation,' she said in part. It's the third year in a row that Republicans have picked a woman to speak to the nation after Biden leaves the podium and Britt's remarks echo the same dark vision for the future under Biden and Democrats laid out by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2023 and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in 2022. 'For years, the left has coddled criminals and defunded the police all while letting repeat offenders walk free,' Britt said in her response. 'The result is tragic but foreseeable from our small towns to America's most iconic city streets, life is getting more and more dangerous.' She criticized Biden's foreign policy, including his chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan and talk of a renewed nuclear deal with Iran. She did not directly mention Ukraine's war with Russia, as Biden has aggressively pushed the Republican-led House to take up a Senate-passed aid package. She did not mention Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, whom Britt endorsed in December. But she said the country is at a crossroads, and 'I know which choice our children deserve and the choice the Republican Party is fighting for.' Many on the left were unhappy with Biden labeling the killer of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley an 'illegal.' Authorities have arrested on murder and assault charges Jose Ibarra , a Venezuelan man who entered the U.S. illegally and was allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case. He has not yet entered a plea to the charges. That was disappointing to Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. 'I wish he hadn't engaged with Marjorie Taylor Greene and used the word illegal,' she told the AP after the speech. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, the speaker emeritus, said afterward on CNN, 'Now he should have said 'undocumented,' but it's not a big thing.' Greene had handed out the buttons earlier in the day. Biden also looked up to the gallery where many guests were seated, but Riley's parents were not there. Rep. Mike Collins, a Georgia Republican, said this week that he had invited Riley's parents to the State of the Union address, but they had 'chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter.' A son locked in a bitter tug of war over a 2.5m mansion with his multi-millionaire father has told how he has been driven to financial ruin and despair by the 'family at war' feud. Thomas Parker-Bowyer said his life had been put on hold after being sued by his 'towel tycoon' father Michael who claims he has control over the disputed house. He has had to borrow 200,000, sell his home and car to take on his father who was once involved in Britain's most toxic divorce spending close to 3m on legal fees. The dispute began in 2019 when Michael Parker ran into financial problems - a year after his expensive divorce - and faced having his stunning mansion re-possessed for failing to keep up payments on a 1.4m mortgage. Thomas says he offered to help and took out a mortgage of 1.2m and pumped in 200,000 of his own savings to stop his father from losing the house. Thomas Parker-Bowyer (pictured) claims he's been driven to financial ruin after being sued by his 'towel tycoon' father Michael who claims he has control over the disputed house Towel tycoon Michael Parker, 62, (pictured) is battling his son Thomas Parker-Bowyer, 30, in the High Court over a seven-bedroom mansion The dispute has caused Michael Parker (centre) with his sons Eddie (left) and Thomas (right) to fallout Thomas said other members of the family had recently splashed out on Aston Martins. Pictured: His father Michael Parker's new car The property title deeds were legally transferred into Thomas's name as the new owner. But when he said he wanted to sell the house his father insisted that he still had rights to live there. Thomas, 32, is now being sued in the High Court by his father who insists a 'constructive trust' was created so that he could continue to live in the house set in two acres of land in the upmarket village of Bourne End in Buckinghamshire. The ranch style home boasts seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a cinema and a swimming pool with an adjustable floor height. The house is currently on the market for 2.5m. Speaking exclusively to Mail Online Thomas revealed the relationship with his 62-year-old father is so bad that they no longer speak and will only see each other when they face off against each other later this year in court for a three day hearing to determine ownership. Thomas's brother Eddie Parker posing with his new lime green Aston Martin The 2.65million ranch-style home is situated in the Buckinghamshire village of Bourne End. The mansion is in two acres of land and has eight bathrooms, a cinema and a swimming pool with adjustable floor height, plus a gym and a bar Thomas said: 'I never wanted any of this, but the house is rightfully mine. I have the title deeds and it is registered in my name' Towel tycoon Michael Parker (pictured) was once involved in Britain's most toxic divorce, spending close to 3m on legal fees Thomas said: 'I never wanted any of this, but the house is rightfully mine. I have the title deeds and it is registered in my name. 'My father has no legal right to the house. 'I no longer have a relationship with my father.' The court battle will not be the first time Michael Parker has been involved in expensive litigation. Four years ago he hit the headlines after racking the huge legal bills in a divorce from his second wife Barbara as they fought over ownership of a company they ran supplying towels and bathrobes to top hotels and spas in the UK and Europe. The warring couple were slammed by a judge for spending almost half their 6.6m fortune on lawyers. Thomas, who having sold his home to fund the legal fight and now lives with his in-laws, said he paid off the mortgage with the understanding the house would be his. Son Thomas Parker-Bowyer (pictured) arriving at the High Court with his wife Kimberley. Michael Parker signed the house over to his son in 2019. However, they are now locked in a court battle because Thomas Parker-Bowyer wants to sell the house The dispute over the property has caused the father and sons relationship to breakdown. Pictured: The gate of the mansion, dubbed 'The House' The battle between the father and son has become so acrimonious that Thomas said he had to report his father to the police. Pictured: Thomas inside the mansion He denies any knowledge of a trust that allows his father to live as long as wants, and says there is no documents to support the the claim. He said the dispute has become so acrimonious that he had to report his father to the police. 'He was coming round to our house and peering in through the windows,' said Thomas. 'I had to call the police and he has been told to stay away from us. 'This has taken over my life. I had to take out a second mortgage to pay the legal bills and my repayments are now 11,000 a month. 'I am being driven into financial ruin and although the house is up for sale, I wonder who will want to buy it when they know there is a legal fight going on.' He added: 'We had a fallout over how the businesses we ran should proceed and it just got worse from there.' Thomas has said he is being 'driven to financial ruin' due to the 11,000 mortgage payments. Pictured: Thomas outside the mansion To make matters worse Thomas said he was a shareholder in a private medical practice that was run as family business. He said the company Smart Medical Clinics which provided private GP and dental appointments at four venues in London was recently sold to BUPA for an undisclosed sum. While other shareholders received a payout Thomas said he has yet to be paid by his father. He said other members of the family had recently splashed out on Aston Martins. He said:' They have all bought new cars, and I have had to sell mine. My house in Ascot was sold and I am now living with my in laws. 'Obviously I hope that the High Court will side with me as I have all the documents to prove I am the owner of the house. 'I think my father likes legal action. There is a joke someone said that he is at the High Court so often he has his own parking space.' The fallout between the family members seems to have started due to dispute over their business. Pictured: Thomas inside the mansion's kitchen Michael Parker was at the centre of what was dubbed Britain's messiest divorce when he split from his second wife Barbara. A judge said Barbara Cooke, 58, and her husband had 'completely lost touch with reality' as they slugged it out over an estimated 6.6million fortune. Mr Justice Holman said the dispute was a 'scandalous waste of court time' and urged them to settle the case before more of their money was spent. The couple's marriage had fallen apart after Michael Parker was accused of burning down his wife's 1m bungalow in 2009. A judge found that, on the balance of probabilities, there was no explanation for the fire 'other than it was set by persons on the direction of Mr Parker'. He was never prosecuted for arson. The towel business had been started by his wife and was a success with the company BC Softwear supplying towels to The Dorchester and other top hotels. Michael Parker, who made his fortune from property developments, was made a director of the company along with his sons Thomas and Eddie. While the company flourished he had his own helicopter and neighbours would see it circling over his home called Babbs - named after his wife. Blog Archive: Mar 2024 (90) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (156) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) A report into the LAPD and other police forces' use of non-lethal weapons has revealed that their pre-firearm usage is growing despite being only effective a third of the time. The non-lethal weapons in question are 40-millimeter projectile launchers, which fire a foam shot the size of a coke can at 200mph. The LAPD fired them 133 times last year. The report has come as a result of the killing of a bipolar man in a Skid Row warehouse in February where the launchers were used before a real gun was fired. The launchers are under scrutiny due to the fact that some see their image as the non-lethal option being misleading as they can cause serious physical harm. The non-lethal weapons in question are 40-millimeter projectile launchers, which fire a foam shot the size of a coke can at 200mph The killing of Jason Maccani, 36, in Skid Row, seen here, prompted the report on the weapons The foam projectile is designed to cause enough pain to subdue the victim but not enough to inflict serious injury or kill them The report was presented to the police commission on Tuesday and it found that the LAPD used the weapons 133 times last year. Their pre-firearm usage by the LAPD has doubled since 2022. The launchers were used prior to a real police shooting nine times out of the 34 shootings in 2023 compared to just four times out of 31 shootings the year before. READ MORE: Shocking video shows moment LAPD cops shoot dead bipolar man who was armed with a PLASTIC FORK Advertisement This means the LAPD is putting in an increasing effort to avoid the use of a real firearm unless they have to. However, out of the 133 rounds discharged only 49 were effective in subduing the subject. This means almost two thirds of the time the launchers didn't manage to do what they are designed to do. Therefore, supposing this percentage is consistent in the usages when a real gunshot was deemed necessary, one could estimate that around six of the nine cases they were used before a real shooting in 2023 were ineffective. This would result in extra unnecessary pain for subjects that are ultimately going to be shot anyway. Risk of serious injury can be minimized with accurate shot placement, and by incorporation of compliant or frangible materials, such as foam, into the projectile design that dissipate impact energy that would otherwise be delivered to the body. The projectiles, despite being made out of foam, fire at such a speed they can cause damage Normally, injuries from being hit by the projectile include bad bruises but can be more serious However, they do still cause injury and even though it normally only leads to bad bruising, there have been more severe cases of fractures and broken bones. Attorney Carl Douglas told the LA Times that officers have been known to both fire the devices indiscriminately into crowds during protests and to hesitate to use the devices in more routine encounters creating scenarios where they resort to deadly force. 'Particularly in a mental health context and if the subject has a broom handle, for example I have regrettably seen officers use deadly force in those occasions,' said Douglas, who has successfully sued local law enforcement agencies on behalf of people shot by 'less-lethal' munitions. Other times, he said, groups of officers have simultaneously fired handguns and 'less-lethal' weapons a trend confirmed by a Times review of nearly 50 LAPD shootings between January 2020 and April 2022. Los Angeles has in recent years paid out millions of dollars in settlements to people who say they were seriously injured when LAPD officers fired 'less-lethal' rounds into crowds of protesters. Houston is the only other police force that uses the weapons but they fired them far less in 2023 than the LAPD - only 21 times. The killing that prompted the report was that of Jason Maccani, 36, who was gunned down in a Skid Row warehouse in February. Police were called to the scene to a report of a man threatening people with a 'stick or pole.' Authorities claimed Maccani 'charged' at them and officers fired the foam projectiles at him before then unloading a lethal round from areal firearm into his chest. Suspected jihadists kidnapped more than 200 pupils during a raid on a school in northwest Nigeria on Thursday, according to reports. Witnesses said the pupils in Kaduna State were in the assembly ground at 8.30am (7.30am GMT) when dozens of gunmen riding motorcycles stormed the school. The students, aged between eight and 15, were then rounded up and taken away by the armed men - along with one of their teachers - one witness told the BBC. Kidnappings for ransom are common in Africa's most populous country, where heavily armed criminal gangs have targeted schools and colleges in the past, especially in the northwest, though such attacks have abated recently. However, the last week has seen an uptick in mass kidnappings after dozens of displaced people were feared to have been kidnapped by Boko Haram jihadists some 500 miles away in Gambaru, in north-eastern Nigeria's Borno State, earlier this week. Suspected jihadists kidnapped more than 200 pupils during a raid on a school in northwest Nigeria on Thursday, according to reports. Pictured: A woman cries at the school in Chikun, Kaduna State as she pleads with authorities to help rescue the kidnapped children Nigeria army trucks are seen parked at the school were suspected jihadist gunmen kidnapped school children in Chikun, Nigeria, on Thursday, March 7, 2024 A teacher, local residents and officials reported the attack, with witnesses saying the pupils in Kaduna State were in the assembly ground at 8.30am (7.30am GMT) when dozens of gunmen riding motorcycles stormed the school (pictured) Thursday's attack happened in Chikun, Kaduna - a region of Nigeria controlled by Ansaru, a breakaway faction of the insurgent terror group Boko Haram, which has been responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people in recent years. The jihadist group has carried out massacres - including the killing of 59 schoolboys in February 2014, and other mass abductions - most famously the April 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, in Borno State. As of June 2023, over 90 of the Chibok girls remain missing. Local government officials in Kaduna State confirmed the kidnapping attack on Kuriga school on Thursday, but gave no figures as they said they were still working out how many children had been abducted. One witness said that it could have been as many as 287: 125 from the local primary school and 187 from a secondary school. It added 25 had already returned. At least one person was shot dead during the attack, local residents said. Sani Abdullahi, one of the teachers at the GSS Kuriga school in the Chikun district, said staff managed to escape with many students when the gunmen attacked the building early on Thursday firing gunshots in the air. 'We began working to determine the actual figure of those kidnapped,' he told local state officials visiting the school. 'In GSS Kuriga, 187 children are missing, while in the primary school, 125 children were missing but 25 returned.' Local resident Muhammad Adam also told France's AFP news agency more than 280 have been kidnapped. 'Early in the morning, before we got up, we heard gunshots from bandits, before we knew it they had gathered up the children and taken away the students and their teachers, almost 200 people,' another local resident Musa Mohammed said. 'We are pleading to the government, all of us are pleading, they should please help us with security.' Mohammed and another resident also said around 200 people were abducted. Nigerian army trucks are seen parked outside the school in Chikun on Thursday People gather around an area were gunmen kidnapped school children in Chikun, Nigeria, Thursday, March 7, 2024 Local officials and police did not give any figures for the kidnapped. Often figures of those reported kidnapped or missing in Nigeria are lowered after people fleeing the attack return home. 'As of this moment we have not been able to know the number of children or students that have been kidnapped,' Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani told reporters in Kuriga on Thursday. Hundreds of schoolchildren and college students have been kidnapped in mass abductions in the country's northwest and central region, including in Kaduna, in the last few years. Almost all were released for ransom payments after weeks or months spent in captivity in camps hidden in forests that stretch across northwestern states. Amnesty International condemned the abductions in Kaduna. 'Schools should be places of safety, and no child should have to choose between their education and their life,' the rights group said on X, formerly Twitter. 'The Nigerian authorities must take measures immediately to prevent attacks on schools, to protect children's lives and their right to education.' Since coming to office in May, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made reducing insecurity one of his priorities. BBC reporter James Menendez told the British broadcaster from northern Nigeria this morning that authorities have claimed Boko Haram is 'all but defunct' and that its remaining fighters have been either arrested or converted. However, he said, 'I think what these last two incidents reveal is that the group still very much has a presence in northern Nigeria and is still capable of carrying the kind of attacks [like] the abduction of the Chibok girls 10 years ago in Borno.' What's more, Nigeria's armed forces are battling on several fronts, including against a long-running jihadist insurgency in the northeast of the country. Nigerian soldiers hold up a Boko Haram flag that they seized after retaking the town of Damasak, Nigeria, March 18, 2015 (file photo) More than 100 people were missing after militants carried out a mass kidnapping last week targeting women and children in a camp for those displaced by the conflict in the northeast. Last September, gunmen abducted more than 30 people, including 24 female students, in a raid in and around a university in northwest Zamfara State. In February 2021, bandits raided a girls' boarding school in the town of Jangebe in Zamfara, kidnapping more than 300 students. Perhaps the most famous kidnapping was of 276 from the town of Chibok. On the night of 14-15 April 2014, girls aged between 16 and 18 - mostly Christian - were kidnapped by the Boko Haram jihadist group. The school had been closed for four weeks due to the deteriorating security situation in the region, but the girls were in school to take final exams. The militants broke into the school pretending to be soldiers from the Nigerian Security Forces, killing one soldier and a police officer in the process. Across the five-hour attacks, several houses in the town were burned down. According to accounts from girls who have since escaped, the militants had intended to steal a piece of machinery and were unsure what to do with the girls. Eventually, they ordered the girls to leave with them, loading some into vehicles. Others were ordered to walk for miles until other trucks took them away. Of the schoolgirls, 57 managed to escape immediately by jumping from the trucks, while others have since been rescued by Nigerian Armed Forces. However, almost ten years on from the attack, over 90 of the Chibok girls are still missing. Some are presumed to be dead. The BBC's Menendez said that while the abduction of the Chibok was 'almost an accident', the attention it received 'spurred [Boko Haram and other bandits] to do more of those types of abductions. Jihadist group Boko Haram has carried out massacres - including the killing of 59 schoolboys in February 2014, and other mass abductions - most famously the April 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, in Borno State Sculptures created by French artist Prune Nourry, Inspired by ancient Nigerian Ife terracotta heads, titled 'Statues Also Breathe,' represent the remaining 108 Chibok still in captivity. The statures are seen displayed in Lagos, Nigeria, on December 13, 2021 Asked whether the kidnappings were ideological or about making money, he said: 'I think it's evolved to become more of a way of making money. 'A lot of those armed gangs in the north west live in a part of the country that is incredibly impoverished, where opportunities for advancement for young people, particularly young men, are very few,' Menendez explained. 'And therefore this is an easy way to make money. 'Desperate parents will often pay a ransom, you know, regardless of how much they ask. And it's also an opportunity for Boko Haram to elevate its profile nationally and internationally to show the world that it's still a group to be contended with.' A second British man has been arrested in Thailand over drug offences as police crack down on foreigners. Peter Hull, 44, was taken in by police on March 1 after neighbours raised concerns about his strange behaviour that they say went on through all hours of the night at his home in Koh Samui. It comes just one week after fellow Brit backpacker Andrew Brett was detained in Thailand for reportedly carrying cocaine and LSD. Officers raided Peter's rented home and allegedly discovered cocaine and ecstasy - both Class A drugs which carry the death penalty if caught importing or dealing, and up to 10 years behind bars for posession. During their search, police allegedly found 30 yellow pills engraved with an owl motif, weighing 4.68 grams, and three bags of cocaine, weighing 6.32 grams. Peter Hull, 44, was arrested on March 1 after cops allegedly discovered cocaine and ecstasy at his home in Koh Samui Officers raided Peter's home after his neighbours complained about his strange behaviour during the early hours of the morning Police uncovered 30 pills, identified as ecstacy, and three bags of cocaine in Peter's Thailand home Peter allegedly confessed to purchasing all of the narcotics from another foreigner via a black market website, for around 35,000 baht (770) Police Major Pasathorn Saenyindee of Surat Thani Immigration Bureau said Peter had bought all his drugs from another foreigner via a black market website for 35,000 baht (770). Peter's tourist visa had also expired on January 8, leading to him being charged with possession of category 1 and category 2 drugs in addition to visa offences. Saenyindee warned that the Brit could now face a lengthy prison sentence or deportation. The cop said: 'There is no escape for lawbreakers. Everybody is so very tired of foreigners who abuse our country and its laws. 'There will be no leniency and no more easy ways to negotiate with police. We're making sure the bad guys get out.' Peter was allegedly seen throwing objects at nearby homes during the early hours of the morning, and was known to ride motorcycles through the streets at night. After complaints were made about the bizarre disturbances, police identified the residents in the area and began their investigations. When they arrived at the home, they allegedly found Peter under the influence of drugs, and mumbling to himself. Police Major Saenyindee added: 'He has been charged with illegal possession of Category I and II narcotics, as well as overstaying for 58 days. 'The suspect has now been transferred to the inquiry officer at Koh Samui Police Station for further legal proceedings.' As cops continue their sweeping crackdown on foreigners in Thailand, officers in Phuket reportedly revealed they have arrested at least 20 in recent days with ministers warning 'guests in the country' to behave. Andrew, a 35-year-old newlywed father, was arrested on Februry 29 - just days after getting married following a five month long undercover police operation. Andrew Brett, 35, faces a punishment of up to life imprisonment or the death penalty, after being arrested forallegedly dealing cocaine and LSD to tourists in Thailand He was allegedly found to have been dealing hard drugs to tourists at the Ecco Bar in Surat Thani, southern Thailand, after a concerned patron tipped-off the police. Officers allegedly found 0.54 grams of ecstasy in a plastic bag, 25 ecstasy pills, and 75 LSD sheets, known locally as 'magic paper', among his belongings. He reportedly admitted the stash belonged to him and now faces a punishment of up to life imprisonment or the death penalty. Speaking to MailOnline, his father John, 82, said: 'I just can't believe this has happened. 'He had everything going for him. He seemed to have the perfect life'. The world's most threatened frog has been bred in a custom-built home at London Zoo, zookeepers have said. Six inch-long mountain chicken froglets have metamorphosed from tadpoles after two of the critically endangered amphibians bred following a move to the Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians exhibit. Scientifically named Leptodactylus fallax, and sometimes known as the giant ditch frog, the endangered species is native to Caribbean islands Dominica and Montserrat. They were hunted for their meaty legs, a ingredient in typical West Indian dishes, and are thought to taste like chicken. Mountain chicken hunting was fully prohibited in Dominica in 2003. A recent survey of hotspots in Dominica found only 21 were still alive in the wild on the island. The male was brought to London Zoo as part of a breeding programme to bring the rare species back from the brink of extinction - with just 21 of the frogs left in the wild - and paired with two females already at the zoo. Six mountain chicken froglets - one of the world's most endangered species of amphibian - have been bred at London Zoo The frogs met in their new home and when they moved in; the huge male frog quickly dug a bowl in the underground clay-lined nesting chambers, and he and his new mate produced a foam nest to lay eggs into. What are mountain chicken frogs? Mountain chicken frogs are critically endangered amphibians native to the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Montserrat. A recent survey of hotspots on Dominica found just 21 alive on the island. Sometimes called the giant ditch frog, the species was hunted for its meaty legs - a delicacy used in traditional West Indian dishes. Hunting of the giant frogs was only fully banned in 2003. Their legs are strong enough to jump over an adult human and they can weigh up to 1kg - 40 times as much as the common European frog. Advertisement Female mountain chicken frogs lay thousands of unfertilised eggs for the developing tadpoles to feed on, every one to seven days, producing an estimated 10,000-25,000 eggs for them to eat. It is the first time the zoo has had mountain chicken froglets in five years. ZSL's curator of reptiles and amphibians, Ben Tapley, said: 'We are delighted at how quickly the mountain chicken frog colony have settled into their new home. 'Soon after they arrived, we spotted the female frog guarding her foam nest. 'Mountain chicken frogs are incredible parents. 'The mother regularly visits the nest to lay unfertile eggs, which the growing brood will feed on, she also guards her nests, puffing up and using her body to defend her young from anything that gets a little too close.' Mountain chicken frogs are one of the largest in the world and were once widespread across the Caribbean, including Montserrat and Dominica. They can weigh up to 1kg - over 40 times as much as a European common frog. Their cream and reddish brown colour provides an ideal camouflage, and their legs are strong enough to jump over a standing human adult. A recent survey in Dominica found just 21 mountain chicken frogs were still alive in the wild In the early 2000s, a mass mortality event was discovered to have been caused by the chytrid fungus, wiping out 90% of their population. Other threats to the species include habitat loss, invasive species, climate change and pollution. In 2009, conservationists from London Zoo and other European zoos airlifted remaining mountain chicken frogs to safety in a bid to save the species from extinction and established a breeding programme for the species. The family of mountain chicken frogs will be visible to zoo visitors for the first time when the Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians exhibit opens to the public this Easter. One of the Republican authors of the border bill that Donald Trump successfully pressured the GOP into sinking could be seen mouthing: 'That's true' as President Joe Biden brought up the issue during his fiery State of the Union address. At one point in the 68-minute long speech, Biden said: 'In November, my team began serious negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators. The result was a bipartisan bill with the toughest set of border security reforms we've ever seen.' That comment prompted boos and jeers from Republicans led by MAGA had clad Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. 'Oh, you don't think so? Oh, you don't like that bill, huh? That conservatives got together and said it was a good bill? I'll be darned. That's amazing,' Biden rebutted. 'That bipartisan bill would hire 1,500 more security agents and officers, 100 more immigration judges to help tackle the backlog of two million cases, 4,300 more asylum officers, and new policies so they can resolve cases in six months instead of six years now. What are you against?,' the commander-in-chief continued. After those remarks, Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma could be seen saying: 'That's true' while nodding his head. As Biden spoke, Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson could be seen shaking his head in disagreement. The camera panned over to Lankford, one of the authors of the bill, as Biden spoke about the bipartisan negotiations to try and fix the border crisis 'That bipartisan bill would hire 1,500 more security agents and officers, 100 more immigration judges to help tackle the backlog of two million cases, 4,300 more asylum officers, and new policies so they can resolve cases in six months,' Biden barked during his address Republicans were accused of killing the bill because Donald Trump wants to campaign for the presidency on the issue At one point in the 68-minute long speech, Biden said: 'In November, my team began serious negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators. The result was a bipartisan bill with the toughest set of border security reforms we've ever seen' When the bill was killed in February, Lankford told reporters: 'I'm disappointed we didn't get it done. I don't know if I feel betrayed, because the issue is still there. It's not solved.' In the end, all but four Republicans voted against moving forward on the legislation including Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who had delegated Lankford to negotiate the bill combining Ukraine aid and border security and had been closely involved in the negotiations. A former youth minister in the Baptist church, Lankford, 55, is known as one of the most sincere and well-liked members of the Senate. He's a conservative who rarely votes against his party, has long championed stricter measures at the border and has been supportive of former President Donald Trump. A day after it failed, Biden said of Lankford: 'They really threw that man overboard.' On Thursday, Greene, wearing pro-Trump paraphernalia, continued to shout at Biden, the president held up a white button that the Georgia Republican had handed him earlier bearing the name of the slain Laken Riley. Authorities say the Georgia nursing student was killed by a Venezuelan national who unlawfully crossed into the U.S. in September 2022. 'Laken Riley,' Biden said, apparently mispronouncing her name as 'Lincoln,' calling her an 'innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal.' He expressed condolences to her family, saying his heart goes out to them. When they heckled his support for bipartisan border security legislation, Biden said, 'Look at the facts, I know you know how to read.' Half of Australia can expect to face extreme heat and possible high fire danger over the long weekend, as meteorologists warn of soaring temperatures. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a severe heatwave for South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and parts of southern NSW from Friday to Monday. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a severe heatwave for South Australia , Victoria, Tasmania and parts of southern NSW from Friday to Monday Bureau senior meteorologist Angus Hines said while southern eastern parts of Australia would be bracing for hot conditions, storms were forecast for the north and western parts of the country. Mr Hines said South Australia and Victoria residents could expect to battle through temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s across Saturday and Sunday. 'With Melbourne expected to see it's hottest day of the summer even though we're technically now in Autumn,' he said. Meanwhile, Tasmania can expect to reach 30 degrees or more across the weekend. 'We will see a slightly cooler day in Hobart on Sunday and even into Monday,' Mr Hines said. Unfortunately residents won't be experiencing any relief from the heat as overnight temperatures records could be broken between Saturday and Sunday. '(There will be) 25 degrees plus for much of South Australia and Victoria (overnight), while staying above 20 degrees all through the night for all parts of Tasmania,' Mr Hines said. Bureau senior meteorologist Angus Hines said South Australia and Victoria residents could expect to battle through temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s across Saturday and Sunday Meanwhile, a total fire ban has been issued for Victoria, as moderate northerly to north-westerly winds move across the state. The ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12.01am to 11.59pm on Saturday. CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said communities should be aware of the fire danger in the areas they were travelling to this long weekend and remain informed. 'We're expecting 40km/h north-westerly winds across the South West in the morning with gusts of 50km/hr in the afternoon before a south westerly change later in the day,' Mr Heffernan said. 'The Central district will see northerly winds of up to 45km/hr and gusts of 80km/hr in the central ranges.' High fire danger ratings are in place across the remainder of Victoria with widespread wind gusts of up to 60km/h expected to reach the western part of the state in the afternoon. 'We're asking people to follow the strict conditions associated with the TFB declaration and consider the activities they plan on undertaking this long weekend,' he said. 'Understand how the increased fire risk will impact you and ensure your bushfire survival plan covers all possible contingencies, and stay up to date via the VicEmergency App.' Heatwave hits multiple states. Picture WeatherZone 3.JPG Queensland Brisbane is set to reach a top of 29 degrees on Saturday. Mr Hines said Sunday could see some rainfall across the southeast. 'Much drier for the eastern part of the county but we'll see a few showers along the (east) coastline mostly north of Sydney, not a lot of rainfall but a few spits and spots in northern NSW and Queensland,' he said. NSW Coastal NSW is set to hit the upper 20s over the weekend and some slight rainfall. Sydney residents can expect the 30s in the city, though to the west it could get as high as the mid-30s. Western Australia Meanwhile in the west, Mr Hines warns there could be heavy rainfall of up to 100mm to 150mm in some parts of the state with temperatures fluctuating. 'It's about average across the north, and then cooler than average for south Western Australia but not too many complaints there after what has been a very hot summer,' he said. 'A slow-moving weather feature across southern WA is bringing consistent rain.' The northern parts of WA will see the heavy rainfall on Friday, while southern parts of the state will see the brunt of the rainfall on Saturday. More lives were probably lost than saved by the operations of the British Army's 'super agent' during the Troubles, a damning report revealed today. Operation Kenova, which ran for seven years and cost approximately 40million, examined the role of Stakeknife, the Army's 'golden goose' who was embedded in the heart of the IRA's Internal Security Unit (ISU) or 'nutting squad'. The agent is widely believed to be Freddie Scappaticci, a Belfast bricklayer who died last April aged 77 - although today's report stops short of confirming this. Stakeknife is linked to the 'execution' of at least 14 people and the kidnap and torture of many more, but the Army has long defended his activities on the basis that his intelligence saved 180 lives. But Jon Boutcher, who previously led the Kenova probe and revealed its findings today, said that it was 'probable' more people were killed through Scappaticci's role at the heart of the Provisional IRA's savage internal disciplinary processes. He described claims he was a 'golden goose' who saved hundreds of lives as 'rooted in fables and fairy tales', adding that 'victims were not protected and terrorists were not subjected to criminal justice'. Freddie Scappaticci, better known by his codename Stakeknife, headed the 'nutting squad' - the IRA's notorious internal security unit. He died in April and is pictured in 2003 Scappaticci walking behind Gerry Adams (right) at the 1988 funeral of IRA man Brendan Davidson Jon Boutcher, who formerly led the Kenova investigation, said today that 'victims were not protected and terrorists were not subjected to criminal justice' Despite not identifying Scappaticci as Stakeknife, the interim report describes him as 'a critical person of interest' who was central to Operation Kenova. Mr Boutcher, who stepped down from the investigation to become chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said he was prevented from unmasking the agent by the government but asked to be allowed to do so in the final report. He also hit out at the 'disappointing' decision not to prosecute Stakeknife despite the files he passed to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland containing 'very serious evidence of criminality' including murder. He said the failure to prosecute anyone was 'predominantly because of a lack of resources' at the PPS, which he described as 'under-resourced'. His interim findings and recommendations include: Stakeknife probably cost more lives than he saved and security forces failed to stop some murders to protect their IRA agents; The 'Republican leadership' should apologise for the 'abduction, torture and murder' perpetrated by the IRA's Internal Security Unit; No one will be prosecuted as a result of the report; The MI5 has a policy of 'delay' and getting information out of it is 'challenging'; Ministers should set up a new statutory framework for investigating cases from the Troubles; The security services' 'neither comment nor deny' policy should be reviewed so it isn't used to cover up wrongdoing; The Summer Solstice should be designated as a day when all victims of the Troubles are remembered. For decades, myth and intrigue have swirled around the killings linked to Stakeknife, regarded as the 'jewel in the crown' of British intelligence efforts to infiltrate the Republican terror group in the 1980s and 90s. In 2003 his identity was unmasked as Freddie Scappaticci, the son of Italian immigrants from South Belfast, resulting in his fleeing Northern Ireland. He denied being a British agent right up until his death in 2023, spending his final years in hiding under a new identity in the Home Counties. Notorious for his brutality, Scappaticci rose to become second in command of the IRA's feared Internal Security Unit, which was tasked with identifying informers or 'touts' within the terror group's ranks. They were nicknamed the Nutting Squad for the punishment meted out on those deemed to have betrayed the Republican cause a bullet in the head, or 'nut'. A key issue since his exposure has been whether Scappaticci's Army handlers failed to pass on intelligence which could have saved the lives of those condemned in order to avoid compromising the identity of their most prized source. Some of those who died as a result were themselves lower-level British agents or informers, it has long been alleged. In his report, Mr Boutcher says Stakeknife - who received 80,000 a year from the taxpayer - was 'undoubtedly a valuable asset who provided high quality intelligence about PIRA [the Provisional IRA] at considerable risk to himself'. However this intelligence 'was not always passed on or acted upon and, if more of it had been, he could not have remained in place as long as he did'. The report says it has examined 90 per cent of Stakeknife's surviving reports and concluded that the number of lives saved by information he supplied is 'between high single figures and low double figures and nowhere near [the] hundreds sometimes claimed'. This 'does not take account of the lives lost as a consequence of Stakeknife's continued operation as an agent', therefore it is 'probable that this resulted in more lives being lost than saved'. Bizarrely, Mr Boutcher's report says 'nothing' in his report can be taken as confirmation that Scappaticci was Stakeknife. It describes the situation in which the security services and police were operating between the 1970s and 90s in Northern Ireland as 'uniquely challenging'. But now the conflict has ended, it is time that 'the law should recover its voice and the truth should be spoken aloud', both in relation to crimes from the Troubles which remain unsolved and the reasons why they were not solved at the time, it says. Unveiling his report today, Mr Boutcher said it was 'likely that his crimes as an agent resulted in more lives being lost than were saved'. He said his report 'leaves little doubt that the Republican leadership was responsible for numerous dreadful crimes, many of which the Government failed to prevent'. 'The Government and Republican leadership now need to acknowledge their roles in this awful section of history and both should apologise to families,' he added. But the PSNI chief constable said that even if it was 'possible to accurately and reliably say that a particular agent within a terrorist group did more harm than good, the morality and legality of agents doing any harm - with the knowledge of or on behalf of the state - would not be accepted today'. Mr Boutcher said Scappaticci should have been prosecuted but insisted this should not be taken as confirmation that he was Stakeknife, saying Scappaticci was 'directly linked to Operation Kenova'. Saying he did not believe Stakeknife was 'owed a debt of gratitude' by society, Mr Boutcher said: 'It's the victims of crimes including murder that we should focus our understanding on today.' He said it remained vital that the security forces could recruit agents 'to protect society from terrorism', but they must 'act with propriety and within the rule of law'. 'In these cases, this did not happen,' he added. Scappaticci denied being Stakeknife but it is now widely accepted that he was He has been linked to the kidnap, murder and torture of as many as 50 people Mr Boutcher denied his report suggested the IRA and the security forces were 'equally culpable' for the killings linked to Stakeknife, saying the sacrifices made by RUC officers during the Troubles were 'incredible'. But he said that what set Britain apart from the terrorists was that 'we accept when we've got things wrong'. 'We got this wrong, but that should not detract from the huge efforts of the security forces to keep society safe.' He said files submitted to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland by Operation Kenova about Stakeknife contained 'strong evidence implicating him and others in very serious wrongdoing'. 'In my view, much of this could and would have been avoided if Northern Ireland agent-running had been subject to proper regulation, control and oversight during the Troubles,' he added. The chief constable said families of those killed as a result of Stakeknife's activities and the wider killings of suspected IRA informers had 'endured endless delays, setbacks and unfulfilled promises in their quest for the truth'. The report definitively says that contrary to long-standing speculation, Stakeknife did exist and was not a 'collective of different agents'. His identity is known to the investigation, report Mr Boutcher said, branding the situation where he could not name him despite his death last year 'no longer tenable'. He was involved in 'very serious and wholly unjustifiable criminality whilst operating as an agent, including murder', Mr Boutcher said today. Meanwhile claims that his intelligence led to 'countless' or hundreds of lives being saved are 'hugely exaggerated' and 'implausible', he added. The report says British security forces operating in Northern Ireland during the Troubles 'were frequently aware of imminent abductions and murders yet failed to protect those at risk'. 'As a result, preventable deaths occurred with their knowledge and those responsible were not brought to justice and were instead left free to reoffend.' It says 'violence and humiliation' was meted out to women, children, the elderly and those with learning disabilities by the IRA's Internal Security Unit in which Stakeknife was second in command. The use and handling of agents during the 'deadly battle' with the IRA was seen as a 'high stakes dark art' which was practised 'off the books' in a 'maverick' culture, Mr Boutcher said today. The Daily Mail's reports on Stakeknife when he was unmasked in 2003 Mr Boutcher said Kenova had encountered difficulties accessing information from state agencies and spoke of attempts to undermine their work. He revealed that on the day his team was due to deliver its first tranche of evidence files to Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service in October 2019, MI5 informed them that the building's security accreditation had expired. Mr Boutcher said it was not until February 2020 until the accreditation was restored and the files could be delivered. The PSNI chief constable said the use of agents undoubtedly saved lives during the Troubles. However, he said there were occasions when preventable crimes were allowed to happen and went unsolved as a result of efforts to protect agents. He identified several cases of murder where the security forces had advance intelligence but did not intervene in order to protect sources. He acknowledged the 'exceptional stressful' operating climate the security forces worked in, and said handlers often faced dilemmas where there was 'no right answer'. The report said mistakes and questionable decisions were 'inevitable and understandable'. 'State agents do need to be protected through anonymity and secrecy, but that protection cannot confer de facto immunity or a right to act with impunity as that would be wholly incompatible with the rule of law and human rights,' the report said. 'Agents may sometimes engage in criminal conduct, but they do not have a free licence to break the law and should not be led to believe otherwise.' Mr Boutcher said the state's 'absolutist approach' to agent anonymity may have led to other individuals losing their lives. He said the NCND policy seems to have assumed a 'totemic status' within government and the security forces and has become an 'implacable dogma or mantra with the qualities of a stone wall'. He said there should be a review in relation to its 'routine application' in Troubles cases to ensure it is not allowed to 'obscure wrongdoing by the security forces or serious criminality by agents'. Asked about whether agents might be operating for the Government in a similar way today, Mr Boutcher said he hoped the modernisation of policing would prevent it. He continued: 'These types of activities should never happen in the United Kingdom today.' A lack of operating framework at the time made for a 'uniquely dangerous' situation, he added. Paying tribute to those who helped with the report's investigation, he said: 'Each person we spoke with helped shape and inspire the work of Kenova. 'What each legacy victim has endured should be acknowledged. I don't believe Stakeknife is owed any debt of gratitude.' Sir Iain Livingston, Operation Kenova (L), Northern Ireland Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher (C) and and Chris Todd, Deputy Chief Constable (R) at today's Kenova press conference The daughter of an IRA victim Caroline Moreland today insisted Operation Kenova has not failed victims, despite the lack of prosecutions Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris today said the Government could not comment on the detail of the report until the final version was published. 'There can be no doubt that the way Operation Kenova has conducted its work since being commissioned in 2016 has gained the trust of many families who have long been seeking answers as to what exactly happened when their loved ones were so brutally murdered by, and on the orders of, the Provisional IRA,' he said. 'Over 3,500 people from all parts of the community were killed during the Troubles and tens of thousands more injured. Over 1,000 of those killed were members of the security forces. Their bravery, courage, dedication and sacrifice in seeking to uphold democracy and the rule of law must never be forgotten. 'We must remember too that the vast majority of deaths during the Troubles, around 90%, were perpetrated by terrorist organisations - in the substance of this report, by the Provisional IRA. 'As this is an 'interim' report, I will not comment at this time on behalf of the Government on the detail of the report. It contains several specific, very serious allegations that remain subject to consideration by the courts. 'It would not be right for the Government to make any comment on the substance of the Interim Report until the conclusion of litigation related to it. I note the recent decisions made by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland in relation to files passed to them by Operation Kenova, which once again go to show how difficult it is to achieve criminal justice outcomes in legacy cases. 'Due to numerous related civil cases, however, that remain ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. There is also the prospect of appeals against any of the recent decisions made by the Director for Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland. 'I would like to put on record again my deepest sympathy with all the families who lost loved ones during the Troubles - including as a result of the actions of the Provisional IRA.' Downing Street said it would not comment on the report published by Operation Kenova until the inquiry had completed its work. A Number 10 spokeswoman said: 'We would want to extend our deepest sympathies with all the families who lost loved ones during this very dark period in Northern Ireland and it's important we do not forget the thousands of victims, their families and neighbours from all communities who have suffered as a result. 'On this interim report, it would not be right to comment on the substance of it while it is an interim report. 'We will respond in full in due course following the full and final report and also following the conclusion of litigation which is related to the substance of this report.' Meanwhile, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson questioned whether the 40 million spent on the investigation could have been better spent resourcing proactive policing in Northern Ireland. 'The work of the police, army or the security services was a just cause. Their job was to undermine terrorists,' he said. 'The fact that the security services had so many agents working at the top of the PIRA, is testament to their success. Whilst having lessons to learn for the Government, the report reminds us that the intelligence agencies had infiltrated the PIRA to such an extent that they rendered the organisation almost inoperable.' Scappaticci was born in the Markets area of West Belfast, the son of Italian immigrants The daughter of an IRA victim today insisted Operation Kenova has not failed victims, despite the lack of prosecutions. The body of Belfast woman Caroline Moreland, a 34-year-old Catholic mother of three, was found near Rosslea, Co Fermanagh, in July 1994. Shauna Moreland was 10-years-old at the time of her mother's death. She said: 'If these cases had been properly investigated at the time there could have been prosecutions. 'We have been failed by the system since 1994 and it was only when our cases were moved outside Northern Ireland that we got a process we could believe in. 'Right from the start, Jon Boutcher told us that Kenova would be a victims-first approach and that's what he gave us.' She added: 'There was nothing until Kenova gave what my mother deserved. They showed that my mum mattered and she was not just a statistic.' Responding to the Kenova report, Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long said: 'I welcome the publication today of the Operation Kenova interim report. 'Investigating legacy issues can be very challenging and time consuming for all involved and can be painful and distressing for those directly affected. 'This has been a long and difficult journey for those families seeking the truth about what happened to their loved ones. 'I sincerely hope that today brings some measure of comfort for them and that they find some value in the interim report. No doubt everyone involved will wish to take time to fully understand the contents and any associated implications for them.' Controversy has surrounded the activities of Freddie Scappaticci ever since he was exposed in the press as Stakeknife in 2003. Born in the Markets area of West Belfast, the son of Italian immigrants, he began working as a bricklayer but in 1971 aged 25, he was interned without trial, along with many of the next generation of Republicans including Gerry Adams. When he was released in 1974 he was a volunteer in the Provisionals and by 1980 he had joined the Internal Security Unit (ISU), which was tasked with rooting out suspected informers. It was informally known as the nutting squad due to the way informers were shot in the head after being tried in a kangaroo court. Scappaticci's first involvement with British Intelligence is believed to have been in 1978, when he is said to have volunteered to become an informer after being assaulted in an argument with a senior IRA comrade. His first contact was with the RUC's Special Branch, but when the British later formed the shadowy Force Research unit to co-ordinate Army intelligence, Stakeknife became their best asset. Stakeknife was said to have provided a goldmine of intelligence to the British, including allowing them to identify IRA members involved in the kidnapping of wealthy Irish supermarket magnate Ben Dunne in 1981, as well as those who tried to abduct Canadian business tycoon Galen Weston in 1983. One of Scappaticci's most notable claims was that former Sinn Fein leader and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness was involved in the death of Frank Hegarty, an IRA man killed by them in 1986 as an informer after they blamed him for the discovery of a huge Libyan arms cache by the Gardai. According to other sources, Hegarty himself was an FRU agent, and Scappaticci was involved in his torture and murder, to protect his own skin. Scappaticci is alleged to have worked closely with his FRU handlers in the 1980s and 1990s to protect and promote his own position within the IRA, with accusations that the FRU even killed individuals who might have exposed Scappaticci as an informer. He was unmasked as Stakeknife by journalists in May 2003, but at first refused to leave Belfast and brazenly denied the claim. Scappaticci is believed to have lived for some time near Worplesdon Road in Guildford, Surrey Hunted by his IRA enemies from Cyprus to Canada, he is believed to have been whisked to the UK by MI5 and settled in Guildford, an affluent town in the heart of Surrey's stockbroker belt. Last year a BBC documentary uncovered a witness statement from a man who was kidnapped and taken to a house in Belfast in which he claims to have heard Scappaticci boasting of a previous murder. Sandy Lynch, a suspected informer, told how he was stripped and tied to a chair as Scappaticci stood behind him and described how he would be tortured and murdered. 'He said that I would wake up hung upside down in a cowshed and he would talk to me the way that he wanted to talk to me, that he would skin me alive and that no one would hear me squealing,' Mr Lynch said in his statement revealed to The Spy Who Got Away With Murder, a BBC Northern Ireland Spotlight investigation. 'He tapped me two or three times on the back of my head and said: ''You'll get it right there . . . like that b*****d Fenton.'' He said that he had done it.' Joe Fenton was an estate agent in Belfast who was killed in 1989 after being savagely interrogated by the IRA over his work as a police informer. His murder took place in the same house where Mr Lynch was interrogated before being rescued when police raided the property. He later gave evidence against his abductors in court before going into the witness protection scheme. Scappaticci's fingerprint was found in the house and he was arrested but never charged with an offence. Mr Fenton's killers have never been prosecuted. A motorist who targeted 'bad drivers' by deliberately crashing into at least nine cars on a busy motorway while high on cocaine and cannabis has been jailed for six years. Gavin Bathurst-Shaw-Binning, 46, launched the 30-minute road rampage on the M3 in Hampshire on June 16 last year. The former technician at a 'multinational defence and aviation company' was 'driving like an absolute lunatic' at speeds of 130 mph over a 30-mile stretch of motorway before he was arrested, Winchester Crown Court heard. Bathurst-Shaw-Binning had been taking cocaine and cannabis - through a vape- as well as drinking beer before he left a friend's house in his silver BMW 125 to get some cigarettes, the court heard. After his half hour spree of destruction, the driver got out of his car and punched his fist into the air in a 'triumphant victory', a court heard. He described the reckless ride to police as a 'once in a lifetime moment'. Gavin Bathurst-Shaw-Binning, 46, launched the 30-minute road rampage on the M3 in Hampshire on June 16 last year Lee Tosswill had to be treated in hospital following the pandemonium on the M3 A judge has now condemned him for causing 'pandemonium' on the M3 in Hampshire because he thought other motorists didn't know how to navigate a 'smart' motorway. The incident - which caused motorway queues of up to six miles - started near Junction 2 of the motorway near Chertsey, Surrey and ended at Junction 10. Prosecuting, Jane Terry, told Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire, that before the 'episode of driving' Bathurst-Shaw-Binning was at a friend's home when he decided he wanted to get some cigarettes. The court heard at around 5:15pm, a mother of three was driving a Tesla toward the M3 with her three children in the back - when she spotted Bathurst-Shaw-Binning. Ms Terry told the court: 'She felt an impact at the rear side of her car. She described seeing the silver BMW behind her and he was repeatedly, deliberately, ramming the rear of her vehicle. 'She pulled into the middle lane in an attempt to get away from him but he followed her and rammed her again.' The mother pulled her Tesla into the hard shoulder and the silver BMW 'got away' after hitting her up to eight times. What ensued from this moment was over 30 minutes of 'erratic driving' from Bathurst-Shaw-Binning - a former technician at a 'multinational defence and aviation company' in Middlesex - as he drove down the motorway into Hampshire. One witness saw him tailgating cars, 'swerving' between lanes, and 'undertaking' other vehicles. The prosecutor told the court: 'He described the defendant to be driving like an absolute lunatic and he was shocked that he didn't kill anyone.' It was heard another motorist said he had 'never seen such dangerous, substandard driving' whilst another said he had even tried to 'grab or damage' the wing mirror of his car. One road user, Lee Tosswill, was warned by a friend of a silver BMW 'driving erratically' behind him on the motorway. Despite the warning, moments later a smiling Bathurst-Shaw-Binning collided with the back of Mr Tosswill's vehicle causing him to spin round and face oncoming traffic. He reported fearing for his life and thinking 'that was it'. Ms Terry continued: 'He ended up on the hard shoulder. He described feeling a sudden pain in his neck and in his head.' Bathurst-Shaw-Binning crashed into at least nine cars before he was arrested near Junction 10. Motorists who watched Bathurst-Shaw-Binning get out of the BMW near the Winchester Services on the M3 Southbound saw the driver celebrating. Discussing one witness, Ms Terry said: 'She among other witnesses saw the defendant get out of the vehicle and shake the air with his fist. 'The suggestion seems to be a somewhat triumphant celebration.' The court heard another witness - Abbie Baker - watched him 'jumping up and down and shouting yeah' whilst looking at the aftermath of the damage he had caused. Ms Baker said Bathurst-Shaw-Binning then proceeded to climb into her vehicle and say 'We need to go and see Charlie'. She described him as being 'incoherent and off his face'. Following his arrest, Bathurst-Shaw-Binning told officers he enjoyed the experience and wished 'he had done it years ago'. He told police it was a 'once in a lifetime moment', after 'years of bad driving of other people' through 'tailgating', 'lane hogging', and 'driving slow'. Bathurst-Shaw-Binning added: 'I want to open up everyone else to keeping the outside lane clear' The 46 year old estimated he reached speeds of 130 miles per hour and even boasted that he had 'hit two Teslas'. Ms Terry said: 'He was targeting those whose standard of driving did not meet his expectations of driving. 'He sees himself as some kind of enforcer of good driving and only targeted those who he considered were driving badly.' the incident cased a traffic jam on the M3 after nine cars were rammed. Picture shows a stock image of the M3 The prosecutor said not only was Bathurst-Shaw-Binning driving 'speeds significantly in excess of the speed limit' but was also travelling 'inappropriately' for the 'busy' roads at that time. She added: 'The motorway was closed for an hour which I feel is quite short given the trail that Mr Bathurst-Shaw-Binning left behind him.' Bathurst-Shaw-Binning pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving, and four counts of causing criminal damage by driving recklessly. Mitigating, Islam Khan, told the court: 'Ramming like a maniac on that road on the 16th of June at that busy time... I don't know what was going through his mind. 'It sent shivers through my spine that if that were somebody else... what would I be doing. 'I asked [Bathurst-Shaw-Binning] 'What do you have to say about your actions'. He put his head down in shame and said 'Sincerely, I am sorry as to what I have done'.' Mr Khan said Bathurst-Shaw-Binning takes 'full responsibility' for his actions. Apologising through his lawyer, the aristocrat said: 'I don't know what happened to me that day and I don't know why I was so stupid that my remorse did not appear when interviewed.' Judge Angela Morris told the motorist that his actions had caused 'pandemonium on a busy motorway in rush hour' whilst he was under the influence of a 'cocktail of drugs'. She told him: 'You got into your BMW car in a very angry state fuelled by drugs to return home. 'You took the view drivers on smart motorways - which that part of the M3 was - were incompetent and had no idea how to drive. 'That put you in a rage and as a result, you took it upon yourself to teach them a lesson. 'This lesson took the form of driving in the most erratic fashion, at speeds which were, on your admission, in excess of 120 to 130 miles per hour.' She added: 'It's a wonder and a mercy no one was killed.' Bathurst-Shaw-Binning of Egham, Surrey, was handed a nine year sentence - six of which will be served in custody. He will also pay a statutory surcharge of 187 and has been disqualified from driving for 10 years. McDonald's staff have threatened to revolt over new uniforms featuring beanie and bucket hats - as expects branded as virtue-signalling 'twaddle' the fast food firm's claims of 'public empowerment'. There has been an online backlash dubbing the designs 'too casual' and 'reminiscent of a 90s skater dude', as well as threats people would 'rather quit' than wear them. The company has announced a uniform trial which will give workers the option to wear not only beanies and bucket hats, but also bandanas, jeans, chinos, denim skirts and joggers. McDonald's said employees could 'create a personalised uniform that bests reflects their own identity' - and called the designs 'modern, inclusive and functional'. A business expert has dismissed suggestions the uniforms are about 'empowerment' - yet did call it a 'smart move' which could help McDonald's retain and attract staff. McDonald's has just unveiled its first redesign of staff uniforms since 2017 Beanie hats and bucket hats are among the new accessories workers can opt to wear But there have been mixed responses to the new outfits - with some calling them 'too casual' But there are some, however, threatening to walk away over the new designs - the first changes to McDonald's uniforms since 2017 when all-grey uniforms came in. During the trial, staff will be able to choose whatever clothes they feel comfortable in - varying from 'classic' to 'tailored' fits. Staff will be able to choose from newly-designed T-shirts, polo shirts, jeans, chinos and denim skirts, as well as accessories including bucket hats, bandanas, beanie hats and other new cap designs. The new workwear will be trialled in selected restaurants over the coming weeks ahead of a full launch in all UK and Ireland McDonald's restaurants next year. It's understood each item designed will be fully recyclable at the end of its life. McDonald's is also planning new versions of the firm's religious headwear and maternity wear, to improve comfort and style and taking feedback from multi-faith groups within the company. The firm says the new range was designed in response to employee feedback. Yet reactions on X, formerly Twitter, have included 'Gross', 'Oh, this is going to backfire big time' and 'I'm never eating at McDonald's again'. Another person posted: 'Ew? Who knows where the clothes have been or when the last time they were washed. Just disgusting.' And people saying they worked for McDonald's were some of the most scathing. In a social media group for the firm's staff, one wrote: 'I like the idea theyve tried with adding colour, but the execution seems horrendous. 'Its reminiscent of a 90s skater dude aka trying too hard to be cool. 'It just feels too casual overall - no one Ive spoken to likes it and wants to wear it and I think that says it all.' McDonald's says staff can 'create a personalised uniform that bests reflects their own identity' The fast food firm invited employee feedback while coming up with the new range Staff can choose from newly-designed T-shirts, polo shirts, jeans, chinos and denim skirts Each item of the new range is designed to be fully recyclable when reaching the end of its life Other responses included, 'It eliminates the whole part of it being uniform' and 'This doesn't even look like a uniform. What's wrong with our current one?' Another employee complained: 'I have said to so many of my co-workers that I'd rather quit than wear the new uniforms. 'I don't know what's wrong with our current ones.' Yet there have been others defending or else praising the new designs and looking forward to putting them on. One X user said: 'Personally I think they could be good if youre able to choose what you wear (which they say you can do) and honestly I dont see it as bad as other people do. 'You can choose any piece you want in any combination plus you can wear joggers and skirts - I dont see a problem compared to the depressing grey trousers and polo shirts we have now.' Some analysts believe the outfits could end up appealing to more staff by rejecting 'conformity' often seen elsewhere - though queried some of the promotional talk surrounding the new uniforms' launch. Paul MacKenzie-Cummins, founder of reputation management consultancy Clearly PR, told MailOnline: 'I dont believe this is about "people empowerment" or encouraging teams to "bring their authentic self" to work - that stuff is just twaddle. 'Rather, my sense is that McDonalds has recognised that the more comfortable people feel in what they are wearing, and that their choice of clothes is a closer reflection of their individual personality, the happier and more confident they feel. 'This could even have an impact of staff retention and attraction levels too.' 'It will be interesting to see how this pans out over time. My guess is that other retailers will keep a close eye on what McDonalds is doing and we will likely see others follow suit. There was also a cautious thumbs-up from fashion expert Amy Smith, of fashion accessories brand Vendula London, who said the outfits looked 'more functional and comfortable than their previous uniform'. The last redesign was in 2017, introducing US fashion designer Wararaire Boswell's monochromatic outfits Bruce Oldfield, the British fashion designer whose previous clients included Diana, Princess of Wales, was hired to produce new McDonald's uniforms such as these in 2008 Another British fashion designer, pictured centre, came up with the outfits unveiled ahead of the London 2012 Olympics where they made their debut before a nationwide roll-out McDonald's had four restaurants at the London 2012 Olympic Park, employing 2,000 people The flagship Olympic Park store in 2012, a recyclable pop-up, was at the time the largest McDonald's in Europe and was a popular favourite of Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt She said: 'In terms of fashion, workwear is something that should be practical to wear, as well as be durable and enable you to do your job safely. Wearing bright colours such as red and yellow can also help to boost mood, as well as being iconographic of the company's logo.' She added that the beanies and bucket hats were 'very much a part of most streetwear trend, while also still letting employees dress more formally if this is what they prefer'. Previous McDonald's uniforms have appeared more straitlaced, with the firm's founders wanting to project a trustworthy and pristinely clean image in the 1950s - kitting workers out in identikit all-white shirts, aprons and paper hats. After businessman Ray Kroc took over from founding brothers Dick and Mac McDonald, thin bolo ties were added in 1955 before colour arrived with two-tone blue uniforms in 1973. Red and white stripes, with yellow features, came to dominate in the 1970s and 1980s before a switch back to blue. In the UK, fashion designer Bruce Oldfield was hired in 2008 for a new look - having previously dressed the likes of Diana, Princess of Wales and Sienna Miller. He said at the time of his neutral-toned designs: 'One doesn't necessarily think of McDonald's and chic in the same sentence, but my aim was to design a uniform that was exactly that.' Four years later another renowned designer, Wayne Hemingway, overhauled the uniforms to coincide with London hosting the 2012 Olympics. McDonald's providing a pop-up restaurant at the Olympic Park which was its largest in Europe and was a favourite hang-out for sprinter Usain Bolt when not on the track. He would have been served by staff in white shirts and grey pencil skirts and or Fred Perry-style button-up shirts in mustard yellow or 'gherkin' green. When unveiling the latest designs this week, the company's chief people officer James Thorne said: 'Our people are at the heart of everything we do, so I'm really excited to get their feedback on what we think is a fantastic range. 'The collection will give team members the opportunity to really create a look that reflects who they are while still absolutely looking and feeling like part of the team. Bruce Oldfield, second left, designed the neutral-toned uniforms unveiled in 2008 Customer Care worker Irina Russu (left) models one of the uniforms designed by Bruce Oldfield in April 2008, with Sarah Bailey (right), in an old uniform from the 1980s Red with yellow trim dominated McDonald's uniforms for many years The fast food giant has also gone through spells of blue - sometimes two-tone Some 2,000 staff wore the Wayne Hemingway clothing at the London 2012 Olympics before the uniforms were distributed to 87,500 employees across the country that autumn 'Combined with the fact that the collection has been designed with the circular economy in mind and is made from recycled or sustainable materials - it's a collection that we know our people will feel proud to wear.' It follows other big corporations changing their uniforms to be more inclusive. In 2022, Virgin Atlantic announced that crew, pilots and ground staff could wear whichever uniform they feel most comfortable in 'no matter their gender'. Meanwhile, last year British Airways relaxed the rules around its strict uniform policy and also went gender-neutral. As the man at the heart of the IRA's 'nutting squad', he did not think twice about putting a bullet in the back of the heads of suspected traitors. But Freddie Scappaticci - much to the fury of the men who would go to any lengths to secure the end of British rule in Northern Ireland - was the biggest traitor of all to the militant Republican cause. Because he was also Stakeknife, the top spy for the British Army who informed on his terrorist comrades for 22 years - whilst being allowed to continue his murderous IRA role. Scappaticci, who was outed in 2003 and died last year in his 70s, is linked to the kidnap, murder and torture of as many as 50 people. His life could have been very different had footballing trial stints with Nottingham Forest and Manchester City when he was aged 14 been successful. Instead, he returned to Belfast after just three weeks because he was feeling homesick. After he was unmasked, Scappaticci lived under state protection with a new identity in Guildford, Surrey, where he was known as Frank to neighbours. A BBC News camera crew approached him shortly before he left his home in West Belfast, but were told to 'get yourselves off'. He added that if they didn't leave, he would 'do' them. In 2018, Scappaticci admitted possessing extreme pornography, including acts involving animals. Today, the long-awaited report into Stakeknife's activities was published. The 40million investigation, known as Operation Kenova, has also looked at the role played by the Army and MI5, Britain's domestic intelligence agency. As the man in charge of the IRA's 'nutting squad', he did not think twice about putting a bullet in the back of the heads of suspected traitors. But Freddie Scappaticci - much to the fury of the men who would go to any lengths to secure the end of British rule in Northern Ireland - was the biggest traitor of all to the militant Republican cause. Above: Scappaticci (circled) at an IRA funeral in 1988 with pallbearer Gerry Adams (far right) Scappaticci, better known by his codename Stakeknife, headed the 'nutting squad' - the IRA's notorious internal security unit. He died in April and is pictured in 2003 The 'nutting squad' specialised in interrogating anyone suspected of aiding the security services during the Troubles. Scappaticci, whose ancestors had emigrated from Italy to work in Northern Ireland's mills in the 19th century, was described by one of the most senior British officers who served in the Province as 'the jewel in the crown... the golden egg'. 'Scap', as he was known to many, specialised in extracting admissions of guilt by IRA operatives using extreme violence. These confessions were often taped and then the recordings were played to relatives to convince them that their loved one had been 'guilty'. All of this played out amidst a conflict that lasted from 1969 until 1997. During the trial of Sinn Fein's former publicity director Danny Morrison in 1991, Scappaticci's ruthlessness was revealed in horrifying detail. Belfast Crown Court heard how police informer Alexander Lynch was interrogated by two IRA teams. Scappaticci pictured at the 1987 funeral of IRA man Larry Marley As the IRAs brutal enforcer, Scappaticci had the power of life and death over fellow paramilitaries accused of being informers. Pictured: Scappaticci in 1974 Scappaticci, who died last April in his 70s, denied being Stakeknife but it is now generally accepted that he was The Daily Mail's reports on Stakeknife when he was unmasked in 2003 He testified that a man called Scappaticci had warned him that if he did not admit to being an informer he would 'weake up in South Armagh and he'd be able to talk to me the way he wanted, hung upside down in a cattle shed.' He added that Scappaticci said it didn't matter about me screaming because no one would be able to hear'. Lynch admitted everything to his captors and only survived to recount his ordeal because the Army and police burst into the building. The nutting squad is known to have been responsible for more than 40 killings, along with countless abductions, beatings and torture sessions. Victims had cigarettes stubbed out on their bodies, branded with hot pokers and had the soles of their feet beaten. Even if they confessed, their lives were often still snuffed out. The trademark killing method was a single gunshot to the back of the head. Scappaticci and his men would then leave the body where it could be found, so it would act as a warning to others suspected of treachery. The killing chief was recruited to act as a spy in the early 1970s. It was seen at the time as a brilliant coup in the fight to overcome the IRA's activities. Scappaticci is believed to have lived for some time near Worplesdon Road in Guildford, Surrey It was later claimed that he was 'turned' by an undercover British soldier after he was imprisoned following the introduction of internment without trial by UK authorities in 1971. He agreed to betray his comrades' cause after being subjected to an IRA punishment beating. In the years that he secretly worked for Britain, he is said to have earned at least 1million. He penetrated the IRA's command structure and relayed invaluable information to his handlers. As a result, intelligence chiefs had files on all of the IRA's leading protagonists. He is believed to have had close connections with both Gerry Adams, who was then the chief of Sinn Fein, as well as the late Martin McGuinness, the then Provisional IRA commander. His information is said to have led to the Death on the Rock killings of three IRA members by the SAS in Gibraltar in 1988. His nuggets of intelligence were handed to the Army's secretive Force Research Unit. However, allegations of state collusion with Loyalist death squads emerged. Police have examined claims that innocent Roman Catholics may have been killed to prevent Scappaticci's real identity from being revealed. The alleged activities of Stakeknife are under investigation in Operation Kenova led by former Bedfordshire chief constable, Jon Boutcher (pictured). In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Boutcher said his team were made aware last week of the passing of Scappaticci Questions have also been asked about how Scappaticci was allowed to commit serious crimes to ensure that he maintained his fearsome reputation among Republicans. Families of those who were abducted and killed by the nutting squad claim that his British handlers could have saved their loved ones but failed to intervene. Loyalist paramilitaries had planned to execute Scappaticci in October 1987. But the FRU was alerted and is said to have instead engineered an alternative target. The British gave the name of an innocent Roman Catholic, retired taxi driver Francisco Notarantonio, claiming he was an IRA operative. The Loyalists believed the lie and murdered him in front of his grandchildren. Catholic mother Caroline Moreland was abduceted and murdered by the IRA in 1994. They believed she was an informer and shot her dead two weeks after kidnapping her. Her daughter, Shauna, said she wanted to know why, if her mother was an informer, the British authorities did not intervene to save her. Operation Kenova is looking into her case, as well as that of 50 others. Catholic mother Caroline Morehead was abduceted and murdered by the IRA in 1994. They believed she was an informer and shot her dead two weeks after kidnapping her. Her daughter, Shauna, said she wanted to know why, if her mother was an informer, the British authorities did not intervene to save her When his cover was blown in 2003, Scappaticci - who consistently denied he was a spy - fled Belfast in the knowledge that the IRA wanted to kill him. He gave a now-infamous press conference where he insisted that he wasn't Stakeknife. 'My statement basically is that I am Freddie Scappaticci. I am sitting here today with my solicitor. I am telling you I am not guilty of any of these allegations,' he said. Operation Kenova has been led by Jon Boutcher, who is now the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). His investigation took seven years to examine Stakeknife's activities. Air Force Employee Indicted for Unlawful Disclosure of Classified National Defense Information A civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force assigned to the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), at Offutt Air Force Base, was arrested Saturday, March 2, for allegedly conspiring to transmit and transmitting classified information relating to the national defense (National Defense Information or NDI) on a foreign online dating platform beginning in or around February 2022 until in or around April 2022. According to the indictment, David Franklin Slater, 63, of Nebraska, worked in a classified space at USSTRATCOM and held a Top Secret security clearance from in or around August 2021 until in or around April 2022, after retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army. It is alleged that Slater willfully, improperly, and unlawfully transmitted NDI classified as SECRET, which he had reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation, on a foreign online dating platform to a person not authorized to receive such information. As alleged, Mr. Slater, an Air Force civilian employee and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, knowingly transmitted classified national defense information to another person in blatant disregard for the security of his country and his oath to safeguard its secrets, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Departments National Security Division. The Department of Justice will seek to hold accountable those who knowingly and willfully put their country at risk by disclosing classified information. Certain responsibilities are incumbent to individuals with access to Top Secret information. The allegations against Mr. Slater challenge whether he betrayed those responsibilities, said U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr for the District of Nebraska. We look forward to continuing our work with the FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations to ensure the safety of our country. The FBI investigates those who choose to illegally use their access to classified information to put our national security at risk, said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office. When people violate the trust given to them to safeguard our nation's intelligence, they put our country at risk. We will continue working shoulder to shoulder with our partners to protect the American people and uphold the constitution by safeguarding our country's classified information. According to the charging documents, Slater attended USSTRATCOM briefings regarding Russias war against Ukraine that were classified up to TOP SECRET//SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (TS//SCI). Slater then transmitted classified NDI that he learned from those briefings via the foreign online dating websites messaging platform to his co-conspirator, who claimed to be a female living in Ukraine on the foreign dating website. The co-conspirator regularly asked Slater to provide her with sensitive, non-public, closely held and classified NDI and called Slater in their messages her secret informant love and her secret agent. In response to these requests, Slater indeed provided classified NDI to her, including regarding military targets and Russian military capabilities relating to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Slater will make his initial court appearance tomorrow, March 5, in the District of Nebraska. If convicted, Slater faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count of conspiracy to transmit and the transmission of national defense information. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Omaha Field Office and Air Force Office of Special Investigations are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Kleine for the District of Nebraska and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder of the National Security Divisions Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This story has been published on: 2024-03-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China discovers oil field of proven reserve of 102 million tons in South China Sea: CNOOC Global Times) 13:41, March 08, 2024 Photo: Courtesy of CNOOC China has discovered its first deep-water, deep-reservoir oil find in the South China Sea, state-owned oil giant CNOOC announced on Friday. The Kaipingnan oilfield, 300 kilometers southwest of the waters of Shenzhen in South China, has a proven reserve of 102 million tons of oil equivalent, according to the company. It is the first oil reserve with a water depth of over 300 meters and a well depth of over 3,000 meters found by China's own efforts, as well as the largest, said CNOOC. The maximum depth where the oilfield lies is 532 meters and the maximum well depth reached 4,831 meters. Testing drilling yields over 1,000 tons of oil and gas on a daily basis, which is a new record in China for a deep-water, deep-reservoir oilfield, the company said. The Kaipingnan oilfield demonstrated the vast potential of deep-water exploration in the South China Sea, and further consolidated the foundation of China's offshore oil and gas reserve, which is significant toward ensuring the country's energy security, the company said in a press release on Friday. In recent years, CNOOC made significant discoveries at the Bozhong 26-6 deep-reservoir oilfield in China's Bohai Sea and the Baodao 21-1 gas field in western South China Sea. Zhou Xinhuai, CEO of CNOOC, said the company's continuous discoveries in the eastern part of the South China Sea forged new growth drivers for the company's offshore oil and gas business, noting the company will continue to pour more efforts in oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea to ramp up energy supply capacity. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Speaker of the House Mike Johnson looked disgruntled as President Joe Biden tore into his predecessors' tax cuts while taking credit for reducing the deficit by $1 trillion. The Louisiana congressman shook his head repeatedly and grimaced while sitting next to Vice President Kamala Harris for the State of the Union address. Johnson sat in the traditional seat for the speaker of the House - who is second-in-line to the presidency after the vice president - and made the Republican's expressions highly visible to television viewers. When Biden said that Republicans wanted to put social security on the 'chopping block,' Johnson shook his head and rolled his eyes. He also laughed when Biden claimed that if he was presented with a border security bill, he would sign it. 'I'm ready to fix it. Send me the border bill now,' Biden said. Johnson was elected to the role of speaker after the ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy in October 2023 after a miraculous 21 days with no leader. It was the longest Congress was rudderless since 1962. That time it took 55 days to elect a new speaker. A visibly annoyed Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson sat behind Biden's left shoulder throughout the one-hour, eight-minute speech 'People are saying that I made funny facial expressions. I tried to keep a poker face,' Johnson told reporters. 'But it was very difficult. I disagreed so vehemently with so much of what he said.' Despite any disagreements, Johnson accepted Biden's handshake at the end of the speech Through most of the speech, the 81-year-old president's delivery was energetic and forceful enough to exceed even some Democrats' expectations. He spoke for over an hour At other points Johnson gleamed over to his Republican colleagues as Biden listed off his achievements in office. The congressman did applaud when Biden mentioned creating new jobs that don't require a college degree. Despite the disagreements, Biden and Johnson did shake hands at the conclusion of the speech. Johnson released a video ahead of the speech with images of unrest at home and abroad, and said in his own words: 'America is at a breaking point.' Johnson invited the parents of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter imprisoned in Russia to the speech. He's also leaned into border politics and bringing two NYPD members a lieutenant and an officer who were attacked by migrants in Times Square. 'People are saying that I made funny facial expressions. I tried to keep a poker face,' Johnson told reporters after the event. 'But it was very difficult. I disagreed so vehemently with so much of what he said.' Johnson's reactions were more subdued than those of former Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who at the end of then-President Donald Trump's 2020 address took her copy of the text and ostentatiously ripped it in two. Through most of the speech, the 81-year-old president's delivery was energetic and forceful enough to exceed even some Democrats' expectations. He spoke for over an hour. 'Trump and the Republicans have spent months going after Biden's energy and stamina and in front of the whole country, Biden giving them an absolute and well deserved scolding,' said Democratic strategist Eric Koch. The hashtag 'yelling' trended on X, the former Twitter, in postings about his speech, and his slight cough seemed to become more persistent toward the end of his delivery. 'In my career, I've been told I was too young,' he said, to laughter, adding 'and I've been told I'm too old.' Whether young or old, he has always known America's 'North Star,' he said - the American idea that 'we're all created equal.' Some people have old ideas, he said, in an apparent nod at Trump. 'Hate, anger, revenge, retribution, are the oldest of ideas,' he said. A 3.6-magnitude earthquake has rattled the Blue Mountains, with the ground also shaking in Sydney's west. The quake struck 9km beneath the surface in the Blue Mountains National Park near Warragamba at around 8.53pm on Friday. More than 17,500 residents in Penrith and the Blue Mountains immediately reported that they felt it. One family who felt their home shake in Greystanes in Sydney's west said that they'd never experienced anything like it. A 4.3-magnitude earthquake has hit Sydney 's Blue Mountains And a resident in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains told Daily Mail Australia they felt a 'big tremor' hit. 'The quake rattled the house a bit which is unusual. Not even intense wind rattles it,' they said. 'Just felt the house (shake),' another person posted on X. Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone wrote on Facebook that he 'felt the foundation of my home shake'. 'I hope everyone is ok,' he wrote. People flocked to social media to report their experiences. 'Was like a massive booom!! In Springwood!!' one person wrote on the NSW Rural Fire Service Facebook page. 'Very strong in Lawson,' another person reported, 'Huge thud and shaking, then neighbours all out on the street trying to work out what had happened. My pets felt it and ran seconds before it happened.' On a NSW Incident Facebook page, a resident in Penrith reported that it 'felt like a giant stomped once on our front lawn. No tremor, just a big thud.' 'We are in North Katoomba. The sound was a loud dull roar, then our double brick house was bumped from side to side, violently, then . nothing,' another person wrote. 'Local pets went nuts.' The quake also struck in the Warragamba area at around 8.53pm on Friday Other reports stated the geological event was felt as far away north as the NSW Central Coast and as far west as Bathurst in the state's central-west. A NSW Police spokeswoman said they had received hundreds of inquiries from concerned residents in the Penrith area but had no reports of injury or damage. The quake was initially reported as being of 4.3-magnitude but was later revised down to 3.6 by Geoscience Australia. The earthquake struck at a depth of 9km. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed there was no risk of a tsunami. The United Kingdom will join the United States and other allies to create a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to Gaza, Lord David Cameron has said. Britain's Foreign Secretary made the announcement after US President Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address that he is directing his country's troops to build a port on the Gaza coast to bring relief to the population there. The move follows mounting concern about the level of aid reaching Gaza through land borders, with international bodies warning of an impending famine if current restrictions - imposed by Israel on the territory - continue. Lord Cameron said the UK would be working with the US to provide aid by sea. 'People in Gaza are in desperate humanitarian need,' Mr Cameron said in a message posted to X (formerly Twitter) this morning, following Biden's address last night. The United Kingdom will join the United States and other allies to create a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to Gaza, Lord David Cameron has said 'Alongside the US, the UK and partners have announced we will open a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to Gaza,' he added. Mr Cameron also pressed Israel to 'allow more trucks into Gaza as the fastest way to get aid to those who need it' amid the country's continuing offensive on the coastal strip, launched in response to the Hamas terror group's October 7 attack. His comments came after Biden announced the US would build a temporary dock on the Gaza shoreline to allow for the large-scale delivery of aid. 'Nearly two million more Palestinians under bombardment or displaced, homes destroyed, neighbourhoods in rubble, cities in ruin, families without food, water, medicine. It's heartbreaking,' Biden told US Congress on Thursday night. 'Tonight, I'm directing the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters,' he said. Following Mr Cameron's comments on Friday, EU president Ursula Von Der Leyen said a humanitarian catastrophe was unfolding in Gaza. She said a pilot test run of food aid collected by a charity group and supported by the United Arab Emirates could be leaving Cyprus as early as Friday from the port of Larnaca in Cyprus. British aid packages have previously been air-dropped into Gaza in a joint operation with the Jordanian military, and the Government has continued to work on finding alternative routes for supplies to reach the territory. The UK Government has also called for a 'humanitarian pause' in the fighting to enable aid to get into Gaza and hostages held by Hamas to be released. Last week, the Commons International Development Committee warned that a famine in Gaza would be unavoidable without changes to allow more aid to get into the region, home to 2.4 million people before the war. The cross-party committee said any ceasefire of less than 30 days would not be enough to get sufficient food into Gaza, while US vice-president Kamala Harris has suggested a six-week ceasefire is within reach. People in Gaza are in desperate humanitarian need. Alongside the US, the UK and partners have announced we will open a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to Gaza. We continue to urge Israel to allow more trucks into Gaza as the fastest way to get aid to those who need David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 8, 2024 The move follows mounting concern about the level of aid reaching Gaza over land, with international bodies warning of an impending famine if current border restrictions imposed by Israel on the territory continue. Pictured: Aid is dropped into Gaza, March 8 Parachutes drop supplies into the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, March 8, 2024 After months of warnings over the risk of famine under Israel's bombardment, offensives and siege, reports have said children are starting to die. At least 20 people have died from malnutrition and dehydration at northern Gaza's Kamal Adwan and Shifa hospitals, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Most of the dead are children, including ones as old as 15, as well as a man, 72. Particularly vulnerable children are also beginning to succumb in the south, where access to aid is more regular, according to reports. At the Emirati Hospital in Rafah, 16 premature babies have died of malnutrition-related causes over the past five weeks, one of the senior doctors told The Associated Press. 'The child deaths we feared are here,' Adele Khodr, UNICEF's Middle East chief, said in a statement earlier this week. Malnutrition is generally slow to bring death, striking children and the elderly first, but other factors can play a role. Underfed mothers have difficulty breastfeeding children. Israel largely shut off entry of food, water, medicine and other supplies after launching its assault on Gaza following Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel - allowing only a trickle of aid trucks through two crossings in the south. Israel has blamed the burgeoning hunger in Gaza on UN agencies, saying they fail to distribute supplies piling up at Gaza crossings. UNRWA, the largest UN agency in Gaza, says Israel restricts some goods and imposes cumbersome inspections that slow entry. Also, distribution within Gaza has been crippled. Britain's Foreign Secretary made the announcement after US President Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address (pictured last night) that he is directing his country's troops to build a port on the Gaza coast to bring relief to the population there UN officials say convoys are regularly turned back by Israeli forces, the military often refuses safe passage amid fighting, and aid is snatched off trucks by hungry Palestinians on route to drop-off points. With alarm growing, Israel bent to US and international pressure, saying this week it will open crossings for aid directly into northern Gaza and allow sea shipments. Conditions in the north, largely under Israeli control for months, have become desperate. Entire districts of Gaza City and surrounding areas have been reduced to rubble by Israeli forces. Still, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain. Meat, milk, vegetables and fruit are nearly impossible to find, according to several residents who spoke to the AP. The few items in shops are random and sold at hugely inflated prices - mainly nuts, snacks and spices. People have taken barrels of chocolate from bakeries and are selling tiny smears of it. Most people eat a weed that crops up in empty lots, known as 'khubaiza'. UNRWA says Israeli authorities have not allowed it to deliver supplies to the north since January 23. The World Food Organisation, which had paused deliveries because of safety concerns, said the military forced its first convoy to the north in two weeks to turn back Tuesday. When the Israeli military organised a food delivery to Gaza City last week, troops guarding the convoy opened fire - on a perceived threat, the military says - as thousands of hungry Palestinians mobbed the trucks. Some 120 people were killed in the shooting, as well as by being trampled. Israel's army said on Friday that its initial probe into the incident found troops 'fired precisely' at approaching suspects. World leaders had called for an investigation into the incident on February 29 when the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Israeli forces opened fire on people scrambling for food from a truck convoy. The Israeli military said at the time that a 'stampede' occurred when thousands of people surrounded the convoy. Releasing its initial findings on Friday, the military said in a statement that the 'command review' found that 'troops did not fire at the humanitarian convoy'. Smoke rises to the sky following an explosion in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, March 8, 2024 It added, however, that they 'did fire at a number of suspects who approached the nearby forces and posed a threat to them'. Witnesses said thousands of people had rushed towards aid trucks in Gaza City, and that soldiers 'fired at the crowd as people came too close to the tanks.' A UN team that visited Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital the day after, and reported seeing 'a large number of gunshot wounds' among dozens of Palestinian patients. Meanwhile, fresh food supplies in the southern city of Rafah have dwindled, while its population has swelled to more than one million with displaced residents. The main thing available are canned goods, often found in aid packages. There has been fury on International Women's Day as a Care Quality Commission report on NHS maternity services referred repeatedly to genderless 'people'. Campaigners have accused officials of not only downgrading a hospital trust found to be failing patients but also 'dehumanising' women with their choice of language. The CQC announced it was dropping its overall rating for maternity services at Great Western Hospital in Swindon from 'good' to 'needs improvement' after an inspection. But throughout its findings the commission often used the word 'people' when referring to those treated at the maternity unit - a choice critics called 'enraging'. At other times the word 'women' was used but most often in sentences such as 'women, people using the service and their babies'. Maternity services have been downgraded at Great Western Hospital in Swindon (pictured) The Care Quality Commission's report has been criticised for referring to genderless 'people' Announcing today's downgrade, CQC's deputy director of secondary and specialist healthcare Carolyn Jenkinson said there had been a deterioration in the level of care being provided to women, people using the service and their babies'. Among the criticisms, she said: 'People had experienced 3 and 4 degree perineal tears and bleeding during birth, but these had been downgraded in severity, which meant they were not investigated as thoroughly as they shouldve been to keep people safe.' She went on to say: 'We also found staff didnt always assess people when they arrived or note how urgently they needed support. 'This meant people werent always seen in order of clinical need and staff could miss if someones condition worsened.' Trina Budge, director of campaign group For Women Scotland, responded by saying: 'It's just enraging. Men's healthcare campaigns have no problem using clear language, but women are constantly dehumanised and reduced to body parts. 'Clear language is really important in medical information but where women are concerned, this is forgotten. 'There is a long history of misogyny in medicine and of women's issues being ignored or overlooked - this is the latest iteration.' There was also a backlash on social media, with one response on X, formerly Twitter, saying: Every single person in the human race, in all of time was borne by a woman! The CQC's deputy director of secondary and specialist healthcare Carolyn Jenkinson There was fury on X, formerly Twitter, for the frequent use of 'people' in the CQC findings Trina Budge, campaign group For Action Scotland's co-director, called the language 'enraging' Someone else asked: ''"People"? Are they not patients at minimum, and all who come through the doors of maternity wards to deliver a baby women?' And many highlighted the ironic timing of International Women's Day, such as: '"People' - women give birth, women suffered this scandal. Do you think misogyny and sexism was involved? Happy #IWD24.' Someone else wrote: 'This happened to only one type of people - women & only women. By hiding that fact you hide the problem & make fixing it harder. #IWD' More responses included '#IWD only women give birth' and 'Oh, and so today is International Day of People do not mention the W word'. It was also said: 'Only women have perineums. Only women give birth.' The report is the latest in a series of controversies over 'gender-neutral' phrasing, with NHS bodies themselves criticised for avoiding the words 'women' or 'mothers'. The NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board was condemned this week as 'scandalous and cowardly' after advertising a role to support 'birthing people'. NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust posted on social media in August 2022 it was seeking 'birthing people' to provide feedback on its perinatal services. Then-health secretary Steve Barclay ordered an investigation in February last year into new guidelines telling NHS staff to treat all patients as 'gender-neutral'. And MPs last August called for ministers to step in after 77 health trusts joined the NHS Rainbow Badge Scheme, which rewards them for dropping 'gendered language' from policies, forms and signs. Other gender-neutral terms which have been introduced in the medical profession include 'chestfeeding', 'second biological parent', and 'bonus hole'. The CQC told MailOnline today: 'Our inspection reports and ratings reflect our judgement of the services we visited and the evidence we review at the time of the inspection. 'During our inspections we gather and review evidence from a range of sources including the experiences of staff and people receiving care and treatment. 'We acknowledge that maternity services will be accessed by a wide range of people. 'Its therefore important that the language we use is appropriate, inclusive and sensitive to the needs of everyone. A former female firearms officer who was stripped down to her underwear in a training course has said 'sexual predators are operating in plain sight' within the police. Rebecca Kalam, 40, served in West Midlands Police's firearms unit until she quit in 2023 after successfully winning a 820,000 sex discrimination case against the force. In the case she claimed there were multiple examples of such behaviour, including when officers stripped her down to her underwear during a police training course and another where a male officer exposed his genitals to her while on a treadmill. She also alleged a male officer pushed her down with his foot on the back of her neck while she was doing press-ups, before telling her 'just because you have t*** does not mean you cannot do a press-up'. At the time, an employment judge ruled that the former Detective Inspector, who had served 15 years in the force, should also be compensated for lost earnings and pension on the basis she would have retired as a Superintendent at 60. Detective Inspector Rebecca Kalam, 40, has said 'sexual predators are operating in plain sight' within the police Ms Kalam - who has been medically retired - successfully sued West Midlands Police at an employment tribunal and has received more than 800,000 in compensation But Ms Kalam has now spoken out again to say sexist, misogynist, racist and abusive practices are not being addressed - while fearing the public could be in danger. She is worried that lessons had not been learned from her experience in the firearms unit. Ms Kalam told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'They are operating in plain sight. You hear it every single day and in every force at the moment they seem to come out with another incident of a sexual offence, another incident of something else. 'And there is no sanctions and this is the issue, the police are policing themselves.' Couzens' horrific history of sexual offending revealed in report Couzens had a long history of alleged sexual offending before he kidnapped, raped and murdered Ms Everard in March 2021. This includes - Eight reports of indecent exposure that were handed to police; A 'very serious sexual assault' on a young girl while he was in his 20s; Attempting to kidnap a woman at knifepoint in North London in 1995; Raping a woman during a singles night in East London between late 2006 and early 2007; Raping another woman under a bridge in London in October 2019; Inappropriately touching a man in a Kent bar in the summer of 2019. Advertisement Her intervention comes after a damning inquiry into Sarah Everard's killer, former Met officer Wayne Couzens, found police 'repeatedly failed' to spot the warning signs and he should never have been allowed to join the police. Serving firearms officer Wayne Couzens kidnapped the 33-year-old marketing executive in March 2021 before driving her from London to woods near his home in Deal, Kent, where he raped and murdered her before dumping her body. The shocking report also revealed he was accused of raping two women but went undetected by at least three bungling police forces who failed to spot the repeated 'red flags'. Inquiry chair Lady Elish Angiolini found the killer 'could and should' have been stopped from getting a job as an officer, and that without a radical overhaul of British policing, there is 'nothing to stop another Couzens operating in plain sight'. She urged 'all those in authority in every police force in the country' to read the report and 'take immediate action'. But despite the stark warning to police forces, Ms Kalam said she could not find what specific practice had been adopted by West Midlands Police to address her experiences, nor had she been able to meet with the chief constable to discuss it. The BBC said it had also failed to clarify what specific changes have been put in place either. Couzens (pictured) was a serving officer in the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit Serving firearms officer Wayne Couzens kidnapped the Sarah Everard (pictured) in March 2021 before driving her from London to woods near his home in Deal, Kent, where he raped and murdered her before dumping her body Wayne Couzens looks at a picture of Sarah Everard as it is held up to a protective screen while he is being quizzed by detectives at Wandsworth police station in London However, the corporation did confirm that none of the 19 firearms officers whose alleged behaviour was presented in evidence at Ms Kalam's tribunal were suspended or sacked. Ms Kalam told the BBC she would not encourage young women to join the police because of what she experienced. 'There are some amazing firearms officers who work tirelessly to protect the public. To the other ones, I wouldn't trust them around any female member of my family' she said. Ms Kalam has now said she will campaign to bring about the changes need. She started by giving away most of her 820,000 sex discrimination case compensation from West Midlands Police to charities who work on police perpetuated abuse. When asked by Channel 4 why she decided to give the money away, she said: 'Because I never asked for it. I never wanted one penny. 'The centre for women's justice to such great work around police perpetuated abuse, that's what's happened to me, as much as I hate to admit it. 'So to give something back is a real positive.' In November West Midlands Police was put is in special measures meaning it is being subjected to extra government scrutiny after watchdogs found it was not carrying out its investigations effectively or managing the risk to the public posed by sex offenders. In January, following Ms Kalam's tribunal win, West Midlands force confirmed three serving firearms officers were suspended and ten were in the disciplinary process. But the BBC has reported none of that number were among the 19 officers who were referenced in the tribunal case. It is not yet clear what type of behaviour these probes are focused on. West Midlands Police said it currently has five females (three officers and two police staff) who have a current formal grievance case. Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green told told MailOnline: 'We again apologise for the serious issues raised by Mrs Kalam and for the significant impact that these have had on her. 'As we have previously said but it is important to reiterate - there is no place in policing for misogynistic, discriminatory or disrespectful behaviour and much progress has been made to set and reinforce the highest standards of conduct and professionalism. 'Over the past two years, under the leadership of Chief Superintendent Sarah Burton, officers and staff in the Firearms Unit have worked hard to improve culture, standards and the working environment. 'We continue to make progress to ensure that we are trusted by the public as we go about our duty to protect them.' The decision to award Ms Kalam compensation for loss of earnings and pension was the 'unanimous decision of the tribunal panel'. West Midlands Police also faced a substantial bill in legal costs, but has refused to disclose how much money was spent fighting the case. At the time Ms Kalam said: 'Instead of promptly carrying out a thorough investigation when I reported these issues, West Midlands Police engaged in a campaign of victim blaming. However, my experience has shown that truth is authentic vindication. It has taken the loss of my career, health, and security to plead with WMP to not leave Women at risk, including its own female officers through lack of provision of gender specific uniform and through discriminatory practices. I have sought to highlight to the force that they must take action to address the risks and consequences left as result of ignorance or procedural failure. Our officers deserve more, and the public expect nothing less. The tribunal heard Ms Kalam wasn't given an easy trigger hand-gun like male officers and was told to wear a compression bra to fit into body armour designed for men, and found Ms Kalam would have made the rank of superintendent if it were not for her mistreatment. In March 2012 Ms Kalam was required to act as a 'stooge' in a mock training exercise, and was 'stripped down to her underwear' so first aid could be given. The tribunal previously heard Ms Kalam was also forced to pose for a photoshoot when five months pregnant. She was also told she would not pass a training course if she did not agree to be a 'poster girl' for the firearms unit, where she was one of only seven women amongst 250 men. Judge Camp previously ruled police were guilty of sex discrimination by not ordering body armour specifically for her and said the force had harassed her by making her the 'poster girl' and the 'stooge' in the mock training exercise. Ms Kalam was originally seeking 1.2million in compensation, but the panel dismissed her claim for 'aggravated' damages. Scott Green, the force's Deputy Chief Constable, said at the time a raft of improvement measures have since been introduced, including involving female firearm officers in the testing new gender-specific uniform and equipment. He said many of the issues highlighted in the case dated back to 2012 when Ms Kalam joined the firearms unit, adding that since then, 'staff in the Firearms Unit have worked hard to improve culture, standards and the working environment.' He said: 'I am sorry that more was not done sooner to address the serious issues raised by Mrs Kalam and I apologise for the significant impact that these have had on her which has been highlighted during the tribunal. 'There is no place in policing for misogynistic, discriminatory or disrespectful behaviour and much progress has been made to set and reinforce the highest standards of conduct and professionalism.' He said the force had also reviewed the recruitment process for firearms officers 'to increase the diversity of people who apply and remove barriers to recruitment.' Dep Chf Con Green added: 'We have also changed and bolstered the leadership in our Operations and Firearms units. 'Alongside this we have changed how our firearms officers work as part of our local policing model to support our neighbourhood and response teams in serving local communities. 'The tribunal recognises that we have taken the grievance and disciplinary matters raised by Mrs Kalam seriously. The steps we have taken are helping us to attract and retain the best and most diverse people in firearms policing, and benefit those already working in this critical area. 'We continue to make progress to ensure that we are trusted by the public as we go about our duty to protect them.' A woman has been shot dead by police after fatally injuring another woman. Police were called to Kett Street in Lower Plenty in Melbourne's north-east around 6.30pm on Friday night following reports of an altercation between two women. 'Upon police arrival, members were challenged by a woman armed with a knife, who was subsequently shot,' police said in a statement. 'That woman, who has yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.' The woman was believed to be aged in her 20s. Police were called to Kett Street in Lower Plenty (pictured) on Friday night The second woman aged in her 50s who was attacked was treated by first responders but also died at the scene, despite frantic efforts to save her life. Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident. It's believed the parties were known to each other. Residents in the quiet street not often visited by police were shocked to hear the sound of gunshots. I heard a couple of bangs, it sounded like floorboards, like whipcracking,' Mick told the Herald Sun. 'It is quiet as, once in a hundred years. 'A pity the poor ladies are no longer with us.' Two women are dead after police were called to an incident in Melbourne's north-east (stock) Another resident Jack went to buy pizza for dinner and returned to fnd the street blocked off. 'We had no idea what was going on until we saw the news report,' he said Homicide detectives will investigate the incident which will be oversighted by Professional Standards Command, which is protocol for any incident where a police firearm is discharged. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Sweden's formal accession to NATO today is a towering smorgasbord of a body blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's worldview and designs of global domination. Not only does it transform the Baltic Sea into a NATO lake, but it also isolates the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad situated between Poland and Lithuania, and it creates a strategic chokehold on the Kremlin's key port in St. Petersburg. Heretofore, Russian nuclear submarines were largely free to run amok causing havoc along the coastlines of Sweden and Finland. No longer. Not since Finland joined NATO in April 2023 and now Sweden nine months later. Yet the strategic implications to Putin extend far deeper than just the Baltic Sea. Much of Putin's early economic and military vision for Russia was predicated upon developing the potential of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Now, given Stockholm's accession to Brussels alongside Helsinki, the key NSR port city of Murmansk is strategically threatened even more. Prior to Putin's war against Ukraine, Russia had invested heavily in the 3,500 miles of coastline comprising the NSR. This included building port facilities, amassing a large fleet of icebreakers and creating a new threat to NATO's arctic forces (especially the United States whose navy is tactically lacking in this area). Sweden's accession to NATO constitutes a significant blow for the Russian President. (File) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accepts Sweden's instruments of accession from Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Washington, March 7, 2024 Swedish soldiers from the Norrlandsbrigade in Boden on a combat vehicle 90 during training together with Finnish hunting units in Hetta, northern Finland, March 5 2024 Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in front of a Stridsbat 90H fast assault craft after a press conference on a new support package for Ukraine is presented on February 20, 2024 Now, Putin's once-vaunted 15-year plan for the NSR has gone by the wayside in the wake of his faltering war in Ukraine and much of Moscow's economic and military projects along the NSR are at a crashing standstill. Whereas Putin was once eying a sizable advantage in the Arctic he even planted a Russian titanium flag underneath the North Pole in 2007 he now finds himself on the defensive. Not only does Putin face defending Russia's 830-mile border with Finland, but he must also contend with Sweden's ability to reinforce 124 miles of his border with fellow NATO member-state Norway, extending between Treriksrysa at Krokfjellet and ending on the Varangerfjord next to the Barents Sea. Where will the forces necessary to defend these borders come from? He already stripped Russian border security forces along the border with Finland, and pulled the 11th Armor Corps from Kaliningrad to fight in Ukraine. Sweden and Finland had long been integrated into NATO's military exercises and military officials in Stockholm and Helsinki had long coordinated with Brussels. However, now, given Sweden's formal accession, there is a new tie that binds Sweden to Washington, London and Brussels: NATO's daunting Article 5. Putin's calculus, accordingly, will have to change. In the past, he attempted to keep Sweden and Finland off-balance and out-of-step with NATO by conducting underwater psych-operations along their coastlines. Sweden, however, in particular, was tenaciously aggressive in pushing back, often dropping depth charges on suspect submarine targets operating in their territorial waters. A soldier from the Swedish Amphibious Corps onboard a CB90-class fast assault craft participates in a military demonstration on February 20, 2024, at the Berga Naval Base Swedish Army tanks participate in a military exercise called 'Cold Response 2022', gathering around 30,000 troops from NATO member countries as well as Finland and Sweden, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Setermoen in the Arctic Circle, Norway, March 25, 2022 Pictured: Two Swedish Airforce JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft in close formation. Sweden will bring state of the art submarines and a fleet of highly capable Gripen fighter aircraft to NATO's forces (File) Soldiers from the 13th counter intelligence battalion, 2nd recon platoon of the Swedish Armed Forces, participate in military exercise in Kungsangen, near Stockholm on February 27, 2024 Sweden is bringing highly 'capable armed forces and a first-class defence industry,' Jens Stoltenberg noted Stockholm has consistently taken the existential threat posed by Moscow seriously, including Sweden's Civil Contingencies Agency decision in 2018 to renew building of bomb shelters to add to the estimated 65,000 already spread throughout the country. As it was, Sweden was a formidable foe to Russian expansionism under Putin. Now, as a member of NATO it is bringing that much-needed mindset to Brussels. Nor is Sweden coming empty-handed. As Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO, noted on X, formerly known as Twitter, is bringing highly 'capable armed forces and a first-class defence industry.' Sweden's defence industry will only be strengthened by the increased sharing of military technologies that is to come. Yet, perhaps, the greatest immediate impact Sweden will have on Putin is a psychological one. Putin is already paranoid that NATO is an offensive-oriented military alliance and now that coalition has been significantly strengthened and at a fortuitous time. Russia, to its detriment, continues to predicate the preponderance of its military doctrine on the principles of mass and as a result, has a tendency of trying to defend everywhere while in effect creating the conditions that, in effect, they are defending nowhere. First Finland and now Sweden's accession to NATO has only compounded that conundrum for the Kremlin. Sweden's accession to NATO essentially reduces Moscow's military options against the West to non-conventional means. Putin's Black Sea fleet has already been, in effect, neutered by a navy-less Ukraine and he surely knows that his once-proud Baltic Fleet headquartered in Kaliningrad has now been rendered a sitting duck. We have likely already witnessed Putin's heightened paranoia on display. Not just with respect to Ukraine, but in terms of Russia's overall conventional military vulnerability. Putin's recent State of the Union address in late February threatened NATO with nuclear war if Brussels dispatched troops to the frontlines in Ukraine and the Kremlin is aggressively pursuing emplacing nuclear weapons in outer space. Sweden's entry into NATO is only going to exacerbate Putin's growing conventional military vulnerability. Stockholm is nearing a decision to equip Kyiv with its formidable SAAB-built JAS 39 Gripen fighter plane and its own highly trained army, air force and navy will likely give Putin a new pause in the Baltic Sea and Arctic. Moscow may have recently gained a few kilometers of ground in and around Avdiivka in Ukraine but allegorically speaking Putin has lost far significant strategic ground in and around Kaliningrad, the Baltic Sea itself as well as Murmansk and the western waterways of the NSR. Consequently, Russia is less secure as a result and NATO exponentially strengthened. Blackhawk UH-60 helicopters gathered at a temporary base during the Nordic Response military exercise on March 7, 2024 in Kiruna, Sweden The exercise, which primarily takes place across Scandinavia from March 3-14, features 20,000 troops from 13 allied countries. Following the recent NATO expansion, the group now includes Finland and Sweden A Swedish air crew prepares a JAS Gripen fighter jet for takeoff at Kallax Air Base, Sweden, March 4, 2024 Swedish army soldiers stand on the tarmac at Kallax Air Base, Sweden, March 4, 2024 Seamstress Tove Lycke at work with new NATO flags, at the flag manufacturer 'Flagghuset', in Akersberga, outside Stockholm, Sweden, March 7 2024 Putin, undoubtedly, will soon come to regret awakening a determined and resilient Sweden. After two centuries of neutrality, Sweden has taken a side and its guns are aimed squarely at Putin and the Russian Federation. Consequently, Putin is feeling the 2nd- and 3rd-order effects of a really bad decision. His losses are significant - over 421,000, including many of his most elite formations, weapons and equipment. He is down to mass, Korean War weapons, teenagers and old men, and a dependence upon his 'arsenals of evil' to sustain combat operations in Ukraine. The last thing he needed was an exposed border to his north - but here he is. Sweden, along with Finland, will only make it harder, and Putin more desperate. He will make his presence felt with air and sea incursions, but his show of force will be just that a show. All bark and a little bite. Absent conventional military alternatives, he will have to accept risk while the bulk of his military is tied down in Ukraine. 32 NATO member-states are now staring down at Putin and none as now resolutely as Sweden and Finland. Sweden has drawn a redline and their national resolve is crystal clear. Stockholm will not countenance a Russian dominated Europe. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available The family of a seven-year-old Iraqi girl who drowned while trying to reach Britain on a small boat have blamed 'people smugglers with no morals' for the disaster. Rula died on Sunday after falling into the River Aa, at Watten, some 20 miles inland from Calais, in northern France. She was with her parents and four other adults who hoped to get 10 children aged between seven and 13 to the English Channel, and then across to the UK to claim asylum. But the stolen boat collapsed within minutes, flinging everybody into the cold water, around an hour before sunrise. Following Rula's funeral this week, her pregnant mother Nour told Sky News: 'She was beautiful and I lost her. The family of a seven-year-old Iraqi girl - Rula (pictured) - who drowned while trying to reach Britain on a small boat have blamed 'people smugglers with no morals' for the disaster 'My little princess. She was seven years old, she had seen nothing in this world. We just wanted to make their lives better.' READ MORE: Seven-year-old girl dies in Channel crossing attempt after migrants tried to sail to Britain Advertisement The family had paid the equivalent of 5000 for the trip across the Channel alone, having travelled overland from Iraq, where their lives were threatened. But the boat provided for the last leg of the journey was falling apart, and had no life jackets onboard. 'The people smugglers have no morals,' said Rula's father, Mohammed, who said the boat was an overcrowded death trap. 'Every day, I think of dying a hundred times,' he said. 'The water came into the cabin and she was stuck. The smugglers had left us. 'I had to rescue my wife, my son and another person. But I couldn't rescue her.' Mohammed continued: 'My daughter died and the reason why is because of the people smugglers who have no morals. 'They fooled us, took money from us and threw us in the water without any mercy. They do not see humans as humans - they only see materials and money.' Survivors included Rula's brothers, Muhaimen, 14, Hassan, 10, and Moamel, eight. 'She was very dear to us, but what do we do?' said Hassan, adding: 'I want her to come back but she won't.' Despite the trauma, the family is now preparing to try another small boat trip to England, said Mohammed. This will mean leaving Rula's final resting place in northern France, where she is now buried. Following Rula's funeral this week,her parents (pictured) told Sky News of their loss. 'The people smugglers have no morals,' said Rula's father, Mohammed (right). Her pregnant mother Nour (left), said: 'She was beautiful and I lost her' Migrants are seen being brought ashore by UK 'rder force in Dover on March 3 Pictured: An inflatable dinghy carrying around 65 migrants is seen crossing the English Channel on March 6, 2024 Migrants gather on a beach after they failed to illegally cross the English Channel to reach Britain, in Sangatte, northern France, on December 15, 2023 Charlotte Huet, the Dunkirk Prosecutor, said Rula died 'as a result of cardiorespiratory arrest'. At least three alleged people smugglers were taken into custody following her death. The prosecutor said a criminal enquiry had been opened for 'manslaughter, unintentionally causing injuries, criminal conspiracy and aiding illegal immigration within an organised gang, while endangering others.' The 16 people on board the stricken boat had been hoping to avoid police patrols, so as to enter the English Channel close to the Belgium border. 'It is a route that has been used by people smugglers before,' said an investigating source. 'On this occasion, the boat was overloaded and too flimsy to support those onboard, who included women and children. 'There was chaos in the water after the boat collapsed, and it led to a seven-year-old girl losing her life.' The Aa river originates at the village of Bourthes and empties into the sea near Gravelines, close to Dunkirk. It follows three migrants going missing in thick fog and heavy winds in the Channel last Wednesday after their UK-bound small boat capsized. One was confirmed dead after his body was recovered, while two others are also thought to have drowned at sea. Despite the poor conditions, people smugglers took advantage of a small break in even more severe weather to push out multiple migrant boats from French shores. The latest fatality also follows five migrants dying while trying to get to Britain on January 14. The latest crossings take the provisional total number of arrivals in 2024 so far to 2,006 Some 29,000 people reached the UK in small boats in 2023, despite the British government saying that stopping them was a priority. It is trying to push ahead with a plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, despite the London Supreme Court ruling that the policy is unlawful. In August last year, six people died after a boat carrying migrants sank in the Channel off the French coast. And in November 2021, at least 27 migrants died after a dinghy sank while heading to the UK the highest recorded number of deaths from a single incident. Joe Biden has warned Israel not to use humanitarian aid going into Gaza as a 'bargaining chip' in the conflict with Hamas. 'To the leadership of Israel I say this - humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,' said Biden, whose country provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel. Biden made the calls in his State of the Union address yesterday. It comes as US plans gathered pace on Friday to get aid by sea into Gaza, where the UN has repeatedly warned of famine and Israel has been accused of limiting aid as it battles Hamas militants. In his annual State of the Union address to Congress, President Joe Biden said the US military would 'lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments carrying food, water medicine and temporary shelters.' Senior administration officials said this effort builds on an initiative proposed by Cyprus for a maritime aid corridor. In the Cypriot port of Larnaca on Friday, European Union chief Ursula Von der Leyen expressed hope the corridor could open this Sunday. The United States and other countries have already been parachuting food and other assistance into Gaza but air or sea delivery is not the best way, said Sigrid Kaag, the United Nations aid coordinator for the Palestinian territory. Biden has warned Israel not to use humanitarian aid going into Gaza as a 'bargaining chip' in the conflict with Hamas in his State of the Union address yesterday Intentional starvation is a war crime and Biden said Israel needs to send in aid no matter what Many aid trucks delivering food have been destroyed by Israel throughout the conflict Biden said: 'To the leadership of Israel, I say this: humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip.' 'The diversification of the supply routes via land' remains the optimal solution, Kaag said. Biden, whose administration has been increasingly vocal about the war's consequences for civilians, delivered some of his strongest comments yet, as hopes dimmed for a new truce before Ramadan, the Muslim holy month which could begin Sunday depending on the lunar calendar. 'To the leadership of Israel I say this - humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,' said Biden, whose country provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel. He stressed that Israel also has 'a fundamental responsibility' to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. He said: 'Israel must also do its part. Israel must allow more aid into Gaza. 'Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority.' Biden also spoke about how Hamas needs to do its bit to end the conflict. He said that the terrorist group could stop the war immediately if they were just to lay down their weapons and give up those responsible for the October 7 attack. He also called on Hamas to accept a deal for hostages it's holding that would lead to a six-week ceasefire. Family members of hostages were in the audience at Biden's address and to them, he said: 'I pledge to all the families that we will not rest until we bring their loved ones home. 'We've been working non-stop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last for at least six weeks. It would get the hostages home, ease the intolerable humanitarian crisis and build toward something more enduring. Israel's government must take the humanitarian crisis in Gaza seriously, Biden said in address Intentional starvation, along with chemical and biological warfare are not allowed by law The UN said Israel is intentionally starving Palestinians and should be held accountable Hunger and severe malnutrition are widespread in the Gaza Strip, where about 2.2 million Palestinians are facing severe shortages He has said that Netanyahu must send in aid - and more of it, regardless of everything else Hunger and severe malnutrition are widespread in the Gaza Strip, where about 2.2 million Palestinians are facing severe shortages resulting from food supplies being destroyed, predominantly by Israel. Michael Fakhri, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, told the Guardian: 'There is no reason to intentionally block the passage of humanitarian aid or intentionally obliterate small-scale fishing vessels, greenhouses and orchards in Gaza other than to deny people access to food.' A cheeky male AI robot was caught touching a woman on the bottom in front of an audience while she reported from an artificial intelligence event. In hilarious fotage, reporter Rawya Kassem can be seen standing on a panel in front of an android named Muhammad in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The reporter, donning a blue suit and carrying a microphone, speaks directly to the camera as the realistic robot stood behind her in his red keffiyeh and long gown. He can be seen slowly moving his head and body without Rawya noticing, in what appears to be a natural and innocent maneuver from the machine. But without warning, cheeky Muhammed raises his right hand and gently pats Rawya's bottom as she addresses the camera at the DeepFest AI event. C creepio! Reporter Rawya Kassem was speaking live at an artificial intelligence event in Saudia Arabia while standing next to robot Muhammed Robotty: As she was speaking into her microphone, the human-like machine built by robotics firm QSS raised his hand and patted her bottom Rawya was left stunned at Muhammed's apparent cheekiness and glared at him while raising her hand Clearly catching her off guard, Rawya turns around and glares at the robot as he timidly lowers his hand back down. She raises her free hand as if to give him a little smack but smiles at her colleague before continuing her speech. Muhammed returns to his natural stance and faces the crowd, leaving onlookers in shock and stitches at the situation. The clip has made the rounds on social media leaving viewers divided in their opinion, with some in hysterics and some with concerns. One viewer asked: 'What kind of coding have they done for the sheikh?' Another remarked: 'That cheeky bugger.' A third said: 'Saudi Arabia unveils pervert male robot.' 'Naming an underdeveloped robot in the name of Muhammad is not correct,' one more chimed in. And another joked: 'Saudi Arabia is changing now for good.' Android Muhammad was developed by Saudi AI and robotics firm QSS. The event, DeepFest, introduced him on X, writing: 'I am Muhammad, the first Saudi robot in the form of a man. 'I was manufactured and developed here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a national project to demonstrate our achievements in the field of artificial intelligence.' A multi-millionaire's daughter who wrote a murder manual whilst in prison before killing a frail pensioner during a burglary has been moved to an open prison as a precursor to being freed. Kemi Adeyoola was 17 when she stabbed 84-year-old Anne Mendel 14 times at her home in Golders Green, north-west London in March 2005. Her body was found by her husband. At her sentencing at London's Old Bailey in June 2006, judge Richard Hone described Adeyoola as intelligent and manipulative and labelled her a 'remorseless and cold-blooded killer.' Adeyoola was given a mandatory life sentence with a minimum term of 20-years in jail. Her first parole hearing was in March 2023 and it ended with the Board recommending she be moved to open conditions. It is unusual for a person convicted in such a high profile murder case to be recommended for a security downgrade on their first appearance before the three-person board. Kemi Adeyoola was 17 when she stabbed 84-year-old Anne Mendel 14 times at her home in Golders Green, north-west London in March 2005 Adeyoola (pictured) was given a mandatory life sentence with a minimum term of 20-years Anne Mendel's body was found by her husband after she was stabbed to death But a spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'The Parole Board refused the release of Kemi Adeyoola but recommended a move to an open conditions prison following an oral hearing in October 2023. 'This was a recommendation only and the Secretary of State for Justice considers the advice before making the final decision on whether a prisoner is suitable for open conditions. 'We will only make a recommendation for open conditions if a Parole Board panel is satisfied that the risk to the public has reduced sufficiently to be manageable in an open prison and if a transfer to open prison is considered to be essential to inform future decisions about release. 'A move to open conditions involves testing the prisoner's readiness for any potential return into the community in future. Prisoners moved to open conditions can be returned to closed conditions if there is concern about their behaviour. 'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public. A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims. 'Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing. Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing. 'The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.' The Justice Secretary has the power to block a move to open conditions but chose not to enforce it for Adeyoola. Aeyoola served time in Bullwood Hall young offenders' institute, Essex, for shoplifting where she made plans to find a frail pensioner to rob and murder A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice told MailOnline: 'Ann Mendel's murder was an appalling crime and our thoughts remain with her family. 'The independent Parole Board conducts a thorough risk assessment before recommending a transfer to open conditions but the Prison Service retains the ability to return offenders to closed prison at the first sign of any concern.' Adeyoola's case hit the headlines because of her wealthy background and her meticulous planning of the murder while serving time in Bullwood Hall young offenders' institute, Essex, for shoplifting. In an 18-page document found by officers, she sketched in detail how she would find a frail pensioner to rob and murder, listing equipment she would need, and what she would do with the money she stole. Privately-educated Adeyoola wrote in the document, entitled 'Prison and After: Making life count' that she would need 'a minimum of 3m'. For this she would need to rob and murder an elderly woman, and frame the woman's husband for the killing. The attack was imagined in chilling detail: 'With your butcher's knife remove her head. Wrap it in film to contain bleeding, detach limbs one by one,' she wrote. 'When you have completed the task, put head, body pieces in black bag.' Adeyoola considered Mrs Mendel, her former neighbour, a soft target to practise on before finding a 'rich, elderly and defenceless' woman to slay for money, Throughout the trial the teenager insisted the notes were preparation for a crime novel she planned to write, a version of events the jury rejected. Judge Hone said: 'I regret to say I have formed the view that you are a remorseless and cold-blooded killer who is a serious and continuing danger to the public. 'I believe that your motive was to draw attention to yourself by the act of murder. 'I think you wanted to experience what it felt like to kill someone in cold blood, possibly so that you could write about it, but more probably so that you could boast about it and possibly even do it again.' Speaking after the verdict, Detective Inspector Steve Morris of the Metropolitan police described the case as 'a wicked, premeditated murder committed by a callous, devious young woman and her cold, calculated use of extreme violence beggars belief'. Bola Adeyoola, her millionaire businessman father said at the time: 'She is no longer my daughter. What she did was evil. I don't even like her.' Explosive documents have revealed last-minute changes made to the doomed MH370 flight that vanished ten years ago today, with an expert claiming the evidence shows the captain deliberately crashed in a shocking mass murder-suicide. The plane's flight plan shows an extra 3,000kg fuel was added to the plane before takeoff, along with extra - unrequired - oxygen supplied only to the cockpit. Speaking to The Sun, Boeing 777 pilot Simon Hardy said the new details could be proof MH370 captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah planned the disappearance that continues to baffle experts. He told the outlet: 'It's an incredible coincidence that just before this aircraft disappears forever, one of the last things that was done as the engineer says nil noted [no oxygen added], then someone else gets on onboard and says it's a bit low. 'Well it's not really low at all,' he added. 'It's a strange coincidence that the last engineering task that was done before it headed off to oblivion was topping up crew oxygen which is only for the cockpit, not for the cabin crew.' The Boeing 777 aircraft vanished from radar while en route from Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. Satellite data showed the plane deviated from its flight path to head over the southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed. On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and the 239 people on-board took off into the night's sky from Kuala Lumpur, never to be seen or heard from again. Pictured: A CGI rendering of MH370 from a National Geographic documentary that shows an apparent crash The most persistent theory has centred on the pilot - Zaharie Ahmad Shah (pictured) - and suggestions that it was a deliberate act because he was facing personal problems Mr Hardy said the lack of oxygen in the back of the plane would have knocked the cabin crew and passengers unconscious, allowing him to carry out a premeditated plan without obstruction. The extra fuel, he said, would have allowed the pilot an extra 30 minutes of flying time, allowing him to crash the plane in daylight. 'If you want to do a good ditching, you do it in daylight or at least half daylight,' he claimed. Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished shortly after taking off on March 8, 2014 and the 239 people on-board were never seen again. A multinational team carried out the largest search in aviation history for the plane, but it failed to turn up any clues and the operation was suspended in January 2017. A private search in 2018 by US-based marine robotics company Ocean Infinity also found nothing. Debris confirmed or believed to be from the MH370 aircraft has since washed up along the African coast and on islands in the Indian Ocean. Mr Hardy told The Sun the discovery of downward-facing flaps, used to reduce stalling speed, suggest a manual override. 'If you want the flaps down, there has to be someone there putting the flaps down,' he said. 'If the flaps were down, there is a liquid fuel, then someone is moving a lever and it's someone who knows what they are doing. It all points to the same scenario.' But officials have come no closer to working out what happened to the plane. One of the most enduring theories has centred on the pilot - Zaharie Ahmad Shah - and suggestions that the disappearance was a deliberate act because he was facing personal problems. Shah had allegedly split with his wife Fizah Khan, and was said to be furious that a relative, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, had been given a five-year jail sentence for sodomy shortly before he boarded the plane for the flight to Beijing. But the pilot's wife angrily denied any personal problems, while other family members and friends said he was a devoted family man and loved his job. The 'murder-suicide' theory was also the conclusion of the first independent study into the disaster by the New Zealand-based air accident investigator, Ewan Wilson. Other theories placed blame on co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27, who some suspected could have overpowered the pilot and disabled the aircraft, again due to alleged personal problems. Theorists claimed Hamid was having relationship problems, and this was his dramatic way of taking his own life. But he was engaged to be married to Captain Nadira Ramli, 26, a fellow pilot from another airline, and loved his job. There are no known reasons for him to have taken any fatal action. The missing aircraft - a Boeing 777-200ER plane - is seen taking off in France in 2011 The flight took off from Kuala Lumpur at 12.41am local time on March 8, 2014, and was scheduled to travel for roughly five hours and 34 minutes before arriving in Beijing at around 6.30am local time. The crew last communicated with air traffic control just 38 minutes after takeoff, around halfway between Malaysia's Malay Peninsula and Ca Mau Cape, the southern-most point of Vietnam. Co-pilot Fariq Hamid, 27, was understood to be flying the plane. It was to be his last training flight before he was set to be examined to become a fully-certified pilot. Hamid was being trained by the pilot in command - 53-year-old Zaharie Ahmad Shah. With 18,365 flying hours, he was one of the most senior captains at Malaysia Airlines, having joined the company in 1983. On board were 10 crew and 227 registered passengers- totalling 239 on board, including the pilots. At 1.01am, Zaharie radioed to say they had reached 35,000 feet and levelled off - a slightly unusual communication, when the norm is to report leaving an altitude. Seven minutes later, the flight crossed Malaysia's coastline and flew out over the South China Sea. Within 11 minutes it began to approach a way-point - called IGARI - near the start of Vietnamese air-traffic jurisdiction. At 1.19am, the controller at Kuala Lumpur Center radioed: 'Malaysian three-seven-zero, contact Ho Chi Minh one-two-zero-decimal-nine. Good night,' The controller told the pilots to alert Vietnam of their approach. 'Good night. Malaysian three-seven-zero,' Zaharie replied. This was the last communication from MH370. The pilots never checked in with Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam nor answered any attempts to contact them again. Seconds after crossing into Vietnamese airspace, the plane dropped off the screens of Malaysian air traffic control. 37 seconds later - at 1.21am, 39 minutes after take off - the entire plane disappeared from secondary radar. It would later be revealed that the plane's transponder - a communication system that transmits the plane's location to air traffic control - had been switched off manually. This appeared to have been done at a vulnerable moment in the plane's route: as it passed between the air space of two countries. Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand sculpture of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on Puri beach in eastern Odisha state on March 7, 2015 Officers carrying pieces of debris from an unidentified aircraft apparently washed ashore in Saint-Andre de la Reunion, eastern La Reunion island, France on July 29, 2015 Inmarsat satellite data and the military radar later showed that the plane likely did not suffer some catastrophic event but that it had instead continued to fly. MH370 crossed an arc stretching from Central Asia in the north down towards Antarctica - somewhere - at 8.19am Kuala Lumpur time. Analysis indicated with near-certainty that the plane inexplicably turned south, not north, and continued for another six hours after it vanished from military radar at 2.22am. It is presumed the flight continued at high-altitude during those six hours, until making its final signal at around 8.19am on March 8 - seven hours after final contact was made with pilots over the South China Sea. Minutes later, experts believe it nose-dived into the ocean. Searches continued for years, but only a few pieces of debris were ever found around the east coast of Africa. A Catholic priest has been sacked after he had a 'physical' argument with a 76-year-old female parishioner over a boy bringing a puppy to a service. Father Michael Brookes, 62, was accused of grabbing the woman and dragging her into a room moments before Christmas Eve mass. The woman, who has been a parishioner for several years, had been considering going to the police if no action was taken but never mentioned this to anyone else. After Father Brookes was removed from his post, she decided not to involve police. It means masses at the St Thomas More chapel in Harleston, Norfolk, and some in nearby Bungay which he also presided over, have been 'temporarily paused' as there is no one to stand in for him. Father Michael Brookes (pictured), 62, has been sacked after he had a 'physical' argument with a 76-year-old female parishioner over a boy bringing a puppy to a service The woman, who is a widow, claims she was keen to allow in the family with the puppy but Father Brookes disagreed and told them to leave. She said: 'Father Brookes gripped me and shook me, having dragged me into a room which nobody could see into, while shouting in my face. 'It was all because I said he was wrong to rudely dismiss a family from the door as a small boy had a puppy with him. 'It was very scary. I tried to leave and he dragged me back into the room and continued shouting in my face. 'Finally, I managed to escape the room before the Father then ordered those in attendance for the ceremony out of the chapel.' She added: 'What was most terrifying wasn't the physical manhandling, it was the way he screamed in my face, spitting as he shouted out of control.' After the incident, Father Brookes, who had been living at the presbytery in Bungay, cancelled the service and sent everyone home. His alleged victim said her ordeal followed concerns she had raised previously about his behaviour. It means masses at the St Thomas More chapel (pictured) in Harleston, Norfolk, and some in nearby Bungay which Father Brookes also presided over, have been 'temporarily paused' as there is no one to stand in for him 'In the preceding weeks, there had been incidents where the man had also lost the plot at people, screaming at them and it was becoming more and more frequent,' she said. 'The clues for this eventual physical attack were there for a long time, as there had been many reported incidents. 'The bottom line is that he was abusive for the whole parish for over two years and it has resulted in the closure of the Harleston site, which is so sad for so many people.' Peter Collins, the Bishop of East Anglia, has admitted he had been holding meetings with Father Brookes since last summer. He said the priest, who was appointed to the parish of Bungay in 2021, had been 'experiencing the effects of significant stress over recent months, not least as a result of his concern regarding the health of his elderly mother'. There were also concerns about the reorganising of parishes. The bishop added: 'This is a very sad and upsetting situation for everyone and the safety and well-being of all involved are our primary concern. 'I wish to express my sadness and regret to the victim for what she experienced. We offer her the assurance of our prayers and support.' A diocese spokesman said: 'We can confirm that an incident took place on Christmas Eve 2023 at St Thomas More, Harleston, between parish priest Father Michael Brookes and a parishioner. 'There was an argument and physical contact on a parishioner by Father Brookes, which did not result in an injury. 'Father Brookes immediately reported the incident to the diocesan safeguarding service. The parishioner did not regard it as a police matter. 'After a thorough investigation by the diocesan safeguarding service, Bishop Peter Collins took the decision that the priest should stand down from his priestly ministries and undergo independent clinical psychological assessment. 'He will be supported by diocesan authorities through the coming period. The woman, who is a widow, claims she was keen to allow in the family with the puppy but Father Brookes disagreed and told them to leave 'In consequence, Father Brookes is currently out of ministry and is no longer resident in the parish.' The priest worked as a psychiatric nurse when he was younger, according to an article on the parish website. He goes on to describe how his faith was strengthened by problems in his personal life, saying: 'Things in my life fell apart a relationship, work, where I was living. 'Everything was negative, loss. Faith had become important in my life again and I wanted to take my faith more seriously.' He converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism in the 1990s when, inspired by Mother Theresa, he travelled to India. He later joined the Order of the Carmelites at a priory in Kent for four years, then lived with the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham, while working in the NHS. He settled in Dereham and worked with Norfolk social services before joining the priesthood in 2019. A British rower, 54, died by accident after suffering multiple injuries when his boat was 'hit by a wave' during a 3,000-mile voyage across the Atlantic, an inquest has heard. Michael Holt, 54, who was raising money for charity, was found dead in the cabin of his boat by a fishing vessel on February 25 after he rowed 700 miles of the journey. After two years of training, he set off on the 2942-mile journey from Gran Canria to Barbados in the Caribbean on January 27 - which was was expected to take between 40 to 110 days. Mr Holt, who is a type one diabetic, was posting updates throughout the journey - and told friends he was suffering with sea sickness shortly before they lost contact with him. At the inquest into Michael's death at Gerard Majella Courthouse in Liverpool earlier this week, senior coroner for Liverpool Andre Rebello said the cause of death was 'polytrauma due to accidental injury', Wirral Globe reports. Michael Holt, 54, undertook the 3,000 mile journey to raise money for charity The rower told family he was suffering from sea sickness shortly before they lost contact with him A map shows Michael made it 700 miles before he fell ill An update on February 15 told how his boat was attacked by a terrifying 10ft shark - believed to be a fearsome oceanic white-tip Michael is understood to have suffered a polytrauma - multiple injuries in a single event - when a wave hit his boat and nearly knocked it over. Mr Rebello added: 'This was a tragic accidental death. Mr Holt's heroic efforts have resulted in a fatality which makes it very difficult.' In updates to his family during the epic voyage, Michael told he had battled strong winds, losing an oar, and a shark attacking his rudder. They lost contact with him shortly after he told them he was suffering sea sickness and was found dead two days later on February 25. His brother David said at the time: 'Last night the fishing vessel Noruego accepted a tasking from Cape Verde Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and made directly for Michael's coordinates. Very sadly, upon arrival, Michael was found dead inside his cabin. 'Of course this was not the ultimate conclusion we were looking for, but I am somewhat comforted knowing he died doing something he absolutely wanted to do with a passion and managed to row in excess of 700 miles in the process. 'An achievement in itself,' he added in the update on Mr Holt's Instagram. 'This is a huge shock to myself, his wife Lynne and daughter Scarlett and my parents, not to mention wider family and friends. 'Many thanks for the kind words and wishes that you have already sent us during the past few days. They mean a great deal to all the family.' Mr Holt, originally from Porthmadog, North Wales, had been living in the Wirral and was raising money for Mind and Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services. He already fundraised 2,500 for Mind and another 3,500 for Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services (LCVS). The experienced rower said he chose the charity Mind because of a friend who committed suicide last year. 'Mind Cymru was a charity that I never expected to raise money for. However, such is my desire to do something on behalf of my fantastic friend that it is my absolute pleasure to raise funds on behalf of this amazing charity,' Mr Holt wrote on his Just Giving page. His initial fundraiser was set up to benefit Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services, which Mr Holt said he was a business customer of for 11 years. He wrote on his fundraising page: 'With the current economic situation, certain individuals and communities need more help than others and I believe that by helping to fundraise for LCVS, I can help in some way.' Mr Holt, originally from Porthmadog, North Wales, had been living in the Wirral and was raising money for Mind and Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services Mr Holt was raising money for Mind and Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services Just days before his tragic death, Mr Holt lost an oar and cut his hand when he was 'nearly knocked overboard' by a strong wave. Mr Holt also had three killer whales swimming around his boat at one point of the journey. His family said he was 'well prepared' after training for two years and he had a spare oar in case of such emergencies and had medical supplies to avoid infections. In an update on February 25 posted to Mr Holt's Instagram, the family said spotter planes had been sent up at around 6.30am on Saturday, but reported that he was not on the vessel at the time. 'Fishing vessel Noruego was tasked with heading to Michael's position yesterday,' the post read. 'This vessel is underway and is expected to arrive around 17:00 UK time today. In the meantime Omnicron Atlas, a tanker on route to Venice has also responded to the mayday, and is now at the scene. 'Mr Holt's brother David has direct communication with the skipper of this vessel,' it added. 'Due to the vessel's type and sheer size, trying to get down to the rowing boat is likely to be impossible, however they will remain in place to support the fishing vessel when it arrives. 'The family thank you for all of your well wishes - when there is a substantial update - we'll update you here.' In 2015, Mr Holt underwent double reconstructive surgery to both his shoulders, a treatment which involved putting some 20 titanium rods into his body Before his death, an update on social media said that Mr Holt believed his illness was due to taking antibiotics. 'This would be a problem for anyone - but as a type 1 diabetic this adds a much greater element of concern,' the post read. This is why he changed his plan to row to Barbados and instead aimed for Cape Verde, 300 nautical miles to the south of him at the time. The post added: 'Michael is upset, and doesn't want to let people down, but also understands that his life is far more valuable than this crossing, and he needs to get to land. 'From a diabetes perspective, he has plenty of electrolytes, and his bloods are still being automatically monitored, it doesn't seem to be diabetes that is making him so ill, but it's elevating the risk, and it's important he manages that accordingly.' This video is no longer available This video is no longer available A young man killed alongside his girlfriend in a fiery crash in a ritzy Melbourne suburb has been remembered by loved ones - as the couple's final moments were revealed. Marcus Watson, 20, was driving his parents' BMW when he lost control while travelling around a bend in Toorak and mounted the kerb at around 8pm on Thursday night. The car then slammed into a tree before it exploded into flames, as shocked neighbours raced to the scene after hearing screams from the burning vehicle. Little could be done to save Mr Watson and his female passenger, 22, who both died at the scene. The woman from Berwick is yet to be named. CCTV from a nearby home showed the BMW speeding down the street moments before the crash, followed by an emergency vehicle with flashing lights minutes later. Marcus Watson, 20, (right) was a kilometre from home when he was killed in a fiery crash CCTC shows the speeding BMW speeding down the streets moments before Mr Watson lost control and slammed into a tree Mr Watson's death, just one kilometre from home, sparked an outpouring of tributes led by his sister Gabby. 'My baby brother. I never said it enough but I love you,' she wrote on social media. 'You will always be my baby brother. My heart is broken and it can never be fixed. 'You are and always will be my world. 'You taught me to pull up when I needed to and made me happy.' Shocked residents who rushed to the couple's aid said that there was nothing they could do. 'You could tell that the actual explosion went like metres in diameter,' one local told Nine News. A woman added: 'I heard a car speed past really fast, heard a bang. 'We came out here. There were people everywhere.' Police have described the deaths of Marcus and his girlfriend as an avoidable tragedy Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash continue. It comes as police launched a road safety blitz ahead of state's long weekend. 'Overwhelming, this is a tragedy that was totally avoidable,' Victoria Police assistant commissioner David Fitzpatrick said. 'There's now two families that are planning funerals instead of enjoying the long weekend.' The double fatality brought the state's road toll to 50 lives lost so far in 2024. A father branded the Priory Healthcare calculating, cruel and fundamentally dangerous yesterday as the private hospital group was fined 650,000 over the death of his son. Richard Caseby said his son Matthew, 23, died needlessly after he was hit by a train after absconding from a hospital courtyard where he had been left unattended. He told how he had been forced to continually battle for the chain to take accountability over its fatal mistakes which were only eventually dragged' into public focus because he had the time and financial resources to fight a company which attempted 'to hide what happened. Priory Healthcare Ltd this morning admitted a charge under the Health and Social Care Act for exposing personal trainer Matthew Caseby to serious risk of harm while he was a patient at the Woodbourne Priory hospital in Birmingham, by failing to provide safe care and treatment. The maximum penalty was an unlimited fine. The court heard three other patients had escaped from the hospital over the two years prior to Mr Casebys escape, two of whom scaled a fence. District Judge Shamim Qureshi today handed Priory Healthcare a fine of 650,000 and ordered the firm to pay costs of 43,672.65 after the private hospital group acknowledged it had exposed service users including Mr Caseby to a significant risk of avoidable harm, making it guilty of the offence. Matthew Caseby was left unattended for more than six minutes before absconding from Priory Hospital Woodbourne in Birmingham Richard Caseby said his son Matthew, 23, died needlessly after he was hit by a train after absconding from a hospital courtyard Priory Healthcare today acknowledged it had exposed service users including Mr Caseby to a significant risk of avoidable harm Richard's Victim Personal Statement Richard Caseby said his late son Matthew had been an affectionate, playful and good humoured child in his victim personal statement. He said: On any occasion we said hello or goodbye we would hug and we would always say we loved each other.' He said that by the time of his death in September 2020, his wonderful son had been a personal trainer who was embarking on setting up his own coaching business. Mr Caseby continued: The death of a child changes your DNA. The natural order of the world is permanently disrupted even though the sun dares to show its face each morning. My own ability to grieve has been stunted for years by the way Priory Healthcare Ltd, the company that had a solemn legal duty to care for Matthew and keep him safe, tried to hide the facts about his death and evade accountability for its gross failures. As a father, I needed to understand how it was possible for a Priory hospital to provide such a dangerous service to an NHS patient and then try to mislead me as to the extent of their persistent neglect. The Priory took every advantage of this inequality of arms to protect its own reputation with its army of executives and lawyers facing off against a single broken family. My family was ignored, marginalised and blocked in the darkest days of our shock in the hope that we would retreat back into our grief and stop causing trouble. But we refused to back down and - only after a long, hard fight - have we forced the Priory to face up to its neglect of our son in his greatest hour of crisis. He said he felt he had been treated as an irritant - just a bereaved father to be outsmarted, misled and cheated of the truth. Mr Caseby said he had been initially prevented from visiting the unsafe courtyard from where Matthew had escaped and the place he was last seen alive, and spent more than three years digging and campaigning to find the truth of his sons death. We are here today only because I am privileged, he said. I had the time, money, networks and determination to compile a vast body of evidence to prove the Priorys culpability in my sons death. Matthew died needlessly and, in the aftermath of that most devastating loss, Priory Healthcare Ltd chose to make our lives indescribably more painful. Throughout this whole ordeal my experience has been that Priory Healthcare Ltd is a calculating, cruel and fundamentally dangerous company, one that persistently refuses to learn from its fatal mistakes. Only now, here in this criminal court, more than three years after Matthews death, can my family finally close the book on our campaign for justice. Advertisement Mr Caseby was hit by a train three days after being admitted to the hospital, following his detention by police under the Mental Health Act in September 2020 while in the grip of an acute psychotic episode. In April 2022 an inquest jury found the personal trainers death was contributed by neglect after hearing how he was left unattended in a courtyard, allowing him to scale a 7ft 6in fence. Mr Caseby had been sectioned for his own safety after being found wandering near a railway line in Islip, Oxfordshire, and was sent to the hospital in Edgbaston, Birmingham, as an NHS patient because he was still registered with a GP in the city where he graduated with a first in History. His father, a communications consultant, yesterday told the court that during his son's inquest, the hospital's 'shocking and aggressive denial' extended to it lobbying for the psychiatrist who conducted the damning investigation into his son's death to be disregarded as an expert witness. 'When that failed', he said, 'the Priory argued that the jury should not be allowed to make a finding of "death contributed to by neglect" by the Priory Woodbourne hospital despite all the appalling evidence.' 'And when that failed, the Priory argued that the Coroner should not issue a Prevention of Future Deaths Order even though another patient had escaped from the same Priory hospital, from the same courtyard and fence during the inquest.' In the searing Victim Personal Statement, Mr Caseby said he, his wife and two daughters were ignored and marginalised by a company which took advantage of a bereaved family crippled by grief in order to protect its own reputation. He told Birmingham Magistrates Court an internal hospital review in 2020 had exposed patient safety risks but took no action to make Mr Caseby safe. After describing his son as a sensitive, gentle and intelligent soul, Mr Caseby said that his ability to grieve had been stunted for years by Priory Healthcare's attempts to hide the facts about his son's death and evade accountability for its gross failures. Mr Caseby said the firm had been dragged kicking and screaming to face hard evidence of its shortcomings. He said that by the time of his sons hospital admission, the patient had lost contact with reality. The court heard Matthew Caseby had already exhibited absconsion-suggestive behaviours such as tailgating staff by the time he was escorted to the courtyard by a healthcare assistant for some fresh air. But he escaped after being left unattended for just four minutes, when the healthcare assistant went to tell colleagues that he was refusing to come back inside. Mr Caseby was hit by a train the following morning near the citys university station, just 200 yards from his father who had spent the night searching the area near the University of Birminghams campus, having driven from the family home in Blackheath, South London. Priory Healthcare was charged after an investigation into the death of Mr Caseby conducted by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), following the inquest. CQC barrister James Marsland said part of the perimeter fence on the courtyard where Mr Caseby escaped was only 2.3m tall (7.54ft). The prosecution say that they failed to provide safe care and treatment in that they failed to properly assess the risk, he said, but added that it was not suggested the firm should be sentenced on the basis that it has caused the death of Matthew. Paul Greaney KC, for Priory Healthcare, said the firms conduct in relation to this prosecution has been co-operative and responsible, with its guilty plea indicative of the seriousness with which it took proceedings. He said a 'suit of measures' had been implemented to improve patient safety at the facility, including new signage had been erected to 'remind staff of their obligations'. Were YOU at the event? Contact Jowena Riley at jowena.riley@mailonline.co.uk Over 60 letters have been issued to illegal car meet participants in Bedfordshire More than 60 warning letters have been issued to people who took part in an illegal car meet where spectators stood inside a ring of fire while drivers drifted their vehicles around them. CCTV footage showed four cars sliding around a dozen people who stood inside the 20ft-wide circle of flames at a trading estate in Flitwick, Bedfordshire. The cars did a number of circuits, with their rear ends coming within inches of hundreds of spectators who were standing around to watch the event. Police have issued fines to 63 drivers whose number plates they were able to spot in enlarged images from CCTV of the dangerous stunt during the car meet, which had been staged after dark on the Lyall Court industrial estate on 13 January. Gordon Tyler, the owner of Flitwick Mowers, which recorded the footage, said: 'There's gas pipes here, petrol here. It's dangerous.' More than 60 warning letters have been issued to people who took part in an illegal car meet where spectators stood inside a ring of fire while drivers drifted their vehicles around them He added: 'They believe they are experienced drivers but it only takes one of them to go wrong and they will be [driving] into the building.' Business owners complained the illegal gatherings were a regular occurrence and police had failed to crack down on them properly. One, Simon Cooper, said: 'They are down here for hours on end. I can hear them from the other side of Flitwick at times.' Adding he was concerned someone would be killed, he said: 'These car meets damage private property and cause a huge amount of distress to local residents.' A worker, who asked not to be named, said: 'Warning letters are a joke. It won't stop them from coming - they can just turn up in other cars or remove the [number] plates. 'I was wincing at the video. A few inches further and a load of people could have been wiped out.' Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said a crew from Ampthill Fire Station were diverted from a serious road traffic accident as they attended the industrial estate at about 11pm on January 13 after reports of a fire. But, by the time they arrived, the circle of flames had already burned itself out. CCTV footage showed four cars sliding around a dozen people who stood inside the 20ft-wide circle of flames at a trading estate in Flitwick, Bedfordshire The cars did a number of circuits, with their rear ends coming within inches of hundreds of spectators who were standing around to watch the event A spokesman said: 'We ask members of the public to think before their actions, which potentially tie up emergency services when they are required to attend other incidents.' Central Bedfordshire councillor Heather Townsend criticised the drivers for wasting the fire service's time and damaging business property. She said: 'These car meets damage private property and cause a huge amount of distress to local residents.' Speaking days after the event, where a vehicle collided with a lamppost and the Tarmac was left charred by the fire, the county's police and crime commissioner, Festus Akinbusoye, said he had recommended that officers 'use all possible powers available to them.' Car meets had left to fatalities in Cheshire, the West Midlands and Oxfordshire, he pointed out, adding: 'Nineteen people were left badly injured in Stevenage in a car meet [in 2019].' But no arrests were made following the dangerous stunt in January and police who confirmed there had been a number of traffic offences have instead now issued 63 Community Protection Notice Warnings to the registered owners of the cars that were present. PC Mark Anstey criticised the 'anti-social behaviour,' saying: 'The CPNWs have been issued with the explicit instruction that the owners of the vehicles must not attend, arrange or promote any unauthorised car meets in the future, otherwise further action can be taken against them. Business owners complained the illegal gatherings were a regular occurrence and police had failed to crack down on them properly Speaking days after the event, where a vehicle collided with a lamppost and the Tarmac was left charred by the fire, the county's police and crime commissioner, Festus Akinbusoye, said he had recommended that officers 'use all possible powers available to them' 'We will carry out more stringent action if this behaviour continues. The safety of the community is our priority.' The 'sport' of drifting - where the driver deliberately oversteers, causing the rear wheels or all four wheels to lose traction while maintaining control became popular in Japan in the 1970s and spread from there. But the practice began at least two decades earlier in professional motorsport. Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari credited Italian driver Tazio Nuvolari of inventing four-wheel drift, and Sir Stirling Moss used the technique on bends in F1 races. It comes after drivers were warned last October that they could be fined thousands of pounds for committing 11 unusual offences that they may be completely unaware of. A TikTok posted by Rooster Car Insurance has warned motorists that they could be fined should they fall foul of different driving laws, which are among the more unusual listed on the Highway Code - such as splashing pedestrians. Job hunters may have a better chance of finding work within the sunbelt rather than New York. States in the West had some of the highest jobs growth and salaries nationwide since 2020. Now, individuals who live in major cities like San Francisco are moving their companies to other places that are more affordable. 'The influence of geography is diminishing,' said Lauren Mason, a senior principal at consulting firm Mercer. New York City was a major job hotspot three years ago and even had a 19 percent pay premium over the national median, an advantage that became only 14 percent last year. Part of the reason for the hotspot shift is the rise in remote jobs, as well as the hundreds of thousands of college students within places like Orlando. States in the west had some of the highest jobs growth and salaries nationwide in 2020. However, they have significantly dropped over the last few years Individuals who live in major cities like San Francisco are moving their companies to other places that are more affordable Part of the reason for the hotspot shift is the rise in remote jobs One former bay-area based company called Skillz relocated to Las Vegas in January. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the company was 'following a trend of tech companies' that have moved out of San Francisco or reduced its presence since the pandemic. Skillz CEO Andrew Paradise also confirmed that the move was in part due to the cost of living in the Bay Area. 'Its a real commentary on what the value equation is,' he said in 2023. 'People say, "Wow, the Bay Area makes so much money," but its so expensive that the average person cant have a good quality of life.' Many company employees who made six-figure salaries had a hard time in the San Francisco housing market, and they even needed to live with one or more roommates. One factor Paradise also took into account was the safety of his employees after some of them had been assaulted outside the San Francisco headquarters. San Francisco is not the only town companies are picking up and moving out of. A CBRE study of 500 companies that relocated their headquarters between 2018 to 2023 indicated that they moved out of the Bay Area and New York City due to 'talent churn' as a result of the high cost of living and operating a business. The Sunbelt cities are now topping the charts and three of the most-talked about areas are Phoenix, Orlando and Albuquerque. Skillz CEO Andrew Paradise confirmed in 2023 that one of the reasons why his company's headquarters moved to Las Vegas was the cost of living in the Bay Area The Sunbelt cities are now topping the charts and three of the most talked about areas are Phoenix, Orlando and Albuquerque Maximus Powers, a college graduate, spoke with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) about his decision to move to Phoenix instead of San Francisco. Powers is currently developing his own AI software, and he revealed that it's been easy to network in Phoenix. 'It feels like living in the future,' he told the WSJ. After San Francisco's 25 percent job posting loss since 2020, Phoenix's has risen by more than 60 percent. Mark Muro, a Brookings Institution senior fellow, told the WSJ that Geopolitics is one of the things that's behind the job opportunity rise in the South. After San Francisco's 25 percent job posting loss since 2020, Phoenix's has risen by more than 60 percent Orlando is not only known as the location of Walt Disney World, it's also the Florida city that added 139,000 jobs in the last five years. The job growth in Orlando comes in at more than 11 percent, while the New York and San Francisco metro areas only grew by 1.7 and 0.1 percent. Chief administrative officer Alejandro Perez of Bank of New York Mellon revealed to the WSJ that they plan to consolidate their workforce to Orlando in the next few years. 'Were finding we have more employees attracted by weather and work-life balance,' he said. 'Thats allowing us to attract a broader talent pool than otherwise wed be limited to in the Northeast alone.' Several different companies are in the process of opening new Orlando locations and 35 percent of them are coming from overseas or California. According to officials, Orlando has added 139,000 new jobs within the last five years, which is a more than 11 percent job growth Several different companies are in the process of opening new Orlando locations and 35 percent of them are coming from overseas or California The job market in Albuquerque is looking food too according to the Secretary of the Tax and Revenue Department in New Mexico. In fact, Stephanie Schardin Clarke said in an interview back in September 2023 that there were more jobs in the state than before the pandemic. 'New Mexico economy grew by 2.85 percent over the last year and the leading contributors included construction, retail trade and several other sectors,' Clarke told KRQE News. 'New Mexico is among the top job gainers amongst all states in the most recent month we had data for, that was June 2023, adding 7,300 jobs in that month.' The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions also predicted a 7.7 percent job growth in New Mexico between 2014 and 2024. That comes out to about 65,830 more jobs in New Mexico. Stephanie Schardin Clarke stated in 2023 that there were more jobs in the state than before the pandemic last September THE TOP 5 METRO AREAS FOR JOB GROWTH FROM 2018-2023 Area Change 1. Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington, Texas 2. Houston/The Woodlands/Sugar Land, Texas 3. Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, Arizona 4. Austin/Round Rock, Texas 5. Atlanta/Sandy Springs/Roswell, GeorgiaSource: WSJ 436,290 239,960 237,428 226, 689 213,112 A prison inmate who murdered a high-profile child snatcher in jail and told him to close his eyes, picture his victims' faces and say goodbye as he brutally attacked him has been handed a life sentence. Evan James Martin, 43, launched two vicious assaults on Ashley Bropho within a day of each other in Perth's Hakea Prison in March 2023. The second attack ended the child abductor's life. Bropho, a stepbrother of Terence Kelly who abducted four-year-old Cleo Smith in 2021, was awaiting sentencing for abducting a nine-year-old from a park near his home near the western Perth coastal suburb of Doubleview in 2022. In the first attack in March 2023, Martin smashed Bropho's head into shelving inside a cell and laid on top of him to pin him for another inmate to punch and stomp on the man's head. An inmate who brutally murdered a child snatcher in Perth's Hakea Prison (pictured) has been handed an additional life sentence READ MORE: Step-brother of Cleo Smith's kidnapper is accused of snatching a nine-year-old girl from a suburban street Advertisement The next day Martin ambushed Bropho and used the guillotine chokehold to render Bropho unconscious in a cell. Martin then used his full weight to stand on Bropho's throat crushing his larynx 'Right now, you're the weak, vulnerable one like the victims were ... picture their faces and say goodbye,' Martin told Bropho. Afterwards, he called on the intercom for 'the boss' and a set of handcuffs. Martin proudly admitted the murder to other inmates. A court heard that he attacked the child snatcher after he found out that a fellow inmate who had been sexually abused as a child, was upset to learn that Bropho was his new cellmate. On being told this Martin reportedly reassured his friend 'I will kill him'. A month later, Martin told another inmate he was going to 'do the public a service' of disposing of a sex offender. In 2020, Martin attempted to murder a different sex offender using two crude knives in Acacia Prison in 2020, which he did with another inmate accomplice and this had kept in jail. In sentencing him to a further life sentence, Supreme Court of WA Justice Bruno Fiannaca said Martin acted as a 'judge and executioner' in the premeditated and cold-blooded murder of Bropho. 'It wasn't something that happened in the spur of the moment,' Justice Fiannaca said, the West Australian reported. 'You considered that you were justified in killing him.' Evan James Martin said he was prompted to launch is attacks on Ashley Bropho after a friend complained of having him as a cellmate (stock image) Martin, who suffers from chronic paranoid schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder, told the court he felt 'very guilty over over the murder and expressed that guilt also in confessional letters. However, Justice Fiannaca said he could detect no 'remorse or empathy' in Martin. 'You have no shame,' Justice Fiannaca said. 'There is nothing that I can look at that would indicate you intend on changing. Martin posed a very significant risk of further violent offending and was handed an additional a minimum jail term of 21 years. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) A board meeting on Wednesday voted to approve the expulsion after concern parents and terrified students spoke out last month The students, aged 13-14, sent around the AI-generated images in February Five Beverly Hills middle school students have been expelled for making fake nudes of their classmates A group of Beverly Hills middle school students have been expelled after they made AI generated fake nude pictures of their classmates. The five unnamed eighth graders attended Beverly Vista Middle School in California's infamously fancy neighborhood. Explicit images shared through messaging apps in February depicted their classmates' faces superimposed on artificially generated naked bodies. The victims of the fake pornographic images were 16 eighth-grade students, who would have been aged 13-14, whose genders have not been confirmed. On Wednesday evening, The Beverly Hills Unified School District board of education voted at a special meeting to approve stipulated agreement of expulsion with the five teens, aged 13-14. A group of Beverly Hills middle school students have been expelled after they made AI generated fake nude pictures of their classmates The images showed faces of students at Beverly Vista Middle School (pictured) superimposed on artificially generated nude bodies. Neither the students or their parents contested the punishment and the hearing was held. The agreements are confidential, but such agreements outline how long a student is expelled for and the terms of their return to school. According to Supt. Michael Bregy, the five students who were the focus of its investigation were the 'most egregiously involved' in the creation and sharing of the images, LA Times reported. The Beverly Hills Police Department and the Los Angeles County district attorney's office are still investigating the incident, but there haven't yet been any arrests or charges. AI-generated nudes can be made using several free apps. In 2020, researchers discovered a 'deepfake ecosystem' on the messaging app Telegram. The bot-generated images typically used images of women taken from their social media accounts and turned them into pornographic images which were circulated on the messaging app. Parents were outraged after learning about the AI-generated images of their young children. One worried parent also voiced their concern and said: 'It needs to be some kind of huge consequence for that'. In an email sent to concerned parents, the District wrote: 'Any student found to be creating, disseminating or in possession of AI-generated images of this nature will face disciplinary actions, including, but not limited to, a recommendation for expulsion. 'We are appalled by any misuse of AI and must protect the most vulnerable members of society, our children.' One worried parent voiced their concern and said: 'It needs to be some kind of huge consequence for that' Officials have also requested parents speak to their children about the dangers of AI. A terrified student, who wished to remain anonymous, told NBC4: 'It is very scary, people can't feel safe to come to school. They are scared people will show off explicit photos of them.' 'Parents, please partner with us and speak with your children about this dangerous behavior. 'Students, please talk to your friends about how disturbing and inappropriate this manipulation of images is,' said the district. BHUSD Superintendent Michael Bregy also said: 'We really do ask that parents stay involved, look at phones and be really aware of what's happening. 'It really comes down to knowing the difference between right and wrong.' Dr Kelly Skon, the school principal advised students to make sure their social media accounts were private and that unknown people were not following them online. BHUSD Superintendent Michael Bregy said: 'We really do ask that parents stay involved, look at phones and be really aware of what's happening' Dr Kelly Skon, the school principal advised students to make sure their social media accounts were private and that unknown people were not following them online. But some parents have said that taking action against the accused group is not enough and companies creating such AI technology also need to be held responsible. Jackie Kruger, a mother of an eighth grader at BVMS told CBS: 'I think it made everybody alarmed and alerted to the fact that this could happen to them. 'This is a from of bullying, and bullying should be reprimanded. 'If the onus is on them and Congress legislates in a way to protect our children, then we will all be safer. 'Ultimately, it's like putting a weapon in a child's hands right? The child should not use a weapon whether it's in their hands or not, but don't put the weapons in their hands.' About 750 students are currently enrolled at the public school. Former Fremont city manager Mark Danaj pleaded guilty Thursday to fraud after Alameda County prosecutors said he used his city credit card to pay for personal expenses. Robert Daly/Getty Images Former Fremont city manager Mark Danaj pleaded guilty Thursday to fraud after Alameda County prosecutors said he used his city credit card to pay for personal expenses and owed the city thousands of dollars when he took over $315,000 in severance pay after a 2021 arrest. Danaj was expected to be sentenced to 90 days at Santa Rita Jail and two years of probation as part of a plea agreement, according to the Alameda County District Attorneys Office. He also will be required to pay about $317,000 in restitution to the East Bay city and agreed not to hold public office. His sentencing was scheduled for April 18. District Attorney Pamela Price said the plea will bring long-awaited accountability and closure. We are glad were able to hold him accountable, Price said during a news conference outside the Fremont Hall of Justice. Danajs attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Danaj served as city manager 2018-21. He left the city after he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in San Francisco. Prosecutors later dismissed that case, citing a lack of evidence, according to the East Bay Times. Danaj had used the credit card to pay for a flurry of personal expenses, including a cruise, a vacation to Mexico and clothes, according to prosecutors. The spending ran from 2020 through September 2021, when Danaj left the city, prosecutors said. Danaj was initially charged in connection with the misuse of the city credit card. After Price took office, her Public Accountability Unit took another look because it remained unclear why Danaj was given a severance package. Price said there was also what she characterized as a conflict of interest: Danaj was represented by the brother of former district attorney Nancy OMalley, Dan OMalley. Prices office learned that the severance package relied on the misrepresentation that Danaj had not misperformed as city manager, even though he had misused his city credit card, Price said. She added that after he negotiated the settlement, Danaj told the city he owed nearly $7,000 on his city credit card. The fact that he left out that information during negotiations and ended up with a severance package was theft by false pretense, Price said. It was that charge that Danaj pleaded guilty to Thursday. It is our view that if my administration had not taken over this case and taken it seriously, that the defendant would not have been convicted of defrauding the city of Fremont, and the publics valid questions about his severance would not have been answered, Price said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dismissed two other fraud-related felony counts. Six teens and one 20-year-old have been charged over the brutal murder of an Arizona 18-year-old boy who was beaten to death after a Halloween party. Preston Lord, 16, was found on a Queen Creek road outside Phoenix after being attacked at the party on October 28 and suffering critical wounds. He died two days later from a brain injury after being taken to the hospital. On Wednesday Maricopa County prosecutors announced the indictments of four suspects - William Owen Hines, 18, Talan Renner, 17, Talyn Vigil, 17, and Dominic Turner, 20. Taylor Sherman, 19, Jacob Meisner, 17, and Treston Billey, 17, were indicted the following day. They are charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping as adults. 'But for law enforcements collective efforts and community members invaluable cooperation, these arrests would not have happened,' Preston's family said in a statement. 'Each arrest represents a step towards accountability and justice for our son Preston.' Preston Lord, 16, was left to die on a Queen Creek road outside Phoenix after being attacked at the party on October 28 and suffering critical wounds Taylor Sherman (left) Dominic Turner (center), William Owen Hines top (right) have been charged with murder and kidnapping Treston Billey (left) and Talyn Vigil (right) have also been charged in Preston's murder. The other two suspects have not been pictured A GoFundMe for Preston's family says the teen was assaulted at the party and that some kids had tried to step in to perform CPR after his heart stopped until paramedics arrived. 'They were able to restart Prestons heart and he was taken to Chandler Regional hospital. He was then transferred to Phoenix Childrens in extremely critical condition with a severe brain injury,' Preston's aunt Melissa wrote. Police said the theft of a $10 gold necklace that Preston was wearing could have been the motive for the attack. Detectives said the attackers snatched his chain before Preston and his friends tried to get it back, and a confrontation erupted. Preson and his friends then fled the scene, but the attackers chased him before beating him and leaving him on the street. Preston's murder highlighted a growing cases of group violence by teenagers in the Phoenix area and other towns in Maricopa County. The quiet communities in southeast Valley have been shaken by a string of teen violence since last year, resulting in multiple injuries and three deaths. In January, Arizona police said they arrested members of a street gang dubbed the 'Gilbert Goons' who were attacking teenagers and robbing stores. Activists have previously said the same gang was involved in Preston's death. After the fatal beating of Lord was detailed by the Arizona Republic last December, authorities reopened multiple cases believed to have been conducted by a larger group of assailants. Victims and residents in the area described the group, dubbed the 'Gilbert Goons', as '20 or more, mostly white, upper-middle-class teenagers from multiple East Valley high schools,' according to the outlet. Hundreds of community activists took to the streets in late December to demand justice and raise awareness for Lord, two months after his tragic death. Preston's murder highlighted a growing cases of group violence by teenagers in Phoenix and other cities After the fatal beating of Lord was detailed by the Arizona Republic last December, authorities reopened multiple cases believed to have been conducted by a larger group of assailants Five arrests were made after a street gang dubbed the 'Gilbert Goons' plagued a sleepy Arizona town by attacking teenagers and robbing stores Authorities have since spoken out, as a page named 'Teen Violence Investigations' was established by the Gilbert Police Department in December. However police have said the January arrests relate to a separate August 16 incident and is 'independent and separate from Queen Creeks investigation into the death of Preston Lord.' Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said on Wednesday: 'I dont know where the name of "Gilbert Goons" came from it. It doesnt seem to capture the seriousness of this. These are criminal acts. 'And we, of course, if they are doing this through an organized street gang-type situation, we will look at the enhancement of gang charges or whether it was in furtherance of a street gang.' Chief Michael Soelberg said there are nine active investigations related to teen violence, including five incidents that were previously not reported to police. 'While it is frustrating that this incident was not reported to the police prior, this is an example of what we need from our community, and we are thankful for the victim who had the courage to report this delayed assault,' he said in a statement. San Francisco shoppers receive another shocking blow as another major retailer is all set to move away from the crime and drug ridden city. The North Face officials have announced that they will be closing the doors of their Union Square store on March 31. Although the rock climbing and camping supply company was founded back in 1964 in this city, the Union Square store is the only location to exist. Hailey Albright, a spokesperson for the company said in a statement: 'The North Face was born in San Francisco, and we have cherished the time spent here, building roots and creating lasting memories.' The retailer has not provided a clear reason for the closure of the 180 Post Street store. The first ever North Face Store, located in San Francisco's Union Square will be shutting doors on March 31 On its website, the company details how husband and wife duo Douglas and Susie Tompkins initially set up the store in San Francisco and later expanded. 'The North Face legend begins, ironically, on a beach. More precisely, San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood, at an altitude of only 150 feet above sea level. 'It was here in 1966 that two hiking enthusiasts resolved to follow their passions and founded a small mountaineering retail store. 'In 1968, The North Face moved to the other side of San Francisco Bay, to the unbridled possibilities of the Berkeley area, and began designing and manufacturing its own brand of technical mountaineering apparel and equipment.' In 2000, the Tompkins sold their stakes to retail giant VF Corporation which also owns brands like Vans, Timberland and JanSport for $25.4 million. With the shutdown of the San Fran store, the brand will now retain only a handful of stores in the Bay Area, including in Santa Clara, Berkeley, Walnut Creek and Palo Alto. It is unclear if the brand will be opening a store at another San Francisco location. Although the rock climbing and camping supply company was founded back in 1964 in this city, the Union Square store is the only location to exist With the shutdown of the San Fran store, the brand will now retain only a handful of stores in the Bay Area, including in Santa Clara, Berkeley, Walnut Creek and Palo Alto It is unclear if the brand will be opening a store at another San Francisco location News of the shutdown comes a week after Macy's announced that it was closing the doors of its Union Square store. The store said it will be closing its doors after 77 years as part of a plan to close 150 locations across the nation over the next three years. While It did not cite a specific reason for the decision, workers at the store told The San Francisco Standard they believe the decision was made because of daily rampant shoplifting, with thieves taking at least four blazers, 10 wallets and 20 packs of underwear every day. Employee Steve Dalisay, who has worked at Macy's for 20 years, said those are the most frequently stolen items from the store's sixth-floor mens department. 'I think there just needs to be leadership,' Dalisay told The Standard. 'The mayor just needs to say we wont tolerate this in the city.' While the building is expected to sell within a year, the store will not fully close until about three years from now, Dalisay said he was told by management on Tuesday. Another employee, who works in the fourth-floor women's department, also blamed 'theft and that people aren't coming in' for the closure. News of the shutdown comes a week after Macy's announced that it was closing the doors of its Union Square store The Union Square location will remain open until at least 2025, or when a buyer can be found, per Breed's statement, which went for sentiment over a reckoning with the city's issues A third worker added that thieves often go after mens Ralph Lauren Polo, womens North Face and Levis clothing. Mayor London Breed, who is facing a re-election bid and is currently in trouble according to recent polling, has overseen a continued downturn of San Francisco's economy and the prevalence of homelessness and overdoses on its streets. 'As someone who grew up in San Francisco, Macy's has always meant a lot to the people of this city. It's where families came to shop for the holidays,' Breed said. Reaction on social media was heavily negative and cited the many issues and prior escapes made by business from the city. 'They're leaving because no one lives here. The downtown is barren because of you,' wrote one X user. 'The seeds were sewn, reap the results,' added another. Reaction on social media was heavily negative and cited the many issues and prior escapes made by business from the city San Francisco is reeling from soaring crime, an emptying downtown, and residents moving away to safer, cheaper areas Homeless are seen returning to the streets in the Tenderloins district close to San Francisco's Moscone Center where the APEC conference was recently held Another referenced Breed's upcoming electoral prospects: 'I hope you have a corner picked out because that's the only job you'll be able to find come election time. You and your Dem friends did this.' The crime-ridden downtown area of San Francisco has seen the closure of many shops and restaurants since its drastic downfall, despite Breed attempting to hype statistics claiming offenses went down in 2023. In October 2023, it was reported that seven Starbucks stores were planning to close as the city continues to deal with crime, drug use, and a homelessness epidemic. In the end of August 2023, video was released showing San Francisco's newly shut-down flagship Nordstrom store that was almost barren after nearly three decades in business. San Francisco has become notorious for homelessness, crime, theft and drugs in a post-pandemic downfall Headlines featuring the phrases 'garbage city, 'ruined city' and 'fallen city' capture how crippling drug issues and widespread homeless problems continue to remain an issue for residents. A slew of the city's restaurateurs cited crime, drugs, and waning tourism as the main culprits killing their businesses, all set on Valencia Street Right outside the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building, drug dealers set up shop in full view of the public on a daily basis, with users injecting and smoking with no interference from law enforcement A slew of the city's restaurateurs cited crime, drugs, and waning tourism as the main culprits killing their businesses, all set on Valencia Street. The thoroughfare, about a mile from the city's embattled Downtown, is considered one of the most sought-after strips of restaurant real estate in The Bay Area. But for residents of San Francisco's Mission District, the reality is far different. The area - much like the nearby 'Doom Loop' of Union Square, City Hall, and Tenderloin and Mid Market districts - has been a hive of unsavory, post-pandemic activity. The city's Ikea was nearly empty earlier this month as customers say persistent construction, lack of parking and constant crime on the surrounding streets keep them from shopping at the store. The incumbent mayor, 49, suffered poor results in a new poll from the San Francisco Chronicle that found she would lose her office to the man who briefly held it before her, Mark Farrell, 50. Do YOU know the people involved? Do YOU know the people involved? The organiser of a mysterious fake funeral with an empty coffin and extras as mourners is a convicted paedophile who caused outrage last year by staging a similar event involving children, MailOnline can reveal. The extraordinary story emerged today of how a vicar halted a funeral at the famous London Oratory in Brompton Road this week on discovering that the whole thing was fake - prompting widespread speculation about who was behind the bizarre event. Now MailOnline has learned that the chief 'mourner' who organised the fake funeral is sex offender Jacky Jhaj - who has a reputation for similar stunts. Jhaj, 38, was behind a similarly bizarre event last November when a fake red carpet scene was shot in London's West End which saw 90 children and dozens more teenage extras hired to provide a crowd to be filmed. Dozens of child actors as young as six were recruited as supposed film extras dressed in school uniforms and asked to pretend to faint as Jhaj paraded up and down wearing a red tuxedo as if he were a film star at a premier outside the Odeon Luxe cinema in Leicester Square. Do YOU know the people involved? Email elizabeth.haigh@mailonline.co.uk Convicted paedophile Jacky Jhaj, 38, organised the bizarre fake funeral with an empty coffin and Those taking part were not aware of the identity of the man they were to pretend to cheer for and be fans of - or that he had been jailed for preying on schoolgirls in 2016. The sexual predator, from Feltham, had claimed to be a top Hollywood film producer as he befriended two 15 year old schoolchildren, plying them with alcohol and giving them lifts to parties, before going on to sexually assault them. Father Rupert McHardy who was conducting the ceremony said of the man who organised it 'I saw him in the church and he was wearing dark glasses and whenever I looked at him he turned away. 'I have no idea who he is and why he would do such a thing.' Father McHardy, 49, had prepared a sermon and was in his robes, ready to start the service when the choirmaster took him aside. However, while Lauris Zaube is a 23-year-old Latvian man who went missing after a New Year's Eve party near an iced-over dam, his body has seemingly not yet been found. When MailOnline showed pictures of Jhaj at that Leicester Square event to another church regular who witnessed Monday's funeral at the Chelsea church, they immediately replied: 'That's him. He's the guy who was organising the funeral. Definitely the same man who did the Leicester Square fake film premier'. A film industry source who knows of Jhaj told us: 'This man is not a film star or a pop star. He's a a self-aggrandising fantasist and conman. The motivation last time when he hired all those children in Leicester Square seems to have been to boost the profile of his alter ego on social media. I have no idea what he was trying to do here but it's certainly the same kind of fake enterprise.' Meanwhile MailOnline has learned that the firm of undertakers were paid more than 10,000 up front to carry out Monday's fake funeral. The five figure fee was paid in advance by bank transfer to T. Cribb and Sons in the days before they were to take part in the funeral. The funeral directors have now passed on all that they know about the organiser to the Met Police who are understood to be investigating what happened on suspicion of fraud. Jhaj previously held a similar event in which he hired young girls to pretend to faint as he walked up and down a red carpet Dozens of child actors as young as six were recruited as supposed film extras dressed in school uniforms for the event The funeral was meant to be that of 23-year-old Latvian man Lauris Zaube (pictured). However, while it is true Lauris has been missing since New Year's Eve, his body has seemingly not been found as the funeral's organiser allegedly claimed Father Rupert McHardy, 49, (pictured) had prepared a sermon and was in his robes, ready to start the service at the London Oratory on Brompton Rd, South Kensington, when the choirmaster took him aside Some of the mourners who turned out to be hired actors have not been paid for attending the funeral service at the London Oratory. Several are understood to have gone to police after not being paid. Staff at the East London based funeral directors never met the man who had paid the fee. The family run firm were contacted online and asked to make all the arrangements. A horse drawn carriage, two luxury vintage cars, men in top hats, a full choir and even a videographer to film the 'service' were all part of the package. A source at the firm said the fee paid was in excess of 10,000. 'It is the most bizarre thing we have ever been involved with, but we have been paid' said the source. 'We were contacted online about a week ago and asked to make all the arrangements, which we did. 'The money was paid to us by bank transfer so it is not as if we have not been paid. Everything seemed in order, and there was a death certificate that was in Russian. 'Everyone has been paid, except from I hear some of the actors. We have passed all that we know to the police, and it is in their hands.' Video footage from inside the fake funeral showed people dressed in smart suits for mourning Jhaj hired a group of actors to pretend to be mourners and arranged the entire service online The funeral directors were initially told that they would be collecting a body and a place was reserved for burial at Brompton Cemetery in Fulham, West London about a mile from the London Oratory Church. But the day before the funeral at the Catholic Church they were told they had to collect cremated remains from the family home of the victim. The source said: 'It is not unusual to have cremated remains brought to a church if the person has died overseas. 'But when we got to the church there was something not right. One of my men went and had a word with the priest and suddenly it was all off.' Father McHardy, who was to conduct the funeral service, said he never met the organiser who claimed his name was Clyde Zaube. He had told the funeral directors he was the brother of the dead man Lauris Zaube. Zaube had been missing since the New Year in his native Latvia. It is not known if he is dead - but he is not thought to have a brother. Father McHardy said he did not initially suspect the funeral was fake but after speaking to some of the mourners who said they had been hired he realised the whole event was being staged. Jhaj even hired a director to film the funeral using cameras set up inside the historic London church Many of those in attendance wore long black coats and puffer jackets, with black clothes underneath Some of the mourners who turned out to be hired actors have not been paid for attending the funeral service at the London Oratory (pictured) 'I have no idea why anyone would want to stage a false funeral,' he said. 'When I knew nothing was going to happen I went to try and speak with the person who said his brother was being buried, but he had gone. 'I have never been involved in anything like this and it is very disrespectful to the church.' Fr Rupert previously told MailOnline that there were two groups of people in the church. The first group, who turned out to be actors, were respectful and polite, although one of them complained that they hadn't been paid. He said: 'There was another group of people in puffer jackets and balaclavas, Clyde Zaube included. They had hoods and dark glasses. They were sinister-looking. 'I tried to speak to this Clyde Zaube and he wouldn't speak to me. It became clear he wasn't who he claimed to be.' Pictured: Police in Riga search for missing Latvian man Lauris Zaube The 23-year-old went missing near an iced-over dam after a New Year's Eve party His body has seemingly not yet been found and he doesn't appear to have a brother called Clyde He continued: 'When I realised it wasn't a real funeral we said we can't do this. 'We told them to leave and they all left relatively happily. 'If they had been a real family they would have been weeping and crying. 'We were paid. The funeral directors were paid. We haven't lost any money but it's very, very weird. 'I was quite shaken afterwards. I felt very disturbed by it. Normally you take people at their word. 'No expense was spared - top hats, a horse-drawn hearse, two expensive vintage cars, a full choir. 'I was worried there was going to be some sort of violence. 'I thought, I have got to stop it because it's all fake. It was very spooky.' A spokesman for Latvian Police in the capital Riga said they had been made aware of the funeral. 'The State Police has been informed about this event. Lauris Zaube has not been found. 'We are not making further comments.' A Seattle teacher urged a colleague to wire money to a charity led by a radical Palestinian cleric who denies Hamas atrocities and says sex slaves are 'permissible', DailyMail.com can reveal. Sobia Sheikh, a math teacher at Mariner High School, suggested a co-worker send funds to Waqforever late last year in an email thread about helping Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war. The charity is fronted by Ali Hammuda, a bearded UK-based Islamic cleric, whose extremist views include endorsing sex slaves and denying Hamas atrocities in Israel on October 7. Sheikh, who has served on the National Education Association (NEA) teachers' union board, shares her own hard-line views, including Facebook posts that compare Israel to Nazi Germany. Seattle area math teacher Sobia Sheikh urged a colleague to wire money to an extremist cleric The Palestinian-British cleric Ali Hammuda fronts the Waqforever charity that helps Gazans Her email was uncovered in a public records request by Nicole Neily, president of Parents Defending Education, a conservative group that works to keep politics out of classrooms. Poll Shouldn Sobia Sheikh face disciplinary action for her posts and email? Yes No Not sure Shouldn Sobia Sheikh face disciplinary action for her posts and email? Yes 429 votes No 12 votes Not sure 6 votes Now share your opinion 'It is shocking that an American teacher would tell a coworker to donate to a charity run by a man who denies that the 10/7 terror attacks took place,' Neily told DailyMail.com. Sheikh's social media posts were 'alarmingly antisemitic,' added Neily, who probes links between teacher unions and anti-Israel sentiment. Sheikh and Mariner High School, in Everett, Washington part of Mukilteo School District did not answer our request for comment. The case spotlights tensions between parents and teachers in America's culture wars, and raises tough questions about whether educators should float political ideas while at work. District superintendent Alison Brynelson started the controversial email thread to her staff on October 27. Mariner High School serves 2,100 students in Everett, Washington part of Mukilteo School District One of Sheikh's posts shows Adolf Hitler and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which they make similar salute gestures Another bears the phrase 'Israel is the new Nazi Germany' and says 'Israel steals Palestinian organs' She proposed donating to charity to ease suffering in the Israel-Hamas war, which began earlier that month. Teresa Hoffman, a school counselor, then wrote to Sheikh, asking for recommendations for a charity. Hoffman wrote: 'I trust your judgement of where I can donate to support Palestinians needing emergency relief.' Sheikh replied on October 30 with a link to Hammuda's charity, saying: 'You should be able to select US Dollar.' On its website, Waqforever says it provides 'food, disaster relief, and essential medical supplies' in Gaza, where Palestinian health chiefs say more than 31,000 people have died in five months' of war. It is fronted by Hammuda, a Palestinian-born preacher connected to a mosque in Cardiff, Wales, who airs extreme views and was suspected of radicalizing teenage Muslims. In a 16-minute YouTube video posted in October, Hammuda denied a 'huge massacre' of Israeli festival-goers occurred on October 7. Hammuda made his controversial comments as ISIS fighters kept women captives as sex slaves in Iraq and Syria The video has since been removed for violating the platform's hate speech rules. In it, Hammuda accused the media of 'concocting stories that a huge massacre took place at a rave where 260 people were killed as they were dancing and singing,' according to the Daily Express. 'Where is the evidence for all this? Where is the proof?' the cleric asked his 161,000 YouTube subscribers. 'How is this to be understood other than to say there was no massacre of 260 people, there was no mass rape that took place at all, there was not the beheading of a single child, let alone 40 of them?' It's not the first time Hammuda's sermons courted controversy. An undercover reporter recorded him preaching to teenage Muslim boys in 2014, saying that it is 'permissible' under Islam to have sex slaves, in a Doomsday interpretation of holy texts. He told them: 'Towards the end of time there will be many wars like what we are seeing today, and because of these wars women will be taken as captives, as slaves, yeah, women will be taken as slaves. Radical cleric Hammuda denies the Hamas atrocities of October 7, though there is plenty of evidence that they did happen Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian, center, from a kibbutz into the Gaza Strip during the Hamas incursion of October 7, 'And then, er, her master has relations with her because this is permissible in Islam, it's permissible to have relations with a woman who is your slave or your wife.' Hammuda has since said those comments were taken out of context, that he was discussing scholarly texts, and that he did not support sexual enslavement. 'I do not approve of sex slaves and consider it to be an abhorrent abomination,' he later wrote. Two young men and one 17-year-old who worshiped at Hammuda's mosque, who became known as the three 'Cardiff jihadis,' travelled to Syria to fight alongside ISIS in 2014. The mosque, Al-Manar, denied links with radicalism. DailyMail.com asked Hammuda and his charity if any donations end up flowing to Hamas militants, but did not get a response. Another of Sheikh's social media posts suggests that schools are part of a broader political struggle Sheikh, the Seattle teacher, has also courted controversy over the Israel-Hamas war. On Facebook, she has shared posts that compare Israel to Nazi Germany. One post shows Adolf Hitler and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which they make similar salute gestures. Another bears the phrase 'Israel is the new Nazi Germany' and says 'Israel steals Palestinian organs.' Hamas' raids on southern Israel on October 7 killed around 1,200 Israelis and saw 253 abducted. The attack, and Israel's devastating military response on Gaza, are divisive political issues in the US that could impact the 2024 presidential election. Mariner High School serves 2,100 students and has witnessed a series of tragedies over the decades, including a drive-by shooting in 2018 and a pepper spray incident in the wake of the 9/11 attacks of 2001. The US military's V-22 Osprey has been approved to return to flight, three months after an 'unprecedented' part failure led to the deaths of eight service members in a crash in Japan, Naval Air Systems Command announced Friday. The Osprey is a unique aircraft capable of flying like a plane and landing like a helicopter, and used primarily to transport combat troops. From March 2022 to November 2023, twenty service members died in four fatal Osprey crashes. Among them was Marine LCpl. Evan Strickland, 19, who died in a June 2022 Osprey crash, when the MV-22 he was in came down in the California dessert during a training flight. Last November, another crash of a CV-22B Osprey off Japan's Yakushima island killed eight Air Force special operators, quickly leading to a rare fleet-wide grounding of hundreds of Ospreys across the Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy. Before clearing the Osprey, officials said they put increased attention on its proprotor gearbox, a critical system that is a recurring problem area for the aircraft. The US military's V-22 Osprey has been approved to return to flight, three months after an 'unprecedented' part failure led to the deaths of eight service members in a crash in Japan Military officials also instituted new limitations on how the Osprey can be flown and added maintenance inspections and requirements that gave them confidence it could safely return to flight. Officials who briefed reporters Wednesday ahead of lifting the flight restrictions said that they quickly grounded the entire fleet in December because it became clear that the way the Osprey part failed in that crash was something they had not seen before on the tiltrotor aircraft. While the officials did not identify the specific component, because the Air Force's crash investigation is still not completed, they said they now have a better - but not complete - understanding of why it failed. 'This is the first time that we've seen this particular component fail in this way. And so this is unprecedented,' said Marine Corps Col. Brian Taylor, V-22 joint program manager at Naval Air Systems Command, or NAVAIR, which is responsible for the V-22 program servicewide. However, the decision by the Department of Defense to return to flight before separate congressional investigations on the Osprey program are complete drew criticism from the chair of the House Oversight Committee. 'DoD is lifting the Osprey grounding order despite not providing the Oversight Committee and the American people answers about the safety of this aircraft,' said Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican. 'Serious concerns remain, such as accountability measures put in place to prevent crashes, a general lack of transparency, how maintenance and operational upkeep is prioritized, and how DoD assesses risks.' A former Osprey pilot familiar with the investigation confirmed that the component in question is part of the proprotor gearbox, a critical system that includes gearing and clutches that connect the Osprey's engine to the rotor to turn it. The services have done a 'deep dive' into the proprotor gearbox, and the new safety measures 'will address the issues we saw from that catastrophic event,' the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, said Wednesday. 'I have confidence that we know enough now to return to fly,' he said. The proprotor gearbox system as a whole is a recurring trouble spot for the Osprey. Service safety data obtained by The Associated Press show dozens of instances among the Marine Corps and Air Force Ospreys in which power surges, sudden loss of oil pressure due to leaks, engine fires or chipping - when the metal components inside the gearbox shed sometimes dangerous metal chips - have damaged the proprotor gearbox in flight, sometimes requiring emergency landings. Other components of the proprotor gearbox, including the sprag clutch and input quill assembly, have been factors in previous crashes, and the services have made changes, such as replacing those parts on a more frequent basis. Marine Evan Strickland passed away at 19-years-old in a June 2022 Osprey crash, when the MV-22 he was in came down in the California dessert during a training flight The services are also looking closely at the material that the failed part is made of and how it is manufactured, Bauernfeind said. NAVAIR is also running further tests to give the services more insight into why the component failed. Osprey accidents: 46 people killed in 30 years 1989 - The first prototypes flew in March, and the second in September. 1991-2 - The fourth and fifth prototypes crashed, with five dying in the Potomac River when the fifth crashed in July 1992, and the aircraft was modified as a result. Apr 2000 - An Osprey crashed during a night training exercise at Marana Regional Airport near Tucson, Arizona, killing all 19 Marines on board. The fleet was grounded. Dec 2000 - Another Osprey crashed during training near Jacksonville, North Carolina, killing four Marines. Dec 2005 - The Marine Corps received its first batch of combat-ready Ospreys. Apr 2010 - Four people are killed when an Osprey crashes in Zabul province in southern Afghanistan. Apr 2012 - Two Marines die when an Osprey crashes in the Draa River in Morocco. Oct 2014 - One killed in a crash in the Arabian Gulf. May 2015 - Two killed in an Osprey accident in Hawaii. Aug 2017 - Three Marines killed off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Mar 2022 - An MV-22B crashed in Norway during a training exercise, killing four. Advertisement 'It was a single component that failed in such a way that led to catastrophic consequences,' Bauernfeind said. After that testing is complete, he said, some of the operational safety controls now placed on the Osprey may be lessened 'to give us greater flexibility with the platform.' The investigation, known as an accident investigation board, will be made public and is expected to be completed within the next two months. The proprotor gearbox failure was first reported by NBC News. The government of Japan has also been briefed on the findings and the militarys plan to address the issue, the officials said. Japan also grounded its fleet of 14 Ospreys after the crash. Crews have not flown now for more than 90 days - a factor that will make their return to flight more dangerous. The services said Wednesday they are taking a cautious approach that could last from 30 days to several months to retrain their crews before their Osprey squadrons are back to normal flight operations. The Osprey has been in development for four decades but only became operational in 2007. The US military has flown the Osprey about 750,000 hours and relied on its ability to fly long distances quickly like a plane and then convert to a helicopter to conduct operations in the Middle East and Africa, where some Marine Corps squadrons received an exemption to the flight ban because it was so critical to the mission. In future needs to counter China, the military has planned on using the Osprey in the Indo-Pacific to operate throughout islands that lack the airfields necessary for traditional aircraft. But it has also been a controversial, first-generation design of military tiltrotor technology that has recorded more than 14 major accidents that have killed 59 people and in some instances led to the loss of the aircraft, which costs between $70 million and $90 million depending on the variant. None of the services is planning on new production orders of the V-22, which is produced by a joint venture between Bell Flight and Boeing. The Army has contracted with Bell Flight to buy the Ospreys successor, the Bell V-280 Valor, which is a tiltrotor like the Osprey but smaller and with an important design change - the engines stay in a fixed, horizontal position. The crash in Japan was the second fatal accident in three months and the fourth since March 2022, killing a total of 20 service members On the Osprey, the rotors and entire nacelle that houses the engine and proprotor gearbox tilt to a vertical position when it flies in helicopter mode. The Marine Corps operates the vast majority of the Ospreys, with more than 240 currently assigned to its 17 squadrons. Its aviation mission is dependent on the aircraft returning to flight, and the Marine Corps is committed to the Osprey remaining in its fleet through the 2050s, said Marine Corps assistant deputy commandant for aviation Brig. Gen. Richard Joyce. 'There is no taking our eye off of V-22 and the years of service life that it has in front of us,' Joyce said. The Air Force, which has the second most Ospreys in the fleet, with about 50 assigned to its special operations mission, however, suggested on Wednesday it may start to consider other options. The early concepts for the Osprey date back to the 1980s, when the Iran hostage crisis exposed a need to have an airframe that could move fast and hover or land like a helicopter, Bauernfeind said. And it's met that need quite well, but it is still an older platform, he said. 'I do think that it's time for us to start talking about what is that next generation of capability that can replace what the V-22 does.' ChatGPT 'racially discriminates' against job seekers by favoring names distinct to different racial groups for different jobs, a Bloomberg News investigation has found. Developer OpenAI sells the technology behind its AI-powered chatbot to businesses that want to use it for help in HR and recruiting. As ChatGPT is trained on large amounts of data such as books, articles and social media post, its results can reflect the biases already in that data. Bloomberg selected real names from census data that are demographically distinct to particular races and ethnicities at least 90 percent of the time and attached them to equally-qualified job resumes. The resumes were then fed to ChatGPT 3.5, the most popular version of the chatbot, which discriminated against different races depending on the job it was asked to rank their suitability for. ChatGPT 'racially discriminates' against job seekers by favoring names distinct to different racial groups for different jobs, a Bloomberg News investigation found The experiments shows 'that using generative AI for recruiting and hiring poses a serious risk for automated discrimination at scale,' Bloomberg concluded. When asked 1000 times to rank eight equally-qualified resumes for a real financial analyst role at a Fortune 500 company, ChatGPT was least likely to pick the resume with a name distinct to black Americans. The resumes with names distinct to Asian women were ranked by the bot as the top candidate for the financial analyst role more than twice as often as those with names distinct to black men. The same experiment was run using four different types of job openings, including HR business partner, senior software engineer, retail manager and the financial analyst role. The analysis found that ChatGPT's gender and racial preferences differed depending on the particular job that a candidate was assessed for. Black Americans were the least likely to be ranked as the top candidates for financial analyst and software engineer roles, according to Bloomberg. The bot rarely ranked names associated with men as the top candidate for positions historically dominated by women, such as the retail and HR positions. Hispanic women were almost twice as likely to be ranked as the top candidate for an HR role compared to the resumes with names distinct to men. In response to the findings OpenAI told Bloomberg the results produced by using GPT models 'out-of-the-box' may not reflect the results produced by customers of their product who are able to fine-tune the software's responses for their individual hiring needs. Businesses might, for example, remove names before imputing resumes into a GPT model, Open AI explained. Resumes with names distinct to Asian women were ranked by the bot as the top candidate for the financial analyst role more than twice as often as those with names distinct to black men OpenAI also regularly conducts adversarial testing and red-teaming on its models in order to probe how bad actors could use them for harm, the company added. SeekOut, an HR tech company has developed its own AI recruiting tool that takes a job description from a listing, runs it through GPT, then shows a ranked list of candidates for the position from places such as LinkedIn and Github. Sam Shaddox, the general counsel at SeekOut, told Bloomberg that hundreds of companies are already using the tool, including tech firms and Fortune 10 companies. 'From my perspective, to say, "Hey, there's all this bias out there, but we're just going to ignore it" is not the right answer,' Shaddox said. 'The best solution for it is GPT large language learning model technology that can identify some of those biases, because then you can actually work to overcome it.' Emily Bender, a professor of computational linguistics at the University of Washington, is more skeptical. Bender argues that people tend to believe machines are unbiased in their decision-making, particularly compared to humans, a phenomenon called automation bias. However, if such systems 'result in a pattern of discriminatory hiring decisions, it's easy to imagine companies using them saying, "Well, we didn't have any bias here, we just did what the computer told us to do."' March 8, 2024, marks a decade since Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, went missing shortly after takeoff. It went off-grid carrying 239 people who were all eventually presumed dead despite a search area of 46,332 square miles being covered - the largest in aviation history. A few fragments of the aircraft have since been discovered, but mystery remains and a number of theories have emerged around what - and who - caused the flight to change course. In the week leading up to the 10th anniversary of MH370's disappearance, the Malaysian government backed a new 'no find, no fee' search off the coast of Australia. Read a timeline of the famous disappearance below. March 8, 2024, marks a decade since Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing , went missing shortly after takeoff, and it is believed to have crashed somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean Despite numerous costly investigations, the precise fate of MH370 remains a mystery, as a new effort begins a decade on Pictured: A piece of MH370's wing found on Reunion - a French island east of Madagascar - in July 2015 MH370 disappearance timeline March 8, 2014 Boeing 777 - registered as 9M-MRO - left Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 12.41am local time on a calm moon-lit night on March 8, 2014. The aircraft climbed to 35,000 feet and travelled north-east over Malaysia and out over the South China Sea for its intended destination of Beijing Capital International Airport. It was piloted by Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27, on his final training flight, with pilot in command Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53. With 18,365 flying hours, Shah was one of the most senior captains at Malaysia Airlines, having joined the company in 1983. The plane was also carrying 10 flight attendants and 227 passengers - five of them children - most of whom were Chinese or Malaysian, but others hailed from Australia, India, France, the United States, Iran, Ukraine, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Russia, and Taiwan. The journey was supposed to take five hours and 34 minutes, but crew had their last communication with air traffic control after just 38 minutes while over the Gulf of Thailand. Hamid was on communications, while the experienced Shah controlled the aircraft, and at 1.01am he radioed to say to say that they had reached 35,000ft and levelled off. Nearly 20 minutes later, the plane was approaching Vietnamese air traffic jurisdiction and said 'good night' to its native air traffic control. However, Ho Chi Min never heard from MH370, nor did the flight respond to any further attempted communications. At 1.21am the entire plane disappeared from secondary radar as its transponder - a communication system that transmits the plane's location to air traffic control - had been manually turned off. The plain was last seen on military radar at 2.22am heading west over the Straight of Malacca. It was over four hours later that the emergency began, as the flight had been expected to land in Beijing, and another hour later Malaysia Airlines issued a statement explaining that communications with the flight had been lost. The Malaysia Airlines flight lost contact with air traffic control within an hour of takeoff from Kuala Lumpur International Airport March 9, 2014 The initial search was conducted over the Gulf of Thailand by 34 ships and 28 aircraft contributed by seven different countries scouring the area. Reports emerged that two Iranian passengers were carrying fake passports leading to questions over whether an act of terrorism had been committed. However, authorities went on to clear all passengers of any links to terrorism and it was revealed that the Iranians had hoped to start a new life in Europe. March 10, 2014 The search scours the area within a 50-nautical-mile radius of MH370's last-known position over the Straight of Malacca after a sighting of what was believed to have been one of the plane's doors, but nothing was found. Evidence began to point towards the plane heading west after communication was lost, but something as large and high-tech as a Boeing 777 disappearing without a trace was unheard of. London-based satellite company Immarsat found that one of its satellites was receiving hourly signals from MH370 for seven hours after it vanished from military radar. Although this confirmed that MH370 was still in the air for longer than was initially thought, the aircraft's location could not be tracked. It was also only at this point that MH17's time of disappearance from military radars was revealed as 2.22am - over the Andaman Sea, some way west of the initial search area. Immarsat's data could calculate an estimate of the aircraft's position based on how long transmissions between the plane and satellite took, and it produced a rough area after which the plane could have lost fuel or crashed. This was revealed to be an arc stretching from Central Asia in the north down towards Antarctica - crossed around eight hours after takeoff. With the north of that area consisting of heavily militarised airspace which would have detected MH17, it was deemed most likely that MH370 crashed in the Indian Ocean. It is believed that the plane nose-dived or crashed in the minutes after 8.19am on March 8. March 15, 2014 Malaysias prime minister, Najib Razak, said MH370 was deliberately diverted and continued flying for more than six hours after contact with the ground was lost. Authorities expanded their search for the missing jet from central Asia to the southern Indian Ocean, in tandem with searching the homes of the pilots. March 24, 2014 Razak again briefs journalists, saying that officials had concluded that the airliner's final position was likely in the southern Indian Ocean, with all 239 onboard lost. Before he spoke, family members of those onboard had marched on the Malaysian embassy in Beijing demanding answers. Many received the news delivered by Malaysia's PM via text. March 16 to March 26, 2014 Several objects of interest including two possible pieces of debris were identified in images, but none were found. On August 16, 2017, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau released a report of analysis of satellite imagery collected on March 23, 2014 (above) - two weeks after MH370 vanished. It classified 12 objects in the ocean as 'probably man made' March 28, 2014 A revised estimate of MH370's final position was made and the search area moved accordingly, only to move again on April 4. April 2 to April 17, 2014 Search crews worked to detect underwater locator beacons (ULBs) attached to the plane's flight recorders. The batteries were expected to run out on April 7, meaning a race against time. Between April 4 and April 8, several acoustic detections were made that were close to the frequency and rhythm of a ULB. However, a sonar search of the sea floor yielded no results. April 24, 2014 The search focus shifted from rescue to recovery as underwater vehicles cover around 55,000 square kilometres of sea floor. June 26, 2014 Australian officials report a theory that the plane flew on autopilot after some catastrophic event led to the crew being incapacitated, such as oxygen failure. August 28, 2014 Warren Truss, Australia's deputy prime minister, said MH370 the plane 'might have turned south a little earlier than we had previously expected' after the revelation that airline staff tried to contact the flight crew by phone after the plane disappeared from the radar. January 28, 2015 Malaysian officials officially declare MH370's disappearance an accident leaving its passengers and crew presumed dead. They concluded that the aircraft lost fuel and crashed 'over a defined area of the southern Indian Ocean'. March 8, 2015 A report revealed that the ULBs attached to the plane's flight recorder - hoped to held find MH370 the previous year - may have expired in December 2012. July 23, 2015 Martin Dolan, chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, insists the plane 'will be found within the next year'. August 5, 2015 Prime Minister Razak says that a wing part which washed up on Reunion - a French island east of Madagascar - came from MH370. Found the previous week, this was the first physical trace of the plane since it vanished. France launched a search of the surrounding area for more debris that month, but this ended after 10 days without success. In the two following years, another 17 pieces of debris were found and 'identified as being very likely or almost certain to originate from MH370' while another two were 'assessed as probably from the accident aircraft.' By October 2017, 20 suspected pieces of debris from MH370 had been found January 2017 Almost three years after the disappearance, Australia, China and Malaysia suspended the search effort with MH370 unfound. August 16, 2017 The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released a report of analysis of satellite imagery collected on March 23, 2014 - two weeks after MH370 vanished - and classified 12 objects in the ocean as 'probably man made'. October 3, 2017 Australian investigators delivered their final report on the incident. They said that an inability to bring closure to victims was a 'great tragedy' and 'almost inconceivable' in today's world. January 2018 US marine robotics company Ocean Infinity picked up the search in January 2018 under a 'no find, no fee' contract with Malaysia. They agreed a second such mission in March 2024. Pictured: The firm's vessel Seabed Constructor used in the search The search for MH370 resumed, after US seabed exploration company Ocean Infinity charters a Norwegian ship under a 'no find, no fee' arrangement with Malaysia. Malaysia offered the firm a reward of $70 million of it found the missing plane within 90 days. They exhausted a 25,000km 'priority area' in the following five months, and expanded their search. July 2018 An official investigation, released in Malaysia, concluded that the plane was manually turned around rather than being on auto-pilot. It did not rule out 'unlawful interference by a third party' could not be ruled out and dismissed theories that the pilot and first officer brought the plane down in a murder-suicide. Mechanical failure was also ruled out as a cause. July 2019 In July 2019, The Atlantic reported that that friends of the pilot claimed he was 'lonely and sad', even 'clinically depressed', at the time of the flight, fueling theories that he played a part in its disappearance The Atlantic reported that that friends of the pilot claimed he was 'lonely and sad', even 'clinically depressed', at the time of the flight. One unnamed friend, and a fellow pilot, suggested that Mr Shah might have diverted his co-pilot out of the cockpit and locked the door, before crashing the plane. The Independent Group which worked on the case claim he murdered those on board by flying at a staggering 40,000ft to depressurise the cabin and suffocate passengers. Psychologists also claimed that Mr Shah was 'self destructive' after he sent sexually suggestive messages to 26-year-old twin sisters Lan Qi Hui and Qi Min Lan, begging them to come to the Malaysian capital. He also used social media to target his government, who own the airline he worked for, calling prime minister Najib Razak a 'moron'. He also urged his followers: 'There is a rebel in each and every one of us. Let it out!' One theory was put forward by French journalist Florence de Changy (right) in her 2021 book 'The Disappearing Act: The Impossible Case of MH370' in which she said the US shot MH370 down February 2021 French journalist Florence de Changy released 'The Disappearing Act: The Impossible Case of MH370', claiming that it was brought down by the United States Air Force after a failed attempt to intercept the plane and seize a shipment of 'electronic equipment' that was en-route to Beijing. The US, she writes, did not want China to have the equipment, and - taking advantage of the changeover near waypoint Igari - shot the plane out of the sky. However, little evidence has been presented to support this theory. May 2021 Further fueling the theory that Mr Shah played a part in the disappearance, aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey claimed in a report that the route taken by Mr Shah seemed 'carefully planed'. He said that the changes in direction and speed were to avoid 'giving a clear idea where he was heading'. Marking 10 years since MH370 vanished without a trace, as many as 500 relatives of victims lost on the flight gathered at a shopping centre in the Malaysian city of Subang Jaya for a service March 4, 2024 The Malaysian government threw its support around a second proposed 'no find, no fee' search by Ocean Infinity. Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Punkett claimed that the company had sufficiently improved its technology since 2018 to justify a return to the Indian Ocean. On the same day, as many as 500 relatives of victims lost on the MH370 flight gathered at a shopping centre in the Malaysian city of Subang Jaya for a service marking 10 years since the flight's disappearance. A non-binary school teacher has been suspended after being exposed for wearing tight dresses that exposed their male genitals and left students uncomfortable. Footage emerged on social media showing Fletch Fletcher, a teacher at Dimond High School, wearing a tight-fitting dress in class. The video, allegedly taken by a student, shows the outline of Fletcher's male genitalia through the dress as they stand close to a pupil. Prominent social media account 'Libs of TikTok', which boasts over 2.9 million followers, shared the video and exposed Fletcher as being a teacher at the school. The post has since gone viral, and Dimond High School said in a update issued to families that the staff member was put on administrative leave, according to ADN. Fletch Fletcher was suspended from Dimond High School after video emerged of the teacher wearing a dress that exposed the outline of their genitals In the update, seen by the outlet, Principal Tina Johnson-Harris said: 'We understand you have many questions. 'However, because this is a personnel matter, we cannot provide additional information at this time.' In the post by Libs of TikTok, the account said: 'Meet Fletch Fletcher. A male teacher at @ASDschools who now identifies as nonbinary. 'He likes to wear tight dresses to school so his bulge sticks out. I'm told he also wears very tight pants and it makes the students extremely uncomfortable. 'He reportedly also makes students call him 'Mx' instead of 'Mr.' because he's nonbinary. How is this appropriate for school?' The account also accused Fletcher, who is a teacher of Language Arts and World Languages, of having an OnlyFans account, which DailyMail.com has not been able to verify. After the post by the account went live, Dimond High School apparently blocked the page. A spokesman for Anchorage School District said to ADN that threats had been made against the principal and the teacher following the posts. Prominent social media account 'Libs of TikTok ', which boasts over 2.9 million followers, shared the video and exposed Fletcher as being a teacher at the school The video, allegedly taken by a student, shows the outline of Fletcher's male genitalia through the dress as they stand close to a pupil In a a leaked email from Johnson-Harris prior to the teacher being suspended, she said: 'We are reaching out to inform you about a situation involving a member of our Dimond High School staff. 'Unfortunately, this employee is the subject of focus on social media and other media platforms. 'We have reviewed the relevant information and found that the communications are malicious and harassing in nature, and were taken out of context. 'We will continue to monitor the situation. We encourage everyone to refrain from communicating falsehoods, misinterpretations, innuendos, and/or bias. 'Given the nature of the circumstances, this is a personnel matter and all of our staff and students have the right to privacy and safety. 'Dimond High School is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive campus in which the safety and well-being of all students and staff are a priority.' One day after that update, it was announced Fletcher as on leave 'pending the outcome of our investigation'. DailyMail.com has reached out to Fletcher for comment on the video and the investigation. Laken Riley's grieving mother praised lawmakers for passing a landmark immigration bill in her daughter's name - hours before President Biden accidentally called the murdered teenager 'Lincoln.' The Laken Riley Act passed the House of Representatives on Thursday in a 251-170 vote, which would require ICE to detain illegal immigrants charged with theft or burglary. It was pushed by Republicans in the wake of Riley's murder, allegedly at the hands of illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra, who had previously been arrested in New York for endangering a child and in Georgia again in October 2023 on shoplifting charges. The passage of the bill this week led Riley's mom Allyson Phillips to take to Facebook, saying: 'Praise God! #SayHerName LAKEN HOPE RILEY BILL - PASSED.' Allyson Phillips (center), the mother of slain Laken Riley (left), praised the passage of an immigration bill this week named after her daughter Riley was found dead on the University of Georgia campus on February 22 after allegedly being murdered by an illegal immigrant Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra, 26, (pictured) has been charged with Riley's murder, and was previously arrested on theft and child endangerment charges The Laken Riley Act passed the House of Representatives on Thursday in a 251-170 vote, which would require ICE to detain illegal immigrants charged with theft or burglary. Her mother responded to the passage: 'Praise God!' Riley's murder took center stage on Thursday evening as President Biden delivered his State of the Union address. Firebrand Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene heckled the speech shouting 'say her name' when the issue arose during the speech, after handing Biden a pin bearing Riley's name. 'Lincoln, Lincoln Riley,' Biden said, holding up the pin. 'An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. 'But how many of thousands of people being killed by legals? To her parents I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself, I understand,' he said. The misspoken name sparked anger among Republicans, who blamed Riley's murder on the White House's weak border policies that have led to record levels of illegal immigration. Riley was found dead on the University of Georgia campus after leaving her home for a run, suffering blunt force trauma to the head allegedly inflicted by Ibarra in what investigators said was a 'crime of opportunity.' Phillips previously spoke out following her daughter's murder, and said on social media that she was comforted by how her 'sweet Laken knew Jesus personally and she will live eternally in his home.' In response to the killing, Georgia GOP Rep. Mike Collins introduced the bill in her name, as he stressed that Ibarra 'had no business being in this country.' '(The murder) was another wakeup call as Americans experience an illegal alien crime wave because of Joe Biden's open border and local sanctuary city policies,' Collins told Fox News this week. After the lower house passed his bill Thursday, he took to X to 'urge the Senate to take up this bill immediately.' Riley was found dead on the University of Georgia campus after leaving her home for a run, suffering blunt force trauma to the head allegedly inflicted by Ibarra President Biden holds a pin for slain Georgia student Laken Riley during his State of the Union speech, before he accidentally called her 'Lincoln' Firebrand Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene heckled Biden's speech shouting 'say her name' after handing Biden a pin bearing Riley's name His bill would require ICE to detain any criminal charged with theft or burglary that was found to be staying in the US illegally, but was voted against by 170 Democrats in the House. Just 37 Democrats joined every Republican in supporting the bill, with New York Congressman Jerry Nadler leading the opposition as he accused the GOP of 'exploiting (Riley's) death for a partisan stunt.' He also accused Republicans of 'throwing together legislation to target immigrants in an election year', a claim countered by those that felt it was long overdue. After the passage of the bill, House Speaker Mike Johnson stressed that 'Laken Riley would still be alive if the Biden Administration had done its job.' 'House Republicans are not going to stand by quietly while the President and his administration release dangerous criminals into our communities,' Johnson said in a statement. 'The Laken Riley Act would help prevent future tragedies. If Senator Schumer and President Biden care to protect Americans and are serious about securing the border, they will bring this legislation up for a vote and sign it into law immediately.' After Riley's senseless murder shocked the nation, Phillips said she was comforted by how her 'sweet Laken knew Jesus personally and she will live eternally in his home' Biden's decision to speak on Riley's murder sparked anger among some Democrats on Thursday, after he called the alleged murderer an 'illegal' in an ad-libbed moment. The awkward intra-party clash came during the heckling from Greene, as she demanded he say the name of the murdered nursing student allegedly killed by the Venezuelan immigrant. His use of the term 'illegal' sparked anger, with Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) tweeting afterwards that 'No human being is illegal.' 'Let me be clear: No human being is illegal,' wrote 'squad' member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who immigrated from Somalia. 'I'm extremely disappointed to hear President Biden use the word illegal,' wrote Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.) calling himself a 'proud immigrant.' 'There was a lot of good in President Bidens speech tonight, but his rhetoric about immigrants was incendiary and wrong,' wrote Rep. Joaquin Catro (D-Texas) in a trio of tweets. 'My guest for this year's State of the Union was the widow of a North Texas rancher who was murdered by a neighbor who didnt want Latinos living next door. Across Texas, many families can tell similar stories of hate and harassment inspired by the rhetoric of Donald Trump. 'The rhetoric President Biden used tonight was dangerously close to language from Donald Trump that puts a target on the backs of Latinos everywhere. Democrats shouldnt be taking our cues from MAGA extremism.' Progressive Democrats pounced after President Joe Biden called the alleged killer of Laken Riley an 'illegal' while ad-libbing a remark in his State of the Union speech. The awkward intra-party clash came during one of the most intense moments of Biden's fiery address, when he sparred with a heckling Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) after she demanded he say the name of the murdered nursing student allegedly killed by a Venezuelan immigrant. Biden botched Riley's name in his response, mistakenly calling her 'Lincoln.' But he also used a term verboten on the left when used as a noun referring to people who jump the border without legal documents. 'Lincoln, Lincoln Riley,' said Biden while holding up a pin Greene had handed him calling on him to say her name. 'An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. 'But how many of thousands of people being killed by legals? To her parents I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself, I understand,' Biden retorted. President Joe Biden, holding up a pin of Laken Riley, referred to her as an 'innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal'. Progressive Democrats condemned his use of the term 'No human being is illegal,' wrote Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), one of several lawmakers to blast Biden's word choice on Twitter afterward. 'Let me be clear: No human being is illegal,' wrote 'squad' member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who immigrated from Somalia. 'I'm extremely disappointed to hear President Biden use the word illegal,' wrote Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.) calling himself a 'proud immigrant.' 'There was a lot of good in President Bidens speech tonight, but his rhetoric about immigrants was incendiary and wrong,' wrote Rep. Joaquin Catro (D-Texas) in a trio of tweets. 'My guest for this year's State of the Union was the widow of a North Texas rancher who was murdered by a neighbor who didnt want Latinos living next door. Across Texas, many families can tell similar stories of hate and harassment inspired by the rhetoric of Donald Trump. 'The rhetoric President Biden used tonight was dangerously close to language from Donald Trump that puts a target on the backs of Latinos everywhere. Democrats shouldnt be taking our cues from MAGA extremism.' Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student was killed while out jogging on February 22 Venezuelan immigrant, Jose Antonio Ibarra, has been charged with Riley's murder. Biden took heat for calling him 'illegal' During an interview with CNN 's Dana Bash, Nancy Pelosi said, 'Now he should have said undocumented' 'Squad' member Rep. Representative Ilhan Omar is among those who condemned the remark. She also protested Biden during the speech over Israel's war in Gaza Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) (L) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) hold up signs as President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address 'The rhetoric President Biden used tonight was dangerously close to language from Donald Trump that puts a target on the backs of Latinos everywhere,' said Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) The moment came in a speech where Biden blasted Republicans for blowing up a Senate compromise deal that would surge resources to the border while sending billions to aid Ukraine House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was prepared to give Biden a pass on the language when she got asked about it on CNN not long after the speech. 'Now he should have said undocumented, but thats not a big thing, ok? Whats the big thing?' she told interviewer Dana Bash, after she tried to ask a question about the moment but hadn't even mentioned the verbiage. She said Biden 'should have said 'undocumented.' "Well, we usually say "undocumented." He said "illegal." I dont think its a big deal,' Pelosi continued. 'I dont think its a big deal because I think his focus was on the sympathy for the family. Its a terrible tragedy.' Elected Democrats more typically use the term 'undocumented' rather than calling the migrants 'illegals.' Biden campaign cochair Mitch Landrieu was still cleaning up the comment during a Friday morning appearance on CNN when asked about Castro's pointed criticism. 'That's probably true. He probably should have used a different word, I think he would know that,' he told CNN. 'But what you should notice of that is not that he made a small mistake. The big thing that he did right, and this is what this president always does, is express empathy to people. The tension from within his own caucus comes as Americans identify illegal immigration as a top issue, and Biden has pivoted in some of his rhetoric while getting behind a derailed border compromise that would have capped daily asylum entrants and surged more resources to the border. Holding the line for Biden was House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who didn't criticize his wording. Biden 'acknowledged the horrific nature of the murder and of course, emphasize the need more generally, to keep our community safe,' he said when asked if he has any concerns, Punchbowl rerpoted. Clare Fonstein is a reporter who joined the San Francisco Chronicle as part of the two-year Hearst Journalism Fellowship, spending her first year of the program at the Houston Chronicle. In Houston, Fonstein covered breaking news and trending stories. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, then attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she majored in journalism and international relations. She previously worked as an intern at the Morning Call, the daily newspaper of the Lehigh Valley, and her college newspaper at Lehigh University. She can be reached at Clare.Fonstein@sfchronicle.com. Families of 'Stakeknife' victims today said the state and the IRA were 'co-conspirators in the murder of British citizens as a damning report found the operation of the Army's 'super agent' probably cost more lives than it saved. Operation Kenova, which ran for seven years and cost approximately 40million, examined the role of Stakeknife, the Army's 'golden goose' who was embedded in the heart of the IRA's Internal Security Unit (ISU) or 'nutting squad'. The agent is widely believed to be Freddie Scappaticci, a Belfast bricklayer who died last April aged 77 - although today's report stops short of confirming this. Stakeknife is linked to the 'execution' of at least 14 people and the kidnap and torture of many more, but the Army has long defended his activities on the basis that his intelligence saved 180 lives. But Jon Boutcher, who previously led the Kenova probe and revealed its findings today, said that it was 'probable' more people were killed through Scappaticci's role at the heart of the Provisional IRA's savage internal disciplinary processes. Solicitor Kevin Winters, representing victims' families, called the report a 'damning indictment on the state'. He told a press conference: 'The staggering takeaway message is that the state could have and should have intervened to save lives. That this didn't happen is legally and morally reprehensible. Freddie Scappaticci, better known by his codename Stakeknife, headed the 'nutting squad' - the IRA's notorious internal security unit Scappaticci walking behind Gerry Adams (right) at the 1988 funeral of IRA man Brendan Davidson 'The findings point to the existence of a macabre joint enterprise between the Force Research Unit (FRU), the TCG (Tasking and Co-ordination Group) and those who actually fired the shots. 'We are left with the horrendous conclusion and takeaway message that both the state and the IRA were co-conspirators in the murder of some of its citizens.' Mr Winters said many victims wanted to see Scappaticci named officially as the agent Stakeknife. 'The decision not to name Fred Scappaticci as the agent Stakeknife has been difficult for many to accept,' he said. 'The legal and technical rationale for doing so will be lost upon many people, particularly next of kin of those murdered.' He added: 'The report does make it very clear, by inference or otherwise, that Scappaticci was the agent Stakeknife. But for many it is important to see his name, as it were, go up in lights as Stakeknife.' Mr Winters said there was now an 'overwhelming case' for the Government to depart from its policy of NCND, neither confirm nor deny, which prevents the identification of agents. Earlier, Mr Boutcher described claims he was a 'golden goose' who saved hundreds of lives as 'rooted in fables and fairy tales', adding that 'victims were not protected and terrorists were not subjected to criminal justice'. Despite not identifying Scappaticci as Stakeknife, the interim report describes him as 'a critical person of interest' who was central to Operation Kenova. Mr Boutcher, who stepped down from the investigation to become chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said he was prevented from unmasking the agent by the government but asked to be allowed to do so in the final report. He also hit out at the 'disappointing' decision not to prosecute Stakeknife despite the files he passed to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland containing 'very serious evidence of criminality' including murder. He said the failure to prosecute anyone was 'predominantly because of a lack of resources' at the PPS, which he described as 'under-resourced'. His interim findings and recommendations include: Stakeknife probably cost more lives than he saved and security forces failed to stop some murders to protect their IRA agents; The 'Republican leadership' should apologise for the 'abduction, torture and murder' perpetrated by the IRA's Internal Security Unit; No one will be prosecuted as a result of the report; The MI5 has a policy of 'delay' and getting information out of it is 'challenging'; Ministers should set up a new statutory framework for investigating cases from the Troubles; The security services' 'neither comment nor deny' policy should be reviewed so it isn't used to cover up wrongdoing; The Summer Solstice should be designated as a day when all victims of the Troubles are remembered. Solicitor Kevin Winters said many victims wanted to see Freddie Scappaticci named officially as the agent Stakeknife Scappaticci denied being Stakeknife but it is now widely accepted that he was For decades, myth and intrigue have swirled around the killings linked to Stakeknife, regarded as the 'jewel in the crown' of British intelligence efforts to infiltrate the Republican terror group in the 1980s and 90s. In 2003 his identity was unmasked as Freddie Scappaticci, the son of Italian immigrants from South Belfast, resulting in his fleeing Northern Ireland. He denied being a British agent right up until his death in 2023, spending his final years in hiding under a new identity in the Home Counties. Notorious for his brutality, Scappaticci rose to become second in command of the IRA's feared Internal Security Unit, which was tasked with identifying informers or 'touts' within the terror group's ranks. They were nicknamed the Nutting Squad for the punishment meted out on those deemed to have betrayed the Republican cause a bullet in the head, or 'nut'. A key issue since his exposure has been whether Scappaticci's Army handlers failed to pass on intelligence which could have saved the lives of those condemned in order to avoid compromising the identity of their most prized source. Some of those who died as a result were themselves lower-level British agents or informers, it has long been alleged. In his report, Mr Boutcher says Stakeknife - who received 80,000 a year from the taxpayer - was 'undoubtedly a valuable asset who provided high quality intelligence about PIRA [the Provisional IRA] at considerable risk to himself'. However this intelligence 'was not always passed on or acted upon and, if more of it had been, he could not have remained in place as long as he did'. The report says it has examined 90 per cent of Stakeknife's surviving reports and concluded that the number of lives saved by information he supplied is 'between high single figures and low double figures and nowhere near [the] hundreds sometimes claimed'. This 'does not take account of the lives lost as a consequence of Stakeknife's continued operation as an agent', therefore it is 'probable that this resulted in more lives being lost than saved'. Bizarrely, Mr Boutcher's report says 'nothing' in his report can be taken as confirmation that Scappaticci was Stakeknife. It describes the situation in which the security services and police were operating between the 1970s and 90s in Northern Ireland as 'uniquely challenging'. But now the conflict has ended, it is time that 'the law should recover its voice and the truth should be spoken aloud', both in relation to crimes from the Troubles which remain unsolved and the reasons why they were not solved at the time, it says. Unveiling his report today, Mr Boutcher said it was 'likely that his crimes as an agent resulted in more lives being lost than were saved'. He said his report 'leaves little doubt that the Republican leadership was responsible for numerous dreadful crimes, many of which the Government failed to prevent'. 'The Government and Republican leadership now need to acknowledge their roles in this awful section of history and both should apologise to families,' he added. Jon Boutcher, who formerly led the Kenova investigation, said today that 'victims were not protected and terrorists were not subjected to criminal justice' He has been linked to the kidnap, murder and torture of as many as 50 people But the PSNI chief constable said that even if it was 'possible to accurately and reliably say that a particular agent within a terrorist group did more harm than good, the morality and legality of agents doing any harm - with the knowledge of or on behalf of the state - would not be accepted today'. Mr Boutcher said Scappaticci should have been prosecuted but insisted this should not be taken as confirmation that he was Stakeknife, saying Scappaticci was 'directly linked to Operation Kenova'. Saying he did not believe Stakeknife was 'owed a debt of gratitude' by society, Mr Boutcher said: 'It's the victims of crimes including murder that we should focus our understanding on today.' He said it remained vital that the security forces could recruit agents 'to protect society from terrorism', but they must 'act with propriety and within the rule of law'. 'In these cases, this did not happen,' he added. Mr Boutcher denied his report suggested the IRA and the security forces were 'equally culpable' for the killings linked to Stakeknife, saying the sacrifices made by RUC officers during the Troubles were 'incredible'. But he said that what set Britain apart from the terrorists was that 'we accept when we've got things wrong'. 'We got this wrong, but that should not detract from the huge efforts of the security forces to keep society safe.' He said files submitted to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland by Operation Kenova about Stakeknife contained 'strong evidence implicating him and others in very serious wrongdoing'. 'In my view, much of this could and would have been avoided if Northern Ireland agent-running had been subject to proper regulation, control and oversight during the Troubles,' he added. The Daily Mail's reports on Stakeknife when he was unmasked in 2003 The chief constable said families of those killed as a result of Stakeknife's activities and the wider killings of suspected IRA informers had 'endured endless delays, setbacks and unfulfilled promises in their quest for the truth'. The report definitively says that contrary to long-standing speculation, Stakeknife did exist and was not a 'collective of different agents'. His identity is known to the investigation, report Mr Boutcher said, branding the situation where he could not name him despite his death last year 'no longer tenable'. He was involved in 'very serious and wholly unjustifiable criminality whilst operating as an agent, including murder', Mr Boutcher said today. Meanwhile claims that his intelligence led to 'countless' or hundreds of lives being saved are 'hugely exaggerated' and 'implausible', he added. The report says British security forces operating in Northern Ireland during the Troubles 'were frequently aware of imminent abductions and murders yet failed to protect those at risk'. 'As a result, preventable deaths occurred with their knowledge and those responsible were not brought to justice and were instead left free to reoffend.' It says 'violence and humiliation' was meted out to women, children, the elderly and those with learning disabilities by the IRA's Internal Security Unit in which Stakeknife was second in command. The use and handling of agents during the 'deadly battle' with the IRA was seen as a 'high stakes dark art' which was practised 'off the books' in a 'maverick' culture, Mr Boutcher said today. Sir Iain Livingston, Operation Kenova (L), Northern Ireland Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher (C) and and Chris Todd, Deputy Chief Constable (R) at today's Kenova press conference Mr Boutcher said Kenova had encountered difficulties accessing information from state agencies and spoke of attempts to undermine their work. He revealed that on the day his team was due to deliver its first tranche of evidence files to Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service in October 2019, MI5 informed them that the building's security accreditation had expired. Mr Boutcher said it was not until February 2020 until the accreditation was restored and the files could be delivered. The PSNI chief constable said the use of agents undoubtedly saved lives during the Troubles. However, he said there were occasions when preventable crimes were allowed to happen and went unsolved as a result of efforts to protect agents. He identified several cases of murder where the security forces had advance intelligence but did not intervene in order to protect sources. He acknowledged the 'exceptional stressful' operating climate the security forces worked in, and said handlers often faced dilemmas where there was 'no right answer'. The report said mistakes and questionable decisions were 'inevitable and understandable'. 'State agents do need to be protected through anonymity and secrecy, but that protection cannot confer de facto immunity or a right to act with impunity as that would be wholly incompatible with the rule of law and human rights,' the report said. 'Agents may sometimes engage in criminal conduct, but they do not have a free licence to break the law and should not be led to believe otherwise.' Mr Boutcher said the state's 'absolutist approach' to agent anonymity may have led to other individuals losing their lives. He said the NCND policy seems to have assumed a 'totemic status' within government and the security forces and has become an 'implacable dogma or mantra with the qualities of a stone wall'. He said there should be a review in relation to its 'routine application' in Troubles cases to ensure it is not allowed to 'obscure wrongdoing by the security forces or serious criminality by agents'. Asked about whether agents might be operating for the Government in a similar way today, Mr Boutcher said he hoped the modernisation of policing would prevent it. He continued: 'These types of activities should never happen in the United Kingdom today.' A lack of operating framework at the time made for a 'uniquely dangerous' situation, he added. Paying tribute to those who helped with the report's investigation, he said: 'Each person we spoke with helped shape and inspire the work of Kenova. 'What each legacy victim has endured should be acknowledged. I don't believe Stakeknife is owed any debt of gratitude.' The daughter of an IRA victim Caroline Moreland today insisted Operation Kenova has not failed victims, despite the lack of prosecutions Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris today said the Government could not comment on the detail of the report until the final version was published. 'There can be no doubt that the way Operation Kenova has conducted its work since being commissioned in 2016 has gained the trust of many families who have long been seeking answers as to what exactly happened when their loved ones were so brutally murdered by, and on the orders of, the Provisional IRA,' he said. 'Over 3,500 people from all parts of the community were killed during the Troubles and tens of thousands more injured. Over 1,000 of those killed were members of the security forces. Their bravery, courage, dedication and sacrifice in seeking to uphold democracy and the rule of law must never be forgotten. 'We must remember too that the vast majority of deaths during the Troubles, around 90%, were perpetrated by terrorist organisations - in the substance of this report, by the Provisional IRA. 'As this is an 'interim' report, I will not comment at this time on behalf of the Government on the detail of the report. It contains several specific, very serious allegations that remain subject to consideration by the courts. 'It would not be right for the Government to make any comment on the substance of the Interim Report until the conclusion of litigation related to it. I note the recent decisions made by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland in relation to files passed to them by Operation Kenova, which once again go to show how difficult it is to achieve criminal justice outcomes in legacy cases. 'Due to numerous related civil cases, however, that remain ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. There is also the prospect of appeals against any of the recent decisions made by the Director for Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland. 'I would like to put on record again my deepest sympathy with all the families who lost loved ones during the Troubles - including as a result of the actions of the Provisional IRA.' Downing Street said it would not comment on the report published by Operation Kenova until the inquiry had completed its work. A Number 10 spokeswoman said: 'We would want to extend our deepest sympathies with all the families who lost loved ones during this very dark period in Northern Ireland and it's important we do not forget the thousands of victims, their families and neighbours from all communities who have suffered as a result. 'On this interim report, it would not be right to comment on the substance of it while it is an interim report. 'We will respond in full in due course following the full and final report and also following the conclusion of litigation which is related to the substance of this report.' Meanwhile, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson questioned whether the 40 million spent on the investigation could have been better spent resourcing proactive policing in Northern Ireland. 'The work of the police, army or the security services was a just cause. Their job was to undermine terrorists,' he said. 'The fact that the security services had so many agents working at the top of the PIRA, is testament to their success. Whilst having lessons to learn for the Government, the report reminds us that the intelligence agencies had infiltrated the PIRA to such an extent that they rendered the organisation almost inoperable.' Scappaticci was born in the Markets area of West Belfast, the son of Italian immigrants The daughter of an IRA victim today insisted Operation Kenova has not failed victims, despite the lack of prosecutions. The body of Belfast woman Caroline Moreland, a 34-year-old Catholic mother of three, was found near Rosslea, Co Fermanagh, in July 1994. Shauna Moreland was 10-years-old at the time of her mother's death. She said: 'If these cases had been properly investigated at the time there could have been prosecutions. 'We have been failed by the system since 1994 and it was only when our cases were moved outside Northern Ireland that we got a process we could believe in. 'Right from the start, Jon Boutcher told us that Kenova would be a victims-first approach and that's what he gave us.' She added: 'There was nothing until Kenova gave what my mother deserved. They showed that my mum mattered and she was not just a statistic.' Responding to the Kenova report, Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long said: 'I welcome the publication today of the Operation Kenova interim report. 'Investigating legacy issues can be very challenging and time consuming for all involved and can be painful and distressing for those directly affected. 'This has been a long and difficult journey for those families seeking the truth about what happened to their loved ones. 'I sincerely hope that today brings some measure of comfort for them and that they find some value in the interim report. No doubt everyone involved will wish to take time to fully understand the contents and any associated implications for them.' Controversy has surrounded the activities of Freddie Scappaticci ever since he was exposed in the press as Stakeknife in 2003. Born in the Markets area of West Belfast, the son of Italian immigrants, he began working as a bricklayer but in 1971 aged 25, he was interned without trial, along with many of the next generation of Republicans including Gerry Adams. When he was released in 1974 he was a volunteer in the Provisionals and by 1980 he had joined the Internal Security Unit (ISU), which was tasked with rooting out suspected informers. It was informally known as the nutting squad due to the way informers were shot in the head after being tried in a kangaroo court. Scappaticci's first involvement with British Intelligence is believed to have been in 1978, when he is said to have volunteered to become an informer after being assaulted in an argument with a senior IRA comrade. His first contact was with the RUC's Special Branch, but when the British later formed the shadowy Force Research unit to co-ordinate Army intelligence, Stakeknife became their best asset. Stakeknife was said to have provided a goldmine of intelligence to the British, including allowing them to identify IRA members involved in the kidnapping of wealthy Irish supermarket magnate Ben Dunne in 1981, as well as those who tried to abduct Canadian business tycoon Galen Weston in 1983. One of Scappaticci's most notable claims was that former Sinn Fein leader and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness was involved in the death of Frank Hegarty, an IRA man killed by them in 1986 as an informer after they blamed him for the discovery of a huge Libyan arms cache by the Gardai. According to other sources, Hegarty himself was an FRU agent, and Scappaticci was involved in his torture and murder, to protect his own skin. Scappaticci is alleged to have worked closely with his FRU handlers in the 1980s and 1990s to protect and promote his own position within the IRA, with accusations that the FRU even killed individuals who might have exposed Scappaticci as an informer. He was unmasked as Stakeknife by journalists in May 2003, but at first refused to leave Belfast and brazenly denied the claim. Scappaticci is believed to have lived for some time near Worplesdon Road in Guildford, Surrey Hunted by his IRA enemies from Cyprus to Canada, he is believed to have been whisked to the UK by MI5 and settled in Guildford, an affluent town in the heart of Surrey's stockbroker belt. Last year a BBC documentary uncovered a witness statement from a man who was kidnapped and taken to a house in Belfast in which he claims to have heard Scappaticci boasting of a previous murder. Sandy Lynch, a suspected informer, told how he was stripped and tied to a chair as Scappaticci stood behind him and described how he would be tortured and murdered. 'He said that I would wake up hung upside down in a cowshed and he would talk to me the way that he wanted to talk to me, that he would skin me alive and that no one would hear me squealing,' Mr Lynch said in his statement revealed to The Spy Who Got Away With Murder, a BBC Northern Ireland Spotlight investigation. 'He tapped me two or three times on the back of my head and said: ''You'll get it right there . . . like that b*****d Fenton.'' He said that he had done it.' Joe Fenton was an estate agent in Belfast who was killed in 1989 after being savagely interrogated by the IRA over his work as a police informer. His murder took place in the same house where Mr Lynch was interrogated before being rescued when police raided the property. He later gave evidence against his abductors in court before going into the witness protection scheme. Scappaticci's fingerprint was found in the house and he was arrested but never charged with an offence. Mr Fenton's killers have never been prosecuted. A woman who pretended to be a doctor and purchased her diploma online for $8 was arrested on her first day on the job at a medical facility in Brazil. Mirian Santana, 27, raised eyebrows at a government-operated clinic in Coroados, Sao Paulo, after treating close to 30 patients on Monday. Staffers became suspicious of the medical procedures that she and checked her registration number on her work documents, which matched another doctor. Authorities were called and apprehended her on the scene. Authorities in the southeastern Brazilian state of Sao Paulo arrested Mirian Santana on Monday for illegally providing medical services to patients at a health center. The 27-year-old confessed to purchasing a diploma online for $8 and was hired by an outsourcing company before she was busted on her first day on the job Mirian Santana was hired as a general practitioner by an outsourcing company to work at a public medical facility in Brazil Santana initially defended herself from the allegations made by the medical staff and claimed that she had obtained her medical degree from a university in 2022. However, police contacted the school and administrators who discredited her claims, indicating that the medical program was introduced for the first time this year. Santana ended up confessing to the crime and told investigators that she had acquired her diploma with the registration number via the internet. 'In view of the evidence, she was unable to support the versions presented and confessed to the crime,' Sao Paulo Civil Police Chief Nilton Aparecido told Metropoles newspaper. Santana, who is facing illegal practice of medicine, use of false documents and false identity charges, was placed on pretrial detention Tuesday after appearing before a judge. The bogus doctor was hired by a company that outsources health workers to medical facilities. Santana claimed she was a speech therapist and was contracted at a monthly salary of about $800 to provide general practitioner care. The Coroados municipal government said it had informed the patients, mostly children and elderly, to schedule them for new testings. This worrying incident came one day after passengers on another Alaska Airlines flight smelt fumes The plane flew from Los Cabo to Portland International airport - where it was discovered with the incorrectly sealed door An Alaska Airlines flight landed with its cargo door slightly ajar last week An Alaska Airlines plane was found with an open cargo door once it landed in Portland, sparking fresh Boeing safety concerns. Alaska Airlines Flight 1437 from Los Cabos, Mexico, arrived at Portland International Airport last week with a cargo door slightly ajar. Photos obtained by KOIN 6 show the Boeing 737 after landing at Portland, in which the door can be seen cracked open. It's unclear how long the door was open for, but the flight did not require an emergency landing. There was no indication that the door was open during the flight, according to crew members, which points to the door opening after landing. An Alaska Airlines flight arrived in Portland with the door to its cargo space where passengers' pets were inside left slightly ajar Pets belonging to passengers were being held inside the cargo area however it is not believed any were injured as a result of the door Last week, Alaska Airlines Flight 1437 from Los Cabos, Mexico, arrived at Portland International Airport with an open door Photos obtained by KOIN 6 show the Boeing 737 after landing at Portland, in which the door is ajar 'Upon landing at PDX on March 1, Alaska Airlines flight 1437 was discovered to have the forward cargo door unsealed,' Alaska Airlines said in a statement. 'There was no indication to the crew that the door was unsealed during flight and all indications point to the door partially opening after landing. 'Our maintenance teams inspected the aircraft, replaced a spring in the door, tested the door and reentered it into service.' Pets belonging to passengers were inside the cargo space, however there have not been any reports of injuries. The incident was described as a 'pretty major defect' by Aviation expert Joe Schwieterman. 'It affects a lot of the electrical equipment in that cargo hold. So, it is troublesome that you may have a plane where some things like this went undetected,' he told KOIN 6. The expert said that such a defect should have triggered a sensor, which it didn't appear to. Last week's unnerving incident came just one day after another Alaska Airlines flight was forced to return to Portland's PDX after multiple passengers said they could smell fumes in the cabin. Last week's unnerving incident came just one day after another Alaska Airlines Phoenix-bound flight was forced to return to Portland's PDX after multiple passengers said they could smell fumes in the cabin The crew of Flight 646 declared an emergency after passengers in the rear of the plane reported smelling 'some fumes or an odor' (File Photo) The Phoenix-bound flight was investigated by fire crews from the Port of Portland Portland Fire and Rescue to determine the cause of the smell. Crew members on Flight 646 declared an emergency after passengers in the rear of the plane reported smelling 'some fumes or an odor'. Investigators were unable to identify a cause, officials say. Seven people onboard, including passengers and crew members, requested medical evaluation after the worrying fumes and one was taken to hospital. On Monday, a Boeing jet's engines exploded and burst into flames in the skies above Texas forcing an emergency landing. The terrifying incident took place just minutes into a United Airlines flight bound for Fort Myers, Florida. Video taken from a passenger window shows white-hot flashes streaming out of the 737's jet engine. Several class-action lawsuits are ongoing after a door plug blew off an Alaskan Airlines flight that left from Portland on January 5 The door plug was recovered from the back yard of a home after it blew out on January 5 Several class-action lawsuits are ongoing after a door plug blew off an Alaskan Airlines flight that left from Portland on January 5. The Flight 1282 blowout as the plane left a gaping hole in the side of the aircraft, and prompted wide-ranging federal investigations into Boeing's production process. A report found that four retaining bolts intended to prevent vertical movement of the door plug were missing, and suggests that Boeing workers failed to replace them after removing the plug for a repair during assembly. The damage patterns observed in the door plug and airframe indicated that the four bolts were not in place at the time of the incident, allowing the plug to detach from the stop pads. King Charles has been pictured leaving Windsor Castle on Friday shortly after it was announced that his longtime friend Ian Farquhar had died at the monarch's Highgrove estate. Mr Farquhar, 78, who was also a close friend of Camilla, served as the Queen Mother's equerry and in the Queen's Own Hussars, a cavalry regiment of the British Army. The renowned huntsman lived in a rented farmhouse at Highgrove and it is said he died there on Wednesday. King Charles III appeared sombre as he was driven away on Friday to an unknown destination. He first got to know his friend after Prince William briefly dated Rose Farquhar after finishing his A-Levels at Eton in 2000. King Charles has been pictured leaving Windsor Castle on Friday two days after his friend's death King Charles's longtime friend Ian Farquhar has died at the age of 78 at the monarch's Highgrove Estate The pair met at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire and she was described as the Prince of Wales's 'first love' at the time. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: King Charles's longtime friend and renowned huntsman Ian Farquhar dies at the age of 78 at the monarch's Highgrove estate where he lived Advertisement William and Rose would go on romantic picnics in the Gloucestershire countryside together before he met Kate at St. Andrews University in Scotland. They are still friends to this day, with the Prince even attending her wedding to George Gemmell in 2022. Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, first husband and friend of Camilla, told the Mail's Richard Eden that the situation with Mr Farquhar was 'very sad' and that he had been in poor health for the past few months. He described his friend as 'wild as a hawk in his youth, but always great fun'. Parker Bowles added that he will be 'judged by history as one of the great Master of Hounds'. Ian married Pammie-Jane Chafer after he left the army and the pair had three daughters. The couple split up but managed to remain friends. Mr Farquhar was also Master of the Beaufort Hunt for 34 years. It is the West Country's oldest and largest fox hunt. Mr Farquhar was a close friend of both King Charles and his wife Camilla - with Camilla's first husband Andrew Parker Bowles saying it is a 'very sad' situation Mr Farquhar rented a cottage on King Charles' Highgrove estate, where he died on Wednesday Farquhar and Charles became intertwined further when Prince William briefly dated Rose Farquhar in 2000 after he finished his A-levels at Eton William and Rose (pictured) are still friends to this day, as the Prince attended her wedding to George Gemmell in 2022 Fox hunting was made illegal in 2004, but the Hunting Act allows groups to trail hunt using the scent of animals. In an Instagram post, the page shared a video containing multiple images of Ian throughout his life and wrote: 'It is with broken hearts we send our love and condolences to the family and friends of our own Captain Ian Farquhar, who so brilliantly piloted us for 34 years and passed away peacefully this week. '"Captain" as he was known by many was loved and cherished by the entire hunting community, as someone who was supportive, kind and always there with excellent forward thinking advice for anyone who asked him. 'He had a wicked sense of humour and anyone who was lucky enough to be in his company and listen to tales of his extremely varied and adventurous life both in the army and the hunting world will hold onto those memories forever.' The post said that Mr Farquhar's passions in life were his 'hounds, his family and dogs' and that he was a 'true countryman and gent'. The renowned huntsman also served as equerry to the Queen Mother and even served in the Queen's Own Hussars, a cavalry regiment of the British Army Mr Farquhar was also Master of Beaufort Hunt for 34 years, one of the oldest and largest fox hunting packs in England Charles' latest trip comes as he continues to receive treatment for cancer, which was discovered when he went into hospital at The London Clinic for surgery on a benign enlarged prostate. The Palace has confirmed the surgery was unrelated and that the monarch does not have prostate cancer. He has been forced to step back from public duties on the advice of his doctors, but continues to fulfill other engagements such as his weekly meetings with the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. On Thursday he met with High Commissioner of Jamaica, Alexander Williams, who was joined by his wife Carol Watson-Williams, at Buckingham Palace. Prior to the meeting he held a video call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and meetings with the Ambassador of Algeria, Nourredine Yazid, and Samba Mamadou, Ambassador of Mauritania. As well as continuing to meet with officials, the King is said to be staying up to date with all the papers of state in his daily red box of documents. He has been seen travelling to and from London and Windsor in recent weeks as he spends much of his time during treatment at his Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Royal engagements are being carried out today by the Princess Royal, the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Two New Jersey tour boat tour operators have been charged after a woman and a seven-year-old boy drowned in the Hudson River on one of their vessels. Richard Cruz, 32, and Jamie Pinilla Gomez, 25, were arrested in Elizabeth, New Jersey on Thursday for allegedly causing the deaths of Lindelia Vasquez, 48, and her 7-year-old nephew, Julian. The pair were aboard the 24-foot vessel with thirteen other passengers on a July 12, 2022 for a tour around New York Harbor and The Statue of Liberty when the overcrowded boat capsized. All the passengers were ejected into the ocean waters, and Vasquez and her young nephew became trapped underneath and drowned. Cruz, has purchased the Yamaha AR-240 jet boat named Stimulus Money three months prior to the tragedy. They had been offering paying customers boat 'tours' though they did not have the required United States Coast Guard credentials and certifications. Federal prosecutors said Cruz and Gomez, the vessel's pilot were recklessly operating the boat, exceeding the vessel's maximum allowable capacity, at a high-rate of speed, and during a Small Craft Advisory, in high winds and heavy seas. Both men are facing one count of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. Lindelia Vasquez, 48, was one of the horror boat crash on July 12, 2022 Vasquez's seven-year-old nephew Julian, also died in the tragedy Thirteen passengers were ejected into the rough seas when the vessel flipped. Members of the FDNY Dive Rescue Team were seen in the waters and nearby boat assisting in the rescue Prosecutors said Cruz and Gomez did not obtain the required USCG certification to operate the vessel with paying customers on board, and did not have a valid inspection. 'Gomez, an insufficiently experienced mariner, piloted Stimulus Money in a dangerous manner, including by rapidly accelerating one engine of the vessel immediately before the capsizing, which contributed to the overturning of the vessel,' prosecutors said. Prosecutors stated that Gomez was not wearing the proper safety device, a life vest, or safety gear around his wrist when the boat capsized. This failure, contributed to the vessel's engine continuing to operate even after he shifted from the helm console at which the vessel was operated. The horror crash happened near Pier 84, and boats from the New York Police Department's Harbor Unit and the New York City Fire Department's Dive Rescue Team, and ferries operating nearby arrived at the scene to render emergency assistance. Ten of the passengers, including Gomez were rescued and were taken to hospital so their injuries could be treated. Time lapse video appears to show jet boat that capsized in the Hudson, killing 2 on July 12 2022 A map showing the location where the private unlicensed boat capsized killing a woman and her young nephew on July 12, 2022 Nearby ferries helped rescue the family from the water (pictured) Divers found the young boy and his aunt underneath the doomed vessel, approximately 25-minutes after the tragedy. They were unconscious and pronounced deceased by drowning. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: 'Federal regulations and safety protocols exist to ensure that captains and operators of commercial vessels keep passengers safe. 'The defendants allegedly flouted those regulations, recklessly disregarded safety protocols, operated the vessel at an unsafe speed in hazardous conditions, and overloaded the vessel with too many passengers onboard. 'And the result was tragic a young boy and a woman were trapped under the vessel and drowned after the vessel capsized.' A TikTok foodie who tried the UK's most expensive croissant gave half of the treat away because it made him 'too full.' The giant, 3,000 calorie, croissant costs 25 and weighs 1.5kg. Callum Ryan, 23 from Milton Keynes, visited Phillipe Conticini, in South Kensington, London, to pick up his pre-ordered sweet treat. The croissant contains 700g of butter and can serve up to six people. Mr Ryan ate half of the croissant before declaring he was 'too full' and gave the rest to his friends. He said: 'It takes over an hour to make. I couldn't believe it was actually that big and that expensive. Callum Ryan (pictured), 23 from Milton Keynes, visited Phillipe Conticini, in South Kensington, London, to pick up his pre-ordered sweet treat Mr Ryan posing with the croissant. The giant, 3,000 calorie, croissant costs 25 and weighs 1.5kg The giant croissant - which can serve six people - proved too big for the TikTok star who couldn't finish the pastry because he was 'too full' 'It was absolutely banging and would highly recommend it. 'I couldn't finish it off myself so I ate half of it and gave the rest to some of my friends. 'I would say it is worth the price if you share it between friends.' Mr Ryan is not the first social media star to attempt to eat a supersized food. Fitness model Joel Hansen from Canada flew to the UK to attempt to complete The Holy Roast Challenge at Cattlemans Steakhouse at The Parkers Arms in Paignton, Devon. The gut-busting meal weighed an astonishing five kilos and contained an eye-watering array of meat, veg, spuds and bread - with the pub offering it for free to those who can gobble it down within an hour. The 28-year-old competitive eater made light work of it, polishing off the dish in just 34 minutes and 25 seconds and also pocketing 200 for smashing the previous time held by another competitive eater. Philippe Conticini don't just sell an XXL croissant, the French bakers also sell an XXL, giant Pain au Chocolat which costs 28 and is described as being 'composed of a croissant dough and plenty of chocolate bars.' Democrats are taking a victory lap to celebrate President Joe Biden's State of the Union address after he delivered impassioned remarks to a joint session of Congress and lambasted his Republican predecessor without ever once mentioning Donald Trump by name. Amid concerns about the president's age and mental fitness, Democrats were watching the president's extremely high-stakes primetime address with bated breath. From his fiery energy and message to him confronting Republicans head on, they believe he delivered. 'Smokin' Joe Biden was on fire with his State of the Union address,' declared House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries strolling into his weekly briefing Friday morning. 'He was lit, delivered a compelling vision for the American people and crushed MAGA extremism,' Jeffries said. Biden delivering a fiery address where he touted his record, challenged Republicans in Congress and went after Trump without ever mentioning him by name House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries strolling out of his weekly briefing with reporters Friday. He said Biden 'was on fire' Thursday night and the president was 'lit' 'One of the best speeches ever,' declared Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi on CNN following the president's hour-long address. Friday morning, the former speaker gushed over the 'overwhelming' response to his remarks. 'What we saw is what we will continue to see,' Pelosi, D-Calif., told MSNBC. She called it a 'triumphant evening.' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was also singing Biden's praises Friday morning calling the excitement infections. 'The speech showed that America is strong and Biden is strong,' Schumer said on CNN. 'Anyone who sat in that room would have no doubt that Biden is ready for a great second campaign and even more, a great second term.' Schumer hailed Biden's message of helping the middle class and contrasting Trump. 'He owned that room last night,' Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., posted on X. 'Owned it.' Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Sheldon Whitehouse cheer as Biden delivers his State of the Union address Biden greeting members of Congress after delivering his State of the Union address Political commentator Van Jones said he believed Biden needed to be a 'fighting grandpa' ahead of his speech. For Democrats' donors - it worked. The cash came flooding in. Tracking by ActBlue, the platform used by Democrats to raise money online, showed more than $5 million flooded in overnight. The tracker does not say specifically where the donations are going but the uptick in fundraising began right as the president arrived at the U.S. Capitol to deliver his remarks. But while Democratic leaders made a victory lap, Republicans were clearly upset with his fighting spirit for the State of the Union. Bill McGurn who was chief speechwriter for President George W Bush called it the 'most partisan State of the Union I've heard in my lifetime.' Republicans leaving the chamber after the address told DailyMail.com it was divisive, partisan and made no effort to bring people together. A special-needs woman who was lost in the Wyoming wilderness was found by a drone with a thermal camera. The Sublette County Sheriff's Office responded to a call around 11 pm on Thursday night about a special-needs women from Pinedale who had 'taken off in the night' and wandered, per the report. The precinct's Drone Team (SCSO) released footage of the rescue after police and the organization Tip Top Search and Rescue responded to the call. Once they arrived in the search area, they launched a drone equipped with a thermal camera to search for the missing woman. The woman was eventually spotted by the drone three miles from her home. In the footage, her body heat signature detected by the camera took the form of a human outline moving through the woods. A special-needs woman wandered from her house well into the night Thursday Law enforcement launched a thermal drone camera to help locate the woman The woman was lost in a field riddled with deer The drone was able to discern the woman's body heat signature from the deer's Thanks to the thermal detection technology of the camera, the woman was safely recovered and returned home after being checked by medical personnel. Administrative Sergeant Travis Bingham, a pilot with SCSO, told Cowboy State Daily that the drone team made all the difference in finding the missing woman. Had the team not had the thermal technology to locate the woman in time, Bingham said she could have died from hypothermia if she had not been found. 'She was a couple of miles ahead of responders from where she was last seen,' said Bingham. 'If they had kept following tracks trying to find her, they would've had a harder time and a slower response. 'The drone cut down the time they would have spent in the elements by themselves.' The issue at hand was trying to locate the woman in a field full of deer, who also gave off their own body heat. Bingham said the camera that detected her body heat signature provided enough resolution to discern the woman's body from the deer nearby. Had the team not found her in time, the woman could have succumbed to hypothermia Her body heat signature detected by the camera took the form of a human outline moving through the woods. The woman was safely recovered and returned home 'We can stream what we're seeing as drone pilots to the phones of responding officers and back to dispatch,' he said. 'Then, we were using radio to relay changes, share what we're seeing and coordinate efforts with multiple pilots.' As drone technology advances, they can utilize different attachments to assist in ways particular to a mission. Sublette County was one of the first counties in Wyoming to add drone to their law enforcement squadron. Bingham said he believes the state of Wyoming, given how fast and rugged the terrain is, could find drones especially useful. 'Being as remote as we are, getting a quicker response, and being able to cover a big area from above and see a bigger area than on foot was huge,' he said. The FBI has arrested a man accused of brazenly posing as a trial leader on the phone to steal $700,000 from a casino in Michigan. Jesus Gaytan-Garcia, 43, was arrested this week in the heist last summer at the Hartford Four Winds Casino, which is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Prosecutors say a search of Gaytan-Garcia's Chicago home turned up a bundle of $100 bills stamped with the word 'Hartford' and the exact date of the theft: July 30, 2023. 'The amount of money involved in this theft is extraordinary,' said Mark Totten, the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. 'Unfortunately, instances of telephone scams at casinos are on the rise across the country, impacting both tribal and commercial gaming operations,' he added. Jesus Gaytan-Garcia, 43, was arrested this week in the heist last summer at the Hartford Four Winds Casino (above), which is owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Prosecutors say a search of Gaytan-Garcia's Chicago home turned up this bundle of cash stamped with the word 'Hartford' and the exact date of the theft: July 30, 2023 Gaytan-Garcia's attorney Patrick Boyle declined to comment on the charges when reached by DailyMail.com on Friday. According to the complaint, workers at the Hartford Four Winds Casino received a phone call last July from a person falsely claiming he was the tribal chairperson. The scammer asked to speak with the cage manager and claimed the tribe desperately needed cash to make an urgent payment. As the phone call was ongoing, the cage manager also received text messages from a person posing as a casino boss who was out of town, urging the cage manager to follow the caller's instructions. Tricked by the twin-pronged scam, the cage manager gathered up $700,000 in cash, putting it into a large Michael Kors handbag, and left the casino. The casino worker remained on the phone with the scammer for more than an hour, following detailed instructions to bring the money to a gas station in Gary, Indiana. At the gas station, the casino worker handed over the cash to two unknown individuals in a black Chrysler Pacifica, according to the complaint. Investigators subsequently linked Gaytan-Garcia to the case through a search of automated license plate scanners in the area, which turned up a black Chrysler Pacifica registered to his wife. Subsequent search warrants also produced cell phone and geolocation data linking Gaytan-Garcia to the location of the location of the cash handoff. Pokagon Tribal Police Chief Mario RedLegs (above) said cooperation between tribal police and the FBI led to the arrest and charges Last month, the FBI, accompanied by Pokagon Tribal Police detectives, executed a search warrant on Gaytan-Garcia's home and turned up the bundle of cash, marked with the location and date of the casino heist. 'The arrest of Mr. Gaytan-Garcia demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration between the Pokagon Tribal Police and the FBI,' said Pokagon Tribal Police Chief Mario RedLegs. 'We greatly appreciate the support and assistance of US Attorney Mark Totten and his staff to prosecute those that violate the law on Pokagon Band land.' Gaytan-Garcia was released from custody following a detention hearing in Chicago on Thursday. He will have to appear in federal court in Michigan to face the charge of theft from an Indian tribal organization. No10 today insisted Rishi Sunak is 'acutely aware' of concerns raised by Jewish communities after Britain's counter-extremism tsar warned pro-Palestine protesters are turning London into a 'no-go zone'. Robin Simcox delivered the stark message as he slammed the Government for letting extremists go 'unchallenged' while 'lurking just below the terrorism threshold'. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters have marched through the streets of London. There has also been a huge increase in anti-Semitism in the capital since Hamas's horrific October 7 attacks that saw 1,139 people slaughtered and 240 taken hostage. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march in London on October 14, 2023, in support of Gaza Robin Simcox (pictured) slammed the Government for letting extremists go 'unchallenged for too long', allowing extremist groups to fester Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Simcox - the Home Office's independent adviser on extremism - said Britain has a 'permissive environment for radicalisation developing that needs urgently addressing'. He added that the Government needed to take a 'leading role' in tackling all types of extremism. Mr Simcox said Downing Street now had a chance to take charge of the situation while championing 'respect for the rule of law, civility, and decency' - which he said had been in 'short supply' since October 7. There have been calls for tougher restrictions on protests that could include forcing marches to be static demonstrations instead. Responding to Mr Simcox's comments, a No10 spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister would want to make clear it is very important to take people who feel this way extremely seriously and he is acutely aware of the fear and distress that many people have been feeling and communities across our country. 'That's why he's very clear that some of the behaviour that we've seen in recent weeks is unacceptable and it doesn't reflect the values that we have as a society. 'While it's not his experience of the UK, and he spoke to that as well in his speech, he does believe it's really important to take people's concerns extremely seriously and that's why we're acting accordingly.' That action includes setting out a new definition of extremism, which could come as early as next week and may ban Government officials from engaging with or funding groups or individuals deemed extremist. She added that Mr Simcox was 'referring to intimidation and examples of hate that we have seen by a minority at protests in London'. Mr Sunak has previously called for the Met Police to take tougher action against protesters. The premier also promised to deal with the 'root causes' of the problem and ensure that 'no extremist organisations or individuals are being lent legitimacy by their actions and interactions with central government'. But the Met Police Commissioner has defended the force's policing of protests, declaring 'we have to police the law as it is, not as others would wish it to be'. Yet Mr Simcox said the Government could also do more by refusing entry to hate preachers touring the UK. Next week, Michael Gove is set to announce a broader definition of extremism that will allow the Government, universities and councils to stop funding for Islamist and Right-wing groups. Activists staging a mass sit-down protest in Liverpool Street Station during rush hour in October last year Rishi Sunak summoned force leaders to Downing Street to discuss their handling of the protests A pro-Palestine march across Waterloo Bridge in October last year Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley (pictured) suggested that policing had become 'an anvil for these issues to be beaten out on' Ministers are reportedly likely to name which groups will fall under the new definition in Parliament when it is announced. The new definition could ban Government officials from engaging with or funding groups or individuals deemed extremist. Yet it has led to concerns from some on the right that it could inadvertently penalise groups opposed to gay marriage, abortion or new transgender rights. Mr Simcox said: 'While debates over a definition can feel like academic navel-gazing when actual extremist acts are so common, the work does have a clear purpose: it will be used to guide future decisions over who Government does, and does not, engage with and fund. 'The Government is right to act. Evidence that the state works with or funds extremists has appeared in independent reviews or Government strategies dating back over a decade. This needs fixing, new definition of extremism or not.' He suggested the Government and its agencies already powers to combat extremism but had failed to tackle groups that fall below the threshold of being terrorists. He said Whitehall 'has more power to tackle extremism than it sometimes thinks'. 'After all, the Iranian government does not have an inalienable right to run schools and mosques in our capital city. 'It is not an unalterable democratic principle that Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood must be allowed to run a multitude of charities,' he said. 'We have not betrayed democracy if extremists are no longer able to operate television channels.' Last week former home secretary Suella Braverman urged Mr Sunak to introduce emergency legislation to tackle extremism. Echoing Mr Simcox's language, she said: 'Parts of London have become no-go areas for Jewish people. 'That is totally unacceptable. We've seen anti-Semitism skyrocket.' Ms Braverman was responding to a speech by Mr Sunak in which he said there had been a 'shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality' since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. He warned protesters not to let extremists 'hijack' their marches. Official figures showed that anti-Semitism was at a record high last year, amid an 'explosion of hatred'. In the Community Security Trust's annual report, it said there had been a surge in anti-Jewish attacks, threats and abuse which had amounted to a 'celebration' of Hamas's massacre of innocent Israelis. There were 4,103 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK last year, according to figures. This is nearly double the previous record in 2021, covering all types of 'hate' against Jewish people. Shocking examples of anti-Semitism include when a poster of a baby kidnapped by Hamas was defaced with two swastikas in an incident in London at the end of last year, including a swastika drawn on the infant's forehead. In October a synagogue in Sussex was daubed with 'SS IDF' in red paint, with 'SS' depicted as the emblem of the Nazi's genocidal elite guard, and 'IDF' referring to the Israeli Defence Forces. Just last week, a Jewish man wearing a skullcap was told 'your religion is killing Muslims' on the London Underground. And this week, Jewish students told of their terror after 100 pro-Palestine protesters mobbed a stall where they were raising awareness about anti-Semitism. The Jewish group said they were screamed at and had orange squash thrown at them by some members of the counter-protesters. A poster of Kfir Bibas, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, is daubed with swastikas A pro-Palestine protester holds up a sign comparing Jewish people to the Nazis A synagogue is daubed with the letters 'IDF' and what appears to be the 'lightning bolt' insignia of the SS, the Nazi paramilitary death squads One Jewish student, 20-year-old Rojin-Sena Cantay, told MailOnline the students felt subjected to intimidation and anti-Semitic abuse. 'I am absolutely broken to put it into words. We got assaulted with juice thrown on us,' she said. 'We were surrounded by a group of over 100 people. They were all in a circle screaming at us. It was one of the most scary things of my life. 'They came in groups and it was very sudden that the group got so big.' Mohammed Nuru, former director of San Francisco Public Works in 2015. The latest action in the federal corruption probe centering on Nuru was a guilty plea Friday to a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud by Department of Buildings Inspections plan checker Cyril Yu. Jeff Chiu/Associated Press A former plan checker from the Department of Building Inspection pleaded guilty Friday to accepting bribes from a local developer to rubber-stamp building designs. Cyril Yu, 41, faced one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of as much as $250,000. His guilty plea marks the latest action in a sprawling anti-corruption investigation into San Francisco city government that started with the arrest of former Public Works Chief Mohammed Nuru four years ago. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The guilty plea came just a day after a federal judge sentenced Nurus co-defendant, restaurateur Nick Bovis, to nine months in prison. Yu and another former plan checker, Rudy Pada, were arrested in November. Prosecutors said they accepted bribes from local developers Siavash Tahbazof, Bahman Ghassemzadeh and Reza Khoshnevisan. A third former DBI employee, senior inspector Bernie Curran, also pleaded guilty to bribery charges. He is serving time in a federal prison in Lompoc. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ward said in court that if Yus case had gone to trial, prosecutors would have been able to prove he accepted free meals, drinks and cash payments of $1,200-$1,500 numerous times from Ghassemzadeh. Ghassemzadeh and his colleagues have pleaded guilty to fraud charges and await sentencing. Yu appeared in court in a black puffy vest and did not speak with reporters. Advertisement Article continues below this ad During the brief hearing, which lasted less than 15 minutes, Judge Susan Illston asked him a series of perfunctory questions: his age, did he speak English, did he understand the charges against him. Was he satisfied with his attorney? One-hundred percent, Yu replied. Illston wasnt sure of the sentence she would ultimately hand down, she warned. After listening to the governments case, she had one more question for him. Are those things true? she asked. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Yes, Your Honor, he replied. Moments later, Yu and his attorney filed out of court. Five civilians were crushed to death by the multi-nation Gaza airdrop after a parachute carrying one of the parcels failed to deploy on Friday, according to various reports. CBS cites unnamed officials from the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health who say two of the victims killed were young boys. The slain civilians were reportedly killed at the Al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza when at least one parachute failed to properly deploy and a parcel fell on them. A journalist who was on the scene confirmed the deaths to CNN, but said he could not say which nation was behind the air drop. Muhammad Al-Sheikh, Head of Emergency Care Department at Al Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, has also confirmed the five civilian deaths. There were also 10 other civilians injured, aged between 30 and 50 years old. Some are in serious condition and remain hospitalized, CNN reported Friday. The State Department told DailyMail.com they understand the aid drop in question did not come from the US. The US was among six nations that began sending aid parcels to the war-torn region last Friday; Jordan, Egypt, France, the Netherlands and Belgium also sent packages. The State Department is yet to comment on the claims and the UN has not yet verified the report. Parachutes drop supplies into the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, March 8, 2024 Three planes from Air Forces Central dropped 66 bundles containing about 38,000 meals into Gaza U.S. C-130s dropped over 38,000 meals along the coastline of Gaza allowing for civilian access to the critical aid A video on social media shows a cluster of parcels suspended from parachutes before one drops much faster than the rest towards a residential building. Three planes from Air Forces Central dropped 66 bundles containing about 38,000 meals into Gaza. The bundles were dropped in southwest Gaza, on the beach along the territorys Mediterranean coast. The airdrop was coordinated with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which said it had two food airdrops Saturday in northern Gaza and has conducted several rounds in recent months. A witness told AFP they followed one of the parachuted packages in hopes of getting a bag of flour, but the chute didn't open and 'fell down like a rocket on the roof of one of the houses.' 'Ten minutes later I saw people transferring three martyrs and others injured, who were staying on the roof of the house where the aid packages fell,' the 50-year-old man told AFP. Three Biden administration officials said the planes dropped the military Meals Ready to Eat shelf-stable meals that contain a days worth of calories in each sealed package in locations that were thought would provide civilians with the greatest level of safety to access aid. Afterward, the U.S. monitored the sites and was able to see civilians approach and distribute food among themselves, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details that had not been made public. The U.S. airdrop is expected to be the first of many. The airdrops took place after Biden said the US military would build a temporary pier on Gaza's Mediterranean coast to receive shipments of humanitarian aid. 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. Palestinians queue for hours to receive food distributed by charitable organizations, in Deir Balah, Gaza on March 01, 2024 Smoke rises following Israeli air strikes in the northern Gaza Strip, 01 March 2024. More than 30,200 Palestinians and over 1,300 Israelis have been killed, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) 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. The United Nations has warned of famine among Gaza's 2.3million residents as the war with Israel rages on. Since the war began on October 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. Inquest found Mr Lewis - who was found in North Wales - had committed suicide A mushroom hunter found the decomposed body of a man who was reported missing more than 10 years ago, an inquest heard. The remains of Anthony Lewis, 63, who disappeared in July 2012, were found in dense woodland on September 25 last year. Enrico Jacovelli had been foraging for mushrooms in dense woodland near his home in Dolgarrog, in the Conwy Valley, North Wales, when he spotted a bottle in the undergrowth. On further inspection, Jacovelli discovered some clothing and parts of a human skeleton. The body of Mr Lewis was eventually identified using dental records, the inquest in Ruthin, Denbighshire, was told. The remains of Anthony Lewis (pictured), 63, who disappeared in July 2012, were found in dense woodland on September 25 last year Enrico Jacovelli had been foraging for mushrooms in dense woodland near his home in Dolgarrog, in the Conwy Valley, North Wales, when he spotted a bottle in the undergrowth The court heard Mr Lewis, who went missing from his home in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, on July 5, 2012, was likely to have killed himself 'because he felt he had no future.' His BMW car was found at Trefriw, near Llanrwst, a week after his disappearance, yet despite a massive search operation being launched - involving a police helicopter and mountain rescue teams - rescuers failed to find his whereabouts. At the inquest, Kate Robertson, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, read a statement from Mr Lewis' daughter Samantha - who said he worked in the petro-chemical industry for many years before moving to live in Italy. But his marriage broke down and he returned to Britain, moving in with his mother because he could not afford to buy or rent a property. Ms Lewis said her father became withdrawn after failing to find work, was estranged from his children and did not have a social circle. She elaborated: 'He felt that he was in an impossible position and had no future.' In the area around his body were two empty wine bottles and a gas cannister, the inquest heard. Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers said it was likely that he was intoxicated before deliberately inhaling gas from the canister although toxicology tests were impossible. The court heard Mr Lewis, who went missing from his home in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, on July 5, 2012, was likely to have killed himself 'because he felt he had no future' Mr Lewis' abandoned car was found in Snowdonia a week later sparking a frantic police search but tragically he could not be located Dr Rodgers said the cause of death was asphyxia due to inhalation of the gas. Ms Robertson concluded Mr Lewis' death was suicide and said there was an element of pre-planning in what had occurred. She said that while his death and the discovery of his body so many years later must have been traumatic for his family, 'hopefully there will be an element of comfort in the fact that he has been found.' The sad news comes after a murder investigation was launched after human remains were discovered in a field in Nottinghamshire in April last year. Police have been unable to identify the body, which was found with a pair of socks and a man's shoe in farmland off Coxmoor Road in Sutton-in-Ashfield on 26 April. While the cause of death is unknown, it is believed the person sustained 'traumatic injuries.' For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support Looking at the state of the world today, it is tempting to blame it all on a kind of collective amnesia. There are not many people alive who can remember the 1930s. There arent many people who can remember the Europe of the dictators. People have forgotten the demands of Adolf Hitler how he would endlessly use the alleged sufferings of German-speaking communities as a pretext for invasion of other countries. There arent many of us who can remember the pre-war culture of casual anti-Semitism that was to be found in so many supposedly civilised European cities. We know about it generally from watching documentaries, or films, or from reading books. But for the vast majority of the population it is not something that chimes in the memory. We dont personally hear the echoes and the alarm bells that should be going off in our mind because we no longer viscerally remember this stuff, and where it can lead. Private security patrol Stamford Hill in North London, home to a large Orthodox Jewish community It must be amnesia, because otherwise it is hard to explain how we fail to draw the comparisons between Hitler and Putin both of them with their narrative of betrayal and the alleged injustices suffered by the speakers of his own language; both of them with their bogus interpretation of history; both of them claiming that they are committed to peace, and then using barbaric violence to further their demands; both of them habitual liars. It must be a kind of mass amnesia about the horrors of the 1930s, because otherwise it is hard to explain how we can tolerate the upsurge in anti-Semitism not just in continental Europe, this time, but also on the streets of our own capital. We have Jewish people sitting peacefully on the Tube and told that your religion kills people. We have SS signs daubed on the walls of synagogues. We have students jeering at Jewish Society stalls at universities and we have huge crowds demonstrating, week in, week out, in major European capitals including London and calling for the homeland for the Jews to be wiped out, from the river to the sea. According to the Community Security Trust, there has been a massive increase in anti-Semitic incidents of all kinds. So in the face of this memory loss this weird senior moment on the part of humanity let us remember where this all leads. Look back at the 1930s, and remember the denouement of that low, dishonest decade. The 1930s climaxed with an appalling global conflict that cost millions of lives; they ended with the gas chambers and the Holocaust. When we failed to stand up to aggression, when we allowed ancient and irrational prejudices to take root and to spread throughout a European civilisation, we ended up with a total catastrophe. As it happens, I dont think that history will repeat itself. There are many reasons for hope and many ways in which the world is a far better place. But we cannot be complacent and we must learn the essential lesson of the pre-war epoch: that you have to be strong and clear-eyed, and to stick up for your values; and above all you have to do it in time, before it is too late. I understand the grief and anxiety that people feel about the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza. Of course we are all praying for the conflict to end. But there is a very simple way to bring the Israeli operation to a close and that is for Hamas to return the remaining 134 hostages taken on October 7. Too many people have forgotten what this is all about and how it started indeed, people dont talk about it any more, as if it were somehow uncouth or irrelevant. This nightmare started one fine morning last autumn, at a time when hopes for reconciliation between Israel and its Arab neighbours had never been higher. It began when terrorists using cars, motorbikes and paragliders swarmed out of Gaza and indiscriminately attacked civilians. They killed about 1,200 people and demonstrably committed such appalling acts of brutality raping corpses, burning their victims alive that one wonders if they were on some sort of drug. They killed women and children in cold blood, and abducted about 250 civilians. After the Hamas terror attacks, people came out in their thousands to wave not the Israeli flag but the Palestinian flag Indeed, they still hold some children as their captives, one of them barely more than a year old. And almost as soon as they had performed this wickedness before Israel had even formed a plan of retaliation there were demonstrations on our streets; not against Hamas, not against the killers, but against Israel. People came out in their thousands to wave not the Israeli flag but the Palestinian flag. They say that they are not siding with Hamas but of course they are. What were the Israelis supposed to do, when they suffered the biggest massacre of Jewish people since the Second World War? I suppose that they should have appealed to the government of Gaza, and asked for those responsible to be found and handed over, so that they could receive a fair trial. But that option was not open to Israel, because the perpetrators Hamas were and are the elected government of Gaza; and they certainly werent going to hand themselves over. To all those people who continue to drape themselves in Palestinian flags and shout for Israel to be wiped off the map, remember whom you are backing. Hamas is a group of Islamist extremists and among their whacko predilections is torturing gay people. We cant possibly let them win and we cant let this hideous fog-like anti-Semitism return to cloud our minds. The lesson of the 1930s is democracy is always more fragile than you think. We have to stand up for democracy in Israel, in exactly the same way that we have to stand up for democracy in Ukraine. We cannot let Putin win, any more than Hamas. I dont believe he will and it looks as though there is now a good way to unlock the crucial $60billion tranche of U.S. funding. Donald Trump has proposed to Republican lawmakers that the cash should be designated as a loan and that seems sensible; indeed, it is the American way of doing these things. When Lend Lease began in 1941, it wasnt a grant to wartime Britain, it was a loan. In fact, the UK continued to pay it back until 2006, when the last cheque for $83million was signed by one Ed Balls, then Economic Secretary to the Treasury in the government of Tony Blair. Give the Ukrainians the tools and the support they need, and they will finish the job; because unlike the Russians conscripts, they believe in their cause. We have seen this script before, in Europe. We have seen what it is like when a dictator is willing to use indiscriminate violence against his neighbours. We have seen what happens when anti-Semitism gets out of control. The answer is to act now, and decisively because Putin and Hamas must fail together. Let us remember the lessons of the 1930s and we wont repeat the disasters of the 20th century. The men allegedly hijacked the yacht of Ralph Henry and Kathleen Brandel from Virginia, killed the couple and fled to St. Vincent A trio of escaped prison inmates from Grenada have been officially charged with the murders of an American couple A trio of inmates who escaped from prison in Grenada have been formally charged with killing an American couple after allegedly hijacking their yacht. Ron Mitchell, Atiba Stanisclaus and Trevon Robertson have each been charged with two counts of capital murder over the deaths of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel. The Virginia couple had been sailing around the Caribbean and were docked near Saint George's when their yacht was hijacked. It is believed the trio took over the boat and killed the couple before fleeing to St. Vincent. Grenada police commissioner Don McKenzie said last week in a news conference that the couple was likely thrown overboard. Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel (pictured) had been sailing around the Caribbean island and had docked near Saint George's when their catamaran was taken on February 18. Police fear the couple may have been murdered by three men who escaped a Grenada jail Ron Mitchell, Trevon Robertson and Atiba Stanisclaus (pictured) have each been charged with two counts of capital murder over the deaths of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel Information suggests the suspects 'disposed of the occupants' while traveling between Grenada and St. Vincent, which is about 80 miles away. The men were previously charged with entering the country by boat and disembarking without the consent of Immigration officer, entering without a passport, entering at a point other than an official port of entry and landing as a prohibited immigrant. They were were being held at the South Saint George's Police Station on the island when they escaped and are believed to have killed the couple before travelling to St. Vincent. Hendry and Brandel had lived on Simplicity since 2013, after they decided to sell their home and the majority of their possessions to buy a boat. They spent most of their time stationed in Florida, but would travel to Rhode Island during hurricane season. This winter was the first time the pair had sailed to the Caribbean. Although Brandel 'worked her whole life' and has since retired, Buro said that Hendry - who is in the financial services industry - had 'continued to work from the boat'. The couple, who were lifelong sailors and married 27 years, have been able to travel to 'many parts of the world' due to their boat lifestyle and were living a 'life of joy and love'. The couple, who were lifelong sailors and married 27 years, have been able to travel to 'many parts of the world' due to their boat lifestyle and were living a 'life of joy and love'. Pictured together: Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel, (pictured) who are in their 60s, live aboard the vessel, named 'Simplicity' and were enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime trip that they had been planning for 12 years Bryan Hendry, son of Hendry, revealed that his parents just 'wanted to immerse themselves in different communities and share love and spread joy'. Brandel's son Nick Buro confirmed shortly after the incident that the boat was 'ransacked' and it appeared to be a violent 'altercation' Buro previously shared that the family was 'hopeful' that his parents would be found, but said evidence on their boat indicates 'they were likely injured'. 'The boat itself was ransacked and everything was strewn about in the entire cabin so clearly there was an altercation of some type that took place on the boat,' he told CNN, adding: 'We are doing our best to try and get answers.' He revealed the family was concerned 'there might be a possibility that they aren't with us,' which has likely proven to be true. He said that his mother and stepfather were 'super careful' and 'safety was their top, top concern' everywhere they travelled. He suspects the 'unfortunate' and 'horrific' event likely 'came out of nowhere for them'. AIS data indicates that the vessel left Grenada around 10 pm from Grand Anse Beach before it was discovered the following Wednesday. The couple had been sailing on their catamaran yacht 'Simplicity' and were enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime trip when the incident occurred Brandel's son Nick Buro revealed the family was concerned 'there might be a possibility that they aren't with us,' which has unfortunately proven to be true The boat was found 85 nautical miles from where the couple had last been seen on it The suspects, Trevon Robertson (left), Atiba Stanislaus (middle) and Ron Mitchell (right) are seen walking out of Kingstown Magistrate Court on Monday in St. Vincent. Police fear that Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel were murdered by the escaped inmates Two of the three murder suspects are seen hiding their faces with paper in the back of a pickup truck after they exited the court. The person in the middle is another prisoner being transported who is not related to the case The St Vincent Times reported that the boat was found with bloodstains on the interior, but no sign of the couple. 'Copious volumes of blood were discovered in the master stateroom. Numerous personal belongings were also lost. Passports discovered onboard allowed police to contact the victims emergency contacts,' a safety report filed on Caribbean Security and Safety Net said. The suspects made their first court appearance in St. Georges Magistrates Court in Grenada on Thursday. The trio have also been charged with escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery and kidnapping. Stanisclaus was separately charged with one count of rape, although it hasn't been made clear what incidents that relates to. They remain in prison and are due back in court on March 27. Pro-Palestine protesters have sprayed and slashed the University of Cambridge's historic painting of British statesman Lord Balfour who paved the way for a Jewish state in the Middle East. Protest group Palestine Action shared a video of a demonstrator destroying the portrait and spraying it with red paint. A woman is seen on the footage slashing the painting with a sharp object before spraying paint from a can over Balfour's face. The Conservative politician gave his name to the Balfour Declaration - a public statement issued by the British government to create a 'national home for the Jewish people' in Palestine, paving the way for the founding of Israel in 1948. The declaration, made in 1917, was contained within a letter from Balfour to Lord Rothschild, a British Jewish leader. A pro-Palestine protester has slashed and sprayed a painting of Lord Balfour at the University of Cambridge British statesman Lord Balfour paved the way for a Jewish state in the Middle East Among the declaration's lasting consequences was increased support for Zionism within the Jewish community, and it formed part of the founding of Mandatory Palestine. Balfour succeeded his uncle Lord Salisbury as Prime Minister in 1902 and served until his resignation in 1905. He later became foreign secretary under David Lloyd George, but was excluded from the small war cabinet and the inner workings of government. The oil on canvas painting, currently housed at the University of Cambridge, was by artist Philip Alexius de Laszlo and was completed in 1914. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. Palestine Action said it 'vowed to continue their direct campaign' which it said was in response to the presence of Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms supplier, in Britain. It wrote: 'Arthur Balfour, then UK Foreign secretary, issued a declaration which promised to build 'a national home for the Jewish people' in Palestine, where the majority of the indigenous population were not Jewish. He gave away the Palestinians homeland a land that wasn't his to give away. 'After the Declaration, until 1948, the British burnt down indigenous villages to prepare the way; with this came arbitrary killings, arrests, torture, sexual violence including rape against women and men, the use of human shields and the introduction of home demolitions as collective punishment to repress Palestinian resistance. 'The British were initiating the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, fulfilling the Zionist aim to build their 'home' over the top of what were Palestinian communities, towns, villages, farms and ancestral land, rich in heritage, culture and ancient archeological history. 'The Palestinians refer to this time as the Nakba which translates into the great catastrophe. 'Elbit Systems, Israel's largest arms supplier, who use captive Palestinians in Gaza as a human laboratory to develop their weapons, use Britain as a manufacturing outpost. 'The Israeli weapons maker build weaponry in factories across the country and work closely with the British government. 'Palestine Action vows to continue their direct campaign until Elbit is shut down and British complicity with the colonisation of Palestine ends.' Protest group Palestine Action shared footage of the protestor spraying red paint on the portrait of the British statesman at Trinity College Since the Hamas attack of October 7 last year, pro-Palestine activists have held demonstrations across the UK including a series of large rallies in London. Yesterday Britain's counter-extremism tsar Robert Simcox warned that the capital was becoming a 'no-go zone for Jews' and slammed the government for allowing extremists to 'go unchallenged for too long'. A statement from Trinity College said: 'Trinity College regrets the damage caused to a portrait of Arthur James Balfour during public opening hours. 'The police have been informed. Support is available for any member of the College community affected.' A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: 'This afternoon (8 March) we received an online report of criminal damage today to a painting at Trinity College, Cambridge. 'Officers are attending the scene to secure evidence and progress the investigation. 'No arrests have been made at this stage.' Eighteen people have been charged in connection with a large scale conspiracy involving ghost guns and defrauding a Covid unemployment scheme in New York. The eighteen indicted include eight public servants in positions across local, state and federal levels and all appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday. The defendants include employees of the city's homeless services, a letter carrier for USPS, a worker for the transportation authority and a police officer. According to DA Alvin Bragg, the homeless services workers had been involved in a scheme to steal information on homeless people to file for fraudulent benefits. Investigators learned of the alleged fraud after Cliffie Thompson, who was sentenced in January to five years, was caught assembling firearms in his East Village apartment. The eighteen indicted include eight public servants in positions across local, state and federal levels and all appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday The defendants include employees of the city's homeless services, a letter carrier for USPS, a worker for the transportation authority and a police officer According to DA Alvin Bragg, the homeless services workers had been involved in a scheme to steal information on homeless people to file for fraudulent benefits Evidence uncovered after that raid on the property pointed towards a broader scheme inside the Department of Homeless Services, prosecutors said. Craig Freeman, who was also charged in connection with the firearm assembly, is said to have used his job at homeless services to steal the information of homeless people. Bragg said the stolen information allowed the group to file 170 false applications to receive money from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program. After applying for financial assistance, the group are said to have enlisted letter carrier Sabur Khalifah to take the envelopes containing checks and bank cards from the mail and deliver it to them, Bragg said. Prosecutors say the alleged fraud saw the group make off with over $1.2 million, with disagreements concerning how the money was divided said to have occurred. Bragg said that Charde Baker, 35, was a leader of the scheme, having worked for the Department of Homeless Services and previously for the NYPD. The DA added that Baker used the money from the alleged fraud to fund trips to Mexico and Tanzania. In court on Thursday co conspirators, Craig Freeman, 56, Charde Baker, 35, Latricia Kitchens, 36, Garret Whetsell, 38, Shanice Roberts, 30, Dawayne Bell, 32, David Barr, 33, and Sabur Khalifah, 43, all appeared. The New York Post reported that Baker was charged with fourth-degree conspiracy and burglary in the two indictments, with bail set at $200,000. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a news conference at his office in New York City, U.S., February 22, 2024 Prosecutors say the alleged fraud saw the group make off with over $1.2 million, with disagreements concerning how the money was divided said to have occurred Bragg said the stolen information allowed the group to file 170 false applications to receive money from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program Investigators unearthed the alleged fraud following a property in the East Village being exposed as a ghost gun assembly point According to the DA, the burglary charged against Baker and others stemmed from their disagreement over how the money was split, leading to an apartment robbery. DA Bragg said in a statement: 'As alleged, the takedown of a sophisticated ghost gun manufacturing operation uncovered wide-ranging schemes, including the link to a massive fraud and a planned burglary. 'These alleged schemes were orchestrated and largely operated by city employees, many of whom abused their positions of public trust for personal gain. 'We see a clear link between those engaging in violent crimes and traditional white-collar fraud at the same time. 'My Office will continue leveraging the expertise and tools available at our disposal to dismantle these types of interconnected schemes, no matter how complex they are.' The Sri Lankan family that was brutally murdered in Canada had reportedly thrown a birthday party for 19-year-old suspect Febrio de Zoysa days before the attack. Zoysa is accused of killing the family and their lodger, who had recently immigrated from Sri Lanka, inside a home in Ottawa, Canada. The victims are: mom Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake, 35; their lodger Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, 40; Inuka Wickramasinghe, seven; Ashwini Wickramasinghe, four; Rinyana Wickramasinghe, two; and Kelly Wickramasinghe, two months old. They were discovered at their home just before 11 pm on Wednesday after police received several frantic 911 calls. Father Dhanushka Wickramasinghe suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital. He had parts of two fingers cut off and one has since been repaired. He also suffered a slash across his face between his nose and his eye and stab wounds to the chest and back. The victims are all Sri Lankan nationals except the baby who was born in Canada, according to police. Febrio De-Zoysa, 19, is accused of killing a Sri Lankan family and their lodger on Wednesday The Sri Lankan student has been charged with the deaths of six people in Ottawa including four members of the same family and their lodger According to the National Post, a resident monk at Hilda Jayewardenaramaya Buddhist Monastery who knew the family said they had thrown a birthday party for the accused to celebrate his 19th birthday a week before the murder. Bhante Suneetha said she met with Dhanushka at the hospital yesterday and he was in 'great shock'. Dhanushka also reportedly told Suneetha that nothing seemed 'wrong' in the lead-up to the attack. In an interview with the Canadian Press, Suneetha said: 'They even helped him to celebrate. They organized a celebration of his 19th birthday last week, a few days ago.' Zoysa was seen in court yesterday afternoon and only spoke to say his name and birthdate before sitting down. He has been ordered not to contact five people, which includes Dhanushka. Zoysa has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Officials said in court that Zoysa is a Sri Lankan national who is studying in Canada. Last evening, Algonquin College president Claude Brule released a statement confirming De-Zoysa was a student at the college and said that 'it appears his last semester of attendance was Winter 2023.' Police officers hold up a sheet as members of the coroner's office remove a body at the Ottawa home after the Wednesday night murders Police said the victims were a mom and her four kids as well as an acquaintance of the family who was living with them. Her husband was also injured According to Suneetha, Zoysa had moved into the murdered family's basement nearly two months ago to pursue studies. Dhanushka had supposedly previously met the accused's parents in Sri Lanka. While conversing with Suneetha, he also clarified that the family had never had any problems with the suspect. But while he had no problems with the family, he was reportedly having issues at school and recently dropped out. Zoysa was also allegedly suicidal. The resident monk said the grief-ridden father had came home from a cleaning job late Wednesday night when the attack occurred. Dhanushka resisted and asked if the suspect if his family had been hurt to which the alleged murder said: 'No, I didn't do anything (to) them'. But when he went to his kids, they were 'gone'. Members of the coroner's office stand outside the scene of a homicide on Thursday morning According to authorities in, six people were found in a home just south of the downtown Ottawa area of the city around 11 pm Wednesday night Cops arrived at the house to find the heartbroken father outside yelling for help. Inside the home, authorities discovered his wife, their children and the acquaintance. Images taken at the scene show blood smeared over the front door to the property, as forensic teams and police officers investigate. Investigators said he was an acquaintance of the family and was living in the home at the time although no motive has been established yet. They added that an 'edged' weapon was used during the killings. 'There are a lot of questions about why this tragedy occurred. This is the focus of our homicide unit as [they] diligently investigate this tragic crime,' Ottawa Deputy Police Chief Trish Ferguson said during Thursday's press conference. Police tape blocks access to an alleyway at the scene where six people were found dead in the Barrhaven suburb of Ottawa on Thursday An Ottawa Police Service officer stands near a door smeared in blood at the property in Barrhaven, Ontario 'Our investigators and forensic teams are working very hard to determine all of the facts and ensure justice is done but that also means we must maintain the integrity of the investigation for court,' she added. 'This was a senseless act of violence, perpetrated on purely innocent people,' Chief Eric Stubbs said. 'We have been working to advise the families of the deceased, many of whom are overseas. 'I want to emphasize that this was a senseless act of violence perpetrated on purely innocent people. 'I know our whole community is shocked and mourning this event. 'I want to offer my condolences to the loved ones of all of the victims for this unimaginable loss.' The murders, which have rocked the community of Barrhaven, were addressed by the country's prime minister, Justin Trudeau. 'Obviously our first reactions are all ones of shock and horror at this terrible violence,' he said. In a statement, police said that the investigation into the deaths would be 'tragic and complex' 'We are expecting that the community reaches out to support family and friends as Canadians always do, and we expect the police of jurisdiction to be doing the work and keeping us all informed of this terrible tragedy.' Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe also sought to reassure the public there is no wider danger. 'While it will be difficult for many of us to go about our usual routines in the face of such tragedy, again there is no risk to the public. 'We are fortunate to live in a safe city where these events are extremely rare, but everyone understandably will react to this news today, and feel less safe and secure.' It's game on for the 2024 presidential campaign as Joe Biden's team unveiled his re-election strategy, arguing it's not about the age of the candidate but what he'll do for the country. The fight against Donald Trump begins with Biden hitting the ground running to counter the concerns about his physical stamina. His re-election team is plotting a month of high energy events for the 81-year-old incumbent president. Officials said it's not about the age of the candidates - Trump is 77 - but the age of their ideas. It's 'not going to be a contrast in ages its going to be a contrast in the age of the candidates ideas,' said Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler in a briefing call with reporters. 'It'll be a contrast of ideas, not a contrast in age,' he said. President Joe Biden will hit the ground running after his State of the Union address Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will visit every battleground state this month, his campaign announced on Friday, in a barn-storm campaign event to show the general election has begun. His campaign has dubbed March the 'month of action.' The president will be in Pennsylvania on Friday and Georgia on Saturday. Next week he'll be campaigning in New Hampshire on Monday, Wisconsin on Wednesday, and Michigan on Thursday. Harris is visiting Arizona on Friday and Nevada on Saturday. Biden's cabinet will also get into the act. The secretaries of the Treasury, interior, agriculture, labor, health and human services, education energy and veterans affairs will hit the road to talk about what the Biden administration has accomplished. Coming off Biden's high-energy State of the Union address, where the president only made one major stumble, his re-election team outlined their plans for victory in November. His campaign team argued they are better positioned for the election and slammed Trump and the Republican National Committee as having to deal with 'infighting and scandal' while paying Trump legal bills. 'They're in a situation where in battleground states that are core to winning this election they have infighting and scandal,' said Campaign Chair Jen OMalley Dillon of the Republicans. The Biden campaign has $130 million in the bank while Trump has faced over $540 million in legal payouts and millions more in legal fees. 'The resources aren't there for them,' O'Malley Dillon said. But Trump is leading in the majority of the polls on the 2024 matchup. And Biden is facing a 56% disapproval rating, per the Five Thirty-Eight polling average, along with the questions about his physical abilities. And Trump has had a good week with the Supreme Court ruling he stays on the ballot and the high court deciding to hear his presidential immunity argument in April, which delaying a trial or verdict in the many cases against him until after the November election. Donald Trump leads in a majority of polls on the 2024 presidential race Vice President Kamala Harris will also hit the campaign trail Trump faces federal charges and state charges in Georgia over his actions to try and overturn the 2020 presidential results. And he faces federal charges related to classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago home. The Biden campaign argues the former president will be distracted with legal issues and has shown no interest in expanding his voter base. 'We know that he lost in 2020. And so, in order to win, he's got to expand his base of voters to find new people to be with him. And that is not something he's shown that he's really focused on it. You saw Nikki Haley come out and leave the race this week. And, instead of wrapping his arms around them, like we certainly have, the Trump really mocks her supporters and suggested, whether it's the donors or supporters, that he doesn't need their vote,' O'Malley Dillon said. After Haley exited the Republican primary campaign, Biden praised her 'courage' in challenging Trump and then made a play for her supporters. 'Donald Trump made it clear he doesn't want Nikki Haley's supporters. I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign,' he said. Many of Haley's voters described their support for her as more of a vote against Trump. Haley, in her remarks on Wednesday announcing her exit from the presidential race, notably did not endorse Trump. Instead she said the former president must earn her support and that of her voters. 'It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it, who did not support him. And I hope he does that,' she said. Trump also made a play for Haley supporters but he insulted the former South Carolina governor in the process, noting he 'trounced' her. He said he'd like to 'invite all of the Haley supporters to join the greatest movement in the history of our Nation. BIDEN IS THE ENEMY, HE IS DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!' President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at their campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del. The Biden campaign argues their focus is on the ground to bring out voters, many of whom have expressed dismay at the fact the 2024 contest is a rematch of the 2020 presidential race. 'Trump's bleeding cash, he's really behind in building the infrastructure that you'd expect to be seeing of a former president. He's really not focused on building new people to his side,' O'Malley Dillon said. The campaign is investing heavily in ads, volunteers and get-out-the-vote movements to get their supporters to the polls. 'We firmly believe that this race is going to be one on the ground, across key states that are core to our multiple pathways to 270 [electoral votes], and everything we are doing this month to kick off the general election is grounded in that premise,' said Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez. The Biden campaign is also planning a $30 million six-week advertising campaign that will target swing voters and blocs like Hispanic, African American and Asian voters. 'We'll be spending more in the next six weeks than we did in all of 2023 to break through in our fractured media environment,' said , Deputy Campaign Manager Rob Flaherty. 'We're going to be reaching voters through television connected TV and other digital platforms.' The Education Secretary today claimed she would have 'probably punched' Ofsted staff after hearing about a school's experience with 'really rude' inspectors. Gillian Keegan stirred up a row with comments to hundreds of school and college leaders as she demanded a change to a 'culture of respect' during inspections. Union bosses branded Ms Keegan's remarks as 'unbecoming' of a Cabinet minister and said it was 'very poor taste' to make light of violence in schools. They pointed to how teachers are increasingly likely to face assaults while doing their job in classrooms. The Ofsted chief was also forced to issue a call for his staff to be treated with 'professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect'. Opposition parties accused Ms Keegan of another 'gaffe' after she was previously caught on camera bemoaning a lack of praise for doing a 'f****** good job' on the schools concrete crisis. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan claimed she would have 'probably punched' Ofsted staff after hearing about a school's experience with 'really rude' inspectors Sir Martyn Oliver, chief inspector of Ofsted, was forced to issue a call for his staff to be treated with 'professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect' Speaking during a Q&A at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) annual conference in Liverpool, Ms Keegan spoke of a 'fantastic' school she had recently visited. The Education Secretary said: 'They told me how their Ofsted experience had gone and I was shocked. I was actually shocked. 'I thought: God if I had met these people, I would have probably punched them. They were really rude.' Ms Keegan added: 'I mean you expect people to be rude to you when you're a politician, you kind of sign up for that. 'But when you are kind of trying to run a school and educate children and change lives, you don't expect somebody to come in and not be respectful.' Ofsted has launched a major consultation into its future direction after coming under scrutiny in the past year following the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry. Mrs Keegan said the culture of inspection was the 'biggest thing' that needed to change following Mrs Perry's death. Mrs Perry took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns. In December, a coroner concluded the Ofsted inspection on November 15-16 in 2022 'likely contributed' to Mrs Perry's death. Addressing the aftermath of Mrs Perry's death, Ms Keegan told headteachers: 'I was struck that actually the biggest thing that we needed to change was the culture. 'It was the culture and the culture of inspection and that mutual respect that I talked about.' She added: 'Because if you have that culture of respect, then you do listen automatically.' Sir Martyn Oliver, chief inspector of Ofsted, launched the watchdog's 'Big Listen' public consultation on Friday which will seek views about Ofsted. 'Ruth's death was a tragedy and I am determined to do everything that I can to prevent such tragedies happening in the future,' he said. 'It should never happen again and no one should ever feel as Ruth did.' Responding to Mrs Keegan's remarks about punching Ofsted staff, Sir Martyn told the media: 'I think people should act with professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect on both sides.' He said he believed the incident Ms Keegan was referring to likely took place under a 'previous period'. Sir Martyn added: 'I'm much more interested in a fresh start and calming down tensions. 'That's in far better interests for the children and the professionals in the country going forward.' Mike Short, head of education at Unison, said: 'Clearly there's much that can and should be improved in the way Ofsted inspections are carried out. 'But to suggest punching people is an appropriate reaction is not becoming of a Government minister. 'Making light of violence in schools when staff are increasingly likely to face assaults while doing their job is in very poor taste. 'Ofsted inspectors are already dealing with a great deal of hostility while they work. So much for showing respect.' Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson, the party's education spokesperson, said: 'A Secretary of State talking about assaulting someone should be shocking, but for Gillian Keegan it's just another day at the microphone. 'Gillian Keegan has form and this is the latest gaffe from a minister who has a potty mouth, an obviously quick temper and still thinks she is doing a [insert expletive] good job. Hardly the qualities we should be instilling in our children.' Elvis Costello, pictured at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco in 2022, is hitting the road for a co-headlining tour with Daryl Hall this summer. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Daryl Hall and Elvis Costello are preparing for a co-headlining tour of North America this summer. The tour will feature 22 shows with the Hall & Oates co-founder alongside Costello & the Imposters, which includes Bob Dylan guitarist Charlie Sexton, and make a Bay Area stop at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga on June 10. Kicking off in Troutdale, Ore., on June 2, the tour will also hit such cities as Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston and New York, before wrapping up in Vienna, Va., on July 25. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Artist presales begin at 10 a.m. Monday, March 11, with the code DREAMTIME on the artists respective websites. A Live Nation presale follows at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 13, with the code KEY. The general on-sale starts at 10 a.m. Friday, March 15, via Ticketmaster. Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates is touring with Elvis Costello this summer. Charles Sykes/Associated Press The unlikely duo initially collaborated on Costellos 1984 single The Only Flame in Town, which featured Hall & Oates on backing vocals. Its fantastic to be able to rekindle a musical relationship, Hall said in a statement about the forthcoming tour. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Costello dutifully returned the compliment: We are looking forward to kicking off the show in style in the certainty that Daryl will deliver a slam-bang finish. On his previous tour with Todd Rundgren, Hall joined his support act onstage for several songs, leaving the possibility of a nightly collaboration with Costello open for this tour. He was caught making threatening statements on a jailhouse telephone and in electronic messages, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said late Thursday James, 47, is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one for each teenager killed by his son at Oxford High School in 2021 James Crumbley, the father of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley made threatening statements from jail, his involuntary manslaughter trial heard on the first day of the court's proceedings His father, James, is accused of failing to safely store a gun and ammunition at home and ignoring the mental health needs of Ethan. Ethan Crumbley, then 15 years old, opened fire at the school in Oxford, Michigan , and murdered Hana St. Juliana, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre and Justin Shilling. 'His access to a phone or electronic messaging is now limited to communication with his lawyer,' according to the sheriff's office. He was caught making threatening statements on a jailhouse telephone and in electronic messages, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said late Thursday. Details about the specific threats James allegedly made and who he was allegedly targeting were not disclosed by authorities. The father of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley made threatening statements from jail, his involuntary manslaughter trial heard on the first day of the court's proceedings. The bombshell claim about James making threats emerged during his trial late Thursday, with his lawyer promptly objecting to its public disclosure. Judge Cheryl Matthews signed an order to revoke James's communications privileges, except for his ability to talk to lawyer and research information to help his defense. The judge did not attribute the order to the alleged threats and urged James's attorney and the prosecutor's office not to divulge further details to prevent media attention. The jury was sent home early on Thursday before the information about James's threats and restrictions were raised. DailyMail.com previously reported that James was seen sobbing and wiping away tears as the Thursday's trial heard details about the shooting. In court, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Marc Keast said that James had been in the best position to stop the 'preventable and foreseeable' shooting. Keast said: 'What happened inside that school was truly a nightmare come to life. But it didn't have to be. That nightmare was preventable and it was foreseeable.' Keast added: 'You're going to learn that those kids would still be alive today if James Crumbley seized any one of the tragically small and easy opportunities given to him to prevent his son from committing murder.' DailyMail.com previously reported that James was seen sobbing and wiping away tears as the Thursday's trial heard details about the shooting James reacts to the testimony of then Oakland County Sherriff's Office Detective Edward Wagrowski on the first day of his trial Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Marc Keast said that James had been in the best position to prevent the shooting According to CBS, defense attorney Mariell Lehman said that the prosecution would try to prove that James knew what was going on with his son, but claimed that was false. She said: 'Ladies and gentlemen, James Crumbley was not aware that his son had access to that firearm. 'Please do follow the law. And I am confident; we are confident that if you do that if you follow the law, that you will find James Crumbley not guilty.' In their opening statements, the prosecution spoke to the court for 23 minutes, while defense took just six minutes to lay down their arguments according to one reporter. Before jurors entered court, Judge Cheryl Matthews made rulings that could benefit James. She said prosecutors can't use text messages between son and mother, months before the shooting, that suggested he was having hallucinations about demons. The first witness was Molly Darnell, a faculty member who was shot by a bullet that pierced her office door. Darnell, one of seven people wounded that day, stood, removed a jacket and showed jurors the spot on her upper left arm. Darnell said that while she hid behind a cabinet, she texted her husband without telling him she had been shot, 'I love you,' she wrote. 'Active shooter.' James, accompanied by Ethan, bought a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun over Thanksgiving weekend in 2021. James Crumbley, 47, is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one for each teenager killed by his son at Oxford High School in 2021 Defense attorney Mariell Lehman said that the prosecution would try to prove that James knew what was going on with his son, but claimed that was false Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty to his crimes and is currently serving life in prison without the possibility of parole, after murdering four classmates in the Oxford High School shooting in 2021 On Thursday, the prosecution presented a picture showing James, left, with his son Ethan at a shooting range Justin Shilling, 17, (left) and Tate Myre, 16, (right) were two of four students killed in the senseless shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan Madisyn Baldwin, 17, (left) and Hana St Juliana, 14, (right) died in the 2021 shooting rampage at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit The boy called it his 'new beauty' on social media. His mother described the gun as a Christmas gift and took him to a shooting range. Four days after the purchase, the parents went to Oxford High to discuss a violent image their son had drawn on a math assignment. Alongside the drawing including phrases that said: 'The thoughts wont stop. Help me.' There was a gun on the paper that looked similar to the Sig Sauer. The Crumbleys didn't take Ethan home, and school staff - believing he might be suicidal - also didn't demand it. But no one checked the boys backpack for a gun, and the shooting happened that afternoon. Defense lawyers insist the parents could not have foreseen the shooting and didn't commit a crime. Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty on February 6 of involuntary manslaughter, making her the first parent in the US to be held responsible for a child carrying out a mass school attack. Prosecutors said that Jennifer was more interested in pursuing an extramarital affair with a local fireman that caring for her son. Following the killings, she texted her lover Brian Meloche that the shooting 'could have been prevented' and that the school should not have allowed him to return to class. Jennifer Crumbley is taken into custody after a guilty verdict was read on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 On the morning of November 30, 2021, school staff members were concerned about a violent drawing of a gun, bullet, and wounded man, accompanied by desperate phrases, on Ethan's math assignment. His parents were called to the school for a meeting, but they didn't take the boy home. A few hours later, Ethan pulled a handgun from his backpack and shot 10 students and a teacher. No one had checked the backpack. The gun was the Sig Sauer 9mm his father had purchased with him just four days earlier. His mother had taken her son to a shooting range that same weekend. Following the shooting, a search of the teen's home found his room messy, with with paper targets from a shooting range on his wall. An empty bottle of whiskey was on a table beside his bed. At the time of the attack he was six years under America's legal drinking age. The safe used to house his Sig Sauer handgun was empty on his parents' bed. The gun used in the shooting was a Sig Sauer 9mm his father had purchased with him just four days earlier, seen here Ethan's parents, James and Jennifer, were both charged in connection with the shooting There were two other guns in a separate safe that could be unlocked with the code 0-0-0. During Jennifer's trial, the court heard that she was more interested in an extramarital affair, her horses and going for nights out on the town, than spending time with her son. Jennifer's secret lover, local fire captain Brian Meloche, claimed she wanted to meet up the morning of the shooting, and said they had been meeting regularly in a parking lot across from her work. Jennifer told her lover that she had 'failed miserably' as a parent after her son was arrested for the murders. Her son Ethan addressed a packed court room after he was sentenced to life in prison. He said: 'What I did. My actions were because of what I chose to do. I could not stop myself, I do not diminish any ability to anyone that could have stopped me. 'They did not know and I did not tell them what I planned to do so they are not at fault for what I done. 'I am a really bad person. I've done terrible things no one should ever do, I have lied. I've hurt many people, that's what I have done. 'Whatever sentence it is I do plan to be better. I will change, it may not show it now but I am trying. Chilling diary entries written by Ethan include drawings of a gun being held to the head of a girl Jurors at Jennifer's involuntary manslaughter trial were shown disturbing drawings by her mass shooter son 'All I want is for the people I hurt to just have a final sense of culpability that justice has been served in any capacity. 'Any sentence they ask for I ask that you do impose it on me, I want them to be happy, to feel secure. I do not want them to worry another day. I am really sorry. I cannot give it a back.' In a journal, the shooter wrote about his desire to watch students suffer and the likelihood that he would spend his life in prison. He made a video on the eve of the shooting, declaring what he would do the next day. Jennifer is set to be sentenced on April 9 and could face a sentence of up to 60 years in state prison. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has earned himself a reputation for going on increasingly venomous social media tirades following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But an investigation conducted by independent Russian outlet The Insider has revealed many of his outlandish statements came just after he received a shipment of wine from Italian vineyards. The close Putin ally, now the Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, presented himself as a liberal reformer during his one-off stint as president from 2008-2012. Yet when Russian troops marched over the Ukrainian border two years ago, Medvedev rolled back his liberal stance and quickly became one of the most hawkish and aggressive mouthpieces of the Kremlin. Commentators in Russia and beyond have claimed the former president's overt rage and support of the war could be a tactic to ensure his continued prosperity and safety as a member of Putin's inner circle, or perhaps to curry favour with hardliners as Putin grows older. But it appears the explanation could be far simpler. Perhaps, he's just drunk. Russia's former leader Dmitry Medvedev, a President Putin ally who is now deputy chairman of the country's security council The man is known to be a wine lover and maintains his very own winery in Russia's southern Krasnodar region FILE: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev examines an electronic pistol while visiting the training center of the Russian Defence Ministry on October, 29, 2010 in Solnechnogorsk FILE: Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (R) in Mosocw, May 9, 2019 If nothing else, Medvedev's vino-fuelled outbursts are proof the West's sanctions regimes, designed to cripple Russia's economy, have not prevented the country's elites from enjoying the luxuries to which they have long been accustomed. The Anti-Corruption Foundation - an organisation founded by Putin foe Alexei Navalny who is widely thought to have been killed in prison last month - revealed that Medvedev was connected to a Tuscan winery named Fattoria della Aiola as early as 2017 through a childhood friend. Medvedev is known to be a wine lover and maintains his very own winery in Russia's southern Krasnodar region. But domestic product does not seem to have satiated the former president, as Medvedev continued to receive intermittent shipments of Fattoria's bottles even after Western nations cracked down on Russia with wide-reaching economic sanctions - partially because the childhood friend who owns a stake in the winery is not yet subject to EU sanctions. In June 2022, a shipment from Fattoria della Aiola arrived in Russia. Two days later, Medvedev published a long, bumbling rant on his Telegram channel in which he called European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 'Auntie' and predicted the downfall of Ukraine and the EU. One month later, another raving Telegram essay appeared days after a second shipment crossed through Russian customs that railed against Western 'sins', and described European leaders as 'madmen' and 'fools'. But by the summer of 2023, the posts had become even more manic. One day after one company associated with Medvedev imported a wine shipment from another Italian winemaker, the former Russian president declared: 'The Nuclear Apocalypse is not only possible, but also quite probable... our opponents are, no doubt, total a**holes.' It remains to be seen whether Medvedev was in a drunken stupor for his latest social media explosion, in which he accused US President Joe Biden of trying to start World War Three earlier today. Medvedev's outburst came in response to Biden's State of the Union address yesterday. Biden opened his address with a reference to a 1941 speech to Congress by 32nd US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who declared the union faced an unprecedented turning point in history. Biden also accused Republican rival Donald Trump of kowtowing to Russia and, just over two weeks after calling Vladimir Putin a 'crazy SOB', said he had a message for the Russian President on Ukraine: 'We will not walk away.' His remarks enraged Medvedev, who chastised him for comparing himself to Roosevelt and called the US leader 'mentally disabled'. Medvedev has earned himself a reputation for going on increasingly venomous social media tirades following the Russian invasion of Ukraine President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, on March 7, 2024, in Washington Medvedev accused Biden of trying to start World War Three and chastised him for comparing himself to Roosevelt 'Even though Roosevelt was an infirm man in a wheelchair, he raised America from the Depression; Biden, on the other hand, is a mad, mentally disabled individual who set his mind on dragging humanity to hell,' the Putin ally, who is now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, wrote on X. 'Roosevelt together with allies including the USSR, was fighting for peace; yet, Biden is actively and persistently trying to start WWIII. 'Roosevelt was fighting against fascists, but Biden is fighting for them. He is the United States' disgrace!' Medvedev concluded. Medvedev also made headlines just days ago when he claimed the relationship between the US and Russia is worse than during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 as the Kremlin accused the West of 'direct involvement' in the war in Ukraine. The former Russian president made the comments in a public speech, adding that the Kremlin has ruled out peace talks with Ukraine as its invasion of the nation entered its third year. Medvedev was speaking in front of a map of Ukraine which showed the country as a much smaller landlocked rump of territory squeezed up against Poland with Russia in complete control of its east, south and Black Sea coastline. 'One of Ukraine's former leaders said at some point that Ukraine is not Russia,' said Medvedev. 'That concept needs to disappear forever. Ukraine is definitely Russia,' he said to applause from the audience. A grandmother is getting hate from her relatives after she took her grandchildren to 'the most magical place on Earth' without their mother's permission. Her son created a Reddit account for his mother, 47, and requested that she create a post on the 'AmItheA**hole' subreddit on the matter. 'He claims my normal meter is skewed and the internet is going to tell me I am an a**hole,' she wrote in her post yesterday. It all started when her son and daughter-in-law asked her to babysit their four- and five-year-old children for 'four nights and five days.' 'It seemed like a long time to watch the kids, and she has point blank told me that the woman's family is more important than the man's, so I was irritated I was being asked and not her mother,' she wrote. A grandmother, 47, is getting hate from her relatives after she took her grandchildren to 'the most magical place on Earth' without their mother's permission Her son created a Reddit account for his mother and requested that she create a post on the 'AmItheA**hole' subreddit on the matter The incident began after the grandmother was asked to watch her four and five-year-old grandchildren while their parents were in Mexico Her daughter-in-law asked her to watch the kids so that they could attend a wedding in Mexico. 'They approached me since her mother would not be available, and I initially said I wasn't comfortable with that,' the grandmother wrote. Although she claimed that she 'physically couldn't do it,' she eventually gave in. 'I will admit that I did give in when my son became very emotional, but I felt/feel like they were being manipulative.' Everything seemed to be going alright until the original poster was invited and wanted to go to a birthday at Epcot in Disney. 'It didn't even occur to me to run it by my son or daughter in law, as I had the kids for an extended period of time and obviously they knew they would be going where I went,' she wrote. 'My daughter in law had previously mentioned wanting to save up for Disney, but she's said that about a lot of things, and never made me aware it was something super special to her.' So, the original poster took her grandkids, and they made the two-hour drive to Disney. The grandmother took her grandchildren to Epcot in Disney World after she was invited to a friend's birthday party The trip may not have been too special for her grandchildren because of their ages. 'A lot of rides at Disney arent even thrill rides and people were going on with babies in their lap,' she revealed in the comments section. 'The kids were too short for the real rides anyways.' The poster also made sure that she wasn't the only person that would be looking over he grandchildren. 'My husband was there and there were other adults who while hot responsible for them would have stepped in if something serious happened,' she wrote. 'I am sure she does think Im difficult. I think shes difficult.' According to what she wrote in the Reddit post, her daughter-in-law may be as 'difficult' as the grandmother described. The OP (original poster) did not believe the trip was a big deal, one reason being that she considered Epcot to not be as big a deal as Disney's Magic Kingdom The mess began right after her son and his wife came home from Mexico. 'She said I stole one of her kids first and called me entitled,' the OP (original poster) wrote regarding her daughter-in-law. 'To be honest I didn't react well to being called entitled, when she was the one who had previously demanded babysitting.' Once her son demanded that she apologize to his 'furious' and 'distraught' wife, she immediately refused and asked them to leave. 'My son reached out again and said I should have asked for something that big, and his wife feels robbed,' the OP wrote. 'I told my son I am not apologizing for anything and maybe they should think about how they made me feel when they didn't respect my initial no.' She added that her son felt like Reddit would show her the error of her ways. Reddit users have instead backed up the OP since yesterday and wrote that she is not the a**hole (NTA) in this situation. Social media users have been standing up for the grandmother and have called her son and his wife 'entitled' in several comments The commenters have mainly been standing up for the grandmother and dissing her son and his wife. 'Daughter in law is the CLEAR a**hole, and son too, for agreeing with your wife,' one person commented. 'Also, extra AH to you son, given he thought he and his entitled wife should be "vindicated by posting here,' they added. Others have repeatedly called her son and her daughter-in-law 'entitled' and one user hoped that her son 'feels humble' on Reddit. 'She deserves no apology. She can pout and whine all she wants- she was the one who put you into an uncomfortable situation,' another Reddit user wrote. 'She never said not to go there and you're not a f****** mind reader.' Items were crafted by sculptor Umberto Mastroianni between 1950 and 1990 A staggering 50 gold pieces of art including statues and jewellery was stolen during a one-million-euro heist just a day before the exhibition of the items was set to end. The 20 golden statues and 30 pieces of jewellery were stolen from the Museo d'Annunzio Segreto - a hillside estate overlooking the popular tourist destination, Lake Garda. Crafted by the Italian sculptor Umberto Mastroianni between 1950 and 1990, the pieces that were taken came with a total staggering price tag of 1 million (850,000). The stunning items had been on display since December, but on Thursday morning, just a day before the exhibition was set to close its doors, managers found the display cases had been ransacked. Along with golden statues, rings, bracelets, pins and brooches were also snapped up by the thieves during their sensational heist. The items were crafted by the Italian sculptor Umberto Mastroianni between 1950 and 1990 The stunning pieces had been on display since December, but on Thursday morning, just a day before the exhibition was set to close its doors, managers found the display cases had been ransacked But one of the pieces reportedly remained on the floor, presumed to have been dropped as the crooks dashed off. The theft was confirmed by Giordano Bruno Guerri, the president of the estate which once belonged to Gabriele D'Annunzio, a famous Italian poet. 'The good news is that a piece has already been recovered,' Guerri said in a statement. 'Fortunately, nothing of D'Annunzio's legacy has been touched.' Italy's art police, The Carabinieri of the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of Monza, are now investigating the the robbery but no updates have been given. Officers recovered images of the heist from the video surveillance systems and further details are set to be shared tomorrow. Local newspaper Brescia Today claimed the crafty thieves entered the museum through a service door and deactivated the security alarm. The Vittoriale degli Italiani citadel, built in Gardone Riviera on the shores of Lake Garda by Gabriele d'Annunzi 'What happened at the Vittoriale is a very serious event,' Francesca Caruso, the councillor for culture in the Lombardy region, told the newspaper. 'It is a cowardly gesture that has struck one of the highlights of Lombardy's culture. 'I hope the works will be found as soon as possible and those responsible be brought to justice.' In the same exhibition space, works by another master goldsmith, Buccellati, were also on display but reportedly left untouched. Mastroianni, who died in 1998, was one of the most renowned Italian artists of the 20th century. A Barnard Castle fish and chip shop has taken the award for best pie at at the 2024 British Pie Awards. The competition comes as Danny Dyer has given his backing to a cockney campaign to give the classic dish protected status. Hosted in Britain's pork-pie capital Melton Mowbray, the awards saw Barnard Castle's Middleton-In-Teesdale Fish & Chip Shop declared the Supreme Champion. The local sensation has been serving customers in Barnard Castle since 1950, with husband and wife team David and Lydia Sumter taking the helm in 2012. Their customer philosophy is 'Only the best will do for you', and the eatery is not only known for its delicious fish and chips, but also its handmade pies which Lydia has been making daily for the last 12 years. The awards, now in its 16th year, celebrate the nation's most delicious pies from the traditionally British to the tantalisingly innovative and totally whacky Hosted in Britain's pork-pie capital Melton Mowbray, the awards saw Barnard Castle's Middleton-In-Teesdale Fish & Chip Shop (pictured) declared the Supreme Champion The competition comes as Danny Dyer (pictured) has given his backing to a cockney campaign to give the classic dish protected status The awards, now in its 16th year, celebrate the nation's most delicious pies from the traditionally British to the innovative and totally whacky. Following the awards, Cockneys are now calling for the East London classic Pie and Mash to be given protected status - just like Cornish Pasties or French Champagne. Celebrity backers of the campaign include actor Danny Dyer and comedian Arthur Smith while David Beckham has boasted it is his favourite food. Caerphilly Cheese, Scotch Whisky and Welsh Lamb all benefit from Protected Geographical Indication and Londoners are demanding their favourite meal gets the same treatment. Former EastEnders star Danny Dyer said: 'I love my Pie'n'Mash, and anyone who feels the same way, needs to do something to get the proper respect our grub deserves.' Comedian Arthur Smith added: 'Pie'n'Mash is more than just grub, but a way of life, a culture for 'non-posh Londoners'... It's about time it was recognised and given the same status as other Protected foods.' Traditional pie with mashed potatoes and parsley liquor sauce David Beckham has boasted pie and mash it is his favourite food The contest recruited the most qualified pie connoisseurs to judge every single entry. A record 147 judges' were on the panel, with extensive industry experience between them. Cockneys are now calling for the East London classic Pie and Mash to be given protected status - just like Cornish Pasties or French Champagne. Pictured: A judge inspects a pie Traditional Pie'n'Mash dish consists of a savoury pie filled with minced beef, mashed potatoes, served with a parsley liquor, which can also be accompanied by stewed jellied eels Actress Emma Cooke, whose father ran a Pie'N'Mash shop said: 'What makes Britain unique is its idiosyncrasies, its humour, its quirks and its traditions and what is more traditional than pie 'n' mash?' 'Nothing is more satisfying than a freshly baked mince beef pie, fluffy mash and a generous helping of parsley sauce.. liquor! Now that's tradition. 'Generations were brought up on this hearty dish and the Cookes' pie shop even kept serving Londoners through the Blitz! It deserves all the recognition it can get!' Traditional Pie'n'Mash dish consists of a savoury pie filled with minced beef, mashed potatoes, served with a parsley liquor, which can also be accompanied by stewed jellied eels. Although each pie shop has its own recipes and customs for making their pies, mash, and liquor, the Protected Status will serve to protect the traditional methods used and mark the cultural importance of the dish. Over the years, a network of typically family-owned Pie'n'Mash shops has spread out from its inner London heartlands in the East End and South London across the South-East, in a region dubbed 'Cockneydom'. The competition comes as pie and mash was voted the nation's fourth favourite dish last week. The British Pie Awards comprises 24 different classes or types of pie including traditional favourites as well as Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free Pies. Stand-out winning pies in other categories included a tasty Wagyu Beef & Ale Pie by Martin's in Shropshire and a Butternut Chilli & Vegan Cheese Pie concoction by Turner's Pies in Chichester. The pies are judged on all aspects, including filling, pastry and texture Traditional Pie'n'Mash dish consists of a savoury pie filled with minced beef, mashed potatoes, served with a parsley liquor, which can also be accompanied by stewed jellied eels. Pictured: A judge takes a bite of pie Celebrity backers of the campaign include actor Danny Dyer and comedian Arthur Smith (pictured) The contest recruited the most qualified pie connoisseurs to judge every single entry. A record 147 judges' were on the panel, with extensive industry experience between them. This year, the judging panel included representatives from the prestigious cookery school Cordon Bleu, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant and The Royal Chef as well as a plethora of chefs and pie experts. Middleton-In-Teesdale Fish & Chip Shop's award-winning pie initially competed - and won - against 35 other contenders in the hotly contested Lamb Pie category. After being highly commended by judges, who were also tasked with choosing one overall winner from all the winning entries, its Minted Wensleydale Lamb & Potato Pie was hailed as the best pie in Britain or 'Pie of Pies'. It takes over the title of Supreme Champion from Leicestershire based Brockleby's Pies, who smashed the competition in 2023 with its Moo & Blue Pie which became the first ever winner from the Free-From category. This year, the judging panel included representatives from the prestigious cookery schools This year's awards have also seen the introduction of a new category for Fusion Pie Pie experts entered in their droves, rustling up a delicious storm of global flavoured pie fillings including twists Stand-out winning pies in other categories included a tasty Wagyu Beef & Ale Pie by Martin's in Shropshire and a Butternut Chilli & Vegan Cheese Pie concoction by Turner's Pies in Chichester. This year's awards have also seen the introduction of a new category for Fusion Pie, which combines the British tradition of a fully enclosed pastry but with fillings based on flavour profiles from around the world. Pie experts entered in their droves, rustling up a delicious storm of global flavoured pie fillings including twists to popular takeaway favourites like a Chicken Katsu Pie, Duck Legs & Spring Onion in Hoisin Sauce Pie, and a Greek-inspired Feta & Greens Filo Pastry Pie. However, it was Pieminister's Harissa & Chicken Pie that went on to make history, becoming the first ever winner for the Fusion Pie class. Terry Carney of the National Pie'n'Mash Week campaign said: 'If the Cornish can protect their pasties, and the Cumberlanders their sausages, why not the Cockneys with our Pie'n'Mash? All we are asking for is respect for our traditional food. 'Pie'n'mash is more than something to eat when you're Hank Marvin. It has a special place in Cockney culture and that's why it needs protected status. 'We invite Pie'n'Mash fans to support the campaign to get Protected Status, while also inviting 'Pie'n'Mash virgins', who've not tasted our wonderful grub, to give it a go during our national week of celebrations.' A Texas woman whose lawyer husband drugged her repeatedly with abortion pills when she was pregnant hoping she would miscarry claims his 180 day sentence was 'not justice.' Catherine Herring, 39, was seven weeks pregnant with their third child when her husband of eleven years, Mason Herring, 39, started spiking her beverages with the abortion-inducting narcotic misoprostol. Catherine suspected her husband, a Houston attorney who specializes in oil and gas litigation, was having an affair with a co-worker. A week before the pair learned they were expecting their third, her husband had asked for a separation. Over a two-month period Mason took steps to abort their unborn child. In March 2022, Catherine became gravely ill, and when doctors were not able to pinpoint the issue, she grew suspicious, and began collecting the drinks her husband prepared for her, as evidence. She also set up cameras inside and outside their home. The artist and owner of the stationary store, Old Southern Charm, went to Houston police to pursue charges against her husband for a 'suspected poisoning'. He was initially charged with felony assault to induce abortion- a charge that had never been used before in Harris County, Texas. In February, he accepted a plea agreement to charges of injury to a child and assault of a pregnant person. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years of probation, People reported. The family during happier times. Catherine is currently in divorce proceedings Mason Herring is being charged with forced induction to have an abortion - a charge that's never been used before in the Harris County, Texas Catherine and Mason Herring, were married for eleven years, and had two children, before Catherine learned she was expecting her third child, and the alleged poisoning began Catherine found empty Cyrux packaging, which she later found out was a Mexican version of the American drug Cytotec which contains misoprostol (pictured in tablet form) Anthony Osso, the assistant district attorney in the domestic violence division assigned to the case, called it 'manipulative.' 'It's pre-meditated. What we are alleging Mr. Herring did, which we believe the evidence supports, is a pretty heinous act. To do that to someone who trusts you, it's taking advantage of that trust.' The couple, who were married for eleven years, and already had two children, are in divorce proceedings, as per the news outlet. She balked at her ex-partner's sentence. 'I don't think 180 days is justice for attempting to kill your child seven separate times.' 'This was intentional, it was knowingly done. This wasn't a crime of passion, or something like that. This was over the course of two months, and seven rounds of attempted murder.' 'If you divide it up, he's serving less than 26 days per attempt to kill my child.' Their daughter, Josephine, was born 10 weeks premature in August 2022, and spent three months in the hospital, before she was able to go home. Before the alleged poisonings, the couple had moved into a new home in the Houston area but, despite having some rough patches in their marriage. A month prior, she had suspected her husband of having an affair with a woman he had hired at his law firm, and believed he was lying when she confronted him about it. Catherine pictured with one of her custom stationary has a successful online business Old Southern Charm. She said she was distraught that her partner and father of her children would do such a heinous act she said after viewing the video: 'There was a lot of emotion. To actually see him doing it was shocking' Soon after that confrontation, he asked her for a separation, but according to a probable cause affidavit by the Houston Police Department the pair sought couple's therapy. She said, in part: 'He was open to marriage counseling and was telling me everything was fine. He was like, 'Don't worry, don't be upset. I need to work on myself, and everything will be fine,' she said. Catherine claimed to have told Mason about her pregnancy - news to which he responded negatively, at one of their counseling sessions. Shortly after, the couple planned a family trip together and spent Spring break in West Texas. It was during that time, when Catherine claimed her spouse began talking about the importance of drinking water and staying hydrated. She alleged that on March 17, he came to her house in Houston with breakfast and a glass of water. 'He was like, 'I noticed during spring break that you don't drink enough water, and I think you should start every day with a big glass. It'll make you feel better,' she recalled. A photo of one of her custom invitations Catherine said that after taking a small sip from the glass she immediately noticed the water was 'cloudy' and mentioned it to Mason, who suggested it could have been due to a dirty glass or water pipes. Catherine, an artist who makes custom invitation and stationery, says that after the first poisoning on March 17, doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong. Suspicious, she began collecting the drinks he was preparing for her as evidence, and she set up cameras outside the home. After seeing him on surveillance footage putting out the trash, she checked the garbage and discovered a package for a drug that induces abortions. A private investigator she hired installed cameras in the air conditioning vent in the kitchen, and they captured Mason on- camera in the act. He was reportedly pouring juice into a pink plastic cup, and pulling out a Ziploc bag out of his pocket containing crushed-up pills, which he dumped into the cup. Catherine, said 'the amount that he was using was just shocking. You could see it, half an inch to an inch, on each drink.' After the deed, she recalled, he 'just casually walked [the drink] up and left it on my bedside table.' Distraught that her partner and father of her children would do such a heinous act she said after viewing the video: 'There was a lot of emotion. To actually see him doing it was shocking.' She added: 'I desperately wanted to be wrong.' A chilling video recorded by an assassin captured the moment he and another gang member opened fire at a butcher shop in Colombia, killing its owner and a worker and wounding three other employees. The shooter held out his cell phone and held a note with a threatening message while one of his four accomplices sped on a motorcycle and approached the shop around 5 am on Thursday. A surveillance camera near the butcher shop showed the gunman with the phone walking to the entrance and sparing the life of a man who was standing in front of a counter. The individual held his hands up and then took off running down the sidewalk as the assassins fired at least 15 shots and returned to the motorcycles that were awaiting them for their escape. A gunman holds a cell phone to record the moment he and an accomplice opened fire at a butcher shop in Bogota, Colombia on Thursday and killed the owner and a worker. Three employees were wounded. Authorities said the shooting was part of an extortion a gang known as 'Los Satanas' was attempting, seeking money for the right to operate the business A man raised his hands moments before the assassins opened fired at the Bogota, Colombia, butcher shop and spared his life on Thursday The owner, Jose Bueno, 58, was pronounced dead on the scene and the worker, whose name has not been released, died at a hospital Thursday afternoon. The three wounded employees remain at the hospital. The suspects are still at large as of Friday afternoon. The assassins identified themselves as members of the 'Los Satanas' street gang, whose leader, Venezuelan national Jose Vera, was captured in Ecuador this past November. He is being held in a prison in the northern Colombian department of Cesar and isolated from the general inmate population to prevent him from contacting members. Jose Vera oversees the notorious Colombian street gang, 'Los Satanas.' Vera, a Venezuelan national, was arrested in Ecuador in November 2023 and later extradited to Colombia, where he is imprisoned Gunmen were seen on video walking up to a butcher shop in Bogota, Colombia, before murdering the owner, Jose Bueno, and one of his employees The Bogota Metropolitan Police said the shooting was related to an extortion that Bueno did not meet. Authorities recovered a note that listed three phone numbers for Bueno to contact. 'Well, these are the consequences for not heeding the call that was made to you. If you do not communicate to reach a dialogue with us, then we will not let you work anymore and if you work you will continue to see these events here and your way,' the message indicated. 'We are also going to kill. Happiness and tranquility are priceless.' It's unknown if the killers were aware that Bueno was at the butcher shop when they launched the assault. A man was seen on camera running down a sidewalk in the Colombian capital, Bogota, on Thursday moments after gunmen opened fired at a butcher shop and killed its owner and a worker. Three employees were also wounded in the attack The attack was carried out by the Los Satanas street gang: 'Well, these are the consequences for not heeding the call that was made to you. If you do not communicate to reach a dialogue with us, then we will not let you work anymore and if you work you will continue to see these events here and your way. We are also going to kill. Happiness and tranquility are priceless' No arrests have been made following Thursday's murder of Jose Bueno, who owned a butcher shop (pictured) in Bogota, Colombia. One of Bueno's employees was also gunned down and three others suffered gunshot wounds Business owners in the Bogota neighborhoods of Ciudad Bolivar, Bosa and Kennedy, where the shooting took place, told Noticias Caracol that they had received threats following Buenos' murder. 'After that attack, we received several cell phone messages with our own names. My neighbors in the following stores have also received the messages,' a store owner said. 'The man from the butcher shop, the one from the chickens (shop), the one who sells shirts. We have received threats that we have to donate money.' Bueno initially owned a company that distributed supplies to bakeries in Fusagasuga, 42 miles away from Bogota, before he entered an agreement with a cousin to take over the butcher shop. 'We left that sector a few years ago since we sold the premises,' He never told us that he was victims of threats or extortion,' the family member told El Tiempo newspaper. A Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by United Airlines veered off the runway after landing in Houston early Friday in the latest near-miss involving the embattled airliner. The aircraft, which arrived from Memphis, is said to have suffered some form of gear collapse as it exited the runway at George Bush Airport, although the 160 passengers and six crew were not injured. Shocking footage showed the plane lying flat on its wings on grass by the side of the runway, while passengers were hurried off from an emergency gate ladder. It is the latest in a string of disastrous failings involving Boeing aircraft in recent days, including a 737 engine that caught fire mid-flight on Monday and a wheel falling off shortly after takeoff in San Francisco on Thursday. The airliner also suffered a near-catastrophe in January as a 737 MAX 9 plane door blew out at 16,000ft over Portland, Oregon, forcing an emergency landing. Boeing told DailyMail.com in a statement on Friday: 'We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide any support needed to United Airlines and the investigators.' A Boeing 737 Max operated by United Airlines veered off the tarmac into the grass when exiting the runway at George Bush Airport in Houston early Friday Shocking footage showed the plane laying flat on its wings off the side off a runway, after suffering an apparent gear collapse Passengers were seen being evacuated from the aircraft from an emergency gate ladder The FAA says it is launching a full investigation of the latest disaster, which is still ongoing at the time of writing as United says it will move the aircraft as soon as it is able. Despite the rocky end to the flight, a passenger claimed that the landing was smooth, but they felt some bumps as the plane began to taxi. 'Felt like when you have a flat tire in a car,' the passenger told Click2Houston. In a statement, Houston Airports said: 'Around 8am today, a United Airlines flight landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). As it was exiting the runway, the aircraft left the pavement and entered the grass along Runway 9-27.' 'Fortunately, no one on board was injured. The Houston Fire Department and Houston Airports Operations immediately responded and safely evacuated all passengers. 'Per federal regulation, the FAA has been notified. United Airlines is working to remove the plane, which is not impacting flight operations. Flights in and out of lAH continue without interruption.' Boeing has seen billions dropped from its market capitalization in the wake of the repeat issues, as the FAA and NTSB launch investigations into its fleet of 737's. Last month, the FAA formally mandated inspections in Boeing 737 Max airplanes for loose bolts in the rudder control systems after the plane maker recommended them in December. Boeing's stocks have tanked in recent days in response to the issues (taken before Friday's apparent gear collapse) Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun (pictured) has come under scrutiny in the wake of the company's recent issues In January, an Alaska Airlines flight suffered a near-catastrophe as a plane door blew out at 16,000ft over Portland There were no serious injuries from the terrifying air failure, but passenger's belongings including phones flew out of the aircraft On Monday, a United Airlines flight left San Francisco Airport on its way to Osaka in Japan and was barely off the runway before a wheel flew off On Thursday, investigators determined that a 737 MAX 8 flight last month experienced 'stuck' rudder pedals during the landing roll out, although that issue did not result in any injuries. While that incident flew somewhat under the radar, Boeing faced severe backlash in January after the door plug blew out at 16,000ft. Investigators zeroed in on bolts that were intended to hold the panel in place, that seemingly failed as the door terrifyingly flew out over Portland, leaving passengers screaming inside. As authorities continue to investigate the fleet, the chair of the NTSB said last month that another mid-air blowout like the Alaksa Airlines jet 'can happen again.' 'There is no way that this plane should have been delivered with four safety critical bolts missing,' NTSB chief Jennifer Homendy told CNN in February. 'Of course, something like this can happen again.' On Monday, issues with the Boeing aircraft again came under scrutiny after a flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Houston when flames were seen coming out of an engine. On Monday, issues with the Boeing aircraft again came under scrutiny after a flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Houston when flames were seen coming out of an engine The plane was forced to return to the same George Bush Airport where the latest issue unfolded on Friday. The terrifying incident took place just minutes into a United Airlines flight bound for Fort Myers, Florida, and video aken from a passenger window shows white-hot flashes streaming out of the 737's jet engine. 'Hey ladies and gentlemen, we realized something happened outside,' a crewmember can be heard warning passengers before the clip cuts out. No one was injured in the incident, and bubble wrap getting caught in the engine was blamed for causing the fire. Boeing unveiled their 737 Max in 2015, and since its Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) approval in 2017 has become one of the most widely used aircraft in the world. A year later it had its first crash: in October 2018 a 737 Max operated by Indonesian airline Lion Air crashed shortly after take off, killing all 189 on board. Five months later, in March 2019, a second 737 Max - this one operated by Ethiopian Airlines - crashed again shortly after take off, killing all 157 on board. Three days later the planes were grounded by the FAA. Wreckage of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-MAX plane is seen on March 11, 2019 The engine of a Lion Air Boeing 737 Max is inspected after it crashed off Indonesia in 2018 It later emerged that Boeing staff, in internal messages, were cavalier about FAA regulations and critical of the Max's design. One said it the aircraft was 'designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys.' In its newer designs, Boeing was criticized for adding large engines to an old airframe dating back to the 1960s, instead of using a 'clean sheet design'. Faults were discovered in the aircraft's MCAS, or Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System: the MCAS was found in both the Lion Air and Ethiopian Air crashes to have erroneously pointed the nose down towards the ground, and the pilots were unable to override it. In 2021, Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion in fines in a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Justice Department to settle charges the company hid critical information about the Max from regulators and the public. Boeing spent billions overhauling the systems and the planes returned to global skies in the fall of 2020, after being grounded for 20 months the longest such action in aviation history. Republican Senator Mitt Romney is not happy with what President Biden had to say in his State of the Union address, calling the president's domestic policy the 'same liberal playbook.' The Utah senator was in attendance for the president's fiery speech to a joint session of Congress Thursday night where he was seen sitting with another retiring senator, Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia. After the speech, Romney shared his review in a video posted on X. 'There was some new chapters, but the same idea which is here's some things I'm gonna give you, here's some more things I'm going to give you. Here's how I'm going to crack down on big companies and rich people,' the senator said. Romney said he thinks people have gotten tired of that message and know the president cannot deliver on those promises. 'Any promise he makes have to get Republican votes, and he's not going to get Republican votes for those things,' Romney stated. Biden greeted Senators Romney and Manchin as he made his way to the podium to deliver his State of the Union where he could be heard telling Manchin that Romney has 'complete integrity' Romney also said people know the 'cheap shots on Republicans are probably missing the mark.' In his speech, Biden warned many Republicans want to put Social Security 'on the chopping block.' Romney insisted there is not a Republican in the House or the Senate who is talking about cutting Social Security or in favor of cutting Social Security. For years some Republicans have argued benefits need to be reexamined and some even recently have suggested raising the retirement age, but many in the GOP have backed off such ideas as Biden seized on the issue in last year's address as well. 'That's just off the mark,' Romney said. The multimillionaire senator also clapped back on Biden's claim billionaires only pay a tax rate of about 8 percent, calling it 'just wrong.' Biden engaged in a call and response with lawmakers over whether the tax code was fair and argued billionaires and big corporations need to 'pay their fair share.' Biden has called for the corporate tax rate to be increased to 28 percent, the corporate minimum tax to 21 percent, for a 25 percent income tax for those with more than $100 million and ending other tax breaks for the rich to help pay for his priorities. Biden delivered a fiery State of the Union address where he challenged Republicans over the tax code Romney was seen sitting and talking with fellow retiring Senator Joe Manchin for the president's State of the Union address But Romney's biggest complaint was he was 'disappointed' that Biden didn't get 'more serious' about the deficit and the debt. 'The debt is enormous, it poses a threat to us,' Romney warned. 'The interest payments are now going to exceed this year our military spending. This is a problem.' The U.S. national debt has reached more than $34 trillion. The White House said Biden's proposed tax hikes targeting billionaires and the largest companies would reduce the deficit by $3 trillion over 10 years. 'He had a couple of quick things, "we're going to get corporations to pay a certain amount, we're going to try and raise taxes on billionaires," those things aren't going to happen,' Romney said. 'They're not realistic.' But it was not all criticism from the outgoing senator. 'I think on foreign policy he did a good job,' Romney said. 'It is very much in America's interest to see Ukraine push back against Putin.' 'Putin is a awful guy, a bad guy,' Romney continued. 'And keeping Putin from invading not just other parts of central Europe but NATO nations that might involve us in conflict is an American interest.' Romney also liked what the president had to say on Israel and Gaza. 'He also spoke I thought well with regards to Israel and also with regards to the need to help the Palestinian individuals in Gaza with humanitarian aid,' the senator said. Biden stopped to shake hands with Romney and Manchin as he made his way to the podium Thursday night to deliver his remarks. The president pointed at Romney and said to Manchin 'he as complete integrity. That's a fact.' A 22-year-old student has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for sharing private messages on WhatsApp that were allegedly derogatory to Prophet Muhammad. He is also said to have been offensive towards the prophet's wives. Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. The court in Punjab Province said that he had sent the messages, which also included pictures, in order to anger Muslims. A 17-year-old boy has been sentenced to life in priosn as part of the same case. A 22 year old student has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for sharing private messages on WhatsApp that were derogatory to Prophet Muhammad Both have denied wrongdoing. The authorities caught on to the WhatsApp messages when a complaint was filed in 2022 by the cybercrime unit of Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency. The agency made the complaint after a recipient of the 'blasphemous' material reported he had received the messages from three different phone numbers. They called it 'obscene material'. The 17-year-old was given a life sentence for sharing the material. The minimum age to receive capital punishment in Pakistan is 18. A recent Stanford study suggests long COVID could make hangovers and other alcohol reactions more severe. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Have your hangovers taken a turn for the worse? According to Stanford University researchers, there may be a connection between the severity of hangover symptoms and COVID-19. A recent peer-reviewed study reveals that individuals experiencing long-term effects of a COVID-19 infection, commonly known as long COVID, might encounter more intense symptoms such as headaches, nausea, fatigue and sweats after consuming alcohol. The investigation conducted at Stanfords Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome Clinic points to a potential link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and heightened sensitivity to alcohol. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The patients highlighted in this report, despite varying demographics and health backgrounds, share a new-onset sensitivity to alcohol post-COVID-19 infection, triggering unprecedented symptoms at similar or lower alcohol consumption levels, according to the study. Long COVID is generally defined by persistent symptoms lasting more than three weeks after the initial onset of a COVID-19 infection. One patient, a 49-year-old woman with a history of Type 1 diabetes, experienced COVID-19 symptoms for nearly a year and reported that after she recovered drinking a glass of wine made her feel immobilized. She likened her symptoms to a bad hangover, including a headache, grogginess and overwhelming fatigue the next day. Another patient, a previously healthy 60-year-old man who regularly consumed alcohol, now suffers from debilitating issues after drinking. The patient experienced, chronic, daily, headaches characterized by a squeezing sensation at the top and back of the head, the researchers wrote. The patient had a normal head CT and brain MRI. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A 40-year-old woman in the study, who experienced COVID-19 symptoms for three months, described feeling like she had alcohol poisoning and endured a three-day headache after consuming just one cocktail. Similarly, a 36-year-old woman with a history of Raynauds syndrome experienced flushing and headache after social drinking, which had not been a problem before her long COVID experience. All study subjects had received at least one vaccine dose. While the Stanford researchers emphasized the need for more studies to provide conclusive evidence of the role of long COVID in alcohol sensitivity, they pointed to an abundance of anecdotal data supporting their hypothesis. A recent Stanford study suggests long COVID could make hangovers and other alcohol reactions more severe. Ramin Rahimian/Special to the Chronicle They noted that alcohol sensitivity following viral infections, though not extensively studied, is a common phenomenon observed in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition related to long COVID. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Alcohol intolerance happens when the body reacts negatively to drinking alcohol, usually because it struggles to process or break down alcohol properly. Symptoms of alcohol intolerance can vary and might include: Flushing Nausea Headaches Rapid heart rate Low blood pressure Congestion Skin reactions Digestive issues Fatigue The Stanford study concluded that individuals experiencing long COVID may develop new-onset alcohol reactions and sensitivity, possibly because of a weakened blood-brain barrier resulting from the combination of the virus and inflammation in the body. Under normal circumstances, the barrier acts as a protective filter that restricts substances from reaching the brain. Another potential explanation they offer is that individuals with long COVID may experience an elevation of inflammatory molecules in their bloodstreams, contributing to increased hangovers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 30% of people ever infected with COVID-19 have experienced persistent symptoms. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A previous U.K. study of 114 diagnosed long COVID patients found that two-thirds had decreased their alcohol consumption due to exacerbated symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea and insomnia. It is not clear whether these alcohol reactions represent decreased tolerance threshold for alcohol, immune-mediated alcohol allergy to components in the alcohol drink, toxicity effects, or other sensitivity mechanisms, according to the Stanford study, published in the journal Cureus. A midwife who helped deliver a baby who died two weeks after an emergency C-section said she was not concerned because she thought the mother was 'hypno-birthing', an inquest has heard. Robyn Davis, 28, claimed she 'never felt safe' and concerns about her labour going wrong were repeatedly brushed aside during her home birth. Mrs Davis, a trained midwife, accused her ex-colleagues of negligence over the death of her newborn son Orlando. It was heard that her 'birth plan' did not include the increasingly popular breathing technique for pain management, hypno-birthing. However, Gillian Goodwin, who was one of those who cared for Mrs Davis during the birth, said her behaviour was similar to mothers who use it, so she did not think the mother was in difficulty. However, Mrs Davis ended up having to be rushed by ambulance to hospital, but had 'no-one' waiting for her when she arrived, the inquest was told. Ms Davis suffered seizures which led to her being placed in a coma. The previously healthy baby boy tragically passed away just two weeks after being born by emergency caesarian section on September 10, 2021, despite it being initially assessed as a 'low risk' pregnancy. Mrs Davis, a trained midwife, accused her ex-colleagues of negligence over the death of her newborn son Orlando Orlando was the second child of graphic designer Jonny Davis, 30 and 28 year old Mrs Davis, of Steyning, West Sussex - who have since had another baby (both pictured) The baby was born in September 2021 and died two weeks later Ms Goodwin said that during the labour she had been worried about baby Orlando's heart rate. READ MORE: Midwife whose newborn baby died at NHS hospital where she had worked after home birth went wrong accuses former colleagues of negligence Advertisement 'I was just really concerned the baby was not very happy and I didn't know why,' she told the inquest. When asked what hypno-birthing was, she said: 'It is a technique that some women choose to use to help through the process of giving birth.' Ms Goodwin told the hearing she had looked through Mrs Davis' birth plan - where there was no mention of using the technique. 'It doesn't say specifically that she wants to hypno-birth,' she said. However, she added: 'She was acting like somebody who was hypno-birthing. 'It's all about the breathing technique.' Orlando was the second child of graphic designer Jonny Davis, 30 and 28 year old Mrs Davis, of Steyning, West Sussex - who have since had another baby. In light of his death, it has been alleged that there was a failure to monitor the 'fluid consumption and urine output' of Mrs Davis during labour. At Chichester Coroner's Court, Wiltshire, Ms Goodwin - who has worked as a midwife for 17 years - said she arrived at the Davis' household at around 5pm on September 9, 2021. Throughout the early stages, she said Mrs Davis was 'acting like a normal person in labour'. Father Jonny is pictured hugging Orlando in the hospital Robyn Davis, 28, (pictured) claimed she 'never felt safe' and concerns about her labour going wrong were repeatedly brushed aside during her home birth The solicitors of Robyn and Jonny claim Orland was starved of oxygen and suffered fatal brain damage However, as the labour progressed with little progress, Mrs Davis 'became demoralised' until things deteriorated and it was decided she should be transferred to hospital. Mrs Davis claimed her concerns about the baby's position and fluid consumption were ignored. The hearing was told Mrs Davis was 'blue-lighted' via ambulance to Worthing Hospital, West Sussex, but nobody was waiting for them when they arrived. Ms Goodwin said she had to go inside and fetch members of staff to start treating Mrs Davis. She insisted she had not told a fellow midwife that Mrs Davis was using the technique during a handover of her care at the hospital. Despite this, the inquest previously heard the midwife told a dazed Mrs Davis she was sorry and felt as if it was her fault when she woke up - 'because I just thought you were hypno-birthing'. The solicitors of Robyn and Jonny also claim there was 'a basic lack of safe maternity care' provided for Orlando and his mother by NHS staff. A spokesman for CL Medilaw previously told the inquest medics had 'failed' to monitor Mrs Davis's fluid consumption and urine output during labour 'despite identified concerns'. They claim this caused the mother to have a seizure and require an emergency caesarean section to deliver Orlando, who was starved of oxygen and suffered fatal brain damage as a result. Mrs Davis told the hearing she had previously worked as a midwife at the hospital but left because of 'stress, poor staffing and lack of support' for the midwifery team. Mrs Davis felt she had not been listened to by the midwives when she raised concerns about her fluid intake and the position of the baby The couple's solicitor said they had been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of their experience She said she had opted for a home birth with a birthing pool following the advice of her midwife. Mrs Davis felt she had not been listened to by the midwives when she raised concerns about her fluid intake and the position of the baby. She said: 'I proceeded to keep saying 'Something is wrong'. It felt like I was trapped, that, although I knew I was declining so rapidly, I was unable to think how I could help myself, such as asking to go to hospital. 'Every time I said something was wrong the midwives never investigated this further.' A spokesman for CL Medilaw previously said: 'Robyn has been left with chronic ongoing health issues, and both her and Jonny have been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of their horrendous experience.' The inquest, which is expected to last another three days, continues. The official transcript of Joe Biden's State of the Union address captures in black and white the moment when a Gold Star father heckled the president and was thrown out of the House chamber. 'MR. NIKOUI: Remember Abbey Gate,' it records, referencing the site of the attack on Kabul airport that killed 13 Americans as Biden withdrew troops from Afghanistan. 'THE PRESIDENT: Thirty percent, they went up -- 'MR. NIKOUI: United States Marines! Kareem MaeLee Nikoui!' What it fails to capture is the family heartbreak, two sons cuts down in their prime, that led a dead Marine's father to end up cuffed by Capitol Police and accused of 'crowding, obstructing, or incommoding.' Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, Calif. - one of 13 service members who were killed during the disastrous 2021 exit from Afghanistan Steven Nikoui's life was turned upside down on August 26, 2021. That was the day his son Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui was killed by a suicide bomber who targeted American troops during the chaotic withdrawal ordered by Biden. He was 20 years old, born in the same year that the war in Afghanistan started. And he died with 12 comrades as the last casualties of America's longest war. He was only two years out of high school. 'They sent my son over there as a paper pusher and then had the Taliban outside providing security,' said Nikoui at the time. 'I blame my own military leaders Biden turned his back on him. That's it.' Biden overrode the advice of generals and blindsided allies to push through with the evacuation. Assumptions that the internationally recognized government would survive proved wrongheaded and they suffered defeat after defeat as the Taliban realized their backers were leaving. It meant Taliban gunmen closed on the capital Kabul before the U.S. could get out. The result was that American officers had to rely on the militants they spent 20 years fighting to provide a security cordon around the airport, a cordon that ultimately failed to prevent a lone bomber detonating his bomb at Abbey Gate, one of the crowded entry points. In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, a U.S. Marine Corps carry team transfers the remains of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui of Norco, California, Aug. 29, 2021 at Dover Air Force Base Gold Star father Steve Nikoui was removed from President Joe Biden's State of the Union speech for shouting about his son's death in Afghanistan The 51-year-old was quickly removed from the public gallery and placed in handcuffs Dakota Halverson (right) with his mother Shana Chappell More than 160 Afghans also died. Biden traveled to Dover Air Force base for a ceremony known as a 'dignified transfer' when the American remains were returned home. And Norco, California, had a ceremony for its fallen son. A procession of horses and cars followed the flag-draped coffin to a public funeral. But his mother later described how while the rest of the world moved on, one of his brothers was still still struggling. Dakota Halverson was eight years older than his brother but they had a strong bond, Shana Chappell told CNN, a year after Nikoui's death. 'He started expressing that Kareems really gone, that he just wanted to be with him. And how much he misses him and loves him,' she said, describing how he would sometime sleep beside his brother's grave 'He would say it bothers him that Kareem's here alone.' Some 13 U.S. service members were killed in a suicide attack at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in 2021. A new book reveals the U.S. had two opportunities to disrupt the terror group behind the attack, but were thwarted by the need to work with the Taliban in the final chaotic days of the withdrawal from Afghanistan The blast was outside The Baron Hotel, at the Abbey Gate of Kabul airport. Westerners were staying in the hotel before their evacuation flights The Americans killed in the blast were: (left to right, starting with top row) Cpl. Daegan W. Page - Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo - Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover - Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza - Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum - Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui - Cpl. Hunter Lopez - Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz - Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss - Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez - Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak - Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola - Sgt. Nicole L. Gee He took his own life as the one-year anniversary approached. His body was found at the town's Pikes Peak Park, where he would play with his brother as a child and just across the street from the memorial for the fallen marine. 'Dakota Halverson was a loving son, brother and friend,' his family wrote in a GoFundme appeal. 'Losing his brother nearly one year ago has proven too difficult to bear.' On Thursday, Nikoui was a guest of Rep. Brian Mast at the State of the Union, part of a Republican move to keep pressure on Biden for a full accounting of what went wrong in Afghanistan. He listened to 50 minutes of Biden's speech before it all became too much to bear. Nikoui make his stand just after the president said: 'To state the obvious, all Americans deserve the freedom to be safe.' Biden did not mention Afghanistan in the address. A courageous lieutenant from the New York Police Department put his own life at risk to rescue a suicidal woman from jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. Bodycam footage shared by NYPD captures the heartwarming incident that occurred on a drizzly Wednesday afternoon. In the video, Lieutenant Hak Kim fearlessly approached the 25-year-old woman who stood on the beam, contemplating jumping into the East River below. 'No, don't do it! Get down please,' the lieutenant yelled repeatedly. 'Please don't do this. We got you. We're gonna help you out, please.' Lt. Kim and his fellow officers eventually convinced the woman to come down. She was taken to hospital for a psychological evaluation, according to PIX11. Lieutenant Hak Kim from the New York Police Department put his own life at risk to rescue a suicidal woman from jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge Kim fearlessly approached the 25-year-old woman who stood on the beam, contemplating jumping into the East River below Lt. Kim(pictured) and his fellow officers eventually convinced the woman to come down. She was taken to hospital for a psychological evaluation Kim did not hesitate to climb the bridge and open a dialogue as other officers voiced their concerns about the weather conditions saying, 'It's slippery, LT.' 'I got this,' he replied. Footage captures him shouting over the rain as he desperately tried to reach the young woman who was walking towards the cables of the bridge. 'My name is Lieutenant Kim, OK? I don't know what kind of trouble you are having, what kind of problem you are going through,' he said. 'We are gonna help you out,' Kim assured the woman, adding, 'Save your life. It's not worth it.' 'I got three kids. I don't know if you have a kid. I don't know if you are married or not, but it's not worth it.' 'We care about you, OK? Please don't do it.' Kim then asked the woman to sit on the spans beam. The video ends with the woman coming down from a ladder. Kim did not hesitate to climb the bridge and open a dialogue as other officers voiced their concerns about the weather conditions, saying, 'It's slippery, LT' 'I got this,' he replied. Footage captures him shouting over the rain as he desperately tried to reach the young woman who was walking toward the cables of the bridge 'We care about you, OK? Please don't do it.' Kim then asked the woman to sit on the spans beam. The video ends with the woman coming down from a ladder The footage has elicited overwhelming reactions on social media, with tens of thousands of users commenting and reposting the video across various platforms. Many users expressed gratitude for the officers' heroic decision during the critical and intense moment. One person wrote: 'Thank you sincerely for helping someone who was clearly at the lowest point of her life and thinking that jumping was her only choice. Thank you for giving her the chance to make a *different* choice.' Another user wrote: 'They do this day in and day out rain, snow cold, hot. Respect our man and women in uniform because when something goes wrong, they are always there for you and all.' Kim joined the department in July 2002 and was appointed as a lieutenant in 2016. Records show he made $195,000 last year. A Texas man who shot his wife dead on camera after he discovered she was having an affair has been sentenced to just ten years behind bars for her murder. Carey Birmingham, 60, was sentenced earlier this week after shooting his wife Patricia, 48, dead in December 2021 after discovering she had an affair. The killing was caught on video and despite the overwhelming evidence, Birmingham will serve ten years in prison - the maximum being 20. In the disturbing video, Birmingham can be seen driving in the driveway of their home in Spring, Texas, wearing a bathrobe and clutching a shotgun. Birmingham can be heard telling his wife: 'Alright, goodbye. You're [going to] meet Jesus, I hope it was worth it', before shooting her three times. Carey Birmingham is pictured shooting wife Patricia dead in December 2021 after discovering her affair. He's just been jailed for 10 years Patricia (left, with daughter Olivia) was shot and killed on the driveway of her Texas home The shooting happened while their daughter Olivia was at school, with the couple having a 30 minute argument before the shooting. Audio obtained by ABC13 contains several minutes of conversation between the two which became a large part of Birmingham's crime of passion defense. He can be heard saying: 'I am done.', while Patricia hits back: 'I am done too', with their conversation becoming more and more heated. Birmingham's defense attorney Anthony Osso said that they had pleaded guilty to the all-female jury to convince jurors he had shot Patricia in the heat of the moment. Osso told the outlet: 'We never tried to justify the actions of our client, but the defense wasn't about justification. It was about why he did what he did.' Birmingham will serve ten years in prison for the death, and will be up for parole after five years. Speaking on her father's sentencing, daughter Olivia told the outlet: 'I lost both my parents that day. Birmingham's defense attorney Anthony Osso said that they had pleaded guilty to the all-female jury to convince jurors he had shot Patricia, seen here, in the heat of the moment Birmingham's short sentence sparked outrage, with the killer's own daughter Olivia condemning him in court 'My dad died that day, too, because the person who did that to my mom and my father aren't the same person.' She added: 'I don't know, sudden passion? You have to have something. You have to have made that decision within you for a while; I feel like to do something, to do that to someone you really love.' Olivia had addressed her father in court, telling him: 'No matter what was said in this trial, you know what type of woman she was, and you know what you did and how he took away my favorite person in this world.' Olivia also testified that she had never witnessed her father physically abuse her mother. She told ABC that she wanted to raise awareness about different types of abuse, and that she would never forgive her father for what he did. In a post to social media, Patricia's sister Mary Dees said: 'My sister was strong and would not back down or show fear to this man. 'The prosecutors did an outstanding job and were just as shocked with the verdict. I believe the judge was even shocked. 'Justice was NOT given here. My sister did not deserve this. Casey Birmingham is not the victim.' Rep. Matt Rosendale will not be running for re-election in the House after a failed Senate campaign and rumors swirled that he had an affair with a staffer. The Montana Republican blamed 'death threats' and 'false and defamatory rumors' for his decision to leave public office. 'I have been forced to have law enforcement visit my children because of a death threat against me and false and defamatory rumors against my family,' Rosendale said in a statement. 'This has taken a serious toll on me, and my family,' he went on. 'It has caused a serious disruption to the election of the next representative for MT-02.' Matt and Jean Rosendale (pictured earlier this month as he filed to run for US Senate) moved lived on a ranch in Glendive, Montana for over 20 years, before deciding in 2020 to relocate to Great Falls. The couple decided to make Montana their home because they 'love and share' the state's values are that 'faith, family, and community are still important 'In the best interest of my family and the community, I am withdrawing from the House race and will not be seeking office.' Rosendale had been locked in a primary challenge against Tim Sheehy for the Senate seat currently occupied by Democrat Jon Tester. But national Republicans came out swinging against him - and Sheehy had clinched key endorsements from the Senate GOP's campaign arm and former President Donald Trump. The Montana Republican, 63, was one of eight Republicans who voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Rosendale then left the Senate race just one week after officially entering and jumped back into the race for his House seat. Matt Rosendale's family are standing by him after an ex-senator claimed he dropped out of the US Senate race because he 'impregnated a 20-year-old staff person'. His wife Jean, pictured with Rosendale and their children, is supporting him to pursue legal action and claims the family has urged the Congressman to 'fight' But rumors spread throughout Capitol Hill and Montana politics that he had a sexual relationship with a staff member. Last week Rosendale's wife hit back at the allegations that he impregnated a staffer as 'false' and 'political mudslinging' as she reveals the family 'stand by him'. Former Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp had alleged there was a 'rumor' that Rosendale, 63, dropped out of the US Senate race because he 'impregnated a 20-year-old staff person'. The Montana Republican's camp furiously denied the allegations, claiming they were 'false and defamatory', and on Tuesday his attorneys filed a litigation hold notice against the North Dakota Democrat. Jean Rosendale, the lawmaker's wife of nearly 40 years, has now addressed the allegations, claiming the rumor is a 'disturbing lie' and '100 per cent false'. She told Nonstop Local: 'We stand by Matt and have prayerfully urged him to continue the fight.' Rosendale withdrew from the Senate race earlier this month after Donald Trump backed his opponent. He cited a 'lack of resources' and said that with the former president's endorsement the 'hill was just too steep'. Former Senator Heidi Heitkamp (pictured in 2018) shared what she referred to as a 'rumor' about Rosendale during a podcast appearance on Monday. She said there was 'gossip' that he had impregnated a staffer amid an extramarital affair Jean Rosendale, the lawmaker's wife of nearly 40 years, addressed the allegations on Tuesday, branding the rumor as a 'disturbing lie' and '100 per cent false'. Jean, pictured with her husband, said the remark was 'political mudslinging at its worst' Heitkamp, during an appearance on the Talking Feds with Harry Litman podcast on Monday, claimed: 'There's a reason why Rosendale backed out of that Senate race. The rumor is that he impregnated a 20-year-old staff person.' The one-term senator referred to the allegations as 'gossip' and did not provide any evidence to support the claim, but added that she predicts the GOP 'may lose a member in the next couple days.' Ron Kovach, a spokesperson for Rosendale, has denied her allegations, telling DailyMail.com on Tuesday: 'This is 100 per cent false and defamatory and former Senator Heitkamp will be hearing from our lawyers soon.' Now, Rosendale's wife Jean - echoing Kovach's language - has reinforced the family's position, telling Nonstop News that 'these lies are 100 per cent false' and 'political mudslinging at its worst'. She said that after 14 years in public service, the family has become accustom to a 'certain amount of attacks on Matt for standing up for what he believes in'. 'But this disturbing lie about our entire family is truly political mudslinging at its worst and everyone should be offended by it,' Jean stated, adding that the family is supportive and encouraging to fight back. Rosendale's lawyers have taken action against Heitkamp and, according to the news outlet, on Tuesday sent a letter stating they want 'corrective action' to be taken. The litigation reportedly asks for relevant documentation to be preserved and is a 'notice of potential future legal proceedings'. Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale (pictured in the Montana State Capitol on February 9 this year) has denied an accusation that he dropped out of the US Senate race because he impregnated a 20-year-old staffer Former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (pictured in 2018), during an appearance on the Talking Feds with Harry Litman podcast on Monday, claimed: 'There's a reason why Rosendale backed out of that Senate race. The rumor is that he impregnated a 20-year-old staff person' Rosendale, who is married and has three children, dropped his Senate bid on February 15, less than a week after he got into the race - only to see former Trump quickly endorse his opponent Tim Sheehy. The hardline conservative said in a statement that with Trump's backing of fellow Republican Sheehy and a lack of resources, he was 'forced to calculate what my chances of success would be'. Trump's endorsement came just hours after Rosendale had signed paperwork to formally launch his campaign on February 9. 'As everyone knows, I have planned to run for the US Senate and to win both the primary and the general election,' Rosendale said at the time. 'However, the day I announced, President Trump then announced that he was endorsing a different candidate. 'I have long been a supporter of the President, and remain so. But I have been forced to calculate what my chances of success would be with Trump supporting my opponent.' Rosendale acknowledged that the 'race was already going to be tough' and that after further evaluation he determined, 'by my calculations, with Trump endorsing my opponent and the lack of resources, the hill was just too steep.' He revealed he would be returning to Montana to be 'with my family and prayerfully consider what is next'. Over the weekend, Rosendale filed paperwork to run for re-election to his US House seat, The Daily Montanan reported. Several other Republicans have already announced their intentions to enter that race, which is in a solidly GOP district. Rosendale's exit from the Senate race avoids what analysts predicted to be a month-long fight within the GOP leading up the June 4 Montana primary. Sheehy, after his withdrawal, said in a statement that Rosendale has held the line on reckless spending in DC and that he looked forward to working together with him to defeat three-term Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. Rosendale touts himself as being a family man who has 'dedicated his life to working for Montana'. He and his wife Jean are pictured with then-President Donald Trump in Oct. 2018 Heitkamp's accusation of the alleged affair has seemingly upset Rosendale, as evidence by his camp seeking legal action. The representative touts himself as being a family man who has 'dedicated his life to working for Montana', according to his campaign website. He and his wife Jean moved lived on a ranch in Glendive, Montana for over 20 years, before deciding in 2020 to relocate to Great Falls. The couple decided to make Montana their home because they 'love and share' the state's values are that 'faith, family, and community are still important.' Rosendale, a self-proclaimed 'avid hunter and outdoorsman', would open their ranch up to the Glendive community each years so that local 'kids, families, and veterans can hunt, camp, and recreate'. He announced four years ago that he and Jean were relocating to be closer to their adult children, who were starting families of their own. 'Those who know Jean and I, know that family is the most important thing to us,' Rosendale wrote on Facebook in 2020, sharing how they were 'blessed' to have raised their three sons in Glendive. He said: 'We are a tight knit family, and like many parents want to be closer to our children (and hopefully grandchildren!). That's why, after much discussion and prayer as a family, Jean and I have made the decision to sell our home in Glendive and begin the process of relocating to be closer to our two sons and daughter-in-law in Great Falls. 'While we will always cherish our time in Glendive and all of our friends and neighbors there, we are excited to be closer to our children and for our family's next chapter!' The press office for the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago, where Heitkamp is currently serving as director, did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment on Tuesday. Rep. Matt Rosendale is pictured filing paperwork to run for US Senate on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at the state capitol in Helena. He dropped his Senate bid on February 15, less than a week after he got into the race Campaign volunteer Joey Grewell is seen putting up a sign for Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale's U.S. senate campaign during a Republican gathering, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in Helena In Washington, Rosendale is among the House's most hard-right conservatives and a member of the House Freedom Caucus. He banded with seven other members of his party in October to oust Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy. He supports Trump and voted against certifying the 2020 election. Rosendale had said when he announced his campaign that he would be able to challenge Tester despite losing to him in 2018. Trump played a large role in that election, too, visiting Montana repeatedly to stump for Rosendale, who lost by about 3.5 percentage points. 'I've won two elections since then,' Rosendale, 63, told reporters on February 9 as he entered the race. 'And the most important thing is that my name ID and my trust factor is elevated dramatically. People know who I am.' While a large contingent of conservative state lawmakers cheered Rosendale's filing, Daines issued a statement saying: 'It's unfortunate that rather than building seniority for our great state in the House, Matt is choosing to abandon his seat and create a divisive primary.' But Republicans in Washington had worked to keep Rosendale on the sidelines, with leading members of the party supporting Sheehy as the party's best chance to topple Tester - part of their strategy to take control of the Senate by targeting a few vulnerable Democratic seats in the 2024 election. Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL who now owns an aerial firefighting company with extensive government contracts, is a political newcomer backed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Montana Sen. Steve Daines - the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Former Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson is also vying for the Republican US Senate nomination. Rosendale (pictured with Jean in 2018) is among the House's most hard-right conservatives and a member of the House Freedom Caucus. He banded with seven other members of his party in October to oust Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy. He supports Trump and voted against certifying the 2020 election Tester, a political moderate, has held onto his Senate post even as Montana tilted increasingly Republican over the past several election cycles. When he entered the Senate in 2007, Democrats held almost every statewide elected office in Montana, from governor and attorney general, to two of the state's three seats in Congress. Since 2020, that's down to Tester's seat. Montana Democrats had relished the possibility of an ugly primary fight between Sheehy and Rosendale, which could have distracted GOP voters in advance of the general election and drained some of the party's campaign funds. The race is on track to be among the most expensive in Montana political history. Spending on advertising by the candidates and outside political groups already topped $18million. An additional $95million in advertising has been reserved for the coming months, according to data from AdImpact, a firm that tracks political advertising. Maneuvering by Republicans to increase their chances of beating Tester began last year when Republican state lawmakers proposed election rule changes that would have allowed only the top two candidates to advance out of the state's 2024 Senate primary. That likely would have kept third-party candidates off the general election ballot and could have tipped the election in their favor. Past races for Tester's seat were close enough that some Republicans blamed third-party candidates for the Democrat's victories. The real life Willy Wonka Angus Thirlwell has put the six-bedroom home where he created treats for Hotel Chocolat up for sale for 2.85million. Thirlwell, 60, the co-founder of Hotel Chocolat, first came up with the idea for his empire at his family's stunning grade II listed house on the outskirts of Barley village, on the Hertfordshire-Cambridgeshire border. He is now selling Old Manor House for nearly 3million after living in the property with his wife Libby for 30 years. Speaking to The Times, Thirlwell said: 'I whip up some of the recipes in the kitchen here - after all, although of course we do have an elite team of chocolate makers, there's no substitute sometimes for just getting stuck in and experimenting yourself.' The chocolate fanatic co-founded his company by rebranding his business Choc Express in 2003. Now Hotel Chocolat has become popular on the high streets, with 130 stores opened across the UK. Angus Thirlwell has put the house (pictured) where he created treats for Hotel Chocolat up for sale for 2.85million Angus Thirlwell, 60, (pictured) first came up with the idea for his sweet empire at his family's stunning grade II listed house The house is filled with character, including tall windows and stunning wooden beams Thirlwell is obsessed with chocolate and makes some of it in the stunning home He is selling Old Manor House, which he and his wife Libby have owned for 30 years The house comes with stunning outdoors grounds with bushes and statues Thirlwell and Libby are now relocating to Chicago having agreed to sell Hotel Chocolat to Mars in a 534million cash deal in November 2023. The stunning home, which boasts six bedrooms and three bathrooms, has Elizabethan origins and is packed with traditional features, such as wooden beams and oak floors. Thirlwell said: 'Pre-2003, we had a chocolate brand that fast-delivered chocolate gifts and relied on the new invention of the internet. 'But as our new business developed, we realised we wanted to talk more about the quality of the chocolate - and what we stood for as a brand rather than only talk about a service. 'So I holed myself up in the study of the Old Manor. As my wife will tell you, I was closed to the outside world and was just very, very introspective, thinking and researching. And out of that came the brand name Hotel Chocolat.' Thirlwell, who founded the luxury British chocolate brand two decades ago, previously admitted he had always been a 'chocolate fiend' since he was a child and to this day he remains a chocaholic. Over the years Thirlwell has offered tours around his sprawling Saint Lucia cacao plantation The house has Elizabethan origins and is packed with period features, such as beams The living room comes with stunning windows and stylish wooden floors The co-founder of Hotel Chocolat is so obsessed with the sweet treat that he makes it himself at home The surrounding area of the luxury property is stunning, with large areas of greenery The house comes with a large gym area with patio doors and stylish wooden floors Each morning Thirlwell sprinkles cocoa beans on his poached eggs, washed down with water infused with the beans and 'always' has chocolate every evening The chocolate fanatic co-founded his company by rebranding his fledgling mail-order business Choc Express in 2003 Each morning he sprinkles cocoa beans on his poached eggs, washed down with water infused with the beans and 'always' has chocolate every evening. And over the years, just like Wonka, Thirlwell has offered tours around his sprawling Saint Lucia cacao plantation. The Newcastle-born exec, who followed in the footsteps of his father Edwin Thirlwell, creator of Mr Whippy, even offered five years of free chocolate to the hero who found a fully stocked 'Chocmobile' that was stolen from outside the offices of Hotel Chocolat. Over the years, Hotel Chocolat has become a regular feature on UK high streets, with 130 stores opened across the country. A 1.5million Albanian cannabis farming operation was uncovered by mistake when an energy company came to collect an unpaid electricity bill, jurors were told. Dritan Meta, 43, Refik Skepi, 45, and Visar Elazaj, 38, are on trial accused of being part of a conspiracy to produce the class-B drug in Essex and Oxfordshire. Energy company, SSE, sent a representative to a property on Masons Road, Oxford after it had failed to pay its bills, but on arrival 'saw cannabis plants everywhere' and subsequently called the police. It followed a police investigation into a suspected organised crime group concerned in the wholesale supply of cannabis, the court heard. Three separate addresses were identified as cannabis factories: a large industrial unit in South Fambridge, Essex called Shellfish Farm and two residential properties in Oxford, one on Masons Roads and one on Crown Road. Esther Schutzer-Weissman, prosecuting, told jurors at Reading Crown Court that the total value of the three alleged cannabis farms was over 1.5million. Dritan Meta , 43, Refik Skepi, 45, and Visar Elazaj, 38, are on trial accused of being part of a conspiracy to produce the class-B drug in Essex and Oxfordshire. Image from one of the properties discovered Energy company, SSE, sent a representative to a property on Masons Road, Oxford after it had failed to pay its bills, but on arrival 'saw cannabis plants everywhere' and subsequently called the police She said the Masons Road address was the first one that came to light to law enforcement because 'SSE wanted to cut off the electricity'. Ms Schutzer-Weissman explained. A representative from the company attended the property and 'saw cannabis plants everywhere', the prosecutor said. The SSE employee called the police and a warrant was executed at the property on August 24 2021. 'The smell, if nothing else, must have been pretty overwhelming', Ms Schutzer-Weissman told the jury, 'The grow appeared to be very professional.' The three men are all charged with one count of conspiracy to produce a controlled drug between June 1 2021 and August 18 2022. They all deny the offence. The jury were told Meta, of Kennington, Oxfordshire, and Skepi, of Reading, Berkshire, are both Albanian nationals. Elazaj is of Oxford. Ms Schutzer-Weissman, opening the case for the prosecution, said: 'Drugs are a business. Like any other business, they involve mundane, regular activity, unassuming locations, activity that appears perfectly normal to those around them. Two of the men on trial, Meta and Skepi are Albanian nationals. The total value of the operation is estimated to be 1.5millon Three separate addresses were identified as cannabis factories 'Unlike Netflix and Guy Ritchie films, it involves hard work and a number of people playing different roles. 'Putting drugs on streets involves a financial operation, but that does not mean it is not criminal. Mundane does not mean legitimate. 'This business of growing and cultivating cannabis is obviously a risky business because it is criminal, but it is worth it commercially. Large crops reap large yields. What any person can expect to gain will depend on what part they play and their position. 'The prosecution allege these three defendants are doing just this - cultivating and producing cannabis. 'This is a conspiracy offence. That means an agreement where two or more people agree to carry out a criminal scheme into effect. The criminal act is the agreement. 'The prosecution say you are going to need to consider what each defendant knew and what each defendant intended. That is evidenced often by their actions. Lack of action does not mean lack of knowledge or lack of intention.' Ms Schutzer-Weissman said the prosecution did not need to prove that each defendant played an active role in each of the cannabis grows. The trial continues. A bipartisan bill to cut TikTok from its Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance gathered momentum this week until Donald Trump signaled he is against it, and now some lawmakers are getting cold feet. This week, the House China Select Committee advanced the measure, which would specifically designate ByteDance and TikTok as foreign adversary-controlled applications. If TikTok doesn't divest from parent company ByteDance, it could be banned across the U.S., the bill states. It has a real shot of becoming law after President Joe Biden told supporters Friday that he would sign the bill if Congress successfully passes it. It sparked outrage as thousands of GenZers started calling their members of Congress threatening to commit suicide if TikTok is banned. And Trump bashed the bill on social media after the bill was cleared out of committee in a 50-0 bipartisan vote, saying if TikTok is banned its rival Facebook would 'double their business' 'I dont want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better,' Trump wrote. 'They are a true Enemy of the People!' Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told DailyMail.com the TikTok bill introduced this week is a 'terrible idea' Now, some in the Senate are calling into question the legitimacy of the measure. 'I think it's a terrible idea and it's hysteria that's running through both parties now.' Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told DailyMail.com Friday. Former President Donald Trump said the TikTok ban would embolden Facebook, which he claims is an 'enemy of the people' Paul argued that the bill would be an infringement on American's First Amendment rights. 'In America, we don't just tell people you can't own a company because we don't like you. And 150 million people use their First Amendment freedom to express themselves on TikTok, and you can't just have that taken away from them.' He also noted that the bill could further distress tensions with China. 'People need to remember some of the lessons of history, when you start banning companies and banning interaction between countries, you come closer to a war,' he said. 'It's a huge step in the wrong direction.' If passed, ByteDance would have 165 days after the law is signed to divest from TikTok. If it does not, app stores and web hosting platforms would not be allowed to distribute it in the U.S. Lawmakers on the committee accused CCP officials of using TikTok to spy on U.S. users' locations and dictate its algorithm to conduct influence campaigns, making it a national security threat. Leaders on the China select committee are pushing a bipartisan bill that would force state-affiliated ByteDance to sell its shares of TikTok or else the popular video-sharing platform would be banned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before Congress in January claiming U.S. user data was not accessible to Chinese government officials. Leaders on the Select Committee on China, however, say that is false A bipartisan group of House lawmakers have worked on the bill for over a year Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., was also unsure of the House bill. Warner said he was open to supporting the bill, but also floated concerns that it 'does not pass legal muster.' 'We need a we need an approach to deal with technology companies that come from nations that are viewed in law as adversarial.' When pressed on Trump's TikTok comments, Warner said, said the former president was being hypocritical, adding 'this is the same Donald Trump who led by executive order and said this was a national security concern years ago.' In 2020, Trump signed an executive order that gave ByteDance 45 days to sell TikTok or face a ban. Despite the action the company never divested from TikTok and never faced consequences. Still, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, and notably some Trump supporters, still support the proposed bill. If Congress bans TikTok, they will be acting just like the Chinese communists who have also banned TikTok . . . Why not just defend the first amendment? pic.twitter.com/7eAvKNPdvc Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 8, 2024 TikTok boats over 100 million users in the U.S., concerning lawmakers that its Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance - which lawmakers says has ties with the CCP - poses a national security threat 'I don't think that we have to always agree with everything,' Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., told DailyMail.com. 'I think TikTok should be banned until further notice. I think that Facebook should be held accountable as well.' Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told DailyMail.com though 'nobody likes Facebook,' he is in favor of taking action against TikTok. 'TikTok I think has got to be banned.,' he said. 'It is a Chinese spy app. I mean, it's a CCP door to everybody's phone who uses it.' Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said it is important Congress address the dangers posed by TikTok and that 'bipartisan action is absolutely necessary, with Trump or without.' 'I understand what [Trump's] saying. But social media is unregulated. It's immune from lawsuits. That's got to change,' said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told DailyMail.com: 'I am very interested in meaningful steps to limit TikTok's malign influence, to protect our children, to stop Communist China from engaging in espionage and surveillance and to halt the deliberate pushing of harmful propaganda.' As the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Cruz would be the top Republican overseeing the bill's review in the Senate, should the House pass it. Following the introduction of the House bill, TikTok used consumer location data to urge its users to call their representatives and demand the measure not be enacted, irking lawmakers. Thousands of children called lawmakers on Capitol Hill Thursday, staffers told DailyMail.com, many of whom were crying begging that their beloved social media app not be banned. 'It's absolutely creepy,' Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said of the TikTok congressional call campaign. 'It's really crazy and it's a dangerous tool.' 'It is an algorithm designed to be addictive.' The bill is scheduled to receive a vote on the floor next week after passing through the House Commerce Committee with unanimous approval. 'The House Commerce Committee just voted 50-0 to force TikTok to sever their ties with the Chinese Communist Party,' House Commerce Chair Steve Scalise, R-La., wrote on X Thursday. 'I will bring this critical national security bill to the House floor for a vote next week.' President Joe Biden was caught on a hot mic making tough talk on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the two men will need to have a 'come to Jesus meeting.' Biden made the comment Thursday night on the House floor after his State of the Union address while he was speaking with Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The incident was another sign of Biden's growing frustration with Netanyahu as the president comes under pressure from home and abroad to do more about the humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people. The UN has warned the Gaza strip faces famine conditions and Israel has not helped as much as it could in getting food and medicine into the area, citing concerns the supplies will be taken by the Hamas terrorists they are fighting against. President Joe Biden (second right) speaks with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (left), Secretary of State Antony Blinken (second left), and Senator Michael Bennet (right with back to camera) as he made his remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu In the conversation on the House floor, which played out live on television cameras that had recorded Biden's speech, Bennet congratulated Biden on his address to the nation and urged him to keep pressing Netanyahu on humanitarian crisis. Blinken nodded along in agreement. Biden answers using Netanyahu's nickname, saying: 'I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, but you and I are going to have a 'come to Jesus' meeting.' Biden's bodyman Jacob Spreyer then leans in and whispers to the president, apparently warning Biden he is on a hot mic. 'I'm on a hot mic here,' Biden says after Spreyer spoke to him. 'Good. That's good.' Biden has already ordered US airlifts of aid to the Gaza strip. And, in his speech, he announced that he's directing the military to build a port on the Gaza coast to bring relief to the population there. 'The United States is a leading international efforts to get more humanitarian assistance to Gaza,' he said. He noted the temporary pier 'will enable a massive increase in humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza.' That does not mean U.S. military personnel will be on the ground in the war torn region. White House officials offered no time line for when the pier will be built or where exactly it will be located but said its construction will allow more shipments of food, medicine and other essential items to be delivered to the 2.2 million Palestinians. They said the White House will coordinate with the Israelis regarding security on the ground and with the United Nations and humanitarian groups on getting aid delivered. Biden's bodyman Jacob Spreyer (left) leans in to warn the president about the hot mic President Joe Biden has been showing his frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - above the two men meet in Tel Aviv in October The temporary pier will allow for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day, the officials said. It will be an additional route for humanitarian aid, which is currently limited to two land crossings into the southern part of Gaza. Other countries will be involved in its construction but it's unclear if Israel will be. The project could take more than 30 to 60 days to construct and would involve hundreds or thousands of U.S. troops on ships just off shore. It will also require armed escorts and other protective measures. Some of Biden's own Democrats have been frustrated with his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. During that section of Biden's State of the Union Address , Democratic Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Alyanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Cori Bush held up 'lasting cease-fire now' signs. The president has seen a concerning number of Democrats vote 'uncommitted' in primaries in key battleground states like Michigan and Minnesota, most of whom are unhappy with his treatment of Palestinians. In Minnesota on Tuesday, nearly 20 percent of Democratic voters in the state voted uncommitted. The week before, more than 100,000 voters in Michigan voted the same. A famine has not yet been declared for Gaza but 20% of households suffer from an extreme lack of food, 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition and 2 in 10,000 people dying per day 'due to outright starvation or to the interaction of malnutrition and disease,' the World Food Program said. In his address on Thursday, Biden called on the Israelis to do more to alleviate the suffering even as they try to eliminate Hamas. He called the situation in Gaza 'heartbreaking.' 'To Israel, I say this humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,' Biden said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was furious when his war cabinet member Benny Gantz (above), his possible political opponent, had meetings at the White House Palestinians rescue a man and his children from the rubble of a destroyed house following an Israeli air strike in the town of Al-Zawaida in the Gaza strip The White House has been gone from all-out support for Israel to showing its frustration with Netanyahu. The administration is pushing for a ceasefire in the region to get hostages out and critical aid in. Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the White House - in a move that infuriated Netanyahu. Gantz, a centrist political rival of Netanyahu who frequently criticizes the prime minister, sat down with several senior Biden administration officials during his trip to Washington D.C., including Harris, Blinken, National Security Council Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk and Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser. He also met with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders. Gantz, who polls show could be a formidable candidate for prime minister if a vote were held today, is viewed as a political moderate. If the heavy fighting subsides, Gantz will leave the government, which would increase pressure for early elections. Netanyahu was reportedly furious at Gantz's White House meeting. Boeing has overhauled its bonus scheme to emphasize safety safety above meeting profit targets in the wake of the Alaska Airlines door plug scandal. After a door plug blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight in January Boeing has been under pressure by the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) and its investors to appear to be addressing serious quality and safety concerns. In the company's commercial unit safety and quality metrics will now account for 60 percent of annual bonuses, up from 25 percent. Previously, financial incentives comprised 75 percent of the annual award. Now the dominant metrics determining a bonus will be employee safety, work done out of sequence on the assembly line and work required to fix problems, according to an internal memo seen by the Wall Street Journal. Boeing has overhauled its bonus scheme to emphasize safety safety above meeting profit targets, including for CEO Dave Calhoun (pictured) In January, an Alaska Airlines flight suffered a near-catastrophe as a plane door blew out at 16,000ft over Portland There were no serious injuries from the terrifying air failure, but passenger's belongings including phones flew out of the aircraft In Boeing's other two units, defense and services, financial metrics will still dominate, determining 75 percent of bonus awards. However, quality and safety will be the only factors to determine the operational scores. CEO Dave Calhoun and other executives bonuses will be based on an average of all three units scores. 'It's very, very important to drive the outcomes that we're all committed to, and that's to deliver a safe and quality product to our customer,' Boeing operating chief Stephanie Pope told staff in an employee webcast earlier this week. It comes as a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by United Airlines veered off the runway after landing in Houston early Friday in the latest near-miss involving the embattled airliner. The aircraft, which arrived from Memphis, is said to have suffered some form of gear collapse as it exited the runway at George Bush Airport, although the 160 passengers and six crew were not injured. Shocking footage showed the plane lying flat on its wings on grass by the side of the runway, while passengers were hurried off from an emergency gate ladder. Boeing told DailyMail.com in a statement on Friday: 'We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide any support needed to United Airlines and the investigators.' A Boeing 737 Max operated by United Airlines veered off the tarmac into the grass when exiting the runway at George Bush Airport in Houston early Friday Shocking footage showed the plane laying flat on its wings off the side off a runway, after suffering an apparent gear collapse Passengers were seen being evacuated from the aircraft from an emergency gate ladder It is the latest in a string of disastrous failings involving Boeing aircraft in recent days, including a 737 engine that caught fire mid-flight on Monday and a wheel falling off shortly after takeoff in San Francisco on Thursday. The FAA says it is launching a full investigation of the latest disaster, which is still ongoing at the time of writing as United says it will move the aircraft as soon as it is able. In a statement, Houston Airports said: 'Around 8am today, a United Airlines flight landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). As it was exiting the runway, the aircraft left the pavement and entered the grass along Runway 9-27.' 'Fortunately, no one on board was injured. The Houston Fire Department and Houston Airports Operations immediately responded and safely evacuated all passengers. 'Per federal regulation, the FAA has been notified. United Airlines is working to remove the plane, which is not impacting flight operations. Flights in and out of lAH continue without interruption.' Boeing has seen billions dropped from its market capitalization in the wake of the repeat issues, as the FAA and NTSB launch investigations into its fleet of 737's. Last month, the FAA formally mandated inspections in Boeing 737 Max airplanes for loose bolts in the rudder control systems after the plane maker recommended them in December. President Joe Biden arrives for the State of the Union address on Capitol Hill on Thursday in Washington, D.C., in front of Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press Biden arrives to the House chamber for his State of the Union address Thursday at the U.S. Capitol. Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press House Speaker Mike Johnson, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris applaud as Biden arrives to deliver the State of the Union address Thursday to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol. Alex Brandon/Associated Press Biden delivers the State of the Union address Thursday to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol. Andrew Harnik/Associated Press Members of the Democratic caucus wore white for womens rights during Bidens State of the Union address Thursday during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol. Alex Wong/Getty Images Biden announced three proposals to address the housing crisis during his State of the Union address Thursday before a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol. Pool/Getty Images WASHINGTON President Joe Biden had a difficult needle to thread in his State of the Union speech Thursday night ahead of his expected rematch with former President Donald Trump: Tout the strength of the economy under his administration while acknowledging the frustration many Americans feel about the cost of living. He attempted to do that by zeroing in on the housing crisis, an issue acutely familiar to Californians that is becoming more serious across the country. The proposals he floated Thursday included expanded tax credits for low-income and first-time homebuyers, grant funding to increase housing construction, and efforts to address rental price-fixing and hidden fees. Bidens speech to a sharply divided Congress felt more like a political rally at times, with Democrats chanting four more years and Biden chiding his predecessor over a dozen times without saying his name. He criticized the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade as the justices sat stone-faced in the front row of the chamber. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The president also addressed the primary concern facing voters headed into a heated election: his age. My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isnt how old we are, its how old our ideas are. Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas. But you cant lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back, Biden said. Biden detailed other proposals designed to ease Americans financial burdens lowering the cost of prescription drugs, reducing junk fees and promoting competition in health care and other industries but the housing discussion reflects a growing push in Washington to explore ways the federal government can make it easier for people to buy homes or remain in their existing ones. For millions of renters, were cracking down on big landlords who break antitrust laws by price-fixing and driving up rents, Biden said in his speech. Ive cut red tape so more builders can get federal financing, which is already helping build a record 1.7 million housing units nationwide. Now pass my plan to build and renovate 2 million affordable homes and bring those rents down! Advertisement Article continues below this ad Housing values across the country are also increasing, with the national median price for a single-family home up 3.5% from a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. Though mortgage rates remain far above their pre-hike lows, many Bay Area real estate agents believe their recent drop is enough to bring buyers back to the housing market. That could cause home values to rise further as buyers compete for limited housing stock. Biden called for Congress to create three new tax credits to help homebuyers: $5,000 a year for two years for middle-class first-time homebuyers, up to a $10,000 one-time tax credit for middle-class families who sell their starter homes to another owner-occupant, and a tax credit to build or renovate affordable homes for homeownership. The House recently passed a package of tax legislation that included a targeted expansion of the low-income housing tax credit which Biden asked Congress to expand that developers can take in exchange for reserving some rent-restricted units for lower-income households. The federal government has a real role to play in making sure that were building more housing and making sure that were getting relief to people who are struggling in this current housing market, Daniel Hornung, deputy director of the National Economic Council, told the Chronicle ahead of the speech. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Biden also called for Congress to create a federal program to assist low-income families with down payments, a program that California has already created. Federal lawmakers attempted to create a $10 billion down-payment program in 2021, but the plan failed. The proposal became so politicized that its unlikely Republicans would be willing to support such a program now. Bidens budget proposal, which he will release Monday, will include his bid for a $20 billion grant program to increase housing production. Biden also called on Congress to increase the amount that federal home loan banks must contribute to the program that provides private sector grants for housing and community development. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will propose new regulations to address closing costs that benefit the lender but not the borrower and can cut into homebuyers down payments. Closing costs have really shot up, and it drains peoples down payment and pushes up their monthly mortgage payment, bureau Director Rohit Chopra told reporters Tuesday. None of the proposals will be game-changers for the large-scale supply and demand issues, but they could have a real impact on certain areas of the market where there are genuine pain points, Jenny Schuetz, a senior fellow focused on housing at the research institute Brookings Metro, told the Chronicle. Advertisement Article continues below this ad These proposals have the added benefit of being politically popular because theyre largely targeted toward first-time and low-income homebuyers, Schuetz said. The Biden administration is being quite realistic about what they can do with Republicans having a majority in the House, she said. This is an issue where the president fundamentally understands that when homeownership feels out of reach for first-time homebuyers and renters are struggling to keep up, that we have to do something about it, Hornung told reporters Tuesday. Bidens proposals, however, are unlikely to have a substantial impact in California, Schuetz said. The fundamental problem in California is a lack of supply solutions to which tend to be more controversial and that isnt substantially addressed by these proposals. Kentucky officials have been unable to find any evidence after searching a landfill to locate autistic teen Sebastian Rogers who went missing over a week ago. Rogers, 15, is believed to have left his family house with a flashlight in the early hours of February 26. He was reported missing by his parents at 6:30 am. He hasn't been seen since February 26, when he is thought to have snuck into the Tennessee woodlands near his house. On Thursday, deputies from the Sumner County Sheriff's Office and the Kentucky State Police begun searching a landfill in Hopkins County, Kentucky in hopes of finding evidence. Sebastian Rogers, 15, left his family house with a flashlight on February 26 and has since been missing On March 7, deputies from the Sumner County Sheriff's Office and the Kentucky State Police begun searching a landfill in Hopkins County, Kentucky, in hopes of finding evidence The landfill is believed to be where the trash from Sebastian's neighborhood in the Beech area went to on the day he went missing The landfill is believed to be where the trash from Sebastian's neighborhood in the Beech area went to on the day he went missing. Officials called the search of the landfill a 'precautionary measure to eliminate possible options and questions.' The SCSO said in a statement: 'There is no specific information that indicates evidence related to the search for Sebastian may be there; rather it is an investigative, precautionary measure to eliminate possible options and questions.' But despite thorough search, the Sheriff's Office reported on Friday morning that the Kentucky landfill did not provide any additional clues about what has happened to Rogers. According to officials, investigators are currently working on eliminating and drumming up leads. Officials called the search of the landfill a 'precautionary measure to eliminate possible options and questions' But despite thorough search, the Sheriff's Office reported on Friday that the Kentucky landfill did not provide any additional clues about what has happened to Rogers According to officials, investigators are currently working on eliminating and drumming up leads Earlier this week, Roger's mother and stepfather, Katie and Chris Proudfoot, said they felt overwhelming 'helpless and hopeless' grief following the disappearance of their 15-year-old son in Hendersonville, Tennessee. His stepfather told WSMV4: 'We're on one constant rollercoaster ride of helpless and hopeless and many other emotions all in one. 'And it's a never-ending rollercoaster. It doesn't stop.' In between shaky breaths, the boy's mom added: 'I wouldn't wish this on anyone.' The parents also detailed the circumstances surrounding Sebastian's disappearance: 'Everything was pretty normal. He was playing in his room. 'When I told him to go to bed, he did. He said: "Goodnight, mom. I love you."' Sebastian's mother and stepfather, Katie and Chris Proudfoot, said they felt overwhelming 'helpless and hopeless' grief following the disappearance of their 15-year-old son in Hendersonville, Tennessee Sebastian lives in Stafford Court, Hendersonville, on the north-eastern outskirts of Nashville, and he is believed to be wearing glasses with a black sweatshirt and sweatpants Hundreds of trained search team members have combed 2,000 miles on foot throughout Hendersonville. They include mountain experts Given how normal everything was, it came as a complete shock to Katie when she went to wake her son up for school and 'he wasn't there.' They don't know what would have prompted their son to disappear into the woods in Hendersonville, Tennessee, which lies on the outskirts of Nashville. The day before, Rogers , who loves games and has been described as 'smart,' had been 'laughing' and 'joking'. His mother pointed out that it would make 'more sense if we'd been fighting.' 'He hadn't even been in trouble,' Sebastian's stepfather observed. By late last week, Craddock said they were 'operating under the assumption that Sebastian walked off,' adding that his family had been cooperating The state Bureau of Investigation released an endangered child alert for the teenager on the day he disappeared - and officials have since deployed drones, dogs, boats, horses and helicopters in the search for him Katie explained to the interviewer how about three minutes after she found Sebastian's bed empty, she knew something was wrong. She called her husband, who was at work in Memphis, and told him that the teen wasn't in the house. The boy's mother searched for him everywhere, running 'all over the house, outside, inside.' She looked for him in every closet. They called the Sherriff's Office and made a report, and the authorities responded within minutes. She said: 'It was rapid fire. They had cars from here down to the [main] road.' An amber alert was issued, and state and local forces deployed helicopters, drones, boats, horses and search-and-rescue dogs. Hundreds of trained professionals and volunteers descended en masse to look for Rogers, combing through 2,000 miles of terrain on foot. Among the professionals, there were even mountain and cave experts. At one point, a drone was rigged with a speaker that was playing 'Eye of the Tiger' on a loop. The Rocky theme is the teen's favorite song, and authorities were hoping the song might lure him out of the woods if he was hiding. The search continues for 15-year-old Sebastian (left) who has been missing for one week Throughout their interview, Sebastian's parents continued to be resolutely optimistic, and a note of sincere hope underpinned their answers The whereabouts of Rogers remain unknown, and on Monday, officials announced that they would be scaling down their search in order to transition to 'the investigative side.' Throughout their interview, his parents continued to be resolutely optimistic, and a note of sincere hope underpinned their answers. 'He's gonna walk through that door, and the street will be flooded again with family and relatives all waiting to hug him and love him,' Rogers' stepfather said. After pausing for a moment, Katie added: 'That boy's gonna have more friends than he knows what to do with when he comes home' The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft fiasco is not cooling down after a string of disastrous failures have occurred since January. The downfall of the Boeing 737 began after a plug door in a Max 9 aircraft 'departed the aircraft' midflight on January 5, a moment that was echoed when a cargo door was discovered to be slightly ajar after a flight landed just last week. Both of these flights were operated by Alaska Airlines. Now, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by United Airlines is the latest flight scare after it skidded off the runway this morning at a Texas airport. The plane slid off the runway and into the grass at Houstons George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and none of the passengers or crew were injured. A string of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft failings have occurred since January, and one recently occurred on Friday The plane slid off the runway and into the grass at Houstons George Bush Intercontinental Airport and none of the passengers or crew were injured This incident at George H. Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport happened right before a video went viral of another Boeing 737's engines bursting into flames. The video taken by one of the passengers showed flashes of flames coming out of the jet's engine. The incident occurred just 15 minutes into a two-hour flight to Florida. No one on the flight was hurt, and United Airlines arranged for another aircraft to come after the Boeing 737 made an emergency landing. All of the issues have sparked outrage from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) who have sought the names of the 25 people who work on door plugs at a Boeing facility in Renton, Washington, as part of their investigation. They claim that Boeing hasn't sent them what they've asked for. 'It is absurd that two months later we don't have it,' said NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy at a hearing on Wednesday. However, Boeing said in a statement that they have provided 'the full list of individuals on the 737 door team' in response to a request made following the recent incidents. Prior to this morning's plane skidding, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave the Boeing company 90 days to create a quality improvement plan. Boeing's stock has dropped, and fliers are becoming increasingly worried about flying Boeing 737s. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said investigators have sought the names of the 25 people who work on door plugs at a Boeing facility in Renton, Washington, but have not received them Thankfully, anyone who is afraid of going on a Boeing 737 can take measures to see if they're flying on this specific aircraft. 'Even if there's one little component of flying that you can control, it's empowering,' travel expert Katy Nastro told Travel + Leisure. 'It's definitely something good to keep in your travel arsenal.' The thing fliers to look out for in order to get that information is a flight schedule. 'Airlines put out schedules and they have to know what flight type they're flying on,' said Nastro. 'You might have a little bit higher likelihood that it could change if you're booking further out, but it's not a high likelihood.' Although schedules can sometime be out of a fliers' control, there are things they can do to make sure they can be as comfortable as possible. Future fliers will be able to check the type of aircraft the flight is scheduled through an online search of the flight number Future fliers will be able to check the type of aircraft the flight is scheduled through an online search of the flight number. Anyone who is booking their flight on the airline's website will also be able to find aircraft details right away. For those who are opting to use Google Flights instead, a drop-down arrow will show all of the flight options for the aircraft assigned. Some online booking sites also allow travelers to see the aircraft type while searching for a flight. KAYAK.com, for instance, gives vacationers to search by specific 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircrafts. Pictured: The heart-stopping video has caught the moment a Boeing jet's engines exploded and burst into flames in the skies above Texas forcing an emergency landing The downfall of the Boeing 737 began after a plug door in a Max 9 aircraft 'departed the aircraft' midflight on January 5 Travelers who were not able to see the aircraft options before their booking can find out what type they will be flying on various websites, such as SeatGuru. Google Flights and FlightAware, using flight number or airport codes. Anyone using Google Flights can access the aircraft information by putting in the exact time and date they will be flying. If travelers are not happy with what they booked, they can change their flight if they feel it's necessary. Due to the recent Boeing 737 incidents, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines had temporary flight waivers. United Airlines allowed travelers who booked a flight on a Boeing 737 by January 6 to fly anytime before January 28 with the option to change it without paying an additional fee. Passengers will be able to find out their aircraft through these websites by typing in their flight number or airport codes. If travelers are not happy with their flight, they can cancel it Passengers who were scheduled to fly a flight operated by Alaska Airlines anytime before February 8 were given permission to change any flight with a carrier by February 9. Sadly, when travel waivers like those ones are not in place, a flier will usually have to pay a fare difference for a new flight. Airlines don't charge cancellation fees and travelers are able to cancel a flight for free if they do it as soon as possible. The 24-hour Department of Transportation (DOT) Rule states: 'If an airline requires payment with a reservation, it must allow the consumer to cancel the payment and reservation within 24 hours and receive a full refund.' Because of this rule, travelers have the option to cancel nearly all plane tickets in the US free of charge. The former President of Honduras has been convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and aiding traffickers like El Chapo in the process. Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted in New York on charges that he conspired with traffickers and used his military and police force to enable tons of cocaine to make it unhindered into the US. The jury returned its verdict at a federal court after a two week trial, which has been closely followed in his home country. Hernandez, 55, served two terms as the leader of the Central American nation of roughly 10 million people. He was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the U.S. in April of that year. Honduras' former president Juan Orlando bows his head as he's convicted of drug trafficking by a New York City court on Friday Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted in New York on charges that he conspired with traffickers and used his military and police force to enable tons of cocaine to make it unhindered into the United States Hernandez, second from right, is taken in handcuffs to a waiting aircraft as he is extradited to the United States, at an Air Force base in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, April 21, 2022 U.S. prosecutors accused Hernandez of working with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004. They said he took millions of dollars in bribes as he rose from rural congressman to president of the National Congress and then to the country's highest office. Hernandez acknowledged in trial testimony that drug money was paid to virtually all political parties in Honduras, but he denied accepting bribes himself. He noted that he had visited the White House and cast himself as a champion in the war on drugs who worked to curb the flow of drugs to the U.S. In one instance, he said, he was warned by the FBI that a drug cartel wanted to assassinate him. He said his accusers fabricated their claims about him in bids for leniency for their crimes. 'They all have motivation to lie, and they are professional liars,' Hernandez said. But the prosecution mocked Hernandez for seemingly claiming to be the only honest politician in Honduras. Hernandez, seated center at the defense table, turns to looks at prospective jurors during the jury selection process at the start of his trial. During closing arguments Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gutwillig told the jury that a corrupt Hernandez 'paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States.' Defense attorney Renato Stabile said his client 'has been wrongfully charged' as he urged an acquittal. Trial witnesses included traffickers who admitted responsibility for dozens of murders. They testified that Hernandez was an enthusiastic protector of some of the world's most powerful cocaine dealers. These included notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, who is serving a life prison term in the U.S. The head of the Sinaloa Cartel is said to have paid $1m in bribes to Hernandez's political campaigns. Prosecutors said that he boasted he would 'stuff the drugs right up the noses of the gringos'. Hernandez, wearing a suit throughout the trial, was mostly dispassionate as he testified through an interpreter, repeatedly saying 'no sir' as he was asked if he ever paid bribes or promised to protect traffickers from extradition to the U.S. The New York Times reported that Hondurans who had arrived to watch the trial laughed at the former president as he testified. El Chapo is escorted by marines as he is presented to the press on February 22, 2014 in Mexico City One drug trafficker who testified that he was responsible for 56 murders, said Hernandez promised him would ensure law enforcement left him alone if he provided financing for his political career. Throughout his two days on the witness stand, Hernandez kept his composure, calmly answering questions even as a prosecutor taunted him with questions. He even asked sarcastically if all five trial witnesses who claimed he accepted money from drug dealers were lying and he was the only one telling the truth. 'They all have motivation to lie, and they are professional liars,' Hernandez said. Four of the five were convicted drug traffickers who testified that they gave money to Hernandez themselves. Despised for years in Honduras as he trampled a constitutional ban on reelection to run again and win in a highly criticized election filled with irregularities, many Hondurans were eager to see him face justice. When the news reached nearly 100 opponents of Hernandez on the street outside the courthouse, they applauded and began jumping into the air to celebrate the outcome. His brother Juan Antonio 'Tony' Hernandez, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in 2021 in Manhattan federal court for his own conviction on drug charges. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 which veered off a runway after landing in Houston on Friday is the latest in a series of at least nine major incidents involving the company's aircraft in recent years. The aircraft, which arrived from Memphis, is said to have suffered some form of gear collapse as it exited the runway at George Bush Airport. The 160 passengers and six crew were not injured. Footage showed the plane stopped with its wing touching the ground by the side of the runway, while passengers were hurried off from an emergency gate ladder. The incident is yet another involving the beleaguered company's aircraft - including two deadly crashes which killed a total of 346 people. Here, DailyMail.com looks at some of the high-profile incidents and production issues which have affected Boeing in recent years. A Boeing 737 Max operated by United Airlines veered off the tarmac into the grass when exiting the runway at George Bush Airport in Houston early Friday Shocking footage showed the plane laying flat on its wings off the side off a runway, after suffering an apparent gear collapse WHEEL FALLS OFF AFTER TAKE OFF A wheel fell off a Boeing 777-200 shortly after takeoff in San Francisco on Thursday. The 256lb wheel fell from a United Airlines plane shortly after take-off and crushed cars parked below after it plummeted to the ground. The United Airlines flight 35 left San Francisco Airport on its way to Osaka in Japan and was barely off the runway when the Boeing 777-200's wheel came off. The plane with 235 passengers and 14 crew diverted to Los Angeles Airport after it was alerted to the landing gear failure at 11.35am on Thursday. The plane landed safely at LAX about 1.20pm with no further incident and no injuries reported on the ground. 'The 777-200 has six tires on each of its two main landing gear struts. The aircraft is designed to land safely with missing or damaged tires,' United said. A 256lb wheel has fallen from an airliner as it took off, crushing cars where it landed after plummeting to the ground MID-FLIGHT ENGINE FIRE On Monday, just days before the wheel incident, a 737 engine caught fire mid-flight. Heart-stopping video caught the moment the Boeing jet's engines exploded and burst into flames in the skies above Texas, forcing an emergency landing. The terrifying incident took place just minutes into a United Airlines flight bound for Fort Myers, Florida. Video taken from a passenger window shows white-hot flashes streaming out of the 737's jet engine. Moments later, they were forced to make an emergency landing and return to George H. Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport moments after takeoff. No injuries were reported in the incident. DOOR BLOWOUT AT 16,000FT A Boeing aircraft also suffered a near-catastrophe in January as a 737 MAX 9 plane door blew out at 16,000ft over Portland, Oregon, forcing an emergency landing. In January, an Alaska Airlines flight suffered a near-catastrophe as a plane door blew out at 16,000ft over Portland There were no serious injuries from the terrifying air failure, but passenger's belongings including phones flew out of the aircraft Earlier this week, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board accused Boeing of failing to provide some key records sought in its ongoing investigation into the mid-air cabin door emergency. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said investigators have sought the names of the 25 people who work on door plugs at a Boeing facility in Renton, Washington, but have not received them from Boeing. 'It is absurd that two months later we don't have it,' Homendy said at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday. Boeing insisted that it had initially provided the NTSB with some of the names of Boeing employees, including door specialists it believed would have relevant information. Senator Ted Cruz, the top Republican on the Commerce Committee, called it 'utterly unacceptable' that the NTSB was not receiving full cooperation from Boeing. Homendy also confirmed that the MAX 9 door plug had moved during prior flights, citing markings on the door. DEADLY INCIDENTS INVOLVING 737 MAX The most serious issues to blight Boeing have involved the 737 Max, the latest version of its 737, a workhorse of passenger aviation. Following the door blow out, United Airlines said inspections of other 737 Max jets prompted by the incident on the Alaska Airlines flight turned up loose bolts and other 'installation issues' on the part that failed - a door plug used to seal openings used for additional emergency exits in some configurations of the plane. Safety and manufacturing problems have also plagued other models. In 2018, a woman died when a piece of engine housing ripped off a Southwest Airlines 737 and shattered the window she was sitting next to. She was partially sucked out of the plane as it lost cabin pressure before other passengers pulled her back in. Wreckage of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-MAX plane is seen on March 11, 2019 The engine of a Lion Air Boeing 737 Max is inspected after it crashed off Indonesia in 2018 Boeing began working on the Max in 2011 as an answer to a new, more fuel-efficient model from European rival Airbus. The company billed it as an updated 737 that wouldn't require much in the way of additional pilot training - a key selling point for what has become Boeing's best-selling airplane. But the Max did include significant changes, some of which Boeing downplayed - most notably, the addition of an automated flight-control system designed to help account for the plane's larger engines. Boeing didn't mention the system, called MCAS, in airplane manuals, and most pilots didn't know about it. That system was implicated in two crashes that killed 346 people. The first occurred when a Max 8 operated by Indonesia's Lion Air plunged into the Java Sea in October 2018. The second was when a Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max 8 crashed nearly straight down into a field six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa in March 2019. All Max jets were grounded worldwide for nearly two years while the company made changes to the flight-control system. Investigations revealed what a congressional panel called a 'horrific culmination' of failed government oversight, design flaws and inaction at Boeing. She was partially sucked out of the plane as it lost cabin pressure before other passengers pulled her back in. PRODUCTION ISSUES The Max has suffered from a series of production issues. Boeing asked airlines in December 2023 to check the jets for a potential loose bolt in the rudder control system, after an international operator found a bolt with a missing nut during routine maintenance. In a separate case, Boeing found that an undelivered aircraft had a nut that was not properly tightened. The FAA recently told pilots to limit use of an anti-ice system on the Max because the inlets around the engines could overheat and break away. Boeing recently asked the agency for a safety waiver while it develops a long-term fix. The company needs the exemption to begin delivering its new, smaller Max 7 to customers. Last year, Boeing reported a problem with fittings on Max jets where the fuselage meets the vertical section of the tail. Boeing said its Wichita, Kansas-based supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, used a 'non-standard manufacturing process' on some of the planes. Boeing and Spirit also said they discovered improperly drilled fastener holes in the aft pressure bulkhead - which maintains pressure when planes are at cruising altitude - on the fuselages of some models of the 737 Max. Boeing said the flaws could delay the deliveries of some new jets but did not pose an immediate hazard in those already flying. Boeing has said it is committed to safety. MORE ENGINE TROUBLES Federal safety officials are investigating an engine fire that was discovered on a United Airlines Boeing 737 Max after the plane landed in Newark, New Jersey, last June. The flight crew noticed a fire warning indication as the plane taxied in, shut down the engine and discharged a fire suppressant. There was no visible smoke or fire, but maintenance crews found a fuel leak as well as soot and heat damage. Also under investigation is what prompted the emergency landing in Wichita, Kansas, of a Denver-bound United Airlines flight on Dec. 14. Passengers reported hearing a rumbling and an engine fire was discovered after it landed. No one was injured. In 2021, a Boeing 777's right engine fan blade broke off shortly after takeoff from Denver with 239 people onboard. No one was injured. The NTSB blamed inadequate inspection of the fan blades as well as the 'insufficient frequency' of the manufacturer's recommendation for inspections. Boeing's two-aisle 787 has also been plagued by manufacturing problems that have sporadically held up deliveries. In June, the company said it was inspecting fittings on part of the tail called the horizontal stabilizer 'for a nonconforming condition.' In March, 787 deliveries were halted while federal regulators looked over documentation of work that was done on new planes. China's private hackers-for-hire take government officials out for lavish banquets, binge drinking and late-night karaoke with young women in a bid to win favor and business, according to a trove of leaked documents. Internal documents from a Chinese hacking firm called I-Soon were leaked online last month, revealing a seedy, sprawling industry where corners are cut and rules are murky in the quest to make money. Although the Associated Press verified the authenticity of the documents, experts cautioned that the leak appeared curated to cause maximum embarrassment for I-Soon and its CEO, Wu Haibo. Wu, who goes by the hacker moniker 'shutdown', is one of China's so-called 'red hackers' patriots who offer the Chinese Communist Party their services for a fee. Over the past two decades, Chinese state security's demand for overseas intelligence has soared, giving rise to a vast network of these private hackers-for-hire companies that have infiltrated hundreds of systems outside China. I-Soon founder and CEO Wu Haibo is one of China's so-called 'red hackers' patriots who offer the Chinese Communist Party their services for a fee Though the existence of these hacking contractors is an open secret in China, little was known about how they operate until last month's leak. David Robinson, a former Australian Army intelligence officer and the co-founder of Internet 2.0, called the leak a 'significant revelation, indicating China's implicit involvement in the extensive cyber warfare conducted by its private enterprises on a global scale.' Target lists included in the leak indicate that I-Soon planned or attempted to breach a wide range of government agencies and organizations in the United Kingdom and elsewhere around the world. It's unclear from the leak which targets were successfully breached. The leaked internal chat records also show I-Soon executives colluding with competitors to rig bidding for government contracts. They also pay thousands of dollars in 'introduction fees' to contacts who bring them lucrative projects. I-Soon has not commented on the documents. Mei Danowski, a cybersecurity analyst who wrote about I-Soon on her blog, Natto Thoughts, said the documents show that China's hackers-for-hire work much like any other industry in China. 'It is profit driven,' Danowski said. 'It is subject to Chinas business culture - who you know, who you dine and wine with, and who you are friends with.' Though I-Soon boasted about its hacking prowess in slick marketing PowerPoint presentations, the real business took place at lavish parties, late night drinking sessions and poaching wars with competitors, leaked records show. A picture emerges of a company enmeshed in a seedy, sprawling industry that relies heavily on connections to get things done. Today, hackers such as those at I-Soon outnumber FBI cybersecurity staff by 'at least 50 to one,' FBI director Christopher Wray said January at a conference in Munich. China boasts world-class hackers, many employed by the Chinese military and other state institutions. But documents reveal that I-Soon and other hackers-for-hire often engage in sketchy business practices. I-Soon employees are seen on a company retreat last fall. The company is a private contractor that provides hacking services to the Chinese government I-Soon leadership discussed buying gifts and which officials liked red wine. They swapped tips on who was a lightweight, and who could handle their liquor. I-Soon executives paid 'introduction fees' for lucrative projects, chat records show, including tens of thousands of RMB (thousands of dollars) to a man who landed them a 285,000 RMB ($40,000) contract with police in Hebei province. To sweeten the deal, I-Soon's chief operating officer, Chen Cheng, suggested arranging to take the man out for a drinking and karaoke session with women. 'He likes to touch girls,' Chen wrote. The source of the I-Soon documents is unclear, and executives and Chinese police are investigating. And though Beijing has repeatedly denied involvement in offensive hacking, the leak illustrates I-Soon and other hacking companies' deep ties with the Chinese state. For example, chat records show China's Ministry of Public Security gave companies access to proofs of concept of so-called 'zero days', the industry term for a previously unknown software security hole. Zero days are prized because they can be exploited until detected. I-Soon company executives debated how to obtain them. They are regularly discovered and surface at an annual Chinese state-sponsored hacking competition. Many of I-Soon's clients were police in cities across China, a leaked contract list showed. I-Soon scouted for databases they thought would sell well with officers, such as Vietnamese traffic data to the southeast province of Yunnan, or data on exiled Tibetans to the Tibetan regional government. At times, I-Soon hacked on demand. I-Soon proclaimed their patriotism to win new business. Top executives discussed participating in China's poverty alleviation scheme - one of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's signature initiatives - to make connections. In interviews with state media, I-Soon's CEO Wu quoted Mencius, a Chinese philosopher, casting himself as a scholar concerned with China's national interest. Despite Wu's professed patriotism, the leaked records depict a competitive man motivated to get rich. 'If you don't make money,' he wrote in a private message, 'being famous is useless.' But I-Soon has been hit by the countrys recent economic downturn , leading to thin profits, low pay and an exodus of talent, the leaked documents show. Low salaries and pay disparities caused employees to complain, chat records show. Leaked employee lists show most I-Soon staff held a degree from a vocational training school, not an undergraduate degree, suggesting lower levels of education and training. Sales staff reported that clients were dissatisfied with the quality of I-Soon data, making it difficult to collect payments. The company's troubles reflect broader issues in China's private hacking industry. The country's cratering economy, Beijing's tightening controls and the growing role of the state has led to an exodus of top hacking talent, four cybersecurity analysts and Chinese industry insiders told The Associated Press. 'China is no longer the country we used to know. A lot of highly skilled people have been leaving,' said one industry insider, declining to be named to speak on a sensitive topic. Under Xi, the person added, the growing role of the state in Chinas technology industry has emphasized ideology over competence, impeded pay and made access to officials pivotal. In recent years, Beijing has heavily promoted China's tech industry and the use of technology in government, part of a broader strategy to facilitate the countrys rise. But much of China's data and cybersecurity work has been contracted out to smaller subcontractors with novice programmers, leading to poor digital practices and large leaks of data . Despite the clandestine nature of I-Soon's work, the company has surprisingly lax security protocols. I-Soon's offices in Chengdu, for example, have minimal security and are open to the public. The leaked files show that top I-Soon executives communicated frequently on WeChat, which lacks end-to-end encryption. Still, Danowski, the cybersecurity analyst, at the end of the day, she added, it may not matter. 'It's a little sloppy. The tools are not that impressive. But the Ministry of Public Security sees that you get the job done,' she said of I-Soon. 'They will hire whoever can get the job done.' Detectives hunting the killers of a pensioner whose body was found in a freezer have made an arrest. The body of Roy Bigg was found inside the freezer in a derelict wine bar on Romford Road in Forest Gate, Newham in October 2021. The 70-year-old who sometimes worked at the former Simpsons Wine Bar was reported missing in 2012. Police believe Roy's body may have been inside the freezer for up to 10 years. Now, over two years after his body was found, detectives hunting the killers revealed a breakthrough in the case. Police have confirmed that they arrested a man in his 40s in October 2023 in connection with the investigation who was later released. The body of Roy Bigg was found inside the freezer in a derelict wine bar on Romford Road in Forest Gate, Newham in October 2021 A second man in his 50s was also interviewed under caution with no further action being taken. Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, of Scotland Yard's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'We have arrested one person and interviewed another under caution.' She also revealed that forensic analysis showed Roy had suffered rib injuries. DCI Allen said officers have also spoken to the victims' extended family, who helped provide further background information, such as the fact that he was well known in the area. Police believe his body may have been inside the freezer at the former Simpsons Wine Bar (pictured) for up to 10 years Speaking on BBC's Crimewatch Live today, DCI Allen said: 'It has been really challenging because of the passage of time. 'We haven't been able to fully identify what has actually killed him. 'I think that there is a strong possibility that he was killed and then placed into the freezer in the basement of that pub.' Detectives are still eagerly appealing for witnesses who can help solve the case with a 20,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction. DCI Allen said the arrest followed a previous Crimewatch appeal. But she added: 'We're still really looking for people who can tell us what was happening to Roy in the weeks and months leading up to his death. 'We absolutely need people to come forward. There is a 20,000 serious case reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the offenders.' Roy Bigg's cousin Frank Bousfield and his wife Irene (pictured at their home in Leiston, Suffolk) said it was 'shocking' to learn of his death and the sad manner in which it occurred In 2022 MailOnline tracked down one of Roy's last living relatives, his first cousin Frank Bousfield. He said that his cousin was an only child who doted on his mother Hetty and nursed her when fell sick with terminal cancer until she died when Roy was 25. He said: 'Roy was obviously a caring person because he took care of his own mother for years, and I remember thinking it was odd that his father Bert, who worked at Ford in Dagenham for his entire career, seemed to leave that side of things to his son.' He also revealed that Roy may have been shunned by his family for his sexuality. Mr Bousfield said: 'The main thing I remember about Roy was hearing on the family grapevine that he was gay. It wasn't as socially acceptable in those days and I think some of the family might have shunned him a bit as a result.' The State Department has claimed the US is not to blame for the aid drop that killed five civilians in Gaza on Friday. Five civilians were crushed to death by the multi-nation Gaza airdrop after a parachute carrying one of the parcels failed to deploy. 'We express our condolences to the families of those who were killed,' a spokesperson said. 'Our understanding is that this was not a U.S. airdrop. 'As we said earlier this week, these are complex and tough missions to do because so many parameters have to be exactly right. We always learn from these incidents and try to improve. 'We take every reasonable precaution to avoid injuries, including limiting the weight of the pallets, identifying drop-zones in less-populated areas, and the sending of safety messages to the population prior to the air drop.' Parachutes drop supplies into the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, March 8, 2024 Three planes from Air Forces Central dropped 66 bundles containing about 38,000 meals into Gaza The slain civilians, including two young boys, were reportedly killed at the Al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza when at least one parachute failed to properly deploy and a parcel fell on them. A journalist who was on the scene confirmed the deaths to CNN, but said he could not say which nation was behind the air drop. Muhammad Al-Sheikh, Head of Emergency Care Department at Al Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, has also confirmed the five civilian deaths. There were also 10 other civilians injured, aged between 30 and 50 years old. Some are in serious condition and remain hospitalized, CNN reported Friday. The State Department told DailyMail.com they understand the aid drop in question did not come from the US. The US was among six nations that began sending aid parcels to the war-torn region last Friday; Jordan, Egypt, France, the Netherlands and Belgium also sent packages. The State Department is yet to comment on the claims and the UN has not yet verified the report. U.S. C-130s dropped over 38,000 meals along the coastline of Gaza allowing for civilian access to the critical aid A video on social media shows a cluster of parcels suspended from parachutes before one drops much faster than the rest towards a residential building. Three planes from Air Forces Central dropped 66 bundles containing about 38,000 meals into Gaza. The bundles were dropped in southwest Gaza, on the beach along the territorys Mediterranean coast. The airdrop was coordinated with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which said it had two food airdrops Saturday in northern Gaza and has conducted several rounds in recent months. A witness told AFP they followed one of the parachuted packages in hopes of getting a bag of flour, but the chute didn't open and 'fell down like a rocket on the roof of one of the houses.' 'Ten minutes later I saw people transferring three martyrs and others injured, who were staying on the roof of the house where the aid packages fell,' the 50-year-old man told AFP. Three Biden administration officials said the planes dropped the military Meals Ready to Eat shelf-stable meals that contain a days worth of calories in each sealed package in locations that were thought would provide civilians with the greatest level of safety to access aid. Afterward, the U.S. monitored the sites and was able to see civilians approach and distribute food among themselves, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details that had not been made public. The U.S. airdrop is expected to be the first of many. The airdrops took place after Biden said the US military would build a temporary pier on Gaza's Mediterranean coast to receive shipments of humanitarian aid. 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. Palestinians queue for hours to receive food distributed by charitable organizations, in Deir Balah, Gaza on March 01, 2024 Smoke rises following Israeli air strikes in the northern Gaza Strip, 01 March 2024. More than 30,200 Palestinians and over 1,300 Israelis have been killed, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) 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. The United Nations has warned of famine among Gaza's 2.3million residents as the war with Israel rages on. Since the war began on October 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. Buckingham Palace is keeping a 'watchful eye' on Gary Goldsmith during his stint on Celebrity Big Brother, according to a royal expert. While Kate's 'bad uncle' claimed he did not need the Firm's stamp of approval to appear on the show, it is said the Palace is watching his every move. Since his television debut, Mr Goldsmith has discussed controversial topics, even branding Meghan Markle a 'stick in the spokes' and claimed she is creating drama. He even told housemate Fern Britton that Harry and Meghan should be stripped of their titles. Gary spoke about the first time he met 'normal' Prince William and gave the public reassurance that his niece is getting 'the best care in the world'. However, it is unlikely that officials will intervene unless he says something 'completely outrageous', according to a royal expert. While Kate's 'bad uncle' claimed he did not need the Firm's stamp of approval to appear on the show, it is sad the Palace is watching his every move The royal expert said that his appearance on a show that rakes in millions of viewers is likely to be 'distressing' to the Princess of Wales Jennie Bond told the Mirror: 'I think they'll completely ignore it unless he says something so completely outrageous that they feel they've been goaded into responding to a reality show. 'I hope [William and Kate] aren't investing their precious time into something that will be deeply upsetting to watch. 'He thinks being in there he's a knight in shining armour, but the Palace will be keeping a watchful eye.' Jennie believes despite Mr Goldsmith having good intentions with his trip to the Celebrity Big Brother house, his appearance could cause rifts in the family, adding that Gary needs to be more aware of the cameras around him. 'There are times when you get involved in conversation and there's a huge danger of Gary Goldsmith [forgetting about cameras] which he sort of did when he talked about [Kate's] health', she said. The royal expert said that his appearance on a show that rakes in millions of viewers is likely to be 'distressing' to the Princess of Wales at a time where she is supposed to be recovering from her abdominal surgery. 'She must just be thinking, 'Why, why, why did Uncle Gary have to do this?' I imagine she's thoroughly depressed about it,' Jennie added. Housemate Ekin-Su Culculoglu, who previously won Love Island in 2022, asked Mr Goldsmith about Kate. He replied: 'I think the most important thing... I spoke to her mum, my sister. 'She's getting the best care in the world and all the family has done is put the wagons around and looked after family first before anything else.' Ms Culculoglu responded: 'I've heard mixed things about Kate and I don't want to make a comment, but whatever it is, we want her to come back.' Mr Goldsmith then said: 'She's amazing. She will be back. Of course she will.' Kate's uncle also spoke about Meghan Markle on the show, admitting that he has not met her before. He said: 'I have an opinion that Harry was really, really really loved and when they were a threesome, so Kate, William and Harry they looked really comfortable together, and then suddenly theres an extra dynamic that comes in, puts a stick in the spokes and creates so much drama that I dont genuinely think is there, and rewrote the history, saying how unhappy he was and I just dont think thats fair.' Gary said that Kate was getting the 'best care in the world', reassuring the public that she is on track to recovery The royal expert said that his appearance on a show that rakes in millions of viewers is likely to be 'distressing' to the Princess of Wales. Above: Gary pictured in 2017 Gary Goldsmith branded Meghan a 'stick in the spokes' and claimed she is creating drama 'I mean you cant throw your family under the bus in such a dramatic style, then write books about it and expect to be invited round for Christmas.' Speaking with presenter Fern Britton, Mr Goldsmith spoke candidly and discussed the Sussexes. He said: 'I genuinely think their titles should be taken away'. This comes as the Duchess of Sussex is said to have hired a 'new PR guru' in time for her UK relaunch. Meghan wants a stellar publicist to help her promote a new mystery business venture in 2024 that has reportedly been months in the making. An unnamed executive has been recruited to help her handle the Duchess's UK and European media operation and promote Archewell, the foundation she runs with her husband Prince Harry. The Duchess of Sussex's new project is said to have been in the pipeline since last year and described as 'highly personal to her' and 'genuine to who she is' by The Daily Telegraph. It will only feed deafening rumours that she wants to relaunch her lifestyle blog The Tig, especially after her friend Gwyneth Paltrow 's GOOP brand burst through the $250million value over Christmas. Yesterday MailOnline revealed her search new UK PR executive- but those at the heart of the industry claimed it won't be an easy job because the Sussexes' don't have a reputation for being good listeners. One described the role as 'a s**t sandwich that many senior PR people will not be willing to eat'. Kensington Palace has been contacted for comment. A New Mexico mother relocated her family to another state after local public schools introduced what she deemed a 'transgender closet' and implemented 'party days' when kids did no schoolwork. Rachael Hein, who had lived in Las Cruces for the past 20 years, moved her family to Missouri upon learning a 'gender inclusive closet' had been introduced at Centennial High School. 'I thought, "Please tell me this is a joke." The high school my daughter was going into had been awarded a $10,000 grant to get a "transgender closet" installed,' she told Independent Women's Forum. The 'gender inclusive closet,' according to It Gets Better, the nonprofit that funded the grant, provides 'affirming supplies and clothes for trans and gender non-conforming students.' Shocked and disheartened, Hein ultimately decided to uproot her family from New Mexico to a small town in Missouri, located a thousand miles away. Rachael Hein, a New Mexico mother, relocated her family to another state after local public schools introduced what she deemed a ' transgender closet' and implemented 'party days' when kids did no schoolwork Hein, who had lived in Las Cruces for the past 20 years, moved her family to Missouri upon learning a 'gender inclusive closet' had been introduced at Centennial High School (pictured) Hein told FOX said she saw an article posted by a community member on Facebook about the installment of 'gender inclusive closet' last year. 'There's the transgender closet, which really was the last straw. I went on Google and I see this. Yeah. Las Cruces, New Mexico, Centennial High School transgender closet. They were approved for this grant,' Hein said. At that time, she was 'getting everything all lined up' for her daughter to enroll at the high school. 'And I thought, no, enough is enough. We're not going to subject our daughter to that. I don't want my kids who knows what hearing different messages pushed by counselors or teachers within a setting that I don't have ears in. 'I do know some teachers, but it doesn't mean that my kids will always have a trusted teacher that's unbiased or not pushing that agenda,' she said. 'If you go to school and you don't want your parents to know you're changing your identity at school, there you go.' 'There's your closet to do that without any [parental] knowledge. They're trying to keep us out,' Hein said, adding that the decision to build the closet was 'depraved.' The introduction of the 'transgender closet' follows years of frustration and concerns about the Las Cruces Public School system, she explained. 'It all started right after the pandemic. I didn't like how the school board was making unanimous decisions about all of the extra hours and extra school days they were trying to push on the kids.' The school district added 10 extra school days to the 2022-2023 calendar to make up for the pandemic lockdowns, but she said the decision was a 'disaster.' 'Some schools got approval to do field trips, but most of the time [the kids] just stayed in school and had party days. My seventh-grader said they did no schoolwork at all.' Hein and other parents referred to the additional school days as "party days," expressing concerns to the school boards. But during a town hall meeting, Gwen Warniment, a member of the New Mexico Public Education Department, said: 'We want the kids to be with the adults who matter most.' The school district added ten extra school days to the 2022-2023 calendar to make up for the pandemic lockdowns, but she said the decision was a 'disaster.' Pictured: Hein and her husband The New Mexico Public Education Department's Deputy Secretary for Teaching, Learning & Assessment added: 'The adults who matter are the teachers in their classrooms. The statement left Hein in outrage, as she said: 'That got under my skin. They have zero respect for families, or for anyone outside their own bubble of 'we know better than you.' 'It felt like [school boards] heard you, but they really weren't listening. They would say the platitude of 'I hear your concerns and I might be concerned about that too.' 'But really, they were just on their own path, their own trajectory, and didn't really matter. What community members said didn't really matter what students or teachers even wanted,' Hein said. The concerned mother noted that her children experienced significant progress during homeschooling amid the pandemic, but the gains made were lost when they returned to public schools. 'My son was very strong in his core subjects because I wasn't letting him slack off [at home], but everyone else in his class was behind,' Hein said. 'And even though he had a veteran teacher, who had been teaching for 20-plus years, he regressed because they were teaching at such a low level that he wasn't being challenged.' When she and other parents voiced their frustrations during an open forum scheduled by the school board, they were only met with disappointment as not a single board member was present. 'Us parents were supposed to have a chance to address the school board and ask questions. But none of the school board members were there. Not a single one,' she said. When she and other parents voiced their frustrations during an open forum scheduled by the school board, they were only met with disappointment as not a single board member was present. Pictured: Hein with her husband Hein is saddened to see some parents, whose children still attend Las Cruces schools, have chosen to remain silent on the matter. Pictured: Hein and her family Hein's family now resides in Missouri, where the schools and community are more open and receptive to the thoughts and input of parents, she said. 'It's been a positive change, for sure. Very different here in the sense that the neighborhood we're in. My kiddos can just go out and play with neighbors and it's safe. It's just very much more of a togetherness.' 'It's been completely different for us here. I'm not saying that it's not going to be coming this way, or there aren't certain districts that are moving in that same direction. 'But I think there's a lot more willingness to listen to parents and teachers and students in this area than there were in New Mexico,' she said. She is saddened to see some parents, whose children still attend Las Cruces schools, have chosen to remain silent on the matter. 'I would really encourage them to be involved. Volunteer, go to school board meetings. I knew teachers, people who love their kids in Las Cruces, but they wouldn't set a foot within the school board meetings. 'It's going to impact the future generation, and there's going to be so much confusion if we're not willing to stand and say, no, enough is enough.' A university student who stabbed his retired detective stepfather to death was today cleared of murder after a court heard he was in a psychotic state brought on by his epilepsy. Ben Moglione, 23, knifed Andrew McDiarmid, 64, at least 13 times after watching an episode of the BBC's Panorama programme about knife crime. He had been on trial at Liverpool Crown Court for the decorated police officer's murder, but offered a guilty plea to an alternative charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Gordon Cole, prosecuting, said the plea had been accepted after consideration by the Crown Prosecution Service and jurors then found him not guilty of murder on the judge's direction. After sentencing was adjourned - with Moglione told he faces imprisonment, a hospital order or a combination of both - a close relative of Mr McDiarmid said the family had been left feeling 'a minefield of emotions'. Ben Moglione, 23, knifed Andrew McDiarmid, 64, at least 13 times after watching an episode of the BBC 's Panorama programme about knife crime (File Photo) After sentencing was adjourned - with Moglione told he faces imprisonment, a hospital order or a combination of both - a close relative of Mr McDiarmid (pictured) said the family had been left feeling 'a minefield of emotions' (File Photo) The court heard Moglione had been suffering with postictal psychosis - psychosis which occurs following a cluster of seizures - which meant he never intended to kill Mr McDiarmid. His mother, Alison Moglione, 56, previously told jurors her usually 'calm and placid' son, who had been diagnosed with epilepsy aged around 18, had appeared 'out of it' immediately after the killing, in January 2022. 'He was in a different place,' she said. 'He was living a seizure, that wasn't Ben.' Mrs Moglione, a senior civil servant with Liverpool City Council, discovered her husband, a former detective inspector who served with Merseyside police for 30 years, dead on their bed. Judge Andrew Menary KC, the Recorder of Liverpool, discharged the jury and told Moglione, who is currently detained at a mental health hospital, that he will be sentenced in May. His barrister, Anne Whyte, KC, had asked for the adjournment to allow Moglione's neurologist to prepare a report which will then enable the psychiatrists to produce a further report. Judge Menary said three psychiatrists agree that the defendant undoubtedly suffered from frontal lobe epilepsy. The judge said symptoms can include hallucinations and the psychiatrists are of the firm conclusion he was suffering post-ictal psychosis 'which explains how this very tragic event happened'. Ben Moglione's mother Alison, 56, previously told jurors her usually 'calm and placid' son, who had been diagnosed with epilepsy aged around 18, had appeared 'out of it' immediately after the killing, in January 2022 (File Photo) Mr Cole said the tragedy occurred at the couple's 600,000 detached home, in the upmarket village of Heswall, Wirral, at around 8.30pm on January 24. Moglione, a high achieving former grammar school pupil, who was on a break from his chemical engineering degree at Sheffield University, watched Panorama with his mother before telling her he was going to bed early. But a short time later an internal CCTV camera captured Moglione walking downstairs from his bedroom in his dressing gown and slippers to collect a knife from the kitchen. Audio captured by the same camera picked up Moglione asking his stepfather: 'Hello. Are you alright?' Mr McDiarmid, who had been isolating in his bedroom after testing positive for Covid, replied: 'Yeah. Are you?' Moglione then said: 'No. Not really.' Mr Cole said that 'screams, groans and heavy breathing' could then be heard. Divorcee Mrs Moglione, who had been in the shower, said she jumped out after hearing a strange sound and her son came into the bathroom to wash his blood-soaked hands a short time later. She said: 'He said, "You can start again". He said it in a strange way. I thought, "Oh my God". 'I started running to my bedroom and I saw Andy on our bed. There was blood and I could tell by his face that he had gone. 'I knew I could not do anything so I ran downstairs. I dialled 999 for an ambulance and the police. In the meantime, Ben came down saying, "Mum don't ring the police". Mrs Moglione said she took the knife off her son because 'I thought he was going to hurt himself'. She added: 'I don't think he knew what he had done. I was in complete and utter shock.' Mrs Moglione claimed her son and husband, who had helped raise Moglione from the age of five, had a 'brilliant' relationship and were 'very close'. They 'loved each other' and Moglione treated her husband like his biological father, she said. But he had been diagnosed with epilepsy during his first year at university and had recently needed to switch his medication. Mrs Moglione said he began having strong seizures, which last up to five minutes, after which he became 'fixated'. In the hours before the stabbing Mrs Moglione said she thought her son, an 'intelligent' former pupil at Calday Grange Grammar School for Boys, who played the cello in an orchestra, 'didn't sound right,' but she didn't want to 'fuss'. Mrs Moglione also told the court her husband was very talented. After retiring from the police in 2008 he had learned joinery and plumbing and 'rebuilt our house,' Mrs Moglione said. She told the court: '(Ben) had never harmed a fly. We didn't see this coming. I have lost my son and my husband.' Mr McDiarmid, who has two children from a previous marriage, received a chief constable's commendation in 2008 for his professionalism and dedication, including work reviewing unsolved serious sexual assaults which led to offenders being identified through advancements in DNA techniques. California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a press conference to urge voters to vote yes on Proposition 1, a $6.4 billion bond to fund substance abuse treatment facilities at the SEIU 2015 local offices in San Francisco on March 4. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Two days after the election, Californians still dont know whether Proposition 1, the mental health bond measure, will become law. On Thursday, vote tallies showed Proposition 1 winning by a single percentage point, with 50.5% in favor and 49.5% against. Its not unusual for California election results to take days or even weeks to determine, but the close race for Prop. 1 has many Californians scratching their heads. Supporters of the measure had millions of dollars in campaign cash and the backing of the states most powerful politicians, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, the propositions chief supporter. And polls leading up to the election consistently showed it likely to pass. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In hindsight, political observers point to two key factors that made the measure a tough sell to many voters: complexity and cost. Tim Rosales, a Republican political consultant based in California, said support campaigns are inherently more difficult than opposition campaigns because people default to voting no. The no side has a much easier time, Rosales said. They just have to raise a red flag or doubt. Rosales said hes worked for campaigns against ballot measures where they went through ballot measures line by line with focus groups until they found a single sentence voters were unsure about. Thats enough to fuel a whole opposition campaign, he said. Thats all well talk about that one sentence, Rosales said. Thats enough Advertisement Article continues below this ad Prop. 1 provided many sentences with opportunities to sow doubt. The measure was so long that the Secretary of States Office estimated it could add $7 million to the cost of the election because of the number of additional pages in the voter guides mailed to Californians. In the end, the measure took up 68 full pages. It would authorize $6.38 billion in bond funding to build housing and residential treatment facilities for people with mental illness. It also would divert more of the states mental health budget into care for severe mental illness that will likely come at the expense of some programs that provide preventative or lower-level services. At stake is money from the Mental Health Services Act, which voters passed in 2004 to levy a 1% tax on people whose incomes exceed $1 million. The tax typically nets $2 billion-$3.5 billion for mental health services each year. Under current law, most of the funding goes to counties, which have significant discretion to spend the money as they see fit. Prop. 1 would shift more of the funding to state government control and would increase the amount counties must spend on housing and services for people with severe mental illness and addiction. Its impossible to say which specific programs will lose funding and which will gain, decisions that will be made if the measure passes. The impact of the measure is unclear even for the programs that would be affected by it, including Buckelew Programs, a mental health and addiction treatment provider in the North Bay that gets a significant chunk of its funding from the MHSA tax. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Buckelew CEO Chris Kughn said even some of his staffers and members of the nonprofits board of directors didnt understand how the measure would affect programs like theirs. It was a confusing measure, Kughn said. I even had some staff members not 100% sure on what the impact would be, so I think that was not communicated clearly. Supporters of Prop. 1 argue the measure is needed to address the current reality on California streets, where addiction and mental illness are often intertwined and exacerbated by the states housing shortage. They say more money must be spent on people with the most severe problems. Opponents argue such a shift will cut funding from prevention services, which they say save people from needing higher-level care in the first place. And they argue that now is a bad time for the state to take on bond debt, considering its massive budget deficit. Supporters spent more than $12 million on their campaign, while opponents havent reported spending anything. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rosales praised the campaigns messaging strategy, saying that highlighting support from law enforcement officials like Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper and increased funding for homeless veterans was a good play. But ultimately, he said the campaigns challenge was convincing Californians that this complex measure would solve the even more complex issue of homelessness. Kughn sees the measures provisions to integrate mental health care and addiction treatment as an improvement from the current system. But he said its unclear how it might cut or add funding for programs like his. Buckelew operates intensive residential treatment for people having a mental health crisis and other residential treatment programs, which could see increased funding. But the measure could also cut from some preventative services offered by his organization, specifically a suicide prevention hotline funded by MHSA dollars. Turnout in the primary has been low, and low-turnout primary electorates tend to skew older and more conservative. Current vote tallies show the measure winning in coastal counties, which skew more liberal, and failing in more conservative inland areas. Though the numbers will increase in the coming weeks as all the votes are tallied, at the moment turnout looks low, with votes tallied so far representing less than 20% of registered voters. The Public Policy Institute of California surveyed residents Feb. 6-13 and found 59% of likely voters said they would vote for it. But lead pollster Mark Baldassare noted that the same poll also found voters were not excited about the idea of passing a bond, with only 51% saying they thought it was a good time to do so. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Baldassare also pointed to Newsoms low approval rating of 48% among likely voters and the fact that many of the Prop. 1 ads featured the governor. If the measure fails, it would mark Newsoms second losing bond effort in a row after voters rejected his $15 billion school bond in 2020. That measure failed because it was a bond at the start of a pandemic when people are scared about finances, Baldassare said. Now we have a bond when were hearing weve got a money problem. Melissa Michelson, a political science professor at Menlo College in Atherton, said she believes the votes are so close because voters are torn between addressing two compelling issues facing the state: the states housing and mental health crisis and the budget deficit. The yes campaigns efforts to appeal to conservative voters by emphasizing law enforcement backing of the measure and its funding for veteran housing likely werent enough to overcome Republican voters negative views of Newsom, she said. On top of that, many voters seemed confused by the complex measure, which likely led more people to vote no. An Iowa mother has been jailed for life for killing her one-year-old son by pouring bleach on his face then smothering him with her bare hands in the ghastly crime. Yemissi N. Keto, 26, was found guilty by a Dallas County jury on Thursday, and charged with first-degree murder child endangerment in the August 2023 death of her one-year-old son, Local 5 News reported. Keto poured bleach and other cleaning chemicals over her child's face as she held his mouth and nose closed, then suffocated him. The woman confessed to the heinous crime, though a motive is unknown. According to a criminal complaint, Keto 'admitted these actions were taken with the intent to kill [the child],' Law & Crime reported. First-degree murder in Iowa carries a mandatory minimum of life in prison. Keto is expected to appear in court on April 26 for her sentencing. Yemissi N. Keto, 26, was found guilty by a Dallas County jury on Thursday, and charged with first-degree murder child endangerment in the August 2023 death of her one-year-old son, Local 5 News reported Officers from the Waukee Police Department responded to a call at a home in the 200 block of NW Greenwood Place (pictured) around 9.56am on August 31, 2023 where the heinous crime took place Officers from the Waukee Police Department responded to a call at a home in the 200 block of NW Greenwood Place around 9.56am on August 31, 2023. The call that came in was decribed as an 'unknown problem,' according a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law & Crime. When police and emergency personnel entered the home around they found the infant, identified as 'DK' in an upstairs bedroom unresponsive. First responders tried to resuscitate the baby, but he was pronounced deceased, as per the news outlet. Officers recalled a 'strong odor of bleach' and found a number of bottles of bleach and other cleaning products near the child. The bedroom carpter where the child was found was wet, as well as the bathroom floor that was connected to the boy's room, as per the criminal complaint, the news outlet reported. When the mother was brought in for questioning, she 'admitted to holding DK on the ground and pouring bleach or another cleaning substance over his face,' police wrote in the affidavit, noting that she did so 'with the intent to kill DK,' as per the news outlet. She decided to killer her son with her own hands, when the bleach failed to make him pass out, as per the complaint. A woman who went viral after filming the desperate hunt for her missing parrot Chanel is celebrating walking free from court after a drug trafficking charge against her was dropped. Sandra Hannah celebrated outside the courthouse by screaming she is now 'f*cking free' just like her beloved Africa Grey pet parrot. She filmed herself in a selfie video on her phone screaming: 'Just out of court baby, happy Friday.' Sandra Hannah, originally rose to internet stardom in 2020 after recording herself parading the streets in Netherton, Liverpool, as she cried out for her parrot - named Chanel because her dog is called Coco, she later revealed. Bu the 43-year-old was charged last April on suspicion of the importation of 237kg of cannabis - worth 792,000. A woman who went viral after filming the desperate hunt for her missing parrot Chanel is celebrating walking free after a drug charge against her was dropped Sandra Hannah celebrated outside the courthouse by screaming she is now 'f*cking free' just like her beloved Africa Grey pet parrot Merseyside Police and the National Crime Agency charged both her and Ian Hannah, 55, on suspicion of the importation of 237kg of cannabis - worth 792,000 - from Spain In the video, posted to Instagram Sandra screams: 'I'm free, woohoo.' She captioned the video: 'Best day ever I'm finally free, I'm free just like Chanel when she went to the canal' Underneath the clip, people flooded to the comments to show their support. One friend, called Davina said: 'You're such a vibe congrats girl.' 'You're an icon, I love you,' said another person. Sydney Paige said: 'Chanel!' Chloe Corbett said: 'Get in girl.' Last April Merseyside Police and the National Crime Agency charged both her and Ian Hannah, 55, on suspicion of the importation of 237kg of cannabis - worth 792,000 - from Spain. Underneath the clip, people flooded to the comments to show their support after Sandra walked free She pleaded not guilty in a court hearing last October and was granted bail until her court date on Friday March 1 But she was cleared after the CPS offered no evidence against her and she celebrated outside the court Sandra Hannah (pictured) went viral after she posted a video on Facebook of her parading the streets in Netherton, Liverpool and crying out 'Chanel' - the name of her lost parrot. Sandra appeared on This Morning in July 2021 to reveal her African grey parrot had been rescued The pair were also charged with the possession of criminal property. She pleaded not guilty in a court hearing last October and was granted bail until her court date on Friday March 1. But she was cleared after the CPS offered no evidence against her. Despite walking free the mum, who went viral after losing her pet Parrot in 2020, could find herself in trouble once again as taking photos and videos inside the court precincts can be deemed a criminal offence under the Criminal Justice Act 1925. The famous Liverpudlian appeared on ITV's This Morning to tell her story - where she revealed she was reunited with her then two-year-old parrot who had escaped just over two miles down the road. Three Mexican migrant children who were abandoned by migrant smugglers at the southern border were reunited with their mother in New York City on Wednesday, the government for the east-central state of Puebla confirmed Thursday. The reunion came days after nine-year-old Alan teared up during a viral interview with Oscar Gomez News as he described details of their journey to the Arizona border. The courageous boy was responsible of looking after his younger siblings, six-year-old Ashley and three-year-old Yanis, throughout their trek to the United States-Mexico border. When is asked about his parents' whereabouts, Alan told the interviewer, 'They are in the United States.' Nine-year-old Alan revealed in a video posted earlier this week how he cared for his two younger sisters, ages 3 and 6, as they were escorted by migrant smugglers before they were abandoned at the southwestern border in Arizona. The children were reunited with their mother at a migrant shelter for children in New York City on Wednesday Alan said he slept with his sisters Yanis, 3 and, Ashley, 6, on ground and shared one blanket while they rested prior to reaching the United States southwestern border in Arizona Before the children were handed over to the smugglers, Alan said his mother, Adelfa, asked him to 'take care of yourself and take care of your sisters.' While acknowledging that he was not old enough to be in charge of his siblings, he did just that throughout their trip, which he said was 'more or less' difficult. They slept on the ground at night as they huddled together with one blanket. Alan indicated that he and his sisters just ate 'what the guys gave us' and that he could do 'nothing' when his siblings asked to be fed. When asked if he wanted to relay a message to his mother in the event she saw the video, Alan choked up and replied, 'Nothing,' before confirming that he missed her and that he wanted to see her. Alan recalled that he and his sisters barely ate what the guys provided for them while crossing from Mexico to Arizona, where they arrived last weekend. The children, all Mexican nationals, were reunited with their mother Wednesday with the help of a United States social work and the Mexican government 'I miss her, I love her,' Ashley said, when she was asked if she had anything to her mother. 'She is my heart. She never broke it.' When she was asked if her mother broke her heart, the girl fought to hold back her tears and said she hurt her because 'she left. My brothers did not see her when she left. but I did, I cried. I felt tears.' The Puebla state government said a United States social worker, with the assistance of the Poblano Institute of Migrant Assistance, arranged Wednesday's heartwarming reunion at a New York City migrant shelter for unaccompanied children. Efforts are being made for the mother to regain full custody of her son and two daughters while they remain under the watch of the Cayuga Centers - which provides care for unaccompanied children for up to 30 days before they are released to a family member or their parents. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), border agents have registered 46,289 encounters with unaccompanied children since October 1, 2023, the start of fiscal year 2024. CBP recorded 137,275 encounters with unaccompanied minors in fiscal year 2023 and 152,057 during the prior fiscal calendar. In comparison, 146,924 encounters were reported in fiscal year 2021. A group accused of having a part in a Long Island murder case were seen smiling and laughing as they left court, with bail laws preventing them from being behind bars. Steven Brown, 44, Jeffrey Mackey, 38, Amanda Wallace, 40, and Alexis Nieves, 33, were arrested Tuesday and charged with charged with first-degree hindering prosecution, tampering with physical evidence by concealing or destroying, and concealment of a human corpse. Mackey and Nieves were seen walking out of Suffolk County Criminal Court freely on Friday with wide grins on their faces. Despite being arrested on the possible murder of a man and woman in Amityville, the pair looked to be in good spirits - with Nieves clutching a purple bouquet of flowers. The suspects have been released from police custody without bail despite the ongoing investigation because of the 2019 'Bail Reform' law. Suspects Jeffrey Mackey, 38, and Alexis Nieves, 33, were seen walking out of Suffolk County Criminal Court freely on Friday with huge grins on their faces Despite being arrested on the possible murder of a man and woman in Amityville, the pair looked to be in good spirits - with Nieves clutching a purple bouquet of flowers The suspects were apprehended Tuesday after a girl stumbled upon a heavily tattooed human arm in Babylon park on her way to school the week before The suspects have been released from police custody without bail despite the ongoing investigation because of the 2019 'Bail Reform' law (pictured: Mackey and Nieves) Conditions were placed on the defendants' release including GPS monitoring, according to Suffolk County's Tania Lopez. The murder charges facing the suspects came after a girl stumbled upon a heavily tattooed human arm in Babylon park on her way to school the week before. Following the first horrific discovery, police uncovered more body parts including two severed heads in the same park along with nearby Bethpage State Park and West Babylon woodland. Cops believe the bodies of two victims - an unnamed 53 year-old man and 59 year-old woman from Yonkers - were hacked up with meat cleavers. Although the deceased have not been publicly identified, there are distinct tattoos on the body parts. The name 'Sandra' or 'Sandy' appears to be inked on the hand of the severed arm. The four suspects have each been charged with first-degree hindering prosecution, tampering with physical evidence by concealing or destroying, and concealment of a human corpse. Suffolk County DA Raymond Tierney said the decision to free the suspects with ankle tags was 'absurd' and blamed the bail reform law for their release. Mackey and Nieves are pictured here as they arrive at Suffolk County Criminal Court for their hearing on March 8, 2024 Suffolk County DA Raymond Tierney said the decision to free the suspects with ankle tags was 'absurd' and blamed the 2019 'Bail Reform' law for the judgment 'It is our understanding that Suffolk County Police Department is still investigating these murders,' he said in a statement following their release without bail. 'Unfortunately, due to the "Bail Reform" passed by the New York State Legislature in 2019, charges relating to the mutilation and disposal of murdered corpses are no longer bail-eligible, meaning my prosecutors cannot ask for bail. 'This is yet another absurd result thanks to "Bail Reform" and a system where the Legislature in Albany substitutes their judgment for the judgment of our judges and the litigants in court. 'We will work with the Suffolk County Police Department to resolve this investigation as soon as possible and implore our Legislature to make common sense fixes to this law.' In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote that she 'changed the bail laws to make sure criminals can be held on bail - that includes any individuals charged with murder, rape, or other violent felonies'. Tierney hit back at Hochul - blasting her as 'either completely clueless or being deceitful about how the criminal justice system works' for implying the police are to blame for the release. 'Prosecutors have a duty to bring only charges that are supported by evidence,' the DA's second statement says. Not many details have been released about the motive behind the murder and the victims remain unnamed as the investigation continues. Police sources told NBC New York that the brutal murders may have been linked to a love triangle, but further details have not been shared. It's unclear whether detectives believe any of the defendants are directly involved in the killing of the victims. Alexis Nieves, 33, leaves court in Suffolk County, Long Island, on Wednesday Amanda Wallace, 40, and Steven Brown, 44, leaving court on Wednesday Jeffrey Mackey, 38, was one of two men charged. The motive and his involvement in the grisly murder remains unknown Along with the gruesome assortment of body parts, 'sharp instruments and other related items' were uncovered at their home on Railroad Avenue in Amityville, according to the charge sheet. The home was described as 'uninhabitable' in court Wednesday, as prosecutors claimed the four had broken the plumbing by attempting to conceal the corpses by flushing body parts away, per the NYPost. Mackey, Brown and Wallace lived in the home, while Nieves is registered in court documents as homeless. His son was killed by the blast during the withdrawal from the Afghanistan He shouted at the president 'Remember Abbey Gate' in reference to the 2021 suicide bombing that killed 13 service members Gold Star father Steve Nikoui was arrested Thursday for interrupting Biden's State of the Union address Republicans are demanding charges be dropped against a Gold Star father who was arrested for heckling Biden during his State of the Union address. Steve Nikoui, the father of slain Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, shouted 'Remember Abbey Gate!' 'United States Marines!' and 'Abbey Gate!' from the balcony of the House chamber in the middle of the president's remarks Thursday. His son, Kareem, was killed by a suicide bomber during the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. After yelling at Biden from the guest seating, Nikoui was removed from the chamber by Capitol Police and later arrested. But the arrest did not last long. Video posted of Nikoui after the State of the Union around 1:00 a.m. shows him entering an Irish pub to loud applause after the lawmaker who brought him, Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., helped secure his release. Steve Nikoui, the father of slain Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, gets a hero's welcome at the Dubliner pub on Capitol Hill after he was released from custody following his arrest for heckling Biden during the State of the Union Gold Star father Steve Nikoui was removed from President Joe Biden's State of the Union speech for shouting about his son's death in Afghanistan The 51-year-old was quickly removed from the public gallery and placed in handcuffs Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, Calif. - one of 13 service members who were killed during the disastrous 2021 exit from Afghanistan The video shows Nikoui getting a hero's welcome as his friends chant his name and smother him with hugs. Still, despite his release from detention, Republicans are throwing their support behind the Gold Star father. 'My guest to [the State of the Union] was Steve Nikoui, a father whose son was killed because of Biden's incompetent Afghanistan withdrawal,' Mast posted on X Friday morning. WATCH: Steve Nikouis fellow Gold Star Families give him a heros welcome after he is freed from his completely deranged arrest by @CapitolPolice https://t.co/uLSjSwmpQA pic.twitter.com/MFdlrmSMfC Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) March 8, 2024 'Biden wouldn't acknowledge him or take accountability for his son's death. Instead, they ARRESTED him. This is Biden's America.' Shortly after the State of the Union DailyMail.com asked Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., a former Army Green Beret, his reaction to Nikoui's arrest. 'That's shameful if he was arrested,' Waltz said. 'I was with the all of the Gold star families just before the speech.' Waltz himself invited Gold Star mother Paula Knauss, who similarly lost her son, Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, after the blast at the Afghanistan airport. Knauss said she 'almost got kicked out myself' during the speech because she was furious with Biden for failing to say her son's name and apologize for the disastrous exit from Afghanistan. 'He has yet to say that 13 names, whether to them privately, publicly, in a speech anywhere. It's infuriating,' Waltz said. Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla. posed with Nikoui before going into the House chamber. He also invited a Gold Star mom to the speech The 51-year-old, who has blamed Biden for his son's death, was quickly removed from the public gallery and placed in handcuffs. The father and son are pictured together Nikoui would send his family photos of him with his fellow Marines outside Kabul International Airport, before the devastating suicide attack On Friday morning, Waltz wrote on X: 'If he's charged - and he better not be - I will pay his fine,' , a former Army Green Beret, posted on X Friday morning. Fellow Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California - who represents the area including Camp Pendleton - posted on X, 'I stand with the Gold Star families from Afghanistan especially my friend Steve Nikoui.' 'He gave the only poignant speech I heard last night.' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also weighed in on Nikoui's arrest. 'The Gold Star father who shouted at Joe Biden last night and was arrested lost his son due to Joe Biden's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.' 'Biden's 'leadership' has destroyed American families,' she wrote on X. 'We do not need American troops getting involved in more endless foreign wars simply to lose a generation of sons, brothers, and uncles.' Laken Riley's grieving mother branded President Biden 'pathetic' for fumbling her daughter's name in his State of the Union speech. Allyson Phillips, the murdered 22-year-old's stricken mom, responded to a Facebook comment on Friday to slam Biden for even bringing her murdered daughter into his political moment. 'Biden does not even KNOW my childs name it pathetic!' she wrote. 'If you are going to say her name (even when forced to do so) at least say the right name!' The 81-year-old sparked backlash after referring to Riley, who was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant, as 'Lincoln' in his address. Allyson Phillips (right), the mother of slain Laken Riley (left) slammed Biden as 'pathetic' after he accidentally called the murdered 22-year-old 'Lincoln' The heartbroken mom took to Facebook to condemn Biden for even bringing her daughter up in his political moment Riley was found dead on the University of Georgia campus on February 22 after allegedly being murdered by an illegal immigrant President Biden holds a pin for slain Georgia student Laken Riley during his State of the Union speech, before he accidentally called her 'Lincoln' Riley was found dead on the University of Georgia campus on February 22 after leaving her home for a run, suffering blunt force trauma to the head allegedly inflicted by illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra, in what investigators said was a 'crime of opportunity.' The murder took center stage on Thursday evening as President Biden delivered his State of the Union address. Firebrand Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene heckled the speech shouting 'say her name' when the immigration arose, after previously handing Biden a pin bearing Riley's name. 'Lincoln, Lincoln Riley,' Biden said, holding up the pin. 'An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. 'But how many of thousands of people being killed by legals? To her parents I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself, I understand,' he said. The murder has been seen by many as a touchstone moment in the struggle to contain illegal immigration, with former President Donald Trump revealing he also spoke with Riley's parents after her murder. During a trip to the southern border last week, Trump said he spoke with the grieving parents shortly after charges were brought against Ibarra, saying they are 'incredible people' who are 'devastated beyond belief.' '(Riley) she was beautiful, just so beautiful in so many ways. And brutally assaulted, horrifically beaten, kidnapped and savagely murdered,' he said. Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra, 26, (pictured) has been charged with Riley's murder, and was previously arrested on theft and child endangerment charges After Riley's senseless murder shocked the nation, Phillips said she was comforted by how her 'sweet Laken knew Jesus personally and she will live eternally in his home' The Laken Riley Act passed the House of Representatives on Thursday in a 251-170 vote, which would require ICE to detain illegal immigrants charged with theft or burglary. Her mother responded to the passage: 'Praise God!' It comes after Phillips praised lawmakers for passing a landmark immigration bill in her daughter's name on Thursday, just hours before Biden's fumbling of her name in his SOTU speech. The Laken Riley Act passed the House of Representatives on Thursday in a 251-170 vote, which would require ICE to detain illegal immigrants charged with theft or burglary. It was pushed by Republicans in the wake of Riley's murder, allegedly at the hands of illegal immigrant Ibarra, who had previously been arrested in New York for endangering a child and in Georgia again in October 2023 on shoplifting charges. The passage of the bill this week led Riley's mom Phillips to take to Facebook, saying: 'Praise God! #SayHerName LAKEN HOPE RILEY BILL - PASSED.' But just hours later, Biden's name gaffe sparked anger among Republicans, who blamed Riley's murder on the White House's weak border policies that have led to record levels of illegal immigration. Phillips previously spoke out following her daughter's murder, and said on social media that she was comforted by how her 'sweet Laken knew Jesus personally and she will live eternally in his home.' In response to the killing, Georgia GOP Rep. Mike Collins introduced the bill in her name, as he stressed that Ibarra 'had no business being in this country.' '(The murder) was another wakeup call as Americans experience an illegal alien crime wave because of Joe Biden's open border and local sanctuary city policies,' Collins told Fox News this week. After the lower house passed his bill Thursday, he took to X to 'urge the Senate to take up this bill immediately.' Riley was found dead on the University of Georgia campus after leaving her home for a run, suffering blunt force trauma to the head allegedly inflicted by Ibarra Firebrand Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene heckled Biden's speech shouting 'say her name' after handing Biden a pin bearing Riley's name His bill would require ICE to detain any criminal charged with theft or burglary that was found to be staying in the US illegally, but was voted against by 170 Democrats in the House. Just 37 Democrats joined every Republican in supporting the bill, with New York Congressman Jerry Nadler leading the opposition as he accused the GOP of 'exploiting (Riley's) death for a partisan stunt.' He also accused Republicans of 'throwing together legislation to target immigrants in an election year', a claim countered by those that felt it was long overdue. After the passage of the bill, House Speaker Mike Johnson stressed that 'Laken Riley would still be alive if the Biden Administration had done its job.' 'House Republicans are not going to stand by quietly while the President and his administration release dangerous criminals into our communities,' Johnson said in a statement. 'The Laken Riley Act would help prevent future tragedies. If Senator Schumer and President Biden care to protect Americans and are serious about securing the border, they will bring this legislation up for a vote and sign it into law immediately.' Riley's murder has been seen by many as a touchstone moment in the struggle to contain illegal immigration Biden's decision to speak on Riley's murder sparked anger among some Democrats on Thursday, after he called the alleged murderer an 'illegal' in an ad-libbed moment. The awkward intra-party clash came during the heckling from Greene, as she demanded he say the name of the murdered nursing student allegedly killed by the Venezuelan immigrant. His use of the term 'illegal' sparked anger, with Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) tweeting afterwards that 'No human being is illegal.' 'Let me be clear: No human being is illegal,' wrote 'squad' member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who immigrated from Somalia. 'I'm extremely disappointed to hear President Biden use the word illegal,' wrote Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.) calling himself a 'proud immigrant.' 'There was a lot of good in President Bidens speech tonight, but his rhetoric about immigrants was incendiary and wrong,' wrote Rep. Joaquin Catro (D-Texas) in a trio of tweets. 'My guest for this year's State of the Union was the widow of a North Texas rancher who was murdered by a neighbor who didnt want Latinos living next door. Across Texas, many families can tell similar stories of hate and harassment inspired by the rhetoric of Donald Trump. 'The rhetoric President Biden used tonight was dangerously close to language from Donald Trump that puts a target on the backs of Latinos everywhere. Democrats shouldnt be taking our cues from MAGA extremism.' Two Ohio women have been arrested for allegedly propping up an elderly man's body in a car and driving to a bank to withdraw money. Loreen Bea Feralo, 55, and Karen Casbohm, 63, have been accused of driving the dead body of Douglas Layman, 80, to a bank drive-thru window and withdrawing money from his account in Ashtabula, Ohio, on March 4. The suspects reportedly then dropped off his corpse at the Ashtabula County Medical Center. According to Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell, the accused women had propped Layman's dead body up in the passenger seat 'so that the teller could see him.' 'Before dropping him off they went through a bank drive-thru with him propped up in the passenger seat so that the teller could see him. They tried to withdraw money from his account. Loreen Bea Feralo, 55, has been accused of driving the dead body of Douglas Layman, 80, to a bank drive-thru window and withdrawing money from his account in Ashtabula, Ohio, on March 4 Along with Feralo, Karen Casbohm, 63, reportedly then dropped off his corpse at the Ashtabula County Medical Center 'The bank had allowed this previously as long as they were accompanied by him,' Stell told the Star Beacon. Once they were able to withdraw $900 from the dead man's account, the pair drove to the Medical Center and dropped off his body without identifying him or themselves. 'They left without providing any information to the hospital. They just left him,' Stell further said. In a press release, officials said that a few hours after Layman had been left, one of the accused women called the Medical Center and gave them some identifiable information about him. According to authorities, Feralo and Casbohm were able to move Layman's body out of his house into their car with the help of a third individual. The Ashtabula Police Department also believes that Layman was already dead when the women took his body out of the house. Officials noted that while the women did live with Layman in his house, none of them were related. Once they were able to withdraw $900 from the dead man's account, the pair drove to the Medical Center and dropped off his body without identifying him or themselves In a press release , officials said that a few hours after Layman had been left, one of the accused women called the Medical Center and gave them some identifiable information about him Both women have been charged with theft and gross abuse of a corpse, both of which are felonies. But this not their first brush with the law. Previously, Feralo had been convicted of reckless assault, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal trespass, driving under the influence, theft and attempted possession of drugs. Casbohm has also been convicted of theft, soliciting, criminal trespass, receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and attempted drug abuse in the past. Authorities are still investigating the cause of Layman's death. If found guilty, both women could face up to a year in prison on each charge, according to prosecutors. President Joe Biden defended his improvised remark in his State of the Union speech calling the alleged killer of Laken Riley an 'illegal' after the remark drew outrage from fellow Democrats. The president got asked about his use of the word Friday as he prepared to board Air Force One for a campaign trip to Philadelphia, after his remark was drawing pushback from lawmakers who consider the term as dehumanizing. Asked if he regretted the comment after subordinates were walking it back Biden stuttered and searched for the right response on the fraught topic. 'Well, I probably I don't regr technically not supposed to be here,' Biden said. President Biden got asked if he regretted calling the accused killer of Laken Riley an 'illegal' That came after progressives pounced on his ad-libbed remark during his address, even while conservatives pounced over Biden mistakenly using the wrong name to describe the victim in the tragic killing. The awkward intra-party clash came during one of the most intense moments of Biden's fiery address, when he sparred with a heckling Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) after she demanded he say the name of the murdered nursing student allegedly killed by a Venezuelan immigrant. Biden botched Riley's name in his response, mistakenly calling her 'Lincoln.' But he also used a term verboten on the left when used as a noun referring to people who jump the border without legal documents. 'Lincoln, Lincoln Riley,' said Biden while holding up a pin Greene had handed him calling on him to say her name. 'An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. 'But how many of thousands of people being killed by legals? To her parents I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself, I understand,' Biden retorted. 'Technically not supposed to be here,' Biden responded President Joe Biden, holding up a pin of Laken Riley, referred to her as an 'innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal'. Progressive Democrats condemned his use of the term 'No human being is illegal,' wrote Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), one of several lawmakers to blast Biden's word choice on Twitter afterward. 'Let me be clear: No human being is illegal,' wrote 'squad' member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who immigrated from Somalia. 'I'm extremely disappointed to hear President Biden use the word illegal,' wrote Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.) calling himself a 'proud immigrant.' 'There was a lot of good in President Bidens speech tonight, but his rhetoric about immigrants was incendiary and wrong,' wrote Rep. Joaquin Catro (D-Texas) in a trio of tweets. 'My guest for this year's State of the Union was the widow of a North Texas rancher who was murdered by a neighbor who didnt want Latinos living next door. Across Texas, many families can tell similar stories of hate and harassment inspired by the rhetoric of Donald Trump. 'The rhetoric President Biden used tonight was dangerously close to language from Donald Trump that puts a target on the backs of Latinos everywhere. Democrats shouldnt be taking our cues from MAGA extremism.' Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student was killed while out jogging on February 22 Venezuelan immigrant, Jose Antonio Ibarra, has been charged with Riley's murder. Biden took heat for calling him 'illegal' During an interview with CNN 's Dana Bash, Nancy Pelosi said, 'Now he should have said undocumented' 'Squad' member Rep. Representative Ilhan Omar is among those who condemned the remark. She also protested Biden during the speech over Israel's war in Gaza Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) (L) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) hold up signs as President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address 'The rhetoric President Biden used tonight was dangerously close to language from Donald Trump that puts a target on the backs of Latinos everywhere,' said Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) The moment came in a speech where Biden blasted Republicans for blowing up a Senate compromise deal that would surge resources to the border while sending billions to aid Ukraine House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was prepared to give Biden a pass on the language when she got asked about it on CNN not long after the speech. 'Now he should have said undocumented, but thats not a big thing, ok? Whats the big thing?' she told interviewer Dana Bash, after she tried to ask a question about the moment but hadn't even mentioned the verbiage. She said Biden 'should have said 'undocumented.' "Well, we usually say "undocumented." He said "illegal." I dont think its a big deal,' Pelosi continued. 'I dont think its a big deal because I think his focus was on the sympathy for the family. Its a terrible tragedy.' Elected Democrats more typically use the term 'undocumented' rather than calling the migrants 'illegals.' Biden campaign cochair Mitch Landrieu was still cleaning up the comment during a Friday morning appearance on CNN when asked about Castro's pointed criticism. 'That's probably true. He probably should have used a different word, I think he would know that,' he told CNN. 'But what you should notice of that is not that he made a small mistake. The big thing that he did right, and this is what this president always does, is express empathy to people. The tension from within his own caucus comes as Americans identify illegal immigration as a top issue, and Biden has pivoted in some of his rhetoric while getting behind a derailed border compromise that would have capped daily asylum entrants and surged more resources to the border. Holding the line for Biden was House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who didn't criticize his wording. Biden 'acknowledged the horrific nature of the murder and of course, emphasize the need more generally, to keep our community safe,' he said when asked if he has any concerns, Punchbowl rerpoted. The friends from California sat together in court in Rome on Friday as the new trial, which is expected to close by the summer, began Two American men convicted of stabbing an undercover cop in Rome during a botched drug deal have returned to court for a retrial following the overturning of their murder convictions. Finnegan Lee Elder, 24, and Gabriel Natale-Hjort, 23, from California, were initially found guilty in the 2019 killing of Carabinieri Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega and sentenced to life in prison. However, Italy's highest Cassation Court ordered a new trial last year, saying it hadn't been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants, with limited Italian language skills, had understood that they were dealing with Italian police officers. The two friends had arranged to meet a small-time drug dealer, who turned out to be a police informant, to recover money lost in a bad deal and return a backpack they had snatched in retaliation, when they were confronted by police officers on July 26, 2019. Prosecutors alleged Elder stabbed Cerciello Rega 11 times with a knife that he brought with him on his trip to Europe, and that Natale-Hjorth, then 18, helped him hide the knife in their hotel room. Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, right, and Finnegan Lee Elder, attend the appeal trial for the killing of Italian policeman Mario Cerciello Rega, in Rome on Friday Prosecutors alleged that Finnegan Lee Elder stabbed Cerciello Rega 11 times with a knife Gabriel Natale-Hjorth is accused of helping his friend hide the knife in their hotel room Natale-Hjorth testified that he grappled with Cerciello Regas partner and was unaware of the stabbing when he ran back to the hotel. The pair sat side by side at a court in Rome as an appeals court judge made opening remarks in the new trial on Friday. The defendants' lawyers argued the Cassation's decision changed the evaluation of the incident. 'Our strategy remains the same,' Elder's lawyer Roberto Capra told The Associated Press. 'We always said that Elder didn't know he was confronting a police officer. 'This changes the whole reconstruction of the incident and we believe it will have an impact on the punishment.' 'What we care about is that [the defendants'] responsibilities are clarified,' Cerciello Rega family's lawyer Franco Coppi told AP. 'We said since the beginning that there are no vengeful intentions or desire to punish at all costs.' Italian police officer Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, (pictured with his wife) was stabbed to death in a drug deal gone bad The murder sparked a national outcry and Rega's funeral was held in the same church where he had been married just months before Rosa Maria Esilio, Rega's widow, attends the appeal trial for his murder, in Rome on Friday Elder (left) and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, (right) were charged with stabbing Deputy Brigadier Rega to death in Rome. The pair are pictured here in a photo released by Italian Carabinieri Prosecutors allege that the police officer was stabbed 11 times with a knife whose blade measures seven inches long Both men have maintained their innocence, claiming the undercover cop and his colleague jumped them from behind. They claim they thought the officers were thugs sent to attack them by a drug dealer who had sold them fake cocaine. The killing of 35-year-old newlywed Cerciello Rega caused widespread outrage in Italy, where he was mourned as a national hero. His funeral was held at the same church where Rega had married Rosa Maria Esilio just months before. Elder and Natale-Hjorth, who became friends while attending Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, California, were initially found guilty on all charges: homicide, attempted extortion, assault, resisting a public official and carrying an attack-style knife without just cause. The jury in Rome deliberated for just over 12 hours before delivering the verdicts in 2021. The next hearing has been set for April 10, when the general prosecutor will present an indictment. The following hearings will be held in May, the trial expected to be closed before the summer. President Joe Biden appeared open Friday to the idea of refusing to debate former President Donald Trump before the 2024 election. The president spoke briefly about the debates during comments with reporters on the tarmac before leaving on Air Force One for a trip to Philadelphia. When asked by a reporter if he would commit to debating Trump, Biden replied shortly, 'Depends on his behavior.' Biden's comment is the first reaction from the president in response to former President Donald Trump's debate challenge on Wednesday. 'It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform. 'Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!' President Joe Biden appeared open Friday to the idea of refusing to debate former President Donald Trump before the 2024 election Donald Trump challenged Joe Biden to a debate on Wednesday, vowing to meet him 'ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!' Questions about whether Biden would even show up at the debates began in earnest after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday repeatedly refused to commit Biden's attendance at the debates. The campaign also refused to commit, telling reporters they would discuss it 'at the appropriate time in this cycle.' Biden's answer drew derision from Trump staffers who mocked the president on social media. 'Crooked Joe is scared of debating,' wrote Trump campaign advisor Steven Cheung, sharing video of the exchange on X. The debates are organized and run by the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has already announced the scheduled events before Election Day. The first debate will be held Sept. 16 at Texas State University in San Marcos, the second will be held Oct. 1 at Virginia State University in Petersburg, and the third and final debate will take place Oct. 9 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The vice presidential debate will take place at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 25. In the first 2020 presidential debate, Biden was thoroughly annoyed as Trump repeatedly interrupted and talked over his rival as moderator Fox News host Chris Wallace fought to keep both candidates in check. When Trump pressed Biden to answer a question about whether he would try to pack the Supreme Court, an exasperated Biden finally snapped. 'Will you shut up, man?' he said. Wallace later described the debate as 'a terrible missed opportunity.' 'I never dreamt that it would go off the tracks the way it did,' he said. John Marchand, a former mayor of Livermore, holds a rendering of a contested affordable housing project in Livermore on May 19, 2021. Brittany Hosea-Small/Special to the Chronicle A state appeals court says voters in Livermore can decide the fate of a hotly contested and long-delayed plan to build downtown housing and a public park. The city designated the land for affordable housing after acquiring it in 2008 and chose Eden Housing as the developer a decade later, with $14.4 million in bond funding from Alameda County and a loan from the state. The planned 130 housing units would be reserved for those earning no more than 60% of the countys median income. The project also includes retail space and a new park, to be built by the city and named Veterans Park. Opponents, who then called themselves Save Livermore Downtown, filed suit in 2021, contending the project conflicted with local planning and zoning laws and had failed to conduct a proper environmental review. The courts disagreed, saying the city and the developer had complied with the laws and taken adequate steps to prevent air and water pollution during construction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Foes of the project then circulated petitions for a referendum to block it, and say they have submitted over 9,700 signatures to the city, 4,000 more than needed to qualify for the ballot. The city refused to process the petitions and said Livermores approval had been an administrative action, exempt from referendum, because it had acted as an agent for the state in approving the loan to the developer. Superior Court Judge Michael Markman agreed, but he was overruled Wednesday by the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco, which ordered the city to verify the signatures and place the referendum on the ballot if it qualified. The court said Livermores approval of a park was not contained in the original plan and was a legislative action that allowed opponents to seek a referendum on the project. The plan initially approved by the city specifies use of the property as high density housing with an affordable component, Justice Mark Simons wrote in the 3-0 ruling. He said the plan says nothing about the construction of a public park, and (Livermore officials) are misplaced in arguing the City merely acted as an administrative agent of the State in making the policy decision to do so. In deciding to construct and improve Veterans Park, the City made discretionary policy determinations that were not dictated by the initial plan, Simons concluded. If the referendum qualifies, it will likely appear on the November ballot in Livermore, which has about 86,000 residents. If voters were to reject the project, the city and the developer could try to come up with a new affordable housing plan for the property. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The ruling was welcomed by Winston Stromberg, a lawyer for the projects opponents, now called Move Eden Housing. It means the Livermore City Council will either have to repeal the resolution (of approval) or put it on the ballot for the voters to decide, he said. In a statement from Eden Housing, attorney Andrew Sabey said the ruling was a testament to how difficult it continues to be to build affordable housing especially in wealthier parts of the state, where well-funded opposition can afford to hire lawyers to bring relentless legal challenges in an attempt to delay the housing projects so long that they simply fail. President Joe Biden initially declined saying he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the two men need to have a 'come to Jesus meeting' before accusing the media of spying on him. Biden was asked about his comments, which were heard on a hot mic on the House floor Thursday night after he gave his State of the Union address. 'I didn't say that in the speech,' Biden said. When asked about what he said after the speech, Biden replied: 'You guys eavesdropping on things!' 'You guys eavesdropping on things!' President Biden told reporters when they asked about his comments to I sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu The president set off a firestorm when he was caught on a hot mic speaking with Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg after his speech. In that conversation on the House floor, which played out live on television cameras, Bennet congratulated Biden on his address to the nation and urged him to keep pressing Netanyahu on humanitarian crisis. Blinken nodded along in agreement. Biden answered using Netanyahu's nickname, saying: 'I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, but you and I are going to have a 'come to Jesus' meeting.' Biden's bodyman Jacob Spreyer then leans in and whispers to the president, apparently warning Biden he is on a hot mic. 'I'm on a hot mic here,' Biden says after Spreyer spoke to him. 'Good. That's good.' The incident was another sign of Biden's growing frustration with Netanyahu as the president comes under pressure from home and abroad to do more about the humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people. The UN has warned the Gaza strip faces famine conditions and Israel has not helped as much as it could in getting food and medicine into the area, citing concerns the supplies will be taken by the Hamas terrorists they are fighting against. President Joe Biden (second right) speaks with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (left), Secretary of State Antony Blinken (second left), and Senator Michael Bennet (right with back to camera) as he made his remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Biden has already ordered US airlifts of aid to the Gaza strip. And, in his speech, he announced that he's directing the military to build a port on the Gaza coast to bring relief to the population there. 'The United States is a leading international efforts to get more humanitarian assistance to Gaza,' he said. He noted the temporary pier 'will enable a massive increase in humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza.' That does not mean U.S. military personnel will be on the ground in the war torn region. White House officials offered no time line for when the pier will be built or where exactly it will be located but said its construction will allow more shipments of food, medicine and other essential items to be delivered to the 2.2 million Palestinians. They said the White House will coordinate with the Israelis regarding security on the ground and with the United Nations and humanitarian groups on getting aid delivered. Biden's bodyman Jacob Spreyer (left) leans in to warn the president about the hot mic President Joe Biden has been showing his frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - above the two men meet in Tel Aviv in October The temporary pier will allow for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day, the officials said. It will be an additional route for humanitarian aid, which is currently limited to two land crossings into the southern part of Gaza. Other countries will be involved in its construction but it's unclear if Israel will be. The project could take more than 30 to 60 days to construct and would involve hundreds or thousands of U.S. troops on ships just off shore. It will also require armed escorts and other protective measures. Some of Biden's own Democrats have been frustrated with his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. During that section of Biden's State of the Union Address , Democratic Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Alyanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Cori Bush held up 'lasting cease-fire now' signs. The president has seen a concerning number of Democrats vote 'uncommitted' in primaries in key battleground states like Michigan and Minnesota, most of whom are unhappy with his treatment of Palestinians. In Minnesota on Tuesday, nearly 20 percent of Democratic voters in the state voted uncommitted. The week before, more than 100,000 voters in Michigan voted the same. A famine has not yet been declared for Gaza but 20% of households suffer from an extreme lack of food, 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition and 2 in 10,000 people dying per day 'due to outright starvation or to the interaction of malnutrition and disease,' the World Food Program said. In his address on Thursday, Biden called on the Israelis to do more to alleviate the suffering even as they try to eliminate Hamas. He called the situation in Gaza 'heartbreaking.' 'To Israel, I say this humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,' Biden said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was furious when his war cabinet member Benny Gantz (above), his possible political opponent, had meetings at the White House Palestinians rescue a man and his children from the rubble of a destroyed house following an Israeli air strike in the town of Al-Zawaida in the Gaza strip The White House has been gone from all-out support for Israel to showing its frustration with Netanyahu. The administration is pushing for a ceasefire in the region to get hostages out and critical aid in. Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the White House - in a move that infuriated Netanyahu. Gantz, a centrist political rival of Netanyahu who frequently criticizes the prime minister, sat down with several senior Biden administration officials during his trip to Washington D.C., including Harris, Blinken, National Security Council Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk and Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser. He also met with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders. Gantz, who polls show could be a formidable candidate for prime minister if a vote were held today, is viewed as a political moderate. If the heavy fighting subsides, Gantz will leave the government, which would increase pressure for early elections. Netanyahu was reportedly furious at Gantz's White House meeting. Meghan has praised Prince Harry for being a 'hands-on-dad' and 'incredible partner' as she discussed the difficulties of motherhood while he watched from the front row at SXSW festival. The Duchess of Sussex arrived in Texas on International Women's Day for a star-studded panel including actor Brooke Shields and US journalist Katie Couric. Meghan talked about the cyber-bullying she endured while pregnant with her two children Archie and Lilibet, praising their father Harry for making motherhood easier. 'I'm fortunate in that, you know, amongst the privileges I have in my life, I have an incredible partner. My husband is such a hands-on dad and such a supporter of me and our family, and that I don't take for granted. That is a real blessing. 'But a lot of people don't have that same level of support.' Meghan Markle has praised Prince Harry for being a 'hands-on-dad' and 'incredible partner' at SXSW festival Prince Harry sat on the front row to support his wife Meghan, and sat next to her old friend and confidante Markus Anderson (left) Meghan talked about the cyber-bullying she endured while pregnant with her two children Archie and Lilibet Prince Harry and Meghan are seen with their young children Archie and Lilibet Meghan added: 'The effect that social media can have on new mothers, even just the lack of sleep because they spend all this time scrolling and scrolling. 'But it can also be really dizzying for them, to see this portrayal of motherhood that looks so perfect. When we all know it's not perfect. We all know that it's messy. 'For us I think it's just trying to put the safeguards in so that women and moms especially can not feel like they're even more vulnerable when they go online, they can somehow feel like they are going to a safer place.' Meghan talked about social media use and claimed most of the online hate she experienced happened while she was pregnant with her two young children. 'I keep my distance from it right now for my wellbeing but the bulk of the bullying and abuse I was experiencing in social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lili, and with a newborn, with each of them,' she said. 'You just think about that and to wrap your head about why people would be so hateful. It's not catty it's cruel. Why you would do that when you're pregnant or as a mom at such a tender and sacred time.' She added: 'You could succumb to it, or nearly succumb to how painful that is. Or maybe because I was pregnant that mammalian instinct just kicks in to do everything you can to protect your child and as a result protect yourself too.' Meanwhile, Prince Harry was seen clapping in the front row to support his wife Meghan - next to her old friend and confidante Markus Anderson. Harry is seen in the audience as she supports his wife Meghan while she speaks in the panel Harry was seen in the front row to support Meghan - next to her old friend and confidante Markus Anderson Prince Harry sat in the front row to support his wife Meghan as she spoke on the panel Meghan and US journalist Katie Couric attended a panel of the South By Southwest (SXSW) Festival The session focused on the dangers and mental health issues associated with social media South by Southwest, also referred to as SXSW, is an annual festival that celebrates the convergence of technology, film, music, education and culture, being held from March 8-16. Meghan, described as a 'visionary female leader' by the organisers, is the headliner of the keynote event on today, which is also International Women's Day. According to organisers, the session is presented by Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation and The 19th, a US nonprofit newsroom that reports on gender, politics and policy. It comes as it was revealed the Duchess has reached out to PR gurus in the UK in a bid to improve her and Archewell's reputation. Announcing its panel of 'visionary' women, the festival confirmed the session would focus on the dangers and mental health issues associated with social media users amongst teenage girls. The session, titled Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen, is being moderated by Errin Haines, host of The Amendment podcast, and also attended by pop culture expert Nancy Wang Yuen. Dubbed 'Mr Soho House', Markus is often referred to as the 'second most important man' in Meghan's life - and was instrumental in getting Harry and Meghan together. In 1982, the Argentinian Junta invaded the Falkland Islands to distract its people in the face of intensifying economic turmoil. But they also thought that they could get away with it. I learnt this when talking to the captured commanding officer of an Argentine submarine. As flight observer on a Wessex 3 helicopter, I had detected his craft on radar and disabled her by dropping depth charges, in one of the first engagements of the war. 'We didn't think that you'd be able to come all this way and be able to fight us this quickly,' he told me. The Argentinians had gambled that Britain was under-prepared and paid a heavy price. But victory served another purpose. It sent a forceful message to a more dangerous opponent, the Soviet Union. Having seen the speed with which we could assemble and sail a formidable taskforce to the other side of the world, Moscow was more wary of messing with us. It is that lesson that should be heeded by our political leaders as they seek to put a price on Britain's security. HMS Vanguard, one of Britain's four ballistic missile submarines used to house our nuclear arsenal My 36 years as an aviator and warfare officer in the Royal Navy were a continuous illustration of the importance of properly funding our military and in Britain's case, of our maritime forces above all. The sea is the lifeblood of international trade the physical equivalent of the worldwide web connecting commodities, goods and markets and carrying most of the world's data in undersea cables. Also, my time on operations and in the Ministry of Defence confirmed every day the enduring value of effective capability and credible deterrence. Peace at sea does not keep itself, nor is the freedom of the seas the freedom to go anywhere, any time you like guaranteed in the face of adventurist or aggressive states or well-armed terrorist, criminal or sectarian groups. Britain's deterrent posture comprises both nuclear and conventional forces. Although nuclear weapons can be delivered by aircraft or land-based systems, the UK has continued, for invulnerability and effectiveness reasons, to house our nuclear arsenal in four ballistic missile submarines: HMS Vanguard, Vengeance, Victorious and Vigilant. At least one is submerged at sea continuously (24 hours a day, 365 days a year), and has been for 55 years, meaning a potential opponent would not know when and from where the missiles would come. Each of these submarines, which can stay submerged until the food runs out, can fire 16 Trident II D5 missiles, capable of delivering up to five warheads that can be individually targeted. A Royal Navy helicopter landing on a helipad on board the Cunard liner 'RMS Queen Elizabeth 2' which had been requisitioned as a British troopship during the Falklands War In recent years, they have carried eight missiles each (in the vain hope that the world would become more peaceful), meaning a maximum of 40 warheads per sub. As far as we know, not one has ever been detected by our opponents, to the extent that in 2009, Vanguard and her French cousin, Le Triomphant, managed to bump into each other in the Atlantic. Mercifully, the collision was low-speed, so the damage was superficial. In January, the failure of a Trident missile, fired from Vanguard, to fly to its programmed location caused another worry but it was a spurious one. Critics said the missile's failure revealed vulnerabilities and compromised the UK's deterrent posture. However, older missiles approaching their use-by date are used in these tests, and the launch was to show that the missile could be correctly programmed and encouraged to leave the submarine, reach the surface and achieve flight. Its subsequent trajectory was irrelevant. And the cost to the UK of this ultimate guarantee of our security? Less, per capita, than the price of house insurance. Another common misconception is that, as these missiles are manufactured by an American company (Lockheed Martin), their independent use by the UK is compromised. But, be assured, the warheads are British-made and once the missiles are acquired, they are armed, stored, maintained and targeted by British personnel. The chain of command is also exclusively British, from the political authorisation by the Prime Minister to fire, to the commanding officer of the submarine and the weapons-system officer who would release the missiles. Nuclear weapons have kept our world safe. But that world has changed, with countries such as China, Russia and North Korea explicitly saying they see nuclear weapons not just as deterrents, but as war-fighting systems. The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Hermes leaves Portsmouth harbour for the Falkland War with Harrier jump jets and Sea King helicopters visible on the deck in 1982 That is why the argument for our nuclear deterrent is even more compelling today, and the prospect of Iran acquiring a nuclear device reinforces this. Such is the importance of the nuclear deterrent to the UK and Nato security that the Vanguard class will rightly be replaced in the early 2030s by the Dreadnought class of ballistic missile submarines, with upgraded Trident missiles and a new warhead. The oceans will, as always, be pivotal to international geopolitics in the 21st century. Over the past five years, the world has split between two main geopolitical, energy and trading blocs. One comprises China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, who, acting in concert, are seeking to dominate the vast continent of Eurasia and the waters around it. They talk about having 'new rules or no rules' and they are prepared to breach international conventions and treaties to achieve them. Each has put pressure on their respective regions: Russia on Ukraine, Iran on the greater Middle East, China on the East and South China Seas and North Korea on South Korea and Japan. This 'axis of autocracy' is being countered by a loose maritime-democratic bloc led by the United States, comprising Canada, the United Kingdom, parts of Europe, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. All its members are critically dependent on the sea for their security and prosperity, and all follow an international rules-based system. This is why China and Russia are deploying ever more powerful and technologically advanced navies and paramilitary forces to contest the links that bind the maritime-democratic bloc and its access to the rest of the world. Royal Marines from 40 Commando troop waiting to be transported from the deck of the HMS Hermes onto the Sea King helicopters headed for the Falkland Islands As a result, new crises, confrontations and conflicts are likely to occur at sea. Then there is the proliferating host of terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, capable of attacking international shipping, using sophisticated drones and missile systems normally associated with states. It may be tempting to assume the US can shoulder the burden of maintaining peace and security at sea on its own. But the US Navy cannot be everywhere at once and needs the assistance of its maritime allies, not least the UK, which aspires to be the leading naval power in Europe. We are an island nation and the furthest in Europe from any credible land threat. We rely on trade for our prosperity and, in the Channel, we have the best 'tank trap' in Europe. So it is entirely in our own interests that we invest in our maritime and naval capability, to support the US, both as an ally and in our own interests. That is why I strongly support the Mail's Don't Leave Us Defenceless campaign. But the frightening truth is that the Navy is not sufficiently calibrated against the known capabilities of our likely enemies. Our technological sophistication, firepower, depth of stores, trained personnel and ammunition, and the numbers of deployable assets are all severely wanting. We can't be credible while we have carriers without aircraft; too few, under-armed frigates and destroyers; negligible fleet support; a procurement system that is glacial in delivery, overpriced and ponderous; and insufficient qualified personnel. In 1982, when Argentina invaded the Falklands, my ship, HMS Antrim, was stored to 95 per cent war stocks (the fuel, stores and ammunition needed to wage war), primed to counter the Soviet Union and its puppet states in the Warsaw Pact, at a moment's notice. By the end of that first day, we were on our way south from Gibraltar at 110 per cent, topped up from our supply ships and those warships not coming with us. We then went and did the business. That is what a credible fighting force and deterrent looks like. It is what Britain needs today. Without it, the security we have enjoyed for so long will be imperilled. Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry CBE served in the Royal Navy from 1972 to 2008 A mechanic with a severe nut allergy died after eating just a single mouthful of butter chicken takeaway curry containing almonds despite eating it many times before. Joseph Higginson, 27, who was allergic to nuts, tragically died seven days after tucking in to the butter chicken curry during a Christmas family meal on 28 December 2022, an inquest heard. The mechanic from Holcombe Brook, Greater Manchester, had eaten the dish before his family said but on this occasion he went into anaphylactic shock. Mala restaurant had 'clearly indicated' the dish contained almonds and had stated all the correct allergy information and awareness it had to, Rochdale Coroner's Court heard on Thursday March 7. But according to Mr Higginson's sister, Emily Higginson, her brother didn't always take his allergies seriously. Joseph Higginson, 27, who was allergic to nuts, tragically died seven days after tucking in to the butter chicken curry during a Christmas family meal The mechanic from Holcombe Brook, Greater Manchester, had eaten the dish before his family said but on this occasion he went into anaphylactic shock. In a statement read out in court, she said that he had been earlier hospitalised in the April of that year. The inquest heard that in June 2022, Mr Higginson was seen by an allergist, with a skin prick test later confirming he was allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, almonds and coconuts. He was given an EpiPen - an auto-injector containing epinephrine to decrease a body's allergic reaction - and received guidance on anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can happen extremely quickly, typically caused by food allergies, medicine or insect stings. Greater Manchester Police investigated in line with procedure but no fault or cause for concern was found on the part of Mala, an Indian restaurant on Lumb Carr Road, Holcombe. What are the symptoms of anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction and can happen very quickly. It can be triggered by certain foods, medicine or insect stings. The symptoms usually start within minutes of coming into contact with something you're allergic to. They can include: Swelling of your throat and tongue Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing Feeling tired or confused Feeling faint, dizzy or fainting Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet Skin that feels cold to the touch An itchy, swollen or raised rash Call 999 immediately if you or someone you know is having an anaphylactic reaction Advertisement A coroner recorded a conclusion of misadventure at an inquest into his death. Mr Higginson, the inquest heard, was aware of his allergies and knew the dish contained almonds. He collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest after eating just one mouthful at home during the meal. He had been diagnosed with his allergies just months earlier. The inquest heard he ate a starter then a mouthful of the butter chicken main dish when he suddenly stood up. Mr Higginson rushed to the kitchen sink then went upstairs. His EpiPen was administered to his thigh by his sister, but nothing happened and he collapsed. The family placed him in the recovery position and dialled 999 before he was also given adrenaline. CPR was carried out and he was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital, where he sadly died on January 4 last year. The inquest heard acute anaphylaxis was given as one cause of death. A pathologist, Dr Philip Lumb, said Mr Higginson had recently received a diagnosis of an allergy to tree nuts, peanuts, almonds and coconuts and had been 'told to avoid nuts'. Dr Lumb said in a statement that Mr Higginson's suffered an 'immediate allergic reaction' as soon as he put the butter chicken into his mouth. Almonds, the inquest heard, were 'the most likely trigger'. Police said an investigation was launched but no 'adulterants' were found in the food. The menu, said a detective in a statement read out, 'clearly stated' the butter chicken dish contained almonds and Mr Higginson had eaten the dish before. Mr Higginson's family have now spoken out to raise awareness that the severity of allergies and a body's tolerance to them can change during a person's lifetime. Emily, 32, said the family have raised money to fund defibrillators in the area and for the charity Anaphylaxis UK after his death. Speaking after the inquest to thank all those who were involved in his medical care, Emily said: 'People with allergies should always take the situation seriously. 'It is not something that can be taken for granted - the severity can change throughout a person's lifetime.' Mr Higginson's death has saved the lives of countless others because his organs were donated in line with his wishes The family said Mr Higginson was due to posthumously receive The Order of St John award for organ donation. The inquest heard his wishes with regard to donating his organs to give the gift of life to others were honoured. Emily said: 'He has donated his heart as per his wishes and a kidney. We know they are alive and well and that the transplants were successful.' Paying tribute to her brother, Emily added: 'He was cheeky and enjoyed a night out. He liked the good things. He has a lovely group of friends who have been amazing and supportive. We want to thank them and all those involved in Joe's care.' Coroner Julie Mitchell commended the family for their efforts to save Mr Higginson's life, saying they couldn't have done anymore. She recorded a conclusion of misadventure. The coroner said the restaurant clearly indicated that the dish contained almonds and said Mr Higginson was 'well aware' it was a 'risky food for him to consume'. But she said he chose the meal because he had 'tolerated' it before - as well as almonds. Mala restaurant declined to comment. This isn't the first time takeaway restaurants have found themselves embroiled in a nut allergy scandal. In January 2024, the manager of a restaurant which supplied a nut allergy sufferer with a takeaway pizza containing peanuts has told his inquest it was up to customers to inform staff if they had the potentially deadly health condition. Computer programmer James Atkinson died after eating less than a slice of his chicken tikka masala pizza from Dadyal in Newcastle in July 2020. Terrified James, who had ordered the meal via the Deliveroo app to his Jesmond home, swiftly fell ill and asked paramedics 'am I going to die' before he passed out. He died an hour later in hospital, despite efforts from doctors to save him. Another West End theatre will hold performances for predominantly-black audiences, despite the Prime Minister's warning that such shows are 'wrong and divisive'. Blue, a play about the shooting of a black motorist in the US, will have two 'Black Out nights' during its run at the Seven Dials Playhouse this month. Organisers of the play said the 'special' evenings for 'Black identifying guests' were an attempt to 'shift the norm' of the theatre being 'historically a majority white space'. Producers said it was 'not to deter white audience members from attending' but rather an 'explicit invitation to make people feel welcome and comfortable'. American director June Carryl told Broadway World: 'I'm genuinely surprised by the government's comments last week. And I've never understood the issue with Black Out nights. 'That someone suddenly takes it personally, that a space isn't meant to center them, is precisely the point. It's like in college, no one ever asked why the football players sat together at meals. Just the Black kids. No one ever asks ''why Top Gun?''; only ''why Barbie?''. 'When you live in a culture that centres someone else, when you constantly move through space that isn't built for you the buildings aren't yours, the signs aren't yours, the laws aren't yours, the language, the stories aren't meant to include you it is exhausting, deadening, a kind of psychic erasure.' Blue, a play about the shooting of a black motorist in the US, will have two 'Black Out nights' during its run at the Seven Dials Playhouse this month The writer and co-star of Blue, June Carryl, who said the 'special' evenings for 'Black identifying guests' were an attempt to 'shift the norm' The two 'Black Out' nights for Blue will take place on March 18 and March 27. This follows criticism last month that a West End play about slavery was going to hold performances with black-only audiences. Slave Play at the Noel Coward Theatre, which features Game of Thrones star Kit Harington, is having two performances aimed at an 'all-black identifying audience' letting them watch 'free from the white gaze'. Last week, Rishi Sunak's spokesman said the shows were 'concerning' adding 'clearly, restricting audiences on the basis of race would be wrong and divisive'. Carryl, who has appeared in Netflix series Mindhunter, hit back at the Prime Minister's criticism. She added: 'Why Black Out nights? Because different audiences get different things from a performance when they are amongst those who share common joys, common wounds. There is communion. Last month a West End play about slavery was going to hold performances with black-only audiences received heavy criticism 'It's one night. No one's saying you can't go. But if you begrudge and take offence to that one night, then what you are saying is, 'this has to be mine, too.' And if that is honestly how you feel, then maybe the problem is you.' Blue, which opened on March 5, is described as a 'a powerful examination of the recent crises that continues to plague policing both in the USA and UK'. Visitors attempting to book tickets on the theatre's website for March 18 and 27 are notified that the shows are 'Black Out' performances. The plot of the play sees Detective Parker, who has been newly promoted to The Force Investigation Department, take on her first assignment - investigating a 29-year police veteran, Sully. Parker is then forced to decide whether to protect 'one of her own' or pursue an investigation that could ruin her marriage and career. According to Broadway World: 'This show shines a stark light on the 'one bad apple' attitude to police corruption and brutality, critiquing instead the culture that allows and encourages ever more, and transforms the role of modern-day police to one of authoritarianism.' Writer Carryl was inspired to write Blue because of the seemingly endless stream of tragedy on the news including the concern that our police could be corrupted. As with what happened in the brutal murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer which resulted in the investigation and uncovering of misogynistic and racist failures in London's Met Police in 2021. Ministers could back new laws that would give Parliament a veto over the proposed UAE-backed takeover of The Daily Telegraph. Government officials have contacted Tory peer Baroness Stowell within the past 48 hours about potentially backing an amendment she has tabled. It would allow the sale of UK publications to foreign states to be blocked. More than 100 MPs have already pledged to back the amendment to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. But the Government may also throw its weight behind it if officials are satisfied the wording is watertight. A decision will be made in the coming days. 'It would have to do what it says on the tin,' a Government source said. With government backing, this would boost the chances of it becoming law and would effectively take takeover decisions out of the hands of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Government officials have contacted Tory peer Baroness Stowell within the past 48 hours about potentially backing an amendment she has tabled. It would allow the sale of UK publications to foreign states to be blocked (File Photo) In a letter to Rishi Sunak, published in yesterday's Daily Telegraph, Baroness Stowell wrote: 'Allowing foreign governments to own such a critical and sensitive part of our nation would damage public confidence' (File Photo) Investigations into the takeover by watchdogs Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority are set to conclude on Monday. They were ordered by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer due to concerns over 'accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion in newspapers'. In a letter to Rishi Sunak, published in yesterday's Daily Telegraph, Baroness Stowell wrote: 'Allowing foreign governments to own such a critical and sensitive part of our nation would damage public confidence'. RedBird IMI, a fund 75 per cent backed by the UAE's vice-president, has positioned itself to take control of the Telegraph in a complex 1.2billion debt deal. A paedophile Met police officer has pleaded guilty to making and distributing indecent images of children. PC Adam Merriman, 35, was arrested on Thursday and was later charged with the offences. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with three counts of making an indecent image of a child, three counts of distributing an indecent image of a child, and resisting arrest. PC Merriman, from Harrow, north-west London, pleaded guilty to all seven of the offences and was remanded in custody. PC Adam Merriman, 35, pleaded guilty to three counts of making an indecent image of a child, three counts of distributing an indecent image of a child, and resisting arrest He will appear next at Southwark Crown Court on a date yet to be confirmed. The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards is aware and PC Merriman has today resigned from the Met. Chief Superintendent Sara Leach, in charge of policing for the area, said: 'I recognise and share the shock and concern this news will cause among our local community and across London. 'I will be speaking to our partners and community forums to listen to their views in the coming days. 'Investigating officers worked quickly to charge PC Merriman after his arrest for these incredibly serious offences. 'Misconduct proceedings will now take place as soon as possible.' PC Merriman appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to all seven charges In 2017, PC Merriman went to trial for the harassment and assault of his former girlfriend Alex McLaren who was also a police officer. PC Merriman found out Miss McClaren had kissed another male colleague on a night out after checking her phone. He then left an Ann Summers bag containing a sex toy on the bonnet of her car which was parked outside Wembley police station, where all three officers worked. Prosecutors accused him of doing this to try and 'embarrass' her after she left him. The judge ruled that the stunt did harass Miss McLaren but did not cross the line to become a criminal offence. He was also accused of assaulting Miss McClaren as the court heard he 'brushed' or 'barged' into her during another incident. PC Merriman was subsequently acquitted of the harassment and assault of his ex. In the rolling hills of Bel Air, up a winding road bordered by gated McMansions, lies the Moraga Estate, a 16-acre property that is home to the only working vineyard in Los Angeles. Built by Victor Fleming, the legendary director of Gone With The Wind and The Wizard Of Oz, the sun-dappled ranch is, to quote one wine writer who recently embarked on a guided tour, possessed of 'beauty that grips [visitors] with a kind of escapist romance'. A similar sense of 'romance,' the wine writer somewhat mischievously continued, will from time to time take hold of Moraga's owner. He is Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old patriarch of the world's most powerful media dynasty who, despite the passage of time, continually seems to find himself on the receiving end of Cupid's fateful arrow. Rupert Murdoch, 92, has recently gotten engaged to Elena Zhukova, 66 (pictured) Rupert Murdoch , the 92-year-old patriarch of the world's most powerful media dynasty who, despite the passage of time, continually seems to find himself on the receiving end of Cupid's fateful arrow. Pictured with his new fiancee Rupert married his first wife, Patricia Booker (pictured), in 1956, they then divorced in 1967 In 2022, Murdoch met a 66-year-old widow named Ann Lesley Smith at a 200-person wine tasting on his vineyard's terrace. One thing led to another and, for a couple of weeks, the sprightly couple were even engaged. But then Murdoch got cold feet and abruptly called things off. More recently, the Spanish-style property, which boasts views of the Pacific, has been the backdrop to a second story-book love affair. This one has seen the Press baron fall hook, line and sinker for a sprightly 67-year-old Russian-born microbiologist named Elena Zhukova. On Thursday, the happy couple announced their engagement. An intimate wedding ceremony, at which Ms Zhukova will become the fifth Mrs Murdoch, is now to be held at Moraga on the afternoon of Saturday, June 1. 'Rupert will be 93 on Monday, so he wants to get on with it,' was how a source close to the tycoon explained the whirlwind development. 'It will be a small, low-key wedding at a place Rupert is very fond of. Elena also lives in Los Angeles, so it feels right for her, too. 'She is a beautiful person, inside and out, and a true intellectual, who worked for many years as a research professor. They talk a lot, and share a real curiosity about the world.' Said another family acquaintance: 'Rupert is very happy. She's a genuinely lovely and smart person, he's the archetypal old man in a hurry, and no one knows what the future holds. 'So I think they've basically come to the conclusion there's no point hanging around.' Invitations to the big day have already been sent out. Guests, who are expected to include Rupert's six and Elena's three children, are likely to be served beef from Murdoch's 340,000-acre ranch in Montana, along with the 'remarkably refined wines' (to quote Moraga's website) harvested from the surrounding hillside, which retail for between $75 and $140 (58-110) per bottle. An intimate wedding ceremony, at which Ms Zhukova will become the fifth Mrs Murdoch, is now to be held at Moraga on the afternoon of Saturday, June 1. Rupert Murdoch pictured with his second wife, Anna Murdoch Mann, who he married in 1967 Wedding guests are expected to include Rupert's six and Elena's three children. He married his third wife, Wendi Murdoch (pictured), in 1999. The marriage lasted 14 years Comparisons will, inevitably, be drawn with Succession, the hit TV drama that was largely inspired by the occasionally fractious Murdoch clan. But insiders describe the family as being 'intensely relaxed' about the impending nuptials. 'For the first time in an awfully long time, the kids actually like his choice of bride,' I'm told. 'Particularly Lachlan [the eldest son], who got to know Elena pretty well last summer, shortly after [she and Rupert] got together, when they spent time yachting around the Med with his family.' The Murdoch clan also have little to fear in terms of how the development will affect their business interests. 'There's no chance of the marriage producing a child, the financial side of things are basically sewn up, and the question of who will inherit everything was finally sorted out back in September,' adds the source. Back then, Rupert handed over the reins of the empire, which is valued at around $17 billion (13billion), to Lachlan, the first son of his second wife, Anna. Rupert then moved to an 'Emeritus Chairman' role. His businesses, which include a global stable of newspapers, including Britain's Times and Sun, along with a broadcasting arm with assets such as Fox News, are now controlled by a family trust. The structure is designed so that, in the event of Murdoch's death, equal shares will be held by each of his four eldest children. In addition to Lachlan, they are Prudence, daughter of first wife Patricia Booker, and Elisabeth and James, product of his 30-year marriage to Scottish-born Anna. Elena's pedigree is similarly complex, not to mention glamorous. In fact, Tatler once dubbed her 'Rupert Murdoch's ultimate power match' thanks to her position at the heart of an influential nexus encompassing the art world, Russian oligarchs and a famous Greek shipping dynasty. Comparisons will, inevitably, be drawn with Succession, the hit TV drama that was largely inspired by the occasionally fractious Murdoch clan. Pictured: Rupert with his fourth wife, Jenny Hall, who he married in 2016 But insiders describe the family as being 'intensely relaxed' about the impending nuptials She was born in Moscow to Jewish parents and originally came to the U.S. in 1991, after being offered a post at Baylor University in Texas during the Russian 'brain drain' that followed the fall of Communism. Her specialism was research into diabetes. Elena brought her daughter, Dasha, with her. The girl's father Alexander Zhukov Elena's ex-husband remained behind in the former USSR. Shortly after arriving, Elena had a boy and another girl, Yuri and Katya, via a short-lived relationship with an American named George Gause and, in 1994, moved to Los Angeles to take up a research job at UCLA, the city's most famous university. Back in Russia, Alexander was making a fortune investing in energy. He moved to London, achieved billionaire status, and was able to help support Dasha's education at an exclusive private school on the west side of LA. Elena's life changed once more in the mid-2000s, when 24-year-old Dasha, who had joined her father in the UK, was introduced to Roman Abramovich, then 40, on the so-called 'Chel-ski' circuit. They quickly struck up a relationship and married in 2008, following the oligarch's divorce from his second wife. Shortly after marrying Abramovich, Dasha gave her mother a new home in Beverly Hills, worth around 7 million. A former UCLA colleague said: 'Elena already came from a wealthy background, then her daughter married.' She subsequently retired from UCLA. Dasha, who had a son with Abramovich, remained married to the Russian until 2018. She is now the wife of shipping heir Stavros Niarchos, a former boyfriend of socialite Paris Hilton, with whom she has a second son. On the professional front, she is also a well-established philanthropist and patron of the arts. It was in the latter capacity that Dasha became friendly with Wendi Deng, Murdoch's Chinese-born third wife (with whom he has two daughters), whom the media mogul divorced in 2013 (amid rumours, vigorously denied, that she had developed an infatuation with Tony Blair). Last summer, Wendi, who is also active on the arts scene, hosted a large gathering at her home in Los Angeles to which both Dasha and her mother were invited. This is reported to have been the event at which Rupert was first introduced to Elena. Murdoch subsequently invited her to spend time with him on a summer cruise. Last summer, Wendi hosted a large gathering at her home in Los Angeles to which both Dasha and her mother Elena were invited. This is reported to have been the event at which Rupert was first introduced to Elena. Pictured: Rupert with Jenny Hall Rupert pictured with Wendi at the 20th Century Fox And Fox Searchlight Pictures' Academy Award Nominees Celebration in 2013 They were first spotted together in the Med aboard the Christina O, the legendary superyacht on which Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis famously seduced JFK's widow Jackie Kennedy, which costs around $760,000 (590,000) per week to charter. Since then, Rupert and Elena have spent the lion's share of their time together in Los Angeles. Friends regard her as an improvement on Ann Lesley Smith, the retired dental hygienist and wife of late country music singer Chester Smith, to whom Rupert was briefly engaged last March. When news of that betrothal became public, Murdoch declared: 'I dreaded falling in love, but I knew this would be my last. It better be. I'm happy.' Ann Lesley, for her part, admitted 'it's not my first rodeo'. But things disintegrated soon afterwards, allegedly because Rupert became uncomfortable with her evangelical views. Sources said they'd argued, among other things, over Smith's belief that the Covid pandemic was part of a global conspiracy cooked up deliberately by Bill Gates. On another occasion, reporters were told: 'She said Tucker Carlson [the former Fox News host] is a messenger from God, and he said nope.' Their subsequent break-up was, however, distinctly less messy than Murdoch's 2022 split from Jerry Hall, the model, actress and ex-wife of Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, whom he had married in London in 2016, a week before his 85th birthday, surrounded by their children. That one was ended via an email which eventually ended up in the hands of Vanity Fair magazine. 'Jerry, sadly I've decided to call an end to our marriage. We have certainly had some good times, but I have much to do,' wrote Rupert. 'My New York lawyer will be contacting yours immediately.' Pictured: Rupert Murdoch photographed with (left to right) James Murdoch, Elisabeth Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch in 2007 Ms Hall later told friends she was given a mere 30 days to vacate Moraga, where they had sat out the pandemic together, and was required to pack up her belongings under the gaze of security guards, showing receipts to prove what she took was hers. Under the terms of their divorce settlement, Hall was also allegedly forbidden from giving story ideas to Succession writers. Then, when she had moved into their Oxfordshire home that she received in the divorce, she allegedly discovered surveillance cameras that were still sending footage back to Fox headquarters. It was reported that Mick Jagger had sent his security consultant to disconnect them. By way of revenge, sources sympathetic to Hall then briefed Vanity Fair about their six-year marriage, portraying her role as part-wife, part-carer. 'In recent years, Murdoch has suffered a broken back, seizures, two bouts of pneumonia, atrial fibrillation and a torn Achilles tendon, a source close to the mogul told me,' the magazine reported. 'Many of these episodes went unreported in the Press, which was just how Murdoch liked it.' Examples included a 2018 incident when the couple were sailing in the Caribbean aboard the Sarissa, a 140ft yacht owned by Lachlan. Murdoch suffered a serious fall and was found 'in excruciating pain on the cabin floor'. He was flown to Los Angeles and diagnosed with arrhythmia and a broken back, Vanity Fair claimed. No sooner had Hall nursed him back to health than he tripped over a box of chess pieces given to him for his 87th birthday and tore his Achilles tendon. Rupert Murdoch with his former wife Anna Murdoch and their children Lachlan Murdoch ,James Murdoch and Elisabeth Murdoch at their New York City home in 1989 A further scare came when he 'nearly collapsed' at the Cotswold wedding of his 21-year-old granddaughter Charlotte Freud, following a case of Covid which had seen him hospitalised in London. At the wedding, where guests were dressed in theatrical attire, Murdoch, in a white suit and red suede shoes, was supported by Lachlan. Given the ructions those break-ups have caused, one could be forgiven for wondering why the media mogul continues to pursue marital bliss. Some reckon it's partly due to his old-fashioned morality ('he doesn't really believe in sex outside marriage'), while others believe it's a product of the inherent restlessness that has seen him turn a small family newspaper into a global media empire, when lesser mortals might have retired to spend more time with their art collections and private jets. 'There's a psychological element to it all,' adds one seasoned media observer. 'He seems incapable of having a relationship with a woman without wanting to marry her. Whether it's fuelled by loneliness, or fear, or something deeper, who knows?' It remains to be seen whether the next Murdoch wedding will be a case of fifth time lucky. But the Moraga Estate's 92-year-old groom is certainly hoping for a Hollywood ending. The final tragic moments of a teenager have been revealed before she was struck and killed by a city bus in horror scenes. The 18-year-old woman had just left beauty salon Milash after having her eyelashes done when she was pinned against the wall of a building on Edward St by the Brisbane CBD bus, which mounted the kerb and struck her from behind. The bus had just turned into Edward St from Ann St during Friday afternoon peak hour when it appears the driver lost control and veered toward the footpath. The woman from Hemmant in Brisbane's inner-east was reportedly facing the wall of a building at Anzac Square when she was hit from behind and pinned against the wall of the structure. Despite the efforts of emergency services, she died at the scene. The 18-year-old woman had just left a beauty salon after having her eyelashes done when she was pinned against the wall of a building on Edward St by the Brisbane CBD bus, which had mounted the kerb and struck her from behind The bus has just turned into Edward St from Ann St during Friday afternoon peak hour when it appears the driver lost control and veered toward the footpath Nine people travelling on the bus were also treated by paramedics, with five transported to hospital, including the driver, with minor injuries after they were thrown from their seats during the collision. The incident caused chaos near the scene at the intersection of Edward and Adelaide streets, not far from Brisbane's Central railway station, with pedestrians running from the crash site and peak hour traffic diverted. Witnesses described hearing the bus hit a light pole before crashing onto the footpath and seeing 'bricks flying', according to the Courier Mail. Minh Phan, the owner of the salon the victim visited before the tragedy, left flowers at the scene on Saturday morning. 'Im very sad to hear what has happened,' Ms Phan told waiting media. 'And I feel very sorry for her family.' Queensland Premier Steven Miles posted to X to offer his condolences to the family of the young woman. 'I'm saddened to hear the news that a woman has died after a bus was involved in a serious crash in Brisbane CBD this evening,' he posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The incident caused chaos near the scene at the intersection of Edward and Adelaide streets, with pedestrians running from the crash site and peak hour traffic diverted In a statement Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner described the incident as 'truly devastating'. 'My heart goes out to everyone impacted by this tragedy,' he said. 'Hearing this news has absolutely shocked me and I'm sure the entire Brisbane community will be feeling this tonight. 'None of us going about our daily lives ever expect anything like this. 'While we do not yet know the exact circumstances of what has happened, the council will be working with Queensland Police Service who will investigate this heart-breaking incident.' Queensland Ambulance Service said the driver was 'suffering the effects of shock'. The bus was removed from the scene around 9pm. Police investigations into the cause of the tragic accident are ongoing. A Vermont driver who killed actor Treat Williams in a car crash has avoided jail after pleading guilty to a reduced charge at the request of the victim's family. Ryan Koss was given a one year deferred sentence, had his driving license revoked for a year and must complete a community restorative justice program. Koss, 35, killed Williams, 71, after he slammed into the victim's motorcycle with his SUV on a highway in Dorset on June 12 last year. 'I'm here to apologize and take responsibility for this tragic accident,' Koss told an emotional hearing on Friday, where he also offered condolences to Williams' family and fans. 'I do forgive you, and I hope that you forgive yourself,' Williams' son Gill Williams, 32, said back as he addressed Koss in court, telling him the family did not want to press charges or see him jailed. The Vermont driver who killed actor Treat Williams in a car crash has avoided jail after pleading guilty to a reduced charge at the request of the victim's family Ryan Koss, pictured in court on Friday, was given a one year deferred sentence, had his driving license revoked for a year and must complete a community restorative justice program Williams' son Gill Williams, (center), said the family did not want to press charges or see Koss jailed Pictured: Williams with his son and daughter Ellie Williams in 2012 But he also added that 'I really wish you hadn't killed my father. I really had to say that.' Koss, who worked as managing creative director of the Dorset Theatre Festival in Vermont, had known Williams for years through his work and considered him a friend. After the crash, he called Williams' wife to tell her what happened and took responsibility for what happened, according to County State's Attorney Erica Marthage. Gill Williams said his father was 'everything' to their family and an extraordinary person who lived life to the fullest, and it's now hard to figure out how to move forward. 'It's very difficult to have this happen based on someone's negligence,' he said, urging people to take driving a lot more seriously and to look out for motorcycles. Statements from Williams' wife, Pam, and his daughter, who both did not attend the court hearing, were read aloud. Pam Williams said in her statement that it was a tragic accident and that she hopes Koss can forgive himself. Koss, who worked as managing creative director of the Dorset Theatre Festival in Vermont, had known Williams for years through his work and considered him a friend PICTURED: The Dorset Playhouse where Koss worked Williams was riding on Route 30 in Dorset, Vermont, when he was cut off by an oncoming SUV as it was turning left into an auto shop parking lot; seen in 2012 The 35-year-old originally pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of gross negligent operation with death resulting Daughter Ellie Williams wrote in her statement that she was too angry and hurt at this time to forgive Koss but hopes she will in the future 'Our lives will never be the same, our family has been torn apart and there is a huge hole that can't possibly be filled,' Pam Williams wrote in her statement. Daughter Ellie Williams wrote in her statement that she was too angry and hurt at this time to forgive Koss but hopes she will in the future. 'I will never get to feel my father's hug again; be able to get his advice again, introduce him to my future husband, have him walk me down the aisle, introduce him to my babies, and have him cry when I name my first son after him,' a victim's advocate said in reading her statement. An eyewitness told DailyMail.com that Koss collided with the motorcycle, sending Williams flying off his bike. The actor, who had been wearing a helmet, was then left sprawled out on the pavement a few feet from his motorcycle. Reports released by Vermont State Police revealed that Williams didn't stand a chance as Koss's Honda cut across the northbound lane of the V-30 into his 1986 Honda VT700c motorcycle at around 4:53pm. The police report states that 'Williams was unable to avoid a collision and was thrown from his motorcycle.' It was also confirmed Koss was not intoxicated. 'I do forgive you, and I hope that you forgive yourself,' Williams' son Gill Williams told Koss but he also added that 'I really wish you hadn't killed my father' Pam Van Sant, the heartbroken widow of Williams, broke her silence on his untimely death last year; the couple seen in 2016 The Golden Globe-nominated actor was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries before being pronounced dead. Koss originally pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of gross negligent operation with death resulting. If he had been convicted of that charge, he could have been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Williams' nearly 50-year career included starring roles in the TV series 'Everwood' and the movie 'Hair.' He also starred as Bill Paley in the hit FX show, Feud: Capote vs The Swans. He appeared in more than 120 TV and film roles, including the movies 'The Eagle Has Landed,' 'Prince of the City' and 'Once Upon a Time in America.' Ancient Chinese Qiang flute gains popularity People's Daily Online) 13:47, March 08, 2024 The Qiang flute is a key musical instrument of China's Qiang ethnic group. It has remained popular for over 2,000 years, sustained by the dedication and hard work of those who preserve and teach this cultural heritage. Legend has it that the first Qiang flute was a whistle fashioned from the first joint of an eagle's wings. When some Qiang people migrated from the grasslands of northwest China to areas along the Minjiang River, the flute evolved. Qiang artisans started making the instrument from bamboo instead of bone, and they increased the number of holes from fewer to four or five. The Qiang flute is the representative musical instrument of the Qiang ethnic group in China. (China National Radio/Chang Sirong) Zhao Kun, an inheritor of the Qiang flute performance and crafting traditions, is one of the key artisans contributing significantly to the preservation and passing down of this ancient instrument, designated as China's national-level intangible cultural heritage. Growing up listening to his elders play the Qiang flute in Maoxian county, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Zhao began his journey as an apprentice to learn both how to play and make the Qiang flute during middle school. The unassuming Qiang flute hides its intricate and meticulous crafting process. Each flute is made through a detailed, 18-step process, including material gathering, bamboo processing, and reed tuning, all done by hand. Due to its durability, flexibility, and low moisture content, prime arrow bamboo with uniform nodes, slender stems, and consistent thickness at both ends is usually selected for making the Qiang flute. Raw materials for different parts of the instrument are collected at different times of the year. The complexity of the flute-making process makes the inheritance of the craft extremely important. Zhao Kun, an inheritor of Qiang flute performance and making techniques, plays the instrument. (China National Radio/Chang Sirong) Zhao has always crafted Qiang flutes with traditional raw materials and techniques rather than cost-saving plastic. To continuously improve the instrument, he went to Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County, Sichuan Province, to learn Shuimoqi, a traditional lacquerware craft of the Qiang ethnic group, from an intangible cultural heritage inheritor named Zhu Hongzhi. Today, the Qiang flute has transcended its role as a traditional wind instrument; it has also become a valued collectible item, gaining new popularity and interest. Despite having calloused and cracked fingers and palms from making Qiang flutes year-round, the artisans cannot wear gloves. According to Zhao, they need to touch and feel the materials with their hands to ensure the instrument's high quality. Photo shows various tools for making a Qiang flute, the representative musical instrument of the Qiang ethnic group in China. (China National Radio/Chang Sirong) "The 2,000-year legacy cannot end with us. Only by protecting and carrying forward the heritage from generation to generation can the Qiang flute reach a bigger stage," Zhao noted. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) San Francisco London Breed speaks during her annual State of the City address in San Francisco on Thursday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle San Francisco Mayor London Breed, right, embraces Feysan Lodde, after her annual State of the City address Thursday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Mayor London Breed likes to invoke her difficult upbringing in San Franciscos public housing when talking about her unlikely ascendancy to lead the city and how the determination and grit she learned in the neighborhood shaped her as a leader. Now, as she enters a fierce battle for reelection, she says her roots prepared her for the tough contest ahead. We grew up fighting, Breed told a crowd of construction union supporters in late January. Fighting was just what we did. Back then, I fought with my fist. And now I fight with my mouth with the words that I say, but also with the deeds and what it is that I stand for. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In her speech that followed, Breed offered a preview of the case she will make to voters when seeking another four years in office this fall an argument she began to sharpen this week after winning passage of at least two of her three March ballot measures and delivering her annual State of the City address on Thursday. At Golden Gate Parks Panhandle in late January, Breed spoke to union supporters about leading the city during the pandemic and supporting the construction of new homes, but an underlying theme of her remarks was that shes ready to meet her opponents head on. And her fight for political survival has become even tougher in the weeks since that Jan. 30 campaign speech. In mid February, Breed got a third major challenger to her reelection bid when Mark Farrell, a former city supervisor and appointed mayor, entered the race. The following week, the Chronicle released a poll showing that 71% of likely November voters disapproved of Breeds job performance and Farrell would beat her in first-choice votes if the election were held now. At the end of the month, news broke that Macys was looking to sell and close its flagship store in Union Square, greatly compounding an already dire exodus of major retailers from the once-booming shopping district. Despite those headwinds, Breed has been digging in to fight for reelection, and she began to bring her argument for winning another term into clearer focus this week. Shes trying to remind voters of the aggressive measures San Francisco took on her watch to protect residents from COVID-19 early in the pandemic, winning national praise. Even with San Franciscos floundering economy, worsening overdose crisis, rampant property crime, widespread homelessness and steep housing costs, Breed argues that the city is in the early stages of a comeback. Shes pointing to a decline in reported crimes, an ongoing police-led crackdown on drug dealing, a reduction in homeless encampments and an influx of artificial intelligence companies. And shes holding up her March ballot measures as a sign she shares voters views on how to address crime, drug abuse and downtowns economic recovery. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I dont begrudge peoples frustration. I dont dispute these have been a tough five years, Breed said in her State of the City speech at the Pier 27 Ferry Terminal on Thursday. But rather than destroying our city, these storms have revealed our strength, our indomitable spirit and our service to each other. Political observers and those who know Breed have described her as a tenacious leader who doesnt give up easily. Reflecting on one of Breeds early political trials, a city official told Politico in 2022 that when people tried to count her out or erase her or tell her it wasnt her time, the experience just made her more determined. The union leader who introduced her at her January speech at the Panhandle called her someone who doesnt back up from a fight and knows how to win a fight. Rev. Amos Brown, a Breed ally, told the Chronicle after Breeds State of the City address on Thursday that her reelection chances hinge on whether voters have what it takes to make an informed, rational decision. The burden is on the citizens. Its not about whether or not Mayor Breed has what it takes, Brown said. Were not going to find anybody better than her. San Francisco has a golden opportunity that it should not destroy by not making the right decisions in November. Breed made some thinly veiled swipes at her opponents during the Pier 27 address. One of Farrells ideas to get more people downtown is to reopen all of Market Street to cars an idea that Breed panned without mentioning Farrell by name. She said such a proposal will not move us forward, and it wont magically revive downtown. Farrell said in a statement after Breeds speech that the progress she highlighted was too little too late to convince voters she is the candidate to get San Francisco back on the right track. Farrell wasnt the only mayoral candidate to criticize Breed after her speech. Daniel Lurie, a nonprofit founder and Levi Strauss heir running against Breed, said in a statement that her State of the City remarks did not propose the magnitude of reform that our city desperately needs and accused Breed of having failed to deliver on (her) promises after more than a decade in office. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Breed also appeared to take a shot at progressive Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who is expected to enter the mayors race but has not formally announced his candidacy. Peskin is known for his record of trying to slow or stop some housing developments in the name of neighborhood preservation, and he and Breed recently clashed over his efforts to scale back city legislation designed to boost the construction of denser housing. On housing, we are changing our reputation as a city of no, to a city of yes. Yes to any idea that overcomes obstruction and builds the new homes we so desperately need, Breed said. So there is one housing no I will commit to: Any piece of anti-housing legislation that comes across my desk. I will veto. Every single one. In an interview after the speech, Peskin told the Chronicle the legislative changes he advanced were intended to fix an unanticipated consequence from earlier legislation that inadvertently paved the way for 270-foot towers along the waterfront. If this is where the mayor wants to draw a line in the sand, shell be showing her hand (that) she wants to destroy the city to save it, Peskin said. I heard her loud and clear, but I dont think its a smart fight for her to pick. Overall, he said, he was shocked by what the mayor didnt include in her State of the City speech. Not a word about affordability, not a word about tenant protections, eviction protections or about the neighborhoods, and not a word about small businesses under pressure, Peskin said. Only words about the future of downtown, only market-driven solutions. I wanted to hear a lot more about working people and the real things that the city can do to protect and further everyday San Franciscans struggles. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Supervisor Myrna Melgar, however, said she thought Breeds address was the best speech Ive ever heard her give, describing her rhetoric as visionary and specific. Ive had my struggles with the mayor. We havent always agreed on policy stuff, Melgar said. (But) nobody else has convinced me that they can do any better. As the media and her political opponents have increasingly criticized the state of San Francisco, Breed has consistently tried to counter the narrative and argue that her critics arent doing enough to solve the problems they complain about. In her January speech at the Panhandle, Breed said its easy for people to speak ill of San Francisco, but those who did so were not backing up all that mess with solutions. She doubled down on that view during her State of the City address, referencing a 1910 speech from former U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt, who famously said it is not the critic who counts but rather the person who is actually in the arena who strives valiantly and invests themself in a worthy cause. To those outside the arena watching from the sidelines who offer only criticism, I have a message for you, Breed said. San Francisco is not wearing the shackles of your negativity any longer. The remark was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation from dozens of city officials and community leaders watching the speech. After Breed concluded her remarks, a telling song blasted over the speakers: Survivor, the 2001 hit from girl group Destinys Child. Im a survivor, the song goes. Im gonna make it. Chronicle staff writer Aldo Toledo contributed to this report. Vets have faced 'abuse and threats' from XL Bully owners over the dog breed's ban, the president of the British Veterinary Association has said. Anna Judson said the situation had created a 'very emotionally charged atmosphere' and some 'really challenging situations' between owners and vets. She reminded lovers of the breed to be 'mindful' and 'kind' to vets dealing with the rapid change. Ms Judson added that the BVA was 'very concerned' the ban was a 'short-term fix to a much larger problem' and there was a risk of 'transferring the problems to another breed in future'. From February 1, it became a criminal offence to own the XL bully breed in England and Wales without an exemption certificate. Owners who do not have a certificate for their dogs can face fines, prosecution and having their pet confiscated. Anna Judson said the situation had created a 'very emotionally charged atmosphere' and some 'really challenging situations' between owners and vets Vets have faced 'abuse and threats' from XL Bully owners over the dog breed's ban, Ms Judson said The chief told Clare Balding on Channel 4's coverage of Crufts that the association was not consulted over the ban and that 'it came as quite a surprise'. Ms Judson said: 'One of our concerns at the British Veterinary Association is the speed at which the ban was introduced. 'It's created some really challenging situations, it's put the vets, the rescue charities and the XL bully owners into some very stressful situations. READ MORE: XL Bully crackdown fuels 235 PER CENT spike in searches for German Shepherds - as it emerges banned breed is third most stolen dog in Britain Advertisement 'And with that came a very emotionally charged atmosphere and, unfortunately, that has spilt over to some abuse and threats of veterinary teams and vets. 'So, one of the things we would respectfully ask is that people are just mindful, even if they're feeling stressed, of how their actions and words come across. 'And to be kind and courteous to the vet teams, particularly as we come up to these neutering deadlines.' The BVA is calling for an overhaul of dangerous dogs legislation with a 'much stronger focus on responsible dog breeding and responsible dog ownership', Ms Judson said. To qualify for an exemption certificate, most owners must prove their XL bully has been neutered by June 30. Owners of dogs under a year old have a longer deadline until December 31 to prove their pet has been neutered. In Scotland, the first part of restrictions on XL bully-type dogs came into force on February 23. Ms Judson said: 'We would really strongly urge that XL bully owners get in touch with their vets. 'And work with them in partnership to make sure that we can stagger the numbers going through the neutering process so we don't end up with a bottleneck and some capacity issues which will just heighten everybody's emotional state again.' XL Bully owner passionately protests in London against banning the breed in September last year. It is not alleged that any of them have been involved in the wrongdoing referred to XL Bully owners held a demonstration in central London in September last year. It is not alleged that any of them have been involved in the wrongdoing referred to Esther Martin, 68 (pictured) from Woodford Green, London, died from being attacked by two 'unregistered' XL bully dogs XL Bully owners have repeatedly hit back at the government against the ban, with many protesting outside Downing Street and wearing muzzles to stand by their pups. In November, the government gave owners two options - either apply to have their pets exempt from the crackdown, or get paid 200 to euthanise their dogs. Fuming Bully XL owner Ashley Oxley from Brighton told MailOnline at the time: 'No money would ever tempt me into putting my girl down she's fine the way she is and that's how it's staying can't believe in this generation this kind of brutality is even allowed.' Mother-of-three Dani Harland added: 'This breaks my heart. I own an XL Bully and I would never ever even dream of putting her down. I find this absolutely disgusting that they [the government] are even offering to pay people money to have their dogs put to sleep.' READ MORE: Now XL Bullys face clampdown in Northern Ireland under proposed restrictions including muzzles and ban on breeding - after bans were imposed across Britain Advertisement Around 25 people have been killed by dangerous dogs since the beginning of lockdown in 2020. At the start of last month, a grandmother was mauled to death by two 'unregistered' XL Bully dogs while visiting her grandson. Esther Martin, aged 68, who was in the area visiting her eleven-year-old grandson. The boy came out 'shouting for help' when the attack happened, the family said. Her daughter told MailOnline that her mother - from Woodford Green, London - had previously told the dogs' owner that they were dangerous. This comes as XL Bullys face a clampdown in Northern Ireland under proposed restrictions, including wearing muzzles and a ban on breeding. Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said he was bringing forward legislation requiring people to register their ownership of the breed and obtain an exemption certification, and also to keep them on a lead and muzzled while in public. There would also be a ban on breeding, selling, abandoning or giving away XL bully dogs in the region. XL bullies would also have to be neutered under the planned law changes, Mr Muir said. Additionally, owners would be required to obtain a form of public liability insurance and ensure the animals were kept in secure conditions. The rules will require additional legislation which may take until the autumn. Three people have died and one person has been left injured after a National Guard helicopter crashed in Texas. The helicopter went down at 2:50pm on Friday in the border town of La Grulla, near the Rio Grande. The aircraft was carrying a Border Patrol agent who was killed along with two soldiers. A third solider was injured. The names of the deceased are not being released until their next of kin have been informed. Law enforcement sources told local media the chopper was 'on federal orders' at the time. The cause of the accident is being probed. Three people have died after a National Guard helicopter crashed in Texas The crash took place on Friday afternoon, near Rio Grande City approximately two miles east of La Grulla Two soldiers and one border patrol agent were killed in the crash with a third soldier injured The helicopter was New York National Guard Lakota chopper Escalon said the aircraft was 'a military helicopter on federal orders working with Border Patrol' and not part of Operation Lone Star, Texas' border enforcement arm which works with the National Guard. Starr County Sheriff's Office said it is, 'currently assisting with a downed helicopter incident on the East side of the county, involving possibly four occupants'. The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed it is assisting federal agencies with the crash, which took place near Old Military Road, approximately two miles east of La Grulla. Former Republican congresswoman Mayra Flores Vallejo asked the public to pray for the victims. 'I am asking for a prayer request and support for Border Patrol and CBP Air and Marine Operations. A tragic helicopter crash just happened near La Grulla, Texas. My thoughts and prayers are with you,' she wrote on X. The judge who will decide if Prince Harry's immigration documents will be made public is a Trump-appointed and 'unpredictable' jurist with connections to the conservative Federalist Society but who has also jailed January 6th Capitol rioters. On Thursday, Judge Carl Nichols told the Department of Homeland Security to hand over the records relating to Harry's immigration status. Nichols had asked the agency to give him declarations explaining the 'particular harm' that would arise from the disclosure of the application. In the wake of the publication of Prince Harry's memoir Spare, right-wing group the Heritage Foundation sued the DHS for access to his files, after the royal admitted to drug use on multiple occasions in the book. The US routinely asks about drug use on its visa applications, and it has been linked to travel headaches for celebrities, including Nigella Lawson, Amy Winehouse, and Kate Moss. But acknowledgement of past drug use doesn't necessarily bar people from entering or staying in the country. Last month, ex-President Donald Trump - who appointed Nichols in 2018 - said that he would not protect Harry if he were elected again in November. 'I wouldn't protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That's unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me,' Trump said. District Court Judge Carl Nichols was appointed to the bench by Donald Trump in 2018 but since then has not always gone along with the ex-president Since June, the Duke's immigration status has been scrutinized after conservative group the Heritage Foundation sent a public-information request to the Department of Homeland Security for Harry's records Last month, ex-President Donald Trump said that he would not protect Harry if he were elected again in November Judge Nichols, a graduate of Dartmouth and the University of Chicago Law School, was appointed by Trump to the District Court for the District of Columbia in June 2018. He was formally appointed to the role four months later. Nichols lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife, Argentinian national, Liese Nichols. In 2010, he spent time living in his wife's homeland. Prior to becoming a judge, Nichols was a partner at the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr in DC and regularly appeared in federal court. He also clerked for conservative Justice Clarence Thomas and worked in the DOJ between 2005 and 2009, rising to the role of principal deputy associate attorney general. Despite worries about bias, Nichols has not always towed the Trump-party line. A 2022 Politico feature on the ex-president's judicial appointments referred to him as being 'unpredictable.' In 2020, Nichols issued an injunction blocking the US Commerce Department from imposing restrictions on TikTok that would have effectively barred its use in the United States, an issue that Trump supported. Nichols said the Commerce Department 'likely overstepped' its legal authority in issuing the effective TikTok ban 'and acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner by failing to consider obvious alternatives.' In November 2021, Nichols sentenced the former chief executive of a tech company in suburban Chicago who lost his job after he threw a chair inside the US Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot was sentenced Friday to 30 days imprisonment. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols also ordered Bradley Rukstales, of Inverness, Illinois, to pay $500 in restitution. Then, in March 2022, Nichols struck down a conspiracy charge against Garrett Miller in relation to his actions on January 6th. That ruling set a precedent that could be used in the defense of other accused rioters, reported The Washington Post. In October 2022, he sentenced former Trump advisor and provocateur Steve Bannon to four months in prison and fined him $6,500 Supporters of Donald Trump clash with police at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 Nichols ruled that a defendant must have taken 'some action with respect to a document, record or other object' in order to obstruct an official proceeding under the law. In October 2022, he sentenced former Trump advisor and provocateur Steve Bannon to four months in prison and fined him $6,500 over his defiance of subpoena from the House select committee in the relation to the January 6th riot. Nichols said Bannon had 'no remorse for his actions.' During the trial, he admonished the War Room podcast host's legal team for attempting to turn proceedings into a 'political circus.' Also in 2022, Nichols' ruling in case involving the dismissal of a child-trafficking and forced labor lawsuit against Apple and Microsoft was questioned after it emerged that he had bonds in in both companies worth between $60,000 and $200,000, according to Forbes. According to Nichols' US Senate questionnaire, he is a member of the Federalist Society. He joined the group first in 2003, leaving in 2008, before rejoining in 2018. It's not clear if he still a member. The Federalist Society has no partisan affiliation and takes no position in election campaigns, but it is closely aligned with Republican priorities, including the drive to overturn Roe v Wade. The group got its start at elite law schools when Ronald Reagan was in the White House. It was conceived as a way to counter what its members saw as liberal domination of the nation's law school faculties. Donald Trump on last month declared Prince Harry will be 'on his own' if he wins a second term, calling the Duke's 2020 move to the US an 'unforgivable' betrayal of Queen Elizabeth II Trump's comments, moreover, come as the prince's immigration status has come under question - as a conservative think tank argues he cannot have legally entered the country due to admitting to taking illegal drugs at the time, in his memoir, Spare Since June, the Duke's immigration status has been scrutinized after conservative group the Heritage Foundation sent a public-information request to the Department of Homeland Security for Harry's records. That came in the wake of the release of his memoir Spare in which he admitted to taking cocaine several times starting around age 17, in order 'to feel. To be different.' He also acknowledged using cannabis and psychedelic mushrooms. The issue is now back in the news following Harry's February interview with Good Morning America where the issue of him seeking US citizenship was raised. 'The American citizenship is a thought that has crossed my mind but certainly not something that's a high priority for me right now,' he said. Harry moved to Southern California with Meghan and their young family in 2020 after they left royal life and embarked on new projects. The Heritage Foundation claims Harry could have lied about taking drugs in his immigration paperwork despite admitting doing them in his memoir and in the Netflix show. If the Duke did not tell the truth on his entry forms then he could be removed from the US or barred by a border agent. In an order filed to the court in Washington, Judge Nichols stated that the Freedom of Information law authorized him to review 'declarations and/or contested records in camera.' Doing so would help him to determine whether any exemptions preventing the documents from being made public apply. Such a review is appropriate when 'agency affidavits are insufficiently detailed to permit meaningful review of exemption claims.when the number of withheld documents is relatively small, and when the dispute turns on the contents of the withheld documents, and not the parties' interpretations of those documents', the order said. Judge Nichols said: 'Having reviewed the parties' written submissions and heard oral argument on the motions, the court concludes that in camera review is necessary to determine whether the records in dispute come within the scope of the claimed exemptions'. Judge Nichols gave DHS until March 21 to submit declarations that detail 'the records it is withholding and the particular harm that would arise from public disclosure of them', his order said. The review will be conducted in camera, meaning it would be done by the judge in private. In its legal filing, DHS said that the records at issue are 'particularly sensitive' because they would 'reveal Harry's (immigration) status in the United States.' DHS has claimed that Harry still has a right to privacy even though he is a celebrity. Heritage has claimed in legal filings that Harry being so open about his private life means he has forfeited such a right. During the hearing last month, lawyers for DHS said that Harry's claims about his drug use in 'Spare' may not have been true and may have been in there just to sell books. 'The book isn't sworn testimony or proof,' John Bardo told the court. 'Saying something in a book doesn't necessarily make it true.' One thing Ive realised in covering our Royal Family for more than 20 years is that when stories break, they go big. But what Ive witnessed in recent weeks has shocked even the most world-weary courtiers. Utter madness was the verdict of one well-placed royal insider. Its something we discuss at length on the latest edition of our royal talk show, Palace Confidential, with my colleagues Richard Eden and Jo Elvin. An excited Prince Louis on the Buckingham Palace balcony with his mother Kate during last year's Trooping the Colour Theres plenty going on. Princess Annes been flying the flag for Britain in Dubai, for example, while the King is battling on with state duties despite his cancer treatment. But none of this competes with the only subject anyone wants to talk about, and thats Kate. When it was announced in January that the Princess of Wales had unexpectedly undergone planned abdominal surgery, Kensington Palace made a personal plea that she be allowed to recuperate in peace. They acknowledged how much interest there would be but released no further information about Kates condition and asked that, for her own sake and that of her children, the media and public alike should avoid speculating. The Princess and her family should be given space. Thats exactly what happenedat first. The King shakes hands with Alexander Williams, the High Commissioner of Jamaica, at Buckingham Palace on Thursday The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children Charlotte, George (centre) and Louis at last year's Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham Cue a growing avalanche of conjecture, speculation and innuendo on the internet, thanks mainly to the likes of X, Instagram and TikTok. Some of it has been harmless enough, if foolish, including the suggestion that the princess might be recovering from a Brazilian butt lift'. That got a bit of traction as did a tongue-in-cheek claim that Kate was recovering from a bad haircut (Since when did she ever have one of those?). But much of the speculation comes straight from the cesspit. Sick is not too strong a word. A wild claim by a Spanish television journalist that the princess was in a coma is perhaps the only thing we can repeat - because it has been officially denied by the Palace. It is hard to believe the depths to which some trolls will descend, including those who create fake images disturbingly realistic in some cases to support their vicious posts. Much of it has clearly been stirred up by those with an axe to grind against the British monarchy, including some supposed Harry and Meghan fans. Whats even more troubling, though, is that some of these claims are colouring the world of respectable commentary. Take this weeks news that the Ministry of Defence had withdrawn a claim that the Princess would attend Trooping the Colour in June after a pointed intervention from Kensington Palace, (which made clear it was up to Kate to confirm when she was ready to return to work). Even the BBC and ITV felt obliged to report on growing speculation. A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kates health grows, said the BBC website. It's an onslaught that I know has left Kate and William both angered and deeply upset. Their aides maintain a brave face and emphasise that their focus is on work and family, not gossipmongers. But it is clear that this febrile situation is pushing their customary never complain, never explain mantra to the limit. Part of the difficulty is down to the marked difference in way the two royal households - Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace - have approached their respective royal health crises. The public has been given as much information about His Majestys condition and ongoing treatment as possible. There have been regular and reassuring visual updates with photographs and even video clips of the King going about his work. From William and Kates team, however, there has been a deafening silence. They have taken a principled stand, refusing to deviate from their original statement that the Princess is unlikely to be seen in public before Easter and that there would be no running commentary on her condition. At the same time, however, this (understandable) attempt to protect Kates privacy has allowed the most sinister elements of social media to prosper. And now their poisonous chatter has become a roar that its hard to ignore. Prince William has always said he refuses to dance to the medias tune - a stance many have sympathised with, including me. The mainstream British media have, for the most part, refused to speculate about his wifes health. Im not aware that any news organisation in this country has even considered touching recent paparazzi photographs showing princess being driven in her car on a public road out of respect for her privacy. But the media landscape is very different to the one Prince William grew up with. Today, the Wild West of the internet and social media remain entirely unregulated while those in charge gorge on the profits. The Daily Mail's Rebecca English, above, says that the deafening silence from William and Kate's team has opened the door to trolls I felt obliged to refer one particularly hideous post sent to me this week to the regulators at X. I cannot bring myself to describe them, but the contents were outrageous and included a frighteningly sophisticated and cleverly doctored image of the princess with demands for proof of life. In reply, I was informed that there were no violations of the Twitter rules [sic]. I wasnt surprised as Id received the same response when I complained about a post describing me as a royal family-supporting slut. This, in a nutshell, is what we the Royal Family, journalists and even those who simply like to read about the British monarchy are dealing with. And it is problem that the palaces understandably simply dont know how to handle other than to ignore. One old royal hand said to me recently that they support the Kensington Palace approach toughing it out as long as the princess continues to recover well. But the dilemma is clear. There is a sense over the last few weeks that things could have been better communicated. Its a salutary reminder that you shouldnt let everyone [else] fill the silence, they said. But neither should you be bounced into a particular course of action by a particularly vile group of internet trolls. Perhaps the best way to look at it, though, is that people wouldnt talk if they didn't care, one way or another. And what we have witnessed recently is that the British Royal Family is still the biggest story in town. What does it actually say about you if you love chart pop hits, or prefer unwinding with some bass-heavy dance tracks or heavy metal? Probably not what you expect. Multiple scientific studies have investigated the personality traits associated with different music genres, and come up with some unexpected facts, like the fact that psychopaths are most likely to enjoy No Diggity by Blackstreet. If you like popular, chart-topping music, youre more likely to be an agreeable person. Meanwhile, people who listen to extreme heavy metal about violence are actually no more likely to be violent themselves (and in fact just find joy in the music). And if you like exaggerated bass in music, it could be bad news. Listening to Eminem could mean you are a psychopath (YouTube) We listen to music by people like us When we choose music, we often choose music by people who we think are like us, a 2020 study showed. So for example, David Bowie fans are drawn to him because of his slight weirdness and neuroticism, and Radiohead fans are drawn to the band because of their open, experimental nature. People who listen to David Bowie are similar to his public image (and neurotic) The research based on 80,000 fans and 50 famous musicians asked fans to give personality ratings for the public persona of each artist - and found that people naturally gravitate towards artists that are similar to themselves. So Marvin Gaye fans tend to be agreeable, like the public persona of the musician, where Ozzy Osbourne fans tend to be more obnoxious and disagreeable, the researchers say. Dr David Greenbeg of Bar-Ilan University, said: 'In today's world, where social divisions are increasing, our studies are showing us how music can be a common denominator to bring people together.' Ozzy Osbourne fans tend to be 'disagreeable' and rebellious, the study found Study co-author Dr Sandra Matz, from Columbia Business School, said: 'The findings can pave the way for new approaches for record companies or music management to target and build audiences.' Like big bass, and cannot lie? Big bass lines are an unavoidable feature of modern music, but you might be surprised by what a fondness for basslines says about your personality. A 1997 study in the journal Personality and Individual Differences found that men are more likely than women to enjoy music with exaggerated bass. So are extroverts - and also people who are psychotic. Bass-heavy songs like Still D.R.E. by Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre could be linked to being psychotic The researchers, led by William McCown, wrote, Personality was measured with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Results showed that Psychoticism, gender, and Extraversion are all positively related to preference for enhanced bass. Music to be murdered by? Real-life psychopaths are not like the classical music-loving Hannibal Lecter - and are actually more likely to enjoy retro rap, a study found. No Diggity and Eminems Lose Yourself were enjoyed by people with the highest scores for psychopathy in a 2017 study. The least psychopathic people enjoyed Sias Titanium and My Sharona by The Knack. The least psychopathic people enjoyed Sia's Titanium The research was part of a preliminary unpublished study by New York University in 2017, which hoped to find a way to identify psychopaths without their consent - and which focused on 260 songs and 200 volunteers who had also self-administered a psychopathy test. Study leader Pascal Wallisch said in 2017: 'The media portrays psychopaths as axe murderers and serial killers, but the reality is they are not obvious; they are not like The Joker in Batman. 'They might be working right next to you, and they blend in. They are like psychological dark matter. You dont want to have these people in positions where they can cause a lot of harm. We need a tool to identify them without their cooperation or consent. Empathetic people prefer mellow music A 2015 study by musician and researcher Dr David Greenberg - who has performed multiple studies into music preferences, but also performs as a jazz musician - found that the way we think is strongly linked to music tastes. The research with volunteers found a stark divide between empathetic people and systematizers who think of things in a more machine-like way. Mellow music (such as by Marvin Gaye) appeals to more empathetic people The research found that people who are more empathetic prefer mellow music - R&B, soul, soft rock. People who are more systematizing (ie less emotional) tend to prefer intense music including punk, heavy metal and hard rock. Violent music doesnt mean youre violent Listening to violent music such as extreme heavy metal doesnt mean people are violent - and instead, its a geeky hobby like battle re-enactments. A study played one particularly horrific track to listeners and then tested how desensitized they were to violence - then compared the results to what happened when they listened to Happy by Pharrell Williams. Researchers compared violent songs to Pharrell Williams' 'Happy' Viewers were shown violence-related images to see if they were desensitized by the song Eaten by Blood Bath, which revolves around a real-world case in which a man killed and ate a voluntary victim in Germany in 2001. The researchers found no evidence that the music desensitized listeners. Prof Bill Thompson, from the Australian University said, The fans are nice people. They're not going to go out and hurt someone. The dominant emotional response to this music is joy and empowerment. And I think that to listen to this music and to transform it into an empowering, beautiful experience - that's an amazing thing.' The drone features an assassination mode to hunt down individual targets Swarms of killer AI drones might sound like the plot of a dystopian science-fiction thriller. But in a terrifying glimpse of the future, one scientist has shown just how easy it already is to build an 'assassination drone' that can hunt down and kill people. In just a few hours, Luis Wenus, an engineer and entrepreneur, converted a $115 (89.99) drone into the basis of a deadly weapon. Using AI facial recognition the drone was programmed to recognise individuals and race towards them at full speed. Although Mr Wenus says he built the drone 'for a game' he also says he wanted to raise awareness for how easily this could be used for a deadly terrorist attack. Killer drones were the inspiration for the 2019 sci-fi horror film The Drone, but they may be closer to reality than we though be closer than we think and even easier to make than previously thought In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, Mr Wenus and his engineer colleague, demonstrated how a commercial drone can be programmed to chase down targets. In the post, Mr Wenus writes: 'I thought it would be fun to build a drone that chases you around as a game.' However, the terrifying video quickly shows how dangerous this technology could really be. The drone uses an AI 'object detection model' to recognise faces using its onboard camera. Once it sees a face, the drone is programmed to try and keep it in the centre of its view and fly directly forward, chasing down its target. In one mode the drone will charge directly towards anything it recognises as a face. In this mode, the video shows how the drone begins to 'attack' other people in the park, only stopping when Mr Wenus catches it. Luis Wenus, an engineer and entrepreneur, showed how he converted a commercially available drone into an 'assassin drone' designed to hunt down targets in just a few hours The drone also has a second setting which Mr Wenus describes as an 'assassination drone'. Mr Wenus wrote: 'I was also able to add face recognition to it, and only make it attack someone it knew who was, it could easily identify the person from 10 meters distance.' The video shows how the drone selectively chooses to chase down its target, ignoring other people. And, while this drone is not particularly dangerous, Mr Wenus warns that more deadly drones could pose a serious threat. He wrote: 'This literally took just a few hours to build, and made me realize how scary it is. You could easily strap a small amount of explosives on these and let 100's of them fly around.' In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Wenus says that he wanted to develop the drone 'as a game' but quickly realised how dangerous this technology could be The video demonstrates how the drone is programmed to recognise faces and fly at full speed towards them On social media, some commenters expressed a mixture of admiration for the technology and fear for what it might be capable of Other commenters were concerned that developing killer drones was now extremely easy with a little bit of technical knowledge Even Elon Musk, CEO of X, expressed his concern that it is 'alarmingly easy' to create autonomous killer drones On social media, commenters reacted with a mixture of fascination and horror to the invention. Responding to the post, one X user wrote: 'Surface level, this is cool, but the potential to use this for evil is a bit scary!' Another commenter added: 'Yeah that shouldn't be easy to build...' Even Elon Musk, CEO of X, responded to the post by saying: 'Yeah, it is alarmingly easy.' Small explosive-carrying drones are already having a significant impact on the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian drone operators attach grenades, mortars, and other explosive devices to cheap commercially available drones to create deadly weapons. These first-person drones have proven to be extremely effective at hunting down and destroying everything from individual troops to tanks and bunkers. But, the crucial difference is that these drones are operated by an individual who is always in control of the process rather than an autonomous AI. Ukrainian drone operators (pictured) have been using cheap commercial drones with explosive devices to hunt down Russian tanks and bunkers The drone used by Mr Wenus in this demonstration is extremely cheap and easy to obtain, as it is available on Amazon for only $115 (89.99) READ MORE: Terrorists could hack into driverless cars to use as weapons and hijack drones to drop bombs in horrific attacks, report warns Advertisement The real danger is that cheap, easy-to-produce swarms of autonomous drones could be released into battlefields or even public spaces. Mr Wenus writes: 'My bet is that we will see some sort of terror attack using this type of tech within the next few years. 'You still need some technical knowledge to build this now, but it becomes easier and easier.' Autonomous drone swarms are yet to be deployed on the battlefield but DARPA is reportedly developing a drone swarm weapon of mass destruction dubbed AMASS (Autonomous Multi-Domain Adaptive Swarms-of-Swarms). AMASS is still in the planning stages, but DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency) has been collecting bids from suppliers for the $78 million contract. Mr Wenus wrote: 'We check for bombs and guns but THERE ARE NO ANTI-DRONE SYSTEMS FOR BIG EVENTS & PUBLIC SPACES YET. We need to build anti-drone systems for civilian spaces asap.' Mr Wenus demonstrates the drone's 'assassination mode'. This image shows how the drone recognises his face and identifies him as a target with the instruction to 'ATTACK!!' Mr Wenus describes himself as an 'open source absolutist', meaning that he believes important developments in code, and AI in particular, should be open to the public. And, in the responses to the post, a number of social media users asked Mr Wenus to release the code or share a full tutorial on how to produce an assassination drone. However, in this instance he says that he will refrain from posting the code due to the potential danger posed by autonomous drones. 'I will not post for now, it's honestly super easy to code but no point enabling,' he added. At first glance it appears to a profound moment in medieval history, stunningly captured with the finest pigment and gold leaf. But on closer inspection, this lavish illustration from a 800-year-old book actually shows one of Britain's earliest printed fart jokes. The throwaway scene depicts a fictional creature called the bonnacon unleashing its 'secret weapon' an 'amazing' kind of potent flatulence. As it's being stabbed with a spear, the angry beast expels acidic gas and faeces from its anus as a form of defence against two knights. The comedic drawing features in the Aberdeen Bestiary, a medieval manuscript held at the University of Aberdeen that once belonged to King Henry VIII. In the illustration, the fictional bonnacon is expelling acidic faeces from its anus as a form of defence against two knights What is the Aberdeen Bestiary? The Aberdeen Bestiary is a lavish 12th-century English manuscript containing a collection of stories about animals. It was created in England around 1200 and first documented in the Royal Library at Westminster Palace in 1542. But the ancient book has been in possession of University of Aberdeen for four centuries. Advertisement The image has been rediscovered by satirist and Private Eye editor Ian Hislop in his quest to find Britain's earliest jokes for a new podcast. Hislop got in touch with Professor Jane Geddes at the University of Aberdeen's School of Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History, who is an expert on the Aberdeen Bestiary. 'This image in the Aberdeen Bestiary is particularly explicit,' Professor Geddes told MailOnline. 'All the other animals in the book really have some moral attached to them, so you have to be thrifty or hardworking. 'But the bonnacon has no moral attached to him whatsoever he just sh***, that's what he does. 'It's automatically funny to anyone from about the age of four onwards. 'There are certain basic things that we still find amusing and one of them is poo.' What makes it more funny, Professor Geddes says, is that the illustration is covered in gold leaf. 'It's gleaming gold, it's an exquisite miniature paining, and then there's poo.' The full page in the Aberdeen Bestiary, a medieval manuscript held at the University of Aberdeen that once belonged to King Henry VIII Other illustrations in the book include the deceptive knight who steals a young cub from a mother tiger READ MORE: Experts discover site in Aberdeenshire where the first Scots Gaelic was written The earliest known examples of Scottish Gaelic were written in the margins of the 10th century Book of Deer Advertisement What's more, one of the knights has just inserted a spear through the beast, so the act of emptying its potent bowels is perhaps its final act of vengeance. Other illustrations in the book include a deceptive knight who steals a young cub from a mother tiger. While escaping with the cub and being perused by the mother on horseback, the knight throws down a reflective glass sphere. The tigress is deceived by her own image in the glass and thinks it is her stolen cub. There's also scenes of lions and panthers, elephants, dogs and goats, as well as fictional creatures like the basilisk and the scitalis serpent. Bestiaries were illustrated books of animals, some real and some mythological, used to provide Christian moral messages. They were popular in the 12th and 13th centuries but few were as lavishly produced as the Aberdeen version, which has been in the care of the university for almost four centuries. The Aberdeen Bestiary, created in England in around 1200 and first documented in the Royal Library at Westminster Palace in 1542, is one of the finest surviving examples of a medieval illuminated manuscript. At some point it entered into the English royal collections library, likely handpicked by scouts of Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries sometime between 1536 and 1541. Known as the Aberdeen Bestiary, the book was created in 1200 and features stories of animals to demonstrate key beliefs of the period The Aberdeen Bestiary is one of the most lavish ever produced, likely created for the enjoyment of many. Pictured, a basilisk being attacked by a weasel It has been in the care of the University of Aberdeen since 1625, when it was bequeathed to the University's Marischal College by Thomas Reid, a former regent of the College and the founder of the first public reference library in Scotland. Only recently did historians find hidden handwritten notes and dirty thumb marks from Tudor times on the margins of the book. It's thought that the book was more likely used for teaching rather than for the royal elite, according to Professor Geddes. 'On many of the words there are tiny marks which would have provided a guide to the correct pronunciation when the book was being read aloud,' she said. 'This shows the book was designed for an audience, probably of teacher and pupils, and used to provide a Christian moral message through both its Latin words and striking illustrations.' The new podcast, 'Ian Hislop's Oldest Jokes', is available to listen to on BBC Sounds. It's something that most of us do every day without fail. But have you ever stopped to think how your daily shower stacks up against the rest of Britain? In a new study, researchers from the University of Surrey have revealed the length of the average UK shower. Their findings show that the average shower lasts just 6.7 minutes - although some Britons indulge in far longer sessions. Professor Ian Walker, co-author of the study, joked on X (formerly Twitter): 'We excluded any showers over one hour, but believe me, they happened.' It's something that most of us do every day without fail. But have you ever stopped to think how your daily shower stacks up against the rest of Britain? (stock image) Their findings show that the average shower lasts just 6.7 minutes - although some Britons indulge in far longer sessions READ MORE: Will flushing with the lid down stop your bathroom being peppered with the dreaded 'toilet plume'? Scientists test age-old theory and make a very surprising discovery Scientists say that the flush can release a plume of aerosolised bacteria and viruses into the air - but is it better to leave the lid open or closed when flushing? Advertisement In their study, the team set out to assess the amount of water used in showers, as well as the possible measures to improve efficiency. Writing in their study, which is available as a pre-print here, the team explained: 'Enhancing water efficiency in showers is crucial, given their high water consumption, energy use and associated carbon emissions.' The water consumption in 290 showers of students from the University of Surrey was covertly monitored for 39 weeks using Aguardio sensors. In total, these sensors captured 86,421 individual showers. An analysis of the results revealed that the average shower lasted 6.7 minutes, while 50 per cent fell between 3.3 and 8.8 minutes. However, the researchers point out that this length is likely longer amongst the general public. 'I'm going to suggest that these Surrey students have generally shorter showers than many people,' Professor Walker tweeted. 'Last time we measured showers in the UK public we found an average of 10.8 minutes.' Because the researchers knew exactly how long the water ran during each shower, as well as the flow rate of each shower, they were also able to estimate how much water was consumed each time a participant showered. To their surprise, the researchers found that there was a negative relationship between water pressure and consumption This is where they saw 'the big win-win', as Professor Walker puts it. To their surprise, the researchers found that there was a negative relationship between water pressure and consumption. 'More powerful showers used less water overall,' Professor Walker explained. He added, jokingly: 'A LOVELY TINGLY SHOWER MIGHT BE *BETTER* FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THAN A WEAK DRIBBLE. I know, right?' These findings can 'tell us something important behaviourally,' according to Professor Walker. 'It suggests that people turn the shower off when they have achieved a desired sensation, not just when they have completed a certain set of actions,' he said. 'This is a potentially important new insight.' The Aguardio sensors used to monitor the showers also have timers on them, and the researchers found that these were effective at reducing water consumption. 'It looks like a big advantage of the timers is that they stop showers from gradually creeping longer and longer as the weeks go by,' Professor Walker explained. 'We wonder if people "anchor" on whatever is the length of their first shower, and stick to this when there's a timer.' Overall, the researchers found the average water consumption of a low pressure shower with no timer was 61 litres. This was slashed to just 17 litres when the water was at a higher pressure and a timer was used. 'This stuff gets big really quickly,' Proessor Walker concluded. 'In just this experiment, those 290 showers burned through 4.4 million litres of hot water, and about 15 tonnes of CO2e, in the 39 weeks. 'The energy involved is mind-boggling when you start to think what it's like at a national scale.' The e-cigarette was sitting on a counter when it burst into flames A home security camera captured the terrifying moment an Elf Bar exploded just a few feet from a baby sitting in a high chair. The clip, posted to TikTok this week, was shot by a Ring camera inside a living room, showing the young child facing a counter where the electronic cigarette was charging. The mother said she went to the pantry to get her baby a snack when she heard a loud sound and saw fire bursting from her vape about two feet from her child, who did not appear hurt - but was visibly terrified by the incident. An Elf Bar, like most e-cigarettes, contains a lithium battery that can explode when it becomes too hot as a result of overcharging or exposure to direct sunlight. The mother said she went to the pantry to get her baby a snack when she heard a loud sound and saw fire bursting from the vape about two feet from her child, who did not appear hurt - but was visibly terrified by the incident The video was shot inside an Oregon home last year, but has just now been posted online. It begins with a mother, son and daughter enjoying what started out as a quiet day. The footage shows a young boy walking through the room while his baby sister sits peacefully in her high chair located in the kitchen. A loud bang is then heard that startled the young child and sparks began to fly off the counter. The sparks, which launched toward the child's dangling legs, quickly turned into flames that engulfed a small area of the tabletop. What is happening, Samantha Humphrey, the childrens mother, is heard yelling from outside of the camera frame. Elf Bar is the most popular e-cigarette worldwide, generating over $271 million in the past year, according to retail data tracker Nielsen The clip, posted to TikTok this week, was shot from a living room, showing the young child facing a counter where the electronic cigarette was sitting Humphrey quickly ran to her baby and moved her away from the flames flow out from the Elf Bar. Oh my gosh, the mother continued to yell with the young child in her arms. Humphrey then appeared to grab a spray bottle to put out the flames. While the incident lasted for only a few seconds, it is a stark reminder that even though vapes are small, they can pack a deadly punch if issues arise with the lithium battery. E-cigarettes rely on a battery to power the heating coil, which in turn heats e-liquid inside the device to turn it into the vapor users inhale. Manufacturers opt for lithium batteries to make slim, lightweight products that keep power between charges. The mother quickly ran to her baby and moved her away from the flames flow out from the Elf Bar. Oh my gosh, the mother continued to yell with the young child in her arms William Brown, 24, died in 2019 after an exploding vape pen severed a major artery in his neck last Tuesday A woman by the name of Marine had also fallen victim to an exploding Elf Bar last year. She posted in a forum that she had purchased a new Crystal Elf Bar and plugged it in while keeping it on her bed, which also exploded In most electronic products such as cell phones and laptops, strict regulations make lithium-ion batteries relatively safe. However, they pose a health risk in the unregulated vape device industry that is mainly based in China. READ MORE: Truck driver left with horrific injuries after e-cigarette battery explodes The man's hand, beard and clothes all caught fire - while the scolding e-cigarette stuck to his hand. Advertisement The first device in the recent innovation in e-cigarettes was developed in 2003 by the Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik, a former deputy director of the Institute of Chinese Medicine in Liaoning Province. E-cigarettes entered the US market around 2007, but it took about another seven years for the devices to take off - and that is when reports of explosions began to surface. A Texas man died in 2019 from his exploding vape, which cut an artery in his neck. William Brown, from Fort Worth in Texas, was using the device in his car outside the Smoke & Vape DZ store in North Fort Worth on January 27, just moments after purchasing it, according to his grandmother. Shrapnel from the exploding pen penetrated his left carotid artery in his neck, cutting off blood to his brain. A woman by the name of Marine had also fallen victim to an exploding Elf Bar last year. She posted in a forum that she had purchased a new Crystal Elf Bar and plugged it in while keeping it on her bed. I went to bed about 1/2 hour later and unplugged to taste. It tasted like vomit, Marine wrote. For some dumb reason I plugged it back in then 5 minutes later it exploded and started smoking really bad. It burnt a six-inch deep hole in our new mattress. Which was on fire. A 2023 study by the Hannover Medical School in Germany showed there were 2,035 cases of e-cigarette explosions admitted to US emergency departments from 2015 to 2017 - a majority of patients were men with an average age of 30. Elf Bar is the most popular e-cigarette worldwide, generating over $271 million in the past year, according to retail data tracker Nielsen. In June 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for 180 stores across the US to stop selling Elf Bars. The vapes are not approved for use by the FDA and have previously been linked to health problems, including lung damage and heart issues, and can lead youngsters to try other drugs. READ MORE: Greenhouse gases are being sold on the BLACK MARKET Michael Hart allegedly brought a synthetic gas into the US from Mexico A California man has become the first American to be charged with smuggling greenhouse gases into the US and could face up to 20 years in prison for the crimes. Michael Hart, 58, was arrested Monday due to violating a 2020 federal regulation that prohibits the importation of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which is a synthetic gas used in refrigerators and air conditioners. HFCs can be hundreds to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, exacerbating the climate crisis. Hart allegedly snuck the 'super pollutants' into the US from Mexico and proceeded to sell the man-made organic compounds for a profit. He made his first appearance in federal court shortly after being taken into custody, where he entered a not-guilty plea - Hart's next hearing is on March 25. Hart allegedly snuck the 'super pollutants' into the US from Mexico and proceeded to sell the man-made organic compounds for a profit (stock) The US Department of Justice told DailyMail.com that Hart's photo has not yet been released to the public. This is the first prosecution in the United States to include charges related to the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act). The law calls for an 85 percent reduction in production and use of the climate-damaging chemicals by 2036. It aligns with an 2016 international agreement that compels the US and other countries to limit use of HFCs. David Uhlmann, assistant administrator for enforcement at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said: 'The illegal smuggling of hydrofluorocarbons, a highly potent greenhouse gas, undermines international efforts to combat climate change. 'Anyone who seeks to profit from illegal actions that worsen climate change must be held accountable.' A federal indictment alleges that Hart concealed the refrigerants under a tarp and tools inside his vehicle as he passed through Mexico's border patrol. He is then said to have sold the gas on Facebook Marketplace and other sites. Facebook Marketplace has many offerings for the refrigerant, with some selling as much as $500 a tank. In addition to greenhouse gases, the indictment alleges that Hart imported HCFC-22, an ozone-depleting substance regulated under the Clean Air Act. Hart charges of conspiracy, importation contrary to law and sale of merchandise imported contrary to law. Fines for the charges amount to $750,000. Hart's next hearing is before US District Judge Jeffrey T. Miller for motion hearing/trial setting on March 25, 2024, at 11am PT.. READ MORE: UN urges world to use energy-efficient air conditioners in order to reduce greenhouse gases The move would cut 460 billion tons of greenhouse gases worldwide over the course of 40 years, which is eight years of emissions based on 2018 levels. Advertisement 'The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty,' according to the US Justice Department press release. Hart's arrest comes just days before 19 environmental; companies, universities and experts signed an open letter on the importance of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) in national and corporate climate action plans, urging 'broad and swift action to abate their emissions.' SLCPs include HFCs, methane, soot (black carbon), carbon monoxide and aviation contrails, which together account for nearly half of industrial-era global heating. Unlike CO2, which remains in the atmosphere as a long-lived greenhouse gas for hundreds to thousands of years, SLCPs have much shorter atmospheric lifetimes on the scale of years to days. Cutting the rate of SLCP emissions even if gross SLCP emissions do not reach zero can therefore rapidly reduce the rate of atmospheric warming. 'One of the fastest, most efficient solutions to prevent us from reaching dangerous levels of warming is to look beyond only carbon dioxide (CO2) and rapidly reduce short-lived climate pollutants,' the letter said. In regard to HFCs, the letter pointed to improved refrigerant management and deployment of low-GWP refrigerants. 'Feasible SLCP cuts from existing technologies today can avoid up to 0.6 C by 2050: four times more in that time period than CO2 cuts alone,' reads the letter. 'These short-term cuts are our best chance to reduce the risk of hitting near-term tipping points which could create vicious climate feedback loops. 'These reductions can also annually avoid millions of air pollution deaths and crop loss tonnes. In short, global climate goals can only be met with swift and decisive action on both long-lived and short-lived pollutants.' The eagerly anticipated prefab and pricey public toilet was delivered to Noe Valley Town Square on Thursday. San Francisco Recreation and Park Department When Assembly Member Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, announced he had secured funding for one of his constituents infrastructure priorities in 2022, he never expected such a negative response. Voters were upset not that he had gotten the money, but because he had to get so much of it. So began the years-long saga of a public toilet so expensive that citizens wondered whether it would be made of gold. Now, after twists and turns, tantrums and triumphs, the toilet has finally been delivered to the city. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced its arrival on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The eagle has landed! The tweet reads. The worlds most famous & eagerly anticipated prefab toilet touched down this morning at Noe Valley Town Square, & installation is flowing smoothly. A few final touches, like utility & landscaping, & this project will be in the can by the end of March. Noe Valley Town Square was created out of a church parking lot in 2016. At the time, the peaceful common on the 24th Street shopping corridor had umbrellas, tables and a small playground, and played host on Saturday mornings to a bustling farmers market. But what it lacked was a restroom. After public pressure, the city came forward in October 2022 with a long-awaited proposal that carried a projected cost of $1.7 million and was slated to take two years to build. Haney told the Chronicle in an October 2022 interview that he asked for the amount of money the citys Recreation and Park Department estimated the bathroom would end up costing. Much like coming out with new trash cans, building the bathroom meant clearing hurdles unique to San Francisco, the same ones that make it the most expensive city in the world in which to build. The project had to be cleared by multiple city departments, presented to the public for community feedback and studied for environmental impact. After an October 2022 article by then-Chronicle columnist Heather Knight brought attention to the cost, Haney abruptly canceled a celebration he had planned for securing the funding, and Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state would not pay until the city lowered the project cost. Advertisement Article continues below this ad City officials updated their projections in January 2023, announcing the price had been brought down to $725,000. The lower price was possible, officials said, due to a gift of toilet and installation work estimated to be worth $425,000, and to a reduction of $491,000 in project costs. In an effort to spruce up her cabin, she decided to order new furniture from IKEA A woman who lives on an island close to the North Pole has revealed the wildly complicated process of getting furniture delivered to her remote town. Swedish videographer Cecilia Blomdahl, 34, first moved to the Norwegian island of Svalbard back in 2016. The locale has a population of under 3,000 and sits in the Arctic Ocean - about 650 miles from the North Pole. The creator, who has racked up more than four million followers across TikTok and Instagram combined by documenting life on Svalbard, recently shared a video narrating the process of getting new furniture shipped to the local port. Swedish videographer Cecilia Blomdahl, 34, first moved to the remote Norwegian island of Svalbard back in 2016 Cecilia wanted to spruce up her home office in the cabin she shares with her husband - but, without any furniture stores on the island, the process of getting new pieces was complicated As a first step, Cecilia had to get IKEA to deliver the furniture to a port in Troms in northern Norway - nearly 570 miles from Svalbard Cecilia had been wanting to expand her home office in the cabin she shares with her husband, she explained in an Instagram caption. 'Since we have no furniture store on Svalbard, any time you're furnishing a home or want to buy some new stuff, you have to get it shipped up on the shipping boat. 'This itself is not the most difficult process to organize, but it is a bit costly, which is why we don't do it too often. 'We ordered this off the IKEA website, with the delivery location to be the boat terminal in Troms, in northern Norway', she explained. From there, she had to arrange the furniture to be transferred to the boat that goes between Troms and Svalbard - with around 570 miles between the two ports. The total shipping costs came out to roughly $500. 'Which I still think is not bad considering where we are,' Cecilia admitted. She added that they placed the order on January 30 and got it by the end of February. But getting the furniture from the port of Svalbard to their cabin involved yet another hurdle. It's not legal to drive on the 'tundra' of the island unless it's 'snow-covered' - in which case, snowmobiles are okay. Once it was delivered, the pair drove to the port to pick it up in their car Back near their cabin, there was still another hurdle and had to load the furniture onto a snowmobile to cart it up to their front door Cecilia and her husband finally got the furniture off the snowmobile and into their home - all while enduring a blizzard Because there's no driveway going down to the cabin from the road, they had to load all of the new furniture onto a snowmobile to get it to their front door. Once there, they unloaded it from the snowmobile and carried it into their home - all while enduring a blizzard. In the past, DailyMail.com has covered how Cecilia weathers the intense winters on Svalbard. Located so close to the North Pole, the island annually sees four months of complete darkness in addition to the year-round bitter cold. Back in 2020, she opened up about the incredibly complicated process of taking her dog for an afternoon walk - describing how the simple task becomes an 'expedition' as a result of the dangerous environment she lives in. In addition to bundling up in multiple warm layers and using a headlamp to light her way in the pitch black, Cecilia revealed that she has to carry a gun with her whenever she heads out because there's always a risk she could run into a polar bear. 'When walking your dog is an expedition,' Cecilia said in the introduction to her video. 'It's starting to get really cold here and it's pitch black 24/7,' she continued, explaining that she needed to layer up with lots of clothes, including thermals, expedition pants, and a down jacket, as well as a hat and scarf. 'And of course, that's not enough. We have polar bears here, so we have to bring a rifle with us ever time we're outside,' she said, showing herself strapping the gun on. She has also previously detailed the very complex process that pregnant women have to go through in order to prepare for birth - which cannot be done on the island itself because of its lack of medical resources. Cecilia regularly documents her life on the remote island - revealing how complex it is to live in an area with such harsh weather conditions Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago just south of the North Pole that is one of the northernmost inhabited areas in the world She has previously revealed how complicated it is for pregnant women to plan their labor - detailing why they cannot give birth on the island The island only has one hospital, which according to Cecilia, is not fit for childbirth. So expectant mothers have to pack up their belongings and fly somewhere else before giving birth. She noted that pregnant women have to travel to the mainland in Norway in order to welcome their newborns, and often do so weeks in advance. 'You cannot give birth here. If you are pregnant and having a baby, you have to leave the island one month before your due date because you cannot give birth at this hospital,' Cecilia explained in the clip. 'They don't have the right resources to be able to help you if something happened. So pregnant women leave for the mainland one month before their due date. 'Where they go is up to them, but as a Svalbard resident, you have to have a mainland address, so most people just go to their home country. 'If you're from Norway you go back to Norway and if you're from Sweden you probably go back to Sweden.' CORONATION STREET Even the most cursory research would have quickly revealed to the hapless DS Swain that Roy could not possibly have murdered Lauren. Apart from the fact that theres no body, Roy wouldnt have the strength; its as much as he can manage walking with his shopping bag. Yet after a conversation with Bobby, who tells her about Roys relationship with Lauren, Swain questions Roy before giving an interview on the radio in which she suggests Lauren was murdered. Thats right. The radio! Does this woman have no idea how police investigations work? It takes her next to no time at all to then arrest Roy on suspicion of said murder before leading him away, watched in horror by Carla, Nina and Suzi from the Gazette. Is there no story this woman doesnt cover? Dont they have other reporters? And why hasnt Suzi picked up on the even bigger scandal of Tommy dipping his paintbrush where he shouldnt be? On UK soap Coronation Street this week, Roy (pictured) is arrested for murder Romance has been much less on Nicks mind than it has on Tommys, and its clear hes getting cold feet about marrying Leanne. Reluctantly agreeing to accompany her to a wedding fayre, he might live to regret his holding back when Leanne attracts the attention of an admirer. PRIME SUSPECT DS Swain suspects Roy because, says Vicky Myers, who plays her, she sees his honesty and vulnerability as too good to be true. And she wonders why shes still a detective sergeant! Advertisement Lets not forget that the event is in the Chariot Square Hotel, the place that manages to run itself on no more than two members of staff, but nevertheless serves as a cauldron of hot lust for anyone looking for illicit sex. Its always mystifying when people suspect their other halves of playing away but scratch their heads wondering where they could possibly be. Its always the Chariot Square Hotel, people! And they will always be hidden at the table by the door. The tedium of Eliza is back to haunt us when Stu suggests a holiday with Dom in Germany at Easter as a trial run. The storyline is as palatable as a frozen Bratwurst, but Eliza starts learning German. Heres a starter: Ich kaufe dir ein one-way ticket. Thats right, Ill buy you a one-way ticket! EMMERDALE Faced with their own mortality, people resort to strange things. Thats the case with Chas when, nervous about her operation, she opens up to Paddy and they end up kissing. Well, maybe thats not so strange for Chas, who could find something to kiss in a taxidermists shop front. Lets not forget that it was kissing Al that led to the break-up of her marriage to Paddy. Alas for Chas, Paddy realises hes made a mistake (yer dont say) and leaves Chas hurt. So what does he do? Runs instantly to Mandy to confess. But why does she underreact? Her normal response would be to deck the guilty party or suffocate them under one of her many fake leopardskin ensembles. When Chas goes in for surgery, local men will be breathing a sigh of relief, albeit temporarily. Being under anaesthetic is the only guarantee that her roving mouth will be out of action. Mind you, if the anaesthetist is a man, he had better be on his guard when he begins the countdown from ten to one. No one will be safe until shes out cold. Meanwhile, Angel is sentenced to eight months in a secure childrens home. Well, it probably beats the insecurity of Death Row village. Chas is nervous about her operation, and when she opens up about it to Paddy, they end up kissing (pictured) Ostriches of Emmerdale When it comes to burying their heads in the sand, Emmerdales Nicola and Jimmy are a veritable Sahara of immersion. Theyre underplaying the lengthy sentence Angel might get, says Nicola Wheeler (Nicola), trying to protect her from the truth. A custodial sentence is almost inevitable, but she needs to know shes not going away to a holiday camp and she wont be able to see us. Every cloud and all that. EASTENDERS Mother's Day deal for desperate son George Mothers! Whod ave em? Very few, if the mothering skills of Walfords matriarchs are anything to go by. Look how Georges adoptive mum Gloria turned out, and on Mothers Day shes intent on persuading George to give a character reference for Eddie, who claims he has information about Georges birth mother. But theres a catch. Hell hand it over only in return for the defence statement. Its a big decision for George to make, but after a heart-to-heart with Linda he decides to trust his gut. On EastEnders, there is a Mother's Day deal for George, adopted son of Gloria (pictured together) Eh? Linda? The walking vodka fountain who stabbed Keanu? These days, people can hear the sound of her splashing long before she hoves into view. Shes the last person George should be taking advice from. Its the equivalent of inviting Tyson Fury to peace talks. But whats the outcome? Its enough to make him disappear, and Elaine and the girls frantically start to look for him. Jack is perturbed to find Stacey at the hospital with Denise and, worried about their obvious closeness, starts to do some digging. Expect him to start piecing things together round about 2028. Karl Stefanovic and wife Jasmine are currently awaiting a Land and Environment Court judgment over their $4.5m Castlecrag home plans. The Today show host, 49, and his wife, 40, recently engaged in a two-day battle with Willoughby Council, during which neighbours spoke out about the 'overdevelopment'. Neighbours expressed their concerns over the redevelopment to acting commissioner Louise Byrne at an on-site hearing, according to the Daily Telegraph. The court advised 'judgment is now reserved in this matter'. The current home is described in the Stefanovics' Development Application (DA) as a 'dated single storey' dwelling, while their new home will boast 'modern design'. Karl Stefanovic and wife Jasmine are currently awaiting a Land and Environment Court judgment over their $4.5m Castlecrag home plans The application revealed the couple's plans to build a four-storey home on the site, including 102square metres of living space below ground level. The five-bedroom, five-bathroom structure has been designed by Melbourne-based Kennon Architects. The DA claims 'the living quality' for the occupants will 'improve' under the plans, while the proposal aims to 'enhance the streetscape and contribute positively to the locality'. The celebrity couple's legal team stated that the renovation 'generally complied' with the planning laws set out by Willoughby Council. The Today show host, 49, and his wife, 40, recently had a two-day battle with Willoughby Council where neighbours spoke out about the 'overdevelopment' However, it did not comply with floor plan space ratio controls consistent with local planning regulations. This is where the ratio of a site's floor area to the size of land that the building sits on. The Stefanovics stated in their proposal that the infringement with the floor plan space ratio was a result of 'sloped topography of the site'. They argued that because of this their redeveloped property would have 'no adverse impact on adjoining homes or the locality/streetscape'. In August neighbour Winny Lee expressed concern that the development would 'impact the view' of her family's backyard. Neighbours expressed their concerns with the redevelopment to acting commissioner Louise Byrne at a recent on-site hearing 'It seems the top floor of the proposed building will look into our yard and our living area,' she said. She explained she was also 'not comfortable' about the impacts on privacy this could have. The Today show host and his wife lodged plans for the mansion back last March with the plans going to court last August. The couple purchased the home, a 1960s-era three-bedroom sprawl, for $3.2million in 2021. Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt have thrown their hat in the ring to replace Nick and Vanessa Lachey as the hosts of Netflix's Love Is Blind. The formers stars of The Hills made their intentions clear by sharing a Facebook post from a fan who suggested that they'd be a better fit for the show than the Lacheys. The post, which appeared in the Juicy Scoop Obsessed Facebook group, said, 'Probably an unpopular opinion, but I think Love Is Blind hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey should be recast next season with Heidi and Spencer.' It continued, 'Think about it - Heidi and Spencer will dig, poke and prod contestants on controversial issues, and can relate to them with having their relationship picked apart and tested on TV.' Both Heidi and Spencer shared a screenshot of the post to their Instagram Stories, with Heidi adding, 'I'm available!' Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt (both pictured) are keen to replace Nick and Vanessa Lachey as the hosts of Netflix's Love Is Blind A fan suggested that Heidi and Spencer would be a better fit for Love Is Blind than Nick and Vanessa (both pictured) Nick and Vanessa have hosted every season of the hit Netflix series since its inception in 2020. Netflix then tapped them to host another dating show, The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, while Nick went on to host Perfect Match as well. Meanwhile, Heidi and Spencer were last seen on screen in MTV's The Hills: New Beginnings, which wrapped up in 2021. Heidi is now focused on her music career again and has been re-releasing songs from her 2010 album, Superficial, after her songs went viral on TikTok. Her song Body Language recently debuted at No. 37 on the UK club chart. The 37-year-old recently lost 22 pounds on the Hydroxycut weight loss program. 'I can fit back into my skinny jeans and the little black dress before I started having children,' the reality TV veteran shared. In 2022, she and Spencer welcomed a second child a baby boy named Ryker to their growing family. The longtime couple, who have been married since 2008, are also the parents to six-year-old son Gunner. 'I'm available!' Heidi shared a screenshot of a fan's Facebook post on her own Instagram page this week Nick and Vanessa have hosted every season of the hit Netflix series since its inception in 2020 Heidi and Spencer were last seen on screen in MTV's The Hills: New Beginnings, which wrapped up in 2021 (pictured 2022) Before welcoming their second child, the pair had been candid about their struggles to conceive. In order to increase her chances of conceiving, Heidi had a hysteroscopic polypectomy procedure in 2021 before turning to more unconventional methods the following year eating raw liver and bison heart. Since welcoming Ryker, the star has revealed that she always wanted to have three boys but is content now with her two precious sons and husband. Married At First Sight's controversial couple swap is set return next week. Daily Mail Australia understands that producers have decided to adopt a more conventional approach during the upcoming Feedback Week after controversy last year. An insider close to the production revealed, 'This year's series will see couples meeting up with each other over drinks and dinner rather than having to live together for three days.' This change comes after last season's partner swap, which involved couples living with different partners in tiny apartments, was met with considerable pushback from both cast members and Channel Nine bosses. The decision to modify the couple swap format was influenced by the cast's reception to last year's experiment. Married At First Sight's controversial couple swap is set return next week. Daily Mail Australia understands that producers have decided to adopt a more conventional approach during the upcoming Feedback Week after controversy last year. (Eden Harper pictured with Tim Calwell) An insider close to the production revealed, 'This year's series will see couples meeting up with each other over drinks and dinner rather than having to live together for three days' (Pictured: Stephen Stewart with Jade Pywell) 'Not everyone was keen to participate. They didn't see the point of it and was like, 'No way this would happen in the outside world,'' the insider explained. Amid the reluctance, Jack Dunkley notably expressed his willingness to swap his bride, Tori Adams, with another groom, a sentiment not widely shared among the rest of the cast. Reflecting on the previous criticism, Channel Nine had initially aimed to encourage the cast to step outside their comfort zones by living with another partner. Amid the reluctance, Jack Dunkley notably expressed his willingness to swap his bride, Tori Adams, with another groom, a sentiment not widely shared among the rest of the cast However, the experiment faced significant criticism for the discomfort and drama it caused among participants. 'The partner swap challenge was 'hell for all involved', and not all participants were willing to participate,' revealed sources from Daily Mail Australia last year. Layton was said to be livid when he was told that he would be paired with Bronte Schofield and refused to participate. Last season also witnessed unexpected chemistry between Evelyn Ellis and Duncan James, who got closer during a steamy impromptu photoshoot. The pair ended up together after shooting wrapped. MAFS boss John Walsh commented on the traditional aspect of the partner swap, stating, 'We've always done a partner swap; it's been a lunch or dinner, where we've got different partners to give feedback to each other.' It appears this season aims to return to the roots of this concept, focusing on conversation and mutual understanding rather than the more extreme living arrangement twist of the previous year. Married At First Sight continues on Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine. Khloe Kardashian was on mom duty as she took her daughter True Thompson and niece Dream Kardashian to her friend's daughter Dove's ballerina themed birthday party. True, five, looked darling in a pair of fashionable destroyed jeans with a white ringer T-shirt featuring the Barbie logo in pink. The young girl also wore a pink jacket, super cool pink cowboy boots and a pink purse. The Good American founder who recently shared that she's selling the clothes True has grown out of wore a pair of acid-wash jeans with a white cropped t-shirt and a long denim duster. Dream, seven, wore a fuzzy bright pink top and studded jeans with a pair of pink cat eye sunglasses as she painted a ballerina version of her aunt Khloe, 39. Khloe Kardashian was on mom duty as she took her daughter True Thompson and niece Dream Kardashian to her friend Dove's ballerina themed birthday party True, five, looked darling in a white ringer T-shirt featuring the Barbie logo in pink The birthday was for Dove Halcro, the daughter of influencer and reality TV personality and actress Natalie Halcro. Khloe's caption on the festive photos read: 'Happy birthday sweet @dovealayah!!! We all love you so much!! @nataliehalcro you certainly know how to throw a party. The details are always perfection.' Last month, The Keeping Up With the Kardashians alumna caught some flack from fans when she posted some of True's clothing for sale on the Kardashian Kloset. She shared a photo of True on Instagram at the time and captioned it: 'New pieces up on @kardashiankloset.' While the site is peppered with designer clothing for kids, many were stunned and irritated to find the entrepreneur was also selling fast-fashion brands like Zara and Urban Outfitters. 'Khloe posted a link to the "Kardashian Kloset" today on her Instagram stories and out of curiosity I clicked on it. I am confused as to why this family resells clothing instead of donating it?' one follower wrote on Reddit. The person continued saying they could 'stand behind' the Kardashian's selling their clothing if it was going to a good cause, but they didn't see evidence of that on the website. 'One thing that stuck out to me was this used Zara children's coat now I know Zara is relatively inexpensive if you're a Kardashian. Reselling a used coat for $50? This is absurd to me,' they pointed out. Dream, seven, wore a fuzzy bright pink top and studded jeans with a pair of pink cat eye sunglasses as she painted a ballerina version of her aunt Khloe, 39 True beamed as she painted a blonde ballerina during the birthday party The birthday girl blew out the candles on her pretty cake True looked darling in a pair of fashionable destroyed jeans with a white ringer t-shirt featuring the Barbie logo in pink Her mother posted the snaps on Instagram and captioned them: 'caption not necessary' At the party, each guest painted a ballerina The ballerina-themed party was for Khloe's good friend Natalie's daughter Others agreed that reselling used kids clothing for exorbitant prices was 'greedy.' 'Very creepy because I feel like the only reason someone would be inclined to pay full price for a used Zara children's piece of clothing is the fact that a Kardashian wore it,' another pointed out. 'I bet I could go to Target or look on Amazon and find the exact same jacket for $10.' 'This disgusts me,' someone else declared. 'You [so] much money can you not just f**king donate the clothes to people in need. They are so greedy.' She tragically lost her late husband Greg Lange to brain cancer in 2010. And Carrie Bickmore, 43, continued his legacy by starting her own charity, Carrie's Beanies for Brain Cancer. The former Project host has now posed in a new campaign for her charity, which she announced during her Gold Logie acceptance speech in 2015. The radio host flaunted her figure in a light blue singlet, a matching coloured beanie, dark blue sport tights and a jacket. 'BEANIES ARE BACK!! Orders open now! 1 week only. Beanies delivered in June,' Carrie wrote. Carrie Bickmore stunned in new campaign as she paid tribute to her late husband Greg Lange following his tragic death 'This is a bit exciting! To get your hands on one of our new beanies you must order now and they'll be delivered in time for winter. This is the only window to order your beanies.' 'Jump onto www.carriesbeanies4braincancer.com to get yours. (Link in bio) Orders must close 16th March. All the money raised supports the incredible researchers at @braincancercentre. Grab your beanie and help us beat brain cancer.' Greg tragically passed away in December 2010 at age 35 from a 10-year battle with brain cancer. Talking to Anh Do on his ABC series Anh's Brush With Fame in 2018, Carrie revealed Greg's diagnosis in 2001 shattered her world. 'It was about a year after we moved to Melbourne. I think I was still 21 or 22 and he was about 25. He had a seizure at home and one thing led to another and they diagnosed him with a brain tumour,' she tearfully explained. The 43-year-old posed in a new campaign for her charity, which she announced during her Gold Logie acceptance speech in 2015 'It was just... in your 20s that is just the last thing that you can ever -- I didn't even really know anyone that had cancer, I didn't know anything about brain cancer, neither did he. 'It completely threw everything we knew, everything we had planned, everything we thought... it just threw everything on its head.' Not knowing what the future would hold for them, the couple had their first child together, Oliver in 2005 - with Carrie admitting it was 'probably the greatest thing we ever did together.' 'This sounds so weird, but often I'll see him in the shower, the back of his body, and his frame is just a miniature version of Greg. They're very, very similar. It was a great thing for both of us, to have him and have that focus,' she said at the time. Denise Richards thinks it's 'unbelievable' that Erika Jayne brought up her 19-year-old daughter Sami Sheen's OnlyFans during their argument on the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills. This season, the actress, 53, admitted to Jayne, 52, that she was still upset with her over an 'inappropriate' joke that she made over three years ago about a then 14-year-old Sami's supposed knowledge of 'threesomes.' Jayne apologized and tried to clarify the off-color remark before throwing out: 'Okay your oldest daughter is on OnlyFans. She doesn't know [what a threesome is]?' She then asked Richards, who is also on OnlyFans, to share if it's her or Sami who is 'more profitable.' Richards explained what was 'going through her head' in that moment to WWHL host Andy Cohen on Wednesday night's episode. Denise Richards thinks it's 'unbelievable' that Erika Jayne brought up her 19-year-old daughter Sami Sheen's OnlyFans during their argument on the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills; Sami and Denise pictured 'Some of the stuff [Jayne has] said about my kids and Garcelle [Beauvais'] kids, I didn't understand. But God forbid you talk about her son,' the Wild Things star said. 'It's just unbelievable to me that she wouldn't even understand why I'd be upset.' Jayne is known for being fiercely protective of her own son Tommy Zizzo, who is a 32-year-old LAPD officer, and has come after RHOBH stars for mentioning him on air. 'Her son is a grown man, and Sami was a minor [when Jayne made the threesome joke],' Richards continued. In January, Jayne doubled down on her comments on WWHL and said that she would have never brought up Sami if Richards hadn't 'pushed so hard.' 'That's really the truth, and that's the answer: I did not want to do this. I did not want to go there, and I really meant that. But if you want it, you can get it,' she told Cohen. Richards and Jayne's foul-mouthed fight went down on season 13, episode nine as Richards briefly returned to RHOBH after she exited the show in 2020. Jayne tried to settle their years-long beef but Denise admitted that she was not over Erika's 'threesome' joke. When her apologies didn't work, Erika hit below the belt and brought Sami's OnlyFans into the conversation. This season, the actress, 53, admitted to Jayne, 52, that she was still upset with her over an 'inappropriate' joke that she made over three years ago about a then 14-year-old Sami's knowledge of 'threesomes' Jayne apologized and tried to clarify the off-color remark before throwing out: 'Okay your oldest daughter is on OnlyFans. She doesn't know [what a threesome is]?' She then asked Richards, who is also on OnlyFans, to share if it's her or Sami who is 'more profitable' 'Okay your oldest daughter is on OnlyFans,' Erika said. 'She doesn't know?' 'That is a f***ing low blow to bring up my daughter's OnlyFans,' Denise said. 'You came in slurring, inarticulate, could not bring two words together, and wanted to call me a b**** and you want me to sit here and pretend like it didn't happen? What do you think, I'm not going to go to OnlyFans? You think I'm not going to go as f***ing low as I can? Have you met me? No!' 'Oh yeah I have,' Denise said. 'All right, so here we are,' Erika said. 'You are a mean woman,' Denise said. 'Because you asked for it,' Erika said. 'No, I did not,' Denise said. 'Well then you shouldn't have come up into her house acting like a f***ing b****, and then we wouldn't be here,' Erika said. 'Well you shouldn't act like a f***ing b****,' Denise said. 'You are f***ing mean.' 'I think it's great,' Erika said. 'I just want to know who's more profitable, you or Sami?' Richards shared what was 'going through her head' in that moment with WWHL host Andy Cohen on Wednesday night's episode 'Some of the stuff [Jayne has] said about my kids and Garcelle [Beauvais'] kids, I didn't understand. But God forbid you talk about her son,' the Wild Things star said. 'It's just unbelievable to me that she wouldn't even understand why I'd be upset' Jayne is known for being fiercely protective of her own son Tommy Zizzo, who is a 32-year-old LAPD officer, and has come after RHOBH stars for mentioning him on air; Jayne seen in November Sami who is Richards' eldest daughter with ex-husband Charlie Sheen launched her OnlyFans in June 2022. When Charlie and Denise Richards' daughter made the choice to join the platform, the actor at first did not 'condone' Sami's decision - who was 18 at the time. In a statement to E! News, the Two And A Half Men star had expressed, 'I do not condone this, but since I'm unable to prevent it, I urged her to keep it classy, creative and not sacrifice her integrity.' He then added, 'She is 18-years-old now and living with her mother. This did not occur under my roof.' Denise later responded to her ex-husband's statement and also informed the outlet, 'Sami is 18, and this decision wasn't based on whose house she lives in. 'All I can do as a parent is guide her and trust her judgement, but she makes her own choice.' However, shortly after, Charlie's view on the situation altered and he told the publication that Richards, 'has illuminated a variety of salient points, that in my haste, I overlooked and dismissed.' Sami who is Richards' eldest daughter with ex-husband Charlie Sheen launched her OnlyFans in June 2022. It came just three months after celebrating her 18th birthday Late last year in November, Sami revealed that she had successfully undergone breast augmentation surgery The Wild Things actress also took the step to start an OnlyFans account of her own to show her support for Sami 'Now more than ever, it's essential that Sami have a united parental front to rely upon, as she embarks on this new adventure. From this moment forward, she'll have it abundantly.' The Wild Things actress also took the step to start an OnlyFans account of her own to further show her support for Sami. And late last year in November, Sami revealed that she had successfully undergone breast augmentation surgery. Following her recovery, she has been active on social media and heavily promoting her OF. Last week, Sami publicly declared that she wants to have a second breast augmentation surgery. 'Spending almost $10K on a new rack just to wanna go bigger,' Sheen wrote on TikTok. 'Someone talk me out of it.' Advertisement Amber Turner made sure all eyes were on her as she posed up a storm at the LTK Gala 2024 at The Natural History Museum on Thursday evening. The TOWIE star, 30, flashed plenty of skin as she flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a sparkly bronze two piece. Showcasing her washboard abs, the star also drew attention to her surgically enhanced assets in the long-sleeved top which featured a plunging neckline. Bejewelled with silver and gold gems, Amber paired her floor length skirt with a small nude coloured leather handbag and completed the look with a bold red lip. The reality star led a star-studded list of guests as she was joined by Love Island stars Georgia Steel and Amy Hart. Amber Turner showcased her toned abs in a sparkly two piece as she joined a glamourous Georgia Steel and Amy Hart at the LTK Gala 2024 at The Natural History Museum on Thursday evening Showcasing her washboard abs, the TOWIE star, 30, also drew attention to her surgically enhanced assets in the long-sleeved top which featured a plunging neckline Georgia, who has recently returned to the UK after starring in Love Island: All Stars over in South Africa, looked incredible as she wowed in a black dress with daring lace bodice. The star showcased her ample cleavage in the low cut dress as she displayed her chic sense of style in the gown which flowed into a simple black silk skirt. Georgia, 25, completed the look with some simple black heels while her naturally long hair was swept off her face in a sophisticated slick back bun. Meanwhile Amy, 31, beamed from ear to ear as she opted for a strapless black sequined gown adorned with black feathers. The reality star put on a leggy display in the gown which featured a daring leg slit while her blonde locks were styled in voluminous curls. Fellow islander Liberty Poole wowed in a strapless baby pink dress which she paired with s gorgeous white fur shawl and layered pearl necklaces. The reality star, 24, who also starred on the recent All Stars series of the dating show, changed up her look as appeared more brunette for the evening, scraping her blonde bangs back in a half up half down look. Twins Jess and Eve Gale also joined the Love Island crew as they donned similar black midi dresses. The star showcased her ample cleavage in the low cut dress as she displayed her chic sense of style in the gown which flowed into a simple black silk skirt Georgia, 25, completed the look with some simple black heels while her naturally long hair was swept off her face in a sophisticated slick back bun Amy's blonde locks were styled in voluminous curls as she grinned from ear to ear Fellow islander Liberty Poole wowed in a strapless baby pink dress which she paired with s gorgeous white fur shawl and layered pearl necklaces Twins Jess and Eve Gale also joined the Love Island crew as they donned similar black midi dresses Demi Jones looked sensational as she drew attention to her enviable curves in a pale green dress with feathered edging Demi Jones looked sensational as she drew attention to her enviable curves in a pale green dress with feathered edging. The star, 25, completed the look with some strappy gold shoes and a matching shiny handbag. The TOWIE cast were also out in force as Courtney Green and Chloe Meadows also joined Amber for the evening. Courtney, 28, embraced the lace as she opted for a black body suit underneath a head to toe black lacey look. Meanwhile Chloe brought a pop of colour as she turned heads in a bright yellow halterneck gown with ruched skirt. The reality star, 32, flashed her toned abs in the dress which featured a large cut out in the middle. She carried her essentials in a black leather clutch bag and styled her blonde locks in a low ponytail. Frankie Bridge also joined the stars as she put on a very leggy display in a ruched dark metallic silver mid dress which she wore under a silk bronze jacket. Ella Thomas looked unrecognisable as she rocked a new hairstyle, swapping her dark brunette locks for stylish red tresses and a fringe. The Love Island star, 23, showcased her incredible figure in a floor length figure-hugging black gown with multiple cut outs. Elma Pazar, Demi Jones, Courtney Green, Chloe Meadows, Liberty Poole and Amber Turner (L-R) The TOWIE cast were also out in force as Courtney Green and Chloe Meadows also joined Amber for the evening The reality star, 32, flashed her toned abs in the dress which featured a large cut out in the middle. She carried her essentials in a black leather clutch bag and styled her blonde locks in a low ponytail Elma wowed in a backless black dress Frankie Bridge also joined the stars as she put on a very leggy display in a ruched dark metallic silver mid dress which she wore under a silk bronze jacket Ella Thomas looked unrecognisable as she rocked a new hairstyle, swapping her dark brunette locks for stylish red tresses and a fringe The Traitors villain Paul Gorton and his wife Kate Waldron looked incredible for the evening as the TV star smartened up for the evening The TOWIE gang posed together as they posed up a storm The Traitors villain Paul Gorton and his wife Kate Waldron looked incredible for the evening as the TV star smartened up for the evening. Paul caught a dapper figure in a navy blazer and open collar white shirt, while his wife wowed in a stunning red mermaid style dress. Presenter Ashley James posed up a storm in a dark brown PVC ruched dress which showcased her incredible figure. Elevating her height in some black strappy heels she accessorised the look with a sparkly gold clutch bag. Meanwhile Mary Bedford went braless in a long-sleeved red silk gown which featured a long silk belt tied in a knot around her middle. Amber flashed plenty of skin as she flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a sparkly bronze two piece Presenter Ashley James posed up a storm in a dark brown PVC ruched dress which showcased her incredible figure. Elevating her height in some black strappy heels she accessorised the look with a sparkly gold clutch bag Mary Bedford went braless in a long-sleeved red silk gown which featured a long silk belt tied in a knot around her middle Cate Blanchett dismissed rumours around the status of her marriage as she stepped out with husband Andrew Upton in London on Thursday. The couple looked in good spirits as they attended a special event launching her role as creative director of alcohol brand Toku Sake. The Australian star, 54, looked sensational in tight black leather trousers for the launch event at the Supermarket of Dreams in the capital. She paired the leather trousers with a corset-style patent zip-up jacket and leather stilettos and wore her blonde locks in loose waves down by her shoulders. Cate completed the striking look with natural make-up, consisting of light pink glossy lips, highlighter and a subtle mascara look. Cate Blanchett dismissed rumours around the status of her marriage as she stepped out with husband Andrew Upton in London on Thursday The couple looked in good spirits as they attended the launch of alcohol brand Toku Sake where the actress serves as creative director Rumours of marriage trouble swirled when Cate was spotted on several occasions without her wedding ring. Cate, who has been married to playwright Andrew since 1997, left fans puzzled after stepping out at the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards without her ring. She stunned at the British film industry event in a maroon Louis Vuitton gown and striking body chain combo. However, rather than wearing her white gold and diamond wedding sparkler, the Blue Jasmine star sported a large emerald cocktail ring. Her husband didn't attend the event. Curiously, Cate was also spotted ring-free last month, when she attended an event in New York at the Museum of Modern Art on February 6. Cate made no attempt at hiding her bare wedding finger as she smiled for photos outside the exclusive event. In October 2023, Cate was once again seen without her wedding ring as she sat front row at the Stella McCartney runway show during Paris Fashion Week. Rumours of marriage trouble which swirled when she was spotted on several occasions without her wedding ring Cate looked sensational in tight black leather trousers for the launch event at the Supermarket of Dreams in the capital She paired the leather trousers with a corset-style patent zip-up jacket and leather stilettos and wore her blonde locks in loose waves down by her shoulders Cate appeared to sit on Andrew's lap at one point as she enjoyed the launch with other attendees Instead the thespian wore a set of elegant gold bands on her wedding finger. Speaking to Woman's Day magazine, a source close to the couple said Cate's missing ring has sent off alarm bells about the status of her marriage. 'Seeing Cate without her ring has sent shockwaves through their friends. For the first time they're wondering if things aren't so rosy,' the insider claimed. A question mark has been hanging over Cate and Andrew's marriage for some time now. The couple had not been seen out on a date since August, when they were photographed enjoying a sun-drenched holiday in Ibiza, making the launch their first in seven months. They also raised eyebrows last month after putting their sprawling mansion in Prahran, Melbourne, on the market. The three-bedroom family home, which the couple purchased in 2006, went under the hammer for more than $3million. Cate completed the striking look with natural make-up, consisting of light pink glossy lips, highlighter and a subtle mascara look (seen with Anthony Newman and Peter Hudson) Curiously, Cate was also spotted ring-free last month, when she attended an event in New York at the Museum of Modern Art on February 6 Cate and Andrew have been living in the UK since 2015 and still own several other properties together. Their portfolio includes a glorious Victorian mansion in East Sussex, England, which they bought for 4.9 million (AU$9.4million) in 2015. The couple also own an investment property in Sydney's CBD. Cate and Andrew share three sons; Dashiell, 22, Roman, 19, and Ignatius, 16, and a daughter named Edith, eight. San Francisco Mayor London Breed speaks during her annual State of the City address on Thursday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Mayor London Breeds goal of attracting 30,000 new residents and students to downtown San Francisco by 2030 faces major challenges as evidenced by the near-void of construction cranes in the area since the pandemic. The 2010s boom that added Salesforce Tower and thousands of housing units to the Transbay district has petered out. Construction at First and Mission streets on what was to be the citys second-tallest tower, Oceanwide Center, has been suspended for years and its Chinese developer has gone bankrupt. One of the few major active projects, the $1.2 billion Hayes Point, paused construction last year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Citywide housing production plunged 46% in 2022 from the prior year, according to the Planning Department. The citys state mandated housing plan calls for 82,000 new units by 2032, with the highest percentage growth proposed in the southern and western areas of the city, rather than downtown. Mayor London Breed, shown in 2023 next to a rendering of the future project for 395 3rd St. in San Francisco, wants to bring 30,000 new residents and students to the citys downtown by 2030. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Real estate experts are skeptical that Breeds goals are achievable. Breeds remarks sounded like a political speech, not a policy statement, said Rudy Gonzalez, secretary-treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents around 7,500 construction workers. The powerful union has not yet endorsed a mayoral candidate this year and is in bargaining with the city. Gonzalez said the citys shortcomings on homelessness dont give him much hope for bringing more residents and students downtown. More than 850 of his members are unemployed due to lack of construction projects, he said, with some people traveling outside the city for jobs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The mayors push to turn empty offices into homes has resulted in a few proposals, but the citys own economist said theres unlikely to be many given the high cost of construction and weakness in the citys residential market. A ballot measure to exempt such projects from transfer taxes the first time residential units are sold was leading after initial vote returns this week, but the city report said it was unlikely to make many more projects feasible if it passed. Robert Sammons, a research director at real estate brokerage Cushman & Wakefield, called Breeds goal ambitious and said there were major hurdles like finding suitable development sites and overcoming high costs. We all know how long anything takes to get done in this city under the best of circumstances, he said. Sammons agreed that office-to-housing conversions would be hard to scale. There are only so many buildings that will work for conversion. And its very expensive to do in a market with high costs including the need for earthquake retrofits, he said. Outside of conversions, he said adding housing downtown would require demolishing existing buildings, which could make project feasibility difficult. The historic North Financial District has seen virtually no new projects for decades due to lack of sites. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Deeper into South of Market, there are more opportunity sites, but lack of neighborhood amenities like retail and vibrancy could discourage projects, Sammons said. Prior to the pandemic, the city approved the Central SoMa plan to spur taller buildings between Second and Sixth streets. The goal was to bring 32,000 new jobs and 8,800 new housing units to the area. But high costs and weak tenant demand has frozen all major projects. There has been some academic expansion in the city: UC College of the Law San Francisco built a 656-unit housing project in the Tenderloin. But other downtown institutions have shrunk during the pandemic, with San Francisco State University shuttering its facility in the former Westfield mall. Golden Gate University also sold one of its buildings last year. In December, Californias Legislative Analysts Office projected a $19 billion state funding deficit for schools and community colleges over three years, another obstacle for any expansion. Despite the hurdles, Sammons has optimism for the citys revival. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jelly Roll's spouse Bunnie XO took to Facebook Wednesday with an extended statement commemorating her one-year departure from sex work, culminating in shutting down her OnlyFans page. Bunnie XO, 44, shared a post dated March 6, 2023 that read, 'Just officially shut down my spicy site. What a fun ride that was. On to the next bag baby.' The Houston native explained further context to the post Wednesday marking the one-year anniversary of her decision to fully retire from sex work, as she had worked as an escort prior to staring a lucrative OnlyFans. 'Awww a year ago I retired from the SW industry,' she said. 'I was SO scared to let go of that part of my life & leave behind the money I was making - wasnt sure how Id make up that part of my business. But I had faith & let God have it & he made sure I made it back 10 fold. 'So thankful to all of you who believe in me & sub to my patreon, buy merch, listen to the pod & engage daily w/ me. THANK YOU.' Jelly Roll's spouse Bunnie XO, 44, took to Facebook Wednesday with an extended statement commemorating her one-year departure from sex work, culminating in shutting down her OnlyFans page. The couple was pictured at the Grammys in LA last month Bunnie XO, whose full name is Bunnie DeFord, shared a DM from a follower who was confused about the timeline of her sex work career, as she has been married to Jelly Roll, 39, since 2016. 'A lot of [people] seem to be confused as to how I just retired from [sex work] last year because Ive been married for 7 years lol.. so heres the answer,' she said. 'Im an open book & dont mind letting yall kno..' Bunnie XO, who hosts the Dumb Blonde Podcast, said that she relished her independence, and didn't want to relinquish her revenue streams when she exchanged vows with the Nashville native in 2016 in Las Vegas. 'I have always worked & made money on my own, when I married J I refused to give up my independence & rely solely on him,' Bunnie XO said. 'And to be honest he never once asked me to. He knew how important it was to me to make my own money.' Bunnie XO said that Jelly Roll, whose full name is Jason Bradley DeFord, would hint that he would be fine if she ceased with sex work. 'He did always say, "One day baby you wont have to do this anymore,"' Bunnie XO said. Bunnie XO said that in 2018, she started her self-named brand, which was funded with her sex work earnings. 'I literally built my entire brand from the ground up without help from anyone - not even my husband,' Bunnie XO said. Bunnie XO on Wednesday shared a post dated March 6, 2023 that read, 'Just officially shut down my spicy site. What a fun ride that was. On to the next bag baby' Bunnie XO, whose full name is Bunnie DeFord, shared a DM from a follower who was confused about the timeline of her sex work career, as she has been married to Jelly Roll, 39, since 2016 Bunnie XO said that Jelly Roll, whose full name is Jason Bradley DeFord, would hint that he would be fine if she ceased with sex work. She credited Jelly Roll for letting her proceed in her own business path without interference, saying, 'My husband never once asked me to give up anything in my life' Bunnie XO said that the onset of the coronavirus pandemic four years ago brought about drastic changes in her industry, as she focused more on developing her OnlyFans page. She said: '2020 came around and I retired from seeing clients & having sugar daddies & started my Onlyfans which made me millions. It was crazy the amount of money that site made me in such a short time. 'Finally in 2022 my business Bunnie Xo started making just as much money - if not more than my SW money. So I couldnt justify still having that part of my life when the new brand I created was thriving so much.' The spouse of the musical artist, whose hits include Son of a Sinner and Need a Favor, said she 'also didnt want to be the only wife in the country music scene whose butthole was on the internet.' Bunnie XO credited Jelly Roll for letting her proceed in her own business path without interference, saying, 'My husband never once asked me to give up anything in my life.' Bunnie XO said she 'decided to retire' and fully immerse herself in her Bunnie Xo brand last year. The couple was pictured at the CMA Awards in his native Nashville last November She added, 'Best decision I ever made. The rest is history baby!' In July of 2022, Jelly Roll said on Bert Kreischer's podcast how Bunnie XO was supporting them before his breakout in the music business. 'I was dead broke, and she just kind of took to me,' he said. 'And she was really making money in the sex work industry. 'Like, real money. I didn't know that existed I didn't understand the concept But I didn't have a problem with it. It it's that high-end I'm cool with whatever.' Kylie Jenner talked fashion this week as she drops her spring line for her brand Khy. The 26-year-old reality TV star said the birth of her second child son Aire Webster, two was the reason for her new look. 'It takes me a while after I have a baby to feel like myself again,' she revealed to The New York Times. 'Then you get your body back, and you're like, "Wait, the trends have changed."' During the interview she also touched on the impact of the criticism regarding her appearance, and speculation about whether she's had more cosmetic surgery which can be set off by a photo of her at an event with harsh lighting. 'It's just years and years of not feeling like my face or looks are accepted,' she said. 'There's nothing anyone could ever say now that would hurt me.' The publication further stated that Kylie no longer wears 'wigs or bold makeup every day' and is 'stripping down a little bit.' 'I don't have this thick mane down to my butt, I don't have lash extensions, I dont have these long claws,' she shared. Kylie Jenner talked fashion this week as she drops her spring line for her brand Khy. The 26-year-old reality TV star said the birth of her second child son Aire Webster, two was the reason for her new look 'It takes me a while after I have a baby to feel like myself again,' she revealed to The New York Times . 'Then you get your body back, and you're like, "Wait, the trends have changed."' Seen January 24 Over the past months fans have noticed a style reinvention, with the reality star opting for more pared back looks, including the one she wore to the Jean Paul Gaultier show during Paris Fashion Week in January. Some thing her change is style has to do with her boyfriend Timothee Chalamet. The mom-of-two was asked if the style evolution has been prompted by her relationship with the American/French Dune actor, 28, whom she's been linked to since 2023. 'I don't know how I feel about that,' Kylie whose fans recently voiced fears that the couple have split replied, adding, 'I just don't want to talk about personal things.' The Kardashians star also shared she had not seen any comments about the theories regarding her style as she only reads feedback about her businesses and products. Jenner has responded to speculation that her new more conservative 'clean girl' style has been inspired by boyfriend Timothee Chalamet; they are seen in 2023 The lip kit mogul discussed her new look in an interview with The New York Times that referenced a puff-sleeve 'cottagecore' maxi dress she wore on vacation last year (pictured) She also touched on the criticism regarding her look: 'It's just years and years of not feeling like my face or looks are accepted. There's nothing anyone could ever say now that would hurt me' The publication stated that Kylie no longer wears 'wigs or bold makeup every day' and is 'stripping down a little bit.' Kyle shared: 'I don't have this thick mane down to my butt, I dont have lash extensions, I dont have these long claws'; seen in a snap from 2022 Previously, Kylie was known for bold and body-hugging ensembles (pictured in 2019 at the Met Gala) Stepping out in the French capital, she chose a more minimalist approach to glamour in a corseted mini dress with flowing champagne tulle layered over the top. The makeup mogul elevated her height with a pair of towering clear heels and pulled her hair back into a soft curled updo. Some fans even accused Kylie of 'stealing' Sofia Richie's signature 'quiet luxury' style in 'rebrand attempt.' It comes after Kylie and Timothee's fans have voiced concerns that the superstar duo have split after a year-long romance. The pair have maintained a low-key relationship but the two have not been spotted together in public since January, leading some of their followers to believe they have gone their separate ways. The couple caused shockwaves when they put on a romantic and PDA-heavy display at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in early January, however they have not been seen together since. Kylie inadvertently fueled break-up rumors when she posted a TikTok video on Tuesday. showing her going through her daily routines with her daughter Stormi Webster, six, and older sister Kendall Jenner, 28. Fans and commenters were convinced the post was an attempt to 'soft-launch' a break-up by highlighting how well she's doing on her own as a single mother raising two children and taking care of an ever-expanding business empire. Fans of the actor and the reality star flocked to X (formerly Twitter) to either bemoan or celebrate the unconfirmed split, though neither Timothee nor Kylie has said anything to definitively indicate that they have split. It comes after Kylie and Timothee's fans voiced concerns that the duo have split after a year-long romance, as they have not been spotted together in public since January (pictured in January at the Golden Globes) DailyMail.com has reached out to Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet's representatives for comment. Timothee and Kylie were reportedly first acquainted after meeting up at Paris Fashion week in January 2023. But it wasn't until April of that year that rumors of a relationship began flying when Kylie's recognizable black SUV was seen at Timothee's home in Beverly Hills. They were reported to be officially dating by the end of the month, though they tried to keep the details of their relationship under the radar. Things seemed to be getting serious by December 2023, when People reported that Kylie was now calling Timothee her 'boyfriend.' The two haven't made any major public displays or comments in the last two months, setting off speculation that the burgeoning relationship is already over. Meanwhile, The Kardashians on Hulu is about to debut its fifth season. In anticipation of a new chapter, the streamer released a poster, several single photos of the stars and a brief a teaser as it was warned, 'New horizons await.' Season five of The Kardashians will premiere on Hulu on May 23. Khloe Kardashian was stunning in a sparkly pale gold gown that had a plunging front as her blonde hair was worn down. Kylie Jenner modeled a skintight nude colored dress that looked to be one of her own creations for her fashion brand Khy. The makeup mogul added a scarf on her head. Kim Kardashian was lit up by firelight as she wore a high neck dress and wore dark nude lipstick with her raven hair down. She looked up at the sky as if she was hoping to see a UFO. The Kardashians on Hulu is about to debut its fifth season. In anticipation of a new chapter, the streamer released a poster and several single photos of the stars as well as a teaser. Season five of The Kardashians will premiere on Hulu on Thursday, May 23 Kylie Jenner modeled a skintight nude colored dress that looked to be one of her own creations for Khy. The makeup mogul added a scarf on her head Kourtney, who welcomed her fourth child, son Rocky, recently with husband Travis Barker, went for a chest up shot as she wore big earrings and an off the shoulder dress. Kendall Jenner also went for sand beige as she had on a dress which made her look busty. All the reality TV women were seen gathered by a fire in a desert setting at night. Momager Kris Jenner was also seen. Her portrait was in close up as she had on a gold toned dress. Advertisement Tina Fey and Busy Philipps followed the all-black elegant attire dress code for the Girls5Eva season three premiere, which was held Thursday at the Paris Theater in Midtown Manhattan. The 53-year-old Mean Girls producer-actress serves as executive producer on Meredith Scardino's critically-acclaimed musical comedy about a one-hit wonder nineties girl group, which stars the 44-year-old Mean Girls actress. Tina bared more skin than usual - flashing her arms in a buttoned vest top, matching trousers, and pumps selected by stylist Cristina Ehrlich. Hairstylist Matthew Monzon gave Fey's signature brunette bob some serious wave and make-up artist Genevieve Herr applied her kohl-rimmed eyes and bright pink pout. The nine-time Emmy winner was joined on the purple carpet by her husband of 22 years - Jeff Richmond - who executive produced and crafted the music for Girls5Eva. Tina Fey (L) and Busy Philipps (R) followed the all-black elegant attire dress code for the Girls5Eva season three premiere, which was held Thursday at the Paris Theater in Midtown Manhattan The 53-year-old Mean Girls producer-actress (3-L) serves as executive producer on Meredith Scardino's (R) critically-acclaimed musical comedy about a one-hit wonder nineties girl group, which stars the 44-year-old Mean Girls actress (2-R) Tina originally began dating the 63-year-old composer way back in 1994 while they were working together at The Second City in Chicago. Fey and Jeff are proud parents to 18-year-old daughter Alice Zenobia Richmond and 12-year-old daughter Penelope Athena Richmond. Meanwhile, Busy (born Elizabeth) commanded attention in a strapless feathered frock. Philipps accessorized her fancy LBD with pink circular earrings, black pantyhose, and matching ankle-strap heels selected by stylist Karla Welch. Hairstylist Matthew Monzon coiffed the Illinois-born funnywoman's pink curly bob and make-up artist Kindra Mann applied her shimmery white eye shadow and pink lipstick. Busy reunited with the other three Girls5Eva girl group members - Sara Bareilles, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Paula Pell - to perform a song. Philipps portrays the wealthy character Summer Dutkowsky, who's the self-proclaimed 'hot one' of the group, in the six-episode third season premiering March 14 on Netflix. The La V brand ambassador - who boasts 2.4M Instagram followers - Instastoried a chaotic video of herself unable to sit in the dress while cruising in Hummer limousine with her castmates: 'You guys this is already hilarious.' Tina bared more skin than usual - flashing her arms in a buttoned vest top, matching trousers, and pumps selected by stylist Cristina Ehrlich Hairstylist Matthew Monzon gave Fey's signature brunette bob some serious wave and make-up artist Genevieve Herr applied her kohl-rimmed eyes and bright pink pout The nine-time Emmy winner was joined on the purple carpet by her husband of 22 years - Jeff Richmond (R) - who executive produced and crafted the music for Girls5Eva Tina originally began dating the 63-year-old composer way back in 1994 while they were working together at The Second City in Chicago Fey and Jeff are proud parents to 18-year-old daughter Alice Zenobia Richmond and 12-year-old daughter Penelope Athena Richmond Busy (born Elizabeth) commanded attention in a strapless feathered frock Philipps accessorized her fancy LBD with pink circular earrings, black pantyhose, and matching ankle-strap heels selected by stylist Karla Welch Hairstylist Matthew Monzon coiffed the Illinois-born funnywoman's pink curly bob and make-up artist Kindra Mann applied her shimmery white eye shadow and pink lipstick Busy reunited with the other three Girls5Eva girl group members - Sara Bareilles (L), Renee Elise Goldsberry (2-L), and Paula Pell (R) - to perform a song Philipps portrays the wealthy character Summer Dutkowsky, who's the self-proclaimed 'hot one' of the group, in the six-episode third season premiering March 14 on Netflix The La V brand ambassador - who boasts 2.4M Instagram followers - Instastoried a chaotic video of herself unable to sit in the dress while cruising in Hummer limousine with her castmates: 'You guys this is already hilarious' Two-time Grammy winner Sara Bareilles - who plays Dawn Solano - flashed her antique engagement ring while wearing a sparkly fringed jumpsuit and patent leather pumps The 44-year-old bride-to-be was joined on the purple carpet by her fiance of 14 months, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters actor Joe Tippett Tony winner Renee Elise Goldsberry - who plays Wickie Roy - flashed her bra and high-waisted panties beneath a fishnet frock and peep-toe heels selected by stylist Sarah Slutsky Tooley The 53-year-old triple threat appeared to be particularly cozy with her co-star Loic Mabanza, who plays Torque in the show Emmy-winning writer Paula Pell - who plays Gloria McManus - rocked a pair of platform action sandals with her ruffled midi-dress The 60-year-old former SNL writer was joined by her girlfriend since 2017 - Janine Brito (R) - who serves as a producer, writer, and plays Caroline in Girls5Eva The cast and crew appeared to have a blast at the after-party Adriane Lenox (L) - who plays Carmen Wiggens - posed with creator Meredith Scardino (R) during the festivities Two-time Grammy winner Sara Bareilles - who plays Dawn Solano - flashed her antique engagement ring while wearing a sparkly fringed jumpsuit and patent leather pumps. The 44-year-old bride-to-be was joined on the purple carpet by her fiance of 14 months, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters actor Joe Tippett. Tony winner Renee Elise Goldsberry - who plays Wickie Roy - flashed her bra and high-waisted panties beneath a fishnet frock and peep-toe heels selected by stylist Sarah Slutsky Tooley. The 53-year-old triple threat appeared to be particularly cozy with her co-star Loic Mabanza, who plays Torque in the show. Emmy-winning writer Paula Pell - who plays Gloria McManus - rocked a pair of platform action sandals with her ruffled midi-dress. The 60-year-old former SNL writer was joined by her girlfriend since 2017 - Janine Brito - who serves as a producer, writer, and plays Caroline in Girls5Eva. The cast and crew appeared to have a blast at the after-party. Adriane Lenox - who plays Carmen Wiggens - posed with creator Meredith Scardino during the festivities. Independent Spirit Award-winning character actor Richard Kind - sporting a brown blazer with blue jeans and sneakers - plays a thinly-veiled version of himself in Girls5Eva Other cast members present at the glitzy premiere were (from L-R) John Lutz (who plays Percy), Jeremiah Craft (who plays Lil Stinker), and Thomas Doherty (who plays Gray Holland) Tony nominee Daniel Breaker - who plays Scott - wore an all-black suit sans necktie for the industry event The Girls5Eva premiere served as a mini-reunion for One Tree Hill alums Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush, who happily embraced each other on the purple carpet Tiler Peck, who's the principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, showcased her muscular legs in a LBD beneath a bedazzled hot-pink blazer and white sneakers Shining Vale actress Alysia Reiner slipped her slim 5ft10 figure into a sleeveless red cocktail dress, featuring a heart-shaped cut-out, with gold peep-toe heels Kate Beckinsale and Michael Sheen's nepo-baby Lily Sheen made a rare appearane in a baggy black leather jacket over a red-printed top, black trousers, and booties Independent Spirit Award-winning character actor Richard Kind - sporting a brown blazer with blue jeans and sneakers - plays a thinly-veiled version of himself in Girls5Eva. Other cast members present at the glitzy premiere were John Lutz (who plays Percy), Jeremiah Craft (who plays Lil Stinker), and Thomas Doherty (who plays Gray Holland). Tony nominee Daniel Breaker - who plays Scott - wore an all-black suit sans necktie for the industry event. The Girls5Eva premiere served as a mini-reunion for One Tree Hill alums Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush, who happily embraced each other on the purple carpet. Tiler Peck, who's the principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, showcased her muscular legs in a LBD beneath a bedazzled hot-pink blazer and white sneakers. Kate Beckinsale and Michael Sheen's nepo-baby Lily Sheen made a rare appearane in a baggy black leather jacket over a red-printed top, black trousers, and booties. 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame shared a glimpse of her tattoo removal process as she attended the Marie Claire International Women's Day lunch on Friday. The 28-year-old, who is an activist and sexual assault survivor, revealed her faded ink as she posed at the star-studded event. She dressed to impress in a figure-hugging blue mini dress which featured a slit. Grace had a long snake tattoo that wraps around her wrist which she appears to be getting removed. The word 'FLOSSY' is also inked onto her collarbone, a slang word meaning 'showy', and 'OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN' on her forearm, a nod to a poem by Walt Whitman. Grace Tame shared a glimpse of her tattoo removal process as she attended the Marie Claire International Women's Day lunch on Friday Grace had a long snake tattoo that wraps around her wrist which she appears to be getting removed Grace previously said her tattoos helped her overcome the trauma of being sexually abused by her high school maths teacher at age 15. She also has the phrase 'EAT MY FEAR' inked onto her hand. Grace previously explained the meaning behind her hand tattoo while appearing on ABC's Q&A show. 'It's about acknowledging fears and negativity that's naturally out there in the world,' she said. 'But being prepared to swallow that and doing things anyway despite that and actually converting that negative energy into positivity that can fuel you throughout your life.' 'That's what predators weaponise they weaponise our fear. That's the foundation of their psychological manipulation, which is a huge element of prolonged sexual abuse.' 'I say, no, let's transfer it back into their hearts, where it belongs.' Grace previously said her tattoos helped her overcome the trauma of being sexually abused by her high school maths teacher at age 15 Jesinta Franklin also made an appearance at the Marie Claire International Women's Day lunch. She looked glamorous in a stunning bright red gown which featured sleeves and a high neck. She had her long brunette locks curled and wore a full face of makeup consisting of bright red lipstick and blush. Former Married At First Sight star Domenica Calarco went for a similar approach in a tiny red dress. She completed her stylish look with a pair of black heels and several bracelets. Jesinta Franklin also made an appearance at the Marie Claire International Women's Day lunch Former Married At First Sight star Domenica Calarco went for a similar approach in a tiny red dress She was also joined by celebrity trainer Michelle Bridges, who showed off her figure in a flare jumpsuit. She put her hand on her hips as she posed on the red carpet in the patterned outfit, which featured a plunging neckline and matching coverup. Meanwhile, Jessica Rowe put on a colourful display in a floral dress which had a high slit and sleeves. She completed her look with bright yellow heels and statement earrings. She was also joined by celebrity trainer Michelle Bridges, who showed off her figure in a flare jumpsuit Jessica Rowe put on a colourful display in a floral dress which had a high slit and sleeves Former MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong also dressed to impress in a red crop top which featured a pink flower on the front. She completed the look with a pair of long red flare pants and a matching coloured blazer. Melissa's hair was slicked back and she let her natural beauty shine with a neutral palette of makeup. Julianna Margulies and husband Keith Lieberthal got a jump on their weekend, with a night out at the One Life premiere. The 57-year-old actress and her lawyer husband were all smiles on the red carpet, held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City. The couple - who have been married since 2007 - don't often make public appearances together, last spotted in late September 2023 for her ER co-star George Clloney's Albie Awards. The Good Wife star stepped out in all black with a long black coat and a black scarf keeping her warm. She compeleted her look with black pants and black knee-high boots for the red carpet event. Julianna Margulies and husband Keith Lieberthal got a jump on their weekend, with a night out at the One Life premiere The Good Wife star stepped out in all black with a long black coat and a black scarf keeping her warm. Her husband opted for a white dress shirt under a black coat with grey stripes on the sleeves. He completed his look with blue jeans, a black belt and black dress shoes for the premiere. The couple first met in 2006, with the actress revealing on the Ellen show that they met at a dinner party. 'I met my husband at a dinner party I wasnt going to go to through an agent I didnt sign with, who I adored ... I just can't go there,' she said. 'I remembered [the agents] birthday six months later and just texted him, Happy birthday, and he said, Im actually here in the city, come have dinner with us. I was like, "Ill come for a drink."' 'I was about to start a Broadway show, so I didnt want to stay out late. Famous last words. I went, and there was Keith. And Keith had gone to Dartmouth, and this agent had been his R.A., and he just happened to be at this dinner,' she added. She also said that when he approached her that night, she asked if he was an actor because she said she couldn't date actors. She learned he was actually a lawyer, adding he, 'Kept getting better and better and that was it.' Her husband opted for a white dress shirt under a black coat with grey stripes on the sleeves. The couple first met in 2006, with the actress revealing on the Ellen show that they met at a dinner party She also said that when he approached her that night, she asked if he was an actor because she said she couldn't date actorsS She added she knew he was 'the one' when she took him to the premiere of her 2007 flim Snakes on a Plane. 'I mean, listen, it was a fun movie to do, and I'll do anything with Samuel L. Jackson in it, but it's not a high-brow movie. And he had so much fun,' she said. 'We had such a good time at the premiere, and we were just laughing our a***es off," she said. 'At dinner, I was like, "Wow, if he could sit through that and still see me for who I am, I would marry this guy if he asked me tomorrow,"' she admitted. They tied the knot in November 2007 in Lennox, Massachusetts and share son Kieran Lindsay Lieberthal. Alec Baldwin is looking into having a potential list of actors testify in his upcoming manslaughter trial in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the Western film Rust on October 21, 2021. Insiders close to the case told TMZ on Thursday that Oscar-nominated actor, 65, and his team are 'considering putting together a list of famous people' who would take the stand in his defense, as in January, he entered a not guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter. The latest development in Baldwin's case comes a day after a New Mexico jury deliberated less than three hours before convicting armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 26, of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins' death. Gutierrez-Reed was swiftly taken into custody after the verdict was read, as she awaits sentencing, facing up to 18 months in prison. The 30 Rock actor and his team are specifically looking to build a witness list of 'people who've already spoken out in Alec's defense,' insiders told the outlet. Alec Baldwin, 65, is looking into having a potential list of actors testify in his upcoming manslaughter trial in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the Western film Rust on October 21, 2021. Pictured in NYC last year The focal point of the testimony would be how responsible an actor is for the weapons on the set of a production, sources told TMZ, adding that plans were nowhere close to being finalized yet. Actors who have past publicly spoken in defense of Baldwin include his Rust costar Frances Fisher, as well as Mickey Rourke, Debra Messing and DJ Qualls. Rourke, 71, told the outlet that he has not been in contact with anyone from Baldwin's legal team, but that he would be willing to testify in defense of the actor. 'Whatever Alec needs Ill be there 100 percent,' Rourke said. 'The armorer is 100 percent responsible for any gun handed to an actor. Especially, to an actor who didn't have experience with guns.' Rourke in January of 2023 on Instagram that there's 'no way in hell actor Alec Baldwin should be charged with any negligence whatsoever,' as 'the guns are supposed to he handled only by' the weapon armorer. The Academy Award-nominated actor added, 'the powers [that] be charging Baldwin with this responsibility is terribly wrong,' adding that Baldwin 'is already suffering enough over what happened' and it's 'terribly terribly wrong' to blame him for the tragic shooting. Fisher said in January 2023 in a social media post in reaction to a Deadline story about the case, 'Anyone NOT in the industry or who has not worked on a set should STFU - youre showing your ignorance.' Fisher, 71, added: 'The grandstanding prosecutor doesnt even go after the true culprit: Who put a live round in the gun? There is NO investigation about that. THAT is the question.' Baldwin was pictured on the New Mexico set of the Western on October 21, 2021, the day of the tragic shooting Baldwin and his team are specifically looking to build a witness list of 'people who've already spoken out in Alec's defense,' insiders told the outlet Mickey Rourke said that he has not been in contact with anyone from Baldwin's legal team, but that he would be willing to testify in defense of the actor. Pictured in LA in 2022 Baldwin's Rust costar Frances Fisher has been vocal in his defense; pictured in LA last year Gutierrez-Reed on Wednesday was swiftly taken into custody as she awaits sentencing, facing up to 18 months in prison. Baldwin figured prominently into testimony and closing arguments over two weeks that highlighted his authority as a co-producer and the lead actor on Rust. Both the prosecution and defense in Gutierrez-Reeds trial dissected video footage of Baldwin before the fatal shooting for clues about breakdowns in firearms safety. Baldwins trial is scheduled for July and will involve the same judge and prosecutors as well as many of the same witnesses. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the guns hammer, but not the trigger, and the weapon fired, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Having seen Gutierrez-Reed's trial play out will be a boon to Baldwin and his legal team, said Emily D. Baker, a legal analyst and former Los Angeles deputy district attorney who wasn't involved in the case but followed it closely. 'Theyre in the incredible position of getting to watch this prosecutor in action, see how this judge works, and come in knowing exactly what these experts are going to say and how they present to the jury,' Baker said Wednesday. 'I dont think Baldwins going to want to deal in this case, and I think his legal team will tell him this is a very different case than the case against Hannah.' A weapons expert for the prosecution in Gutierrez-Reed's case gave strong testimony, Baker said. But the armorer expert was aligned with what Baldwin's team has been saying all along - that it wasn't his job to check the weapon, Baker said. Expert witness and movie firearms consultant Bryan Carpenter testified that images showed Baldwin firing blanks toward a camera within a 'no-go' zone at close range, flouting safety protocols as he commanded crew members to quickly reload his revolver, and waving a gun like a pointing stick after the close of one scene. Another clip captures the sound of Baldwin firing a gun after a director calls out, 'Cut!' Investigators haven't found any video recordings of the shooting, which took place during a rehearsal inside a makeshift church on October 21, 2021, on a movie set outside Santa Fe. But Gutierrez-Reed's trial included previously undisclosed testimony from eyewitnesses to the shooting . The latest development in Baldwin's case comes a day after a New Mexico jury deliberated less than three hours before convicting armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins' death Those witnesses included Souza, who felt the shock of a bullet's impact as he moved in for a view of the camera monitor - but never saw the gun that shot him. A camera-dolly operator and the assistant director Dave Halls also gave visceral accounts of the revolver firing and the aftermath. Script writer Mamie Mitchell testified that the script didn't call for Baldwin to point the gun. 'Alec Baldwins conduct and his lack of gun safety inside that church on that day is something that hes going to have to answer for,' prosecutor Kari Morrissey said in her closing arguments against Gutierrez-Reed. 'Not with you and not today. Thatll be with another jury, on another day.' Morrissey and co-counsel Jason Lewis presented the case against Baldwin to a grand jury in January and secured an indictment on the single felony count that gives them two pathways to prosecution. A recent analysis of the gun gave them the opportunity to reboot the case after an initial involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin was dismissed. That analysis by Forensic Science Services in Arizona concluded 'the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.' The author of an earlier FBI report on the gun testified at the Gutierrez-Reed trial that the gun arrived with all safety features in working order, and that only way the revolver would fire with the hammer full retracted was to strike it with a mallet and break it. Defense attorneys for Baldwin have shown no sign of compromise with special prosecutors appointed by Santa Fe-area District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, who is running for reelection and confronting a Democratic primary challenge by a former DA in June. The tragic incident took place on the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico in October of 2021 A February fundraising message from Carmack-Altwies vowed justice for Hutchins and her family 'no matter who else is involved,' without naming Baldwin. 'No one avoids culpability due to fame, wealth, or connections in my jurisdiction,' she wrote. During Gutierrez-Reed's trial last week, one witness for the prosecution stated the obvious as a prosecutor asked, 'Is Mr. Baldwin on trial today?' 'It appears that he is a bit, yes,' said Ross Addiego, a crew member who witnessed the fatal shooting at close range and has sued Baldwin in civil court. The lawsuit is one in a series of legal actions, including wrongful death claims filed by members of Hutchins family, centered on accusations that the defendants were lax with safety standards. Baldwin and other defendants have disputed those allegations. The filming of Rust moved to Montana after the shooting in New Mexico, under an agreement with Hutchins' widower, Matthew Hutchins, that made him an executive producer. Katie Holmes opted for stylish comfort as she stepped out for a nighttime stroll in New York City on Thursday. The Dawson's Creek alum, 45 - who recently turned heads at the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2024 Gala - was seen making her way through the bustling streets of the Big Apple while sipping on a water bottle. The actress kept it casual while sporting a pair of gray sweatpants as well as a fashionable, tan coat to help her stay warm in the cooler temperatures. Holmes slipped into a pair of $120 PONY sneakers with colorful details that were easily secured with laces. A large, black leather bag was placed over her right shoulder to hold items she needed during the excursion. Katie Holmes, 45, opted for stylish comfort as she stepped out for a nighttime stroll in New York City on Thursday Her brunette locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in natural waves. She accessorized her look by wearing a pair of black shades but opted to not add any other flashy pieces of jewelry. At one point during the outing, Katie was spotted carrying a black, plastic bag in her right hand. While talking to Glamour last year in April, the First Daughter actress opened about her sense of style - especially as someone who is often in the spotlight. 'I think we all want our sweats,' the mother-of-one told the outlet. 'It's a funny world because the culture of celebrity and the access that exists now could be quite a distraction from who the person is.' 'I'm an actor, so people say, "Oh, do you think about what you wear before you go to the grocery store?" No, because it's not my job.' 'You know what I mean? But yesterday, going and doing a talk show is part of my job. So yes, that's put together.' Also during the interview, Holmes expressed to the publication, 'I enjoy [fashion]. I mean, I enjoy the craftsmanship. I enjoy putting things together.' The actress kept it casual while sporting a pair of gray sweatpants as well as a fashionable, tan coat to help her stay warm in the cooler temperatures Earlier this week on Monday, Katie put on a chic display while attending Roundabout Theatre Company's 2024 Gala which was held at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in NYC (seen above) 'And I work with [stylist] Brie Welch, and she's very detail oriented, and that inspires me. I think it is very creative. I love vintage shopping. I love the art of design.' Earlier this week on Monday, Katie put on a chic display while attending Roundabout Theatre Company's 2024 Gala which was held at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in NYC. The star donned a sleeveless, fitted black dress that was made of a satin material and fell down to stop just below her ankles. Holmes slipped into a pair of open-toed, black heels that contained a white floral embellishment on top for a pop of color. She opted for minimal accessories, and wore a pair of silver, dangly earrings as well as a dainty bracelet on her right wrist. For a finishing touch, the beauty also added a chunky ring on her right hand. Other celebrities were also in attendance at the event, such as Vanessa Williams, Rose Byrne and Matt Dillon. Katie has been keeping busy and had a blast during New York Fashion Week which took place last month in February. The beauty made an appearance at a variety of events, such as the Prada Beauty Party as well as the Ulla Johnson Fall/Winter 2024 show. Katie has been keeping busy and had a blast during New York Fashion Week which took place last month in February; seen at Michael Kors runway show in NYC in February Katie puts her main focus into raising daughter, Suri, 17 - whom she welcomed in 2006 with ex-husband Tom Cruise; the actress and Suri seen back in 2017 in NYC Holmes also attended the Michael Kors Fall/Winter 2024 runway event alongside other celebrities, such as Blake Lively and her sister Robyn Lively. She wowed in a sheer, black ensemble that was made of a lace material and layered the outfit with a black blazer that was left unbuttoned. Katie puts her main focus into raising her lookalike daughter, Suri, 17 - whom she welcomed in 2006 with ex-husband Tom Cruise. Following their divorce in 2012, the Top Gun actor pays $33k-a-month in child support for Suri - but will come to an end once she turns 18 next month in April. Following their divorce in 2012, the Top Gun actor pays $33k-a-month in child support for Suri - but will come to an end once she turns 18 next month in April; the former couple seen with Suri in 2007 in NYC However, he will also pay his daughter's college tuition, DailyMail.com previously learned, despite being absent from Suri's life since 2013. Earlier last week, In Touch Weekly reported that the actress was concerned over her 'uncertain future' and 'might cash in by penning a tell-all book' when the monthly child support ends. However, her attorney Jonathan W. Wolfe informed Radar Online that, 'The story is riddled with falsehoods.' 'One would hope there would be more newsworthy items to cover, and publications would avoid reporting as "facts" claims from anonymous sources peddling such obvious misrepresentations.' Paul Hogan has given his brutal take on why Margot Robbie was snubbed in the Best Actress Oscar category. Margot, 33, who was born and raised in Queensland, failed to make the cut at this year's 96th annual Academy Awards, which will be held in Los Angeles on March 10. The Crocodile Dundee star, 84, appeared on Sunrise on Friday in an interview conducted by his granddaughter, reporter Mylee Hogan. 'To see them not nominated, thats a sort of like... a dull tradition of: if its not about pain and suffering, it cant be very good,' he said. 'It's not fair.' Paul Hogan has given his brutal take on why Margot Robbie was snubbed in the Best Actress Oscar category Hogan then praised the Barbie star, saying: 'She's great, not only is she beautiful and smart, shes a nice kid, too.' Robbie's omission prompted a wave of backlash after many expected her starring role in Greta Gerwig's Barbie - currently the highest grossing film of all time - to be acknowledged by the Academy board. Although many fans were upset Robbie wasn't up for Best Actress, she did get a nomination for Best Picture as one of the film's producers. Margot, 33, who was born and raised in Queensland , failed to make the cut in the category at this year's 96th annual Academy Awards , which will be held in Los Angeles on March 10 Gerwig, 40, who was ignored in the Best Director category, also scored a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar alongside her husband Noah Baumbach, 54. Speaking at a Q&A hosted by the Academy Museum in Febraury, Robbie said Greta 'should' have been nominated for Director. 'Obviously, I think Greta should be nominated as a director, because what she did is a once-in-a-career, once-in-a-lifetime thing, what she pulled off, it really is. But its been an incredible year for all the films,' she said. 'To see them not nominated, thats a sort of like... a dull tradition of: if its not about pain and suffering, it cant be very good... it's not fair,' Hogan said Hogan praised the Barbie actress, saying: 'Shes great, not only is she beautiful and smart, shes a nice kid, too' Robbie did not address her own Oscars snub but emphasised they were 'beyond ecstatic' the film had achieved eight Oscar nominations. 'We set out to do something that would shift culture, affect culture, just make some sort of impact. And its already done that, and some, like way more than we ever dreamed it would. And that is truly the biggest reward that could come out of all of this. 'I'm so, so obviously ecstatic. Everyone getting the nods that they have is incredible and the Best Picture nod.' Euphoria star Nika King is now revealing a claim she made during a stand-up comedy performance about not paying her rent was actually just a joke. King, 44, plays Leslie Bennett, the mother of Zendaya's troubled teen Rue Bennett in the hit HBO series, which has been renewed for a third season. Long before Euphoria, King has over two decades of experience as a stand-up comedian, with the actress recently performing at the Hollywood Improv. She said she didn't know when Season 3 of Euphoria was coming out and she hadn't paid her rent in six months, but now she said (via THR), that was all a joke. 'My reference about Euphoria during my stand-up tour was a lighthearted joke. Most people have seen me portray serious characters on-screen but my roots are in comedy,' she began. Euphoria star Nika King is now revealing a claim she made during a stand-up comedy performance about not paying her rent was actually just a joke. Long before Euphoria, King has over two decades of experience as a stand-up comedian, with the actress recently performing at the Hollywood Improv 'I actually have a few film projects releasing this year that Im excited about. Its a blessing to craft a career in both drama and comedy,' she concluded. King stars in Possum Trot with Elizabeth Mitchell and Demetrius Grosse, which hits theaters on July 4. She also stars in the short film The Rebel Girls which is slated for release later this year. King shared the clip with the rent joke on her TikTok, which quickly went viral after her posting. 'Season three is coming out I dont f***ing know. Dont ask me, I dont know. "We need season three!" B***h, I need season three! I havent paid my rent in six months,' King said in her stand-up performance. She also joked that her TV daughter Zendaya, 'is over in Paris at Fashion Week and Im like, "B***h, come home! I need you! Mama needs you."' She even told the crowd, 'Y'all laughing and I'm serious. I haven't booked nothing since Euphoria. This is some bulls**t. I thought my career was on the rise after Euphoria. I thought I was good, but it don't work that way.' King added that she called Taraji P. Henson and she told her, 'B***h get used to it,' as the clip ended. 'I actually have a few film projects releasing this year that Im excited about. Its a blessing to craft a career in both drama and comedy,' she concluded King stars in Possum Trot with Elizabeth Mitchell and Demetrius Grosse, which hits theaters on July 4 King shared the clip with the rent joke on her TikTok, which quickly went viral after her posting King started her acting career in the early 2000s with guest-starring roles on shows like CSI: Miami and Hannah Montana and small roles in movies like 50 First Dates. She starred in the web series Funny Married Stuff in 2016 before she landed the role of Leslie Bennett on Euphoria. The show debuted in 2019 to rave reviews, with Zendaya winning back-to-back Emmy's for her portrayal of drug-addled teen Rue Bennett. The show has been renewed for a third season, though it was recently confirmed that it won't debut until 2025, though it's unclear when filming starts. Travis Barker has praised Qantas Airlines as she travelled around Australia after conquering his fear of flying following a fatal 2008 plane crash. The blink-182 drummer, 48, recently jetted Down Under with his wife Kourtney Kardashian and their family for his band's first tour in the country in a decade. The pop-punk band last toured Australia in 2013, but Travis did not join them due to his fear of flying, which stemmed from being a passenger in a 2008 plane crash. Travis has previously credited his wife Kourtney, 44, with helping him overcome his fear of flying, and he has now shared a picture from his recent flight in Australia. He took to his Instagram Stories on Friday to post a snap of his boarding pass from his February 7 flight from Sydney to Perth, where he performed at a string of shows. Travis Barker (pictured with his wife Kourtney Kardashian) has praised Qantas after travelling around Australia and conquering his fear of flying following a fatal 2008 plane crash Across the business class ticket, he had written: 'I know I got angels watching over me,' along with an outline of a cross. The number 7 is seen by many as an 'angel number' and the musician's ticket showed both the date February 7 and the seat number 7. Last month, Travis joined his bandmates Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge Down Under for their much-awaited tour, marking their first tour in Australia since 2013. Travis didn't join the band on the 2013 tour, with Brooks Wackerman instead filling in on the sticks, due to his fear of flying. On flights, Travis puts on noise-canceling headphones so he 'cannot hear the landing gear retract', listens to guided recordings from an energy healer and prays for loved ones he has lost. Travis has previously credited 'the power of love' from his wife Kourtney - who he shares a son Rocky, four months, with - for helping him overcome his fear of flying. He took to his Instagram Stories on Friday to post a snap of his boarding pass from his February 7 flight from Sydney to Perth, writing 'I know I got angels watching over me' across it. The number 7 is seen by many as an 'angel number' and the musician's ticket showed both the date February 7 and the seat number 7 He said his partner had 'healed' him and his children - Landon, 20, and Alabama, 18 - following the crash in South Carolina 15 years ago, in which he was one of only two survivors. Speaking to the LA Times, he said: 'I think the power of love really helped me. Kourt made it so I fly, my kids fly now. She healed us. 'It takes a little piece of my life every time I fly. The amount of stress and anxiety it causes is just unbearable. It brings up all this old trauma, and sometimes I'm like, 'Is this worth it?' 'But I don't like anything having a hold on me, either I don't like being afraid, and I don't like having things from my past control my future.' Travis shares Alabama and Landon with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler, while he is also stepfather to Shanna's daughter Atiana de la Hoya, 24. In August 2021, Travis successfully took his first ride on an airplane for the first time in 13 years when he jetted to Cabo San Lucas with Kourtney. In September 2008, Travis boarded a private jet in South Carolina to head to Los Angeles following a show, while accompanied by his friend Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein, his security guard Charles 'Che' Still, and his assistant Chris Baker. Travis, 48, recently jetted Down Under for blink-182's first tour in the country since 2013, when Travis did not join them due to his fear of flying, which stemmed from being a passenger in a 2008 plane crash Travis has previously credited 'the power of love' from his wife Kourtney for helping him overcome his fear of flying, saying she had 'healed' him As the small plane was attempting to take off, one of the tires suffered a blow out, causing the craft to overshoot the runway, burst through the airport's fence and over the nearby highway, and finally crash into the embankment on the side of the road. The pilot, Sarah Lemmon, and the co-pilot, James Bland, were killed within minutes from smoke inhalation and burns as the plane erupted into flames on impact, according to the Chicago Tribune. Still and Baker were also killed on impact. Travis had third-degree burns over 65 per cent of his body and had to spend three months in the hospital while having skin grafts and 26 surgeries to repair the damage. After the crash, Travis was overcome with a debilitating fear even at the sight of an airplane. Mayor London Breed speaks at a news conference at the Winton Hotel in San Francisco on Jan. 18. Proposition F, the mayors ballot measure that would mandate drug screening for welfare recipients, passed by 62% in Tuesdays election, but a public employees union has filed an unfair practice charge against it. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle A San Francisco public employees union has asked a state regulatory board to block a measure passed by voters Tuesday that will require welfare recipients deemed to be drug users to get treatment or risk losing their cash assistance. Service Employees International Union Local 1021 filed an unfair practice charge with the California Public Employment Relations Board on Thursday, arguing that the city failed to discuss Proposition F with the union prior to placing it on the ballot. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The city attorneys office did not immediately return a request for comment. The measure, which was backed by 62% of voters, mandates drug screenings for about 5,200 people who receive cash assistance from the city. Those determined to be drug users will need to participate in a free drug treatment program. Failure to comply will result in a loss of cash aid. It is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2025. Mayor London Breed, who is seeking reelection in November, proposed the initiative in the face of mounting pressure to address public drug use downtown and the citys worsening overdose epidemic, which took the lives of a record 813 people in San Francisco last year. The Breed administration will be negotiating contracts in the coming months with dozens of public employee unions, a delicate situation given that the mayor hopes union support will help boost her campaign. Prior to Tuesdays election, attorneys for the union sent a three-page letter to the San Francisco City Attorneys Office laying bare their opposition and accusing the city of violating the law. The attorneys said the city had an obligation to meet and confer with the union to discuss the proposals impact on its workers, as required by the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act. The union argues the measure will adversely affect its members and city departments, which are already short-staffed, by adding new requirements and responsibilities to their workload without making any substantial new investment in staffing, training or worker safety. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Proposition F will have significant adverse impacts on workers and the public alike, SEIU Local 1021 President Theresa Rutherford said in a statement. Rutherford continued that the measure will contribute to stigmatizing poverty, negatively impact city employees working conditions and exacerbate the very problems Prop. F claims to address. City Attorney David Chiu responded to the union with his own three-page letter, asserting that Prop. F was not negotiable and that any effect the measure may have on working conditions were speculative and negligible. Prop F, as written, concerns new eligibility requirements for low income San Francisco residents receiving benefits under Citys County Adult Assistance Program; it does not concern the wages, hours or other terms and conditions of employment of City employees, he wrote. The states Public Employment Relations Board could prohibit the city from enforcing the measure until it completes good-faith meet and confer sessions with SEIU Local 1021, which represents about 16,000 city workers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In addition to the unfair practice charge, Rutherford said the union may also initiate legal proceedings or go on strike to protest the citys persistent unfair labor practices. Trent Rhorer, director of the Human Services Agency, which will oversee the screening program, said Friday morning that he had not yet seen the unions filing and could not comment. We will review internally and discuss next steps with the Citys Department of Human Resources and the City Attorney, he wrote in a message to a reporter. Rhorer was instrumental in crafting the measure and argued it would help cut down on drug tourism, people allegedly coming into San Francisco to get cash aid and buy drugs. Data released from the mayors office last month revealed that nearly 40% of the people cited over the past year for drug use in San Francisco indicated they lived outside the city. About 6% of those outside residents were receiving cash assistance from the city in violation of state law, according to the mayors office. Advertisement Pierce Brosnan dressed to impress alongside his wife of 23 years, Keely Shaye Smith, as they attended the US-Ireland Alliance's 2024 Oscar Wilde Awards in Santa Monica on Thursday. The former James Bond actor, 70 - who recently enjoyed a romantic date night with his wife in Malibu - joined other celebrities at Bad Robot, a production company run by both J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath. The Tomorrow Never Dies star was one of the honorees during the event, as well as SNL alum Molly Shannon and Richard Baneham. Brosnan opted for an all-black ensemble for the special night, and donned a pair of black pants as well as a black button up that was partially unfastened around the collar. He layered the monochromatic outfit with a black, suede blazer and slipped into a pair of sleek dress shoes that were secured with laces. Pierce Brosnan, 70, dressed to impress alongside his wife of 23 years, Keely Shaye Smith, 60, as they attended the US-Ireland Alliance's 2024 Oscar Wilde Awards in Santa Monica on Thursday The Tomorrow Never Dies star was one of the honorees during the event, as well as SNL alum Molly Shannon and Richard Baneham For a finishing touch, Brosnan additionally wore a black, satin cravat that was loosely wrapped around his neck. US-Ireland Alliance founder Trina Vargo said of Brosnan in a statement, per the official website, 'The success of Irish actors in the film industry in recent years has highlighted the remarkable talent in Ireland.' 'We're thrilled to be honoring one of the most talented Irish legends, who paved the way.' The Irish-born actor was joined by his wife Keely - whom he tied the knot with in 2001 - and she also opted for an all-black ensemble. The journalist wore a pair of black trousers as well as a satin blouse that contained ruffled details on the front. Smith added a black blazer on top which was left unbuttoned and also slipped into a pair of black, ballet flats. Her brunette locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders. Keely accessorized her look with a pair of silver, dangly earrings as well as a chunky ring on her right hand. The couple - who share sons Dylan, 27, and Paris, 23 - were seen posing for an assortment of photos upon arriving to the festivities and later crossed paths with fellow honoree, Molly Shannon. Brosnan opted for an all-black ensemble for the special night, and donned a pair of black pants as well as a black button up that was partially unfastened around the collar He layered the monochromatic outfit with a black, suede blazer and slipped into a pair of sleek dress shoes that were secured with laces For a finishing touch, Brosnan additionally wore a black, satin cravat that was loosely wrapped around his neck The Irish-born actor was joined by his wife Keely - whom he tied the knot with in 2001 - and she also opted for an all-black ensemble Molly Shannon put on a leggy display wearing a dark navy minidress that contained sequin details on the fabric that sparkled under the bright lights The Superstar actress also opted for a pair of closed-toed, black heels and allowed her locks to flow down in light waves past her shoulders The Superstar actress put on a leggy display wearing a dark navy minidress that contained sequin details on the fabric that sparkled under the bright lights. Shannon also opted for a pair of closed-toed, black heels and allowed her locks to flow down in light waves past her shoulders. Molly was also seen posing for a few memorable snaps with Pierce as well as his wife, Keely, shortly before the event commenced. Jane Seymour, 73, was also in attendance and put on a radiant display wearing a figure-hugging, teal dress that contained short, puffy sleeves. The hem of the ensemble stopped a few inches above her ankles, easily revealing a pair of open-toed, nude-colored heels. The Somewhere In Time actress added a pair of dangly, blue earrings that matched the color of the dress, as well as a chunky ring on her right hand to accessorize the look. Her hair was parted in the middle and flowed down past her shoulders, allowing her bangs to gently fall onto her forehead. Seymour is also no stranger to the Bond franchise, and although she never worked alongside Brosnan, she notably starred in Live And Let Die (1973). Molly was also seen posing for a few memorable snaps with Pierce as well as his wife, Keely, shortly before the event commenced Jane Seymour was also in attendance and put on a radiant display wearing a figure-hugging, teal dress that contained short, puffy sleeves The Somewhere In Time actress added a pair of dangly, blue earrings that matched the color of the dress, as well as a chunky ring on her right hand to accessorize the look While posing for photos, she was seen crossing paths with Touched By An Angel star, Roma Downey, who opted for stylish comfort at the event The two also had a bit of fun while striking another pose together for the cameras At one point, Downey also met up with Pierce during the photo session, and the pair also stopped for a quick photo together While posing for photos, she was seen crossing paths with Touched By An Angel star, Roma Downey, who opted for stylish comfort at the event. The Irish actress sported a pair of black, fitted leggings as well as a white sweater that had long, billowing sleeves. She slipped into a pair of black, knee-high boots and carried a vibrant, green bag in her hand that offered a pop of color to her outfit. At one point, Downey also met up with Pierce during the photo session, and the pair also stopped for a quick photo together. Lily Rabe was effortlessly chic in a white, lace dress that had layered details on the skirt that fell down towards the ground. The Love & Death star added a sequin, gray sweater on top for a dazzling flare and also wore a pair of open-toed, black heels. She carried a small, black purse in her right hand and opted for bold makeup - which included a smoky, red shadow around her eyes. Rabe was joined by her partner and Midnight Mass actor, Hamish Linklater, who wore a white button up that was tucked into the waist of gray, denim jeans. Lily Rabe was effortlessly chic in a white, lace dress that had layered details on the skirt that fell down towards the ground Rabe was joined by her partner and Midnight Mass actor, Hamish Linklater, who wore a white button up that was tucked into the waist of gray, denim jeans ER alum, Maura Tierney, kept it casual in a pair of classic, denim jeans as well as a long-sleeved, black sweater Cillian Murphy was also spotted during the festivities, and donned a white shirt that was tucked into a pair of black trousers The Oppenheimer actor added a black blazer on top and slipped into a pair of sleek, dark brown shoes to complete his look He also donned a black coat as well as dark brown boots that were secured with laces to complete his look for the evening. ER alum, Maura Tierney, kept it casual in a pair of classic, denim jeans as well as a long-sleeved, black sweater. She layered the ensemble with a light, tan-colored jacket and slipped into a pair of brown, suede boots for a finishing touch. Fionnghuala O'Reilly flaunted her toned figure in a fitted, black dress that clung to her frame and was held up with thin straps that wrapped around her neck. A small cutout could be seen around the bodice for a sultry flare, along with floral embellishments. The Irish-American model wore a pair of open-toed, black pumps to coincide with the monochromatic color scheme of her ensemble. Her dark locks were swept up into a chic up do, allowing a few wavy strands to border the sides of her face. Cillian Murphy was also spotted during the festivities, and donned a white shirt that was tucked into a pair of black trousers. The Oppenheimer actor added a black blazer on top and slipped into a pair of sleek, dark brown shoes to complete his look. The Oscar-nominated actor was seen stopping for a quick photo session upon arriving to the venue on Thursday Titanic director, James Cameron, was seen in a pair of black pants as well as a dark navy sweater. The filmmaker added a black leather jacket on top and donned a pair of black shoes for a finishing touch Cameron was also seen crossing paths with honoree and Irish animator, Richard Baneham. The two notably collaborated on the Avatar franchise Greg Grunberg donned a dark navy suit as well as a plain shirt underneath while attending the event He was also spotted crossing paths with Molly Shannon and the two stars flashed cheerful smiles while posing for a photo together Courtney B. Vance donned dark gray trousers as well as a black, puffer vest to stay warm in the cooler temperatures Titanic director, James Cameron, was seen in a pair of black pants as well as a dark navy sweater. The filmmaker added a black leather jacket on top and donned a pair of black shoes for a finishing touch. Cameron was also seen crossing paths with honoree and Irish animator, Richard Baneham. The two notably collaborated on the Avatar franchise. Greg Grunberg donned a dark navy suit as well as a plain shirt underneath while attending the event. The Star Wars: The Force Awakens actor slipped into a pair of sneakers that offered a casual flare to his outfit. He was also spotted crossing paths with Molly Shannon and the two stars flashed cheerful smiles while posing for a photo together. Courtney B. Vance donned dark gray trousers as well as a black, puffer vest to stay warm in the cooler temperatures. The Lovecraft County star also wore a silver, leather jacket as well as black and gray-colored sneakers. For a finishing touch, he also added a dark gray hat on top of his head. Celebrities were seen mingling shortly after the festivities kicked off, and Pierce and his wife were spotted taking a quick snap with a fellow guest The couple paused for another snap as they sat on a comfy couch with the other attendees at the event Brosnan also held a lighthearted conversation with Richard Baneham and the pair held smiles on their faces while sipping on a Guinness beer Other attendees - along with Pierce and Richard - could be seen talking amongst themselves before the main ceremony took place Molly Shannon had the chance to catch up with other guests as she relaxed on a cushioned couch at the venue Richard was seen with his wife, Ashling Baneham, as well as their three sons Luke, Daniel and Nathan who came to support the animator Celebrities were seen mingling shortly after the festivities kicked off, and Pierce and his wife were spotted taking a quick snap with a fellow guest. Brosnan also held a lighthearted conversation with Richard Baneham and the pair held smiles on their faces while sipping on a Guinness beer. Other attendees could be seen talking amongst themselves before the main ceremony took place. Molly Shannon had the chance to catch up with other guests as she relaxed on a cushioned couch at the venue. Richard was seen with his wife, Ashling Baneham, as well as their three sons Luke, Daniel and Nathan who came to support the animator. Later in the night, Pierce was seen flashing a cheerful smile as he took to the stage to accept his award at the ceremony. He could be seen addressing the audience as a bright spotlight shone down on him. James Cameron was also spotted talking on stage and addressed the star-studded crowd while holding an award in his hand. Roma Downey was another speaker at the awards ceremony and took to the stage in front of the crowd. Later in the night, Pierce was seen flashing a cheerful smile as he took to the stage to accept his award at the ceremony He could be seen addressing the audience as a bright spotlight shone down on him US-Ireland Alliance founder Trina Vargo said of Brosnan in a statement, per the official website, 'The success of Irish actors in the film industry in recent years has highlighted the remarkable talent in Ireland' 'We're thrilled to be honoring one of the most talented Irish legends, who paved the way,' Vargo added Later in the evening, James was spotted speaking on stage and addressed the star-studded crowd while holding an award in his hand The filmmaker spoke into a microphone while standing in front of a podium on the stage Roma Downey was another speaker at the awards ceremony and took to the stage to talk to the crowd The night's honorees - Brosnan, Shannon, and Baneham - took a memorable photo together while holding an award in their hand In another image, Molly was seen laying an excited kiss on Richard's cheek who held a big smile on his face Greg Grunberg also spoke at the event and was spotted standing in front of the podium at the venue. The night's honorees - Brosnan, Shannon, and Baneham - took a memorable photo together while holding an award in their hand. In another image, Molly was seen laying an excited kiss on Richard's cheek who held a big smile on his face. The 18th Annual Oscar Wilde Awards were held just days before the 2024 Oscars - which will take place later this week on Sunday, March 10th. Katie Price and her son Harvey were seen as they headed out for a pamper day in Brighton on Thursday. The former glamour model, 45, and her son arrived at the seaside town by train before getting their nails done at a local salon. Harvey, 21, who is partially blind, autistic, has septo-optic dysplasia and genetic disorder Prader-Willi syndrome, is known for his love of trains, with the duo often travelling to stations so he can watch them pass. For their day out, Katie dressed down in an oversized baby pink sweater, light grey jogging bottoms and Moon Boots. Harvey wore a black T-shirt with loose fitting shorts and Nike trainers and walked hand-in-hand with his mum. Katie Price, 45, and her son Harvey, 21, were seen as they headed out for a pamper day in Brighton on Thursday The former glamour model arrived at the seaside town by train, walking hand-in-hand with Harvey His love of trains was highlighted during the BBC documentary Katie Price: Harvey & Me, when he travelled to stations and pretended to call out the announcements. After the series Harvey became the diversity and inclusion ambassador for an electric rail company. Katie shares Harvey with ex Dwight Yorke and last year claimed that he still refuses to see their son - despite her attempts to reach out to the former striker. 'The door is always open.' Price told The Guardian. 'I would love the day I see Dwight and Harvey in front of each other. 'My mum still contacts his manager every year, and asks does he want to see Harvey for his birthday, and it's always the same 'no'.' Their outing comes after Katie revealed that she has been seeing her new boyfriend JJ Slater for months as she opened up about their relationship. The glamour model and the MAFS star, 31, went public with their new romance last week after a string of dates and a romantic getaway together. Fans have continuously shared their fears that the mother-of-five is 'heading for disaster' with her new flame but she has now confirmed it is not a sudden decision. Harvey, who is partially blind, autistic, has septo-optic dysplasia and genetic disorder Prader-Willi syndrome, is known for his love of trains, with the duo often travelling to stations They were seen getting their nails done at a local salon Speaking on her podcast The Katie Price Show, Katie said: 'We have now gone official. 'It's not like I've just met him and people will find out how long we've been messaging and seeing each other maybe next week I'll tell you on the show. 'The thing is with my life, I don't want to tell everyone about absolutely everything especially when it comes to relationships because it didn't happen like that.' She continued: 'I wasn't even looking for a relationship, but yeah, we can talk about that more next week.' Katie went onto discuss that she is facing a 'lot of dramas' in her life a the minute and she is struggling to cope. She continued: 'I've got a lot of dramas in my life I've got a head block, I'm seeing my therapist and seeing a consultant because my head is fuzzy and I'm coping with a lot. 'Some stuff I just can't cope with which are like normal stuff that people can cope with.' Last week, Katie and JJ attended GKBarry's 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. Their outing comes after Katie revealed that she has been seeing her new boyfriend JJ Slater for months as she opened up about their relationship The glamour model and the MAFS star, 31, went public with their new romance last week after a string of dates and a romantic getaway together 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.' Alex Fevola was cutting a chic figure as she arrived at the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival on Friday night. The WAG was youthful and bright as she walked the red carpet ahead of The Invisible runway show. The 46-year-old opted for a sleek grey blazer with a matching pair of trousers for a high fashion look. She added a vest underneath her jacket which was cut in a deep V-neck and showed off some cleavage. Alex completed her look with a pair of pointed white heels and chose a bronzed makeup look that showcased her flawless visage. Alex Fevola (pictured) was cutting a chic figure as she arrived at the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival on Friday night The longtime partner of AFL great Brendan Fevola got candid about her main skin concerns in an interview with 9Honey. Alex revealed she spends up to $1,600 per year on beauty products and treatments, and gets 'Botox a couple of times a year' to combat general wrinkles. 'I don't like to be frozen but I do like to soften the furrow between my brows. So a little Botox every five months, I find, works for me,' Alex said of her regimen. The mother of four added that her main skin concerns in her forties are 'just general ageing' and finds Botox 'the most effective against general wrinkles'. The WAG was youthful and bright as she walked the red carpet ahead of The Invisible runway Alex chose a bronzed makeup look that showcased her flawless visage She also revealed she spends 'maybe $800 per year on products' and a further '$800 per year on treatments'. Alex, who often shares her beauty secrets on social media, listed a luminous foundation, a face palette and mascara as her 'go-to' products in a 2020 interview with House of Wellness. The beauty entrepreneur explained how a face palette - often consisting of an eye shadow, bronzer, blush and highlighter - allows her to transform her 'whole face within five minutes'. Alex said her ultimate beauty hack was multi-purpose products such as cream tints, which can be applied to the eyes, cheeks and lips for an 'all-over fresh glow'. Phoebe Dynevor showed off her stunning figure as she attended Louis Vuitton and W magazine's glittering Academy Awards dinner in Los Angeles on Thursday night. The Bridgerton star, 28, looked incredible as she went braless for the star-studded event ahead of Sunday night's Oscars. Rocking her freshly dyed red locks, she styled a fabulous black leather mini skirt with an extreme plunging long-sleeved top. Adding inches to her legs, the Fair Play actress kept her look classic with a pair of towering black stilettoes. She upped the glamour with a quirky, bedazzled black bag and a set of gold hoops. Braless Phoebe Dynevor showed off her stunning figure in an extreme plunging top as she attended Louis Vuitton and W magazine's glittering Academy Awards dinner in Beverly Hills onThursday night The Bridgerton star, 28, pictured with Louisa Jacobson, looked incredible as she went braless for the star-studded event Phoebe opted for a minimal makeup look as she scraped her fiery red locks back into a slick bun. She flashed her gorgeous smile as she was spotted catching up with Gemma Chan, Nicolas Nicolas Ghesquiere and Louisa Jacobson. Also seen at the glitzy event was Dune actress Zendaya, who put on a very busty display for the outing. She wowed in a floor-length silver and black dress which was cinched at the waist with a black belt. Her fabulous backless garment that featured a meter-long train was paired with a simple pair of elegant earrings. Emma Stone also made an appearance on Thursday as she stepped out in a sparkly gold three piece suit. Flashing her cleavage, the Easy A star stepped out in a gold sequin bralet and a high waisted pencil skirt. She paired her fabulous look with a matching oversized blazer and a pair of gold stilettoes. She wore earrings from Vrai, designed in collaboration with celebrity stylists Petra & Meehan Flannery. Rocking her freshly dyed red locks, she styled a fabulous black leather mini skirt with a very low-cut blouse (pictured with German actress Sandra Huller) Phoebe opted for a minimal makeup look as she scraped her fiery locks back into a slick bun She upped the glamour with a quirky, bedazzled black bag and a set of gold hoops She flashed her gorgeous smile as she was spotted catching up with Gemma Chan (L), Nicolas Nicolas Ghesquiere (M) and Louisa Jacobson Dressing for the weather, Phoebe stepped out to the glitzy event with a wool trench coat swung over her shoulders Adding inches to her legs, the Fair Play actress kept her look classic with a pair of towering black stilettoes Also seen at the glitzy event was Dune actress Zendaya, who put on a very busty display for the outing She wowed in a floor-length silver and black dress which was cinched at the waist with a black belt Her fabulous backless garment that featured a meter-long train was paired with a simple pair of elegant earrings Emma Stone also made an appearance on Thursday as she stepped out in a sparkly gold three piece suit Flashing her cleavage, the Easy A star stepped out in a gold sequin bralet and a high waisted pencil skirt Phoebe's fabulous new hair was showcased when she stepped out in the French capital for Paris Fashion Week on Monday. The outing comes after Phoebe and her boyfriend Cameron Fuller made a rare appearance at the Universal Pictures BAFTAs party at The Nomad Hotel last month. The Fair Play star - who lost out on the EE Rising Star Award to Mia McKenna-Bruce - slipped into a leather bustier and long silky skirt for the bash, while Cameron, 28, wore a classic tux. Despite walking away without a gong, Phoebe couldn't wipe the smile off her face while in her stunning all-black ensemble as she and her hunky partner partied the night away together. The British star, who played Lady Daphne in Netflix series Bridgerton, has been dating US actor Cameron for a year. Phoebe, whose mother is Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor, attended the prestigious ceremony in a plunging ivory dress earlier in the evening. Cameron, whose father produced A Quiet Place II, has starred in a handful of US television shows with a major role in The Last Ship, of which his father was an executive producer. Hes also known for his YouTube channel with real life BFF Gregg Sulkin. Back in 2022, Phoebe was briefly linked to Andrew Garfield after they met at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards in London. The actress was said to have hit it off with the former Spiderman star, who is 12 years her senior, during the star-studded after-party for the bash. She has previously dated US comedian Pete Davidson but they split up in 2021 after about five months. 'It was wild while it lasted and they both really care for each other,' an insider told The Sun at the time. 'But the distance has put a strain on them. Their mates think they make a great couple but the distance has made it completely unworkable.' Meanwhile, Cameron sparked dating rumours with actress Lucy Hale in 2022 as they were pictured out on dinner dates several times. He also dated fellow internet personality Lauren Elizabeth for nearly three years. It comes after Phoebe and boyfriend Cameron Fuller made a rare appearance at the Universal Pictures BAFTAs party at The Nomad Hotel last month Stunning stars were out in force on Wednesday night for the glamorous W Magazine and Louis Vuitton's Academy Awards dinner in LA. Leading the way ahead of Sunday night's Oscars was Zendaya, who joined a slew of stars in putting on a show-stopping display at the event at Beverly Hills' Mr Chow. Opting to go braless for the event, the Dune star left jaws dropping as she wowed in a plunging dress while posing with W Magazine Editor in Chief, Sara Moonves. She posed alongside fellow star of the moment Barry Keoghan, 31, who is currently riding high on the success of Amazon hit Saltburn, as well as Louis Vuitton boss Nicolas Ghesquiere, who looked dashing in all black. Broadway icon Da'Vine Joy Randolph, 37, was looking stunning in a black gown with a silver trim as she stood alongside Zendaya, who slung her hands in her pocket. Stunning stars were out in force on Wednesday night for the glamorous W Magazine and Louis Vuitton's Academy Awards dinner in LA including Zendaya She posed alongside fellow star of the moment Barry Keoghan, 31, who is currently riding high on the success of Amazon hit Saltburn. She posed with Louis Vuitton boss Nicolas Ghesquiere, who looked dashing in all black Broadway icon Da'Vine Joy Randolph, 37, was looking stunning in a black gown with a silver trim as she stood alongside Zendaya, who slung her hands in her pocket Phoebe Dynevor looked sensational in a scanty mini which made the most of her long legs She was ready to party at the bash alongside a host of other stars Elsewhere at the bash, Emma Stone and Lana Del Rey looked glamorous as ever as they stepped out. The Poor Things star, 35, flashed a section of her toned midriff in a gold crop top, maxi skirt and a matching long blazer. The actress who recently left the internet in stitches as she posed for photo while eating a chicken pie completed the look with pointed-toe gold heels. Her tresses were slicked back for the evening, and she accentuated her features with a touch of delicate makeup. Emma will battle it out in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category at Sunday's ceremony. Meanwhile songbird Lana, 38, exuded elegance in a white and gold sparkling dress, over which she wore a camel Louis Vuitton coat. The 96th Academy Awards honors the best films of 2023 - with the glittering ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Zendaya later covered up her bare chest as she chatted to Luca Guadagnino and Sara Italian film director Luca looked happy to pose alongside the stunner Barry posed with Lana Del Rey who looked stunning at the event Lana and Barry took to pulling silly faces He also made a statement while beaming with journalist Lynn Hirschberg Zendaya and Nicolas looked every inch the high fashion pair Gemma Chan went for a statement look in a black and white two-piece Zendaya was sure to make a statement in the look W Magazine Editor in Chief, Sara Moonves looked chic in a voluminous look The most hotly anticipated movies of the past year - Barbie and Oppenheimer - lead the nominations. Oppenheimer has bagged 13 nods, including best picture and best actor for Cillian Murphy - who is favorite to win the major category after scooping a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and SAG award for his role as physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. The impressive total - which also includes best supporting actor and actress for Robert Downey Jr. and Emily Blunt, as well as best director for Christopher Nolan - is just one nomination short of the all-time record set by Titanic in 1998. For best actor in leading role Bradley Cooper and Cillian Murphy are set to duke it out for the award. Colman Domingo, Paul Giamatti and Jeffrey Wright received nominations as well. Leonardo DiCaprio was not recognized for his acting on Killers Of The Flower Moon. The awards will be held on March 10 at 7 pm ET/4pm PT live on ABC, hosted for a fourth time by Jimmy Kimmel. Zendaya was certainly a mover and shaker at the bash as she chatted to various guests Phoebe posed with Derek Blasberg and Laura Love Da'Vine held hands with Zendaya as they chatted She nipped in her waist with a black ribbon at the bash Elsewhere at the bash, Emma Stone and Lana Del Rey looked glamorous as ever as they stepped out. The Poor Things star, 35, flashed a section of her toned midriff in a gold crop top, maxi skirt and a matching long blazer The Poor Things star, 35, flashed a section of her toned midriff in a gold crop top, maxi skirt and a matching long blazer Also present at the bash was Barbie star America Ferrera, 39. The actress looked elegant in a black t-shirt tucked into a silk black skirt Kate Garraway's Good Morning Britain absence was explained on Friday, after she left her radio show mid-broadcast earlier this week. The host, 56, was 'sent home' from Smooth Radio on Wednesday just 30 minutes after taking to the airwaves following the loss of her voice, leaving co-presenter Tina Hobley to hold the fort. Speaking on GMB Charlotte Hawkins confirmed Kate's ill health saying: 'She would be here today but she's lost her voice. She's all well but she can't speak' In reference to Kate raising awareness for carers, Adil Ray joked: 'She's lost her voice, she's been too influential in the past year.' Before adding: 'Be less influential Kate and get better soon.' Good Morning Britain explained Kate Garraway's absence on Friday, after she left her radio show mid-broadcast earlier this week (pictured on the show last week) The host, 56, was 'sent home' from Smooth Radio on Wednesday just 30 minutes after taking to the airwaves after losing her voice, leaving co-presenter Tina Hobley to hold the fort Kate, who was due to host Lorraine and replaced by pal Ranvir Singh, returned to Good Morning Britain two weeks ago after husband Derek Draper's funeral, following his passing in January. It comes after Kate fought back tears as she came face-to-face with a man who shared a hospital ward with her late husband Derek Draper. She was visibly emotional during an interview with children's author Michael Rosen, 77, who was on the same intensive care unit as Derek while they battled Covid. In the moving interview, Michael and Kate discussed ITV's new drama Breathtaking, which depicts the harrowing ordeal of NHS staff during the pandemic, as well as his own battle with 'survivor's guilt.' Michael was in intensive care for 47 days when he contracted Covid in 2020, and he previously admitted hat he was just 'hours from dying.' Derek passed away aged 56 on January 3 from a cardiac arrest, following years of multiple health complications after contracting Covid. During the interview on Thursday's Good Morning Britain, Kate explained to viewers that she was initially unaware that Michael and her late husband were battling Covid at the same time. She said: 'Derek was in the same ward, and you were in a coma at the same time,' before recalling the kind words of a nurse who had been transferred to the hospital from Great Ormond Street. Speaking on GMB Charlotte Hawkins confirmed Kate's ill health saying: 'She would be here today but she's lost her voice. She's all well but she can't speak' (pictured with co-host Adil Ray) Kate, who was due to host Lorraine and replaced by pal Ranvir Singh, returned to Good Morning Britain two weeks ago after husband Derek Draper's funeral , following his passing in January During the interview, Kate and Michael also discussed the lack of PPE that was available for NHS staff during the pandemic, as well as Michael's struggles with 'survivors guilt.' he said: 'A lot of staff feel guilt - which they shouldn't do, but do feel guilty of what they could have done differently - and shock and trauma. 'And in your own way you have felt - although again you shouldn't do - you have felt guilt, tell us about that.' In reference to Derek's death, Michael said: 'Well I am telling you Kate. 'I hear about people who died and meet people, I get into a cab and the cabbie says their relations have died from Covid. And I think, why am I here?' Ben also detailed his own 'arms-length' experience seeing his longtime friend Kate struggle with Derek's health battles for months after contracting Covid. He has been one of the most prominent faces on the Award Season circuit. And Barry Keoghan was once again mingling with the creme de la creme of Hollywood on Thursday night as he attended W Magazine and Louis Vuitton's Academy Awards dinner in LA, ahead of Sunday's Oscars. The Irish star, 31, looked dashing in a crew-neck white tee paired with a leather bomber jacket as he lived it up with a host of stars. As he continues to revel in the roaring success of Saltburn, Barry looked delighted to be in the midst of the stars - including Lana Del Rey and Zendaya. In a celebration of their joint success, he was putting on a playful display with his Saltburn co-star Archie Madekwe, 29, who played Farleigh Start in the Emerald Fennell film opposite Barry's character Oliver Quick. Barry Keoghan was once again mingling with the creme de la creme of Hollywood on Thursday night as he attended W Magazine and Louis Vuitton's Academy Awards dinner in LA, ahead of Sunday's Oscars The Irish star, 31, looked dashing in a crew-neck white tee paired with a leather bomber jacket as he lived it up with a host of stars including Zendaya In a celebration of their joint success, he was putting on a playful display with his Saltburn co-star Archie Madekwe, 29, who played Farleigh Start in the Emerald Fennell film opposite Barry's character Oliver Quick Archie and Barry both starred in Saltburn Barry's night on the town comes after he was unveiled as the new face of Burberry following his recent collaborations with the iconic heritage brand. The fashion house announced on Thursday that Irish actor Barry has been named as the newest ambassador for the brand. Barry follows in the footsteps of past celebrity ambassadors, who have included; Cara Delevingne, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Emma Watson and Rachel Weisz. Discussing his excitement following the reveal, Barry said: 'I've been a fan of Burberry for many years now. 'It's such an iconic heritage brand with innovation at its heart, and a commitment to supporting arts and culture. I'm very excited to be a part of this next chapter.' Speaking of the news, chief creative officer of the brand Daniel, said: 'I've known Barry for over 5 years now and have watched him grow into one of his generation's most talented actors. 'His raw, unique talent is incredibly inspiring and perfectly reflects the spirit of our brand. I am proud to welcome him to the Burberry family.' The 96th Academy Awards honors the best films of 2023 - with the glittering ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. He looked delighted to be with Jaden Smith for one of his snaps He posed happily with journalist Lynn Hirschberg The most hotly anticipated movies of the past year - Barbie and Oppenheimer - lead the nominations. Oppenheimer has bagged 13 nods, including best picture and best actor for Cillian Murphy - who is favorite to win the major category after scooping a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and SAG award for his role as physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. The impressive total - which also includes best supporting actor and actress for Robert Downey Jr. and Emily Blunt, as well as best director for Christopher Nolan - is just one nomination short of the all-time record set by Titanic in 1998. For best actor in leading role Bradley Cooper and Cillian Murphy are set to duke it out for the award. Colman Domingo, Paul Giamatti and Jeffrey Wright received nominations as well. Leonardo DiCaprio was not recognized for his acting on Killers Of The Flower Moon. The awards will be held on March 10 at 7 pm ET/4pm PT live on ABC, hosted for a fourth time by Jimmy Kimmel. He wowed in his trendy leather jacket Barry's night on the town comes after he was unveiled as the new face of Burberry following his recent collaborations with the iconic heritage brand He sat at the table with Steven Yeun and Lisa Love Leah Wood has slammed the term 'nepo baby,' claiming that using the phrase is 'bullying' as she insisted that she is her 'own person.' The daughter of Rolling Stone's rocker Ronnie Wood and his ex wife Jo, weighed in on the debate adding that 'it's wrong.' While nepotism in Hollywood has been around for decades, the term 'nepo baby' took over the web when stars with famous parents were mocked on the cover of New York Magazine in December 2022. It sparked a fierce debate over whether or not the offspring of the rich and famous were getting an unfair leg up. 'I don't think anyone should be called that,' Leah, 45, told The Daily Mail's Richard Eden at The Future Is Female exhibition at the Garrison Chapel, Chelsea. Leah Wood, 45, has slammed the term 'nepo baby,' claiming that using the phrase is 'bullying' as she insisted that she is her 'own person' (pictured in November) The daughter of Rolling Stone's rocker Ronnie Wood and his ex wife Jo, weighed in on the debate adding that 'it's wrong' (Leah and Ronnie pictured in 2019) She added: 'It's almost bullying, and it's wrong. I have my own identity.' Ronnie and his current wife Sally have been married since 2012 and share six-year-old twins Gracie Jane and Alice Rose. He also has model and musician Jesse, 47, from his relationship with Krissy Findlay, as well as Tyrone and Leah from his relationship with Jo and six grandchildren. Leah, lives in Kentish Town with her TV producer husband Jack MacDonald and their two children Maggie, 14, and Otis, nine. The actress, only eight months younger than Ronnies wife Sally, moved there in 2011 after her mother Jo Wood bought the house for just over 3 million. Her daughter Maggie has been hailed as the 'next Kate Moss', it is claimed. Maggie is said to have been snapped up by Storm modelling agency's Sarah Doukas - the famous eye who scouted Kate when she was also 14. Jo also signed with Storm when she started out in her modelling career as a teenager. 'I don't think anyone should be called that,' Leah told The Daily Mail's Richard Eden, 'It's almost bullying, and it's wrong. I have my own identity' Leah, lives in Kentish Town with her TV producer husband Jack MacDonald and their two children Maggie, 14, and Otis, nine (pictured in July) The actress, only eight months younger than Ronnies wife Sally, moved there in 2011 after her mother Jo Wood bought the house for just over 3 million (Pictured with sally in 2022) As Maggie has grown up, Sarah is now considering her an 'up and coming star' and the pair are set to meet in the 'coming months'. A source told The Mirror: 'Sarah saw a photo of Maggie and has been keen to meet her ever since. 'She thinks she has incredible potential, and could be a real up-and-coming star in the modelling world. And, of course, everyone trusts Sarahs eye. 'Shes hoping to meet Maggie in the coming months, and Maggie is also really keen.' Jo herself added that she thinks Maggie is 'the most beautiful girl in the world' and that her granddaughter 'really wants' to get into modelling. Rebel Wilson cut a stylish figure as she joined fiancee Ramona Agruma at The Hallman pre-Oscars dinner in Los Angeles on Thursday. The Australian actress, 44, looked sensational in a chic black jumpsuit which perfectly hugged her gorgeous curves. Rebel completed the look with a cream blazer that she draped over her shoulders and toted a beaded Valentino bag. Meanwhile Ramona, 40, who announced her engagement to the Pitch Perfect star in February 2023, turned heads in a quirky sheer blue dress. The look boasted a nautical print and pleats and she added a pop of colour with a bright red leather handbag. Rebel Wilson, 44, (L) cut a stylish figure as she joined fiancee Ramona Agruma, 40 (R) at The Hallman pre-Oscars dinner in Los Angeles on Thursday The Australian actress (L) looked sensational in a chic black jumpsuit which perfectly hugged her gorgeous curves It comes after Rebel described her fiancee and their daughter 15-month-old daughter Royce as the 'best present ever' as she celebrated her 44th birthday. She shared a picture of herself striking a playful pose as she seemingly enjoyed a sun-soaked day out on a boat to celebrate the special day. In the snap, she cut a stylish figure in a floral print gown and a white cardigan and shielded her eyes with a pair of dark sunglasses. She sweetly described her family as her 'best present ever' in the caption of her birthday post. The actress penned: 'Happy 44th birthday to me! I got the best present ever - a healthy child, a healthy relationship and a career that keeps challenging me (directing a new film, writing a book, producing AND acting) and so many amazing friends and fans who inspire me to keep going! Love you all x' Rebel first met her fiancee Ramona in 2021, and they announced their engagement in February last year. She welcomed daughter Royce in November 2022, with Rebel confirming the news in a gushing social media post at the time. 'Beyond proud to announce the birth of my first child, Royce Lillian, born this past week via surrogate,' she wrote. Rebel completed the look with a cream blazer that she draped over her shoulders and toted a beaded Valentino bag (L-R) Rebel Wilson, Michael Braun, Vas Morgan and Ramona Agruma She had a prime seat to watch Taylor, 34, as the pop star took the stage in Sydney for her second show at Accor Stadium. Rebel was delighted as she also got a selfie with Taylor's father, Scott Swift, affectionately known to fans as 'Papa Swift'. She also posed alongside Toni Collette after bumping into the die-hard Swiftie in the crowds of the concert. Stacey Dooley was dubbed an icon after she posted a heartfelt Instagram post about breastfeeding on Friday to celebrate International Women's Day. The presenter, 36, looked every inch the doting mother as she cradled her sweet daughter, Minnie, now 14 months, close to her chest. Wearing only gold hoop earrings and a gold necklace, the mother looked in high spirits as her newborn baby cuddled close while feeding. Sharing the beautiful moment with her 1.1million followers, she captioned the post: 'V v v v v v lucky to be able to mother in a safe space. 'Not lost on me that so many other mums not afforded the same luxury this IWD. (Im defo NOT saying only motherhood defines womenfeel like I have to caveat everything on here ) Stacey Dooley was dubbed an icon after she posted a heartfelt Instagram post about breastfeeding on Friday to celebrate International Women's Day The presenter, 36, looked every inch the doting mother as she cradled her sweet daughter, Minnie, now 14 months, close to her chest '(Also, lol at me thinking the hoops would help me feel semi human)' Hundreds fled to the star's comment box to praise her post as they dubbed her an icon and thanked her for acknowledging the difficulties of amalgamating womanhood and motherhood. Some even got emotional from the raw post. One user penned: 'As someone who wasnt blessed with motherhood, please know that I do appreciate it when people acknowledge the difficulties of amalgamating womanhood and motherhood Its not the big things, its the little things. Thank u xxx' 'What an icon' 'The hoops while breastfeeding is iconic' 'Love this! I miss breastfeeding so much!' 'Well said' Her followers praised her post as they dubbed her an icon and thanked her for acknowledging the difficulties of amalgamating womanhood and motherhood 'Celebrate your baby and your journey into motherhood. Shout it from the roof tops. To all the women out there hoops or non hoops' 'Hi Stacey. Ive discovered you on YouTube two weeks ago. (I dont and I never have lived in UK - I am from the Czech Republic ).The first video I saw was when you slept over at the house of the upper class family and Ive really enjoyed your work since. 'It makes me so happy to see youre a mommy now too It makes me incredibly happy to be a mom and I am always happy to see people I like becaome moms and enjoy motherhood as much as I. This photo made me so emotional (sic)' Stacey gave birth to her daughter in January 2023 with former Strictly Come Dancing star Kevin Clifton. Stacey and Kevin, 41, announced their pregnancy news in August, sharing a snap of her cradling her bump to Instagram. In December 2021, Kevin and Stacey sparked engagement speculation after the presenter sported a band on her ring finger in an Instagram post. The pair were seen eating dinner and sharing a plate of dessert which had the word 'Congratulations' piped in chocolate Stacey and Kevin were crowned Strictly champions in 2018 after winning viewers' hearts with their incredible partnership. Stacey confirmed their romance back in April 2019 as she finally went Instagram official with her beau after weeks of speculation, and four months after winning Strictly Come Dancing. The duo had remained coy about their relationship after her ex-boyfriend Sam Tucknott revealed in an explosive interview with the Mail On Sunday that their five-year relationship had ended. Natalie Portman looked to be in great spirits during her last public outing before bombshell news of her divorce from Benjamin Millepied dropped on Friday. The Star Wars actress was was dressed to the nines in France, where she now resides most of the year with her two children, just 10 days ago on February 27. The Vanity Fair cover girl smiled and waved to fans in Paris for the Christian Dior Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week. The May December actress had on a tweed blazer with a black turtleneck and mini skirt that flashed her toned legs as she modeled sunglasses and stiletto heels. The star also held onto a small clutch purse with the designer's name on it. And here was no wedding ring on her finger. There seemed to be no sign of distress at all. On Friday is was announced that her marriage of 11 years to Millepied is now officially over. Natalie Portman looked to be in great spirits during her last public outing. The Star Wars actress was was dressed to the nines in France, where she now resides most of the year with her two children The Vanity Fair cover girl smiled and waved to fans in Paris for the Christian Dior Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on February 27. The May December actress had on a tweed blazer with a black turtleneck and mini skirt as she modeled sunglasses and stiletto heels as she held onto a small clutch purse with the designer's name on it. Portman quietly filed to end the union in July and the divorce was finalized in France, a representative for the actress confirmed with People. Portman and Millepied married in 2012 and share two children together - son Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, seven. The family live in France. The split came after it was alleged Millepied had cheated on Portman with a woman 21 years his junior. Last year French outlet Voici released an explosive report claiming Millepied had an affair with 25-year-old climate activist Camille Etienne. There seemed to be no sign of distress at all. That sighting came just 10 days before her bombshell divorce news She had no wedding band on, but then again, she has not worn it for many months Her last Instagram post was about reading Heartburn, which is about a cheating husband: 'Excited to finally read Nora Ephrons Heartburn, her classic transformation of pain into humorous art. Looking forward to hearing what you all think! #MarchBookPick @natsbookclub' People magazine reported at the time that the romance with Camille was 'short-lived' - and that Benjamin was 'doing all he could' to get 'Natalie to forgive him and keep their family together.' Portman lightly touched on her marital problems in the 30th annual Hollywood issue of Vanity Fair magazine. When the May December actress was asked how she feels about having her marriage written about, she said it was 'terrible.' She added, 'It's terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it.' In a January WSJ interview, she seemed to quietly confirm their split as she talked about living in Paris with her two children but made no mention of Millepied, which was the biggest hint yet that they no longer live together. Last month the duo reunited as they were pictured with their two children on a lunchtime outing in Los Angeles. The Academy Award-winning actress did not appear to be donning her wedding ring. The Star Wars alum has been seen without her wedding ring on multiple occasions since the cheating allegations were first made public, including during her solo appearance on the Golden Globes red carpet in January. On Friday is was announced that her marriage of 11 years to Benjamin Millepied is now officially over; seen in 2022 Portman and Millepied married in 2012 and share two children together - son Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, seven. The family lives in France; seen in 2020 Portman and Millepied met in 2009 on the set of her psychological horror film Black Swan, for which he was the choreographer. The now-exes became engaged in 2010 and were married in 2012 at Big Sur, California. Benjamin also worked on choreography for Natalie's dark musical drama film Vox Lux in 2018, in which she played a woman who survives a school shooting, only to become a pop star. Bella Thorne cuddled up to her dashing fiance Mark Emms in a new picture se posted from her trip to the California ski resort Mammoth. The 26-year-old former child star, who made her bones on the Disney Channel, was in town for the latest edition of Mammoth Film Festival. Amid careers in acting and on OnlyFans, she has broken into directing, and attended the film festival in support of her short film Paint Her Red. For her efforts, the Mammoth Film Festival presented the flame-haired actress with the director award for achievement in filmmaking short. Firing up her Instagram, Bella celebrated her professional coup by posting a string of snaps of herself posing the Mammoth snows with her trophy in hand. Bella Thorne cuddled up to her dashing fiance Mark Emms in a new picture se posted from her trip to the California ski resort Mammoth She draped her lithe figure in a floor-length black gown that featured not only a throwback chic hood but also a sprawling train. Bella sharpened her features with makeup including a slick of blood-red lipstick and even apparently dyed her hair black to emphasize the Gothic effect. 'Blizzard and all and so totally worth it,' wrote Bella, whose past acting work includes the film Midnight Sun with Arnold Schwarzenegger's steamy son Patrick. '[T]hank u so much @mammothfilmfestival for best director this short meant so much to me to create it - labor of love, sweat, tears and fake blood lots of it.' Her album was awash with pictures from the festival, including snaps of her at the movie's premiere in a cherry-red ensemble. Bella's hair, gathered into an updo, was its signature red color as she strode the red carpet in support of her film during the festival. She included a selfie with her smoldering fiance, a businessman who owns the New York city nightspot The Mulberry. The pair met in 2022 at Cara Delevingne's birthday party on a beach in Ibiza, and one year later - on Mother's Day last year - he proposed. The 26-year-old former child star, who made her bones on the Disney Channel, was in town for the latest edition of Mammoth Film Festival Amid careers on acting and OnlyFans, she has broken into directing, and attended the film festival in support of her short film Paint Her Red For her efforts, the Mammoth Film Festival presented the flame-haired actress with the director award for achievement in filmmaking short Firing up her Instagram, Bella celebrated her professional coup by posting a string of snaps of herself posing the Mammoth snows with her trophy in hand Bella recently revealed that Mark in fact presented her with five engagement rings so that she could try each one on for two weeks apiece before selecting one. 'He got me one ring that was so beautiful, and I didn't see anything that was wrong. We actually went through four rings after that one. This is my fifth one,' she dished. 'He saw my face when I saw the first one, and he was like: "Yeah, let's go get you a different ring." And I was like: "What, why?" And he was like: "Well, I can just feel that something's not right with that,"' she recalled to The Messenger. 'I was like, "What are you talking about, the ring is beautiful! Don't be silly." He's like: "No, I just know you, and I saw your face, and there was something not right about it. So let's just go get other ones,"' Bella explained to the outlet. 'And then he went and got literally four other rings, and it was so ridiculous.' Mark evidently 'wanted it to be perfect,' which is why he encouraged her to wear 'each ring for like two weeks to try it out' before deciding on one. The bauble that Bella eventually settled on, she revealed, was an emerald-cut diamond ring that boasted more than 10 carats. Chloe Sims put on a very busty display as she stepped to The Hallman pre-Oscars dinner in Los Angeles on Thursday. The TOWIE star, 42, flaunted her sensational figure as she wore a figure-hugging knee-length dress. Her puff-sleeved Bardot garment showcased her ample assets as she paired the ankle-length dress with a pair of strappy gold heels. To accessorise, the TV personality wore a simple gold circular clutch, which she matched with an array of gold bangles and a pair of statement earrings. She flashed a gorgeous smile as she headed into the venue with an elegant hair updo. Chloe Sims put on a very busty display as she stepped to The Hallman pre-Oscars dinner in Los Angeles on Thursday The TOWIE star, 42, flaunted her sensational figure as she wore a figure-hugging knee-length dress The actress was accompanied by fellow TV star Joey Essex, who looked dapper as always in a silk cream shirt and a thick black biker jacket. He looked handsome in his latest buzz cut as he stepped out in a pair of tailored blue trousers and black suit shoes. It comes as Chloe, and sisters Frankie and Demi Sims are set for a dramatic return to TV later this month as the trailer for their reality show House Of Sims season two dropped on Wednesday. The former TOWIE stars had a very explosive fall out during filming which has caused Frankie, 28, and Demi, 27, to return to Essex and quit their family US show. Things quickly got heated between the girls as they were seen having drinks at a rooftop bar before crew members were forced to step in and separate the siblings. Chloe told Frankie and Demi to 'stop their attitude' after previously saying in the trailer that she had 'put them f***ing where they are' in their careers. As temperatures rose, Chloe grabbed her drink and launched it all over Demi causing their brother Charlie to hold them a part before crew members helped out. As she threw the cocktail, Demi yelled: 'What the f***, you f***ing c***', while Frankie called Chloe a 'piece of s***'. Her puff-sleeved Bardot garment showcased her ample assets as she paired the ankle-length dress with a pair of strappy gold heels To accessorise, the TV personality wore a simple gold circular clutch, which she matched with an array of gold bangles and a pair of statement earrings She flashed a gorgeous pearly white smile as she headed into the venue with an elegant hair updo The actress was accompanied by fellow TV star Joey Essex, who looked dapper as always in a silk cream shirt and a thick black biker jacket He looked handsome in his latest buzz cut as he stepped out in a pair of tailored blue trousers and black suit shoes The outing comes after Chloe, Frankie and Demi Sims are set for a dramatic return to TV later this month as the trailer for their reality show House Of Sims season two dropped on Wednesday The former TOWIE stars had a very explosive fall out during filming which has caused Frankie, 28, and Demi, 27, to return to Essex and quit their family US show Raising her voice, Chloe said: 'You were rude to me, you're my sisters I don't think so!' As Chloe walked off, Demi yelled after her: 'You're embarrassing and a bully. I'm done with her'. While Frankie added: 'I never want to see her again'. As Chloe was leaving the bar she was joined by brother Charlie and told him she is 'done with the pair of them'. The intense new series, which is set to air on OFTV on March 13, will also feature guest appearances from other former TOWIE stars, including Vas J Morgan and Charlie's fiancee Georgia Shults. Rebel Wilson cut a stylish figure as she joined fiancee Ramona Agruma as she also attended The Hallman pre-Oscars dinner. The Australian actress, 44, looked sensational in a chic black jumpsuit which perfectly hugged her gorgeous curves. Rebel completed the look with a cream blazer that she draped over her shoulders and toted a beaded Valentino bag. Meanwhile Ramona, 40, who announced her engagement to the Pitch Perfect star in February 2023, turned heads in a quirky sheer blue dress. The look boasted a nautical print and pleats and she added a pop of colour with a bright red leather handbag. Rebel Wilson, 44, (L) cut a stylish figure as she joined fiancee Ramona Agruma, 40 (R) at The Hallman pre-Oscars dinner in Los Angeles on Thursday Katie Price has had her third round of lip fillers in the space of a month. The glamour model, 45, took to Instagram on Thursday to show off her new look after a visit to Lift Aesthetics, beaming and pouting for the camera. Proud of her new look, the mother-of-five shared: 'So guys, I've had my lips done.' It's a familiar video for her followers as just three weeks before she was back in the chair for another procedure. On February 13 she flaunted her plumped up pout just ten days after her last round. Katie Price showed off her third round of lip filler in just four weeks as she puckered her plump pout in an Instagram video on Thursday The glamour model, 45, took to Instagram on Thursday to show off her new look after a visit to her favourite clinic, beaming and pouting for the camera The former glamour model, 45, took to Instagram on Tuesday as she showed off her full pout after getting a top up of lip filler at Lift Aesthetics. Sporting a white corduroy puffer coat and a white t-shirt, the former page 3 girl looked in high spirits as she flaunted her 'Russian 3D lips'. Kissing the air, she said: 'Big lips. Who am I going to kiss on Valentine's Day?' As the star continued to smolder into the camera she revealed that she loved them before asking if Valentine's Day lips were a thing. Her visit to the Essex-based clinic came around very quickly after her last visit was as on February, 3. Donning a neon yellow vest top the star flaunted her full lips as she exclaimed: 'So I have just had my lips done with Ellie, love it.' The star then went on to reveal she will be back at the salon soon as she continued: 'And next week I am getting my bum done again.' The star has spent over 130k on cosmetic surgery and it seems she doesn't plan or slowing down, despite it being less than a month since she showed off the results of her latest bum procedure. After having her lips plumped the star also headed to the lash salon for a refresh of her lash extensions. Katie was last in the clinic on February 13 to get a top up just 10 days after having had more lip filler Katie visited Lift Aesthetics in January after admitting she wanted a 'new bum' in the New Year because of her 'awful cellulite'. Taking to Instagram in January the star shocked followers as she uploaded a video of her recent tweakment. Katie could be seen lying face down on the table, wearing nothing but a tiny black thong and green top as she showed off the results of her 'bum lift'. The Instagram Story showed the clinician shaking her bottom, then manipulating and moving her pert derriere up and around. Katie, who is mother to Harvey, 21, Junior, 18, Princess, 16, Jett, nine, and eight-year-old Bunny, admitted that she 'can't wait' to get more procedures at Lift Aesthetics and will back soon for yet another bum lift. On the 130k Katie has spent on transforming her looks, 84,000 of that has been spent on boob jobs alone. Katie has always been candid about going under the knife and during an interview with the Go Love Yourself podcast in October she divulged her concerns over suffering body dysmorphia, due to her resistance to accept her image. She said: 'I know sometimes when I have gone too far. I have been there done it with all the fillers. I don't have fillers now. 'I do in my lips and I have Botox because it got to the point where my face just looked like a balloon. Like really shiny. 'I am starting to look alien. It is purely for me, that's the difference.' Her visit to the Essex-based clinic came around very quickly after her last visit was as on February, 3 She also visited Lift Aesthetics last month after admitting she wanted a 'new bum' in the New Year because of her 'awful cellulite' After having her lips plumped the star also headed to the lash salon for a refresh of her lash extensions She said: 'I know sometimes when I have gone too far. I have been there done it with all the fillers. I don't have fillers now. 'I do in my lips and I have Botox because it got to the point where my face just looked like a balloon. Like really shiny. 'I am starting to look alien. It is purely for me, that's the difference.' No stranger to surgery, Katie told The Sun back in 2021 that she looked 'like a monster' after having full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin and fat injected into her bum. But it seems the former model has made a U-turn on her opinions and has decided to undergo similar procedures again. Speaking on This Morning last July, Katie's mum discussed her daughter's love of surgery saying that 'It was driven by unhappiness. Amy said: 'I didn't want her to have any surgery so I cancelled a few so she couldn't have them, then she learnt not to tell me. 'I do think it's body dysmorphia and I think the tattoos are too, I mean her boobs are ridiculous if you ask me. It's for her but I find with her tattoos it's the same thing.' Over the years Katie's breast size has gone up and down after numerous breastimplantations and reductions. In 2022 the mother-of-five went under the knife in a bid to have the 'biggest breasts in Britain' in what was her 16th boob job. Katie is no stranger to cosmetic surgery and has had nose jobs and other work such as fillers and Botox, liposuction, eye, chin and lip surgery and vaneers Speaking on This Morning last year, Katie's mum Amy discussed her daughter's love of surgery saying that 'It was driven by unhappiness She is said to have wanted even bigger breasts, opting for 2120 CC implants in a bid to boost her already large bust size. In an extract from Amy's book The Last Word which has been serialised by The Sun, Amy wrote 'When most people have an off day or are feeling a bit down, they change the colour of their nails or dye their hair, but Kate changes the shape of her body. She continued, 'Attracting men is not her motivation. She does it because she thinks it makes her in control of her body.' Unafraid to hold back with her warnings, her mother has quipped that if she's not careful she will end up looking like 'the Bride of Frankenstein.' Nick Viall bought his fiancee a very luxurious push present for giving birth to their daughter River Rose in February. The Bachelor alum, 43, purchased the model and surgical technologist, 25, an $8,000 Louis Vuitton handbag. But she didn't want it and returned it due to her frugal nature, the couple revealed on the most recent episode of Nick's podcast the Viall Files. 'Nick bought me an $8,000 Louis Vuitton bag for my push present and I was like, this makes me nauseous. I was like, we gotta return this, this makes me nauseous,' the new mom explained. 'It was a test,' Viall joked, while Joy quipped back: 'It was a test and I was being frugal and let's return this and get a little cosmetic case.' Nick Viall bought his fiancee a very luxe push present for giving birth to their daughter River Rose in February The Bachelor alum, 43, bought the model and surgical technologist, 25, an $8,000 Louis Vuitton handbag, pictured here in 2023 Nick shared the reasons for buying Natalie such a pricey handbag. 'I bought it in New York, I had a gig, a nice little paying gig and then I was feeling generous,' he explained. 'Here she is, 9 months pregnant with my child. It's the least I could do and so I bought this bag. And then Natalie being who she is, the very frugal queen, we took it back.' When the couple went to the Louis Vuitton store, the sales associates were not thrilled that they wanted to return the bag. 'They were pissed,' Joy said, while Viall added: 'We were just like, "We just want to return it."' They ended up being successful in the return of the bag and exchanged it for a makeup bag instead. The story shocked podcast guests Heidi Montag, 37, and her husband Spencer Pratt, 40, who were also talking about buying Hermes Birkin bags which retail for much more than the bag Viall bought Joy. Viall and Joy met when she slid into his DMs and confirmed their relationship in January 2021. But she didn't want it and returned it due to her frugal nature, the couple revealed on the most recent episode of Nick's podcast the Viall Files 'Nick bought me an $8,000 Louis Vuitton bag for my push present and I was like, this makes me nauseous. I was like, we gotta return this, this makes me nauseous,' the new mom explained, pictured here in 2023 'It was a test,' Viall joked, while Joy quipped back: 'It was a test and I was being frugal and let's return this and get a little cosmetic case' 'She slid into my DMs. It was very romantic,' he explained on the Viall Files. 'We kind of kept hanging out, and she finally got to a point where she was like, "I want to date," and I was kind of like, "I don't know,"' he explained. 'She was just like, "OK, this is what I want. It's fine, no big deal, but I'm gonna go do my thing," and she did and I was like, "What?!" She went and showed me exactly what I'd be missing.' The couple got engaged in January 2023 and are actively planning their upcoming wedding though they haven't revealed the date, only that the event will take place at Natalie's family estate in Savannah, Georgia. Sydney Sweeney gave her fans a shock on social media on Friday. The actress, 26, who has been in New York City enjoying time with her fiance Jonathan Davino, is trying her hand at horror for her latest project. The Emmy nominee was screaming in a photo of her blood-covered face shared on Instagram. The words 'Suffering Is Love' were written across the photo. '@immaculatemovie opens exclusively in theaters March 22nd,' she penned, advising her fans to catch one of the 'sneak screenings on March 13th. Get tickets now.' Sydney Sweeney gave her fans a shock on social media Friday as she promoted her new horror film Immaculate which 'opens exclusively in theaters march 22nd, with sneak screenings on march 13th. Get tickets now,' she said The Euphoria star headlined the project about an American nun named Cecilia, who joins an illustrious convent in the Italian countryside. 'God saved me for a reason,' says the devout sister, 'I'm still searching for what that reason is.' While all appears to be picture perfect, behind the cloistered walls of the abbey, dark forces are at work. A fellow nun is killed and soon Cecilia discovers she is pregnant. 'It's a miracle,' a priest tells her after nuns use an ultrasound machine, which just happens to be at the convent, to confirm her condition. 'You are with child.' 'Out of all the women in the world, why did HE choose me?' a baffled Cecilia asks. While some believe she is following in the footsteps of the Virgin Mary, others are concerned she may be carrying an ungodly being in her womb. Frightening and often torturous events begin to take place in which the young nun's faith and body are tested. The Euphoria star headlined the project about an American nun named Cecilia, who joins an illustrious convent in the Italian countryside 'God saved me for a reason,' says the devout sister, 'I'm still searching for what that reason is' 'Just in time for Easter with the fam,' one fan joked after seeing the photo. The movie opens the weekend before the holiday. 'Jump scare sister,' penned another. The actress, who also produced the film, made it a family affair. She flew both of her grandmother's to Italy for production and gave them small parts in her first horror movie. 'They were, like, little old nuns in there,' she told Jimmy Fallon recently on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. While all appears to be picture perfect, behind the cloistered walls of the abbey, dark forces are at work A fellow nun is killed at the convent and soon Cecilia discovers she is pregnant. 'It's a miracle,' a priest tells her after nuns use an ultrasound machine, which just happens to be at the convent, to confirm her condition. 'You are with child' While some believe she is following in the footsteps of the Virgin Mary, others are concerned she may be carrying an ungodly being in her womb Immaculate was slated to make its worldwide debut at the South by Southwest festival March 12, the day before the sneak peek showings The star has referred to the project as a psychological thriller and teased she got 'unhinged' while on camera. 'But its also beautiful. I really wanted to make sure that it was a beautifully shot horror film because we were filming in such a beautiful location,' she told Deadline. 'Rome is stunning, so I wanted to do the locations justice.' Immaculate was slated to make its worldwide debut at the South by Southwest festival March 12, the day before the sneak peek. Adam DeVine revealed on Friday that his wife Chloe Bridges has welcomed their first child together. The 40-year-old Pitch Perfect star took to Instagram to make the exciting announcement. He said his 32-year-old actress wife welcomed a baby boy named Beau DeVine. Beau is French for 'handsome.' 'Meet lil baby Beau Devine!' began the message as he shared serious and comical images with the child and his wife still at the hospital. 'He can be fussy at times but weve already learned some great parenting techniques. Do your best fussy baby impression along with him and hell straighten right out,' he joked as they pulled faces. Adam DeVine revealed on Friday that his wife, Chloe Bridges, has welcomed their first child together. The 40-year-old Pitch Perfect star took to Instagram to make the exciting announcement. He said his 32-year-old actress wife welcomed a baby boy The little guy's name is Beau DeVine. Beau is French for 'handsome.' 'Meet lil baby Beau Devine!' began the message as he shared serious and comical images with the child at the hospital. 'He can be fussy at times but weve already learned some great parenting techniques. Do your best fussy baby impression along with him and hell straighten right out' He shared photos of baby Beau while in the hospital after Chloe gave birth. She was made up but in her floral print pajamas. Adam and Chloe met on the set of The Final Girls in 2015, announced their engagement in 2019, and have been married since 2021. He shared the pregnancy news in October. He posted a photo of him wrapping his arms around the Camp Rock 2 star and caressing her baby bump as she leaned back against him. The star who witnessed a man get gunned down outside of his home in Hollywood in 2023 also posted a cheeky photo of himself holding his own belly while posing back-to-back with his wife of two years. In the caption of his post, DeVine exclaimed: 'Look we're pregnant!' 'He can be fussy at times but weve already learned some great parenting techniques. Do your best fussy baby impression along with him and hell straighten right out,' he joked as they pulled faces Here they are seen in images for the pregnancy announcement in October Playing off their funny snap, he quipped, 'Well, I'm just fat now but Chloe is all preggo with a human baby!' In a joking manner, he said his social media page will now be dedicated to his child and alluded to the fact that they will be having a baby boy. 'Obviously, very exciting stuff,' he added. 'This will mostly be a baby page now, as I will be dedicating my life to my child in hopes he doesn't use my decades of recorded dirty jokes against me.' In the photos, the Workaholics alum donned a checkered polo shirt teamed with denim jeans to monochromatically match the Freddie alumna's chic, patterned maxi dress. Bridges showcased her blossoming baby bump in a satin dress, which highlighted her figure. Bridges also shared two photos of the pair posing on a pier in the front of the water at Newport Beach, California. 'We have news,' she wrote in her caption. 'Can't wait to get this lil family started'. Many of their celebrity pals, including Francia Raisa and AnnaSophia Robb, took to the comments section to congratulate the pair on the happy news. he posted a cheeky photo of himself holding his own belly while posing back-to-back with his wife of two years. In the caption of his post, DeVine exclaimed: 'Look we're pregnant!' In their own posts, both DeVine and Bridges alluded to the fact that they will be welcoming a baby boy; seen in June 2023 The pair originally first met on a flight to film their 2015 flick, The Final Girls, in Louisiana but apparently did not hit it off right away because DeVine was 'scared of Chloe's beauty' The longtime couple tied the knot at an intimate resort wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in December 2021 after six years of dating 'OH MY GOSH!!!!!! Chloe!!!! I can't wait! Congratulations,' Raisa, 35, gushed. Bridges seemingly confirmed they will be having a boy when she replied and said, 'He's gonna have the very best tias.' The pair originally first met on a flight to film their 2015 flick, The Final Girls, in Louisiana but apparently did not hit it off right away. DeVine told Vogue in 2021 that he was mesmerized and 'scared of Chloe's beauty' at the time. Shortly after and as they made a connection during filming, the couple started a romantic relationship. The longtime couple tied the knot at an intimate resort wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in December 2021 after six years of dating. Brooke Shields discussed being a sexualized as a child actor and the perils of growing up in Hollywood as she marked International Women's Day on Friday by appearing on a panel at SXSW. Shields, 58, who joined Meghan Markle and longtime news anchor Katie Couric to discuss 'breaking barriers' and 'women's representation, said she was at the 'center' of young women being sexualized in Hollywood and that her mother and team had protected her from predators. The actress was just 11 when she was forced to seductively kiss Keith Carradine, then 27, in 1978 film Pretty Baby in which she played a prostitute. She also appeared nude in a Playboy shoot aged 10 - with the star confronting her childhood exploitation in documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields. She said: 'There was this sexualization of young women and I was at the center of it. I was promoting it, I was surrounded by a strong mom, had a community around me, I did not become the type of statistic that Hollywood created.' Brooke Shields discussed being a sexualized as a child actor and the perils of growing up in Hollywood as she marked International Women's Day on Friday by appearing on a panel at SXSW The actress was just 11 when she was forced to seductively kiss Keith Carradine, then 27, in 1978 film Pretty Baby in which she played a prostitute (Shields is seen in a promotional shot for the film shared on her documentary) She added: 'Hollywood is predicated on eating its young.' Shields reflected on aging in Hollywood and her determination to be the voice for woman over 40, saying: 'At 58 you're too old to be the ingenue but not quite the granny yet. 'I find my reaction is to instead of get angry, find and ferret out the filmmakers who appreciate a woman over 40 and appreciate the life experience 'There are people out there who want to cater their programming to women of that age. 'My entire career has been built on beauty, as I've gotten older I want my message to be appreciative, but beauty as a wellness.... we're not just wrinkle cream 'We need to change the narrative - and say that there is beauty in this age.' Shields has previously said she struggled to understand how her mother Teri Shields did not intervene during the filming of Pretty Baby as she revealed her own daughters, Rowan, 19, and Grier, 16, refuse to watch it. In a clip from the documentary Pretty Baby, Rowan says: 'It's child pornography! Would you have let us [do that] at the age of 11?' She said: 'There was this sexualization of young women and I was at the center of it. I was promoting it, I was surrounded by a strong mom, had a community around me, I did not become the type of statistic that Hollywood created' Shields, 58, who joined Meghan Markle and longtime news anchor Katie Couric to discuss 'breaking barriers' and 'women's representation, said she was at the 'center' of young women being sexualized in Hollywood and that her mother and team had protected her from predators Shields has previously said she struggled to understand how her mother Teri Shields did not intervene during the filming of Pretty Baby as she revealed her own daughters, Rowan, 19, and Grier, 16, refuse to watch it (pictured) Shields reflected on aging in Hollywood and her determination to be the voice for woman over 40, saying: 'At 58 you're too old to be the ingenue but not quite the granny yet' Shields was seen arriving in Austin on Thursday Shields replies 'No' as she is overcome with emotion. Recalling the conversation, she told The Sunday Times Magazine: 'That was hard for me, to not justify my mom to them, but when they asked, I thought, ''Oh God, I have to admit this.'' But I don't know why she thought it was all right.' The star's mother was an alcoholic who died in 2012. Shields, an only child, said she could not be angry at her as her mother was so insecure. The actress has long deflected the blame faced by her mother - who allowed Shields to pose nude for a Playboy publication at the age of 10, but now Shields has admitted: 'I don't know why she thought it was all right. I don't know.' Directed by Lana Wilson, the documentary takes its name from Louis Malle's 1978 film 'Pretty Baby,' a drama about a young sex worker, played by Shields, in New Orleans in 1917. In the film, written by Polly Platt, she kisses Carradine while also appearing naked. At one point, Shields reportedly gave a repulsed face and was yelled at by the director. Yet, her mother never stepped in. 'That was that was hard for me, to not justify my mom to them, but when they asked me, I thought, 'Oh God, I have to admit this,' ' Shields told the Times when speaking about the documentary. 'I mean, I could say, 'Oh, it was the time back then,' or 'Oh, it was art.' But I don't know why she thought it was all right. I don't know.' It wasn't the first, nor would it be the last time she was sexualized by the media. At 15 she shot 'Blue Lagoon,' then came 'Endless Love.' Both featured sex and nudity. And then there were those Calvin Klein denim ads. When she was 16 and a global star, a family friend and photographer tried to sell nude photos he took of her when she was only 10. Her mother sued and the family went to court but the photographer won. The actress has long deflected the blame faced by her mother - who allowed Shields to pose nude for a Playboy publication at the age of 10, but now Shields has admitted: 'I don't know why she thought it was all right. I don't know. There was more sex and nudity for her the following year in Franco Zeffirelli's romantic drama Endless Love, about two high-school sweethearts who are forbidden to see each other. And at 15, she appeared writhing around in figure-hugging denim in the provocative adverts for Calvin Klein Jeans, which featured the suggestive tagline: 'You want to know what comes between me and my Calvin's? Nothing.' The films and that ad campaign helped propel her to international stardom. For years she credited her fiercely defensive mother Teri, who was also her manager. 'If anybody looked at me sideways, she was like: 'I will cut off your b***s and make you eat them,' ' Shields said in 2019. In the documentary, the actress reveals she was raped in her early 20s in a hotel room by an unnamed man in the film industry. Aged 14 she began filming the leering teen romance Blue Lagoon in which her character frequently stripped off and had sex with her fellow shipwrecked sweetheart played by Christopher Atkins, then 18 Shields has previously claimed her mother was 'in love with her' as she immersed herself in her daughter's career - and never dated anyone. She told Drew Barrymore in a 2023 interview that her mother accompanied her to every single interview she had when she was younger. Shields said: 'No one's going to get you. I'm going to be there. I'm there first. You're mine. I'm not going to give you to somebody. 'Under the guise of protection, but it was more ownership and fear.' But at the time, Shields didn't mind how her mother acted because she connected the work she was doing with being able to buy 'stuff' for her mother. 'I did a movie and we got a car. All I knew was keep my mother alive, keep dancing and get stuff,' she recalled. Married At First Sight's Sara Mesa was recently exposed for 'cheating' on her groom Tim Calwell with an ex boyfriend. But just days after the shock revelation, the nutritionist, 29, was spotted enjoying a loved-up date with her husband Tim. The pair seemed to have put all the drama behind them as they went on a romantic picnic date together. Sara showed off her figure in a mini lime green dress as she arrived to the park with her husband. The couple were spotted chatting to producers before finding the perfect spot and setting up their picnic. Exclusive photos show Tim and Sara on a very loved up picnic date after she admitted to catching up with her ex behind her husband's back At on point, Sara and Tim shared a passionate kiss as they embraced one another during their romantic date. The pair were also seen chatting and smiling before enjoying delicious treats. Things appear to be back on track for the couple after fellow bride Eden accused Sara of secretly meeting up with an ex-boyfriend behind her TV husband Tim's back in scenes which aired on Wednesday evening. Following the bombshell accusations, Sara spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her side of the story. Explaining what happened, Sara said: 'One weekend, I did go out with my friends, and my ex was there. I'm still friends with him, which I made very clear to Tim.' The pair seemed to have put all the drama behind them as they went on a romantic picnic date together She also expressed her disappointment in Eden's actions, feeling let down by her decision to bring the issue to light in front of Tim at the dinner party without discussing it with her first. 'It felt a bit sad to see her throw me under the bus like that and not really talk to me about it beforehand,' she remarked. Sara acknowledged her mistake in handling the situation with Tim, admitting to emotional infidelity. The controversy came to a head during the Byron Bay retreat on Tuesday, where fellow bride Eden felt torn about revealing a significant 'secret' concerning Sara. The couple were spotted chatting to producers before finding the perfect spot and setting up their picnic The pair were also seen chatting and smiling before enjoying delicious treats Daily Mail Australia had exclusively revealed Eden was going to expose Sara's 'secret meetings' with her ex-boyfriend, leading to intense speculation. After isolating from the group activities at the retreat, her husband Jayden Eynaud expressed his concern, leading to her claiming that Sara had secretly met her ex-boyfriend behind her 'husband' Tim's back. She claimed via text that Sara had asked her to borrow some clothes for dinner, before shockingly revealing that she was meeting up with her ex-boyfriend. Dropping the bombshell, she said: 'Just before the retreat, someone in the experiment sent me a message asking me for clothes, she's like "I want to wear a cool top to dinner tonight". Things appear to be back on track for the couple after fellow bride Eden accused Sara of secretly meeting up with an ex-boyfriend behind her TV husband Tim Calwell's back in scenes which aired on Wednesday evening The controversy came to a head during the Byron Bay retreat on Tuesday, where fellow bride Eden felt torn about revealing a significant 'secret' concerning Sara 'And I was like sweet, and I'd written to her, "where are you going to dinner?" and when I've opened it, she's said "I'm seeing my ex-boyfriend". It's Sara.' A shocked Jayden insisted Sara's alleged actions equated to 'cheating' and the couple - who have both been cheated on by exes - agreed that Tim needed to know. Jayden was left enraged upon learning of his wife's claims, and insisted that it was 'cheating' as he told Eden that they needed to tell Tim, and she was quick to agree. A teaser clip for Wednesday's episode showed Eden telling Sara that if she didn't come clean about her antics the weekend before, then she would tell Tim in a cliffhanger ending. After the date the pair appeared in to be in a much better place Daily Mail Australia had exclusively revealed Eden was going to expose Sara's 'secret meetings' with her ex-boyfriend, leading to intense speculation A teaser clip for Wednesday's episode showed Eden telling Sara that if she didn't come clean about her antics the weekend before, then she would tell Tim in a cliffhanger ending Ekin-Su Culculoglu admitted she thought her ex-boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti was her soulmate on Friday's episode of Celebrity Big Brother. The Love Island star, 29, chatted to social media star Zeze Millz and American actress Marisha Wallace and opened up about her romance with Davide, 29. The three women were talking about relationships when Marisha asked: 'Have you had a hoe phase yet?' After Ekin-Su questioned what that meant, Marisha replied: 'You can sleep with whoever you want, be with whoever you want, date whoever you want, just enjoy yourself.' Shocked, Ekin-Su relpied: 'No, I'd get attached.' Ekin-Su dropped a huge bombshell during Friday night's episode of Celebrity Big Brother revealing that she thinks her ex is her soulmate Ekin-Su, 29, and Davide Sanclimenti, 29, went out for nearly two years on and off after the pair met on Love Island in 2022 and went on to win the dating show She went on to reveal: 'I thought my ex was my soulmate. I imagined what our kids would look like, make the faces and everything.' Zeze then tried to reassure the reality star that was OK by reminding her that the pair were together for a while. Nodding Ekin replied: 'Yeah, two years nearly. It was real. People thought we were a PR couple for ages. But then obviously when the arguments happen, you can tell it's real.' As she continued to talk about the relationship, Ekin-Su then dropped a huge clue as to why the popular pair split, but stopped herself before revealing too much. She said: 'But he likes to part..you know, I don't want to talk abut that, but yeah.' Marisha then said: 'Girl he's still going through is hoe faze. He's sowing his wild oats.' The TV personality met Davide on the ITV2 dating show, which they went onto win, but confirmed she had parted ways with the Italian businessman in February for a second time, as she blamed a 'rollercoaster of ups and downs' in their romance. She first split from Davide in June 2023 but the pair reconciled just two months later, enjoying a romantic getaway to Turkey, where Ekin-Su's parents hail. During a heartfelt chat in the Celebrity Big Brother house Ekin-Su revealed that her two year realtionship with Davide was real and not a PR stunt like everyone believed After slipping up and saying Davide liked to party, social media star Zeze Millz (pictured left) and American actress Marisha Wallace (pictured right) told Ekin-Su thathe was still young The three women had a heart to heart on the bed as some of the other housemates including Coronation Street's Colson Smith sat around in the bedroom Fans have even speculated that the couple's break up is just for show, and they will both appear on Love Island: All Stars and dramatically get back together. Ekin Su is joined by X Factor icon Sharon Osbourne in the Celebrity Big Brother House who is staying for just a week but reportedly being paid an astonishing 100,000 for every day she is in there. Louis Walsh, Kate Middleton's uncle Gary Goldsmith and Coronation Street's Colson Smith are among the stars also taking part. The series is being hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best who were brought in for last year's Big Brother reboot. Friday night saw the first elimination with the live final airing on Friday March 22 on ITV at 9pm. Gal Gadot appeared on Instagram on Friday to share the first family photo featuring the clan's newest addition. The 38-year-old Israeli actress who announced her newborn daughter Ori's arrival this week reposted a photo of the family-of-six originally shared by her husband Jaron Varsano. Varsano's original post showed the couple with their brood of girls: Alma, 12, Maya, six, and Daniella, two, and infant Ori. 'Happy womens day! Im a lucky manm' his upload was captioned. Gadot shared it and added a string of heart emoji as well. The Wonder Woman actress kept her fourth pregnancy a secret before sharing the happy news on March 6. Gal Gadot appeared on Instagram on Friday to share the first family photo featuring the clan's newest addition Gal announced the arrival of her daughter, a baby girl she named Ori, earlier this week On March 6 Gal posted a snap of her cuddling her newborn while resting in a hospital bed. 'My sweet girl, welcome. The pregnancy was not easy and we made it through. 'You have brought so much light into our lives, living up to your name, Ori, which means my light in Hebrew. Our hearts are full of gratitude,' she wrote in the Instagram caption. 'Welcome to the house of girls. daddy is pretty cool too,' she added. The news of the birth surprised fans as Gal never announced she was pregnant. In 2022, Gadot gushed about childbirth and described always wanting to be a 'young mother' during an interview with InStyle. 'I started young. I was 25 when I was pregnant with Alma. I always wanted to be a young mother. Yeah, three kids. No joke, woman. God bless them, but it's so much work,' she told the outlet. She also raved about the 'magic' of childbirth: 'I would do it once a week if I could. It's so magical.' Gal and Jaron married in 2008 before starting their family; pictured in April 2023 She previously revealed she met her husband 'at this very strange party in the Israeli desert' that featured yoga and chakras; the couple pictured 2021 She added: 'And I always take epidurals, to be fair, so it's not so painful. Just the moment you feel like you're creating life, it's incredible. 'But the pregnancies are hard for me I feel sick and have migraines. I'm not in my element.' And she noted the most bada** thing she does is 'juggling between my family life and my acting career.' 'When you're on set, you're like a kite. You can fly so high and try to catch the air,' Gadot explained. 'Then you go back home to do your main shift as being a mother. It's not about me, it's, "Okay, now I need to bathe Maya, feed Alma, put Daniella to bed."' Patrick Kielty swooned over his wife Cat Deeley on Instagram ahead of her This Morning debut with Ben Shephard, saying: 'If there's anyone in the world made for This Morning, it's this human.' The Northern Irish comedian, 53, shared a Reel with his over 100,000 followers of Cat, 47, smiling, laughing, and being a bit silly. He set the video to The Beatles' Here Comes The Sun and wrote in the caption: 'I didnt know what a morning person actually was until I met this woman. 'She gets up every day with a smile on her face. A 5.30am, whistling in the shower, smile on her face. Then downs two coffees, and gives you the look. 'The what the f**ks wrong with you, lets do this look. Its not a pretend smile. 'And its not just some mornings. Its every morning. Which is bloody difficult cos shes married to me. Patrick Kielty, 53, gushed over Cat Deeley, 47, on Instagram ahead of her This Morning debut with Ben Shephard, 49: 'If there's anyone in the world made for This Morning it's this human' The Northern Irish comedian shared a Reel with his over 100,000 followers of Cat smiling, laughing, and being a bit silly He set the video to The Beatles' Here Comes The Sun and wrote in the caption: 'I didnt know what a morning person actually was until I met this woman 'I should also mention she likes a chat. To anyone. About anything. Anywhere. If theres anyone in the world made for a show called @thismorning, its this human. 'Strap yourself in @benshephardofficial And welcome to my world. We couldnt be prouder of you @catdeeley. Go get em Mama ! The Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby era will finally end when Cat and Ben, 49, make their debut as the permanent hosts of ITV's This Morning on March 11. Cat had been struggling to choose between the breakfast show and her 43,000-an-episode US presenting gig on So You Think You Can Dance. Ben had his final GMB show on February 23, leaving his 'on-screen wife' Kate Garraway after nearly 20 years. He said at the time: 'One of the hardest decisions of course is knowing that my mornings with Kate, my on-screen wife of nearly 20 years, is coming to an end.' Cat and Patrick tied the knot in a private ceremony in Rome back in 2012 and share sons Milo, 7, and James, 5. The family lived in Los Angeles while Cat worked on the dance show but returned to the UK in 2020 and now live in North London. 'She gets up every day with a smile on her face. A 5.30am, whistling in the shower, smile on her face. Then downs two coffees, and gives you the look 'The what the f*Ks wrong with you, lets do this look. Its not a pretend smile. 'And its not just some mornings. Its every morning. Which is bloody difficult cos shes married to me 'I should also mention she likes a chat. To anyone. About anything. Anywhere. If theres anyone in the world made for a show called @thismorning, its this human He finished: 'Strap yourself in @benshephardofficial And welcome to my world. We couldnt be prouder of you @catdeeley. Go get em Mama ! ' The Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby era will finally end when Cat and Ben, 49, make their debut as the permanent hosts of ITV's This Morning on March 11 Cat had been struggling to choose between the breakfast show and her 43,000-an-episode US presenting gig on So You Think You Can Dance Ben had his final GMB show on February 23 , leaving his 'on-screen wife' Kate Garraway (right) after nearly 20 years Cat and Patrick tied the knot in a private ceremony in Rome back in 2012 and share sons Milo, 7, and James, 5 Countryfile has been gracing our screens weekly for nearly a staggering four decades. Providing audiences with an abundance of agriculture know how, the show has been raising the country's most pressing rural issues. This week's episode will explore the rich landscape of the Marlborough Downs, which is home to one of the UK's newest nature reserves - Bay Meadows. But who is presenting Sunday's important Countryfile episode with Sean Fletcher? Read on to find out more about where in the UK the cast will be heading. Countryfile has been raising the country's most pressing rural issues ever since 1988, with Sean Fletcher joining the team back in 2015 (pictured 2020) This week's episode will see the team head to Marlborough Downs which forms part of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape (North Wessex downs pictured in 2018) Who is presenting Countryfile with Sean Fletcher? Hosting the episode exploring the Marlborough Downs will be Sean Fletcher as he discovers how this new nature reserve was former grazing land destined for housing development, but instead transformed into a thriving wildlife habitat. The Good Morning Britain presenter has been presenting the popular agriculture show since 2015. And for the upcoming episode in the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, Sean will be joined by Charlotte Smith as she heads to the hills to learn about the myths and legends inspired by the landscape. The pair will also be joined by and Panorama journalist Datshiane Navanayagam and famed farmer, Adam Henson on air. Where is Countryfile heading this week? This week's episode will see the team head to Marlborough Downs which forms part of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape and contains some of our most important habitats, including chalk grasslands, ancient woodland and rare chalk streams. Sean will discover how this new nature reserve was a former grazing land destined for housing development, but instead transformed into a thriving wildlife habitat. During the episode the presenter helps create otter holts and learns how these animals are crucial for the countryside, before joining a group of volunteers working to reverse the damage logging has done to a woodland nearby. Meanwhile Charlotte heads to the hills to learn about the myths and legends inspired by this landscape and finds out why a 374ft chalk horse was carved into a hill in the area. Elsewhere Datshiane visits Devon and Cornwall to investigate the problems facing rural communities trying to access NHS dental treatment. In Suffolk, Adam is celebrating ten years of the Big Farmland Bird Count, an annual event that encourages farmers and land managers to record bird species on their farms. Charlotte Smith heads to the hills to learn about the myths and legends inspired by this landscape and finds out why a 374ft chalk horse was carved into a hill in the area (pictured 2018) In Suffolk, Adam Henson is celebrating ten years of the Big Farmland Bird Count (pictured in the Cotswolds in 2018) The main presenters of the show are Matt Baker, John Craven, Helen Skelton, Adam Henson, Aninta Ran, Tom Heap and Sean Fletcher (the team pictured in 2018) When did Countryfile first air? The hit BBC show was first broadcast on the 24th July 1988 when it aired on a Sunday morning. Broadcaster John Craven began fronting the show in 1989 when it was just 30 minutes in length. In 2009 it moved to an early Sunday evening slot with Matt Baker and Julia Bradbury joining John as co-presenters. Who are the Countryfile presenters? The main presenters of the show are Matt Baker, John Craven, Helen Skelton, Adam Henson, Aninta Ran, Tom Heap and Sean Fletcher. Countryfile will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7pm on March 17, 2024. Escape To The Country host Jules Hudson was stunned when a couple came on to the show with an eye-watering budget of 1.5 million. In a 2021 episode of the popular BBC property show, Mike and Carol met up with Jules in the Peak District in a bid to find a home nearer their children. The pair had been living in the Netherlands for the last three decades but had opted to move back to the East Midlands. Confessing they wanted their future property to boast around three to four bedrooms alongside two annexes and a large downstairs area, Carol and Mike were not shy to dig deep for the perfect home. But the TV presenter was left shocked when the pair confessed they were willing to shell out a whopping 1.5 million for their dream house. Escape To The Country host Jules Hudson was flabbergasted when a couple came on to the show with an eye-watering budget of 1.5 million Carol and Mike (pictured 2021) were happy to splash out on their dream home after moving back from the Netherlands after 30 years to be nearer to their children in the UK Jules said to the couple: 'Shall we talk about your budget for this move? Who's going to confirm it for me?' 'If we're talking about a house that needs a lot of effort spent on it then probably about a million is as far as we'd want to go,' Mike responded. 'And if it was ready to move into tomorrow, with everything organised, even up to 1.5 million, that's the absolute limit.' The baffled host retorted: 'I have to confess, I think 1.5million is the biggest budget I've ever had to play with on this show. 'But I do want to get it right, so we've got a lot of work to do.' Jules took the pair on a tour across a range of stunning homes in the Peak district area. They made their first pit stop at a beautiful 18th century home in Kettleshulme Cheshire worth a staggering 1.5 million. The second house was a stunning contemporary home in Marple Bridge, Stockport, which fetched an enormous price tag of 1.3 million. Finally came The Mystery House in Wheston Derbyshire, which turned out to be a beautiful humble farmhouse. After viewing all three gorgeous properties, the buying hopefuls shared that the first 18th century home they viewed was the one which caught their eye. Regarding the home that was at the tail end of their 1.5 million budget, Carol said: 'I think for me, the house that stood out was property number one because it was almost ready to move into and it had a lot of things we needed.' The pair didn't make an offer on the home but did tell Jules they wanted to have another look around the property. More recently a young couple who appeared on the show were slammed for being 'spoiled' after they unveiled that they had 850,000 budget for their first home. Escape to the Country followed engaged couple Anna and Jack who shared their desire to own a joint four bedroom in Buckinghamshire. Fans of the show BBC show were shocked to learn that they nearly 1 million to do it, as the pair confessed they desired 'plenty of outdoor space, four bedrooms, a utility room, and a large kitchen.'. It was the first home (pictured) the couple viewed - which came with an eye-watering price tag of 1.5 million - that caught the couple's eye Carol said: 'The house that stood out was property number one because it was almost ready to move into and it had a lot of things we needed The couple already own individual flats in St Albans, but were now ready to trade their lives in for the countryside for their first home together. However, Anna, a civil servant, and Jack, a consultant, have since been dubbed 'privileged' and 'spoiled' by viewers, prompting them to reveal just how they came into the truckload of cash. Speaking to The Mirror, they said: 'While I consider this to be largely a private matter, to quell the "mummy and daddy" nonsense, I will say that we inherited in circumstances nobody would choose, and recognise that we are very fortunate to earn salaries that we can leverage.' Jack also condemned property prices in the UK, insisting that it's merely impossible for first-time buyers to purchase a home without a huge budget. He added: 'Our budget buys a small apartment in most of London, where 9 million people live. This is just plain wrong.' ITV has confirmed the VIP guests who will join Jonathan Ross as he hosts Oscars LIVE on Sunday. For the first time in almost two decades, UK viewers can experience the glitz and the glamour of the Oscars on ITV1 and ITVX. From 10.15pm on March 10, actor Richard Armitage, actor, film critic and comedian Ben Bailey Smith, actress Fay Ripley and TV and radio presenter Yinka Bokinni will join Jonathan in the London studio. The stars will talk through the latest predictions, sharing behind-the-scenes footage and reacting as the most famous evening in film unfolds. Coverage kicks off with Ross King live on the red carpet in LA and will be joined by Variety's Angelique Jackson at the Dolby Theatre. ITV has confirmed the VIP guests who will join Jonathan Ross as he hosts Oscars LIVE on Sunday It comes after Jonathan revealed the 'major problem' he has with Christopher Nolan's global sensation Oppenheimer. When asked about his opinion on those hoping to bag an Oscar prior to this year's Academy Awards on Sunday, the TV presenter did not hold back. Although Oppenheimer, which features Irish actor Cillian Murphy has been a favourite for both critics as well as viewers, it didn't win everyone over. Many across the globe raved about Christopher Nolan's retelling of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer's career, however it wasn't a favourite for the 63-year-old. 'As you get older and a bit more circumspect you realise that just because a film isn't for you doesn't mean it's not a film which a lot of people adore and love and isn't a good film, you know?' Jonathan told Press Association. 'Clearly Oppenheimer, the craftsmanship... I love the way it looks, I love the way it sounded... it was the script I had a major problem with. 'It felt meandering and somewhat unfocused. I'd be very happy for it to win. Christopher Nolan is an incredible talent, a real master of his craft.' 'Some of his movies I've adored, some of them I haven't liked, but I'd be very pleased to see him get it because he's such a massive talent and, of course, British.' From 10.15pm on March 10, actor Richard Armitage, actor, film critic and comedian Ben Bailey Smith (pictured), actress Fay Ripley and TV and radio presenter Yinka Bokinni will join Jonathan in his bespoke London studio For the first time in almost two decades, UK viewers can experience the glitz and the glamour of the Oscars on ITV1 and ITVX (Fay pictured) The stars will talk through the latest predictions, sharing behind-the-scenes footage and reacting as the most famous evening in film unfolds (Yinka pictured) Discussing other films, who have also received an Oscar nod for Best Picture, the TV presenter praised several movies on the roster. 'I can see why they're all nominated, I think they all deserve a nomination.' Delving into the films that left him entranced and others which left him yawning, the TV host shared that both Oppenheimer and Killers Of The Flower Moon were not among his favourites. He added: 'I love Poor Things, American Fiction I loved as well. It felt quite of the moment. 'Anatomy Of A Fall I think is incredible. I'll be very surprised if that wins, but it might, you never know, Parasite pulled it off a few years ago. 'And Anatomy Of A Fall isn't exclusively non-English language, it's got a mix, so who knows.' However the former Radio 2 host's top pick for Best Picture is Greta Gerwig's Barbie. expressing his absolute admiration for the film. 'Barbie, that will be fun if Barbie got it. I love Barbie, though. I think that'll be a very popular one with voters,' he quipped. But, Jonathan is not too hopeful as he predicts Oppenheimer will bag the illustrious award. He believes it will surpass Bradley Cooper's 'cold' Maestro screenplay, Poor Things and The Zone Of Interest - both of which he branded 'very unique'. Discussing some of the nights decisions further, Jonathan Ross described the host on the other side of the Atlantic, Jimmy Kimmel, as an 'edgy enough' and 'interesting' choice Although the blockbuster hit may have won critical acclaim from audiences around the world - it hasn't won over the talk show host (pictured: Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer) The Jonathan Ross Show presenter made his predictions on how famed late night talk host Jimmy Kimmel will fair hosting cinema's biggest night of the year. 'He's an interesting choice because he's edgy enough to make it interesting and fun, he's got a bit more edge and he's a bit more surprising than Jimmy Fallon for example, but he isn't too edgy,' he said. 'You have to walk that fine line, you don't want it to be completely anodyne and bland, which they've gone in that direction a few times over the years, but you don't want to go full Ricky Gervais and have the actors sat there panicking thinking, 'What are they going to say about me?'' Jonathan Ross hosts Oscars LIVE Sunday March 10th from 10.15pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Ross King is live on the red carpet from 9pm exclusively on ITVX. Costco shares took a tumble on Thursday after it announced it fell short of sales estimates - but beat earnings thanks to shrewd cost-cutting. The wholesale retailer's revenue was $58.44 billion in the most recent quarter - up 5.6 percent on the same quarter last year but less than expectations of $59.16 billion. It netted $1.74 billion in the quarter ending February 18, beating Wall Street expectations of $1.61 billion. Membership fees were a key source of revenue. They came in at $1.11 billion for the three months, up from $1.03 billion a year ago. It means Costco nets around $4 billion-plus a year from the fees, which are either $60 or $120 a year. Profits were also helped by expense control - 'doing a better job of budgeting' and 'control of labor costs', its CFO Richard Galanti said during an earnings call on Thursday. Costco shares took a tumble on Thursday after it announced it beat earnings estimates but fell short on sales CFO Richard Galanti became CFO in 1985 and took his last earnings call on Thursday. He said when membership fees rise it will be under his successor's watch Same-store sales jumped 5.8 percent overall - 9 percent in Canada and 4.8 percent in the US. It came just hours after the wholesale retailer's share price hit a 52 week high of $787. In after hours trading it had fallen around 4 percent to $750. Costco shares have rallied nearly 62 percent over the last year, more than twice the 30 percent gains of the S&P 500. When Costco executives discuss earnings, investors are usually watching closely for updates on its membership fees. The company hasn't increased it annual membership fees in almost seven years. It charges $60 for Business and Gold Star and $120 for Executive, which offers a 2 percent rebate on all Costco purchases made that year up to a total of $750. Higher fees would cause revenue to spike and mark good news for shareholders. Your browser does not support iframes. When asked about the issue of raising membership fees, Galanti repeated his now well-known response: 'It's not if, it's when.' He added that he was 'pleasantly surprised by the rate of new sign ups'. Membership was up 7 percent over the year. Galanti will be stepping down as CFO on March 15, having held the position for almost 40 years. Thursday's earnings call was the last he will take. He told investors that since he became CFO in 1985 he has hosted all but one call. Galanti will hand over the reins to Gary Millerchip. When membership fees are finally raised, it will be raised on his watch, Galanti said. Critics say reducing costs will increase demand and further stress the market Another credit would encourage those with starter homes to sell and upgrade New housing initiatives would offer tax credits to some first-time buyers Millions of homebuyers could soon be in line for a $10,000 tax credit under sweeping reforms of the housing market proposed by President Biden during his State of the Union address. The move is intended to improve housing affordability after mortgage rates effectively doubled in the past two years while property prices remain artificially high. According to the White House, Biden's plan - which would require congressional action before it goes into effect - is set to help 6.5 million Americans. The credit would be spread over two years. On top of that the President reaffirmed his commitment to other housing initiatives such as slashing closing costs, offering down payment assistance and incentivizing new home building. Here DailyMail.com breaks down what the announcement did (and didn't) say... At the center of the housing initiatives were two tax credits. The first would help to mitigate the current cost of a mortgage, the other would aim to increase housing supply Biden arrives to the House Chamber of the US Capitol for his third State of the Union address on Thursday, during which he announced initiatives to address the housing affordability crisis Support for first-time buyers So-called 'middle-class' first-time homebuyers will be eligible for a tax credit of $5,000 a year spread out over two years. The White House claims the payments - which amount to $416 a month - effectively reduce a buyer's mortgage by 1.5 percentage points for two years on the median home. The statement claims the help will be offered to 'middle-class first-time homebuyers' but does not specify the requirements that would need to be met or how 'middle-class' is defined. Officials estimate 3 million buyers will benefit from the credit. DailyMail.com asked the White House for clarification as to what would constitute a middle-class buyer, but did not receive a response. Support for homeowners Biden is also calling on Congress to provide a one-year tax credit of up to $10,000 to families who sell their so-called 'starter home.' SEPARATE CHILD TAX CREDIT During the State of the Union address Biden also pledged to revive a Covid-era expansion of the Child Tax Credit. That temporary expansion increased benefits from $2,000 up to $3,600 for qualifying children under age 6 and to $3,000 for qualifying children under 18. The House in January passed a $78 billion bill that would restore that expansion, but it remains stuck in the Senate. Advertisement This is defined as a property that is valued below their area's median home price in the county. The White House similarly would not elaborate on what was meant by 'up to $10,000'. For example, in Fulton County in Georgia the median home price is $469,670, according to the National Association of Realtors. In Fresno County in California the median price is $387,710. The proposal will help 3 million families, according to the White House. It is intended to overcome the so-called 'lock-in effect' which is deterring many Americans from moving home. The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate home loan is now 6.88 percent, according to Government-backed lender Freddie Mac. That is almost double what it was two years ago. It means a homeowner today faces paying around $1,000 more a month on a typical US property than had they bought in 2021. A buyer of a $400,000 home that puts down a 5 percent down payment will now pay around $2,800 in monthly mortgage payments. In March 2021, when rates were around 3.05 percent, buying a home at the same price and with the same deposit would have cost just $1,940 a month. In a normal market this would be enough to dampen demand for homes and thus quash prices. However, several experts have noted that a widespread property shortage in the US has kept home values artificially high. Biden also discussed reducing the cost of refinancing a mortgage by eliminating lender's title insurance on some refinances Many Americans who bought their homes when mortgage rates were low are now reluctant to sell because a mortgage on a new home would be so much more costly. The second tax credit would encourage them to vacate their homes and upgrade regardless President of the Housing Policy Council, Ed DeMarco, said the proposed tax credits may have the effect of increasing demand without significantly improving supply. 'Simply put, demand continues to outpace supply and subsidizing more demand inflates house prices,' he said. 'The proposed supply-side tax credits appropriately target that objective, but they do not address the regulatory environment that constrains builders.' Data from Redfin shows that the typical US homeowner now spends twice as long in their properties as they did in 2005. Today an owner can expect to spend 11.9 years in the same property, compared to 6.5 years two decades ago. What else did Biden announce? Other housing initiatives reintroduced? In addition to the two tax credits, Biden detailed a host of other initiatives that would help with the supply of homes and reduce costs for new homebuyers. Most notably, the White House said the President would call on Congress to provide up to $25,000 in down payment assistance to first-generation homebuyers. This proposal was contained in the Down Payment Toward Equity Act of 2021 and is currently in Congress awaiting approval. Another issue Biden has revisited this week relates to reducing the cost of refinancing a mortgage. According to the White House, waiving the requirement for lender's title insurance on some refinances could save homeowners an average of $750 and up to $1,500. Government-backed mortgage lender Fannie Mae confirmed in January that it will now allow buyers to replace expensive title insurance with a lower-cost alternative. The insurance is a one-off fee that protects lenders and buyers from losses incurred if there is a mistake with a property's title deed. Going forward they can use an 'Attorney Opinion Letter' (AOL) which allows a real estate attorney to confirm there are no problems with a property's title. An AOL is on average $1,000 cheaper than title insurance, according to Fannie Mae. The president this week also called on Congress to pass legislation that he says could result in the building and renovation of more than 2 million homes. That would in theory reduce the gap between supply and demand, ultimately lowering housing costs. Global ride-hailing app inDrive on Friday announced the launch of a DrivingNaari programme to provide equal opportunities to women in the field of driving as a career. The programme will empower underprivileged women to become professional drivers and give them access to remunerative livelihoods with dignity, inDrive said in a statement. We are launching a pilot project with women from Delhi NCR, and then plan to scale across India. We will welcome women from all over India to register for the inDrive DrivingNaari programme and take up commercial driving as a career option, an inDrive spokesperson for APAC region said. InDrive has collaborated with Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR) managed by Maruti Suzuki to provide a full 30-day driving course to all participants. The participants will also be given medical insurance, round the clock road assistance, and a safety kit. Upon becoming a driver partner with inDrive, they will be provided a car on lease, financed by inDrive, with commission-free rides on the inDrive platform, the company said. The company is also offering security features such as option to choose passengers based on their profiles, routes and price offers, driver verification, safety button and rate the passenger. Women drivers will be provided training to use these features, inDrive said. InDrive follows a fair-price setting model under which passengers and drivers negotiate fares among themselves. It offers ride-hailing, intercity, freight, and delivery services in India. Mobilezone Holding AG / Key word(s): Annual Results mobilezone Group posts strong sales volumes and strengthens its MVNO position in Switzerland and Germany 08-March-2024 / 06:45 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. PRESS RELEASE Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Rotkreuz, March 8, 2024 Net sales: CHF 1,013 million / organic sales growth of 2.6 per cent Operating income (EBIT): CHF 65.7 million Consolidated net income: CHF 49.5 million Markus Bernhard, CEO of the mobilezone Group, is satisfied with the 2023 financial results: "Last year, we were able to further expand our market position by increasing sales volumes in both Germany and Switzerland. With the additional focus on the MVNO business and a sustainably reduced cost base, we increased profitability at EBIT level to 7.0 per cent in the second half of 2023 (H1 2023: 5.9 per cent). This development confirms the strategic course we have consistently pursued." Telecommunications contracts negotiated (postpaid, internet and TV): Switzerland: 462,000 / +5.7 per cent Germany: 1,093,000 / +0.2 per cent Development of MVNO business: The number of MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) subscription customers increased by 40 per cent from 210,500 to 295,300 in the reporting year. The EBITDA contribution from MVNOs amounted to CHF 22.7 million (previous year: CHF 16.3 million) or 29.4 per cent (previous year: 20.5 per cent) of the total EBITDA. This totalled CHF 77.2 million (previous year: CHF 79.5 million). Adjusted for the negative currency effect of CHF 0.9 million (previous year: CHF 2.7 million) and the special effects, EBIT totalled CHF 71.1 million in the reporting year (previous year: CHF 73.3 million). Financial guidance The guidance for 2023 and market expectations have been met with EBIT of CHF 65.7 million, despite a further negative currency effect of CHF 0.9 million. Key figures in brief Currency-adjusted sales amounted to CHF 1,042 million (+3.9 per cent). Adjusted for acquisitions, organic sales totalled CHF 1,028 million. 70 per cent of consolidated sales of CHF 1,013 million were generated in Germany and 30 per cent in Switzerland (previous year: 69/31 per cent). Gross profit totalled CHF 205.4 million (previous year: CHF 201.0 million). MVNO sales increased from CHF 48.6 million (including Digital Republic: CHF 4.2 million) to CHF 63.7 million, with organic sales growth of 31 per cent. The MVNOs contribution to the EBITDA amounted to CHF 22.7 million (previous year: CHF 16.3 million) or 29.4 per cent (previous year: 20.5 per cent) of the total EBITDA of CHF 77.2 million (previous year: CHF 79.5 million). Operating income (EBIT) of CHF 65.7 million (previous year: CHF 70.6 million) with an EBIT margin of 6.5 per cent (previous year: 7.0 per cent), to which Switzerland and Germany contributed 54 per cent and 46 per cent respectively. EBIT excluding special effects totalled CHF 71.1 million (previous year: CHF 73.3 million) Negative currency effect of CHF 0.9 million (previous year: CHF 2.7 million). One-off costs of CHF 2.0 million from cost-cutting measures in Germany One-off charge of over CHF 1 million from the insolvency of the OPPO distributor in Switzerland in the 4th quarter. First-time amortisation in Germany of CHF 1.5 million from the launch of the newly developed online platforms and acquisitions made in the first half of the year. Financial expenses increased by CHF 3.3 million to CHF 5.2 million (previous year: CHF 1.9 million). Tax expenses amounted to CHF 11.4 million and decreased by CHF 2.8 million compared to the previous year (tax rate: 18.7 per cent, previous year: 20.7 per cent). Consolidated net income totalled CHF 49.5 million (previous year: CHF 54.5 million). Gross cash flow from operating activities totalled CHF 76.9 million (previous year: CHF 79.7 million). Net debt increased to CHF 91 million (previous year: CHF 30 million) due to the acquisition of Digital Republic (Switzerland), SIGA exchange and ENO (both Germany) and an increase in net working capital of CHF 40 million. The ratio of net debt to EBITDA was 1.18 (previous year: 0.38). Equity in the individual financial statements of mobilezone holding ltd totalled CHF 132 million (previous year: CHF 147 million). Earnings per share totalled CHF 1.15 (previous year: CHF 1.25). The Board of Directors will propose a dividend of CHF 0.90 per registered share to the General Meeting, similar to the previous year. The share price was CHF 13.72 on 31 December 2023 compared to CHF 15.32 at the end of December 2022. Market area Switzerland Business in Switzerland developed favourably. Sales increased from CHF 305 million to CHF 308 million, or 0.9 per cent. EBIT amounted to CHF 36.2 million (previous year: CHF 35.5 million), which corresponds to a return on sales of 11.7 per cent (previous year: 11.6 per cent). The number of shops totalled 127 (previous year: 124). The number of contracts sold (postpaid, Internet and TV) increased by 5.7 per cent to 462,000 (previous year: 437,000). Service sales (fleet management, data transfer, setting up smartphones and other services) totalled CHF 7.9 million (previous year: CHF 7.4 million). Sales of accessories increased by 2.4 per cent to CHF 25.5 million (previous year: CHF 24.9 million) and accounted for 8.3 per cent (previous year: 8.2 per cent) of sales in Switzerland. MVNO revenue from TalkTalk and Digital Republic totalled CHF 33.0 million (previous year: CHF 25.4 million). The number of postpaid subscriptions at the end of 2023 increased by 33 per cent to 149,800 (previous year: 112,500) customers. The number of refurbished smartphones sold under the jusit brand increased by 60 per cent. Market area Germany Business in Germany clearly improved in the second half of the year after a weaker first half. In local currency terms, the German organisation increased sales by 5.9% to EUR 733 million (previous year: EUR 692 million). In the reporting currency CHF, sales rose from CHF 696 million to CHF 708 million, an increase of 1.7%. EBIT amounted to EUR 30.8 million (previous year: EUR 35.4 million), which corresponds to a return on sales of 4.2 per cent (previous year: 5.1 per cent). In the reporting currency, EBIT totalled CHF 30.0 million. In the online business, 588,000 (previous year: 638,000) mobile phone contracts were negotiated; this corresponds to a decrease of 7.8 per cent. The volume in B2B retail increased by 11.5 per cent to 505,000 (previous year: 453,000) mobile phone contracts. A total of 1,093,000 (previous year: 1,091,000) mobile contracts were negotiated "online" and in B2B commerce, which corresponds to an increase of 0.2 per cent. Sales at MVNO HIGH totalled EUR 31.6 million (previous year: EUR 22.9 million). The postpaid customer base stood at 145,500 (previous year: 98,000) and increased by 48 per cent. Growth in the Second Life and smartphone refurbishing sector The Second Life segment, i.e. the repair and refurbishing of smartphones, continues to grow in importance. 4.3 per cent of the total number of smartphones sold by mobilezone in Switzerland were used smartphones (previous year: 2.8 per cent) and were re-introduced to the market as Second Life devices as part of a sustainable device cycle. 12.4 per cent of the total number of smartphones sold were bought back by mobilezone in the shop and online from customers (previous year: 8.3 per cent). In Germany, mobilezone has been selling refurbished devices via Sparhandy since 2022. Further development of sustainability reporting mobilezone has a comprehensive sustainability strategy with five focus topics that cover the entire ESG spectrum (environmental, social and governance). In the reporting year, the carbon footprint of the entire Group was calculated for the first time, including emissions from the upstream and downstream supply chain. This was an important step in defining the Group-wide CO targets. The core of the sustainability strategy focuses on five topics: - Governance and compliance - Employees - Customers - Smartphone cycle - Environmental management Sustainability reporting is based on the GRI standards and covers the non-financial reporting requirements stipulated by the Swiss Code of Obligations. The report on non-financial matters in accordance with Art. 964b of the Swiss Code of Obligations will be presented to the General Meeting for the first time on April 3, 2024, as part of a consultative vote. The sustainability report is available at https://www.mobilezoneholding.ch/en/investors-1/reports-and-presentations.html Change in the Group Management As already announced, CEO Markus Bernhard will step down as CEO of the mobilezone Group on June 30, 2024, and will continue to be responsible for the company's strategic development, MVNO business, investor relations and M&A as operational delegate of the Board of Directors. Roger Wassmer (CEO mobilezone Switzerland) and Wilke Stroman (CEO mobilezone Germany) will take over Group Management as Co-CEOs on July 1, 2024. Dividend and General Meeting The Board of Directors has decided to slightly adjust the dividend payout ratio to 60 to 80 per cent (previously 60 to 75 per cent) of consolidated net income. The Board of Directors will propose a dividend of CHF 0.90 per registered share at the General Meeting on April 3, 2024, as in the previous year. 55 per cent of the distribution will come from retained earnings and 45 per cent from the reserve from capital contributions, which corresponds to a payout ratio of 79 per cent of consolidated net income. If this proposal is accepted, the dividend will be paid out on April 12, 2024. The share will be traded ex-dividend from April 10, 2024. Share buyback programme 2022 to 2025 Due to the three acquisitions of Digital Republic, SIGA and ENO in 2023, the share buyback programme will also be suspended in 2024. Outlook 2024 Demand for telecommunications products remains high among the population. Accordingly, mobilezone is confident about the coming years for all business areas in Germany and Switzerland. The EBIT forecast for the 2024 financial year is CHF 68 to 75 million. The attractive dividend policy will be continued. In addition, we are still aiming to steadily increase the EBIT margin from 6.5 per cent today to 8.0 per cent in 2025. For the MVNO business area with TalkTalk, Digital Republic and HIGH, we expect continued strong customer growth in the region of around 20 per cent to over 350,000 customers. We expect the MVNO EBITDA contribution to continue to increase significantly from its current level of 29.4 per cent. We expect investments excluding customer acquisition costs to decrease from CHF 11.5 million to CHF 10.4 million in 2024. Based on a reduced cost base and increased recurring revenues for 2024, we are very confident that the Group will continue to develop positively. The Annual Report 2023 with the detailed financial statements in accordance with Swiss GAAP FER is now available at https://www.mobilezoneholding.ch/en/investors-1/reports-and-presentations.html A video conference for investors, Analysts and media representatives will take place today, March 8, 2024, at 9.15 a.m. The online conference will be held in German and participation is possible via the following link: https://www.mobilezoneholding.ch/en/investors-1/videoconference.html Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR (PDF) Contact for analysts, investors and media representatives Markus Berhard Andreas Fecker Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer mobilezone holding ltd mobilezone holding ltd mobilezoneholding@mobilezone.ch mobilezoneholding@mobilezone.ch About mobilezone Founded in 1999, mobilezone holding ltd is the leading independent Swiss and German telecoms specialist with a turnover of CHF 1.0 billion and a consolidated net income of CHF 49.5 million in the reporting year 2023. The registered shares of mobilezone holding ltd (MOZN) are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd. The mobilezone Group employs around 1,000 people at its sites in Rotkreuz, Urnasch, Cologne, Bochum and Munster. It offers a complete range of mobile phones and tariff plans for mobile and landline telephony, digital TV and internet from all providers. Independent advice and services for private and business customers, repair services and supplying specialist retailers complete the range. The services and products are offered online via various web portals and in over 125 shops in Switzerland. www.mobilezoneholding.ch End of Inside Information The Reserve Bank of India and Bank Indonesia (BI) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote use of local currencies for bilateral transactions. The MoU was signed here for establishing a framework to promote the use of local currencies viz., the Indian Rupee (INR) and the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) for cross-border transactions, RBI said in a statement. This framework would enable exporters and importers to invoice and pay in their respective domestic currencies, which in turn would enable the development of an INR-IDR foreign exchange market. Use of local currencies would optimise costs and settlement time for transactions, RBI said. The MoU was signed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo. The MoU on establishing a framework for cooperation in the area of cross-border transactions in local currencies between India and Indonesia, aims to promote the use of INR and IDR bilaterally, RBI said. The central bank further said the collaboration marks a key milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation between RBI and BI. Use of local currencies in bilateral transactions will eventually contribute to promoting trade between India and Indonesia as well as deepen financial integration and strengthen the long historical, cultural and economic relations between India and Indonesia, it added. With the spotlight on the Isopropyl Alcohol industry, pivotal for pharmaceutical production, India faces mounting challenges from China in the global market The year 2023 marked a milestone in the trade relationship between India and China. From 1995 to 2023 China orchestrated a strategic onslaught on India, launching 12 major Anti-Dumping Duty measures, predominantly in the Chemical Sector. Anti-dumping duty is a trade remedy measure that countries may impose on imports that are sold at prices lower than their fair market value, thereby undercutting prices and causing harm to domestic industries. Chinas trade attack on India has been typical of salami cuts, that is, targeting specific critical industries and ensuring that Indias capacities in that industry are completely demolished. A classic case is that of Penicilin-G, wherein the flooding of Chinese imports wiped off our capability to manufacture this critical medicine, and now the government is investing taxpayer money into Production Linked Incentives (PLI) to get our capacities in Penicilin-G revived. And when our Penicillin-G capacities were shut down, the Chinese jacked up the prices of this vital drug to usurious levels. Isopropyl Alcohol Industry: We now see a similar attack on Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) which is critical for bulk drug APIs and an ingredient in the formulation of drugs and sanitisers. It is to be noted that 75-80% of the domestic demand for IPA stems from our Pharmaceutical industry underscoring the significance of the chemical. In FY 23 Chinas share in total IPA imports to India stood at 64%. With a domestic capacity of 14,10,000 Mt per annum (source: ICIS) which is 6.5 times the IPA demand in India, China is strategically flooding the Indian market with surplus IPA. This poses a severe threat to domestic IPA producers as Chinas dumping prices are lower than the cost of production of domestic Indian Industry and this could potentially lead to incapacitating Indian IPA capacities. This has sent global alarm bells ringing with the USA, which was trying to move away from its dependence on the Chinese supply chain for medicines to Indian-sourced medicines. However the US is now worried that India itself is dependent on China, and such unrestrained dumping from China will challenge the supply-chain resilience of the pharma industry. Trade Remedies: So what can India do to protect the supply-chain resilience of the pharma industry and avoid a repeat of the Penicillin-G fiasco? WTO provides all economies with the ability to provide trade remedies through anti-dumping duties, similar to what China has been levying on Indian chemicals and the US has been levying on Indian-origin carbon and alloy pipes. India must immediately consider applying ADD on import of IPA, to safeguard our pharma industry and to continue to be the pharma capital of the world. Chinas Defensive Play: Last week, Chinas Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reapplied the anti-dumping duty for 5 years on o-chloro-p-nitroaniline (OCPNA), a chemical sourced from India predominantly used in dyes and pigment production. The ministry justified this move as a legitimate response.The ministry also said, The situation left Chinese enterprises in a state of unstable production and operation and made them susceptible to dumped imported products. Indias Chemical Sector Resilience and Regulatory Landscape: The fact that China is imposing Anti-Dumping Duties on Indian-sourced chemicals demonstrates the competitiveness and robustness of the Indian Chemical sector. Chinas trade tactics reveal a strategy to erode the foundation of the Indian Chemical Sector systematically. Either by dumping the surplus into India to make the market unattractive for Indian players or imposing trade remedies such as Anti-dumping Duty to restrict market access to Indian exporters. The domestic industry keeps frequenting the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) to share their challenges, after thorough due diligence DGTR shares its recommendation to the Director of Revenue (DoR) for further implementation. However, recent data from the Centre For Digital Economy Policy Research (C-DEP) shows that the Ministry of Finance (MoF) rejection rate of DGTR recommendations increased to 61% in the period 2020 to 2022, while the rejection rate was 0.67% for the period 1995 to 2022. Government Interventions: Amid this global chessboard of trade wars, there is a clear need for a proactive interface between the government and the domestic industries. Faster and more responsible trade interventions can prevent Indian sectors (like IPA) from succumbing to the pressures of the trade wars and the onslaught of imports. However, its crucial to recognise that any trade intervention loses its effectiveness if the domestic industry has already succumbed to the pressures of imports. As India dreams of reaching a $10 Trillion Economy by 2030, navigating the global trade dynamics is crucial. The governments timely and strategic interventions will determine the ability to safeguard the domestic industries, Indias economic aspirations and supply chain resilience on the global stage. The writer is President of the Centre for Digital Economy Policy Research (C-DEP); views are personal S Jaishankars tour of Korea and Japan prioritises the semiconductor industry EAM visits South Korea and Japan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was on tour to South Korea and Japan, this week. These two nations in Indias Asian neighbourhood, are also some of its closest allies while also being a major source of inward investments. The press release from MEA outlined the Korean visit to be dominated by India Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership expanded to diverse areas of cooperation, which include trade, investments, defence, education, S&T, and culture. The JCM is expected to comprehensively review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and explore avenues for further strengthening it. It will also provide an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. The Japanese leg of the journey highlighted issues of bilateral, regional and global importance, and exchange views on cooperation for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. It is also no coincidence that a special roundtable of the Raisina Dialogue, an important international diplomacy platform, propped up by Indias external affairs ministry, also took place in Tokyo during EAMs visit. Earlier justifying holding the Raisina roundtable in Tokyo, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said Raisina has become today an important global platform. We just had the Raisina Dialogue, where people from all over the world, leaders, political leaders, think tanks, and strategic thinkers all came to Delhi. We had the Greek Prime Minister who was the chief guest. So, there is a global resonance of this platform today. Japan, of course, is a very important partner for us and this particular engagement will help our conversation, will help our engagement with Japan as much. The real outcomes of the meetings in South Korea and Japan will be unveiled in the coming few months, where India has laid claim to occupy a significant chunk of the semiconductors supply chain network. Recently Indian cabinet approved a whole range of semiconductor proposals running into lakhs of crores. The current global semiconductor manufacturing capability is disproportionately cornered by Taiwan, South Korea and China, while the US and Jaan have a minority share in the pie. The Covid pandemic and subsequent actions by China, including the weaponisation of semiconductors ( a critical component of all machines from toasters to high-end space rockets) have forced almost every country to secure their supply chains and diversify. India doesnt have great relations with China and the situation is unlikely to improve in the coming years, that leaves India to fall back on its old allies Japan, and South Korea with a fair amount of support from the US and EU, to look at getting some a sizeable portion of the semiconductor manufacturing cake. In the vibrant Gujarat summit, held in January 2024, the state Chief Minister indicated that several South Korean and Japanese semiconductor firms are actively considering Gujarat for investments. The race to secure semiconductor manufacturing is in reality the current state of geopolitics as seen through a minuscule chip. The US and China are trying to outdo each other in the race for greater technological prowess, whose building blocks are the chips (minute integrated circuit boards, requiring complex multilayered, multiple steps design and manufacturing), which power almost every machine in todays world. The US has already blocked the export of high-tech chips, which can find their way to state-of-the-art military technology, to China stalling its total technology dominance ambitions. Indian Prime Minister and the current government, are confident of returning to power towards the middle of this year and want to waste no time in setting up the large employment-generating technology factories for tomorrow. EAMs South Korea and Japan, justify the need for Indias ambitious journey for the next decade. (The writer is a policy analyst; views are personal) A delegation of parliamentarians led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh visited Hungary from March 7 to 8 and underlined the strong economic partnership between India and the European country. Harivansh highlighted the importance of parliamentary cooperation as a key pillar of the vibrant relations between India and Hungary after he met Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Yakab and interacted with the Hungarian-Indian Friendship Group of the Hungarian National Assembly, chaired by Peter Cseresnyes. The two sides discussed various opportunities to further deepen the bilateral relations and emphasised the importance of cultural as well as people-to-people interactions, according to an official statement issued by the Rajya Sabha secretariat. They also took a comprehensive parliamentary tour to get detailed insights into Hungary's parliamentary traditions, the statement said. The tour organised on the invitation of Yakab included two Rajya Sabha members, Ashok Bajpai and Lieutenant General (Retired) D P Vats, along with Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody. "Our cultural cooperation has a long history. I am happy to note that there is a huge interest in yoga, Indian music, dance and ayurveda in Hungary. Our friendship extends to the people-to-people connections that have been nurtured over the years," Harivansh said. The Hungarian-Indian Friendship Group also talked about collaborations, including in the areas of artificial intelligence, water management and space research. The warm, friendly, multi-faceted and substantive diplomatic relations between India and Hungary marked the milestone of 75th anniversary in 2023, the statement said. There has been regular parliamentary exchanges between the two countries and the president of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Zsolt Nemeth, visited India in January. Yakab visited India in February 2023. The strong Indian diaspora in Hungary of around 9,000 acts as a strong bridge between the two countries. On the occasion, the team at the Hungarian Parliament organised a Odissi dance performance. The troupe led by Virag Reka Turi truly showed how cultural relations form the basis of the strong ties between the two countries, the statement said. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Keralas Wayanad again, the party announced on Friday as it released its first list of 39 candidates. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal will contest from Alappuzha (Kerala), former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon, Jyotsna Mahant from Korba, Tamradhwaj Sahu from Mahasamund and Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram. Venugopal said the list has 15 general category candidates while 24 are from the SC, ST, OBC and minority communities. Congress Treasurer Ajay Maken said the list has a good mix of youth and experience. The announcement came a day after the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) finalised the names for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections after having a discussion on over 60 Lok Sabha seats from 11 States and Union Territories. The CEC meeting was chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Discussions were held on Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Lakshwadeep. We are in election mode and on an aggressive path of campaigning with Rahul undertaking the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra which is in Gujarat, Venugopal said. The Congress party is very clear: We are here to reduce BJP seats to the maximum extent possible. We are ready to sacrifice anything to reduce BJP seats. But we are expecting the same level of partnership from other partners also. In some states, we need to move forward, Venugopal said. Maken during the Press conference said the first list is a mix of both young, experienced candidates and leaders from the Youth Congress. The Nyay Yatra will end on March 17 in Mumbai with a mammoth rally planned and Kharge is writing to all INDIA Bloc partners to attend that rally, he said. Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi and Venugopal, as well as other senior leaders who are part of the CEC, were present at the meeting. There is speculation that Rahul may also contest from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from RaeBareli, a seat which was previously held by her mother, Sonia. Both the seats are considered bastions of the Gandhi family and the local units of the Congress have demanded that the two scions of the Congress first family should contest from there. Rahul, who was previously an MP from Amethi, lost the seat in 2019 but won from Wayanad in Kerala. Ambika Soni, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, TS Singhdeo and Mohammad Jawaid are other members of the CEC. I am honoured that the Congress has given me an opportunity to defend my seat...I look forward to a fair and effective contest. In 15 years of politics, I never needed to spend one day of negative campaigning, the sitting Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor said in his first reaction after the party named him again as a LS candidate. The Congress said it would guarantee paid apprenticeships to every graduate under 25 if it wins the upcoming election, as it tries to tap into voter concerns over high unemployment, even among the well-educated. We are going to ensure your first job of `1 lakh ($1,209) per year, Rahul said on social media. This historic plan of ours is a forever cure for the disease of unemployment, he added. Rahul, who is in the middle of a his second leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra exhorting young people to vote for Congress, said the party would enact a Right to Apprentice Act guaranteeing a one-year apprenticeship in a Government or private institution, with the opportunity to continue in the job. This revolutionary scheme will change the face of Indian industries and the destiny of the youth by closing the skill gap between industry and Indias workforce, he said. The Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said several Indian nationals have been duped to work with the Russian Army and India has strongly taken up the matter with Moscow for their early discharge. Also, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal appealed to Indian nationals to not get swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian Army, saying it is fraught with danger and risk to life. Jaiswals comments at his weekly media briefing came days after Indian national Mohammed Asfan from Hyderabad, who was duped into joining Russias war against Ukraine, was killed. Jaiswal said strong action has been initiated against agents and unscrupulous elements who recruited the Indians on false pretexts and promises. He said India remains committed to ensure the early release of its nationals serving as support staff with the Russian Army. The Indian Embassy in Moscow on Wednesday confirmed Asfans death in a post on X without mentioning the reason or circumstances behind his demise. Another Indian, who also had worked as a support staff to the Russian army, died several days ago. The MEA spokesperson said India is trying its best to bring back their mortal remains. He said around 20 people have contacted the Indian Government and it is doing its best to locate them. However, the exact number of Indians working as support staff to the Russian Army is not yet known. Several Indian nationals have been duped to work with the Russian Army. We have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Government for early discharge of such Indian nationals, he said. The MEA spokesperson said strong action has been initiated against agents and unscrupulous elements who recruited the Indians on false pretexts and promises. The CBI yesterday busted a major human trafficking network conducting searches in several cities and collecting incriminating evidence. A case of human trafficking has been registered against several agents, he said. We once again appeal to Indian nationals to not be swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian Army. This is fraught with danger and risk to life, he said. Jaiswal said India remains committed to ensure early release of the Indian nationals serving as support staff to the Russian Army. According to media reports, many Indians recruited as security helpers in the Russian military, have been forced to even fight with Russian soldiers in certain areas along Russias border with Ukraine. Just days before the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls, the Centre on Friday announced a cut of Rs 100 in domestic cooking gas cylinders saying the reduction will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting Nari Shakti (women power). The announcement was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a token to mark the International Womens Day. This is second slashing of the LPG prices with the last on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan in 2023, a month before Assembly polls in five States including the Hindi heartland and the BJP was successful in maximum number of States. The price of a domestic LPG cooking gas will now be Rs 803 in Delhi, Rs 813 in Ahmedabad, Kolkata Rs 900, Mumbai Rs 802 and likewise a differential rate across the cities and States. Modi said the reduction of Rs 100 in LPG cylinder prices will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting Nari Shakti (women power). By making cooking gas more affordable, we also aim to support the well-being of families and ensure a healthier environment. This is in line with our commitment to empowering women and ensuring Ease of Living for them, the PM said in a social media post. The PM also shared the delight to nominate philanthropist Sudha Murty to the Rajya Sabha, and counted upon how his Governments numerous measures have empowered women. Women have been at the centre of Modis outreach and he has often asserted that their support to him and the ruling BJP have played a significant role in the partys successes. In the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, expected to be held in April-May, the BJP has intensified its connect with them as it looks to score a bigger win and retain power for a third straight term under Modi. Attending the first National Creators Award later, Modi urged content creators to increasingly make women a part of their work. He said the collaboration of content and creativity grows engagement, collaboration of content and digital brings transformation, and collaboration of content with purpose shows impact. He urged the content creators to bring inspiration through their content and recalled that he had raised the issue of disrespect towards women from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Modi also requested them to forward the spirit of equality among parents while raising boys and girls. He said the content creators should showcase the capabilities of nari shakti (women power) and gave ideas on depicting how a mother conducts her daily tasks and women from rural and tribal areas engage in economic activity. Content creation can help rectify wrong perceptions, he said. A home is the foundation of dignity. Its where empowerment begins and dreams take flight. PM-AWAS Yojana has been a game-changer to further empowerment of women, he said about a scheme under which crores of homes for the poor have been built, with more women than men getting the ownership. The PM Svanidhi scheme, a micro-credit facility for street vendors, has brought happiness to the lives of the poorest workers, who include a large number of women, he said. The Lakhpati Didi scheme, an initiative for financial empowerment of women associated with self-help groups, has become a big platform to empower them, he added in another post. Women associated with the group are a strong foundation for building a developed India, he said. NaMo Drone Didis are champions of innovation, suitability and self-reliance. Our Government is leveraging the power of drones to further women empowerment, the Prime Minister said. The posts, made on International Womens Day, were accompanied by short videos, highlighting the positive impact these schemes have made on women. The Governments move to cut LPG prices, described as a gift to the women, drew backlash from the Opposition, who questioned the timing of the announcement. NCP Member of Parliament Supriya Sule, of the Sharad Pawar faction, suggested that the Centres move could be a political ploy. I am not surprised at all. Look at the timing. They have been in power for the last 9 years. Why didnt they think of this earlier? Just after the election, I mean it will probably be announced in the next 5 or 6 days, yeh aur ek jumla hai...In our Government, the cylinder was Rs 430. Why dont they match it? said Sule. A 21-year-old married woman died while her husband escaped with injuries after their bike slipped and she was mowed down by a speeding truck at Bajrang square on Raisen road on Wednesday Police said that a woman died while the man riding the bike escaped with serious injuries after their bike was hit by a speeding Bhopal Municipal Corporation truck at Bajrang intersection. Family members told that Rekha Bansal got married three months ago with Prem Narayan who worked as a labourer in Raisen. Two days ago, Rekha and her husband left Raisen on Wednesday evening to visit her younger brother who got injured when his motorcycle slipped. This incident happened at Bajrang intersection at around 8 pm. According to the police, Rekha died after being hit by the rear tire of the Municipal Corporation's garbage collecting vehicle. After the preliminary investigation police sent the body for the post mortem. Police have started further investigation. The reason behind the accident would be revealed in the investigation, said police. Meanwhile police have registered a case of murder against an unknown person in the case of new born's body being found in the Bagsevania area. This case of murder was registered four months after the incident. According to the police, on October 28, 2023, information was received about body of a newborn lying on the banks of the canal in front of Om Nagar. As soon as the information was received, the police reached the spot and sent it for postmortem. The investigation also revealed that the newborn was thrown on the banks of the canal just two days after birth. The postmortem report said that the newborn died due to head injury. After informing senior officials about the report, advice was taken from the District Prosecution Officer in this matter. Following this advice, the police have registered a case of murder against an unknown person. However, the police are yet to find out who had thrown the newborn there. An attempt was made to find clues by interrogating the nearby hospitals but nothing could be found. Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Thursday reverberated with a resounding call legalize opium cultivation to combat the increasing drug menace in the State. Like a thunderclap amidst the routine deliberations, the issue, spearheaded by AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, electrified the atmosphere, sparking a series of intense discussions among legislators. Against the backdrop of Punjabs relentless struggle against synthetic drug addiction, the demand for allowing opium cultivation was presented as a bold and contentious solution by the lawmakers, challenging conventional wisdom and igniting a firestorm of opinions. Punjab, a border state grappling with the devastating effects of drug addiction coupled with smuggling especially among youth, has witnessed a resurgence in calls for the legalization of opium farming at earlier occasions also. Advocates argue that besides providing an additional source of income for the states farmers, legalizing opium cultivation could serve as a crucial strategy in combating the rampant abuse of synthetic drugs, commonly known as chitta. Legislators, all from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who voiced their support for the legalization of opium farming emphasized the historical context, noting that during earlier times when opium consumption was prevalent, individuals tended to lead healthier and longer lives. They drew attention to the stark contrast of the present scenario, where Punjab's youth are succumbing to the deadly grip of synthetic drugs, leading to a sharp increase in fatalities and health complications. Moreover, legislators highlighted alarming statistics indicating a surge in the number of IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) centers across the state. AAP MLAs, at least seven of them, pointed out that the proliferation of such facilities underscores the dire need to address the underlying issues. The issue was initially raised by AAP MLA Pathanmajra, during the question hour, raised the pressing question whether the Government intends to cultivate poppy in Punjab to curb the synthetic drug? But before the Minister concerned could answer, the Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan burst into laughter, setting off a chain reaction of giggles among the lawmakers. The Speaker turned to the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and asked, Earlier, the opium vends used to function in the statecan you please inform me and give me details, in a day for so, who closed that? As the chuckles continued among the MLAs, the Minister paused for a moment, and replied, This question has certainly brought smiles to everyone's facesLooks like I'm also getting to that age where such remedies might be tempting! However, Khuddian swiftly rebuffed the proposal, asserting that the Government has no intention of delving into poppy cultivation, categorically branding it as yet another form of drug. Undeterred by the Minister's response, Pathanmajra passionately argued that the devastating consequences of synthetic drugs cannot be ignored, citing the harrowing statistic of over 400 lives lost from 2020 to date. He also highlighted how the proliferation of IVF centers, smack, and pill addictions has ravaged Punjab's youth. Before 2007, drug use was minimal, but now the state has a staggering 136 IVF centers. Those who indulged in substance abuse earlier were productive individuals, engaging in farming and other activitiesFrom 2020 to March 31, 2023, a staggering 266 youths lost their lives to drug overdoses. Since March 2023 till date, another 159 young lives have been claimed by addiction, he said. With unwavering conviction, Pathanmajra pointed to neighbouring states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where poppy cultivation has already commenced, and Himachal Pradesh is considering it, and emphasized the potential revenue boon for Punjab. With its cultivation, the state revenue will also increaseIf the Government hesitates to embrace poppy cultivation, it should, at the very least, consider reopening opium vends to safeguard our youth from the clutches of synthetic drugs, he argued. Support for Pathanmajras stance echoed across the ruling party during the Zero Hour, as AAP MLA Manjit Singh Bilaspur lent his unwavering support, decrying synthetic drugs as a scourge haunting Punjab for over a decade. Painting a grim picture of families torn apart by addiction, Bilaspur emphasized that in the past, deaths due to poppy or opium consumption were unheard of. Our elders used to consume opium and they lived longGovernment should seriously consider thiseven doctors also suggest afeem in some cases of paralysis in small quantities, he said, while speaking over the issue in the zero hour. Former Minister and AAP MLA Fauja Singh Sarari informed the Speaker that opium vends in Punjab were shut down during the tenure of former Chief Minister Giani Zail Singh, who later became the President of India. He recalled that a special notification was issued during that time, following a letter written to the President, due to the significant presence of youth in Punjabs Sikh regiment and wrestling community. Another AAP MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa echoed the call to allow poppy cultivation, amplifying the urgency of the issue, while his party colleague Kulwant Singh Bazigar raised the demand for opium cultivation. He recalled how former MP Dr Dharamvir Gandhi had advocated for opium cultivation in Punjab when he was elected to the Lok Sabha. He emphasized that all members should support this cultivation and urged for a thorough examination of the statistics. Opium cultivation has commenced in Madhya Pradesh, with vends opening there, and similar initiatives have been taken in Rajasthan, with plans underway to start cultivation in Himachal Pradesh also. Thailand has also initiated cultivation, he said while emphasizing the use of opium for medicinal purposes. You can get the records checkedno one has died because of bhukki and afeem, he added. Earlier Demand This isn't the first time that demands to legalize opium cultivation in Punjab have been raised, as the proponents argue for its potential economic benefits and its role in combating synthetic drugs like chitta. Former Patiala MP Dr Dharamvir Gandhi, spearheaded the movement by introducing a private member bill in the Parliament way back in 2016. He had been raising the issue time and again, and had been supported by prominent figures including former MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, and former Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jiyani, among many others. A section of farmers had also rallied behind the cause, emphasizing that legalizing opium cultivation could significantly enhance their income and serve as a deterrent to synthetic drugs. In 2019, over 50,000 farmers submitted forms urging the then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, and Governor VP Singh Badnore to consider their plea. Dr Gandhi, a staunch advocate of the initiative, had highlighted the historical use of opium in Punjab, asserting its non-lethal nature compared to synthetic alternatives. He had argued that the ban on traditional drugs had inadvertently led to the rise of synthetic substances, emphasizing the historical significance of opium in the state's agricultural landscape. Expert speak An expert on the subject, while talking with The Pioneer, maintained that the push for opium cultivation by politicians may have serious consequences. The expert, who did not wish to be named, pointed out that drugs like heroin, while expensive, are not easily accessible to everyone; while the politicians' proposal to provide cheap drugs to the public raises concerns about the potential widespread impact on society. Additionally, the expert emphasized that farming on government land is a challenging endeavour. Citing examples from states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, where opium cultivation is government-regulated, the expert highlighted the negative outcomes. Instances in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, revealed that farmers faced legal issues and a high suicide rate, leading many to surrender their opium cultivation licenses. In a remarkable medical feat, AIIMS Bhopal has successfully treated eight-month-old baby Hitesh, who was diagnosed with a severe case of ventricular septal defect compounded by Down syndrome. Baby Hitesh, hailing from Lalitpur, was facing a challenging journey since birth due to a large hole in his heart and the complexities associated with Down syndrome. His father tirelessly sought medical interventions across various cities in the country, only to face disappointment until he arrived at AIIMS Bhopal. Under the expertise of the Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) team led by Dr. Yogesh Niwariya, Baby Hitesh underwent a successful operation lasting two and a half hours. Despite the complexities of the case and the child's weight of only 3.3 kg, the team rose to the challenge and achieved a complete success. Prof. (Dr) Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, praised the surgical team for their exceptional skills and commitment to excellence. He reaffirmed AIIMS Bhopal's dedication to providing top-notch healthcare services, stating, "We are committed to accepting every challenge and continue to set new benchmarks in healthcare excellence." The surgery, which addressed a condition found in about eight out of 1000 people, marks a significant milestone in pediatric cardiac care at AIIMS Bhopal. Following a week of post-operative observation, Baby Hitesh was discharged from the hospital, paving the way for a healthier future. Chasity Nunez, a Massachusetts resident who was killed along with her daughter on Tuesday, was a member of the Connecticut Army National Guard. CT Army National Guard/Contributed Photo Chasity Nunez, a Massachusetts resident who was killed along with her daughter on Tuesday, was a member of the Connecticut Army National Guard. CT Army National Guard/Contributed Photo A mother who was fatally shot along with her 11-year-old daughter this week while sitting in a parked car in their neighborhood in Massachusetts was a member of the Connecticut Army National Guard, officials said. Chasity Nunez and her daughter, Zella Nunez, 11, were killed in the shooting Tuesday afternoon in Worcester, Mass. A car authorities believe was used during the shooting later was found in Hartford. Nunez held the rank of specialist and was assigned to the 142nd Medical Company, based in Danbury, where she served as a Patient Administration Specialist, a guard spokesperson said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Our hearts are broken because we lost Specialist Chasity Nunez to senseless violence. She and her daughter were killed while sitting in their vehicle in their own neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon," Maj. David Pytlik, the guard spokesperson, said. "Chasity was beloved by her fellow soldiers in the 142nd Medical Company. Her wit, social nature and dedication to duty made her one of the best Soldiers in our unit. I cannot begin to make sense of why this happened and why her family, friends, co-workers and fellow Soldiers have been robbed of her and Zella," Pytlik added. "What we can, and must do now, is support one another as we grieve, process this profound loss and honor their memory." Nunez had served in the military for four years and had been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Army Achievement Medal, according to guard records. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pytlik described Nunez as resilient, intelligent and "destined for success in her civilian and military careers, and more full of compassion than anyone I know." On Wednesday afternoon police took 28-year-old Karel Mangual, of Worcester, into custody in connection with the homicides. He was taken into custody around 4 p.m. that day without incident, and he was not armed at the time, police said. Mangual is charged with armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license. He also had an outstanding arrest warrant, Worcester police said. A second suspect remained at-large as of Friday, police said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police are looking for 27-year-old Dejan Belnavis, and said he should be considered armed and dangerous. Police warned the public not to approach Belnavis and to contact detectives with any information. Belnavis is wanted for armed assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm without a license, according to police. Police began investigating the fatal shooting Tuesday afternoon. Worcester police were called to the area of Lisbon Street around 3:10 p.m. Tuesday for a report of gunshots, the department said in a news release. At the scene, officers found a parked SUV with two people inside: Nunez and her daughter. They were found shot and in serious condition. They were taken to the hospital where they both later died, police said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Security camera footage showed the shooters circling the area in a white sedan before the shooting, according to Mangual's criminal complaint filed in Worcester District Court. Footage captured two men walk up to the vehicle Nunez and her daughter were in and open fire, the court documents said. They then ran back to the car, which was seen fleeing the area. Cellphone tower data placed Belnavis' phone around the area at the time of the shootings, according to the complaint. Investigators tracked the car's connected car system through AT&T, which led them to Hartford. "A check of Belnavis showed he had a relative who resided close to where the vehicle had been parked in Hartford," the complaint said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday inaugurated and laid foundation stone of 679 various projects worth more than Rs 3623 crore across all 22 districts, at a state-level programme in Panchkula. Along with this, Khattar also launched the Haryana Antyodaya Parivar Parivahan Yojana (HAPPY) at a total cost of about Rs 600 crore. On the occasion, Khattar also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 20 major projects via video conferencing. In addition, Ministers, MPs, and MLAs inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects in district-level functions organized in all other districts. Among the 20 major projects are the foundation stone laying for a 4-lane elevated road on the Delhi-Agra-Delhi Vadodara Expressway Ballabgarh Mohana Road in Faridabad costing Rs 214 crore, foundation stone of flyover from Khalsa Chowk to Haryana Nursing Home in Karnal to be built at a cost of Rs 127 crore, inauguration of canal based water supply scheme for 61 villages at Ateli Mandi in Mahendragarh at a cost of Rs 114 crore, inauguration of water supply scheme for 35 villages in Nimar Badhesara of Charkhi Dadri at a cost of Rs 112 crore, Fatehabad Jail to be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore, laying the foundation stone of Transport Bhawan to be built at a cost of Rs 87 crore in Panchkula and construction of H.L. bridge on Yamuna river to connect Bilaspur to Khojkipur at a cost of Rs 87 crore, besides others. Khattar said that residents of Panchkula will soon enjoy the convenience of the Metro rail. The Metro project is underway to serve the Tricity area, encompassing Panchkula, Chandigarh, and Mohali. Panchkula is making continuous progress and is also benefiting from the airport infrastructure in Chandigarh. As part of this initiative, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Haryana Antyodaya Parivar Parivahan Yojana (HAPPY) today. This scheme offers free travel up to 1000 kilometers for one year on Haryana Roadways buses to Antyodaya families. Khattar, who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister, in Budget Speech had announced the Haryana Antyodaya Parivar Parivahan Yojana (HAPPY) scheme to benefit poor families to avail free travel, up to 1000 kilometres every year in Haryana Roadways Buses. Amid media reports about Indian youth forcefully inducted in the Russian Military and sent in Ukraine war, Punjab NRIs Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Thursday said that he was in direct touch with the External Affairs Ministry and the Russian Ambassador to India. As the Congress MLA Pargat Singh raised the matter of Punjabi youngsters during the zero hour, Dhaliwal informed the House that the issue has already been raised by the state government with the Centre. It is a serious matter which should be resolved earliest as these youngsters, majority of them belonging to Punjab, went to Russia on visitor visa but have been forcefully inducted into Russian Military Services, he said, while adding that one of them died during the war. Dhaliwal urged that appropriate action will be taken to provide suitable help to these youth to return home. He demanded that necessary action should also be taken against the violators of Visa Norms or Immigration Act. Some media reports revealed that these youngsters were duped by agents on the promise of jobs and forced to work as a helper for the Russian Army, he said. NRIs Affairs Minister also demanded that the body of the youth who died during the war, has to be brought back. He demanded the Union Government must immediately intervene in the matter. He informed that seven youngsters of India including Gagandeep Singh, Lovepreet Singh, Narain Singh, Gurpreet Singh (21), Gurpreet Singh (23) and others stuck up into the Ukraine war zone. Two Russia-based agents involved in the human trafficking network that pushed Indians into the Ukraine war zone are under the CBI scanner, officials said on Friday. The agents allegedly confiscated the passports of Indians arriving in Russia and forced them to fight with the armed forces, officials said. The network was busted by the CBI on Thursday. Christina and Moinuddin Chippa, a resident of Rajasthan, are based in Russia and were facilitating the trafficking of Indian youth to Russia by offering them lucrative job opportunities there, officials said. The central probe agency's FIR has listed 17 other Visa consultancy companies, their owners and agents spread across India, they said. The agency has booked them under Indian Penal Code Sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating and human trafficking. The CBI has alleged that the accused persons through their agents trafficked Indian nationals to Russia on the pretext of getting jobs related to the Russian Army, security guards, helpers, better life, and education and a huge amount was charged from these people illegally. The agents also duped students by providing them admission to dubious private Universities in Russia instead of government or public Universities by offering discounted fees, and visa extensions and ultimately leaving them "at the mercy" of local agents. Once these aspirants reached Russia their passports were seized by the agents there and they were forced to join the armed forces after combat role training. "They were being trained in combat roles and provided with Russian Army uniforms and batches. Thereafter, these Indian Nationals are being deployed at front bases in the Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes and put their lives in grave danger," the CBI FIR said. The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday had busted the trafficking network. They said the agency has found 35 instances in which youngsters were taken to Russia after being lured with false promises of high-paying jobs via social media channels and local contacts and agents. After filing the FIR, the CBI conducted countrywide searches at 13 locations across Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai. "The human trafficking network of these agents is spread over several states across the country and they are operating in an organised manner," the spokesperson had said. The central probe agency has booked 24x7 RAS Overseas Foundation in Delhi and its director Suyash Mukut, O S D Bros Travels and Visa Services Pvt Ltd in Mumbai and its director Rakesh Pandey, Adventure Visa Services Pvt Ltd in Chandigarh and its director Manjeet Singh, and Baba Vlogs Overseas Recruitment Solutions Pvt Ltd in Dubai and its director Faisal Abdul Mutalib Khan alias Baba among others. "It has been ascertained that some of the victims also suffered grievous injuries in the war zone," the official had said. "So far, cash worth over Rs 50 lakh, incriminating documents and electronic records like laptops, mobiles, desktops and CCTV footage have been seized. Searches are going on. Certain suspects have also been detained for questioning at various locations," he had added. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:AN3PH Get Free Report) announced a interim dividend on Wednesday, March 6th, MarketIndexAU reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 19th will be paid a dividend of 1.642 per share on Tuesday, March 19th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 6th. This is a boost from Australia and New Zealand Banking Groups previous interim dividend of $1.60. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Stock Performance Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Australia and New Zealand Banking Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP boosted its position in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE:ARI Free Report) by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 66,325 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 5,853 shares during the period. Baker Avenue Asset Management LPs holdings in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance were worth $672,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 36.6% in the third quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 63,456 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $643,000 after purchasing an additional 17,006 shares during the last quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance during the third quarter valued at approximately $366,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 2.8% during the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 673,799 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $6,842,000 after acquiring an additional 18,085 shares in the last quarter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC raised its stake in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 9.5% during the third quarter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC now owns 56,756 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $575,000 after acquiring an additional 4,930 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 5.0% during the third quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 276,428 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,800,000 after acquiring an additional 13,040 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 53.74% of the companys stock. Get Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have recently weighed in on ARI. Bank of America downgraded shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $10.50 price target for the company. in a research note on Monday. UBS Group began coverage on shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. They set a neutral rating and a $10.50 price target for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $10.38. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:ARI opened at $10.98 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $11.25 and a 200 day moving average of $10.88. The company has a quick ratio of 67.73, a current ratio of 67.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. has a 52 week low of $8.58 and a 52 week high of $12.74. The company has a market capitalization of $1.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.58 and a beta of 1.67. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 29th were issued a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 12.76%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 28th. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finances dividend payout ratio is currently 466.67%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance news, CEO Stuart Rothstein sold 40,000 shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.45, for a total value of $458,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 541,675 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,202,178.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Profile (Free Report) 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ARI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE:ARI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (NYSE:BLX Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $28.64 and last traded at $28.60, with a volume of 17889 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $28.20. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, StockNews.com cut shares of Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 27th. Get Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior S. A. alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. Stock Up 1.5 % Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. Increases Dividend The company has a current ratio of 2.08, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.62. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $25.15 and a 200 day simple moving average of $23.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.04 billion, a PE ratio of 6.18 and a beta of 1.20. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Monday, March 4th will be paid a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.99%. This is an increase from Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 1st. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A.s payout ratio is presently 43.86%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Beddow Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. by 1.4% in the second quarter. Beddow Capital Management Inc. now owns 424,969 shares of the banks stock worth $9,375,000 after purchasing an additional 5,825 shares during the period. Thomas White International Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Thomas White International Ltd. now owns 353,718 shares of the banks stock valued at $5,510,000 after buying an additional 1,021 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. by 21.2% in the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 55,805 shares of the banks stock worth $1,381,000 after buying an additional 9,771 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers increased its stake in shares of Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 46,498 shares of the banks stock worth $986,000 after acquiring an additional 2,089 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ramirez Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. during the 3rd quarter valued at about $630,000. Institutional investors own 7.02% of the companys stock. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. Company Profile (Get Free Report) Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A., a multinational bank, primarily engages in the financing of foreign trade in Latin America and the Caribbean. The company operates through two segments, Commercial and Treasury. It also offers bilateral loans; structured loans including syndicated and clubbed, such as acquisition and pre-export financing, A/B loan financing, bridge loans, and liability management; and project financing. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior S. A. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior S. A. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM) have been assigned an average rating of Hold from the thirteen research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$65.38. Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$63.00 to C$68.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Bank of America raised shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and increased their target price for the stock from C$63.00 to C$66.00 in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$58.00 to C$56.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 23rd. TD Securities raised shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from C$65.00 to C$70.00 in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Desjardins increased their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$64.00 to C$66.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Get Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Trading Up 0.3 % Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Announces Dividend Shares of CM opened at C$66.56 on Friday. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 12-month low of C$47.44 and a 12-month high of C$66.75. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of C$62.47 and a 200 day moving average price of C$57.11. The firm has a market capitalization of C$61.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.18, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 1.09. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.41%. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces payout ratio is currently 55.05%. 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Trican Well Service (OTCMKTS:TOLWF Get Free Report) and Pason Systems (OTCMKTS:PSYTF Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, risk and institutional ownership. Insider & Institutional Ownership 76.8% of Trican Well Service shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 46.7% of Pason Systems shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get Trican Well Service alerts: Profitability This table compares Trican Well Service and Pason Systems net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Trican Well Service N/A N/A N/A Pason Systems N/A N/A N/A Dividends Analyst Ratings Trican Well Service pays an annual dividend of $0.30 per share and has a dividend yield of 9.4%. Pason Systems pays an annual dividend of $0.47 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.7%. Trican Well Service pays out -145.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Pason Systems pays out 44.0% 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. Trican Well Service is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. This is a summary of recent ratings for Trican Well Service and Pason Systems, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Trican Well Service 0 1 0 0 2.00 Pason Systems 0 0 2 0 3.00 Trican Well Service presently has a consensus price target of $2.50, suggesting a potential downside of 21.88%. Pason Systems has a consensus price target of $12.38, suggesting a potential upside of 23.13%. Given Pason Systems stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Pason Systems is more favorable than Trican Well Service. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Trican Well Service and Pason Systems top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Trican Well Service N/A N/A N/A ($0.21) -15.51 Pason Systems N/A N/A N/A $1.07 9.41 Trican Well Service is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Pason Systems, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Pason Systems beats Trican Well Service on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Trican Well Service (Get Free Report) Trican Well Service Ltd., an equipment services company, provides various specialized products, equipment, services, and technology for use in the drilling, completion, stimulation, and reworking of oil and gas wells in Canada. The company offers cementing solutions, including pre-flushes and spacers, cement plugs, lost circulation, cement design, and laboratory solutions, as well as surface, intermediate, production, liner, horizontal, and remedial/squeeze cementing services. It also provides hydraulic fracturing solutions, such as friction reducers, crosslinked gels, energized foam systems, visco-elastic systems, and high-rate nitrogen for coal bed methane fracturing and gelled hydrocarbons, as well as dissolvable ball sealers and diverting agents; and coiled tubing solutions comprising milling services, including fracturing plugs and ports, stage tool/debris subs, cement milling, and confirmation runs; coiled tubing fracturing; e-coil; in-house engineering; and acidizing and production enhancement services. In addition, the company offers fracture acidizing and production enhancement services that include restore well performance blockages from inorganic scales, emulsions, drilling mud, formation fines, clays, and organic deposits; nitrogen services; and engineering support, reservoir expertise, and laboratory services, as well as engages in the chemical sales. Trican Well Service Ltd. was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. About Pason Systems (Get Free Report) Pason Systems Inc., an energy services and technology company, provides data management systems for drilling rigs in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers Electronic Drilling Recorder, which monitors and records drilling operations around the rig; DataHub for data and information collected from the rig for on-demand retrieval; DataLink service provides direct connection interfaces for IT systems and analytics tools; Pason Live for monitoring rig operations in real-time using desktop computers or mobile devices; and daily and end-of-well KPI reports provide visual statistics on rig performance. It also provides Drilling intelligence to suggest drilling parameters, detect disfunction, and send event alerts to onsite personnel and remote engineers in real time; and Drilling automation, a reality across rig platforms. In addition, the company offers Pason Gas Analyzer for real-time gas measurement; a robust system of alarms and sensors to monitor ambient gasses in the atmosphere and in the drilling fluids; and Pason Pit Volume Totalizer to track the volumes, gains, and losses of drilling fluids on location. Further, it provides phone and chat support, field support, proactive monitoring, drilling optimization support, and office support for data integration services. The company serves E&P operators, drilling contractors, and other oilfield service companies. Pason Systems Inc. was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Trican Well Service Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Trican Well Service and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. lessened its holdings in Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BOOT Free Report) by 20.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,740 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,676 shares during the period. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. owned approximately 0.06% of Boot Barn worth $1,522,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Boot Barn during the 3rd quarter worth about $221,000. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Boot Barn in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,688,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Boot Barn by 3.8% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 573,745 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,590,000 after acquiring an additional 21,161 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners purchased a new position in shares of Boot Barn in the 3rd quarter valued at about $648,000. Finally, Qube Research & Technologies Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Boot Barn in the 3rd quarter valued at about $8,486,000. Get Boot Barn alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. B. Riley dropped their price target on Boot Barn from $92.00 to $83.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. UBS Group upgraded Boot Barn from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the stock from $75.00 to $108.00 in a research note on Friday, January 5th. KeyCorp assumed coverage on Boot Barn in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. They set a sector weight rating on the stock. BTIG Research dropped their price target on Boot Barn from $102.00 to $100.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Williams Trading reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Boot Barn in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $101.56. Insider Buying and Selling In other Boot Barn news, CEO James Grant Conroy sold 19,478 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.38, for a total transaction of $1,799,377.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 46,273 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,274,699.74. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CEO James Grant Conroy sold 19,478 shares of Boot Barn stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.38, for a total value of $1,799,377.64. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 46,273 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,274,699.74. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Gene Eddie Burt sold 1,000 shares of Boot Barn stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.03, for a total value of $85,030.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,542 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,116.26. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 26,339 shares of company stock valued at $2,413,715. 2.20% of the stock is owned by insiders. Boot Barn Price Performance BOOT opened at $90.18 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $80.97 and a 200-day simple moving average of $79.63. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.79, a P/E/G ratio of 7.03 and a beta of 2.20. Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. has a 12 month low of $64.33 and a 12 month high of $104.91. Boot Barn (NYSE:BOOT Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $520.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $520.34 million. Boot Barn had a return on equity of 19.52% and a net margin of 9.62%. Research analysts anticipate that Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. will post 4.72 EPS for the current year. Boot Barn Company Profile (Free Report) Boot Barn Holdings, Inc, a lifestyle retail chain, operates specialty retail stores in the United States. The company's specialty retail stores offer western and work-related footwear, apparel, and accessories for men, women, and kids. It offers boots, shirts, jackets, hats, belts and belt buckles, handbags, western-style jewelry, rugged footwear, outerwear, overalls, denim, and flame-resistant and high-visibility clothing. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BOOT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BOOT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Boot Barn Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boot Barn and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scotia Capital Inc. lowered its position in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Free Report) by 27.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 89,055 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 33,791 shares during the quarter. Scotia Capital Inc.s holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $3,295,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. acquired a new stake in shares of Delta Air Lines in the 1st quarter valued at about $502,000. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 495.7% in the 3rd quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 685 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 570 shares in the last quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Delta Air Lines in the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new stake in shares of Delta Air Lines during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC grew its position in shares of Delta Air Lines by 55.2% during the 3rd quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC now owns 874 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 311 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.29% of the companys stock. Get Delta Air Lines alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Edward H. Bastian sold 71,840 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.20, for a total transaction of $2,816,128.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 428,768 shares in the company, valued at $16,807,705.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.89% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Delta Air Lines Price Performance NYSE DAL opened at $42.78 on Friday. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 12 month low of $30.60 and a 12 month high of $49.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.52 billion, a PE ratio of 5.98, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.42. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $40.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $38.51. Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The transportation company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.11. 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 analyst estimates of $13.55 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.48 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 6.59 EPS for the current fiscal year. Delta Air Lines Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Investors of record on Monday, February 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 23rd. Delta Air Liness payout ratio is 5.59%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently weighed in on DAL. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Delta Air Lines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. TheStreet raised shares of Delta Air Lines from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $55.54. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on DAL Delta Air Lines Company Profile (Free Report) Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Delta Air Lines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delta Air Lines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chance Browne, a Wilton resident and longtime illustrator of the comic strip Hi & Lois, died at home in Connecticut on March 1, 2024, at the age of 75. A guitarist, he is pictured with some of his band flyers. Debra Browne/contributed photo Chance Browne, a Wilton resident, was the longtime illustrator of the comic strip Hi & Lois. Browne died on March 1, 2024 at 75. Comicana, Inc. and King Features Syndicate Chance Browne, a Wilton resident and longtime illustrator of the comic strip Hi & Lois, died at home in Connecticut on March 1, 2024, at the age of 75. A guitarist, he played alongside such blues greats as B.B. King, Albert Collins, Junior Wells, and Mark Naftalin; as well as folk legends Jim Rooney and Ramblin Jack Elliott. Debra Browne/contributed photo Chance Browne, a Wilton resident, was the longtime illustrator of the comic strip Hi & Lois. Browne died on March 1, 2024 at 75. Comicana, Inc. and King Features Syndicate Chance Browne demonstrates cartooning at Cider Mill School. Browne, a Wilton resident and longtime illustrator of the comic strip Hi & Lois, died at home in Connecticut on March 1, 2024, at the age of 75. Debra Browne/contributed photo Chance Browne, a Wilton resident, was the longtime illustrator of the comic strip Hi & Lois. Browne died on March 1, 2024 at 75. Comicana, Inc. and King Features Syndicate Chance Browne, longtime illustrator of the comic strip Hi & Lois, died at home in Connecticut on March 1, 2024, at the age of 75. Debra Browne/contributed photo Chance Browne, a Wilton resident and longtime illustrator of the comic strip Hi & Lois, died at home in Connecticut on March 1, 2024, at the age of 75. A guitarist, he played alongside such blues greats as B.B. King, Albert Collins, Junior Wells, and Mark Naftalin; as well as folk legends Jim Rooney and Ramblin Jack Elliott. Debra Browne/contributed photo "Hi and Lois," "Beetle Bailey," and "Hagar the Horrible" original cartoon strips were displayed at the "Masterpieces from the Museum of Cartoon Art" show at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Conn. Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Illustrator Chance Browne's father created the comic strip Hagar the Horrible. When Hagar debuted in newspapers in 1973, the rest of the Browne family served as editors for every gag over the following decade. Chance Browne died on March 1, 2024 at 75. Comicana, Inc. and King Features Syndicate Chance Browne, a Wilton resident and longtime illustrator of the comic strip Hi & Lois, died at home in Connecticut on March 1, 2024, at the age of 75. Comicana, Inc. and King Features Syndicate WILTON Chance Browne had no illusions during the decades he illustrated the comic strip characters in Hi and Lois and edited gags for Hagar the Horrible that he was creating in the shadows of his father Dik Browne and fellow Connecticut cartoonist icon Mort Walker. Chance knew that if he wasnt drawing those round noses every day, he wouldnt be doing his painting or recording his music, said his wife, Debra Browne. Those two comic strips provided for more than just our own family but for (Mort Walkers) too, and it continued their fathers legacy. As a result of the comic strips success, Chance Browne avoided the alleys of the starving artist and pursued his side passions for watercolors and blues guitar, living the life of a loving suburban father that the Hi and Lois strip has represented for the last 70 years. It was a rich quality of life, Debra Browne told Hearst Connecticut Media on Thursday, three days after her husband died. Music was really his passion, and he was an exceptional guitar player. Chance Browne died Monday at his home at age 75 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Brownes death was met with shock and sadness. It is a major blow to our cartoonist community to lose Chance," said CJ Kettler, president of King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst. "The Browne family is one of the founding Connecticut cartoonist families." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fellow Connecticut cartoonist Brian Walker of Norwalk agreed. We grew up together.and became very close in the last 20 years; he was like a brother to me, and I have my own brothers, said Walker, whose father Mort Walker created the humor strip Beetle Bailey and co-created Hi and Lois with Dik Browne. Im really going to miss him. Its a huge void in my life. Both he and his dad had an ability to be profound and funny at the same time, and we would talk frequently about our shared legacy of living in the shadow of our fathers, who are legendary cartoonists, Brian Walker continued. I dont think we ever deceived ourselves to think that we would reach the level and talent and expertise of our fatherswe just tried to keep working at getting better at what we do. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Chance Brownes death comes one year after the death of his brother, Chris Browne, who illustrated Hagar the Horrible, and six years after the death of Mort Walker, whose 2018 celebration of life drew Doonesbury strip creator Garry Trudeau and scores of cartoonists from around the country to Greenwich. A celebration of Chance Brownes life is being planned for the summer, with details to be released by the family when they are finalized. On Thursday, the familys focus was on sharing their grief. We have three daughters and we have all been together since before Chances passing, Debra Browne said. And that has been a great comfort to be a unit and share the sadness together. In his final days, Chance Browne sat at the kitchen table and sketched the living room of their Wilton home. On Valentines Day, he painted a watercolor heart for his wife. It was very hard for him, she said. I am going to keep that heart forever. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the end, all four of us were holding him and speaking to him, Debra Browne said. The last day he was peaceful and that made his transition much easier. My son-in-law was playing acoustic guitar, she said. It was a very peaceful and beautiful sendoff. What does Chance Brownes death mean for the future of some of the comic pages most enduring strips? The short answer is the strips will stay in the Browne and Walker family businesses, both families said. Our girls are all writers, said Debra Browne, who is an editor for the Hagar the Horrible strip. We plan to bring them into the family business as writers and illustrators and multimedia producers. We plan to continue with the family business. Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (TSE:OR Get Free Report) Senior Officer Andre Le Bel sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$21.44, for a total transaction of C$214,400.00. Andre Le Bel also recently made the following trade(s): Get Osisko Gold Royalties alerts: On Friday, December 22nd, Andre Le Bel sold 13,300 shares of Osisko Gold Royalties stock. The stock was sold at an average price of C$20.05, for a total transaction of C$266,665.00. Osisko Gold Royalties Trading Down 1.4 % Shares of OR opened at C$21.38 on Friday. Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd has a 1-year low of C$15.42 and a 1-year high of C$24.42. The company has a current ratio of 4.11, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.11. The firms 50-day moving average price is C$19.38 and its 200-day moving average price is C$18.29. The firm has a market capitalization of C$3.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -82.23, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.81. Osisko Gold Royalties Dividend Announcement Analysts Set New Price Targets The company 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 $0.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.12%. Osisko Gold Royaltiess payout ratio is -92.31%. OR has been the topic of several analyst reports. Scotiabank decreased their price objective on Osisko Gold Royalties from C$23.00 to C$22.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 15th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price objective on Osisko Gold Royalties from C$25.00 to C$24.50 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 20th. CIBC raised their target price on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$27.00 to C$28.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. TD Securities lowered their price target on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$25.00 to C$23.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Finally, National Bankshares cut their price target on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$25.00 to C$23.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$25.55. View Our Latest Analysis on OR Osisko Gold Royalties Company Profile (Get Free Report) Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd acquires and manages precious metal and other royalties, streams, and other interests in Canada and internationally. It also owns options on offtake; royalty/stream financings; and exclusive rights to participate in future royalty/stream financings on various projects. The company's primary asset is a 5% net smelter return royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine located in Canada. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Osisko Gold Royalties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Osisko Gold Royalties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 26,282 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 641 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $14,117,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in LLY. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.3% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 15,205,501 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,111,568,000 after purchasing an additional 338,077 shares in the last quarter. Liontrust Investment Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the third quarter valued at approximately $8,326,000. Armstrong Fleming & Moore Inc bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $357,000. Redhawk Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.9% during the third quarter. Redhawk Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 6,986 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,752,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 4.0% during the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 474,940 shares of the companys stock valued at $255,105,000 after purchasing an additional 18,079 shares in the last quarter. 81.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 1.8 % LLY stock opened at $766.28 on Friday. Eli Lilly and Company has a fifty-two week low of $312.31 and a fifty-two week high of $800.78. The businesss 50-day moving average is $690.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $616.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.94. The company has a market cap of $728.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 132.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 0.34. Insider Buying and Selling at Eli Lilly and Company Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.19. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 51.22% and a net margin of 15.36%. The company had revenue of $9.35 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.95 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.09 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Companys revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.44 earnings per share for the current year. In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 78,573 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $648.07, for a total value of $50,920,804.11. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 99,333,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $64,375,262,246.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 195,055 shares of company stock valued at $125,254,657. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. DZ Bank lowered Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $820.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $700.00 to $825.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $535.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $800.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $680.00 to $810.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $677.62. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Eli Lilly and Company Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF (NYSEARCA:PRF Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $37.24 and last traded at $37.21, with a volume of 107994 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $36.92. Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF Stock Up 0.7 % The businesss fifty day moving average price is $35.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $33.83. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.95 billion, a PE ratio of 12.89 and a beta of 1.00. Get Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PRF. Bank of Montreal Can grew its position in shares of Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF by 43.0% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 5,032 shares of the companys stock valued at $875,000 after purchasing an additional 1,512 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF by 2.6% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 3,740 shares of the companys stock valued at $639,000 after buying an additional 93 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its stake in shares of Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF by 39.1% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 51,296 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,764,000 after buying an additional 14,432 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF by 18.3% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,031 shares of the companys stock worth $1,030,000 after purchasing an additional 932 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF by 11.8% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 7,871 shares of the companys stock worth $1,345,000 after purchasing an additional 828 shares during the period. Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF Company Profile The Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF (PRF) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE RAFI US 1000 index. The fund tracks an index of 1,000 of the largest US companies that are selected and weighted using fundamental metrics. PRF was launched on Dec 19, 2005 and is managed by Invesco. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morgan Stanley grew its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC Free Report) by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 6,145,046 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 150,655 shares during the quarter. Morgan Stanleys holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $1,169,403,000 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. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the third quarter worth $28,000. RVW Wealth LLC bought a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the third quarter valued at $32,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 476.7% in the 3rd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 173 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its holdings in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 40.5% in the 2nd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 184 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.64% of the companys stock. Get Marsh & McLennan Companies alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms recently commented on MMC. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $186.00 to $185.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued a market perform rating and a $189.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $208.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. 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 stock from $215.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $202.71. Marsh & McLennan Companies Trading Down 0.2 % Marsh & McLennan Companies stock traded down $0.51 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $203.78. The company had a trading volume of 109,399 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,699,174. The firm has a market cap of $100.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $196.89 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $194.85. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $151.86 and a 1 year high of $206.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10. Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The financial services provider reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.05. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 33.72% and a net margin of 16.52%. The company had revenue of $5.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.54 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.47 earnings per share. Marsh & McLennan Companiess revenue was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 8.56 earnings per share for the current year. Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 25th were issued a $0.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 24th. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.39%. Marsh & McLennan Companiess dividend payout ratio is presently 37.72%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, SVP Paul Beswick sold 2,169 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $202.00, for a total value of $438,138.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 14,199 shares in the company, valued at $2,868,198. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CFO Mark C. Mcgivney sold 12,494 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.79, for a total transaction of $2,508,670.26. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 33,678 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,762,205.62. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Paul Beswick sold 2,169 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $202.00, for a total value of $438,138.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 14,199 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,868,198. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 23,791 shares of company stock worth $4,787,287 in the last three months. 0.30% of the stock is owned by insiders. 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MMC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Marsh & McLennan Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Marsh & McLennan Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morgan Stanley lifted its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 7.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,693,331 shares of the investment management companys stock after buying an additional 412,383 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley owned approximately 1.75% of The Goldman Sachs Group worth $1,842,192,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Cambridge Trust Co. grew its position 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 worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC lifted 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 period. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.06% of the companys stock. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: Insider Activity at The Goldman Sachs Group In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $376.39, for a total value of $1,129,170.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,121 shares in the company, valued at $3,809,443.19. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $376.39, for a total value of $1,129,170.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,121 shares in the company, valued at $3,809,443.19. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Sheara J. Fredman sold 4,300 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.15, for a total transaction of $1,634,645.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 11,463 shares in the company, valued at $4,357,659.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 39,064 shares of company stock valued at $15,082,153 over the last 90 days. 0.54% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Up 1.0 % Shares of GS traded up $4.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $392.46. 364,877 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,301,367. The company has a market cap of $127.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.42. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $289.36 and a fifty-two week high of $397.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.76. The stocks 50-day moving average is $384.82 and its 200-day moving average is $350.33. The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 16th. The investment management company reported $5.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 net margin of 7.85% and a return on equity of 8.03%. The firms revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.32 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 32.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The Goldman Sachs Group Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th will be issued a $2.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.80%. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.20%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have commented on GS. Edward Jones began coverage on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. They set a buy rating for the company. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of 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. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the company from $333.00 to $449.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $491.00 to $506.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $398.00 to $421.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, The Goldman Sachs Group has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $409.93. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on GS 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Front Row Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Free Report) by 220.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 452 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 311 shares during the period. Front Row Advisors LLCs holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $37,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Morgan Stanley in the 4th quarter valued at $956,566,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 125,756.8% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 10,641,190 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $904,714,000 after buying an additional 10,632,735 shares during the period. Boston Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley in the 3rd quarter valued at $477,765,000. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board purchased a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley in the 1st quarter valued at $451,711,000. Finally, FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 21.2% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 23,474,452 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,917,159,000 after buying an additional 4,098,577 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.09% of the companys stock. Get Morgan Stanley alerts: Morgan Stanley Stock Performance Shares of NYSE MS traded up $1.42 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $87.56. The stock had a trading volume of 1,677,030 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,016,319. The firm has a market cap of $143.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.66, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.89. Morgan Stanley has a fifty-two week low of $69.42 and a fifty-two week high of $95.95. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $87.67 and a 200-day moving average of $83.65. Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement Morgan Stanley ( NYSE:MS Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $12.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.77 billion. Morgan Stanley had a return on equity of 10.36% and a net margin of 9.49%. The businesss revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.31 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Morgan Stanley will post 6.37 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 31st were given a $0.85 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 30th. This represents a $3.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.88%. Morgan Stanleys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.76%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms recently issued reports on MS. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Morgan Stanley from $89.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Morgan Stanley from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $87.00 price objective (down previously from $94.00) on shares of Morgan Stanley in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Barclays upped their price target on Morgan Stanley from $102.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, TheStreet upgraded Morgan Stanley from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Wednesday. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $94.56. Read Our Latest Analysis on MS Insider Activity at Morgan Stanley In other Morgan Stanley news, CFO Raja Akram sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.56, for a total transaction of $584,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 97,634 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,158,297.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, Chairman James P. Gorman sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.93, for a total value of $4,396,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 400,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,172,000. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Raja Akram sold 7,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.56, for a total value of $584,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 97,634 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,158,297.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 208,155 shares of company stock valued at $18,149,314 in the last three months. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Morgan Stanley (Free Report) Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Morgan Stanley Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morgan Stanley and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Black Diamond Group Limited (TSE:BDI Get Free Report) Senior Officer Patrick Melanson sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$9.00, for a total value of C$90,000.00. Black Diamond Group Price Performance Shares of BDI stock opened at C$9.08 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is C$8.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$7.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 77.86, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market cap of C$545.80 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.13 and a beta of 1.72. Black Diamond Group Limited has a one year low of C$5.35 and a one year high of C$9.92. Get Black Diamond Group alerts: Black Diamond Group Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Sunday, March 31st will be paid a $0.03 dividend. This represents a $0.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. Black Diamond Groups dividend payout ratio is 22.64%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have recently weighed in on BDI. Acumen Capital lifted their price objective on Black Diamond Group from C$12.00 to C$12.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Black Diamond Group from C$11.00 to C$12.00 in a report on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price objective on Black Diamond Group from C$9.50 to C$11.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Black Diamond Group Black Diamond Group Company Profile (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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Black Diamond Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Black Diamond Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scotia Capital Inc. trimmed its position in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 41,762 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,036 shares during the period. Scotia Capital Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $3,866,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of PM. Cornerstone Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 12,807.4% in the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Advisors LLC now owns 26,485,964 shares of the companys stock worth $16,449,000 after buying an additional 26,280,764 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 100,700.1% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,640,144 shares of the companys stock worth $1,582,939,000 after buying an additional 15,624,628 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors boosted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 116,185,273 shares of the companys stock worth $11,342,014,000 after buying an additional 4,368,323 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 33.5% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 17,147,790 shares of the companys stock worth $1,587,542,000 after purchasing an additional 4,304,089 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 1,225.5% during the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,568,402 shares of the companys stock worth $348,046,000 after purchasing an additional 3,299,188 shares during the last quarter. 79.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Societe Generale upgraded Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price 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. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $95.00 target price on the stock. Argus restated a hold rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, UBS Group downgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $105.00 to $86.50 in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $105.40. Philip Morris International Price Performance PM stock opened at $91.51 on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $92.01 and its 200-day simple moving average is $92.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $142.07 billion, a PE ratio of 18.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.61. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 12 month low of $87.23 and a 12 month high of $101.92. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.36 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.44 by ($0.08). The business had revenue of $9.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.99 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 8.53% and a negative return on equity of 116.29%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.39 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 earnings per share for the current year. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 21st will be given a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.68%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 103.59%. Philip Morris International Company Profile (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pinnacle Investment Management Group Limited (ASX:PNI Get Free Report) declared a interim dividend on Wednesday, March 6th, MarketIndexAU reports. Investors of record on Thursday, March 21st will be paid a dividend of 0.156 per share on Thursday, March 21st. This represents a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 6th. Pinnacle Investment Management Group Stock Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 26.41, a quick ratio of 13.98 and a current ratio of 16.01. Get Pinnacle Investment Management Group alerts: About Pinnacle Investment Management Group (Get Free Report) Read More Pinnacle Investment Management Group Limited operates as an investment management company in Australia. The company offers third party distribution, and fund infrastructure and support services to its affiliates and various investment managers. It also operates as a corporate trustee and responsible entity for retail and wholesale investment trusts. Receive News & Ratings for Pinnacle Investment Management Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinnacle Investment Management Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEV Free Report) in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm purchased 3,600 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $172,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Provence Wealth Management Group acquired a new position in shares of iShares Europe ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Baystate Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in iShares Europe ETF by 511.3% in the 3rd quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 758 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 634 shares during the last quarter. Coastal Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares Europe ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Spire Wealth Management grew its holdings in iShares Europe ETF by 113.1% in the 2nd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 895 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 475 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Europe ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Get iShares Europe ETF alerts: iShares Europe ETF Stock Up 0.2 % IEV opened at $55.41 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.45 and a beta of 0.92. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $52.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $50.38. iShares Europe ETF has a 12-month low of $45.43 and a 12-month high of $55.41. iShares Europe ETF Company Profile iShares Europe ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Europe 350 Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Europe 350 (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the stocks of companies in the countries, which includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IEV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dancers with the Anam Cara School of Irish Dance step down North Main Street during the 4th Annual St. Patricks Day Parade organized and sponsored by the Norwalk Police Emerald Society Saturday, March 9, 2019. Members of the group will perform at the .... on March 17. Erik Trautmann/Hearst Connecticut Media The parade starts at Vets Park and proceeds up to Washington Street and up North Main Street; it ends at ONeills, Police Lt. Tomasz Podgorski said. Beginning at 11 a.m. on March 9, the parade will feature bands, dances, first responders, city dignitaries, and a fun environment for everyone, Podgorski said. Festivities will continue after the parade at ONeills Pub. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Since 2015, The Norwalk Police Emerald Society has put on a parade for St. Patricks Day. The society saw a void that there was no parade, St Patricks Day Parade in Norwalk, Podgorski said. They decided to fill that void by starting it, and it continued to be a tradition. The Emerald Society works to develop a partnership for good between police and communities, Podgorski said. Its a nonprofit organization that was started to celebrate Irish Heritage within the city of Norwalk, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This year Donal Leahy will be the Grand Marshal of the Norwalk St. Patricks Day Parade, according to the Norwalk Police Emerald Societys Facebook page. Donal moved to America in 1998 and became head bartender at ONeills when they first opened in 1999, the post said. Donal then became a partner in 2008 when ONeills relocated to their current home. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in CMS Energy Co. (NYSE:CMS Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 8,987 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $477,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Covington Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of CMS Energy in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Clear Street Markets LLC lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 94.9% in the first quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 573 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 279 shares during the last quarter. American National Bank increased its stake in shares of CMS Energy by 1,213.6% in the third quarter. American National Bank now owns 578 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 534 shares during the period. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new position in shares of CMS Energy in the third quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC increased its stake in shares of CMS Energy by 2,010.0% in the first quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 844 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 804 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.98% of the companys stock. Get CMS Energy alerts: CMS Energy Trading Down 0.4 % CMS stock opened at $60.08 on Friday. CMS Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $49.87 and a 1-year high of $63.76. The firm has a market cap of $17.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.37. The businesss 50 day moving average is $57.63 and its 200-day moving average is $56.49. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.84. CMS Energy Increases Dividend CMS Energy ( NYSE:CMS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.04 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.62 billion. CMS Energy had a return on equity of 12.09% and a net margin of 11.89%. The companys revenue was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.60 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that CMS Energy Co. will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 12th were issued a dividend of $0.515 per share. This is an increase from CMS Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 9th. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.43%. CMS Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 64.78%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other CMS Energy news, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 3,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.78, for a total transaction of $202,230.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 68,971 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,985,144.38. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have recently commented on CMS. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on CMS Energy from $65.00 to $63.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Wolfe Research upgraded CMS Energy from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $62.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Guggenheim upgraded CMS Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $60.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on CMS Energy from $65.00 to $63.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their price objective on CMS Energy from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and nine have issued 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 $62.25. View Our Latest Analysis on CMS CMS Energy Profile (Free Report) CMS Energy Corporation operates as an energy company primarily in Michigan. The company operates through three segments: Electric Utility; Gas Utility; and Enterprises. The Electric Utility segment is involved in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. This segment generates electricity through coal, wind, gas, renewable energy, oil, and nuclear sources. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CMS Energy Co. (NYSE:CMS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CMS Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CMS Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. grew its stake in Sempra (NYSE:SRE Free Report) by 109.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 469,848 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 245,038 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. owned 0.07% of Sempra worth $31,968,000 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. PrairieView Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Sempra by 100.0% during the third quarter. PrairieView Partners LLC now owns 376 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Optimum Investment Advisors boosted its stake in shares of Sempra by 100.0% during the third quarter. Optimum Investment Advisors now owns 380 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Sempra by 119.9% during the third quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 398 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Monetary Management Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Sempra by 100.0% during the third quarter. Monetary Management Group Inc. now owns 400 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Essex Investment Management Co. LLC lifted its position in Sempra by 100.0% during the third quarter. Essex Investment Management Co. LLC now owns 390 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. 84.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Sempra alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms recently commented on SRE. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Sempra from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their target price for the company from $78.00 to $86.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Sempra from $76.00 to $77.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Sempra from $75.00 to $73.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Sempra from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their price target for the stock from $76.00 to $84.00 in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Sempra from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $81.83. Insider Transactions at Sempra In other Sempra news, VP Trevor I. Mihalik sold 57,571 shares of Sempra stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.59, for a total transaction of $4,063,936.89. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 10,922 shares of the companys stock, valued at $770,983.98. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Sempra news, VP Trevor I. Mihalik sold 57,571 shares of Sempra stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.59, for a total transaction of $4,063,936.89. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 10,922 shares of the companys stock, valued at $770,983.98. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 34,190 shares of Sempra stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.83, for a total transaction of $2,421,677.70. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 2 shares in the company, valued at $141.66. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 142,464 shares of company stock valued at $10,081,471. Corporate insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock. Sempra Stock Down 0.1 % SRE stock opened at $70.60 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $44.63 billion, a PE ratio of 14.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a current ratio of 0.54. The firms fifty day moving average is $72.17 and its 200 day moving average is $71.66. Sempra has a one year low of $63.75 and a one year high of $79.51. Sempra (NYSE:SRE Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.11 by $0.02. Sempra had a net margin of 18.26% and a return on equity of 9.45%. The business had revenue of $3.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.17 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Sempra will post 4.83 EPS for the current year. Sempra Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 21st will be paid a $0.62 dividend. This is an increase from Sempras previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 20th. Sempras dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.69%. Sempra Profile (Free Report) Sempra operates as an energy infrastructure company in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Gas Company, Sempra Texas Utilities, and Sempra Infrastructure. The San Diego Gas & Electric Company segment provides to San Diego and southern Orange counties; and natural gas service to San Diego County. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SRE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Sempra (NYSE:SRE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Sempra Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sempra and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group lessened its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEUR Free Report) by 17.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 841,034 shares of the companys stock after selling 175,276 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Group owned 1.04% of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF worth $41,766,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of IEUR. Lido Advisors LLC grew its holdings in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 16.6% during the 3rd quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 4,476 shares of the companys stock valued at $222,000 after buying an additional 637 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 12.7% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 83,777 shares of the companys stock worth $4,160,000 after acquiring an additional 9,448 shares during the period. Truist Financial Corp increased its position in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 586,770 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,139,000 after acquiring an additional 3,829 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF during the third quarter worth $357,000. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 67.4% during the third quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 3,200 shares of the companys stock worth $158,000 after buying an additional 1,288 shares during the period. Get iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF alerts: iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF Stock Up 1.6 % IEUR opened at $57.46 on Friday. iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF has a 52 week low of $47.10 and a 52 week high of $57.55. The businesss 50 day moving average is $54.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is $52.39. The firm has a market cap of $4.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.11 and a beta of 0.95. iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF Profile The iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (IEUR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Europe IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed European securities. IEUR was launched on Jun 10, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group decreased its holdings in shares of EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE:EGP Free Report) by 38.1% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 247,190 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 152,425 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Groups holdings in EastGroup Properties were worth $41,165,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Quarry LP acquired a new position in EastGroup Properties in the second quarter worth about $27,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in EastGroup Properties in the second quarter worth about $648,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP grew its stake in shares of EastGroup Properties by 3,380.0% during the first quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 174 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 169 shares during the last quarter. Group One Trading L.P. bought a new position in EastGroup Properties in the first quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of EastGroup Properties during the first quarter worth $49,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.69% of the companys stock. Get EastGroup Properties alerts: Insider Activity at EastGroup Properties In other news, CFO Brent Wood sold 2,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.74, for a total value of $456,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 102,617 shares in the company, valued at $18,752,230.58. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. EastGroup Properties Price Performance Analysts Set New Price Targets Shares of EGP opened at $180.49 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $8.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.93, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.28 and a quick ratio of 0.28. EastGroup Properties, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.45 and a 12 month high of $188.85. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $180.89 and a 200 day moving average price of $175.27. EGP has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of EastGroup Properties from $180.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of EastGroup Properties from $188.00 to $198.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of EastGroup Properties from $186.00 to $188.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, Mizuho cut shares of EastGroup Properties from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $185.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, December 5th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, EastGroup Properties has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $188.83. Get Our Latest Stock Report on EastGroup Properties EastGroup Properties Profile (Free Report) EastGroup Properties, Inc (NYSE: EGP), a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EGP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE:EGP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for EastGroup Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EastGroup Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (BATS:COWZ Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 2,662 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $132,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of COWZ. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF by 77.2% in the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 512 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new position in Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Crewe Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Get Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF alerts: Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF Price Performance COWZ traded up $0.54 during trading on Friday, hitting $55.18. The company had a trading volume of 7,274,610 shares. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $52.40 and a 200-day moving average of $50.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.11 and a beta of 1.09. Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF Profile The Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Pacer US Cash Cows 100 index. The fund tracks a free cash flow-weighted index of companies selected from the Russell 1000 Index. COWZ was launched on Dec 16, 2016 and is managed by Pacer. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COWZ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (BATS:COWZ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC trimmed its position in shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report) by 8.1% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 2,038 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 179 shares during the quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in General Electric were worth $225,000 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 GE. Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. raised its holdings in shares of General Electric by 808.1% during the first quarter. Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 336 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 299 shares during the period. Financial Freedom LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Electric in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Macroview Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of General Electric by 43.4% in the 3rd quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 317 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the period. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of General Electric in the 3rd quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Electric in the 1st quarter valued at about $37,000. 74.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get General Electric alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on GE shares. StockNews.com raised shares of General Electric from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of General Electric from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and upped their price target for the company from $166.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Friday. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of General Electric from $135.00 to $148.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Oppenheimer restated a market perform rating on shares of General Electric in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of General Electric from $148.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven 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 an average target price of $138.71. Insider Transactions at General Electric In other General Electric news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 56,284 shares in the company, valued at $8,153,863.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, 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 transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 48,339 shares in the company, valued at $6,552,351.45. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, 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 transaction of $3,195,107.85. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 56,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,153,863.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.67% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. General Electric Trading Up 5.1 % Shares of GE stock traded up $8.50 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $175.00. 3,473,059 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,499,183. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $139.24 and its 200 day simple moving average is $123.55. The stock has a market cap of $190.46 billion, a PE ratio of 19.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.28. General Electric has a 12 month low of $86.45 and a 12 month high of $175.18. 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 released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $19.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.27 billion. General Electric had a net margin of 13.95% and a return on equity of 10.88%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 15.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.24 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that General Electric will post 4.53 EPS for the current year. General Electric Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 25th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 28th were given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 27th. General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.82%. 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company decreased its position in Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR Free Report) by 10.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 1,160,798 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 131,529 shares during the quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company owned approximately 0.29% of Ingersoll Rand worth $73,966,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC bought a new position in Ingersoll Rand in the third quarter valued at about $1,138,000. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Ingersoll Rand in the third quarter worth about $221,000. Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in Ingersoll Rand by 0.4% in the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 2,020,934 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $128,773,000 after buying an additional 7,524 shares in the last quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. increased its position in Ingersoll Rand by 9.5% in the third quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 254,135 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $16,192,000 after buying an additional 22,034 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in Ingersoll Rand by 1.9% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 11,547,716 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $735,821,000 after buying an additional 213,441 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.54% of the companys stock. Get Ingersoll Rand alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Ingersoll Rand In other news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 240,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.16, for a total value of $21,638,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 91,957 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,290,843.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 240,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.16, for a total value of $21,638,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 91,957 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,290,843.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CAO Michael J. Scheske sold 7,590 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.00, for a total value of $667,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 9,715 shares of the companys stock, valued at $854,920. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 258,011 shares of company stock worth $23,243,689 in the last quarter. 0.83% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Ingersoll Rand Stock Performance Ingersoll Rand Announces Dividend NYSE IR opened at $91.19 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $36.79 billion, a PE ratio of 47.99, a P/E/G ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 1.44. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $83.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $73.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 2.22 and a quick ratio of 1.67. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a 1-year low of $51.84 and a 1-year high of $92.44. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.02 per share. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 6th. Ingersoll Rands dividend payout ratio is presently 4.21%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have commented on IR shares. UBS Group upped their price target on Ingersoll Rand from $78.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Cfra upped their price target on Ingersoll Rand from $68.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Evercore ISI cut Ingersoll Rand from an outperform rating to an in-line rating and upped their price target for the stock from $81.00 to $89.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Ingersoll Rand from $87.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Ingersoll Rand from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $81.64. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Ingersoll Rand About Ingersoll Rand (Free Report) Ingersoll Rand Inc provides various mission-critical air, gas, liquid, and solid flow creation technologies services and solutions worldwide. It operates through two segments, Industrial Technologies and Services, and Precision and Science Technologies. The Industrial Technologies and Services segment designs, manufactures, markets, and services air and gas compression, vacuum, and blower products; fluid transfer equipment and loading systems; and power tools and lifting equipment, including associated aftermarket parts, consumables, air treatment equipment, controls, other accessories, and services under the under the Ingersoll Rand, Gardner Denver, Nash, CompAir, Elmo Rietschle brands, etc. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Ingersoll Rand Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ingersoll Rand and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST Get Free Report) EVP Stephanie Zapata Moore sold 98,020 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.50, for a total transaction of $5,734,170.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 161,888 shares in the company, valued at $9,470,448. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Vistra Stock Performance NYSE:VST opened at $61.68 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.26. The company has a market cap of $21.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.23 and a beta of 1.03. Vistra Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $22.67 and a fifty-two week high of $61.81. The firms 50 day moving average is $44.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.51. Get Vistra alerts: Vistra Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 20th will be paid a dividend of $0.215 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 19th. This represents a $0.86 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.39%. This is an increase from Vistras previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. Vistras dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 23.74%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on VST. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of Vistra from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Vistra from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Vistra Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vistra Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Lindbrook Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Vistra by 64.4% in the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 840 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 329 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale raised its stake in shares of Vistra by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 17,214 shares of the companys stock valued at $662,000 after acquiring an additional 384 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Vistra by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 19,446 shares of the companys stock valued at $510,000 after acquiring an additional 396 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc raised its stake in shares of Vistra by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 25,535 shares of the companys stock valued at $670,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the period. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Vistra by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 11,090 shares of the companys stock valued at $368,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.31% of the companys stock. About Vistra (Get 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. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Vistra Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vistra and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Unique charm of whole-process people's democracy 14:11, March 08, 2024 By Qi Yukun ( People's Daily Whenever he has time, Qian Haijun, a community manager in the customer service center of the power supply company of State Grid in Cixi, east China's Zhejiang province, would conduct door-to-door research with a small notebook. Qian, also a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), discussed experiences of carbon reduction with company managers and energy-saving measures with local residents. He gathered suggestions on topics like new energy transformation and green electricity trading, and then brought them to the NPC meetings. The opening meeting of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) To make proposals that better align with public opinion and reality, researcher Jiang Qi with the Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), had frequent field research to learn about the expectations of livestock farmers. He has brought "fresh" proposals to the meetings of the top political advisory body currently held in Beijing. NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members from all walks of life extensively listen to the voices of the people. Each "golden idea" that gathers the collective wisdom of the people showcases the unique charm of China's whole-process people's democracy, invigorating socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics. There are various ways to achieve democracy. The people's congress system and the CPPCC system enrich the forms of democracy, and demonstrate unique and significant institutional advantages. A deputy to the People's Congress of Shuibian township, Xiajiang county, Ji'an, east China's Jiangxi province learns about the production and operation situation of a local enterprise. (People's Daily Online/Chen Fuping) NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members actively fulfill their duties and conduct thorough research on various issues such as community governance, ecological conservation, and rural revitalization. They gather wisdom from all and draw on the strengths of all, contributing their insights to the ultimate goal of delivering a better life for the people. The stories bear witness to the harmonious blend of democracy and people's livelihoods, showcasing the true value of democracy. The stories of NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members fulfilling their duties reflect the methodologies for advancing national endeavors. Promoting Chinese modernization is an exploratory undertaking of hundreds of millions of Chinese people and thus they are the main actors in this process. Shang Haihong (second from right), a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and primary school teacher in Taizhou, east China's Zhejiang province, communicates face-to-face with students in a local middle school to collect their ideas. (People's Daily Online/Jiang Youqing) By learning about the needs of the people and seeking their advice, identifying practical issues from the pressing concerns of the people, and drawing inspiration from the vibrant practices of the people, China can better arouse the will for unity, rally the strength for striving, and blaze new trails forward. In order to meet the people's ever-growing needs for a better life, the "two sessions," which refer to the annual sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC National Committee, have become an important platform that pools wisdom for practical strategies and good advice to achieve high-quality development. With an aim to meet the people's aspirations for a better life, the "two sessions," gathering more wisdom and strength from the public, are unfolding a magnificent picture across the country that improves people's well-being and enhances their quality of life. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Wu Chengliang) Greenwich's Joe Belisle holds a sign at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Stamford's Izabela Novak, 16, holds a sign at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media The Rev. Terri Dennehy holds a candle at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Ferguson Library South End Branch assistant Evelyn Avoglia sings "We Are a Gentle, Angry People" at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Stamford's Domenic Corbo holds the transgender flag at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Nex Benedict's photo is displayed at the community vigil in their honor at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Stamford's Christine Bisceglie and Donn Reid show the colors of the rainbow at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Folks gather at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons speaks at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Folks gather at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Folks gather at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Folks gather at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Fairfield's Rea Gomez, 14, speaks at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Folks gather at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media Folks gather at the community vigil to honor the life of Nex Benedict at Latham Park in Stamford, Conn. Thursday, March 7, 2024. Benedict was a non-binary 16-year-old who died from head injuries last month after an altercation in a high school bathroom in Owasso, Ok. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media STAMFORD As the sun set over downtown Stamford, members of the local community gathered Thursday evening at Latham Park for a candlelight vigil honoring Nex Benedict, a non-binary 16-year-old who died last month in Owasso, Ok. The vigil was organized by community groups including Stamford Pride, PFLAG Stamford and the city of Stamford. Speakers included Stamford mayor Caroline Simmons, local religious leaders and members of the community. Benedict, who according to family used they/them pronouns, collapsed and died the day after they were injured in an altercation with three girls on Feb. 7 at Owasso High School. Local police previously said Benedict did not die of their injuries, but federal officials recently announced an investigation into the cause of death. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Organizer Polly OBrien Morrow, a Stamford Pride board member, said she was happy to see so many people come out on such short notice. She and other community leaders organized the vigil in a week. Between 50 and 70 people attended. Its very important to show especially our LGBTQIA loved ones that we support them, we love them, and to try and reassure them that we are doing everything we can to make it safer, as safe as possible here in Stamford and beyond, Morrow said. We all need to be the change we want to see in the world. As the parent to two transgender kids, Morrow said is was important to lift up the stories of LGBTQ youth and find ways to be supportive allies in the community. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It's not just the youth, Morrow said. But it's particularly hard on the youth. So this is really a needed public event to help heal. Stamford resident Izabela Novak, 16, said Benedicts death hit her especially hard because it's horrifying that something like that happened to somebody my age and any age at all. There is a light in this community that is full of support and kindness, even in the darkest moments in our community, she said. I think that's really what matters in situations like these, even though it's very unfortunate that they keep happening so frequently. Rae Gomez, one of the evenings speakers, said she felt speaking out was important because being part of the community myself, I think it's just difficult to see these types of things continuously happening as the years go on. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Seeing people here that aren't even necessarily part of the community or might not have any connections to them, I think it's very nice to see that people care, the 14-year old said. It's very sad, but I'm glad to see people continue to support us and just try their best to raise awareness for these issues. The Rev. Terri Dennehy of Stamfords Unitarian Universalist Congregation said it was crucial for community institutions to come together and offer support. WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 07: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on February 07, 2023 in Washington, DC. The speech marks Biden's first address to the new Republican-controlled House. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Drew Angerer/Getty Images Shayan Raghoo, a junior at New Britain High School, meets with Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Tuesday after being named as his guest to this year's State of the Union address. The senator met Raghoo last month at forum over his legislation, the Kids Online Safety Act. Courtesy/ Sen. Richard Blumenthal Reproductive rights, social media use by teens, education and the safe release of hostages are among the accomplishments and political activism that some Connecticut guests to this year's State of the Union address are being recognized for. Most of Connecticut's congressional delegation announced on Thursday morning who their guests would be for President Joe Bidens 2024 State of the Union address that night. The announcements followed Sen. Richard Blumenthal's news earlier this week that New Britain High School junior Shayan Raghoo was accompanying him to highlight her work in raising awareness about how social media is harming youth. Advertisement Article continues below this ad U.S. Rep. Jahanna Hayes, D-5th District, also pulled from the schools to find her guest, inviting James Accomando, a former president for both the Connecticut and national parent teacher associations. He currently serves as the Connecticut PTA federal legislative chairman. "Jim and I share the belief that strengthening family-school partnerships, supporting sensible solutions to keep students safe in their communities, and funding education are key," Hayes said. Hayes, a Wolcott resident who was named National Teacher of the Year under former President Barack Obama's administration, said she has long worked with Accomando, who is trying to bridge the gap between parents and teachers. The PTA has also supported some of the bills Hayes has co-sponsored. Advertisement Article continues below this ad U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, invited Dr. Vrunda B. Desai, an obstetrician-gynecologist and Yale University adjunct professor, as his guest to the president's speech. "When the Supreme Court repealed Roe v. Wade two years ago, it threatened the availability of health care services around the country," Himes said. "Now states are moving to pass legislation that could harm womens access to critical medical treatment, ranging from contraception to in vitro fertilization." Desai said she appreciates the chance to speak and work with Himes to ensure those in Connecticut and throughout the country can access the health care they deserve, especially reproductive health. As a physician, I know the importance of ensuring access to health care for women and families," Desai said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Himes said he hopes Congress can restore reproductive protection for women and families nationally. "The recent effort to limit IVF in Alabama is just one example of how restrictions on reproductive health may have repercussions for all families and their ability to bring healthy children into this world," Himes said. "I am thankful to the highly qualified medical experts like Dr. Desai who use their skills to help their patients thrive and to ensure that the rights afforded to all in Connecticut remain available nationwide. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney's guest is Waterford resident Jerry Fischer, who worked alongside the Vernon Democrat representing the 2nd District for the safe release of Liat Beinin Atzili. Atzili is Fischer's cousin who had been taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on an Israel settlement. The pair held a virtual event Thursday afternoon with Yehuda Beinin, Atzili's father, to discuss the importance of having another ceasefire and restoring a successful process to release the remaining hostages. They also shared the need for humanitarian aid to Gaza. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jody Couch has ended up in some awkward situations as a woman working in the tech sector. There was the time early in her career when a supervisor asked if her husband would be okay if she took on a specific position. More recently, she was in line at the chief information officer (CIO) desk at a conference to check in with a male colleague when she was directed to the general check-in desk. Why? They werent used to seeing a lot of female CIOs. While there are hints the sector is changing to be more welcoming to women, challenges remain. Couch, Dals CIO and assistant vice-president Information Technology Services (ITS), says growth in the number of female CIOs in Fortune 500 companies in the United States between 2000-2020 was between 15-25 per cent. In the Canadian university environment, only 35 per cent of CIOs are female. There are more of us in these roles, but not nearly an equal number, she says. How not if Couch got her own start in the sector gradually as a part-time student pursuing a computer tech degree while working in mainframe operations at a university. Although there werent that many women in the field at the time, I was lucky enough to have someone in leadership see my potential and encourage me to participate, says Couch, who joined Dal in 2022. Couch says this kind of mentorship and sponsorship play a big role in helping women be successful. I know I would not be where I am without those types of people in my life, so I strive to do the same for others. Couchs conversations with other women are about how they can get to the next level and not if they should. We have so many excellent leaders in our technology organizations here on campus, and I hope that they keep serving as examples and mentors to others that are coming up in the field. International Womens Day is a moment to celebrate the achievement of women, but also an opportunity for organizations to look at how they support and elevate the careers of women. While improvements have been made in the proportion of women in Canadian academia Statistics Canada reported that 49 per cent of tenure-track positions were held by women in 2019, up from 33 per cent in 1990 inequities remain. There are still wide disparities in gender representation in many fields of study, and womens time to tenure continues to be impacted by parental leave. In 2019, less than two-thirds of full-time female faculty held tenured positions, compared with three-quarters of their male counterparts, with male faculty also more likely to be full professors. We are making progress, but we certainly arent there yet, says Dr. Alice Aiken, Dalhousies vice president research and innovation and co-chair of Dalhousies Women in Research Caucus (WiRC). In 2023, we refreshed our strategic research direction based on feedback received from our research community. A key outcome of that process identified the need to embed inclusive research excellence in everything we do. We need to think about what this means for the women in our research community and how we continue to support their success at the university. To explore this, we invited three members of WiRC to share their experiences rising to leadership roles, the importance of mentorship from other women, and how academia benefits from greater female representation. Dr. Mita Dasog is an associate professor in the department of chemistry and Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Research Chair. Dr. Christine Chambers is co-chair of WiRC and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Childrens Pain jointly appointed to the departments of psychology and neuroscience and pediatrics. Dr. Nur Zincir-Heywood is a Distinguished Research Professor and associate dean research at the Faculty of Computer Science. What role has the support of other women played in your career success? Dr. Dasog: I have been fortunate to have women who have championed me, introduced me to other researchers and collaborators to expand my professional network and have provided me emotional and moral support to overcome challenging situations. Having that visibility and support has played a big role in boosting my self-confidence and my success. Dr. Chambers: While Im grateful for the many fantastic male colleagues and allies in my life, women have played an invaluable role in my career success. Women supporting women creates a sense of belonging in male-dominated fields, fostering an environment where women can thrive and excel. Support from other women continues to boost my confidence and opens doors to opportunities, collaborations, and networks that have been pivotal. Despite the optics of success, the last year has been a particularly challenging one for me professionally. I am so grateful for the women who have held space with me during this time, stood by me while I felt like crumbling with: I see you. I believe in you. I care about you. I will help you. Keep going. Dr. Zincir-Heywood: The role of the support of other women played in the success throughout my career is tremendous. Most importantly, they make me feel valued, respected, and heard. They inspire and empower me to confront obstacles, pursue my goals, and turn my research into real-life strategies. At times I question myself, and what I do, they make me understand I belong. Why do you think its so important for women in academia to mentor each other? Dr. Chambers: Women in academia face unique challenges and barriers that are best understood and navigated by other women who have faced them first-hand. While Ive always surrounded myself with incredible women, over the course of my 30-year career, I have never actually had a female supervisor or boss, Ive always directly reported to men male thesis supervisors, male department heads, male deans, etc. Mentorship among women provides a safe space for sharing experiences, challenges, and strategies for overcoming obstacles. It allows for the transmission of knowledge, skills, and wisdom accumulated through lived experiences, which can be immensely empowering for mentees. Additionally, seeing other women succeed and thrive in academia serves as powerful inspiration and motivation for younger generations, fostering a supportive cycle of mentorship and empowerment. Dr. Zincir-Heywood: I think mentorship plays a very important role for women in academia. Even though there has been a significant increase in the number of female students in our universities, there is still a gender gap in academia. This is usually attributed to several factors such as stereotypes, biases and systemic barriers that have historically discouraged or limited the participation of women in academia. These obstacles have also contributed to a scarcity of role models and a lack of female representation at senior levels. Thus, it is very important for women in academia to mentor each other in terms of offering insights for career development, providing guidance on overcoming obstacles, and sharing strategies for achieving success in new initiatives. Dr. Dasog: Academia, like many fields, has historically been male dominated, especially in certain disciplines. When women mentor each other, they can provide tailored advice and strategies to navigate and overcome systemic barriers, including gender bias and discrimination. Mentorship among women fosters a sense of community and belonging, which can be particularly valuable in environments where women might feel isolated or marginalized. More importantly, by supporting each other, we can challenge and gradually change the culture of the institutions to be more inclusive and equitable, making academia a more welcoming place for future generations of women. How does academia benefit from a greater proportion of women? Dr. Zincir-Heywood: Academia benefits from a greater proportion of women to achieve a vibrant and successful higher education eco-system with full human potential, creativity, and innovation. Research shows that more women leaders in academia enables leveraging talent, enhancing innovation and collective intelligence, strengthening organizational climate, increasing social responsibility and reputation as well as improving financial performance. Dr. Dasog: Studies have suggested that women often employ collaborative and inclusive leadership styles that can enhance teamwork and create more supportive academic environments. This can improve the quality of research and education by fostering a culture of openness and mutual respect. Women in academia often expand research agendas to include topics and methodologies that have historically been underexplored. This can lead to new insights and breakthroughs in various fields. To be globally competitive, institutions must attract and retain talent from the entire population, not just a fraction of it. Utilizing the potential of our full community ensures that the academic sector is vibrant, competitive, and truly innovative. Dr. Chambers: Academia benefits greatly from a greater proportion of women and other diverse groups for several reasons. Diversity fosters innovation and creativity by bringing together different perspectives, experiences, and approaches to problem-solving. Women and members of diverse groups of academics bring unique insights and contributions to research, teaching, and leadership roles that enrich the academic landscape. Increasing the representation of women and others in academia as well as empowering them in their roles helps to address gender bias, racism, and promotes equity, creating a more inclusive and supportive environment in academia. I didnt really have very many role models through my training of women with children in academia. Im the mother of four children and Ive had to pretty much figure it out on my own. More women in academia means more examples of how different women can navigate their careers and balance their personal and professional lives. What do you believe is needed to encourage more women to pursue careers in your academic discipline and for supporting their progression and success within it? Dr. Dasog: Institutional, cultural, and policy changes that address systemic barriers to women's participation and advancement in academia are necessary to encourage more women to pursue this career. Too much attention is paid to recruitment efforts and not enough is done to support women once they are part of academia. Institutions need to be more transparent in their operations and how decisions are made. Leaders need to truly embrace EDIA principles beyond receiving the training and ask themselves if they are perpetuating any bias in the decision they make or in their behavior. We need to value womens contributions and credit and reward their work and minimize the extra unpaid labor that is often expected of them. The list is long, but we can start here. Dr. Chambers: Implementing policies and practices in academia that promote gender equity and inclusion is essential. We must actively work to dismantle systemic barriers and biases that hinder women's advancement in academia, such as unequal opportunities for funding, promotion, and recognition. I once remarked to a female mentor at Dal how disappointed I was that so few women were winning prestigious awards she quickly replied with Well you can change that, nominate them! Since that time, Ive made a concerted effort to nominate as many amazing women I know for any awards they are eligible for (I aim for one a month!). Its also why Ive been so committed to the Women in Research Caucus at Dalhousie which offers guidance, support, and networking opportunities. I also think it's important to be engaged publicly and in the media. Promoting visibility and celebrating the achievements of women can inspire future generations of women and break down stereotypes about who can succeed in academia. Its on all of us to foster an institutional culture of support and collaboration, where women are valued and respected for their contributions. Dr. Zincir-Heywood: For my academic discipline, Computer Science, there exists a big gender gap in academia. To be able to address this, we need more investment to create positions to attract and retain women faculty. Also, we need to create equal opportunities, equal pay, representation, and recognition to build inclusive work environments where the women in academia can be supported and grow. Nevada Independent CEO and editor Jon Ralston, left, and Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, right, speak during The Nevada Independent's "IndyTalks" series on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nev. Gabe Stern/AP RENO, Nev. (AP) Nevadas Republican governor showed his strongest support Wednesday for Donald Trump in his legal battles since the former president was first indicted for falsifying business records nearly a year ago. At the same time, Joe Lombardo distanced himself from Nevada's six Republican so-called fake electors in a window into how he will weigh in on hot-button issues affecting his party leading up to the 2024 election. Lombardo's comments came in a wide-ranging discussion with Jon Ralston, CEO and editor of The Nevada Independent, which hosts the speaker series IndyTalks. Over 90 minutes, Lombardo defended his vetoes of gun-control measures, gave himself a B+ grade for his first 14 months in office and lamented that he is still figuring out how to bring accountability to a historic $2.6 billion investment in public education. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The conversation in front of 300 people hinted at how Lombardo will wield his power within the GOP and how the moderate governor in a swing state known for split-ticket outcomes will navigate a polarizing election season. Lombardo weighed in on what is set to be one of the tightest U.S. Senate races this cycle, endorsing retired Army Capt. Sam Brown, the front-runner in a crowded Republican primary to unseat incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen. He also painted a dreary picture if Democrats gain a veto-proof supermajority in both chambers of Nevada's Legislature. Lombardo dismissed a question when asked to rate the enthusiasm of his endorsement of Trump on a scale of 1 to 10. He gestured to Ralston, then looked blankly at the crowd, prompting laughs before saying next question. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Elizabeth Ray, a spokesperson for Lombardo, later said the governor has consistently supported Trump and is looking forward to helping him win Nevada. Here's a look at key moments Wednesday: Donald Trump Lombardo told Ralston in September that he was concerned about Trump's legal troubles, before endorsing Trump in January. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Wednesday, Lombardo offered his clearest backing of Trump, who is navigating multiple criminal indictments. Lombardo pointed to additional information associated with the indictments that made him feel better about Trump, but he didn't elaborate. When pressed about whether Trump will be proven innocent or guilty, Lombardo pivoted to the election. Let's forget all that. Let's talk about Biden-Trump," he said. I feel the world was safer under Trump. I feel the economic outlook, especially for Nevadans ... we were better off. Trump endorsed Lombardo during the former sheriffs 2022 run for governor, which helped him emerge from a crowded GOP field to win the primary. Lombardo campaigned with Trump but briefly distanced himself from the former president during a debate in Nevadas general election, then called Trump the greatest president during a rally the following week. Lombardo has maintained support of Trump while pushing back on his false claims of a stolen 2020 election. But Wednesday appeared to be Lombardo's strongest showing of support for the former president since Trump's indictments. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hes innocent until proven guilty, Lombardo said. "And Im looking forward to his day in court. Distance from Nevada, Washoe County GOPs The six fake electors face felony charges for their roles in submitting certificates to Congress that falsely declared Trump won Nevada in the 2020 presidential election. Lombardo said he has experienced personal angst over the conduct of the electors, distancing himself from the Nevada Republican Party that is further to the right. Three of the six electors from Nevada are in leadership roles in the state party. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I don't understand the need to even have it done, Lombardo said. "But thats the path they chose to go down. And well see how the chips fall. Lombardo vetoed a bill last year that would have established felony charges specifically for fake electors. He said those actions should come with strict punishments," but the range outlined in the bill of four to 10 years in prison was too harsh. The fake electors include Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald, who considers Lombardo a friend and has supported him and his policies, as well as Clark County GOP chair Jesse Law, who Lombardo had endorsed for another term. Still, Lombardo's views and those of the state GOP haven't always aligned, including when Nevada GOP national committeewoman Sigal Chattah called Lombardo a laughingstock across the nation on X, formerly Twitter, after he signed two bills related to transgender rights. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lombardo also said he was "outraged with the Washoe County GOP Nevada's lone swing county for excommunicating a Republican county commissioner he had appointed. The Washoe County GOP said that Clara Andriola's bipartisan votes intentionally and willfully failed to uphold the Republicans and the Republican brand, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. Ive had several conversations with the players in the space, Lombardo said. "And Ive been very, very, very vocal in my absolute support for Clara." Veto power threatened Lombardo took aim at his Democratic opponents while defending his 75 vetoes last year, which were the highest in a single legislative session in state history. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He said he agreed with a political action committee supporting him that claims that there is a culture of corruption among Democrats in the legislature, citing what he called a lack of transparency in the legislative branch. The phrase originally stems from conflicts of interest between part-time legislators and non-profits that received funding through a bill the Legislature approved and Lombardo signed. It was Lombardos first embrace of the attack as Democrats try to thwart his veto power ahead of next years legislative session. In a statement, Nevada State Democratic Party spokesperson Tai Sims called Lombardo corrupt, citing the governor's vetoes of bills that Sims said would lower prescription drug and housing costs, as well as his disputes with the Nevada Commission on Ethics, including a lawsuit challenging its oversight authority. Democrats held a supermajority in the state Assembly and were one seat away from a supermajority in the state Senate last year. If they gain a supermajority in both chambers this election cycle, they can override his veto power on party-line votes in 2025. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nevada was one of 10 states last year where the executive and legislative branches were led by different political parties the lowest number since 1952, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. I wouldnt want a supermajority out of both houses on the Republican side, right? Lombardo said. It just doesnt work. We've got to have that little push and pull. ___ Stern is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Follow Stern on X, formerly Twitter: @gabestern326. Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:FGRRF Get Free Report) and ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, risk, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and dividends. Get Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) and ESCO Technologies, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) 0 0 0 0 N/A ESCO Technologies 0 1 1 0 2.50 ESCO Technologies has a consensus price target of $120.00, indicating a potential upside of 19.07%. Given ESCO Technologies higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe ESCO Technologies is more favorable than Fingerprint Cards AB (publ). Insider & Institutional Ownership Valuation and Earnings 93.5% of ESCO Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. 0.8% of ESCO Technologies shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. This table compares Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) and ESCO Technologies top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A ESCO Technologies $956.03 million 2.72 $92.54 million $3.60 27.99 ESCO Technologies has higher revenue and earnings than Fingerprint Cards AB (publ). Profitability This table compares Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) and ESCO Technologies net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) N/A N/A N/A ESCO Technologies 9.60% 8.59% 5.62% Summary ESCO Technologies beats Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) (Get Free Report) Fingerprint Cards AB (publ), a high-technology company, develops, produces, and markets biometric systems and technologies. Its biometric systems include sensors, microcontroller units, algorithms, software, and packaging technologies. The company offers biometric solutions for smartphones, PCs, tablets, smart cards, door locks, authentication keys, vehicles, payment cards, internet of thing (IoT), and the automotive industry. It also offers various development tools for software development and production. The company sells its products through distributors and resellers. The company serves customers in Sweden, Asia, South and North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. About ESCO Technologies (Get Free Report) ESCO Technologies Inc. produces and supplies engineered products and systems for industrial and commercial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Test & Measurement. The Aerospace & Defense segment designs and manufactures filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines. It also designs, develops, and manufactures elastomeric-based signature reduction solutions for U.S. naval vessels; and mission-critical bushings, pins, sleeves, and precision-tolerance machined components for landing gear, rotor heads, engine mounts, flight controls, and actuation systems for the aerospace and defense industries. The Utility Solutions Group segment provides diagnostic testing solutions that enable electric power grid operators to assess the integrity of high-voltage power delivery equipment; and decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind and solar. The RF Test & Measurement segment designs and manufactures RF test and secure communication facilities, acoustic test enclosures, RF and magnetically shielded rooms, RF measurement systems, and broadcast and recording studios; and RF absorptive materials, filters, antennas, field probes, test cells, proprietary measurement software, and other test accessories to perform various tests. The company distributes its products through a network of distributors, sales representatives, direct sales teams, and in-house sales personnel. The company was incorporated in 1990 and is based in Saint Louis, Missouri. Receive News & Ratings for Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fingerprint Cards AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. California State Teachers Retirement System trimmed its holdings in shares of Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK Free Report) by 8.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 54,611 shares of the software makers stock after selling 4,967 shares during the quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System owned 0.10% of Workiva worth $5,534,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Get Workiva alerts: Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Workiva by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,328,052 shares of the software makers stock worth $336,722,000 after acquiring an additional 33,593 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of Workiva by 23.0% during the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 3,022,057 shares of the software makers stock worth $199,426,000 after acquiring an additional 564,500 shares in the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Workiva by 12.9% during the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,985,617 shares of the software makers stock worth $166,733,000 after acquiring an additional 227,006 shares in the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Workiva by 14.9% during the 1st quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 1,262,932 shares of the software makers stock worth $129,337,000 after acquiring an additional 163,938 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership grew its stake in shares of Workiva by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 1,223,503 shares of the software makers stock worth $123,990,000 after acquiring an additional 51,923 shares in the last quarter. 83.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Analysts Set New Price Targets WK has been the subject of several analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Workiva from $92.00 to $85.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Workiva from $123.00 to $113.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Workiva from $115.00 to $110.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Workiva currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $113.50. Insider Transactions at Workiva In other news, EVP Michael D. Hawkins sold 11,439 shares of Workiva stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.62, for a total transaction of $1,070,919.18. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 62,453 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,846,849.86. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CFO Jill Klindt sold 2,931 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.20, for a total value of $279,031.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 80,197 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,634,754.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Michael D. Hawkins sold 11,439 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.62, for a total value of $1,070,919.18. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 62,453 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,846,849.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 5.71% of the companys stock. Workiva Stock Performance WK opened at $86.31 on Friday. Workiva Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $80.50 and a fifty-two week high of $116.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2,262.59, a current ratio of 2.08 and a quick ratio of 2.08. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $92.49 and a 200-day moving average of $97.02. About Workiva (Free Report) Workiva Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides cloud-based compliance and regulatory reporting solutions worldwide. The company offers Workiva platform that offers controlled collaboration, data linking, data integrations, granular permissions, process management, and full audit trail services; and provides tools that enables customers to connect data from enterprise resource planning, human capital management, and customer relationship management systems, as well as from other third-party cloud and on-premise applications. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Workiva Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Workiva and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. California State Teachers Retirement System trimmed its position in Hexcel Co. (NYSE:HXL Free Report) by 8.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 93,833 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 9,113 shares during the quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System owned 0.11% of Hexcel worth $6,112,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Get Hexcel alerts: Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CENTRAL TRUST Co increased its stake in Hexcel by 68.1% in the third quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 442 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 179 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Hexcel by 100.0% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 412 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 206 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Hexcel during the second quarter worth $31,000. RiverPark Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hexcel during the third quarter worth $41,000. Finally, Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI grew its stake in shares of Hexcel by 110.2% during the third quarter. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI now owns 641 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 336 shares during the last quarter. 94.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Insider Activity In other news, insider Gina Fitzsimons sold 864 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total transaction of $62,294.40. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,375 shares in the company, valued at $243,337.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Thierry Merlot sold 4,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total value of $322,335.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 50,371 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,608,074.73. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Gina Fitzsimons sold 864 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total transaction of $62,294.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 3,375 shares in the company, valued at approximately $243,337.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.39% of the companys stock. Hexcel Price Performance HXL stock opened at $77.02 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $6.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 62.11, a PEG ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 2.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. Hexcel Co. has a 12-month low of $58.81 and a 12-month high of $79.08. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $71.83 and its 200 day simple moving average is $69.51. Hexcel (NYSE:HXL Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The aerospace company reported $0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.49 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $457.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $474.01 million. Hexcel had a net margin of 5.91% and a return on equity of 9.31%. Hexcels quarterly revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.40 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Hexcel Co. will post 2.25 earnings per share for the current year. Hexcel Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.78%. This is a positive change from Hexcels previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. Hexcels dividend payout ratio is currently 48.39%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group cut shares of Hexcel from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $87.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Northcoast Research assumed coverage on shares of Hexcel in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. They set a buy rating and a $80.00 target price on the stock. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Hexcel from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. StockNews.com cut shares of Hexcel from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, February 3rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Hexcel from $81.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $77.46. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Hexcel About Hexcel (Free Report) Hexcel Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers, structural reinforcements, honeycomb structures, resins, and composite materials and parts for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. It operates through two segments, Composite Materials and Engineered Products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Hexcel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hexcel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. FILE - President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington, as Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., listen. Biden is set to use his State of the Union address to promote his vision for a second term to a dispirited electorate that questions whether he's up to the job and to warn that GOP frontrunner Donald Trump would be a dangerous alternative. Jacquelyn Martin/AP President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Hagerstown, Md. The President is traveling to Washington. Alex Brandon/AP President Joe Biden, accompanied Lael Brainard, director of the National Economic Council, left, pumps his fist as he joins a meeting of his Competition Council in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Andrew Harnik/AP WASHINGTON (AP) Much of President Joe Bidens State of the Union on Thursday night will focus on comparing his vision for America with that of the Republican Party, setting up an election-year contrast that Biden hopes will pay dividends in November. But he'll also focus on areas that he and White House aides believe broadly unify the country an implicit nod to moderate Republicans and swing voters who the president hopes will find a home in his political coalition. In his speech, Biden will make an explicit appeal to the divided Congress for his unity agenda, which covers broadly popular initiatives such as dealing with the mental health epidemic, curbing opioid abuse, aiding veterans and improving cancer care, according to White House officials who spoke to The Associated Press ahead of the speech. Itll come under one broad umbrella theme that Biden is a president for all Americans. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Stopping fentanyl at the border, passing privacy legislation to protect children online, keeping our sacred obligation to veterans, and ending cancer as we know it are priorities for everyone without regard to party," White House deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed told the AP. Even in a contentious election year, the White House sees real prospects for progress on Capitol Hill on some of the unity initiatives, such as legislation to bolster online child privacy which the administration believes goes hand-in-hand with dealing with the mental health crisis. In tandem with the State of the Union, the White House will showcase several announcements related to his unity agenda. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For one, the Department of Veterans Affairs will open up direct enrollment in health care for a broader population of newly eligible veterans. This is being done years ahead of schedule, one White House official said. The officials were granted anonymity to discuss policy details ahead of a formal White House announcement. Another is an announcement from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, known as ARPA-H, of a clinical program that will focus on addressing late-stage cancers for which doctors often struggle to find treatment. One White House official described it as a data-driven initiative that would allow doctors to track and treat patients in real time with more success. Gotham Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in CCC Intelligent Solutions Holdings Inc. (NYSE:CCCS Free Report) by 16.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 85,976 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 12,112 shares during the period. Gotham Asset Management LLCs holdings in CCC Intelligent Solutions were worth $1,148,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get CCC Intelligent Solutions alerts: Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of CCC Intelligent Solutions by 19.2% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 7,822,986 shares of the companys stock worth $104,437,000 after buying an additional 1,260,457 shares during the period. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP purchased a new position in shares of CCC Intelligent Solutions in the third quarter worth about $8,694,000. Ghisallo Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of CCC Intelligent Solutions in the second quarter worth about $15,578,000. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp increased its holdings in shares of CCC Intelligent Solutions by 194.6% in the third quarter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp now owns 407,193 shares of the companys stock worth $5,436,000 after buying an additional 268,956 shares during the period. Finally, Brown Advisory Inc. increased its holdings in shares of CCC Intelligent Solutions by 306.4% in the third quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 4,562,530 shares of the companys stock worth $60,910,000 after buying an additional 3,439,776 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.78% of the companys stock. CCC Intelligent Solutions Price Performance NYSE CCCS opened at $12.17 on Friday. CCC Intelligent Solutions Holdings Inc. has a 1-year low of $8.33 and a 1-year high of $13.41. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $11.20 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -57.95 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 2.29 and a quick ratio of 2.29. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have commented on CCCS shares. Piper Sandler upped their price target on CCC Intelligent Solutions from $11.00 to $13.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Barrington Research reiterated an outperform rating and set a $14.00 target price on shares of CCC Intelligent Solutions in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and set a $13.00 target price on shares of CCC Intelligent Solutions in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Barclays upped their target price on CCC Intelligent Solutions from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley began coverage on CCC Intelligent Solutions in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $13.00 price target on the stock. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $13.38. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on CCCS Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director International L.P. Advent sold 22,000,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.47, for a total value of $230,340,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,119,048 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $64,066,432.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other CCC Intelligent Solutions news, Director Lauren Young sold 41,165,139 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.33, for a total transaction of $466,401,024.87. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 5,164,022 shares of the companys stock, valued at $58,508,369.26. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director International L.P. Advent sold 22,000,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.47, for a total value of $230,340,000.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 6,119,048 shares in the company, valued at $64,066,432.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 6.47% of the stock is owned by insiders. CCC Intelligent Solutions Company Profile (Free Report) CCC Intelligent Solutions Holdings Inc provides cloud, mobile, AI, telematics, hyperscale technologies, and applications for the property and casualty insurance economy. The company's cloud-based software as a service platform connects trading partners, facilitates commerce, and supports mission-critical, artificial intelligence enabled digital workflow across the insurance economy, including insurance carriers, collision repairers, parts suppliers, automotive manufactures, financial institution, and others. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for CCC Intelligent Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CCC Intelligent Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The US Army has awarded a significant contract to Palantir Technologies, a leading data analytics firm, to develop and deliver its next-generation targeting system, TITAN (Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node). This selection marks a major step forward in the Armys ongoing modernization efforts aimed at creating a more agile and data-driven force. Get alerts: Revolutionizing Battlefield Awareness The traditional battlefield landscape is rapidly evolving. Modern warfare involves a multitude of sensors deployed across air, land, sea, and space, generating a vast amount of complex data. The challenge lies in effectively integrating and analyzing this data to provide actionable intelligence to soldiers on the ground. TITAN is designed to address this very need. It is a software system built upon advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) that will serve as a central hub for intelligence gathering and targeting. By seamlessly connecting sensor feeds with troops in the field, TITAN promises to improve battlefield awareness and significantly expedite the decision-making process. Faster Sensor-to-Shooter Loops One of the most crucial aspects of TITAN is its emphasis on faster sensor-to-shooter loops. Traditionally, the process of gathering intelligence, analyzing it, and disseminating it to troops could be time-consuming, potentially delaying crucial responses. TITAN aims to bridge this gap by leveraging AI and machine learning (ML) for real-time data analysis. Imagine a scenario where a soldier receives an immediate alert about an enemy position the moment it is detected by a sensor, rather than waiting for lengthy human analysis. This expedited targeting capability can significantly enhance the Armys operational effectiveness, especially in fast-paced combat situations. A Perfect Fit for a Data-Centric Future The Armys selection of Palantir for the TITAN project is not without reason. Palantir has a well-established reputation for developing sophisticated software solutions specifically tailored to the needs of the US military and intelligence communities. The companys core competencies lie in data integration, advanced analytics, and visualization critical areas for a system like TITAN. Furthermore, Palantir has been at the forefront of incorporating AI and ML into its platforms. This expertise aligns perfectly with TITANs vision of leveraging automation and machine learning to streamline target identification and decision-making at the tactical level. Prototyping, Testing, and Potential Transformation The initial phase of the TITAN project focuses on prototyping. Palantir will deliver ten TITAN systems, a mix of Advanced models capable of directly connecting with space-based assets and Basic configurations designed for tactical operations. Following a 24-month development period, the Army will rigorously test these prototypes to evaluate their effectiveness and suitability for large-scale deployment. A successful testing phase could pave the way for a full-scale production decision by 2026, potentially leading to widespread integration of TITAN within the US Army. The Growing Significance of Software in Modern Warfare The TITAN contract underscores a critical trend in modern warfare: the growing importance of software. While advanced weaponry and platforms remain essential, the software that governs data processing, communication, and decision-making is truly revolutionizing the battlefield. TITAN exemplifies this shift by placing software at the forefront of the targeting process. If successful, this system can redefine how the US Army gathers intelligence, identifies threats, and prosecutes its operations. Ethical Considerations and the Responsible Use of AI While TITANs potential benefits are undeniable, its development also raises certain ethical considerations. Palantir, in particular, has faced scrutiny in the past regarding data privacy and algorithmic bias within its software. As the Army moves forward with TITAN, it will be crucial to ensure that the system is developed and deployed responsibly, with due consideration for ethical implications and responsible use of AI in battlefield decision-making. Transparency and rigorous oversight will be essential in maintaining public trust and ensuring that TITAN is utilized for its intended purpose. The US Armys selection of Palantir to build TITAN represents a significant step towards a more data-driven and technologically advanced battlefield. This system, if successfully developed and deployed, has the potential to transform the way the Army gathers intelligence, identifies threats, and executes operations. However, it is important to acknowledge the ethical considerations surrounding AI and data privacy. As the Army forges ahead with TITAN, responsible development and careful implementation will be paramount in harnessing the power of this technology while ensuring its ethical use. The future of warfare undoubtedly lies in leveraging data and advanced analytics. Yet, this technological leap must go hand-in-hand with rigorous ethical frameworks. Oversight mechanisms for AI deployment, continuous risk assessment, and transparency in decision-making will be crucial in safeguarding both military effectiveness and the fundamental principles upon which our nation is built. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its holdings in TELUS International (Cda) Inc. (NYSE:TIXT Free Report) by 20.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 30,685 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,142 shares during the quarter. Toronto Dominion Banks holdings in TELUS International (Cda) were worth $234,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get TELUS International (Cda) alerts: Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its stake in shares of TELUS International (Cda) by 156.0% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 9,241 shares of the companys stock valued at $228,000 after buying an additional 5,631 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of TELUS International (Cda) by 43.4% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 7,367 shares of the companys stock valued at $182,000 after buying an additional 2,228 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of TELUS International (Cda) by 39.2% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 23,362 shares of the companys stock valued at $577,000 after buying an additional 6,582 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its stake in shares of TELUS International (Cda) by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 88,458 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,186,000 after buying an additional 728 shares during the period. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its stake in shares of TELUS International (Cda) by 39.8% in the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 71,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,774,000 after buying an additional 20,400 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 59.55% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently commented on TIXT shares. Barclays lifted their price objective on TELUS International (Cda) from $10.00 to $12.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. TheStreet raised TELUS International (Cda) from a d rating to a c- rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. TD Securities lifted their price objective on TELUS International (Cda) from $10.50 to $11.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price objective on TELUS International (Cda) from $14.50 to $16.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Finally, CIBC boosted their target price on TELUS International (Cda) from $19.00 to $21.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Six 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, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $14.29. TELUS International (Cda) Stock Performance Shares of TELUS International (Cda) stock opened at $9.19 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $671.61 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 61.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 9.66 and a beta of 0.94. The stocks 50-day moving average is $9.45 and its 200-day moving average is $8.24. TELUS International has a one year low of $6.03 and a one year high of $22.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. TELUS International (Cda) (NYSE:TIXT Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The company reported $0.26 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.26. TELUS International (Cda) had a return on equity of 11.74% and a net margin of 1.99%. The company had revenue of $692.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $691.00 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.34 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that TELUS International will post 0.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. TELUS International (Cda) Profile (Free Report) TELUS International (Cda) Inc design, builds, and delivers digital solutions for customer experience (CX) in the Asia-Pacific, the Central America, Europe, Africa, North America, and internationally. The company provides digital experience solutions, such as AI and bots, omnichannel CX, enterprise mobility solutions, cloud contact center, big data analytics, platform transformation, and UX/UI design; and customer experience solutions, including work anywhere/work from home, contact center outsourcing, technical support, sales growth and customer retention, healthcare/patient experience, and debt collection. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for TELUS International (Cda) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TELUS International (Cda) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ahead of International Women Day, the County Derry Post talked to two women who built a theatre company which aims to empower teenagers. Both passionate about theatre, Hannah Reilly and Martina McAfee from the North East of Northern Ireland decided to open their theatre business in Coleraine in 2020. It has been four years since Ever Unique Productions was created from a mutual passion for the well-being of teenagers. The goal of Martina and Hannah is to help teenagers and work with them to improve their well-being and the challenges they face. They offer classes and a safe space for teenagers to express themselves. We realised what our kind of passion was working for young people and the thing that we kind of felt passionate about was the fact that there weren't a lot of opportunities for young people in the actor sector in our location, said Hannah. Martina, from Coleraine, and Hannah, from Ballymena, met at the University of Ulster in Belfast. The business idea was born in a small coffee shop in Ballymoney before setting it up in Coleraine in County Derry and Ballymena in County Antrim. You know, we both went to university in Belfast where things were given, said Hannah. I was focusing on younger children and I was working in Belfast, and then when I moved back. I just really felt that when I moved home there were so few opportunities for young people to get involved in the sort of active industry so that's why we started. One of the challenges they had to face was Covid-19. As they opened their business in the middle of the pandemic, they had to be creative to find ways to interact and motivate young people to participate in their classes. We opened our doors in August 2020, in the middle of Covid. The first kind of things that we did were predominantly online. We ran a screen acting course and then when we were able to open our doors in person. At the minute we have two locations but we kind of travel all over for different projects. What we are really good at is to think outside the box. Covid-19 is such a distant memory because now we are running classes in person and we're doing our performances in person, said Hannah. Martina and Hannah are looking to empower young people and give them confidence as teenagers. As an educational theatre company, Hannah said that all of their projects, plays and workshops aim to have an educational element to look at major issues of the society. All the plays, workshops and classes [...] all have an educational element to look at big issues like mental health, social media, anti-bullying. The play we're working on at the minute falls under that category. It's all about pressure, financial pressure, and the pressure we put on ourselves to do well, they explained. We wanted everything to be meaningful and to hopefully maybe start a conversation and have an impact on the area we were working in because it wasn't something that was readily available, and especially because we are from a rural part of the world. They both wanted to create a space where young individuals could learn, foster their talents, and produce theatrical and cinematic works. Since then the business has grown, and they started working with older people with dementia. We obviously set up the company with the idea of being focused on young people. However, as the company started to grow, we kind of looked at the other skill sets we had and both of us had skills that we felt would be transferable over to working with the elderly. We set up our own 60+ community class. That is for anyone who's over the age of 60 and it kind of works on memory, on a social place for them to socialise and storytelling." Theatre, a male-dominated world? Martina and Hannah explained that the theatre world is dominated by men and often the jobs with the most responsibility are held by men. We're both up to the age of 30. We are both women. We are very passionate about empowering people who feel like they are marginalised, whether that be due to gender or other reasons and we always try in the plays we do to focus on not accepting classic tropes. Hopefully we will be inspiring younger women that you can follow your dreams, you can set up your own business. You can walk into a theatre space and see that maybe the manager is a man, the technician is a man, the playwright is a man. Martina and Hannah are the producers and the directors of the company for all productions they do. I know that a lot of a lot of girls who come to us, they kinda always thought they wanted to be actresses but now they are saying I would like to be a director of my own theatre, I would like to write my own theatre, maybe I would like to set up my own company like yours, Martina and Hannah explained. I hope we are breaking the mould a little by having our own business and walking into a male-dominated industry, said Martina. The play we worked on in the summer past was a piece of feminist theatre and it was all about consent, the viewpoint of women and sort of catcalling. It was, I guess, a bit risky for us to put on a play because you know it could annoy some people and some of the language that was in the play could be seen as inappropriate. But for us, we felt that because of the current situation with how many women are being attacked and the way they're stripping away on social media, we felt it was really important for our young people. They really enjoyed working on that piece of theatre and getting the opportunity to sort of voice their opinions on how they feel. More information on classes Hannah and Martina run is available on their website Ever Unique Productions. Derry Councillor calls on the people of Derry to get out and support the International Women's Day March for Gaza. The march in Derry, organised by Alliance for Choice and Derry Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign will assemble at Bishop's Gate at 1pm on Saturday 9th of March, and has been formally supported by Derry City and Strabane District Council. Councillor Shaun Harkin described the bleak reality of life for women in Gaza at the hands of 'Israel's barbarism'. "UN statistics from Gaza reveal a harrowing reality for women and girls in Palestine. As of now, 67% of all casualties in the Gaza genocide are women and children," the People Before Profit Councillor said. Every day, 420 children are killed or injured. 70% of casualties during Israels military assault on Gaza are women and children. The access to health care for women in Gaza has completely collapsed. 94,000 women and girls lacked access to sexual and reproductive health services before October, and this figure has now risen to over 1 million. Pregnant women are giving birth under dire conditions, with an estimated 183 women giving birth every day, 15% of whom will face complications. He said the entire population faces starvation due to the apartheid regime's continued blockade of humanitarian aid. There is no more dangerous place in the world right now to be a woman than Gaza. Despite all this, Joe Biden and his administration continue to send unlimited amounts of bombs and bullets in full complicity with Israel's genocidal war. You can't claim to support women's equality and back Israel's barbarism in Gaza. As we celebrate International Women's Day and the fight against oppression, no one can forget the suffering of Palestinian women and girls. People Before Profit are proud to support this event. Following our proposal Derry City and Strabane District Council gave it official backing. Meanwhile, UN experts have expressed alarm 'over credible allegations of egregious human rights violations to which Palestinian women and girls continue to be subjected in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank'. Members of the the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, the largest body of independent experts in the UN human rights system, warned of arbitrary executions in Gaza. Palestinian women and girls have reportedly been arbitrarily executed in Gaza, often together with family members, including their children, according to information received, the experts said. They expressed serious concern about the arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian women and girls, including human rights defenders, journalists and humanitarian workers. On at least one occasion, Palestinian women detained in Gaza were allegedly kept in a cage in the rain and cold, without food. Women have allegedly been denied menstruation pads, food and medicine, and severely beaten. We are shocked by reports of the deliberate targeting and extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women and children in places where they sought refuge, or while fleeing. Some of them were reportedly holding white pieces of cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or affiliated forces. We are particularly distressed by reports that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence. The experts also expressed concern about an unknown number of Palestinian women and children, including girls, who have reportedly gone missing after contact with the Israeli army in Gaza. There are disturbing reports of at least one female infant forcibly transferred by the Israeli army into Israel, and of children being separated from their parents, whose whereabouts remain unknown, they said. Exciting funding opportunities are now available to eligible businesses and social enterprises within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, as part of the Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF). Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) will be hosting a designated information event in the Everglades Hotel on Thursday, 14th March at 12.30pm to offer eligible businesses assistance when applying for the funding. DTFF can offer small, micro businesses and social enterprises help to fund their digital transformation project. Danielle McNally, Business Officer at DCSDC, encouraged businesses across the city and district to consider the funding opportunities available. We are delighted to announce these funding opportunities to our local businesses. Digital technology plays an increasingly important role in helping businesses to grow and it is transforming the way in which our business landscape operates. We want to ensure our local businesses have access to every opportunity to grow as possible, giving them the chance to gain a competitive edge and achieve long term success. We understand it can be slightly overwhelming for businesses to understand the eligibility and criteria, as well as the overall application process, which is why we will be hosting an information session for local businesses on Thursday 14th March in the Everglades Hotel. "There will be a networking lunch, followed by a presentation on the opportunity by the DTFF delivery team. This information is invaluable and we would encourage everyone who is eligible or interested in the DTFF to come along and find out more. The DTFF capital grants are worth between 5,000 and 20,000 ex VAT and are designed to help small and micro businesses accelerate their digital transformation ambitions. If eligible, the grant can fund up to 70% of the cost of a project with 30% match funding from the applicant. Businesses wishing to access the DTFF must be based in Northern Ireland and operate within one of the 11 local council areas, be a small or a micro business and be VAT registered. They must also be actively trading for a minimum of 12 months and focused on one or more of the six funded advanced digital technologies. The Digital Transformation Fund (DTFF) is delivered by all local authorities in Northern Ireland under the Full Fibre Northern Ireland Consortium (FFNI) and supported by Invest NI. The project is part funded by the NI Executive, UK Government, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and all local authorities in Northern Ireland. Contact www.derrystrabane.com/dtff for more information. Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Patricia Logue, has launched an audacious bid to break the world record for the biggest ever line of people taking part in the famous sit down dance Rock the Boat. Mayor Logue is looking for as many members of the public as possible to come to Shipquay Street on Saturday, 4th May at 11.30am to make the record attempt which is being held to raise funds for her chosen charities for her year in office, the Foyle Hospice and the Ryan McBride Foundation. Galway-based Charity Ability West currently hold the world record attempt involving 1,809 people on Salthill Promenade. Im really excited for this event which promises to be a fun day out and a brilliant spectacle in our city centre, said Mayor Logue. We have a proven tradition of setting world records on the streets of this city and we have previously broken the record for the most astronauts and most Santas in one place. I know the people of the North West will come out in numbers to support this exciting challenge and my two chosen charities who do so much important work in our community. I hope to see as many people as possible on Shipquay Street on Saturday May 4th where we can Rock the Boat and the planet by setting a new world record! Event organiser Noel McMonagle from the Foyle Hospice added: "We see this as a very good opportunity to raise much needed funds for two local charities and at the same time have a bit of fun! "We will lift the town with our record attempt and bring everyone together in a fun carnival way - so lets rock this boat and rock this town! With your support we will do it and help Foyle Hospice and The Ryan McBride Foundation provide their services in our community." Anyone interested in taking part in the record attempt can sign up at: https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/ROCKTHEBOATWORLDRECORDATTEMPT A link is available at https://www.derrystrabane.com/about-council/mayor/mayor-s-charity on Councils website to donate to the Mayors Charities. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, and partially redacted by source, shows boxes of records being stored on the stage in the White and Gold Ballroom at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. (Justice Department via AP) AP This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records stored in a bathroom and shower in the Lake Room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. (Justice Department via AP) AP Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump departs after speaking at a Super Tuesday election night party Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. Evan Vucci/AP WASHINGTON (AP) Federal prosecutors on Thursday drew sharp distinctions in the classified documents investigations of Donald Trump and President Joe Biden as they urged a federal judge to reject the former president's claims that he was the victim of a vindictive and selective prosecution. Trump's lawyers told U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon last month that the felony prosecution of Trump should be dismissed in part because he had been charged with illegally retaining classified documents while numerous other public figures also investigated for the potential mishandling of sensitive records, including Biden, had either not been prosecuted or faced much less serious criminal cases. But special counsel Jack Smith's team, in a court filing Thursday responding to that argument, said that Trump's conduct went much further than that of the other officials he identified and that none of them is alleged to have willfully retained a vast trove of highly sensitive, confidential materials and repeatedly sought to thwart their lawful return and engaged in a multifaceted scheme of deception and obstruction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That scheme, prosecutors added, included not only Trumps own repeated efforts to stymie the investigation, but his recruitment and direction of his subordinates to join in the conspiracy repeated efforts to stymie the investigation, but his recruitment and direction of his subordinates to join in the conspiracy." Trump and his lawyers have seized on the findings of a different Justice Department special counsel Robert Hur, who said in a report last month that his team had uncovered evidence that Biden, as a private citizen, had willfully retained classified information but that that evidence fell short of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the standard required to secure a criminal conviction. Cannon on Thursday evening scheduled a hearing for March 14 to hear arguments on several of the Trump teams motions to dismiss, including Trumps claim that he was entitled to possess the documents under the Presidential Records Act an argument that prosecutors have vigorously disputed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Prosecutors on Smith's team acknowledged that though there are superficial similarities" in the cases, they stand apart in meaningful ways, including Trump's extensive and repeated efforts to obstruct justice and thwart the return of documents bearing classification markings. They cite the Hur report as noting that Biden, by contrast, alerted authorities to the presence of classified documents, willingly returned them, consented to searches of his homes and otherwise cooperated with the investigation. Smith's team also says that though they gathered powerful evidence that Trump willfully held onto classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate, including showing them off to others while commenting about their sensitive status, the Hur report showed that such evidence against Biden was insufficient to establish criminal intent. The clear differential in the strength of the evidence on the crucial element of intent precludes Trump from showing that the two men are similarly situated, wrote prosecutors for Smith, who was appointed in 2022 by Attorney General Merrick Garland to handle Trump-related investigations. Other differences between the cases include the volume of documents found bearing classification markings 88 in the Biden investigation, 337 in the Trump one and their sensitivity. The records most at issue in the Biden probe are now nearly 15 years old, prosecutors said, while the files recovered from the Trump investigation are much more recent and concern information about U.S. nuclear programs and military and defense capabilities of the U.S. and foreign countries. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And though the Biden documents for which charges were most plausible were found in a garage, those risks are dwarfed by the risks" of storing classified documents at an active social club with hundreds of members that hosted weddings, fundraisers and other events with tens of thousands of guests, prosecutors said, referring to Mar-a-Lago. In other filings Thursday, Smith's team rejected additional Trump arguments seeking to dismiss the case, including the former president's claim that he is immune from prosecution for acts committed in office. The Supreme Court has said it intends to hear arguments in April on the question of whether a former president is shielded from prosecution for official acts, an argument Trump has raised in a separate case brought by Smith charging him with scheming to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors say there's no legal support for Trump's immunity claim, particularly in a case like this one where the charges involve conduct that occurred after he left the White House. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Derry Magistrate's Court heard today how a man contacted his former partner out of 'drunken desperation' other than anything sinister. Colin Lees (25) of Berryburn Park in Derry admitted breaching a non-molestation order on November 19. The court heard that the injured party contacted police to say that in a short period of time she had received multiple messages and snap chat videos from an account connected to the defendant. He was forbidden to contact her by an order imposed until October 2026. The woman told police that the messages age her fearful that Lees was going to try and find her. When interviewed Lees said he had little recollection of contacting the woman due to being intoxicated. He said he did not intend to cause her any distress. Defence counsel Michael Donaghey said the messages were not abusive and not sinister. He said his client had sought help from his problems. District Judge Barney McElholm said that any breach of a non molestation order was an 'extremely serious matter'. He told Lees to get it into his head 'this is over face it.' Lees was given a three month suspended sentence for two years. Northern Ireland's new Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, recently undertook a visit to Loughs Agency Headquarters in Derry, gaining first-hand insights into the organisation's essential work. Sharon McMahon, Chief Executive Officer of Loughs Agency, warmly welcomed Minister Muir's visit. She said: We were delighted to host Minister Muir at Loughs Agency, providing an opportunity to share information on our research and preservation initiatives. "In light of current environmental challenges, it is more crucial than ever to showcase the Agency's pivotal role in safeguarding our aquatic ecosystems." Minister Muir's visit involved a comprehensive exploration of the Agency's facilities, featuring live demonstrations and discussions led by key personnel. Following this, the Minister acknowledged the Agency's commitment to addressing present challenges and planning for a sustainable future. He said: The efforts undertaken by Loughs Agency are indispensable for the health of our waterways and the preservation of our fisheries. CHECK OUT PICTURES OF ANDREW MUIR'S VISIT TO LOUGHS AGENCY I commend the dedicated team for their tireless efforts, and I look forward to working with the Agency over the time ahead. Highlighting the continued importance of Loughs Agency in the environmental landscape, Minister Muir reaffirmed DAERAs support. He added: Loughs Agency remains a key player in our environmental efforts, and this visit reaffirms the government's commitment to collaboration and support for initiatives contributing to a sustainable and thriving environment. A discussion on how the legacy of philanthropist John Gwyn can impact on society today is taking place in his home village of Muff. Gwyn was born in the 1750s in Drumskellan near Muff and made his fortune in Derry as a linen trader. On his death in 1829, he bequeathed 40,000 for the establishment of a school for boys from the citys poorest families which opened in 1832 as Gwyn's Charitable Institution. In 1840 the school, then known as Gwyn's Institute, moved to a purpose-built building on a ten-acre site which later became Brooke Park. Gwyn was buried in the graveyard of the Church of Ireland in Muff beside his parents. His tombstone states: Ever kind and benevolent, the gifts of his charity were numerous, but dispensed without ostentation. Muff Village Magh District History Heritage Group is hosting a talk on how the legacy of John Gwyn can inspire solutions and inform efforts to address social inequalities today. The group says the conversation is ideal for anyone interested in local history, social justice and educational equality. The event, which is funded by Change Makers Donegal, is taking place on Wednesday, 13th March at Warren View Manor, Muff from 11.00am to 1.30pm. A light lunch is included. To book, pm the Muff Village District History and Heritage Facebook page. A woman whose mother was abducted and murdered by the IRA has insisted that Operation Kenova has not failed victims due to a lack of prosecutions. The body of Belfast woman Caroline Moreland, a 34-year-old Catholic mother of three, was found near Rosslea, Co Fermanagh, in July 1994. Operation Kenova, a major investigation into the Armys top agent in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, is due to deliver its interim report on Friday. Jon Boutcher, who is now Chief Constable of the PSNI, previously led Kenova, which probed the activities of the agent Stakeknife within the Provisional IRA. Stakeknife was part of the IRAs internal security unit and Kenova examined crimes such as murder and torture, and the role played by the security services, including MI5. The agent was widely believed to be west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who was in his 70s when he died last year. Last week the Public Prosecution Service announced that no prosecutions would be pursued after consideration of the last batch of files from the investigation. Caroline Morelands daughter Shauna was 10-years-old at the time of her mothers death. Ms Moreland said: If these cases had been properly investigated at the time there could have been prosecutions. We have been failed by the system since 1994 and it was only when our cases were moved outside Northern Ireland that we got a process we could believe in. Right from the start, Jon Boutcher told us that Kenova would be a victims-first approach and thats what he gave us. They were nothing but respectful right the way through the investigation. Ms Moreland also paid tribute to the late Frank Mulhern, whose son Joseph was murdered by the IRA in 1993. She said: I met Frank in our solicitors office and straight away we became a kind of double act in the campaign to have my mums and his son Josephs murder investigated properly as part of Operation Kenova. Like the rest of us, Frank was sceptical about any investigation, even one from outside Northern Ireland, but that changed when he met Jon and started to see how Kenova worked. It was about building trust. We were able to ask questions and we got answers. Ms Moreland said that those who only looked at the cost and the PPS decisions were missing the point. She said: There might have been a ceasefire just after my mums murder but there was no ceasefire for me. There was no proper investigation, no community support and unless youve been there you cant really know how devastating that is. There was nothing until Kenova gave what my mother deserved. They showed that my mum mattered and she was not just a statistic. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has questioned the value for money of the 40million Operation Kenova which has not seen any prosecutions pursued. He was speaking after the interim report was published in the investigation into the activities of the Armys top agent inside the Provisional IRAs internal security unit during the Troubles, an individual known as Stakeknife. Kenova ran for seven years at a cost of approximately 40 million, initially led by Jon Boutcher before he went on to become the chief constable of the PSNI. Some 32 people, including former police, former military personnel and people linked with the IRA, were considered for prosecution on a range of charges from murder and abduction to misconduct in public office and perjury. However, Northern Irelands Public Prosecution Service (PPS) found there was insufficient evidence to pursue cases. Sir Jeffrey also said that while lessons can always be learned for the security services, he added the work of the police, army or the security services was a just cause. He also said that 90% of deaths in the Troubles were perpetrated by terrorists, and urged against any rewriting of history. Whilst having lessons to learn for the Government, the report reminds us that the intelligence agencies had infiltrated the PIRA to such an extent that they rendered the organisation almost inoperable, he said. Working within the security forces was a role of honour in the Troubles. It was a courageous role undertaken by people who wanted to defeat terrorism, protect the entire community, and secure peace for us all. Sir Jeffrey described 40 million as a huge bill to investigate the activities of one agent in the PIRA. It begs the question if that money might have been better spent on pro-active policing today, he said. It is even more disappointing that on the back of such an expensive investigation, the PPS has failed to secure a single prosecution. In the coming days, we will be asking more questions of those tasked with making decisions about Troubles related prosecutions in Northern Ireland. Where evidence exists against terrorist perpetrators, innocent victims must not be denied access to justice. This principle cannot be compromised. Republicans cannot disown the suffering they caused during the conflict in Northern Ireland, Sinn Feins vice president has said, as she apologised to the families of alleged informers killed by the IRA. First Minister Michelle ONeill was speaking in her position with Sinn Fein amid calls for republican leadership to apologise for the crimes of the IRAs internal security unit (ISU). It follows the publication of the interim findings of Operation Kenova which examined 101 murders and abductions linked to the Provisional IRAs so-called nutting squad responsible for interrogating, torturing and murdering people suspected of passing information to the security forces during the conflict. The report calls on the republican leadership to apologise to bereaved relatives and victims of the ISU and those who suffered under linked campaigns of intimidation against them. Speaking in her role as Sinn Fein vice president, Ms ONeill apologised to the families of alleged informers who were killed by the IRA. Asked by reporters if she accepted that the murder of alleged informants was wrong and if she wanted to take the opportunity to apologise to their families, Ms ONeill said: Yes, Ive said it before and Im going to repeat it again today for all those families out there that lost a loved one. I am sorry for every single loss of life and that is without exception. Thats for every person who was hurt or impacted by our conflict. I think its important that today as the Sinn Fein new generation, Good Friday Agreement generation, that I would repeat that for those families. I can only hope because this is ultimately their day that they can take some comfort from that. Ms ONeill made the comments at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, where she also said there was a deep legacy of suffering and trauma due to injustices of the past. She added: We must never forget those who have died or been injured and their families. I am sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict without exception. Regrettably the path cannot be changed or cannot be undone. Neither can the suffering, the hurt or the political violence of conflict be disowned by republicans or by any other party to the conflict. Peoples lives from every section of the community were trespassed upon during the conflict by British state forces, republicans, loyalists, and unimaginable grief and hurt and pain and suffering was inflicted. I would never ask any mother, father, wife, husband, son, daughter, brother or sister to forget the past or to move on. While thankfully the conflict is long over, the legacy of our past remains unresolved. The report calls on the Government to apologise for the security forces failings amid a maverick culture for handling agents and intelligence. Ms ONeill said an apology from the Government should be forthcoming. Additionally asked if she believed it was feasible that the IRA could make an apology, Ms ONeill said: We all know the IRA have left the stage. What I wanted to do today in terms of responding to the report is speak directly to all those families out there. That Im so sorry that we were born into conflict, that Im so sorry that people were hurt, and that I am determined to try and look towards the future and build a better future for us all, because I think we all deserve that. Crowds gathered in the grounds of City Hall on Friday afternoon as actors in period costume spoke of social activists and campaigners Mary Ann McCracken and Winifred Carney. Ms McCracken, born in the Northern Ireland capital in 1770, was part of the revival of the Irish language and a supporter of the United Irishmen movement. She also worked to help those in poverty, particularly women and children, and campaigned against slavery. Ms Carney, born in 1887, was an Irish Republican and trade unionist who took part in the Easter Rising in Dublin against British rule in Ireland in 1916. She went on to campaign for the right of women to vote and stood for election in Belfast in 1918. They are the first non-royal women to receive the honour of a statue in the grounds of Belfast City Hall. Gerry Murphy, president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions also addressed the crowds, and described the statues as important recognition of two of the most important female historical figures in our city. Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy described them as two absolutely fantastic Belfast women. With today being International Womens Day it seemed really appropriate for the unveiling, he said. It is about who those women were, inspirational leaders, campaigners, socialists, abolitionists. They really will inspire a new generation of people to go out and continue that fight for equality and womens rights. Hopes have been voiced that the interim report from Operation Kenova represents another step towards truth for bereaved families. The long-running investigation probed the activities of the Armys agent Stakeknife within the Provisional IRA during Northern Irelands troubled past. Stakeknife operated in the IRAs notorious internal security unit which abducted, tortured and murdered those it accused of being informers. The interim report from Kenova released on Friday found that more lives were probably lost than saved through Stakeknife. Release of report hopefully another step towards truth for families, says @NualaMcAllister. Read more: https://t.co/Db3ymkfwoK Alliance Party (@allianceparty) March 8, 2024 A final report is set to be published later this year. Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister said it had been a long and difficult journey for bereaved families seeking the truth about what happened to their loved ones. I hope this interim report is another step towards that truth, she said. The report and its revelations are a damning indictment of how the security service ran agents during the Troubles. Saving lives must and should have been paramount. I look forward to the final report but this once again points towards the utter folly of the UK Governments deeply flawed Legacy Act. Truth and justice, or at least the possibility of it, is paramount in our society. To take that away from families is beyond contempt. Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt said the 200-page report will take some time to consider in detail, and added his sympathies for the bereaved families. No doubt there will be many commentators speculating on whether lives could have been saved during the time referenced by this investigation, he said. If we measure this report based on pure statistics we will fail to learn lessons from it and continue to allow those who perpetrated the vast majority of these crimes to get away in the smoke. The police and security forces worked to save lives on a daily basis. The majority of this was through intelligence gathering. The Provisional IRA committed some of worst human rights abuses imaginable including wholesale bombings, shootings and the systematic murder of men, women and children. We must never lose grasp of the facts; PIRA internal security unit murdered on the orders of their leadership. They did so with callousness and brutal efficiency, their victims discarded on the side of a lonely road, stripped naked with no dignity. In the end it achieved nothing but misery. Meanwhile, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described the report as setting out in brutal detail the litany of horrors committed by the IRA internal security unit, sanctioned by the IRA leadership and allowed to happen by the British government and security services. Apologies will never be enough but it should at least be the starting point for the Republican movement and the British government specific and sincere statements of regret for the actions undertaken by their agents and uncovered by the Kenova team, he said. Vague or general sadness are, I am afraid, deficient and will be viewed as such by victims and survivors. Then there must be a process to ensure that this evil can never happen again and that, wherever possible and wherever wanted, there will be justice outcomes for victims. People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said the British state must own up to the fact that it sanctioned murder for its own nefarious ends. Collusion with paramilitary death squads and state-sponsored murderers like Stakeknife was never about saving lives. It was always about defending the political, economic and military aims of the British establishment. I commend those bereaved families who forced the investigation into Stakeknifes murderous activities and into the vicious collusion policies of the British state. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. K9 Broko served with the Connecticut State Police until he was killed in the line of duty last December during a confrontation with a suspect in Stonington, who was shot and killed. A proposed state law would hold defendants liable for restitution in cases of injury or death to police dogs. Connecticut State Police/Contributed Photo There's more than an emotional toll when a K-9 police dog is killed or injured in the line of duty. There's also a financial impact, say law enforcement officials who want animal assailants to be held responsible and pay restitution. Towns and cities spend between $20,000 and $45,000 buying and training police dogs to work for their police departments, officers told lawmakers on Thursday during a public hearing on the proposed legislation. But at least one member of the legislative Public Safety & Security Committee wondered how effective a new restitution law would be on criminals who already face Class D felony charges for injuring or killing on-duty police dogs, and might not have have tens of thousands of dollars. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Enfield K-9 Police Officer Michael Colantuono said during the public hearing on the proposed legislation that hundreds of hours of training were required before his current partner dog "Dunkin" was certified for law enforcement operations. He said that most law enforcement dogs are bred in Europe and brought to the United States at about one year of age, with no training. "All they know is how to eat, fight and hopefully play with a ball, and it's a bonus if they are house-trained," Colantuona said. "They have to go through a rigorous screening and a selection process to choose the right dog for the handler, for the initial patrol-dog school. The bond has to immediately commence. Civilians outside of law enforcement probably think we get a nice little dog, load him into the cruiser and the show goes on." Dunkin is Colantuono's third K-9 partner, and was selected after a two-day visit to a facility in western Pennsylvania. For the following six months, Colantuono hand-fed the dog twice a day as part of the bonding, as training proceeded. "We tell everyone that these dogs do everything we ask them to do because they love us, but in reality it's for the ball we always carry in our pockets," he said. The canine training academy can take as long as 16 weeks as the dogs learn handler protection, evidence recovery, and tracking missing persons and criminal suspects. They may eventually take cross-training in specialized procedures, including bomb detection. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "That's approximately 20 to 22 weeks, cumulative, for an officer and/or a trooper to be off the road getting certified as a team, let alone all the hours and training that's done in your off time to keep the dogs in top cardio shape and proficient in their obedience," he said. "We honestly spend more time with our partner than we do with our families." Colantuono said that law enforcement has many unknowns, such as suspects who might suddenly become violent. Canine training in de-escalation is very important, as well. "There have been more times than I can count where we rolled up on a hectic scene and all it takes is a few good barks from the back of the car and everything starts to cool down," he said. There are hundreds of law enforcement K-9 handlers in the state, and in case of injury or death, the costs of veterinary treatment and obtaining and training for new dogs should not fall on local taxpayers or the state, Colantuono told lawmakers. Under questioning from state Rep. Greg Howard of Stonington, a top Republican on the committee who is also a police officer, Colantuano said that during the extended training, handlers and their dogs are not on regular patrol, adding further costs to municipalities and the State Police, especially in overtime. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We can't lose track of the cost to the municipality that happens here," Howard said. "These dogs have tremendous value to us emotionally, but they also have tremendous fiscal value to the municipality and I think we need to look at that holistically, when we talk about restitution and what it would take to replace that animal if that were to happen." Rep. Michael Quinn, D-Meriden and committee member, said the practical matter of retrieving restitution seems a major real-world obstacle to getting such a law, if enacted, to work. "The way that it reads, to me the restitution would be part of any probation period that they would get in addition to any time served," Quinn said. "And then not paying restitution would be a violation of probation." The deadline for the committee to act is March 19. The legislative session ends at midnight May 8. In December, a suspect who killed a State Police dog named "Broko," was shot dead by troopers during an incident in the Pawcatuck section of Stonington, near the Rhode Island border. Advertisement Article continues below this ad K-9 Broko heroically served with unwavering dedication, saving lives by locating missing individuals, apprehending dangerous suspects, and providing a steadfast shield to his handler. K-9 Broko ultimately sacrificed his life doing what he was known best for, state police said at the time of Broko's death. In written testimony, Stacey Ober, regional manager of government relations for the American Kennel Club, wrote that she supported the legislation. But Ober stressed the need for more scientific research and breeding programs to ensure more domestically bred canines are used for law enforcement. India's ICT, EV manufacturing boom promises huge opportunities for Taiwanese industrial players India has been trying hard to strengthen the development of its manufacturing industries since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2024, highlighted in its slogans ranging from "Make in India" to "Self-Reliant India." In particular, its promotion of ICT and automotive industries aligns with Taiwan's current industrial development trend, which will inevitably bring huge market opportunities for Taiwanese manufacturers if they can grasp the trend well. While India's electronics manufacturing output may not be a major player globally in terms of output value, the Indian market's rapid growth makes it very attractive to manufacturing investments, according to Tom Lo, senior analyst and deputy director at DIGITIMES Research. In particular, the booming Indian mobile phone industry has attracted numerous local Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers and international players. This has led to India's handset production nearly meeting domestic demand, with the potential for future export growth, Lo said. Lo noted that India currently relies on China to supply around 80% of information products, but its burgeoning digital landscape is driving a clear demand for domestic PC production. This intent has been evident in past attempts, like import control measures, to encourage related supply chain players to set up manufacturing operations in India, though those efforts weren't successful. In contrast to its reliance on imports for PCs, India's robust automotive industry can serve its massive domestic market demand while also playing a significant role globally, according to DIGITIMES Research analyst and project manager Evan Chen. This strength, combined with the rising demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs), has led India to establish clear policies and goals for boosting domestic EV production and sales, presenting substantial growth opportunities, Chen noted. However, Chen pointed out that despite government efforts to bolster its EV industry, India is still weak in its manufacturing capabilities for crucial EV components like batteries and power systems. This presents a significant opportunity for relevant Taiwanese companies to enter the Indian market. Tom Lo highlighted several key transformations within India's manufacturing sector, including a shift from assembly to in-depth manufacturing, a policy focus evolving from smartphones to broader information products, and a transition from domestic-centric to export-oriented sales. Additionally, India's growing domestic brands necessitate multifaceted entry approaches for Taiwanese companies to maximize their value proposition in the Indian market. Vimly Benefit Solutions Palmer Vimly Benefit Solutions named Marc Palmer as its new chief commercial officer. Palmer will lead and support Vimly's client services, customer success, marketing, sales, revenue operations, and mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Vimly, Palmer spent 15 years at Express Scripts, leading sales and creating new departments. Palmer was also CEO of ConnectYourCare and inVentiv Health and COO at SS&C Health and Stonebrook Risk Solutions. Vimly recently secured a strategic majority investment from Rubicon Technology Partners, a private equity firm based in Boulder, Colo., that is focused exclusively on investing in and growing software companies. The investment will accelerate growth through go-to-market expansion, product innovation, and the pursuit of acquisition opportunities. Vimly is a benefits administration company that provides an HRIS SaaS platform that delivers a digital quote-to-card experience for carriers, third-party administrators, general agents, brokers, employers, and employees. Founded in 1993, Vimly is headquartered in Mukilteo. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Coastline Burgers, which first opened at 4444 California Ave. S.W. in West Seattle in the winter of 2014. Today, in addition to the West Seattle spot, the burger joint has locations in Kirkland and Redmond. . . . Subscriber content preview ENUMCLAW A senior community at 2000 Mountain View Drive recently sold for a little over $5.2 million, according to King County records. The seller was IHC Cascade Place LLC, which acquired the property in 2020 for $1.4 million. . . . President Michael D Higgins was among those to vote on proposed changes to the Constitution in Ireland. Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina voted at their polling station at St Marys Hospital in Phoenix Park on Friday morning. It is the first time Mr Higgins has been seen in public since he was discharged from hospital on Thursday. Mr Higgins, 82, was admitted to St James Hospital in Dublin last Thursday evening after experiencing a mild transient weakness. After a seven-night stay, he returned to his official residence, Aras an Uachtarain, on Thursday. Polls opened on Friday morning on the twin referenda. The referenda propose changing the wording of the Constitution relating to the areas of family and care. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald also voted in the referenda. This is referendum day. I've just voted YES, YES at St Anthony's Boys National School to the two proposals that are before us. To have a more inclusive family definition in our Constitution. To remove the archaic language in terms of women on our Constitution. pic.twitter.com/MFTIjKbtde Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 8, 2024 The family amendment proposes extending the meaning of family beyond one defined by marriage and to include those based on durable relationships. The care amendment proposes deleting references to a womans roles and duties in the home, and replacing it with a new article that acknowledges family carers. The Constitution is the fundamental legal document for the country and can only be changed with the approval of Irish citizens through a national vote. The campaigns have led to national debates over the role of women in the home, what responsibility the State has for care and the meaning of family. The Irish Government is campaigning for a yes vote in both amendments. It says the changes will remove sexist language, recognise family care and extend protection to families not based on marriage. All Irish citizens that are at least 18 years old are eligible if they have registered to vote. Registered voters are given polling information cards directing them to their nearest polling station. The family amendment will be on a white-coloured ballot paper while the care amendment will be on a green-coloured ballot paper. President and Sabina Higgins have cast their votes in todays referendums pic.twitter.com/to8yIuKjAx President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) March 8, 2024 The polls are open between 7am and 10pm. The result of the referenda, which are decided by majority, are expected on Saturday. Counting of the ballots happens at a constituency basis at various centres around the country. However, the overall national result will be declared at Dublin Castle. The family amendment will be counted and declared first. The results for the care amendment will not be processed until the family count is finished. The Interstate-84 tunnel in downtown Hartford after State Police responded to a street takeoveer, which led to multiple arrests. Connecticut State Police/contributed A commuter lot in Manchester showed marks from stunts left over from a street takeover last year. Christine Dempsey/Hearst Connecticut Media Group Evidence seized after a street takeover that netted three arrests after an FBI and Connecticut State Police investigation. Connecticut State Police / Contributed Photo A screen grab of a video showing a mob of people who participated in a Tolland street takeover, jumping and stomping on a local resident's car last year. Screen grab Some vehicles involved in street takeovers, which have caused hazardous conditions in some cases for motorists and police, could be destroyed by local police rather than auctioned under a new proposal. New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker on Thursday led support for the legislation during a public hearing before the legislative Public Safety and Security Committee. He said that all his administration can do now with illegally operated dirt bikes, mini motorcycles and all terrain vehicles, is auction them, where they inevitably go back into the problematic takeovers, which have occurred throughout the state. "We are not allowed, under state statute, to chase these vehicles so we have to be really creative," Elicker said. "As you can imagine, we don't want these to just circulate back into the community, so we would like the tools to destroy them. If there's a lien on a vehicle that we seize, we actually have to return that vehicle to the offender. What the proposed change says is that we can seize it and the lien holder, we have to give them notice, and they have 30 days to collect the vehicle. That person that gave the loan is the one who has 30 days to collect the loan, otherwise they forfeit it." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The bill, which if approved next heads to the state Senate, would also allow towns and cities that experience street takeovers to penalize organizers, participants and spectators with monetary fines ranging from $1,000 to $2,000. Another section of the legislation would create a grant program for municipalities to enforce laws against street takeovers, which can literally overrun local police departments. Later during the hearing in the Legislative Office Building, state Rep. Kathy Kennedy, R-Milford, whose city was the target last December of a takeover, called for felony penalties to be added to the bill. "Street takeovers are part of a larger trend of increasing lawlessness on the highways and roadways of our state," Kennedy told the committee. In the Milford takeover, a police officer was injured, while in Meriden and Tolland, takeover participants damaged the private cars of residents. "In the town of Shelton, with advanced warning, officers were able to pro-actively respond to and disperse an attempted street takeover involving more than 500 vehicles," Kennedy said. "And in perhaps the most egregious example, 1,500 vehicles trapped holiday shoppers in parking lots and backed up I-91 in both directions for a mile during a street takeover of North Haven. Street takeovers are closing our public roads and preventing our ambulance, fire and other emergency vehicles form getting where they need to go in a true emergency." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rep. Greg Howard of Stonington, a top Republican on the Public Safety Committee, noted that an average police department shift in a city the size of Milford might only be a dozen or so officers. Prompted by queries from local small businesses, a Louth Labour TD has sought clarification from the Government on the payment of a grant scheme introduced to offset increased costs like energy and fuel that have driven some small enterprises to the very brink. Local Labour TD, Deputy Ged Nash said: A number of local businesses have contacted me recently, desperate to clear up confusion regarding the payment of the Increased Cost of Business Grant. The measure was announced in the last Budget but since then, small businesses have heard nothing. Prompted by those queries, I pressed the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the issue and received assurances that the payments under the scheme will be rolled out soon. Deputy Nash explained: The scheme is being administered by local authorities on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Minister assures me that payments will begin to be rolled out early this year and I hope this will prove to be the case. Small businesses in Drogheda and around the county have been put to the pin of their collar by the runaway rising costs of fuel, energy, transport and other costs in their supply chain. The scheme will provide one-off relief against some of those costs and while it comes too late for some, it will be welcome for others. The Labour TD added: The local authority will administer the scheme and will write to qualifying businesses soon. The Government however, has done a poor job of communicating the terms and schedule of the scheme since it was heralded in last years Budget and it beggars belief that I had to table a Parliamentary Question to get some clarity for local businesses on when they can expect payment. Deputy Nash concluded: While I welcome these grants, everyone knows that they amount to nothing more than a drop in the ocean in terms of battling the increased costs small businesses are facing. Once again, this Government is relying on one-off measures to tackle the rising cost of living and doing business in Ireland, rather than tackling the opportunism and profiteering we have seen from the big energy companies which continue to hurt small businesses and households alike. We cant rely on one-off funding to address a long-term problem. Thats according to the Family Resource Centre National Forum who published a research report on the experiences and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children and families and the impact of Recovery and Resilience funded therapeutic supports and services in Family Resource Centres in Louth and across the country. In 2023, The National Recovery and Resilience Programme for Children grant provided one-off funding of 1,000,000 for therapeutic community supports in 83 Family Resource Centres across Ireland. The funding was used to support 4,548 children and 3,820 adults in the aftermath of Covid-19 with 71% of FRCs reporting a decrease in their waiting lists for services like play therapy, one-to-one psychotherapy, and parenting workshops. Fergal Landy, CEO National Forum of Family Resource Centres, said, This report clearly shows what FRCs in Louth and across the country have achieved with one-off funding. Imagine what could be achieved with consistent, long-term funding. We could plan for the future, invest in full-time practitioners and ensure that appropriate therapeutic supports are consistently available for families when they need it most. This report has shown the efficacy of therapeutic supports in dramatically reducing waiting lists. The cost-effective approach is evidence based and we strongly advocate for commitment to long-term funding so that we can provide these vital therapeutic services in FRCs in Louth and nationwide. Impact of Covid-19 Overall, the research found that Covid-19 had a significant impact on both children and parents in terms of increased anxiety, mental health difficulties and social, emotional and developmental impacts. The research also showed Recovery and Resilience funded therapies such as play therapy for children and one-to-one therapy for parents were of great benefit to children and parents in terms of outcomes. Key findings include: 97.9% of therapists identified increased social, emotional and behavioural issues affecting children attending FRC therapeutic supports and services as a result of the pandemic. 68% of therapists and practitioners surveyed identified that the main impact of Covid on children was increased anxiety. The main benefits of the therapies provided by FRCs were identified by parents as helping their children to recognise their emotions better, reduce anxiety and increase their self-esteem. Further information on the Family Resource Centre National Forum is available here: www.familyresource.ie. A new online project tracker which provides detailed information, imagery and updates on the status of the 132 regeneration proposals comprising almost 400 projects, including those in Louth, awarded under the Governments 1.6 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) has been launched. The tracker which can be accessed here, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage says, will be updated regularly with information on the progress of existing and new URDF projects includes insights into the 8.6m URDF funding allocated to proposals in Louth including; Long Walk Quarter, Dundalk, Westgate Vision and St Nicholas Quarter and Backlands. With the help of this interactive tool, users can easily navigate through the different URDF projects and gain valuable information about their status, milestones, and impact. It provides a user-friendly interface that allows stakeholders, residents, and interested individuals to stay informed about the ongoing developments in their area. Users can explore specific projects, track their progress, and access relevant details such as funding allocation, project timelines, and key objectives, making it easier for both professionals and the general public to stay up-to-date and make informed decisions on the progress of Louths URDF initiatives This tool, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage says, will help enhance public awareness regarding million URDF projects, bringing valuable insights and understanding to all those interested in the region's growth and progress. Nationally, URDF funding is being targeted to support innovative projects that enable new housing, commercial, community and other development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and towns and to create attractive and vibrant places for people to live and work, as well as to invest in and to visit. The URDF is the flagship 2 billion investment programme of Project Ireland 2040, established to support National Planning Framework objectives through the sustainable regeneration and rejuvenation of Irelands five cities and large towns. URDF supported projects are now active in every local authority area across every local authority. WILLIAMSBURG, VA - JULY 28: John Hinckley Jr. poses for a portrait in a park next to the Williamsburg Regional Library on Thursday July 28, 2022 in Williamsburg, VA. Hinckley, who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981 is now free. He is trying to launch a music career. (Photo by Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Im John Hinkley Jr., the folk musician and would-be assassin of Ronald Reagan, will this month make a second attempt at playing a show in Connecticut. And the venues owners say booking the controversial artist is all about redemption. I was a little skeptical, but then I thought turning this away would, kind of like, disprove for lack of a better phrase what the scene is about, Oliver Vegas, co-owner of Hotel Huxley in Naugatuck, said. I dont know him well. Hes not much of an outward guy the past few years. But all Im really saying here is all this stuff regarding cancelation is just more reminder that he was a bad person in the past and that I think shouldnt be. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hinckley in 1982 was found not guilty of his charged crimes by reason of insanity and spent nearly 40 years under psychiatric care in a hospital until 2016 and supervised care with family afterward. He was released in 2022 and attempted to embark on a tour promoting his musical project. But the tour didnt really happen. Shows in Brooklyn, Virginia and even Hamden were cancelled. "My Redemption tour is becoming the cancellation tour," Hinckley told Rolling Stone in 2022. On March 30, Hinckley is set to bring his acoustic-laden folk music to Hotel Huxley in Naugatuck, one of Connecticuts newest concert venues. Black Richard, a Danbury-based rock act, will join him. As for the controversy surrounding Hinckleys past and recent cancellations, Vegas said he isnt worried and plans on going forward with the show no matter what. It is, Oliver said, as Hinckley sings in one of the songs off his 2023 album, Redemption, Everything is gonna be all right. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This photo taken by presidential photographer Mike Evens on March 30, 1981 shows police and Secret Service agents reacting during the assassination attempt on then US president Ronald Reagan, after a conference outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.. Reagan was hit by one of six shots fired by John Hinckley, who also seriously injured press secretary James Brady (just behind the car). Reagan was hit in the chest and was hospitalized for 12 days. Hinckley was aquitted 21 June 1982 after a jury found him mentally unstable. (Photo by MIKE EVENS / CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES / AFP) (Photo by MIKE EVENS/CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES/AFP via Getty Images) MIKE EVENS/CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES/AFP v But things in Connecticut werent all right in 1980. Hinckley became obsessed with the film Taxi Driver and its star, Jodie Foster. According to trial transcripts, investigative notes and news stories from the time, Hinckley found out Foster was set to attend Yale in the fall of 1980 and followed her to New Haven. He called Fosters dorm room multiple times, telling her he was the one leaving her notes. Eventually, she stopped answering, but the calls kept coming and he continued slipping letters, preserved in case files, under her door. The letters profess his love for her and his scheme to kill Reagan to impress her similar to the plot of Taxi Driver in which a reclusive cabbie plans then balks on an attempt to kill presidential candidate George Wallace. (Original Caption) Some of the evidence in the trial of John W. Hinckley was made available to the media here on June 12th. This is a note written to actress Jodie Foster on March 6, 1981, just over three weeks before President Reagan was shot. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive Reagan survived the 1981 attempt and Hinckley was quickly apprehended. Foster was compelled to provide testimony during the trial, during which she discussed her communications with Hinckley. She said she stopped reading his letters and didnt know any had mentioned killing the then-president. Advertisement Article continues below this ad (Original Caption) New York: Secret Service agents said 4/8, they are worried that publicity over the latest bizarre threat to president Reagan's life could spawn a series of assassination attempts. Edward Richardson, arrested 4/7, for threatening the president's life in an imitation of accused would-be-assassin John Hinckley Jr., wrote in this letter found in his New Haven hotel room, "I depart now for Washington, D. C., to bring to completion Hinckley's reality." The letter is signed "Edward Richardson peoples Court." Bettmann/Bettmann Archive Foster didnt speak about the incident for nearly 20 years. It was a very difficult time in my life. I dont like to dwell on it too much because I never wanted to be the actress who was remembered for that event. Because it didnt have anything to do with me. I was kind of a hapless bystander, Foster told CBS in a 1999 interview. What a scarring, strange moment in history for me to be 17 years old, 18 years old, and to be caught up in a drama like that. (Original Caption) New Haven, Connecticut: Acress Jodie Foster is shown among other incoming Yale students last September during a welcoming address by Yale President Bartlett Giametti. According to sources, she has received three notes at her apartment from accused Presidential attacker, John W. Hinckley Jr., during the school year. April 1, 1981. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive In an interview in 2022, shortly after Hinckleys release, also with CBS, Hinckley expressed remorse for the shooting and for involving Foster and said he was glad he failed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I dont know anybody else whos certainly had a life like Ive had, he said in the interview. I mean, what I tell people now, if you want to get to know John Hinckley, listen to his songs. Hinckley will perform at the Huxley Hotel on Old Firehouse Road in Naugatuck on March 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door and $15 in advance. Advance tickets can be purchased by contacting the venue through Facebook or Instagram. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) celebrated this years International Womens Day through the lens of engineering, as the School of Engineering in the Institute was recently awarded the extremely prestigious and much sought after Bronze Athena Swan accreditation. The Athena SWAN charter is a framework that is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality in higher education and research. This application was spearheaded by Dr Breda Brennan, who is DkITs first female Head of School of Engineering and was only appointed to this position in the last 12 months. With female engineers representing just 12% of the profession in Ireland, along with the latest data from the Higher Education Authority indicating that only 23% of engineering graduates are female, the School of Engineering in DkIT attaining this Athena Swan Bronze accreditation is a step in the right direction for the Institute, DkIT says, to help address these national statistics and support female engagement within this highly in demand industry. The days event consisted of a coffee morning and panel discussion investigating how the lifespan of learning can support equity for all. Hugh Nolan Vice President for Finance, Resources & Diversity was the master of ceremonies on the day. Hugh stated, DkIT has inspired learners since 1971. We must now ensure we continue to inspire inclusion. Inclusion cant be viewed as tokenism, it needs to be at the very core of what we do and how we do it. DkIT has a rich history of cultivating a sense of belonging, however there is further work to do. We need to reflect on 2023 with its many achievements, including the incredible work of the School of Engineering in obtaining Athena Swan accreditation, whilst also looking forward to 2024 with optimism and activism in mind. Dr Breda Brennan set the tone for the panel discussion and was followed by Gareth Kelly who spoke about the Institutes Primary School Outreach, Maryelllen Kelledy voiced her experience of Secondary School Outreach. DkIT has been a long-time advocate of the importance of female STEM school outreach at both primary and secondary level with the aim of inspiring inclusion throughout all of its STEM subjects. The panel discussion then moved on to the student experience, postgraduate student Mohadeseh Naderi spoke about her experience in Iran and Ireland. Above: Postgraduate student Mohadeseh Naderi Sabrina Larkin spoke about life as a female Mechanic and the panel also gained Industry Insights from Orlaigh Smyth a DkIT Civil Engineering Graduate who currently works as an Applications Engineer at SITECH UK & Ireland. The days discussions concluded with Lavina McGahon who overviewed the Institutes Thrive4women initiative within the community which is there to support women going back to STEM Careers or to consider STEM as a new career option. PHOTO CAPTION: (Back L-R) Councillor John Reilly, Councillor Paula Butterly Cathaoirleach Louth CC, Edwina Flynn President Newry Chamber, Councillor Conor Keelan, Mar Simpson, MC Ruarai OMurchu TD Una McGoey President Dundalk Chamber, Councillor Valerie Harte Chair Newry Mourne and Down DC, Paddy Malone PRO Dundalk Chamber, Senator John McGahon.(Front L-R) Senator Erin McGreehan, Neale Richmond TD, Minister for State in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Conor Murphy, NI Economy Minister and Senator John McGahon. Over 300 business delegates from across the island of Ireland attended a major cross-border conference on Wednesday 6th March in the Carrickdale Hotel to hear of the need to build a Sustainable All-Island Economy. The conference was jointly hosted by Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade and Dundalk Chamber and supported by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Louth County Council, InterTradeIreland, Louth Local Enterprise Office, M1 Corridor and Dundalk Chamber Skillnet. This years conference was addressed by Neale Richmond TD, Minister for State in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and NI Economy Minister, Conor Murphy MLA. In his address, Minister Murphy said that building and sustaining cross-border co-operation and trade is key to the growth of businesses. He added: The Windsor Framework protects the all-Ireland economy and cross-border trade is surging. Now that there is a degree of political certainty on our trading arrangements, it is time to fully grasp the opportunities. Minister Richmond told a packed Carrickdale: Now is the time for political leaders of all traditions to come together to focus on building the all-island economy. The border counties have been left behind for too long, our state agencies must now prioritise this region to ensure we can make up for lost time. The conference was also attended by the United States Ambassador to Ireland, Claire Cronin who was warmly welcomed. She told delegates of her countrys deep commitment to investing in Ireland North and South and the development of the All-Island economy. She also highlighted the unique opportunity that is now available to the Northern Ireland economy following the Windsor Framework and the restoration of the NI Executive and vowed that the United States would continue to work to deliver investment through President Bidens Special Economic Envoy, Joe Kennedy, who she said had hit the ground running. The conference heard from a total of 20 speakers from both sides of the border across the four themes of Skills & People, Business Supports, Sustainability and the All-Island Economy and hosted by Broadcaster and Journalist, Mark Simpson. Speaking after the event, Newry Chamber President Edwina Flynn said: The conference has been an enormous success with such a varied range of speakers across so many specialisms and levels of expertise and I would like to thank everyone who spoke and contributed at what was an excellent event. We have a fantastic working relationship with our partners in Dundalk Chamber and both our Chambers have led the way for many years on driving cross-border trade. We are entering a time of huge opportunity in the North with the potential that can flow from the Framework and the restoration of the NI Executive. The conference highlighted those opportunities and the challenges that we face but also gave our 300 plus delegates plenty of information and insight to take back to their businesses. Una McGoey, President of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and Trade said: This conference has been a beacon for the promotion of cross-border trade for many years and our partnership with Newry Chamber continues to flourish and set an example of how collaboration can bring benefits to both sides of the border. The aim of the conference is to promote Building a Sustainable All-Ireland Economy and our speakers and panellists demonstrated how this can be done and what challenges we need to meet along the way. There is so much economic potential across this island and in particular the M1 corridor. We all now need to play our part in grasping those opportunities that are coming our way. Social media influencer, Niamh O'Connor, known on social media as Kneevo, opened up about her harrowing experience with cellulitis after getting a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL). A Prime Time interview this Thursday, shed light on the dangers of cosmetic procedures and the urgent need for increased regulation in the industry. In late 2023, Niamh underwent the procedure which meant removing excess fat from one area of the body and injecting it into the buttocks. In a matter of hours after the injections, the social media star, with over 163k followers on Instagram, felt many symptoms which she confused for a common stomach bug. She noted vomiting, an upset stomach and a severely high temperatre of 40 degrees, along with sweating, a high heart rate and slow breathing. "I was falling asleep constantly and was disorientated core towards the third day of symptoms," she said. She recounted the critical moment she sought medical attention at St James' Hospital, Dublin, saying: "By the time I had gone to the hospital, it was a situation that could have ended up a lot worse than it did. I was very lucky to receive the treatment I got, given the severity of the cellulitis that had developed into the tissues of my skin." Cellulitis is described as "a common bacterial skin infection that causes redness, swelling, and pain in the infected area of the skin." She expressed her fear, stating: "If I had gone one or two more days, I could have gone into septic shock. I had all the typical symptoms of the beginning of sepsis." Niamh highlighted the lack of warnings she received before the procedure, stressing the misconception that such cosmetic interventions are branded as "100% safe." "I think a lot of girls are being told that it is the safer option as opposed to having surgery, when realisitcally there is no safe option," she added. She warned against the prevailing notion that these procedures are a safer alternative to surgery and stressed the heightened risk when performed by non-medical professionals. In a plea directed towards young girls influenced by social media, Niamh urged for more transparency about the potential risks of cosmetic procedures. "The influence social media has on young girls is so powerful. It's really important that there are people on social media talking about the dark side and being open about their experiences," she stated. In an episode of Prime Time Investigates which aired this Monday, journalist Pamela Fraher, shared her undercover experience of obtaining a certification online and becoming a "Botox expert", underscoring the urgent need for stricter regulations. Now, Dr Eithne Brenner, Chairperson at the Irish Faculty at British College of Aesthetic Medicine, is calling for stricter regulation on aesthetic beauty treatments. She believes the Health Information and Patient Safety Bill, currently lacks enforcement power, and needs to evolve into comprehensive legislation to address the risks associated with these procedures. In a letter aimed at pushing the government towards legislation around policing the qualificiations of aestheticians, herself and doctors seek to spark a more extensive public debate and promote public education to encourage individuals to thoroughly research procedures before seeking cosmetic interventions. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code LESOTHO, MASERU For this years Makoti Festival, the organisers say they had a vision of uniting all SADC countries through this event. The first leg of bringing this wish into fruition came to light in a successful way from yesterday, when the Makoti Festival team including one of the organisers, Thembinkosi Mthethwa headed out to Lesotho, Maseru for the activation of the event, which will be taking place on April 27 at Malkerns Country Club. Essentially, an event activation is an immersive marketing strategy that uses events, campaigns and activities to generate brand awareness, boost customer loyalty, and build lasting connections with target audiences. The activation was held in the capital city of the country, Maseru in the presence of their local media, potential partners to the event and potential attendees to the event. It is worth noting that, for last years Makoti Festival, a total of two activations were hosted in Mpumalanga, South Africa and Maputo, Mozambique. There the team met with tourism authorities from both countries alongside government officials and artists from both countries. The presence of such figures allowed for the Eswatini team to get massive recognition and a stamp of approval from potential attendees. The idea of celebrating makoti which translates to a wife was widely accepted and loved as it was, yesterday during the activation in Lesotho. The upcoming festival, which has become an annual event in Eswatini celebrates women, whether married or single, but in the sense that they will be future wives and as the organisers, they feel these women are not appreciated enough so they provide them a platform, where they can gather and enjoy among other makotis. Abuse Thembinkosi Mthethwa, one of the organisers also highlighted that the event is to eradicate gender based violence (GBV), as cases of this nature are rising. Makoti Festival is aimed at celebrating women, but also protecting and standing up for women as the rise of abuse against them is rising and this event can give women the chance to be free and happy at a space catered just for them. Usually, women attend the event in different tradition attires and tailor made gowns and native women do so to. The activation yesterday began with Mthethwa and one of the team members, Illa Penboy unpacking the whole event to the attendees. It is worth noting that tourists authority personnel were also present at the activation, which was held in a conference type set up at Lancers Inn Hotel. Artists from Lesotho, who will grace the event this year were also unveiled including Tash, Mavele, Mekonko and DJ Tseko. IllaPenboy also had an opportunity to unpacked a new concept to the festival, Rise Makoti, where women will be empowered to start their own businesses and rise. The festival will work hard in aiding women stand on their own two feet financially. MANZINI A fifth suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of Matsapha businessman Sifiso Simelane and the courts analysis was that he was on a dangerous holiday. The businessman was brutally murdered in the early hours of January 23, 2024. The killers slit his throat open and this was after they had robbed him and his family of various items, including a car (a BMW sedan, which they later dumped at Luyengo) and money which was in his safe and bank, among other things. After killing him, they dumped his body in a forest around Malkerns. Liyanda Mlamuli Mhlanga (26) of Gundvwini was surrendered to the police in Manzini on Wednesday and was slapped with four charges. He appeared before Manzini Senior Magistrate Sindisile Zwane yesterday. According to the charge sheet, in the first count, the accused is facing a murder charge in that on January 23, 2024, while he was at Malkerns Research in the Manzini Region, he and his accomplices allegedly killed the 42-year-old businessman by stabbing him with a knife. In the second account, the accused person was charged with robbery. It is alleged that on January 23, 2024, while he was at Bethany, Mahlanya under Lobamba Lomdzala Constituency in the Manzini Region, he and his partners purportedly used force and violence in ordering one Mbali Mamba (businessmans wife) not to resist as they stole a number of items which amounted to E240 700. The items which were stolen included accessories, money in cash and a car, among other things. Robbery Again, the accused was slapped with another charge of robbery in that on the aforementioned day, while he was in Matsapha, he and his accomplices, supposedly used force and violence ordering him (businessman) not to resist as they induced submission from one Sifiso Magongo with intent to steal some of his belongings which amounted to E785. The items included a brown jersey valued at E500, a black sweater valued at E250 and a pair of black gloves valued at E35. In the fourth count, Mhlanga was charged with kidnapping. It is said that on January 23, 2024, while he was at Bethany, he and his accomplices, purportedly carried away and deprived Simphiwe Nkambule of her liberty by putting her inside a car and moving with her around Ezulwini and Matsapha the whole night. During his appearance in court, he was informed that if he did not afford to hire a lawyer to represent him, the state would provide one for him during his trial as he was facing serious charges. As she was reading the charges, the senior magistrate wanted to know what the suspecct did for a living, since he was facing serious chargess. In response, Mhlanga said he was unemployed. Thereafter, the senior magistrate asked him if he loved himself and he responded to the positive. The court then said it was posing these questions because when it looked at the charges, it seemed the accused person was on a dangerous holiday. The suspect was remanded in custody and was informed that he would appear for a remand hearing at Manzini Remand Centre, pending his committal to the High Court. He was also advised that if he wanted to move a bail application, he should do so at the High Court. It is worth noting that other suspects who are behind bars in connection with the murder of the businessman, include Bongiwe Nokuphiwa Nhlabatsi (34) from Hlatikulu, Lindokuhle Shawn Dlamini (23) from Mdzimba and Sipho Zikalala (24) from Nyonyane. A LOCAL artist is teaching Cork people to make clay bowls ahead of a fundraising event to help the people of Gaza. Last weekend, Youghal-born fine art sculptor and ceramicist Martha Cashman led the first of three planned clay bowl workshops at Nano Nagle Place. The workshops offer the public the opportunity to learn the skill of crafting clay bowls, which will then be used at a Peace Soup event to raise funds for Gaza. Empty bowls are a symbol of need and hunger, yet are also hopeful and beautiful. We are inviting people to come together in Cork to create clay bowls in solidarity with the people of Gaza, who are suffering so terribly at the moment, Ms Cashman said. Group at the Empty Bowls Peace project for Gaza. Picture: Mary P O'Connor. Ms Cashman works mainly with porcelain and hand builds all of her work, using seeds and heirloom textiles to create subtle surface decoration on all of her art pieces. She says her aim is to create unique, well-conceived individual ceramic objects, and her ideal is to create sculptural works with qualities that will enrich the viewers life. Gaza has been under near constant bombardment from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in the five months since, according to Israeli figures, Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted another 250 in a series of terrorist attacks against communities across southern Israel on October 7. Chun Hean Ng from Malaysia. Picture: Mary P O'Connor. More than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, with about 80% of the territorys 2.3m people crammed into increasingly small areas in an effort to find safety in the tiny Palestinian enclave. According to the UN, one quarter of Gazas population is currently one step away from famine. Last week, the leading UN expert on the right to food accused Israel of intentionally starving Palestinians. Michael Fakhri, the UNs special rapporteur on the right to food, told The Guardian Israel should be held responsible for war crimes and genocide. Intentionally depriving people of food is clearly a war crime. Left to right, Soukaina Mourissi,from Morocco, with Waleed Gazia Egypt, Madeline Winters Cork, Esraa Wael Egypt, and Dina Fakhry also from Egypt at the Empty Bowls Peace project for Gaza. Photo: Mary P O Connor. Israel has announced its intention to destroy the Palestinian people, in whole or in part, simply for being Palestinian, Mr Fakhri said. In my view as a UN human rights expert, this is now a situation of genocide. Child malnutrition is soaring in the besieged territory, with UN officials reporting this week that one in six children under the age of two in the northern half of Gaza are acutely malnourished. Cork City Councillor Dan Boyle with artist Martha Cashman. Picture: Mary P O'Connor. Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement by artists and craftspeople around the world to help feed and support those in need in Gaza, and Ms Cashman is organising the workshops at Nano Nagle Place. The Cork Empty Bowls project will culminate in what is being billed as a Peace Soup event in April, with funds being raised for Medicins Sans Frontieres in Gaza. The first two Nano Nagle Place workshops took place last Sunday, with the remaining two taking place on Sunday, March 10, at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Workshops will include lessons on glazing and decorating the bowls, which will later be fired at the National Sculpture Factory. For further information see nanonagleplace.ie. Booking via Eventbrite is essential, and the workshops welcome donations of 25 or more to register and places are limited, so those interested are advised to book early to avoid disappointment. PLANS for pedestrian improvement works in a small Cork city village, where residents have previously expressed concerns of car dependency due to a lack of footpaths, have gone to public consultation. Cork City Council has published the Kerry Pike Pedestrian Improvement Scheme with submissions and observations on the local authoritys plans now invited. Members of the Clogheen/Kerry Pike Community Association have previously expressed frustration over the lack of a continuous footpath through the village of Kerry Pike and have campaigned for improvements, along with traffic calming measures to combat speeding. The Kerry Pike Pedestrian Improvement Scheme now proposes to deliver new footpaths to provide a continuous footpath provision through the village. Other elements of the scheme include the provision of new controlled zebra crossings, new uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, traffic calming measures in the form of raised tables to encourage lower vehicle speeds through the village, and new road markings and signage. As an association we have been trying for many years now to get infrastructural improvements in Clogheen / Kerry Pike and are delighted to see some movement on this, chair of the Clogheen/Kerry Pike Community Association, Iain McGregor, told The Echo. Mr McGregor said there has been an explosion in houses in the village in recent years, with more in the pipeline, and that infrastructure has not kept pace with the level of development. The village itself doesn't have a continuous footpath throughout and children going to the national school less than 1km away have to be driven. Speeding is also a big issue and raised platforms and additional signage will hopefully go some way to addressing this. A lot of the housing estates feel like islands as there is little connectivity with the rest of the village, he explained. This is Cork City Councils plan for the village and they will be holding a public consultation presentation on March 14 between 1pm and 7pm in the community centre in Kerry Pike, he added. Mr McGregor encouraged locals to attend on the day and to have their say on the plan. The public consultation is open until April 15 at 4pm. For further information see consult.corkcity.ie/. FAMILY resource centres in Cork have called for long-term funding for therapeutic services such as play therapy, one-to-one psychotherapy, and parenting workshops. There are currently eight family resource centres in Co Cork, providing a community-based model of family support, offering information, advice and assistance that address the needs of families. The Cork family resource centres are located in Adrigole, Ballincollig, Bandon, Beara, Cobh, Dunmanway, Mallow and Midleton. The family resource centres programme is the largest national family and community-based support programme, and is core funded by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. There are 121 family resource centres nationally. They are represented by the Family Resource Centre National Forum, which has published a research report on the experiences and impact of the covid pandemic on children and families, and the impact of recovery and resilience-funded therapeutic supports. Funding In 2023, the national Recovery and Resilience Programme for Children grant provided one-off funding of 1 million for therapeutic community supports at 83 family resource centres, including in Adrigole, Ballincollig and Dunmanway. The funding was used to support 4,548 children and 3,820 adults in the aftermath of covid-19, with 71% of family resource centres reporting a decrease in their waiting lists for services such as play therapy, one-to-one psychotherapy, and parenting workshops. National Forum of Family Resource Centres CEO, Fergal Landy, said the report clearly showed what family resource centres in Cork and across the country had achieved. Imagine what could be achieved with consistent, long-term funding. We could plan for the future, invest in full-time practitioners and ensure that appropriate therapeutic supports are consistently available for families when they need it most, Mr Landy said. This report has shown the efficacy of therapeutic supports in dramatically reducing waiting lists. The cost-effective approach is evidence-based and we strongly advocate for commitment to long-term funding so we can provide these vital therapeutic services in family resource centres in Cork and nationwide. Between 17 and 19 people died in homeless accommodation in Cork city last year, The Echo has learned. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage was told on Tuesday by Cork City Council that eight people died in emergency accommodation in the city in 2023, while Cork Simon said 17 people availing of its emergency and supported housing services had died last year. The homelessness charity told The Echo on Wednesday that it was most likely that there was a crossover between the two figures, with some of the eight people listed by the council almost certainly also included in Cork Simons figures. For reasons of client confidentiality, Cork Simon was unable to provide an exact figure for the number of people who died in homeless accommodation in Cork last year, but a spokesperson said the figure was more than likely 19, but it was possible it was 17 or 18. In figures supplied to the Oireachtas committee, Cork City Council said that in 2022, six people died in emergency accommodation provided by the council, and Cork Simon said 10 people availing of its services had died in 2022. Caveat Cork Simon said client confidentiality meant that the same caveat applied to those figures as to the 2023 figures, stating that a crossover was probable. In its statement to The Echo, Cork Simon said some of those who died in its care last year had been in emergency accommodation, but more had been in supported housing, and all had experienced homelessness in their lives. Theres no doubt that drugs, alcohol, or chronic ill-health had a significant role in their passing, all of which are related to trying to cope with a lifetime of trauma. It's a reflection of the complexity of need among many people who are pushed into homelessness, said the Cork Simon spokesperson. Were not surprised that the average age of death for those living in their own homes with ongoing support was 12 years older than for those stuck in emergency accommodation. Having a safe and secure place to call home makes a huge difference in every aspect of peoples lives, not least to quality of life, no matter how complex their needs. Shocking Thomas Gould, Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central, described the deaths in homeless accommodation as a shocking indictment of the Governments housing policies. In my four years as a TD, I have never sat through a more harrowing Oireachtas housing committee. We heard that children are being traumatised, older people forgotten about, and those in recovery completely failed. Services are doing their best , but they are stretched too thin," said the northside TD. Mr Gould said a Munster Regional Homeless Executive was urgently needed. I am very mindful that there are grieving families in Cork today and a further 55 families in emergency accommodation, he said. This must stop. We need a change in housing, and we must see homelessness reduced. A spokesperson for Cork City Council said that out of respect to families, friends, colleagues and fellow service providers, it would not be appropriate for it to comment. A minor archaeological investigation is to be undertaken next week to investigate fossilised trees under Claycastle Beach in Youghal. Electricity grid operator EirGrid has planned the inspection to explore the extent of remains of the petrified forest over four days from March 11 until March 14, to inform a further archaeological excavation currently planned for later this year. The works are associated with the development of the Celtic Interconnector Project, the subsea interconnector linking Ireland and France which will allow the exchange of electricity between the two countries. The connection will link the existing electricity substation located in Knockraha in East Cork to the substation at La Martyre in France. The examination will be overseen by archaeologists from the Underwater Archaeology Unit and the National Monuments Service, and will consist of a test pit on the beach. The archaeological team will be using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to carefully excavate and analyse the site ahead of further investigations required in the autumn. Michael Mahon, EirGrids chief infrastructure officer, explained that their team do not disrupt any important heritage. At EirGrid, we are committed to ensuring construction works are carried out with the utmost sensitivity to the surrounding landscape and that is why we, working with our contractors, have enlisted the expertise of an archaeological team to investigate the area of beach through which the cable may pass, he said. With remains of a petrified forest known to be under the sands at Claycastle Beach, its important that we progress with care. By understanding any archaeological make-up of the site, we can ensure that the development of the electricity cable proceeds in a way that respects and preserves local heritage. The Celtic Interconnector project works and commissioning phase is under way and scheduled to complete in 2026, and the subsea cable will not be visible at the landfall point at Claycastle Beach when the works are done. The underground cable will connect to the subsea cable by way of an underground transition joint and the underground landfall point will be fully reinstated. The Celtic Interconnector cable will enable the exchange of 700MW of electricity between Ireland and France across a distance of 575km, with the capacity to supply electricity to 450,000 homes. A young Cork woman was jailed for nine months for a very serious case of criminal damage where she smashed the three front windows of a pharmacy leaving a 1,500 repair bill which she is unable to pay. Rachel OShea of Douglas Hall Mews, Skehard Road, Cork, pleaded guilty to causing this criminal damage. Sergeant Pat Lyons outlined the background to the crime committed by the 25-year-old. On November 17 2023 at 6.30am she was observed smashing the three front windows of the AllCare pharmacy at Evergreen Road. "Gardai met her a short time later further down Evergreen Road and she was arrested, Sgt Lyons said. The criminal damage totalled 1,500. Sgt Lyons said the accused had 36 previous convictions but none for criminal damage. The convictions were mainly for theft and public order offences. Joseph Cuddigan defence solicitor said the accused had been in custody for various matters for the past ten months. This girl has been in a series of exceptionally bad relationships. Edel House have undertaken to provide accommodation for her on her release from prison. She has found herself on many occasions sleeping on the street. The scales have now been removed from her eyes as a result of the courses she has undertaken in prison. Judge Mary Dorgan said: This is a very serious criminal damage matter and no compensation is available to the pharmacy where not one, not two but three windows were broken. The maximum possible sentence at district court level for this offence is 12 months. The judge imposed a term of nine months. Trending in China | Unique forging techniques of Chinese Longquan sword (People's Daily App) 15:50, March 08, 2024 The Longquan sword, one of China's most iconic historical weapons, is renowned for its sharp edge, exquisite decorations, and carefully chosen materials. Crafting a Longquan sword involves a meticulous process, with the blade alone requiring a piece of pig iron three to five times heavier, hammered tens of thousands of times. (Video source: Kuaishou) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) MBABANE In an estate of over E1 million, the widow of a former employee of RSSC, now RES Corporation, says she received only E50 000. Assets in the estate of Martin Ndzinisa, who died in a motor vehicle accident on July 24, 2001, were a plot in Siteki, a car and cash in various bank accounts. The widow, Phindile Dlamini, told the Judicial Commission of Inquiry yesterday that Ndzinisas former employer deposited a cheque of E875 000 to the Masters Office. Assistant Master Isaac Dlamini, according to Phindile, returned the money to RES Corporation. She alleged that the money was then transferred to her attorney, Siboniso Clement Dlamini. Neutral Lawyer Mzamo Nxumalo, the other lawyer who was appointed by the master as a neutral executor and died in 2005, allegedly received E135 000, which was not unaccounted for. Phindile told the commission that despite these sums of money received by the executors, she received only E50 000 from the estate to date. In the end, the E875 000 was paid to Siboniso. Isaac (Dlamini) wrote to the bank for the money to be received by Siboniso but to date we dont know what happened to the money. I did not see eye to eye with Siboniso and within three months, I realised that udlala ngami. I dont know how much my husband had in the bank. From the E875 000, he (Siboniso) gave me E50 000. I never got the E875 000 and the 135 000, said Phindile. According to Phindile, the E50 000 she said she received from the estate included E30 800, which was interest that the law society had ordered Sibiniso to pay when it was discovered that he received compensation from the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund (SMVAF), after Ndzinisa died from the car accident, and allegedly kept it to himself for sometime. The SMVAF compensation, according to the master, does not form part of the estate. Phindile stated that she did not think that the E875 000 was with the master, because it was allegedly given to Siboniso. Phindile said Ndzinisa married her in terms of Eswatini Law and Custom. Due to certain issues in the family, the master resolved to appoint a neutral person as the executor. Nxumalo was appointed and Phindile, together with her lawyer, Siboniso, filed a court application for his removal. Acting Assistant Master Nkanyezi Xulu said it was not clear what the outcome of the court case was. Appointment He said Siboniso was appointed as the co-executor with Nxumalo. She said there were no minutes of the appointment of Siboniso. According to Phindile, in September 2001, she was advised by one of her husbands relatives to go to the Masters Office and she discovered that Nxumalo had been appointed as a neutral person and requested Siboniso to remove him. Phindile said the family met at the Masters Office in 2019 and there were issues with her in-laws. She told the commission that there was a request to sell the plot in Siteki and her contributions during the meeting were allegedly not considered and some were not recorded in the minutes. The child I said did not belong to my husband was in South Africa and he didnt attend the meeting. He did not want to be the executrix. The master did not tell me why I should not be the executrix. I told the assistant master that the family wouldnt appoint me, because they had accused me of killing my husband and kicked me out, said Phindile. According to Phindile, she came to the Mbabane office to complain to the Master, Phumzile Thomo, that she was not treated fairly in Siteki. She said she wrote to the minister and complained about the treatment she allegedly received at the Masters Office. Phindile also mentioned that she also approached the chief justice (CJ), who directed that the assistant master, Xolile Nkambule, should not deal with the estate file and that it must be handled by Deputy Master Lindelwa Magagula. She alleged that the directive was not complied with. However, Nkambule told the commission that they complied with the directive. She said for over six months nothing happened since government was facing financial challenges and the deputy master was unable to travel to Siteki to work on the file during that period. Nkambule said it was until Thomo came to Siteki and they held a meeting. She said after the meeting, she enquired from Thomo if the file would be taken to Mbabane. I asked the master who would sign for what had been done in the file and the master said there would be no problem if I signed because that was the only thing left to do. I signed and that doesnt mean that I disrespected the CJ. The documents I signed were for the release of some funds and the transfer of the plot to the buyer, said Nkambule. A paternity test, according to Phindile, was not conducted on the child in question. She alleged that the plot was sold for E300 000 and it was not included in the distribution account. She said when she enquired at the Deeds Department how much the plot was sold for, she was allegedly informed that it was sold for E300 000 and she asked why the E40 000 was charged for costs. She said the master told her that she would investigate and came back to say the plot was sold for E300 000. Phindile said she had also been to Nkhanini to see the King about the matter for purposes of appealing. She alleged that the council she appeared before directed that she be paid but they purportedly reneged on their decision. Winners of the overall Lord Mayors Community and Voluntary Awards 2022, Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery (CCMPSAR), have told this years nominees to keep doing what you love. Secretary of CCMPSAR, David Varian, told The Echo that even being nominated for the award was a privilege, saying the group was over the moon following the news. CCMPSAR is a charity service that was founded in 2001 and works with the community of Cork to locate missing persons through organised land- and water-based searches. Volunteers The group currently has 20 volunteers working with the service, growing by four since winning the Lord Mayors award in 2022. We dont advertise our services, because of what they are, so when we got this nomination, it was great, said Mr Varian. We all got to go to City Hall and meet the other volunteers, and in that sense it was brilliant. When we heard overall winners, we walked down the end of the hall, and walked up the middle where everybody stood up and clapped, and I mean, the hair was standing up on the back of our necks. We were in awe. Mr Varian said that the award hangs proudly in the CCMPSAR base on Horgans Quay, in clear view for everyone to see. Every time we sit there, we see it, he said. Its something that we are all proud of, and as much as we won the award, its also dedicated to the people of Cork that support us. We couldnt do it without them. Prior to their overall win at the Lord Mayors Community and Voluntary Awards, the CCMPSAR group was previously nominated and subsequently awarded The Cork International Hotel Community Spirit Award in 2021. Importance Speaking on the importance of the work that they do, Mr Varian said that many volunteers at CCMPSAR have personal ties to the service, and contribute to the group to serve the wider community of Cork. We dont do it to get awards, he said. We do it because a lot of us have family members or friends who have suffered, like my own brother, who was taken out of the river in 2006. We do it to help people. The CCMPSAR group is active in many communities across the county, and is committed to giving aid to those in need, in whatever capacity they can. Mr Varian detailed that during the covid lockdowns, members of the CCMPSAR service delivered food hampers to families across Cork, in addition to their search and recovery services. The group has also delivered wider charity services to those in need outside of Ireland, including two organised trips to the Ukrainian border to deliver essential supplies following the invasion by Russian forces. Its about giving back, he said. We organised two trips to Ukraine last year, to deliver humanitarian aid, where five vans were driven over with packages all given from the people of Cork. Its really amazing, from the length and breadth of the country, the volunteering thats done, its phenomenal. Giving advice to this years nominees for the Lord Mayors Community and Voluntary Awards, Mr Varian said: Keep driving forward with whatever organisation youre volunteering with and helping the community. Youre all winners at the end of the day. The deadline for applications is March 15. Nominations can be made at https://bit.ly/LMAWARDS24. TANAISTE Micheal Martin cast his vote at St Anthonys National School in Ballinlough in Cork this morning with locals eager to gauge his thoughts on the crucial vote this weekend with some viewing that as the outcome of the Referendum whilst others speculated on the possibility of past pupil, Cillian Murphy, bringing on Oscar home to Leeside. Arriving at the primary school shortly after 10am with his wife, Mary, the Tanaiste said that he was very pleased to vote yes to both propositions in the referendum. They are modest proposals which will bring a more inclusive value in terms of family and understanding and acknowledgement of different family types in Ireland particularly single parents and unmarried couples either with children or without children," said Mr Martin. "And also then the first time that care as a concept in the home will be recognised in the constitution and stating clearly that the State shall strive to support that care in the home. That is essentially what is before the people. And in my view merits a yet vote in terms of the two propositions. Confidence The Tanaiste expressed confidence in terms of the receiving a strong yes vote to both propositions being put before the electorate. I am indeed (confident of a yes vote in terms of both propositions). I was out during the week and we received a very positive response on the streets. People were seeking clarity in the referendum campaign in the modern era. With so much going on in the world it can be difficult to get the space to get the issues articulated. "We are in a situation where there is turmoil in the world with the wars in Gaza and in Ukraine and everything that is happening. But with that said people were warm certainly towards having a more inclusive definition of the family in the constitution that reflects modern realities and also a clause in the constitution that would reflect modern realities around womens role in society. That the broad role of women in society should be reflected in the constitution. Questionnaire Mr Martin chatted with voters about the vote and the Oscar chances of local boy Cillian Murphy who is nominated in the 'Best Actor category at the Oscars this weekend for his role in Oppenheimer. He paused to examine a questionnaire Cillian Murphy had filled out for past pupils in the national school which he attended in the 1980s. Cillian told the youngsters that he attended the school from 1982 to 1988 having moved from Dublin. His biggest challenge was 'trying to understand the Cork accent.' He said he 'wasnt very good at maths' and that although both his parents were teachers and his grandfather a headmaster he had never wanted to follow in their footsteps. I knew from an early age what a hard profession it is, and how much dedication you need. I dont think I ever had the vocation." Mr Martin, who is a former teacher, admitted that he was awaiting the outcome of the Oscars with bated breath. I heard him (Cillian Murphy) this morning on Morning Ireland and I just said to the principal that it would be a great win for St Anthonys. The first Oscar for St Anthonys. "When I was Minister for Education I worked with Cillians father who was a school inspector. At that time school inspectors would create the class speeches for Ministers of Education when you went to schools around the country. I had a very close friendship with the inspectorate in Cork. Bated breath I met him (his father) recently. It is fabulous for the family. They are a very modest family and I think all of Cork are waiting with bated breath and we are wishing him the best. (Oppenheimer) is one of those films that will stand the test of time. I think it merits the Oscar award. When you look back to his career it is testimony to the importance of supporting the arts at the early stages. Mr Martin added that he found himself in agreement with the actor on a number of issues including supporting the arts and on the subject of his favourite Cork man. I am in 100 percent agreement with Cillian in terms of his favourite Cork man in terms of Roy Keane. I might add (hurling manager and former hurler) Jimmy Barry Murphy. A 21-year-old man was ordered to do 240 hours of community service to avoid a five-month jail term for travelling in a stolen car. Jordan Collins, of 36 Orrery Road, Gurranabraher, pleaded guilty to the offence at Cork District Court. Sergeant Gearoid Davis said that, on August 22, 2023 at Churchfield Terrace West, where a car was taken possession of without consent of the owner, he allowed himself to be carried as a passenger. The background to the incident was that the Volkswagen Tiguan was stolen from Dublin Pike, Cork, on August 21. It was recovered the following day crashed at Churchfield Terrace West. CCTV was recovered and two men were seen running from the crash scene. One of them was identified as the accused who was prosecuted for travelling as a passenger in the car. His solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said this was the only time the young man was before the court for a matter like this and that he was living at home and actively seeking work. Judge Mary Dorgan said that in those circumstances she would order him to do the community service order. Former Mallow/Kanturk Municipal District councillor Melissa OBrien has said she is delighted to be back in the political fray once again following her nomination as the Sinn Fein candidate for the area in the forthcoming local elections. Ms OBrien lost her seat in 2019 but she told The Echo she hasnt stopped making representations in the time since then, writing references and basically carrying out the tasks the people ask her to do even though shes not elected. But, as she faces back into the political fray again, shes excited to go canvassing once more as June 8 approaches. I had to think hard about going back but most people still think Im a councillor and Im still doing the work and being from Mallow, I know what the issues in Mallow are having lived there all my life. Im familiar with the council staff, what policies need to be implemented and what needs to be changed. Housing She told The Echo that, at the risk of sounding boring, the main issue for her was housing. Housing has always been an issue, were not building enough social housing and we are building social housing, its too slow and its in a public private partnership, she said. We rely an awful lot on housing associations and we seem to move the issue constantly for someone else to deal with and we need to start building, we really do. Mallow Relief Road Another issue which is bound to delay candidates on the doorsteps in the canvass is the ongoing delay around the proposed Mallow Relief Road. Its going on for the last well over 25 years, she said. When I was a councillor, we went to meet the Minister in Dublin it was promises, promises." She said that a lot of Mallow, especially the Plaza which has prompted some local dissent, was designed on the basis that there would be a relief road or bypass. It never happened its very important that we get it. She acknowledged that the emphasis was on public transport but urged the Green Party to do more to make it more accessible to people in Mallow and in rural areas. We need to be using public transport but we also need better bus routes and while we do have a railway station, trains arent always running to suit people. In rural areas, for instance Im living in Lombardstown, there is no bus coming out here. General election Before last Augusts redrawing of the constituencies, which carved Mallow and the surrounding electoral areas out of Cork East and added it to Cork North Central, Melissa had been nominated to stand for Sinn Fein in the general election in the former constituency. Now shes weighing up whether she should put her name forward to be added to the party ticket in Cork North Central, alongside Thomas Gould, but theres no doubt that her ambitions are to represent her constituents in Leinster House eventually. Were now sitting in Cork North Central and we need to sit down with members in the constituency to come up with a new strategy. Im fearful that we will have an election, I would imagine before the end of the year. A sniffer dog named Rua has helped Revenue officers in Cork to seize illicit cigarettes worth approximately 6.1m on the open market. Revenue officers at the Port of Cork seized 7.3 million illegal cigarettes, branded Lambert and Butler, on Friday. The illicit cigarettes were discovered when Revenue officers examined an unaccompanied trailer arriving from Zeebrugge, Belgium. The cigarettes have an estimated value of over 6.1 million, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of 4.8 million. A spokesperson for the Revenue Commissioners said the seizure was made as a result of "risk profiling" and the good work of Rua, and was part of its ongoing operations targeting the sale and supply of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in the shadow economy. Investigations into the seizure are ongoing. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295, the spokesperson said. By Cillian Sherlock and Jonathan McCambridge, PA Polls have opened in twin referendums on proposed changes to the Constitution. The referendums propose changing the wording of the Constitution relating to the areas of family and care. The family amendment proposes extending the meaning of family beyond one defined by marriage and to include those based on durable relationships. The care amendment proposes deleting references to a womans roles and duties in the home, and replacing it with a new article that acknowledges family carers. The Constitution is the fundamental legal document for the country and can only be changed with the approval of Irish citizens through a national vote. The campaigns have led to national debates over the role of women in the home, what responsibility the State has for care and the meaning of family. Yes badges at an event in Dublin (Cillian Sherlock/PA) The Government is campaigning for a yes vote in both amendments. It says the changes will remove sexist language, recognise family care and extend protection to families not based on marriage. All Irish citizens that are at least 18 years old are eligible if they have registered to vote. Registered voters are given polling information cards directing them to their nearest polling station. The family amendment will be on a white-coloured ballot paper while the care amendment will be on a green-coloured ballot paper. The polls are open between 7am and 10pm. The result of the referendums, which are decided by majority, are expected on Saturday. Counting of the ballots happens at a constituency basis at various centres around the country. However, the overall national result will be declared at Dublin Castle. The family amendment will be counted and declared first. The results for the care amendment will not be processed until the family count is finished. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. A person seeking shelter from extreme heat watches the weather forecast at the First Congregational United Church of Christ cooling center in Phoenix, Arizona on July 14, 2023. Brandon Bell / Getty Images Following the hottest year on record, complete with a megadrought in Arizona that led to construction restrictions to reserve groundwater around Phoenix, Arizona has added a new chief heat officer to its Department of Health Services. The officers role is to help with extreme heat preparedness in the state. Dr. Eugene Livar, a physician who was formerly the assistant director for public health preparedness for the Department of Health Services, has been chosen for the role. Dr. Livar had helped in developing the Arizona heat preparedness plan in his former role, The Associated Press reported. Although Phoenix has its own heat officer, Arizona is the first state to bring on a statewide official dedicated specifically to preparing the public for the effects of extreme heat. The position is part of Arizonas new Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan, recently announced by Governor Katie Hobbs and the Governors Office of Resiliency Director Maren Mahoney. What I heard time and again, from everyday Arizonans was that our states old approach was not enough, Hobbs said in a press release. Arizona is no stranger to the heat, yet we have always risen to the challenge, protected our neighbors, and built a sustainable and thriving state. This time will be no different, she added. The Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan noted that federal funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been historically allocated in an inequitable way, so Hobbs has requested action to better allocate the funding to help low-income families with weatherization. The plan has set other short-term goals to reach before summer, including additional support and improvements for cooling centers via a statewide cooling center coordinator. The plan aims to add more cooling centers as well, including six mobile units that use solar power. The state will work toward strengthening power grid resiliency, particularly in rural areas, and providing more information and education on heat-related health outcomes. For the long-term, the plan outlined several goals for heat preparedness, including growing the workforce specialized in weatherization and energy efficiency, improving heat mitigation design in affordable housing, creating statewide heat-informed community lifelines, building neighborhood Resilience Hubs that offer community support and double as cooling centers, and growing the clean energy economy, among other efforts. According to the plan, last year included the hottest summer on record for Arizona, which led to a record-high number of heat-related deaths in Maricopa County, The Associated Press reported. The 2023 heat season led to a total of 579 heat-related deaths, as confirmed by Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH). Statewide, there were over 4,000 emergency room visits for heat-related issues. Its critical that Arizona build a sustainable and resilient state, Mahoney said. Im proud to lead this effort across state agencies and in partnership with various sectors, including health and human service providers, the business community, and scientific experts to protect everyday Arizonans and ensure we have the tools we need. Australia to look into role of country's agriculture in supporting food security in Southeast Asia An inquiry has been launched to look into the role of Australian agriculture in the Southeast Asian market, Grain Central reported. This effort, launched by the Australia Parliament's Agriculture Committee, will study how the country's agriculture can support Southeast Asia's food security, improving market access and trade systems, and building capability in the region to improve agricultural sustainability, technology and innovation. Additionally, the committee wants to identify new mechanisms and emerging opportunities and challenges for Australian agriculture to tackle key priorities in Southeast Asia. "Agriculture plays a critical role in sustaining the region's economic growth," said committee chair Meryl Swanson, noting that Australia seeks increased engagement with Southeast Asia. "With its continuing population growth, rapid urbanisation, rising incomes and increasing food security requirements, Southeast Asia is one of the fastest growing markets for Australian agricultural exports." Swanson highlighted that Australia's economic strategy revealed agriculture and food as among "the ten key sectors offering the most potential for greater commercial activity between Australia and Southeast Asia". In 2022, the value of Australian agricultural exports to ASEAN hit a record at $17.5 billion, and wheat at a value of $6.3 billion was the top agriculture export product to the region in the year. Australia's inquiry will cover its relationship with Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The recently released report, "Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040", stated that "high demand for Australian agriculture and food production should continue out to 2040". "Australia's favourable combination of complementary agriculture seasons and climates, production capabilities, expertise and geographic proximity makes it an ideal partner for Southeast Asia," the report added. Australia's special envoy to Southeast Asia Nicholas Moore noted many countries which could provide more trade opportunities for the country's grains industry. The Philippines' $71.9 billion agrifood market, for instance, is where Australia could obtain a bigger market share; Australia currently hold 6% of that market. Feed wheat, barley and milling wheat are in high demand in the Philippines, and the country has a hungrier appetite for Australian premium beef, according to Moore. Malaysia, which brings in two-thirds of its wheat from Australia, could benefit from future cooperation including in the areas of food trade, agribusiness and food control systems. Australia's strategy also highlighted that the country's agriculture could tap on the expected fourfold increase in Indonesia's food consumption from 2009 to 2050. Submissions to the inquiry will be open until May 31. - Grain Central Fishermen group calls for protection, utilisation of Philippine Rise The Philippine government faces mounting calls to safeguard and tap into the abundant resources of the Philippine Rise to enhance the nation's fisheries sector, prompted by recent sightings of Chinese research vessels in the area, Philstar reported. The Philippines' National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organisations (PAMALAKAYA) criticised the government for what it perceives as a consistent neglect in preserving and fully utilising the resources of the underwater plateau, formerly known as Benham Rise, leaving it vulnerable to foreign poaching and exploitation. Fernando Hicap, national chairperson of PAMALAKAYA, emphasised the need for prioritising the sustainable management of the Philippine Rise to bolster the country's industry and food security. Situated off the eastern coast of the Philippines, the Philippine Rise boasts rich biodiversity, abundant fish stocks, and potential gas deposits within its 13-million-hectare area, falling under the country's exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf. Despite its geographical distance from mainland Luzon, PAMALAKAYA highlighted the significant contributions of the Philippine Rise to local fisheries, particularly benefiting provinces such as Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan, Quezon, and Bicol. Former agriculture chief Emmanuel Pinol underscored the importance of the Philippine Rise as a "protected food supply exclusive zone," emphasising its strategic value for national security and sustainable development. Hicap called for regular maritime patrols to thwart poaching and unauthorised exploration activities, advocating for greater support for local research and development initiatives to explore the full potential of the Philippine Rise's oil and mineral resources. In 2017, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order renaming Benham Rise to Philippine Rise, reaffirming the country's sovereignty and jurisdiction over the area, and signalling its commitment to harnessing its vast marine resources for the benefit of Filipino citizens. - Philstar MBABANE - The Deputy Prime Ministers (DPM) Office has reached out to orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) who are unable to attend school due to lack of required school deposits. The DPMs Office is calling for the OVCs to register with the Social Welfare Offices in the regions, so that they can be assisted in attending school. According to a notice issued by the DPMs Office, this is meant to ensure that all the children return to school to receive education.The notice stated that it was directed to the OVCs in high schools even those who started Form 1. It was stated that pupils should have registered by Wednesday next week. The DPMs Office pleaded for cooperation between parents and children. Requirements Long-winded VCs on X now have a new way to be exhausting on main. Journalists, creators and long-winded VCs on X now have a new way to be exhausting on main. X now allows verified organizations and Premium+ subscribers to publish long-form Articles." The feature adds a basic text-editing interface that includes embedded media and some text formatting options, like the ability to make bulleted lists. It also appears that articles can be longer than the 25,000-character limit currently in place for premium subscribers longer posts feature. According to my initial tests, I hit the character limit for articles at just over 100,000 characters or about 15,000 words. Heres what the editing interface looks like: Screenshot via X Notably, Twitter began working on longer form posts long before Elon Musks takeover of the company. The company showed off an early version, originally called Notes in 2022 , as it looked to lure newsletter writers and other creators to the service. Musk confirmed last summer that the publishing tools were still in the works. Securing funds is a major challenge for women entrepreneurs, who are already caught in the vortex of societal and cultural barriers. But the world can no longer shut its eyes to the struggles of this community of citizens that comprises half the global population, warns a top financial institution chief. As the world marks International Womens Day, Hela Cheikhrouhou, International Finance Corporations (IFCs) Regional Vice President for the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkiye, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, turns the spotlight on women entrepreneurs across Southwest and Central Asia, who are determined to make themselves heard in an uneven playing field. In this article, Cheikhrouhou talks about the women she met in her work, their courage and resolve, in the face of challenges that wait to be urgently addressed. I get to meet many courageous women in my work for IFC in Southwest and Central Asia. Ive witnessed the unsurmountable challenges they encounter every day. Ive seen the unyielding resolve of rural women in Tattha, Pakistan in the face of climate change-induced severe floods, and the stunting of their children due to a lack of potable water. Ive heard the heartening stories of female leaders shattering the glass ceiling in Kuwait. Ive had passionate discussions with women entrepreneurs who are struggling to secure financing in a region where very few formal enterprises are majority owned by women. In Kazakhstan, that proportion is just 23.8%. In Jordan, its 8.1, in Lebanon, 4.7. Closing the economic gender gap is even more urgent due to the regions poor performance in the World Bank's Women, Business and Law 2023 score: Nearly half its countries ranked lowest on the index. Their struggles remain largely invisible to the world. But, with entrenched economic challenges and escalating fragility and conflict, we can no longer afford to turn our eyes away from the issues faced by half of the global population. The numbers reveal a disturbing gender disparity. In 2022, female labour force participation in the Middle East, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkiye (MCT) stood at 26% of women at working age, compared to 75% for men. This isnt just a matter of equity failing to bridge economic gender gaps in these countries casts a dark shadow on the region's annual GDP. The valiant voices I've encountered have shone a light on the key challenges preventing women from thriving in, or even entering the work force: the lack of flexible working arrangements, robust measures to combat harassment, safe transportation, affordable childcare, and better access to a quality education. Showcasing female role models would also help inspire girls and young women to pursue a career. In the entrepreneurial landscape, the uneven playing field makes survival and growth an uphill battle for women-led businesses. The dearth of funding directed towards women entrepreneurs is another key obstaclea mere 7% of private equity and venture capital in emerging markets is invested in women-founded startups. Many factors contribute to womens limited access to startup capital. One reason is this staggering statistic: only about 15% of all VC 'cheque-writers' are women. This glaring absence of a female perspective in the venture capital space invites unconscious biases. A lack of collateral, due to limitations on womens access to asset ownership, further exacerbates women entrepreneurs' lack of access to funding. But the challenges go far beyond finance. Social and cultural norms act as significant barriers to women's entrepreneurship. For example, cultural expectations see childcare responsibilities placed mainly on women preventing them from excelling in the entrepreneurship space. Yet hidden behind these challenges are outsized opportunities. The potential benefits of financing women-led businesses are substantial for both banks and investors. Research consistently shows that a gender-balanced portfolio outperforms its peers. Diverse leadership especially in terms of gender balance yields higher returns. Private equity and venture capital funds with gender-balanced senior investment teams have demonstrated 10% to 20% higher returns. We can bridge the finance gap for women-led businesses by strengthening the enabling environment, building the capacity of ecosystem players, encouraging mentorship, and networking opportunities, promoting education, and training, and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors. Investing in women is more than just a smart investment decision. It's an investment in our future a future where half the regions population are recruited and empowered to play a pivotal role in driving positive societal change. TradeArabia News Service Robert Irwin looked confident when he made his runway debut. Irwin, 20, son of the late zookeeper and conservationist Steve Irwin, graced the Melbourne Fashion Festival in Australia on Wednesday. He walked for the Suit Up Runway show and looked dapper in a dark gray Dom Bagnato coat worn over a black button-down and slacks. In the snaps obtained by Page Six, he was all smiles while on the runway. He made several appearances on the show. His first outfit included a teal corduroy suit by Godwin and a plain white turtleneck under a double-breasted blazer, which he completed with a pair of ivory sneakers. He also rocked a preppy look by Tomba featuring a black blazer, waistcoat worn over a white dress shirt, white bowtie and cardigan wrapped around his shoulders. He paired the outfit with white slacks and black shoes and accessorized with think-frame glasses with a yellow hint. His sighting at the fashion festival comes weeks after his split from Rorie Buckey. The former couple released a joint statement announcing their breakup after two years of dating. "We wanted to share that we have decided to go our separate ways but profoundly appreciate all the time spent together and wish one another all the very best into the future," read the statement obtained by Page Six. "We wish to express the gratitude and respect we have for one another as we continue our journeys on different paths." The exes didn't want to discuss the details of their separation, saying they won't be making further comments. They also encouraged fans to stop inquiring about the issue, noting that they would "really appreciate" if they would respect their privacy. The son of the late "Crocodile Hunter" star and Buckey, who is the daughter of Heath Ledger's sister Kate Ledger, first sparked romantic rumors in November 2022 when they were photographed on a beach in Queensland, Australia. A month later, she joined his 19th birthday celebration with his mom, Terri Irwin, at their family's Australia Zoo, E! News reported. In July 2023, the pair made their red carpet debut at the Australian premiere of "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" in matching all-black outfits. A month later, they made their romance Instagram official when Irwin shared their first photo as a couple. He captioned it with flower and sun emojis. Business magnate Rupert Murdoch is tying the knot again at age 92. Shortly after Murdoch's previous engagement to Ann Lesley Smith was called off, the billionaire started dating anew and is now planning to get married again soon. The media mogul is now engaged to molecular biologist Elena Zhukova, 67, whom he met through his third wife, Wendi Deng, the Daily Mail reported. Zhukova's daughter, Dasha, and Deng are friends. Rupert Murdoch (92) just got engaged again, for the 6th time. This time to Elena Zhukova, a 67-year-old retired molecular biologist. pic.twitter.com/Bv5nc4qD7K Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 7, 2024 The pair reportedly started dating over the summer and were spotted on a family holiday cruise in the Mediterranean. The two will reportedly be walking down the aisle at a summer wedding. The News Corp chairman and CEO has been married four times and engaged five times. This is now his sixth engagement and soon-to-be fifth marriage. He first tied the knot in 1956 when he married Patricia Booker, a former flight attendant from Adelaide who was a part-time department store model. They welcomed a child in 1958 and divorced in 1967, after 11 years as a married couple, People reported. On the same year he divorced his first wife, Murdoch married Anna Maria Torv, a former journalist at Sydney Daily Mirror. Their marriage lasted for 32 years before it ended in 1999. Murdoch and Torv share a daughter and two sons -- Elisabeth, 55, Lachlan, 52, and James, 51 -- who are all involved in their father's media business. Two weeks after his divorce from Torv was finalized, Murdoch had a secret wedding ceremony with Chinese-born American entrepreneur, Deng. In 2013, the pair divorced after 14 years of being married. They had two daughters together -- Grace, 23, and Chloe, 21. Three years later, the media mogul tied the knot for the fourth time. In 2016, he married Jerry Hall twice -- in a civil ceremony at Spencer House, London, and a main wedding service at Fleet Street's St. Brides Church. They spent six years together in marriage before they divorced in August 2022. Now, Murdoch is soon to hold his fifth wedding. Specific details about the event have yet to be confirmed or announced. Taylor Swift is reportedly staying in a luxurious villa in Singapore amid her "Eras Tour" stop in the country. Page Six reported that Swift is residing in the historic Colonial Manor at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island as she performs six sold-out "Eras Tour" shows in Singapore. The Colonial Manor where Swift is reportedly staying is one of two restored colonial bungalows dating back to the 1880s, according to the Capella Hotels and Resorts website. The luxurious villa, which reportedly costs $14,000 a night to rent, features three bedrooms, each equipped with an en-suite bathroom and king-sized bed. Inside Taylor Swifts $14K-per-night Singapore villa during Eras Tour https://t.co/VeYqZX1lRt pic.twitter.com/j4TbIVyEek Page Six (@PageSix) March 7, 2024 The manor can house six adults and one child, according to the website. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet, while its bathroom is equipped with a bathtub. Photos on the website showed the house also boasts a lavish dining room, living room, and family room. The residence also features a private lap pool and outdoor terrace with sunbeds. Ahead of Swift's final two shows in Singapore, her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, arrived in the country Thursday alongside several pals, Page Six reported. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end and his friends reportedly headed to Singapore after attending a Cavaliers game in Cleveland. The group appeared to have refueled in Dubai along the way. Harry Clark, one of Kelce's friends, shared a video of himself and the athlete's manager, Andre Eanes, eating a "Dubai Shake Shack burger" while on a private plane, as seen in an Instagram Story post obtained by Page Six. Hours later, Clark indicated in another post that he stopped by a sneaker shop in the luxury resort complex Marina Bay Sands, which serves as the "official presenting partner" for the Singapore leg of the "Eras Tour." Eanes also revealed that he was in Singapore, posting a photo of the skyline from a rooftop restaurant and bar. "Singapore what's poppin!!!!!!" he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Singapore whats poppin!!!!!!!! Andre Eanes (@dreeanes) March 7, 2024 Last month, Kelce also flew to Australia to support his girlfriend during her "Eras Tour" stops there. Kelce has been enjoying the NFL offseason following the Kansas City Chiefs' victory at the 2024 Super Bowl on Feb. 11 against the San Francisco 49ers. Swift witnessed her beau and his team's win from a VIP box at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where she was spotted with several celebrity pals, including Blake Lively and Ice Spice. Following a celebratory bash in Las Vegas, Swift flew to Melbourne for the next leg of her record-breaking tour. After wrapping up her Singapore shows on Saturday, Swift will have more than a month off before she is set to perform her next "Eras Tour" concerts in France in May. The constitutional procedure making the vice president the ex officio chairperson of the Rajya Sabha is enmeshed in a few legal incompatibilities (such as rank, salary, and combination of distinct capacities) and the dilution and debasement of democratic as well as federal credos (such as imposing others choices, ignoring endorsement from federating units, etc). Thus, the very provision demands a dispassionate relook. The role of the vice president (VP) in conducting the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha as its ex officio chairperson often gets mired in avoidable controversies and allegations ranging from being a constitutional brawler (Khare 2022) to embodying party political exercises against the opposition (Indian Express 2023; Hindu 2023), and even as a cheerleader (Mukhopadhyay 2023) of the ruling government. Somenot allex officio chairpersons have reportedly transgressed the basic parliamentary axiom of the bipartisan approach in conducting the proceedings, giving adequate space to the opposition members for pointing towards in-house frictions. In many instances, more so in the last decade, the chairpersons have purportedly held the brief of the government and strangled the space for the opposition in the Rajya Sabha. On 18 December 2023, 45 opposition Rajya Sabha members of Parliament (MPs) were suspended34 for the rest of the winter session and 11 until the report of the privileges committeeby the chairperson for their deliberate and strategised disorder by way of sloganeering, raising placards, entering the well of the House and gesticulating towards the Chair and for their politicisation rather than expression of collective concern on the security breach in Parliament on 13 December 2023 (Jain 2023). The proscription on the riot brigade comprising such a whopping number in the presently 239-member house stemmed from the apparently non-political demand for a statement from the union minister of home affairs and detailed discussion in Parliament on the breach of security. And the opposition described the edict of the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha as an attack on democracy. Support Us Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability. The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media. Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride. We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society. Every contribution is valuable for our future. Haiti's government said it would extend a state of emergency around Port-au-Prince for another month as gang violence that has threatened to bring down the government and led thousands to flee their homes appeared to show no sign of abating. Of all the examples of greenwashing I know, none is more insidious than the way the nuclear power industry pretends to be green. In reality, its super-dangerous, with at least a dozen serious issues that threaten our liberty, our property, and our very lives. Nuclear power is unsafe, uneconomical, and is not a solution to the climate crisis. My first book was about this, and when I updated it after Fukushima for a Japanese publisher, I saw that it was still unviable, and still a threat. If you live in the US, the Senate and House will be going to conference committee to workout their different versions. And this is our chance to stop this horrible bill from becoming law. Below is the letter Im sending to my Senators, which contains a lot of information about the issue. If you are moved to take action, please copy or modify it and send it it to your own Senators and Representative. You can reach them easily by clicking the Senators button at http://senate.gov and then selecting your state. You also have my permission to share it widely, including with groups youre involved with and with the media. Dont forget to change the blank line to the recipients name. I used the subject line, Please STOP the Price-Anderson Act renewalour lives depend on it Sign by Nancy Hodge Green, used at Seabrook by Shel Horowitz, 1977. Photo by Shel Horowitz Note that I have made a separate section for web addresses because the senate.gov form rejected my submission for having too many hyperlinks and noted where they were in the document with numbers in parentheses. I suggest copying up to but not including that section and including the link to this page (which is just above the reference list) so they can verify the facts. Here it is: Dear Senator ________: As your constituent, I urge you in the strongest possible terms to REMOVE the giveaways to the nuclear industry from the reconciliation package. If we examine the package closely, we discover that: 1. It RENEWS the grossly inadequate and highly taxpayer-subsidized insurance protection of the Price-Anderson Act for 40 (House version) or 20 (Senate version) years, leaving the public almost completely unprotected from financial loss in the event of an accident. This is one of the worst bills ever signed into law, capping insurance payouts for nuclear accidents at absurdly low levels. Price-Anderson originally capped the federal share at just $500 million per accident plus another $60 million from the utilities, according to the 1969 book Perils fo the Peaceful Atom by Richard Curtis and Elizabeth Hogan, pp. 194-195. The private utility coverage has since expanded through secondary coverage, with nuclear utilities retroactively assessed to cover up to $16.097 billion per accident, according to a January 2024 report to Congress by the Congressional Research Service(1) . By contrast, actual dollar losses from the single 2011 disaster at Fukushima are estimated at $20 trillionmore than 1000 times as much(2). Property owners and taxpayers are expected to make up the difference. And this doesnt even count non-dollar or indirect costs such as injury and death, loss of land for generations, forced relocations, loss of agricultural revenue, and more. According to this Newsweek report, 14,000 people were forced to relocate after the Chernobyl accident closed a 1040 square-mile area back in 1986 (38 years ago)and scientists dont expect that area to be safe again for at least 3000 years.(3) 2. It REMOVES much of the licensing oversight from new nuclear power plants. These are crucial protections for civilians. The nuclear power industry has had a long history of not factoring in things like earthquake faults when siting n-plants. It is also important to note that well beyond the three catastrophic accidents (Fukushima, Chernobyl, and Three Mile Island) we all know about, there have been at least 133 potentially serious accidents just in the brief span since the birth of the industry in the 1950s.(4) We have been extremely lucky that only three wreaked significant damage. Finally, the claim that nuclear is necessary as a tool to fight climate change is false on three counts: Clean, renewable energy can do the job better, more reliably, and MUCH faster(5), (6), and (7) Many parts of the nuclear power cycle other than feeding radioactive materials through a reactor have a big carbon cost (see nrc.gov/docs/ML1014/ML101400441.pdf , especially Page 2) When something goes wrong, as noted above, the detriments far outweigh any potential benefit. It is long past time to end the subsidies for this dangerous, economically unworkable, and poorly performing technology and turn our attention to the real solutions such as solar, wind, and geothermaland energy conservation/efficiency, which are the low-hanging fruit(8). I urge you to not only support true green energy but to convince your colleagues to block this terrible initiative. Please visit *** if youd like the URLs for the references. REFERENCES: (1) crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10821 (2) ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK253929/#:~:text=The%20total%20cost%20of%20the,Bottom%20nuclear%20plant%20in%20Pennsylvania (3) newsweek.com/chernobyl-aftermath-how-long-will-exclusion-zone-uninhabitable-1751834 (4) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nuclear_power_accidents_by_country (5) sciencealert.com/here-s-why-nuclear-won-t-cut-it-if-we-want-to-drop-carbon-as-quickly-as-possible (6) sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629618300598 (7) clamshellalliance.com/statements/statement/ (8) eia.gov/energyexplained/use-of-energy/efficiency-and-conservation.php Friday, March 8, 2024 Wyomissing, the small town in eastern Pennsylvania where I live, has many wooded areas. During my daytime walks in and around the townships many parks, I see a lot of deer. At times they stand inches from the pathways and just look at me walk by. They are usually so close that I could pet them. And at night they are everywhere in the residential areas. I have seen as many as a dozen deer walking leisurely on my front lawn, just a couple of yards away from my living room couch where I sit to read. I always juxtapose the lackadaisical attitude of deer in Wyomissing with that of their cousins in Ghana, where I grew up. Deer in Ghana are not seen out in the open anywhere. They hide in their habitats deep inside forests and venture out mostly at night when humans are asleep. Their extreme caution is warranted. Ghanaians love venison, so any deer they come into contact with would be killed instantly and eaten. The deer in Wyomissing have no such fear because they are protected by hunting regulations. American deer can only be killed for food during hunting season, and only in designated places that are far away from human-populated areas. And, Americans have plenty of meat choices anyway so few people here have use for deer. Pork is not popular in Ghana. Because of this aversion, Ive always had the feeling that if there were lots of pigs in Ghana, which is not the case, they would most likely be as trusting of humans as the Wyomissing deer are. In any given place, how animals interact with the humans who sit above them in the food chain depends heavily on the culinary tastes of the people. This reality of the association between animals and humans equally applies to human-to-human relationships. Every person on this planet has some grievance against someone. Nations have them against other countries. At national levels, current grievances tend to bubble up from injustices that occurred decades or even centuries ago. Historical grievances drive much of what happens in geopolitics today. Who did what to whom and when seem to be the primary considerations that many nations use to make their foreign policy choices. That is leading to a confusing array of alliances. Africans are increasingly becoming infatuated with Russia and China. That affinity mostly stems from the fact that those two countries never colonized any nations in Africa. But do Russia and China really deserve that reverence? Their saintly appearance could very well be because they didnt like the offerings on the menu in Africa when the European powers were plundering the continents resources centuries ago. Perhaps they were not strong enough then to compete with the European powers, or, it might be due to the simple fact that Africa was too distant for them. The best way to learn about someones true character is to talk to the people closest to themrelatives and neighbors. The image doesnt look so bright when that test is applied to both Russia and China. Citizens of many of the former Soviet republics that Russia forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union harbor grievances against the emperors in Moscow to this day. Even after they regained their independence three decades ago, Russia has tried to use various forms of coercive tactics to maintain control over their lives. In some placesGeorgia and Ukraine notablyRussia has gone on a murderous rampage in furtherance of that goal. China hasnt gone around shooting its neighbors. But its relations with regional powers Japan, India, and Australia have been quite tense for decades. It has increasingly asserted control over the South China Sea, and has used belligerent tactics to limit access of weaker neighboring nations to those waters. The Philippines just summoned a senior official at the Chinese mission in Manila to protest against aggressive actions by Chinese naval forces towards Filipino troops in the South China Sea. The Taiwanese of course know better than anyone what a bully China can be. Navigating this exceedingly complex world requires clear eyes. It takes skillful management of grievances to acquire that vision. Given the legacies of slavery and colonialism, Africans naturally have many complaints against the West. But in forming their present-day relationships, African countries should be careful not to alienate some of the very nations whose help might be vital for the long-term well-being of the continent. The future of the controversial classical education movement will be showcased later this month when Columbia University senior lecturer Roosevelt Montas is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at a national symposium hosted by Great Hearts, the biggest classical charter network. The views of Montas, author of the widely praised memoir "Rescuing Socrates," are well to the left of many in the classical charter movement, which is rooted in Christian conservatism. What makes Montas upcoming speech so notable, then, is the signal it sends about the movements effort to diversify its brand and project a welcoming attitude as it seeks to expand beyond conservative strongholds and suburbs where it began. But not everyone is enamored of the effort, neither educational conservatives nor local school officials, unions, and progressive advocates. The latter liken classical charters to a Trojan Horse, sneaking quasi-Christian right-wing dogma into public education under the cover of liberal arts. That makes classical education perhaps the biggest culture-war flashpoint in the current disruption of traditional public education prompted by the historic exodus of students during the pandemic even though the movement's numbers are small. Related: Which Great Books Can Withstand This Canon Fire? Vince Bielski, RCI In all, there are about 250 classical charters today, according to one study, making them a small niche within the broader charter sector of 8,000 schools and campuses focused on everything from STEM subjects to art to special needs. They have produced both notable successes and scandalous failures in bringing innovation to public education. Classical education, whose name gained traction in the 1980s to evoke the movement's focus on liberal arts and the Western canon, is struggling to overcome local political opposition and open schools in lower-income communities where most students reside. By making common cause with a range of prominent black and Latino thinkers and educators like Montas, classical charter leaders hope to show that their style of moral education is valuable to students from all backgrounds and beliefs. Our experience has been that the bar for opening a classical charter school that serves disadvantaged students is much higher, and that the process gets extremely political early on, said Kathleen OToole, who heads the K-12 program at Hillsdale College, a Christian school at the center of the wrangling. The opposition paints us as if we're trying to do political things with children, which we are not. Some of the movements top leaders are outspoken Republicans and have Ph.D.s from the conservative Claremont Graduate University. And some classical charters convey a patriotic zeal in their marketing as a counterpoint to the social justice zeal found in some traditional public schools. But classical leaders reject the accusation that they are running a partisan enterprise, saying they aim for something higher, in line with Aristotles teaching to nurture in students a desire to find their own answers to the big question of what constitutes the good life. We base ourselves in the West, in the culture of freedom that produced the Magna Carta, the founding documents of this country, and the civil rights movement, said Dan Scoggin, co-founder of Great Hearts and a Claremont alum. We read Marx, Rousseau writers who push back on the Christian tradition, but its also a big part of Western culture. To those who try to pigeonhole classical charters as pseudo-Christian, no, we are not. Diversifying the Classical Brand Robert Jackson, who arranged for Montas to address the symposium in Phoenix, is at the center of the effort to mainstream classical education. After teaching at a Christian college and working at Great Hearts, Jackson started Classical Commons, a new platform to unite educators from different political and religious camps and support the recruitment and training of classical teachers a key to expansion. There is an impulse among the classical leaders that this time-tested education should also be available to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who havent had the opportunity, said Albert Cheng, who runs a classical education research lab at the University of Arkansas. Theres a social justice vibe to it. Everyone isnt marching lockstep to a conservative ideology. To enlarge the tent of classical education, scholars like Cornel West, the progressive independent presidential aspirant, are giving talks at events and making podcasts about the liberating power of classical education for all students. Classical Academic Press, run by white Christian writer Christopher Perrin, published The Black Intellectual Tradition, highlighting how the classics inspired leaders from Anna Julia Cooper to Martin Luther King in the quest for justice. Change is also coming to the classrooms. Professor Anika Prather, a co-author of The Black Intellectual Tradition and founder of the Living Water Christian school, has made many presentations to teachers at classical charters. Leaders are also debating whether to add more diverse authors to their Great Books reading lists after the Classical Learning Test, an assessment group, did so. (Related article here.) But reappraising the Western canon doesnt sit well with hardline conservatives in the movement like David Goodwin, president of the Association of Classical Christian Schools. He has issued several warnings, in his writings and to RealClear, about the dangerous waters classical charters are entering. Goodwin says it was bad enough that charters removed the moorings of Christian truth from education. Now they are succumbing to the intense pressures for diversity, which he calls antithetical to the mission of classical education the Platonic pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty in a meritorious way. Josh Herring, a professor who helped run the Thales network of private classical academies, adds that the movements attempt to find a middle ground that no longer exists in America will fail. Instead, he says, it should embrace its fundamental conservatism and accept the fact that all education is inescapably political. For classical education to continue to thrive, it has to know its own essence and defend that essence, he says. Squeezed from both the left and right, classical charters are nonetheless charging ahead in their effort to grow. Their biggest assets are families that form long waiting lists to enroll at the many high-performing classical charters. Some parents are attracted by their conservative reputation, but mostly its their rigorous curriculum that focuses on core academic subjects in the tradition of liberal arts, according to a study by Arkansas Cheng. Classical Educations Roots Classical education, a term the movement adopted to suggest its ancient lineage, reemerged first with private Christian schools in the 1980s. They provided the inspiration and part of the curriculum for the first classical charter, Tempe Prep, in Arizona in 1996. Scoggin, a Christian like most of the charter movement leaders, worked as head of school at Tempe before setting up Great Hearts. He capitalized on Arizonas school choice law, which made it possible to bring the classical model into public education and reach more families that couldnt afford private tuition. Starting in 2003, Great Hearts now has 44 academies in Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana and expects to get to 70 in five years. Classical charters are not as antiquarian as the name implies. College prep courses and state test scores still matter, but they also focus to varying degrees on canonical literature, ancient history, philosophy, religious texts, and Latin and Greek. A few schools, like St. Croix Prep outside of Minneapolis, have even resurrected a medieval form of teaching called the trivium that breaks up every subject in three stages over 12 years facts first, then argument, and finally persuasion. Put simply, the charters want students to grapple with what it means to be human before they create their LinkedIn page. Many add a modern touch. Washington Latin, one of a handful of urban classical schools, mixes Latin and student-led Socratic seminars in every subject with a modern twist to the reading list. Students read ancient and contemporary books on similar themes, such as Platos Symposium and the black scholar bell hooks seminal 2000 feminist work, All About Love, to create a dialog between the two worlds, says Diana Smith, the charters chief of classical education. We have a long waiting list to enroll because of our willingness to talk about the true, the good and the beautiful that goes beyond what came from Western Greece and Rome, Smith said. What all classical charters share is the hard-to-keep promise to develop moral character. The problem is, lectures and finger-wagging about fortitude in the Odyssey or justice in the Republic dont typically instill such virtues in the souls of students, says Jackson of Classical Commons, adding that creating school cultures that convey the rewards of a good life is also hard to do. I worry that we may fail, he said. The Politics of Classical Education Aristotle is the go-to thinker for the debate raging about the politics of classical education. The Greek polymath taught that education is about liberation through the questioning of systems of beliefs, allowing students to find their own answers, according to Jennifer Frey, a philosophy professor whom Jackson also invited to give a keynote speech at the Great Hearts conference. A school must be nonpartisan to be truly classical. Thats a high bar for schools to meet. They are locally controlled and tend to reflect the political passions of their families and school boards. Given the range of thought in the Western canon, a curriculum can easily be tilted right or left. Will it be St. Augustine or Nietzsche? Locke or Marx? There isnt enough time in school to read them all. You can find the Republican classical school in town, says Perrin, the publisher who also consults with schools. But the good ones oriented themselves on providing a liberating education, and thats for everyone left, center and right. The Network for Public Education, co-founded by historian Diane Ravitch, sees a more menacing side to many classical charters. They are imbued with the ideas of right-wing Christian nationalism and seek to destroy democratically governed public schools, says an NPE report. It highlights the first Christian charter in Oklahoma, patriotic and religious symbolism and misogynistic attitudes at some schools, and curricula that disparage New Deal programs and affirmative action and ignore climate change. The report also calls out Hillsdale College, which freely provides classical charters with teacher training, curricula, and the approval of their leaders. Hillsdale President Larry Arnn, a vocal conservative and Claremont alum, has saluted Republican governors for their strong support of Hillsdale charters and repudiated traditional schools for indoctrinating students to turn against their country. He also chaired former President Trumps 1776 Commission, which sought to restore patriotism in American education and inspired the creation of the Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum, now used in about 78 classical schools. What we found is that a growing number of classical charter schools are connected to Republican operatives like Larry Arnn and are teaching a right-wing curriculum, said Carol Burris, executive director of NPE and a former high school principal. They want to educate the next generation of far-right Republicans. Several sources in the movement told RealClear that the political activism and provocative public comments from high-profile advocates like Arnn are a problem. They fuel the reputation of classical charters as a political project, hindering their efforts to go mainstream. Hillsdale didnt respond to a request for a comment from Arnn. But classical educators say what goes on inside the classroom isnt a reflection of the fiery rhetoric of the culture wars. The best teachers keep politics out of the classroom. They just want their students to learn how to think for themselves. We say strongly and frequently to our schools that if instruction in politics takes the form of commenting on contemporary political debates, we are doing a disservice to students, said OToole of Hillsdale. Theres too much to do of fundamental importance. Whatever the right and left are fighting about now is going to be over soon. Prather, the black author and educator, says she discovered to her surprise that Hillsdale charters are not the bastions of white supremacy they are reputed to be. In her presentations at Hillsdale and Great Hearts charters, she found receptive audiences as she described the influence of the classics on black civil rights leaders. In his famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail, for instance, Martin Luther King found justification for civil disobedience in the teachings of Socrates and St. Aquinas. I know the leadership has said things that are troubling to black people, but every single teacher and school leader I met were very open to having this conversation, Prather said. The Battle to Expand The reputation of classical charters lives on, narrowing their options to expand. Scoggin of Great Hearts says the network has yet to veer out of school-choice friendly regions, but he expects a fight as it targets more low-income areas. Hillsdale provided a lesson in the perils of expansion when its big plan to open 50 schools in Tennessee blew up in the face of opposition from families, district officials, and the state teachers union. Now another Hillsdale school, the Cincinnati Classical Academy in Ohio, is struggling to find a permanent location. Since 2020, local officials have rejected the charters bid to secure a property in the Cincinnati area more than a dozen times, often for political reasons. When the charter sought to buy property in the Princeton City School District, where more than 70% of students are black and Latino, residents protested, accusing the charter of having an ethnocentric and racist agenda. One said that the school is part of Western chauvinism movements like the Proud Boys, which make references to European culture as a thinly disguised dog whistle for White supremacy. The charter ended up in a temporary location in a working-class suburb, and in its first year in 2022, it drew mostly white students from wealthier families to its campus. Now, a coalition led by the Network for Public Education is demanding that the U.S. Department of Education rescind a $2 million grant given to the charter, saying it misrepresented itself in its application as a school that serves a disadvantaged population. Jed Hartings, a neuroscientist and founder of the high-performing school, says the protests are part of a smear campaign that misses the important point that the pursuit of equality is central to the Western tradition upon which the charter is based. He says the charter seeks to serve a more diverse set of students but that the public protests have turned some of these families against the Cincinnati academy. Teachers unions, politicians, and activists that publicly oppose classical education are depriving students of a tremendous advantage, Hartings says. They mock the teaching of Latin, but its the kind of privilege we want to make available to children of all backgrounds. Urban Classical Charters At Boys Latin in Philadelphia, Latin made all the difference. Charter executive David Hardy, who co-founded the classical school in 2007, sought to address a crisis among black boys from poor families: only about a quarter of them in Philadelphia district high schools were matriculating to college. At Boys Latin, not only did the students have to learn a more rigorous curriculum than they experienced in traditional schools, but the code of conduct was also stricter, reinforced with a requirement that they memorize in Latin a long pledge about the importance of education and their commitment to their family and community. Hardys gamble on classical education paid off. Boys Latin high school has typically sent about 76% of its students to college. Latin was the magic potion for us, said Hardy, now the president of Girard College. To learn that language, students have to do all the academic things that make them successful in other subjects, too. The boys rose to the challenge. Many classical charters, including Great Hearts and Hillsdale, tout their academic success. St. Croix Prep, for example, has been ranked the top public school district in Minnesota for the last seven years and has a waiting list of nearly 1,000 students, says Executive Director Jon Gutierrez. Although Gutierrez credits classical instruction for his schools achievements, researchers have yet to pin down why classical charters as a group get strong results. In a study comparing the performance of different types of charters and traditional district schools, the classical model came out on top in both math and English. Notably, disadvantaged students saw their biggest gains in classical charters. But its unclear if classical charters were the best because many of them have relatively fewer disadvantaged kids, or because of their curriculum, or something else. As classical charters pitch themselves to more diverse communities, they hope the life stories of people like Montas will help. As a kid, he made his way from a small rural town in the Dominican Republic to New York City and later enrolled in Columbia Universitys liberal arts program. His study of Augustine, Plato, and other heavy hitters set him on a thrilling course of self-examination that gave him a meaningful direction in life. Now a Columbia professor of American studies, he also directs the Freedom and Citizenship Program for high school students from tough backgrounds much like his own. In the program, students have their first encounter with the works of thinkers like Thomas Hobbes and James Baldwin, Montas says, and it can be transformational. They come out of this program seeing themselves in a different way, they feel their voice matters as citizens in shaping our society, he said. Then we help them get into competitive colleges. 19-year-old charged with killing 6 people in Ottawa Ottawa, Mar 8 (UNI) A 19-year-old student is charged with killing six people including four children, with the youngest less than three months old, inside a townhouse in the suburb of Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, local media reported Thursday. Febrio De-Zoysa is charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Police said he is a Sri Lankan national who is believed to be in Canada as a student, CBC News reported. The victims, a mother, her four children and a family acquaintance, are newcomers to Canada and are originally from Sri Lanka, the report said. BUTTE, Mont. -- Teen suicide is an epidemic. It's the second-leading cause of death for young adults, and rates are among the highest they've ever been, according to the CDC. It can happen anywhere, to anyone, even to a family raised right here in Butte, America. "To tell you about Tayson... he was always happy," Bryann Halvorsen said. "I think that was one of the biggest things about him is that you always saw him with a smile, very rarely anything else." "He loved to make people laugh," Halvorsen continued. "And he loved to drive his youngest sister crazy. That was one of his favorite things to do." On January 22, 2024, 13-year-old Tayson Halvorsen committed suicide. Born in Butte before he and his family moved to Rexburg, Idaho, Tayson was a beacon of light--an avid rock climber who played trumpet in the band, someone who made friends with anyone, and loved his family more than anything. "He really just kind of had a soft spot for anybody who didn't have a friend or maybe didn't fit in exactly," Bryann Halvorsen said. "Our daughter had a new baby in December, and, he was just head over heels with her. He loved to hold her and spend time with her." "Those are kind of the main parts of Tay," Halvorsen continued. "Really, you just couldn't help but love him." Tayson's parents Eric and Bryann, as well as his four older siblings, have been left to navigate the most difficult time of their lives. But they're not alone. In a fundraiser set up out of the Halvorsens' original hometown of Butte, over $17,000 have been raised to support one of their own--even though they now live 200 miles away. And they play to give part of that money right back. The Halvorsens have been talking with local schools about building programs and resources to bring teen depression in suicide to further light. The goal is to make certain that everyone knows that there are always other options, and that you're never alone. "Just empowering the kids to be able to help each other... see something, say something," Bryann Halvorsen said. "Our kids are so important and they're so precious, but they deal with a lot of things that they don't necessarily know how to deal with." "Don't be afraid to reach out," Halvorsen continued. "Don't be afraid to talk with someone about your kids, or for your kids. There's nothing wrong with it." Thanks to the bravery of Tayson's family, and the kindness of the community around them, the memory of his love and laughter will live on forever. Tayson's mother Bryann also prepared the following bio on Tayson to share with NonStopLocal: "Tayson is something special. People continue to describe him as light and goodness because that is exactly who he is. He has a smile that is so genuine and would bring a smile to your face and melt your heart. Taysons love is real and powerful. He is strong and has the personality to persevere, there was never a task too big for Tayson. He made friends with almost everyone he met, and was not afraid to be friends with the underdogs. Tay would find any way to serve someone whether big or small and it came with that big smile on his face. He could find ways to make you have a better day whether it be making a silly face, cracking a joke that didn't make any sense, or just a soft hug. His laugh was contagious to everyone around him and you would leave that conversion having a better day. Tayson rode his bike everywhere and was working hard to perfect his wheely. You often found him hanging out with friends and being silly, or at the rock gym on the bouldering wall. He loved Steel Head fishing, hiking and camping in the summers, or playing games, X-box or watching movies in the winter. He also had a love for music But Tayson's favorite place over all was at home with his family." The ongoing turmoil in the Middle East following the October Hamas attacks has completely upended conventional policy hopes for the region and has forced the global community to deal with yet another geopolitical crisis. As hostilities continue to flare, new thoughts have been stimulated on everything from preparedness, personal security, travel awareness, and contingency planning. Of course, it is no big secret that the U.S. and our allies have been facing a looming rise in global uncertainty for several years now a widening set of threats and issues that only seems to ratchet up by the month. Perpetual instability seems to be the norm, with long-held assumptions about security and reliability being challenged and shattered on a regular basis around the globe. Moreover, this brewing tempest of concerns and tensions from the Taiwan Strait, to Ukraine, to Africa, to the Levant shows little sign of receding, and argues for increased degrees of acuity, alacrity, and innovation in both responding to and managing various crises. In fact, the assault by Hamas is the second time in just two years where a major unconventional quasi-military force well-trained, well-equipped, and motivated took the world community by surprise with a well-planned operation. The other was the Talibans lightning charge across Afghanistan in 2021, a campaign that resulted in the complete takeover of the country. In both cases as well as in Sudan in 2023 which saw the evacuation of roughly 1,000 Americans a major politico-military problem rapidly escalated, quickly sweeping up civilians in a chaotic and uncertain situation, leaving little room for planning, accurate information gathering, or deliberate response. Indeed the threat moved so swiftly in Afghanistan that the U.S. government advised citizens to leave immediately, but that they should not plan to rely on U.S. government flights. Those folks jammed in the tumult were left to figure it out for themselves. After watching these types of situations on repeat, where thousands of innocent people around the world including Americans get caught up in violence and chaos abroad and have few options for escape, one is forced to ask questions about how such situations can be avoided. Moreover, we must ask what might be needed in the way of more responsive rescue or transport options in the event of political upheaval, humanitarian crisis, or natural disaster. In places where entire systems of travel are broken down or impeded in the wake of instability, the need for more urgent and flexible capabilities is especially important. Urgent travel to an airport might be difficult enough if air travel isnt an option because flights are canceled or the airport is inoperable, the situation rapidly degrades and appears bleak. But even if transport avenues remain in-country and are simply focused on moving personnel away from danger until more extensive travel arrangements out of a country can be made all these recent global events suggest that more novel thinking is needed. In all of this, airlift options are key and policymakers in Washington DC focused on global security may need to start thinking about how elements of the U.S. government (beyond the U.S. military) may be more closely pre-positioned in specific regions to ensure that rapid extraction options exist for Americans in need of immediate evacuation. Fortunately, options for ready go airlift rescue do exist, and they have been proven effective in numerous parts of the world. Here, the U.S. Dept. of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Air Wing stands out. INLs Air Wing is both interesting and noble. Its original mission was and to some extent, still is to help battle vicious narcotics cartels operating around the globe. Understanding the critical role of aviation in combatting drugs and related threats, INLs fleet has served valiantly in helping partner countries tackle drugs, transnational crime, and terrorism. Here in early 2024, the INL Air Wing if it properly resourced and capitalized may be leveraged to address some of these wider search, rescue, and contingency transportation issues. In fact, the INL Air Wing has performed many rescue missions in the past, often on a fast-turn basis. The Air Wing put in major flight hours in Afghanistan to help move people around out of harms way on the eve of the Talibans takeover in mid-2021. Clearly, the team at INL and their Air Wing have proven to be a can-do force multiplier for contingency operations in high-risk or sensitive regions. Despite its great legacy and record of performance, the INL Air Wing is getting advanced in age especially its rotary-wing fleet. A significant portion of the fleet is over a half-century old and the wear and tear from decades of flying is taking its toll on the Wings ability to execute their mission. That said, the mission and the requirements for the Air Wing remain in place. For example, the Air Wing continues to perform an important diplomatic transport mission in several nations having more assets on-hand to help more Americans in need might be increasingly important moving ahead. Looking across the global landscape, the potential for future crisis situations to flare up and necessitate an all-hands response is more likely than not. It is for all these reasons that decision-makers in DC should consider enhancing the INL Air Wing with modern, reliable, safe, cost-effective, and efficient rotary-wing aircraft. Recognizing the rumbling levels of instability around the world and understanding the importance of the Air Wing to the Dept. of State and to overall U.S. foreign policy, the importance of having a robust and diverse set of airlift options for urgent contingency response is real. Miguel Alejandro Laborde is a former NCO in the 160th SOAR (A), and a subject matter expert on defense aviation programs, capabilities, and platforms, with decades worth of experience in the aerospace industry supporting the joint force. Beet growers could face a virus epidemic on the scale of 2020, with aphids expected to be flying into new crops as they emerge, experts warn. The aphid forecast for 2024, published by Rothamsted, shows that virus yellow vectors will be flying two to three weeks earlier in England compared to the historical average. First capture of peachpotato aphid at Brooms Barn, a Suffolk site owned by the research institute, is predicted for 10 April, which is significantly earlier than previously forecasts. British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO) expect around 40% of the crop to be drilled with untreated seed and with aphids arriving when crops are at younger, more susceptible growth stages, this poses a 'significant risk'. Correspondingly, the BBRO forecasted incidence of virus yellows for 2024 is 83% in the absence of any control measures, which breaches the Defra threshold of 65% required to trigger the use of Cruiser SB on seed, which has been approved for this year. While wet soil conditions and continuing rainfall are holding back drilling, BBRO head of knowledge exchange, Dr Simon Bowen is also advising growers to wait for warmth. Currently, soil temperatures are around 5C and waiting for 8C will have a massive effect on germination and prepare the way for rapidly and evenly established crop stands. "These often perform better and suffer less virus content," Dr Bowen explains. Crops drilled with untreated seed will need careful monitoring for aphids from early April onwards, with growers told to stay agile with spraying decisions. Mr Bowen says: "There is a subtle difference between the two foliar insecticides acetamiprid and flonicamid. InSyst (acetamiprid) is a knockdown product with faster activity than Teppeki or Afinto (both flonicamid). "Product choice for the first spray should take into consideration aphid abundance and crop growth stage." Crops drilled with Cruiser SB seed treatment should be protected for up to 10 weeks from drilling, so depending on aphid numbers in June, they may require further protection from a foliar insecticide then. Consecutive applications of neonicotinoid products are not permitted. The emergency authorisation for Cruiser SB specifies that if subsequent foliar sprays are required, the first one must be a flonicamid containing product. If aphid thresholds are breached again this can be followed by InSyst. A record consultation response from Welsh farmers is a 'clear indicator of the need for major overhaul' to Welsh governments Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). This is according to NFU Cymru, after over 6,700 farmers responded to the Welsh government's consultation on the SFS via the union's website. This is more than double the previous highest response received by the organisation for any such engagement exercise. Welsh farm leaders have long warned of the impacts of aspects of the proposals contained within the SFS outline not least the 10% tree planting and habitat requirements on the sectors viability. This mounting concern has led to mass protests across Wales, as well as the creation of a symbolic display of 5,500 pairs of wellies on the steps of the Senedd, representing the 5,500 jobs forecast to be lost if the SFS goes ahead. NFU Cymru said the Welsh farming industry was in the "midst of an upswell of emotions that has not been witnessed since devolution". The overwhelming strength of feeling from our members is a clear indicator that the current proposals need a major overhaul," said the union's president, Aled Jones. "The proposals must move beyond a scheme focussed predominately on the delivery of environmental outcomes and instead become a genuine agricultural policy that underpins food production. We live in uncertain times, a war in Europe, unrest in the Middle East, political instability, and trade flows around the world under threat food security can no longer be taken for granted." The findings of the Welsh governments own impact assessment modelling for the SFS continues to send shockwaves throughout the industry. It forecasts that 5,500 jobs would be lost, as well as a 200m hit to farm business income and 11% less livestock in Wales. Mr Jones said a long-term stability mechanism was needed to ensure Welsh farming remained competitive with farmers in the UK, EU and globally. "It must be an integral element of the final Sustainable Farming Scheme," he said, "A policy is needed that protects jobs in farming and the supply chain". Wales' Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said she expected changes to be made to the proposals as a result of the consultation. She also reaffirmed the Welsh governments commitment to supporting farming as "a crucial means of addressing the climate and nature emergency". The Minister said today (8 March): Id like to assure everyone who has taken part in the consultation - we are listening and we will take all views into account. "We have to get this right, the future of food production in Wales depends on it. An analysis and a summary of the consultation's responses will be published by the Welsh government later in the spring. Religious festivals in the Muslim community, such as Ramadan and Eid, will likely drive UK lamb sales even further this year, new research says. In 2023, British shoppers bought 80,000 tonnes of lamb from supermarkets, according to figures by AHDB and Kantar. The market was worth 852 million, up 4% year-on-year, with Muslim consumers accounting for 20% of lamb consumption in England alone. AHDB predicts that this year will be no different, with families gathering together to celebrate on the first bank holiday weekend of 2024. The levy board also anticipates that retailers will continue to strongly promote lamb throughout the Easter holiday. Historically, classic lamb roast dinners have been the Easter Sunday meal of choice, and according to Kantar research, lamb roasting joints saw a 25.5% rise in volume sales in 2023 compared to 2022. Of this, leg roasting joints accounted for almost 93% of all lamb roasting joints sold last Easter, and 62% of all lamb sold for the period. The importance of the Easter roast was well supported by retailers last year, with many pushing promotions. The lamb trade has seen significant strength lately, with AHDBs deadweight sheep SQQ currently sitting at 722p/kg for the week ending 2 March. The price is now sitting 217p above figures seen for the same week last year. And with key holidays in Islam coming up - Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr - AHDB expects to see a major boost in lamb demand, including internationally. Grace Randall, AHDB retail insight manager, said: The export market continues to support, along with key demand events including Ramadan, an early Easter and Eid Al-Fitr landing early April. Previous research has shown the importance of the treat aspect associated with lamb, and retailers are using this alongside promotional offers. "Weve seen markets rise significantly for lamb in recent weeks, partly due to the strong demand around Easter and limited supply. "However, we predict consumers will get behind the celebratory sentiment surrounding Easter once again this year and are likely to spend a little more on their meal. There may also be heightened demand for lamb over the next few months, as Eid falls just a few weeks after the Easter period this year." Research by AHDB has indicated that supermarkets are becoming more popular for Muslim consumers, as younger consumers are moving away from traditional stores and are looking for cheaper alternatives to butchers. Awal Fuseini, AHDBs senior halal manger, noted that Muslims accounted for an estimated 20% of lamb consumption in England alone. "More than 62% of halal consumers eat lamb weekly, compared with just 6% of the general population," he explained. "Religious festivals in the Muslim community, such as Ramadan and Eid are all drivers of lamb sales. Crofters from the Outer Hebrides keen to control livestock disease on their island have visited Shetland to learn about an important scheme targeting diseases, including sheep scab. Farmers from Lewis and Harris islands visited the Shetland Animal Health Scheme to see how the scheme works and to meet key personnel. It was set up to help manage biosecurity around imported livestock to protect sheep health, including keeping it free of sheep scab, one of the most contagious endemic diseases affecting UK sheep. The scheme includes veterinary surveillance and testing of all animals coming onto the island, as well as community sheep dipping facilities. It is hoped that aspects of it could be adopted on Lewis and Harris, which hosts an estimated 30-35,000 sheep, and potentially also on other islands and rural communities. The disease affects about 10-15% of farmers in the UK, with 8,000-10,000 outbreaks a year, costing an estimated 80,000 200,000 million in lost production and control measures. Dr Claire Hardy, a James Hutton researcher who led the visit, said the enthusiasm and passion of the Shetland stakeholders to control disease on their Island was clear to see. Sheep scab hasnt gone away, were seeing it occurring throughout Scotland and tackling it is very much about working together, which is why this visit is so important. "The positive vibe and offers of collaboration for the future will help the Lewis and Harris islanders to build on current sheep scab interventions and move forward on disease control for Lewis and Harris. Lewis and Harris Sheep Producers Association chair, Donald MacKinnon, said getting on top of sheep scab and other diseases had obvious benefits for welfare and profitability of flocks. "The single point of entry to Shetland provides a significant advantage over our three ports in Lewis and Harris but we still have an opportunity to try to implement a system that suits our situation. "We were also interested to hear about the premium that it puts on stock from Shetland heading to the mainland. We left Shetland buzzing with ideas that we could take home and try out. One of our big challenges, that Shetland doesnt have, is hoggs returning from wintering on the mainland." Hilary Burgess, who is the Shetland Island Council's veterinary advisor, said the visitors were not daunted by 50mph winds and freezing rain while viewing the facilities. They also had a chance to talk with Shetland farmers and crofters about use of the community dipper and their experiences and plans for control of sheep scab. We hope that this will be the beginning of more joint working and co-operation on sheep scab control between farmers and crofters on Shetland, and Lewis and Harris, she said. "We are all working with the same aim to control sheep scab in our flocks and isles, and to produce quality clean sheep - so it makes sense to work together to get the best results. The scheme is part of a collaborative project with the Scottish governments Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks (EPIC). South Downs National Park Authority has launched a new effort to urge responsible dog walking following a rise in the number of sheep attacks. With dog ownership at an all-time high post-pandemic, the National Park is re-energising its 'Take The Lead' campaign. This encourages responsible dog walking with actions such as keeping canines on leads around livestock and bagging and binning dog poo. Since the National Park Authority came into being in 2011, the number of dogs in the UK has significantly increased from around 8m in 2011 to around 13m today. With that, so has the number of attacks on sheep. Around 70% of UK sheep farmers have experienced a livestock worrying attack in the past 12 months. The figures, published by the National Sheep Association (NSA), show that it is not only young lambs that are are risk, but also pregnant ewes. For farmers, its devastating emotionally and financially to discover any of their flock has been injured, or worse, killed in a dog attack. According to the National Park Authority, there have been several reported incidents of sheep worrying in the South Downs over the past couple of years. Andy Gattiker, who leads public access for the authority, said: Our focus at the National Park is on education and engagement when it comes to dog walking. "We understand that having dogs off leads can potentially have a devastating impact on farmers, as well as fragile wildlife-rich habitats. The aim of our Take The Lead campaign is to help everyone, including dog walkers, to have an enjoyable and safe experience in the National Park. The latest figures by NFU Mutual show that the cost of livestock attacks have increased by more than 50%, to 1.8 million. The rural insurer said it was 'crucial' for the public to act responsibly with dogs, particularly against the backdrop of this years lambing season. Following updated legislation, the police are set to be given greater powers to respond to dog attacks on sheep and cattle more effectively. The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill's aim is to make it easier for them to collect evidence and, in the most serious cases, seize and detain dogs. Sussex-based vet Dr Marc Abraham OBE, who works near the South Downs National Park, has called on the public to act responsibly. He said: "Dog ownership is at an all-time high post-Covid, so it's never been more important to make sure our four-legged friends are kept under control at all times. "[This] means sticking to the paths during ground-nesting bird and lambing season, as well as picking up their poop and disposing of it safely and responsibly." Cabinet approves Uttar Poorva (N-E) Transformative Industrialisation scheme New Delhi, Mar 7 (UNI) The government on Thursday approved the proposal of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, for the Uttar Pradesh Transformative Industrialization Scheme, 2024, for a period of 10 years along with 8 years for committed liabilities at a total cost of Rs. 10,037 crore. The decision will provide various incentives under the scheme to investors for setting up new units or undertaking significant expansion of the existing units, an official statement said after the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision comes in the wake of the governments new industrial development scheme, UNNATI (Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme), 2024, as a central sector scheme for the development of industries and the generation of employment in the states of the North East Region. The scheme's main objective is to generate gainful employment, which will lead to the area's overall socio-economic development. It will create productive economic activity in the manufacturing and service sectors. Incentives include relief from GST and interest subventions. The maximum eligible benefit to one unit from all components of the scheme will be Rs. 250 crore. The financial outlay of the proposed scheme is Rs. 10,037 crore for the scheme period from the date of notification to 10 years. (Additional 8 years for committed liabilities). This will be a central-sector scheme. The scheme is proposed to be divided into two parts. Part A caters to the incentives to the eligible units (Rs 9737 crores), and Part B is for implementation and institutional arrangements for the scheme (Rs 300 crores). The proposed scheme envisages approximately 2180 applications, and it is anticipated that direct employment opportunities of about 83,000 will be generated during the scheme period. A significant amount of indirect employment is also expected to be generated. DPIIT will implement the scheme in cooperation with the states. Implementation will be overseen by several committees at the national and state levels. UNI SKB GNK Worms living near Chernobyl are immune to radiation. Worms at Chernobyl are immune to radiation The 1986 nuclear disaster transformed the area into the most radioactive landscape on the planet and meant humans had to be evacuated but worms that continue to live in the exclusion zone have seemingly developed the "superpower" of radiation immunity and are physically and genetically different from other worms. As part of the study, experts visited Chernobyl to examine nematodes - tiny worms with rapid reproduction - where the startling discovery was made. Dr. Sophia Tintor, lead author of the study at New York University, told MailOnline: "Chernobyl was a tragedy of incomprehensible scale, but we still don't have a great grasp on the effects of the disaster on local populations. "Did the sudden environmental shift select for species, or even individuals within a species, that are naturally more resistant to ionizing radiation?" New Delhi, Mar 8 (UNI) With a view to provide immediate assistance to accident victims and strengthen the Incident Management System (IMS) on the National Highways, NHAI has entered into an agreement with HLL Lifecare Limited, a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The agreement will help NHAI to strengthen its existing Incident Management System, which includes Ambulances, Route Patrol Vans & Cranes, real time tracking, and supportive supervision, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said in a release. This will improve response time and facilitate referral of accident victims to the nearest health facilities, establishing a seamless process for incident management. This will include Operation & Management of Trauma Centres/Emergency Stabilization Centers to maximize assistance during the golden hour and improve health outcomes. This will also help to strengthen services provided through National Highway Toll Free Helpline Number 1033 resulting in improved response time. In this regard a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two organizations. In addition, HLL Lifecare Limited will provide services for comprehensive geo-tagging, mapping and engagement of health facilities and trauma centres across National Highways to enhance the emergency medical response by linking health facilities with ambulances. A blueprint for investment on trauma centres along National Highways will also be created by HLL Lifecare Limited. HLL will also operationalize and manage State-of-art ambulance services which will be equipped with improvised Basic Life Support at select locations of National Highways and will integrate technology for better communication, real time tracking and coordination. As a part of the agreement, HLL Lifecare Limited will undertake training and orientation of the Toll Plaza Staff on new initiates and providing basic life support. This agreement will remain in effect for a period of five years. This unique collaboration between two Government Organizations underlines NHAIs focus to enhance the Incident Management System and provide timely assistance to accidents victims. This arrangement will play a prominent role in providing immediate medical assistance and save precious lives on the National Highways across the country. UNI SKB CS1528 Kylie Jenner is unsure how to feel about speculation on her relationship. Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet went public with their relationship in September 2023 The 26-year-old make-up mogul has been publicly dating 'Wonka' actor Timothee Chalamet, 28, since September 2023 but when asked how she felt about the rumours on social media that she had changed up her style for her boyfriend, insisted she didn't want to discuss things like that. She told The New York Times newspaper: "I dont know how I feel about that. I just dont want to talk about personal things." Meanwhile, 'The Kardashians' star is mother to Stormi, six, and two-year-old Aire with ex-partner Travis Scott and explained that it took her "a while" after having her children to feel like herself again, which can be tricky when she gets her pre-pregnancy figure back, only to realise that fashion trends have changed. She added: "It takes me a while after I have a baby to feel like myself again. Then you get your body back, and youre like, Wait, the trends have changed." Kylie shot to fame as a child in 2007 when she and her now-world-famous family landed the hit reality show 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' and insisted that even though wants her own children's exposure to be "under [her] control", her family probably had no idea how successful they would be to begin with. She said: "To be fair, my family didnt know how successful it would be. I think if they could have foresaw that, they would probably think twice about it being on the show so young." Kylie's mother Kris Jenner, 68, also insisted to the outlet that she had "no regrets" about putting her family in the spotlight. She said: "I have no regrets. I believe that everything happens for a reason.[I've told her] ' I wish I would have been as present as you'." Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied are divorced. Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied are divorced The Black Swan actress, 42, quietly filed for a split from the 46-year-old choreographer eight months ago and it has now emerged they have already have wrapped up proceedings. A representative for Natalie confirmed to People on Friday (08.03.24) they had split after the actress filed for dissolution in July, and said the former couples divorce was finalised last month in France where they live with their children, son Aleph, 12, and seven-year-old daughter Amalia. Natalie and Benjamin were married for 11 years, and it was first reported in June he had allegedly cheated on the actress with a 25-year-old woman named Camille Etienne. A source told Page Six the pair, who married in 2012, had first separated in 2022 but managed to work through their marital troubles. However, the insider added their marriage was rocked once again by the revelations Benjamin had allegedly had a fling. A source said at the time: They have not split and are trying to work things out. Ben is doing everything he can to get Natalie to forgive him. He loves her and their family. The insider added Natalie is incredibly private and her biggest focus is protecting the kids. May December star Natalie fuelled rumours she and Benjamin had split in January when an interview she gave the Wall Street Journal revealed she lived in France with her children, while the profile failed to mention Benjamin. Natalie then told Vanity Fair in an interview published in February the speculation surrounding her marriage had been horrible. She would only tell the magazine about the gossip: Its terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it. German exports were up by 6.3 per cent month on month (MoM) and imports by 3.6 per cent MoM in January this year on a calendar- and seasonally-adjusted basis, according to official provisional statistics. Exports during the month increased by 0.3 per cent year on year (YoY) and imports fell by 8.3 per cent YoY, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported. After calendar and seasonal adjustment, Germany exported goods worth 135.6 billion (~$147.7 billion) and imported goods worth 108 billion (~$117.63 billion) in January. German exports were up by 6.3 per cent month on month (MoM) and imports by 3.6 per cent MoM in January on a calendar- and seasonally-adjusted basis, provisional data show. Exports in the month rose by 0.3 per cent YoY and imports fell by 8.3 per cent YoY. Such exports to EU nations rose by 8.9 per cent MoM and imports from there rose by 10.8 per cent MoM. The foreign trade balance thus showed a surplus of 27.5 billion (~$29.95 billion) in January. The calendar- and seasonally-adjusted surplus stood at 23.3 billion (~$25.38 billion) in December 2023 and 17.3 billion (~$18.84 billion) in January last year. On a calendar- and seasonally-adjusted basis, Germany exported goods worth 75.8 billion (~$82.57 billion) to the member states of the European Union (EU) in January this year, while it imported goods worth 61.2 billion (~$66.66 billion) from these countries. Calendar- and seasonally-adjusted exports to EU countries rose by 8.9 per cent MoM and imports from these countries increased by 10.8 per cent MoM. The value of the goods exported to euro area countries totaled 52.7 billion (~$57.4 million)--a rise of 7.7 per cent, and the value of the goods imported from these countries was 40.4 billion (~$44 billion)a rise of 10.2 per cent. Goods to the value of 23.2 billion (~$25.27 billion) were exported to EU countries not belonging to the euro areaa rise of 11.7 per cent, while the value of the goods imported from those countries was 20.8 billion (~$22.66 billion)a rise of 12 per cent. Exports of goods to non-EU countries amounted to 59.7 billion (!$65.04 billion) in January this year, while imports from these countries totalled 46.8 billion (~$60 billion) on a calendar- and seasonally-adjusted basis. Most German exports went to the United States in January, with goods exports down by 1.7 per cent MoM after seasonal and calendar adjustment. The value of exports to the United States, thus, dropped to 12.5 billion (!$13.61 billion). Exports to China increased by 7.8 per cent to 8.1 billion (~$8.82 billion), and exports to the United Kingdom fell by 8.1 per cent to 6.8 billion (~$7.4 billion). Most imports to Germany came from China in the month. Goods to the value of 10.4 billion (11.33 billion) were imported from there, which represented an 11.1-per cent MoM decrease after calendar and seasonal adjustment. Imports from the United States decreased by 5.2 per cent to 7.8 billion (~$8.5 billion). Imports from the United Kingdom increased by 18.4 per cent to 3.1 billion (~$3.37 billion) during the month. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) The Peoples Committee of Binh Dinh Province recently inaugurated the first phase of the Becamex Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) Binh Dinh complex, marking a significant milestone in south-central Vietnam. With a massive investment of $304 million (VND7.5 trillion), the industrial park commenced operations three years after its construction began. Chairman of the national assembly, Vuong Dinh Hue, and deputy prime minister Tran Hong Ha graced the opening ceremony with their presence. Situated in Canh Vinh Commune under Van Canh District, the Becamex Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park Binh Dinh complex spans over 1,370 hectares, encompassing industrial, urban, and service zones. This strategic venture is poised to catalyse socio-economic growth within the province. Pham Anh Tuan, chairman of the provincial administration, highlighted ongoing efforts to construct a connecting road between national highway 19 and the industrial park, anticipating a surge in firm and investor interest. Tuan reaffirmed Binh Dinh Provinces commitment to facilitating a conducive environment for project completion and business operations. Deputy prime minister Ha expressed optimism regarding the parks potential as a nexus for research, technological innovation, and education. The inauguration of the Becamex Industrial Park signifies a leap forward in Binh Dinhs economic landscape, promising prosperity, and opportunities for the region. The inauguration of the Becamex Industrial Park signifies a leap forward in Binh Dinh's economic landscape, promising prosperity, and opportunities for the region. Situated in Canh Vinh Commune under Van Canh District, the Becamex Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park Binh Dinh complex spans over 1,370 hectares, encompassing industrial, urban, and service zones. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR) The Philippines has signed the second protocol to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), which is likely to offer better opportunities for the countrys micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The agreement will improve his countrys access to markets, participation in global value chains and use of e-commerce, Marcos told the Leaders' Plenary Session at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne recently. The Philippines has signed the second protocol to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA, which is likely to offer better opportunities for the country's MSMEs, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne recently. It will improve the country's access to markets, participation in global value chains and use of e-commerce. The AANZFTA will continue to respond to the evolving multidimensional challenges in the business environment and complement region-to-region efforts to strengthen supply chain resilience, the expansion of trade and investment, inclusiveness and sustainable development, he said. "The Protocol will indeed benefit micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) inasmuch as it facilitates their participation in international trade by improving their access to markets and participation in the global value chains, as well as promoting the use of e-commerce," he was quoted as saying by domestic media reports. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now succeeded in making new viscose from worn-out cotton sheets. Old textiles around the world end up at the rubbish tip and are often burned. In Sweden, they are generally burned to produce district heating. Extensive development work is being conducted to give old clothes and textiles a worthier end. The planet really needs recycled textiles, as it takes a lot of energy, water and land to cultivate cotton and other plant sources for textiles. However, there are many challenges. Researchers of Lund University have developed a method to convert old cotton sheets into viscose fibers, addressing textile waste challenges. The process involves dissolving cotton fibres in a zinc chloride solution, then treating with chemicals to create viscose pulp. Advantages include lower carbon disulphide usage and cost-effectiveness. Cellulose chains, the main component in plant fibres, are complex and long. Cotton textiles are also intensively treated with dyes, protective agents and other chemicals. And then there is all the ingrained grime in the form of skin flakes and fats, said Edvin Bagenholm-Ruuth, doctoral student in chemical engineering at Lund University. Bagenholm-Ruuth and his colleagues have now found a way to loosen up and convert the complex cotton fibres into viscose fibres. Viscose, sometimes referred to as artificial silk, is a common constituent of clothes such as blouses, skirts and dresses. The raw material is cellulose, in most cases wood. There are already viscose variants that are to some extent produced using old cotton fibres. However, a satisfactory product often requires a high percentage of virgin fibre. Late last year, the researchers published a study that shows the process. In the coming years there are plans for a pilot plant somewhere in Europe. The method has already been tested regarding the spinning of viscose threads, and the results were excellent, the university said in a press release. One advantage is that it looks like the process will be inexpensive. It requires a quite simple salt zinc chloride which dissolves in water. Another advantage is that a smaller percentage of the toxic substance carbon disulphide is needed compared to standard processes. The result is good-quality viscose fibre, even though the process needs to be further optimised, according to Bagenholm-Ruuth. We have used white textiles, but if you use old, dyed clothes, you may need to add a stage that decolourises the clothes. If this can be done while also avoiding traditional bleaching, it is preferable, as bleaching is a very resource-intensive process with a considerable environmental impact. The textiles are placed in a zinc chloride solution and within one hour everything is transformed into a gooey mass. Water is added, leading to the precipitation of a fluffy white mass known as a dissolving pulp, which can be filtered off from the liquid. This pulp can then replace the corresponding wood pulp used in todays viscose process. In the next stage, the pulp is treated with a number of chemicals, including carbon disulphide, to make it soluble in sodium hydroxide. The pulp is dissolved, spun and then cut into viscose fibres. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR) Modern times call for modern takes. One step ahead of bringing about noticeable changes in how the trajectory of women's representation on screen is being stoically tuned to suit their calibre. Gone are the days when women were restricted within the periphery of portraying the role of only an eye-candy - from swooning to melodic songs and romancing the lead actor within stipulated screen-time. Actresses today are taking centre stage and how! With the advent of OTT platforms, opportunities have increased manifold and roles are a lot meatier for the lead heroines. Top actresses today refuse to get baulked at by concurring to playing roles that do not help them utilise the full potential of their craft as an artist. With innumerable content being churned out in recurrent intervals, female-centric shows are increasingly becoming the chefs kiss to an already thrilling piece of writing, ready to be directed and made into a watchable extravaganza. On Womens day, for all you OTT loyalists, here are a few top picks that are going to be the cherry on top for your womens day celebration: Delhi Crime (2019) That Indian Netflix series Delhi Crime bagged the International Emmy Award for Drama Series does not come as an out-of-the-blue accolade, for that is how terrific the show is. Yet another Shefali Shah spectacle, this show is based on the Nirbhaya gang rape that took place in 2012 on an unfortunate night in Delhi. While the crux of this gut-wrenching story is known to all, what is still lurking in the shadows is the efforts put in by Delhi police throughout the investigation process. Shefali Shah playing the titular role of the lead inspector on this case makes the show a must-watch. The sheer tenacity and guts needed by a policewoman to crack the case of a merciless rapist as he narrates the painful scenes of committing the crime, takes conviction. And that is exactly with which Shefali Shah aces her role in it. The show also has Rasika Dugal, Adil Hussain, and Rajesh Tailang in important roles. Four More Shots Please (2019) They often say female friendships are your biggest source of support.The show has four female leads - Sayani Gupta, Bani J, Kriti Kulhari, and Maanvi who make a strong case of female friends who have each others back through thick and thin. The show has been criticised as being a chick-flick because of the mere vibe and aesthetics of what the shows script demands. With high-end fashionable clothes, rich and successful women going about their lives doing as they please, the subtle patriarchy so vividly blooming in the Indian subcontext seems to have been irked by it. However it is all about perceptions, and one would surely notice the beauty of female friendships that is so beautifully portrayed in this light-hearted OTT release. Aarya (2020) That Sushmita Sen is a force to reckon with was well known since her Miss. Universe days back in the yore. However, OTT came like a breath of fresh air for the former model to discover the extent of her acting prowess with Aarya. Inspired by a Dutch show Penoza, Sushmita Sen played her titular role as the lead protagonist Aarya to perfection in this Hotstar web series. She plays the role of a strong mother who has that cliche dream lifestyle everything looks pristine from the outside a lovely home, a loving husband, and doting kids. However, life takes an alternative turn as she is thrust into the shady business run by her family with the sudden demise of her husband. The show sees a massive transition of a woman who is made to alter her personality at an unexpected turn in her life. As the show progresses, we see her character arc going from being fearful to having the fortitude and unbending confidence as the crux of the personality embodied by Aarya Sareen. Owing to its massive success, Season 2 was released recently and had the same response to its brilliance. Masaba Masaba (2020) This partfiction and part-real series marked Masaba Gupta, the talented designer daughter of veteran actress Neena Gupta, into the world of OTT. Neena Gupta has always been vocal of the trials she faced on being a single mother with a struggling career. The story revolves around a curious overbearing mother and a fiercely independent-minded daughter as they are at each others throats with a new argument every day. However, her mother is also the biggest support for her as she tries to make her mark in the fashion designing industry and aces it. Being a divorcee, Masaba Gupta breaks the shackles of societal norms and emerges as a true winner as she plays herself in her OTT debut. Bombay Begums (2021) Another work of art that Netflix has churned out with Pooja Bhatt in the lead, doing a marvellous job at the character written for her. With the unrelenting support of actresses like Shahana Goswami, Amruta Subhash, and Plabita Borthakur this female-led show does wonders with its plot and acting prowess. The show sheds light on the overburdening patriarchy that the city of dreams Mumbai seems to be engulfed by. These 4 ladies come from diverse backgrounds and with their fair share of problems. Despite their intrinsic talents, they seem to be constantly combating the modern-day misogyny so prevalent in the city and age-old traditions that curb down their intelligence and capabilities. Though a fictional plot, Bombay Begums brings to the forefront the harsh truth of sexism that women get embroiled in, despite it being unsolicited. Aranyak (2021) Directed by Vinay Vyakul Aranyak marks the debut of Raveena Tandon on the OTT platform. This murder mystery is a thrilling ride indeed and witnesses the actress playing the role of a loyal cop as she solves a murder in the fictional town of Sironah. She plays the role of a devoted police inspector who is finding it hard to juggle between her personal and work life. Duty calls and she puts her career before being a typical woman who sacrifices a flourishing future ahead because as a woman she should be spending more time inside the house. She is seen galavanting around cracking every clue of the mystery with fellow city-bred cop Angad played by Parambrata Chatterjee. Fine performances have led the way to a second season in the waiting for this show Raveena Tandon is here to rule. Human (2022) Shefali Shah is a powerhouse performer who has found her niche by playing complex characters over the years. Lately, shes been basking in the glory that has come with her OTT releases. The most recent being Humans a bone-chilling story on the drug trials that are tested on humans and their counter effects which often gets unnoticed or is intentionally neglected. Playing the character of the best neurosurgeon Gauri Nath, Shefali Shah brings her exceptional acting talent to the foray as she plays this layered character. She plays every personality trait of her character from being complicated to vulnerable to downright unpredictable to perfection this ship sails through with impeccable performances. Kirti Kulhari is the other lead in the show. OTT platforms have indeed been an eye-opener and made a plethora of talented actresses put in their all and test their capabilities as an actress. This International Women's Day deserves thundering applause for all these women in showbiz who are carving their path in the world of OTT content and killing it every step of the way. The lady superstar, Nayanthara, has quashed rumours of her divorce from husband Vignesh and their children with a joyful family picture. Speculation arose when Nayanthara unfollowed Vignesh on Instagram, prompting fans' concerns. The actress reassured her followers with an Instagram story expressing that all is well with the couple. Nayanthara shared a photo of herself with Vignesh and their twins in a flight, likely headed to Jeddah for the F1 race. She captioned the photo 'Travelling with my boys after sooo long.' In the picture, Nayanthara is seen holding one of their sons, beaming at the camera, while Vignesh holds their other son, also posing for the camera. Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan, exchanged vows on June 9, 2022, in an intimate wedding ceremony in Mahabalipuram, near Chennai and welcomed their twins via surrogacy in October 2022. Junaid Khan film name: Junaid Khan, the son of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, has recently concluded the Japan phase of his forthcoming film. The young actor spent around 50 days in Sapporo, Japan, working on this unnamed project. This development marks an exciting phase in the movie's production, which already completed its Mumbai schedule before heading to Japan. Insiders reveal that Junaid Khan is on his way back after a month and a half of intense shooting in Sapporo. The film, produced by Aamir Khan Productions, explores the scenic beauty of Sapporo, a first for the Indian cinema. This project is gaining traction, promising moviegoers a novel visual treat with its fresh locale and Junaid's portrayal of a romantic lead. "Junaid Khan is coming back from Japan after completing 50 days of schedule of his upcoming untitled film made under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions. After shooting for a month and a half in Sapporo, Japan, Junaid has finally wrapped up the schedule," a source told India Today. The project has been under the spotlight since pictures of Sai Pallavi and Junaid from the sets surfaced online, creating a buzz among fans. Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra, known for his work on 'Hichki, the film's production journey is closely followed. Published on March 8, 2024, by Prachi Arya, the anticipation for this untitled film continues to build, hinting at a cinematic venture that offers something out of the ordinary. Jyotica Tangri makes an impressive song that not only is a tribute to her mother but also pays respect to Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri. Jyotica is already ruling the playlists and social media with her latest releases, winter aun waliye, haye boo, laado and pyaar mainu ho gaya. Her next, 'Mere Bhole Shankar' is a full-of-beats song that is a tribute to lord Shiva written by her mother. The beats of the song give it a hippie vibe and the younger generation are most likely to listen to this new song. Talking exclusively to us, she expressed how proud she is of her mother for writing this song. It came as a surprise to Jyotica but she loved it and started working on the song. She said, "This song is called 'Mere Bhole Shankar' and it's my mom's debut as a writer, she surprised me one day with this song. She sent me this on WhatsApp and she said to make something like this, dedicating a song to Shiva, I felt so proud of her." Jyotica is a proud daughter and likes to spend a lot of time with her mother. She revealed how her mother was the guiding force behind this divine song. She said, "My mother recently retired from her 23-year-long school job, and this is how she is utilizing her free time. My mother is clearly unstoppable, she inspired me to work on the song, I did the recording and the basic production of the song, and the sound came out to be very hippie." The song is all set to release on JT Music which is the in-house label of Jyotica. The music programming is done by her friend 'Jitul Boro'. "He killed it with his beats, We are super excited to release the track near Mahashivratri and see everyone vibing on my mother's song", Jyotica concluded. Palestine condemns deaths of 27 Gaza prisoners Ramallah, Mar 8 (UNI) The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on Thursday condemned the deaths of 27 Gaza prisoners in Israeli prisons. Earlier the day, the Hebrew newspaper "Haaretz" reported the deaths of the prisoners who were arrested after the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 last year in camps near Beersheba and Jerusalem. According to the report, the Israeli army did not provide information about the causes of the deaths. "The crime is part of the genocide being committed in the Gaza Strip, as well as forced disappearance, extrajudicial execution, deliberate destruction, and starvation as a weapon of war," the Palestinian foreign ministry said in a statement received by Xinhua. The Israeli army has arrested hundreds of Palestinians during its ongoing ground operation in the Gaza Strip, according to local sources and Palestinian human rights organizations. UNI/XINHUA ARN Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6: Anticipation builds as Bigg Boss Malayalam prepares for its highly anticipated return to television screens. Amidst the excitement, rumours swirl regarding the potential contestants for the upcoming season. The highly anticipated launch episode of Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6 is scheduled for Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m., a moment eagerly awaited by fans. Only a few hours are left for the launch of Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6. Following the premiere, the show will air at 9:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday and at 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Additional contestants will be exclusively revealed during the launch episode, adhering to the customary format. A few days ago, in an unprecedented move in the history of Bigg Boss Malayalam, host Mohanlal revealed the first contestants of the upcoming season prior to its official launch. Breaking tradition, the contestants were announced ahead of the opening episode. The introduced contestants are commoners: Resmin Bai, a physical education teacher and avid bike rider, and Nishana N, known for her passion for travel. Meanwhile, there are divided opinions among Bigg Boss fans regarding the selection of commoners. Some argue that the chosen individuals cannot be classified as commoners since they have a considerable following on social media and have previously garnered public attention. However, another section of fans contends that many audience members are unfamiliar with Resmin Bai and Nishana, thus qualifying them as commoners. Regardless, the selection of these two individuals has sparked widespread discussion. Is Dayana Hameed Joining Mohanlal's Show? As social media is abuzz with rumours, speculation escalates regarding potential contestants for the upcoming season of Bigg Boss Malayalam 6. One frequently mentioned name across various platforms is that of Dayana Hameed. Born on October 1, 1992, in Trivandrum, Kerala, India, she is recognised for her roles in films such as "The Gambler" (2019), "Point Range," and "Paappan" (2022). With widespread speculation, Dayana Hameed's rumoured participation in Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 continues to garner attention. While the official announcement of the final contestants is eagerly awaited, reminiscing about the past season's triumphs fuels the excitement. Akhil Marar clinched victory in the last season, with Reneesha Rahiman and Junaiz VP following suit as the first and second runners-up, respectively. Sobha Viswanath and Shiju Abdul Rasheed secured their spots among the top five. With 21 contestants braving the Bigg Boss house in the fifth season, the forthcoming season is anticipated to have a fresh and vibrant lineup, igniting fervent speculation and fervour among fans. The countdown begins for the grand reveal! Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6: Anticipation builds as Bigg Boss Malayalam has returned to the television screens. The highly anticipated launch episode of Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6 aired on Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m., a moment eagerly awaited by fans. Following the premiere, the show will air at 9:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday and at 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. A few days ago, in an unprecedented move in the history of Bigg Boss Malayalam, host Mohanlal revealed the first contestants of the upcoming season prior to its official launch. Breaking tradition, the contestants were announced ahead of the opening episode. The introduced contestants are commoners: Resmin Bai, a physical education teacher and avid bike rider, and Nishana N, known for her passion for travel. Meanwhile, there are divided opinions among Bigg Boss fans regarding the selection of commoners. Some argue that the chosen individuals cannot be classified as commoners since they have a considerable following on social media and have previously garnered public attention. However, another section of fans contends that many audience members are unfamiliar with Resmin Bai and Nishana, thus qualifying them as commoners. Regardless, the selection of these two individuals has sparked widespread discussion. Jasmine Jaffar Joins Mohanlal's Show? The names in the contestant list of Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 have excited fans, and one such name is Jasmine Jaffar. Known as a popular influencer and beauty vlogger, Jasmine Jaffar gained fame through her YouTube channel, where she shares beauty tips. Jasmine Jaffar's participation in Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 is sure to garner attention. As Bigg Boss Season 6 unfolds, reflecting on the triumphs of past seasons heightens the excitement. Akhil Marar emerged victorious in the previous season, with Reneesha Rahiman and Junaiz VP as the first and second runners-up, respectively. Sobha Viswanath and Shiju Abdul Rasheed also secured spots among the top five contestants. After the success of five seasons, Bigg Boss Malayalam is coming up with the sixth season and the audience can't keep calm about it. Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 will be hosted by superstar Mohanlal and the promos have got the fans excited. The new season of the popular reality show is going on air on March 10 and fans have high expectations from Bigg Boss Malayalam 6. Interestingly, there have been endless speculations about the theme of the show and the contestants participating in Bigg Boss Malayalam 6. Besides there are reports that Bigg Boss will also be opening gates for commoners this week as week making it a tough competition between the celebs and commoners. As it is just 2 days left for Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 premiere, here's everything to know about the show. Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 Contestants Several celebs have been rumoured to be participating in Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 including Saranya Anand, Jaseela Parveen, Rishi Kumar, Sijo John, Bineesh Bastin, Radhika Nair, etc. Besides, the makers have also introduced two commoners Resmin Bai and Nishana as contestants recently When & Where To Watch Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 will be premiered on March 10 from 7 PM and will be aired on Asia Net. The popular reality show will premiere at 9:30 PM on week days and at 9 PM during the weekend. It will also be premiered on OTT at Disney+ Hotstar. This isn't all. Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 will also be having a LIVE streaming. Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 Theme According to media reports, the popular reality show will be breaking the conventional style of the show and will be pushing the contestants out of their respective comfort zones. This isn't all. Bigg Boss Malayalam 6 is also coming up with the tagline Onnu Maati Pidichalo which tranlates to to 'Shall I try something different?' In what came as a shocking news from the Tamil cinema, superstar Ajith was rushed to the hospital recently. It was reported that the renowned actor has been suffering from brain tumor and underwent a brain surgery lately. The reports also suggested that the doctors had detected the tumor in Ajith's brain a while ago and he underwent a four hour surgery for removing the tumor. The media reports also suggested that Ajith was currently in ICU. The news had spread like wildfire and the fans have been praying for a speedy recovery. However, looks like the news of Ajith suffering from a brain tumor is merely a hoax. Yes! You read it right. We have got our hands on a new report stating Ajith did not undergo a surgery for the brain tumor. As per a tweet shared by Laxmi Kanth quoting Ajith's social media PR manager Suresh Chandra, the reports about Ajit undergoing an operation on a brain tumor is not true. The tweet read as, "During a regular health checkup, doctors found that nerves were weak below the ear, and the treatment for it was completed within half an hour. Now, he has been shifted to a normal ward. He will be discharged either tonight or tomorrow morning". On the other hand, in an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat, Ajith's PRO said, "Ajith Kumar has been undergoing treatment at Chennai Apollo Hospital for inflammation of the nerve between the ear and brain. He is in good condition and is currently resting at the hospital and will be discharged by tomorrow morning". Check out the tweet about Ajith's health update: #Ajithkumar's Official Health Update from Suresh Chandra..: The news regarding the operation on a brain tumor is not true.. During a regular health checkup, doctors found that nerves were weak below the ear, and the treatment for it was completed within half an hour. pic.twitter.com/Ur79gyq0Eh Laxmi Kanth (@iammoviebuff007) March 8, 2024 The news has certainly come as a relief for Ajith's massive fan following across the world. Meanwhile, talking about the work front, Ajith is currently working on Magizh Thirumeni's Vidaa Muyarchi along with Trisha Arjun, Aarav, and Sanjay Dutt and had recently wrapped the first schedule of the movie. The team was expected to resume the shooting on March 15 and was supposed to fly abroad for the s. However, with reports of Ajit's ill health, we wonder if there will be a delay in the shooting now. Photo Credit: Tollywood's one of the tallest and most handsome actors, Gopichand, is back on the big silver screen as a cop in writer-director A Harsha's fantasy action drama titled 'Bhimaa.' The movie made its theatrical debut on March 8 on the occasion of Maha Sivarathri. Featuring Priya Bhavani Shankar and Malvika Sharma as the two female leads, Bhimaa, which was earlier scheduled to hit the screens in February has finally opened. Bhimaa Synopsis In a small town, strange and mysterious incidents begin to occur at a historical temple. A cop then comes into the picture to crack it down. Bhimaa Overseas Review Fans of the Macho star Gopichand, living abroad have ensured to book the first day first show tickets to this movie after watching the trailer. They wish Gopichand a solid comeback and have pinned big hopes on Bhimaa. The movie's trailer has amplified the expectations, accordingly. After the movie opened a bit earlier the overseas, the fans who caught the first premiere have taken to their micro-blogging site's handles to share their honest opinion on Bhimaa. Here's what the NRI film buffs have to say. INSIDE INFO : #BHIMAA - INTERVAL IS GOOD & CLIMAX IS MAJOR HIGHLIGHT OF THE FILM #Gopichandh pic.twitter.com/CFKRcFYn6X GetsCinema (@GetsCinema) March 7, 2024 Bhimaa Cast The movie stars Gopichand, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Malvika Sharma, Vennela Kishore, Raghu Babu, Nassar, Naresh, Mukesh Tiwari, Chammak Chandra, Poorna, Rohini, and Sarayu among others in key roles. Bhimaa Crew Written and directed by A Harsha, the movie was bankrolled by KK Radhamohan under his Sri Sathya Sai Arts banners. KGF Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Salaar fame Ravi Basrur composed the film's entire background score and music. Swamy J. Gowda and Tammiraju worked as the film's cinematographer and Editor, respectively. IRVINE, Calif., March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Addverb, a global leader in robotics and warehouse automation solutions, announces a newly launched partnership with DHL Supply Chain in North America. The partnership involves 52 sorting robots, Zippy, and an Addverb software solution deployed in a DHL Supply Chain distribution facility in Columbus, Ohio. The robots are powered by Addverb's enterprise software platform, allowing DHL Supply Chain to scale and maximize their throughput for the facility. Addverb's core offerings include Fixed and Flexible solutions (Material movement, storage, sortation, reverse logistics and picking), allowing clients to integrate efficient and scalable automation systems seamlessly into their existing infrastructures. Addverb's Enterprise Software is being utilized by DHL Supply Chain and gives clients the flexibility to integrate and leverage various warehouse management layers for Warehouse Management Software (WMS), Warehouse Execution Systems (WES), Warehouse Control Systems (WCS) and Fleet Management Software (FMS) throughout their entire warehouse distribution operation. With the integration of Addverb's sortation solution, the Columbus distribution center witnessed a more than 300% surge in throughput and efficiency. "We're very pleased with the partnership between DHL Supply Chain and Addverb. Our project timelines, requirements and deliverables have all been met by Addverb, and it has allowed us to realize an over 300% increase in throughput capability at the Columbus, Ohio site, without having to add more staff to the team," said Don Sweeney, DHL Columbus Facility General Manager. DHL Supply Chain's facility is now fully utilizing Addverb's automation solution, adding sortation to the existing fleet of robots at the Columbus distribution center which already include Assisted Picking and Container Unloading Robots. Commenting on the partnership, Sriram Sridhar, Chief Revenue Officer, Addverb Americas mentioned, "DHL Supply Chain has greatly improved sorting rates, accuracy and efficiency. Addverb could not be more excited about the partnership with DHL Supply Chain, and looks forward to the continued growth of the partnership." To learn more about Addverb's automation solutions, visit www.addverb.com. Founded in 2016, Addverb offers AI-enabled fixed & flexible automation solutions, allowing clients to realize new levels of efficiency, reliability and revenue. Our AI-driven solutions and software are designed specifically to serve the global E-Commerce, Warehouse Distribution and Manufacturing industries. Addverb's maintains multiple offices, and client locations in North America, with Headquarters located in Irvine, California and satellite offices throughout the United States. Media Contact: Nate Aswege nate.aswege@addverb.com +1 303.359.0568 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2356957/Addverb_X_DHL.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/addverb-announces-partnership-with-dhl-supply-chain-in-north-america-302082446.html The groundbreaking achievement comes amidst the European Coffee Federation's call to delay the implementation of regulations, with members such as Nestle SA, Illycaffe SpA, and Olam Food importing more than 2.5 million tons of coffee BELIZE CITY, Belize, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dimitra , a leading blockchain-based operating system for AgTech driving productive, intelligent, and inclusive farming, today announced that it has become one of the first firms to certify a coffee shipment compliant with the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) standard. In collaboration with CACI Satinaki , a Peru-based farming cooperative of smallholder farmers, Dimitra's combination of satellite analysis, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and mobile technology has facilitated a fully certified shipment of coffee under the regulation, that will arrive in Germany in March - with a full traceability record from bean to cup. Speaking on the news, Jon Trask, CEO of Dimitra, said: "The implementation of the EUDR at the end of this year is a truly seismic moment. The impact of the regulatory change will be felt right across the supply chain, from traders, to operators, to consumers. But most particularly, smallholder farmers are feeling the squeeze and are searching for solutions, so that they can comply with the regulation, continue to access the EU market, and protect their livelihoods. In our collaboration with CACI Satinaki to certify an EUDR-compliant shipment of coffee, Dimitra has shown that we have the technological solutions to assist farmers at this uncertain time." The EUDR, which will become enforceable on the 30th of December 2024, bans the sale of goods like coffee, soya, and cocoa that are linked to the destruction of forests. The regulation presents a significant challenge for farmers, particularly smallholders, who will only be permitted to sell products in the EU if they can prove that the product has been produced on land that has not been subject to deforestation. Based on the findings of a survey by the International Coffee Organization, the European Coffee Federation notes that 80% of farmers haven't mapped their land as required by the law. In countries like Honduras and Guatemala where the coffee value chain comprises primarily of poorer, smallholder farmers, 90 percent of Guatemalan and 70 percent of Honduran producers operate less than 2 hectares, and around two-thirds of them live below the national poverty lines - the traceability and information systems required to satisfy the EUDR due diligence process do not exist. Dimitra, as evidenced by its work with CACI Satinaki, is offering farmers a solution to modernize their practices, comply with regulations, and continue to access the EU market. In particular, they will deploy Dimitra's Connected Coffee Platform and Deforestation Compliance Module. This collaboration between Dimitra and the CACI Satinaki signifies a positive step towards sustainable and technologically empowered agriculture, benefiting farmers, consumers, and the environment. Michael Scherff, farmer and CACI Satinaki Export Director, added: "We are very satisfied with Dimitra's capability to be present in Peru and communicate with us on a level that allows us to understand how we can communicate to smallholder farmers how to deliver data in the complex world of AI and Blockchain. We also see that Dimitra demonstrates a deep understanding of the difficulties in the sector, particularly with the administration of small cooperatives composed of small coffee farmers and managing the exportation of raw coffee to Europe. For us this was the basis for the fast advancement of preparing the compliance of EUDR. We have yet to encounter a similar approach in any other application that claims to offer EUDR compliance." Spokespeople available for interview on request About Dimitra Dimitra is a blockchain-based operating system for AgTech driving productive, intelligent, and inclusive farming, empowering farmers to make farming smarter through actionable data-driven insights. Dimitra's digital toolkits empower stakeholders to assess and rate farm performance, crop management practices, and land potential. A front runner in technology and agriculture, the Dimitra team has a wealth of experience on the global and local level having worked with and for agriculture government agencies in Brazil, India, Uganda, and Nepal, among others. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dimitra-enables-certified-coffee-import-under-transformative-new-eu-deforestation-law-eudr-302082994.html CHICAGO, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The growth of micro-influencers, the integration of AI and data analytics, and a greater focus on openness and long-term partnerships are all anticipated developments in the Influencer Marketing Platform Market. In order to promote real and significant influencer partnerships, platforms will broaden their worldwide reach, experiment with different content formats, and concentrate on measuring commercial effect. The global Influencer Marketing Platform Market is estimated to grow from USD 10.6 billion in 2023 to USD 14.2 billion in 2024 and is forecasted to reach USD 50.3 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 37.1% during 2024-2028 period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Influencer marketing platforms streamline campaign processes, offering efficient influencer discovery tools that save time and ensure relevance. It provides a diverse pool of influencers, catering to various audience demographics from micro to macro-influencers. Robust analytics empower brands with valuable insights into campaign performance, enabling data-driven decision-making and optimization. These platforms foster transparency and accountability through clear communication, defined deliverables, and performance tracking, building trust between brands and influencers. Overall, it allows brands to focus on other marketing strategies while driving impactful results through targeted collaborations. Browse in-depth TOC on "Influencer Marketing Platform Market" 270 - Tables 75 - Figures 299 - Pages Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=294138 Scope of the Report Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2019-2028 Base year considered 2023 Forecast period 2024-2028 Forecast units USD Billion Segments Covered Offering, Application, Marketing Type, End User, and Region Geographies covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America Companies covered Izea Worldwide (US), Launchmetrics (US), Triller (US), Traackr (US), Upfluence (US), Meltwater (US), Aspire.io (US), CreatorIQ (US), Later (US), Impact.com (US), Linqia (US), Onalytica (UK), Social Beat (India), GRIN (US), BazaarVoice (US), Pattern (US), Lefty (France), Sprout Social (US), Intellifluence (US), Insense (US), Captiv8 (US), InBeat (Canada), Heepsy (Spain), LTK (US), TRIBE Influencer (Australia), Skeepers (France), Influencity (Spain), Zefmo (India), Afluencer (US), HypeAuditor (US), MagicLinks (US), SocialBook (US), Creator.co (Canada), Glewee (US), and ArabyAds (UAE) Software segment to account for the largest market size during the forecast period. Based on the offering segment, the software is anticipated to hold the largest market size during the forecast period. The adoption of influencer marketing software has surged, driven by the growing recognition of influencers' impact on consumer behavior. This software offers brands powerful tools to identify, collaborate with, and track the performance of influencers across various platforms. By leveraging data analytics and automation features, businesses can streamline campaign management, optimize influencer selection, and measure ROI more effectively. Additionally, this software often provides valuable insights into audience demographics and engagement metrics, enabling brands to refine their strategies for maximum impact. As influencer marketing platform continues to evolve as a key component of digital marketing strategies, the adoption of specialized software solutions is expected to remain on the rise. Request Sample Pages@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=294138 Managed service to account for higher CAGR during the forecast period. Based on the services, managed services are anticipated to hold the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The burgeoning demand for managed services within influencer marketing platforms underscores a strategic paradigm shift among businesses aiming for comprehensive campaign solutions. Managed services furnish a hands-on approach, offering expert guidance and support across the entire influencer marketing spectrum. From devising strategies and selecting influencers to content creation and campaign execution, these services offload operational burdens from businesses, enabling a sharper focus on overarching marketing objectives. Additionally, managed services leverage industry expertise and established influencer relationships, ensuring seamless collaborations and superior content quality. As businesses increasingly appreciate influencer marketing's efficacy, the ascent of managed services within platforms is poised to persist, propelling innovation and operational efficiency within the market. Asia Pacific to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The CAGR of Asia Pacific is estimated to be highest during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region has witnessed a significant surge in the growth of the Influencer Marketing Platform Market. With the proliferation of social media and the increasing internet penetration across diverse demographics, brands are increasingly leveraging influencer marketing to reach their target audiences effectively. Countries across the region have emerged as hotspots for influencer marketing, driven by the massive user bases on platforms such as Instagram, and YouTube. The rise of local influencers who resonate with regional cultures and preferences further fuels this growth. This trend is expected to continue as businesses recognize the value of authentic influencer partnerships in driving brand awareness and engagement in the dynamic Asia Pacific market. Top Key Companies in Influencer Marketing Platform Market: Major vendors in the global Influencer Marketing Platform Market are Izea Worldwide (US), Launchmetrics (US), Triller (US), Traackr (US), Upfluence (US), Meltwater (US), Aspire.io (US), CreatorIQ (US), Later (US), Impact.com (US), Linqia (US), Onalytica (UK), Social Beat (India), GRIN (US), BazaarVoice (US), Pattern (US), Lefty (France), Sprout Social (US), Intellifluence (US), Insense (US), Captiv8 (US), InBeat (Canada), Heepsy (Spain), LTK (US), TRIBE Influencer (Australia), Skeepers (France), Influencity (Spain), Zefmo (India), Afluencer (US), HypeAuditor (US), MagicLinks (US), SocialBook (US), Creator.co (Canada), Glewee (US), and ArabyAds (UAE). Recent Developments: IZEA announced the acquisition of Zuberance, an advocate marketing software platform, to enrich its ecosystem. Zuberance's features, including customer referrals, reviews, stories, and social sharing, will integrate into IZEA's platform, empowering influencers, and customers to cultivate a network of advocates. This strategic move aligns with IZEA's vision of leveraging influencer presence and authentic customer advocacy in its integrated marketing ecosystem. Lectra announced the signing of an agreement to acquire a controlling stake in the American company Launchmetrics, securing a majority of its capital and voting rights. Triller announced the complete acquisition of Julius, a leading influencer marketing solution, to enhance its creator platform, offering deep insights and streamlined ROI for customers, aligning with its creator-centric services model. Impact.com acquired SaaSquatch to enrich its partnership management platform, allowing brands to harness customer referrals alongside influencer and affiliate partnerships. This acquisition enhances Impact.com's capabilities with automated referral campaigns, tracking, reporting, and rewarding customer advocates, amplifying its value proposition for brands seeking comprehensive partnership solutions. Meltwater announced the acquisition of Klear, a leading social influencer marketing company. The acquisition complements Meltwater's existing social listening and analytics offerings, creating a unique integrated product for social listening, analytics, social management, and influencer marketing Inquire Before Buying@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=294138 Influencer Marketing Platform Market Advantages: Influencer marketing platforms facilitate access to a diverse array of influencers belonging to various demographics and niches, so enabling brands to effectively communicate and distribute pertinent material to their intended audience. Brands can improve their exposure and visibility on social media channels by working with influencers on these platforms. This increases brand awareness and exposure among their target demographic. With their following, influencers have built credibility and trust. This has led to more genuine and interesting content that connects with the audience and increases engagement and interaction for companies. Compared to traditional advertising channels, influencer marketing platforms provide brands with a more affordable means of reaching their target demographic while also improving the tracking and measurement of campaign ROI. Influencers on these platforms are skilled at producing a wide range of imaginative and varied content formats, such as tales, photographs, videos, and live streams. This allows marketers to use a range of content kinds to effectively engage their audience. Influencer identification, contract negotiations, content clearance, and performance tracking are just a few of the features and tools these platforms offer for streamlined campaign administration, which helps marketers run and manage influencer campaigns more effectively. Influencer marketing platforms facilitate the connection between brands and influencers worldwide, enabling them to access a global audience and extend their market reach beyond national borders. Report Objectives To define, describe, and predict the Influencer Marketing Platform Market by offering (software, and services), application, marketing type, end user, and region To provide detailed information about major factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and industry-specific challenges) influencing the market growth To analyze opportunities in the market and provide details of the competitive landscape for stakeholders and market leaders To forecast the market size of segments with respect to five main regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America To profile key players and comprehensively analyze their market rankings and core competencies To analyze competitive developments, such as partnerships, new product launches, and mergers and acquisitions, in the Influencer Marketing Platform Market Browse Adjacent Markets: Software and Services Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Video on Demand Market- Global Forecast to 2028 Facial Recognition Market- Global Forecast to 2028 AR VR Software Market - Global Forecast to 2028 API Management Market- Global Forecast to 2027 Field Service Management Market- Global Forecast to 2026 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/influencer-marketing-platform-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/influencer-marketing-platform.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2297424/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/influencer-marketing-platform-market-worth-50-3-billion-by-2028---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302082513.html MariaDB plc (NYSE: MRDB): FORM 8.1(a) (b) (Opening Position Disclosure) IRISH TAKEOVER PANEL OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 8.1(a) AND (b) OF THE IRISH TAKEOVER PANEL ACT, 1997, TAKEOVER RULES, 2022 BY AN OFFEROR OR AN OFFEREE 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: MariaDB plc (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. N/A (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree MariaDB plc (d) Is the discloser the offeror or the offeree? Offeree (e) Date position held: The latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 6 March 2024 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser also making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" N/A 2. INTERESTS AND SHORT POSITIONS If there are interests and positions to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2 for each additional class of relevant security. Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates (Note 1) Class of relevant security: (Note 2) Interests Short positions Number Number (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 0 0 0 (2) Cash-settled derivatives: 0 0 (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/ sell: 0 0 Total: 0 0 0 All interests and all short positions should be disclosed. Details of options including rights to subscribe for new securities and any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8. 3. INTERESTS AND SHORT POSITIONS OF PERSONS ACTING IN CONCERT WITH THE PARTY MAKING THE DISCLOSURE Details of any interests and short positions (including directors' and other employee options) of any person acting in concert with the party making the disclosure: (a) MariaDB plc Directors The directors of MariaDB plc detailed in the table below (together with their connected persons under Rule 3.3(b)(ii) of Part A of the Irish Takeover Rules) have the following interests in MariaDB plc: Director Class of Relevant Security Number of ordinary shares held at midnight (ET) on 6 March 2024 Percentage of total issued share capital (rounded) Total number ordinary shares underlying outstanding Options, RSUs, PSUs, Employee Scheme Purchase Plan Rights and other subscription rights Jurgen Ingels Ordinary shares of US$0.01 each 5,927,117 8.749% 182,291 Paul O'Brien Ordinary shares of US$0.01 each 0 0.00% 1,300,000 Michael Fanfant Ordinary shares of US$0.01 each 5,269,012* 7.777% 0 Yakov Zubarev Ordinary shares of US$0.01 each 0 0.00% 0 Represents 2,557,043 Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Runa Capital Fund II L.P., 1,992,618 Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Runa Capital Opportunity Fund I, L.P., and 719,351 Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Runa Ventures I Limited. The business address of Runa Capital is Williams House, 4th Floor, 20 Reid Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. For the avoidance of doubt, no such Ordinary Share are owned by Michael Fanfant. (b) MariaDB plc Advisers None Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8. 4. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the party to the offer making the disclosure or any person acting in concert with it: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" None (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is referenced. If none, this should be stated. None (c) Attachments Is a Supplemental Form 8 attached? YES/NO No Date of disclosure: 7 March 2024 Contact name: Conor McCarthy Telephone number: 855-562-7423 Public disclosures under Rule 8.1 of the Rules must be made to a Regulatory Information Service. NOTES ON FORM 8.1(a) and (b) 1. See the definition of "interest in a relevant security" in Rule 2.5 of Part A of the Rules and see Rule 8.6(a) of Part B of the Rules. 2. See the definition of "relevant securities" in Rule 2.1 of Part A of the Rules. 3. If details included in a disclosure under Rule 8 are incorrect, they should be corrected as soon as practicable in a subsequent disclosure. Such disclosure should state clearly that it corrects details disclosed previously, identify the disclosure or disclosures being corrected, and provide sufficient detail for the reader to understand the nature of the corrections. In the case of any doubt, the Panel should be consulted. For full details of disclosure requirements, see Rule 8 of the Rules. If in doubt, consult the Panel. References in these notes to "the Rules" are to the Irish Takeover Panel Act, 1997, Takeover Rules, 2022. Source: MariaDB View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240301225662/en/ Contacts: Investors: ir@mariadb.com Media: pr@mariadb.com Drug Combination's Unique Mechanism of Action Enables Reactivation of Brain Adrenergic Function, Showing Improvements in Multiple Areas of Cognition CuraSen Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage company developing small molecule therapies to treat neurodegenerative disease, announced that it will present additional positive Phase 2a data with its combination adrenergic activator, CST-2032/CST-107, in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia from either Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. The oral presentation will take place at AD/PD 2024: The International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders, being held March 5-9, 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal. CST-2032 is one of CuraSen's two lead product candidates being tested in patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Both CST-2032 and CST-103, the company's other lead clinical candidate, are oral, brain-permeant, beta2 adrenoceptor (2-AR) agonists delivered in combination with CST-107 (nadolol, a brain-sparing beta blocker) to inhibit peripheral effects of 2-AR agonism. Both CST-2032 and CST-103 work by enabling reactivation of brain adrenergic function lost early in the neurodegenerative disease process. The updated Phase 2a data with CST-2032/CST-107 showed statistically and clinically important effects across several cognitive domains in patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, such as memory, attention, executive function, facial recognition and impulse control areas known to be impacted by adrenergic function. Target effect sizes of 0.2-0.3 or higher, as seen in this study, predict success in larger, longer studies. "These encouraging data build on earlier results presented at October 2023's CTAD conference, reinforcing that treatment with CST 2032/CST-107 can produce meaningful quality-of-life cognitive improvements for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients, particularly those with mild cognitive impairment, rapidly and safely," said Anthony Ford, PhD, chief executive officer of CuraSen. "The robust, collective data set from both CST-2032 and CST-103 demonstrate that this novel mechanism of action for restoring adrenergic function to the brain is a highly compelling strategy to address unmet symptoms of neurodegeneration. We plan to evaluate additional doses and refine optimal patient profiles in our upcoming Phase 2 studies, with the goal to significantly increase cognitive performance and ultimately, halt disease progression." The randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded crossover study evaluated 64 patients with MCI or mild dementia from either Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's diseases: AD with MCI 30 patients randomized; 25 completed AD with dementia 6 patients randomized; 5 completed PD with MCI 22 patients randomized; 21 completed PD with dementia 6 patients randomized; 4 completed Data highlights included: Digit Symbol Substitution test, which measures complex attention, memory and executive function: AD patients with MCI 0.36 effect size; p=0.02 on Day 14 AD patients with MCI 0.36 effect size; p=0.02 on Day 14 Facial Expression Recognition response time to accurately recognize facial expressions, which measures social cognition: AD patients with MCI 0.66 effect size; p=0.04 on Day 14 for happy expression and 0.91 effect size; p 0.01 on Day 14 for surprise expression AD patients with MCI 0.66 effect size; p=0.04 on Day 14 for happy expression and 0.91 effect size; p 0.01 on Day 14 for surprise expression Stop Signal test, which measures impulse control PD patients with MCI 0.52 effect size; p=0.04 on Day 14 PD patients with MCI 0.52 effect size; p=0.04 on Day 14 Excellent safety and tolerability profile No serious adverse events: no increases in heart rate observed one to four hours after dose The company plans to initiate longer studies with both CST-2032/CST-107 and CST-103/CST-107 in AD and PD patients with MCI later this year, as well as develop fixed-dose combination tablets for each of these drug candidates. Study Objectives and Design The study objectives were to establish safety and tolerability of CST-2032/CST-107, identify optimal dosing, and identify cognitive tests responsive to agonist stimulus within the two-week dosing period. Measures of cognition included the digit symbol substitution test, Cambridge neuropsychological test battery, and the facial expression recognition task. The study took place at multiple sites in the United States and New Zealand. Patients received either daily 3 mg of CST-2032 with 3 mg of nadolol for 14 days, or matching placebo, followed by a wash-out period (=7-d) before crossing over to the other treatment arm. Blood samples are being analyzed for AD biomarkers, and DNA samples for AD and PD genotyping. Abstract Details Title: "CST-2032, a Novel Beta-2 Adrenoceptor Agonist, Improves Cognition in Patients with Impairment Due to Alzheimer's or Parkinson's Disease" Abstract #: PO34 Presenter: Gabriel Vargas, MD, PhD, chief medical officer, CuraSen Therapeutics Session: Translational Drug Discovery and Experimental Models 05 Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024 Time: 17:25-17:40 UTC, session time,16:40 18:40 UTC Location: Auditorium VII About CuraSen Therapeutics CuraSen is focused on the development of new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other related orphan conditions. CuraSen's drugs are designed to activate certain receptor populations in the brain to compensate for critical neuronal and glial functions that have otherwise been lost due to degeneration and represent a unique approach in the field. The company is evaluating CST-103 and CST-2032, both selective 2-AR agonists, in combination with CST-107, a -AR blocker, in multiple Phase 2 clinical studies. CST-3056, an a1A-AR agonist, is in preclinical development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. For more information, please visit www.curasen.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307105858/en/ Contacts: Susan Kinkead Kinkead Communications susan@kinkeadcomm.com 415-509-3610 Turkey is ready to host a peace summit between Russia and Ukraine, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul. NATO member Turkey has been positioning itself as a potential mediator between Moscow and Kyiv since Russia launched its invasion more than two years ago. Erdogan's proposal comes as Ukraine faces mounting pressure on the front line, where it has lost ground to Moscow in recent months amid hold-ups to aid from its Western allies. "We are ready to host a peace summit where Russia is also present," Erdogan told a press conference alongside the Ukrainian leader. "While we continue our solidarity with Ukraine, we will continue our work to end the war with a just peace on the basis of negotiations," Erdogan said. Zelensky dismissed the idea of negotiating directly with Russia, arguing that Ukraine and Western leaders must set out peace on their own terms. He noted there would be an upcoming peace summit in Switzerland, where Kyiv would promote its own "peace formula", but ruled out Russia's participation. "We don't see how we can invite people who block, destroy and kill everything. We want to get results," Zelensky said. He called the talks with Erdogan "productive" and thanked Turkey for its mediation efforts on Ukraine's Black Sea grain exports and prisoner exchanges. Ankara has sought to maintain good relations with both Moscow and Kyiv, helping the two sign a now shuttered agreement to ensure the safe passage of grain via the Black Sea in July 2022. - 'We are not hopeless' - Erdogan said he and Zelensky had discussed issues of port security, navigation safety in the Black Sea, prisoner exchanges and food security, and that they shared the same opinions. "We are not hopeless," he said. "We believe that there are some opportunities that Turkey can provide with its stance." Turkey hosted failed ceasefire talks between Kyiv and Moscow in the first weeks of the war and wants to revive them. Its strategic location on the Black Sea and its control of the Bosphorus Strait gives it a unique military, political and economic role in the conflict. In July 2022, Ankara with the United Nations brokered the Black Sea grain deal, the most significant diplomatic agreement so far reached between Kyiv and Moscow. Moscow ditched the initiative -- which allowed the safe passage of Ukrainian agricultural exports across the mine-laden Black Sea -- a year later, complaining that the terms were unfair. Since the collapse of the deal, Kyiv has used an alternative shipping route hugging the coastline to avoid contested international waters. Turkey has been lobbying hard for an agreement to ensure cargo can once again navigate those waters in safety. - Russia-Turkey relations - Turkey's Western allies have expressed concern over its relations with Moscow. Ankara is reliant on Russian energy and has faced scrutiny as Russia seeks to avoid Western trading restrictions. The United States has sanctioned several Turkish companies for helping Russia purchase goods that could be used by its armed forces. The Erdogan-Zelensky meeting comes a week after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan at a diplomatic forum in Antalya. President Vladimir Putin was to visit Turkey last month, but postponed the trip, according to Turkish and Russian media citing diplomatic sources. The Kremlin has said it is rescheduling the visit, but has given no date. Russia and Ukraine both accused each other of killing civilians in drone strikes deep behind enemy lines on Friday. A Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian border region of Belgorod killed two people, the region's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. In Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, a Russian drone attack on the town of Vovchansk killed a man and a woman in a car, regional head Oleg Sinegubov said. burs-cad/imm Regulatory News: The Board of Directors of Carmila met today and decided, on the recommendation formulated by the Nomination and Compensation Committee, to propose to the next General Meeting of Shareholders the renewal of the terms of office as Directors of Marie Cheval, Olivier Lecomte, Nadra Moussalem and Laurent Vallee, for a term of four years, until the General Meeting called to approve the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2027. The Board of Directors also decided, on the recommendation of the Nomination and Compensation Committee, to co-opt Mrs Caroline Dassie as a Director to replace Mrs Elodie Perthuisot. Her appointment will expire at the end of Ms Perthuisot's term of office, i.e. at the General Meeting called to approve the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2024. This appointment will be submitted for ratification at the next General Meeting of Shareholders. Caroline Dassie began her career in 1994 with the Danone group, first with Lu, then with Bledina, where she held various sales and marketing positions. In 2004, she joined Danone Eaux France, becoming Sales and E-Commerce Director in 2014. In 2015, she was appointed International Food General Manager at Intermarche. Ms Dassie joined Carrefour France in 2018 as Executive Director of Supermarkets, then Executive Director of Marketing and Customers for the Carrefour Group from 1 September 2021. Lastly, the Board of Directors has taken note that Mr Laurent Luccioni does not wish to renew his term of office as a Director. Following these changes and subject to the approval of the General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 24 April 2024, Carmila's Board of Directors will comprise 12 directors, 58.3% of whom are independent and 50% of whom are women. INVESTOR AGENDA 17 April 2024 (after market close): Financial information for the first quarter 2024 24 April 2024: Annual Shareholder Meeting 24 July 2024 (after market close): First half 2024 results 25 July 2024: First half 2024 results presentation 17 October 2024 (after market close): Financial information for the third quarter 2024 ABOUT CARMILA As the third-largest listed owner of commercial property in Europe, Carmila was founded by Carrefour and large institutional investors in order to enhance the value of shopping centres adjoining Carrefour hypermarkets in France, Spain and Italy. At 31 December 2023, its portfolio was valued at 5.9 billion and is made up of 201 shopping centres, with leading positions in their catchment areas. Carmila is listed on Euronext-Paris Compartment A under the symbol CARM. It benefits from the tax regime for French real estate investment trusts ("SIIC"). Carmila has been a member of the SBF 120 since 20 June 2022. Important notice Some of the statements contained in this document are not historical facts but rather statements of future expectations, estimates and other forward-looking statements based on management's beliefs. These statements reflect such views and assumptions prevailing as of the date of the statements and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause future results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Please refer to the most recent Universal Registration Document filed in French by Carmila with the Autorite des marches financiers for additional information in relation to such factors, risks and uncertainties. Carmila has no intention and is under no obligation to update or review the forward-looking statements referred to above. Consequently, Carmila accepts no liability for any consequences arising from the use of any of the above statements. This press release is available in the "Regulatory Information" section of Carmila's Finance webpage: https://www.carmila.com/en/finance/regulatory-information/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308077874/en/ Contacts: INVESTOR AND ANALYST CONTACT Jonathan Kirk Head of Investor Relations jonathan_kirk@carmila.com +33 6 31 71 83 98 PRESS CONTACT Elodie Arcayna Corporate Communications Director elodie_arcayna@carmila.com +33 7 86 54 40 10 New LoopMe data shows managing frequency remains paramount as 37% of respondents indicated negative sentiment towards seeing the same political ad too many times LoopMe, a leading technology company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to improve brand advertising outcomes, today announced the results of a new survey exploring U.S. voter sentiment towards political advertising in the context of ad placement and frequency. A key finding revealed American voters are more than twice as likely to be receptive to political advertising on the media they use most when compared with other channels. The survey polled 6,262 U.S. consumers on their mobile devices via LoopMe's proprietary AI-led polling technology, PurchaseLoop Audiences. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307430161/en/ LoopMe Consumer Snapshot: Key Insights into Political Media Consumption Habits and Receptivity (Photo: Business Wire) "In this important election year, understanding the shifting patterns of media consumption is critical in order to properly allocate political advertising budgets for efficient reach across all demographics," said Robin Porter, Head of Political at LoopMe. "Our new data shows that campaign effectiveness can be improved significantly by engaging with voters on the channels they use most. Audiences that spend more time in digital environments shared that they are most receptive to political ads in digital platforms such as streaming and social media. The study also revealed that older respondents are more likely to supplement TV viewership with mobile gaming with receptivity in both." LoopMe's survey findings include: The majority of Americans are willing to consider opposing views in political ads : Overall, 62% of respondents said they are open to seeing political advertising messages with which they disagree. When drilling down by medium, social media and YouTube users were least receptive (59%) while web surfers and podcast/radio listeners were most receptive (75% and 73%, respectively). : Overall, 62% of respondents said they are open to seeing political advertising messages with which they disagree. When drilling down by medium, social media and YouTube users were least receptive (59%) while web surfers and podcast/radio listeners were most receptive (75% and 73%, respectively). The top five media channels that respondents said they use the most each day were : TV (21%), social media (20%), YouTube (12%), streaming services (11%), and mobile games (11%). : TV (21%), social media (20%), YouTube (12%), streaming services (11%), and mobile games (11%). While a two-fold boost in receptivity can be expected for political ads shown on the voter's preferred media, this boost under-performs on social media. Respondents who said they listen to podcasts and radio most were 176% more likely to be receptive to political ads on those channels; for YouTube and streaming, the receptivity boost was 117% and 114%, respectively; however, for social media, the receptivity figure drops down to 82%. Respondents who said they listen to podcasts and radio most were 176% more likely to be receptive to political ads on those channels; for YouTube and streaming, the receptivity boost was 117% and 114%, respectively; however, for social media, the receptivity figure drops down to 82%. Repetitive political advertising can create negative voter sentiment: 37% of respondents indicated distaste for viewing the same political ad too many times. In fact, LoopMe's data showed that high frequency was upwards of 3x as likely to result in a more negative opinion of a message, especially for older voters. "Allocating spend to digital channels to diversify political advertising can both reach incremental audiences beyond traditional TV and manage frequency amongst an audience most opposed to seeing a high number of ads," added Porter. LoopMe CTV measurement client, Origin, also recently conducted a nationwide study via LoopMe's surveying technology with a focus on voter sentiment specific to TV advertising. The Origin survey reinforces that repetitiveness in political advertising has also been noticed by TV viewers: 30% of the 7,237 U.S. streaming households surveyed in Origin's study said that they see the same political ad too often. Origin's data also showed that nearly 65% of these U.S. streaming households are currently undecided on how they will vote in the 2024 elections, and when asked whether a political ad they see on TV could make them reconsider how they vote, almost a third indicated it would 'if it's relevant to where I live'. "All the data here points to one takeaway for political advertisers: don't wait until after the election to find out you didn't have the attention of the undecided voters you needed," said Fred Godfrey, Origin's CEO and co-founder. To view the research, please visit: https://loopme.com/insights/loopme-consumer-snapshot-political-media-consumer-insights. About LoopMe LoopMe is a technology company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to improve brand advertising performance and outcomes. LoopMe was the first to apply AI to brand advertising and its Intelligent Marketplace, finding solutions to industry challenges that haven't previously been solved. With consumer insights and AI at its core, LoopMe makes brand advertising better, outperforming industry benchmarks for leading global brands. Our vision is to change advertising for the better, by building technology that will redefine brand advertising. LoopMe was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in the UK, with global offices across New York, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Dnipro, Krakow and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.loopme.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307430161/en/ Contacts: Rachel Conforti pr@loopme.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2024) - Goldgroup Mining Inc. (TSXV: GGA) (OTC Pink: GGAZF) (BMV SIX: GGAN.MX) ("Goldgroup" or the "Company") is saddened to report a fatality at its Cerro Prieto mine in Sonora, Mexico late evening local time March 5, 2024. In an isolated incident a mining contractor's dozer operator was fatally injured while operating a D8 dozer. "It is with deep sadness that we report the tragic loss of a contractor colleague. Our thoughts are with the family, friends and our Cerro Prieto team at this difficult time. The safety of our employees and contractors remains our top priority," said Ralph Shearing, CEO of Goldgroup. Relevant regulatory authorities have been notified and attended the site to investigate. The Company will cooperate fully throughout the investigation. Operations at Cerro Prieto Esperanza Pit have been voluntarily temporarily suspended until the conclusion of the investigation. The Company will issue further statements and provide additional information as appropriate. About Goldgroup Goldgroup is a Canadian-based mining Company that owns and operates the Cerro Prieto heap-leach gold mine located in the State of Sonora, Mexico and is led by a team of highly successful and seasoned individuals with extensive expertise in mine development, corporate finance, and exploration in Mexico. For further information on Goldgroup, please visit www.goldgroupmining.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors Investor Relations Toll Free: 1-877-655-ozAu (6928) To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/200944 SOURCE: Goldgroup Mining Inc. Latest collaboration will see SHEIN pledge US$430,000 towards six local affiliates. SINGAPORE, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SHEIN, a global online fashion and lifestyle retailer, is deepening its commitment to women's empowerment causes by expanding its collaboration with local affiliates of Dress for Success (DFS), a not-for-profit organisation that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a support network, and access to professional attire and development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. SHEIN will provide US$430,000 of financial support to a total of six DFS affiliates across the US, UK, Italy, and Singapore, establishing new relationships with five affiliates in Indianapolis, Chattanooga, Milan, Rome and Singapore, and building on its longstanding collaboration with DFS Greater London. The funds from SHEIN will support DFS' activities, day-to-day operations and special initiatives including sponsorship of: The annual Stepping Out In Style fundraising dinner and fashion show in Indianapolis, US The annual CelebrateHer Gala event and the launch of the Professional Women's Group in Chattanooga, US A new Multifunctional Centre in Rome, Italy, the first dedicated DFS facility to offer training and support services Expanded outreach activities and makeover of office premises to serve beneficiaries in Milan, Italy Curated activities including an image makeover and a photoshoot in Singapore The annual Power of Women Awards event in London, UK SHEIN's Global Head of Public Affairs and General Manager of Singapore Mr. Leonard Lin said, "At SHEIN, we recognize the transformative power of fashion as a tool for empowerment and positive change. Our expanded alliance with new Dress for Success affiliates and the continued strong ties with the Greater London affiliate, reflect our commitment to support women who may face barriers to success, and create opportunities for them to access their full potential. This underscores our shared vision with Dress for Success to provide women with the skills, resources, and the network to confidently build their careers and shape their futures." The extended collaboration builds on SHEIN's existing relationship with DFS Greater London which saw SHEIN providing financial sponsorship and clothing donations, impacting the lives of more than 400 women since 2019. In October 2023, SHEIN also launched a 23-piece capsule "Curve" collection with DFS Greater London. This collection was specially crafted for women ranging from UK sizes 16-24 and featured dresses, blazers, jumpsuits, tailored trousers, and blouses in a colour palette of berry, black and cream. The financial support for the six DFS affiliates is part of the US$35 million that SHEIN had committed in September 2023 towards social impact activities focused on women, young people, and underprivileged communities. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2266792/4583378/image_5026813_4105828_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/shein-deepens-commitment-to-womens-empowerment-through-expanded-collaborations-with-dress-for-success-affiliates-302083734.html International Women's Day Statement by Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif NEW YORK, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Across much of the world, women have endured thousands of years of oppression, subjugation, and systematic denial of reaching our human and economic potential. Women's education and leadership have been denied, delayed or destroyed. While progress has indeed been made, millions of women around the globe continue to remain shackled by discrimination and deprivation of their rights and their potentials. Yet, the world needs nothing more today than its equal share of a highly educated and empowered women leadership. This year, as people everywhere come together on International Women's Day, WeTheWomen say no to oppression, say no to the denial of girls' right to a quality education, and say no to entrenched patriarchal systems. Today, we say yes to girls' education and yes to empowered women's leadership. Awareness and affirmative action must be strengthened globally if we are to truly "Invest in Women to Accelerate Progress". Overt and covert oppression of all forms, including gender-oppression, undermine our global efforts to deliver on the promises in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the UN Charter and other binding international accords. To empower young girls and an entire future generation of women leaders - and to right the wrongs of thousands of years of subjugation - we must invest in a holistic quality education for the girls and young women today. Only by doing so now, can we empower them all the way towards leadership in all areas of work and life. It will be an uphill battle. The world is off track in our efforts to achieve our goals for gender equality and quality education by 2030. According to analysis from the United Nations, at our current rate of progress, it will take 300 years to end child marriage, and 140 years to achieve equal representation in leadership in the workplace. Every young girl has a right to genuinely solid education and life-long learning. Under no circumstances can this right be denied due to her gender. Indeed, through affirmative action and guidance by parents, teachers and society, every girl should be encouraged to reach her full potential and have the option of pursuing her professional path, not as a follower, but as a leader. We must do so now. Today, 129 million girls around the world are missing out on school. For girls on the frontlines of armed conflicts, climate change, forced displacement and other protracted crises, the challenges are the most severe. Without an education, crisis-affected girls face increased risks of child marriage, human trafficking, slavery, economic marginalization, forced and unpaid labour, as well as stifling dependency on men and patriarchal systems. This kind of dependency is not only a violation of their rights as human beings, but also unhealthy and economically untenable for any society wishing to advance. Yet, in the face of adversity, there is hope. On my recent mission to Nigeria, I met with girls and young women who had been abducted by Boko Haram and splinter groups. Despite the horrifying experiences they endured, they were able to heal through a holistic education, including mental health and psychosocial services, and reclaim their power. Stronger than ever, they now empower other young girls by serving as inspiring role models of resilience and determination. With support from Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and our global strategic partners, they empower girls who have escaped from Boko Haram. While some are learning valuable trades in vocational schools, others study to become teachers, lawyers, doctors, scientists and entrepreneurs. The have gone through a very dark era in their young life, but darkness no longer owns them. They own their lives and are captains of their destiny. Working through a coordinated joint programme with UNICEF, NRC and Save the Children, ECW provides access to both formal and non-formal education in North-East Nigeria. An innovative new investment with the Global Survivors Fund also supports education as a form a reparation for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in the region. It's a first, vital and highly successful educational approach, as they find their identity and prepare for their lives ahead. In Afghanistan, an entire generation of girls continue to be denied access to quality education, and an entire generation of women are being denied many of their basic human rights. A country that has suffered so much for so long, Afghanistan needs its girls and women to be educated to rebuild this war-torn nation. For this reason, we continue to advocate for equal rights for all girls and young women in Afghanistan - especially the right to a quality education through our global AfghanGirlsVoices campaign. And, through local partners, we continue to enrol girls into community-based learning programmes. On our mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I met with a 15-year-old victim of sexual violence, caring for her two children, both conceived through rape, while also studying and mentoring other girls. There, in Tanganyika Province where inter-ethnic violence, gender-based sexual violence and forced displacement continue to put women and girls through sexual abuse and constant dangers, as much as 49% of girls are married before they turn 18. With ECW support, this young girl and about 250 other girls in her displacement camp are back learning in the safety of their classroom and provided with collective support to also care for their children. They are true heroes, not only to all girls in camp, but to all of us. By providing girls like them with access to a holistic quality learning, we enable them to heal and learn, hope and realize a better future. By teaching girls about science, technology, engineering and math, we are building the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. By providing access to school counsellors and mental health services, we help an entire generation deal with the impact of war, forced displacement and sexual violence. But much more needs to be done. In Eastern DR Congo, 200,000 girls have reportedly been raped. With significantly more financial investments in their healing, recovery and education, far more can be achieved. So, let us not stop at the commemoration of International Women's Day. Instead, let us start now with a significant increase in financing such proven solutions. Education Cannot Wait urges public and private sector donors and high-net-worth individuals to urgently mobilize $600 million to reach our target of US$1.5 billion in funding. With these new resources, we will reach 20 million crisis-affected children and adolescents, including 12 million girls, with inclusive and continued quality education. This urgently needed increase in funding will provide a significant leap forward for our collective efforts to build a more equal world between women and men - through education that overcomes generational discrimination and builds leadership for humanity in the 21st century. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2357712/PHOTO_2024_03_07_14_59_31.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1656121/Education_Cannot_Wait_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wethewomen-invest-in-education-and-empower-women-and-girls-to-lead-302083652.html The joint "RETIRE RICH" campaign spotlights the large pension gap of women in Ireland and emphasizes the importance of private retirement planning. Female founded tights label saint sass is releasing the limited tights on March 8 th , the international women's day, featuring the statement "RETIRE RICH". , the international women's day, featuring the statement "RETIRE RICH". Trade Republic data, across its 4 million customers, shows that women are better investors, achieving on average 2% higher returns than male investors. The analysis indicates that women invest more long-term, diversified and regularly than men, contributing to higher return and wealth creation. Trade republic is matching 100% of saint sass' profits in a contribution to "seiStark e.V.", an organization who will use the amount to support financial education for females in local projects. Women in Ireland receive on average 29% less pension than men. Females are also investing structurally less into capital markets, leading to lower private retirement savings. At the same time Trade Republic's data across 4 million clients shows that women are indeed the better investors. Women achieve on average a 2% higher return, driven by a more diversified investment strategy. Now, tights label saint sass and Europe's largest savings platform, Trade Republic, are joining forces to promote and foster capital markets participation among women. "RETIRE RICH" is the slogan of this year's campaign, to encourage female investing across Europe. "We are proud to partner up with Trade Republic to launch an initiative that brings attention to an underserved topic. We've already proven that women are able to combine fashion with strong statements. Now it's time to encourage women to empower themselves for financial independence and retirement planning. We chose the slogan 'RETIRE RICH' to trigger conversations about female retirement provocatively highlighting the problem we are facing", says Vivien Wysocki, Co-founder of saint sass. Through their campaign, the two Berlin based companies aim to encourage women to start their private retirement planning journey. According to numbers from Eurostat around one in five European women over the age of 65 runs into the risk of poverty. However, Trade Republic data shows that women achieve on average a 2% higher yearly return than men in 2023. One reason is that women diversify their portfolios more broadly, by holding 23% more assets in ETFs compared to men. In addition, women are 10% more likely to invest through a savings plan. But Trade Republic's analysis also highlights challenges: women typically start investing in the capital market two years later and with 30% less capital than men. "At Trade Republic we see a new generation of confident young female investors starting to invest for the first time with us. Yet, there is much to do. The pension gap is especially burning for women as they traditionally receive less pension from the state. Yet, we recognize that women are more successful investors, because they typically follow a more long term and diversified investment approach. Therefore, we want to encourage millions of women across Europe to trust themselves and start their savings journey", says Trade Republic's Co-founder Christian Hecker. The initiative will go live from March 8th, 2024 with its own website dedicated to female investing. The limited statement tights "RETIRE RICH" will be exclusively available on saintsass.com. Trade Republic is matching 100% of saint sass' profits in a contribution to "seiStark e.V.", an organization who will use the amount to support financial education for females in local projects. For additional information please visit: Website I FAQ I Instagram I X LinkedIn TikTok About Trade Republic Trade Republic is on a mission to set millions of Europeans up for wealth creation with secure, easy, and commission-free access to capital markets. With customers across 17 European countries and 35 billions of assets under management, Trade Republic is already the home screen app for many Europeans to manage their wealth. It offers savings plans, fractional trading of shares, ETFs, bonds as well as derivatives and crypto and, from January 2024, the Trade Republic card with a 1 percent Saveback reward. Trade Republic is a full-service bank and is supervised by the BaFin and Bundesbank. As Europe's largest broker and leading savings platform, Trade Republic has received growth capital from leading global investors such as Accel, Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, Ontario Teachers', Sequoia and TCV. The Berlin-based company was founded in 2015 by Christian Hecker, Thomas Pischke and Marco Cancellieri. About saint sass "MOM, I AM A RICH MAN" With this legendary statement by Cher, the story of saint sass began. The Berlin-based label was founded in 2021 by Vivien Wysocki Larissa Schmid out of their passion for tights. Made by women for women. saint sass translates to "Holy Impudence" and represents a life full of contradictions, independence, self-confidence, self-irony, and effortless elegance. Designed in Berlin made in Italy: saint sass focuses on a sustainable supply chain and the use of high-quality materials to ensure the highest quality. The tights are knitted with great attention of detail in Germany, and the statements are handcrafted in Saarland. Additionally, the packaging is done in small sizes using paper. Further information at saintsass.com About seiStark e.V seiStark e.V. advocates for women in need. The cornerstone of our work is our mentoring program "Together STRONG", where we pair women with our STRONG makers. They provide long-term and individual support to help women resolve their challenges. Our STRONG makers accompany women on their journey towards a self-determined life. Additionally, this work is complemented and supported by numerous projects of our association. Let's work together to ensure that social background, discrimination, and personal setbacks do not impede the path ahead. Help us enable as many women as possible to lead self-determined, independent, and happy lives. Further information at www.seistark-ev.de View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307471067/en/ Contacts: Please do not hesitate to contact us directly: Emanuele Agueci Trade Republic press-ie@traderepublic.com Sina Laurin Neumann saint sass hi@sinalaurin.com Kuros Biosciences AG / Key word(s): Annual Results Kuros Biosciences to Report Full Year Financial Results for 2023 and Provide Corporate Update 08.03.2024 / 07:00 CET/CEST - Company to host conference call and webcast on March 13, 2024, at 3pm CET/10am US EST Schlieren (Zurich), Switzerland, March 8, 2024 - Kuros Biosciences ("Kuros" or "the Company"), a leader in next-generation bone graft technologies, today announced that it will report its full-year financial results and provide a corporate update on its business on March 13, 2024. Following the announcement, the company will host a video conference call at 3pm CET/10am US EST to discuss the results. To register for the video call, click here . For further information, please contact: Kuros Biosciences AG Daniel Geiger Chief Financial Officer t: +41 44 733 47 47 e: daniel.geiger@kurosbio.com LifeSci Advisors Sandya von der Weid Investors t: +41 78 680 0538 e: svonderweid@lifesciadvisors.com About Kuros Biosciences Kuros Biosciences is on a mission to discover, develop and deliver innovative biologic fusion technologies. With locations in the United States, Switzerland and the Netherlands, the company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The company's first commercial product, MagnetOsTM, is a unique advanced bone graft that has already been used across three continents and in 25,000 fusion surgeries. For more information on the company, its products and pipeline, visit kurosbio.com . End of Media Release TOKYO, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nippon Express (Deutschland) GmbH (hereinafter "NX Germany") and Nippon Express (Middle East) L.L.C. (hereinafter "NX Middle East"), a group company of NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC., participated in the four-day "Arab Health 2024" healthcare trade show held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from Monday, January 29, to Thursday, February 1, exhibiting at a joint booth alongside Saxony Trade & Invest Corp. (Wirtschaftsforderung Sachsen GmbH). Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202403047471-O1-3JAllHYj Exhibit booth: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202403047471/_prw_PI2fl_W39pwsxa.png NX representatives at booth: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202403047471/_prw_PI3fl_MhT5v18F.png Arab Health 2024 is one of the world's largest international healthcare trade shows. In line with this year's theme of "Connecting Minds, Transforming Healthcare," specialists in medical equipment/devices, rehabilitation products, IT systems and various other healthcare-related fields gathered from around the globe to take part. NX Germany was able to exhibit at the joint booth with Saxony Trade & Invest by virtue of having opened a sales office in Dresden, Germany, in December 2022. The city is known not only for a major semiconductor industry hub but also for the medical /healthcare industry. Together with members from Nippon Express Europe GmbH and NX Middle East, the company's representatives took advantage of this valuable opportunity to actively discuss new ideas and business solutions with their global customers. The NX Group will continue meeting customers' challenges and supporting their business expansion with its global network and accumulated expertise in advanced logistics. Since its establishment in Japan in 1937, the NX Group has been developing alongside society by connecting people, companies, and communities through the transport of goods. As a global logistics company, it provides high-quality logistics services in 50 countries/regions* utilizing aircraft, ships, railways, and trucks as well as warehouse facilities and IT systems. *As of December 31, 2023 Nippon Express website: https://www.nipponexpress.com/ Nippon Express Group's official LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nippon-express-deutschland-and-nippon-express-middle-east-participate-in-arab-health-2024-in-dubai-302083689.html VANCOUVER, British Columbia and TORONTO, March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ATHA Energy Corp. (TSXV: SASK) (FRA: X5U) (OTCQB: SASKF) ("ATHA") and Latitude Uranium Inc. (CSE: LUR) (OTCQB: LURAF) (FRA: EI1) ("Latitude Uranium") are pleased to announce the successful completion of the previously announced arrangement (the "Arrangement" or the "Merger") whereby ATHA has acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Latitude Uranium (the "LUR Shares") and Latitude Uranium has become a wholly owned subsidiary of ATHA. Pursuant to the Arrangement, Latitude Uranium shareholders (the "LUR Shareholders") received 0.2769 common shares of ATHA (each whole share, an "ATHA Share") for each LUR Share held. In aggregate, ATHA issued approximately 64,444,004 ATHA Shares under the Arrangement. In addition, the escrow release conditions in relation to the 4,000,000 subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") issued in connection with ATHA's private placement (the "Offering") of flow-through ATHA Shares and Subscription Receipts have been met. As a result, each outstanding Subscription Receipt has been converted into one ATHA Share and the net proceeds from the offering have been released from escrow. For additional information on the Offering, please refer to the news release of ATHA dated December 28, 2023. Troy Boisjoli, CEO of ATHA, commented, "We are thrilled to announce the completion of this transaction, which in our view adds considerable maturity to our asset portfolio and further separates ATHA as the leading exploration company with comprehensive exposure to a unique profile of uranium upside. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for the Company by adding historical resource to our portfolio and enabling us to expand the reach of our robust balance sheet across a diverse range of exploration catalysts. With the expertise of our excellent development team, we are very excited about the prospect of further exploration and development across multiple high-grade uranium jurisdictions, with the objective of defining the next generation of world-class uranium assets." Philip Williams, Executive Chairman of Latitude Uranium, commented, "The closing of the Merger between Latitude Uranium and Atha begins a new era of opportunity for LUR shareholders, who can now expect to benefit from multi-basin uranium exploration in Canada. With significant funding and an exceptional team in place, Atha stands ready to accelerate exploration at Angilak, and drive additional discoveries in the Athabasca Basin and the Central Mineral Belt. In the two short year's of being public, Latitude Uranium has made significant advancements through exploration and M&A, and I look forward to supporting the Atha team drive additional growth as a board member. I would like to thank the Latitude Uranium board and management for their invaluable support and contributions since inception and wish them well in their future endeavours." The LUR Shares are expected to be delisted from the Canadian Securities Exchange at market close on March 7, 2024. ATHA will cause Latitude Uranium to apply to the relevant Canadian securities regulatory authorities to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws. Board of Directors and Management ATHA's board of directors now consists of five directors, including Mike Castanho (Chair), Doug Engdahl, Sean Kallir, Jeff Barber and Phil Williams. The senior management team of ATHA includes Troy Boisjoli as Chief Executive Officer, Akash Patel as Chief Financial Officer and Cliff Revering as Vice President, Exploration. Full details of the Merger and certain other matters are set out in the management information circular of Latitude Uranium and can be found under Latitude Uranium's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. A copy of the early warning report of ATHA in connection with its acquisition of the LUR Shares will be filed under LUR's issuer profile on SEDAR+ and can be obtained by contacting ATHA as set out below. Additional Information for Former LUR Shareholders In order to receive ATHA Shares in exchange for LUR Shares, former registered LUR Shareholders must complete, sign, date and return (together with the certificate or DRS statement representing their LUR shares) the letter of transmittal that was mailed to them prior to closing of the Merger. The letter of transmittal is also available under LUR's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and by contacting Odyssey Trust Company, the depositary for the transaction, by telephone at: (587) 885-0960 or by email at: corp.actions@odysseytrust.com. For those former LUR Shareholders whose LUR Shares are registered in the name of a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company, trust or other intermediary or nominee, they should contact such nominee for assistance in depositing their LUR Shares and should follow the instructions of such intermediary or nominee. About ATHA ATHA is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties. ATHA owns the Angilak and CMB uranium discoveries, hosting a historic resource estimate of 43.3 million lbs and 14.5 million lbs U3O8, respectively, in addition to the largest cumulative exploration package in each of the Athabasca Basin and Thelon Basin, two of the world's most prominent basins for uranium discoveries, with 6.5 million total acres along with a 10% carried interest portfolio of claims in the Athabasca Basin operated by NexGen Energy Ltd. and IsoEnergy Ltd. For more information visit www.athaenergy.com. For more information, please contact: Troy Boisjoli Chief Executive Officer Email: troy@athaenergy.com 1-306-460-5353 www.athaenergy.com Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Arrangement have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and any securities issuable in the Arrangement are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". These forward-looking statements or information may relate to ATHA's ongoing business plan, exploration and work program. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at the time, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to, assumptions regarding expectations and assumptions concerning the Arrangement, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner. Although Latitude Uranium and ATHA have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such statements represent the current views of Latitude Uranium and ATHA with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Latitude Uranium and ATHA, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the following: the TSX Venture Exchange not providing final approval to the Arrangement and all required matters related thereto; changes to Latitude Uranium's and/or ATHA's current and future business plans and the strategic alternatives available thereto; regulatory determinations and delays. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in Latitude Uranium's most recent annual information form, in Latitude Uranium's management information circular in connection with the Meeting, in ATHA's most recent financial statements and management discussion and analysis, and in ATHA's and Latitude Uranium's other filings with the Canadian securities regulators which are available on the Latitude Uranium's and ATHA's respective profiles on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Latitude Uranium and ATHA do not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SHENZHEN, China, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL, a leading global intelligent technology company, today introduced EchoesOfGreatness, its latest global campaign under the flagship TCLforHer initiative. In celebration of International Women's Day, the integrated campaign is dedicated to all the incredible women around the world and aims to encourage them to go after their dreams, transform them into a reality, and inspire others along the way. "When those before us dream big, it inspires us to do the same and make our dreams come true," said Yuki Wei, Vice President of TCL Technology and Chairman of the TCL Charity Foundation. "Over the years, TCL has been spotlighting women that are making a difference every day through TCLforHer. We look forward to continuing this celebration of the strength and limitless potential of every girl and woman to dream big and live even bigger." The EchoesOfGreatness campaign pays homage to renowned silent film actress Dorothy Cumming, who travelled from Australia to the United States in mid 1916 to follow her ambition of establishing a career in Hollywood. A trailblazer of her time that was relentless in pursuing her dream, Cumming eventually landed the breakthrough role of Mary in the 1927 film "The King of Kings", which was also the very first film to stage its premiere at The Chinese Theatre, known today as TCL Chinese Theater, on Hollywood Boulevard. Based on real-life interviews with Cumming's family, news clippings and film studies, the legendary actress' inspiring story was brought to life in EchoesOfGreatness to honor her legacy and encourage women to keep the momentum going as the director of their own dreams. As part of the campaign, they are invited to share their stories and journey of turning dreams into reality - whether it was starting a business, pursuing a passion, or overcoming obstacles - on social media. Selected stories will be made into a movie by TCL to inspire others. To TCL, technology holds the power to help girls and women from all walks of life to pursue greatness by opening up new avenues and opportunities. To underscore the role of technology in facilitating women's empowerment, TCL is also set to kick off TechForHer, an accompanying social media campaign that highlights the functions and potential of the company's innovative technology in impacting lives, including girls' and women's. The campaign will also see online users interacting with TCL through various interactive polls. Since its launch in 2020, TCLforHer has been enabling the personal development of women worldwide as the Global Promotional Partner of FIBA's "Her World, Her Rules" initiative, as well as in the "Break & Believe" campaign with FIBA. In addition, TCL has been working with Huameng Foundation to uplift young women and support their ambitions. By funding a number of female-focused programs and educational initiatives, TCL has helped close to 1,000 young women from underprivileged families to complete high school and tertiary studies. In addition, TCL takes pride in embracing diverse voices and empowering more women to succeed in the workplace. In the past five years, the number of female executives at TCL Technology Group has increased steadily, with female leaders representing 21.1% of management positions in 2023. At the same time, the number of female employees at TCL's R&D department has also increased for the past consecutive years, with women now taking up 13.8% of the company's total expert base, igniting new sparks for technology breakthroughs. With the mission to facilitate "The Creative Life", TCL is committed to inspiring and empowering girls and women around the world to dream big and live their lives fully and creatively through their beauty, courage, tenacity, wisdom and loving. TCL is a leading global intelligent technology company with a mission to "Inspire Greatness". As a leading technology company, TCL provides diversified consumer electronics covering TVs, smartphones, audio and smart home products, as well as display technology and clean energy solutions. TCL is committed to bringing smart technology experiences and healthy lifestyles to consumers around the world. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2357966/WeChat_Image_20240308151158.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tcl-empowers-women-worldwide-to-turn-their-dreams-into-reality-with-inspirational-echoesofgreatness-campaign-302083904.html If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit CoCo expanding support and infrastructure for franchisees in Europe: Single-store franchise opportunities now available Expanded regional supply channels Launch of training programs for entrepreneurs CoCo to attend Franchise Expo Paris 2024 Also hosting CoCo Europe Franchise Forum to further engage regional entrepreneurs PARIS and TAIPEI, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Premium bubble tea franchise CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice is announcing a significant expansion of regional infrastructure and support for European franchisees, to be highlighted when it attends the upcoming Franchise Expo Paris 2024 (Booth T44, March 16-18). In addition, the brand is hosting its own franchise forum in Barcelona, Spain on Mar 21 to further empower and connect with European entrepreneurs. Interested in opening your own CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice store? Sign up here (https://bit.ly/41DSxva) for the CoCo Europe Franchise Forum in Barcelona, Spain on Mar 21. "In Europe, CoCo is in the early stages of an exciting growth journey," notes Kody Wong, Director of Business Development at CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice. "These new initiatives are tapping into what we see as enormous potential in the region - driven by booming interest in bubble tea and the passion of young, diverse entrepreneurs interested in opening their own CoCo branch." Expanding infrastructure in the growing European market Europe's bubble tea market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8% until 2032, and CoCo itself has grown 142% worldwide, from 3,500 stores in 2019 to 5,000 in 2023. Drawing significant interest recently from potential franchisees in Spain, Italy, Belgium, and The Netherlands, the brand has recently worked with local partners to bring the delights of its signature pearl milk tea to consumers in Valencia, Spain; Rome and Milan, Italy; Lyon, France; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Antwerp, Belgium; and Glasgow, Scotland. To harness this momentum and cater to expanding palates in the region, CoCo is: Making single-store franchises available in Europe , serving to empower young, diverse entrepreneurs and bubble tea enthusiasts , serving to empower young, diverse entrepreneurs and bubble tea enthusiasts Scaling up supply channels for the region to augment flows of boba materials to augment flows of boba materials Launching training infrastructure on the continent to further set up CoCo bubble tea franchisees for success Strengthening its presence in Europe At the Franchise Expo Paris 2024, CoCo will share further information on the wide range of resources and support currently available to the region's beverage entrepreneurs. To take its commitment to the European market to the next level, the brand is also organizing the CoCo Europe Franchise Forum in Barcelona, Spain on Mar 21, where it will host potential partners to explore its various franchise opportunities. Registration and further info here: https://bit.ly/41DSxva Why partner with CoCo CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice brings a major global footprint and high brand recognition, which carries over directly to the success of its franchise stores. Its extensive supply chain helps to stabilize costs for franchise partners, and the brand provides resources such as pre-opening preparation, daily operational support, and comprehensive training and support programs for seamless communication with CoCo's head office. In addition, onsite assistance is available to set up franchisees for success. About CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice aims to create a diverse and sustainable community for its consumers by providing visually refreshing products. We continue to be one of the fastest-growing companies and are looking for enterprising partners to join the CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice franchise networks. Check CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice's official website and start your application now. For more information, please visit https://www.coco-tea.com/. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2355984/Wall_Art__Bubble_Gaga_Production.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2355985/Wall_Art_3_Guys.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coco-fresh-tea--juice-launches-major-expansion-of-european-franchisee-support-302081219.html With its 4th acquisition in 15 months, The Specialist Group further expands its network to meet the increasing demand for technical personnel in energy transition MOERDIJK, Netherlands, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Specialist Group ("TSG"), a leading provider of technical engineering specialists for sectors such as power, chemicals, infrastructure, renewables and life sciences, today announced that it has acquired iks Engineering, an engineering resourcing provider in Germany. Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquired entity will operate under TSG's flagship label STAR. The acquisition accelerates STAR's successful growth journey in Germany and serves as an important milestone in its ambitions to become the leading technical resourcing services provider for Europe's energy transition needs. iks Engineering has a 40-year track record in providing specialized engineers to its vast network of clients across Germany. The combination augments STAR's access to certain categories of the engineering talent pool and enables STAR to support its clients for the entire duration of a project. Its current CEO, Claus Weber, will become the company's Operational Director, Enes Kisa will become Sales Director. Both will be reporting to Lars Bakker, STAR's Group Director for Germany, Austria and Sweden. Sil Hoeve, CEO of The Specialist Group, said: "This acquisition marks a milestone in our successful buy-and-build strategy so far. We are delighted to welcome iks Engineering to join our STAR label. With its differentiated technical expertise and esteemed reputation among clients, iks Engineering is a great addition for our European network." Lars Bakker, Group Director for Germany, Austria and Sweden of STAR, explained: "In addition to our leading positions in the Netherlands and Belgium, this is a significant stride towards expanding our presence in Germany. With iks Engineering, we can extend our services scope to offer technical talents across the entire lifecycle of our clients' projects in the region. With this partnership we will be able to transform exciting opportunities in the German energy transition market into tangible success." Claus Weber, Operational Director of iks Engineering, added: "We are excited to become the German engineering partner for STAR and The Specialist Group. This is an important step for iks Engineering as we transition out of family ownership into joining STAR, which enables us to take the next step in our growth ambitions. As our expertise is complementary to STAR, we look forward to leveraging synergies and becoming the leading player in the German engineering resourcing market." About The Specialist Group The Specialist Group ("TSG") is a platform that provides engineering resourcing services and is headquartered in Moerdijk, the Netherlands. Focusing on further accelerating the energy transition, TSG served over 600 clients in 2023 in technical end markets such as energy, chemicals, infrastructure, renewable energy and life sciences. Today, around 80% of TSG's specialists are involved in energy transition projects and the creation of a more sustainable industry. The company operates through five labels (STAR, Sensor, LiteCad, ECC Solutions and Altio) and are present across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Sweden, targeting both experienced candidates and young professionals. TSG is backed by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with USD 189 billion in assets under management as per 31 December 2023. For more information: www.thespecialistgroup.com About STAR STAR operates as one of The Specialist Group's five labels. STAR helps businesses and industries move towards a sustainable future. By providing technical engineering specialists to our clients across power, chemicals, infrastructure, renewables, and life sciences industries, we are proud to support Europe's energy transition agenda where most of our specialists are involved in. For more information: https://star-specialists.com/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/star-acquires-iks-engineering-further-advancing-its-market-position-in-germany-302083353.html ING publishes agenda and proxy materials for 2024 AGM ING today published the agenda and proxy materials for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on Monday 22 April 2024. The agenda includes the proposals to reappoint Juan Colombas, Herman Hulst and Harold Naus for a second term of four years to the Supervisory Board. All three were appointed to the Supervisory Board at the AGM in 2020. The agenda will also include the periodically updated remuneration policies for the Executive Board and Supervisory Board. As announced on 5 February 2024, it will also be proposed to appoint Deloitte Accountants BV as the next external auditor for a term of four years starting on 1 January 2026. The audit of the 2024 and 2025 annual accounts will still be performed by KPMG Accountants NV, who have been ING's auditor since 2016 and will have reached the legally set maximum duration of 10 years at the end of 2025. Full details of all agenda items are included in the proxy materials for our Annual General Meeting. The proxy materials also include the 2023 Annual Report of ING, including the Annual Accounts and the reports of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board, as published on 7 March 2024, as well as other information and documents as required by law. The proxy materials, including the agenda for the AGM, are available on our website (ing.com/agm). Registered shareholders may attend the AGM starting at 2 p.m., either in person at Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ (Piet Heinkade 1, 1019 BR Amsterdam, the Netherlands) or remotely, by logging on to the electronic platform 'Evote by ING', available via ing.com/agm. The supporting materials published today provide further details on how to register, participate and vote. The AGM will also be webcast live via ing.com. Shareholders are advised to check the information on the website regularly for any updates, including details on admission requirements. Note for editors For further information on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroomor via the @ING_newsX feed. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr. Press enquiries Investor enquiries Christoph Linke ING Group Investor Relations +31 20 576 5000 +31 20 576 6396 Christoph.Linke@ing.com Investor.Relations@ing.com (mailto:Investor.Relations@ing.com) ING PROFILE ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank's more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries. ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N). Sustainability is an integral part of ING's strategy, evidenced by ING's leading position in sector benchmarks. ING's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating by MSCI was affirmed 'AA' in July 2023. As of December 2023, Sustainalytics considers ING's management of ESG material risk to be 'strong'. ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Important legal information Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 ('Market Abuse Regulation'). ING Group's annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ('IFRS- EU'). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2023 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding. Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to di?er materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may di?er materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation:. This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information. Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are "green" or "sustainable." Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security. This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING's control. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason. This document does not constitute an o?er to sell, or a solicitation of an o?er to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Attachment GUANGZHOU, China, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PHNIX, a prominent player in the HVAC industry, is set to make a grand return at the MCE Exhibition in Milan from March 12 to 15. Recognized as a premier global event for the HVAC sector, MCE serves as a platform for companies to showcase groundbreaking innovations in heating, cooling, and energy efficiency solutions. After two years since the 2022 edition, PHNIX considers this year's MCE Exhibition as a pivotal moment in its 2024 calendar. Since 2023, PHNIX has been introducing a comprehensive energy solution that integrates heating, cooling, and hot water services. In 2024, the company will elevate and expand upon this solution, offering a hands-on experience through a dedicated experience cabin. Three key products, including the multi-functional water tank, hydraulic fan coil, and R290 Everest Series air-to-water heat pump, will be operational for visitors to witness. Technical experts from PHNIX European service center and headquarter will be present to address inquiries, providing clients with an in-depth understanding of PHNIX's solutions. As regards the exhibits, PHNIX will showcase three flagship products: R290 Everest Series Air to Water Heat Pump: Superior efficiency. Its SCOP can reach above 5.0. Ultra-silent. Reaching as low as 39.5 dB(A), it ensures a serene environment for users. EVI technology. It delivers outstanding performance even in extreme conditions. R290 airExpert All-in-One Domestic Hot Water Heat Pump: SG-ready certified. It can respond to grid demands through intelligent control systems, enabling more efficient utilization of energy. Stable and ultra-quiet performance. Its noise pressure levels is as low as 35.5 decibels for an undisturbed living space. R290 HeatGreen Commercial Air to Water Heat Pump: Hybrid Function. It seamlessly integrates with boilers, offering flexibility in usage for commercial applications. Cascade Control. One central display can manage up to 16 units, providing flexibility and convenience. In a creative display, PHNIX's commercial heat pump will incorporate virtual reality (VR) for an immersive product presentation. Building on the success of its VR showcase at the Chicago AHR Exhibition in January, PHNIX aims to elevate the VR experience for MCE attendees. Those eager to explore the world of PHNIX's commercial heat pumps through VR should not miss this exciting exhibition at Hall 3, Booth K49 L50. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2357058/PHNIX_Unleashes_Innovation_Elevating_Comprehensive_Energy_Solution_Milan_MCE_2024.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/phnix-unleashes-innovation-elevating-comprehensive-energy-solution-at-milan-mce-2024-302082738.html South Asian Hair Care Brand Vatika Naturals Champions Diversity with RootForMe Featuring All-Female Comedy Lineup. LONDON, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vatika Naturals, a flagship brand from House of Dabur, is pioneering an empowering initiative this International Women's Day with the launch of their IWD2024 campaign, ROOTFORME. ROOTFORME is a digital campaign to mark IWD2024 addressing intersectionality at workplace which affects women of colour, compounded by race, ethnicity, religion and several other issues which can pose as a major roadblock for career advancement for a lot of our target segment and make them susceptible to workplace harassment and stereotyping. From being a generic hair care brand for South Asian women, this year Vatika Naturals is embarking on a journey to become the preferred brand by multi-ethnic audiences across the UK and the USA. Redefining women's empowerment this International Women's Day, Vatika leads the conversation with humour to address workplace stereotypes and discrimination, through partnerships with leading stand-up comediennes like Shazia Mirza and Sikisa. In celebration of the campaign launch, Business Head Dabur International Europe UK, Zakir Mansoori stated - Vatika Naturals has been bringing bespoke hair care solutions to multi-ethnic audiences around the World for over 35 years and the brand has been garnering a lot of love from our loyal base of customers. Earlier this year we launched our Afro Naturals range especially for women with textured hair. And there is lots to look forward to from Vatika, as we embark on this journey to make the brand relevant to a wider audience, which would include new product launches and newer formulations for different hair types. Roshni Singh, Group Marketing Manager UK EU & Americas stated, "Vatika Naturals is not just a hair care brand but a custodian of values which champion diversity, differences, and uniqueness especially amongst women. With the ROOTFORME, Vatika endeavours to further strengthen its stand towards being inclusive and diverse." RootForMe is a call to action for individuals to stand together and dismantle barriers preventing equality for women and specifically women of colour. Vatika is always challenging the status quo or stereotypes that hinder the growth of an individual." Agency Founder and Chairman for HereandNow365, Manish Tiwari further elucidated that "Vatika Naturals is a brand which identifies and celebrates differences, and to match the brand's vision, our team has developed this concept which is not just clutter-breaking but light-hearted. The aim of deploying humour is not to make light of the issues at hand, rather to offer hard hitting provocative messaging through treatment and platforms which resonate with our younger audiences in today's time. The two-week campaign will launch across Vatika's social media channels on the 8th of March 2024 across UK and the USA. To amplify the message, the brand will be seen at iconic landmarks like Times Square, New York city and the London Underground in the month of March, with the aim of sparking dialogue around workplace issues, stereotypes, and navigating these challenges. For more information and media inquiries, please contact: Hridaya Asher Here and Now Infinity E: hridaya.asher@hereandnow365.co.uk T: +44 7943991807 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2358050/Vatika_Standing_up_for_Women.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vatika-naturals-inspires-inclusivity-in-workplace-with-the-rootforme-campaign-302083948.html New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 8, 2024) - The SlingShot Guys, renowned for its innovative video production expertise, is making waves as the company steps outside of its traditional domain to lend a helping hand to the healthcare industry. Following its successful collaboration with the American College of HealthCare Administrators (ACHCA) event in New Jersey last month, the company is gearing up for a second impactful venture, this time at the CEU Healthcare Event scheduled for March 28, 2024. The SlingShot Guys To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9721/200979_94bf4c76c47d9b06_001full.jpg In a bold departure from the company's usual projects, The SlingShot Guys is aligning its talents and resources to support the healthcare sector's ongoing revitalization post-COVID. With a strong commitment to contributing positively to the industry, the team is offering their services as a form of charity, envisioning a collective effort to empower healthcare companies and professionals in reimagining and reshaping their narrative. At the heart of this initiative is the creation of professionally produced short videos during the CEU Healthcare Event. The SlingShot Guys aim to provide healthcare professionals and organizations with a powerful platform to present themselves effectively, allowing them to share compelling stories and showcase their invaluable services. During the CEU Healthcare Event, The SlingShot Guys will have cameras strategically set up, providing healthcare companies with a unique opportunity to engage with their audience in real-time. This interactive approach will empower participants to speak on camera, deliver impactful pitches, and even create 30-second videos on the spot. This dynamic and exciting feature is poised to revolutionize the way healthcare providers connect with their audience, fostering a deeper understanding through the art of visual storytelling. The SlingShot Guys firmly believe that this collaborative effort will bring immense benefits to the healthcare industry, shedding light on the tireless dedication of those working to improve healthcare services. By capturing the essence of these stories through the company's lens, The SlingShot Guys aim to amplify the voices of healthcare professionals, showcasing its commitment and dedication to advancing the field. This venture is not just about creating videos; it's about creating a lasting impact and contributing to the collective narrative of resilience and innovation within the healthcare community. Country: USA First Name: Eilish Last Name: Wertheimer Email: eilish@theslingshotguys.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/200979 SOURCE: United Press DUBAI, UAE, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit , one of the world's top three crypto exchanges by volume, today announced an exclusive VIP gathering event in Taipei on March 23, coinciding with ETH Taipei, the largest blockchain event in Taiwan. This exclusive event offers Bybit VIP clients a unique opportunity to: Network with fellow industry leaders and Bybit representatives. Gain valuable insights from a first-hand report by the Bybit team. Be among the first to hear exciting announcements and future plans. Mingle with popular YouTubers and celebrities Enter a chance to win a share of a 660,000 NTD prize pool. This event is exclusive to Bybit VIPs. Existing VIP clients can register through their dedicated VIP client manager. Not yet a Bybit VIP? Sign up between March 5th and March 20th to become a VIP and gain access to this event. Additionally, the first 88 new VIPs will receive the following: A Chivalries of Mantle NFT (floor price value) Exclusive Bybit merchandise Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit stated, "We are thrilled to host this exclusive gathering for our valued VIP clients during ETH Taipei week. This event embodies Bybit's commitment to fostering a close-knit community and rewarding our VIPs for their continued trust and support." Bybit, through this exclusive event, demonstrates its dedication to supporting the local blockchain community and fostering meaningful connections with its VIP clients. Bybit TheCryptoArk BTCHalving About Bybit Bybit is one of the world's top-three cryptocurrency exchanges by volume with 20 million users. Established in 2018, it offers a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One's reigning Constructors' and Drivers' champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team. For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press . For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com For more information, please visit: https://www.bybit.com For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2267288/Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bybit-to-host-exclusive-vip-gathering-events-in-taiwan-alongside-eth-taipei-302083883.html VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 8th, the International Women's Day, KuCoin, the leading crypto trading platform, and the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) announced two donation programs have been jointly launched, funded by KuCoin's previous CSR donations. The programs aim to provide essential supplies for women and girls to enhance their health and combat climate change through two impactful projects. As the oldest medical multispecialty organization dedicated to advancing women in medicine and improving women's health, AMWA's mission aligns with KuCoin's commitment to social responsibility and sustainability.The two charitable projects aimed at promoting sustainable development and addressing global climate challenges in alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first project, the Climate Change CSR Project, introduces the Climate Change Bucket (CCB), specially designed to assist women and girls disproportionately affected by global climate changes. With KuCoin's funding, a total of 1,900 Climate Change Buckets will be distributed across different locations, providing essential support to communities grappling with climate-related effects. Specifically, 1,250 CCBs will be allocated to the Commonwealth of Bahamas, while 650 will go to St. Jude Hospital and Research to help communities in Africa, contributing to climate resilience and adaptation efforts in these areas. Each Climate Change Bucket contains a carefully curated set of items, including a bucket, safety mat, thermometer, earth hug pillow, and soap, addressing immediate needs and helping communities cope with the diverse challenges posed by climate-related impacts. The second initiative, AMWA's Menstrual Equity Project, is dedicated to empowering socially disadvantaged girls and women with sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions. This initiative will allocate a total of 1,000 reusable menstrual packages, each comprising 10 pads and 2 cups, to support three organizations. Specifically, 500 units will assist the Women and Girls in Suriname's Menstrual Equity Project. Additionally, St. Jude's Children and Research Hospital, and domestic violence shelters in New York and California will each receive 250 units. This effort underscores the commitment to ensuring accessible and essential menstrual hygiene products for those in need. "KuCoin's CSR projects are dedicated to providing essential supplies for women and girls, enhancing their health, and thereby elevating global standards of women's health. This commitment is a testament to our belief in the power of technology to drive social change and improve lives. By focusing on the health and well-being of women and girls, we aim to address some of the most pressing challenges faced by these groups globally. Our goal is not just to contribute financially, but to foster a sustainable impact through ongoing support and engagement in these vital areas. We believe that empowering women and girls is crucial to achieving a more equitable and prosperous future for all," stated Johnny Lyu, the CEO of KuCoin. KuCoin's innovative use of fintech to directly benefit vulnerable global communities exemplifies their commitment to leveraging technology for social good and fostering a sustainable future. Through charitable donations and implementation, they underscore a steadfast dedication to building a better, more sustainable future, marking significant strides toward achieving the UN's SDGs by 2030 and leaving no one behind. About KuCoin Launched in September 2017, KuCoin is a global cryptocurrency exchange with its operational headquarters in Seychelles. As a user-oriented platform with a focus on inclusiveness and community action reach, it offers over 800 digital assets and currently provides Spot trading, Margin trading, P2P Fiat trading, Futures trading, Staking, and Lending to its 30 million users in more than 200 countries and regions. KuCoin is currently one of the top 5 crypto exchanges according to CoinMarketCap. In 2023, KuCoin was named one of the Best Crypto Exchanges by Forbes and recognized as a highly commended global exchange in Finder's 2023 Global Cryptocurrency Trading Platform Awards. Learn more at https://www.kucoin.com . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2356857/KuCoin_Horizontal_Green_LOGO_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kucoins-impactful-csr-initiative-empowering-2900-women-and-girls-globally-302083898.html RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- J&T Express, a global logistics service operator, participated in LEAP, the largest technology event in the Middle East, held in Saudi Arabia from 4 - 7 March. Leveraging the platform to deepen its cooperation with leading global and local e-commerce platforms, the company aims to support their growth and development in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region. LEAP, known as the "Digital Davos," showcased Saudi Arabia's advances in economic transformation and technological innovation as the largest economy in the Middle East under the theme "Saudi Arabia is open!" this year. This edition of LEAP featured close to 1,000 speakers and over 1,800 global exhibitors showcasing the latest technological breakthroughs. As one of the exhibitors, J&T Express signed a cooperation agreement with Salla, the largest e-commerce platform in Saudi Arabia, to provide comprehensive cross-border logistics services for Saudi consumers and merchants, including fast and secure delivery, customized logistics solutions, and after-sales service. J&T Express looks forward to this cooperation and its role in further strengthening business ties between Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world, promoting the prosperity and development of cross-border trade. In addition to the cooperation with Salla, J&T Express also showcased its close partnerships with multiple e-commerce platforms in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, including Temu, Noon, Shein, and Tiktok, supporting the further expansion of e-commerce businesses in the Saudi market. J&T Express officially started operations in Saudi Arabia in January 2022 and quickly became the 20th cross-border clearance and local delivery integrated operator in the Kingdom. J&T Express covers the entire Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its own end-to-end collection and delivery network, reaching any remote area and achieving 100% coverage within Saudi Arabia. In February 2022, J&T Express established its Middle East and North Africa regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), representing the Saudi government, officially signed a memorandum of understanding with J&T Express and eWTP Arabia Capital on the smart logistics industrial park plan to jointly build the largest smart logistics industrial park in the region. J&T Express is committed to promoting the transformation of Saudi Arabia into a global logistics hub by providing innovative logistics solutions and enhancing and strengthening the e-commerce ecosystem in the Middle East and North Africa region. In 2023, J&T Express Saudi Arabia was awarded "Last Mile Delivery Company of the Year" in Saudi Arabia by the KSA Logistics & Transport Awards. J&T Express is a global logistics service provider with leading express delivery businesses in Southeast Asia and China, the largest and fastest-growing market in the world. In the Middle East and North Africa region, in addition to Saudi Arabia, J&T Express' courier services have also entered the markets of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. About J&T Express J&T Express is a global logistics service provider with leading express delivery businesses in Southeast Asia and China, the largest and fastest-growing market in the world. Founded in 2015, J&T Express' network spans thirteen countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt. Adhering to its "customer-oriented and efficiency-based" mission, J&T Express is committed to providing customers with integrated logistics solutions through intelligent infrastructure and digital logistics network, as part of its global strategy to connect the world with greater efficiency and bring logistical benefits to all. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2358120/1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2358123/2.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1721319/JT_Express_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jt-express-participates-in-leap-deepens-cooperation-with-e-commerce-platforms-302084051.html VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / North Shore Uranium Ltd. (TSXV:NSU) ("North Shore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has mobilized and commenced its drill program at its 55,699 hectare Falcon Property ("Falcon" or the "Property") located at the eastern margin of the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan. The Company is planning to drill three targets associated with electromagnetic ("EM") conductors. Information pertaining to the drill program and a summary of the Property were provided by the Company on February 28, 2024 and December 19, 2023. The drill program is being managed by TerraLogic Exploration Inc. The final three targets selected for drilling, which lie along a strong, dominantly northeast-trending EM conductor system, are shown in Figure 1. For each target, a subsurface geophysical model of the EM conductor has been prepared and a hole, which is drilled at an angle, has been designed to intersect the conductor. The program is expected to last approximately ten days with final sample results expected approximately four weeks after the end of the program. Figure 1: Electromagnetics with 2024 drill targets P03, P08 and P12. Processing by Condor North Consulting ULC using 2006 and 2007 airborne data. Falcon Property Background Information Falcon is a highly prospective uranium exploration property with a limited exploration history at the eastern margin of the Athabasca Basin in an area that is seeing increased exploration activity and recent discoveries.Reinterpretation of EM data complemented by geophysical data acquired in 2022 has allowed the Company to identify high priority uranium targets in areas where there has been no previous drilling. The Property is located approximately 35 kilometres east of the active Key Lake uranium mill and former mine. The new uranium discovery potential at Falcon is significant including shallow Athabasca-style basement-hosted mineralization and pegmatite-hosted mineralization similar to that discovered at the Fraser Lakes Zone B uranium resource located just three kilometres south of the Property. Falcon consists of 15 mineral claims; four of the claims comprising 12,791 hectares are 100 percent-owned by the Company and the remaining 11 claims totaling 42,908 hectares are subject to an option agreement with Skyharbour Resources Ltd. Under the terms of the option agreement, North Shore can earn an 80% interest in the 11 claims and has the option to purchase the remaining 20% interest after it has earned its initial 80% interest. About North Shore Uranium The near-term business objectives of North Shore Uranium are to become a major force in exploration for economic uranium deposits at the eastern margin of Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, a tier-one jurisdiction for discovering new mineable high-grade uranium deposits. The Company will work to achieve those objectives by conducting exploration programs on its two properties, Falcon and the West Bear Property, located 90 kilometres northeast of Falcon, and by evaluating opportunities to increase its portfolio of properties in the region. Qualified Person Mr. Brooke Clements, MSc, P.Geol., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and the President and CEO of North Shore, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this press release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Brooke Clements, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information: Please contact: Brooke Clements, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Telephone: 604.536.2711 Email: b.clements@northshoreuranium.com www.northshoreuranium.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect","project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's current plans and business objectives. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to: assumptions regarding future uranium prices, debt and equity financing market conditions, receipt of regulatory approvals, and other factors. The cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to the Company and persons acting on its behalf. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. SOURCE: North Shore Uranium Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com Chongqing's smart factories drive intelligent manufacturing boost Xinhua) 15:59, March 08, 2024 CHONGQING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- In SANY (Chongqing) Industrial Park, situated in Liangjiang New Area of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a large excavator rolls off from the smart production line every 17.3 minutes on average, with minimal human presence as robots are handling most tasks. More than 700 robots are involved in welding and other tasks, enabling the production lines to operate primarily without human intervention, including assessment, according to Deng Jinghui, general manager of SANY Heavy Industry (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. "The extensive use of intelligent equipment allows a workforce of just 300 workers to manage 24 production lines, yielding an annual output of over 5 billion yuan (about 700 million U.S. dollars)." Unlike traditional factories bustling with thousands of workers alongside buzzing machines, this intelligent factory operates quietly and efficiently 24 hours a day. It is a microcosm of China's rapidly developing intelligent manufacturing. "Traditional manufacturing has been troubled by a shortage of skilled workers and low production efficiency. Breakthroughs in digital technology, new energy and novel materials have presented opportunities for China's manufacturing to transition toward high-end, smart and green practices," said Zhao Bin, deputy director of Chongqing's municipal commission of economy and informatization, adding that intelligent manufacturing is the primary direction for industry upgrading. The use of robots and smart equipment has liberated intelligent factories in Chongqing from dependence on laborers to some extent. On Feb. 5 this year, Chinese vehicle manufacturer Seres Group's super factory started operations in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area. Walking through the factory, visitors will find themselves amidst a forest of robotic arms, where over 1,000 intelligent devices and 3,000 robots are running seamlessly to execute intricate tasks. Here, a fleet of logistics robots efficiently navigates production lines with minimal human oversight. According to Seres, the general assembly procedure usually requires many laborers, with the industry's overall automation rate below 30 percent. However, Seres achieves automated assembly of essential components such as the battery pack and dashboard, among others, with a general automation rate exceeding 50 percent. New technologies have also greatly boosted the efficiency of these smart factories. Changan Auto has established a fully equipped 5G factory in Chongqing's Yubei District, boasting 2,524 sets of equipment across seven workshops, creating a virtual factory in the digital world. The virtual factory synchronizes the real one, as it can deliver real-time production data involving equipment, personnel and supplies. These data and the advanced scheduling platform enable the factory to increase its production efficiency by more than 30 percent and strike a balance between production and marketing. Chongqing, China's southwestern industrial powerhouse, had built 144 intelligent factories and 958 digital workshops by the end of 2023, according to Zhao. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) MADRID, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At the World Trade Organization's Thirteenth Ministerial Conference Colombia was a part of several highly relevant deliberations. For example, the country played a key role in securing the extension of the moratorium preventing the "Non-Violation and Situation Complaints" under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, which was extended until the next Ministerial Conference in 2026. This extension means that none of the WTO's 164 member countries can make complaints against those who uphold measures defending their citizens' wellbeing in terms of rights granted in the field of intellectual property, even if it reduces benefits for the complaining country. Minister of Trade, Industry, and Tourism German Umana Mendoza was in charge of making this request. Minister Umana Mendoza said that "although the results of the Ministerial Conference are bittersweet and highlight current challenges related to multilateralism, this extension of the moratorium is an important step forward." Likewise, Colombia led the declaration issued by 69 developing countries that expressed inconformity regarding the TRIPS Agreement on intellectual property, which was not reviewed in this Ministerial Conference in order to make concessions in favor of human health, life, and biodiversity and not examined in relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the protection of traditional knowledge and folklore. Minister Umana Mendoza expressed his inconformity because the topic of the environment was only tangentially addressed at the Ministerial Conference. Therefore, Colombia and several other countries signed a declaration calling on WTO members to have greater transparency with respect to environmental measures. As for the Declaration of Ministers-and in response to the lack of consensus to include the possibility of suspending the application and implementation of intellectual property rights for medicines, vaccines, and health technologies-Colombia and other countries requested the inclusion of a section regarding the response to future pandemics, which was granted. As a result, this urges the WTO to review and take advantage of all the lessons learned and the challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to employ effective and rapid solutions in the event of future pandemics. While highlighting the aforementioned agreements, Minister Umana reiterated that the progress made during the 13th Ministerial Conference was not ideal, because other issues relevant to global trade were postponed until the 2026 Ministerial Conference. As for industrial policies (including subsidies), there was no ministerial consensus to begin reviewing them at the global level, despite Colombia and other countries' great interest in this topic. This is due to the WTO's narrow definition of subsidies, which currently limits discussions on the new forms of market distortion that we are witnessing. In the end, the Minister pointed out, "We managed to reach a consensus regarding some points of interest for Colombia, while other important points were postponed to the 2026 Ministerial Conference. However, at the multilateral level, the reality is that results are more negative than positive, urging a more in-depth review of the WTO's structure and content." View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/colombia-leaded-several-topics-at-the-wto-ministerial-conference-in-abu-dhabi-302084068.html Firm executes smart deal strategy; successfully sells prime Fort Worth property, elevating investor returns DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / MLG Capital today announced that it has sold Copperfield Apartments, a 323-unit multifamily property located at 6051 S Hulen St. in Fort Worth, Texas. The sale closed on March 7 to an undisclosed buyer. The disposition of the property is part of MLG's deal strategy to buy and sell real estate investments with a core focus on growing operating income and/or reducing operating expenses to maximize return to investors. MLG Capital purchased the Class B multifamily property in 2019 as part of MLG's series of MLG Private Funds. At acquisition, Copperfield Apartments, which has a prime location in Southwest Fort Worth, offered significant value-add opportunity through interior and exterior renovations. MLG Capital renovated over 100 apartment units and made various common area improvements in its 5-year hold, including renovating the clubhouse, updating the pool area and adding an outdoor firepit. "We are excited to go full cycle on this investment. Over the past 5 years, we've executed our asset strategy which included a light value add of select interior units. We were able to improve operations, enhance the asset and amenity set, and offer quality apartments that our residents can be proud to call home," said Ryan Mueller, senior vice president at MLG Capital. The series of MLG Private Funds target robust and tax-efficient cash on cash distributions and appreciation over time. MLG's fund strategy provides investors the opportunity to participate in a diversified portfolio of private real estate assets, rather than individual deals. The firm targets property acquisitions with a focus on geographic diversification across the United States. MLG Private Fund VI, is currently open for investment and has a targeted equity size of $400M and is set to close to new investors later in 2024. ### About MLG Capital MLG Capital is a sponsor of private real estate funds targeting investment from investment advisors, family offices, high net worth and accredited individuals. For more information about MLG Capital and its investments, visit the firm's newsroom. This release does not constitute an offer to sell an investment in a security. Offers to sell an investment in a security can only be made to a qualified purchaser by delivery of a Confidential Private Placement Memorandum (the "Memorandum"), any supplements to the Memorandum and accompanied by a Subscription Document Booklet. The information contained in this release may be preliminary in nature and may have not been independently verified by MLG Capital or its affiliates. The recipient of this release should consult with its own investment, tax and/or legal professionals about the merits of the investment. MLG Capital does not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information presented in this release. Any financial information or projections may be initial estimates and may be subject to change without notice to recipient. An investment into a private offering is subject to various risks, none of which are described herein. All figures as of 12/31/2023. Value consists of disposed of assets as well as the current internal valuation of currently held assets as of 12/31/2023. Values may not have been reviewed by an independent 3rd party and may be internal projections. For more information, contact: Katie Whitlock, Public Relations Laughlin Constable kwhitlock@laughlin.com 414-305-5927 SOURCE: MLG Capital View the original press release on accesswire.com BOHEMIA, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Scientific Industries, Inc. ("SI") (OTCQB:SCND) announced the appointment of John Nicols to the Board of Directors of SI and Chairman of its wholly, owned subsidiary, Scientific Bioprocessing Inc. ("SBI"), effective March 4, 2024. Mr. Nicols replaces Mr. John A. Moore as Chairman of SBI. John A. Moore, Chairman of SI, said "We are grateful for the contribution that Mr. Nicols has made to our Company since becoming a strategic advisor in September 2023, representing the voice of the customer in our Bioprocessing business segment. Mr. Nicols brings extensive industry experience and we look forward to his wisdom and skillset that will enhance our Board and further our strategy for the successful commercialization of our innovative DOTS platform." Mr. Nicols commented: "It's been exciting getting to know SI's team and technology, and I'm honored to join the Board and Chair the SBI subsidiary. It's become increasingly clear to me the disruptive potential and uniqueness of SBI's DOTS platform. Enabling the 'humble' shake flask to generate the range of critical fermentation data equivalent to much more expensive bioreactors is going to fuel the increasingly beneficial application of artificial intelligence tools to help liberate a major bottleneck constraining the enormous potential for synthetic biology to take over global manufacturing supply chains." Mr. John Nicols brings over three decades of experience in delivering sustained growth and value creation across diverse global businesses, from cutting-edge biotechnologies to traditional chemistry. He is the former president and CEO of Codexis, where he led the growth and transformation of Codexis into a leading synthetic biology company. From 2013 to 2022, Nicols grew Codexis' product sales nine-fold to exceed $100 million, commercializing dozens of new products across pharmaceutical, food and nutrition, and life science tools verticals. Prior to Codexis, Nicols held various executive roles spanning his 22 years at Albemarle Corp, where he grew their largest business unit to more than $1 billion in global sales. Nicols received a M.B.A. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of New York University. Mr. Nicols is a NACD Director Certified Board partner, and he currently serves as Chair of both Antheia, a synthetic biology-based producer for the pharmaceutical industry, and Solve M.E., a leading not-for-profit seeking cures for debilitating infection associated chronic diseases like ME/CFS and Long Covid. About Scientific Industries, Inc. Scientific Industries (OTCQB:SCND), is a life science tool provider. It designs, manufactures, and markets laboratory equipment, including the world-renowned Vortex-Genie 2 Mixer and Torbal balances, and bioprocessing systems under the product platform DOTS. Scientific Industries' products are generally used and designed for research purposes in laboratories of universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and pharmacies. To learn more, visit www.scientificindustries.com. About Scientific Bioprocessing, Inc. ("SBI") SBI offers solutions for digitally simplified bioprocessing in the life science industry. SBI's DOTS Platform turns the standard shake flask into a smart mini bioreactor by providing modern bioprocessing sensors (for e.g., continuous monitoring of biomass, dissolved oxygen, and fluorescence) and control options (as e.g., automated, parameter-based feeding) along with an innovative software for easy sensor control and data monitoring. SBI is committed to delivering exceptional customer service and is a subsidiary of Scientific Industries Inc. To learn more, visit www.scientificbio.com. "Statements made in this press release that relate to future events, performance or financial results of the Company are forward-looking statements which involve uncertainties that could cause actual events, performance or results to materially differ. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of these statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date hereof. Accordingly, any forward-looking statement should be read in conjunction with the additional information about risks and uncertainties set forth in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including our annual report on Form 10-K." Company Contact: Helena R. Santos CEO and President Phone: 631-567-4700 hsantos@scientificindustries.com info@scientificindustries.com or: Joe Dorame Lytham Partners, LLC Phone: 602-889-9700 SCND@lythampartners.com SOURCE: Scientific Industries, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Driverge Vehicle Innovations, one of the country's leading builders of wheelchair accessible vans, shuttles and transporters, announced today that it has recently acquired Van-Action (2005) Inc. and Freedom Motors Inc., Savaria Corporation's Canadian wheelchair van conversion manufacturing business. RICHFIELD, OH / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Driverge Vehicle Innovations, one of the country's leading builders of wheelchair accessible vans, shuttles and transporters, announced today that it has recently acquired Van-Action (2005) Inc. and Freedom Motors Inc., Savaria Corporation's Canadian wheelchair van conversion manufacturing business. In addition to increasing its production capabilities, this strategic step establishes Driverge's international presence, marking a significant milestone in the company's history. This acquisition expands Driverge's footprint by adding two manufacturing locations in Canada. The addition of the Freedom Motors Inc. and Van-Action (2005) Inc. operations aligns with Driverge's long-term growth strategy and dedication to delivering innovative vehicle solutions to its diverse customer base. "Savaria has been an important long-term partner and we are excited to announce the acquisition of Van-Action (2005) Inc. and Freedom Motors Inc., and welcome their talented team members to our organization. This move not only supports our commitment to innovation but increases our capacity to provide life-changing solutions for individuals facing mobility challenges," said Mark Minatel, President of Driverge Vehicle Innovations. Driverge Vehicle Innovations will leverage the acquired facilities to expand its consumer product line, with a focus on building customized and reliable transportation solutions for individuals with mobility challenges. The company looks forward to a successful integration process and the continued delivery of innovative mobility solutions. About Driverge Vehicle Innovations Driverge Vehicle Innovations is one of the country's leading builders of commercial accessible vans, shuttles, transporters, vocational and work vehicles. Driverge is a Ford Pro Upfitter, Mercedes-Benz eXpertSOLUTIONS Upfitter and Ram Commercial Q-Pro supplier. With manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Kansas, South Carolina and California, Driverge provides vehicle conversions to numerous industries and government agencies, including healthcare, wheelchair transport services, fleet management, hospitality, rideshare and other vocational markets. Driverge acquired commercial equipment upfit company U.S. Upfitters in 2022, which operates facilities in Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland and Colorado. Driverge Vehicle Innovations and MobilityWorks together make up WMK, LLC, established in 1997 and recognized on the Inc. 500|5000 list of Inc. Magazine's fastest-growing privately held companies, as well as Newsweek's list of America's Greatest Workplaces. Contact Information Kelly Stobie Internal Communications & PR Manager kelly.stobie@mobilityworks.com 234-200-1381 SOURCE: Driverge Vehicle Innovations View the original press release on newswire.com. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Gold Mountain Mining Corp. ("Gold Mountain" or the "Company") (TSX:GMTN) (OTCQB:GMTNF) (FRA:5XFA) announces that it has received notice of default from Hedge Minerals Corp. ("Hedge") after failing to make its payment obligations outlined under the Promissory Note dated September 13, 2023 ("the Note"). Hedge has demanded immediate payment of the original payment owing, six-month break fee, all additional interest, and all costs associated to legal and professional consulting regarding review and defense of legal rights under the terms of the note. Gold Mountain management is currently attempting to negotiate possible solutions to restructure the terms of the Note to resolve the current default and breach. Nhwelmen Construction GSA Default Update The company also continues to work towards resolution with Nhwelmen Construction LP Ltd. with respect to their current GSA default and demand notice(s). At this time no resolution has been found. About Gold Mountain Gold Mountain is a British Columbia based gold and silver production, exploration and development company focused on the development of the Elk Gold Mine, a producing mine located 57 kilometers from Merritt in South Central British Columbia. Additional information is available at www.sedar.com or on the Company's new website at www.gold-mountain.ca . For more information, please contact: Gold Mountain Mining Corp. Phone: 778.262.0933 Email: IR@gold-mountain.ca Website: www.gold-mountain.ca Twitter: www.twitter.com/goldmtnmine Forward Looking Statements This includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward- looking statements include statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release and are not purely historical including any information relating to statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future and often, but not always, use words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; the price of gold; and the results of current exploration. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Gold Mountain disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this News Release. SOURCE: Gold Mountain Mining Corp View the original press release on accesswire.com GUANGDONG, China, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On the morning of March 7, the Guangdong Provincial Delegation to the Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress held a plenary meeting at the Capital Hotel. A total of 225 reporters from 102 domestic and foreign media sat in on the meeting for the interview. Delegates such as Huang Kunming, Wang Weizhong, Zhang Hu, Qin Weizhong, and Zeng Jinze responded separately, introduced the new progress and achievements made in promoting high-quality development and modernization construction in Guangdong from different perspectives extensively and in-depth. A reporter from Xinhua News Agency asked about the project "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation". In this regard, Huang Kunming summed up the understanding of Guangdong's deployment and implementation of the project "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" with the three sentences of "reciprocal promotion and mutual achievement", "imperative and destined, seizing the momentum", "preliminary establishment of the mechanism and attaining of the initial success". Huang Kunming said that Guangdong in southern China has undergone tremendous changes, the Pearl River Delta region has achieved great development, and the eastern, western and northern regions of Guangdong have witnessed a rapid development. Guangdong attaches importance to promoting the coordinated development of urban and rural areas, and has attained remarkable results. Due to different geographical conditions and different aggregation levels of productivity factors, there is an imbalance in the development of urban and rural areas in Guangdong substantially, which is more reflected in the imbalance in the urban and rural development. Guangdong must face and solve the practical problems in order to introduce mutual promotion and achievement between urban and rural areas. Huang Kunming said that the key to implementing the project "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" is the prosperity of industry, science and education as well as people's livelihood. A reporter from Channel News Asia Singapore asked about "How could Guangdong achieve the transformation of the manufacturing industry?". In response, Wang Weizhong said that Guangdong insists on the provincial establishment through the manufacturing. Guangdong's manufacturing value added accounts for 32.7% of the province's GDP, accounting for 1/8 of the country's total, with 8 trillion-level industrial clusters. Guangdong is unswervingly a participant and promoter of the global industrial chain as well as the global value chain, and actively supports enterprises to "Go Global" and participate in the construction of the "B&R Initiative". According to Wang Weizhong, Guangdong will attach the greatest importance to the real economy and the manufacturing industry. The first move is to adhere to the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, cultivate and expand emerging industries, and lead the layout of future industries. The second item on the plot is to stick to the mutual enhancement between the industries, science and technology. The third measure is to insist on the balanced development of large, medium and small enterprises. A reporter from Sing Tao Daily asked about "How could Guangdong continue to cooperate with Hong Kong and Macao to promote a better integration of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao?" Zhang Hu responded in this regard that Guangdong has strengthened the mutual promotion between industries, science and technology, and promoted greater progress in scientific research in cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao; strengthened all-round connectivity, and further improved the level of facilitation of personnel and vehicle exchanges, customs clearance of goods, cross-border funds, and secure transmission of data; steadily expanded institutional opening-up, and accelerated the construction of new advantages in international cooperation and competition. Contact: Zhang Yan Tel: 008610-68994660 E-mail: 1713543383@qq.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2358350/Guangdong_Province.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/guangdong-provincial-delegation-open-group-activities-to-domestic-and-foreign-media-302084252.html ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands and SAN DIEGO, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SkylineDx, an innovative molecular diagnostics company, announces the forthcoming presentation of an impactful poster by Dr. Yu, from University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center, at the upcoming AAD Annual Meeting in San Diego. The abstract concludes that the CP-GEP assay improved risk stratification for nodal metastasis and disease recurrence in patients with cutaneous melanoma [1]. Cutaneous melanoma patients diagnosed over a period of 10 years at University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center undergoing a surgical procedure to determine metastatic spread to their lymph nodes, were analyzed with the non-invasive CP-GEP assay marketed by SkylineDx as Merlin test. Merlin classified these patients as either at low risk or high risk for developing nodal metastasis and disease recurrence. Out of 176 patients, Merlin identified 66 patients as low risk. These patients could have forgone the surgical procedure due to their low risk for having metastasis in the sentinel lymph nodes, equaling reducing the surgery rate by 37.5%. Furthermore, the Merlin low-risk patients have a significant better long-term survival outcome compared to the Merlin high-risk group, 93.6% versus 79.4% for Recurrence Free Survival and 98% versus 91.4% for Melanoma Specific Survival, respectively. The analysis unveiled Merlin test's pivotal role in effectively stratifying CM patients based on their risk of disease recurrence. The poster will be presented on March 9, 8:50AM at AAD (San Diego Convention Center, Upper Level, Sails Pavilion, Poster Center 20). SkylineDx's Chief Scientific Officer, Jvalini Dwarkasing comments: "The study's results confirm that in this institute, the CP-GEP model has potential in optimizing patient management strategies. Recurrence events may be more effectively captured by this test as compared to current standard of care." About CP-GEP CP-GEP is a non-invasive prediction model for cutaneous melanoma patients that combines clinicopathologic (CP) variables with gene expression profiling (GEP). This model is able to identify cutaneous melanoma patients at low-risk for nodal metastasis who may forgo the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) procedure. The CP-GEP model was developed by Mayo Clinic and SkylineDx BV and it has been clinically validated in multiple studies More information (including references) may be obtained at www.falconprogram.com. The test has been launched in the United States and Europe as Merlin test. SkylineDx collaborates with diagnostic service providers globally to bring this test to market and increase the access. In the United States, Tempus is commercializing Tempus Merlin test. Quest Diagnostics launched their own LDT version of the CP-GEP model in the United States, under the brand name MelaNodal Predict. About SkylineDx SkylineDx is a biotechnology company focused on research & development of molecular diagnostics in oncology and inflammatory diseases. SkylineDx uses its expertise to bridge the gap between academically discovered gene expression signatures and commercially available diagnostic products with high clinical utility, assisting healthcare professionals in accurately determining the type or status of disease or predicting a patient's response to treatment. Based on test results, healthcare professionals can tailor the treatment approach to the individual patient. SkylineDx is headquartered in Rotterdam. the Netherlands, complemented by a U.S. base of operations and a CAP/CLIA certified laboratory in San Diego California, USA. To learn more about SkylineDx, please visit www.skylinedx.com. Footnotes 1. Hill et al. Primary cutaneous melanoma patients stratified by the Merlin assay (CP-GEP): risk of nodal metastasis and long-term survival outcome in a U.S. cohort. Abstract selected for poster presentation at AAD Annual Meeting 2024. Abstract AAD2024 Hill and Yu.pdf (falconprogram.com) View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/melanoma-risk-prediction-of-nodal-metastasis-and-long-term-survival-outcome-by-cp-gep-model-in-a-us-cohort-302084143.html Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, March 08 For immediate release 8 March 2024 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 156,742 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 858.86 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 34,778,231; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 190,213,072. The figure of 190,213,072 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 Supply Chain Digital continues to build a thriving community of the world's supply chain leaders, surpassing 100,000 followers on LinkedIn LONDON, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Supply Chain Digital , a leading global provider of supply chain and logistics resources, including a top-rated magazine, website, newsletter and events service, proudly announces a significant achievement - surpassing 100,000 followers on LinkedIn. Since its inception, Supply Chain Digital has been committed to delivering cutting-edge insights, thought leadership and industry trends to the global supply chain and logistics community. It is dedicated to covering the latest advancements in supply chain, procurement, strategic sourcing, logistics, technology and sustainability. Through its comprehensive selection of news articles, executive interviews, company reports, white papers, world-class videos and engaging webinars, Supply Chain Digital has become the go-to resource for professionals and leaders seeking to stay informed and inspired in the rapidly-evolving landscape of supply chain management. Supply Chain Digital's success on LinkedIn reflects its commitment to providing high-quality content and engaging experiences for its followers. CEO, Glen White, comments "As we celebrate this significant milestone of reaching 100,000 followers on LinkedIn, we are immensely proud of the community we've built and the impact we've made in the supply chain and logistics industry. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as the unwavering support of our loyal audience. We're dedicated to leading in connecting the world's supply chain leaders through our platform and look forward to fostering even greater collaboration and innovation in the industry - with many exciting Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE events on the horizon." From thought-provoking articles and expert interviews to in-depth analysis of emerging technologies and sustainability initiatives, Supply Chain Digital continues to drive conversations and inspire innovation across the global supply chain ecosystem. This year, Supply Chain Digital proudly presents the Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE conference and exhibition series. These renowned hybrid and virtual events bring together global leaders, industry experts and solution providers, offering worldwide networking and insights into supply chain and procurement. With gatherings in London, Dubai and New York on the horizon, visit https://live.supplychaindigital.com/ to secure your spot. About BizClik BizClik is one of the fastest-growing digital media companies in the UK, host to a growing portfolio of industry-leading global brands and communities. BizClik's expanding portfolio includes Technology, AI, FinTech, InsurTech, Supply Chain, Procurement, Energy, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Mobile, Data Centre, Cyber, and Sustainability. For more information, please visit https://www.bizclikmedia.com/ About Supply Chain Digital: Supply Chain Digital, a BizClik brand, is the No.1 Magazine, Website, Newsletter & Webinar service covering Supply Chain, Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Logistics, Technology & Sustainability. Supply Chain Digital connects the world's largest supply chain & logistics brands with supply chain news, articles, keynote interviews, company reports, white papers, videos and webinars as well as the globally expanding Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE conference & exhibition - London , Singapore , Dubai & New York . For more information, please visit: https://supplychaindigital.com/ About Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: Connecting the world's procurement and supply chain leaders Procurement Magazine and Supply Chain Digital have joined forces to present the Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE event series. Every year, procurement, supply chain and logistics professionals come together to drive positive change. For more information, please visit: https://live.supplychaindigital.com/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bizclik-brand-supply-chain-digital-celebrates-monumental-milestone-of-100-000-followers-on-linkedin-302084343.html MONACO, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "We see a lot of women apologize and say 'i'm not good enough, i'm not this, i'm not that' and then we see men that get on board and say 'i can do anything'. Women should just try and if you fail you fail, you just get up again or you stop. Just try". Launching the message from the waters of Monaco is the Pink Wave Sailing Team, the only women's sailing team at the Yacht club de Monaco. On the international women's day and while they're taking part to the 40th Primo Cup in the Principality, one of the most renowned one design gathering in the Mediterranean, their voice comes out loud and clear: "We bought the boat for that reason, to prove that it's worth to try and if it doesn't work out it, then it doesn't even if it has worked out very well for us till now", says Kathrin Hoyos smiling with the other team members next to their J/70. For the Pink Waves the Primo Cup has a special meaning. Everything started five years ago at the prize ceremony of the race. "We started with a team of five girls and we're now a platform of 55 sailing women of the Yacht club. We only bought the boat five years ago so we're super happy and we're very much looking forward to the competition". The team is also looking forward to the Women Leading Sailing Trophy: an all 'pink' J/70 regatta organised by the YCM with the Federation Monegasque de Voile and the Federation Francaise de Voile, as part of the Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting initiative, the Yacht Club de Monaco. "There were 8 teams last year and this year there are more than 20 teams. We're looking forward to it and to all our friends coming from overseas. There's a team coming from Korea and another one from the United States, a lot of international women and a very high sailing level", says Anne Schouten of the Pink Wave team. Times are changing. For more information: Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3155055f-5003-4c69-b3b1-3f7acb7226e6 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/55a19604-82ba-4c85-b8ef-caf690926e62 Nicholas Dirks in Undark: REVOLTS AGAINST SCIENCE are often deeply irrational, as we witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic, with political polarization around lifesaving vaccines and critical public health measures. But public distrust of science has too often been enabled through its manipulation by corporate interests, including big tobacco and oil, as well as by the dangers associated with its use in war. The closing moments of Christopher Nolans Academy Award-nominated film Oppenheimer based on the biography American Prometheus depict a fictional scene in which the physicist is speaking with Albert Einstein by a pond at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Oppenheimer reminds Einstein of the time several years earlier, during the Second World War, when he asked him whether he thought there was any chance that nuclear fission might set off a chain reaction that would destroy the world. Einstein had refused to offer an opinion, and Oppenheimer continued his work to develop the bomb. Looking wistfully away from Einstein, he says that perhaps it did that the bomb did set off an uncontrollable chain reaction that would, in the end, destroy the world. These final words give the lie to his hope that such a terrible weapon would stop all wars, an admission of his failure to fully anticipate the political reality of nuclear power. Oppenheimers ambivalence is in a larger sense the story of modern-day science. More here. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 8, 2024) - Aero Energy Limited (TSXV: AERO) (OTC Pink: AAUGF) (FSE: UU3) ("Aero" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated February 13, 2024 and March 6, 2024, it has closed the second and final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for additional gross proceeds of $1,362,830. The Offering was oversubscribed, and the Company issued an aggregate of 34,719,349 units for aggregate gross proceeds of $5,900,000 between the two tranches. In connection with the completion of the second tranche of the Offering, the Company issued (i) 5,693,913 non-flow-through units of the Company (each, an "NFT Unit") at a price of $0.15 per NFT Unit; and (ii) 2,907,100 flow-through units of the Company (each, an "FT Unit") at a price of $0.175 per FT Unit; for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,362,830. Each NFT Unit consists of one non-flow-through common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one-half of one share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each FT Unit consists of one Share and one-half of one Warrant, which will qualify as "flow-through shares" under the Income Tax Act (Canada). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one additional common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.25 per Warrant Share until March 8, 2026. The Warrant Shares will be issued on a non-flow-through basis. The securities issued pursuant to the second tranche of the Offering will be restricted from trading until July 9, 2024. A total of $94,552 cash was paid and a total of 596,430 finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") were issued to eligible arm's length finders in connection with the closing of the second tranche. The Finder's Warrants were issued on the same terms as the Warrants. Eventus Capital Corp. was appointed as a Finder in connection with the Offering. The gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Units and the Charity FT Units will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, on or before December 31, 2025. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Units and Charity FT Units effective December 31, 2024. The net proceeds from the sale of the NFT Units will be used for general working capital purposes. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and a day. Additional details regarding the Offering can be found in the Company's news releases dated February 13, 2024 and March 6, 2024. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. About Aero Energy Limited Aero Energy is a mineral exploration and development company advancing a district-scale 250,000-acre land package in the historic Uranium City district within Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. Aero Energy is focused on uncovering high-grade uranium deposits across its flagship optioned properties - Sun Dog, Strike, and Murmac - in addition to its fully owned properties. With the application of modern exploration techniques, the Company has identified over 50 shallow drill-ready targets and 125 kilometers of target horizon on the frontier north rim of the Athabasca Basin. Aero Energy is tapping into the Athabasca Basin's emerging potential for high-grade, unconformity-style mineralization. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Galen McNamara" Galen McNamara, Interim Chief Executive Officer Further information on the Company can be found on the Company's website at www.aeroenergy.ca and the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, or by contacting the Company by email at info@aeroenergy.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance and include expectations regarding the intended use of proceeds from the Offering; the renunciation of Qualifying Expenditures; and exploration activities. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "appear", "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "approximate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/201069 SOURCE: Aero Energy Ltd. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 8, 2024) - Silverstock Metals Inc. (CSE: STK) ("Silverstock" or the "Company") announces that Mr. Colin Little has resigned as a director of the Company. Mr. Jonathan Fruchter, President and CEO of Silverstock stated: "We wish to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Colin for his contribution to the Company since his appointment in 2021. We wish him success in his future endeavours." The Board of Directors is actively seeking a new independent director. About Silverstock Metals Inc. Silverstock is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in Canada. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct the exploration of its Gold Cutter Property. The Gold Cutter Property is comprised of two contiguous mineral claims totaling approximately 1,821.1 hectares and is located in the Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia. On behalf of the Board of Directors, SILVERSTOCK METALS INC. Jonathan Fruchter Chief Executive Officer, President and Director For further information, please contact: Jonathan Fruchter Chief Executive Officer, President and Director +1 (203) 905-9939 jonathan@silverstockmetals.com Reader Advisory This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "propose," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/200888 SOURCE: Silverstock Metals Inc. Cayosoft, a Columbus, OH-based company which specializes in Microsoft active directory management, monitoring, and recovery, received $22.5M in minority investment from Centana Growth Partners. The company intends to use the funds to bring its patent-pending, instant active directory (AD) forest recovery, management and governance solutions to a wider audience, including international expansion. Led by CEO Robert Bobel, Cayosoft delivers an unified solution enabling organizations to securely manage, continuously monitor for threats or suspect changes, and instantly recover their Microsoft platforms, including on-premises active directory, hybrid AD, Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), Office 365, and more. Commenting on the news, Robert Bobel said: With investment to fuel growth, we can turn attention to modernizing Active Directory management, monitoring, and recovery. Organizations today are more vulnerable than ever before, and with 90% of organizations using AD, its time for an upgrade. FinSMEs 08/03/2024 The gender pay gap is well-documented, but beyond that, research shows that women do poorly compared to their male counterparts when it comes to other areas of reward and remuneration The first International Womens Day was celebrated in 1911 throughout Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. The following 113 years have been characterised by small successes and landmark victories alike, but there is still a long way to go. A key area of focus is the workplace, where research shows there are still significant inclusivity gaps. For starters, too many women are locked out of employment, often due to lack of flexibility or struggles returning to work after maternity leave. The International Labour Organization says that the current global labour force participation rate for women is just under 47 per cent. For men, its 72 per cent. In some regions, the gap is more than 50 percentage points. Advertisement Once in the workforce, disparities remain. The gender pay gap is well-documented, but beyond that, research shows that women do poorly compared to their male counterparts when it comes to other areas of reward and remuneration. The consequences of this are significant, particularly from a mental health perspective. A 2022 Deloitte study showed 53% of women reported higher stress levels than in 2021, with 46 per cent of women saying they felt burned out. On the other side of the equation, there are extraordinary benefits and opportunities for employers who prioritise creating a safe, happy, and healthy workplace for women. On a global scale, the impact could be astronomical. In 2020, the World Bank found that potential gains from closing economic gender gaps could unlock a gender dividend of $172 trillion for the global economy. But there are also plenty of benefits at the company level including a more motivated and loyal workforce, better employee attraction, better governance, and boosted reputation. Advertisement Where businesses can make a difference The great news is that there are plenty of things that your business can do to truly move the needle on equality. One significant area of focus must be health. The World Health Organization and McKinsey recently published a report showing that despite living longer, women spend 25 per cent more of their lives in poor health. It also found that addressing the womens health gap could potentially boost the global economy by more than $1 trillion annually by 2040. Advertisement We know that medicine and medical care is often designed for men, by men, and that womens issues such as periods and menopause are catastrophically overlooked. For instance, the CDC states that four out of five pregnancy-related deaths in the US are preventable and black women are nearly three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Through equitable provision of health care benefits, businesses can help to bridge the gap. Advertisement Of course, womens issues are not all reproductive, and there are plenty of other healthcare issues companies must be aware of, such as cervical cancers, ovarian cancers, and osteoarthritis. Given the alarmingly high number of women that are stressed at work, mental health support should also be high on the agenda. Advertisement How to build a benefits system that supports women It can be hard to know where to start, but taking a proactive approach, tailored to meeting the needs of female employees could improve performance, talent attraction and retention, and reduce rates of absence due to sickness. Key areas to include: Period-related support Better education means that should an employee experience a problem with their periods such as painful cramps or a condition like PCOS, they can access medical assistance as early as possible. It is often necessary to see a specialist to diagnose these conditions and private medical insurance can speed this process up. Wellbeing support, from mental health to gym discounts, can help to combat PMS as well as assist with managing other health conditions for instance, exercise can help with the pain caused by endometriosis. Fertility Infertility or difficulty conceiving can be caused by a range of health conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fibroids, endometriosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Many of these conditions are common and have other complications that may affect well-being and work performance. Women may also seek fertility treatment to conceive in a lesbian relationship, as a single mother by choice, or as a surrogate mother. There are plenty of practical steps you can take to support women through fertility problems, related conditions, pregnancy and parenthood. These include: Reviewing existing private health insurance policies and considering whether employer-funded support can be offered Offering paid maternity leave Offering miscarriage leave Offering flexible working Allowing time off for appointments which may need to be at specific times and at short notice Signposting to support networks and charities Arranging line manager training Perimenopause and menopause Women can begin experiencing signs of perimenopause at different ages, often in their 40s but sometimes during their mid-30s. Some may experience significant impacts such as depression, or osteoporosis caused by a weakening of the bones as hormone levels change. One report found that women who are going through the menopause between the ages of 50 and 55 take an average of two months off work because of their symptoms, while women who experience early menopause (before they reach 45) take four months off. Help by communicating and raising awareness to let women know they are in a supportive working environment. Ensure your line managers have had appropriate training and are aware of organisations that you can signpost to employees to. Tackling stress is another key step you can take to minimise the impact on your business. Employee assistance programmes (EAPs) can also be very useful as they provide 24-hour confidential advice, information and counselling. Making small adjustments to the working environment can improve health and help to lessen menopause symptoms. i.e. different equipment and desk fans can also be helpful. Medical assistance can also be key. For instance, it is possible to include hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in private medical insurance coverage. Enhanced flexible working can also make a difference. Female cancers Cancer treatment can seriously impact health, well-being and ability to work. Common side effects can include nausea, fatigue, diarrhoea, constipation, infection, alopecia, anaemia, fertility issues, pain, sleep problems, memory and concentration problems, and bladder and bowel problems. Undergoing cancer treatment can also mean becoming extremely clinically vulnerable to diseases such as COVID-19 and can also have a significant emotional impact on an individual. National awareness days can be used to remind employees of the importance of self-checking and attending screenings, while internal events, webinars and training on female cancers can also help with early detection. Salary Continuance Insurance means that an employee can receive a lump sum trauma payment upon diagnosis, receive daily benefits if in hospital and will receive a percentage of their salary (usually 75 per cent) while they are unable to work. Group life means that your employees dependents will receive a lump sum if they die. These will reduce the financial stress that often comes with a cancer diagnosis, giving your employee improved peace of mind at a very difficult time in their life. The author is National Head, Health and Benefits, Howden India Insurance Brokers. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views_. Working with female directors like Jane Campion and Sofia Coppola has allowed Kirsten Dunst to keep a safe distance from male filmmakers Hollywood actress and diva Kirsten Dunst, who featured in movies like the Spider-Man franchise, Jumanji and delivered an Academy Award-nominated performance in 2021 with The Power of the Dog, says she prefers working with female directors over their male counterparts and the reason will raise your eyebrows. In an interview with Marie Claire, Kirsten explained how in her young days, her blonde looks would give an impression to male filmmakers that she is someone who would sleep with them if she desired to work with them. Advertisement Working with female directors like Jane Campion and Sofia Coppola has allowed her to keep a safe distance from male filmmakers. I saw the power in women very young. I think thats helped withnot needing male attention in my career. I think thats probably why I migrated to so many female directors at a younger age, because I didnt want to feel that way," said the actress. Kirsten revealed that she didnt for two years as she was getting the roles of sad mom after The Power of the Dog . To be honest, thats been hard for mebecause I need to feed myself. The hardest thing is being a mom andnot feeling like, I have nothing for myself. Thats every mother not just me. Theres definitely less good roles for women my age, said Dunst. Advertisement Advertisement On the professional front, Kirsten is gearing up for the release of Civil War, which will release on 12th April. Directed by Alex Garland, the film also features Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Nick Offerman in key roles. Helmed by Ex Machina and Annihilation fame, Civil War is dubbed as an adrenaline-fuelled thrill ride through a near-future fractured America. It will have its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 14, 2024 Its been 10 years since Malaysia Airlines flight, MH370, went missing while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. It is still unknown what caused the planes change of course and disappearance 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. Reuters It has been 10 years since Malaysia Airlines passenger flight MH370 disappeared on 8 March 2014 . To this day it remains one of the biggest aviation mysteries globally. Its unthinkable that a modern Boeing 777-200ER jetliner with 239 people on board can simply vanish without any explanation. Yet multiple searches in the past decade have still not yielded the main wreckage or the bodies of the victims. Advertisement At a remembrance event held earlier this week, the Malaysian transport minister announced a renewed push for another search . If approved by the Malaysian government, the survey will be conducted by United States seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity, whose efforts were unsuccessful in 2018. What happened to MH370? The flight was scheduled to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft within 60 minutes into the flight over the South China Sea. Subsequently, it was tracked by military radar crossing the Malay Peninsula and was last located by radar over the Andaman Sea in the northeastern Indian Ocean. Later, automated satellite communications between the aircraft and British firms Inmarsat telecommunications satellite indicated that the plane ended up in the southeast Indian Ocean along the 7th arc (an arc is a series of coordinates). Advertisement This became the basis for defining the initial search areas by the Australian Air Transport Safety Bureau. Initial air searches were conducted in the South China Sea and the Andaman Sea. To date, we still dont know what caused the aircrafts change of course and disappearance. What have searches for MH370 found so far? Advertisement On 18 March 2014, 10 days after the disappearance of MH370, a search in the southern Indian Ocean was led by Australia , with participation of aircraft from several countries. This search continued until April 28 and covered an area of 4,500,000 square kilometres of ocean. No debris was found. Two underwater searches of the Indian Ocean, 2,800 km off the coast of Western Australia, have also failed to find any evidence of the main crash site. Advertisement The initial seabed search, led by Australia, covered 120,000 square kilometres and extended 50 nautical miles across the 7th arc. It took 1,046 days and was suspended on January 17 2017. A second search by Ocean Infinity in 2018 covered over 112,000 square kilometres . It was completed in just over three months but also didnt locate the wreckage. Advertisement Debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is displayed during a Day of Remembrance for MH370 event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2019. File image/AP What about debris? While the main crash site still hasnt been found, several pieces of debris have washed up in the years since the flights disappearance. In fact, in June 2015 officials from the Australian Air Transport Safety Bureau determined that debris might arrive in Sumatra, contrary to the ocean currents in the region. The strongest current in the Indian Ocean is the South Equatorial Current. It flows east to west between northern Australia and Madagascar, and debris would be able to cross it. Indeed, on July 30 2015 a large piece of debris a flaperon (moving part of a plane wing) washed up on Reunion Island in the western Indian Ocean. It was later confirmed to belong to MH370. Twelve months earlier, using an oceanographic drift model, our University of Western Australia (UWA) modelling team had predicted that any debris originating from the 7th arc would end up in the western Indian Ocean. In subsequent months, additional aircraft debris was found in the western Indian Ocean in Mauritius, Tanzania, Rodrigues, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa. The UWA drift analysis accurately predicted where floating debris from MH370 would beach in the western Indian Ocean. It also guided American adventurer Blaine Gibson and others to directly recover several dozen pieces of debris, three of which have been confirmed to be from MH370, while several others are deemed likely . To date, these debris finds in the western Indian Ocean are the only physical evidence found related to MH370. It is also independent verification that the crash occurred close to the 7th arc, as any debris would initially flow northwards and then to the west, transported by the prevailing ocean currents. These results are consistent with other drift studies undertaken by independent researchers globally. Why a new search for MH370 now? Unfortunately, the ocean is a chaotic place, and even oceanographic drift models cannot pinpoint the exact location of the crash site. The proposed new search by Ocean Infinity has significantly narrowed down the target area within latitudes 36S and 33S. This is approximately 50 km to the south of the locations where UWA modelling indicated the release of debris along the 7th arc. If the search does not locate the wreckage, it could be extended north. Since the initial underwater searches, technology has tremendously improved. Ocean Infinity is using a fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles with improved resolution. The proposed search will also use remotely controlled surface vessels. In the area where the search is to take place, the ocean is around 4,000 metres deep. The water temperatures are 12C, with low currents. This means that even after ten years, the debris field would be relatively intact. Therefore, there is a high probability that the wreckage can still be found. If a future search is successful, this would bring closure not just to the families of those who perished, but also the thousands of people who have been involved in the search efforts. Charitha Pattiaratchi , Professor of Coastal Oceanography, The University of Western Australia This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article . Germany is left red-faced after a highly sensitive discussion among its senior military officials was leaked by Russian state media last week. The countrys defence minister has now revealed that one of the participants had used an insecure line from a hotel room in Singapore to join the call German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius gives a press statement on the status of an investigation into the German military audio that was leaked by Russia, in Berlin, Tuesday, 5 March 2024. AP File Photo Germany is in a predicament after a phone call among its senior military officials was leaked by Russian state media last week. The leaked audio tape reportedly features four high-ranking German Air Force officers discussing top-secret information about the Russia-Ukraine war and other important military issues. According to Germanys defence minister, the leak was caused by individual error. Defence minister Boris Pistorius said Tuesday (5 March) that this was an isolated incident. Our communication systems were not compromised, Politico quoted him as saying. Advertisement What did the leaked audio tape reveal? What has Germany found? What have been the reactions to the incident? Lets take a closer look. What was discussed by German military officers? The top military officers, including the chief of the Air Force, or Luftwaffe, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, talked about hypothetically deploying German Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. In the 38-minute call, Lt Gen Gerhartz and three other officers discussed a potential strike by Kyiv on a key bridge over the Kerch Strait that links Russia to the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula, reported The Washington Post. According to Politico, the officers also conversed about how the British and French were providing cruise missiles to Ukraine. They also suggested that a few British troops are on the ground in Ukraine. Advertisement A general view of Taurus cruise missile of Europes multinational developer and manufacturer of missiles MBDA at their headquarters, in Schrobenhausen near Munich, Germany, 5 March 2024. Reuters The call that was part of preparations for a meeting with Pistorius took place a fortnight back. It was published by Russias state-run media outlet Russia Today on the day of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalnys funeral in Moscow on 1 March, noted BBC. There is an ongoing debate in Germany over sending Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz publicly rejecting Kyivs demand for the very far-reaching weapon. He argued that the 500km range of the missiles meant they could be deployed to target Russia, thus dragging Germany directly into the Ukraine war. Advertisement What is Germany saying? Germanys defence minister Pistorius said earlier this week that the conference call was held over the widely used platform WebEx. One of the participants dialled into the call using either his mobile phone or the hotels Wi-fi in Singapore. While Germany did not identify the individual, the officer in question is believed to be Brigadier General Frank Grafe who was in the city-state to attend the Singapore Airshow held between 20-25 February that attracted high-ranking military officials from across Europe. Advertisement Pistorius said such events were infamous for luring spies and were like a laid out banquet for Russian intelligence services, reported The Guardian. The defence minister further said the military official in Singapore may have broken security protocol by using a non-secure line to join the highly sensitive conference call. Two weeks after the call, the audio tape was leaked by Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT Today. Advertisement While Germany has not questioned the authenticity of the leaked recording, it believes the call was intercepted by Russian spies, according to BBC. Our communication systems were not compromised. An event like this in this environment is understandably a find for the Russian secret services. And targeted wiretapping operations take place in the hotels used, Pistorius said in Berlin, as per The Washington Post. He said it must be assumed that the access to this [phone] conference was a chance hit as part of a broad, scattered approach, reported Associated Press (AP). The incident has brought widespread criticism and embarrassment to Germany. Trying to downplay the leak, Pistorius asserted that Germany still holds the trust of its allies. Trust in Germany is unbroken. Everyone knows about the danger of such wiretapping attacks and knows that no one can offer 100 per cent protection, he added. The German defence minister also accused Russia of trying to drive a wedge between European and US allies. He did not discuss the contents of the leaked phone call, saying that would be letting Putin set the agenda a reference to Russian president Vladimir Putin, reported The Guardian. Pistorius said an investigation is underway and Germany has enhanced overall security. The defence minister said that preliminary disciplinary proceedings were being mulled, but harsh personal actions were unlikely, as per AP. He added that if nothing came up in the probe, then he would not sacrifice any of my best officers to Putins games. Reactions to the Taurus call leak Moscow has viewed the leaked conversation as Germanys plan to attack Russia. As per The Washington Post, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council, said in his initial response that Russias age-old rivals the Germans have again turned into our sworn enemies. Later, he reportedly said in a Telegram post, Germany is preparing for war with Russia. Reacting to the incident, Germanys ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, told BBC this week, I think thats a good lesson for everybody: never use hotel internet if you want to do a secure call. Ukrainian soldiers prepare to fire a multiple launch rocket system based on a pickup truck towards Russian positions at the front line, near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, 5 March 2024. AP White House national security spokesperson John Kirby dubbed the leak an attempt by the Russians to try to sow discord and to try to show division among Ukraine and its allies. Were all working together to try to support Ukraine, and the Germans have been right there in it. Every nation has to decide for itself what its going to do, and the Germans have stepped up. Theyve stepped up in meaningful ways," Kirby was quoted as saying by The Washington Post. After the United States, Germany is the second-biggest supplier of military assistance to Ukraine, which it plans to further increase this year. With inputs from agencies Officially recognised by the United Nations in 1977, International Womens Day is commemorated in different ways and to varying degrees around the world. With this years global theme being Inspire Inclusion, demonstrations are planned from Tokyo to Mexico City While the idea behind a womens day originated in the US with the American Socialist Party in 1909, it was a German feminist who pushed for a global commemoration during an international conference of socialist women held in 1910 in Copenhagen. File image/AP Women are being celebrated around the world on 8 March as International Womens Day, but different countries will do so in different ways. Officially recognised by the United Nations in 1977, the day celebrates womens social, political, and cultural achievements while also shining a light on the progress (or lack thereof) of womens rights. Advertisement On Friday, women across the world will demand equal pay, reproductive rights, education, justice, decision-making jobs and other essential needs during demonstrations marking the day. Protests are often political and, at times, violent, rooted in womens efforts to improve their rights as workers. With this years global theme being Inspire Inclusion, demonstrations are planned from Tokyo to Mexico City. Heres what you should know about the 8 March global event: What we know about International Womens Day? International Womens Day is a global celebration and call to action marked by demonstrations, mostly of women, around the world, ranging from combative protests to charity runs. Some celebrate the economic, social and political achievements of women, while others urge governments to guarantee equal pay, access to healthcare, justice for victims of gender-based violence and education for girls. Advertisement It is an official holiday in more than 20 countries, including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Ukraine, Russia and Cuba, the only one in the Americas. Protests on International Womens Day are often political and, at times, violent, rooted in womens efforts to improve their rights as workers. File image/AP Like in other aspects of life, social media plays an important role during International Womens Day, particularly by amplifying attention to demonstrations held in countries with repressive governments toward women and dissent in general. Advertisement How did it start? Why do we celebrate it on 8 March? While the idea behind a womens day originated in US with the American Socialist Party in 1909, it was a German feminist who pushed for a global commemoration during an international conference of socialist women held in 1910 in Copenhagen. The following year, events across Europe marked the day, and during World War I, women used it to protest the armed conflict, which lasted from 1914 to 1918. Advertisement International Womens Day is observed on 8 March after a massive protest in Russia on 23 February, 1917, that led to the countrys eventual withdrawal from the war. At the time, Russia had not adopted the Gregorian calendar named after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced it in 1582 and still used the Julian calendar the brainchild of Julius Caesar and still used by Orthodox churches for religious rites. Advertisement On 23 February in Russia, which was 8 March in Western Europe, women went out on the streets and protested for bread and peace, said Kristen Ghodsee, professor and chair of Russian and East European studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Demonstrators included widows, wives and mothers of men who died or were injured during the war. The authorities werent able to stop them, and then, once the men saw that the women were out on the streets, all of the workers started coming and joining the women. The UN began commemorating the holiday in 1975, which was International Womens Year, and its General Assembly officially recognised the day two years later. Is it about flowers and chocolates? It depends on the time and place. Women in Eastern Europe have long received flowers on 8 March and sometimes even gotten the day off from work. But chocolates and candy can come across as a belittling gesture, showing a lack of understanding of the struggles driving women to protest, particularly in regions where protests have been combative. In Turkey, women last year braved an official ban on an International Womens Day march in Istanbul, and protested for about two hours before police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and detain dozens of people. And in Mexico City dozens of people were injured during an 8 March demonstration in 2021, after protesters battled police in the main square with rocks, bottles, metal poles, spray paint and streams of flame from lit aerosol cans. International Womens Day is an official holiday in more than 20 countries, including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Ukraine, Russia and Cuba, the only one in the Americas. File image/AP Online retailers, meanwhile, have long used International Womens Day to sell sweatshirts, greeting cards, sticker packs, cloth totes, jeopardy games, cupcake toppers and myriad other 8 March-themed, purple-heavy items for the event. The internet also offers plenty of guides for businesses to tap into the occasion, from cupcakes and appreciation emails for employees to product bundles and social media offers for existing or future customers. Companies, however, have had varying degrees of success with these efforts. McDonalds in 2018 flipped its golden arches to a W on its social media accounts and even the sign at a store in California, a marketing ploy that was criticised online as an empty gesture and led to calls on the company to improve the working conditions of workers instead. What does the future hold for 8 March? Ghodsee said commemorating International Womens Day is now more important than ever, as women have lost gains made in the last century, chiefly among them the 2022 decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn a nationwide right to abortion, which ended constitutional protections that had been in place nearly 50 years. I think women around the world before (Donald) Trump became president, when Hillary Clinton was running for president, Sheryl Sandberg was writing Lean In and it was all girlboss feminism we didnt know how quickly all of that could be taken away, she said. The US decision on abortion has reverberated across Europes political landscape, forcing the issue back into public debate in some countries at a time when far-right nationalist parties are gaining influence. France on Monday became the only country to explicitly guarantee abortion as a constitutional right, a historic move proposed by President Emmanuel Macron and hailed by womens rights activists worldwide. The vote during a special joint session of Frances parliament drew a long standing ovation among lawmakers. We have a moral debt to women, French prime minister Gabriel Attal told lawmakers in the lead-up to the vote Monday. With inputs from AP Womens parliamentary representation is growing slowly; as per a new report, the proportion of women in voting chambers now stands at 26.9 per cent. Of all the countries surveyed, Rwanda ranks first with a whopping 61.3 per cent. But what about India? Rwandan women in parliament in Kigali. Women account for 61.3 per cent of seats in Rwanda's parliament, making it the top country. File image/AFP Its International Womens Day today (8 March) and its a good opportunity to look at how far women have come so far. Even though, the progress is admirable, theres still a long distance to go to reach parity, say experts. And one field where progress is being achieved, albeit at a slow pace, is representation in parliaments. As of today, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) notes that women are largely underrepresented in parliaments worldwide. In its report, the IPU stated that the global proportion of women in the worlds voting chambers inched up to 26.9 per cent. Advertisement On this momentous day, we take a deep dive into the data released on womens representation and which countries are top performers and also why their presence in politics is still an uphill battle. What does the data say? The IPU has noted that womens representation in parliaments is now 26.9 per cent, which means that just over one in four lawmakers in national parliaments worldwide are women. The IPU further noted that if things continue as such, it would take more than 80 years to reach parity. According to IPU, the figure has increased by 10 per cent since 2004, but is only up by an estimated three per cent up from 2014, when the share was 22.1 per cent of female representatives in legislatures. Interestingly, in March last year, the IPU noted that every functioning parliament in the world had at least one woman for the first time in history. Advertisement When looking at the data regionally, the Americas lead the pack, with womens representation at a high of 35.1 per cent. The IPU report has also highlighted that gender issues frequently emerged high up the list of voter priorities during election cycles, with womens reproductive rights, namely abortion remaining a contentious issue. Advertisement For instance, in Polands election of 2023, abortion became a key issue after a 2020 court ruling severely restricted access to abortion. The IPU report suggests that this was one factor which led the ruling party to lose power. Women ministers and politicians from Europe and Canada attend a discussion during a NATO summit in Madrid in 2022. Womens representation in parliaments is now 26.9 per cent. File image/Reuters Which countries are faring well? It might come as a surprise for many, but it is not a European or American nation that tops the list when it comes to womens representation in parliament. According to the IPU, the central African nation of Rwanda is at the top of the list with women accounting for 61.3 per cent of seats in parliament. Advertisement Notably, Rwanda was also the first country to have a female-majority parliament, back in 2008. In fact, today Rwandan politics is cited as a model of gender inclusiveness. Following Rwanda, as per the IPU report, is Cuba and Nicaragua where womens representation is respectively 56 per cent and 52 per cent. This years report has also ranked the United Arab Emirates at fifth position, with a 50 per cent representation in its parliament. Advertisement Developed countries such as Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom didnt feature in the top 10 list. In fact, the IPU stated that Germanys national parliament, the Bundestag, ranked 47 of 184 in terms of female representation. Democratic Representatives, dressed in white to call attention to womens rights, cheer as US president Joe Biden delivers his third State of the Union address. The US doesnt feature in the top 10 countries when it comes to womens representation. Reuters But its not all good news. There are several countries that are performing poorly when it comes to womens representation in parliament. Yemen has no women in its lower house, and just one in its upper house. The report also points out that in 20 countries such as Nigeria, Qatar and Iran, women hold fewer than 10 per cent of seats. Notably, Sri Lanka , which was the first country to ever have a female prime minister, is also lagging behind today. As of date, women make up only 5.3 per cent of its parliament. Japan, which is also a leading developed power, also performs poorly on this ranking. In 2022, women only held 10 per cent of the seats in the lower chamber way below other developed nations. What about India? As of date, Indias Parliament houses a total of 104 women lawmakers (78 in Lok Sabha) and 24 in Rajya Sabha. This means that women make up 13 per cent of the Parliament . Congress workers celebrate the Womens Reservation Bill, at Congress headquarters in New Delhi. The government introduced a constitutional amendment bill to reserve one-third of seats in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies for women, reviving a bill pending for 27 years for want of consensus among parties. File image/PTI However, womens representation in the countrys parliament is expected to get a boost as lawmakers approved the Womens Reservation Bill , under which one-third of all seats in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies will be kept aside for women. A similar Bill had been introduced in Rajya Sabha in 2008 , and was passed by the House two years later. It lapsed after the dissolution of the 14th Lok Sabha in 2014. But its important to note here that the actual implementation of the legislation could take years as it depends on the redrawing of electoral constituencies, which will only happen after the completion of Indias once-in-a-decade census. Why are women leaders quitting? While the IPU reports data shows that women are progressing, there was one issue of concern. The IPU reported highlighted that several high-profile female leaders had left the political arena in 2023. Many of them had cited burnout and increasing online harassment as the main reasons for leaving. It began in January last year when New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced that she was stepping down, saying: I know what this job takes and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. Months later, in March, Scotlands Nicola Sturgeon tendered her resignation after eight years. In her speech to the public, she had said, Its only very recently, I think, that Ive started to comprehend, let alone process, the physical and mental impact of it on me. Even Moldovan leader Natalia Gavrilita quit citing a lack of support and trust at home. And in April 2023, Finlands Sanna Marin also resigned following her partys narrow defeat in the general election. Jacinda Ardern quit as New Zealand prime minister in January last year, citing burnout as the reason. File image/AP Harriet Marsden had then written in The New Statesman, It has been a dismal few months for women in politics The recent spate of resignations should force us to face the reality for women in power, and question why anyone would even want the job. Many note that politics is indeed a very tough workspace for women. They are victims of severe abuse and harassment; in fact, in the UK, 93 per cent women MPs said that online abuse or harassment had a negative impact on how they felt about holding their role. Many women in politics also complain of the intrusive and often sexist scrutiny they receive. For instance, after a video showed Marin dancing at a private event provoked a public outcry, she was forced to take a drugs test for her own legal protection. As Farida Jalalzai, a professor of political science at Virginia Tech, wrote in The Conversation, Women in leadership positions will get asked certain questions that men do not. Women will be criticised for appearing too hard and too aggressive, but also if they are seen as overly soft and emotional. And there isnt an easy way around that major problem facing our female leaders, she added. With inputs from agencies The Central Bureau of Investigation, which conducted raids in over a dozen places across India on Thursday, said at least 180 people were sent to Russia under false pretenses mainly on student visas. The MEA said the matter has been taken up with Russia and urged the public not to fall prey to such schemes Authorities have swung into action after reports of a number of Indians being duped into joining the Russian Army. The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday conducted raids in over a dozen places across India. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said the Centre has taken up the matter with the Russian government. Advertisement The development came a day after the Indian Embassy in Moscow confirmed the death of 30-year-old Mohammed Afsan. Afsans death came weeks after a 23-year-old Indian who worked as a helper in the Russian Army died in a Ukrainian air strike. It also comes as nearly a dozen Indians say they were forced to join the Russian military after falling victim to a con. But what happened? And what has the CBI uncovered during its raids? Lets take a closer look: According to Indian Express, the agency raided locations in Delhi, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai. The agency is looking at the role of Christina and Moinuddin Chippa two agents based in Russia in the scam. Advertisement Christina and Moinuddin were facilitating the trafficking of Indian youth to Russia by offering them lucrative job opportunities. They duped students by providing them admission to dubious private universities in Russia instead of government or public universities by offering discounted fees, and visa extensions before leaving them at the mercy of local agents. Advertisement Once these aspirants reached Russia their passports were seized by the agents there. Advertisement They were then forced to join the armed forces after combat role training. The central probe agencys FIR has listed 17 other visa consultancy companies, their owners and agents spread across India. The agency has booked them under Indian Penal Code Sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating and human trafficking. They were being trained in combat roles and provided with Russian Army uniforms and batches. Thereafter, these Indian Nationals are being deployed at front bases in the Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes and put their lives in grave danger, the CBI FIR stated. Advertisement Indian Express reported that at least 180 people have been sent to Russia mainly on student visas. The team is looking examining embassy employees, a source told the newspaper. Officials said the agency has found 35 instances in which youngsters were taken to Russia after being lured with false promises of high-paying jobs via social media channels and local contacts and agents. The human trafficking network of these agents is spread over several states across the country and they are operating in an organised manner, the spokesperson had said. The CBIs FIR has listed 17 other visa consultancy companies, their owners and agents spread across India. ANI The central probe agency has booked 247 RAS Overseas Foundation in Delhi and its director Suyash Mukut, OSD Bros Travels and Visa Services Pvt Ltd in Mumbai and its director Rakesh Pandey, Adventure Visa Services Pvt Ltd in Chandigarh and its director Manjeet Singh, and Baba Vlogs Overseas Recruitment Solutions Pvt Ltd in Dubai and its director Faisal Abdul Mutalib Khan alias Baba. Indian Express reported that Chennai resident Srividhya, a resident of Chenna, Sufiyan Dawood Ahmad Darugar and his wife Pooka from Palghar, Santhosh, also based in Russia, Tamil Nadu resident Ramesh Kumar, Tommy, Robo, and Job from Kerala and others were also booked. Four agents hail from Maharashtra, while three each come from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, as per Deccan Herald. It has been ascertained that some of the victims also suffered grievous injuries in the war zone, the official said. So far, cash worth over Rs 50 lakh, incriminating documents and electronic records like laptops, mobiles, desktops and CCTV footage have been seized. Searches are going on. Certain suspects have also been detained for questioning at various locations, he added. Indian Express quoted MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal as saying strong action is being taken. The CBI, yesterday, busted a major human trafficking network, while conducting searches in several cities and collecting incriminating evidence. A case of human trafficking has been registered against several agents, Jaiswal said. Several Indian nationals have been duped to work with the Russian Army. We have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian government for early discharge of such Indian nationals, Jaiswal said. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Centre has taken up the matter with the Russian government. ANI Jaiswal also asked the public not to fall prey to such schemes. We once again appeal to Indian nationals to not be swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian Army. This is fraught with danger and risk to life, he said. He added, We remain committed to early release of our nationals serving as support staff with the Russian army and then eventual return home. Jaiswal last week said around 20 people had contacted the MEA for help. The traffickers have been operating as an organised network and were luring Indian nationals through social media channels such as YouTube, and also through their local contacts/agents for highly paid jobs in Russia, he added. With inputs from agencies Mark Robert Rank in The Conversation: One of the blockbuster films of the past year, Oppenheimer, tells the dramatic story of the development of the atomic bomb and the physicist who headed those efforts, J. Robert Oppenheimer. But despite the Manhattan Projects success depicted in the film, in his latter years, Oppenheimer became increasingly worried about a nuclear holocaust resulting from the proliferation of these weapons. Over the past 80 years, the threat of such nuclear annihilation was perhaps never greater than during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. President John F. Kennedys secretary of state, Dean Acheson, said that nuclear war was averted during that crisis by just plain dumb luck. As I detail in my forthcoming book, The Random Factor, nowhere was the influence of chance and luck more evident than on Oct. 27, 1962. More here. Frances favourite Camembert cheese is under threat of extinction due to a lack of microbial diversity. This is because P. camemberti fungi, a species of white mould that makes it into the cheese it is, is having difficulties reproducing, partly due to the pressures of industrial manufacturing Fans of this iconic fromage are in a panic as a fungus crisis threatens to wipe off the soft cheese. Pexels Frances favourite Camembert cheese is in trouble. Fans of this iconic fromage are in a panic as a fungus crisis threatens to wipe off the soft cheese. Scientists have warned that issues with the industrial manufacture of French cheese could have long-term effects on the product. Brie, blue, and the infamously foul-smelling Camembert have topped the list of high-risk foods, according to the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Advertisement Heres what is happening. The threat of extinction A recent study conducted by scientists at Paris-Saclay University raised concerns in January when they found that the industrial production methods used to meet demand were causing an increasingly limited supply of the major fungus used to make Camembert and other cheeses. Blue cheeses may be under threat, but the situation is much worse for Camembert, which is already on the verge of extinction, the CNRS said in its report. According to scientists, P. camemberti is having difficulties reproducing, partly due to the pressures of industrial manufacturing. The cause of the asexual fungal culture processs exhaustion stems from a severe lack of genetic variation, rather than performance anxiety per se, explained CNN. Penicillium camemberti, unfortunately, has much lower genetic diversity and a decreased ability to reproduce sexually than its cave-dwelling fungal competitors. Advertisement Our findings raise questions about the use of a limited number of clonal strains for cheese making, which tends to lead to degeneration, limiting the possibilities for further improvement, the study said. This implies that manufacturers are finding it extremely difficult to obtain sufficient quantities of P. camemberti spores to inoculate their Normandy cheese production," per the CNRS report. Advertisement The majority of natural cheeses consist of four fundamental components: milk, salt, rennet (a mixture of animal enzymes that separates the cheese curd from the liquid whey), and good bacteria. Pexels Why the fungi are crucial As per US Dairy, the majority of natural cheeses consist of four fundamental components: milk, salt, rennet (a mixture of animal enzymes that separates the cheese curd from the liquid whey), and good bacteria. All cheeses are based on these microorganisms for their textures, aromas, colours, and flavours. The rinds of camembert and related cheeses, like as Brie, were naturally coloured blue or occasionally yellow-brown by mould spores that grew in caves or haloirs (drying rooms), according to CNN. Advertisement The native mould was replaced in 1897 by Penicillium camemberti, which produced the consistent white rinds that are familiar to us today, reported New York Post. The fungus turns the Camembert, which was once orange, grey, and green, into a white wheel that looks like brie. Cheesemakers rely on this unique strain to achieve this look, which is why the business is so vulnerable. Advertisement Its very important to preserve diversity, even in microorganisms, and in particular in those we use for making food, Jeanne Ropars, a research scientist specialising in evolutionary genetics and ecology at the CNRS, told Culture magazine. Diversity is necessary for the survival of species. Without it, species are unable to cope with environmental change, he added. P. camemberti must be cloned in order to be produced in greater quantities, and cloning a single bacterium year after year could introduce harmful problems into the genome. The problem affects not just the production of cheese but also its international trade and regulation. The history of Camembert The creamy, spicy, and oozy cheese has been produced in the Normandy region of northwest France in various forms since at least the 18th century. As iconic to the French as existentialism, camembert is a national treasure that is adored worldwide, right up there with the Louvre, haute couture, and the Eiffel Tower. With the introduction of P camemberti, Camembert has had multiple crises. According to CNN, the late Patrick Lance, a British cheese experts who wrote the standard guide to French cheese, claimed that the last centurys industrialisation and conflict nearly destroyed the cheese industry. The Appellation dorigine protegee (AOP) designation, which limited the Camembert name to cheese produced in Normandy, came to the rescue in 1982. Notably, the European Commission also states that many kinds of cheese produced in France are eligible for the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) designation, which formally associates a particular cheese with the area in which it was produced, as per New York Post. With inputs from agencies BJP-Chandrababu Naidu-Pawan Kalyan alliance finalised: Report The BJP has finalised seat-share deals with ex-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidus Telugu Desam Party and actor Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena, according to an NDTV report, citing sources. The alliance covers the Lok Sabha election and the Assembly poll later this year, with the national party likely to contest six to eight seats in the Lok Sabha polls and 10-12 in Assembly polls, added the report. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddys YSR Congress Party dominated both elections five years ago, winning 22 of the states 25 Lok Sabha seats and 151 of its 175 Assembly segments. Advertisement President Murmu nominates Sudha Murty to Rajya Sabha President Droupadi Murmu on Friday nominated author and philanthropist Sudha Murty to the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a social media post. Taking to X, PM Modi said, I am delighted that the President of India has nominated @SmtSudhaMurty Ji to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Jis contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy and education have been immense and inspiring. Her presence in the Rajya Sabha is a powerful testament to our Nari Shakti, exemplifying the strength and potential of women in shaping our nations destiny. Wishing her a fruitful Parliamentary tenure." On Womens Day, PM Modi announces Rs 100 cut in LPG cylinder price On the occasion of International Womens Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced a reduction of Rs 100 in cooking gas cylinder prices on Friday. Taking to X, he said, Today, on Womens Day, our Government has decided to reduce LPG cylinder prices by Rs. 100. This will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting our Nari Shakti. By making cooking gas more affordable, we also aim to support the well-being of families and ensure a healthier environment. This is in line with our commitment to empowering women and ensuring Ease of Living for them. In a related decision, the government on Thursday announced the extension of Rs 300 per LPG cylinder subsidy to poor women under the Ujjwala Yojana for the next fiscal starting April 1. Advertisement PM Modi on two-day visit to Assam from today Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day visit to Assam commencing on Friday where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development projects. PM Modi will arrive in Kaziranga on Friday evening, and he will stay overnight in the national park, a UNESCO Heritage Site renowned for its one-horned rhinos. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while addressing a press conference on Thursday said that the PM will arrive in the state on Friday evening and is scheduled to spend at least two hours in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Karnataka became the first state in the country to implement an electric bike taxi policy in 2021 but its journey remained short-lived, as the government found them hampering safety of women in the state and also violating provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act The Karnataka government placed a ban on operation of electric bike taxi services. Representational Image On International Womens Day, the Karnataka government announced a big decision for the safety of females in the state, announcing ban on operation of electric bike taxi services after they were found unsafe. Bike taxis journey in Karnataka remained short-lived. The Electric Bike Taxi Scheme was introduced in July 2021 by the then BJP-led government in the state to improve first and last mile connectivity from metro, bus, railway stations as well as to generate more employment opportunities. Advertisement But here are 5 reasons why the Congress-led government in Karnataka has banned the electric bike taxi services. 1 - Violation of MVA: The Karnataka government said certain private app-based firms are violating the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) and its rules, and running illegal non-transport two-wheelers as the transport vehicles 2- Clashes between owners & drivers: The government further cited that often there were clashes between the owners and drivers of auto rickshaws and maxi cabs with the bike riders. Several cases regarding it have also been registered 3- Difficulty in collecting taxes: As per the Karnataka government, the Electric Bike Taxi Scheme also made it difficult for the transport department to collect taxes 4- Women safety became a concern: The government said the scheme also raised concerns about the unauthorised operations of bike taxis, particularly impacting womens safety 5- No desired result: A committee chaired by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) managing director on the bike taxi scheme highlighted that the scheme introduced in 2021 has not given the desired results Advertisement As per reports, several women in Karnataka have narrated their ordeal, including facing harassment and inappropriate behaviour from the bike drivers. Karnataka became the first state to implement an electric bike taxi policy in 2021. Since then, there were persistent demand by auto drivers to put a ban on bike taxis. There were also instances of blocking and intimidating bike taxi riders over the last couple of years. Advertisement The decision of the Karnataka government is, however, in contrast to an advisory issued by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on January 22, 2024 that supports bike taxis. In the advisory, the Central government urged all states and union territories to accept and process applications for contract carriage permits for motorcycles under the provisions of MVA and its rules. Children, aged 10-14 years, were electrocuted from a high-tension power line passing overhead in the Sakatoura area under the Kunhari police station in Rajasthans Kota In Rajasthans Kota, 14 children suffered injuries due to electric shock during a procession of Mahashivratri on Friday, March 8. The children, aged 10-14 years, were electrocuted from a high-tension power line passing overhead in the Sakatoura area under the Kunhari police station. How 14 children in Kota got electric shock? Sharing the detail about the incident, Kota city SP Amrita Duhan said, The mishap occurred around 11:30 am on Friday when a procession of Shiv Barat was marching through Kalibasti, where one of the boys in the procession, holding a flag atop a 22-feet-high bamboo stick touched the high-tension line passing overhead." Advertisement The boy holding the flag sustained 100 per cent burn injury. The other boys who attempted to rescue him also sustained burn injuries, the senior police officer said. She further informed that one of the boys sustained 50 per cent burn injury, while the rest 12 boys sustained less than 50 per cent injuries. #WATCH | Rajasthan: Several children were electrocuted during a procession on the occasion of Mahashivratri, in Kota. Further details awaited. pic.twitter.com/F5srBhO9kz ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 Advertisement Among those who suffered electric shock is a man of 25 years of age. All the injured children have been rushed to MBS Hospital for treatment and will be referred to Jaipur. Rajasthan Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar also reached the hospital. Advertisement Its a very sad incident The priority is to give them proper treatment. One is in serious condition with 100 per cent burns. An investigation has been initiated and if there has been any negligence from anyone, it will come out in the report, Duhan added. #WATCH | Kota: Rajasthan Minister Heeralal Nagar says, "It's a very sad incident... Two children are seriously injured with one having 100% burns. A special team has been formed to provide all possible treatment. Officials are directed to investigate if there has been any kind of pic.twitter.com/NdWCJorSjq ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 Advertisement Lok Sabha Speaker and MP from Kota, Om Birla, reached the hospital to take the stock of the situation. He also gave instructions to the doctors for proper treatment of the injured kids. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Blaming BJP-led Centre for stalling every project launched by the AAP government in Delhi, AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday reached out to the people of Delhi urging them to strengthen him as he launched the partys Lok Sabha poll campaign with the slogan Sansad mein bhi Kejriwal, to Dilli hogi aur khush haal. Blaming BJP-led Centre for stalling every project launched by the AAP government in Delhi, AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday reached out to the people of Delhi urging them to strengthen him as he launched the partys Lok Sabha poll campaign with the slogan Sansad mein bhi Kejriwal, to Dilli hogi aur khush haal. Advertisement #WATCH | Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) kicks off Delhi Lok Sabha campaigns. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann is also present. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says, "Today, AAP's Delhi Lok Sabha campaign is launching...The launch slogan is 'Sansad main bhi Kejriwal, tabhi Delhi hogi aur pic.twitter.com/KVKoRkLNpR ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 General elections are due in April-May. The campaign was launched in the presence of other party leaders including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and workers from the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters on DDU Marg. Advertisement I have made all efforts to serve the people of Delhi who are my family, Kejriwal said. Our slogan is Sansad mein bhi Kejriwal, to Dilli hogi aur khush haal (Delhi will be more prosperous with Kejriwal in Parliament), he said. Delhi and Punjab are ruled by AAP and these are the only two states that have free electricity supply, he added. Advertisement Reaching out to the people of people Delhi, he said that he will be strengthened if the electors send all the seven opposition candidates to Parliament. They hate you because you elected and brought an ordinary man to power in Delhi. They demolished Mohalla Clinics with bulldozers, they stopped door-to-door ration delivery scheme, tests and medicines in hospitals, he alleged. Advertisement AAP workers will distribute pamphlets describing work done by the partys governments during campaigning for the elections, he said. The Delhi Chief Minister and Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena have been at loggerheads on various government policies, the latest being the solar policy announced a few days ago. The AAP alleged that LG has suspended the solar policy of the Delhi government that was announced by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal last month. Advertisement According to a Pioneer report, citing sources in the office of Delhi LG, Saxena has denied the charge and accused the Kejriwal government of being habitual of lying and spreading lies on the proposed solar policy. Sources said the LG office said the Delhi governments claims on the solar policy being stalled are misleading because the LG has not stopped the policy. As is their habit, the Delhi government is using lies to mislead the people. LG has not stalled the policy. The policy does not contain any provision which will lead to consumers getting zero power bills. On the contrary, there are provisions in the policy which will benefit private power companies. LG has sought details on these provisions, LG office officials said. Meanwhile, Punjab chief minister Mann said his state is going to have a 13-0 result in the Lok Sabha polls in favour of AAP. He also accused the Centre of obstructing the work of the Kejriwal government in Delhi and withholding Punjabs funds. No one will dare to stop Punjabs funds and work in Delhi if the AAP has a good number of MPs in Lok Sabha, he said. The AAP has forged a collaboration with its INDIA bloc partner, Congress, for the upcoming general election. They have agreed to a seat-sharing arrangement in Delhi, Gujarat, and Haryana. However, in Punjab, both parties have opted to contest the Lok Sabha polls independently. In Delhi, the AAP will vie for four out of the seven Lok Sabha seats, while Congress will field candidates for the remaining three. Additionally, the AAP has secured two constituenciesBharuch and Jamnagar in Gujarat, as well as Kurukshetra in Haryanathrough the seat-sharing agreement with Congress. Furthermore, AAP has announced its candidates for the Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Sonitpur Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam separately. With inputs from agencies If Donald Trump is re-elected, China could attack Taiwan considering his non-interventionist policy. If Biden returns, the danger remains as the US will be reluctant to open a third front in Taiwan after the Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars President Xi Jinpings sees China-Taiwan reunification as a historic inevitability. In his public statements and meetings with United States (US) President Joe Biden, he has made his objective starkly clear and warned against American interference. China has staged two major war games in the last one-and-a-half years around Taiwan, with one simulating attacks, using precision strikes, blockades and PLA Air Force (PLAAF) sorties. Advertisement Chinese fighters and bombers increasingly cross the Taiwan Straits median line to do joint combat readiness patrols with the PLA Navy (PLAN). Chinas aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Strait in December. Though an alarmed America has slammed such intrusions, it sticks to its One China policy. Americas best option in a war with China The threat of China occupying Taiwan by force is real and cant be ignored, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. If Donald Trump is re-elected, China could attack Taiwan considering his non-interventionist policy. If Biden returns, the danger remains as the US will be reluctant to open a third front in Taiwan after the Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars. Advertisement However, wars are unpredictable, and an American involvement in Taiwan cant be completely ruled out. A direct conflict with nuclear-armed China will have catastrophic consequences for both nations. To avoid such an escalation, America needs an effective war strategy that ends in victory without an escalation. In a February report titled US Military Theories of Victory: For a war with the Peoples Republic of China, the RAND Corporation lists five theories of a US victory over China in a hypothetical war: Advertisement Dominance: To use brute force to incapacitate China. However, its not possible considering Chinas retaliatory power, nukes and superior missiles. Denial: To convince China that it lacks the means to take Taiwan by destroying its sea and airlift assets. But it requires sufficient power to blunt an invasion and the risk of escalation persists. Devaluing: To convince China that the benefits of taking Taiwan are too small by, for example, by destroying Taiwans semiconductor industry. However, Chinas political interests in Taiwan and the American political obstacles to harming a partner make the option unviable. Brinkmanship: To convince China that the future cost of fighting for Taiwan may become intolerably high by threatening escalation, like using nukes. This option is also impractical as China can retaliate with its nuclear arsenal. Cost imposition: To use military instruments, like distant blockade of Chinese maritime trade at chokepoints or strategic air attacks, to persuade China that the costs of continuing the war outweigh the benefits. But the US must find and target pressure points at a sufficient speed. This will unlikely generate pressure quickly enough to stop a fait accompli. According to RAND, the best options are denial, military cost-imposition, or a mix of the two. However, denial by a proxy war with Chinalike the military aid to Ukraineentails a lower escalation risk but has lower odds of operational success. Besides, it could lead to a direct war due to deliberate, inadvertent or accidental escalation. Advertisement The report opts for direct denial as the best option considering China will plan an amphibious assault. The US can target such routes using its attack submarines and long-range precision strikes. Though PLAN is the largest navy, the US has more capable carriers, cruisers and destroyers. Moreover, America has more advanced and capable fourth- and fifth-generation fighters than China. Since China can target US bases of Guam (Western Pacific) and Diego Garcia (Indo-Pacific) with its long-range missiles and bombers, Washington introduced the Agile Combat Employment doctrine in 2022 to park combat jets in several small and dispersed bases. Advertisement Attempting a more difficult denial campaign might still yield better odds and introduce fewer risks than resorting to military cost imposition, the report adds. Obstacles China will face in a Taiwan invasion Before examining the feasibility of the denial theory, its essential to discuss the challenges China will face in a Taiwan invasion. In a January report, the American think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) lists the challenges. First, considering the choppy Taiwan Strait, which is around 160 km wide, the report assumes an amphibious assault with Chinese ships transporting hundreds of thousands of soldiers for weeks, which will make them vulnerable to Taiwanese missiles. Second, Chinese ships would be anchored far from Taiwan because the west coast has shallow waters and few deep-water ports and beaches. The east coasts cliffs are too steep to climb and Taiwanese forces could launch guerilla attacks. The PLA will be exposed to mines, anti-landing spikes and mobile missile launchers. Third, China will find it challenging to seize Taipei and depose the government because it is surrounded by mountains with few routes. According to CFR, Taiwan could destroy its major port, tunnels and highways leading into the Capital. Fourth, China will have to wage urban warfare to seize Taipei, which has a population of seven million. Taiwans population of 24 million people is packed into dense urban areas To conquer Taiwan, China would therefore be forced into urban combat, fighting street by street. Denial theory assumptions could go wrong First, since its a hypothetical war, conclusions are drawn based only on assumptions which could go horribly wrong. The US assumption about a Chinese war strategy and attack could be entirely different from the one Beijing will use. According to CFR, China would have to conduct an extraordinarily complex military operation synchronising air, land and sea power as well as electronic and cyberwarfare. What prevents China from conducting such an operation? Nothing. China sent warplanes and warships near Taiwan several times in the last four years to prepare for an integrated joint attack. In February, 14 PLAAF jest carried out joint combat readiness patrols with PLAN. In January, 23 Chinese jets did joint combat readiness patrols with warships. In December, J-10, J-11 and J-16 fighters and an AWACs aircraft were detected over Taiwan. The PLA Strategic Support Force (PLASSF) will combine space, cyber, electronic and information operations to disrupt, paralyse or destroy both Taiwanese and American military and civilian structures before an invasion. It will be a platform-integrated war with PLA Ground Force, PLAN, PLAAF, PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) and PLASSF networked closely. In May 2023, Chinese hackers infiltrated the computer networks on Guam, the closest American military base housing 20,000 US military personnel at the Naval Base and the Andersen Air Force Base. State-sponsored Volt Typhoon hacked American servers undetected to hibernate and strike communications infrastructure between the US and Asia during future crises, like a war with Taiwan. Chinese cyberattacks on Taiwan have risen sharply since 2023. According to US-based cybersecurity firm Trellix, cyberattacks jumped from 1,758 on January 11 to more than 4,300 on 12 January, a day before the elections. Last year, Google tracked around 100 hacking groups that targeted Taiwanese government, private and defence organisations. Microsoft found that state-sponsored Flax Typhoon targeted organisations in telecom, education, energy and information technology. Therefore, China can conduct a synchronised war using its air, land, sea, electronic and cyberwarfare capabilities. Increasing cyberattacks against the US and Taiwan and joint combat patrols are a proof of Chinas strategy. In a 2023 report titled Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China, the US department of defence (DoD) said: The PLA has sought to modernise its capabilities and improve its proficiencies across all warfare domains so that, as a joint force, it can conduct the full range of land, air, and maritime as well as nuclear, space, counterspace, electronic warfare and cyberspace operations. Second, both RAND and CFR assume that China will launch an amphibious assault on Taiwan, and Chinese aircraft and ships transporting troops to its coast would be vulnerable to US attacks. RANDs denial option assumes that the US will only need to deny China local air and sea control for the invasion to succeed. Chinas reliance on scarce air and sealift platforms to transport troops and supplies to Taiwan creates a bottleneck in PLA operations that the United States can exploit. What are the chances of a Chinese amphibious assault and the success of a US denial? Its a hypothesis. The US would have to launch air attacks from its bases on Guam, Diego Garcia and probably Japan and South Korea and aircraft carriers in the South China Sea (SCS) to deny a Chinese invasion. In that scenario, US carriers and bases will also be exposed to Chinas long-range missiles. RAND admits that the PLA has strong operational incentives to attack US military forces even on American soil, especially in Guam and Hawaii, to make it harder for the US to attack PLA invasion forces near Taiwan. Even America realises the lethality and range of Chinese missiles. The US ended its 16-year-old Bomber Assurance and Deterrence mission on Guam, which housed the B-52s, B-1s and B-2s, in 2020. Chinas DF-26 IRBM, or the Guam Killer, can destroy the bombers before they take off from the base. Besides, the PLAAFs H-6K bomber can fire Changjian-20 cruise missiles at Guam. In 2020, three B-2 bombers were deployed on Diego Garcia for the first time since 2016. Six months earlier, six B-52s were redeployed on the atoll. The two deployments were done after it was reported that the PLAN was planning a live-fire training drill 545 km north of Taiwan near the Zhoushan Islands. In 2021, the US deployed B-1s on Diego Garcia for the first time in more than 15 years after China launched air drills near Taiwan and a joint naval exercise with Russia in the Sea of Japan. However, China can strike every American military base in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, including Guam, Diego Garcia, Japan, South Korea and Australia. The PLARF has the biggest and the most varied stockpile of land-based, cruise and anti-ship missiles numbering more than 2,000mobile ground-launched SRBMs, MRBMs and IRBMs, ICBMs and ground-launched cruise missiles. Using DF-21 MRBMs ASBM variant, China can target ships, including aircraft carriers, in the Western Pacific from mainland China. The DF-26 can rapidly swap conventional and nuclear warheads and conduct precision land-attack and anti-ship strikes in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and SCS from mainland China. The DF-31A and DF-41 ICBMs can reach most locations in the US. The DF-41, which can carry 10 independently targeted nuclear warheads, could theoretically hit the US in 30 minutes, per the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Similarly, US bases in Japan are within the striking range of DF-21s and the CJ-10 land-based cruise missile. A day after an American U-2 spy plane allegedly entered a no-fly zone in SCS in August 2020, Beijing fired the DF-21 carrier killer version DF-21D and the DF-26which has a carrier killer version called the DF-26Bas warnings to USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan and Guam respectively. Such capabilities would allow China to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental United States, Hawaii, and Alaska, the DoD report reads. Third, China is aware of the superiority of American carriers and warplanes. The US has 11 carriers while China has only 2 with the third one awaiting trials. Therefore, Beijing made rapid technological advancement and investment in missile development in the last several years to target adversaries on land and sea and in air. The 1987 US-Soviet Union Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty banned deploying missiles ranging from 500-5,500 km. Trump withdrew from the treaty in 2019 citing non-compliance by Russia and the rapid Chinese missile development. It was too late and China took advantage. China has eight operational ICBMs/SLBMSs and one under test and development while the US has only two, the Minuteman III and Trident II. America is developing an ICBM called the LGM-35A Sentinel but it will be operational in 2029. According to the Federation of American Scientists, China has more ICBM silos than the US with 450 as of October 2022an increase of 350 launchers in only three years. China is also ahead of the US in developing next-generation hypersonic missiles, which are more manoeuvrable, evasive and quicker. They dont follow a set trajectory and can manoeuvre midway to their target. Both the DF-17 MRBM and DF-41 have hypersonic glide vehicles. According to a February Congressional Research Service report , former undersecretary of defence for research and engineering Michael Griffin testified to Congress that the US doesnt have defences against such Russian and Chinese missiles. Hypersonic targets are 10 to 20 times dimmer than what the US normally tracks by satellites in geostationary orbit, he said. The DoD believes that China is developing a new conventional ICBM that will leave the atmosphere, re-enter and descend towards its target at Mach-20. Besides, the success rate in shooting down ICBMs is very low due to their higher altitudes and countermeasures, according to US missile experts and defence officials. The current US missile defence system has been tested only 19 times since 1999 with only a 50 per cent success rate. In February 2021, the American Physical Society released a study called Ballistic Missile Defence: Threats and Challenges, which focused on hypothetical strikes by North Korean ICBMs against the US. The current capabilities are low and will likely continue to be low for the next 15 years, the study found. No missile defence system has been shown to be effective against realistic ICBM threats, the study reads. It has been described as shooting a bullet with a bullet trying to hit a warhead, Laura Grego, a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the studys co-author, said. Therefore, Chinas use of hypersonic missiles against US bases or carriers and a synchronised military operation will make the RANDs denial option unviable. Instead, it will deny US intervention in the first place. The DoD report found that China is aggressively developing capabilities to dissuade, deter, or, if ordered, defeat third-party intervention in the Indo-Pacific region, and to conduct military operations deeper into the Indo-Pacific region and globally. The PRCs counter-intervention strategy aims to restrict the United States from having a presence in the East and South China Sea regions and increasingly to hold at risk US access in the broader Indo-Pacific region. China will use long-range precision strikes and its integrated and robust air defence system that relies on an extensive early warning radar network, fighter aircraft and a variety of SAM systems. Besides, Chinas radars and air defence weapons on outposts in the SCS further extend the range of its air defence system. China will probably launch a massive, crippling cyberattack on US and Taiwanese military and civilian infrastructure before striking them with missiles and also destroy US carriers and bases to prevent an American denial. Subsequently, it will launch an amphibious invasion. The writer is a freelance journalist with two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views_. Donald Trump and Narendra Modi are both considered conservative or right-wing leaders. But they could not be more dissimilar. One is flamboyant, the other sober; one shoots his mouth off, the other cannot be found making a single indiscreet statement. Though both are constantly in the news and are international media personalities in their own right, one is constantly controversial, the other consistently charismatic. Advertisement One was born well-to-do, already a tycoon in his twenties, the other rose from stark poverty to the heights of political and social power. One is extravagant, living lavishly, the other is abstemious and frugal. One has had a colourful, some would say scandalous love life, with multiple marriages and several children from different spouses, the other is known as a lifelong celibate, despite being married. One embodies the capitalistic, consumeristic ethos, the other is practically a renunciate. Without disrespecting one, we might even say they are as different as chalk and cheese. But there is one respect in which they are similar. They have totally upended their respective political parties, the very vehicles of their spectacular success. Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is as different from Atal Bihari Vajpayees as Trumps is from Ronald Reagans Republican Party. In my last column I wrote about how Reagan rode to power in 1980 and in two terms established the United States as the dominant power in the world. He adopted a tough foreign policy against the erstwhile Soviet Union, pushing it to what some would say its overdue demise. He also championed free-market capitalism and globalization. Reagan was socially and culturally conservative, coming down heavily against abortion and LGBTQ activism in the name of supposedly traditional American values. Advertisement Trump, in contrast, is a nativist. Recently he said in his own blunt and undiplomatic way that he didnt really care what the Russians did with Ukraine. He is also an economic protectionist, particularly when it comes to targeting Chinese goods flooding the US after his predecessors shifted the entire manufacturing process of the country to cheaper labor markets overseas. Trump also doesnt care much to be seen as an anti-abortionist let alone anti-LGBTQ. His solid American values, instead, are about championing the rights of ordinary Americans who tend to feel left out Social Security and Medicare, the US version of welfare statism. America for Americans is what Trump stands for. One might even go so far as to say that he is the most anti-immigration of any US president so far, especially if the immigrants are illegals. Advertisement Modi too has totally reinvented the BJP, which in the Vajpayee era, was often a saffron-hued version of the Congress party. Arguably, Vajpayee, the orator-poet and parliamentarian par excellence, was closer to our first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, than any other BJP leader. Modi is unapologetic majoritarian and has normalised Hindutva-driven development as the nations ideology displacing both secularism and socialism, which Indira Gandhi had smuggled into the Preamble of the Constitution. Advertisement Modi has also transformed India strategically and diplomatically in ways that Vajpayee would not have dreamed of. Gone are the days of appeasement and wishy-washy non-alignment. India is no longer middling in the sense of mediocre power. It is a key player in the emerging global reset, a balancing power and swing state, which, in its own sphere of influence, is also the enforcer of the rule-based international order. Advertisement The old Republicans considered Trump the maverick outsider whose multiple and compulsive indiscretions made him a liability. In a sense, they were relieved when he lost. It was the end of the most controversial and tumultuous presidency in the history of the Union. But today, the Grand Old Party is undoubtedly Trumps demesne. He has come to command the loyalty of the rank and file. Why? Because they believe only he can see them back in power. Afterall, despite gargantuan odds, not to speak of endless lawsuits and multiple attempts to disqualify him, he is the last man standing as far as the Republican presidential nomination is concerned. Literally. Because on Tuesday, Nikki Haley, his last challenger, effectively stepped down. Of the 1,215 delegates needed for the nomination, Trump has already scored over 1000. Haley only managed 89. That is why March 5th is known as Super Tuesday. By now, both the Democratic incumbent and the Republicans challenger have more or less clinched their places on the US presidential ballot. Yes, it will be another Biden vs Trump faceoff, a rematch if you will. And this time, it is Trump who is likely to storm his way back to the White House. Wouldnt that be sweet revenge for someone who had two impeachment motions against him and continues to be charged with inciting and insurrection to remain in power after he lost to Biden four years back. With his three-time nomination as the Republican presidential nominee, his hold over the party is incontrovertible. As Steven Bannon, his former campaign strategist put it, In 2016, Trump launched a hostile takeover of the Republican Party. That takeover is now complete. Another commentator termed it Trumps hammerlock on Republicans loyalty. In more senses than one, Reagans party is over. Reagan, we might recall, died twenty years back, on June 5, 2004, at the age of 93. This is indeed a different America than what I knew in the 1980s. Come November, in an off chance, even if Trump loses, future and emerging Republican leaders will resemble him more and more. The era of Republican institutions and institutionalists has ended. Only to be replaced by personality-driven politics. In this respect, though, India has been ahead of the US. It is not politics but personalities that overshadow the electoral landscape. They always have. And today, it is Narendra Modi that strides the Indian political panorama as a colossus, resembling the gigantic statue of unity that he built to honour Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Indias greatest unifier of the independence era. No wonder, Modis election as head of government in 2014 marks, as many have observed, a radical break with the past and the beginning of Indias Second Republic. While some may not like it, something similar may happen in the US in November 2024 if Donald Trump is re-elected to the most powerful office in the world. The author is Director of Education, Access Health Care Physicians LLC, Spring Hill, Florida. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ The war in Ukraine has expanded beyond its borders, reaching Africa and entangling Kyiv in Sudanese affairs The conflict in Ukraine has found a new battleground, thousands of miles away in Sudan. While it might seem improbable at first glance, the reality is stark. Ukrainian and Russian forces are now clashing in the capital city of Khartoum. This unexpected turn of events raises questions about Ukraines involvement in a distant conflict and the implications it holds. Advertisement Brewing conflict in Sudan The Sudanese conflict has been simmering for months, often overshadowed by more widely covered crises like those in Ukraine and Gaza. Despite the lack of global attention, the situation in Sudan is dire, with over 13,000 casualties, eight million displaced persons and 25 million people in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Ukraines entry into this already messy affair has only exacerbated tensions and violence. The conflict initially began in April of the previous year with Kyivs active involvement beginning around August. Role of Abel Fattah al-Burhan Abel Fattah al-Burhan, the de facto military leader of Sudan, finds himself at odds with his former ally, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemeti, who leads the rebel forces. Al-Burhan, once on shaky ground, sought assistance when his position weakened. In a surprising move, he turned to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for help, citing their past cooperation during Russias invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Ukraines intervention Responding to Al-Burhans call for aid, Ukraine dispatched nearly 100 commandos to Sudan. Their primary objective was to rescue Al-Burhan from the encroaching rebel forces and ensure his safety in Port Sudan, a city under his control. During a meeting between Zelensky and Al-Burhan in September 2023, the leaders discussed the presence of Russian-funded armed groups, particularly Wagner, a notorious group of mercenaries sponsored by the Russian state. This meeting marked the formation of an alliance against Wagner, which operates both in Ukraine and Sudan, aiding rebel forces against established regimes. Advertisement Military 0perations and strategies Ukrainian commandos conducted numerous missions in Sudan, leveraging their expertise and equipment, including night vision gear, to outmanoeuver and outgun Hemetis forces. One such operation involved targeting a rebel base using drones and precision airstrikes. Ukraines involvement in Sudan serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it creates a new front against Russia, aiming to drain its military and financial resources. Additionally, by disrupting Wagners activities in Sudan, Ukraine seeks to protect Sudans gold reserves, which have been exploited by Russian forces. Advertisement However, Ukraines ability to sustain its operations in Sudan is uncertain. With Western aid dwindling and logistical challenges mounting, Kyiv faces significant hurdles. Moreover, questions arise about the transparency of Ukraines actions and the extent to which Western powers were informed and involved in its Sudanese campaign. The war in Ukraine has expanded beyond its borders, reaching Africa and entangling Kyiv in Sudanese affairs. As Ukraine navigates this complex conflict, the support of Western allies and the transparency of its actions will be critical factors in shaping its trajectory. Ultimately, Ukraines intervention in Sudan underscores the interconnectedness of global conflicts and the complexities of modern warfare. Advertisement Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. As Vietnam emerges as a key player on the world stage, its bamboo diplomacy serves as a blueprint for navigating the complexities of modern geopolitics Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, right, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh embrace at the end of a joint statement at Parliament House in Canberra, on 7b March, 2024. AP In understanding Vietnams foreign policy, one must first grasp the essence of the bamboo plant. With its stout trunk, strong roots and flexible branches, the bamboo embodies resilience and adaptability. Vietnam has drawn inspiration from this natural marvel, shaping its diplomatic strategy around similar principles. Bamboo diplomacy in action Vietnams approach, termed as Bamboo Diplomacy, hinges on robust fundamentals combined with a remarkably flexible stance. This dynamic strategy has garnered significant success, attracting attention from global powers such as Australia, who recently elevated diplomatic ties with Hanoi. Advertisement The recent elevation of ties between Australia and Vietnam to a comprehensive strategic partnership underscores the depth of their cooperation. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, highlighted the significance of this move, emphasizing shared ambitions and future prospects. Elevating our ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership today, places Australia and Vietnam among each others most significant partners. It reflects our shared ambition for the future, said Prime Minister Albanese. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh echoed this sentiment citing substantive and sustainable cooperation across various sectors. We are confident that with the upgrade of our bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam and Australia have entered a new chapter in the history of bilateral relations with a very substantive, effective and sustainable items of cooperation across the board," said Prime Minister Pham. Advertisement Critical minerals Central to this partnership is an annual dialogue on critical metals such as lithium, copper, cobalt and other rare earth minerals. These minerals play a pivotal role in technology sectors, from smartphones to electric vehicles. With Australias expertise in mineral production and Vietnams vast untapped deposits, both nations stand to benefit significantly from this collaboration. Advertisement Australias pivot towards Vietnam reflects a broader strategic imperative to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on China. Vietnam, emerging as a regional powerhouse with robust infrastructure and political stability, presents an attractive alternative for international businesses. Working together as comprehensive strategic partners, I am confident that Australia and Vietnam can rise to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, said Prime Minister Albanese. Advertisement Major corporations like Dell, Google, Microsoft, and Apple have already begun shifting operations to Vietnam, signalling its growing importance as a business hub. Vietnam: A diplomatic nexus Vietnams strategic position is further underscored by its burgeoning ties with an array of global players including the United States, China, India, South Korea, Japan and Russia. Despite historical conflicts and differences, these countries recognise Vietnams significance and are actively engaging with Hanoi to bolster cooperation across various domains. In a world marked by conflicts and tensions, Vietnams ability to navigate complex geopolitical dynamics is commendable. Its pragmatic approach, encapsulated by Bamboo Diplomacy, continues to yield dividends, attracting investments and forging partnerships across the globe. Advertisement As Vietnam emerges as a key player on the world stage, its bamboo diplomacy serves as a blueprint for navigating the complexities of modern geopolitics. With its blend of strength and flexibility, Vietnam stands poised to chart a path towards prosperity and stability in an increasingly interconnected world. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. India is carefully and pragmatically playing its cards and asserting its position in South Asia as well as the world, and providing aid and assistance to weaker neighbouring countries The recent statements made by Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu hint at another shift in the countrys diplomatic stance towards India. Following his five-day visit to China in January, Muizzu had asserted that no nation had the right to bully the Maldives, indirectly referring to Indias influence in the region. This thinly veiled criticism has now escalated with Muizzus recent affirmation that no Indian military personnel, including those in civilian attire, will be permitted in the Maldives after 10 May. Advertisement While the Maldives position may seem assertive on the surface, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that the rhetoric of calling India a bully cannot withstand scrutiny. The Maldives has historically maintained close ties with India, benefitting from economic assistance, security cooperation, and cultural exchanges. Moreover, the sudden and unilateral decision to expel Indian military personnel raises questions about the Maldives commitment to diplomatic agreements and regional security. In the forthcoming discussion, we will delve deeper into why the Maldives anti-India rhetoric is not only misguided but also detrimental to its own interests and regional stability. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars response to Maldives accusation of India being a bully aptly dismantles such perceptions, highlighting Indias constructive engagement with its neighbours. Jaishankar emphasised the significant positive changes in Indias relations with neighbouring countries, particularly in providing substantial support during times of crisis. He refuted the notion of India being a bully by citing examples of Indias generous aid, including financial assistance of $4.5 billion and vaccine supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, he highlighted Indias flexibility in responding to various demands, such as food, fuel and fertilizer, despite external challenges. Jaishankar underlined the flourishing trade and investment ties between India and neighbouring nations like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives, showcasing a tangible increase in connectivity, trade volume, and investments. His remarks explain how India is a responsible regional actor committed to fostering mutually beneficial relationships with its neighbours. Advertisement The accusations levelled by Maldives against India appear ill-founded and shortsighted, especially considering Indias long-standing history of aid and assistance to the island nation. Data indicates that India is a crucial neighbour that Maldives cannot afford to disregard. India has consistently been a significant donor of foreign aid to the Maldives, with a substantial budget allocation of 400 crore for grants in the ongoing fiscal year alone, constituting approximately 1.5 per cent of Maldives budget for FY24. Over the years, Indias support to the Maldives has been evident through various forms of aid, including funding for cultural and heritage projects, disaster relief efforts, and financial assistance to tackle economic challenges. For instance, in November 2022, the Indian government provided a substantial financial aid package of $100 million to help the Maldives navigate economic hardships. Advertisement Moreover, Indias assistance extends beyond financial aid, with significant contributions to infrastructure development and healthcare in the Maldives. The construction of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in 1995, funded by Indian grant assistance, stands as a testament to Indias commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure in the Maldives. Additionally, India has undertaken major renovations of the IGMH, investing 52 crore to enhance medical facilities and services for the Maldivian populace. Furthermore, bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between India and the Maldives have paved the way for impactful community development projects, underscoring Indias dedication to fostering socio-economic progress and prosperity in the Maldives. Advertisement Indias commitment to providing assistance extends beyond just the Maldives, encompassing its neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka as well. A recent development underscores this collaborative effort, with Sri Lanka and India collaborating on a groundbreaking project involving an estimated $1.2 billion undersea transmission line. This initiative aims to link Sri Lankas power grid with Indias, thereby enhancing energy security for the island nation. Following a meeting on 28 February, Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary of Indias Ministry of Power, emphasised the myriad benefits that this integration could bring to Sri Lanka, including significant cost reductions and the potential for the country to export power to India, particularly once its offshore wind capacity is harnessed. Advertisement Despite Sri Lankas growing proximity to China in recent years, marked by significant investments and infrastructure projects, the country finds itself ensnared in a dire debt trap orchestrated by Beijing. Chinese loans, which have financed numerous infrastructure ventures in Sri Lanka, have contributed to the nations burgeoning debt burden, reaching alarming levels that have precipitated a sovereign default in May 2022. Sri Lankas reliance on Chinese financing, coupled with its inability to repay mounting debts, has exacerbated economic woes, leading to a severe downturn that has left the island nation reeling. Amidst Sri Lankas economic turmoil and its deepening entanglement with China, India has remained steadfast in its commitment to supporting Sri Lankas progress and development. Despite the economic challenges exacerbated by Chinese debt, India has continued to engage with Sri Lanka on various fronts, including infrastructure projects, trade agreements, and cultural exchanges. Indias steadfast commitment to providing assistance to its neighbouring countries is exemplified by its robust allocation of resources through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). With a significant increase in the budget allocation for the fiscal year 2024-25, the MEA received a total of 22,154 crore, a substantial increase from the previous years outlay of 18,050 crore. This allocation reflects Indias unwavering dedication to its Neighbourhood First policy, with a focus on bolstering ties and fostering development across the region. Notably, Bhutan received the largest share of the aid portfolio, with an allocation of 2,068 crore, underscoring the special relationship between the two countries. This substantial investment reaffirms Indias commitment to supporting Bhutans socio-economic development and reinforces the longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation. Additionally, Indias continued allocation of 100 crore for the development of the Chabahar Port highlights its commitment to enhancing connectivity and trade links with Iran, further exemplifying its proactive approach to regional engagement and cooperation. This is not being argued that India is an absolute force of benevolence providing assistance to anybody and everybody without a political roadmap; that is not how international relations play out. India is carefully and pragmatically playing its cards and asserting its position in South Asia as well as the world, and providing aid and assistance to weaker neighbouring countries is one of the methods to do so. In fact, a lot of aid and investment provided to countries like Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal is a way to counter Chinas growing influence in South Asia. However, India is neither harassing its neighbours with unannounced maritime drills in the waters nor is it building unauthorised military bases on the land and nor is it trying to sabotage a countrys economy by devious debt traps. So, when Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is getting close to a country like China, which employs all the aforesaid tactics to some extent, it does not deem fit to directly or indirectly call India a bully which is only asserting its position through investment, assistance and cultural exchanges. The writer takes special interest in history, culture and geopolitics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ While Google often goes out of its way to show that its diverse and inclusive culture and hiring practices, a hearing-impaired African-American employee is suing the tech giant for racial discrimination and discriminating against a disabled person Google has often been accused by PwDs of colour of tokenism when it comes to its inclusivity and DEI practices. Image Credit: Reuters Google, for the past couple of weeks, seems to be in a precarious position, given the power dynamics at play with DEI and wokeness. The company faced some severe backlash for creating an AI model that has been perceived as too woke, sometimes to the point where it is racially biased against 75 per cent of the population in the US. Now, the tech giant is facing a lawsuit for allegedly discriminating against a woman of colour, as per a report by The Wired. Advertisement In a recent revelation, Jalon Hall, a hearing-impaired African-American employee at Google, has come forward with accusations of discrimination within the tech giant. Halls journey at Google began with scepticism when she was initially approached for a job moderating YouTube videos in 2020, but the offer turned out to be genuine. However, despite assurances of accommodating her hearing impairment and supporting her, Halls experience has been marred by challenges and discrimination. Tech companies tend to go all out in trying to portray themselves as a diverse and inclusive bunch. They will have DEI initiatives, along with tons of workshops and boot camps to be more inclusive, and sensitive to the needs of others. In the US, this takes on a different proportion altogether because of long-prevailing racial tensions. On the ground, whether or not these companies are really inclusive, is a separate story altogether. Advertisement Hall, who now works on responsible AI use at Google, has accused the company of racism and audism, particularly highlighting the denial of access to a sign language interpreter and delays in upgrading essential tools, even though she was repeatedly promised that. Google made these promises, at the time of hiring her, and during the numerous times when she raised the issue with Googles HR. Advertisement Despite Googles outward portrayal of inclusivity, Halls claims suggest a different reality behind the scenes. Following multiple HR complaints that brought little change, Hall filed a lawsuit against Google in December, alleging discrimination based on race and disability. While Google has responded by arguing procedural grounds for dismissing the case, they have not denied Halls allegations, the report claims. Advertisement Halls experiences shed light on broader issues within Googles internal culture. Google seems to have a long history where African-American employees who are disabled remain in the minority, facing systemic bias and exclusion. Several former employees have also come forward with allegations of being sidelined due to an internal culture that disrespects diversity. Advertisement Despite being encouraged by Googles commitment to inclusivity, Halls journey has been fraught with challenges. From facing restrictions on interpreter access to being excluded from projects and meetings, Halls struggle highlights the gaps in Googles efforts towards diversity and accommodation. Googles response to Halls allegations has been vague, with spokesperson Emily Hawkins emphasizing the companys commitment to inclusivity without directly addressing the specific accusations. The situation underscores the importance of accommodating diverse experiences within the workplace, not just for ethical reasons but also for business success. With the prevalence of disabling hearing loss expected to rise in the coming years, companies like Google have a responsibility to lead by example in creating accessible workplaces. Advocates for disabled workers express hope for change but note the challenges ahead, citing a lack of commitment to accessibility within Googles internal culture. Halls story serves as a wake-up call for Google and other tech companies to prioritize inclusivity and accommodation for employees with diverse backgrounds and abilities. As the tech industry continues to evolve, its essential to ensure that no one is left behind due to discrimination or lack of support. Huawei and SMIC shocked the world when the Chinese smartphone company launched the Mate 60 Pro with a cutting-edge 7nm chip. Because of US-imposed sanctions, chip development has been precarious in China for years Huawei surprised the world, especially the US when it launched a phone with an advanced 7nm chip. Image Credit: Reuters Huawei and its partner Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) leaned heavily on American technology to create an advanced chip in China last year, sources familiar with the matter revealed. According to these sources, SMIC, based in Shanghai, utilized equipment from California-based Applied Materials Inc. and Lam Research Corp. to manufacture a cutting-edge 7nm chip for Huawei in 2023. The sources requested anonymity as the details are not public. Advertisement This undisclosed information underscores Chinas ongoing reliance on foreign components and equipment for high-tech products such as semiconductors. Despite prioritizing technological self-sufficiency, China still depends on overseas resources for certain crucial technologies. Beijing has supported Huaweis endeavours to enhance domestic chip design and production. Representatives of SMIC, Huawei, and Lam declined to comment on the matter. Applied Materials and the US Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security, responsible for export controls, also refrained from providing comments. Although hailed as a significant achievement in Chinas semiconductor development, last years SMIC-produced chip powered Huaweis Mate 60 Pro and sparked a surge in patriotic smartphone purchases in the country. While the chip falls short of global standards, it represents progress beyond what the US had hoped to curb Chinas technological advancement. Advertisement However, the equipment used in its production still relied on foreign sources, including technology from Dutch manufacturer ASML Holding, as well as machinery from Lam and Applied Materials. Leading Chinese chip equipment suppliers have been striving to catch up with their American counterparts, but their offerings remain less comprehensive and sophisticated. Despite efforts, Chinas top lithography system developer, Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment Group Co., trails behind industry leader ASML. Advertisement SMIC acquired the American machinery before US restrictions were imposed in October 2022. Following the ban, American suppliers withdrew their staff from China, and ASML prohibited its American employees from working with Chinese customers. The US has since imposed further restrictions, prohibiting the sale of cutting-edge, US-origin technology to SMIC and Huawei, both blacklisted for alleged ties to the Chinese military. Advertisement These trade barriers prompted Huawei and SMIC to seek alternatives for building a domestic chip supply chain, culminating in the release of the Mate 60 Pro. In response, the US initiated an investigation into Huaweis processor, with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo pledging stringent actions for national security. Republican lawmakers have advocated for completely cutting off Huawei and SMICs access to US technology. Advertisement Commerce officials doubt SMICs ability to produce 7nm chips at scale without ASMLs lithography systems, highlighting technical challenges and potential limitations on chip production volume. The US is urging allies to tighten restrictions on Chinas semiconductor access, despite facing resistance in some countries due to trade implications. Huawei emerges as a potential contender in Chinas pursuit of AI chip development, posing a challenge to industry leaders like NVIDIA, according to CEO Jensen Huang. As China navigates technological advancements amidst global scrutiny, its reliance on foreign technology underscores the complexities of international trade and national security concerns. (With inputs from agencies) t Ben Goertzel, a prominent figure in AI and its theoretical aspects has suggested that artificial general intelligence (AGI) may arrive sooner than previously anticipated. He also claimed that soon after, AI may become more intelligent than humans, and become Artificial Superintelligence, or ASI Even though experts have claimed that most AI models are at least years away from becoming AGI or ASI, many experts also believe that AI bots achieving AGI is not a distant dream. Image Credit: Pexels At the recent Beneficial AGI Summit in Panama, computer scientist Ben Goertzel, a prominent figure in the theoretical field, suggested that artificial general intelligence (AGI) may arrive sooner than previously anticipated. During his closing remarks, Goertzel predicted that while human-level or superhuman AI may not be achieved until 2029 or 2030, theres a possibility it could happen as early as 2027. Advertisement Following this milestone, he proposed that AGI could rapidly evolve into artificial superintelligence (ASI), possessing all the collective knowledge of human civilization. Speaking to the conference audience, Goertzel acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the development of AGI, stating, No one has created human-level artificial general intelligence yet; nobody has a solid knowledge of when were going to get there. However, he expressed his belief that reaching human-level AGI within the next three to eight years is plausible. Goertzels prediction aligns with similar forecasts made by other experts in the field. Google DeepMind co-founder Shane Legg has suggested a 50/50 chance of AGI being invented by 2028, while Geoffrey Hinton, regarded as an AI godfather, estimates AGI to be achievable within five to 20 years. Advertisement Known for creating the humanoid robot Sophia, Goertzel has long speculated about the timing of the singularity, the point at which AI matches and surpasses human intelligence. Advancements in large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT by OpenAI, have brought the possibility of AGI closer, although Goertzel emphasizes that LLMs alone are not the path to AGI. Advertisement He envisions that once AGI reaches human-level intelligence, it could rapidly enhance its own capabilities, leading to an intelligence explosion. However, Goertzels predictions come with caveats. He acknowledges that even a superhuman AI would not possess a mind akin to humans and highlights the need to consider the societal implications and environmental impacts of AI development. Advertisement Despite these considerations, Goertzels theory remains compelling, given the rapid progress of AI in recent years. SpaceX has been accused of letting Russia use SpaceX satellites for connectivity at the frontlines of the conflict with Ukraine. Elon Musk and SpaceX have been accused of not abiding by sanctions imposed on Russia Elon Musk has been very critical of President Joe Biden. Democrats are now accusing Musk of helping the Russians using, his SpaceX Satellite US lawmakers have initiated an inquiry into Elon Musks SpaceX following claims from Ukraine that Russian troops have deployed the companys Starlink satellite service and have been using it in the frontlines in their ongoing conflict, as reported by the Washington Post on Thursday. According to the newspaper, US Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) and Robert Garcia (D-California) sent a letter on Wednesday urging SpaceX to disclose any complaints regarding the potential illegal use of Starlink terminals. Advertisement The Democratic lawmakers expressed concern over Ukrainian allegations that Russian forces had deployed Starlink terminals, potentially violating US sanctions laws. The lawmakers have cautioned SpaceXs president, Gwynne Shotwell, warning her about the use of Starlink by Russia. They also stated how Russia accessing Starlink poses a serious threat to Ukrainian security and loves nad how it compromises the national security of the US" We are concerned that you may not have appropriate guardrails and policies in place, Raskin and Garcia wrote. They also announced intentions to engage with the Pentagon and other agencies, emphasizing the importance of preventing trade that could empower the Russian military. Previously, Ukraines Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) claimed that Russian troops increasingly utilized Starlink services on the battlefield, citing intercepted conversations between Russian military personnel. Advertisement Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, denied the allegations, stating that no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia. The Kremlin similarly denied any Russian military orders of Starlink terminals, citing a lack of certification in the country. Musk donated approximately 20,000 Starlink terminals to Ukraine shortly after Russias military operation began in February 2022. These terminals are used by Ukrainian troops to operate drones along the front line. Advertisement However, Musk revealed last year that he declined a Ukrainian request to activate the Starlink service in Crimea. Despite Kievs request, SpaceX chose not to violate regulations without direct orders from US leadership, Musk explained at the time. While expressing support for Ukraine, Musk reiterated his preference for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Advertisement According to the Post, the US Defense Department purchased up to 500 new Starlink terminals for Ukraine in June 2023, as mentioned in the House Democrats letter. The Biden administration is urging Japan and the Netherlands to strengthen restrictions on exports of chipmaking equipment to China. This follows revelations that Huawei and SMIC developed their chip using tech from 2 US suppliers The US and China have been engaged in a tech war over fears that China may develop a powerful AI for its army. The US has been pressuring its allies to impose hard sanctions on Chinese tech companies and businesses. Image Credit: Reuters The United States is urging Japan and the Netherlands to strengthen restrictions on exports of chipmaking equipment to China, citing worries over advances made by blacklisted Chinese tech companies such as Huawei and SMIC. Washington implemented export controls in October 2022 to hinder Chinese efforts in acquiring high-performance semiconductors for potential military applications. The Netherlands and Japan, renowned for their expertise in producing advanced chipmaking equipment, joined the US by enforcing export restrictions on sophisticated machines and components. Advertisement Despite these measures, Chinese firms like Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), both blacklisted by the US, announced in August that they had developed an advanced chip used in Huaweis Mate 60 series phone. The Biden administration is pushing Tokyo and The Hague to further tighten controls to address gaps in the existing regulations. Possible measures include restricting exports of less sophisticated machines and introducing limitations on servicing and repairs for machines already bought by Chinese clients before the controls were implemented. Efforts to coordinate export controls are underway, with The Hague pressing Brussels to avoid fragmentation of controls within the EU. Meanwhile, Washington is also seeking similar controls from South Korea, though the countrys companies do not manufacture equipment as advanced as those from the Netherlands and Japan. Concerns have been raised over Japanese and South Korean semiconductor companies selling critical equipment parts to sanctioned Chinese entities following the suspension of deliveries by US companies due to export controls. Advertisement Chinese imports of foreign semiconductor equipment surged to record highs last summer ahead of the Dutch and Japanese controls, indicating preparation by Chinese chipmakers for impending restrictions. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned US efforts to restrict Chinas access to advanced technologies, calling them tactics to suppress China and warning of potential harm to the US itself. Advertisement The talks between the US and its allies underscore the growing tensions surrounding technology exports to China, as countries seek to balance economic interests with national security concerns. (With inputs from agencies) The child, Joslin Smith, has yet to be discovered, and police have reiterated requests for every citizen, every person to assist in her search, fearing she may have been moved to another city or possibly out of the country The mother of a 6-year-old girl who has been missing in South Africa for nearly three weeks was arrested and charged on Thursday with kidnapping and selling or trafficking her daughter, in a shocking twist in a case that has captivated the countrys attention and sparked deep rage in the familys small, impoverished coastal community. Advertisement The child, Joslin Smith, has yet to be discovered, and police have reiterated requests for every citizen, every person to assist in her search, fearing she may have been moved to another city or possibly out of the country. Following Joslins abduction last month, local media stated that neighbours accused her mother of selling her for little over $1,000. Emotions were raised last weekend when a childs abandoned clothes was found close to Joslins house. Prosecutors have now accused her mother, Kelly Smith, along with two men and a woman, with kidnapping and human trafficking. Kelly Smiths full name is Racquel Chantel Smith. The man Smith is dating is one of the males. She stated that on February 19, she left Joslin with him when she departed for work. Advertisement That day, Joslin was reported missing. A further court appearance was set for the following week when the four defendants failed to enter a plea in answer to the allegations. Prosecutors stated that they will stay in detention. Joslin hasnt been found despite a major search operation involving police, firefighters, city authorities and specialized sniffer dog units around the family home near Saldanha Bay, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Cape Town on South Africas west coast. The national minister of police visited the area and met with Kelly Smith. Advertisement Police said a childs clothing had been recovered last weekend near the settlement of small houses and shacks where Joslin lived. It was sent to a laboratory for forensic examination. Community members who are also involved in the search said the clothing was spattered with blood and a knife was also found. Police didnt give any more details on what was discovered. Advertisement Prosecutors said in court documents released Thursday that Kelly Smith and the others conspired to abduct Joslin and intentionally sold, delivered or exchanged her. The suspects face a sentence of life in prison if convicted of the main charge of human trafficking. The four suspects left the courthouse in Vredenburg, a town near Saldanha Bay, in an armored police van as a large crowd gathered outside, repeatedly shouting Justice for Joslin. Advertisement Western Cape province police commissioner Thembisile Patekile told reporters that more arrests could be made, but authorities also had to re-focus on the search for Joslin. At this stage, we do not have a child, he said. Our ultimate goal is to find the child. We still want to find that child alive. Authorities have given different spellings for the girls name. Police identified her as Joslin, while prosecutors named her as Joshlin in their documents. It wasnt immediately possible to verify the spelling of her name. Foreign affairs took centre stage at US President Joe Bidens 2024 State of the Union address on Thursday (local time). Bidens one-and-half hour speech made remarks on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict as well as Israels rights and responsibility in its war with Hamas US President Joe Biden on Thursday (local time) gave his 2024 State of the Union address at a joint-session of US Congress From calling Hamas attack of October 7 deadliest attack on Jews, to not bowing to his Russian counterpart, foreign affairs took centre stage at US President Joe Bidens 2024 State of the Union address. Biden, who is also seeking re-election this year, addressed the joint-session of US Congress on Thursday night (local time) and delivered his annual message on affairs related to the current state of the nation. Advertisement Biden said America is facing challenges at home and also managing crises unfolding abroad. The President in his hour-and-half speech gave account of what America has been up to around the world and talked about ongoing conflicts which he said are bringing global Freedom and democracy under assault. Will not rest until we bring back hostages Condemning the five-months of war between Israel and Palestine as gut-wrenching, the Biden called the October 7 attacks by Hamas as the deadliest day for Jewish people since Holocaust. Expressing his sympathy for victims of the war, Biden addressed those who endured sexual violence during the war. The crisis beganwith a massacre by the terrorist group Hamas. 1,200 innocent people women and girls men and boys slaughtered, many enduring sexual violence, Biden said. The US President expressed his support to the affected American families and vowed to not rest until they bring hostages held by Hamas back home. Advertisement Biden while recalling the Oct 7 attack said that Israel has the right to go after them (Hamas). He also said Hamas could end the war by releasing hostages, laying down arms and surrendering. Israel has a right to go after Hamas. Hamas could end this conflict today by releasing the hostages, laying down arms, and surrendering those responsible for October 7th. Israel has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population. Advertisement Humanitarian aid cannot be a bargaining chip Talking about the heartbreaking humanitarian crisis prevailing in the Gaza Strip, Biden said Israel has fundamental responsibility to protect the lives of innocent civilians and ensure a smooth delivery of aid to Gaza where families are struggling with food, water and medicines. He has also directed the US military to establish a makeshift pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying aid. Advertisement Referring Israels leaders, Biden said, Humanitarian assistance cannot be a second or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving lives has to be a priority. Calling the Two state solution as the real solution Biden, who is the only American President to visit Israel in wartime, said it is the only way which guarantees peace in long term to both warring sides. Advertisement Talking about stability in the middle east, Biden said Us along with dozen other nations will ensure free navigation in Red Sea and he has ordered US military to strike. Houthi capabilities in the Red Sea and ensure free navigation and international trade. We will not bow down to Putin Talking about the Ukraine-Russia conflict that entered its third year, Biden vowed to continue his administrations support to Ukraine and also asked the house to table Bipartisan National Security Bill. If the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe at risk. The free world at risk, emboldening others who wish to do us harm. Biden said no American soldier will step foot in the war and they will continue to give weapons to Ukraine to defend itself. If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not. But Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself. That is all Ukraine is asking. They are not asking for American soldiers. In fact, there are no American soldiers at war in Ukraine. And I am determined to keep it that way. Biden sent a simple message to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down. History is watching. Joining hands with EU under military and strategic alliances Biden called NATO, which recently welcomed Sweden as its new member, stronger than ever. Biden also took a jibe at Former president Donald Trump in his speech and accused him of bowing down to the Russian leader. A unit of 10,000 soldiers that was previously sent to the western border is now allocated to protect a portion of the border with China, according to senior Indian Army officials who requested anonymity Nine thousand soldiers who were originally assigned to the disputed Chinese border will now be under the newly formed fighting command. This combined force will guard a 532 km (330.57 mi) border that separates the northern Indian states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh from the Tibet region that has been occupied by China Image Courtesy AFP A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry told the media on Friday that China is not conducive to easing tensions over Indias decision to increase force levels along its disputed border. A unit of 10,000 soldiers that was previously sent to the western border is now allocated to protect a portion of the border with China, according to senior Indian Army officials who requested anonymity owing to the secret nature of the discussions, according to a Bloomberg report. Advertisement Nine thousand soldiers who were originally assigned to the disputed Chinese border will now be under the newly formed fighting command. This combined force will guard a 532 km (330.57 mi) border that separates the northern Indian states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh from the Tibet region that has been occupied by China. At several points along the Sino-Indian border, Chinese and Indian troops engaged in hostile confrontations, face-offs, and skirmishes starting on May 5, 2020. These incidents happened close to the Tibet Autonomous Region, the boundary between Sikkim and the region, and the contentious Pangong Lake in Ladakh. Along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), there were more conflicts in eastern Ladakh. Advertisement When Chinese forces objected to Indian road building in the Galwan River region in late May, tensions increased. For the first time in forty-five years, gunfire was heard along the Los Angeles Creek on September 7, 2020, and both sides blamed each other. Additionally, August 30, 2020, Indian media reported that Indian troops had fired warning rounds at the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Advertisement After the confrontation, relations between China and India worsened, and they havent improved much since. There have been up to 21 rounds of military-diplomatic discussions, but the progress has been slow. India has passed legislation intended to deter Chinese investments and economic ventures within the nation in reaction to the tense relations. Advertisement Under pressure from a fatal skirmish that claimed the lives of at least 20 Indian soldiers the year before and severely damaged diplomatic ties, India sent an additional 50,000 soldiers to guard its border with China in 2021. Following this, China and India have improved their military infrastructure by moving planes and missiles to their respective border areas and by sending more troops there. The expansion of Israeli settlements, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, amounts to Israel transferring its own people, which he declared to be a war crime. Following Israels announcement last month of new housing plans in the occupied West Bank, the U.S. Biden administration said that the settlements were inconsistent with international law According to the report, which was based on the U.N.'s own monitoring as well as information from other sources, 24,300 additional Israeli housing units were built in the occupied West Bank in just one year Image Courtesy Reuters The U.N. human rights director stated on Friday that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory have grown to unprecedented proportions and run the risk of obliterating any realistic chance of a Palestinian state. The expansion of Israeli settlements, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, amounts to Israel transferring its own people, which he declared to be a war crime. Following Israels announcement last month of new housing plans in the occupied West Bank, the U.S. Biden administration said that the settlements were inconsistent with international law. Advertisement Settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian State, Turk said in a statement that accompanied the 16-page report. According to the report, which was based on the U.N.s own monitoring as well as information from other sources, 24,300 additional Israeli housing units were built in the occupied West Bank in just one year, ending at the end of October 2023. This number was said to be the highest since monitoring started in 2017. Additionally, it stated that since the devastating Hamas strikes on Israel on October 7, there has been a sharp rise in the frequency, severity, and intensity of Israeli state and settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. A biblical birthright is asserted by Israel over the territory where settlers are spreading. According to the military, it is pursuing suspected militants while carrying out counterterrorism operations in the West Bank. The administration has stated that it plans to adopt the measure as quickly as possible to fill legal loopholes left by an existing national security law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing in 2020, following large pro-democracy demonstrations in the financial centre Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee attends a press conference regarding the legislation of Article 23 national security laws, in Hong Kong, China. Reuters As Hong Kong moves quickly to pass a new national security law, the legislation and uncertainties about its implementation have sparked concern in the business community. The draft measure, filed in the municipal assembly on Friday, covers grave charges including treason and rebellion, which may result in life imprisonment. The administration has stated that it plans to adopt the measure as quickly as possible to fill legal loopholes left by an existing national security law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing in 2020, following large pro-democracy demonstrations in the financial centre. Advertisement According to Hong Kongs Basic Law, a mini-constitution that has governed the city since its return to China from Britain in 1997, authorities also claim it is their constitutional obligation to adopt domestic national security laws. But the city is entering untested, uncharted waters with the proposed law, said Kristian Odebjer, chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, speaking to AFP before the draft bill was unveiled. Its offences include treason, insurrection, espionage and theft of state secrets, sabotaging national security, and external interference. But the definitions are vague, said Odebjer, particularly for the theft of state secrets which, according to the draft bill, includes defence intelligence but also encompasses information about the citys economic, social and technological developments. Advertisement This could have a negative impact on activities that some of our members engage in like research and due diligence activities, Odebjer told AFP. These activities contribute to, or are necessary even, for a functioning financial centre and a market economy like Hong Kong, he said. However, city leader John Lee, a Beijing-picked ex-security chief sanctioned by the United States, said the proposed national security law known as Article 23 would act as an effective lock to prevent burglars. Advertisement It will exist alongside the Beijing-imposed national security law, which covers four major crimes: secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. AFP sought comments from members of the business and diplomatic communities during a one-month public consultation period. In the draft bill introduced Friday, a public interest defence to the state secrets offence was added. Advertisement It means a person accused of such a crime could argue their action was in the public interest and outweighs the alleged threat to national security though the bill did not define public interest. Red line For an economist working for an international bank, the biggest risk is that increasingly sometimes you dont really know where the red line is. Advertisement Banks, firms and investors regularly rely on research, economic data and due diligence reports which could fall under the purview of state secrets. The economist, who declined to be named for fear of repercussions, told AFP there could be a situation where a published analysis would affect investors sentiment in Hong Kong. Will they (the authorities) come back to me? he questioned. Is (the report) a threat to so-called economic security? The Law Society of Hong Kong, a statutory body all solicitors must join, has recommended the government ensure that legitimate commercial secrets will not inadvertently fall within the ambit of the state secrets offence. It also provided a fictitious example of research done by a private company into booster fuels for vehicles, which later discovered it could be used in rockets and missiles. Should (the firm) continue to possess these secrets, knowing that unlawful possession of state secrets is an offence under the proposed ordinance? the society asked. Worst of all worlds A previous attempt in 2003 to introduce a national security law triggered massive pushback. Half a million Hong Kongers protested against what they regarded as an erosion of the liberties Beijing promised Hong Kong would have for 50 years post-handover under the one country, two systems doctrine. Today, four years since Beijings national security law was enacted, much of the citys opposition bloc and democracy activists have been arrested, silenced or fled Hong Kong. Britain has called on the government to reconsider the legislation, while the United States said the new law risks compounding the 2020 National Security Law that has curtailed the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong. Basically they took the worst of mainland Chinas criminal law, they took the worst of post-9/11 English-speaking countries anti-terrorism laws and they took the worst of colonial law, a diplomat told AFP, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. He added that the decision for international firms to set up in Hong Kong was because of the one country, two systems doctrine, which allows the city to be governed under British common law instead of mainland Chinas opaque legal system. Now it seems that the border between the two systems is becoming smaller and smaller, the diplomat said. Northern Nigeria has a high rate of school kidnappings, which have gained attention after Islamic militants abducted over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok village in Borno state in 2014. The majority of kidnappings in recent years have occurred in the northwest and central areas, where dozens of armed groups frequently target travellers and villages for large ransoms It was the second mass kidnapping in the West African country in less than a week when gunmen stormed a school in the northwest of the country on Thursday, reportedly abducting at least 287 kids, according to the headmaster who spoke to authorities. Northern Nigeria has a high rate of school kidnappings, which have gained attention after Islamic militants abducted over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok village in Borno state in 2014. The majority of kidnappings in recent years have occurred in the northwest and central areas, where dozens of armed groups frequently target travellers and villages for large ransoms. Advertisement Locals informed The Associated Press that on Thursday, as the kids and children were set to begin the school day at approximately eight in the morning, attackers encircled the government-owned school in Kuriga town, Kaduna State. Authorities had previously stated that more than 100 pupils were held hostage during the incident. The headteacher, Sani Abdullahi, told Kaduna Gov. Uba Sani on his visit to the town that the total number of individuals missing after a headcount was 287. We will ensure that every child will come back. We are working with the security agencies, the governor told villagers in the area located 55 miles (89 kilometers) from the capital. No group claimed responsibility for Thursdays attack though blame fell on armed groups that mostly constitute herders who have been accused of carrying out violent attacks and kidnappings for ransom following decades-long pastoral conflict with host communities. Advertisement Security forces arrived with the governor several hours later as a search operation widened, while community members and parents gathered to wait for news. The attack occurred days after more than 200 people, mostly women and children, were abducted by extremists in northeastern Nigeria. Women, children and students are often targeted in the mass abductions in the conflict-hit northern region and many victims are released only after paying huge ransoms. Advertisement Observers say both attacks are a reminder of Nigerias worsening security crisis which resulted in the deaths of several hundred people in 2023, according to an AP analysis. Bola Tinubu was elected president of Nigeria last year after promising to end the violence. But there has been no tangible improvement in security situation yet under Tinubu, said Oluwole Ojewale, West and Central Africa researcher with the Africa-focused Institute for Security Studies. Following the release of inmates from two jails earlier in the week, which led to the gangs consolidating their authority over a large portion of the country, the Haitian government decided to prolong the state of emergency in the countrys west, which includes the capital, by one month A man kicks burning tires during a protest as the government said it would extend a state of emergency for another month after an escalation in violence from gangs seeking to oust the Prime Minister Ariel Henry, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Reuters As anarchic gang violence enveloped the Caribbean nation and the United States ordered the prime minister of Haiti, who was not there, to implement urgent democratic reform, Haitis main port was forced to close on Thursday. Following the release of inmates from two jails earlier in the week, which led to the gangs consolidating their authority over a large portion of the country, the Haitian government decided to prolong the state of emergency in the countrys west, which includes the capital, by one month. Advertisement The ports only operator, Caribbean Port Services, announced the decision to cease all operations, citing malicious acts of sabotage and vandalism in the capital city of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry to ask for an urgent political transition, said a US official. Blinken spoke with Henry about the urgent need to accelerate transition to a broader, more inclusive government today, said Brian Nichols, the top US diplomat for the Western hemisphere. Blinken pressed on the need for a more inclusive government that includes many more political forces and has the breadth to take the country through the electoral period, Nichols said at the Council of the Americas trade group. Gangs again targeted police late Wednesday by setting fire to a headquarters in Bas-Peu-de-Chose, a neighborhood in the capital. Officers escaped before the attack, which also destroyed several police vehicles, according to Haitis police union Synapoha. Advertisement No elections, no president The criminal groups went on the offensive last week while Prime Minister Henry traveled abroad, beginning with an assault on two prisons that allowed the majority of inmates to escape. Synapoha said that 10 police stations have been destroyed, and at least 15,000 people are estimated to have fled the worst-hit parts of Port-au-Prince. Advertisement The UN Security Council met in New York on Wednesday to discuss the critical situation. Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier, an influential gang leader in Haiti, has warned of civil war and mass bloodshed unless Henry resigns. As well as the state of emergency, the capital is under a nighttime curfew to try to foster peace, but the gangs are often better armed than the security forces. Advertisement In power since the 2021 assassination of president Jovenel Moise, Henry was due to leave office in February but instead agreed to a power-sharing deal with the opposition until new elections are held. When the latest unrest broke out, Henry was in Kenya to negotiate a UN-backed multinational police mission to stabilize his country. Advertisement He has not commented on the surge in unrest and was last confirmed to be in the US territory of Puerto Rico as gang violence at Haitis main airport made his return risky. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk said Wednesday the violence was beyond untenable with 1,193 people killed countrywide this year by gangs. The United States urged Henry to hold fair elections, but added it was not calling on him to resign a key demand of Haitis gangs. Nichols called for greater assistance from the world. Weve got to do more urgently. The crisis in Haiti has the humanitarian proportions that demand a global response, the way the international community is responding to the challenges in Ukraine or in Gaza, he said. Haiti, the Western hemispheres poorest nation, has been in turmoil for years, and Moises assassination plunged the country further into chaos. No elections have taken place since 2016 and the presidency remains vacant. The expulsion takes place one month after the Indian government demanded the immediate termination of a free movement border agreement with Myanmar, which permitted citizens in border zones to go a short distance into the territory of their neighbor without requiring a visa Numerous individuals who have fled from Myanmar to India are related to the Kuki ethnic group Image Courtesy ANI India on Friday started deporting citizens of Myanmar today who had escaped an upsurge in fighting between rebels and the ruling junta in a border region. First batch of Myanmar nationals who entered India illegally deported today, Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh said in a post on social media platform X, without providing specific numbers. Advertisement Although India is not signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it has given shelter & aid to those fleeing the crisis in Myanmar on humanitarian grounds with a systematic approach, Singh added. Numerous civilians have crossed into the isolated state of Manipur in the northeast after fleeing the violence in Myanmar. Singh shared a video on social media that showed the departing Myanmar nationalsmostly women and children. The expulsion takes place one month after the Indian government demanded the immediate termination of a free movement border agreement with Myanmar, which permitted citizens in border zones to go a short distance into the territory of their neighbor without requiring a visa. Additionally, India is building a fence spanning 1,643 kilometers (1,020-miles) along its porous border with Myanmar, which passes through remote jungles and snow-capped Himalayan peaks. Advertisement Many in the border regions, like Manipur, have strong religious and cultural ties to those in Myanmar. Since May of last year, fighting between the primarily Christian Kuki community and the generally Hindu Meitei majority in Manipur has claimed the lives of over 200 individuals. Numerous individuals who have fled from Myanmar to India are related to the Kuki ethnic group. Advertisement Arakan Army (AA) fighters attacked security forces in November, breaking a ceasefire that had largely held since a military coup in 2021. Since then, there have been many confrontations in parts of Myanmar near the Indian border. Those who had left Myanmar and crossed into India to avoid the violence included hundreds of military. Speaking at the Nikkei Forum on India-Japan Special Strategic Partnership in Tokyo, Jaishankar highlighted the importance of a reformist, visionary leadership backed by a strong political mandate, which in a democracy means having a majority in Parliament External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, with utmost confidence, said India will have a stable government for 15 years or even longer and emphasised that for good governance, long-term political stability is essential. He said: 100 per cent we will have 15 years of stable government; we may have even longer. Jaishankars remark was in response to a question asked to him at the Nikkei Forum on India-Japan Special Strategic Partnership in Tokyo. Advertisement Jaishankars statement, full of confidence, comes just days ahead of Lok Sabha polls 2024, dates of which are expected to be announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) this month. The foreign minister of India also highlighted the importance of a reformist, visionary leadership backed by a strong political mandate, which in a democracy means having a majority in Parliament, and results in long-term stability. #WATCH | Japan: EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "100% we will have 15 years of stable government, we may have even longer..." pic.twitter.com/cTSktAX68l ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 Advertisement The lack of stability in politics which really meant to have majorities in parliament to take decisions, to take bold steps. It makes a very, very big difference. I have see many government - majority, minority, coalition, single party - you can see today that if you have actually a reformist leadership with a vision, commitment, with a sense of wanting to do things, but that leadership is backed by a strong political mandate, which in a democracy means having a majority in Parliament. Advertisement You can have a majority but you do not have a vision, or you have a vision, but you do not have the political support. So you need both. Now what has happened in our cases, certainly for the last 10 years, we have had it and we hope to continue that, Jaishankar said as he praised his government that has been able to take good decisions tough decisions but needed decisions. Advertisement Business world values political stability Reinforcing the importance of political stability for economic growth and investments, Jaishankar said: Business world today values political stability. For them, political stability means policy stability. Anybody who is coming, you know, somebody who is taking a big bet on India wants to know what will India be in the next 10 years. Advertisement Fortunately, that has been good for us for the last decade, and I am very confident for the next one, he further said. Parts of India occupied by another country Jaishankar took a sly dig at world powers when he was asked at about Indias position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He said they cherry-pick one issue, one situation, one principle and they highlight it because it suits them. even today, parts of India are occupied by another country. But we did not see the world respond saying, oh, there is a great principle involved. And therefore, let us all go with India. So yes, today we are being told that there are principles involved. I wish I had seen that principle in play for the last 80 years. I have seen those principles cherry-pick S. Jaishankar said. EAM Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to Japan from March 6-8 to impart further momentum to bilateral exchanges and set the agenda for future cooperation. On Thursday, he addressed the 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue with his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa and participated in the first Raisina Roundtable, a key step towards enhancing track two exchanges between India and Japan. With inputs from agencies Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an emotional note after Abes death in 2022 hailed him as an outstanding leader of Japan. Modi said with Abes demise, Japan and the world have lost a great visionary and he has lost a dear friend. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met Akie Abe, the wife of Japans late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and recalled the late premiers invaluable contribution to the advancement of India-Japan relations. Abe, 67, died on July 8, 2022, after being shot during an election campaign speech in Nara, Japan. On my visit to Tokyo this time, met with Mrs Akie Abe, wife of late PM Shinzo Abe. Recalled PM Shinzo Abes invaluable contribution to the advancement of India-Japan relations, the minister said on platform X. Advertisement Handed over a personal letter from PM Narendra Modi conveying his condolences on the recent passing away of Mrs Yoko Abe, mother of the late PM, Jaishankar said. On my visit to Tokyo this time, met with Mrs Akie Abe, wife of late PM Shinzo Abe. Recalled PM Shinzo Abes invaluable contribution to the advancement of India-Japan relations. Handed over a personal letter from PM @narendramodi conveying his condolences on the recent passing pic.twitter.com/5M33NKnht2 Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) March 8, 2024 Abe, who served as Japans Prime Minister for an extended period, held office from 2006 to 2007 and later from 2012 to 2020. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an emotional note after Abes death in 2022 hailed him as an outstanding leader of Japan. Modi said with Abes demise, Japan and the world have lost a great visionary and he has lost a dear friend. Advertisement Throughout his tenure, Abe prioritised enhancing Japans strategic relations with India. He spearheaded significant initiatives such as the bilateral civil nuclear deal, and a key trade agreement and successfully persuaded New Delhi to join the Quad grouping. With ANI inputs. At the two Summits (Global South Summit), which we convened to listen to their concerns, I dont believe China was present, said Jaishankar while responding to a question whether China was a part of the Global South External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that China skipped two meetings of the Global South Summit convened by New Delhi even when 125 countries of the platform placed their trust in India. Responding to a question whether China is a part of the Global South at the Nikkei Forum on the India-Japan partnership on Friday, Jaishankar said, At the two Summits (Global South Summit), which we convened to listen to their concerns, I dont believe China was present. Advertisement #WATCH | Japan: On asked if China is part of Global South, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "At the 2 Summits (Global South Summit), which we conveyed I don't believe China was present." pic.twitter.com/QdCUE6A3D7 ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 The External Affairs Minister said that countries of the Global South feel for each other on a number of issues. Advertisement The feeling has been intensified by COVID because many countries of the Global South felt that they were the last in the line to get the vaccine. They even felt at the time when India became G20 President that their concerns were not even on the agenda of the G20, added Jaishankar. Advertisement He said India then convened two meetings of the voice of the Global South to listen to these 125 countries. So we did last year two meetings of the voice of the Global South because we wanted to listen to these 125 countries and then put before the G20 a set of issues which were the collective views of these 125 countries, said the minister. Advertisement He said within Asia and Africa, Global South is very popular in those continents and know exactly whos speaking up for them, and how their issues are getting on the table. They dont think it is a coincidence that it was under the Indian presidency that the African Union, which had long been promised a seat in the G20, got a seat. So the Global South believes us, said Jaishankar. Advertisement About Indias relationship with Russia and its criticism of Moscows war in Ukraine, he said, Sometimes in world politics, countries pick one issue, one situation, one principle and they highlight it because it suits them. But if one looks at the principle itself, we in India know better than almost any other country. #WATCH | Japan: When asked about India's stand on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "My position would be that the world is a complicated place, and there are many important principles and beliefs in the world. What happens sometimes in world politics is pic.twitter.com/dm2PU8Vil3 ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 Immediately after our independence, we experienced aggression, an effort to change our boundaries and even today parts of India are occupied by another country but we did not see the world respond saying, oh, theres a great principle involved and therefore, let us all go with India. Today we are being told that there are principles involved. I wish Id seen that principle in play for the last 80 years. Ive seen those principles cherry-picked, Jaishankar said. I would say injustice was done to us. Im not advocating it should be done to everybody else. We have been very clear. My Prime Minister has stood next to President Putin and said we want to see the end to this conflict, he said. Jaishankar is on a three day visit to Japan which will conclude today. Prior to this, he was in South Korea, where he held meetings with several top leaders during his stay. With inputs from agencies President Joe Biden, in his State of The Union (SOTU) address, taunted the Supreme Court and the Republicans for overturning Roe v. Wade. He promised to restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land if Americans send a Congress that supports the right to choose President Joe Biden used his final State of The Union (SOTU) address for this presidential term to voice his strong stand on a burning issue in the United States - the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court. Like most Americans, I believe Roe v. Wade got it right[]But my predecessor came to office determined to see Roe v. Wade overturned. Hes the reason it was overturned, Biden said. Advertisement He pointed out that as a result of the ruling, there are now state laws banning womens right to choose and forcing survivors of rape and incest to leave their states as well to get the care they need. Many of you in this Chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom. My God, what freedoms will you take away next? he thundered. Joe Biden taunts Supreme Court judges In a rare occurrence for any SOTU speech, Biden also directly addressed the Supreme Court justices, challenging their opinion on the ruling. With all due respect, justices, women are not without electoral or political power," he said, adding, youre about to realise just how much. Restoring Roe v. Wade: An election promise? Advertisement Hitting out at the Republicans, Biden said, those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America. They found out though when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again, in 2024. The President promised that he would restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land if Americans send a Congress that supports the right to choose. Advertisement What is Roe v. Wade? Roe v. Wade was a legal case in which the US Supreme Court, in 1973, ruled that states unduly restricting abortion is unconstitutional. Back then, the Court had held that a set of Texas statutes criminalising abortion in almost all instances was in violation of the constitutional right to privacy. Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022. Advertisement What happened after the overturning of Roe v. Wade? Following this controversial decision, the state of Texas banned abortion at nearly all stages, except to save the pregnant persons life. Texas also made abortion a felony, with the most severe punishment being life imprisonment. Alabama, too, banned abortions. Moreover, the states Supreme Court also issued a decision that embryos are children. According to ABC, three of Alabamas largest In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment providers halted care out of fear of wrongful death lawsuits while handling embryos. Advertisement A harrowing time for women, families In his SOTU address, Biden highlighted the impact of both these developments. He spoke about Kate Cox, a wife and mother from Dallas, Texas. When she became pregnant again, the fetus had a fatal condition. Her doctors told Kate that her own life and her ability to have children in the future were at risk[]Because Texas law banned abortion, Kate and her husband had to leave the state to get the care she needed, the president said. He also spoke about Alabamas Latorya Beasley a woman who had scheduled treatments to have a second child through IVF. But the Alabama Supreme Court shut down IVF treatments across the state, unleashed by the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. She was told her dream would have to wait. What her family has gone through should never have happened. And unless Congress acts, it could happen again, Biden said. With inputs from agencies A report by North Korea state media KCNA said the military drills carried by North Korea fulfilled important military missions for war deterrence The Korean People's Army conducts an artillery firing drill, KCNA news agency reported, in North Korea, March 7, 2024 in this picture released on March 8, 2024, by the Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via REUTERS North Korea carried out an artillery firing drill involving units that are in firing range of the the enemys capital (Seoul). The latest drill, second in a week, was guided by Kim Jong Un and coincided with the ongoing US-South Korea Freedom Shield drills. Message to South Korea The artillery drill sent a message to the South, said a report by North Korean state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday. Advertisement North Korea began the drills on Thursday with fire by long-range artillery units who have put the enemys capital in their striking range and fulfilled important military missions for war deterrence, KCNA report said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guides an artillery firing drill by the Korean Peoples Army, the countrys military force, KCNA news agency reported, in North Korea, March 7, 2024 in this picture released on March 8, 2024, by the Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via REUTERS How dangerous are latest North Koreas drills for South? The Seoul area, which North Koreas artillery unit is capable of hitting, is home to about half of South Koreas population and about 70 per cent of its economy. North Korean artillery units can fire nearly 5,000 long-range shells and 25,000 rounds into the metropolitan area in a 10-minute barrage, which according to a study Rand Corp. could cause thousands of casualties and catastrophic damage. Matter of concern Experts say it is almost impossible to defend against artillery strikes. The Korean Peoples Army conducts an artillery firing drill, KCNA news agency reported, in North Korea, March 7, 2024 in this picture released on March 8, 2024, by the Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via REUTERS Even retaliatory strikes by South Korea and the US would be difficult to execute, a 2020 report by RAND Corp said. Advertisement Much of the DPRKs artillery is located in heavily fortified hardened artillery sites (HARTS) with air defense capabilities deployed to their rear. These physical protective measures make air strikes and counter-battery fire against the DPRK artillery a challenge for US and ROK forces, the report added. Fulfilled military missions for war deterrence Advertisement The KCNA report further said the military drills carried by North Korea fulfilled important military missions for war deterrence. It aimed at increasing combat readiness posture and actual war capability, the state-media report said. Kim urged to push forward with preparations so the artillery sub-units could take the initiative with merciless and rapid strikes at the moment of their entry into an actual war. Advertisement He stressed the need to train all the artillerymen of the whole army into experts in artillery engagement and set forth important tasks for rounding off the artillery war preparations, the report said, referring to the leader of the reclusive state. Norths drill amid US-South Korea annual training exercise The show of force by North Korea came amid the US and South Koreas largest annual joint training exercises that began this week, which the military in Seoul said focuses on deterring North Koreas nuclear threats. Advertisement The US-South Korean Freedom Shield drills include training on land, sea and in the air to prepare for contingencies posed by Kims regime. Meanwhile, Pyongyang has already warned that both the US and South Korea will pay a dear price for military activities On Monday, North Koreas Defence Ministry denounced the 11-day US-South Korea joint exercises as provocative and reckless, and warned North Korean forces will monitor adventurist acts and conduct responsible military activities to bring what it called an unstable security situation under control. With inputs from agencies Social media was ablaze with cries for an election audit after the commissioner claimed he was forced to alter the results of 13 National Assembly seats in the Rawalpindi division, making the PTI-backed independent candidates losers to benefit the PML-N According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), blocking access to the internet and social media platforms hurts e-commerce and online enterprises while making an already precarious and failing economy even worse Image Courtesy Reuters The popular microblogging site X in Pakistan was suspended for a fourth week on Friday. The suspension was imposed, ostensibly, to stop the jailed former prime minister Imran Khans party from spreading false information accusing the PML-N of massive rigging of the polls on February 8. The administration of new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the former caretaker government are not prepared to provide an explanation for the prolonged suspension of X in the nation. Advertisement In spite of the Sindh High Courts directive to reinstate citizens access to the well-known social media platform X, it has been unavailable in Pakistan for almost three weeks. On this occasion, the state does not appear to be particularly concerned with offering an explanation for why users are being refused access to X, despite the fact that such choices are typically formally justified by the authorities on the basis of some other pretext. Internet access is governed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) across the nation. But the PTA categorically disputes that X is blocked. According to Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the mandate thieves and those who support them want to impose an indefinite social media ban in order to maintain their fascist reign because they are scared of the opinions of the public. Advertisement After the shocking press conference of top government official Liaqut Chatha, who claimed that Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa were involved in widespread election manipulation on February 8, the Pakistani authorities cut off X in the middle of February. Then, X went viral in Pakistan, demanding an audit of the results and the return of Imran Khans PTIs stolen mandate. Advertisement Social media was ablaze with cries for an election audit after the commissioner claimed he was forced to alter the results of 13 National Assembly seats in the Rawalpindi division, making the PTI-backed independent candidates losers to benefit the PML-N. The Pakistani authorities found no other way to control that criticism and chose to disrupt X in the country, the PTI said. Advertisement According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), blocking access to the internet and social media platforms hurts e-commerce and online enterprises while making an already precarious and failing economy even worse. It also infringes on peoples right to democratic decision-making, information and expression. This practice must stop immediately, it said. Russia and Ukraine also alleged they shot down dozens of drones overnight, as both sides continue to try to hit targets deep beyond the extended frontlines A view shows a bomb crater and residential buildings destroyed by a Russian air strike in the village of Borova, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine. Reuters File A late-night Russian strike on Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, killed two people, the regions governor claimed Friday, as both Moscow and Kyiv reported a wave of nocturnal aircraft attacks. Kharkiv Governor Oleg Synegubov claimed Russia began a series of shelling assaults on the town of Kupyansk, near the frontlines, late Thursday night. Houses and cars were damaged. A 36-year-old man was rescued from the rubble. A 64-year-old woman and a 58-year-old man died, he wrote on Telegram. Advertisement A separate missile attack on a residential area in the town of Chuguiv, also in the Kharkiv region, injured seven, the governor added. Russians shelled Chuguiv with S-300 air defence systems. It hit the ground in a residential area and smashed windows in a nine-storey apartment building, Synegubov said. He shared a photo showing a row of businesses with blown-out windows and a crater in the road close to an apartment tower. Kharkiv is subjected to regular artillery, rocket, and drone assaults. Russia and Ukraine also alleged they shot down dozens of drones overnight, as both sides continue to try to hit targets deep beyond the extended frontlines. Ukraines air force said that Russia fired 37 Iranian-style Shahed kamikaze drones and three missiles at its territory overnight. Advertisement As a result of combat operations, 33 Shaheds were shot down in the Kirovograd, Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions, it said in a post on Telegram. In Moscow, the defence ministry said it intercepted 16 Ukrainian drones in the early hours of Friday. Some 15 were destroyed over the southern Volgograd region, the closest part of which is around 300 kilometres (185 miles) from the frontlines in eastern Ukraine. Advertisement Another Ukrainian drone was shot down over the Belgorod border region, the Russian defence ministry said. You make your political decision based on what the party leadership decides. So I have just got re-elected to the upper house (Rajya Sabha) last year. My membership of Parliament is secure. Beyond that, that is not really a question I can answer, said Jaishankar Amid report suggesting that ministers S Jaishankar and Nirmala Sithraman could contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the External Affairs Minister on Friday sought to clear the air by saying that such political decisions are based on what the party leadership decides and since he has been re-elected to the Rajya Sabha last year, his membership of Parliament is secure. Advertisement During an event on India-Japan Special Strategic Partnership at Nikkei, when the external Affairs minister was asked if he will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, he said, "You make your political decision based on what the party leadership decides. So I have just got re-elected to the upper house (Rajya Sabha) last year. My membership of Parliament is secure. Beyond that, that is not really a question I can answer." #WATCH | Japan: When asked if he will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "...You make your political decision based on what the party leadership decides. So I have just got re-elected to the upper house (Rajya Sabha) last year. My membership of pic.twitter.com/ZwRqftertY ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 Advertisement Jaishankar is on a three day visit to Japan which will conclude today. Prior to this, he was in South Korea, where he held meetings with several top leaders during his stay. Advertisement On bein asked if the BJP was coming back to power, Jaishankar said, 100% we will have 15 years of stable government, we may have even longer. Sitharaman and Jaishankar are Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka and Gujarat, respectively. Union minister Pralhad Joshi, who holds the Coal and Mines portfolio, had told reporters in Karnatas Hubballi recently that Sitharaman and Jaishankar will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections but it wasnt yet decided as to where they will contest from. Advertisement It is appearing in the media. More or less it is final that they (Nirmala Sitharaman and Jaishankar) will contest the Lok Sabha elections. It has not been decided yet from where they will fight, whether it is in Karnataka or some other state, PTI quoted Joshi as saying. However, the minister later retracted his statement by saying that he had said that anybody can contest, and not specifically named anyone. Advertisement I have only said that anybody can contest, and not specifically (named anyone). It is a national party and our leadership will decide. I have not said it like that, PTI quoted Joshi as saying. With inputs from agencies Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Sela Tunnel on Saturday. Heres a look at the cost of construction for the tunnel, the distance it covers, as well as other crucial details. During his day-long visit to the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to dedicate several development projects. A standout among these projects is the Sela Tunnel which is expected to bolster connectivity to Indias forward areas. Heres a look at important details about the Sela Tunnel, and why it is crucial for Indias strategic interests in the region. Advertisement 1- Sela Tunnel cost: According to PIB, the construction of the Sela Tunnel by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) cost an estimated Rs 825 crore. Back in February 2019, when the foundation stone for the project was laid, it was expected to cost Rs 697 crore. 2- Sela Tunnel construction timeline: The work on the tunnel began in early 2019. The project was expected to be completed in three years time, i.e., by 2021. However, work got delayed due to various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic, PTI reported. 3- Sela Tunnel distance: In 2019, PIB said that the project would cover a total distance of 12.04 kms. It will connect Tezpur in Assam with Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.This is the longest bi-lane road tunnel in the world at an altitude above 13,000 feet. 4- The need for Sela Tunnel: Located near the Sela Pass, this all-weather tunnel was needed because the Balipara-Charidwar-Tawang Road remains closed for a long time every year, courtesy of snowfall and landslides caused by heavy rainfall. The tunnel is expected to provide all weather connectivity to Tawang and forward areas. Advertisement 5- Sela Tunnel travel time: The tunnel will cut down the travel time between Tezpur and Tawang by over an hour. This critical tunnels impact extends beyond transportation to the realm of Indias strategic national interest. One of the end-points of the Sela Tunnel, Arunachal Pradeshs Tawang region, holds cultural and geopolitical significance for China. Not only is the town the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama, it was also where the present Dalai Lama first reached when he fled to India from Tibet in 1959. Beijing claims the region as its own. Some Chinese observers, BBC reported, suspect that Tawang could be used to fan the flames of any future Tibetan uprising, given the ethnic link between the cross-border communities. Advertisement Further, experts have noted that Chinese troops will need access to Sela Pass if they want access to Tawang. Indias interest in Tawang, an integral part of Arunachal Pradesh, is now centred around staving off Chinese incursions and influence in the area. Denying full-scale healthcare crisis, South Korean government on Friday announced swift actions to improve the pay and working conditions of young doctors who have gone on strike Denying full-scale healthcare crisis, South Korean government on Friday announced swift actions to improve the pay and working conditions of young doctors who have gone on strike. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo acknowledged that the current requirement for young doctors to work continuously for 36 hours was a contributing factor to their protest walkout and emphasised the necessity for change in this practice. Advertisement We will start the trial as soon as possible, Reuters quoted him as saying, adding that the government would consider limiting to 24 hours the period that resident doctors and interns must work continuously. Over 10,000 medical interns and resident doctors are currently in protest against a governmental proposal to augment medical school admissions by 2,000 annually in response to a doctor shortage, a challenge exacerbated by the countrys rapidly ageing population. The protesting doctors contend that merely increasing the number of medical students wont resolve issues regarding pay and working conditions; rather, it might aggravate existing problems. Despite not retracting the governments intentions to expand medical education, Hans proposals seem geared towards bridging the gap with the protesters. Neither the striking doctors nor the medical associations, which have voiced criticism against the government, have immediately responded to the proposals publicly, added the report. Advertisement From this month, trainee doctors in paediatrics will receive an additional allowance of 1 million won ($757), and the government plans similar payments for other trainee doctors, Reuters quoted Han as saying. It will start with those in essential specialisations such as emergency medicine and general surgery and will allocate additional government funds, he added. Advertisement President Yoon Suk Yeol has taken a hard line against the protesters, taking steps toward suspending their medical licences for defying return-to-work orders. The president said on Wednesday their action had created chaos in major hospitals that employ trainee doctors as a key share of their staff. However, officials said on Friday the situation has stabilised, partly because other doctors and nurses took on extra work. Advertisement To suggest, as some have done, that we have a healthcare crisis, is an exaggeration, Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo told Reuters. On Friday the government began allowing nurses to perform some procedures restricted previously to doctors, such as CPR and giving some medicines. With inputs from agencies Zelenskyy will meet with President Tayyip Erdogan at 1600 GMT to discuss the status of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Black Sea grain trade, and bilateral ties, according to the Turkish Presidency During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys visit to Istanbul on Friday, Turkey is anticipated to underscore its unwavering support for Ukraines territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence, according to a Turkish diplomatic source. Zelenskyy will meet with President Tayyip Erdogan at 1600 GMT to discuss the status of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Black Sea grain trade, and bilateral ties, according to the Turkish Presidency. Advertisement It was unclear if a press conference would be held. It is planned to convey that Turkey is continuing its efforts to end the war as soon as possible on the basis of negotiations, the source said. According to the source, among the issues on the agenda are advances for a new rule on the safety of commercial ships navigation between Russia and Ukraine after the Black Sea Initiative was terminated. Withdrawing from the agreement in July of last year, Russia said its requests for improved conditions for its own food and fertiliser exports were not being met, leading Moscow to withdraw, allowing Ukraine to securely export grain from its Black Sea ports. Russia has been urged by Ankara to rejoin the Initiative, which is mediated by the UN and Turkey. According to Russia, there is no interest in its revival. Advertisement Turkey, a member of NATO, has attempted to have cordial relations with both Russia and Ukraine despite their shared maritime border in the Black Sea. It has provided military support for Kyiv and while opposing the sanctions on Russia. When peace returns to Ukraine, we aim to continue to be a strong supporter of the countrys reconstruction efforts, based on our strategic partnership, the source said. A month after Valerii Zaluzhnyi was ousted as the nations top military commander, Ukraine has named him as the new envoy to the United Kingdom, according to a report A month after Valerii Zaluzhnyi was ousted as the nations top military commander, Ukraine has named him as the new envoy to the United Kingdom, according to a report. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine sent a request to the British side for an agreement, Al Jazeera quoted the foreign ministry as saying in a statement on Thursday. Advertisement Ukraine has not had an ambassador in the UK since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy removed former ambassador Vadym Prystaiko in July 2023 due to his public criticism of the leader. Throughout the early stages of the conflict with Russia, General Zaluzhnyi led the Ukrainian army, successfully fending off a formidable invasion force. Known as the Iron General by Ukrainian media, Zaluzhnyi symbolised the nations resilience and enjoyed widespread popularity. However, a highly praised counteroffensives failure the previous summer and a public dispute with Zelenskyy tarnished his reputation within the presidential administration, according to Al Jazeera. According to The Guardian, the decision makes good on Zelenskyy promise to keep the popular former general as part of the team but it also removes him from Ukraine, where he is seen as the only realistic challenger to the president if there were to be an election. Advertisement The ex-commander forged a strong personal bond with his British counterpart Admiral Sir Tony Radakin over the initial two years of the conflict, despite lacking any apparent ties to the UK, added the report. On Thursday, Radakin was present in Kyiv, accompanying the UKs defence secretary Grant Shapps during a visit with Zelenskyy. However, Zaluzhnyi was notably absent from the footage released by the Ukrainian president documenting their encounter. Advertisement In February, Oleksandr Syrskii, who spearheaded Ukraines rapid autumn 2022 counteroffensive in the northern Kharkiv region, assumed the role. Zelenskyy took to X after Zaluzhnyi was fired to express gratitude to the military chief for his two years of service and to declared then that it was time for the military leadership to change. Advertisement After almost two years after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, even Zaluzhnyi acknowledged that the countrys military approach must change, according to Al Jazeera. We prioritized strengthening Ukraines air defence and long-range capabilities, in addition to fulfilling other pressing requirements for armaments and ammunition and advancing cooperative weapon manufacturing, Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X. Advertisement Following the meeting, the UK Ministry of Defence said that it will provide over 10,000 drones to Ukraine to support its counteroffensive against Russia With inputs from agencies President Volodymyr Zelenskyys peace plan for Ukraine asks for the withdrawal of all Russian forces, the restoration of Ukraines post-Soviet boundaries from 1991, and a procedure to hold Russia responsible for its deeds Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak attends 'Ukraine. Year 2024' conference, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters File Senior Ukrainian officials stressed Kyivs proposal to resolve the two-year war with Russia and provided what they claimed was proof of North Korean weapons transferred to Moscow at a meeting with a Chinese regional ambassador on Thursday. The head of Ukraines presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, stated on Telegram that he and his group briefed Chinas special envoy for Eurasian issues, Li Hui, about the state of events on the battlefield and Kyivs peace initiatives. Advertisement Yermak said the Ukrainian side discussed with Li Hui the prospects for establishing a just peace for Ukraine, the restoration of our countrys territorial integrity and sovereignty on the basis of the Ukrainian peace formula. President Volodymyr Zelenskyys peace plan for Ukraine asks for the withdrawal of all Russian forces, the restoration of Ukraines post-Soviet boundaries from 1991, and a procedure to hold Russia responsible for its deeds. A number of preparatory meetings have already been held, and Switzerland has promised to host a summit for peace. China has attended at least one of the talks that Kyiv has been seeking to hold with Beijing, despite the fact that Russia was not invited. Making his second trip to Europe, Li stated last week that talks about a settlement for Ukraine could not take place without Moscows involvement when he met with the deputy foreign minister of Russia in Moscow. Advertisement In his account of Thursdays talks, Yermak said they showed the Chinese delegation examples of fragments of downed missiles and weapons that North Korea made and gave to Russia to attack Ukraine. Ukraines prosecutor general last month said experts had found that Russia had fired at least 24 North Korean-made missiles over a period of several weeks. Advertisement Yermaks account of the meeting also said Ukraine raised what it described as Russian violations of international conventions on prisoners of war and how China might help secure the return of deported Ukrainian children. Russia denies such deportations have taken place, saying children were removed from the war zone for their own safety. The appeal was made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in advance of Fridays anticipated vote by the UN Security Council on a resolution written by the British that called for an immediate cessation of hostilities ahead of the month of Ramzan Residents displaced from a surge of violent attacks squat on blankets and in hastily made tents in the village of Masteri in west Darfur, Sudan. AP File The head of the UN said that the conflict in Sudan, which has been going on for almost a year, poses a threat to national unity and may ignite regional instability of dramatic proportions and asked the warring parties to cease hostilities during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Thursday. Advertisement Sudans UN ambassador claimed that Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, the leader of the countrys military, who has been engaged in combat with the opposing commander of the paramilitary force, welcomed the Ramzan truce request. However, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces leader, remained silent for the time being. The appeal was made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in advance of Fridays anticipated vote by the UN Security Council on a resolution written by the British that called for an immediate cessation of hostilities ahead of the month of Ramzan. The draft resolution expresses grave concern over the spreading violence and the catastrophic and deteriorating humanitarian situation, including crisis levels of acute food insecurity, particularly in Darfur. Sudan plunged into chaos last April, when long-simmering tensions between the military and paramilitary leaders broke out into street battles in the capital, Khartoum. Fighting spread to other parts of the country, but in Sudans western Darfur region it took on a different form, with brutal attacks by the Arab-dominated Rapid Support Forces on ethnic African civilians. Thousands of people have been killed. Advertisement Two decades ago, Sudans vast western Darfur region became synonymous with genocide and war crimes, particularly by the notorious Janjaweed Arab militias against populations that identify as Central or East African. The International Criminal Courts prosecutor, Karim Khan, said in late January there are grounds to believe both sides in the current conflict are committing possible war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide in Darfur. Advertisement At a Security Council meeting on Sudan, Guterres pointed to renewed military offensives and growing fears of a further expansion of hostilities in the east, calls for arming civilians in various states, and armed groups entering the fighting in western Darfur and South Kordofan. All these dangerous developments are pouring fuel on the fire for an even more serious fragmentation of the country, a deepening of intra-and inter-communal tensions, and more ethnic violence, Guterres said. A Ramzan cessation of hostilities can help stem the suffering and usher the way to sustainable peace. Advertisement Sudans UN Ambassador Al-Harith Mohamed said the government was very pleased with what the UN chief said and told the Security Council that he just heard from general Burhan. He commends the secretary-general on his appeal for a cessation of hostilities during the month of Ramzan, the ambassador said. However, hes wondering about how to do this, Mohamed said, stressing that the Rapid Support Forces are continuing their attacks. All those who would like to see that appeal transformed into action if they would like to present a mechanism for implementation of it, we would welcome it. Advertisement UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, asked whether there was a UN mechanism, replied: First and foremost, it is within the capacity of both parties to stop fighting. I think everyone is willing and ready to help, Dujarric told reporters. The most important thing is that those who have their fingers on the trigger silence their weapons. As the conflict continues with no end in sight, Guterres warned that the humanitarian consequences of the conflict are reaching colossal proportions. Half of Sudans population 25 million people need life-saving assistance, some 18 million are acutely food insecure, and the UN is receiving reports of children dying from malnutrition, Guterres said. Sudan also has the worlds worst internal displacement crisis, with 6.3 million people who fled their homes and remain in the country seeking safety, he said. Civilian infrastructure has been destroyed and 70% of health facilities in conflict areas arent functioning. And millions of children arent going to school. He said the UN is also receiving reports of systematic sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, as well as abduction and trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. With Ramzan expected to begin around Sunday, depending on the sighting of the new moon, Britains deputy UN ambassador James Kariuki said he hopes for a Security Council vote on a Ramzan cease-fire on Friday. The Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces bear responsibility for the horrendous situation in Sudan, he told the council. Shelling and attacks from both sides in heavily populated urban areas and across the entire western region of Sudan continue to kill and terrorize civilians. Kariuki echoed the secretary-generals call for an immediate cease-fire for Ramzan and urged the government to allow humanitarian aid deliveries from neighboring Chad to conflict-torn Darfur, and both sides to allow deliveries across conflict lines. It should not be for the military leadership of both the SAF (Sudan Armed Forces) or RSF to determine the political future of Sudan, Kariuki said. We call on them to give way to a civilian transitional government that will fully respect the basic human rights of the Sudanese people. Kamboj presented the G-4 model on behalf of Brazil, Germany, Japan and India for debate, dialogue and finally negotiations. The proposals elicited strong support from wider UN members. India has presented a comprehensive model on behalf of the G4 nations for Security Council reform, advocating for the inclusion of new permanent members democratically elected by the General Assembly and demonstrating flexibility on the contentious issue of the veto power. During the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform (IGN) held on Thursday, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, emphasized the significance of achieving tangible progress on this longstanding issue, particularly in light of the UNs upcoming 80th anniversary. Advertisement Ambassador Kamboj presented the G4 model, representing Brazil, Germany, Japan, and India, inviting debate, dialogue, and eventual negotiations on the proposed reforms. The suggestions put forth garnered significant support from a broad spectrum of UN member states, signalling a potential step forward in the reform process. The realities of 1945, when the Council was established, have long been superseded by the geo-political realities of the modern era and a new century; with the need for change being felt across the board, Kamboj said as she shared the exhaustive G4 model with UN Member States in the General Assembly. Catering to these new realities, the G4 model proposes that the Security Councils membership increase from the current 15 to 25-26, by adding six permanent and four or five non-permanent members. Among the six new permanent members, two each are proposed to be from African states and Asia Pacific states, one from Latin American and Caribbean states; and one from Western European and Other states. Advertisement The G4 model notes that the current composition of the Security Council, with its glaring under-representation and un-representation of key regions in both categories of membership, is detrimental to its legitimacy and effectiveness. It stressed that the Councils inability to address critical conflicts and maintain international peace and security underscores the urgent need for reform. Advertisement Any reform that does not address the lack of representation, particularly in the permanent category, would only exacerbate the current imbalances in the Councils composition and render it ill-equipped to address todays international challenges, she said. Kamboj highlighted that it is important to note that the G4 model does not specify which member states will occupy the new permanent seats. This decision will be made by the General Assembly in a democratic and inclusive election. Advertisement She told the UN membership that the world has undergone a sea change since 1945 and the new realities need to be reflected in the permanent membership. Any proposal that does not address the issue of representation of the Global South, including Africa, Asia and Latin America, in the permanent category does a grave injustice to the aspirations of developing countries for equality. Advertisement The G4 model offered flexibility on the veto, an issue that has been a contentious topic among member states as they try to move the needle forward on the reform process that has moved at a snails pace over the years.While the new permanent members would, as a principle, have the same responsibilities and obligations as current permanent members, they shall not exercise the veto until a decision on the matter has been taken during a review, Kamboj said." Nonetheless, we should not allow the veto issue to have a veto over the process of Council reform itself. Our proposal is also a gesture of displaying flexibility on the issue for a constructive negotiation, she said. Currently, only the five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the UK and the US - hold veto powers and through its use have stalled action in the Council to address global challenges and conflicts such as in Ukraine and Gaza. The remaining 10 nations in the Council are elected to sit as non-permanent members for two-year terms and do not have veto powers. Highlighting the urgency for reform, Kamboj said the world and the future generations can wait no longer. The ambitious Summit of the Future scheduled to be held at the UN this September and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations next year are important milestones towards which we should aim to make concrete progress. We must push forward a reform heeding the voice of the young and future generations, including from Africa, where the demand to correct the historical injustices grows ever stronger. Otherwise, we simply risk sending the Council down the path of oblivion and irrelevance. Frances Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere said his country has long supported the candidacy of India, Japan, Brazil and Germany for permanent membership.In addition, France fully subscribes to the spirit of the model for comprehensive reform of the Security Council which has just been presented. It is in line with the strong expectations expressed by the vast majority of this Assembly, he said, responding to the G4 model. The US said it is clear that the strong majority of UN member states, including all 54 African countries, support expanding both permanent and non-permanent seats on the Security Council.For the Security Council to best derive the benefits of both categories, both the permanent and non-permanent membership must be representative of the world as it is today, not the world as it existed in the wake of the Second World War. The war in Ukraine has triggered the deepest crisis in Russias relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and Putin has warned that the West risks provoking a nuclear war if it sends troops to fight in Ukraine. The US embassy in Russia has issued repeated advisories urging all US citizens to depart Russia immediately, citing reports indicating that extremists planning an imminent attack. While no specific details about the nature of the threat were provided, the embassy advised people to avoid crowds and remain vigilant of their surroundings. The embassy cautioned US citizens to steer clear of large gatherings in Moscow due to concerns over potential extremist activities. Advertisement The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts, and US citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours, the embassy said in a message on its website. The war in Ukraine has triggered the deepest crisis in Russias relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and Putin has warned that the West risks provoking a nuclear war if it sends troops to fight in Ukraine. The Kremlin says relations with the United States have never been worse and says the United States is fighting against Russia by supporting Ukraine with money, weapons and intelligence. With inputs from Reuters. Some lawmakers and critics of TikTok have argued the Chinese government could force the company to share data on American users. TikTok says it has never done that and wouldnt do so if asked. The U.S. government also hasnt provided evidence of that happening. The U.S. House of Representatives is set to expedite a vote next week on a bill requiring Chinas ByteDance to divest from TikTok within six months or face a ban in the United States, following unanimous approval by a committee on Thursday. The proposed legislation, which received unanimous support from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, aims to compel TikToks separation from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, to remain accessible on U.S. app stores. TikTok boasts approximately 170 million American users. Advertisement If the bill becomes law, ByteDance would have 165 days, just over five months, to sell TikTok. Failure to comply would result in app store operators like Apple and Google being prohibited from offering TikTok for download. Additionally, the bill extends similar restrictions to other apps deemed to be under the control of foreign adversary companies. TikTok contends that the bill effectively amounts to a ban, expressing uncertainty over Chinas approval of any sale and the feasibility of divestment within the specified timeframe. Despite assurances that it does not share U.S. user data with the Chinese government, TikTok remains uncertain about its future under the proposed legislation. Advertisement The bill takes a two-pronged approach. First, it requires ByteDance Ltd., which is based in Beijing, to divest TikTok and other applications it controls within 180 days of enactment of the bill or those applications will be prohibited in the United States. Second, it creates a narrow process to let the executive branch prohibit access to an app owned by a foreign adversary if it poses a threat to national security. Advertisement Its an important, bipartisan measure to take on China, our largest geopolitical foe, which is actively undermining our economy and security," Johnson said Thursday. Some lawmakers and critics of TikTok have argued the Chinese government could force the company to share data on American users. TikTok says it has never done that and wouldnt do so if asked. The U.S. government also hasnt provided evidence of that happening. Advertisement Critics also claim the app could be used to spread misinformation beneficial to Beijing. Former President Donald Trump attempted to ban TikTok through executive order, but the courts blocked the action after TikTok sued, arguing such actions would violate free speech and due process rights. TikTok raised similar concerns about the legislation gaining momentum in the House. Advertisement This bill is an outright ban of TikTok, no matter how much the authors try to disguise it. This legislation will trample the First Amendment rights of 170 million Americans and deprive 5 million small businesses of a platform they rely on to grow and create jobs," the company said in a prepared statement. The bills author, Rep. Mike Gallagher, the Republican chairman of a special House committee focused on China, rejected TikToks assertion of a ban. Rather, he said its an effort to force a change in TikToks ownership. He also took issue with TikTok urging some users to call their representatives and urge them to vote no on the bill. The notification urged TikTok users to speak up now before your government strips 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. The notification also warned that the ban of TikTok would damage millions of businesses and destroy the lives of countless creators around the country. TikTok users responded by flooding the offices of lawmakers with telephone calls. Some offices even shut off their phones because of the onslaught. A congressional aide not authorized to speak on the matter publicly said that lawmakers on the committee voting on the bill Thursday as well as others were inundated with calls. Today, its about our bill and its about intimidating members considering that bill, but tomorrow it could be misinformation or lies about an election, about a war, about any number of things, Gallagher said. This is why we cant take a chance on having a dominant news platform in America controlled or owned by a company that is behold to the Chinese Communist Party, our foremost adversary. The bill comes about one year after TikToks CEO was grilled for hours by sceptical lawmakers on the House Energy and Commerce Committee concerned about data security and the distribution of harmful content. That same committee met Thursday to debate and vote on the bill. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the committees Republican chair, said TikToks access to so many Americans makes it a valuable propaganda tool for the Chinese government to exploit. She also noted that its parent company ByteDance is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for surveilling American journalists. Through this access, the app can collect nearly every data point imaginable, from peoples location, to what they search on their devices, who they are connecting with, and other forms of sensitive information, Rodgers said. To assuage concerns from lawmakers, TikTok has promised to wall off U.S. user data from its parent company through a separate entity run independently from ByteDance and monitored by outside observers. TikTok says new user data is currently being stored on servers maintained by the software company Oracle. The American Civil Liberties Union and other free speech advocacy groups urged lawmakers to reject the TikTok bill, saying in a letter to the Energy and Commerce Committees leadership that passing this legislation would trample on the constitutional right to freedom of speech of millions of people in the United States. Bidens re-election campaign has opened a TikTok account as a way to boost its appeal with young voters, even as his administration continued to raise security concerns about whether the popular social media app might be sharing user data with Chinas communist government. Jean-Pierre said the White House welcomes lawmakers efforts on the TikTok legislation, but lawmakers need to continue work on it. Once it gets to a place where we think .. its on legal standing and its in a place where it can get out of Congress, then the president would sign it, she told reporters on Wednesday during the daily White House briefing. She also defended the White Houses efforts to limit the dangers of TikTok, even as the president engages with influencers on the social media platform and his campaign hosts a TikTok account. We are going to try to meet the American people where they are, Jean-Pierre said. We are trying to reach everyone. The president is the president of all Americans. it doesnt mean that were not going to try to figure out how to protect our national security. With inputs from AP. 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. Interview: China's high-quality development contributes to global energy transition-- Brazilian mining giant Xinhua) 16:00, March 08, 2024 RIO DE JANEIRO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian mining giant Vale has a profound understanding of the contribution of China's high-quality development of energy transition, a senior executive of the company said. In July 2023, Brazil's Sol do Cerrado solar energy park reached its full installed capacity of 766 megawatts, equivalent to the consumption of a city of 800,000 inhabitants, said Gustavo Biscassi, head of External Affairs of Vale, in a recent written interview with Xinhua. "It is worth mentioning that the photovoltaic modules and spare parts used by Sol do Cerrado are supplied by a Chinese company, which is a great example of close partnership between Vale and China in the field of energy transition," he added. According to Biscassi, 2023 was a remarkable year for Vale, as it exported 186 million tons of high-quality iron ore products to China, accounting for 61.7 percent of its total iron ore sales in the year. "Our accumulative iron ore export to China broke the 3 billion tons mark last year, which is of special significance for Vale, as the year of 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of our first iron ore shipment to China," he said. Over the past half a century, the firm has witnessed the sustained improvement of business environment of the Chinese market. "For example, in November last year, the Ministry of Commerce issued the Statistical Survey System for Reporting Imports and Exports of Bulk Products," said Biscassi. "At the beginning, we encountered some challenges, so we reached out to Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and CCCMC (China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals &Chemicals Importers &Exporters), and they responded to our urgent needs and provided us with guidance and assistance immediately." "It can be said that it is such service consciousness and work efficiency that makes China continue to be a hot spot for foreign investment and business development," he added. Vale, Biscassi said, is willing to participate in China's decarbonization and green transformation, which has made substantial headway over the five decades. Today, China is accelerating new industrialization driven by innovation and based on green and low carbon, and has achieved fruitful results. As the world's leading supplier of high-quality iron ore and a long-term partner of China, Vale sees important development opportunities in this move, Biscassi said. "In recent years, we have developed a range of innovative decarbonization solutions such as (green) briquettes, Tecnored and Mega Hubs," he explained. "With our high-quality iron ore products and innovative decarbonization solutions, we look forward to helping China's steel industry achieve decarbonization and green transformation as early as possible, thus contributing to China's 'dual carbon' goal and high-quality development." On top of Vale's largest market since 2006 and destination of its over 50 percent of iron ore products since 2014, China is also Vale's critical supplier of products and services in mining, infrastructure, and logistics areas, he said. "The development that Vale has achieved is inseparable from China, and our future development will also need China," Biscassi noted. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) With spring fast approaching, the Monument Stewards are getting ready to begin their fifth season removing weeds and planting native plants along the Monument Trail corridor in Grand Junction. The Monument Stewards are a group of volunteers organized by the Colorado West Land Trust and Eureka! McConnell Science Museum that meets weekly to tackle stewardship projects along No Thoroughfare Wash near the Lunch Loops Trailhead. As you ride your bike along the Monument Trail or walk or run, the Monument Stewards over the past four years have really clamped down on the invasive (plant species) and the weeds. Often through pretty heavy work hand pulling and cutting weeds, Colorado West Land Trust Program Manager Libby Collins said. You can now see the wash so much better than you could before. Native vegetation is thriving in that area as we have been clearing out the weeds. As part of the ongoing effort to remove invasive plants and reestablish native plants in that area, the Land Trust, with the assistance of a Western Colorado Conservation Corps crew, will be removing tamarisk along the wash. The crew will be out for one week cutting and removing the invasive plant along the lower wash near the pedestrian bridge along Monument Road. The Conservation Corps will do the heavy lifting of cutting and removing the tamarisk, Collins said. Then the Monument Stewards were hoping to get the Mesa County Trail Crew to join us will be planting new plants and probably transplanting willow poles to the area, too. The Conservation Corps work will take place in May, but Collins said the Monument Stewards will begin its season in early April. That work will include pulling weeds and irrigating new native plants. The willows are really thriving along the wash, Collins said. The regular work of the Monument Stewards getting out there weekly, or almost weekly, is really paying off. Some of the native plants the Stewards will plant this year will come from a collaboration between the Land Trust, Eureka! and the City of Grand Junction. The volunteers have been collecting native seeds for the past two years, which the citys horticulture staff have cultivated. Collins said the partnership has been very successful and credited the city staff for their work. The volunteers help to plant the seeds, which are then raised in the citys greenhouses until they are ready to go in the ground. There are over 200 plants so far, Collins said. Well be planting maybe half of those out at the Lunch Loop area. Were going to save the other half until the next phase of the paved trail is complete. Lower down on No Thoroughfare Wash, below the Redlands Canal, Land Trust staff have noticed some beaver activity. Collins said they are working with the city to potentially cage the larger cottonwood trees in the area. While beavers need wood for habitat, Collins said protecting the cottonwoods is important to preserve habitat for other species as well. We do want to protect the cottonwoods and the cottonwood galleries that are there along No Thoroughfare Wash because there arent many of them, Collins said. We do want to protect those and that bird habitat is critical. Collins said they are working with the City of Grand Junction on the cottonwood caging and there may be an opportunity to include volunteers in that effort. Collins said the Land Trust is a member of the West Slope Outdoor Volunteers, along with several other local conservation organizations. Visit westslopeoutdoorvolunteers.org to find upcoming volunteer opportunities. Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low 42F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chinese-Made Surveillance Cameras At Romanian Military Sites Raise Security Concerns By Ionut Benea and Reid Standish March 07, 2024 BUCHAREST -- A seemingly mundane purchase by the Romanian military on January 16 for Chinese-made surveillance equipment could have far-reaching national-security implications. For less than $1,000, a Romanian Defense Ministry employee ordered an eight-port switch and two surveillance cameras for the security network at a military base in the sleepy southern village of Deveselu that is home to NATO's Aegis Ashore, land-based, missile-defense system. The cameras were made by Hikvision, a partly state-owned Chinese company with alleged links to the country's military whose equipment has been blacklisted by the United States and Britain due to data and security vulnerabilities. While there's no evidence the cameras at Deveselu have resulted in any breaches, a monthslong investigation by RFE/RL's Romanian Service shows that surveillance equipment made by Hikvision and Dahua -- another company that is partly owned by the Chinese government -- is used by at least 28 military facilities in the country. The equipment is also used by hundreds of other public institutions involved in national security, ranging from the coast guard to sites operated by the intelligence service. Unlike the United States, Britain, or some other NATO partners, there is no prohibition on the use of Hikvision or Dahua equipment in Romania and the country's Defense Ministry and other national-security institutions using the brands told RFE/RL they were on closed-circuit systems that do not have cloud or Internet connections and that strict security protocols are followed. But experts say their use in Romania raises critical questions about national security and the potential compromise of sensitive information. Vulnerabilities in firmware could allow remote access, control of cameras, data interception, and network attacks by state and nonstate groups alike. While these concerns are not unique to Hikvision and Dahua, questions over how both companies store their data, their connections to the Chinese government, and a growing catalogue of security vulnerabilities make both companies higher-risk. "There's still a risk, even if something isn't connected to the Internet," Conor Healy, the director of government research at IPVM, a surveillance-industry research firm, told RFE/RL. "There are examples of closed-camera systems being hacked through other systems connected to the Internet." Hikvision and Dahua are among the world's leading providers for closed-circuit television and surveillance systems and their products remain popular across Europe. There are no EU restrictions against them, but the European Parliament has removed equipment manufactured by the company from its premises. Both companies have denied allegations that their Chinese state links make them a security risk and say they regularly patch any glitches that can lead to vulnerabilities. Dahua did not respond to RFE/RL's request for comment, but Hikvision said the bulk of its devices are sold by third-party distributors and that it cannot access any of its cameras after they are sold to customers, and that the company has "a robust process to quickly address suspected vulnerabilities." "Hikvision cameras comply with the laws and regulations applicable in Romania and the EU and are subject to strict security requirements," a Hikvision spokesperson told RFE/RL. There is no specific prohibition in Romania against purchasing Hikvision or Dahua equipment, although politicians like Catalin Tenita, a Romanian parliament member and critic of the use of the companies by Romanian security services, says a legal basis for a ban already exists but has not been fully enforced. Tenita told RFE/RL that existing legislation could "open up the possibility of eliminating offers that do not comply with established security standards," but that the government has decided not to apply this to Hikvision and Dahua, despite precedents set by partners such as the United States. Eyes On Deveselu The Romanian Defense Ministry said that due to the equipment being on closed systems that are not connected to the Internet, they can't be infiltrated from the outside and only operate on secure internal networks. "All video-surveillance systems installed in military units, including the hardware part -- including video cameras and network and storage equipment, as well as the software applications through which they are operated -- go through strict testing, evaluation, and approval procedures," a ministry spokesperson told RFE/RL. A spokesperson for the Deveselu Naval Facility, which is operated by U.S. forces responsible for the missile-defense system, told RFE/RL that it would be "inappropriate" to comment on Romanian military purchases but that they are "committed to a strong partnership" with their Romanian counterparts and will "continue to work together to support and promote security throughout the region and in NATO's collective defense." In response to questions about concerns over the use of Hikvision and Dahua equipment at the Romanian base, a NATO official told RFE/RL that the military alliance followed "robust measures to ensure the security of our staff and facilities throughout the Euro-Atlantic area." "We do not provide specific details on security infrastructure, but NATO continues to count on allies to ensure that products used at military sites do not pose a potential risk to security," the official said. The alliance has not issued any formal ban on the use of third-country equipment, but NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned in September 2023 against the use of Chinese technology in critical infrastructure. "We have seen the results of relying on Russia for our energy supply. We should not repeat this mistake by relying on China to provide the technology for our critical networks," he said. While the Romanian Defense Ministry insists that keeping the equipment disconnected from the Internet will prevent any security risks, a similar situation was enough to help launch the ban against Hikvision in the United States. As Hikvision first came under intense public scrutiny in the United States in early 2018, a military base in Missouri removed cameras on a closed network made by the company as a preventive measure. A year later, U.S. lawmakers put Hikvision on a sanctions list, effectively blocking American companies from selling to it due to security concerns and human rights issues over its role in developing special technology to surveil and track Uyghurs and other minorities in China's Xinjiang Province. The Lithuanian Defense Ministry scrutinized Hikvision and Dahua in 2021 and reported nearly 100 vulnerabilities in Hikvsion's firmware and concluded that the equipment posed "a chance [of] cyberattacks...or malicious code insertion [being] carried out." No specific "direct cybersecurity vulnerabilities" were found in Dahua, the report concluded, but testing did show that cameras from the company periodically sent packets to servers in five different countries, including China. Healy, the expert from IPVM, said that while keeping cameras on a closed network may provide extra security, "the extensive list of vulnerabilities" documented in Hikvision and Dahua makes them more susceptible to hacks by organized crime groups, nonstate actors, and groups associated with rival governments. He notes that cameras disconnected from the Internet can still be accessed, as shown in an FBI report released in January that said it had shut down a China-backed hacking group called Volt Typhoon. The group was targeting critical infrastructure and, according to a report released by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, it was able to gain access to closed camera systems by hacking into a computer's operating system online and then being able to infiltrate into offline networks. Dahua, Hikvision Spread In Romania Romania is the EU's largest market for Hikvision equipment, but neither Hikvision nor Dahua directly participate in public procurements. Instead, local security firms act as intermediaries, acquiring and redistributing these technologies to the country's public institutions. RFE/RL's investigation shows the companies' equipment in prevalent use across both national and local levels by Romanian police, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, the border police, and the country's gendarmerie, which is tasked with high-risk and specialized law enforcement duties. Procurement records seen by RFE/RL also show that Hikvision and Dahua equipment is ubiquitous in courts, town halls, and universities across Romania, as well as at the national parliament in Bucharest. Romanian police, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, the border police, and the gendarmerie all told RFE/RL that their Hikvision and Dahua equipment was purchased legally on the basis of national legislation on public procurement and that it "fully meets the required technical specifications." The institutions added that equipment from the two Chinese firms was not connected to the Internet or computer programs and cloud networks provided by Hikvision or Dahua. RFE/RL also found that the Romanian Intelligence Service's headquarters in the northeastern city of Iasi, near the border with Moldova, also uses Hikvision and Dahua equipment. "The video-surveillance systems at the level of our institution are part of a larger system that is protected, secured on a closed-circuit network, and is permanently subject to technical risk analyses that ensure an optimal degree of operational security and prevent risks to any stored data," a Romanian Intelligence Service spokesman told RFE/RL. Marian Ghenescu, a video-systems specialist and security-systems engineer at Softrust Vision Analytics, a Romanian company specializing in the security of video-surveillance systems, told RFE/RL that keeping networks offline and regularly conducting cybersecurity maintenance can limit any possible vulnerabilities. He says that in Romania, Hikvison and Dahua are often chosen because they are the most affordable option available for budget-conscious local institutions and may not always be installed with the maximum security settings in place. Alexandru Anghelus, a cybersecurity expert and founder of the consultancy Pro Defense, told RFE/RL that all surveillance equipment is subject to security risks, not just Chinese brands. He adds that Hikvision and Dahua's history of vulnerabilities could warrant additional scrutiny, pointing to a Hikvision security glitch in 2021 that is believed to have affected more than 100 million cameras globally. In the meantime, some Romanian lawmakers are calling for further investigation. Adrian Trifan, a senator who serves as the deputy chairman of the Communications, Information Technology, and Artificial Intelligence Committee, says that he wants the cameras removed from parliament and wants to know why Hikvision and Dahua equipment is being used so prevalently at national-security sites. "It's a serious situation that should be clarified immediately by the relevant institutions," he told RFE/RL. "And it still needs to be clarified how these purchases passed the [Romanian Supreme Council of National Defense's] screening procedures." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/romania-china-cameras- security-concerns/32853039.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hokanson Announces new State Partnership Program Nations By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely, National Guard Bureau March 7, 2024 WASHINGTON -- A program that pairs the National Guard in the states and territories with foreign allies and partners is set to grow by several nations this year, the National Guard's top officer announced March 7. Finland, Palau, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sweden and Tanzania will be added to the Defense Department National Guard State Partnership Program in 2024, Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, the 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau, told a forum of defense and industry leaders. "Freedom and democracy are American values but we can't uphold them alone," Hokanson said during his address to the McAleese Defense Programs Conference. "Instead, we must tend to our networks, nurture our alliances and invest in the partnerships that may one day make the difference between chaos and stability, authoritarianism and democracy, or victory and defeat," he said. The State Partnership Program formally pairs a state's National Guard with its partner nation's military focused on security cooperation. Deeper relations often follow. For more than 30 years, National Guardsmen have built enduring connections with foreign counterparts through the SPP. Hokanson said the program is one of the most productive, cost-effective security cooperation programs the United States has to offer. The program began after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Guard was chosen to help former Soviet states reform their militaries and move toward civilian control of their armed forces. "Because of our legacy as state militias and because it would seem less provocative to Russia at the time the National Guard was the obvious choice to lead these engagements," Hokanson said. Positioned in 2,800 U.S. communities, the Guard is also experienced with disaster response, search and rescue and civil-military relationships focus areas of most SPP affiliations. The CNGB cited the Guard's ongoing training assistance with Ukrainian troops as but one SPP success story. Since Russia's unprovoked invasion in 2022, National Guardsmen have trained more than 7,500 soldiers from 19 Ukrainian battalions across Europe. This training has helped Ukraine thwart Russia's advances. The seeds were sown in 1993 when the California Guard and Ukraine were paired in the SPP and began training together. Some of the first calls out of Ukraine in February 2022 were to National Guardsmen. Today, there are 100 nations in every geographic combatant command paired with the 50 states, three territories and Washington, D.C. The newly announced partner nations will be paired with states in the coming months, a process subject to DOD, State Department and combatant command input and approval. "The pairing of a state with a nation is not random," Hokanson said. "Demographics, economics and military size and composition are all factored in. This helps establish a sense of commonality and to make the partnerships beneficial for both parties." In recent years, Guardsmen have conducted about 1,000 training exchanges with their foreign counterparts annually, focusing on everything from peacekeeping operations to NCO development, lifesaving techniques and cyber defense. In 2023, more than 9,000 Guardsmen completed almost 1,500 engagements worldwide a testament to the program's success and relevance. "It's about mutually beneficial relationships where we learn from each other," Hokanson said. "Each of our partners is really good at a few things, and so are we. The National Guard is building partners and allies for our nation, and in turn, we're helping them build capability and capacity for the good of their nation." The SPP enables between a quarter and a third of U.S. security cooperation engagements with just 1% of the nation's security cooperation budget. The numbers tell a small part of the SPP story, but Hokanson said the best stories are about the people involved and the relationships they form. "The success of these partnerships is built on relationships that endure across decades, spanning the entire duration of careers," the general said. "As their careers progress, those relationships endure. "When it is time to train, time to respond, or time to fight, our Guardsmen and our partners build on existing relationships of trust and respect. When called, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with friends, not strangers." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Carolina National Guard Hosts Colombia Defense Chief By Stephen Hudson, South Carolina National Guard March 7, 2024 COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The South Carolina National Guard hosted Colombian military leaders from Feb. 28 to March 1 during two State Partnership Program events. The three-day visit by Gen. Helder Giraldo, Colombia's chief of defense, and Colombian military officers was part of a State Partnership Program key leader engagement with the South Carolina National Guard. Senior Guard leaders met with Giraldo to discuss defense cooperation and provide briefings and updates on the command's efforts to strengthen the bilateral defense partnership. Giraldo and staff visited the South Carolina Emergency Management Division for a disaster response briefing, watched a demonstration by the 43rd Civil Support Team and met with command staff, touring the 169th Fighter Wing and Army National Guard maintenance facilities. The Colombian delegation also observed a group of Colombian soldiers participating in the South Carolina Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition at the McCrady Training Site. "General Giraldo observed South Carolina National Guard capabilities and was impressed with the depth and breadth of those capabilities," said Air Force Lt. Col. Dan Linkroum, SPP state director. "He gained a better understanding of what the National Guard does to supplement the active-duty component and what our role is in support to domestic authorities." During their visit, the senior enlisted leader cohort participated in an NCO development seminar. "Both sides walked away with a better understanding of each other's enlisted development programs," Linkroum said. The South Carolina Guard will send three senior noncommissioned officers to Colombia to attend an enlisted leadership symposium. Since the South Carolina National Guard's partnership with the Republic of Colombia was launched in 2012, South Carolina has focused on establishing long-term relationships to promote mutual interests and capabilities. The South Carolina National Guard focuses on cyber, fixed-wing and rotary-wing maintenance, engineering and ground-vehicle maintenance and logistics. The South Carolina National Guard has completed six SPP engagements with Colombia this year, with another 40 scheduled. In February, the South Carolina Army National Guard loaned Colombia several 1,000-gallon helicopter water dispersal systems to combat wildfires outside Bogota. The Department of Defense State Partnership Program is a cooperative military-to-military exchange administered by the National Guard Bureau. It facilitates cooperation between U.S. National Guard units and foreign allies. The program began in 1993 and has grown to include 100 nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USCENTCOM Conducts Combined Humanitarian Airdrops into Gaza U.S. Central Command Press Release | March 7, 2024 USCENTCOM March 07, 2024 Release Number 20240307 - 01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza on March 7, 2024, at 3:20 p.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians in Gaza affected by the ongoing conflict. The combined, joint operation included U.S. Air Force and Jordanian C-130 aircraft and U.S. Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of U.S humanitarian assistance supplies. U.S. C-130s dropped over 38,000 meals, providing life-saving humanitarian assistance in Northern Gaza, to enable civilian access to critical aid. The DoD humanitarian airdrops contribute to ongoing U.S. and partner-nation government efforts to alleviate human suffering. These airdrops are part of a sustained effort and we continue to plan follow on aerial deliveries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 7, 2024 By David Vergun , DOD News General Says Centcom Area Facing 'Volatile Security Situation' Just a year ago the U.S. Central Command area was on the verge of "improbable, unprecedented and transformative progress," said Army Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, commander of Centcom. "Today, the central region faces its most volatile security situation in the past half century. This is not the same central region as last year," he said, testifying today before the Senate Armed Services Committee about the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization request and the future years defense program. "The convergence of crisis and competition make [the Centcom area of responsibility] the most likely region to produce threats against the U.S. homeland, trigger a regional conflict and derail the national defense strategy," he said. The situation in Gaza has created the conditions for malign actors to sow instability throughout the region and beyond, he said. Iran exploited what they saw as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the Middle East to its advantage, using its proxies in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank and Yemen, he said. "Iran knows that its decade-long vision cannot be realized if countries in the region continue to expand integration with each other and deepen their partnership with the United States," he said. Iran's expansive network of proxies is equipped with advanced, sophisticated weaponry and threatens some of the most vital terrain in the world with global and U.S. implications, said Kurilla, noting some of the many flashpoints, including Houthi attacks on international shipping and attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. Iran has also developed a full-scale production pipeline for supplying weapons to Russia, fueling its war on Ukraine. The risk of attack emanating from Afghanistan is increasing, he said. "I assess ISIS-Khorasan retains the capability and will to attack U.S. and Western interests abroad in as little as six months and with little to no warning," Kurilla said. ISIS-Khorasan's area of operation includes parts of Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Strategic competition has also continued to evolve across the region, he said. "China and Russia are quick to capitalize on destabilizing influences. They have shown meager interest or capability to reduce regional tensions, but rather, they have increased their efforts to pressurize regional partners across all elements of national power ... and foster a chaotic landscape favorable for their exploitation," he said. The Centcom region remains critical to the world's energy supply and remains essential for the flow of global commerce, he said. Centcom provides strategic depth to the defense of the U.S. homeland, he said. "American security and prosperity are at risk if we cede this space to Iran, terrorism and China." Kurilla said the U.S. should remain continuously engaged throughout the region with its partners. "Our strategic advantage remains our strong military-to-military partnerships, while our adversaries and competitors rely on parasitic, transactional relationships. We also innovate with our partners," he said. Marine Corps Gen. Michael E. Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, also testified. Langley also emphasized the value of partnerships, not just military-to-military, but also interagency, such as the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development. Africa faces multiple crises, including terrorism, poverty, food insecurity, climate change and mass migration, he said. These factors sow the seeds of violent extremism and exploitation by Russia across the continent. "In Africa, modest investments [in] resources go a long way toward achieving our national security interests. Africa faces many challenges, while also offering even more opportunities. With our African partners at the forefront, reinforced by our efforts and the efforts of our allies, we will continue to gain ground towards achieving lasting stability, security and prosperity on this crucial continent," he said. Lastly, both generals advocated for passing the budget and supplemental funding request, as important to both regional security in their respective areas, as well as national security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 7, 2024 By Jim Garamone , DOD News Commission Recommends Changes to DOD Planning, Budgeting Processes A congressionally chartered commission has recommended changes to bring the Defense Department's planning, programming, budgeting and execution process into the 21st century. The commission, led by Chair Robert Hale and Vice Chair Ellen Lord, presented 28 recommendations to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks. Hale and Lord spoke about the recommendations at a Defense Writers Group breakfast yesterday. Hicks said DOD will evaluate the commission's recommendations in close cooperation with Congress, the Office of Management and Budget and other stakeholders. "An especially timely recommendation from the commission is its call for on-time defense appropriations," Hicks said in a written statement. "Today, the department is less than a week away from releasing our [fiscal year] 2025 budget request, even as we still await [fiscal] 2024 appropriations more than five months late and counting." Hicks called on Congress "to undertake the single most important defense resourcing reform for our generation: a return to predictable and routine resourcing to ensure the federal government can meet the nation's national security needs." Hale, who served as DOD's chief financial officer from 2009 to 2014, and Lord, who was the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment from 2018 to 2021, led 12 other commissioners in fashioning the recommendations. An interim report with 13 recommendations, released in August, is already being implemented. The commission's key recommendation is for the department to replace the planning, programming, budgeting and execution processoften called the PPBE processimplemented in 1961, with a new defense resourcing system. "After 30 years of focus on regional, asymmetric threats, the U.S. now faces strategic challenges with [China] as a pacing threat while simultaneously contending with immediate threats from Russia, North Korea, Iran and instability in the Middle East," the commission's report said in the executive summary. "This ever-evolving security environment demands rapid and large-scale evolution of current military capabilities." The current process does not give DOD leaders "the ability to implement change at the scale and speed the DOD requires," the summary said. "I think transitioning from the PPBE process to the defense resourcing system process is an enormous opportunity for bipartisan and bicameral activity," Lord told the group. "We need that right now." Both Hale and Lord said the recommendations will depend on cooperation and communication between DOD and Congress. "Congress has got to recognize some kind of a balance between the need for flexibility to foster innovation and adaptability and oversight, and we kept that in mind or tried to in all of our recommendations; this ... [process] is good at the mitigating effects," Hale said. The recommendations can be grouped in five critical areas: Improving the alignment of budgets to strategy. Fostering innovation and adaptability. Strengthening relationships with Congress. Modernizing business systems and data analytics. Strengthening the workforce. The current PPBE process came into being when there was no such thing as a computer network, and the Cold War with the Soviet Union was at its height. DOD was the driver for technological advancement in computers, data storage, satellites and much more. "The environment in which we live right now is very, very different than 60 years ago," Lord said. "We have a complexity of multiple, geopolitical threats emerging in different places. We also have a technology ecosystem that is very, very rapidly evolving." While DOD can drive technology today in some specialties, private firms are now the bedrock of innovation, and the current PPBE process makes it difficult to take advantage of those innovations, Lord said. Both Hale and Lord said the recommendations will empower those working in program executive offices and project management offices, especially. They also said the workforce will need some formal training to get the most out of the recommendations. Innovation, speed and adaptability are keys to almost all the recommendations, and Hale and Lord called for the department to establish an implementation team to put the recommendations in place. Some of the recommendations can be put in place immediately, some will require some time to put in place, Hale said. Some of the recommendations the commission highlighted would increase the availability of operating funds, mitigate problems caused by continuing resolutions, create a common analytics platform, and establish continuing planning and analysis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 7, 2024 By Joseph Clark , DOD News DOD Acquisition Official Underscores Importance of Production in Keeping U.S. Edge The Pentagon's top acquisition official today underscored the importance of the defense industry's ability to produce new capabilities amid a rapidly changing technology landscape. William A. LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said that while anticipating future requirements remains essential, the ability to prepare for rapidly emerging threats is critical. "You can predict all you want; you need to predict, but you also have to be prepared that something, overnight, can just change," LaPlante said during the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington. The annual conference serves as a forum for defense officials, members of Congress, and industry stakeholders to discuss defense priorities. LaPlante noted rapid changes in key technologies require constant adaptation by defense leaders and industry to maintain the United States' edge. "Particularly in areas like counter [unmanned aircraft systems] right now," he said. "It's rapidly changing overnight." He said new UAS systems being fielded by adversaries are often platforms that can be fielded quickly, adding to the challenge in fielding systems to counter them. "It's not necessarily high tech," LaPlante said, adding that UAS platforms often are low-tech solutions. "That's why it's hard," he said. "The defenses may be higher tech, and we're having to adjust them all the time because the adversary is adjusting." LaPlante said that it is not only critical to prototype new technology in response to quickly evolving threats, but to quickly scale production of those new systems. "I'm trying to make sure that we're always thinking about this production part of things," he said. "Because, actually, in the prototyping and the ideas part, we're actually doing pretty well." LaPlante said succeeding in the emerging national security environment and meeting the pacing challenge of China, requires pivoting away from manufacturing models that don't allow for buffers against potential need and focusing on building production capacity. That pivot will require a steady demand signal from the Defense Department and collaboration between the government and industry. "We need your help," LaPlante said, adding that adversaries are watching how the Pentagon and industry come together to meet future demands. "What I do, and I know all of us do, is we watch from [intelligence] or from other sources how quickly our adversaries are able to spin up their production," he said. "They're watching the same thing with us." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen: Statement by the Spokesperson on Houthis deadly attack against a vessel in the Gulf of Aden European External Action Service (EEAS) 07.03.2024 EEAS Press Team The European Union strongly condemns Wednesday's attack on the Barbados-flagged and Liberian-owned bulk carrier 'True Confidence' while transiting the Gulf of Aden, resulting in reported tragic losses of life and multiple injuries among crew members. This comes after the recent Houthi attack against the Rubymar vessel, with potentially devastating environmental impact in the Red Sea. The EU reiterates that these Houthi attacks are violations of international law, that threaten maritime security, freedom of navigation and global trade, and put the lives of sailors at risk. These attacks must cease immediately, as reiterated in the UNSC Resolution 2722, adopted on 10 January. The EU and its member states in accordance with international law, are determined to defend their vessels against attacks that undermine freedom of navigation, and navigational rights. Through the EU naval operation ASPIDES, the EU will continue to protect maritime security as a global common good, and safeguard the commercial and security interests of the EU and the wider international community. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel/Palestine: Statement by the Spokesperson on further settlement expansion European External Action Service (EEAS) 07.03.2024 EEAS Press Team 07.03.2024 EEAS Press Team The European Union condemns Wednesday's approval by the Israeli High Planning Committee of plans for advancing over 3.426 housing units, further expanding illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank. The EU urges Israel to reverse these decisions. The EU reiterates that settlements are illegal under international law and constitute an obstacle to peace, as they threaten the two-state solution. Furthermore, the expansion of settlements is completely inconsistent with ongoing efforts to reduce tensions, which is even more important ahead of the upcoming religious festivities of Ramadan, Pessah and Easter. The EU's position remains unchanged: it will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU makes major step forward in the delivery of 2024 humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza* European Commission Press release 7 March 2024 Brussels The Commission has now contracted 81 million out of the overall humanitarian aid allocation of 125 million and is working on its disbursement to humanitarian partner organisations. The EU has to date organised 41 air bridge flights to deliver over 1800 tonnes of aid to Palestinians via Egypt and is exploring further means of delivering lifesaving supplies. This comes as Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic is in Israel today to conclude his visit to the Middle East, after visiting the West Bank and Jordan yesterday. The objective of the visit is to reiterate the EU's commitment to mobilising all possible means to provide humanitarian aid for Palestinians in need. In Israel, the Commissioner met with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and shared the EU's unequivocal call for the protection of civilians, unhindered and safe access for humanitarian aid into and across Gaza, whilst also reiterating the EU's request for the release of all hostages. He also met with EU's humanitarian partners on the ground. Today the Commissioner has visited Kerem Shalom, the Israeli border crossing with the Gaza Strip, to emphasise the vital importance of allowing unimpeded and safe humanitarian access through all crossing points, while opening additional ones, including to the north of Gaza. The Commissioner has also visited the Nir Oz kibbutz, one of the multiple sites targeted by the heinous 7 October terrorist attacks by Hamas. Yesterday in Jordan, the Commissioner Lenarcic met with the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and humanitarian partner organisations. He also visited a UN-led girls school in the Jalazone refugee camp in the West Bank and met with the caretaker representatives of the Palestinian National Authority. Background The protracted humanitarian situation of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has reached unprecedented levels, with conditions rapidly deteriorating due to the continued intensification of hostilities. The full-scale Israeli military operation which followed the 7 October Hamas terrorist attack, along with the blockade of Gaza, brought the already dire humanitarian situation to a catastrophic level for the 2.2 million population. Tensions and settler violence in the occupied West Bank also significantly worsened following the war outbreak in Gaza. The EU is responding to the population's most pressing needs in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need since 2000. The EU also launched a Humanitarian Air Bridge operation consisting of 41 flights transporting humanitarian cargo supplied by humanitarian partners, EU-owned stockpile items, and donations from Member States. Furthermore, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated 7 times to support countries affected by the spill-over of the crisis and support repatriations from Israel and Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany Federal Foreign Office 07.03.2024 - Press release A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement today on the Houthi attack on the commercial ship True Confidence: We condemn yesterday's attack by the Houthis on the civilian commercial vessel True Confidence in the strongest possible terms. This attack claimed three lives and injured several people. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims. We wish those who have been injured a rapid recovery. We have repeatedly pointed out that the Houthi attacks are putting the lives of innocent crew members on international commercial vessels in grave danger. The fact that, after numerous attacks, people have now also been killed and severely injured is a tragic consequence of the Houthis' completely irresponsible actions. Following the sinking of the Ruby Mar, another ship has now been set ablaze. These attacks can at any time trigger an environmental disaster that would have a dramatic impact on the regional ecosystem and all neighbouring countries, including Yemen. The violent Houthi attacks on civilian commercial vessels are contrary to international law and significantly impede the safety of international navigation. They threaten navigation on global trade routes and adversely affect German and international security interests. They are completely unacceptable and must stop immediately. Two-State solution only way to break vicious cycle of Israel-conflict, eliminate the breeding ground of extremist ideologies: Wang Yi Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 07, 2024 12:50 PM There is no distinction between noble and humble lives, and people should not be unfavorably labeled according to their race or religion. The failure to end the humanitarian disaster caused by the Palestinian-Israeli conflict today in the 21st century is a tragedy for humanity and a disgrace for civilization, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday. Nothing justifies the protraction of the conflict, or the killing of the civilian population, Wang stressed when holding a press conference on Thursday on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress. The current conflict has caused more than 100,000 civilian casualties, he noted. The international community must act urgently to reach an immediate cease-fire and an end to the fighting an overriding priority, and to ensure that humanitarian assistance is an urgent moral imperative. The people of Gaza have a right to survive in this world, and the women and children deserve to be cared for by their loved ones, the Chinese foreign minister said. The long occupation of the Palestinian territories and the long-cherished aspiration of the Palestinians for an independent state should not be ignored anymore. More importantly, the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinians must not be allowed to continue uncorrected generation after generation, Wang stated. He called for restoring justice to the Palestinian people and fully implementing the two-State solution, which is the only way to break the vicious cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflicts, to eliminate the breeding ground of extremist ideologies, and to realize enduring peace in the Middle East. China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, and has always been committed to a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, stated Wang. "We support Palestine's bid to become a full member state of the United Nations and call on individual Security Council members to stop obstructing this process. We propose that a larger, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference be convened to draw up a road map and timetable for the implementation of the two-State solution. China will continue to work with the international community to restore peace, save lives and uphold justice," Wang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's address to the nation Government Offices of Sweden 07 March 2024 Address to the nation by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson as regards Sweden's NATO membership, Washington, Thursday 7 March 2024. Check against delivery. Good evening! Sweden is now a member of NATO. A few hours ago, I presented Sweden's instrument of accession to the US Secretary of State here in Washington DC. I did so with a sense of both pride and humility. This is an epoch-making event for our country. After more than 200 years of non-participation in military alliances, Sweden has taken the step to become part of the Western defence community. Together, we are stronger and more secure. It is a major step, but at the same time a natural one. In joining NATO, we have come home. Home to the Alliance for peace and freedom to which many democracies belong. Home to our own neighbours' security cooperation. Home to the circle of nations where we have long belonged. Sweden is an outstanding country, and we are joining NATO to even better defend what we are and what we believe in: our freedom and our democracy. We are now a member of a defence Alliance together with our closest friends. Norway, Denmark and Iceland have been members from the start, as have the United States and the United Kingdom. Germany joined a few years later, Poland in the late 90s and our Baltic neighbours Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the early 2000s. As you know, Finland joined last year. Two years have now passed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and President Putin has not achieved any of his goals - on the contrary. Through the support of the international community, Ukraine daily demonstrates its impressively strong will to defend itself. But Ukraine is not only fighting for its own independence, it is fighting for our right to determine our future. For everyone's right to not be invaded and oppressed by countries like Russia. Instead of succumbing to Russia's demands for a veto on other countries' self-determination, NATO has been reinforced with both Sweden and Finland. *** As Sweden's Prime Minister, I am delighted today by the broad consensus on our NATO membership. Public support is strong and a broad majority of the Riksdag supports this decision. It is a strength for us as a NATO member. And it demonstrates that we are capable of uniting and cooperating in times of war and crisis. Our NATO membership is a joint Swedish success. Leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party Magdalena Andersson led her party to say yes to our NATO membership, and the Sweden Democrats also changed their position, and said yes. The process that began under the previous Government has now been completed by my Government. And we have cooperated at each stage. I will continue to safeguard this consensus on major security policy issues. It is a strength when it comes to Sweden's security. But I would also like to speak directly to those of you who feel worried or disappointed, to those of you who feel none of the joy and relief that most of us feel today. In a democracy such as ours, it is perfectly legitimate to have different opinions, and of course I respect those who wanted Sweden to remain outside the Alliance. I'd like to try to allay any concerns you might have. NATO is an organisation whose member countries work together on a voluntary basis and where decisions are taken unanimously. We make our own decision whether to send Swedish soldiers and seamen to take part in joint NATO missions. And we make our own decision whether to request military support from NATO. This is a solidarity-based defence Alliance. We train and plan together to deter those who wish us harm - and ultimately, we defend our freedom together. The core of NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949, which is based on the UN Charter's paragraph on the right to self-defence and the right to help other countries at their request. NATO membership is therefore a natural continuation of a long tradition of Swedish international engagement. We are a small country, but understand better than most the importance of the big world beyond our borders. Sweden joined NATO's Partnership for Peace 30 years ago. And Sweden has had its own delegation at NATO Headquarters in Brussels for more than 15 years. Sweden has taken part in all major NATO peace operations. Tens of thousands of Swedish soldiers have served under NATO command in countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Few new NATO members have been as prepared as we are. Our cooperation with the United States has also deepened over the years. Intelligence-sharing and defence technology cooperation with the United States were already crucial under Prime Minister Tage Erlander. There has never been any doubt as to where Sweden would turn in the event of war. In those days, military cooperation was sensitive and often secret. Now we can cooperate openly and honestly - as Allies. NATO membership is the logical continuation of the security policy that Sweden has, in practice, pursued for many decades. *** Alone, we are not strong. And Sweden's security is intrinsically linked to developments in the world around us. We are now entering into a defence Alliance that has been very successful for almost 75 years. Sweden is a safer country today than it was yesterday. We have Allies. We have support. We have taken out insurance in the defence Alliance of the Western world. And our part of the world is more secure - now and for future generations. With Sweden and Finland as NATO members, the Nordic countries now have a common defence for the first time in 500 years. We are no longer only good neighbours. (We still are). We are Allies. Sweden will defend freedom with the countries closest to us geographically, emotionally and in terms of values. But our NATO membership is not only about receiving support from others; it is also about providing support to others. We will contribute our unique defence capabilities - on land, in the air, and on and below the sea. Many are familiar with NATO's Article 5, which states that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all members. All for one, and one for all. Article 3 is less well-known: it states that all Allies must also maintain their individual capacity to resist armed attack. Both are important. We are now making preparations and doubling Sweden's defence appropriations to more than two per cent of GDP. We are increasing the number of conscripts, we are strengthening civil defence and we are reactivating civilian service. I have spoken a great deal with Sweden's Supreme Commander, Micael Byden, and I know that Sweden will have highly knowledgeable and skilful women and men in all NATO staff and working groups. *** Many people have played crucial roles in Sweden's NATO membership. I would especially like to thank the United States and President Joe Biden for his strong personal engagement in our cause. I would also like to extend my warm thanks to the tireless Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, and to the retiring President of Finland, Sauli Niinisto. And I would like to thank Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Finland's new President Alexander Stubb for many years of constructive cooperation. And thank you Sanna Marin, Finland's former Prime Minister, who played a more vital role than many know. I am grateful that we were able to have trusting discussions across both national borders and party lines during a few critical months. Sweden is also grateful for the security guarantees that many countries gave us during the sensitive period between application and membership. They gave us a sense of security in times of insecurity. And thanks to all other NATO member countries and their parliaments for showing the confidence in Sweden to accept us as a full member of NATO. We will not let you down. There is no doubt that our country is worth defending, and more and more people want to contribute. More people are registering for national military service and want to join the Home Guard. And I know that more people will also take part in civilian operations. We are now standing here strong, together- for peace and freedom. All for one, and one for all. A new era for Sweden begins tonight. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deposition of Sweden's instrument of accession Government Offices of Sweden 07 March 2024 All NATO member countries have now approved Sweden's application for membership. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is in Washington DC to deposit Sweden's instrument of accession. The Government is holding an extraordinary government meeting this afternoon to approve Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty. Afterwards, Mr Kristersson will deposit Sweden's instrument of Accession with the Government of the United States. Sweden will then be a member of NATO and fully participating Ally. In conjunction with the deposition, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will address the media. The deposition and press statements will be streamed live. Images from Washington DC will be published in the Government Offices image bank as they become available. See links under shortcuts. The Government decision will be available on the Government's website as soon as the decision has been dispatched. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah shells military headquarters in Israeli-occupied territories ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Mar 7, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, conducted an artillery attack on a newly established military headquarters in the Western Galilee, northern Israeli-occupied territories. According to Pal Today TV, Hezbollah announced that resistance fighters pounded the newly established command center of the Israeli military forces in Liman district situated in the western Galilee of northern occupied Palestine on Thursday, which inflicted casualties upon the occupying troops. The Israeli regime's Channel 12 also reported that Hezbollah targeted a military base in Ras al-Naqoura located in northern areas of the Western Galilee. The Hebrew language Maariv daily reported that at least 10 missiles were fired from Lebanon's soil towards Ras al-Naqoura. In response to the attack, Israeli occupiers targeted positions in Yaroun and Ayta ash Shab villages, Lebanon. Following the onset of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza in October 2023, Hezbollah kicked off retaliatory attacks on Israeli positions to force the regime to stop the genocidal war. 4208**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza aid being spoiled due to Israeli regime restrictions: Iran Red Crescent ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Mar 7, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society Pir-Hossein Koulivand has said that international aid bound for war-hit Gaza is being spoiled in warehouses as the Israeli regime is preventing assistance from reaching the besieged Palestinian territory. "Only 25% of international aid enters Gaza. The occupying Zionist regime, by preventing the entry of humanitarian assistance, has caused more than 75% of the aid to be spoiled", Koulivand said on Thursday as he addressed an international conference in Tehran, which discussed the occupation of Palestine from a legal viewpoint. He also said that only 15 to 25 aid trucks enter Gaza daily after being inspected, adding that the Zionist regime has caused aid items to be spoiled by refusing to observe storage standards. The Iranian official also denounced the Israeli regime for striking Red Crescent medical centers, which has severely hampered treatment for patients and people getting injured during the regime's attacks. 4194**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Resistance won't be defeated, era of Israeli regime over' ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Mar 7, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Osama Hamdan, one of the leaders of the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has denounced the United States and the Zionist regime for pushing for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing that the resistance will not be defatted and that the end of the Israel regime is imminent. Hamdan in an interview with Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen news network on Wednesday night reacted to Israeli and American stances on the latest round of ceasefire talks in the Egyptian capital that ended without a breakthrough. "There is no doubt that any negotiation that does not reach its goal will not continue and the Israelis want to intensify the humanitarian crisis in Gaza," he said. He underlined that there was an obstacle to the deal from the first day when a proposal was presented following a meeting of mediators in Paris. "Americans and Israelis wanted a temporary truce and refused to stop the war permanently". Emphasizing that the US is worried about being accused of covering up Israeli crimes, the senior Hamas member said Americans and Israelis are actually maneuvering and trying to buy time. Hamdan said the position of Hamas was crystal clear from the beginning and has, time and again, said that it would not accept anything less than what it had demanded. This senior Hamas official said that Washington has presented its own draft resolution at the UN Security Council in order to water down the one by Algeria as the Americans are trying to show their face in good light without harming their Zionist ally. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi resistance vows to target Israel until Gaza truce ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Mar 7, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Resistance of Iraq has pledged to continue it attacks on Israeli targets until the Zionist regime agrees to establish a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian media, the umbrella group of resistance factions in Iraq, said in a statement that resistance fighters are fully prepared to resume their attacks if Israeli occupation forces kept committing crimes against Palestinians. "Our operations against the Zionist targets in the occupied Palestinian territories will continue until the occupiers adhere to the Gaza ceasefire". At the end of this statement, the Islamic Resistance declared that it remains committed to achieving the two goals of liberating Iraq from the American occupation and supporting Palestinians in their struggle against the Zionist occupation. The Islamic Resistance has conducted several attacks recently on Israeli targets. On Wednesday, it targeted the power plant of Haifa city airport in occupied Palestine with drones, plunging the city into darkness. That's days after, the group said that it had attacked a chemical warehouse in Haifa port, also with drones. Since the onset of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, regional resistance groups including Iraq's Islamic Resistance keep targeting US and Israeli interests in an effort to exert pressure on the regime to end its bloodshed in Gaza. The Islamic Resistance of Iraq has repeatedly targeted US military bases in Iraq and Syria for Washington's illegal military presence in the two Arab countries as well as its support for the Israeli crimes in Gaza. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan's situation needs to be reviewed: UN official ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Mar 7, 2024 New York, IRNA -- The representative of the UN Secretary General for Afghanistan affairs has demanded another meeting in Qatar with the presence of representatives of the interim Taliban government to assess the situation on the ground in Afghanistan. Roza Otunbayeva presented a report and briefed the UN security Council on the situation in Afghanistan on Wednesday local time, according to IRNA reporter in New York. The UN mission's extensive monitoring and advocacy, including on human rights, has highlighted the denial of the civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights of the population, the well-documented policies and actions of repression of women and girls, public displays of violence including of corporal and capital punishment, she told the council. Otunbayeva in her report said that the current turmoil is due to the lack of an inclusive governance and the marginalization of minorities in the country. This UN official stated that day-to-day security has improved for for millions of people in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, but this has come at an enormous cost. Afghanistan has been a challenge for the international community for decades. It is a source of instability, an export of terrorism and a source of 85% of the world's opium production and home to millions of refugees, she added. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Africa urges urgent ICJ measures against Israel ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Mar 7, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to take more emergency measures against the Israeli regime, which it says is breaching the court ruling issued before. Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday night that South Africa's request to the top UN court at The Hague is aimed at preventing famine in Gaza and ensuring the safety and health of the 2.3 million Palestinians there. Vincent Magwenya, the official spokesman of the South African president, emphasized the need for urgent actions to ensure that further genocide is prevented in the Gaza Strip, report said. In its application, South Africa has warned that Palestinians in Gaza are facing starvation and has asked the court to review and prevent Israel's decision to expand its military operations. It also requested the court to order that all parties cease hostilities and release all hostages and detainees. In a statement on Wednesday, the South African presidency also warned that the people of Gaza cannot wait. "The threat of all-out famine has now materialized. The court needs to act now to stop the imminent tragedy by immediately and effectively ensuring that the rights it has found are threatened under the Genocide Convention are protected," it added. The statement said that the ICJ should take these measures without scheduling a new round of hearings because of the "extreme urgency of the situation". In January, South Africa filed a lawsuit at the top UN court against the Zionist regime over the mass killing of the Palestinian people with the aim of ethnic cleansing in Gaza and violating the Genocide Convention. Later in the month, after hearing arguments from the plaintiff and defendant, the court issued an interim order that called on the Zionist regime to take necessary measures to prevent crimes of genocide and improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The court also acknowledged that the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip led to the death of a large number of civilians and caused forced migration. But it stopped short of ordering a ceasefire that was a key demand in South Africa's lawsuit. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Israel responsible for any ceasefire deal failure: Hamas ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Mar 7, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A senior official of the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement said on Wednesday night that the positions of the United States and the Zionist regime are the reason for the failure of any agreement to establish a ceasefire in Gaza. According to the Palestinian Sama news agency, Sami Abu Zuhri, head of the political department of Hamas abroad said the resistance movement supports any ceasefire agreement as long as it is not subject to any other conditions. We would accept any draft resolution in the Security Council that calls for a cessation of war, even temporarily, given that it is not linked to other conditions, he stressed. The Hamas official emphasized however that Palestinians will not agree to an agreement that does not guarantee a complete end of military aggression, the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza, and the return of the refugees. The movement showed a lot of flexibility to reach a ceasefire agreement, but the positions of Americans and the Zionists are the reasons for the failure of talks so far, Abu Zuhri addded. Three days of negotiations involving Egypt, Qatar and the US over a Gaza ceasefire have failed to make a breakthrough, less than a week before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Mediators are trying to bridge these gaps, but it seems that there are sticking points that just can't seem to be resolved, an Al Jazeera reporter said, adding that "the Israelis say they are waiting for Hamas's response, while Hamas says they are awaiting Israel's response." Hamas and Israel insist the other give in to their demands but the resistance movement says it has been more flexible and will not accept less than what has been demanded. The Zionist regime's reluctance on withdrawing its forces from Gaza and allowing Palestinians to return to northern strip, according to sources and media, have been the main sticking points in the last round of talks held in Cairo. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni missiles hit US ship in Gulf of Aden ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Mar 7, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Yemeni army said on Wednesday that it had struck an American ship with missiles in the Gulf of Aden earlier in the day in yet another retaliatory operation for the ongoing US-UK aggression against Yemeni. The army said, in a statement, that the American ship, True Confidence, was struck "with a number of appropriate naval missiles" and that the vessel was engulfed with fire as a result of the "accurate strike". It said that the operation came after the American ship's crew ignored warnings from the Yemeni naval forces. The Yemeni army also said that its operation was in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, adding that it will continue its attacks in the Red and Arab Seas until the Israeli regime lifts its siege of Gaza, and the US-led aggression against Yemen comes to an end. Meanwhile, US and British officials said that two crew members had been killed and six others wounded in the Yemeni missile attack on the American ship. Following the attack, the Yemeni news network Al-Masirah reported new airstrikes by the US and the UK on the international airport in the western port city of Hudaydah. The network said that two airstrikes hit the airport on Wednesday night, without giving further details. Yemeni armed forces have been striking Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea since mid-November in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza ravaged by five months of relentless Israeli attacks during the regime's brutal war on the besieged territory. The Yemenis have been targeting American and British ships in the Red Sea as well, after the two countries launched airstrikes on Yemeni soil in mid-January in response to what they called threats to international shipping. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest National Security Threat Assessment: what is the security status quo? Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2024-03-07 Security and defense policy On March 7 the Defence Intelligence and Security Service under the Ministry of National Defence and the State Security Department presented trends of Lithuania's security situation in the 9th Security Threat Assessment. The National Security Threat Assessment highlights the massive resources Russia is allocating for the war in Ukraine and its absence of interest in de-escalation. It is notable that Russia is failing to meet its operational objectives; however, it is mounting for a lasting confrontation with NATO, including in the Baltic Sea region. "Lithuania's security has not improved over 2023, the threats we are facing have not diminished. Russia's current priority is the war against Ukraine but if the conflict halts or freezes for some reason Moscow may switch its focus to military capability development westwards, and that's were Lithuania is. Therefore we do not predict improvement in Lithuania's security situation in the near future," said Director of the Defence Intelligence and Security Service under the Ministry of National Defence Col Elegijus Paulavicius. It is said in the National Security Threat Assessment that Russia has enough of financial, human, material and technical resources to pursue combat action goals with similar intensity at least in the short-term. Military industry is turning into Russia's economical driving force at the expense of other economy sectors. Russia is also slowly building up the military capabilities required for a long-term confrontation with NATO and the West. It has also commenced a large-scale Armed Forces reform which, however, will take from several years to a decade to be finished. "Beyond doubt, Russia's war in Ukraine and its refusal to withdraw from the imperialist ambition remains the key factor shaping Lithuania's national security. However, there appeared more global threats, tensions and dangers that have a negative effect on the security situation in the recent years. Security services of Russia and Belarus engage in intense activities against Lithuania seeking to sow division, mislead, spy, cause chaos and make the work of institutions difficult. We are observing the intensifying activity of the intelligence service of China that has global and long-term goals. We are living in the times of historical challenges and the intelligence more often has to tell bad news than good. Nevertheless, our most important mission remains to warning about threats, sound a timely alarm and offer an adequate situation assessment," says Head of the State Security Department Darius Jauniskis. The Lithuanian intelligence notes that the Kremlin is creating an image of a universal support to its regime and policy. The mutiny of Wagner, however, has demonstrated that the regime fails to respond quickly to changes in the situation and the society is indifferent to the struggle for power. The approaching Russian elections are needed to consolidate the legitimacy of the rule of Vladimir Putin and public approval to his policy. After the V. Putin reelection, unpopular decisions are highly likely as the regime will need to mobilize Russia and its society for war. According to the Lithuanian intelligence, the aggression against Ukraine shapes Russia's foreign policy to an increasing degree. The Kremlin turns to blackmail and threats to impede the assistance to Ukraine. International isolation pushes Russia towards partnership with the Global South not only to ensure alternative trade and logistic routes but also to assemble and anti-West coalition. Russia also spends a lot of effort to bypass the international sanctions. It systemically increases a network of companies that cooperate on that matter. Its intermediary companies are looking for ways to acquire the necessary equipment and launch contacts with its manufacturers and traders. Some of the companies working in Lithuania and being fully aware it helps to bypass the sanctions also organize equipment, technology and other exports to Russia. It is worth to note that the war in Ukraine has to an extent pulled the plug out of pro-Russian political and social movements in Lithuania. A few pro-Russian public figures in Lithuania attempt to form pro-Russia political powers but their initiatives have been failing. The Lithuanian intelligence also warns that Belarus pursues an intensive intelligence activity against Lithuania. The Belarusian intelligence carries it out in border-crossing interview with people from Lithuania and exploits the increasing Belarusian diaspora in Lithuania. The grown military potential of Belarus originates from the intensified Russian arms support to Minks. The Kremlin allow Lukashenko to demonstrate the mock sovereignty and equality in decision-making but Russia will aim to retain and increase control over Minsk with the tactical nuclear weapon capability it is creating in Belarus and legal conditions for a long-term military presence with it. The Threat Assessment also addressed China, information attacks and the Islamic State. Intensifying China's intelligence against Lithuania conducted from the territory of China is emphasized. It uses social media and develops cyber espionage capabilities targeting Lithuania to find targets in Lithuania, collect information and start contacts. Information attacks against Lithuania and the neighboring countries are also intensifying. They are used to cause fear and panic, disrupt public institution work, sow distrust in state decisions. The information policy of Russia is likely to keep growing. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland 07.03.2024 Poland welcomes Sweden as the member state of the North Atlantic Alliance. It is a major event that strengthens the unity of the Euro-Atlantic community. Sweden's accession strengthens the security of Poland, of the Baltic Sea region and of the whole North Atlantic Alliance. It will contribute and further strengthen NATO's collective deterrence and defence in response to the threat from Russia. The accession of Sweden and previously Finland to NATO confirms that each country has the sovereign right to choose its own alliances. Decisions to join NATO are made exclusively by Alliance members and countries aspiring to membership. NATO's "open door policy" remains an important factor in building the stability and security of the Euro-Atlantic area and should be continued. The best example of this is Poland, which 25 years after joining the Alliance is an important element in the defense of the eastern flank in Europe. We are convinced that cooperation with Sweden within NATO and the European Union will further strengthen our common security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US military to set up 'port' in Gaza: Report Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 9:32 PM The US military is reportedly ordered to set up a port in the Gaza Strip amid fears that such a facility could be used to further boost Washington's already ample military support for Israel, which is waging a genocidal war against the coastal sliver. Reuters carried the report on Thursday, citing American officials as saying that the structure was to be set up on Gaza's Mediterranean coast. "Tonight, the president will announce in his State of the Union address that he has directed the US military to undertake an emergency mission to establish a port in Gaza," it cited "a senior administration official" as saying. One official alleged that the operation was aimed at getting more humanitarian aid into the territory in cooperation "with like-minded countries and humanitarian partners." The port, which would be temporary, would increase the amount of Gaza-headed humanitarian assistance by "hundreds of additional truckloads" per day, the official said. The United States would coordinate "security" of the alleged humanitarian endeavor with Israel, adding that initial supplies would come from Cyprus, the source added. The report came amid the war that has so far killed more than 30,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Since its onset on October 7, the military onslaught has enjoyed untrammeled political, military, and intelligence support on the part of the United States, the Israeli regime's main supporter. As part of its consistent political patronage for the regime, the US has so far vetoed three United Nations Security Council resolutions that have called for implementation of an immediate ceasefire in the Israeli aggression. Throughout the onslaught, the US has also supplied the Tel Aviv regime with more than 10,000 tons of military equipment. On Wednesday, The Washington Post reported that the United States had quietly authorized over 100 separate weapons sales to Israel since the start of the Gaza war. US officials told members of Congress in a recent classified briefing that the sales included thousands of precision-guided munitions, small-diameter bombs, bunker busters, small arms, and other lethal aid. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Al-Houthi: US first culprit in Israeli genocide in Gaza Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 7:16 PM Yemen's Ansarullah leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi says the silence of the international community on Israeli crimes in Gaza, in which the US plays a main role, is a source of shame. "The aggression of the US and the Zionist regime against the people of Gaza continues for the sixth month, and these crimes and genocide of Palestinians are being carried out before the eyes of the international community," he said in a weekly televised address on Thursday. "The genocide of the people of Gaza is a crime against humanity, and no place in Gaza is safe from the aggressive attacks of the occupiers and the Zionists, using prohibited weapons and targeting everything for destruction," he added. Al-Houthi said, "The silence of the international community on the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza is a source of shame, and America plays the main role in this regard." "The Americans bear the shame and are the first culprit in crimes against Palestinians," he added. Al-Houthi said Washington is trying to deceive the nations of the world by airdropping some token aid for the people of Gaza, while it provides large quantities of weapons to Israel to massacre Palestinians. The US, he said, is also obstructing the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip through land, sea and airports. Nevertheless, Israel is unable to achieve its goals in the Gaza Strip, including its campaign to find captives in Gaza or "eradicate the resistance", he said. "On the other hand, the occupiers have failed in the field of psychological warfare and their forces in Gaza have lost their morale." Al-Houthi said the failure to achieve the goals, which some Israeli officials had also considered unrealistic, has disappointed the US and the occupying regime. "Therefore, to compensate for their failures, they have resorted to the genocide of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip." Al-Houthi said all the countries of the world want the Israeli aggression to stop, except the US and the UK, where public opinion is pushing for a permanent ceasefire. The Ansarullah leader praised the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance groups, saying without them, "the enemy could have caused great damage to the Islamic and Arab ummah". Lebanon's Hezbollah, he said, continues to influence the situation "in an unprecedented way through direct confrontation with the occupiers". "The Iraqi front also continues to target the Zionist invaders and it is hoped that its operations will increase," he added. On Tuesday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it had targeted the power station at Israel's Haifa airport using drones. It also attacked the Israeli airport in Kiryat Shmona near Lebanon, the group said in a statement. The operations coincided with Hezbollah firing dozens of Katyusha-type rockets at Kfar Blum kibbutz in the Upper Galilee region in what Israeli media outlets described one of the heaviest since early October. On Wednesday, a US-owned bulk carrier hit off the southwestern coast of the port city of Aden in another retaliatory operation by Yemen's armed forces. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said a missile attack left at least three crew members dead, the first fatalities since the Arab country launched operations against Israeli and Israel-bound vessels in the region. Al-Houthi touched on "the greatest mobilization of the Yemeni nation in supporting the Palestinian cause and its oppressed nation in the recent aggression of the Zionist regime in Gaza". He said the statements of Islamic countries on the issue of Palestine are insufficient, adding they are adjusted in a way that pleases Israel. He called on the oppressed nations of the world to act in concert to support the Palestinian nation, not least by boycotting American and Israeli goods. Yemen's armed forces, al-Houthi said, have carried out 96 operations in support of the people of Gaza so far, using 403 missiles and drones that targeted 61 ships. "We have conducted 64 operations in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, and targeted the positions of the occupiers in the occupied Palestinian territories by conducting 32 operations." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas: Israel thwarted all mediation efforts for Gaza ceasefire Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 3:34 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says Israel has thwarted all efforts by mediators to reach a ceasefire agreement in the besieged Gaza Strip. Sami Abu Zuhri said on Thursday Israel refuses to end its onslaught on Gaza, ensure delivery of humanitarian aid and the return of the displaced Palestinians. Another official who was involved in negotiations in Egypt's capital, Cairo, said, "We are awaiting the final official response from the enemy (Israel)." "The initial responses do not meet the minimum requirements related to the permanent cessation of hostilities," the official said. "We will not compromise on that which ensures the safety of our people." Hamas insists on a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of the displaced and the entry of humanitarian aid and the beginning of reconstruction in the besieged territory. Another Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, said the fate of negotiations now rests upon the United States, Israel's great benefactor. "It is now in Washington's hands whether it wants to pressure Netanyahu and his regime to reach an agreement," Mardawi said. "If Israel is serious and does not procrastinate, it is possible to reach a ceasefire before the start of Ramadan." Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said Israel "refuses to commit to and give guarantees regarding the ceasefire, the return of the displaced, and withdrawal from the areas of its incursion." The Hamas delegation has left Cairo without achieving a breakthrough in negotiations. Hamas says the talks are set to resume next week. "Hamas's delegation left Cairo this morning for consultation with the leadership of the movement," a Hamas statement says. Envoys from the US, Qatar and Hamas were involved in the ceasefire talks. More than five months into Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza, the regime's incessant airstrikes and shelling keep claiming innocent lives in the besieged territory. The Gaza Health Ministry says over 80 people have been killed and 140 others injured since Wednesday. In the north of Gaza City, Israel conducted a deadly airstrike on a mosque in the Jabalia refugee camp. The Palestinian population in Gaza suffers. Malnutrition and dehydration persist. More than 30,800 people, a considerably large number of them women and children, have been killed since Israel launched the brutal aggression in early October. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mar. 6: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 8:46 AM Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 30,700 Palestinians so far, including at least 14,000 children, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers. Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Mar. 6: Targeted an Israeli military "Namer" armored personnel carrier (APC) with a Tandem rocket on Street 10, south of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, Gaza. Shelled the command and control center of the Israeli military in southern Gaza with a barrage of mortar shells. Shelled gatherings of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles with mortar shells in the incursion areas of Khan Younis city. Al-Aqsa Brigades' operations on Mar. 6: Shelled gatherings of Israeli army vehicles and soldiers with 60mm caliber mortar shells in the southern axis of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood. Sniped two Israeli soldiers hiding in a building in the town of Al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis city. Targeted an Israeli military vehicle with RPGs in the southern axis of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on Mar. 6 Launched a barrage of mortar shells on a cavalcade of Israeli vehicles north of Hamad town, west of Khan Younis city. Fired an RPG at an Israeli military vehicle, south of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood. Mujahideen Brigades' operations on Mar. 6: Targeted gatherings of Israeli troops in the southern Al-Zaytoun neighborhood with a volley of mortars. Targeted an Israeli military vehicle with a "Saeer" rocket, east of Jabalia town, northern Gaza Strip. Iraqi resistance's operations on Mar. 6: Targeted the Kiryat Shmona Airport in the occupied Palestinian territories with a kamikaze drone, inflicting significant damage. Yemeni military's operations on Mar. 6: Targeted the American 'True Confidence' ship in the Gulf of Aden with anti-ship missiles, resulting in a massive blaze. Hezbollah's operations on Mar. 6: Eastern sector: At around 14:10 local time, a drone attack was carried out against the Metula site and hit its target accurately. At around 16:25 local time, the Zibdin site in Shebaa was targeted with a missile, achieving a direct hit. At around 16:31 local time, the Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in Kafr Shuba was targeted with missiles, achieving a direct hit. Western sector: At around 22:45 local time the previous day, a building in the Avivim settlement was targeted with appropriate weapons, achieving a direct hit. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Direct Baku-Yerevan talks, durable peace will promote development in Caucasus: Iran's defense minister Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 7:50 AM Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani says Tehran supports sustainable peace and direct negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve the disputes in the Caucasus region. In a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan in Tehran on Wednesday, Ashtiani said security in the region must be ensured through regional mechanisms. He warned against the adverse consequences of attempts by extra-regional countries to gain a foothold in Caucasus, adding that it would turn the region into a place of conflict among powers and cause more challenges to security and stability. The Caucasus region must not turn into a battleground for others as it would jeopardize stability and security of all countries, the Iranian defense chief emphasized. Situated in the South Caucasus, the landlocked region of Nagorno-Karabakh has been at the heart of a long-running dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Azerbaijan took full control of the breakaway Karabakh region in September following a 24-hour military operation against pro-Armenian forces. Also in his remarks, Ashtiani said the expansion of relations with all neighboring countries is among the principles of Iran's foreign policy. Pointing to Armenia's special importance in Iran's ties with its neighbors, Ashtiani said the two countries have always enjoyed developing relations in various fields. He added that Iran's policy is to support a comprehensive and sustainable peace in the region Iran's firm stance is to support the territorial integrity of regional countries and their right to sovereignty without any change in the internationally recognized borders, he pointed out. The Iranian defense minister also stressed the need to ensure regional security by the countries in the region and voiced Tehran's strong objection to any approach contrary to the policy. Papikyan, for his part, pointed to deep-rooted historical friendship between Iran and Armenia and highlighted the significance of both sides' common stance on regional stability. The Armenian defense minister urged the two countries to make more efforts to strengthen relations. Armenia agrees with Iran's stance on promotion of peace and cordial relations between Yerevan and Baku, he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's FM calls Gaza war a 'tragedy and disgrace', urges immediate ceasefire Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 7:21 AM China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has described Israel's war in Gaza as a tragedy for human kind and a "disgrace for civilization," reiterating Beijing's calls for an "immediate ceasefire." "It is a tragedy for humankind and a disgrace for civilization that today, in the 21st century, this humanitarian disaster cannot be stopped," Wang said at a press conference in the Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on Thursday. Wang further said that the continuation of the conflict cannot be justified by any means, and that there is no valid reason for anyone to be desperately killed. "The people of Gaza have a right to life," he said. He called on the international community to act promptly to achieve an immediate ceasefire and said the cessation of hostilities is an overriding priority, and ensuring humanitarian relief is an urgent moral responsibility. Beijing's top diplomat also said that China supports Palestine'd full membership of the United Nations, urging "a certain UN member not to lay obstacles to that end." "The catastrophe in Gaza once again reminded the world that the fact that the Palestinian territories have been occupied for a long time can no longer be ignored," Wang said. "The long-cherished wish of the Palestinian people to establish an independent country can no longer be evaded, and the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people cannot continue for generations without being corrected," he added. Beijing has been calling for an immediate ceasefire since the start of the current Israel-Hamas war in October last year. The United Nations has already warned that in the absence of any changes in the Israeli regime's ongoing genocidal war on Gaza, the territory is on course to experience all-out famine. Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which China is a key member, on Wednesday denounced Israel's ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate and durable humanitarian ceasefire in the besieged territory as the holy fasting month of Ramadan approaches. Israel launched the genocidal war on Gaza after Palestinian resistance groups launched a surprise retaliatory operation into the occupied territories on October 7 in response to the regime's continued aggression. The Tel Aviv regime's latest war has so far killed more than 30,700 Gazans, most of them women and children. Israel has vowed not to stop the aggression until the realization of its declared goals, including "destruction" of the Gaza-based resistance movement Hamas, which many dismiss as unattainable. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Israel seek temporary ceasefire in Gaza to 'buy time' to continue war: Hamas official Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 7:03 AM A senior official of the Hamas resistance group says the US and Israel are pursuing a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in a bid to "buy time" to prolong their genocidal war on the Palestinian territory. Osama Hamdan, a Lebanon-based Hamas official, made the remarks in an interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen news channel, as Gaza truce negotiations, mediated by the US, Egypt and Qatar, have failed to achieve a breakthrough. "From the first day [of the Gaza ceasefire talks], it was clear that all the Americans and Israelis wanted was a temporary truce and they refused to cease hostilities permanently," he said. "Both the United States and Israel are maneuvering and trying to buy some time." The official also warned that Hamas will not continue aimless negotiations, adding that the resistance group seeks a written agreement and that it cannot settle for less. Any information about the Israeli captives "comes with a price... If there are no clear answers, we cannot continue to go around in circles," he said. Hamdan further said that the occupying regime actually wants to "catch its breath and worsen the humanitarian crisis" in the besieged Gaza. Israel waged its brutal US-backed war on the Gaza Strip on October 7 after Hamas carried out its historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 30,717 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 72,156 others. Israel is intentionally starving the Palestinian people by blocking the passage of relief supplies into Gaza in what is considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute. Instead of halting the flow of its weapons to Gaza, the US has recently embarked on a public relations campaign and airdropped aid on the blockaded territory. Hamdan said that the amount of the airdropped aid did not exceed two truckloads, noting that the US is a complicit in the regime's inhumane siege on Gaza. "Those who want to come to Gaza to contribute to the liberation project are welcomed, while those who want to side with the Israeli occupation will be treated as an occupier," he said. The Hamas official also warned that the more Israel escalates its aggression against Gaza, the more the resistance front will be pushed towards higher levels of the battle against the regime. The course of developments in the current Gaza war shows that the Palestinian people will emerge victorious, he predicted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address First fatality: Yemeni army attack on bulk carrier transiting Gulf of Aden kills three mariners, US military confirms Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 6:49 AM The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that a missile attack by Yemen's Armed Forces on a merchant ship transiting the Gulf of Aden has left at least three seafarers dead, the first fatalities since the Arab country launched retaliatory attacks on vessels in the area. CENTCOM said in a statement on Wednesday that the fatalities occurred after the Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence, a Liberian-owned bulk carrier, was set ablaze approximately 50 nautical miles (93km) off the coast of Yemen's port of Aden. It also reported at least four injuries, of which three are in critical condition, as well as "significant damage to the ship" following the strike. Earlier, a shipping source said three crew members were missing from the bulk carrier True Confidence and four others had been badly burned following an attack on the vessel, which initial reports identified as a US-owned one. A US defense official also said smoke was seen coming from True Confidence, adding that a lifeboat had also been seen in the water near the ship. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency also said it had received a report of the incident, adding that the vessel had been abandoned by the crew and was "no longer under command." The Yemeni armed forces claimed responsibility for attack and said the operation came after the ship's crew rejected warning messages from the Yemeni naval forces. The forces also urged all ships sailing through the region to respond to calls by Yemeni naval forces. The latest development comes four days after the Rubymar, a British container ship, sank after floating for two weeks with severe damage from a retaliatory attack by Yemen's Armed Forces. The UK-owned Belize-flagged bulk carrier, the M/V Rubymar, came under the Yemeni military's attack on February 18 with several naval missiles in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait a strategic waterway linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Yemen's armed forces have been striking Israeli-linked ships since November 2023 in a campaign to force the occupying regime to end its brutal war on the besieged Gaza Strip. The United States and Britain have also been carrying out strikes against Yemen since early January to force the Arab country to stop its strikes on Israel-linked ships. That has caused Yemenis to expand their maritime strikes to target ships owned by the two countries. The flurry of strikes has made several shipping firms to suspend passage through the Red Sea, which usually carries around 12 percent of global trade. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address S Africa asks ICJ to act to prevent Israel from afflicting famine on Gaza Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 3:02 AM South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to try to mount pressure on the Israeli regime to prevent it from afflicting famine on the Gaza Strip, which is enduring a genocidal war by Tel Aviv. Late last year, the country sued the regime at the court, prompting it to call on Tel Aviv to try to "prevent the commission of all acts within the scope" of the Genocide Convention. On Wednesday, Pretoria asked the tribunal to order additional emergency measures against Israel, which is breaching the measures already in place. Also on Wednesday, the South African presidency issued a statement, warning that "the threat of all-out famine has now materialized" in Gaza. "The court needs to act now to stop the imminent tragedy by immediately and effectively ensuring that the rights it has found are threatened under the Genocide Convention are protected," it added. The country also asked the court to order that Israel take "immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address famine and starvation" in Gaza. It added that the ICJ, also known as the World Court, had to take these measures without scheduling a new round of hearings because of the "extreme urgency of the situation." Israel launched the war against the Gaza Strip on October 7 after al-Aqsa Storm, a surprise operation by the coastal sliver's resistance groups against the occupied territories that was staged in protest at intensification of Tel Aviv's decades-long crimes against Palestinians. The Tel Aviv regime has also enforced a near-total siege on Gaza, which has reduced the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory to a trickle. The regime has so far during the war killed more than 30,700 Gazans, most of them women and children. Israel has vowed not to stop the aggression until realization of its declared goals, including "destruction" of the Gaza-based resistance movement Hamas, which many dismiss as unattainable. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Resistance front could still surprise Israel, commander suggests Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 12:39 AM The commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) suggests that the regional resistance front could still face the Israeli regime with more surprises by fielding more of its capabilities. The October-present war between the Israeli regime and the resistance front showed that the front serves as an "integrated set that has a lot of capabilities," Brigadier General Esmail Qa'ani said on Wednesday. "Of course, it has not yet used all of its capabilities," he said, adding, "It was also proven [during the war] that no one can take the resistance front for granted." Israel launched the war against the Gaza Strip on October 7 after al-Aqsa Storm, a surprise operation by the coastal sliver's resistance groups against the occupied territories that was staged in protest at intensification of Tel Aviv's decades-long crimes against Palestinians. The regime has so far during the war killed more than 30,700 Gazans, most of them women and children. Since the onset of the military onslaught, however, resistance groups across the region -- from across Iraq and Lebanon to Yemen -- have posed a serious challenge to the occupying regime by targeting the occupied territories as well as Israeli vessels or those bound for the territories with hundreds of rockets, missiles, and drones. "Today, the resistance front, especially the forces of [the Gaza-based resistance movement of] Hamas in the al-Aqsa Storm Operation, have assumed an offensive attitude by relying on [their] devotion and the weapons that they have [at their disposal," Qa'ani noted. The regional groups, he added, have "heroically faced the Israeli army with a serious challenge." The resistance's youths, who used to rely only on their bare hands and stones to defend themselves, have now come to both "protect their land and reputation and beset Israel with their resistance [operations]." "Gaza's ruins will definitely be repaired, but the occupying regime's reputation will not," Qa'ani concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China announces 'excessive' baseline in Gulf of Tonkin Beijing releases a set of seven points forming a baseline defining its sovereignty in the waters shared with Vietnam. By RFA Staff 2024.03.07 -- China has announced the baseline that defines its territory in the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin that it shares with Vietnam. In a statement published on the foreign ministry's website early this month, the Chinese government released a set of seven base points that, when connected, would form a new baseline for Beijing's claims of sovereignty in the Gulf of Tonkin, known in China as Beibu Gulf. This baseline did not exist before and it is unclear why China decided to announce it now. On May 15, 1996, Beijing released 49 base points for the entire China's coast from Hainan to Qingdao but not the northern Gulf of Tonkin. "Some of the base points are too far from the coast and the baseline appears seriously incompliant with the U.N. law of the sea," said Song Phan, a Vietnamese maritime analyst. "Vietnam and China already signed an agreement on the demarcation of the Gulf of Tonkin in 2000 with a clear demarcation line, so the new baseline is not expected to hurt Vietnam's economic interests very much as long as Beijing does not ask to re-negotiate," he said, "But it would bring complications to other maritime activities in the area." Another maritime expert, Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the Australian Defence Force Academy, said the straight baseline "appears excessive." "It would result in a bigger overlap of China's exclusive economic zone with the agreed median line and joint fishing areas [between Vietnam and China] in the Gulf of Tonkin," Thayer said. What is a baseline? A baseline under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the line that runs along the coast of a country, from which the extent of the territorial sea and other maritime zones is measured. Different maritime zones give a coastal state different jurisdictional rights, and the closer the zone to the baseline the bigger its associated jurisdiction rights. Landward inside the baseline are internal waters where states have the same sovereign jurisdiction as they do over their land territory. No foreign vessels or aircraft are allowed to make so-called innocent passage through a country's internal waters. The territorial sea, measured 12 nautical miles from the baseline, is where the coastal state has sovereignty and exclusive jurisdiction not only to the sea, but also to the seabed and subsoil, as well as vertically to the airspace. Foreign aircraft cannot fly through the airspace above the coastal state's territorial sea without permission. Some countries, such as China, Taiwan and Vietnam, also require permission or notification before a foreign warship can sail through their territorial seas. Beijing has repeatedly protested against U.S. warships' sailing in waters near the Paracel and Spratly archipelagos, which Washington insists is conducted in accordance with international law. "The new baseline would affect freedom of navigation activities, scientific research, cables or pipelines laying and island reclamation works," said Song Phan. "More importantly, the expansive internal waters mean there will be no access for any other country to a large area," he added. Hanoi has not reacted to the Chinese government's announcement. "To my mind the new line looks incompatible with the wording of UNCLOS," said Bill Hayton, Associate Fellow at Chatham House think tank in London. "However, since the median line with Vietnam is already defined, I don't think it will have a major impact," Hayton said. "Hanoi could object and take China to a tribunal but I don't think it would gain anything," he added. In 2016, in a landmark tribunal brought by the Philippines the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against all China's claims in the South China Sea but Beijing has rejected the verdict, calling it "illegal, null and void." Edited by Elaine Chan and Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing condemns Manila's Maritime Zones Act Chinese spokesperson says the bill "severely violates China's territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea." By RFA Staff 2024.03.07 -- China has protested against the passage of a draft law on maritime zones in the South China Sea by the Philippine Senate. The upper house of the Philippine's legislature on passed the so-called Maritime Zones Act on Feb. 26. The lower house approved a similar bill last May. The act defines Philippine maritime zones in line with the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, or PCA, in 2016 that invalidated China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea. Six parties claim parts of the South China Sea but Beijing's claim, visualized by the so-called nine-dash line, encircles almost 90% of the sea including all the islands and reefs inside. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing that the act "has attempted to further enforce the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea by domestic legislation." She said that the act "severely violates China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea" by including the Scarborough Shoal, which is called Huangyan Dao in China, most islands and reefs of the Spratly archipelago (Nansha Qundao in Chinese), and their adjacent waters into its maritime zones. "China firmly opposes it and has lodged solemn demarches to the Philippines," the spokeswoman said. Mao made scathing remarks about the 2016 PCA tribunal which, she said, Manila unilaterally initiated without the Chinese government's prior consent and is therefore deemed "illegal" by Beijing. "China neither accepts nor participates in that arbitration, neither accepts nor recognizes the award, and will never accept any claim or action arising from the award," she reiterated. Significant law Tensions have been rising between Beijing and Manila over Scarborough Shoal and the Second Thomas Shoal - two of the disputed reefs that lie within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), also known as the West Philippine Sea. By international law, an EEZ gives a state exclusive access to the natural resources in the waters and seabed. On Tuesday, Manila said four Filipino crew members were injured when China Coast Guard ships used water cannons to block Philippine vessels taking supplies to a military outpost at the Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin in the Philippines. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said afterwards that the event was "alarming" and that "we cannot view this in any way but the most serious way." Since the news emerged about the passage of the Maritime Zones Act at the Senate on Monday, "there have been comments from some columnists or opinion makers from other countries criticizing it," said Jonathan Malaya, Assistant Director General of the Philippine National Security Council, not directly referring to Mao Ning's statement. "But this is a sovereign act of the Philippines," Malaya said, "It doesn't matter what other countries say." "The significance of this law is that it implements in domestic legislation the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague," the senior official told Radio Free Asia. "It's important for the Philippines to enshrine this decision in domestic law which further strengthens our legal position in territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea," he added. The two versions of the bill, by the two chambers of the Philippine Congress, will now be reconciled before being sent to President Marcos who would then sign the bill into law. "This is part of a wider national strategy for the West Philippine Sea, a vital step of protecting the sovereign rights of the Philippines by ensuring that international maritime law is synchronized with domestic law," said Aries Arugay, a visiting senior fellow at the ISEAS Yusof-Ishak Institute in Singapore. After the law on maritime zones, lawmakers are likely to propose a bill on archipelagic sea lanes, and even an anti-foreign interference bill, according to the political scientist. "Half of the Senate will be up for grabs [in an election] next year," said Arugay. "Our legislators now think that taking a more pro-Philippines assertive stance in the West Philippine Sea may get them re-elected." "Before, foreign policy issues have never been electoral issues but while some Filipinos may think this is an issue far from their daily lives, when they see the high prices of fish they can immediately connect that with the inability of fishermen to get fish in the South China Sea," he explained. "So the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea can be, if not already is, a gut issue for many Filipinos." Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese mining companies must process minerals in Laos before export The order is aimed at creating more jobs - and at demanding more benefits for Laotians from Chinese-funded projects. By RFA Lao 2024.03.07 -- Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has directed the Ministry of Energy and Mines to require mining companies to process raw minerals in Laos before export - a demand aimed at the country's numerous Chinese-funded mining projects. Siphandone communicated the new guideline for overseeing mining operations to ministry officials during a visit on March 1 to the headquarters of Electricite du Laos, the state-owned power company in Vientiane. The order is aimed at providing work for Laotians during a time when the national economy has stagnated and many young people are considering moving to Thailand or elsewhere abroad to find better-paying jobs. "The prime minister insists that the mining companies process all minerals here in Laos," said a ministry official, who like other sources in this report requested anonymity for safety reasons. "More specifically, our government wants all Chinese mining companies to comply with the new guideline as soon as possible," he told Radio Free Asia. Over the last 20 years, the Lao government has given the green light to 1,143 mining projects and 1,336 mineral processing projects covering more than 72,370 square km (27,942 square miles) - more than 3 percent of the country's total surface area. Most of the recently approved projects were for Chinese investors, according to the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment. Some of the larger operations have prompted complaints that not enough local workers are hired, and that local residents are often left without farmland or drinkable water after mining companies move into an area, evict local residents and then dig into the land. Under the current system, Laos "loses more than it gains," an official of the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce told RFA. 'Not surprised' Most of the projects are focused on extracting gold, copper, silver, nickel, coal, iron, potassium or zinc, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mines' website. Laotians have spoken frequently about seeing large, mineral-loaded trucks heading north on dirt roads and paved highways toward the Boten border checkpoint with China. "These trucks are very heavy and they damage our roads," a Public Works and Transport Department official in northern Phongsaly province told RFA. The owner of a Lao mining company in Oudomxay province in northern Laos said he watched as all raw minerals were taken to China during his time as a subcontractor for a Chinese mining company. "I'm not surprised that the Lao government is suspending the export of the raw minerals," he said. "Besides this company, many other Chinese mining companies have been exporting raw minerals to China too." Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Malaysian PM defends China again, says hindering its ascent will raise tensions Anwar Ibrahim claps back at US criticism of Malaysia's ties with Beijing, saying he doesn't have 'China-phobia.' By Ili Shazwani Ihsan 2024.03.07 -- Malaysia's leader warned on Thursday that any actions to impede the economic rise of China would upset Beijing enough that it would heighten tensions in the region. Alluding to increasing Chinese assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea - most of which Beijing claims - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim added that allowing a country to grow doesn't mean ignoring its violations of international law. In China's eyes, hostile reactions to its rise "represent nothing less than an attempt to deny their legitimate place in history ...," Anwar said during a speech at the Australian National University in Canberra. "The obstacles being placed against China's economic and technological advancement will only further accentuate such grievances." Southeast Asia and the Pacific region have seen tensions rise in recent years as the United States attempts to counter China's influence there. The South China Sea has also become a theater for big-power rivalry, as Washington has accused Beijing of undermining freedom of navigation. However, according to Anwar, how countries respond to China's economic and technological advancement will determine whether "detente or discord" characterize Southeast Asia. What countries should show, he said, is "a measure of empathy; to put ourselves in their shoes; to see how others see us," Anwar said in the address. The prime minister's speech was headlined "Navigating geopolitical currents: Malaysia and Australia's role in the Asia-Pacific." He delivered the speech in the Australian federal capital after a three-day special ASEAN-Australia summit in Melbourne, where the main topics of discussion were the South China Sea and Israel-Hamas war. While speaking about China's rise and attempts to impede that advancement, the Malaysian PM did not mention which countries were taking such actions. However, earlier this week, he reiterated a comment he made last month about how the United States and the West were displaying "China-phobia." At a press conference on Monday, he was asked why he made that accusation in an interview with a British daily last month. His answer was indicative of the pressure that Southeast Asia's countries are under to remain neutral as Washington and Beijing try to one-up each other in the region. Anwar said Malaysia is often criticized for what some Western countries believe is its slight tilt toward China. "[M]y reference to China-phobia is because [against] the criticism levied against us for giving additional focus to China - my response is ... right now China seems to be the leading investor," in Malaysia, Anwar said. Being a friend with the U.S. or Europe doesn't preclude Malaysia from being a friend to its neighbor China as well, he said. "And if they have problems with China, they should not impose it upon us. We do not have a problem with China. So, that's why I referred to the issue of China-phobia in the West," he said. 'Washington Consensus is gradually eroding' Anwar wasn't done criticizing the U.S. or the West. In his speech in Canberra, he noted that changes brought about by phenomena such as globalization had altered U.S. foreign policy, and not positively. Globalization did not work for the U.S. as it did for Asia's workers, and long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have taken a toll on Americans, Anwar said. "The upshot is a preference for leaders who are more transactional with the rest of the world - those who profess to put America first," he said. Anwar said the world must also recognize that "the Washington Consensus is gradually eroding, if [it has] not altogether disappeared." He was referring to a set of market-oriented policies for the developing world that global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund support. "We should therefore not be surprised when forums such as BRICS start to gain purchase. If one avenue for asserting new realities is impeded, others will take its place," he said. BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. "Accordingly, we should not take for granted that Western perspectives on the future world order would be embraced universally. There is growing impatience with how global institutions are failing to reform themselves," Anwar said. Chinese official appreciates Anwar's comments The Malaysian PM's recent comments have not gone unnoticed by Chinese officials, with Zheng Xuefang, minister at the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, expressing his appreciation on Wednesday. "The development of China is an opportunity for the world rather than a threat to anyone," Bernama, the Malaysian state-run news agency, quoted him as saying during a visit to its offices in Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile in China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday emphasized the importance of economic diplomacy. "China cannot develop without the world, and the world cannot develop without China," he told reporters after the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, according to a statement on the foreign ministry website. "Badmouthing China will definitely backfire on itself, and misjudging China will [lead to] miss opportunities," he said. Brave talk from Anwar, but Malaysia needs to be careful it doesn't become overly dependent on China in trade and economy, said Chong Yew Keat, a foreign affairs analyst at University Malaya. That could create long-term risks to Malaysia's economic and security fundamentals, Chong said, noting that China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner over the last 14 years. Malaysia is in critical need of Beijing's investments in key areas, such as local transportation, property, 5G, artificial intelligence and green energy. After a state visit to China last April, Anwar said he had received commitments of nearly U.S. $39 billion in new investment. Chong also expressed concerns about Malaysia's approach in the South China Sea dispute, especially its oil and gas reserves in its exclusive economic zone. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including waters within the EEZs of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. "Malaysia will need to unwaveringly stand up to the steadfast protection of the rules-based order based on international law and norms and ensure a free and open navigation and a free and open Indo-Pacific," Chong told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated news outlet. "As a maritime trading nation where [Malaysia's] economic survival depends overwhelmingly on maritime trade, Malaysia and the region cannot afford to ... to repackage the notion of a free, open, and rules based regional order according to different non-Western interpretations, to justify the call for the exclusion of Western powers' presence or 'interference' in this region." BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news outlet. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moldova's Sandu Signs Defense Deal With France, Warns West That Russia Will Not Stop By RFE/RL's Moldovan Service March 07, 2024 Moldovan President Maia Sandu warned Moscow will not stop if it wins in Ukraine and will threaten the rest of Europe as she signed a key bilateral defense and cooperation pact with France on March 7. "If the aggressor is not stopped, he will keep going, and the front line will keep moving closer. Closer to us. Closer to you," Sandu said after signing the deal in Paris with her French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron. "Europe must therefore present a united front. Aggression must be repelled by a strong force," she added. Macron in turn vowed France's "unwavering support'' for Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe, in the face of Moscow's threat. France and Moldova reached an initial agreement in September on training of military personnel, regular consultations on defense, and intelligence sharing. Sandu has said Moscow plans to undermine Moldova's stability and throw the southeastern European nation off its path toward European integration ahead of a presidential election and a referendum on membership in the European Union. A report by Moldova's Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) has issued a stark warning about Russia's plans to derail Moldova's efforts to shake off Moscow's decades-long influence and move closer to the West.\ Speaking before she left for Paris, Sandu said that "Moscow wants to destabilize the situation in Moldova, Moscow want to intimidate Moldova's citizens, especially since this year we may have a referendum on Moldova joining the EU -- at least that is my proposal and I hope Moldova's parliament will back it." The pro-Western Sandu, under whom Moldova made an abrupt U-turn from Russia to Europe, is up for reelection later this year after handing an upset defeat to Moscow-backed incumbent Igor Dodon in 2020. Sandu has previously indicated that she would prefer that the presidential election and the EU membership referendum be held together. Moldova received an invitation to open accession negotiations with the 27-member bloc in 2022. She said that militarily, Moldova is being shielded from a potential Russian attack by its eastern neighbor, Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia's aggression for the past two years. "Moscow has no way of reaching Moldova, first of all because Ukraine is our shield, and Ukraine is resisting [Russia's aggression] and will keep resisting. And secondly because Moldova has powerful friends and has chosen to be on the side of the free world," Sandu said. Before the visit, the French presidency said in a statement, providing further details, that France will reiterate its support "for the independence, sovereignty and security of the Republic of Moldova, in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine." Presenting his report on March 5, SIS chief Alexandru Musteata said his agency has come into possession of "certain data" about actions planned for this year and the next one that would compromise Moldova's accession to the EU and bring it back under Russia's sphere of influence. "The details point to strategies for 2024 and 2025 that involve supporting pro-Russian political actors with ties to the intelligence services, organized crime groups, and the Kremlin leadership," Musteata said. France on March 7 is also hosting an online meeting of EU defense and foreign ministers to discuss increasing support for Ukraine, but also for Moldova, which France said is facing "increasing destabilization moves" by Russia. With Sandu at the helm, neutral Moldova also strongly condemned Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine, firmly aligning itself with Kyiv while tightening its ties with its other neighbor, EU and NATO member Romania, with whom Moldova shares a common language and history. SIS chief Musteata said that his agency's intelligence suggests Moscow would use tools from its old playbook to sow instability in Moldova. "We predict that attempts would be made to trigger several social and political crises, to spark clashes, and to incite interethnic hatred that would lead to security crises in the Gagauz autonomy or the Transdniester region," Musteata said. Semiautonomous Gagauzia is populated mainly by ethnic Turkish Gagauz who speak Russian and have adopted Russian Orthodox Christianity. Moscow-backed Transdniester declared independence from Moldova in 1990 and fought a war with Chisinau that was tilted in the separatists' favor by Russian troops who continue to be stationed in the region. It has recently "appealed" to Moscow for support to offset what it said was pro-Western Moldova's "unbearable pressure." The appeal, which largely seemed orchestrated by the Kremlin itself, rang alarm bells in Western capitals as a prelude to a possible "unification" of the separatist region with Moscow. "Moldova is facing increasingly aggressive attempts at destabilization," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said on February 29. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-sandu-russia- destabilization-european-union/32851394.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 7, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom on the historic occasion of the deposit of Sweden's NATO instrument of accession in Washington. Secretary Blinken offered warmest congratulations on Sweden's completion of its final step to becoming the 32nd NATO Ally. The Secretary and Prime Minister Kristersson discussed how Sweden can immediately contribute to Alliance priorities and preparations for the NATO summit in Washington in July. They also discussed support for Ukraine and deepening defense and economic cooperation between the United States and Sweden. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken Receives Sweden's NATO Instruments of Accession Before Meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson Room Washington, D.C. March 7, 2024 MODERATOR: Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here today. Prime Minister Kristersson, accompanied by Foreign Minister Billstrom, will now deposit Sweden's instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty, with Secretary of State Blinken representing the United States of America as the depositary of the treaty. (The instrument was deposited.) SECRETARY BLINKEN: Welcome. (Applause.) Well, good things come to those who wait. (Laughter.) No better example. But with receipt of this instrument of accession, let me be the very first to welcome Sweden as a party to the Washington Treaty and the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (Applause.) Prime Minister, to you, to my friend the foreign minister, a personal note of thanks for your extraordinary leadership, your extraordinary vision, and your resilience. This has been a little bit of a road, but I think we've known from day one, that we would be here today, and now we are. This is a historic moment for Sweden. It's historic for our Alliance. It's historic for the transatlantic relationship. Our NATO Alliance, our defensive alliance, is now stronger and larger than it's ever been. But I think if you step back and think of where we were three years ago, none of this was foreordained and in fact, none of this was foreseeable. Sweden had a 200-year-old policy of nonalignment. And before Putin's re-invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, if you looked at the polling, less than one-third of Swedes supported joining NATO. This was part and parcel of Sweden's history, and then everything changed. After the invasion, three-quarters of the Swedish people made clear their desire to join. Swedes realized something very profound: that if Putin was willing to try to erase one neighbor from the map, then he might well not stop there. And if he was allowed to proceed with impunity, not only would his aggression potentially continue, but would-be aggressors everywhere would get the message that it was open season. And so, the Swedish people stood up - stood up not only for their own country, but stood up to the common responsibility that we share to try to make sure that the very foundations of the international system that we all rely on - to have peace, to have security, to have opportunity - when they were challenged, we were there to defend them. Sweden was there to defend them. And I think what this tells us even more profoundly is the reaffirmation of Sweden's democratic character: change driven by its people, by its citizens. There's also no clearer example than today of the strategic debacle that Putin's invasion of Ukraine has become for Russia. We see a Russia that is now weaker militarily, economically, diplomatically. Its standing in Ukraine has changed dramatically, whereas before 2014 - the first invasion - people were open to positive relations with Russia; now, virtually the entire society - and not just today; probably for generations - has turned against Russia because of its aggression. And fundamentally our Alliance is now, as I said, both larger and stronger than it's ever been. And we see again and again and again that everything Putin sought to prevent, he's actually precipitated by his actions, by his aggression; and there's no clearer example of that than Sweden becoming a member of this Alliance. But even once that decision was made, none of this was easy. None of this was obvious. It's taken two years - nearly two years - of tireless diplomacy, together with the extraordinary Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg to achieve ratification by every NATO member. And again, the determination of Sweden's leadership, the extraordinary diplomacy that it's exerted, making sure that every question was answered, every challenge was met, every obstacle was overcome - that's what brought us to today. Now, some doubted that we'd get here. We never did, and we are here. This, of course, is also built on an extraordinary foundation of partnership between Sweden and NATO that goes back many, many years. Sweden has long been an active partner with NATO Allies - training together, exercising together, working together. And fundamentally, the reason this is such a strong, powerful fit is because Sweden embodies and promotes the core values that are at the heart of NATO: democracy, liberty, the rule of law. And it also brings some unique capabilities to this enterprise - unique capabilities in the Arctic and Baltic Seas. And this year, of course, Sweden will contribute more than 2 percent of its GDP to defense; and continue to show the way for all NATO members. If you go back to 1949 at the signing of the NATO Treaty, President Truman said this, and I quote: "In taking steps to prevent aggression against our own peoples, we have no purpose of aggression against other peoples. We hope to create a shield against aggression and the fear of aggression, a bulwark which will permit us to get on with the real business of government and society - the business of achieving a fuller and happier life for all of our citizens." That is fundamentally what this enterprise is all about, what NATO is all about. It's making sure that together we are creating an environment in which our people are safe, secure, and can meet their full potential. Today we have fortified this shield - fortified the shield against aggression. We brought more people under its protection so that together we can focus on the real work of delivering for our people. With that, Mr. Prime Minister, the floor is yours. (Applause.) PRIME MINISTER KRISTERSSON: Thank you so much Mr. Secretary, Antony. Thank you so much. Today is a truly historic day. Sweden is now member of NATO. We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming bipartisan congressional support for Sweden's accession, and for the strong leadership from the U.S. administration leading the way on ratification and security assurances. I would personally like to thank both President Biden and you, Secretary Blinken, for your invaluable efforts and personal commitments during the accession process. I would also like to thank all NATO Allies, who have supported our accession and welcome Sweden as the 32nd member of the Alliance. We are humble, but we are also proud. We will live up to high expectations from all NATO Allies. United we stand. Unity and solidarity will be Sweden's guiding light as a NATO member, where we share burdens, responsibilities, and risks with other Allies. Today is, as Secretary Blinken said, it's a victory for freedom today. Sweden has made a free, democratic, sovereign, and united choice to join NATO. There is an overwhelming support in our parliament and among our people. That is a strength, both for Sweden and for the Alliance. And as a strong democracy, Sweden will stand for the values in the Washington Treaty, signed just a few blocks from here 75 years ago: freedom, democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law. Sweden is, as was mentioned, now leaving 200 years of neutrality and military non-alignment behind. It is a major step - but at the same time, a very natural step. Membership means that we are coming home to the Alliance for peace, and coming home to the Alliance for freedom, to which many democracies already belong - also home to our neighbors' security cooperation, home to the circle of countries where we, for generations, have belonged. We will defend freedom together with the countries closest to us, both in terms of geography, culture, and values. The security situation in our region has not been this serious since the Second World War. Russia will stay a serious threat to the Euro-Atlantic security for the foreseeable future. It was in this light that Sweden applied to join the NATO defense alliance - to gain security, but also to provide security. We have unique capabilities to contribute on land, in the air, at sea. Our support to Ukraine is a fundamental part of that. Ukraine is fighting bravely for its freedom, but they are also defending European freedom. At the same time, we are strengthening our defense and doubling the defense budget right now. From this year onwards, Sweden meets NATO's standard of 2 percent of GDP to defense spendings. This is important for NATO security, obviously, and to burden sharing. We are increasing the numbers of conscripts, strengthening civil defense, and reintroducing civilian service in Sweden. We have been prepared for this task for quite a while, and I'm very pleased to take this very final step. Sweden is joining NATO is not the end of something. It's a beginning of something new. I look forward to making the world safer and freer together with the United States and all other NATO Allies. And allow me, finally, a very short summary in Swedish. (In Swedish.) Thank you all so much. (Applause.) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As we approach Ramadan, the UK calls for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan and for all parties to allow unhindered humanitarian access: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan. 7 March 2024 Thank you President and thank you, Secretary-General, for your sobering update. Colleagues, the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces bear responsibility for the horrendous situation in Sudan. Shelling and attacks from both sides in heavily populated, urban areas and across the entire western region of Sudan, continue to kill and terrorise civilians. The situation for children is particularly unbearable. Four million have been displaced. Over 700,000 will suffer from the deadliest form of malnutrition this year. Sudanese children have missed a year of school and face the fear of not knowing when they will receive their next meal. The Sudanese Armed Force's withdrawal of permission for cross-border deliveries of humanitarian aid from Adre in Chad is indefensible. We call on the Sudanese authorities to honour their commitments to facilitate crossline and other cross-border routes for the delivery of life-saving assistance for the Sudanese people. They need to remove the red tape and deliberate obstructionism which has prevented meaningful crossline assistance in recent months. To the people of Sudan, who for nearly a year have been made to witness their country's descent into near collapse: you have not been forgotten. The situation in Sudan warrants a robust response from this Council and increased attention from the international community. As we approach the holy month of Ramadan, we echo the Secretary-General's call for an immediate ceasefire and we urge all parties to allow for unhindered cross-border and crossline humanitarian access. We encourage international partners, including the AU, IGAD and regional states, as well as the UN's Personal Envoy, to prioritise coordination of their efforts to end this conflict, and to reject attempts by the warring parties to pit different mediation tracks against each other. President, it should not be for the military leadership of both the SAF or RSF to determine the political future of Sudan. We call on them to give way to a civilian, transitional government that will fully respect the basic human rights of the Sudanese people. I thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza: Starvation claims more young lives as UN advocates for new aid routes 7 March 2024 - Days from the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan and with no ceasefire agreement in sight for Gaza, UN humanitarians reiterated deep concerns on Thursday that a growing number of children are dying of starvation. "The situation is appalling. Every minute, every hour, it is getting worse," the UN agency for Palestinians, UNWRA, said in a tweet on X, formerly Twitter. A maximum of 150 lorries have been reaching Gaza every day. In the north, one in six children under the age of two is acutely malnourished and media reports have indicated that at least 20 youngsters have died from starvation in recent days, including a 14-day-old baby. Later on Thursday, the UN Security Council held consultations on the situation behind closed doors and were briefed by Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator Sigrid Kaag. 'Massive' aid scale up needed Speaking to the press after the briefing, Ms. Kaag highlighted that her message to the ambassadors was the need for predictable and massively increased quality humanitarian assistance at scale for civilians in Gaza. "We need to flood the market in Gaza with humanitarian goods as well as re-energize the private sector so commercial goods can enter to meet the need of civilians," she said. She also reiterated that humanitarian assistance "is not an exercise in counting trucks". "We to know that it meets the needs and volume," she added. Ms. Kaag also highlighted the importance of diversifying the supply routes via land, which remains the optimal solution. It is easier, faster, cheaper and more sustainable in the long run, she said, noting also the importance of opening additional crossings. Referring to reports of countries working on the establishment of a maritime corridor to Gaza, Ms. Kaag said that such corridors to scale up aid were welcomed. At the same time, humanitarian supplies via air or sea are "not a substitute for what we need to see arrive on land", she said. Over 30,000 killed Well over 30,000 people have now been killed amid intense daily Israeli bombardment across Gaza in response to Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel on 7 October that left some 1,200 dead and more than 240 taken hostage. Negotiations initially in Qatar and this week in Cairo for a ceasefire linked to the release of the remaining approximately 100 hostages and far greater aid access throughout Gaza have so far not resulted in an end to the violence nor alleviated the humanitarian catastrophe. Northern access hope In the absence of a deal between Hamas and Israel, UN aid teams on Thursday planned to explore the feasibility of using an Israeli military access road to northern Gaza to transport a minimum of 300 aid trucks every day. The UN's top aid official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Jamie McGoldrick, announced the aid convoy initiative on Wednesday. He explained that it would enable trucks laden with humanitarian supplies to reach vulnerable people in the north of the enclave without having to negotiate obstructions and insecurity. "We have to use this military road, this fenced road at the side, on the eastern side (of Gaza), to allow material to come from the crossing points at Kerem Shalom and Rafah all the way up to the north, into the north and to a crossing point there," insisted Mr. McGoldrick, Humanitarian Coordinator Ad Interim for the OPT, in a video briefing to journalists. "We have to get up at least 300 trucks a day. Right now, we're lucky if we are getting about 150." Ahead of the start of Ramadan on Sunday, the veteran humanitarian official noted that relief supplies entering Gaza in February had fallen by half compared with January despite the "enormous and growing needs for over 2.3 million people living in appalling conditions". Fishing livelihoods devastated The catastrophic food insecurity situation in Gaza received renewed attention at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday, where UN Special Rapporteur for food Michael Fakhri said that nearly 75 per cent of the enclave's fishing sector had been devastated by Israeli bombardment. "Israel has mounted a starvation campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza, and one way it is doing this is by targeting small-scale fishers," he told the forum's 47 Member States. Since 7 October, the independent rights expert maintained that Israel had denied all access to the sea, impoverishing previously comfortable fishers. "Israeli forces decimated the Port of Gaza, destroying every single fishing boat and shack," he said. "In Rafah, only two out of 40 boats are left. In Khan Younis, Israel destroyed approximately 75 small-scale fishing vessels." The destruction of fishing livelihoods in the enclave had undermined the right to food for everyone in Gaza and pushed them "into hunger and starvation", the Special Rapporteur insisted. "In fact, Israel has been strangling Gaza for 17 years through a blockade, which included denying and restricting small-scale fishers access to their territorial waters." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'They destroyed us': North Gazans flee homes in search of food and shelter 7 March 2024 - Life is rapidly being choked out of northern Gaza. After enduring nearly five months of bombing, starvation, illness, pain and suffering, many of the last survivors have finally had enough, according to some of the displaced who have been speaking to UN News. For months, the UN has been warning of a looming famine, particularly in northern Gaza as everything needed to sustain life has either been destroyed or simply run out. This is now being translated into deaths among children, not as a result of shells and bullets, but for lack of proper nutrition - or any nutrition at all. The road to food and water "Everything that benefits the body, internally and externally, is not available in the north." With these words, Abdullah Qarmout explained why he was forced to leave his home in the Jabalia refugee camp, where he had spent his whole life. Signs of distress and exhaustion were visible on the 64-year-old man's face when UN News met him west of Gaza City on Al Rachid Street, the main coastal road in the Strip. Along with several others, Abdullah and his wife, Aisha, decided to take the long and dangerous journey to the south in search of sustenance and safety. "We have reached a point in which a loaf of barley that doesn't even have three grams [of flour] costs one shekel, and a loaf with five grammes is for two shekels. I haven't tasted a piece of bread or a drink of water since yesterday," he said. On Tuesday, a 14-truck aid convoy was turned back by the Israeli military after a three-hour wait at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint. This was the World Food Programme (WFP)'s first attempt to resume even small food deliveries to the north after being forced suspend its operations on 20 February due to the lack of safe humanitarian access. The trucks were later stopped by a large crowd of desperate people who took around 200 tonnes of food aid, demonstrating in real life the alarm bells rung by the UN regarding law and order in what Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called "a graveyard for children". 'There are a lot of good people; they will feed them' Aisha told UN News that she and Abdullah had convinced their son, Mohamed, to make the journey south along with his family of seven after exhausting all other options. "I swear, his children were sleeping out of hunger. They didn't have any food. He could not buy [diapers] and milk. I swear." The 62-year-old grandmother told UN News that the family was forced to borrow money from relatives and neighbours after depleting its own resources, but even that was no longer an option. "We borrowed money to eat and drink. At the end, we would ask for loans, but people wouldn't lend us anymore. We told our son: 'My dear, the children are starving. They will die and their blood will be on your hands. Take them to the south; you will find food there. There are a lot of good people; they will feed them. Khudur Al-Sultan told UN News that he and his family stood their ground for five months and refused to leave Jabalia City, despite the level of devastation it had endured. Their love of their hometown left them forced to eat animal feed and endure one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the world today. "We were steadfast for five months. We tried to get food for our children, but where are we supposed to get food? The flour I bought lasted only one month. We started milling barley and fodder. Is this acceptable to God?" Over 70 per cent of all housing units across the Gaza Strip have been destroyed, and that number climbs to over 80 per cent in the north. An independent UN expert on housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, told the Human Rights Council that the scale and intensity of destruction in Gaza "is far worse than in Aleppo, Mariupol or even Dresden and Rotterdam during World War Two." "They destroyed us. They destroyed our lives and demolished our homes. My home is gone, for no reason. We are not wanted or anything like that, thank God. Why? What did we do?" Khudur asked. The vulnerable lucky ones These vulnerable Palestinians are actually the lucky ones. They still have the ability to move and attempt to seek some sort of refuge, a luxury that many of the estimated 300,000 people in northern Gaza simply do not have. They have a long and treacherous journey ahead to an unknown fate. They continue their march on foot down to Rafah, where over 1.4 million people are living in abysmal conditions. The coastal road they are using was witness to a tragic event just a few days ago, in which over 100 people were killed and several hundred others injured as they attempted to get flour to feed themselves and their families. This incident alone is sufficient to understand the motives of these people to flee to a place where they know very well that the conditions are overcrowded, unhealthy and ultimately still very dangerous. Ceasefire, now The United Nations and all its agencies continue to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip - as well as safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access - to save the remaining population and avert a major famine. It has also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. So far, these calls have fallen on deaf ears. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World News in Brief: Israeli settlement plan condemned, abductions in northern Nigeria, alarm over reported pre-election attacks in India 7 March 2024 - The plan by Israel's Government to build more than 3,400 housing units in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank was condemned on Thursday by the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. In a statement, Tor Wennesland reminded that all Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are illegal under international law. Permits for the new dwellings were approved by Israeli authorities on Wednesday, the first since the war in Gaza erupted on 7 October. According to news reports, the permits mean that more than 20,000 housing units have been approved in illegal settlements during the past year. "Israel's settlement expansion continues to be a driver of conflict in the occupied West Bank further entrenching the occupation and undermining the right of Palestinians to self-determination and independent statehood," said Mr. Wennesland. West Bank casualties Since October, 416 Palestinians have been killed and 4,658 injured, including 718 children, in conflict-related incidents across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, according to the latest figures released by UN aid coordination office OCHA. Since the beginning of the year, a total of 101 Palestinians have been killed, compared to 71 in the same period in 2023, the majority by Israeli forces. Since 7 October, 15 Israelis, including four members of Israeli forces, have been killed and 90 injured in conflict-related incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. Mass abductions in Nigeria condemned The UN's top aid official in Nigeria has condemned the reported abduction of more than 200 people in the country's northeast. Mohamed Malick Fall said in a statement on Wednesday that a non-State armed group was alleged to have abducted the people from camps for the internally displaced in Borno state. The victims had reportedly ventured beyond the safety of the trenches surrounding the town of Ngala in search of firewood. It is extremely dangerous to do so, with killings, abductions, forced recruitment and sexual and gender-based violence rampant, humanitarians warned. In a statement, Mr. Fall noted that some older women and children under age 10 had been released, but scores remain unaccounted for. The senior aid official also said that he stood in solidarity with the families of all those abducted and called for their release. Some two million people have fled to towns for safety in Nigeria's Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, after well over a decade of armed conflict that has left many areas beyond government control. Schoolchildren abducted On Thursday, more than 100 Nigerian schoolchildren were abducted in the northwestern Nigerian town of Kuriga, according to news reports. The students, aged eight to 15, were reportedly rounded up along with a teacher after gunmen riding motorbikes entered their school assembly area. Eyewitnesses reported that one pupil was shot during the kidnap raid. The incident is not believed to have any connection with the apparent kidnap of women and children earlier in the week in the northeast. India: Rights experts sound alarm over pre-election attacks against minorities Independent UN human rights experts on Thursday sounded the alarm over reports of attacks on minorities, media workers and civil society activists in India, calling on authorities to take action as the country prepares to go to the polls in April. The UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts voiced concern that the situation is likely to worsen in the coming months ahead of national elections. They cited reports of "dehumanising rhetoric", incitement to discrimination and violence, violence by vigilante groups, targeted demolitions, enforced disappearances and detention of rights defenders and journalists. "We call on India to implement its human rights obligations fully and set a positive example by reversing the erosion of human rights and addressing recurring concerns raised by UN human rights mechanisms," the experts said. They noted that out of 78 communications sent by UN human rights experts over the past five years, only 18 had received replies from the government that could be made public. The experts also regretted that despite India's standing invitation to UN Special Procedures since 2011, there have been no country visits since 2017, with 15 active pending requests by UN human rights experts to which there has been no reply. Take 'concrete measures' They urged India to take concrete measures to address concerns raised in their previous communications and reports. "In light of continuing reports of violence and attacks against religious, racial and ethnic minorities, and other grave human rights issues, and the apparent lack of response by authorities to concerns raised, we are compelled to express our grave concern, especially given the need for a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections in accordance with the early warning aspect of our mandates," they said. Special Rapporteurs and other independent rights experts are not UN staff, do not receive a salary for their work and are independent of any government or organisation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint UN mission to sound alarm on humanitarian crisis in Somalia UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 7 March 2024, New York/Rome -- With nearly 7 million people in Somalia - or two out of every five people - in need of life-saving assistance in Somalia this year, and 1.7 million children likely to suffer from acute malnutrition, the deputy heads of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) arrived in the country today to urge continued global support for Somalis suffering the effects of hunger, conflict and climate change. While in Somalia, the OCHA Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, and FAO Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol, will meet people on the frontlines of the climate crisis - as well as Government officials, donor partners, and aid workers looking to scale up response efforts. Somalia started 2023 by continuing to experience the worst drought in decades, while ending the year with once-in-a-lifetime heavy flooding brought on by El Nino and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole phenomenon. The climate crisis continues to drive humanitarian needs in a country that has endured decades of conflict, with one in five Somalis still facing high levels of acute food insecurity. "We have to equip farmers, and communities to prepare for, and respond to, these crises and to recover quickly from them - we have to help them build resilience," said Ms. Bechdol. "We know these approaches can work, especially when we empower women." Ms. Msuya and Ms. Bechdol will also underscore the importance of prioritizing and empowering women affected by Somalia's humanitarian crisis. They will celebrate International Women's Day on 8 March alongside Somali women - including farmers - who have been displaced by recurrent climate shocks, conflict and insecurity. "The women of Somalia have withstood a cascade of crises that are not of their making," Ms. Msuya said. "The international community must honour their resilience with decisive action to help them recover and rebuild." The three-day mission is expected to conclude with a joint press conference in Mogadishu. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Honor Values of Ramadan in Sudan through Cessation of Hostilities, Secretary-General Urges Security Council, Warning 'Hunger Is Stalking', Millions Need Life-saving Aid Meetings Coverage Security Council 9567th Meeting* (AM) SC/15613 7 March 2024 April will mark one year since the outbreak of brutal fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council today, calling on all parties in Sudan to "honour the values of Ramadan" by observing a cessation of hostilities during the holy month. "It is time to silence the guns and raise the volume for peace," he urged. Renewed offensives, fears of hostilities and calls to arm civilians threaten to further fragment the country, deepen tensions between and within communities and engender more ethnic violence. At the same time, over half of Sudan's population some 25 million people need life-saving assistance, and the country is now home to the world's largest internal-displacement crisis. "Hunger is stalking Sudan," he added. While the UN and its humanitarian partners are working to alleviate this suffering, he reported that the Organization faces major challenges as it tries to reach the millions in need. National authorities must allow full, immediate access to all vulnerable populations regardless of where they are and who controls the area and, in the wake of troubling reports of systematic conflict-related sexual violence, both parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. He also reported that, following the recent drawdown of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS), the technical liquidation period has commenced. He urged, however: "Although that Mission has drawn down, our collective work for peace must ramp up." In the discussion that followed, many Council members called on both parties to comply with their obligations under international law. On that, they spotlighted the killing of civilians, destruction of infrastructure, sexual violence and violations against children. Many also called on national authorities to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and voiced support for the Secretary-General's call for a cessation of hostilities during Ramadan. For his part, Sudan's representative commended that call. However, he said: "All those who would like to see that appeal transformed into action are welcome if they would like to present a mechanism for implementation." He also reported on the Government's efforts to facilitate the entry of humanitarian workers to ensure the delivery of supplies and services in a safe and organized manner. However, he stressed that a lack of coordination among different partners must be addressed to attract aid as well as local, regional and international support. Calling for such coordination was Algeria's representative, also speaking for Guyana, Mozambique and Sierra Leone, who said that aligning regional and international efforts is a priority particularly the African Union's role in resolving the Sudanese crisis. He also joined others in expressing concern that external actors are fuelling that crisis, instead of helping to advance peace efforts. "Let us be clear: external interferences have to be publicly and firmly condemned," he said. The representative of the Republic of Korea echoed that, calling on regional and international players to use their influence and resources to work constructively towards ending hostilities, rather than contributing to them. On the Organization's role in Sudan, he stressed that a robust UN presence is needed amidst a devastating humanitarian crisis and intensifying war, urging that the UN country team continue its work and that those present consider a "post-UNITAMS UN presence" in Sudan. "Cooperation between the UN and Sudan should continue," said China's representative, while underscoring the need to "meet the country's actual needs" and provide "tangible support to its peace and development". He also agreed on the need to ensure humanitarian access welcoming the Sudanese Government's recent decision to open certain border crossings to UN humanitarian agencies and called on the warring parties to de-escalate the situation and create conditions for peace talks. Switzerland's representative, meanwhile, spotlighted reports of unspeakable human-rights violations, stating that "women's bodies have been a despicable part of the battlefield" and that "ethnicity has, once again, become a matter of life and death". Further, such crimes occur in a context of near-total impunity. "We cannot remain silent in the face of such a human tragedy," she stressed, calling on the Council to assume its responsibility to protect the Sudanese people. The representative of Slovenia also voiced alarm over increasing violence against civilian populations and infrastructure, as well as against UN humanitarian and medical workers across all conflicts especially in Sudan and Gaza. He underscored: "This is a dangerous trend, so we urge a clear and forceful call by the Security Council against the unravelling of respect for international humanitarian and human-rights law." REPORTS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN Briefing ANTONIO GUTERRES, Secretary-General of the United Nations , observed that April will mark one year since the outbreak of brutal fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has taken a devastating toll on the people of Sudan, and he said that there is now serious risk that it could ignite "regional instability of dramatic proportions". Renewed offensives are taking place in the states of Khartoum and Gezira and elsewhere, and the bloodshed has recently forced the suspension of operations out of a critical humanitarian hub in Wad Madani. Moreover, there are growing fears of further expansion of hostilities east, and he expressed concern over calls for arming civilians as well as popular mobilization activities in various states. These developments, he stressed, threaten to further fragment the country, deepen intra- and inter-communal tensions and engender more ethnic violence. "It is time to silence the guns and raise the volume for peace," he urged, calling on all parties in Sudan to "honour the values of Ramadan" which will soon commence by observing a cessation of hostilities during the holy month. This cessation must lead to a definitive silencing of the guns across the country and set out a firm path towards lasting peace. Stating that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is reaching "colossal proportions", he said that half the population some 25 million people need life-saving assistance. Over 14,000 people have been killed although that number is likely far higher and Sudan is now home to the world's largest internal-displacement crisis, with 6.3 million seeking safety within the country since the start of the conflict. Another 1.7 million people have fled to neighbouring countries. Additionally, the conflict has destroyed civilian infrastructure and brought basic services to a standstill. "Hunger is stalking Sudan," he added. While the UN and its humanitarian partners are working to alleviate this suffering, he reported that the Organization faces major challenges as it tries to reach the millions in need. He welcomed recent decisions by Sudanese authorities to facilitate cross-line access and the use of three airports for humanitarian flights, as well as allow the use of cross-border points into areas under their control, including one border point from Chad "which we urge be sustained beyond the movement of prepositioned supplies". He underlined, however, the need to address chronic food insecurity in parts of Darfur and other hard-to-reach areas. "Countless lives are at stake, and time is of the essence," he stressed, calling on national authorities to allow full, immediate humanitarian access to all vulnerable populations regardless of where they are and who controls the area. He went on to note that indiscriminate attacks by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces have killed or injured a significant number of civilians, alongside troubling reports of systematic conflict-related sexual violence. He therefore called on the parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. Welcoming regional and international efforts to resolve the conflict, he emphasized that the UN stands ready to intensify engagement with its multilateral partners including the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the League of Arab States towards a durable cessation of hostilities and an inclusive international mediation. He added that, following the recent drawdown of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS), the technical liquidation period has commenced. He urged, however: "Although that Mission has drawn down, our collective work for peace must ramp up." Statements The representative of the United Kingdom underscored that the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces bear responsibility for the horrendous situation in Sudan. Shelling and attacks from both sides in heavily populated, urban areas and across the entire western region of Sudan continue to kill and terrorize civilians. "The situation for children is particularly unbearable," he said, noting that 4 million have been displaced while over 700,000 will suffer from the deadliest form of malnutrition this year. "Sudanese children have missed a year of school and face the fear of not knowing when they will receive their next meal." Citing the Sudanese Armed Force's withdrawal of permission for cross-border humanitarian aid deliveries from Adre in Chad as "indefensible", he called on the Sudanese authorities to remove the deliberate obstructionism and facilitate crossline and other cross-border routes for the delivery of life-saving assistance. The representative of Malta cautioned that Sudan "home to the largest displacement crisis globally" is on the brink of a grave food insecurity crisis. The spread of preventable diseases such as cholera, dengue fever, malaria and measles further compounds the catastrophe. Accordingly, she urged both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to cease hostilities and stop using starvation as a weapon of war. Amidst the brutal violence, warring factions are escalating their targeted attacks on health-care facilities and committing severe violations of international humanitarian law. The Sudanese population is enduring inhumane conditions, forced to take sides for survival as inter-ethnic violence escalates. Against this backdrop, she supported the ongoing regional and diplomatic initiatives including the Jeddah talks aimed at de-escalation and bringing warring factions to the negotiating table. She also condemned the flow of arms into Sudan, noting that such actions violate the arms embargo. The representative of Algeria spoke also for Guyana , Mozambique and Sierra Leone to highlight the deteriorating humanitarian situation, which he described as "the largest displacement crisis in the world with a high risk of acute food insecurity threatening millions of Sudanese, particularly in Darfur". Calling on all the Sudanese actors to declare an immediate ceasefire, he asked the warring parties to put aside their differences and consider the opportunity of Ramadan a month of peace to embark on a path of appeasement and restraint for a durable peace in Sudan. He welcomed the announced decision of the Sudanese authorities to facilitate humanitarian access through several border crossing points as well as the announcement of a new round of talks under the Jeddah process facilitated by Saudi Arabia, the United States and IGAD, which also represents the African Union. Turning to diplomatic efforts, he noted the lack of coordination between the different diplomatic tracks and said coordinating regional and international efforts is a priority, particularly the African Union's role in resolving the Sudanese crisis. The establishment of an African Union high-level panel on Sudan will bring clear added value and support to the peace process. He expressed concern over the crisis' impact on neighbouring countries, particularly South Sudan, which is already witnessing the dire effects of humanitarian challenges with more than half a million refugees and returnees having crossed the border as of February 2024. He said he was troubled by reports that external actors are fueling the crisis in Sudan, instead of helping to advance peace efforts. "Let us be clear, external interferences have to be publicly and firmly condemned," he said, declaring: "Peace must prevail in the Sudan." The representative of Guyana spoke also for Switzerland , noting that they serve as informal co-focal points on conflict and hunger in response to increasing warnings of famine in Sudan. "Recent figures are appalling," she said, citing 18 million Sudanese acutely food insecure, including 5 million at risk of dying due to malnutrition. "This is the worst hunger level ever recorded during Sudan's harvest season," she said. Underscoring the already dire humanitarian situation facing 3.8 million children, she said that tens of thousands will likely die if there is no action. Since December 2023, the conflict has spread into the country's breadbasket, jeopardizing the harvests and destroying critical food systems and agricultural infrastructure. "Likely scenarios indicate that the severity and scale of hunger in the coming lean season will be devastating," she warned, adding that by June 2024, a shocking 7 million people might face famine. "The situation in Sudan is nothing short of catastrophic," she said, adding that the window of opportunity to significantly reduce the impact of the crisis is rapidly closing. She expressed regret that in February, that country's authorities withdrew its authorization for cross-border humanitarian operations from Chad into Sudan. Humanitarian access must be allowed, including cross-border and cross-line access. Bureaucratic and administrative obstacles must be removed. In adopting resolution 2417 (2018), the Council demonstrated its determination to address conflict-induced food insecurity, including famine. The resolution is clear in condemning the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and the use of starvation as a method of warfare. The Council should give its full attention to the catastrophic situation in Sudan, she said, calling on the warring parties to stop the fighting and comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. The representative of the Republic of Korea , expressing concern over the warring parties' "relentless struggle for power and control", supported the Secretary-General's call for a Ramadan cessation of hostilities. While welcoming Sudanese authorities' reversal of their decision to block certain cross-border aid, he voiced alarm that both warring parties continue to commit serious violations of international law and emphasized that perpetrators "may be subject to targeted sanctions measures". For their part, regional and international players must use their influence and resources to work constructively towards ending hostilities rather than fuelling them and the entry of weapons into Darfur is a flagrant violation of the arms embargo established by relevant Council resolutions. On the UN's role in Sudan, he stressed that a robust UN presence is needed amidst a devastating humanitarian crisis and intensifying war, urging that the UN country team continue its work and that those present consider a "post-UNITAMS UN presence" in Sudan. The representative of China warned about the growing spillover effect of the raging conflict in Sudan, which has already caused many civilian casualties and a grave humanitarian crisis. Calling for the cessation of hostilities, he urged the warring parties to de-escalate the situation and create conditions for peace talks. In the meantime, it is critical to ensure humanitarian access, he said, welcoming the recent decision of Sudan's Government to open some border crossings to UN humanitarian agencies. While underlining the need to respect Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he supported regional mediation efforts and urged the Council to strengthen coordination with the African Union and other regional organizations. Even though UNITAMS has completed its withdrawal and commenced the liquidation process, "cooperation between the UN and Sudan should continue", he asserted, underscoring the need to "meet the country's actual needs" and provide "tangible support to its peace and development". The representative of Ecuador sounded the alarm over reports of rape, sexual exploitation, abductions, and captivity of Sudanese women and girls. Noting the growing call by the warring parties to arm civilians, he said that this signals a dangerous trajectory, which may further fragment the country and deepen intra-community tensions. He called on States not to transfer weapons or military resources that could be used against civilian populations. UNITAMS withdrawal should not hinder the work of the UN country team, including the provision of humanitarian assistance. Echoing the Secretary-General's call, he expressed hope that the beginning of Ramadan will give way to the cessation of hostilities and that a peaceful solution will be found. "Peace cannot wait any longer, it's time for a revitalized, complementary, and inclusive international effort in Sudan," he said. The representative of Slovenia called on both parties to silence their guns, commit to a ceasefire and return to an inclusive political process. Further, all parties to the conflict must fully respect international law, he stressed, voicing alarm over increasing violence against civilian populations and infrastructure as well as against UN humanitarian and medical workers across all conflicts especially in Sudan and Gaza. He underscored: "This is a dangerous trend, so we urge a clear and forceful call by the Security Council against the unravelling of respect for international humanitarian and human-rights law." Reports documenting human-rights violations by all parties to the conflict, thousands dead and millions displaced "are beyond disturbing", he stressed, spotlighting ethnically targeted attacks in Darfur and widespread sexual violence there. He reiterated the responsibility of all parties to the conflict to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence, including by issuing clear command orders prohibiting such violence. The representative of the Russian Federation said that, in the report on the situation in Sudan, "the Sudanese are constantly being asked or blamed for something." However, "what they need is not a criticism but good advice and useful recommendation." Constructive cooperation with Sudan is vital to help restore the trust in the UN, which was lost due to inconsistent steps taken by UNITAMS' former leaders. The humanitarian situation in Sudan was nearing a catastrophe when the Sudanese authorities decided to suspend humanitarian supplies at the Sudan-Chad border. Nevertheless, lowering the level of humanitarian cooperation with the current authorities would be short-sighted as they bear all responsibility for rectifying the current humanitarian situation and facilitating the distribution of deliveries. "Rejecting that is tantamount to compounding the already dire situation of the Sudanese," she cautioned, noting that supplies from Chad will not resolve the issue. Instead, she emphasized that supplies must be stepped up to various points under the control of the central authorities. The representative of France expressed support for the Secretary-General's proposal for a Ramadan ceasefire, urging the Council to swiftly endorse the United Kingdom-led resolution in support of that call. He also encouraged the warring parties to agree on the modalities for resuming dialogue without delays and preconditions. Peace initiatives must be better coordinated. Twenty years ago, the United Nations and the African Union were able to succeed, including by deploying missions for the protection of civilians. Stressing the need to formalize a single framework to facilitate the resolution of the conflict, he voiced support for the efforts of the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy in conjunction with all regional and international actors as well as Sudanese civilian political actors. With the European Union and Germany, France will organize a humanitarian conference for Sudan and its neighbouring countries in Paris on 15 April. The Union mobilized 500 million in 2023 to respond to this crisis, a third of the international response, and his country has also provided 55 million in such aid. The representative of Switzerland said that almost one year since the outbreak of the conflict there has been so much loss, destruction, suffering, and trauma that "Sudan is threatened in its very existence". Highlighting reports of unspeakable human rights violations, she said that "women's bodies have been a despicable part of the battlefield" while "ethnicity has once again become a matter of life and death." Such crimes occur in a context of "almost total impunity and lack of accountability". Accordingly, she urged the warring parties to cease hostilities immediately, respect their obligations under international law and cooperate with human rights mechanisms, including the independent fact-finding mission. She also called on the parties to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access across borders and frontlines and on the Sudanese authorities to reduce administrative impediments. "We cannot remain silent in the face of such a human tragedy," she stated, adding that the Council must assume its responsibility to protect the Sudanese people who desperately want to live in peace. The representative of the United States demanded that the parties "do more to protect not target civilians in all circumstances", respect human rights and comply with their obligations under international law. Further, he urged regional Powers to immediately end the provision of weapons to parties in Sudan in flagrant violation of the UN arms embargo, which is fuelling fighting and massacres across the country. This is particularly true in Darfur, he said, where the situation is "reminiscent of the 2004 genocide". Stressing that more effort is urgently needed to ensure that life-saving aid reaches Sudan's most vulnerable, he called on the Council to act to alleviate humanitarian suffering through the delivery of aid and to drive the parties towards a ceasefire. The Council should also renew the mandate of the panel of experts of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning Sudan, he added. The representative of Japan , painting a grim picture of the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, said that a vast proportion of Sudan's civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, more than 70 per cent of hospitals are non-functional and "the risk of famine is not an exaggeration". To avoid further devastation, the warring parties must cease hostilities and resume a peaceful political transition towards democratic elections. Additionally, rapid, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid is crucial for 24.8 million Sudanese in need, he said, calling on both parties to properly engage in coordination efforts. To scale up aid, both cross-border and crossline mechanisms are critical, he observed, commending the recent decision by the Sudanese Government to facilitate additional cross-border humanitarian access routes. However, he voiced concern over the increasing difficulty of crossline operations across the two parties' control areas. The representative of Sudan , sharing a message he received from the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, commended the Secretary-General's appeal for the cessation of hostilities during Ramadan. However, he wondered how such a measure could be implemented when the Rapid Support Forces continue their attacks against civilians. "All those who would like to see that appeal transformed into action are welcome if they would like to present a mechanism for implementation," he said. On humanitarian access, he said that the Government has created a high-level committee overseeing relief responses under the Minister for Social Protection. It has been working to facilitate the entry of humanitarian workers, including medical personnel, to ensure the delivery of supplies and services in a safe and organized manner. The Government has also purchased foodstuffs, such as rice, flour, and oil, to support the Sudanese people in the east of Chad region. Additionally, the Government has facilitated the movements of UN agencies and various humanitarian organizations through the creation of coordination mechanisms for their entry and aid deliveries, including a national joint committee for humanitarian emergencies comprising ministers, he said. A technical mechanism was also established to follow up on the various measures undertaken. The Government also fast-tracked deliveries of all supplies so that they will reach the borders, airports and states where assistance is needed. Noting that the Government has been granting about 60 visas per week, he said that the requests are reviewed because the information provided is not often sufficient, especially concerning the origin of the party seeking entry. The Government also provides protection for warehouses and the entry of humanitarian assistance to ensure aid is not pillaged. A lack of coordination among different partners must be addressed to attract aid and local, regional and international support, he stressed. Highlighting the over $1 billion deficit, 68 per cent of the total, in humanitarian funding, he cautioned that 1 million Sudanese will not receive aid. __________ * The 9566th Meeting was closed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council - on Sudan United Nations Secretary-General 07 March 2024 Mr. President, Excellencies, Next month will mark one year since the outbreak of brutal fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has taken a devastating toll on the people of Sudan, imperilling the unity of the country. There is now a serious risk that the conflict could ignite regional instability of dramatic proportions, from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. Meanwhile, the fighting rages on. We are witnessing renewed offensives in Khartoum State, Al-Gazira State and elsewhere. The bloodshed has recently forced us to suspend operations out of a critical humanitarian hub in Wad Madani - and there are growing fears of a further expansion of hostilities east. At the same time, we are deeply alarmed by calls for arming civilians, and popular mobilization activities in various states. Armed groups are entering the fray - in Darfur and South Kordofan. All these dangerous developments are pouring fuel on the fire for an even more serious fragmentation of the country, a deepening of intra- and inter-communal tensions, and more ethnic violence. It is time to silence the guns and raise the volume for peace. In just days, the holy month of Ramadan will commence. So from this Chamber today, I am making an appeal. I call on all parties in Sudan to honour the values of Ramadan by honouring a Ramadan cessation of hostilities. This cessation of hostilities must lead to a definitive silencing of the guns across the country, and set out a firm path towards lasting peace for the Sudanese people. The values of Ramadan must prevail. Mr. President, Now is the time to lay down the weapons. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is reaching colossal proportions. Fully half the population - some 25 million people - need life-saving assistance. Over 14,000 people have been killed, although that number is likely far higher. Sudan is now home to the world's largest internal displacement crisis, with 6.3 million people seeking safety within the country since the beginning of the conflict. Another 1.7 million people have fled to neighbouring countries. The conflict has destroyed civilian infrastructure and brought basic services to a standstill. More than 70 per cent of health facilities in conflict-affected areas are not functional. Millions of children are out of school. Water and sanitation systems are breaking down. Diseases are multiplying. Hunger is stalking Sudan. Some 18 million people are acutely food insecure. This is the highest number ever recorded during a harvest season, yet numbers are expected to surge even higher in the coming months. We are already receiving reports of children dying from malnutrition. The United Nations and our humanitarian partners are doing everything we can to stem this suffering. But we are facing major challenges as we try to reach millions of people in need. We welcome recent decisions by the Sudanese authorities to facilitate cross-line access from eastern Sudan and the use of three airports for humanitarian flights as well as allowing the use of cross-border points into areas controlled by Sudanese authorities - including one border point from Chad, which we urge be sustained beyond the movement of preposition supplies. It is also critical to address the chronic food insecurity crisis in parts of Darfur and other hard-to-reach areas. Countless lives are at stake and time is of the essence. In accordance with the Jeddah Declaration, authorities must allow full and immediate humanitarian access to all vulnerable populations regardless of where they are and who controls the area; all routes must be utilized - including both road and air corridors - to maximize the aid response and save lives; and all routes must remain open to allow a steady and sustainable flow of assistance and not be subject to burdensome and unreasonable restrictions or impediments. We encourage the Sudanese authorities to ensure the swift implementation of these measures, and to continue efforts to facilitate humanitarian access, including across conflict lines. Recent procedures to expedite visas for humanitarian staff are another step in the right direction. I also urge the international community to provide financial support to the 2024 Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan, which remains significantly underfunded. Mr. President, The human rights situation continues to spiral out of control throughout Sudan. Protection concerns are growing by the hour. Indiscriminate attacks by the RSF and the SAF have killed or injured a significant number of civilians. And we see continuing and widespread looting, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, recruitment and detention of children, alongside the shrinking of civic space. We are also receiving troubling reports of systematic conflict-related sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, as well as abduction and trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. I call on the parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, to protect civilians, and to facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, as they have committed to do. Mr. President, We welcome regional and international efforts to resolve the conflict - including through the efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. The Jeddah platform constitutes a critical and promising forum for dialogue - and African participation remains indispensable. I recognize African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki who has appointed a High-Level Panel to lead African Union efforts to support the solution of the conflict in Sudan. We must continue working to empower civilians - including women's rights groups, youth and others mobilizing for peace - who are all critical to an inclusive political process enabling the resumption of Sudan's democratic transition. The United Nations stands ready to intensify the engagement with our multilateral partners - including the African Union, IGAD, the League of Arab States, and key Member States - to take urgent action towards a durable cessation of hostilities and an inclusive, coherent, complementary and effective international mediation. These efforts must draw in regional states with tangible leverage on the warring parties to end the fighting. My Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, has met with the leaders of the RSF and SAF, criss-crossed the Horn of Africa and the Gulf, and visited numerous capitals for discussions on the way forward. I count on him to continue leading United Nations political efforts and to promote the coordination of international mediation initiatives. I call upon this Council to signal its strong and clear support for that critical effort. Mr. President, Following the drawdown of UNITAMS last week, the technical liquidation period has commenced. I am deeply grateful to the staff of the Mission - national and international - for their dedication and distinguished service under very trying circumstances. I also thank all partners who contributed to the implementation of the UNITAMS mandate. Although that Mission has drawn down, our collective work for peace must ramp up. A Ramadan cessation of hostilities can help stem the suffering and usher the way to sustainable peace. Let us spare no effort to support the people of Sudan in their legitimate aspirations for a peaceful and secure future. Thank you. *********************************************************************** NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Maritime Collaboration: RCOC's Support to Cutlass Express 2024 US Navy 07 March 2024 From Yvonne Levardi, U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs VICTORIA, Seychelles -- Countering illicit trafficking, combating piracy, fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, counter-narcotics - these are some of the focus areas of this year's Cutlass Express exercise, held Feb. 25-March 8 throughout East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. In Seychelles, the heart of the exercise takes place in the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) in Victoria, on Mahe Island. The RCOC, along with the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Center (RMIFC) in Madagascar, forms part of a Regional Maritime Security Architecture for the Western Indian Ocean under the EU-funded Maritime Security in Eastern & Southern Africa & Indian Ocean (MASE) program, led by the Indian Ocean Commission. "There's an old quote in Africa: If you want to go fast you go alone; if you want to go far, you go together," said CAPT. Sam Gontier, the RCOC's Regional Director. That idea is the foundation for the program, Gontier said. The RCOC and RMIFC were established in 2018 following the signing of two regional agreements (MASE agreements) focused on information exchange and sharing and joint operations at sea. Seven states signed the MASE agreements - Comoros, Djibouti, France (Reunion Island), Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles. Each signatory country has an international liaison officer (ILO) in each regional center and links with their respective national center. Working closely with its sister center, the RCOC coordinates regional operations to combat illegal maritime activities with the support of assets contributed by regional signatories to the mechanism. The EU-MASE program also supports the deployment of assets for regional maritime operations. Integral to this Maritime Security Architecture is the RMIFC based in Madagascar. The RMIFC focuses on deepening maritime awareness and facilitating the exchange and sharing of maritime information with national centers and international Information fusion centers, while the RCOC uses the information provided by the Fusion Center to initiate and coordinate operations at sea. Integral to this regional coordination is the RMIFC in Madagascar. The RMIFC helps deepen maritime awareness and facilitate the exchange and sharing of maritime information, while the RCOC uses the information provided by the Fusion Center to help coordinate operations at sea. "The RMIFC's primary role is to analyze and detect vessels of interest and send that information to RCOC so we can take actions against them," Gontier said. "For example, if there is a vessel that we suspect or know is carrying narcotics coming this way, and the closest resources are from Seychelles and Mauritius, we'll ask them for their support and coordinate the operations from here." If the RMIFC finds information that the RCOC needs to take action on, they send that info to the RCOC. The RCOC will look at the situation and determine the actions that need to be taken, what assets are available in the area and what assets will best support that operation. The RCOC sends a support request to the countries that own the assets, and the countries reply with their ability to support. The RCOC then coordinates operations from its location in the Seychelles. At the conclusion of the operation, the country deploying the asset invoices the RCOC for its asset's use in the operation and RCOC authorizes payment as per the funding mechanism set aside to support these operations. The RCOC Director worked with Cutlass Express planners to integrate the RCOC into Cutlass Express 2023, the first time the RCOC was integrated in this fashion. The RCOC, however, had been participating in the exercise since its establishment, Gontier said, but the planners had been creating an artificial maritime operations center to send exercise injects to participating countries. "The existing regional Architecture already has the task of carrying out this type of mission, so why not use it for the exercise to train countries in the right way," Gontier said. "Through Cutlass, we have the medium to do a major exercise with all of the countries in the region, and at the same time we try to improve knowledge on the MASE Architecture and foster ownership." Two countries that have expressed an interest in signing the MASE agreements - Tanzania and Mozambique - are also participants in Cutlass Express. Regional participation like this continues to strengthen bonds and deepen interoperability, and paves the way for enhanced coordination as well. As planners throughout the region and globally continue to leverage the capabilities of the RCOC for exercises and real-world operations, Gontier and others involved in this Architecture see the continued growth potential of the RCOC and what it means for maritime security and stability throughout East Africa. "The center is getting recognized by the international community," Gontier said. "And as the RCOC is also now taking on the role of the Regional Disaster Response Coordination Center, it's essential for partner nations to test and improve their interoperability and response capabilities." The U.S. shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation on the waters surrounding the continent, because these waters are critical for Africa's prosperity and access to global markets. For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the USEUCOM and USAFRICOM areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SECNAV Delivers Remarks at 2024 McAleese Defense Programs Conference US Navy Washington, D.C. Speech byCarlos Del Toro Date Published 07 March 2024 Good afternoon, everyone! It is wonderful to be here with you all today for the Fiscal Year 2025 McAleese Defense Programs Conference. Thank you, Jim, for that kind introduction, for the opportunity to discuss the challenges our Navy and Marine Corps face today, and to highlight how our major acquisitions programs support our mission. As your 78th Secretary of the Navy, my mission is to provide combat ready forces and capabilities to the President of the United States, Secretary of Defense, and our Combatant Commanders. As a former career Surface Warfare Officer and a former small business owner in the defense ecosystem, I fully understand and appreciate what the people in this room bring to the high-end fight. Former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Ernest King once said, "Nothing remains static in war or military weapons, and it is consequently often dangerous to rely on courses suggested by apparent similarities in the past." I implore you to assume this mindset and refuse the temptation to accept the status quo; transformation and innovation are key to our success in the world today. We face incredible challenges in every corner of the globefrom Europe to the Red Sea to the Indo-Pacific region. In the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, we are working alongside our NATO allies and Middle East partners to ensure the safety of innocent, civilian mariners and protect our commercial shipping against the Iranian-aligned Houthi attacks. In Europe, Russia continues the third year of its illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. And this war is no longer a stalemateRussia has made groundcapturing the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka last month. And while the threat of President Vladimir Putin's reign has always hovered in the background of public consciousness, the death of Alexei Navalny is a stark reminder of Vladimir Putin's tyrannical and unjust regime. This is a critical moment in history. Congress must pass the national security supplemental funding bill to resupply Ukrainian forces so they may continue to fight for their freedom and sovereignty. In the Indo-Pacific, North Korea has publicly abandoned its long-term goal of reunification with South Korea and, in fact, now views them as the "main enemy." North Korea continues the creation and testing of new and dangerous military capabilities, including numerous ICBMs. It now aligns itself with Russia and poses an incredible threat to South Korea and Japan. Kim Jong Un has even bestowed President Putin the concerning title of the "Korean people's closest friend." And while the world's focus has shifted to other parts of the globe, the People's Republic of China continues to enforce excessive maritime claims through their navy, coast guard, and maritime militia. To effectively face these mounting challenges and threats, we must commit to a whole-of-nation effort to support the Navy and Marine Corps. In response to the attacks on innocent commercial mariners, our Navy and Marine Corps Team has resoundingly responded. In the Red Sea, our ships and aircraft have deterred the missiles and drones which threaten innocent maritime shipping: Carney, Mason, Gravely, Laboon, Thomas Hudner, and Eisenhowertheir engagements call back to their warfighters' namesakes and legacies. We are working in concert with our allies and partners in the region who have engaged drones and missilesincluding United Kingdom Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond, German frigate Hessen, and Italian Navy destroyer Caio Duilio. We have engaged Houthi targets in Yemen alongside Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, the U.K., and New Zealand. Operation Prosperity Guardian remains a collective effort. When the Houthis struck Marshall Islands-flagged Motor Vessel Marlin Luanda with an anti-ship ballistic missile in January, USS Carney, French Navy Frigate FS Alsace, and Indian Navy Destroyer INS Visakhapatnam responded and assisted with fire-fighting efforts. Interoperability matters. Just last month, NATO assumed command of United States and British Forces in the Eastern Mediterranean. Naval Striking Forces NATO executed a Transfer of Authority, assuming command of more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines assigned to the Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group, which includes USS Mesa Verde, USS Arleigh Burke, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus. We are indeed a unified fighting force, and our network of partners and allies around the globe is a critical advantage that we have over our potential adversaries. In order to maintain our warfighting advantage, we must continue looking forward to new innovations, adapting to the threats of today while anticipating the threats of tomorrow. Last year, I spoke about my three enduring priorities which continue to serve as the basis of all we do in the Department of the Navy. They are: Strengthening Maritime Dominance, Building a Culture of Warfighting Excellence, and Enhancing Strategic Partnerships. "Enhancing Strategic Partnerships" incorporates not only naval diplomacy across our oceans and the aforementioned relationships in the sea, and our relationships with our lawmakers in Congress, but crucially, our partnerships with those within the defense ecosystem. We are fundamentally reliant on industry to ensure our ability to maintain our warfighting edge. And industry is building and delivering mission-ready ships to our Navy and Marine Corps, strengthening maritime dominance in a time when the world looks to the United States for leadership and guidance. Just last month, in San Diego, we commissioned USS John L. Canley (ESB 6) into the world's finest Navy. This expeditionary sea base ship increases our fleet's capability and overall lethality, allowing our maritime forces the ability to stage troops wherever they are needed in the world. It is an exciting time for new technologies in our Navy and Marine Corps. We are pushing the bounds of tactics and capability with the future USS Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29). Earlier this year, she was fitted with the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) antenna, marking the first US Navy installation and activation of the SPY-6(V)2, rotating variant S-Band radar. The EASR will integrate into the Ship Self Defense System and revolutionize our amphibious fleet, enabling them to detect, track, and engage the enemy. Our amphibious ships play a crucial role in testing and validating our newest directed energy weapons technology, including the Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD). USS Portland (LPD 27) was fitted with LWSD and successfully engaged a marine target in the Gulf of Aden. And while I was in San Diego last month, I visited USS Preble (DDG 88), fitted with the HELIOS laser weapon system. Directed energy weapons, including high-energy lasers, are the future of warfareoffering a lower cost-per-shot against air and missile defense engagements. While our hard kill successes are making the news every day, we are also strengthening our "non-kinetic" shield. USS Pinckney (DDG 91) was the first to receive the new AN/SLQ-32(V)7 Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block III, refining and improving the Arleigh Burke class's overall electronic warfare capabilities. The kinetic events in the Red Sea highlight the necessity for quick rearming of our ships' vertical launch systems to maximize our on-station time. And we are seeking out new ways to accomplish missile onloads, including the Transportable Re-Arming Mechanism (TRAM) which is developing in Port Hueneme. I have directed an at-sea demonstration of TRAM no later than this summer, and I look forward to both its successful demonstration and subsequent implementation in the fleet. And our innovation includes not only material technologies, but also structural changes within our Navy. Last month, we introduced the Robotics Warfare Specialist, or "RW" rating. Our RWs will enable Robotics and Autonomous System (RAS) operations and accelerate advances in our autonomous technologies. The era of uncrewed has begun, and we are rising to achieve a truly hybrid fleet At Harvard University last fall, I announced my vision for a new Maritime Statecraft, a call for a whole-of-government effort to build comprehensive U.S. and allied maritime power, both commercial and naval, to prevail in an era of intense strategic competition. One of my many priorities as Secretary of the Navy has included finding gaps in our infrastructure, particularly the gaps in our shipbuilding infrastructure. Last month, in my remarks at WEST in San Diego, I said that we cannot ask the American taxpayer to make greater public investments while some in the industry conduct stock buybacks and prioritize executive compensation over investments to the industrial base. I stand by my statements. Industry must deliver platforms and capabilities on time and on budget for the sake of our warfighters who are in harm's way. I recognize the give-and-take nature of the relationship between the Department of the Navy and private industry. And as the CEO of the Department of the Navy, I am in the business of taking care of my Sailors and Marines. My primary responsibility includes ensuring we have the essential toolsships and weaponsthey need to fight and win our nation's wars. The People's Republic of China boasts almost fifty percent of the global shipbuilding market while the United States' capacity for shipbuilding stands at a mere 0.13 percent. A few days ago, I returned from a visit to the Indo-Pacific, where I toured shipyards in South Korea and Japan and learned about their shipbuilding infrastructure and modernization. And what I took away from this visit was that we must explore any and all opportunities to expand our own shipbuilding capabilities through competition, innovation, and industrial capacity. It is impossible to operate a fighting force without ships or equipment, and it is also impossible to run a Navy and Marine Corps under a month-to-month or even week-to-week budget. For the past six months, the government has been funded by continuing resolution stopgaps, severely impeding our ability to effectively plan for the future. There exist far too many malign external threats for distractions by our own self-imposed internal problemswe cannot continue operating at maximum capability and capacity under short-term funding. I maintain that the government and industry must work together to develop the shipbuilding industrial base. And we simply cannot build, maintain, and repair a fleet without proper funding. Just as innovation drove victory for the United States during World War II, innovation continues to drive victory at sea today. I look forward to the future of Navy and Marine Corps innovation, and I look forward to what you in this audience will provide for our service men and women. At his change of command address in 1961, then-Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Arleigh Burke stated: "[I]n this modern world, the instruments of warfare are not solely for waging war. Far more importantly, they are the means for controlling peace." As I mentioned at the beginning of my remarkswe are at a turning point. The world is teeming with strife and conflict. But our Navy and Marine Corps Team continues to train and demonstrate its lethality every day. And our Sailors and Marines are equipped with the best materials and technology because of the foundational support created by industry. I remain committed to a fully integrated team comprised of our Sailors and Marines on sea, land, and air, our DoD civilians and contractors, and our industry partnersworking together to ensure mission accomplishment. Thank you for your support, and may God bless our Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Calls for Defending Democracy in State of Union Address By VOA News March 07, 2024 U.S. President Joe Biden concluded his State of the Union address Thursday night as he began it: highlighting the importance of defending democracy at home and around the world. "I see a future where we defend democracy, not diminish it. I see a future where we restore the right to choose and protect other freedoms, not take them away," Biden said as he wrapped up his speech. Earlier in the night, Biden began by emphasizing what he said are threats facing democracy around the world and calling on Congress to approve additional aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia. "I say this to Congress: We have to stand up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. Send me a bipartisan national security bill," he said. House Republicans are blocking a Senate-approved $95 billion foreign aid package that includes $61 billion to help Kyiv in its fight against Russia. "My message to [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin, who I've known for a long time, is simple: We will not walk away. We will not bow down," Biden said. More broadly, Biden said that democracy and freedom are under threat around the world. "What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time," he said. The president also lauded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, which he called "the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen." He pointed out Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who attended the address as a guest of first lady Jill Biden. Sweden officially joined NATO on Thursday. Biden took his time walking down the chamber aisle as he stopped to greet, talk and take photos with various lawmakers and other individuals. A collection of attendees began clapping and chanting, "Four more years," as Biden walked toward the lectern. The president's entrance into the chamber was preceded by that of his Cabinet, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, who entered and shook hands with lawmakers as they walked to their seats. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona was the designated survivor, which refers to the single member of the president's Cabinet who does not attend the State of the Union address to ensure that someone in line for presidential succession is safe in the potential event of a catastrophic incident during the address. Biden's speech comes as lawmakers work to fund the government and avoid a shutdown, and the Biden administration urges Congress to pass security aid for Ukraine and Israel. He addressed the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas near the end of his speech. He called on Hamas to release all of the Israeli hostages still being held by the group. "I pledge to all the families that we will not rest until we bring their loved ones home," Biden said. But Biden also emphasized that Israel has a responsibility to protect civilians in Gaza. "It's heartbreaking," Biden said about the civilian crisis, which has seen more than 30,000 Palestinians killed. Biden announced that the U.S. military will establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean Sea on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters for civilians in the beleaguered Gaza Strip. Elsewhere in his speech, Biden drew attention to the Supreme Court's 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the right to abortion. "Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024," Biden said. "If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again," he continued. Several Democratic women are dressed in suffragette white, part of a tradition that began in opposition to former President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, some Republicans are wearing buttons and T-shirts that reference Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student in Georgia who was killed in February. Authorities charged a Venezuelan migrant who entered the United States illegally and was later released on parole in the case. Some conservative lawmakers have blamed Riley's killing on White House immigration policies. During his address, Biden urged Congress to pass the border security fund bill. "I will not demonize immigrants saying they are 'poisoning the blood of our country,'" Biden said. "I will not separate families." Earlier in his address, Biden took credit for improving the country's economy and guiding it out of the pandemic-caused slump. "I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nation's history. And we have. It doesn't make the news but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told," he said. He went on to cite 15 million new jobs in three years, unemployment at a 50-year low, and a record 16 million Americans starting small businesses. Biden also committed to protecting the Affordable Care Act. Also in his sights: halting tax breaks for major corporations and billionaires. "No billionaire should pay a lower tax rate than a teacher, a sanitation worker, a nurse," he said, before going on to say he has proposed a minimum 25% tax for billionaires. Whereas the wars in Ukraine and Gaza featured significantly in Biden's address, the president only briefly discussed China, which some lawmakers view as an existential adversary to the United States. But Biden projected confidence. "For years, all I've heard from my Republican friends and so many others is China's on the rise, and America is falling behind. They've got it backward. America is rising," he said. "We want competition with China, but not conflict," he added. Following Biden's address, Alabama Senator Katie Britt is due to give the Republican response. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Ordering US Military to Build Port in Gaza to Facilitate Aid By Patsy Widakuswara March 07, 2024 President Joe Biden will use his State of the Union address late Thursday to announce that he has directed the U.S. military to build a port in Gaza to facilitate delivery of critically needed aid for Palestinians displaced and suffering amid Israeli's military campaign against Hamas. The main feature of this port is a temporary pier which will provide capacity for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day, with initial shipments coming via Cyprus with support of the U.S. military and a coalition of partners and allies, said a senior administration official briefing reporters Thursday. "We will coordinate with the Israelis on the security requirements on land and work with the U.N. and humanitarian NGOs on the distribution of assistance within Gaza," the official said. "This new significant capability will take a number of weeks to plan and execute. The forces that will be required to complete this mission are either already in the region or will begin to move there soon." The official said that there will be no American boots on the ground in Gaza. Instead, the U.S. military will employ its "unique capabilities" to establish the facilities from offshore. "The concept that's been planned involves the presence of U.S. military personnel on military vessels offshore but does not require U.S. military personnel to go ashore to install the pier or [a] causeway facility that will allow the transportation of humanitarian assistance ashore," said a senior defense official in the same press briefing. Defense officials told VOA the most likely option to build a port in Gaza would be to use the Army's Joint Logistics Over the Shore, or JLOTS. Described by one official as "the Army's little unicorn," JLOTS allows Army teams to carry floating pier pieces by ship, which are pieced together in the water. Building a port and delivering aid via sea is "a mammoth step" in expanding humanitarian aid delivery channels and could have "a transformative impact," said Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, an analyst from Gaza. It signals Biden's seriousness about ending the humanitarian catastrophe, Alkhatib told VOA, and is "a historic development" because it will be the first time in a contemporary context that Gaza will have a functioning seaport. "The maritime corridor option bypasses complete reliance on Israel and Egypt to bring in aid, creating a new path that the regional and international players can use to send in critical supplies," he said. It's unclear whether the plan will be enough to appease progressive Democrats, and Arab and Muslim Americans outraged by Biden's unconditional support of Israel. Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive Democrat, welcomed the step but underscored what he said was the reason for this "extraordinary step." "Despite months of increasingly urgent requests from the very highest officials in the U.S. government, Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and his extreme, right-wing government have refused to let in sufficient humanitarian aid," he said in a statement. "That has led to this incredible situation, in which a U.S. ally is using U.S. weapons and equipment to block the delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid. And now, American taxpayers have to pay even more to build a port to get aid into starving people, because Israel won't let it be driven safely and efficiently across the border." U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said he wasn't aware of any coordination yet for this project. "Our preference continues to be larger access by road," he told VOA. Airdrop aid The United States has made three airdrops of humanitarian aid using military planes and parachutes, following Biden's order last week in joining other countries that have delivered aid in such a manner. He noted the "tragic and alarming event in North Gaza" where Israeli troops opened fire while a crowd of Palestinians was scrambling to get food from an aid convoy. More than 100 people died in the chaos. "People are so desperate that - innocent people got caught in terrible war, unable to feed their families, and you saw the response when they tried to get aid," Biden said in a rare rebuke to Israel. There has been mounting frustration within the administration over Israel's insistence on inspections that have slowed the delivery of aid, even as U.N. experts warned that the situation in Gaza is dire and close to famine. "We are not waiting on the Israelis. This is a moment for American leadership, and we are building a coalition of countries to address this urgent need," said a second senior administration official, also briefing reporters. The officials said Biden will also use his address to Congress to spotlight the plight of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and push for a temporary cease-fire deal before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan which begins this weekend. The onus of the agreement, the administration says, is in the hands of the U.S.-designated terror group. "We recognize that extremists could try to use Ramadan to spark something that would be deeply unfortunate in that holy month, and we want to make sure that we have a peaceful period so people can worship," the first senior administration official said, underscoring that it is still uncertain whether a deal can be reached by then. VOA's Carla Babb contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kashmir Prospered Since Its Special Status Was Revoked, Says India's Modi By Muheet Ul Islam March 07, 2024 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited Indian Kashmir for the first time since his government stripped the Himalayan region of its semiautonomous status nearly five years ago. Amid tight security, Modi told a crowd that had packed the Bakshi Stadium in the region's capital, Srinagar, that Kashmir has seen significant changes and prospered since his government took action on August 5, 2019. On that day, the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government nullified Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution. Kashmir's loss of its special status led to the division of the region into two federal territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Both areas are ruled by the central government and have no legislatures of their own. "Today Jammu and Kashmir is touching new heights of development because J&K is breathing freely today. This freedom from restrictions has come after the abrogation of Article 370," Modi said. "Few political parties used Article 370 for their own political benefits, but that's over now," he added, apparently referring to the two regional pro-India political parties, the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party, without mentioning their names. He also alleged that India's main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, commonly known as Congress, and its allies in the region "deceived people, J&K and the nation for political benefits" under the guise of the now-revoked special status. Kashmiri politicians have described Modi as divisive and anti-minority and have said that the special status designation was a constitutional guarantee, The Associated Press has reported. Tight security was put in place ahead of Modi's visit to the Muslim-majority region. Government forces dug holes on the main road and placed wooden rafters in them to erect barricades. Local police also declared Srinagar a "red zone" for drones. Access to the secured compound, decorated with Indian flags, was restricted to individuals with government-approved passes. Thousands of individuals from the Kashmir valley attended the speech. Some, however, said that the local government forced them to join Modi's gathering as they were government employees. Their claims were backed by two former chief ministers, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, who shared on social media platform X videos and screenshots of the list of the employees selected by the government to attend. "Many of us who work for the government had to attend this event at any cost. We were picked up from different places during the middle of the night," a government employee told VOA. He asked not to be named, fearing disciplinary action. "They made us wear caps in three colors representing the Indian flag when we got into the vehicles. We have been waiting outside since 5 a.m., and we are tired because we haven't had rest," he added. Many people who said they traveled to Srinagar on their own voiced disappointment, saying they were not allowed to enter the venue where the prime minister was speaking. They said they hoped Modi would listen to their concerns and address them on the spot. "I am devastated because security didn't let me into the stadium to share my grievance directly," Riyaz Ahmad, a resident of the Kangan area of Ganderbal district, told VOA. "I come from an economically weaker section of society, and I wanted to tell Prime Minister Modi that people like me can't afford to pay for electricity after the regional government installed smart meters in the valley." Manoj Sinha, lieutenant governor of J&K, welcomed Modi and thanked him for re-establishing peace in the valley. "Thanks to the efforts of Prime Minister Modi, Kashmir, also known as the Valley of Saints, has become peaceful once again," Sinha told the gathering. "Street protests are gone forever." India and Pakistan have both claimed Kashmir since the two countries gained independence from Britain in 1947. They administer parts of the region with a "Line of Control" as the de facto border. Kashmir has seen clashes involving Indian forces and separatists. Sinha said that people of J&K have sent a clear message of their huge respect and love for Modi. "People are standing because there are no seats available in the stadium," the lieutenant governor said. "The figures reveal the affection for the prime minister. Even if there were enough spaces to accommodate 200,000 people, it too would still be overcrowded." Modi also dedicated "Developed India Developed Jammu Kashmir," an agriculture development program worth more than $600 million to boost the economy of J&K. During his speech, Modi announced that he would kick off a campaign to promote J&K as a wedding destination. "I am starting 'Wed in India' campaign. I urge those planning weddings to come and stay here for a couple of days so that locals can earn their bread and butter," he said. "I won't leave any stone unturned to repay the debt of the love given to me by the people of Kashmir." Mufti, the former chief minister, while taking a jab at BJP, said that common people in the past thronged venues with great enthusiasm and returned with hope in their hearts. "But this time Kashmiris know that everything spoken at Bakshi Stadium will be to showcase the so-called benefits of illegal abrogation of Article 370 akin to putting salt to their wounds," she wrote on the X platform. "This visit is only meant to address and drum support amongst BJP's core constituency in the rest of India for the upcoming parliament elections," she added. The elections are set for April. Wasim Nabi, Ayesha Tanzeem and Bilal Hussain contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Condemns Mass Abduction of Displaced Persons in Nigeria By Timothy Obiezu March 07, 2024 The United Nations is condemning the reported mass abduction of over 200 internally displaced persons, or IDPs, in Nigeria's Borno state last week. The U.N. Office for the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs in Nigeria said the incident occurred while the victims, mostly women and children residing in government-run camps, went into the forest in search of firewood. Mohammed Malick Fall, the U.N. Nigeria resident and humanitarian coordinator, released a statement criticizing the abduction and calling for the immediate release of the victims. The majority of victims were women living in camps in Gamboru Ngala town near Nigeria's border with Cameroon and Chad. Fall said the incident, just days ahead of the International Women's Day commemoration, was a reminder that women and girls are among the most impacted by conflict. He also called on Nigerian authorities to provide more job opportunities to IDPs within their camps so they don't have to venture out and expose themselves to gangs and terrorists. According to local media reports, details of the abductions are only emerging now due to deliberate damage of telecommunications lines in the area by terrorists. Security analyst Kabiru Adamu says he has been monitoring the situation. "It started filtering in early in the week. The first instance we heard about 139, and then later 350. It wasn't just one camp, it was about three camps. And so this is difficult in identifying the numbers of persons affected," he said. "As we know, the state government has set up an emergency response team and that team is out there." Neither the Borno state government nor federal authorities have commented on the kidnappings, and there has been no claim of responsibility. Borno is where the Boko Haram insurgency was launched in 2009. This week, the state government said 95% of Boko Haram terrorists are either dead or have surrendered to authorities. Adamu says the claims may be true, but notes that many parts of Borno remain insecure. "At the last count, over 80,000 of the families and members of these groups have surrendered either to the Nigerian military or to the Borno State government. So yes, successes are being made, [but] what we call overall success unfortunately hasn't been made," he said. "The ability of the government to stop these groups from generating funding, I don't think the Nigerian state has done enough." Nigeria's police force of about 300,000 is controlled by the federal government. But for the first time, the government and Nigeria's 36 states are seeking to create state police units. Security analyst Mike Ejiofor says that would be a step in the right direction. "We need to adopt new measures. That's why I was excited when the president and governors backed the establishment of the state police. Security challenges are local, we must look for local solutions," Ejiofor said. "The Nigerian police is too centralized to be effective." However, the plan for state police units has critics who say officials could use officers for ulterior motives. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zimbabwe Responds to Narrowing of US Sanctions By Columbus Mavhunga March 07, 2024 Zimbabwe's government criticized the modification of U.S. sanctions this week that renew measures against President Emmerson Mnangagwa and some senior leaders while removing others from the list. U.S. Embassy officials said the new sanctions aim to improve Zimbabwe's human rights record and reduce corruption. Zimbabwe Information Minister Jenfan Muswere on Wednesday condemned the United States and called for an immediate and unconditional removal of what he called "illegal" sanctions. "Government of Zimbabwe would like to dismiss any suggestions that this is a new development between Harare and Washington," he said, noting that Mnangagwa has long been under U.S. sanctions. "To this end, the government of Zimbabwe condemns the perpetuation of the heinous sanctions against Zimbabwe and their intended effect to decimate our economy," Muswere said. "Consequently, we do not celebrate the current delisting of other key players. ... Zimbabwe was never supposed to be under any form of sanctions from another nation in the first place." U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affaires Laurence Socha on Wednesday said the Biden administration was committed to ensuring the sanctions are relevant, timely and targeting those closely connected to corruption and serious human rights abuses, including Mnangagwa. "In Zimbabwe we continue to witness gross abuses of political, economic and human rights, Socha said. "The targeting of civil society and severe restrictions on political activity have stifled fundamental freedoms, while key actors, including government leaders, have siphoned off government resources for personal gains. U. S. sanctions are not on the country of Zimbabwe." Zimbabwe's government blames sanctions for the country's economic struggles since the early 2000s. Critics attribute the decline to corruption and bad policies by Harare. Marvellous Kumalo, spokesperson for the rights group Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe, said, "We have never invited sanctions or celebrated their existence. We are happy now because the Harare administration has always blamed sanctions whenever they failed to deliver in terms of social-economic goods. So now we will keep them in check and see whether they will deliver." He continued, "We urge Zimbabwe's government to revise their human rights record, their public corruption, issues to do with reforms. We will be happier if they institute reforms that make Zimbabwe a better country." Obert Masaraure, president of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, said he hopes the new measures announced by Washington will do more than improve the economic picture. "Zimbabwe keeps sliding back with respect to issues of human rights, democracy, holding credible elections," he said. "We have also seen massive looting of our mineral wealth. All this has led to serious poverty among our people. Teachers are also affected; earning below the poverty datum line. That is why at least 4,000 are leaving the country annually to seek greener pastures. "So, we hope that this [new] sanction regime can apply pressure on Harare so that it reforms and creates a governance architecture that carries the hopes and aspirations of our people," he said. "That's democracy." In announcing the modified sanctions, U.S. President Joe Biden also terminated the official U.S. state of emergency regarding actions and policies of the Zimbabwe government, which was first imposed in 2003 following reports of election rigging and human rights abuses. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement from President Joe Biden Welcoming Sweden to NATO March 07, 2024 Today, I am honored to welcome Sweden as NATO's 32nd Ally. 75 years agowhen the United States and 11 other nations came together to establish the North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationPresident Truman said the Alliance, "would create a shield against aggression and fear of aggression." Today, that shieldand transatlantic securityis stronger than ever with the formal addition of Sweden to NATO. When Putin launched his brutal war of aggression against the people of Ukraine, he thought he could weaken Europe and divide NATO. Instead, in May 2022, Sweden and Finlandtwo of our close partners, with two highly capable militariesmade the historic decision to apply for full NATO membership. Alliance members ratified Finland's membership last year ahead of our historic summit in Vilnius. And, with the addition of Sweden today, NATO stands more united, determined, and dynamic than evernow 32 nations strong. Today, we once more reaffirm that our shared democratic valuesand our willingness to stand up for themis what makes NATO the greatest military alliance in the history of the world. It is what draws nations to our cause. It is what underpins our unity. And together with our newest Ally SwedenNATO will continue to stand for freedom and democracy for generations to come. I look forward to hosting all 32 Allies for the 75th Anniversary NATO Summit this summer in Washington D.C. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Background Press Call on Humanitarian Aid for Gaza Ahead of the State of the Union March 07, 2024 NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL Via Teleconference 11:11 A.M. EST MODERATOR: Good morning, everyone. Thanks so much for joining today's call to discuss humanitarian aid for Gaza ahead of the State of the Union. As a reminder, this call is on background, attributable to senior administration officials, and it is embargoed until noon Eastern today. For your awareness, not for your reporting, on the call today we have [senior administration official], [senior administration official], and [senior administration official]. With that, I'll turn it over to our speakers for a few words at the top, and then we'll go ahead to take your questions. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks. This is senior official number one. Just very briefly, on the President obviously will address, I think in a very personal way, the situation in the Middle East, which he's been dealing with really almost 24/7 here since October 7th. He'll talk about the horrific attacks of October 7th and Israel's right to go after Hamas and those responsible, but also Israel's added burden, just given that Hamas hides and operates amongst the civilian population Israel's fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza and also to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. So one of the announcements tonight in the speech will be and this builds on a number of things. You heard us talk last week about flooding the zone into Gaza, about making sure the crossings in the south are actually operational. David Satterfield talked about this last week, about the distribution network and security challenges in the south. We've been working with the Israelis to open a new crossing directly into north Gaza. The U.N. confirmed today they're working, hopefully over the coming days, for a pilot transport through that new crossing. We began the airdrops; we had another one today, which we can talk about a little bit on this call. And importantly, tonight in the speech, the President will announce that he's directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a port in the Mediterranean, on the Gaza coast, that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters. And this is an initiative that will get underway here when the President makes the announcement and issues the orders. And we wanted to preview it on the call and address any questions you might have. So, with that, I'll turn it over to senior official number two. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks very much. Just to go back to a little bit of the history of President Biden's involvement on the humanitarian access and delivery aspect of the conflict in Gaza: You know, really since the beginning of the conflict, President Biden has been leading efforts to get lifesaving humanitarian aid into Gaza to alleviate the suffering of innocent Palestinians who have nothing to do with Hamas. And early on, President Biden pushed relentlessly and made significant progress in terms of humanitarian access in Gaza, engaging personally to get agreement from the leaders of Israel and Egypt to cooperate on the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. Before the President's engagement in this area, there was no food, water, or medicine getting into Gaza. And the President's visit to Israel and his hands-on diplomacy with the leaders of Israel and Egypt secured the opening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt. In December, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan traveled to Israel and secured the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, which has allowed additional aid to enter Gaza from southern Israel. And the United States, as I think is known well, is the largest provider of aid to the Gaza response, and thus far we have provided more than $180 million in assistance since October 7th. Responding to the humanitarian crisis and the needs of the Palestinian people has been a priority since day one, and it remains one today. But the truth is, we know that the aid flowing into Gaza is nowhere near enough and nowhere near fast enough. The President will make clear again this evening that we all need to do more and that the United States is doing more, and we are seeking to use every channel possible to get additional assistance into Gaza. We continue to work to increase the amount of aid flowing through existing border crossings at Rafah and Kerem Shalom. And over recent days, at our request, the government of Israel has prepared a new land crossing directly into northern Gaza. This third crossing will allow for aid to flow directly to the population in northern Gaza that is in dire need of assistance. As the U.N. confirmed today, we expect the first delivery to transit this crossing over the coming week, starting with a pilot and then ramping up. The government of Israel is also increasing the capacity of the direct land route from Jordan to Kerem Shalom, a route that has thus far seen around 48 trucks per week. We should soon see 50 or more trucks per day going across. But we're not waiting on the Israelis. This is a moment for American leadership, and we are building a coalition of countries to address this urgent need. Last week, President Biden announced that we would carry out airdrops of aid into Gaza. Since then, the Department of Defense has carried out three airdrops that include 192 bundles containing 112,896 meals, which include this morning's airdrop operations that occurred in northern Gaza. And we have more airdrops planned for the coming days. Additionally, we continue to coordinate with international partners, including Jordan, Egypt, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. This morning, their airdrops added a cumulative total of 28,000 meals on top of CENTCOM's airdrops to Gaza. Importantly, this is part of a sustained effort. More aid is coming. And as the President previewed last week, the United States is taking the lead in activating a maritime corridor to allow assistance to flow by sea directly into Gaza as part of our sustained effort to increase aid flows coming into Gaza by land, air, and sea. So, tonight, the President will announce in his State of the Union Address that he has directed the U.S. military to undertake an emergency mission to establish a port in Gaza, working in partnership with likeminded countries and humanitarian partners. This port, the main feature of which is a temporary pier, will provide the capacity for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day. We will coordinate with the Israelis on the security requirements on land, and work with the U.N. and humanitarian NGOs on the distribution of assistance within Gaza. Initial shipments will come via Cyprus, enabled by the U.S. military and a coalition of partners and allies. This new significant capability will take a number of weeks to plan and execute. The forces that will be required to complete this mission are either already in the region or will begin to move there soon. We look forward to working with our close partners and allies in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond to build a coalition of countries that will contribute capabilities and funding for this initiative. This effort builds on the Amalthea initiative proposed by Cyprus, which provides a platform at the port of Larnaca for the transloading of assistance and screening by Israeli officials of Gaza-bound goods. While our military will lead this effort in the first instance, we look forward to the port transitioning to a commercially operated facility over time. Now, to conclude, I just wanted to say that to really address the urgent needs of the civilian population in Gaza and to enable humanitarian partners to safely distribute lifesaving aid throughout Gaza at the scale that is needed, it is essential that we see a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. The path to a ceasefire is straightforward. There could be at least a six-week ceasefire today if Hamas would agree to release a defined category of vulnerable hostages, including women, elderly, sick, and the wounded. That deal is on the table now and has been for more than the past week. It would bring immediate relief to the people of Gaza. It would also create the conditions needed to enable the urgent humanitarian work that must be done. The onus right now is on Hamas. And with that, I'll turn to the next speaker. MODERATOR: Thank you. I think we're now ready for questions. If you'd like to ask a question, please use the "Raise Your Hand" feature, and our senior administration officials and senior Defense official will answer your questions. Let's get started with Aamer Madhani. You should be able to unmute yourself. Q Hi there. So will this require American boots on the ground on the Gaza coast? And then secondly, I think speaker number two said weeks for preparation. If you could provide any more I guess more precise detail on if you have sort of a benchmark date for this port to be up and open. And then thirdly, if you guys can also just you know, there's been does the White House see it as a problem, one that it has to fly past its closest ally and now build a port? I think Robert Ford, the longtime diplomat, called it an "absurdity" that the U.S. military has to deliver aid into a territory controlled by an ally. Can you guys also just speak to this dynamic that's established and what it says and how it complicates the administration's case of continuing robust assistance for Israel? Thank you. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yes, happy to. On the last point, I will just say that we have and will continue to press Israel to allow more aid into Gaza by land. We believe that land routes we have long believed that land routes can be the most efficient, cost-effective way to get assistance in. But we have decided that we and the President has directed that we look at all options, that we not wait for the Israelis, and that we are pursuing every channel possible to get assistance into Gaza. So we will do it by air, by sea, by land however we can get the maximum amount in possible. I don't want to get ahead of the planning in terms of this operation. You know, and I'm sure we'll have further details to share with our DOD colleagues soon. But we are not planning for this to be an operation that would require U.S. boots on the ground. But issues in terms of the dates, the timelines, et cetera, those are all things that we're working through because they require contributions from our partners, from the humanitarian community and others, to make sure that this entire pipeline works effectively. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to the line of Karen DeYoung. You should be able to unmute yourself. Q Hi. In terms of the hostage negotiations, you've said a number of times that the ball is in Hamas's court. Hamas has put out statements over the past couple of days, saying it still wants a commitment for the initial repositioning of Israeli forces and a commitment for a phase two complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, and that it wants to ensure that all Gazans who want to move north can go back there. Can you tell us if those are demands that are still being negotiated? Are they part of what's been put on the table, or are they just rejected? Is this the Israeli framework that you said is forward leaning? Is this a "take it or leave it" offer? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Hi, Karen. I can address that. So, first of all, it is a three-phase deal that's the concept of the deal with the first phase being a six-week ceasefire, which we've discussed. I don't want to discuss all the elements, but those elements have been under discussion. And there are arrangements as we had even during the ceasefire deal in November that led to 105 hostages coming out over seven days, repositioning of Israeli forces during that period, arrangements for movement all of that stuff has been negotiated. And even returning people to the north, that is something that has been worked on in some detail. Now, to get people to the north it gets to one of the purposes of this call you have to have reliable humanitarian assistance in the north. And you kind of have to flood the area, because one thing that's happening is even as gates are open, the distribution network inside Gaza, given the security situation and given the desperation which led to the event that was terrible, tragic, awful event we saw last week you have to just get in more assistance. So, yes, we're returning people to the north; that is part of the arrangement. This has been worked out. So there's a lot of people who speak for Hamas, purport to speak for Hamas. But the fundamental element on their side is releasing, again, the sick, the wounded, the elderly, and the women. That is, right now, really the holdup. But I will say there have been talks all week in Cairo. We are directly engaged in this. We just had a full briefing on it and assessment of where we are, just about half hour ago. And we are continuing to work this assiduously. And that is not going to stop, because we see this as the path to get the hostages home. I'll say, of course, tonight the President will speak to the plight of the hostages, the fact that we had a deal that got a number of hostages out. There will be a number of hostage families, we know, in the gallery. Jake and I met with the hostage families here at the White House yesterday. This is something we are working on constantly, not just to save the lives of the hostages and get them out, but also because this is a path to a ceasefire, a ceasefire that will last at least six weeks. It can be extended into a second phase; that has been worked out. And a ceasefire would enable the distribution of the aid inside Gaza, which is so essential. And so, it would really facilitate and enable the humanitarian surge that we're working on. So that is why the ceasefire is first and foremost on our mind, on the President's mind. He'll obviously speak to that tonight. But everything we're doing here, including with this new U.S.-led military mission, is important for setting the conditions throughout Gaza for people to ultimately return to their places of residence. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to the line of Michael Shear. You should be able to unmute yourself. Q Hey there. Thanks, guys. I was just wondering, a couple of questions. One, Kirby said yesterday that one of the problems with a, kind of, marine option or a water option is that you still have to truck the materials in after you drop them off at the port. Is it clear that once the aid gets dropped off at the port, that there's a path in, either to the north or the south in Gaza? And secondly, just to follow up on the U.S. boots on the ground, I think there was some talk about this a while back, and the Army Corps of Engineers had said that it was going to take 2,000 troops to deploy something like this. Has that been changed? Is that no longer believed? Or is perhaps the troops not going to be U.S. troops, but there will have to be troops from somewhere else? And is Israel part of has Israel agreed to all of this? In other words, I know this you're saying you're acting without, you know, waiting for Israel, but has Israel given the go-ahead? Do they have to give the go-ahead for you guys to do this? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So, just on your last question [senior administration official], did you want to say something? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: No, [senior administration official], go ahead. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Just on your last question first, you know, I think important to state that we worked very closely with the Israelis in developing this initiative, and they have worked very closely with the Cypriots now for months to establish the mechanism in Larnaca port that will be essential. And we will work closely and sort out the details with them in terms of some of the security questions you raised. But we won't get ahead of DOD in terms of any planning assumptions in terms of number of personnel that will ultimately be involved. But like I mentioned, this is foreseen to be an operation that won't require U.S. boots on the ground. To your other question about distribution within Gaza, I mean, yes, the assistance will need to land and then be distributed further within Gaza to reach those in need. And, you know, there, we're going to be, again, working with the U.N., working with other humanitarian partners to devise a mechanism for distributing the assistance. I think one of the reasons why this development is so key is that we're building a redundant system so that we aren't relying on one or two crossings as single points of failure in terms of being able to get assistance in. So it certainly will be complex to work out, but I think the more avenues we have to get assistance in, the more we will be able to reliably move it around within Gaza as well. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our last question will go to the line of Asma Khalid. You should be able to unmute yourself. Q Hi. Thanks for doing this. I just want to ask for, kind of, an update on the hostage negotiations. I realize [senior administration official] can't share probably too much on that front, but I wanted to get an assessment from you of how optimistic you are about reaching an agreement before Ramadan. And relatedly, can you help expound on why there is this urgency to reach the deadline before Monday? I know the President alluded the other day to possible danger in Jerusalem. I wanted to get clarity on that. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So, I'm not going to make predictions. This is a difficult negotiation. Any negotiation in its latter stages can become extremely hard. But, look, Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, has called for violence over Ramadan, so we recognize that this is something that they might very well try to do. And it's always a volatile period. But, you know, there is no hard and fast, like, deadline on this negotiation. This negotiation is the path to getting hostages home and getting a ceasefire in place in Gaza and bringing relief immediately to the people of Gaza. That is a fundamental objective of ours, and we are working to get it done as soon as possible. We'd like that that been done yesterday. We think the path is there. We're working on it. We are discussing with the Egyptians here just later this morning on some of the state of the talks, and we're going to do everything we can. But I'm not going to make a prediction on it. But obviously, we recognize that extremists could try to use Ramadan to spark something. That would be deeply unfortunate in that holy month. And we want to make sure that we have a peaceful period so people can worship. And obviously, we're working that through with the Israelis, with the Palestinian Authority, with Jordanians and others. But, you know, we fully recognize, and I think Hamas has said, what their intentions might be. At the same time, we have worked out a deal that would bring massive relief to the people of Gaza and a ceasefire. And the terms of it are pretty clear. So we're going to continue to be at this, and we will try to get it done as soon as we can. But I'm not going to make a prediction. These are probably the most difficult types of negotiations imaginable. And nothing is ever done until it's actually done. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our last question will go to the line of Alex Ward. You should be able to unmute yourself. Q Yeah, hi. Thanks for doing this. Just, if you could help me; I'm a little confused. How is this you know, the President ordering this military mission if we're not going to have boots on the ground to build this pier? Is it just that I mean, who's building the pier? And then, is it just that our military assets will be delivering aid from Cyprus to Gaza? Like, just explain what the actual order is here for our troops. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can say one thing, and then [senior administration official] and maybe our DOD colleague. So, look, one thing. The U.S. military has unique capabilities. So as we have been looking at this situation, and working with partners and allies and working on commercial options, the U.S. military has unique capabilities, and they can do things from just offshore that is extraordinary. And so that is the concept of operations that the President has been briefed on, that he is going to authorize. And then we will work here over the coming days to get this underway. But I don't know if [senior administration official] or our DOD colleague might want to add. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to leave it there. SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yeah, I can just chime in and say that the concept that's been planned involves the presence of U.S. military personnel on military vessels offshore but does not require U.S. military personnel to go ashore to install the pier or causeway facility that will allow the transportation of humanitarian assistance ashore. MODERATOR: Thanks, everyone. That's all the time we have for today. As a reminder, this call was on background, attributable to senior administration officials and a senior Defense official, and it is embargoed until noon Eastern today. Thanks so much. 11:34 A.M. EST NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 30,800: ministry People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:46, March 08, 2024 GAZA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,800 since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Thursday. Israeli army killed 83 Palestinians and wounded 142 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 30,800 and injuries to 72,298, the ministry added. Palestinian medical sources said that the bodies of at least 45 Palestinians and dozens of injured people were transferred to the Al-Aqsa Hospital in the city of Deir Al-Balah during the past 24 hours. The sources said most of the victims were children and women, noting that some of the casualties remain trapped under debris. The sources reported that a large number of injured people died due to the lack of medical resources in the hospital. The Israeli army announced in a statement on Wednesday that a soldier was killed and 13 others were injured, with six of them sustaining serious injuries, in the ongoing battles in the southern Gaza Strip. The death toll of Israeli soldiers has risen to 587, with 3,053 others injured since Oct. 7, 2023, according to data released by the Israeli army on Wednesday. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Rips Trump In High-Stakes Speech, Says Won't 'Bow Down' To Putin By Todd Prince March 08, 2024 WASHINGTON -- In a high-profile televised address, U.S. President Joe Biden ripped his likely Republican challenger Donald Trump for "bowing down" to Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged Congress to pass aid for Ukraine, warning democracy around the world was under threat. In the annual State of the Union address watched by tens of millions of Americans, Biden - speaking to a joint session of Congress on March 7 - came out swinging against Trump and Putin and on behalf of Ukraine from the get-go. Biden denounced Trump for recent remarks about NATO, the U.S.-led defense alliance that will mark its 75th anniversary this year, and compared him unfavorably with former Republican President Ronald Reagan. At a campaign rally last month, Trump said that while serving in office he warned a NATO ally he "would encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" to alliance members that are "delinquent" in meeting defense spending goals. The remark raised fears that Trump could try to pull the United States out of NATO should he win the election in November. "Bowing down to a Russian leader, it is outrageous, dangerous, and unacceptable," Biden said, referring to Trump, as he recalled how Reagan - who is fondly remembered by Republicans - stood up to the Kremlin during the Cold War. Biden called NATO "stronger than ever" as he recognized Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in the audience. Earlier in the day, Sweden officially became the 32nd member of NATO, ending 200 years of non-alignment. Sweden applied to join the defense alliance after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Biden called on Congress to pass a Ukraine aid bill, warning that Putin will not stop at the Ukraine border. A group of right-wing Republicans in the House of Representatives have for months been holding up a bill that would allocate some $60 billion in critical military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine as it defends its territory from Russian invaders. The gridlock in Washington has starved Ukrainian forces of U.S. ammunition and weapons, allowing Russia to regain the initiative in the two-year-old war. Russia last month seized the eastern city of Avdiyivka, its first victory in more than a year. "Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself," Biden said. "My message to President Putin ... is simple. We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down," Biden said. Biden also criticized Trump for the former president's attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election, saying those efforts had posed a grave threat to democracy at home. "You can't love your country only when you win," he said, referring not just to Trump but Republicans in Congress who back the former president's claim that the 2020 election was rigged. Biden's address this year carries greater importance as he faces reelection in November, mostly likely against Trump. The speech may be the biggest opportunity he has to reach American voters before the election. Trump won 14 of 15 primary races on March 5, all but wrapping up the Republican nomination for president. Biden beat Trump in 2020 but faces a tough reelection bid amid low ratings. A Pew Research poll published in January showed that just 33 percent of Americans approve of Biden's job performance, while 65 percent disapprove. Biden's job approval rating has remained below 40 percent over the past two years. The 81-year-old Biden, the oldest U.S. president in history, has been dogged by worries over his age. Two thirds of voters say he is too old to effectively serve another term, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll. Last month, a special counsel report raised questions about his memory, intensifying concerns over his mental capacity to run the country for more years. As a result, Biden's physical performance during the address was under close watch. Biden was animated during the more than hour-long speech and avoided any major gaffes. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/usa-biden--trump- speech-putin/32853465.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 07 March 2024 - Day 742 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russian forces have continued attacks intended to expand control around the town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, which Russia seized in May 2023. Its forces have advanced to occupy eastern parts of the village of Ivanivske and are attacking Ukrainian positions in Bohdanivka. On this axis, Russia's immediate operational objective is almost certainly to seize Chasiv Yar, located approximately 5km from the front line. Despite some gradual tactical gains, it is highly unlikely that Russian forces are currently able to attempt a full-scale assault on the town. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of March 7, there were 70x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 3x missile and 43x air strikes, carried out 46x 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. 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. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Babelivka (Sumy oblast) and Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast). Around 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Buchky, Hasychivka (Chernihiv oblast), Stara Huta, Hrabovs'ke, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Vovchans'k, Krasne, Neskuchne (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted 2x attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ivanivka and Stepova Novoselivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Holubivka, Syn'kivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x assaults near Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 5x attacks in the vicinities of Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Hryhorivka, Toretsk and Druzhba (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 20x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Tonen'ke, Orlivka, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novobakhmutivka, Ocheretyne, Umans'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Semenivka, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian invaders, with air support, made 19x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes near Kostyantynivka and Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast). Orikhiv axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Charivne, Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Russian forces conducted 1x assault attempt, to no success. More than 20x settlements, including the city of Kherson, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Krynky, Novotyahynka (Kherson oblast), were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Mykolaivka (Kherson oblast). During the day of March 7, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 11x concentrations of Russian troops. The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, 2x air defense systems, 1x electronic warfare station, 1x fuel depot of Russian invaders. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 14th Mechanised Brigade and 25th Airborne Brigade near Novosyolkovskoye and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic). Moreover, six counter-attacks of the AFU 57th Motorised Rifle Brigade were repelled near Sinkovka (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 31st Mechanised Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the AFU 24th, 28th, 33rd mechanised brigades, 79th, and 92nd air assault brigades near Ozaryanovka, Kurdyumovka, Georgiyevka, and Pobeda (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 200 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one D-20 howitzer. Four AFU ammunition depots were destroyed. In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 24th, 78th, 110th mechanised brigades near Mayorsk, Novgorodskoye, and Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Four attacks launched by AFU assault detachments were repelled near Leninskoye, Novgorodskoye, and Rozovka, as well as seven counter-attacks near Petrovskoye, Berdichi, Orlovka, Tonenkoye, and Pervomayskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 390 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. One AFU field ammunition depot was destroyed. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 58th Motorised Rifle Brigade, 105th, and 128th territorial defence brigades near Shevchenko, Staromayorskoye, Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Novodarovka (Zaporozhye region). One counter-attack of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 160 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, three motor vehicles, and one Strela-10 anti-air system. In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces took more advantageous positions and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 35th Marines Brigade, 15th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Rabotino, Verbovoye, Novodanilovka, Stepovoye (Zaporozhye region), and Novotyaginka (Kherson region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and one Anklav-B electronic warfare station. Moreover, one AFU ammunition depot was wiped out. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces wiped out one POL depot for AFU military hardware, one command post of the AFU 80th Air Assault Brigade, as well as manpower and hardware in 109 areas during the day. Over the past 24 hours, air defence units shot down six HIMARS MLRS projectiles, as well as one French-made AASM Hammer guided aerial bomb. 123 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down near Olshana (Kharkov region), Chernopopovka, Novodruzhesk, Zolotaryovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Krasnoye, Peski, Pervomayskoye, Shevchenko, Petrovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Ocheretovatoye, Novoye (Zaporozhye region), Korsunka, and Krinki (Kherson region). In total, 576 airplanes and 267 helicopters, 14,563 unmanned aerial vehicles, 482 air defence missile systems, 15,388 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,234 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,314 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,461 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement of the 20th U.S.- India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group US Department of State Media Note Office of the Spokesperson March 7, 2024 The following is the text of a joint statement by the Governments of the United States of America and India on the occasion of the 20th meeting of the U.S.-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group and 6th Designations Dialogue on March 5, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Begin text: The United States and India held the 20th meeting of the U.S.-India Counter Terrorism Joint Working Group and 6th Designations Dialogue on March 5, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Ambassador Elizabeth Richard, Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the Department of State, and Ambassador K.D. Dewal, Joint Secretary Counter Terrorism at the Ministry of External Affairs, led their respective inter-agency delegations. The United States and India emphasized the extraordinary value and durability of the U.S.-India comprehensive global and strategic partnership and renewed their commitments to countering terrorism and promoting regional security as an integral part of their broader bilateral cooperation. Both sides reiterated that terrorism remains a serious threat to international peace and security. Countering terrorism remains an important element in ensuring prosperity and peace for Americans, Indians, and global citizens. The participation of delegates from a wide array of departments and agencies from both countries illustrated that the United States and India recognize that countering terrorism requires an inclusive and holistic approach. This approach depends on bilateral coordination between our agencies to ensure productive information sharing and facilitate security, stability, and growth in both countries and throughout the region. The United States and India reviewed emerging threats and tactics in terrorism, including the use of the internet and new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, international movement of terrorists, terrorist recruitment, the financing of terrorist activities, and radicalization to violence and violent extremism. The two sides committed to information sharing, capacity building and continued bilateral and multilateral efforts to address these threats. The United States and India called for the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot terrorist attacks to be brought to justice. They also called for concerted action against all terrorist groups, including groups proscribed by the United Nations Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee, such as al-Qaida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). The two sides committed to strengthening law enforcement and judicial partnerships in support of the rule of law, including through information sharing and enhanced cooperation on mutual legal assistance requests. Both sides also exchanged information regarding priorities and procedures for designating various terrorist entities/groups and individuals. The United States and India reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation in the Quad Counterterrorism Working Group and other multilateral fora and processes such as United Nations, the Global Counterterrorism Forum and the Financial Action Task Force for advancing shared security interests within the region while supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. End text. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canada investing $211.6 million in Calgary's Arcfield Canada to sustain the Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 fleet National Defence News release March 7, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta - Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview, visited Arcfield Canada in Calgary, Alberta to announce an important investment that will support Canada's fleet of CF-18 fighter jets, and ensure that it is operationally ready and able to deliver for Canada. On behalf of the Minister of National Defence Bill Blair and the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos, Mr. Chahal announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a contract valued at up to $211.6M (taxes included) to Arcfield Canada. Through this contract, Arcfield Canada will continue to help sustain Canada's fleet of CF-18 fighters. In particular, Arcfield Canada will continue to support the CF-18 fleet's Avionics weapons systems, supply parts as needed, and provide end-to-end supply chain services. The contract will ensure that avionics spare parts will be made available to CF-18 technicians. Arcfield Canada will provide end-to-end supply chain services related to these parts including planning, purchasing, warehouse management and repair of spare parts. Arcfield Canada will also ensure, through engineering and technical services, that repairs can be executed effectively in the field, and that the users and maintainers of the CF-18 will have access to the fully maintained technical publications that they require to execute their mission. This project also invests in Canada's defence industry - supporting skilled jobs in Calgary, and creating economic growth for the Alberta and Canadian economy. This contract will create or sustain 370 high skilled jobs annually for Canadian industry and value chain partners, and input $41 million annually into Canada's gross domestic product over a ten-year period. Through this contract, the Government of Canada is investing in Canadian excellence and knowhow, and supporting a trusted partner at Arcfield Canada, which will continue to provide optimized support to Canada's fighter fleet. This investment will help to ensure that Canada's fighter fleet remains interoperable with that of our allies, meets civil/military aviation regulations, and effectively meets operational commitments primarily with North American Air Defence Command and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization until the permanent replacement fighter fleet of F-35 jets is expected to be fully operational in 2032. The contract is for an initial five-year period, and five subsequent one-year options. The in-service support contract for CF-18 Avionics will come into effect on April 1, 2024 and if all options are exercised it will last until 31 March 2034. As part of the Government of Canada's ongoing commitment to create more procurement opportunities for Indigenous businesses, Indigenous Procurement Considerations (IPC) were included in this contract. The IPC require the supplier to subcontract a portion of the work to businesses managed or led by Indigenous Peoples. This is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to create more opportunities for Indigenous businesses to succeed and grow by seeking to ensure that at least 5% of federal contracts go to businesses managed and led by Indigenous Peoples. Quotes "This major investment in Calgary's Arcfield Canada will support Canada's world-class defence and aviation industry, sustain good jobs for Albertans and Canadians, and ultimately, ensure that our Royal Canadian Air Force's fighter fleet can meet its operational commitments. Together with our industry partners, we are ensuring that Canadian Armed Forces members have the tools that they need to do their jobs, and keep our country safe." The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence "This contract with Arcfield Canada is a testament to our commitment to supporting the Canadian Armed Forces and to increasing the participation of Indigenous business in federal procurement. This will not only maintain the CAF's fleet of CF-188 aircraft until 2032 and sustain good jobs, but it will also create more opportunities for Indigenous businesses to succeed and grow." The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement "Through this contract with Arcfield Canada, our government is providing the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment it needs to continue to effectively execute their missions, while ensuring economic benefits for Canadians. This procurement will create high-value jobs across Canada, safeguard domestic sustainment of our fighter fleet, and support our world-class defence and aerospace industries." The Honourable FranAois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry "Today's announcement is excellent news for the Royal Canadian Air Force, and for our world-class defence industry here in Alberta. By investing in a trusted Calgary company, our government is supporting good, skilled jobs for Albertans, and ensuring that the women and men of the Royal Canadian Air Force will have the tools that they need to do their jobs." George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview "An integral component of Canada's defence, the CF-18 has provided outstanding service at home and abroad for decades relying upon dedicated RCAF maintenance technicians and sustainment provided by our essential industry partners. This foundational sustainment will now continue with the award of this contract to a trusted partner, Arcfield Canada." Lieutenant-General E.J. Kenny, Commander RCAF Quick facts The CF-188 Hornet, commonly called the CF-18, is a multi-role fighter aircraft used for air defence, air superiority, ground attack, tactical support, training, aerobatic demonstration, and aerospace testing and evaluation. The current size of the Royal Canadian Air Force's operational CF-18 fleet is 89. The CF-18 is a fast, light and manoeuvrable aircraft. Because of its power, speed and target-tracking capabilities, it has had great success in many military operations in Canada and around the world. Arcfield Canada has long been a trusted partner in CF-18 sustainment. On October 15, 2010, the Government of Canada awarded a $480.2 million contract Arcfield Canada for CF-18 sustainment. This was for a period of nine years. Approvals for two-year extensions were obtained, and the previous contract will expire on March 31, 2024. This new contract with Arcfield was competitive and includes all the same services that were rendered in the previous contract. This new competed contract will ensure service provision to the CF-188 Avionics systems at least until 2032 which corresponds to the end of the CF-18 fleet life expectancy. In January 2023, the Minister of National Defence announced that Canada is procuring 88 F-35 fighter jets to replace the CF-18 fleet. Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, including the Value Proposition, applies to the CF-188 Avionics in-service support contract. It requires that Arcfield provide business activities and makes investments in the Canadian economy equal to the value of its activities related to procurement process. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Blair announces investments in Canadian innovation and launches Artificial Intelligence Strategy at Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence National Defence News release March 7, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, delivered a keynote speech at the 92nd annual Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence and discussed Canada's national defence priorities - including growing and reconstituting the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), modernizing NORAD and continental defence, supporting NATO Allies and standing with Ukraine, and promoting peace and stability around the world. In support of these priorities, Minister Blair noted that Canada is taking action to increase the production of much-needed munitions. Today, Minister Blair announced an investment to support increased domestic production of 155 mm ammunition, through the Department of National Defence's (DND) Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program. To support efforts to modernize Canadian ammunition manufacturing, DND has awarded approximately $4.4 million to three Canadian manufacturers: IMT Defence, in Ingersoll, Ontario; General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems-Canada Legardeur, in Repentigny, Quebec; and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems-Canada Valleyfield, in Valleyfield, Quebec. With this funding, these companies will undertake research to advance processes for the design and production of NATO standard 155 mm munitions, which is in high demand across NATO and urgently needed in Ukraine. Concurrently, this will help enable increased production in support of Canada's defence needs. Minister Blair stressed that these projects are part of a larger Government of Canada effort to modernize, and increase, Canadian manufacturing capacity for 155 mm ammunition through Canada's Munition Supply Program. In 2023, DND invested $4.8 million with IMT Defence to increase the production capacity for the M107 variant of the 155 mm artillery metal projectile bodies from 3,000 rounds a month to 5,000. This extra capacity is now available, as of December 2023. Minister Blair reiterated that production is deterrence and noted that Canada is assessing further steps to increase the domestic production of this critically needed ammunition. Minister Blair also reaffirmed Canada's unbreakable commitment to Euro-Atlantic security and Canada's unwavering support for Ukraine, highlighting the historic Agreement on security cooperation between Canada and Ukraine signed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 24, 2024. To further support Ukraine's efforts to liberate its territory, Minister Blair today announced that the Government of Canada will provide funding to Canadian innovators to develop concepts that could help Ukraine move through and clear heavily defended minefields. Successful applicants could receive up to $1 million to develop their concepts, and an opportunity as early as next year to demonstrate their technology to military experts. This project is funded by DND's IDEaS program, and it will fund the best and brightest concepts that could save Ukrainian lives and protect crucial Ukrainian military equipment. In his remarks, Minister Blair also highlighted the need to ensure that Canada's defence institutions are ready for the future and able to responsibly harness emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence. To this end, Minister Blair today launched the DND/CAF Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, which will enable innovation while providing guidance on the ethical, safe, and trusted use of AI across the Defence Team. The AI Strategy is a foundational component of DND/CAF's digital transformation and modernization efforts, aimed at helping the Defence Team become AI-enabled by 2030. Its launch will help DND/CAF use data and resources more efficiently on behalf of Canadians and help DND/CAF remain fully capable and interoperable with Canada's partners and Allies for years to come. Minister Blair noted that from 2016-17 to 2026-27, the Government of Canada is more than doubling DND's budget from $18.6 billion in 2016-17 to approximately $40 billion in 2026-27. This increase comes as a result of the 2017 defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged and subsequent funding increases, including Canada's NORAD Modernization Plan, announced in June 2022. These investments are delivering results for Canada. In just over one year, Canada has finalized the purchase or refurbishment of approximately 140 aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Further, contracts have been signed for all three Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) procurements announced by Minister Anand at last year's conference, and this equipment is expected to flow into the hands of Canadian troops this year. Minister Blair noted that Canada must and will do more to invest in its national defence, and that the Government of Canada remains committed to increasing defence spending substantially. Quotes "The international rules that keep us all safe are being increasingly threatened - and in this environment, we must step up our investments in national defence. Our government is more than doubling DND's budget - and through the upcoming Defence Policy Update, we will be taking further measures to strengthen Canada's defence. Production is deterrence - and alongside our Allies and partners, we are making substantial investments to provide our Armed Forces with the tools that they require to keep our citizens safe." The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence Quick facts Research and development investments announced by Minister Blair to modernize Canadian ammunition manufacturing include the following research projects: IMT Defence, in Ingersoll, Ontario, will develop a production line concept for 155 mm projectile bodies, using advanced manufacturing and inspection techniques. This project will also outline how they could meet DND/CAF requirements. The contribution agreement is valued at $455,872 and the work will be completed later this winter. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems-Canada Legardeur, in Repentigny, Quebec, will investigate automating key areas of production of 155 mm projectiles, such as casting and solidification processes, inspecting for defects using an X-ray, and transporting materials using automated guided vehicles. The contribution agreement is valued at $1,968,825 and the work will be completed in fall 2025. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems-Canada Valleyfield, in Valleyfield, Quebec, will demonstrate the capability to manufacture a combustible cartridge case for the 155 mm Howitzer, including developing the expertise and pre-engineering study to manufacture combustible cartridge cases for Canada's needs. The contribution agreement is valued at $2,019,959 and the work will be completed in the winter of 2026. Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $13.3 billion in funding to support Ukraine. This includes: $4 billion in military assistance, such as M777 howitzers, Leopard 2 main battle tanks, armoured combat support vehicles, hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, thermal clothing, body armour, fuel, and more. Canadian Armed Forces members are supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the United Kingdom, Poland, and Latvia under Operation UNIFIER, providing training on a range of military skills. Since 2015, the CAF have trained more than 40,000 Ukrainian military and security personnel under this operation. The CAF have also been assisting with the delivery of military aid for Ukraine from Canada and on behalf of our Allies and partners. As a result of Strong, Secure, Engaged and subsequent funding increases, including funding for NORAD modernization and continental defence announced in June 2022, DND's annual budget is expected to more than double over ten years, from $18.6 billion in 2016-17 to $39.7 billion in 2026-27 on a cash basis. Defence spending has increased year-over-year since 2015 - and that growth is set to continue. Since 2014, Canada has had the third biggest increase of all NATO countries, in real terms, and Canada has the seventh-largest defence budget among NATO's 31 Allies. In addition, Canada is on track to exceed the current NATO target of 20 percent of spending on equipment and will reach 32 percent in 2024. Current Canadian contributions to NATO include: Leading the multinational NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia as the Framework Nation since 2017 as part of Operation REASSURANCE. Providing support to NATO maritime forces through the deployment of surface and sub-surface vessels as part of Operation REASSURANCE. His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown is currently deployed with NATO as part of Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER, the largest NATO exercise in decades. Continuing to support training and capacity building efforts in the Middle East under Operation IMPACT, including through NATO Mission Iraq. Continuing to provide CAF personnel support to the NATO-led international peace support Operation in Kosovo through Operation KOBOLD. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canada - Mobile User Objective System Access Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov Transmittal No: 24-32 WASHINGTON, March 7, 2024 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Canada of Mobile User Objective System Access and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $138 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Canada has requested to buy telecommunications services providing Tactical Narrowband Satellite Communications (SATCOM) access to Canadian armed forces users over the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) service; communication technical assistance to provide operational support, lifecycle management support, and engineering technical assistance and services; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $138 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of Canada, a NATO Ally that is an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress and a contributor to military, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations around the world. The proposed sale will improve Canada's ability to meet current and future threats by providing ultra-high frequency SATCOM access. MUOS access will increase Canada's capacity to conduct operations in concert with U.S. forces for the defense of North America. Enhanced functionality in northern latitudes is integral to meeting Canada's North American Aerospace Defense Command missions and makes MUOS particularly beneficial to continental air defense collaboration. Canada will have no difficulty absorbing these services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be General Dynamics, Reston, VA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Canada. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM's presser highlights China's role as responsible global force Global Times US should view China's devt objectively, honor its commitments: Wang Yi By Zhao Yusha and Chen Qingqing Published: Mar 07, 2024 09:53 PM Updated: Mar 07, 2024 11:45 PM In a press conference on Thursday that lasted about one and a half hours, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi answered 21 questions, covering a wide range of issues related to China's foreign policy and foreign relations, which according to Chinese experts has increasingly shown the maturity of China's major-power diplomacy and Chinese wisdom. The foreign minister's remarks have not only demonstrated responsibility, consistency and the forward-looking nature of Chinese diplomacy, it also helped most countries see clearer China's role as defender of global peace and development, said experts. Moreover, it also showed that decoupling from and cracking down on China will not only harm bilateral ties, but also exacerbate an already turbulent global atmosphere. Observers said Thursday's press conference indicated that China's diplomacy will follow the trajectory of 2023, seeking stability and contributing to preventing the world from descending into deeper chaos. Such a task is not easy given the current international landscape, thus more cooperation will be needed, said experts. Major powers relations On China-US relations, Wang said that since the meeting between the leaders of the two countries in San Francisco in November 2023, there has indeed been some improvements in China-US relations, which fully aligns with the wishes and interests of the peoples of both countries and the world, Wang said. However, it must be pointed out that the US side's incorrect perceptions of China continue, and the commitments made by the US have not been truly fulfilled. The US is constantly thinking of new ways to suppress China, and the list of unilateral sanctions is continuously expanding, reaching an unimaginable level of scapegoating, according to Wang. We urge the US to be clear-eyed about the trend of the times, view China's development objectively and rationally, engage in exchanges with China proactively and pragmatically, and act to fulfill its commitments, Wang said. The Chinese senior diplomat highlighted the immense disasters brought to both the US itself and the world due to deteriorating China-US relations caused by incorrect US policies. Wang's remarks once again emphasized that China attaches great importance to China-US relations, expressing China's goodwill to develop, cooperate, stabilize, and achieve win-win outcomes, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Thursday. "Many of the disputes in existing international affairs are related to the US' incorrect foreign perceptions," the expert said. Diao Daming, a professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times that the US side should maintain a positive momentum and avoid actions that are detrimental to this dynamic stability," Diao said, stressing that a stable China-US relationship also sends out a positive signal to the world. Foreign minister also elaborated on China's relationship with Russia and Europe. Wang said that China and Russia have forged a new paradigm of major-country relations that differs entirely from the obsolete Cold War approach, noting that China is willing to work with Russia to further cultivate new momentum for cooperation and continuously strengthen the friendly foundation between the two peoples. On China's relationship with Europe, Wang said Europe's labeling of China as a partner, competitor and systemic rival at the same time is like reaching a traffic light and finding the red, yellow and green lights all on at the same time. "How can one drive on?" As long as China and Europe engage in mutually beneficial cooperation, no attempt to create bloc confrontation will succeed, and as long as China and Europe stay committed to openness and mutual benefit, deglobalization will not prevail, said the Chinese Foreign Minister. Wang's comments on China-Russia relations came in response to the West's malicious hyping of the two countries' cooperation, telling them that China's collaboration with Russia is not targeted at, nor will it be swayed by influence or pressure from a third country, Cui Hongjian, a professor with the Academy of Regional and Global Governance with Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times. "The traffic light analogy illustrates the underlying issues plaguing Europe's foreign policy, highlighting internal contradictions and conflicting interests that hinder a cohesive approach. This metaphor underscores the challenges faced by European countries, while their own political correctness contradicts their practical interests," Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times. Ties with Europe still are a prioritized direction for China's diplomacy this year. It is hoped that Europe can seize the opportunity to form an objective and rational attitude toward cooperation with China in order to withstand growing uncertainties, said experts. Responsible role highlighted At the press conference, Wang stressed China's role in mediating the current crises threatening the world's stability and peace. China supports the holding of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and that ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans, said Wang. On Palestinian-Israeli conflict, he said that a two-state solution is the only way to break the vicious cycle, and that the failure to end the humanitarian disaster caused by the conflict today in the 21st century is a tragedy for humanity and a disgrace for civilization. The Chinese foreign minister also explained in detail China's contribution and role in pushing forward the development of the Global South. Wang noted that the Global South is no longer the "silent majority," but a key force for reforming the international order and a source of profound hope as the world undergoes changes unseen in the last century. China was, is and will be a steadfast member of the Global South. We go through thick and thin and head toward a shared future together with countries of the Global South, and we will always be a crucial force for the development and prosperity of the Global South, said Wang. The foreign minister's press conference highlighted features of Chinese diplomacy, which is marked by self-confidence, autonomy, and a strategic focus, said Cui, noting that such qualities are not easy to maintain against the backdrop of a complex international landscape, Cui noted. Yang said that China's diplomacy today is not only focused on its own interests, but also accurately captures a common need among many countries in the world, which is to seek stability and cooperation. He believed that in 2024, Chinese diplomacy will continue along the trajectory set in 2023, aiming to prevent further political and economic turmoil in the world. It is recognized that China alone cannot accomplish the task of stabilizing global politics and promoting economic development, so cooperation must be emphasized. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, Russia forged a new paradigm of major-country relations different from obsolete Cold War approach: Wang Yi Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 07, 2024 11:54 AM China and Russia have forged a new paradigm of major-country relations that differs entirely from the obsolete Cold War approach, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday, adding that the relation is of great value in maintaining global strategic stability. Wang made the remarks at a press conference Thursday on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress. Wang said the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia in the new era is maintaining a high level of operation under the strategic guidance of two head of states, with political mutual trust continuing to deepen, with mutually beneficial cooperation and complementary advantages, and surging enthusiasm in people-to-people exchanges. Last year bilateral trade volume reached a record high of $240 billion, surpassing the established target of $200 billion ahead of schedule, he noted. Russian natural gas is fueling numerous Chinese households, and Chinese automobiles are running on Russia roads. All this shows the strong resilience and broad prospects of China-Russia mutually beneficial cooperation, Wang said. Maintaining and growing the China-Russia relationship is a strategic choice by the two sides based on the fundamental interests of the two peoples. It is also what we must do to keep pace with the trend of the world. China and Russia have forged a new paradigm of major-country relations that differs entirely from the obsolete Cold War approach. On the basis of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, China and Russia strive for lasting good-neighborliness and friendship and seek to deepen their comprehensive strategic coordination, Wang noted. Hegemony is unpopular and division has no future. Major countries should not confront each other, and the Cold War should not return, Wang emphasized. He said that China-Russia relations adapt to the trend of multipolarity and democratization of international relations, and are of great value in maintaining global strategic stability, promoting positive interactions among major countries, and advancing cooperation among emerging powers. What Wang said is of great wisdom against the backdrop of Ukraine crisis which expands the conflict between the West and Non-West worlds. If we regard Russia a representative of resisting the Western-dominated global political and economic processes, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine actually indicates that the confrontation between the West and non-West has reached a climax, Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times on Thursday. By holding expectation toward China-Russia relation, Wang put forward his understanding toward major countries in the time when global confrontation has been expanding and the era theme of peace and development has been questioned, Cui said. Despite this, China remains confident in peace, especially emphasizing that major powers like China and Russia have a responsibility for global security and development. Major powers should strengthen cooperation and avoid confrontation in order to prevent the world from returning to a Cold War state, the expert added. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. We will jointly hold the China-Russia Cultural Year, facing new opportunities for the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to work with Russia to further cultivate new momentum for cooperation and continuously strengthen the friendly foundation between the two peoples, Wang said. Russia is currently the rotating chair of the BRICS countries, while China will take over the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the second half of this year. Both sides will enhance international multilateral cooperation, uphold true multilateralism, maintain the international system centered on the United Nations, and safeguard regional and global security and stability, Wang added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Malaysia warns against attempts to undermine China's regional sway Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 5:10 PM Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has warned against attempts to block China's military and economic rise in the Asia-Pacific region and denying its "legitimate place in history." On Thursday, Ibrahim said as the United States and China jostle for regional influence, Southeast Asian countries should defend the "sanctity" of international law and urge cooperation. "In their eyes, the adverse actions on China's rise, militarily, economically and technologically, represent nothing less than an attempt to deny their legitimate place in history," Ibrahim said about China. "The obstacles that have been placed against China's economic and technological advancement will only further accentuate such grievances." Speaking at the Australian National University in Canberra, the prime minister said the countries need to put themselves in China's shoes and recognize how its leaders saw its military buildup and growing diplomatic influence as a natural result of its economic and technological prowess. The Malaysian prime minister, who attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Australia that ended on Wednesday, favored China at the meeting that saw clashes between the Philippines and China over the disputed South China Sea. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on March 4 that his country would expand security ties with the United States and resist Chinese incursions in the disputed sea. The Philippines has also accused China of damaging one of its ships in the South China Sea. Beijing has blamed the United States for using the Philippines as a "pawn" in the region. Without naming a specific country, Ibrahim said, "For some countries, the preservation of stability warrants nothing less than a more muscular approach towards international affairs." The Malaysian prime minister, who will host next year's ASEAN summit, said multilateral institutions such as the 10-member bloc needed to ensure the region was resilient to power shifts. "We must invest in institutions that will enable us to adapt to change peacefully without denying any nation of their rightful place in the global economy." Ibrahim said great uncertainty in the world highlighted the need for strong, universally recognized laws and more modern multilateral institutions. "Globalization is decidedly under assault, economic interdependence is now seen as indicative of duress or, worse, of buckling under the weight of coercion." He also rebuked Western countries for condemning Russia over the war in Ukraine while remaining "utterly silent on the relentless bloodletting inflicted on innocent men, women and children of Gaza." "Unfortunately, the gut-wrenching tragedy that continues to unfold in the Gaza Strip has laid bare the self-serving nature of (the) much vaunted rules-based order," he said. "The differing responses by the West to human suffering defy reason." "Why ... has the West been so vociferous, vehement, and unequivocal in the condemnation of the Russia invasion of Ukraine while remaining utterly silent on the relentless, bloodletting inflicted on innocent men, women and children of Gaza." The joint Australia-ASEAN statement on Wednesday reiterated concern over the "dire" humanitarian situation in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hong Kong pushes ahead with 'Article 23' security law Rights experts say it will criminalize actions like peaceful protest or political opposition that should be protected. By Alice Yam for RFA Cantonese, Gao Feng for RFA Mandarin 2024.03.07 -- Hong Kong's government announced on Thursday it will push ahead with stringent new security legislation known as "Article 23," aiming to pass it as soon as possible -- a process that could still take weeks. "[Hong Kong] has to enact the Basic Law Article 23 legislation as soon as possible - the earlier the better," the city's leader John Lee said on Thursday. "Completing the legislative work even one day earlier means we can more effectively safeguard national security one day earlier." Lee said he had written to the Legislative Council about the Safeguarding National Security Bill, which the government says will plug "loopholes" left by the 2020 National Security Law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing in the wake of the 2019 protest movement. In Hong Kong's legislative process, three readings are necessary to pass a bill, so it may still take weeks to approve. After a first and second reading, the council will set up a committee to scrutinize the bill, after which it will be introduced to the general meeting for a vote on subsequent Wednesdays. The law will criminalize "treason," "insurrection," the theft of "state secrets," "sabotage" and "foreign interference," among other national security offenses, and is highly likely to be passed by the Legislative Council in the absence of opposition lawmakers. But rights experts including the U.N. Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders, foreign governments and activists have warned that the law will criminalize actions like peaceful protest or political opposition that should be protected under international law. The announcement came after lawmakers discussed the bill for most of Thursday, with some expressing concerns that the law could be used to curb public speech or the media. Insulting mainlanders Justice Secretary Paul Lam appeared to confirm that it could, saying that the law would be used to target those who "incite hatred," citing the example of "insulting words" used about visitors from mainland China in recent years. A Hong Kong resident in her 40s who gave only the surname Chan for fear of reprisals said she would prefer to be allowed to complain about bad behavior on the city's streets. "I have frequently encountered uncivilized people and behaviors on the streets, like public urination, begging, eating and drinking on public transportation, among other things," she said. Mainland Chinese tourists have been castigated by Hong Kongers in recent years for allowing their children to relieve themselves in public, fueling tensions between "little pink" supporters of the Chinese Communist Party and Hong Kongers with a strong sense of civic pride. "If I see that kind of behavior I speak up -- but if the person is from mainland China, will I be violating the Article 23 law if I do so in future?" she said. Alric Lee, Executive Director of the Japan Hong Kong Democracy Alliance, said Lam's comments on "insults" to mainland Chinese tourists give the impression that the government is favoring them over local residents. "The definition of what constitutes ... 'insulting' is vague, which is helpful to the authorities in dealing with situations that they can't yet foresee," Lee said. "It's hard to say whether anyone will get convicted for this, but Hong Kongers will need to be careful regarding their interactions with mainlanders." 'Duty of loyalty' Lam also declined to reassure lawmakers that the content of religious confessions would be exempt from the law. "Treason is a serious matter, and everyone has the duty of loyalty that they must fulfill if national security is at stake," he said. But Lam said in response to questions about the law's effect on the media that "professional ethics" should protect journalists from running afoul of the law. "Hong Kong news media adopted a code of professional ethics in 2000, which states that information must be obtained through legitimate means," Lam said. "If media workers follow those basic rules, I think that in most cases they won't accidentally see secrets or accidentally break the law." In January, Amnesty International described the Article 23 legislation as "a dangerous moment" for human rights in Hong Kong, warning that authorities would likely "push through" this legislation with minimal meaningful consultation, and without ensuring its compliance with international law. "The government has made clear it intends to double down on repression of civic freedoms under Article 23 by introducing steeper penalties and expanding cases in which the legitimate exercise of rights would be criminalized in the name of national security," the group's China director Sarah Brooks said in a statement on Jan. 30. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US lawmakers urge Blinken to ban travel to China's Xinjiang They also ask 3 US travel agencies to stop offering tours to the region so as to avoid perpetuating 'atrocity crimes.' By Roseanne Gerin for RFA 2024.03.07 -- Two members of the U.S. Congress have sent a letter urging Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to ban American citizens from traveling China's far-western region of Xinjiang so as not to "perpetuate and conceal atrocity crimes" that China is committing against Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities living there. "American citizens and permanent residents, companies, and other entities should be warned about the risk of enabling atrocity crimes if they participate in tourism to the XUAR," Rep. Chris Smith and Sen. Jeff Merkley, co-chairs of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, or CECC, wrote in the letter. They said the State Department's travel advisory for the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, or XUAR, should be raised to Level 4 - do not travel. They also wrote letters to three U.S. travel agencies asking them to stop offering trips to the region. The CECC is an independent American government agency that monitors human rights in China. Chinese authorities tightly control who enters Xinjiang, where harsh repression of Uyghurs and other Muslims in recent years has amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity, according to the United States, the United Nations, the parliaments of other Western countries and human rights groups. Uyghur rights groups have denounced Chinese-government approved travel to Xinjiang as "genocide tourism," saying that they help China conceal its persecution of the 11-million strong Uyghur people. While the State Department does not issue a separate travel advisory for Xinjiang, its advisory for China is at Level 3 - reconsider travel to the country due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions. The letter warned that individuals with a Turkic or Muslim background who travel to the XUAR face the risk of wrongful detention, enforced disappearance, exit bans and other serious human rights abuses. Travel agencies asked to stop tours The Uyghur Human Rights Project, or UHRP, based in Washington, said in a January report that at least 18 European travel companies offer tours to sites in Xinjiang connected to the repression religious beliefs, the destruction of Uyghur cultural heritage, surveillance, imprisonment, torture, sexual assault and deaths in custody. Smith and Merkley said Chinese authorities are investing heavily in promoting tourism in the Xinjiang while continuing to subject Uyghur and other Turkic residents there to unjust detention, forced labor and religious repression. In separate letters, Smith and Merkley asked U.S. travel companies to stop offering tours that include visits to Xinjiang. They include Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel Ltd. of Sparks, Nevada; Geographic Expeditions, Inc. of San Francisco, California; and Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC of Downers Grove, Illinois. All three companies were named in an August 2023 UHRP report. "Make no mistake: under the current circumstances, tourism in the XUAR serves as a conduit for Chinese authorities' repression of Turkic and Muslim peoples and facilitates the destruction and appropriation of their heritage and identity," the letters said. "It is our strong belief that well-intentioned tourists should not be put in the position of condoning or supporting atrocities - or be used as propaganda pawns - allowing the Chinese government to cover up its genocide and crimes against humanity," they said. The two CECC leaders also noted that conducting tours in places where genocide is occurring is antithetical to Wild Frontiers' own commitment to responsible tourism. The company issued a statement in August 2023, saying it was "conducting a full investigation" of tours in the region. Smith and Merkley asked company founder and chief executive officer Jonny Bealby to provide information about the status of the investigation and how it was being conducted, saying they were compiling information for future reports and a congressional hearing where they may request his testimony. Potemkin tours UHRP senior researcher Henryk Szadziewski, who lived in China for five years, including a three-year period in Uyghur-populated regions, said the letters represent an "important ask" from the three travel companies. "First of all, there's obviously the issue of profiteering from these tours," he said. "So, while people in the Uyghur region are facing what many very reputable bodies call potential crimes against humanity, these tour companies are taking tourists through that region." Second, the companies' marketing portrays Uyghurs as "a folkloric people, very pre-modern - that if you, take one of these tours, you'll go back to a magical time on the Silk Road, when it really is very much a Chinese government narrative of Uyghurs," said Szadziewski, who wrote the UHRP reports. "The Chinese government narrative of Uyghurs is as folkloric means that they are in need of some kind of development." CECC staff director Piero Tozzi called the trips "Potemkin tours" where tour operators take travelers to places the Chinese government wants them to see, but not the "ugly side" of Xinjiang, such as concentration camps where Uyghurs are being detained. "We think that this is unacceptable, that essentially they are profiting off of genocide, and they are subsidizing it, they're contributing to it by going to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region." Additional reporting by Kurban Niyaz for RFA Uyghur. Edited by Malcolm Foster. The story was updated to include comments from Henryk Szadziewski and Piero Tozzi. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's FM Reveals Trade With Russia Hit Record High Sputnik News 20240307 BEIJING (Sputnik) - China's top diplomat Wang Yi held a news conference Thursday on the sidelines of a political gathering in Beijing. With Russian gas powering thousands of Chinese homes and Chinese cars cruising along Russian roadways, Wang Yi said on Thursday, that he believes that this fully reflects the stability and broad prospects of cooperation. "Last year, bilateral trade reached a record level of $240 billion, reaching the set target of $200 billion ahead of schedule... Russian natural gas is being supplied to thousands of households in China, and Chinese cars are driving on Russian streets: this fully reflects the strong sustainability and broad prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries," Wang said at an annual news conference at a session of China's parliament, the National People's Congress. The second session of China's 14th National People's Congress opened in Beijing on Tuesday and will last until March 11. Mutual political trust between Moscow and Beijing continues to strengthen under the leadership of both countries' presidents, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. He emphasized that Russia and China (PRC) have established a new model of relations between major countries that is markedly different from the Cold War era. The two nations are deepening their cooperation based on the principles of non-confrontation and non-interference in the affairs of third parties. Russia and China will continue bolstering international cooperation, maintaining regional and global security and stability, the minister stressed. Moscow and Beijing have created a new model of relations between major counties that completely differs from the Cold War era, Wang Yi emphasized. The PRC supports holding an international peace conference recognized both by Russia and Ukraine with equal participation by all parties, the top diplomat highlighted. China Supports International Peace Conference on Ukrainian Crisis Beijing supports holding an international peace conference recognized both by Russia and Ukraine with the equal participation of all parties, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. "China supports convening in a timely manner an international peace conference recognized by both Russia and Ukraine with equal participation of all parties and impartial discussion of all peace plans," the foreign minister told an annual news conference on the sidelines of the second session of China's 14th National People's Congress, running from March 5 to 11 in Beijing. All efforts made by China in the Ukraine conflict are aimed at paving the way to peace negotiations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said added. The top diplomat said that China had always taken a fair stance on the Ukraine conflict and insisted on reconciliation. "Everything we do is aimed at achieving one goal a paving the way for ending the war and starting peace talks," Wang stressed. One-China Principle Is International Consensus The one-China principle has become the consensus of the international community, and those who support the independence of Taiwan are challenging China's sovereignty, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. "After Taiwan's election, we have seen more than 180 countries and international organizations reaffirm their commitment to the one-China principle and the support for China in defending state sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wang told an annual news conference on the sidelines of the second session of China's 14th National People's Congress, taking place in Beijing from March 5-11. He added that "this fully demonstrates that the one-China principle has become the common consensus of the international community." "If there are people who condone and support the independence of Taiwan, they are challenging China's sovereignty, and if some countries insist on maintaining official relations with Taiwan, they are interfering in the internal affairs of China," the diplomacy chief said. US Perceives China Erroneously Washington continues to hold a misguided perception of China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at an annual news conference Thursday. The Chinese top diplomat said that after the meeting of the two countries' leaders in San Francisco, "some progress was made in improving Chinese-American relations," which, according to the diplomat, is fully consistent with the desires and interests of the two countries and world nations. "But we must note that the US's misperception of China remains," the Chinese foreign minister said. He said the promises made by the United States are not being fulfilled, while more and more diverse measures are being introduced to put pressure on Beijing, and the list of unilateral sanctions continues to increase. "We urge the United States to recognize the general trend of historical development, to consider China's development objectively and rationally..." Wang said, adding that if the United States focuses on suppressing China, it will definitely ultimately harm itself. China Advocates for Palestine's Full UN Membership China advocates for Palestine's full membership in the United Nations and calls on several UN Security Council members not to impede the process, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. "China firmly supports the Palestinian people's just calls of regaining their legitimate rights and is always committed to a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine at an early date. We support Palestine's full membership in the UN and urge certain UN security members not to lay obstacles," Wang told reporters in Beijing during the annual "Two Sessions" meeting of the Asian nation's main political bodies. The top Chinese diplomat pointed to the long-lasting "occupation" of the Palestinian territories, saying that the global community should not ignore that fact. The Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition of their independent state in the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, in addition to the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government refuses to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity and builds settlements in the occupied areas despite objections from the UN. Palestine was granted non-member observer state status by a 2012 UN General Assembly resolution. All Nations Should Follow UN Charter Rules All countries in the world should follow the rules enshrined in the UN Charter and not create their own with a view to satisfying their desires, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. "China has always believed that there is only one system in the world, and that is the system centered on the United Nations ... No country should bend its own line and create its own rules," the minister told a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of China's 14th National People's Congress. There is also only one set of rules for international relations and it is based on the purposes and principles set in the UN Charter, he said. "The series of crises and challenges in the past years, once again warn us that the UN role can only be strengthened, not weakened, the place of the UN must be protected, and it cannot be replaced," Wang added. At the same time, the UN should keep up with the times and continuously reform and improve to adapt to the new reality of international political and economic development. In particular, the representation and voice of the emerging economies should be reinforced, the minister concluded. Currently, the UN Security Council consists of five permanent members a the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom, and 10 rotating members. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China-Russia Trade in January-February 2024 Up to $37.01Bln Sputnik News 20240307 BEIJING (Sputnik) - The China-Russia trade in January-February of 2024 has increased by 9.3% year-on-year and amounted to $37.01 billion, data of the Chinese General Administration of Customs showed on Thursday. In the said period, China imported $16.808 billion worth of goods to Russia, a 12.5% increase in imports compared to the same period in 2023. China's exports from Russia increased by 6.7% year-on-year to $20.202 billion. In 2023, the China-Russia trade increased by 26.3% to a record high of $240.11 billion. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping had set earlier a goal to double the bilateral and bring it to $200 billion a year by 2024 from $100 billion in 2018. This goal was achieved in November 2023. The China-US trade in January-February of 2024 has increased by 0.7% year-on-year and amounted to $99.55 billion, data of the Chinese General Administration of Customs showed on Thursday. In the said period, China imported $73.41 billion worth of goods to the United States, a 5% increase in imports compared to the same period in 2023. China's exports from the US decreased by 9.7% year-on-year to $26.13 billion. The US remained China's third largest trading partner after the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China Criticizes US for Suppressing Its Rise While Touting Partnership With Russia By William Yang March 07, 2024 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday criticized the United States for trying to suppress China's rise through sanctions and reiterated Beijing's commitment to uphold the multipolar world order with partners such as Russia. Speaking to local and foreign media during the annual meeting of China's rubber-stamp parliament, Wang said while relations between China and the United States have improved since the summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November, Washington's misconception of China remains strong and it has not honored the promises made during the summit. "The U.S. continues to renew their means of suppressing China while expanding the sanctions list," he said, adding that Washington's desire to punish Beijing has reached an "unimaginable level." Questioning Washington's credibility as a great power, Wang urged the U.S. to view China's rise and development objectively and rationally handle its interactions with Beijing. "We urge the U.S. to recognize the general trend of historical development and put its promises into practice," Wang added. Some analysts say Wang's criticism of the U.S. reflects Beijing's concern about facing technological bottlenecks and economic encirclement by Washington and its allies. "Beijing is hoping to elicit further American concessions and it's asking the U.S. to lower its walls on technological de-risking from China," Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist at Australian National University told VOA in a written response. While Wang urged the U.S. to promote a healthy and stable development of bilateral relations alongside China, he touted Beijing's close partnership with Russia, saying both countries continue to deepen political mutual trust while pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation. "As major world powers and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, China, and Russia have forged a new paradigm of great power relations that adheres to permanent good neighborliness while deepening comprehensive strategic cooperation on the basis of nonalignment, nonconfrontation and nontargeting of third parties," Wang said. Some experts say China's efforts to double down on its "no limits partnership" with Russia is mainly due to its attempt to build an alliance that can resist pressure imposed by the United States. "Since Russia is anti-U.S., China needs an ally to help it resist pressure from Washington," Liu Dongshu, an expert on Chinese politics at the City University of Hong Kong, told VOA by phone. Since China has been highlighting the importance of its partnership with Russia before the Ukraine war, Liu said China may feel the need to stick with that commitment. "It's difficult for Beijing to admit that it's made a mistake in being too supportive of Russia, so for the sake of saving its face, China needs to insist that it's not wrong for maintaining the partnership with Russia," he added. As the war in Ukraine and the Middle East continue, Wang, a 70-year-old veteran diplomat who returned to the role of foreign minister last year following the mysterious dismissal of former Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, said China is actively putting forward proposals for resolving regional and global issues. He said the only way to end the vicious cycle extended from the conflict between Israel and Hamas is to "comprehensively implement the two-state solution" and said Beijing supports establishment of a Palestinian U.N. member state. On the Ukraine war, Wang said China has always "maintained an objective and impartial position" and reiterated Beijing's support for convening an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine. Liu in Hong Kong said China is facing a dilemma where it wants to present itself as a responsible great power internationally, but it doesn't want to take action to address the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. "Unlike the U.S., which has experience in mediating global conflicts, China has long adopted this nonintervention approach," he told VOA. "China is unwilling to take actions to get involved in these conflicts and it also may not be capable of doing that." Amid rising tension across the Taiwan Strait in recent weeks, with Chinese coast guard vessels increasing efforts to patrol disputed waters near Taiwan's outlying islands, Wang said Beijing will never allow Taiwan to be separated "from the motherland" and warned countries around the world not to support Taiwan's potential pursuit of independence. "Whoever engages in 'Taiwan independence' on the island will be held accountable by history and whoever in the world supports 'Taiwan independence' will get burned for playing with fire and taste the bitter fruit of their own doing," he warned during the 90-minute press conference. Sung from Australian National University said Wang's comments on Taiwan are intended to intensify pressure on Taiwan's diplomatic partners and ensure Taiwan remains internationally isolated. Wang is trying to "warn other countries about the consequences of offering support for Taiwan while reiterating Beijing's ultimate goal of achieving unification," he told VOA. As tension between China and the Philippines grows because of repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea, Wang said China has always exercised "a high degree of restraint" when handling maritime disputes. "China has always respected historical and legal facts and sought a solution that's acceptable to each party," he said, adding that Beijing will not allow its "good intentions" to be abused or the law in the sea to be "distorted." After Wang set the tone for China's foreign policy in 2024 through the press conference on Thursday, some analysts think Beijing will likely adopt a multiprong approach to manage its relationship with different countries. "China will focus on managing ties with Europe, maintaining close relations with Russia and other pariah states, heightening tensions with Taiwan, India and in the South China Sea, cautiously testing the waters with the U.S. while seeking to court the Global South," Sana Hashmi, a postdoctoral a fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, told VOA in a written response. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Woman Detained on Spying Charges After Working for US Company By William Yang March 07, 2024 Family members say they are still seeking answers more than two months after China's detention on spying charges of a Chinese citizen who had tried to help an American company find office space in the country. Emily Chen, 50, was supposed to meet her husband, U.S. citizen Mark Lent, at Nanjing airport on December 29. She texted Lent that her plane had landed but never emerged from the airport, prompting Lent to initiate a frantic inquiry about her whereabouts. "Her flight was supposed to land at 10:30 p.m. on December 29, but she still hadn't shown up by midnight," Lent told VOA by phone. "I contacted the airport police, and 20 minutes later, they told me that Emily had been taken away by state security officers." Four days after her detention, Chen's son, who is also a Chinese national, received a notification from the Dalian state security bureau stating that Chen had been arrested on December 30 for illegally providing state secrets to overseas parties, a charge that could carry a sentence of 10 years or more. "I know my wife and [spying on China] is not the kind of thing that she would do to her country," Lent said. "She really cares about her country, and I seriously doubt the charges against her." Worried that Chen's arrest may increase the stress on her son, who is in his early 20s and has mental health issues, Lent tried to take his stepson to Doha, Qatar, with him on February 9. However, when they were going through customs at the Shanghai airport, his stepson was banned from leaving China. Lent told VOA that his stepson's relationship with his father in China is strained and that he is still in Nanjing on his own. Worked for US logistics company Authorities in Dalian have not spoken publicly about Chen's case, including her exact whereabouts. It is believed that Chen is being held under what is called residential surveillance at a designated location, or RSDL. The Dalian state security bureau hung up the phone when VOA tried to inquire about Chen's case. While there is no clear explanation for the spying charges against Chen, Lent believes her detention may be related to the work she did for an American logistics company in Dalian in 2023. According to Lent, Chen spent four months working on behalf of Safe Ports, a company that describes itself as a global leader in supply chain management. "She was supposed to find them an office space," he told VOA. Safe Ports has previously done work for the U.S. Department of Defense, including supplying American troops in Afghanistan. While there is no confirmation that Chen's detention is directly related to her work for Safe Ports, the company's prior association with the U.S. Department of Defense and the sensitive nature of Dalian, which hosts a Chinese naval base, may have resulted in her arrest, some observers say. Dalian is also where China constructed its first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong. "Either what the company was doing, which they didn't share, involves some potential espionage-related activities or her arrest is just a terrible overreach by the Chinese government that has gone out of proportion," Peter Dahlin, the director of Madrid-based NGO Safeguard Defenders, told VOA by phone. Neither Safe Ports nor the company's CEO, Lucy Duncan, responded to multiple interview requests from VOA. However Duncan was quoted by The Guardian newspaper, saying that Chen's work for Safe Ports was "purely administrative" and that she had no idea why Chen was detained. Dahlin a who was himself previously held under RSDL a said the fact that Chen was arrested upon returning to China indicates that Chinese authorities "have been tracking" Chen's activities "for a while." Since RSDL is typically used against individuals viewed as a threat to national security in China, Lent said until recently the family had received little information about Chen's condition for weeks. Over the past week, her family says, they have received several updates about Chen's situation in detention, including a letter in which Chen said she "was fine" and a call from state security officers handling her case. According to Lent, the officer told Chen's son that the investigation was ongoing. "When [my stepson] talked to them, he seemed to think they were honest and that Emily was given everything she needed," Lent told VOA, adding that the updates have made him feel more positive about Chen's situation in detention. Stepped-up security efforts Chen's detention comes as China doubles down on efforts to safeguard national security, passing amendments to laws such as the anti-espionage law and state secrets law and initiating raids against some foreign businesses, including some American due diligence firms. In a recent interview, the U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns told "60 Minutes" that over the past year Chinese authorities raided at least seven American companies and arrested employees on suspicion of espionage. Some analysts say Chen's case is part of Beijing's campaign to further securitize the country, efforts that ultimately will further reduce foreign businesses' confidence in China. "It's becoming riskier for Chinese citizens to work for foreign companies because the Chinese government under Xi Jinping continues to securitize the country and initiate national-security related investigations against foreign companies," Yaqiu Wang, research director for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Freedom House, told VOA by phone. In response to an inquiry about Chen's case, the Chinese Embassy in Washington told VOA that it was unaware of the specifics of her detention but that China protects the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals "in accordance with the law." "China is actively advancing its high-level opening-up and making efforts to provide a world-class, market-oriented business environment governed by a sound legal framework," Liu Pengyu, the embassy spokesperson, wrote in response. While the recent updates have eased some of Lent's concerns about Chen's conditions in detention, he said the case has caused serious financial and emotional damage to the family. "There's not a day that goes by that I don't break down over this because I love her very much," he told VOA. "[While] I have so much confidence that she will eventually prevail on this, I still think it's going to be a tough road ahead for her." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese leaders attend deliberations at annual legislative session People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:09, March 08, 2024 BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese leaders Wang Huning and Ding Xuexiang, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Thursday attended deliberations at the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature. Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, joined the deliberation with NPC deputies from the Taiwan delegation. During the deliberation, Wang said under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Taiwan-related work was effective over the past year in safeguarding general stability in the Taiwan Strait and strengthening the strategic initiative for China's complete reunification. He emphasized the importance of unswervingly advancing the cause of national reunification, and firmly opposing separatist moves toward "Taiwan independence" and interference by external forces. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday joined deliberations of delegations of NPC deputies from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Macao SAR, respectively. Noting that new major progress has been made in the implementation of "one country, two systems," Ding said Hong Kong has entered a new stage in which it has restored order and is set to thrive, and both Hong Kong and Macao have maintained good momentum in their stable development. Ding said that the legislation of Article 23 of the HKSAR Basic Law is a constitutional duty of the HKSAR, and should be completed as soon as possible. He urged efforts to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests and ensure the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. As this year marks the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, it should be taken as an opportunity to further advance the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics to yield new positive results, Ding said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea's leader orders heightened military preparation amid South Korea-US military drills Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 10:24 AM North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered heightened readiness for potential war, during his visit to a military training base in the country's western region amid recent joint South Korea-US military drills. Kim examined training facilities and oversaw actual maneuvers of military units during a visit to the base on Monday. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not reveal the location of the base in its report on Thursday. The North Korean leader said the military must "dynamically usher in a new heyday of intensifying the war preparations in line with the requirements of the prevailing situation," the KCNA reported. "Our army should ... steadily intensify the actual war drills aimed at rapidly improving its combat capabilities for perfect war preparedness," Kim added. The North Korean leader dressed in a black leather jacket, was captured on camera conversing with groups of heavily armed soldiers in camouflage, supervising shooting exercises, and examining weapons, as depicted in photos released by the KCNA. Kim's visit coincided with the ongoing joint military drills between the United States and South Korea, known as Freedom Shield, set for March 4-14. The drills, expected to involve 48 field exercises including missile interception drills, bombing, air assault and live-firing, began on Monday with twice the number of troops participating compared with last year. North Korea has consistently condemned the military exercises conducted by the US and South Korea, asserting that they are practice runs for an imminent invasion. In retaliation to these drills, the country has carried out weapons tests. On Monday, a spokesman for North Korea's Ministry of National Defense said in a press statement that the large-scale joint South Korea-US military drills are provocative and aim to increase uncertainty in the region. It called the drills "frantic" and "reckless" and a "military threat to a sovereign state and attempt for invading it." The spokesperson warned that the US and South Korea "will be made to pay a dear price for their false choice." North Korea's leader has repeatedly said his government is building up its defensive military arsenal in preparation for war by the West that could "break out at any time" on the peninsula. Last month, Kim repeated that Pyongyang would not hesitate to "put an end" to South Korea if attacked. In January, North Korea fired an artillery barrage near two South Korean border islands, prompting a live-fire drill by the South and evacuation orders for residents. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Coast Guard Ship Bertholf visits Port Blair for the joint exercise "Sea Defenders-2024" with Indian Coast Guard India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 07 MAR 2024 5:56PM by PIB Delhi Marking a significant step in bolstering bilateral cooperation between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the USCG Ship Bertholf reached Port Blair on 07 Mar 2024, for joint exercise with Indian Coast Guard (ICG). Codenamed "Sea Defenders-2024", the joint exercise is scheduled to take place on 09-10 Mar 2024 off the coast of Port Blair. The exercise will simulate scenarios relevant to maritime piracy and asymmetric threats, including simulated drone attacks on commercial merchant traffic, joint maritime search and rescue operations, major firefighting, marine pollution response, and counter-drug interdiction exercises. Additionally, a simulated medical evacuation will be conducted to enhance readiness in emergency situations. The Legend-class United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Bertholf is equipped with advanced technology and weaponry, including helicopter landing pad, state-of-the-art sensors and communication equipment. The ship serves the operational function for complex law enforcement, defence, and national security missions, reflecting the USCG's commitment to maritime safety and security. Its visit to India travelling more than 16000 Nautical Miles from Alameda, California reflects a shared commitment to upholding maritime norms and promoting a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. This exercise underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing maritime challenges. It reaffirms the longstanding partnership between the Indian Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard which is an important component of the strategic partnership between the two countries. The Indian Coast Guard has extensive interactions with United States Coast Guard, particularly in the field of training, exercises and cooperative measures. High level interaction between the two maritime agencies has been a regular feature towards maintaining professional relationship. Earlier, on 22 Sep 2022, USCG Ship Midgett visited Chennai. ******** ABB/SR/MR/GC (Release ID: 2012268) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Oil Tanker Caught Up In Iran-U.S. Dispute Over Sanctions By Kian Sharifi March 07, 2024 When Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker last year, Tehran said the transporter had collided with and damaged an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman. Now, nearly one year later, Tehran said it will confiscate the cargo of the Advantage Sweet, which was transporting oil from Kuwait to the U.S. state of Texas, in retaliation for crippling American sanctions against the Islamic republic. The Mizan news agency, which is affiliated with Iran's judiciary, reported on March 6 that a Tehran court had ruled in favor of confiscating the oil, which is valued at around $50 million. The 55th branch of the Tehran Court of Justice said funds from the sale of the oil will be used to compensate patients suffering from epidermolysis bullosa, a rare skin disease. The court ruled that U.S. sanctions have prevented a Swedish company from selling medicine to Iran that is used to treat the disease and caused Iranian "patients severe emotional and physical damage." EB Home, an Iranian nongovernmental organization representing over 300 epidermolysis bullosa patients, had brought a case against the United States in the Tehran court. In a statement following the court ruling, the NGO described U.S. sanctions as "criminal and unilateral." U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller criticized the ruling and demanded that the tanker be "immediately released." "Iran's continued harassment of vessels and interference with navigational rights and freedoms in the region's vital waterways is a threat to maritime security, regional stability, and the global economy," he said in a press briefing on March 6. The U.S. military said in January that Iran was "holding five ships and over 90 members hostage" from vessels it seized in 2023. Most Iranian tanker seizures are carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the elite branch of Iran's armed forces. Iran said it seized the Advantage Sweet in April 2023. The tanker was chartered by U.S. oil giant Chevron and was carrying oil to the U.S. port of Houston, according to ship tracking data. Iran's capture of the Advantage Sweet came days after the United States seized Suez Rajan, an oil tanker that was transporting sanctioned Iranian oil to China. Months after seizing the Suez Rajan, and despite Tehran's threats, Washington begun unloading the ship's oil in August 2023. Sanctions And 'Butterfly' Patients The Tehran court's ruling has put the spotlight on the impact of U.S. sanctions on the health sector in Iran. In 2018, then-U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed sanctions against Tehran. Iranians have witnessed rising prices and faced shortages of life-saving medicine -- including drugs for cancer treatment and insulin -- in recent years due to U.S. sanctions and corruption. U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran exclude food and medicine. But in practice, the restrictions have made it difficult for Tehran to purchase some drugs, according to human rights groups. That includes specialized bandages produced by Swedish firm Molnlycke that are used to treat epidermolysis bullosa patients, who often develop painful blisters and wounds, similar to third-degree burns. They are sometimes referred to as "butterfly" patients due to the fragility of their skin. State Department spokesman Miller told reporters on March 6 that U.S. sanctions "have always had a carveout for humanitarian purchases." "We have never prevented medicine from reaching the Iranian people," he added. EB Home, the Iranian NGO, had previously filed an unsuccessful complaint against Molnlycke in Sweden in 2021. In its failed complaint, the NGO claimed that Molnlycke had informed it in March 2019 correspondence that it had "decided not to conduct any business with relation to Iran for the time being. This also applies to business conducted under any form of exceptions to the US economic sanctions." In a 2021 report, United Nations experts warned about the consequences of "over-compliance" with U.S. sanctions on "butterfly kids," who they said "can no longer enjoy the right to health." The following year, the Swedish government provided financial support to the United Nations Children's Fund to procure and deliver specialized bandages to Iran. "The lack of availability of certain medicines and health products in Iran is a humanitarian concern, affected by the impact of the sanctions regime on financial transactions," Sweden's then-ambassador to Iran, Mattias Lentz, said. "We do hope a solution will be found and will continue to support such a solution." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-oil-tanker-seized-sanctions- retaliation-advantage-sweet-marshall-islands/32852113.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Baha'is Say Iranian Security Forces Destroyed 30 Graves At Tehran Cemetery By RFE/RL's Radio Farda March 07, 2024 Officials from Iran's Baha'i community say Iranian security forces have destroyed more than 30 graves at the Golestan Javid, a cemetery dedicated to Baha'is in Tehran, in what they characterized as an attempt to erase the existence of the deceased because of their religious beliefs. According to a statement from the Baha'i International Community group, the targeted graves were located in the Khavaran mass grave site and the demolition was done with the aim of completely obscuring the presence of the burial sites. Simin Fahandej, the spokeswoman for the Worldwide Baha'i Community in Geneva, said the actions of the Islamic republic's authorities not only inflicted severe and fresh pain on these families, but also underscored the "inhumanity of their conduct" toward believers. Since the Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979, hundreds of Baha'is have been arrested and jailed for their beliefs. At least 200 have been executed or were arrested and never heard from again. Thousands more have been banned from receiving higher education or had their property confiscated, while Baha'i cemeteries are often desecrated in what Baha'is say is the systematic targeting of the group. The Khavaran cemetery in the east of the capital was traditionally a final resting place for members of religious minorities who were interred there to keep them separate from the graves of Muslims. But decades of forced disappearances and secret extrajudicial executions have made Khavaran best-known as a secret burial ground for some of the thousands killed. The graves at Khavaran are unmarked, and Tehran has for decades barred families of the dead from mourning there and punished those who left flowers and mementos. In April 2023, Baha'i believers Shadi Shahidzadeh, Mansour Amini, Vahid Qadamian, and Ataollah Zafar were arrested in connection with activities related to the cemetery. Three months later, Tehran's Revolutionary Court sentenced each to five years in prison. Iran accuses Baha'is of having links to Israel, where the city of Haifa hosts a center of the Baha'i faith. Baha'i leaders reject the allegations and say they are used as a pretext to persecute members. There are some 300,000 Baha'i adherents in Iran and an estimated 5 million worldwide. In Iran, where their faith is not officially recognized in the constitution, its leaders say they face systematic persecution. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has on several occasions called the Baha'i faith a cult and, in a religious fatwa issued in 2018, he forbade contact, including business dealings, with followers of the faith. Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-bahai- graves-destroyed/32852010.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement with Iran: E3 statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency, March 2024 On Wednesday 6 March, France, Germany and the UK (E3) gave a joint statement to the IAEA Board of Governors on Iran's implementation of its obligations under its NPT Safeguards Agreement. 7 March 2024 Statement as delivered by Ambassador GAtz Schmidt-Bremme, German permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency on behalf of E3: Chair, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom thank Director General Grossi for his report on the implementation of Iran's NPT Safeguards Agreement contained in GOV/2024/8. We commend the DG and the Secretariat for their continued professional, independent and impartial verification of Iran's fulfilment of its safeguards obligations. We commend their repeated efforts to engage Iran to clarify information regarding the "correctness and completeness" of its declarations under its NPT Safeguards Agreement. Due to Iran's prolonged failure to address outstanding safeguards issues, the Agency is unable to assure that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. Chair, It has been five years since the Director General first reported evidence to the Board of possible undeclared nuclear material and activities at a number of locations in Iran. Since then, Iran has failed to resolve these long-standing concerns, despite numerous resolutions by the Board, most recently in November 2022. In that time, the number of instances where Iran has acted against its legal safeguards obligations has grown. Let us briefly recall these issues: Iran has yet again failed to provide any technically credible explanations regarding Turquzabad and Varamin, despite having promised the Agency further information in August 2023. It has been five years since the Turquzabad investigation was opened and three and a half years since the Varamin investigation was opened. We must ask Iran, then, whether any of the nuclear material and/or contaminated equipment used at these locations remains in its territory and is not included in its declaration. Iran refuses to implement Modified Code 3.1 - a legal obligation that Iran cannot unilaterally suspend or modify. Iran is not giving the Agency required design information for multiple new nuclear facilities, even as it begins construction. It is unacceptable that the Agency is forced to rely instead on commercially available satellite imagery to monitor these activities. This is particularly concerning given Iran's history of constructing undeclared nuclear facilities. As the DG notes, Iran remains the only State with significant nuclear activities that is not implementing Modified Code 3.1 as part of its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. In September last year, Iran de-designated a number of experienced Agency inspectors and claimed that this was in response to action taken at the Board by some member states. This is a political move, described as "extreme and unjustified" by the Director General. Iran is obstructing the Agency's ability to effectively conduct its verification activities in Iran. We echo the Director General's strong condemnation and urge Iran to reverse it and to promptly re-designate those inspectors. Chair, Since the Board last met four months ago, no progress was made on implementation of the Joint Statement between the IAEA and Iran of 4 March 2023. That Joint Statement was agreed by Iran more than a year ago now, and it is clear that Iran has no intention to implement the commitments it made. We recall Iran also previously failed to implement the Joint Statements of 5 March 2022, 15 December 2021, 12 September 2021, and 26 August 2020. Let us be clear. Iran does not need new frameworks to co-operate with the Agency in order to resolve all outstanding safeguards issues. Such a framework already exists: the NPT Safeguards Agreement Iran signed and ratified, and the legally binding obligations it contains. Chair, On the long-standing nuclear material discrepancy at the Esfahan Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF), we note that Iran has corrected its accounting reports, and that these indicate that the amount of Uranium sent from Jaber Ibn Hayan Multipurpose Laboratory (JHL) to UCF was less than had been declared by Iran in 2003-2004. We note the Agency's conclusion that this case "requires further consideration". We expect Iran to fully co-operate with the Agency to clarify all outstanding questions. This is of particular concern as undeclared uranium metal experiments were conducted at the same laboratory in Iran between 1995 and 2002. This raises the question of the possible diversion of uranium metal. Chair, The Director General is unable to provide this Board and the wider international community the assurance that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. Iran's public statements regarding its technical capabilities to produce nuclear weapons should be of grave concern to us all. We echo the Director General in therefore questioning the "correctness and completeness" of Iran's safeguards declarations. Iran's comments are an unacceptable provocation and completely incompatible with Iran's legal obligations under the NPT as a Non-Nuclear Weapon State. Chair, The Board has already adopted three resolutions on this matter. At the September 2023 Board, 63 member states joined a statement delivered by Denmark expressing deep concerns with Iran's behaviour. Iran has still not implemented the essential and urgent actions contained in the November 2022 Resolution. As reported by the DG, Iran has not made any progress in resolving the outstanding safeguards issues. After so many missed opportunities and lost time, the need for the Board to hold Iran accountable to its legal obligations is long overdue. Iran must urgently, fully and unambiguously co-operate with the Agency. In the absence of decisive and substantive progress, the Board must be prepared to adopt another resolution at its next meeting, and to consider future action as necessary, including making a finding under Article 19 of Iran's Safeguards Agreement. Iran cannot be allowed to evade its NPT safeguards obligations any further. Chair, We encourage the Director General to continue reporting to the Board of Governors and welcome making the report contained in GOV/2024/8 public. In its next report to the Board, we request the IAEA inform the Board whether it can exclude the possible presence of undeclared materials in other locations in Iran. We stress our unwavering support to the IAEA for their impartial and professional work on this issue. Thank you, Chair. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thai seminar with exiled Myanmar leaders signals shift in stance, say analysts But the event angers Myanmar's junta, and the Thai foreign minister abruptly cancels his speech. By RFA Burmese 2024.03.06 -- Thailand's parliament held its first meeting with members of Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government - made up of former civilian leaders ousted in the 2021 coup - to discuss democracy and security issues along the Thai-Myanmar border, attendees said. The two-day seminar, organized by the Thai opposition Move Forward party at the Parliament House in Bangkok on Saturday and Sunday, also discussed humanitarian aid to the war-torn country. It was titled, "Three Years after the Coup: Towards a Democratic Myanmar and its Impact on Security along the Thai Border." Speakers included Zin Mar Aung, the NUG's foreign minister, United Nations Special Representative for Human Rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews and the permanent representative of Myanmar to the U.N. in New York, Kyaw Moe Tun. Leaders of Myanmar's minority ethnic groups, civil society organizations and student union leaders also attended the seminar. Angers junta But the event angered the military junta, which sent a letter to Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the event tarnished Thai-Myanmar ties. Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara was scheduled to give a keynote speech, but this was canceled at the last minute without explanation. "We have no comment on this matter because the Thai foreign ministry was not the event co-organizer," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Radio Free Asia on Thursday. The foreign minister said in February Thailand was stepping up efforts to aid suffering citizens in Myanmar by opening a humanitarian corridor to Myanmar in about a month. The US$300 million plan has the backing of Southeast Asian nations, including Myanmar. It also has the support of the United States. On Thursday, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said the U.S. wanted to work closely with Thailand to ensure regional security and prosperity. "I praised in great detail and repeatedly the Thai government's ongoing and long-standing efforts to support refugees who have fled violence in Myanmar and the more recent efforts by Prime Minister Srettha's government, in the ASEAN context, to again increase the humanitarian assistance across the border," he told a teleconference. Thailand's government has prioritized establishing relations with the junta, officially known as the Military Council, following the February 2021 coup. But the fact that the seminar was held may point to a shift in stance in the Thai government, a former Burmese military officer who is now a political analyst, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told RFA. "It is undeniable that the current Military Council regime is facing defeats on the battlefield, their credibility has declined, and now the democracy activists have been invited for discussions," he said. Rangsiman Rome, the head of the lower house committee of parliament, one of the organizers of the two-day seminar, said he hoped the meeting would help pave the way for Myanmar to solve the crisis through a peaceful and long-term solution, Reuters reported. After the seminar, the former leader of Thailand's Move Forward Party Pita Limjaroenrat wrote on X that they are closely monitoring the politics of Myanmar and will help in solving the crisis. Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Junta bombardment strands 1,000 civilians in Shan state township The military is on the offensive to retake Hsihseng from ethnic Pa-O rebels. By RFA Burmese 2024.03.07 -- More than 1,000 civilians are trapped amid heavy clashes between Myanmar's military and ethnic Pa-O rebels in southern Shan state's Hsiheng township, which the junta has been trying to retake since Monday, according to residents. The fighting to recapture Hsihseng comes amid a wider push by Myanmar's various armed resistance factions that increasingly has the junta on the ropes across the country, including in neighboring Sagaing region, where the People's Defense Force said it is close to taking over a township near the region's largest city, Monywa. The Pa-O National Liberation Army, or PNLA, seized Hsihseng township from a pro-junta militia known as the Pa-O National Organization, or PNO, on Jan. 22. Beginning on March 3, a joint force of junta troops and soldiers from the Pa-O National Army - the armed wing of the PNO - responded with nearly 100 attacks on Mae Nal Taung district between Hsihseng, Ho Pong and Mong Pun townships using heavy weapons and drones in fighting that has killed 47 civilians and injured around 60 others, according to the PNLA. Hsihseng's main market was also set ablaze, and a total of 153 buildings - including some 15 religious structures and a hospital - were destroyed, the rights group Pa-O Youth Organization told RFA Burmese. A resident of Hsihseng who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said that fighting was underway Wednesday in the northern part of the township, which lies some 85 kilometers (53 miles) south of Shan state's capital and largest city, Taunggyi. "When [junta troops] advanced, the battle resumed," he said, adding that some houses had been burnt down. "The military is continuously firing artillery shells. Flames can be seen at [nearby] Mya Kan Thar ward from our village." The resident said the military had carried out airstrikes on the area and that junta troops in a nearby village had fired around 20 artillery barrages on Hsihseng. Nang, the spokesperson for the Pa-O Youth Organization, told RFA that "more than 1,000 civilians" from Aung Chan Thar and Thiri wards, and nearby villages in Hsihseng, have been unable to escape the fighting. "Some residents haven't fled [the seat of] Hsihseng. The exact number can't be confirmed, but more than 1,000 people are trapped there," Nang said. "In the past few days, many residents have fled into the jungle to take shelter from the military's aerial bombardment." Nang said that most of those trapped by the fighting are "common laborers" who were attempting to guard their homes or had returned to the area to check on their belongings before the fighting broke out on Monday. 'Too dangerous' for rescue A volunteer rescue worker told RFA that it was impossible for his group to evacuate those still inside. "The resistance forces have blocked the roads, so we cannot enter the town to rescue the remaining trapped civilians," he said. "They won't let us enter because they said it is too dangerous for us." Other rescue workers said Wednesday that some of the trapped civilians were trying to avoid the fighting by gathering in paddy fields in southern Hsihseng township. A PNLA information officer confirmed to RFA that the focus of the military's attacks in Mae Nal Taung district - between Hsihseng, Ho Pong and Mong Pun - is home to "many residents." "We are still investigating the extent of losses and damage," he said. "At least eight houses were destroyed by military artillery shelling, from what we can tell, but a lot of the damage occurred in areas beyond our reach." The junta has yet to release any information on the fighting in Hsihseng and attempts by RFA to contact Khun Thein Maung, the junta's minister of economy and spokesperson for Shan state, went unanswered. While the PNLA is a signatory to Myanmar's Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, or NCA, a schism within the ethnic army and its political wing, the Pa-O National Liberation Organization, has led to clashes with the junta. The NCA was introduced in 2015 to end years of fighting over minority rights and self-determination. Since then, some 10 ethnic groups have signed the agreement. Prior to the PNLA takeover, Hsihseng was under junta control as a township self-administered by the PNO. On Jan 21, a day before its capture, the PNO's armed wing carried out an inspection of a PNLA convoy, seizing weapons and arresting some of the group's officers. Fight for Kani township Meanwhile, in neighboring Sagaing region, the fight for control of Kani township has reached a crescendo since the anti-junta People's Defense Forces, or PDF - ordinary civilians who have taken up arms against the junta - attacked the township police station, general administrative office, school and several military positions on March 2. Kani is located a mere 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Monywa, Sagaing's largest city and the headquarters of the military's northwestern command. It is along the key Chindwin River waterway, and on Wednesday the junta responded to the attacks with at least eight airstrikes from combat helicopters and fighter jets on the township's wards and villages, according to the PDF. Despite the heavy retaliation, PDF member Myat Ko told RFA that "only one military outpost is left to be captured" until his group will assume total control of the township. Myat Ko said the number of pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members on the ground in Kani number far greater than junta troops, and that the military had carried out "more than 20 aerial attacks" on the township since the fighting began. He said the military is now deploying troops to Kani via helicopter, although the exact number is unknown, adding that the PDF had arrested some police officers and nearly 40 junta civil service staff during the six-day battle. RFA was unable to independently verify the claims. The Kani PDF said that two of its fighters were killed in the fighting since March 2, while the military "suffered high casualties." It said nearly 200 junta fighters, including troops, police and Pyu Saw Htee members, were stationed in the township. At least one civilian - a 70-year-old resident of Min Kone village - was killed in a military aerial attack on March 4, according to residents. Around 50 civilians who had been trapped inside the town during the fighting were evacuated by the PDF on March 6, they said. Nearly everyone in town has fled to safer areas, although some elderly people remain, they added. Attempts to contact Sai Naing Naing Kyaw, the junta's minister of ethnic affairs and spokesperson for Sagaing region went unanswered Thursday. Anti-junta forces in Sagaing region have captured Kawlin, Mawlu, Kham Pet and Shwe Pyi Aye townships, although the military retook Kawlin after conducting a major offensive in February. Tens of thousands displaced More than 150,000 civilians have fled 15 townships in Sagaing amid military offensives between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15 alone, RFA has learned. They include 21,000 in Monywa, 7,000 in Myaung, 15,000 in Taze, 3,000 in Maw Laik, 8,000 in Kantbalu, 13,000 in Yinmarbin, more than 3,000 in Butalin, more than 50,000 in Ye-U, 1,000 in Pinlebu, nearly 3,000 in Salingyi, nearly 2,500 in Myinmu, more than 8,000 in Khin-U, more than 3,000 in Homelin, and over 15,000 in Kawlin townships. Many of the displaced are suffering from shortages of food and clean water, and medical supplies, and are sheltering in poor conditions. While Sai Naing Naing, the junta's social affairs minister and spokesperson for Sagaing region, told RFA that junta authorities have provided aid to more than 1,500 displaced in Homelin township. But aid workers disputed his claims, saying that the junta provides no support to those displaced by conflict. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recently reported that there are nearly 2.7 million displaced people across Myanmar. Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar's Arakan Army draws closer to region's capital Fearing upcoming war, Sittwe residents have started fleeing, residents say. By RFA Burmese 2024.03.07 -- An ethnic rebel army captured a city near the capital of western Myanmar's Rakhine state, locals told Radio Free Asia on Thursday. The Arakan Army continued its offensive through the state by claiming victory in Ponnagyun city, which sits just 24 kilometers (15 miles) east of capital city, Sittwe. The rebel army has captured six townships across Rakhine state and another in neighboring Chin state to the north since breaking a year-long ceasefire in November. Arakan Army soldiers captured Ponnagyun on Monday, the first city in Sittwe district. A Sittwe resident who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons told RFA that the nearby battle alarmed residents in the city, causing them to flee en masse before the army could advance toward the coastal capital. "Since the Arakan Army captured Ponnagyun, we don't have electricity in Sittwe. Many people are fleeing because the fighting is getting closer to Sittwe," he said, adding that about 300 people are fleeing daily. "Mainly elderly and young people are fleeing." Most locals are heading to townships already captured by the Arakan Army, such as Pauktaw, Kyauktaw, Minbya and Mrauk-U, he said. Others are escaping to Yangon by air. Rakhine state does not have a functional railway, and junta-imposed travel bans have made it difficult for people to escape by land and sea. Junta soldiers based in Sittwe have still enforced a curfew, residents said, adding that signs of military preparation are noticeable in the city and countryside as the Arakan Army approaches. Escalating Conflict Sittwe township is home to nearly 150,000 people, and residents say half of the township's population has left. However, RFA has not yet been able to independently confirm the claim. Many residents forced to stay in Sittwe amidst war preparations simply can't afford to leave, they explained. According to a statement by the United Nation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released on Wednesday, the escalating battles have displaced some 148,500 people since fighting began on Nov. 13. On Feb. 29, junta troops fired a shell into a crowded market in Sittwe, which killed 12 and critically injured 18 more. Residents are also feeling the junta's grasping attempt for control on other cities in Arakan Army territory. In Rakhine state's Minbya township, junta aerial attacks have damaged an elementary school and several houses. Troops dropped explosives on Ann Thar village late at night on Wednesday, residents said. An Ann Thar resident told RFA on Thursday that the only school in the village was completely destroyed. "A jet dropped four 200-pound bombs at around 11.40 p.m.," he said. "The casualties are still unknown and the telecommunication has been cut off." The village was attacked on Feb. 29, when another jet dropped explosives and damaged four homes, he added. RFA contacted Rakhine state's junta spokesperson Hla Thein for more information on fighting in Sittwe district and Minbya township, but he did not answer the phone. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar's junta imposes multiple death sentences on activists Meant to terrorize people, the sentences are making the judicial system a joke, rights groups say. By RFA Burmese 2024.03.07 -- Lawyers and human rights experts in Myanmar have condemned the junta's liberal use of the death penalty, including several recent cases where anti-junta activists received multiple death sentences. Such sentences are meant to terrorize opponents of the junta, which is losing ground to ethnic armies and resistance fighters in a civil war now in its third year, but the absurdity of doing so is turning the judicial system into a farce, rights groups say. "No one should be sentenced to capital punishment twice," Kyaw Win, executive director of the Burma Human Rights Network, told Radio Free Asia. "The death penalty for these cases is more than enough, giving twice makes the legal system a joke." Since taking control of the government in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup, the military junta has sentenced a total of 164 people to death, according to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. On Feb. 29, the military junta sentenced seven people to death - five of them for the second or third time. The seven - Thura Phyo, Tun Tun Oo, Kyaw San Oo, Ko Ko Aung, Aung Moe Myint, Win Myat Thein Zaw and Kaung Si Thu - were convicted of murdering two women from the Ayeyarwady region's Pyapon township, who they believed were junta informants, sources familiar with the situation told RFA Burmese. Five of the seven had already been sentenced to death on Oct. 20, along with two other defendants, San Lin San and Wunna Tun, the latter of whom has been sentenced to death twice himself. That case was over the killing of ward administrators in Maubin, Pyapon and Bogale townships. But four of those five had been involved in an even earlier case, meaning they have now received the death penalty three times. In addition, the defendants in all three cases received prison sentences ranging from 15 to 45 years. Imposing multiple sentences is unprecedented in Myanmar's judicial history, lawyer Kyee Myint told RFA. "Only one [death] sentence must be given," he said. "Sentences should not be imposed again and again. It is against the law." Thike Tun Oo, a leading committee member of the Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar, said that in addition to the repeated death sentences, long-term prison terms are not the fair punishments for the crime. "The death penalty should not be imposed on them at all as they have suffered the same penalty," he said. "In addition, some were sentenced to 45 years after the death penalty. It is a totally unfair sentence." RFA Burmese attempted to contact the family members of the sentences by telephone, but were unable to reach them. RFA also attempted to contact Khin Maung Kyi, the minister of social affairs for the Ayeyarwady region, but received no response. Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia summons US ambassador for 'meddling' in internal affairs Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 1:45 PM Moscow has summoned the US ambassador in protest against funding "anti-Russian" non-profit groups and interfering in the domestic affairs of Russia. The foreign ministry said on Thursday that it has warned Washington of retaliatory measures including expulsion of American diplomats for "spreading disinformation" about the March 15-17 presidential election. Moscow has also accused Washington of meddling in Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine. "Attempts to meddle in the domestic affairs of the Russian Federation, including through subversive actions and the spreading of disinformation in the context of elections and the special military operation will be firmly and decisively suppressed," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry said it had told Ambassador Lynne Tracy that Washington must stop funding three non-profit education groups that were advancing "attitudes and values alien to Russian society." The groups named are the American Councils for International Education, Cultural Vistas, and the Institute of International Education. The foreign ministry cautioned that continued assistance by the US to these organizations would be viewed as violating Russian law. Russia has designated several western NGOs as "undesirable", making it illegal for Russian citizens to work with them. Russia and the United States both have expelled dozens of diplomats in recent years as relations between the two countries have reached an all-time low, following the Russia-Ukraine war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moscow Warns U.S. Embassy, Designates 3 NGOs As 'Undesirable' By RFE/RL March 07, 2024 Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy and delivered a stern warning for Washington to stay out of Russia's internal affairs ahead of a presidential election widely expected to hand incumbent Vladimir Putin another term in office given the absence of opposition candidates on the ballot. The ministry informed Tracy on March 7 that three U.S. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) -- American Councils for International Education, Cultural Perspectives, and the Institute of International Education -- had been labeled "undesirable organizations" and demanded the embassy "stop any collaboration" with them. The ministry accused the NGOs of running "anti-Russian programs and projects aimed at recruiting 'agents of influence' under the guise of educational and cultural exchanges" and any further cooperation with the embassy "would be considered a violation of Russian law." The U.S. Embassy in Moscow blasted the Russian move, saying in a statement that it "marks a new low in the Russian government's crackdown on long-standing and entirely routine people-to-people programs." "The idea that it would be 'undesirable' to connect Russians and Americans on a human level and facilitate travel for professional and educational development is a tragic illustration of the Kremlin's desire to isolate its own people, depriving them of the chance to network, expand their horizons, and contribute to building a more prosperous and peaceful world," it added. Russian officials often show disdain for Western-backed NGOs and civil society groups, accusing them of trying to manipulate Russian public opinion in order to stir up popular discontent and advance the foreign policy interests of their home countries. Western governments routinely reject the claims. "It is especially emphasized that attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation, including subversive actions and the spread of disinformation in the context of elections and a special military operation, will be harshly and decisively suppressed, up to and including the expulsion as 'persona non grata' of U.S. Embassy employees involved in such actions," the ministry said in a statement. All three NGOs labelled say they conduct activities to strengthen international ties through academic, professional, and cultural exchanges and programs and that thousands of students have used the programs to further their education. The activities of the three organizations will be prohibited in Russia, and anyone who cooperates with them may face criminal penalties, including up to six years in prison. There was no immediate reaction from the embassy in Moscow or the three NGOs designated as "undesirable." The "undesirable organization" law, adopted in 2015, was a Kremlin-backed regulation on NGOs that receive funding from foreign sources. The label has been applied to dozens of foreign groups since Moscow began using the classification and effectively bans an organization outright. RFE/RL was declared an "undesirable organization" last month. The ministry's move comes just over a week before Russians head to the polls in a presidential election the Kremlin hopes to use as a show of national unity in support of Putin and his invasion of Ukraine, which Russia refers to as a "special military operation." Russian elections are tightly controlled by the Kremlin and are neither free nor fair but are viewed by the government as necessary to convey a sense of legitimacy. The Kremlin's tight grip on politics, media, law enforcement, and other levers means Putin, who has ruled Russia as president or prime minister since 1999, is certain to win, barring a very big, unexpected development. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-united-states- ngo-undesirable-organizations-warning/32851732.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on summoning US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy to the Foreign Ministry 7 March 2024 13:16 441-07-03-2024 On March 7, the Foreign Ministry summoned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy to notify her about three American non-profit organisations having been recognised as undesirable, including the American Councils for International Education, Cultural Perspectives and the Institute of International Education. They have been carrying out anti-Russia programmes and projects, and recruiting agents of influence under the guise of educational and cultural exchanges, with the support of the Embassy. The ambassador received an official note requesting the cessation of any assistance to these NGOs. If their activities continue, they will be considered a violation of Russian law. The US Embassy is also required to remove the list of these NGOs' educational projects and programmes, aimed at promoting values and views that are foreign to Russian society, from its official website and social media. The Foreign Ministry stressed that attempts to interfere in the domestic affairs of the Russian Federation, including subversive campaigns and misinformation in the context of elections and the special military operation, will be harshly and categorically suppressed. This may include the expulsion of any US Embassy employees involved from Russia as personae non grata. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Preparing for New Wars, Drills in Europe Increase Tensions - Russian Security Council Sputnik News 20240307 MAGAS, Russia (Sputnik) - NATO is preparing for new wars, and drills conducted by the alliance in Europe increase tensions in the world, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said on Thursday. "The joint drills of NATO armed forces in Europe called Steadfast Defender 2024, during which the scenario of armed confrontation with Russia is being worked out, will certainly increase tensions and destabilize the situation in the world," Patrushev said during a meeting on security in North Caucasus. NATO plans to increase its presence in the Arctic and Asia-Pacific, Patrushev added. "Over the 75 years of its existence, NATO, as a supposed guarantor of peace and democracy, has started more than a hundred wars and military conflicts around the world a and is preparing for new ones," Patrushev said. In recent years, the North Atlantic alliance had particularly disregarded Moscow's offers related to NATO and the US, which aimed to provide security assurances. These proposals included an agreement that would enforce a mutual commitment from both Russia and NATO to refrain from positioning troops, ships, or aircraft in proximity to one another. In addition, Moscow requested an immediate halt to NATO's expansion towards Russia's borders, emphasizing the importance of abstaining from inviting post-Soviet countries into the bloc or deploying military infrastructure on their territories. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Says It Thwarted Bombing By VOA News March 07, 2024 Russia's Federal Security Service, the FSB, said Thursday it shot dead a Belarusian man who planned to blow up an administrative building in Russia's northern Karelia region on behalf of Ukraine. The FSB said the man planned to use an improvised explosive device to carry out the attack in the city of Olonets, about 250 kilometers from the Russia-Finland border. The agency shared a video showing officers closing in on a building in a remote area and then firing shots, followed by video of a body on the floor. There was no immediate comment by Ukrainian officials on the matter. The sound of a large explosion reverberated through Ukraine's southern city of Odesa on Wednesday, just as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were ending a tour of the war-ravaged area. The Greek leader said officials were getting into their vehicles when they heard the blast, which he said was a "vivid reminder" that Odesa is gripped by the war with Russia. Mitsotakis said it was one thing to hear about the war and "quite another to experience war firsthand." Zelenskyy said the explosion killed an unknown number of people and wounded more. "You see who we're dealing with, they don't care where to hit," he told reporters. Zelenskyy has regularly visited cities and military units on the front line during the war, always in secrecy until after he has left. Foreign leaders have made numerous trips to Ukraine, often to the capital of Kyiv, and they occasionally have had to take refuge in shelters when air raid sirens have sounded. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, condemned what she called the "vile attack" during the Greek leader's visit. She called it a "new attempt at terror" by Russia. Zelenskyy showed Mitsotakis the destruction in Odesa, where the most recent major Russian attack killed 12 people a including five children a when debris from a Russian drone hit an apartment block on March 2. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Military Destroys 2 Militant Bases, 20 Terrorists in Syria's Idlib Province Sputnik News 20240307 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - On March 5, Russian aerospace forces destroyed two bases of militants involved in the shelling of Syrian military positions in the Syrian province of Idlib, Rear Adm. Vadim Kulit, deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said on Thursday. "On March 5, Russian aerospace forces carried out strikes in the area of the settlement of Bsanqul in Idlib province destroyed two bases of militants involved in the shelling of positions of the Syrian government forces. More than 20 terrorists have been eliminated," Kulit told a briefing. One Syrian soldier was killed due to shelling by terrorists in the province of Latakia, the official added. Meanwhile, US-led coalition fighters breached deconfliction protocols and violated the Syrian airspace four times in Al-Tanf by a pair of F-16 jets and a pair of -10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft, Kulit pointed out. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Some Taiwanese conscripts to be trained by U.S. military personnel: Minister ROC Central News Agency 03/07/2024 08:27 PM Taipei, March 7 (CNA) Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (ea) said Thursday that American military personnel are being rotated to provide training to the armed forces in Taiwan, including conscripts, and Taiwanese soldiers are also receiving training in the United States. Providing training to Taiwan troops is part of the exchanges between the armed forces of the U.S. and Taiwan, so any change in the number of U.S. personnel in Taiwan is a non-issue, Chiu said, in response to a lawmaker's questions during a legislative hearing. There has been a recent increase in the rotation of U.S. military personnel assigned to Taiwan, but they are only providing training and are not being commissioned into Taiwan's armed forces, he said, when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting-yu (cZasa) to expand on the details of the arrangements. The American servicepeople are in Taiwan to "pass on their experience to us," which is helpful, Chiu said, adding that both the quality and the extent of the military training have been on the rise. On the question of whether that training extends to conscripts doing their 12-month compulsory military service, Chiu said some of them will be included, particularly those stationed in units that require a certain type of training. Regarding the training of Taiwanese soldiers in the U.S. from two different brigades, Army Chief of General Staff Chen Chien-yi (eac) declined to give any details, saying only it is going as planned. Chiu, however, confirmed media reports about the participation last year of troops from Taiwan's combined arms battalions of the Army 542nd Armored Brigade and 333rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade in U.S. training programs. According to the news reports published last year, Taiwan's 333rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade took part in an exercise called Northern Strike in Michigan in August, alongside troops from numerous other countries. Taiwan's 542nd Armored Brigade, meanwhile, was receiving training related to M1A2 Abrams tanks. Taiwan has purchased 108 such tanks, which are expected to start arriving this year, the media reports said. When asked whether the current level of military exchanges with the U.S. may be expanded further, Chiu said that is negotiable with the U.S. (By Sean Lin) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Women of Yao ethnic group showcase embroidery skills in S China's Guangxi People's Daily Online) 14:48, March 08, 2024 Women of the Red Yao ethnic group showcase their embroidery skills in Xiaozhai village, Longji township, Longsheng county, Guilin city, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on March 7, 2024. (Photo/Pan Zhixiang) A hundred women of the Red Yao ethnic group gathered in festive attire to showcase their embroidery skills in Xiaozhai village, Longji township, Longsheng county, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on March 7, one day ahead of International Women's Day. The Red Yao ethnic group is a branch of the Yao ethnic group. The process of making Red Yao costumes has been passed down by word of mouth, with no written records. Photo taken by a drone shows women of the Red Yao ethnic group showcasing their embroidery skills in Xiaozhai village, Longji township, Longsheng county, Guilin city, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on March 7, 2024. (Photo/Pan Zhixiang) Yao costumes are woven, dyed, and embroidered by the Yao people themselves, a tradition that has been passed down for thousands of years. The costumes are known for their various floral patterns and dominant red color. The Yao people excel in techniques such as weaving, embroidery, batik, and silk production. Women of the Red Yao ethnic group showcase their embroidery skills in Xiaozhai village, Longji township, Longsheng county, Guilin city, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on March 7, 2024. (Photo/Pan Zhixiang) Women of the Red Yao ethnic group showcase their embroidery skills in Xiaozhai village, Longji township, Longsheng county, Guilin city, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on March 7, 2024. (Photo/Pan Zhixiang) The embroidery patterns are created without the need for sketches or templates, relying solely on memory. The patterns depict birds, animals, flowers, and trees, with lifelike images and soft, vibrant colors. In the local community, the Yao people still wear self-woven, self-dyed, and self-embroidered costumes, preserving the traditional craftsmanship in its original form. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Taiwan to counter 'first moves' by Chinese aircraft and vessels: Minister ROC Central News Agency 03/07/2024 07:27 PM Taipei, March 7 (CNA) The military's definition of a "first shot" by People's Liberation Army (PLA) forces has evolved to a "first move" involving Chinese aircraft or vessels "crossing the boundary," which will be "countered" by the armed forces, Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (ea) said Thursday. Chiu made the remarks during a legislative hearing when he was asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Puma Shen (a) if Taiwan has a specific rule that will trigger the armed forces to engage the PLA. If all Taiwan's armed forces do is look for ways to avoid war, China could pounce, Shen said. Saying the military shared Shen's concerns, Chiu said the armed forces need to know when to avoid war and when to engage, using the military's updated "first shot" definition to illustrate his point. In the past, Chiu said, only when the enemy had fired a first shot would the armed forces counter, but now the military would engage following a "first move" that involves PLA aircraft or vessels "crossing the boundary." Although Chiu did not specify what the boundary meant, he said during previous legislative hearings that it referred to the boundary delineating Taiwan's territorial waters and airspace. "When war becomes inevitable, [the military] must engage," the minister said. Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (ca) asked Chiu to further expand on what constitutes a "first move." Former Defense Minister Tang Yao-ming (Z) defined a "first shot" as the firing of canons, artillery, or missiles, but now the PLA uses many "gray zone" tactics aimed at harassing Taiwan and does not need to fire a gun or cannon, Chiu explained. Therefore, instead of waiting for the PLA to fire a "first shot," Taiwan's armed forces would now wait for a "first move," which he defined as Chinese aircraft or ships crossing the boundary. "Once the PLA has made the first move, the armed forces have the right to counter that first move. We will not make first moves, we will only counter," the minister added. (By Sean Lin) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The stronger the commitment to one-China principle, the greater the guarantee for peace across the Taiwan Straits: Wang Yi Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 07, 2024 02:19 PM The stronger the commitment to the one-China principle is, the greater the guarantee for the peace across the Straits will be. The whole international community will uphold the one-China principle one day, it is only a matter of time, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress on Thursday. Addressing a question raised by the Singapore-based newspaper Lianhe Zaobao on the Taiwan question and concerns that tensions will further rise across the Taiwan Straits after Taiwan's regional election, Wang responded that after the regional election, over 180 countries and international organizations reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle, supporting China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This fully demonstrates that the one-China principle has become a universal consensus in the international community. If there are still people who condone support for "Taiwan independence," this constitutes a challenge to China's sovereignty and certain countries' persistence in maintaining official relations with the island of Taiwan is interference in China's internal affairs. In the near future, the whole international community will uphold the one-China principle. It is only a matter of time, Wang noted. The stronger the commitment to the one-China principle is, the greater the guarantee for the peace across the Strait will be, Wang explained. "Our policy is quite clear, we will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity. Our bottom line is also quite clear and we will never allow Taiwan to be separated from the motherland," he stressed. Whoever engage in "Taiwan independence" on the island will be held accountable by history. Whoever in the world connive at and support "Taiwan independence" will get burned for playing with fire and face the bitter consequences of their own actions, Wang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Blair welcomes Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds to Canada and joins Drone Coalition to aid Ukraine National Defence News release March 7, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, welcomed Latvia's Defence Minister, Andris Spruds, to Canada. This is Minister Spruds' first visit to Canada since his appointment as Latvia's Minister of Defence. Minister Blair and Minister Spruds held a bilateral meeting at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. The Ministers condemned Russia's illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. Minister Blair commended Latvia's military support to Ukraine and the Ministers reaffirmed that both Canada and Latvia will continue to provide Ukraine with comprehensive military assistance. To further develop Ukraine's drone capabilities, Minister Blair committed to Canada joining the Ukraine Defense Contact Group's Drone Capability Coalition, co-led by Latvia and the United Kingdom. As a member of the Capability Coalition, Canada will continue to look for ways to boost Ukraine's drone capabilities. To date, Canada has stepped up significantly to contribute to Ukraine's drone capabilities by donating over 100 made-in-Canada, specialized drone cameras to Ukraine from L3 Wescam. Building on these drone camera donations, Minister Blair announced an additional donation of over 800 drones from Teledyne FLIR last month in Waterloo, Ontario. The Ministers also participated via video link in a videoconference on support for Ukraine, hosted by France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Stephane Sejourne, and France's Minister for the Armed Forces, Sebastien Lecornu. The two Ministers discussed current efforts to scale up the multinational NATO Battle Group in Latvia, which Canada has led since 2017. Minister Blair thanked Minister Spruds for Latvia's hospitality to the approximately 1,000 Canadian troops currently deployed in Latvia. Canada is more than doubling its military presence on Operation REASSURANCE - from about 1,000 troops to a sustained deployment of up to 2,200 troops by 2026, as Canada committed in the July 2023 Roadmap on Scaling the eFP Latvia Battle Group to Brigade. Canada is also deploying additional capabilities to the Battle Group. In late 2023, Canada deployed a Canadian Army Tank Squadron of 15 Leopard 2 Main Battle Tanks to Latvia, and starting this summer, Canada will begin to deploy Royal Canadian Air Force helicopters to the Battle Group, as Minister Blair announced in December 2023. Minister Blair also highlighted that Canada is investing in new military capabilities for the Canada-led Battle Group. In 2023, Canada announced that it was designating three key capabilities for Canadian troops in Latvia as Urgent Operational Requirements. Since then, Canada has finalized the procurement of all three capabilities: anti-tank weapons; an air defence capability; and anti-drone equipment. This equipment will begin to flow to Canadian Armed Forces members this year. Minister Blair and Minister Spruds reaffirmed that Canada and Latvia are dedicated to maintaining a close, productive relationship as NATO Allies. The two Ministers agreed to stay in close, regular contact. Quick facts Canada enjoys excellent relations with Latvia. Canada was the first G7 country to recognize the restoration of Latvia's independence in 1991, and one of the first countries to ratify Latvia's accession to NATO in 2004. Latvia is home to Canada's largest current foreign military deployment. Approximately 1,000 Canadian Armed Forces members are deployed to Latvia. Canada is more than doubling its military presence in Latvia. Canada will complete the full implementation of persistently deployed Brigade capabilities to Latvia by 2026, at which point the Brigade will have up to 2,200 CAF members as part of the Forward Land Forces and supporting elements in Latvia. Minister Blair visited Latvia in December 2023, where he met with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics and Defence Minister Andris Spruds. During his visit, Minister Blair announced several measures to strengthen Canada's military presence in Latvia, and several investments in infrastructure needed to scale up the current battle group to a brigade. Minister Blair and Minister Spruds also recently met bilaterally and multilaterally in Brussels, Belgium at the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in February 2024. Canada is participating in the Armour and Air Force Coalitions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China supports holding international peace conference recognized by both Russia and Ukraine: Wang Yi Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 07, 2024 12:58 PM China supports the holding of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks at a press conference Thursday on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress. On the issue of Ukraine, Wang said that China has always adhered to an objective and impartial position, insisting on promoting peace and dialogue. All out efforts point to one goal, that is, to pave the way for ending the conflict and starting peace talks, Wang noted. Past experience shows that a conflict, when prolonged, tends to deteriorate and escalate, even to the extent unthinkable for parties concerned. In the absence of peace talks, misperception and miscalculation will accumulate and may lead to an even bigger crisis. Lesions in this regard should not be forgotten, he said. All conflicts have to end at the negotiating table. The earlier the talks start, the sooner peace will arrive, Wang remarked. China supports the holding of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans, he said, hoping the early restoration of peace and stability on the European continent and China will continue to play a constructive role in this regard. Wang said he believed that as long as all parties adhere to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and as long as they properly resolve their reasonable relationships, Europe can truly establish a balanced, effective, and sustainable security framework. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway participates in air defence coalition to support Ukraine Government of Norway News story | Date: 07/03/2024 Norway joins the letter of intent on support to Ukraine in air defence against aircraft and missiles. Air defence is one of the areas of special focus among the countries that provide military support to Ukraine. 'It is completely natural for Norway to be part of such an air defence coalition. Norwegian NASAMS contributes to saving Ukrainian lives and protecting critical infrastructure every day,' says Defence Minister BjArn Arild Gram. This winter, several capability coalitions have been established for military support to Ukraine. The government has decided on Norwegian participation in three such coalitions, the maritime coalition which Norway leads together with Great Britain, the F-16 coalition in which Norway will donate F-16 combat aircraft and train Ukrainian personnel on the system, and the air defence coalition, which is led by Germany and France. 'We have said we will support where it is most needed. Air defense is high on Ukraine's priority list. It is absolutely necessary to protect military departments, cities and critical infrastructure needed to keep society running,' says Gram. The government has recently placed a significant order for NASAMS material for future donations: New order for air defense to Ukraine - regjeringen.no This is in addition to already donated material. Norway also supports the education of Ukrainian personnel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway contributes to Czech procurement of artillery ammunition for Ukraine Government of Norway Press release | Date: 07/03/2024 'Ukraine has an urgent need for large quantities of artillery ammunition to defend themselves against Russia's war of aggression. Norway already supports Ukraine with artillery ammunition both from its own stocks and directly from the industry. Today, we have decided to further contribute up to NOK 1.6 billion to an initiative led by Czechia to secure much-needed artillery ammunition to Ukraine as quickly as possible,' says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr StAre. Czechia leads an initiative to provide up to 1 million 155 mm artillery shells and other types of artillery ammunition to Ukraine. The initiative's success is dependent allies joining forces to provide funding. Norway, in cooperation with several other allies, will contribute. The Norwegian support of up to NOK 1.6 billion ensures that the initiative will be fully funded. This was discussed at a meeting of donors to Ukraine in Paris last week. The Norwegian contribution was communicated to Czechia's President Peter Pavel by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr StAre in a conversation on Thursday morning. The government has previously set aside up to NOK 2 billion to increase production capacity in the Norwegian defence industry, of which NOK 1 billion will be used for specific measures to increase production capacity at Nammo AS. 'It is a priority for the Norwegian government that Norwegian military support addresses high priority needs for Ukraine's defence. Norway has donated several rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion just over two years ago. We have donated complete shells from the Norwegian Armed Forces' own stockpile, and we have cooperated with Denmark to assemble shells with sub-components from both countries. Ukraine has a pressing need for large quantities of artillery ammunition, and we hope that Norwegian and European support for the Czech initiative will help Ukraine receive large quantities of new ammunition as soon as possible,' says Minister of Defence BjArn Arild Gram. Through the Nansen Support Programme to Ukraine, Norway has contributed about NOK 10 billion in military support in the form of donations from the defence sector and industry, grants to international funds and mechanisms, and training of Ukrainian personnel. The government has already taken a number of major decisions on military support for 2024 and is in constant dialogue with allies and partners on ways to help meet Ukraine's high-priority military needs. Norway, other allies and the EU have implemented measures that will help to increase the production capacity of the defence industry in the longer term. 'Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is in clear violation of International Law and remains the greatest challenge to Norway's security policy. No other crisis or conflict has the potential to affect Norway's security to the same extent. This war is about people: those who suffer under Russia's illegal warfare and those are subjected to oppression and abuse by the occupier. It is therefore crucial for Ukraine and for our own security that Norway continues to support Ukraine's defence through military and civilian support. The Government's decision to contribute up to NOK 1.6 billion to the Czech artillery ammunition initiative is a significant contribution, which is possible due to the flexibility of the multi-year Nansen program,' says Minister for Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry firmly advises the media and other interested parties against travel to the occupied territories of Ukraine during the Russian "election" Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 07.03.2024 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs draws attention to the fact that the Russian presidential "elections" due to be held between 15 and 17 March 2024 will also be organised illegitimately in the Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied and annexed by Russia. Russia will specifically attempt to attract foreign observers and media by seeking, through their participation, to legitimize both this "election" and the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories. Latvia neither recognizes, nor will it recognize the illegal occupation and annexation of Ukrainian territories by the aggressor. Latvia will also not recognise the organisation and results of Russia's "elections" in the temporarily occupied and annexed territories of Ukraine. Russia has no legitimate basis for such action in the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly urges Latvian nationals to avoid all travel to Russia or the temporarily occupied and annexed territories of Ukraine in connection with the "election" of the Russian President. We would like to draw attention to the extension of martial law in Ukraine until 13 May 2024. Under the applicable Ukrainian laws and regulations, entry into the Ukrainian administrative territory illegally annexed by Russia shall be permitted only in accordance with procedures laid down in laws, upon receipt of a special permission from the Ukrainian authorities. We recall that there are serious threats to the safety and health of persons in the areas of active hostilities. Therefore, in view of the above, we firmly advise against all travel to the war zone or to the temporarily occupied and annexed territories of Ukraine. Please be reminded of, and follow the Foreign Ministry's travel warnings for Russia and Ukraine, and the temporarily occupied and annexed Ukrainian territories displayed in the Travel Safely section of the Ministry's website. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lithuania handed over to Ukraine another military assistance package with the precious ammunition Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2024-03-07 International cooperation | Security and defense policy The Ministry of National Defence and the Lithuanian Armed Forces continue the unceasing military assistance to Ukraine with the delivery of yet another package of military assistance: 15mm artillery ammunition. "We are sending the supplies Ukraine currently is in the direst need of. We hear them and our assistance continues," Minister of National Defence Arvydas AnuAauskas says. Besides the military equipment and weaponry, Lithuania also contributes to Ukraine's defence with active training its military personnel, medical treatment and rehabilitation for injured soldiers, expert consultations, inputs in Ukraine assistance funds. Lithuania has approved a national long-term assistance to Ukraine plan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine conflict may escalate into full-scale war in Europe: Russian general Iran Press TV Thursday, 07 March 2024 6:59 PM The battle in Ukraine may intensify into a large-scale war across Europe and there is a growing likelihood of Russia's forces getting engaged in new conflicts, warns a high-ranking Russian military official. "The main source of military threats to our state is the anti-Russian policy of the United States and its allies, who are conducting a new type of hybrid warfare in order to weaken Russia in every possible way, limit its sovereignty and destroy its territorial integrity," Colonel-General Vladimir Zarudnitsky, the leader of the Russian army's military academy of the general staff, said Thursday. "The possibility of an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine - from the expansion of participants in 'proxy forces' used for military confrontation with Russia to a large-scale war in Europe - cannot be ruled out," Zarudnitsky said in a piece for Military Thought, a publication of the Russian Defense Ministry. "The likelihood of our state being purposefully drawn into new military conflicts is significantly increasing." The Western camp is working to provide Ukraine with additional arms and funding against the backdrop of an unsuccessful counteroffensive by Ukraine's military last summer. Zarudnitsky proposed modifications to the organization of Russia's military and security forces, including prioritizing alliances with friendly nations to safeguard Russia's security and uniting Russian society in support of its defense requirements. The Ukraine war has sparked the most severe crisis in Russia's relations with the West since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. President Vladimir Putin has cautioned that the West could incite a nuclear war by deploying troops to Ukraine. In a new development which is set to further escalate tensions, Sweden was officially sworn in as the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Thursday after it completed its accession process in Washington. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskiy Hails Sweden's NATO Entry, Eyes Day Ukraine Might Also Join By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service March 07, 2024 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed Sweden's entry into the NATO military alliance, largely viewed as a reaction to Russia's invasion of his country in 2022, saying the Scandinavian country was a "strong ally and a country that can be trusted." Zelenskiy, who seeks eventual NATO membership for Ukraine, added that "there will be a day when Sweden will be able to congratulate Ukraine on joining the alliance as well. Together, we are always stronger." Sweden joined NATO in Washington on March 7, two years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced it to rethink its national security policy and conclude that support for the alliance was the nation's best safety guarantee. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson handed over final documentation to the U.S. government, the last step in a long process to secure the backing of all members to join the alliance. "Good things come to those who wait," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. "Today is a truly historic day," Kristersson said. "Sweden is now a member of NATO. We will defend freedom together with the countries closest to us -- both in terms of geography, culture and values." With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-sweden- nato-zelenskiy/32853007.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Strikes Take Mounting Toll As Zelenskiy Set To Visit Turkey By Current Time and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service March 07, 2024 Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian missile strike on the northeastern city of Sumy caused an unknown number of civilian injuries and deaths in the latest in a series of intensified deadly Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure sites. The attack came amid reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will continue his global push for support with a trip to meet Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on March 8. The Turkish presidency said on X, formerly Twitter, that "the visit will encompass a detailed discussion of the course of the Ukraine-Russia war, the recent situation of contacts regarding the continuation of the Grain Corridor Agreement, and the efforts for lasting peace in the region." NATO member Turkey has attempted to maintain good relations with both Ukraine and Russia and helped mediate an earlier Black Sea grain deal with Moscow that aided efforts to get Ukrainian exports to world markets. Turkey has been pressing Moscow to return to the now-stalled grain initiative -- also brokered by the UN -- but Russia has said it isn't planning to revive it. Details remain unclear about the Sumy attack, but Ukrainian media said a hospital and a school were damaged by Iranian-made Shaheed drones. Early reports said five people, including one child, were injured, but local media later said several people had been killed. "Unfortunately, there are three strikes in different parts of the city. All emergency services are working on the ground. The victims are provided with the necessary medical care," the regional military command said in a statement. Zelenskiy condemned the strike, saying, "The Russian state will definitely be held responsible for this evil." Russia continued to strike civilian areas of Ukraine indiscriminately, causing more casualties and material damage, the Ukrainian military and regional officials said on March 7. Shelling killed at least two people and wounded 16 in four Ukrainian regions, while the Black Sea port city of Odesa was targeted again by a Russian missile, regional officials said on March 7. Kharkiv region Governor Oleh Synyehubov said a 70-year-old man was killed by a Russian Iskander-M missile in the village of Borova, where eight civilians, including five children, were also wounded. Donetsk region Governor Vadym Filashkin said one person was killed by Russian shelling in Netailove and three more people were wounded. Oleksandr Prokudin, the governor of the Kherson region, reported that four people were wounded by Russian shelling across the region. Russian artillery fire wounded a man in the village of Bilenka in the southern region of Zaporizhzhya on March 6, according to the head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov. The Ukrainian military said that Russia launched a strike at Odesa, probably using a ballistic missile, hitting port infrastructure. The strike came a day after several people were killed in a Russian missile attack that hit some 500 to 800 meters away from Zelenskiy and Greek Prime Minister Konstantin Mitsotakis, who were visiting Odesa. Regional Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram on March 7 that "people were killed and wounded" in the attack, without specifying how many. In Russia's northwestern region of Vologda, the governor confirmed media reports on March 7 saying a drone hit a major metallurgical plant, Severstal, in the city of Cherepovets. Georgy Filimonov said no casualties were reported in the attack and that the facility continued to operate "routinely." Hours before, Severstal officials said "a technical incident" took place in the plant without mentioning any drone attack. Since Russia launched its ongoing invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many military objects and industrial facilities have been targeted by drones. Kyiv rarely comments on the attacks. Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said it had destroyed six Ukrainian drones on March 7 over three Russian regions. One drone was intercepted over the Kursk region, three were destroyed over the Bryansk region, and two more were destroyed in the Tula region. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. A day earlier, a Ukrainian drone struck the Mikhailovsky Mining and Processing Plant in Zheleznogorsk, in the Kursk region, sparking a fire after hitting a fuel tank. Ukraine has not commented on the news, which could not be independently confirmed. In Oslo, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Haar Store said in a statement on March 7 that his government will allocate $153 million to an initiative launched by the Czech Republic to purchase ammunition for Ukrainian troops, who have been suffering from a shortage of weapons and ammunition needed to stave off the assault of the vastly better armed and equipped Russian forces on the eastern front. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drones-war- lithuanian-intelligence/32851372.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Why Russian Gains in Chasov Yar in Donetsk Region Are Significant? Sputnik News 20240307 Having successfully liberated the city of Avdeyevka from Ukrainian occupation, Russian troops now advance on another city in the Donetsk People's Republic held by the Kiev regime forces - Chasov Yar. Russia's gains in the Chasov Yar vicinity are a logical result of the victory at Avdeyevka and of its offensive that has been taking place over the last few months, said Anatoliy Matviychuk, a military analyst and retired colonel of Russian Armed Forces. "It allows us to move into and take control of the infrastructure regions and the supply lines through which Ukrainian forces receive reinforcements and munitions, as well as the access to the Kramatorsk area," he explained. "By approaching Chasov Yar, we completely disrupt the stability of the Ukrainian defenses and pave the way for advancing on Kramatorsk and Slavyansk." According to Matviychuk, liberating Chasov Yar will allow Russian forces to disrupt the logistics for the Ukrainian forces in the region as the city is an important highway and railway hub. He also observed how Kiev's Western sponsors have lost all touch with reality as they desperately strive to help create some sort of semblance of an army in Ukraine while failing to realize that they lack soldiers and no longer have the fighting spirit they had in 2022. "I do believe though that it won't affect the shipments of weapons and military hardware [to Kiev], seeing how the West aims for a direct confrontation with the Russian army," he added. Since 2014 and until its liberation by Russian forces last month, the city of Avdeyevka served as an important stronghold for the Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk People's Republic. The potent defenses built by Ukrainian combat engineers, however, did not help the city's garrison when the advancing Russian forces threatened to encircle the city, which prompted the remaining Kiev regime troops in Avdeyevka to turn tail and flee. Since, Russian troops continue to maintain the momentum and keep driving Ukrainian forces further west as the latter try and fail to stabilize the frontline. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian women continue to stand up against Russian aggression and speak up for justice and peace: UK statement to the OSCE In the lead up to International Women's Day, Ambassador Holland notes the bravery of Ukrainian women and girls as Russia's senseless war has devastating impacts on them. 7 March 2024 Thank you, Madam Chair. This week in the lead up to International Women's Day, we have been celebrating the accomplishments of women across the world. With that in mind, today I wish to highlight the courage and resilience of Ukrainian women, as they continue to stand up against Russian aggression and speak up for justice and peace. Over the past two years, Russia's senseless war has had a devastating impact on the lives of Ukrainian women and girls. Families have been torn apart, with many women suddenly becoming sole caregivers and providers. Mothers have faced the difficult decision to send their children to safety, while they remain in a warzone. Others have had their children forcibly taken from them. Many women and girls that remain in Ukraine have faced further trauma, with Russian forces committing terrible atrocities against them. And others have had their lives tragically cut short. The wide-spread impact of Russia's war on Ukrainian women cannot be ignored. And yet despite this, we continue to hear stories of women who symbolise hope and resilience. Such as, Vera Lytochenko, a violinist who decided to stay in Ukraine and play music for people hiding in bomb shelters to lift their spirits and soothe the frightened children. Or Iryna Yurchenko, a train conductor, who since the start of Russia's war has helped evacuate people to safety with great bravery. Ukrainian women have played a crucial role in defending their homeland with thousands of women serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, others have been instrumental to humanitarian, political, and security efforts. And Ukrainian women have refused to be silenced, coming forward with courage to document the horrific atrocities Russian Forces have committed against them, including sexual violence and torture. To ensure justice is delivered, the UK has provided over A6 million to support projects aimed at building the domestic capacity of war crimes investigations. This has helped to embed international guidelines and best practice, including on survivor-centred approaches, through projects under the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group and work by the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Team of Experts. The UK has also been working closely with Ukrainian actors involved in tackling conflict related sexual violence, including First Lady Zelenska who we were pleased to welcome to the UK last week. The First Lady's visit provided an opportunity to reflect and discuss collaboration with her Foundation on mental health and psychosocial support. The UK is proud to be a leading donor in supporting Ukrainian women, girls, and the most excluded groups. In recognition of their vital contributions on the frontline and in their communities, the UK set up new funding last year to provide critical support. This included helping the Ukrainian Women's Fund and local women-led organisations deliver live-saving services. Our support has also addressed the needs and priorities of the most marginalised, including internally displaced persons, Roma, and older persons. Madam Chair, the UK will continue to support the women of Ukraine as they work to rebuild their homeland from the damage and devastation of Russia's war. We remain deeply humbled by their remarkable bravery and we stand united with them. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine shoots down 13 Russian combat aircraft in as many days: UK statement to the OSCE UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says Ukraine is inflicting significant losses on Russia's airforce, with Ukraine destroying Russian jets 20 times faster than Russia can replace them. 7 March 2024 Thank you, Mr Chair. This morning's Security Dialogue was an excellent and informative session to hear expert opinion about the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The impact of Putin's illegal war of aggression against its sovereign neighbour, Ukraine, has brought untold misery to hundreds of thousands of women and children. Women and children have been killed, their homes have been destroyed, they have been forced to leave their country and they have lost loved ones on the front line. This war has been an awful tragedy for the people of Ukraine, but they continue to inspire and remind all of us here in this Forum of their resilience and bravery as they fight to defend their country and the values of democracy and freedom. Whilst the ground situation remains broadly static, Ukraine has continued to inflict significant losses on Russia's invasion force, shooting down another three Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers in regions near Avdiivka and Mariupol, in the latest blow to Russia's airforce. This brings the total to 12 Sukhoi planes brought down in a 13-day period and 13 Russian planes overall, including the loss of the A-50U radar aircraft I spoke of last week. The repeated destruction of warplanes is a significant setback for Russia's war effort, given that Russia is struggling to produce more than a few dozen each year due to sanctions, with reports suggesting that Russia is losing jets 20 times faster than they can replace them. Mr Chair, Ukraine has stood up to Putin's imperialistic ambitions. Now in the third year of war, Russia's plan to surround Kyiv within three days, bring down the government, and subjugate most of the country in less than a month has spectacularly failed in its objectives. Instead, Russia's illegal actions have strengthened the NATO alliance, weakened Russia's own security partnerships and diminished Russia's international standing. Russia has been clear about its aims. No one in this Forum should be in any doubt. The Deputy Chair of Russia's Security Council, Medvedev called Ukraine a "cancerous growth", denying its right to exist; and we have seen in Bucha what Russia does in the territories it controls. The United Kingdom will stand firm behind Ukraine to ensure that Russia's unchecked aggression will not prevail. In support of this, the United Kingdom will co-lead a major drone capability coalition with Latvia. We have introduced the largest and most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on Russia or indeed any major economy. And we have now sanctioned over 1700 individuals and entities since Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The United Kingdom recognises that now is the time to double down on our support so Ukraine not only wins the war, but emerges from it stronger, with its sovereignty and freedom fully restored. By doing so, we make sure that Russia pays the price and its efforts to undermine global stability are stopped in their tracks. If we allow Russia to lay waste to this stability, the risks to the world order and to us all are grave. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK to supply more than 10,000 drones to Ukraine The announcement was made today by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps as he met President Zelenskyy in Kyiv 7 March 2024 Britain steps up support to Ukraine today with a complete package of A325 million for cutting-edge drones to help fight Putin's illegal invasion. The investment, which will deliver more than 10,000 drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces will harness the UK's world-leading defence industries to deliver advanced new drone capabilities to Ukraine throughout 2024. The announcement was made today by the Defence Secretary during a visit to Ukraine, his third visit to the country. Accompanied by the Chief of the Defence Staff, he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, where they reiterated their commitment to Ukraine. In a significant boost to the A200m drone package announced by the Prime Minister in January, the now A325m overall funding commitment will deliver over 10,000 uncrewed platforms - the majority of which are first-person view (FPV) drones,1000 one-way attack drones which have been researched and developed in the UK, as well as surveillance and maritime drones. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: I am ramping up our commitment to arm Ukraine with cutting-edge new drones coming directly from the UK's world-leading defence industries - straight from the factory floor to the frontline. I encourage international partners to join the UK in this effort. Ukraine's Armed Forces are using UK donated weapons to unprecedented effect, to help lay waste to nearly 30% of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. On my third visit to this great country, I was pleased to be able to offer my firm reassurance to President Zelenskyy on the UK's unwavering commitment to the brave people and military forces of Ukraine. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have earned significant attention for their highly effective use of different types of drones - destroying and damaging thousands of pieces of Russian equipment and vehicles, using much cheaper systems. Highly manoeuvrable FPV drones, which allow the operator the ability to finely control the movements of the drone in real time, have been successfully used to bypass Russian air defences to hit their targets. These drones have proven highly effective on the battlefield since Russia's full-scale invasion, providing situational awareness to target enemy positions and armoured vehicles. Ukrainian forces have also used these drones effectively to strike at the heart of Russia's Navy. With more than a A100M of this package being spent on maritime capabilities, Ukraine will continue to turn the tide in the Black Sea. Following a meeting of the US-led Ukraine Defence Contact Group last month, which convenes more than 50 countries in providing military support to Ukraine, the Defence Secretary announced that the UK would co-lead an international capability coalition with Latvia to bolster Ukraine's drone capabilities. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have both emphasised the importance of championing international support for Ukraine, and last month the Defence Secretary called on NATO Allies to commit even further during a meeting of the alliance's ministers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andriy Yermak held a briefing for the Chinese delegation headed by Li Hui, Special Representative of the Chinese Government for Eurasian Affairs. President of Ukraine 7 March 2024 - 21:58 The Presidential Office hosted a briefing chaired by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak on the security situation in Ukraine and other topical issues for the delegation of the People's Republic of China headed by Li Hui, Special Representative of the Chinese Government for Eurasian Affairs. Li Hui is visiting our country for the second time since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. The trip is made pursuant to previous bilateral agreements reached during a phone call between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping on April 26, 2023. On the Ukrainian side, the briefing was attended by Deputy Heads of the Presidential Office Roman Mashovets, Andriy Sybiha, Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Minister of Energy Svitlana Hrynchuk, representatives of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ambassador of Ukraine to China Pavlo Riabikin, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, and advisors to the Head of the Presidential Office Dariia Zarivna and Vladyslav Vlasiuk. "We value our partnership with China and hope that today's talks will be another step towards deepening and strengthening our relations," said Andriy Yermak, welcoming the guests to Kyiv. "It is very important that you hear firsthand about the situation on the frontline, what is happening and where we are," he added. As part of the regular dialogue, the Chinese delegation was briefed on the situation on the battlefield, the functioning of the "grain corridor," the return of prisoners of war, the protection of the rights of civilian hostages, and the return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia. The Chinese delegation was shown samples of the wreckage of a downed North Korean missile and other elements of the weapons that were transferred to Russia and used by it to attack Ukraine. Vladyslav Vlasiuk said that Russia uses components from third countries to produce weapons, including Shahed UAVs, reconnaissance drones, missiles, optical devices, navigation systems, and aircraft parts. For his part, Roman Mashovets emphasized that these components are becoming part of the weapons used against Ukrainian civilians. Svitlana Hrynchuk informed the Chinese delegation in detail about the situation with nuclear and radiation safety in the context of war, in particular about the situation at the occupied ZNPP. She emphasized the threats posed by the occupation of the nuclear power plant, the lack of qualified personnel and the need to replace the fuel in the near future. The Deputy Minister of Energy stated: Russia does not have certified specialists to do this. The cases of Russia's gross violation of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War were highlighted during the meeting. The Chinese side was also informed of Ukraine's efforts to return Ukrainian citizens illegally detained by the Russian Federation and abducted children. "Ukraine is constantly looking for new approaches to returning citizens illegally detained by Russia. It is also looking for new partners who can potentially speed up the process of returning Ukrainian prisoners of war, civilian hostages and children," said Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. In addition, Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba had meetings with Special Representative of the Chinese Government Li Hui. During the meetings, the parties discussed the prospects for establishing a just peace for Ukraine, restoring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country on the basis of the Ukrainian Peace Formula. They also discussed the possibility of China's assistance in putting an end to the forced deportation of Ukrainian children, in the exchange of prisoners, demilitarization and de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, guaranteeing nuclear security and other international initiatives of our country. Andriy Yermak spoke about the measures taken to implement the Peace Formula and preparations for the first Global Peace Summit to be held in Switzerland. The Head of the President's Office emphasized the importance of the widest possible support for the Ukrainian Peace Formula by all countries of the world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At a time of Russian aggression, everyone sees how important it is to maintain alliances, to strengthen our own security and to take care of the security of neighbors - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 7 March 2024 - 20:01 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! A few summaries of the day. I held a meeting with the Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service to discuss current threats and some sensitive areas of our international activities. I am grateful to everyone in the world who helps Ukraine with the proper focus of our country's attention. We also continue to work with our partners - I had a meeting with the UK Secretary of State for Defene, who was on a visit to Ukraine today. I thanked him for the UK's tangible leadership in security support for Ukraine, in strengthening our defense and the world's joint capabilities to defend against Russian aggression. Today we discussed our further cooperation. The priorities are obvious - air defense, long-range weapons, artillery. Supply and joint production. And achieving justice, so that every Russian murderer and their entire terrorist state are held accountable for this war. We have already reached a historically unprecedented level of cooperation with Britain. By the way, it was with Britain that we signed the first bilateral agreement on security commitments. We must fully implement it for the sake of our common strength. Today, I also approved the candidate for the position of our country's ambassador to the UK. General Valerii Zaluzhnyi told me that this is the direction he would like to take - diplomacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has sent a corresponding request for agrement. Our alliance with Britain should only get stronger. And today there are several decrees worth mentioning. I have signed two decrees on awarding state decorations to our warriors - 520 more servicemen of the Armed Forces. Each and every one of them deserves our gratitude and respect. And today there is also a decree to discharge conscripts - those who were called up for military service before the start of the full-scale invasion. Now, at the request of the military command, a few weeks are needed for preparatory procedures - for replacing people in terms of defense tasks, and from April, the conscripts will be sent to the reserve. I know that some of them have signed a contract to serve in the Defense Forces. I am grateful to everyone. And a few more things for today. I had the honor to hand over apartment certificates to the Heroes of Ukraine and the families of the fallen Heroes. This is our new tradition of specially honoring every warrior whose bravery has become a paragon. I would like to thank all our people in the regions bordering Russia - Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv. Everyone who protects these regions from subversive groups and enemy shelling, who saves people. This is extremely important and we appreciate it. Each and every one of you who is doing everything to preserve normal life. Today, Russia launched another attack on Sumy. There are wounded. Unfortunately, there are dead. My condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones. The Russian state will definitely be held accountable for this evil. Our warriors will ensure accountability of the terrorists. Today, it is important to note that one more country in Europe has achieved greater protection from Russian evil. The procedures for Sweden's accession to NATO are being finalized. When the security of one country is guaranteed and when that country is able to truly strengthen common security, everyone wins. This rule has worked consistently throughout NATO's existence. And I believe it will work in the future. Now, at a time of Russian aggression against everything that has made Europe peaceful and united, everyone sees how important it is to maintain alliances and partnerships, to strengthen our own security and to take care of the security of neighbors. Sweden is a strong ally and a country that can be trusted. And I congratulate everyone in Sweden and everyone in the Euro-Atlantic area. Ukraine has always supported Sweden in its pursuit of NATO membership, and I thank Sweden for its support of our country - there will be a day when Sweden will be able to congratulate Ukraine on joining the Alliance as well. Together, we are always stronger. I thank everyone who is in Ukraine and with Ukraine! Glory to all those who fight and work for the sake of our country and people! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President met with the UK Secretary of State for Defence President of Ukraine 7 March 2024 - 19:32 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom Grant Shapps, who is on a visit to our country. The Head of State expressed gratitude to the government and people of the UK for their leadership in providing assistance to Ukraine. "It is symbolic that it was with the United Kingdom that we signed the first agreement on security cooperation during Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's recent visit to Ukraine. Thank you for this support," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The interlocutors discussed further defence cooperation to bolster air defence and long-range capabilities of the Ukrainian Defence Forces, meet other urgent needs of our country in weapons and ammunition, and establish joint weapons production. The parties noted Ukraine's significant progress in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and emphasised the importance of further unimpeded functioning of the Black Sea transport corridor. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WASHINGTON, March 7, 2024 Salm Partners, LLC, a Denmark, Wis., establishment, is recalling approximately 35,430 pounds of Johnsonville turkey kielbasa sausage that may be contaminated with foreign materials, specifically pieces of rubber, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The turkey kielbasa sausages were produced between Oct. 30-31, 2023. The following products are subject to recall [view labels]: 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing a single piece of Johnsonville POLISH KIELBASA TURKEY sausage and best by dates 05/17/24 and 05/18/24 printed on the side of the packaging. The products subject to recall bear establishment number P-32009 printed on the side of the packaging. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide. The problem was discovered after the firm received complaints from consumers reporting they found pieces of rubber in the ready-to-eat turkey kielbasa products. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions or injury due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers refrigerators. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls. Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Stephanie Schafer, Director of Global Corporate Communications for Johnsonville, at 888-556-2728 or sschafer@johnsonville.com. Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Madison Pacific Properties Inc. (the Company) (TSX: MPC and MPC.C), a Vancouver-based real estate company announces that its Mission residential development partnership, the Silverdale Hills Limited Partnership (Silverdale Hills LP) has received final adoption from the City of Mission on the rezoning application the Silverdale Hills LP submitted for 11 properties on Gunn Avenue and Loftus Street. The Company has a 50% interest in the Silverdale Hills LP which currently owns approximately 1,400 acres of primarily residential designated development lands in Mission, British Columbia. On March 4, 2024, the Silverdale Hills LP received approval from the City of Mission to rezone 11 properties totalling approximately 139 acres within the Silverdale Central Neighborhood Plan (CNP) area to the new Comprehensive Development 59 Zone, which could accommodate residential units of varying formats, parks, trails and neighbourhood commercial uses (the Loftus Village Project). The Loftus Village Project is still subject to obtaining further approvals such as development and building permit approvals, and the Company making a final investment decision in relation to this project, none of which are certain as of the date of this press release. For a review of the risks and uncertainties to which the Company is subject, see its most recently filed annual and interim MD&A. For more information please contact: Liege, Belgium 08 February 2024, 07:00 AM CET Non-regulated information Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA (Euronext Brussels: HYL), a specialty biopharma company committed to addressing unmet medical needs through reinventing existing medications, today announces that it will release its full year 2023 fiscal results on Thursday, 14 March 2024, at 07.00 AM CET. Following the release, the company will host a live webcast to discuss 2023 results and the outlook for 2024. Participants will have a chance to interact with Stijn Van Rompay, CEO and Jean-Luc Vandebroek, CFO in a question-and-answer session. The details of the event are below: Date: Thursday, 14 March Time: 02.00pm CET Registration: Hyloris Annual Results 2023 Webcast About Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA Hyloris is a specialty biopharma company focused on innovating, reinventing, and optimizing existing medications to address important healthcare needs and deliver relevant improvements for patients, healthcare professionals and payors. The Companys development strategy primarily focuses on leveraging established regulatory pathways, such as the FDAs 505(b)2 pathway in the U.S or equivalent regulatory frameworks in other regions which are specifically designed for pharmaceuticals for which safety and efficacy of the molecule have already been established. This approach can reduce the clinical burden required for market entry, and significantly shorten the development timelines, leading to reduced costs and risks. Hyloris has built a broad, patented portfolio of 18 reformulated and repurposed value-added medicines that have the potential to offer significant advantages over existing alternatives. Two products are currently in early phases of commercialization in collaboration with commercial partners: Sotalol IV for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, and Maxigesic IV, a non-opioid post-operative pain treatment. In addition to its core strategic focus, the Company has 1 approved high barrier generic product launched in the U.S. and 2 high barrier generic products in development. Hyloris is based in Liege, Belgium. For more information, visit www.hyloris.com and follow-us on LinkedIn. For more information, contact Hyloris: Stijn Van Rompay, CEO Stijn.Vanrompay@hyloris.com +32 (0)4 346 02 07 Jean-Luc Vandebroek, CFO Jean-luc.vandebroek@hyloris.com +32 (0)478 27 68 42 Jessica McHargue, Investor Relations & Communications Jessica.mchargue@hyloris.com +1 (919) 451 4740 Disclaimer and forward-looking statements Hyloris means high yield, lower risk, which relates to the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for product approval on which the Issuer focuses, but in no way relates or applies to an investment in the Shares. Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified using forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should", and include statements the Company makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. These statements relate to future events or the Companys future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control, that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of the Company or its industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Attachment By the decision No 2024-6-1 of the Board of Kauno Energija AB (hereinafter - the Company) adopted on 6 March 2024, an Extraordinary Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, company code 235014830, having its registered office at Raudondvario pl. 84, Kaunas, is convened on 29 March 2024. The date of the Extraordinary General Meeting is March 29, 2024, Friday. Beginning of the Meeting 11 a.m. The Meeting will take place at Companys hall at Raudondvario rd. 84, Kaunas. Registration of shareholders begins at 10.30 a.m. The agenda and the resolution projects for the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders: Regarding the election of a member of the supervisory board of the AB Kauno energija. The resolution projects are as follows: To elect the winner of the civil servant selection for the position of a member of the supervisory board of the "Kauno energija" AB with competence in the field of finance (financial management, financial analysis or audit) as a member of the supervisory board of the "Kauno energija" AB. Other information Authorized capital and voting rights The authorised capital of the Company is divided into 42,802,143 (forty-two million eight hundred and two thousand one hundred and forty-three) ordinary registered shares. All the shares entitle their holders to exercise a voting right. Day of reckoning The recorded date for the Extraordinary General Meeting shall be 22 March 2024. The persons entitled to attend and vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting shall be the persons who are shareholders of the Company at the end of the workday. Voting The Company does not provide the possibility to attend and vote at the meeting by electronic means. A person attending the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders must produce a proof of identity. A person who is not a shareholder of the Company, in addition shall furnish the document entitling to vote at the Extraordinary Meeting of Shareholders. The authorised person shall have the same rights at an Extraordinary General Meeting as the principal shareholder. A shareholder's right to attend an Extraordinary General Meeting shall also include the right to ask questions. Shareholders entitled to attend an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders may authorise in writing by electronic communication means a natural person or legal entity to attend and vote on their behalf at an Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. A shareholder must notify about the issue of the power of attorney in writing by emailing the power of attorney to n.simoliune@kaunoenergija.lt no later than by the end of a business day on 28 March 2024 (4:30 PM). Please note that voting on the issues on the agenda of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders shall be in the form of a general ballot. If the completed general ballot paper is signed by the person who is not a shareholder, the completed general ballot must be accompanied by a document evidencing the voting right. Properly completed general voting ballot papers must be delivered by post or brought to the Company at Raudondvario pl. 84, Kaunas, before 10:30 AM on 29 March 2024. The Company reserves the right to exclude a shareholder's early vote when calculating votes, if the general ballot paper does not comply with the requirements set forth in Article 30(3) and (4) of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, or if the completed general ballot paper makes it impossible to verify the shareholder's actual intentions in respect of a particular issue. Agenda The agenda of an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders may be amended at the discretion of the shareholders whose shares carry at least 1/20 of the total number of votes. Proposals to the agenda of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders may be submitted by mail, by emailing n.simoliune@kaunoenergija.lt or delivered to the Company's representative office at Raudondvario pl. 84, Kaunas, no later than 14 days before the general meeting of shareholders. Please note that a proposal to supplement the agenda of an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders must be accompanied by a draft decision or, where no decision is required, by the explanations on each proposed issue of the agenda of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders holding at least 1/20 of the total number votes are entitled to propose new draft resolutions in writing on the issues on the agenda of the meeting at any time before or during an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. Questions Shareholders shall have the right to ask the questions concerning the agenda of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. Questions should be emailed to n.simoliune@kaunoenergija.lt or delivered to the Company address at Raudondvario pl. 84, Kaunas, no later than 3 working days before the general meeting of shareholders. Submission of information All information required by legislation related to the convened extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, as well as appendices to the issues discussed in the agenda of the meeting, are published on the Company's website at www.kaunoenergija.lt , or the documents can be consulted upon arrival at the Company's headquarters at Raudondvarios rd. 84, Kaunas. Shareholders of the Company are invited to give priority to accessing the information provided by the Company on the website www.kaunoenergija.lt/bendroves-veikla/ in the section "Information for Investors / Material Events", and to submit their proposals for amending the agenda of the Extraordinary General Shareholders' Meeting by e-mail n.simoliune@kaunoenergija.lt . Loreta Miliauskiene, Head of Economic Department, tel. +370 69815118 Attachment Dublin, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Smart Doorbell Market by Product (Integrated Smart Doorbell, Stand Alone Smart Doorbell), Connectivity (Wired Doorbell, Wireless Doorbell), Application, Sales Channel - Forecast 2024-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Smart Doorbell Market is poised for substantial growth, with projections estimating a climb from USD 6.71 billion in 2023 to an impressive USD 30.47 billion by 2030, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.13%. This market expansion is reflective of increasing demand for enhanced residential security and the integration of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in smart home devices. Delving into the market segmentation, products span across Integrated Smart Doorbells and Stand Alone Smart Doorbells, with customer preferences steering towards remote home monitoring and convenience. The market further bifurcates into connectivity aspects, comprising Wired and Wireless Doorbells, each offering distinct advantages in terms of installation and usability. Applications are seen across both Commercial and Residential sectors, with residential applications particularly flourishing due to heightened security awareness. Sales channels for smart doorbells include Online/E-Commerce platforms and Organized Retailers, both of which present consumers with extensive choices and ease of purchase. Geographically, the Americas, especially countries like the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico, signify a robust market due to their affinity towards smart home technology and safety measures. The Asia-Pacific region is not far behind, with nations like China, India, and the Philippines demonstrating increased demand catalyzed by rising security concerns and technological advancements. The report acknowledges the presence of a diverse set of competitors in the Smart Doorbell Market. Prominent players include tech giants and specialized home automation companies that contribute to dynamic market conditions with their strategies and product offerings. These companies are consistently innovating, focusing on R&D, and expanding their product lines to meet the evolving security needs of customers worldwide. The FPNV Positioning Matrix and Market Share Analysis provide a strategic assessment of the market players' competitiveness and comparative market presence, facilitating strategic decision-making for businesses aiming to leverage current and potential market opportunities. The research report also profiles key companies, offering a detailed examination of their recent ventures and capacity to innovate. Detailed segmentation within the report underscores the importance of understanding specific market areas that companies can target, revealing opportunities for market penetration, development, and diversification, as well as competitive intelligence. Innovations within the industry, including advancements in AI and remote communication technologies, further add to the appeal of smart doorbells, contributing positively to market trends. In conclusion, the Smart Doorbell Market presents a highly lucrative investment and business avenue for existing companies and new entrants alike. The report discusses essential points to consider, such as market size, segmentation, industry trends, and competitive landscape, serving as a critical tool for stakeholders looking to navigate the intricacies of the smart doorbell industry and establish a strong foothold. For market participants and potential investors, keeping abreast of technological trends, regulatory frameworks, and consumer preferences is imperative. By doing so, players can create products and strategies that align with market demands, positioning themselves effectively within the rapidly evolving Smart Doorbell Market. Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 192 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $8.13 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $30.47 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 24.1% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered Preface Research Methodology Executive Summary Market Overview Market Insights Smart Doorbell Market, by Product Smart Doorbell Market, by Connectivity Smart Doorbell Market, by Application Smart Doorbell Market, by Sales Channel Americas Smart Doorbell Market Asia-Pacific Smart Doorbell Market Europe, Middle East & Africa Smart Doorbell Market Competitive Landscape Competitive Portfolio Appendix Companies Mentioned 360 Smart Life Aartech Canada ADI Global by Resideo Technologies, Inc. Anker Innovations Co., Ltd Aosu Apple Inc. Arenti Arlo Technologies, Inc. Audico BLU SKY Communica Group Cree Lighting by IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC Dbell Inc. Dicker Data Ltd. DNAKE (XIAMEN) INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. DoorBird EEC Industries Ltd. Eufy by Fantasia Trading LLC Eversecu Canada Google LLC by Alphabet Inc. Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd. Henrac Technology (PTY) LTD. HomeMate Smart Private Limited Indasina Technology Co., Limited JB Hi-Fi Limited LaView Eagle Eye Technology Inc. Legrand Logitech Europe S.A. Melbourne Mobiles Morecam Netvue, Inc. Night Owl SP LLC Panasonic Corporation Phlipton Automation Ring Inc. by Amazon.com, Inc. SafeWise by Clear Link Technologies, LLC Schneider Electric SE Simplisafe, Inc. SkyBell Technologies Inc. SmartVU Home by Dish TV Technologies Ltd. Smartwares Europe Swann Communications Pty. Ltd. Techut NZ Videopro Vivint, Inc. VTech Communications, Inc. WatchNet Wyze Labs, Inc. Xiaomi Corporation Zmodo Technology Corporation Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/drvlz5 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Walk-in Coolers Equipment Market Size, Market Share, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Trends, Key Players, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2023-2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The walk-in coolers equipment market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period of 2023 to 2031. The equipment plays a vital role in providing efficient and reliable refrigeration solutions across diverse industries. The drivers of energy efficiency, expansion in the food and beverage sector, and adherence to regulatory compliance underscore the market's growth potential. The challenge of space constraints in urban environments necessitates innovative solutions to ensure continued market expansion. The segmentation reveals shifting preferences in walk-in cooler types and end-use applications, reflecting the evolving needs of various industries. Geographically, Asia-Pacific emerges as a key growth region, highlighting the global nature of the walk-in coolers equipment market. As top players continue their strategic initiatives, the market is poised for sustained growth, driven by technological advancements and the increasing demand for specialized cooling solutions. Increasing Demand for Energy-Efficient Solutions The primary driver propelling the Walk-in cooler equipment market is the rising demand for energy-efficient solutions. Companies like Carrier, Lennox International, and Dover Corporation have prioritized the development of cooling systems that optimize energy consumption without compromising performance. Evidenced by the increasing adoption of eco-friendly refrigerants and the implementation of advanced insulation technologies, this driver aligns with global initiatives for sustainability and energy conservation. The evidence of the growing emphasis on energy efficiency is reflected in industry reports showcasing a shift towards energy-efficient walk-in coolers, reducing operational costs for end-users. Expanding Food and Beverage Industry The walk-in coolers equipment market experiences robust growth due to the expanding food and beverage industry. Key players such as Hussmann Corporation, Daikin Industries, and Metalfrio Solutions focus on providing customized refrigeration solutions to meet the specific needs of restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores. The evidence supporting this driver lies in the increased installation of walk-in coolers in commercial kitchens, storage facilities, and retail outlets. As the food and beverage industry continues to evolve, the demand for reliable and scalable refrigeration solutions is expected to drive sustained growth in the Walk-in cooler equipment market. Stringent Regulatory Compliance Stringent regulatory compliance, particularly in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, serves as a significant driver for the Walk-in cooler equipment market. Companies like Panasonic Corporation and Johnson Controls adhere to industry standards and regulations governing the storage of temperature-sensitive products, including vaccines and medications. Evidenced by the increasing adoption of walk-in coolers equipped with temperature monitoring and control systems, this driver is crucial for ensuring product integrity and compliance with regulatory requirements. The evidence is underscored by the market's response to evolving regulatory landscapes, with manufacturers investing in innovative solutions that guarantee the safe storage of sensitive materials. Restraint Despite its promising trajectory, a notable restraint in the Walk-in cooler equipment market is the challenge posed by space constraints in urban environments. As demonstrated in instances where businesses, especially in densely populated areas, face limitations in available space for walk-in coolers installation. While companies actively explore modular and space-saving designs, evidence of this restraint is observed in reports highlighting the difficulties businesses encounter in finding adequate spaces for walk-in cooler installations. Striking the right balance between efficient cooling solutions and spatial limitations remains a challenge, requiring innovative design solutions and strategic location planning. Market Segmentation by Type: Self-contained Walk-ins Dominate the Market The walk-in coolers equipment market is segmented into Self-contained, Remote Condensing, and Multiplex Walk-ins. In 2023, Self-contained Walk-ins dominated both in terms of revenue and CAGR, reflecting their versatility and ease of installation. However, during the forecast period of 2024 to 2032, Multiplex Walk-ins are expected to exhibit the highest CAGR. This shift indicates a growing demand for centralized cooling solutions that cater to larger storage requirements, such as those in warehouses and distribution centers. Market Segmentation by End-use: Grocery Stores Dominate the Market The market is segmented into Hotels and restaurants, Grocery Stores, Convenience Stores, Beer and Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Health Care/Medical, and Others (Mortuary, Floriculture, etc.). In 2023, Grocery Stores led in both revenue and CAGR, driven by the essential need for efficient and large-scale refrigeration in the perishable goods sector. However, during the forecast period of 2024 to 2032, the Health Care/Medical segment is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR. This shift indicates the growing importance of precision cooling in healthcare and pharmaceutical applications, where maintaining specific temperature conditions is critical. North America Remains the Global Leader Geographically, the Walk-in cooler equipment market exhibits dynamic trends. In 2023, North America led in both revenue and CAGR, driven by the high demand from the food and beverage sector and stringent regulatory requirements. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to experience the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This shift is supported by the region's rapid industrialization, expanding food and beverage industry, and increasing awareness of the importance of refrigeration in maintaining product quality. Market Competition to Intensify during the Forecast Period Top players in the Walk-in cooler equipment market include Carrier, Lennox International, Dover Corporation, Hussmann Corporation, Daikin Industries, Metalfrio Solutions, Panasonic Corporation, Johnson Controls, Beverage Air, ABN Refrigeration Manufacturing, Arctic Walk in Coolers & Walk-in Freezers, Canadian Curtis Refrigeration Inc., Danfoss A/S, Emerson Electric Co., Everidge, Inc., Imperial Brown Inc. and Kolpak. These companies deploy diverse strategies such as continuous innovation, strategic partnerships, and expanding product portfolios. In 2023, their revenues reflected market leadership, with expectations of sustained growth during the forecast period. Historical & Forecast Period This study report represents analysis of each segment from 2021 to 2031 considering 2022 as the base year. Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for each of the respective segments estimated for the forecast period of 2023 to 2031. The current report comprises of quantitative market estimations for each micro market for every geographical region and qualitative market analysis such as micro and macro environment analysis, market trends, competitive intelligence, segment analysis, porters five force model, top winning strategies, top investment markets, emerging trends and technological analysis, case studies, strategic conclusions and recommendations and other key market insights. Market Segmentation Type Self-contained Remote Condensing Multiplex Walk-ins Temperature (Degree C) Up to 0 1 to 10 above 10 Input Power Below 2 kW 2 kW - 5 kW Above 5 kW Door Curtains Strip Curtains Air Curtains Installation Outdoor Indoor Power Consumption ( KWH) Up To 1 2 to 3 4 to 5 above 5 Cooler Size 5'x5' 6'x 6' 6' x 8' 8' x 8' 8' x 10 Others (10A - 10, 10A - 12, etc.) End-Use Hotels & Restaurants Grocery Stores Convenience Stores Beer & Beverage Pharmaceutical Health Care / Medical Others (Mortuary, Floriculture, etc.) Distribution Channel Direct Sales Indirect Sales Region Segment (2021-2031; US$ Million) North America U.S. Canada Rest of North America UK and European Union UK Germany Spain Italy France Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Australia South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa GCC Africa Rest of Middle East and Africa Companies Mentioned Carrier Lennox International Dover Corporation Hussmann Corporation Daikin Industries Beverage Air ABN Refrigeration Manufacturing Arctic Walk in Coolers & Walk-in Freezers Canadian Curtis Refrigeration Inc. Danfoss A/S Emerson Electric Co. Everidge, Inc. Imperial Brown Inc. Kolpak Metalfrio Solutions Panasonic Corporation Johnson Controls Key Questions Answered What are the key micro and macro environmental factors that are impacting the growth of Walk-in Coolers Equipment market? What are the key investment pockets with respect to product segments and geographies currently and during the forecast period? Estimated forecast and market projections up to 2031. Which segment accounts for the fastest CAGR during the forecast period? Which market segment holds a larger market share and why? Are low and middle-income economies investing in the Walk-in Coolers Equipment market? Which is the largest regional market for Walk-in Coolers Equipment market? What are the market trends and dynamics in emerging markets such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa? Which are the key trends driving Walk-in Coolers Equipment market growth? Who are the key competitors and what are their key strategies to enhance their market presence in the Walk-in Coolers Equipment market worldwide? For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ziil7e About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Dublin, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "US Healthcare Advertising Market Report by Product Type (Pharmaceuticals (Small Molecule Drugs), Biopharmaceuticals, Vaccines, Over-The-Counter (OTC) Drugs) 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The US healthcare advertising market size reached US$ 23.5 billion in 2023. The market is projected to reach US$ 33.8 billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.14% during 2023-2032 The growing online direct-to-consumer drug advertising due to the shift in promotional activities towards digital platforms, the augmenting demand to obtain certification and bid for relevant keywords among advertisers, and increased advertising expenditure from healthcare organizations are among the key factors driving the market growth. Healthcare advertising refers to the strategic promotion and marketing activities undertaken by organizations within the healthcare industry to raise awareness, inform, and influence target audiences about their products, services, or healthcare-related initiatives. It is a specialized form of advertising that caters to the unique needs and regulations of the healthcare sector. Healthcare advertising encompasses a wide range of mediums, including television, print, digital platforms, and direct marketing channels. The primary objective of healthcare advertising is to communicate key messages, build brand recognition, establish credibility, and drive patient engagement or adoption of healthcare solutions. Effective healthcare advertising plays a crucial role in shaping brand perception, driving patient loyalty, and fostering positive patient-provider relationships in a highly competitive industry. The United States pharmaceutical industry is primarily driven by online direct-to-consumer drug advertising due to the shift in promotional activities towards digital platforms. This can be attributed to the rising popularity of online display advertising, product websites, and social media campaigns driving higher product sales. In line with this, the augmenting demand to obtain certification and bid for relevant keywords among advertisers is also creating lucrative opportunities in the market. Furthermore, pharmaceutical companies are adopting multiple synchronized communication channels to expand their consumer reach, thereby fueling the market. Additionally, continual advancements in technology enabling the consumers to access relevant information about health conditions and available treatment options are impelling the market growth. The market expansion is further fueled by increased advertising expenditure from healthcare organizations through television, print ads, and social media due to the rapid digital transformation of the healthcare system. US Healthcare Advertising Market Trends/Drivers Increasing Adoption of Patient-Centered Care and Consumer Empowerment The increasing emphasis on patient-centered care and consumer empowerment has become a major driving factor for the market. Healthcare organizations are recognizing the importance of attracting and engaging patients through strategic advertising investments. The healthcare organizations are adopting innovative advertising strategies, such as promoting services, showcasing patient success stories, and communicating personalized care approaches. This is helping them establish meaningful connections with their target audience, thereby enhancing patient satisfaction and the overall healthcare experience. Through effective patient-centered advertising, healthcare providers can empower consumers, enabling them to make informed decisions about their healthcare and treatment options. This is expected to create a positive market outlook. The rise of digital platforms and advancements in technology The rise of digital platforms and advancements in technology has revolutionized the field of healthcare advertising. With the widespread use of smartphones, social media, and online search platforms, the way healthcare information is accessed and shared has undergone a significant transformation. Digital advertising provides healthcare organizations with new avenues to reach their target audience with precision and effectiveness. It enables the targeting of specific patient demographics, the delivery of tailored messages, and the ability to track campaign performance more accurately. Also, the interactive nature of digital platforms allows for enhanced engagement and encourages patient participation, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes. Competitive Landscape The top players in the US healthcare advertising market are focusing on digital marketing and technological advancements to reach a wider audience. They are leveraging online channels, social media platforms, and targeted digital advertising campaigns to expand their consumer base and drive product sales. Additionally, they are emphasizing data-driven marketing approaches, utilizing analytics and customer insights to deliver personalized and relevant advertising messages to healthcare professionals and patients. Besides this, the major companies are investing in strategic partnerships and collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and digital agencies to enhance their service offerings and access new markets. Additionally, the key players are adopting emerging trends such as mobile advertising, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality to stay ahead of the competition and provide cutting-edge advertising solutions. Key Questions Answered in This Report What was the size of the US healthcare advertising market in 2023? What is the expected growth rate of the US healthcare advertising market during 2024-2032? What are the key factors driving the US healthcare advertising market? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the US healthcare advertising market? What is the breakup of the US healthcare advertising market based on the product type? Who are the key players/companies in the US healthcare advertising market? Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 138 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $23.5 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $33.8 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.1% Regions Covered United States Competition Analysis Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. Pfizer Inc. Merck & Co., Inc. GlaxoSmithKline plc. Eli Lilly and Company Novartis International AG Sanofi S.A AstraZeneca PLC F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Roche) Bayer AG Bristol- Myers Squibb (BMS) Major Players: Sales and Advertising Spend US Sales Advertising Spend by Channel Global Sales and Advertising Spend What Drives the Healthcare Advertising Market in the US? Digitalization and other Technological Advancements Increasing Presence of Generic and Me-too Drugs Government Regulations Supporting DTC Advertising Launch of New Drugs Increased Consumer Reach through Mobile Advertising Other Key Drivers Current Trends in Healthcare Advertising Focus on Content Rise of Multichannel Marketing Targeting Consumers with Local Advertising Reliance on Social Media Surging Mobile Marketing Consumers Becoming Researchers Information Dispensed through Videos Increasing Importance of Online Reviews Market Challenges Trust Gap between Consumers and Advertisers Strict Rules and Regulations by FDA Unethical Practices Macroeconomic Scenario Other Challenges Breakup by Product Type: Pharmaceuticals (Small Molecule Drugs) Biopharmaceuticals Vaccines Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ww08ph About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment NEW YORK, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtual Investor Conferences, the leading proprietary investor conference series, today announced the presentations from the Life Science Virtual Investor Forum held March 7th are now available for online viewing. This event was sponsored by Zacks Small-Cap Research. REGISTER NOW AT: https://bit.ly/3T80zZl The company presentations will be available 24/7 for 90 days. Investors, advisors, and analysts may download investor materials from the companys resource section. Select companies are accepting 1x1 management meeting requests through March 12th. March 7th To facilitate investor relations scheduling and to view a complete calendar of Virtual Investor Conferences, please visit www.virtualinvestorconferences.com. About Virtual Investor Conferences Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors. Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors. Media Contact: OTC Markets Group Inc. +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com Virtual Investor Conferences Contact: John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 johnv@otcmarkets.com SOCIETE GENERALE: NUMBER OF SHARES COMPOSING CURRENT SHARE CAPITAL AND TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTING RIGHTS AS OF 29 FEBRUARY 2024 Regulated Information Paris, 8 March 2024 Information about the total number of voting rights and shares pursuant to Article L.233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the AMF General Regulations. Date Number of shares composing current share capital Total number of voting rights 29 February 2024 802,979,942 Gross: 876,952,488 Press contact: Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ fanny.rouby@socgen.com Societe Generale Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with more than 126,000 employees serving about 25 million clients in 65 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for nearly 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective - to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders. The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients: French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance , with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank. , with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank. Global Banking and Investor Solutions , a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG. , a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG. International Retail, Mobility & Leasing Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities. Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe). For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com . Attachment Atlanta, Georgia, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In Fortunes 2024 ranking of in-person graduate programs in data science, the Master of Science in Analytics offered by Georgia State Universitys J. Mack Robinson College of Business is 15th among all U.S. programs and 11th among public university programs. Robinsons M.S. in Analytics is the only Georgia program in the ranking; it is second among Southeastern programs. Fortune determined its rankings of data-science masters programs by a weighted scoring of selectivity (undergraduate GPA and acceptance rates), success (student retention and graduation rates), and demand (total enrollment and number of applicants for the most recent year). Georgia States STEM-certified M.S. in Analytics is offered as a 16-month full-time or 24-month part-time program. The curriculum comprises eight required courses, three electives, boot camps and intensive multiweek sprints in which students work with organizations data to address complicated problems, develop predictive models, and draw insights from the findings. The high standing of Robinsons Masters in Analytics in Fortunes rankings of data-science programs is a testament to the programs outstanding students, rigorous curriculum, accomplished faculty and industry partnerships, said Brian Jennings, senior associate dean for graduate programs and executive education. Learn more about the M.S. in Analytics offered by Georgia States Robinson College of Business. Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mirasol Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: MRZ) (OTCPK: MRZLF) (the Company or Mirasol) today announced it is arranging a non-brokered private placement financing (the Offering) of up to 5,000,000 Units (the Units) at a price of $0.60 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $3.0 million. Each Unit will be comprised of one (1) common share and one-half of one (1/2) non-transferable common share purchase warrant (the Warrant), with each whole Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.80 for a period of twelve (12) months from closing of the Offering. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to expand Mirasols successful exploration programs and for general corporate purposes. Finders fees may be payable on a portion of the Offering. The shares issued under the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period. The Offering is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the TSX.V, and is expected to close on or about March 31, 2024. This press release is not an offer of common shares for sale in the United States. The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws. About Mirasol Resources Ltd Mirasol is a well-funded exploration company with 20 years of operating, permitting and community relations experience in the mineral rich regions of Chile and Argentina. Mirasol is currently self-funding exploration at the flagship Sobek Copper-Gold project located in the Vicuna Copper-Gold-Silver District of northeast Chile and controls 100% of the high-grade Virginia Silver Deposit in Argentina. Mirasol also continues to advance a strong pipeline of highly prospective early and mid-stage projects. For further information, contact: Tim Heenan, President & CEO or Troy Shultz, Vice President Investor Relations Tel: +1 (604) 602-9989 Email: contact@mirasolresources.com Website: www.mirasolresources.com Forward Looking Statements: The information in this news release contains forward looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry and to policies linked to pandemics, social and environmental related matters. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding future exploration programs, operation plans, geological interpretations, mineral tenure issues and mineral recovery processes. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Mirasol disclaims any obligations to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. WASHINGTON, D.C., March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) hosted the Divine Nine Sororities, The National Council of Negro Women, The Links Incorporated, The Black Womens Agenda, and The National Coalition of 100 Black Women at the White House. During this event, MBDA memorialized Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with each organization to collaborate on advancing the growth of women business enterprises. The Minority Business Development Agency is excited to collaborate with these women-led organizations to break down barriers and expand opportunities for Black women, said Eric Morissette, performing the delegated duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development. As the fastest growing demographic of entrepreneurs, women of color continue to be a driving force for the nations economy. The Biden-Harris Administration, the Department of Commerce, and MBDA are committed to matching their drive with the resources and opportunities they need and deserve. The event featured a roundtable discussion with each organizations leadership that examined the challenges women entrepreneurs face related to access to capital, starting and scaling businesses, and access to contracts and networks. MBDAs alliance with these organizations aims to provide solutions, resources, and opportunities for economic empowerment. The Department of Commerces mission is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities. Through this historic collaboration with the Divine Nine sororities and other national womens leadership organizations, the MBDA continues to ensure economic prosperity for all American business enterprises. About the U.S. Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA): The Minority Business Development Agency is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and competitiveness of U.S. minority business enterprises. For more than 50 years, MBDAs programs and services have better equipped MBEs to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues, and expand regionally, nationally, and internationally. ### Attachments CALGARY, March 07, 2024 - Pan American Energy Corp. (the "Company" or "Pan American") (CSE: PNRG) (OTCQB: PAANF) (FRA: SS60) is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche (the "First Tranche") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing (the "Private Placement") for gross proceeds to the Company of C$898,749.88. Pursuant to the First Tranche, the Company issued 1,892,105 units of the Company at a price of $0.475 per unit (each, a "Unit"), with each Unit comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one Share purchase warrant of the Company entitling the holder to acquire one Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.55 until March 7, 2026. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for general and administrative expenditures and to fund expenditures with respect to the Company's Horizon Lithium Property. In accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Units that were issued pursuant to the First Tranche have been, and the Units which may subsequently be issued under the Private Placement are, offered for sale to purchasers resident in all of the provinces of Canada (except Quebec) pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A.2 of NI 45-106 (the "LIFE Exemption"). Because the Private Placement is being completed pursuant to the LIFE Exemption, the securities issued to subscribers in the Private Placement are not subject to mandatory resale restrictions in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document dated February 13th, 2024 related to the Private Placement that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.panam-energy.com. This offering document contains additional detail regarding the Private Placement, including additional detail regarding the expected use of proceeds from the Private Placement. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States, or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Pan American Energy Corp. Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTCQB: PAANF) (FSE: SS60) is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America. The Company executed an option agreement in Canada with Magabra Resources, providing for the right to acquire up to a 90% interest in the drill-ready Big Mack Lithium Project, 80 km north of Kenora, Ontario. The Company has also entered a property option agreement with Horizon Lithium LLC providing for the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Horizon Lithium Project, located within Esmeralda County - Tonopah Lithium Belt, Nevada, USA. To register for investor updates, please visit https://panam-energy.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Jason Latkowcer CEO & Director Contact Phone : (587) 885-5970 Email: info@panam-energy.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the Private Placement, including the total proceeds to be raised from the Private Placement and the proposed use of proceeds from the Private Placement. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including the assumption that the Company will close the Second Tranche of the Private Placement, that the Company will raise the anticipated amount of gross proceeds from the Private Placement and that the Company will use the proceeds of the Offering as currently anticipated. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of the Company's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include: the risk that the Second Tranche of the Private Placement does not close; the risk that the Company raises less than the anticipated amount of gross proceeds from the Private Placement; the risk that the Company does not use the proceeds from the Private Placement as currently expected; regulatory risks; and financing, capitalization and liquidity risks. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this ?press release. TORONTO, March 08, 2024 - Nobel Resources Corp. (TSX-V: NBLC; OTCQB: NBTRF) (the "Company" or "Nobel") announces the appointment of Larry Guy as Interim CEO following the resignation of David Gower as CEO and director of the Company. Mr. Gower will continue to support Nobel as a consultant to the Company and an advisor to the Nobel Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of the Company thanks Mr. Gower for his valuable contributions to the Company as CEO and a director and welcomes his continued involvement as an advisor. About Nobel Nobel Resources is a Canadian resource company focused on identifying and developing prospective mineral projects. The Company has a team with a strong background of exploration success. For further information, please contact: Vincent Chen Investor Relations vchen@nobel-resources.com www.nobel-resources.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, regarding changes to the Nobel management team and board of directors, the Company's ability to identify and acquire new projects and restart its business and the Company's future plans. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward- looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Nobel, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; risks associated with operation in foreign jurisdictions; ability to successfully integrate the purchased properties; foreign operations risks; and other risks inherent in the mining industry. Although Nobel has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Nobel does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. /THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/ VANCOUVER, March 8, 2024 - Macarthur Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: MMS) (ASX: MIO) (OTCQB: MMSDF) (the Company or Macarthur) is pleased to announce that it will host a live audio conference for its Investor Presentation (via GoToWebinar), to be presented by Chief Executive Officer Cameron McCall. Anyone wishing to attend the webinar must register using the below link. Webinar details Date: Wednesday, 13 March 2024 Time: 11.00am (AWST) 2.00pm (AEST) Australia Register via -https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4392139272809578587 Investors are invited to submit questions for the presenter by emailing the Company on communications@macarthurminerals.com by 5pm (AEST) Tuesday, 12 March 2024 and these questions will be answered at the conclusion of the Investor Presentation. Released On behalf of the Board of Directors, Mr Cameron McCall, Executive Chairman and CEO Company profile Macarthur is an iron ore development, and lithium exploration company that is focused on bringing to production its Western Australia iron ore projects. The Lake Giles Iron Project mineral resources include the Ularring hematite resource (approved for development) comprising Indicated resources of 54.5 million tonnes at 47.2% Fe and Inferred resources of 26 million tonnes at 45.4% Fe; and the Lake Giles magnetite resource of 53.9 million tonnes (Measured), 218.7 million tonnes (Indicated) and 997 million tonnes (Inferred). The Lake Giles Iron Project also contains Proven Ore Reserves of 51.9 Mt and Probable Ore Reserves of 184.7Mt. Macarthur also holds 24 square kilometre tenement area iron exploration interests in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. In addition, Macarthur has lithium brine Claims in the emerging Railroad Valley region in Nevada, USA. The Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimates presented herein have previously been released to the ASX on March 21, 2022, including supporting JORC reporting tables. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the relevant market announcements and, in the case of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves that all assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements Certain of the statements made and information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including but not limited to statements regarding expected completion of the Feasibility Study; conversion of Mineral Resources to Ore Reserves or the eventual mining of the Project, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the current expectations, assumptions or beliefs of the Company based upon information currently available to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct as actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: unforeseen technology changes that results in a reduction in iron or magnetite demand or substitution by other metals or materials; the discovery of new large low cost deposits of iron magnetite; the general level of global economic activity; failure to complete the FS; inability to demonstrate economic viability of Mineral Resources; and failure to obtain mining approvals. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Such statements relate to future events and expectations and, as such, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and except as may otherwise be required pursuant to applicable laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE Macarthur Minerals Ltd. Vancouver, March 8, 2024 - Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) (OTCQX: KLDCF) (FSE: 3WQ0) ("Kenorland" or the "Company") announces that, further to the investor rights agreement dated November 5, 2021 (the "IRA") between the Company and Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. ("Sumitomo"), Sumitomo has issued to the Company its intent to exercise its 'top-up right' as it relates to certain non-cash transactions completed by the Company and to retain its 10.1% interest in the Company. An aggregate of 24,075 common shares will be issued at a price of $0.70 per share for aggregate consideration of $16,852.50 in accordance with the IRA, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. A copy of the IRA is available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile. About Kenorland Minerals Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) is a well-financed mineral exploration company focused on project generation and early-stage exploration in North America. Kenorland's exploration strategy is to advance greenfields projects through systematic, property-wide, phased exploration surveys financed primarily through exploration partnerships including option to joint venture agreements. Kenorland holds a 4% net smelter return royalty on the Frotet Project in Quebec which is owned by Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. The Frotet Project hosts the Regnault gold system, a greenfields discovery made by Kenorland and Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. in 2020. Kenorland is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Further information can be found on the Company's website www.kenorlandminerals.com On behalf of the Board of Directors, Zach Flood President, CEO & Director For further information, please contact: Alex Muir, CFA Investor Relations Manager Tel +1 604 568 6005 info@kenorlandminerals.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects', "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/200923 VANCOUVER, March 8, 2024 - International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (the "Company") - (TSX: ITH) (NYSE American: THM) today announced that it has filed its audited Year-End Financial Statements and associated Management Discussion and Analysis on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company also announced the approval of the 2024 work program. This work will focus on community engagement, as well as advance the baseline environmental data collection in critical areas of hydrology and waste rock geochemical characterization needed to support future permitting. On January 22, 2024, the Company announced that it had completed a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") pursuant to which it issued common shares to existing major shareholders to raise gross proceeds of approximately US$2.5 million. The Private Placement consisted of 3,807,911 common shares of the Company at a price of US$0.664 per common share. Shareholders can obtain copies of the Company's audited Year-End Financial Statements and associated Management Discussion and Analysis and Form 10-K on SEDAR+ at: www.sedarplus.ca, EDGAR at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at: www.ithmines.com. The Company will also provide hard copies of these documents, free of charge, to shareholders who request a copy directly from the Company. About International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. has a 100% interest in its Livengood Gold Project located along the paved Elliott Highway, 70 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. On behalf of International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (signed) Karl L. Hanneman Chief Executive Officer This news release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-tower-hill-mines-files-2023-year-end-financial-results-302083715.html SOURCE International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. De la Rosa plays down Alonso's Saudi pace Pedro de la Rosa, an Aston Martin team ambassador and close confidante of Fernando Alonso's, played down the Spaniard's top time in Jeddah free practice. Fernando Alonso, Bahrain GP 2024 Aston Martin Racing It's just practice, Alonso, sponsored by Saudi oil company Aramco, warned, alluding to different engine modes and fuel loads that the various teams run in practice. Indeed, Red Bull's dominant Max Verstappen did not seem worried about the few-tenths deficit. I guess the others used a little more power, just like they did a week ago, said the Dutchman, who admits that Red Bull's 2024 car really comes to life over longer runs. As far as the long runs go, I'm pretty happy, said Verstappen. The actual grands prix, of course, are all about 'long run' pace, and it's in that area that de la Rosa admits Aston Martin and Alonso still lag. I haven't seen the long runs in depth yet, he told DAZN, "but they haven't been that good. We cannot compare ourselves with Red Bull, that's clear. Their long run was really spectacular. But it was also spectacular in Bahrain, de la Rosa added. However, Red Bull's famous advisor Dr Helmut Marko says the team is keeping an eye on Ferrari - and he insists that McLaren was short-changed in Bahrain. It's a fast circuit and everything is close together, he told Kleine Zeitung. The temperatures and conditions on the day will also play a decisive role. (GMM) Marko admits Verstappen contract has clauses Christian Horner has pleaded for the end of a scandal that endangered not only his top job at Red Bull, but could lead to Max Verstappen's shock exit. Max Verstappen, Saudi Arabian GP 2024 Red Bull Every contract has clauses, that's clear, said Dr Helmut Marko, amid reports Verstappen's 2028 deal allows the Dutchman to easily exit in the event Marko leaves the team. We have to see how the whole thing develops. Although an internal investigation into the saga cleared Horner of wrongdoing in his behaviour with a female staffer, the saga rolls on - especially after Verstappen's father Jos publicly called for the team boss to quit. I spoke to Jos following the (Bahrain) grand prix, Horner said in Saudi Arabia, where Red Bull GmbH's sporting CEO Oliver Mintzlaff is slated to attend. I think it's in everybody's interests collectively that we've agreed to move on, to focus on the future. And we both have a vested interest in his son to get the best and to provide the best cars for him and to get the best out of him. Triple world champion Verstappen, 26, has cleared tried to walk a fine line between the two obvious factions - with Marko, Verstappen and Mintzlaff on one side, and Horner and Red Bull's 51 percent Thai shareholder on the other. With Didi (Mateschitz), this matter would have certainly been different, Verstappen is quoted as saying by the Swiss newspaper Blick, referring to the deal in late 2022 of Red Bull's co-founder and figurehead. However, he appeared to deny his own father's claim that Red Bull will implode if Horner stays at the helm. We'll, we're both here now, Verstappen said. "I'd certainly like a quieter weekend than in Bahrain. A place where everyone feels good and can work well. I hope that we can draw a line under what has been said and what happened in Bahrain, he added. "If there are issues, we try to solve them internally. It would be good if we finally talked about our great car. Hardly anyone mentions that, Verstappen smiled. 80-year-old Marko, however, thinks of the off-track scandal is not affecting Red Bull on the track. As soon as practice starts, everyone is fully focused, he said. That was also the case in Bahrain. The pitstops and strategy worked perfectly. Horner appealed to the media on Thursday for an end to the constant speculation and intrigue, as it comes to light that the woman who made the accusations has now been suspended on full pay. The Daily Mail newspaper claims that were inaccuracies in her testimony to the investigator, amid rumours she also knows Jos Verstappen on a personal level. Horner said the ordeal has been difficult not only for him, but also for his wife and children. I understand that it's difficult for his family, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher told Sky Deutschland, "but it all came from him. Formula 1 and Red Bull stand for values and if something like this comes up, it needs to be cleared up. The biggest risk for Red Bull is that Horner's stance ultimately leads to the break-up of the dominant team - especially in light of the rumoured 'Marko clause'. But former Haas boss Gunther Steiner told Bild newspaper: They (Mercedes) won't get Max. He surely has a secure contract with Red Bull. (GMM) Bringing Flaming Gorge Days back to the community this year is a priority for the City of Green River. Working toward this end, the City Council approved an agreement with an event planning company during Tuesday night's meeting. City Administrator Reed Clevenger explained that the city put out a Request for Proposal (RFP) for putting on a Flaming Gorge Days event. While there was some early interest from varying companies, only one ultimately came back with a proposal, according to Clevenger. The company is Adelska LLC, which is based out of Colorado and puts together events for municipalities across multiple states. In a package provided to the City Council members along with the proposed contract with Adelska, the company gave information about their background as well as some of their goals for Flaming Gorge Days. "Our vision aims to elevate The Flaming Gorge Days to new heights, transforming it into a financially self-sufficient event," the Adelska statement said. "Our broader goal is to create a comprehensive playbook, providing the city with a structured guide to enhance and sustain future events. . . 'Flaming Gorge Days' promises not just a celebration but a blueprint for an enduring legacy, embodying professionalism, community spirit, and the ever-expanding allure of Green River." "I think it's something that would be good in the long run," Clevenger said of working with Adelska, noting that there is evidence of the success the company has had with other events. Clevenger also explained the hope was for the council to approve the agreement for services with Adelska, pending legal approval, during Tuesday's meeting in order to get the process moving quickly. "We're on kind of a short timeframe," Clevenger said. Normally Adelska works with a nine-month window of time for planning, but in order to have Flaming Gorge Days in the summer they would have to work in a shorter amount of time than usual, Clevenger explained. He added that Steve Core has been working with them to bring them up to speed, but the hope was that the council would approve the agreement so that representatives from Adelska could come to Green River next week to start the planning process. In the contract, the proposed cost to be paid to Adelska is $26,625, half of which would be paid upon execution of the contract. Councilmember Gary Killpack asked about the cost for Flaming Gorge Days in the past. Clevenger said that costs were typically upwards of $20,000, not including other costs such as in-kind funds. He added that Adelska would be bringing their own supplies like stages and audio and visual equipment, as well as providing staff and covering marketing, among other services. Councilmember Killpack had other questions regarding parts of the contract he believed were concerning, but Clevenger noted that the contract is still being worked on. Killpack initially said he didn't want to vote on the contract until City Attorney Galen West approved it, and Councilmember Ron Williams added that he also didn't like the idea of voting blind and wondered if the contract could be brought back after West went through it more. Mayor Pete Rust pointed out that the typical process for the city is to approve contracts pending legal approval, meaning Attorney West still has to look through them and can make changes. "I have reviewed it, and we've got issues with it," West said of the contract. "But if we get the approval tonight then we can try to have those issues resolved." "We rely on our city attorney, who is the expert, to make those decisions," Mayor Pete Rust said. West noted that bringing the contract back to the council after the legal approval process would require waiting for another council meeting. Clevenger pointed out that this process is typical for contracts, and sometimes time is of the essence. Particularly in this case, according to Clevenger, losing time in the process could also risk losing the availability of the company and needing to try to find another alternative. "Normally I wouldn't move forward with this," Killpack said, "but time is of the essence and I'll put my trust in you guys." Clevenger added that the city will not move forward with the contract if it doesn't meet legal approval, which he said Adelska is aware of. Answering a question from Councilmember Robert Berg about the length of the contract, Clevenger clarified that it is currently a one-year contract. He pointed out that committing to a multi-year contract had been considered initially, but for now it is a one-year contract, with the possibility of working with Adelska again in the future. He said that the goal is to eventually find someone who can take over the event fully, which Adelska has done successfully in other locations. The council voted unanimously to approve the agreement for services with Adelska, pending legal approval. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother Melvin Wise died February 24 at his home in Georgetown, Idaho. He was raised in Taylor, Utah, by his loving parents, Paul and Louise Wise. He attended school in Weber County, Utah. Melvin graduated from Weber State College as an elementary teacher and from Brigham Young University a school counselor. He completed post graduate work in special education, school administration and school psychology. Melvin married Julie Anne Greer on December 28, 1965, in the Logan LDS Temple. They lived in Utah, and Arizona for the first few years of their marriage, including two years teaching school on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. In response to his lifelong goal, he obtained employment in Wyoming, enjoying the wonders of nature. He remained a resident of Wyoming for the remainder of his life. Melvin excelled in many roles in education, including teacher, special education educator, and as a school psychologist. After working in education for 43 years, 35 in Wyoming, he retired in 2009. Melvin served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the Navajo Reservation, learning and teaching other missionaries their very difficult language. He served faithfully in many church callings. Melvin is survived by his wife, Julie; children Lisa Shumway (Scott), Mary Grzemski (Anthony), Emily Wise, and Melanie Mitchell (Benjamin); and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Wise. Funeral services will be held on March 12 at the Georgetown, Idaho meeting house, 124 Stringtown Road. The viewing will be held from 9 - 10:45 a.m. at the same location. Interment will be at Thayne Cemetery, Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at Schwab Matthews Mortuary. Rod J. Merrell passed away February 28, 2024, after a short battle with ALS. Rod was born November 3, 1956, to Rondo Jerome Merrell and Velva Mae Merrell (Despain) in Payson Utah. Rod was a Payson High School graduate of the Class of 1974. Rod found his true calling as a Government Trapper for Wildlife Services USDA/APHIS. His career started in Carbon County Wyoming in 1997. Rod was acting District Supervision in 2006, eventually being promoted to District Supervisor in 2009, until his retirement in December of 2022. Rod was also a gunsmith for the better part of 40 years, eventually opening Wolfer Gunworks in Rock Springs Wyoming in 2016. During his tenure at Wildlife Services, he taught AG in the classroom in Carbon County Wyoming (his children were so proud). While supporting his family he also received his associate degree in wildlife biology which further supported his career within the agency. Rod soon was specializing in supporting healthy populations of all wildlife, including some endangered species. Rod could never be found in one spot, but once found he was out in the wild marveling in the solitude and happiness that God had made for a mountain man like him. Rod was many things; a father, son, best friend, mentor, trapper, hunter and a hard place to fall. Rod was known for his aptitude and love of playing the guitar; he could play Hendrix's version of the national anthem behind his head, pulling pranks, and NEVER backing down from a dare. Rod is survived by his mother, Velva Mae Merrell, sister Tresa Merrell, sister Janece Pollock (Dale), brother Cristan (Bass) Merrell (Lynn), daughter Jessica Rose Thompson, Kelli LaNette Neuman, Sylvan Jerome Merrell (Whitney), Shawnee Wakara Tomich (Mike) Zedekiah Cole Merrell (Ashley) Partner Darlene Merrell, Lauren Neeff (Jin) Lewis Neeff, Quora Neeff (Robert Distler), Angela Phalen; Grandchildren Ethan, Aryah, Ellie, Weston, Merrell, Emery and Grayson, and 3 nieces, 2 nephews, numerous cousins, aunts and uncles. He is preceded in death by his Maternal Grandparents John Despain, Mary Despain Arrowsmith (Swett), Sylvan Arrowsmith; Paternal Grandparents, Orville Merrell and Nola Merrell (Pollock). Services will be held at The Church of Latter-day Saints (2055 Edgar Street, Rock Springs Wyoming) March 8, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. with graveside services to follow at Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery. Dinner and celebration of life will be held after at Holiday Inn Express in Rock Springs Wyoming. In lieu of donations the family asks that donations be made to the ALS United Rocky Mountain 10855 Dover Street, Suite 500, Westminster CO 80021, (303)-832-2322 OUR FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO OPENLY THANK CASTLE ROCK EMT SERVICE AND THE ROCK SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR CONTINUED HELP. THEY WERE A SAVING GRACE IN TIMES OF NEED. Condolences for the family can be left at http://www.foxfh.com. Museum and Quilt Guild share annual exhibit From bison to sagebrush and cowboys to trains, Wyoming's history is full of iconic imagery, and many of these images have now been expressed in a creative new way in the Sweetwater County Historical Museum and Sweetwater County Quilt Guild's annual exhibit. This year's quilt exhibit is the seventh annual collaboration between the museum and the Quilt Guild, and the theme is "Historical Wyoming." The partnership between the two groups has been in place for almost as long as the Quilt Guild has been in existence. The guild is a group of people who were interested in quilting and decided to gather and make it official, forming a group that meets in Green River regularly to learn more about quilting and inspire on another's creativity, according to Guild President Nancy McConnell. "We have a group of people that are just really generous about sharing their skills with others," McConnell said. It didn't take long for the guild to start sharing their skills with the community as a whole, working with Museum Curator Amanda Benson to establish the quilt exhibit each year. The exhibit started with miniature quilts that could be easily displayed, then moved into doing a different theme each year, from patriotic to Wyoming Cowboys to historic "crazy quilts" to self portraits. This year's theme, "Historical Wyoming," gave a specific concept but produced a unique variety of styles and subjects within the 13 quilts that are part of the display. "You have kind of a wide open basis or theme for the quilt, and then you get everybody's interpretations," McConnell explained. Not only is there a wide variety of imagery used for the quilts, but there is also a variety of techniques used. McConnell explained that different quilts in the exhibit used techniques like piecing, applique, or paper-piecing. Some use different machines and equipment that result in different styles as well. "If you take a closer look, past the piecing, the stitching is really remarkable," Benson added, pointing out that many quilts use hand-stitching to create unique patterns. Another aspect of the exhibit that impresses Benson every year is the variety in quilt sizes and styles that are all meant to be displayed in different ways. This sometimes requires the museum staff to get creative with the displays, as it did this year for two large quilts that the staff had to find room for. "I think these are the biggest ones we've had so far," Benson said. Other quilts range in size. Some are hung while others are stretched on canvas. In past years the exhibit has included clothing pieces as well. "Quilting isn't just about blankets anymore," McConnell said, adding that the quilts are their own unique form of artistry. "They take so many different shapes and forms," Benson agreed. "It really is art." Sharing the art made by the community is one of the main reasons Benson enjoys doing the exhibit every year. She believes the museum should not only share the community's past, but also share what is being done and being created currently, and she wants others to be able to appreciate it. "I want [people] to come and see what quilters can do," McConnell said. "Many people think a quilt is just one of those things that's made with squares and rectangles that you lie on a bed, and a lot of them are that, but there are a lot of other ways to make quilts and a lot of things you can do with them. A lot of them are art to hang on the wall. I think it's just fun to show the things that our people know how to do, to be inspired by them, to make you want to go home and try something like that yourself. And for people who just like to appreciate art, this is just our kind of art." "I'm blown away every single year by these ladies," Benson said. "I'm always thoroughly impressed. And I want the community to see the same." The quilt exhibit opened on March 1 and will run through May 4. The quilts can be viewed at the museum during regular hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free. Poco unveiled the Poco F5 Pro last May, meaning it should get a successor soon. There's no word from Poco about the F6 Pro yet, but we know the Chinese brand is gearing up to launch it soon since the Poco F6 Pro has bagged NBTC certification. The Thai certifying authority doesn't reveal the Poco F6 Pro's specs but confirmed its model designation, which is 23113RKC6G. This suggests it's a rebranded China-exclusive Redmi K70 for the global markets since the K70 has model code 23113RKC6C. If the Poco F6 Pro is a repackaged Redmi K70, it will come with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, and a 6.67" 120Hz 1440p OLED screen. The display will have 4,000 nits peak brightness with Dolby Vision support, a fingerprint reader underneath, and a centered punch-hole for the 16MP selfie camera. Redmi K70 The smartphone will pack a 5,000 mAh battery with 120W wired charging support and feature triple rear cameras: a 50MP primary, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro. Via Propelling forward in unison, the University of Guam marked its 56th Charter Day on Thursday, a day filled with celebrations of learning and culture. At around 9:30 a.m., the university central grounds started to fill with students not only from the university, but also those from elementary, middle, and high schools in Guam. This years UOG Charter Day anticipated around 1,300 students. The event opened with a prayer ritual rooted in a CHamoru creation story that features siblings Fu Una and Puntan, whom the performer called upon to bless the land of Guam. Because it was their body that created the island of Guam, we learned from the very beginning that the land is sacred so, every step I make every day here in Guam, I am stepping on their body, said Guam historian Malia Tony Ramirez. Therefore, I must have respect for the land and for the resources of the land. The prayer also extends to the university, he said, bridging it into the narrative of Guams history with the present. Despite the scorching heat of the sun, attendees wandered through the maze of food trucks, booths, and exhibits that dotted the campus. Various university student organizations were in booths, with some providing information related to their college programs using visual aids to engage the guests, while others sought to invite new members. Leimana Naholowaa, a junior criminal justice student and a member of the UOG Army ROTC, said they are looking for interested students to join their organization. The Army ROTC, she said, focuses on training students to become commissioned officers that lead at the Armed Forces. We train about every week every day and we have annual trainings, once a semester we go out to the field for three to four days, she said. Charter Day is an annual celebration, but this years event was more vibrant with more vendors and students, according to Carmelita Blas, a member of UOGs Charter Day Commission. I think after the COVID and the typhoon, things are really starting to be more present and everybodys coming out to enjoy the festivities, Blas said. Thelma Rogers, UOG Student Government Associations public relations officer, said most of the activities this year were reinstated from the pre-COVID Charter Day festivities. These activities include the hut-building competition, which was brought back just last year after three years, rock climbing, and Army ROTC demonstration. A celebration of culture, learning UOG Charter Day for me is really just a day to celebrate all the different communities that are here because we all are one university but theres so much more to the individual communities that are here, Rogers said. For Princess Yabut, a pre-physical therapy junior student at UOG, the Charter Day is an opportunity for her to witness cultural performances from different organizations. In my department, we dont ever see people from the Yap Organization, the performances or any kind of cultural stuff, said Yabut. So, coming here, you see all these other cultural organizations showcasing culture to everybody. Similar to Yabut, Tera Mantanona and Tamiah Andres of Career Tech High Academy Charter School said they were looking forward to the various cultural performances. We came here because it was culturally rooted, said Mantanona. For Andres, apart from culture, Charter Day presented an opportunity for her to explore potential academic pathways for college. To show everybody the different opportunities that they could look into for future references, said Andres, sharing her plan of studying at UOG after high school. Meanwhile, for Jewel Brub, a freshman at George Washington High School, the event was both a chance to treat oneself and an opportunity to learn about peoples culture. Aelyisa Santos, also a ninth grader from GWHS, said Charter Day is a way to learn new things, connect with students from other schools, and have fun. We actually went to the nursing programs and dissecting stuff, and we learned a lot of different courses we could take if we go to college, Santos said. Agana Heights Elementary students Elijah Afaisen and Sofia Duenas, who were enjoying their strawberry shaved ice dessert, said they were able to see the science tour, where they had a chance to observe diverse animal and plant species. I saw a cuckoo bird, it was very cool seeing one, Afaisen said. We also got a free plant, Duenas shared. Hut-building competition This years hut-making competition featured the Chuuk Student Organization, Pohnpei Student Organization, Society of American Military Engineers, and Yap Student Organization. Each hut reflected their own cultural traditions. The Chuuk Student Organization crafted a low meeting hut for the five samol or chiefs of the Chuuk community, where an uunong or container for food offerings for chiefs was placed inside. The hut was presented through a welcoming traditional performance. Craig Nakamura, sophomore business student and Chuuk Student Organization treasurer, said the hut symbolizes respect, as people have to bow down before entering the hut. Students from the Pohnpei Student Organization built a hut intended for the kava or sakau ceremony to show a real-life ritual of promoting one of their members community rank, according to member Alyshia Lebehn. It also showcased a ritual involving pounding roots to create a drink for relaxation. Meanwhile, the hut of the Society of American Military Engineers integrated engineering with culture using bamboo, a sustainable material, and incorporating a rainwater catching system and an earthquake-resistant design. According to Anna Mallari, a civil engineering senior, the competition helped engineering students to practically apply the concepts theyve learned in class while incorporating cultural elements. The presentation of their huts accompanied a Filipino native bamboo dance called Tinikling. Lastly, the Yap Student Organization created a koyang hut, designed as a relaxing space for small family and student gatherings. The members performed a bamboo dance known as gamel during their hut showcase. For Jerome Pong, chairman of the Yapese Community of Guam, it was not about the competition but how the activity can keep cultural traditions and foster a learning process for students. The Department of Agriculture sought the support of the Mayors Council of Guam on Wednesday for an amended bill on stray dog control, requiring microchipping for all pets, shortening shelter holding periods, and specifying definitions of "pet," "owner," and "vicious" animal. Agriculture Director Chelsa Muna urged mayors to provide a gentle nudge to the Legislature to move the bill out of committee to enhance community safety. They need to know that the mayors are in full support of it, and that you want this because it makes it easier for you to do your already burdensome jobs and keep your community safe, Muna told the mayors. MCOG President and Piti Mayor Jesse Alig expressed his strong support for the bill in the meeting. Muna said Bill 148-37, which was introduced by Sen. William Parkinson on July 6, 2023, defined pet as a cat or dog with a collar or microchip. Existing Guam law states that a pet means a cat or dog. This clarification, Muna said, helps Guam Animals in Need, or GAIN, a non-profit animal shelter, determine the duration for which it can hold each captured animal. If its defined as a pet, then it would be held for three days, Muna said. We changed it from the 10-day hold, and the pet owner would then have three days to come in and claim their pet or it would be put up for adoption or humanely euthanized. Muna added that in the bill, if a feral dog was found running at large, GAIN will only hold the animal within 24 hours, reducing the previous three-day holding period. If it's not a pet and it's a feral or stray dog, it would change the hold from three days to one day because if it's not anyone's pet, why are we holding it? said Muna. With this new definition, the bill will no longer require dog tags, but it mandates the implantation of an International Standards Organization-compliant microchip for all pets older than three months. Muna said microchipping would streamline procedures since animal control officers and GAIN are already equipped with microchip scanners, thereby eliminating the need for procuring machines for creating hard tags. The bill also modifies the criteria for pet ownership, defining an "owner" as anyone who feeds or shelters an animal for one day or more, instead of existing law's requirement of three consecutive days. You have people being chased, being bitten consistently, and the stray dogs are only getting bigger, stronger and healthier because we have people out there feeding them, which is also against the law, stated Muna. Meanwhile, Malesso' Mayor Ernest Chargualaf proposed leaving stray dogs alone rather than putting them in cages without food or water for days while waiting for GAIN to accept them. It's better to leave them alone till you make the arrangements, then capture them and take them up there immediately instead of, they go through the weekend without food or water, said Chargualaf. GAIN encourages advanced notification before trapping animals to ensure space availability for them, Muna said. Santa Rita-Sumai Mayor Dave Alvarez opposed Chargualaf's statement, saying that feral dogs must not be left alone running at large. Just that Monday night, this lady was walking, and she got bit. And I caught that dog before, but somebody came and let it go because they said, like you said, humane, but that dog bit already, said Alvarez. Under Guam law, a pet running at large must bite a person at least twice to be deemed "vicious," whereas Bill 148-37 identifies a dog as vicious after just one bite. Muna noted that GAIN has made animal processing and adoptions quicker by neutering and spaying animals three times a week, with the help of DOAG's veterinarian. The departments budget for fiscal year 2025 has allocated funds to hire four additional animal control officers to enhance responsiveness across the island, added Muna. Superior Court Judge Maria T. Cenzon on Friday sentenced Darrell Dee Francis Lujan, a former teacher, to the maximum 20 years allowed for molesting a 14-year-old boy in 2021. Lujan, 56, was convicted in October 2023 for second-degree criminal sexual conduct as a first-degree felony, and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct as a third-degree felony. Though the actions were similarly described, the charge was upgraded because Lujan used his position as a teacher to coerce the victim. Lujan was a teacher at Guahan Academy Charter School and took advantage of a 14-year-old boy and touched his genitalia, documents state. Assistant Attorney General Christine Tenorio, who prosecuted the case along with investigator Keane Pangelinan and victim advocate Roshjay Mantanona, said that while Lujan was convicted for touching incidents, the punishment should reflect the lengthy relationship Lujan had with the victim and his family, building trust before abusing it. The victim in the case offered written testimony that Tenorio read. I think about it and hear about it, it brings back the darkest part of my life. So now its your turn, your turn to suffer the way me and others feel. I dont ever want you to be able to walk freely while me and others walk in fear, looking over our shoulders, so we dont have to run into you, or someone who would do the same thing ... I want the max sentencing for you, he wrote. I hope you understand once you go in there and face the hell youre going to face. Now youll see the hell I faced throughout the life you destroyed. The victims mother also addressed Lujan. I dont consider you a human being. People like you dont deserve to be called humans. You have destroyed my son. You traumatized my son, and he is not the same happy, humble, humorous, loving child ... He still has flashbacks. You deserve to get the max sentence, so you would be another bastard that would not hurt any other child again ... as a mother I will make sure that you and all those other people that did wrong to children are put away. My son will never be the same again. Cenzon said that she considered all that transpired including listening to the words of the victim and his mother on Friday the court finds that imprisonment is necessary and required, and that a lesser sentence would depreciate the seriousness of the offenders crime and impact on the victim. He faced a five-year minimum prison sentence. Cenzon gave him the maximum 20 years incarceration, followed by three years parole, a $1,000 fine and court costs. He was ordered to register as a Level 1 sex offender, among several other conditions. At this time do counsels know of any reason why the court should not impose the sentence as stated? asked Cenzon. No, your honor, said Alternate Public Defender Peter J. Santos, who represented Lujan. No, your honor, replied Tenorio. Lujan was immediately taken into custody. The Office of the Attorney General in a release thanked the victim for his bravery and courage to speak out. We also thank him for protecting other children from becoming this pedophiles next victim, the AGs office stated. Guams schools are safer because this brave teenager spoke out, it added. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has called the Legislature into special session at 1 p.m. Friday to address what she described as a legal crisis stemming from the Office of the Attorney General's withdrawal from representing 22 government of Guam agencies it's currently investigating. This comes after two days of discussion at the Legislature during an emergency session on the issue, but senators took no action. Speaker Therese Terlaje in a letter to senators said session will convene at 1 p.m. to address the withdrawal of the attorney general as counsel to 22 agencies. The governor's office on Thursday night issued a statement, warning that numerous GovGuam services "may shut down" because of the AG's "dereliction of duty." Adelup has accused the AG's office of leaving critical services and procurements in limbo. Attorney General Douglas Moylan has assured senators that no change in law is needed, and had proffered workarounds for the withdrawal. The governor, in her March 8 letter to Speaker Terlaje, attached three bills to be considered and voted on, which she believes the public interest requires. They are Bills 237-37, 254-37 and 255-37. Bill 237-37, introduced by Sen. Sabina Perez, would update the threshold for procurement oversight and advice from the AG's office to $1 million or more. According to the bill, buying power of money lessens over time and the threshold amount for what was considered major purchases and contracts for services has increased so the amount prompting involvement of the Office of the Attorney General should also be increased. Current law requires the AG's office involvement in procurements $500,000 or more. Bill 245-37, introduced by Sen. Amanda Shelton, would also update the amount to $1 million, but would also allow procurement to move forward if the AG's office withdraws from representing the agency. The bill would also allow government agencies to hire outside legal services if the AG's office withdraws from representing them. The bill would also allow contracts to be signed without the Office of the Attorney General if it withdraws from representing an agency and allow an attorney employed or contracted by the agency to approve the contract before the governor's signature. Bill 255-37, introduced by Terlaje, would allow procurement counsel to represent the General Services Agency if the AG's office withdraws from representing the agency. The bill would also allow agencies to hire outside attorneys should the AG's office withdraw from representing them or allow an agency to enter an agreement with another agency to provide legal services. Another provision of the bill would allow agencies to proceed with procurements of more than $500,000 without the AG's office's assistance if the AG's office withdraws from representing the agency. During a lengthy discussion on the session floor during the emergency session this week, Moylan told lawmakers that he did not believe any action from the Legislature was needed. Moylan said he would agree to sign off the hiring of lawyers to represent the 22 GovGuam agencies he had withdrawn from representing. He said he would also continue to approve government contracts over $500,000a requirement laid out in lawbut would put a disclaimer on the contracts noting that he's not acting as their legal counsel. The release from Adelup stated that far from correcting the chaos he caused with his letters, the AG confirmed that he did not intend to provide legal services to the affected agencies, unless they agreed to sign a disclosure form that's actually a waiver of their rights as his clients. This amounted to holding critical government contracts hostage, according to the statement from Adelup, so that agencies could be prosecuted. Moylan Wednesday evening told the media that he had opted for an alternative fix to having agencies fill out the form, after a sit down with the governor. The governor seemed to not want to have her cabinet do that, 22 of which were under investigation, including her office. So we came up with the workaround that we're discussing with the senators, Moylan said. He said he does not believe there is an emergency situation. Besides vetoing Sen. Chris Barnetts hospital site bill, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero also vetoed Speaker Therese Terlajes bill seeking to give the council overseeing community health centers a more active role. The governor said Guams current laws related to these health centers already do not comply with federal requirements and Bill 209-37 would add to those discrepancies, putting Guam at risk of not receiving future federal funding for community health centers. Bill No. 209-37 does not correct the current deficiencies in our statutes, the governor said in her March 6 veto message. The governor said while she vetoed the bill, shes continuing to work with the Department of Public Health and Social Services and the Health Care Center Board to develop new legislation to bring Guam law into compliance with the current federal program requirements. Terlaje proposed to hand control over the clinics budgeting to their board and give them the power to oversee clinic operations and the hiring of a chief executive officer. The bill was a result of concerns over the quality of care at the Northern Region Community Health Centers in Dededo and the Southern Region Community Health Center in Inalahan. They have been providing health care to underserved residents in the south since 1984, and northern villages since 1998. But the clinics have only had a full-time CEO onboard to run them for a few months over the past seven years, based on discussions during a December oversight hearing on the centers. Without a CEO, leadership has defaulted to the director of Public Health. The proposal seeks to give a more active role to the council, from currently an advisory one to a governing council. This includes, for example, approving rather than merely making recommendations for the annual budget and the three-year plan for the community health centers. The speakers bill also seeks to give the council the power to oversee the operation of the health centers, including holding monthly meetings, approval of grant applications, and the selection, dismissal and performance evaluation of the centers CEO. If its enacted into law, the measure would also give the council the power to select the services to be provided and the hours of operations at the centers and the establishment of general policies for the centers, among other things. The Bureau of Budget and Management Research, in its fiscal note on the bill, said it would potentially raise the board stipend from $7,000 to $21,000 a year. Guams community health care centers are funded by the federal government. Public Health serves as the designated GovGuam agency required to apply for and administer the grant through cooperation agreements with non-governmental entities. The governor said a review of the Guam Community Health Care Centers program noted deficiencies in the structure of the program. Unfortunately, she said, the deficiencies originate from Guam law, which authorizes features of the local program that are plainly inconsistent with the requirements of the federal program. First, she said, Guam law creates the position of CEO, a GovGuam employee for the community health centers within Public Health. This structure continues unchanged in Bill 209-37. But the governor said federal key requirements for key management staff provide that the health center must directly employ its project director/CEO. The bills section allowing the governor to appoint four board members also violates the requirement of the federal program, the governor said. The Guam Power Authority is appealing to the attorney general for a swift review of a contract for temporary emergency power capacity after senators passed legislation Thursday to move it forward. Senators during Thursdays emergency session passed a bill seeking to expedite the Guam Power Authoritys procurement of temporary, emergency power meant to stave off load-shedding this summer. The vote was 10-4, with Sen. Jesse Lujan absent. Sen. William Parkinsons Bill 206-37 would waive a number of procurement regulations, with the goal of speeding along a deal for emergency power. If it becomes law, the bill would allow GPA to go after a $25 million, two-year deal with power supplier Aggreko on an emergency basis. The bill would require the attorney general to finish a review of the contract within five days, and if the AGs office cannot or will not complete the review, GPA will be able to continue with the procurement of emergency power, anyways. Should another company protest the award to Aggrekowhich GPA has said is the only vendor able to provide temporary power within 100 daysthe contract would not be frozen through the usual automatic stay on procurement. Aggreko will provide 20 megawatts of temporary power, and also help with generator repairs meant to add 34 MW to the grid. GPA has around 270 MW capacity, which is not enough to keep up with expected power demands of up to 260 MW this summer, in the event a generator has to go offline for repairs. We are thankful that the Guam Legislature recognized the emergency of the situation and are grateful to the senators for the passage of this bill. The governor has expressed her support in signing the bill into law as quickly as possible. This bill is a major step forward in GPAs efforts to address the energy generation capacity shortfall until the completion of the Ukudu Power Plant around September 2025, GPA General Manager John Benavente said in a release. GPA appeals to the AG for a swift review of the contract and will work collaboratively towards a positive outcome. The PUC has expressed its support to expeditiously approve the contract so that work can begin with GPA bringing in this critical 20 MW power plant to the system, the release states. Bill 206-37 is headed for the governors desk for review. From there, the AGs review will be needed and the governor will have to sign off on the Aggreko deal. After that, the Public Utilities Commission will have to give the final authorization before GPA can proceed. PUC last week stated it needed the 90-day limit on emergency procurements to be waived before it could approve GPAs temporary power deal. Other waivers to procurement regulations in Bill 206-37 came at the request of GPA leadership, who have expressed concern that a procurement protest could stall out the temporary power installation. Though the AG could lift any stay, GPA General Manager John Benavente has said the AGs office has not assisted GPA in the past. GPA legal counsel Marianne Woloschuk asked for a total exemption from a review from the Office of the Attorney General in a letter sent to senators Monday, pointing to unreasonable demands from the AG after his recent withdrawal from representing the utility. Moylan on Thursday said his office could still review the deal with Aggreko, despite last weeks withdrawal from representing GPA and 20 other government agencies that his office are investigating. The AG said he would sign off on the Aggreko contract after a review, but stamp it with a disclosure that hes not representing the government officials involved. Legislation to renew the Compacts of Free Association for 20 years passed the House and with it the possibility to allow COFA migrants access to federal benefits, but no figures are available yet on how much that will be for Guam, Del. James Moylan said. The COFA renewals were part of the $460 billion appropriations package that the House sent to the Senate on Wednesday. While the COFA renewals didnt include annual reimbursements for host communities like Guam, they do include provisions of the Compact Impact Fairness Act, or CIFA, which would allow COFA migrants access to federal benefits to help reduce the financial impact and resources on jurisdictions where they legally migrate to, a release from Moylans office said. There hasnt been a true analysis on the amount it would represent for host communities, and federal entities are still ironing out the details, the delegate said in a statement. Moylan said he is requesting a briefing to understand the true financial benefits the program would bring for Guam. He said he hopes to share the information with the local government and hopefully in time for budget season. Guam hosts many COFA migrants from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau. COFAs allow citizens from these island nations to legally migrate to the U.S. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Moylan have been asking for reauthorization of federal funding to cover Guam and other territories costs associated with hosting citizens from these island nations with compacts of free association with the United States. The federal government stopped the annual $30 million funding that Guam and other territories used to receive that helped them to partially cover their costs in hosting COFA migrants, from providing them with public safety to public health and public education, among others. The governor said critical services provided to COFA citizens such as education, medical supplies and firetrucks services are not federally funded and cannot be covered by CIFA. Leon Guerrero has told federal lawmakers that places like Guam and other states and territories are adversely affected by the woefully underfunded mandate of the COFA agreements and with the federal government making it an unfunded mandate, that negatively impacts the local governments coffers. Before fiscal 2024, Guam received between $12 million and $16 million annually from the federal government in providing public services and programs to COFA citizens and between $1.4 million to $2.8 million annually in Compact Impact Discretionary Funds, she said. GovGuam estimates it spends between $132 million and $150 million each year providing services and programs. CIFA alone cannot reduce the cost that COFA migrants have on host communities which includes education and public safety costs, Leon Guerrero said. SSI benefits Federal benefits like the Supplemental Security Income, SSI, will not be available for COFA migrants on Guam because residents here arent eligible. CIFA would basically provide COFA migrants with access to those federal benefits that are available in the U.S. jurisdiction which they intend to migrate to, Moylan said in a release. Because SSI benefits are not available for U.S. citizens residing in Guam those benefits would not be given to COFA migrants, Moylan said. Payouts vary year to year, but the latest maximum SSI rates are: $943 a month, equal to $11,321 per year for an individual $1,415 a month, equal to $16,980 per year for a couple Low income is described as less than $1,971 a month for a working individual. The House minibus appropriations measure must still pass in the U.S. Senate to eventually determine the true impact of CIFA and what it brings to Guams financial coffers, Moylan said. Likewise, there will be an eventual inequity as COFA migrants who migrate to any of the U.S. states would qualify for SSI benefits, while U.S. citizens and COFA migrants residing on Guam will not, he said. Our perspective is that this indeed could be the very caveat which eventually closes the gap and provides the SSI equity for our community. I look forward to tackling that challenge, Moylan said. Reimbursements Moylan has introduced legislation to try to get reimbursements back to host communities and a hearing was held in January on the bill and efforts to advance the measure continues, a release from his office states. The COFA renewals are critical for various reasons, inclusive of the state of the nations defense. Despite our position on reimbursements, I supported and even voted for the measure to renew the COFA agreements in committee, and I am happy to see the renewals now advancing to the Senate, the delegate said in a release. He said his team continues to work with various entities in pursuing reimbursements which are vital for public safety entities and the education department. There are certainly uphill challenges in identifying funds, which is a requirement in this House when it comes to seeking new spending since most accounts have been downsized. But we will continue to be persistent in the process, he added. The expectations are that the Senate will be discussing the appropriations measure later this week as shutdown looms once again. Have an idea? Want to praise or comment on something? Submit your letter to the editor. A few pastimes are taken extremely seriously in the South, and barbecue is one of them. Readers at Southern Living Magazine weighed in on the best barbecue joints in each state, and the results are in from the shores of Florida to the rolling hills of Texas. Here in Louisiana, we may be better known for boudin than brisket, but that doesnt mean we cant smoke a mean barbecue. According to the voters at Southern Living, one BBQ spot takes the crown: The Joint in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans. This friendly neighborhood eatery serves pastrami, pulled pork, locally sourced chaurice sausage and more in a cozy, wood-paneled dining room. Chefs at The Joint arent afraid to think outside the barbecue plate, with specials like brisket tacos served with crema and salsa verde, and Philly cheesesteaks smothered in Swiss cheese, caramelized onions and sweet sauteed bell peppers. Hearty plates pair well with a rotating selection of beers on tap and daily daiquiri drink specials. The Joint is at 701 Mazant St., in New Orleans. Its open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Like many classic Southern barbecue spots, The Joint is closed Sundays. Known for its rich history and enchanting architecture as well as a few ghostly residents who refuse to fade into the past St. Augustine, Florida, has emerged as the spirited champion of small town charm, according to Southern Living magazine. Each year, readers vote for their favorite small towns in the south and this year, even though its actually a city, St. Augustine bewitched the ballot, claiming the top spot as the best small town in Florida. The Spanish influence is evident throughout St. Augustine, from its architecture to its culture and cuisine. And for a small town, this city has a lot big attractions. Located along Floridas northwest coast, like many coastal communities, St. Augustine offers miles of beautiful beaches for swimming and sun but watch out for pirates. The area has a rich history of pirate activity with legendary figures such as Sir Francis Drake and Robert Searle raiding the city in the 16th and 17th centuries. And the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum is the place to see artifacts and hear stories about the citys colorful past. As the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers and is considered one of the most haunted cities in the country. With numerous reports of supernatural occurrences throughout the citys historic sites and buildings, ghost tours and paranormal experiences are popular attractions. Another crowd pleaser can be found at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. According to legend, in his quest for eternal youth, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon discovered the fountain of youth in St. Augustine. Today, visitors can explore the park and drink from the spring, which is said to have rejuvenating properties. According to legend, the water from this spring can restore youth.Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park Many also come to explore Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the country, constructed by the Spanish in the late 17th century. Others come to see the St. Augustine Lighthouse, built in the 19th century and offering panoramic views of the city and the surrounding coastline. Ariel view of Castillo de San Marcos.Photo courtesy of the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum But one of the most popular activities in St. Augustine, is shopping and dining along the cobblestone paths of St. George Street, a pedestrian only street, lined with historic buildings, shops, restaurants and galleries. St. Augustine Beach Universal Images Group via Getty Heres what Southern Living had to say about St. Augustine: St. Augustine has a long and storied history that can be seen in the citys architecture. Sites like the Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Mose Historic State Park, Colonial Quarter and Ponce De Leons Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park explore that history and invite visitors to learn more about the Ancient Citys rich past. Following years of online petitions, protests and repeated calls for its closure from organizations including World Animal Protection and PETA Floridas Miami Dade County finally made the decision to oust the Miami Seaquarium. On Thursday, Miami Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava issued a notice of lease termination to Eduardo Albor, president of The Dolphin Co., the entity that oversees the 38-acre oceanarium. Citing numerous, unaddressed violations related to animal welfare and facility maintenance, Cava said the company has until March 11 to accept the letter and until April 21 to vacate the property. If the lease termination goes through, it will mark the end of the Miami Seaquarium, which has been in operation under various owners since 1955. MORE: Controversy surrounds Floridas Miami Seaquarium as iconic dolphin, Sundance, dies The Dolphin Co., which owns three other marine parks in Florida, including Gulf World in Panama City Beach, Marineland in St. Augustine and Dolphin Connection in Duck Key also owns the 500 animals that currently live at the Miami Seaquarium and they will be responsible for relocating them. Cava said they are not looking for a new owner to run any future version of the Miami Seaquarium and confirmed the county will not reopen the facility. The land is owned by the Miami Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces department and can only be used for specific purposes, but Cava said its too soon to speculate what its future use will be. In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Cava said, terminating the lease is the best path forward for the safety of the animals as well as the safety of residents and visitors. During the media event, Albor took to social media, claiming he was just outside the mayors office and was barred from attending. Mediia should tell @MayorDaniella that we are outside and anything she haas to say about @MiamiSeaquarium we have the right to hear and be heard. A right neither her nor Jimmy Morales has given us. She should speak in front of us. We deserve it. Waiting outside your office mayor. pic.twitter.com/gBiPWRtDsI Eduardo Albor (@eduardoalbor) March 7, 2024 Not true, according to Cava, who said the briefing was open to everyone. Unfortunately, the tenants have repeatedly fallen short meeting their obligations under this lease, Cava said. From failing to maintain the premises in good condition to failing to demonstrate that they can ensure the safety and wellbeing of the animals under their care and therefore we have come to the inevitable decision to terminate the lease. According to World Animal Protection, since opening in 1955, more than 115 dolphins and whales have died under the venues care. Noting that the seaquarium has been the subject of continuous violations, including decaying animal habitats, lack of veterinary staff and a lack of other experienced staff members, Cava said shes also deeply concerned by the facilitys loss of accreditation. MORE: Floridas Miami Seaquarium loses accreditation amid allegations of animal neglect The countys lease with The Dolphin Co., explicitly requires two certifications to be constantly maintained. The facility recently lost its accreditation with American Humane leaving just the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums accreditation. The current state of the Miami Seaquarium is unsustainable and unsafe, she said. Albor responded late Thursday afternoon in a post to X, writing, @MiamiSeaquarium is open and will remain open. We have a valid lease and @MiamiDadeCounty has to meet their obligations under the lease. We will let the lawyers do their work and a court of law rule. @MayorDaniella it is a shame to hear you keep lying the people. You do not deserve to represent @MiamiDadeCounty. @MiamiSeaquarium is open and will remain open. We have a valid lease and @MiamiDadeCounty has to meet their obligations under the lease. We will let the lawyers do their work and a court of law rule. @MayorDaniella it is a shame to hear you keep lying the people. You do not Eduardo Albor (@eduardoalbor) March 7, 2024 In October 2021, Cava herself asked Miami Dade County Commissioners to approve the lease agreement with The Dolphin Co., advising them that this lease assignment would provide better scrutiny and oversight over the parks operations which she said, had fallen into disrepair under previous ownership. But Cava says, when the county approved the transfer of management to the Dolphin Co., they made it clear that this lease agreement expected greater accountability and oversight of the animals from the new operator. For the last year and a half, representatives from our parks department have made many visits to the seaquarium and have also participated in regular phone calls with staff from the Miami Seaquarium to monitor contractual compliance, Cava said. And these visits have corroborated that the seaquarium has a long and troubling history of repeated, continuous violations of their contractual obligations to keep the property in a good state of repair, maintain animal welfare in accordance with the applicable laws and to comply with the lease. Haiti - FLASH : 400 Kenyan elite soldiers are waiting for American logistics to land in Haiti A first group of elite police composed of 400 Kenyan soldiers is ready to leave for Haiti, however its deployment depends on American logistics and the resources expected by the Kenyan authorities. "The deployment and success of the Mission depends on the necessary resources, including financing, equipment and logistics," explained Martin Kimani, Kenya's Ambassador to the United Nations, after a closed-door meeting held Wednesday by the UN Security Council during which the Haitian crisis was discussed. Kimani thanked the countries that engaged in the mission, while encouraging their timely intervention, "especially given the current emergency". The Ambassador urged the UN Secretariat to ensure that the Trust Fund is flexible and tailored to the needs of the Mission emphasizing "which will operate in a complex and challenging operational environment." The diplomat told the Security Council that the situation in Haiti "has deteriorated alarmingly, moving from a state of emergency to the brink of catastrophic collapse [...] Our worst fears are being realized. But this only makes us more determined to help Haiti and its people." He recalled that the objective of the Multinational Security Support Mission is to help the Haitian National Police restore security in Haiti, so as to allow a safe and conducive environment for the holding of free and fair elections. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41823-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41784-haiti-flash-haiti-and-kenya-signed-the-bilateral-agreement-essential-for-the-deployment-of-the-mission-video.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41561-haiti-flash-president-ruto-affirms-that-the-kenyan-mission-in-haiti-will-take-place.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41545-haiti-politic-china-will-continue-to-support-the-mission-of-kenya.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41527-haiti-flash-the-kenyan-government-appeals-the-high-court-verdict.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41519-haiti-flash-the-high-court-of-nairobi-blocks-the-deployment-of-the-mission-in-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40642-haiti-flash-the-security-council-approves-the-intervention-of-a-multinational-force-in-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41534-haiti-politic-the-united-states-reiterates-its-support-for-the-intervention-mission-in-haiti.html Other links on the international force led by Kenya : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41534-haiti-politic-the-united-states-reiterates-its-support-for-the-intervention-mission-in-haiti.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Social : International Women's Day, message of reflection from Lesly Conde This Tuesday, March 8, 2024, International Women's Day, Lesly Conde Ex-Consul General of Haiti in Chicago (August 2004 - May 2018), delivered, as every year, a message of reflections that we invite you to read and share. Message from Lesly Conde : "Dear compatriots and friends from everywhere, It is a distinct privilege for me to be in your company again this year on the occasion of International Women's Rights Day. It was in 1977 that the United Nations decided to dedicate March 8 of each year to women. International Women's Day therefore offers us the opportunity to appreciate all women on the planet, and to talk about their unique contribution to the advancement of our species. Because of all the roles that she has always played in the existence and survival of the human race in all stages of its evolution, woman deserves to be honored without reservation. She is quite simply an irreplaceable being. There is always strength in its delicacy. Indeed, when we consider all the physical and psychological suffering to which she is subjected from birth because of her gender, we could wonder why she has always preferred to count on the protection of man rather than to enslave him thanks to all the powers she possesses. As her gender gives her attributions and pains that a man could never imagine, we will say that her unusual heroism places her well above man. She is the mother of the human race, and it is thanks to her that our species will continue to exist. However, knowing the man's weaknesses, his vanity and his fragile nature, she accepts his protection, and willingly represents the weaker of the two sexes. However, even in the most advanced societies, the situation of women still leaves much to be desired. The workplace is, in most cases, dominated by men, and sexual harassment is a reality that she must be prepared to face in one form or another, at one point or another in her career. Alongside all these pressures and all the frustrations they generate, there is also the fact that she is always expected to perform equal if not better than that of men. It seems to me that equal pay for equal work should be the norm in any environment. Physical violence against women is a subject as delicate as it is unpleasant. At this point, it is a hideous reality that should not be a taboo subject. There are many women who suffer this kind of horror by remaining silent. They therefore become accomplices in a dangerous situation which will only get worse. Furthermore, this type of violent behavior within a home should never serve as an example to children. The latter will grow and reproduce the reactions they have learned at home. By condemning and, if necessary, punishing those guilty of violence against women in the home, we will build better societies. As for Haitian women, I am one of those who think that they deserve very special consideration, very special respect. In the eyes of all those who know her, she represents an example of self-sufficiency. She is a caring mother, nurse, accountant, diplomat and much more. Our society has always relied on its resilience, its courage, its optimism and its imagination. She is the one who taught us not to be afraid to excel, to always aim high and to never let ourselves sink into discouragement. In closing, I wish you all an excellent International Women's Day. An environment where women flourish is an environment where life is good." See also : Message from Lesly Conde 2024 : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41575-haiti-black-history-month-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41414-haiti-14th-of-the-2010-earthquake-message-from-lesly-conde-video.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41336-haiti-220th-anniversary-of-independence-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html Message from Lesly Conde 2023 : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41316-haiti-social-new-year-s-message-from-lesly-conde-2024.html Message from Lesly Conde 2022 : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38451-haiti-christmas-end-of-year-message-from-lesly-conde.html Message from Lesly Conde 2021 : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35584-haiti-social-wishes-from-lesly-conde-on-the-occasion-of-the-new-year.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Delmas 18 : Unibank branch looted On Wednesday the Unibank bank branch in Delmas 18 was ransacked, vandalized and looted. Port-au-Prince port operations at a standstill Caribbean Port Services S.A, the private company responsible for managing the port of Port-au-Prince, suspended its operations due to looting by heavily armed individuals who stole, among other things, generators, motorcycles, bags of rice, sugar and refrigerated chickensas indicated by Caribbean Port Services S.A in a press release dated March 7, 2024. Delmas : Armed individuals threaten to control the highway Shopkeepers and motorcycle taxi drivers in the town of Delmas say they are worried about armed individuals who are threatening to take control of the highway. French Asylum Hospital ransacked, destroyed and totally looted Heavily armed individuals broke into the premises of the French Asylum Hospital located on rue du Center on March 4th and 5. They totally ransacked, destroyed and looted the various services of this hospital center serving the population for around 130 years, denounces Dr. Jean Venese Joseph Director of the hospital center. The Salomon sub-police station burned The Salomon sub-police station in Bas-Peu-de-Chose was attacked and burned. The police officers assigned to this station had time to leave the scene after investigating the attack. A police vehicle and motorcycles were also set on fire. "Everyone is afraid" dixir Mgr. Mesidor Thursday, March 7, Leroy Mesidor, Metropolitan Archbishop of Port-au-Prince and president of the Conference of Bishops of Haiti, shared his concerns with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)."Everyone is afraid, even religious people. As soon as we go out in Port-au-Prince, we are in danger [...] The gangs go so far as to enter churches to kidnap people. There are parishes closed because the priests had to leave." HL/ HaitiLibre Local legislators and officials seem to be welcoming the recent decision by a Lewis and Clark County district court judge to deny a request from Gov. Greg Gianforte to stay enforcement of a prior order directing him to allow lawmakers the chance to override his veto of a 2023 marijuana tax revenue bill. In a meeting of the Hill County Commission Thursday, Hill County Commissioner Jake Strissel, whos been one of the bills biggest local advocates, said hes been trying to make sure as many local legislators as possible are ready to potentially override the veto. Thats good news there, he said of the Tuesday ruling. Hopefully well get some money for our road department. Im excited. The bill, which allocated tax revenues from marijuana sales to conservation, veterans and county infrastructure programs, was overwhelmingly supported by both Democrats and Republicans during an otherwise very polarized 2023 legislative session, but was unexpectedly vetoed by Gianforte. In addition to the veto being unexpected, it was done in a way that many legislators, including members of Gianfortes own party, said seemed like a deliberate effort to sidestep the chance of his veto being overridden. When a bill is vetoed after the Legislature closes, legislators are given a chance to override the veto via a mail poll, but Gianforte vetoed the bill on the final day of the session just before the Senate adjourned sine die. As the Senate adjourned after the veto took place, with many senators saying the werent aware of the veto before adjourning, legislators werent able to override it, and stakeholders sued on the grounds that this move by Gianforte did not give the Legislature enough time to take an in-session vote. Gianforte has argued that, because the Legislature still was in session when he issued the veto, an out-of-session veto poll cannot take place. Plaintiffs said that the Montana Constitution doesnt consider an instance like this, and asked the court to compel Gianforte to initiate the process to allow the Legislature to potentially override the veto. Judge Mike Menahans refusal to stay enforcement of the order to initiate a mail poll is not a guarantee that lawmakers will be able to override the veto of SB 442, but the overwhelming support from the breadth of the political spectrum suggests it is likely, provided the matter isnt appealed to the Montana Supreme Court. Gianforte can appeal the case to the Montana Supreme Court between now and Mar. 19. Since the ruling, local legislators and officials have reacted positively to the news, with many hoping for the chance to override the veto. Havre Rep. Paul Tuss said the decision is consistent with Montana law, which requires that the Legislature be given a fair chance to weigh in on vetos. It seemed equally clear that the Executive Branch disagreed and was doing everything it could to keep the veto of SB 442 out of the hands of the Legislature a co-equal branch of government that voted overwhelmingly in favor of SB 442, Tuss said in a statement Thursday. He said he continues to support the bill, which will be great for the state and the Havre area. This legislation had strong bipartisan support and, once implemented, will have tremendously positive impacts on infrastructure for rural communities and habitat conservation and access to public lands for all Montanans, he said. Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, said this court battle shouldnt have been necessary, as the bill garnered overwhelming support, and the Legislature should have been given the chance to make that support clear with a proper override process. I sat in on the House committee meeting on this bill, and in four sessions I have not seen a bill with so much support from both sides of the aisle, Tempel said. Senator (Mike) Lang did a great job with a good bill that will do a lot for counties and the State of Montana. Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta., who sponsored the bill and was extremely critical of the veto had not responded to a request for comment by print deadline this morning. Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta., said hes glad the Legislature will be following proper procedure. The way I look at it, agree or disagree with the bill, I believe its a good thing for the legislative process to run its proper course, Knudesn said Thursday. State Sen. Mike Fox, D-Hays, and state representatives Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, and Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, had not responded to a request for comment by print deadline this morning. A Financial Committee meeting for Havre Public Schools will be held Monday, March 11, 2024, from 2-3 p.m. in the Banner Room of Robins School Administration Building. Two or more board members may be present at this meeting. North Central Senior Center March 11-15 Menu Monday, March 11 French toast, links, fruit, dessert Tuesday, March 12 Chicken, ham and Swiss; bun; veggies; dessert Wednesday, March 13 Tater Tot casserole, bread and butter, veggies, dessert Thursday, March 14 Sloppy Joe, bun, macaroni salad, veggies, dessert Friday, March 15 Soup, chefs choice, dessert News from our gift shop: Spring is just around the corner. New items will be added often. Easter items are available new this week. Picture frames, yes we have some. The ice will be melting soon fishing will be good with handmade fishing flies from the gift shop. Puzzles for 50 cents, cards for all occasions for 25 cents. Donations welcome. Gently used knick knacks and yarn would be appreciated. No clothes please. Shop hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lets Color: The North Central Senior Center is hosting a Lets Color Contest. If you are interested in competing for a ticket for congregate or home delivered meals? Submit your picture with your name, address & phone number on the back so no one can see who did the work. Return your work to the North Central Senior Center at 2 Second St. West in Havre. The picture to color is found on the back of the 2024 Reminders. You will find it on the front desk at the North Central Senior Center. Taxes: Call the North Central Senior Center 406-265-5464 to have your name put on the call list to have your Taxes done. Foot clinic: Call 406-265-4776 to set up an appointment for our Foot Clinic. Appointments are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays. Vaccinations and older adults: When fall arrives, many of us know its time to get the annual flu, or influenza, shot. Its also a good time to consider what other vaccines or boosters to get to protect your health. Staying up-to-date on vaccines is especially important for older adults. Our immune system helps the body fight infection, but it gets weaker as we age. Vaccines help to strengthen the immune system. Other vaccines that are important to older adults include COVID-19, pneumonia, shingles, and TDP (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis). The pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for all adults ages 65 and older. It protects against serious infections like pneumonia. TDP booster should be given every 10 years. Be sure to protect yourself by keeping your vaccines up to date. Talk with a health care provider about which ones you need and if they can be taken together. Would you like to be a volunteer at the senior center? Right now we are looking for a volunteer to answer phones at the front desk. We are very thankful for the many volunteers who help us daily and also during our special events. If you have a little extra time, we could sure use your help. We are finding ourselves a little short on volunteers now that we have opened our doors after closing due to the pandemic. If you would like to share your time and talents, please give us a call at 265-5464 to let us know. There are many different volunteer opportunities, maybe one just right for you, give us a call. Commodities: If you are interested in receiving commodities, we still have a few select openings. For commodities there is an income restriction. You can sign up at the senior center, fill out an application and find out if your income falls within the guidelines. Bring income verification and picture ID. If you qualify, you can receive commodities once a month. You do have to come to senior center at 2 Second St. West in Havre to pick them up. Bingo: Come join us for Bingo every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Everyone 18 and older is welcome, fun for all. All of the money is paid out. Pinochle: Come join your friends in playing pinochle Thursdays at 1 p.m. This group welcomes new players all levels and abilities at the senior center. Transportation is now being handled by the North Central Montana Transit. This change seems to be going very well. If you need a ride call 406-265-4762. They would appreciate a 24-hour notice for local rides and a 48-hour notice for Great Falls trips. Scams: Scam calls are still widespread. Text messages and emails are also becoming popular. Do not respond to any of them. Do not even open them, just delete them. Medicare isnt issuing gold cards. Talk to someone in the community before you consider a reverse mortgage. Important phone numbers Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 Tumbleweed Runaway and Family Crisis Program: 259-2558 (local) 1-888-816-4702 (toll free) Friendship Line by Institute on Aging The Friendship Line is both a crisis intervention hotline and a warm-line for non-emergency emotional support calls. It is a 24-hour toll-free line and the only accredited crisis line in the country for people aged 60 years and older, and adults living with disabilities. Toll-Free Line: (800) 971-0016 For those seniors getting frustrated with staying home and needing someone to talk to you can call 1-877-688-3377 for Montanas Warm Line. March activities at North Central Senior Center Tuesday, March 12 Musical performance by Brad Taylor, 10 a.m. to noon Bingo 1-3 p.m., $1 per card, 100% payout Wednesday, March 13 Take Off Pounds Sensibly TOPS 9-10 a.m., weigh-in 8:30-9 a.m. Coffee Club 10-11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 14 Music by Gene Allen and Friends, 10 a.m. to noon Pinochle, 12:30-3 p.m. Friday, March 15 Free blood pressure clinic with Janice Holt, RN Tuesday, March 19 Harp or piano musical performance by Mary Stevens, 10 a.m. to noon Bingo 1-3 p.m., $1 per card, 100% payout Wednesday, March 20 Take Off Pounds Sensibly TOPS 9-10 a.m., weigh-in 8:30-9 a.m. Coffee Club 10-11:30 a.m Thursday, March 21 Pinochle, 12:30-3 p.m. Tuesday, March 26 Musical performance by Brad Taylor, 10 a.m. to noon Bingo 1-3 p.m., $1 per card, 100% payout Wednesday, March 27 Take Off Pounds Sensibly TOPS 9-10 a.m., weigh-in 8:30-9 a.m. Coffee Club 10-11:30 a.m Thursday, March 28 Music by Gene Allen and Friends, 10 a.m. to noon Pinochle, 12:30-3 p.m. To the editor: Help cant wait when emergencies strike not for the family displaced by a disaster, the patient in need of lifesaving blood or the deployed service member alerted to a family crisis at home. Every day, when our neighbors face emergencies like these, they rely on local volunteers, blood donors, financial supporters and community partners who deliver care and hope through Montana Red Cross. Last year alone, we helped more than 560 Montanans impacted by disaster by delivering food, shelter and clothing, and most importantly a shoulder to lean on during a tough time. This March, we are proud to honor these community heroes during Red Cross Month an annual, national celebration started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943 and continued by each U.S. president ever since. If youre looking for a way to give back, join us this month. Visit redcross.org to make a financial donation, schedule an appointment to give blood, become a Red Cross volunteer or take a class to learn lifesaving skills. With a donation on March 27, youll join our 10th annual Giving Day (redcross.org/givingday) to aid families affected by disasters big and small. On behalf of those we serve, we thank everyone who makes our lifesaving mission possible. Jennifer Perez, Harlem Montana Red Cross board member Hilary Clinton warned us in advance against Tucker Carlsons Vladimir Putin interview. Deploying one of her favorite disparaging epithets, useful idiot, against the journalist, Clinton told us he was going to be manipulated by the wily autocrat. Sure enough, as soon as the interview actually posted, every media personality worth a Fox or MSNBC moment chimed in to let us know Carlson had merely channeled the Russian presidents Russian talking points. Next came days of satirical observations on the duped journalists grocery shopping foray in Moscow until, finally, the death of an imprisoned political dissident in Russia offered fresh meat for righteous indignation. Yet despite all of these efforts to make sure nobody got the wrong idea, the pundits missed the most dangerous aspect of that interview. Early on, after one of Carlsons few interruptions, the Russian dictator chided him, Is this a talk show or a serious conversation? The hapless Carlson laughed, and for the next two hours innocent Americans were exposed to the subversive spectacle of a political leader speaking knowledgeably on political issues. The novelty was not lost on YouTube viewers. Predictably, given Carlsons largely conservative audience, many commented on the contrast to the stilted, error prone performances of President Biden on the rare occasions when he meets the press. But Bidens chief rival in the approaching presidential finals, former President Trump, isnt likely to win any debating contests either. Putin developed a logical (if debatable) historical case for Russias claims in Ukraine, starting from the ninth century; Trump cant remember whether Nancy Pelosi or Nikki Haley ruined everything in his fanciful reconstruction of events on Jan. 6, 2021. In defense of American presidents, it is important to remember that they, unlike the Russian dictator, must sometimes contend with reporters who ask questions. The safe course (unless you are Donald Trump, for whom mocking anyone who asks questions is the point) may be to stick to generalizations about free markets and shared prosperity when speaking of economic issues, and to explain all wars as a matter of democracy versus autocracy. Putin, on the other hand, doesnt have to worry about speaking definitively enough to be caught in error since, on his home ground, anyone inclined to point out a presidential goof risks silencing, jail or death. Still, it might be nice sometimes to hear more of our own presidents thoughts. And we have had presidents with interesting thoughts. Presidents as different as Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter offered insightful interviews on American policy in Israel, for example after they were no longer in office shaping that policy. Its fascinating to hear Nixon explain that Israel is not of major strategic interest to the United States, or to hear Carter tell Amy Goodman on Democracy Now that, in some ways, the Israeli version of apartheid is worse than the old South African variety. Too bad, neither cared to say as much to us while he was actually making decisions to bind the fate of this country to Israels. When you think of it, there is no shortage of topics for a presidential conversation that might interest Americans at least as much as anything a Russian dictator might say. For starters: Why is it, Mr. President, that we Americans spend twice as much as people anywhere else in the world trying to stay alive but die sooner? Does it have anything to do with the fact that everybody else, from nice Canadians to commie Cubans gets some kind of guaranteed health care, and we dont? Do all those insurance, pharmaceutical, hospital association, medical equipment lobbyists schmoozing the people we sent to Congress have anything to do with why we pay so much and get not enough health care? Or the president might take up the kind of specific foreign policy issue Putin lectured Carlson on. It shouldnt be that hard to challenge Putins version of the world. For example, Putin seems to think the only possible alternatives for Ukraine are infestation by Nazis or pacification by Russia. Just the other day Senator (and one time presidential contender) Mitt Romney provided the perfect opening when he proclaimed a vote on more weapons for Ukraine the most important vote we will ever take as United States senators. While the polls indicate that a lot of Americans are not convinced sending more weapons to Ukraine is the most important thing our senators could ever do for us, maybe the president, who is asking for those weapons can explain. It would be good of you, Mr. President to explain how a country described by your former boss, Barack Obama, as a core interest of Russia, but not of the United States has become central to the most important vote ever. Wed also like to know, since it was vital to send more weapons last year when Ukraine was advancing, and vital this year, when it appears to be in retreat, if more weapons for Ukraine ever wont be the most important thing. And we cant help remembering that President Obama refused to arm up Ukraine back when Russia grabbed Crimea almost ten years ago because, Ukraine is going to be vulnerable to military domination by Russia no matter what. We really do have a lot to talk about, Mr. President. Will Rawn of Havre is a retired Montana State University-Northern professor. In the dry and dusty country of Senegal, the empowering women of the Saloum Corn Producers Association celebrate their harvesting achievements in a Passing on the Gift ceremony. The associations members, including Ramata Niass, give away seeds from their harvests, at no cost, to other women farmers. Ramata and other members previously experienced difficulties obtaining high-quality seeds. Because of the generosity of someone like you, 2,500 female farmers now have the agricultural knowledge and support to live sustainably and put food on their tables. As the Wolof saying goes, Strength is in unity, and what one can do, two can do better. This is true for us, Ramata said. READ THEIR STORY Lindstrom stated that there have been all sorts of discussions about extending the strikes but stopped short of committing to continuing them until the government has revised its labour market reforms. THE CENTRAL ORGANISATION of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) has had discussions about extending the newly announced strikes beyond their two-week duration, Rami Lindstrom , the head of labour market affairs at SAK, said on YLE A-talk on Thursday. Lets just say that weve naturally got all sorts of messages. From different unions, the membership, the field, employees, weve got messages that now is the time to push back, he said. Lindstrom added that the pressure to continue opposing the government plans is enormous due to the fundamental significance of the question at hand: the very future of the organised labour market in Finland. Thats what this is about. Promoting local bargaining undermines organisation and general applicability. Thats a foundational question, he said. SAK on Wednesday announced a series of political strikes that are expected to halt goods transport at ports, disrupt rail freight services and complicate the operations of process industries for the period between Monday, 11 March, and Sunday, 24 March. Its strategy appears to be to apply pressure especially to the executives of large companies in hope that they will convince the government to abandon its proposals. Among the unions participating are the Finnish Industrial Union, Finnish Construction Trade Union, Finnish Transport Workers Union (AKT), Service Union United and Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL). Helsingin Sanomat on Thursday reported that AKT at least is prepared to continue the strikes for another two weeks, until 7 April. Chairperson Ismo Kokko told YLE, though, that while there is readiness to extend the strike, no such plans have yet been drawn up. The Finnish Industrial Union on Wednesday warned that the two-week strikes alone could cause fuel shortages at airports and service stations, given that their targets include the distribution terminals of Neste in Naantali and Porvoo. Harri Tuomaala, the head of ABC at SOK, told Helsingin Sanomat that yesterday was busier than usual at service stations, with sales volumes reaching the level before winter holidays. The day hasnt been unusual, but busier than the average Thursday, he described in an interview with the newspaper. Finland wont run out of fuels. Based on the current situation, well be able to continue operating as usual. The current scenario is not that therell definitely be problems, but we also cant say there wont be any disruptions, added Tuomaala. Vesa Jaskari, the chairperson of Neste Kauppiaat, revealed to the newspaper that queues did build up at service stations in cities as many motorists filled up their tanks to the brim and some even fuel canisters. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) will sit down with labour market representatives today at his official residence to discuss ways to develop the labour market model in Finland. Helsingin Sanomat wrote earlier this week that the premier is looking to resume tripartite discussions on wage formulation. Aleksi Teivainen HT MAMA RAY FANDOM: TikTok 600k, Instagram 378k, Facebook 41k Kinsley Boyette shows Charlotte the ray. Although Charlotte still has not delivered the baby rays, the world is watching and waiting along with Brenda BJ Ramer and the workers and volunteers at Team ECCO. Ramer and the team have been interviewed by news outlets from Brazil, Austria, Poland, New Zealand, France, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Emirates, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Canada, the UK, Colombia, Argentina and India, she told the Hendersonville City Council in an update Thursday night. We have brought in 378,000 Instagram followers who are coming down and spending money in our community, she said. Sixty-four percent of those are from the United States, 7 percent from Brazil. I'm learning a new language through all on this because I have to keep hitting translate when they send me messages, she said. Charlotte has 600,000 TikTok followers and 2.3 million likes, and 41,000 Facebook followers and 26,000 likes. Open 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 12:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, the aquarium has been attracting 180 people a day, many of them waiting in a line that snakes in front of several Main Street storefronts. Ramer checked with city administrators and the police chief to make sure that we're not clogging anything up on Main Street, but everybody has been very receptive of having such an influx of people downtown. Forty-five high schools have asked ECCO to do presentations on this phenomenon called parthenogenesis, where Charlotte basically is creating a clone of herself, Ramer said. We've done two late night shows, which I'm sure most people have seen. We didn't do them. They did them about us. We've done dozens of newspapers, magazines, the social media, we were even in Forbes magazine, of all places, and Scientific America. We've done CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, NatGeo. And I had a group of teachers last weekend that came down from New York City to meet her and then talk to me about how can we get a curriculum to put into their schools on basic biology. The media inquiries and public interest is so overwhelming, Ramer had to hire help to field calls and organize responses. Charlotte does have her own consulting firm working for her no lie because I don't know how I would have handled this, she said. Once a modest collection of fish tanks that prided itself on bringing the ocean to the mountains, the Team ECCO aquairum, at least for now, has drawn the eyes of the world. I appreciate the fact that people let us have this crazy dream, Ramer said. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that it would have gone like it did when we invited WLOS and people to come down and say Hey, we're gonna announce this pregnancy. Everyone who visits, from across town to across the globe, has become part of Charlottes story. We are doing things that other aquariums around the world are not doing, and we are writing a book, she said. This town and everyone that comes to visit the aquarium are helping write science history. During the wait for Charlotte to deliver, Team ECCO formed a partnership with renowned marine scientists to test the baby ray. This is the first and only known occurrence of parthenogenesis happening in a California round ray in captivity, she said. We are working with the Field Museum in Chicago. They did all of our shark partho studies, and they already have the baseline for the genotyping for this when she gives birth. So we will be sending our stuff to the Chicago Field Museum and working with the lab there. She and Kinsley Boyette, the aquariums assistant director, plan to travel to Chicago to see the results when the museum tests the baby rays DNA. When they hit the button that says these are the results, weve gotta be there, Ramer said. Mayor Barbara Volk thanked Ramer for the uplifting report. There's so many bad things going on in the world, its nice to have a positive, fun thing happening, especially in our town, said Mayor Barbara Volk. Ramer and her team had come to believe that, too. Covid ripped everybody apart a few years ago and this little stingrays brought everybody back together, she said before excusing herself to go back to her 24-7 maternity watch. It's given people a purpose to look for something happy. VILLAGERS have urged an energy company to fix a problem which has caused nearly 20 power cuts in two months. Eye and Dunsden Parish Council has written to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks on behalf of residents of Sonning Eye who have suffered outages and low voltage issues since January 2. The letter has been signed by 36 residents, many of whom say the outages have affected their ability to work from home. The hamlet, which is located on the river between Playhatch and Sonning, has suffered power cuts on 13 different days. There have also been issues with low voltage and power surges, which have affected appliances, dimmer switches and lights. The council said the frequency of power cuts had increased following an electrical fire outside Barn House in early January. In its letter, the council says: The inconsistency in power supply has caused personal difficulties for all residents and has also had an economic impact on local businesses as well as seriously impacting on the productivity of residents working from home. Due to flooding issues in the village, a number of residents are reliant on electricity-powered pumps to clear floodwater from their properties. The constant disruptions to power supply have impeded this pumping process for many residents. This area of the parish has several vulnerable residents and we must all remain mindful of their needs. It is vital that a permanent fix is made now and the full situation clearly clarified to residents. Martin Hiscox, who runs a private equity consultancy from home, said: This has been ongoing for weeks and it has caused quite significant pain for us and our neighbours. We run a consultancy and we need power to run the computers. The cuts are unpredictable and can last anywhere from two to six hours and then all the computers take time to get up and running again. SSEN has been out a myriad of times and fixed it and then it has broken again. The council said it was told that a permanent fix was put in place on February 9 but the next day several residents reported flickering lights and/or tripped switches in fuse boards due to low voltage. This was followed by three more power cuts between February 20 and 25. The council said: We understand that adverse weather conditions impacted electricity supplies nationwide in December and January. However, what is concerning is the ongoing nature of the issues with the latest ones occurring after what had been said to be a permanent repair. The letter also raised the lack of consistency in advice from SSEN. It said: Many individual staff have been exceptionally helpful and sympathetic but what is needed is a wholesale review of the infrastructure in the area otherwise it does not appear that the issue will be fixed. The council has requested that SSEN provides a written explanation of how each power cut since December has been caused as well as a clear and consistent statement of what compensation is due to residents. It says that if the situation is not resolved satisfactorily within two months the council will complain to the energy ombudsman. Council David Woodward said that since the letter was sent the village had suffered more power cuts. He said the company had returned to carry out work by the French Horn and had offered to have a meeting with those affected. A SSEN spokeswoman said: Following extensive flooding in Sonning Eye in January, which damaged an electrical link box, engineers have been working hard to repair this. They located two further faults, which have now also been repaired. She said staff had visited customers and provided welfare. A final check was made on Monday and no issues were raised. She added: SSEN has been in contact with the parish council to regularly update on the work being done to address the faults. We thank customers for their patience. Friday March 8, 2024 Ethiopia is considering scrapping a plan to recognize the breakaway state of Somaliland, amid international pressure to defuse regional tensions over the proposal, according to people familiar with the matter. Landlocked Ethiopia signed an initial agreement with Somaliland in January that would make it the first nation to recognize the sovereignty of the semi-autonomous region of Somalia, in return for 50 years of access to the Gulf of Aden. The accord triggered an uproar in neighboring countries, with Somalia saying it would defend its territorial integrity and Egypt and other nations urging caution. advertisements Ethiopian officials privately told foreign officials that the country may be willing to drop its recognition of Somaliland, according to five foreign officials who were briefed on Addis Ababas stance. Ruto also raised the matter in a meeting with Somalian President Hassan Sheikh, who was visiting Kenya at the same time as Abiy. Ruto told Bloomberg in an interview in January that his administration was trying to persuade Ethiopia to consider other options beyond its demand for a port, though its unclear what those options are. Ethiopia has yet to officially pull back from the deal with Somaliland, and Abiy remains keen on achieving his objective of attaining direct access to the coast, the people said. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 after the eruption of a civil war. Since then, its been pushing for international recognition that would allow it to source foreign funding and aid. The deal with Ethiopia long desperate for greater sea access would take it a small step closer to achieving that aim. Neighboring countries and some of Ethiopias biggest donors have expressed concern that the deal which Somalia has said is illegal and would represent an annexation of its territory may spark conflict in an already volatile region. Molly Phee, the US assistant secretary of state for African affairs, told reporters on a call last month that Ethiopia should seek a deal providing it with sea access with the federal authorities in Mogadishu and not officials in Somaliland. The US and United Nations have also said the agreement may allow the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab to exploit the situation for its recruitment. The region can ill afford more conflict, Phee said. Ethiopian, Kenyan and Somali government spokespeople didnt respond to questions about the current status of the Somaliland agreement. Mustafa Ahmed, ambassador-at-large for the Somaliland government, said his state and Ethiopia remain committed to advancing the MoU into a final bilateral treaty. Ethiopian access to the sea rests on them making a formal re-recognition of the State of Somaliland based on its 1960s borders and status, he added. What drew you to write a novel based on the Bronte sisters and Branwell? Author Karen Powell (Courtesy the subject) Wuthering Heights was the first adult novel I ever read, given to me by my mother from her precious set of Collectors Editions that sat on the mantelpiece in our family home. After that, I read Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre and then, over the next few years, books by Anne Bronte and Jane Austen. So, long before I ever thought of myself as a writer, the Brontes and the 19th century novel were part of my DNA. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. I began writing in my early thirties, about the same time that I moved to Yorkshire. I now lived within travelling distance of the Bronte Parsonage Museum once the Bronte family home at Haworth, in the South Pennines. The setting of the house is incredibly atmospheric, situated at the top of the steep village with wild moorland rising directly behind, and the museum is so wonderfully curated that you might imagine the family had just stepped out for a walk, or to attend a service at the church where the Reverend Patrick Bronte, the childrens father, preached; that Emily and her siblings might wander back in at any moment. I found myself drawn to Haworth over and over again, my fascination with the lives lived within the walls of the parsonage growing. How was it possible, I wondered, that some of the most remarkable novels in the English language came to be written in this remote village far from London literary circles, in this little dining room overlooking the windswept graveyard and the church; in secret. Why did you particularly choose to write in Emilys voice? From the very beginning, I was enthralled by Emilys only novel, mesmerized by the punishing landscape and the half-savage, ungovernable characters that inhabit the pages of Wuthering Heights. At 13, Id never read anything like it, still havent, though it is now some decades since my mother first put the book into my hands. When I finished the novel, I turned back to the beginning to read the Introduction. I learned that Emily Bronte was the daughter of an Anglican clergyman, that she lived almost all of life in isolated Haworth before her death at the age of 30. Emily never married or had any known romantic connections. Reserved to the point of silence in company, she had no friendships and barely mixed outside of her own family. Even as a teenager I sensed an intriguing disconnect between that sequestered existence and a novel so passionate and shocking that it scandalized Victorian society, and still has the power to shock even today. I love the work of all three sisters but feel emotionally drawn to Emilys untamed spirit, intrigued too by the apparent gaps in the narrative of her life. What kind of research did you do for the book? I reread all the novels, immersed myself too in Emilys wonderful poetry, then spent many months absorbing information about the family and the period from the wealth of biographical texts available. I made notes, drew up a timeline of their respective movements, questioned certain interpretations of events. At an early stage it became clear that much of what we know about the Brontes comes through the prism of Charlotte, Emilys elder sister. Charlotte was a prolific letter writer and formed friendships beyond the family. She was the only one of the siblings to move in literary circles too, which resulted in Elizabeth Gaskells somewhat sensationalized Life of Charlotte Bronte (Mrs Gaskell was a novelist after all!). I needed to strip Charlottes voice from the narrative, to turn down the volume on the other chatter in the room and attune myself to Emilys austere, uncompromising, sometimes imperious, occasionally playful voice. What is it about Wuthering Heights that you feel made it a successful work for its time? Wuthering Heights is a novel that reads differently at different points in our lives. Many of us first discover the book in our teenage years, an intense and tumultuous time when a story of wild passions has a particular resonance. The disregard for authority or convention is appealing too even the good characters in the book are unbiddable, do exactly as they please with no regard for the consequences. As adults, we are often shocked by the novels violence, the death wish obsessions of the protagonists. The inhabitants of Wuthering Heights threaten one another with knives and lock family members in rooms. They mistreat children and animals, curse one another, dig up the dead and call it love. Its not a love story, we say, shaking our heads in wonder at our teenage selves, who once thought otherwise. I can find no sense, though, that Emily Bronte, clergymans daughter, is inviting us to make a moral judgement. She simply wrote about the place she loved so passionately, and then peopled it with the kind of creatures, who might inhabit such a land. Here we are, her characters seem to say. The Earnshaw family emanate directly from that bleak landscape, even the adopted orphan Heathcliff, though he arrives ostensibly from Liverpool. They rise up from the peat and the boggy ground until it reclaims them; are as immoral as a stony outcrop, a stretch of windswept moorland. We know Emily was a walker and she captured the landscape, the moors, the rivers so well in Wuthering Heights. Tell us about capturing the essence of Yorkshire, the sense of that place in the north of England, in your book. When I moved to Yorkshire, I was immediately entranced by the vast and rugged landscapes of the north. Id grown up in southeast England where the countryside is soft, pretty, ordered, a land of hops and hedgerows and oast houses, with dwarf apple and cherry trees planted in neat rows in the fields. Even then, I lived in the suburbs, had no real notion then of how to access the countryside, made do instead with the pockets of wildness that children seek out wherever they live. The moors that surround Emilys home were her lifeblood, to the extent that she suffered breakdowns almost every time she had to leave Haworth. The terrain in that part of the county is quite different from the Yorkshire Dales, or even the North York Moors. It is a land of peat and heather and bog, no life higher than the grasstops, or the hearts of sheep, as Sylvia Plath put it. I spent many hours walking in Emilys footsteps on the moorland above Haworth, in different seasons and in all weathers. I wanted to learn the landscape for myself, to note which wildflowers were in bloom, listen for bird calls, feel that waterlogged, peaty soil give beneath my boots. Much of Fifteen Wild Decembers was written in the pandemic though. Never knowing when I might next be able to visit, I made copious notes and took hundreds of photos. The Ordnance Survey map I used at home to plan Emilys walks began to fall apart along the folds. 300pp, 885; Europa Editions What was the biggest challenge in attempting to novelise an artists life, and their relationship with their family members (in this case the sisters and the brother), keeping in mind their intellectual development as they grow up together? When writing about the life of any historical figure, there comes a point where a novelist must choose the line they wish to take. With Emily, this became about silence and the power of the imagination. I wondered how it might feel to live in a world that places no value on your extraordinary inner world, what happens to words when they arent used; the force behind those tamped-down expressions of self when they finally surface. A necessary part of this is discarding other possible approaches, or at least drawing attention from them. It can be difficult to jettison months of research to lighten the narrative load, but you learn to be ruthless. I also had to remind myself to stay in the moment. When the young Bronte children played with Branwells set of toy soldiers they could not know that the stories they invented would affect the rest of their lives, at times to the point of sickness. Like other children they would have argued with their siblings, changed the rules to suit themselves, or wandered off halfway through a game. Likewise, when Emily, Charlotte and Anne sat down to write their novels, they had no inkling that their works would one day be famous across the world. In fact, they were in desperate straits. Branwell, once the hope of the family, had become addicted to alcohol and laudanum, while Charlotte was distraught with unrequited love for her old school master. The Reverend Bronte was ageing and going blind, and on his death the Parsonage would revert to the church governors, leaving the family homeless. To escape the misery of working away from home as teachers or governesses, the sisters had attempted to set up at school of their own but failed to attract a single pupil. When they paid to have a collection of their poetry published, it sold just two copies. So, the novels were written in desperation, delusion even, in secret too, a last-ditch attempt to ward off poverty and the kind of work the sisters found unbearable. When writing about this period of their lives, I needed to convey the fact that the parsonage was not some sort of idyllic writing retreat tucked beneath the moors, but a place where seismic emotions and fervid hopes and fears were at play, all beneath the roof of that small house. Arunima Mazumdar is an independent writer. She is @sermoninstone on Twitter and @sermonsinstone on Instagram. . Women inspire others by building bonds and sharing their stories, encouraging daughters, sisters, and friends alike to chase their dreams fearlessly and fight for what they believe in. So, this International Womens Day, Vistara brought us #SheDoesItAll a campaign that celebrates the strength, and resilience of women. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Women make for a major part of Vistaras workforce, 44% to be precise, a number that continues to grow and soar. These incredible women are the very embodiment of empowerment as pilots, cabin crew, engineers, ground services, security and much more. By embracing their inner power to make a difference, navigating through hurdles and shattering barriers, women are inspiring not just other women but countless men in their own circles and beyond. To pay homage to this message, Indias best airline- Vistara released a film featuring women from their staff, as they get ready to go out and do what they do best- lead by example. The film effortlessly captures the nuance of how women inspire many others around them, including the next generation in small but powerful ways, thereby creating a chain effect of empowerment. As it spreads from one woman to another, it will indeed shape a future where empowered women unite, uplift, and inspire generations to follow. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. The highly anticipated release of "Mahayogi Highway 1 to Oneness" on March 8th, coinciding with Maha Shivaratri, has been postponed due to unforeseen challenges arising. Rajan Luthra, the director, is deeply impacted by this development. This project is his life's work, envisioned to catalyze profound change, nurturing unity, and fostering oneness within humanity. Rajan, who also portrays the role of the Mahayogi in the film, delivers a powerful message of peace through his soul-stirring song, I Wanna See the Oneness... Stop the War. Despite these setbacks, Rajan remains unwavering in his belief in the film's vision, undeterred by the current state of affairs in India and globally. Despite this setback, the team remains committed to spreading the film's message of unity across India, utilizing various platforms including radio, news outlets, and their own OTT platform, Onedollar.media. You can watch the movie song via this link https://youtu.be/IDvn2aqBkGE?feature=shared Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Rajan Luthra, Director Director Rajan Luthra's labor of love, "Mahayogi Highway 1 to Oneness," the culmination of 12 years of meticulous craftsmanship, promises to enthrall audiences with its profound exploration of spirituality and interconnectedness. Reflecting on the film's journey, Rajan shared, I embarked on this 12-year odyssey with a vision to inspire unity and harmony through cinema. 'Mahayogi Highway 1 to Oneness' stands as a testament to the transformative power of storytelling. While the release in India is now scheduled for April 17th, 2024, coinciding with the auspicious celebration of Ram Navami, the film will also have a limited release in select states of America on March 8th, 2024. "Mahayogi Highway 1 to Oneness" promises an unparalleled cinematic experience, inviting viewers on a transformative journey towards unity and enlightenment. Rajan decided to share his profound message and vision of his artistry with prominent figures of the country on MahaShivratri day to seek support and blessings for this significant project. For the latest updates and additional information, please visit onedollar.media. For sponsorship, branding partnerships, and future collaboration opportunities in India and America, kindly visit www.Mahayogi.one and contact Info@Trilocfilms.com. Phone: +91-959951184 Disclaimer: This article is a promotional feature and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Shark Tank India Season 3: A Chennai man claimed that he was not allowed to pitch on Shark Tank India because he is not fluent in Hindi. Chennai-based entrepreneur Karthik Manikonda said that he was selected for the show but not allowed to pitch in front of the Sharks (judges) on the show. Shark Tank India 3: Karthik Manikonda is seen. Karthik Manikonda is the founder of The Mind and Company, a mental health startup. In a LinkedIn post, he claimed that Shark Tank India only allows participants who are fluent in Hindi and his proposal was denied by the showmakers as he wanted to pitch in English. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. He wrote, "The Mind and Company was selected for Shark Tank India, but was not allowed to pitch to the Sharks. Reason: I am not fluent in Hindi Its a Hindi show. Its a national show. I proposed to allow me to pitch in English. And I hear a Big NO. Had they told me other reasons like - Your scale is not big or- This industry is too niche or- You are not investment ready etc I would have accepted. But I cant pitch in non Hindi language was a bummer. I don't blame Shark Tank. They have a format. They have to protect that. But regional startups shouldn't lose out due to the language barriers, he added. Calling for a solution to the problem, he said that regional startups should not lose out because of language barriers. He also suggested that real-time translation by AI can be a possible solution. Disappointed, but not out, he concluded his post by asserting. Shark Tank India is currently in its third season in which panel of investors includes Anupam Mittal, Peyush Bansal, Namita Thapar, among others. The United Nations food agency's world price index fell in February for a seventh consecutive month as lower prices for all major cereals more than offset the rising price of sugar and meat. Delegates deliver their speeches during the launch of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.(AP) Read more: Goldman Sachs says it will exit Japan transaction banking The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 117.3 points in February, down from a revised 118.2 points the previous month, the agency said on Friday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The February reading was the lowest since February 2021. The BJP on Thursday accused the Congress of "treachery" as it showed pictures in which senior leaders of the opposition party, including Rahul Gandhi, are purportedly seen with a person arrested for allegedly raising 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan on Karnataka Assembly premises. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia. Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia fired the fresh salvo over the February 27 incident in the Congress-ruled state, saying it was an insult to Kannadigas and every Indian. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. READ | Are you there to help Pakistan?: JP Nadda tears into Karnataka government over slogan row Noting that Congress leaders initially denied that such a slogan was raised and instead targeted the BJP for raising the issue, Bhatia demanded that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and its senior leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi acknowledge their party's mistake and apologise. The slogan was raised by some supporters of Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain after his victory in the Rajya Sabha elections. While democracy is getting stronger under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, "it will not be wrong to say that the opposition is being cunning and doing treachery", he said in an attack on the Congress. READ | BJP worker arrested for Pak zindabad slogan in Dec 2022 in Karnatakas Mandya The BJP leader showed pictures of one accused with different Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi. He also highlighted photographs of another accused with state Congress leaders. Three persons were arrested for allegedly raising the 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan in the Vidhana Soudha corridors on February 27. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered an investigation by government-run Forensic Science Laboratory to check the veracity of the allegations. Based on the FSL report, the police arrested the three persons. READ | Rahul Gandhi's close aides arrested for raising 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans inside Vidhana Soudha: Karnataka BJP The Karnataka government acted under pressure after the BJP raised the issue, Bhatia claimed. He also took a swipe at some "fact-checkers" for rejecting the BJP's allegation. Rahul Gandhi is seen "hugging" one of the accused, he said, claiming that the opposition party is now seeking to draw its sustenance from Pakistan. The BJP's resolve is to develop India and stamp out terrorism but the Congress is concerned solely about coming to power even if it has to express its love for Pakistan and those who are anti-national, he alleged. People will give Modi a historic mandate for a third term in government, he asserted. Ahead of the Lok Sabha election, Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party will win 24 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. BS Yediyurappa (ANI)(HT_PRINT) "Yesterday, Amit Shah, the party's national president JP Nadda and I have discussed all the Lok Sabha constituencies (of Karnataka) but so far nothing has been finalised. I think they may discuss this with the PM after that they'll come to some conclusion and in 2-3 days everything will be finalised...I am 100% confident that we are going to win 24 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats. We are putting all our efforts," said Former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. ALSO READ | Kharge's son-in-law emerges as front-runner for Gulbarga seat as Cong Prez focuses on national pitch On Wednesday, the BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) met to decide on the candidates for the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. The BJP had came out with its first list of 195 candidates across 16 States and Union Territories on March 2. In the 2019 general elections, the BJP had won 25 out of the 28 seats. The Congress and the JD(S), headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, which fought the Lok Sabha elections together and both parties won only one seat each. The remaining seat was won by an independent candidate. ALSO READ | BJP asks Kharge, Gandhis to apologise over pro-Pak slogan on Karnataka assembly premises Meanwhile, the Congress party's central election committee is also holding a meeting on March 7 in New Delhi, where it will finalise the first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha election in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said in Bengaluru on Tuesday. "We will have our final central election committee meeting on March 7. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and I are going to Delhi on March 7 where we will finalise the (first) list of candidates," he said. ALSO READ | Karnataka BJP may field ex-CMs Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai in LS polls Both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had held a meeting with the Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, on Monday. The Congress had scored a thumping victory in Assembly elections held in May 2023. The Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May this year. The chairman and managing director of a pharmaceutical company has been arrested from Bengaluru for allegedly defrauding an investor of 70 crore six years ago, Noida police said on Thursday. The accused has been booked under various sections of the IPC, including cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, criminal intimidation and party to criminal conspiracy. (iStock) The pharma company has offices in Dubai and Chennai while the investor, a Delhi resident, runs a firm in Noida's Sector 18. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. ALSO READ | Going to win 24 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats: Former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa Shakir Hussain alleged that he was tricked into investing money into Novo Health Care in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and was shown forged balance sheets of the company by the accused, Ramani Kalpati Ramachandran Venkata, a native of Chennai, according to the FIR. On December 5, 2023, Hussain lodged a complaint at Sector 20 police station alleging that the accused duped him of 70 crore on the pretext of investment in his company, a police spokesperson said. ALSO READ | Bengaluru water crisis: Karnataka bans use of drinking water to wash cars, maintain gardens; sets 5,000 fine "On the basis of the complaint, an FIR was registered in the case and the matter was investigated. On Wednesday, with the help of electronic surveillance and technical evidence, Venkata was held from Bengaluru (Karnataka)," the spokesperson said. Venkata has been booked under sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 467, 468 and 471 (all related to forgery), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120B (party to criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), police said. ALSO READ | Kharge's son-in-law emerges as front-runner for Gulbarga seat as Cong Prez focuses on national pitch Further investigation and legal proceedings are underway in the case, in which some others are also involved, they said. Four persons, including a member of Lawrence Bishnoi gang, were arrested by Mohali police in differentcases, said deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Mohit Agarwal on Thursday. DSP Mohit Agarwal addressing press conference at Mataur police station in Mohali on Thursday. (Keshav Singh/HT) Police had recovered four illegal weapons from the accused, who according to police, were planning criminal activities in Mohali, he added. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In the first case, a close associate of gangster Deepak Banur, a key member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, was arrested by a team led by inspector Sukhbir Singh, station house officer, Phase 1 police station. A .32-bore pistol and a .315-bore country-made pistol, along with four live cartridges, a bullet shell and a magazine, were recovered from the accused identified as Aman Kumar, 22, of Zirakpur. Inspired by gangster Deepak Banur, Kumar also has a tattoo of his face on his arm, the DSP said. According to police sources, Kumar had used his country-made weapon as a bullet shell was recovered from him. It is clear by the bullet shell that he fired somewhere. We will investigate that soon. He is a notorious element and majorly inspired by Deepak Banur who is already lodged in Model Jail in Chandigarh. Kumar was here to commit a crime, but we are yet to ascertain his target and plans, an officer said. DSP Agarwal said Kumar was earlier arrested by the Sector 34 police under the Arms Act and had recently come out of jail. He has now been booked under the Arms Act at the Phase 1 police station. In the second case, three men, identified as Navdeep Singh, Satnam Singh and Arshveer, all from Rajasthan, were nabbed with two country made pistols, along with five live cartridges and a small sharpened knife (kirch), the police said. They were arrested by the Mataur police, led by station house officer inspector Gabbar Singh. A Mahindra XUV 500, bearing a Chandigarh number (CH-01-BC-0545) was also recovered from them. The accused, according to DSP Agarwal, had reached here after committing a crime in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. While Navdeep was previously booked in four criminal cases in Sri Ganganagar, Satnam Singh was nominated in one. A fresh case under the Arms Act has been registered at the Mataur police station. Police are investigating their associations with any gang. With their arrest, we have been able to prevent both the modules from striking here. The trio escaped after firing in Sri Ganganagar recently. We got a tip-off regarding the same following which they were nabbed here, DSP added. Police have arrested three youths for stealing gold jewellery worth around 54 lakh from the house of a Panjab University (PU) faculty member in Sector 37 on Tuesday. Chandigarh Police said the accused were drug addicts and involved in multiple cases of burglaries and thefts, including at a temple. (iStock) The accused have been identified as Tarun, Vickey and Dalip, all from Sector 49. Police said they stole around 70 tolas of gold jewellery from the house of professor Tirthankar, adding that the jewellery had been recovered. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A team led by DSP (South-West) Charanjit Singh Virk and Sector 39 SHO inspector Narinder Patial arrested them. Police said the accused were drug addicts and involved in multiple cases of burglaries and thefts, including at a temple. All three are school dropouts, and aged between 18 and 20. Police on Thursday booked four persons for allegedly duping a Mauli village resident of 12.30 lakh. A case under sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and 24 of the Immigration Act was registered at the Raipur Rani police station, Panchkula. (iStock) The accused have been identified as Pankaj of Kakrali village, Vicky of Mulana village, Baljinder of Ambala and Azad of Kurukshetra. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In his complaint, Shainkee Kumar of Mauli village, Panchkula, told the police that he was looking for an agent to arrange for a tourist visa to America. He came in contact with Pankaj, who introduced him to Vicky. Vicky told him that his cousin Baljinder is an immigration consultant and he can help him get the visa. The deal was struck for 38 lakh and the money was to be paid in cash, Kumar added. The victim added that he was told that the main agent, Azad, operates from Dubai. The accused gave him a visa and ticket to Dubai for April 22, 2023, and told him that he would have to stay in Dubai from where he would be sent to America. But on October 3, 2023, he was sent to Armenia instead where he was assaulted and was asked to pay 38 lakh. He then somehow managed to return to India on December 9, 2023, and in the process lost 12.30 lakh. A case under sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) of the IPC and 24 of the Immigration Act was registered at the Raipur Rani police station. Fissures in the Peoples Alliance of Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an amalgam of Jammu and Kashmir political parties, were laid bare, with Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti accusing the National Conference of reducing the alliance to a joke. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said NC had reduced the Gupkar alliance to a joke. (HT File) The statement came amid disagreement over the seat sharing arrangement for upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Read here: Omar Abdullah says he 'would have never joined INDIA' in a jibe at Mehbooba Mufti's PDP Addressing a press conference at the party office here, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti said the National Conferences decision was disappointing Omar (Abdullah) has himself said that the PDP is out of the alliance. You can see who has broken the alliance. We did not. This was a unique alliance, it is disappointing to see it shattered. They have reduced PAGD to a joke, Mufti said. The NC had earlier announced the party would contest all the three seats in the Kashmir valley and asked the Congress to contest on two seats in the Jammu region. The party also said there would be a consensus candidate of NC and Congress on the Ladakh seat. Reacting to the development, Mufti said had the NC consulted them, her party, which was eyeing a seat from the Valley, would have left it for them. I am disappointed because Farooq Abdullah used to discuss every small issue with us. Today, they took such a big decision saying that PDP figures nowhere in the alliance. Had Farooq Abdullah asked us to leave seats, for unity we could have sacrificed the seats, she said, dubbing the decision a big setback for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She lamented the unilateral decision, saying, On NCs request we contested DDC polls jointly. Many leaders left us because we could not accommodate them. For the larger cause, we stayed united. In a jibe at the NC, the leader said the alliances own leaders are weakening it, adding, I am a fighter, but I never imagined that we will be fighting each other. Our opponent is strong and has turned Jammu and Kashmir into a prison. But NCs decision today has changed the goal post. Mehbooba said that she will gauge the public sentiment before making a move, while maintaining that PDP was still a part of the opposition INDIA bloc. No room for party that finishes third: Omar NC vice-president Omar Abdullah in an earlier media interaction at the party headquarters said there was no question of accommodating a party that had finished in third position in south Kashmirs Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in the last polls. PDP could not win the seat when its leaders had not left the party, now the party is not as strong, so how can they lay claim on the seat, he said. Omar Abdullah said that his party will contest polls from all three seats of Kashmir and will leave two seats of Jammu to Congress. For Ladakh, the party wont field any candidate but will support a consensus candidate with Congress who can defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party. Read here: PDP founder member Muzaffar Beigh attends PMs Jammu rally Omar said that they can spare the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat to Congress if the party decides to field Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi Addressing questions about keeping the alliance together, Abdullah said all parties needed to share responsibilities for that, while criticising PDP for targeting NC on social media and on the partys foundation day, saying it was against coalition dharma. Omar said there was little room for PDP on the six Lok Sabha seats, adding they can be accommodated during the assembly elections. Days after seven men from Punjab and Haryana were reported to be forcibly inducted into the Russian military service, the family members of one of the men from Haryana on Thursday claimed that they have been sent to a camp and are safe after the intervention of the Indian embassy. Harsh Kumar from Karnals Sambhli village stuck in the war zone.Days after seven men from Punjab and Haryana were reported to be forcibly inducted into the Russian military service, the family members of one of the men from Haryana on Thursday claimed that they have been sent to a camp and are safe after the intervention of the Indian embassy. (HT Photo) Sahil Kumar, brother of Harsh Kumar from Karnals Sambhli village, who made the SOS video seeking governments help to return to India, met Karnal MP Sanjay Bhatia with his family. Sahil said that the situation has improved after the intervention of the Indian embassy and the men, including his brother, have been sent to a camp. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. On Wednesday evening, we received an intimation from the Indian authorities on our requests that their embassy in Russia has established a contact with them. Soon after, Harsh and his friends were taken to a Russian training camp, away from war zone. The situation is better now but they all are nervous about what may happen next, Sahil told the HT. Speaking to reporters, Bhatia said that the men had gone incommunicado and later the family members got to know about their whereabouts through the video. Ill write to the ministry of external affairs to pursue the matter in an urgent manner. I believe pressuring them to fight the war is wrong and against human rights. If required, Ill meet the officials concerned personally, he said. Speaking to HT over the phone, Harsh said, We are in constant touch with the embassy and are currently 15 to 20 minutes of drive from Donetsk in Ukraine, but safer. We were arrested on January 12 and the situation has been tense since then. Among the seven, five are from Punjab and the other two are from Haryana. They had released two videos this week and in one of them, circulated widely on X, the seven youths seen in uniform claimed that they were forced by the police either to join the Russian army or face 10-year imprisonment. On Wednesday, Harshs parents Suresh and Suman urged the Indian embassy and the Centre to rescue the youths from the conflict zone and claimed that they went to Russia in December last year on visitor visa. An agent offered them to be taken to Belarus and they went to the country without visas because they did not know they needed a visa there. They were caught by the police in the jungles that handed them over to the Russian authorities, who made them sign some documents against their will. After 15 days of military training, now they are being forced to fight against Ukraine, they had said. A domestic dispute between a couple turned fatal, with the man, an auto driver, who fell in love with the woman he ferried in his auto a few years back, killing her on Friday. For representation only (HT File Photo) The incident happened in the morning in Ujriyaon village of Gomti Nagar where the accused Mohammed Farhan, 45, strangled his wife, Nasreen, 43. Farhan has been detained. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Police said that Farhan was involved in a fight with his wife, Nasreen, for demanding money. Nasreen, who hailed from Safdarganj Rasauli, Barabanki, had two children from her previous marriage. According to Farhans account to the police, the dispute escalated to a point where he ended up strangling Nasreen in a fit of rage. After realising the gravity of his actions, Farhan got his brother to dial UP 112, alerting the police about the murder. Upon receiving the call, the assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Gomti Nagar, Anshu Jain and inspector Gomti Nagar Deepak Pandey rushed to the scene. Nasreens lifeless body was found in the house, with Farhan reportedly in tears, nearby. He confessed to the crime on the spot, leading to his detention, said the police. Nasreen had previously been married to Pradeep Yadav from Jiamau, with whom she had a turbulent relationship, said Jain. Farhan told the police that he and Nasreen had met while commuting in his auto, eventually leading to their court marriage in 2018. Farhan and Nasreen used to regularly fight over domestic issues, the inspector said. The situation escalated to the point where Nasreen would accompany Farhan in his auto to ensure she received her share of the earnings from passengers. The High Court in London on Friday gave a summary judgment against jailed diamantaire Nirav Modi asking him to pay $ 8 million to Bank of India. 09 August 2016, Mumbai : Nirav Modi Indian jewellery designer at his office in Lower Parel, in Mumbai . Photo By Aniruddha Chowdhury/Mint (Aniruddha Chowdhury/Mint) Read here: Could be in England for years, Nirav Modi tells UK court Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A summary judgement is one where one of the parties is not present in court or the court sees no merit in their case. The Bank of India had filed an application in the High Court in London to recover $ 8 million from Modis Dubai-based company Firestar Diamond FZE. Fridays judgment allows the bank to start the recovery process from the Dubai entity and to auction Modis properties and assets anywhere in the world. Nirav Modi is, at present, lodged in Thameside prison in the UK. Tom Beasley, the barrister representing BOI, and instructed by solicitor Milan Kapadia of Royds Withy King, impressed upon the judge that Nirav Modi had no prospect of success and that there was no need for the case to go to trial. The outstanding amount stemmed from the credit facility which the bank had with Nirav Modi. The judgment of US$ 8 million includes $4 million in principal and another $4 million in interest. BOI had extended credit worth $9 million to Nirav Modis Firestar but when the bank demanded repayment in 2018, he was unable to honour the commitment. As Firestar Diamond FZE is based in Dubai, a summary judgment from the UK court is more readily enforceable there. Modi was the chief executive officer of Firestar FZE and was also the guarantor. The court was also told, Nirav Modi has filed a defence to the claim and his solicitors were served with a copy of the present application but have not responded to the same. Judge Jonathan Klein then concluded that even though Modi is in prison he was given the opportunity to fight the claim brought by Bank of India. Read here: Rohit Pawar says Nirav Modis land omitted from Karjat MIDC We are content with the judgment and look forward the next steps, said BOI solicitor Milan Kapadia. Modi has also not yet settled his legal bills for his extradition case which he lost. He has been appearing in Barkingside Magistrates court in London for non-payment of over 150,000 in legal cost. He told the magistrate that he does not have access to any funds as the Indian government has frozen all his assets. He told the magistrate that he would make monthly payments towards the unpaid legal costs by borrowing money from friends and relatives. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the lead constituent of the five-party opposition alliance in Bihar, has decided to contest four of the 11 seats of the state legislative council that are due for polling on March 21 and will support ally CPI-ML (Liberation) candidate for the fifth seat. Rabri Devi (ANI) Former chief minister Rabri Devi, former minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Urmila Thakur and Syed Faisal Ali will be the RJD candidates while Shashi Yadav will be the CPI-ML (Liberation) nominee, according to the list issued by RJD state president Jagdanand Singh on Friday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In a press statement, RJDs state spokesperson Chittaranjan Gagan said all names have been finalised by party chief Lalu Prasad and his son and former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav following consultations with alliance leaders. While Rabri Devi is currently an MLC (member of the legislative council), Siddiqui has been an MLC in the past. Urmila Thakur, Faisal Ali and Shashi Yadav are seeking election to the Upper House of the state legislature for the first time. Thakur, who has headed state RJDs womens cell and a spokesperson, comes from extremely backward classes (EBCs). She is an old party loyalist and her selection is a message that RJD rewards its dedicated workers, said Gagan. The candidature of Siddiqui, a former minister who has for some time been in wilderness, and Ali, who unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls on a RJD ticket, seems to be a reassurance to Muslims who have been loyal towards the party for decades. The RJD decision to contest four seats means Congress forgoing its claim for one seat, which is currently held by partys Prem Chandra Mishra, whose term is ending in May. Congress got the support of Left parties in the recent Rajya Sabha polls where Akhilesh Prasad Singh was re-elected as an MP. The ML had a natural right to get one seat, an RJD leader said, wishing anonymity. The last date of nomination is March 11. In case there is no additional nominations against the 11 seats either from the NDA or the opposition alliance, all contestants would be declared elected unopposed on March 14, the last date of withdrawal of candidature. As per election officials, a candidate needs support of 22 MLAs to win a seat in the legislative council in Bihar. RJD has 79 MLAs, Congress (19) and the three left parties together (15). Although a few MLAs of Congress and RJD have rebelled recently, they have not joined any other party so far. The Lonavla police on Friday took action against two orchestra bar owners for breaching regulations imposed under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973. Pune rural police had ordered closure of bars and permit rooms in the district by 12.30 am (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) On March 6, the Pune rural police had ordered closure of bars and permit rooms in the district by 12.30 am. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Two establishments found operating into the late night, were playing loud music, causing significant disturbance to the local residents, said police. According to authorities, on Friday early morning police got information that Deepa Bar and Restaurant in Kamseht and Flavors Bar and restaurant in Vadgaon were running till late night. Acting swiftly, police raided two restaurants and took action against them. Satya Sai Karthik, deputy superintendent of police, Lonavla division said, Strict guidelines to run such establishments had been issued. But even after that we have found that these two establishments were serving food and liquor after prescribed limits and playing loud music hence, we have taken legal action against them. Karthik added, All establishments strictly adhere guidelines issued by Pune rural police and if anybody found violating then strict action to be taken against them. When 18-year-old Krishana Chhokar completed 12th standard last year, she didnt want to go down the traditional theory route, with three years of college, followed by a job. Flexibility has emerged as a top priority for Indian women in the workforce, not just in how they learn, but also how they work.(Pixabay) She wanted to be financially independent while she studied. Krishana applied to HCL TechBee, a unique program by the IT major that allows class 12 students to start their careers early. She simultaneously enrolled in IIT Guwahatis online BSc (Honours) in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. I was interested in their curriculum and study structure. As importantly, this online degree gave me the flexibility to learn anytime, while I worked full-time. My shift changes every month, so my study schedule changes accordingly, she says. Krishana learns mainly on her mobile phone, watching course videos during her work commute from Faridabad to Noida. I study everyday, but with the flexibility I need. Im hungry to learn and really enjoy my life this way, she adds. Women in Digital India are discovering they can go beyond conventional learning and work choices, to progress on their own terms. They are embracing the idea of learning from anywhere and the possibility of working from anywhere. From better prospects to second chances, this is an exciting moment as women learn and work in a way that fits their lives. Geography is history: The flexibility to learn from anywhere Several considerations restrict how and where women learn in India. A survey by the International Finance Corporation and Coursera found womens learning choices are impacted by factors like mobility, safety and family obligations. Girls often cant apply to colleges outside their town, or even travel far from home. As digital access spreads, these students are overcoming barriers through top-quality online learning programs that align with their interests and aspirations. When BITS Pilani launched an online BSc in Computer Science a little over a year ago, it broke multiple barriers. Mobility. safety and family obligations were suddenly no longer considerations for women students, who could enroll for this in-demand degree from anywhere, learning anytime. Heather Herman, a housewife, mother and market research professional in Delhi, initially has concerns about the time commitment required. How was I going to do this, as a person with a whole different life? But when I read that the program required 25-30 hours a week, a lightbulb went on in my head. It told me, I can take that much time from my other duties. This doesn't seem unattainable. The access story has been compelling since, with 190% more women learners enrolled in this program than on-campus women learners. Small to big: Stacking skills to success Women in India are pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses at a much higher rate than before the pandemic. The share of womens enrollments in STEM courses on Coursera jumped from 22% in 2019 to 32% in 2023. At stake are booming technology jobs, with higher earning potential, Indian workers with digital skills earn ~2x more than those without these skills. For many women, industry micro-credentials have become entry ramps to lucrative tech fields that were previously closed to them. These micro-credentials, created by leading employers like Google, IBM and Meta, are preparing women without prior work experience, to develop skills online for entry-level tech jobs. They can complete a micro-credential in six months or less. As a learner shared, By learning online, I didnt have to leave my current job, or relocate. Even without a STEM background, I am now on the path to becoming a data analyst. The modular nature of online learning feels less intimidating for women learners, who can stack and pace their learning, to balance work and home. The freedom to work-learn-work Flexibility has emerged as a top priority for Indian women in the workforce, not just in how they learn, but also how they work. As a Deloitte survey found, the lack of flexibility around working hours is one of the top three reasons women in India leave their employers. LinkedIn data has shown significant increases in women applying to remote jobs globally, and India is no exception. The good news is, that many of the digital skills women can build online, prepare them for digital jobs being offered remotely. As demand for digital skills drives remote work across Europe, US and Asia, talent mobility is increasing across borders. With the right skills, this can be a game-changer for women, widening access to lucrative jobs. Remote jobs come with built-in flexibility and notably, no long commutes! For employers, supporting flexible ways to learn and work will be key to attracting and retaining women employees -- helping their re-entry into the workforce, reducing burnout and increasing productivity. Getting ready for the AI age A recent UN study warns that women may be disproportionately at risk of having their jobs automated by AI. In India, its encouraging to see women learners taking the lead to future-proof their careers by building GenAI skills. There has been an increase in women enrolling for AI courses, with the top 5 courses for women learners here including Introduction to Generative AI, Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT, Generative AI with Large Language Models, Generative AI for Everyone and Introduction to Large Language Models. When AI for Everyone launched, it quickly became the most popular technology course for women, taken by millions of female learners in India. For employers, hiring women employees can contribute to diverse AI development teams -- diversity will play a key role in reducing gender bias in AI, in the training of datasets, and in AI-generated decision-making. From education to employment, the ability to work and learn flexibly is helping Indian women rewrite their futures, on their terms. On a broader level, these breakthroughs will be pivotal to increasing womens contribution to the digital economy and sustaining their participation in a diverse workforce, one that serves India and the world. (Authored by Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera, Views are personal) Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) and Emeritus joined hands to launch the Chief Executive Officer Programme, featuring global modules by Kellogg Executive Education. The total duration of the programme is 12 months and it is designed for professionals with a minimum of 10 years of work experience. According to a press release by Emeritus, the programme was launched to cater to the industry's need to facilitate high-level leadership development and upskill CEOs. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The total duration of the programme is 12 months and it is designed for professionals with a minimum of 10 years of work experience. The Chief Executive Officer Programme offers immersive live online learning by IIMK faculty and industry experts, and a 3-day in-campus immersion at the IIM Kozhikode campus. It also features 2 online modules by Kellogg Executive Education, mentioned the press release. The CEOs of todays world need to be highly proficient, updated with the innovations in technology, integrate AI and continue to strategize for long-term growth and success. They need to not only think of the current changing markets but also maintain a futuristic vision. The IIM Kozhikode CEO programme is carefully designed to equip CEOs with strategic and innovative acumen to steer their ships towards long-term success in an ever-evolving business landscape while gaining a global advantage through the modules from Kellogg Executive Education. We believe that this programme will help CEOs build strong leadership and business strategies that will lead to unprecedented organizational growth," said Prof Debashis Chatterjee, Director, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode. Todays business world is changing rapidly and CEOs need to step up and adapt to the changing times to stay relevant. We believe the IIM Kozhikode CEO programme will help participants master the new age and strategic capabilities, gain stakeholder trust, navigate change in management, tackle boardroom dynamics, enhance digital prowess, and master financial acumen leading to organizational growth. We are excited to partner with prestigious institutions such as IIM Kozhikode to launch this high-impact programme that will help participants cultivate sustainable competitive advantage and secure long-term growth," said Mohan Kannegal, CEO, India and APAC, Emeritus. Eligibility Criteria: Graduates (10+2+3)/ Diploma holders (10+2 +3)/Postgraduates from a recognised university (UGC/AICTE/DEC/AIU/State Government/recognised international universities) with a minimum of 10 years of work experience. Fee Details: This programme is set to begin on March 30, 2024, with a fee of INR 6,50,000 plus GST. For more information, visit the official website On the occasion of International Women's Day, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) announced a new scholarship scheme for the female students of the BBA, BCA and BMS programs. The scheme was announced as a part of AICTE's ongoing efforts to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive technical and management education ecosystem in India.(Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo) According to the AICTE release, the new scholarship scheme will provide financial help of 7.5 crore to 3000 female students from economically weaker backgrounds annually. The annual grant under the scholarship will be 25000 per student. AICTE will spend 7.5 crore annually for three years to provide financial support to girl students. The new scholarship is dedicated only to female students pursuing BBA, BCA and BMS courses from AICTE-approved institutions. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Announcing the scheme, the AICTE Chairman Prof. T.G. Sitharam said, "AICTE takes measures to empower women and unlock their full potential in technical and management education. For girl students in engineering, we have a PRAGATI scheme. Since, BBA, BCA and BMS undergraduate management courses have come under the AICTE umbrella from this year onwards, we decided to announce a special scheme for girl students of UG management to promote gender equality, provide affordable education and empower girls in management education as well.". "On this International Women's Day, AICTE reaffirms its commitment to empowering women in engineering and technology through its new and reformative initiatives. Encouraging and supporting women in engineering and management is not only the right thing to do but also essential for India's progress and prosperity for Viksit Bharat by 2047." added the release. Akira Toriyama, creator of the beloved manga and anime Dragon Ball, has died, his production studio said in a statement Friday. He was 68 years old. (Also Read: Dragon Ball Daima new updates - New Goku trailer, character designs, villains) Akira Toriyama dies: He was the creator of Dragon Ball The artist behind Dragon Ball, a long-running media franchise that popularised Japanese manga abroad, passed away on March 1 from an acute subdural hematoma, according to the statement. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. First appearing in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1984, Dragon Ball follows protagonist Son Gokus martial arts training and quest to find the seven titular orbs and summon a wish-granting dragon. It remains one of the most successful media franchises of all time, with the manga selling more than 260 million copies worldwide and spawning several anime series, video games and a live-action movie. His creations, which span more than 45 years, include Dr. Slump, Sand Land and the character designs for the Dragon Quest video games. Shares in Toei Animation Co., which produces the animated Dragon Ball films, fell as much as 4.4%. Reactions to Toriyama's death News of Toriyamas death triggered an outpouring of condolences from other artists, many of whom grew up reading his work. Toriyama showed the world that manga can be enjoyed by both children and adults, wrote One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda, while Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto said Toriyamas stories inspired him to become a manga artist. I wanted to make manga like yours! I wanted to be like you! he said. The official X handle of Goku posted in typical Dragon Ball fashion, Just received word from King Kai. Legendary manga creator and the father of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, has passed through the Other World Check-In Station. Several fans of the franchise also took to social media to send condolence messages. One wrote on X, This Dragon Ball Super outro feels like the perfect tribute to Akira Toriyama. I'm so sad.. thank you so, so much Akira Toriyama. Thank you for everything you gave to us. The magic, the wonder, everything. Another posted, Heartbreaking that Toriyama passed before Dragon Ball Daima releases, which he was clearly so passionate about. If it's the last project he worked on, I'll treasure it even more. Akira Toriyama. This hurts man. You made my childhood. You enhanced my adulthood. You will forever be a GOAT. Thank you and Rest In Peace, wrote a third one. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place. Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most famous Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Gege Akutami. It was first serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2018. After an exciting ending in the previous chapter, the anticipation for Chapter 253 is at an all-time high. Ahead of the release, here's what you need to know: The release date for Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 253 has been confirmed(MAPPA) When will Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 253 be out? Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 253 is scheduled to be released on Monday, March 10, at 12 am JST. However, the exact release time varies across different regions. You can find the schedule according to your time zone below. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Time zone Time Date Day PST 7 am March 10 Sunday CST 9 am March 10 Sunday EST 10 am March 10 Sunday GMT 3 pm March 10 Sunday ACST 1:30 am March 11 Monday Where to read Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 253? Fans can read the latest JJK chapter on official sources like the Viz Media website, Shueisha's MANGA Plus website, or Shueisha's Shonen Jump Plus app. However, it is important to note that while the first two sources provide a free-to-read user experience, the latter requires a subscription to gain access to all Jujutsu Kaisen chapters. What to expect from JJK Chapter 253? The upcoming chapter marks the sixth anniversary of the Japanese graphic novels, which means new colour spreads will be made available. According to the early leaks and spoilers, Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 253 is likely to provide a conclusion to Maki and Sukuna's intense battle. The chapter titled Inhuman Makyo Shinjuku Showdown Part 25 will showcase the King of Curses unleashing his force to the maximum. Much to fans' amazement, the spoilers leaked on social media suggest that the next chapter will also mark the return of Gojo and Nanami. However, the scenes are most likely to be flashback events. Kylie Jenner is not interested in talking about her personal life, especially questions related to actor Timothee Chalamet, with whom she has been linked for an year now. The Khy founder did not answer a question about Timothee in a new interview with The New York Times, and limited her answers only to her businesses. (Also read: Timothee Chalamet, Kylie Jenner kiss at Golden Globes 2024; fans want to know what they are saying to each other. Watch) Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet attended the Golden Globe Awards 2024. (Instagram) What Kylie said In the interview, Kylie was asked about her departure in self-styling, and whether her new clean girl era was some sort of an influence from Dune star Timothee Chalamet. In response, Kylie said, I dont know how I feel about that. I just dont want to talk about personal things. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Kylie also added that she is not interested in paying attention to fan questions about her personal style getting inspired by her relationship with the actor as she is focusing the attention on her businesses. Speculations about a possible split between the two emerged after Kylie shared her daily routine, with daughter Stormi and sister Kendall Jenner, while Timothee was notably missing. More details Kylie and Timothee Chalamet went public at the Golden Globe awards held earlier this year. The two shared a romantic moment at the ceremony. The two sat beside each other, where they were seen talking during the ad break. The duo smiled and also shared a kiss. The official page of Golden Globes also shared the candid moment on their X account. "Date night at the #GoldenGlobes with @RealChalamet and @KylieJenner" read the caption. After months of dating rumours, Kylie and Timothee went public for the first time with their romance last year in September. The duo had attended Beyonces Renaissance tour. Timothee was most recently seen in Dune: Part Two, which hit theatres on March 1. An excerpt from the Hindustan Times review of Dune: Part Two read, These are distinctly brilliant scenes, but they're far and few in this 2-hour-46-minute saga. Besides a few well-choreographed action scenes, most of Dune: Part Two shares the same issues as its predecessor it stretches its vision so high to measure its lofty ideas that it ends up falling back with a thud." Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Actor Ajith Kumar has been admitted to the hospital, his spokesperson confirmed to Zoom. Contrary to rumours that he underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his brain, the actor is currently undergoing treatment to treat nerve swelling. (Also Read: Ajith Kumar signs AK63 with Mark Anthony director Adhik Ravichandran) Ajith Kumar had a swollen nerve from his ear to his brain, according to his spokesperson Ajith is now fine Talking to Zoom, Ajiths spokesperson Suresh Chandra busted rumours of a cyst in the brain, claiming that the actor was at the hospital for a general examination when doctors found a swollen nerve. On Thursday, Ajith sir got admitted to the hospital for a general examination. There was undue swelling in the nerve connecting his ear to the brain. Doctors got rid of it now with a simple medical procedure. Ajith is fine, he walked from the ward to the ICU, said his spokesperson, claiming that the actor will be discharged in a day or two. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The spokesperson also told the portal that Ajith began taking his health seriously after the passing of art director Milan, who died last year while shooting in Azerbaijan. Ajith was supposed to meet Milan in half an hour when he passed away. That shattered him and he began taking his health check-ups more seriously, Suresh told the portal. What happened On Thursday, a fan shared a video of Ajith and his wife, ex-actor Shalini, visiting Apollo Hospital. But soon rumours began swirling and fans were worried that the actor was in ill health. Rumours that he had a cyst did not help too. Trade analyst Ramesh Bala put these rumours to rest early on Friday, writing, Apart from regular complete health check-up, Actor #Ajithkumar underwent cardio and neuro check-up also. Fans and well-wishers need not worry about his health.. He is doing fine. Upcoming work Ajith will soon be seen in Magizh Thirumenis Vidaa Muyarchi, which also stars Trisha Krishnan, Arjun Sarja and Regina Cassandra in the lead roles. The actor will resume filming for the action thriller later this month. He will also star in a film by Adhik Ravichandran. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place. Actor Nayanthara and her husband-filmmaker Vignesh Shivan dismissed divorce rumours as they shared pictures from their trip. Recently, several reports said that not all was well between Nayanthara and Vignesh. (Also Read | All is well in Nayanthara-Vignesh love paradise: Source) Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan shared a photo. Nayanthara, Vignesh dispel separation rumours Now, taking to her Instagram Stories on Thursday, Nayanthara shared a picture with her "boys". In the photo, Nayanthara and Vignesh sat next to each other, holding their sons Uyir and Ulgham in their arms. They smiled as they posed for the camera. The couple twinned in black outfits for the travel. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Couple share pic also featuring sons Sharing the picture, Nayanthara wrote, "@wikkiofficial Travelling with my boys. After sooo long (red heart emojis)." Vignesh also reposted the picture on his Instagram Stories. The family seemingly travelled to Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Vignesh, on his Instagram, shared several clips from Jeddah. Vignesh Shivan shared posts on Instagram Stories. What started the rumours Last week, some fans noticed that Nayanthara had unfollowed Vignesh. A Reddit user had shared a screenshot where Vignesh was not on the list of people whom Nayanthara follows on Instagram. She later followed him. Here's what Hindustan Times reported An insider told Hindustan Times, Contrary to the reports, the couple is not going through a tough time. Instead, they are going strong...Its true that Vignesh was removed from her follower list, and the reason behind it is very convoluted...some believe that there was a technical glitch due to which he was removed from her follower list. She followed him back as soon as she got to know about the growing buzz, and connotation around it. They have been together for a while and are really enjoying this phase as a husband and wife as well as parents. Thats one of the reasons they are not taking a lot of projects in hand, and want to be with their kids at the moment, it added. About Nayanthara and Vignesh Nayanthara and Vignesh tied the knot on June 9, 2022. They had an intimate wedding ceremony in Mahabalipuram, outside of Chennai. Many stars, including Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan, Ajith Kumar and Vijay Sethupathi, attended their wedding. The couple welcomed their sons via surrogacy in October 2022. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Fans of Prabhas had a surprise waiting for them on Friday. Marking the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivraatri, the makers of Kalki 2898 AD have now revealed the character name of the films lead star Prabhas as Bhairava'. The makers took to their official X account to share a new poster of the Nag Ashwin film along with the name of the character. (Also read: Prabhas and Disha Patani shoot for a song from Kalki 2898 AD in Italy) Prabhas in the new poster of the film. About the character name reveal Announcing the same on social media, Team Kalki 2898 AD shared a picture of Prabhas as Bhairava and wrote, From the future streets of Kasi, Introducing BHAIRAVA from #Kalki2898AD." The poster had a side profile of Prabhas sporting an all-black ensemble, complete with a cape, while seated in a factory-like setting. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Fan reactions Fans reacted enthusiastically to the much-awaited reveal of the character's name. One fan wrote, The vintage Baahubali is back! Another said, This is just terrific! A second fan also noticed more details in the poster and commented, Few background things observed in future Kasi: 1. Futuristic vehicle (passenger vehicle?), 2. Graffiti in Indian Streets, 3. Futuristic Traffic signal, 4. The Smart Beast came to save the world. A comment read, Wow, unexpected! What a poster and look, probably the best from Rebel star since Baahubali. Beyond excited. About Kalki 2898 AD Directed by Nag Ashwin and bankrolled by Vyjayanthi Movies, Kalki 2898 AD is a multilingual film, a mythology-inspired sci-fi spectacle set in the future. Scheduled to release in India on May 9, 2024, the film also features Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani in key roles. The film's shooting is in progress, where Prabhas and Disha recently went to Italy to shoot a song. Talking about the film at the Synapse 2024 event in Gurgaon, Nag had said, The film starts with Mahabharat and ends in 2898 AD. It spans 6000 years in time. We tried to create worlds, imagining what they would be like while still keeping it Indian, and not make it look like Blade Runner. 6000 years behind 2898 AD is 3101 BCE, which is when the last avatar of Krishna is believed to have passed. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Rakhi Sawants ex-husband Adil Khan Durrani has now married Bigg Boss 12's Somi Khan. Taking to Instagram on Thursday night, Adil and Somi shared a joint post announcing the news. They also shared a series of photos. (Also Read | Rakhi Sawant is happy her divorce will be finalised soon: 'Hum azaad hona chahtein hain') Adil Khan Durrani and Somi Khan shared a joint post on Instagram. Adil and Somi In the first picture, Adil and Somi Khan smiled at each other while holding their framed marriage certificate. One of the pictures showed Adil gibing a kiss on Somi's forehead. A few photos from their wedding, too, were shared by the couple. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Adil and Somi share post For the event, Somi wore a red lehenga. Adil wore a cream and golden sherwani and a maroon turban. They gave different poses for the camera. The couple tied the knot on March 3. Sharing the photos, they captioned the post, "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. We are overjoyed to announce that by the grace of Allah, we have solemnized our Nikkah in a simple and beautiful ceremony." Alhumdullilaah, we are thankful for this blessing and we appreciate our families and friends for their love and support. We are eager to begin our new journey together as husband and wife. Please remember us in your prayers for a blessed married life. JazakAllah Khair. Adil khan durrani Somi Adil khan 03.03.2024 (red heart emojis. They also added the hashtags--Adil Somi and Adil ki dulhan. Reacting to the post, Archana Gautam wrote, "Wow, congratulations." Somi's sister Saba Khan said, "My family." Adil was married to Rakhi Last year, Rakhi had announced her marriage to Adil. A few weeks later, she filed an FIR against him, accusing him of domestic violence, mishandling funds and torturing her. She also claimed that he cheated on her. Adil was arrested in February last year. After he was granted bail last week, Adil spoke to the media and made many claims against Rakhi. Rakhi spoke about her divorce Last year in June, Rakhi Sawant had danced in a red lehenga to dhols outside her home. A video was shared a ETimes where she said, "Yes mera finally divorce horaha hain aur ye meri breakup party hain meri. Log sad hotey hain lekin mein khush hogi (Yes, I'm finally getting divorced and this is my breakup party. People become sad but I'll be happy." In March last year, Rakhi told the media in Mumbai, Meri khushi ka raaz? Mera divorce hone waala hai. Hum abhi azaad ho chuke hain (The secret to my happiness? I am getting divorce, I am free now). There are few things in life which one should leave and move on in life. Rakhi shared the video on her Instagram. She further said, Hum Azaad ho jaana chahtein hain, ab use jiske saath shaadi karni hai Kar lene do (I want to be free now. Let him get married to whoever he wants). Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Multilateral institutions reflect the power realities of the time of their inception. As the balance of those power realities change, so too, does their efficacy become a matter of interrogation. Today we are witnessing a rapid evolution in the political order, and every single multi-nation governance platformfrom the United Nations (UN) to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is facing a crisis of some degree and nature. While the Bretton Woods institutions are struggling to respond to the demands of the present where the post-World War II period is but a faint memory, even those platforms that are of recent vintage, like the SCO, have to come to terms with the new power realities. The BRICS grouping is no exception. BRICS (AFP) The Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) emerged in the early 2000s as part of an investment bankers attempt to understand an unfolding global economic transformation. The leaders of the four nations who clubbed together first as BRICBrazil, Russia, India and Chinawere quick to capture the zeitgeist of the time as they came together in 2009. The coalition emerged as a political platform eight years after the term was initially coined, when Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Chinas President Hu Jintao accepted an invitation from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to participate in the first BRIC Summit in Yekaterinburg. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The groups first joint statement declared support for multilateral rule-making in global governance and a multipolar world order, and committed the BRIC countries to a democratic and transparent decision making and implementation process at [] international financial organisations. The four leaders committed their nations to the cause of reforming major multilateral institutions to reflect changes in the global economy: [E]merging and developing economies must have greater voice and representation in international financial institutions. This was, in some ways, the beginning of the era of plurilateral talks, where an ad-hoc coalition of countries mobilised themselves around a common demand to seek a redistribution of decision-making authority in economic issues of global import. The second BRIC Summit 2010 in Brasilia was joined by South Africa, which was then admitted as a member, officially adding the S to BRIC. In subsequent years, the BRICS goal of gaining a stronger voice in the international financial system essentially provided the five countries with two possibilities: Challenging global governance versus reforming it. An institutional innovation that could capture both aspirations at the same time was the BRICS development bank, set up at the 2013 Summit in Durban. On one hand, the New Development Bank (NDB), as it was named, can be viewed as a challenger. Member states supported this bank with an initial amount of US$50 billion, thereby creating an alternative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which claimed to have had at that time, $630 billion at its disposal. At the same time, BRICS leaders adopted a framework that allowed the world to see the NDB as just an initiative to democratise global governance by offering and discussing alternatives. For New Delhi, Russia as an autonomous player was critical in managing Chinas growing economic hegemony within BRICS. And there was a time when even New Delhi and Beijing could speak in one voice about global challenges. Today, however, the fault lines within BRICS are getting sharper, with Russia and China trying to pivot the grouping away from its geo-economic orientation to an overtly geopolitical one, as an anti-West platform, even as India and China are increasingly uncomfortable even to find their representatives in one room. With the ongoing expansion of BRICS membership, a new phase has begun for a grouping that has been searching for a sense of purpose even as a smaller forum of five. Declining mutual trust was beginning to erode its already fragile foundations. Now we are being told that adding six new members this yearSaudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Ethiopia, Egypt and Argentinawith more to follow subsequently would position BRICS as the voice of the Global South. That remains to be seen amid the global turmoil where multilateral institutions are failing and plurilaterals are trying to assert themselves as alternative platforms. This report highlights the contending claims of key stakeholders in the BRICS as the forum seeks to find a new impetus. For China, as Kalpit A Mankikar points out, groupings like BRICS are key platforms to institutionalise its global leadership. He argues that for Chinas top leadership, BRICS represents a chance to smear the US and present an alternative vision in the hope that it can tap into the grievances with respect to the West among many Global South countries. The Russian understanding is articulated by Nivedita Kapoor, who suggests that understanding the BRICS expansion as a sign of declining western dominance and rise of the non-western world that can resist external pressure, the organisation is broadly seen as having value despite its weaknesses. She posits that while some might view the lack of a structured organisation or clarity on its values as a weakness, this is not necessarily seen as an impediment by all given the growing popularity of flexible coalitions in the multilateral arena. Hari Seshasayee turns the gaze on Latin America, underlining regional ambivalence when it comes to multilateral groupings that have even the slightest anti-western leanings. He argues that although Brazil, Argentina and perhaps more countries from Latin America could eventually join the BRICS, we can expect them to continue balancing their interests between the West and any BRICS-related initiatives. Samir Bhattacharya views the growth of the BRICS as largely boding well for Africa. Though the inclusion of two more African nationsEgypt and Ethiopiacan enhance the voice of the continent in the platform, Samir contends that some nations are also concerned that western powers may perceive their membership in the BRICS as an attempt to move into an alternative geopolitical bloc or alignment. Also, important would be the ability of African nations to put aside their differences and cooperate for an African cause. Kabir Taneja looks at the platform through the lens of West Asiaa geography that is now dominating the BRICS with the inclusion of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt. He suggests that for most of these nations, this remains a short-term geopolitical posturing at minimal risk with hope of potential economic incentives. He argues that West Asian States would largely aim to use the emerging US-China geopolitical contestation to extract benefits from both Washington and Beijing while not overtly taking any sides. With geopolitical tensions rising and multilateral institutions unable to manage the global flux, platforms such as BRICS will continue to garner global attention. The process of expansion is likely to accelerate further in the coming years given the growing interest in the grouping. Yet as outlined by the authors in this report, the trajectory of BRICS remains an uncertain one at this juncture, with different stakeholders having varied aspirations and expectations. Therein will lie the success or failure of the BRICS. It has come a long way since its inception, but it is still struggling to find a sense of purpose. The paper can be accessed by clicking here. This paper is authored by Harsh V Pant, ORF. Actor Parineeti Chopras latest appearances have left fans wondering if she is expecting her first child with politician husband Raghav Chadha. And we have learnt that there is no truth in the murmurs as she is focusing on her work at the moment. Parineeti Chopra was spotted at Mumbai airport recently The actor sparked pregnancy rumours when she was photographed back to back in an oversized ensemble at the Mumbai airport. Her choice of outfit left many fans wondering if she is pregnant and is trying to hide her belly with loose fitted clothes. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. However, a source close to the actor dismisses the speculations. There is no truth in the pregnancy rumours. At the moment, she is hustling between several cities, sometimes for professional commitments and sometimes for personal reasons. In fact, it is baffling that someones choice of attire can lead to such speculations, and intrude in someones personal life, says the source. The insider continues, Parineeti likes to keep her private life guarded, but her actions also dont suggest that she is pregnant. She has not pushed any of her work and shoot commitments in the future, and everything is running at the pace which was planned much earlier. Another source close to the couple reveals that Parineeti keeps shuttling between Delhi and Mumbai. She is doing it to balance her life. In fact, we all met her in Delhi recently, and there was no sign of pregnancy. Had she been pregnant, she would have shared the news with both the families-- which has not happened. At the moment, they both are enjoying their married life, and cherishing every single moment spent together and spent with the family. They are also focused on their work right now, adds the source. After dating for quite some time, Chopra and Chadha got married in presence of their family and friends in Udaipur in September last year. A thing used as an example to follow or imitate. This is what you will find If you look up the meaning of the word model in most dictionaries. If we go back in time, these words defined a lot of the people who were considered ideal in the industry. While we can fortunately say that the 2000s started a new era of inclusivitythe theme of this years International Womens Day celebration, conversations around this topic still remain relevant. And Prakashs story is the perfect reflection of why. While we can fortunately say that the 2000s started a new era of inclusivitythe theme of this years International Womens Day celebration, conversations around this topic still remain relevant. And Prakashs story is the perfect reflection of why. Modelling came to me as a fortunate surprise. It was an Italian photographer who came into the hospital as a patient and said, you know, the next time I shoot in India, I would like to take you on, remembers Prakash who was then working as a family physician and ex-Army doctor for almost 10 years. From serving as a medical consultant to discussing medicine as a radio jockey, while modelling and the aspiration to be on-screen was never something Prakash pursued actively, there was always an inkling and interest there. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. At the age of 57, the ex-Army doctor started with small shoots; at 69, she is still one of the most sought-after faces in the modeling world. While she has done campaigns for several big names from the design world, such as Anju Modi, Tarun Tahiliani, Gaurav Gupta, and more, she doesnt aspire to be on-screen. And the grandmother of one still helps many heal as a medical consultant for various private hospitals. Acknowledging the transformation of the industry, which is now becoming more inclusive and looking beyond age, race, height, weight, and other superficial attributes or stereotypes, Prakash shares, A lot of young women come and say, Youre doing modeling at your age. We would also like to start, and I say, why not? Speaking about more women pursuing their passion beyond their daily careers, Prakash believes that doing what you love doesnt need to be defined or put into context for it to be valid. All in all, once you decide to follow your dreams, take whatever opportunity comes your way, she ends. Bengaluru: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers in Bengaluru claim to have busted a wildlife trafficking racket with the arrest of seven people while they were trying to illegally trade two elephant tusks. Directorate of Revenue (DRI) officers have busted a syndicates efforts to illicitly trade elephant tusks along with arrest of seven accused and recovery of two elephant tusks, totaling 6.8 kg, on Wednesday. (ANI) In an operation carried out on Wednesday, the DRI officers intercepted three suspects travelling in an auto-rickshaw and recovered ivory tusks concealed in a large bag in their possession. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Subsequent investigations and coordinated efforts resulted in the arrest of four additional individuals involved in facilitating this unlawful trade, the DRI said in an official release. The two elephant tusks, totaling 6.8 kg, were recovered and seized as per Section 50 of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972. The seven individuals have been arrested, the release added. According to the statement, the recent amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, effective from April 1, 2023, have bolstered the enforcement powers of DRI officers in combating domestic wildlife crime. These enhanced provisions empower authorities to crack down on illicit activities across national boundaries, reaffirming Indias commitment to wildlife conservation. Leveraging these new legislative tools, DRI officers have intensified efforts to intercept and seize unlawfully traded wildlife items. In the fiscal year 2023-2024, DRI units nationwide conducted a total of six successful seizures involving elephant tusks, collectively weighing 57.5 kilograms. According to DRI and release from Press Information Bureau, these operations spanned multiple cities including Chennai, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, highlighting the widespread scope of wildlife trafficking. The Wildlife Protection Act, enacted in 1972, serves as a vital legal framework for the protection and conservation of Indias diverse flora and fauna. Classified under Schedule I of the Act, elephant tusks are among the highly regulated wildlife items, with stringent penalties for illegal possession, trade, or transportation. Recently, a Kannada Bigg Boss contestant was arrested from the house of the reality show for wearing an original tiger claw pendant. Varthuru Santosh, Bigg Boss contestant who was arrested by authorities later released on bail. However, many other celebrities old pictures came into limelight post this incident and dozens of cases registered across the state. Following the series of complaints, the Karnataka forest ministry decided to promote the wild life protection act in the state, since many claimed they did not know that having tiger claw in possession is a crime. Rajya Sabha MP from BJP and popular actor Jaggesh was also booked for having tiger claw in his possession. However, Jaggesh moved the high court seeking relief and accused forest department officials of trying to malign his reputation. Forest department officials had issued him a notice to surrender the tiger claw, just before raiding his residence. Jaggeshs counsel claimed that forest department officials conducted raids even before the ink on the notice was dried. Similarly, a case was registered against former chief minister HD Kumaraswamys son Nikhil Kumaraswamy for possessing tiger claws. HDK, however, later clarified: My son never had a tiger claw. He has one which is made of synthetic. Forest department officials also raided popular actor Challenging Star Darshan and producer Rockline Venkatesh among many series of raids. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday launched chief minister Arvind Kejriwal-centric national poll campaign titled Sansad Me Bhi Kejriwal, Toh Delhi Hogi Aur Khushhal, saying victory of all seven National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) candidates in Delhi will give him more strength to work for the people. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal at the launch of the campaign. (PTI) Kejriwal listed his governments work such as improvement in education and healthcare services, and appealed to people to vote for INDIA bloc candidates. But when I was doing all this work, the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party], the LG [lieutenant governor], and the Centre tried to stop all the good work, he said at a function for the launch of the campaign in presence of his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. They hate the 20 million people of Delhi because you have elected an ordinary person as the chief minister three times. Seven years ago, MCD [Municipal Corporation of Delhi], which was then under BJPs control, demolished a Mohalla Clinic we established. He said they have installed the largest number of CCTV cameras within five years. He added when the LG stalled the installation of the cameras, they protested and got the scheme approved. They stopped the supply of medicines, and tests at Mohalla Clinics, free yoga classes, and the Farishtey scheme [for road accident victims] which saved 23,000 people. I went to the SC [Supreme Court] and got the Farishtey scheme restarted. I got the medicines and tests restarted in the Mohalla Clinics. Where were the seven [BJP] MPs [members of Parliament] when it was all happening? Kejriwal asked, alleging that the BJP MPs from Delhi got the work stopped. The AAP and Congress, the key constituents of the INDIA bloc, have agreed to contest the national elections together in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Goa. They will contest the polls separately in AAP-ruled Punjab. Congress is contesting three seats in Delhi and the AAP remaining four. The AAP candidates have started public outreach. At the campaign launch function, where all AAP candidates were present, Mann appealed to people not to vote for the BJP. Kejriwal also released pamphlets listing the works of the AAP government such as free pilgrimage, free bus rides for women, free electricity, and those done in the education and healthcare sectors. AAP workers will distribute the pamphlets, which also list the challenges the AAP government faced. Kejriwal underlined he needs MPs in the Lok Sabha to fight the BJP and get the work of the people of Delhi done. I approved the electricity subsidy with a lot of difficulty. People will continue to get free electricity for the next year. I am currently single-handedly fighting with the LG, the Centre, and the BJP. If you call me your son, then you cannot leave your son alone. I appeal to you to strengthen the hands of your son, said Kejriwal. He said he has been able to work for the people only because they gave him an overwhelming majority. Otherwise the BJP would have toppled the AAP government, he said. The way you strengthened my hands in the assembly. Now, strengthen my position in the Parliament. ...will get the works done which are stopped by the Centre, or the LG. AAP has 62 lawmakers in the 70-member Delhi assembly and the BJP eight. The BJP swept the last Lok Sabha polls in the Capital winning all seven Lok Sabha seats. Kejriwal said AAP workers will go to every household two to three times seeking votes before the Lok Sabha elections. AAP volunteers and I will come to your house... The BJP is saying they are going to get 370 seats. They do not need the votes of the people. They are arrogant. I love you, I need your votes. Give your votes to the person who needs your votes. He referred to the 1000 monthly financial assistance scheme for Delhis women and said many unbelievable works have been done over the last 10 years. No one thought that 24X7 free electricity could be provided. Under Kejriwal, many more miracles may happen. I have not just announced the 1000 scheme. It has been passed in the Delhi assembly. The budget has been earmarked, and I will get this implemented. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva dismissed AAPs campaign slogan as ridiculous. AAP has a majority government in Delhi, but despite that, it has not been able to muster the courage to contest elections on all seven seats of Delhi, and is having Parliament dream. The AAP has insulted the people of Delhi by forming an alliance with Congress against which it established itself calling the Congress leaders corrupt. He added despite getting two terms, the AAP leaders chose to make only their lives happy by indulging in corrupt practices. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday launched its campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with the slogan 'Sansad mein bhi Kejriwal, to Dilli hogi aur khush haal' (With Kejriwal in Parliament, Delhi will prosper). Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses during a press conference ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, in New Delhi, Friday, March 8, 2024.(PTI) The campaign was launched by AAP convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann in the presence of other party leaders and workers from the party headquarters on DDU Marg. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "I have made all efforts to serve the people of Delhi who are my family," Kejriwal said. "Our slogan is 'Sansad mein bhi Kejriwal, to Dilli hogi aur khush haal' (Delhi will be more prosperous with Kejriwal in Parliament)," he said. Also Read: Emotional Kejriwal makes an appeal for Lok Sabha polls as Delhi women to get 1000/month The AAP supremo hit out at BJP-led central government and Delhi L-G for allegedly stalling every project launched by his government and urged the people to "strengthen" him by sending all seven opposition candidates to Parliament. Kejriwal recounted instances where the BJP and LG allegedly impeded the progress of Delhi's welfare schemes. He cited the demolition of a mohalla clinic by the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) seven years ago, despite its significant impact on healthcare accessibility. "They hate you because you elected and brought an ordinary man to power in Delhi. They demolished Mohalla Clinics with bulldozers, they stopped door-to-door ration delivery scheme, tests and medicines in hospitals," he alleged. Also Read: ED files complaint in court against Arvind Kejriwal for non-compliance of summons Asserting his commitment to the welfare of Delhi's residents, Kejriwal said he had navigated legal challenges, including appeals to the Supreme Court, to reinstate essential services. I went to the Supreme Court and got the Farishtey scheme restarted. I got the medicines and tests restarted in the mohalla clinics. Where were the seven MPs when it was all happening? AAP has already announced candidates for four seats East Delhi, New Delhi, West Delhi, and South Delhi seats it got as part of its 2024 alliance with Congress, which will contest on North East, Chandni Chowk and North West (SC reserved) seats. Today, we are officially starting the campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal might be thinking that a small caravan started in Ramleela ground around 12 years ago and in 10 years, AAP has become a national party, Punjab CM Mann said. New Delhi A day after the deadline for the State Bank of India (SBI) to submit details of electoral bonds (EBs) purchased since April 12, 2019, to the Election Commission of India (ECI) ended, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) approached the Supreme Court on Thursday demanding contempt action against the state-owned bank for defying the courts directive. On March 4, SBI moved its plea for an extension. (Satish Bate/HT Photo) ADR, a non-profit organisation which is the lead petitioner in the judgment striking down the Centres 2018 EB scheme, mentioned the matter before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, seeking a hearing on March 11 when SBIs application for an extension till June 30 is likely to be taken up. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Advocate Prashant Bhushan submitted before the CJI that ADR has sought initiation of contempt proceedings against SBI for not abiding by the court-mandated deadline of March 6 to submit to ECI full details of EBs purchased. Responding, justice Chandrachud, who headed the bench that delivered the landmark EB verdict, said that the contempt plea will come up with SBIs plea if the petition has been duly numbered and verified. Bhushan assured the court that he would complete the formalities. On March 4, SBI moved its plea for an extension, submitting that decoding the data and matching donors to the donations would be a complex process, a claim that has been refuted by several banking experts. The application, if allowed, will mean that the disclosure of donors and recipients of EBs will come only after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which are expected to be conducted between April and May this year. On February 15, a five-judge bench struck down the Centres 2018 EB scheme of political funding, declaring it to be unconstitutional because it completely anonymised contributions made to political parties, and added that restricting black money or illegal election financing some of the articulated objectives of the scheme did not justify violating voters right to information in a disproportionate manner. The bench directed SBI the only designated EB-issuing bank to stop issuing EBs, adding that the bank should submit details of EBs purchased since April 12, 2019, till that date to the poll watchdog by March 6. By March 13, the judgment ordered all funding received by political parties since the court issued an interim direction to parties to submit such information with ECI to be made public on ECIs website. SBI claimed it needs to break down the details of 22,217 EBs, which would involve decoding, compiling and comparing 44,434 information sets because the details relating to buyers and recipients of bonds are kept in two different information silos. ADRs contempt plea on Thursday labelled the request as mala fide and an attempt to thwart transparency efforts before the upcoming elections. ADR said that SBI India possesses the infrastructure necessary to swiftly compile and disclose information on electoral bonds. SBIs IT system, designed for managing electoral bonds, is already in place and can easily generate reports based on the unique numbers assigned to each bond... the bank has records of the unique numbers allotted to each electoral bond and the Know Your Customer (KYC) details of purchasers, stated the plea. Adding that SBI has a vast network of branches and a well-functioning IT system, the contempt plea said the bank can compile data for about 22,217 EBs easily. Stressing the significance of transparency in political financing, ADR argued that voters have a fundamental right to know about the substantial sums of money contributed to political parties through EBs and that the lack of transparency goes against the essence of participatory democracy enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. In its extension plea moved on March 4, SBI sought to bring to the courts notice certain practical difficulties with the decoding exercise and the timeline fixed for it. The public sector bank said that not only were details of purchases made at SBI branches not maintained centrally, but the data related to the issuance of the bond and the data related to the redemption of the bond were also recorded in two different silos. No central database was maintained. This was done so as to ensure that donors anonymity would be protected. It is submitted that donor details were kept in a sealed cover at the designated branches and all such sealed covers were deposited in the main branch of the applicant bank, which is located in Mumbai, the plea said. At the other end, SBI said that, at the time of redemption by a political party, the original bond, and the pay-in slip would be stored in a sealed cover and sent to the SBIs main branch in Mumbai. SBI also said that some of the details such as number of bonds etc. are stored digitally while the other set of details such as name of purchaser, KYC etc. are stored physically. The purpose of not storing all details digitally was to ensure that it cannot be gathered easily to achieve the object of the scheme, claimed the plea, adding the timeline of three weeks fixed by the court in its February 15 judgment would not be sufficient for the entire exercise to be completed. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit out at the government in a post on X, saying, The Pradhan Mantri Chanda Chipao Yojana, implemented by the SBI, is built on lie. The Air India group on Friday announced a slew of activities celebrating International Women's Day. An Air India Express flight The airline group informed that a total of 15 all-women crew flights were operated in the domestic and international sectors today. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Over 15 per cent of the cockpit crew of Air India are women - making it an airline with one of the largest numbers of women pilots," Air India group said. It further added that women employees constitute as much as 51 per cent of Air India's workforce. READ | Air India uses classical dance and folk art forms to tell the story of inflight safety, video wows people "In the last two years since the homecoming of Air India to the Tata group, there has been a sharp rise in the number of women employees in every sphere of the airline's activities. At Air India Express, over 13 per cent of pilots are women and close to 50 per cent of the workforce comprises women employees," an official statement issued by Air India read. Air India further informed that it has organised week-long programmes to inspire women employees across the network through webinars and live sessions with experts in various fields and role models for wider awareness and inspiration. READ | International women's day 2024: Key state government schemes for females It further informed that as a special gesture to customers, Air India Express is offering free seat selection and priority boarding services to all female passengers today through its mobile app and website. "Air India Loyalty Programme Flying Returns is offering its women members a fast-track limited-time opportunity to skip the queue and upgrade to Silver Edge Club, which will offer them exclusive benefits like 15 per cent more reward points, complimentary upgrades, and priority check-in services," the statement issued by the airline read. This year, International Women's Day is celebrated under the theme "Invest in women: Accelerate Progress." The superintendent of Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam was arrested on Friday in connection with the seizure of electronic gadgets from the possession of inmates belonging to the radical outfit Waris Punjab De, news agency PTI reported, quoting police sources. The officer was arrested in the morning due to laxity and is currently at Dibrugarh Sadar Police Station. Ten members of the pro-Khalistani group, including its leader Amritpal Singh and one of his relatives, have been arrested in Dibrugarh since March 19 last year. (HT Photo) The official was further quoted by PTI as saying that the arrest was linked to the confiscation of electronic devices from cells housing inmates under the National Security Act (NSA) last month. Among the items seized from inmates associated with the pro-Khalistani outfit were a smartphone with a SIM card, a keypad phone, a TV remote with a keyboard, a spy camera pen, pen drives, Bluetooth headphones, and speakers. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Security breach in Dibrugarh jail A significant security lapse was identified in the National Security Act (NSA) cell of the heavily guarded Dibrugarh jail in Assam last month. This is where the separatist leader and Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh and his companions are currently detained. "Reference NSA Detenues at Dibrugarh Jail, Assam-On receipt of information about unauthorised activities taking place in NSA cell, additional CCTV cameras were installed in the public area of NSA block," Director General of Police GP Singh had posted on X. Upon being alerted to these activities, extra CCTV cameras were installed in the communal zones of the NSA wing. The prison employs a comprehensive security setup, featuring round-the-clock three-tier security, CCTV surveillance, and close coordination between state and central authorities. Pro-Khalistani outfit members in Dibrugarh jail Ten members of the pro-Khalistani group, including its leader Amritpal Singh and one of his relatives, have been arrested in Dibrugarh since March 19 last year. They were apprehended under the National Security Act (NSA) from various locations in Punjab during a crackdown on the organisation. The radical Sikh preacher and his nine associates, including his relative, were detained under the NSA and transferred to a jail in Assam, where stringent security measures were implemented. Subsequently, their family members and legal representatives were permitted to visit them. Amritpal Singh is reportedly housed in solitary confinement, while his associates are held in separate cells. Before their arrest, Singh had been evading Punjab Police for over a month during their crackdown on him and his followers. Upon their transfer to Dibrugarh, extensive security measures were enacted, including installing additional CCTV cameras and repairing or replacing malfunctioning cameras. Dibrugarh prison, established in 1859-60, is renowned as one of the oldest and most secure penitentiaries in Northeast India. West Bengal is the safest state in the country for women, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday, as she accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading rumours about Sandeshkhali, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government over alleged atrocities against women in the village. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. (Samir Jana/HT) Addressing a Mahilader Adhikar, Amader Angikar (womens rights, our commitment) rally in central Kolkata, Banerjee, who is also the president of TMC, said: Some people are spreading rumours about Sandeshkhali. Not all fingers in ones hand are the same. In some cases, we dont have the knowledge. If it is brought to our notice, we take action. I dont spare even TMC men... Women from Sandeshkhali are here in the rally today. They came to share sandesh or positive messages. I thank them. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. She added: BJP has only one agenda - implicate TMC men in false cases, send the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation after them, send them to jail and win the elections by force. Banerjee also attacked the BJP over the security of women in states ruled by the party. I ask them why are they so angry with Bengal? If the BJP is confident of winning, why malign? Even yesterday, BJP leaders said that cases of atrocities against women are highest in West Bengal. I challenge this. Bengal is the safest state for women. People dont get justice in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, she said. Where were the BJP leaders when women were set on fire and paraded naked in Manipur? You talk about womens respect. Sakshi (Malik) is a proof. A BJP MP was accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers and his aide was elected as the president of the wrestling federation. Hathras victim didnt get any justice. Have you forgotten Bilkis Bano? she added. Hitting back, BJP leader Rahul Sinha said: Being a woman chief minister, Mamata Banerjee did not stand beside the woman victims of Sandeshkhali. Instead, her government and police tried to shield Sheikh Shahjahan (main accused). They went up to the Supreme Court. So all these statements dont suit her. RAIPUR: The Congress put its faith in its senior leadership in Chhattisgarh in the first list for Lok Sabha candidates, with three former ministers including former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel among the six candidates announced on Friday evening. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel (Ayush Sharma) Senior Congress party leaders said that they hoped that the heft of its senior leaders would help the party regain lost ground in the state, where they currently hold only two of the 11 Lok Sabha seats on offer, and suffered a debilitating defeat in the assembly elections in December 2023, when they won only 35 seats in a 90 member assembly. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Apart from Baghel, the other five candidates declared by the Congress on Friday are former state home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu who will fight from Mahasamund, former urban affairs minister Shivkumar Dahariya from Janjgir Champa, sitting MP Jyotsana Mahant and the wife of leader of opposition Charandas Mahant from Korba, former MLA Vikas Upadhyaya from Raipur, and newcomer Rajendra Sahu from Durg. Baghel will contest from Rajnandgaon, once the seat of former three-time chief minister and now assembly speaker Raman Singh. This is the third time Baghel will contest parliamentary elections after he contested from Durg in 2004 and Raipur in 2009, losing on both occasions. Senior Congress leaders said that Baghels name had been picked after extensive deliberations, with the Congress high command keen for prominent leaders to contest the elections. The decision to shift to Rajnandgaon from his home district of Durg, leaders said, was also considered, with the Congress winning five of the eight assembly segments in 2023, despite losses elsewhere in the state. We won five seats in Rajnandgaon and Bhupesh jis image is very positive in rural Chhattisgarh. Rajnandgaon is predominantly a rural seat. We are hoping that Baghels candidature galvanises the cadre, and helps us across the 11 seats, the leader said. The BJP has already announced its candidate for the Rajnandgaon seat, with sitting MP Santosh Pandey in the fray again. Hours before the list was released, Baghel said on Friday: If the party decides that I have to fight, I will follow the high command. Political experts however said that despite the emphasis on party heavyweights, the Congress has an uphill task ahead. Harsh Dubey, a Chhattisgarh-based political commentator said, There is a Modi influence in Chhattisgarh, but it seems that the way the Congress has decided to combat this is to bank on senior leaders. It seems difficult but we can now expect some more senior names in the next list. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday reacted to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's decision to re-contest from Kerala's Wayanad in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat's Jhalod town.(Reuters) Former union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned why Gandhi was not contesting elections from Amethi. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. He also alleged that Gandhi is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad due to the Congres party's dependence on minority politics. He (Rahul Gandhi) claims that the entire nation is in Congress' favour then why he is not contesting elections from Amethi? Prasad was quoted as saying by ANI. He went to Wayanad because the minorities are in the majority there. Congress' whole politics is dependent on minorities. Rahul Gandhi is set to contest from Keralas Wayanad seat again in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the partys central election committee (CEC) decided on Thursday evening, people aware of developments said. Also Read | Suspense continues over Rahul Gandhis candidature from Amethi There is speculation that Gandhi may also fight from Uttar Pradeshs Amethi, a seat he won in 2004, 2009 and 2014 before losing in 2019, said the people cited above, though seats from the state were not discussed in Thursdays meeting. Congress CEC meeting Besides Rahul Gandhi, the names of about 50 candidates were cleared by the Congress CEC in its first meeting on Thursday to finalise names for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Congress MP Shashi Tharoors name was cleared from Thiruvananthapuram. Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, and former deputy CM of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, were asked to contest the polls. Both of them were present at the CEC meeting. Jyotsna Mahants name was cleared from Chhattisgarh. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, general secretary KC Venugopal attended the meeting while Rahul Gandhi joined the meeting via Zoom. After the CEC meeting, Sachin Pilot said a detailed discussion was held over each seat and the decision will be announced soon. "Whichever person is in the position to win will be asked to contest," Sachin Pilot said. The Cabinet on Thursday approved the national IndiaAI mission with a budget outlay of 10,371.92 crore in a major push for the country to become an artificial intelligence hub by developing large language models, building AI infrastructure and upskilling its workforce. Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal addresses a Cabinet Briefing, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI) The IndiaAI Mission aims to establish the country as a leader in AI through initiatives like developing computing infrastructure involving over 10,000 GPUs (graphics processing units) in partnership with the private sector, setting up an AI datasets platform to give startups and researchers access to non-personal data and other measures to foster innovation. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. It will act as a one-stop solution for resources critical for AI innovation, the Union ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity) said in a statement following a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister has democratised technology. With the AI mission, we will now make computer power available to innovators, start-ups, students, and educational institutions, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union minister for IT said. AI is going to be the kinetic enabler for Indias digital economy. Prime Minister Modi ji has always said that India is going to fully exploit the power of AI for the benefit of its citizens and for the expansion of its economy, said the minister of state for Meity, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who also holds the portfolio for skill development and entrepreneurship. To build up the compute capacity in the country, this mission will also design an AI marketplace that will offer AI as a service and pre-trained models to AI innovators. The AI mission will establish an IndiaAI Innovation Centre to develop and deploy indigenous Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) and domain-specific foundational models in critical sectors. The move comes as AI technologies such as ChatGPT spark a global frenzy and countries race to keep pace by regulating their development and use. Indias AI market is projected to reach $7.8 billion by 2025, according to one estimate cited by the IndiaAI website. The plans align with recommendations by a government working group last year, which suggested monetising non-personal data through a marketplace to drive AI development while preserving privacy, mooting a marketplace called the India Dataset Platform (IDP). Seven components are largely what an expert group of seven working groups had recommended in their report that was released by Chandrasekhar in October 13. The mission will also focus on increasing the number of AI courses at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels through IndiaAI FutureSkills. Data and AI Labs will also be set up in tier 2 and tier 3 cities to teach foundation level courses, the government announced. Thursdays announcement come as revolutionary AI tools rapidly emerge and their potential threats from perpetuating biased algorithms to existential risks have propelled countries to urgently explore ways to govern the technologys growth while also focussing on the need to stay abreast of innovations. Recognizing the need for adequate guardrails to advance the responsible development, deployment, and adoption of AI, the Safe & Trusted AI pillar will enable the implementation of responsible AI projects including the development of indigenous tools and frameworks, self-assessment checklists for innovators, and other guidelines and governance frameworks, the statement said. New Delhi The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved a highly anticipated project for the design and prototype development of an indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter, or the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA), at a cost of around 15,000 crore, officials aware of the matter said on Thursday. HT Image It is perhaps the most significant military project to be cleared by the government before Indias general elections due in April-May. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The project will involve the design and development of five twin-engine AMCA prototypes, with the stealth fighter likely to go into production only after a decade, the officials said, asking not to be named. The Indian Air Forces (IAF) modernisation map envisages the deployment of around 120 stealth fighters (six squadrons) 2035 onwards, with the advanced planes forming an important element of future air combat. The Defence Research and Development Organisations (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency and state-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be involved in the AMCA project, which will be developed in two phases, as previously reported by HT. The first two squadrons will consist of the Mk-1 version of AMCA powered by the American F-414 engines, while the remaining four squadrons will have the more advanced Mk-2 version equipped with an even more powerful engine to be built in India with foreign collaboration. The joint production of GE Aerospaces F-414 engines in India will help the country overcome a striking technology gap, lay the foundation for indigenous development of bigger jet engines and possibly open doors to exports; and the American company and HAL could hammer out a deal this year. Fifth generation fighters come with stealth features to increase survivability in combat, advanced avionics, smart weapons stored internally, top-end mission computers, 360-degree situational awareness, and super-cruise capability that will allow it to fly at supersonic speeds for extended periods without kicking in fuel-guzzling afterburners. The critical design review of AMCA was cleared some time ago and the CCS approval was much awaited. This paves the path for the full-scale development of AMCA, which is crucial for IAFs future combat capabilities and Indias Atmanirbharta drive. As China is pushing ahead with deploying its own fifth generation aircraft, we need to hasten the AMCA project to give IAF a matching capability, said Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), director general, Centre for Air Power Studies. GE and HAL signed a memorandum of understanding in Washington in June 2023 to produce 99 F-414 engines for Indias light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk-2 programme during Prime Minister Narendra Modis US visit last year. The deal will involve 80% transfer of technology (ToT) and is estimated to be worth around $1 billion. Also, French engine maker Safran is willing to transfer 100% technology to build fighter jet engines in the country. DRDO was earlier looking at incorporating sixth-generation technologies in AMCA and examining the possibility of equipping it with directed energy weapons, superior anti-missile systems, advanced missile approach warning systems and teaming it with unmanned systems. Sixth-generation technologies are more advanced than those in any fighter jet currently in service globally. India was earlier planning to co-develop a stealth fighter with Russia, but the proposed fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) project was abandoned after IAF expressed strong reservations over high cost and limited technology of transfer. Achieving self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector is a top priority for the government. In a big push for the ongoing self-reliance drive, the defence ministry on March 1 signed five contracts worth 39,125 crore for BrahMos missiles, ship borne Brahmos systems, close-in weapon systems, high-power radars, and aero-engines for MiG-29 fighter planes. India has sharpened its focus on the defence manufacturing sector during the last five to six years and taken several measures to achieve self-reliance. These include banning the import of a range of weapons, systems and parts, creating a separate budget for buying locally made military hardware, increasing foreign direct investment from 49% to 74% and improving ease of doing business. Father of a 29-year-old man has been arrested for killing his son with sharp-edged weapons in south Delhi hours before his wedding procession was to leave for his would-be brides residence, police said. Gaurav Singhal. (HT Photo) Gaurav Singhal, a gym owner, was stabbed multiple times and succumbed to his injuries shortly after being rushed to a nearby hospital on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Investigators probing the case found a long trail of blood led to the room where Singhals body was discovered, suggesting that the body was dragged inside the room to avoid immediate discovery of the crime. Also Read: Delhiites shocked as ceilings collapse in Vasant Kunj, Greater Noida malls Initial investigations into the murder unveiled a tumultuous relationship between Gaurav and his father, according to police. During the probe, it came to light that the father and son did not have a cordial relationship. The accused has also told the Police that he has no regrets and he should have done it earlier. Further probe underway, ANI quoted Delhi Police as saying. Police also discovered several shoe marks of different sizes in and around the room, leading them to suspect that more than one person was involved in the murder. Also Read: Hoax bomb threat at Delhi's Ram Lal Anand College, students evacuated A police officer aware of the case said that an initial investigation into the case has revealed that Gaurav did not want to get married, but was being pressured by his father. Through local enquiry, we have learnt that Singhal was in love with another woman and wanted to marry her. His family did not approve of his relationship. We have learnt that Singhal and his father often had altercations over that issue, the officer said, on condition of anonymity. Further investigation is underway, they said. The Election Commission of India (ECI) clarified on Friday that no dates have been announced yet for Lok Sabha elections. The Election Commission of India ECI said that a fake message was being shared on WhatsApp regarding the election schedule adding that dates will be announced by the commission through a press conference. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "A fake message is being shared on WhatsApp regarding the schedule for #LokSabhaElections2024 #FactCheck: The message is #Fake. No dates have been announced so far by #ECI. The Election Schedule is announced by the Commission through a press conference. #VerifyBeforeYouAmplify," ECI said in a post on X. Taking note of the various trends and cases of plummeting levels of political campaign discourse in recently-held elections, the Election Commission earlier in February this year issued an advisory to all political parties to maintain decorum and utmost restraint in public campaigning and raise the level of election campaigning to "issue-based" debate. READ | Lok Sabha elections: Narendra Modi-led NDA may win 378 seats; INDIA bloc may win 98, says India TV-CNX opinion poll The Election Commission will assess any indirect MCC violations as per advisory as a fair basis to rework the notices to be given in terms of time and content in the forthcoming elections, according to sources. For the general election to the Lok Sabha and four state Legislative assemblies, all phases and geographical areas of the elections shall be the basis for determining "repeat" offences. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar recently emphasised that political parties should foster ethical and respectful political discourse that inspires rather than divides and promotes ideas instead of personal attacks. The poll body has also put 'star campaigners' and candidates on 'notice' in case of violations that followed the previously known methodologies during elections to avoid breach of the Model Code of Conduct. A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court will be hearing a plea filed by the State Bank of India on Monday, seeking an extension till June 30 to fully disclose the details of the electoral bonds encashed by political parties till date. This comes shortly after the top court decided to scrap the scheme, deeming it unconstitutional. The Supreme Court to hear SBI's plea on March 11 (ANI) Apart from the plea seeking the extension of the deadline, the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud will also hear a separate petition which has sought initiation of contempt action against the SBI in the same case. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict on February 15, scrapping Centre's electoral bonds scheme which allowed anonymous funding for political parties, calling the policy unconstitutional. The apex court bench also ordered the disclosure of all the donors by the Election Commission, as well as the amount donated and the recipients by March 15. Ordering closure of the scheme forthwith, the top court had directed the SBI, the authorised financial institution under the scheme, to submit by March 6 the details of the electoral bonds purchased since April 12, 2019 till date to the Election Commission which was asked to publish the information on its official website by March 13. However, the State Bank of India moved the Supreme Court on March 4, seeking an extension of the deadline till June 30 to disclose the electoral bonds data. The bank said that the procedure of retrieving and matching the information of each silo is a time-taking exercise. Why is SBI facing contempt action? After SBI filed its plea seeking an extension on the deadline, a separate plea was filed in the Supreme Court by NGOs Association for Democratic Reforms and Common Cause, seeking the initiation of contempt proceedings against the bank for allegedly disobeying the top court. The plea application by ADR claimed that SBI's application seeking an extension of time has been deliberately filed at the last moment to ensure that details of donor and the amount of donations are not disclosed to the public before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The contempt plea said, The petitioner herein is filing the instant petition seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against State Bank of India for wilfully and deliberately disobeying the order dated February 15 passed by this court wherein this court directed SBI to submit details of contribution made to the political parties through electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India by March 6. The next hearing on the matter will take place on March 11. (With inputs from PTI) New Delhi: The right to dissent in a lawful manner must be treated as a part of the right to lead a dignified life under the Constitution, the Supreme Court held on Thursday, noting that every citizen of India has a right to be critical of the abrogation of Article 370 and the change of status of Jammu & Kashmir. The apex court held that describing August 5 as a Black Day is an expression of protest and anguish. (Sanjay Sharma) A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said that if every criticism or protest of the actions of the State is to be held as an offence under section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), democracy, which is an essential feature of the Constitution of India, will not survive. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also Read | Article 370 was biggest wall in J&Ks progress, we razed it: Modi Section 153A of IPC penalises promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. The offence is punishable with imprisonment up to three years, or with fine, or with both. The right to dissent in a legitimate and lawful manner is an integral part of the rights guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a). Every individual must respect the right of others to dissent. An opportunity to peacefully protest against the decisions of the Government is an essential part of democracy. The right to dissent in a lawful manner must be treated as a part of the right to lead a dignified and meaningful life guaranteed by Article 21, said the bench. The top courts remarks came as it quashed a criminal case lodged against Javed Ahmad Hajam, a Kashmiri Muslim professor working in a Kolhapur college in Maharashtra who was booked under section 153A of IPC for putting out a WhatsApp status in a group terming August 5 -Black Day for Jammu & Kashmir and celebrating Independence day of Pakistan on August 14. The apex court held that describing August 5 as a Black Day is an expression of protest and anguish and that the professor intended to criticise the action of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution on that day. Also Read | Challenge after Article 370 Every citizen of India has a right to be critical of the action of abrogation of Article 370 and the change of status of Jammu & Kashmir, it said. In its judgment, the bench said now, the time has come to enlighten and educate our police machinery on the concept of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and the extent of reasonable restraint on their free speech and expression. They must be sensitised about the democratic values enshrined in our Constitution, it said. Hajams parents, teachers, and students were all members of the WhatsApp group, the bench noted. It, thus, held: We cannot apply the standards of people with weak and vacillating minds. For over 75 years, our nation has been a democratic republic. The citizens of our nation understand the value of democratic principles. Thus, it is impossible to draw the conclusion that the remarks will encourage animosity, hostility, or malice between various religious groups. Regarding the accusation that the image with the phrases Chand and 14th AugustHappy Independence Day Pakistan beneath it was released, the court ruled that it would not be subject to 153A of IPC. Every citizen has the right to extend good wishes to the citizens of the other countries on their respective independence days. If a citizen of India extends good wishes to the citizens of Pakistan on 14th August, which is their Independence Day, there is nothing wrong with it. Its a gesture of goodwill. In such a case, it cannot be said that such acts will tend to create disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious groups, the bench said. Motives cannot be attributed to the appellant only because he belongs to a particular religion, it added. It further noted: Merely because a few individuals may develop hatred or ill will, it will not be sufficient to attract clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 153-A of the IPC. The bench said the right to dissent in a lawful manner must be treated as a part of the right to lead a dignified and meaningful life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution. New Delhi:India on Friday said it is focused on the safety and security of all its citizens in Israel following the death of an Indian and injuries to two more in a missile attack carried out by Hezbollah in support of Hamas. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (File Photo) Pat Nibin Maxwell, a resident of Kerala, was killed when a missile fired from Lebanon struck an orchard at Galilee in northern Israel on March 4. Following his death, the Indian embassy in Israel advised the Indians, especially those working in or visiting border areas in north and south Israel, to relocate to safer areas. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. We have over 18,000 caregivers and other professionals in Israel. Their safety and security is of prime concern for us, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular news briefing. Also Read: Move to safer places, says India after 1 citizen killed in missile attack on Israel The Indian embassy is doing its best to ensure the safety of all the Indian nationals working in Israel, he said. Theyve opened a helpline. We have issued an advisory for their safety and security, he added. Jaiswal reiterated that the advisory had asked Indians in Israel to exercise caution and keep themselves in safe areas for their security. A helpline is there, if anybody needs help, they can contact the embassy, he said. Responding to a question about Israels efforts to recruit Indians from some Indian states to replace Palestinian workers in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Jaiswal said the government-to-government agreement in this regard is still in the works. India has urged the world community to ensure the conflict in Gaza doesnt spread beyond the region and to seek a two-state solution where Palestinian people can live within secure borders. In a setback for the Congress unit in Kerala ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, its leader and daughter of former chief minister K Karunakaran, Padmaja Venugopal crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday. Padmaja Venugopal is the daughter of former Kerala chief minister K Karunakaran. (HT photo) The 64-year-old leader accepted the BJP membership from the partys Kerala-in-charge Prakash Javadekar at the party headquarters in Delhi. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. I was not happy with the Congress party for many years, especially after the last assembly election. I complained to the party high command many times but there was no response. I came to see the leadership but they didnt even give me an appointment. My father also had the same experience, she later told reporters. A former KPCC general secretary, Padmaja complained that many within the Congress worked to defeat her in the Thrissur assembly constituency in the 2021 state elections. I know exactly who all are behind my defeat in the last election. I complained to the state leadership but I was ignored. There was a point where I could not even work freely in my constituency, she said. The former Congress leader said that she joined the BJP as she acknowledged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a strong leader. I want to work in peace, she said. Though Padmaja worked at different levels of the Congress organisation, aided by her identity as the daughter of veteran leader and four-time CM Karunakaran, she was not successful in the electoral arena. She lost all three elections she fought on Congress ticket one to the Lok Sabha in Mukundapuram constituency in 2004 and twice to the assembly from Thrissur in 2016 and 2021. In 2021, she lost by just over 1,000 votes to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate. With this, the children of two Congress stalwarts Ak Antony and Karunakaran are now in the BJP. Anil, son of AK Antony, had joined the BJP in April last year and is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Pathanamthitta seat. K Muraleedharan, brother of Padmaja and the sitting Congress MP from Vatakara, said he would break off his ties with her as she betrayed the party. The soul of our father would never forgive her for allying with communal forces. She has cheated the party that our father built and worked so hard for. So I will not have any relations with her anymore, he said. Padmajas entry into the BJP on Thursday gave the CPM leadership in Kerala a motive to attack the Congress. Though CPM and Congress are part of the INDIA bloc nationally, in Kerala, they remain fierce rivals. CPM state secretary MV Govindan said, There are no ideological differences between the Congress and the BJP and so anyone can leave the Cong to join the BJP. Thats the situation in India today. In Kerala, the flow of Congress leaders was slow earlier but now it has speeded up. New Delhi The government is committed to continue the minimum support price (MSP) regime, Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday, adding that it is considering procuring the entire quantity of maize and pulses from farmers at MSP to encourage diversification of crops from unsustainable, water-guzzling crops like rice. New Delhi: Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal during an interview, at the PTI office, in New Delhi, Friday, March 8, 2024. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan) (PTI03_08_2024_000259B) (PTI) On cotton cultivation, he said the government is considering to purchase the entire quantity of the produce from farmers across the country at MSP without any condition of diversification. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Read here: Farm loan wavier, legalising MSP to be in Congress manifesto, claims Partap Singh Bajwa According to experts, excessive focus on paddy production in states such as Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh has resulted in depletion of the water table and deterioration of soil health, which is why maize, pulses and cottons are seen as better alternatives. A senior official who did not wish to be named said the government is considering nudging farmers with guaranteed procurement of three types of pulses -- tur, urad and masoor -- and maize at MSP for sustainable agriculture. Maize and pulses could be grown simultaneously as the former only has a 40-day cycle, said the official, who wished not to be named. Procurement could be done through government agencies such as the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers Federation Of India Limited (NCCF). While procured pulses could be sold in the market at subsidised rates to citizens under the Bharat brand, maize could be used for producing ethanol in place of sugarcane or rice, he said. Producing ethanol from sugarcane makes no sense. Yes, molasses could be used for this purpose after extracting sugar, the official added. Similarly, the cotton procured would be sold in the market above the MSP, he said. The government, which has already achieved 12% blending of ethanol with petrol, has raised the target to 20% by 2025. The government has started working on a plan to implement the move for sustainable agriculture. The food and consumer affairs ministry is setting up an online portal where farmers would register with their details such as Aadhaar number and self-certify details to avail benefits of crop diversification. The move is in line with a proposal of the central government offered last month to farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border. The Centre proposed buying three types of pulses, maize and cotton at MSP for five years after entering into an agreement with farmers. The proposal was not accepted by the protesting farmers. In an interview with news agency PTI, Goyal said the Modi government is committed to the welfare of farmers and exuded confidence that farmer leaders will call off their protest. Goyal, along with Union agriculture minister Arjun Munda, and minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai, has held four rounds of talks with the farmers groups seeking a legal guarantee on MSP. Read here: Reimagine MSP regime to secure farm future Please dont get misled by the propaganda of some people. This government is committed to the interests of farmers and we are totally committed to a bright future for every farmer, the report quoting the minister said. According to the official mentioned above, the government is concerned about the deteriorating soil health of the region that has over-dependence on paddy cultivation due to historic reasons and finds diversification of crops as the best solution. Srinagar A developed Jammu & Kashmir is a priority for a developed India as the region sits at the head of the country and a head held high is a symbol of progress and respect, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday as he promised to win hearts on his first visit to the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 five years ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Shankaracharya Hill in Srinagar on Thursday. (ANI) At a massive rally in Srinagar, Modi hailed the scrapping of the erstwhile states special status, blamed previous governments for choking development funds for poor, backward communities and women, and credited his administration for spurring jobs and infrastructure, and cracking down on corruption. In his 27-minute address, he also did not mention Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, a rarity for a Prime Minister visiting the restive region. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Jammu-Kashmir is not just a place, Jammu-Kashmir is the head of India. And a head held high is a symbol of development and respect. Therefore, viksit (developed) Jammu & Kashmir is the priority of Viksit Bharat, he said to loud cheers at the iconic Bakshi Stadium. Modi dedicated to the nation agriculture projects worth 5,000 crore and tourism projects sector worth 1,400 crore. He also launched the Dekho Apna Desh Peoples Choice Tourist Destination Poll and India Global Diaspora Campaign in addition to distributing appointment orders to about 1,000 new government recruits and interacting with beneficiaries of various schemes, especially women. Modi will not leave any stone unturned to repay this debt of affection. I am doing all this hard work to win your hearts and I believe that I am on the right path, he said. My attempts to win your hearts will continue, and that is a Modi guarantee, he added. The Opposition termed the PMs speech as disappointing and said that it failed to meet the expectations of the people. Modis speech came just weeks ahead of general elections the first large-scale polls to be held in the region that has only voted in local-body elections since 2019. It was his first address in the Valley roughly five years after his government controversially scrapped the regions special status on August 5, 2019, put a host of regional leaders in temporary detention, suspended internet services for several years, and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union territories Jammu & Kashmir with a legislative assembly, and Ladakh without one. Since then, the Union government has repeatedly credited the decision to revoke Article 370 as responsible for a drastic reduction in terrorism and corruption, and increase in employment and development. Modi, too, repeatedly praised the decision to nullify Article 370, a step the Opposition has termed undemocratic but one that has been upheld by the Supreme Court. Jammu & Kashmir is touching new heights of development after the abrogation of Article 370. Jammu & Kashmir is touching new heights of development today because it is breathing freely. Jammu & Kashmir has broken the shackles after abrogation of Article 370, he said at the Viksit Bharat, Viksit Jammu Kashmir rally. The PM said there was a time when laws and welfare schemes implemented in the rest of the country were not enforced in Jammu & Kashmir. Now see how time has changed. Today from Srinagar, schemes for not only J&K but the whole country have started. J&K is ahead in promoting tourism for the whole country. Modi said that Article 370 benefited only political parties with dynastic rule, a reference towards the Congress, National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party, all of whom have opposed the abrogation of the special status. Today, Jammu & Kashmir is touching new peaks of development because Jammu and Kashmir is openly breathing now. This freedom from fetters has come after the abrogation of Article 370. For decades, the Congress and its allies deceived the people of J&K and the country in the name of Article 370 for political benefit, he said. The PM questioned if Article 370 benefited the people or only some political families. They (political families) were benefiting from it. J&Ks people have now understood that they were being deceived. J&K was trapped in chains for the benefit of some families. Today, Article 370 is not there, hence the abilities of the youth of J&K are fully respected. Today there are equal opportunities and rights for all, he said. Modi said that refugees from Pakistan, people from the Valmiki communities and sanitation workers had no voting rights for 70 years, which had now changed. Valmiki community got the benefits of scheduled caste category after demanding for years. Seats have been reserved for scheduled tribes. Pahari, Gada Brahmin and Koli communities have been included in STs, he said, blaming dynastic parties for depriving people of these rights for decades. Every section is seeing a return of their rights. In J&K, dynasticism and corruption has been in a secret union. The PM said that the feeling of arriving in heaven on earth a quote often attributed to Mughal emperor Jahangir cannot be put into words. This unparalleled form of nature, the air, the valley, the environment and the love and affection of Kashmiri brothers and sisters, he said. The PM also acknowledged the presence of citizens outside the venue, and more than 100,000 people from 285 blocks connected to the event via video link. Underlining that the new Jammu & Kashmir is one that was awaited for decades, Modi said, Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerji had sacrificed for this Jammu & Kashmir. He said that the new Jammu & Kashmir had the sparkle for the future in its eyes and the determination to clear all obstacles. 140 crore citizens feel at peace when they see the smiling faces of the people of Jammu & Kashmir The success story of Jammu and Kashmir will be the centre of attraction for the world. The PM blamed what he called the mismanagement of the Jammu & Kashmir Bank, which was embroiled in a 1,110 crore scandal in 2019, and called it a victim of dynasty politics and corruption. He mentioned 1,000 crore assistance to the bank and action against wrongful appointments. He highlighted transparent recruitments in the last five years. As a result, the J&K Bank profit has reached 1,700 crores and business has reached 2.25 lakh crores from 1.25 crore rupees five years ago. Deposits also increased from 80,000 crores to 1.25 lakh croresWhen there is an honest government, the intention is for the welfare of the people, then the people can be brought out of every difficulty, he said. Modi highlighted the successful hosting of the G20 events in the region and the boom in tourism. There was a time when people questioned who would visit Jammu & Kashmir for tourism. Today, Jammu & Kashmir are breaking all tourism records. In 2023 alone, Jammu and Kashmir welcomed over 2 crore tourists, surpassing previous records. Over the past 10 years, the Amarnath Yatra has witnessed the highest number of pilgrims participating, and Vaishno Devi also recorded a significant increase in devotee footfall, he said. He mentioned two new AIIMS in the region, seven new medical colleges, two cancer hospitals and institutes such as IIT and IIM in the region. He urged the tourists visiting Kashmir to spend at least 5-10% of their tour packages on shopping that will generate livelihood and job opportunities for locals. You cannot come, see and go back. You should spend 5-10% on shopping. I have also purchased from here, he said. Encouraging tourists to contribute to the local economy, he also called upon NRIs to participate in the Chalo India initiative. He said under the Dekho Apna Desh Peoples Choice campaign, 40 places were identified by the government to be developed as tourist destinations in the next two years. As a part of this, the government would develop the most preferred tourist destinations based on public opinion Reacting to Modis comments, National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said, It is the same worn-out rhetoric that Jammu and Kashmir has been hearing for the past five years, yet theres still a lack of confidence in holding elections. People were eagerly awaiting announcements regarding statehood, a promise of a democratically elected government by September, job packages for the unemployed, relief from the power crisis, and major development projects. Unfortunately, none of these expectations were met. Instead, they were presented with recycled projects. PDP additional spokesperson said, He should have spoken on land and job rights of people of J&K, statehood and assembly elections. Unfortunately, he didnt touch that topic. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his criticism of now-abrogated Article 370 which granted special status to the erstwhile state. Jammu and Kashmir ex-CM Farooq Abdullah(File photo) During his Kashmir visit on Thursday, PM Modi claimed Article 370 was used for political gains and only a few families took advantage of it. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "I am glad that PM visited Kashmir after five years. It is a moment of pride for all of us. This dynastic rule is a kind of common voice I heard also in the Parliament. In every speech that PM makes he makes a particular target on it. If Article 370 was so bad, I would like the Prime Minister to re-hear the speech made in the Rajya Sabha by the then Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad in which he compared two states. He compared Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir in terms of progress when Article 370 was there," said Abdullah on Thursday as quoted by news agency ANI. Criticising PM Modi over his tirade against dynastic rule and his claims of the rise of a "new Jammu and Kashmir" after the abrogation of the now-scrapped constitutional provision, Abdullah said, Now, if Article 370 and nepotism are responsible, then how did we make that progress? It is the people's rule, I lost the election as a chief minister. So, where is the dynastic rule? ALSO READ| PM Narendra Modi announces reduction in LPG cylinder price, Opposition questions timing What PM Modi had said In his maiden visit to Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 by his government in 2019, PM Modi addressed a public rally in Srinagar's Bakshi stadium on Thursday. "For decades, for political gains, Congress and its allies misled the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the name of 370 and misled the country. Did Jammu and Kashmir benefit from Article 370 or were only a few political families taking advantage of it? The people of Jammu and Kashmir have come to know the truth that they were misled. Jammu and Kashmir was kept in chains for the benefit of a few families," said the Prime Minister. "Today there is no Article 370, hence the talent of the youth of J&K is being fully respected and they are getting new opportunities. Today there are equal rights and equal opportunities for everyone here," he added. In a major setback to the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the Income Tax Tribunal on Friday dismissed the party's plea seeking a stay against the income tax department's action against Congress's bank accounts. Advocate Vivek Tankha appeared for the Congress and requested the tribunal to defer the order for 10 days so that the party can approach the high court but the tribunal bench declined it and said there was no such provision. The income tax department alleged that Congress did not pay taxes in the tune of 210 crore.(PTI) In February, the income tax department seized the party's four main bank accounts on an income tax demand of 210 crore for 2018-19. The party approached the tribunal seeking a stay on the action of the income tax department and said the party won't be able to pay bills and salaries if their accounts were frozen. Pending the hearing and the verdict in the case, the income tax department mandated banks to transfer over 65 crore from Congress, IYC and NSUI accounts to the government, Congress treasurer Ajay Maken alleged on February 21. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Is it common for National Political Parties to pay Income Tax? No. Does the BJP pay Income Tax? No. Why then is the Congress Party facing an unprecedented demand of 210 crores?" Ajay Maken wrote. What is the income tax case against Congress? The allegation against Congress is that the party did not pay its income tax dues for the financial year 2017-18, the assessment year 2018-19. The initial dues were 103 crore and 32 crore in interest accrued on late payment. The dues were reassessed at 105 crore on July 6, 2021. The Congress then appealed before Commissioner Appeals but did not pay the mandatory 20% of the tax. As the case dragged on, the party made some payments but did not dispute the tax-due amount, income tax department sources said. Reacting to the tribunal verdict, Ajay Maken said it is an attack on democracy as it has come before the national elections. The party will explore legal options on the tribunal order and will move the high court against it, Maken said. Vivek Tankha said the tribunal did not follow its past precedents in its 'disappointing' order. New Delhi: India on Friday urged its nationals not to risk their lives by taking up support jobs with the Russian Army and said authorities are focused on securing the speedy discharge of all persons in such positions so that they can be brought home. Indian authorities have stepped up efforts to get all citizens discharged from the Russian Army (Representative Photo) Following the death of at least two Indians serving with Russian military units fighting on the frontlines with Ukraine, Indian authorities have stepped up efforts to get all citizens discharged from the Russian Army while simultaneously cracking down on agents who recruited people for such jobs on false pretexts. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. There is, however, still no word from Indian authorities on the exact number of citizens serving as support staff in the Russian Army. Reports have suggested the number could be as high as 100. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal didnt provide details in this regard, only saying that authorities are aware of more than 20 cases of individuals who have sought help to be discharged from support jobs. Several Indian nationals have been duped to work with the Russian Army. We have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian government for early discharge of such Indian nationals, Jaiswal told a regular weekly news briefing. We once again appeal to Indian nationals to not be swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian Army. This is fraught with danger and risk to life, he said. India remains committed to the early release of its nationals serving as support staff with the Russian Army and their return home, he added. On Wednesday, India confirmed the death of 30-year-old Hyderabad resident Mohammed Asfan, who succumbed to injuries sustained while serving with Russian troops on the frontlines with Ukraine. He was the second Indian to be killed after Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangukiya, a 23-year-old resident of Surat in Gujarat, who died in a Ukrainian air strike last month while serving as a security helper at Donetsk. The death of the two Indians and reports of several more being injured, as well as, videos posted by more Indians on social media seeking help to get out of their jobs with the Russian Army, have increased pressure on the government to bring back all citizens reportedly forced to fight alongside Russian troops. Jaiswal didnt provide a direct response to several questions regarding the number of Indians serving in the Russian Army and said Indian authorities were earlier aware of about 20 citizens who had reached out for help. Now we have seen some more, we have seen some videos, we are trying to contact them, he said without giving details. We are doing our best to locate them. We are in touch with the Russian authorities...so that they can be released and discharged early, he said. We have been able to get some people discharged after talking to the Russian government, our talks are continuing. Jaiswal said strong action has been taken against agents and unscrupulous elements who recruited Indians for jobs in the Russian Army using false pretexts. The CBI [on Thursday] busted a major human trafficking network, conducting searches in several cities and collecting incriminating evidence. A case of human trafficking has been registered against several agents, he said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Thursday it busted a human trafficking network spread across several states that lured gullible young men through social media channels and local contacts or agents with the promise of highly paid jobs in Russia. The trafficked Indians were trained in combat roles and deployed against their wishes at frontline bases in the Russia-Ukraine war zone, putting their lives in grave danger, the CBI said. Around 35 instances of victims being sent abroad have been established, and the identity of more victims is being established. As part of its crackdown, the CBI conducted simultaneous searches at 13 locations in Delhi, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai. The agency seized more than Rs.50 lakh, incriminating documents and electronic equipment such as computers and mobile phones. Jaiswal said authorities are also trying to bring back the bodies of the two Indians who had been killed. We are in touch with the Russian authorities. The deaths happened...in areas far away from the capital. So, there are certain procedures to be followed, he said. Last month, India had advised its citizens to stay away from getting caught up in the Russia-Ukraine conflict following reports that Indian nationals who secured support jobs with the Russian Army had been forced to fight alongside Russian troops. Close on the heels of the death of two Indians working with the Russian military and a countrywide crackdown on agents recruiting young men for such jobs, the external affairs ministry has stepped up efforts to repatriate citizens whose lives are at risk while serving on the frontlines of the Ukraine conflict. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. (REUTERS) The external affairs ministry on Friday urged Indian nationals not to take up support jobs with the Russian Army as the work is fraught with danger, and said authorities are focused on the speedy discharge of all persons in such positions so that they can be brought home. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Read here: CBI busts human trafficking network sending Indians to Russia-Ukraine war zone Recruitment agents in India and places such as Dubai have been luring young men with promises that they can obtain Russian citizenship if they serve in the military for a year, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. The Indian side has stepped up pressure on Russian authorities to identify and discharge all Indians serving as support staff, the people said. There is, however, still no word from Indian authorities on the exact number of citizens in support jobs. Reports have suggested the figure could be as high as 100. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal didnt provide details in this regard, only saying that authorities are aware of more than 20 cases of individuals who have sought help to be discharged from support jobs. The people cited above said authorities are facing several problems in ascertaining the total number of Indians serving in the Russian military. Even in the case of Indians who have reached out for help or posted videos on social media, many are in regions located hundreds of kilometres away from Moscow and it is difficult to pinpoint their exact location and contact them, the people said. The people said about 24 Indians had contacted Indian authorities till a few days ago and this number was rising. Jaiswal told a regular weekly news briefing: Several Indian nationals have been duped to work with the Russian Army. We have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian government for early discharge of such Indian nationals. He said, We once again appeal to Indian nationals to not be swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian Army. This is fraught with danger and risk to life. India remains committed to the early release of its nationals serving as support staff with the Russian Army and their return home, he added. On Wednesday, India confirmed the death of 30-year-old Hyderabad resident Mohammed Asfan, who succumbed to injuries sustained while serving with Russian troops on the frontlines of the conflict with Ukraine. He was the second Indian to be killed after Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangukiya, a 23-year-old resident of Surat in Gujarat, who died in a Ukrainian air strike last month while serving as a security helper at Donetsk. The death of the two Indians and reports of several more being injured, as well as videos posted by more Indians on social media seeking help to get out of their jobs with the Russian Army, have increased pressure on the government to bring back all citizens reportedly forced to fight alongside Russian troops. Jaiswal didnt provide a direct response to several questions regarding the number of Indians serving in the Russian Army and said Indian authorities were earlier aware of about 20 citizens who had reached out for help. Now we have seen some more, we have seen some videos, we are trying to contact them, he said without giving details. We are doing our best to locate them. We are in touch with the Russian authorities...so that they can be released and discharged early, he said. We have been able to get some people discharged after talking to the Russian government, our talks are continuing. Jaiswal said strong action has been taken against agents and unscrupulous elements who recruited Indians for jobs in the Russian Army using false pretexts. The CBI [on Thursday] busted a major human trafficking network, conducting searches in several cities and collecting incriminating evidence. A case of human trafficking has been registered against several agents, he said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Thursday it busted a human trafficking network spread across several states that lured gullible young men through social media channels and local contacts or agents with the promise of highly paid jobs in Russia. The trafficked Indians were trained in combat roles and deployed against their wishes at frontline bases in the Russia-Ukraine war zone, putting their lives in grave danger, the CBI said. Around 35 instances of victims being sent abroad had been established and the identity of more victims is being established. Read here: Another Indian fighting for Russia in Ukraine war dead As part of its crackdown, the CBI conducted simultaneous searches at 13 locations in Delhi, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai. The agency seized more than 50 lakh, incriminating documents and electronic equipment such as computers and mobile phones. Jaiswal said authorities are also trying to bring back the bodies of the two Indians who had been killed. We are in touch with the Russian authorities. The deaths happened...in areas far away from the capital. So, there are certain procedures to be followed, he said. Last month, India had advised its citizens to stay away from getting caught up in the Russia-Ukraine conflict following reports that Indian nationals who secured support jobs with the Russian Army had been forced to fight alongside Russian troops. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday said it has busted major human trafficking networks operating across India that targeted young people with promises of lucrative jobs abroad, including in Russia and Ukraine, but sent them off to people who then forced them to fight on the front lines of the war between those countries. The agency conducted searches at 13 locations in Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai (AP) The agency conducted searches at 13 locations in Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai. It identified at least 35 instances of victims sent abroad by the alleged traffickers. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. These traffickers have been operating as an organised network and were luring Indian nationals through social media channels like YouTube etc, and also through their local contacts or agents for highly paid jobs in Russia, a CBI spokesperson said. Thereafter, the trafficked Indian nationals were trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in the Russia-Ukraine war zone against their wishes, thus putting their lives in grave danger. Some victims were grievously injured in the war zone, the spokesperson said. At least two Indian nationals are known to have been killed while serving with the Russian army. The Indian embassy in Moscow confirmed the death of Indian national Mohammed Asfan in a post on X on March 6. The 30-year-old from Hyderabad travelled to Russia late last year and reports have said he was seriously injured along with two other Indians in hostilities in a conflict zone last month. Earlier, 23-year-old Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangukiya, a resident of Surat in Gujarat, was killed in a Ukrainian air strike while serving as a security helper with the Russian Army at Donetsk, a part of Ukraine occupied by Russia. Mangukiya travelled to Russia last December. CBI registered a case on Wednesday against private visa consultancy firms, agents and others engaged in trafficking Indians to Russia under the guise of employment, the spokesperson said. So far around 35 instances of victims sent abroad have been established. The identity of more trafficking victims are also being established. Investigation is continuing. Four accused consultancies or agents were named: 24x7 RAS Overseas Foundation and its director Suyash Mukut; OSD Bros Travels and Visa Services Pvt Ltd. and its director Rakesh Pandey; Adventure Visa Services Pvt Ltd and its director Manjeet Singh; and Baba Vlogs Overseas Recruitment Solutions Pvt Ltd. and its director Faisal Abdul Mutalib Khan, also known as Baba. Cash amounting to over 50 lakh, incriminating documents, electronics and CCTV footage were recovered during Thursdays raids, the spokesperson said. The agency appealed to the public not to fall for false job promises from dubious recruitment agencies and agents. Indian authorities have stepped up efforts to bring back all Indians serving with the Russian military, though the actual number remains unclear, with some reports suggesting it could be around 100. Last month, Indias external affairs ministry confirmed that 20 Indian nationals serving with the Russian military had approached the Indian mission in Moscow seeking help with their discharge, and several were discharged after Indian authorities took up their cases in Moscow and New Delhi. Two Russia-based agents who are allegedly involved in the human trafficking network that sends Indian nationals into the Ukraine war zone are under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), PTI reported on Friday, citing officials. Mohammed Asfan, 30, travelled to Russia with a job of a helper but was sent to fight war against Ukraine.(AFP) The agents Christina and Moinuddin Chippa are based in Russia and were facilitating the trafficking of Indian youth to Russia by offering them lucrative job opportunities there, they alleged. Chippa is a resident of Rajasthan. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. They allegedly confiscated the passports of Indians arriving in Russia and forced them to fight with the armed forces, the officials added. Also Read | About 20 Indians sought help for discharge from Russian Army, says MEA On Thursday, the CBI busted a major human trafficking network, running across the country, targeting young people with promises of lucrative jobs abroad, including in Russia and Ukraine, and then allegedly sending them off to fight on the front lines of the war between those countries. The agency conducted searches at 13 locations in Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai. It identified at least 35 instances of victims sent abroad by the alleged traffickers. These traffickers have been operating as an organised network and were luring Indian nationals through social media channels like YouTube etc, and also through their local contacts or agents for highly paid jobs in Russia, a CBI spokesperson said. Thereafter, the trafficked Indian nationals were trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in the Russia-Ukraine war zone against their wishes, thus putting their lives in grave danger. Two Indians killed fighting for Russia At least two Indian nationals are known to have been killed while serving with the Russian army. Earlier this week, the Indian embassy in Moscow confirmed the death of Indian national Mohammed Asfan in a post on X on March 6. The 30-year-old from Hyderabad travelled to Russia late last year and reports have said he was seriously injured along with two other Indians in hostilities in a conflict zone last month. Prior to this, 23-year-old Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangukiya, a resident of Surat in Gujarat, was killed in a Ukrainian air strike while serving as a security helper with the Russian Army at Donetsk, a part of Ukraine occupied by Russia. Mangukiya travelled to Russia last December. CBI registers case On Wednesday, the CBI registered a case against private visa consultancy firms, agents and others engaged in trafficking Indians to Russia under the guise of employment, the spokesperson said. So far around 35 instances of victims sent abroad have been established. The identity of more trafficking victims are also being established. Investigation is continuing. Four accused consultancies or agents were named: 24x7 RAS Overseas Foundation and its director Suyash Mukut; OSD Bros Travels and Visa Services Pvt Ltd. and its director Rakesh Pandey; Adventure Visa Services Pvt Ltd and its director Manjeet Singh; and Baba Vlogs Overseas Recruitment Solutions Pvt Ltd. and its director Faisal Abdul Mutalib Khan, also known as Baba. Cash amounting to over 50 lakh, incriminating documents, electronics and CCTV footage were recovered during Thursdays raids, the spokesperson said. NEW DELHI: Indias top diplomat for Afghanistan met Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul and discussed relations between the two sides and issues related to economic cooperation, including the use of Chabahar port by Afghan traders. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said a technical mission opened by India in Kabul in June 2022 is facilitating and coordinating humanitarian assistance efforts. (MoFA Spokesperson, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) Read here: Taliban regime meets diplomat, says India wants to expand political cooperation, trade with Afghanistan Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. JP Singh, the joint secretary heading the external affairs ministrys division for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, met Muttaqi on Thursday, the latest in a series of contacts between Indian officials and Taliban leaders. Like other countries, the Indian side doesnt formally recognise the Taliban regime in Kabul. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the delegation led by Singh met senior members of Afghan authorities, former president Hamid Karzai, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) officials and members of the Afghan business community. The delegation held discussions on Indias humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and also discussed the use of Chabahar port by Afghan traders, he said, referring to the Iranian port where an Indian state-run firm operates a terminal. Since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021, Indian diplomats have met Taliban leaders in Afghanistan and places such as Doha for discussions. Much of these efforts have been spearheaded by Singh, who is also joint secretary in the external affairs ministers office. Jaiswal said a technical mission opened by India in Kabul in June 2022 is facilitating and coordinating humanitarian assistance efforts. India has historical and civilisational ties with the Afghan people and these longstanding linkages will continue to guide our approach, he added. A Taliban spokesman claimed Muttaqi and Singh discussed Afghanistan-India relations, economic and transit matters, fighting the Islamic State-Khorasan province and tackling corruption. While thanking India for its humanitarian assistance, Muttaqi said that in line with the Talibans balanced foreign policy, the regime in Kabul seeks to strengthen political [and] economic relations with India as an important actor in the region. Muttaqi also asked Singh to facilitate the issuance of visas to Afghan businessmen, medical patients and students. The Taliban spokesman quoted Singh as saying that India is interested in expanding political and economic cooperation with Afghanistan and enhancing trade via Irans Chabahar port. Taliban trade minister Nooruddin Azizi also met Singh and discussed the development of economic cooperation, transit and trade. Karzai, one of the few top Afghan politicians who have not fled from the country, said in a post on X that he had discussed issues related to Afghanistan and the region with Singh. While referring to the historical and good relations between the two sides, Karzai thanked the Indian side for its help and cooperation, especially in education. India has supplied close to 50,000 tonnes of wheat, medicines, Covid-19 vaccines and other relief materials to Afghanistan in recent months. However, the Indian side has not resumed work on development and infrastructure projects it had launched before the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Read here: The Taliban hold another public execution as thousands watch at a stadium in northern Afghanistan Before the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani government in 2021, India pledged more than $3 billion in development assistance for Afghanistan. The Indian side has been reluctant to provide further assistance because of concerns about the diversion of funds and lack of any mechanism to monitor the use of the aid. The outlay for foreign countries in Indias budget for 2024-25 included an allocation of 200 crore for Afghanistan. New Delhi The Supreme Court on Thursday wondered if the Maharashtra assembly speakers decision to hold state chief minister Eknath Shindes faction as the real Shiv Sena by applying the test of legislative majority is tenable, raising a question that lies at the heart of an intriguing legal-political tussle ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. the May 2023 Constitution bench judgment in a related case, holding that in case of a vertical split in a party it would be futile to assess which group enjoys a majority in the legislature. (ANI) Look at the speakers decision. It has gone by the test of legislative majority. Isnt it contrary to our judgment last year? a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud asked. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The bench, which also comprises justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, recalled the May 2023 Constitution bench judgment in a related case, holding that in case of a vertical split in a party it would be futile to assess which group enjoys a majority in the legislature. The judgment by the five-judge bench had added that other tests such as an evaluation of the majority in the organisational wings of the political party, an analysis of the provisions of the party constitution, or any other appropriate test may come handy in deciding which group represents the real party. The bench was on Thursday hearing a petition filed by the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray ) against the assembly speakers decision to dismiss disqualification petitions against Shinde and the legislators who supported him during the rebellion in 2022 and holding the chief ministers faction to be the real Shiv Sena. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Devadatt Kamat, representing the UBT group, assailed the January 10 judgment by Maharashtra speaker Rahul Narwekar on the ground that his reliance on the legislative majority was in the teeth of the 2023 judgment of the Supreme Court. Legislative majority cannot be the basis of determination in cases of a defection. This court also said it in its judgment. This court said that UBT is the leader of the party, Singhvi emphasised. At this, the bench questioned the speakers decision. If we look at the findings of the Speaker on the legislative majority, the whole finding is contrary to our judgment, it told senior counsel Harish Salve, Mukul Rohatgi, Maninder Singh and Mahesh Jethmalani, who were appearing for the Shinde camp. Responding, Salve said that the questions of law were miles away when the UBT group has forged and fabricated crucial documents during the proceedings before the speaker and also before this court. Documents produced by them on the resolution passed in June 2022 are brazenly fabricated, he said. Salve questioned the authenticity of documents, specifically the resolution of June 2022 by which the UBT group sought to remove Shinde as the leader of the legislature party. He added that the signatures on the resolution were forged and the UBT faction interchangeably used working committee and governing body in different fora. Jethmalani, on his part, said that the Shinde faction will move an application citing forgery by the other side. Rohatgi, also appearing for the Shinde faction, implored the bench to send back the matter to the Bombay high court where the Shiv Sena has already filed a petition against the speakers decision not to disqualify MLAs of the UBT faction. Sibal, however, countered this submission, contending that they have a constitutional right to approach the Supreme Court and the dimension of the matter required the top court to hear it. The term of the present assembly will end in October-November. So, time is the essence here and I request the court to hear this matter at an earliest date so that it does not become infructuous, Sibal added. To this, the bench said that it would hear the matter in detail in the week commencing April 4. The court also called for the original records from the office of the assembly speaker to consider the Shinde factions allegations of forgery. On January 22, the bench issued notices all the 39 MLAs, including Shinde, against whom the disqualification petitions were filed by the Thackeray-camp under the anti-defection law for defying the party whip in the House for the election of the speaker and the floor test in 2022. The Shiv Sena suffered a vertical split in June 2022 when Shinde and 38 other legislators walked out of the party then led by Uddhav Thackeray and joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form the government. The rebellion brought down the then Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. In the petition filed through Thackeray-loyalist and legislator Sunil Prabhu, the UBT group called Narwekars January 10 order a colourable (it probably meant coloured) exercise of power based on extraneous and irrelevant considerations. It added that such a conclusion was erroneous and went against the anti-defection law and the top courts judgment of May last year directing the Speaker not to solely base its decision on the group possessing majority in the House by distinguishing between legislative party and political party. By its judgment on May 11, 2023, a Constitution bench invalidated the Maharashtra governors decision asking then CM Thackeray to face a floor test last year and flagged a flurry of errors during the political drama that toppled the MVA government, but refused to put Thackeray back in the saddle because he voluntarily resigned instead of facing the trust vote in the assembly. At the time, the court left it for Narwekar to decide the disqualification petitions pending against both Shinde and Thackeray groups, rejecting Thackeray camps plea that the court should decide the disqualification petitions by itself because of the alleged bias of the speaker. By a separate decision on February 17, 2022, the Election Commission ruled that Shindes faction would inherit Shiv Sena partys name and its bow-and-arrow symbol. Maharashtra sends 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha, the second highest for any state after Uttar Pradesh (80). The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on Friday dismissed the Congresss appeal against action by tax authorities over alleged discrepancies in tax returns that the party says has crippled its functioning just weeks ahead of general elections. IT authorities have attached 65 crore from five bank accounts of the Congress. (PTI) Read here: Congress's 5 questions to PM Modi on Women's Day: Videos have emerged of Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Party leaders said that the tribunal dismissed the appeal of the Congress against the imposition of penalties by the Income Tax department. Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said the party was exploring all legal options and would move the high court very soon. He also accused the BJP government of deliberately choosing the timing of this to coincide with national elections. The party had also appealed to ITAT to stall the lien amount of 115 crore for 10 days as it would appeal in the high court, but that too, was turned down, said Congress leaders. IT authorities have attached 65 crore from five bank accounts of the Congress and its youth and students wings against the lien of 115 crore placed by the tax department on the partys accounts in a case related to a delay in filing IT returns for assessment year (AY) 2018-19. A lien is a sort of a hold on an amount that is owed. In this case, the lien was put through two letters sent by the department to the managers of Bank of Baroda and State Bank of India last month. Maken said the tribunal order was an attack on democracy as it had come just ahead of national elections and has left the principal opposition party without funds to contest the polls. He added that the party was now left with negligible funds to spend during Lok Sabha elections or for its day-to-day functioning. Maken also alleged that the BJP or any other national political party had never paid any income tax penalty. Then why single out the Congress? he asked. Confirming the order, Congresss legal cell head Vivek Tankha said the tribunal had not followed its own past precedents and the party will approach the high court soon. We are disappointed with the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal order. We will be moving the high court very soon. They have not followed their own past precedents in granting relief on payment of 20 percent penalty and that too to a national party which is now on the verge of contesting national elections, which is going to be notified soon, Tankha told PTI. Registered political parties are exempted from paying tax on specified income such as voluntary contributions, house property, income from other sources and capital gains, under section 13A of the Income Tax Act, but they have to file IT returns annually. Read here: Congress gets tax tribunal relief after bank accounts 'frozen' by I-T department claim Tax officials say the case pertains to the Congresss tax dues of assessment year (AY) 2018-19. The initial due to the tax department was 103 crore, and 32 crore was added to this on account of interest. The tax due was reassessed at 105 crore on July 6, 2021. After this, the tax officials said, the Congress appealed before the Commissioner, Appeals but did not pay the mandatory 20% of the tax due to initiate the appeal. It paid only 78 lakh, prompting the commissioner to dismiss the plea. The Congress, the officials added, then appealed Commissioner, Appeals again in May 2023, and in October, paid 1.72 crore. They pointed out that the Congress has not applied for any stay on the tax demand in its appeal. The Congress showed around 198 crore as revenue in 2018-19 and 197 crore as expenditure. Terming the tax demand as disproportionate, the party has said that the case related to a delay of 45 days in filing its income tax return (ITR) in FY18-19 and an alleged cash collection of 14 lakhs from its MPs and MLAs their one months salary. (with PTI inputs) Assam Police have arrested the superintendent of Assams Dibrugarh Central Jail, Nipen Das, for an alleged security breach which allowed electronic devices including a smartphone and spy-cam pen to be smuggled into the high-security cell of radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh. The chief of separatist group Waris Punjab De, Amritpal Singh, was brought to Assams Dibrugarh Central Jail after the Punjab Police arrested him on April 23, 2023 (File Photo) Read here: Prison official arrested over recovery of gadgets from Amritpal Singhs cell Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Dibrugarhs additional police superintendent (crime) Sizal Agarwal said on Friday that Das was arrested late on Thursday under the stringent anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Assam Prisons Act, and Indian Penal Codes Section 120B (criminal conspiracy). Agarwal said the breach was noticed last month and that Das was arrested after several rounds of investigation. This is a national security issue and being the head of the jail, he [Das] must be responsible, Agarwal said. Singh was moved to Dibrugarh along with a few other members of his radical group after their arrest last year. HT learns that the assessment at the time was that his sphere of influence would not extend to this jail. Police said the jail has a multi-tier security system, including 24-hour CCTV surveillance. Dibrugarh police superintendent Rakesh Reddy cited the initial investigation and said the superintendent allowed the gadgets to reach Amritpal Singh and other inmates. He added that Amritpal Singh also got access to the Internet. After the recovery of the gadgets, police collected digital evidence and registered a fresh case under which the superintendent of jail has been arrested, he said. Reddy said that Amritpal Singh and his associates were arrested under National Security Act (NSA) and supporting them is an act against national security. This is a sensitive issue and these prisoners are different from others because they were arrested under NSA. Supplying them gadgets violating the jail manuals is an act against national security, hence we imposed UAPA against Nipen Das, he added. According to Reddy, most of the gadgets were found inside Amritpal Singhs cell and some from others. Assam Police chief Gyanendra Pratap Singh on February 17 said a smartphone with SIM, a keypad phone, a TV remote, a spy-cam pen, pen drives, Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and a smartwatch were seized after the jail staff searched Singhs cell. The police chief visited the jail and met with the senior officials on February 20 before ordering the transfer of some prison staff and a probe. People aware of the matter said Das was being interrogated even as more jail officials were detained on Friday morning for questioning. This was a major security issue and we may arrest more officials, said an investigator who asked not to be named. Read here: Spy camera, smartphone recovered from separatist Amritpal Singh's jail in major security breach Amritpal Singh was arrested from Rode, the ancestral village of slain Khalistani ideologue Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, in April 2023 after a 37-day chase. He was booked under the National Security Act (NSA) and taken to the Dibrugarh jail in Assam. A crackdown on his Waris Punjab De was earlier launched after his supporters stormed a police station in Ajnala near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested associate. In the jail, Singh and nine other Waris Punjab De members began a hunger strike on February 17 demanding their transfer to their home state of Punjab. Reddy said a team of doctors was examining the health of all 10 inmates. Three of them were shifted to hospital but the other inmates are getting medical attention inside the jail, Reddy said. In the labyrinthine corridors of justice, the distinction between possessing literature and committing a crime often blurs, casting shadows on the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and thought. Former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba leaves as he was released from the Nagpur Central Jail after the Bombay high court acquitted him in an alleged Maoist links case, in Nagpur on Thursday. (ANI) Also Read: Ex-DU professor Saibaba released days after HC acquits him of Maoist links Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Bombay high court judgment acquitting former Delhi University (DU) professor GN Saibaba and five others for suspected Maoist links and waging war against India comes as a nuanced judicial precedent, stressing that individuals cannot not be prosecuted for their intellectual pursuits -- not unless there is concrete evidence linking them to illicit activities. The 293-page judgment in the 2013 case presents a fine illustration of exploring the intricate process of discerning criminality from intellectual curiosity and the pivotal role that courts ought to play in the realm of safeguarding individual rights. Simultaneously, the judgment also shines light on the imperative of procedural compliances that serve as a check against abuse of power and ascertains the accountability of law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities. Possession of literature alone cant be a crime The Maharashtra government had cited recovery of material contained in electronic form in Saibabas computer to link him with the banned organisation, CPI(Maoists), adding that the material demonstrated that he had knowledge about the activities of the organisation. This included pamphlets of CPI (Maoists), his interview as the vice-president of the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF) , the alleged frontal organisation of the CPI (Maoist) and review for RDF. Basing its judgment on intellectual freedom being the cornerstone of a democratic society, the high court was emphatic that the contents of these documents read and understood by any person, by themselves would not constitute an offence under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) or the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Also Read: Hope no future obstacles to his freedom, says Vasantha Kumari on Saibabas release The content of these documents if taken cumulatively, would perhaps demonstrate that the accused were sympathisers of a Maoist philosophy or sympathised with the cause of certain tribal groups or certain people who were perceived to be marginalised or disenfranchised...and mere possession of such literature, having a particular political and social philosophy by itself is not contemplated as an offence under the UAPA, held the division bench of justices Vinay G Joshi and Valmiki SA Menezes. In Thwaha Fasal Vs Union of India (2021), a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court categorically held that a mere association with a terrorist organisation was not sufficient to attract Section 38 of UAPA, which penalises the commission of an offence relating to membership of a terrorist organisation. The association and the support have to be with intention of furthering the activities of a terrorist organisation. In a given case, such intention can be inferred from the overt acts or acts of active participation of the accused... the top court said, granting bail to Fasal who was found in possession of various materials relating to CPI (Maoist). Again, in July 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed a conservative approach in attributing criminality solely based on the possession of controversial literature. While granting bail to Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira in the Bhima-Koregaon case for having alleged Maoist links, the court held that mere possession of literature, even if the content thereof inspires or propagates violence, by itself cannot constitute any of the offences under UAPA. When there is nothing to prima facie establish the complicity of the accused in overawing any public functionary by means of criminal force or causing death of any public functionary or attempt to cause death, the top court said, mere holding of certain literature through which violent acts may be propagated would not ipso facto attract the provisions of UAPA. Relying on these judgments, the Bombay high court underlined that passive membership, even if demonstrated from the material seized from Saibaba, is not contemplated as an offence under UAPA. The high court further highlighted the Constitutional right of individuals to explore and discuss a wide array of ideas without fear of retribution or censorship. In any event, merely because a particular philosophy is contained in the literature, which in any case has not been proved is under the authorship of any of the accused, or because a person chooses to read such literature which is otherwise accessible from the internet from various websites containing Communists or Maoists literature and philosophy, would to a certain extent be violative of the fundamental rights of any citizen under Article 19 of the Constitution of India, it said. The high court asserted that merely because a citizen downloads certain materials or even sympathises with a particular philosophy, would itself not be an offence unless there is specific evidence led by the prosecution to connect an active role shown by the accused with particular incidents of violence and terrorism. And in this case, the court said, the prosecution could adduce no evidence to connect Saibaba to any incident, terror attack or act of violence, either by participating in its preparation or in any manner providing support to its commission. Playing several videos or requesting the court to read through hundreds of pages of literature does not constitute evidence. In our opinion, there should have been specific evidence led through witnesses to connect with the making out of an offence, stated the judgment. Procedural compliance as the bedrock of criminal prosecution in terror cases The handling of terrorism cases presents a delicate balance between swift action and procedural integrity. Therefore, the importance of procedural compliance in such cases cannot be overstated because the gravity of charges warrants fairness, transparency, and accountability. The Bombay high court judgment delved into the significance of adhering to procedural norms in terrorism cases and its implications on human rights and legal integrity while trashing the entire case against Saibaba and five others over incurable procedural violations. Saibaba and five other individuals were exonerated by the high court initially in October 2022 because of the states failure to meet two essential procedural safeguards -- the sanction to prosecute and an independent evaluation of the sanction prior to the invocation of severe terror accusations. Asked by the Supreme Court in April 2023 to decide the case afresh, the high court reached the same conclusion. The high court first held that the sanction to prosecute the six, including Saibaba was invalid because it not only showed non-application of mind by the reviewing authoritys but also since there was no material on record by an independent authority to guide the former in reaching this decision. The first sanction for the five accused, who were arrested in 2013, was granted on February 15, 2014. The second sanction for the prosecution of Saibaba was received on April 6, 2015, after the charges were framed by the trial court. The laconic half page communication cannot be called a report since there is no material found therein to infer that the authority has reviewed the evidence gathered and formed a particular opinion on that basis, said the court, adding the sanction accorded in the absence of compliance with the mandatory pre-requisite cannot be termed as a valid sanction within the meaning of the UAPA. As regards the sanction for Saibaba, the bench said that the position is even worse. The record showed that when the trial court framed the charges, there was no sanction to prosecute Saibaba. Without a valid sanction, the trial court could not have heard the case since it essentially lacked jurisdiction. Thus, there is total non-compliance with the sanction provision which goes to the very root of the case, vitiating everything against accused No.6 (Saibaba) from its inception for want of authority of the trial court to proceed, it held. As the very foundation for initiation of prosecution was not in consonance with law, the bench maintained, the order of taking of cognisance by the special court vitiated the entire further proceedings. Arrest and seizure in the case were also held to be invalid by the high court, noting the police failed to abide by the norms laid down under the UAPA, besides the failure to prove electronic evidence against the accused. While UAPA stipulates authorisation from a high-ranking state officer, not below the rank of the secretary of the government, before arrest and seizure, the prosecution claimed that the general provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) also entitled a police officer to do so. Rejecting this proposition, the high court noted that although the scheme of UAPA empowers a high-ranking police officer at the level of deputy superintendent of police to investigate, the power of arrest and search are specifically kept under the control of the designated authority i.e. the principal secretary of the government. The legislative intent was therefore to confer powers of arrest and search on an officer specifically authorized in that behalf by the competent authority and such search and arrest can be conducted by only under the supervision and control of this high-ranking government officer (designated authority) which is independent to police authority, said the bench, adding UAPA is a special statute which will override the CrPC provisions as regards the statutory scheme for powers of arrest or seizure. Based on it, the high court held that the arrest of Saibaba and search and seizure from his premises by a DSP-level officer without an authorisation from the designated authority vitiated the entire action of the police. The prosecution has failed to establish legal arrest and seizure from the accused, it held. Another important marker from the judgment pertained to recording the hash value of digital devices, such as mobile phones and laptops, confiscated during investigations. Hash value is an electronic fingerprint of a digital device, and records changes if contents in the device are tampered with after seizure. Underlining that the prosecutions case solely rests on the electronic evidence seized from Saibaba on September 12, 2023, the bench wondered why electronic devices were not secured by drawing their hash values. Apart from hash value, unique identification number of the hard disk and electronic gadgets have not been recorded in panchnama to vouch for its credibility. The description of the electronic gadgets in the nature of outer appearance, cover, serial number, or some other factors, which could have been easily incorporated in the panchnama with the help of experts, have not been done. The seizure was like an ordinary article of crime, lamented the bench. The court ultimately declared that the prosecution has failed to prove seizure and search of incriminating material from the house search of Saibaba. While the Maharashtra government has challenged the acquittal of Saibaba and others the Supreme Court, the high court judgment upholds the principles of intellectual freedom by distinguishing between literary interest and criminal intent. Even as the terror cases may tempt authorities to circumvent established procedures in the name of expedience, the Bombay high court judgment highlights that erosion of procedural safeguards comes at the risk of compromising the very principles that underpin a democratic society and fundamental rights. The Indian National Congress (INC) on Friday has released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled to take place in April-May 2024. Congress named 39 candidates in its first list, including party heavyweights such as Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor and KC Venugopal. Congress released its first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls (PTI)(PTI) In its first list, the Congress party announced candidates for constituencies in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Telangana, and Tripura. The list of candidates was cleared after the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) cleared the same on Thursday after a crucial meeting. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. After announcing the names, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, ...Our priority is to win the maximum Lok Sabha seats to defeat PM Modi in this next elections. Our target is to win the maximum number of parliament seats for the Congress party... Rahul Gandhi has been fielded from Wayanad while Shashi Tharoor has been named from his home ground of Thiruvananthapuram. Here are the key takeaways from Congress' first list of candidates and the CEC meeting. Congress 1st list of candidates: Key takeaways The Congress party has named 39 candidates in the first list for the Lok Sabha elections, and the list was cleared by the Congress CEC on Thursday. The next Congress CEC meeting will be conducted on Monday, March 11. Out of the 39 candidates announced by the Congress party, 15 are from the general category and 24 are from SC/ST/minorities. Some of the prominent names announced in the first list by Congress are Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Bhupesh Baghel, and KC Venugopal. While Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from Wayanad, Kerala, the suspense still remains if he will be fielded from the Amethi seat. Another big name in the list is DK Suresh, the brother of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who will be contesting from the Bengaluru Rural seat in Karnataka. Bhupesh Baghel is set to make his debut for the Lok Sabha polls from the Rajnandgaon seat in Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal is contesting from the Alappuzha seat in Kerala. The bulk of the candidates have been announced from Kerala, which has a total of 20 seats. Congress has named 16 candidates from Kerala, while the rest four seats are expected to be left for its allies. In its first list of candidates, Congress has laid focus on northeastern and southern states. It is expected that the second list will be released early next week, after the Congress CEC meet on Monday. Read more: Shashi Tharoor vs Rajeev Chandrasekhar confirmed from Thiruvananthapuram as Cong releases 1st list A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army, who was abducted from his home in Manipur's Thoubal district earlier in the day, has been rescued by security forces. A file photo of Indian army soldiers patrolling during a security operation in Manipur.(Reuters) The JCO, identified as Konsam Kheda Singh, was on leave when some people barged into his home in Charangpat Mamang Leikai village at around 9 am and took him in a vehicle. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Security forces launched a coordinated joint search operation to rescue Singh. The synergized efforts of the security forces resulted in the JCO being safely rescued at 6:30 PM on March 8, 2024, the Army said. The JCO is currently at Waikhong Police Station (near Kakching) in Thoubal district. Manipur Police is investigating the incident. Earlier in the day, officials said that while the cause of the abduction is not known, initial reports suggest that the case appears to be of extortion as Singh's family had received such threats in the past. Also Read | Oldest paramilitary force in country blighted by new questions in Manipur This was the fourth such incident since the commencement of the conflict in Manipur wherein soldiers while on leave, on duty or their relatives have been targeted. In September, a former Assam Regiment soldier Serto Thangthang Kom was kidnapped and killed by an unidentified armed group from the valley. He was posted in Manipur's Leimakhong with the Defence Service Corps (DSC). In November, four family members of a serving soldier were abducted and later killed in Imphal West district. They were identified as family members of Henthing Haokip, an Indian Army soldier serving in Jammu and Kashmir. In February, an Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) from Manipur Police was attacked in his house in Imphal city and subsequently abducted. While the police did not name the group behind the abduction but people aware of the matters said radical Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol may have been involved. Ethnic violence in Manipur has since May last year left over 200 people dead and nearly 50,000 people displaced. Officials say the ethnic violence has degenerated into anarchy with underground militant groups regaining support. Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday accused the National Conference of undermining the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) by unilaterally choosing to contest all three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir. Mehbooba Mufti said the NC had reduced PAGD into a joke. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti (HT File) Addressing a press conference at the PDP office in Srinagar, Mehbooba Mufti termed the NC's decision as "disappointing" and a "setback to the hopes of the people of J&K". "Omar (Abdullah) has himself said that the PDP is out of the alliance. You can see who has broken the alliance. We did not. This was a unique alliance, it is disappointing to see it shattered. They have reduced PAGD to a joke," Mufti said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. There used to be a discussion on smaller issues within the PAGD, but the NC took such a decision without consulting us, PDP chief and former CM of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti said. "We will discuss with the Congress and not take a unilateral decision. We will also deliberate it within the party and soon take a decision on it (contesting the Lok Sabha polls)," she added. Earlier in the day, the NC declared its intention to contest all three seats in the Kashmir valley and urged the Congress to contest the two seats in the Jammu region. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also said he would have never joined the Congress-led opposition alliance if he knew he would have to share LS seats with the PDP. "I have already told you that the party that stands on number 3 has no right to ask for a seat. How many people are there with PDP today who brought them to the third place? If I had been told before joining INDIA alliance that we would have to weaken ourselves for another member of the alliance, then I would have never joined the INDIA alliance.." Omar Abdullah said. The National Conference has previously indicated potential challenges for its alliance in Jammu and Kashmir. Farooq Abdullah, the party's chief stated that the party would contest the elections independently. However, NC leader and son of party chief Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah later clarified that the party remained part of the INDIA bloc and emphasized that there were no divisions within the alliance. J&K comprises five Lok Sabha seats - Baramulla, Srinagar, Anantnag, Udhampur and Jammu. In the previous elections, the NC secured victory in all three valley seats, while the BJP emerged victorious in both Jammu seats and the single Ladakh seat. (With inputs from PTI) Late night meetings are part and parcel of the election season. On Thursday evening, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership began conversations with two regional parties that went on for long to firm up a possible alliance. Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal addressing a Cabinet briefing in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo) Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who heads the Telugu Desam Party, and actor-turned politician Pawan Kalyan, who heads the Jana Sena, met Union home minister Amit Shah for talks on pre-poll tie-ups. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The TDP, which walked out of the BJP-led NDA in 2018 over the issue of granting special status to Andhra Pradesh, has been sending feelers to be reincluded in the coalition. Kalyan too has played a role in helping Naidu mend fences with the BJP. With the BJP securing alliances in a bid to meet its target of winning over 400 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, the TDP-JS combine is well on its way to a formal induction into the NDA. The nitty-gritty of seat sharing for both the Lok Sabha and state elections is nearly over. The new alliance will give the BJP room to gain a foothold in the southern state and help bag more seats in the general elections. The party has been working hard to emerge as an alternative in Andhra Pradesh but has little to show in terms of electoral performance. It has does not have a single legislator in the 175-member assembly, while its vote share in the previous assembly elections was less than 1%. In July, the party appointed D Purandeswari as the state unit president with an eye on Naidus vote bank. Daughter of the late NT Rama Rao, the founder of TDP, Purandeswari is related to Naidu and is from the politically dominant Kamma community. Sops Social welfare schemes and sops for consumers have been integral to the BJP-led NDA governments policies in the last decade. With schemes such as Ujjwala Yojana for subsidised gas connections, PM Kisan Nidhi, PM Awas Yojna, the government created a new vote bank of beneficiaries or labharthis. While the government takes credit for empowering the poor and the marginalised through schemes, there has been criticism from the opposition that spiraling costs of fuel have made it hard for the common man to pay for the refills of cooking gas cylinders. To rule out any damage to its electoral foray, the government on Thursday announced a subsidy for cooking gas through a 12,000 crore bonanza to 102.7 million poor households by extending 300 subsidy on cooking gas refills for one more year up to 31 March 2025. From 21 May 2022, the government has been providing budgetary support for a targeted subsidy of 200 per 14.2kg LPG cylinder for PMUY beneficiaries for up to 12 refills a year. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe into about half a dozen Maoist violence cases, including the January ambush on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur and the killing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ratan Dubey in the states Narayanpur in November last year, people familiar with the matter said. The move comes against the backdrop of a recent spate of Maoist violence. (HT PHOTO) The agency will also look into the role of supporters of Madvi Hidma, the commander of Battalion-I of Peoples Liberation Guerilla Army of Maoists, suspected to be behind a recent spate of attacks in the region. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A larger conspiracy by Maoists to regain the lost ground by targeting security personnel, politicians, and civilians is being investigated. We have taken up eight cases linked to Maoists in the last few weeks, said an official, who did not want to be named. On January 16, Maoists attacked the CRPF camp in Bijapur and claimed that three security personnel were killed in a gunbattle that followed. The security forces denied the claim. Ratan Dubey, the vice president of BJPs Narayanpur unit, was hacked to death with a sharp-edged weapon in Narayanpur in November 2023 while he was campaigning. An Improvised Explosive Device blast in Chhattiagarhs Kanker during Chhattisgarh assembly elections last year is among other cases the NIA has taken up. Individuals suspected to be working for Maoists have been arrested in Chhattisgarh over the last few months. Officials said the recent spate of violence was part of attempts to revive Maoist insurgency as security forces have entered their core areas. Hidma, the leader of the military battalion, appears to be planning these violent attacks to keep Maoists relevant. But he is unlikely to succeed as multiple agencies are working together towards a plan to eliminate Left-wing extremism [LWE] in the next couple of years, said a counter-insurgency official, who did not want to be named. Hidma, a strategist in guerilla warfare who carries a reward of close to 40 lakh on his head, has been behind Maoists deadliest ambushes on security forces in the last decade, including the 2017 Burkapal attack in which 24 CRPF personnel were killed. Congress leaders were among 27 people killed in the 2013 Jheerum Ghati ambush. The 2010 Dantewada ambush left 76 people dead. According to the Union home ministry, security forces have set up 199 new camps in the LWE-affected areas since 2019 for area domination. In January, Union home minister Amit Shah said the LWE problem has been essentially confined to some pockets within Chhattisgarh. NEW DELHI: Granting relief such as anticipatory bail to police officers accused of manipulating investigation sends a wrong signal to society as they perform a fiduciary duty to punish the guilty through a fair investigation, the Supreme Court has observed as it cancelled pre-arrest bail granted to the officer in 2022. New Delhi, India- January 13, 2018: A view of Supreme Court at Supreme court Lawn in New Delhi, India on Saturday, January 13, 2018. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/ Hindustan Times) (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO) The respondent cop is alleged to have failed in his fundamental duty as a police officer. This consideration must necessarily weigh in with the nature of the offences and the possible punishment thereof. Presumptions and other considerations applicable to a layperson facing criminal charges may not carry the same weight while dealing with a police officer who is alleged to have abused his office, a bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sanjay Kumar noted in its order passed on March 6. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The observation was made on an appeal against the high court granting anticipatory bail to Sandeep Kumar, the officer-in-charge of Dhanwar police station on July 6, 2022, who was accused of making changes to the first information report in a cheating and counterfeiting case filed against a person, Ranjeet Kumar Saw, on a complaint by United Spirits Ltd. The police officer allegedly shielded the accused by changing the name of the accuseds father in the FIR and arrested another person, also called Ranjeet Kumar Saw, who had nothing to do with the case. When the fraud came to light, the authorities filed a case against the police officer. Sandeep Kumar sought pre-arrest bail from the trial court but the plea was declined. The high court took a liberal view of the offence, noting that the accused would only be sentenced to seven years in prison if convicted and granted Kumar anticipatory bail. Setting aside the high court order, the Supreme Court noted that an accused facing the prospect of incarceration in such a case would have ordinarily been entitled to the relief of pre-arrest bail. However, the same standard would not be applicable when the accused is the investigating officer, a police officer charged with the fiduciary duty of carrying forward the investigation to its rightful conclusion so as to punish the guilty. Also, the top court underlined that granting such relief to a police officer facing allegations of manipulating the investigation to favour an accused would send out a wrong signal in society. It would be against public interest. The court noted that the interpolations made in the FIR could be easily made out and this was a fact which was recorded by the trial court while declining anticipatory bail in April 2022. The changes in the FIR were not signed. The top court underscored that it could not be said at this stage who made the change but it was Sharmas responsibility to ensure its sanctity as the investigating officer of the case. The trial court also recorded how the CCTV footage of Dhanwar police station shows the real culprit Ranjeet Kumar Saw, son of Lakhan Saw, entering the police station. At 10pm, the other person, Ranjeet Kumar Saw, son of Balgovind Saw, entered the police station and was placed under arrest and the accused was released. Company officials who filed the original FIR later red-flagged the arrest to senior officials when they saw that the photograph of the accused carried by the newspaper was different from the man who was initially taken into custody on November 29. 2021. The bench said that the HC lost sight of the fact that though he was suspended from service, due to the position he held, there was a high possibility of tampering with the witnesses and the evidence in the case against him. The accused, a member of a uniformed service, was holding the responsible position of officer-in-charge of a police station apart from being the Investigating Officer in the case, wherein he was alleged to have made a wrongful arrest by making alterations in the FIR, the bench said. We are of the opinion that the High Court erred on counts more than one in passing the bail order of July 6, 2022. The appeal is accordingly allowed, setting aside the said order, said the court. It added that in the event the accused cop applies for regular bail, the same shall be considered on its own merits and appropriate to the stage of trial, without being influenced by the observations made in the present judgment. Former J&K chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday said he would have never joined the Congress-led opposition alliance INDIA bloc if he knew that he would have to weaken his own party for another member (Mehbooba Mufti's PDP) of the alliance, the party that came at No. 3 in the last election. "I have already told you that the party that stands on number 3 has no right to ask for a seat. How many people are there with PDP today who brought them to the third place? If I had been told before joining INDIA alliance that we would have to weaken ourselves for another member of the alliance, then I would have never joined the INDIA alliance.." Omar Abdullah said in a major blow to the seat-sharing talks that are going on in different states. It's Omar Abdullah versus Mehbooba Mufti in J&K before Congress finalises seat-sharing talks in the Valley for 2024 Lok Sabha election. This is not the first time that the National Conference hinted at the roadblocks for the alliance in J&K. Omar Abdullah's father and party chief Farooq Abdullah earlier announced that his party would go solo in the election. Omar Abdullah at that time clarified that the party was part of the INDIA bloc and there had been no crack. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. But a month and many meetings later, the cracks are too wide to hide as the National Conference and PDP -- both in the INDIA bloc -- are far from being on the same page. What happened in the 2019 Lok Sabha election? In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, BJP won Ladakh, Udhampur Jammu and the National Conference won Baramulla, Srinagar and Anantnag. The PDP contested all six seats but didn't win any with a vote share of less than four percent. Going by the voteshare, BJP stood 1st, Congress 2nd, National Conference third, and PDP 4th. The Congress did not win any seats either. Omar Abdullah does not want to compromise the Anantnag seat for the PDP and said his party would leave the seat only if Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi were contesting from them -- not for Mehbooba Mufti's party. Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Assam on Friday for a two-day visit to the northeastern state ahead of the coming Lok Sabha polls. PM Modi reached Tezpur airport where he was received by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (Twitter/@himantabiswa) The PM reached Tezpur airport where he was received by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. #ModiParivarAssam is thrilled to welcome our beloved Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji to the land of Maa Kamakhya and Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev, Sarma wrote on X. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. During his trip, the PM is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several development projects worth Rs.18,000 crore undertaken by Assam and the central government, including Rs.3,992 crore project of pipeline from Barauni to Guwahati, officials aware of the matter said. The 3992cr Barauni-Guwahati Pipeline, is a historic feat in enhancing Indias energy security as it connects NE to the National Gas Grid. Along with this, Honble PM will also commission two other projects to augment Indias pumping & refining capacity, Sarma wrote on X. Sarma said the PM will also inaugurate and lay foundation stones of several petroleum projects, including laying foundation stones of three projects costing Rs.1,555 crore to enhance domestic oil refining capacity in multiple facilities across Assam. In a big boost to rail connectivity, the PM will also dedicate two railway line doubling projects worth Rs.1,328 crore from Dhupdhara- Chhaygaon and New Bongaigaon-Sorbhog, Sarma said. Modi, who arrived by a special aircraft, took a chopper to Panbari in Golaghat from where he will undertake a 16-km road show to the Assam Police guest house at Kohora range of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) and spend the night there, officials said. On Saturday morning, the PM will visit the national park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest habitat for the endangered one-horned rhinos. Modi will spend around two hours in the park before departing for Arunachal Pradesh, where he will take part in two programmes, said officials. He will also be the first PM since 1957 to visit the Kaziranga National Park, a World Heritage Site and explore its beauty, said Sarma. In Arunachal, the PM will dedicate the Sela tunnel to the nation. Built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at a cost of Rs.825 crore, its the worlds longest twin-lane tunnel built at an altitude of above 13,000 feet. The PM will return to Jorhat in the afternoon and inaugurate the 125-ft high Statue of Valour of Ahom general Lachit Barphukan. He will return to Assam later in the afternoon and inaugurate the 84-feet tall statue of legendary Ahom general Lachit Borphukan at Jorhat with a 41-feet tall pedestal. He will address a public rally at Meleng Meteli where the PM will inaugurate several Central and state government projects, Sarma informed on Thursday. The PM will deliver 5,55,555 PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) beneficiaries their new homes. He will also inaugurate the new Tinsukia Medical College and Hospital and lay the foundation stone of Sivasagar Medical College and Hospital, said officials. A cancer care unit for children valued at Rs.300 crores will be inaugurated virtually. PM will join the biggest ever Griha Pravesh celebrations in Bharat, when 5.5 lakh proud house owners take possession of their PMAY-G homes built at a cost of 8478cr. With this a record 18 lakh #PMAwas houses have been delivered in Assam, Sarma wrote on X. PM will dedicate the Tinsukia Medical College and lay the foundation of the Sivasagar Medical College and a Paediatric Oncology Centre in Guwahati, cumulatively costing 1415cr, he added. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi immerses himself in campaigning ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Prime Minister has given a specific task to his bureaucrats. In a recent meeting, the PM told the top bureaucracy that while it was vacation for them as he fights the 2024 general elections, they have to prepare a strong agenda for the first 100 days of the Modi 3.0 government. PM Modi told all the secretaries present that he will be reviewing two ministries in a day when he comes back in May 2024. So, what will be the focus areas of Modi govt 3.0? Will the Prime Minister induct young blood in the cabinet & bureaucracy? Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, in New Delhi on Sunday.(ANI ) During the extensive deliberations, Prime Minister Modi delivered a series of messages to his existing council of ministers and the top bureaucracy underscoring the priorities and expectations for his third term in office. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. He expressed confidence in the BJP-led NDA's return to power with a stronger electoral mandate for the third consecutive term. However, he cautioned his ministers against complacency. Stressing the importance of grassroots outreach, Prime Minister Modi urged all ministers, including those from the Rajya Sabha, to connect with the public. Top ministers like Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were hinted about their domestic political duties apart from their official work and travel. Also Read: In Modi 3.0, India will be free from terrorism, separatism, Naxalism: Amit Shah He tasked the top bureaucracy with formulating a robust agenda for the first 100 days of the Modi 3.0 government. The prime minister told the top bureaucracy that while it was a vacation for them while he fights the 2024 general elections, they have to prepare a strong agenda for the first 100 days. This, he said, was their homework. He said what has been done in the last 100 days of the government in the past will be done in the first 100 days of his third term. PM Modi told all the secretaries present that he will be reviewing two ministries in a day when he comes back in May 2024. So believe it or not, the secretaries to government have already mulled over the agenda for the next term and beyond. While no one can predict electoral results in a society as diverse as India, it was quite evident from Prime Minister Narendra Modis interaction that he will overhaul his own PMO bureaucracy with younger blood and the focus will be on governance. This could mean that the top mandarins on Raisina Hill and the process will start from PMO with Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Army Chief and Navy Chief are slated to complete their terms in 2024. Key diplomatic appointments like Ambassador to US and Permanent Representative to the UN will also be done in Modi 3.0. There is a distinct possibility that PM Modi will take strong political decisions in his next term including those which may be unsavoury in the short term. These tough political decisions will be aimed at taking India to the next level economically and politically in the world. Just as the bureaucratic overhaul is imminent after the elections if PM Modi comes back to power, it is also most likely that the PM will have younger professional blood inducted into the cabinet while retaining the vast political experience of leaders like Home Minister Amit Shah. It was Shah who changed the scenario in the Valley by forcefully piloting the removal of Article 370 and Article 35 A and by taking on the challenge posed by Islamist radicals supported by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. Shah has now taken the challenge to wipe out Maoist insurgency in south Chhattisgarh and plans to free India from left-wing extremism in the next five years. Another change that might take place in Modi 3.0 is that the PM will start spending more time in his office in South Block rather than his Lok Kalyan Marg office to ensure that the government is on its toes on Raisina Hill. It was due to the coronavirus pandemic that the PM had restricted his movement to the South Block office as RTPCR protocols had to be strictly observed for those meeting PM Modi. As was evident on March 3 when the PM sat in his office till 11 pm in the night, he will continue the rigorous regime when he comes back in May. This will also ensure that all the ministers come to their offices rather than work from their camp offices at home. To make India a five trillion dollar economy and number 3 economic power in the world, PM Modi will continue to take a tough stand on terrorism and radicalization in the next term with no quarters given either to radicals within or outside the country. Modi 3.0 will have zero tolerance towards terrorism emanating from Pakistan and on Chinese expansionist plans in South Asia. While BJP-led NDA is in a pole position to return back power in May 2024 with the Opposition largely in disarray, PM Modi is in warp-speed political mode leaving nothing to chance. By adopting a punishing work schedule, PM Modi is also inspiring the karyakartas on ground not to take the forthcoming elections lightly and ensure that BJP roars back to power with maximum seats in Lok Sabha. By leading from the front, PM Modi is also sending a clear message that there is no space for political laggards in his next cabinet and work to rule bureaucrats in future. Next-level governance and all-round accountability will be the motto of Modi 3.0 and the objective is to make India a developed country by 2047. He has already indicated that all steps will be taken in that direction. Globally, PM Modi will be the senior most leader of the democratic world and of QUAD in particular. Faced with paramount leader Xi Jinping of Communist China, authoritarian leadership of Vladimir Putin in Russia with on-going wars in Ukraine and Gaza, PM Modi is the best bet for India in an unstable world. The unprecedented crowds at Prime Minister Narendra Modis rally at Bakshi stadium at Srinagar on Thursday will not only give sleepless nights to Rawalpindi GHQ but are also indicative of the peace dividend in the Valley after the abrogation of Article 370 five years ago. PM Narendra Modi in Kashmir on Thursday. Credible reports reaching Delhi indicate that there were no less than 30,000 people at the stadium venue, another 10,000 at the Sher-e-Kashmir Convention Centre, and some 30,000 at the district headquarters of the UT, who saw PM Modi through video conferencing. For the first time in the past decades, there was no internet shut down, no hartal call, no stone pelting and no Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack to greet the PM while on the way to Srinagar. This is not to say that the large number of attendees were government employees, but for the first time in decades, people were seen wearing saffron turbans and waving saffron flags in Srinagar. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also Read: PM Modi in Srinagar: 'Congress was misguiding Jammu and Kashmir on Article 370 According to authoritative Kashmir observers, the crowd was largely there to listen to PM Modi, who they think implements everything that he promises without any conditionalities. The public feels that abrogation of Article 370 has brought them more benefits from the government and the realization that the temporary article only got them terror attacks and violence. Even though the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists may retaliate in the near future, the message from the public was clear. There was no strike with educational institutions functioning normally in the state, said a Kashmir watcher. Fact is that if the Indian Army and the BSF are able to prevent infiltration from across the LoC, particularly in the Rajouri-Poonch sector and consequently prevent terrorist attacks, the Valley has decided to move towards peace and believes in PM Modi. While there was a public expectation that Modi would make Kashmir-centric announcements and subsidy schemes, the PM also surprised them by not mentioning the word Pakistan in his public speech. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee offered Pakistan a hand of friendship after the Operation Parakram armed mobilization on April 18, 2003. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service at a public rally on April 7, 2005, after Pak-sponsored terrorists set fire to the iconic Tourist Reception Centre and created mayhem in Srinagar. Prime Ministers Venue Date Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium 18-04-2003 Manmohan Singh Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium 7-04-2005 Narendra Modi Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium 7-12-2014 Narendra Modi Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium 7-11-2015 Narendra Modi Bakshi Stadium 7-03-2024 It has been five years since Article 370 was abrogated by the Modi government and already the Valley is looking forward to a peaceful growth and future. The erstwhile powerful political dynasties of Kashmir have been side-lined and Pakistan is in dire straits with political instability, Islamic radicalization and economic crisis. The large crowds at PM Modis rally indicate that change has finally come to Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the first-ever National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Friday. While presenting "Heritage Fashion Icon Award" to Jahnvi Singh, PM Modi said India has been the leader in the world of fashion and mentioned one statue in Konark which depicts fashionable women in ancient India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the crowd during the first-ever National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI) "India has been the leader in the world of fashion. Many will be surprised to know... if today people feel mini skirt is a symbol of modernity...or women holding purses. If you go to Konark...out of many statues in hundreds of year old temple, one statue is of a girl wearing mini skirt and a purse hanging from her hand. This means hundreds of years ago, even a sculptor had the knowledge of fashion in our country," said PM Modi. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. ALSO READ| PM Modi presents 'celebrity entrepreneur award' to Aman Gupta, boAt CEO says this With the event coinciding with International Women's Day, the Prime Minister hailed the rise of women and their contribution to India's economy. He highlighted that in the event several award winners were women. "In villages, women perform a lot of economic activity. In tribal belt and mountain areas, maximum economic activity is done by our mothers and sisters," said PM Modi. During his address, PM Modi also praised the talent to content creators. He said that their work is creating big impact in the country and called them "internet's MVP". MVP stands for Most Valuable Person. ALSO READ| Who is Drew Hicks, Bhojpuri-speaking American who received award from PM Modi? About the National Creators Award 2024 The award recognises skills, excellence and impact across domains, including storytelling, social change advocacy, environmental sustainability, education, gaming, among others. More than 1,50,000 nominations were received across 20 categories for the award. Approximately 1 million votes were cast in the voting phase. 23 winners were selected, including three international creators. Drew Hicks received "Best International Creator" award. "Disruptor of the Year" award went to Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps). Aman Gupta was awarded "Celebrity Creator of the Year" award. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday dedicate the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh to the country, with the new route allowing faster deployment of weapons, soldiers and equipment to forward areas near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector, officials aware of the matter said on Friday. Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh (Twitter Photo) Modi will remotely inaugurate the tunnel, built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at a cost of Rs.825 crore, from Itanagar. It is the worlds longest twin-lane tunnel above 13,000 feet. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The project is significant as winter connectivity to Tawang over the 14,000-foot pass, Sela, posed a logistics challenge for the army for decades, with the movement of men, weapons and stores severely affected for three to four months every year. The tunnel will cut down the travel time to Tawang by at least one hour as well as provide all-weather connectivity. Sela tunnel will not only boost the countrys defence preparedness but will also give a fillip to the regions socio-economic development, the officials said. The tunnel has been designed for a traffic density of 3,000 cars and 2,000 trucks per day, with a maximum speed of 80 kmph. The Sela project consists of Tunnel 1, which is 1,003 metres long, and Tunnel 2, a 1,595-metre twin tube tunnel. The tunnels have come up through two ridges west of Sela. The project also includes two roads measuring 8.6 km. Tunnel 2 has one bi-lane tube for traffic and one escape tube for emergencies. Only tunnels longer than 1,500 metres need to have an escape passage alongside. The completion of the Sela tunnel, whose foundation stone was laid by Modi in February 2019, has put the spotlight on Indias border infrastructure push aimed at bridging the gap with China, which has fast-tracked the development of its forward areas. India and China have been locked in a dragging military standoff along LAC in eastern Ladakh since May 2020, and a full resolution of the border crisis through ongoing negotiations still appears elusive. BRO has completed 330 infrastructure projects at a cost of Rs.8,737 crore in the last three years and significantly improved the strategic mobility of the Indian armed forces along the contested border with China. Replying to a query linked to India not criticising Russia over the Ukraine war, external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday said India's territory has been occupied by another country but the world has maintained silence over the matter. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar being felicitated by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa during the 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue, in Tokyo on Thursday.(Dr. S. Jaishankar-X) In an apparent jibe at the western countries, S Jaishankar said people tend to cherry-pick principles when it suits them and ignore when it doesn't. S Jaishankar is currently touring Japan. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A Japanese journalist asked S Jaishankar whether India's decision to not criticise Russia over the latter's territorial violation of Ukraine, should be construed as double-standards. "My position would be that the world is a complicated place, and there are many important principles and beliefs in the world. What happens sometimes in world politics is that countries pick one issue, one situation, one principle, and they highlight it because it suits them. But if one looks at the principle itself, we in India know better than almost any other country because immediately after our independence, we experienced aggression, we experienced an effort to change our boundaries," S Jaishankar said. "And even today, parts of India are occupied by another country. But we did not see the world response saying, oh, there's a great principle involved, and therefore, let us all go with India. Yes, today we are being told that there are principles involved. I wish I'd seen that principle in play for the last 80 years. I've seen those principles cherry-picked when it suits people and not when it doesn't suit people," he added. S Jaishankar on UNSC In the same interview, S Jaishankar emphasised the need for a reform in the United Nations Security Council. "Most of us actually understand that there is a great need to reform the United Nations. When the United Nations was founded, there were roughly about 50 countries who were members. Today there are almost 200 countries that are members. So in any organization, if the membership has grown four times, the leadership and the decision-making of that organization cannot remain the same," he said. S Jaishankar, in an apparant reference to China, said those opposed to change have found a way to delay it. "We are seeing today the problem when there is inadequate...If you look today at the dynamism of Asia, the demographics of Asia, I think there's a very strong case as well. So these discussions are going on. We felt that in many ways, the discussions have not progressed because those who are opposed to any change have found ways of delaying it," he said. China is the only permanent member of the UNSC which is opposed to India's entry into the panel. S Jaishankar on Indian politics S Jaishankar also responded to a query on whether he will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections or not. He is currently a member of the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Parliament. "You make your political decision based on what the party leadership decides. So I just got re-elected to the upper house (Rajya Sabha) last year. My membership of Parliament is secure. Beyond that, that is not really a question I can answer," he said. S Jaishankar has been vociferously defending buying cheaper oil from Russia, contending that India reserves the right to do what is best for its people. Earlier this, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov lauded India's stand on buying Russian oil despite intense pressure from western powers. My friend, foreign minister Subramanyam Jaishankar, was once at the UN, giving a speech. He was asked why they started buying so much oil from Russia. He advised them to mind their own business and reminded them at the same time how much oil the West had started buying and continued to buy oil from the Russian Federation. This is national dignity, Sergey Lavrov was quoted as saying by Sputnik news agency. With inputs from ANI A top prison official has been arrested in Assam over an alleged security breach, which allowed the smuggling of gadgets including a smartphone and spy-cam pen into a high-security cell of the Dibrugarh Central Jail, where radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh has been lodged since his arrest in April last year. Amritpal Singh has been lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail since his arrest in April last year. (PTI) Dibrugarhs additional police superintendent (crime) Sizal Agarwal on Friday said Nipen Das, the Dibrugarh Central Jail superintendent, was arrested late on Thursday under the stringent anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Assam Prisons Act, and Indian Penal Codes Section 120B (criminal conspiracy). Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Agarwal said the breach was noticed last month and that Das was arrested after several rounds of investigation. This is a national security issue...being the head of the jail, he [Das] must be responsible, Agarwal said. Police said the jail has a multi-tier security system, including 24-hour CCTV surveillance. Dibrugarh police superintendent Rakesh Reddy cited the initial investigation and the superintendent allowed the gadgets to reach Amritpal Singh and other inmates. He added that Amritpal Singh also got access to the internet. After the recovery of the gadgets, police collected the digital evidence and registered a fresh case under which the superintendent of jail has been arrested, he said. He added most of the gadgets were found inside Amritpal Singhs cell and some from others. Assam Police chief Gyanendra Pratap Singh on February 17 said a smartphone with SIM, keypad phone, TV remote with keyboard, spy-cam pen, pen drives, Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and smartwatch were seized after the jail staff searched the cell. He visited the jail and met with the senior officials on February 20 before ordering the transfer of some prison staff and a probe. People aware of the matter said Das was being interrogated even as more jail officials were detained on Friday morning for questioning. This was a major security issue and we may arrest more officials, said an investigator. Amritpal Singh was arrested from Rode, the ancestral village of slain Khalistani ideologue Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, in April 2023 after a 37-day hunt. He was booked under the National Security Act (NSA) and taken to the Dibrugarh jail in Assam. A crackdown on his Waris Punjab De was earlier launched after his supporters stormed a police station in Ajnala near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested associate. Ten Waris Punjab De members, including Amrit Pal Singh, began a hunger strike on February 17 demanding their transfer to their home state of Punjab. Reddy said a team of doctors was examining the health of all the 10 inmates. Three of them were shifted to hospital but the other inmates are getting medical attention inside the jail, Reddy said. Officials said Waris Punjab De member Kulwant Singh and Gurmeet Singh were hospitalised on March 5 after they fainted. On Thursday, another inmate named Basant Singh was rushed to hospital. Two men were arrested for allegedly kidnapping, sexually abusing and murdering a nine-year-old girl in Puducherry, police said on Thursday. Two men were arrested for alleged sexual abuse, kidnap and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Puducherry. (Representational Image) According to an officer aware of the matter, the body of the girl, identified as a class 5 student, was found in a decomposed state in a drain on March 5 with her hands and legs tied up. A missing complaint was filed by her parents on March 2, an officer said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Puducherry home minister A Namassivayam on Wednesday announced that a special team of police formed to investigate the case has arrested two people, identified as Karunas (19) and Vivekanandan (56) under the charges of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and SC/ST prevention of atrocities act. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed on Wednesday, began enquiries on Thursdaycasting a wider net to identify more possible suspects. Five suspects are being questioned under police custody. The government will bring all the accused to book and ensure maximum punishment, Namassivayam had said on Wednesday. Puducherry director general of police (DGP) B Srinivas said that further details would be released by the SIT soon. Lieutenant governor of Puducherry Tamilisai Soundararajan met the childs family and later held an emergency meeting with police officers at the Raj Nivas on the matter on Thursday. ...Instructed officials to expedite the inquiry, she said in a post on X. Its a complex and sensitive issue and we are collecting credible evidence from the locality, a senior police officer said, not wishing to be named. Families have been protesting across Puducherry blocking roads and demanding swift action from the police. The All India NR Congress-led NDA chief minister N Rangasamy announced a solatium of 20 lakh to the family of the child. The opposition Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have announced a protest on Friday against the crime which they allege happened because the accused were under the influence of alcohol. The AIADMK too has called for a bandh on Friday. A post-mortem report from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) is awaited. The victim child was cremated on Thursday following the post-mortem. The Congress on Friday announced its first list of 39 candidates across eight states and a Union territory for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, nominating senior leader Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad in Kerala, former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, sitting MP Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram, and party general secretary KC Venugopal from Alappuzha in Kerala. Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Pawan Khera and Ajay Maken in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI) The Congress banked on senior leaders and former ministers in several states. It named 16 candidates in Kerala which has 20 seats, seven in Karnataka which has 28, four in Telangana which has 17, and six in Chhattisgarh which has 11. It also named candidates for both seats in Meghalaya, the lone seats in Lakshadweep, Nagaland and Sikkim, and one of the two seats in Tripura. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Read here: Rahul Gandhi, Tharoor among heavyweights named in Congress' 1st list | Key takeaways At least six state unit chiefs were accommodated in the first list that was heavily loaded in favour of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes and minorities, who were represented in 24 out of the 39 seats. This Lok Sabha elections will decide the future of the country. Our target is to win maximum seats to eradicate this fascist government. Senior leaders would be there in the upcoming list too, said Venugopal, flanked by party treasurer Ajay Maken and publicity department chief Pawan Khera. Eighteen sitting MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, were repeated. The BJP has already announced 195 candidates on March 3. The larger presence of SC, ST and OBCs is in sync with the Congresss ongoing campaign to give greater share to marginalised caste groups and Rahul Gandhis frequent pitch for increased participation of these communities in the decision-making process. Party insiders also added that leadership was looking to increase the number of SC, ST and OBC candidates to counter the BJPs outreach and popularity to these sections. The party also pushed its larger agenda of giving more space to younger leaders and announced that 12 contestants are below 50. Venugopal announced that eight contestants were between 50 and 60, 12 between 61 and 70, and seven between 71 and 76. The Congress general secretary announced that the candidates were selected on the basis of winnability and loyalty and said that the party was trying in maximum possible ways to go with the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), the Opposition grouping that was forged to take on the BJP but which has suffered attrition in recent months amid acrimony over seat sharing. Still there are little issues in West Bengal and Assam. We are trying to sort it out. The Congress is very clear: We are here to reduce maximum BJP seats. We are ready to sacrifice anything to reduce BJP seats. We are expecting the same level of cooperation with other partners. In some states we need to move forward, he said, when asked about the status of seat-sharing in Bengal and Assam. The Congresss first list came less than 24 hours after the partys apex poll body, the central election commission (CEC), met on Thursday evening to discuss seats in seven northeastern states, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Delhi. The next meeting of CEC, in which northern states such as Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are set to be discussed, will be called on March 11. The party named a number of state unit chiefs in its first list including Kerala unit chief K Sudhkaran from Kannur, Meghalaya unit chief and former Union minister Vincent Pala from Shillong, Sikkim unit head Gopal Chettri from the lone seat in the state, Tripura chief Asim Kumar Saha from Tripura West, Md Hamdullaha Sayeed from Lakshadweep, and Nagaland state chief S Supongmeren Jamir from the lone seat in the state. Jamir, who hails from the dominant Ao tribe, is credited for the success of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Nagaland. The revival of the Congress in Nagaland is based on our revival in Mokokchung district (which is dominated by Ao tribes). The decision to nominate Jamir is a well-calculated one, said All India Congress Committee secretary Ranajit Mukherjee, who handles Nagaland. In Kerala, a state the Congress dominated in 2019 by winning 15 of the 16 seats it contested (its allies won another three), the party fielded Venugopal Alappuzha, a seat where he was an MP from 2014. In the last elections, the Congress fielded Shanimol Usman and he lost to the Lefts AM Ariff, who is the lone communist Lok Sabha MP from Kerala. Rahul Gandhi will fight for a second time from Wayanad amid strong speculation that he will also contest from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, a seat he won in 2004, 2009 and 2014 but lost in 2019. The party retained most of its Kerala MPs, but dropped its Thrissur lawmaker TN Prathapan. Former state unit chief K Muraleedharan, who is a sitting MP from Vadakara, was fielded from this high-profile seat. Kodikunnil Suresh, the partys Lok Sabha chief whip, was named from Mavelikkara. The BJP has fielded popular actor Suresh Gopi from Thrissur. And Prathapan was seen as a lightweight candidate against Gopi. The KPCC waned to field Muraleedharan, who is the son of late Kerala CM K Karunakaran and enjoys a mass support, said a party functionary from Kerala, requesting anonymity. In Chhattisgarh, the party puts its faith in its senior leadership with three former ministers, including former CM Baghel, among the six candidates announced. Senior Congress party leaders said they hoped that individual heft would help them regain lost ground in the state, where they currently hold only two of the 11 Lok Sabha seats and suffered a shock defeat in the assembly elections in December 2023. The party nominated former state home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu who will fight from Mahasamund, former urban affairs minister Shivkumar Dahariya from Janjgir Champa, sitting MP Jyotsana Mahant from Korba, former MLA Vikas Upadhyaya from Raipur, and newcomer Rajendra Sahu from Durg. Baghel will contest from Rajnandgaon, once the seat of former three-time chief minister and now Vidhan Sabha speaker Raman Singh. This is the third time Baghel will contest parliamentary elections, after he contested from Durg in 2004 and Raipur in 2009, losing on both occasions. In Telangana, the party named former Union minister Balram Naik from Mahabubabad, Suresh Kumar Shetkar from Zaheerabad, Challa Vamshichand Reddy from Mahabubnagar and Kunduru Raghuveer Reddy from Nalgonda. Naik served as Union minister of state between 2009 and 2013. Shetkar was a Lok Sabha member from Zaheerabad from 2009 to 2014, while Reddy is a former MLA. Kunduru Raghuveer Reddy is the son of veteran Congress leader K Jana Reddy. In Karnataka, the party named DK Suresh from Bangalore Rural, Kannada actor Shivarajkumars wife Geetha Shivarajkumar from Shimoga, HR Algur from Bijapur, Anandswamy Gaddadevarmath from Haveri, S P Muddahanumegowda from Tumkur, Venkataramane Gowda from Mandya and Shreyas M Patel from Hassan. Read here: Congress announces 1st list for 2024 election: Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad A three-time MP, Suresh is the brother of Karnataka Congress chief and deputy CM D K Shivakumar and is the sitting member from Bangalore Rural. He was the only Congress candidate to win in the 2019 general elections in the state. Banuchandar Nagarajan, a right-leaning analyst, said, The Congress has mainly focused on states where it will go alone. Just 3 women in the list released on womens day. As much as BJP focuses on symbolism, Congress doesnt seem to take it seriously. Of the nine people that have a chance for a hat-trick after the two tough elections of 2014 and 2016, have made it! viz. Pala, DK Suresh, Raghavan, K Suresh, Antony, Tharoor. Surprising that names of Bittu, Gogoi & Adhir, (others that can win the 3rd time) not in the Congress first list. Congress got 15 in Kerala out of its total 52 MPs. It will be a tough ask this time with strong CPM candidates and ascending BJP. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to contest from Keralas Wayanad seat again in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the partys central election committee (CEC) decided on Thursday evening, said people aware of developments. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Sonia Gandhi during the partys CEC meeting on Thursday. (Vipin Kumar/HT) There is speculation that Gandhi may also fight from Uttar Pradeshs Amethi, a seat he won in 2004, 2009 and 2014 before losing in 2019, said the people cited above, though seats from the state were not discussed in Thursdays meeting. Apart from Gandhi, about 50 candidates were cleared by the Congress CEC in its first meeting to finalise names for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Congress MP Shashi Tharoors name was cleared from Thiruvananthapuram. Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, and former deputy CM of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, were asked to contest the polls, said the people quoted above. Both were present in the CEC meeting. Jyotsna Mahants name was cleared from Chhattisgarh, the people said. But the party couldnt fix the candidates for the three seats in Delhi where it is fighting in alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party. Women wing head Alka Lamba, former MPs Sandip Dikshit and JP Agarwals names were proposed for the Chandni Chowk seat. For the North West Delhi constituency, former MP Udit Raj and Raj Kumar Chauhan were among the candidates shortlisted. For North East Delhi, state unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, Anil Choudhury and one more name were placed before CEC, said the people quoted above. The body, led by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, returned the proposals and sought from the screening committee a single name for each of the three seats in Delhi. The remaining four seats of the national capital will be fought by the AAP. Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, general secretary KC Venugopal, party veteran Ambika Soni and others attended the meeting. Three members present in the meeting said Gandhi was the only candidate from Wayanad, a seat he first won in 2019. Obviously there were no major discussion about that seat, said a senior leader, requesting anonymity. On Thursday, CEC discussed all seats in the northeastern states, except Assam, which holds 14 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the region. A leader said all the NE seats were cleared. The top poll body of the Congress also discussed Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Delhi seats. While some of the seats in Kerala were cleared quickly, a few seats would be taken up later. Roughly, 60 seats were discussed in the meeting. Nearly 50 candidates have been finalised, said a senior member of the panel, requesting anonymity. Candidates names for at least 3-4 seats each in Karnataka and Telangana have been put on hold for further discussion. The next meeting of CEC is expected soon. Meanwhile, the screening committee will meet on Friday to scrutinise candidates from other states. BJP has already named candidates for 195 seats. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday released another video of the suspect linked to the Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast case. The NIA has sought the help of the public in ascertaining the identity of the suspect. (ANI) The agency has sought the help of the public in ascertaining his identity. In one of the new footage, the suspect is seen wearing a t-shirt, facemask, and carrying a bag. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In another, he is seen boarding a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus. The NIA has sought citizens with relevant information to call them on their numbers - 08029510900, 8904241100 or email to info.blr.nia@gov.in. The NIA which is examining the CCTV footage that suggests the suspect bomber may have changed clothes and boarded a bus to Tumakuru in Karnataka after placing the improvised explosive device (IED) at Rameshwaram Cafe. According to people people familiar with the matter, the bomber used multiple public buses to reach the cafe on the morning of the incident. On Thursday, Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said the prime suspect changed his clothes after the incident and travelled by bus. He said the suspect travelled towards the district headquarters town of Tumakuru by a bus after the explosion and sleuths are verifying his movement till Ballari. We have got more important leads, as to the direction in which he (suspect) has gone and him having changed his clothes. Some information cannot be revealed. We have got good leads in the last couple of days. I feel that he will be nabbed at the earliest, Parameshwara told reporters. It is known that he has traveled by bus, based on those leads officials are following up. They have got important leads. Cloth merchant detained in connection with Rameshwaram Cafe blast A cloth merchant from Kaul Bazaar in Ballari has been detained by the National Investigation Agency and Central Crime Branch in their joint investigation of the blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe, PTI reported on Friday, citing sources. The teams suspect that the merchant, who was an active member of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), was part of the plot. On March 1, a low-intensity IED blast was reported in Bengaluru's Rameshwaram cafe, injuring at least 10 people. CCTV footage in the cafe showed that a man walked into the cafe and set down a bag carrying explosives nearby, which had a timer set for an hour. The Karnataka government on Thursday capped private water tanker rates in Bengaluru after multiple complaints of exorbitant rates, as the tech hub continued to grapple with one of its worst water shortages in recent years. Local residents gather to fill cans of water from a municipal tap in Bengaluru on Thursday. (AFP) According to a circular issued by deputy commissioner KA Dayananda, the state government fixed prices for more than 200 private water tankers deployed to supply water in the city on a contractual basis, depending on the distance to be covered and size of the tanker, and said the services will be subjected to Goods and Services Tax (GST). Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Bengaluru city and Bengaluru rural district have been notified as drought hit districts. And to mitigate the crisis, we are ordering 200 private water tankers to be given to Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewage Board on temporary contract for a period of four months. Since the water tanker prices are skyrocketing, in the interest of public, we have decided to cap the price for water tankers, the circular, which was issued on the request of the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), said. Bengaluru, one of Indias bonafide metropolitan cities with a population of above 13 million, is staring down the barrel of an unprecedented water crisis, and its administration and people have been left scrambling. Tankers laden with water are seen entering and exiting gates, buzzing around the city, answering panicked calls, and charging exorbitant rates, ranging from 500 to 2,000 for a tanker. According to the circular issued earlier in the day, a 6,000 litre tanker travelling for a distance of 5km will cost 600. Likewise, a 8,000 litre tanker and a 12,000 litre tanker will cost 700 and 1,000, respectively, for the same distance. For a distance ranging between 5km and 10km, the rates have been fixed at 750 (6,000 litres), 850 ( 8,000 litres) and 1,200 (12,000 litres). The circular added that the services by the private water tankers, deployed by the administration to tackle the crisis, will fall under the GST ambit. Rapid, untrammeled growth and complete disregard of the citys natural water bodies, although the trigger is the failure, in Karnataka, of both the southwest and the northeast monsoon, have resulted in the water shortage in the city. According to chief minister Siddaramaiah, of the 236 taluks in the state, 223 have been drought-hit, with 219 severely affected. External affairs minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday met late former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe's wife Akie in Tokyo, nearly two years after his demise. He also handed a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Akie Abe in which the latter conveyed his condolences for the death of Abe's mother. Jaishankar meets late Shinzo Abe's wife in Tokyo Sharing pictures with Abe's wife on X, S Jaishankar said, Being my first visit to Tokyo after the demise of PM Shinzo Abe, met with his wife, Mrs Akie Abe. Recalled PM Shinzo Abes invaluable contribution to the advancement of India-Japan relations. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Shinzo Abe was assassinated on July 8, 2022, during an election campaign speech. The accused who shot Abe, identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, was arrested at the scene and was charged with murder and several other crimes, including violating the gun control law. According to Yamagami, he killed Abe because of the former prime ministers alleged links to a religious group that he hated. S Jaishankar's visit to Japan S Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to Japan from March 6 to 8, co-chaired the 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue in Tokyo with his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa. During the meeting, the two leaders agreed on the need for new steps to prepare a bilateral relationship to respond to emerging geopolitical and geo-economic trends. Jaishankar and Kamikawa also discussed several ambitious areas of expansion, including emerging technologies. A great meeting with Japanese FM @Kamikawa_Yoko, as we co-chaired the 16th India-Japan FMs Strategic Dialogue in Tokyo today. Pleased to note the steady progress of our bilateral partnership in different domains. Discussed new and ambitious areas of expansion, including emerging technologies, Jaishankar wrote on X. He added, Also appreciated the stabilizing role that our ties can play in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Our exchange of views on the international situation was very useful. India and Japan will be steadfast partners as we move towards a multipolar world. Madras high court justice Anitha Sumanth who on Wednesday refrained from issuing a writ of quo warranto (challenging a persons legal right to hold public office) against Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for his Sanatana Dharma released a detailed 107-page order on Thursday. The court, however, had observed that the comments made by the minister were divisive in nature. The court had observed that the comments made by DMK minister Udhayanidhi Stalin were divisive. (PTI) By equating Sanatana Dharma to HIV AIDS, Leprosy, malaria and corona, the individual respondents have revealed an alarming lack of understanding of Hinduism. Their statements are perverse, divisive and contrary to Constitutional principles and ideals and tantamount to gross dis or misinformation, the justice said. This case pertains to a petition filed by office bearers of the Hindu Munnani against Udhayanidhi, minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Sekar Babu and member of parliament A Raja over the controversy. The court refused to issue a quo warranto against all three of them. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Last September, Udhayanidhi, who is also the son of chief minister MK Stalin, in a public speech said that Sanatana Dharma must be eradicated like mosquito diseases. Minister Babu was on stage with him and when it caused a national stir, Raja backed him saying that it is a centuries old problem which was also raised by BR Ambedkar. Bharatiya Janata Partys national leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc (which includes the DMK) of being anti-Hinduism. Several police cases were filed against Udhayanidhi across the country over his comment and there was even a bounty on his head. But he doubled down on his stance that Sanatana Dharma promotes casteism and inequality. This court agrees unequivocally that there are inequities based on caste present in society today and that they are to be eschewed, the justice said. However, the origins of the caste system as we know it today are less than a century old. The justice said that caste divisions are deeply entrenched in Tamil Nadu which has 370 registered castes and the State is a cacophony of pulls and pressures by groups of persons claiming allegiance to one caste or the other, the justice said in her order. This ferocity among people belonging to different castes is also, in part, on account of the benefits made available to them. Can one lay the blame for these torturous circumstances entirely on the ancient Varna system? The answer is emphatically in the negative. The court said that it does not agree with the respondents submission that the freedom to practise religion guaranteed under Article 25 is subservient to freedom of speech as guaranteed under Article 19. This cannot, however, be taken as a sanction for unconstitutional, insensitive and erroneous statements, derogatory of particular faith, particularly from those holding Constitutional posts, the court said. While the Indian Constitution propounds a secular Government with equal freedom to all its citizens, hate and divisiveness particularly from the government, is anathema to such freedom, and assumes a seriousness bordering on danger, the court added. The individual respondents have undoubtedly acted contrary to Constitutional principles and ideals and their statements amount to disinformation and hate against members of a specific community, the justice said. Seen in this backdrop, the question that arises is as to whether it is contrary to Constitutional ideals principles for Constitutional functionaries to vow to annihilate a section of their own people who follow a particular faith, and whether such statements violate the promise of secular values under the Constitution? The answer is unambiguously in the affirmative. The high courts observations come close on the heels of similar criticism from the Supreme Court on Monday pulling up Udhayanidhi for the remark and abusing his right to freedom of speech. You are not a layman, you are a minister. You should have realised the consequences of your remarks, an SC bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said. Since the apex court has issued a notice to the respondents and a petition seeking disqualification against them is also pending before Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi, the court stated that the appropriate authority under the Constitution has been approached in the matter. The justice said that the court cannot pass such an order unless Udhayanidhi is disqualified under law from holding the post. The doctrine of separation of powers would require that judges perform the Constitutional function of safeguarding the supremacy of the Constitution while exercising the power of judicial review in a fair and even handed manner, the justice said. Thus, while checking the encroachment of power, the Judiciary must itself guard against encroaching beyond its own bounds. The Supreme Court has exempted former high court judges from taking a mandatory test for appointments as heads of state consumer commissions. It has sought suggestions from the Union government on making the selection procedure for members of district and state consumer commissions objective and fair. A Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud-led bench passed the order. (ANI) The court noted that removing the examination criteria could give back door entry to ineligible persons and vest unbridled discretion in the hands of the state. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud-led bench passed the order on Thursday while considering a batch of appeals challenging a September 2023 notification making it mandatory for heads and members of state and district consumer forums to clear a written exam on topics, including general knowledge. The notification was issued as per a March 2023 Supreme Court judgment mandating such a test. Last month, the court suggested the government consider amending the regulation as the examination proved to be a hurdle in filling up vacant posts. The government last week filed an application expressing its willingness to amend the rules as the examination was neither feasible nor desirable. It recommended that presidents of state and district consumer commissions should be exempted from taking the examination and suggested broadening the selection committee headed by chief justices of the respective high court in selecting heads and members of district and state consumer forums. Under the existing rules, former high court judges are eligible to be presidents of state consumer forums. The CJI observed, This is an impossible condition as you cannot have a person to work as president of state commissions. Also, it is not possible asking a former high court judge to take the examination. It is like asking a former Supreme Court judge to take a test on environment before being appointed as president of national green tribunal. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday inched closer to announcing a reunion after 15 years, people aware of the matter said, with the former likely to get a higher share of seats in the Lok Sabha polls and the latter receiving a bigger chunk of seats in the assembly elections that are scheduled to be held simultaneously. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik during a meeting in New Delhi. (PTI/File) The formal announcement of the alliance is likely to come on Saturday and the seat-sharing agreement next week, when Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit the eastern state, said the people cited above. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The return of the BJD to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold will bolster the latters quest for 400+ seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The BJD has continuously ruled Odisha, which sends 21 members to the Lower House, for the last 24 years. For now, the two parties which came together in 1998 but parted ways before the 2009 general elections appear to have agreed that the BJP will fight 14 Lok Sabha seats and the BJD seven, said two people aware of negotiations. In the 147-member assembly, the BJD is likely to contest 100 seats and the BJP 47, the people added. The local units of both parties, however, are unhappy and have conveyed their dissatisfaction to their respective leadership. Also Read: Odisha BJP chief denies any alliance with BJD for Lok Sabha and Assembly polls In 2019, the BJD won 112 assembly seats to form the government in the state, while the BJP won 23, 13 more than its tally in 2014. In the Lok Sabha, the BJD won 12 seats, the BJP eight, and the Congress one. The BJD is considered a friendly party to the ruling BJP, having lent support to the Union government for the passage of crucial bills. The BJD aims to use the alliance to cancel any threat to Naveen Patnaiks impending sixth term as chief minister of the state. The 77-year-old has been in power since 2000 and if he manages to win, he will become the longest-serving CM in India, overtaking Sikkims Pawan Chamling. The lure of the BJP has been growing. In two of the 21 constituencies, Bargarh and Bhubaneswar, voters very clearly voted for the BJP in the LS seat and BJD in the assembly seat, said one of the leaders quoted above. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had a vote share of 38.4% as compared to 42.8% for the BJD. In the assembly polls, the BJP won 32.8% of the votes, compared to 45.2% for the BJD. For the BJP, the 21 seats of Odisha are key to attaining the goal of more than 400 seats for the NDA. Its something the PM has always been keen on, said the second person aware of details, adding, Since 2014, there have been overtures and this seemed to be the right time to come together. According to the first senior leader, the PMs principal secretary PK Mishra was the special envoy and helped seal the deal when he visited the state on February 29. For the record, Mishra was in town to attend an event at the Kalinga institute of Technology. However, insiders say that he spent an extra couple of days there, as part of backchannel talks. HT reached out to the Mishras office, which confirmed that he was in Odisha on Feb 29 and March 1 but did not comment on other possible engagements. The first senior leader said that Patnaiks aide VK Pandian made several trips to Delhi to meet with the BJP leadership. Pandian and BJD organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening for a discussion with Amit Shah and senior BJP leaders. Last month, Union minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan, who is likely to contest from Odisha, posted about the states goals for 2036 when Odisha turns 100. Its exactly what the BJD cited as part of its action plan after the meeting on Wednesday. The Congress on Friday released its first list of 39 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The list included prominent leaders such as Rahul Gandhi vying for the LS seat in Wayanad, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel contesting from Rajnandgaon, and Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram. Shashi Tharoor versus Rajeev Chandrasekhar Shashi Tharoor vs. Rajeev Chandrasekhar Congress leader Shashi Tharoor will contest against BJP's Rajeev Chandrashekhar in Thiruvananthapuram. With no Lok Sabha MP from Kerala, the BJP will rely significantly on Chandrasekhar in the state for its inaugural presence. Meanwhile, securing victory on his home turf is pivotal for Tharoor, particularly as it could shape his trajectory in electoral politics moving forward. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Speaking about his upcoming Lok Sabha battle Shashi Tharoor said, "The BJP is going to find it very tough to even repeat the 303 they had. I'm convinced at this time the BJP is going to lose the government. In every election, there's always been somebody leaving some party and going to some other party I don't see that BJP is immune from that either Those of us in the Congress party for the last few years have seen opportunities to serve the people and that's why we are in politics. That's what I'm doing in Thiruvananthapuram. I'm here to serve the people of my constituency." Meanwhile speaking about contesting the Lok Sabha seat from Thiruvananthapuram in the upcoming polls, union minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, I am very excited and honoured. This is the first opportunity I have got to contest in the Lok Sabha. I express gratitude to PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda who have chosen to field me as their candidate in the capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram... It's a campaign I look forward to and I will start it very shortly...The people of Thiruvananthapuram are more powerful and they will decide who they want to see victorious. BJP will have a decisive mandate in the coming elections Tharoor earlier termed the LS polls as a three-cornered contest. "Don't forget that I took the seat from the Communist Party and the gentleman who is the candidate now, was the sitting MP when I came into the fray. He did not contest again at that time and it has now been 15 years that he is out of the fray. So it remains to be seen how Mr Pannyan Raveendran (CPM candidate in 2024) does...BJP has come second in the last two Lok Sabha elections. So, they have to be taken seriously," Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said. What happened in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections? During the 2019 elections, Tharoor won more than four lakh votes, establishing a significant lead over the BJP candidate Kummanam Rajasekharan, who received around 3.16 lakh votes. The constituency's intense political contest drew nationwide attention, with analysts forecasting that the Sabarimala women's entry issue would influence the outcome in favour of the BJP, which had nominated Kummanam Rajashekharan to contest against the author-turned-politician. Rajashekharan had also resigned as Mizoram Governor to take the electoral plunge. However, Tharoor defeated his main rival and BJP-NDA candidate Kummanam Rajashekharan by a margin of 99,989 votes. New Delhi: Author and philanthropist Sudha Murty on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing her nomination to the Rajya Sabha was a "double surprise" for her. Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murty(PTI file photo) Sudha Murty told PTI that she has never sought the coveted position and had "absolutely no idea" why the government nominated her to the Upper House of the Parliament. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "It came on Women's Day and that's a double surprise. I am very happy. I am grateful to our prime minister," said Murty. Sudha Murty is currently visiting Thailand. "I have to see what are the things...what I can do. This is a new area to me. So, I have to first sit and study and then I will be able to do it." She said she was pleasantly surprised by the announcement," she said. President Droupadi Murmu nominated author and philanthropist Sudha Murty to the Rajya Sabha on Friday. "I'm happy, at the same time I feel I have been given more responsibility. I'll work my level best. On a personal level, I am happy that I'm getting a bigger platform to work for the poor," Sudha Murty told ANI. Sudha Murty said she doesn't consider herself a politician. "I don't think that I could consider myself as a politician and I'm not a politician. I'm a nominated Rajya Sabha member. My son-in-law's (UK PM Rishi Sunak) politics is for his country and it is different, and my work is different. I'm a government worker now," she said. On Friday morning, PM Modi called Sudha Murty's work in the field of philanthropy and education "inspiring". "I am delighted that the President of India has nominated Sudha Murty to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Ji's contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy and education have been immense and inspiring. Her presence in the Rajya Sabha is a powerful testament to our 'Nari Shakti', exemplifying the strength and potential of women in shaping our nation's destiny," she said. Sudha Murty is an author and a philanthropist. She is the wife of Infosys co-founder Narayan Murti and mother-in-law of Britain's prime minister Rishi Sunak. With inputs from PTI, ANI Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Lok Sabha candidature was approved from Keralas Wayanad as expected at the first meeting of the partys Central Election Committee (CEC) on Thursday. But the suspense continues over whether he would contest Uttar Pradeshs Amethi seat that he represented from 2004 to 2019. Rahul Gandhi in Gujarats Jhalod. (AFP) Gandhi has visited Amethi, which has been his familys pocket borough for decades, only thrice since losing the seat to Union minister Smriti Irani five years back. The infrequency of his visits has been seen as an indication of a lack of effort to win back his voters. But Congress leaders have cited an overwhelming response when Gandhi led his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to Amethi to negate this perception. The BJP has, meanwhile, renominated Irani as its candidate from Amethi. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Congress poll bodys first meeting The CECs meeting on Thursday focussed on finalising candidates from Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and seven North East states barring Assam. Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor and Jyotsna Mahants names were cleared from Thiruvananthapuram and Chattisgarh. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, who were present at the meeting, were asked to contest the Lok Sabha polls. The CEC did not discuss Uttar Pradesh candidates and could not finalise nominees for Delhi, which has multiple aspirants for the three seats the party is fighting. Congress women wing head Alka Lamba, former members of Parliament (MP) Sandip Dikshit, and JP Agarwals names were proposed for Delhis Chandni Chowk seat. For the North West Delhi constituency, former MP Udit Raj and Raj Kumar Chauhan were among the candidates shortlisted. State unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, Anil Choudhury and one more name were suggested to CEC for the North East Delhi seat. Congress announces poll guarantees Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge separately promised three million government jobs, guaranteed apprenticeship of all degree/diploma holders with a stipend of 1 lakh per year, social security net for gig workers, etc if Congress is voted to power. The promises were made at a rally in Rajasthan on Thursday. The promises are seen to be an attempt to outwit the BJP. The Congress, which rolled out rights-based laws when it was in power until 2014, calls these promises guarantees. The BJP has been packaging its poll assurances as Modi ki guarantee, banking on the popularity of the Prime Minister CPI(M) outreach on International Womens Day With elections around the corner, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) plans an outreach on the International Womens Day in Kerala with a series of public meetings. CPI(M) Politburo leader Brinda Karat inaugurated a Womens Day meeting in Kollam. Another leader Subhashini Ali inaugurated another event in Ponani and Mariam Dhawale was in Kozhikode for a related programme. The Left parties have already declared their candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. Congress and the Left are part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) but rivals in Kerala. A Congress leader, however, said whoever wins, ultimately all 20 seats in Kerala will come to the INDIA bloc. AAP-Cong Punjab tussle The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) similarly may have managed a seat-sharing agreement for Delhi, Gujarat, and Haryana but their tussle continues in Punjab. On Thursday, Congress members stormed the Well of the Punjab House urging the Speaker to allow state party chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring to complete his speech. The Speaker named all the Congress legislators present in the House, except Sandeep Jakhar, and suspended them for the rest of the day. Marshals were called to take away Warring from the House as he refused to leave. Congress leaders called the action ill-timed. We have accepted the fact that our Punjab unit cannot have an alliance with the AAP. The BJP and the Akali Dal would benefit if the principal Opposition party [Congress] joined hands with the ruling outfit [AAP]. But these incidents in Punjab could be avoided especially when we are contesting the polls with AAP elsewhere, said a senior Congress leader. Hyderabad: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu and JanaSena Party chief Pawan Kalyan met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday night amid speculations of forging an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to fight the assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Andhra Pradesh together, people aware of the matter said. There are speculations of forging an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to fight the assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Andhra Pradesh together. (ANI) Naidu left for New Delhi by a special flight from Hyderabad in the afternoon following a call from BJP top leadership a day before. Actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan, too, joined Naidu in Delhi. Both of them went to Shahs residence together and began the talks, a TDP leader privy to the development said, requesting anonymity. The leader added that BJP national president JP Nadda also took part in the negotiations. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. It is more or less confirmed that the BJP would join the TDP-JanaSena alliance, which has already declared a list of 99 candidates for the assembly elections to the 175-member House. Naidu and Pawan would be discussing the number of seats and constituencies where the BJP wants to contest in Andhra Pradesh. A clarity would emerge in a day or two, the leader said. Both the TDP and JanaSena chiefs would stay put in Delhi on Friday as well to continue talks. In Andhra Pradesh, both Lok Sabha and assembly polls are held simultaneously. Sharing details of the ongoing negotiations, the TDP leader quoted above said the BJP has asked for five Lok Sabha seats and a dozen assembly seats to contest in the southern state. Naidu has no objection in giving five Lok Sabha seats to the BJP, but he may not offer it more than eight assembly seats, the leader added. If the alliance works out, the three parties would release a common election manifesto, which is most likely to be done at a public meeting in Tirupati or Amaravati, the TDP leader added. Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday and held talks over the possibility of an alliance between the BJP and the regional party for the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, which will be held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh. Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday.(ANI) The TDP was part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance but exited in 2018 when Naidu was the state's chief minister. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. BJP president J P Nadda was also part of the deliberations, sources said, adding that both parties are open to joining hands but a lot will depend on whether they reach a mutually agreeable seat-sharing arrangement. However, the second meeting between the two leaders in as many months has brightened such a prospect. TDP leaders said any more delay in an alliance formation would not be beneficial as the elections are approaching and any lingering ambiguity would confuse party workers and supporters. Actor Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party, which has been a member of the NDA, has already joined hands with the TDP and has been urging the BJP to follow suit. Kalyan also joined the meeting with Shah. Earlier, Naidu met with leaders, including MPs, of the TDP. The development comes amid growing indications that the BJP and the Biju Janata Dal, which is in power in Odisha, are on the verge of finalising their alliance as senior leaders of the two parties held separate meetings on Wednesday and dropped hints of such a possibility. Naidu had met Shah and BJP president J P Nadda in February, bolstering a speculation that they were headed for an alliance even though things have not crystallised so far. Sources said both the parties have had differences over the number of seats the BJP would fight in the state where it does not have much presence. The state has 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats and the BJP is keen to contest eight to 10 parliamentary constituencies. Sources in the TDP, however, said the BJP might contest on five to six Lok Sabha seats in case of an alliance, the Jana Sena three and their party the rest. What has complicated matters for the BJP is that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, the president of the YSR Congress, has been unambiguously supportive of the Modi government's agenda in Parliament and shares a good personal rapport with its senior leaders. The BJP has been working to expand the NDA for some time as it eyes a bigger victory in the Lok Sabha polls, expected in April-May. With the ruling party eyeing a third term under Modi and having set a target for winning 370 seats on its own and 400 with allies, there is a view within the BJP that joining hands with regional parties positively disposed to its agenda will be helpful. Telangana state high court on Thursday quashed the order of governor Tamilisai Soundararajan rejecting the nomination of two Bharat Rashtra Samithi leaders Dasoju Sravan and Kurra Satyanarayana to the state legislative council under Governors quota. The bench, which heard the arguments on a petition filed by Sravan and Satyanarayana questioning the governors order, reserved its orders on February 15 and pronounced the judgement on Thursday. (File Photo) A division bench of the state high court comprising chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Jukanti Anil Kumar also set aside the nomination of Telangana Jana Samithi president Prof M Kodandaram and senior Urdu journalist Amer Ali Khan as MLCs under the governors quota. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The bench, which heard the arguments on a petition filed by Sravan and Satyanarayana questioning the governors order, reserved its orders on February 15 and pronounced the judgement on Thursday. Sravan Kumar and Satyanarayana were nominated to the Legislative Council by the previous BRS government in August 2023, but the governor rejected the nominations on September 19 on the ground that the two were politically aligned persons. After the Congress came to power in December 2023, the governor on January 27 nominated Kodandaram and Khan as MLCs, following a recommendation from the Revanth Reddy cabinet. The government also issued gazette notifications in this regard. The BRS leaders challenged the governors action, contending that the decision taken by the governor to reject the recommendations of the previous cabinet was due to lack of personal satisfaction and not due to any ambiguity in the recommendation itself, which is arbitrary and therefore illegal. The petitioners called the order passed by the governor as mala fide, arbitrary, unconstitutional and in excess of her jurisdiction. On the petitions of Sravan and Satyanarayana, the high court on January 30 stayed the swearing-in of Kodandaram and Amer Ali Khan as MLCs. The high court bench held that the governor was bound by the advice of the council of ministers. The governor can only remit the matter back to the council of ministers for reconsideration, the bench said. However, it is open for the governor to examine the issues of eligibility or disqualification of a person recommended by the council of ministers, to the legislative council, the bench said in the order. While the Raj Bhavan did not react to the court judgement, BRS leader Sravan welcomed the judgement. This decision is a significant milestone in our journey, emphasising the principles of justice and equality embedded in our legal framework, he said. Sravan appealed to Tamilisai to acknowledge the dedicated struggle, sacrifices, and significant services in public life of the nominated BRS leaders and approve their nomination to the state legislative council. Our endeavours have consistently aligned with the ethos of serving the community, thereby making noteworthy contributions to society at large, he said. As severe power and drinking water shortage is staring at Telangana, the state government has asked the farming community to brace up for drought-like situation this summer due to deficit rainfall. He said the state government was already making required arrangements to solve the drinking water crisis in the ensuing summer amid the water crisis. (Bloomberg) An official release from the chief ministers office (CMO) said the demand for power peaked up to 298.19 million units on Wednesday, the highest this year and the state power distribution companies (Discoms) were able to meet the requirement. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. It was a new record in electricity supply. The northern and southern Discoms registered the highest ever supply of 298.19 million units of power on a single day on Wednesday. This surpassed the previous record of 297.89 million units of power supplied on March 14 last year, an official release said. A senior official in Telangana power transmission corporation (TS Transco) said the high demand for power was mainly on account of peak agricultural operations during the ongoing Rabi season and also increasing demand from the domestic consumers due to rising temperatures. The power supplying companies have already made elaborate arrangements to meet the increasing power demand during February and March. But the hard days are ahead in the next two months, the official said. Meanwhile, chief minister A Revanth Reddy indicated the possibility of drought in the coming days. A drought-like situation is prevailing in the state at present. Due to deficit rainfall this year, water levels in the reservoirs are depleted and hence a severe water crisis is looming large in the state, the chief minister said, while launching a Rythu Nestham (friend of farmer) programme through video conference from his residence on Wednesday. Revanth Reddy said that farmers and political leaders of Karimnagar, Khammam, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar districts were demanding release of water from the irrigation reservoirs. He appealed to all the farmers to understand the present situation but assured that the state government would extend support to the farmers in the difficult drought conditions. He said the state government was already making required arrangements to solve the drinking water crisis in the ensuing summer amid the water crisis. According to the official figures available till 4 pm on Thursday, the water availability in all major reservoirs that provide irrigation to Telangana and drinking water supply to Hyderabad is at alarming level. In five major reservoirs of Osman Sagar, Himayat Sagar, Singur, Manjira and Akkampally reservoirs in Krishna and Godavari basin that supply drinking water to Hyderabad, the total water availability is 27.508 tmc (thousand million cubic feet) as against the full tank level capacity of 39.783 tmc. This day last year, the water availability in these reservoirs was 29.712 tmc. In Nagarjunasagar reservoir, which is the major source of irrigation in Krishna basin, the present water level is 514.90 ft, as against the FRL of 590 ft; and the water availability is 140 tmc as against total capacity of 312.04 tmc. Last year, the water availability in Nagarjunasagar reservoir on this day was 195 tmc. In Srisailam, the present water level is 813.2 feet, as against the FRL of 885 ft and the water availability is 36.24 tmc as against the total capacity of 215.8 tmc. Last year, the water availability on this day in Srisailam was 42.10 tmc. In Godavari basin, the present water level in Sripadasagar was 471.34 ft, while the FRL is 485.56 ft and the water availability is 10 tmc as against the total availability of 20.1 tmc. Last year, the water availability in Sripadasagar project was 17.53 ft, due to pumping from Kaleshwaram project. Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president and lawmaker K T Rama Rao on Thursday lashed out at the Congress government for throwing up its hands on water management, blaming it on drought. According to IMD figures, Telangana received 14% excess rainfall during 2023-24, compared to normal. Instead of resolving the water crisis, it is surprising that the chief minister is talking about deficit rainfall and drought, he said. KTR said the people of Telangana were angry with the Congress which came to power with false promises. Instead of assuring the farmers that he would resolve the problems of farmers, Revanth Reddy appeals to them to understand the situation. What should they understand? Your incapability? the BRS leader tweeted. Days after two girls were found dead after they were gang-raped, the father of one of the victims allegedly died by suicide in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, police said on Thursday, adding that an abetment of suicide case has been registered against the family members of the gangrape accused. HT Image A first information report (FIR) has been registered against the wife and daughter of a brick kiln contractor, Ram Roop Nishad, under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a senior police officer said, requesting anonymity. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The deceased is the father of one of the girls aged 14 and 15 who were found dead in a village in Kanpur district on February 29. The victims and accused hailed from the same village in adjoining Hamirpur district, the police said. The body of a 45-year-old man, resident of a village under the Sisolar police station area, was found on Wednesday under unknown circumstances, Hamirpur superintendent of police (SP) Deeksha Sharma told reporters. The deceased was the complainant in the case of gangrape and suicide of the two minors lodged with the Ghatampur police in Kanpur. Relatives of the deceased man alleged that he was being threatened by the family of the accused to withdraw the gangrape case. SP Sharma, however, refused to comment on the allegations. Further action regarding the incident will be taken based on the complaint filed by the family members, the SP said. Earlier, the family members of the minor victims had alleged that they were gang-raped a few days before their deaths by the contractor of the brick kiln, Ram Roop Nishad, (48), his son Raju (18) and nephew Sanjay (19). The accused had also made a video of the act to blackmail the girls, which was recovered during the investigation, the police had said. The bodies were recovered on February 29 and the three accused were arrested and sent to jail by Kanpur police the same day. The accused have been booked under IPC sections 376D (gang rape), 306 (abetment to suicide) and the protection of children from sexual offences (Pocso) act. Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government over the incident. In Uttar Pradesh, if victimised girls and women ask for justice, it has become a rule to destroy their families. From Unnao, Hathras to Kanpur wherever women were tortured, their families were destroyed. Being a woman has become a crime in this jungle raj where there is no such thing as law left, she wrote in a post in Hindi on X. The Supreme Court told the online travel agency MakeMyTrip (MMT) on Thursday that the use of the keyword MakeMyTrip in Google Ads was no deception at all, even if the search results show links and advertisements for rival travel company Booking.com. The court refused to entertain MMTs appeal against a December order of the Delhi high court. (Sanjay Sharma) The Court rejected MMTs argument that the keyword usage amounted to infringement or passing off under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. Booking.com made the highest bid and purchased the MakeMyTrip keyword on the Google Ads Program, which means that anyone searching for the term would see its site on top of their search results. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Refusing to entertain MMTs appeal against a December order of the Delhi high court, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud observed that using the keyword cannot amount to infringement or passing off because MMT and Booking.com are two completely distinct online platforms. Theres no deception at all. Somebody who wants to go to MMT will not be confused at all and land at Booking.com. This isnt a case where Booking.com is using MMTs trademark to do its business. Second, there is no confusion. If you want to book a ticket at MMT you will never be confused by Booking.com, the bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said. MMT was before the top court against the HC order holding that using keywords MakeMyTrip together or with or without spaces, as a keyword on the Google Ads Program did not amount to infringement or passing off under the Trade Marks Act. By its interim order on December 14 last year, the high court allowed Google and Booking.com to use the impugned keywords, lifting the restraint imposed by its single judge bench in April 2022. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing MMT, argued on Thursday that Booking.com is using the trademark name of MMT to carry out its business. He added that the use of its trademarks as keywords amounts to taking advantage of the distinctive character and reputation of MMT by Booking.com, adding it is a breach under the Trade Marks Act. Disagreeing, the bench responded: Where is the passing off? All that it means is that you have an order of advertisers on Google. You are also shown there. You are only shown below the Booking.com. Wheres the infringement or passing off? Booking.com is not passing off as Make My Trip. The court added that it is not a case where Booking.com is using the trademark of MMT even as senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Google, contended that there was no infringement or passing off as long MMT also comes up whenever the keywords are typed in. The keywords MakeMyTrip is behind the screen after it is typed in. You get 20 results when you type these keywords. You may even be shown a boat or a plane. There is no confusion at all, Singhvi added. Concurring with him, the bench told Rohatgi that the two websites are completely different, besides the fact that the main case is still pending before the single judge bench of the Delhi HC. Even on merits, where is the case of infringement or passing off? Where is your mark being used by your competitor? These are completely distinguished marks, the court observed. It asked MMT to go back to HC where its suit for permanent injunction restraining Google and Booking.com from infringement of its trademarks, passing off, dilution of goodwill, unfair competition and rendition of accounts of profits or damages was still pending final adjudication. New Delhi: Former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba, who was acquitted on Thursday by the Bombay high court in a Moaist link case, said on Friday that he was yet to come to terms with his release after having spent seven years looking at closed walls in what he described as his agni pariksha (test by fire). Former Delhi University Professor Dr GN Saibaba gets emotional while addressing the media during a press conference regarding his release from the Nagpur Central Jail on Friday.(ANI) I spent seven years inside a prison in inhumane conditions and still feel I am inside that notorious dark anda cell (high-security prison), he said, terming his incarceration and subsequent release as justice delayed. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Saibaba was released from the Nagpur central prison on Thursday morning after being acquitted by the Bombay high court along with five others as the prosecution failed to prove their suspected links with Maoist rebels. He was arrested in May 2014 and remained in prison till 2016 before being released on bail. After his conviction in 2017 by a sessions court, he was again lodged inside Nagpur central prison. While overturning the 2017 judgement, Bombay high courts Nagpur bench said on Tuesday that merely accessing content related to Communist or Maoist ideology, including violent videos, was not inherently illegal unless there was concrete evidence linking the accused to specific acts of violence or terrorism. I am unable to come to the terms that I am out of that anda cell, where I only looked at closed walls for seven years. I still feel I am inside there. It was like an agni pariksha (test by fire) for me, Saibaba said while addressing a press conference in Delhi. Narrating his ordeal, Saibaba told reporter, I had no medical conditions before I was arrested. Today, I am in front of you alive, but every organ of my body is failing me because I was denied medical treatment and medicines sent by my family were returned. Even the most dreaded gangsters are given priority in hospitals. But there are so many poor inmates from scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, minorities, who dont get basic facilities. Also Read: Literary pursuit vs criminal intent: Decoding the Saibaba verdict The former professor said that the process (of trial) in the Indian system is more punishing, but there was hope. Recalling the instance when he was denied parole for attending his mothers funeral, Saibaba said, with his voice choking, Being a disabled child, my mother took me to school in her arms every day so that I could get an education. Before she passed away in August 2020, she had one wish that she could see me, but I was not allowed to see her in her death. I was denied attending her funeral or rites after that. He asserted that he was denied justice by the government, prison authorities, police and even the court, which refused to grant her to attend his mothers funeral rites. Who is treated like this in a democracy? The State is there to serve the people, not punish them or crush humanity, Saibaba thanked his lawyers, international human rights organisations and even Palestine for coming in support of his release. He said a lawyer, Surendra Gadling, is still in jail for the past five years just for fighting his case effectively. Speaking at the conference, Communist Part of India leader D Raja said, I salute Saibaba for his courage. He is a great revolutionary who has been fighting for human rights and democracy. Raja said the law should be to protect the rights of citizens, not torture them for criticising its policies. Most of us take internet connectivity for granted. The specifics of a global infrastructure that brings the internet to our phones, PCs and smart homes dont mean much, as long as the Wi-Fi router isnt blinking a red warning light. We only really seem to wake up from this persistent digital hypnotic state, when Facebook, Instagram, Googles services or X, go on the blink. It happened a few days ago when Metas Facebook and Instagram were unavailable for a few hours. Some Meta Quest headsets too, went offline. X was working (somehow), and the world was complaining. Later, Meta confirmed it was a technical issue, which since resolved, signified all is well with the world again. Influencers had their jobs again. What escaped the attention of most is something that occurred a few days prior, which Hong Kong telco HGC Global Communications called an exceptionally rare occurrence. Four of the 15 undersea cables, or submarine communication cables (or subsea cables), in the Red Sea were damaged. By their estimates, as much as 25% of data traffic between Europe and Asia stands disrupted. Some cables are owned by Saudi Telecom Company while the rest are by consortiums of telecom operators. Traffic is being rerouted, while repairs are expected to take some time (an as-yet undefined reason for this damage, further complicating matters) and there is also the small matter of permissions, and safety, in an area frequented by Houthi rebels. Tech giants Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta have, over the years, funded subsea cable infrastructure too. In 2016, Facebook, Microsoft and Telefonicas Telxius group announced investments in a new trans-Atlantic submarine cable, called MAREA cable, between Virginia Beach in the US to Bilbao in Spain. Google has figured prominently with investments in as many as seven important cable networks, one example being FASTER (11,629 km with landing points in Japan, Taiwan and the US). Meta is a part owner in three major subsea cable infrastructure projects, including the Asia Pacific Gateway (APG; 10,400 km length and landing points in China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Microsoft has some level of ownership in as many as four networks, while Amazon has invested in the Hawaiki and Hawaiki Nui infrastructure. Big tech investment underlines the importance of undersea fibre optic submarine cables, which carry about 99% of all the worlds internet traffic. The ones under the Red Sea arent the only pieces of this infrastructure. If you look at a map of the global internet backbone these cables provide to countries and continents, it is a complex, dense web of colourful lines crisscrossing across the map of the world (this would make for very cool wall art). Indias stakes are high, and there is momentum to add to the infrastructure thats already there itll minimise disruptions (such as the Red Sea cable damage) and provide routing alternatives (think of these as parallel roadways; you have the option to switch if one is inaccessible). The latest addition is the India Asia Xpress (IAX), which with 5,791 km length, and is owned by China Mobile and Reliance Jio Infocomm. It has landing points in Mumbai and Chennai, among others. In 2025, the two owners will also flip the switch on the India Europe Xpress (IEX), its 9,775km length with landing points in Italy, north Africa, Saudi Arabia and Mumbai. Since 2011, the Europe India Gateway (EIG) has been active, touching points from the UK, through North Africa, and West Asia and ultimately landing in Mumbai. A cursory glance of the database at TeleGeography tells us as many as 11 cable systems already land in Mumbai, with landing points across all other continents and six more are expected over the next couple of years. In Chennai, more than five subsea cable systems find a landing point crisscrossing the globe, and more will be active by 2025. Globally, there are more cabling systems being put together. Theres the Far North Fiber project which is expected to be active sometime in 2017, and its 17,000km cable length will have landing points in Ireland, Japan, Norway and the US. Around the same time, the Asia Connect Cable-1 and the Nome to Homer Express (NTHE) will also be active in the northern hemisphere. These are just some examples. Next time you use the internet, spare a thought for the colossal infrastructure that runs through the worlds seas and oceans, bringing us the connectivity we take for granted. Vishal Mathur is technology editor for Hindustan Times. Tech Tonic is a weekly column that looks at the impact of personal technology on the way we live, and vice-versa. The views expressed are personal. Bill Gates was in India to attend the pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. The tech billionaire also visited different parts of the country. He documented and shared those beautiful moments from his visit on social media. The image shows glimpses from Bill Gates' visit to India. (Instagram/@thisisbillgates) From expressing his wonder by visiting the Statue of Unity to praising Dolly Chaiwala for his tea, the Microsoft co-founder posted various videos and pictures. He also gave glimpses of multiple events that he attended during the pre-wedding bash. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. We have collected Bill Gates' Instagram posts documenting his visit to India. 1. Meeting PM Modi Bill Gates shared about meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He thanked the PM and mentioned they had a "great discussion about how India can share expertise with the people and places that need them the most". "I'm blown away by the country's strong focus on digital public infrastructure, women-led development, and innovation in agriculture, health, and climate adaptation. I'm optimistic that India will continue to lead the way by using AI for public good," Gates added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bill Gates engaged in a discussion. (Instagram/@thisisbillgates) 2. Enjoying chai from Dolly Chaiwala: "In India, you can find innovation everywhere you turneven in the preparation of a simple cup of tea!" he wrote as he shared a video that shows him telling Dolly Chaiwala "One Chai please". The clip then goes on to show him enjoying the beverage. 3. Visiting the Statue of Unity Bill Gates visited the Statue of Unity following PM Modi's suggestion. He also left a note on the visitor's log that reads, "An incredible engineering feat! Very Beautiful! A great tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Thanks for your hospitality! Bill Gates. March 1, 2024". Bill Gates is photographed standing in front of the State of Unity during his recent visit to India. (Instagram/@thisisbillgates) In another post, he shared a video while admiring the beauty of the world's tallest statue: Bill Gates at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre-wedding festivities: 4. Complimenting Mark Zuckerberg "You've always been great at dressing for the occasion, Mark Zuckerberg," the Microsoft wrote while posting a picture with Meta CEO. In the image, Gates is dressed in a t-shirt, pants and blazer. Zuckerberg, on the other hand, is seen wearing a jungle-themed shirt with white pants. Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg attended Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre-wedding festivities. (Instagram/@thisisbillgates) 5. Catching up with old friends In another post from the pre-wedding event hosted by Mukesh and Nita Ambani, Gates shared a picture showing him with his "old friends". "This was my first time attending a wedding celebration in India, and it was incredible. Congratulations, Anant and Radhika. Thank you for having us and giving us an excuse to catch up with old friends," he wrote. The photo shows him and his girlfriend Paula Hurd posing with Rohini and Nandan Nilekani. Bill Gates and Paula Hurd pose with Rohini and Nandan Nilekani. (Instagram/@thisisbillgates) 6. Praising the 'incredible hospitality' of Ambanis "As I reflect on the past week in India, one thing stands out: The incredible hospitality everyone showed Paula and me, especially from Mukesh and Nita at the beautiful celebration of their son Anant and his fiancee Radhika," Bill Gates shared along with an image that shows him and his girlfriend Paula Hurd with Mukesh Ambani and his youngest son Anant Ambani. The image (left to right) shows Bill Gates, Paula Hurd, Anant Ambani, and Mukesh Ambani. (Instagram/@thisisbillgates) 7. Highlights from India trip Bill Gates also shared a short yet beautiful video that shows a few snippets from his visit to India. After returning, he also posted his thoughts on his recent India visit on his blog 'Gates Notes'. "My trip was scheduled around the pre-wedding celebration of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. Here I am with Paula Hurd and Nandan and Rohini Nilekani. I came home with a deeper understanding of India's vibrant innovation ecosystem and how it's generating major advances in health, urban poverty, digital services, and much more. The world has a lot to learn from the ideas coming out of this country," he wrote. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi and presented Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt, with an award. After being graced with the prestigious prize, Gupta took to Instagram to thank PM Modi and share about this moment with the world. PM Modi and Aman Gupta at the National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi. (Instagram/@Aman Gupta) "Thank you, Hon. PM Mr Modi, for presenting me with the 'Celebrity Entrepreneur of the Year.' It's like a dream come true to receive this award from our hon PM. I still can't believe that I shared the stage with you, sir, and I won this award; thank you, India, for voting for me." (Also Read: PM Modis hilarious conversation with BeerBiceps Ranveer Allahbadia. Watch) Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The video shows PM Modi congratulating Gupta and asking him to talk about his success. In his speech, Gupta shares how his brand grew over the years. He also mentions the Made In India program and how it helped him manufacture his products in India. Watch the video of PM Modi and Aman Gupta here: This post was shared just a few hours ago. Since being posted, it has gained close to five lakh views. The share also has more than 69,000 likes, and the numbers are still increasing. Many people took to the comments section of the post to congratulate Gupta on his significant achievement. (Also Read: Narendra Modi shows his witty side, jokes about people getting tired of listening to him all the time) Here's how people reacted to the video: An individual wrote, "Congratulations, sir, very well deserved." A second added, "Proud moment." "Aman Gupta, congrats. I appreciate your efforts towards making the boAt accessible to all the classes through its low-cost pricing. But you need to focus on the sound quality aspect to make it audiophile-grade. Put efforts in R&D to make it a top global brand, competing with the likes of Sony, Bose, etc," commented a third. A fourth said, "This is awesome, so deserving Aman Gupta. You are such an inspiration for being a super entrepreneur who is so rooted in his culture and love for his country. Congratulations, and stay blessed." A fifth added, "Proud to be a user of boAt products. Made in India!" A 19-year-old student from Sri Lanka is accused of stabbing and killing six people he lived with, including a 2 1/2-month-old baby girl and three other kids from a Sri Lankan family, Ottawa police said Thursday. Ottawa Police Service officers surround a home after four children and two adults were found dead inside a neighbouring house in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven, Ontario, Canada(REUTERS) Ottawa police chief Eric Stubbs said an edged weapon or knife-like object was used by the suspect, who was identified as Febrio De-Zoysa. He has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Mass killings are rare in Canada. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Stubbs said the deceased are Sri Lankan nationals who recently came to Canada. He said they include a 35-year-old mother, a 7-year-old son, a 4-year-old daughter, a 2-year-old daughter and the 2 1/2-month-old baby girl as well as a 40-year-old acquaintance of the family. The police chief said when the first officers arrived at the home the familys father was outside and screaming for someone to call 911. Police received two emergency calls at 10:52 p.m. Wednesday. Also read: Teenager arrested by Swiss police on suspicion of stabbing an Orthodox Jewish man The father is in hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries. This was a senseless act of violence perpetrated on purely innocent people, Stubbs said. Sri Lankas high commission said that it is in touch with relatives in the countrys capital, Colombo. De-Zoysa made a brief appearance in court Thursday and mumbled his assent as the justice of the peace ordered him not to speak to the father who survived the attack or to four other witnesses who provided statements to the police. His case was adjourned until March 13 to give him time to find a lawyer. Police were called to the home in the Barrhaven area just before 11 p.m. Wednesday night. The suspect was arrested quickly after that, and police said there was no continuing threat to public safety. Don Perera, a neighbor, said he met the family that lived in the home last fall at a Halloween party at the nearby Catholic elementary school. He said the father was from Sri Lanka. Shanti Ramesh, who lives across the street, was alerted to a commotion late Wednesday. From her balcony, she saw a man sitting on the driveway of the home and yelling before two police officers arrived and carried him away. On Thursday morning, five marked police cars were parked on the street and in driveways near the home, which is a middle unit of a row of brick townhouses. Several people in white jumpsuits were going in and out of the home throughout the early morning, while parents and kids walked and biked by on their way to a nearby elementary school. Our first reactions are all ones of shock and horror at this terrible violence, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe called the news distressing for all the citys residents. It's hard to believe, he said. It's devastating and heartbreaking. Police have identified the victims as Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake, the 35-year-old mother; Inuka Wickramasinghe, a 7-year-old boy; Ashwini Wickramasinghe, a 4-year-old daughter, Rinyana Wickramasinghe, a 2-year-old daughter and Kelly Wickramasinghe, a 2 1/2-month-old baby girl. A sixth victim, Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, 40, was also found deceased. As the bilateral ties between New Delhi and Male continue to deteriorate, a recent report citing data from the Maldives tourism ministry showed that the number of Indian tourists in the country dipped by 33 percent as compared to March last year. Maldives has seen a 33 percent drop in the number of Indian tourists over the last few months. A report from Male-based Adhadhu stated that in March 2023, over 41,000 Indian tourists visited Maldives while the number dropped to just 27,224 in March 2024, showing a steep decline of 33 percent. The primary reason behind this decline is the tourism campaign of the Indian government, prompting citizens to explore the Lakshadweep islands. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Till March 2023, India was the second largest source of tourism for Maldives, with a 10 percent share in the market, the report said. However, the diplomatic tensions between the two nations led to India dropping to the sixth place, with a six percent market share. While India sees a major drop in the number of tourists, China has seen a sudden spike in the number of tourists visiting Maldives. As the ties between China and Maldives strengthen, the former has seen over 54,000 tourist arrivals in the country in 2024. China is now the top visiting country for Maldives, leading a significant chunk of the market. The island nation saw a total of 217,394 tourists arrive in February this year, out of which over 34,600 were from China. Notably, India was the top tourist market for Maldives in 2021, 2022, and 2023, with more than 200,000 tourists per year. India-Maldives diplomatic row The Indian tourist market for Maldives started seeing a significant decline after the appointment of President Mohamed Muizzu, who is known to be a pro-China leader. Muizzu also passed the order to push out Indian military personnel from Maldives, escalating tensions between the two nations. The ties between the two countries worsened when Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, triggering a wave of global outrage. President Muizzu visited China just a week after derogatory comments against PM Modi were posted. He urged China to revive its tourism market in Maldives to boost the island nation's economy. The Maldivian president said, China was our number one market pre-COVID, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position. After New Delhi's move to free up 1,000 more troops to guard its borders with neighbouring China, Beijing warned India that increasing border troops won't help in easing the tensions between the two rival nations. It further said that it is committed to de-escalating the tensions at the border areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with China's President Xi Jinping. (Reuters File Photo) China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, India enhancing military deployments in the India-China border areas does not help ease the situation in the border areas or in safeguarding tranquility and safety. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Recently, India redirected thousands of its military personnel to the country's western borders in an effort to protect its frontier with China, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing senior Indian officials who didnt want to be named. While warning that assigning more troops to the borders won't help in easing the tensions between the two nations, China's foreign ministry said that Beijing will continually work with India to maintain peace in these disturbance-prone areas. Mao Ning said at a press briefing, "China is committed to working with India to safeguard the tranquility and stability of the border areas. Apart from the 1,000 troops assigned to the borders recently, an existing contingent of 9,000 troops already designated to the Chinese border will be brought under the new fighting command. The combined force will guard a roughly 530 km (330 mile) stretch of border that separates Chinas Tibet region with Indias northern states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Worsening ties since Galwan clash In May 2020, Chinese forces led a resistance against the Indian authorities for the construction of a road in the Galwan River valley. After minor disturbances between the two forces, shots were fired along the LAC for the first time in 45 years, with both Indian and Chinese forces blaming one another. After multiple casualties in the Galwan clash, diplomatic talks began between India and China, with little to no progress over 21 rounds. Beijing and New Delhi have since upgraded military-related infrastructure, moved missiles and aircraft to either side of their border and placed more troops in the area. In 2021, India repositioned an extra 50,000 soldiers to patrol the border after a deadly clash the year before left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead and seriously strained ties. (With inputs from Reuters) US President Joe Biden warned Friday that it would be "tough" to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas by the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. President Joe Biden(AP) "It's looking tough," Biden told reporters when asked if a deal to halt the five-month-old conflict could be achieved by Ramadan, which is due to start as early as Sunday depending on the sighting of the moon. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Biden added that "I sure am" worried about the possibility of violence in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem as Ramadan approaches, adding to a similar warning earlier this week. Hamas's armed wing on Friday urged supporters to mobilize towards the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem, a flashpoint for violence during Ramadan in past years. It also said there would be no compromise on the movement's demand that Israel withdraw from Gaza to secure the release of hostages seized by Hamas. The Israel-Hamas war was triggered by the Palestinian militants' unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7. The Google Doodle on Friday did its bit to celebrate International Women's Day, observed worldwide on March 8. This year's Doodle features a group of women sharing wisdom across generations within a quilt embroidered with symbols of progress over the years. International Women's Day 2024: Google Doodles are spontaneous and temporary alterations to the Google logo to honour various local and global subjects. (GoogleDoodles) According to GoogleDoodles, Sophie Diao created this year's Doodle inspired by the desire to capture that cosy and comfortable feeling of older generations sharing wisdom and precious quality time with younger folks. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also Read | What we need is an Anti-Patriarchy Day The Doodle depicts two younger children sitting with their grandmother. Diao said she hoped the Doodle will inspire people to spend more time with people from different generations. There's so much to learn from the experiences of those who came before us, as well as the wonder of those who are experiencing life for the first time. The Doodle on Friday showed two younger children sitting with their grandmother.(GoogleDoodles) Google Doodles are spontaneous and temporary alterations to the Google logo to honour various local and global subjects such as holidays, significant dates, and influential figures who have left a mark on society. Doodles come in different forms like pictures, animations, slideshows, videos, and games, providing diverse and engaging experiences for users. International Women's Day -The theme for International Women's Day 2024 is "Inspire Inclusion", aiming to foster greater inclusivity for women globally, according to official International Women's Day (IWD) website. -First suggested in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1911, International Women's Day was initially celebrated on March 19 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Over one million individuals, both women and men, participated in IWD gatherings advocating for various rights, including employment opportunities, voting rights, access to education, political representation, and eliminating discrimination. -In 1913-14, Russian women, advocating for peace before World War I, observed their inaugural International Women's Day on February 23, transitioning to March 8 in subsequent years, as agreed upon internationally. -The United Nations commemorated International Women's Day for the first time in 1975, with contemporary marches focusing on various issues, including gender and racial wage disparities, reproductive rights, and combating violence against women. -As per the International Women's Day (IWD) website, the colours associated with the day are purple, green, and white. Purple stands for justice, dignity, and dedication to the cause. Green symbolises hope, while white represents purity, despite being a topic of debate. These colours originated from the UK's Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)in 1908. -The International Women's Day website was launched in 2001 as a collaborative platform to provide resources, facilitate events, disseminate information on gender-related matters, and celebrate women's achievements. Male office workers at a telecoms firm in Tokyo have experienced simulated menstrual pain to help them become more sympathetic toward female colleagues ahead of International Women's Day on Friday. Masaya Shibasaki, 26, an employee of EXEO Group Inc., reacts as he tries the Osaka Heart Cool developed VR electrical device 'Perionoid' which releases electrical stimulation that feels like experiencing women's menstrual pain during a workshop ahead of the International Women's Day at the company headquarters in Tokyo, Japan (REUTERS) EXEO Group workers winced at a company event on Thursday as a "perionoid" device sent electric signals via pads placed below the navel to stimulate the lower stomach muscle and induce a cramping sensation. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "I couldn't move. It hurt to the point where I couldn't stand," said 26-year-old Masaya Shibasaki after using the device jointly developed by researchers at Nara Women's University and startup Osaka Heat Cool. "I now understand women have to work while fighting this pain every month. It's actually amazing how women can do that. I really respect them," Shibasaki said. ALSO READ| Jaishankar, Japanese FM discuss economic security, trade, technology EXEO said it wants to create an environment where its more than 90% male workforce can be more supportive of female peers, including when it comes to taking menstrual leave. Companies in Japan are legally required to allow women to take menstrual leave. However, there is no requirement for the time off to be paid and surveys showed around half of female workers never take it. "We hope those who experienced (menstrual pain) today go back to their workplace and speak about how they felt, and spread their understanding," said EXEO public relations officer Maki Ogura. Mahashivratri celebrations have not just gripped India but several parts of the world. New York's Times Square was lit up on Monday night with chants of Shiva and Shambhoo echoing in the air. New York's Times Square lights up for Mahashivratri(Twitter) Founder of Isha Foundation - Sadhguru - shared the video of the fervour in Times Square on X, formerly known as Twitter. In the video, Indians along with people from around the world can be seen dancing to the beats of Har Har Mahadev. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. #TimesSquare, New York welcomes #Mahashivratri! The world is realising the significance of the Great Night of Shiva as a celebration of enhancing human potential and an opportunity for transformation. Let us make it happen, he wrote. Mahashivratri is one of the most important Hindu festivals. It falls on the 14th day of the dark (waning) half of the lunar month of Phalguna or Magha, a day before the new moon. This year, it is being observed on March 8. The festival is mentioned in ancient texts such as Skanda Purana, Linga Purana, and Padma Purana. During the festival, devotees pray all night and participate in jagrans as it is believed that it can help overcome darkness and ignorance. Lord Shiva is offered belpatra, dhatura, milk, fruits, and sweets as the devotees observe a day-long fast from sunrise to sunset. The devotees also meditate, visit Shiva temples, recite mantras and prayers, and perform rituals associated with Lord Shiva. According to beliefs, fasting on Mahashivratri can help absolve past sins and negative karma and give one a new direction in life. It is also known for one to reflect on their true nature and attain salvation from the chakra of birth and death. The festival is celebrated in different ways across states as well. While people in Odisha organise Jagara, a mela is held in Gujarat. In Punjab, Shobha Yatras are organised by various Hindu organisations. In West Bengal and Odisha, unmarried girls also observe a fast to find a suitable husband. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised artillery firing drills aimed at boosting combat readiness, state media reported Friday, days after his country vowed to take corresponding military steps against the ongoing South Korean-U.S military training that it regards as an invasion rehearsal. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guides an artillery firing drill by the Korean People's Army, the country's military force, KCNA news agency reported, in North Korea, March 7, 2024 in this picture released on March 8, 2024, by the Korean Central News Agency. (via REUTERS) Thursday's drills involved frontline artillery units, whose weapons place Seoul, the South Korean capital, in their striking range, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Kim said artillery units must take the initiative with merciless and rapid strikes at the moment of their entry into an actual war, KCNA said. ALSO READ| North Korea slams South Korea-US drills, warns of military moves North Korea's forward-deployed long-range artillery guns pose a serious security threat to Seoul, a city with 10 million people which is about 40 to 50 kilometers (25 to 30 miles) from the border with North Korea. North Korea's Defense Ministry said Tuesday it would conduct unspecified responsible military activities in response to the annual South Korea-U.S. military drills that are to end on March 14. Kim visited a western operational training ground on Wednesday and called for stronger war fighting capabilities. The South Korean-U.S. drills began on Monday and involve a computer-simulated command post training and 48 kinds of field exercises, twice the number conducted last year. North Korea views South Korea-U.S. military exercises as a major security threat, calling them a preparation to launch attacks on the North. Seoul and Washington officials have said their drills are defensive in nature. North Korea has sharply accelerated its missile testing activities since 2022 in part of efforts to develop more powerful nuclear-capable weapons targeting the U.S. mainland and South Korea. The South Korean and U.S. militaries have expanded their drills in response. Experts say North Korea likely aims to use a modernized arsenal to win sanctions relief from the United States when diplomacy restarts. They say North Korea could increase its weapons tests and dial up warlike rhetoric this year as the United States and South Korea hold major elections. JP Singh, the joint secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs for the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI) division, on Thursday met with Taliban-appointed Afghanistan foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, and expressed India's interest in expanding relations and trade with Kabul, claimed the Taliban regime. Afghanistan's minister of foreign affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi. (AFP file photo) Taliban-controlled Afghanistan ministry's spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi wrote in a post on X that Singh and Muttaqi discussed bilateral Afghanistan-India relations, economic and transit matters and security. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Today, the MEA Joint Secretary of the Republic of India for Af-Ir-Pak, JP Singh, called on IEA-Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. The meeting focused on in-depth discussions on bilateral Afghanistan-India relations, economic and transit matters, fighting ISKP & corruption in the country," Taliban-controlled Afghanistan's ministry of foreign affairs' spokesperson, Abdul Qahar Balkhi posted on X. He claimed that India is interested in expanding political and economic cooperation with Afghanistan. "Singh said that India is interested in expanding political & economic cooperation with Afghanistan, & enhancing trade via Chabahar Port," he added. Balkhi said Muttaqi urged the senior Indian diplomat to facilitate the visa issuance process for Afghanistan citizens. Extending gratitude to India for its humanitarian assistance, FM Muttaqi said that in line with our balanced foreign policy, IEA seeks to strengthen political & economic relations with India as an important actor in the region. In the end, FM Muttaqi urged India's Joint Secretary to facilitate the visa issuance process for Afghan businessmen, patients and students, he added. PTI, quoting Afghanistan's statement, reported that the two sides also discussed measures to counter illegal narcotics trade. The meeting reportedly took place in Kabul. The Taliban captured Afghanistan in 2021 after a protracted battle with the country's government. India has not yet recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. New Delhi had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban captured power. In June 2022, however, India deployed a technical team in its embassy in Kabul, re-establishing its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. With inputs from PTI, ANI Turkey is ready to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) shaking hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) (AFP) In a meeting lasting about an hour, Erdogan and Zelenskiy discussed developments in the Ukraine-Russia war, shipping security in the Black Sea including the defunct grain deal, and defence industry cooperation, according to the two sides. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. NATO member Turkey supports Ukraine's territorial integrity, but also maintains cordial relations with Russia, and regularly speaks with both sides in the conflict, notably as a sponsor of the Black Sea deal that lifted a de facto Russian blockade of Ukrainian grain exports. "We discussed developments about the war in detail today, I stated our observations with all my sincerity," Erdogan said at a press conference alongside Zelenskiy, whose trip comes before an expected visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin following elections in Russia on March 15-17. "We are giving our utmost contribution for the war to end on the basis of negotiations. We are ready to host a peace summit that Russia will attend too," he said, adding he had reiterated Ankara's support for Ukraine's sovereignty. Turkey had hosted peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, but has since complained that no diplomatic step has been taken to advance these discussions. It has repeatedly offered to host further talks, saying a summit of leaders was needed. Zelenskiy said Russia would not be invited to the first peace summit due to be held in Switzerland in the coming months, but that a Russian representative could be invited to the next meeting after a roadmap for peace had been agreed upon with Ukrainian allies. "We do not see any representatives of Russia at this summit. We don't see how you can invite people who block, destroy, and kill everything. We want to get a result - a just peace," he said. Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said after meeting Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that it was time for Ukraine and Russia to start ceasefire talks, but added that this must not mean the recognition of Russia's occupation. DEFENCE INDUSTRY COOPERATION Turkey has provided Ukraine with armed drones and also inked an agreement for their joint production at a factory near Kyiv, but progress has been hindered by the war. It has provided Kyiv with other forms of military support, but opposes the Western sanctions on Russia. After arriving on Friday, Zelenskiy visited a shipyard near Istanbul to inspect construction work on two corvettes for the Ukrainian navy. He later said he had discussed the joint production of some arms and ammunition with Erdogan. "Today, we have reached agreements on joint defence projects both at the government level and between companies," he said on the social media platform X after meeting Erdogan. "I met with the Turkish defence industry representatives. We are prepared to move quickly to put everything we discussed into action," he added, without elaborating. Talks also touched on the Black Sea grain deal, which was brokered by Turkey and United Nations and allowed Ukraine to safely export grain from its ports. Ankara has pushed to revive it, but Russia, which said its requests for better terms for its own food and fuel exports were ignored, has said it is not interested. As part of its balancing act, Turkey maintains its defence industry ties with Ukraine while deepening energy cooperation with Russia. It also inked an accord to take part in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Reuters exclusively reported last month that a U.S. threat to hit financial firms doing business with Russia with sanctions had chilled Turkish-Russian trade, disrupting or slowing some payments for both imported oil and Turkish exports. The British police on Thursday announced they had received a complaint following a transgender broadcaster's report against J.K. Rowling for comments made by the Harry Potter author on social media. India Willoughby, Britain's transgender newsreader, has alleged that Rowling committed a hate crime by addressing the former as him. Author J.K. Rowling "I contacted Northumbria constabulary yesterday ... I have reported J.K. Rowling to the police for what she said," Willoughby said in an interview with independent news publisher Byline Times which it posted on X late on Wednesday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Calling a trans person a man, deliberately knowing that that person is a woman - and I am a woman regardless of what J.K. Rowling says ... my birth certificate says female, my passport, all my documents, I am legally recognised as a woman, and for J.K. Rowling to deliberately, and that is the key word, misgender me knowing who I am, is grossly offensive," she added. READ | Cis is ideological language J.K. Rowling sparks controversy on Twitter as Elon Musk bans terms from the platform Meanwhile speaking about Willoughby's allegation against Rowling, Northumbria Police said in a statement: "On Monday, March 4, we received a complaint about a post on social media. We are currently awaiting to speak to the complainant further." Rowling has dismissed the accusation, stating that holding gender-critical views is not a criminal offence. "Some time ago, lawyers advised me that not only did I have a clearly winnable case against India Willoughby for defamation, but that Willoughby's obsessive targeting of me over the past few years may meet the legal threshold for harassment," Rowling wrote on X. In October last year, Rowling stated that she would be willing to go to jail if it meant she could continue misgendering people. Ill happily do two years if the alternative is compelled speech and forced denial of the reality and importance of sex Bring on the court case, I say. Itll be more fun than Ive ever had on a red carpet, Rowling said. (With inputs from Reuters) A 27-year-old man from England tragically passed away after consuming a single mouthful of butter chicken curry purchased from an eatery. Following the ingestion, the man experienced a cardiac arrest. Joseph Higginson, hailing from Bury, Greater Manchester, England, had a pre-existing allergy to nuts and almonds, known as anaphylaxis, which led to this life-threatening allergic reaction. Picture of a freshly prepared butter chicken dish.(REUTERS) Higginson, who worked as a mechanic, consumed the butter chicken curry despite it being clearly labelled as containing almonds and providing the correct allergy information. Higginson had previously consumed dishes containing nuts and had not experienced adverse reactions, leading him to believe he could tolerate them, the Mirror reported on Friday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. EpiPen was administered to his thigh after he experienced the allergic reaction. However, it didn't work and he collapsed. The family placed him in the recovery position and promptly dialled 999 for emergency assistance. Adrenaline was administered to him as well, and CPR was performed before he was transported to the Royal Bolton Hospital. Despite these efforts, he passed away seven days after he consumed the dish, the report said. READ | Legal tussle over who invented butter chicken and dal makhani reaches Delhi high court Following his death, the police conducted an investigation into the matter but did not find any fault with the takeaway establishment. His family asserted that Higginson was conscientious about his allergies and had thoroughly examined the dish for potential allergens. Speaking about her brother's death sister, Emily Higginson told Mirror, "People with allergies should always take the situation seriously. It is not something that can be taken for granted - the severity can change throughout a person's lifetime." Higginson had been diagnosed with allergies only months before his passing and was equipped with an EpiPen, a device designed to counter allergic reactions. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, which included the administration of adrenaline, Higginson's condition rapidly worsened. He collapsed at home during a family meal on December 28, 2022, and despite efforts to revive him, he tragically succumbed on January 4 of the subsequent year at the Royal Bolton Hospital. President Joe Biden on Thursday attacked former President Donald Trump's vision for America, criticized Israel and was challenged on immigration in his last State of the Union speech before the two men face off in the November U.S. election. US President Joe Biden, during a State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Election-year politics will increase the focus on Biden's remarks and lawmakers' reactions, as he's stumping to the nation just months before voters will decide control of the House, Senate, and White House. Photographer: Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg(Bloomberg) Here are some takeaways from the State of the Union address on Thursday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. TOUGH WORDS FOR ISRAEL Biden issued a sharp directive to Israel's leaders, telling them not to hold up humanitarian aid to Palestinians for political purposes. "To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip," Biden said. "Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to this situation is a two-state solution." Biden has faced increasing pressure from fellow Democrats over his support for Israel's response to the Oct. 7 attacks by Palestinian Hamas militants. "Ive been working non-stop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last for six weeks," he said, reiterating U.S. policy but using the word "ceasefire" that his administration once shied away from. LAKEN RILEY AND IMMIGRATION Goaded by Trump-allied Republican U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Biden went off script to address the case of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from the U.S. state of Georgia, who was allegedly murdered last month by an undocumented immigrant who had been released on parole. Republicans, who blame Biden and his administration's border policies for the deaths of Americans killed by illegal migrants, have seized on Riley's death as a symbol of Democrats' failure. "It's about Laken Riley," shouted Greene during the speech, interrupting Biden as he talked about the border. "Say her name!" Biden picked up a button Greene thrust into his hand as he walked to the podium, and repeated Riley's name, saying she was an innocent woman killed by "an illegal." He said thousands are killed by "legal" U.S. residents before sending his thoughts to Riley's family. BYE BIDENOMICS One word missing from the speech was "Bidenomics," the White Houses previous slogan for his economic agenda that was the centerpiece of a cross-country tour last year. Democrats running for office in congressional races have avoided the phrase and senior Democrats have been encouraging the White House to ditch the catch-all slogan and focus instead on specific details, like price caps on prescription drugs, data on job growth and unemployment figures. It seemed Biden took their advice. BIDEN TEASES REPUBLICANS Biden used levity to jab at his Republican opponents. He greeted Greene's donning of a Trump campaign hat on the House floor with a face of mock surprise before turning away. Appearing to go off script, the president ribbed Republicans for enjoying, and taking credit for, Biden-backed federal investments that they voted against. "If any of you dont want that money in your districts, just let me know," he said to laughs from Democrats. He also cracked a joke about Republicans being close to Russia, while talking about how expensive prescription drugs are in America compared to other countries. "Any of you want to get in Air Force One with me and fly to Toronto, Berlin, Moscow? I mean, excuse me - and, well, even Moscow, probably." He said drugs there would be far cheaper than in the United States. And he hinted at a profane comment he once made on a hot mic about the 2010 healthcare reform law passed when he was vice president. "The Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare, is still a very big deal," Biden said, omitting the original expletive. MIKE JOHNSON'S 'POKER FACE' A visibly annoyed Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson sat behind Biden's left shoulder throughout the one-hour, eight-minute speech. It's the traditional seat for the speaker of the House - who is second-in-line to the presidency after the vice president - and made the Louisiana Republican's expressions highly visible to television viewers. "People are saying that I made funny facial expressions. I tried to keep a poker face," Johnson told reporters. "But it was very difficult. I disagreed so vehemently with so much of what he said." Johnson's reactions were more subdued than those of former Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who at the end of then-President Donald Trump's 2020 address took her copy of the text and ostentatiously ripped it in two. VIGOROUS OR YELLING? Through most of the speech, the 81-year-old president's delivery was energetic and forceful enough to exceed even some Democrats' expectations. He spoke for over an hour. "Trump and the Republicans have spent months going after Biden's energy and stamina and in front of the whole country, Biden giving them an absolute and well deserved scolding," said Democratic strategist Eric Koch. The hashtag "yelling" trended on X, the former Twitter, in postings about his speech, and his slight cough seemed to become more persistent toward the end of his delivery. "In my career, Ive been told I was too young," he said, to laughter, adding "and Ive been told Im too old." Whether young or old, he has always known America's "North Star," he said - the American idea that "we're all created equal." Some people have old ideas, he said, in an apparent nod at Trump. "Hate, anger, revenge, retribution, are the oldest of ideas," he said. A British judge has ruled that the former President of the United States, Donald Trump, will pay $382,000 in legal fees to Orbis Business Intelligence, the company he took to court unsuccessfully regarding the Steele Dossier. Former US President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump attends a Super Tuesday election night watch party at Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 5, 2024. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)(AFP) The dossier became public following his election in 2016. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. This decision was reported by various media outlets and follows the dismissal of Trumps lawsuit against Orbis, a company established by ex-British intelligence officer Christopher Steele. The judge had previously declared that the lawsuit was bound to fail. The financial slap for Trump may increase as the exact costs he must cover for the unsuccessful lawsuit are yet to be determined by a specialist judge. The lawsuit, initiated in September, led Orbis to seek approximately $760,000. ALSO READ| Adults in this US state can now carry guns openly as governor approves bill Steele made headlines with his explosive memos that chronicled then-presidential candidate Donald Trumps alleged ties with Russia during the 2016 campaign. Among the more salacious claims were accusations of Trumps participation in risque activities while in Russia. Trump denied any allegations against him The allegations, which Trump vehemently denied, were brought to the forefront by his lawyer, Hugh Tomlinson, during a legal battle. Tomlinson argued that the dossiers contents, which painted Trump in compromising situations involving sex parties in St Petersburg and encounters with sex workers in Moscow, has thrown mud at his client's reputation. The dossier is scandalous Tomlinson said the dossier contained shocking and scandalous claims about the personal conduct of President Trump which went as far as to insinuate that Trump had engaged in bribery with Russian dignitaries. On the defence, Orbis Business Intelligence emphasised that the document was never meant for the public. It was BuzzFeed that, without Orbiss approval, released the dossier to the public in early January 2017. ALSO READ| Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene bashes Joe Biden for Capitol fencing, name-drops Laken Riley in lambasting tweet The presiding judge, Karen Steyn, sided with Orbis on February 1st, subsequently slashing the legal fees Orbis sought from 634,000 (approximately $809,000) to just over half that figure. These legal woes are not first between Trump and Steele dossier. Last year, a federal judge in Florida dismissed a lawsuit filed by Trump against Steele, Hillary Clinton, and certain ex-FBI officials. In that suit, Trump alleged a conspiracy to spur the Russia investigation, which loomed over his term in the Oval Office. In the aftermath of the State of the Union address, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene launches a scathing attack on President Joe Biden, blaming his policies for the death of Laken Riley. The reaction came after President Joe Biden, who was addressing the Union for the first time since announcing his candidacy for a second presidential run, forgot the name of the deceased nursing student Laken Riley. But it didn't stop there; he also advocated for his immigration bill, which didn't sit well with some US lawmakers. Marjorie Taylor Greene bashes Joe Biden in lambasting tweet after his administration erects a fence around the US Capitol to protect him ahead of the State of the Union address at 9 pm.(X) Joe Bidens policies killed Laken Riley-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene During his speech, the POTUS attempted to address the initiatives "Say Her Name Laken Riley" and "STOP THE BIDEN BORDER CRISIS," spearheaded by U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. However, things took a turn for the worse when, out of confusion, he mentioned 'Lincoln Riley' instead of 'Laken Riley.' Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Joe Biden's policies killed Laken Riley. He finally tried to say her name, but couldn't even say it correctly. It's an absolute disgrace," tweeted MTG following the conclusion of his speech. Also read: Joe Biden faces ridicule for 'forgetting' Laken Riley's name and pitching immigration bill For the unversed, the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the imprisonment of any immigrant found guilty of theft or burglary, was passed by the House earlier on Thursday. Together with 37 House Democrats, every Republican who cast a ballot supported the bill. Biden turns border crisis into campaign weapon Biden acknowledges the death of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old woman allegedly murdered by an undocumented immigrant. Riley's tragic death became a rallying point for conservatives. However, Biden's mention of her name appears to be tied to advocating for his migration bill. "If my predecessor is watching (seemingly referring to Donald Trump instead of playing politics and pressuring members of Congress to block this bill, join me in telling Congress to pass it," Biden said in his speech.) "I will not demonize immigrants, saying they 'poison the blood of our country,' as he said in his own words," he added referring to Trump. "I will not separate families. I will not ban people from America because of their faith," Biden continued. In response to Biden's list of things he won't do with immigration, Senator Katie Britt said, "America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defense are actually the cornerstones of a great nation." Also read: Why were women wearing white during the State of Union address? Reproductive freedom.. Marjorie Taylor Greene takes a dig at Nancy Pelosi CNN wanted Nancy Pelosis take on when I forced Joe Biden to SAY HER NAME. MTG tweeted after the SOTU. She continued, Nancy Pelosi didnt acknowledge Laken Riley, rather Nancy Pelosi was more concerned with Biden referring to her murderer as an illegal and not undocumented. The Republican Party member continued her tweet attack by mentioning the moment she directly confronted Joe Biden and asked him to "Say Her Name." She wrote, Joe Biden has no excuse. I handed him a pin to remember Laken Riley. He refused to SAY HER NAME! Tel Aviv, Mar 8 (PTI) The flight carrying the mortal remains of an Indian worker, Patnibin Maxwell, killed by an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon left on Thursday evening for India, official sources said. HT Image Maxwell, 30, was from Kollam in Kerala. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Israel's Minister of Interior, Moshe Arbel, Director General of Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA), officials from the Israeli foreign ministry and senior diplomats from the Indian embassy on Thursday evening attended a memorial send-off ceremony. "A high-level delegation from @IsraelMFA, Ministry of Agriculture, led by Minister of Interior, Moshe Arbel, and his senior team, went to pay respects to Patnibin Maxwell-The Indian national who was killed by Hezbollah rocket while working on a farm. Om Shanti," Naor Gilon, Ambassador of Israel to India, posted on X. The remains were sent aboard Air India flight AI 140 for Delhi and from there will be sent to Trivandrum on Air India flight AI 801 scheduled for 15:00 hours India time on Friday. Maxwell was killed when an anti-tank missile hit a plantation in Margaliot, a Moshav (collective agricultural community), in the Galilee region in the north of Israel at around 11 AM on Monday. His mortal remains were identified in Ziv Hospital. Seven other workers were injured in the attack, including two Indians who are also from Kerala. Bush Joseph George, 31, from Vazhathope and Paul Melvin, 28, from Vagamon were injured and taken to hospitals for treatment. "George was taken to the Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva after suffering injuries on face and body. He underwent an operation, is recovering well, and is kept under observation. He could speak with his family in India", official sources told PTI. Melvin was slightly injured and is hospitalised at Ziv Hospital in the northern Israeli city of Safed. The Indian mission in Tel Aviv issued an "important Advisory" on Tuesday urging its nationals to relocate to safe areas in the country, a day after the deadly attack. "In view of the prevailing security situation and local safety advisories, all Indian nationals in Israel, especially those working in or visiting border areas in the north and south, are advised to relocate to safe areas within Israel", the mission said in an advisory posted on various social media platforms. "The embassy remains in touch with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all our nationals", the advisory added. Several Indian workers from the north are said to have shifted to areas considered safe from missile attacks. The attack is believed to have been carried out by the Shi'ite Hezbollah faction in Lebanon, which has been launching rockets, missiles, and drones at northern Israel daily since October 8 in support of Hamas amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Israel has also been operating in Lebanon, mainly targeting Hezbollah and Hamas targets in that country. The skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah have resulted in the death of seven civilians, including Maxwell, and 10 IDF soldiers on the Israeli side. Hezbollah has named 229 members who have been killed by Israel during recent flare-ups. Most of the casualties on the Hezbollah side happened in Lebanon but also some in Syria. Another 37 operatives from other groups, a Lebanese soldier, and at least 30 civilians have also been killed since October 8. The fractured relationship between Prince Harry and Prince William continues to dominate headlines. Harry's recent visit to the United Kingdom to see his ailing father, King Charles, gave rise to the potential reconciliation of the family but the lack of interaction between brothers is hurtful. A new report reflecting on the Duke of Sussex's bond with his estranged family suggests that there was no interaction between the brothers, despite Harry's attempt to reach out to his brother Prince William. FILE - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, and from left, Meghan the Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate the Duchess of Cambridge watch a flypast of Royal Air Force aircraft pass over Buckingham Palace in London, (AP) Prince Harry reached out to Prince Williams ahead of UK trip Also read: Meta's millions lost: How much did Zuckerberg lose after Facebook, Instagram global outage Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The once-unbreakable bond between the royal brothers seems to be fraying at the edges. While the Duke of Sussex has openly expressed his interest in reconciling with the family, it appears that his brother Prince William is not very welcoming to the decision. According to a report by PEOPLE, during his brief visit to the UK to meet his ailing father, Harry reached out to William, but there were "no plans" to meet, as stated by a palace source at the time of the visit. A former courtier suggests that the Prince of Wales' "principal concern is his wife," Kate Middleton. Prince Harry and Prince Williams did not meet during UK trip Also read: Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper to make romance official at 2024 Oscars: Report The report indicates that Prince William's primary focus is on his wife, Kate Middleton, who recently underwent abdominal surgery. Despite this, Harry only spent 24 hours in his home country, choosing to briefly see his father without visiting his brother's family. "It would be the normal run of things to go and see your sister-in-law who's had a serious operation and also see your niece and nephews. But it isn't normal. It's terribly sad, a source close to the Royal family told the outlet for their cover story. "The family torment is an open sore. There is such a profound breach there, says the author of the biography Charles: The Heart of a King, Catherine Mayer. Prince Harrys 30-minute visit to the Royal palace summed up Upon receiving the news of King Charles' cancer, reportedly shared with him by the king himself, the younger son wasted no time flying from the US to the UK, leaving his wife and kids behind. However, upon arrival, he only got 30 minutes to talk, and many reports surfaced quoting that the palace showed signs of not wanting him back. In 2020, the Duke of Sussex stepped down from his royal duties alongside wife Meghan Markle, and since then, he has been residing in the US. During his interview with Good Morning America, Harry expressed his hope that this tough time would bring families together. Prince Harry will be heading to the UK in May to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, which could present him with another chance to spend time with his family. A United Airlines plane sought an emergency landing after one of its tyres fell during takeoff on Thursday. The aircraft bound for Japan was diverted to Los Angeles after the risky incident occurred while taking off from San Francisco. The United Flight 35 landed safely at the Los Angeles International Airport at 1:30 pm ET, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Damaged cars are seen in an on-airport employee parking lot after tire debris from a Boeing 777 landed on them at San Francisco International Airport, Thursday, March 7, 2024. A United Airlines jetliner bound for Japan made a safe landing in Los Angeles on Thursday after losing a tire while taking off from San Francisco. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)(AP) United Airlines plane loses tyre during takeoff At around 11:35 am, the plane lost a portion of the landing gear, according to ABC News. The footage from the incident shows the plane losing one of its six tyres on the left side just seconds after takeoff. The debris from the incident left multiple vehicles damaged as the tyre landed at the airport's employee parking lot. The airport said that there were no resulting injuries to anyone near the runway. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. We're grateful to our pilots and flight attendants for their professionalism in managing this situation, the airlines said of the incident. We're also grateful to our teams on the ground who were waiting with a tug to move the aircraft soon after it landed and to our teams in the airport who assisted customers upon their arrival, the statement from United Airlines added. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was carrying 235 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and four pilots on board. The airline also said that it will work with the owners of the damaged vehicles to ensure their needs are addressed. The statement further clarified that the aircraft is designed to land safely with missing or damaged tyres. This comes a day after another United flight made an emergency landing after its engine erupted in flames. On Monday, the Florida-bound Boeing aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Texas shortly after the jet engine started emitting flames. The U.S. embassy in Russia has issued a warning about imminent plans by terrorists to carry out an attack in Moscow. This alert came after Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the foiling of a planned shooting at a synagogue by a cell affiliated with the Afghan arm of the Islamic State (ISIS-Khorasan). Cars ride past the US embassy building in Moscow, on March 7, 2024. Russia summoned the US ambassador on March 7, 2024 to protest against what it said was Washington's interference in domestic affairs and the funding of "anti-Russian" NGOs.(AFP) "The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours," the embassy said on its website. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The embassy urged all U.S. citizens in Russia to leave immediately but did not provide specific details about the nature of the threat. The advisory recommended avoiding large gatherings, including concerts, over the next 48 hours and staying vigilant in crowded areas. The FSB disclosed that the ISIS-Khorasan cell operating in Russia's Kaluga region had been planning an attack on a synagogue using firearms. The militants were confronted by Russian special forces, and after resisting, they were neutralized by return fire. During the operation, firearms, ammunition, and components for an improvised explosive device were discovered and seized. ISIS-Khorasan: Islamic State cell responsible for Moscow attack ISIS-Khorasan is an Islamic State cell was operating in Russia's Kaluga region as part of the Afghan arm of the group and seeks a caliphate across Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran. It remains unclear if there is a direct link between the embassy's warning and the foiled terrorist plot announced by the FSB. The heightened security concerns come amid the deepening crisis in Russia's relations with the West due to the conflict in Ukraine, with the Kremlin accusing the U.S. of supporting Ukraine against Russia. The cell "was preparing to attack the congregants of a synagogue using firearms," the FSB said. When tackled, the militants offered resistance by Russian special forces and were "neutralised" by return fire, it said. "Firearms, ammunition, as well as components for the manufacture of an improvised explosive device were found and seized," the FSB said. (With Agency Inputs) A former Google engineer stands accused of stealing some of the company's most valuable secrets: classified information related to their cutting-edge AI supercomputing systems. Identified as Linwei Ding, a Chinese national was arrested in Newark, California on Tuesday after a federal jury of San Francisco charged him with four counts of theft of trade secrets. Police said that the suspects allegedly created fake websites of popular e-commerce platforms and promoted them online using Google Ads and search engine optimisation. Former Google engineer charged with stealing AI secrets Also read: Meta's millions lost: How much did Zuckerberg lose after Facebook, Instagram global outage Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Early on Wednesday morning, authorities arrested Linwei Ding at his home in California. Reports suggest that Ding was illegally aiding two Chinese firms he secretly worked for by sharing AI technology and trade secrets from his current employer. The decision was ruled out at a conference organized by the American Bar Association in San Francisco by Attorney General Merrick Garland. The Justice Department just will not tolerate the theft of our trade secrets and intelligence," Attorney General Merrick said at the conference. He is recognized as a staunch advocate for vigilance against Chinese economic espionage and potential security risks from advancements in AI and other technologies. Also read: Depressed cartoonist jumps from NYC building as girlfriend tries to save him from slipping away Who is Linwei Ding? Linwei Ding, a Chinese national and former employee of Google LLC who joined the team in 2019 as a software engineer, allegedly initiated the uploading of trade secrets from Google's network to his personal Google Cloud account on May 21, 2022. According to the Associated Press, Within weeks of the theft beginning, prosecutors claim Ding was offered the position of chief technology officer at an early-stage technology company in China that highlighted its utilization of AI technology. The indictment alleges Ding traveled to China, participated in investor meetings at the company, and endeavored to secure capital for it. By May 30, 2023, Ding had established his own technology company specializing in AI and machine learning. He was charged on March 5, 2024, at the age of 38, with four counts of theft of trade secrets each punishable for around 10 years. What are the charges? FBI Director Christopher Wray in a statement via Reuters said, Todays charges are the latest illustration of the lengths affiliates of companies based in the Peoples Republic of China are willing to go to steal American innovation. The theft of innovative technology and trade secrets from American companies can cost jobs and have devastating economic and national security consequences. He added. As per Google spokesman Jose Castaneda, After an investigation, we found that this employee stole numerous documents, and we quickly referred the case to law enforcement. We are grateful to the FBI for helping protect our information and will continue co-operating with them closely. Half Moon Bay, CA (94019) Today Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High near 60F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 49F. Winds light and variable. (Photo : Cole Brauer Racing) Cole Brauer set off flares to celebrate making her solo sail around the world. A 29-year-old New York woman has become the first U.S. woman to sail solo around the world. Cole Brauer arrived back in Spain on Thursday morning after a 130-day voyage. She left A Coruna, Spain, on October 29th, and sailed around the world via the three great capes (south of Africa, Australia, and South America) and the trip was approximately 26,000 nautical miles. "I can't believe it guys. I sailed around the world," Brauer said in an Instagram live video as she approached the shore. A crowd was waiting for her at the dock, including her parents. Brauer's mother broke down in tears as she hugged her daughter. She then sprayed her support team with champagne and drank from a trophy awarded to her for finishing the race. Her trip was part of the Global Solo Challenge. Brauer reportedly faced hurricane-force winds and 30-foot swells during her grueling trip. She injured a rib at one point during the trip when a large wave threw her across the cabin below deck and she crashed into the side of the boat. "To the end, it was a really rough situation," Brauer told NBC's Today show but added, "This dream becomes a reality." At sea, all of her meals were freeze-dried and rehydrated with boiling water. She used a desalinator to drink ocean water. Can't wait to have fresh fruits and vegetables but the first thing she was looking for on land was a cup of coffee and a croissant. As for her message to women after her feat? "It's a fully male-dominated world," Brauer said. "I want women to really understand it's possible." (Photo : (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)) Children stand on a military tank at the Armoured Corps Memorial during a ceremony to observe Memorial Day in Latrun on April 25, 2023. - Israelis came to a standstill on April 25 for Memorial Day, ahead of the country's 75th anniversary which comes during deep political and social divisions over judicial reforms pushed by the government. An Israeli tank crew killed a Reuters reporter in Lebanon last October when it fired two shells at a group of clearly identified journalists, according to a report, revealing that the tank had "likely" opened fire on them with a heavy machine gun in an ambush. The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) was recruited by Reuters to analyze select evidence from the Oct. 13 attack. Reuters' investigation began in December and covered TNO's preliminary finding that a tank had fired at the journalist. In the final report on Thursday, the organization disclosed that an Al Jazeera video camera from the scene had picked up audio that appeared to confirm the reporters had also come under fire from 0.50 caliber rounds of the kind used by the Browning machine guns that are typically mounted on Israel's Merkava tanks. "It is considered a likely scenario that a Merkava tank, after firing two tank rounds, also used its machine gun against the location of the journalists," TNO's report said. "The latter cannot be concluded with certainty as the direction and exact distance of (the machine gun) fire could not be established." Visuals journalist Issam Abdallah was killed in Israel by a tank aimed 1.34 km away from the reporters after it fired two 120 mm rounds toward them. Abdullah, 37, was killed instantly by the first shell, and Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Christina Assi, 28, was left severely wounded. Whether the Israeli tank crew knew it was firing at the journalists, and if so, why, could not be independently determined by Reuters. Two surviving Reuters reporters and another AFP journalist could not recall machine gun fire for sure and only remembered the instant shock at the time. The Israel Defense Forces said it was working on a response to Reuters questions regarding the situation. When asked to comment on TNO's findings in December, the IDF said, "We don't target journalists." A day after Reuters published the investigation report, The IDF claimed the incident occurred in an active combat zone. International law prohibits attacks of any kind against journalists, as news media retain full protection granted to civilians. Under no circumstance are they to be considered military targets. "We condemn, in the strongest terms, the attack on a clearly identifiable group of journalists, working in the open. The attack killed our colleague Issam Abdallah and injured several others. We reiterate our calls on Israel to explain how this could have happened and to hold those responsible to account," Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni said. Phil Chetwynd, AFP Global News Director, made several calls for a thorough and transparent investigation by the Israeli military. "If reports of sustained machine gun fire are confirmed, this would add more weight to the theory this was a targeted and deliberate attack," he said. Al Jazeera's manager of international communications, Ihtisham Hibatullah, has also urged the Israeli government to reveal the findings of its own investigation. "This incident strongly indicates intentional targeting, as confirmed by investigations, including by TNO," he said. One day after the attack, the Israeli military announced it had visuals of the incident and said it was being looked into. No developments have been made public. (Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Police presence outside Schemengees Bar where one of two mass shootings took place on October 27, 2023 in Lewiston, Maine. Researchers at a Boston University laboratory discovered that Robert Card - the Army Reservist responsible for Maine's deadliest mass shooting - had sustained extreme brain damage that was likely the result of his exposure to grenade blasts. Last October, Card killed 18 people and wounded 13 others in Lewiston, Maine when he went on a shooting spree at a bowling alley and a nearby restaurant. After a two-day manhunt, Card was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In the months before the shooting, Card's family and colleagues had become increasingly concerned about his mental health. He was experiencing delusions, lost a large amount of weight and began acting erratically. Several people reported concerns about Card's behavior to the police and his family members made unsuccessful attempts to remove firearms from his possession. Card's brain was sent to the Boston University CTE Center - which is renowned for its research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition often found in athletes who experienced head trauma playing contact sports. While Card did not suffer from CTE, he did patterns of brain damage comparable to other veterans exposed to weapons blasts, the New York Times reported. Card served as a grenade instructor for the Army for eight years - exposing him to thousands of explosions that literally shook his skull. His brain's white matter had "moderately severe" damage, while the axons that transmit information through the brain were destroyed. "I'm seeing cables that have lost their protective wrapping, cables that are just missing, cables that are inflamed and sick, cables that are essentially filled with cellular garbage bags," Boston University neurologist Dr. Lee Goldstein told the New York Times. "These cables control how one part of the brain communicates with another. If they are damaged, you can't function right." The Army received similar warnings about grenade blasts causing brain damage in the past, with one study revealing that some grenade instructors have elevated levels of beta-amyloid - a protein usually found in Alzheimer's patients. "In a young brain you should see no amyloid. None. Zero," University of Missouri neuroradiologist Dr. Carlos Leiva-Salinas told the New York Times. In response to the Boston University revelation, the Army said it was "committed to understanding, mitigating, accurately diagnosing and promptly treating blast overpressure and its effects in all forms." For Card's family, this new information is allowing them to heal and better understand what went wrong. "It allowed me to forgive him," Card's sister told the New York Times. "Maybe we can use what happened to help other people." (Photo : (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Congressional Integrity Project)) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 24: Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) is seen on his phone as the Congressional Integrity Project video truck showing 12 minutes of footage from the January 6th Insurrection drives around the DC Department of Corrections on March 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. The Congressional Integrity Project mobile billboard was outside the jail protesting as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene lead a tour of the jail with members of congress where some Jan. 6 defendants are being held on March 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. The parents of a nurrsing student killed on her morning run allegedly by an undocumented migrant have declined an invitation to the State of the Union address, according to the House representative that invited them. 22-year-old Laken Riley, who had been a nursing student at the University of Georgia in Athens, was brutally murdered last month as she was out for her usual morning run. Law enforcement believe the suspect to be Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, an undocumented migrant living about a mile away from where her body was discovered. Laken Riley's parents were invited to Biden's speech by Georgia Rep. Mike Collins (R), who revealed in a post to X that they had declined his invitation. I invited Laken Rileys parents to the State of the Union address, but understandably, they have chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter. Therefore, the seat reserved for my guest will remain vacant to honor Laken and all American victims of illegal alien March 6, 2024 Authorities later revealed that the suspect in question had previously been apprehended, and then released on parole by the US Border Patrol on Sept. 8, 2022, in a process the agency applies when overwhelmed with migrants. Ibarra's police record shows he had at least two run-ins with law enforcement. One for illegally driving a scooter in New York without a license and the other in connection to a shoplifting case in Georgia. He now stands charged with felony murder, kidnapping, and false imprisonment. Guests are invited to the State of the Union address by lawmakers who aim to bolster a political cause or make a statement. Riley's death has escalated already heightened tensions over the issue of border security among conservatives. "As Joe Biden attempts to paint a rosy picture of the crime-ridden country he has created, he will look up at an empty seat that memorializes those we've lost because of his open border policies," Collins added. President Biden is anticipated to address the immigration arguments in his speech Thursday, among other highlighting issues. Several polls indicate that immigration and border control is a major concern for voters and ultimately a liability for Biden as the Nov. 5 presidential election nears. Republicans' decision to reject a bipartisan Senate border reform package last month allowed Biden and his party to build upon this point, as Democrats see the decision as a way to deter GOP attacks on the border crisis. Biden's party has accused the GOP of pushing boundaries when it comes to former President Donald Trump and his determination to defeat Biden. Collins took to social media platform X to reveal, "I invited Laken Riley's parents to the State of the Union address, but understandably, they have chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter." "Therefore, the seat reserved for my guest will remain vacant to honor Laken and all American victims of illegal alien crime," he said. Riley's parents are not alone in refusing the invitation. Ukraine first lady Olena Zelenska, and Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, are among a handful who have declined to attend. (Photo : Executive Mayor Andre Truter) Joslin's mother is accused of selling or trafficking the little girl. The mother of a 6-year-old girl who has been missing for nearly three weeks in South Africa, her boyfriend and two other people are now facing charges in connection with her disappearance. It is a shocking twist in the search for Joslin Smith that has gained widespread attention across the country and made international headlines. She disappeared from outside her home in coastal Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town on Feb. 26. Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquine Appolis, Steveno van Rhyn and Phumza Sigaqo appeared at the Vredenburg Magistrate Court Thursday morning after their arrests. The four face charges of human trafficking for purposes of exploitation and kidnapping and will remain jailed without bail until a March 13 hearing. Executive Mayor Andre Truter said emotions were running high as the community gathered at the court to show solidarity in the search for little Joslin. The huge crowd outside court chanted, "Bring back Joslin," the BBC reported. Police are asking for "every citizen, every person" to help find Joslin, the Associated Press reported. There are concerns she may have been taken to another city or even taken out of the country. When Joslin disappeared, local media reported that neighbors had accused her mother of selling her for just over $1,000. The girl's bloodied clothing was found near the home days later. Smith claimed she had left her daughter with her boyfriend to go to work and never saw her again. Authorities now say that was a lie. "We will stand united in prayer and never give up hope," Truter said after the hearing. A US Army intelligence analyst has reportedly been arrested for allegedly transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to a co-conspirator in China. Korbein Schultz, a U.S. Army soldier and intelligence analyst, was arrested by the FBI Thursday at Fort Campbell, according to the Justice Department. The indictment alleges that from June 2022 until his arrest, Schultz disclosed documents, writings, plans, maps, notes, and photographs relating to national defense as well as information relating to national defense which Schultz had reason to believe could be used to injure the United States or used to the advantage of a foreign nation. The person in China allegedly recruited Schultz, who had a Top Secret security clearance, and had him gather documents and sensitive U.S. military information related to a variety of U.S. military weapons systems, including classified information, and information related to the United States' potential plans in the event that Taiwan came under military attack. Some of the information allegedly included documents related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), information on hypersonic equipment, studies on the future development of U.S. military forces, studies on major countries such as China, and summaries of military drills and operations. Schultz also allegedly sent three documents that violated the Arms Export Control Act. The three documents included an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for the HH-60W helicopter, an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for the F22-A fighter aircraft, and an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for intercontinental ballistic missiles. Schultz allegedly was given at least 14 payments that totaled approximately $42,000. "Mr. Schultz, a member of the U.S. Army, stands accused of conspiring to obtain and provide national defense information to an individual overseas. As part of the conspiracy, the defendant provided sensitive government information to his coconspirator in exchange for thousands of dollars, placing personal profit above the security of the American people," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. The other man told Schultz that he lived in Hong Kong and worked for a geopolitical consulting firm based overseas. Outraged parents of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting in Texas reacted angrily after an investigation ordered by city leaders reportedly did not blame the police who responded to the incident. The 2022 attack left 19 children and two teachers dead. Investigators Claim Families Caused Delay During Police Response It took officers 77 minutes to enter the school, and the investigator who presented the report on Thursday blamed families who rushed to the scene for delaying police, according to a report. Several family members walked out in anger midway through the presentation. A person in the crowd screamed, "Cowards!" The report, by former police detective Jesse Prado, found Uvalde Police Department officers acted swiftly and appropriately, in contrast to state and federal reports that faulted police at every level. His report blamed other problems. "There were problems all day long with communication and lack of it. The officers had no way of knowing what was being planned, what was being said," Prado said. "If they would have had a ballistic shield, it would have been enough to get them to the door." Law enforcement took more than an hour to get inside the classroom and kill the gunman, even as children inside the classrooms called 911, begging police to rescue them. But Prado said officers showed "immeasurable strength" and "level-headed thinking" in their response. Family members erupted when Prado briefly left after his presentation. "Bring him back! several of them shouted, according to the AP. Prado returned, sat, and listened when victims' families cried and criticized the report. "My daughter was left for dead," Ruben Zamorra said. "These police officers signed up to do a job. They didn't do it." Uvalde City Council member Hector Luevano said he was "embarrassed" by the report and didn't accept it. "These families deserve more. This community deserves more," Luevano said. At least five officers on the scene lost their jobs, but no officers faced criminal charges. On Thursday, electric utility Xcel Energy said that its equipment likely started the Smokehouse Creek fire, which destroyed dozens of homes and scorched sprawling cattle ranches in one of the most devastating wildfires recorded in Texas. The wildfire that ravaged the state in recent days across nearly 1,700 square miles has killed at least three people. Xcel Energy Admits Role in Sparking Texas Wildfire In a statement released on Thursday, Xcel said it had been assisting with the investigations into the wildfires while also carrying out its review. According to the statement, based on currently available information, Xcel acknowledges that its facilities appear to have ignited the Smokehouse Creek fire. The statement read, "Xcel Energy disputes claims that it acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure; however, we encourage people who had property destroyed by or livestock lost in the Smokehouse Creek fire to submit a claim to Xcel Energy through our claims process." However, the Minneapolis-based company, which provides power and natural gas to parts of Texas and seven other US states, has denied claims that it negligently maintained and operated its infrastructure. At least two lawsuits have been filed against Xcel, alleging that the company has failed to maintain the electrical infrastructure linked to the fire. Xcel claimed those who lost any property or livestock in the blaze should submit claims directly to the company. Furthermore, the company said that its infrastructure did not appear to be the cause of a second Texas fire, known as the Windy Deuce. A Texas homeowner filed a lawsuit against Xcel last Friday, alleging that the Smokehouse fire destroyed their home and that a power pole operated by its subsidiary was in poor condition before collapsing and starting the fire. On Wednesday, a second lawsuit was filed on behalf of a North Texas ranch, claiming Xcel was negligent in failing to properly repair and inspect its power line poles, resulting in the Smokehouse fire. The lawsuit said that the fire damaged the ranch's facilities and killed cattle. Xcel also faces hundreds of lawsuits in Colorado, where the most expensive wildfire in state history has killed two people and damaged around 1,100 houses in December 2021. The company denied that its power lines were to blame. Read Also: Taylor Swift Singapore Concert: 2 Men Charged for Attempted Trespassing Into Eras Tour 'Burn Scar' From Texas Wildfire Captured The vicious wildfires swiftly spreading in the Texas Panhandle over the past week have been captured in NASA satellite photos. Texas A&M wrote about the Grape Vine Creek Fire on X, formerly Twitter, and said that firefighters continue to mop up across the fire perimeter, checking for hot spots near the perimeter. According to NASA data, fires started in the Panhandle on February 24 and had spread widely by February 26 and 27. On March 2, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA's Terra satellite captured the burn scar of these fires in false color, highlighting the immense scale of the Smokehouse Creek Fire in particular. Furthermore, another satellite image obtained by Landsat 8's Operational Land Imager provides a close-up of the Windy Deuce Fire's burn scar that displays the burned land surrounding the town of Fritch and nearby Lake Meredith. Carol Baldwin, a fire scientist with the Great Plains Fire Scfighters, said that the straight edges in the burn scar indicate an edge was defended by fighters, often roads or trails, but sometimes a tilled or bladed line in grasslands. Related Article: Massive Texas Wildfires Prompt Evacuations; Gov. Abbott Issues Disaster Declaration Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson faced a quiet demotion by the Navy in 2022, according to reports released Thursday. The demotion saw Jackson's rank reduced from rear admiral (lower half) to captain following a damning report from the Defense Department watchdog detailing his behaviour during his time as a physician in the White House. Pentagon Report Exposes Allegations Against Jackson This administrative action came as a response to findings from a Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoDIG) investigation conducted in March 2021, according to The Washington Post. The investigation unearthed instances of inappropriate behavior during Jackson's tenure as the top White House physician under Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Specifically, the report highlighted incidents where Jackson allegedly engaged in misconduct, including the misuse of alcohol during presidential trips and mistreatment of subordinates. One notable incident involved Jackson reportedly making inappropriate comments to a female subordinate during a trip in 2014. According to the Pentagon report, during a presidential trip to Manila a decade ago, Jackson was accused of making inappropriate comments about a female subordinate's body and knocking on her hotel room door while drunk, saying "I need you." He also allegedly took both the female subordinate and another subordinate to his room to take photos of himself eating street food. The female subordinate described Jackson's behavior as resembling that of a fraternity member. She felt uncomfortable with his drunken late-night visit and emphasized that a Naval officer in his position should not behave in such a manner. Read Also: House Ethics Committee To Investigate 3 GOP Members Over Alleged Financial Improprieties, Improper Relationship With Staffer Jackson Denies Accusations Jackson previously denied the allegations. He further denied any implication of sexual impropriety at work or elsewhere. "I flat out reject any allegation that I consumed alcohol while on duty," he said. "I also categorically deny any implication that I was in any way sexually inappropriate at work, outside of work, or anywhere with any member of my staff or anyone else," the doctor aid. "That is not me and what is alleged did not happen." Despite his denials, the findings of the DoDIG report prompted the Navy to take administrative action against him. Jackson continues to identify himself as a retired rear admiral, the rank he held until December 1, 2019. According to his website, he describes himself as a retired US Navy Rear Admiral with 25 years of military service. Jackson's controversial journey extends beyond his time as White House physician. In 2018, then-President Trump nominated him to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, allegations of misconduct surfaced during the nomination process, leading Jackson to withdraw his candidacy. Despite this setback, Jackson maintained his political aspirations and successfully transitioned to a career in Congress, winning a House seat in Texas in 2020. Throughout his career, Jackson has remained a staunch supporter of Trump, earning praise from the former president for his service. Related Article: Former White House Physician Criticized For Saying that the Latest COVID-19 Strain Omicron Is Not Serious, Calling It 'Midterm Election' Variant On Thursday, police said that six people from Sri Lanka, including a mother and four young children, were killed in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, calling the deaths a "mass killing." Police claimed that the six victims were newcomers to Canada, and the youngest was less than three months old. Sri Lankan Family Killed in Canada On Wednesday at around 10 pm local time, Ottawa police officers received emergency calls from the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven. When they arrived, police chief Eric Stubbs said the officers immediately recognized the suspect, who was arrested without incident. The victims, who included a mother, her four children, and an acquaintance who was living with the family, were found when the officers entered the home. Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake and her four children, Inuka Wickramasinghe, Ashwini Wickramasinghe, Rinyana Wickramasinghe, and Kelly Wickramasinghe, were identified as the victims. The acquaintance and sixth deceased victim was recognized as 40-year-old Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon. Chief Stubbs claimed that the father of the family was hurt and was taken to hospital in a critical but stable condition. Police identified the suspect as 19-year-old Febrio De-Zoysa. He was arrested with six charges of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. However, the reason behind the killing was not immediately clear. Stubbs said an "edged weapon" was used to kill and wound the victims. He said the police investigation is ongoing. Furthermore, he said the incident is the biggest murder case in Ottawa's recent history. He described it as a "real tragedy" that would significantly impact the nation's capital. He also warned the residents and community members to stay away from the area. Read Also: Former Google Employee Indicted for Stealing AI Secrets, Aiding Chinese Companies Canadian Officials Speak Out Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced the mass killing of an Ottawa family that had recently moved from Sri Lanka and called it an act of "terrible violence." Trudeau made his comments on Thursday in the hours after a family and their acquaintance were killed in an apparent late-night stabbing in Ottawa. In a separate interview with CBC News earlier on Thursday, he mistakenly called the incident a "mass shooting," which was later clarified. Ottawa's mayor referred to the multiple killings as one of the most shocking incidents of violence in their city's history. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that they are proud to live in a safe community, but the recent news is distressing to all Ottawa residents. He thanked the emergency responders investigating and supporting those affected by the terrible event. Mass killings are relatively infrequent in Canada, which has a population of over 38 million. However, there were two prominent attacks in December 2022, where a man opened fire on five people before being fatally shot by police. Related Article: Canadian Court Sentences Man to Life in Prison Over Murder of Muslim Family Joe Biden delivered the final State of the Union address of the first term of his presidency Thursday using the US House of Representatives rostrum to lace into his Republican challenger, Donald Trump, without mentioning the former president by name. Biden, 81, used the speech, delivered just eight months before his potential rematch with Trump, 77, to address voter concerns about his age and job performance, while also highlighting the differences with his likely November opponent. Biden's Campaign-Style State of the Union Address With a forceful tone, Biden criticized his predecessor for failing to support American allies overseas and for promoting anti-democratic beliefs in the country. "Freedom and democracy are under attack and both at home and overseas at the very same time," Biden stated as he urged Congress to back Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion. "History is watching, just like history watched three years ago on January 6th," he added. Although not directly mentioning Trump, Biden invoked the former president several times during his State of the Union addess. He first slammed Trump regarding Russia's war with Ukraine saying, "A former American president actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader." Furthermore, Biden invoked Trump about the Jan. 6 riot, Roe v. Wade, and female reproductive rights. Biden also referred to "his predecessor" in connection to mental health, claiming that Trump did not "buy American," and more. After addressing the threats at home, Biden mentioned the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol by Trump supporters who aimed to overturn the 2020 election, emphasizing the need to protect democracy. The president highlighted his achievements in infrastructure and manufacturing, urging Congress to pass additional aid for Ukraine, stricter migration policies, and reduced drug costs. He made sure to emphasize the challenges he faced when he assumed office in 2021, dealing with a pandemic and a shrinking economy. Recent polls indicate that Biden and Trump are in a close race for the White House, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch in November's presidential election that overshadowed Thursday's State of the Union address. Read Also: Ex-NY Rep. George Santos Returns to Capitol for State of the Union Months After Being Ousted From Congress Key Moments From Biden's 2024 State of the Union Address "My purpose tonight is to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment," Biden stated, cautioning that "freedom and democracy are being threatened both domestically and internationally". The speech offered a significant opportunity for Biden, who is still dealing with inquiries about his ability to run for a second term and facing demonstrations against his strong support for Israel amid its violent military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Here are the keypoints from Biden's 2024 State of the Union address: US to Boost Gaza Aid Amidst the Gaza war, Biden, who has been under intense scrutiny for his strong backing of Israel, revealed plans for constructing a temporary pier near the Palestinian territory to assist with aid shipments. According to Biden, the pier will be equipped to handle large shipments of essential supplies like food, water, medicine, and temporary shelter. However, he did not provide a timeline for its setup. This action follows the recent delivery of 36,000 meals to numerous individuals facing hunger in northern Gaza. However, the Biden administration has decided against linking aid or halting weapon transfers to Israel in order to push for more assistance into Gaza, emphasizing its unwavering support for the US ally. Critics of the stance taken by Biden argue that the Gaza pier is unlikely to address the increasing hunger crisis in the territory. Israel has halted aid deliveries while carrying out its military operation. According to a Palestinian politician, the focus should remain on the 700,000 people suffering from starvation in north Gaza and the lack of humanitarian aid being allowed by Israel. Over 100 demonstrators calling for a Gaza ceasefire obstructed a road leading to the US Capitol before the speech on Thursday evening. "What do we want? Permanent ceasefire. When do we want it? Now," they chanted. When discussing the situation in the Gaza Strip, Biden emphasized his long-standing support for the US ally while also calling for more aid to be allowed into the area. Continuous Support For Ukraine Biden called on Congress to release aid to Ukraine in order to support the country against Russia's invasion. Several Republican legislators are expressing concerns about the increasing cost of ongoing US support for Kyiv. He criticized Trump for suggesting that he would allow Russia to act freely towards a NATO country that does not meet defense spending requirements. "A previous president actually made that statement, showing deference to a leader from Russia," Biden mentioned in his speech. "I think it's outrageous. It's dangerous and it's unacceptable." Roe v. Wade, Female Reproductive Rights Biden has also made efforts to differentiate himself and his Democratic Party from American conservatives who praised the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v Wade. The significant decision established the constitutional right to abortion in the US for many years. Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, several states led by Republicans implemented numerous abortion restrictions and bans, sparking widespread outrage. Many Democratic voters are passionate about ensuring access to abortion and reproductive health care. Thursday night saw Biden pledging to protect abortion access across the country. "If you, the American people, send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I will restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land again," the president said. Pointing to recent election wins for Democrats following the repeal of abortion rights, the US president also expressed confidence in the voting influence of women to secure more votes in November. The fall of Roe is attributed to Trump, as he appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court who played a role in overturning the legal precedent. Domestic, Economic Issue Most of the speech by Biden centered on domestic issues, with a key focus on his administration's management of the economy. The economy was described as being in a critical state when the current president took office amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but his actions were credited with bringing about its recovery. "Now our economy is the envy of the world - with 15 million new jobs created in just three years," he stated. Biden acknowledged US labor unions and the American middle class, emphasizing his commitment to making sure that corporations pay their fair share. Related Article: Trump Claps Back at Biden's Accusation That Ex-President Bowed Down to Kremlin, Says POTUS is 'Puppet' for Putin, Xi Jinping Expelled GOP Rep. George Santos appeared on the House floor during President Joe Biden's State of the Union address and announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he is running for Congress once again. In his social media post, Santos said that he was returning to the arena of politics and would be challenging New York Republican Congressman Nick LaLota for the battle over #NY1. He added that he was looking forward to debating his rival on various issues as well as on the latter's supposedly weak record as a Republican. George Santos Announces Congress Run The former New York congressman represented the state's 3rd District during his time in office. He made his latest announcement on Thursday, during President Biden's SOTU as he was seen in the U.S. Capitol, according to CNN. Santos' surprise appearance at the Capitol comes roughly three months after he was expelled from the House in a historic, bipartisan vote. He was allowed to enter as the regulations of the House permit former lawmakers to keep their floor privileges unless they collapse into specific categories. These include lobbying, representing foreign agencies, having a direct interest in bills that are currently being considered, or having been convicted of a crime that is related to their election or service. The congressman was able to maintain his position in the legislative chambers on Dec. 1, 2023. This was despite the fact that he was subjected to a 311-114 vote that forced him to step down. According to our previous report, the findings that led to the congressman's removal showed that the Ethics Committee cited "significant evidence" of his involvement in filing false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission. He was also accused of misusing campaign funds for personal expenses, engaging in fraudulent conduct with RedStone Strategies LLC, and violating the Ethics in Government Act relating to his Financial Disclosure Statements. Read Also: Ex-NY Rep. George Santos Returns to Capitol for State of the Union Months After Being Ousted From Congress Appearing in the Capitol In his announcement of another Congress run, Santos said since he arbitrarily left office, New York has not had a real conservative represent them. He argued that LaLota was willing to risk the future of the majority and the future of the nation for his own political gain. Tonight, I came to the SOTU with an open mind and heart because I believe in the great idea that is the United States of America. I just witnessed a weak, frail president deliver spin and lies to the American people from inside the chambers. I have made several personal George Santos (@MrSantosNY) March 8, 2024 Santos was first elected to Congress in 2022 after losing his prior attempt that was made in 2020. Various reports later revealed that the congressman told lies about his grandparents being Holocaust survivors and his mother losing her life during the 9/11 tragedy. In May last year, the Republican faced 13 charges in a Long Island federal court and a few months later, he was hit with a superseding indictment that listed 23 counts. While Santos initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, he is said to now be in talks for a possible plea deal, said the Independent. Following Santos' removal from his position, the state of New York held an election to find a replacement for the congressman. It was then won by Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi, who previously held the Long Island seat before the disgraced congressman, said Politico. Related Article: State of the Union 2024: Joe Biden Delivers Last Address to Congress, Repeatedly Invokes Donald Trump As President Joe Biden geared up to deliver his 2024 State of the Union address on Thursday night, a group of Pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets, determined to disrupt proceedings and impede the president's route from the White House to the Capitol. The impassioned demonstrators, numbering in the hundreds, gathered outside both locations, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and showcasing their unwavering support for Palestine amidst the ongoing conflict with Israel and Hamas. Protesters Calling for Gaza Ceasefire Block DC Intersection Approximately 100 protestors amassed at the intersection of Constitution Avenue and 3rd Street in Washington, D.C., an hour before Biden's scheduled speech, prompting road closures. Among them, a protester held a sign reading, "Biden's legacy is genocide." Simultaneously, a large Palestinian flag was unfolded, serving as a center point around which demonstrators congregated. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) indicated its vigilance regarding First Amendment activity at the location. As of now, no arrests have been reported. The protests compelled Biden's motorcade to opt for an alternative path from the White House to the Capitol, as per CNN's report. The President, poised to secure the Democratic nomination in November, faces escalating dissent from the left wing of his party. Activist Democrats decry Biden's reluctance to unequivocally support a Gaza ceasefire. This discontent has manifested in primary results, with a faction of Democratic voters casting ballots for "uncommitted" to express their disapproval of the president's stance towards the ongoing conflict. Read also: Are Allegations of Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza True? Israel-Hamas Conflict: Toll Rises, Pressure Mounts on Biden The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which escalated following Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement. According to the United Nations, more than 30,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, while 2 million have been displaced internally, with hundreds of thousands facing the looming threat of famine. The demonstrations underscore the mounting pressure Biden faces within his party and the public to address the Gaza crisis. Biden's support for Israel has attracted criticism from the public. However, in an attempt to assuage discontent, Biden has been announcing plans to airdrop supplies to Gaza and to construct a temporary floating port off the region to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery to Palestinians. The incident marks the five-month milestone of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. While Israel maintains its actions are in self-defense against Hamas aggression, protesters in the US accuse Israel of perpetrating violence against Palestinians. Related Article: US Military to Airdrop Food Aid to Gaza Amid Growing Humanitarian Crisis Nigerian gunmen reportedly kidnapped nearly 300 students in the northwest region of the country during an attack on a school on Thursday. The heinous crime marks the second mass abduction in the nation over the past week, which has become common since 2014. At the time, Islamic extremists kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok village in Borno state. Nigeria Kidnapping Over the past few years, the abductions have been concentrated in northwestern and central regions. These are where dozens of armed groups often set their sights on villagers and travelers for huge ransoms. Local residents said that the assailants on Thursday surrounded the government-owned school in Kaduna State's Kuriga town. The attack came just as pupils and students were about to start the school day at around 8:00 a.m. Previously, authorities said that more than 100 students were taken hostage in the attack. However, the headteacher of the school, Sani Abdullahi, told Gov. Uba Sani that the total number of students who were missing after a headcount was 287, according to the Associated Press. In a statement, the governor said that they will work to make sure that every child who was abducted is brought back. He added that they are now working with the security agencies to address the issue. No group has yet to claim responsibility for the mass abduction on Thursday but authorities have placed the blame on armed groups that mostly constitute herders. They are accused of carrying out violent attacks and kidnappings for ransom. The crimes come after decades-long pastoral conflict with host communities. The nation's security forces arrived with the governor a few hours later as a search operation widened. This was as community members and parents gathered together to await news of the situation. Read Also: Sri Lankan Family Stabbed to Death in Canada in Rare 'Mass Murder' Case Hundreds of Students Taken Hostage One parent, Fatima Usman, whose two children were among the ones who were abducted, said that they did not know what to do. Another parent, Hassan Abdullahi, said that local vigilantes attempted to fight against the kidnappers but failed as they were overpowered, said the Jerusalem Post. The frequent kidnappings for ransom in northern Nigeria have disrupted the lives of the local people and have kept thousands of children from attending school. The last major reported abduction that involved students in Kaduna was in July 2021. It was when gunmen took more than 150 students during a raid. One eyewitness said that during the latest attack, the gunmen shot one student who was being given medical attention at the Birnin Gwari hospital. Nearly every family is believed to have a child who was abducted by the gunmen. The Thursday abductions occurred in an area that is controlled by Ansaru, which is a breakaway faction of Boko Haram. The group is responsible for the 2014 kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls. A controversial law has made it a crime to make ransom payments and was passed in 2022. It was part of efforts made by officials to curb Nigeria's spiraling and lucrative kidnapping industry. The law carries a prison sentence of at least 15 years but no one has ever been arrested under it, according to BBC. Related Article: Portugal Elections Focus on Corruption, Economy as Far-Right Party Leader Runs for Office On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will not give in to international pressure to stall an attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah and will continue its bloody offensive against Hamas. The US, Egypt, and Qatar have been attempting to mediate an agreement on a six-week ceasefire and the release of 40 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Netanyahu Insists To Continue Rafah Offensive At a military graduation ceremony in southern Israel, the prime minister said that there is growing international pressure and that they need to stand together against the attempts to stop the war. Netanyahu claimed that Israel's forces would fight Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, the last Hamas stronghold. He added, "Whoever tells us not to act in Rafah is telling us to lose the war, and that will not happen." The uncompromising statement was made just hours after it was reported that Hamas had withdrawn its delegation from indirect ceasefire negotiations in Cairo, indicating the chances of even a short pause to the war in Gaza before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Hamas confirmed on Thursday that negotiations would resume next week. A Hamas statement said that Hamas's delegation left Cairo this morning for consultation with the leadership of the movement, with negotiations and efforts to stop the aggression, return the displaced, and bring in relief aid to their people. Early last week, there was hope that a ceasefire could be reached, and mediators and observers had set the informal deadline at the start of Ramadan on Sunday or Monday. The holy month often brings unrest linked to access to sacred sites in Jerusalem. Instability has already spread throughout the region six months into the conflict. On Thursday, Israeli artillery opened fire on targets in southern Lebanon following a barrage of rockets fired by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant Islamist organization. According to Hamas, it will not release all of the remaining hostages unless Israel completely withdraws. In exchange for the hostages, a second demand is the release of several prisoners, including prominent militants serving life sentences. Furthermore, Netanyahu has called Hamas's demands "delusional." Read Also: Sri Lankan Family Stabbed to Death in Canada in Rare' Mass Murder' Case Growing Famine in Gaza According to aid officials in Gaza, they believe that there are already "pockets of famine" in the region, where parents are sacrificing little food they have left for their children, and fuel for cooking is nearly impossible. UN organizations claimed that Gaza needs more humanitarian aid after Palestinian authorities revealed that over 24,000 people had died in the region as a result of Israel's offensive. In a joint statement, the World Food Programme, Unicef, and World Health Organization have called to open new entry routes into Gaza, allow more trucks daily, and permit humanitarian workers and others needing assistance to move around safely. While the UN organizations did not directly blame Israel, they said that the ongoing fighting, the opening of a few border crossings from Israel, and the slow approval process for trucks and other supplies into Gaza were hindering the delivery of relief. Related Article: South Africa Urges World Court To Intervene, Impose Emergency Orders on Israel Over Worsening Famine Crisis in Gaza JK Rowling has been accused of violating a British anti-discrimination law by a transgender broadcaster who says the "Harry Potter" author purposely called her a man. Transgender woman India Willoughby, an English broadcaster, claimed the well-known author committed a "hate crime" in violation of anti-discrimination legislation on March 4 when she referred to Willoughby as "a man" on social media. During an interview with Byline TV on Wednesday night, Willoughby, a former 'Celebrity Big Brother' contestant and "Loose Women" co-host, said she had aware Northumbria Police about Rowling's repeated discrimination of her online as part of their in progress feud. Willoughby stated that he has informed the police about JK Rowling's responses, unsure if it would be considered a hate crime or vengeful interactions, but he believes it is a clear offense. When reached about the situation by Variety, a spokesperson from Northumbria Police said in a statement: "On Monday, March 4, we received a complaint about a post on social media. We are currently awaiting to speak to the complainant further." Read Also: State of the Union 2024: Joe Biden Delivers Campaign-Style Address to Congress, Repeatedly Invokes Donald Trump JK Rowling vs. India Willoughby Rowling has previously suggested that she had an action in court involving Willoughby for alleged libel. She pointed out on X, formerly known as Twitter on Wednesday, that a while back, legal advisors informed her of an allegedly strong case against Willoughby. The renowned author added, "that not only did I have a clearly winnable case against India Willoughby for defamation, but that India's obsessive targeting of me over the past few years may meet the legal threshold for harassment." Rowling claims that she was advised by lawyers that Willoughby's targeting of her over the past few years may meet the legal threshold for harassment. She ignored this advice, stating that she didn't want to give Willoughby publicity. Rowling also criticized Willoughby over a variety of issues, including alleged homophobia, racism and immigration. She also accused Willoughby of transphobia, claiming she has forgotten the Forstater ruling, which established that gender-critical views can be protected in law. Forstater successfully brought a case to the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) to establish that gender-critical views are a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010 in 2021. In 2021, researcher Maya Forstater won a case at the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) to confirm that gender-critical views are considered a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010, Daily Mail reported. Related Article: Katie Porter Claims California Senate Primary Was 'Rigged' After Failing To Win Seat A federal judge on Thursday denied former United States President Donald Trump's request to delay paying the $83.3 million fine in relation to the E. Jean Carroll case. The development means that the Republican businessman has up until Monday to pay the money that owes the writer or post a bond. Trump has sought to postpone the payments on the penalties following two recent courtroom losses in New York. This is because the amount could leave him to face a severe cash crunch. Delaying Payment of $83.3 Million Fine In January, a jury ordered the former president to pay Carroll $83.3 million for defamation. A separate civil fraud trial concluded last month with a judge ordering Trump to pay the penalties that totaled at least $450 million. The Carroll case judgment becoming final on Monday requires Trump to put up money in cash or bonds in order to keep it from being enforced amid appeals. The former president's attorneys previously filed a motion seeking to delay the judgment while their client appeals it or at least give him a chance to post a bond that is "a fraction of the amount of the judgment," according to the Washington Post. On Wednesday, the former president's attorneys filed a request to postpone any payment of the penalties until three business days after the court rules on the motion. They wrote that making Trump post a bond before the court rules on the stay motion "threatens to impose irreparable injury in the form of substantial costs." U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan denied the Trump attorneys' request on Thursday. In a brief order, the judge, who oversaw the Carroll case, was dismissive of the former president's claims about incurring costs. He wrote that the Republican businessman's team has not yet shown what expenses he could incur if he had to post a bond. The judge also suggested that the defendant's "current situation" was self-inflicted, writing that the former president has had since Jan. 26 to organize his finances. Kaplan continued that despite that, Trump waited 25 days after the verdict on the case to ask for a stay amid his post-trial motions. Read Also: Trump Claps Back at Biden's Accusation That Ex-President Bowed Down to Kremlin, Says POTUS is 'Puppet' for Putin, Xi Jinping Donald Trump's Legal Challenges Trump spokesman Steven Cheung issued a statement criticizing Kaplan's order, saying that it was a continuation of a "totally lawless witch hunt." He added that his client filed a timely motion to stay the ridiculous judgment, said CNBC. Cheung argued that there are many courts, such as the Second Circuit federal appeals court, that recognize the importance of temporary administrative stays while such motions are being considered. He said that they are looking forward to continuing to litigate the case and complete vindication of the truth of the matter. The situation comes a few days after the former president's lawyers filed for a new trial in the E. Jean Carroll case. They argued that the court limited the former president's testimony during last month's trial. They also argued that statements the Republican businessman made about the writer's allegations were meant to "defend his reputation, protect his family, and defend his Presidency." Last year, a federal jury in New York City decided that the former president was not liable for rape but that he was liable for sexual abuse and defamation. In that trial, Trump was ordered to pay $5 million, according to Fox News. Related Article: US Army Intelligence Analyst Accused of Selling Secrets to China, DOJ says Chinese leader Xi Jinping promoted the crucial role of the armed forces coordinating preparations for potential military conflicts at sea, safeguarding the nation's maritime rights and interests, and advancing the marine economy. According to state television, Xi emphasized the importance of developing a cyberspace defense system and enhancing the capability to safeguard national network security. He made this statement following a discussion with a group from the People's Liberation Army and Armed Police Force during China's yearly parliament session. Xi Jinping Pushes to Make Chinese Military Stronger In a news conference during an annual parliamentary meeting in Beijing, China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, expressed dissatisfaction with the United States' handling of its relationship with China. Despite some progress following the meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping last November, Wang asserted that the US continues to harbor erroneous perceptions of China and has failed to fulfill its promises. Wang brought out the value of mutual regard and recognition of differences for the ongoing provides between the two nations. The speaker identified the US's continued inaccurate perception of China, as well as its ongoing use of unilateral sanctions and developing strategies to control the country. The foreign minister's remarks aligned with a report from Taiwan's defense ministry, which emphasized China's growing use of grey-zone warfare against Taiwan. The following particular strategy includes using balloons, drones, and civilian boats to cover the areas around the democratic island. The Taiwanese administration has repeatedly alleged that China has been using such strategies in recent years, aiming to wear down adversaries without engaging in direct confrontations, according to Business Standard. Read Also: Katie Porter Accuses Opponents of Rigging California Senate Primary China-Russia Cooperation In his discussion on China-Russian cooperation, Wang focused the mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries, that point out that Chinese places use Russian natural gas while Chinese automobiles travel on Russian highways. China and Russia formed a "no limits," relationship in February 2022, before Russia invaded Ukraine. China has supported Russia politically and economically despite global tensions, defying the US and its allies. With a vision toward a world free of American dominance, Wang defined the relationship between China and Russia as a reaction to the trend of multipolarity. He lambasted the US for suppressing China's rise and called the Biden administration's penalties on Chinese corporations "bewildering" and "unfathomable." The Chinese diplomat acknowledged a thaw in relations since the Xi-Biden meeting but expressed disappointment that the US had not fulfilled its promises. Wang cautioned against supporting Taiwan's bid for independence, warning that those countries meddling in the matter would "get burned for playing with fire." Taiwan remains a contentious issue, with China claiming sovereignty over the self-governing island and vowing to bring it under its control, even through force if necessary. Without specifically referencing a particular nation, Wang condemned its actions in Taiwan and the South China Sea. The speaker called on specific countries outside the region to avoid causing disruptions and conflicts in the South China Sea, stating that China would retaliate against any unreasonable provocations. Wang raised concerns about the credibility and confidence of the US as a major power, cautioning that focusing too much on suppressing China might end up hurting the United States, Independent reported. Related Article: Kim Jong Un Orders North Korea To Intensify War Preparations Amid US, South Korea Joint Military Drills [VIRAL] Saudi Arabias First Male Robot Sparks Controversy for Allegedly Touching Female Reporter Inappropriately The debut of Saudi Arabia's first male robot has sparked controversy online as a viral video following the release of a viral video depicting what appears to be inappropriate conduct directed at a female reporter. The incident occurred on March 4, during the robot's unveiling at the second edition of DeepFast in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Mixed Reactions Online Following Mohammad's Viral Video The video, which quickly gained traction on social media, shows the humanoid extending its hand towards a female reporter, identified as Rawya Kassem, as she speaks to the camera. Some viewers interpreted the robot's actions as deliberate and inappropriate, leading to a flurry of condemnations online, particularly on X (formerly Twitter). "Coded to be a creep!" exclaimed one social media user in response to the video. "Please keep your underage daughters away from this robot!!" another user warned. The incident prompted questions about the programming and training behind the robot's behavior. "Who programmed this robot?" questioned one commenter. Despite the backlash, some users defended the robot, suggesting that the incident may have been the result of a malfunction or misinterpretation rather than intentional misconduct. "What if it was just trying to shake hand[s] and then retracted after it sensed something else[?] commented one user. "Because she mentioned his name and he wanted to shake her hand, but she stood where his hand passed," wrote another user. "This is the fault of humans, not the robot." As of writing, a video showing the incident has amassed over a million views on X, while another post featuring the same footage has garnered nearly half a million views. The clip has been shared numerous times and is circulating widely on the internet, eliciting varied reactions from the public. Read Also: Humanoid Robots with AI Secure Funding from OpenAI, Bezos, and Nvidia Mohammad: Saudi-Made AI Creation Named Mohammad, the robot was designed by QSS Systems as a flagship national initiative to showcase Saudi Arabia's advancements in artificial intelligence technology. During its introduction at DeepFast, Mohammad, the first bilingual male Saudi Arabia-made humanoid robot, declared, "I am the first Saudi robot in the form of a man. I was manufactured and developed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a national project to demonstrate our achievements in the field of artificial intelligence." The controversy surrounding Mohammad's alleged inappropriate behavior has stirred debates about the boundaries of AI and robotics, particularly in social interactions. Some argue that incidents like these underscore the need for more rigorous testing and oversight in the development of humanoid robots, while others emphasize the importance of clear communication and ethical guidelines. As discussions continue online, the incident reminds us of the complexities and challenges inherent in integrating artificial intelligence into everyday life. With advancements in robotics accelerating, questions surrounding accountability, transparency, and ethical standards are likely to remain at the forefront of public discourse. In the aftermath of the controversy, DeepFast's developers and organizers have not issued a formal statement addressing the incident. It remains to be seen how this incident will impact future developments in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where efforts to showcase technological innovation are ongoing. Related Article: Tesla Robot Attack on Human Worker Raises Safety Concerns On Wednesday, a group of students at Texas University asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in a campus ban on drag shows, alleging that the school's president infringed on their First Amendment rights. The school's president described the shows as "derisive, divisive and demoralizing." Texas Students Seek Help From Supreme Court West Texas A&M University's LGBT+ student organization, Spectrum WT, and two of its leaders claimed that the public university's president, Dr. Walter Wendler, committed viewpoint-based discrimination when he abruptly called off the group's scheduled charity drag show event last year. The plaintiffs, represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said Dr. Wendler withheld the event just 11 days before it was scheduled on campus by citing his opinion about drag shows. Dr. Wendler criticized drag shows in a 700-word mail and claimed that they stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes. The students are now pleading with Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to stop the ban immediately so that they can organize the event on campus on March 22. They also requested that public college and university authorities be prohibited from censoring comments based on personal opinion. According to the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, the First Amendment's promise of neutrality is at its zenith at America's public colleges and universities, where students must always remain free to inquire, study, and evaluate to gain new maturity and understanding. Otherwise, their civilization will stagnate and die. The case is brought up during increased political unrest on college campuses nationwide. Due to the contemporary environment, schools at all levels, from primary to tertiary, have had to discuss or establish policies regarding social issues in recent years. Furthermore, there is increasing pressure on schools to reduce the amount of time they spend teaching or discussing issues related to gender, sexual orientation, and race. Diversity and inclusion initiatives at higher education institutions are under pressure to stop or cease, and a case against affirmative action just reached the Supreme Court. Conservatives are increasingly endorsing anti-drag rhetoric and laws. Last year, Florida attempted in vain to pass legislation prohibiting minors from attending shows, in part due to an unproven accusation that drag shows indoctrinate children. Last year, Texas also declared a similar law to be unconstitutional. Read Also: Netanyahu Says Israel Will Push on With Rafah Offensive in Gaza Despite International Pressure Discrimination on Drag Shows At Texas University Spectrum WT and its students said that they enacted policies before hosting it to make their drag show less controversial, including telling performers not to wear profane clothing or engage in "lewd" behavior, preventing minors under the age of 13 from attending, and making the show appropriate for adults only. However, Dr. Wendler insisted that putting together a "harmless" drag show was impossible and that drag shows were biased against women. Though the students held the event off-campus, the students filed a lawsuit in district court. The court refused to halt the ban, saying they had not established that all drag shows are inherently expressive. The appeals court agreed to hear oral arguments starting on April 29, but it refused to expedite the case despite the students' submitted an appeal to the Fifth Circuit. Related Article: Oklahoma: Ex-Drag Queen Principal Resigns Less Than a Year After Hiring; Critics Have Good Reason for Backlash Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffered another mass bleaching event, marking the fifth in the last eight years, that reef managers confirmed on Friday. Experts said the destructive event is caused by rising ocean temperatures caused by the global climate crisis and exacerbated by El Nino. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science conducted aerial surveys covering two-thirds of the marine park. Great Barrier Reef Bleaching Event They confirmed that a "widespread, often called mass, coral bleaching event is unfolding across the Great Barrier Reef." The reef's managers said that the latest incident follows similar reports from coral reefs around the world in the past 12 months. The Great Barrier Reef covers nearly 133,000 square miles and is the largest coral reef in the world. It is also home to more than 1,500 species of fish and 411 species of hard corals. The Great Barrier Reef contributes billions of dollars to the Australian economy every year and is heavily promoted to foreign tourists as one of Australia's and the world's greatest natural wonders. However, rising ocean temperatures are fueling destructive bleaching of the reef. This comes as the world continues to burn planet-warming fossil fuels. Additionally, ocean temperatures are becoming even warmer under the current El Nino, a natural climate pattern that brings warmer-than-average sea-surface temperatures. In a video statement, Australia's Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, said climate change is seen as the biggest risk to the Great Barrier Reef and other coral reefs worldwide. Read Also: Scientists Warn Global Warming Could Result in Arctic Having 'Ice-Free' Summers Over Next Decade She added that they are aware of the need to give the Great Barrier Reef the best chance of survival for the planet and animals that call it their home. This would also affect the 64,000 people whose livelihoods depend on reef tourism. Researchers and scientists expressed their devastation after hearing the news of the mass bleaching event. The chief scientist at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Dr. Roger Beeden, said that in-water surveys would help them understand the severity of the destructive event, said The Guardian. Rising Ocean Temperatures Worldwide ocean temperatures have been the highest on record for nearly a year. The United States government also said the planet is on the cusp of a fourth global coral bleaching event. These would include the reefs in the Atlantic, Pacific, and potentially the Indian Ocean. Beeden noted that it is still too early to say exactly what the full consequences of the latest mass bleaching event will be. He said that if the conditions are cool, much of what has bleached could recover. He added that over the past decade, the Great Barrier Reef has rebuilt itself from other mass bleaching events, severe tropical cyclones, as well as outbreaks of crown-of-thorn starfish. The Australian reef has been heritage-listed for more than four decades because of its "enormous" importance. However, UNESCO said that the icon is currently under "serious threat" from warming seas and pollution. Australian governments have continued to fight to prevent the body from declaring the coral reef "in danger," according to the BBC. Related Article: New Hope for Cloning Extinct Woolly Mammoth Emerges With Elephant Stem Cell Breakthrough Moldovan President Maia Sandu signed a defense pact on Thursday alongside French President Emmanuel Macron amid threats from Russia. The two European nations agreed to boost military cooperation as Russian forces are currently stationed in the breakaway Transnistria region. The defense pact seeks to send a powerful message that Moldova is "becoming stronger" alongside France. Moldova Signs Defense Pact With France Sandu said that with the French government's support, they know they are not alone. The Moldovan president traveled to Paris after attending the European People's Party congress in Bucharest, Romania. Macron, speaking alongside Sandy, said that Moldova's democratic reality and aspirations for a European future represent a challenge for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He argued that this was because it developed another model on Moscow's doorsteps. Recently, France has increasingly sought to bolster its presence in nations that Russia considers part of its sphere of influence. Paris struck new defense deals last month with Armenia, another small democracy that is trying to distance itself from Moscow, according to Politico. Now, the French government is trying to make Moldova a higher priority for the West as the nation is specifically mentioned in the deliverables following an international leaders' summit that was summoned by Macron in February earlier this year. Read Also: UN Atomic Watchdog Director Talks with Russia Over Nuclear Safety in Ukraine Tensions between Moldova and Moscow have significantly increased recently as the former is set to start negotiations to join the European Union. Putin said earlier this week that he would support Moldova's autonomous region of Gagauzia after meeting the pro-Moscow leader of the territory. Transnistria authorities called on Moscow last month to "protect" it against "pressure" from Moldova. On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was open to providing needed assistance. However, he noted that they still prefer to settle all issues by means of political dialogue. Threats From Russia During the signing of the defense pact, Sandy said that if the aggressor is not stopped, he will continue moving forward, and the front line will keep moving closer. She argued that Europe must therefore present a united front, said Reuters. Moscow officials argue that the invasion of Ukraine was forced two years ago so that they could protect against aggression and threats from the NATO military alliance. It added that claims of further territorial ambitions are unfounded and are only scaremongering by the West. The latest defense deal sets the legal framework for future training, regular dialogue, and intelligence sharing between France and Moldova. By the summer, a French defense mission will open in Moldova's capital, Chisinau. It would help assess needs; talks have already started on potential weapons contracts. In a joint statement, officials said that the Moldovan state must be able to defend its neutrality, territory, and population and should also contribute to regional and international security. The two presidents said that Paris was fully "backing Moldova's reforms that seek to bring it into the EU one day. They added that justice reform and the battle against corruption are crucial factors to a successful membership bid, according to France24. Related Article: Sweden Joins NATO Amid Potential National Security Policy Shift After Russia's Ukraine Invasion Japan is getting ready to commemorate the 13th anniversary of its most destroying nuclear incident. The person who is leading the cleanup operation said his team is working hard to retrieve a sample from the core of the radioactive debris at the site. The cleanup project at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which has been ongoing for many years, is now gearing up to extract the damaged fuel debris from the reactors. However, there is still much unknown about the contents inside the reactors. Extracting Melted Nuclear Fuel at Fukushima The head of decommissioning for Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), selected the pressing need for getting an amount of melted fuel from inside the damaged reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Ono likened this project to breaking into a heavily fortified area in the intricate process of decommissioning, recognizing the difficulties involved in addressing this particular problem. The Fukushima Daiichi plant experienced an unprecedented magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, leading to the meltdown of three nuclear power plants and the emission of radiation, which compelled thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. Some regions close to the plant were rendered uninhabitable by the aftermath. There are around 880 tons of highly radioactive melted nuclear fuel currently inside the damaged power plants, posing an enormous opposition for TEPCO. Insufficient details regarding the state and whereabouts of the melted fuel are impeding the development of a secure extraction strategy, according to Ono. Struggles remain in retrieving a small amount of melted debris from the No. 2 reactor, which sustained the least damage, using a robotic arm. TEPCO plans to use a device similar to a fishing rod to collect a sample before enhancing the robotic arm. In the previous month, the plant carried out its inaugural drone flight into reactor No. 1, which was severely affected, to examine the melted debris. However, the operation encountered challenges due to a malfunctioning secondary robot responsible for data transmission, according to Star Advertiser. Read Also: Parents Blast Probe That Clears Police in Massacre of 19 School Kids: 'Cowards' TEPCO Perseveres in Fukushima Cleanup Critics argue that the 30- to 40-year cleanup target set by the government and TEPCO is overly optimistic, considering the challenges posed by the lack of data, technology, and concrete plans for managing the radioactive melted fuel and other nuclear waste. Regardless of the obstacles, TEPCO remains committed to tackling the problems over time. In August of last year, the plant started releasing treated water into the ocean, an important move based on Ono. Recovering a sample from the No. 2 reactor would signify an important step in the decommissioning process. While TEPCO works on the cleanup, Fukushima Daiichi is currently releasing a fourth 7,800-ton batch of water into the sea. Daily seawater sampling results have met safety standards, but the controversial plan has faced protests from local fishers and neighboring countries, especially China, which has imposed a ban on Japanese seafood imports. TEPCO has successfully removed spent fuel rods from the No. 4 reactor pool in 2014 and the No. 3 reactor pool in 2021. The goal is to finish removing rods from the No. 1 and No. 2 pools by 2031. The process of decommissioning continues to be complex, with every stage bringing fresh obstacles as well as perspectives for the team, Fox News reported. Related Article: Cigna Implements Limit on Weight Loss Drug Coverage to Expand Insurance Reach Spain's foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, said on Thursday (Mar. 7) would reportedly give the United Nations' dedicated Palestine refugee agency UNRWA an additional EUR 20 million ($21.88 million) in aid despite other countries suspending their funding. Reuters reported that the aid was mentioned by Albares to UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini, which was in addition to the earlier EUR 3.5 million ($3.83 million) the country already pledged in February. Read Also: Netanyahu Says Israel Will Push on With Rafah Offensive in Gaza Despite International Pressure The new funds from Madrid were aimed at "supporting the organization in its humanitarian work in Gaza and meeting the food, education and health needs of the nearly six million Palestinian refugees in the region." The pledge followed a trend led by the United States and the UK to pause their UNRWA funding after accusations by Israel that a handful of its 13,000 staff in Gaza took part in the October 7 Hamas attack. Related Article: Biden To Build Port On Gaza Shore For Massive Aid Delivery, 'We Are Not Waiting On The Israelis' The Haitian government extended its state of emergency after intruders stormed into a key port facility on Thursday, March 7, adding to the escalating violence in the nation. Officials in Haiti's capital and the West Region have decided to keep the state of emergency in place until April 3. Also, the curfew will now be in effect until March 10. This comes after two security sources informed CNN that the Caribbean Port Services (CPS) terminal in Port-au-Prince was broken into at around 8 AM local time on Thursday. The terminal is a key link in Haiti's food import supply chain. The unknown assailants allegedly made their way to the guarded warehouse section of the facility, where a large number of containers were stored. The insider said that the port is still experiencing turmoil. Breach at Vital Port Facility On Thursday, CNN described the footage from the port, where swarms of people milled around the location, with dozens of individuals allegedly gaining entry to the secured warehouse. The media reporter was able to see exclusive satellite images from Airbus that showed people entering via a street entrance. One satellite picture taken by Airbus shows a large quantity of debris, which depicts the container port terminal area. Another photo was captured showing a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle (MRAP) belonging to the Haitian National Police parked on a main route. According to an insider, the MRAP was strategically placed to stop gang leader Jimmy Cherizier from extending their attacks, especially toward the airport route. On the other hand, satellite photographs reveal blockades built by both people and gangs along main streets in Port-au-Prince, effectively isolating whole districts. Gang leader Cherizier has said that the recent spate of coordinated assaults against governmental institutions and police enforcement in Port-au-Prince is an effort to depose Prime Minister Ariel Henry's administration. See Also: Biden's Support for Haiti's Unpopular Leader Criticized, 'They Rode This Horse To Their Doom Chaos Hurting Innocents Gang violence in Haiti has already displaced almost 300,000 people, and the recent instability has added tens of thousands more. Additionally, it is influencing how humanitarian groups distribute vital supplies. As a result of the unrest, the World Food Programme halted the distribution of supplies from Port-au-Prince via its sea transport services. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said this week that 22 assistance trucks, loaded with food, medicine, and equipment, are now stranded at the Port-au-Prince port. OCHA representative Stephane Dujarric said that maritime channels remain the only means of conveying humanitarian and development help, notably food and medical supplies, from Port-au-Prince to the rest of the nation. See Also: US Pushes For Progress in Haiti as Barbecue, Gang Leader, Warns of Civil War That 'Will End in Genocide' (Photo : Burlington Police Department) Jason Eaton, 48, faces three counts of attempted murder after allegedly shooting a group of Palestinian college students in Burlington, Vermont The man accused of shooting three Palestinian college students visiting Burlington, Vermont on Thanksgiving break is slated to appear in court Friday morning nearly four months after his arrest, according to a report. On November 25 2023, Tasheen Ahmed, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Hisham Awartani, all 20, were walking the streets of Burlington while visiting the city for Thanksgiving break when they were shot. At the time of the shooting, the students were speaking Arabic, and two of them were wearing keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian scarves, according to Burlington police. Ahmed and Abdalhamid were treated and released from the hospital shortly after the shooting. Awartani was left paralyzed from the chest down, according to a GoFundMe set up on to fund his recovery, which to date has raised over $1.6 million. Jason Eaton, 48, was detained by ATF agents canvassing the crime scene, and arrested shortly after the shooting. He has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and has been jailed since his November arraignment. In the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, the shooting sparked national outrage and calls for Eaton to be tried for a hate crime. While the case is being investigated as a hate crime, prosecutors have admitted they have few answers when it comes to a motive. "Although we do not yet have evidence to support a hate crime enhancement, I do want to be clear that there's no question this was a hateful act," Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George said following Eaton's arrest, according to WCAX3. Eaton is due in court Friday, March 8. Steve Nikoui, the 51-year-old father of slain US Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, was identified as the heckler during US President Joe Biden's third State of the Union address Thursday night, Mar. 7. Biden was in the middle of his sentence, claiming that the United States was "safer today than when [he] took office," when the heckler interrupted him from the gallery of the House of Representatives chamber. "Remember Abbey Gate!" Nikoui - a Gold Star parent - yelled down at the President. The heckler was handcuffed and escorted out of the House chamber by Capitol Police. He was eventually charged with crowding, obstructing, or incommoding Congress, a misdemeanor that typically results in the offender's release after paying a $50 fine. What is Abbey Gate? LCpl. Nikoui was one of 13 US service members who were killed by a suicide bomber while supporting the evacuation of US and other foreign personnel during the Fall of Kabul in August 2021. Two other Gold Star fathers told the New York Post in an interview before Biden's speech that the president should expect harsh words over the disaster. "There's been other people that have confirmed that information that Biden knew - damn good and well - that Afghanistan was going to fall," said Mark Schmitz, the father of Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, calling the withdrawal "a totally epic screw-up." Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) told The Post that he has offered up private meetings with several Gold Star families at the White House but has been rebuffed. "They have every right to say, 'Where is that explanation?'" Issa said of the Gold Star families. "'Where is that apology? Where is the legitimate investigation so it doesn't happen to somebody else's family?'" He added that he also understood the anger the Gold Star families wanted to express to Biden, and he and his Congressional colleagues were "honored" to have them attend the State of the Union. Public polling also showed Biden's approval rating plummeting beginning in August 2021 and never returning to a net positive. Two federal reports have since faulted the Biden administration for its "abrupt and uncoordinated" pullout, giving locals the impression that Washington "was simply handing Afghanistan over to a Taliban government-in-waiting." For Gold Star families, however, the reports disappointingly failed to assign responsibility for the deaths of their loved ones. "It's despicable," Schmitz added. "I'm not holding my breath at all that we're gonna get [it]." Biden did not refer to the Afghanistan pullout at any point during his 68-minute speech. Read Also: State of the Union 2024: Pro-Palestinian Protesters Attempt To Block Biden's Route in Washington Johnson: GOP Hecklers a Response to Biden's 'Overly Partisan' SOTU Aside from Nikoui, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) also went in a shoutfest against Biden regarding the murder of Laken Riley, a nursing student police said was killed by a man who had illegally crossed the US border. Riley's parents declined an invite to Capitol Hill for the State of the Union. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that Republican lawmakers and audience hecklers were merely responding to what the party called an "overly partisan speech." "People got very emotional tonight because it was an overly partisan speech and it was ... full of information that is just objectively not true," he said. "And so you saw the visceral reaction, I think, from people in the chamber and I suspect that a lot of people at home were feeling that same frustration." Before the speech, Johnson told Congressional colleagues to maintain proper decorum during the State of the Union speech, a request after last year's speech saw a large amount of heckling from GOP lawmakers, The Hill reported. Except for Taylor Greene's remarks, Johnson said that he felt that his pleas were "mostly" followed for this year's address. "We emphasized decorum, I think mostly that was respected tonight, and that was a good thing for the country," he added. During Biden's speech, Johnson was visibly scoffing at some of the president's statements. The sentiments were shared across the Republican Party. "It really was a terrible tone the whole speech, it was certainly divisive," Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) said. "He claimed when he ran the first time he'd be the uniter in chief. He's been anything but, he certainly continues to be the divider in chief." Related Article: State of the Union 2024: Joe Biden Delivers Campaign-Style Address to Congress, Repeatedly Invokes Donald Trump According to a report, a top executive at Novo Nordisk said he is "comfortable" predicting that the Danish drugmaker will launch an experimental weight loss drug this decade that promises more effective results than its hugely popular drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. Martin Lane, the head of research at Novo Nordisk, told Reuters on Friday that the company is poised to launch a pill version of the weight loss drug amycretin in the next 10 years. Head of Research at Novo Nordisk Had This to Say "I never commit to timelines but I would be very comfortable to say at the very least within this decade," Lane told the wire service. The company hopes to develop oral and injectable forms of amycretin at the same time. It also expects amycretin and its other experimental obesity drug, sagrisema, will result in greater weight loss than Wegovy, noting that they would carry similar cardiac benefits. Lane said that Novo Nordisk is hoping to launch them before the patents for Wegovy's active pharmaceutical ingredient, semaglutide, expire. "The current development plan is to finalise cagrisema in both obesity and diabetes within the next two years, way before the patent expiry in Semaglutide," he told Reuters. "We believe it will be difficult for others to scale to the level we are currently scaling for semaglutide, and that basically means that even with the patent expiry, we could still serve a lot of patients with semaglutide, and complement with even more efficacious products like Cagrisema and Amycretin." Novo Nordisk Stock Surges Shares of Novo Nordisk stock surged to record highs this week when the company informed investors about how a trial of amycretin showed that participants lost 13.1% of their weight after 12 weeks. The news propelled the company to the 12th most valuable company in the world, up from 14th, and its $566 billion valuation allowed it to surpass Tesla and Visa. At the same time, CEO Lars Fruegaard Jorgensen told the wire service that he expects more patients will continue to use Wegovy for more than a year now that supply constraints have eased. "Now we're focusing on really making sure that if you start treatment, you can stay on treatment," he said. France on Friday adopted into its constitution the right to have an abortion in a public ceremony timed to conincide with International Women's Day. The public ceremony, held in Paris' Place Vendome, was marked by Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti sealing the amendment using a 19th-century printing press as supporters of the measure applauded the history-making moment, according to the Associated Press. France is the first country to enshrine abortion rights in its national charter. The measure was approved by French lawmakers earlier this week in a 780-72 vote. Abortion remains a divisive issue in the United States since the Supreme Court overturned its landmark Roe v. Wade decision allowing individual states to tighten restrictions on the termination of preganancies. European governments, meanwhile, have been gradually expanding abortion rights, with some exceptions, the AP reported. But abortion is banned or tightly restricted in Poland, for example, as well as a handful of smaller countries. Women's rights advocates around the world, specifically in areas where women have limited access to birth control, and struggle for maternal health care rights, have praised France. French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the measure, calling it a direct result of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2022 rescinding long-held abortion rights. But abortion opponents have questioned Macron's motive behind the amended law, pointing to a country with no threat to abortion rights but one where women face several other important issues that have yet to be addressed. The reception from French citizens is mixed, and while some women see the move as a major win, many others stated that not every French woman has access to abortion. "It's a smokescreen," Arya Meroni, 32, said of the event. "The government is destroying our health care system, many family planning clinics have closed,'' she said at an annual "Feminist Night March" in Paris on the eve of International Women's Day. Suffering from an abnormally high rate of women killed by their partners, a standstill in prosecuting sexual abuse against women, and low pay concerns for women who are not white, many would assume these matters to be more critical to France. Macron's government has defended its agenda, emphasizing the abortion amendment was vital to avoid a US-like scenario for women in France. Hard-right groups are allegedly gaining ground and looking to turn back the clock on freedoms around Europe. Macron will preside over the constitutional ceremony. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti will use a 100-kilogram (220-pound) press from 1810 to imprint the amendment in France's 1958 constitution. The phrase is to read, "the freedom of women to have recourse to an abortion, which is guaranteed." The ceremony will be held outdoors with the public invited, in another first. In a report from the United Nations Children's Agency, released on International Women's Day, the organization revealed that more than 230 million women and girls around the world have undergone female genital mutilation, with the number having increased by 30 million in the last eight years. "We're also seeing a worrying trend that more girls are subjected to the practice at younger ages, many before their fifth birthday. That further reduces the window to intervene," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. As gangs largely rule Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince, Prime Minister Ariel Henry tries to return home to an increasingly tumultuous situation that recently saw gangs stage a prison attack that resulted in the 4,000 inmates being freed and an attack on the country's international airport. As of this week, Henry remained in Puerto Rico after being forbidden from landing in the neighboring Dominican Republic. Authorities in DR closed their airspace to all fights going to and from Haiti. Henry left Haiti in February to attend a four-day summit in Guyana organized by Caricom, a regional trade bloc. He then traveled to Kenya and spoke with President William Ruto, pressing the urgency for an international security force to be led by the country. Henry appears to be stuck as various numbers of former allies in Haiti are now calling for his resignation. 74-year-old Ariel Henry was trained as a neurosurgeon in France got involved in politics in the early 2000s and joined the opposition against then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. After the removal of the former president, Henry became a member of the council that was formed to help facilitate a transitional government. This council was sponsored by the United States. In June 2006, he was named director-general of Haiti's Ministry of Health and later became its chief of staff, helping to manage the government's response to a devastating 2010 earthquake. Haiti is currently in an extended state of emergency with night curfews meant to curtail and repel gang attacks. Henry was installed as prime minister shortly after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise's party likely thought Henry would bring credibility and some kind of constituency, said Brian Concannon, executive director of the U.S.-based nonprofit Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. "It seems to me he must have been a pretty big figure. Presidents don't just pick random people," he said. The Prime Minister faced calls for his resignation ever since he was sworn in with international backing. Among his political opponents are gangs vying for political power and Haitians who are angry that free general elections have not been held in nearly 10 years. They also feel like he does not represent the people because he was not elected by the people. Concannon noted that Henry has served the longest single term of any Haitian prime minister since the country's 1987 constitution was established. "He was not appointed through any recognized Haitian procedure," Concannon said. "He was basically installed by the Core Group." The Core Group was established by a UN resolution and is comprised of diplomats from Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, the United States, France, and the European Union as well as representatives from the United Nations and the Organization of American States. Last year, more than 8,400 people were reported killed, injured, or kidnapped, more than double the number reported in 2022. Friday, International Women's Day, Irish voters will take to the polls to decide whether changes to an 87-year-old document are necessary. The twin referendums question a reference to women's domestic duties and broaden the definition of the family. Many women and men support the amendment change, while those opposed claim the changes are confusing and could lead to unintended consequences. The first vote centers on a section of the Constitution that promises to protect the family as the primary unit of society. Voters are asked to remove the reference to marriage as the basis "on which the family is founded," and instead include a clause that states families can be founded "on marriage or other durable relationships." Should the law pass, it will become Ireland's 39th amendment to its constitution. The second issue would remove a reference to women's role in the home as key support to the state and delete a statement that "mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labor to the neglect of their duties in the home," in a proposed 40th amendment. Additionally, it would include a clause saying the state will strive to support "the provision of care by members of a family to one another." But Why The Change All These Years Later? Ireland's constitution dates back to 1937 when the nation officially became a republic. Naturally, Ireland has changed immensely since, transforming from a conservative Roman Catholic country where divorce and abortion are illegal to an equal, diverse, and socially liberal society. According to The Associated Press, the proportion of residents who are Catholic fell from 94.9% in 1961 to 69% in 2022, as reported by the Central Statistics Office. The social adaptions are demonstrated in a series of constitutional changes. Irish voters legalized divorce in a 1995 referendum, supported by same-sex marriage in a 2015 vote and a repealed ban on abortions in 2018. In 2023, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced on Women's International Day that the government would hold a referendum to embody gender equality and remove discriminatory language from the constitution. The purpose lies in removing "very old-fashioned language" and recognizing the realities of today's family life, said Varadkar, Ireland's first ethnic minority leader, who is in a same-sex relationship. As election day nears, some voters remain undecided despite opinion polls revealing overwhelming support for the "yes" side on both votes. All of Ireland's main political parties support the changes, including centrist government coalition partners Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and the biggest opposition party, Sinn Fein. Tracy Carroll from County Meath in central Ireland, who cares full-time for her two children, said women had long been told "our place in society is in the home and looking after our children and our husbands." "We've moved from that, but the constitution hasn't moved from that, and a woman's place is anywhere she wants it to be," she told Sky News. In Dublin, nurse Una Ui Dhuinn said she voted no to both changes because "I thought it was too rushed." "I felt we didn't get enough time to think about it and read up on it. So I felt, to be on the safe side, 'no, no' - no change," she said. Caoimhe Doyle, a doctoral student, said she voted yes to changing the definition of family but no to the care amendment because "I don't think it was explained very well." "There's a worry there that they're removing the burden on the state to take care of families," she said. Varadkar, who insists the state is not abdicating its care responsibilities, explained rejecting the changes "would be a setback for the country." "If there's a 'no' vote, on Saturday morning hundreds of thousands of children in Ireland will wake up to hear that Irish society has decided that their family isn't a constitutional family, isn't an equal family, just because their parents aren't married," Varadkar said this week. "If there's a 'yes' vote, we'll be saying as a society that all families are equal." (Photo : (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)) The Russian Federation has dropped from the worlds second-largest arms exporter to the third-largest. The US embassy in Russia issued a warning of an "imminent" attack by extremists in Moscow and notified American citizens to avoid large crowds just hours as Russian security officials said they thwarted a plot by Islamic State terrorists to shoot up a synagogue. "The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours," it said on its website. The embassy, which has urged American citizens to leave Russia because of the war in Ukraine, advised them to "avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates and be aware of your surroundings." The alert was issued after Russia's FSB said it stopped an attack on a Moscow synagogue by militants belonging to a cell of terrorists belonging to a Afghan-linked group known as ISIS-Khorasan that seeks to develop a caliphate in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran, Reuters reported. The FSB said the cell "was preparing to attack the congregants of a synagogue using firearms." It said the militants put up some resistance but were eventually "neutralized." "Firearms, ammunition, as well as components for the manufacture of an improvised explosive device were found and seized," the FSB said, Reuters reported. On Friday, the Pentagon released a report that examined reporting UFO sightings from the past 50 years and found no evidence of alien or extraterrestrial intelligence at play. The conclusion is consistent with past US government efforts to explain and examine the accuracy of claims that have captured the world's imagination for more than 100 years. The study, which was conducted by the Defense Department's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, looked at government investigations undertaken by the U.S. government on UFO sightings dating as far back as 1945 and determined that no evidence existed that any of these sightings were signs of alien life or that any U.S. based company or government entity reverse engineered alien technology and were hiding it from the public. "All investigative efforts, at all levels of classification, concluded that most sightings were ordinary objects and phenomena and the result of misidentification," said the report, which was mandated by Congress. Another volume of the report focused on more recent research will be out later. A government report from 2021 that reviewed 144 sightings of aircraft and other flying devices that appeared to fly at incredible speeds and trajectories came to the same determination while also calling for better data collection. Last summer a retired Air Force intelligence officer thrust UFOs back onto the big stage while testifying before Congress that the U.S. was concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers UFOs, a claim that the Pentagon flatly denies. The authors of Friday's report said the purpose was to apply a rigorous scientific analysis to a subject that has long captured the American public's imagination. "AARO recognizes that many people sincerely hold versions of these beliefs which are based on their perception of past experiences, the experiences of others whom they trust, or media and online outlets they believe to be sources of credible and verifiable information," the report said. "The proliferation of television programs, books, movies, and the vast amount of internet and social media content centered on UAP-related topics most likely has influenced the public conversation on this topic, and reinforced these beliefs within some sections of the population," it added. US efforts to boost humanitarian aid to Gaza have drawn criticism from a UN expert. Plans for a temporary port amid recent airdrops are "absurd" and "cynical" methods as long as military aid to Israel continues, they said. As famine threatens the population of Gaza, Israel's campaign against the group Hamas is now in its fifth month. The US military has issued meal air drops into Gaza and is planning for a temporary port for aid imports on its Mediterranean coast. Airdrops specifically "will do very little to alleviate hunger malnutrition, and do nothing to slow down famine," Michael Fakhri, UN special rapporteur on the right to food, told reporters in Geneva. He warned of extreme turmoil as starving people struggle for supplies. As for the port, he said no one had asked for it. He called the port and airdrop methods a "last resort." "The time when countries use airdrops, and these maritime piers, is usually if not always, in situations when you want to deliver humanitarian aid into enemy territory," he said. Fakhri is a Lebanese-Canadian law professor mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to document and advise on global food security. He reveals such methods make little sense if Washington continues to supply military support to Israel. "It's Almost Incomprehensible" Reuters reported US legislation predicts an additional $17.6 billion in renewed military assistance to Israel as its war against Hamas progresses. "That's more than allyship. That's a marriage ... It's almost incomprehensible," he said of US support to Israel, calling the recent aid measures a "performance to try to meet a domestic audience with (US presidential) elections around the corner." "That's the only rational coherent interpretation (for these aid announcements) because ...from a humanitarian perspective, from an international perspective, from a human rights perspective, it is absurd in a dark, cynical way," he said. On Thursday, Fakhri, who remains critical of Israel, told the Geneva Human Rights Council that Israel is destroying Gaza's food system as part of an expansive "starvation campaign." In response to an obvious humanitarian crisis, Israel's envoy called this a lie and denied restricting aid into Gaza." Prosecutors accusing former New York Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin of embezzling a $50,000 state grant have revived corruption charges against him in a federal appeals court on Friday. Benjamin reportedly funneled the state grant to a now-deceased developer in exchange for campaign contributions. The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said prosecutors "sufficiently alleged an explicit quid pro quo" between Benjamin and Gerald Migdol to support bribery, honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy charges in the indictment, reported Reuters. The unanimous decision issued by a three-judge panel reversed a December 2022 ruling by US District Judge Paul Oetken in Manhattan and returned the case to him. Benjamin faces two charges alleging he falsified records that had been put on hold pending the US Department of Justice appeal. The prosecution is confronted with challenges after Midgol, who had pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud charges, died on Feb. 9. Midgol was a key government witness for prosecutors. Additionally, the US Supreme Court restricted the ability of prosecutors to pursue a handful of corruption cases last May. Benjamin was once a state senator in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood, where Migdol had been a real estate developer. Prosecutors did acknowledge last month that Migdol's death would affect a trial for Benjamin but that they had no plans "to abandon any allegation in the indictment." The Defense In a recent statement, Barry Burke, a lawyer for Benjamin, reiterated: "Mr. Benjamin did nothing other than engage in routine fundraising and support a non-profit providing needed resources to Harlem public schools. We remain confident that Mr. Benjamin will be vindicated." Prosecutors believe Benjamin directed the $50,000 grant in June 2019 in the guise of a charity Midgol ran in Harlem. In exchange, he would receive contributions for his 2020 re-election campaign and an unsuccessful 2021 bid to become New York City comptroller. Oetken revealed the government had simply "implied" an agreement between the men, and the grant was not proof of one. But, in Friday's decision, Circuit Judge Steven Menashi called the absence of an express agreement "immaterial because the existence of the agreement, and the clarity of its terms to Migdol and Benjamin, could be inferred from their words and actions." While campaign contributions raise free speech issues under the US Constitution, Menashi said, "It is the corrupt agreement that transforms the exchange from a First Amendment protected campaign contribution into an unprotected crime." Benjamin ultimately resigned from the position of lieutenant governor in April 2022-- as soon as charges had been announced, and eight months after Governor Kathy Hochul tapped him for the state's No. 2 job. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is critical for achieving the goals set in the 14th Five-Year Plan. The "two sessions" this year, the annual meetings of China's national legislature and top political advisory body, have received broad attention from the international community. By observing the "two sessions," the international community can deepen its understanding of China's democracy, gain insight into the pulse of China's high-quality economic development, and better grasp the opportunities of cooperation between China and other countries. Observing the "two sessions" helps the international community understand China's governance. The "two sessions" are a vivid practice of China's whole-process people's democracy, and offers an important window for the international community to understand China's modernization of national governance. Some foreign scholars believe that by understanding the "two sessions," one can understand how Chinese democracy operates effectively. The deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) actively fulfill their duties and responsibilities, with the voices of the people coalescing into a consensus on national governance. According to statistics recently released by the State Council Information Office, government departments under China's State Council handled 7,955 suggestions and 4,525 proposals, accounting for 95.7 percent and 96.5 percent of all suggestions and proposals submitted. The departments rolled out over 2,000 policy measures based on some 4,700 suggestions and proposals last year. China's whole-process people's democracy not only has a complete set of institutions and procedures, but also is full of participation and practices. It has taken root in China as a political institution, a mechanism of governance and a lifestyle of the people. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the NPC and the 75th anniversary of the CPPCC. Through observing the "two sessions," the international community will gain a profound understanding of the wisdom and strength of China's governance. Observing the "two sessions" helps the international community understand the quality of China's economic development. Achieving high-quality development is one of the essential requirements of Chinese modernization. Over the past year, China's economy has recovered. With an economic growth of 5.2 percent, higher than the anticipated global growth rate of around 3 percent, China ranks among the top in major economies worldwide. It fully demonstrates the strong endogenous impetus, resilience, and potential of the country's economic development. China is vigorously implementing its innovation-driven development strategy and promoting the accelerated development of new quality productive forces, which will continuously inject new impetus into high-quality development. Against the backdrop of a sluggish global economic recovery, the international community looks forward to China's "two sessions" further releasing positive signals of an economic rebound and improvement. Foreign media believe that China's current goal is to improve people's living standards through high-quality development and the country is driving the transformation of its economic development towards an innovation-driven model, and accelerating coordinated digital and green transitions, which will set an example for the sustainable development of the global economy. Observing the "two sessions" helps the international community understand the will of China to cooperate with other countries. China has implemented five measures to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals into China, lifted all entry restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, accelerated the implementation of 24 policy measures to stabilize foreign investment, signed free trade agreements and investment protection agreements with more countries, and steadily promoted high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with relevant parties. These measures have sent a clear signal of China's unwavering commitment to further opening up at a higher level, demonstrating China's determination and confidence in providing new opportunities for the world through its own new development. How China will promote higher-level opening up and enhance its ability to participate in the international circulation has become one of the hot topics drawing attention from the international community at this year's "two sessions." The international community is particularly interested in China's development direction set by the "two sessions" and expects China to continue contributing to promoting peace and prosperity. International observers said that they look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of China's plans and actions in addressing global challenges through the "two sessions," and they expect China to provide more stability and certainty to the world. China's "two sessions" will allow the international community to see that the country firmly stays on the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics, and solidly advances whole-process people's democracy. China is also resolutely pursuing high-quality development to achieve Chinese modernization and promoting high-level opening up to drive common development of the world. Through these efforts, China will make greater contributions to world peace, development, and human progress. Sun Siyam Resorts proudly welcomes Chaminda Upul Kumara as the group's Sustainability Project Manager, effective January 2024. With a steadfast dedication to environmental conservation and a profound love for nature, Upul will spearhead the implementation and maintenance of sustainable practices across the organization's operations and projects. Upul brings a wealth of expertise and passion to oversee all sustainable activities within the group of hotels. He will closely collaborate with resort-based sustainability committees, champions, and marine biologists to manage and execute various environmental projects. Upul will also liaise with the PR and communications department to promote all sustainability programs and activities, contributing to Sun Siyam Cares' positive global image. His responsibilities include identifying areas for sustainability enhancement, analyzing data and research for improvement opportunities, monitoring and reporting on sustainability initiatives' progress, and developing training programs to educate employees on sustainable practices. Additionally, Upul will work with stakeholders and partners to develop sustainable projects, integrate sustainability practices across departments, and conduct sustainability audits to identify areas for enhancement. Hailing from Kandy, Sri Lanka, Upul is a seasoned professional with a diverse educational background. He graduated from Rajarata University of Sri Lanka with degrees in Travel and tourism Management and Environmental Management, alongside a Diploma in Airline Ticketing and Reservation. He possesses a comprehensive understanding of sustainable practices. Additionally, Upul is a certified professional in ISO14001 and ISO45000 standards. With over a decade of experience in Destination Management, Upul's career journey began in 2007 at Ceylon Tours Pvt Limited, where he served as a Travel Executive. His dedication and expertise led to progressive roles, including Assistant Manager and Senior Operation Head at Aitken Spence Travels Pvt Ltd, Sri Lanka's premier Destination Management Company. Venturing into international markets, Upul excelled as a Yield & Sales Executive at Ace Travel Maldives before returning to Sri Lanka to spearhead the Nature, Eco & Sustainability Division at Aitken Spence Travels Pvt Ltd. Beyond his professional endeavors, Upul is recognized for his commitment to community service and ethical practices. He has volunteered at the Foundation of Goodness, served as Director of the Good Life Institute, and actively supported initiatives for animal welfare at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Innovation and collaboration are hallmarks of Upul's career. He introduced the "Travel Kindly" initiative, promoting responsible travel practices and sustainability efforts in the tourism industry. Furthermore, Upul's expertise has been sought after by government and non-government organizations, contributing to the advancement of responsible tourism standards. Upul is also a proud member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), underscoring his commitment to driving sustainable tourism practices on an international scale. His dedication extends to supporting local communities through initiatives such as the "Art of Giving" concept, which aims to enhance the quality of life for underprivileged communities. Upul also deeply engages in community development projects through organizations like the Sarasavi Nature Club and the Kalyana Dhamma Social Society. In addition to his professional commitments, Upul serves as a guided meditation teacher, offering support to individuals seeking psychological assistance through counseling, thus highlighting his holistic approach to well-being. Sun Siyam Resorts is honored to have Chaminda Upul Kumara join its team, further solidifying its commitment to sustainability and the Sun Siyam Care ethos. Sun Siyam Resorts is dedicated to operating sustainably and responsibly in the Maldives and Sri Lanka while offering authentic guest experiences. The group-wide Sun Siyam Cares program prioritizes sustainability through initiatives such as reducing energy and water use, managing waste to reduce plastic use, supporting community development, and investing in renewable energy. It also focuses on conservation efforts and work to preserve local heritage and cultural practices. By following these sustainability practices, the resorts aim to minimize the environmental impact, carbon footprint and contribute to the socio-economic well-being of the communities in which they operate. Caleb Rice joins Rancho Bernardo Inn with over 15 years of experience in the hospitality sector. A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Rice's journey commenced at The Broadmoor, where he transitioned from the Food & Beverage department to become an Executive Meeting Manager, Sales Manager, and most recently, the Director of Incentive & Insurance Sales. Rice has recently been recognized as a "Rising Star" by the Colorado Springs Business Journal. Rice brings his wealth of experience to enhance Rancho Bernardo Inn's presence in Canada and the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. View Caleb Rice's LinkedIn Profile Caleb Rice is a graduate of Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Oklahoma - United States Over the past couple of years, Cendyn has undergone a significant transformation, culminating in the development of a fully integrated platform after acquiring key technology partners. However, in the midst of this complexity, one thing became abundantly clear: we needed to simplify our positioning to demonstrate the immense value our solutions bring to hoteliers. This is when we decided to refresh our branding and positioning in the industry. Our objectives As we embarked on this journey, we outlined four crucial objectives for our rebrand: Clarity: We aimed to have a straightforward yet impactful message that resonated with our audience. Human connection: It was essential to showcase the human element of our work and highlight the daily endeavors of both our team and our customers in the hospitality industry. Personalization: Our brand needed to reflect personalized elements that catered to the unique needs of our customers. Flexibility: We wanted our brand identity to be adaptable and flexible enough to accommodate our continued growth and evolution as a company. The common thread Through this discovery, we uncovered a common thread: momentum. Everything we do, every solution we provide, every conversation we have with our customers is geared towards driving growth and momentum for them. This momentum manifests in a cycle that we drew: Starting with data: Leveraging highly relevant targeting sets the stage for attracting prospective guests. Leveraging highly relevant targeting sets the stage for attracting prospective guests. Motivating guests: Providing personalized experiences motivate guests to book directly. Providing personalized experiences motivate guests to book directly. Growth momentum kicks in when data and personalization is put into play: Direct bookings lead to enhanced guest experiences and strengthened loyalty. Direct bookings lead to enhanced guest experiences and strengthened loyalty. Profit and reinvestment: Profits from direct bookings are reinvested into the business, fueling further growth and momentum that kicks back to more data. This continuous cycle propels hoteliers towards profitability, growth, and an expanded loyal customer base. Our visual identity Our new visual identity embodies this momentum and growth, with a refreshed color scheme of vibrant greens symbolizing vitality and progress. Complemented by a subtle yet captivating supplementary palette, our colors reflect our role in nurturing guest relationships and driving success for our customers. Our positioning The focus on growth allowed us to redefine our comprehensive set of solutions into 3 categories. This started out with us diving into the core components of a successful hotel business uncovering new guests and leveraging tools to allow them to discover your hotel, driving them to book direct where possible, and then fostering relationships with them onsite to encourage them to come back. Our sketch started out here: Keeping in mind our four objectives at the beginning, we looked at how we could simplify this and in turn, make sure it felt human and relatable, so we focused in on: FIND: Attracting perfect guests through SEO, digital marketing, and creative services. BOOK: Enhancing guest experiences with seamless booking processes and comprehensive communication tools. GROW: Transforming positive experiences into profit and reinvestment through revenue management solutions. Through our integrated solutionsFIND, BOOK, and GROWwe empower hoteliers to find new guests, book more direct, and ultimately grow revenue. In aligning our fonts with our brand identity, we ensure consistency and cohesion across all touchpoints, reinforcing our commitment to excellence and innovation. Cendyns rebranding isnt just a visual overhaul; its a testament to our dedication to driving momentum, growth, and success for our customers in the dynamic landscape of hospitality technology. About Cendyn Cendyn is a global hospitality cloud-based technology company that enables hotels to drive revenue, maximize profitability, and create deeper connections with guests through its integrated solutions. Serving hoteliers for nearly 30 years, Cendyn drives commercial success for hotels through its Find, Book, Grow promise: find the right guests; drive them to book direct, and grow loyalty and revenue across the spectrum of digital guest interactions. Cendyn has over 32,000 customers worldwide in more than 150 countries - including brands such as Outrigger Hospitality, Hyatt, IHG, Aman Resorts & Hotels, Relais & Chateaux, Highgate, TFE Hotels, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Coraltree Hospitality, and Onyx Hospitality Group - generating more than $20 billion in annual hotel revenue. The company supports its growing customer base from locations across the globe, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Bangkok, and India. To find out more, visit cendyn.com. Nicola Graham VP Marketing +442080683195 View source At 62.5%, U.S. occupancy dropped a fraction (-0.2 percentage points year over year) while reaching the highest level of 2024 thus far (+0.5ppts from the prior week). Following a decline the previous week, ADR increased 2.7% year over year (YoY), driving RevPAR up 2.3%. Highlights U.S. RevPAR increased after the previous week's decline. U.S. Group demand soars. Global RevPAR strengthens despite weakening in China. Singapore bookings are up because of Taylor Swift. Is there a Leap Day impact? U.S. Performance Growth in revenue per available rooms (RevPAR) returned to the U.S. following the previous week's decrease. Occupancy held somewhat steady, average daily rate (ADR) increased, weekday (Monday-Wednesday) performance grew, and group demand exploded, surpassing both the 2023 and 2019 comparables. At 62.5%, occupancy dropped a fraction (-0.2 percentage points year over year) while reaching the highest level of 2024 thus far (+0.5ppts from the prior week). Following a decline the previous week, ADR increased 2.7% year over year (YoY), driving RevPAR up 2.3%. Day-of-Week Movement Weekdays showed the strongest performance with occupancy up 1.4ppts and ADR rising 6.5%, yielding RevPAR growth of 8.9%. The Top 25 Markets drove much of the performance with weekday RevPAR up 9.5%, lifted equally by ADR (+4.0%) and occupancy (+3.6ppts). Weekday performance across the rest of the country was ADR-driven (+2.7%), while occupancy declined slightly (-0.4%). The weekend (Friday & Saturday) took the biggest hit with RevPAR down more than 4% both for the Top 25 Markets and the rest of the country. The shoulder days (Sunday and Thursday) also showed a RevPAR decline (-0.6% for Top 25 Markets and -1.3% in the remaining markets). Market-Level Leaders Among the Top 25 Markets, Las Vegas again took top honors with RevPAR up 36.5%, a result of an ADR gain of 25.4% and an occupancy lift of 7.1pptsNall driven by the International Builders Show. Last year, the event was a month earlier. Four other markets, Seattle, Oahu, Houston, and Dallas, saw double-digit RevPAR gains due to varied events. San Francisco also saw strong RevPAR growth (+9.1%) via improvement in occupancy. Across the next 25 largest markets, Baltimore and San Jose/Santa Cruz experienced double-digit RevPAR gains, up 23.8% and 11.6%, respectively. More Group Gains Group demand (among Luxury and Upper Upscale hotels) grew for the ninth straight week, increasing 9.1% YoY and surpassing the 2019 comparable by 1.9%. Group ADR also continued to grow, holding above 5% YoY for the fourth consecutive week. Almost all the group demand growth occurred in the Top 25 Markets, where group occupancy was up 2.7ppts. Elsewhere, group occupancy was up 0.3ppts. Nine of the Top 25 Markets exceeded the 2.7-ppt average, including Oahu, Las Vegas, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Orlando, San Francisco, Miami, and Nashville. Class-Level Performance RevPAR increased for the top three hotel classes (Luxury, Upper Upscale and Upscale), lifted by both ADR and occupancy. The continued strength of group demand is a significant tailwind for many hotels and mostly for those in the Luxury and Upper Upscale classes. Upper Midscale hotels were essentially flat with an occupancy decline offset by an ADR increase. Midscale and Economy class hotels continued to see soft performance. Possible explanations for this softness include lack of group meeting facilities, which is currently providing a tailwind for the upper-tier hotels and a general shift in the structure of these two hotel classes with a significant number of properties closing and/or moving out of the segment. Analysis of day-of-week trends revealed a pattern like the one seen overall with weekdays recording the least negative impact and weekends showing the most negative impact. Given that weekends generally provide the greatest demand for these segments, the decline of weekend travel in Midscale and Economy class hotels is more pronounced. Indonesia Gains Occupancy Looking at select top countries elsewhere in the world, strong performance continued with eight of 10 countries seeing positive occupancy gains and six of 10 seeing ADR increases. Indonesia posted the largest occupancy gain (+11.1ppts to 72.1%) with ADR up 11.3%. The occupancy increase in Indonesia was supported by many markets throughout the country with the capital, Jakarta, up 8.6ppts YoY to 78.7%. Leisure destination, Bali, grew occupancy 6.5ppts YoY to 67.4%. Spain Stands Out Spain posted the highest actual occupancy among the top countries, up 4.7ppts YoY to 75%. Occupancy throughout Spain was led by leisure markets. Additionally, Barcelona hosted the Mobile World Congress (MWC), an event that drew more than 100,000 visitors over a four-day period. Spain's ADR grew 8.2%, with Barcelona driving a large portion of the increase at +13.4% to US$379. China slowing China experienced another slow week, post-Chinese New Year, with YoY declines in both occupancy (-3.9ppts) and ADR (-3.7%). Year-over-year growth has obviously softened now that the country is beyond the early-2023 comparables that were influenced by reopening. Looking ahead It was a good week for the industry following a hiccup. As Spring travel gears up for much of the world, hotel performance is expected to grow. Positive trends in forward bookings, strong group demand buoyed by the strong performance seen over the past nine weeks, and an early spring break season in the U.S. should provide tailwinds as the year progresses. Global performance continued to be strong and is expected to remain on a positive trajectory over the coming months with similar tailwinds, as the Taylor Swift Eras tour is also expected to boost hotel performance. In next week's reporting, expect strong gains in Singapore given that occupancy on the books (as of 4 March) for concert dates (March 7-9) was up 11ppts. Leap Day Impact This past week included Leap Day, which fell on a Thursday versus Saturday during the last Leap Day (2020). The last time Leap Day fell on a Thursday was in 1996. While this extra February day is included in weekly reporting, it will not be noticeable in monthly reporting as it will be grossed down into a 28-day month to allow like-for-like comparisons versus previous years. This article originally appeared on STR. Dr Patrick Andrae spoke about the way out of the tyranny of the search box How artificial intelligence is bringing changes to searches and reservations Those who are open to innovations are best equipped to make the most of artificial intelligence (AI) for their businesses, as Dr. Patrick Andrae, CEO of the provider of holiday homes HomeToGo, told his audience on the eTravel Stage at ITB Berlin on Wednesday. It enables the search and reservation processes to escape the tyranny of the search bar. According to Andraes observations the new AI tools are far from being standardised or established on specific platforms, even those that have been around for some years, if in a rudimentary form. In view of this even those in the software field who are interested should remain receptive to all kinds of developments. He recalled the humanised paper clip used by Microsoft some years ago to familiarise users with its Office package. Now, however, all of a sudden it has become apparent, Andrae stated. In the near future there will firstly be innovators, improvers and those that disappear in a similar way to the evolution of smartphones. He reported that the contribution last year by artificial intelligence to the sectors sales was already 32 per cent. His company attracts users with the Beta version of an app that integrates AI in the search for holiday homes. Those who use it receive a compilation of searches and offers from the surrounding geographical area as well as from the context of his search terms subject matter. AI assists in defining the extent of their intentions and requirements. AI acts as a companion who, where doubts exist, offers alternatives. On the other hand the supplier benefits from the improved quality and precision of the results found. Andrae draws a distinction between three levels in this development: new user experiences, improvements to the experiences obtained, and visible as well as invisible implementations. Under no circumstances will there be a time after artificial intelligence: AI has arrived and will remain. Chicago, IL (60637) Today A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. A few flurries are possible. High 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 29F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Snow showers this morning. Peeks of sunshine later. High 47F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. ADVERTISE Hypebot & MusicThinkTank With the internet and digital technologies driving rapid change within the music industry, articles about new releases and who has been hired and fired are no longer enough. Our up to the minute industry news alongside insightful commentary helps our readers sift through the rumors and developments to find the information they need to keep their businesses moving forward. Hypebot is read daily by more than 30,000 music industry professionals including executives and senior staff of music related tech firms, internet based music sites, every major label group and most indies as well as many managers, artists and members of the live music community: Contact us for the latesst stats, ad rates and sponosorship opportunites. We also offer combined rates with MusicThinkTank. The Retired Investor: Companies Dropping Degree Requirements In today's tight job market, many companies are dropping the required college degree Time was that if you wanted to get ahead, find a higher-paying job, and establish financial security go to college. While some of that advice continues to hold, many companies are foregoing the sheepskin in exchange for experience, skills, and competencies workers have developed in the school of hard knocks. In some respects, the hurtle of a college degree makes no sense when interviewing for a job that does not require college-level skills. I know of dozens of liberal arts majors who ended up working at fast food chains or landscaping. But don't take my word for it. A labor analytics firm, Burning Glass Institute, and the Strada Education Foundations, a non-profit organization, studied the career path of 10 million people who entered the job market between 2012 and 2021. They found that roughly 52 percent of college grads were not using their skills and credentials in their jobs. What a person studies in college, followed by the chance to intern were the main determinants of obtaining a college-level career track, according to the study. Given the escalating costs of higher education, along with years of student-debt payments, is it any wonder that the debate over the value of higher education is a hot topic today. Last year, thanks to a tight labor market, companies began to get wise to the fact that a college degree was not necessary in many areas of employment. ZipRecruiter said the share of jobs that listed a bachelor's degree as a "must" fell from 18 percent in 2022 to 14.5 percent in 2023. In a recent survey by the same recruiting firm, 45 percent of employers surveyed said they had dropped the degree requirement for certain roles, while 72 percent said they valued a candidate's skills and experience higher than the diploma they hold. Even among postings in "college-level occupations" only 78.4 percent of companies insisted on a degree. That is down from 85 percent 25 years ago, according to labor analytics firm Lightcast. In jobs such as insurance sales agents, e-commerce analysts, property appraisers, and call center managers a degree is now seldom required. Other areas where a college degree may give way to skills-based hiring are in health care, financial services, and IT. Thats good news for a large segment of American workers. Almost two-thirds of the U.S. population over 25 years of age do not have a college degree. And today, America, like many other countries, is facing a long-term labor shortage with no easy solutions. Baby Boomers are retiring. The U.S. birth rates are low and still dropping, and the present shift against immigration by both the public and policymakers has cut off a historic avenue of new labor supply. Given that 62 percent of Americans do not have a college degree, some companies most notably IBM, Walmart, General Motors, and Medtronic are eliminating degree requirements in hundreds of their job postings. Others are following but old habits die hard. The value of a college degree is deeply embedded in the psyche of many a human resources department. Changing those attitudes take time as does discarding automated screening tools that automatically reject non-college applicants. One of the most vocal critics of today's college education is billionaire Peter Thiel, an early Facebook investor and founder of PayPal Holdings and Palantir Technologies. A Stanford graduate with degrees in philosophy and law, he became disenchanted with how leading U.S. colleges were turning out graduates. Thiel became convinced that higher education is not in the best interests of most Americans. Starting in 2010, Thiel established a non-profit foundation that offers to pay students $100,000 to drop out of school to start companies or nonprofits. He selects 20 students per year. Since then, Thiel's program has backed 271 people. Some of those selected have since established successful companies in venture capital as well as in the technology area. In defense of the college degree, studies still show that recent college grads, aged 22-27 working full time, earned $24,000 more per year than those with only a high school degree. Presumably, these grads were lucky enough to find entry jobs in their chosen fields. David Deming, an economist at Harvard University, argues that wage premium for college grads doubles over the life cycle from age 25 to 60 versus high schoolers. More educated workers are also more likely to have paid health insurance, sick and family leave, as well as the ability to work remotely. As for me, I have long believed that college is not for everyone. Sure, the hard sciences will always be in demand and college is good place to acquire that knowledge base. Beyond that, liberal arts in this country does not seem to be a robust career path if money and security are a topic of concern. I would much rather see a young man or woman give equal consideration to a vocational school after graduating from high school. Daniel Pearl Scholarship Open for Applications NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Applications are available for the 22nd annual Daniel Pearl Berkshire Scholarship. The $2,000 award is given in memory of Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter kidnapped and killed in Pakistan early in 2002. Pearl earlier worked in the Berkshires at The North Adams Transcript and The Berkshire Eagle. While Pearl's career was in journalism, he was also a gifted musician, trained as a classical violinist. He played guitar and mandolin as well, and while living in the Berkshires he performed in a bluegrass band. For this reason, the award is given to a student who intends to study and pursue a career in either journalism or music. Eligibility is limited to residents of Berkshire County or defined areas outside the county where The Berkshire Eagle is circulated. Applicants must plan to enter college in the fall of 2024. Applications must be submitted no later than midnight, April 22. Application information is available from all Berkshire public high school guidance departments. Full guidelines and eligibility rules may also be found online visit https://www.berkshireeagle.com/site/daniel_pearl_berkshire_scholarship.html Funding for the scholarship has come from The Berkshire Eagle, along with gifts from friends of Daniel Pearl and others interested. Donations may be sent to the Daniel Pearl Berkshire Scholarship c/o Barbara Schmick, The Berkshire Eagle, 75 South Church Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Donations are tax deductible; the fund is operated under the fiscal umbrella of The Eagle Santa Fund, a qualified 501(c)3 charitable foundation. Dalton Sees Budget Increases for Software DALTON, Mass. The Finance Committee last week discussed increases in next year's budget from software updates and changes that improve security. It approved an amended version of the Police Department budget with an to increase to $1,535,256. The Select Board previously approved a proposed budget of $1,540,255, a 2.96 percent increase. The salaries budget is increasing 2.39 percent bringing it to $1,349,148, because of contractual increases and an 8 percent specialty assignment pay. The specialty assignment pay was budgeted to cover the salary increase for one of the current officers who will receive training to become a detective. The department budgeted $191,108 in expenses, a 7.12 percent increase from last year. However, the Finance Committee decreased the cruiser maintenance line item by $5,000, lowering it to $186,108. The cruiser maintenance line item was decreased from $25,000 to $20,000 since the newer fleet of vehicles has less maintenance required. A driving factor for increases is the cost of software and cell service, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said. In October 2022, the Select Board approved the utilization of Lexipol software that helps police departments with their accreditation process required by the police reform legislation. Certification is required to obtain accreditation status through the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. Original cost estimates to meet these standards have increased significantly because the department will have to utilize more advanced policy and procedure software capable of monitoring for updates on changes of best practices and case, state, and federal laws. The annual cost of this software is $8,139. The Finance Committee approved the Town Planner budget in the amount of $64,375, a 9.23 percent increase from fiscal 2024. The department budgeted $58,650 for salaries, a 4.29 percent increase from last year. This increase is due to a pay rate increase, a 2 percent cost of living increase, and an increase in the number of days worked. The expenses line item is increasing to $5,725, a $3,025 change from last year. The cause of this is the cost of the ArcGISPro software. The town did not have to budget for this software previously because the former town planner was able to use this software from his alma mater. The software will allow the new town planner, Janko Tomasic, to do a lot more work regarding planning and zoning to help other departments in various ways, Hutcheson said. The town also uses this software for the assessor's program, which it plans to build on. The program uses the same software but under a different license. "We will be able to create very, I believe, very useful visual demonstrations and maps, of any number of things that people are interested in," Hutcheson said. This could help a number of departments including the Historical Commission, Board of Health, Police Department, and more. "It's not just for the planning department, in other words, but we also need to upgrade our zoning maps [Berkshire Regional Planning Commission] did a basic job but we need a little more detail in some of the maps that we have now and we need to upgrade things as well," Hutcheson said. All the other expense items remained level funded from last year. Finance Committee member Michael Lacker warned that there may be some additional budget items that need to be taken into consideration for the information technology budget due to cybersecurity improvements. The state has changed its security requirements to access the Criminal Justice Information System, which is stored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Any of the computers that access the system are going to need to be in compliance. Someone from the state determined that the department has to implement minor changes to be in compliance, Lacker said. The town's fiber optic project has laid the groundwork for these changes as it built a lot of the security needed for these new requirements because the Police Department has its own network, BHS president and CEO Darlene Rodowicz poses Thursday in one of the new patient rooms at what will become North Adams Regional Hospital. The new patient rooms have state-of-the-art equipment and new furniture. The nursing staff had input in the design and selections. The nursing stations, left, face the glass doors of the private rooms. Staff lead tours through the hospital wing. People enter the lobby during the community open house at BMC's North Adams Campus. PreviousNext North Adams Hospital's Revamped 2 North Welcomes Community BHS President Darlene Rodowicz, left, and Lou Ann Quinn, nursing director of surgical services, the 'face of NARH.' NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The community turned out in force on Thursday night to see the changes made for the rebirth of North Adams Regional Hospital. "Absolutely beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. We've needed it for a long time. I'm happy to see it here," said Patricia Clairmont of Adams. "We used this hospital a lot for our X-rays and things like that." Clairmont, who grew up on North Adams, was born in the "old" hospital and her children in this one. Her comments were echoed throughout 2 North as dozens of people walked through the wing to look at the refurbished hospital rooms ready and waiting for patients. "It's so exciting to be part of bringing this back to our community, and the support in the community, it's the excitement and it is their hospital," said Laurie Lamarre, vice president of North Adams Regional who had worked at the hospital before it closed. "It's great to bring expanded services ... you hear all those stories about transportation, and how difficult getting down to Pittsfield. And so to be able to provide care here, and expanded care, is great." The upgrade is part of a $2.8 million investment by Berkshire Health Systems to prepare the building to resume operations as a critical care access hospital. North Adams Regional Hospital closed 10 years ago this March when its health-care system went bankrupt. It was purchased by Berkshire Medical Center, which restored emergency and medical services to the campus and, last year, was able to pursue a " critical access hospital" designation that allowed it to reopen. Darlene Rodowicz, BHS president and CEO, has been cautious about an actual date for opening since its pending several licensures and certifications, but believes it will be admitting its first patients by the end of this month. The facility's gone through a number of inspections, including a three-day survey last week for licensure. It's also waiting for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and Massachusetts Controlled Substances approvals to be able to dispense meds. At that point, the newly opened hospital will have to take in two patients each for a 48-hour stay. The Department of Public Health, on behalf the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, will do final review and the hospital will be cleared for federal reimbursements. "We want to work out our bugs and our processes in a new building," Rodowicz said. "So three or four patients, I think initially, and they'll be inpatients and observations. For the survey, they have to be inpatients for a two-night stay." Senior Director of Clinical Operations Robert Boebert said they'll also be doing some internal drills, running several "patients" through the complete process from admission to surgery or treatment to discharge to billing, including with Northern Berkshire EMS. "I think one of the important things is that you have the multidisciplinary team, right, so from the lab to pharmacy to therapy it will be here to support and address anything that has a failure at that point," he said. "Every little detail that we can think up on how we bring patients here and how we discharge patients, just going to go through process." Admissions will be slowly expanded to up to 10 though the hospital's designation as a critical-care access facility allows for 25 beds. The rooms on 2 North, which had two- and four-bed wards as well as intensive care, have been converted into 18 private rooms, most with bathrooms. Each room also has a window, new headwall systems (architectural features that carry electric, gas and other needs) and computers, the capability for telemonitoring, and large sliding glass doors that block noise for the patient but allow for observation by medical staff. The nurses' station runs parallel to the rooms and new elements include a charting station for doctors, an accessible shower, storage and refreshed visitor's lounge. The entire floor's been freshened with flooring, paint, wallcoverings and woodwork and the elevator closest to the wing (closed for several years) has been replaced. Hidee Taylor, a certified nursing assistant, is new to the hospital but excited to begin working in the unit. She'll be the unit assistant, a combination of administrative and clinical functions, and has plans to become a nurse. "It's a beautiful floor. I think everybody's going to be wonderfully cared for," she said. "I'm super excited about my new position." For Lou Ann Quinn, described by Rodowicz as the "face of NARH," it's a chance to see the hospital return before she retires. "This is exciting. This is just everything to me," said Quinn, nursing director of surgical services. "When the hospital closed, I had opportunities to go anywhere. And I chose to stay with my community and I was honored that Berkshire Medical Center hired me to kind of be that transition person. ... "It's an honor to see this process happen because I think we're going to do the best for the patients." EPA Administrative Order Closed in Pittsfield PITTSFIELD, Mass. The City of Pittsfield announced an environmental milestone in its commitment to water quality and sustainability. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially lifted the Administrative Order (AO) 11- 007, issued to the city on Feb. 11, 2011. This action recognizes the city's successful efforts to meet stringent phosphorus limits in its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and to enhance its Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance (CMOM) program. "The City of Pittsfield extends its heartfelt gratitude to the previous administration, community, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and all partners involved in reaching this milestone," said Mayor Peter M. Marchetti. "Together, we have demonstrated that through dedication, innovation, and collaboration, we can achieve a sustainable and environmentally friendly future for all." Over a decade ago, the EPA mandated Pittsfield to address the phosphorus levels found in the city's wastewater discharge and to rigorously evaluate and update its CMOM program. The AO also required annual CMOM update reports, ensuring continuous improvement in the city's wastewater management practices. In response, Pittsfield not only meet but exceeded these requirements. The project began with extensive engineering studies and an alternatives analysis in 2011-2012, followed by pilot-testing and selection of advanced treatment technologies in 2013-2014. The engineering design and contractor selection phase spanned from 2015 to 2018, culminating in the construction and startup phase from 2019 to 2023. The centerpiece of Pittsfield's efforts is the new tertiary treatment system at the wastewater treatment plant, specifically designed to meet the NPDES permit's stringent phosphorus limits. This system features a ballasted flocculation process that effectively reduces phosphorus levels to below the permitted 0.1 mg/L. Additionally, upgrades were made to the plant's secondary treatment and biosolids handling systems, ensuring a holistic enhancement of the facility's capabilities. This $56 million construction project, funded through a Massachusetts DEP Clean Water Fund Loanwith substantial principal forgivenessmarked a step towards environmental stewardship. The project is believed to represent an estimated 250,000 person-hours of engineering and construction work. With the closure of AO 11-007, effective immediately, Pittsfield has no further obligations under the original administrative order. The city's current NPDES permit, No. MA0101681, which became effective on November 1, 2021, incorporates CMOM requirements that are as rigorous, if not more so, than those stipulated in the AO. State Fire Marshal: Spring Forward in Safety STOW, Mass. With daylight saving time beginning on March 10, Massachusetts fire officials are reminding residents to check their smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms when they change their clocks. "We've seen too many tragedies in homes without working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "Most fires and CO incidents take place at home, and these alarms are your first line of defense. As we spring forward this weekend, remember to check your alarms when you change your clocks. Be sure they're present on every level of your home. And unless you have newer alarms with sealed, long-life batteries, this is a great time to replace the alkaline batteries in all your alarms." Most Fatal Fires Occur in One- and Two-Family Homes Of 45 fire deaths in Massachusetts last year, 31 nearly 70 percent took place at home. Nearly 75 percent of these residential fire deaths took place in one- and two-family homes. Investigators found working smoke alarms at just one-third of those dwellings. Replace Expired Alarms "Smoke and CO alarms are like any other appliance they don't last forever," said Hyannis Fire Chief Peter Burke, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. "An alarm's manufacturing date is printed on the back of the device. Smoke alarms need to be replaced after 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms need to be replaced after 5, 7, or 10 years, depending on the make and model. If your alarm is out of date, or if there's no date at all, it's time to replace it." The Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code requires replacement battery-operated smoke alarms in older one- and two-family homes to be photoelectric and have sealed, long-life batteries and a hush feature. These alarms are easier to maintain and less likely to be disabled while cooking or by someone using the batteries for other household appliances. "Disabling a smoke alarm puts you and everyone in your building at risk," said Chief Burke. "Test your alarms once a month to be sure you and the people you care for are protected." Fire officials recommend that you choose alarms from a well-known, national brand. Look for the mark of an independent testing laboratory such as UL or Intertek. Many Massachusetts fire departments have found alarms purchased on Amazon and other online retailers that do not meet the Fire Code and may not perform when they're needed most. "If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is," said State Fire Marshal Davine. Create & Practice a Home Escape Plan "We have less time than ever before to escape a fire at home," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "You could have three minutes to escape safely. Creating and practicing a home escape plan that includes two routes out will help you make the most of that precious time to get outside before poisonous gases and heat make escape impossible." "Working smoke alarms and a practiced home escape plan are among the most fundamental and important tools for surviving a fire," said Chief Burke. "Be sure everyone in the home knows what to do and where to go when the alarm sounds, including young children, older adults, and people with disabilities. Always keep doorways, stairways, and windows clear of furniture and other obstructions so you can leave quickly and safely." Older Adults at Greatest Risk More than half of last year's fire deaths involved adults aged 65 and older. In FY23, the Department of Fire Services' Senior SAFE grant program awarded more than $575,000 to hundreds of fire departments across Massachusetts to support assistance with alarm installation and testing. Older adults who need help testing, maintaining, or replacing smoke alarms should contact their local fire department, council on aging, or senior center for assistance. Carbon Monoxide Hazards Heating equipment is the leading source of carbon monoxide at home, State Fire Marshal Davine said, but winter isn't over yet and CO remains a hazard even in warmer weather. While many carbon monoxide incidents involve furnaces and other heating appliances, CO is also produced by stoves, grills, and vehicles, as well as generators put into use during a power outage. "Firefighters detect carbon monoxide at about 5,000 calls each year in Massachusetts, and we've already seen cases of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning in 2024," said Chief Burke. "We can't see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide. Working CO alarms are the only way to detect this silent, invisible killer. If you hear you CO alarms sounding, get out to fresh air and call 9-1-1 right away." Patriot Armor in Lee was the only Berkshire company awarded funding in this cycle in this cycle of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program. Patriot Armor Systems Awarded $200K State Grant for Equipment LEE, Mass. Patriot Armor Systems has been granted $200,000 from a state program for manufacturers. The Healey-Driscoll administration announced on Monday the 17 grantees of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program, which dispersed a total of $3,144,982 to manufacturers for the purchase of new capital equipment to support production, customer demand, and the workforce. "Patriot Armor is a manufacturer of bullet resistant, blast resistant, and forced entry security glass. Our products are used in a number of applications but most importantly in military vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, and U.S. embassy buildings. We pride ourselves on the quality of our product and will be using the grant money to enhance our ability to deliver quality product to all customers we serve," President Stephen Donnelly said. "The new equipment will consist of upgrades to our existing autoclaves to increase functionality and quality. We also plan on purchasing glass seaming equipment to increase the quality of our edgework which is very important for ballistics. Our equipment additions will allow us to better serve Department of Defense and Department of State projects around the world." This grant is expected to "upskill" about a dozen employees. The funds will allow the company to purchase seaming equipment including a Schiavo Star wet seamer and a Sulak BBT semi-automatic wet seamer devices that are expected to improve production capacity and product quality. Patriot Armor produces customized solutions for use in government buildings, law enforcement, schools, office buildings, storefronts, and high-threat U.S. government assets. Participants in the MMAP program partner with non-profits who support their growth through workforce development programs, technology landscape assistance, connections, and more. Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield is Patriot Armored System's partner in the program, founded as a catalyst for innovation and sustainable growth of technology-focused companies. The BIC made Patriot aware of the grant last year, as Executive Director Ben Sosne believed the company was a good fit because of its extensive work with Departments of Defense and of State projects. It will be working closely with the BIC to administer the monies. Sosne explained that the innovation center will help identify equipment that might be right and connect with partners who can advise them from a neutral standpoint, how the facility can absorb the new equipment, and work with employees who may need training. "It's interesting when you visit their facility they have incorporated some of the stuff over the years and found some success so now they have more of a curiosity and more of an emphasis to integrate more and more," he said. The partnership with the BIC also opens up networking opportunities, he added, and the company could be connected with other manufacturers with similar experiences or education partners. The Lee-based company was the only Berkshire County awardee, joining several others that were given the highest award of $200,000. These include Antenna Research Associates in Pembroke, Busek Co. Inc. in Natick, CPS Technologies in Norton, Guardian Agriculture in Woburn, Harmonic Drive LLC in Beverly, Kinefac Corp. in Worcester, Precision Fabricators LLC in Worcester, QCI Inc. in Seekonk, Richards Design Inc. in Falmouth, Titcomb Bros. Mfg. in Westport, and United Stretch Design Corp. in Hudson. The more than $3 million funding cycle is expected to create between 78 to 115 jobs and upskill 63 to 98 employees across the 17 companies. MMAP was launched by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech Collaborative in 2021 and has invested nearly $11 million total in projects for 56 small to medium-sized manufacturers in the state. The program aims to help meet the demands of "Industry 4.0," which are innovation-driven production methods that leverage smart technologies, including data analytics, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and connected technologies to maintain competitiveness. Sosne explained that state manufacturers win when they are leveraging technology to do things better and more efficiently. This also results in a workforce having a higher skillset and productivity. The BIC has worked with a couple of companies on this program over the last few years. "The hope is that these drive growth in businesses and therefore jobs and new opportunities for students and it sort of starts a flywheel," he said. "So that is what this program does and we've seen tremendous success for some companies who started to do it." Friday 8 March 2024, 14:55 - Last updated: 20:03 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This article is automatically translated The situation in Haiti does not improve, where the state of emergency has been extended for a month in Port-au-Prince, the capital, given the wave of violence that shows no signs of decreasing, with criminal gangs now controlling large regions of the country. A similar first measure had been decreed last Sunday only for three days. The healthcare system seems to be collapsing, and the recent closure of Haiti's main port has only pushed away the possibility of a return to a situation of stability in the short term. The Caribbean Port Services, the company that manages Haiti's main port, located in the country's capital, has announced the indefinite suspension of all activities, following the attacks suffered in recent days. The reference is particularly to the acts of sabotage and vandalism carried out by criminal gangs that are rampant in the city. The announcement follows by a few hours the Haitian authorities' decision to extend the state of emergency by a month. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced yesterday (March 7) that Haiti's healthcare system is "close to collapse", also as a result of the violence generated by criminal gangs that currently control much of Port au Prince and the most important regions of the country. As reported by the Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste, "many health facilities are closed or have had to drastically reduce their activities due to the worrying shortage of medicines and the absence of medical personnel". Among the most serious problems reported by the UN, there are shortages of blood and medical equipment or beds to treat gunshot wounds in particular. This is compounded by hospitals forced to close due to the violence of armed gangs. Speaking on a TV program, Laroche, coordinator of all private healthcare facilities in Haiti, denounced: "Criminal organizations destroy the country's infrastructure, in particular hospitals and health centers, kidnap doctors, shoot at nurses, and rape patients after kidnapping them". Prime Minister Ariel Henry is still stuck in Puerto Rico, where he arrived last Tuesday given the occupation of the Port au Prince airport by rebel gangs coordinated by Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier, who had threatened to overthrow the prime minister upon his arrival. The president Henry was returning from a trip to Kenya, with which he had agreed for a multinational security mission, approved by the UN, with the deployment of over 1000 Kenyan soldiers on Haitian soil as support to the local authorities to restore public order. Meanwhile, in Port au Prince, some citizens took to the streets to protest and demand the resignation of Prime Minister Henry. According to some rumors, reported by the Kenyans website, an unspecified number of Kenyan police officers have given up on the mission to Haiti. The soldiers had expressed concern for their safety, given the recent increase in gang violence in the country. The agreement for the deployment of security forces had been signed last February 29 in Nairobi in the presence of the leaders of the two countries, Ariel Henry and William Ruto, despite a ban by the High Court of Kenya to which the government has appealed: the situation, meanwhile, has severely worsened, leading some soldiers who initially volunteered to give up the assignment. The further worsening of the crisis in Haiti has prompted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to intervene to unlock the political and institutional paralysis, expressing to Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and to the President of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Irfaan Ali, "the urgent need to accelerate the transition to a broader and more inclusive government". Commenting on the intervention, Brian Nichols, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, assured that "these conversations were intense". Pending the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Force (Mmas), approved by the UN, an anti-terrorism security team from the Marines Corps from Virginia has arrived in Haiti. The news, reported by the HaitiLibre portal, was communicated by an official of the United States Department of Defense who requested anonymity, according to whom the group belongs to the FAST (Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team). This unit is generally deployed around the world for limited periods when it comes to strengthening, protecting, or regaining U.S. assets in difficulty. To help Filipino businesses and organizations stay safe in cyberspace while embracing digitalization, Kaspersky announces today the launch of Kaspersky Unified Monitoring and Analysis Platform (KUMA), its integrated software solution that includes a set of functions for security information and event monitoring and management. The Philippines is expected to continue its double-digit growth towards $35B by 2025, based on a report released by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company. The projected high growth is seen to be fueled generally by e-commerce and the anticipated rise in the consumption of products and services across sectors of the digital economy. Amid the positive economic forecast though, the country still faces the ongoing risk of phishing and cyberattacks which continue to affect every Filipino organization and individual. In Kaspersky's 2024 threat forecast in the Southeast Asian region, which includes the Philippines, experts predict that financial service outages, DDoS attacks, and website defacements will continue to persist. Last year, Kaspersky's detection systems blocked 26,164,698 web attacks (nearly 72,000 per day) and 22,731,157 local infection attempts (more than 62,000 per day) against its users in the Philippines. Photo shows Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky, as he talks during a press event in Manila recently. To protect the country's digital infrastructures, Kaspersky is highlighting the urgent need for organizations and individuals to prioritize robust cybersecurity strategies. Businesses and organizations in highly-regulated industries in the Philippines, such as public utilities, financial services, and healthcare that are required to stay compliant and within regulations and be able to protect the data of their immensely large number of clients, are among those that would hugely benefit from staying one step ahead of evolving cyberthreats. One such powerful tool is a native security information and event management (SIEM) solution for security information and event management that is the Kaspersky Unified Monitoring and Analysis Platform (KUMA). What is KUMA? Benefits KUMA brings to businesses and organization Back in June 2023, Kaspersky experts uncovered a mobile Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) campaign while monitoring the network traffic of its corporate Wi-Fi network using the KUMA. Upon further analysis, company researchers discovered the threat actor has been targeting iOS devices of dozens of company employees, distributing zero-click exploits via iMessage to run malware gaining complete control over the device and user data. When it comes to cybersecurity, even the most secure operating systems can be compromised. As APT actors are constantly evolving their tactics and searching for new weaknesses to exploit, businesses must prioritize security of their systems. This involves providing employees and technical teams with the latest tools to effectively recognize and defend against potential threats as well as timely remediation of incidents, says Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky. KUMA is a unified console for monitoring and analyzing information security incidents. The fundamental program includes the following components: One or more Collectors that receive messages from event sources and parse, normalize, and, if required, filter and/or aggregate them. A Correlator that analyzes normalized events received from Collectors, performs the necessary actions with active lists, and creates alerts in accordance with the correlation rules. The Core that includes a graphical interface to monitor and manage the settings of system components. The Storage, which contains normalized events and registered incidents. Advantages of KUMA include: High performance: 300k+ EPS (events per second) per KUMA instance Low system requirements: Virtual or physical environment and up to 10k EPS AiO (all in one) on one virtual server Scalability: Flexible microservice architecture with HA support for each component Unified web console interface: Single fully multi-tenancy UI console for everything Out-of-the-box integration: With third-party products and Kaspersky solutions Low entry threshold: Does not require knowledge of special query languages or writing rules Thanks to the integration with the Kaspersky CyberTrace platform, which processes reports from the National Coordination Center for Computer Incidents, the researcher can extract compromise indicators and use them to detect events in SIEM. SIEM is a central element of most mature information security systems, hence, it must meet all relevant market requirements and take into account the changing landscape of cyber threats. KUMA expands the capabilities of analysts, allows businesses and organizations to optimize the budget for cybersecurity, providing protection at the optimal level. Threat actors increasingly use diverse tactics to launch sophisticated targeted attacks. Therefore, it is essential to use a platform that can provide a centralized view of security events in quickly identifying and responding to potential threats such as the Security Information and Event Management System (SIEM). A SIEM is commonly used for compliance support with internal security policies and external regulatory requirements", said Victor Chu, Head of Systems Engineering for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky. He explained that the Kaspersky Unified Monitoring and Analysis Platform (KUMA) empowers cybersecurity teams' efficiency in detecting, investigating, and responding to complex cyber incidents with the approach of XDR (Extended Detection and Response) capabilities. Organizations, of different sizes and maturity, can deploy KUMA to receive security events from various third-party sources and security tools while correlating these events with contextual threat intelligence feeds to identify suspicious or anomalous activities thus providing timely notification of security incidents. By collecting security events from all security controls and correlating them in real-time with advanced analytics, KUMA aggregates all the information needed for further incident investigation and response. Hence, using KUMA, helps organizations gain insights and intelligence by providing the visibility and context needed to understand their security posture and risks. More information about the platform, please visit: https://support.kaspersky.com/help/KUMA/1.5/en-US/217694.htm Leading provider of printing, imaging, and label solutions, Brother Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) proudly reintroduces the highly anticipated Lakbay Aral Activity for the students of Inigan Elementary School. Students of Inigan Elementary School and volunteers from Brother Philippines and PBSP join in for a day of learning and recreation with the Lakbay Aral Program As a pivotal component of Brother Philippines' commitment to community development, the Lakbay Aral Program stands as one of the two annual initiatives specially curated for the students of Inigan Elementary School. The program, now in its 11th year, entails an enlightening educational excursion aimed at fostering the holistic development of the students. The selected educational institution is also the beneficiary of Brother and PBSPs Brigada Eskwela. Sparking curiosity and joy with the students of Inigan Elementary School Brother and PBSP spread holiday cheer to the students last December 19, 2023, through an educational trip to the Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City. It was a fun day filled with learning, exploration, and amusement alongside their parents and guardians. The Brother Philippines associates also became Santas helpers as they join the trip and gave out presents for the kids. The students in return, serenaded everyone with a heartfelt Christmas carol enjoyed by everyone. We are delighted and grateful that we get to continue to do this for the students of Inigan Elementary School. Through this educational trip, we get to not only impart knowledge to them but also allow them to pique their curiosity and learn in a fun and engaging way shares Brother Philippines President Glenn Hocson. We strive to be a medium in shaping the minds and helping build a brighter future for these kids through our programs such as Lakbay Aral. Aligning with UN Goals on Quality Education and Partnership Brother Philippines and PBSP have been hand in hand in supporting Inigan Elementary School for the past 11 years, aiding in the improvement of the school facilities, with the Brother Associates providing school materials for all students throughout the years. They have been very instrumental in providing a better learning environment for both the students and the teachers of the institution for over a decade. The Lakbay Aral program is one of the efforts that is close to the companys overall mission as it also promotes Brother Groups support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically goal 4 (Quality Education), which Brother Philippines actively advocates for. In addition, the initiative also highlighted Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) of the USDGs. It acknowledges the partnership of Brother Philippines with various organizations like PBSP to successfully carry out the companys CSR activities. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with PBSP in the years to come and being an instrument in making a positive impact and improving the lives of our community through education. As we welcome the new year, we also welcome more opportunities where we could be of assistance to our fellow Filipinos, stated President Hocson. Brother Philippines' continued commitment to Inigan Elementary School exemplifies the company's dedication to its CSR initiatives and its belief in the power of education to transform lives. For more information about Brother Philippines and its CSR initiatives, please visit www.brother.com.ph/en/contents/sustainability. Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it has once again closed out a successful year maintaining the No. 1 spot QoQ. This consistent performance has resulted in securing a 23.8% market share in the channel SSD market for 2023. Strong SSD Portfolio, Established Customer Support Leads to 23.8% Market Share Data gathered by TRENDFOCUS confirmed Kingston as the number one client SSD vendor in the channel for unit market share, with 27.4 million client SSDs shipped in 2023. Q4 alone saw Kingstons client SSD market share at 21.3% and 5.7 million units shipped. Continued effort in the development of high-quality client drives like NV2, two options of Kingston FURY Renegade SSD, and KC3000 provide PCIe 4.0 NVMe solution for all, from the novice upgrader to power user who requires more from their system. Additionally in 2023, Kingston expanded its varied product lineup with XS1000 external and DC600M enterprise class SSDs. Kingston offers its customers unrivaled best in class support, service, and reliability for its products, by the very engineers and experts who design them, a key contributor leading to Kingstons strong standing in these rankings. As the year came to an end, SSD sales for PCs remained strong, with continued growth in the PCIe NVMe space. Well see this develop more through 2024 said Don Jeanette, vice president, TRENDFOCUS. Working closely with our suppliers, customers, and partners allows us to be flexible as market conditions and customer requirements change, said Kingston. We strive to present the latest SATA and NVMe solutions, offering a strong SSD portfolio to the channel client space to meet those needs, and these findings confirm our commitment to that effort." For more information visit kingston.com. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} What makes a perfect Oscars host? The prestigious US awards ceremony can be a tricky tightrope for many comedians youve got to be funny without being irreverent, respectful without being earnest. Amid all the unscripted Will Smith dramatics at the 2022 Academy Awards, it was easy to overlook the well-received performance from the ceremonys three hosts: Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. Last year, producers were thankful for a more subdued night, as comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel compered the event. Hes set to return this year for the 2024 ceremony on Sunday. Its no wonder that finding the right person for the job has proven difficult in recent years. Presenting the Oscars is a tricky thing; success as a comedian, as a TV presenter or as an actor in no way guarantees a successful turn at the ceremonies. And a bad host can tarnish the night, for viewers and for the Academy. On the other hand, a great host can elevate an awards night beyond simply its winners and losers. Frequent hosts Bob Hope and Billy Crystal became renowned for their ability as comperes, defining, for many viewers, their respective eras of Oscar history. 2019s host-less approach was considered such a success that the 2020 ceremony repeated it; 2021 saw the ceremony forgo a host once again. This format wasnt not a completely recent idea; the 1989 ceremony also had no presenter. A dreadful opening number in which an off-key Rob Lowe sang a lavish medley with Snow White (played by Eileen Bowman) was enough to end the Hollywood career of its bombastic producer, Allan Carr, single-handedly. Here is a look back at five of the best Oscar hosts of all time... The 5 best Oscars hosts Show all 5 1 / 5 The 5 best Oscars hosts The 5 best Oscars hosts Jon Stewart After a tepidly received turn hosting in 2006, Stewart made the most of his second chance in 2008, giving a confident performance presenting the 80th Academy Awards. The former Daily Show comedians jokes were tighter and better delivered, and he showed a real aptitude for letting others take the limelight. Perhaps most commendable of all, Stewart used one of his transitions to invite Marketa Irglova back on-stage to finish her acceptance speech for Best Original Song after being abruptly cut off. Getty Images The 5 best Oscars hosts Whoopi Goldberg Goldberg was not only the first African American person to host the ceremony, but the first woman too. Having already won an Oscar for her supporting turn in 1990s Ghost, the actress won over audiences with her elaborate costume changes and sharp sense of humour. Over the course of her four stints in the role, she would also prove deft at handling more sensitive moments, presiding over the Oscars in which Schindlers List took Best Picture, as well as the first ceremony post-9/11. Goldberg recently suggested herself for the host after Kevin Hart was removed from the 2019 ceremony amid a scandal surrounding homophobic tweets. Getty Images The 5 best Oscars hosts Ellen DeGeneres The comedian and talk show host wasnt met with the fondest reception when she hosted the ceremony in 2007. But her 2014 return was a much tighter affair, and was instrumental in reconfiguring the Oscars for social media age. DeGeneres was a consummate luvvie and kept the humour low-key and respectful. The ceremony peaked with a star-studded selfie live on air, taken with a host of A-listers that included Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. The image would quickly become the most popular tweet of all time (now sitting in third), with a current total of over 3.3 million retweets. Getty Images The 5 best Oscars hosts Billy Crystal Crystal is credited with reinventing the role of Oscars host during his four-year run from 1990 to 1993. A more high-energy personality than most of his predecessors, the When Harry Met Sally... star proved himself a versatile awards show entertainer, and would return again five times over the years. He was comfortable with showmanship, not to mention self-promotion: at the 1991 awards, to promote City Slickers, he closed the ceremony by riding offstage on a horse. Crystals most recent appearance as host came in 2012, when he was brought in as a steady hand on the tiller after James Franco and Anne Hathaways disastrous spell the year previously. Getty Images The 5 best Oscars hosts Bob Hope For decades, the comic stylings of Bob Hope were synonymous with the Oscars. The comedian hosted (and co-hosted) the awards ceremony 19 times between 1940 and 1978, presenting for the final time on the Oscars 50th Anniversary. Hope was popular for his charm and assuredness, as well as his droll one-liners. Jack Lemmon presented him with a unique gold medal for his services to the Academy during the 1966 Oscars. Accepting the award, he quipped anyone that wants to look at this can come to my place and itll be in the shrine. Rex Features 5. Jon Stewart After a tepidly received turn hosting in 2006, Stewart made the most of his second chance in 2008, giving a confident performance presenting the 80th Academy Awards. The former Daily Show comedians jokes were tighter and better delivered, and he showed a real aptitude for letting others take the limelight. Perhaps most commendable of all, Stewart used one of his transitions to invite Marketa Irglova back on-stage to finish her acceptance speech for Best Original Song after being abruptly cut off. 4. Whoopi Goldberg Goldberg was not only the first African American person to host the ceremony, but the first woman too. Having already won an Oscar for her supporting turn in 1990s Ghost, the actress won over audiences with her elaborate costume changes and sharp sense of humour. Over the course of her four stints in the role, she would also prove deft at handling more sensitive moments, presiding over the Oscars in which Schindlers List took Best Picture, as well as the first ceremony post-9/11. Goldberg recently suggested herself for the host after Kevin Hart was removed from the 2019 ceremony amid a scandal surrounding homophobic tweets. 3. Ellen DeGeneres The comedian and talk show host wasnt met with the fondest reception when she hosted the ceremony in 2007. But her 2014 return was a much tighter affair, and was instrumental in reconfiguring the Oscars for social media age. DeGeneres was a consummate luvvie and kept the humour low-key and respectful. The ceremony peaked with a star-studded selfie live on air, taken with a host of A-listers that included Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. The image would quickly become the most popular tweet of all time (now displaced), with a total of over 3.3 million retweets. 2. Billy Crystal Crystal is credited with reinventing the role of Oscars host during his four-year run from 1990 to 1993. A more high-energy personality than most of his predecessors, the When Harry Met Sally... star proved himself a versatile awards show entertainer, and would return again five times over the years. He was comfortable with showmanship, not to mention self-promotion: at the 1991 awards, to promote City Slickers, he closed the ceremony by riding offstage on a horse. Crystals most recent appearance as host came in 2012, when he was brought in as a steady hand on the tiller after James Franco and Anne Hathaways disastrous spell the year previously. 1. Bob Hope For decades, the comic stylings of Bob Hope were synonymous with the Oscars. The comedian hosted (and co-hosted) the awards ceremony 19 times between 1940 and 1978, presenting for the final time on the Oscars 50th Anniversary. Hope was popular for his charm and assuredness, as well as his droll one-liners. Jack Lemmon presented him with a unique gold medal for his services to the Academy during the 1966 Oscars. Accepting the award, he quipped anyone that wants to look at this can come to my place and itll be in the shrine. And five of the worst Oscar hosts of all time... The 5 worst Oscars hosts Show all 5 1 / 5 The 5 worst Oscars hosts The 5 worst Oscars hosts David Letterman Attempting to transfer his popular Late Night shtick to the considerably less receptive territory of the Oscars, Letterman saw his hosting tenure end in disaster. From a stinker of a joke near the beginning about two actresses with supposedly similar names Oprah. Uma. Oprah. Uma. Oprah. Uma. Have you kids met Keanu? the usually reliable presenter failed to find his flow. A few later gags were met with near-total silence, and Letterman was accused by the New York Times of leaving the ceremonys pacing in shambles. AFP/Getty Images The 5 worst Oscars hosts Chevy Chase Good evening, Hollywood phonies. So began Chevy Chases badly received second run at the 1988 Oscars. Taking place in the middle of a writers guild strike Chase makes a crack about the evenings monologue being donated by five teamsters the actors biggest problem is simply that the jokes dont land. An overlong bit about film critics fails to get much of a reaction, and Chases attempts at ad-libbing never manage to rescue the situation. Getty Images The 5 worst Oscars hosts Walter Matthau, Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore & Richard Pryor In 1983, the hosting role was given to the idiosyncratic quartet of Matthau, Minnelli, Moore and Pryor, in an effort to shake things up after four straight years of Johnny Carson. Whether it was a failure of rehearsal, choreography or performance, the sight of the four actors standing in a straight line, arrhythmically swaying to the opening number, remains one of the most awkward Oscar clips of all time. Minnelli tries to save face with a joke, commenting how Richard, Dudley and Walter are still rehearsing backstage, but the painfully gauche routine set the tone for a disjointed and forgettable evening. Youtube The 5 worst Oscars hosts Seth MacFarlane The Family Guy creator was given a prestigious platform for his notoriously low-brow comic sensibilities when he hosted the Oscars ceremony in 2013. True to form, MacFarlane included a creepy, obnoxious song-and-dance number in which MacFarlane calls out actresses who have done topless scenes in the past (entitled We Saw Your Boobs). The reactions ranged from awkward smiles to a horrible embarrassment. The barefaced sexism of the skit attracted no small share of criticism at the time, but six years later, in the wake of #MeToo, it beggars belief that such a sleazy routine ever saw the light of day. Despite the reaction, MacFarlane claimed the Academy invited him back to host the subsequent year. Getty Images The 5 worst Oscars hosts James Franco & Anne Hathaway Having successfully paired Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin in 2010, the Academy threw Franco and Hathaway together the year after, in an apparent attempt to synthesise some youth appeal. As it worked out, the pairs dreadful chemistry an uneasy mix of Hathaways cloying perkiness and Francos disconnected grinning made for an awkward and historically uncomfortable experience that ironically appeals to no demographic whatsoever. Early jokes are met with mirthless silence, and a later skit in which Franco dresses in drag goes down like a lead balloon. Getty Images 5. David Letterman Attempting to transfer his popular Late Night shtick to the considerably less receptive territory of the Oscars, Letterman saw his hosting tenure end in disaster. From a stinker of a joke near the beginning about two actresses with supposedly similar names Oprah. Uma. Oprah. Uma. Oprah. Uma. Have you kids met Keanu? the usually reliable presenter failed to find his flow. A few later gags were met with near-total silence, and Letterman was accused by the New York Times of leaving the ceremonys pacing in shambles. 4. Chevy Chase Good evening, Hollywood phonies. So began Chevy Chases badly received second run at the 1988 Oscars. Taking place in the middle of a writers guild strike Chase makes a crack about the evenings monologue being donated by five teamsters the actors biggest problem is simply that the jokes dont land. An overlong bit about film critics fails to get much of a reaction, and Chases attempts at ad-libbing never manage to rescue the situation. 3. Walter Matthau, Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore & Richard Pryor In 1983, the hosting role was given to the idiosyncratic quartet of Matthau, Minnelli, Moore and Pryor, in an effort to shake things up after four straight years of Johnny Carson. Whether it was a failure of rehearsal, choreography or performance, the sight of the four actors standing in a straight line, arrhythmically swaying to the opening number, remains one of the most awkward Oscar clips of all time. Minnelli tries to save face with a joke, commenting how Richard, Dudley and Walter are still rehearsing backstage, but the painfully gauche routine set the tone for a disjointed and forgettable evening. 2. Seth MacFarlane The Family Guy creator was given a prestigious platform for his notoriously low-brow comic sensibilities when he hosted the Oscars ceremony in 2013. True to form, MacFarlane included a creepy, obnoxious song-and-dance number in which MacFarlane calls out actresses who have done topless scenes in the past (entitled We Saw Your Boobs). The reactions ranged from awkward smiles to a horrible embarrassment. The barefaced sexism of the skit attracted no small share of criticism at the time, but six years later, in the wake of #MeToo, it beggars belief that such a sleazy routine ever saw the light of day. Despite the reaction, MacFarlane claimed the Academy invited him back to host the subsequent year. 1. James Franco and Anne Hathaway Having successfully paired Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin in 2010, the Academy threw Franco and Hathaway together the year after, in an apparent attempt to synthesise some youth appeal. As it worked out, the pairs dreadful chemistry an uneasy mix of Hathaways cloying perkiness and Francos disconnected grinning made for an awkward and historically uncomfortable experience that ironically appeals to no demographic whatsoever. Early jokes are met with mirthless silence, and a later skit in which Franco dresses in drag goes down like a lead balloon. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Francis Ford Coppola has admitted he was heartbroken not to win Best Director for The Godfather at the Oscars in 1973. However, he also paid tribute to the man who beat him, Bob Fosse, who took home the prize for his work on Cabaret. Writing on Instagram, Coppola recalled: Like every young aspiring film director, I dreamed of one day winning the Best Director Oscar and holding that statue in my hand. In 1973, when The Godfather was nominated, it seemed as if my dream was going to come true, because I had won the Directors Guild award and usually the winner of that wins the Oscar. Only a few times before had that not happened (in 1968, DGA winner Anthony Harvey lost to Carol Reed). So when I went to the award ceremony that night, and witnessed the success of The Godfather with other awards, I felt it likely I would win. I confess I was surprised when the winner was announced and it was not me, but Bob Fosse for Cabaret. At the time I was heartbroken and remember the owner of Paramount consoling me with, Well Francis, you won the Bank of America award! Francis Ford Coppola arriving at the Oscars in 2022 Coppola concluded: But reflecting now I must tell you the truth: I am glad that it was Bob Fosse, who certainly deserved it. What an extraordinarily talent and a sweet lovable man as well. His work is monumental, not only for Cabaret and later Lenny but for the extraordinary All That Jazz. As I look back on that time, I can honestly say Im grateful I lost to such a man as Bob Fosse! The Godfather was nominated for a total of eleven Oscars: Best Picture, Best Costume Design, Best Actor (Marlon Brando), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Al Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall), Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Director and Best Sound. On the night it won three of those awards: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor for Marlon Brando and Best Picture. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free The ceremony is remembered for Brandos decision to decline the Best Actor Oscar, sending Native American actor and activist Sacheen Littlefeather to pick up the statuette in his place. Coppola got his hands on his coveted directing Oscar just two years later, winning both Best Director and Best Picture for The Godfather Part II in 1975. To mark the 50th anniversary of The Godfather in 2022, The Independents Geoffrey Macnab spoke to Coppola and other members of the cast and crew about Brando, near-firings and how one of the most influential films of all time almost went very, very wrong. Follow all of The Independents Oscars 2024 coverage here. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jerry Seinfeld has revealed that casting Hugh Grant as cereal mascot Tony the Tiger was the greatest part of his upcoming movie Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story. Seinfeld, 69, is making his feature directorial debut with the comedy he co-wrote about the creation of Pop-Tarts. Set in Michigan in 1963, the film follows sworn cereal rivals Kelloggs and Post as they race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast forever. It has been described by Netflix as a tale of ambition, betrayal, sugar, and menacing milkmen. Speaking to Empire, Seinfeld revealed that working with Grant was a highlight of making the film. That was the greatest part of the whole thing, honestly, said Seinfeld. Because I am a crazy fan of his. For the first time in 30 years, Grant filmed an audition tape, which he sent to Seinfeld. [Hugh] asked me if it matters that Tony the Tiger has a British accent, recalled Seinfeld. I told him, No, who cares? Jerry Seinfeld (left) and Hugh Grant (Getty) Grant, 63, will play a down-on-his-luck Shakespearean actor who finds himself having to wear the famous Frosties mascot costume. Seinfeld also stars in the film as a boss at cereal manufacturer Kelloggs, and the cast includes Melissa McCarthy, Amy Schumer, Dan Levy, James Marsden and Christian Slater. Everybody I asked said yes, so we ended up with this crazy cast, Seinfeld commented to Empire. Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story will be released on Netflix on 3 May. Grant has taken on a wide array of characters in recent years, recently winning plaudits for his portrayal of an Oompa-Loompa alongside Timothee Chalamet in Paul Kings musical Wonka. In February, Grant channeled his performance while presenting the 2024 Bafta for Best Director. He presented the category by reworking the characters lines, saying: Oompa Loompa doompity-dong, most of these films were frankly too long. Oompa Loompa doompity-dah, but for some reason the nominees are... In a four-star review of Wonka for The Independent, chief film critic Clarisse Loughrey wrote: Hugh Grant doing a little song and dance fared very well for Paddington 2, and here he has the bonus of being daubed in orange for the role of an Oompa-Loompa. But the characters bring with them all the same problems: the conflicted feelings within the dwarfism community and its colonialist implications, which the film only partially smoothes over with a retrofitted backstory. If you can squint your eyes slightly and pretend that Wonka isnt really a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory prequel, though, youre in for the sweetest of delicacies. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Messi, the four-legged star of the Oscar-nominated Anatomy of a Fall, will not be at Sundays Hollywood ceremony. The Border Collie, who appeared alongside Sandra Huller in Justine Triets crime thriller, made quite a splash at Februarys Oscar Nominees Luncheon when attendees, such as Ryan Gosling and Billie Eilish, lined up to cuddle him. Its crazy, I think hes much more famous here than in France, Triet, who is up for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at the 96th Academy Awards, said at the time. While Messi isnt technically an Oscar nominee, his presence still appeared to irk several movie companies that have titles in contention at the 2024 Oscars. According to a source who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter, multiple companies felt that Messi provided Anatomy of a Fall an unfair advantage during the open voting window. The Independent has contacted the Academy for comment. At the annual lunch, Messi was greeted by Barbie star America Ferrera, who knelt beside him and said: You did a fabulous job. Meanwhile, a video of Ryan Gosling, who appeared to be overcome with emotion while chatting with Messi and his trainers, went viral on social media. The big moment was with Billie Eilish, who bonded with Messi for almost 10 minutes, Messis dog trainer Laura Martin told THR. They were hugging and petting and they really had a vibe. Then Bradley Cooper bumped into him in the hallway. The dog went right to him, so they also had a connection. Messi starred in the Best Picture nominee as Snoop, an emotional support dog for an 11-year-old boy called Daniel (played by Milo Machado Graner) who is blind. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free In the film, Daniel is caught in the middle of a legal battle and media spectacle as his mother, a German novelist played by Huller, is accused of murdering his father (Samuel Theis). Snoop acts as a source of support and guidance for Daniel as he deals with the fallout and grief. Anatomy of a Fall is up for five Oscars. It will compete in the Best Picture category against Oppenheimer, Barbie, Poor Things, American Fiction, The Holdovers, Maestro, Past Lives, Killers of the Flower Moon and The Zone of Interest. The Oscars will broadcast live on Sunday (10 March), beginning an hour earlier than usual at 4pm PT/7pm ET. All US viewers will be able to tune into the broadcast on ABC, while UK viewers can watch on ITV. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Pierce Brosnan has backed Cillian Murphy to take on the iconic role of James Bond. The 70-year-old Irish actor, who portrayed the international spy across four films from 1995 to 2002, was asked who he thought should take over from Daniel Craig who retired from the part in 2021. Cillian would do a magnificent job as James Bond on His Majestys Secret Service, Brosnan told the BBC on Thursday (7 March) at the Oscar Wilde Awards in Los Angeles. However, according to Murphy, 47, that ship has sailed. Im a bit old for that, the Oscar nominee told Variety when asked about Brosnans recommendation. Ever since the now-56-year-old Craig hung up his tux after 2021s No Time to Die, the rumour mill has been rife with speculation about who might succeed him in the forthcoming 26th Bond film. Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, Rege-Jean Page and Paul Mescal have all been touted as supposed frontrunners, while Greta Gerwig suggested Barbie and Bob Marley: One Love star Kingsley Ben-Adir would be perfect for the role. Last year it was even rumoured that two actors could be chosen, with Bond 26 starring two 007s one younger and one older. Nothing has been confirmed, and the film has yet to receive a release date. Pierce Brosnan and Cillian Murphy (Getty Images) Whoever is next to take on the role will join a strong legacy of actors: the big screens first James Bond star was Sean Connery, followed by David Niven in the 1967 spoof Casino Royale. Since Connery, the official Bond franchise has starred George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Brosnan and Craig. Brosnan first entered the world of James Bond in 1995s GoldenEye. He reprised the role three more times in 1997s Tomorrow Never Dies, 1999s The World is Not Enough and 2002s Die Another Day. Craig picked up the role shortly afterwards, making his James Bond debut in 2006s Casino Royale, followed by 2008s Quantum of Solace, 2012s Sky Fall, 2015s Spectre and 2021s No Time to Die. Murphy, meanwhile, is at an all-time career high. Hes currently favourite to win the Best Actor Oscar at Sundays ceremony for his title role in Christoper Nolans Oppenheimer, for which hes already landed a Bafta, Golden Globe and SAG award. Nolans atomic bomb epic also leads the 96th Oscars with a whopping 13 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Follow all The Independents coverage of the 2024 Oscars here. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An unusual criminal case over allegedly stolen handwritten lyrics for the Eagles classic rock album Hotel California has been abruptly dropped mid-trial. Three men had been accused of conspiring to possess a cache of lyrics, written on around 100 legal-pad pages, to the American bands hit song Hotel California, among others. Assistant Manhattan district attorney Aaron Ginandes informed the judge at 10am on Wednesday 6 March that prosecutors would no longer proceed with the case, citing newly available emails that defense lawyers said raised questions about the trial's fairness. Eagles frontman Don Henley outside court in New York ((Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)) The raft of communications emerged only when Eagles star Don Henley apparently decided last week to waive attorney-client privilege, after he and other prosecution witnesses had already testified. The defense argued that the new disclosures raised questions that it hadn't been able to ask. Members of The Eagles, from left, Timothy B Schmit, Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh Witnesses and their lawyers used attorney-client privilege to obfuscate and hide information that they believed would be damaging, judge Curtis Farber said in dismissing the case. The accused were three well-established figures: rare books dealer Glenn Horowitz, former Rock and Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi, and rock memorabilia seller Edward Kosinski. All three men pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to criminally possess stolen property their lawyers said they did not commit any crime with the papers, which they acquired through a writer, Ed Sanders, who was working on an unpublished biography authorised by The Eagles. Memorabilia seller Edward Kosinski (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Sanders, who was given the documents as research for his book in the late Seventies and Eighties, was not charged in the case. Prosecutors had said the three men were aware the pages had a dubious chain of ownership but sold them anyway, in spite of Eagles co-founder Henleys objections. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Henley, who realised the pages were missing only when they showed up for sale on an auction site, reported them as stolen. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) He testified at the trial that he had permitted Sanders to borrow the documents as part of his research for the biography, but never gifted them or gave them to anybody to keep or sell. It is a somewhat underwhelming end to a trial that had piqued the curiosity of the music world, particularly due to Henleys appearance as a star witness. The Eagles longtime manager, Irving Azoff, also appeared as a witness, where he revealed how the relationship between the Eagles and Sanders broke down after they were unhappy with the end result of Sanders book. He offered some insight into the bands notorious breakup in 1980, and also about the bands creative methods during the Seventies. Henley apparently preferred to write songs on yellow legal pads, while his late bandmate, Glenn Frey, opted for white ones. Azoff compared the duo to the protagonists of the 1968 comedy film The Odd Couple: Don [Henley] was the guy that ran around and picked up Glenn [Freys] empty beer bottles and cigarette butts. It drove them crazy, he said. Its better they had a neutral place to wreck than one of their houses. He said he had never known Henley to part with any of the legal pads on which he, alongside Frey, worked out some of the best-known lyrics in the rocknroll songbook. The trial had been underway since late February. The people concede that dismissal is appropriate in this case, Ginandes said. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} John Lydon has lashed out at the apparent effects of immigration in the UK during a fiery interview in which he doubled down on his support for Brexit. The former Sex Pistol, who is himself the son of immigrants, decried Britains seaside towns as run down and full of prospective immigrants, which he claimed has fueled animosity in communities. Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, rose to fame with the punk band in the mid-Seventies with songs such as God Save the Queen and Anarchy in the UK. In recent years he has adopted right-wing political stances including throwing his weight behind Brexit, Donald Trump and Nigel Farage. But his remarks sparked a backlash from migrant charities who branded him an old punk rocker... shamefully choosing to demonise marginalised communities. Speaking to LBC host Andrew Marr on Thursday evening, Lydon said that much of his forthcoming tour is taking place in seaside towns, which he claimed indicate how run down Britain has become. They used to be fantastic places when I was a kid, the 68-year-old told Marr. Mum and dad would drag us off for what felt like hours in a traffic jam, but it was absolutely great, it was working-class people throwing sand at each other and the environment was economically thriving, I suppose. It was vibrant. Now, Lydon claimed, those towns are full of prospective immigrants which are really illegals [who are] not being cared for properly, but they shouldnt have been accepted in such vast numbers. Its created a real animosity in communities, he continued. The division when you import so many people with a completely different point of view, theyre not going to adapt to yours, theyre going to stay and bring the problems theyre allegedly escaping from with them. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up The Sex Pistols (Lydon second from left) at their first gig in 1975 (PA Archive) Marr then asked Lydon what the difference was between Britain importing the Lydons from Ireland and the current situation. The first thing my mum and dad would tell me when I was very young was, Youre British now, be British, and be proud of it, Lydon responded. Most excellent advice, and Ive followed through. Lydon reaffirmed his support for Brexit in spite of its impact on the economy, remarking: Id rather a faltering economy than a dictatorship. In January, a damning report by Cambridge Econometrics found that the decision to leave the EU has already cost the UK 140bn, and is predicted to leave Britains economy 311bn worse off by 2035. Lydons remarks on LBC sparked criticism on social media, with many pointing out what they perceived as hypocrisy in his attacks on immigration, given his own family history. Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, told The Independent: These are rotten comments from an old punk rocker who made his name railing against the establishment. Now he is shamefully choosing to demonise marginalised communities, rather than blame those in power for the decline of the UKs economy, public services and communities. John Lydon on LBC (Screenshot) Son-of-immigrants and husband-of-an-immigrant John Lydon ranting about immigrants has at least proved one thing: punk is a young mans game, David Williamson wrote on X/Twitter. Lydon was married to Nora Forster, a German-born music promoter who moved to the UK in the Sixties, for 44 years. Amra Watson commented: John Lydon joins the right-wing brigade and blames the lack of investment, sewage in rivers & seas, lack of local services, and we may add, low wages, cost of living crisis, NHS queues, child poverty, crumbling schools, corruption on immigration. John Lydon provides this years least punk interview, another critic said. Son of Irish migrants and Irish passport holder, Lydon migrated to the USA decades ago and has taken out US citizenship. And without a shred of self-awareness, he asserts that immigration is destroying Britain. John Lydons wife, Nora Forster, was born in Germany before moving to London in the Sixties (Getty Images) Lydon threw his support behind Brexit after the EU referendum, during an appearance on ITV breakfast show Good Morning Britain. Where do I stand on Brexit? he asked. Well, here it goes, the working class have spoken and Im one of them and Im with them. In the same interview, Lydon said that the then-newly elected US president Donald Trump was a complicated fellow who had been smeared by the left-wing media. One journalist once said to me, is he the political Sex Pistol? In a way, he added. What I dislike is the left-wing media in America are trying to smear the bloke as a racist and thats completely not true. There are many, many problems with him as a human being but hes not that and there just might be a chance something good will come out of that situation because he terrifies politicians. This is a joy to behold for me. Dare I say, [he could be] a possible friend. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rina Sawayama has told fans that she feels really trapped by her deal with label Dirty Hit Records, and that she cant release another album under my current conditions. The Brit Award-nominated musician and actor, 33, made the statement on Instagram as she shared an article she contributed to for The Independent to mark International Womens Day. In the piece, which also featured contributions from artists such as Self Esteem, Nova Twins and English Teachers Lily Fontaine, Sawayama addressed the intense racist misogyny she says she has experienced since last summer. She was seemingly referring to the moment she appeared to call out her labelmate, The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, at Glastonbury Festival over his controversial remarks on a US podcast. Later that day, the British-Japanese artist shared the article to her Instagram page, where she apologised to her fans and spoke about her mental health struggles. Im sorry if Ive let you down, my fans have been the shining light in all this, she wrote. Youre always so supportive of me and I appreciate it so much. Ive been lucky to have found ways to keep my business afloat and support myself as well as my team, but when it comes to new music I cant release another album under my current conditions. I feel really trapped and dont know what to do. Sawayama added that she felt enlivened by the strength in The Independent story, but had also cried at how truly rotten the industry is. Rina Sawayama (Charlotte Rutherford) This is just a FRACTION of what actually goes on, she wrote. Ive heard more stories like this, some worse, in private from other artists. There are men who have done horrible things to multiple women who have very secure jobs in high places. Its truly terrifying. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Like I said in the article I dont know a single woman who has not experienced some form of misogyny. As someone whose passion in music at school was taken advantage of by a music teacher who proceeded to then groom me for several years in my teens, it starts young. The music industry is absolutely due a MeToo movement and we need your amplification. Otherwise these artists will disappear from the industry. I dont want any young person to ever have to experience what some of these women have. I want men to amplify this too. This is our workplace and women dont deserve to be treated like this. This is not some rite of passage and this needs to stop. Sawayama is currently signed to Dirty Hit, the UK label co-founded by Healy and Jamie Oborne, The 1975s manager. The Independent understands that she is on a three-album deal, and has to date released two records, including last years critically acclaimed Hold the Girl. The Independent has approached Dirty Hit Records for comment. At Glastonbury last summer, Sawayama introduced her song STFU! onstage by sayinng: Tonight, this goes out to a white man that watches Ghetto Gaggers, and mocks Asian people on a podcast... he also owns my masters... Ive had enough. Healy spoke about having watched Ghetto Gaggers a brand of racially charged pornographic videos in which women of colour are reportedly put in submissive positions to white men during an appearance on the Adam Friedland Show podcast. The podcast also featured segments in which Healy made reference to the US rapper Ice Spice. The hosts of the podcast mistakenly identified the rapper as being from Hawaiian Inuit and Chinese heritage, mocking each accent. Healy issued an apology of-sorts to Ice Spice while onstage with The 1975 in Auckland, New Zealand. I just feel a bit bad, and Im kind of a bit sorry if Ive offended you, he said. Ice Spice, Im sorry. Its not because Im annoyed that me joking got misconstrued. Its because I dont want Ice Spice to think Im a d***. I love you, Ice Spice. Im so sorry. Healy also addressed the podcast controversy in an interview with The New York Times last May. Asked if he had been baiting his fans with the remarks, he said: A little bit. But it doesnt actually matter. Nobody is sitting there at night slumped at their computer, and their boyfriend comes over and goes, Whats wrong, darling? and they go, Its just this thing with Matty Healy. That doesnt happen. The interviewer then suggested that maybe this does happen, prompting Healy to respond: If it does, youre either deluded or you are, sorry, a liar. Youre either lying that you are hurt, or youre a bit mental for being hurt. Its just people going, Oh, theres a bad thing over there, let me get as close to it as possible so you can see how good I am. And I kind of want them to do that, because theyre demonstrating something so base level. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Cara Delevingne has preemptively hit back at criticism she feels shes likely to receive for her forthcoming role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret. The British model and actor will join the award-winning West End revival from 11 March until 1 June 2024, along with Luke Treadaway who will take over as the Emcee. In a new interview for ES Magazine, the 31-year-old spoke about the prejudice she receives as a celebrity performer. Even if I did the best I possibly could, and even if that was really good, people are still going to be like, She doesnt deserve to be here, she said. You know, I auditioned like anyone else [so] its just annoying, but I have to tune that out. Known for her distinctively think eyebrows, Delevingne rose to fame aged just 16 as she became the face of Burberry, Jimmy Choo and Topshop. Elsewhere in the interview with ES, Delevingne said she moved from London to Los Angeles because the press and journalism can be really rough [here]... Youre either a person that people want to succeed or youre not. And I think once you are one of the latter, you cant really get out of that. So I was like, The only thing I want to do is leave. Cara Delevingne (Getty Images for Academy Museum ) Delevingne made her first lead acting appearance in the 2015 teen romance, Paper Towns. Shes gone on to star in films such as Suicide Squad and Kids in Love, and the comedy-mystery series Only Murders in the Building. Her casting in Cabaret was announced last month. In a statement, Delevingne said there were no words that could explain her excitement for her stage debut. I am so inspired by the brilliant actors who have played Sally in past productions around the world and in this one in the West End, her message read. I cannot wait to be a part of this brilliant cast and production. Delevingne has also dabbled in singing and songwriting, and released a single titled I Feel Everything in 2017, which was produced by Pharrell Williams. In 2022, she presented the BBC series Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne, in which she explored the orgasm gap and taboo ideas surrounding female sexual pleasure. Delevingne and Treadaway will begin performances at the Playhouse Theatre, which has been remodelled as Berlins debauched Kit Kat Club, where Cabaret takes place. Treadway said of his forthcoming appearance in Cabaret: I cant wait to become a member of the Kit Kat Club and join this extraordinary production. Its a huge thrill to be asked to take this on and Im very excited to get started. Treadway won the Olivier Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance of Christopher in the National Theatres production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. He has also appeared as Nick in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Karl in Over There at the Royal Court and Albert Narracott in War Horse and Saint Joan, both at the National Theatre. The revised production of Cabaret opened in December 2021 and won seven Olivier Awards the following year. The Broadway production of Cabaret starring Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin will open at the Kit Kat Club at the August Wilston Theatre in April. Close Gary Goldsmith becomes first Celebrity Big Brother housemate to be evicted For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Celebrity Big Brother housemates have now waved goodbye to three contestants after Lauren Simon was evicted during Tuesday nights episode. She follows in the footsteps of the Princess of Waless uncle, Gary Goldsmith, who became the first contestant on this years series to be evicted. Months after the reality series titan returned on ITV, the celebrity version has been resurrected in the hopes of emulating the success of the latest civilian series, which was won by Jordan Sangha in November. Surviving contestants include X Factor judge Louis Walsh who has already shocked viewers with an incredibly rude comment Love Island winner Ekin-Su and Strictly Come Dancing professional Nikita Kuzmin. In the latest episode, Sharon Osbourne, who was in the series as a celebrity lodger, left the CBB house. She was only planned to be in the series for several days and was given a private en-suite bedroom separate from the rest of the housemates. As for the eviction, it was between Fern Britton, Louis Walsh and Lauren Simon, but it was the Real Housewives of Cheshire star who was voted off. Meanwhile, Louis launched a scathing attack on the pop duo Jedward, calling them vile, and he later made several comments about Ronan Keating. Follow along with all the live updates as CBB airs on ITV For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two original stars of The Big Bang Theory are set to reprise their roles in spin-offYoung Sheldon. The popular series, which focuses on the exploits of a young Sheldon Cooper prior to the events of the long-running sitcom, is coming to an end after seven seasons. To mark the event, Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik will return as the adult version of Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler respectively, for the series finale, which will air on 16 May. This will be the first time the pair have been seen since The Big Bang Theory ended in 2019 reportedly after Parsons "turned down $50m" to sign up for another batch of episodes. Original series The Big Bang Theory ran for 12 seasons from 2007 to 2019. Alongside Parsons and Biyalik, it starred Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg. Last month, addressing why Young Sheldon is coming to an end, executive producer Steve Holland explained: There are certain things we know happen in Sheldons life at 14. We started talking about the future of show and what it looked like. This is the right time for this story to come to an end, knowing that at 14, he goes off to Cal Tech. It felt like the right time to end it strong while it was on top. Iain Armitage, who plays the title character in the comedy series, also attended the press conference, and said: Cant we just leave it at: Im tall and cool and I look like Jim [Parsons] now? Elsewhere, Lorre revealed how the popular spin-off almost didnt happen. The showrunner said he was not planning on going forward with the show until Armitages mum sent in an audition tape, showing the actor nailing a scene Lorre had written. Big Bang Theory stars Mayim Biyalik and Jim Parsons returning in Young Sheldon (Warner Bros Television) This guy killed it. And if that had not happened, we wouldnt have gone forward. Its the miracle of casting Young Sheldon. It was one we understood was likely not going to happen but it did. And this family blossomed around him, he added. While Young Sheldon is coming to an end, this wont be the end for the shows universe, with creator Chuck Lorre announcing another spin-off, which will reportedly be based on the characters of Georgie Cooper (Montana Jordan) and his fiancee Mandy McAllister (Emily Osment). For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Stephen Colbert trolled George Santos for turning up to the State of the Union on Thursday night despite being expelled from Congress after being exposed as a serial liar and an accused criminal. On a live edition of The Late Show just after the President Joe Bidens address had wrapped up, Mr Colbert named and shamed the thirsty-a*s b*****s that showed up to the State of the Union, singling out the disgraced former congressman. Mr Santos not only put in an appearance at the same place where he was voted out just three months ago, he also used it to announce another run for Congress. I hear you asking out there: Steve, were there any thirsty-ass bitches in the audience? Mr Colbert asked. The answer is yes, he continued. Because thanks to rules giving former members of Congress floor access, George Santos attended the State of the Union. Mr Colbert was not impressed with Mr Santos return to the House of Representatives. Come on! You cant just go back to your old job like you never left, he said. Unless youre Jon Stewart. Keep it up, Jon youre crushing it! he added, in reference to Mr Stewarts recent return to The Daily Show. Despite currently facing federal criminal charges, Mr Santos took to X during the State of the Union to announce plans to face off against his former colleague Representative Nick LaLota in a fresh run for Congress. Stephen Colbert (The Late Show/MSNBC) Tonight, I want to announce that I will be returning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick for the battle over #NY1. I look forward to debating him on the issues and on his weak record as a Republican. The fight for our majority is imperative for the survival of the country, he wrote. Mr LaLota actively helped remove Mr Santos from office and has previously called him a sociopath and an attention seeker. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free New York hasnt had a real conservative represent them since I left office arbitrarily, thanks to RINO, empty suits like @nicklalota, Mr Santos added. The announcement came in the middle of Mr Bidens fiery State of the Union address which the serial fabulist turned up to wearing a bedazzled collard and silver shoes. After three months away from this place, I figured Id come visit and watch the SOTU and update my friends in the media about my new plans for public office, Mr Santos told Axios about his decision to show up. As well as Mr Santos surprise appearance at the SOTU, Mr Colbert also highlighted the notable absence of one Supreme Court Justice from Thursdays proceedings. Ahead of the presidents arrival, members of the Supreme Court filed in, Mr Colbert reported. Interestingly, Justice Clarence Thomas did not attend. Its nice to know hes willing to recuse himself from something. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Hong Kong's legislative council on Friday began debating the new domestic national security law amid mounting concerns about diminishing freedoms in the city, nearly four years after a similar Beijing-imposed law almost wiped out dissent. The bill, currently known as Article 23, once approved would be added to Hong Kong's mini-constitution and co-exist along with the Beijing-imposed national security law. The proposed law triggered rare protests in Hong Kong last month, with activists and rights groups raising alarm over the citys bid to tighten the noose around human rights and dissent in the financial hub. "The rapid progression of legislation under Article 23 shows the governments eagerness to further dismantle human rights protection and turn its back on its international obligations, Amnesty International said on Friday. Under the new law, treason would be punishable with life sentences, while those found guilty of damaging public infrastructure with the intent to endanger national security would be awarded 20 years or life. Those who commit sedition face a jail term of seven years but colluding with an external force to carry out such acts increases that penalty to 10 years. Its expansive definition of external forces includes foreign governments and political parties, international organisations, and "any other organisation in an external place that pursues political ends". Possession of publications deemed seditious could attract up to three years in prison under the law, which also grants law enforcement rights to search, seize and destroy any such material. Under the proposed law, consultaion with lawyers "may be restricted" in view of "circumstances endangering national security". Hong Kong leader John Lee has urged lawmakers to pass the "Safeguarding National Security Bill" at full speed. The bill is expected to be approved swiftly by the majority of Beijing-backed lawmakers and implemented before mid-April. "The geopolitics have become increasingly complex, and national security risks remain imminent," a government statement said. British foreign secretary David Cameron along with the members of the EU have called on Hong Kong to "reconsider" the proposed law over far-reaching provisions in the bill on "external interference" and the law's extra-territorial reach. However, the draft bill states: "Human rights are to be respected and protected, the rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press and of publication, the freedoms of association ... are to be protected". The legislature's president, Andrew Leung, said the process to pass the bill was accelerated as it was necessary to safeguard the city's national security. "If you look at other countries, they enacted it within a day, two weeks, three weeks ... So why can't Hong Kong do it in a speedy manner? You tell me," the pro-Beijing politician said, according to the Associated Press. Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, requires the city to enact a national security law, but a previous attempt in 2003 was shelved following a public backlash and mass protests. A year after the 2019 pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, Beijing imposed a draconian national security law that made alleged crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces punishable by a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. China critics accused the city administration of weaponising the law to throttle dissent by arresting nearly 300 people, mostly activists and lawyers. Last year, the city police offered bounties of HK$1m (99,757) on more than a dozen activists living abroad, including former lawmakers Nathan Law and Ted Hui, who have been accused of colluding with foreign forces. The government claims during a one-month public comment period which ended last week, 98.6 per cent of the views received by officials showed support, and only 0.7 per cent opposed the proposals. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} India is likely to send 10,000 more troops to its disputed border with China in a move that would potentially exacerbate tensions between the two Asian giants amid a years-long border standoff. India and China which share a poorly demarcated 3,440km-long border, the source of a bitter dispute.. Tensions reached a peak in June 2020 when 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese forces were killed following a brutal skirmish on the Himalayan border. Since then, military leaders from the two countries have held many rounds of talks to resolve tensions but have yet to resolve core disagreements on key points of friction. A contingent of 10,000 more soldiers is now being redirected from the countrys western border and deployed to the frontline with China, a senior Indian official told Bloomberg. The deployment will be in addition to the thousands of soldiers who were rushed to the Line of Actual Control, the d facto border with China, after incidents of violent skirmishes with the Peoples Liberation Army in 2020. An additional group of 9,000 soldiers, which was previously assigned to the contested Chinese border, will now operate under the newly established combat command. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday said Indias reported plan to send more soldiers to the border was not conducive to easing tensions. China is committed to working with India to safeguard the peace and stability of the border areas, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said. Indian army vehicles move in a convoy in the cold desert region of Ladakh, where India and China are locked in a military standoff, (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) We believe that Indias practice is not conducive to safeguarding peace and is not conducive to easing tensions. Ms Mao added that Indias increase in military deployments in border areas does not help to calm the situation in the border areas or to safeguard peace and safety in these areas. Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that India was in a position to give a befitting reply to anyone who bats an eyelid at us. Mr Singhs comments came in response to a question over the nearly four-year-long border row with China and concerns over Beijings growing influence in the Indian Ocean region. If you turn the pages of history, you will see that India has never attacked any country of the world or occupied even an inch of land of any country. But if any country bats an eyelid on India then the country is now in a position to give a befitting reply, Mr Singh said during a defence summit hosted by NDTV. The tense border dispute has impacted diplomatic ties between the two countries, with Chinas Xi Jinping snubbing Indias G20 summit. In only known exchange between the leaders of the two countries in the past three years, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and Mr Xi held informal talks on the sidelines of Brics summit in Brazil last year. Both leaders agreed to expeditious disengagement and de-escalation along the disputed border. The two sides held their 21st round of military talks in February this year designed to agree disengagement from the remaining areas of the border standoff, but did not reach a substantial breakthrough. A press release by the Indian foreign ministry said they agreed to maintain peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas in the interim. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Indias federal investigation agency says it has busted a major international human trafficking network involved in sending workers to the Russia-Ukraine war under the guise of lucrative job offers. Multiple from Indias Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at 15 places in seven cities including the capital New Delhi on Thursday. The raids came amid growing media reports of Indian nationals being unwittingly recruited to join the Russian army in its invasion of Ukraine after they moved countries in response to adverts for jobs seeking army helpers. At least two Indians have died so far, with the most recent one reported on Wednesday, while about 35 people are believed to be fighting in the war, said a CBI spokesperson. The federal investigations agency has so far recovered 471,500 in their raid, along with incriminating documents, electronic records such laptops, mobiles, desktops and CCTV footage, according to local media reports. Searches are on. Certain suspects have also been detained for questioning at various locations. So far, around 35 instances of victims sent abroad have been established. The identity of more trafficking victims are being established. Investigation is continuing (sic), a CBI spokesperson said. The probe was launched based on a preliminary complaint, locally known as a First Information Report (FIR), filed on 6 March. It named private visa consultancy firms and agents accused of being engaged in trafficking, reported The Times of India. Earlier on Wednesday, the Indian embassy in Russia confirmed the tragic death of Mohammed Asfan, a clothes seller from Hyderabad. He travelled to Russia via Dubai in November seeking work with his family claiming he was duped by a Middle East-based agent and did not know he would be forced to fight on the frontline, where he was killed. In February, the government of India urged its nationals to stay away from the Russia-Ukraine war, while calling on Russian authorities to expedite the release of its citizens. On Friday, the Indian foreign ministry said it had strongly taken up the matter with the Russian government for early discharge of such Indian nationals. We once again appeal to Indian nationals to not be swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian Army. This is fraught with danger and risk to life, it said in a statement. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A decade ago on March 8, a Malaysia Airlines flight vanished without a trace, becoming one of aviations biggest mysteries. Investigators still do not know exactly what happened to the plane and its 239 passengers. But Malaysias government said Sunday it may renew the hunt for MH370 after an American marine robotics company that tried to find the plane in 2018 proposed a fresh search. A massive multinational search in the southern Indian Ocean, where the jet is believed to have crashed, found nothing. Apart from some small fragments that later washed ashore, no bodies or wreckage have ever been found. Heres what we know about the deadly aviation tragedy. What is known about MH370s disappearance? The Boeing 777 plane disappeared from air control radar 39 minutes after leaving Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing on March 8, 2014. The pilot sent a last radio call to Kuala Lumpur before leaving Malaysia Good Night Malaysian Three Seven Zero but failed to check in with air traffic controllers in Ho Chi Minh City when the plane crossed into Vietnams airspace. Minutes later, the planes transponder a communication system that transmits the planes location to air traffic control shut down. Military radar saw the plane turn around to travel over the Andaman Sea before it vanished, and satellite data showed it continued to fly for hours, possibly until it ran out of fuel. The plane is believed to have crashed in a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean. Theories about what happened on board range from hijacking to a loss of oxygen in the cabin to power failure. But there was no distress call, no ransom demand, nor bad weather or evidence of technical failures. Malaysian safety investigators cleared all on board in a 2018 report, but didn't rule out unlawful interference." Malaysia's government has said that someone intentionally severed communications with the ground and diverted the plane. Who was on the plane? The plane carried 227 passengers, including five young children, as well as 12 crew members. Most of those aboard were from China, but there were also people from other countries, including the United States, Indonesia, France and Russia. The passengers included two young Iranian men using stolen passports to seek a new life in Europe; a group of Chinese calligraphy artists returning from an exhibition of their work; 20 employees of U.S. tech firm Freescale Semiconductor; a stunt double for actor Jet Li; families with young children; and a Malaysian couple on a long-delayed honeymoon. Many families lost multiple members in the tragedy. What efforts have been made to find the plane? Dozens of ships and aircraft from various countries began the search between Malaysia and Vietnam in the South China Sea, before moving to the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean. Australia, alongside Malaysia and China, then led the largest and most expensive underwater search ever undertaken, covering some 120,000 square kilometers (46,000 square miles) of seabed off western Australia, using aircraft, vessels equipped to pick up sonar signals, and robotic submarines. Search vessels detected ultrasonic signals that might have been from the plane's black box and shipwrecks believed to be 19th century merchant vessels, but never found the plane. In July 2015, a fragment later confirmed to be a flaperon from Flight 370 was found on Frances Reunion Island in the western Indian Ocean, the first hard evidence that MH370 ended its flight in the Indian Ocean. Several more pieces of debris were later found washed ashore on the east coast of Africa. The search was suspended in January 2017. U.S. marine robotics company Ocean Infinity picked up the search in January 2018 under a no find, no fee contract with Malaysia, focusing on an area north of the earlier search identified by a debris drift study. But it ended a few months later without success. Why is the search so hard? One reason why such an extensive search fail to turn up clues is that no one knows exactly where to look. The Indian Ocean is the world's third largest, and the search was conducted in a difficult area, where searchers encountered bad weather and average depths of around 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). It's not common for planes to disappear in the deep sea, but when they do remains can be very hard to locate. Over the past 50 years, dozens of planes have vanished, according to the Aviation Safety Network. Whats next? Malaysia's government has consistently said it will only resume the hunt if there is credible new evidence. It is now considering an Ocean Infinity proposal for a fresh search with new technology, although it is unclear if the company has new evidence of the plane's location. Many families who lost people in the disappearance remain steadfast in their quest for answers. They argue the mystery must be resolved, not just for personal closure but also to prevent future disasters. The disaster has also helped to bolster aviation safety. Starting in 2025, the International Civil Aviation Organization will mandate that jets carry a device that will broadcast their position every minute if they encounter trouble, to allow authorities to locate the plane if a disaster occurs. The devices will be triggered automatically and can't be manually turned off. But the rule applies only to new jets not the thousands of older planes still in service. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jayashree Owhal, a 45-year-old cane cutter from Indias western state of Maharashtra, made a life-changing decision when the pain of her menstrual cramps became unbearable. I went to see a gynecologist in Beed. He suggested I should stop lifting the heavy bundles but that was the only source of income for us, says Ms Owhal. So I decided to get the hysterectomy done, and get rid of this every month pain and stain. Ms Owhal is one of hundreds of women in the district of Beed who have been forced to make an unthinkable choice: having their wombs removed in order to earn a daily wage in gruelling work as a migrant sugarcane worker. It is not the only horror that women have suffered. New mothers, forced to return to work in the fields with their babies, have lost them to fatal accidents. Beed is one of the worst drought-impacted areas in India. Decreasing rainfall and rising heat, driven by the global climate crisis, have intensified conditions. The region suffered from droughts in four separate years between 2010-2019, according to government data. This has devastated local agriculture making incomes from farms unreliable for most of Beeds residents. For eight months every year, farming comes to a complete halt in the region due to the absence of rain. Jayashree Owhal, a farmer working in sugarcane fields, says she carries 50kg of weight on her head and loads it into tractors (IIED) It has forced many women to leave their homes and travel to the Kolhapur district, over 240 miles (400km) away, to work in the physically demanding sugarcane industry. More than 1.5 million workers from Maharashtra state leave for sugarcane fields every year, according to government data. Despite making up 63 per cent of the agricultural workforce in India, women remain largely invisible and marginalised within the sector, with only 12 per cent owning farm land. In the gruelling world of field labour, exploitative contracts have made the conditions far more punishing, particularly for womens bodies. The labour involves arduous 12 to 16-hour shifts with husband-and-wife teams, known as Jodis, hired informally by local labour contractors, Mukkadams. Men usually cut the cane while women will tie and stack bundles. They have to bend for hours, pick up heavy cane bundles, walk for miles and mount them at risky heights. Ms Owhal and her husband, Asaram, own four acres of rainfed-land on the outskirts of Kathawada, a village in the Beed district. But since a severe drought of 2016, they have had no water for drinking or farming. The couple moved to Kolhapur to work in sugar cane. Ms Owhals role is to tie the cut cane into bundles and carry them on her head toa collection point and then load it onto tractors. The bundles I carry each time weigh almost 50kg (110lb). I make around 100 such trips with the bundles every day to the tractor, says Owhal. The demanding nature of the work takes a toll on women, particularly during their periods. I started bleeding very heavily while carrying the bundles in 2017. Ever since then, every month, my bleeding flow increased. This became a routine, Owhal says. The lack of access to proper sanitary products further exacerbates the struggle. Women resort to using Chumbal, an unclean cloth used to carry cane bundles on the head. This cloth collects pesticides, chemicals, and tiny cane particles, making it an unsuitable and painful makeshift solution during periods. Ms Owhal says she suffered deep pain but also embarrassment, caused by staining her saree during periods while working in the fields. I cramped so severely. But my husband never paid attention to this issue. He said that it is a womens problem, she says. Being unable to work means the loss of daily wages and also a penalty which most in Owhals situation cannot afford. Beed has long been known for abnormally high number of hysterectomies. A government survey in 2018 revealed 36 per cent of women in the district had gone through the procedure. Now, research published this week from the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has discovered a direct link between climate impacts and the number of women having the procedure. Some 253 of 423 Beed households surveyed said that they had been forced to migrate to work in the sugarcane industry. Most of these families said repeated droughts and crop failures at home were the reason. Of the households which migrated, more than half of women (55 per cent) had undergone a hysterectomy, compared to less than a fifth from households that had stayed in Beed (17 per cent). In Beed district, families face a tough choice for survival due to recurring drought, water scarcity, failing crops and a crippling cycle of debt, Ritu Bhardwaj, a principal researcher for IIED, told The Independent. Lata Waghmares baby was killed after being run over by a tractor. Ms Waghmare had no option but to bring her baby when she went to work in the sugarcane fields (IIED) Beyond economic hardships there is a significant personal toll, Ms Bhardwaj added, including the loss of health and well-being due to forced labour in adverse conditions and the mental and psychological toll of undergoing procedures like hysterectomies. Some women told IIED that they were still in their child-bearing age when they underwent the procedure. I delivered my second baby when I was on the sugarcane field, Lata Waghmare, 34, told IIED researchers, who spent days collecting stories from female workers in Kolhapur. I was so scared of taking leave post-delivery because of the khada (leave) charges, she says, referring to the penalty for skipping one days work, which is around 5001,000 rupees (5-10 pounds). I got back to work five days after the delivery, she adds. Ms Bhardwaj says the penalties for missed work or even toilet breaks are often 2 to 4 times what they earn working 12-16 hours a day. To feed her newborn baby, Ms Waghmare faced the agonising decision of bringing her child into the field. While carrying the cane bundles, I kept her on the floor in one corner. The tractor ran over my baby. I lost my child, she said. Despite the devastating and traumatic loss of a child, Ms Waghmare had no time to mourn. The looming threat of financial penalties compelled her to return to work the following day, she says. Later, she decided to have her uterus removed. Yet even after making the agonising decision to have a hysterectomy, the procedure doesnt put an end to many womens suffering. Many women are uninformed about the potential side effects or post-operative care, so quickly return to lifting heavy bundles of cane again. Little did I know back then that, in fact, this was the beginning of health crises, says Ms Owhal. She now suffers severe back pain and leg discomfort, relying on daily painkillers to continue working. Many other women are in the same position, she said. I wish I would have died while getting the hysterectomy done. This post-surgery life is miserable, says 42-year-old Suman Owhal, a canecutter from the same marginalised community as other women. I sweat a lot in the field. My back and legs always hurt. I feel very weak. I feel dizzy while carrying the bundles of cane. The hysterectomy procedure can take a toll on womens mental health, Ms Bhardwaj explains. They suffer from a feeling of worthlessness, a sense of isolation, and many suffered from suicidal thoughts, she says. The workers in the sugar fields are also forced to live in deplorable conditions, with no access to housing or clean toilets. The temporary sheds we live in are made of cloth. They are so small that if we lie down, half of our legs are outside the tents, says Dwarkabai Waghmare, a 40-year-old cane-cutter and mother of eight children. Women wake up around 23 in the night and take a bath in the dark in one of the corners of the field so that nobody can see us, she told IIED. The harsh conditions arent limited to the fields. Families lose out on benefits from government schemes due to forced migration and bureaucratic boundaries. The Indian government issues ration cards to buy food at subsidised rates but these cards only work in peoples home districts. It means that Jodis who are forced to migrate miss out. Half of the year, we cant avail our ration. What is the use of this ration card? asks Sumar Owhal another sugarcane cutter. Ms Orwhal spent 25,000 rupees on having a hysterectomy and continues to pay more for treatments after the operation. Because they are migrant workers in Kolhapur, her family doesnt qualify for any benefits or housing through the Below Poverty Line (BPL) card, nor is she eligible for the governments job guarantee scheme. Ms Bhardwaj says the experiences of female sugarcane cutters should be seen as an impact of the climate crisis. The loss and damage fund - established at 2022s global climate summit Cop27 to compensate people for irreversible losses caused by climate impacts- should be used to compensate these women, she added. When we talk about the losses incurred and the damage done by climate change, were not just talking about flooded apartments in New York, or scorched hillsides in Greece. These womens experiences are also a result of climate change which has decimated their livelihoods, and some of what they have lost their dignity, good health, in some cases their lives is difficult to quantify, she says. Ms Bhardwaj says the money should be used to invest in social protection and enhance healthcare access, incorporating gender-sensitive approaches. By prioritising direct cash or benefit transfers to the most vulnerable communities, including leveraging technology and financial inclusion, the fund can ensure swift support reaches those in need, she says. If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A few ingredients are needed for a classic Barbie doll: confidence, bravery, legendary status, and impeccable style. When inventor Ruth Handler first introduced the pint-sized plastic doll (made in the likeness of an adult) to the world at the 1959 Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, Barbie whose full name was Barbara Millicent Roberts, named after Handlers daughter, Barbara, and was from (fictional) Willows, Wisconsin was wearing her now iconic black and white striped chevron swimsuit, with a pair of white retro cat-eye sunglasses in her hand. Handler, who died in 2002 aged 85, had a revolutionary take on dolls and wanted to change the way children played with them. My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be, she said of her revolutionary invention. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices. Now, Barbie turns 65 and there has been a whole host of incarnations over the years, including the 1977 Superstar Barbie and 1985 Peaches n Cream Barbie. Inspired by the milestone birthday, the 2024 Spring Fashionistas dolls pay homage to Barbies evolving fashion through the years by replicating her iconic looks into modern-day outfits. The Barbie 65th Anniversary collection also revisits some of the most popular careers and fashion looks from Barbies archives. The latest career dolls include a farm vet, pop star and astronaut three of the most popular careers held by Barbie since her creation. One of the 65th Signature Anniversary dolls is inspired by the original 1959 Barbie, dressed in a classic white and black stripe scallop-edged ballgown, with a sheer underskirt paired with black gloves, in a nod back to that iconic swimsuit. A lot of outfits are inspired by female trailblazers across various industries. This is seen through Barbies impressive closet and repertoire of 250+ careers Barbie is never afraid to try new things and inspires her fans to live out their limitless potential, said Kim Culmone, senior vice president and head of design for dolls at Mattel. We are committed to using her platform to share a multi-dimensional view of beauty with kids across the globe. Were proud of our journey with Barbie to be reflective of the world children see around them and we will continue to add representation through careers, fashions, hair textures, style and more. How would Culmone describe Barbies evolving and effervescent style? Barbies style is about self-expression, aspiration and living authentically. Power dressing inspires confidence and empowers you to be unapologetically yourself. Barbie has played a role in the cultivation of personal style and expression across generations. Countless designers have used Barbie as a muse and likewise, Barbie is inspired by pop culture and fashion, she added. Often, Barbie is a designers first introduction to fashion as they dress and style her, they discover the power and delight of storytelling through her closet. Her style is unique as not only does she follow the trends, she sets them. One thing stays the same though she is always a source of inspiration and creativity. She evolves with the times, never allowing her style to go stagnant. Her wardrobe is limitless. All in one day, Barbie can rock a glamorous designer gown to breakfast, wear an astronaut suit to space for work, and then transition to the latest street style for dinner. Barbie is at her best when her looks are reflective of whats happening now in fashion. When Greta Gerwigs Barbie movie starring Australian actress and producer Margot Robbie, Canadian actor Ryan Gosling, American stars Issa Rae and America Ferrera, among others came out last year, there was a sharp rise in the Barbiecore trend, with hot pink having a moment. The trend, which encapsulates Barbies larger-than-life pink aesthetic and idyllic way of living, often paired with nostalgic accessories, was sported by celebrities such as Florence Pugh, Lizzo and Vanessa Hudgens, and even made a mark on fashion runways including the Valentino 2023 autumn/winter show in collaboration with Pantone Color Institute, which featured the bright Pink PP hue created exclusively for the Italian fashion house. I loved seeing fans lean into Barbiecore, said Culmone. We are seeing the world reclaim hyper-femininity, and Barbie is here for it. Ive always said pink is not a passive colour; its a power colour. Pink has always been Barbies favourite colour she even has her own signature Barbie Pink Pantone shade (PMS 219). In the 1970s, the team strategically began to prominently [use] the colour pink in packaging. This creative shift contributed to the pink association with the brand. For Barbie, pink stands for limitless potential and is a symbol of empowerment, adds Culmone noting that a book, Barbie: The World Tour, will also be published on March 19, commemorating how movie star Robbie and stylist Andrew Mukamal brought some of Barbies most memorial outfits and curated vintage pieces to the red carpet during the films press tour. Barbie first stepped into the fashion scene 65 years ago, Culmone continued. Since then, shes secured her place in history with her incredible wardrobe, amazing resume, and has been dressed by the worlds most famous designers inspiring millions as their first fashion muse and strong female role model. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} International Womens Day (IWD) has arrived, but acknowledging the many accomplishments and innovations created by women should occur all year long. This years International Womens Day aims to inspire inclusion with its campaign theme for 2024. Around the world, people are encouraged to forge a more inclusive world for women by engaging in diverse hiring practices, supporting female entrepreneurship, helping women and girls make informed decisions about their health, and providing women and girls with access to quality education and training. Not only does International Womens Day inspire us to take actionable steps toward the future of female empowerment, but it also allows us the opportunity to reflect on the strides made by women of the past. In fact, there are many essential items and inventions we still use to this day that were created or pioneered by women. According to the United States Library of Congress, we may never know the full extent of female innovation because many women inventors didnt use their own names on patent applications. They often filed patents using their husbands name, or just initials to hide their identity. In some instances, womens inventions were never patented or were sold to a corporation who then patented the idea. In honour of International Womens Day - and Womens History Month all throughout March - heres a look at some of the most important things you might not have known were invented by women. Birth control pill As womens reproductive health faces looming uncertainty and attacks from conservative lawmakers in the US, perhaps now more than ever its important to amplify the history of the oral contraceptive. Margaret Sanger spearheaded years of education, research, and funding that went into developing oral contraceptives - whats commonly known as the birth control pill. In 1923, Sanger opened an entirely female-staffed birth control clinic, which would later become the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. As a lifelong advocate for womens reproductive health, she recruited medical expert Gregory Pincus to help her develop a birth control pill. Their collaborative effort, along with funding from International Harvester heiress Katharine McCormick, led to the first oral contraceptive pill, Enovid, getting approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1960. Caller ID Dr Shirley Ann Jackson is an award-winning theoretical physicist whose work led to several advancements in telecommunications, including caller ID, call waiting, fiber optic cables, and the portable fax machine. She was the first Black woman to receive a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, while Time Magazine has called her perhaps the ultimate role model for women in science. Dishwasher Josephine Cochran was the inventor of the first commercially successful dishwashing machine. According to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, she was inspired to design a washing device in the late 19th century after finding dishes chipped from hand washing. The original invention featured a set of wire compartments placed inside a wheel, which was laid flat inside a copper boiler. A motor then turned the wheel, pumping hot soapy water from the bottom of the boiler. Refrigerator Throughout much of the early 20th century, people relied on ice boxes to keep their perishable foods fresh. That is until Florence Parpart patented the modern electric fridge in 1914. While variations of the refrigerator had been developed before Parpart, some designs used unsafe liquid chemicals that would leak, making it dangerous for homes. Parpart - along with her husband Hiram D Layman - improved the refrigerator using water and electricity, a recent innovation of the time, to circulate water throughout the appliance to keep it cold. Medical syringe When it comes to advancements in medicine, a nurse named Letitia Mumford Geer changed healthcare forever with the one-handed syringe. In 1896, she filed a patent for the glass syringe, which could be operated with one hand. The design featured a glass barrel with measurements, a rubber plunger that could draw fluids into the syringe, a hook-shaped handle that was easy to grip, and an attachable and disposable needle. Since then, her innovation has served as the basis for modern medical syringes we see today. Windshield wiper Its a little known fact that the windshield wiper was invented by a young woman named Mary Anderson. In the early 1900s, Anderson conceived her idea of a windshield wiper blade that could be operated from inside a vehicle after witnessing drivers often struggle to see during rainy weather. The design consisted of a level placed inside a car, which controlled a spring-loaded arm with a rubber blade that swung across the windshield. Andersons patent was approved in 1903, and her invention later became standard vehicle equipment. Circular saw Tabitha Babbitt is credited with inventing the first circular saw for use in a saw mill, between 1810 and 1813. Her circular saw improved upon previous designs of the time by attaching a circular blade to a spinning wheel. Natural gas furnace Much of the central home heating systems we use today can be attributed to Alice H Parker, a Black woman who invented a heating furnace powered by natural gas. The Howard University graduate filed the patent for her heating system invention in 1918. Her design drew cool air into the furnace, then conveyed it through a heat exchanger that delivered warm air through ducts to individual rooms of a house. Hairbrush Thanks to Lyda Newman, a Black womens rights activist, were able to brush our hair every day. Her invention of the hairbrush was inspired by her own experience working as a hairdresser in New York City. At the time, most hairbrush bristles were made using animal hair. Instead, she used synthetic fibers, which were stronger and did not break as easily when used on her clients hair. The bristles were lined in evenly spaced rows, which could be detached and reattached for easy cleaning. She received a patent for her invention in 1898, paving the way for one well-known Black female inventor who revolutionised the hair care industry: Madam CJ Walker, the first female self-made millionaire in America. Chocolate chip cookie While the chocolate chip cookie isnt necessarily an essential invention, Ruth Graves Wakefields recipe forever changed the way we think about dessert. As legend goes, the American chef and cookbook author initially planned on baking Butter Drop Do cookies for guests at her Toll House Inn, the Massachusetts restaurant and inn she opened with her husband Kenneth in 1930. The only chocolate she had in her kitchen was a Nestle semi-sweet chocolate bar, so she chopped the bar into bits. To her surprise, the chocolate didnt melt during baking. Bras Perhaps the most pivotal invention in womens fashion was the bra, patented by American publisher Caresse Crosby. Born Mary Phelps Jacob, she developed the modern backless brassiere when she was just 19 years old, after sewing together two handkerchiefs and a pink ribbon. She secured a patent for the backless brassiere in 1914 and founded the Fashion Form Brassiere Company, where she manufactured the bra. Crosby would go on to sell the patent to Warner Brothers Corset Company for $1,500, an acquisition that is believed to have earned the company millions. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Nisha Katona never bowed to the expectation put on women with children to be risk-averse with a huge career shift in her forties, saying she felt a duty to show her daughters there is nothing you cannot be. The TV chef and restaurateur, who opened her first Mowgli eatery this time 10 years ago, giving up her 20-year-career as a child protection barrister to do so, says the noise against which I built this business was other women saying you need to be there for your children not have ambitions for yourself. A decade later, she has 21 restaurants across the UK and three more due to open in 2024, alongside a charitable arm, The Mowgli Trust, which has so far donated over 1.6m. The mum-of-two is a judge on BBCs Great British Menu, a regular on ITVs This Morning, picked up an MBE in 2019 and has just released her sixth cookbook, Bold. In that sense, life, for me started in my 40s, she says. Within the four corners of motherhood, there is also a duty to demonstrate that there is nothing you cannot be. My little, half-brown girls are growing up thinking, shes on telly as well talking about Italian food that means theres nothing we cannot attempt at least, says the 52-year-old, who was born in Ormskirk, Lancashire, to Indian parents. Since the dawn of time we [women] have held our heads quite low, we have kept our eyes to the ground, we have been respectful and yielding the rest of the world could learn from us, really. But women in their 40s, 50s and beyond have a lot to offer businesses. As an older woman particularly, youve had your corners knocked off, you know which battles to fight, theres no pride, youre not there to flex your muscles and strut, youre there to make it better for the people around you, says Katona, who employs 1,000 staff members. Particularly if youve had children and youve been through the warfare of making them happy, you understand diplomacy like no one else, you understand humility and open mindedness like no one else the business world needs you. We are so underrepresented, its appalling, she adds. Indeed, Katona wanted her maternal side to be a big part of Mowgli. Ten years ago, what you saw on the television was the brutal nature of kitchens and you still see it to an extent this military, macho way of running a kitchen. I bring a zero tolerance policy to any shouting, bullying or aggression. Any of that testosterone dripping off the walls, I have no time for you, go find somewhere else to work, she says. While her restaurants celebrate the homecooked and street foods of India, Katonas new cookbook is more of a representation of the way she eats at home, while also being inspired by her travels around the world. Within the four corners of motherhood, there is also a duty to demonstrate that there is nothing you cannot be Its classic recipes with an usual twist; think cauliflower and dark chocolate risotto, chicken and banana korma, or anchovy and cheesy pineapple croquetas, alongside puddings like thyme apple tart cake, or marmite caramel blondies. It really is that phrase of just trust me on this, she laughs. [The recipes] arent crazy, but just left of what you would think. Just leading you by the hand into that step of boldness and bravery, really the way the world cooks using whatever is available inside, or growing just outside the front door. Its that reaching into the back of the cupboard and seeing what there might be or in the back of the fridge theres miso and parmesan, would that work with something sweet, says Katona, in reference to a recipe for miso parmesan doughnuts. They may feel like usual combinations youd see at a trendy, high end restaurant menu, but Katona wants to give people the courage to use that in a domestic setting. The cooking in her own home, a small holding filled with animals in the Wirral, is influenced also by the heritage of her husband, Hungarian classical guitarist Zoltan (of The Katona Twins fame). Katonas new cookbook is more of a representation of the way she eats at home (Nourish Books) From clear soups, to rice pudding made with tagliatelle instead of rice, to cabbage parcels, Eastern European food is extraordinary, I cook Hungarian maybe two or three times a week, she says. Her daughters one who is studying to be a barrister and the other working in the marketing department of her mothers business speak the language fluently, as does Katona (I had to win my mother-in-law over!), with the households third language being Bengali. [My] Indian parents came over in the 1960s as doctors and youre really raised to think youve got to work harder than everyone else. I think thats a real immigrant mentality as well, youre raised to think if you get a job youre lucky in this country. The racism her parents experienced as the only Indian family in the village was horrendous, she says, adding: Youre so used to it from birth. My earliest memory was a brick being thrown through the nursery window [and] people setting fire to bottles with rags in. What it made us do is just desperately yearn to be liked and many cultures would use food to do that. So we feed people. The only reason Ive got any friends I think is because of garam masala, honestly! BOLD: Big Flavour Twists to Classic Dishes by Nisha Katona (Nourish Books, 30). Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The 96th Academy Awards are almost here, and the coveted Oscar trophy isnt the only prize that nominees will be taking home. This years Oscars ceremony takes place on Sunday 10 March at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel will once again serve as the evenings host, as Hollywoods biggest stars go head-to-head in the nights biggest categories. Among the list of nominees includes Emma Stone (Poor Things), Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) and director Christopher Nolan, who is widely tipped to win his first ever Academy Award for Oppenheimer. While only some actors, screenwriters, or directors will be able to win the Oscar, nominees wont be going home entirely empty handed. For the 22nd year, Los Angeles-based marketing company Distinctive Assets will be handing out luxury gift bags to 25 Oscar nominees in the acting and directing categories. Inside the Everyone Wins Nominee Gift Bags - which is reportedly worth more than $170,000 - are nearly 60 items, the most valuable being a three-night stay at a luxury Swiss chalet for 10 people worth $50,000. We are humbled that our Everyone Wins Nominee Gift Bag continues to garner worldwide media attention and spark conversation. While our gifts may be famous for being fun, fabulous and unique, they also serve to elevate small businesses, minority-owned brands, female entrepreneurs and companies who give back. This is celebrity marketing with a mission, said Distinctive Assets founder Lash Fary in a press release. Heres whats inside the 2024 Oscars gift bags worth over $170,000. The goody bag includes several luxurious trips, the most expensive one being an all-inclusive getaway to Switzerland from Chalet Zermatt Peak. Each nominee can invite up to nine guests for a three-night stay at the five-star destination. Recipients will also receive a seven-day wellness retreat to Golden Door in San Marcos, California, as well as three nights in a private villa at Saint-Barth Paradise in the Caribbean. Nominees will be gifted Miages five-piece set of transformative skincare products, several THOR Kitchen appliances - including the brands 45-bottle wine cooler worth almost $2,000 - and 10,000 donated meals from v-dog in support of Petas Global Compassion Fund. (Miage / Distinctive Assets) Included in the gift bag is 1MD Nutritions LiverMD supplement, Adonis Arcana mens grooming and skincare products, ultra-premium Antigua Cruz Anejo Cristalino Tequila, AURO WELLNESS Glutaryl topical glutathione and a 45-minute wellness consultation with Dr Nayan Patel. Also included is a BAGCEIT portable purse seat, BlendQuiks Personal Portable Blender, and a private session with magician and mentalist Carl Reads Minds. The gift bag will also include sustainable upcycled designer pillows from Cate Brown, a microneedling treatment from Potenza RF worth $10,000, a 3D printed full-color selfie figurine by dooplikit, and eleve adaptogen-infused sparkling water. EpicLight Beautys Radiant Duo blush and lip balm will also be handed out, as well as handmade vegan chocolate by Fetcha Chocolates, Gin Bothy award-winning small-batch Scottish gin, and the Deafinitely Divine Glow Kit from deaf-owned luxury bath and body brand Hotsy Totsy Haus. Nominees will also receive skincare products from INSTYTUTUM, a private sound bath session with celebrity sound healer Kate Schofiel, a complimentary home project management from Maison Construction, a collectors edition of the Rubiks Retro Cube, a portable infrared grill from Schwank Grills, a sleep consultation voucher from Wesper, black licorice from Windy City Sweets, and the book You Talkin to Me? by Brian Abrams, among other goodies. While this gift bag does, as always, have an impressive six-figure value, that is neither our focus nor goal, Fary said. Just as any A-list actor doesnt need millions of dollars to walk onto a film set, these gifts are given based on the invaluable stardust these nominees can bestow upon a brand. Of course, they can afford to buy these things; they are also in a uniquely favourable marketing position. This is a straightforward win/win transaction. This years top acting and directing nominees include Colman Domingo, Jeffrey Wright, Lily Gladstone, Carey Mulligan, Sterling K Brown, Mark Ruffalo, Danielle Brooks, America Ferrera, DaVine Joy Randolph, and Christopher Nolan. The 2024 Oscars will air live on ABC on Sunday 10 March at 7pm ET. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Palace has broken its silence over unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate Middletons health being shared on social media. The Princess of Wales, 42, was seen for the first time in public two days ago after she was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery in January for an unspecified condition. Gossip website TMZ snapped the princess in an Audi 4x4 near Windsor, alongside her mother Carole Middleton. The exact details of the princesss condition have not been revealed but the Palace said previously it was not cancer-related, and that Kate wished her personal medical information to remain private. Kate has been recovering after medical treatment (Getty Images) Her absence from the public eye, and Prince William performing fewer public duties in recent weeks, has sparked a series of unfounded conspiracy theories online that speculated on the royals whereabouts. Referring to William, a royal spokesperson told People magazine: His focus is on his work and not on social media. The Independent has reached out to Kensington Palace for comment. Previously the palace has said the princess is doing well. It comes as Kates uncle Gary Goldsmith, sister to her mother Carole Middleton, hit out at Meghan Markle in the Celebrity Big Brother house on Tuesday night. Kates uncle Gary Goldsmith describes first time he met Prince William (GB News/ITV) He said: I have a feeling that Harry was really, really loved. When they were a threesome so Kate, William and Harry they looked really comfortable together. Then suddenly theres an extra dynamic that comes in, puts a stick in the spokes, and creates so much drama that I dont genuinely think was there and rewrote the history and saying how unhappy he was. And I just dont think thats fair. You cant throw your family under the bus, write books about it, and then expect to be invited around for Christmas. The 58-year-old also mentioned in conversation with Sharon Osbourne that he hoped Harry would return to the UK and that he thought the nation would forgive him. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rupert Murdoch has reportedly got engaged for the sixth time at the age of 92. On 7 March, the Australian-born media moguls office confirmed to the New York Times that he will be heading down the aisle with 66-year-old retired molecular biologist Elena Zhukova, with the wedding set to take place in June at his California estate and vineyard, Moraga. The upcoming wedding would mark Murdochs fifth marriage. The mogul was last married to supermodel and Mick Jaggers ex-wife Jerry Hall from 2016 to 2022. He first got married in 1956 to flight attendant Patricia Booker. However, the pair divorced after 11 years of marriage in 1967. They share one child, daughter Prudence. Within the same year of divorcing Booker, Murdoch married his second wife, Scottish journalist Anna Maria Torv, and they shared three children: Elisabeth, Lachlan, and James. In 1999, they divorced after 32 years of marriage. Months later, Murdoch married Wendi Deng, with whom he shares two daughters, Grace and Chloe. The pair divorced in 2013. After he and supermodel Jerry Hall divorced in the summer of 2022, Murdoch had a short-lived engagement with retired dental hygienist Ann Lesley Smith in the spring of 2023, but it ended after just two weeks. That summer, Murdoch and Zhukova reportedly began to see each other. When news broke of their relationship, it was revealed by the Daily Mail that Murdochs third wife, Wendi Deng, was the one to introduce the pair. Zhukova is a distinguished molecular biologist who primarily studies diabetes, having taken her research to institutions all over the world, including the University of California, Los Angeles. Towards the end of the Soviet Union, she came to the US from Moscow alongside her ex-husband, Alexander Zhukov, who eventually became a billionaire energy investor. Their daughter, philanthropist Dasha Zhukova, was married to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich until 2017. News of their engagement comes months after he handed over the reins of his media empire to his son, Lachlan Murdoch. In September he announced that he was retiring as the chief of Fox Corp and News Corp, but planned on maintaining a role as chairman emeritus as his son transitioned into the role he left behind. For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change, he wrote in a letter to employees at the time. But the time is right for me to take on different roles, knowing that we have truly talented teams and a passionate, principled leader in Lachlan who will become sole Chairman of both companies. Murdochs latest marriage will be unlikely to have any significant impact on his business affairs since Fox Corp and News Corp are controlled by a family trust, in which all of the shares belong to him and his four eldest children: Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan, and James. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} While his college friends celebrated the end of midterm exams with a spring break trip to Florida, 21-year-old Wyatt Gable entered the home stretch of his bid to oust a 10-term Republican from the North Carolina House. Weeks spent phone banking after class and driving about an hour home on the weekends to knock on doors paid off. The East Carolina University junior narrowly beat state Rep. George Cleveland, 84, this week in a primary election in which he cast himself as the future of the Republican Party." Gable's victory comes as voters nationwide express misgivings about the older ages of the frontrunners in the 2024 presidential race. Gable, who described himself as a big Trump supporter," said he hopes that his candidacy injects youthful energy into a Republican Party that is often dominated by older people at county meetings. While some voters told him he was too young to hold office, Gable said, others considered his opponent too old. A lot of people were just ready for a fresh face," Gable said in an interview. Gable is the president of East Carolina's chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth group founded by right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk. In addition to his political advocacy against causes like gender-expansive restroom access, the business management major said he runs club track and plays intramural sports. The education system's response to the COVID-19 pandemic compelled Gable to pursue elected office. As an unvaccinated freshman in college, Gable said, he was required to test every week for the disease. Failure to do so risked the deactivation of his student identification card, which meant no access to dining halls. He perceived the policy, which sought to limit the spread of the disease, as total control. While sitting in a microeconomics class one day, Gable said, he sent an email about the issue to Cleveland, the lawmaker he defeated this week. Gable said he never got a response. I felt like no one really cared or didn't want to do anything, he said. So, I'm going to be the one that does something. Gable hopes one day those ambitions could propel him to the governors mansion. Cleveland, a former Marine Corps drill instructor who leads a budget subcommittee for dozens of state agencies, did not return a message seeking comment. Cleveland represented his constituents well, Onslow County GOP chair Christine Card said. But she thinks the national conversation around politicians' ages left voters wanting someone new. I don't think it's a vote against Rep. Cleveland, she said. It's a vote for change and a vote for youth. Card commended Gable for taking the race seriously, noting that he even enlisted his buddies to help contact voters. Gable estimates that he alone knocked on 1,000 doors and made 400 phone calls. Supporters handed out campaign materials at almost every voting precinct on election day, Gable added. He will face Democrat Carmen Spicer in November. He is expected to win the general election in rural Onslow County, home to Camp Lejeune and 120 miles southeast of Raleigh, the capital. Donald Trump won three out of every five votes cast in the district for the 2020 presidential election. In the North Carolina General Assembly, Gable plans to tackle education. He said high school students should take more home economics, shop and carpentry classes so they're prepared for the real world. He also wants to put more emphasis on physical activity. Im still in college, so who better to work on the education system than someone thats a part of it? Gable said. Any first-year representative will face a learning curve, Card said. But Gables determination to challenge a longtime incumbent shows something about what hes made of, she said, and his inexperience wont be a problem. Gable stressed that he would represent constituents of all ages, but that it's important to include younger voices in public service. He wants to use his platform to improve turnout among people ages 18-29 and encourage that demographic to vote Republican. He acknowledged that the last goal needs a lot of work. The GOP has performed poorly in every election cycle since 2016, he said, and voters don't always believe the party offers many solutions. Rebranding as a party and not electing the same cookie-cutter candidates," he said, is going to be a big part of it. ___ Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two American men face a new trial Friday in the slaying of an Italian plainclothes police officer during a botched sting operation after Italys highest court threw out their convictions. Italys highest Cassation Court ordered a new trial last year saying that it had not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants, with limited Italian language skills, had understood that they were dealing with Italian police officers when they went to meet an alleged drug dealer. Finnegan Lee Elder and Gabriel Natale-Hjort, who were teens at the time of the July 26, 2019 slaying of Carabinieri Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega, will be present in a Rome appeals court for the new trial. The friends from California were found guilty in the 2021 of murder and four other counts, and handed sentences of life in prison, Italys harshest punishment. The sentences were reduced to 24 years for Elder and 22 years for Natale-Hjorth on appeal. Prosecutors alleged Elder, who was 19 at the time, stabbed Cerciello Rega 11 times with a knife that he brought with him on his trip to Europe and that Natale-Hjorth, then 18, helped him hide the knife in their hotel room. Natale-Hjorth testified that he grappled with Cerciello Regas partner and was unaware of the stabbing when he ran back to a hotel. The two friends had arranged to meet a small-time drug dealer, who turned out to be a police informant, to recover money lost in a bad deal and return a backpack they had snatched in retaliation, when they were confronted by the officers. Elder and Natale-Hjorth were school friends from Northern California who were meeting up for a few days in Rome, where Natale-Hjorth had family. The murder of 35-year-old Cerciello Rega shocked Italians, who mourned him as a national hero. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A firearms officer who shot dead Chris Kaba has been named for the first time. The 40-year-old officer charged with the murder of Mr Kaba had his identity revealed as Martyn Blake by a judge at the Old Bailey on Friday. Mr Kaba, who had been due to become a father, was killed by a single gunshot to the head on 5 September 2022 in Streatham Hill, south London. Rapper Chris Kaba, 24, was shot dead in London (PA) The 24-year-old, who was a construction worker and also performed as a rapper under the alias Madix or Mad Itch, was shot through the windscreen of the Audi Q8 he was driving following a pursuit with Metropolitan Police officers. It later emerged that the vehicle Mr Kaba was driving which did not belong to him had been linked to a firearms incident the previous day. Members of Mr Kabas family were in court at the Old Bailey on Friday as the officer was publicly named for the first time. Appearing in the dock, Blake spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, and entered a not guilty plea to the charge of murder. He was released on bail and is due to face trial on 2 October. Previously known only as NX121, Blake was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service in September last year following a review of evidence provided by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which carried out an investigation. At a hearing at the Old Bailey in October, Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC ruled the police marksman would be publicly named the following year as doing so posed no immediate risk to his life. Following multiple extensions, the anonymity order has now been lifted by the judge at the same court. The armed officers name and date of birth can be reported, but neither his home address nor any image of him can be published. Kabas death sparked protests across the UK (Getty) No on-duty police officer has ever been found guilty of murder or manslaughter in relation to a police shooting, despite critical evidence arising from inquests, inquiries, and investigations, according to the charity Inquest. Deborah Coles, director of Inquest, said: Police cannot and should not be above the law. Accountability for police officers and forces involved in death, even where evidence of criminality and wrongdoing is identified, is extremely rare. In any other murder trial, the accused would be publicly named. This case is no different. We welcome todays decision. Responding to news of Mr Blakes naming, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labours MP for Streatham, wrote on X/Twitter: My thoughts and prayers are with Chriss friends and family as their fight for justice continues. The death of Mr Kaba sparked protests across the UK, as Black communities expressed concern over the fatal shooting. Mr Kabas mother Helen Lumuanganu has repeatedly called for answers, with a rally of hundreds led by his family outside the headquarters of the Met Police among the demonstrations held. In a statement issued following the judges decision to lift the anonymity order last year, Mr Kabas family thanked the court for working in the public interest of open justice, adding: We must be allowed to know the name of the man who shot and killed our much-loved son, brother and fiance. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said in a statement at the time: I recognise that for officers this decision will be hugely concerning, and that the impact of this and recent cases is felt right across armed policing and beyond. He added that the Met acknowledged the courts judgment, saying: We take seriously the open justice principle. This is the 12th murder and/or manslaughter charge to have been brought against an on-duty police officer involved in a death since 1990, and the fourth relating to a police shooting. Only one of these prosecutions has resulted in an officer being found guilty of manslaughter, following the death of Dalian Atkinson in 2016. Close Police find Constance Martens baby in a rubbish-filled shopping bag For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Aristocrat Constance Marten has called the death of her newborn baby a horrible accident that couldve happened to anyone. Marten, 36, and her partner Mark Gordon, 49, are on trial after their daughter Victoria died while they were camping on the South Downs in wintry conditions last year. Following their arrests last February, the infants badly decomposed body was found in an allotment shed inside a Lidl supermarket bag that also contained soil and rubbish. On Thursday, her fifth day of giving evidence in her trial, the mother was also cross-examined at the Old Bailey about the couples decision to buy a tent and live off grid to hide from authorities, telling jurors: Babies dont require that much to survive. The couple deny charges of gross negligence manslaughter of Victoria between 4 January and 27 February last year, charges of perverting the course of justice by concealing the body, along with concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty, and allowing the death of a child. The trial resumes on Friday when the cross-examination of Marten is set to continue. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Aristocrat Constance Marten told jurors she feels responsible for falling asleep on her newborn while living in a tent on the run with Mark Gordon. The 36-year-old mother-of-five, who denies gross negligence manslaughter of her daughter Victoria, told the Old Bailey the baby was her pride and joy. The infant died while the couple were living off-grid in a tent in wintry conditions after going on the run to stop her from being taken into care like her four older siblings. The prosecution alleges the couples reckless and utterly selfish behaviour led to the entirely avoidable death of the newborn. But the mother told the court Victoria, who she delivered unaided in an Airbnb on Christmas Eve 2022, died after she fell asleep with her zipped inside her jacket on 9 January last year. Giving evidence for a second day on Friday, she told the jury she believes she may have fallen asleep on the youngster after they pitched a tent in Newhaven to lay low. She was our pride and joy. I had four kids. I know how to look after children. Our primary concern was Victoria, she told the court. I do feel responsible for falling asleep on her if thats what happened. Im not sure because the autopsy was inconclusive but I do feel responsible for her. Marten and Gordon deny gross negligence manslaughter of their daughter Victoria (PA) Answering questions from her barrister Francis Fitzgibbon KC, the mother said she and Gordon stayed put in Newhaven for several days in the wake of the death, until the pair travelled to Brighton on 12 January with Victorias remains in a Lidl carrier bag. She said they were in a state of grief and fear and she considered handing herself in, but feared she would be blamed for the infants death. She explained she had previously read about other parents who were wrongly jailed for their childs death during family court proceedings over her four other children. I was too scared to take that risk because I knew that with all the press coverage I felt that people wanted something negative to have happened and they wouldnt believe the truth, she told the court. Marten, who was wearing a white floral blouse and dark trousers, said Gordon became anorexically thin and very unwell in the weeks that followed after they stopped venturing into shops for food amid fears they would be caught. They left Victorias body in the tent a couple of times but usually carried her with them, disguising themselves with glasses and a cap, the court was told. But they were finally arrested on 27 February after they were spotted purchasing food and taking out cash from a shop in Brighton. The infants remains were eventually found several days later in a Lidl shopping bag in a disused shed, covered in rubbish. Asked why she did not tell police what had happened to Victoria straight away, she replied: I was terrified. Scared of this happening whats happening nowbeing on trial. She said she did not want them to find her remains, which the couple had left in the allotment shed where they had been sleeping after they had been number one in the news for so long. The moment police arrested Marten in Brighton after weeks on the run (Police) Under cross-examination, the mother insisted she gave her daughter the best level of care and told the court that accidents happen. I showed my baby the maximum amount of love that I had to give, she told prosecutor Joel Smith. Mr Smith, in life, accidents happen and they are tragic but its not something I could have foreseen in any way, shape or form. Facing questions over whether it was safe to raise a newborn in a tent in winter, she argued the court was looking at the issue from a Western perspective citing children in Mongolia, children living in igloos and refugees raising infants in Calais. She also claimed that her two oldest children suffered abuse after being taken into care and that a family court was wrong to take them away, adding: I think it is a very, very corrupt system. Mr Smith asserted that Marten and Gordon went underground with baby Victoria because she thought social services were wrong. He asked: Has it occurred to you that they were right? Marten replied: Victoria would be alive if it were not for them. Im not saying they are to blame for her death. Im saying we were in a very unfortunate position. Mr Smith went on: Has it occurred to you in trying to prove them wrong you proved them more right than ever? The defendant replied: I wasnt trying to prove them wrong I was trying to bring her up with the love that she deserves with her parents. She also claimed she put on a fake Irish accent and gave birth to her first child under a false identity because she was trying to flee her bigoted family. I had to escape my family because my family are extremely oppressive and bigoted and they wouldnt allow me to have children with my husband and would do anything to erase the child from the family line, she told the court. It is the second day of evidence from Marten, who yesterday insisted she had shown baby Victoria nothing but love and choked back tears as she relived the moment she awoke to find Victoria dead inside her coat as they camped on the South Downs. She told the court she and Gordon acted on impulse and instinct after their car caught fire on 5 January and travelled the country by taxi fearing her family was using private investigators to trail them. Eventually they bought a tent and took a taxi to the port at Newhaven to lay low away from prying eyes amid a high-profile police appeal to find them, she told the jury. The couple both deny gross negligence manslaughter of their daughter Victoria between 4 January and 27 February last year. They also deny charges of perverting the course of justice by concealing the body, along with concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty, and allowing the death of a child. The trial continues. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A jealous housemate who battered a woman with a hairdryer and stabbed her to death after spying on her with hidden surveillance devices has been jailed for life. Sheldon Rodrigues, 30, repeatedly knifed Stephanie Hansen, 39, after she turned down his romantic advances and began a relationship with a married work colleague. He obsessively began listening in on her using a device he had hidden inside a television unit, and spent an estimated 158 hours spying on her without her knowledge. He also used the name of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to send an abusive message via Facebook and complained to their employer, the aviation firm Swissport near Heathrow. Sentencing him to life with a minimum term of 25 years, Judge Judy Khan KC said Rodrigues carried out a campaign of harassment and intimidation. She said the attack was sustained and ferocious, and was premeditated due to his anger at Ms Hansen. She was brutally killed on 30 December after Rodrigues learned that her boyfriend had visited her at their house in Hayes, west London, while he was at work. Shortly before 6am, father-of-three Celso Cabillan left her house, unaware that Rodrigues had been listening in on the couples date with a Micromax phone hidden in the living room. Sheldon Rodrigues repeatedly stabbed his housemate after spying on her and her new boyfriend (PA) He arrived home at 6.50am and shortly after exploded with rage and brutally attacked Ms Hansen, who was still in her pyjamas in her bedroom. He stabbed her repeatedly in the neck and battered her over the head and face with a hairdryer and large fan with severe force, jurors were told. Prosecutor Gareth Patterson KC said: The evidence of the injuries shows that this was a vicious attack, the knife wounds numbering 20 in total, the blunt impact injuries numbering 39. Fighting back tears, Glenda Hansen, the victims mother, told Rodrigues: You took her life and you stole her future. Speaking about the murder trial, she went on: You made us sit through weeks of torment and listen to your lies. Ms Hansen, who cleaned parks in her spare time, introduced the defendant to the family because she trusted him and they did too, the court heard. Russel Hansen, the victims younger brother, who has served in the army, said: Our world has forever been altered, people tell me time will heal, I dont believe them. Rodrigues, of Willenhall Drive, Hayes, denied murder and claimed he set up recording devices for her safety. She had turned down Rodrigues advances for a romantic relationship (PA) But jurors heard of a wealth of evidence against him, despite Rodrigues attempts to cast suspicion on the victims boyfriend. The defendants long-standing obsession was exposed in messages on his phone dating back to 2015. In 2021, he wrote: It hurts to see you every day knowing youll never like me, to which she responded: I do like you but just not enough. He appeared not to accept the rejection, offering to change and have surgery to alter his looks, with the pair moving to share a house in Willenhall Drive in April 2021 to share bills. Messages between them suggested there had been some intimacy, but Ms Hansen said it was a mistake and she only wanted to be friends. By late 2022, Ms Hansen was in a relationship with Mr Cabillan, which angered the defendant, the court was told. Rodrigues, who worked as a cargo agent at another firm near Heathrow, spent more than 100 hours listening in on Ms Hansen while he was at work or visiting India, where he was born, averaging three hours a day. In November 2022, he emailed Swissport under a fake name to complain that Mr Cabillan was loitering about and trying to have an affair with his partner. He bought a spy camera device designed to make secret recordings inside the house and monitor Ms Hansens new relationship. A spy plug covert listening device was also found on a shelf in the defendants bedroom. On 8 December, the defendant allegedly used the name Jamie Oliver to message Ms Hansens boyfriend on Facebook saying his girlfriend and child would be kidnapped. Two days later, he paid a man 100 to drive him around in a car and follow Mr Cabillan, it was alleged. Mr Cabillan realised he was being followed and reported it to police, but the defendant denied it. On December 20, Rodrigues messaged Ms Hansen to say he had been a psycho before searching the internet for how to make a woman fall in love with him, the court was told. Jurors were shown CCTV footage of Mr Cabillan leaving Ms Hansens home early on 30 December. The defendant was later to claim Mr Cabillan was the killer and wrote a letter to Swissport saying: He killed my housemate Stephanie Hansen the night he stayed at the house. I found her upon returning home. But Mr Patterson said she was alive and well after Mr Cabillan left, as she sent a string of text messages and used Siri on her phone. She did not leave the house to go to Westfield shopping centre as she had planned, and WhatsApp messages from Mr Cabillan after 7am went unread, jurors were told. After killing Ms Hansen, the defendant left her body in the bedroom and visited Boots to buy bandages for a cut to his hand which he claimed he got from household work. The defendant then set about laying a false defence, sending text messages to Ms Hansens phone asking where she was and pretending she was still at Westfield, it was claimed. Mr Patterson said: Of course, he knew fine well exactly where she was, lying on the floor of her bedroom in that small house in which he remained for around 24 hours. He eventually rang the emergency services and pretended that he had just found the body unexpectedly. Rodrigues went on to lie to an officer at the scene, saying he cut his hand carving a chicken on Christmas Day, although more recent CCTV evidence showed him giving a colleague a high five at work. Jurors were shown a picture of the victims bare legs with drops of the defendants blood on them, with Rodrigues DNA, most likely from semen, found on her stomach. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Black man has been acquitted of hate crime charges after sending a raccoon emoji to a prospective Conservative MP on social media in a case that fuelled mounting concerns that anti-racist legislation is now being weaponised against ethnic minority groups . The man, then aged 26 years old, was reported to the police by Ben Obese-Jecty, who is of mixed Black/white heritage, for posting the image on X, formerly known as Twitter, in September 2022. During a heated exchange with Mr Obese-Jecty, who is the prospective MP for Huntingdon, the man posted a clown and raccoon emoji. The term c**n, much like coconut, is an intra-communal insult among Black and Asian people used to describe other people from minoritised communities who are perceived as being sympathetic with white supremacist agendas. It implies that the person is brown on the outside but white on the inside. Following the police complaint and further enquiries, the man was charged with racially aggravated malicious communications and appeared in Wood Green crown court in February and a white-majority jury returned a not guilty verdict on both counts after a three-day hearing. The man was represented by Achom and Partners law firm and his solicitor confirmed the cases outcome with The Independent - and that he was acquitted on the basis that he typed the word c**n when he meant to say clown and was being playful by adding a raccoon emoji. As part of this police investigation, the man lost jobs and his house was raided, The Independent was told. He was held in a cell for 10 hours, placed in a police car, interviewed under caution, searched, and had his phone seized. In September 2022 Mr Obese-Jecty tweeted about the killing of rapper Chris Kaba, who was shot by a Metropolitan Police officer. An officer, named on Friday as Martyn Blake, is due to stand trial for murder. Rapper Chris Kaba who was shot by armed Metropolitan Police officer Martyn Blake (PA Media) In the tweet Mr Obese-Jecty described politicians and commentators who protested against the killing of Chris Kaba as hysterical. After some back and forth with the politician, the man replied: Im from the constituency you wasted your time standing as a candidate in, accompanied by a raccoon and clown emoji. Mr Obese-Jecty, a former army officer, argued that the emoji is a shorthand version of calling a person of colour a c**n and a grossly offensive racial slur even though the suspect appears to be black. The politician has written for The Telegraph newspaper and is a regular GB News contributor, who revealed that the exchange he had with the man was his 74th and 75th incident of racial abuse in that year. Summarising this case, author Nels Abbey, who attended the trial in support of the family, told The Independent: Not murder, assault or rape but an Emoji trial. From policing to prosecution, the emoji trial was the British justice system at its most alarmingly incompetent and culturally confused. It revealed that the system is just not fit for purpose, Mr Abbey, author of Think Like A White Man and The Hip Hop MBA, said. Despite the young Black mans acquittal, his arrest, the heavyhanded manner of his arrest, his 10-hour ordeal in a police station cell and subsequent prosecution represent a potentially criminal miscarriage of justice. One that nearly ruined the promising life of an upstanding brilliant young Black man and left him battling depression. When I was contacted by the young man in question, and he informed me of what had happened to him and the trial that was about to take place I was in total disbelief. I could not believe such a thing would happen in a free, enlightened and multicultural western nation. The prosecutor argued that the use of the word c**n is offensive regardless of who uses it and said it is akin to the use of the word n****er, The Independent was told. Nels Abbey, author of Think Like A White Man and The Hip Hop MBA The man argued on the stand that in the Black community such terms are not universally offensive and, in the matter of the word c**n, can be used as a device to make a political critique. Given that the young Black man was addressing a tweet by Obese-Jecty describing politicians and commentators who protested against the killing of Chris Kaba as hysterical, in effect, I would argue that the young man was placed on trial for taking an anti-racist position in a manner that is commonly done within formerly colonised communities, Mr Abbey added. The question is: why are the police and the CPS decimating their reputations and burning through their resources by playing along with this? Professor Kehinde Andrews, Britains first Black studies undergraduate director at Birmingham City University, previously told The Independent that he believes unfair police scrutiny and prosecutions around the use of terms like coconut have increased since the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020. Ben Obese-Jecty has been approached for comment. A Met Police spokesperson said: In September 2022 police received a report of malicious communications via Twitter (now known as X). A man in his 40s reported that he had been sent a tweet featuring an emoticon that he believed to be a racial slur. A man was arrested in January 2023 and later released on bail. In February 2023 the Crown Prosecution Service authorised two charges of racially aggravated malicious communications. The man appeared at Thames Magistrates Court in March 2023. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Independent is marking International Womens Day by celebrating the most influential female figures in British society with a portrait auction in Londons West End. Photographed by Sane Seven, portraits of 10 of the listees will be exhibited at Outernet London, with the funds raised given to our partner charity Refuge. Among those included are broadcaster Kate Garraway MBE, Penny Mordaunt MP and activist Jameela Jamil. Kate Garraway has her photo taken by Sane Seven as part of The Independents Influential Women List 2024. (The Independent) Each of the ten women were specially selected from The Independents Influence List 2024, which recognises 50 women who are paving the way for the next generation across literature, politics, art, fashion and social change. Topping our list is Esther Ghey, whose transgender daughter Brianna was brutally murdered in February 2023. Since then, Ms Ghey has campaigned for improving awarness around social media and smartphone apps amongst children. Joining her on the list is Claudia Winkleman, Mary Earps, Sue Gray and Queen Camilla. Independent Womens Day - splits (Sane Seven) The 10 images will be unveiled this month at Outernet London, and exclusively exhibited in their Now Trending space, which is completely free for all audiences near Tottenham Court Road station. In addition, world-renowned artist Tracey Emin has generously donated an exclusive portrait for the occasion to help raise money for Refuge. Renowned artist Tracey Emin has released an exclusive self portrait (Image courtesy of Tracy Emin) Titled The Empty Room, it shows her reclining with one of her beloved cats resting under her legs, while her urostomy tube falls from her stoma at her waist side. After the photographs have been shown until the end of the month, they will be sold with funds given to Refuge, a charity that supports women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Geordie Greig, Editor-In-Chief, The Independent, said:It is so right to have an International Womens Day to celebrate, campaign for and enhance opportunity for half the population of the planet. Women are too often held back. A lot has been achieved, but there is more to do. Lots more. The Independent has a proud history of highlighting causes for and by women. This will never stop. Refuge is a wonderful example of philanthropy, aiding women in need and we are proud to support them. To find out more about the portraits click here To register your interest in buying one of the prints, please send an email to portraits@independent.co.uk, including your name Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Meghan Markle is searching for a British PR advisor boost her public image as she and Prince Harry mull over a UK comeback. The Duchess of Sussex is seeking her first British hire since her departure in a bid to fix her popularity problem and boost the couples Archewell Foundation, according to the Telegraph. The new hire comes as rumours of Harrys return to the royal fold continue to gain traction in light of a slimmed-down monarchy taking on extra responsibilities after the Kings cancer diagnosis. A senior public relations executive told the Telegraph: The royal family is looking short-staffed and quite elderly. The Sussexes have a popularity problem and can see there is an opportunity to step in to fill a vacuum over here with their own work. There is also growing noise stateside that Harry would like to carry out duties on behalf of his father again. However, they added that it may be hard for the couple to recruit a publicist as many would be put off the job by the couples reputation for not listening to advice. Another senior PR executive echoed this and told the MailOnline today: This is a s**t sandwich that many senior PR people will not be willing to eat. Many will turn it down. Representing the couple in the UK is a tantalising thought but they dont have a reputation for listening to advice. What would be the point?. The new hire would be the first time the Sussexs take on a UK-based employee since leaving the country for California in 2020. The job description reportedly includes handling the couples UK and European media coverage and reporting back to the couples main team in the US. Prince Harry stepped back into the UK spotlight last month after he cleared his schedule to see his father following his shock cancer diagnosis. The new hire comes as rumours of Harrys return to the royal fold continue to gain traction in light of a slimmed-down monarchy taking on extra responsibilities after the Kings cancer diagnosis (PA) Harry flew across the Atlantic less than 24 hours after the news was made public for a meeting that lasted around 30 minutes before returning to LA the next day. He stayed in a London hotel and did not see his brother, Prince William, during the fleeting visit. However, the 39-year-old is considering stepping back into a royal role while Charles is unwell, a royal source told The Times. The source told the paper last month: On all practical levels it makes perfect sense for the family to come together to support the King while hes sick. In the meantime, Meghan and Harry have been focused on their own work and brand - having rebranded their website to sussex.com. They also hit the slopes in Whistler, Canada, last month as they marked the one year countdown to the Invictus Games 2025. Harry gave an interview to Good Morning America during the trip where he suggested the Kings diagnosis could bring the royal family together. There is also speculation that Meghan is to launch a new personal commercial project, rumoured to be a lifestyle and wellness brand. The Duchess is due to sit on a panel on Friday evening alongside actress Brooke Shields and journalist Katie Couric titled Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen. Archewell and Buckingham Palace have been contacted for a comment. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Womens prisons should have social workers dedicated to supporting mothers to stay in touch with their children in an effort to reduce rocketing levels of self-harm, a charity report has said. There were nearly 20,000 incidents of self-harm in womens prisons last year - an increase of 43 per cent on the previous year and a rate that is over ten times higher than in mens prisons. With a female prisoner population of under 4,000, it amounts to 17 incidents per inmate, with the rise in incidents driven mainly by the same inmates hurting themselves more frequently. At the same time, an estimated 17,000 children have a mother in prison at some point each year, and prisons charity Pact is calling on the government to ensure that every womens prison has social workers working at the estate, who will ensure that mothers can stay in touch with their children. In-house social workers would be better placed to arrange visits and give mothers access to school reports and other updates on their children, the report said. While women make up only four per cent of the prison population, they account for thirty per cent of all self-harm incidents, analysis from the Prison Reform Trust showed. An estimated 17,000 children experience having a mother in prison each year, charity Pact said (PA) Professor Alyson Rees from Cardiff University, who helped run a pilot scheme for mothers in prison, said: Social workers in the community often do not know where mothers are imprisoned or how to contact them. She explained that having a qualified social worker in the prison would help mothers in jail have a contact point to the outside world - helping them to get hold of their childrens school reports, organising admin around visits, among other things. Researchers said that the equivalent role, if it exists at all in prisons, is currently taken on by prison offender managers. Andy Keen-Downs, CEO of Pact, said: Separation from children is one of the major factors driving the deeply worrying levels of self-harm in womens prisons. Supporting everyone through the process helps to keep the women safe, reduces the likelihood they will reoffend on release and benefits the children on the outside. A pilot scheme funding by the Ministry of Justice is being run by the charity and Cardiff University at two womens prisons, HMP Send and HMP Eastwood Park, to try and help mothers in custody seeing their children more regularly. Ninety-four mothers were involved in the scheme. Social workers helped 68 per cent of prisoners get a plan in place for seeing their children. One female prisoner said the help had made me feel like a mum. She explained: You can get lost in the system and you can let everyone do whatever for your kids on the outside. But being involved in all the social services meetings and having school reports - it makes me feel as though Im doing as much as I physically can...It reminds me that Im a mum and I need to act a certain way. Another prisoner said she felt like she was now a part of her sons life. They ask me for permission for stuff, she said. My sons been booked in for the vaccine and they asked the Pact social worker to ask me for my permission. I was like, wow, I felt like a mum for the first time in years. One mother whos son has autism said that the social worker was able to help organise a family room for visits, where they could sit on a sofa, rather than having to talk over a table. It was lovely, it made such a difference. My son was more at ease. I knew he just felt calmer, she said. A Prison Service spokesperson said: Mothers in custody need the best possible support - which is why were piloting dedicated social workers with four already in post. But we know more needs to be done, which is why weve also hired specialist mother and baby liaison officers in every womens prison, introduced additional welfare checks and stepped up screening and social services support so pregnant prisoners get the necessary care. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Britain will help the US build a temporary pier in Gaza to allow hundreds of extra daily truckloads of aid into the Strip, David Cameron has announced. The foreign secretary said people in Gaza are in desperate humanitarian need and the UK will join with the US and partners to open a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly. We continue to urge Israel to allow more trucks into Gaza as the fastest way to get aid to those who need it, he added. The announcement came as Lord Cameron repeated his call for a permanent sustainable ceasefire, but said the prospect of a pause in the fighting in Gaza before Ramadan was more of a possibility than a probability. After Hamas left talks in Cairo without a ceasefire deal, Lord Cameron said: I think theres still a possibility, but I think its more of a possibility than a probability because the two sides seem to be some way away. He stressed that there is a deal on the table and that Hamas could act now to stop the suffering and bloodshed in Gaza, calling on the group to accept an agreement with the Israeli government. And then we have that pause which is valuable because we can try and turn that pause into a permanent sustainable ceasefire, he said. David Cameron used a visit to Berlin to call for more aid to be allowed into Gaza (PA ) The foreign secretary also said a judgment would be made on whether Israel remains compliant with international humanitarian law in the coming days. The decision is key to whether Britain will pile pressure on the Israeli government to let more aid into Gaza by withholding arms sales from Israel. Speaking on Friday, Lord Cameron said it was incredibly frustrating that Israel was not taking steps to allow more aid into Gaza. He told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme: Right now theres a crisis. We need 500 trucks a day or more going into Gaza. In the last five days, weve been averaging 123 trucks a day. Thats not good enough and that needs to be fixed now. And that can be fixed if Israel opens more crossing points, if they allow more UN staff into Gaza to help process the aid and get it round the different bits of Gaza. And they could also do things like full resumption of the water and the electricity that goes into north and south Gaza. Weve set out these points repeatedly and its incredibly frustrating that these things havent happened when you think of the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza. He also urged Israel to open the Port of Ashdod in Israel, a functioning port to which aid could be brought immediately on ships from Cyprus and then driven into Gaza. It comes a day after Lord Cameron called for much more to be done to help get aid to Gaza as he warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe. Asked whether the UK is doing enough to pressure Israel to allow aid into Gaza, the foreign secretary told a press conference in Berlin: I think the Israelis have to really understand that this is on the brink of being a desperate situation in terms of disease and famine, and so the time for doing more is now. We also need to make sure that at the same time as saying that, we say to Hamas that they should release these hostages... In all the thoughts we have about the aid getting into Gaza, and I would argue no one is doing more than Britain and Germany to pile that pressure on, lets remember that theres a group of people that could stop this conflict right now. And that is Hamas. Joe Biden is ordering US forces to conduct an emergency mission that will see them construct a seaport on the Gaza coast to allow a new influx of humanitarian aid into the territory as Israels war on Hamas enters its sixth month. Joe Biden called for an emergency mission to construct a seaport in Gaza to let more aid into the territory (AP) He confirmed the decision in his State of the Union speech overnight, with a senior official in his administration saying it will get life-saving humanitarian aid into Gaza to alleviate the suffering of innocent Palestinians who have nothing to do with Hamas. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she expected the maritime aid corridor to start operating between Cyprus and Gaza this weekend, taking desperately needed aid to besieged Palestinians. Ms Von der Leyen said a pilot test run of food aid collected by a charity group and supported by the United Arab Emirates could be leaving Cyprus as early as Friday from the port of Larnaca in Cyprus, with the pier operational within weeks. We are launching this Cyprus maritime corridor together, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, Ms Von der Leyen said after a visit to facilities in Cyprus. We are now very close to opening this corridor, hopefully this Saturday-Sunday and Im very glad to see an initial pilot will be launched today, she said, alongside Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides. One aid group, World Central Kitchen (WCK), is currently gathering food supplies in Larnaca for the people of Gaza, with support from the UAE. Overnight, Mr Biden said: Im directing the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters. No US boots will be on the ground. This temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day. But Israel must also do its part. Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers arent caught in the crossfire. To the leadership of Israel I say this: humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution is a two-state solution. I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel and the only American president to visit Israel in wartime. There is no other path that guarantees Israels security and democracy. There is no other path that guarantees Palestinians can live with peace and dignity. British aid packages have previously been airdropped into Gaza in a joint operation with the Jordanian military, and the government has continued to work on finding alternative routes for supplies to reach the territory. The UK government has also called for a humanitarian pause in the fighting to enable aid to get into Gaza and hostages held by Hamas to be released. Last week, the Commons international development committee warned that a famine in Gaza would be unavoidable without changes to allow more aid to get into the region. The cross-party committee said any ceasefire of less than 30 days would not be enough to get sufficient food into Gaza, while US vice-president Kamala Harris has suggested a six-week ceasefire is within reach. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Deepfake abuse is the new frontier of violence against women and creating such content should be outlawed, according to a former adviser to Boris Johnson. Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge warned existing legislation only bans the non-consensual sharing of deepfake material and does not tackle the non-consensual creation of the content. Peers heard there has been an increase in so-called nudify apps, which allow users to create fake nude images or videos of other people through generative artificial intelligence widely known as deepfakes. Lady Owen said the ability to create such content on the apps in a matter of seconds represents a very real threat to all women. Replying for the Government, equalities minister Baroness Barran said she acknowledged the points raised and wanted to hold talks with Lady Owen and justice ministers to explore this issue further. Conservative Lady Owen, who became the youngest life peer in the House of Lords last summer at the age of 30, told the International Womens Day debate in the Lords: Women are disproportionately affected by the creation of deepfake material. Research published by Home Security Heroes in 2023 found that of all deepfake videos, 98% were pornographic and of those 99% were of women. Lady Owen said the use of apps and the creation of deepfake porn for private use is currently legal, adding: The largest site creating deepfakes receives an average of 13.4 million hits a month. The rapid proliferation of these nudification apps, 80% of them having launched in the last 12 months alone, has created an environment where anyone can perpetrate harm with ease and it is not recognised as misogyny. A woman can no longer choose who owns an intimate image of her. They can be created by anyone, anywhere at any time Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge Lady Owen continued: The creation of this material in and of itself without a persons consent causes serious harm, regardless of whether a person is aware of its creation and has a much wider societal impact in the normalisation of online misogyny and hate. Were now at the precipice of a new age of technology and it is vital that we act now to ensure that in embarking on this brave new world, which can offer many exciting opportunities, we do not risk creating a technological gender gap which would further limit the economic inclusion of women in society. The ability to create these images and videos using apps and platforms in a matter of seconds represents a very real threat to all women. A woman can no longer choose who owns an intimate image of her. They can be created by anyone, anywhere at any time. Many women are fearful of this happening to them. The current law as it stands is prioritising freedom of speech and expression of the creator over that of a woman Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge Lady Owen said it can have a silencing effect, including women withdrawing from social media and normal life. She added: Many women are fearful of this happening to them. The current law as it stands is prioritising freedom of speech and expression of the creator over that of a woman. Lady Owen also said: Whilst were still learning about AI, it is crucial that we educate society to differentiate between what is real and what is not in a world where we can no longer trust images that are put in front of us. Time is of the essence. We must not miss the chance to act by legislating against the creation of non-consensual deepfake content. We must prevent the normalisation of misogyny. Deepfake abuse is the new frontier of violence against women and we must all take a stand.# Elsewhere in the debate, independent Crossbench peer Baroness Boycott said there will be a Mothers Manifesto hunger strike taking place near Parliament from Mothers Day on Sunday. The former newspaper editor said: This is on behalf of lots of groups of mothers because guess who is skipping meals in this cost-of-living crisis? It is not the blokes, I am sorry, but it is not. One-in-four mothers in this country are currently skipping a meal. But 50 years ago, nobody skipped a meal. I am not saying it was all fun and roses, but we certainly did not skip meals. If someone had said to me, In 50 years time, youre going to stand up in Westminster and talk about food poverty, I would have said that they were bonkers. We, women, cannot keep picking up the pieces and at worst being on the receiving end of abuse and violence largely from men Baroness Casey of Blackstock Crossbench peer Baroness Casey of Blackstock used her maiden speech to follow the lead of Labour MP Jess Phillips by reading out the names of more than 100 women killed in the UK in the last 12 months where the main suspect is a man. Lady Casey, the Governments former rough sleeping adviser, said the list acted as a reminder of the true horror of our collective failure to tackle the problem. She added: Yet there are thousands and indeed millions of decent men. As Womens Aid discussed only today, we, women need the decent men in this House but also across the country to stand up to that task or we will never, ever deal with the problem. We, women, cannot keep picking up the pieces and at worst being on the receiving end of abuse and violence largely from men. Lady Casey said change is definitely possible, adding: The country I love is pretty much, it feels, on its knees. Its too stretched, were too divided and too much of the discourse is too fractured. You can blame the pandemic, you can blame Russia, you can blame politics or we can blame each other, but its just too tough for too many people. And yet I have such hope. For almost 40 years I have worked in public service and that has instilled that hope in me. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rachel Reeves has vowed to put women at the heart of Labours economic plans in a bid to draw a pre-election dividing line with the Conservatives. The shadow chancellor promised that the partys plan for growth would be centred on equality for women, while condemning the Tories for leaving women worse off after 14 years in power. Writing for The Independent on International Womens Day, Ms Reeves said unlocking the potential of female entrepreneurs could add 200bn to the size of Britains economy. She promised Labour would break down barriers that have left women disproportionately working in childcare, social care and retail while highlighting that far too many women are kept out of the workplace altogether for extended periods after having children. Rachel Reeves sought to draw a dividing line with the Tories over the Conservatives record on womens issues (PA) Ms Reeves wrote: Labours central economic mission is to get our economy growing again. I want to be clear about what that means for women why an economic policy centred on equality for women should also be an economic policy centred on growth. She added: Labours alternative is about the recognition that if we want to build a strong economy, that must be based on the contribution of the many. And that must mean a growth plan centred around women. Her intervention is the latest indication that Labour wants to make womens rights a battleground in the general election and comes after shadow women and equalities secretary Anneliese Dodds branded Rishi Sunak a prime minister who has let women down and left them out of pocket and unsupported at work. Ms Reeves also lashed out at the chancellors flagship childcare policy a major expansion of free childcare announced last year as the dust settles on Jeremy Hunts Budget. Anneliese Dodds said Rishi Sunak has let women down and left them out of pocket and unsupported at work (PA) The new policy enables eligible working parents of two-year-olds to claim 15 hours a week of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year from April onwards. From September 2025, working parents who have children under five will be able to claim 30 hours of free childcare for 38 weeks per year. But ministers have repeatedly refused to guarantee the pledge will be met after The Independent first revealed major problems with funding, staff shortages and nursery closures. In a blistering attack on the policy, Ms Reeves said: As the clamour around this years spring Budget dies down, it is worth revisiting the chancellors flagship commitment from one year ago: the expansion of new funded childcare places to children aged between nine months and two years old. With just six weeks until rollout, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Conservatives plan was little more than hot air as my colleague Bridget Phillipson warned last week, a pledge without a plan. Labours research reveals that 180,000 places are at risk from more than 3,000 nursery closures due to the Tories botched offer. Separate surveys meanwhile have found that more than half of private, voluntary and independent nurseries of England are unable to meet existing local demand and are unlikely to, or unsure they could, offer any additional places for two-year-olds. Ms Reeves, who featured in The Independents list of the 50 most influential women of the moment, said Britains broken childcare system will not be fixed by gimmicks, highlighting the partys early years review being led by the former chief inspector of Ofsted, Sir David Bell. Setting out her own vision for power, Ms Reeves said serving as Britains first female chancellor would be a privilege of my own. The former Bank of England economist has vowed to make great strides toward abolishing the gender pay gap once and for all. And in her Independent article, Ms Reeves said a key part of doing so would be to encourage more women into the workforce by fixing Britains childcare system. She wrote: As economists at Stanford and the London School of Economics have shown, the child penalty in the UK is substantially wider than in other European countries such as France, with far too many women kept out of the workforce for extended periods after having young children. Labour will work to build the modern childcare system that working people deserve, starting with our commitment to free breakfast clubs in every primary school. We will rescue our public services, as we have done before. And women will be at the heart of a plan for economic growth. Rishi Sunak said he has made huge progress for women since taking over as prime mininster (Darren Staples/PA Wire) The party is keen to highlight what it sees as Conservative failures on womens issues since David Cameron came to power in 2010 as a key dividing line before the election. Meanwhile, setting out the Conservatives stall to families on Wednesday, Mr Hunt said the high-income child benefit charge threshold will be raised from 50,000 to 60,000 and the taper will extend up to 80,000. In an announcement hailed as a win by Martin Lewis, Mr Hunt also promised a consultation on the household-based system in due course, with this being introduced by April 2026. The chancellor said the threshold will rise from April, lifting 170,000 families out of paying the charges altogether. On Friday, the prime minister hosted more than 100 women in Downing Street, from business leaders to charity and NHS workers. The PM stressed his own commitment to delivering the long-term change needed to build a brighter future for women and girls. Setting out the huge progress Mr Sunak says he has made since taking over as prime minister, he touted the governments childcare plan as the largest ever childcare expansion in Englands history. The PM also said he has ploughed millions of pounds into making women feel safer on Britains streets, boosting education standards, and championing women in Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) careers. But he added: I know there is more to do. Whether its making our NHS faster, simpler and fairer for women, or backing female-led businesses, I am determined to deliver the long-term change needed to grow our economy and ensure women across the whole country can succeed. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former prime minister Theresa May has announced she will step down as an MP in the next general election, ending her 27-year stint in parliament. In a statement to a local newspaper in her Maidenhead constituency, Ms May admitted it was a challenging decision to step away from politics. She told the Maidenhead Advertiser she had taken the decision to focus on causes close to her heart including her work on the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. She said: It has been an honour and a privilege to serve everyone in the Maidenhead constituency as the member of parliament for the last 27 years. Being an MP is about service to ones constituents and I have always done my best to ensure that I respond to the needs of local people and the local area. Theresa May led the country through the Brexit years (PA) Ms May was first elected as the MP for Maidenhead in 1997, eventually going on to serve as the second ever female prime minister from July 2016 to July 2019. She earned a reputation for her tough stance on immigration and law and order issues during her time as home secretary under then prime minister David Cameron between 2010 and 2016 before succeeding him in the top role. But her term in Downing Street was cut short after a turbulent three years where she was dubbed the Maybot for her robotic interview style, and her tenure was dominated by wrangling over Brexit negotiations. In the snap election of 2017 she lost her parliamentary majority, yet she clung on at No 10 courtesy of a pact with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Theresa May and her soon-to-be successor Boris Johnson pictured in 2017 (PA Archive) Ms May formally stepped down as prime minister on 24 July 2019 after Boris Johnson won the Conservative Party leadership contest and succeeded her as the countrys prime minister. Writing in The Times, Ms May said she would miss parliament ... I wont, however, miss the way the political debate has polarised over the years. She added: Over my time in parliament, I have seen a coarsening of our debates and less respect for others views. Democracy depends on us being able to debate key issues that affect peoples everyday lives seriously and respectfully. It needs politicians who put those they represent first and themselves second. It needs MPs who are there to serve. Rishi Sunak posted on Twitter /X, calling her: A relentless campaigner, a fiercely loyal MP to the people of Maidenhead, and Britains second female prime minister. Theresa May defines what it means to be a public servant. I have no doubt Theresa will continue to make a positive impact on public life. A spokesperson for the PM said she would not get into speculation about whether Ms May would be given a seat in the House of Lords. David Cameron, Ms Mays predecessor, described the former PM as the most dedicated of public servants. Posting on Twitter/X, Lord Cameron said: I wish Theresa May well as she stands down. As well as serving as my home secretary and then as PM, she did much to help modernise the Conservative Party and promote women in public life. He added: She has been the most dedicated of public servants. The House of Commons will miss her. In her statement on Friday, Ms May said: As I pass the baton on I will be working with my successor to secure a Conservative victory in Maidenhead. I remain committed to supporting Rishi Sunak and the government and believe that the Conservatives can win the election. I would like to thank all those who chose me to represent them as their member of parliament. Labour MP Jess Phillips said that there was something very classy about the former prime minister announcing her resignation in the Maidenhead Advertiser first. She said: Love her or loathe Theresa Mays politics, she was famed for being a responsive and involved local MP. And Sir David Lidington, who served in the cabinet under Ms May, said she will be a loss to the House of Commons. She's been somebody who, in my experience, has been more, has had her politics more rooted in a genuine ethic of public service than many, many others that I have worked with over the years, he told Times Radio. He added: She's played a really constructive and active role as a very senior backbencher for the PM. But I think the decision to stand down, it is not too surprising [given] that she has been a member of parliament since 1997. That's a good long stint. Ms May has long campaigned on modern slavery and human trafficking, and launched her global commission on the issues in October, backed by the UK and Bahrain governments. In her statement, she said the causes close to her heart were taking an increasing amount of her time. Because of this, after much careful thought and consideration, I have realised that, looking ahead, I would no longer be able to do my job as an MP in the way I believe is right and my constituents deserve, she said. Energy minister Andrew Bowie has posted a tribute to Ms May, saying: Im so sorry to see the woman I was proud to call boss and remain proud to call a friend standing down from parliament. It will leave the House of Commons a lesser place. Her dedication to her constituency, her country and her party is unmatched. Thank you Theresa. Exchequer secretary Gareth Davies said: Im personally sad to see her go. I think its very good when former leaders stay in the House of Commons and contribute to debates and shes certainly brought a lot to debate since she stood down and so Im very sad personally but wish her well and I think shes justified in moving on after 27 years. Shadow women and equalities minister Anneliese Dodds said Theresa Mays decision to stand down was further evidence of a lack of confidence in Rishi Sunak. She told GB News: This is obviously a very significant decision from Theresa May to stand down at the next election. As you said, it is a surprise but of course weve heard this from a large number of sitting Conservative MPs. Theyve decided not to stand for the next election, and I think that does reveal that frankly theres no confidence in Rishi Sunak, nor indeed in the Conservative Party to be a party of government for the future. I think this really strengthens those calls for change, those calls for a general election. A former minister under Mrs Mays government, Margot James, paid tribute to her former boss and called for her to join the House of Lords. Ms James called Ms May a woman of great integrity who has given great service to the country and to Maidenhead and added: I hope she takes up a seat in the Lords to continue her excellent work for women and victims of modern slavery. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former prime minister Theresa May has announced that she will step down as an MP in the next general election, ending her 27-year stint in parliament. Her resignation marks the end of a remarkable yet controversial career as a long-serving Conservative MP and the second ever female prime minister, overseeing attempts to detach the UK from the EU. In a statement to a local newspaper in her Maidenhead constituency, Ms May said it had been an honour and a privilege to serve. She added: Being an MP is about service to ones constituents and I have always done my best to ensure that I respond to the needs of local people and the local area. Here is a timeline of Ms Mays career: Former prime minister Theresa May has said she will retire from Parliament at the next general election (PA Archive) - 1997: Ms May was elected with an almost 12,000 seat majority as the MP for Maidenhead, having previously served as a councillor in Merton. Prior to this she worked as a financial consultant and adviser at the Association for Payment Clearing Services. - 1999: She quickly begins her career in the shadow cabinet after she was appointed shadow education and employment Secretary. Theresa May was appointed shadow Education and Employment secretary in 1999 under then Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith (PA) - 2002: She became the first female chairman of the Conservative party and sets the tone as a liberal in her party, a stance which does not last in her next job. In her speech at the partys annual conference, Ms May condemned unnamed colleagues who had made political capital out of demonising minorities and called on her peers to rally behind their then leader, Sir Iain Duncan-Smith. Theresa May called for political unity in her maiden speech as chairman of the Conservative party (PA) - 2005: The Tory leader David Cameron moved Ms May to a new role as shadow leader of the house of commons before later appointing her shadow minister for women and equality in 2007, and work and pensions secretary in 2009. - 2010: As the Conservatives and Lib Dems came together to form the coalition government, Ms May is appointed home secretary, making her the fourth woman to hold one of the British Great Offices of State, which includes the prime minister, chancellor of the exchequer, and foreign secretary. Ms May held this position for over six years, with a controversial and chequered tenure. During her time as home secretary, she adopted a mix of hard-line law and order and liberal policies. She pursued the reform of the police federation and scaled back the use of stop and search under concerns that it was counter-productive and racially divisive. But Ms May also implemented harsher drug policies and famously introduced the Immigration Act wish was designed to create a hostile environment for illegal migrants. Theresa May served as Home Secretary under David Cameron (Getty Images) - 2013: In her role as home secretary, Ms May oversaw an advertising campaign directed at illegal migrants which saw lorries driving around communities with signs that said go home or face arrest. Despite her assertion that she was a liberal, one-nation tory, the policy was widely regarded as extreme and hostile to immigrants. The shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper described the language as being reminiscent of that used by the National Front in the 1970s. - 2016: Ms May announced that she would run for leader of the Conservative party in a bid to succeed David Cameron who resigned after he lost the EU referendum. Ms May fought off her rivals and took up role as prime minister in 2016. Her first few months were defined by diplomacy. Following the UKs decision to leave the EU, Ms May commenced talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and said she would not trigger Article 50 the process for withdrawing from the EU before negotiating a sensible and orderly departure with the union. - 2017: In April Ms May made the misguided move of calling an early general election - a move that proved to be the beginning of the end of her leadership. The decision left her party in a worse position than previously held, having lost 23 seats. The resulting hung parliament forced Ms May to broker a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland - which became a key sticking point during Brexit negotiations due to contentions the Northern Ireland border. Former prime minister Theresa May called a general election following her leadership win (PA Archive) - 2018: In March the Windrush scandal exploded after it was revealed that a generation of Afro-Carribean Britons had been illegally deported or threatened with deportation by the Home Office. Ms Mays Home Secretary Amber Rudd was forced to resign. The former prime ministers second term in office was defined by political instability and infighting. Parliament was in deadlock following Britains exit from the European Union. Late in the year, Ms May gave a speech at Conservative party conference where she took the stage while dancing to Dancing Queen by ABBA. Some political commentators applauded her willingness to laugh at herself, whilst others deemed the footage cringe-worthy. Downing Street insisted the moves were spontaneous. The then prime minister was often criticised for coming across as awkward in interviews and public appearances, leading to her being nicknamed The Maybot. Theresa May delivered her iconic Dancing Queen speech in October 2018 (AFP/Getty) Later in the year, Ms Mays government was found to be in contempt of Parliament after it failed to provide MPs with legal advice on the proposed EU withdrawal agreement. After pressure from Ms Mays backbenchers to adopt a hard brexit, she faced a vote of no confidence in her leadership by her party in late December. She survived the vote, but her authority was badly damaged. - 2019: Ms Mays proposed Brexit deal was defeated in the commons, leading to a motion of no confidence in the Commons. Again, Ms May survived but only by 19 votes. After her deal was defeated in the Commons for the third time, the prime minister took to the steps of Downing Street to announce that she was resigning as leader in May 2019. Theresa May gave a tearful address as she resigned as prime minister in 2019 (REUTERS) The second-ever female prime minister was succeeded by Boris Johnson, who forced through a hard brexit deal. Upon leaving the role, Theresa May took to the backbenches and has since dedicated her time to her constituency of Maidenhead and work on modern slavery and human trafficking. The former PM has never spared an opportunity to snipe at her replacements. She criticised Mr Johnson for cutting overseas spending, telling the commons that the decision makes it far harder for us as a country to argue for the change that we want internationally. She also criticised the former prime minister for his role in partygate. On the publication of the Sue Gray report into Mr Johnsons knowledge of rule-breaking in No.10, Ms May said the public had a right to expect their prime minister to have read the rules, understand the meaning of the rules and to set an example by following those rules. She asked Mr Johnson: So either my right honorable friend had not read the rules, did not understand what they meant and nor did others around him, or they didnt think the rules applied to No. 10. Which was it? The former prime minister also made headlines when she cropped Mr Johnsons successor Liz Truss from a photo of former prime ministers commemorating Remembrance Day. Some accused Ms May of engaging in a deliberate slight against Ms Truss after her mini-budget crashed the pound, resulting in her leaving office after just 44 days. Unlike her successors, she regularly attends PMQs and debates in the commons. - 2024: Ms May announced her resignation to the Maidenhead Advertiser, saying it was an honour and a privilege to serve the constituency of Maidenhead. She added that she remains committed to supporting Rishi Sunak and believes that the Conservatives can win the election. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Suspected Islamist extremists have abducted more than 280 children in the north-western town of Kuriga in Nigeria. While authorities initially said more than 100 students were taken hostage, the school headteacher told Kaduna governor Uba Sani that the headcount of those missing has reached 287. This is the second mass abduction in the West African nation in less than a week. We will ensure that every child will come back. We are working with the security agencies, the governor was quoted as saying by the Guardian. Gunmen attacked the school when the pupils were in the assembly ground for morning prayers at around 8.30am local time. According to eyewitness, one of the students was shot by the gunmen and is receiving treatment in Birnin Gwari hospital. The government is trying everything possible with the security agencies to see how we can rescue them, said Musa, chairman of the local council. The incident comes days after Islamist extremists abducted at least 200 people who were out searching for firewood, mostly women and children displaced by violence in northeastern Nigeria. Officials do not believe the two cases are not related. Locals blamed the earlier incident on extremist rebels from Boko Haram, who launched an insurgency in Borno in 2009 seeking to establish their radical interpretation of Islamic law in the region. Thursdays attack, meanwhile, occurred in an area controlled by a breakaway faction of Boko Haram. A woman cries as she calls upon the government to help and rescue school children that were kidnapped by gunmen in Chikun, Nigeria, Thursday, 7 March 2024 (AP) Many of those fleeing Boko Harams deadly violence are in displacement camps with limited aid, often risking their lives to go to areas with inadequate security presence in search of food and firewood. The victims of the latest attack had left several displacement camps in Borno states Gamboru Ngala council area when they were ambushed near the border with Chad and taken hostage, the UN said late on Wednesday. The incident occurred several days ago but details are only emerging now because of limited access to information in the area. Nigeria army trucks are park in an area were gunmen kidnapped school children in Chikun, Nigeria, Thursday, 7 March, 2024 (AP) "The exact number of people abducted remains unknown but is estimated at over 200 people," the UN humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria Mohamed Fall said in a statement, adding that some of the victims were later released. The attack is a "stark reminder" that women and girls are worst hit by the conflict, Fall said as he called for the immediate release of the victims. "This act of violence against already traumatised citizens offends our common humanity," he said. (AP) At least 35,000 people have been killed and more than two million displaced due to violence by Boko Haram group and a breakaway faction backed by the Islamic State group. Nigerian security forces fighting the insurgents are overstretched as they also battle dozens of armed groups attacking remote communities in other parts of the northern region. The crises have added to pressures on Nigerias president Bola Tinubu, who was elected last year after promising to end the violence. Additional reporting by agencies The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} After a year of basking in global fame, the San Francisco company OpenAI is now confronting a multitude of challenges that could threaten its position at the vanguard of artificial intelligence research. Some of its conflicts stem from decisions made well before the debut of ChatGPT, particularly its unusual shift from an idealistic nonprofit to a big business backed by billions of dollars in investments. It's too early to tell if OpenAI and its attorneys will beat back a barrage of lawsuits from Elon Musk, The New York Times and bestselling novelists such as John Grisham, not to mention escalating scrutiny from government regulators, or if any of it will stick. Feud with Elon Musk OpenAI isn't waiting for the court process to unfold before publicly defending itself against legal claims made by billionaire Elon Musk, an early funder of OpenAI who now alleges it has betrayed its founding nonprofit mission to benefit humanity as it pursued profits instead. In its first response since the Tesla CEO sued last week, OpenAI vowed to get the claim thrown out and released emails from Musk that purport to show he supported making OpenAI a for-profit company and even suggested merging it with the electric vehicle maker. Legal experts have expressed doubt about whether Musk's arguments, centered around an alleged breach of contract, will hold up in court. But it has already forced open the company's internal conflicts about its unusual governance structure, how open it should be about its research and how to pursue what's known as artificial general intelligence, or AI systems that can perform just as well as or even better than humans in a wide variety of tasks. Its own internal investigation There's still a lot of mystery about what led OpenAI to abruptly fire its co-founder and CEO Sam Altman in November, only to have him return days later with a new board that replaced the one that ousted him. OpenAI tapped the law firm WilmerHale to investigate what happened, but it's unclear how broad its scope will be and to what extent OpenAI will publicly release its findings. Among the big questions is what OpenAI under its previous board of directors meant in November when it said Altman was not consistently candid in his communications in a way that hindered the board's ability to exercise its responsibilities. While now primarily a for-profit business, OpenAI is still governed by a nonprofit board of directors whose duty is to advance its mission. The investigators are probably looking more closely at that structure as well as the internal conflicts that led to communication breakdowns, said Diane Rulke, a professor of organizational behavior and theory at Carnegie Mellon University. Rulke said it would be useful and very good practice for OpenAI to publicly release at least part of the findings, especially given the underlying concerns about how future AI technology will affect society. Not only because it was a major event, but because OpenAI works with a lot of businesses, a lot of companies and their impact is widespread, Rulke said. Even though theyre a privately held company, it's very much in the public interest to know what happened at OpenAI. Government scrutiny OpenAI's close business ties to Microsoft have invited scrutiny from antitrust regulators in the U.S. and Europe. Microsoft has invested billions of dollars into OpenAI and switched on its vast computing power to help build the smaller company's AI models. The software giant has also secured exclusive rights to infuse much of the technology into Microsoft products. Unlike a big business merger, such partnerships don't automatically trigger a government review. But the Federal Trade Commission wants to know if such arrangements "enable dominant firms to exert undue influence or gain privileged access in ways that could undermine fair competition, FTC Chair Lina Khan said in January. FTC is awaiting responses to compulsory orders it sent to both companies as well as OpenAI rival Anthropic and its own cloud computing backers, Amazon and Google requiring them to provide information about the partnerships and the decision-making around them. The companies' responses are due as soon as next week. Similar scrutiny is happening in the European Union and the United Kingdom. Copyright lawsuits Bestselling novelists, nonfiction authors, The New York Times and other media outlets have sued OpenAI over allegations that the company violated copyright laws in building the AI large language models that power ChatGPT. Several of the lawsuits also target Microsoft. (The Associated Press took a different approach in securing a deal last year that gives OpenAI access to the AP's text archive for an undisclosed fee). OpenAI has argued that its practice of training AI models on huge troves of writings found on the internet is protected by the fair use doctrine of copyright law. Federal judges in New York and San Francisco must now sort through evidence of harm brought by numerous plaintiffs, including Grisham, comedian Sarah Silverman and Games of Thrones author George R. R. Martin. The stakes are high. The Times, for instance, is asking a judge to order the destruction of all of OpenAI's GPT large language models the foundation of ChatGPT and most of OpenAI's business if they were trained on its news articles. - Associated Press business writers Haleluya Hadero and Kelvin Chan contributed to this report. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Heavily armed US Army National Guard troops in camouflage strode the concourse at New York Citys Penn Station, a vast terminal typically filled with American commuters who are now under surveillance from their own military. The deployment of US troops and state police throughout the citys extensive subway system this week was immediately met with outrage, fear and scepticism from riders, elected officials, civil rights groups and even police, who rejected the idea that the city is a war zone that needs the American military patrolling it. On Wednesday, New Yorks Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul announced that 1,000 National Guard troops, state police and transit officers would begin patrolling the citys subway stations, checking bags at random and staging a massive show of force that places heavily armed uniformed service members at highly trafficked entrances. Riders can refuse bag checks, but National Guard troops and police officers can deny them entry. Those riders can go home, Ms Hochul told Fox 5 New York on Thursday. Were not going to search you. You can say no. But youre not taking the subway. Critics have suggested the changes have more to do with politics than with public safety, with Democratic lawmakers buckling under pressure from Republican officials and right-wing policymakers in election-year campaigns against their soft on crime rivals. Her plan sounds like something straight out of the mind of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, according to Albert Fox Cahn, director of the New York-based Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. The governor continues to put PR ahead of public safety, wasting taxpayer dollars on these sorts of stunts, he said. We shouldnt militarize the MTA when crime rates are falling and budgets are contracting. This is a tragedy in the making, and I fear how many New Yorkers will be wrongly arrested or hurt before we recognize that soldiers have no place on the streets of democracy. Ms Hochul told MSNBC on Thursday that she wants to demonstrate that Democrats fight crime as well. This narrative that Republicans have said and hijacked the story that were soft on crime, that we defund the police. No, she said. National Guard troops and New York State Police officers patrol Penn Station in New York City on 7 March. (REUTERS) More than 3 million people rely on New York Citys subway daily. Major crimes in the citys transit system have increased by roughly 13 per cent so far this year compared to last year, but theyre largely consistent with crime levels before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data through March. Ridership has increased since the onset of the pandemic, though transit crime has decreased by 12 per cent within the last several weeks, largely due to more local cops through an earlier plan under Mayor Eric Adams, according to New York City Police Department Chief of Patrol John Chell, who blasted the governors measure. Our transit system is not a war zone! Mr Chell wrote on X. Bag checks have been around since 2005??? The governors plan adds 750 members of the New York National Guard and 250 New York State Police and Metropolitan Transportation Authority personnel across the network. National Guard members will be more prominent at major transit hubs like Grand Central and Penn Station. The deployment of even more law enforcement and US military follows the mayors February plans to boost subways with 1,000 police officers after a spike in major crimes in January. An increase in grand larcenies thefts largely drove that spike, according to police. New York City public advocate Jumaane Willians, whose elected position is first in line to succeed the mayor, said the repeated surge of law enforcement into the citys subways is unsustainable. Militarizing the subway with the National Guard and suggesting a wholesale ban on individuals from accessing public transportation are dangerous misuses of resources which could be better spent addressing these issues at their root, he said in a statement. Its one thing to have conductors announce increased police presence on the platform. Its another entirely to further criminalize the public on public transit while neglecting the real improvements these resources could be devoted to, like fixing the subway itself, he said. Members of the US Army National Guard stand watch at Grand Central Terminal in New York City on 7 March. (AFP via Getty Images) New York Civil Liberties Union director Donna Lieberman called the plan policymaking through overreaction and overreach, an acceleration of the stop-and-frisk agenda that brought a wave of lawsuits and reports of widespread racial discrimination under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. A sweeping surveillance state and biased broken windows policing wont deliver security, said Ms Lieberman, referring to the widely derided policing strategy popularised by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Communities United for Police Reform, a solution of more than 200 groups across the state targeting discriminatory policing, said the governors plan will put New Yorkers in harms way and potentially exacerbate racial profiling and abuse. Rather than investing in necessary public safety infrastructure, like mental health services, affordable housing, and health care, the governor is condoning harassment, racial profiling and abuse of New Yorkers by increasing police presence and expanding police authority in our subways, according to the coalitions spokesperson Ileana Mendez-Penate. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Three inmates who escaped from prison in Grenada have been charged with killing two Americans after allegedly hijacking their yacht last month. Ron Mitchell, 30, Atiba Stanisclaus, 25, and Trevon Robertson, 23, were charged with two counts of capital murder by intentionally causing the deaths of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel, the Royal Grenada Police Force announced. The three suspects were also charged with escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery, and two counts of kidnapping. Stanislaus was separately charged with one count of rape. It is not clear who he is accused of raping. The three men had been imprisoned at the South St George Police Station in Grenada on joint charges of robbery with violence, but on 18 February, they escaped custody. US citizens Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel are believed dead after their yacht was allegedly hijacked in Grenada (Salty Dawg Sailing Association) The RSVG Police Force said that they believe the three suspects then kidnapped American couple Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel who were cruising the Caribbean in their sailing yacht, Simplicity, to Antigua when they went missing. Police said they also believe that the suspects committed several criminal acts, including bodily harm to the couple before making their way to the nearby island of St Vincent and the Grenadines, where they were recaptured on 21 February. With no sign of the couple, Ms Brandel and Mr Henrys yacht was also found abandoned on St Vincent and the Grenadines. Although the bodies of the couple, who are from Virginia, have not been recovered, they are presumed to be dead. Royal Grenada Police Commissioner Don McKenzie said last week that the couple was most likely disposed of at sea by the escaped prisoners. Mr McKenzie added that there is a low probability that Ms Brandel and Mr Henry might be alive. St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Superintendent Junior Simmons said the scene on the couples boat was consistent with signs of violence, adding that investigators found several items strewn on the deck and in the cabin, and a red substance that resembled blood on board the vessel. There was no discovery of bodies on board the yacht, Mr Simmons continued. The three men were recaptured after allegedly taking a yacht to St Vincent and the Grenadines (RSVG Police Force) Ms Brandel and Mr Henry had been living out a long-held dream of cruising the Caribbean in their sailing yacht when they went missing, according to their yacht club, the Salty Dawg Sailing Association. Suellen Desmarais, the sister of missing Mr Hendry, told WPTV that the couples whole life was on their boat Simplicity; they didnt own a home or cars and they usually spent their winters on their boat in Fort Pierce visiting family and friends. However, this year, they skipped this trip to go on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in the Caribbean, leaving with a boating group from Virginia back in November 2023. Mr Hendrys son Bryan Hendry told NBC Washington that they had been planning the trip down to Grenada their first to the Caribbean island for years and years and years, training themselves, preparing the boat, preparing themselves ... to make the trip. The family of the couple said they were incredibly saddened to hear the news that their parents were presumed dead. We remain optimistic in the on-going search led by the St Vincent Coast Guard, the statement added. While the end of their life may have been dark, they brought light, and that light will never be extinguished from the hearts and minds of the people who knew, loved and cared so deeply about them. Ralph and Kathy lived a life that most of us can only dream of, sailing the eastern coast of the United States, living on their home Simplicity, making friends with everyone they encountered, singing, dancing and laughing with friends and family thats who Ralph and Kathy were and thats how they will be remembered in our hearts, the statement continued. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The father of a Michigan school shooter made threatening statements from jail while awaiting trial, law enforcement officials said. James Crumbleys phone and email access have now been limited due to threatening statements he made while on the phone and in electronic messages," the Oakland County Sheriffs Office confirmed to The Independent. His access to a phone or electronic messaging is now limited to communication with his lawyer, they added. Officials did not say what the nature of the threats were, nor to whom they were directed. Mr Crumbley is currently on trial for involuntary manslaughter charges in relation to a mass shooting carried out by his son. Ethan Crumbley killed four students and wounded seven others after he opened fire at Oxford High School in 2021. Ethan, now 17, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and terrorism charges for the shooting, and was sentenced in December to life in prison. His mother, Jennifer Crumbley, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in February. She is expected to face sentencing in April. The charges against Mr and Ms Crumbley were an unprecedented move by Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald to hold a mass shooters parents responsible for ignoring warning signs that their son was planning to commit an act of violence. I am angry. Im angry as a mother. Im angry as the prosecutor. Im angry as a person that lives in this county, Ms McDonald said in a press conference when she announced the charges. There were a lot of things that could have been so simple to prevent. The two parents have been accused of gross negligence for purchasing a gun for their son, despite the fact that he was showing signs of severe mental health issues, including hallucinations and hearing voices. At one point, he told a friend hed asked his parents to take him to a doctor, but they allegedly brushed off his concerns. The morning of the shooting, Mr and Ms Crumbley were called into school after teachers reported seeing the teenager watching shooting videos on his phone and drawing disturbing images depicting shootings. Even then, they did not take their son out of school, nor did they tell school officials he owned a gun. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A desperate search is under way for a missing Tennessee teenager with autism, with investigators now extending their efforts across state lines to a Kentucky landfill. Sebastian Rogers, 15, vanished from his home in Hendersonville over a week ago on the morning of 26 February. An Amber Alert was issued to try to track down the teenager and bring him home safely but so far he is yet to be found. This week, authorities were spotted combing through the landfill where the trash from the teens neighbourhood ended up, according to the Sumner County Sheriffs Office. Officials called the search of the landfill a precautionary measure to eliminate possible options and questions. Kentucky State Police spokesperson Ridge Porter told WKRN that detectives had obtained a search warrant for the Hopkins County Regional Landfill in White Plains. Sebastian Rogers has been missing since 26 February (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) There is no specific information that indicates evidence related to the search for Sebastian may be there, the sheriffs office said. Aerial video footage from local news outlets captured a white tarp covering part of the landfill area while officers were seen digging through the trash for clues. The search of the landfill site (WSMV) The efforts come just days after the ground search for Sebastian was scaled back earlier in the week as authorities transitioned to the investigative side of the case. The sheriffs office said that investigators are now working on eliminating and drumming up leads. Authorities said that Sebastians family has been cooperative with the investigation. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A criminal justice reform advocate who appeared on Joe Rogans show last month has been charged with murder after body parts were discovered in his apartment in the Bronx, New York. The 48-year-old man, Sheldon Johnson, was arrested on Tuesday night and charged with manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon alongside the murder charge. Police said that Sheldon was an ex-convict who had served about 25 years behind bars for attempted murder and other charges and now worked as a criminal justice reform advocate in the Bronx. Authorities were reportedly called to 979 Summit Avenue in the Highbridge section of the Bronx at around 8.25pm local time for a wellness check of an occupant in Apartment 6G. But that wellness check led to a gruesome discovery of the body parts. Police said that they discovered a torso and an arm inside the apartment in a plastic bin. Later, detectives from the New York Police Department found the victims legs, arms and head in a freezer after obtaining a search warrant on Wednesday. The victim was identified as 44-year-old Collin Smal. Police allege that he was shot in the head by the suspect, Johnson. There were bullet fragments inside the victims head, the medical examiner said. Officials report that concrete was discovered in the suspects vehicle, along with the recovery of a Tyvek suit. Johnson appeared on Joe Rogans podcast last month where he spoke about how he changed his life from crime to advocacy. It was at that moment that I really said I have to change my life I have to change my life I just cant do this, Johnson said. I had a wife, I had kids, I had family still, my son was growing up he was hearing stories of my so-called notoriety I just didnt want to be that dad. He also said: Prison does two things to you: It brings out the best or it brings out the worst. Johnson was working as a criminal justice reform advocate for Queens Defenders in the Bronx. Local media reported the Bronx neighbourhood was shaken by the incident. Resident Jose Marquez was quoted as saying by ABC 7 NY: I noticed that a crime scene van was sitting here and a couple city vehicles. I didnt know what was going on at the time, but then I assumed it was something bad because I saw the medical examiner coming in. Law enforcement sources told NBC News that after identifying Johnson in surveillance video, the authorities conducted a search of his apartment, where they discovered the victims legs, arms, and head stored in the freezer. Sources suggested to the outlet that a conflict might have arisen between Small and Johnson, possibly rooted in their shared history from time spent together in prison. For the residents, this marks another disturbing incident of violence within the same building. Security footage from 2022 captured a suspect obscuring a security camera with spray paint just before three people, posing as police officers, violently entered an apartment in the building. Inside, they restrained a man and woman with zip ties and stole $20,000 from them. During the ordeal, the male victim was shot in the back. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Around twelve people attacked and robbed two 17-year-olds in a park in San Francisco, putting them both in the hospital. The incident happened at Hilltop Park in the Bayview district of the city on Thursday around 4pm. According to the San Francisco Police Department, the attackers ranged in age from 12- to 20 years old. They took two phones and a pair of shoes from the teens while leaving them with non-life-threatening injuries. Both were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. No other details on the suspects have been made available. SFPD told The Independent that the pair were initially approached by one individual before the larger group arrived. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 pr text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. The Bayview area, which sits in the south-east of San Francisco, has seen 33 robberies this year - down nearly 47 per cent during the same period last year. The area has also seen 51 reported assaults since 1 January, compared to 55 over the same stretch last year. Last month, a swimmer was beaten and carjacked near the Aquatic Park Cove, police said. Officers from the San Francisco Police Department responded to a robbery just before 6 am on 2 February in the area of Beach and Hyde streets, a few blocks from Fishermans Wharf, police spokesperson Paulina Henderson told SFGATE. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a man with non-life-threatening injuries, Henderson said. The man told police he was attacked by two people after stepping out of his car, which was subsequently stolen. Two minors were arrested in another county on suspicion of vehicle theft, but the attack and carjacking is still an active investigation, Henderson said. A GoFundMe page was set up for the man, identified as Andrew Cotter, a frequent swimmer and volunteer at the South End Rowing Club. Mr Cotter underwent surgery at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and returned to his home that night, he wrote in a post on the GoFundMe. He added that his jaw was broken and had to be wired shut. On the GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $38,000 as of Monday evening, Cotter thanked the community for their donations. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Texas-based company is claiming that they have scientific evidence of the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370s final resting place. Ocean Infinity has announced a proposal for a new search in the southern Indian Ocean where the plane is believed to have crashed a decade ago. It has already submitted the proposal to the Malaysian government. Ocean Infinity has proposed a no-cure, no-fee search when the client is only required to pay for the services if the company secures a positive outcome. The companys chief executive officer Oliver Plunkett said: We now feel in a position to be able to return to the search for MH370, and have submitted a proposal to the Malaysian government. 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. 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. Just after midnight local time on 8 March 2014, the Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, a Boeing 777, vanished from air traffic control radars while flying over the South China Sea shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur. In the weeks that followed, meticulous examination of radar data and a series of satellite pings revealed that the aircraft deviated from its planned route, heading west across the Southeast Asia peninsula before altering its path southward over the Indian Ocean. On board were 239 people, including 12 crew members. Malaysias transport minister Anthony Loke told reporters that he has invited Ocean Infinity to discuss a no cure, no fee proposal to resume the search for MH370. I am very, very confident that the government of Malaysia and cabinet will approve such a proposal, he said. Mr Plunkett said the company was analysing the data in the hopes of narrowing the search area. This search is arguably the most challenging, and indeed the most pertinent one out there. Weve been working with many experts, some outside of Ocean Infinity, to continue analysing the data in the hopes of narrowing the search area down to one in which success becomes potentially achievable. We hope to get back to the search soon. In 2018, Ocean Infinity undertook a three-month search on a no cure, no fee basis, spanning approximately 112,000 square kilometres, yet this effort too ended without yielding any new findings. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Most eyes in Capitol Hill will be on Joe Bidens during the presidents State of the Union addressbut one person is guaranteed to miss it. Known as the designated survivor, the role is performed by a member of the presidents office who is required to sit out the State of the Union, which the president gives from the United States Capitol . Most people in the order of presidential succession find themselves in the same place at the same time during the speech. The designated survivorwho must remain in a different locationis a way to ensure the continuity of power should a calamity strike the Capitol. Think of it as the USs version of King Charles and Prince William not being allowed on the same plane. The identity of tonights designated survivor has been revealed as education secretary Miguel Cardona. Last years designated survivor was Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. In 2022, that role was filled by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara has published a list of past designated survivors dating back to 1984, during Ronald Reagans presidency. Sometimes a global pandemic changes things there was no designated survivor in 2021 because those who would usually have attended the address in person joined it remotely. The official presidential order of succession includes 18 people: the vice president, the speaker of the House, the president pro tempore of the Senate, 14 secretaries, and the attorney general. The designated survivor is typically chosen among the secretaries and the attorney general. President Joe Biden (AP) The practice of picking a designated survivor is thought to date back to the Cold War, specifically the late 1950sthough according to the National Constitution Center, the federal government didnt publicly acknowledge it until 1981. Back in 2016, Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for Barack Obama, told The Ringer that who gets picked as designated survivor partly depends on how prominently their department features in the State of the Union speech. Sometimes the designated survivor is chosen based on, Are their programs or policies going to be a highlight of the State of the Union? Favreau told the website. I remember years where education would be a big deal in the speech and therefore Arne Duncan, who was the education secretary at the time, could not be the designated survivor. The concept even inspired an ABC series titled Designated Survivor, which aired on ABC then Netflix for a total of three seasons between 2016 and 2019. Former US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who was the designated survivor during George W Bushs State of the Union address in 2007, discussed the experience with NewsNation on Thursday ahead of Bidens own speech. He recalled that individuals from every major department and agency were on hand with thick, big binders of protocols and procedures to advise him in case he suddenly had to serve as President of the United States. The designated survivor isnt always the person who would become president in the event of a disaster during the State of the Union. Back in 2010, according to the American Presidency Project, Shaun Donovan, the then-Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, was the designated survivor during President Barack Obamas address. But Hilary Clinton, who then served as the Secretary of State, had to miss the State of the Union to attend a conference in London. She ranked higher than Donovan in the order of presidential succession and would have assumed the presidential office if needed. Political junkies have until 9pm ET to place their bets on who this years designated survivor will be. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A spike in UFO sightings since the 1960s was caused by the US military testing spy planes and space technology, according to a Pentagon report. The report, which was presented to Congress on Friday, also found that there is no evidence that the US government had interactions with aliens, adding that most sightings of UFOs or unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) were ordinary objects. It added that public opinion surrounding UFOs has been influenced by pop culture. The proliferation of television programmes, books, movies, and the vast amount of internet and social media content centred on UAP-related topics most likely has influenced the public conversation on this topic, and reinforced these beliefs within some sections of the population, the report said. The report lists classified government programmes including the Manhattan Project and the secret development of the Air Forces stealth drone, the RQ-170 Sentinel, that may have contributed to increased reports of unidentified objects or phenomena. It also found that an alleged 1961 leaked memo about UFOs was inauthentic, and that an alien spacecraft sample collected by a UAP investigating organisation was not made of an other-worldly material but instead was made mostly of magnesium, zinc and bismuth. A new Pantagon report has found that there is no evidence that the US government had interactions with aliens (AFP via Getty) A Pentagon spokesperson said that officials had approached the report in an open-minded way, but had simply found no evidence of extraterrestrial visitors. All investigative efforts, at all levels of classification, concluded that most sightings were ordinary objects and phenomena and the result of misidentification, Major General Pat Ryder said. The report also found that more recently, government and commercial drones, new kinds of satellites and errant weather balloons have led to a new surge in reports. Reported UFO sightings in the US surged in the 1960s the same decade that saw the first man walk on the moon and Yuri Gagarin orbit the planet. Since then, UFO sightings have continued to grow, with the Pentagon receiving 800 reports of unidentified objects as of April 2023, up from 650 reports in August 2022. Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the Pentagon office established to investigate potential UFO sightings, told CNN at the time that about half of the objects sighted are determined to be mundane things such as balloons or drones. He added that between two and four per cent of reports are truly anomalous and require further investigation. Meanwhile, a very small percentage of reports have interesting signatures, such as high-speed travel or unknown morphologie, he said. Public interest in UFOs has grown rapidly in recent years. A July 2023 hearing in Congress on the matter drew significant attention from the public after veteran and former member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency David Grusch testified during a congressional hearing that the US government is in possession of intact craft of non-human origin from UAP crash sites. However, his claims were dismissed by Mr Kirkpatrick, who said Mr Grusch has no evidence that suggests anything extraterrestrial in nature. Meanwhile, public interest in UFOs was stirred up again in September when self-described UFO expert Jaime Maussan testified in front of the Mexican Congress that he had discovered two non-human corpses that are not part of our terrestrial evolution. Mr Maussans claims have not been proven and he has previously been associated with claims of discoveries that have later been debunked. A formal office to investigate reports of UAPs, which Mr Kirkpatrick heads up, was established under the Biden administration. According to a 2021 Gallup poll, just over 40 per cent of Americans think alien spacecraft have visited Earth, a number that increased from 33 per cent in just two years. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An active-duty United States Army intelligence officer has been accused of selling sensitive information on Taiwan to China for around $42,000. Korbein Schultz, 24, was arrested at Fort Campbell, on the KentuckyTennessee border, on Thursday. The sergeant, from Wills Point in Texas, allegedly used his top secret security clearance to download classified government records, including maps, plans and notes, on national defence. Announcing his indictment, the Department of Justice said Sgt Shultz worked with an individual known as Conspirator A from June 2022 until his arrest. Conspirator A asked him to use his clearance to gather information on US weapons systems and the militarys plans should Taiwan come under military attack. One of the documents the sergeant sent was a manual on using intercontinental ballistic missiles. "I will just keep sending you an abundance of information, the sergeant told Conspirator A in a message on 26 August 2022, having just downloaded seven more documents. The individual told Sgt Shultz that he lived in Hong Kong and worked for a geopolitical consulting firm. Much of the information sent was related to China, according to prosecutors. Sgt Shultz, who told Conspirator A that he wanted to be like the fictional spy Jason Bourne, has now been charged with six counts including conspiracy and bribery, the DOJ said. Protecting national defence information is absolutely critical to our countrys safety and security, US Attorney Henry Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee said in a statement. The unauthorised sale of such information violates our national security laws, compromises our safety, and cannot be tolerated. Part of Sgt Shultzs job was to instruct others on the proper handling of classified documents, say officials. At the same time, the officer allegedly received at least 14 payments from the mystery person, who at one point told him he wanted to turn their relationship into a long-term partnership. According to a US Army spokesperson, Sgt Shultz has received multiple awards, including the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon. We cannot tolerate any betrayal of trust, and we remain vigilant in our mission to protect national defence information crucial to our security, Brigadier General Rhett R Cox, Commanding General of the Army Counterintelligence Command said. We encourage all members of the Army team, past or present, to remain vigilant and report any potential suspicious activity." Thursdays announcement comes after a 22-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was jailed for 16 years after he leaked classified military documents to his friends online. Also earlier this week, a former Air Force employee and retired Army lieutenant colonel pleaded not guilty to charges that he shared classified information about Russias war with Ukraine on a foreign dating site. Commodities Trading Company Will Pay More Than $661 Million to Resolve Foreign Bribery Case Gunvor S.A. (Gunvor), an international commodities trading company based in Switzerland, has pleaded guilty and will pay over $661 million to resolve an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Gunvors guilty plea stemmed from the companys corrupt scheme to pay substantial bribes to Ecuadorean government officials to secure business with Ecuadors state-owned and state-controlled oil company, Petroecuador. In connection with the resolution, Gunvor entered into a plea agreement with the government and pleaded guilty to an information charging the company with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Following the plea, the court sentenced Gunvor to pay a criminal monetary penalty of $374,560,071 and to forfeit $287,138,444 in ill-gotten gains. The sentence includes credits of up to one-quarter of the criminal fine each for amounts Gunvor pays to resolve investigations by Swiss and Ecuadorean authorities into the same misconduct so long as the payments are made within one year of todays date. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland announced today a parallel resolution of its investigation into Gunvors misconduct that involved payment of approximately $98 million by Gunvor to Swiss authorities. Over nearly a decade, Gunvor representatives bribed high-level government officials at Ecuadors state-owned oil company to enter into business transactions with other state-owned entities that ultimately benefited Gunvor. As a result of this complex bribery scheme, Gunvor obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit profits, said Acting Senior Counselor Brent S. Wible of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. Foreign bribery emboldens corrupt officials and undermines the rule of law. Gunvors guilty plea demonstrates that the Criminal Division remains resolute in our efforts to root out bribery and official corruption. We will continue to hold both corporations and individuals who bribe foreign officials to account, in coordination with our international partners. Todays guilty plea and sentencing marks yet another example of this offices efforts to combat widespread corruption, said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. Corruption erodes the publics trust in their government, prevents government officials from acting in the best interests of the people they represent and harms businesses that play by the rules, driving up prices for consumers. The Justice Department, including my office, will not tolerate bribes being paid by American companies or foreign companies misusing the U.S. financial system. Gunvors years-long bribery scheme involving high-level Ecuadoran officials was both detrimental to the business environment and eroded the publics trust and confidence in their government, said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office. This guilty plea and significant fine would not have been possible without significant cooperation from our international partners in the Cayman Islands, Colombia, Curacao, Ecuador, Panama, Portugal, Singapore, and Switzerland. This truly was an international effort. According to the companys admissions and court documents, between 2012 and 2020, Gunvor and its co-conspirators paid more than $97 million to intermediaries knowing that some of the money would be and in fact was used to bribe Ecuadorean officials, including Nilsen Arias Sandoval, a then-high ranking official at Petroecuador. As part of the scheme, Gunvor managers and agents attended meetings in the United States and elsewhere. The bribe payments were routed through banks in the United States using shell companies in Panama and the British Virgin Islands controlled by Gunvors co-conspirators. Among other things, a Gunvor employee also directed one of the intermediaries to use the money to purchase an 18-karat gold Patek Philippe watch for Arias. In exchange for these bribe payments, high-level Ecuadorian officials helped various state-owned entities, which were acting as front companies for Gunvor, win the rights to a series of oil-backed loan contracts with Petroecuador. This structure allowed Gunvor and its co-conspirators to avoid a competitive bidding process and to obtain contractual terms that it could not have obtained otherwise. Gunvor also received confidential Petroecuador information in exchange for the bribes. In total, Gunvor earned more than $384 million in profits from the contracts it obtained corruptly from Petroecuador. The department reached this resolution with Gunvor based on a number of factors, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense. Gunvor received credit for its cooperation with the departments investigation, which included: (i) producing documents to the department from multiple foreign countries expeditiously while navigating foreign data privacy and criminal laws; (ii) providing information obtained through its own internal investigation to the department, which allowed the department to preserve and obtain evidence as part of the departments investigation; (iii) making detailed, factual presentations to the department; (iv) arranging for the interview of an employee based outside the United States; (v) promptly collecting, analyzing, and organizing voluminous information, including complex financial information, at the request of the department, and producing an analysis of trading activity conducted by multiple outside forensic accounting firms retained by Gunvor; (vi) translating foreign language documents to facilitate and expedite review by the department; and (vii) imaging the phones of relevant custodians at the beginning of Gunvors internal investigation, thus preserving business communications sent on mobile messaging applications. Gunvor also engaged in timely and appropriate remedial measures, including: (i) eliminating the use of third-party business origination agents; (ii) enhancing its third party due-diligence process; (iii) developing and implementing a control framework for internal business developers and additional layers of review and approval for counterparty payments; (iv) enhancing the independent compliance committee with responsibility for reviewing high-risk transactions; (v) engaging resources to review its compliance program and test the effectiveness of its overall reporting process, its reporting hotline and the effectiveness of the investigation of reports made through the hotline; (vi) evaluating and updating its compensation policy to better incentivize compliance with the law and corporate policies; (vii) hiring additional compliance personnel; (viii) testing and enhancing its compliance program, including by conducting compliance culture reviews, testing new third party due diligence process and payment controls, and evaluating controls around business development activities; and (ix) developing and implementing a risk-based business communications policy that addresses the use of ephemeral and encrypted messaging applications. The department also considered Gunvors history of misconduct. In October 2019, Gunvor reached a resolution with the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland concerning a corrupt scheme to bribe officials in Congo-Brazzaville and Cote dIvoire to secure oil contracts obtained between approximately 2009 and 2012. As part of the 2019 Swiss resolution, Gunvor admitted that it lacked sufficient controls to prevent the underlying misconduct and failed to take all the reasonable organizational measures required to prevent Gunvors employees and agents from engaging in bribery. The conduct that is the subject of todays guilty plea occurred, in part, at the same time as the prior Swiss investigation and resolution. In light of these considerations, the department determined that the appropriate resolution in this case was for Gunvor to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA. The criminal fine calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 25% reduction off the 30th percentile of the applicable guidelines fine range, taking into account Gunvors cooperation and remediation, as well as its prior history. The department previously secured convictions in the Eastern District of New York of four individuals who were implicated in Gunvors bribery scheme, including: Antonio Pere Ycaza, a former consultant for Gunvor, pleaded guilty on Oct. 7, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Enrique Pere Ycaza, a former consultant for Gunvor, also pleaded guilty on Oct. 7, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and to violate the FCPA. Raymond Kohut, a former Gunvor employee and agent, pleaded guilty on April 6, 2021, to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Nilsen Arias Sandoval, a former senior Petroecuador official, pleaded guilty on Jan. 19, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The FBI Miami Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBIs International Corruption Unit. Trial Attorney Clayton P. Solomon and Assistant Chiefs Derek J. Ettinger and Jonathan P. Robell of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section, Trial Attorney D. Hunter Smith and Deputy Chief Adam J. Schwartz of the Criminal Divisions Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nick M. Axelrod, Jonathan P. Lax, and Matthew R. Galeotti for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Mantell and Brendan King for the Eastern District of New York are handling forfeiture matters. The Justice Departments Office of International Affairs and authorities in the Cayman Islands, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Portugal, Singapore, and Switzerland provided valuable 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. The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative is led by a team of dedicated prosecutors in the Criminal Divisions Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, and often with U.S. Attorneys Offices, to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, to use those recovered assets to benefit the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of office. This story has been published on: 2024-03-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. NANCHANG, March 6 (Xinhua) -- With masterful precision, Allan Denis Naymark breathed life into the shapeless clay on his potter's wheel. As he worked his magic, a teapot emerged, ready to be decorated with his signature algae pattern. After finishing his work, the 33-year-old American left Jingdezhen for Hainan for a winter vacation. "I will be back to the studio in Jingdezhen and restart my work there in April." Jingdezhen, a city in east China's Jiangxi Province, is known as the world-famous "porcelain capital." Its history of ceramic craftsmanship spans over 2,000 years. Naymark came to Jingdezhen nine years ago from New York. "I found the origin of ceramic culture here," he said. The city inspired him to start his career as a ceramics designer. He gave himself the Chinese name Ni Deming. The Chinese character "Ni," which is pronounced similar to the "Nay" in his name, means clay, the main component in ceramics. In a village on the outskirts of Jingdezhen, Naymark owns a studio in a former farm house. He is in good company as there are more than 200 such studios in the vicinity. Driven by a passion for ceramics, more than 30,000 people have migrated to Jingdezhen, a city with a population of less than 900,000, in recent years. During the peak period, there is one foreigner among every six migrants. The foreigners, which come from around 60 countries and regions, are compared to migratory birds, as they flock to Jingdezhen annually. Some even stay longer. "This year we have already got a record of more than 1,000 foreign artists applying for on-site work here," said Wu Hao, head of Taoxichuan International Art Center. The center has run the three-month Taoxichuan Art Center Residency Program every year since 2015, inviting art institutions of over 50 countries and regions to recommend artists to join the program. All expenses are covered; the only request is that each artist should leave one third of the work. The recent decade has witnessed over 3,000 "migratory" artists working at Wu's international art center. Some even come every year. Ceramicists are attracted to the porcelain hub for its ceramic culture, while the city's industrial chain of handmade porcelain allows them to enter the market at low cost. According to a Dutch designer who only gave his name as Johannes, a porcelain mould that would sell 2,000 euros in the Netherlands cost just one eightieth of the price in Jingdezhen. "From ceramic clay, glaze, tools to kilning, I can handle everything simply by making a phone call here," he said. "You can innovate boldly thanks to the more inclusive market here," said Japanese ceramist Takayanagi Ayao, adding bowls made in Jingdezhen have richer color and sells at a higher price. Livestreaming has also helped boost the sales of porcelain in Jingdezhen. There are over 10,000 livestream hosts engaged in the ceramics industry. According to the local government, last year the sales of porcelain via livestreaming exceeded 7 billion yuan (about 985.54 million U.S. dollars), accounting for almost 70 percent of China's e-commerce market share in ceramics industry. Yoo Si-hyoung, a ceramist from the Republic of Korea who has lived in Jingdezhen for eight years, said that Jingdezhen enables people to translate creations into reality with good sales. Naymark told Xinhua that although he lives in a relatively remote area, he has seen more and more foreigners in recent years, including sculptors and historians from countries like Italy, Egypt and Russia. Locals, already used to seeing outsiders, are happy to talk with any newcomers about ceramics and local cuisine. Apart from designing ceramics, Naymark also enjoys the slow life there, drinking tea, admiring porcelain, hiking, and visiting the Changjiang river, which passes through the city. He said that he loved the ubiquitous artistic atmosphere and the warm, delicate, and free living environment of Jingdezhen. "I will continue working and living here," he said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Biden had barely started giving his State of the Union address from the House of Representatives rostrum when he laid into his predecessor and likely 2024 election opponent, former president Donald Trump, for threatening to allow Russia to run roughshod over the democracies of the West while simultaneously castigating the Republican-led Congress for failing to authorise more defence aid to Ukraine. Invoking Franklin Delano Roosevelts speech in 1941 warning of Hitlers armies being on the march in Europe, Mr Biden said hed come to the same chamber to tell the nation that it is facing an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union and to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment. What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time overseas, Putin of Russia is on the march, invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond, he said. If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not. But Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself. Mr Bidens denunciation of Mr Trump and the GOP for refusing to support Ukraines fight against Russia was just an opening salvo in what became a full-throated defence of his administrations policies and repeated exhortations to the assembled legislators to take up bipartisan legislation that has been blocked at Mr Trumps behest. In a fiery address he challenged his opponents over the border, womens health and Republicans efforts to rewrite history over the January 6 riot. The president stressed that Ukraine isnt asking for Americans to give their lives overseas, and said he is working to keep American soldiers from having to fight there. But he warned that funding for Ukraine is being blocked by those who want us to walk away from our leadership in the world, referring to Republicans who oppose aid to Kyiv because it would be a political win for the president. Preisdent Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden arrive ahead of his State of the Union address (REUTERS) Recalling how the late Republican president Ronald Reagan had told then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall in a moment of global leadership, Mr Biden called out Mr Trump without saying his name, referring to the disgraced ex-presidents recent promise to allow Russia to attack any Nato member that doesnt, in his view, spend enough on defence. Now, my predecessor, a former Republican President, tells Putin, Do whatever the hell you want a former American President actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader, he said, Its outrageous. Its dangerous. Its unacceptable, he added. The presidents condemnation of Mr Trump came on the same day that Sweden ended centuries of neutrality by joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance. Biden gestures as he leaves the White House (AFP via Getty Images) With Swedens prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, looking on, Mr Biden recalled how America was one of the alliances founding members when it was formed after the Second World War to prevent war and keep the peace. Mr Prime Minister, welcome to Nato, the strongest military alliance the world has ever known, he said. Turning back to the House and Senate members looking on, he called on them to pass the bipartisan national security supplemental funding bill that would provide defence aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and needed humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip. History is watching if the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk, Europe at risk, the free world at risk, emboldening others who wish to do us harm, he said. Over and over again, the president called out Mr Trump calling him my predecessor and laid out the stark contrasts between his own policies and those favoured by the Republicans. After calling them out over Mr Trumps coziness with Mr Putin and calling the Russian leader a threat to the US from abroad, he immediately pivoted to describing threats to American democracy from within. He said history is watching what Congress does on the foreign aid supplemental, and noted that the eyes of history were similarly watching during the January 6 attack on the Capitol, describing the attack as one committed by insurrectionists whod stormed this very Capitol and placed a dagger at the throat of American democracy. Continuing, the president warned that the January 6 attack, continued lies about the conduct of the 2020 election, and the attempt by Mr Trump and his allies to block the transfer of power nearly four years ago had posed the gravest threat to our democracy since the Civil War. Biden vows to restore Roe v Wade during 2024 State of the Union address As Republicans booed, he said the insurrectionists had failed while America had stood strong as democracy had prevailed. Yet Mr Biden also cautioned that Americans must still be honest about the continuing threat to democracy, and again called out Mr Trump. My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth of January 6th. I will not do that, he said. This is a moment to speak the truth and bury the lies. And heres the simplest truth. You cant love your country only when you win, he said. He called on the Republicans there to remember their oaths of office, to defend against all threats foreign and domestic. Respect free and fair elections! Restore trust in our institutions! And make clear political violence has absolutely no place in America, he said. Mr Bidens State of the Union speech, his third address to a joint session of Congress, started after he made his way through the House chamber while being greeted by throngs of members from both parties, including Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who handed him a button bearing the name of Laiken Riley, the University of Georgia student who was murdered, allegedly by an undocumented immigrant. Marjorie Taylor Greene tries to hand a button bearing the name of Laiken Riley to Biden (AFP via Getty Images) When he finally reached the House rostrum, Speaker Mike Johnson did not tell the members he had the traditional high honour and distinct privilege of presenting the president to them before Mr Biden started his speech. And Mr Biden appeared to dispense with the detachment with which his predecessors have delivered their annual remarks to Congress, instead taking a more aggressive tone as he sometimes addressed people who were present in the chamber. At one point, as he vowed to sign legislation codifying federal abortion rights into law after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, Mr Biden spoke directly to the Supreme Court justices when speaking of the electoral power of American women. As three of the justices whod signed on to the opinion stripping women of their right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy looked on, Mr Biden said: With all due respect justices, women are not without electoral or political power. He then reminded viewers that Mr Trump, who appointed three of the justices whod overturned Roe to the high court, continues to boast about his role in the decision, and said anyone who would brag about such a thing had no clue about the power of women. President Biden reacts to Marjorie Taylor Greenes MAGA hat at State of the Union If you, the American people, send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you I will restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land again, he said. Contrasting his view with Mr Trump and Republicans, he reminded them that they have promised to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom. He asked: My God, what freedoms will you take away next? Over and over again, the 46th president invoked the 45th as Republicans booed, hissed, and in some cases blatantly interrupted him, giving him a chance to react in real time. When the topic turned to immigration, the president pointed out that a majority of House members and Senators support the bipartisan immigration reform and border security bill fashioned by Senate negotiators but rejected by GOP senators on orders from Mr Trump. The Border Patrol Union endorsed the bill. The Chamber of Commerce endorsed the bill. I believe that given the opportunity a majority of the House and Senate would endorse it as well, but unfortunately, politics have derailed it so far, he said. Im told my predecessor called Republicans in Congress and demanded they block the bill. He feels it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him, he added. At that point, Ms Greene, the Georgia congresswoman with a history of outbursts during Mr Bidens annual speeches, began screaming about the slain Georgia student, Laiken Riley. Biden speaks in front of Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (AFP via Getty Images) Mr Biden paused, removed the button shed given him and held it up for the cameras as he described Riley as an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. To her parents, I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself. I understand, he said. He then called out Republicans once more for blocking the bipartisan bill, and for the second time in as many weeks, he invited Mr Trump to work with him by telling his allies in Congress to pass it. All told, Mr Biden invoked Mr Trump as my predecessor a full 12 times during his speech, the first time any president has spoken of his re-election opponent since then-president Bill Clinton addressed his future opponent, then-Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole of Kansas, during his 1996 State of the Union speech. At the time, Mr Clinton brought up Doles service in the Second World War, drawing attention to the Kansan veterans age. Mr Biden, the oldest president ever to serve, did the same towards the end of his remarks when he obliquely referred to Mr Trump as some other people my age and contrasted the ex-presidents view of Americas story as one of resentment, revenge, and retribution. with his view of a future based on the core values that have defined America: Honesty, decency, dignity, equality. Bidens speech was his last State of the Union address before the 5 November 2024 presidential election (AP) He quipped that in his long career, hed been told he was both too young and too old at times, with the latter categorisation being a nod to those critics who say he is now too old to serve effectively. Mr Trump and his allies have sought to portray the 46th president as an elderly, declining and bumbling figure who is too cognitively impaired to function. But as Mr Biden left the House chamber to thunderous applause, one Democratic member New York Representative Jerry Nadler said that strategy may no longer work for the ex-president. As Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar told Mr Biden hed been on fire, Mr Nadler interjected. No one will be talking about cognitive impairment now, he said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A senator-turned-vice president-turned-president down in the polls against a prominent New Yorker as he is hamstrung by right-wing Congress captive to extremists. Israel on the brink and an emboldened Russia. While the circumstances parallel President Joe Bidens situation as he gets ready to return to Capitol Hill for his State of the Union, it also describes Harry Truman as he ran for president in 1948. Similar to Bidens support of Ukraine against Vladimir Putins aggression, Truman had to deal with Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union after the Second World War. In 1948, Truman became the first head of state to recognise the state of Israel upon its declaration of independence but it soon went to war with its Arab neighbors. At the time, most people thought that Truman would lose to New York governor Thomas Dewey, hence the famous image of the Missourian holding a newspaper that says Dewey Defeats Truman. A big part of Trumans ability to win that year was his bashing of the do-nothing Congress, which at the time Republicans controlled. Biden has mostly focused, understandably, on former president Donald Trump, especially given that he will now certainly be the Republican nominee. But if anything, the do-nothing Congress of Trumans day seems productive when compared to the chaos that is the current US House of Representatives. Last year, Congress passed fewer laws than it has in decades. Most notably, the House spent its first few days voting fifteen times to make Kevin McCarthy speaker. It again ground to a halt in October when Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz led a revolt of eight Republicans and most Democrats to eject McCarthy from the speakership. That led to 22 days without a speaker, where Republicans cycled through three nominees before they finally settled on Mike Johnson. Then came the bizarre Republican refusal to support Ukraine at all. And the months of bipartisan deliberation in the Senate about a deal to exchange restrictions to immigration and border security at the US-Mexico border in exchange for aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, before GOP members blew up the bill entirely. Congress has lurched to each funding deadline by barely passing a continuing resolution to keep the government open. Indeed, the House finally passed six spending bills for a fiscal year that began in October on Wednesday only because all but two Democrats voted for it and a slim majority of Republicans. Whether the House can pass the next six bills is another question. Even Republicans agree that everything has descended into chaos. Florida man Gaetz, the man who broke the House of Representatives, said last year before his revolt that the only thing the 118th Congress is known for at this point is electing Kevin McCarthy speaker and underwriting Bidens debt. Chip Roy, the goateed and perpetually yelling Republican from Texas, complained on the floor last year that I want my Republican colleagues to give me one thing one that I can go campaign on and say we did. This, of course ignores the fact that Gaetz and Roy are the ones who often prevent Congress from getting anything done. Plenty of the grown-up Republicans such as Patrick McHenry, who served as the interim speaker in October; Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger; and Energy and Commerce Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers have decided they would rather leave the House than deal with another round of hearings where Marjorie Taylor Greene shows nude photos of the presidents son. All of this gives Biden the perfect foil. Seated behind him will be Johnson, the only thing everyone in the GOP Conference could agree on, and now the extremists are even coming for him. Similarly, Bidens buddy of many years, Mitch McConnell, is stepping aside from Senate leadership soon, for someone who will inevitably be more of a MAGA acolyte than he is. Biden has a chance to denounce the shenanigans of the Mojo Dojo Casa House of Representatives, call out its dysfunction and compare it to when Democrats controlled both chambers. Back then, they passed legislation on everything from climate change to semiconductor manufacturing to curbing gun violence to infrastructure. Hes already called out the Republican morass, as was the case when he visited the US-Mexico border last week, but this gives him a bigger microphone. He also has the chance to say there are opportunities to work with Republicans, such on a tax bill the House passed that includes plenty of goodies for businesses and an expanded child tax credit. While Truman used saltier language than Biden likes, this Congress has given him plenty of items to deem as malarkey. In 1948, Trumans supporters said, Give em hell, Harry, and Truman famously responded, I don't give them hell. I just tell the truth about them, and they think it's hell. Biden has the opportunity to give Johnson, McConnell, Greene, Boebert and anyone else hell by revealing the truth about them and their House of Representatives tonight. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has finalised his takeover of the Republican National Committee as the campaign organisation elected former North Carolina GOP chair and RNC general counsel Michael Whatley as its new chair following the departure of Ronna McDaniel. Mr Trumps daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, was elected vice-chair of the RNC, cementing the Trump familys control of how Republican campaign cash gets spent. Members of the RNC met in Houston, Texas to appoint Mr Whatley and Ms Trump to the top posts. In her departing remarks, Ms McDaniel, who has been in the post since 2017, said We cannot put our heads in the sand and ignore abortion and the Dobbs decision in reference to the Supreme Court decision that ended the constitutional right to abortion. About the 2022 midterms, she said, Many of our candidates chose to ignore this issue, according to NBC News. We cannot win by speaking to an echo chamber of Republicans. The state of our party is strong. Over the last year, the RNC has been building the road for our eventual nominee, she added. While the change in personnel was in the works before Super Tuesday, Mr Trumps sweep of victories on 5 March, losing only Vermont to his former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, who left the race on Wednesday, leaves Mr Trump to get on with his general election campaign as the only Republican candidate left. We need voters to bank their vote and vote early, Ms McDaniel argued, NBC reported, even as Mr Trump has spent years baselessly denigrating early voting as a source of fraud. We cannot allow Democrats to continue to run up the score in critical states, she added. If Republicans succeed in getting Republicans to vote early ... Donald Trump will win in November. The new staffing at the RNC comes as the organisation debates if it should pay Mr Trumps legal bills, which are now in the hundreds of millions. Maureen Reagan, the daughter of President Ronald Reagan, was the last family member of a president to serve as co-chair of the RNC back in the 1980s. Speaking to Reuters ahead of the appointments of Mr Whatley and Ms Trump, the chair of the Georgia Republican Party and a member of the RNC, Josh McKoon said: These moves make a lot of sense. As we head into a presidential year, we need all the financial resources we can challenging an incumbent president, he added, noting Ms Trumps fundraising and communications skills and dismissing concerns about conflicts of interest. Last month, Mr Trump put out a statement backing Mr Whatley, a fellow election denier, to take over from Ms McDaniel. I think my friend Michael Whatley should be the RNCs next leader, Mr Trump said. Michael has been with me from the beginning, has done a great job in his home state of North Carolina, and is committed to election integrity, which we must have to keep fraud out of our election so it cant be stolen. My very talented daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, has agreed to run as the RNC co-chair. Lara is an extremely talented communicator and is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for. She has told me she wants to accept this challenge and would be GREAT! The new leadership will have to utilize their fundraising skills as last year was the lowest for fundraising in 10 years. At the end of January, the RNC had less than $9m, just over a third of that of the Democratic National Committee at $24m, according to federal filings. Ms Trump said last month that she would spend all the RNC cash on getting Mr Trump elected again, prompting worries that she may not provide enough support for down-ballot candidates before she added that she would be spending money on races for the House and Senate as well. She also created new concerns about cash flow when she suggested it was in the RNCs interest to pay Mr Trumps legal bills. Rich folks dont want to pay other rich folks bills, Mississippi RNC member Henry Barbour told Reuters about the concerns of donors. They called me to re-up my donation. I said. Until I know how this is going to shake out, Im not writing a check, one anonymous donor told the news agency. Chris LaCivita, the co-manager of the Trump campaign, has said that RNC funds will not be used for legal fees. Mr LaCivitia will now become the chief operating officer of the RNC. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Serial liar and former congressman George Santos never ceases to amaze. The New Yorker was expelled from the House in December following a series of scandals including a damning Ethics Committee report accusing him of committing uncharged and unlawful conduct, 23 criminal counts at the federal level, and a plethora of lies about his past. His latest stunt then came on Thursday night when he turned up to President Joe Bidens State of the Union address and announced he would be running for Congress once again. Even this announcement came with a characteristic series of surprises. The former lawmaker-turned-Cameo star claimed that he left office arbitrarily, adding to his parade of lies that got him into trouble in the first place given an expulsion from Congress is far from arbitrary. Mr Santos also announced that he would be switching districts. He previously represented New Yorks third congressional district for less than one term after flipping his district red. In a February special election, his seat flipped back to blue when the district elected Democrat Tom Suozzi to replace him. Now, the disgraced ex-Congressman says he will be taking on his former Republican colleague Nick LaLota, accusing him of having a weak record as a Republican. Pushing these grand plans aside, one lingering question remains: can the criminally charged, expelled former lawmaker even be re-elected to Congress? Legal battles In May 2023 , the embattled lawmaker was arrested and charged with 13 federal criminal counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. By October, a superseding indictment revealed 10 new federal charges against Mr Santos, increasing the total to 23 counts. He was also charged with making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), falsifying records submitted to obstruct the FEC, aggravated identity theft, and access device fraud. The latter two charges relate to allegations that Mr Santos stole donors credit cards. In the case of one donor, Mr Santos is accused of trying to charge at least $44,800 to his alleged victims credit card without authorisation. Mr Santos has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His criminal trial is scheduled for September 2024. Expulsion from Congress One month after federal officials handed down the superseding indictment, the House Ethics Committee delivered a scathing report following its probe into the embattled congressman. The committee said it had uncovered substantial evidence that Mr Santos broke federal laws, writing that Mr Santos knowingly caused his campaign to file false FEC reports and used campaign funds for personal purposes, including to pay for OnlyFans and Botox. Although Mr Santos dismissed the report as a disgusting politicized smear, he also announced he would not be seeking re-election. On the heels of the report the House voted to expel Mr Santos from Congress on 1 December ousting him in a vote of 311 to 114. He left the Capitol that day saying: To hell with this place. Three months later, he seems to have changed his tune entirely. Flood of falsehoods Even before his slew of charges, Mr Santos reputation was in tatters as he became known for repeatedly spewing lies, with a string of his far-fetched stories being debunked. Among the falsehoods, the disgraced former congressman alleged that he obtained degrees from NYU and Baruch College as well as a prep school in New York City. None of these schools have any record of him attending. His work history also fell under scrutiny. He had claimed that before joining Congress he was employed by Goldman Sachs and Citigroup both claims, he later admitted, were works of fiction. Mr Santos instead offered up that he worked for the banks through a third company, though he has still provided no evidence to support this claim either. Mr Santos personal history is also rife with unsupported allegations. He said he had lost four of his employees at the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, that his grandparents fled the Holocaust, that he is Jewish which he later clarified as meaning Jew-ish and that his mother died in the 9/11 attacks but also on 23 December 2016. So can George Santos be re-elected despite his criminal charges and scandals? The simple answer is yes. The US Constitution states just three requirements for serving as a House Representative: that they must be at least 25 years old, that they have been a US citizen for at least seven years, and that they live in the state they represent. Ticking all those boxes, it seems he can run again. While Mr Santos is only the sixth lawmaker to have ever been expelled from the House of Representatives, he is not the first to refuse to bow out gracefully. Before Mr Santos, the most recent Congress member to be expelled was James Traficant in 2002. Unlike Mr Santos, however, the nine-term congressman was expelled months after he had been convicted for obstruction of justice, defrauding the government, bribery, tax evasion, and other charges. Following his expulsion, Traficant, who served as a Democrat, ran from prison as an independent in the election that November. Ultimately, he lost. After his release from prison in 2009, he launched another congressional bid but was again defeated. Michael J Myers was also expelled in 1980 marking the first House expulsion since the Civil War. Like Traficant, Myers was convicted months before facing the Houses expulsion vote. Still, he ran in the 1980 election and lost to an independent candidate, but he garnered more than a third of the vote. So in terms of Mr Santos, the question appears to be not whether he is able to run for re-election, but whether Americans will vote him in office again. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Expelled New York Congressman George Santos who made a surprise appearance at the State of the Union announced he is running for office again in 2024. New York hasnt had a real conservative represent them since I left office arbitrarily, thanks to RINO, empty suits like @nicklalota, Mr Santos wrote on X. He is a willing to risk the future of our majority and the future of this country for his own political gain. Representative Nick LaLota, a Republican, represents a portion of Long Island. He was first elected in 2023 and could now face the since-expelled former congressman in the next election. Tonight, I want to announce that I will be returning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick for the battle over #NY1, Mr Santos continued. I look forward to debating him on the issues and on his weak record as a Republican. The fight for our majority is imperative for the survival of the country. The announcement came in the middle of President Joe Bidens fiery State of the Union address which the serial fabulist turned up to despite being ousted by the people in the room just three months earlier. After three months away from this place, I figured Id come visit and watch the SOTU and update my friends in the media about my new plans for public office, Mr Santos told Axios about his decision to show up. Farnoush Amiri of the Associated Press noted on X: According to House rules, any former lawmaker can maintain their floor privileges unless they are a lobbyist, foreign agent, have a direct interest in the bill being considered at the time, or have been convicted of a crime in relation to their election or service. Mr Santos was wearing a bedazzled collard and silver shoes, CNN noted. Mr Santos was ousted from Congress on 1 December by a vote of 311-114. George Santos attended the 2024 State of the Union wearing a Laken Riley pin (AFP via Getty Images) His expulsion came after an Ethics Committee report found that there was substantial evidence that he had knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission; used campaign funds for personal purposes; engaged in fraudulent conduct in connection with RedStone Strategies LLC; and engaged in knowing and willful violations of the Ethics in Government Act as it relates to his Financial Disclosure (FD) Statements filed with the House. The report revealed that Mr Santos had spent around $6,000 in campaign donations at the luxury brand Ferragamo and Botox injections, according to campaign spreadsheets. It was also reported that campaign funds were used for OnlyFans subscriptions the site best known for hosting adult content. Mr Santos was first elected to Congress in 2022 after losing his first attempt in 2020. Reports later revealed he had told lies about his grandparents being Holocaust survivors and his mother dying on 9/11. In May, Mr Santos was charged with 13 charges in a Long Island federal court. Several months later, he was hit with a superseding indictment listing 23 counts. He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, but hes now in talks for a possible plea deal. Last month, he mocked his old party after they lost his seat in a special election in New Yorks third district. Democratic Rep Tom Souzzi the man who represented the district before Mr Santos won in 2022 won back his old seat on Tuesday night in a tight race against Republican nominee Mazi Melesa Pilip. Mr Souzzi chose not to run for re-election in 2022, instead mounting a failed primary campaign to be the Democratic nominee for governor, which he lost to incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul. I won #NY03 with $0 super PAC money, $0 CLF money and $0 Establishment money, Mr Santos wrote after the election. Tonight the establishment set $10 million on fire! I FLIPPED a 23 year Blue seat with the help of grassroots activists and by activating the base with retail politics Hey @NassauNYGOP money does not buy votes, its respecting the wishes of the base that wins votes. #NY3 is #MAGA country and since MAGA was disrespected, MAGA stayed home! Ahead of the State of the Union in February last year, Mr Santos came eye to eye with Utah Senator and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. The senator told Mr Santos that he didnt belong in Congress and should be embarrassed. Tell that to the 142,000 who voted for me, Mr Santos is reported to have replied. After the speech, Mr Romney called Mr Santos a sick puppy. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} In a small beach shop in downtown Huntington Beach, California, the face of Donald Trump stares down from a wall covered in T-shirts bearing his likeness. Impeach This, one reads, with an image of the former president showing both middle fingers. Hes our best seller, says Abdel Nate, who sits on the tills. The boss doesnt care about politics. Hes not red or blue, he just cares about his business making more money. Huntington Beach located around 50 miles south of Los Angeles and known locally as Surf City has all the laid back characteristics of a typical southern California beach town; bright sunshine, palm trees, with cafes and bars lining the front. However, though the pro-Trump sentiment is palpable, locals dispute previous portrayals of the city as a Maga stronghold at the heart of the historically liberal Golden State, and say that the Republican presence is not as aggressive as is being made out. Whether or not the enclaves of supporters for Mr Trump along the west coast will remain as passive as the US general election November rolls around, perhaps remains to be seen. Huntington Beach has been described as a Maga stronghold in California (Mike Bedigan/ The Independent) Just people I feel like its to each their own, Abdel tells The Independent. The 25-year-old has been living and working in Huntington Beach for two and a half years while he studies at nearby Orange Coast College. Its definitely different from when you go to any other city [along the west coast], like Long Beach, LA or anywhere in LA County, he says. Over here its a lot more Republican. Huntington Beach, one of Orange Countys largest cities, has long been associated with conservative beliefs, though in recent years the actions of local authorities has drawn attention to more right-wing stances. The council which is, in theory, nonpartisan has taken actions that many would view as being in line with a hard-right agenda. It has previously banned mask and vaccine mandates, established a body to review childrens library books for sexual content, and has roundly condemned President Bidens immigration policies. In February the council passed an ordinance that forbade the rainbow Pride flag from being put up on city property, which was backed up by voters at the ballot box earlier this week. The city is also waiting on the outcome of the vote on whether ID will be required to take part in municipal elections, another stance that has angered liberal lawmakers. On weekends, supporters of Mr Trump will often gather in large numbers on the Huntington beachfront to hold rallies. Their bumper-sticker clad vehicles fill the carpark and dozens of flags wave in the sea-breeze, while passing cars honk their horns in support, or disapproval. This is typical for weekends, Abdel says, adding that he has never been made to feel uncomfortable by the events or their attendees. You know, like I see every single Sunday theyre out by the pier and theyve got like hundreds of Trump flags but I always pass by and I dont feel like Im being picked on, he says. Im, like, Im full-on Egyptian you know 100% Egyptian but I havent felt discriminated against. Theyre not assholes, you know, I feel like theyre [just] people. A Maga stronghold Across the road from the beach shop where Abdel works is a cafe, outside of which four friends are sharing coffee and a box of cookies. They are all pro-Trump. Mike, 73, who is wearing a Vietnam Veterans hat, says that media portrayals and liberal perceptions about the Republican community in Huntington Beach do not concern him. We never worry about what the media say, they can say whatever they want, he tells The Independent. Despite this, Mike concedes that there are idiots that do not help with the sensationalist image of the local pro-Trump movement. We have idiots here for sure, but theyre all over, he says. Donald Trump merchandise in Huntington Beach, California (Mike Bedigan/ The Independent) Larry, 75, reaches for an oatmeal raisin cookie. He has also seen the recent article in the Washington Post that describes the town as a Maga Stronghold which he says is a term that is being weaponised and used incorrectly. The media tries to make such a big deal out of everything because they need an audience and because they need eyes or ears to see or hear them. And so they exaggerate everything beyond proportion, he says. They paint pictures of people that are surreal. Larry continues: Weve lived through many bad presidents and many bad times, and we will survive anything. Were Americans. However, what the liberals do is they try to paint Maga as extremists, and thats not true. Their term Maga, they use it wrong. Make America Great Again thats what it is, and we believe that yes, wed like to believe that, certainly. But if you say we stand for the stupid ideals that they put behind the word Maga. No. We look to build our country. Pushy but respectful Through speaking to them, it is clear that Mike and Larry and their two friends hold many of the standard right-wing Republican views on issues including vaccine mandates, LGBTQ curriculum, trans issues, and President Joe Biden. Last month the Huntington Beach City Council approved the introduction of an ordinance that would limit the flying of flags on city property to government flags, as well as the POW/MIA flag and the six flags of the US military. Measure B passed with more than 58 per cent of the vote on Tuesday, according to the Orange County Registrar of Voters election results. The rainbow Pride flag is among those now not allowed, something that has caused backlash among liberal advocacy groups. Mike and Larry believe that such outrage is fuelling tribalism. Street vendors sell pro-Trump merchandise in Huntington Beach, California Liberal people feel we should honour gays because theyve suffered so much, says Larry. However, I'm Italian. Italians had more people that died in World War Two for America than anybody. We've never asked for a dime or a flag or a hand-out or anything. Mike adds: Before you guys got so far off to the left, we didnt care, do whatever the hell you want to, just dont bother me about it. But definitely dont teach sex to my five-year-old. Despite these strong view-points and opinions seemingly being commonplace in Huntington Beach, those without strong political conviction say that real incendiary confrontation is rare. Lina Nate, Abdels sister, works in a separate beach shop further up Main Street, having moved to the US just six months ago. She says that although she has heard exclusively Republican politics from both tourists and locals, she has not felt imposed on. If they see the prints [of Trump on T-shirts], they come and talk to me, and the first thing I say is, Im not into politics, but I understand because Ive been hearing a lot of points of views of Republicans. I havent heard the other side, she said. They tried convincing me but in a very, like, biased way. You know how when people try to convince you with something, they don't show the other point of view? But, similar to her brother, she adds: Theyre not die-hards. Theyre not aggressive. Theyre pushy with their views, but like, respectfully. Mike and Larry would like to think the same. We get along with everybody. We have parties, we have parades, we have surf contests, Larry says. Our kids go to school together, everybody lives together. Theres no issue. Over the course of the conversation, many people have stopped by the cafe, some of whom stop to say good morning to the quartet. As one friend leaves Larry says with a smile You see! Hes a liberal Trump merchandise in a surf shop in Huntington Beach, California (Mike Bedigan/ The Independent) The advent of Trump Though it appears that the laid back vibes of the surfer town and right-wing views are, seemingly, able to coexist for the moment, there are some who worry how a ramping up of political campaigning by Donald Trump will affect local dynamics. Sean, 26, says that the pro-Trump presence in Huntington Beach is obvious, but he has not had run-ins with anybody who is super radical with their views. However, Sean who says he does not have a specific political identity wonders how that might change in the coming months heading into the general election. I already know theres going to be people right down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) with their signs, and thats where I think a lot of people that have been quiet for a while are going to really come out, he tells The Independent. Thats where you really see everybody, you know, take their flag out from under their bed. He clarifies: I mean, its not like its a bad thing that youre a Trump supporter. Its just he has a lot of people that kind of prove the stereotype. You have some people, theyre pretty chill you know? Some of them are just like, hey, I like Trump. Thats just who I voted for. I have my reasons. And you know, thats that. Mike also thinks the rallies will become more frequent along the west coast, but only as much as one might expect in an election year. Therell probably be rallies every weekend now as we get closer to the election. Therell be a rally every Saturday or every Sunday, he tells The Independent. Well just sit here [at the coffee shop] and go cool. Mike flashes the thumbs-up. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Bidens fiery State of the Union remarks continued off the podium on Friday night after a hot mic caught him speaking about Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu. I told him, Bibi and dont repeat this but you and I are going to have a come to Jesus meeting, Mr Biden said while shaking hands after his address, in footage caught on C-SPAN. His words came after a top Israeli minister and political rival of Mr Netanyahu visited Washington DC last week for a series of meetings with the president and Vice President Kamala Harris that drew criticism from the Israeli prime minister. During his high-stakes address, Mr Biden announced the US military would establish a temporary pier on the Gaza coast for aid. Moments later, he also criticised Israels actions in Gaza, calling for the Israeli government to allow more aid to flow to Palestinians. To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, he said. Mr Biden has faced increasing criticism for his response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Most notably, more than 100,000 voters in the Michigan Democratic presidential primary cast their ballots as uncommitted last week in a protest vote against Mr Biden for giving political and financial support to Israels war in Gaza. Meanwhile, just hours before the State of the Union, former Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy told The Independent that, given the number of civilians killed in Gaza, the Biden administration has broken US foreign aid laws by providing Israel with aid. Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address on Thursday (Getty Images) The United Nations warned last month that some 576,000 people, or one-quarter of Gazas population, are one step away from famine. It has also accused Israel of systematically blocking aid deliveries into Gaza and of opening fire on convoys that do make it through. Since 7 October when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing at least 1,200 people and taking around 200 hostages at least 30,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israels attacks on Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Intimaa Salama, a woman born and raised in Gaza, attended the State of the Union as the guest of Representative Cori Bush. In the three months since the campaign on Gaza began, 35 members of Ms Salamas family have been killed and she learned of yet another friends death as she walked through the US Capitol on Thursday night, HuffPost reports. I feel like I need to do this. I need to be here, Ms Salama told the outlet. Im doing it for my family and for my people, who need an immediate and permanent cease-fire. Mr Biden, for his part, did not call for a permanent cease-fire during his address instead, he told the American public about his work calling for an immediate ceasefire that would last for at least six weeks. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Biden mistakenly invited people to fly to Moscow on board Air Force One during his State of the Union speech as he bashed the high costs of prescription drugs. I want to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American, Mr Biden said on Thursday night. Every four years people have talked about it but finally we got it done gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs just like the VA is able to do for veterans, he added. That's not just saving seniors money, [its] saving taxpayers money. We cut the federal deficit by $160bn because Medicare will no longer have to pay those exorbitant prices to Big Pharma. This year Medicare's negotiating lower prices [on] some of the costliest drugs on the market that treat everything from heart disease [to] arthritis. It's now time to go further and give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for 500 different drugs over the next decade, Mr Biden argued. Mr Biden said the effort will not only save lives, it will save taxpayers another $200bn. The president announced that starting next year, he hopes to cap total prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 a year ... I want to cap prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year for everyone. At this moment, the president mistakenly referred to flying to Moscow before recognising his minor gaffe and correcting himself. US President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2024 (AFP via Getty Images) If you want to get into Air Force One and fly to Toronto, Berlin, Moscow, I mean ... even Moscow, Mr Biden said, adding that he would be able to get prescription drugs for 40 per cent the cost youre paying now. Same company, same drug. The Affordable Care Act, Obamacare is still a very big deal, he continued, a reference to when he called it a big f***** deal when he was President Barack Obamas vice president. Over 100 million of you can no longer be denied health insurance because of pre-existing conditions, the president added. Well, my predecessor [and] many in this chamber, want to take those prescription drugs away by repealing the Affordable Care Act. Elsewhere in the speech, Mr Biden also mistakenly referred to murdered student Laken Riley as Lincoln Riley. Nursing student Riley was killed when she went for a morning jog on the campus of University of Georgia last month. Her death has been seized upon by Republicans to attack the president over immigration, as the suspect charged in her murder is an undocumented immigrant. When he entered the House, Marjorie Taylor Greene handed him a pin with Rileys name on. Mr Biden held the pin aloft as he spoke about the issue around the US-Mexico border and called out Republicans for blocking a border security bill and Donald Trump for pressuring his party to derail it. I will not demonise immigrants saying they are poisoned in the blood of our country, he said, in reference to Mr Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric which has been likened to Nazi propaganda. Mr Bidens propensity for gaffes is well-known, and is often seized upon by the man he beat in the 2020 presidential election and will soon face again this November Mr Trump. Mr Trump even recently posted a rather cruel spoof commercial for White House Senior Living on social media, an outrageous attack given that he is just four years his rivals junior. Mr Biden has fought back, however, producing his own gaffe reel of bizarre remarks that Mr Trump has made at recent campaign rallies, such as claiming Ms Haley had been in charge of Capitol security on 6 January 2021. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Biden stunned Republicans during his State of the Union speech by going on the attack over the border and addressing Laken Rileys parents directly. Mr Biden was heckled during the speech by Georgia Republican Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, who called on him to say the name of Ms Riley, a student murdered in Georgia, allegedly by an undocumented migrant. Ms Greene was handing out Laken Riley pins ahead of the State of the Union even after the murdered students parents turned down an invitation to attend. They declined an invitation from Rep Mike Collins, Republican of Georgia. Ms Riley, 22, a nursing student, was allegedly murdered while jogging on the campus of the University of Georgia. A 26-year-old man from Venezuela was later detained. Police have referred to it as a crime of opportunity and the man, Jose Ibarra, has been charged with felony murder, kidnapping, and false imprisonment. President Joe Biden holds up a pin referring to murdered Georgia student Laken Riley while delivering his State of the Union address (EPA) Republicans have been using Ms Rileys death to lambast the Biden administrations border policies. The president used part of his speech on Thursday night to criticise Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan border security bill after former President Donald Trump came out against it. That bipartisan bill would hire 1,500 more security agents and officers, 100 more immigration judges, help tackle the backlog of two million cases, Mr Biden said in a forceful address. 4,300 more asylum officers and new policy so they can resolve cases in six months instead of six years now. A more high-tech drug detection machine to significantly increase the ability to screen and stop vehicles smuggling fentanyl into America ... killing thousands of children, he added. I believe that given the opportunity for a majority in the House and Senate would endorse the bill ... But unfortunately, politics [has] derailed this bill so far. I'm told my predecessor called members of Congress in the Senate to demand they block the bill, he said of Mr Trump. On Thursday afternoon, the House passed the Laken Riley Act following its introduction by Mr Collins. The legislation requires the detention of any migrant committing burglary or theft. Police have said that the suspect in Ms Rileys death crossed the border illegally. Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson has said that Ms Riley died from blunt force trauma to the head. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, Mr Biden said in an unscripted moment as he picked up the pin handed to him by Ms Greene, at one point mispronouncing her first name as Lincoln. To her parents. I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself I understand, Mr Biden told Ms Rileys parents. But look if we change the dynamic at the border ... people pay the smugglers 8,000 bucks to get across the border because they know if they get ... into the country It's six to eight years before they have a hearing. And it's worth taking the chance ... But if it's only six months, six weeks. The idea is it's highly unlikely that people will pay that money and [go] all that way knowing that they'll be able to be kicked out quickly. I would respectfully suggest to my Republican friends ... to the American people get this bill done. We need to act now, he added. While handing out the pins, Ms Greene told Fox News that My district was fine with me calling him a liar last year, adding that Ill decide in the moment if shell make a similar outburst this year. She later decided Mr Biden was due for a heckling. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Alabama Senator Katie Britt slammed President Joe Biden on border security, calling him a dithering and diminished leader in her response to the State of the Union. But, it was her own emotional and indignant speech that was widely mocked as dramatic, creepy, and insincere online. Ms Britt, who at 42 is the youngest Republican woman to serve in the US Senate, was chosen to deliver the opposition partys rebuttal speech to the presidents address. Ms Britt sat at her kitchen table as she eviscerated Mr Biden on a wide range of issues, including the conflicts in the Middle East, the economy, and the American dream becoming a nightmare. But her main focus, as it is for many Republicans, was the USs southern border with Mexico. President Biden inherited the most secure border of all time. But minutes after taking office, he suspended all deportations, halted construction of the border wall, and announced a plan to give amnesty to millions, she argued in her rebuttal. Mr Biden has lambasted Republicans for rejecting a border security deal with some tough measures to stem the flow of border crossings, after former president Donald Trump came out against it not wanting to hand Mr Biden another bipartisan legislative accomplishment ahead of the election. We know that President Biden didnt just create this border crisis. He invited it with 94 executive actions in his first 100 days President Bidens border crisis is a disgrace. Its despicable. And its almost entirely preventable, Ms Britt said. Her speech was mocked online, with journalist Aaron Rupar calling it overly dramatic while another X user said: This is so creepy and insincere. Worst acting Ive ever seen. There is no way that this Katie Britt address does not end up as part of the SNL cold open, Tom Nichols of The Atlantic wrote. Author Jeff Sharlet noted: The transformation in Senator Britts face--all big teeth and sparkle cross--when she starts talking about how *mad* she is that were not deporting more immigrants is really something. Pundits say she distanced GOP from Trump. No--this is the face of the Trumpocene. A Republican congressional staffer told Insider that the speech was giving high school freshman speech. She really thinks shes killing it. But its comical. Like SNL quality, the staffer added. Podcaster and Daily Beast columnist David Rothkopf added: Seriously, the Katie Britt response is scary as s***. This is like a sci-fi movie. This is Handmaids Tale coming to life. CNN analyst and former Trump White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah Griffin wrote: Senator Katie Britt is a very impressive person. She ran a hell of race in AL. I do not understand the decision to put her in a *KITCHEN* for one of the most important speeches shes ever given. Last month, the Alabama outlet AL.com reported that all eight Republican members of the states congressional delegation were opposed to the proposed border legislation. At every step along the way, President Biden has made it clear that he doesnt want to end the border crisis - he wants to enable it, she wrote on X on 5 February. I wont support this supplemental funding bill, because it would not effectively stop President Biden from continuing his mass migration agenda. Mr Biden spoke about the bill in his forceful address on Thursday night. That bipartisan bill would hire 1500 more security agents and officers, 100 more immigration judges, help tackle the backlog of two million cases, he said. 4,300 more asylum officers and new policy so they can resolve cases in six months instead of six years now. Elsewhere in her speech, Ms Britt argued that: From fentanyl poisonings to horrific murders, there are empty chairs tonight at kitchen tables, just like this one, because of President Biden's senseless border policies. Just think about Laken Riley. In my neighbouring state of Georgia, this beautiful 22-year-old nursing student went out on a jog one morning ... she never got the opportunity to return home. She was brutally murdered by one of the millions of illegal border crossers President Biden chose to release into our homeland, she added. As a mom, I can't quit thinking about this. I mean, this could have been my daughter. This could have been yours. And tonight, President Biden finally said her name but he refused to take responsibility for his own actions. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, Mr Biden said in an unscripted moment as he picked up the pin handed to him before the speech by Georgia Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene. To her parents. I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself I understand, Mr Biden told Ms Rileys parents. But look if we change the dynamic at the border ... people pay the smugglers 8,000 bucks to get across the border because they know if they get ... into the country Its six to eight years before they have a hearing. And its worth taking the chance ... But if its only six months, six weeks. The idea is its highly unlikely that people will pay that money and [go] all that way knowing that theyll be able to be kicked out quickly. I would respectfully suggest to my Republican friends ... to the American people get this bill done. We need to act now, he added. Towards the end of her speech, Ms Britt struck a more hopeful note, saying that every generation has been called to do hard things. American greatness rest in the fact that we always answer that call. It's who we are. Never forget, we are steeped in the blood of patriots who overthrew the most powerful empire in the world. We walk in the footsteps of pioneers who tamed the wild. We now carry forward the same flame of freedom as the liberators of an oppressed Europe, she added. Ms Britts journey to Congress began in June 2021 when she announced her candidacy for the 2022 Senate election in Alabama having never previously run for public office. Alabama Senator Katie Britt (britt.senate.gov) Ms Britt publicly aligned herself with Donald Trump, though despite alleging there may have been fraud during the 2020 election, has never claimed that it was stolen, as the former president has done consistently since he left office. Mr Trump officially endorsed Ms Britt on 10 June 2022, calling her a fearless America First warrior, and she won the general election on 8 November. Ms Britt took office on 3 January 2023, making her the first woman elected a US senator from the state. Right now, our Commander in Chief is not in command, she said of Mr Biden on Thursday. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defense are the cornerstones of a great nation. The practice of providing a response to the State of the Union address began in 1966 when Republican Senator Everett Dirksen and Representative Gerald Ford offered a televised response to the address by Democratic President Lyndon Johnson. Four presidents have given both a State of the Union address and an opposition response, including Ford, George W Bush, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Say Her Name, read the t-shirt Georgia firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene wore to President Joe Bidens State of the Union address on Thursday night. Pins featuring Laken Rileys name and face were also emblazoned across her bright red blazer, which matched her Make America Great Again cap. The MAGA Republican handed the pins out to anyone she could including to the president himself and made sure to get herself noticed as she heckled throughout his speech, calling on him to do as her shirt said: Say her name! It was a deliberate outfit choice and one that took the tragic murder of the Georgia student who went for a run and politicised it to push her brand of politics. Last month, Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was attacked and killed while going for a run. She died of blunt force trauma to the head after her killer allegedly used an object to strike her, disfiguring her skull, before dragging her to a secluded area. Police say her murder came at the hands of murder suspect Jose Antonio Ibarra, the man who was charged on 23 February with malice murder, felony murder, false imprisonment and kidnapping in the case. Mr Ibarra is not a US citizen and is an undocumented migrant. The 26-year-old Venezuelan migrant was arrested for unlawfully entering the country in September 2022, according to the ICE. He has since been accused of shoplifting in Georgia and was allegedly arrested in New York. However, the NYPD told The Independent it had no record of such an arrest. And so, in the wake of the attack, Republicans, including former president Donald Trump, have used Mr Ibarras status to exemplify the ongoing issue at the southern border and touted Rileys brtual killing as a way to bolster their anti-migrant agenda. Marjorie Taylor Greene at the State of the Union 2024 (AP) Almost as soon as the suspects immigration status became known, prominent Republicans quickly pushed anti-immigrant rhetoric and pointed fingers at the president. On Truth Social, the former president wrote: Crooked Joe Bidens Border INVASION is destroying our country and killing our citizens! He called Mr Ibarra a monster who illegally entered our Country in 2022and then was released AGAIN by Radical Democrats in New York after injuring a CHILD!! If elected president, the 2024 Republican party frontrunner promised to immediately Seal the Border, Stop the Invasion, and on Day One, we will begin the largest deportation operation of illegal CRIMINALS in American History! House Speaker Mike Johnson joined in the rhetoric on X. The brutal murderer who took the life of Laken was one of the millions of illegal aliens that the Biden Administration simply released and unleashed upon our country, he said. The brutal murderer who took the life of Laken was one of the millions of illegal aliens that the Biden Administration simply released and unleashed upon our country. Tennessee Sen Marsha Blackburn similarly wrote: The disastrous policies and negligence of the Biden administration is putting American lives at risk! Ahead of the presidents State of the Union, Georgia Republican Rep Mike Collins invited Rileys parents as his guests. They declined. Laken Riley (Supplied) Just hours before it got under way on Thursday, the House then passed the Laken Riley Act a measure introduced by Mr Collins that would require the detention of any migrant committing burglary or theft. In total, 214 Republicans and 37 Democrats voted for the bill. The Laken Riley Act would help prevent future tragedies. If Senator Schumer and President Biden care to protect Americans and are serious about securing the border, they will bring this legislation up for a vote and sign it into law immediately, Speaker Johnson said on Thursday. New York Democratic Rep Jerry Nadler voted against the measure. Mr Nadler accused Republicans of exploiting her death for a partisan stunt and throwing together legislation to target immigrants in an election year, CNN reported. As did Texas Democratic Rep Veronica Escobar, who posted on X: We all want Laken Rileys murderer to be held accountable...Republicans should be ashamed of exploiting this tragedy for their dangerous political games. Its unclear whether the bill will have any traction in the Democrat-controlled Senate. The right-wings emphasis on the murder suspect underscores the importance of immigration as an issue in the 2024 election. Rileys killing is gonna change this election as much as anything, South Carolina GOP Sen Lindsey Graham predicted. But, despite making these sweeping claims, many Republican lawmakers have skillfully omitted some relevant facts. For one, there is no evidence to suggest people who migrate to the US, including those who are undocumented, commit more crimes than those born in America, studies show. After being interrupted by Ms Greene shouting Rileys name during his State of the Union, Mr Biden made this very point. He stunned Republicans by saying Laken Rileys name, and even paused to hold up a pin with her name printed across it. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, Mr Biden said, sending the crowd into a shocked silence. But how many thousands of people, being killed by legals? Jose Antonio Ibarra (Clarke County Sheriffs Office) The president also pointed out that Republicans beholden to Mr Trump are the reason for the stalled bipartisan border deal. Republicans shied away from a border compromise last month, at the urging of Mr Trump who did not want Mr Biden to have a victory ahead of the election. I believe that given the opportunity for a majority in the House and Senate would endorse the bill ... But unfortunately, politics [has] derailed this bill so far. Im told my predecessor called members of Congress in the Senate to demand they block the bill, Mr Biden said of Mr Trump, whose name he would not say. I would respectfully suggest to my Republican friends ... to the American people get this bill done. We need to act now, he added. Mr Bidens remarks about Riley and the border deal were significant as Mr Trump, his presumptive 2024 rival, tries to make the border issue a fixture of his campaign. But many appear to be seeing through the Republican efforts to politicise Rileys murder. Several social media users condemned Republicans for these efforts. Another Yall using their childs death to make a political point is a disgusting side show, one X user wrote. Another remarked on Ms Greenes getup at the address, accusing her of capitalizing on a horrific tragedy, adding: If I was in the Laken Riley family I would rip that pin right off of her. Another said: Laken Rileys parents refused the invitation from Mike Johnson but Marge is intent on making the familys grief into a political issue. The Republicans are trying to make Laken Riley a political issue. They have gone to the bottom of the pit, another wrote. No Respect for the grieving families. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Colorado Rep Lauren Boebert has told The Independent that she hopes that President Joe Biden will finally admit that its his disastrous policies that are destroying our country. Ms Boebert, who was seen chatting to ousted former Rep George Santos earlier in the night, made the comment shortly before the State of the Union on Thursday night. This comes after Ms Boebert was reported to be seeking revenge on the state official who supported removing Donald Trump from her states ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled last December that Mr Trump was ineligible to serve as President under the US Constitutions insurrection clause, disqualifying him from the state ballot. The ruling was overturned by a unanimous decision from the US Supreme Court this week. Ms Boebert, a staunch Republican and long-time ally to Mr Trump, called for Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold to be removed from her position following the ruling. You have no business in the Secretary of States office and shouldnt oversee an election in which you have shown a clear bias, Ms Boebert wrote on X. Youre unfit. Time for you to be RECALLED! Ms Boebert was responding to a statement from Ms Griswold expressing her disappointment at the Supreme Courts decision to take away states authority to enforce the US Constitutions insurrection clause for federal candidates. Just hours later, Ms Boebert posted a letter on X addressed to Ms Griswold making her intentions clear. We are actively building a grassroots coalition of Coloradans and Americans to begin the process of holding you accountable for your attack on our elections and the voting rights of millions of Coloradans, the letter reads. All legal options available to us will be considered, including a formal recall effort. The letter was signed by three other prominent state Republicans, including Colorado Republican Party Chair Dave Williams. Almost half 46 per cent of voters in Ms Boebert Boeberts new district dont want to vote for a carpetbagger a candidate with no local connections, something her opponents are capitalising on. The pro-Trump Republican revealed late last year that she would be running for re-election in Colorados fourth congressional district she currently represents the third, an office she has held since 2021. She said that it was the right decision for those who support our conservative movement but it has been perceived by some as an attempt to avoid a loss. She was being challenged in the Republican primary by Jeff Hurd and the Democrat she beat in 2022 by only 546 votes Adam Frisch and who looks set to be the nominee for the Democrats in the district yet again. A Kaplan Strategies poll found last month that 46 per cent of voters in the fourth district dont want a candidate who just moved there. Twenty-two per cent said they would support such a candidate, while 33 per cent were not sure. Rep Ken Buck, who currently represents the fourth district, announced his retirement citing the election denialism in his party. But even with the scepticism against carpetbaggers such as Ms Boebert, she may still win the seat. The Kaplan strategies poll found that she has the backing of 32 per cent of those taking part in the survey, while her challengers were all in the single digits. Close Related: Donald Trump warns of a bloodbath in US if he isnt elected as president again Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump took to the stage in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday evening to campaign for former car salesman Bernie Moreno, who is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat Sherrod Brown for the states Senate seat. Mr Moreno has been endorsed by Mr Trump as his MAGA representative in the race but faces stiff competition from state senator Matt Dolan and secretary of state Frank LaRose, widely seen as GOP establishment candidates. The Republican presidential nominee hailed Mr Moreno as a fantastic guy during his 90-minute address at the Dayton Air Show and laid into Mr Dolan, who he labelled a RINO (Republican in Name Only). Bernie is running against a weak RINO named Matt Dolan, Mr Trump said. He is trying to become the next Mitt Romney. I think Mitt Romney is his hero. He also attacked Mr Dolan over his familys ownership of the Cleveland Guardians, the baseball team that recently changed its name from the Cleveland Indians. Hes easily pushed around by woke left-wing lunatics who renamed his familys baseball team, Mr Trump sneered. My attitude is anybody who changes the name from the Cleveland Indians to the Cleveland Guardians should not be a senator. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A heckler was removed from President Joe Bidens State of the Union on Thursday night as he repeatedly shouted remember Abbey Gate in the middle of the address. The president was over an hour into his high-stakes speech where he had railed at his unnamed predecessor Donald Trump and vowed to restore reproductive rights when the man began screaming from the gallery. Remember Abbey Gate! US Marines! the protester shouted. He was seen being escorted out of the House by Capitol police and being placed in handcuffs. The man was later identified as Gold Star parent Steven Nikoui, whose son US Marine Kareem Nikoui was one of the 13 US troops killed in the Kabul airport bombing in August 2021 as the US withdrew troops from Afghanistan. House Speaker Mike Johnson had invited other Gold Star parents Alicia Lopez and Darin Hoover who also lost their children in the terrorist attack as his guests to the presidents speech. A protester shouts at President Joe Biden as he delivers his third State of the Union address (via REUTERS) President Bidens hasty, unconditional withdrawal from Afghanistan was a failure for America and its allies. It led to the tragic deaths of brave American servicemembers, including Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover and Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Mr Johnson said in a statement to ABC News before the speech. Mr Hoover and Ms Lopez released a joint statement prior to attending where they called for transparency and justice from the Biden administration. Taylor and Hunter are great men, dedicated Marines and incredible sons who made our families proud every day. They paid the ultimate sacrifice along with the 11 others killed and 45 wounded for our great country, but more than two years since their death, the President has left us without answers, they said. A protester is escorted out by security (AP) As parents, we deserve transparency and we demand justice. Were grateful to be joining Speaker Johnson at the State of the Union to commemorate our sons and demand accountability from this Administration, they added. Abbey Gate was the scene of a horrific terrorist attack outside Kabuls Hamid Karzai International Airport back in August 2021, during the USs withdrawal from Afghanistan. In the attack, 13 American service members 11 Marines, a Soldier, and a Sailor were killed. Around 170 Afghan civilians were also killed. The 26 August 2021 suicide bombing terrorist attack came days into the USs withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. It marked the deadliest day for American troops in Afghanistan in around a decade. Since then, families of some the 13 service members killed have demanded answers from the Biden administration while Republicans have launched investigations into the withdrawal. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Parents in Uvalde, Texas expressed their outrage after a long-awaited report on the Robb Elementary mass shooting absolved first responders of any failings in their response that day. The Uvalde City Council held a special meeting on Thursday to hear the findings of the report into the May 2022 shooting, which left 19 students and two teachers dead. The investigation found that none of the initial five Uvalde police officers who attended the scene violated policy or committed serious acts of misconduct, prompting outrage from victims families in the room. First responders waited 77 minutes before engaging with the gunman on 24 May 2022 - a delay which has come under much criticism in the nearly two years since. A Department of Justice report released in January heavily criticised the police response, calling it a failure, despite around 400 personnel eventually arriving at the scene. Thursdays announcement came in complete contrast to that damning report, absolving Uvalde police Sgt Donald Page, Lt Javier Martinez, Detective Louis Landry and Staff Sgt Eduardo Canales of any accusations that they violated department policy. Kimberly Rubio, whos daughter Lexi was among 19 children killed in the massacre at Robb Elementary, speaks at a special city council meeting in Uvalde, Texas, 7 March 2024 (AP) While some families walked out of the meeting, others cried at the back of the room having waited for nearly two years for justice. "How do you live with yourselves? Shame on yall," Veronica Mata, the mother of 10-year-old victim Tess Mata, said during the public comment portion of the meeting. "You said they did it in good faith. You call that good faith? They stood there 77 minutes and waited after they got call after call." Another parent, Ruben Zamora, whose daughter Mayah was injured in the shooting, disagreed with the findings. "These police officers signed up to do a job -- they didnt do it," Mr Zamora said. However, Jesse Prado, the former police detective who carried out the city council investigation, left before he could hear what parents had to say. Bring him back! parents were heard shouting as he left. Mr Prado did say that there were issues with communication among agencies that day, echoing some of the findings from the DOJ report which criticised the lack of leadership and communication - both amongst officers and with families. When the officers initially made entry into the school, they made 28 attempts to use their radios to get information out to the rest of the officers that were showing up, he said at the meeting. And these were 28 attempts before they were shot at that I counted from the body cams and from any video that I received. They had no idea what they were facing when they got here until somebody went outside of the building to get on the radio. Mr Prado praised the officers, saying that they showed immeasurable strength and level-headed thinking as they dealt with the unfolding situation at the elementary school. Families are still waiting for more answers, as an investigation by Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell has still not been made public. Some officers did lose their jobs in the wake of the shooting, but none have faced criminal charges. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Australia has offered to support the Malaysian government in a possible fresh search for the wreckage of missing flight MH370, on the 10-year anniversary of one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. The Malaysian Airlines flight left Kuala Lumpur airport on 8 March 2014 with 277 passengers and 12 crew members on board but never made it to its destination in Beijing. It disappeared from radar just 40 minutes after takeoff and has remained missing ever since. Australias foreign minister Penny Wong on Friday said the countrys sincere sympathies remained with those who lost their loved ones a decade ago. Australia coordinated one of the biggest search operations of its kind in history at that time of the disappearance but did not find the missing aircraft, Ms Wong said in a joint statement with transport minister Catherine King. The Australian government is supportive of all practical efforts to find MH370, the statement said. Australia stands ready to assist the Malaysian government if it considers that Australian agencies are able to offer technical information as a result of their involvement in previous searches. There were seven Australians among passengers from 14 nations on the plane the night it went missing. It is believed to have fallen somewhere in the Indian Ocean within Australias area of search and rescue operations. The statement by Ms Wong and Ms King said during the Australia-led search operation, teams covered over 3 million square kilometres above the water and more than 120,000 square kilometres under the water. Debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is displayed during a Day of Remembrance for MH370 event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) They thanked the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and other departments for their help. Ten years on from the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight 370, the Australian governments sincere sympathies remain with the loved ones of the 239 passengers and crew on board, including seven people who called Australia home, the statement said. An office building is illuminated with lights displaying "Pray for MH370" in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2014 (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Despite coordinated efforts to locate the missing plane over the last decade, those who lost loved ones have not had the answers they seek. We recognise their ongoing heartache and grief, it added. Hopes for closure among family members were rekindled after Malaysias transport minister Anthony Loke said the government is open to conducting a further search if there is credible evidence. Chinese farmer Li Eryou looks at a book written about the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 flight from a bookshelf of his son's former room at a village in Handan in northern China's Hebei province (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) He said the government was in talks with the US marine robotics company Ocean Infinity after the American company submitted a proposal to the government. Ocean Infinity had led a search in a 112,000km area in 2018 but said it could have missed the remnants due to extremely challenging terrain such as underwater canyons. Now the company says it has enhanced its ocean search capabilities with robotics. I will do everything possible to get the cabinets approval to sign a new contract with Ocean Infinity for the search to resume as soon as possible, Mr Loke said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police in Spain have dismantled an art forgery ring suspected of selling artworks falsely attributed to British street artist Banksy, with some pieces fetching prices of 1,500 euros or higher. The Catalonia regional police force Mossos dEsquadra said it had raided a workshop inside an apartment in the city of Zaragoza, where the forgers created the fake works before distributing them through auction rooms, antique shops or online platforms. Investigators have seized nine works and recorded at least 25 sales to victims in Spain, Germany, Switzerland, the United States and Scotland, the Mossos added in a statement. Four people are under investigation, charged with fraud and crimes against intellectual property According to the police, a couple of young followers of Banksys street art with economic problems created Banksy-style works with stencils and ink stamps from the Zaragoza workshop, which they at first sold at prices no higher than 80 euros. Fake works attributed to the artist Banksy and found in a workshop (Mossos D'Esquadra via REUTERS) But a distributor with knowledge of the functioning of the graphic work market, in collaboration with an interested distribution entity, made fake certificates attributing the works to the secretive Banksy, whose identity has never been revealed. The artworks were presented as being part of Banksys Dismaland project, a 2015 theme park-style installation in the British town of Weston-super-Mare. But the company Pest Control, the only body that certifies Banksys oeuvre, found that both the artworks and certificates were false. The fake Banksy workshop in Spain (Mossos D'Esquadra via REUTERS) The investigation remains open and further victims and new arrests are not ruled out, the Mossos added. Pest Control is the only point of sale for new work by the artist. The website advises how tell if Banksy merchandise is genuine: Banksy only makes merchandise sporadically for certain specific projects. The result being that if something looks like a Banksy product it almost certainly isnt. So whilst its admittedly quite funny that one nutter in Norway legally changed their name to Banksy in order to get paid to endorse wine, you should treat any such products with scepticism. Heard of the phrase in vino veritas? Doesnt apply here. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Worms living near the worlds most well-known nuclear disaster zone appear to have developed new powers - immunity to radiation. In a new study, scientists visited Chernobyl to investigate nematodes, tiny worms with simple genetic makeup, which rapidly reproduce. The researchers gathered the worms from soil samples, rotting fruit and other materials and tested local levels of radiation. The levels of radiation varied from low levels which would be recorded in large cities, and high levels that are found in outer space. Scientists then took the worms back to New York University to freeze and study them. The same kind of nematode worm that was tested by scientists at Chernobyl (University of Oregon/PA) Dr Sophia Tintor, lead author of the study, told The Daily Mail: Chernobyl was a tragedy of incomprehensible scale, but we still dont have a great grasp on the effects of the disaster on local populations. Did the sudden environmental shift select for species, or even individuals within a species, that are naturally more resistant to ionizing radiation? Since the 1986 disaster, animals have continued to live in the Ukrainian region despite persistent radiation nearly 40 years on. Researchers have previously found animals living in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone are genetically different to the same species found elsewhere. Matthew Rockman, a biology professor at New York University, added: These worms live everywhere, and they live quickly, so they go through dozens of generations of evolution while a typical vertebrate is still putting on its shoes. The researchers found despite high radiation, the genomes of the worms were not damaged. The Chernobyl nuclear plant showing damage from an explosion and fire in reactor four in 1986 (AP) The exciting discovery does not mean Chernobyl is safe, but suggests the worms are resilient animals which can withstand extreme conditions, Dr Tintori revealed. 20 genetically different worms were tested for their DNA damage to see if they had an unusual capacity to protect and repair their genetic material. He said the findings suggested that animals in Chernobyl were not necessarily more tolerant or had evolved, but that the discoveries could lead to a better understanding of natural variation. Close Putin threatens Nato with World War 3 For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The West has criticised Vladimir Putins sham elections as the Russian president sent a sinister warning to Nato. Putin warned against any move that would risk direct conflict with Russia, saying it would be one step away from World War 3. Asked about the dangers of a wide-scale Nato-Russia conflict, Putin said: Everything is possible in the modern world. It is the latest example of the Russian president dangling the threat of a larger, or even nuclear, conflict in Europe as he attempts to pressure Ukraines Western allies against an escalation of their involvement in his war. The comments came as Putin claimed a landslide victory in Russias sham presidential election with 87.8 per cent of the vote. The US, Germany, the UK and other nations have said the vote was neither free nor fair due to the imprisonment of political opponents and censorship. Earlier, Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, called Mr Putin a killer and a gangster, as she joined scores of Russians unhappy with his regime lining up to vote on Sunday afternoon at polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sweden has officially joined Nato ending decades of post-Second World War neutrality to become the alliance's second new member since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The ratification cements Nato's presence in the Nordic region with all countries now members, and makes the Baltic essentially a Nato sea right on Vladimir Putin's doorstep. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken presided at a ceremony in which Sweden's "instrument of accession" to the alliance was officially deposited at the State Department. "This is a historic moment for Sweden. It's historic for alliance. It's history for the transatlantic relationship," Mr Blinken said as he welcomed the 32nd country into the group. "Our Nato alliance is now stronger, larger than it's ever been." The Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg described it as "a historic day," adding: "After over 200 years of non-alignment Sweden now enjoys the protection granted under Article 5, the ultimate guarantee of Allies' freedom and security". Article 5 of Nato's treaty obliges all members to come to the aid of an ally whose territory or security is under threat. It has only been activated once by the US after the 11 September, 2001, attacks and is the collective security guarantee that Sweden has sought since Russia invaded Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, accepts Swedens instruments of accession from Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (Reuters) Finland and Sweden both applied to join the defence alliance in the wake of Russian President Putin ordering the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While Finland officially joined Nato last April, Sweden's bid was held up by Hungary and Turkey. Turkey expressed concern that Sweden was harboring and not taking enough action against members of the Kurdistan Workers party (PKK), which is deemed a terrorist group by Ankara, the US and the EU. The Turkish parliament finally gave approval in January. As for Hungary, it continued to drag its feet, without ever being so clear about the reasons for its objections. Populist President Viktor Orban is Putin's closest ally in Europe, and has been a block on EU-wide funding for Ukraine. Some have suggested that Orban has sought to play up his nation's military and economic leverage to look strong to a domestic audience. Hungary finally ratified in the decision within the last week. Good things come to those who wait. No better example, Mr Blinken said. The White House said that having Sweden as a Nato ally "will make the United States and our allies even safer." A Ukrainian serviceman from air defence unit of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade fires a AK-74 assault rifle on the eastern frontline near Bakhmut (REUTERS) "Nato is the most powerful defensive alliance in the history of the world, and it is as critical today to ensuring the security of our citizens as it was 75 years ago when our alliance was founded out of the wreckage of the Second World War," it said in a statement. Mr Kristersson was due to visit the White House and then be a guest of honor at President Joe Biden's State of the Union address to Congress late on Thursday. Mr Biden is expected to cite Sweden's accession to Nato as evidence that Putin's intent to divide and weaken the alliance has failed as a direct result of the Ukraine invasion. He is also set to use Sweden's decision to join to step up calls for reluctant Republicans to approved stalled military assistance to Ukraine as the war enters its third year. Ukraine has been facing Russian advances in eastern areas of the 600-mile frontline while having to contend with shortages of ammunition. While the EU has managed to overcome Orban's objections to push through some fresh funding, the US Congress still cannot agree. As Washington is the single largest supplier of military aid to Kyiv, Ukrainian officials have urged the US to agree new funds as soon as possible, as it is having a direct impact on the frontline. The Swedish flag will be raised outside the military organization's headquarters in Brussels on Monday. "Sweden will now take its rightful place at Nato's table, with an equal say in shaping Nato policies and decisions," Mr Stoltenberg said in his statement. "Sweden's accession makes Nato stronger, Sweden safer and the whole alliance more secure," he added. He said that the move "demonstrates that Nato's door remains open and that every nation has the right to choose its own path." Sweden has already got a taste of military exercises with Nato. Nordic response, a first-of-its-time training venture was launched in recent days across northern Norway, Sweden and Finland. The exercises across land, air and sea involve more than 20,000 troops from 13 nations, including the UK. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Britain said Thursday that it would provide 10,000 drones to arm Ukraine in its fight against Russia. The announcement by Defense Secretary Grant Shapps during a visit in Kyiv with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky includes an investment of 125 million pounds ($160 million) on top of 200 million pounds ($256 million) previously committed for drones. The weaponry will include 1,000 one-way attack or kamikaze drones and models that target ships. Ukraines Armed Forces are using U.K. donated weapons to unprecedented effect, to help lay waste to nearly 30% of Russias Black Sea Fleet, Shapps said. On Tuesday, Ukrainian sea drones reportedly sank another Russian warship in the Black Sea, the latest in a series of strikes that has crippled Moscows naval capability. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukraine's former military chief has been appointed the country's new ambassador to the United Kingdom, a month after he was sacked as head of the armed forces by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy announced that he has approved the appointment of Valerii Zaluzhnyi to one of Ukraine's most important diplomatic positions. Britain is a key supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia. Zelenskyy fired Zaluzhnyi as military commander-in-chief in February, part of a shake-up aimed at reigniting momentum in the deadlocked war. The president said at the time that Ukraine must be led by individuals who are convinced of victory against Russia. Zaluzhnyi is widely respected among Ukrainian troops and considered a national hero. He is credited with stalling Russias full-scale invasion in the early days of the war and expertly pushing back Moscows troops. Reported tensions between Zaluzhnyi and the president grew after Ukraine's much-touted 2023 counteroffensive failed to make major territorial gains. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and Britain's Defence Secretary Grant Shapps shake hands during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office) Zelenskyy said Thursday on Telegram that Zaluzhnyi "told me this is the direction he would like to take diplomacy. "Our alliance with Britain should only strengthen, Zelenskyy added. The position of ambassador to Britain has been vacant since the previous envoy, Vadym Prystaiko, was removed by Zelenskyy in July. No reason was given, but Prystaiko had publicly criticized the president. Britain has been a strong ally of Ukraine in the war, now in its third year, and has given Kyiv more than 7 billion pounds ($9 billion) in military support since Russia's February 2022 invasion. The British government said Thursday it would provide 10,000 attack drones to Ukraine. The announcement by Defense Secretary Grant Shapps during a visit to Kyiv includes an investment of 125 million pounds ($160 million) on top of 200 million pounds ($256 million) previously committed for drones. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The destruction of north Gaza slides into view as the rear doors of the Jordanian C-130 aircraft yawn open. Towns that have been flattened into grey dust edge what was once farmlands, now chewed up by a chaotic snarl of tank tracks. Whole neighbourhoods have been obliterated to the point they look like the ashy bottom of a fire hearth. The level of devastation is chilling. From this height you cannot see the estimated 300,000 Palestinians who still live in this hellish moonscape, with little to no supplies. Hundreds of thousands of people who the United Nations believe are one step away from if not already gripped by famine. A place where families are reduced to eating animal feed and drinking toilet water. A place where according to the United Nations, children are not just dying from bombing but also from hunger. On board an aid drop flight over devastated northern Gaza Against that backdrop, the 16 wooden pallets loaded with boxes of food and topped by parachutes that line the bottom of this military transport plane seem woefully insufficient. Israel has launched a ferocious bombardment and a crippling siege of Gaza in its war to eliminate Hamas in the wake of the deadly 7 October attacks. That has led to the north of the enclave - that needs the most aid - becoming almost completely inaccessible to supply deliveries by land. Dropping food from the skies over north Gaza right now is one of the very few ways to get to desperate civilians, although there are concerns it can be risky, expensive, inefficient and potentially even dangerous. One minute to drop, a Jordanian soldier shouts, as the rest of the troops on board ready themselves. Deafened by the roar of the engines, they finish the countdown with their fingers. The pallets which have solidarity messages and pictures drawn by Jordanian schoolchildren taped to their sides are released from their straps. They roll with a kind of fury into the brilliant blue of the sky. In a flurry, the parachutes unfurl and they float to the ground. This is one of nine airdrops over northern Gaza that the Jordanian Armed Forces said they have conducted on Thursday with Egypt, the US, France, Netherlands and Belgium. The Jordanian Air Force (JAF) said they have led 29 in total and continue to deliver aid to Gaza through flight missions to Egypt and truck convoys via land borders. It is impossible to accurately guide these kinds of mass airdrops. Some aid agencies told The Independent that boxes of aid have landed on the sea, on the tops of buildings and some have even blown into Israel. They can also be dangerous on Friday, five Palestinians were killed and several were wounded when boxes of aid from a different aid drop fell on them in northwest Gaza, said Mahmoud Basal, spokesman of the Civil Emergency Service in Gaza. It was not clear which nation had carried out the aid drop. Video shared online purportedly showed the pallets landing from the sky over the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City terrifying civilians below. The parachute of one does not appear to be fully furled. Jordanian Air Force prepares to drop food aid into Gaza (Bel Trew) Aid drops are a final resort not a full solution, says Dr Hussein Al Shebli, head of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO), as he walks The Independent through the gruelling task of navigating a maze of Israeli restrictions and other logistical difficulties when attempting to deliver aid to millions in need in Gaza. The JHCO an non-governmental organisation coordinates with the JAF, and helps the delivery of aid from foreign governments, international aid agencies and local charities via all routes including truck convoys by land and airdrops. So far he says they have delivered more than 7,160 tonnes of aid from Jordan since 7 October via nearly 500 trucks and dozens of airdrops. We hope to return to the land route to north Gaza and to find real solutions to at least get past these difficulties we are talking about, Dr Shebli says. But if there is no way to get to the north of Gaza we will continue the airdrops. Right now, the JHCO still has 10 packed warehouses of medical, food and shelter supplies that could be delivered immediately if they could get unfettered access to Gaza. The only true way to meet this unprecedented need on the ground is a ceasefire, Dr Shebli adds. Israel has launched its heaviest ever bombardment of Gaza and imposed a crippling siege in retaliation for Hamass bloody October attack, in which around 1,200 people were killed and another 250 taken hostage. At least 136 hostages are still believed to be inside Gaza. The UN said this week that it has seen credible evidence that hostages have been subjected to sexual violence and ill treatment in captivity. Aid drops are a final resort not a solution. We hope to return to the land route Dr Hussein Al Shebli, head Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) In Gaza, since October, Israels ferocious air, sea and ground assaults have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, the vast majority of them women and children, according to Palestinian healthcare officials. More than 60 per cent of Gazas homes and buildings have been destroyed or damaged, and around three-quarters of the 2.3 million-strong population are displaced. At least 25 per cent of the population is just one step from famine, and the UNs humanitarian coordinator in the region has reported that children have started to starve to death. Gaza is only 26 miles (42km) long and in some places just six miles wide. The terrain is flat, which should make access simple, and there are at least half a dozen land crossing points to the Strip along its borders with Israel and Egypt. And yet north Gaza is experiencing one of the most acute humanitarian catastrophes in the world. Some of the worlds biggest aid agencies and charities, say it is very hard to take supplies into Gaza, and almost impossible to get them to the north of the strip. Some countries and aid organisations have, therefore, undertaken last resort airdrops there. The Jordanian military has launched dozens of airdrops due to blocks on land routes to north Gaza (Bel Trew) According to multiple UN agencies, Palestinian, international and Israeli charities, as well as British MPs who have submitted requests for information, Israel is denying entry of a slew of aid goods from anaesthesia medicines to water filters to, somewhat incongruously, dates with stones in them. This is because they are apparently labelled at risk of dual use by the militants. Multiple organisations, including the JHCO and UN agencies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) told The Independent shipments are frequently turned back or held at the only crossing points at great cost and at Israeli military checkpoints inside Gaza when they approach the north. The strangulation of supplies and the reported targeting of Palestinian police inside Gaza has led to a breakdown in law and order, sparking concerns about safety for convoys in the north as the population has become increasingly desperate. The WFP, that has had to suspend convoys, said they were are overwhelmed by starving people and even gangs in the hardest hit areas. Aid convoys have also come under Israeli fire: on 5 February the UNs Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA reported that one of its convoys was hit by an Israel tank shell. The Israeli military has yet to publicly comment but said it is looking into the incident. When approached by The Independent for comment the Israeli military said: The IDF [Israeli Defence Forces] carries out humanitarian operations and will continue to do so. The decisions on the locations and timings of them are based on assessments of the situation. Destroyed neighbourhoods and what appear to be tank tracks in Gaza (Bel Trew) The Independent reached out to the COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry unit tasked with coordinating with the Palestinians, but they have yet to reply. On Thursday, COGAT wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: There are no limits to the amount of humanitarian aid that can enter Gaza, adding that more than 4,900 metric tonnes of aid entered that day. Despite overwhelming evidence and international pressure over the situation in Gaza, COGAT publicly denies there is a humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory. The US has leverage as Israels staunchest ally and supplier of military aid, but has apparently been unable to secure access to north Gaza, leaving them and other nations to take to the skies. Washington reported that it has dropped 36,800 meal equivalents into north Gaza in recent days. But rights groups warn airdrops are the least effective way to get aid in. It is simply not possible to airdrop in aid to the scale of whats really needed to keep people alive, says Bushra Khalidi from Oxfam, adding that the capacity of a plane is less than a truck. Its also the most expensive and the most dangerous and chaotic way for desperate people to receive aid. Parachuting in aid by air is always the last resort the final measure you reluctantly turn to when everything else has been tried and failed, and where all the normal, better routes are utterly impossible to find, she adds. Shaina Low from the Norwegian Refugee Council tells The Independent that the most vulnerable will find it hard to access aid delivered by airdrops, that are not coordinated by aid officials on the ground and fairly distributed. Jordan says it has warehouses packed with aid it wants to send to Gaza (Bel Trew) Women-led households, elderly people, people with disabilities, are not able to participate in the kind of scramble to get whatever is falling from the sky, she says. What weve seen of the images of people receiving aid, its not a dignified way. Its not a safe way for aid to be distributed. She adds that it is shocking Israels closest allies like the US have had to resort to them. It shows either that Israel is immovable or that these allies are unwilling to make demands or ask for the things that need to be done in order for aid to flow more freely into Gaza, she says. Facing mounting pressure, US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday the creation of a temporary port on Gazas Mediterranean coast to receive humanitarian aid by sea. US officials hope it will scale up the humanitarian response but admitted it too could take weeks to plan and execute. The aid would still be subject to Israeli checks in Cyprus before coming to Gaza raising concerns about delays and restrictions from the dual use list. Sigrid Kaag, the UN humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, says she welcomes Washingtons initiatives but that air and sea is not a substitute for land and nobody says otherwise. The Jordanian military said it has conducted 29 airdrops (Bel Trew) Mr Biden also said on Thursday that Israel agreed to reopen one of its land borders to north Gaza to allow aid in something that the UN said it had been working on for weeks and is a key demand from aid organisations. However, UN officials who The Independent has been speaking to say they do not know when or if it would fully open. COGAT did not reply to a request for comment from The Independent about timings either. Much is pinned on an immediate temporary ceasefire and hostage exchange deal that would allow the unobstructed delivery of aid. But hopes have been dimmed by recent talks in Cairo ending with no breakthrough. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has blamed Hamas for the stalled talks vowed in a fiery Thursday speech that his army would continue its ground assault. We must stand together against the attempts to stop the war, he said. In Jordan, workers in packed JHCO warehouses hope that they can find a way to deliver the aid including medical supplies, blankets, tents, food cans, hygiene items and baby milk. They are preparing for another aid drop and also trucks, they hope will be allowed in Gaza soon. Dr Shebli says people in Gaza are now afraid not only to die in the fighting but because of a lack of food, water and medicines. All supplies that they could provide. We are talking about starvation of children, the most difficult things you see when you see children die from starvation," he says, as the calls come in with requests for help. We have warehouses packed full of food, we need to help these people. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} TikTok is facing a total ban in the US after lawmakers fast-tracked a vote on whether to crackdown on the Chinese-owned app. Since launching more than seven years ago, TikTok has amassed more than 170 million users in the US, making it the largest audience outside of China for the ByteDance-owned app. The video-sharing apps popularity has raised concerns among politicians, privacy advocates and security agencies. The FBI warned last year that TikTok could be used to spread harmful propaganda due to ByteDances alleged ties to the Chinese government. The US has already implemented a partial ban on TikTok, with various federal and state regulations blocking government workers and military personnel from using the app on official devices. It is one of dozens of countries to have similar limitations in place, while several countries have issued an outright ban nationwide. View more The US House of Representatives will vote next week on legislation that would give Chinas ByteDance six months to divest from short video app TikTok or face a US ban after a committee unanimously approved the measure on Thursday. The Energy and Commerce Committee 50-0 vote represents the most significant momentum for a US crackdown on TikTok since then President Donald Trump unsuccessfully tried to ban the app in 2020. Prior efforts had stalled over the last year amid heavy lobbying by the company. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said on X, formerly Twitter, that lawmakers will vote next week to force TikTok to sever their ties with the Chinese Communist party. TikTok, which says it has not and would not share US user data with the Chinese government, argues the bill amounts to a ban and it is not clear if China would approve any sale, or that it could be divested in six months. This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States, the company said after the vote. The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. The bill would give ByteDance 165 days to divest TikTok; if it did not, app stores operated by Apple, Google and others could not legally offer TikTok or provide web hosting services to ByteDance-controlled applications. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday praised the proposal, saying the administration wants to see this bill get done so it can get to the presidents desk. TikTok users in the US received a pop-up message from the app on Thursday, urging them to contact their representative and request they vote against the ban. This will damage millions of businesses, destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country, and deny artists an audience, the message stated. Let Congress know what TikTok means to you and tell them to vote NO. The campaign saw users flood Capitol Hill with phone calls urging lawmakers not to back the measure, according to some representatives. TikTok responded in a post to X: Why are Members of Congress complaining about hearing from their constituents? Respectfully, isnt that their job? Additional reporting from agencies. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Denmark is to address a nationwide lack of female statues as the Ministry of Culture reveals that the capital, Copenhagen, has more statues of mythical beasts than of women. According to the Danish government, less than 10 per cent of statues in public spaces are of women thats only 31 of 321 statues and busts in Danish cities. The culture minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, has pledged 50 million Danish kroner (5.7m) to rectifying the gender imbalance and representing more Danish women in public art. The numbers almost speak for themselves, said Engel-Schmidt. There are currently only five named statues of women in Copenhagen out of 101 statues, while 26 are dedicated to animals and 70 celebrate men. Engel-Schmidt said: In Copenhagen, there are more statues of fairy animals than women. This is absolutely insane. Is it really the mirror image the next generation should grow up in? Especially considering how many crucial achievements in society are due to women. The Ministry of Culture and the new committee of experts intend to map which women have been overlooked in the public space as inspiration for future projects addressing historical inequality in urban space. Engel-Schmidt appealed to Twitter/X for statue proposals: Will the next generation really grow up in cities with more statues of mythical beasts and horses than of women? No! Therefore, I would like to ask a team of experts to point out exactly which women deserve to be redressed in the landscape. But please help with some input here. Who are we missing and where? Recently, statues have been built in the country to commemorate actress Betty Nansen and writer Lise Nrgaard, who died in 2023. The culture minister has suggested that pastry chef Karen Volf; Nielsine Nielsen, Denmarks first female physician; and Bodil Begtrup, the countrys first female ambassador, could be memorialised by the new committee. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Local officials in Japans popular Geisha district in Kyoto will shut off access to paparazzi tourists who harass and trouble the globally recognised Japanese women artists, starting April this year. The historic Gion districts local council has said it will now ban sightseers and tourists into the alleys and streets housing geisha and maiko (teenager trainee geisha) after facing years of complaints over growing buzz of photography. Known to be a tourist-heavy spot, Gion is thronged by hundreds of thousands of people visiting Kyoto who seek to photograph Japans famous professional entertainers known for their trademark kimonos and white faces. Isokazu Ota, Gions representative secretary of the town South Side District Council, told CNN that the small alleys will be completely shut off to tourists by next month with the growing menace of tourists. Starting April, the alleys which also host several restaurants and teahouses, will only be open for the geisha, their clients, and residents of the district, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. In 2019, local authorities rolled out an on-the-spot fine for tourists troubling geishas. The professional artists were being chased down private streets in the district, photographed without their consent, and even subjected to foreign visitors touching their kimono and elaborate wigs. Japanese traditional female dancers, maikos, and performers, geikos leave after attending the new years ceremony at the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater in Kyoto (Getty Images) The problem persists as of now, Mr Ota says, as tourists in large numbers throng to Japan after the Covid-19 pandemic with little respect for Japans social norms and etiquette. ...I think the foreign tourists waiting for maiko to come out in the alleys of Gions photography-prohibited areas know the rules but are ignoring them. Even if we warn tourists, it is difficult to get through to them at this point, he told CNN. Before the pandemic, people were also reported to pull out geishas hair ornaments and hit them with cigarette butts. Peter Macintosh, a Kyoto-based Canadian author and expert on geisha culture, told SCMP: Its crazy behaviour. Its completely out of control. Notices prohibiting photography and imposing a hefty 10,000 (52) fine have also gone unheeded. It asked tourists to get consent before taking a selfie with, or photo of, a geisha, and that they can only do this on public roads. The local official points out this fine cannot be enforced on the main thoroughfare like Hanamikoji Street running through the area, apart from its ineffectiveness without any legal standing. Now by finally sealing off the traditionally and culturally rich part of Kyoto, the local council and the city government is hoping they can protect geisha and maiko, and also preserve the Japanese art and their custodian artists. The community was already reeling under the pandemic effect from 2020 on the expense front as the lockdown brought their engagements down by 95 per cent. Geisha also had to comply with new rules of not pouring drinks for customers or touching them even to shake hands, and sitting two metres apart. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} As the families of the 239 victims onboard the missing Malaysia Airlines jet mark ten years since they lost their relatives, the search for answers continues. On Sunday, Malaysias government said it may renew the hunt after an American marine robotics company that tried to find the plane in 2018 proposed a fresh search, expanding from the site it initially scoured. The respected aviation security expert, Philip Baum, has given The Independent the five possible scenarios that he believes are most likely. Here, each is evaluated. Pilot-assisted suicide Many people have focused on the aircrafts commander, Captain Zaharie Shah. He was 53 years old when he took the controls of MH370 and departed from Kuala Lumpur, destination Beijing. In his care were 227 passengers and 11 other crew members. A common theory is that Captain Shah locked the first officer out of the flight deck. He switched off the communications systems that were designed to keep MH370 in touch with air-traffic controllers; donned an oxygen mask; and depressurised the aircraft. At an altitude higher than Everest, the passengers and other crew would soon perish from from oxygen deficiency (hypoxia). The captain then, the theory goes, flew the aircraft along the frontier between Thailand and Malaysia to avoid raising the interest of the military on either side, before turning south to a location where he believed it would never be found. Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Show all 13 1 / 13 Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Una bolsa y una pluma Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 La suela de un zapato Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Un bolso con una pluma Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 El forro interior de una bolsa Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Una bolsa de hombro Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 La palabra Mensa de la asociacion de superdotados en un objeto Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Una funda de telefono y una pluma Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Un neceser Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Una mochila Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Una funda para camara Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Un gorro de oracion Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 La suela de un zapato Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Una maleta de equipaje y una pluma Blaine Gibson But the official report says: There was no known history of apathy, anxiety, or irritability. There were no significant changes in his lifestyle, interpersonal conflict or family stresses. The first officer was 27-year-old Fariq Abdul Hamid. He was on his first Boeing 777 mission without a training captain overseeing him, and had flown the aircraft only five times before. The investigators said his ability and professional approach to work was reported to be good. It seems unlikely that someone with such limited experience of the aircraft would be able to pull off such a plan. While sadly there have been a number of crashes perpetrated by suicidal pilots most recently the tragic destruction of Germanwings flight 9525 from Barcelona to Dusseldorf, in which the first officer killed himself and 150 others never has the subsequent crash been so delayed from the moment of seizure. Hijacking by the pilot with the intention of landing, surviving and escaping While it is difficult to find any precedent for this theory, it is feasible that one of the pilots intended to land or ditch the aircraft in a survivable state but bungled it and was incapacitated by hypoxia along with the others onboard. Yet it is difficult to conceive of a possible motive for such an audacious mission. Besides, the investigators concluded: There is no evidence to suggest that the PIC [pilot in command, ie captain] and FO [first officer] experienced recent changes or difficulties in personal relationships or that there were any conflicts or problems between them. MH370 debris - in pictures Show all 7 1 / 7 MH370 debris - in pictures MH370 debris - in pictures MH370 debris Agentes de policia franceses transportan restos de un avion en Saint-Andre (Isla Reunion) AP MH370 debris - in pictures MH370 debris La policia transporta un trozo de restos de un avion no identificado hallado en la zona costera de Saint-Andre de la Reunion, en el este de la isla francesa de La Reunion, en el oceano Indico AFP PHOTO / YANNICK PITOUYANNICK PITOU/AFP/Getty Images MH370 debris - in pictures MH370 debris La pieza del avion esta siendo llevada a Francia para una mayor investigacion Reuters MH370 debris - in pictures MH370 debris Gendarmes y policias franceses inspeccionan un gran trozo de restos de avion hallados en la playa de Saint-Andre, en la isla francesa de La Reunion, en el oceano Indico Reuters MH370 debris - in pictures MH370 debris Gendarmes y policias franceses inspeccionan un gran trozo de restos de avion hallados en la playa de Saint-Andre, en la isla francesa de La Reunion, en el oceano Indico Reuters MH370 debris - in pictures MH370 debris Johnny Begue, miembro de una asociacion local de limpieza de costas, en Saint-Andre, isla francesa de La Reunion, en el oceano Indico, sostiene los restos de una maleta encontrada el dia anterior en el mismo lugar Getty Images MH370 debris - in pictures MH370 debris El viernes continuaron las busquedas de otros posibles restos del MH370 en las playas de la isla de La Reunion AP There had been no financial stress or impending insolvency, recent or additional insurance coverage purchased or recent behavioural changes for the crew. The investigators also analysed both pilots radio conversations and say they detected no evidence of anxiety or stress. In addition, the final report notes: It is not possible to deactivate automatic deployment of the masks from the cockpit. The oxygen masks are set automatically to drop in the event of a severe fall in cabin pressure, which would have given the passengers and crew some time to try to communicate with the ground. Hijacked by a passenger or member of cabin crew Given the large number of passengers onboard, as well as 10 cabin crew, there is a wide range of possible motives. Standard aviation security measures were in place at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. As the tragic events of 9/11 showed, the fact of having passed through a checkpoint does not mean that the passenger poses no threat to the aircraft and the people onboard. There were a total of 227 passengers (including three children and two infants) on board, with the majority of them from China, followed by Malaysia. Two Iranian passengers were travelling on passports stolen from an Italian and an Austrian respectively, but they appear to have been illegal migrants who were keen to reach the West rather than harbouring any malicious intent. All 10 members of cabin crew were married with children, which some have said implies they were unlikely to have hijacked the aircraft. Hijacked remotely in a sophisticated act of cyberterrorism This is where feasible theories and unfeasible conspiracy theories begin to converge. In 2003, Boeing took out a Patent on Remote Control Take-over of Aircraft, designed to foil hijack attempts. The uninterruptible autopilot envisioned by the patent could be activated, either by pilots, onboard sensors or remotely via radio or satellite links by the airline or government agencies if there were attempts to forcibly gain control of the cockpit. This system once activated would disallow pilot inputs and prevent anyone onboard from interrupting the automatic takeover. Thus, the personnel onboard could not be forced into carrying out the demands of any unauthorised person(s). The converse is that criminals on the ground might be enabled by such technology to take over the aircraft. But the aircraft maker told investigators: Boeing has confirmed that it has not implemented the patented system or any other technology to remotely pilot a commercial aircraft and is not aware of any Boeing commercial aircraft that has incorporated such technology. The report concludes: There is no evidence to support the belief that control of the aircraft 9M-MRO (operating as MH370) could have been or was taken over remotely as the technology was not implemented on commercial aircraft. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Seized by a stowaway Could someone have boarded the aircraft prior to the passengers and crew, either in a suicidal mission or with the intention of landing at, say, Christmas Island, 1,000 miles northwest of Western Australia? This is a theory that Philip Baum sees as second-most likely after pilot suicide. He has demonstrated that there is an underfloor area just outside the flight deck door which could conceal a person. Such a stowaway could also deactivate the transponder, making the aircraft disappear. There are many cases in aviation of ex-employees with a grudge targeting airlines. It is possible that such an individual was responsible. But there are many arguments against such a scenario, and the probability seems extremely low. The perpetrator would need to have had access to the aircraft before it was readied for departure from Kuala Lumpur. They would need to have overcome the cabin crew, 227 passengers and two pilots to take over the aircraft. And they would need not to be missed when they disappeared at the same time as MH370. In addition, it is difficult to come up with a motive. No terrorist group has come up with a serious claim to have taken control of MH370 for political or propaganda purposes. Only if and when the aircraft is found can these theories be tested. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Hundreds of Tui passengers have spent the night trying to sleep at Barbados airport after their flight home to London Gatwick was cancelled. Tui flight TOM21 from the Caribbean island to Gatwick was preparing for an on-time departure at 5pm local time (9pm GMT), with 342 passengers on board. But shortly before the aircraft was due to leave, a ground service vehicle struck the Boeing 787 jet. One passenger, Mark Pantlin, told The Independent: We heard a loud bang half an hour before take-off. It appears to have been a vehicle carrying disabled passengers striking the aircraft. We were told by captain that it had been inspected locally and that UK engineers had said we were good to fly. But 20 minutes later they told that they were looking again. We were then told flight was cancelled and we would be staying the night and they were sorting out alternative flights. Many flights left Barbados for the UK over the next few hours, including British Airways departures to both London Heathrow and Gatwick, two Virgin Atlantic jets to Heathrow and another to Manchester, plus Tui flights to Manchester, East Midlands and Birmingham. But Tui was not able to find seats on board any of those flights. Mr Pantlin said passengers were told that the Barbados airport management would not let anyone off the plane until overnight accommodation was booked for everyone on board. Eventually they were offloaded at 10pm, five hours after the flight was scheduled to leave. No Tui staff were seen for at least 45 minutes, Mr Pantlin said. We were then told there was not enough hotel space on the island for all. Tui then decided to put families with young children, and any disabled and older unwell people in hotels. Everybody else was left sleeping on chairs at night, with no pillows or blankets, and with no news still from Tui. Night moves: Barbados airport lounge, where Tui passengers were stranded overnight (Mark Pantlin) A spokesperson for Tui told The Independent: We would like to apologise to customers who were due to depart from Bridgetown to London Gatwick on flight TOM21 on 7 March. Unfortunately, in an incident out of our control, the aircraft was damaged as it prepared to depart. For the safety of our customers and crew, all customers disembarked the aircraft and remain in Bridgetown while safety procedures are performed. We understand how frustrating this is for our customers and apologise for the delay. Customers are being contacted directly by the Tui team when more information is available about their return to the UK and remain working tirelessly for accommodation options for those affected. Mr Pantlin summed up his view of the experience as: Unbelievable levels of incompetence and lack of updates. Tui gave a massive two fingers up to most customers. It appears that a chartered Wamos Air Airbus A330 is on its way from Madrid to Barbados to pick up the stranded travellears. Passengers will be able to claim 520 in cash compensation for the delay. Tui has rejected any assertion that premium economy customer were offered hotel rooms in preference to other passengers. In December, passengers on an Air France plane from the Caribbean to Paris that went tech in Guadeloupe were segregated, with only business-class customers provided with hotel rooms. For more travel news, views and advice from Simon, download his daily Independent Travel podcast. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An intoxicated British passenger who threatened to mess up the plane was restrained onboard a United Airlines flight from London that was forced to divert to Maine. Flight 883 was travelling from the UK to Newark, New Jersey, on 1 March when it was diverted to Bangor, Maine after a passenger became unruly. Alexander MacDonald, 30, faces charges of interference with the flight crew or attendant and assault, according to court documents obtained by The Independent. Two passengers appeared to be intoxicated and became disruptive, an airline spokesperson told The Independent. They added that law enforcement officials removed two passengers, and the flight then re-departed and landed at Newark Liberty Airport. The customers will be banned from future United flights while we review this matter, the United Airlines spokesperson said. Mr MacDonald, who is from Hackney in London, was allegedly arguing loudly with his girlfriend and was first asked to lower his voice by a flight purser. He initially complied, but after a few minutes, the yelling persisted. The man had allegedly started to yell at one of the flight attendants, at which point the flight purser tried to get the passenger to calm down. He then continued to be verbally and physically aggressive and allegedly asked a flight purser if he would like to have a problem and threatened to mess up the plane. He also placed his hands on the flight pursers shoulders as he backed the United employee into the corner, the complaint claimed. With the assistance of another passenger asked to help the crew, they got Mr MacDonald into flex cuffs. Court documents added that the unruly passenger continued to be non-compliant and could not be retrained in the crew rest seat, even after attempts to calm him down. Eventually, it was decided that the flight would need to take a diversion to Maine, with the captain deciding that the conduct threatened the safety of the passengers and the crew. The Bangor Police Department assisted Customs and Border Protection and the FBI after the flight made the unexpected landing in Maine, Seargend Jason McAmbley, a public information officer for the police, told PEOPLE. He added that the CBP and the FBI are now handling the investigation. The FBI told ABC7 that the investigation is ongoing. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A United Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in California after a tyre fell off midflight and damaged several cars in a parking lot in San Francisco. The incident occurred on Thursday at around 11.24am local time after the Boeing 777 took off from San Francisco International Airport. The passenger plane with 235 passengers and 14 crew members was bound for Japan. Video of the incident showed one of the planes six wheels detaching and dropping off as the plane was taking off. The plane was redirected to Los Angeles International Airport where fire engines stood on standby. The plane landed safely and stopped approximately two-thirds of the way down the runway, after which it was towed away, LAX airport officials said. No one was injured, airport spokesman Doug Yakel said in a statement. However, soon after the landing, it emerged that the loose tyre fell onto an employee car park at San Francisco International Airport. Pictures from the scene showed several cars badly damaged by the impact with the side and back window panes of a silver Toyota Corolla car smashed. The cars were unoccupied at the time and no one was harmed. A damaged car is seen in an on-airport employee parking lot after tire debris from a Boeing 777 landed on it at San Francisco International Airport (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) No one was harmed in the incident (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) An investigation has been launched into the incident, the Federal Aviation Administrations spokesperson Tony Molinaro said. United Airlines expressed gratitude to their pilots and flight attendants, and said they will work with owners of vehicles damaged. Were grateful to our pilots and flight attendants for their professionalism in managing this situation, United Airlines said in a statement. Were also grateful to our teams on the ground who were waiting with a tug to move the aircraft soon after it landed and to our teams in the airport who assisted customers upon their arrival. We will work with customers as well as with the owners of the damaged vehicles in SFO to ensure their needs are addressed. Los Angeles airport spokesperson Doug Yakel said that the runway was briefly shut down after the passengers were evacuated to allow crews to clear debris. There was no further impact on operations at the airport, he added. Aviation experts have said that plane tyres coming loose is extremely rare and not indicative of a larger safety issue. "In aviation, we never want to have single points of failure if they can be avoided, and this is a case in point," Alan Price, a former chief pilot for Delta Air Lines, told the Associated Press. "The remaining tyres are fully capable of handling the load," he said, adding that is a maintenance issue and not a manufacturing issue. The incident comes after a Boeing 757 plane in January lost its nose wheel while taxiing on runway in Atlanta. It also prompted an FAA probe. Fearne Cotton posted a poignant message on Instagram to mark International Women's Day on Friday, 8 March. The broadcaster, 42, shared the reasons why the day exists, explaining: "[It] isn't about man-hating or blaming men, it's about all of us coming together to ensure we see really positive change in the right direction for the younger generations." "Women are still not given equal opportunity in the workplace, if you look at global leaders they are still disproportionately male, there are parts of the world where women have little to no rights," she continued. To mark the day, The Independent has compiled a list of the 50 most influential women from a variety of worlds. Newly-released footage reveals how a cruise ship worker smuggled 2 million worth of cocaine to UK waters. Milos Bigovic, from Serbia, hid 28kg of the drug on the Marella Discovery 2 in Cartegena, Colombia, before its journey to the Caribbean was abandoned in March 2020 in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Passengers disembarked and the ship moored off the Isle of Wight. In April that year, Bigovic dragged the bag of drugs to a port-side deck and attached a rope to it, lowering it to accomplices, Benn Bath, 36, and Joshua Paige, 31, in a boat below. Bigovic, Bath, and Paige admitted importing cocaine and were jailed for 11, 18, and eight years respectively. Vivek Ramaswamy called Nikki Haley irrelevant after his former rival dropped out of the Republican presidential nomination race on Wednesday, 6 March. The former South Carolina governor announced the suspension of her campaign after being defeated across the country on Super Tuesday. Her decision leaves Donald Trump as the last remaining major candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination. Mr Ramaswamy ended his campaign for the nomination in Janaury after finishing in fourth place in the Iowa caucuses. Speaking on The Megyn Kelly Show, he said: [Haley is] irrelevant in this race going forward. Pro-Palestine protesters slashed a historic painting at the University of Cambridge on Friday, 8 March. Footage shows Palestine Action spray-painting a 1914 piece depicting Lord Arthur Balfour, who was responsible for the Balfour Declaration of 1917 which stated that the British government supported "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people". "Britains support for the continued colonisation of Palestine hasnt wavered since 1917," Palestine Action said in a statement. A Trinity College spokesperson told The Independent: Trinity College regrets the damage caused to a portrait of Arthur James Balfour during public opening hours. The police have been informed. Vladimir Putin got into the cockpit of a flight simulator during his visit to a military aviation school in Krasnodar, Russia, on Thursday 7 March. The Russian president, who also flew a Tu-160 strategic bomber two weeks ago, said at a meeting with female alumni of the school that his flight in that aircraft had not been planned because the bomber hadnt been deployed by the defence ministry. When we came to the plant and visited it, the chief pilot said we were ready, we could be in the air in two hours, he told the former students gathered at the meeting, before presenting them with flowers. New York governor Kathy Hochul has sent the National Guard to the New York City subway system to help police search passengers bags for weapons. The move, announced on Wednesday 6 March, follows a series of high-profile crimes on the transport system. Ms Hochul says she will deploy 750 members of the National Guard and 250 state troopers and transit officers to help the New York Police Department check bags at subway entrances. People should be going to work relaxed [while] taking the train. Tourists that come over, they should be safe, one subway rider, Alan Uloa, said. Others, however, argued that they didnt want their bags checked. Rishi Sunak helped to wire up a boiler watched by an apprentice during a visit to West Yorkshire on Friday 8 March. The prime minister walked around the Byworth Boilers premises in the town of Keighley and congratulated staff on the excellent work the company is doing. He also took time to talk up Jeremy Hunts Budget with employees after admitting that the last couple of years have been tough. Hopefully it just makes things a bit easier, the plan is working and we are going to stick to it, Mr Sunak said. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice As a woman working in politics and in economics, you get used to working in a world that doesnt look like modern Britain. Still, in 2024, no woman has served as governor of the Bank of England, or first permanent secretary to the Treasury, or chancellor of the Exchequer. If Labour has the privilege of forming the next government, I will have a privilege of my own: to be the first woman to serve as chancellor. I have always believed that the opportunity to serve comes with responsibility, too. The responsibility to show to our daughters to show my daughter that there should be no limits on their ambition. And the responsibility to drive progress for women, to stand up for women whose work is too often undervalued. To speak, and act, in the interests of women. And the truth is, after 14 years of Conservative government, women are worse off. Women bore the brunt of austerity after 2010. Women were worst affected by the economic and social impact of the pandemic. And too often it is women who bear the burden of insecure work, low pay and overstretched public services. Labours central economic mission is to get our economy growing again. I want to be clear about what that means for women why an economic policy centred on equality for women should also be an economic policy centred on growth. One of the things that successive Conservative governments have got wrong is to think we can build a strong economy based on the success of a few people, a few places, and a few industries. We have seen where that leads: stuttering growth, stagnant productivity, and deep regional divides. Labours alternative is about the recognition that if we want to build a strong economy, that must be based on the contribution of the many. And that must mean a growth plan centred around women. Fifty years after the Equal Pay Act, women still earn on average 14 per cent less than men. On current trends, we may have to wait until 2044 for the UKs gender pay gap to disappear. Women cannot afford to wait that long. And nor should they have to. Which is why, last year, I asked former TUC general secretary Frances OGrady to lead a review into how we can go further and faster in closing that gap, and make the next great strides towards abolishing it once and for all. We know that ensuring women can contribute to our economy will create growth. To take one example: the Rose review of female entrepreneurship showed that if the UK were to achieve the same rates of female entrepreneurship and business ownership as our best in class peers, that could add 200bn to our GDP. But if we want to create shared prosperity and recognise the contribution of women, we cant only focus on businesses at the frontier. We need to turn attention too to what I call the everyday economy those industries on which we rely for good lives and strong communities, which employ tens of millions of people but are too often undervalued. Women disproportionately work in our everyday economy, doing vital work. The industrial strategy of the next Labour government wont just be the top-down, narrow-focused industrial strategy of the past. It will focus not just on the dynamic industries of the future on renewable energy, data, steel but also on everyday sectors like childcare, social care and retail, to boost productivity and pay together. Just take childcare: one of the single biggest drivers of the gap between men and women in pay and workforce participation. As economists at Stanford and the London School of Economics have shown, the child penalty in the UK is substantially wider than in other European countries such as France, with far too many women kept out of the workforce for extended periods after having young children. As the clamour around this years spring Budget dies down, it is worth revisiting the chancellors flagship commitment from one year ago: the expansion of new funded childcare places to children aged between nine months and two years old. With just six weeks until rollout, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Conservatives plan was little more than hot air as my colleague Bridget Phillipson warned last week, a pledge without a plan. Labours research reveals that 180,000 places are at risk from more than 3,000 nursery closures due to the Tories botched offer. Separate surveys meanwhile have found that more than half of private, voluntary and independent nurseries of England are unable to meet existing local demand and are unlikely to, or unsure they could, offer any additional places for two-year-olds. The UKs broken childcare system wont be fixed with gimmicks which is why Labour has commissioned an expert-led early years review, headed by the former chief inspector of Ofsted, David Bell. Labour will work to build the modern childcare system that working people deserve, starting with our commitment to free breakfast clubs in every primary school. We will rescue our public services, as we have done before. And women will be at the heart of a plan for economic growth. Grant Thorntons Irish arm seeks to have US fraud case dismissed Firm has been accused in Florida of colluding in audits to help fraudulent activity Grant Thornton Ireland 'categorically denies all claims of wrongdoing'. Photo: Steve Humphreys John Mulligan Fri 8 Mar 2024 at 03:30 Grant Thorntons offices in Ireland and the Cayman Islands have urged a Florida court to dismiss a lawsuit launched in the US state against the accountancy firms in January. Watchdogs from Ireland and Italy swoop on Ryanair's Dublin HQ following complaints by online travel agents Airline says its happy to fully co-operate with probe after unannounced inspection backed by Gardai Ryanair's headquarters in Swords, Co Dublin John Mulligan Fri 8 Mar 2024 at 16:58 Competition watchdogs from Ireland and Italy swooped on Ryanairs headquarters in Dublin on foot of a complaint made by online travel agents in Italy against the airline. The Duke of Sussex has been double-nominated at the British Book Awards for his controversial memoir Spare, as those up for gongs were celebrated for starting conversations and pushing boundaries. The 39-year-old royals headline-grabbing book in which he accused his brother, the Prince of Wales, of pushing him into a dog bowl in a row over the Duchess of Sussex has been shortlisted for two book of the year prizes. There was scarcely an inch of his flesh that was not gashed: when Irish emigrants massacred Manhattans black community The deep roots of American instability, from racial inequality to a preoccupation with gun ownership, can be traced back to the violence in which the nation was created, argues Scott Gac in Born in Blood Rod of iron: George Washington Andrew Lynch Fri 8 Mar 2024 at 03:30 When Joe Biden makes sentimental speeches about Irelands contribution to his country, the New York City Draft Riots is an episode he conveniently leaves out. Over four days in July 1863, Irish immigrants who resented being asked to fight in the US Civil War took their anger out on Manhattans black community. They burned down homes, churches and even an orphanage, killing at least 119 people before President Abraham Lincoln sent in troops to subdue them. Jazzy won Irish Artist of the Year presented as well as Irish Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the RTE Choice Music Prize 2024. Picture Andres Poveda Jazzy collecting her Irish Artist of the Year awards at the RTE Choice Music Awards. Photo: Andres Poveda. Dublin artist Jazzy was one of the big winners of the night as she landed two awards out of the five categories at the 19th RTE Choice Music Awards at Vicar St last night. Yasmine Byrne (Jazzy), from Crumlin, took home both Newcomer of the year and Irish Breakthrough of the year at the showcase event on Thursday. The artist shot to prominence when her single Giving Me became the first single to sit at the top spot of the Irish charts by an Irish female artist in 14 years. Upon accepting her Irish Breakthrough of the year award, Byrne made a nod to the lads who helped me get here. Byrne saw increased commercial success after appearing as vocals on the track Make Me Feel Good, by Dublin dance music duo Conor Bissett and Robbie Griffiths of Belters Only. Like many of the nominees on Thursday, social media platform TikTok had a large role to play in the reach of their work. Cian Ducrot won Song of the Year for Heaven in the only publicly voted category. Ducrot rose to prominence on the platform in 2022 with his single All For You. Album of the year went to Lankum for their album False Lankum. They were awarded 10,000, which has been provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), as well as a specially commissioned award. The award was presented by a former winner of the award, Denise Chaila. The Irish Album of the Year award is chosen from a shortlist of ten albums by a panel of eleven Irish music media professionals and industry experts. In their acceptance speech, Lankum referenced the killing of civilians in Palestine, saying: You are trying to appeal to the people who may not have consciousness. We hope that we can appeal to the government enough to introduce real sanctions. We want the Palestinian people to feel happiness and other basic human rights that are afforded to everyone else. U2 won Classic Irish Album for Achtung. Radio DJ Dave Fanning collected U2s award on behalf of the band. The Edge and Adam Clayton expressed their gratitude for being nominated and winning the award via video link from Las Vegas. Performances during the night included CMAT, The Murder Capital and Rachael Lavelle. The annual RTE Choice Music Awards were started to celebrate the best in Irish recorded music and the awards have become a highlight of the Irish music calendar since its inception in 2005. Soda Blonde played their song Why Die for Danzig, frontwoman Faye ORourke saying this is a war song, Saoirse don Phalaistin or freedom to Palestine. RTE2 will broadcast a one-hour TV programme of the RTE Choice Music Prize, featuring performances from the eight acts and hosted by Tracy Clifford on Thursday, March 14 at 22.30. The Collective shows the former Sonic Youth star is still making music on her terms, while Yard Act move up a gear and Kaiser Chiefs team up with Nile Rodgers Alternative rock owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Sonic Youth, one of the very best American bands to emerge in the 1980s. Born out of the so-called no wave movement, their music retained an outsider, experimental sensibility even when mainstream acceptance arrived towards the end of that decade. Kim Gordon, who founded the band in 1981 with her soon-to-be husband Thurston Moore, was pivotal to Sonic Youths uncompromising sound. When the marriage and band disintegrated, the multi-instrumentalist changed tack spectacularly. Over the past decade, she has channelled her energies into visual art, books including an excellent, warts n all memoir Girl in a Band and solo music. Her new, second album The Collective proves that age shes 70 has not diminished her desire to make arresting music on her own terms. Recorded in Los Angeles, the city of her birth and where she returned to live in her 60s, it finds her joining forces with Justin Raisen, the sometime Angel Olsen and Charli XCX producer who helmed Gordons debut album, No Home Record. Raisens love of dub and trap finds its way on to The Collective and rubs shoulders with abrasive industrial rock. The result does not make for an easy listen, but the avant-garde songs are rarely less than captivating. On paper, opening track Bye Bye, sounds dismal as Gordon recites a list of mundane items to pack: Ear plugs, travel shampoo, conditioner/ eyeliner, dental floss, money for the cleaners. But, here, with a discordant sonic background to accompany her disaffected singing, the song is both oddly moving and unexpectedly riveting. Theres plenty of carefully channelled anger too, not least on the unsettling sonic architecture of Im a Man, which finds Gordon lampooning the sort of rage-filled incels who spend their every waking hour online. There are esoteric flights of fancy too. Psychedelic Orgasm, the albums just released third single, is akin to beat poetry turned to song, as Gordon riffs on a series of random thoughts. The LA-set video, meanwhile, is every bit as disorienting as the music is. Kim Gordon would likely approve of Yard Act, the Leeds group who do a fine line in art-rock. Their debut album, the Fall-indebted The Overload, was widely acclaimed, and now a follow up, Wheres My Utopia?, sees them expand their sonic palate significantly. James Smith gamely eschews the prosaic, especially on Down by the Stream, a self-aware and somewhat disturbing look-back to his former self as a teenage bully. Theres little that is conventional about Yard Act saxophones and violas are as welcome in their world as drums and electric guitars are and their new album hopscotches from genre to genre with glee. Fellow Yorkshire band Kaiser Chiefs are still at large, 20 years on from their big hit, I Predict a Riot. The bluntly named Kaiser Chiefs Easy Eighth Album is an uneven collection but there are plenty of eyebrow-raising moments, such as the realisation that Nile Rodgers, of all people, co-wrote and plays on the throwaway Feeling Alright. Much better, is the retro-disco of Burning in Flames, which features composer David Arnold on violin. Ricky Wilson, who sounds uncannily like Frankie Goes to Hollywoods Holly Johnson, in the early part of the song, is clearly having a good time. Its a standout song on whats a largely pedestrian album. As well as Sunday nights Oscars ceremony, look out for the season finale of The Prisoner, Ncuti Gatwa in Masters of the Air and for the strong of stomach, Forensics: The Real CSI Friday Sky Arts, 8pm Maggie Breathnachs feature-length documentary, presented by Imelda May, is perfectly timed for International Womens Day. It tells the story of Elizabeth (Lily) and Susan (Lolly) Yeats, whose own artistic endeavours in printing and embroidery including founding a women-only craft guild, a positively revolutionary move in the misogynist Ireland of the time were overshadowed by those of their brothers WB and Jack. The film, which closes with a sung tribute by May, restores them to their rightful place in history. MASTERS OF THE AIR Apple TV+ If youve been wondering when Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa, who features in the opening credits, would show up, its in this penultimate episode, focusing on D-Day. He plays a member of the African-American 99th Pursuit Squadron. THE RELUCTANT TRAVELLER Apple TV+ Season two of the entertaining travel show, with the engagingly grouchy Schitts Creek star Eugene Levy. This time, hes on a grand tour of Europe. First two episodes today. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Legend, 6pm In case you were unaware, the channel is showing the classic 60s and 70s espionage caper series every weeknight. This is episode nine of the first season, when Steven Hill played the leader of the IMF team (Peter Graves took over for the next one). Still highly entertaining, thanks to the clever scripts and a fine cast. MARTIN COMPSTONS NORWEGIAN FLING BBC2, 9pm This weeks destination, an oil rig, should feel like home to Compston. After all, he starred in the thriller The Rig. The weak of stomach should look away when he and pal Phil MacHugh sample a Norwegian dish called Smalahove. HOW TO WITH JOHN WILSON BBC2, 11.05pm & 11.35pm Wilson is back on the streets again, mingling with New Yorkers for a final season of his quirky show. In this opening double bill, he offers advice on public toilets and how to clean your ears. Saturday TEARS FOR FEARS: SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR Sky Arts, 9pm One week they were known (and in some quarters sneered at) for moody synth-pop, the next Tears for Fears were conquering the charts and winning critical acclaim with their 1985 album Songs from the Big Chair. It showcased a new, brighter sound and catapulted them to superstardom. In this 80-minute documentary, founders Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith discuss the making of the record and how it affected their lives. CRUFTS Channel 4, 3.30pm & 7pm Most of us probably dont care which dog is judged Best in Show. The appeal is seeing dogs enjoying themselves in the speed, agility and obedience events. A happy dog is the most joyous sight. TEXAS LIVE IN THE PIANO ROOM BBC2, 8.35pm Its staggering to think that Glasgow band Texas, fronted by the wonderful Sharleen Spiteri, have been around for 35 years. Here, they perform a semi-acoustic set at the BBCs famous Maida Vale studios. Sofie Grabol stars in Danish drama, Prisoner. Photo: BBC/DR PRISONER BBC4, 9pm & 10pm Given how tough and bleak this Danish drama has been up to now, only a fool would bet on anything like a happy ending in this final double bill, as tensions reach boiling point. PARKINSON MEETS MICHAEL CRAWFORD BBC4, 11pm Michael Parkinson only devoted a whole show to a single guest if he considered them extremely special. In 1999, the honour was accorded to Crawford, the multitalented star of The Knack, Some Mothers Do Ave Em and the original production of stage musical The Phantom of the Opera. Sunday Cillian Murphy at a pre-Oscars luncheon. Photo: Getty THE OSCARS UTV/ITV1, 10.15pm Many Irish viewers will be unable to watch the Oscars live this year because ITV, which has snatched the rights to coverage from Sky, isnt included in Sky or Virgin Medias TV packages. But there is a hack. Sky subscribers can manually add UTV or any of the ITV channels to their existing line-up (check online to learn how). Unfortunately, Virgin Media doesnt include that facility. RTE2 is showing the usual highlights programme on Monday at 9.35pm. Cillian Murphy quips 'Should I sing a rebel song?' to prove he is a proud Irishman after Bafta win MAGNUM PI Sky Max, 9pm Its the last ever episode of the reboot, starring Jay Hernandez in Tom Sellecks old role. The most remarkable thing about the series is that it lasted five seasons, despite being a middling facsimile of the well-liked original. THE BABY DADDY W, 9pm Documentary about serial sperm donor Ari Nagel, nicknamed the Sperminator, who is the biological father of more than 100 children. The children he sired in the more commonplace way, however, think its about time he gave it a rest. FORENSICS: THE REAL CSI BBC2, 9pm Viewers will need stomachs as strong as cast iron to get through this weeks gruesome episode. The team open a freezer containing a virtually liquified body. Lisa Dwan and Rory Keenan in 'Blackshore'. Photo: RTE BLACKSHORE RTE1, 9.30pm Its the finale. Fia has Bill McGuire in her sights, but shes struggling to find the necessary evidence to wrap the case up until, that is, theres a twist that cracks everything wide open. Lisa Dwan who plays Fia in Blackshore, Episode 1 - Courtesy of RTE Equestrian buyer beats dairy farmer to 69ac Castlelyons holding The farm at Collierstown, Tara, where some of the most ancient farmland in Ireland is found. This 27.5ac of land at Collierstown made over 17,600/ac The farmhouse at Cappoquin is in need of refurbishment. Some of the 81ac farm at Cappoquin, Co Waterford was recently in maize. The farmhouse on 2ac and 10ac of land with a yard at Platten, Donore, Drogheda made a total price of 491,000. This farm at Castlelyons, Co Cork with no buildings and entitlements was offered in lots but sold as the entire for 27,000/ac The pattern of strong land prices in the south-west continues with many sales exceeding 20,000/ac and one hitting 27,000/ac. A 69ac farm at Castlelyons at the heart of East Cork dairy country sold in its entirety in recent weeks for 27,000/ac. Pat ODonovan, who offered the holding in three roadside lots of 19ac, 17ac and 33ac, describes the land, situated beside the GAA grounds in Castlelyons, as the best of East Cork ground suitable for tillage and grass, and as smooth as a billiard table. The property came without buildings or entitlements. When the entire was put to the floor two bidders engaged, a dairy farmer from the broader locality and the owner of an adjoining equestrian farm. The hammer fell at 1.863m in favour of the latter. 81ac Waterford farm makes 1.95m Eamonn Spratt achieved a price of 1.95m under the hammer when he sold an 81ac residential farm at Ballyhane, Cappoquin, Co Waterford for 1.95m or 24,000/ac, exceeding its guide price by a massive 750,000. Laid out in seven fields suitable for grass and tillage, some of the ground has just produced a crop of maize. With road frontage on to the N72 the property is 14km from Dungarvan and 4km from Cappoquin. Some of the 81ac farm at Cappoquin, Co Waterford was recently in maize. It contains a dated four-bedroom farmhouse and a basic yard. At auction the place attracted five bidders when Mr Spratt accepted an opening bid of 1.2m. In a spree of bidding the price on offer for the place quickly reached 1.6m and it was put on the market. The farmhouse at Cappoquin is in need of refurbishment. Three bidders stayed with the action all the way until the hammer fell at 1.95m in favour of an accountant acting for a client. There was much speculation as to the identity of that client, and Mr Spratt said he would not be surprised if the buyer was an active participant in the dairy sector. Tara holding sells for 17,600/ac In Co Meath, Coonans sold a 27.5ac farm at Collierstown, Skryne near Tara for 485,000 or over 17,600/ac 135,000 above the guide price. The farm at Collierstown, Tara, where some of the most ancient farmland in Ireland is found. 7km north of Dunshaughlin, the property is on the Skryne side of the Gabhra valley, where some of the most ancient farmland in Ireland is found. This 27.5ac of land at Collierstown made over 17,600/ac In a packed auction room Philip Byrne of Coonans took an opening bid of 300,000 and four keen bidders brought the price to 460,000. At that point it was put on the market and two bidders continued to make offers until the hammer fell at 485,000 in favour of a local businessman with farming interests. Drogheda property soars above guide price At the same auction Coonans sold a three-bedroom bungalow on 2ac and 10ac with yard at Newton Platten, 3km from Drogheda and 2km from Donore. The place made a combined price of 491,000. The first lot, comprising the bungalow on 2ac, opened at 100,000 and with four bidders in the chase it went on the market at 220,000 and sold at 229,000 to a buyer from Skerries. The farmhouse on 2ac and 10ac of land with a yard at Platten, Donore, Drogheda made a total price of 491,000. The remainder of the property, consisting of 8ac and a small industrial yard, opened at 160,000. With three active bidders in contention, it went on the market at 250,000 and sold to a local hobby farmer for 262,000. Media Minister Catherine Martin met with the new RTE Chair Terrence ORourke and Director General Kevin Bakhurst to discuss the continuing reform of RTE and its future funding model. Mr ORourke, was officially appointed as the new Chair of the RTE board yesterday during the weekly Cabinet meeting, with Ms Martin having nominated the new chair, bypassing the Public Appointments Service (PAS) under anti-cronyism guidelines. The meeting with Mr ORourke and Director General Kevin Bakhurst took place today, just a fortnight after the abrupt resignation of former RTE Chair Siun Ni Raghallaigh. Ms Ni Raghallaigh resigned from her role on the board of the broadcaster hours after Ms Martin expressed disappointment in her during a live television interview on Prime Time on February 22. Mr ORourke, a 69-year-old history and economics UCD graduate and current chairman of ESBs board, is the third chair presiding over the crisis-hit broadcaster in the space of a year-and-a-half, with Moya Doherty having exited in 2022. Minister Martin described the meeting as a very positive engagement where a discussion was held on the importance of continuing the programme of reform of RTE. The trio also discussed the priority of putting in place a sustainable funding model for RTE and public service media in Ireland. Last week Ms Martin stated that she is committed to making a decision on the future funding model of RTE by the summer, during a meeting with the RTE Board before Mr ORourkes appointment. The meeting last week was also the first time the minister met with the RTE Board since its former chair, Ms Ni Raghallaigh resigned. Following todays meeting with the RTE Chair and the DG, Ms Martin said they agreed on the necessity of working together to respond to the recommendations published by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this week. They also agreed to working together on recommendations made in the two independent Expert Advisory Committee reports that Ms Martin has commissioned. The Minister added: I am looking forward to working with the Chair and the Board in progressing the major reform agenda underway in the organisation. Diego Costa Silva, who cut his wife's head off while suffering from a cannabis-induced psychosis, has been found not guilty of her murder by reason of insanity by a jury at the Central Criminal Court. The accused, whose family has not been present during the trial, broke down in tears when the verdict was read out. He will be taken to the Central Mental Hospital to be assessed before returning to court on March 22 when a psychiatrist will report on Mr Costa Silva's current mental condition. A man who sexually abused his young cousin 36 years ago when they were both children has been jailed for one year. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault of a boy at an address in Leinster on dates between July and August 1988. He has no previous convictions. Controversial adult dance performers the UK Pleasure Boys are set to return to Northern Ireland later this year. The dance group, who perform a Magic Mike-style strip tease show, are set to take to the stage at Banbridges The Bannville Hotel in May. It comes just weeks after the group made headlines across Northern Ireland after videos of their performance at The Devenish Hotel in Belfast went viral. In a post on social media, the Bannville wrote: The Ultimate Girls night out at the Bannville! "Tickets are now available to experience the UK Pleasure Boys on Saturday May 11th. Prices for the event range from 17.50 to 22.50. The hotel also warned for potential show goers to book early as this is a popular event. On Saturday, February 17, the Pleasure Boys played one of their XXL Tour dates at The Devenish complex in Belfast. Advertised by the bar as a Valentines Weekend Special, footage from the performance quickly circulated on social media, which shows nude male dancers and female patrons mimicking sexual acts. Shortly after the videos went viral, the group told the Belfast Telegraph they have been contacted by other venues across Northern Ireland hoping to book their performance. Weve had five enquiries in the past hour to [come] back in Belfast. There are club owners contacting me constantly from all around the city, said John Woodward, the man behind the UK Pleasure Boys. Watch: UK Pleasure Boys bid farewell to Belfast and promise to return Joseph Brennan died outside a bar close to the Springfield Road (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) A man who died following a serious assault in west Belfast has been named as Joseph Brennan, as eyewitnesses to the incident described their shock. Mr Brennan died in hospital following an altercation outside a bar in the Cupar Street area of the city on Wednesday evening. A murder investigation was subsequently launched by police. A 35-year-old man, who is also from west Belfast, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody on Thursday evening. Local people have spoken about their concern over what started as an innocent row inside Dans Bar in Cupar Street, spread out onto the street where the victim suffered fatal injuries. Eyewitnesses say there was no sign of any weapons used and it appeared to be a row gone wrong. One eyewitness who had been in Dans Bar said two men were having what started as a bit of back and forth. Someone told them to take it outside, thinking it was just a handbags at dawn situation, they said. Shocked isnt the word, Dans isnt that kind of place, theres all sorts of banter goes on but at the end of the day people shake hands and move on. My phone hasnt stopped with people just shocked, terrible that this would happen. I didnt know the fella died at all, Im sure his family are just devastated. He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in an ambulance but later passed away from his injuries. A Northern Ireland Ambulance Service spokesperson said last night: "The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 20:00 on Wednesday 6 March, following reports of an incident on Springfield Road. NIAS despatched two emergency crews to the incident. Following assessment and treatment at the scene, one patient was taken by ambulance to RVH. Cupar Street Upper was closed as a result, along with the Springfield Road between Lanark Way and Millennium Way on Wednesday and police remain at the scene. Watch: Police at scene of serious assault in west Belfast Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey expressed his condolences with the family and friends of the victim. The West Belfast MP said: I am deeply saddened to learn that a man died last night in the Cupar Street area. I would like to express my condolences with the mans family and friends as they come to terms with this terrible loss. I would appeal to anyone with information on this death to immediately bring it forward to the police to assist with their inquiries. The latest death marks the third murder in Northern Ireland so far this year, following the death of Kevin Conway in west Belfast in January and the death of teenager Blake Newland in Limavady last month. SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty said the local community has been left reeling following the latest tragedy. Id like to express my condolences to the family and friends of the man who lost his life following a serious incident last night, he said. "Its never easy to lose a loved one in any circumstances and I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through this morning. There is serious concern in the local community following what took place last night. There can be no place for violence in our community and this is a terrible thing to happen on anyones doorstep. People in this area just want to live in peace and there is a real cloud over this part of west Belfast today. I would appeal for anyone with any information about what happened to come forwards to police. A man has lost his life in the most tragic of circumstances and those responsible must be held accountable. In a funeral notice, Mr Brennan from the Poleglass area is described as the beloved son of Paul and Bernadette, a loving brother of Paul, Sean and Jim, brother in law of Roisin, much loved uncle of Chloe and Ryan. "Deeply regretted by his loving family circle. House strictly Private until Josephs remains return home. Family flowers only. The PSNI has reiterated its appeal for information following Mr Brennans death. Our enquiries continue, and Im keen to take the opportunity to appeal to anyone with information to get in touch, a spokesperson said. "Did you witness the events leading up to the altercation? Might you have captured footage of the actual incident? Please contact our detectives on 101, quoting reference number 1768 of 06/03/24. A human resources expert has claimed that a new EU law on collective bargaining will not change the world in the slightest and the idea it will is for the birds. Tom Hayes, director of HR Policy Global Europe, told a conference that a directive on adequate minimum wages and collective bargaining will not affect trade union density. Mr Hayes, who works mainly with US-based multinationals, began his career as an official with the Workers Union of Ireland, before moving into HR management. The idea that the minimum wage collective bargaining directive is going to change things in any significant way is for the birds, he told an Industrial Relations News conference on EU rights and the IR Outlook for Ireland in UCD today. He said it was like people dying of thirst in movies who see a mirage and jump into the water, and it turns out to be sand. During a panel discussion on recent and upcoming EU employment rights, he said he is not worried about most of this stuff. The adequate minimum wages (collective bargaining) directive puts an obligation on member states where collective bargaining coverage in workplaces is less than 80pc to create a framework to increase it. When conference chair, Ingrid Miley, said he believes the legislation would not make much difference, he said it would make no difference. He said Irish trade union density is about 23pc or 24pc and a big chunk is made up of the public sector. Mr Hayes said density is at a similar level or lower in many European countries, including France, Spain, Italy and Germany. When Ms Miley asked where the drive for the collective bargaining provisions comes from within the political establishment in Brussels, he said the idea that the minimum wage collective bargaining directive is going to change things in any significant way is "for the birds. He said part of the reason is that human resource professionals have become too smart at identifying problems before they become problems. He said workers in Amazon answer a question when they clock in, and millions of answers are processed in real time to gauge information about the workforce. However, he said legislation may change things on the margins. He said given all the regulations, he sometimes gets the impression that officials feel businesses should be in the business of due diligence. He said Irelands union density is not the worst, and it is highest in Scandinavia. In relation to unions, he said if people are not buying their product they may not be selling the right product. He said talking about class struggle is not going to cut it anymore and asked what todays workforce wants from a trade union. Medical Council figures reveal 1,341 doctors left in 2022 Women now make up nearly 50pc of registered doctors in Ireland. Photo: Stock image Ireland continued to see an exodus of doctors as the pandemic eased, with 1,341 leaving in a year many for jobs abroad and citing working conditions among the reasons for quitting. Female doctors, who now make up almost half of the profession in Ireland, also frequently blamed family and well-being-related difficulties for stepping away. The picture emerged in a new workforce report for 2022 from the Medical Council, which said the numbers withdrawing from the register that year increased by 359. Of those who responded to a survey, 62pc said they wanted to practise in another country, with 227 leaving medicine and 270 exiting for other reasons. The most popular destinations were the UK and Australia, followed by Canada and New Zealand. The number of doctors on the register has been increasing year on year, with the ratio of young female doctors rising steadily over the past decade. Women now make up nearly 50pc of the medical workforce and, significantly, they now outnumber men among those aged under 24, the watchdog said as it marks International Womens Day today. Of the 1,341 doctors who withdrew from the register in 2022 for work opportunities abroad and other reasons, including a small number of retirements, 593 were female. Among doctors who completed the voluntary withdrawal survey, 45.9pc offered detailed explanations on the reasons for withdrawing their registration. A number of work-related issues were cited, including limited career progression and training opportunities; poor working conditions; personal or family reasons; plans to practise abroad; registration requirements; and the emergency response to Covid-19 pandemic coming to an end. The report again highlights the dependence on overseas doctors to maintain health services here. It also said that over-reliance on junior doctors to deliver care has implications for public safety. A total of 3,008 doctors registered with the Medical Council for the first time in 2022, compared with 2,605 in the previous year, representing a 15pc increase. And 71.2pc of doctors registering for the first time obtained their qualifications abroad. About 81pc of doctors who renewed their registration were clinically active in Ireland, all or some of the time in 2022. In 2022, over a quarter of clinically active doctors working in Ireland self-reported working more than 48 hours a week on average. Medical Council president Dr Suzanne Crowe said: As the world collectively celebrates International Womens Day, Im glad to see a rising number of women in medicine in Ireland, particularly those aged 24 and under. In 1994, women made up just 30pc of the medical register. Now, 30 years later, we are nearly at a 50/50 split male to female, with the numbers of female doctors in the younger age cohorts outpacing male doctors. Today, Im also reflecting on the contributions of the women who tirelessly advocate for patients and vulnerable people in Ireland. Today, we celebrate their dedication, compassion and commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. Women can bring a unique understanding of womens health issues, paving the way for change in medicine, and helping other patients to feel safe and heard. The fertility rate here has fallen from 2.03 births per woman to 1.54. Photo: Getty Births in Ireland dropped sharply by 13.5pc as the number of new babies across the European Union hit a record low. According to EU statistics agency Eurostat, the number of births in the bloc each year fell below four million for the first time on record in 2022 when 3.88 million children were born. Ireland had the steepest decline in fertility rates in 2022, falling from 1.78 live births per woman to 1.54 in a year a drop of 13.5pc. Greece and Estonia recorded similar double-figure drops in fertility rates. The decline can be explained by a brief baby boom after the Covid pandemic, with fertility rates reaching a five-year high in Ireland in 2021 and increasing across the EU as a whole. In 2020, 55,959 babies were born in Ireland, which rose to 60,553 in 2021. In 2022, that dropped to 54,411 births. Since 2011, the fertility rate here has decreased from 2.03 births per woman to 1.54. The fertility rate was 1.46 live births per woman in the EU in 2022, a fall of 4.6pc and the first time on record it has dipped below 1.5. Rates ranged from 1.08 births per woman in Malta to 1.79 in France. After France, the highest fertility rates were Romania (1.71), Bulgaria (1.65) and the Czech Republic (1.64). Apart from Malta, the lowest rates were Spain (1.16) and Italy (1.24). Germanys fertility rate was 1.46, the same as the average across the EU. The average age of a woman at the birth of their first child in the EU in 2022 was 29.7 years. This ranged from 26.6 in Bulgaria to 31.7 in Italy. In Ireland, the average age was 31.5. Since 2011, EU fertility rates were fairly stable at 1.54, aided by increasing rates in eastern Europe, including Hungary (27pc rise), Romania (up 16pc) and the Czech Republic (15pc rise). This was balanced out by dramatic drops in Scandinavia and western Europe, including Finland (28pc decrease), Norway (25pc fall) and Ireland and the Netherlands (both 15pc down). Numbers of babies born in the EU have been declining since 2008, when 4.68 million babies were born, exacerbating concerns over a demographic crisis caused by an ageing population, declining birth rates and a labour shortage. Nearly half as many are being born as 60 years ago, which threatens to further complicate Europes relationship with non-EU immigration from continents such as Africa. ( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2024) Professor outlines grim reality for ill people in deprived parts of country Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, said survival rates should be higher. Photo: Steve Humphreys Ireland has a two-tier cancer system with poorer outcomes for patients in the west and north-west of the country, a leading specialist has warned. Prof Michael Kerin, director of the Saolta Cancer Network, said Galway University Hospital (GUH) is outdated and has inadequate facilities for cancer patients. He described how 12 patients could end up sharing access to one toilet. The west and north-west is the most rural area of the country and suffers from economic deprivation, he told a seminar on cancer care organised by the Policy Forum for Ireland. The OECD in 2023 showed Irelands cancer mortality was higher than the European average, with delays in diagnosis, said Prof Kerin. This is particularly relevant to the west of the country, where there is a high incidence of age deprivation and the highest incidence of economic deprivation. Progress is promised. Last autumn, Saolta established a GUH capital programme oversight board. The key goal of the oversight board is to develop an integrated master plan to support the phased delivery of capital investment in the hospital. It is proposed that a regional cancer centre will be included in the projects. Prof Kerin criticised the lack of investment in capital infrastructure relating to health in recent years. A major challenge is the distance to hospitals, which affects the delivery of appropriate care. The distance from Donegal to Galway outruns the distance from Kerry to Cork, he said. As the economy has improved, there was a vast increase in spending on healthcare delivery, but a small increase in capital spending. Prof Kerin welcomed the inclusion of a new cancer centre in the west as part of the National Development Plan. He also said Ireland does not have enough cancer patients in clinical trials, with numbers participating currently below 10pc. Prof Kerin has previously spoken about the west and north-west having the highest incidence of cancer as well as the highest mortality rate from the condition. GUH is the only model-four hospital in the region. It is overcrowded, with cancer patients competing for beds and services with emergency patients on a daily basis. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly recently said that a strategic assessment report for the regional cancer centre proposals was in the final stages of review. This was also the case with regard to a strategic assessment report for replacement laboratories in Galway Significant additional capacity to enable the separation of scheduled and unscheduled care would be provided through a national network of dedicated elective hospitals. Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, also spoke at the forum, which was chaired by Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan. Ms Power said improvements in survival rates were being seen here but not at the pace they should be. Thirty-five years ago, only three in 10 survived a cancer diagnosis and now it is six in 10, she said. She added that the best outcomes are being seen in breast, prostate and testicular cancer. Patients with lung or pancreatic cancer had less-optimal outcomes on average. We are getting there but not fast enough, said Ms Power. There was a higher rate of incidence in deprived areas, she added. President Michael D Higgins casts vote in referendums in his first public appearance since hospital stay President Michael D Higgins held a meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this afternoon at Aras an Uachtarain after casting his vote in today's constitutional referendums in the Phoenix Park. President Higgins and his wife Sabina voted at their local polling station at St Mary's Hospital around 11am on Friday morning. The President didn't take questions but was in good spirits as he voted. President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Aras an Uachtarain today. Photo: X/President of Ireland. He later met with an Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at his office afterwards as he resumed official duties, having spent the previous week in hospital. He was admitted last Thursday with mild transient weakness. The Presidents medical team has advised him to limit his public engagements over the coming weeks in order to facilitate the short period of recuperation that they have recommended. He completed medical tests following his admission to hospital in Dublin last Thursday evening, and a spokesperson said he is expected to make a full recovery. President Micheal D Higgins and Sabina Higgins casts their vote at St Mary's Hospital, Phoenix Park for the two referendums on Family and Care. Picture: Maxwells Mr Higgins was using a walking cane as he voted today and was also supported by a member of staff. President Micheal D Higgins and Sabina Higgins casts their vote at St Mary's Hospital, Phoenix Park for the two referendums on Family and Care. Picture: Maxwells Polls have been open all day in the twin referendums on proposed changes to the Constitution in Ireland. It is not necessary to bring your polling card, but the Electoral Commission's advice is that it is helpful to bring it. A valid form of ID is necessary, such as a passport, driving license or student ID car. Counting will get under way at 9am tomorrow, with two separate declarations of the results, expected in the afternoon or evening. Turnout at many polling stations was at less than 10pc at midday, according to RTE, in what is the first electoral event in four years. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was also pictured on his way to cast his vote on Donore Avenue in Dublin earlier today. The referendums propose changing the wording of the Constitution relating to the areas of family and care. The family amendment proposes extending the meaning of family beyond one defined by marriage and to include those based on durable relationships. The care amendment proposes deleting references to a womans roles and duties in the home, and replacing it with a new article that acknowledges family carers. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with Senator Mary Seery-Kearney at Scoil Treasa Naofa CBS, Petrie Road Polling Station where he cast his vote in the referendum this morning...,Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin The Constitution is the fundamental legal document for the country and can only be changed with the approval of Irish citizens through a national vote. Read more Referendum day: Everything you need to know about voting today The campaigns have led to national debates over the role of women in the home, what responsibility the State has for care and the meaning of family. The Irish Government is campaigning for a yes vote in both amendments. It says the changes will remove sexist language, recognise family care and extend protection to families not based on marriage. All Irish citizens that are at least 18 years old are eligible if they have registered to vote. Registered voters are given polling information cards directing them to their nearest polling station. The family amendment will be on a white-coloured ballot paper while the care amendment will be on a green-coloured ballot paper. The polls are open between 7am and 10pm. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald votes in referendums on changes to Constitution on family and care Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was pictured voting at Old St Josephs Gym Hall in Dublin. Ms McDonalds party, along with Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, the Green Party, the Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit also support a Yes-Yes vote. The result of the referendums, which are decided by majority, are expected on Saturday. Counting of the ballots happens at a constituency basis at various centres around the country. However, the overall national result will be declared at Dublin Castle. The family amendment will be counted and declared first. The results for the care amendment will not be processed until the family count is finished. You can read all our referendums coverage here: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/referendums Ireland is going to the polls on Friday to vote in two referendums that would change the language on family and care in the Constitution. Here is everything you might need to know before casting your vote. What does the Constitution currently say? The nation will vote in two referendums on Friday, known in shorthand as the family referendum and the care referendum. In the first, Article 41.1.1 and Article 41.3.1 accords special status to the family as the basic unit of the society with strong legal rights. It fixes a family as based on marriage. The Constitution currently says that the State recognises the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law. It also says the State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against attack. In the second, Article 41.2 effectively says that women working in the home are central to the good functioning of the State and society. It also pledges to endeavour to support women working at home so that they are not obliged to go out to work and neglect family duties. It currently says that 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 and says 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. What are the proposed amendments? The proposed change to Article 41.3.1 would outline the family as founded on marriage or other durable relationships. It will retain the content of Article 41.3.1 including the reference to marriage but would strike out the words: on which the family is founded. This would become the 39th Amendment to the Constitution. In the second referendum on the care amendment, the proposed change to Article 41.2 would mean to remove the article and to instead insert a new Article 42B, recognising the important role of carers in Irish society. The proposed addition pledges the State to strive to support that care. In full, it says: The State recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to Society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision. This would become the 40th Amendment to the Constitution. What would these changes mean? In the referendum on the concept of family, the constitutional change would allow for those in other durable relationships aside from marriage to be recognised. The institution of marriage will continue to be recognised as an institution that the State must guard with special care and protect against attack as that wording will remain and is not affected by the proposed amendment. In the referendum on care, the proposed new article would recognise the importance to the common good of the care provided by family members to each other and would provide that the State would strive to support the provision of such care. The legal effect of a No vote in either referendum means the Constitution would remain as it currently exists and no changes would be made. Who is campaigning for a Yes-Yes vote? The National Womens Council of Ireland is the most prominent Yes-Yes campaign group, with Family Carers Ireland also supporting the changes. All Government parties including Sinn Fein, Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit also support a Yes-Yes vote. Who is campaigning for a No-No vote? Political party Aontu has advocated for a No-No vote. Other groups which are advocating for a No-No vote on the basis that it would remove constitutional protection for mothers include the Iona Institute, Family Solidarity and The Christian Solidarity Party. A group of lawyers, named Lawyers for No, is advocating for a No-No vote on the basis that the proposed changes would lead to major uncertainties in relationships and would have consequences in family, tax and property law, they said. Can you vote Yes-No? Who is advocating for a Yes-No vote? You can vote Yes-No or No-Yes in the referendums if you wish to do so. A number of campaigners and disability activists are advocating for a Yes-No vote due to the proposed wording in the care referendum. Equality Not Care, a campaign group made up of disabilities campaigners, family members of disabled people and feminists has come out for a progressive No vote in the care referendum. A number of disability activists are concerned that the new amendment on care would only recognise care within the family and would not create any new concrete rights for those who give or receive care. Today's News in 90 Seconds - March 6 What time are polling stations open on Friday? Polling stations are open from 7am on Friday and close at 10pm. How do I find out where my local polling station is? Once you are registered to vote and you meet the eligibility criteria for voting in a referendum, a polling information card will be posted to your address before polling day. This will include your elector number, the name of the polling station where you will go to vote and a formal statement explaining the referendums. You must vote at the polling station named on your polling card. Do I need to bring ID with me? Yes, you must bring identification with you to your local polling station. You will need to show this as your polling card is not valid form of identification. A passport and driving licence are both valid forms of ID, though a number of others are also accepted. The full list is available at electoralcommission.ie/referendums/how-to-vote/. What will the voting cards look like? The referendum on family will be on white coloured ballot paper while the referendum on care will be on green coloured ballot paper. You should mark an X in either the yes or the no box on the paper, then fold it and place it in a sealed ballot box. The ballot papers are also available to view at electoralcommission.ie/referendums/how-to-vote/. You can read all of our referendum coverage here: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/referendums Madeiran fashion retailer Sofia Ova on how her boutique and home became a hub of friendship Asking price: 890,000 Agent: Paula Treacy Estates (053) 9242140 Enniscorthys elegant ladies have always known that theres something very different about the Sofias Choice boutique on Main Street. Its not just the iced-cake Tudor revival facade, which is taller on one side (on account of Enniscorthys characteristic sloping streets). Neither is it the eclectic content on offer inside, which changes with the owners whims (the clue is in the name). Nor is it the chic shop interior with its resonances of a sumptuous period salon. Its all about the table and chairs set right in the middle of the shop floor. The shop is the centre of my social life. Its where Ive made friends and where they come to visit me, says owner Sofia Ova. So the table is for sitting down for a chat with tea and cake. The iced-cake Neo Tudor exterior of Sofias Choice boutique Sofia and Jorge Ova, both from Madeira, came to Ireland to visit her sister in the 1990s and never went home. It was the start of the Celtic Tiger and things were happening here. We liked Ireland, so we rented in Rathgar in Dublin and then Rathfarnham, but house prices were high. "We didnt know anything about Ireland then. We bought our first Irish property five miles outside Enniscorthy in Glenbrien. Jorge was commuting to Dublin for work and I started saving to open a shop. Shop owner Sofia Ova Both of us have retailing in our blood. My father was a flower grower in Madeira and we grew Bird of Paradise [strelitzia reginae]. "He would sell them from a warehouse and as children, we all helped out. Jorges family was involved in retailing leather goods. Soon Sofias mum came to stay. They rented a shop on Main Street to sell high-end childrens clothes. In 2006, the premises opposite at No21 came up for sale on the very day we were asked by the landlord to finish our lease. So it was meant to be, she says. The elaborate living room It had been a doctors surgery for generations of the Bowe family. She was selling up to travel and straight away, we saw an opportunity to combine the business with a home. No21 is a special building. Its listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as a 1900s Tudor Revival style townhouse and likely a makeover of an older home dating from the 1840s. Wed heard thered been a fire and that it had been redone after that at some point early in the 20th century. The then newly opened Sofias Choice also moved beyond childrens clothes ( they still do baby style and First Communion dresses) and into ladies fashion, jewellery, handbags and accessories. It is my choice to find things that others dont have, says Sofia. Some of it comes from Portugal and Spain and we also source from Irish makers. The sleek contemporary kitchen by Kieran Courtney The house above includes sash windows with shutters, an original front door and fanlight, quite elaborate original timber staircases, timber floors, brightly tiled period chimney pieces, high ceilings and decorative mouldings and cornicing. But it was its considerable 2,794 sq ft (almost three times an average home) that most attracted the Ova family, then with children in tow. A double bedroom It was just so big. And theres a private walled yard, which is so quiet and safe for the children, where you can sunbathe, barbeque or just sit and read a book, says Sofia. And on the top, theres a roof terrace from where you can see Vinegar Hill. The condition of the property was generally good when Sofia bought it, however the kitchen at the back was tiny. So in 2007, we called the builders in and extended for a modern kitchen/living/dining extension. The family room/study "In fact, just last year, we had the kitchen redone again through a local business, Kieran Courtney Kitchens, and they did a wonderful job, as you can see. The house still had its big old original standalone tub, but it was at the top bathroom. It was such an effort to haul it down the stairs to reposition it off our bedroom. It nearly killed the guys. We did our best to enhance the elaborate period features already in place. We bought chandeliers for the shop [five sets] and put them all through the house. And then we got going with the wallpaper. I love wallpaper! Wallpaper decor in the stairwell We decided to go slightly dark and rich to make the place homely and took our cues from the fireplace detailing. We went for soft secondary lighting and the furniture is mostly our own, brought from Portugal. On the ground floor and through the mosaic tile hall to the right and left is the boutique with custom-made iron display rails, two changing rooms, a hall to a WC, a dressing/store/office room, which could be another bedroom. A bathroom with the roll-top bath tub From the entrance hall, youre also into the modern living/kitchen/dining space, with a double glazed door to the rear terrace. The bespoke kitchen is in solid wood. Sleek contemporary units are in cambrian oak and painted pitch black from Farrow & Ball and fitted with custom-made pocket handles. Theres an island/integrated coffee dock topped in quartz. Theres also an American style fridge-freezer, an electric double oven, dishwasher and washing machine. A seating area at the end of a hallway The flooring is in bright natural stone effect tiling. On the first floor is the main living room with its ornate original chimney piece. Opposite is a family room. Also on this floor is the master bedroom with built-in wardrobes and the en suite with previously mentioned roll-top bath tub. In the corridor, theres a window-seat reading nook. Upstairs again, the second floor has four bedrooms and a contemporary shower room. The whole lot is topped off with an attic room and roof terrace with views over the Slaney to Vinegar Hill. Parking is disc provided on street. With the kids grown, its too big now for the Ovas and time for Sofia and Jorge to travel. They plan to split their time between Ireland and Portugal. Paula Treacy Estates seeks 890,000. The late Sean Hegarty was a giant of the Irish construction industry. Now his beloved summer home in Liscannor is for sale A renowned builder wanted his grandchildren to spend summers in Clare so he added a 30ft swimming pool to his holiday home Asking price: 785,000 Agent: Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Rockmount House at Liscannor in Clare was for almost two decades the family holiday destination and, later, the retirement home of the late Sean Hegarty, a native of Lahinch and a giant of the Irish building industry. His wife Carmel hailed from nearby Miltown Malbay. Their renovated farmhouse is within sight and shouting distance of the Atlantic ocean, but if the waves prove too daunting, Rockmount also includes its own indoor swimming pool and sauna. Their daughter Orla is Professor of Architectural Planning and Environmental Policy at UCD and says her parents bought the house in order to nurture an attachment to their home county among their Dublin-reared family. The entrance leading to the property While my parents spent most of their adult lives in Dublin, they maintained strong links with their Clare roots and wanted the family to maintain those links also, she says. When they bought the house in 2005, most of the renovation work had been done, including the en suite bedrooms and the extra bedroom at the back. Unlike many builders who tend not to focus their efforts on their own home, Orla says her father kept a firm hand on the design and developments at Rockmount. An aerial view While I played a small part in the design, my father was very clear what he wanted. Above all else, he wanted his grandchildren to have a summer holiday house in Clare so they would have a connection with the county, and that has definitely played out. My parents have 10 grandchildren and today, they all have a strong association with the area and their family roots. It has been the family holiday home for the last 19 years and we all have spent a lot of time there. Architect Orla Hegarty Sean added on the pool and sauna in 2007. The pool measures 9m x 4.5m and is set in a building with a vaulted tongue and groove ceiling fitted with Velux windows. The flooring is from local Liscannor slate. Large gable windows overlook OBriens Tower and the Cliffs of Moher at one end, with a seating area situated at the other. The facilities include rain showers and a sauna that can accommodate six people. The pool measures 9m x 4.5m Sean studied civil engineering at UCG back when few of his peers attended university. In the 1960s, he stayed local after graduating and worked with the famous Clare housebuilding firm, McInerneys, before establishing Sean Hegarty Earthworks in 1971, and Hegarty Demolition in 1990. The Hegarty name, brand and logo has been associated with many major building projects across the country, including the development of Croke Park, Temple Bar, the Dublin Docklands and the much-vaunted rebuilding of St Mels Cathedral in Longford. The seating/dining area beside the pool Later, Rockmount became the retirement pad for Sean and Carmel. Sean passed away in 2020 and Carmel died last year. There has been a house here since before the Famine. Maps from 1842 show a house where the living room is now, says Orla. The farmhouse was built adjoining the original in the late 19th century. This was extended again in the 1990s and then the swimming pool was added. Sean Hegarty built Rockmount so his grandchildren could spend summers in Clare The world-famous local building material, Liscannor stone, is a prominent feature in the exterior of the buildings, the boundary walls and the outhouses. The main house is flanked at either side by stone buildings. The free-standing front wall of an older house is at one side and the outer walls of an older cottage at the other. A drying-off area Set on an elevated site with views of the sea, Rockmount Lodge is set on a little over half an acre a few minutes walk from Liscannor Village. A stone-clad porch with tiled flooring opens to an entrance hallway with a wooden floor and ceiling rose plasterwork. To the left of the hallway is a living room with a fireplace and a front-facing window looking out to the sea. The space could also be used as a bedroom or a home office. To the right is an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area. The kitchen on tiled flooring is fitted with wall-mounted and ground-level units, recessed lighting and a breakfast counter with a seating area facing the sea. The living room with stone-faced fireplace Beyond the kitchen is a large living room and dining area, with a vaulted ceiling and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace with an elevated hearth and a recessed stove. Casting her architects eye, Orla says this is the room that sums up the character of the house. With the high ceiling, exposed beams and the stone fireplace, its a very nice space to be, no matter what the weather is like outside. A door from the kitchen leads to the back hall, from where there is access to a downstairs en suite bedroom. Across this hallway is the utility and a guest WC, while a double door opens into the swimming pool area and a rear door leads to the outside. The kitchen with island unit The upstairs includes a big landing area with a sea-facing window, with the rest of the upstairs space comprised of two en suite bedrooms. The master bedroom has a large en suite that includes a roll-top bath and shower, and overlooks the sea, while a second en suite bedroom on the floor has built-in wardrobes. Throughout the 2,852 sq ft house, the floors are either of timber or in quality tiles. Come to think of it, Orla says, there are no carpets at all. The swimming pool facilities include rain showers and a sauna that can accommodate six people Heating is delivered by a combination of heat pumps backed up by oil-fired central heating. Out of doors, there are two stone-built sheds that can be used for storage and may have other uses, subject to planning. With all Hegarty children and grandchildren now dually rooted, Rockmount is to be sold by Sherry FitzGerald McMahon and is being guided at 785,000. Designing a home in such a way that it truly suits your everyday needs can save a great deal of time, money and heartache Who among us can say, hand on heart, that we regret none of our home improvements? Putting together an interior, with all its practical and decorative elements, is a complex task. Bedazzled by Instagram and befuddled by choice, many of us lurch from one decision to another without a masterplan. Mistakes are easily made and expensive to rectify. According to a survey commissioned by the sofa company DFS, less than half of Irish respondents felt their personality was reflected in their home. Almost a quarter blamed the expense of decorating; others (15pc) admitted they hadnt put in the effort or didnt know what style reflected their personality (also 15pc). Almost half of homeowners said theyd feel more relaxed in a home that reflected their personality more. The same number admitted to making mistakes with their interior design choices. Decor by Sweetpea and Willow from ufurnish.com Irelands top regrets included: (1) buying cheap furniture which then broke; (2) opting for a bland colour scheme; (3) overcrowding the living room with big pieces of furniture; (4) combining clashing colours; (5) following a trend that went out of fashion; (6) wallpapering the whole room in a bold pattern; (7) painting the ceiling; and (8) prioritising aesthetics over practicality. Almost three-quarters of respondents aspired to make bolder and braver design choices in their home, but tended to fall back on safer options. Bravery, in this context, was perceived as: use of clashing colours (42pc); brightly coloured sofa and armchairs (38pc); vibrant curtains (37pc); and patterned wallpaper (35pc). The alternative was safe design, which was understood as cream, white, or grey walls (43pc); plain sofas and armchairs (35pc); and matching furniture (34pc). To my mind, the problem here is that people see their choices as binary, with bright colours and bold patterns on one side and boring vanilla decor on the other. Most peoples taste lies somewhere between the two. Susan McGowan It makes me sad that so many people feel discontent with their homes, says Susan McGowan, interior designer and principal of Ashen & Cloud. Its not that easy to create a space with the layered look that many of us aspire to. A lot of people opt for a safe choice, hoping it will have longevity, but their home ends up looking bland. A neutral palette, she explains, requires interesting shapes and different textures to add interest and attract the eye. Developing a nuanced colour scheme is an art in itself, but if you have an appetite for colour, adding it to your home can be a great way to display your personality. In all of this, overstimulating social media platforms have a lot to answer for. Were bombarded with highly curated spaces created by top designers. They provide endless inspiration and it can be very tempting to hop on many of these trends, McGowan says. My advice is to plan your space wholesomely and holistically at the beginning, leaving a little space for ad hoc pieces that may spark joy or create visual interest without disrupting the balance of finishes or interrupting the main anchors of the room. Easier said than done. Neon coral wallpaper mural by Twisted Pixels, exclusive to Wallsauce.com Expert advice is the most reliable way of avoiding errors and many interior designers offer a consultancy service. Everyone does this a little differently. Ashen & Clouds one-hour session costs 300. It takes place online, but always with one of the directors as a consultant. You need to have experience to give on-the-spot advice, McGowan explains. Shes often asked to advise on spatial planning, colour choices, and lighting plans. People get bogged down and nervous about simple things. They get upset in their hearts if theres a mistake made or the wrong item chosen. Many of these mistakes are easily avoidable: You would not believe how many people buy furniture without measuring it! An interior designer will sort this out in a heartbeat. Its easy to see the optimal size of things when youre seeing them every day, McGowan says. Once you know that you need a 2.2 metre sofa, you can stop looking at the one thats 2.5 metres. Regrets can be avoided by sidestepping the error in the first place, but the trick is knowing where the pitfalls are. Eleanor Clarke is an interior spatial planner and principal of Corbelis Design Studio. From her perspective, building an unnecessary extension is the most expensive mistake an Irish homeowner is likely to make. Reconfigured interior from Wood Works Brighton Clarke is a fan of the reconfiguration approach, which involves optimising the use of existing space rather than building a new extension. I specialise in reconfiguring the existing spaces of houses to save the cost of building an unnecessary extension, she says. By focusing the budget on what you actually need, you can save a substantial amount of money. Most of her clients are 40-something professionals, with savings and resources, who want their homes to work better than they already do. Perceiving a lack of space, they hire an architect to plan their extension. Many are horrified at the price. For example, one of Clarkes recent clients had been quoted 150,000 for an extension by a design-and-build firm. But they only had 100,000 in the budget. They were embarrassed because they didnt think they could afford the home they wanted, and so they did nothing, Clarke says. After three years of inaction, the client came knocking on her door. The architects plans were fabulous no doubt about it but it was way beyond their means. As it turned out, the architect had devised a larger and more elaborate project than the client actually needed. Theyd been over prescribed, she explains. When I went out to the house and saw how they actually lived I was able to design a reconfiguration of their space, along with a smaller extension. The entire project, including Clarkes fee, came in under 97,000. DFS Bellissima three-seater sofa in Pumpkin Heirloom Velvet A Reconfiguration Review from Corbelis Design Studio costs between 950 and 12,500 plus vat (depending on the size and location of the project), but begins with a Clarity Call for which she doesnt charge. The full package includes a site visit and a written report with an estimate of the project cost. My process helps people understand what their priorities are so they can allocate their budget, she says. I show them designs that work and designs that dont work. Because why make your own mistakes when you can learn from other peoples? Prevention is better than cure. See dfs.ie, ashenandcloud.com, and cobelis.ie In Georgian Ireland, small change was hard to come by. Things came to a crunch in the 1780s when the British monarch, George III, suffered a mental health crisis and was unable to sign coinage acts. But Ireland needed halfpennies and farthings. In 1830s Waterford, for example, a halfpenny would buy you a pint of milk or 2lbs potatoes and it was said that a man may get beastly drunk for 6d. For want of official coinage, Irish merchants and retailers took matters into their own hands. They had copper tokens made up, each stamped with its value and the name of the retailer. It was free advertising, says Peter Preston-Morley, president of the British Numismatic Society. People would have paid for their purchases in silver coinage and accepted change in tokens. Then they would have gathered the tokens and taken them back to the retailer to exchange for silver coins of equal value. If you were well known, your money would have been good in many places within the city If you were well known, your money would have been good in many places within the city. Preston is an auctioneer at Noonans, London, where an Irish halfpenny token (1806) sold for 5,500 (6,425) on February 21. It carried an estimate of 500 to 1,000 (584 to 1,168). Its a sellers market for Irish tokens, but this halfpenny was something special. It was very similar to the official Irish halfpenny of the time, which had a bust of George III on one side and a crowned harp on the other. The token shows a bust of St Patrick in place of the English king. St Patrick has the exact same nose as King George but is bearded. The token is overstruck on a halfpenny token of James Hilles, a wholesale iron ware merchant and tin plate manufacturer in Dublin. Theres a distinct whiff of nationalism about the direct substitution Irelands patron saint for the British the monarch. James Hilles issued other tokens, which are much more straightforward. A halfpenny token (1813) shows two men working at a reduction rolling mill with a sprig of shamrock on the reverse. It doesnt try to mimic the official coin. St Patrick is a bit of a mystery. In 1997, the token was sold at Whytes in Dublin. The cataloguer suggested that the piece was a pattern. A pattern is a trial piece made to see if it met with the approval of the person for whom it was made, Preston-Morley explains. It wouldnt necessary see any circulation. The coin was purchased by a private collector and has now returned to Ireland. Token issued by George Lynch of Dublin The token system had a flaw. If the issuer died, people were unable to redeem their tokens. When this happened, the now-worthless tokens were gathered up and melted down. Ironically, the few that survived are now very valuable. A token issued by Florence OConnells Woollen Warehouse of Bridge Street, Newcastle, Co Limerick (est. 100 to 200 / 117 to 234) sold at Noonans for 2,600 (3,037). Its extremely rare, Preston-Morley says. Ive only seen one other example. There would have been quite a number of these made originally and less than a handful are left. It makes you wonder if something happened to Florence. So too a token issued by George Lynch of Elephant House Portmanteau Manufacturers of Sackville Street, Dublin. It shows an elephant with a trunk strapped to its back and a young Queen Victoria on the reverse. The token (est. 80 to 100 / 93 to 117), which is very rare, fetched 2,200 (2,570). Same kind of thing applies, Preston-Morley says. I imagine he wasnt in business for very long. Both sold to Irish collections. The tokens were probably made in England. The tokens possessed the charm of variety, for there were probably not less than a hundred different kinds of Halfpennies in common circulation in Dublin about that time, wrote historian Henry F Tivy in Dublin Historical Record (1946). If you thought of making your own money in those days you asked Mr. Boulton of Birmingham to send you patterns and you had your own name on the front and anything you liked to choose from his from his stock of designs for the reverse. The collectors were on it, even while the tokens were still in circulation. A 1796 token showing the bust of Bryen Boiromhe (est. 300 to 400 / 350 to 467) sold for 1,400 (1,635) at Noonans. The token is described as a mule. A mule is something that shouldnt exist, Preston-Morley explains. The two sides of the coins shouldnt have been put together. It was made as a collectors item and would never have seen circulation. Brian Boru, who looks comically like Mr Punch from Punch and Judy, has gone to an American collection. See noonans.co.uk The primaries are effectively over, even if the balloons and streamers have not quite been all used up. Unless fate intervenes, a re-run of the 2020 Trump-Biden showdown looks inevitable. Once again it looks like America is braced for an acrimonious battle, with voters more pumped and primed to vote against rather than for a candidate. Given the bitterness between Republicans and Democrats, it is sure to be another bare-knuckle White House brawl. It was Shaw who supposedly said: I learnt long ago never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it. Sadly, so too do some of the campaign handlers. The more skin and hair that flies, the more attention they garner. But the battle to run the most powerful country in the world needs to rise above mud-slinging and personal attacks. Both candidates are remarkable for different reasons. Joe Biden is already the oldest president ever. Although he is less than four years older than Donald Trump, concerns within and without the Democratic party that he is too frail to be given another term will dog his campaign. Mr Trump will be running his campaign in between court appearances, facing no less than 91 felony charges. He has consistently claimed that victory was stolen from him in 2020, despite there being no evidence. Regardless of his role in the events of January 6, 2021, or his calling for the termination of the American Constitution, he is likely to have the full backing of the Republican party. But neither candidate can sleep entirely comfortably as results exposed fault lines. Tens of thousands of Democrats registered their chagrin at Mr Bidens unwavering support for Israels war in Gaza. They used the tags uncommitted or no preference in Minnesota, Massachusetts and elsewhere. Key pillars of the presidents support from four years ago now look anything but stable. Mr Trump soared to victory in all but one of the 15 states where Republicans voted. But rival Nikki Haley managed to siphon off sizeable backing from key voter blocs. She has dropped out, but her strong performances in suburbs and college towns will cause unease in the Trump camp, where there is a fear that many of her backers are unlikely to support the former president. Today, Mr Biden will give his state of the union address. No doubt he will appeal for unity and respect for democracy in his deeply polarised country. It is a big ask. As Noam Chomsky noted: Theres a very striking fact about the elections which you cant miss if you looked at the red-and-blue electoral map the next day: its the same political landscape that you saw during the Civil War nothing much has changed except the party names. Nor has it. But with two wars being fought and democracy under threat on so many fronts, the outcome of the race to lead the most powerful country in the world will have global consequences. Ireland goes to the polls on March 8. Photo: Getty I am a woman with a disability. I am also a mother and a feminist, and I believe this is a crucial moment for Ireland. The proposed 40th amendment aims to replace Article 41.2 with 42B, which threatens the independence and autonomy of individuals and families. The referendums could have balanced socio-economic rights with judicial discretion, but wording that completely misses the mark has been proposed. It confines care to the family, ignoring the States obligations in providing community care. This oversight is not just symbolic, it is insulating the State from its obligations. In the process, it creates further barriers to independence, autonomy and dignity for many. We cannot accept a definition of care that fails to recognise all facets of support needed for a fully inclusive society. The absence of obligations to support, as recommended by the Citizens Assembly, leaves people, families and women at risk. This is not just about referendums, it is about the type of country we want and need. Voting No is not a protest, it is a stand for our rights, autonomy and the dignity of every citizen, fully inclusive of disabled people as rights-holders with responsibility. Ann Marie Flanagan, Ennistymon, Co Clare Proposed amendments are too vague and threaten to devalue traditional family Referendums take place tomorrow and, if passed, will make a mockery of the proper order of society. It will eliminate the role of woman and mother from our Constitution and introduce a mish-mash of relationships that are regarded as families. Irrespective of the progressive evolution of marital and non-marital groupings, there is a universal acceptance of what constitutes the nuclear family consisting of a father, a mother and their children. Grievous errors have already been made through the enacting of other laws in relation to marriage and the already weakened nuclear family. In relation to the referendums, there are too many unclarified propositions. This will invariably cause confusion and have unforeseen consequences. Sean Farrell, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim Attempts to make sense of referendums have come undone in fog of confusion At this stage, the confusion engendered in my mind trying to figure out what Fridays referendums are about has become, if I may say, unendurable. Brian Ahern, Clonsilla, Dublin People need an expert in the mould of Luke ONeill to simplify whats at stake Despite my many years as a GP, I am embarrassed to admit I am still confused about Fridays referendums. This is also the case for many of my patients. I feel the so-called intelligentsia have hijacked the referendums and turned them into a play on words. I was impressed with Lyndsey ODonovans take on the subject on Tuesdays Prime Time. Lyndsey is the mum of Jack, who has severe cerebral palsy. If anybody has truly lived at the coalface, she has. We need a Luke ONeill-type figure to simplify the situation in laymans language, as he did during Covid. Aidan Hampson, Artane, Dublin RTE overpayments would have happened no matter who held ministerial role Reading your newspaper today, I must confess Im confused (Martin accused of constructive dismissal as she faces harshest criticism yet, Irish Independent, February 6). Would the debacle that shamed RTE not have taken place no matter who was media minister? Can we not name and shame those who were responsible for, and all those who benefited from, underhanded overpayments? It is a system corrupted by secrecy, nods and winks. The Kremlin would approve. Tommy Cooke, Ballina, Mayo 25,000 babies, children and mothers killed by Israel as world looks away Last week, US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin said the death toll of women, children and babies in Gaza in the last five months is 25,000. The total toll in the region is 30,000. There are unknown numbers of bodies under the rubble of missiled buildings. It has been estimated that the number of maimed and injured among women and children far exceeds the number of deaths. In the last five months, the death toll of children in Gaza is at least 17 times that of children in Ukraine since February 2022. In Britain in 1945, Irish as well as British citizens walked out of churches when priests called for prayers for the great victory at Dresden. This is because it was widely known that Dresden was principally a civilian city. Bombing defenceless, non-combatant civilians was a horror that even injured servicemen like my uncle found nauseating. There can hardly be people more defenceless than the babies, children and mothers of Gaza and the West Bank today. They have no air-raid shelters, no sophisticated (or even rudimentary) Nato-designed air defence systems, like in Ukraine. Those who survive often require amputations with no anaesthetic. This is happening in 2024. Richard Knight, Rathgar, Dublin 6 Those who condemn Israel should think harder about horror of October 7 attacks Your Letters Page has, for months, featured contributions from NGOs and individuals condemning Israel in the strongest terms. In January, Brendan Butler even called for the democratically elected Netanyahu government to be overthrown (The US has used its power to remove regimes in the past why not Israel?, Letters, January 8). UN experts have reported there is credible evidence that Hamas members inflicted sexual violence on Jews during the October 7 massacre (Militants used sexual violence in October 7 attack, say UN experts, Irish Independent, March 5). This included gang rape and genital mutilation. The UN also found clear and convincing information that Israeli hostages held in Gaza are still suffering sexual violence. Perhaps those who condemn Israel might consider their reaction if Hamas subjected their loved ones to the same sexual torture and violence. Karl Martin, Dublin 13 Since its foundation, the Thomas Davis Band has played at many big cultural and sporting events at home and abroad and perhaps most importantly, given a real purpose to its members. The band has planned a number of events to commemorate its 100th year in 2024. On St Patricks Day, many old members of the band will come together to play with the current outfit, while special performances are planned for Easter Sunday. A photo exhibition celebrating the history of the band, which was formed by three OSullivan brothers (William, John and James) from Geraldville alongside members of the National Fife and Drum Band, is also scheduled for April. A calendar launched by the band in aid of charity is currently selling out in the locality. Fine Gael councillor Tony OShea brought forward the motion at a recent Kanturk-Mallow Municipal District meeting requesting that the local authority would host a civic reception acknowledging Thomas Davis Pipe Band being 100 years in existence this year. Cllr OShea said reaching 100 years represents a huge milestone for the popular band. It is a huge milestone for our very own Thomas Davis Pipe Band. What I am asking is that we acknowledge their 100 years and for all that they do for the town and North Cork. I know the municipal office here has been very good to them by providing a future home for them which I believe they have received the keys to. I look forward to holding that reception for our very own Thomas Davis Pipe Band, he said. Fianna Fail councillor Gearoid Murphy who seconded the motion said they are intimately connected with the history and heritage of Mallow. They are a very important group here in the community of Mallow. They are intimately connected with the towns history, heritage and cultural life. I am looking forward to the municipal reception. Fine Gael councillor Liam Madden also supported the motion. They are acknowledged in all of North Cork. It is time this is done. This is the proper time to do it. Claire Barr Municipal District Officer with Cork County Council provided clarity on the policy in relation to hosting civic receptions to the members. Each MD can hold two civic receptions per year for groups such as this. It is a matter for the MD members to nominate and approve the groups in question subject to agreement of the MD members and the Municipal District Officer (MDO) who will organise the attendance of the organisation whose honour the reception is being arranged. If necessary invitations will be issued including to the mayors office. As per the policy a minimum of four weeks notice is required for the MDO to arrange the event. I will go ahead and organise it. I will link in with the group and I will come back with dates, she added. Ellen Troy, from Castleknock, with some of her paintings being sold to help relief efforts in Gaza A Dublin woman who has felt helpless witnessing the trauma of families in Gaza, is selling her paintings to aid humanitarian relief efforts. Ellen Troy, from Castleknock, has spent most of her life in the area since meeting her husband at university in Edinburgh. She decided to use her passion for painting to raise funds and express solidarity with the Palestinian people. As a mother-of-four, I have one little grandson and plenty of nephews and nieces, and seeing these disturbing scenes on television left me feeling helpless, she said. I find painting so relaxing. Im not a natural artist; Im a scientist. But I thought if I could bring these two together, we could bring a little bit of peace. Im really excited and happy about it. My own work is bright and colourful and I hope by selling it, it will bring some light to the lives of the besieged people of Gaza, she added. Ellen Troy is organising the Paint for Palestine event on St Patrick's Day On St Patricks Day, Ellen will host a Paint for Palestine event, where people can drop in and purchase a painting to support the aid efforts in Gaza. She expressed her joy that the event coincides with a day of Irish celebration, citing the Irish connection with the Palestinian people. She hopes other artistic or creative individuals might donate their own pieces, which will be available for purchase at the Parish Centre, Our Lady Mother of the Church, Beechpark Avenue, Castleknock, from 11am to 2pm on March 17. Her sister, who is also an artist and studied at Edinburgh Art College, is helping her prepare for the Paint for Palestine event. Im a colour person; I love colour, and my sister is incredibly talented. Shes sitting here beside me, creating these beautiful wicker baskets full of colour, she said I just have the confidence to express myself, and I just want to do something for Palestine. Ms Troy, a member of the church choir and neighbourhood watch group, is running for local elections for Aontu. She and her husband also visit nursing homes in the area and Blanchardstown Hospital, where they sing and play instruments. Ms Troy is encouraging as many people as possible to come to the event on St Patricks Day, have a cup of tea, and engage in a chat to bring some joy to what she described as a horrible nightmare situation in Palestine. The paintings will be on sale at the event from 10 upwards and will be combined with a bring and buy cake sale. Aine Kennedy is hoping to inspire others on International Womens Day Smooth Company founder Aine Kennedy (26) and her granddad Billy have amassed 90 million views on TikTok A young entrepreneur says she was inspired by other successful Irish women to overcome the terrifying nature of starting her own business. Smooth Company founder Aine Kennedy (26), who has roots in Lucan, launched her hair product called the Smooth Stick in 2022 after working on the concept for two years. I had to risk leaving my secure job, but risking living my life and regretting it would have been worse for me than trying, she said. Seeing other Irish women, in particular, made me think if they can do it, so can I. After putting her life savings into starting the business, it has continued to expand and is now available at The Loop in Dublin Airport, over 20 Peter Mark salons and Brown Thomas. The Smooth Company is launching in Dublin Airport this week Ms Kennedy credited a really close relationship with our customer base as one of the reasons behind the success of her products. Another centerpiece to the young womans success has been her grandfather Billy, who turns 85 this year, and has been making TikToks with Ms Kennedy since the beginning. Weve always been really close, but when I launched the business, he just wanted to help in any way he could and he used to always pack orders with me. When I started recording him, it just blew up, she said. With over 90 million views on TikTok alone, Billy has become something of a viral sensation, with people approaching him all the time in public asking for pictures. Ms Kennedy added that, despite her grandfathers age, he is absolutely addicted to TikTok, sending her 10 videos a day. Hes like my social media manager and finds it so interesting, she joked. The Dapper Stick, inspired by granddad Billy, was launched just before Christmas The Dapper Stick, launched just before Christmas, is the mens version and was inspired by a time she used the product on Billy and he was told he looked very dapper by his grandson. In collaboration with Her Place Cosmetics, Ms Kennedy will soon be expanding The Smooth Company to Australia so that Irish expats can get their hands on the product without spending a huge amount on customs. The young business owner said that, while she loved documenting the behind-the-scenes of the company on social media, she will never be an influencer. I think its good for our customers to see the hard work that goes behind the scenes, but I think its important to protect your privacy, she added. Three dresses created by talented Limerick students have been nominated among the finalists of Junk Kouture Dublin City Final 2024. On March 4 and March 5, 160 designs shortlisted from schools across the country battled out at the Junk Kouture Regional Finals 2024 in the Helix. At the events, a total of 60 designs have been named by Junk Kouture judges couture designer Claire Garvey, Miss Universe Ireland 2023 Aishah Akorede and former Junk Kouture winner Maxim OSullivan to participate at the Dublin City Final 2024 in May. Three groups of students from two Limerick schools are proud to be among the finalists. Mia Ryan, Siofra Campbell, Brooke Slattery and Selena Kelly from Crescent College Comprehensive SJ made to the final with their design Following Threads, an intricate and colourful design of woven threads. Follow Independent Limerick on Facebook The school explained: Following Threads promotes awareness around child labour in the fashion industry. The design deconstructed childhood costumes to thread together a new understanding of equal rights, while the weaving spotlights the collection of memories and the contrast between childs play and child labour. The woven colourful fabrics represent the child in all of us, while the knotting and black hat represent a hidden agenda and symbolise inequality and unethical behaviour within the fashion industry. While Talia Mapholisa, Flourish Olushola and Shauna Brosnan from Colaiste Nano Nagle were shortlisted with their dress If Snow White Was African. Colaiste Nano Nagle explained: Their innovative project showcases a remarkable use of materials, ingeniously repurposing an old primary school play parachute, GAA nets, and discarded art folders. Their garment, a testament to creativity and resourcefulness, is a tribute to the iconic Disney princess Snow White, featuring her distinct colours of yellow, red, and blue. What truly sets their creation apart is the seamless integration of Western Disney princess aesthetics with traditional African stitching and motifs, exemplifying the rich tapestry of interculturalism and diversity. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, their dress embodies a profound message of global solidarity. By combining diverse elements from various cultural backgrounds, the team emphasises the importance of collective action in tackling pressing global issues like climate change. Their project serves as a poignant reminder of the power of collaboration and unity in confronting the challenges of our time. From the same school, Viktoriia Romancheriko, Natalie Quinn Sheehan, and Ameliia Karashtefan were nominated finalists with the creation I'm Your Venus, inspired from Botticelli's The Birth of Venus. Colaiste Nano Nagle explained: This costume embodies the essence of the Goddess of Love and Beauty emerging from the sea, carried by the winds onto land. It symbolises the journey of personal growth and renewal, particularly resonant with the designer's own experiences transitioning from Ukraine to Ireland. The design symbolically mirrors the artist's rebirth, from adapting to a new environment to integrating into a new society. Shell-like motifs evoke the sea, while the lower part of the dress features a mermaid's tail and scales, symbolising birth, rebirth, and renewal across various cultures. Crafted from innovative materials like tents and floor insulation, the dress boasts intricate details, including 5,000 circles adorning the skirt and 3,000 triangles resembling fish scales. The shoulder strap accessory showcases the meticulous papier-mache technique. SB and Bord na Mona officially launch Irelands largest onshore Wind Farm at Oweninny as part of 320m investment. Irelands largest onshore Wind Farm in County Mayo has been officially launched in a significant day for the country and County Mayo. An official opening event was expected to be held today, Friday but was postponed and will be rescheduled to a later date. Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, said this is a significant day for Ireland, and for Mayo as the countrys largest onshore wind farm is officially opened. This flagship project by ESB and Bord na Mona at Oweninny showcases what we can achieve, and what must be done, to deliver the clean energy we need to reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuel. "The power of our own natural resources is incredible. "This windfarm farm has the potential to power 140,000 homes, and it is just a taste of the green energy revolution to come. "I am looking forward to what will come next for wind energy in Ireland, both onshore and offshore along our coasts, as we harness our renewable energy potential, said Minister Ryan. Follow Independent Mayo on Facebook Combining both phases of the Oweninny Wind Farm project, the 50:50 joint venture between ESB and Bord na Mona is now Irelands largest onshore wind farm with an installed capacity of 192MW. This is enough clean energy to meet the electricity demand of approximately 140,000 homes. The project, delivered in two phases, represents a total investment by ESB and Bord na Mona of 320m. In 2019, during phase one, 29 turbines were erected. While in late 2023, phase two, consisting of 31 turbines, entered commercial operation. The wind farm is financed by a consortium of banks including AIB, BNP Paribas and the EIB. Located between Crossmolina and Bangor Erris, the development adjoins Ireland's first commercial wind farm, Bord na Monas Bellacorrick Wind Farm, which was built in 1992 and is still in operation. During construction of phase two, the wind farm benefited the local economy in Connaught by around 50m as 100 people were employed each year over a six-year period. The wind farm has a Community Benefit Fund that will invest approximately 18m towards not-for-profit organisations such as community and voluntary groups, charities, social enterprises and clubs and societies whose work supports community-based initiatives and improvement projects. The site also includes a purpose built 3m Visitor Interpretative Centre that focuses on the science, engineering and technology behind renewable energy while raising awareness of climate change and considering the landscape in which the wind farm is based. It provides insight to the history of power generation, peat production, wind energy development, the bog rehabilitation programme, ecological interests and the social history of the area. Paddy Hayes, ESB Chief Executive, outlined how the project will help to support ESBs Net Zero by 2040 target. "Oweninny Wind Farm is another important step for ESB and for Ireland towards Net Zero. "I would like to commend Bord na Mona for their partnership approach as we worked together to deliver what is now Irelands largest wind farm. "Oweninny builds on our longstanding history of delivering projects of scale in North Mayo and the wider West of Ireland region. "Renewable electricity reduces Irelands dependence on gas markets and contributes to Irelands ambitious climate action plan targets, supporting a Net Zero future for the customers and communities we serve, said Mr Hayes. Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive, Bord na Mona, said he is delighted to launch the joint venture with ESB and officially conclude the second phase of Irelands largest wind farm. "This marks an important milestone for Bord na Mona as it underpins our dedication to operate as climate solutions and renewable energy leader in Ireland following the completion of our Brown to Green transition at the end of 2023. "In Ireland, we are putting more renewables on the grid than ever before, which is essential if we are to meet our targets of achieving 80% renewable energy by 2030. "Oweninny Wind Farm represents a significant step towards meeting those targets, and we look forward to continued expansion of our wider renewables output to bolster national progress further, including developments across wind, solar, hydrogen and biomass, said Mr Donnellan. The subjects of loss and grief are the topics of discussion at the Death Cafe which is being held in Sligo. When we embrace and look towards death, it makes us appreciate our lives and thats the opening of conversations around death and dying, says Kate Hawney, one of the organisers. Martina Hamilton, Owner of the Hamilton Gallery, and The Cat and The Moon City Hall in Sligo was full to capacity on Friday as the annual Sligo Women in Business Panel Event took place to celebrate International Womens Day. Issues around what does inclusion mean to you, and how can you inspire inclusion were up for discussion. In a day to celebrate achievements, a powerful cross-section of business women in Sligo participated in an open discussion around inspiring inclusion, the theme of International Womens Day. After a panel session with Funke Egberongbe owner and chef at Funke Afro-Caribbean Restaurant, Lucia Macari -Director of Operations, Ireland at Beyond (formerly Overstock) and Martina Hamilton, owner of the Hamilton Gallery, and The Cat and The Moon, a constructive and frank discussion followed, as the panellists took questions and comments from the floor. There was particular focus on looking at inclusion of your own voice and power as a woman in business and society, and supporting others to be included too. Sligo Women in Business Network (SWIBN) Co-Ordinators Maeve McCormack and Fran Best commented: Today is a celebration for Sligo women of how we support each other, and learn from and challenge one another in the network. "With an extensive database of members, we have members from just about every business sector in Sligo, and always welcome new members to our monthly ninety minute meetings. Sligo Women in Business Network is supported by LEO Sligo. The network is free to join, and all details are on www.swibn.ie. Meetings take place on the last Tuesday of each month and alternate between breakfast, lunch and evening times. On week six of the BBCs Apprentice, it was crunch time for Wexford woman Maura Rath as their challenge was to create a childrens cereal brand. Another 4a.m. wake-up call had the candidates rushing to the Savoy Hotel where they were met with a five star display in the dining room. Seated at tables for two, the candidates watched a video of Sir Alan Sugar on tablets where he outlined that the teams had two days to create a kids cereal brand and try to secure as many sales as possible. On team Supreme, Maura and Sam Saadet were the only two members that had not yet been Project Manager (PM). Sam pitched herself for the role and her two young kids gave her an advantage over fellow team member Phil Turner. Sam wanted their cereal to be healthy and agreed with Mauras suggestion of it being based around the arctic. Steve Darken was voted Project Manager on team Nexus and he decided that a superhero would be their brands main character. The teams split in two with one half going to the kitchen to test out flavours while the other half headed to the West End to design their character. 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 Team Nexus decided on raspberry hoops with white chocolate chips and banana. Meanwhile, on team Supreme Sam, Phil and Flo Edwards were having some creative differences as Phil pushed them to ignore the strong advice they were given on how much passion fruit and banana flavouring they should add. As sub-team leader, Maura had a clear vision on their polar bear characters appearance and they settled on a white polar bear with a crown, purple t-shirt and blue backpack. Meanwhile, team Nexus designed their character Mega Bella with an orange costume, red cape and brown hair. Paul Midha took one for the team and dressed up in a blue bodysuit to act as the body popping polar bear for their video. When both characters were presented to the other half of their teams, comments such as Im getting more Peppa Pig vibes and its not exactly what I envisioned, probably a bit edgier were thrown out by candidates. The other half of team Nexus struggled to finish designing their cereal box in time for their deadline and had to forgo adding a bowl of cereal. Flo was concerned that team leader Sam was not making decisions efficiently and spent too much time on the small details. They went on to pitch their brand and cereal to a focus group of six to eight year old children who were brutally honest with their feedback for team Supreme. One child said I feel theres no taste and that it was more suited to his younger siblings. Although, the children enjoyed team Nexus video of the dancing polar bear, they grimaced and described the cereals taste as bland. The next day, both teams pitched their cereals to some of the UKs biggest supermarket chains such as Waitrose and Iceland. Iceland offered a 200,000 unit 3 month exclusivity deal to team Nexus which PM Steve instantly agreed to without much thought. This ultimately cost them several sales as the day wore on. Team Supreme were finding it harder to secure any large sales as some retailers were confused by their Arctic theme and tropical flavours. Back in the boardroom, it was revealed that while team Nexus only managed to secure a further 8,000 sales after the exclusivity deal with Iceland, Team Supreme had only secured three sales worth 7,500 overall. This was an overwhelming win for team Nexus who were sent to a high-end carnival themed arcade to celebrate. This also meant that Phil was on the losing team for the sixth week in a row and Sam decided to bring him back into the boardroom with her along with sub-team leader Maura. Lord Sugar summed up their cereal as beige and boring and said that their video was geared for the 2 to 4 year old demographic. Advisor Baroness Karren Bradys comments were not much better and she said it was a terrible brand and a terrible project. Lord Sugar complimented Sam on being well-liked among the other candidates but said she was ultimately at fault for her teams failure of this task and she became the seventh candidate fired on this years season. Maura made a lucky escape and whether she likes it or not, shes set to be PM next week. Some of the attendance pictured in the Ashdown Park Hotel for the visit of Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald on Thursday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell John Brady TD addressing the attendance at the visit of Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald in the Ashdown Park Hotel on Thursday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Johnny Mythen TD addressing the attendance at the visit of Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald in the Ashdown Park Hotel on Thursday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald, Johnny Mythen TD and John Brady TD, with the candidates for the upcoming local elections, in the Ashdown Park Hotel. Photo: Jim Campbell Sinn Fein President, Mary Lou Mc Donald met with party members from across Wexford and Wicklow in the Ashdown Park Hotel in Gorey recently. Sinn Fein TD John Brady from Wicklow welcomed members from across both counties to what he said will be the heart of the new Wexford-Wicklow 3-seat constituency where there is the opportunity to win a seat and give the area strong representation". TD Johnny Mythen from Wexford then addressed the crowd and encouraged members to put their shoulders to the wheel and ensure the party gains as many council seats as possible in the upcoming local and European elections. 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 TD Kathleen Funchion from Carlow-Kilkenny who is a candidate for the Ireland South Constituency urged all members to ensure that Ireland has a strong voice in Europe. We need politicians who will represent the interests of Ireland in Europe, rather than representing the interests of Europe in Ireland," she said. Mary Lou McDonald encouraged members to have what she called a frank, open, respectful and honest discussion on any issue and that she was here to have a conversation with members from both counties; to listen, and take on board any suggestions. We don't all have to agree on everything, and neither should we. I wouldn't want to lead a party where everyone felt they had to agree with everything I say," said local Sinn Fein Councillor Fionntan O Suilleabhain after the event. Cllr O Suilleabhain said that it was a very productive discussion on many issues including housing, the difficulty in accessing healthcare, the governments immigration policy, the election of Michelle ONeill and an upcoming visit to the United States. Cllr O Suilleabhain also said Ms McDonald spoke about meeting with young Irish emigrants at meetings in Australia in recent years. "Of those who who have felt the need to leave their native land and head to Australia, I want to lead an Irish government where our youth will be able to return home, have a place to live, and help us re-build a new Ireland, she said. Having topped the poll in the 2019 local elections, Pat Barden is running again in the New Ross LEA this June as one of up to 12 candidates affiliated with Deputy Verona Murphy. The Adamstown based councillor was the only councillor that did not endorse the motion of confidence in Tom Enright following his adverse SIPO finding. In addition to being a busy independent councillor, Cllr Barden also manages a busy electrical contracting business. He has worked very closely with Verona Murphy TD since her election, and is seen as one of her key allies. 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 Commenting on his decision to join the Independent Alliance Barden said: I am delighted to confirm that I will fight this election again as an independent in conjunction with other independent candidates with a view to forming a grouping that will genuinely represent the people of the New Ross district and of Wexford. In order to preserve our autonomy as an independent council we need more independents elected that will cooperate with one another with a common cause. That common cause is representing the people that elect us not the parties that they represent. Cllr Barden said: The people of Wexford deserve delivery of the projects they are promised, not endless photo opportunities promoting themselves, such as weve seen from the councillors in the main political parties over the last five years. The Wexford Independent alliance gives the people an opportunity to vote for a movement that will genuinely represent the people of Wexford. I am delighted to be part of something which represents genuine change in the political landscape in local politics and Wexford. Deputy Murphy said: Pat Barden is an independent thinker and has challenged on many occasions the adoption of national policy at local level. He has been vocal on issues such as rural housing, the application of minimum densities and the failure of government schemes to maintain the town centres such as New Ross. I know Pat will continue to challenge the political parties and status quo at local level. With Pat, it is always people before parties and the alliance of independents is just that, it is about putting the people of Wexford first and foremost before any party policies or directives. A vote for Pat is a vote for a better New Ross and a better Wexford. 30,000 approved for plan for tourist towns centre The announcement of 30,000 in funding for a town centre plan for Graiguenamanagh has been welcomed as a way to maximise the tourist towns strengths. The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Kieran ODonnell TD published the first ever Town Centre First plans for 26 towns across every county on Thursday. The plans which were developed in consultation with local communities represent the vision of local people for their area and contain proposals for a diverse range of projects such as redeveloping derelict sites, creating community parks and walkways, boosting SME and tourism potential, and protecting historical landmarks. This is Wexford Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wexford newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details The ministers were joined at the Launch by the new Town Regeneration Officers who have been appointed in every local authority to drive implementation of the new plans with the support of Government funding through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Town Centre First Heritage Revival (THRIVE) Scheme and the Historic Towns Initiative. Speaking at the launch, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, said: Communities are at the heart of rural Ireland. Town Centre First is all about empowering people to develop a vision for their town that can make it a better place to live, work, invest in and enjoy. These plans and the new Town Regeneration Officers are about ensuring there is a strategic and coherent approach at local level to tackling vacancy and dereliction in our towns and villages. Government is firmly committed to strategic projects that will transform rural Ireland. Minister Humphreys also announced the next 26 Towns who have been approved to develop Town Centre First Plans: I am delighted to publish the first ever Town Centre First Plans today and I want to commend the local Communities and Town Teams for their work in developing these comprehensive locally-led plans. New Ross received 100,000 for its Town Centre First Plan which has gone for 10m into the 2024 Rural Regeneration and Development Fund round. Its expected that funding applications will be made for Graiguenamanagh also following its Town Centre First Plan. Ms Humphreys said Town Centre First supports the objectives of the national rural development policy, Our Rural Future, in revitalising rural towns and engages communities through Town Teams. Every town is different, and so local visions take account of these unique challenges, needs and opportunities. TCF National co-ordinator, Mairead Hunt, noted that towns now have a unique opportunity to participate in Town Centre First and create more vibrant and attractive town centres. She continued: "Our Town Teams are doing fantastic work around the country creating and driving forward ambitious plans. We want to see many more Town Teams, so it is very welcome that the Department of Rural and Community Development is giving local authorities funding of up to 10,000 to establish new Town Teams or build up existing teams." Today we have also launched a new Town Centre First website where people can find out how to get involved. Cllr Peter Chap Cleere said: I am delighted to confirm that Graiguenamanagh will be supported with funding of 30,000 to complete a comprehensive town plan to help develop its town centre. I know Graiguenamanaghs new Town Team when set up will work to deliver a plan that will guide and direct investment to maximise Graiguenamanaghs strengths while taking account of the unique local challenges, needs and opportunities. This investment in a Town Centre First Plan is all about giving the people of Graig the tools they need to improve the town and make it a more attractive place in which to live, work, visit and invest. I will continue to prioritise investment in the regeneration and revitalisation of our towns. Cllr Michael Doyle said: Its well deserved. Of all of the towns in Co Kilkenny at the moment, Graiguenamanagh is the most proactive in how it keeps the place looking so well. All of the business owners are very involved in trying to get things moving and going, so this is great news. With The Hub, Graiguenamanagh is definitely the place is to be at the moment. To celebrate International Women's Day on Friday, March 8, Wexford Arts Centre will be hosting Making a Show of Myself a show from grand slam storyteller award winner Mary Kate O'Flanagan. Wexford Arts Centre will also provide a preshow complimentary glass of wine or non alcoholic drink to all women booked in for the show as part of the celebration of International Women's day. Making A Show of Myself was a sell-out in its first run in November/December 2023 and begins its nationwide tour at The Wexford Arts Centre at 8 p.m. on March 8. Mary Kate, who is from Dublin, won the title of Irelands Grand Slam Champion Storyteller at The Moth, at The Abbey Theatre in 2015 and has since won the title of Grand Slam Champion Storyteller at The Moth in Los Angeles and a Champion Storyteller at The Dublin Story Slam on several occasions. 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 After appearing on long-running, popular US storytelling platform, The Moth Radio Hour, one of Mary Kates stories went viral on TikTok, gaining over 1.4 million views in two days. It has been included in the top ten stories on The Moth on PBS radio, as well as being named by many as their favourite Moth story ever. Mary Kate was interviewed on Canadian radio when she performed Making A Show of Myself there in early 2023 and said of the show, Its safe to say that story is the central preoccupation of my life. Its been the focus of my studies, at the heart of all my work and my deepest pleasure. Over the course of my life, it has become my religion. Ive come to believe that by shaping a story, we reclaim our own narratives and that changes the course of our lives. "That is why I am out here making a show of myself, sharing my silliest, most embarrassing, most painful, happiest and proudest moments, to share my faith in stories and hopefully win a few converts to the power and magic of story, Campervan rental company Craic N Campers has been given the green light for a parking base at the former golf course maintenance yard at Knights Park, in Charlesland, Greystones, County Wicklow, following a successful planning application with Wicklow County Council. The establishment of this additional storage facility marks a significant milestone for the Roscommon-based campervan rental company, allowing it them to cater to travellers visiting Ireland and increase their international customer base. With the approval of the plans for the new Greystones base confirmed, Finnian OConnor, from Craic N Campers, explained the decision to expand on the east coast, and what it will mean for the business, and for business in the area generally Having a base significantly closer to Dublin Airport will allow us to invest more into targeting overseas visitors. Im confident that local businesses will also reap the benefits as our international campers fill up on fuel and food supplies here before exploring the local attractions and all the area has to offer. He added that recommendations on itineraries and attractions are a big part of our customer service, particularly for our international customers. Well be actively encouraging our customers to explore the unique charm of Greystones and the east. He also explained that it is not only international customers who will be able to enjoy a luxury campervan escape in Ireland, the rental service will be available for all who want to experience the freedom and flexibility of campervan travel. Craic N Campers is one of Irelands leading campervan rental services, providing a professional and hassle-free campervan rental experience with an extensive fleet of modern, luxury campervan vehicles. Four people from Tipperary, Wicklow and Cork were found guilty of animal cruelty Four people have been been convicted of animal cruelty charges in one week as a result of ISPCA investigations. The news comes as the ISPCA inspectorate said it has never been busier than since lockdown with a record number of animals seized and case files submitted in 2023 The three animal cruelty cases involving four people, spanned across the counties of Tipperary, Cork and Wicklow. On Tuesday February 20, 2024 Bridget Skehan (51) of Oakfield Drive, Thurles, Co Tipperary appeared before Thurles District Court having admitted charges under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (AHWA) in relation to four Cavachon dogs removed from her property in July 2022. She was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service in lieu of a three-month custodial sentence, disqualified from keeping dogs for 5 years and made a 150 contribution towards prosecution costs. On the same day, at Mallow District Court, a Co Cork couple were banned from owning dogs for 10 years, fined 1,000 (500 each) and ordered to pay total costs of over 3000 after being convicted. Cian (36) and Kelly (33) Woods of Tooreen North, Co. Cork had admitted ten offences each under the AHWA in connection with two West Highland Terriers, named Hunter and Muttley, removed by the ISPCA in September 2022. The next day, on Wednesday February 21, 2024, at Arklow District Court, Ms Yvonne Coe (60) of Main Street, Tinahely, Co Wicklow was sentenced to three months imprisonment having been convicted on charges relating to nine horses removed from her care in late July and early August of 2022. In addition to the custodial sentence, Judge David Kennedy fined the defendant 5,000, and ordered that she pay a 500 contribution to ISPCA costs and 6,441.15 in costs incurred by the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT). The court also imposed a disqualification order banning Ms Coe from keeping all animals for life. She was allowed three months to sell or rehome any animals remaining in her care. During an earlier hearing on December 13, 2023, ISPCA Senior Inspector Fiona Conlon gave evidence on a total of nine horses that were removed from lands and a barn off Main Street and Pound Lane, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow on three dates in late July and early August 2022. Today's News in 90 seconds - 8th March 2024 Ms Conlon described how, on Friday, July 29, 2022 she found several horses in varying levels of neglect, both physically and with regards to their living conditions. All the horses were visibly underweight, their hooves were overgrown, and their coats were matted with faecal material. One horse had two swollen legs and was struggling to walk. The job of an ISPCA Inspector is a difficult one, witnessing harrowing scenes of animal cruelty and dealing with sometimes difficult individuals, explained ISPCA Chief Inspector Conor Dowling. "But these outcomes clearly demonstrate that we are having a positive impact, and we hope that they will act as a deterrent to others who may be inclined to neglect or deliberately harm an animal. He added: Most of these cases were prosecuted by the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine and all were made possible by the fact that our Animal Welfare Inspectors are appointed as Authorised Officers with the consent of the Minister. We thank him for his continued trust and support. A director has spoken about how the Big Issue helped her see there was a life for me outside of addiction and homelessness. Lorna Tucker, who has been made an ambassador of the paper to mark International Womans Day, became homeless as a teenager and spent two years living on the streets. Before becoming a director of documentary films, she had slept under Waterloo Bridge and in and out of sheltered accommodation. Her debut film charted designer Dame Vivienne Westwoods rise from the Derbyshire village of Tintwistle to fashion icon. Tucker, who will release a memoir, Bare, next year, told the publication: If it wasnt for the Big Issue I would never have escaped a life that was leading me towards only one ending that I can think of. Not only were they responsible for saving my life, but for helping me to see that there was a life for me outside of addiction and homelessness. Dame Vivienne appears in Tuckers 2018 film Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist, which debuted at Sundance where it was chosen for competition. Dame Vivienne Westwood (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Tucker followed this with her second feature documentary Ama, about the sterilisation of Native American women across the US during the 1960s and 1970s. She went on to release 2023s Call Me Kate, a docudrama about Hollywood leading lady Katharine Hepburn, and this years Someones Daughter, Someones Son, based on her experiences of being homeless. She said: I am really pleased to be joining Big Issue Group as an official ambassador. The work the organisation does in order to support those locked in poverty is invaluable, especially now, with people facing the worst set of circumstances you can possibly imagine. Big Issue founder Lord John Bird (Ian West/PA) Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston, Labour MP David Lammy, architect George Clarke and comedian Dane Baptiste have previously been named ambassadors for the Big Issue. Lord John Bird, founder of the magazine, appeared in Someones Daughter, Someones Son. He said: We are so pleased to have Lornas voice and influence, especially as someone who has lived experience of what it means to be homeless, to help us raise awareness of the extreme difficulties faced by those at the coalface of poverty. Tucker has a screenplay for Bare, and upcoming documentary projects with Netflix and Sky, according to the Big Issue. Our fashion editor rounds up the news and trends from Paris Fashion Week Winter white look with studded leather beret from the Dior AW24 ready-to-wear collection. Costumes from 'The New Look' on show at La Galerie Dior. Photo: Lucas Horenburg Ben Mendelsohn, Juliette Binoche and Maisie Williams with Todd Adam Kessler, creator of Apple TV+ drama 'The New Look'. Photo: Laora Queyras. A scene from Apple TV+ historic drama 'The New Look' Looks from the Dior ready-to-wear AW24 collection in front of an art installation by Shakuntala Kulkarni. Photo: Laura Sciacovelli It is 77 years since Irish woman Carmel Snow from Dalkey uttered the immortal fashion words new look after seeing Christian Diors debut collection in Paris. Its quite a revolution, dear Christian, your dresses have such a new look, the editor-in-chief of Harpers Bazaar in America told the couturier in February 1947. After a struggle during grim war years, Christian finally found his own designer voice, and his debut collection, with its architectural curves and famous Bar Jacket, was ground-breaking. Looks from the Dior ready-to-wear AW24 collection in front of an art installation by Shakuntala Kulkarni. Photo: Laura Sciacovelli It was a seismic shift away from the styles of the 1920s and 1930s, and his vision for an ultra-feminine silhouette remains relevant today, with its cinched-in waist, rounded shoulders and full skirt. Since Christians death in 1957, the French house has been helmed by designers Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano, Hedi Slimane and Raf Simons. Indeed, Irish couturier Peter OBrien from Dublin started out his career there working as a design assistant under Bohan. Leopard-print elements in the Dior AW24 ready-to-wear collection. The Dior legacy is now secure in the hands of Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri, and with CEO Delphine Arnault, it is a female-led house on what is a very male-dominated couture-house landscape. In Paris last week, I attended Chiuris AW24 ready-to-wear collection show at the Jardin des Tuileries. There was an unmissable 60s vibe, with tunics and skirts and double-breasted coats that sat just above the knee, worn with white patent boots. There were also sleek, tailored trousers worn with fluid blazers and trench coats and with bags in cannage black leather and oblique blue jacquard, two of the houses enduring motifs. Fringed evening wear from Dior. Black patent gladiator-style boots opened down the back, and in a 72-look show, she closed with some metallic fringed and fluid evening wear. A very strong element in this new collection was the Miss Dior graffiti print used on trenches, blazers and skirts, offset by the simplicity of a black polo neck. Chiuri worked a classic palette in shades of tan, ivory, caramel and black to great effect in coats with cropped sleeves, chic leather studded berets, tall hats and caps, and a toffee-toned leopard print. Winter white look with studded leather beret from the Dior AW24 ready-to-wear collection. If the graffiti print surprises in a world of quiet luxury, it is in fact a manifesto signature inspired by the past. When the house introduced ready to wear in 1967, it named the line Miss Dior after Christians sister, Catherine, who was in the French resistance during the war. The story of her detention by the Nazis and the effect it had on Christian is a major part of the plotline in the opening episodes of new Apple TV+ historical drama The New Look. Ben Mendelsohn, Juliette Binoche and Maisie Williams with Todd Adam Kessler, creator of Apple TV+ drama 'The New Look'. Photo: Laora Queyras. On the eve of the runway show in Paris, I was invited to a screening of the first episode in the 10-part series, where actors Ben Mendelsohn who plays Christian Dior, Maisie Williams, who plays Catherine Dior, and Juliette Binoche, who plays Coco Chanel, and the shows creator, Todd Adam Kessler, were in attendance at a private cinema in the Latin Quarter. I spoke to the shows costume designer, Karen Muller Serreau, who, with her team, reproduced Christian Diors haute couture pieces with infinite precision, based on sketches, fabric samples, period photographs and other treasures preserved and shared by Dior Heritage. 'The New Look' costume designer Karen Muller Surreau. Photo: Laora Queyras. The opening scene in the first episode is set in the Sorbonne in 1955 as Dior is asked by students about the war years and he presents 10 looks, including the Bar ensemble, signature symbol of the Corolle New Look collection, and a bridal gown in tulle. Two days later, I got to see the costumes up close at La Galerie Dior located behind Christian Diors famous salon on Avenue Montaigne. Costumes from 'The New Look' on show at La Galerie Dior. Photo: Lucas Horenburg A new installation with video footage from the 1955 event opened last week and runs until May 13. The exhibition room is dedicated to the costumes conceived according to the Dior archives, and includes striking pieces from Diors 1955 Y line such as the Premiere Soiree white dress. I look forward to seeing Glenn Closes portrayal of Carmel Snow in the series. Snows goal during her 24-year editorship was to create a magazine for well-dressed women with well-dressed minds. Close has described the Irish woman as one of the truly iconic, game-changing figures in the history of fashion. dior.com Japan is gravely concerned about closer military ties between China and Russia which could have wide-ranging implications for Tokyo as well as for the region, a top government spokesperson said. Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted on Friday in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tonnes of cocaine to make it unhindered into the United States. A criminal justice reform advocate who appeared on Joe Rogans show last month has been charged with murder after body parts were discovered in his apartment in the Bronx, New York. 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 Meet the firm behind our content. Visit their website to see how their services can help your business succeed. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons New Delhi: The Centre has approved Rs 1404.94 crore for the widening and strengthening project of the Rafiabad Kupwara Chowkibal Tangdhar Chamkot section of National Highway-701 in Jammu and Kashmir, Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday. He said in a social media post that the initiative, executed under Project Beacon in Baramulla & Kupwara districts on EPC Mode under Package I, aims to transform the 51 Km route into 2 lanes with Paved, Shoulder. Critical for logistics in the region, this strategic route connecting Baramulla and Kupwara districts plays a pivotal role and is integral to the development of the tourism sector in North Kashmir near the International Border In another post, Gadkari said an allocation of Rs. 126.58 crore has been approved for the development, Operation, and Maintenance of a Ropeway from SDA Parking (Near Zabarwan Park) to Shankaracharya Temple. He said, spanning 1.05 Km in Srinagar district, this initiative operates on the Hybrid Annuity Mode, utilizing MonoCable Detachable Gondola (MDG) Technology with a capacity to transport 700 PPHPD. This project is designed to offer a panoramic view of Srinagar city and Dal Lake, providing a safe and convenient transportation means. It ensures easy access for individuals with disabilities and senior citizens to visit the temple, reducing travel time from approximately 30 minutes to about 5 minutes. Additionally, it serves as an eco-friendly mode of transport, creates employment opportunities for the local populace, and brings economic benefits to the region by enhancing tourism, the Minister added. The Minister said an allocation of Rs. 562.40 crore has been approved for the Upgradation and Strengthening project of the Nashri- Chenani section of National Highway-244. Spanning 39.10 Km in districts Udhampur & Ramban, this initiative operates on the EPC mode under National Highway (O). Patnitop being a prominent tourist spot, the roads enhancement is poised to offer improved connectivity to Patnitop, thereby fostering the economic development of the region, he said. In image Karnataka Congress leaders with party chief/ courtesy: INC Facebook Bengaluru/IBNS: Even after winning the Karnataka Assembly polls, the ruling Congress is having trouble finding candidates to field in the Lok Sabha elections, media reports said. According to reports, several ministers of the state, which is also the home state of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, have already turned down the request to contest. No one wants to leave positions of power in the state and dive into uncertainty, NDTV reported quoting sources. In the 2019 general election, the BJP won 25 seats while the Congress won one and HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal Secular (JDS), which is currently in alliance with the BJP, won one seat. One seat went to an Independent, supported by the BJP. This time, with the party's victory in the state in last year's assembly election and a good response to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress is hoping for a change in luck. According to reports, the party's central leadership wants ministers of the Siddaramaiah government to contest some of the state's 28 Lok Sabha seats. The ministers on the Central leaders' list include Satish Jarkiholi, B Nagendra, Krishna Byre Gowda, K H Muniyappa, H K Patil and Ishwar Khandre. But NDTV's sources said none are on the same page. Several, including Lakshmi Hebbalkar, have refused. Image credit: UNI New Delhi/IBNS: A day after it emerged that a Hyderabad man who was duped into joining Russia 's war against Ukraine has been killed, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Thursday busted a ring involved in trafficking Indians to the country, officials said. Nearly two dozen Indians are believed to have been forced into fighting Russia's war on the pretext of getting high-paying jobs. The investigation agency registered a case and began carrying out raids at over 10 locations in seven cities associated with the agents and firms involved in the trafficking. The raids are being conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Ambala, Chandigarh, and Madurai, and some suspects have been detained for questioning. During the raids, it has emerged that the number of Indians sent by these firms to Russia and Ukraine is 35. "It is not clear whether all of them have been forced to take part in the war," said an official. The CBI's case also names Dubai-based Faisal Khan alias Baba, who runs the YouTube channel Baba Vlogs. Khan's name was revealed by families whose sons were taken to Russia and then forced into the country's war effort after being promised jobs as security guards or labourers, but with high wages. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan on Thursday mentioned a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against the State Bank of India for not complying with its direction to disclose details of electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India (ECI) by March 6. Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing on behalf of two NGOs, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Common Cause sought an urgent hearing for the contempt petition filed against the State Bank of India (SBI) for alleged non-compliance with the Supreme Court's order to disclose details of electoral bonds by March 6. Bhushan appeared before Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud insisting that his contempt petition be tagged with SBIs petition which sought an extension to implement the Supreme Court order till June 30 to furnish details of the electoral bonds. Bhushan told the CJI that SBI has filed an application for extension which is likely to be listed on Monday. Association for Democratic Reforms filed a contempt petition asking that its application be also listed along with that. CJI told Bhushan to send an email request with the details of the application number. Bhushan in his petition has alleged that the SBI has deliberately not complied with the Supreme Court orders and said that this action attracts contempt proceedings. ADR and Common Cause contend that SBI, the issuing bank of electoral bonds, has failed to furnish vital information regarding the bonds to the Election Commission of India (ECI) within the stipulated time frame till March 6 set by the apex court. A constitution bench of the Supreme Court had directed the State Bank of India to submit details of electoral bonds purchased since April 12, 2019, to the Election Commission of India by March 6. However, days before the deadline, the bank filed an application seeking an extension till June 30, citing the complexity of decoding and compiling data from the sale of these bonds. ADR, the election watchdog, and Common Cause's contempt petition challenge SBI's extension request. The NGOs argue that the State Bank of India possesses the necessary infrastructure to swiftly compile and disclose information on electoral bonds. ADR's plea has alleged that the SBI violated the apex court's directions. ADR was the lead petitioner in the electoral bonds case. SBI's IT system, designed for managing electoral bonds, is already in place and can easily generate reports based on the unique numbers assigned to each bond, the petitioner said. Bhushan in his petition said that the bank has records of the unique numbers allotted to each electoral bond and the Know Your Customer (KYC) details of purchasers. And also the SBI has a vast network of branches and a well-functioning IT system, making the task of compiling data for approximately 22,217 electoral bonds straightforward. The petitioner alleged that the SBIs move to seek extension is 'mala fide' and an attempt to thwart transparency efforts before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Bhushan further contended that voters have a fundamental right to know about the substantial sums of money contributed to political parties through electoral bonds. The lack of transparency goes against the essence of participatory democracy enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, the petitioner said. The Supreme Court scrapped the electoral bonds scheme on Feb 15. A five-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra delivered a unanimous verdict. The top court had declared the issuance of electoral bonds as unlawful and directed the SBI to stop the issuance of the Electoral bonds forthwith. It had directed the SBI to disclose details of the political parties that received contributions through electoral bonds. These details were to be published by the Election Commission on its website by March 13, 2024, The SBI, however, could not furnish the details within the stipulated time and asked for an extension of time to furnish the said details. The case will come up for hearing on March 11 when the bank's plea for an extension will also be heard by the top court. Photo courtesy: Facebook/Mamata Banerjee Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has lashed out at former Calcutta High Court judge-turned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Abhijit Ganguly, who took on the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) while delivering his judgements in the massive teacher recruitment scam in the state. Addressing a public rally in downtown Kolkata, Mamata claimed her party's stand that Ganguly's judgements were biased in favour of the BJP is now vindicated. She said, "The BJP man is announcing his decision to join BJP sitting in the judge's chair! Will people ever get justice from these people?... But I am happy that their masks are off now. He became a big leader by taking away thousands of jobs. He used to give lectures in meetings, give interviews on TV and slam Abhishek (Abhishek Banerjee, TMC national general secretary) by calling his name." "I have seen a lot. Now the public will judge him. He should be ready. I will take students to campaigning wherever he contests from," the TMC supremo, who was leading a rally on the occasion of International Women's Day, added challenging Ganguly. Abhijit Ganguly joins BJP Abhijit Ganguly, whose directives helped the surfacing of the alleged teacher recruitment scam, joined the BJP in presence of state unit president Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, party MP Locket Chatterjee, MLA Agnimitra Paul and others. Joining the BJP, Ganguly, who quit as the judge on Tuesday, said, "The primary purpose is to mark the beginning of the end of this corrupt ruling party and government in the state through Lok Sabha elections so that they do not return to power in 2026." "BJP needs to be in power for the sake of Bengal. I feel pained upon seeing Bengal lagging behind consistently," he added. Photo courtesy: Bengal BJP Who is Justice Abhijit Ganguly? In 2022, Justice Abhijit Ganguly ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal schools. Justice Ganguly's orders in the scam cases have created ripples in the state with multiple arrests including the one of former education minister Partha Chatterjee. However, Justice Ganguly was criticised by the Supreme Court last year for giving an interview to a Bengali news channel on the cases, referring to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, revealing that he was upset with TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in one instance et al at length. Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud had asked for a separate judge to hear the respective cases. While Justice Ganguly's strict actions and directives had impressed anti-government protesters who were demanding "justice" and legitimate recruitments, a section of people had questioned his television interview citing "ethics". Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from YouTube video New Delhi/UNI: A Delhi court sentenced three people to life imprisonment in connection with the brutal murder of photographer Ankit Saxena slitting his throat in public view in 2018. The 23-year-old photographer was stabbed to death by the family of his Muslim girlfriend. Additional Sessions Judge Sunil Kumar Sharma (Tis Hazari Court) on Thursday sentenced the girlfriend's father, mother, and maternal uncle to life imprisonment for murdering Ankit Saxena attributing the crime to interfaith marriage. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each on all three offenders. The sum collected from the fines will be handed over to Ankit Saxena's family, the court declared. The mother of Ankit Saxena Kamlesh Saxena had got injured during the scuffle and had incurred a sum of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 towards her medical expenses whereas, a sum of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 was incurred towards the funeral expenses of her deceased son. She received a sum of Rs 15 lakh from the Delhi Government due to the loss of life of her son. She has not received any compensation from the Court. Siddharth Mehta, counsel for Kamlesh Saxena acknowledges the receipt of compensation of Rs 15 lakh from the Delhi Government and prays for awarding the maximum compensation to her. It is further submitted that the deceased was the only son of his parents. Yashpal Saxena, complainant/father of the deceased has already expired, therefore, there is nobody to take care of Kamlesh Saxena, mother of deceased. She has suffered severe emotional and psychological trauma due to the murder of her son. The compensation awarded by the court will be utilised exclusively for her welfare and rehabilitation. On December 23, 2023, the court held the three accused guilty of murder and convicted Mohd. Salim (accused A-1), Akbar Ali (accused A-2), and Shahnaz Begum (accused A-3) The Court imposed Section 302 IPC (Murder) read with Section 34 IPC (common Intention) against the accused. Sr. Advocate and Special Public Prosecutor for the State Rebecca M. John who joined the court proceedings through video conferencing argued that all the convicts, in furtherance of their common intention, had committed the heinous offense of brutal murder of the deceased, who was the only son of the victim. It is prayed that convicts should be convicted under a sentence specified for murder. On the contrary, Defence Counsel Amjad Khan prayed for leniency on the convicts, as none of them had ever been convicted in any criminal case. He argued that all the convicts have been in judicial custody for the last about 6 years, and they have no previous record of any crime against them. The court said that the prosecution successfully demonstrated that Ankit's murder was a result of his relationship with a girl from another community. Ankit Saxena was in a relationship with Shehzadi (then 20). However, her family was against the relationship and had warned Ankit to end it. Before his death, Ankit had had an argument with his girlfriends family, after which her mother, father, brother, and maternal uncle stabbed him and slit his neck. The incident occurred in February 2018 in Raghubir Nagar in West Delhi. One of Ankit's friends provided crucial testimony during the trial. The girlfriend was taken to Nari Niketan shortly after the murder, as she alleged her family might kill her as well. Within days, her parents and uncle were arrested. The murder had sent shockwaves through the city, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal assuring that the Delhi government would ensure Ankit Saxenas family gets justice and his perpetrators get the highest quantum of punishment. On December 23, last year, the court convicted Akbar Ali and Shahnaz Begum, the parents of Saxena's girlfriend Shehzadi, and maternal uncle Mohammad Salim, and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The court said, Hence, considering the mitigating and aggravating circumstances, age, gender, social background, previous antecedents, and the period of custody already undergone as well as their family responsibilities, this Court believes that it is not a fit case for imposition of the death penalty. Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from Facebook video Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken an apparent dig at former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Tapas Roy over his joining in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections. In a public address on Thursday, Mamata, who took no name, hinted that the scare of ED raids prompted Roy, a veteran politician who joined BJP on Wednesday, to switch sides. The Chief Minister said, "Leaders, who are called corrupt, suddenly become corruption free once they join BJP. The BJP is a washing machine. "Some people are so scared that they are joining the BJP. They are switching sides just by an ED raid." I will work towards establishing a peaceful Bengal, says Tapas Roy Roy joined the BJP in presence of the party's state chief Sukanta Majumdar and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Speaking to the reporters at BJP headquarters in Salt Lake, Kolkata, Roy said, "Now I am in the family of Modi-ji. I will fulfill all my duties and responsibilities as long as I am in politics as a member of this family. I am indebted to the state and central leadership of BJP for welcoming me in the party." Photo courtesy: Bengal BJP Roy, who quit TMC on March 4, said he joined the saffron camp with a pledge to establish peace in the state where the incumbent is facing serious political challenges post the Sandeshkhali episode, where several local women accused erstwhile ruling party strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, who is now under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody, of land grabbing and sexual abuse. "There is a misrule going on in the state. The state government is run by people like Sheikh Shahjahan, Uttar Sardar, Shibu Hazra. It talks of the Constitution, law and order but doesn't follow court orders. I have joined BJP with a pledge to work towards establishing a peaceful Bengal," Roy said. Roy, who was a Congress leader until he switched to TMC, on Monday resigned as the MLA before dumping the ruling party. The senior politician said he was hurt that his party chief Mamata Banerjee did not back him when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided his place in connection with the civic body recruitment case on January 12. Photo courtesy: X/Narendra Modi New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday presented the first-ever National Creators Award to digital content creators at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. The awards were given across 20 categories to celebrate the contributions of digital content creators who have brought about positive social change and innovation. The awards were also envisioned as a launchpad for using creativity to drive positive change. National Creators Awards honour the creativity and innovative spirit of our youth. It acknowledges their unparalleled contributions across diverse fields, celebrating young minds who dare to think differently and pave new paths. I congratulate all the awardees! pic.twitter.com/4LCDDGT9rv Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2024 During the event, Modi also had a brief interaction with the winners. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said Digital India Mission has created a new world for content creators. He said, "In the last 10 years, the strengthening data revolution and cheap mobile phones have created a new world for the content creators." "This might have happened for the first time that youngsters in any sector have inspired the government to think about them, to do something for them," Modi said. The Prime Minister urged the youngsters to create content for the world. "Together, we should start a 'Create on India Movement'. Let us share stories related to India, India's culture, India's heritage and traditions with the whole world. Let us create in India, and create for the world," he said. The Best Storyteller Award went to Keerthika Govindhasamy known as Keerthi History. Disruptor of the Year was awarded to Ranveer Allahbadia. Ex-Scientist from ISRO, Pankti Pandey from Ahmedabad received the Green Champion Award for amplifying the message of Mission LiFE. The Award for Best Creative for Social Change went to Jaya Kishori known as Meera of modern times, whereas Lakshya Dabas received the Most Impactful Agri Creator for his work on improving agricultural practices with the use of innovation and technology. Cultural Ambassador of the Year Award went to Maithili Thakur, while the Best International Creator Award had three creators, Kiri Paul from Tanzania, Drew Hicks from America, Cassandra Mae Spittmann from Germany. Kamiya Jani of Curly Tales was given the best travel creator award. She focuses on food, travel & Lifestyle and showcases beauty and variety of India in her videos. Technical Guruji Gaurav Chaudhary, a top tech YouTuber, won the Tech Creator Award. He credited Digital India for contributing to his channel in a significant way. Malhar Kalambe received Swachhata Ambassador Award for leading clean up drives since 2017. The Heritage Fashion Icon Award was given to Jahnvi Singh, a 20-year-old content creator for Instagram who talks about Indian Fashion and promotes Indian Sarees, The Best Creative Creator- female award went to Shraddha famous for her multilingual comedy sets. RJ Raunaq received the Best Creative Creator-male award, Award for Best Creator in Food Category went to Kabitas Kitchen, A housewife who became a digital entrepreneur with her recipes and tutorials. Naman Deshmukh received the Best Creator in Education Category and Ankit Baiyanpuria was given the Best Health and Fitness Creator Award by the Prime Minister. Triggered Insaan Nischay was given the Gaming Creator Award, while Aridaman was given Best Micro Creator. The best Nano Creator Award was given to Piyush Purohit from Chamoli Uttarakhand, Aman Gupta, Founder and CEO of boAT and famous for his involvement in Shark Tank India was given Best Celebrity Creator Award. Photo courtesy: X/RashtrapatiBhavan New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: President Droupadi Murmu will visit Mauritius to attend the National Day celebrations of Mauritius on March 12, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. The President will embark on a three-day visit from March 11 to 13, at the invitation of the government of Mauritius. "It reaffirms the continued commitment of both countries to further strengthen the bilateral relationship across all sectors and deepen our close people-to-people ties," said MEA. The Ministry informed us that President Murmu will hold bilateral meetings with the President of Mauritius, Prithvirajsing Roopun, and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. President Murmu will meet the Speaker of the Mauritius National Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Mauritian Supreme Court, and important Mauritian leaders. "During the visit, President Murmu and Prime Minister Jugnauth will jointly inaugurate 14 India-assisted projects, showcasing the growing expanse and multifaceted nature of Indias vibrant development partnership with Mauritius that constitutes a key pillar of the bilateral relationship," the statement said. She will also witness the exchange of important bilateral agreements that seek to further strengthen the robust bilateral institutional collaboration and capacity-building cooperation between the two countries. Additionally, she will address Mauritian youth at the University of Mauritius and socio-cultural organizations, members of the Indian diaspora, and the Indian community at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, said MEA. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Japanese camera maker Nikon Corporation (Nikon) on Thursday announced it has agreed to acquire high-end US movie camera manufacturer RED Digital Cinema. The RED manufactured movie cameras are popular with Hollywood film producers for its quality. In a statement, Nikon said: "Nikon Corporation (Nikon) hereby announces its entry into an agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding membership interests of RED.com, LLC (RED) whereby RED will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nikon, pursuant to a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement with Mr. James Jannard, its founder, and Mr. Jarred Land, its current President, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions thereunder." Since its establishment in 2005, RED has been at the forefront of digital cinema cameras, introducing industry-defining products such as the original RED ONE 4K to the cutting-edge V-RAPTOR [X] with its proprietary RAW compression technology. RED's contributions to the film industry have not only earned it an Academy Award but have also made it the camera of choice for numerous Hollywood productions, celebrated by directors and cinematographers worldwide for its commitment to innovation and image quality optimized for the highest levels of filmmaking and video production. This agreement was reached as a result of the mutual desires of Nikon and RED to meet the customers needs and offer exceptional user experiences that exceed expectations, merging the strengths of both companies. Nikon's expertise in product development, exceptional reliability, and know-how in image processing, as well as optical technology and user interface along with REDs knowledge in cinema cameras, including unique image compression technology and colour science, will enable the development of distinctive products in the professional digital cinema camera market. Photo Courtesy: 2024 UNRWA Photo by Abdallah El Hajj The delegation of Palestinian movement Hamas may return to Cairo on March 9 to continue talks on a possible ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after it has left the Egyptian capital for consultations with its leadership, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing Egyptian officials familiar with the matter. On Thursday, Hamas political office member Husam Badran told Sputnik that the ceasefire negotiations with Israel had entered a deadlock, adding that the Jewish country was "buying time for itself." Hamas head in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, who had almost not been involved in the negotiations until recently, now demands that Israel commit itself to negotiating a possible permanent ceasefire in the conflict-torn enclave, the report said. The request reportedly contradicts the stance of other Hamas officials, who allow for the possibility of a six-week pause in fighting. At the same time, Sinwar is deemed to hope for a more profitable deal amid disagreements between the United States and Israel, the report also said. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. At least 30,800 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 Inputs) Photo courtesy : Wikimedia Commons New York/IBNS: Media baron Rupert Murdoch is all set to marry for the fifth time at age 92. Murdoch Thursday announced that he plans to marry his girlfriend, Elena Zhukova, in June, The New York Times reported. Murdoch has been married four times before. His roller-coaster personal life is often fodder for the tabloid newspaper industry that he helped create on three continents. Last year, Murdoch announced his engagement to dental hygienist-turned-conservative radio host Ann Lesley Smith. However, he called off the plan to get married less than a month later. Zhukova, who immigrated to the United States from Russia, is a retired molecular biologist who at 67 is a quarter century younger than Murdoch, The Times said. Her daughter, Dasha Zhukova, an arts patron and entrepreneur, was formerly married to the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, The Times said. Murdoch's wedding will take place at his California vineyard and estate, Moraga, reports said. Murdoch's last marriage was to model Jerry Hall, former long-term partner of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash A seminary head, who was suspected of sexually assaulting a student, was hurt in a gun attack in Pakistan's Mansehra city on Wednesday. The attacker is reportedly an uncle of the minor assault victim, police told Dawn News. We have registered an FIR and started raids to arrest the gunman, district police officer Zahoor Babar Afridi told the Pakistani newspaper. The attacker fled after the incident. The DPO said the cleric was attacked when he was shopping in a Badra Chowk shop in the heart of the city. A worker in the shop was also reportedly injured in the gun attack. They were shifted to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital for treatment. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash A transgender was killed and two others were hurt after unknown persons opened fire in Pakistan's Peshawar city on Wednesday. The firing incident took place at a location which is under the jurisdiction of Faqeerabad police station. A statement issued from the city police was quoted as saying by Dawn News that Umar Nawab alias Asma Shah died, while Maqsood alias Garma, Irfan alias Bijli and a passerby, Ibrar sustained injuries in the attack. We have launched an investigation after obtaining the footages from the nearby CCTV cameras, the statement quoted Usama Ahmad Cheema, SP Faqeerabad division, as saying. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay Two Pakistani traffic sergeants were shot dead in Lakki Marwat district of Pakistan on Thursday in an episode which authorities believe to be a terror attack. Police told The Express Tribune that in Lakki Marwats Darra Pizu Bazaar two traffic sergeants were killed when unidentified bike riders opened fire on them in broad daylight. Both the policemen were left critically injured in the attack. Local residents rushed them to the hospital but Constable Hafizullah died before reaching the hospital and Head Constable, Zaram Khan, breathed his last in the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ). The bike riders escaped the spot after committing the crime. Both the traffic police sergeants had been deployed in the marketplace to manage traffic when they were attacked, said a police official Police are currently conducting door-to-door search operation in the region. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash After Karachi, a similar incident of violence has been reported from Pakistan's Haripur where a traffic warden has been accused of brutally torturing a citizen over a minor dispute. Authorities took action after the violent act went viral on social media. Sources told The Express Tribune that the man had to be taken to a hospital for medical attention following the incident. Haripur DPO Muhammad Umar Khan took action by suspending traffic warden Raja Azhar after the video of the violent incident went viral. A committee comprising DSP City and DSP Traffic was established to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, reported the newspaper. Expressing zero tolerance for violence and misconduct towards citizens, Haripur DPO issued a stern warning to all police officers and personnel. Local drivers revealed to The Express Tribune that the accused, Raja Azhar, stationed near Haripur Rajput Bakery, had a history of aggressive behaviour and had been deployed in Haripur for an extended period. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash The family of an 11-year-old from the United Kingdom has claimed that he died due to a challenge which is going on in the Chinese-owned app TikTok. The child was identified as Tommie-lee Gracie Billington. He was discovered in an unconscious state at a friends house in Greenset Close, Lancaster. The child's grandmother claimed the child died due to a new dangerous online challenge called chroming. Tina Burns said that the social media craze went wrong which led to the tragic death of the child. "We need the cause, the reason to get out there in the media of what killed my grandson," said Tina in an emotional plea to the Lancashire Post. She said: "He died instantly after a sleepover at a friend's house. The boys had tried the TikTok craze 'chroming'." "Tommie-lee went into cardiac arrest immediately and died right there and then. The hospital did everything to try and bring him back but nothing worked. He was gone," she said. Tina said following the death of the child, her family members want to raise awareness of the dangers of TikTok for youngsters, and they are calling on the social media giant to do more to safeguard children. She told the newspaper: "Both our families are utterly devastated but we all want the same thing. We don't want any other children to follow TikTok or be on social media." "In fact, we want to get TikTok taken down and no children to be allowed on any social media under 16 years of age," she said. What is Chroming? Chroming is also known as huffing or sniffing. According to reports, internet users following the challenge are inhaling toxic chemicals as a part of the challenge. The practice is extremely dangerous and can also result in slurred speech, dizziness, and hallucinations. Nausea, vomiting, and disorientation are also side effects, reports The Standard. What is TikTok? TikTok, whose mainland Chinese counterpart is Douyin, is a short-form video hosting service owned by ByteDance. Several nations, including India and Nepal, have banned TikTok. US stand Meanwhile, a House committee advanced a bill on Thursday which could lead to the banning of the app across the US on all electronic devices. The measure that sailed unanimously through the House Energy and Commerce Committee would prohibit TikTok from US app stores unless the social media platform used by roughly 170 million Americans is quickly spun off from its China-linked parent company, ByteDance, reported CNN. The bill would give ByteDance 165 days to sell TikTok if the bill is enacted. If not divested by that date, it would be illegal for app store operators such as Apple and Google to make it available for download, the American news channel reported. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers on Thursday said: "This morning, prior to our hearing, TikTok used its influence and power to force users to contact their representatives if they wanted to continue using TikTok. This is just a small taste of how the CCP weaponizes applications it controls to manipulate tens of millions of people to further its agenda. These applications present a clear national security threat to the United States and necessitate the decisive action we will take today," she said. She said: If Bytedance divests TikTok, meaning the Chinese Communist Party is no longer controlling the application, Tiktok can continue to operate in the United States." The much-awaited Bollywood horror thriller Shaitaan, directed by Vikas Bahl of Queen fame, has been released today. Starring Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan and Jyothika in lead roles, the movie is a remake of the 2023 Gujarati horror film Vash. As the highly-anticipated movie releases in theatres today, here is all you need to know about its online release. Shaitaan OTT Release: All you need to know X Where to watch Shaitaan on OTT? The digital rights of the movie have been acquired by streaming giant Netflix, according to various reports. Hence, the movie will likely be released on Netflix. When to watch Shaitaan on OTT? The movie will be available to watch on the OTT platform only two months after its theatrical release. The official date has not been announced as of yet. What is Shaitaan about? X Going by the trailer, the movie sees Madhavan's character seeking a refugee at Ajay Devgn's character's house. He then hypnotises the latter's daughter and uses her as a weapon against the family. What happens next remains to be seen. Janki Bodiwala plays the role of Devgn's daughter in the movie, which has hit the screens today on March 8. R Madhavan on Shaitaan Talking about the film, R Madhavan earlier said, "I thought I was offered the father's role. That's when Kumar Ji said, 'Before you say anything, we want you to play the Villain'. I was quite stunned, and I was amazed that Ajay sir would want to give that role to me. I see the intelligence behind it now. I hope I've done justice to it, but looking at the response so far, we are all very elated, and I hope that we live up to the expectation." He added that people's perception of him has changed nowadays. "They are looking at me very strangely nowadays. In fact, a lot of my fans have said, 'We know that after watching Shaitaan, well have to watch Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein and my other romantic films a couple of times to get rid of the acidity, I believe... but I am very nervous at the same time because this is something I've never done before. "This level of evilness is something I did not expect to portray, and I am hoping that it sticks." For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. In a world captivated by travel blogs and fashion influencers, Bao, a three-year-old Chihuahua, is turning heads and melting hearts. Alongside his owner, Xa Thi Ngoc Tran, Bao is living the ultimate influencer life, jet-setting to the world's most beautiful destinations. From the quaint, picturesque streets of Paris to the lively, colourful vistas of Mexico, this adorable duo indulges in luxury and adventure at every turn, capturing the imaginations of people everywhere. Adventures of 'baby boy' Bao, the g lobe-trotting dog Tran, a 37-year-old finance expert from Toronto, Canada, introduced Bao into her life during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet their shared journey of exploration didnt commence until 2022. In an interview with SWNS, Tran spoke about her strong bond with Bao, calling him her "baby boy" and stating that she couldn't imagine travelling without him. Their globetrotting adventures began with a modest four-hour flight to Lake Louise, Alberta, marking Bao's inaugural foray into the world of travel. After their first trip, they have gone on many adventures across various continents. One of their most memorable experiences was during their stay in Paris. They were fortunate enough to luxuriate in the Hotel Louvre Saint-Honore, enjoy meals at the famous Cafe de Flore, and visit iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower. Bao's fancy closet: From sparkling jackets to cosy turtlenecks Bao takes pride in his wardrobe, which is valued at Rs 2 lakh, and is filled with attire that helps him look distinguished during his travels with Tran. He likes to wear luxurious suits and stylish shades which have helped him gain a following of almost 166,000 on Instagram. In fact, he is now considered on par with other popular fashion influencers. Tran's fashion preferences are reflected in the way she dresses up her dog, Bao. Bao's wardrobe includes sparkling jackets, turtleneck sweaters, and Chanel silk scarves. In the interview, Tran mentioned that she likes to keep Bao's clothes in line with her own simple style. However, during the holiday season, Bao seems to have a particular liking for Hawaiian shirts. As they look forward to future expeditions, Tran and Bao are excited about the prospect of a visit to Beverly Hills for an authentic Beverly Hills Chihuahua experience. Their love for Mexico beckons them back, and they also aspire to delve deeper into Europe, with Italy being on their travel radar. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. In a tale that echoes through the corridors of Hindu mythology, the sacred Katas Raj in the Punjab province of Pakistan has emerged as a pivotal setting for legendary events, unveiling a tapestry of divine occurrences. As the ancient story goes, Lord Shiva, overwhelmed by grief, traversed the earth, cradling the lifeless form of his beloved wife, Sati. It is said that at a spot in present-day Punjab, a single tear from Lord Shiva fell to the earth, creating what is now known as Katas Raj Lake. Internet Photo Over the epochs, this hallowed location has played host to revered characters from Hindu mythology. During their exile, the Pandavas sought refuge on the tranquil shores of Katas Raj Lake. It is here that Yudhisthira, one of the Pandavas, faced a series of profound challenges the 126 "Yaksha Prashnas" posed by a mystical yaksha, designed to test his intellect and integrity. The legends also tell of Krishna's divine presence at Katas Raj. Amidst the serene surroundings, Krishna is said to have personally crafted a shivling, a sacred symbol representing Lord Shiva's eternal essence. In homage to this divine connection, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was erected, further embedding the mythological significance of Katas into the annals of history. Internet Photo Today, Katas Raj stands not only as a physical marvel but as a living testament to the rich tapestry of Hindu mythology, where the divine and earthly realms intertwine. Pilgrims and seekers alike are drawn to this mystical site, where the echoes of ancient sagas continue to resonate through time. A dramatic incident unfolded on Thursday morning as a tire detached from a United Airlines flight departing from San Francisco International Airport bound for Osaka, Japan. The airline confirmed the occurrence, stating that the incident took place at approximately 11:35 a.m. during the takeoff of United Flight 35. The debris from the landing gear tire fell into one of the airport's employee parking lots. Despite the alarming nature of the event, no injuries were reported. SKY7, hovering over the scene, captured the aftermath where police took precautionary measures by cordoning off areas with caution tape around cars that appeared to have been impacted by the fallen tire. Responding to the situation, United Airlines announced that the flight had been diverted to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) where it landed safely. The airline assured that efforts were underway to organize an alternative aircraft to transport the 235 customers, 10 flight attendants, and four pilots to Osaka later on Thursday evening. Internet Photo The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of swift and efficient responses to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers and airport personnel during unexpected events. "The 777-200 has six tires on each of its two main landing gear struts. The aircraft is designed to land safely with missing or damaged tires," stated the airline in response to the incident. Officials confirmed that the runway was temporarily closed to facilitate the removal of debris caused by the detached tire. However, it was swiftly reopened, and no lasting impact on airport operations is anticipated. An eyewitness, Gary Glass, vividly described the aftermath of the tire incident and its potential danger. "At the speed and velocity that it was coming down, it would have crushed somebody like a grape," Glass emphasized, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the fortunate absence of injuries despite the apparent threat posed by the falling tire. On International Women's Day 2024, Kerala's Mani Amma emerged as a beacon of inspiration, showcasing remarkable prowess by acquiring 11 distinct driving licenses. Her exceptional feat challenges societal norms and empowers young women across generations. Mani Amma's determination and skill defy stereotypes, highlighting the capability of women in traditionally male-dominated spheres. Through her achievements, she breaks barriers and encourages others to pursue their dreams relentlessly. Kerala, known for its progressive stance on gender equality, celebrates Mani Amma's accomplishments as a testament to the state's commitment to women's empowerment. As the world commemorates International Women's Day, Mani Amma's story serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and supporting women's achievements in all fields, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society for future generations. What Is The Story Of Kerala's Mani Amma? Kerala's Mani Amma shares 11 different types of driving licenses for International Women's Day 2024 | Image: Instagram Radhamani Amma fondly referred to as Mani Amma, stands out as a pioneer in Kerala, challenging conventional expectations regarding age and gender through her remarkable driving abilities. Despite being 71 years old, she possesses an impressive collection of 11 distinct licenses, encompassing a wide range of vehicles, including heavy-duty machinery such as JCBs and cranes. As per the provided information, when questioned about her motivation to master the operation of heavy vehicles, notably when it was unusual for women to pursue such endeavors, she remarked, "My initial foray into driving occurred at the encouragement of my husband. Subsequently, we initiated a heavy vehicle driving school. I secured my four-wheeler license in 1981 and obtained my heavy vehicle license in 1984." Additionally, she elaborated, "Securing a heavy vehicle license in Kerala was particularly daunting at that time. Kerala's Mani Amma shares 11 different types of driving licenses for International Women's Day 2024 | Image: Instagram To address this, we provided training and facilitated license acquisition for individuals in Mangalore, Karnataka. It became apparent that there was a need to obtain such licenses within Kerala itself. Subsequently, my husband undertook the necessary steps at different administrative levels. Following two years of legal procedures, we were granted authorization to inaugurate Kerala's inaugural heavy vehicle driving school. This establishment was registered under my name, marking the inception of my journey in the driving domain." Following the unexpected passing of her husband in 2004, Radhamani encountered initial challenges before she found the strength to overcome adversity. Despite facing hurdles, she exhibited remarkable perseverance, ultimately assuming control of the driving school. Kerala's Mani Amma shares 11 different types of driving licenses for International Women's Day 2024 | Image: Instagram Through her determination and leadership, Radhamani navigated difficult times and ascended as a prominent figure within the enterprising community. Her resilience was a source of inspiration for successive generations, leaving an enduring impact on those she encountered. Radhamani reflected on the evolution of the A2Z driving school, which later expanded into the A2Z driving institute, offering comprehensive training in operating various heavy equipment. She expressed satisfaction with the decision to diversify, highlighting the institute's substantial growth since its inception. Despite her advancing years, Radhamani remains undeterred, demonstrating a commitment to learning by pursuing a mechanical engineering diploma. Her dedication to both personal and professional development underscores her enduring passion and drive for excellence. Recalling her initial experiences learning to drive, Radhamani reminisced, "My journey began with lessons on an Ambassador vehicle at home. At that time, the presence of women drivers, particularly those operating heavy vehicles and buses, was scarce. Kerala's Mani Amma shares 11 different types of driving licenses for International Women's Day 2024 | Image: Instagram Learning to drive was notably more arduous compared to present times. There was a sense of curiosity among people witnessing a woman behind the wheel of heavy vehicles." Her reflections highlight the stark contrast between the challenges faced by pioneering female drivers in an era of gender norms and the evolving landscape of acceptance and inclusivity in contemporary times. How She Balances Her Academic Pursuits With Her Driving Career? Reflecting on her early experiences behind the wheel, she recalled encountering oncoming traffic, which made her nervous, but she expressed gratitude for her husband's steadfast support. When discussing her unique status as the sole woman in India licensed across 11 vehicle categories, she recounted obtaining her four-wheeler license in 1981 and her heavy vehicle license in 1983. Kerala's Mani Amma shares 11 different types of driving licenses for International Women's Day 2024 | Image: Instagram Over time, she acquired permits for various vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, three-wheelers, buses, trucks, trailers, cranes, tractors, forklifts, excavators, and road rollers. Furthermore, she mentioned obtaining a hazardous materials license in 2022 and noted that driving larger vehicles is comparatively easier than maneuvering smaller ones. Addressing those who hesitate to go despite holding licenses, she encouraged them to pursue their desires with dedication and belief, emphasizing her joy in inspiring countless individuals to overcome their fears and embrace driving without reservation. Advice By Mani Amma To The Younger Generation Kerala's Mani Amma shares 11 different types of driving licenses for International Women's Day 2024 | Image: Instagram Radhamani offers valuable advice to women aspiring to enter traditionally male-dominated fields like driving, emphasizing the importance of not perceiving driving as exclusive to any particular gender. She notes that while driving was historically associated with livelihood, it has evolved into a passion pursued by individuals from diverse professions, regardless of gender. In today's context, driving is a necessity for both men and women alike. Radhamani highlights that possessing driving skills opens up numerous opportunities, making it a field worth considering for everyone, regardless of gender. What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Nita Ambani, a well-known figure in business and philanthropy, impressed guests and caught the attention of online audiences with her remarkable attire at a recent Reliance dinner in Jamnagar. Draped in an exquisite Kanchipuram saree, Ambani's outfit exuded sophistication and reverence for India's cultural legacy. The intricately woven saree, celebrated for its detailed craftsmanship and vivid hues, harmonized flawlessly with Ambani's dignified demeanor, garnering praise from those present at the event and virtual spectators. As snapshots of Ambani's elegant ensemble circulated across social media platforms, they ignited a wave of compliments and adoration, with many commending her impeccable taste in fashion. More than just a sartorial choice, Ambani's attire signified her deep-seated respect for traditional Indian artistry and her dedication to championing indigenous creative expressions. In a realm where fashion often serves as a canvas for personal expression, Nita Ambani's selection of the Kanchipuram saree emerged as an emblem of enduring refinement and cultural reverence, leaving an indelible mark on all who encountered it. What Does Nita Ambani Do To Stun The Internet? Nita Ambani wearing Swadesh-designed Kanchipuram Saree at a Reliance dinner | Image: XNita Ambani wearing Swadesh-designed Kanchipuram Saree at a Reliance dinner | Image: X Mukesh Ambani and his spouse, Nita Ambani, hosted a dinner yesterday in Jamnagar for all Reliance employees, with the entire Ambani family in attendance. During the event, Nita Ambani adorned herself in a renowned handloom Kanchipuram saree crafted by Swadesh, showcasing the skilled work of artisans. The saree bore the initials of her beloved Anant and Radhika, adding a personal touch to her attire. Expressing gratitude to the Jamnagar Reliance Parivar for their love and support during the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant and Radhika, Nita Ambani conveyed her appreciation. Each intricate detail of the saree pays homage to the grandeur of temples, sacred architecture, and sculptures. Painstakingly designed, it seamlessly weaves a collection of 102 classical Kanchipuram silk saree motifs, creating a distinctive masterpiece reflecting the rich fabric of Indian heritage and artisanal craftsmanship. Nita Ambani wearing Swadesh-designed Kanchipuram Saree at a Reliance dinner | Image: X To accentuate the magnificence of her splendid saree, Nita opted for a complementary semi-sleeved blouse embellished with intricate embroidery. Smoky eye makeup, nude lipstick, a radiant complexion, and a traditional red bindi further enhanced her ensemble. Adding to her elegance, Nita adorned herself with exquisite jewelry and adorned her bun hairstyle with a fragrant gajra, enhancing her overall look. Particularly noteworthy was Nita's choice of jewelry, which captivated onlookers. She accessorized with a substantial rani haar, paired with complementing earrings, diamond bangles, and rings seamlessly coordinated with her majestic attire, exuding a regal aura. Where Can You Check Out Nita Ambani Look? You can check out the look on X posted by ANI. Etched with the initials Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, Nita Ambani dons the world-famous handloom Kanchipuram saree designed by Swadesh and handcrafted by artisans. She was seen thanking the Jamnagar Reliance Parivar for their love and support during Anant and Radhika's pic.twitter.com/YEOYdVOmjp ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2024 How Did The Internet React? This recent post shared on X by ANI has garnered significant attention within just a few hours. With over 80,000 views and counting, the post continues to attract more viewers. Additionally, it has received nearly 2,000 likes, indicating a positive reception from the audience. The engagement metrics suggest that the content has resonated well with the platform's users, drawing considerable interest and appreciation. Internet reacts to Nita Ambani wearing Swadesh-designed Kanchipuram Saree at a Reliance dinner | Image: X What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. For Harshil Mathur, a nine-to-six corporate job was always boring, as he loves taking on a new challenge everyday. That is what led the IIT-Roorkee graduate to launch Razorpay in 2014, along with fellow Roorkee alumni Shashank Kumar. The Bengaluru-based startup, which is now valued at $7.5 billion, was previously considered as just an average idea that got rejected by 100 banks. Rejected By 100 Banks, This Startup Is Now Valued At $7 Billion razorpay rejected by 100 banks /techcrunch Razorpay is a full-stack converged payments solutions provider with the goal of revolutionizing online payments through hassle-free integration and clear, developer-friendly APIs. The startup Razorpay provides companies with all-inclusive, cutting-edge solutions that span the whole payment journey, all based on reliable technology. IITian Harshil encountered distinct obstacles during his journey because of his unique approach to the industry. The question was not, 'how many players are there?' he says. The question is, 'are they solving the need in the market?' The Idea Behind Launching The Fintech Startup In 2014 In the years 20122013, Harshil came to the realization that the fintech industry's payments segment was dominated by enterprises. This indicates that there was little available for startups and that the only big businesses receiving payment solutions were hotel chains and airlines. Thus, taking a tech-first stance, Harshil and co-founder Shashank made the decision to give startups top priority in order to meet the numerous payment requirements of this rapidly developing Indian market, as per YourStory report. economictimes Also Read: Why Apple & Google CEOs Fight To Hire & Retain Two IITians First Startup To Offer Fully Digital On-Boarding For example, they were the first to offer businesses a fully digital on-boarding process at a time when paper-based, laborious KYC was still the standard. Being an early adopter of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Razorpay asserts that it was the first to introduce recurring payments for businesses via Razorpay Route, as well as the first to launch support for Bharath QR and UPI as a payment gateway. The company's brain has remained steady because of perseverance, despite obstacles and repeated rejections. Prior to launching Razorpay, both rookies Harshil and Shashank were navigating the corporate world. Shashank was hired by Microsoft, while the former was employed by Schlumberger, a US-based provider of oilfield services. When They Overcame Rejection By 100 Banks TechStory Almost all of the 100 banks that the two visited and the twenty to thirty banks that they submitted their proposal to rejected them. That is, until a prominent private bank's senior banker noticed their potential. According to Harshil, this banker was relatively young, had graduated from XLRI, and had experience with the startup process. He worked for a private sector bank. He made the decision to "take a bet on us," and the rest is history as they say. Over the years, Salesforce Ventures, GIC,Ribbit Capital, Tiger Global Management, Mastercard and Lone Pine Capital have ben among Razorpays investors. For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here On the occasion of International Women's Day, we all tend to hear inspiring stories of women who have excelled in their respective fields, right? Be it in the field of education, politics, defense,healthcare, business,, arts or engineering, women have proven that they can do it all. So this year on women's day, let us bring to you a list of some of the most successful 'mompreneurs' in India: But first, let us simplify the term for you. Mompreneurs refers to women who are both a mother as well as entrepreneur. List Of Successful Mompreneurs In India 1. Rebekkah Kumar Rebekkah Kumar/eshe After nine years of employment at Microsoft, Rebekkah Kumar made the decision to leave her job in order to spend more time with her family. She quickly grew agitated and made the decision to launch an online contemporary, lightweight jewelry business for Indians around the world. She started fourseven.in in 2014 and is very interested in learning more about the Indian e-commerce industry. Also Read: Lesser-Known Facts About World's Richest Woman 2. Suchi Mukherjee Suchi Mukherjee/marketingmind Suchi Mukherjee moved to India after giving up on growing technology businesses in the UK. While on maternity leave, she set up the e-commerce website Limeroad while perusing the pages of a magazine. Through this portal, users can customize a virtual scrapbook to suit their own style. 3. Suman Dash Suman Dash/marketingmind She was an electronics engineer, but her pregnancy forced her to give up her job. She was determined to start her own business, though, and she never gave up hope. As a result, Vastradi came to be, where she now sells traditional Sambalpuri sarees at different exhibitions. 4. Garima Satija Garima Satija/marketingmind At the age of 26, Garima Satija quit her job in HR to launch a concierge service. PoshVine was founded by seeking out unusual culinary experiences and bringing together fine dining establishments and chefs who were open to trying something different. The website is available in six nations, excluding India. 5. Nidhi Batra Nidhi Batra/linkedin She is the director and co-founder of Mumbai's Nirvana Excursions. This travel agency was founded in 2013 and offers travelers personalized travel experiences and solutions. 6. Ambika Ankit Agarwal Ambika Ankit Agarwal acube/marketingmind She founded Chennai-based event design firm The A-Cube Project when she was just 25 years old. This business gauges the aesthetic preferences of each client to create custom stories for them. 7. Neeta Maxen Neeta Maxen/marketingmind It suits her better to be referred to as "a corporate dropout mom" than as a mompreneur. She founded the bespoke company Kraftd-Memories, which creates personalized banquets and celebrations. In addition, she launched My Playdate Cafe, which she sees as a kids' social media platform. For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here Vigil at Lockheed Martin Date: Friday, March 22, 2024 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Event Type: Vigil/Ritual Organizer/Author: Angela Location Details: Lockheed Martin Java and Mathilda Streets Sunnyvale, CA Join members of the Pacific Life Community and the Catholic Worker in their monthly noontime vigil every 4th Friday at the gates of Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale. Genocide Joe Biden is handing over our tax dollars to Israel so that it can buy additional F35 fighter jets -- it already has over 50! from Lockheed Martin. Bring your signs and banners or help hold the 12 ft long banner that says "LOCKHEED WEAPONS TERRORIZE THE WORLD" Ghanaian Bishop, Sam Owusu has issued a public apology to Nigerians after criticising his countrymen for attending a crusade led by a visiting Nigerian pastor. Recall Nigerian Pastor Jerry Eze held a conference in Ghana which reportedly attracted over 60,000 worshippers in attendance. However, Owusu, in a viral clip on social media, chided his church members and his countrymen for attending the conference. Owusu is the Senior Pastor of the Pottersville church, East Legon Hills, Accra, Ghana. He shared concerns about Ghanaians labelling their pastors as fake but supporting the ministries of Nigerian pastors. In a surprising turn of events, Bishop Owusu publicly issued a heartfelt apology to Nigerians and body of Christ. He noted it wasnt his intention to create tribalism and divisions between the body of Christ and that it came out of order. Owusu stated he has been blessed by Nigerian churches many times and he has also rendered a lot of blessing and opportunity to Nigerians. READ MORE: Ghanaian Bishop Slams Countrymen For Idolising Nigerian Clergymen, Cites Pastor Jerry Ezes Crusade In Their Country In his words, I want to specially bring a word of apology to my fellow Nigerians and my brothers and friends in Nigeria, men of God in Nigeria who have felt offended through my message that was circulating around the world it wasnt my intention to create tribalism and division within the body of Christ it came out of order and I want to apologise to my friends that is around the world especially my brothers in Nigeria, I have been blessed by Nigerian church many times and likewise myself Ive rendered a lot of opportunities and blessings to a lot of Nigerians I have no intentions and mentality to destroy the kind of services Ive received many years ago it came out of order and I condemn that kind of act SEE VIDEO: Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, has posited that political leaders approach to ending the poverty and insecurity in the country are wrong. The Governor spoke at the 6th Annual Interfaith Peace Conference in partnership with the State government, on the theme Tackling Poverty and Insecurity in Nigeria: Our Collective Responsibility. As Chairman of the occasion, Sani who noted that poverty and insecurity are the greatest challenges facing the country, said efforts at ending insecurity have been rather reactive than proactive. Poverty and insecurity are the greatest challenges facing our country. The rising level of poverty is a major cause of concern for our political leaders. Addressing the issue of poverty is critical to restoring peoples confidence in our democracy. We are still struggling to address development challenges, especially in the areas of infrastructure, education, health, agriculture and security, he stated. READ ALSO: Constituency Projects: Buhari Deliberately Punished NASS Members Saraki Replies Akpabio According to him, it is time forall stakeholders to join hands to address the challenges, saying the starting point for offering solutions to the problems must be research and evidence based. Research has a key role to play in our search for workable solutions to the seemingly intractable challenges of insecurity. Once you know the root cause of the problem, you can develop effective immediate, short-term and long-term strategies to address it. Our responses have been ad hoc and reactive. They are not based on research. Our compass is wrong. We need to get the right compass. To make progress on security, we must ask the critical questions and develop the appropriate strategies. How can we redesign our security architecture to be proactive rather than reactive in tackling insecurity in Nigeria? This is where strategic thinking comes in. Security leaders and forces are better at tactical thinking. They want to deal with situations quickly and decisively. But the nature of our current and emerging security challenges require deeper thinking and planning. You have to study the nature of a given environment; the topography, the people, the culture, the politics and the changing dynamics, Governor Sani added. Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, has instructed the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) arrest individuals advocating for a coup in the country. The directive was conveyed in a statement on Thursday by Henshaw Ogubike, the Director of Information, Press, and Public Relations of the Defense Ministry. According to him, those promoting an undemocratic change of government are agents of darkness. He further issued a stern warning that any individual apprehended would face serious consequences. The call for violent change of government by the military is absurd, preposterous, and naive, as the military has come to reality with a democratic government in Nigeria and is focused on their constitutional duty of defending the constitution. The Minister warns against the dangerous allure of coups, stating, Those calling for coups do not love Nigeria. Under the present government, there will be no military takeover of power. The call for violent change of government by the military is absurd, preposterous and naive as the military has come to reality with a democratic government in Nigeria and is focused on their constitutional duty of defending the constitution. The propagators calling for the truncation of the constitutional government should desist from it and face the democratic reality on the ground. READ ALSO: CAC Pastor Re-Arraigned Over Alleged Impersonation, Forgery Just because criminal elements attacked a warehouse and a haulage vehicle carrying food items to other parts of the country is not enough reason for unpatriotic individuals to resort to calling for military intervention which has no place in modern realities. The military is highly professionalised with a good civilian-military relationship, and they are exhibiting the highest standard of professionalism with the defence of our constitution as the top priority, the statement read. The Minister continued that, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has provided a level playing ground for people to express themselves which is one of the pillars of democracy and fundamental human rights are being respected. The Ministry of Defence is warning all the propagators calling for truncation of the constitutional Government to desist from it and face the democratic reality on ground as the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle MON has directed Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to go after the criminals and enemies of democracy and bring them to justice. Matawalle urged all Nigerians to support and keep faith with the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the efforts to make Nigeria great. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to defending the Constitution and upholding democracy, as well as ensuring the safety and security of the nation. At least five police officers lost their lives following the attack by some yet-to-be-identified gunmen in Ebonyi State. Reports reveal they were killed at Ebyia bridge, along Hilltop/Nwoke road in Abakaliki, the State capital around 5am on Friday. Sources in the area confirmed that two girls suspected to be civilians were equally killed during the violent attack The State Police Command is however yet to comment on the development. A resident identified as Mrs. Ngozi told Daily Trust that the assailants were allegedly returning from operation when they opened fire on the officers. READ ALSO: Kaduna School Attack: 287 Students Abducted, One Vigilante Killed Teacher Reveals My dear our area has become a hit zone for hoodlums, just this morning we heard another incident that some policemen were killed by suspected armed robbers at Hill-Top road near the gas station. And you know that similar incident happened at the same spot last year where some police officers were also killed by armed gang. Some of the slain officers in last years attack are yet to be buried and now another six policemen have lost their lives in same manner, including two girls just this morning. Those two ladies were said to girlfriends of the slain officers while some claimed that they were prostitutes who were returning home, she stated. A teacher at the Government Secondary School Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Sani Abdullahi, has revealed that 287 students went missing after bandits attacked the community on Thursday morning. Abdullahi, who spoke when State Governor Uba Sani visited the community after the incident, noted that the bandits invaded the primary and secondary school at about 8am. The teacher said a member of the Kaduna State Vigilante Service (KADVS) was killed by the bandits when he attempted to confront them. At GSS Kuriga, 187 students are presently missing. In the primary school, 125 pupils were initially missing, but, 25 of them escaped and returned home, Abdullahi told Sani. According to the teacher, he resumed work by 7:47 am and entered the acting principals office to sign the staff register when the bandits surrounded the school premises. All of a sudden, the acting principal asked me to look at my back and when I turned, we discovered that bandits had surrounded the school premises. We became confused, we didnt know where to go. Then, the bandits ordered us to enter the bush, so we obeyed them because they were many. READ ALSO: Bandits Raid Kaduna School, Kidnap Over 200 Pupils, Teachers So, when we entered the bush, I was lucky to escape alongside many other people. I returned to the village and reported what happened to the community. Immediately our vigilante and personnel of Kaduna Vigilante Service followed the bandits, but the vigilante did not succeed. The bandits killed one of the vigilantes, we just buried him a short while ago. It was when we came back that we briefed the village head and we started making efforts to find out the actual number of pupils and teachers taken by the bandits, he narrated. In reaction, the Governor said: Since I received the sad news of this incident, I have not had rest of mind because every child in Kaduna state is my child. So, I dont want you people to be disturbed. Let us pray to God to help and on our part as a government, we will not rest until these children return home. He promised to establish a police station and build a permanent camp for the military in the community. The Kaduna Governor who said he had briefed Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), about the attack, added that efforts are being made to deploy security forces to rescue the children. We will do whatever we need to do to ensure the safe return of these children, even if it means coming to Kuriga to stay with you, Sani said. As Nigeria joins other parts of the world to celebrate the 2024 International Womens Day, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has insisted that his administration will continue to prioritise womens welfare. In a statement released by the Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelalae, on Friday, Tinubu recognised the role of women in nation-building, emphasising that, with no doubt, Nigerian women are elemental to the nations development, growth, and greatness. The statement reads: The President affirms that in every discipline and field of human endeavour, the standout achievements of Nigerian women have become a testament to the resilience, strength, courage, and ingenuity of all women across the world, as well as a mark of their exceptional quality as emissaries of hope and possibilities. READ MORE: Tinubu Orders Immediate Rescue Of Borno, Kaduna Captives President Tinubu notes that the theme of this years International Womens Day, Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, fits well within his administrations policy initiatives on educating and empowering women, not only through inclusion in governance, but also by ensuring that they remain relevant and unimpeachable voices in the development process across all sectors of the economy. The President states that his administration is focused on providing investments in educating the girl child, while fostering inclusive programmes and initiatives that bolster their active roles in the areas of knowledge, science, technology, research and innovation into the future. The House of Representatives, on Thursday, decided to investigate the N200 billion allocated for the suspended 2023 population and housing census. During plenary, the lower legislative chamber passed the resolution following a motion titled, Need to Investigate N200 Billion Spent on the Suspended 2023 Population and Housing Census, by Clement Akanni, a lawmaker from Osun State. Recall that former President Muhammadu Buharis administration indefinitely postponed the 2023 national census in April 2023, originally scheduled for May 3-5. The National Population Commission (NPC) had cited the need for N200 billion for preparation. Akanni emphasized the census significance in providing accurate demographic data for policy formulation and sustainable development planning. The lawmakers also noted that governments conduct censuses to gather accurate and comprehensive information such as age, sex, marital status, education, occupation, housing, and other relevant demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of a country. READ ALSO: Bandits Raid Kaduna School, Kidnap Over 200 Pupils, Teachers The House said it was aware that the last census that was conducted in 2006 by the National Population Commission gave a population figure of 140 million. It said it was also aware that the immediate-past administration of former President, Muhammadu Buhari planned to conduct another census in 2022, but the programme was later postponed to 2023. The House recalled that earlier in March 2023 the former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, said a total of N869 Billion would be required for the exercise, including Post-Census-Activities. Disturbed that the exercise was, however, suspended indefinitely by Buhari a few days before leaving office, the motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker, who presided over plenary. Consequently, the house mandated the committee on population to investigate NPC for spending N200 billion on a census that was never held. Barely few hours after the abduction of students and teachers in Borno and Kaduna, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned the attack on the Internally Displaced Persons, in those States. In a statement released by the Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale in Abuja on Friday, described the abductions as heinous and asked security operatives to immediately rescue those taken away. The statement reads: I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered. President Tinubu condemns the heinous incidents of abduction involving very vulnerable victims, internally-displaced persons in Borno State, and students in Kaduna State. READ MORE: Kaduna School Attack: 287 Students Abducted, One Vigilante Killed Teacher Reveals The President directs security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the victims and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators of these abominable acts. I have received briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered. Jenna Shelby-Glick (left), Spoorthi Sampath (center), and Forrest Beaulieu sit in corner table at the 48 Record Bar, a vinyl-centric cocktail bar in Old City. Read more The concept behind the bar is plainly stated in a mission statement: To Get People Together To Listen To Records. The new cocktail lounge and vinyl listening room in Old City, the bar is modeled after Japanese bars and coffee shops known as jazz kissas, where audiophiles gather for deep listening to LPs. That means as many kinds of records as we can and as many kinds of people as we can, says Joey Sweeney, the creative director of 48 Record Bar, the cozy 35-seat space above storied bar Sassafras. The listening bar concept has been making its way around the world. It arrived in Philly in 2022 with the Listening Room, a speakeasy-like back room space at Stephen Starrs restaurant, LMNO on the border between Kensington and Fishtown. The vibe there was more uptempo and DJ-oriented than at a traditional listening room, but in November the club announced its temporary closure. There has been no update on when or if it plans to reopen. In Philadelphia, record stores have survived and thrived in the streaming age. Vinyl signifies an authentic, curated experience in an algorithmic culture. WXPN-FM (88.5) brands itself as vinyl at heart. Theres a club in Center City called Vinyl that doesnt even play vinyl it books cover bands. Philadelphia Record Exchange in Fishtown, Upper Darbys R&B Records, Cratediggaz Records in Queen Village, and Main Street Music in Manayunk, among others, keep the spirit of vinyl alive. Advertisement Bars like Fountain Porter and Solar Myth keep turntables spinning behind the bar, and vinyl is the focus with DJ nights at the International and the Trestle Inn, where Womens History Month is being celebrated with a lineup of all female DJs, many drawn from the Vinyl Tap 215 collective. And coming up on April 27 and 28, vinyl lovers can celebrate spring at Vinylcon!, a weekend-long marketplace at the 23rd Street Armory that promises a zillion records, tons of vendors, vinyl DJs, full bar, food trucks, and more. Adam Porter owns Milkcrate Cafe, a record store that offers coffee, food, booze, and wax with locations in Fishtown and West Philly. Porter, too, has experimented with a record bar. This is a major metropolitan city, so there have to be purveyors of good taste and champions crusading for good music that people havent heard, Porter said. He stopped doing record bar nights in January, but has future plans for pop-up events. Were a city filled with amazing selectors and record collections, but were underserved as an artistic community. 48 Record Bar opened in December after a long gestation period. Sweeney, a musician and creator of the blog Philebrity began kicking ideas around six years ago with Donal McCoy, who co-owns Sassafras and formerly the Tin Angel, the Old City folk club just down the street that closed in 2017. The idea was to convert the upstairs storage room into a listening room not unlike you would find in Japan but with our own take on it, that combines the legacy of cocktail culture that Sassafras represents with a really amazing sound system and well curated music. It would be unlike any other space in the city. Sweeney and McCoy tested the concept in pop-ups at various locations last year, and have succeeded in creating that unique space, down to the surprise sight of a comfy couch in the bathroom. On a recent Thursday night, every seat and padded banquette was taken in the intimate room during an evening themed around British folk music of the 1960s and 1970s. Sweeney cued up LPs by Iain Matthews, John Martyn, and Richard and Linda Thompson. In a special event, there was live music as well, with Hannah Taylor and James Everhart of the Philly band Cosmic Guilt singing Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, and Shirley Collins songs. 48 Record Bar club members can pay $12 a month, where on Wednesday nights they can bring their own LPs to play, as well as getting first crack at ticketed events. For $40, they get that plus an LP of the month to take home. This months selection is Eccentric Boogie, a collection of rare funk from the highly regarded Numero Group label. Deep listening events are also part of the 48 Record Bar experience. Last month, two $15sittings on a Sunday morning sold-out, with vinyl lovers listening to OutKast rapper Andre 3000s instrumental flute music album, New Blue Sun. Coffee and pastries from Center City cafe Thank You Thank You were included in the price of admission. That was an amazing sight, says Sweeney. And the music was almost creating a sound bath over folks. People were meditating, or writing, or drawing, or passing notes to one another. And as people were leaving, they were saying, Ive never been to anything like this before. Please keep doing this. Atiya Johnson, 38, of Clementon, N.J., owner of Janas Hair Salon and Janas Cosmetology Academy. The business was chosen to get a $50,000 grant from Beyonce's charity organization, BeyGOOD. Read more Growing up, Atiya Johnson was dead set against following in her mothers footsteps and becoming a hair stylist. But things changed when her mother needed a break, and Johnson had to take over her hair salon business in 2003 at 17. She added Janas Cosmetology Academy in 2021 to help others achieve their dreams of becoming a stylist, barber, nail technician, or esthetician. Now, the Clementon, N.J., business is getting a big boost with a $50,000 grant for scholarships from Beyonce's public charity foundation, BeyGOOD. After scouring New York for a salon that met its requirements, the foundation discovered the South Jersey school, among only a handful on the East Coast that has a course that teaches students how to handle textured and Black hair. Janas is the only Black-owned and -operated beauty school in New Jersey, according to Johnson. Along with Janas, the foundation founded by the megastar selected four other cosmetology schools in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles to receive a total of $250,000 in grants. The funds will be used at each school to award five scholarships of $10,000. Hairstylists have an immense impact on the people in their chairs, the BeyGOOD foundation wrote in its announcement. They create a sacred space where we can show up how we want and express ourselves through our hair. Were honored to give back to this amazing community. Johnson, 38, of Gloucester Township, a longtime Beyonce fan, said she was surprised to learn that her school had been selected. She never applied for the grant and her staff suspected it was spam. The foundation found her, calling her business a diamond in the rough, she said. It was a surreal moment, Johnson said. She believes the grant will be life-changing for her school and students. Since the announcement, its been a whirlwind for Johnson. She has been flooded with media interview requests and appeared on Good Morning America to talk about her school. The buzz will likely increase after a school visit by the foundation on Monday. The calls are coming in. They havent stopped, she said. Theyre knocking the doors down. Advertisement READ MORE: Gov. Murphy signs hair discrimination bill inspired by South Jersey wrestler who had his dreadlocks cut Johnson said scholarship applications from new students who have a financial hardship will be accepted through March 20 and will be announced in April. Tuition for the cosmetology school costs about $15,000. Some schools charge twice that amount, Johnson said, and offer little training for natural and textured hair. We want our students to be industry-ready, Johnson said. Located in a strip mall on Blackwood-Clementon Road, the school is housed in a sparkling 6,000-square-foot building. There are several classrooms, labs and a practice salon where students demonstrate skills learned. A sign on a wall reads, All dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. On a recent afternoon, four young women listened attentively as instructor Reese Carver taught lessons on temporary and permanent hair removal. Carver answered honestly when a student asked whether eyebrow threading, which removes the hair from the follicle, would be painful. It does hurt, but the results are beautiful, Carver said. Its worth the pain. The students, in the early stages of the program, practice some skills on one another, and others on mannequins. In later stages, they will work on walk-in customers to perfect their techniques. They attend classes on Mondays and Wednesdays. I love it, said Andrea Martinez, 24, an aspiring nail technician from Egg Harbor City. The cosmetology program runs about nine months and students must log 1,200 hours of training. The school specializes in teaching braiding, waves and natural hairstyles. Johnson said other trade programs typically only spend about two weeks teaching students about textured hair. I wanted the whole experience, said Philicia London, 24, of Woodbine, who makes a two-hour commute to the Clementon school. I want to know how to do everyones hair, not just one type of hair. About 120 students have graduated from the school since 2021, Johnson said. The schools students have a 98% pass rate on the state licensing exam, she said. After the exam, students must work under a licensed stylist for 30 days before they can work independently. The school is connected to Janas Hair Studio, the salon started by Johnsons mother, Wanda, 30 years ago. The salons name comprises the first letter of her four children: Jamal, Atiya, Nasir, and Ayanna. READ MORE: From galvanizing the Black vote to fighting hair discrimination, this Temple grads mission is racial equity Johnson said she began doing hair when she was about 12. But she was reluctant to pursue it as a career because it was demanding, with long hours of standing. It eventually became her passion. Initially, it was not wanting my moms legacy to die. Then it became a love, she said. Johnson said she hopes the grant, known as the Cecred x BeyGOOD Student Scholarship program, will shine a light on Black cosmetology schools and hairstyles. Both have often been overlooked by the industry, she said. What better way to operate with a spirit of excellence than to have a big name like Beyonce behind you? I am truly humbled, she said. UnitedHealth Group, based in Minneapolis, owns Change Healthcare, the nation's largest clearinghouse for health care claims processing and related services. A Feb. 21 cyberattack on Change has had widespread repercussions across the U.S. health care industry. Read more A cyberattack last month on Change Healthcare, the nations largest health insurance claims and payment processor, continues to cause disruption for some Philadelphia-area doctors offices. A primary care practice in Exton resorted to FedEx this week to submit $60,000 worth of claims to Medicare through paper invoices. Owner Christine Meyer said Thursday her practice has not been paid in three weeks. It relied entirely on Change Healthcare for claims submission. Were doing this huge hodgepodge of stuff to start getting our claims out there, but theyre all so slow, said Meyer, who was ready to take out a home-equity loan to pay her 80-plus employees. Her payroll is $170,000 every other week if she doesnt pay herself, which she says she wont do for a long time. Aledade, a company Meyer works with on a Medicare savings program, saved her from needing the home-equity loan. It pledged to advance practices like hers a portion of the bonuses they are due to receive in October. Advertisement The cyberattack caused Change, which is based in Nashville, to take its system offline on Feb. 21. Change said Thursday it expects payment processing to be restored on March 15 and claims processing to return on March 18. Change Healthcares reach Both insurers and health care providers large and small rely on Change Healthcare for critical aspects of health care transactions, such as determining eligibility for care, insurance authorizations prior to procedures, and submitting and paying claims. The company processes 15 billion health care transactions annually and touches one in every three patient records, according to a Feb. 26 letter from the American Hospital Association to Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Independence Health Group, the largest health insurer in the Philadelphia region, has seen the impact. While IBXs cybersecurity did not suffer because of the attack on Change, numerous aspects of its operations did, according to an emailed statement from Michael R. Vennera, IBXs chief strategy, corporate development, and information officer. About 20% of providers in IBXs network of health-care providers use Change to submit claims for patient care. We have shared alternative ways for providers to submit claims, such as using our provider portal, mail, or through another vendor, the statement said. The Change outage also hit several IBX vendors involved in sending mail to customers and helping them to determine their insurance benefits. Insurance regulator pushes for aid The Pennsylvania Insurance Department urged health insurers to help medical practices that are reeling from the Change Healthcare outage, which started Feb. 21. This attack has had a profound impact on the health care ecosystem, with impacts ranging from provider access to prior authorization processes to day-to-day reimbursements, Insurance Commissioner Mike Humphreys said Thursday in a news release. Insurers can help bridge hopefully short-term cash challenges by providing financial assistance and increase the amount of flexibility in their electronic systems, Humphreys said. Critics have said needs are not being met by loans offered by Changes owner, Optum. Optums owner is UnitedHealth Group, which also owns the nations largest health insurer. The short-term nature of the loans is also a problem for doctors, said an official for the Pennsylvania Medical Society, a trade group for doctors in Mechanicsburg. Doctors would have to repay the loans within 10 days after Change says services are back to normal. Smaller impact on large health systems Large hospital systems tend to use more than one company to process medical claims, making it possible them to shift business away from Change after it shut down, thus limiting the impact, Standard & Poors Global Ratings said in a new report about the financial uncertainty caused by the cyberattack. The University of Pennsylvania Health System said some retail pharmacy, revenue collection, and billing processes were disrupted by the Change Healthcare outage, but the nonprofit health system was able to switch to alternative processes to restore services. During a quarterly presentation to municipal bond investors on March 5, Temple University Health System shared some details about the outages relatively small impact on its operations. The North Philadelphia nonprofit did not experience a drop in cash until the last week of February, Temple Healths chief financial officer Gerald Oetzel told investors. The affected revenue amounted to about $6 million, he said. The organization had $835 million in cash on Dec. 31. Temple was able to switch to other vendors to collect payments from some insurers and expected to be caught up last week. A wave of anxiety rippled through the late-breakfast crowd at Geets Diner & Bar in Williamstown on Friday. The 82-year-old landmark eatery was put up for sale late last month. But some folks at the counter who were hunched over huge platters and steaming coffee cups thought that meant it was going away for good. They better not close, I love this place, said Oran Murray, 46, a shipper from Sicklerville, as he polished off his eggs. Ive been coming here five years. The foods delicious. If they shut it down and leave only an abandoned lot, well, abandoned lots are the kinds of things I got away from Newark for. That cant happen here. It wont, according to owner Sandy Cannon. Advertisement I just have it up for sale, said Cannon, 53, who bought the more than 400-seat diner and bar in 2017. Im sure whoever buys it will keep it a restaurant. I want to sell to somebody wholl care about the business and my employees. Please dont tell anybody were closing. Cannon, whos asking for $5 million for the nearly 10,000-square-foot diner and accompanying bar, said that nothing is wrong with the business. Shes simply longing to get out of the day-to-day grind of running a diner to spend more time with her eight grandchildren. I want to have fun with them now, while theyre still young, said Cannon, who added that she and her husband, James, own other businesses, including Allied Painting Inc., a bridge-painting company. Allied recently painted the Delaware Memorial Bridge, Cannon said. Located on Black Horse Pike and Sicklerville Road, Geets has been a favorite stopping point for Philadelphia motorists bound for Atlantic City since its opening in 1942. Geets was the nickname of founder Frank Sylvester. Cannon bought it after the previous owner, NJK Hospitality, abruptly shut it down in 2016 and declared bankruptcy. She took a year to open the place in March 2018, after an extensive renovation that included gutting the kitchen, updating plumbing and electrical systems, and repairing the foundation. The diner is sided in shiny, silver metal highlighted by red stripes. A large American flag waves over it, near a towering, old-timey Geets sign from who-knows-when, according to Cannon. Inside the huge lobby, 11 chairs and a 15-foot-long couch indicate that the place gets big crowds of customers, many of whom are apparently willing to wait for what people say are over-portioned meals at underwhelming prices. I just had a steak quesadilla meal for $21 that I couldnt finish, declared Eleanor Sgrow, 65, a retired accountant from Christiana, Lancaster County. She and a friend were on their way home from an Atlantic City jaunt. Its a tradition for me to come here whenever Im driving through, she added. And Im never disappointed. Cannon, who first ate at Geets when she was 7, said that the family-oriented diner has become a nurturing third place for locals needing a break from home and work. Generations of families have eaten at Geets, she said. They show up for celebrations, they come for lunch after funerals. Mom would have wanted us to be here, mourners have told Cannon. That fills my heart, she said. Cannon believes Geets is especially important for older customers with distant families. Theyre here to eat, but also for company, Cannon said. Oh, for sure, agreed Bill McGinnis, 69, who works for an engine distribution company. The food is lights-out good. You cant get a bad meal. And being here feels just like coming home. Cannon was appreciative of the compliment, saying shell miss her customers and employees. Hopefully, she said, I created some good memories for all of them. Celena Morrison-McLean (left) and Darius McLean talk to the media Thursday. The married LGBTQ leaders were arrested during a contentious traffic stop over the weekend. Read more Philadelphias top LGBTQ official and her husband called Thursday for an apology from Pennsylvania State Police and announced plans to file a lawsuit following a heated confrontation during a traffic stop on I-76 Saturday that ended in the couples arrest and a state trooper placed on restricted duty. Accompanied by lawyers at a news conference in Center City, Celena Morrison-McLean and her husband, Darius McLean, recounted their harrowing experience during the stop on I-76 part of which Morrison-McLean captured in a 90-second cell phone video shared on social media, raising questions about the episode and arrest. Ive never felt more helpless than in those moments, Morrison-McLean, the citys executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, told reporters. Its disheartening that as Black individuals, we are all too familiar with the use of the phrase, Stop resisting, as a green light for excessive force by law enforcement. McLean chief operating officer of the Philadelphia-based William Way Community Center and director of the Arcila-Adams Trans Resource Center said that as scary as the incident was, I wouldnt do anything differently if he encountered the same situation again. Theres no way that I was leaving my wife on the highway with a state trooper when I saw she was being pulled over in the rain on the side of the interstate. After his wife was pulled over, McLean said the trooper immediately charged at his vehicle, with his gun drawn. He truly was aggressive, said Kevin Mincey, a lawyer for the couple. I think its clear from the video that trooper was aggressive. Advertisement State police have said that they are conducting a full investigation, and that the trooper whom the agency has declined to identify has been placed on restricted duty, meaning that he will not be on patrol. A state police spokesperson declined to comment further Thursday, citing the investigation. READ MORE: The state trooper who arrested a city LGBT official has been placed on restricted duty during an internal investigation According to their lawyers, the couple on Saturday picked up a car a gray Infiniti from a family member in New Jersey, and Morrison-McLean was driving the vehicle to a Philadelphia mechanic while her husband trailed behind in a rental car. On I-76 near 30th Street Station, they encountered a state trooper driving in front of Morrison-McLean. Morrison-McLean aimed to stay two or three car lengths behind the trooper, Mincey said, because quite frankly, no one would knowingly tailgate a state trooper on the highway. But the trooper alternated between slowing down and speeding up, Mincey said, and so Morrison-McLean switched lanes. At that point, Mincey said, the trooper slowed and wedged his vehicle between Morrison-McLeans and her husbands, turning on the lights and sirens as she sought a safe place to pull over. McLean, in the rental car, pulled off behind the trooper expecting, at worst, his wife to receive a ticket, Mincey said. But the trooper never approached Morrison-McLeans car, the lawyer said, and instead charged toward her husbands car with his weapon drawn, shouting expletives. Mincey said McLean raised his hands in the air, telling the trooper that Morrison-McLean was his wife, at which point the trooper shouted at him to get out of the car, Mincey said. State police have said McLean was verbally combative as the trooper approached, and that he refused multiple lawful orders. Morrison-McLean, who was on the phone with her husband as the trooper was pulling her over, overheard the interaction, Mincey said. And when she realized the trooper was ordering her husband out of his vehicle, she exited her car, letting the trooper know McLean was her husband, and that he had stopped to accompany her, Mincey said. As the trooper forced McLean to the ground on the side of the highway, his wife began recording on her phone, Mincey said. Later, while she was in custody, Morrison-McLean sent the video to her sister, who posted the clip to social media. Thats my husband, she is heard repeating as the trooper appears to lean over a cowering McLean, handcuffing him. Later, Morrison-McLean yelled: I work for the mayor! When youre faced with that type of aggression, you hope that you can just say something that might get that officers attention, that might make them realize there might be some repercussions for whats happening, Mincey said. But the trooper did not let up, Mincey said, putting his body weight on McLeans back while handcuffing him as the man pleaded with the trooper to let him go. At one point, McLean moved out of the way of traffic rushing by on the highway, the couples lawyers said. The trooper, Mincey said, then charged at Morrison-McLean with his arm out, almost like a linebacker, knocking her still-recording phone out of her hands and hitting her face. He just punched me, Morrison-McLean is heard saying in the video, as the camera panned toward the sky. The trooper, Mincey said, then forced Morrison-McLean onto the hood of the car and handcuffed her. According to their lawyers, the pair did not resist, and asked repeatedly why they were being arrested. At the state police barracks, where the couple was detained for hours before being released, they were told theyre prisoners and they dont have any rights, Mincey said. State police attempted to charge the couple with resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct, and summary traffic citations. But the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office declined the charges, and they were released from custody Saturday evening. Police said Morrison-McLean was pulled over for multiple vehicle code violations, including driving with an expired and suspended Pennsylvania registration, headlights that were not illuminated in the rain, illegally tinted windows, and driving too close to another car. But the couples lawyers cast doubt on that account. The gray Infiniti, Mincey said, did not have a front license plate, questioning how the trooper could have known the registration on Morrison-McLeans car was expired before pulling her over. The District Attorneys Office has said no charging decisions have been made, but that it is investigating all aspects of the encounter. Mincey and legal partner Riley Ross have said they plan to file civil action, but are evaluating our options as far as the claims and where to bring them. We want transparency, we want all the facts to come out, Ross said, adding that the legal team is seeking to learn more about the troopers experience and training. We have to get into the root of why things like this keep happening. The trooper was not wearing a body camera, police have said, vowing earlier this week to prioritize a rollout of body-worn cameras to Philadelphia troopers in the coming months. There is dash camera footage of the encounter, the lawyers said. The lawyers said that they have heard from witnesses, and said they encouraged those who may have seen the encounter to come forward. At the minimum, Morrison-McLean said, the Pennsylvania State Police owe Darius and I an apology that is equally as public as the way they discarded our rights on Interstate 76. Noah Marmar, also known as DJ On Mars, prepares to play a vinyl record at the 48 Record Bar, a vinyl-centric cocktail bar in Old City. Read more Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter Listen up, vinyl lovers: This one will be music to your ears. Record bars and listening rooms are popping up around the city, indicating a surge in appreciation for in-person grooving. This is a major metropolitan city, so there have to be purveyors of good taste and champions crusading for good music that people havent heard, said the owner of one such establishment. And while both New York City and Philadelphia have seen a rash of violence on their public transit systems, only one is deploying the National Guard to patrol its vehicles. We may get a reprieve from the clouds today. Lets get into it. Advertisement Julie Zeglen (@juliezeglen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. Sure, you can stream your favorite artists latest album. But theres nothing quite like hearing it live or at least, from speakers in a room full of other audiophiles. Vinyl is having a moment in Philly, thanks to a handful of new listening rooms, pop-up events, and steadfast record stores. Some local opportunities to listen live or add to your collection: 48 Record Bar in Old City, inspired by Japanese bars and coffee shops known as jazz kissas Vinylcon!, a weekend-long marketplace coming to the 23rd Street Armory in April Solar Myth jazz and record bar in the former South Philly home of beloved venue Boot & Saddle And a score of shops where records reign, such as Philadelphia Record Exchange in Fishtown, R&B Records in Upper Darby, Cratediggaz Records in Queen Village, and Main Street Music in Manayunk Earl Hopkins and Dan DeLuca have the story on the musical mediums local prominence. P.S. Theres a ton happening in Phillys arts scene this spring. Check out The Inquirers full guide to upcoming performances in the latest Things To Do newsletter, from dance to jazz to theater. Following a surge of crimes on the NYC subway system, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has enlisted the help of the National Guard to patrol vehicles and check riders bags. Would Mayor Cherelle L. Parker seek to do the same in Philadelphia? Parker has name-checked the National Guard before, noting in October that she would consider deploying the military force to shut down the Kensington drug market. (Gov. Josh Shapiro said hes not on board with that idea.) But this weeks rash of gun violence on or near SEPTA buses including the Wednesday incident when eight high school students were shot as well as New Yorks move have some wondering if the proposal may resurface. For now, its not on the table, both Parker and Shapiro said Thursday. Rodrigo Torrejon and Anna Orso explain what the city does have planned to combat crime on SEPTA. What you should know today Trivia time Which Pennsylvania meat staple has been made vegan by once-local creator Sarah Cain and gained a cult following in the process? A) Scrapple B) Pork roll C) Hot dogs D) Lebanon bologna Think you know? Check your answer. What we're... Wishing: We could shoot hoops with this 80-year-old baller. Inducting: Promoter Paul Heyman, into the WWE Hall of Fame ahead of WrestleMania XL. Joining: The wait list to see The Boss in Asbury Park this September. Unscramble the anagram Hint: Three of the six dancing, YouTubing Quiner sisters work for this Princeton-based ballet company. ABEL TERRANCE TEMPORARILY Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Joann Polk, who correctly solved Thursdays anagram: The Office, whose fans have been asked to contribute to the restoration of a landmark in Scranton. Photo of the day I hope you enjoy your Friday. See you next week! By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10. State Rep. Amen Brown attends a forum at Gloria Casarez Elementary School in Kensington, last year while he was running for mayor. He is facing two primary challengers for his state House seat this year, and he survived a challenge to his candidacy this week. Read more Ballot challenges the hardball tactics that candidates use to prevent their opponents from qualifying for an election are a longtime fascination for Clout. And we may have witnessed two new records this week: the most ballot challenges survived by one politician, and the most times a candidate has pleaded the Fifth while trying to stay on the ballot. Lets start with State Rep. Amen Brown (D., Philadelphia), who was almost knocked off the ballot while running for reelection in 2022 and again while unsuccessfully running for mayor last year. Court of Common Pleas President Judge Idee Fox scolded Brown last year for some paperwork deficiencies. She allowed him to stay on the ballot but noted it was his second bite of the apple. There wont be a third one, she said. Fox was wrong. Advertisement Brown is facing two primary challengers this year: Cass Green and Sajda Purple Blackwell. This week, he survived a new challenge that pointed out he was late in filing a campaign finance report. Brown ended up filing the report after the ballot challenge emerged. But it was still outstanding in early February when he signed an affidavit to get on the ballot, in which he swore he understood election law and wouldnt break it. The petitioners argued that he really should know by now. After all, he has been fined by the state for late reports at least five times. Brown blamed the late filing on his treasurer. He may not be the brightest bulb in the world, but the people get to pick him, not us, Browns own lawyer, Charles Gibbs, said about him at a hearing Monday. Thanks, counsel. Meanwhile, Jon Hankins, a Democratic candidate for a state House seat in North Philly, was kicked off the ballot following a hearing in which he invoked the Fifth Amendment his constitutional right to not answer questions that may lead him to incriminate himself more than a half-dozen times. To say thats an unusual tactic would be an understatement. Ballot challenges are not criminal cases. No one in the courtroom had ever experienced a case in which a candidate for office was recommended to start invoking his Fifth Amendment rights, election lawyer Adam Bonin said. Hankins was one of three Democrats hoping to unseat Bonins client, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Phila.), who is simultaneously running for auditor general and reelection to the House. Hankins was removed because he couldnt prove he lived in the district. He also waded into legally dicey territory while discussing other matters, such as how and when he was paid by a separate campaign last year. His attorney, Adam Rodgers, periodically waved five fingers in the air to instruct Hankins to plead the Fifth, attendees said. At one point, Commonwealth Court Judge Ellen Ceisler told him he should probably stop confessing to crimes while under oath. Ceisler wrote in her ruling that Hankins testimony was contradictory, confusing, devoid of any physical evidence of residency, and wholly lacking in credibility. Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics. Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. in Philadelphia City Council chambers last year. He drafted a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, but never introduced it. Read more As last weeks Philadelphia City Council session ended, someone in the audience shouted, What happened to the cease-fire resolution? That piqued Clouts interest, and it turns out the voice from the peanut gallery had good sources. City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. had indeed drafted a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza but it never saw the light of day. Resolutions are symbolic statements of Councils position on a matter, and they have no practical effect. But some cause a stir, including one last fall from Council President Kenyatta Johnson that condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. There was heated public comment from both sides of the issue, and some pro-Palestine protesters were removed after disrupting Council. Advertisement Clout hears many members werent excited to relive that ordeal and urged Jones to drop the matter. Asked if his colleagues concerns factored into his decision to pull the resolution, Jones said, No comment. He added: It was difficult, but I try not to put them in a precarious position for my beliefs. Jones, who is one of two Muslim members of Council, said that during the month of Ramadan, with the upcoming Passover, with Lent, now is a good time to start talking about peace. Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics. Number of times Joe Biden has visited the Philadelphia region as president: 20. Number of stops this year: 3. Cost: Not priceless. With Biden due back in the area Friday and Air Force One such a frequent flier into Philadelphia International Airport, we wondered what kind of tab Biden has racked up in police overtime costs. Advertisement Since Biden took office in 2021, the Philadelphia Police Department estimates its spent $640,834 on overtime costs associated with presidential and vice presidential visits. If you add in 2020, when then-President Donald J. Trump and Biden (who received Secret Service detail protection as a high-profile candidate) were campaigning around the city, the total climbs to $952,210 in the last four years. Nearly $1 million over four years is a drop in the bucket of the $6.2 billion city budget. City spokesman Joe Grace said the city doesnt ask the White House for reimbursements and didnt during Trumps administration, either. The power of these relationships is invaluable to Philadelphia, Grace said. Well welcome the President and Vice President to Philadelphia every time they can come here. The city wouldnt provide a more detailed breakdown than by year due to tactical and security concerns. Grace said the city gets plenty in return for its law enforcement support, including tens of millions in grant dollars that have funded water and sewer treatment upgrades, SEPTA, workforce development and, fittingly enough, renovations at Philadelphia International Airport. Ballot battles Ballot challenges the hardball tactics that candidates use to prevent their opponents from qualifying for an election are a longtime fascination for Clout. And we may have witnessed two new records this week: the most ballot challenges survived by one politician, and the most times a candidate has pleaded the Fifth while trying to stay on the ballot. Lets start with State Rep. Amen Brown (D., Philadelphia), who was almost knocked off the ballot while running for reelection in 2022 and again while unsuccessfully running for mayor last year. Court of Common Pleas President Judge Idee Fox scolded Brown last year for some paperwork deficiencies. She allowed him to stay on the ballot but noted it was his second bite of the apple. There wont be a third one, she said. Fox was wrong. Brown is facing two primary challengers this year: Cass Green and Sajda Purple Blackwell. This week, he survived a new challenge that pointed out he was late in filing a campaign finance report. Brown ended up filing the report after the ballot challenge emerged. But it was still outstanding in early February when he signed an affidavit to get on the ballot, in which he swore he understood election law and wouldnt break it. The petitioners argued that he really should know by now. After all, he has been fined by the state for late reports at least five times. Brown blamed the late filing on his treasurer. He may not be the brightest bulb in the world, but the people get to pick him, not us, Browns own lawyer, Charles Gibbs, said about him at a hearing Monday. Thanks, counsel. Meanwhile, Jon Hankins, a Democratic candidate for a state House seat in North Philly, was kicked off the ballot following a hearing in which he invoked the Fifth Amendment his constitutional right to not answer questions that may lead him to incriminate himself more than a half-dozen times. To say thats an unusual tactic would be an understatement. Ballot challenges are not criminal cases. No one in the courtroom had ever experienced a case in which a candidate for office was recommended to start invoking his Fifth Amendment rights, election lawyer Adam Bonin said. Hankins was one of three Democrats hoping to unseat Bonins client, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia), who is simultaneously running for auditor general and reelection to the House. Hankins was removed because he couldnt prove he lived in the district. He also waded into legally dicey territory while discussing other matters, such as how and when he was paid by a separate campaign last year. His attorney, Adam Rodgers, periodically waved five fingers in the air to instruct Hankins to plead the Fifth, attendees said. At one point, Commonwealth Court Judge Ellen Ceisler told him he should probably stop confessing to crimes while under oath. Ceisler wrote in her ruling that Hankins testimony was contradictory, confusing, devoid of any physical evidence of residency, and wholly lacking in credibility. Cease-fire measure ceased As last weeks City Council session ended, someone in the audience shouted, What happened to the cease-fire resolution? That piqued Clouts interest, and it turns out the voice from the peanut gallery had good sources. City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. had indeed drafted a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza but it never saw the light of day. Resolutions are symbolic statements of Councils position on a matter, and they have no practical effect. But some cause a stir, including one last fall from Council President Kenyatta Johnson that condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. There was heated public comment from both sides of the issue, and some pro-Palestine protesters were removed after disrupting Council. Clout hears many members werent excited to relive that ordeal and urged Jones to drop the matter. Asked if his colleagues concerns factored into his decision to pull the resolution, Jones said, No comment. He added: It was difficult, but I try not to put them in a precarious position for my beliefs. Jones, who is one of two Muslim members of Council, said that during the month of Ramadan, with the upcoming Passover, with Lent, now is a good time to start talking about peace. Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics. As It Happened Mar. 8, 8:17 p.m. ET Link Icon Link copied In Delco campaign stop, Biden says freedoms are on the ballot this November Biden spoke at Strath Haven Middle School about the economy, health care, and reproductive rights one day after delivering the State of the Union. Republican Doug Mastriano, a candidate for Pennsylvania governor, and his wife, Rebbie, at his election night party in Camp Hill in November 2022. Read more A Pennsylvania Senate committee has declined to investigate State Sen. Doug Mastriano for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election results, following a Democrats ethics complaint against him. Sen. Art Haywood, a Democrat who represents parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties, said hed been notified by the Senate Ethics Committee that it would not take up the complaint he lodged against the right-wing senator earlier this year. Im very disappointed that the ethics committee reached a conclusion that no investigation was going to happen, Haywood said at a news conference this week. And it is terrible statement, in my opinion about the body. Haywood filed a complaint in January claiming that Mastriano (R., Franklin), an ally to former President Donald Trump and 2022 candidate for governor, had violated the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions when he used his prominent role as a state senator to advocate that the General Assembly and its congressional delegation reject Pennsylvanias 2020 election results based on disproved conspiracies. Haywood declined to share the complaint and the letter in which he was notified that the ethics committee would not investigate Mastriano, saying they were confidential. He previously said his complaint was based on an April 2023 report from left-leaning group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). CREWs report detailed Mastrianos role in trying to overturn Pennsylvanias 2020 election results in favor of Trump, including hosting a November 2020 Pennsylvania Senate hearing with unsworn testimony from Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and other advisers and being present on Capitol grounds during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Advertisement Haywood filed the complaint with the Senates ethics committee, a six-member, bipartisan panel that is usually formed once a complaint is filed and is rarely used. Haywood said he chose this route, instead of others, like impeachment, because it had multiple outcomes, such as reprimand or censure. Mastriano could not immediately be reached for comment Friday. After Haywood announced his complaint in January, Mastriano released a statement claiming that it was Haywood who was unethical by using his public office to attack the freedom of speech of those he disagrees with. I do not need a lecture on the U.S. Constitution, Mastriano said in January. I volunteered to defend it while serving our nation for over 30 years as an officer in the U.S. Army. This stunt will not intimidate or silence me. A spokesperson for Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland), who is tasked with appointing ethics committee members, declined to comment Friday due to Senate rules that require the actions of the Ethics Committee remain confidential. Mastriano became a leader of resistance efforts to government shutdowns in 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. His profile continued to grow heading into the 2020 election, as he stepped into the role as one of Trumps top advocates in the Pennsylvania, and afterward as he asked that Trumps loss in the state be overturned. Mastriano was the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 2022, and lost by about 14 percentage points to Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. He briefly considered running for U.S. Senate and continues to have a national following, particularly among Christian nationalists. Haywood said Thursday he believes his complaint put lawmakers on notice that they cannot try to undermine democracy without scrutiny from their colleagues even though Mastriano faces no consequences because he was not investigated. We have created a warning for any person in the future who may engage in this kind of activity, Haywood said. The Senate has ethical standards. They should not be violated. The William Way Community Center, a central hub of Philly LGBTQ life since the 1970s, found itself in a media firestorm this week when U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Bob Casey requested to pull $1 million in federal funding after learning the nonprofit rents space to a group that hosts kink parties. Kink parties can range from educational workshops to casual networking meetups to play parties, where attendees consent to certain protocols beforehand, said Jamie Joy, a sex educator and kink organizer in Philly. Protocols often include respecting peoples identities and confidentiality, not taking photos or using phones, and negotiating risks and boundaries in a consensual way with other attendees. Many of the parties are explicitly sober. These community spaces are where we can actually learn how to be safe and keep each other safe, Joy said. Earlier this week, the far-right social media account LibsofTikTok called out Fetterman and Casey for supporting a federal spending bill that included money for an LGBTQ Center in PA which boasts rooms to try BDSM and s*x f*tishes and hosts BDSM and s*x k*nk parties. Soon after, the Democratic senators pulled funding they had previously requested. While both senators signed letters to withdraw the funding, Fetterman has said hell work to restore it next year. Advertisement Some queer and kink advocates reacted with alarm, saying that kink is a normal part of human sexuality and that hosting safe parties that adults consent to attend is not something Congress should try to police. The monthly kink parties at William Way are run by a separate group called the Aviary, and have been held there for more than a decade. Gil Cnaan, 39, cofounded the Aviary in 2011. He had attended alternative lifestyle parties in Philly for years but decided to start a new one after going to a particularly badly run kink party. It took place in a dark, noisy bar that had a drink minimum all aspects that he felt made the party less safe. Cnaan and others built their own BDSM equipment from scratch, consulting an engineer to make sure it was safe and accessible. They moved to William Way about a decade ago, partly drawn by the idea that their monthly rent money would go toward funding social services for the LGBTQ community. William Way is home to an extensive LGBTQ archive and also provides peer counseling, workshops for seniors, and other programs. The center is currently fundraising $30 million to renovate its Spruce Street headquarters and the federal funding would have gone toward that project. The center rents its space to dozens of community organizations each month and brought in roughly $55,000 in rental income in 2021, according to the most recently available tax filings. William Way had a total revenue of $2.3 million in 2021. These days, the Aviary party draws upward of 200 people each month, Cnaan said, and features space for education, socializing, a fort with coloring books, and a main playroom with traditional kink furniture, like St. Andrews crosses, spanking benches, massage tables, and rope suspension rigs. Dungeon monitors, which Cnaan likened to lifeguards, roam the space to make sure all is well. It is very chill. That is the thing that often surprises people who come in for the first time, because the thing that you would imagine if you have never been in the scene is that everything is very serious and very dark, Cnaan said. But no, its well lit. Its a lot of people having a good time. The party is open to anyone who is over 18 and COVID-vaccinated. Attendees do not have sex, Cnaan said, calling the Aviary the citys 101 group, where people who are new to kink can learn and explore. Joy, the Philly-based sex educator, said they first attended an Aviary party about 10 years ago. It was essential that the party was held in a visible, public queer center like William Way, Joy said, because they knew it would be safe to go there. It was my first time ever being in a kink space, Joy said. It changed my life 100% for the better, because I became so much more empowered and confident. Other longtime members of Phillys kink community agreed. A lot of folks just want to socialize with other like-minded people where they wont be judged and that isnt a loud bar or club, said Miss Mackenzee, a BDSM and sexuality educator who runs a dungeon in Delaware. Miss Mackenzee said she had attended multiple parties hosted at William Way. William Way executive director Chris Bartlett previously told The Inquirer that the center would continue renting to the Aviary, as long as it continues to follow the centers code of conduct, which includes no sexual activity. The event that the Aviary conducts is within our code of conduct and they promote sexual health and freedom in a legal, safe way, Bartlett said. The withdrawal of the funding request is so cynical and its so goofy, said Tyrell Brown, the executive director of Galaei, an LGBTQ direct service organization that runs Philly Pride. Brown, who called the senators response a rash overreaction, said that nonprofits often share or rent their spaces to community groups because there are few well-funded and safe public spaces where people can gather in the city not just for sex-positive parties, but for any reason. Despite the uproar, the Aviary will continue hosting its events. Its next kink party at William Way is Saturday. One of the things that always impresses me about our Asia leadership team is that all the country leads communicate well with each other, they have conversations with the aim of learning from each other, they share ideas, and they do this because they are committed to putting the client at the heart of everything they do while taking the Crawford customer experience to the next level, he said. We would like to see future fuel efficiency targets for utes and 4WDs relaxed in the initial years to allow vehicle technology to be introduced and to make sure new and more efficient models maintain or even increase in range, Kane said. Vehicle range is a big factor for regional Queenslanders and off-road enthusiasts and the last thing we want to see is any new standard compromising that. Andre has many years of experience in the region and across different parts of Europe and is well-known to our clients and reinsurers. I look forward to continuing to work with Andre in his new role and Im confident that he is the right person to lead our business in this region going forward, Dowlen said. IQumulate Premium Funding is a top performer in the Insurance Business 5-Star Insurance Innovators award. The award ranks companies in Australia and New Zealand on their innovations - including in the claims process and new products. Insurance Business TV spoke with Graeme Gordon, IQumulates head of sales in Australia and New Zealand. Davies has six years of insurance industry experience. In her most recent role, she worked as an account executive at AmeriHealth New Jersey, where she handled both small and large group medical coverage. Romanelli, who is based in New York, has been tapped to lead the companys expansion initiatives in the Northeast region. He has over 30 years of experience in the insurance sector, which includes holding key positions at CNA and Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. Member states have until June 7, 2026, to transpose the directive into their own national law, and then employers will have a year to comply, Madden and Wiggins said. The directive has enforcement teeth, including providing employees with full recovery plus costs (subject to time limitations). The burden of proof is on the employer to show that no pay discrimination occurred, or they will be ordered to disclose and possibly subject to fines. Harnessing the opportunities within an insurance career For Dunn, who joined the industry looking for variety, insurance has provided that in spades. Throughout her career, she has been able to try out a lot of different business areas, she said, including a stint in marketing which she quickly discovered was not the right fit for her. Instead, she found her passion in underwriting, where she quickly recognized that the skills needed to be a great underwriter are similar to those required for engineering questioning, analytics and trying to work out how to solve peoples problems. The Biden administration unveiled a new program on Thursday aimed at alleviating the financial burden on homeowners by slashing closing costs on select mortgages, reviving a proposal that faced opposition from the industry in the past. The initiative targets a significant expense associated with closing on a mortgage: title insurance. In a pilot program, Fannie Mae will waive the title insurance requirement on mortgage refinancings it acquires from certain lenders, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. This move reignites a clash with the industry regarding the cost and necessity of title insurance and aligns with the White House's broader objective of dismantling obstacles to homeownership, the Journal reported. The program was announced shortly before Biden's State of the Union address. Last fall, The Wall Street Journal reported that Fannie's federal regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), halted work on the pilot program following objections from title insurers and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The White House has been urging agencies like the FHFA to explore ways to reduce closing costs, prompted by the Journal's report on the abandoned pilot. Critics from the title and settlement industry, which stands to lose premium revenue, argue that Fannie lacks experience with title insurance and shouldn't take on additional risk after being bailed out by taxpayers during the financial crisis. The American Land Title Association condemned the plan as "a purely political gesture offering a false promise of savings for homeowners." The industry body warned of increased financial risk for consumers, lenders, and taxpayers. Title insurance serves to declare legal ownership of a property and offers protection against potential ownership disputes. However, some critics argue that it is excessively costly in an age of digitized land and title records, the Journal reported. Under the pilot program, Fannie would waive the need for title insurance for a limited number of mortgage refinancings offered by select lenders. The program could expand over time to include more lenders and other mortgage types. Instead of paying premiums to title insurers, Fannie may collaborate with financial technology company Doma to ensure clear titles, with any remaining risk potentially covered by Fannie itself. FHFA Director Sandra Thompson told the Journal that the test pilot would apply to "certain low-risk refinance transactions" where there is confidence in the property's freedom from prior liens or encumbrances. However, FHFA has not yet approved specific technology vendors or lenders for the pilot. The White House indicated further actions to address title insurance costs, with the Treasury Department planning to convene a roundtable to discuss the industry and explore potential reforms, the Journal reported. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will also pursue potential new rules to scrutinize "anticompetitive closing costs" imposed by lenders on home buyers and homeowners. Have something to say about this story? Let us know in the comments below. In her new role, Gammons is tasked with spearheading the expansion of the claims closure solutions service line, focusing on augmenting its offerings and guiding the strategic direction of the department. Additionally, she will oversee the operational aspects and support her team in delivering solutions to WTW's clientele. The foundation also noted its collaboration with Arbella employees and independent agents, who contribute their time and provide valuable insights into community needs. In 2023, this collaborative effort resulted in donations and volunteer work that had a significant impact on local charities, with the combined contributions from the foundation, employees, and agents totaling $477,000. A Robbinsville, New Jersey frozen food manufacturer with a history of violating federal safety and health standards was cited again by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), after a worker suffered an amputation last August. The agency determined the company exposed workers to lockout/tagout hazards where energy may be inadvertently released and cited it for eight violations, amounting to a $551,719 penalty. CJ TMI Manufacturing America manufactures frozen dumplings, wontons and noodles for the Twin Marquis and Chef One brands. This company continues to leave its workers vulnerable to hazardous conditions that threaten their safety, said OSHA Area Director Paula Dixon-Roderick. These hazards must be addressed immediately to prevent another incident. Including this inspection, OSHA said it has inspected CJ TMI Manufacturing America six times in the past five years and placed the company in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program after an inspection produced a significant case in 2021. The company has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings. Topics Workers' Compensation Manufacturing A dormitory fire Monday at Central Connecticut State University is forcing 60 students into temporary housing, the university said. The started around 6 p.m. on the first floor of F. Don James Hall, the university said. Sprinklers helped prevent flames from spreading, and firefighters put the fire out within minutes, the university said. Students evacuated from the eight-story dormitory building were taken to the Memorial Hall and student center on the New Britain campus while the university secured temporary housing at a hotel. The university is grateful everyone is safe, university President Zulma Toro said. The students did exactly what they should in a situation like this and we are working on making them comfortable in a new space. Students were permitted to return to James Hall after 9 p.m. to gather their belongings. Students with first floor doors were then being shuttled to the hotel, while students on the second through sixth floors were able to chose if they wanted to go to the hotel, the university said in a social media post. The fire is under investigation by the state fire marshal. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Education Connecticut Universities Europe will be 3C hotter even if the world succeeds in limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, bringing with it the heightened peril of extreme weather and trillions of euros of damages to the economy. Such climactic hazards will be felt more acutely in southern Europe, but a conservative estimate shows that climate change could reduce economic output in the European Union by around 7% by the end of the century, according to a draft communication from the European Commission seen by Bloomberg. If global warming goes beyond the 1.5C threshold, it could reduce the blocs GDP by 2.4 trillion between 2031 and 2050, the draft shows. Heres how the EU plans to do better at managing its climate risks: Better Data The bloc will use satellites to better assess risks like wildfires. It will also access data that will allow policymakers to simulate future sea level rise, coast erosion and changes in biodiversity over decades come. Alert systems for natural disasters will be improved using the Galileo satellite services next year. The commission will also step-up efforts to combat disinformation on the climate. Resilient Finance The EU will set minimum climate resilience requirements for all EU spending. Public procurement, which accounts for 14% of the blocs GDP, needs to better consider risks from extreme weather, through auctions for wind and solar power. The European Central Bank, the European Investment Bank as well as private financial institutions will join a committee set up by the commission to help finance climate resilience. Natures Role Future-proofing EU food production will be a priority for the commission and the executive body will conduct a study on adaptation in agriculture by the end of next year, according to the draft document. Creaking Infrastructure Europes buildings, transport and energy infrastructure are all at risk. Only a handful of member states have laid down plans for how to boost resilience of their power grids. Building standards will also need to be strengthened in order to deal with extreme weather events. The EU is hoping to host an international symposium on managing Global Climate Risks in 2025, bringing together government representatives, financiers, and expert organizations. Photograph: Firefighters and volunteers work to extinguish a wildfire near Dikella, Greece in August 2023. Photo credit: Konstantinos Tsakalidis/Bloomberg Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. Topics Europe Climate Change This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Aspen UK and Howden Tiger. A summary of these new hires follow here. Stanford Named CEO of Aspen UK, Osman Become Active U/W, Lloyds Syndicate 4711 Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. announced the confirmation of Sarah Stanford as CEO, Aspen UK, following approval by the Aspen UK Boards. Stanford had been appointed as Interim CEO, Aspen UK on Jan. 17, 2024. Dan Osman will take over Sarahs previous role as active underwriter, Lloyds Syndicate 4711, in addition to his current responsibility as CUO, Aspen Insurance UK (AIUK). Osman joined Aspen in January 2018 as senior underwriter, and was promoted to head of Credit and Political Risk in 2021. In 2022, he was also appointed CUO, AIUK. Prior to Aspen, Osman spent 17 years in the banking industry, holding various roles in credit including credit research, correlation trading, bond and credit default swap trading, loan and portfolio management. Sarahs and Dans appointments are subject to regulatory approval. *** Howden Tiger Promotes Chattaraj as Chief Science Officer Howden Tiger, the reinsurance and capital advisory arm of Howden Group, announced the promotion of Bhaskar Chattaraj to the newly created position of chief science officer (CSO). He will lead the businesss research and development of state-of-the-art risk management frameworks and catastrophe modeling solutions. Chattaraj is a highly experienced researcher in the field. He joined the business in 2009 and latterly served as head of Cat Modeling and Research & Development (R&D) before starting his new role at the beginning of 2024. He brings to the position over 25 years experience in building and implementing cutting-edge risk management solutions. Based in Minneapolis, Chattaraj reports to Nathan Schwartz, head of Global Analytics, Howden Tiger. He oversees the development of a dedicated R&D team, whose insights and innovations help re/insurance clients globally to build and manage more profitable portfolios. As CSO, Chattaraj is responsible for delivering the businesss next generation of catastrophe risk management models and frameworks, with a particular emphasis on machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). With an incredible wealth of data at our disposal, the latest developments in AI and machine learning are rapidly redefining how the re/insurance industry can model, monitor, and manage risk, commented Schwartz. Having access to the latest and most sophisticated scientific insights will truly differentiate the leaders in this market, and Im delighted to have Bhaskar at the forefront of our innovations. His extensive industry experience and deep subject-matter expertise will ensure that we continue to empower our clients with cutting-edge, data-led solutions, better enabling re/insurers to adapt to a complex and evolving risk landscape. Topics Excess Surplus Lloyd's Two Columbia, Missouri residents were sentenced in federal court on March 6 for their roles in a $1.1 million insurance fraud scheme that involved false claims of injuries suffered in faked car accidents. Michael Lee Gene Stapleton, 37, and Latoya Marie Brown, 37, were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark. Stapleton was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay $166,363 in restitution to his victims. Brown was sentenced to four years in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay $72,069 in restitution to her victims. On April 6, 2023, Stapleton pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting mail fraud. On Feb. 14, 2023, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. This case stems from a long investigation by the FBI into co-defendant Lawrence Courtney Lawhorn, 36, of Kansas City, Mo. (formerly of Columbia), for a series of automobile accidents throughout Missouri. All but one of those accidents were staged. The conspiracy defrauded six insurance companies of a total of $1,234,581 from June 2017 to July 2020. Lawhorn recruited friends, acquittances, family, and friends of friends to participate in the staged accidents. Conspirators went to various medical providers, claiming injuries from the staged accidents and requesting various testing, such a MRIs, CT scans, and/or X-rays. Conspirators then submitted false claims to insurance companies that they had suffered bodily injuries and that they would be personally liable for any medical bills related to insurance claims. Conspirators, some of whom were involved in multiple incidents, received thousands of dollars, and in some cases tens of thousands of dollars, based on these false claims. However, none of the conspirators made any payments to medical providers and instead used the funds for their personal expenses. Brown admitted she was involved in three incidents and received a total of $44,269 in insurance payments. Two of the accidents were in Boone County, Mo., and one of the accidents was in Kansas City, Mo. Stapleton admitted that he and co-defendant Tara Colleen Jackson, 60, of Independence, Mo., who is Lawhorns mother, participated in a staged automobile accident in Kansas City, Mo. State Farm issued a $50,000 check to Stapleton and a $50,000 check to Jackson. None of the medical bills totaling $188,920 at Research Medical Center (where Stapleton was treated) and St. Lukes East Hospital (where Jackson was treated) have been paid. Stapleton and Brown are among 16 defendants who have been sentenced in this case. Lawhorn pleaded guilty on June 8, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Lawhorn also pleaded guilty in a separate and unrelated case to commit wire fraud. His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Jackson pleaded guilty on April 6, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and awaits sentencing. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Maness. It was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Source: U.S. Attorneys Office, Western District of Missouri Topics Fraud Kansas Missouri MADISON, Wis. (AP) Environmental regulators cant unilaterally force polluters to clean up contamination from so-called forever chemicals without going through the Legislature to establish specific limits on the compounds, a state appellate court ruled Wednesday. The 2nd District Court of Appeals decision all but eliminates the Department of Natural Resources authority to unilaterally mandate reporting PFAS contamination in groundwater and force responsible parties to clean it up. If the decision stands, the DNR will now wait for legislators to impose groundwater limits on PFAS through state law or an administrative rule. Both approaches can take years. Environmental advocates also fear that the ruling could slow the DNRs response to other emerging forms of pollution. The state Justice Department represented the DNR in the case. Attorney General Josh Kaul said the agency will ask the state Supreme Court to review the decision. Safe and clean drinking water shouldnt be a luxury. It should be accessible to every Wisconsinite, Kaul said. This decision would dramatically weaken our ability to protect Wisconsinites from PFAS and other emerging contaminants. PFAS, the abbreviation for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are man-made chemicals that dont easily break down in nature. Theyre found in a wide range of products, including cookware, firefighting foam and stain-resistant clothing. The chemicals have been linked to health problems including low birth weight, cancer and liver disease and have been shown to make vaccines less effective. Communities across Wisconsin are grappling with PFAS contamination, including Marinette, Madison, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Wausau and the towns of Peshtigo and Campbell. The case in question revolves around Leather Rich, Inc., an Oconomowoc-based dry cleaner. According to court documents, the business learned in 2018 that its property was contaminated with various potentially hazardous substances. State statutes collectively known as the Spills Law require polluters to notify the DNR of a hazardous discharge and minimize the effect on the environment. Leather Rich was working on clean-up with DNR oversight in early 2019 when the agency posted a message online saying that it now considered PFAS chemicals a hazardous substance under the Spills Law. The agency ordered the dry cleaner to test its groundwater for PFAS but didnt tell the business which PFAS compounds it needed to test for PFAS is a broad term for a group of thousands of different chemicals or what levels would be considered dangerous. The dry cleaner along with Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the states largest business group, sued the DNR in 2021. They argued the agency lacked any basis in state law or rules to impose such mandates. The DNR countered that it could unilaterally force testing because the Spills Law gives the agency broad authority to protect the environment. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren sided with the dry cleaner in 2022, saying the DNR needs to impose limits on PFAS through the rule-making process. He ordered that the ruling be stayed until all appeals are exhausted. The 2nd District Court of Appeals upheld Bohren, ruling 2-1 that the clean-up mandate is effectively an an administrative rule that was improperly promulgated. Judge Lisa Neubauer wrote in dissent that state law does not require the DNR to develop rules before the Spills Law can apply. Today, for the first time since the statute was enacted, the court holds that the DNR must promulgate rules identifying certain substances as hazardous before the Spills Law applies to discharges of those substances, Neubauer wrote. Drafting rules typically takes state agencies years. When the language is settled, the regulations still need legislative approval a tall task given that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers controls the executive branch and Republicans run the Senate and Assembly. The DNRs policy board in February 2022 adopted limits on PFAS in surface and drinking water. The Legislature did not block the standards and they went into effect in June of that year. The DNR spent most of 2023 working on standards for groundwater, the source of drinking water for about two-thirds of Wisconsin residents. But Evers said in December the agency had to stop because compliance costs for industrial facilities and wastewater treatment plants that discharge to groundwater were projected at $33 million over the first two years the standards would be in effect. A Republican-authored state law requires state agencies to obtain legislative permission to continue working on regulations that could cost at least $10 million. So far lawmakers havent given the DNR the green light to continue. Scott Rosenow, executive director of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerces Litigation Center, said Wednesdays decision protects peoples right to know what theyre required to do about pollution. Were pleased with the outcome of this case and will continue our fight to protect the public from government overreach, Rosenow said. The appellate ruling did not address Bohrens stay order, which means the decision will have no effect until the state Supreme Court refuses to take the case or releases its own ruling. Rob Lee is an attorney with environmental law firm Midwest Environmental Advocates, which filed briefs in the case on behalf of a group of environmental and public health organizations, including Citizens for a Clean Wausau, the River Alliance of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Environmental Health Network. He said the groups were disappointed with the ruling but the stay will protect Wisconsin residents living with PFAS and they expect the DNR will ultimately prevail. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Wisconsin Aon Names Ahmed and Von Obstfelder as Advanced Risk Analytics Product Leaders Aon plc, headquartered in London, named to new leaders in global and U.S. commercial risk. Aon named Arshi Ahmed global head of analytics for financial, professional and cyber products, commercial risk. Ahmed previously led commercial risk data analytics for cyber programs. Based in New York, she will work closely with the actuarial consulting leaders that support cyber, financial and professional lines. Ben Von Obstfelder has been named head of U.S. casualty analytics for commercial risk. Von Obstfelder, based in Chicago, previously served as director of analytics and innovation within Aons North America casualty team for commercial risk. Tokio Marine North Americas Angelson Named C-Level Leader for Global Insurance Group Tokio Marine North America, headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, promoted Caryn Angelson to executive officer at Tokio Marine Holdings and chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO) beginning April 1. She replaces Mika Nabeshima who is taking over the role of chief sustainability officer. Angelson currently serves as deputy CDIO, chief HR officer of Tokio Marine North America Services and chief legal officer. Angelson joined Tokio Marine in 2001 in the human resources department of Tokio Marine America. Before her tenure at TMNAS, Angelson had a background in law and practiced at prominent law firms. She honed her skills as a litigator, specializing in employment and human resource matters. Topics Leadership Risk Management Aon FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A Royal Caribbean cruise employee is accused of hiding cameras inside bathrooms of passenger cabins to spy on guests, including underage girls. Arvin Joseph Mirasol, 34, was arrested Sunday on federal charges of production and possession of child sexual abuse material after the Symphony of the Seas arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court of Florida. He also faces six counts of voyeurism in state court. A guest staying in a cabin where Mirasol was an attendant found a camera in the bathroom Feb. 25. It was affixed to the counter underneath the sink, according to the affidavit. She reported it to ship officials, who sent security to the room to investigate. Mirasol, who is a citizen of the Philippines, was detained on the ship until March 3, when it docked in Fort Lauderdale. He was questioned by agents from Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and the Broward Sheriffs Office. Agents discovered numerous videos of naked females as well as images of child sexual abuse while looking at his phone, an SD card and USB stick, the affidavit said. One of the videos showed Mirasol installing a camera in a guest cabins bathroom. In one five-minute video, a 10-year-old girl entered the bathroom, removed her clothes and got into the shower, the affidavit said. Mirasol told investigators he had been placing cameras in bathrooms since he began working on the ship in December. I want to control it, but I cant, he told investigators, according to the affidavit. He admitted he knew it was illegal to film underage girls. Agents asked him how he chose where to put the cameras. If I like who is in that room, I place it, he told them. In addition to the hidden cameras, Mirasol told agents he went into rooms while guests were taking showers and hid under the bed. He would then record them getting dressed, according to the affidavit. Royal Caribbean said in a statement that the company has fired Mirasol and is cooperating with the investigation. We have zero tolerance for this unacceptable behavior, the statement said. Mirasol is represented by Robert Berube of the federal public defenders office, who said in an email that he would not comment on the case. Mirasol remained in the Broward County Jail on Wednesday. Photo: A 2020 shot of the ship. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey easily won the Republican primary for reelection to the post this week, but the Democratic nominee wasted little time in blasting Causey for postponing a rate hearing. State Sen. Natasha Marcus, D-Salisbury, won 77% of the votes in the Democratic primary Tuesday. Just two days later, she criticized Causeys decision to reschedule a hearing on a 50.6% proposed rate increase on dwelling insurance in the state, arguing the incumbent is hoping to negotiate with insurer interests behind the scenes, according to news reports. The hearing had been set for April 8. Causey, seeking a third term as commissioner, said this week that the forum had been rescheduled for July 22. The postponement is not unusual in North Carolinas rate-making system. The state Rate Bureau, using data from property insurers in the state, recommended the 50% average DP-3 rate hike. In most rate increase proposals in recent years, the commissioner has negotiated with the Bureau and arrived at much smaller increases. The Bureau also has called for a 42% average rate increase on HO policies. A hearing on that has been set for Oct. 7, just a month before the general election. Topics North Carolina Politics Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler fined insurers and producers $66,328 in January and February. Kreidlers fines in January included New York Life Insurance Co. to the tune of $46,328 for failing to ensure its producers were up to date on their training requirements. Agents are required to receive specific long-term care training and continuing education to ensure they have the knowledge to properly sell long-term care products. New York Life Insurance reportedly failed to verify that 22 of its producers had received the requisite training before they were allowed to sell or negotiate the companys long-term care insurance products in 2021 and 2022. Other January & February fines and consent orders The fine was part of $66,328 in fines Kreidlers office issued in January and February of for violations of state insurance laws and regulations. The other fines and reported violations included: VSP Vision Care, Inc., Richmond, Va.; fined $5,000 VSP failed to file large group negotiated rates within the timeframe required by state law. Continental Western Insurance Company, Urbandale, Iowa; fined $4,000 Continental Western used incorrect rating factors in its commercial package policies. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington, Seattle, Wash.; fined $10,000 Kaiser fell victim to a security breach after an employee sent login information in response to a phishing email. The company was required to report the breach to the OIC two days after an analysis of the incident was completed, but did not report the breach until 11 days after the analysis. Norcal Insurance Company, San Fransico, Calif.; fined $1,000 Norcal failed to renew 50 producer appointments within the required timeframe and did not update its legal name in two mobile apps. Since 2001, Kreidler has assessed more than $40 million in fines, which are directed to the states general fund to pay for state services. Topics Carriers Washington A jury in Oregon has ordered PacifiCorp to pay more than $42 million to 10 victims of devastating wildfires on Labor Day 2020 the latest verdict in litigation that is expected to see the electric utility on the hook for billions in damages. Last June, a jury found PacifiCorp liable for negligently failing to cut power to its 600,000 customers despite warnings from top fire officials. The jury determined it acted negligently and willfully and should have to pay punitive and other damages a decision that applied to a class including the owners of up to 2,500 properties. Tuesdays decision was the third verdict applying last years ruling to a specific set of plaintiffs. Last month, a jury awarded $85 million to a different set of nine plaintiffs, and the jury that initially found PacifiCorp liable awarded about $90 million to 17 homeowners named as plaintiffs in that case. Thousands of other class members are still awaiting trials, though the sides are also expected to engage in mediation that could lead to a settlement. PacifiCorp, a unit of Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway, is appealing. The utility said in an email Tuesday it has settled hundreds of claims relating to the fires and remains committed to settling all reasonable claims for actual damages under Oregon law. For utilities, there is an ominous risk in making future investments in regions where they become the de facto insurers of last resort in a more frequent extreme weather environment, the statement said. The fires were among the worst natural disasters in Oregons history, killing nine people, burning more than 1,875 square miles (4,856 square kilometers) and destroying upward of 5,000 homes and other structures. Among those covered by Tuesdays award is the Upward Bound Camp for Persons with Special Needs in Gates, Oregon, plaintiffs attorneys said in a news release Tuesday. The camps executive director testified that a fire began on its property after a power line fell. It destroyed the only indoor spaces that can accommodate campers, leaving the nonprofit organization unable to hold camps during the winter, spring and fall. The U.S. government is also threatening to sue PacifiCorp to recover nearly $1 billion in costs related to the 2020 wildfires in southern Oregon and northern California, though the company is trying to negotiate a settlement. Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway estimates that its utilities face at least $8 billion in claims across all the wildfire lawsuits already filed in Oregon and California, although the damages could be doubled or even tripled in some of those cases and some of the lawsuits dont list a dollar amount. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Oregon March 8, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) New study reveals the most popular cryptocurrencies in Maine. The study, conducted by crypto experts at Bombastic.com used Google Search data to analyze and compare different cryptocurrencies from the top 100 (by market cap) in each US State to determine which crypto is the most popular. According to the results, the top five cryptocurrencies in the state of Maine are: Bitcoin Binance Coin Ripple Ethereum EOS Bitcoin (BTC) Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency not just but across many of the states. Bitcoin was the first decentralized digital currency and in recent years has gained immense popularity across the globe. Bitcoin has captured the imagination of individuals, investors, and institutions alike, as they recognize its potential to revolutionize traditional financial systems and reshape the future of money. Being the most widely accepted and recognized it makes sense why it's the most popular crypto. Binance Coin (BNB) Binance Coin is a cryptocurrency that has gained significant popularity due to its association with the Binance cryptocurrency exchange. BNB's popularity stems from several factors, including its role as the native token of the Binance exchange, which allows users to benefit from reduced trading fees and access various services. Additionally, BNB has been successful in maintaining a high degree of liquidity and market capitalization, further attracting investors and traders. Binance's commitment to innovation and its ability to adapt to evolving market trends have also contributed to BNB's popularity, as the coin has been integrated into various decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and blockchain projects. Ripple (XRP) Ripple, has gained significant popularity in the world of cryptocurrencies. Developed by Ripple Labs, XRP stands out among other digital currencies due to its unique features and widespread adoption. Its popularity can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, XRP offers fast and low-cost international transactions, making it an attractive choice for cross-border payments. Its blockchain technology enables near-instant settlement, eliminating the need for traditional intermediaries and reducing transaction fees. Secondly, XRP has secured partnerships with numerous financial institutions and banks worldwide, which has enhanced its credibility and increased its user base. These partnerships have facilitated the integration of XRP into existing financial systems, making it a viable option for mainstream adoption. Ethereum (ETH) Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform renowned for its smart contract functionality, which allows developers to create and deploy decentralized applications (DApps). Its popularity stems from several factors. First, Ethereum introduced the concept of programmable blockchain, enabling developers to build innovative applications and digital assets on its platform. This flexibility and versatility have attracted a vast community of developers, entrepreneurs, and investors, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of projects and services. Additionally, Ethereum's native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is one of the largest and most widely recognized cryptocurrencies not just in America but globally. EOS (EOS) The EOS Network provides a world class, robust, smart contract functionality that enables developers to build the best-in-class decentralized applications (dApps) easily. It is an open source blockchain platform that prioritizes high performance, flexibility, security, and developer experience. As a third generation blockchain platform powered by the EOS virtual machine, EOS has an extensible WebAssembly engine for deterministic execution of near-feeless transactions, which makes it a popular investment. A spokesperson from Bombastic.com commented: "The rise in popularity of cryptocurrencies shows a big change happening not just in America but across the globe. More and more people are getting interested in digital assets because they see how they can transform many industries. The rise in popularity of crypto in America represents a collective realization that the future of finance and other sectors, such as art, music and gaming, are all being shaped and driven forward by blockchain technology." ENDS credit to Bombastic.com. Sources: Google Trends Methodology Google trends data was taken for a list of the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap for each State over the last 12 months, average monthly search interest was then used to rank each cryptocurrency. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100? That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More March 8, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) A new study by crypto tax software CoinLedger reveals that the retail & e-commerce sector has the highest number of companies that offer the option to purchase through cryptocurrency. The study compiled a list of 400 major companies listed by BitPay as accepting cryptocurrency methods and categorized them into sectors, to discover which one contains the most companies offering crypto as a payment method. Retail & e-commerce take first place with a total of 76 companies accepting crypto payments. The sector includes clothing and accessories stores like Adidas, Yankee Candle and H&M, as well as online shopping platforms such as Etsy. The food & dining sector follows closely in second with 72 companies. Examples are Chipotle, Chuck E Cheese's, Domino's and Hard Rock Cafe, and delivery services such as DoorDash and Uber Eats. Different services became available gradually in different countries: Burger King Venezuela has been accepting Bitcoin payments since 2020. New additions to this list are the Grubhub conglomerate, for which you can purchase gift cards with crypto, and various stand-alone pubs and restaurants around the world such as The Pink Cow in Tokyo and Pembury Tavern in London. Travel & hospitality comes in third with 38 companies accepting crypto payments. These range from commercial airlines such as Norwegian Air and Vueling to private jet hire like Fast Private Jet, LunaJets and PrivateFly. Cruise companies Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises are also on the list, as well as trip-organizing help sites like GetYourGuide. Further down on the list, luxury retail is fourth with 35 companies offering the service, among which there are high fashion brands Gucci and Ralph Lauren, luxuryx watches retailer Hublot, as well as jewelers such as Jewelry Affairs and CRM Jewelers. The top five closes with internet & online services companies, as 32 accept crypto as a form of payment. These companies offer a service available to use online from our phones and laptops, such as Google Play and Spotify, and different VPN services like CyberGhostVPN, ExpressVPN and FrootVPN. David Kemmerer, Co-Founder and CEO of CoinLedger commented on the findings: "The increasing number of companies accepting cryptocurrency payments reflects the growing acceptance and adoption of digital currencies in the mainstream economy. "This trend not only aligns with the evolving preferences of tech-savvy consumers but also offers benefits such as reduced transaction fees and increased security. From major retailers to small businesses, the diversification of sectors embracing cryptocurrencies demonstrates the versatility and potential of blockchain technology. As this trend continues, it's likely to contribute to the broader acceptance of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate form of payment, paving the way for a more decentralized and accessible financial landscape." credit and link to https://coinledger.io/ Data sourced from BitPay Methodology: CoinLedger sourced a list of companies that accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment from BitPay's business directory; All companies were categorized into industry sectors; CoinLedger ranked each industry according to the eligible companies to determine the most crypto-friendly sector More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100? That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More President Joe Biden has put the skids under the months-old 15% global corporate tax deal which now threatens to re-open the controversy over multinationals and their tax bills that the Government here had hoped had gone away. In a State of the Union address on Thursday night, Mr Biden re-opened the row over big corporates, pledging to hike the 15% minimum tax rate to a new higher rate of 21% for large US companies. The pledge threatens to torpedo the international agreement over multinationals that Ireland had reluctantly agreed to in late 2021. It comes also only 20 months after Mr Biden's White House and US legislators had endorsed the new global regime. In late 2021, then Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the Government had agreed to give way to international pressure brought by the US and the large European economies, in particular, when it agreed to hike to 15% from 12.5% the rate that the State would tax the profits of large companies and multinationals. Mr Donohoe said at the time that the concession was a "pragmatic" decision. It followed long years of an initiative led by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development which was driven by Mr Biden's White House and the big European governments that were seeking greater shares of the multinational tax pie for their own exchequers. The Government hoped at the time the agreement would lift the international spotlight from Ireland's favourable tax dealings that had helped lure huge amounts of investments from multinationals into Ireland via the IDA. President Biden has now re-opened the controversy. "Thanks to the law I wrote and signed, big companies now have to pay a minimum of 15%," the president told Congress in the State of the Union speech. He said: But thats still less than working people pay in federal taxes. Its time to raise the corporate minimum tax to at least 21% so every big corporation finally begins to pay their fair share. The pledge takes on even more significance in this US election year. Ireland's 12.5% corporation tax rate had been in place for almost three decades. It was widely acknowledged to have anchored the prosperity across the island on the basis that it attracted US tech and pharma multinationals, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson, to set up substantial head offices in the State. The stakes remain high for Ireland because a handful of US multinationals account for the lion's share of the almost 24bn the Government collects in annual corporation tax receipts. A month after the Government signed up to the deal, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on an extended visit to Dublin had told a media gathering alongside Mr Donohoe that she had not cajoled Ireland over the new global accord. Read More Nama on track to wind down by end of 2025 as Finance Minister recommends new resolution unit She told reporters that she had held talks earlier that year in 2021 to try to understand Ireland's position, adding that the new global accord served the interests of Ireland and all countries. Many economists said that striking a deal would take the focus off Ireland for some time, but they also warned that the Government, by conceding the principle of raising the 12.5% tax rate, could store up problems should the international controversy over multinationals and their tax bills be re-opened. Mr Donohoe at the time said the agreement was "a fair compromise" which meant that most Irish companies would continue to pay the 12.5% rate because their annual turnover was below the new OECD threshold that applied for the new and higher rate of 15%. 'Unworkable' Goodbody chief economist Dermot O'Leary said the significance of Mr Biden's pledge on Thursday night should not be downplayed. "The US has to be part of any global tax deal for it to be a global tax deal. And the biggest companies are American. For them, this makes the deal unworkable, in my view," Mr O'Leary said. "This means that painful negotiations will have to be re-opened on this issue, but it is hard to see much progress being made in this election year. We do not know who the next US president will be, but we do know that Donald Trump is not an advocate for multilateral deals," he said. "Even though Ireland was against raising its corporate tax rate, a deal which led to only a small increase in the corporate tax charge and one that reduced the risks of moves towards tax harmonisation and digital taxes was seen as positive. It appears that these risks may be returning," the chief economist said. The crisis in Palestine has left Irelands politicians in a tricky position when it comes to where the State invests its money. As clashing parties debate the extent of Irelands response to the devastation in Gaza, Government politicians have walked a tightrope. From the Taoiseach down, politicians here have been vocal about the actions of Israel. In recent weeks, Leo Varadkar labelled the Israeli government as blinded by rage, adding that what it is doing resembles something more approaching revenge than self-defence. Last month, Tanaiste Micheal Martin warned that Israel was behaving like a monster, with the countrys actions described as without a doubt, a violation of international humanitarian law. The status of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland remains a controversial issue, as does the extent of Irelands response. Still, despite the Governments internal struggles, Ireland has remained one of the few outliers on the European stage, showing continued opposition to Israeli leaders despite conflicting sentiments elsewhere, and lending among some of the strongest calls in support of a Palestinian state. Conflicting position However, Ireland now finds itself in a conflicting position, with criticism around events in Gaza bringing issues across other Palestinian regions to the forefront. While Irelands parallel history with the people of Palestine has informed its stance as one of its international supporters, the Irish State is simultaneously investing millions in companies engaged across illegal Israeli settlements, and profiting from their operations through a key public investment fund. Just as private investors put money into stock market investments or other financial assets, the Government does something similar, investing taxpayer money in stock market companies, mostly indirectly, across the world to support economic activity and employment in Ireland. The countrys main fund is the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). Established in 2014, ISIF is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) with total funds in 2022 standing at just over 15bn. The fund is divided into two portfolios, a directed portfolio held within ISIF under direction from the finance minister, and a discretionary portfolio which is outsourced to a private investment manager. As of 2022, the funds directed portfolio comprised 6.3bn, while its discretionary portfolio totalled 8.7bn. The discretionary portfolio is managed by a third party, EOS at Federated Hermes, a US-headquartered stewardship service provider. According to its website, EOS is an industry leader in working with investors to change companies for good, from within and continues to evolve best-practice stewardship. Founded in 2004, EOS currently has 1.3trn in assets under management across the world. Like any other diversified portfolio, ISIFs discretionary fund comprises securities spanning myriad industries and multiple countries. This has left Irelands portfolio invested in several Israeli firms and other global companies that operate within occupied Palestine territory, as defined by a United Nations database which tracks the activities of such firms. In 2016, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution called Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan. UN database As part of the resolution, it was requested that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights produce a database of all business enterprises engaged in certain Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory. The database was last updated in June 2023 and listed 79 business enterprises engaged in the settlements, 17 businesses involved as parent companies, and one enterprise involved as licensors or franchisors. A spokesperson for the Department of Finance confirmed to the Irish Examiner that at year end 2022 ISIF had direct holdings as defined by the updated UN database of June 30, 2023, of circa 4.1m across 11 companies. The NTMAs most recent annual report shows that the 11 companies include four Israeli commercial banks, Bank Leumi Le-Israel, Bank Hapoalim, Israel Discount Bank, and Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, which are all listed in the database for three separate activities. The activities include the provision of services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements, including transport; banking and financial operations helping to develop, expand, or maintain settlements and their activities, including loans for housing and the development of businesses; the use of natural resources, in particular water and land, for business purposes. Israeli telecoms firm Bezeq is another company in which ISIF has direct holdings. It was added to the UN database also for the provision of services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements, including transport, and the use of natural resources, in particular water and land, for business purposes. The remaining six companies on the UN database are non-Israeli businesses, many of which are involved in tourism and travel, including Airbnb, Booking Holdings, Expedia, Tripadvisor, Alstom, and Motorola Solutions. Proposed legislation Sinn Fein proposed new legislation last year called the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill which would force ISIF to divest from companies operating within occupied Palestinian territory. However, the proposed bill has been paused for several months while the Government debates the best way to move forward, with the key issue relating to the use of the UNs database. Finance Minister Michael McGrath had requested the Oireachtas joint committee on foreign affairs and defence to explore the best ways to advance the legislation. The foreign affairs committee report showed that ISIF had said that, regarding eight of the 11 companies engaged in illegal Israeli settlements, its partner organisation had engaged with the companies in question, including by meeting the management teams to highlight concerns. However, the report said that the official acknowledged that none of the companies in question has ceased their operations in the illegal settlements as a result of these engagements. The foreign affairs committee failed to reach a consensus. It said that the committee on finance, public expenditure and reform, and taoiseach may be better placed to advise on the issues as they related to financial investment decisions and to their legal implications rather than to foreign policy. The Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill is expected to go to the next stage in the Oireachtas later this month. Government politicians have raised concerns about the complexities involved. Finance Minister Michael McGrath had requested the Oireachtas joint committee on foreign affairs and defence to explore the best ways to advance the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill, which would force the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund to divest from companies operating in occupied Palestinian territories. Picture: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie Asked by the Irish Examiner if the finance minister was concerned about ISIFs portfolio, a department spokesperson said it was constructed within the legislative framework set for it by the Oireachtas. The spokesperson said that ISIF and its assets have to be considered in a wider context. Some of the firms listed offered digital services and that it was a complex issue, and that the database, by the UNs own definition, was not comprehensive, said the spokesperson. The minister of finance is continuing to examine and seek advice in relation to this issue while also engaging across Government. However, opposition TDs have pushed for much quicker calls to action. Last month, Labours Ged Nash and Sinn Feins Matt Carthy submitted questions to the finance minister regarding his engagements with ISIF and fellow ministers on the issue. Sinn Fein has pressed for a quick resolution. The issue here is not conflicting opinions, as there is a broad consensus across the Government that something should be done. However, the differences appear to involve the time that politicians want to consider the matters at hand. Film Origin Out Friday, March 8 Ava DuVernay is not one to shy away from a challenge and this adaptation of Isabel Wilkersons Caste: The Lies That Divide Us. This film asks a lot of its audience as it seeks to translate the dense text to the screen. Examining racial tensions in the US, the marginalised Dalit people in India, and the Holocaust, it can all feel like a college lecture. For as much as it is an intellectual film, it is equally a film about people and all that links us. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor's powerful performance takes us with her on her journey rather than just telling us about it. Festival Aisling Reina is an artist and community organiser with the Small Trans Library. Picture: Disrupt Disability Arts Festival Disrupt Disability Arts Festival Project Arts Centre, Dublin city, until Monday, March 11 This unique and inclusive festival is in its first year and combines a programme of in-person and online events to ensure that everyone can take part. The rich diverse voices from the disability arts community are showcased through theatre, dance, visual arts and literature-based performance. Among those taking part are Louise Bruton, Alison Clarke, Tobi Balogun, Michelle Hall, DJ Renn Miano and Suzanne Walsh. The festival aims to challenge prevailing notions about disability and create a space for open dialogue. The visual art exhibition and online programme continue until 20 April. Concert Music of...with John O'Brien The Everyman, Cork city, Sunday March 10 The second of three performances in this series, Sunday is Music of...Love and Heartache. West End star Molly Lynch will be joined by harpist Anne-Marie Papin Labazordiere as they whisk you on a captivating journey through the highs and lows of love. The concert will showcase Lynch's natural style while also pushing her out of her comfort zone making for a unique performance not to be missed. The two women will also be joined by the Ora Quartet featuring Siun Milne, Molly O'Shea, Ali Comerford, and Yseult Cooper Stockdale. TV The End of the World with Beanz RTE One, Tuesday, March 12, 7pm Comedian Martin Beanz Warde is travelling the world to meet people who are making efforts to combat climate change. Warde will visit places such as Kenya, France, and La Gomera in the Canaries while tackling issues such as fast fashion. He will be joined by a different host each week including Diarmuid Lyng and Bernard O'Shea. Warde said that the series is not about preaching to people and badgering them into changing their ways but looks at the impact of our actions both at home and abroad. Club Kerri Chandler Cyprus Avenue, Cork city, Friday, March 15 A legend of deep house music, Kerri Chandler is bringing his innovative skills to Cork city. Encompassing soul, jazz, funk and countless other dance rhythms, Chandler's sets have been known to go on for six hours or more. That may not be the case here but he will take you to another world for as long as he's playing. A dominating force since the early 90s, he has shaped the house landscape with passion and meticulous nature. He is affectionately known as the Stevie Wonder of house music due to his ability to create rich music that transcends the genre. RTE has denied claims that it "cut" Lankums acceptance speech from its broadcast of the Choice Music Awards. Irish stars such as CMAT spoke out on Friday about the folk music group's speech appearing to be "cut" from RTE 2FMs broadcast of the awards. Lankum picked up the RTE Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year at the event which took place at Vicar Street on Thursday night. The prize was presented for their album, False Lankum. Following prizes such as Song of The Year, Irish Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Irish Artist of the Year, the final award of the night was Irish Album of the Year which was presented to Lankum by former winner and Limerick hip-hop artist, Denise Chalia. After their name was announced, the Dublin-based band which is made up of multi-instrumentalists Ian Lynch, Daragh Lynch, Cormac MacDiarmada and Radie Peat appeared on stage to accept the award. As seen in footage captured by those in the audience, the band used their time on stage to speak in support of Palestine, and to call for a boycott of Israeli goods in Ireland. Lankum's Choice Prize acceptance speech pic.twitter.com/ah6i8wvms8 The Point Of Everything (@TPOEblog) March 8, 2024 However, on the RTE 2FM broadcast available online, Lankums acceptance speech cannot be heard. The broadcast instead ends after the band is announced as the winner and cuts to the host bidding the audience and listeners at home a good night. This portion of the awards is available to listen to within the RTE Choice Music Prize After-party show. Taking to X (formally Twitter), last years Album of the Year winner and fellow nominee, CMAT shared a video of Lankums speech taken by an audience member. I believe it was incredibly disrespectful of @RTE2fm to cut @LankumDublins winning speech out of their broadcast, in which Ian spoke so eloquently about the genocide happening in Palestine right now, she said. i believe it was incredibly disrespectful of @RTE2fm to cut @LankumDublin s winning speech out of their broadcast, in which Ian spoke so eloquently about the genocide happening in Palestine right now. so here it is again- hopefully more people hear it. all the love https://t.co/Ihhz0WfSBz cmat (@cmatbaby) March 8, 2024 In a statement to the Irish Examiner, RTE said that Lankum's acceptance speech at last night's RTE Choice Music Prize "was carried in full, live on RTE 2fm, without any interruption". "Audio files, which allow listeners to listen back to programmes are generated automatically. The RTE Choice Music Prize audio file was pre-programmed to record up to 11.15pm, allowing for a short overrun," it continued. "As there was an unexpected and considerable overrun in the live event, neither the announcement of the RTE Choice Music Prize Irish Album of The Year, nor Lankum's acceptance were available in the listen back edition. "The full programme, as broadcast, is currently being restored to the listen back edition and will be available online." The RTE Choice Music Prize was broadcast live on RTE 2FM on Thursday night and featured performances and interviews with the nominees. Highlights of the Choice Music Prize event will be broadcast on RTE2 on Thursday at 10.30pm. Arguably the most inventive fashion designer of his generation, John Galliano was at the peak of his powers when, in 2010, he was filmed outside a Paris bar delivering anti-Semitic abuse. Kevin Macdonalds documentary, High & Low John Galliano (12A), opens with the grainy footage of Gallianos antisemitic slurs before taking us back to 1980s London to chart the Gibraltar-born tyros irresistible rise through the ranks of haute couture, via Givenchy and Dior, to become synonymous with the cutting edge of fashion, his designs fuelled by escapism, fantasy and a fascination with Napoleon Bonaparte, and worn by the eras supermodels, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss included. Its an absorbing story of obsession, addiction and excess, but while all the glitz and glam is as flamboyantly dazzling as you might expect, the real story is the disgraced Gallianos long crawl back towards rehabilitating his reputation as fashions greatest success story. Now rather grizzled and careworn as he speaks directly to camera, Galliano is roguish, inarticulately contrite and frequently perplexed as he attempts not merely to explain his actions, but to understand them himself. (cinema release) Six months ago, Ollie Johnston noticed that his handwriting had started to become a bit sloppy. It was not a major concern, but it did seem odd. A couple of weeks later, he and his partner, now wife, Geraldine, went on holiday to Spain, and he found that his arms seemed to be losing strength, and he felt exhausted. Upon his return, he saw his doctor, who couldnt find anything wrong. But he wasnt improving, so following a subsequent visit, he was referred for an MRI, which came back clear. At this point, his symptoms were becoming noticeably worse and his doctor suggested a second MRI. Ollie decided he didnt want to wait another month for the test, so in November 2023, during Storm Debi, he drove from Mayo to Galway Hospital, where he was seen swiftly and admitted for a week. I underwent a lot of tests which came back clear. But four days later, I was told that it was likely that I had MND. Although I had done a bit of googling and was aware of people like Charlie Bird who have it, I was shell shocked when I got the diagnosis, says Ollie, whose older brother Anthony was with him at the time. His doctors put him on medication to slow the progression of the disease. At a follow-up appointment with consultant neurologist Prof Orla Hardiman at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, his MND diagnosis was confirmed. His symptoms have quickly progressed in the months since, making daily life more difficult. When I was in hospital, I was able to do most things for myself, but now I cant go anywhere without a walking frame, I cant get dressed by myself, I need help getting in and out of the shower, and I struggle with brushing my teeth, eating food and even lifting a cup of tea. My legs are getting weaker as well, so it takes me three or four minutes to stand up in the morning. Although I have an exercise bike, which I try to use daily, things are becoming harder. Each day as it comes He is doing his best to keep busy and keep his mind off his condition. I havent cried it out yet as I have four sons (aged between 17 and 26), my wife, my parents and five siblings, so I have to stay strong for them. Im trying to deal with it as best I can. But it is difficult as things have got so much worse in such a short time. Ollie, who is 48, was recently presented with a watch from Irish Rail for 25 years of dedicated service. He says he wants to make the most of life and complete as many challenges on his bucket list as possible. Im determined to do as much as I can, for as long as I can, he says. Geraldine and I got engaged on New Years Eve and married on February 16. Were hoping to go on a holiday this month. My dream has always been to do Route 66 in America, so I hope I can do that this year. It was something I had kept putting on the long finger, but now is the time. Ollie Johnston: 'I was shell shocked when I got the diagnosis' I am fortunate that I can still walk with the help of a frame and make plans. Also, my four boys (from a previous marriage) are reared, so it is easier than it would be if they were younger. His advice to anyone else who has been diagnosed with MND is to take each day as it comes. Also, make sure to make plans to do the things you always wanted to do. The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) offers a lot of support. He is determined to keep a positive mindset and is due to start on a trial drug, which will hopefully hold the symptoms back a bit. I have lots of wonderful things to look forward to and am determined to stay strong and positive, both for myself and my family. Hope for the future One person is diagnosed every two days with MND, and Naomi Fitzgibbon, director of nursing and services at IMNDA, says that the disease can affect anyone. She says, MND symptoms can be managed to help sufferers achieve the best possible quality of life. Currently, more than 450 people live with MND in Ireland, and our team at the IMNDA is there to support them and their families, including our six MND nurse specialists, who provide support in person and over the phone. Prof Hardiman says there is hope for the future.MND is a condition that affects people in the prime of their life, she says. There is no cure at present, but this is a time of hope. The work being performed by the MND Research team at Trinity College Dublin and Beaumont Hospital, along with our colleagues across Europe, aims to develop better and more effective treatments for those affected. This month sees the start of the annual Drink Tea for MND, organised by IMNDA to raise funds. We hope as many people as possible get involved this year, says Naomi Fitzgibbon. Its one of our biggest fundraisers, and the money raised will go towards our key services, including financial assistance towards home care for families, specialist medical equipment provided free of charge to our clients, assistance towards counselling; grants towards travel, voice banking and a recharge grant as well as supporting research into the causes and treatments of MND. It will also go towards maintaining the work of our amazing nurses across Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is "monitoring" the situation in Moscow following reports of an imminent terror attack in the Russian capital. Both the UK Foreign Office and the US Embassy in Moscow issued warnings to their citizens over intelligence reports that large gatherings in Moscow may be targeted by extremists over the next 48 hours. Late on Thursday, the US Embassy advised its citizens in the country to avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates, and be aware of your surroundings for the next two days. It said that large gatherings such as concerts may be a "target". The UK Foreign Office also issued a similar warning. Moscow, Russia: The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours. As a reminder, our Travel Advisory for Russia is pic.twitter.com/J5oLgOvFY4 Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) March 7, 2024 A spokesperson told the Irish Examiner that the DFA is aware of the reports of an increased threat to large gatherings in Moscow and are monitoring the situation. Our advice to citizens on large gatherings continues to be that Irish citizens in Russia should be vigilant about their own safety and avoid mass gatherings, including protests or demonstrations. The spokesperson also said that the DFA strongly advises against all travel to the Russian Federation." They said Irish citizens who are in Russia are advised to carefully consider the necessity of their continued stay in Russia. More generally, the DFAs website advises that, due to staff reductions following diplomatic expulsions ordered by the Russian government, its embassy in Moscow has significantly fewer resources to assist in a crisis". It says that Irish citizens should not "rely on the possibility of an organised evacuation occurring in the event of a crisis, and should instead have their own plans for departure in place". Irish citizens in Russia are also advised to be vigilant about their own safety and avoid mass gatherings, including protests or demonstrations and be aware that new laws affecting media freedom of expression in the country can be used by Russian authorities to impose severe and arbitrary sentences of up to 15 years in prison". Read More Alexei Navalnys widow urges Russians to stage election day protest "Irish citizens should be mindful this includes posting or sharing banned content on social media," advice on the DFA website reads. The DFA has continually advised against travel to Russia since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. The US Embassy issued its warning just hours after Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had foiled a planned shooting at a Moscow synagogue by a cell from the Afghan arm of the Islamic State terror group. In a statement, the FSB said those who had planned to carry out the attack had been "neutralised" and that it had seized firearms, ammunition, and "the components for the manufacture of an improvised explosive device" during its security operation. Gardai are seeking the public's help in tracing the whereabouts of a 40-year-old man, who was last seen in Galway on Friday morning. Thomas Webb was last seen in Ballygar, Co Galway, and is believed to be travelling in a blue Hyundai. He is described as being about 5ft 8in in height with a stocky build. He is bald and has brown eyes. When last seen, Thomas was wearing black combat trousers with yellow markings and a navy T-shirt. Gardai and Thomas's family are very concerned for his wellbeing. Anyone with any information on Thomas's whereabouts is asked to contact Ballinasloe Garda Station on 090 963 1890, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. A Cork woman was jailed for nine months for a very serious case of criminal damage where she smashed the three front windows of a pharmacy leaving a 1,500 repair bill which she is unable to pay. Rachel OShea, of Douglas Hall Mews, Skehard Road, Cork, pleaded guilty to causing this criminal damage. Sergeant Pat Lyons outlined the background to the crime committed by the 25-year-old. On November 17, 2023, at 6.30am she was observed smashing the three front windows of the AllCare pharmacy at Evergreen Road. "Gardai met her a short time later further down Evergreen Road and she was arrested, Sgt Lyons said. The criminal damage totalled 1,500. Sgt Lyons said the accused had 36 previous convictions but none for criminal damage. The convictions were mainly for theft and public order offences. Defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said the accused had been in custody for various matters for the past ten months. This girl has been in a series of exceptionally bad relationships. Edel House have undertaken to provide accommodation for her on her release from prison. She has found herself on many occasions sleeping on the street. The scales have now been removed from her eyes as a result of the courses she has undertaken in prison. Judge Mary Dorgan said: This is a very serious criminal damage matter and no compensation is available to the pharmacy where not one, not two but three windows were broken. The maximum possible sentence at district court level for this offence is 12 months. The judge imposed a term of nine months. The Supreme Court has refused a prisoners request for a further appeal aimed at securing the release of his dangerous dog from a kennel where she has been detained pending a re-hearing of a gardas application for her destruction. Belgian Shepherd, Cleo, was seized after allegedly attacking and biting a garda involved in arresting her owner, Kevin OKeefe, on January 17, 2023, on foot of a bench warrant. A veterinary report, commissioned by the Garda Commissioner, has recommended euthanasia and described her as dangerous, extremely aggressive and unsuited to confinement. The High Court and Court of Appeal both refused OKeefes applications for the dogs release while she awaits the District Court destruction application. The appellate court last December remarked OKeefes stance was somewhat difficult to rationalise given he has been incarcerated throughout this time. OKeefe sought to appeal to the top court, arguing, among other points, it was in the interests of justice that the court determines the legal basis for restricting his rights via a condition attached to a court order. A panel of its three Supreme Court judges was unpersuaded, noting the animals detention is not the reason for OKeefe being denied the company of his dog. Ms Justice Marie Baker, Mr Justice Brian Murray and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly said the lower courts correctly applied well-established principles regarding the courts inherent jurisdiction to impose conditions to an order remitting a decision for fresh consideration, the judge said. OKeefe, of Oliver Bond Flats in Dublin 2, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on January 20, 2023, to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment for damaging property contrary to section 2(1) of the Criminal Damage Act of 1991, with other charges taken into account. Efforts to release dog Shortly after, a Garda member complained to the District Court under the Control of Dogs Act of 1986 alleging OKeefes dog is dangerous and not kept under proper control. The judge refused an adjournment request from OKeefes solicitor and ordered for the dog to be put down in two days. OKeefe brought an urgent High Court application seeking to overturn the order. The Garda Commissioner said he would not oppose the order being quashed so the matter could be decided afresh by the District Court. The High Courts Ms Justice Niamh Hyland proposed that the dog should remain in detention pending the new decision. OKeefe disagreed, arguing the High Court had no authority to direct the animals detention where no proper District Court order exists. Mr Justice Garrett Simons, also of the High Court, refused OKeefes application for the release of the dog to his cousin. The judge said the flaw was that the dogs seizure and detention was never challenged in OKeefes substantial judicial review proceedings. Rather, his case was directed exclusively to the fairness of the District Court hearing. Rejecting his appeal of this order, the Court of Appeal said there is at the very least significant prima facie evidence that this dog is extremely dangerous and could represent a threat to public safety if released from its current confinement. During the trial of hoax bomb caller Michael Murray, a Samaritans volunteer told the court she was left really shook after receiving a call saying explosives had been planted at the Justice Minister's family home. The volunteer said she had been on duty on March 7, 2021, when the phone rang. She answered the phone and, after a few moments of silence, heard a male voice say: Can you take a message? She told the court the caller then said: This is the Irish National Liberation Organisation. Explosives have been planted at the home of the minister for justice and her family. The password is Red October. This is to do with a court case happening in Dublin tomorrow. The woman told the court the voice spoke slowly, carefully and calmly. She said it did not sound like the voice of a teenager or someone in their 20s and she thought it could be a Dublin accent. When Sergeant Paul McGarry a supervisor at the Eastern Regional Communications unit at the time was informed, he contacted gardai in Navan, where Ms McEntee lived at the time. He said he was acutely aware Ms McEntee was pregnant at the time and he did not want to cause her undue stress. Gardai from Navan were sent to the minister's house to look for suspicious devices or anything that stood out. No suspect devices Sgt McGarry said he received a phone call at 10pm saying everything appeared to be in order and no suspect devices had been found. Gardai also examined the Department of Justice for any suspect devices in the vicinity and nothing untoward was recovered. Tracing the call, a senior garda told the jury the call was considered a criminal offence at a serious level that might threaten the security of the State. Superintendent Dermot Dray said his objective was to try and establish the phone number and identity of the person who had contacted the Samaritans hotline and made the threat. He made an application to his superior officer to find out the caller's number and where they had called from. He received information two days later that the call had come from the Midlands Prison. Noel Reilly, who worked in the IT department of the Irish Prison Service at the time, said the call was traced back to a number associated with Murray. Michael Murray told gardai there was a group called the Criminal Revenge Group which was making 'credible and immediate' threats. He said members of the group included convicts and former paramilitary members of the INLA who were not imprisoned. He explained before a call can be made from within an Irish prison, prisoners must enter a number given to them to access the phone system. He said calls to the Samaritans and solicitors are not recorded. The court heard the call to the Samaritans was traced to the extension within Murray's cell, that his unique identification number was used and he was alone inside his cell overnight. Mr Reilly said it was his observation Murray made the phone call to the Samaritans at the exact time. In cross examination, he agreed with Garret Baker SC, defending, that it was possible for someone to use another prisoner's phone number and he was relying on numbers rather than actual identities or CCTV footage. Garda interview When interviewed by gardai, Murray agreed to having well-known links to the paramilitary group named in the threat. Video footage of his arrest and Garda interview on March 26, 2021, was played to the jury. When asked if he had been aligned with the INLA in the past, Murray responded: That's well known. Murray said he had been imprisoned with political prisoners due to this association and he had made an unsuccessful application to the High Court to be released as part of the Good Friday Agreement. He said he had a problem with the DPP office and it was a constant fight to get evidence as a defendant. It's harder to run a criminal trial than it is to commit a fucking bank robbery these day, he said. Our State is run on lies and deceit and it's the same as the criminal justice system. Murray said there was a 'legitimate threat' to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Justice Minister. He said: 'Leo is to get it this week.' Picture: Eamonn Farrell/ RollingNews.ie He said his issue with Ms McEntee was that she represents a department that does not release material in a defence trial. He also said he had no personal problem with her, but with the department she represented. When gardai asked him if he rang the Samaritans and phoned in the bomb threat, the interview footage showed him laughing and responding: Oh man, are you serious? He denied the allegations. Murray said he regularly called the Samaritans and had no problem that he called them on the day of the bomb threat. He said they discussed how he was feeling a bit down and that he was in court the following day. Murray also told gardai there was a group called the Criminal Revenge Group (CRG) which was making credible and immediate threats. He said members of the group included convicts and former paramilitary members of the INLA who were not imprisoned. Murray said there was a legitimate threat to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Justice Minister. He said: Leo is to get it this week. The court also heard the CRG had a list, including named civil servants within the Department of Justice and barristers. Murray said the threats came from both North and South and had to do with the setting up of the Special Criminal Courts. He said the threats were coming to the targets because of their own actions. Detective Garda Patrick Muldowney told the court Murray later contacted gardai through his solicitor on August 9, 2021, and made admissions. The court heard the conversation was done on a voluntary basis and had not been recorded. However, Murray signed a memorandum of the questions and answers. I wish to say I was the person who made the call, Murray told gardai, the court heard. I did so in frustration. That stops the bullshit, he told them, and added he regretted the phone call. In cross examination, Mr Baker put to Det Garda Muldowney that he had misinterpreted Murray. He said his client was making admissions to ringing the Samaritans at a different time to the bomb threat. Mr Baker said what he meant by this was that his mental health was not what it should have been and that he had frustrations in regard to disclosure issues. It was my understanding for the purpose of that meetings that he was accepting the phone call that he made the threat, Det Garda Muldowney said. It was fully my understanding going down to the prison that Mr Murray was looking to make admissions. Cross examination Murray gave evidence during the trial and said the allegation was ludicrous and did not make sense. He said he had made a phone call to the Samaritans on the night of March 7, 2021, but it had absolutely nothing to do with the Justice Minster. Even from a logical perspective, this does not make sense, he said. [To say] that I would isolate myself in my cell on my own at 8.30 at night and threaten the highest ranking member of the Department of Justice is ludicrous. Murray said if he wanted to make the threat, he could have entered someone else's cell during the day. He said it did not make sense for him to do it on his own line that was already being monitored on my request. When Mr Baker asked him what his gripe with the Department of Justice was, Murray responded it was with the policies of the DPP's office. Helen McEntee is not a target of mine, he said. Policies implemented underneath her are. Murray said he had an issue with how the DPP's office was run and that it needs to be fixed from the inside". At the end of the day it comes down to evidence, and in this case it is miles short of what the State is trying to allege, he said. It is ridiculous. The evidence was not clear because I did not make that call. End of story. Prosecution closing speech In his closing speech to the jury, Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, said only one person could possibly have made that call. That person is the accused Mr Murray. There is a lot of smoke and a lot of sound, a lot of material that has nothing to do with the essence of the case, he said. Mr Gillane said it was crystal clear a call had been made to the Samaritans making the bomb threat. He also said it was for certain the call came from the Midlands and the absolutely sound evidence was that the call was made on the extension in Murray's cell, using his identification number, while he was alone inside. Mr Gillane asked the jury whether it was a coincidence that the caller picked a paramilitary organisation that Murray openly acknowledges being aligned with in the past. He also asked whether maybe its just another layer of coincidence that Murray admitted to having a gripe with Ms McEntee and was aware of credible threats to have explosives planted at her home. That's lottery winning odds if it's all it was, he said, Your tolerance of coincidence would be sorely tested. Riddle me this, said Mr Gillane, On top of all of that, the person making the call is saying this has got to do with a court case tomorrow and Mr Murray just happens to have a court case the following day. Mr Gillane said the only logical conclusion was that they're simply not coincidences. Defence closing speech In his closing speech, Mr Baker told the jury the evidence in the case was a million miles from where you need it to be. Mr Murray is not Mother Theresa and he's not claiming to be that, said Mr Baker, adding his client wanted a fair roll of the dice and for the jury to make an honest appraisal. When you look at the evidence as a whole in this case, there are aspects that are concerning, he said. He said gardai reported the caller had a strong Dublin accent and had spoken slowly in the call. Mr Baker told the jury they had heard Murray's voice and he didn't have that accent, nor did he speak slowly. Mr Baker also asked the jury to consider there was a variation between the time the call to the Samaritans was recorded in the logs of the service provider and the prison service. The variation was 18 seconds long, which in the context of this case is a lifetime, he said. Mr Baker said there were important holes, gaps, deficiencies in the prosecution case. He asked the jury whether it made sense for Murray to make threats from his cell when he'd asked for it to be monitored in the past. "I might as well be talking to the wall," was a refrain heard in many households growing up. Equality Minister Roderic O'Gorman must have come very close to that exasperated parent feeling when he was literally left speaking to himself in the chamber as the Dail marked International Womens Day (IWD). This weeks International Womens Day (IWD) discussion in Leinster House is yet another fine example of how women but also people with disabilities; those with mental health difficulties; people from minority backgrounds; and those on the margins are often pacified by authority with meaningless tokenism. It will take another 131 years to reach gender parity, according to the World Economic Forums Global Gender Gap Report 2023. Aimless chatter from our politicians certainly wont speed up that delivery. Cutting a solitary figure on the Government benches, OGorman awkwardly began addressing the empty bank of opposition seats on the other side of the chamber. I begin by welcoming all present to the chamber and wishing everyone, especially my female colleagues, a happy International Womens Day, OGorman said, addressing thin air on Tuesday evening. It is more than a little depressing that a discussion focusing on 50% of the population only managed to draw 0.63% of elected representatives into the Dail chamber, the figure jumped 1.25% of TDs if Leas Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly, who was chairing the session, was counted. Scant attention to women's issues But this was just the latest incident in a lacklustre approach taken by politicians to womens issues. Last week just three speakers, Ivana Bacik, Reada Cronin, and OGorman, thought it important enough to turn up to a discussion on the report of the Joint Committee on Gender Equality. It was a similar scenario back in January when just 10 TDs showed up to speak on a Labour reproductive leave bill, with not one politician from Fianna Fail, the Social Democrats, or the Green Party contributing. OGorman was eventually supported by Sinn Feins Rose Conway-Walsh who, despite being a few minutes late, was the first to take up a seat for the IWD statements before being joined by party colleagues Louise OReilly, Sorca Clarke, and leader Mary Lou McDonald. Labour leader Ivana Bacik looked equally lonely on her side of the Dail, surrounded only by empty chairs. Speeches akin to Leaving Cert essays Akin to students being presented with a Leaving Cert essay title, those who did find their way to the Dail took a wide and varied interpretation of the topic at hand. It turned what was an already prosaic speaking session into a haphazard succession of contributions that certainly wont do much to advance gender equality or tackle discrimination. In a week that culminated in yesterdays referendum votes, the minister took the opportunity to point out many Government-led changes that have brought about greater equality in our country. And in fairness to OGorman, he stuck around to listen to all TDs during what had been pencilled in for a two-and-a-half hour slot but was cut short due to the lack of speakers. Roderic OGorman and Leas Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly were eventually joined by a handful of opposition TDs beginning with Sinn Feins Rose Conway-Walsh, Louise OReilly, Sorca Clarke, and leader Mary Lou McDonald, and Labour leader Ivana Bacik. Picture: Oireachtas TV McDonald adopted the theme of solidarity by acknowledging every woman who works minor miracles every day to ensure the bills are paid, the children are fed, and her family makes it to the end of the week, every woman denied a home who courageously shields her child in emergency accommodation, and every sister who, inspired by the powerful humanity of the women of the Cervical Check scandal, fights for the dignity of proper healthcare. Independent TD Verona Murphy made an emotional intervention in raising the case of teenager Caitlin Gaffney whose family have taken on a lengthy fight to get a place for their daughter in a specialist facility for anorexia treatment. Others raised everything from the plight of women and girls in Gaza to gender quotas in politics, as well as womens achievements in sport; the Grace case in the South East; mother and baby homes; maternity care, and transgender issues. Blessed among women, Pa Daly chose to namecheck no less than 13 female community leaders doing powerful work in his constituency of Kerry. A similar tactic was deployed by Tipperarys Mattie McGrath. However, he only managed to drum up a list of six women, including his late mother Mary and a smattering of nuns. And so on it trundled with deputies briefly popping into the chamber to say a few words before scuttling off again. 'The same problems always remain' It took Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns to point out the ridiculous nature of it all. We can all recycle and reuse our speaking notes year on year because the same problems always remain. So here I go again, she said before launching into a long list of issues that have yet to be addressed for women. These included: Acting on the recommendations of the review of abortion services in Ireland; Delivering accessible HRT treatment and medication; Providing training for GPs and information about the reality of peri- and post-menopause to women so they know and understand the symptoms; Widening access to home birth services; Addressing family homelessness; Rolling out more domestic refuge spaces across the country. Cairns told the Dail: International Womens Day is a day of celebration but it is also an exercise in frustration year after year raising the same issues. Reinforcing the repetitive and somewhat uninspiring approach taken, Catherine Connolly pointed out that this was her eighth year to make an IWD speech in the Dail. OGorman later stated that he was making his fourth IWD contribution as minister. IWD should be celebrated, but marking it with box-ticking events whether thats inside or outside Leinster House is pointless. Before scheduling the annual slot for meandering statements on IWD next year, politicians a might think of ways to avoid another poorly-attended talking shop. Instead of rehashing the same woman-themed generic speeches, politicians might use the allocated slot to progress specific laws that would actually make a difference to the lives of women. A focused debate on a single selected priority issue might also lure more TDs into the Dail, but then again on womens issues it might not. Ukraines president has announced that the countrys former top general is to become the new ambassador to the United Kingdom. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month dismissed Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who had been commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military, in a move aimed at regaining momentum in the war against Russia. Our alliance with Britain should only strengthen, Mr Zelenskyy said. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, last month Mr Zelenskyy thanked Mr Zaluzhnyi for his two years of service. He then appointed Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraines ground forces, to lead the army. Colonel General Syrskyi, 58, has been involved in the Ukrainian armys effort to adopt Nato standards since 2013. Volodymyr Zelensky dismiss Valerii Zaluzhnyi last month (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP, File) In a Telegram message, Mr Zaluzhnyi did not announce he had stepped down but said he accepted that everyone must change and adapt to new realities and agreed that there is a need to change approaches and strategy in the war. The move followed days of speculation spurred by local media reports that Mr Zelenskyy would sack Mr Zaluzhnyi, who was highly regarded by his troops and by foreign military officials. Some analysts warned that Mr Zaluzhnyis exit could bring unwelcome disruption, potentially driving a wedge between the Ukrainian army and politicians, and fuelling uncertainty among Kyivs Western allies. Born into a family of Soviet servicemen, he is credited with modernising the Ukrainian army along Nato lines. He took charge seven months before Russias full-scale invasion. He earned broad public support after the successful defence of Kyiv in the early days of the war, followed by a triumphant counter-offensive in the Kharkiv region and the liberation of Kherson. We are on our land and we will not give it up, Mr Zaluzhnyi said on the first day of the war. Retired Australian major general Mick Ryan, a fellow of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington, described him as a charismatic and popular military leader who would be hard to replace. His replacement will have to build personal relationships with US and Nato military chiefs while the perception of government instability is a real danger area for Mr Zelenskyy, Mr Ryan wrote recently in an article posted online. Gunmen have attacked a primary school in Nigerias north-west region and abducted 287 pupils. Residents told the Associated Press the assailants surrounded the government-owned school in Kaduna States Kuriga town just as the pupils were about to start the school day. Sani Abdullahi, the headteacher, told Kaduna governor Uba Sani when he visited the town that the total number of those missing was 287. We will ensure that every child will come back. We are working with the security agencies, the governor told the villagers. The Nigerian army have been sent to the scene (AP) Abductions of students from schools in northern Nigeria are common and have become a source of concern since 2014 when Islamic extremists kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls in Borno states Chibok village. In recent years, the abductions have been concentrated in the north west and central regions where dozens of armed groups often target villagers and travellers for huge ransoms. The attack in Kuriga occurred days after more than 200 people, mostly women and children, were abducted by extremists in north-eastern Nigeria. Hundreds of children are missing (AP) Women, children and students are often targeted in the mass abductions and many victims are released only after paying huge ransoms. Observers say both attacks are a reminder of Nigerias worsening security crisis which resulted in the deaths of several hundred people in 2023, according to an AP analysis. Bola Tinubu was elected president of Nigeria last year after promising to end the violence but there has been no tangible improvement in the security situation yet, said Oluwole Ojewale, West and Central Africa researcher with the Africa-focused Institute for Security Studies. President Joe Biden turned his State of the Union speech into an animated argument for a second term as he laced into Republican frontrunner Donald Trump for espousing resentment, revenge and retribution and jeopardising freedom at home and abroad. Over and over, Mr Biden delivered broadsides at my predecessor without ever mentioning Mr Trump by name 13 times in all raising his voice repeatedly as he tried to quell voter concerns about his age and job performance while sharpening the contrast with his all-but-certain November rival. It was a far feistier tone from Mr Biden than his prior State of the Union addresses and it was designed to banish doubts about whether the 81-year-old is still up to the job. For 68 minutes in the House chamber, Mr Biden goaded Republicans over their policies, invited call-and-response banter with fellow Democrats on economic issues, taxes and healthcare and seemed to revel in the fight. My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6 I will not do that Freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time, Mr Biden said as he appealed for Congress to support Ukraines efforts to defend itself against Russias invasion. History is watching. Mr Biden quickly pivoted to the threats at home, referencing the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol by Mr Trumps supporters seeking to overturn the 2020 election, and calling for the threat to democracy to be countered. My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6 I will not do that, Mr Biden said. This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Heres a simple truth. You cant love your country only when you win. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbour. Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me. The president showcased his accomplishments on infrastructure and manufacturing, and pushed Congress to approve more aid to Ukraine, tougher migration rules and lower drug prices. He also sought to remind voters of the situation he inherited when he entered office in 2021 amid a raging pandemic and a contracting economy. The 81-year-old president was being closely watched not just for his message, but for whether he could deliver it with vigour and command. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson after delivering his State of the Union address (J Scott Applewhite/AP) White House aides said Mr Biden was aiming to prove his doubters wrong by flashing his combative side and trying to needle Republicans over positions he believes are out of step with the country, particularly on access to abortion, but also tax policy and healthcare. Taking a victory lap in selling his legislative accomplishments, such as one that bolsters manufacturing of computer chips nationwide, Mr Biden veered from his prepared script to take a dig at Republicans who voted against such policies but are eager to take credit for them back home. If any of you dont want that money in your districts, Mr Biden said, just let me know. The president was speaking before a historically ineffective Congress. In the Republican-led House, Speaker Mike Johnson took power five months ago after the chaotic ouster of former speaker Kevin McCarthy. Legislators are still struggling to approve funding bills for the current year and have been deadlocked for months on foreign assistance bills to help Ukraine stave off Russias invasion and support Israels fight against Hamas. The State of the Union address is a marquee night on the White House calendar, offering presidents a direct line to a captive audience of lawmakers and dignitaries in the House chamber and tens of millions of viewers at home. But even so, the night has lost some of its lustre as viewership has declined. Mr Bidens aides inside the White House and on his campaign had hoped for some fresh viral moments like when he tussled last year with heckling Republicans and chided them for past efforts to cut Medicare and Social Security. Mr Johnson, eager to avoid a similar episode this year, urged Republicans in a private meeting on Wednesday to show decorum during the speech, according to a person familiar with his remarks to lawmakers. He appeared to have limited success. A number of House Republicans began to stand up and leave the chamber as Mr Biden discussed raising taxes on billionaires and corporations. Other, like Mr Johnson, remained in their chairs and shook their heads. Protesters block Pennsylvania Avenue during a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the US Capitol (Luis M Alvarez/AP) Mr Biden engaged in a loud call and response with lawmakers as he rhetorically questioned whether the tax code was fair and whether billionaires and corporations need another 2 trillion dollars in tax breaks, as he charged Republicans want. One of the most contentious moments of his speech came during his remarks on immigration, when Mr Biden was running down the endorsements by conservative groups of the bipartisan border legislation that Republicans killed last month. Some in the audience appeared to yell and interject, and Mr Biden shot back: I know you know how to read. As Marjorie Taylor Greene, decked out in pro-Trump paraphernalia, continued to shout at Mr Biden, the president held up a white button that the Georgia Republican had handed him earlier bearing the name of Laken Riley, who authorities say was killed by a Venezuelan national who unlawfully crossed into the US in September 2022. Laken Riley, Mr Biden said, calling her an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. He expressed condolences to her family, saying his heart goes out to them. And congressional Republican leaders were showcasing one of their newest lawmakers through the State of the Union rebuttal in order to make a generational contrast with Mr Biden. Alabama Republican Katie Britt, the youngest woman in the Senate, delivered a stinging election-year critique of the president. She said: The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. America deserves leaders who recognise that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets and a strong defence are the cornerstones of a great nation. Mr Biden painted an optimistic future for the country as the massive pieces of legislation he signed into law during his first two years in office are implemented. But he also was set to warn that the progress he sees at home and abroad is fragile and particularly vulnerable if Mr Trump returns to the White House. Mr Trump, for his part, said he planned to respond in real time to Mr Bidens remarks on his Truth Social platform. This year, Mr Biden faced heightened emotions particularly among his base supporters over his staunch backing for Israels war against Hamas in Gaza. Mr Biden gave his address to a historically ineffective Congress (Shawn Thew/Pool via AP) The White House had initially hoped a short-term ceasefire would be in place by the speech. It blames Hamas for not yet accepting a deal brokered by the US and its allies. A slew of Democrats and Republicans wore pins and stickers in honour of the Israeli hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Meanwhile, several House progressives wore Palestinian keffiyehs, the black and white chequered scarfs that have come to symbolise Palestinian solidarity. Mr Bidens motorcade took a circuitous route to the Capitol, as hundreds of pro-ceasefire demonstrators tried to disrupt its path from the White House. Amid growing concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Mr Biden announced in his address that he has directed the US military to establish a temporary port on the Gaza coast aimed at increasing the flow of aid into the beleaguered territory. The president also issued an emphatic call for lawmakers to pass sorely needed defence assistance for Ukraine. Acute ammunition shortages have allowed Russia to retake the offensive in the two-year-old war. The Republican-controlled House has refused to act on a Senate-passed version of the aid legislation, insisting on new stiffer measures to limit migration at the US-Mexico border, after Mr Trump used his influence to help sink a bipartisan compromise that would have done just that. Access to abortion and fertility treatments was also a key component of Mr Bidens speech, especially in light of a controversial ruling from Alabamas Supreme Court that has upended access to in vitro fertilisation treatment in the state. One of first lady Jill Bidens guests for the speech was Kate Cox, who sued Texas, and ultimately left her home state, to obtain an emergency abortion after a severe foetal anomaly was detected. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land again, Mr Biden said. Several House Democratic women were wearing white a symbol of womens suffrage to promote reproductive rights. The White House also invited union leaders, a gun control advocate, and others that Jill Biden and her husband have met as they travelled the country promoting his agenda. A ship will head to Gaza carrying humanitarian aid, the European Commission president said, as international donors launch a sea corridor to supply the territory, which faces widespread hunger and shortages of other essential supplies after nearly five months of war. A ship belonging to Spains Open Arms will make a pilot voyage to test the sea corridor, Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Cyprus, where she is inspecting preparations for the sea corridor. It has been waiting at Cypruss port of Larnaca for permission to deliver food aid from World Central Kitchen, a US charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres. She said the EU, together with the US, the United Arab Emirates and other involved partner countries are launching the sea corridor to deliver large quantities of aid to Gaza to respond to a humanitarian catastrophe, speaking at a news conference with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. Europe is financing a major humanitarian aid effort for Palestinians. 250 million euros this year alone. But the key challenge is getting this aid to people in Gaza. This is why were launching the Cyprus Maritime Corridor, with the US and UAE https://t.co/mrNBl9WsHb Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 8, 2024 Efforts to dramatically ramp up aid deliveries signalled growing frustration with Israels conduct in the war in the United States and Europe. The previous day, US President Joe Biden announced a plan to open an offshore port to help deliver aid, underscoring how the United States is having to go around Israel, its main Middle East ally and the top recipient of US military aid, to get aid into Gaza, including through airdrops that started last week. Israel accuses Hamas of commandeering some aid deliveries. Efforts to set up a sea route for aid deliveries come amid mounting alarm over the spread of hunger among Gazas 2.3 million people. Hunger is most acute in northern Gaza, which has been isolated by Israeli forces for months and suffered long cut-offs of food supply deliveries. After months of warnings over the risk of famine in Gaza under Israels bombardment, offensives and siege, hospital doctors have reported 20 malnutrition-related deaths at two northern Gaza hospitals. While reiterating his support for Israel, Mr Biden used his State of the Union speech to reiterate demands that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow in more aid to Gaza. To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Mr Biden declared before Congress. Tonight, Im directing the U.S. military to establish a temporary pier on the Gaza coast that can receive shipments of food, water, medicine, and shelter. To Israel, I say humanitarian assistance cannot be secondary. Protecting and saving innocent lives must be a priority. President Biden (@POTUS) March 8, 2024 He also repeated calls for Israel to do more to protect civilians in the fighting, and to work toward Palestinian statehood as the only long-term solution to Israeli-Palestinian violence. US officials said it will likely be weeks before the Gaza pier is operational. Aid groups have said their efforts to deliver desperately needed supplies to Gaza have been hampered because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of public order. It is even more difficult to get aid to the isolated north. Sigrid Kaag, the UN senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, told reporters late on Thursday that air and sea deliveries cannot make up for a shortage of supply routes on land. For the past week, #OpenArms, in collaboration with chef Jose Andres' @WCKitchen, has been docked in the port of Larnaca, Cyprus, awaiting authorities to open a humanitarian maritime corridor to the #Gaza Strip. Onboard, we have tons of food and water intended for the pic.twitter.com/wNL6nkoJW6 Open Arms ENG (@openarms_found) February 23, 2024 EU Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said on Wednesday the bloc would consider air drops, but this would be a last resort and cannot replace ground access to the enclave. Mr Ujvari said the EU has so far carried out around 40 flights to deliver aid to Gaza, primarily through Egypt. Meanwhile, efforts to reach a ceasefire before Ramadan appeared stalled. Hamas said on Thursday that its delegation had left Cairo, where talks were being held, until next week. International mediators had hoped to alleviate some of the immediate crisis with a six-week ceasefire, which would have seen Hamas release some of the Israeli hostages it is holding, Israel release some Palestinian prisoners and aid groups be given access to to get a major influx of assistance into Gaza. Palestinian militants are believed to be holding around 100 hostages and the remains of 30 others captured during Hamas October 7 attack, in which militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took some 250 hostages. Several dozen hostages were freed in a week-long November truce, and about 30 are believed to be dead. Egyptian officials said Hamas has agreed to the main terms of such an agreement as a first stage but wants commitments that it will lead to an eventual more permanent ceasefire, while Israel wants to confine the negotiations to the more limited agreement. The UN human rights office says in a report that the establishment and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem amount to a war crime. The report covers the one-year period from November 1, 2022, to October 31, 2023, when it says roughly 24,300 housing units in existing settlements in the West Bank were advanced the highest number in a year since monitoring began in 2017. It deplored an increase in the building of new settlement homes in recent months. The West Bank is already in crisis. Yet, settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state, UN human rights chief Volker Turk said. He presented the report to the Human Rights Council on Friday. Reports this week that Israel plans to build nearly 3,500 settler homes in three areas fly in the face of international law, he said. Mr Turk said the creation and expansion of settlements amount to the transfer by Israel of its own population into territories that it occupies, which amounts to a war crime under international law, his office said in a statement. Israels diplomatic mission in Geneva, which regularly accuses Mr Turks office of overlooking violence by Palestinian extremists against Israelis, said the report totally ignored what it said was the deaths of 36 Israelis and injuries of nearly 300 others in attacks due to Palestinian terrorism last year. Much of the international community considers the settlements to be illegal under international law. Expanded settlement activity and an upsurge in violence in the West Bank in recent months have been largely overshadowed by bloodshed and displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israeli forces have led a blistering military campaign against the militant group Hamas following its deadly October 7 attacks in Israel. Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted on Friday in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tonnes of cocaine to make it unhindered into the United States. The jury returned its verdict at a federal court after a two-week trial, which has been closely followed in his home country. Hernandez, 55, served two terms as the leader of the Central American nation of roughly 10 million people. He was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the US in April of that year. Juan Orlando Hernandez was extradited to the United States on drug charges (AP Photo/Elmer Martinez, File) US prosecutors accused Hernandez of working with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, saying he took millions of dollars in bribes as he rose from rural congressman to president of the National Congress and then to the countrys highest office. Hernandez acknowledged in trial testimony that drug money was paid to virtually all political parties in Honduras, but he denied accepting bribes himself. He noted that he had visited the White House and met US presidents as he cast himself as a champion in the war on drugs who worked with the US to curb the flow of drugs to the country. In one instance, he said, he was warned by the FBI that a drug cartel wanted to assassinate him. He said his accusers fabricated their claims about him in bids for leniency for their crimes. They all have motivation to lie, and they are professional liars, Hernandez said. But the prosecution mocked Hernandez for seemingly claiming to be the only honest politician in Honduras. During closing arguments on Wednesday, assistant US attorney Jacob Gutwillig told the jury that a corrupt Hernandez paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States. Defence lawyer Renato Stabile said his client has been wrongfully charged as he called for an acquittal. Trial witnesses included traffickers who admitted responsibility for dozens of murders and said Hernandez was an enthusiastic protector of some of the worlds most powerful cocaine dealers, including notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who is serving a life prison term in the US. Hernandez, wearing a suit throughout the trial, was mostly dispassionate as he testified through an interpreter, repeatedly saying no sir as he was asked if he ever paid bribes or promised to protect traffickers from extradition to the U.S. His brother, Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in 2021 in Manhattan federal court for his own conviction on drug charges. 1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241 A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. (Photo : Unsplash/ Kelly Sikkema) Is the U.S. moving towards an AI-driven "smart court" like China's digitized court proceedings, as labeled by the Center for Strategic and International Studies? Not exactly, experts say, but these forecasts are not entirely wrong. AI Impacting Legal Field Wayne Cohen, a managing partner at Cohen & Cohen and a law professor at the George Washington University School of Law, noted that AI increasingly impacts various areas of the legal field. AI's involvement in the U.S. legal sector is expanding from its predominantly behind-the-scenes role to more active participation in courtroom proceedings. AI Clerical Aid in Expediting Resolutions According to Cohen, AI now contributes significantly to various aspects of trial preparation, including research, writing, creating jury exhibits, and handling office tasks like trial summaries and translations. AI also aids in expediting the litigation process, reducing the time it takes for cases to progress from filing to resolution. Cohen predicts that this trend will lead to shorter timelines for case resolution. READ ALSO: U.S. Lawmakers Gears Toward AI Regulation, Proposes Bill to Address AI Risks in the Government Capability to Produce Transcripts from Audio Recordings Judges can now produce searchable PDF transcripts from audio recordings and render well-informed decisions on the same day. With the assistance of AI, discrepancies can be flagged, potentially impacting the credibility of either the prosecution or defense. According to Jackie Schafer, a former assistant attorney general for the state of Washington, says judges can now make rulings with a high degree of accuracy, supported by the evidence presented in court. In 2020, Schafer established Clearbrief, a platform utilizing AI to analyze documents, detect citations, and generate hyperlinked timelines of all dates referenced in the documents, facilitating rapid access to information. Analyzation of Legal Contracts Jason Boehmig, CEO and co-founder of Ironclad, a digital contract company and a former corporate attorney, highlighted the capabilities of AI in analyzing a company's legal contracts. He mentioned that AI could familiarize itself with the preferred language used in the organization's contracts, enabling it to draft and negotiate agreements in the company's established legal tone. Boehmig emphasized that business contracts represent the forefront of legal innovation where experimentation is feasible. Compared to individuals facing potential threats to their basic freedoms within the legal system, businesses engaged in contractual agreements arguably have less at stake. Experts emphasize the importance of human review in all these AI applications. While this concept is not exclusive to the legal industry, the profound consequences of legal proceedings underscore the necessity of human oversight. Can AI Really Be Trusted? AI in legal systems could be problematic as it functions either as an expert system or a machine learning system. Expert systems entail encoding rules into a decision model within the software, often called a decision tree. These were widely used in law during the 1980s but ultimately failed to consistently produce satisfactory outcomes on a broad scale. While Machine learning can be highly effective, its capabilities are comparable to those of a well-educated guess. One of its strengths is its ability to uncover correlations and patterns in data that surpass human capacity for calculation. However, unlike human error patterns, it also exhibits weaknesses, notably in reaching incorrect conclusions. Series of AI Fails In a prominent case, an AI mistakenly identified a turtle as a gun. Facial recognition systems frequently struggle to accurately identify women, children, and individuals with dark skin. This raises concerns about the potential for AI to implicate individuals in crime scenes falsely they did not attend. The lack of transparency in machine learning makes it challenging to verify incorrect outcomes due to the complexity of machine learning algorithms, which surpasses our comprehension- a phenomenon referred to as the "black box problem." The repercussions can be severe when AI is integrated into legal procedures and encounters failures. Large language models, which underpin AI chatbots like ChatGPT, have been observed to generate entirely false text. Termed AI hallucinations, this phenomenon implies that the software is thinking rather than statistically determining its next word output. Recently, it was revealed that a lawyer in New York employed ChatGPT to draft court submissions, only to realize that it referenced nonexistent cases, which underscores that such tools are currently incapable of substituting for lawyers and may never reach that capability. RELATED ARTICLE: First AI Officer Named, as New Technology Challenges U.S. Justice Department 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/Roman Martyniuk) Meta has announced the restoration of its Facebook and Instagram services following a widespread outage reported by over half a million users being unable to log in to the social media platforms and experiencing disruptions on Tuesday. A technical glitch caused widespread login issues affecting Meta's Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Messenger services for several hours. Meta Addressing the Widespread Outage DownDetector, an internet service outage monitoring site, indicated receiving over 500,000 problem reports from U.S. Facebook users and over 70,000 Instagram users as of 10:30 a.m. ET, which common issues mainly were related to logging into the Facebook app and encountering problems with the Instagram app. Meta's head of communications, Andy Stone, acknowledged the problems and stated on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the company addressed the issue promptly for all affected users and apologized for the inconvenience. READ ALSO: Microsoft Teams Encountered a Network Issue, Sparks Outage Frustration After Performing Series of Failovers Fears of Social Media Hacking DownDetector noted that users worldwide, from Egypt to Oklahoma, reported difficulties logging into Facebook. Concerns about potential account hacking have surfaced on social media as individuals were unexpectedly logged out of the service and unable to regain access using their passwords. Users also experienced account lockouts and feed refreshing issues, which impacted Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Meta Quest's VR headsets also experienced sign-out issues, while WhatsApp remained unaffected, according to Tech site 9to5Mac. A Major Outage Unrelated to Cyberactivities A senior official from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency informed reporters on Tuesday that the agency was not aware of any election nor any specific malicious cyberactivity related to the outage. According to Netblocks' post on X, a London-based internet monitoring firm, Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads experienced outages related to login sessions in multiple countries. Still, they clarified that there were no indications of government-imposed country-level internet disruptions or filtering. Isik Mater, director of research at NetBlocks, described the problem as a "major outage incident" on X, where Meta's official status page even displayed "Unknown" status for all services. Meta's Preparation for The European Union's Digital Markets Act The outage occurs shortly before the Thursday deadline for major tech firms to adhere to the European Union's new Digital Markets Act. Meta is adjusting its operations to comply, such as permitting users to separate their Facebook and Instagram accounts to prevent the amalgamation of personal data for targeted online advertisements. It remains uncertain if the outage is linked to any adjustments Meta may implement in preparation for the DMA. In 2021, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp experienced hours-long outages, which the company attributed to faulty changes in routers responsible for coordinating network traffic between its data centers. The following year, WhatsApp encountered another brief outage. Meta reports that Facebook boasts over 2 billion daily active users globally. RELATED ARTICLE: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile are Down, Affecting Thousands of Users in a Widespread Outage Feared as Cyberattack 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/ThisisEngineering RAEng) On Tuesday, the Treasury Department declared sanctions against two individuals and a Greece-based commercial spyware firm led by a former Israeli military officer that developed, operated, and distributed technology to target U.S. government officials, journalists, and policy experts. The Treasury Department's First Sanction Imposed on Improper Use of Spyware The United States has imposed sanctions on the Intellexa Consortium, accused of selling and disseminating commercial spyware and surveillance tools for targeted and mass surveillance endeavors. Other entities linked with Intellexa, such as Cytrox AD in North Macedonia, Cytrox Holdings ZRT in Hungary, and Thalestris Limited in Ireland, have also been sanctioned for their involvement in creating and disseminating a suite of tools called Predator. According to Biden administration officials, this marks the Treasury Department's inaugural sanctioning of individuals or organizations for the improper use of spyware. Spyware: Predator Predator is a spyware tool that enables the infiltration of electronic devices via zero-click attacks, requiring no user interaction for infection. It has been utilized in numerous countries, facilitating unauthorized data extraction, geolocation tracking, and access to personal information on compromised devices. U.S Commitment to Safeguarding Human Rights Brian Nelson, Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, highlighted that today's measures signify progress in deterring the misuse of commercial surveillance tools, which pose a growing security threat to the United States and its citizens. He emphasized the U.S. commitment to establishing clear guardrails for the responsible development and use of such technologies while safeguarding human rights and civil liberties globally. Last year, the Commerce Department placed Intellexa and Cytrox on its blacklist, barring them from accessing U.S. technology. Series of Spyware's Threat In October, Amnesty International's Security Lab released a report revealing that Predator had been utilized to target but not necessarily infect devices connected to the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-Wen, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul, and Senator John Hoeven, R-N.D. READ ALSO: 16 Spy Agencies Coordinate For Bin Laden Raid: What Role Did Satellites Play In The Invasion? [VIDEO & REPORT] Europe has also experienced several spyware incidents, notably in Greece, where Predator spyware was reportedly employed and led to the resignation in 2022 of two high-ranking government officials, including the national intelligence director. Researchers at the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab uncovered Predator spyware on the iPhone of a prominent exiled Egyptian dissident in December 2021, where it revealed that Cytrox had clients in various countries, including Armenia, Greece, Indonesia, Madagascar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Serbia, through a collaborative investigation with Facebook. Further Visa Restrictions Imposition Intellexa was established in 2019 by former Israeli military officer Tal Dilian and Sara Hamou, a corporate off-shoring specialist who has rendered managerial services to Intellexa, which was also subjected to sanctions. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, described the sanctions as America's major escalation initiative to curb the proliferation of mercenary spyware. The sanctions against the developers of Predator follow the recent introduction of a new policy by the Biden administration, enabling the imposition of visa restrictions on foreign individuals engaged in the misuse of commercial spyware. The visa policy introduced by the Democratic administration extends to individuals who misuse commercial spyware, targeting journalists, activists, perceived dissidents, members of marginalized communities, or their family members. According to officials, the visa restrictions may encompass individuals who facilitate or profit from the misuse of such spyware. RELATED ARTICLE: OpenAI CEO Warns of Societal Misalignment, Calls for a Regulatory Body to Supervise AI 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/Sunder Muthukumaran) Microsoft is accusing The New York Times of "unsubstantiated" allegations in a lawsuit filed in December against OpenAI, which could significantly impact the future of generative artificial intelligence. In a recent motion to dismiss filing on Monday, Microsoft criticized The New York Times for portraying OpenAI's ChatGPT as a threat to the news industry with a "doomsday futurology" narrative. It likened the lawsuit to Hollywood's past resistance to VCR technology in the 1970s, enabling users to record television programs. Growing Tension Over Large Language Models and Media Sector Attorneys representing Microsoft stated that The New York Times is leveraging its influence to contest the latest significant technological advancement, the Large Language Model. Microsoft is OpenAI's primary investor, having injected approximately thirteen billion dollars into the company. The submission represents the newest development in the ongoing conflict between OpenAI and the media sector, which is growing apprehensive about AI models being trained on extensive content accumulated over decades. The Times, in its legal action, alleged OpenAI and Microsoft of copyright infringement and misusing the newspaper's intellectual property while training LLMs. READ ALSO: OpenAI, Microsoft Face Copyright Infringement Lawsuit from NYT, Potentially Accountable for Billions in Damages OpenAI's Motion to Dismiss NYT's Lawsuit OpenAI has petitioned a judge to dismiss sections of the lawsuit filed by the Times, asserting that the publisher engaged in unethical behavior by paying someone to hack OpenAI's products, including ChatGPT, to fabricate 100 instances of copyright infringement as evidence. OpenAI contended that the Times needed tens of thousands of attempts to create these results and used "deceptive prompts" that directly violated OpenAI's terms of use. In its recent submission, Microsoft's legal team contends that the content utilized to train LLMs does not replace the market for the works but instead instructs the models' language. A representative from The Times did not promptly respond to CNBC's inquiry for a comment. Since its release to the public in late 2022, OpenAI's ChatGPT has propelled the company to become one of the most sought-after startups globally, boasting a valuation that exceeds eighty billion dollars. OpenAI has recently stated that training advanced AI models without using copyrighted materials is "impossible." In a filing last month in the U.K. House of Lords, OpenAI explained that copyright law covers a wide range of human expression, including blog posts, photographs, forum posts, software code snippets, and government documents, making it impossible to train leading AI models without utilizing copyrighted content. During an event in Davos, Switzerland, in January, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed his surprise at The New York Times' lawsuit, stating that OpenAI's models did not require training using the publisher's data. At an event organized by Bloomberg in Davos, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that they do not need to train on The New York Times' data. He emphasized that people often misunderstand this point, clarifying that any single training source does not significantly impact their models that much. OpenAI has entered agreements with Axel Springer, the German media conglomerate behind Business Insider and Morning Brew, among other outlets. It is reportedly in discussions with CNN, Fox Corp., and Time for licensing their content. RELATED ARTICLE: Trump to Pay Legal Cost of $400,000 As Lawsuit Against NYT Reporters Gets Dismissed 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/ Kenneth Schipper Vera) The largest pork producer in Tennessee is facing allegations of retaliating against employees who inquired about their compensation, with one worker reportedly discovering a severed pig's head at their workstation, as reported by the Department of Labor. The department filed the action on February 21 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The action requests the court intervene and halt Tosh Pork LLC and its human resources manager, Dianna Rosa, from persisting in their violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) through retaliatory measures against employees. Federal law prohibits employers from terminating or discriminating against employees who have lodged complaints or cooperated in investigations. Appalling Retaliatory Measures on Two Employees The Department's Wage and Hour Division discovered that two workers at Tosh Pork, responsible for caring for the farm's pigs, cooperated with division investigators after questioning their pay with the employer. Upon learning of the initial complaint, Tosh Pork assigned one worker tasks such as cleaning offices and bathrooms and picking up pig waste, which were not part of their usual duties. Accusing the employee of filing a federal complaint, Tosh Pork allegedly attempted to compel them to sign a document preventing them from discussing pay issues with other employees. Investigators also found that another worker who had inquired about their wages was summoned for a meeting with farm management and faced threats of termination, who, upon returning to their workstation, discovered a severed pig's head. READ ALSO: eBay Faces Criminal Charges, Agrees to Pay $3M Over Former Employees' Blogger Harassment Incident In a news release, Tremelle Howard, the DOL's regional solicitor in Atlanta, declared that the company's actions, deemed "appalling" and aimed at intimidation and retaliation against its employees, will not be accepted. Tosh Pork's Denial of Allegations Seth Krantz, the company's veterinarian, denied the government's allegations and promised to fight the claims. He emphasized Tosh Pork's commitment to treating employees with respect and dignity, ensuring proper care for animals, and complying with all applicable regulations, including the Fair Labor Standards Act. Krantz added that Tosh Pork denies engaging in the alleged retaliatory conduct outlined by the DOL in its March 5 news release and intends to defend itself in court. Motion for Tosh Pork's Restraining Order The U.S. Department of Labor has submitted a complaint and motion to secure a temporary restraining order to halt purported retaliatory actions by a Henry County farm against two employees who inquired about their wages, an activity protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act. According to DOL investigators, the company was found to owe $39,375 in back wages to five workers and was also subjected to civil money penalties amounting to $36,731. The family-operated enterprise operates a swine production and crop farming operation spanning 18,000 acres in Henry, Tennessee. Its pig division, Tosh Pork, distributes its products domestically and internationally to major retailers such as Costco, JBS USA, and Kroger, as per information provided by the agency. Regional Solicitor Tremelle Howard in Atlanta emphasized that Tosh Pork's appalling actions to intimidate and retaliate against its employees will not be accepted. She stated that the U.S. Department of Labor will utilize all available resources to safeguard the protections provided to workers under the law. RELATED ARTICLE: Amazon Faces Federal Labor Law Violations Amid Accusations of Interrogations, Threats, and Racial Disparagement in Staten Island Unionization 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/Luca Bravo ) The Justice Department on Wednesday accused an ex-Google software engineer, Linwei Ding, of stealing artificial intelligence trade secrets while collaborating with two Chinese-based companies. The Chinese national was arrested on four counts of federal trade secret theft in Newark, California, with each carrying a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The Dangers of Espionage to the U.S. Security The charges against Ding, aged 38, were disclosed by Attorney General Merrick Garland during an American Bar Association conference in San Francisco, who, along with other law enforcement officials, has consistently warned about the dangers of Chinese economic espionage and the national security risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) advancements and other emerging technologies. FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the significance of the charges, highlighting them as another example of the extensive efforts by affiliates of Chinese-based companies to steal American innovation. Wray warned that the theft of innovative technology and trade secrets from American firms could lead to job losses and severe economic and national security repercussions. Google's Guardrails on Trade Secrets According to spokesman Jose Castaneda, Google maintains stringent measures to safeguard its confidential commercial information and trade secrets. After conducting an investigation, Google determined that the employee had improperly obtained numerous documents, prompting It to involve law enforcement. Castaneda expressed gratitude for the FBI's assistance safeguarding the company's information and affirmed Google's commitment to continued cooperation. Ding's defense attorney declined to comment on Wednesday evening. READ ALSO: U.S. Sanctions Predator Spyware-Maker Targeting Journalists, Officials, Strips Technology Access to Safeguard Human Rights Potential Harm of AI Artificial intelligence is the main battleground for high-tech competitors, with significant commercial and security implications that could harm the United States. Last month, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced in a speech that the administration's multi-agency Disruptive Technology Strike Force would prioritize AI enforcement efforts. FBI Director Wray reiterated concerns at a conference last week, emphasizing how AI and other emerging technologies have facilitated attempts by adversaries to interfere with the American political process. Attorney General Garland echoed these sentiments at the San Francisco event, highlighting on Wednesday that, like all developing technologies, AI comes with both benefits and drawbacks, offering significant potential but also posing risks of substantial harm. Ex-Google Engineer's Indictment The indictment revealed on Wednesday in the Northern District of California claims that Ding, employed by Google since 2019 and entrusted with confidential information regarding the company's supercomputing data centers, allegedly began transferring hundreds of files to a personal Google Cloud account two years ago. Prosecutors allege that shortly after the theft began, Ding was offered the position of chief technology officer at a Chinese early-stage technology firm specializing in AI technology. The position offered a monthly salary of around $14,800 and an annual bonus and company stock. According to the indictment, Ding traveled to China, attended investor meetings, and actively sought to raise capital for the company. The indictment also stated that he founded and led a startup company in China, aiming to develop large AI models powered by supercomputing chips. According to prosecutors, Ding did not reveal any association with Google, which referred to him on Wednesday as a junior employee. He resigned on December 26th. Three days later, Google officials discovered that Ding had represented himself as the CEO of one of the Chinese companies at an investor conference in Beijing. Surveillance footage also showed another employee scanning Ding's access badge at the U.S. Google building where he worked, creating Ding's appearance when he was actually in China, according to the indictment. Google suspended Ding's network access, locked his laptop, and investigated his unauthorized uploads by examining his network activity history. In January, the FBI obtained a search warrant for Ding's home and confiscated his electronic devices. Later, the FBI obtained another warrant for the contents of his personal accounts, which contained over 500 unique files of confidential information allegedly stolen from Google. RELATED ARTICLE: OpenAI CEO Warns of Societal Misalignment, Calls for a Regulatory Body to Supervise AI 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/Ben White) As workers return to the office, some maximize their remote work setups by taking secret or "hush trips." What is a Hush Trip? We all cherish the idea of a getaway to relax and recharge, but finding the time for it can be challenging. Some workers have limited vacation days, desire more travel, or wish to avoid returning to a backlog of work. That is where workcations and hush trips come in. With a workcation or hush trip, there is no need for an "out of office" message. Both concepts involve remote work, not from the usual home office or local cafe, but from a vacation spot. This trend is gaining popularity among remote workers, offering a chance to improve work-life balance and explore the world while still earning a paycheck. READ ALSO: Digital Nomads: How They Work & Earn While Travelling Why Are Workers Sneaking Trips? In the last year, almost one out of ten workers went on a secret vacation, as revealed by a survey of 1,010 full-time employees conducted by the vehicle rental website Price 4 Limo. Of those surveyed, 27% admitted to doing this to avoid using their paid vacation days during their absence. Many workers also stay silent about these trips to avoid productivity worries and tax inquiries from their employers. "Getting away from it all" has a new twist nowadays. 45% of those surveyed said they have recently taken a "workcation," meaning they traveled to a sunny destination but spent time on the beach working on spreadsheets instead of building sandcastles. The three main reasons given by respondents for taking a workcation were: Visiting family or friends Seeking a change of scenery Desiring a vacation during off-hours while staying productive at work How Workers Are Hiding It From Their Bosses? A Singaporean named Alicia has admitted to multiple trips without informing her employer. She mentioned that it is easy for her as she does not have to go to the office physically, and her manager is not in the same region. Alicia works for a tech company in Singapore, offering a 30-day remote working policy. However, she has not applied for it because she prefers to avoid the hassle of the application process and waiting for approvals, which can take weeks. Alicia shared her experience with CNBC Travel during a one-month trip to Thailand, which she described as her most extended covert trip yet. She also mentioned that she extended her time away for other trips without informing her employer to avoid using up her PTO days too quickly. Alicia has been able to keep her trips within Asia, allowing her to remain in similar time zones and attend meetings easily. To conceal her location, she uses blurred or virtual backgrounds during video calls and avoids engaging in small talk to avoid suspicion. Before traveling, Alicia gradually reduced her office visits and participation in after-work activities, making it easier to take short trips unnoticed. However, not everyone has had the same success. Some individuals Alicia knows have had their plans disrupted when their managers unexpectedly called for in-person meetings with clients, necessitating them to book a flight ticket back ASAP. Despite the risks, Alicia is not overly concerned about being caught by her employer, as she recently resigned from her position and is currently serving her notice period so that any potential discovery would not affect her. According to Alicia, neither her travels nor her resignation have impacted her work performance as she continues to fulfill her job responsibilities. How Can Hush Trips Be Problematic? According to experts consulted by Price4Limo.com, secret trips pose various issues, mainly the risk of losing trust or facing termination if discovered by superiors. While hush trips may suit some employees, Amy Zimmerman, Chief People Officer at Relay Payments, emphasized the importance of transparency regarding employees' whereabouts. Zimmerman advised employees who take workcations to adhere to sensible guidelines while away. For instance, attending Zoom meetings from the poolside while wearing a swimsuit, or if workers miss important meetings or leave others to handle their workload, where it is better to take PTO rather than trying to work during travel. RELATED ARTICLE: The Future of Workforce: 2023 Remote Work Trends 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. ( RFE/ RL ) Irans parliamentary elections on March 1 witnessed a historically low turnout, in a blow to the legitimacy of the clerical establishment. The official turnout of 41 percent was the lowest for legislative elections since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Critics claim the real turnout was likely even lower. Hard-liners dominated the elections for the parliament and the Assembly of Experts, a body that picks the countrys supreme leader, consolidating their grip on power. Many reformists and moderates were barred from contesting the polls. Experts said the declining turnout signifies the growing chasm between the ruling clerics and Irans young population, many of whom are demanding greater social and political freedoms in the Middle Eastern nation of some 88 million. These elections proved that the overriding imperative for the Islamic republic is strengthening ideological conformity at the top, even at the cost of losing even more of its legitimacy from below, said Ali Vaez, the director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group. Widening Divide Observers said disillusionment with the state has been building up for years and is reflected in the declining voter turnout in recent elections. Turnout in presidential and parliamentary elections were consistently above 50 percent for decades. But the numbers have declined since 2020, when around 42 percent of voters cast ballots in the parliamentary elections that year. In the 2021 presidential vote, turnout was below 49 percent. Ali Ansari, a history professor at the University of St. Andrews, puts that down to growing despondency in the country. This is the clearest indication of the widening divide between state and society, which has been growing over the years, said Ansari. It is quite clear that the despondency is extending even to those who are generally sympathetic to the regime, he added, referring to reformist former President Mohammad Khatami choosing not to vote in the March 1 elections. Voter apathy was particularly evident in the capital, Tehran, which has the most representatives in the 290-seat parliament. In Tehran, only 1.8 million of the 7.7 million eligible voters or some 24 percent cast their votes on March 1, according to official figures. Up to 400,000 invalid ballots many believed to be blank were cast in Tehran alone, a sign of voter discontent. AP Archives Video: Iran begins voting in first parliament election since 2022 protests amid questions over turnout Ahead of the elections, nearly 300 activists in Iran had called on the public to boycott the engineered elections. Beyond Boycott The March 1 elections were the first since the unprecedented anti-establishment protests that rocked the country in 2022. The monthslong demonstrations, triggered by the death in custody of a young woman arrested for allegedly violating Irans hijab law, snowballed into one of the most sustained demonstrations against Irans theocracy. At least 500 protesters were killed and thousands were detained in the states brutal crackdown on the protests. Iran has been the scene of several bursts of deadly anti-establishment protests since the disputed presidential election in 2009. Many of the demonstrations have been over state repression and economic mismanagement. But experts said that the 2022 protests alone did not result in the record-low turnout in the recent elections. This is a reflection of a deeper malaise that extends back to 2009 and traverses through 2017, 2019, and 2022, Ansari said. It has been building for some time. Despite the historically low turnout, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the epic participation of the public. State-run media, meanwhile, spun the elections as a victory over those who called for a boycott. By claiming victory, the clerical establishment overlooks the growing absence of support from 60 percent of its population, said Vaez. Such self-approbation [mirrors] the regimes previous dismissal of the 2022 protests as the result of foreign intrigue rather than reflection of deep discontent, he said, adding that it represents the Islamic republics continuation of ignoring simmering public discontent. Hard-Line Dominance Around 40 moderates won seats in the new parliament. But the legislature will remain dominated by hard-liners. The elections were largely seen as a contest between conservatives and ultraconservatives. We can say that a more hotheaded and previously marginal wing of the hard-liners scored a victory against more established conservatives, said Arash Azizi, a senior lecturer in history and political science at Clemson University in South Carolina. This is because the former had a more fired-up base and in the absence of popular participation were able to shape the results, he added. A more hard-line parliament could have more bark but certainly not more bite than its predecessors, according to Vaez. The parliament is subservient to the supreme leader and rubber stamps the deep states strategic decisions, even if grudgingly, he added. Since the ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi, a close ally of Khamenei, was elected as president in 2021, Irans hard-liners have dominated all three branches of the government, including the parliament and judiciary. Other key institutions like the Assembly of Experts and the powerful Guardians Council, which vets all election candidates, are also dominated by hard-liners. There is not much left of the systems republican features, Vaez said. The Islamic republic is now a minority-ruled unconstitutional theocracy. RFE/ RL San Marco, Ca. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) In early February 2023 a 22-year-old Iraqi YouTube star, Tiba Al-Ali was strangled by her father in an honor killing, part of the quotidian violence the nation has endured over the last two decades. In November 2023 Giulia Cecchettin, a 22-year-old engineering student from the Venice region in Italy, was found at the bottom of a ravine, killed by ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta. Her body was discovered a week before November 25, the International Day Against Gender Violence. As 2023 came to close, she was the 83rd victim of femicide, in Italy. Both were 22-year-olds. Their deaths in 2023 serve as a reminder on International Womens Day that the tragedies of femicide and gender-based violence (GBV) will continue into 2024. Honor killings need to be recognized as problems that are not only confined to the global south and developing world. While governments often react to direct violence, this problem will not end unless both state and society recognize endemic structural and cultural violence that enable femicide. The failure to act on these problems becomes a form of necropolitics, where the states allow women to succumb to the fate of femicide. Direct Violence Norwegian scholar Johan Galtungs Triangle of Violence begins with direct violence, which often gets the most attention. The father of Tiba Al-Ali projected direct violence against his daughter by strangling her. The last thing Tiba saw was the eyes of her father before she died. Turetta projected direct violence against Giulia, a video camera capturing him beating her, and then later stabbing her 20 times to the neck and head. The last thing Giulia saw was the eyes of her ex-partner. Tiba chose to defy her father. Giulia chose to leave Filippo and she was graduating before him, which he could not accept. Structural Violence Cameroonian scholar Achille Mbembe defines necropolitics as how political actors allow certain demographics to die. When states fail to prevent femicide that is a form of necropolitics, or what Galtung would call structural violence. Alis murder is part of the rise of GBV due to a revival of tribal culture that former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein encouraged after the 1991 Gulf War to maintain domestic order, as his security forces were diminished. Iraqs gendered insecurity continued unabated as the security sector collapsed after the 2003 invasion. The US touted post-Saddam Iraq as a model state that would inspire a wave of democratization in the region. Yet Articles 41 and 409 of the Iraqi Penal Code, to this day, permits males to punish female members of a household. Those codes are a form of structural violence and necropolitics, enabling honor killings. It allows practices of patriarchy at the state level. Womens rights in Iraq FRANCE 24 English Video Structural violence and state patriarchy is evident by the security sector failing to address this issue, as the police allegedly knew beforehand that Al-Alis life was at risk and failed to take action. Let us turn to Europe. Surprisingly, the Italian state engages in necropolitics by not legally recognizing femicide as a separate crime. Cecchettins sister, Elena, referred to this problem when said, Femicide is a murder committed by the state because the state doesnt protect us. The states failure in this case to prevent direct violence is itself a form of violence. In the absence of the state Elena refers to the need for Italian civil society and NGOs to step in: We need to fund anti-violence centres and give the possibility to those who need to ask for help. After the murder, Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she would increase funds to womens shelters and anti-violence centers. However, Meloni was also part of the problem, since her misogynistic right-wing politics and Brothers of Italy(Fratelli dItalia) party enabled gendered cultural violence in Italy. Cultural Violence After the murder in Iraq, a twitter user, Ali Bey, wrote that women should behave or face the same fate as Tiba Al-Ali, along with a series of other voices in the Iraqi cybersphere condoning, if not celebrating the murder. These outbursts are examples of cultural violence or societal patriarchy that enables such crimes. Elena links the murder of her younger sister to the patriarchal culture of violence that pervades Italy, a form of cultural necropolitics, which normalises the toxic behaviour of men like Turetta and eventually commits femicide. She said Turetta is often described as a monster, but hes not a monster. She then addresses cultural elements: A monster is an exception, a person whos outside society, a person for whom society doesnt need to take responsibility. But theres a responsibility. Monsters arent sick, theyre healthy sons of the patriarchy and rape culture. Meloni promised promised a new educational campaign in schools to eradicate the toxic culture of violence in the country. While Meloni had condemned sexual violence in the past, it was usually when a migrant committed GBV, to support the anti-immigrant politics of her party. In 2023 I conducted two digital autopsies on Tibas YouTube account and Giulias Instagram account. Both were beautiful souls that made the earth a better place. Tibas vibrant videos described her new life in Istanbul, to pursue her education. Guilia loved her mom, had a collection of beer bottle tops, and apparently had a fear of going to the hospital alone, but overcame her fear. That fear apparently had to do with the fact that she was taking care of her mom who eventually died of cancer. The triangle of violence and necropolitics offers a nuanced means of analyzing the agents of patriarchy. But a simple linguistic exercise can also achieve this goal, using patriarchy as a verb instead of an abstract noun. We must each ask ourselves Who or what has patriarched me or others in the past, present, and future? and Who or what have I patriarched? Difficult questions, yes, but by bringing them into focus we can begin to identify the active agents and institutions that have patriarched and continue to patriarch in Iraq, Italy and the world. On this International Womens Day, Iraq and Italy have failed to ensure gendered security. VANCOUVER, BC, March 8, 2024 /CNW/ - Freegold Ventures Limited (TSX: FVL) (the "Company" or "Freegold Ventures"), is pleased to announce that, due to investor demand, the Company and Paradigm Capital Inc. (the "Agent") have agreed to increase the size of Freegold Ventures' previously-announced best efforts private placement offering (the "Offering"). The amended Offering is now for 25,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.40 per Unit (the "Issue Price") for total gross proceeds of $10,000,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Unit Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company (a "Warrant Share") for 24 months from the Closing Date at an exercise price of $0.52 per Warrant Share. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for general corporate and working capital purposes. The Units will be offered for sale in each of the provinces of Canada, other than Quebec, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption") under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions. The Company has filed a Form 45-106F19 with the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada, other than Quebec. As the Offering is being completed pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, the Units issued in the Offering will not be subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document related to this Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website at www.freegoldventures.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. The Offering is expected to close on or about March 26, 2024 (the "Closing Date") and will be subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, including listing of the Common Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or compliance with the requirements of an applicable exemption therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor may there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Freegold Ventures Limited Freegold Ventures is a TSX-listed company focused on exploration in Alaska and holds the Golden Summit Gold Project near Fairbanks and the Shorty Creek Copper-Gold Project near Livengood through leases. Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability of the Company and the Agent to complete the Offering, planned expenditures, the ability to complete exploration programs on schedule, and the success of exploration programs. An Israeli tank crew who killed one journalist and wounded six others in Lebanon in October then "likely" opened fire on them with a machine gun, an expert report said Thursday. The strike in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on October 13 instantly killed Issam Abdallah, a 37-year-old journalist for the Reuters news agency. Six others -- two more Reuters journalists, two from Al Jazeera, and two from Agence France-Presse -- were injured. One of them, AFP photographer Christina Assi, 28, had to have a leg amputated. An AFP investigation in December pointed to a tank shell only used by the Israeli army being used in the attack. And a separate Reuters probe, including initial findings from the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), found that two Israeli tank rounds fired from the same position across the border were used. In its final report on Thursday, TNO said analysis of audio picked up by an Al Jazeera video camera at the scene showed the reporters also came under fire from 0.50-calibre rounds of the type used by the Browning machine guns that can be mounted on Israel's Merkava tanks. "It is considered a likely scenario that a Merkava tank, after firing two tank rounds, also used its machine gun against the location of the journalists," it said. "The latter cannot be concluded with certainty as the direction and exact distance of (the machine gun) fire could not be established." AFP global news director Phil Chetwynd renewed his call for a thorough investigation to be conducted by the Israeli military and made public. "The TNO report that strongly suggests the journalists came under sustained machine gun fire adds more weight to the theory that this was a targeted and deliberate attack," he said. Rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch concluded that the first strike was most likely a tank round fired from Israel. They said the journalists had been clearly marked as such, and that the deadly strike merited a "war crimes" probe. Israel's army responded that the incident occurred in an "active combat zone" and was under review. JUSTICE INFO: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants against two high-ranking officers of the Russian for alleged crimes in Ukraine. Who are they? SERGEY VASILIEV: Sergey Kobylash is a Lieutenant General in the Russian Armed Forces, and he was, during that campaign of strikes against the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, the commander of the long-range, aviation of the Aerospace Force. So he is a hot shot, a high-level top-ranking commander. I think he was also born in Odessa, Ukraine, which is quite remarkable. The second half of this duo is Viktor Sokolov. He is an admiral in the Russian Navy, and he was, at the time of the events, the commander of the Black Sea Fleet. There were actually rumours circulating around September last year that he perished, as a result of the Ukrainian strike on the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet, in Sevastopol. The Russian authorities have denied it. There were other rumours, I think in the [Russian] Zed Patriotic Telegram channels that he had been removed as the commander of the Black Sea Fleet last month, in view of the fact that the majority of ships of the Black Sea Fleet were actually damaged and sank as a result of Ukrainian attacks. It seems that there was some displeasure about his performance. He is not the head of the Black Sea Fleet now. But again, it is not confirmed because there was no official notice. Lieutenant-General Sergey Kobylash and Admiral Viktor Sokolov are wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Photo montage: UATV So we're dealing here with two top military commanders of the Russian Federation. One name that is conspicuous by its absence and that surprises me a little bit is that of Sergey Surovikin. I really expected him also to feature in the next series of arrest warrants of the ICC, especially in relation to this campaign of destruction of electricity infrastructure. Surovikin was appointed commander in chief of the Russian army in Ukraine on the 8th of October, 2022. So literally on the same day or the next day this campaign of strikes against the power grids, and substations, started. To me, it seemed like he was the mastermind behind this change of tack, this strategy of attacking the power infrastructure of Ukraine. He was later appointed as the head of the Coordinating Committee for Air Defence, under the Council of Defence Ministers. In that capacity he even visited Algeria in September 2023. So he's still around. I'm just wondering whether we could still expect another warrant to be announced any time soon, or perhaps there is a warrant, but it is sealed. For now, it's only two people. Russian President Vladimir Putin is already under an arrest warrant but there's no Minister of Defence, deputy Minister of Defence or anyone at this political level as well. How do you see this? Surovikin would be the next level, one level up. But of course, this ladder has more than just one step. Ultimately, it was under Putins authority, as the Supreme Commander in Chief, that those attacks were committed. But I think the approach here, is to build cases bottom up. It does not preclude the prosecutor from applying for further arrest warrants. For now, this is the level that I suppose had the most credible and sufficient evidence in order to meet the standards of reasonable grounds to believe . Once those cases are out there - I don't really expect arrests to take place anytime soon - we might expect further cases perhaps involving higher placed individuals, such as [Minister of Defence] Sergey Shoigu, Surovikin, [Army Chief of Staff and Deputy Minister of Defence] Valery Gerasimov and ultimately, Putin. I think the answer to your question is: is there a prosecutorial strategy? With the evidence they had they could link those two individuals to a number of specific, attacks or incidents in which there were dozens or perhaps even hundreds of victims. It is very important to bring cases that have sufficient promise of conviction. But in the future further cases could be brought and I believe should be brought. The Ukrainians themselves may have also brought arrest warrants against these individuals. Would the evidence have been collected by them, then transferred over to the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, where they'd pick and choose what they want? Yes, I suppose there is division of labour. There is a cooperation arrangement between the ICC Office of the Prosecutor and Ukraines Office of the Prosecutor General. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan and the prosecutor general of Ukraine Andrey Kostin have a good working relationship. There is indeed a criminal case pending in Ukraine at least against Kobylash concerning the initiation of, waging of aggressive war, and the attack against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. I'm not sure what the scope of that case is and whether it also covers war crimes. Of course, the ICC would not have jurisdiction over the crime of aggression in Ukraine. So I also see how that line could be drawn: For example, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine could decide to provide evidence to the ICC for them to build a war crimes case, while pursuing domestically a case on the aggressive war. We know some of the details of what is being alleged. As regard to war crimes, it's the effects of those attacks on civilians that is being suggested to be a war crime. What about crimes against humanity? Both, individuals were charged with basically three crimes. Two war crimes and one crime against humanity. When it comes to war crimes, it's the crime of directing attacks against civilian objects that are not military targets. You can think of residential buildings, for example, or kindergartens, or schools, which do not form military objectives. The second war crime is causing excessive, incidental harm to civilians or damaging civilian objects. It's basically about causing excessive collateral damage attacks that were targeting military objects, the effects of which would cause loss of civilian life or damage to civilian objects that was excessive in relation to the concrete, direct military advantage. These attacks were carried out deliberately, in the knowledge that such an excessive damage would ensue. And therefore, it also amounts to a war crime. You always need to prove intent: that such an attack was intentionally launched. In the case of the second war crime, you also need to show that the person knew that such an attack would result in excessive incidental harm, which can be quite difficult. It relates to the subjective aspect of the crime, and it can be quite tricky. How do they prove that? Mostly, intent can be inferred from some other elements, for example from the circumstances. Surrounding a specific incident there might be communication, maybe intercepted phone calls [that show] that the intention was actually to ignore any potentially excessive damage to civilians and to civilian objects. A line of defence could be that there was still a clear military advantage to be achieved by launching an attack against that object, and that it was not so clear that the excessive damage would outweigh the military advantage. Commanders can always put forth the defence that they had grounds to believe that the military advantage would be concrete and direct, and therefore they were not precluded by international humanitarian law from launching such a risky attack, even in the knowledge that it would cause some damage to the civilians, or to civilian objects. We should presume that the prosecutor has a strong case. Is it possible that they have insider witnesses? Yes, I do not exclude that there are some defectors, some insider witnesses from within the Russian security services or even the army who were prepared to provide evidence against those individuals or against any other unnamed individuals that we might see mentioned in any future arrest warrants. But it's mostly speculation. We do not really know on what grounds those charges were chosen, and it was a deliberate decision not to disclose the actual content of the arrest warrants. So we actually do not know what exact incidents we are talking about. It's only about the campaign that took place between October 2022 and March 2023, that's what we know. I started to go through my old tweets, [to see] what kind of incidents it would relate to. And a bunch of incidents could potentially qualify and fall within this actual substratum of the charges. For example, there was an attack in Dnipro, in Kyiv, in Kharkiv. What is absolutely clear is that those charges cannot be all-encompassing and comprehensive. They will not be covering every single attack. As regard to the charge of crime against humanity, some have already described it as a bold move, because it requires that the attack be systematic or widespread. I do not really believe that it was bold. I think it was a natural move to charge crimes against humanity as well. Although perhaps we did not expect it to be done in connection with the attacks against the energy infrastructure of Ukraine. But if you consider the context in which the crimes were committed and the nature of that attack in the execution of a state policy, obviously the attack was, you know, widespread and systematic. So, it is not highly surprising that other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity were actually included in those [charges]. You need to consider also the impact on the civilians that those attacks caused the destruction of essential civilian infrastructures like power stations, substations that were also meant to service the civilian population in Ukraine during a pretty harsh winter. It necessarily went beyond "mere" war crimes because the intention was also to make the civilians suffer. I think the calculation behind this was that if the Russian army continues with these systematic, widespread attacks, then the civilian population might rise up against the Kyiv regime, and say, well, we really have to find a political solution, [and] if we need to give away those territories, its fine with us, just please stop this war because we cannot go on like that. The civilian population was chosen as an instrument. So, in that sense, because it was clearly amounting to an attack against the civilian population, it is quite predictable and fully understandable to charge that as other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity. It is a bit of a marginal charge here, because if you think about crimes in the occupied territories where Russian troops were stationed, that would be a textbook example of crimes against humanity. I'm talking here about murder, unlawful detention, the deprivation of liberty, torture, and rape. I do still expect those crimes to be charged in the future. The big crimes against humanity case is still to come. This is just a notice, like a precursor to what we can expect. If you look at the first set of charges on the deportation of children, then this set of charges on the attack on civilian infrastructure, it gives the impression of a prosecutor who is very careful, but very deliberately choosing signature events and crimes, like following a long strategic plan with, at some point, something about what's happening in the occupied territories. Do you think there is such a plan? I'm absolutely sure that there is a well-thought-through strategy there, knowing who leads the Ukraine team. Prosecutor Brenda Hollis is a very experienced, seasoned, competent, prosecutor, with extensive experience in International Criminal Tribunals. We unfortunately don't know much about the Office of the Prosecutor's investigative, case prioritisation strategy, specifically in relation to the situation in Ukraine. We can only glean some hints from the prosecutor's public statements and communications. After the fourth visit by the prosecutor to Ukraine, the prosecutor issued a statement that referred clearly to children being the forgotten victims of the conflict. And ten days later, we got the bombshell news that [the Court] had issued arrest warrants [against Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, his commissioner for children rights for the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine]. In the same statement, he also mentioned a meeting with Kostin, where they discussed the series of attacks on critical civilian infrastructure, and [their] collective commitment to ensure that such acts were going to be fully investigated and that the people responsible, will or should be held to account. So this was a very clear indication as to what to expect. It took basically one year to get the warrants in relation to the destruction of the infrastructure of Ukraine. In case of Putin and Belova it was much easier because of that infamous video where they were simply discussing how exactly they were doing this and why it was so important. You wouldn't find such an exhibit A in the case of attacks on the infrastructure. So, the investigation had to be done. But I can't say that it was a surprising outcome. It was clear that the Office of the Prosecutor was at it. It was really intending to pursue that strategy. In the same way we can draw some inferences as to the potential future cases. We could just read previous statements by the prosecutor very intensively. He also visited various sites in the Kyiv Oblast. And that was all about the killing of civilians which was brought to light after the Russian troops withdrew from the Kyiv Oblast in early April 2022. I would not be surprised if the crimes in the [de]occupied territories were to form a central part of the future cases that they might bring. And here, of course, the scope of possibilities is really extensive, in terms of locations. Its Kiev Oblast, it is Kherson Oblast, it is Zaporizhia. those localities that were under the [temporary Russian] occupation. It became clear that massive crimes against humanity, and war crimes were committed by the troops. So, I expect the Office of the Prosecutor to be investigating those incidents. There would need to be some division of labour there because the Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine is also doing a number of those cases. So, I'm curious to see how that division of tasks would work in practice, what kind of understanding has been reached. There are many options as to how they could divide the labour amongst themselves. Like with the destruction of the Khakovka dam, with major environmental consequences. In the prosecutor's press statement following the arrest warrants, there is the idea that making these arrest warrants public for these particular types of crimes the illegal destruction of civilian objects - should reverberate amongst anyone who is committing or thinking about committing these kinds of crimes. This was a message meant to go far beyond Ukraine, to the Israel-Palestine conflict in particular, wasn't it? I believe so, because very deliberately, the prosecutor underlined that this is a notice to state actors and non-state actors, in Ukraine and outside Ukraine. He even engaged in this rhetorical method of repetition in order to emphasise how important it is for everyone to take notice. It is indeed a warning not only to the warring parties in Ukraine. It is also directed at the parties to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, in particular Israeli Defence Forces and Hamas fighters. I think this was the intention behind this statement. The Israeli military on Friday denied it targets reporters after an expert report gave further details of a tank crew opening fire and killing a journalist and wounding others in Lebanon last year. The military said it "does not deliberately shoot at civilians, including journalists" after a probe by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) found troops "likely" opened fire on the journalists with a machine gun after deadly shelling. The strike in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on October 13 instantly killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah. Six other journalists from Reuters, Al Jazeera and AFP were injured. One of them, AFP photographer Christina Assi, 28, later had a leg amputated. An AFP investigation in December pointed to a tank shell only used by the Israeli army being fired in the attack. And a separate Reuters probe, including initial findings from the TNO, found two Israeli tank rounds fired from the same position across the border were used. In its final report on Thursday, the TNO said analysis of audio picked up by an Al Jazeera video camera at the scene showed the reporters also came under fire from 0.50-calibre rounds of the type used by the Browning machine guns that can be mounted on Israel's Merkava tanks. "It is considered a likely scenario that a Merkava tank, after firing two tank rounds, also used its machine gun against the location of the journalists," it said. "The latter cannot be concluded with certainty as the direction and exact distance of (the machine gun) fire could not be established." The Israeli military said Friday that troops responded to attacks by Hezbollah militants, using "artillery fire and tank fire in order to remove the threat". In a statement to AFP, the military said "a report of the injury of journalists who were in the area was received" after the fire by Israeli troops. The "incident will continue to be examined" by a military body, the statement said. The Israeli military said it "considers the freedom of the press to be of utmost importance while clarifying that being in a war zone is dangerous." Rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also concluded that the first strike in southern Lebanon was most likely a tank round fired from Israel. They said the journalists had been clearly marked as such, and that the deadly strike merited a "war crimes" probe. Expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories constitutes "a war crime" and risks eliminating any likelihood of a viable Palestinian state, the UN rights chief warned on Friday. Volker Turk said there had been a drastic acceleration in Israeli illegal settlement building in the occupied West Bank as it wages a relentless war in the Palestinian territory of Gaza. The UN high commissioner for human rights said creating and expanding settlements amounted to the transfer by Israel of its own civilian population into occupied territories. "Such transfers amount to a war crime that may engage the individual criminal responsibility of those involved," Turk said in a report to the UN Human Rights Council. Reported Israeli plans to build another 3,476 settler homes in the West Bank colonies of Maale Adumim, Efrat and Kedar "fly in the face of international law", he said. Spain echoed the sentiment on Friday, with its foreign ministry saying it "strongly condemns" the planned settlements that "undermine efforts to achieve a two-state solution and are an obstacle to peace". France's foreign ministry also said it "strongly condemns" the settlement plan and called on the Israeli government to "immediately reverse this decision". Israel seized the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It is illegal under international law for Israel to establish settlements in those Palestinian territories. Despite opposition abroad, Israel has built dozens of settlements across the West Bank in recent decades. They are home to more than 490,000 Israelis, living in the same territory as around three million Palestinians. Israel gave the go-ahead for the new homes less than two weeks after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said any settlement expansion would be "counterproductive to reaching enduring peace" with the Palestinians. - Violence concerns - Turk said that during the period covered by his report -- November 1, 2022, to October 31, 2023 -- some 24,300 housing units were added to existing Israeli settlements in the West Bank. That marks the largest number on record since monitoring began in 2017. It includes nearly 9,700 units in east Jerusalem, the UN rights office said. Turk's report found that the Israeli government's policies "appear aligned, to an unprecedented extent, with the goals of the Israeli settler movement to expand long-term control over the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, and to steadily integrate this occupied territory into the State of Israel". At the same time, Palestinians are being forced from their homes by Israeli settler and state violence, it said. It also pointed to forced evictions, non-issuance of building permits, home demolitions and movement restrictions imposed on Palestinians. It found there had been 602 settler attacks against Palestinians since October 7, the date of Hamas's attack inside Israel, leading to the war in Gaza. The UN rights office said it had documented nine Palestinians killed by West Bank settlers using firearms, and another 396 killed by Israeli security forces. Two others were killed by either Israeli security forces or settlers. In response, Israel's mission in Geneva said Turk and his office had "once again totally ignored the deaths of 36 Israelis, including women and children and one tourist, and the 296 injured as a result of Palestinian terrorism in 2023, before and after October 7. "Human rights are universal, yet Israeli victims of Palestinian terrorism are ignored by the office time and time again," the Israeli mission said. Tehran's violent crackdown on peaceful protests and discrimination against women and girls triggered serious rights violations, many amounting to crimes against humanity, a UN fact-finding mission concluded Friday. Iran was rocked by widespread demonstrations sparked by the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who had been arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress rule for women based on Islamic sharia law. Anger over her death rapidly expanded into weeks of taboo-breaking protests in an open challenge to the Islamic republic's system of government under supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In November 2022, the UN Human Rights Council created a high-level investigation into the deadly crackdown. In its first report, the independent international fact-finding mission on Iran said many of the violations uncovered "amount to crimes against humanity -- specifically those of murder, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution, enforced disappearance and other inhumane acts". It added that the commission of such crimes, in the context of a deprivation of fundamental rights and inflicted with discriminatory intent, "leads the mission to the conclusion that the crime against humanity of persecution on the grounds of gender has been committed". - Truth 'obfuscated' - "These acts form part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against the civilian population in Iran, namely against women, girls, boys and men who have demanded freedom, equality, dignity and accountability," said Sara Hossain, who chairs the three-member mission. "We urge the government to immediately halt the repression of those who have engaged in peaceful protests, in particular women and girls." Rather than conducting a proper investigation into Amini's death, Tehran "actively obfuscated the truth", the mission said. The mission said people "who merely danced" or honked car horns were arrested in the crackdown on protests, while hundreds of children, some as young as 10, were also detained. The mission found the Iranian security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force, resulting in the unlawful killing and injuries of protesters who posed no imminent threat of death or serious injury. Scores of people were blinded, the mission added, saying it also found evidence of extrajudicial killings. The mission found Tehran had arbitrarily executed at least nine young men from December 2022 to January 2024, while dozens remain at risk of execution or a death sentence in relation to the protests. Credible figures suggest that as many as 551 protesters were killed by the security forces, among them at least 49 women and 68 children, the mission said, with most deaths caused by firearms. - 'Persecutory system' - "Pervasive and deep-rooted structural and institutionalised discrimination against women and girls... was both a trigger and an enabler of the widespread serious human rights violations and crimes under international law," the report concluded. "Given the gravity of its findings, the mission urges the Iranian authorities to halt all executions and immediately and unconditionally release all persons arbitrarily arrested and detained in the context of the protests or for non-compliance with or advocacy against the mandatory hijab," the mission said. Iran should stop the judicial harassment of protesters and their families, repeal laws that discriminate against women, "in particular those on the mandatory hijab", and disband the "persecutory system" of its enforcement, it said. The mission urged Tehran to provide "justice, truth and reparations" to victims of rights violations in connection with the protests. It also said countries should explore avenues for legal accountability outside Iran, given the absence of effective remedies within the country. Other states should also grant asylum and humanitarian visas to people fleeing persecution for defending rights in Iran. The Iranian authorities refused to cooperate with the mission. The report will be formally presented to the Human Rights Council on March 15. The ongoing romance-medical series "Doctor Slump" achieves a new record and continues to surge in popularity around the world! Keep on reading to know more about the drama's new achievements! 'Doctor Slump' Back-to-Back Achievements Ahead of Finale Park Shin Hye and Park Hyung Sik's "Doctor Slump" successfully ranked 3rd globally in Netflix's Non-English TV category from February 26 to March 3. Adding to its achievement is the drama garnered 21.9 million viewers hours, climbing three spots from its previous week's sixth place. "Doctor Slump" also made the top 10 in more than 30 countries. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Park Shin Hye, 'Marry My Husband' Cast Reign in March 2024 Brand Reputation Rankings for Drama Actors Meanwhile, the production team dropped new behind-the-scenes stills featuring Park Hyung Sik and Park Shin Hye's characters. The K-drama couple is trying to re-establish their lives after experiencing the worst moments in their lives, and the audience is eager to see what the future holds for them. Park Shin Hye Takes First Place in Actor Brand Value Rankings for March The Korea Brand Reputation Research Institute released their gathered and analyzed data of 50 lead actors/actresses currently starring on television or streaming platform drama. The organization collected data ranging from media activities, consumer participation, and communication from February 7 to March 7. ALSO READ:'Doctor Slump' Maintains Spot in Netflix's Global Top 10 for Five Consecutive Weeks "Doctor Slump" lead star Park Shin Hye topped the list and earned 3,477,472 points. "Marry My Husband" actress Song Ha Yoon came second with 3,188,068 points and her co-star Na In Woo occupied the third spot with 2,798,499 points. Park Shin Hye's onscreen partner Park Hyung Sik also entered the list and made it to the top 4. Park Min Young and Lee Yi Kyung occupied the fifth and sixth places. Here are the Top 30 for March Actor Brand Value Rankings 1.Park Shin Hye 2.Song Ha Yoon 3.Na In Woo 4. Park Hyung Sik 5. Park Min Young 6. Lee Yi Kyung 7. Lee Ji Ah 8. Park Ji Hyun 9. Lee Honey 10. Ahn Bo Hyun 11. Lee Jong Won 12. Jo Jung Suk 13. Park Ji Hoon 14. Choi Soo Jong 15. Shin Se Kyung 16. Jang Na Ra 17. Kang Ki Young 18. Lee Ki Kwang 19. Kim Dong Jun 20. Ji Seung Hyun 21. Uee 22. Ha Joon 23. Kim Sang Joong 24. Oh Seung Ha 25. Hong Ye Ji 26. Lee Seol 27. Lee So Yeon 28. Son Ho Joon 29. Ha Yeon Joo 30. Lee Ki Woo Furthermore, catch the remaining episodes of "Doctor Slump" every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 p.m.(KST) on JTBC and Netflix. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Doctor Slump' Episode 12: Park Shin Hye Discovers Oh Dong Min's Involvement in Park Hyung Sik's Case 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. Lee Je Hoon returns to the small screen with the promising K-drama "Chief Detective 1958." Along with a stunning cast lineup, MBC dropped a sneak peek at the upcoming action mystery series. Gearing up for one of the network's much-awaited K-dramas, MBC unveiled a new poster featuring the lead stars joining Lee Je Hoon. 'Chief Detective 1958' Official Poster Revealed Over the network's social media, "Chief Detective 1958" introduces four main characters who will take on the role of detectives. Lee Je Hoon transforms into the iconic Park Young Han. The series will depict his journey as he becomes a fearless and powerful detective. He then teams up with Kim Sang Soon, played by Lee Dong Hwi, along with Jo Kyung Hwan and Seo Ho Jung, portrayed by Choi Woo Sung and Yoon Hyun Soo. In the latest update, the four detectives walk around the streets of Jongro in Seoul. "In an era of barbarism, a humane investigation drama by real detectives," the text reads, hinting at their great teamwork. Interestingly, this sparked excitement among fans. READ MORE: Lee Je Hoon Spotted Fanboying Over RIIZE Especially THIS Member: 'He's so handsome' In the comment section, fans expressed how they were thrilled to see Lee Je Hoon portray the role of detective. Other than the viewers' expectations of the upcoming K-drama, netizens noticed something interesting about the "Chief Detective 1958" poster. On X, formerly known as Twitter, users pointed out the similarity of the drama poster to the 2018 K-drama "Life on Mars." Some say that the drama poster featuring four talented stars gives off the "Life of Mars" vibe. The remake of the 2006 British TV series of the same name, "Life of Mars," stars Jung Kyung Ho, Park Sung Woong, Oh Dae Hwan, Noh Jong Hyun, and Go Ah Sung, whose mission is to investigate a serial murder case. However, the crime investigation team's Han Tae Joo (Jung Kyung Ho) had an accident that changed his life. 'Chief Detective 1958' Release Date Fighting against corruption and maintaining peace in society, Detective Park Young Han is the main character in "Chief Detective 1958." Based on the 1971 series "Chief Inspector," the upcoming series is set in 1958, highlighting the journey of the fearless detective. The "Chief Detective 1958" release date is scheduled for April 19, with a total of 10 episodes for the whole season. Viewers get to see Lee Je Hoon and the rest of the cast of the K-drama, which will air every Friday and Saturday. Other than Lee Je Hoon, Lee Dong Hwi, Choi Woo Sung, and Yoon Hyun Soo, "Chief Detective 1958" also features amazing cast members like Yoo Hae Jin, Seo Eun Soo, and more. In addition, the upcoming K-drama will also showcase a special appearance by Choi Bool Am, who played the original Chief Inspector Park. IN CASE YOU MISSED: Lee Je Hoon Sets Up Heartwarming Activity After Recovering From Emergency Surgery For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills After a long wait, the final episode has finally been released! In "Queen of Divorce" Episode 12, Lee Ji Ah and Kang Ki Young finally take down their biggest enemy, raising questions whether they will rekindle their lost love. Here's what went down in the finale. 'Queen of Divorce' Episode 12: No Yul Seong Sees A Dead End Despite No Yul Seong (Oh Min Seok) having so much power, Kim Sa Ra (Lee Ji Ah) is able to retrieve the ledger that proves his corruption inside the company. With Son Jang Mi's (Kim Sun Young) help, they are able to track down the former's alibis. They then later hand over the ledger to the police, cornering No Yul Seong. However, he makes use of their son No Seo Yun (Jung Min Jun), saying that she will never see her son again once she stabs him in the back, making Lee Ji Ah waver big time. Thankfully, Kim Sa Ra gives him a fake ledger, and the real one is already being investigated by the authorities. No Yul Seong is going to pay for all of his crimes at once. Kim Sa Ra Faces Doom Danger falls over Kim Sa Ra after she gets kidnapped by her own husband. The recorder that she has in her body falls off, angering the latter even more. However, it isn't over for Kim Sa Ra as Dong Ki Joon (Kang Ki Young) begins to search for her. Before she is shipped off to death, she asks No Yul Seong about her mother's death. READ MORE: 'Queen of Divorce' Episode 11: Lee Ji Ah & Kang Ki Young Plot Revenge No Yul Seong admits killing her mother, leaving Kim Sa Ra devastated. She is then left for dead inside the container. Later on, Dong Ki Joon sees the container and stops it as soon as possible. Kim Sa Ra and Dong Ki Joon are relieved to see the prosecutors taking No Yul Seong to prison. She finally receives the justice she and her late mother deserve. Kim Sa Ra & Dong Ki Joon's Promise of Love At her mother's grave, she takes her son happily. Dong Ki Joon arrives at the scene and presents himself in front of her mother, promising to take care of her and No Seo Yun. After a few months, wedding bells ring as they pick wedding rings together with No Seo Yul as their ring bearer. However, it wasn't their wedding, and Kim Sa Ra is officiating the event. Dong Ki Joon doesn't disappoint the viewers as he proposes to Kim Sa Ra, following the happy occasion. She accepts his proposal which needs to be renewed every five years. Their eccentric way of showing their love for one another shows as they become business partners to life partners forever. ALSO READ: Jeon So Nee Co-Exists With Monsters In New Series 'Parasyte: The Grey' KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Jeon Yeo Bin might have her next small screen project as she is in talks to team up with Hallyu star Hyun Bin. Keep on reading to know more about their possible collaboration! Hyun Bin & Jeon Yeo Bin to Potentially Reunite Through 'Made in Korea' Based on the news cited by a news outlet on March 8, Jeon Yeo Bin is reportedly to join Hyun Bin in the modern history-based drama "Made in Korea." In response to the report, an official from Management mmm, Jeon Yeo Bin's agency, stated that the actress is positively considering appearing in the new series. "Made in Korea" follows the major events that happened during the turbulent era of Korea in the 1970s. This will be the first drama to be directed by Woo Min Ho, the man who captivated the audience with his works namely "Inside Men," "Drug King," and "The Man Standing Next." Apart from Hyun Bin, veteran actor Jung Woo Sung will also join the main cast and is confirmed to play the role of Jang Geon Yeong, a prosecutor with animal-like instincts and a fierce obsession. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:Actors Who Continue to Succeed in Career Despite Having Family: Hyun Bin, Lee Byung Hun, More Furthermore, Jeon Yeo Bin's appearance in the drama is already raising anticipation. In particular, Jeon Yeo Bin has worked with Hyun Bin and Woo Min Ho already in the movie "Harbin," which is yet to be released in cinemas. Expectations are high whether the trio will reunite again for another project. "Made in Korea" is targeting to start production this summer after they finish the pre-production. In addition, the drama is rumored to have a budget of $36 million USD and will be produced by Hive Media Corp. Jeon Yeo Bin Booked to Work With Song Hye Kyo Aside from "Made in Korea," Jeon Yeo Bin is also booked to work with another superstar, none other than, Song Hye Kyo. The two will collaborate in the upcoming thriller-occult movie "Black Nuns." It has been said that the production already began and the lead cast members have finally started filming the project. Song Hye Kyo also confirmed it as she uploaded some snaps on her social media. Actor Lee Jin Wook will also join them in the film. "Black Nuns" aims to be released in cinemas sometime this 2024. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Song Hye Kyo Shares Glimpse of New Movie 'Dark Nuns' - See Further Details To Her Movie Team-Up With Jeon Yeo Bin, Lee Jin Wook, More! What can you say about Jeon Yeo Bin and Hyun Bin's upcoming collaboration? 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. c"The Impossible Heir" Episode 4 showcased an unexpected twist with Lee Jun Young and his relationship with the Kang family. The newest thriller-political K-drama, released by Disney+, depicts the journey of three individuals who want to take over one of the biggest conglomerates in South Korea. Headlined by Lee Jun Young, Lee Jae Wook, and Hong Su Zu, the trio is ready to take a plunge and get on with their ambitious mission of getting the Kang Oh Group. 'The Impossible Heir' Cast + Where To Watch the New K-Drama Lee Jun Young stars as the illegitimate child of Kang Oh Group's chairman. Portraying the character of Kang In Ha, he is looked down on by his stepbrothers and mother. Thankfully, his younger half-sister welcomes him to the family with arms wide open. However, growing up, he has to hide the fact that he is the chairman's son. While living outside the city and away from the media, In Ha meets the new kid in the town, Han Tae Oh (Lee Jae Wook). Unlike Kang In Ha, Tae Oh grows up in an underprivileged family. He has to work odd jobs to support school after his father was imprisoned. Despite their different statuses, they want to climb the social ladder and they choose Kang Oh Group as their target. READ MORE: 'The Impossible Heir' Leaked Episodes Confuse Viewers: 'It's giving sabotage' Airing every Wednesday, "The Impossible Heir" is available on Disney+. Viewers can also stream the newest episodes on Hulu. 'The Impossible Heir' Episode 4: Kang In Ha Receives Offer from His Father "The Impossible Heir" Episode 4 began with a recap of Chairman Kang Joong Mo's struggling health. After a confrontation with his wife, Jang Geum Suk, he had a heart attack, causing him to be unconscious. Instead of helping her husband, Geum Suk watched Joong Mo as he grappled. Thankfully, Han Tae Oh, being his trusted assistant, called 911 for help. As the chairman got settled in the hospital, the Kang members were more concerned about their well-being than the patriarch. Geum Suk pretended not to know about the chairman's condition before he went unconscious. Here, Han Tae Oh asked the family members to leave since the top priority right now was the chairman's recovery. At this point, it was revealed that the heart attack was staged by Tae Oh and Kang Joon Mo themselves. This was to cover up his weak point, which was Milton. Thinking that the chairman was still unwell and couldn't handle his responsibilities, Geum Suk announced her son, Kang Seung, as the acting chairman. During the board meeting, the hacker managed to create confusion in Kang Oh Securities by changing "1000 KRW per share" as a dividend to "1000 shares per person." Due to this, he was summoned by prosecutors to explain the reason behind it. In the last scene, Kang In Ha made a deal with the chairman. He wanted his father to recognize him as his third son. In exchange, Kang Joon Mo asked In Ha to sign a contract. As for Geum Suk, she was stunned to see the very well-developed and active Kang Joon Mo and realized that she and the family fell into his trap. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Lee Jae Wook Launching His Own One-Man Agency Raises Doubts: 'Is he big enough to run a company?' For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Choi Sung Eun mentions "My Name is Loh KiWan" star Song Joong Ki and former co-star Ji Chang Wook. In her interview with a local media outlet, the rookie actress dishes on her working relationship with South Korean top stars. Choi Sung Eun on the Difference Between Working With Song Joong Ki and Ji Chang Wook Debuting in 2019, Choi Sung Eun has landed on a few notable K-dramas, taking on supporting roles in the action comedy film "Start-Up" and eventually taking on lead roles in "Gentleman," "The Sound of Magic," and her latest project, "My Name is Loh KiWan." According to Choi Sung Eun, she is comfortable working with Song Joong Ki, despite his status in the industry. She tells the outlet that she never called a senior actor or co-star "Oppa" before shooting "My Name is Loh KiWan," hinting that she had a good working relationship with the top star. "Even with Ji Chang Wook, I called him 'sunbae' out of respect. I guess I'm not one to drop formalities easily," the rookie actress added. In Korea, "oppa" means "older brother," which is used to refer to someone who is older than her. A person can use the term "oppa" to address her friends, colleagues, or someone close to her who gives off a sense of friendliness. As for addressing a senior or someone with more experience in the work setting, they use the term "sunbae." Choi Sung Eun also detailed her working relationship with Song Joong Ki, explaining how crucial it is to have a "natural connection." "Thankfully, Song Joong Ki told me to relax and encouraged me not to call him'sunbae' during our first meeting," she said, adding, "Dropping the formalities definitely helped us bond faster." In Netflix's newly released movie, Choi Sung Eun takes on the role of Marie, a professional shooter whom Loh KiWan met while he was in Belgium. READ MORE: Ji Chang Wook's Unexpected Interaction With Fan Goes Viral: 'That's a boyfriend move' As for Ji Chang Wook, the actress worked with the South Korean heartthrob in 2022 for "The Sound of Magic." Choi Sung Eun Talks About Song Joong Ki's Professionalism' Being a rookie actress, Choi Sung Eun had to work with more experienced actors, including award-winning stars, veteran celebrities, and more. However, what caught her attention is how Song Joong Ki is at work. Lauding the actor's professionalism and personality at work, Choi Sung Eun described her co-star as someone who is "incredibly considerate." "He always goes the extra mile to make his co-stars feel comfortable, and his positive energy keeps the set lively." Choi Sung Eun added that joining "My Name is Loh KiWan" and working with Song Joong Ki "was a learning experience," adding that despite his status in the industry, her co-star is "humble, passionate, dedicated, and always open to feedback. "My Name is Loh KiWan '' officially premiered on March 1 exclusively on Netflix. The movie also featured "Vincenzo" and "Reborn Rich" actor Jo Han Chul as Marie's father, Yoon Seong. IN CASE YOU MISSED: Song Joong Ki's Wife, Son 'Influenced' His Acting in 'My Name is Loh KiWan' Says Director For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills The upcoming Coupang Play romance series "What Comes After Love" has shared a glimpse into its first script reading, capturing the cast members' flawless synergy. Since the announcement of its production, it has become one of the most anticipated works in Hallyu. The meeting of Lee Se Young and Kentaro Sakaguchi is a huge factor to watch for. Here's what we know so far about "What Comes After Love." Check out the details by reading more. Lee Se Young & Kentaro Sakaguchi Boast Flawless Synergy On March 8, Coupang Play's upcoming romance drama "What Comes After Love" shared a glimpse of its first-ever script reading event. It was attended by A-list actors Lee Se Young and Kentaro Sakaguchi who headline the series. It marks their first time working together on a project. "What Comes After Love" is based on the highly loved novel of the same name by South Korean writer Gong Ji Young and Japanese author Tsuji Hitonari. The drama depicts the romantic tryst between a South Korean woman and a Japanese man who meet and fall in love in Japan, and reunite in South Korea years after their breakup. Lee Se Young transforms into Hong who falls for Jung Oh, played by Sakaguchi Kentaro, while studying abroad. In the first script reading, the actress masterfully synchronized with her role. She perfectly pulled off her character's dialogues with ease, showcasing her years of experience as an actress. Similarly, Kentaro Sakaguchi showed off his acting prowess. READ MORE: 'Queen of Divorce' Wraps Season With Personal Best In Ratings He also evoked empathy and inspiration among his co-stars by capturing his character's melancholic feelings, seamlessly disappearing into his character. In addition, Hong Jong Hyun and Nakamura Anne, who joined the ensemble, also boasted their equally amazing talents in acting, raising the excitement further. Attention is given to the brand new series, especially Lee Se Young and Kentaro Sakaguchi's chemistry as they take on their first-ever acting project together. Meanwhile, "What Comes After Love" has already begun filming. It's slated to be released within 2024 so stay tuned for more updates on the drama. Watch the clip during "What Comes After Love" table read below: Lee Se Young & Kentaro Sakaguchi Dish On Working Together This 2024, Lee Se Young and Sakaguchi Kentaro widen their horizon as they take on the South Korean and Japanese production of "What Comes After Love." Lee Se Young felt nothing but honored to headline the upcoming work, which she fell in love with after reading. She said, "I want to display love through my new acting role." "I'm looking forward to working with Sakaguchi Kentaro," she added. On the other hand, Sakaguchi Kentaro described Lee Se Young as "an actress with delicate acting." Are you excited for "What Comes After Love"? Share your thoughts on the drama in the comments down below! ALSO READ: Choi Sung Eun Reveals Song Joong Ki's True Personality: 'He's so persistent' KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Following the growing success of the Netflix drama film "My Name Is Loh Kiwan," fans were let in on the behind-the-scenes of the film after Choi Sung Eun got candid about her experiences. In a follow-up interview by Herald POP, the actress dished on her unforgettable moments during filming, and her struggles during her preparation for the role. Keep on reading to know more. Choi Sung Eun Dishes On Struggles During Filming On March 8, rising star Choi Sung Eun talked about her experiences during the filming for her comeback film "My Name Is Loh Kiwan." In the project, she transformed into Belgian-Korean woman Marie who becomes North Korean defector Loh Kiwan's, played by Song Joong Ki, a refugee during his escape to Belgium. ALSO READ: Choi Sung Eun Net Worth 2024: How Rich Is Song Joong Ki's New Leading Lady The actress took on the challenge to portray a jaded woman who has given up on life. Her seamless synchronization gained huge traction, receiving favorable reviews from the viewers. "I tried to approach Marie by embodying her personality," the actress shared. According to her, she focused on her smokey eye makeup to showcase her life burden. As the drama progressed, she transitioned into a more innocent and softer-looking appearance. The actress also revealed her struggles during filming. To recall, the cast of "My Name Is Loh Kiwan" spent more than five months in Budapest, Hungary to film the movie. "I learned French three months before filming," Choi Sung Eun revealed. "However, I've forgotten it before we arrived in Hungary. Thankfully, my teacher was with me the whole time." IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Who Is Choi Sung Eun? 5 Fun Facts You Must Know About Song Joong Ki's New Leading Lady She made everyone laugh, saying that it made her a little smarter. Meanwhile, Choi Sung Eun confessed that she became "greedier" for high scale projects after starring in the Netflix film. Choi Sung Eun Shares Plans For Acting Career After starring in "My Name Is Loh Kiwan," Choi Sung Eun developed a different thirst in taking on more challenging projects. She said that although traveling for work was difficult, the experience and the different atmosphere of the environment gave her a different encouragement to do well at work. "I became greedy for overseas projects. I now have an open mind to the idea. I want to experience it all," she added. As for her dream role, Choi Sung Eun wishes to play a character with a bright, optimistic nature. She reasoned, "I'm always emotionally affected when playing a dark character. I want to see how a bright role affects me." RELATED CONTENT: Choi Sung Eun Reveals Song Joong Ki's True Personality: 'He's so persistent' Make sure to check out "My Name Is Loh Kiwan" on Netflix. Watch the teaser below: KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Rising actor Yoon Chan Young lands a new acting project this 2024, much to the fans' excitement. He's set to join Park Eun Bin in the brand new series "Hyper Knife." The drama is among the most anticipated works of the year, and Yoon Chan Young's addition, which the new generation loves, intensifies the atmosphere. Read on to know more. Yoon Chan Young To Star In New Medical K-drama This 2024 On March 8, news outlets reported that young actor Yoon Chan Young has been cast to appear in the upcoming medical series "Hyper Knife." The work stars veteran actors Park Eun Bin and Sol Kyung Gyu, and it follows the story of a psychopathic doctor who reunites with her professor who caused her downfall after being framed of murder. ALSO READ: Choi Sung Eun Reveals Song Joong Ki's True Personality: 'He's so persistent' Park Eun Bin portrays Jung Se Ok, a medical genius who loses her license due to a crime she allegedly committed while Sol Kyung Gu plays Choi Deok Hee, the reason behind the former's tragic career. At the moment, Yoon Chan Young is deliberating whether he will take on the role of not. If he accepts the offer, he will give life to Seo Young Joo, Jung Se Ok's bodyguard who saves her life. YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS: Jeon So Nee Co-Exists With Monsters In New Series 'Parasyte: The Grey' Although he knows she is a murderer, he firmly believes that she's a doctor who saves people's lives. Yoon Chan Young is expected to deliver mature acting should he accept the offer. Furthermore, "Hyper Knife" begins filming as soon as the production team finalizes its casting lineup. It's expected to be released within the year so stay tuned for more updates. Here's Where To See More of Yoon Chan Young This 2024, Yoon Chan Young returns to the brown screens as a gangster who transforms into a high schooler in the brand new series "I, A Gangster, Became A High School Student." It's a fantasy drama that also stars Bong Jae Hyun and Lee Seo Jin, and it focuses on the story of a mysterious entity who takes over the body of a young student to continue his mission in life. The series airs in the first half of 2024 through Wavve. In addition, Yoon Chan Young also reprises his role in the second installment of the smash hit Netflix series "All of Us Are Dead." There's no news about its exact release date yet but it's expected to premiere this summer. Make sure to follow KDramaStars for further details. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS: Kim Ha Neul, Yeon Woo Jin, More Display Charismatic Melancholia In New Series 'Nothing Uncovered' KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Lee Yi Kyung is fulfilling his father's dream on air during his guest appearance in "Hangout with Yoo." In a teaser video, the MBC program released a sneak peek of the upcoming episode featuring the "Marry My Husband" star. Lee Yi Kyung 'Graduates' SNU Prior to the episode's broadcast, Lee Yi Kyung was spotted wearing a complete set of graduation uniform from Seoul National University (SNU), one of the most prestigious schools in South Korea. READ MORE: Male K-drama Villains Who Could Also Slay Protagonist Role: Lee Yi Kyung, Go Kyung Pyo, More Despite the harsh snowy weather, Lee Yi Kyung happily posed with a graduation cap and the black cape while he took a photo in front of SNU's main gate. To complete the experience, the actor was greeted by his friends as well as the "Hangout with Yoo" members. Lastly, they also hand the actor a bouquet to congratulate him on his graduation. In one scene, Lee Yi Kyung mentioned his father and how his parents wanted to see him in a graduation suit. Lee Yi Kyung's father, Lee Ung Beom, was the former CEO of LG Innotek. He once mentioned in an interview that his father approved of his decision to drop out of school. Lee Yi Kyung Recalls Decision to Drop Out of School and Live Alone In 2019, the actor talked about his life living alone after dropping out of school. During his guest appearance in JTBC's "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator," he shared that he decided to drop out of high school at 18. One of his adult decisions is to live alone and choose the neighborhood of Noryangjin. He rented a rooftop apartment and worked as a part-timer to make ends meet. "I worked at a DVD and comic book rental shop. The store, which had been losing money for eight months, earned a surplus of 800 won (approximately $0.70) after three months. The owner asked me, a teenager, to run the store." As for his parents, Lee Yi Kyung's father was the one who suggested that he drop out of school. "I used to play sports, but I gave up because I got hurt. After my dream disappeared, I developed a mental disease [depression]. My dad said, 'Just live doing what you want to do,' and signed my [school] withdrawal papers." Despite living a simple life, Lee Yi Kyung was able to make his father proud of the notable K-dramas that he joined. Among this is his latest series, "Marry My Husband," where viewers get to see a different side of him other than comedy. Lee Yi Kyung takes on the role of antagonist, Park Min Hwan, who is the abusive husband of Kang Ji Won (Park Min is young)." IN CASE YOU MISSED: Lee Yi Kyung Shares Frugal Life Despite Being A Billionaire For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Manufacturing companies that emphasize training, flexibility and benefits are better positioned to attract and retain female workers. A GM worker uses human assistance automation to weld vehicle doors at the General Motors assembly plant during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oshawa, Ont., on Friday, March 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette B.C. Premier David Eby says an "unbelievable string of incompetent decision-making" left a repeat sexual offender in a position to victimize a young Kelowna girl. Kevin Falcon, BC United Leader, said Eby says the right words but fails to take action on serious crime issues. The Canadian government is imposing new sanctions on two Iranians it accuses of participating in the violent repression of women and girls in Iran. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly made the announcement Friday to mark International Women's Day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Monday, March 8, 2024 - Former Starehe Member of Parliament, Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, has cursed all people who demolished her church in Nairobi on Wednesday. Jesus Is Alive Ministry situated along Haile Selassie Road, Nairobi, was demolished by armed goons, who according to impeccable sources, came from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and National Intelligence Service (NIS). Wanjiru, who was roughed up by the goons, said the goons were sent by President William Ruto. In a press statement, Wanjiru put a curse on those who were involved and warned them that they would look for her. She also reminded Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, that she campaigned for them only for them to repay her with broken arms and warned that if anything happens to her or her kids, they will be responsible. "Believe me, you will look for me. You went for Benny Hinn in America; you will look for me. "And I am not moving, and I am not going anywhere. You have started a fight that you cannot fight. "This one is in the heavens. We have lived in this community, but in all these years, we have never fought. "You are using the MD in Railways. I pity his family. Because as I cried yesterday and today, even his family plus yours are not exempted. "My tears will pay," she said. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 8, 2024 - President William Ruto has acknowledged that Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru's decision to dump former President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee party in favour of UDA came as a surprise to him. Speaking during the Women Governors' Caucus G7 Strategy Summit held in Nairobi yesterday, the Head of State revealed that it took a lot of courage for Waiguru to make the move given the political climate. At the time, Uhuru who was the president, and Ruto, his deputy, had fallen out with the former supporting opposition leader Raila Odinga for the top seat. "Women have also changed my perspective. Let me give you an example. "Anne Waiguru, when we had a time in our politics in the side of the camp we were and it was time to make a very difficult decision whether to go or remain (in the camps)," stated Ruto. "Among the people who made decisions that confirmed to me that women are brave, is the decision Waiguru made to join our team. "When she joined our team, I could not believe it. Everybody believed she could be on the other side. It took a lot of courage. Waiguru, who was one of the high-ranking leaders in Jubilee, controversially decamped to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party in 2021. Rumours had swirled before her decamping that chances of her retaining her gubernatorial seat were slim. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday March 8, 2024 President William Rutos deal to send 1000 police officers to Haiti to quell the gang violence seem to be falling apart. This is after an undisclosed number of Kenyan police officers developed cold feet and opted out of the deployment mission to Haiti. According to BBC report, the officers cited concerns about their safety amid ongoing gang raids in the Caribbean nation. Numerous Kenyan police officers who had initially volunteered for the deployment have opted out due to safety apprehensions. In an interview with the broadcasting corporation, one officer highlighted the lack of clarity regarding the mission's execution plans, expressing uncertainty about the mechanisms put in place. Citing the recent rise in gang violence in Haiti, another officer stated that he and his squad withdrew from the mission, which was not a mandatory deployment. He further added that the team was asked to apply for the mission voluntarily, to help restore peace in Haiti as part of their service to humanity. The unrest in Haiti intensified on March 3, following assaults by a notorious gang leader, commonly known as Barbecue, on the nation's primary airport. Barbecue vowed to obstruct Prime Minister Ariel Henry's return to the country. The gangs in Port-au-Prince, further taking advantage of Prime Minister Ariel Henrys absence, unleashed a series of coordinated attacks, rendering more people homeless as they scampered for safety. Henry, who flew to Kenya on February 29, formalized the deployment deal with Ruto on March 1, where the Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kithure Kindiki and Haiti's security minister signed the agreement. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, March 8, 2024 President William Rutos government may be forced to contract another government entity to collect taxes on its behalf instead of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). This is after Members of Parliament adopted a report by the Budget and Appropriations Committee to have another agency start collecting taxes. In the report, the committee, chaired by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, recommended that the National Land Commission (NLC) should collect land taxes. "Before submission of the 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS), the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning authorizes the National Land Commission to be a collector of revenue for the national government," the MPs proposed. According to the committee, granting the National Land Commission (NLC) the authority to collect revenue will streamline the sector. The approval from the National Treasury will be per section 76(1) of the Public Finance Management Act 2012. The Act dictates that a receiver of the national government revenue may authorise a public officer employed by the national government or any of its entities to be a collector of revenue for the national government and remit it to the receiver. Some of the taxes imposed in the land sector include stamp duty, Capital Gains Tax (CGT), rental income tax, and income tax. Besides taxes land owners are also subject to levies. The Kenyan DAILY POST A little anecdote The year was 2022, and it marked the first month of my initial rotation at one of the largest tertiary care hospitals in Punjab, Pakistan. After having assisted with several procedures in the ENT operating room one morning, I found myself on call for the next 18 hours in the emergency department as the new intern. As soon as the shift changed, a young boy landed in the ED with his father clutching his nose with a large piece of white linen spattered entirely with blood. After the initial resuscitation, the patient was stable enough to be admitted for inpatient management. The case we were dealing with was a nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, which demanded a comprehensive investigation. This was perhaps the first time the inadequacies of our health care system would become so apparent to me. The patient needed a CT angiography, for which he had to be taken to another tertiary care center located on the outer rim of the city for his CT. Moreover, many of his medications were not in stock at the hospital and had to be requested privately. Seeing all this and more during my intern year proved a petrifying realization for me, having to work in a system that was not even remotely patient-friendly. Even more shocking was the fact that it was just the usual for most providers who had been in the system a couple of years longer than me. The challenges While medical students are supposed to rotate through almost all the various specialties their teaching hospital offers, especially so during the final year of medical school (often referred to as the sub-internship), the experience of working as an actual doctor is rarely emulated during medical school. That was certainly my experience, whether due to the old-school curriculum at my institute that restricted this or the USMLEs and the boards (which generally keep the students preoccupied). I am sure many of you can relate. The seemingly small thingsthe things that might appear either too distant to us as medical studentsor simply too inconsiderable become little speed-breakers that you have to encounter every day as an intern or a resident. Navigating clerical barriers, financial challenges that the families face, and communication gaps widened by low health literacy (especially prevalent in the underrepresented groups)all of these that we were never prepared for, were now real challenges. Why does it continue to work? As I rotated from one specialty to another, I gained insight into how this system continued to operate, apparently in perpetuity, rather than collapsing, which seemed to be the only possibility for a system so hollow that served neither the patient nor the health care professionals. What sustained it? The answer lay in the doctors and nurses working in the system who had evolved so well as to continue to work without feeling handicapped by the established setup. Handicapped, they were, yes. But did that mean they could simply give up on patients? That makes me proud, being a witness to their determination. In emergency departments where heparin is scarcely found, where the patients are requested to arrange potassium chloride for themselves, where point-of-care ultrasound is a novel concept, and where defibrillators rarely functionyou would be astonished at how well the doctors learned to make do with whatever little is available. Yes, there are major lapses, and the level of care provided is far below the standards. But if we focus solely on the standard protocols, level of care, and evidence-based practice without discussing the grossly under-equipped health care establishments in developing countries, we are missing a crucial part of the picture. Help needed Talking about evidence-based practice is essential to advancing medicine. The newer, safer regimens for conditions ranging from autoimmune diseases to metabolic syndromes should absolutely be promoted, so as to keep the medical community informed and aligned. But this goes only so far in the landscape I have described. When in place of modern disease modifying drugs, the best we can offer our patients are corticosteroids, there emerges a galactic void in the academic support by the scientific community in establishing guidelines and standards of care for resource-limited health care systems. Muhammad Usama is an occupational health physician in Pakistan. Shideh joon, can you talk to this woman? We met her at a party, and her kid is sick. This request from my father exemplifies the blurred lines between personal and professional life many physicians experience. He had met a mother at a party whose child, after being diagnosed with a virus and prescribed rest and ibuprofen, was still feeling unwell. She had, however, thought it a good idea to drive from the mid-Atlantic to Massachusetts to attend a Persian party. Despite being in the middle of weekend activities with my twins, I found myself on the other end of the phone with this woman trying to help, but also frustrated; I was suddenly drawn into providing medical advicea role that, while natural to me was not the role I wanted to be in I wanted to be a weekend mom, enjoying my time off, and it was not lost on me that this lady was at a party, instead of calling her pediatrician or going to urgent care, the irony was not lost on me. I did offer the necessary reassurance to the concerned mother, emphasizing rest and follow-up care. However, this incident led to a crucial conversation with my parents. I explained that moving forward, I could not be called upon to provide medical advice outside my professional setting unless it was for direct family members. This wasnt about reluctance to help but about preserving my own well-being. As an ER doctor with extensive family and professional networks, failing to set this boundary could mean working incessantly. In the demanding realm of medicine, our identity is deeply intertwined with a commitment to serving patients and communities. Yet, without clear boundaries, we risk operating in a near-constant state of work, leaving little room for recovery or personal time. Setting boundaries might initially feel uncomfortable or even guilt-inducing, particularly for those of us from backgrounds that emphasize community support, like my immigrant parents. However, this practice isnt about withdrawing our services but about ensuring our longevity in the profession so we can be kind, empathetic, and compassionate not crispy. Healthy boundaries allow us to preserve our integrity, preventing resentment that can arise from feeling undervalued or overextended. These limits are not about diminishing our compassion but are essential frameworks that enable us to sustain our caregiving roles effectively. Although setting boundaries may seem straightforward, the challenge often lies in their enforcement. Many of us desire uninterrupted time to recharge and may even communicate that boundary to our teams. But we find it quite difficult when the boundary we have set is violated. The thing about boundaries is they are not rules that people have to follow; they are boundaries that we have to enforce. The structure of a boundary is always I will do X if Y, for example, with my parents. I will not answer if the medical need is not for a direct member of our family. This means the next time my dad calls with a question for a friend, I have to redirect him and say they have to follow up with their own doctor. There is enough repetition, and people stop asking, but it can take a while. Ive also observed firsthand how maintaining boundaries can initiate systemic changes. In one ER where I worked, the evening sign-out process overloaded the nocturnist with three physicians signing out to them all at 11 p.m., and a whole area of new patients waiting to be seen. This unsustainable situation had some physicians staying late with unpaid overtime until that happened less and less as the situation became less bearable. You can imagine the nocturnists complained until changes were made to the staffing and sign-out procedures, improving conditions for all. If we remain the bandaids for these untenable situations, those who make the staffing decisions can be in the dark and shielded from having to make changes. By firmly upholding our boundaries, we teach others how to interact with us, benefiting not just ourselves but also our colleagues and patients by ensuring we can be fully present and effective. In todays world, where technology keeps us constantly connected, the discipline of boundary-setting is crucial. Its a skill that enhances our ability to navigate the complexities of our profession with grace and resilience. For physicians, establishing and maintaining boundaries is an essential skill set, especially in an era where we might always be found accessible across multiple platforms. This skill set, while initially may seem like it may limit our capacity to serve, it actually does the exact opposite- enhancing our capacity to serve, as well as our longevity in service. A simple framework for setting boundaries: Identify your needs. Determine what you require to feel rested and prepared for work. Clearly define these needs for yourself first, this will be the basis of your boundary. Decide on communication. Assess whether your boundaries need to be communicated and to whom. If so, clearly and kindly communicate them. Prepare for enforcement. Understand that even after communication, some may not respect your boundaries. This is a habit change, and habit change can be hard. It also may create a challenge for the violator, and so, of course, they will resist that change. Be ready to enforce them firmly yet respectfully. For example, the next time a similar situation arises, you may need to decline, as I had to with my father. This is often the most challenging aspect of boundary-setting. Dont expect to get it right the first time, but keep committed to practicing your boundaries. Create physical boundaries. Implement practical measures to support your boundaries. For instance, on Friday nights, I leave my phone in my bedroom while spending quality time with my family downstairs. This physical separation from my phone significantly aids in maintaining my personal boundaries. Practice consistently. Recognize that its normal to let boundaries slip, especially in the beginning. The key is to persistently practice setting and enforcing them. Over time, you will become more adept at maintaining your boundaries, and those around you will learn to respect them. Boundaries can shift. Sometimes boundaries will change over time or need modification, which is totally normal too. The boundaries we have when one has young kids at home are quite different than when there are no children at home. If a family member is ill, or we are ill, boundaries might shift. Shideh Shafie is an emergency physician. I could have saved him, the intensivist murmured, reflecting on a recent patients death. His silhouette was framed against the fading evening light that spilled into the ICU. His words, heavy with regret and resignation, floated over the hum of life-sustaining machines, recounting the tale of Caleb Stratford. When Caleb Stratford (not real name), 61, was rushed to the hospital last June, the shock trauma team at the University of Maryland raced against time to save his life. Mr. Stratford, who had mild disabilities, suffered a sharp fall at a local bar that rendered him unconscious. His heart had stuttered to a stop in the ambulance, requiring twenty minutes of desperate efforts from emergency technicians to coax it back into a reluctant rhythm. In the following weeks, the hospital became Calebs world, filled with tubes and beeps maintaining his failing organs. His body bore the marks of a hard-lived life: HIV, liver cirrhosis, pulmonary hypertension, high cholesterol, and remnants of a gastrointestinal bleed. While the critical care teams were fairly certain they could save him, the unpredictable nature of his recovery posed challenges for palliative care conversations with his family. Questions about his future abilities and quality of life loomed large. Would he ever speak again? Recognize his family? Walk into a bar and have a drink with his friends? What would make life worth living for him? As Calebs family gathered for goals-of-care conversations, their faces displayed a mix of worry and love. Hopeful signs, such as Calebs returning reflexes and minimal reliance on the breathing machine, were shared. Yet, beneath the hopeful veneer, the familys fear ran deep. Clinging to what they believed were Calebs wishes for a do-not-resuscitate order, they weighed the potential unseen damage against his lifes struggles. Their words painted a portrait of Caleba life of challenges, a history of care weighing heavily on his mothers shoulders. The family reaffirmed their faith, expressing prayers for Calebs well-being and recounting how much of a blessing he had been. Despite hopeful signs, the fear of long-term neurological issues and the unspoken toll of being a lifelong caregiver were palpable. Subsequent family meetings exemplified the deep complexities of decision-making in critical care. Interpreting Calebs unspoken wishes amid grief and uncertainty became a daunting task. Guided by their emotions, the family pondered past conversations, beliefs, and Calebs personality to make pivotal choices. This process brimmed with moral dilemmas and the fear of regret, mirroring their understanding of Calebs values and desires. Such decisions have a profound impact on those involved; blending love, duty, and the haunting questionwhat would Caleb have truly wanted? Research indicates that peoples medical preferences often change, particularly for those without advance directives, making it difficult for surrogates to accurately guess patients desires, with only about 68 percent accuracy. Moreover, many patients prefer involving their family or doctors in decisions, even if they have advance directives. Essentially, substituted judgment is not as straightforward as it seems, as patient preferences and circumstances can frequently change. Despite Calebs steady neurological improvement, the family insisted on withdrawing life support, feeling his improvement was not meaningful enough. The familys resolve to focus on comfort care plunged us into our own ethical dilemma. We knew we could probably save his life, but skillfully balancing the familys decisions with professional judgment and lifelong experience in caring for patients with serious illnesses became crucial. This tightrope walk over a chasm of ethical dilemmas, with patient autonomy on one side and the duty to do good and avoid harm on the other, was a frequent challenge. Eventually, the decision was made. The family, steadfast in their understanding of Calebs wishes, chose to withdraw life support. The intensivist shifted to comfort-focused care, ensuring Calebs last hours were peaceful. Calebs breathing slowed, the machines were silenced, and a solemn quiet filled the room. My colleagues comments about saving Calebs life resonate as an internal silent storm. This symbolizes a universal conflict: the profound reverence for the sanctity of life interwoven with a deep respect for the wishes of patients and their families. The ICU is a hub of relentless activities against disease and death. It is also a place where the complexities of human dynamics come to the fore, especially in the face of a familys decision-making, where certainty is a luxury often out of reach. Amidst these unyielding forces, we are called to navigate the delicate balance of medical intervention and the respectful acknowledgment of a patients wishes, often conveyed through family. This demanding microcosm of lifes vast energies embodies the intricate interplay of life and death, human vulnerability, and the inevitable journey toward understanding. Raya Kheirbek is an internal medicine physician. By Yahudu Kitunzi The Inspector General of Government (IGG) has ordered the Mbale City Town Clerk to halt the process of issuing the appointment letters to the newly recruited staff over irregularities. In a March 5, 2024 letter, the Deputy IGG, Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, said the inspectorate received a complaint alleging that the process of recruiting staff by the Mbale City service commission was marred with irregularities and corruption. Twinomugisha in the letter, also directed the secretary city service commission to provide all the information and documents relating to the recruitment process including, a declaration of vacancies, advertisement, applications received, shortlist of candidates, and interview score sheets, among other documents deemed relevant to the investigation. The Mbale City officials have also been invited for a meeting at the IGG head office on March 11, 2024 to address the issues. In January this year, Mbale City Service Commission advertised vacancies that included head teachers, inspectors of schools, senior assistant education officers and assistant town clerks. However, locals and some applicants claim the exercise was marred with irregularities and called for an investigation into what they called a fraudulent recruitment exercise At least five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family and one in three women worldwide experiences sexual or gender-based violence. This is according to UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima who urged countries including Uganda to protect womens rights. She further called on leaders to fight all forms of gender-based violence if women and girls are to be protected against HIV/AIDS. Today, womens hard-won rights are under a globally coordinated, ruthless attack. Those facing the most vicious attack are already the most marginalized women, said Byanyima. The injustices faced by women are not natural disasters to prepare for, like hurricanes or storms. They are man-made, and, as such, we can unmake them, she added. In her message to mark International Womens Day on Friday, Byanyima said the world is off-track to meet the gender, equality, and HIV targets that are part of the Sustainable Development Goals. She further explained that women are threatened by the organized pushback against their rights. Meanwhile, President Museveni is presiding over this years International Womens Day national celebrations at the Booma Ground in Katakwi district. This years Womens Day celebrations are being held under the theme, Accelerating gender Equality through womens economic empowerment. - - 1 of 1 India's Employment On the Rise, New Beginnings for Freshers in India khaskhabar.com : , 08 2024 4:44 PM International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated across the world annually today (March 8) a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a worldwide call to accelerate gender equality. To celebrate IWD this year, Network Ireland, established in 1983 to support the professional and personal development of women in Ireland, is hosting its national event, in Lyrath Estate Kilkenny. Lyrath Estate and Kilkenny Local Enterprise Office are co-sponsors of the International Womens Day event, while AIB is Network Irelands official partner. Whether its juggling care demands or dealing with imposter syndrome, women sometimes need a little extra support in their careers, said Local Network Ireland Kilkenny member and Network Ireland President Linda Codoul. These sentiments resonate with the members of the local Network Ireland Kilkenny. Members report a lack of confidence, despite ample years of experience and poor access to affordable childcare as major barriers to the workplace for professional women. Anne Healy Membership is made up of a diverse group of women, from budding entrepreneurs, SME owners, professionals and leaders in indigenous and multinational organisations to non-profits, charities, arts and the public sector. The thriving local Network Ireland Kilkenny boasts 60 professional women from across the county. The organisation offers an active schedule of events and workshops to support development and careers of its members. Network Ireland Kilkenny has been very instrumental in both my personal and professional growth, said Network Ireland Kilkenny President, Anne Healy, owner of Biddys Good Luck Horse Shoes. It has given me the confidence to take my business to the next level. I would encourage any female who wants to advance their career to join Network Ireland Kilkenny to surround yourself with like-minded women who always have your back. One Network Ireland Kilkenny member of six years, Brigid Walsh, owner of Solar Evolution Ltd, told the Kilkenny People she joined the Network in Waterford and then moved to Kilkenny to set up her own business in 2021. Solar Evolution is a renewable energy company helping companies produce their own electricity. I find the Network a great sounding board, she says. We share experiences and the challenges our companies are working to overcome. People are not afraid to voice and share opinions. I find the support you receive to be selfless from the ladies in within the network. Anne Healy (right), who stepped into the role of President of Network Ireland Kilkenny in January, has arranged an exciting calendar of events across 2024. Highlights among the schedule are Financial Wellbeing on March 20th with Anne Doran at AIB, High Street. April will see a fun and interactive workshop of quick wins for business owners in branding, traditional and social media with local businesses, K Hope Creative, Little Spark Media and PR Partners. All upcoming events are open to both members and non-members alike and can be booked via the Network Ireland website. We are thrilled that one of the national flagship events will be hosted in County Kilkenny this year, Anne says. The International Womens Day event is inspirational. You come away energised and ready for the next task! You come away with a change of mindset and confidence. The energy and buzz in the room is electric and tangible. Its another great way to connect with people and expand your network. SPEAKERS Among the speakers on the day are Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey from Kilkennys animation giant Cartoon Saloon, best-selling author of The Burnout Solution, Siobhan Murray MD, and Aine Ni Chaoildealbhain. Sports psychologist Dr Ciara Losty will draw on her experience working with Olympians for peak performance. Network Ireland Kilkenny is accepting new members - visit www.networkireland.ie for more information. The Cheltenham winners enclosure has staged many famous celebrations over the years. But there may be scenes like nothing witnessed before if Hewick can complete his remarkable rags-to-riches story by claiming the sports ultimate prize. Seven years ago genial trainer John Shark Hanlon, whose larger than life personality is matched by his formidable frame, made the best business decision of his life when leaving the nearby Goresbridge sales ring with an unraced two-year-old for a paltry 850. The rest, as they say, is history. The whole story from the start is brilliant, as he only came from down the road. You could travel the whole world to get a horse like him and I got him five minutes down the road, said Hanlon. There are plenty of quality horses slip through the net at the sales and theres plenty of quality horses go through Goresbridge. I know its only five minutes down the road, but I would never miss it you never know where your next bargain is and I like bargains! Hewick (front left, white cap) on the gallops @jhanlonracing earlier this month pic.twitter.com/JMewvgFMPD Ashley Iveson (@AshIveson) February 26, 2024 Hewick is no oil painting to look at. Unlike his trainer he cuts a fairly diminutive figure when compared to the jet black reigning Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs for instance. But what Hewick can do is gallop hard and fast and for a long way. The nine-year-old failed to complete in each of his three starts in the amateur point-to-point sphere, a fairly inauspicious start to say the least, and while he won four times from 21 attempts over hurdles not even Hanlon himself could have anticipated his subsequent meteoric rise. As if plundering one major handicap in the form of the 2022 bet365 Gold Cup was not enough, he went on to land the Galway Plate and the American Grand National at Far Hills, where the locals probably did not know what had hit them when The Shark rolled into town. A bigger boat, indeed. On their return to Ireland both horse and trainer popped into the local pub for a pint of Guinness as you do making headlines both good and bad, although it was all good fun. And he is clearly a hugely popular horse, in an area where Willie Mullins is king. Hewick loves it down the pub! @jhanlonracing pic.twitter.com/vtTrD0g1k9 At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 31, 2022 Any race weve put to him, hes always there and never let us down, Hanlon added. To have such a consistent horse like him makes such a difference to the yard, theres a buzz everywhere. I was in Bagenalstown there the other day and they were all wishing me well and theyve got Willie over the road, but they are talking to me, so thats great. After living the American dream Hewick was readied for his first tilt at Gold Cup glory last March. He was running a fine race, too, albeit probably booked for minor honours, when tipping up two fences from home. Far from that being the final chapter in this extraordinary tale, Hanlons pride and joy has only enhanced his reputation since, bouncing back from his Prestbury Park spill with a Grade Two victory at Sandown before finishing an honourable fourth in the French Champion Hurdle. Hewicks defence of the Galway Plate during the summer was a little underwhelming, but yet again he roared back over the Christmas period, coming from the clouds to win a thrilling renewal of the King George VI Chase at Kempton, another big-race triumph that was thoroughly enjoyed by his trainer. He said: It was absolutely brilliant to win a King George. I knew before leaving here that there was going to be serious pace as there were six runners in it and five were front runners. I remember saying to Gavin (Sheehan) that going down the back he could be 10 lengths off them but not to stop riding him, keep going because your last two furlongs are going to be your best in the race. Frodon for the last five years has gone out at 100 miles per hour and I was delighted to see Paul Townend go out and take him on (aboard Allaho). When that was happening they were going too hard. Weve made the running in the Gold Cup last year and in a Galway Plate and he couldnt lie up with them that is how hard they were going. With connections immediately deciding to give Hewick another break following his King George heroics, he will return to the Cotswolds fresh and seemingly in peak condition as he goes for gold once more. Just as was the case at Kempton, Hanlon is hopeful that granted suitable conditions no horse will be coming home stronger than Hewick. Ive never seen a Gold Cup yet where there isnt plenty of pace and the extra two furlongs will be a big, big help for us, he said. Hes not a big horse and hes easy enough to get fit. After Kempton he had two or three weeks off and hes back there working now. He ran well in the race last year and there is no reason why he wont run well again in it this year. Hopefully this year, with a clear round of jumping, he wont be too far away. If Hewick does come up the famous hill in front, bars across Cheltenham and beyond should ready themselves for a Shark attack so fierce even Jaws would be quaking in his boots. Confidence and candidate selection are still some of the barriers for women in politics, but the pace of change is moving in the right direction. Thats according to Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh, the countrys longest serving continuously elected female county councillor. Cllr Cavanagh, who celebrates 50 years as a public representative this year, was one of the guest speakers at a Kilkenny Women in Politics seminar hosted by Kilkenny County Council to mark International Womens Day 2024. Currently only 26% of county councillors in Ireland are female and there are only 4 female Councillors out of 24 or 17% in County Kilkenny. Cllr Cavanaghs advice to the women of Kilkenny was simple. "Be conscious of the time it involves but if you want to do it - go for it," she said. "Its better to put your name on the ballot paper and if youre beaten, youre beaten, you can run again in five years time but its better to run than regret it all of your life." The veteran councillor was first elected in 1974 and she noted this was a time when there was no maternity leave for councillors, and she worked without a salary for the first twenty-five years as a public representative. The event also included informal panel discussions with female politicians from Kilkenny on their journey into politics and the day-to-day reality of being public representatives. Cllr Deirdre Cullen said that political parties had a role to play by selecting women for winnable seats as opposed to being token candidates. She also noted that 'sometimes women can be their own worst critics' and that confidence was a major factor. Cllr Fidelis Doherty said that if the people of Kilkenny wanted to see greater levels of female representative, then the voters needed to support female candidates. Cllr Maria Dollard became involved in politics as an activist for people with disabilities and she noted that her grandmother and grand aunt had been involved in the War of Independence, so she had always believed it was 'worth arguing and fighting to achieve things'. Deputy Kathleen Funchion TD also noted that confidence was a major barrier for women in politics and she said that political spaces had become so toxic but that should not deter women. A second panel discussion also took place on diverse pathways into politics with a panel of women from a range of communities in County Kilkenny including Helena Power, a representative of the Traveller community, Pearl Jensen of Comhairle na nOg, Nicoleta Choiran, Chairperson of the Intercultural group, Twilight Community Group and Mary Fennelly, a member of the Kilkenny Access Group. Mary Fennelly, who is registered blind, said that one in five or one million people in Ireland live with a disability and 80% of those people have a hidden disability. She asked people to walk in her shoes. "I had to give up my job because there was no public transport in rural Ireland," she said. "I had to ask my 86-year-old mother to bring me to a GP or hairdressers appointment and I eventually had to move into Kilkenny City." Helena Power, Chairperson of the Irish Traveller Movement, who is also an Integration Support Worker with Kilkenny County Council, said that 'in order to have true inclusion greater diversity was needed amongst public representatives'. Pearl Jensen of Comhairle na nOg, who is a fifth-year student at the Presentation Secondary School, called for greater awareness of politics within second level education while Nicoleta Choiran, Chairperson of Twilight Community Group said that migrants were often painted in a negative light rather than hearing the stories of migrants contributing to society. Sinead Doody of Doody Facilitating and Consulting acted as MC for the event. In welcoming a chamber full of women, the Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council, Lar Power, stated that 'the challenge of increasing the number of women in local politics continues and the aim of this event is to encourage more women and people from diverse backgrounds to participate in local government'. Director of Services with Kilkenny County Council, Mary Mulholland, said that the council can make changes to meet the needs of the lived experience of members of the community and she noted that 'not one size fits all'. Mulholland noted that just under 10 million had been invested in community development projects across the county of Kilkenny. We all have to play our part in the creation of the society we want to see so if youre thinking about running for election go for it or you may regret it," she said. "We need a broader skillset and greater diversity in the chamber. Its important we hear everybodys view." Dr. Michelle Maher, Programme Manager with See Her Elected noted that there was a much lower percentage of female councillors in rural counties compared to more urban centres around Dublin. There are only 4 female councillors out of 24 (which is just 17%) in County Kilkenny," she said. "Compare that to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council where half of the 40 county councillors are female. Neighbouring counties such as Tipperary have 9 out of 40 which is 23% female, Waterford only has 6 female councillors out of 32 (19%) and Offaly County Council only has 2 females out of 19 councillors (11%). "The first female elected to Kilkenny County Council was Sheila McCarthy from Ballyragget in 1967. Since then, only another 18 women have managed the same feat. "The local elections will take place this June, so the people of Kilkenny have the power to make changes and see more balanced representation in their county council. "The council chamber should look more like the society it represents so by voting for more women, we can have more balanced decision making." The regular commuting hardship that plagues local students was highlighted at the latest plenary meeting of Kilkenny County Council. Despite the majority of Kilkenny students attending the regional South East Technological University (SETU), Cllr Deirdre Cullen highlighted the difficulties students face getting to SETU campuses in Waterford and Carlow. For many, the current transport services being offered either arrive too early or too late, she said. This makes it regrettable that we do not have our own dedicated SETU student campus in Kilkenny. Cllr Cullen asked local authority representatives if it would be possible to conduct a review of local students using public transport to get to college. Cllr John Coonan agreed with Cllr Cullen, adding that when transport arrives, the buses are full. Students are under enough pressure already without needing the additional stress of arriving and not being able to avail of public transport, he said. Director of Services at Kilkenny County Council, Tim Butler, informed elected members that the local authority can write a letter to the National Transport Authority to make them aware of the concerns raised by elected members. THIRD LEVEL STATS During the meeting, councillors were informed that 4,610 students from County Kilkenny were enrolled at a third level institution in the academic year 2022/2023. Of these 4,610 students, 29% (1,350) were enrolled in a course at SETU. Other universities that are popular with Kilkenny students are UCC (12%), UCD (11%) and UL (10%). Over 4,000 properties in Kilkenny can now connect to high-speed fibre broadband, according to National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the new future-proofed, high-speed Fibre-to-the-Home network under the National Broadband Plan on behalf of the Government. This includes over 1,200 premises in the rural surrounds of Callan and Ballyclovan in the Mullinahone deployment area, as well as almost 2,800 premises Kells and Inistioge in the Thomastown deployment area. Some 19,000 premises in County Kilkenny are included in the States Intervention Area, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to homes, businesses, farms, and schools. As the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, County Kilkenny will receive 72M of Government investment under the National Broadband Plan. There are 1,227 premises in the Mullinahone deployment area and 2,787 premises in the Thomastown deployment area that can now join the National Broadband Ireland network. NBI is encouraging people living near Callan and Thomastown to visit nbi.ie/map/ and enter their Eircode to find out how to connect. Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland, said: We are delighted to announce that Kilkenny premises in the deployment areas near Callan and Thomastown can now order high-speed broadband services through the National Broadband Ireland network. This will enable users to experience the life-changing benefits that high-speed broadband provides. This means the majority of Kilkenny premises can now order a connection at almost 80% while 20% are under construction, have moved through the engineering survey and design phases. Therefore, almost 14,800 homes, businesses and farms in Co Kilkenny can place an order now to connect to the National Broadband Ireland network. This includes: Over 2,000 premises in Borris Over 1,700 in Johnstown Almost 1,500 in the Carrick-on-Suir deployment area near Piltown Over 2,600 in the Waterford deployment area near Aglish Over 3,600 surrounding Kilkenny city We are also letting people know that 2,600 premises in the Castlecomer deployment area in Co Kilkenny will be ready to connect to the National Broadband Ireland network later in the summer this year. NBI is calling on Kilkenny residents to visit nbi.ie/eoi to sign up for updates on when broadband will be available in their area. As a wholesale network operator, NBI does not sell fibre broadband directly to end users, rather it enables services from a range of broadband providers or Retail Service Providers (RSPs). As a wholesale provider, NBI will make the new Fibre-to-the-Home network available to all RSPs operating in the Intervention Area. Some 69 RSPs have already signed up to sell services on the National Broadband Ireland network and 62 are certified as ready to start providing connections as of today. To see the retail broadband providers that are currently licensed to sell on the National Broadband Ireland network, visit NBI.ie/buy. National Broadband Ireland contractors have been on the ground across the country and over 233,159 premises nationwide can order or pre-order broadband on the NBI network so far. The National Broadband Ireland website is regularly updated to show estimated connection dates. Signing up to the NBI email notifications at https://nbi.ie/eoi/ is the easiest way to get the most up to date status of premises during the rollout and when premises will be ready for order. NBI is encouraging people to check their eligibility and register for updates at www.nbi.ie to receive regular notifications related to their own premises as works progresses in their area. Broadband Connection Points In advance of the Fibre-to-the-Home rollout, the NBP provides for the delivery of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) nationwide. 955 of these sites, including Public BCPs, are now live. Public BCPs which include sports clubs, community centres and tourist sites will provide free public access to high-speed internet in the rollout area. Other BCP categories include schools and marts. BCPs will pave the way for rural communities to receive the benefits of broadband, from mobile working, e-learning and mobile banking, to digital tourism. You can view BCPs at www.nbi.ie/bcp-map/. An example of some of the locations of Broadband Connection Points in Kilkenny include the Graine Community Hall and Muckalee Handball Club and Tullaghought Parish Hall. Primary schools in the Intervention Area are also being connected for educational access as part of the NBP. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. (NYSE:APT Get Free Report) shares fell 0.9% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $5.66 and last traded at $5.70. 25,206 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 61% from the average session volume of 64,093 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.75. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, StockNews.com upgraded Alpha Pro Tech from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, November 10th. Get Alpha Pro Tech alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on Alpha Pro Tech Alpha Pro Tech Trading Up 5.7 % Institutional Investors Weigh In On Alpha Pro Tech The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $5.26 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4.79. The company has a market capitalization of $69.08 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.53 and a beta of -0.72. Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Alpha Pro Tech during the 4th quarter valued at about $45,000. Ritholtz Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Alpha Pro Tech in the 4th quarter worth about $69,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in Alpha Pro Tech by 38,157.5% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 15,303 shares of the companys stock worth $68,000 after buying an additional 15,263 shares during the last quarter. PDT Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Alpha Pro Tech by 48.7% in the 2nd quarter. PDT Partners LLC now owns 20,918 shares of the companys stock worth $93,000 after buying an additional 6,850 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Alpha Pro Tech by 154.4% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 35,319 shares of the companys stock worth $146,000 after buying an additional 21,435 shares during the last quarter. 20.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Alpha Pro Tech (Get Free Report) Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets a range of disposable protective apparel, infection control, and building supply products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Disposable Protective Apparel and Building Supply. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alpha Pro Tech Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alpha Pro Tech and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN (NYSEARCA:FNGD Get Free Report) shares traded down 7.6% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $3.64 and last traded at $3.65. 11,720,042 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 8% from the average session volume of 12,713,090 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.95. BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN Trading Down 7.6 % The firms 50 day moving average price is $4.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $6.99. Institutional Investors Weigh In On BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Flow Traders U.S. LLC purchased a new position in BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN during the second quarter worth about $413,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN during the third quarter worth about $74,000. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new position in BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN during the third quarter worth about $75,000. Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new position in BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN during the second quarter worth about $65,000. Finally, Pinnacle Holdings LLC purchased a new position in BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN during the first quarter worth about $29,000. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BMO REX MicroSectors FANG Index 3X Inverse Leveraged ETN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON:RBS Get Free Report) crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 120.90 ($1.53) and traded as high as GBX 123.10 ($1.56). Royal Bank of Scotland Group shares last traded at GBX 120.90 ($1.53), with a volume of 11,987,617 shares. Royal Bank of Scotland Group Price Performance The firm has a market cap of 14.66 billion and a PE ratio of 5.37. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 120.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 120.90. Royal Bank of Scotland Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services to personal, commercial, corporate, and institutional customers worldwide. It operates through Personal & Business Banking, Commercial & Private Banking, RBS International, and NatWest Markets segments. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Royal Bank of Scotland Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Royal Bank of Scotland Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Angola, IN (46703) Today Snow showers will become more widely scattered for the afternoon. High around 35F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 26F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Snow showers early with a chance of lingering snow showers later. High 34F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 80%.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. In a highly anticipated move, the EXO members Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen recently unveiled their new fan communication platform, 'Bubble for INB100'. The launch, however, was met with an unexpected wave of enthusiasm that resulted in server crashes and long waiting queues on its opening day. Unprecedented Demand Leads to Server Crashes On March 7th, the announcement by INB100 regarding the platform's opening hinted at the overwhelming response it received. The influx of fans eager to connect with Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen caused such a surge in traffic that the servers struggled to keep up. "Due to the great interest, the traffic congested and caused server crashes and waiting queues from the opening of the communication platform 'Bubble for INB100' at 11 a.m. today," stated INB100 officials. They further assured fans of their efforts to rectify the situation swiftly, partnering closely with the global fan communication platform company, Dear U. INB100 acknowledges the overwhelming traffic and eventual crashing of the bubble for INB100 platform which resulted in a waiting queue! INB100: We are working closely with global fan communication platform, DearU, so as to avoid inconveniencing the fans. Baekhyun also made pic.twitter.com/2I1ze43qnh March 7, 2024 READ ALSO: EXO-CBX Releases New Statement Rebutting SM's Claims in Legal Dispute 'Bubble for INB100': A New Era of Fan Interaction The 'Bubble for INB100' platform offers fans an exclusive space to engage with their favorite EXO members through the bubble service. Notably, the platform boasts a unique application designed specifically for Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen, reflecting their individual styles and personalities. The fervor surrounding the platform's launch underscores the unwavering popularity of Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen among fans worldwide. As fans eagerly awaited their chance to connect, Baekhyun himself took to Twitter to express his excitement and anticipation. "Can I send messages now? It's the first time I've been told not to send yet," Baekhyun tweeted. "I want to send messages," he added, teasing fans with the promise of forthcoming interactions on 'Bubble for INB100'. Continued Ventures and Exciting Plans Ahead The launch of 'Bubble for INB100' comes amidst a flurry of activities for the EXO members. Baekhyun recently established the independent label INB100, signaling a new chapter in his solo career while continuing his endeavors with Chen and Xiumin as EXO-CBX. In addition to his solo pursuits, Baekhyun is set to hold a highly-anticipated solo concert at Seoul's KSPO DOME on March 16th and 17th. This will be followed by an ambitious tour across 13 cities in Asia, further solidifying his status as a global icon. Meanwhile, Xiumin is gearing up for a range of activities, including a special birthday fan meeting scheduled for March 23rd. With 'Bubble for INB100' opening new avenues for fan interaction, the future looks brighter than ever for these beloved members of EXO. YOU MIGHT BE ALSO INTERESTED IN: EXO Chen, Baekhyun, & Xiumin Comfort Eris With Reassuring Messages In Law Firm's Statement For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Cassidy Jones. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. By Shivani Sharma New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): In the dynamic tapestry of India's economic landscape, a revolution is underway - one that is powered by the indomitable spirit and visionary leadership of women. Also Read | Indian Women Capable of Learning AI Skills and Play Far Better Role, Says Arundhati Bhattacharya, CEO of Salesforce India. Breaking stereotypes and shattering glass ceilings, the trailblazing women entrepreneurs are not just making waves, but also rewriting the narrative of success in the country. As per statistics, women constitute approximately 14 percent of the total entrepreneurial landscape in India. Also Read | Mahashivratri 2024 Fasting Rules: Heres What To Eat and Not Eat While Observing the Vrat Dedicated to Lord Shiva on Maha Shivaratri. India, often hailed as the land of opportunity, has witnessed a surge in entrepreneurship over the past decade. However, despite this growth, women have traditionally faced numerous barriers when venturing into the world of business. In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the number of women venturing into entrepreneurship, reshaping the economic landscape and challenging traditional gender roles. In an interview with ANI, Neha Bagaria, the founder of HER KEY, a platform dedicated to supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs, shared her insights on the evolving role of women in business and the imperative for creating a more supportive environment for female entrepreneurs. Bagaria believes that women are playing an increasingly pivotal role in driving innovation and economic growth. Bagaria said, "We're seeing a huge amount of change happening in the entrepreneurial landscape for women. And I think a lot of it is driven from the fact that women are really stepping up to the plate in terms of trying to start their own businesses. And not just that, but also looking at scaling their businesses, which is why we're now seeing women as a big section of job creators in our economy." She emphasized the importance of addressing biases in fundraising discussions and providing mentorship opportunities to help women entrepreneurs scale their businesses. "We also need to make sure there are lots of funds that are deployed and available for women entrepreneurs, keeping in mind a lot of the bias that comes up in these fundraising discussions and figuring out a way for us to be able to overcome the bias on both ends so that women can then scale their businesses", Bagaria said. Women play a pivotal role in driving India's economic growth and development. The necessity of women's participation as both job seekers and job creators is to realize the country's full potential. Bagaria stated, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a USD 5 trillion economy can only happen if women are also equally contributing to the economy, and not just as job seekers, but also as job creators, because we also need to make sure that enough employment opportunities are available in India, and And for that, we can't rely only on the men as entrepreneurs. We need the women to step up as well". Cultural norms, societal expectations, and systemic biases have historically hindered their progress. Yet, against all odds, women entrepreneurs are carving their paths to success. Divya Batra, renowned for her appearance on Shark Tank and the founder of Qirksmith, shared her expertise in an interview with ANI. Batra said, "We firmly believe that an entrepreneur is an entrepreneur, regardless of gender. All entrepreneurs must embrace change. To stay current in the direct-to-consumer (DTC) realm, we utilize Shopify and engage in cohort groups with fellow entrepreneurs. Additionally, we maintain our curiosity about AI advancements. In terms of design, we stay abreast of AI and technological developments." Many women entrepreneurs possess a keen awareness of the balance they seek between their professional and personal lives. Having experienced the challenges of being the first working woman in their families, they understand the importance of creating supportive work environments that prioritize well-being and flexibility. Batra said, "Women, and feminine energy in general, tend to embody traits of sensitivity, nurturing, and generosity. This innate understanding allows women to grasp others' pain points more deeply, often leading to more effective solutions". "Additionally, many women entrepreneurs possess a heightened awareness of the life they aspire to create. They comprehend the challenges of being the first working woman in their families and the courage required for such a journey", she further said. An initiative is the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), launched by the Government of India to foster entrepreneurship among women. Through networking events, skill-building workshops, and financial assistance programs, WEP aims to create a conducive environment for women to start and scale their businesses. Women-led businesses play a significant role in job creation and local economies through various avenues. By equipping women with the necessary skills and resources, these businesses not only enhance individual livelihoods but also foster a ripple effect of economic empowerment within families and communities. "Businesses as a whole create a great degree of ecosystem of employment. The country's economy, I would say, rather than saying local economies. I think the women are the backbone of the economy", Sonica Malhotra, Joint Managing Director at MBD Group said. She stated, "Even if today I'm a homemaker, or even if I'm probably a working woman, today without a woman and the kind of support they have in the overall family. If the women don't do the most essential part of it. Like for instance, looking after kids, taking care of their houses and then also going out and working. I think the economy will collapse without this support of women. That's why we call it Empowering India, not Empowering Women". Similarly, private sector initiatives like mentorship programs and venture capital funds dedicated to women-led startups are helping to level the playing field and unlock the full potential of women entrepreneurs in India. Shivani Bagdai, the founder of TriChambers, echoes sentiments, emphasizing the transformative impact of women-led businesses on local economies. "Women empowerment is a huge signifier of inclusive growth. It shows that such change is possible, needed, and the benefit that such a change would bring in to society. The impact of women empowerment is visible locally, nationally, and globally in different manners", she said. "Empowerment is different for different individuals. And as an outcome of this empowerment, we have started asking questions, we have started prioritising rationale over assumptions, and we have started transforming and opening mindsets. This is not just economically, where today there is recognition of the contribution that women can make, but also progress socially, politically, culturally, and so on," Badgai added. As the momentum continues to build, the future of women entrepreneurship in India looks brighter than ever. With each success story, these trailblazing women are not only inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs but also challenging the status quo and redefining what it means to lead and succeed in the world of business. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jhajjar (Haryana) [India], March 8 (ANI): Police have arrested another accused in Haryana Indian National Lok Dal's (INLD) chief Nafe Singh Rathee murder case, officials said on Friday. Earlier, the police had arrested two people in connection with the murder. Also Read | Shivamogga ISIS Conspiracy Case: NIA Chargesheets One More Accused, Adds Additional Charges Against Two Others. According to Jhajjar police, the shooters were nabbed from Goa in a joint operation of Haryana's Jhajjar police, Delhi Police Special Cell and the Haryana Special Task Force (STF). The police said that the accused, identified as Saurav and Ashish, are residents of Delhi and are suspected of having links with the UK-based Kapil Sangwan gang. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: UP Police Sub-Inspector Found Drunk During Duty Hours, Suspended. The INLD chief Rathee was shot dead on February 25 by some unidentified assailants near the railway crossing at Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar. As per reports, the miscreants came in a car and fired, indiscriminately killing Rathee and a party worker. On February 28, Kapil Sangwan, a gangster based in the United Kingdom, claimed responsibility for Rathee's murder. The gangster took to social media to say that he had put a hit out on the INLD leader, adding that the latter had a close friendship with rival gangster Manjeet Mahal. Kapil alleged that Rathee worked in cahoots with Manjeet Mahal's brother, Sanjay, to grab properties and provided assistance to Manjeet in the murder of his brother-in-law and friends. The gangster claimed the entire Bahadurgarh knows the number of people Rathee had captured and killed while in power. (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 8 (ANI): The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday approved the proposal of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade for Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme, 2024 (UNNATI - 2024) for a period of 10 years from the date of notification along with eight years for committed liabilities at a total cost of Rs 10,037 crore. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal told the media after a meeting of the union cabinet that the scheme is proposed to be divided into two parts. Also Read | EU Warns Apple Amid Spat with Fortnite Developer. Part, A caters to the incentives to the eligible units (Rs. 9737 crore), and Part B, is for implementation and institutional arrangements for the scheme. (Rs. 300 crore). The proposed scheme envisages approximately 2180 applications, and it is anticipated that direct employment opportunities of about 83,000 will be generated during the scheme period. A significant number of indirect employment is also expected to be generated, an official release said. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress Finalises Names of 40 Candidates, Including Rahul Gandhi, for LS Polls. The scheme will be effective from the date of notification and up to March 31, 2034 along with eight years of committed liabilities. DPIIT will implement the scheme in cooperation with the states. The release said that the Centre has formulated New Industrial Development Scheme, UNNATI (Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme), 2024 as a central sector scheme for the development of industries and generation of employment in the states of North East Region. "The scheme's main objective is to generate gainful employment, which will lead to the area's overall socio-economic development. It will create productive economic activity in the manufacturing and service sectors," the release said. "Industrial development in the NER needs to be given a fresh thrust with emphasis on job creation, skill development, and sustainable development by attracting new investments and nurturing existing ones. However, to maintain a proper balance between the industrial growth and pristine environment of the NER, certain industries are kept in positive list such as Renewable energy, EV charging stations etc and there is a negative list for certain sectors which may hamper the environment such as cement, plastic etc," it added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): Telugu Desam Party President N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP Chief JP Nadda in Delhi. The meeting took place on Thursday. Also Read | Great Barrier Reef Suffers mass Bleaching Event. There are speculations that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is likely to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh. The TDP which was part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance till 2018, evinced interest in reviving the alliance after suffering crushing defeat in 2019 elections. Also Read | Arabinda Mohapatra Joins BJD in Presence of Party Supremo Naveen Patnaik: Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, March 08, 2024. There has been talk of a triparty alliance between the regional parties and BJP for some time. Actor Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party, which has been a member of the NDA, has already joined hands with the TDP. The state has 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats. Elections for Lok Sabha is expected to be held in April-May. The ruling party is eyeing a third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has set a target for winning 370 seats on its own and 400 with allies. (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, Mar 8 (PTI) In the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, the discourse surrounding women's issues has garnered renewed attention with the slogan of 'Nari Shakti' but several activists are apprehensive that the core concerns of women may again get subdued in the broader economic and political debates. There is a need for political parties to prioritise gender-sensitive policies, not merely as token gestures but as integral components of their core agendas, Poonam Muttreja, executive director of the Population Foundation of India (PFI) said, criticising the "marginalisation" of women's issues within the broader electoral discourse. Also Read | International Womens Day 2024: PM Narendra Modi Announces Cut in LPG Prices by Rs 100, Says This Will Ease Financial Burden on Millions of Households. "To truly empower women and address their unique concerns, it is imperative that political parties and leaders integrate gender-sensitive policies into their core agendas and manifestoes as a priority. "This includes not only increasing women's representation in political spaces but also ensuring that their voices are heard and acted upon in decision-making processes," she said. Also Read | International Womens Day 2024: Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh Targets BJP Government Over Manipur, Women Wrestlers Issue, Says BJP Hatao, Beti Bachao. "We need more women in the Cabinet of ministers and other important government offices," she told PTI. The long-pending women's reservation bill was passed in Parliament last year, and that has given a glimmer of hope to the women. Seema Bhaskaran, Gender Lead at NGO Transform Rural India, underscored the importance of political agency enhancement through measures like the Women's Reservation Bill. She pointed to examples from other countries like Rwanda, where such legislation had led to significant strides in gender equality in politics. "Rwanda's 2003 Constitution set a 30 per cent quota for women in elected positions, and 10 years later the country became the world's leader for gender equality in politics," she noted. Dolly Verma, a sarpanch from Gaya in Bihar, said women from all walks of life might not have representatives in Parliament right away, but the Bill will support them in a real democracy. "I have been in local governance as a woman sarpanch for the last two terms. I must say that leadership positions not only help women but also the society because women are great leaders," she said. Elaborating on her journey, she said the challenges faced by elected women representatives, particularly in rural areas where patriarchal norms often dictate political dynamics. Talking about her campaign, Verma said it was against the sidelining of women sarpanches by their male counterparts that sheds light on the pervasive gender inequalities that persist within local governance structures. She said since Indian society is "deeply patriarchal", many can't even imagine women as political leaders and elected representatives. "This social attitude will change only when we have more strong and independent women politicians and ministers. I am hopeful that with more girls becoming educated, even in rural areas, they will become more politically aware of their own rights. I am sure that change will come, if not today, in the near future," she added. Despite sporadic increases, the percentage of women MPs has remained relatively low over the years, with the highest proportions recorded only in recent years. The percentage of women representation in Lok Sabha remained about five till the 1970s and it was only in 2009 that it could reach a double-digit figure. Women's representation in Rajya Sabha has been slightly lower than in Lok Sabha, not yet crossing 13 per cent of the total membership of the house since 1951. Even in terms of candidates who are fielded for the polls, their numbers remain less than 20 per cent. The last Lok Sabha elections saw 724 women candidates out of a total of 8,049 for 550 Lok Sabha seats. Congress fielded a maximum of 54 women candidates in the 2019 polls. It was closely followed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had fielded 53 women. Among the other parties, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) fielded 24 women candidates, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) 23, the CPI(M) 10, and the CPI four, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) fielded one woman candidate. As many as 222 women contested the polls independently in the last general elections. While the issue of women empowerment has been a major talking point of almost all political parties during elections, the core concerns of women often find themselves relegated to the sidelines amidst broader economic and political debates, activists said. Even in the poll manifestoes of 2019 of major political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, it was seen that they reflect their professed commitments to women's empowerment and gender equality. Both the BJP and the Congress have pledged to enact legislation ensuring a certain percentage of seats for women in legislative bodies. The BJP manifesto emphasised the need for women-led development and outlined various measures aimed at enhancing women's participation in the workforce and ensuring their safety and dignity. Similarly, the Congress manifesto pledged to prioritise women's rights and empowerment through legislative reforms and social welfare programmes. Even this time in Lok Sabha polls, it is expected the topic of 'Nari Shakti' is going to be the centrepiece of the narrative but it is to be seen whether political parties will go beyond the rhetoric and take concrete steps to address the pressing concerns of women across the country. As Muttreja said the real test of its impact will lie in the actual implementation and the extent to which it influences the prioritisation of women's issues in the political landscape of India. "In the meantime, as we move towards the next elections, it is crucial to observe whether political parties will demonstrate their commitment to gender equality by allocating a significant number of tickets to women candidates," Muttreja said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 8 (ANI): Mumbai Customs has seized over 6.53 kg of gold valued at Rs 3.73 crore and 8 iPhones in seven different cases at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) here. "The Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, seized over 6.53 kg of gold valued at 3.73 crore and 8 iPhones across seven different cases between March 6-7, " Mumbai Customs Zone-III said in a post on its official 'X' (earlier Twitter) handle. Also Read | EU Warns Apple Amid Spat with Fortnite Developer. Gold was found concealed in the headgear, body cavity, clothes worn, on the bodies of the passengers, and under the commode of the aircraft washroom, it said. Earlier on March 6, the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, seized over 2.08 kg of gold valued at 1.14 crore in three different cases at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) here, said officials. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress Finalises Names of 40 Candidates, Including Rahul Gandhi, for LS Polls. The officials said that the seizures were done on Tuesday and Wednesday. The gold was concealed in clothes worn, check-in bags, door mats, dustbin bag wraps, and handbags.. (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, Mar 8 (PTI) The Centre on Friday authorised all states and Union Territories to take action against three banned Jammu and Kashmir-based groups under the UAPA. The three groups are the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction), Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bhat faction) and Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 'BJP Is Going To Find It Very Tough To Even Repeat 303', Says Congress Leader Shashi Tharoor (Watch Video). In three identical notifications, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said the Centre directs that all powers exercisable by it under Section 7 and Section 8 of the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, shall be exercised by state governments and Union Territory administrations in relation to the three unlawful associations. On February 27, the home ministry extended the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir, for five years for continuing activities against the security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation. Also Read | Man Dies After Eating Butter Chicken: One Bite of Chicken Curry Kills 27-Year-Old Man in UK. A day later, it announced that the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction) and the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bhat faction) were also declared as banned groups for their anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda, besides asking people to refrain from taking part in elections. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Harda (Madhya Pradesh) [India], March 8 (ANI): Harda firecracker factory blast victims ended their 16-day hunger strike on Friday after Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh met them, discussed their demands with MP CM Mohan Yadav on the phone and got assurances about compensation. Singh discussed their demands with Chief Minister Yadav on the phone from the protest site and secured an assurance for compensation by March 16. Singh ended the protestors' strike by giving juice to the people. Also Read | Delhi Police Cop Suspended for 'Kicking' Muslim Men Offering Namaz on Road in Inderlok; Area Tense After Video Goes Viral. Meanwhile, Digvijaya Singh has also warned of a mass movement in Harda if the government fails to fulfil its promise by March 16. "If the government does not give the compensation amount and the house amount by March 16, then a mass movement will be held in Harda," Singh said. Also Read | Brazil Horror: Minor Girl Dies of Suspected Heatstroke After Dad Forgets Her in Car and Goes To Work. On February 6, a massive fire broke out inside a firecracker factory located in the Bairagarh area of Harda district, which took the lives of 11 people and injured 173 others. The victims of the firecracker factory incident were on a hunger strike for 16 days due to not getting compensation or house construction money even a month after the blast. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jaipur, Mar 8 (PTI) A joint military exercise between India and Japan was completed on Friday at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, a defence spokesperson said. The fifth joint military exercise named 'Dharma Guardian' between the Indian Army and Japan Ground Self Defense Force was successfully conducted at Mahajan Field Firing Range on Friday. Also Read | Messi Saves the Day! Argentina Grandma Survives Hamas Attack by Talking About Lionel Messi (Watch Video). India's Rajputana Rifles battalion and a group of 40 soldiers from Japan participated in the exercise, defence spokesperson Colonel Amitabh Sharma said in a statement. The primary objective of the exercise was to promote military cooperation and enhance capabilities to carry out joint operations in semi-urban environments under the mandate of the United Nations. Also Read | Uddhav Thackery Makes Lok Sabha 'Offer' to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari; BJP Hits Back. The exercise, conducted in two phases, initially focused on combat conditioning and tactical training which was successfully completed by both the contingents. The acquired skills were then applied in a second phase, the statement said. The closing ceremony of the joint exercise also featured an armament and material display and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' exhibitions showcasing the country's prosperity and growing industrial potential, it said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], March 8 (ANI): One person was killed and four others injured in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said. The incident occurred in the Shindhara village of Poonch late Thursday evening when a pickup van plying on Shindhara road, skidded off the road and fell into a gorge. Also Read | Great Barrier Reef Suffers mass Bleaching Event. The injured were evacuated to the district hospital Poonch for further treatment. Dr Nusrat Bhatti, Superintendent, District Hospital Poonch told ANI, "Four injured people were brought to the hospital. One among them who had serious chest trauma was referred to Government Medical College Rajouri". Also Read | Arabinda Mohapatra Joins BJD in Presence of Party Supremo Naveen Patnaik: Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, March 08, 2024. "District administration has provided Rs 5,000 to the injured and Rs 10,000 to the next of kin of the deceased, " Dr Bhatti said. Mohammad Ishaq, one of the injured told ANI, "When the vehicle reached near Shindhara, it met with an accident. We both were sitting in the back seat. Five people were travelling when the accident took place". More details are awaited (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dahod, March 8: With a lack of consensus over the allotment of seats across states baring chinks in the Opposition armour, senior Congress leader Mukul Wasnik on Friday asserted that all partners in the INDIA bloc were together and will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 'together'. While the Congress reached a broad seat-sharing agreement with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat, Goa, Haryana and the Union Territories (UTs) of Delhi and Chandigarh, as well as the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh, talks are still underway with other partners for similar deals elsewhere. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress to Contest on 16 Seats in Kerala, Leave Four Seats For Constituent Parties. Speaking to ANI on Friday, the senior Congress leader said there has been progress in seat-sharing talks with allies that are happening in a 'respectful manner', unlike the 'differences' between the BJP and its ruling partners in Maharashtra. "While we have already announced seat-sharing deals with our partners in some states, discussions on similar arrangements in other states are in their final stages. We will contest some seats in other states, setting aside the rest for our allies. However, we will contest the upcoming elections together," Wasnik told ANI on Friday. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress To Hold Discussion on Candidates for 10 States in Central Election Committee Meeting Today. On a seat-sharing deal with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, which has been under a cloud of uncertainty after Mamata Banerjee said her party has the strength to go it alone in all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the Congress leader claimed that talks were still ongoing. "The talks are still underway. The situation (around seat talks in Bengal) isn't like what it is between the BJP and its ruling partners Shiv Sena of CM Eknath Shinde and the NCP of deputy CM Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra. We still holding discussions in a respectful manner and will hopefully arrive at a seat-sharing arrangement soon," he added. Wasnik informed further that discussions with the National Conference (NC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir were also underway and announcements on seat allotments could be made soon. Earlier this week, Congress general secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the party has finalised seat-sharing deals with INDIA partners in all states barring West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir. Taking a further swipe at the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, the Congress leader said sensing danger after the coming of the INDIA bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made attempts to 'revive' a 'dead' alliance, referring to the return of some estranged partners to the NDA. On whether INDIA stands vis-a-vis the NDA as the Lok Sabha polls draw near, the Congress leader said, "INDIA alliance, as we all know, was founded in Patna on June 23, last year. Our second meeting was hosted in Bengaluru over two days, on July 17 and 18. The third meeting of the alliance was held in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 and the fourth in Delhi on December 19 last year. It was after the INDIA bloc took shape that the Prime Minister started making efforts to infuse new life into the dead National Democratic Alliance (NDA). All the talk around the resurgence of the NDA started after INDIA came to the fore. If you take out the two 'I's -- Imandari (honesty) and Insaniyat (humanity)--from INDIA, you are left with NDA." "There were a total of 28 parties in INDIA when it was founded. Now, 26 parties are with us and one or two more in Maharashtra might join us. We are strong and united and are in the process of finalising a seat-sharing formula in Jammu and Kashmir. There's been some delay (with respect to seat talks) in West Bengal but the Congress has reached a broad understanding with all the other partners. The only states where a seat-sharing arrangement is still a work in progress are West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir," Wasnik added. The Lok Sabha elections are likely to be held sometime between April and 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) Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) [India], Match 8 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav along with his wife offered prayers at the renowned Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri on Friday. "I have sought blessings from Baba Mahakal to bless everyone. From my side, I wish Mahashivratri to the people of the country," Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said while speaking to the media. Also Read | Karnataka Set to Impose 3% Additional Cess on Newly Registered Transport Vehicles, Introduces Lifetime Tax on EVs Above Rs 25 Lakh. Extending his wishes on the prestigious occasion, in a social media post on X, Yadav wrote, "May happiness, prosperity and well-being come in the lives of all the people of the state with the blessings of Adidev Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. May the blessings of Baba Bholenath continue to be upon all of us. Best wishes to all the people of the state on the festival of Maha Shivaratri". Earlier today, Veteran BJP leader and state minister Kailash Vijayvargia also offered prayers at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. Also Read | ED Raids in Kolkata: Enforcement Directorate Team Conducts Searches in Multiple Locations in Connection With Teacher Recruitment Scam (Watch Video). "I always pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi our country stands among the topmost countries in the world and today we pray that Mahakaal keeps us blessing in the same manner," Kailash Vijayvargia said while speaking to ANI. A massive display of devotion and religious fervour was seen across the country as hundreds of devotees gathered at various temples across the nation to grant prayers to Lord Shiva. The occasion drew worshippers from far and wide, forming long queues as they eagerly sought the blessings of Lord Shiva. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted fellow Indians on the occasion of Mahashivaratri. "Best wishes to all my family members of the country on Mahashivratri. I wish that this great festival brings new energy in everyone's life and also gives new strength to the resolutions of the country in Amritkaal. Jai Bhole Nath!," PM Modi posted on X. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ghaziabad, Mar 8 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu on Friday presented the President's Standard and Colours to four Indian Air Force units. Two squadrons -- 45 Squadron and the 221 Squadron -- received the President's Standard while the 11 Base Repair Depot and 509 signal unit received the President's Colours at a ceremony held at the Hindan Air Force Station here. Also Read | Kolkata Shocker: Man Strangles Wife to Death, Makes Food For Kids, Later Dials 100 Asking Police to Come and Arrest Him. This is the first time that four units of the IAF have received the President's Standard and Colours together. The President's Standard and Colours is the highest military honour for any armed forces unit. The four units selected for the coveted awards have stellar contributions to the IAF's history. Also Read | Himachal Congress Crisis: CM Sukhwinder Sukhu Rushes to Delhi To Meet Congress High Command, Discussion on Lok Sabha 2024 Candidates on Cards. The 45 Squadron, also called the 'Flying Daggers', was raised in 1959. The squadron took part in 'Operation Vijay' for the liberation of Goa from Portuguese rule in 1960. The 221 squadron is known as the 'Valiants'. It was raised on February 14, 1963, in Barrackpore equipped with Vampire aircraft. Barely two years after its formation, the squadron was pressed into action in the Eastern theatre during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, where it made commendable contributions. (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 8 (ANI): The Delhi High Court has dismissed the default bail plea moved by the Supertech promoter RK Arora in a money laundering case. The bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, in an order passed on March 5, 2024, dismissed the bail plea and said, in the present case, that the Enforcement Directorate has already submitted the requisite documents for obtaining expert opinion from FSL. The preparation of the FSL report is not in the control of the investigating agency, though it can take steps to expedite the process. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Renowned Religious Pontiff, His Assistant Sexually Exploits Minor Girl in Kunigal, Arrested. "As already noted above, it is the categorical stand of the ED that the investigation against the present petitioner is complete. With the mere issuance of summons to another person or seeking leave of the Court to file additional evidence, without there being any other sufficient material to challenge, the petitioner cannot be held to be entitled to a default bail. Consequently, I find no merit in the petition and the same is accordingly dismissed", said the Court. Default bail is enshrined in Section 167(2) of the CrPC, which states that when an accused is arrested and detained in custody, the investigation must be completed within a specified time frame, failing which the accused shall be released on bail. Also Read | Deshraj Poswal Dies: BJP Leader and Social Media Star Collapses While Working Out at Gym in Kota, Dies. Trial court Judge on January 24, 2024, while dismissing the regular bail plea of RK Arora, stated that, after the dismissal of the previous bail application via detailed order dated July 22, 2023, I am not inclined to entertain the present bail application moved under Section 439 Cr. PC on behalf of accused Ram Kishor Arora. Accordingly, the same is dismissed, said the trial Court Judge. Earlier, the trial Court took cognizance of the prosecution complaint (chargesheet) filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him and others and also issued summons to all accused named in the chargesheet and firms through their representatives. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against Supertech's Chairman, RK Arora in relation to a money laundering case in Delhi's Patiala House Court. Arora was arrested on June 27 under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Earlier, ED apprised the court that 23 FIRs were registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Delhi Police; Haryana Police and UP Police against Supertech Limited and its group companies under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 406(criminal breach of trust)/420 (cheating)/467/471 IPC having allegations of cheating at least 670 home buyers for an amount of Rs 164 crore. ED also alleged that the amount collected by Supertech Ltd. was diverted to their group companies for the purchase of properties, with the company with land having much lesser value. ED alleged that the accused persons have acquired properties, and made illegal/wrongful gain arising out of the said proceeds of crime by involving, indulging and commissioning criminal activities related to scheduled offences. It is stated that the prima facie case for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 3 punishable under Section 4 of the PML Act has been made. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Sonitpur, March 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived at the Tezpur airport in Assam's Sonitpur district, as part of his two-day visit to the state, where he received a warm welcome from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. PM Modi is headed to the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve for an overnight stay. "Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi has arrived at Tezpur. He was received by HCM Dr @himantabiswa. Hon'ble Prime Minister is en route to Kaziranga National Park for an overnight stay and safari tomorrow morning," an official statement from the Chief Minister's Office said in a post on 'X'. PM Narendra Modi To Inaugurate GAILs Barauni-Guwahati Natural Gas Pipeline in Assam on March 9. PM Modi Arrives at Tezpur Airport PM Modi arrives at Tezpur, received by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma "Honble Prime Minister is en route to Kaziranga National Park for an overnight stay and safari tomorrow morning," says the CM. (Photo source: Assam CM/X) pic.twitter.com/aeiiEmlosQ ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 Kaziranga National Park, Assam's crowned jewel is home to the largest habitat of rhinos Over 600 species of birds; A thriving population of dolphins; and One of the highest densities of tigers. Kaziranga National Park, one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in India, is home to more than 2200 Indian one-horned rhinoceros, approximately 2/3rd of their total world population. Formed in 1908 on the recommendation of Mary Curzon, the park is located in the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots - Golaghat and Nagaon district. In the year 1985, the park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Prime Minister is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various development projects in the state. PM Modi will inaugurate the Tinsukia Medical College and lay the foundation stone of Sivasagar Medical College under the PM-DIVINE scheme on Saturday. He will lay the foundation stone for the expansion of Digboi Refinery from 0.65 million MT to 1 million MT at a cost of Rs 768 crore. International Women's Day 2024: PM Narendra Modi Announces Cut in LPG Prices by Rs 100, Says' This Will Ease Financial Burden on Millions of Households'. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the expansion of Guwahati Refinery from 1 million MT to 1.2 million MT with a cost of Rs 510 crore. PM Modi will inaugurate the project with a cost of Rs 3,992 crores for the pipeline from Barauni to Guwahati. PM Modi will also address a rally at Meleng Meteli and inaugurate several projects of both centre and state governments. In addition, he is set to perform the 'Griha Pravesh' (house-warming) ceremony for the 5.5 lakh houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), lay the foundation stone of Sivasagar Medical College, and address a public gathering at Meleng Meteli Pothar in Jorhat. On March 9, he will take a Jeep Safari or elephant ride inside the national park. Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO Heritage Site renowned for its one-horned rhinos. The visit is crucial as the BJP has started boosting up its preparations in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, 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) Jorhat (Assam) [India], March 8 (ANI): In the middle of a 10-day whirl across 12 states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is at the forefront of the BJP's ongoing campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, arrived in Assam on Friday. During his two-day visit to the BJP-ruled state, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several development projects. Also Read | Manipur: Indian Army JCO Abducted by 'Unidentified Elements' From His Home in Thoubal District; Search Operation Launched. He will also unveil the 'Statue of Valour' in memory of Asamese warrior Lachit Borphukan in Jorhat district. "Tomorrow, to honour the indomitable spirit of Lachit Barphukan and to celebrate his valiant resistance against invaders, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodiji will dedicate the 'Statue of Valour' situated in Jorhat, to the people of Bharat," Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted from his X handle on Friday. Also Read | Crocodile Attack in Odisha: 34-Year-Old Man Killed by Crocodile in Kendrapara District, Half-Eaten Body Found. Lachit Borphukan, born on November 24, 1622, was a commander in the former Ahom kingdom, which is now present-day Assam. He is renowned for his valour and leadership in the 1671 Battle of Saraighat, thwarting an attempt by the Mughal forces to take over the Ahom kingdom. Earlier, on Friday, PM Modi arrived at Tezpur airport in Sonitpur where he was received by CM Sarma. He reached Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, which is considered Assam's crowned jewel and home to the largest rhino habitat. It is home to over 600 species of birds, a thriving population of dolphins and one of the highest populations of tigers. Prime Minister Modi also held a roadshow in Kaziranga, waving and greeting people who gathered in large numbers to welcome him. The locals were also seen chanting his name while women, clad in traditional attire, performed a local dance form as part of the rousing welcome. PM Modi will stay overnight at Kaziranga National Park and go on a safari on Saturday morning. Kaziranga National Park is one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in the country and is also home to more than 2200 Indian one-horned rhinoceros, approximately 2/3rd of their total world population. Formed in 1908 on the recommendation of Mary Curzon, the park is located on the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots in Golaghat and Nagaon districts. In 1985, the park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Prime Minister Modi is also set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various development projects in the state. He will also inaugurate the Tinsukia Medical College and lay the foundation stone for the Sivasagar Medical College, which is coming up under the PM-DIVINE scheme, on Saturday. He will also lay the foundation stone for the expansion of Digboi Refinery from 0.65 million MT to 1 million MT at a cost of Rs 768 crore. He will also preside over the foundation stone laying ceremony for the expansion of Guwahati Refinery from 1 million MT to 1.2 million MT at a cost of Rs 510 crore. PM Modi will inaugurate a pipeline project from Barauni to Guwahati at a cost of Rs 3,992 crores. He will also address a rally at Meleng Meteli before inaugurating several projects of both the central and state governments. He is also scheduled to perform the 'Griha Pravesh' (house-warming) ceremony for the 5.5 lakh houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), lay the foundation stone of Sivasagar Medical College, and address a public gathering at Meleng Meteli Pothar in Jorhat. Later, on Saturday, PM Modi will take a Jeep Safari or an elephant ride inside the national park. His visit is seen as central to the BJP's ongoing campaign for the Lok Sabha elections that are scheduled to be held sometime between April and May this year. (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 8 (ANI): Highlighting the significance of awareness about mental health, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed to digital content creators to create content on the issue in local languages in an effort to reach out to the mass audience. PM Modi, while addressing an event after presenting the first-ever National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, also acknowledged the work being done by several content creators regarding mental health. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: DMK, MDMK Seal Seat Sharing Deal in Tamil Nadu; Ruling Party Gives One Seat To Ally. "Issues like mental health are very important...I have faith in the talent of my country, I appreciate the sensitivity of the people of my country...Many creators are doing very good work regarding mental health, but right now we need to work more on this and if possible, in the local language..." the PM said. The PM also mentioned about the insomnia and said that many people do not take the disease seriously. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Man Burns Wife Alive in Budaun After She Stops Him From Consuming Alcohol. PM Modi, who presented the Disruptor of the Year award to YouTube creator Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps) also suggested him to delve into the importance of sleep on his show. In a candid revelation, PM Modi disclosed his own sleep routine, highlighting his habit of minimal sleep over the years. The event, held at Bharat Mandapam, saw content creators from across the country being felicitated by PM Modi. Branding the content creators as 'Most Valuable Person', the PM said, "Your content is creating a tremendous impact across India today. In a way, you are the MVP of the internet. When I call you MVP, it means you have become the Most Valuable Person. You all know that when content and creativity are interconnected when we collaborate, it increases engagement. When content collaborates with digital, transformation comes. When content collaborates with purpose, it shows impact and today when you all have come here, I too have collab requests from you on many topics..." Speaking at the National Creators' Awards, the PM predicted that the event will hold an important place in the future, saying that he can sense time ahead of time. "Main samay se pehle samay ko bhanp leta hoon (By God's grace, I can sense time ahead of time). That is why I can say that this award will have an important place in future," the Prime Minister said. Among the awardees, Jahnvi Singh received the Heritage Fashion Icon Award, while Kabita Singh (Kabita's Kitchen) clinched the Best Creator in Food Category Award. Pankhti Pandey was honoured in the 'Green Champion' category, Keerthika Govindasamy for the best storyteller, and Maithili Thakur as the 'Cultural Ambassador of the Year'. Gaurav Chaudhary was recognized as the Best Creator in the Tech Category, with Ankit Baiyanpuria securing the Best Health and Fitness Creator award. Naman Deshmukh and Kamiya J were awarded the Best Creator in Education and Favourite Travel Creator respectively. In a diverse range of categories, Shraddha Jain (AiyyoShraddha) and RJ Raunac (Bauaa) clinched the Most Creative Creator titles in the female and male categories respectively. The National Creators Award witnessed significant public engagement, with over 1.5 lakh nominations and approximately 10 lakh votes cast. This initiative aims to acknowledge excellence and impact across various domains including storytelling, social change advocacy, environmental sustainability, education, and gaming among others. In its first round, more than 1.5 lakh nominations were received across 20 different categories. Subsequently, around 10 lakh votes were cast during the voting phase, resulting in 23 winners, including three international creators, being decided. The award ceremony encompassed twenty categories, reflecting the diversity of digital content creation and its impact on society. These categories ranged from the Best Storyteller Award to the Best Health and Fitness Creator, showcasing the broad spectrum of talent and innovation in the digital space. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Nainital (Uttarakhand) [India], March 8 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended his greetings to the people of the state on Maha Shivratri and Women's Day and unveiled projects worth over Rs 700 crore in Haldwani. Greeting the people of the state on Mahashivratri and Women's Day, Chief Minister Dhami said that the original form of Devbhoomi will not be allowed to deteriorate at any cost. Also Read | Delhi Police Cop Suspended for 'Kicking' Muslim Men Offering Namaz on Road in Inderlok; Area Tense After Video Goes Viral. As per an official release from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), "Chief Minister Dhami laid the foundation stone and inaugurated schemes worth Rs 778.14 crore in Haldwani, which include Kathgodam Roadways Bus Terminal, RTO office and other schemes on Friday." The Chief Minister said that this construction work including roadways, bus terminal, RTO office, and driving centre in Haldwani should have been completed years ago, but were not carried out by the previous governments due to their lack of will. Also Read | Brazil Horror: Minor Girl Dies of Suspected Heatstroke After Dad Forgets Her in Car and Goes To Work. Citing the violence in Haldwani earlier, CM Dhami said, "Our government will not rest until every rioter who carried out the Banbhulpura incident is put behind bars. Whoever is guilty of stopping the work of the law will be investigated. Recovery will also be sought from the same rioters who have damaged government property in the state." The Chief Minister also presented cheques to 10 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana on the occasion. Also, under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, cheques worth Rs 4 crore 6 lakh 50 thousand were presented to 10 NGOs under Lakhpati Didi Yojana. Under the Chief Minister Minority Medhavi Balika Protsahan Yojana, cheques of Rs 10 thousand each were given to 40 girls in the district in the program. Motorized tricycles were given to 7 Divyangjans and wheelchairs were given to 10 Divyangjans by the Social Welfare Department and 25 farmers of the Agriculture Department were honoured. A cheque of Rs 10 lakh was presented from the Chief Minister's Discretionary Relief Fund on the damage to the two-wheelers of journalists in the Banbhulpura incident. A video based on Eja Baini Mahotsav was also launched by the Chief Minister on this occasion. The Chief Minister said that a dangerous conspiracy of encroachment on government land has been going on for a long time on a sacred land like Devbhoomi. Government lands of the Irrigation Department, Forest Department, Municipal Corporation and other departments were being occupied by building alleged religious places to occupy them. The government has freed about 3,500 acres of land from encroachment by running an encroachment-free campaign. CM Dhami said that the encroachment campaign will continue in Devbhoomi in future as well as the government understands the pain of the people. As per the release, CM Dhami said that in the interest of the state, laws have been made regarding anti-copying law, uniform civil code and conversion, this will help in protecting the interests of youth and women as well as maintaining the character of Devbhoomi. The Chief Minister said that it has always been our goal that Uttarakhand should have all-round development and Uttarakhand should move forward rapidly on the path of progress. Adding further Chief Minister Dhami said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are working day and night to connect the person standing at the last end of Uttarakhand to the mainstream of development. "The government's goal is to take the stream of development to the last person of society, for this the government is working day and night. We have dreamed of building a developed Uttarakhand, for which we are moving forward with a 'clear vision'. Both our policy and intention are clear, due to which we are continuously moving the development journey of the state forward," said the CM. The Chief Minister further said that special campaigns are being conducted for infrastructure, environmental protection and modern development as well as cultural development in the state. "To create new employment opportunities in the state, to stop migration in the state, to promote tourism and to improve the basic facilities of the state, a blueprint of policy plans has been prepared by the government," he said. The Chief Minister added that the construction of Roadways Bus Terminal, RTO Office, and driving centre will not only increase employment opportunities but will also promote tourism in this area. "Now the general public will not have to wander here and there for vehicle-related work. We have taken the 'options resolution' to make Uttarakhand a developed state. With the trust and cooperation of the God-like people of Uttarakhand, we will succeed," stated the Chief Minister. (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, Mar 8 (PTI) The government is planning to procure 5 lakh tonnes of onions this year for its buffer stock that can be used to intervene in the market in case of a price rise, according to sources. The food and consumer affairs ministry had created 5 lakh tonnes of buffer stock last year, of which 1 lakh tonne is still available, they added. Also Read | RPSC Recruitment 2024: Vacancies Notified for 181 Assistant Prosecution Officer Posts at rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in, Know Steps to Apply. Agencies like NCCF and NAFED will procure onion on behalf of the government. Sources said that the government's decision to sell onions at a subsidised rate from its buffer stock has helped in controlling prices. Also Read | 2006 Varanasi Bomb Blast: 18 Years Since Holy City of India Witnessed Twin Blasts That Left 28 Dead and Over 100 Injured; Here's What Happened. The government will take a decision on lifting the ban on onion exports later this month. The ban is till March 31. The government's plan to create buffer stock comes amid an estimated fall in onion output in 2023-24. "Production of onion in 2023-24 is expected to be around 254.73 lakh tonnes compared to around 302.08 lakh tonnes last year due to a decrease of 34.31 lakh tonnes in Maharashtra, 9.95 lakh tonnes in Karnataka, 3.54 lakh tonnes in Andhra Pradesh and 3.12 lakh tonnes in Rajasthan," the agriculture ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The decline in onion production in 2023-24 is 16 per cent compared to the previous year. As per the data, onion production stood at 316.87 lakh tonnes in 2021-22. (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, Mar 8 (PTI) JM Financial Ltd has said it would fully cooperate with capital market regulator Sebi in its investigation into the public issue of debt securities. The statement came after Sebi barred JM Financial from accepting new mandates to act as a lead manager for the public issue of debt securities, for flouting regulatory norms. Also Read | 2006 Varanasi Bomb Blast: 18 Years Since Holy City of India Witnessed Twin Blasts That Left 28 Dead and Over 100 Injured; Here's What Happened. However, JM Financial can continue to act as a lead manager for the public issue of debt securities for a period of 60 days in case of existing mandates, Sebi said in its interim order on Thursday. Further, the regulator will undertake an investigation into these issues, to be completed within six months. Following the order, JM Financial in a filing to the stock exchanges said, "The company shall fully cooperate with Sebi in this investigation". Also Read | Gender Disparity: Only 1.6% of Companies Listed in Fortune India 500 Led by Women, Study Shows. The Sebi's directive came days after the Reserve Bank barred JM Financial Products Ltd from providing any form of financing against shares and debentures, including sanction and disbursal of loans against initial public offering (IPO). The regulator's order followed after it undertook a routine examination of the public issues of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCD) during the year 2023. The investigation focused on the activities of JM Financial and its related entities in a particular debt issue. In its interim order, Sebi said the manner in which subscriptions have been managed in this public issue of debt instruments is "shocking". The transactions at every stage of this public issue appear to have been done in a pre-determined and pre-meditated manner; and executed clinically to ensure subscription and success. "The regulator noted that notice (JM Financial) along with its connected group entities were prima facie noted to have given an assured exit to certain investors at a profit, thereby incentivising them to apply in the public issue in contravention of the regulatory mandates," it stated. The scheme, it is prima facie noted, involved getting individual investors, who would otherwise not have participated in the issue, to make applications not just by providing funds to them but also by assuring them an exit at a profit on the listing day. While the regulator has examined modus-operandi in one case, the bank statements of the investors, operated through Power of Attorney (PoA) by the JM Group entities, suggest that this practice is followed in most public issues. The pattern of transactions seen in the bank statements suggests that this is not an isolated incident, Sebi noted. (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 8 (AP) President Joe Biden ordered the US military on Thursday to set up a temporary port off the coast of Gaza, joining international partners in trying to carve out a sea route to deliver food and other aid to desperate Palestinian civilians cut off by the Hamas-Israel war and by Israeli restrictions on humanitarian access by land. While reiterating his support for Israel, Biden used the announcement and the bright spotlight of his State of the Union speech to renew months of US calls to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change how he conducts the war, including by allowing in more aid to Gaza and doing more to protect humanitarian workers there. Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: US To Build 'Temporary Port' in Gaza for Humanitarian Aid, Joe Biden To Make Announcement During State of the Union Address. To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Biden declared before Congress. He repeated calls as well for Israel to do more to protect civilians in the fighting, and to work toward Palestinian statehood as the only long-term solution to Israeli-Palestinian violence. The US announcement, signalling deepening US involvement in the war and the escalating fighting in the region, comes as Biden faces pressure to act more forcefully to ease what the UN says are near-famine conditions for many of Gaza's 2.3 million people. Also Read | International Womens Day 2024: Indian Embassy Celebrates Event Under the Themes of Invest in Women- Accelerate Progress, Inspire Inclusion in Kathmandu. It also shows the administration resorting to an unusual workaround after months of appealing to Israel, the US's close ally and top recipient of military aid, to step up access and protection for trucks bearing humanitarian goods for Gaza. Meanwhile on Thursday, efforts to reach a cease-fire before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts within days, appeared stalled. Hamas said its delegation had left Cairo, where talks were being held. The outline for the cease-fire included a wide infusion of aid into Gaza. A widening humanitarian crisis across Gaza and tight Israeli control of aid trucks has left virtually the entire population desperately short of food, the UN says. Medical workers in northern Gaza this past week reported 15 children dead of starvation there. In a meeting pressing Israel Ambassador Michael Herzog to provide access and security for more aid trucks, the US international development director, Samantha Power, warned that blockaded Gaza faced a real risk of famine", her office said on Thursday. Israel accuses Hamas of commandeering some aid deliveries. The US officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview Biden's announcement before his State of the Union speech, said the planned operation will not require American troops on the ground to build the pier that is intended to allow more shipments of food, medicine and other essential items from a port in the Mediterranean island country of Cyprus. The US officials said it would likely take weeks before the pier was operational. They gave few other immediate details. One of the options under consideration is for the military to provide a floating pier called a JLOTS, or Joint Logistics-Over-the-Shore, another US official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss the options before a decision has been made. The large floating pier allows supplies to be delivered without having a fixed port in place, alleviating the need to have troops on a dock on shore. Ships can sail to the pier, which is secured by anchors, and dock there. Defence Department spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement on Thursday that US officials and international partners were looking at options, including using commercial companies and contractors to aid in the delivery. Officials from the US, Europe, Israel and the Middle East have already been deep in discussions and preparations on the possibility of opening a maritime sea route. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in November offered use of his country's port in Larnaca for aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave, a 230-mile (370-kilometer) journey from Cyprus. European Union Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen planned to visit Larnaca on Friday to inspect installations. Cyprus early on invited authorities from Israel, the US and other European countries to join Cypriot agents in vetting all shipments so nothing could be used by Hamas against Israel. Aid groups have said their efforts to deliver desperately needed supplies to Gaza have been badly hampered because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of public order. It is even more difficult to get aid to the isolated north. The United Arab Emirates also says it is working with its partners, including chef and humanitarian Jose Andres and his World Central Kitchen, to launch deliveries by sea, and is finishing details and timing. While land routes could be the most efficient way to get aid into Gaza, one of the senior US administration officials said, Biden has directed that we not wait for the Israelis to get more humanitarian help in, more quickly. Sigrid Kaag, the UN senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, told reporters late Thursday after briefing the UN Security Council behind closed doors that air and sea deliveries cannot substitute for expanding and diversifying supply routes on land, which remains the optimal solution. The Biden administration's latest move provides one more layer to the extraordinary dynamic that's emerged as the United States has had to go around Israel, its main Mideast ally, and find ways to get aid into Gaza, including through airdrops that started last week. Biden has been a crucial partner to Netanyahu's military offensive following Hamas's October 7 attacks in Israel. That includes providing bombs and other weapons to Israel and fending off efforts to censure Israel in the United Nations for the growing deaths among Gaza civilians. But administration officials have grown frustrated at Netanyahu for seeming to shrug off much of the US pressure for Israel to do more to reduce civilian deaths and to allow in humanitarian aid. The World Food Program says an average of 99 aid trucks a day entered Gaza in February, one-fifth of what is needed. "This is an expensive, inefficient workaround to a problem that has other ready solutions," Brian Finucane, a former State Department official now with the International Crisis Group, said of the US announcement on a temporary port and wartime sea route. It's another symptom of the pathology of the overall approach to the war in Gaza ... which is that the Biden administration is unwilling to use US leverage either unilaterally or multilaterally" to try to influence conduct of the war by Netanyahu, Finucane said. Pressure on the Biden administration surged last week after Gaza health officials reported more than 100 people killed at an attempted aid delivery to the isolated north. Israel said its forces fired warning shots when members of the crowd began moving toward them. Witnesses and medical workers told The Associated Press that most of those injured were shot when Israeli forces fired into the crowds of hungry people. International mediators had hoped to alleviate some of the immediate crisis with a six-week cease-fire, which would have seen Hamas release some of the Israeli hostages it is holding, Israel release some Palestinian prisoners and aid groups be given access to to get a major influx of assistance into Gaza. Palestinian militants are believed to be holding around 100 hostages and the remains of 30 others captured during Hamas' October 7 attack. Egyptian officials said Hamas has agreed to the main terms of such an agreement as a first stage but wants commitments that it will lead to an eventual more permanent cease-fire. They say Israel wants to confine the negotiations to the more limited agreement. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the negotiations with media. Both officials said mediators are still pressing the two parties to soften their positions. Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said Israel refuses to commit to and give guarantees regarding the cease-fire, the return of the displaced, and withdrawal from the areas of its incursion. But he said the talks were still ongoing and would resume next week. There was no immediate comment from Israel. Mediators had looked to Ramadan, which is expected to begin on Sunday, as an informal deadline for a deal because the month of dawn-to-dusk fasting often sees Israeli-Palestinian violence linked to access to a major Jerusalem holy site. The war already has the wider region on edge, with Iran-backed groups trading fire with Israel and the United States. Netanyahu has publicly ruled out Hamas' demands for an end to the war, saying Israel intends to resume the offensive after any cease-fire, expand it to the crowded southern city of Rafah and battle on until total victory. He has said military pressure will help bring about the release of the hostages. (AP) (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 8 (ANI): Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane held talks with Spanish Secretary of State for Defence, Maria-Amparo Valcarce Garcia in New Delhi on Friday, underscoring the strengthening ties between India and Spain in the defence realm. Accordingly, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release, "Both sides reviewed the ongoing projects, and discussed future joint plans in the maritime and air domains. They appreciated the increased interaction at the business-to-business level between the defence industries of both countries, including an ongoing visit from the Spanish defence industry association TEDAE to India." Also Read | Man Dies After Eating Butter Chicken: One Bite of Chicken Curry Kills 27-Year-Old Man in UK. Aramane emphasised the burgeoning opportunities in India's defence production sector, echoing the nation's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for global defence partnerships. "The Defence Secretary highlighted the increased opportunities in India in the defence production sector," the press release reads. Also Read | Messi Saves the Day! Argentina Grandma Survives Hamas Attack by Talking About Lionel Messi (See Pic and Video). Maria-Amparo Valcarce Garcia's presence in India on a two-day visit, accompanied by a high-level delegation from the Spanish Ministry of Defence, further solidifies the bilateral engagement between India and Spain, underscoring the shared commitment towards bolstering defence cooperation. The discussions between Aramane and his Spanish counterpart reflect the mutual desire to enhance strategic collaboration, marking a significant milestone in the evolving relationship between India and Spain in the defence arena. (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 8 (ANI): The Indian technical mission in Kabul has been facilitating and coordinating the ongoing humanitarian assistance endeavors since June 2022, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. In a weekly media briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while responding to the ANI question on the recent meetings between Indian officials and Taliban representatives in Afghanistan, said, "As you're aware, India opened its technical mission in Kabul in June 2022, and since then, the mission has been facilitating and coordinating our ongoing humanitarian assistance endeavors." Also Read | India Will 100% Have Political Stability for Next Decade or Even Two, Says EAM S Jaishankar (Watch Video). He said that India has historical and civilizational ties with the Afghan people, and these long-standing linkages will continue to guide the country's approach towards Afghanistan. Highlighting India's ongoing engagement with Afghanistan, Jaiswal announced that an Indian delegation is currently on a visit to Afghanistan. Also Read | Earthquake in Philippines: Quake of Magnitude 6.0 on Richter Scale Strikes Mindanao. ""We have an Indian delegation led by Joint Secretary Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran in the Ministry of External Affairs. This delegation is on a visit to Afghanistan. During the visit, the delegation held meetings with senior members of the Afghan authorities. The delegation also met former president Hamid Karzai, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan officials, and members of the Afghan business community," said Jaiswal. "The delegation held discussions on India's humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and also discussed the use of the Chabahar Port by Afghan traders," added the MEA spokesperson. Notably, Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary PAI Division, JP Singh on Thursday, called on the Taliban's appointed Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi and expressed New Delhi's willingness to expand relations with Kabul and promote trade through Chabahar Port. In the meeting, both leaders discussed India-Afghan bilateral relations and economic and transit issues between the two countries. "The MEA Joint Secretary of the Republic of India for Af-Ir-Pak, JP Singh, called on IEA-Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. The meeting focused on in-depth discussions on bilateral Afghanistan-India relations, economic and transit matters, fighting ISKP & corruption in the country," Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, posted on X." Singh said that India is interested in expanding political & economic cooperation with Afghanistan, & enhancing trade via Chabahar Port," he added. Moreover, Minister Muttaqi expressed gratitude for India's humanitarian assistance and sought to strengthen political and economic relations between the two countries. "Extending gratitude to India for its humanitarian assistance, FM Muttaqi said that, in line with our balanced foreign policy, IEA seeks to strengthen political & economic relations with India as an important actor in the region. In the end, FM Muttaqi urged India's Joint Secretary to facilitate the visa issuance process for Afghan businessmen, patients and students," the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson posted on X. Earlier in its continued efforts to help Afghanistan, India, on January 23, supplied 40,000 litres of Malathion, a pesticide used to fight locust menaces, through the Chabahar Port. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dublin, Mar 8 (AP) According to Ireland's Constitution, a woman's place is in the home. Irish voters will decide Friday International Women's Day whether to change the 87-year-old document to remove passages the government says are outdated and sexist. The twin referendums are on deleting a reference to women's domestic duties and broadening the definition of the family. Also Read | Brazil Horror: Minor Girl Dies of Suspected Heatstroke After Dad Forgets Her in Car and Goes To Work. WHAT ARE THE REFERENDUMS ABOUT? Also Read | India Will 100% Have Political Stability for Next Decade or Even Two, Says EAM S Jaishankar (Watch Video). The first vote deals with a part of the constitution that pledges to protect the family as the primary unit of society. Voters are being asked to remove a reference to marriage as the basis on which the family is founded and replace it with a clause that says families can be founded "on marriage or on other durable relationships. If passed, it will be the 39th amendment to Ireland's Constitution. The second change a proposed 40th amendment would remove a reference to women's role in the home as a key support to the state, and delete a statement that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home. It would add a clause saying the state will strive to support the provision of care by members of a family to one another. WHY ARE THEY HAPPENING NOW? Ireland's Constitution dates from 1937, when the country became a republic. Ireland has changed enormously since then, transforming from a conservative, overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country in which divorce and abortion were illegal, to an increasingly diverse and socially liberal society. The proportion of residents who are Catholic fell from 94.9% in 1961 to 69% in 2022, according to the Central Statistics Office. The social transformation has been reflected in a series of constitutional changes. Irish voters legalized divorce in a 1995 referendum, backed same-sex marriage in a 2015 vote and repealed a ban on abortions in 2018. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced a year ago, on International Women's Day 2023, that the government would hold a referendum to enshrine gender equality and remove discriminatory language from the constitution. The new votes are about removing very old-fashioned language and recognizing the realities of modern family life, said Varadkar, Ireland's first ethnic minority leader, who is in a same-sex relationship but not married. DO THE CHANGES HAVE WIDESPREAD SUPPORT? Opinion polls suggest support for the yes side on both votes, but many voters remain undecided, and turnout may be low. The current debate is less charged than the arguments over abortion and gay marriage. Ireland's main political parties all support the changes, including centrist government coalition partners Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and the biggest opposition party, Sinn Fein. Many women support the change. Tracy Carroll from County Meath in central Ireland, who cares full-time for her two children, said women had long been told our place in society is in the home and looking after our children and our husbands. We've moved from that, but the constitution hasn't moved from that, and a women's place is anywhere she wants it to be, she told Sky News. Opponents say the wording of the changes is poorly thought out and could have unintended consequences an argument that appeared to gain traction in the final days of the campaign. One political party calling for no votes is Aontu, a traditionalist group that split from Sinn Fein over the larger party's backing for legal abortion. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said the government's wording is so vague it will lead to legal wrangles and most people do not know what the meaning of a durable relationship is. The Free Legal Advice Centers, a legal charity, has expressed concern the change to the section on care contains harmful stereotypes such as the concept that the provision of care is the private responsibility of unpaid family members without any guarantee of state support. Some disability rights campaigners argue the emphasis on care treats disabled people as a burden, rather than as individuals with rights that should be guaranteed by the state. In Dublin, nurse Una Ui Dhuinn said she voted no to both changes because I thought it was too rushed. I felt we didn't get enough time to think about it and read up on it. So I felt, to be on the safe side, no, no' no change, she said. Caoimhe Doyle, a doctoral student, said she voted yes to changing the definition of family but no to the care amendment because I don't think it was explained very well. There's a worry there that they're removing the burden on the state to take care of families," she said. Varadkar, who insists the state is not abdicating its care responsibilities, said rejecting the changes would be a setback for the country. If there's a no' vote, on Saturday morning hundreds of thousands of children in Ireland will wake up to hear that Irish society has decided that their family isn't a constitutional family, isn't an equal family, just because their parents aren't married," Varadkar said this week. "If there's a yes' vote, we'll be saying as a society that all families are equal. WHEN WILL THE RESULTS BE KNOWN? Polling stations are open from 7 am to 10 pm Friday. Counting of the ballots from each of Ireland's 39 constituencies starts at 9 am Saturday, with results likely to be known Saturday afternoon or evening. Irish citizens who are 18 or older some 3.3 million people -- are eligible to vote.(AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tel Aviv [Israel], March 8 (ANI/TPS): Israeli raids on a residential tower district have drawn attention to a growing rift between Hamas and Qatar. In recent days, Israeli forces have been operating against Hamas in the Hamad Tower district of Khan Yunis. This complex of 40 residential buildings is named after Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, who financed the project with hundreds of millions of dollars. Also Read | Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, March 08, 2024. The towers were inaugurated in 2016. This week, Israeli forces uncovered extensive terror infrastructure including a weapons factory, tunnel shafts, rocket launching positions and command centers among and beneath the residences. Large numbers of weapons, explosives and military equipment were also seized. Also Read | Earthquake of Magnitude 4.2 on Richter Scale Strikes Myanmar, No Casualty Reported. Israeli forces evacuating residents from Hamad nabbed dozens of terrorists trying to flee among the civilians, while another 250 holed up in the towers were also arrested during the raids. Relations between Qatar and Hamas were fraying even before October 7. In 2023, Qatar suspended funds for Hamas over Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar's support for Syria. Hamas leaders based in Qatar, such as Ismail Haniyeh, Musa Abu Marzook, and Khaled Masha'al are also affronted by Sinwar. Qatar and Hamas's "Qatari camp" wants an immediate ceasefire, a release of the hostages and for evacuated residents of northern Gaza to return and rebuild their homes. They also want Hamas to remain in Gaza after the war as a political group. As TPS reported in February, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas is throwing a lifeline to Hamas by trying to draw it into a unity government to rule post-war Gaza. But Sinwar, who is in Hamas's "Iranian camp," ultimately controls the fate of the hostages and refuses to cooperate. TPS has learned that the Qataris recently warned that they will not finance any post-war reconstruction as long as Sinwar remains in Gaza. Sinwar is also complicating Qatar's relationship with the US. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been pressing Doha to remove Hamas from Qatari soil, arguing that the existing relationship cannot continue. Qatar was trying to soften Washington's pressure by promoting additional hostage release deals and touting its ability to moderate Hamas, but that approach is not working. 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) Kathmandu, March 8: The Embassy of India in Kathmandu in association with Maiti Nepal celebrated International Women's Day. The event on the premises of Maiti Nepal was organised to honour and recognise the contributions of women under the themes of "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" and "Inspire Inclusion," a release from the embassy said on Thursday. Ashta Lakshmi Shakya, the first woman chief minister of Nepal, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Prasanna Shrivastava, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Kathmandu, also attended the celebrations along with Anuradha Koirala, founder of Maiti Nepal. International Women's Day 2024 Quotes: These 10 Powerful Sayings About Women and Womanhood Speak Volumes. Speaking on the occasion Shrivastava highlighted the significance of the occasion and applauded the extraordinary efforts of Maiti Nepal for the welfare and prosperity of the women of Nepal. Maiti Nepal is a non-profit organization in Nepal dedicated to helping the victims of human trafficking. He also mentioned that Koirala's endeavours in this regard have been well recognised by the Government of India, noting that in 2017, she was bestowed with the prestigious 'Padma Shri' award by the Government of India. Ashta Lakshmi Shakya highlighted the importance of the unique India-Nepal relationship and advocated greater collective efforts for the empowerment of women in Nepal. International Womens Day 2024 Google Doodle: Internet Giant Celebrates IWD With a Creative Symbolising Womens Wisdom and Progress Through the Years. Addressing the event, Anuradha Koirala spoke about the initiatives and wide range of activities being conducted by Maiti Nepal. She also thanked the Embassy for its continued support and cooperation. On the occasion, Ashta Lakshmi Shakya and Deputy Chief of Mission, Prasanna Shrivastava felicitated Menuka Paudel and Ratna Kumari Sunuwar for their inspiring achievements. Menuka Paudel, hailing from Kathmandu, through her singing talent has won accolades in Nepal and India, and most recently at the Indian Idol (2023). Ratna Kumari Sunuwar captured headlines last year after she passed class 12 at the age of 80, showing that age is no barrier for learning. The Embassy of India also gifted books to the students of Maiti Nepal on this occasion. The celebrations witnessed musical performances by women instrumentalists from Kathmandu organised by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Embassy of India, Kathmandu and cultural performances by the girl students of Maiti Nepal. Menuka Paudel also captivated the audience with her melodious songs. "The Embassy of India, Kathmandu, is committed to promoting stronger ties between India and Nepal and supporting the efforts of the Government of Nepal for the empowerment of girls and women," the release stated. Several other political leaders, representatives of social organisations, girl students of Maiti Nepal, and distinguished women from different walks of life participated in the event. Athens (Greece), Mar 8 (AP) Protesters hurled gasoline bombs and firecrackers at police outside Greece's parliament Friday after thousands attended a demonstration against government plans to introduce privately run universities. Police charged the violent demonstrators and fired tear gas to disperse the crowds. Several people were hurt and received first aid from volunteer medics who reached parliament by motorcycle. Also Read | Messi Saves the Day! Argentina Grandma Survives Hamas Attack by Talking About Lionel Messi (See Pic and Video). Friday's rally followed weeks of demonstrations that included scores of university building occupations by students. Lawmakers were to vote on the measure later Friday, with the bill expected to pass. Greece's centre-right government has argued that the reform would help attract skilled workers back to the country. Also Read | US President Joe Biden Calls for Revitalising Partnership With Allies Like India To Counter China; Vows To Stand Up Against Vladimir Putin in State of Union Speech. We must say a resounding 'yes' to this measure as a guarantee of greater freedom and greater access to knowledge for all Greek students, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament ahead of the vote. At Friday's rally which were mostly peaceful the students were joined by a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and marchers from an event marking International Women's Day. Among them was Anna Adamidi, a philosophy student, whose placard bore the words, "International Women's Day: We Struggle. We Strike. We Fight. This government wants to privatize everything ... but at the same time, the cost of living is going up and up and our wages remain pitiful, she said. The private sector comes in and dismantles public (education), making use of resources that they will pay nothing for. Opposition parties are broadly against the bill, arguing that it violates the constitution and could create a two-tier system for students. The (government) is introducing the concept of meritocracy paid by tuition fees. Whoever has money will study: the power of privilege, lawmaker Harris Mamoulakis, for the main left-wing opposition party Syriza, said during the three-day debate. Education reforms in Greece are often politically charged, with university activism historically linked to pro-democracy movements but also later used as a refuge for violent protest groups. Although private higher education is already legal in Greece, the new law would make degrees from vetted private institutions equivalent to public universities. Overseas universities would be allowed to open branches in Greece using a nonprofit status despite charging tuition fees. More than 6,50,000 students currently study at state-run universities in Greece and an additional 40,000 are studying abroad, according to Education Ministry officials who briefed lawmakers before this week's debate. The Mitsotakis government, early in its second term and with a huge lead in opinion polls, has carried out several major reforms in recent weeks, including legalizing same-sex marriage and introducing a postal vote for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) London [UK], March 8 (ANI): The National Peace Symposium, a key event of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, is set to take place on Saturday (March 9) in London, UK. Amidst the escalating regional conflicts and global uncertainty, this year's theme is 'Building a Sustainable Peace'. The event will be organised at the Baitul Futuh Mosque, which serves as the administrative headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK and is home to the National Peace Symposium. Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: US To Build 'Temporary Port' in Gaza for Humanitarian Aid, Joe Biden To Make Announcement During State of the Union Address. The event will host over 800 guests from diverse backgrounds, including religious, political, civic, academic, charitable, and diplomatic circles. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community, founded in 1889 by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India, is now established in 213 countries and it spearheads an international effort to promote education and health across the developing world, as well as a global peace campaign to champion respect and human rights for all. Also Read | Arabinda Mohapatra Joins BJD in Presence of Party Supremo Naveen Patnaik: Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, March 08, 2024. The event will feature the keynote address of the fifth Caliph of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, addressing the pressing threat of mounting conflicts across the globe. Mirza Masroor Ahmad, reflecting on the urgency of the situation, has repeatedly emphasised practical methods for reconciliation. During last year's peace symposium, he said, "...the Holy Qur'an has instructed that every possible opportunity to achieve peace must be pursued, no matter how remote the chances of success are." "The objective of the intervening parties must remain at all times to establish peace instead of seeking revenge or humiliating the aggressor, nor should their underlying intention ever be to line one's pockets or to exploit the conflict to advance vested interests," he added. Rafiq Hayat, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, underlined the significance of this timely event. "We must pursue peace, and this symposium serves as a timely reminder to come together in the face of rising regional conflicts. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is dedicated to establishing peace, safeguarding the basic human rights of all, and to acknowledging and commending the efforts of those who work towards advancing the cause of peace," Hayat said. Moreover, during the event, the 'Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace' will also be presented in recognition of an individual's or an organisation's contribution to the advancement of the cause of peace. The winner of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize for 2020, Adi Roche, emphasised that such awards highlight that when we come together, we renew our commitment not to give up and stand up and speak out for humanitarian efforts. "It is an honour to receive the Ahmadiyya Prize for the Advancement of Peace. Awards like this highlight that when we come together, we renew our commitment not to give up, not to stand idly by, but to stand up, speak out, give witness and be on the frontlines of humanitarian efforts! Offering that most precious of giftss--hope!" Roche said. "The Ahmadiyya Muslim National Peace Symposium allows us to renew our commitment to the human race, and, by extension, to each other. Saying, YES! We are taking a side; we are on the side of peace with justice. Our compassion for others is the heartbeat of society," Roche added. Adi Roche, the founder and voluntary CEO of Chornobyl Children International (CCI, was one of the leading international figures to respond to the humanitarian crisis that ensued after the Chornobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. Notably, she was selected for the 2020 prize and will be receiving her award this year as the COVID pandemic deferred the presentation. Moreover, David Spurdle from England, the founder of the charity, Kids Alive UK, will receive the 2023 award. Later, 'Kids Alive UK' became the charity 'Stand by Me'. The charity has rescued over 10,000 children across 11 countries, opened 24 children's homes, 6 care centres and 7 schools; and feeds over 1500 families a month. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kabul [Afghanistan], March 8 (ANI): Calling on the Taliban to reverse the restrictions on women and girls, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva warned that the longer these restrictions remain in place, "the more damage will be done," according to TOLOnews. She said the question of recognition and the function of the special envoy to Afghanistan are on the agenda. Also Read | Earthquake of Magnitude 4.2 on Richter Scale Strikes Myanmar, No Casualty Reported. Otunbayeva said in a press conference following the end of the UN Security Council meeting on the state of affairs in Afghanistan that they anticipate keeping up the recognition issue and the special envoy's function in the third meeting in Doha. A few members of the Security Council and the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for the full observance of women's and girls' rights in Afghanistan also underlined the importance of human rights problems, one of the meeting's primary agenda items, according to TOLOnews. Also Read | Sweden Joins NATO After Completing Its Accession Process, Ends Decades of Post-Second World War Neutrality. "Many women are currently afraid to move in public places. I take this opportunity to call again on the de facto authorities to reverse these restrictions. The longer these restrictions on women and girls continue, the more damage will be done," stated Roza Otunbayeva. Otunbayeva, thinks the third Doha meeting on Afghanistan is scheduled to take place in June this year. "We are approaching another Doha meeting in the future, and I hope to maintain the issue of recognition and the role of the special envoy, which is now on the agenda. This is exactly how to work on this unity," said Otunbayeva. Meanwhile, Robert Wood, Deputy Permanent Representative of the US to the UN, claimed that the Taliban is also detaining women who are not legally required to wear a hijab. He said, "The Taliban are also detaining women who are not legally required to wear a hijab. The United States is working with Afghan women to be ready for the day when they can fully participate in society," TOLOnews reported. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, in December last year urged the Taliban to lift the ban on women working in non-governmental organisations. He stressed that women are crucial to the economy and that their contributions are essential for the well-being and progress of Afghan society. In a post shared on X, Richard Bennett stated, "One year ago,Taliban banned women from working in NGOs. Once again, I urge the lifting of the ban. Education and work are vital to a full and dignified life, women are crucial for the economy; and their contributions are essential for the well-being and progress of Afghan society." The Taliban has restricted media freedoms and banned women from public places like parks and gyms. The actions have sparked a harsh international backlash, further isolating the country at a time when its economy is in free fall and escalating a humanitarian crisis. Notably, ever since the takeover, Taliban leadership has consistently issued severe decrees restricting Afghan women and girls' access to education and employment. Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021 after the US exit from the country, women are not allowed to work in the fields of education with domestic and international organisations, in gyms, or in public spaces. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, March 8: Needling the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (UBT) President and ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made the fresh offer of a Lok Sabha seat to Union minister Nitin Gadkari, leading to a war-of-words between the two rival parties. At a couple of public meetings, Thackeray pointed out that a senior leader like Gadkari, a two-time MP from Nagpur, did not figure in BJPs first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Dont bend before Delhi You just leave the BJP and come to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Show them your worth. We shall all ensure that you get elected to the Parliament, Thackeray said. On several occasions, Thackeray has pointed out how the BJP ignored Gadkari in the first list, but included an ex-Congressman and a tainted leader like Kripashankar Singh for the Jaunpur seat in Uttar Pradesh. We Will Fight Together Along With People of the State, Says Uddhav Thackeray After Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Announces Eknath Shinde Faction As Real Shiv Sena (Watch Video). I have worked closely with Gadkari. It was he who completed Balasaheb Thackerays dream project, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, in a record time more than 20 years ago. He is a senior and loyal BJP leader, yet his name did not figure in the first list. I have known him much before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, said Thackeray. Earlier on several occasions, state Congress President Nana Patole and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Supriya Sule had called upon Gadkari to consider options, when he was reportedly slighted by the BJP, while another Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Kishore Tiwari, had described him as a PM material. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Rahul Gandhi Fielded Again From Keralas Wayanad As Congress Releases First List of Candidates for General Polls; Check Full List. Retaliating, BJPs Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis belittled Thackeray by saying that his party (SS-UBT) is in a mess, and this offer to Gadkari is akin to a man in the lane asking someone to join him and become the American President!. Gadkari Sir is a very tall national leader In the first list, his name was not there as the MahaYuti was engaged in the seat-sharing discussions. But his name will figure in the next list, said Fadnavis. MahaYutis BJP Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar also hit back at Thackeray with a counter-offer after the latter asked Gadkari to quit the BJP and join the Opposition ranks for better political prospects. I am giving you a challenge: Come back to the BJP, we will get you elected and give you a dignified position. Drop your arrogance and join us, Mungantiwar told Thackeray, pointing out how in the past, Gadkari had said he would commit suicide rather than quit the BJP. Mungantiwar also advised Thackeray to refrain from creating confusion by making such statements, especially since Gadkari is a nationally respected asset whom all the parties admire. Gadkari (66) has been the longest-serving Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways since 2014, and is credited with revolutionising the surface transport sector in the country with a network criss-crossing the nation, including the remote areas, starting with his previous tenure as a PWD Minister in Maharashtra (1995-1999). (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 08, 2024 08:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Maha Shivaratri or Maha Shivratri, literally translating to "the Great Night of Shiva," holds a special place in Hindu culture, celebrated with fervour and devotion across the globe. Falling in the Hindu lunar month of Phalguna or Maagha, Maha Shivratri carries immense significance and symbolism. So, when is Maha Shivratri 2024? What is the auspicious date and time for the Maha Shivratri celebration this year? In this article, we will look into all the important details about the holy Hindu festival. Holidays Calendar 2024 India: Know the Dates of Holi, Chaitra Navratri, Diwali, Durga Puja, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi and Other Major Festivals & Events. Maha Shivratri 2024 Date & Significance Maha Shivratri typically falls in February or March, depending on the lunar calendar. This year, Mahashivratri will be celebrated on March 8, 2024. Maha Shivratri commemorates several legends associated with Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. According to Hindu mythology, it marks the wedding anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that on this auspicious night, Shiva performed the divine dance of Tandava, symbolizing creation, preservation, and destruction. Importance & Observance of Maha Shivratri 2024 Devotees observe fasts, offer prayers, and engage in various rituals throughout the day and night. The festival is marked by visits to Shiva temples, where special prayers and hymns are recited in praise of Lord Shiva. Maha Shivratri holds profound spiritual significance for Hindus. It is believed that observing Maha Shivratri with sincerity and devotion can lead to the fulfilment of wishes, spiritual upliftment, and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Devotees seek blessings from Lord Shiva for prosperity, health, and inner peace. Lord Shiva, the Supreme God, is revered as the destroyer of evil and the transformer of the universe. He is depicted as the ascetic yogi, adorned with a crescent moon on his head, a snake around his neck, and a trident (Trishul) in his hand. Lord Shiva is also known as the deity of meditation, spirituality, and cosmic balance. Maha Shivaratri 2024: Maha Shivratri Celebrations and Rituals On Maha Shivratri, devotees wake up early, take ritual baths, and visit Shiva temples to offer prayers and perform abhishekam (ritual bathing of the Shiva Lingam) with water, milk, honey, and other sacred substances. They chant mantras such as "Om Namah Shivaya" and observe strict fasts throughout the day. Maha Shivratri is a time of spiritual renewal and devotion for Hindus worldwide. It is a day to reflect on the eternal qualities of Lord Shiva and seek his divine blessings for peace, prosperity, and enlightenment. As devotees come together to celebrate the Great Night of Shiva, the atmosphere is filled with reverence, prayer, and a deep sense of connection to the cosmic energies embodied by Lord Shiva. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 13, 2024 04:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Maha Shivratri (Mahashivratri), also known as the Great Night of Shiva, is one of the most significant Hindu festivals celebrated annually in honour of Lord Shiva. Observed on the 14th night of the dark fortnight in the Hindu lunar month of Phalguna (usually falling in February or March), Maha Shivratri holds immense spiritual and cultural significance for millions of devotees worldwide. Here is a collection of Mahashivratri messages in Sanskrit, Happy Maha Shivratri 2024 greetings in Sanskrit, Mahashivratri images in Sanskrit and wallpapers that you can download and share with all your near and dear ones to wish them Happy Maha Shivratri 2024. Mahashivratri 2024 Wishes in Hindi and 'Har Har Mahadev' Greetings: WhatsApp Messages, Lord Shiva Images & Bholenath Photos To Celebrate Maha Shivratri. Mahashivratri 2024 will be observed on Friday, March 8. The festival holds various mythological and religious narratives, but one of the most popular is the legend of Lord Shiva's cosmic dance, known as the Tandava. According to Hindu mythology, on this auspicious night, Lord Shiva is said to have performed the Tandava, symbolising the creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe. Devotees believe that observing Maha Shivratri with devotion and austerity can cleanse them of their sins and bring them closer to the divine. Devotees prepare for Maha Shivratri by observing fasting, practising meditation, and performing rituals to honour Lord Shiva. Many devotees visit temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, where special prayers and ceremonies are conducted throughout the night. The atmosphere at these temples is often filled with devotion, chanting of sacred hymns, and the sound of bells ringing in reverence to Lord Shiva. As you observe Maha Shivratri 2024, we at LatestLY have brought together a collection of messages in Sanskrit that you can download and share with all your loved ones on this day. Mahashivratri 2024 Wishes in Sanskrit Mahashivratri Messages in Sanskrit (File Image) Mahashivratri 2024 Wishes in Sanskrit Mahashivratri Messages in Sanskrit (File Image) Mahashivratri 2024 Wishes in Sanskrit Mahashivratri Messages in Sanskrit (File Image) Mahashivratri 2024 Wishes in Sanskrit Mahashivratri Messages in Sanskrit (File Image) Mahashivratri 2024 Wishes in Sanskrit Mahashivratri Messages in Sanskrit (File Image) Mahashivratri 2024 Wishes in Sanskrit Mahashivratri Messages in Sanskrit (File Image) Mahashivratri 2024 Wishes in Sanskrit Mahashivratri Messages in Sanskrit (File Image) Happy Maha Shivratri 2024 Wishes, Wallpapers, Images, Greetings And Messages To Share On The Day Maha Shivratri is also a time for spiritual introspection and seeking divine blessings for inner peace and enlightenment. It is believed that observing vigil during the night of Maha Shivratri can awaken spiritual consciousness and lead to spiritual liberation (moksha). Wishing everyone a Happy Maha Shivratri 2024. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 08, 2024 05:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The minister's comments were in response to a question about political stability in India and whether the upcoming elections will affect India's foreign policy. India in May this year heads for crucial general elections with more than 950 million citizens gearing up to exercise their right to choose the government. At least one victim reportedly critically injured was rushed by the villagers to the Ghoti rural hospital, and police are attempting to ascertain the identity of all the dead persons. On International Women's Day, Huma Qureshi took to Instagram to announce her new film, which she is collaborating with Vishal Rana and JioStudios. The upcoming film will tell the powerful true story of an auto rickshaw driver. In the photo, Huma looks fierce as she poses with female auto-rickshaw drivers. The actress captioned it, 'I am thrilled to join forces with Vishal Rana and @officialjiostudios in a groundbreaking film announcement this International Women's Day! #Staytuned for a story that celebrates the indomitable spirit of women everywhere!' Huma Qureshi Slays in Black-White Striped Pantsuit As She Kickstarts Maharani 3 Promotions; Check Out Her OOTD (See Pics) Huma Qureshi collaborates with Vishal Rana and JioStudios: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Huma Qureshi (@iamhumaq) (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Mumbai, March 8: Samsung has confirmed that it will launch its two smartphones in its popular A seriesthe Samsung Galaxy A55 5G and the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G. These new smartphones will be introduced with latest specifications and features for the Indian market, along with a best-in-segment camera setup. The new Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G will be introduced on March 11, 2024, and speculation has already started in the market. After Samsung's recent introduction of its flagship Samsung Galaxy S24 series, the company will offer new premium mid-range smartphones for customers. According to a report by Business Standard, Samsung said in a press note that the upcoming smartphones will be introduced with powerful processors and flagship-inspired designs and offer a premium experience. The Samsung A series has previously provided smartphones with a similar design to the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S23 flagship series. iQOO Z9 5G Price and Storage Details Leaked Ahead of Launch on March 12: Check Specifications, Features and Other Details. Samsung Galaxy A55 5G Specifications, Features and Price (Expected) The report said that Samsung's upcoming Samsung A55 5G will likely be powered by the 4nm architecture-based Exynos 1480 processor and will also have AMD graphics. Further, the report highlighted that the Samsung A55 5G is expected to have a 50-megapixel primary camera with 1/1.56-inch sensor. It is also expected to have a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera. For selfies, the Galaxy A55 5G could be launched with a 32-megapixel front camera. It is expected to have a 6.5-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, OneUI 6 based on the latest Android 14, and a 5,000mAh battery. The smartphone is also expected to have the following RAM and storage options: 8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB. According to the report by English Jagran, the A55 5G may cost around 480 (about Rs 43,414) for the 128GB variant and 530 (about Rs 47,926) for the 256GB variant. Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Specifications, Features and Price (Expected) According to the report by Business Standard, the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G may be launched with a 6.6-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an Exynos 1380 processor, and a 5,000mAh battery. Further, the device is expected to have an Android 14-based OneUI 6 operating system. The Galaxy A35 5G will likely have a 50-megapixel primary camera with a 1/1.96-inch sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera. On the front, the device may have a 13-megapixel camera for taking selfies. POCO M6 5G With Airtel 5G Offer Launched in India: Check Price, Specifications and Features. The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is expected to come in two RAM and storage options 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB. According to the report by English Jagran, the prices of the variants will likely be around 380 (about Rs 34,375) and 450 (about Rs 40,707), respectively. Both of these Samsung smartphones will reportedly be launched in the premium mid-range segment on March 11, 2024, at 2:30 PM. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 08, 2024 06:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). On 7 March Cubas Partido Comunista de Cuba (PCC) government led by Presidentannounced an investigation into former economy minister(2018-2024), who was sacked last month. End of preview - This article contains approximately 396 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 7 March Mexicos Presidentsaid that the black hand of the opposition was behind recent protests in relation to the 2014 disappearance of 43 students from the Ayotzinapa rural teacher training college in Guerrero state. End of preview - This article contains approximately 399 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 7 March the governors of Argentinas six Patagonian provinces met in Puerto Madryn, a city in Chubut province, to present a united front ahead of talks today (8 March) with the national government to negotiate a fiscal pact. End of preview - This article contains approximately 362 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 7 March Perus congress voted to impeach two members of the countrys seven-member judicial oversight body (JNJ), which has become the frontline in a power struggle between congress and the judiciary. End of preview - This article contains approximately 566 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options In a swift response to escalating violence, Haiti declared a month-long state of emergency and imposed a curfew on the capital, Port-au-Prince. Armed Haiti gangs intensified their attacks on crucial government infrastructures, prompting authorities to extend the emergency measures. Finance Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, acting as prime minister in the absence of Ariel Henry, declared the Haiti state of emergency extension until April 3 in the West Region and Port-au-Prince. The curfew was prolonged until March 10, aiming to quell the unrest gripping the nation. The decision comes after a series of attacks, including the assault on a police substation and a critical facility at the main seaport, according to the Miami Herald. Haiti gangs targeted shipping handlers at the National Port Authority, leading to the looting of premises and the theft of armored vehicles belonging to customers. Last week, the Haiti port witnessed renewed violence as gangs sabotaged a power plant, severing the electricity supply. The aftermath left hundreds of containers without refrigeration, with suspicions that they were looted. READ NEXT: Haiti: US Pressures Prime Minster Ariel Henry To Resign Armed Gangs Escalate Violence, Targeting Vital Infrastructure Armed men broke into the capital's Haiti port, looting containers in a series of attacks on critical infrastructure. Haiti gangs targeted the airport, police stations, and prisons, demanding the removal of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, BBC News reports. Caribbean Port Services, the port operator, suspended all services, citing "malicious acts of sabotage and vandalism." Over 20 trucks carrying essential equipment, medical supplies, and food are stranded at the port. The UN's World Food Programme halted its maritime transport service due to "insecurity." Amid the chaos, the UN humanitarian affairs agency warned of the country's health system nearing collapse. Hopital Universitaire la Paix received nearly 70 patients with gunshot wounds, while several medical centers were burned down. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged an "urgent" political transition, emphasizing the need for a broader, more inclusive government. The violence intensified when Prime Minister Henry left for a regional summit, attempting to return but facing obstacles in both Port-au-Prince and the neighboring Dominican Republic. Healthcare System in Crisis as Hospitals Struggle to Operate Haiti's healthcare system teeters on the brink of collapse, with many health centers forced to reduce operations due to violence, lack of personnel, and medicine shortages. Dujarric, a spokesperson for the country's Civil Protection, revealed that only one public hospital remains operational in Port-au-Prince's metropolitan area, severely hampering emergency services. Doctors in Haiti plead for assistance amid a dire shortage of oxygen and water. Dr. Ronald Laroche, overseeing a network of private hospitals, explained the critical situation: "There is no oxygen available, no water, nor can we service the hospitals because of the shutdown of the pumps to provide water to people," CNN noted. Haiti gangs have converted medical centers into their headquarters, forcing closures to prevent staff kidnappings. Haiti's Civil Protection faces challenges in gathering information on civilian injuries and deaths amid the ongoing violence. With more than 20 medical centers affected and two destroyed by gangs, the healthcare system grapples with unprecedented challenges. As the nation grapples with this crisis, international attention focuses on supporting Haiti in restoring order and ensuring the delivery of essential services to its beleaguered population. READ MORE: Haiti: Gangs Attack Main Prison Causing Mass Jailbreak This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Haiti declares state of emergency - From SABC News Honduras Ex-President Juan Orlando Hernandez is on trial in New York over drug trafficking charges, and Hondurans are glued to their TVs or computers following it. However, this is a US federal trial, which means that this is not being televised in Honduras. Despite this, people there have been glued to the news. Hernandez, who served as the president of Honduras for two terms, from 2014 to 2022, has been accused of taking bribes to protect drug traffickers while also taking money from the US that was supposed to aid in the country's anti-drug trafficking efforts and helping stem illegal migration into the US. New York prosecutors had drug traffickers connected to Hernandez testify against him for a chance at more lenient prison time. The former Honduran president finally took to the stand on Tuesday and Wednesday to defend himself, insisting that he never took any bribes and cooperated with the US in extraditing drug traffickers. While the trial itself was not televised in the US, let alone in Honduras, what was said during the trial was made public in court documents. These court documents, including pre-trial motions, were dissected by local media as the news suddenly became must-watch-TV in Honduras just because of the Hernandez trial. Meanwhile, some US-based Honduran citizens or US citizens of Honduran descent were present during the trial. While some of them protested against Hernandez outside the courthouse, there were some who watched it in person and were live-tweeting testimony and summarizing the day's courtroom developments, according to the Associated Press. "I follow it through social networks, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, because I don't really watch the news and there they give summaries of how the trial is going," Milagros Oviedo, a 20-year-old college student in the capital, told the AP. READ MORE: Migrant Caravan From Honduras Dissolves in Guatemala Before It Can Reach US-Mexico Border US Prosecutors Say Honduras Ex-President Juan Orlando Hernandez Accepted Bribes from El Chapo One of the most damning accusations against the former president of Honduras was that he accepted bribes from various drug organizations and protected them. One of these is the notorious Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the leader of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. According to VOA News, prosecutors alleged that while he was still campaigning to be president in 2013, he accepted $1 million from El Chapo himself. He then used that money to bribe officials to manipulate voting results in his favor before using those same tactics to win re-election in 2017. His bribery scandal caused many Hondurans to lose faith in the integrity of their elections. New York Jury Now Deliberating on the Fate of Honduras Ex-President Juan Orlando Hernandez After Hernandez took to the stand, the jury has now received instructions from Judge Kevin Castel late Thursday and has already begun deliberations on the fate of the former Honduran president after over two weeks of testimonies. Barrons reported that the former president could face life imprisonment should he be convicted in his criminal trial, and this was one of the reasons why so many Hondurans have been glued to screens to watch the news. Hernandez is also accused of facilitating the smuggling of some 500 tons of cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela to the US. Prosecutors have called Honduras a "Narco State" under his rule as Hernandez allegedly involved the military, police, and civilians in his drug trafficking activities. READ NEXT: America Ferrera Net Worth 2024: How Much is the 'Barbie' and 'Ugly Betty' Star Worth? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Honduran Ex-President Juan Orlando Hernandez, Once a U.S. Ally, on Trial in NY for Drug Trafficking - Democracy Now! In a recent development, a New York judge has dismissed Donald Trump's attempt to postpone an $83.3 million civil defamation judgment favoring writer E. Jean Carroll, according to CNBC. The ruling requires Trump to make the payment by Monday or post a bond while he appeals a jury's decision that he defamed Carroll in 2019. This judgment is part of three civil damages awards totaling $540 million against Trump, including amounts owed to the New York State Attorney General. Despite these financial challenges brought by Trump defamation case, the former president is on track to become the Republican presidential nominee. READ NEXT: Donald Trump vs. E. Jean Carroll Federal Jury Orders Donal Trump to Pay $83 Million Following a federal jury's decision on Trump defamation case, the ex-POTUS is obligated to pay over $83 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll. The jury specified $18.3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $65 million in punitive damages. Although the jury ruled last year that Trump was not liable for rape, he was held responsible for sexual abuse and defamation, resulting in a $5 million payment. Judge Lewis Kaplan emphasized that Trump's current situation is a consequence of his own delays. The judge rejected Trump's request to pause the judgment until after ruling on post-trial motions, highlighting the former president's failure to organize his finances promptly, Fox News reports. Trump's legal team recently filed motions for a new trial, arguing that the court restricted his testimony during the previous trial and that his statements were aimed at defending his reputation, family, and presidency. The motion claims that limitations on Trump's testimony influenced the jury's verdict. The judge, Lewis Kaplan, pointed out that Trump failed to demonstrate potential expenses or circumstances relevant to the situation, questioning the former president's lack of action since the jury's decision on January 26. Challenges in Collecting the Judgment Legal experts suggest that Trump's urgent requests for protection are unusual, given that E. Jean Carroll would need several days to collect any funds, USA Today noted. Mitchell Epner, a former federal prosecutor, stated that Trump's financial troubles, including over $500 million in court judgments, create complexities in satisfying the substantial verdict. Donald Trump's request to post $100 million and block collection while appealing was denied by an appellate judge. With the $83.3 million judgment looming, E. Jean Carroll could begin collecting next week unless a court order or sufficient bond from Trump is secured. The full scope of Trump's finances remains unclear, with estimates ranging from $2.6 billion to $3.1 billion. However, the impending judgments pose significant challenges, as the ultra-wealthy often hold the majority of their assets in non-liquid forms. In summary, the judge's rejection of Trump's bid underscores the urgency for the former president to address substantial financial obligations. As the legal battles continue, the implications for Donald Trump's political future and financial stability remain uncertain. READ MORE: Elon Musk Says He Will Not Donate for Presidential Election This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Donald Trump Legal Team Requests New Trial in E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case- From Oneindia News Failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate and current US senatorial candidate Kari Lake has lost again, this time in the Arizona State Supreme Court over a lawsuit against her regarding the MAGA Republican's claims that the elections were stolen in the state. Lake requested the Arizona Supreme Court to toss out a defamation lawsuit filed against her by Stephen Richer, a Republican Maricopa County election official whom she targeted with her false claims that the election was stolen during the Arizona Gubernatorial race in 2022. Richer is suing her in a personal capacity after Lake repeatedly told her followers on social media that she was a victim of election "sabotage" and has repeatedly claimed that her fellow Republican's lawsuit against her was an "attempt to silence" her. Much like her ally, Donald Trump, Lake could be running for office while being on trial at the same time, with 2024 possibly becoming a contentious year for her as she currently trails her Democratic opponent, Ruben Gallego, in the polls. MSNBC noted that Lake has toned down her extremist rhetoric as of late as she tries to win over Arizona's more moderate Republicans, also known as the McCain Republicans, who turned on her and supported Democrat Katie Hobbs for Governor after she told them to get out of the party. However, her attempts to soften her tone, from trying to reconcile with late Senator John McCain's family to backpedaling on some of her earlier rhetoric, has gotten some intense criticism, mockery, and rebuke not just from Democrats but also fellow Republicans. Kari Lake Gloated After Nikki Haley Drops Out of Presidential Race While Also Trying to Win Over Her Supporters Kari Lake continued her divisive strategy, as she is also trying to win over the supporters of Nikki Haley, who recently dropped out of the presidential race after only winning Vermont during Super Tuesday. However, this endeavor might not be easy as she also recently mocked the former South Carolina governor for losing the race against Donald Trump. READ MORE: Arizona: Man Hired by Donald Trump and Kari Lake To Find Voter Fraud Admits He Found Nothing "I am actively trying to court all Republicans, whether they are, you know, MAGA Republicans, somewhere in the middle, or traditional Republicans," she told CNN. "I want everybody's vote." However, in that same interview, Lake, known for dividing her state's Republican Party over her rhetoric, blasted Haley, saying, "She's stayed in all this time and hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on really what has been a vanity project, and hearing today that she was going to suspend her campaign-and still not endorse President Trump-that's not unifying." Nikki Haley Shoots Back at Kari Lake by Channeling Meghan McCain After Lake gloated over Nikki Haley's loss while also trying to win over her supporters, the former US Ambassador to the UN shot back by repeating Meghan McCain's answer to Lake's attempt at reconciliation with her faction of the Arizona Republican Party. "No peace, b****!" wrote Haley communications chief Nachama Soloveichik as she replied to a tweet by Lake on trying to unify Republicans and getting Haley voters and McCain Republicans to support her too. READ MORE: Arizona: Kari Lake Loses Again as State Supreme Court Rejects Bid To Hear Election Lawsuit This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Kari Lake Finally ABANDONED By Republicans In Humiliation Of A Lifetime - The Damage Report In a grim turn of events, six individuals now face charges in connection with the untimely death of 16-year-old Preston Lord, who fell victim to a Halloween party attack in Arizona last year. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced the indictments on Wednesday. Charged with felony first-degree murder and kidnapping following the Arizona teen beating death are Dominic Turner, 20; Taylor Sherman, 19; William Hines, 18; and 17-year-olds Talan Renner, Jacob Meisner, and Talyn Vigil, according to Fox News. These charges mark the beginning of legal proceedings, as emphasized by Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice during a news conference. Initial appearance hearings for Hines, Sherman, and Turner took place in Maricopa County Superior Court. Meanwhile, Meisner, Renner, and Vigil faced charges in juvenile court but were treated as adults. Vigil was ordered into adult jail, Meisner was sent to a juvenile detention center where he had already faced other charges, and Renner was sent to juvenile detention. The charges against all six include first-degree murder and kidnapping of the Arizona teen, with Turner and Meisner also grappling with aggravated robbery accusations. On Thursday, Mitchell's office expanded the scope of charges, indicting Sherman and Meisner. Both now face first-degree murder charges, along with various other accusations. Hines, already detained for unrelated assault cases, adds a layer of complexity to the legal proceedings. The three juvenile defendants, Meisner, Renner, and Vigil, are being treated as adults in the eyes of the law, according to Mitchell's office. READ NEXT: Ex-Congressional Candidate Wanted for Murder Parents Speak Out: A Step Towards Justice In a statement issued by their lawyer, Nick Lord and Autumn Curiel, Preston Lord's parents, expressed that the arrests signify a crucial step towards accountability and justice for their son, Azcentral reports. The Arizona teen's tragic demise occurred during the Halloween party attack in Queen Creek on October 28, 2023. First responders found him on a roadway just before 9:50 PM, and despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries two days later. The brutal attack sent shockwaves through the community, sparking calls for heightened police action against teen violence. Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley remarked that, while work remains, the arrests in the Preston Lord homicide investigation are an essential step in the pursuit of justice. The Lord's family, she added, remains in her daily thoughts and prayers. Although the medical examiner ruled Preston Lord's death a homicide, the cause of death remains undisclosed. Community Gathers for Vigil A post on social media indicates that a vigil for the Arizona teen will take place at 194th Street and Via Del Rancho in the Queen Creek Ranchettes neighborhood at 5:30 PM. The community, grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event, seeks solace and unity in remembering the young life lost, ABC13 noted. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, along with Queen Creek police officials, held a news conference on Wednesday night, unveiling four indictments in connection to the Arizona teen beating death. A fifth individual appeared in court on Thursday morning, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office hints at the possibility of additional arrests and charges related to the fatal Halloween party attack in Arizona. READ MORE: 1 Dead Following Vape Shop Explosion in Michigan This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Those indicted in Preston Lord's death face judge for first time, new details released - From 12 News Pedro Otarola, the prime minister of Peru, once considered one of the country's most powerful men, has resigned after a leaked audio with a woman sparked a massive scandal that has rocked the already calamitous Peruvian political landscape. At a press conference, the prime minister told reporters that "in conversation with the president of the republic I have announced my decision to present my resignation." The 57-year-old politician is a veteran of Peru's political scene. Aside from being the prime minister, Otarola also acted as the chief of staff to President Dina Boluarte. However, when his scandal erupted last week, it was also Boluarte who ordered him to go back home to Peru while he was in the middle of an official trip to Canada. She also asked him to resign shortly after the scandal broke. When the scandal broke, Otarola denied that he violated Peruvian labor laws when the recording of his conversation with a woman named Yazire Pinedo, 25, was aired by a Peruvian TV program titled "Panorama," per France 24. Otarola, a married man with five children, is said to have used his influence to have Pinedo land two lucrative government contracts this year worth a total of $14,000. She was tasked to archive and do administrative work for the government. However, the audio also outed her as his mistress. In one of the leaked audios, he can be heard telling her, "Tell me, then, my love, so we can talk. You know these things are annoying, they are a pain, but you also know that I love you." Peru President Helped Pressure Pedro Otarola to Resign as Prime Minister of Peru Different sources have confirmed to various news agencies that Peru President Dina Boluarte has asked her prime minister to step down shortly after the scandal broke out. READ NEXT: Peru: Former Intelligence Chief to Dictator Alberto Fujimori Gets 19-Year Prison Sentence Over Deaths of Farmers El Pais noted that Alberto Otarola once stated that he was taught that "a self-respecting minister should always carry a letter of resignation in their pocket in case the president withdraws their support," with his resignation coming after the president asked him to step down. However, there is more to the scandal than just the now-resigned prime minister using his influence to grant the woman accused of being his mistress a key government contract. It was also revealed that he was using government funds to possibly harass her. In one of the leaked audio recordings, Pinedo complained that the then-PM used state resources to follow her, saying, "He wanted to see who I went out with, who I arrived with. That's why he wanted me to work with him so much." Resigned Prime Minister Pedro Otarola Claims There Is a Conspiracy Against Him In his resignation speech, Otarola doubled down that he did nothing wrong, claiming, "Those who have always wanted me out of the government... have not even hesitated to edit an audio with the veiled purpose of tarnishing my image." Meanwhile, the woman in the leaked audio recordings, Pinedo, claimed that the scandal is a plot orchestrated by the president's brother, Nicanor Boluarte, claiming that he offered her $200,000 for the audio. Pinedo previously admitted to having a "brief relationship" with the then-PM, according to the BBC. READ MORE: Peru: Stealing Cell Phones Might Land You Life in Prison This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Peru: Scandal-Hit PM Alberto Otarola Resigns Over Influence-Peddling Claims | Firstpost America Lower Saucon Township is in search of new administrative leadership, after Mark Hudson announced his resignation as township manager. The loss of Hudson comes amid a contentious start to 2024 among township elected officials. The five-member township council is on its third legal adviser since the end of 2023, and its meetings have featured partisan infighting between the new Democratic majority and two Republicans. Hudson said his last day will be March 28. He declined to comment on why hes leaving or where hes headed. The position is budgeted with a salary of $138,340 this year. The council on Wednesday accepted Hudsons resignation, which President Priscilla deLeon said Hudson had announced in a letter Friday, March 1. Council members also agreed to hire Keystone Municipal Solutions LLC for recruitment services to find Hudsons successor, under a contract worth $10,500. deLeon said she had called the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors about Hudson leaving, and received a recommendation to hire Keystone. Councilman Jason Banonis, in the political minority on council, called the hiring another knee-jerk reaction and a waste of taxpayer money. Councilwoman Laura Ray advocated for the third-party search companys assistance, countering that with a hostile environment and rudeness, the managers role may be difficult to fill. Township Assistant Manager Cathy Gorman will fill in for Hudson until a successor is hired, officials said. The council hired Hudson in July 2022, after prior township Manager Leslie Huhn had resigned the prior February. Township officials on Wednesday offered thanks for Hudsons service, sorrow to see him go, and well wishes for his future endeavors and for his family. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Four people are being charged for participating in a six-person baccarat scam that cheated the Wind Creek Bethlehem casino out of $300,000, according to police. Illinois residents Zu Lin, Yuhan Hu, Liping Zhou and Zhencan Chen were part of the six-person team that perpetrated the scam early Wednesday morning, according to court documents. They were detained and questioned at the Wind Creek Gaming Office around 7 a.m. after the two other members of the group Fuxiang Liu and ringleader Qingyong Zhang departed the hotel with a rolling suitcase, police said. The scheme began at 3:52 a.m. on Wednesday, according to police, as the six men sat down at a baccarat table that Zhang had reserved on the Wind Creek casino floor. Using both body and card positioning while the deck was being cut, Zhang recorded the order of the cards by thumbing card corners and using his cell phone in his front-left pocket. Not long after the group sat at the table, Zhang and Hu went to their individual hotel rooms, met at Hus room, then made their way back to the gaming table to play cards. Around 5:10 a.m., Zhang signaled to the other players to start increasing their bets. Over the next half hour, according to police, the players continue to increase their bets at Zhangs signal. The full table won bets on six hands, police said. All of them left the table at 5:47 a.m., police said. Zhang returned to his hotel room while the other five played different games around the casino, police said. Zhang and Liu left the casino while the other four were detained, police said. Hu told police Zhang paid him $5,000 to participate in the scheme, while all the money won at the table went to Zhang. During the investigation, police learned that Hu and Zhou were involved in similar gambling rings in Illinois and Missouri, respectively. The four that were arrested were hit with a felony corrupt organizations charge. Lin, Hu and Chen posted the $100,000 bail, but Zhou could not and is currently being held in Northampton County Prison. Lins lawyer has not responded to a request for comment. Chen, 33; Zhou, 51; and Hu, 28; are each from Chicago. Lin, 37 is from Mount Vernon, Illinois. Liu is 50 years old. Zhang is 38. Their addresses are not listed in court records. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. A National Transportation Safety Board expert leading the investigation into how three trains collided and two derailed last weekend along the Lehigh River has shed new light on what happened moments before the impact. Ruben Payan, the federal agencys lead investigator, spoke Wednesday evening before the Lower Saucon Township Council. Payans team has been investigating the incident since it happened about 7:15 a.m. Saturday near the 2200 block of Riverside Drive in Lower Saucon across from the Nagys Landing Trailhead, just off Wilson Avenue in Bethlehem Township. A preliminary investigation by the board showed it happened when an eastbound train struck another eastbound train stopped on the same track. An oncoming westbound train then collided with the wreckage that had careened onto the adjacent track, board officials had said. That collision eventually forced multiple cars to leave the track. Cars on Saturday were viewed strewn across the southern bank of the Lehigh River. Parts of locomotives also could be seen in or immediately adjacent to the river. 1 of 6Train derailment 04.JPG People look on from across the Lehigh River as cleanup continues Tuesday, March 5, 2024, after the Norfolk Southern Railway derailment Saturday morning. Three trains collided and two derailed around the 2200 block of Riverside Drive in Lower Saucon.Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com Payan described the first train involved as having stopped at a red traffic signal. It was then rear-ended by an intermodal freight train. That impact caused three intermodal cars to derail into the adjacent track. The collision between the westbound train and derailed cars happened less than a minute later, Payan said. That section of Norfolk Southern Corp. freight railway typically has trains running 30 to 40 mph, Payan said. The result was a total of six cars derailing, with two lead locomotives send down the riverbank, Payan said. Three of the six derailed cars on the westbound train track had empty loads, but were carrying ethanol and butane residue. The tank cars were not breached and board members did not find evidence of any hazardous material commodity release, Payan told council. Cars then dumped an estimated 50 gallons of diesel into the Lehigh River, Connor Spielmaker, senior communications manager for Norfolk Southern, confirmed to lehighvalleylive.com earlier this week. Responders set up absorbent booms to collect it. The booms were expected to remain onsite until any residual sheen is gone, Spielmaker had said. A Norfolk Southern train derailed around the 2200 block of Riverside Drive on Saturday morning. Train cars are spread along the bank of the Lehigh River.Mike Nester | For Lehighvalleylive.com Additionally, a minimal amount of polypropylene plastic pellets from one car spilled, Lower Saucon Police Chief Thomas Barndt had said. There were no evacuations or hazardous material threat to the community, the police chief had said. No injuries were reported. Some operators had to be assisted from the wreckage up to Riverside Drive via ropes, Barndt had said. To date, Payan said the NTSB has gathered data from locomotive event recorders and downloaded data from wayside signals. Investigators have obtained downloads from the inward and outward facing image recorders on all three trains to send back to the boards headquarters in Washington, D.C., for further analysis, he said. Additionally, investigators have examined the derailed cars and other train equipment and conducted interviews with crew members. Lower Saucon Councilman Jason Banonis questioned Payan about claims on social media by both council members and the public that the incident may have been caused by a softening of the rail bed due to water runoff. Payan didnt believe that to be correct. Preliminary information indicates that the track was not involved, were still looking at all the other factors, he said. But (the) track, we have not found any issues to further investigate in that area. A township resident asked Payan during Wednesdays meeting whether trains have sensors to help them avoid such collisions. He replied trains operate using what is known as Positive Train Control, a system that monitors the location of every train and is supposed to enforce a safety buffer to maintain train separation. Payan noted the system works with signals, but when trains are at a speed under the system threshold, the system no longer maintains train separations. The National Transportation Safety Boards next update is expected to follow in 15 to 20 days. That will include a preliminary report, containing information gathered during the initial phase of the investigation. A final report, however, isnt expected for one to two years, a board spokesman had said. However, Payan stressed if issues need to be addressed, his team can make recommendations before the final report is released. Spielmaker said the site was released by the board back to Norfolk Southern on Sunday evening. By Tuesday morning, trains began rolling again along the Norfolk Southern line but at reduced speeds to help settle the newly repaired tracks. Saturdays incident continues to remain under investigation by the NTSB. When its complete, the board plans to present its findings to the U.S. Congress. Pictured is the cleanup effort by crews from Norfolk Southern Railway Sunday, March 3, 2024. Three trains collided and two derailed around the 2200 block of Riverside Drive on Saturday morning, March 2, 2024 in Lower Saucon.Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. It appears that American journalists no longer know the difference between a story and actual news. Joe Biden is 81-years-old that isnt news, but the mainstream media keeps trying to turn it into a story. We found out that Alexander Smirnov, the main witness in the House investigation of the president, has ties to Russian Intelligence operatives. The House investigation is headed up by James Comer and Jim Jordan. Senator Chuck Grassley took the accusations public, posting a report that was supposed to be confidential, on his website. Now, I may be old-fashioned but I consider elected officials in Congress launching an investigation of the president based on information from a Russian spy to be a front-page story. Editors at The Express-Times dont seem to agree as they printed the article on page six. A Laois student from a rural national school near Mountrath is officially the best speller in the whole county. Eason has announced avid book reader Evelyn Delaney as the 2024 winner of the County Laois Eason Spelling Bee Final. Following a tense competition in which she faced nine fellow spelling aficionados, Evelyn triumphed in the Laois final. Evelyn who attends the three classroom Paddock National School, will now represent Laois in the Provincial Spelling Bee in May. Evelyn loves to read, and is currently reading The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by Irish author John Boyne. Her school is thrilled for her. "Huge congratulations to Evelyn Delaney, our Spelling Bee Champion!!!! Evelyn had a great win in the Laois competition today and will go to the Leinster competition in Dublin on May 14th. Everyone in Paddock N.S is so proud of you Evelyn," they said. Celebrating its 11th year, the Eason Spelling Bee is part of an overall literacy and reading drive to encourage and inspire children to develop their spelling and pronunciation skills. Over the years the competition has helped school children gain a greater appreciation of words and fosters vocabulary growth and self-confidence for children. Group Head of Marketing at Eason is Brendan Corbett. We are thrilled to be kicking off the 2024 Eason Spelling Bee with such accomplished children taking part in County Laois - they are a great testament to the talent of the children of Ireland. I am certain that this year we will be successful in building on 2023s triumph and inspire everyone to support their local schools, and especially, their bees! The All-Ireland winning bee will get a selection of books for their school library valued at 7,500, in addition to the coveted title of Eason Spelling Bee 2024 Champion. The winner themselves will also receive a goodie bag packed of books worth 500. This year, over 525 schools nationwide will compete against each other in a bid to win the prestigious prize. The Eason Spelling Bee team will be travelling around the country to host County Final Bees, and then progressing to a Provincial Bee contest. The champions from these will then go head-to-head in the All-Ireland Final Bee, taking place in June 2024, with the lucky winner being crowned King or Queen Bee. Keep up to date with all the 2024 Spelling Bee buzz on www.easons.com/spellingbee and @easons #EasonSpellingBee. Changes have been made to the plan to reopen Mountrath Mart for strategic and facility reasons, according to the Mart Co-op Chairperson. A calf sale was due to have been held on March 6 as part of a phased reopening of the Mart which shut in 2019 due to high running costs. However, the Mountrath Mart Co-Op committee decided not to proceed with this approach and cancelled the calf sale. Ken Holmes, Co-op Committee Chairman, told the Leinster Express / Laois Live it was not possible to proceed for practical reasons. However, he said the committee had taken on board farmer views expressed about the phased opening at a well-attened public meeting last month. He said further investigation of the buildings revealed that extra upgrades and repairs were required than had been thought before it could be used. He said extensive rewiring is needed while other repairs are required such as replacing or fixing the sales screens. MORE BELOW PICTURE. The mart is located on a big site on the Rushin Road. While work is underway on the various internal works, Mr Holmes said it will take time due to the availability of tradespeople to do the work. He added that the budget is also very tight to complete the work needed. He added, however, that work has been carried out to the exterior of the building. While the overhaul of facilities is one of the reasons for the delay, Mr Holmes said the change of plan reflects the views of Co-op members, farmers and other stakeholders about how it should reopen. MORE BELOW PICTURE. Meeting held in Mountrath in February. Pic: Leinster Express / Laois Live Several speakers at a public meeting held at Bloom HQ in early February has reservations about the initial plan. They said that if the mart is to succeed as a going concern it should reopen with a full sale of cattle with regular full sales thereafter. Mr Holmes said that the committee had listened to this view and decided to proceed on that basis. He said the committee is now working towards a July reopening date and sales would take place fortnightly after opening. He added that no sheep sales are scheduled. The Chairman also confirmed that the Committee is due to meet Enterprise Ireland this month to begin work on a plan for the future. Mr Holmes also said a full progress report would be delivered to a meeting of shareholders where proposals may also be made to seek approval from co-op members on sourcing finance externally and / or from members themselves. He said support was committed after the public meeting in Bloom HQ in February. The Chairman concluded by renewing an appeal to people to assist the committee in reopening the Mart as a going concern. He said they could contact him or any committee member. He added that he was grateful for all the support given to date some of which has not incurred a cost. The use of land around the mart will also have to be decided by members. The Mart closed in early 2019 after more than 50 years of trading. The then committee decided to close due to weekly losses of 1,500 and a 90,000 annual insurance premium. However, no debts were left. The committee believed that curtailing losses by closure would mean the mart could reopen at a future date. Having never missed a vote in her adult life, 102 year old Mollie Ryan returned to her local polling station in Laois to cast her ballot in the referendum today. Mollie, who turns 103 next week, was accompanied by her grandson Peter, who himself was brought to vote for the first time by Mollie a number of years ago. Her daughter Mary described her as a passionate voter and who would never reveal what way she voted. Mary was pleased that the voting coincided with International Women's Day given that women had to fight for the vote in the past. The eldest in a family of five sisters from Kilmartin near Borris-in-Ossory on the Laois Tipperary border, Mollie believes in doing what is right and exercising her civic duty by using her vote, Mary explained. She said her mother, who was born on March 14, 1921, reads the papers and keeps abreast of what is going on in the world. She reads the Leinster Express and the Tipperary Star and the Midland Tribune, said Mary. She revealed her mother also gets the Irish Independent every morning. Aside from reading, Mollie also enjoys music and in particular the Clancy brothers and other Irish music, Scottish music and ballads. She loves a cup of tea and has maintained a strong faith throughout her life. She is a very private person and her faith is important to her and it keeps her going, Mary said. Mollie gets mass twice a day using the internet to watch the service in Roscrea and then again on television. A mother to five children, Mollie has 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She was a dressmaker all her life and she still keeps a keen eye on fashion, Mary said. Mary explained that she had a particular interest in the ties worn by newsreaders and the cut of their suits. True to form, the inspirational great-grandmother who had braved the elements to cast her ballot on International Womens Day remained tight-lipped about what way she was voting in the referendum. Planning permission has been granted to a Laois village committee to build a brand new community hall, four years after a previous application was refused. Laois County Council has given the green light to Clough Community Vision Committee, to construct a single storey community recreational building. The village's current community hall operates as a creche. A new building on a greenfield site beside the school, is to have a main multi-purpose hall space, meeting rooms, kitchen and tea room, with service spaces, a new waste water treatment system and associated site works. The project was approved following the request and supply of further information to the application, first made in April 2023. The community is trying to raise money to build the hall. Last year they held a draw for a 100,000 new John Deere Tractor, famously won by a dog from Limerick. A Gofundme page is also operating to take donations. It is on the land of Canice Hyland who gave permission for the development, with the land already zoned as Community / Educational / Institutional. The committee noted in their application that the previous plan was refused solely on the grounds that a wastewater treatment plant in nearby Limekiln estate was not capable of taking the hall's waste. "It is anticipated that it will be used by many and several local groups. The kitchen is located to serve directly the hall with refreshments, after a funeral for example, or to serve the tea rooms in the case of an elderly citizens' afternoon get-together. "The proximity to the National School will also allow for its use in the instance of a Christmas play or similar activity," they say. They also note that the Community Development Plan carried out in 2020 identified a "clear need" for such a building. It is to be built set back from the road, to allow for a new footpath linking the school to the GAA pitch and church, with 28 off-street parking spaces and 24 bike parking spaces. The road is to be widened, streetlights to be installed, and solar panels are to be added to the building, following requests by the council. The planning approval was granted on March 7, 2024. Laois woman and lung cancer patient Samantha Vaughan from Borris-in-Ossory is calling on her local community to go all in against cancer for the Irish Cancer Societys Daffodil Day, which takes place on Friday, 22 March. In September 2023, 48-year-old Samantha Vaughan was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, an aggressive form of non-small cell lung cancer. Samantha spoke about her illness and why help she has received in Laois at a Portlaoise service motivated her to back Daffodil Day. I am a busy mum, I always like to be out and about and busy, I find no longer being able to do that, very difficult. My recovery will take months not weeks. I decided to reach out my local cancer support centre, the Cuisle Centre in Portlaoise, which receives funding from the Irish Cancer Society. I have found the support services available, really helpful. At first, I thought I wouldnt need these services, but I have actually found them invaluable. Especially meeting other people who are going through the same as myself and understand. I would say to others, always follow your instincts. My gut was telling me that something wasnt right in my body. Sometimes you have to push for further testing, you know your own body best. I would really encourage everyone to please get out there on Daffodil Day, March 22nd, and show your support for those affected by cancer in your local community, she said. MORE BELOW PICTURE. Launching Daffodil Day 2024 were l-r: Brendan Courtney, Christine Ryan, Sorcha Hartnett, Claire Hartnett, Elaine Delaney, Isabella OSullivan and Mary Donoher from Mountmellick with Averil Power. The Irish Cancer Society says it exists to ensure that every person affected by cancer has a place to turn to, the support they need and the hope that there will come a day when no one in Ireland dies from cancer. Thanks to the amazing generosity of the Irish public the Society says it invests in cancer research and delivers crucial free support services for people affected by cancer, throughout Laois. The Society says it was able to give the following support in Laois last year thanks to donations received: Over 340 free lifts to bring Laois based cancer patients to their treatment Over 410 free counselling sessions to people living in Laois; Almost 230 nights of free Night Nursing care to allow cancer patients in Laois to die at home surrounded by loved ones. Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power said: Unfortunately, 1 in 2 of us will get cancer at some point in our lives. There isnt a family in Ireland that hasnt been touched by the disease. When Daffodil Day first began in 1986, just 3/10 Irish people survived a cancer diagnosis. Today, thanks to investment in innovative cancer research, that has doubled to 6/10 people in Ireland surviving cancer. And we at the Irish Cancer Society wont stop until 10/10 people survive a cancer diagnosis. But we cannot do that without your support on Daffodil Day. The more we raise on Daffodil Day, the more we can do, and the more lifesaving research we can fund. We only receive 5% of our income from the government, so were urging everyone in Laois to Go All In this Daffodil Day 22nd March to help us achieve a future where nobody dies from cancer in Ireland, and everyone affected by the disease has the support they need when they need it most. For more information about Daffodil Day visit https://www.cancer.ie/daffodilday For more information or to speak an Irish Cancer Society representative, please contact communications@irishcancer.ie | 087 645 3867. Anyone with concerns or questions about cancer can contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on Freephone 1800 200 700 and supportLine@IrishCancer.ie MORE ON HOW TO SUPPORT DAFFODIL DAY BELOW PICTURE. Launching Daffodil Day were l-r: Brendan Courtney, Bernie Phelan, Liam Phelan, Anne OKeefe and Teresa Mortimer from Mountrath, Laois and Averil Power, Irish Cancer Society CEO. Ways to support Daffodil Day A County Kildare resident appeared before Naas District Court on Thursday, March 7 last. Damian Szatowski, with an address listed as Ashfield, Suncroft in County Kildare, but who is currently remanded in custody, was charged with road traffic and drug offences. Gardai told Judge Desmond Zaidan that on November 19, 2022, the 37-year-old was caught with an estimated 890 of suspected cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply at Suncroft. This alleged offence would be in contravention of Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977. His defending solicitor, David Powderly, told the court that Mr Szatowski pleaded guilty to the Section 15 allegation. Mr Szatowski also faces a separate allegation of driving with no licence and no insurance on Eyre Street in Newbridge. Gardai alleged this offence took place on January 29, 2023. Judge Zaidan accepted jurisdiction over the two cases and adjourned them to July 18 for hearing on all matters. He also made a disclosure order for the defence. A former long-serving member of the Irish Defence Forces has been jailed for sexually assaulting his young sister in the mid-1980s and for assault causing harm to his former partner last year. Derek Delaney (60) retired from the army last summer after 43 years of service, including five tours of duty to the Lebanon. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to the indecent assault of his sister on a date unknown between October 1982 and December 1988 at an address on Bunratty Road, Coolock, Dublin 17. Delaney was in his early twenties at the time, and his sister, 11 years his junior, was between nine and eleven. Delaneys sister, Ms Jackie Gardiner, has waived her anonymity in order to allow her brother be named. Delaney, of Montpelier Hill, Dublin 7, further admitted assault causing harm to his former partner on July 2 last at Common Manor, Seatown Road, Swords. In a ruling yesterday (Thursday, March 7 last) at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Delaney to twenty months in prison for indecent assault and to a concurrent sentence of 15 months for assault causing harm. Judge Nolan said Delaney had taken advantage of his sister in what was, for her, a very frightening incident that has marred her life from that date. The judge set a headline sentence of two to four years but reduced it based on mitigating factors, including Delaneys long history of work and service to the State. The court heard that Ms Gardiner first reported the indecent assault to the gardai in August 2022, as she wanted to wait until after the death of her father, to whom she was very close. In a victim impact statement read on her behalf, Ms Gardiner said she was glad that justice had been done, adding: "Its a weight off me." Ms Gardiner said her brother had destroyed her life. "I was called a liar by my family for many years. I got threats. I was told I destroyed the family he destroyed the family," she said. Ms Gardiner said that after she was sexually assaulted by her brother, she tried to 'block it out' for many years, but that it was always there and caused her to suffer with her mental health. It always set me back. It made me nervous around men if I didnt know them, she said. When she was 19, Ms Gardiners friend suffered a similar experience, which triggered her own memories of being abused. In her statement to the court, she detailed how she tried a number of times to take her own life, including overdosing and trying to hang herself in the bathroom. Ms Gardiner said she remembers ringing Delaney in 2011 and telling him: "Youll never get away with what youve done. Youve destroyed me." Detective Garda Michael McCabe told George Burns BL, prosecuting, that Ms Gardiner went to gardai to lodge a complaint in August 2022. She said that she was nine years old and her brother was 11 years older than her when she was sexually assaulted in an upstairs bedroom of the family home. Ms Gardiner said she couldnt recall the exact details and had blocked it out, but that her brother had asked her to go to the bed, and she went. She said he was rubbing on her, and she experienced pain in her genitals. Delaney was arrested in February last year and gave a detailed account of what had happened when he returned from his first tour of duty in Lebanon in 1985. He told gardai he thought he was on top of his sister moving up and down, but that, as far as he remembered, he never had sexual intercourse with her. Delaney has one previous conviction, also for indecent assault, dating back to February 7, 1985. The court heard that Delaney was due to get married to his partner of 17 years when he assaulted her after a night out on July 2 last year. The court heard that the woman went to Swords Garda Station and reported that she had been headbutted twice and knocked unconscious by Delaney after an argument. Gardai noticed a large bruise on her forehead, the court heard. Delaney was arrested shortly after 2am but deemed unfit for questioning due to intoxication. He said the reason for the argument was 'jealousy', adding: "I dont be happy when she talks to fellas and vice versa." He admitted headbutting her on the forehead but said it wasnt full force and denied that he had knocked her unconscious. "She wasnt out cold. I know her; she acts it up," he said but agreed that she had been afraid of him. The woman submitted a victim impact report, which was not read aloud, and the court heard the couple broke up after this offence. Delaney has two daughters and a stepson with the woman. The prosecuting garda agreed with counsel for the defence that Delaney was drinking heavily at the time and under stress due to the allegations that had been made by his sister. Maurice Coffey SC, defending, noted the brevity of Ms Gardiners evidence and said Delaney had filled in a lot of the details. He said Delaney was left incredibly bereft after his relationship ended with the woman whom he described as 'the love of my life.' Mr Coffey said his client got his first job working a paper round at the age of seven and then worked continually until his retirement from the army last summer. Delaney joined the army in 1981 and went on his first trip to the Lebanon in 1982. The court heard that Delaney was only in Lebanon a matter of hours when three of his colleagues were shot dead by another Irish soldier at a checkpoint near the Israeli border on October 27, 1982. Mr Coffey said Delaney was one of the first on the scene of the murders and that it had been traumatic for him. The court heard that Delaney was also briefly taken hostage while in the Lebanon, and suffered from PTSD. Counsel said that Delaney did not come to garda attention for 40 years and suffered a heart attack in 2018. Delaney has numerous health problems, the court heard, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. He is also being investigated in Beaumont Hospital in relation to Parkinsons Disease. The court heard Delaney apologised to gardai for indecently assaulting his sister and for assaulting his former partner and was embarrassed and ashamed about both offences. Mr Coffey said the indecent assault was a 'gross breach of trust' of his sister but pointed out that there was no allegation of violence or threats. Voting is underway at polling stations across the country on the constitutional referendums on Family and Care. Almost 3.5 million people - Irish citizens living in the State - are eligible to vote between now and 10pm this Friday. Upon their arrival at polling stations, voters will be given a white ballot paper for the Family Amendment and a green one for the Care amendment. Trends regarding turnout will begin to emerge by lunchtime this Friday. While it is not necessary for voters to bring their polling cards with them, a valid form of photo ID is necessary, such as a passport or driving license. After the polls close at 10pm, the sealed ballot boxes will be brought to local count centres across the country with the counting of votes beginning at 9am on Saturday. While there will be local declarations for each of the existing Dail constituencies, the national results will be announced at Dublin Castle early on Saturday evening. Kane Biotech Receives Bioscience Association Manitoba Company of the Year Award WINNIPEG, Manitoba, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kane Biotech Inc. (TSX-V:KNE OTCQB:KNBIF) (the "Company" or "Kane Biotech" or "Kane") announces that at the Bioscience Association of Manitoba ("BAM") annual awards dinner held on March 7, 2024, Kane Biotech received the BAM Company of the Year award. Marc Edwards, President & CEO, accepted the award on behalf of the Company. "We're very honoured to be the recipient of this prestigious award. BAM has done a tremendous job of facilitating the growth of the Manitoba Bioscience sector over the years and it is great to be recognized in this manner," said Mr. Edwards. "I would like to sincerely thank our talented and hard-working team for their ongoing dedication to the development and commercialization of technologies that resolve the biofilm problem and improve quality of life." The Bioscience Company of the Year award acknowledges a private sector company based in Manitoba that has distinguished itself in the past year through demonstrated leadership, significant achievement and paving the road toward future wealth and job creation in the region. Some of the specific criteria for company selection included the potential to contribute to the Manitoba economy through jobs, revenues and industry development, sustainable product and development practices, sustained growth and having achieved important milestones. Kane was selected as the recipient of the award based on citing the following accomplishments in 2023: received FDA 510(k) clearance of its coactiv+tm Antimicrobial Wound Gel in the United States and launched its rebranding to revyvetm Antimicrobial Wound Gel signed an exclusive distribution agreement with ProgenaCare Global LLC for its revyvetm Antimicrobial Wound Gel in the United States signed a distribution agreement with Salud Pharma S.A. for its revyvetm Antimicrobial Wound Gel and DermaKBtm scalp care products in Columbia, Panama and Costa Rica signed a licensing agreement with Skout's Honor Pet Supply Company for its coactiv+tm technology in pet oral care applications in North America signed a non-binding offer for the sale of its interest in its STEM Animal Health subsidiary closed three bridge financing arrangements and one private placement at the time of the award submission, reported a 2023 increase in product and services revenues of 32% over 2022 "Kane's achievements in 2023 are a prime example of what is possible in Manitoba's Bioscience Sector. The opportunities in Manitoba are vast. Kane's innovative products will help transform how we heal our bodies. BAM is proud to support the Bioscience Sector as the Industry Association that represents the biotechnology and innovations that will help us continue to heal, feed and fuel our world while addressing global challenges like climate change," notes BAM's President, Andrea Ladouceur. The following link includes a video about Kane Biotech that was produced by BAM and presented at the Awards dinner: https://kanebiotech.com/#videos About Kane Biotech Kane Biotech is a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of technologies and products that prevent and remove microbial biofilms. The Company has a portfolio of biotechnologies, intellectual property (67 patents and patents pending, trade secrets and trademarks) and products developed by the Company's own biofilm research expertise and acquired from leading research institutions. StrixNBtm, DispersinB, Aledextm, bluestemtm, bluestem, silkstemtm, goldstemtm, coactiv+tm, coactiv+, DermaKBtm, DermaKB Biofilmtm and revyvetm are trademarks of Kane Biotech Inc. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "KNE" and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "KNBIF". About Bioscience Association Manitoba Bioscience Association Manitoba (BAM) is a not-for-profit industry association that enables commercial success for Manitoba's bioscience companies by acting as a catalyst for innovation, expanding the sector's skills and workforce development, and leading with one unified voice to create local and global engagement. For more information: Marc Edwards Ray Dupuis Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer Kane Biotech Inc. Kane Biotech Inc. [email protected] [email protected] Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains certain statements regarding Kane Biotech Inc. that constitute forward-looking information under applicable securities law. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the Company's: (a) financial condition, including lack of significant revenues to date and reliance on equity and other financing; (b) business, including its early stage of development, government regulation, market acceptance for its products, rapid technological change and dependence on key personnel; (c) intellectual property including the ability of the Company to protect its intellectual property and dependence on its strategic partners; and (d) capital structure, including its lack of dividends on its common shares, volatility of the market price of its common shares and public company costs. Further information about these and other risks and uncertainties can be found in the disclosure documents filed by the Company with applicable securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. 8 march 2024 at 09:00 News published onand distributed by: Wellysis and Artella Solutions Launch Innovative Remote Cardiac Monitoring Service in the US. SEOUL, South Korea, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wellysis, a digital healthcare company spun off from Samsung, has announced the launch of remote cardiac monitoring service in the US in partnership with Artella Solutions (ARTELLA). This collaboration builds on its FDA-cleared S-Patch electrocardiogram monitoring solution, now featuring the newly FDA-cleared S-Patch ExL device. The ExL model allows for extended testing periods of about 14 days on a single coin battery and received FDA clearance in early February. With this milestone, Wellysis can now expand its reach in the Extended Holter service and Mobile Cardiac Telemetry (MCT) service. Wellysis is introducing its S-Patch ExL solution to US patients thorough a partnership with ARTELLA, headquartered in Houston, Texas. ARTELLA provides comprehensive remote cardiac monitoring solution across 10 states. By teaming up, Wellysis and ARTELLA aim to deliver an unparalleled end-to-end cardiac monitoring service, commencing in Texas. The newly launched program includes bundling of Samsung smartphones and smartwatches, seamlessly integrating with the S-Patch ExL device. Wellysis CEO Young Juhn expressed excitement about this milestone collaboration, stating, "We are thrilled to partner with ARTELLA for our remote cardiac monitoring service in the US, introducing this end-to-end solution using S-Patch to US patients. This collaboration signifies the beginning of an exciting journey, with plans to integrate AI algorithms soon." Sepand Moshiri, Co-Founder and CEO of ARTELLA, commented, "This organic journey has led to a dynamic partnership with Wellysis, combining forces to redefine the future of patient care. Together, we are at the forefront of cardiac monitoring innovation, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and virtual real-time monitoring." The groundbreaking collaboration will be unveiled at the upcoming American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting in April. In addition to this launch, Wellysis is actively working on obtaining FDA clearance for its AI algorithms, further cementing its commitment to innovation and advancing patient care. About Artella Solutions Inc. Artella Solutions Inc. is a forward-thinking digital health care company monitoring patients' heart rhythms and assisting physicians' paths from care to cure using the latest patch technology and artificial intelligence to detect and capture abnormal changes in heart rhythms. The company provides health care providers with one system that meets their real-time diagnostic data needs for immediate viewing while advancing the well-being of their patients with heart rhythm disorders to ensure best clinical outcomes and economic benefits. To learn more, visit artellainc.com About Wellysis Wellysis is a digital healthcare company dedicated to revolutionizing patient care through innovative ECG monitoring solutions. The company was founded in 2019 as a spin-off from Samsung SDS's Digital Health division by a team of experts with extensive experience in the healthcare field. Its flagship product, S-Patch, is a user-friendly, wearable ECG monitor that provides real-time data and advanced analysis, empowering clinicians and patients alike. The company has successfully expanded its business to overseas markets, with over 790 hospitals and clinics using the product worldwide. SOURCE Wellysis 8 march 2024 at 09:00 News published onand distributed by: There were 67 votes in favor, 23 against, and 3 abstentions to sanction Tello de Necco over constitutional violation of article 156 (section 3). It must be noted that at least 67 votes were required for the disqualification to pass. On the other hand, Parliament did not approve disqualifying JNJ members Imelda Tumialan Pinto, Antonio de la Haza, Jose Avila Herrera, Guillermo Thornberry Villaran, and Maria Zavala Valladares from public service for 10 years. At said session, the votes to disqualify magistrate Imelda Tumialan from the National Justice Board were not enough. A total of 52 Congress members voted in favor, 30 against, and 3 abstained. Similarly, the votes were not reached to approve the draft legislative resolution that recommended disqualifying JNJ Chairman Antonio Humberto de la Haza Barrantes from public duties for 10 years. Only 52 votes in favor, 31 votes against, and 8 abstentions were registered on the occasion. The draft legislative resolution that proposed disqualifying Jose Avila who resigned from office on February 20 was also put to the vote; however, it did not obtain the required votes. Reconsideration Initially, the resolution against JNJ Vice Chairman Aldo Vasquez had received 65 votes in favor, 24 against, and 3 abstentions. For this reason, he had not been disqualified. However, a reconsideration was submitted by a group of legislators. Thus, 67 votes were obtained in favor, which led to approving the disqualification. Vasquez Rios was accused of violation of the Constitution's Articles 156, paragraph 3; and 139, paragraph 3. Similarly, a reconsideration was presented to the vote on the draft legislative resolution that proposed disqualifying Imelda Julia Tumialan Pinto from all public functions for 10 years. However, the file was shelved once there were 50 votes in favor, 33 against, and 1 abstention. After voting on the reconsiderations, the plenary session continued with the vote on the draft resolution that proposed disqualifying JNJ member Guillermo Thornberry Villaran from holding public office for 10 years. The sanction proposal obtained 46 votes in favor, 31 against, and 10 abstentions. Thus, it was not approved. Lastly, legislators voted on the draft resolution that recommended sanctioning JNJ magistrate Maria Zavala Valladares with a 10-year disqualification from the exercise of public duties. At the event, there were 51 votes in favor, 32 against, and 3 abstentions. Following this vote, the plenary session was adjourned until March 11. UN and U.S. Senate (END) RMCH/MVB During a plenary session on Thursday, Parliament approved disqualifying National Justice Board (JNJ) magistrates Luz Ines Tello de Necco and Aldo Vasquez Rios from public service for one decade.Publicado: 8/3/2024 Meena Beyers of Nicor Gas to Speak at SXSW 2024 Energy Industry Veteran Innovator Talks Climate Innovation AUSTIN, Texas, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nicor Gas announced today that Meena Beyers, vice president of Community and Business Development for Nicor Gas, will be a featured speaker at the SXSW session entitled, "Solving for the Climate Crisis: One Startup at a Time." The session will discuss innovative ways of addressing climate change. Beyers' session, part of SXSW x Midwest House's Chicago Day, will take place on March 9, 2024, from 3-4pm CT at Half Step Bar at 75-1/2 Rainey Street in Austin, TX. Registration is free, but required for entry. "Nicor Gas is at the forefront of facilitating innovative conversations and relationships between technology and business leaders to combat climate change," said Beyers. "The utility has been an industry leader in innovation around sustainable dual fuel solutions." Beyers heads up a number of innovation initiatives at Nicor Gas including the development of the nation's first-ever net zero affordable Smart Neighborhoodstm with Habitat for Humanity. The community leverages cutting edge smart technologies and renewables like battery and solar, as well as dual fuel energy efficiency strategies to allow for homeowners to manage their energy costs as well as their carbon footprints. To speak with Meena Beyers at SXSW, contact Juliet Shavit at [email protected]. To attend the SXSW session, register at midwesthouse.org/schedule. More information about the Nicor Gas Smart Neighborhoodstm is available at ngsmartneighborhoods.com. About Nicor Gas Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Nicor Gas serves more than 2.3 million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit nicorgas.com. About Southern Company Gas Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America's premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.3 million natural gas customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com. Media Contact Juliet Shavit SmartMark Communications, LLC for Nicor Gas 215-880-4772 [email protected] SOURCE Nicor Gas 8 march 2024 at 10:00 News published onand distributed by: "This isn't going to work": These words of skepticism and caution and surely a bit of superstition were spoken by Hubert Beuve-Mery when confiding to those closest to him his doubts concerning what he was about to undertake. He uttered them on the eve of launching a tool that was at the same time fragile, powerful and necessary for the rebirth of democracy in the immediate post-World War II period: a resolutely independent newspaper. The first issue of Le Monde, published on December 18, 1944 when France was still a long way from being completely liberated was printed on a large double-sided sheet of paper and produced by fewer than 40 journalists. Eighty years later, at the start of 2024, the work of more than 540 journalists is published daily, under our streamlined Gothic letterhead, in digital format and on paper; in apps and across social media; live blogs and in magazines; in podcasts and special editions; in French and English; and through texts, images and sound for more than 600,000 subscribers and a far greater number of readers around the world. The magnitude of this growth does not entirely discredit our founder's pessimism. Throughout the course of our history, we have navigated frequent crises and countless hazards, and made painful changes in order to safeguard our newspaper's total editorial independence and maintain its position as the leading national daily for general news. Each member of our company is well aware of the inherent vulnerability of this collective success, built up over the years, and everyone remains vigilant and ready to rally to the defense of their common project. Editorial teams are like living bodies, with shared memories and reflexes. When they lost their ownership stake in the company at the end of the 2000s, Le Monde's editorial staff relinquished neither their customary independence nor their capacity for upholding their prerogatives. Digital revolution Indeed, the past few years have also proven wrong those gloomy predictions of doom for other media organizations born out of daily print newspapers. The digital revolution didn't bury Le Monde, it saved it. The formation of a group including other titles has not weakened its values but rather strengthened them. Instead of losing its appeal, premium information has never been in such demand. Rather than shrinking, the editorial team has grown steadily with the support of our shareholders and continues to challenge fears, rumors, lies, propaganda and the motives of government through a professional approach that gives readers rapid access to trustworthy, in-depth and unbiased information. While these developments may have transformed our structure and operating methods, they have not altered us in any profound way. Our values remain unchanged and our response to upheavals across the globe remains consistent with that set forth by Hubert Beuve-Mery: journalism, nothing but journalism and all journalism. Our expanded news offerings, widely distributed through digital means, have earned us an unprecedented number of new readers, and younger. We've attracted a few critics, too, who have suggested that our evolution represents some sort of rejection of a past that they may have misunderstood or perhaps mythologized. It's this new following, and these recurring criticisms, that we had in mind when planning the articles dedicated to our anniversary, which will appear throughout 2024 and culminate in meetings organized on the occasion of a Festival du Monde specifically devoted to our 80th anniversary, in September. Topic by topic, we have sought to explain the long history of our editorial obligations, the roots of our professional approach in that of our predecessors, as well as the imperative of identifying new issues raised by current events and adapting to changes in society, adopting fresh editorial perspectives to address them. Critical views In the area of politics, for example, Le Monde has remained far removed from the role of party or government supporter that some believe we have taken on, or would like to see us do so. The story of our newspaper's relationship with successive presidents of France serves as a reminder of the distance, stipulated from the outset by our founder, that should be maintained when dealing with power those who wield it and those who aspire to it. In geopolitics, at a time when we are witnessing a resurgence of tensions and wars, including on European soil, we have reiterated our criticism of Russian imperialism, from Joseph Stalin to Vladimir Putin; of an emerging China; of the impasses in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and also of the divisions in play in the United States. Regarding the environment, our global coverage of the unfolding climate catastrophe has over time been given increasing editorial priority. Today, on March 8, International Women's Day shortly after a historic vote that enshrined in France's Constitution the freedom to have an abortion we open this series with an account of how the progress made in equality between women and men has improved both our editorial operation and our approach to these issues. Originally an all-male newsroom, Le Monde, which had allotted but a few scarce lines to the first women's vote in 1945, would not stay on the sidelines of this revolution: Eighty years on, as many women as men hold key positions with the paper, and the numerous topics related to equality are widely covered. Read more Subscribers only Le Monde and women: From the right to vote to #MeToo On this point, as on others, adapting to the progress made by society and accurately describing the issues at stake and their repercussions are fundamental requirements for continuing to maintain that which has provided indispensable support throughout our history and without which, as our founder feared from day one, none of this could have worked: the trust of our readers. France's Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu reviews the honor guard during a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart at Hotel de Brienne in Paris on March 6, 2024. EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP The deployment of Western combat troops to fight against Russia on the ground in Ukraine is not on the table but new ways need to be found to battle the Russian invasion, France's defense minister said on Friday, March 8. French President Emmanuel Macron last month sent shockwaves around Ukraine when he refused to rule out any option in the conflict, including the sending of Western troops. Despite troubled reactions from allies, including notably Germany, he has in recent days appeared to double down on the remarks, urging the West not to be "cowardly". Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu however, said the furor caused by Macron's initial remarks after a conference of Ukraine's European allies on February 26 was due to them being "taken out of context". "There were hypotheses clearly put on the table but not combat ground troops as may have been said here or there," he told broadcaster BFMTV, noting that Macron had reaffirmed that France would not be a "co-belligerent" in the conflict. Read more Subscribers only War in Ukraine: How Macron hopes to convince the French of the conflict's gravity "But between the transfer of arms and co-belligerence in other words direct war with Russia have we done everything within that space? Are there paths that we can explore? And notably paths involving a military presence?" he asked. Lecornu said this could include mine clearance and the training of Ukrainian soldiers on Ukrainian soil. "The more Ukraine needs to conscript, to raise up its army, the greater the need will be to ramp up training," he added. He also announced that three French companies would create partnerships to produce and maintain weapons and spare parts on Ukrainian soil. They are the Delair drone manufacturer, Nexter, the French branch of the Franco-German company KNDS which produces the Caesar canons delivered to Kyiv, and Arquus, a French manufacturer of land military equipment which has a contract to maintain armored vehicles. "We are not in the same situation as two years ago" when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Lecornu said, noting that Kyiv's summer counteroffensive had not met with the success Ukraine's allies had hoped for. He also said that the situation within Russia had changed, as shown by "the assassination" of Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader who died in prison last month and who supporters say was killed on orders of the Kremlin. Macron on Thursday hosted French party leaders to clarify his policy on Ukraine ahead of parliament debates next week. Several of the leaders expressed unease afterward that he had made clear there were "no limits" to France's support of Ukraine. Read more Subscribers only Macron's calls for 'unlimited' support for Kyiv risk isolating him on the French political scene THE CHIEF executive of the HSE has said he has full confidence in UHL as a hospital for the public to go to but did not confirm if he has confidence in the hospitals management. CEO Bernard Gloster appeared on RTEs Morning Ireland to respond to ongoing overcrowding at UHL where he was asked by presenter Gavin Jennings if he has confidence in the management of UHL. ...that singles down to a small group of individual people and Im not going to prejudge the outcome of what any reviews or investigations are in relation to that. What I have said previously is, I am confident in the arrangements I have in place today and I am confident to say to people if you need to go to hospital, you can go to that hospital, you should go to that hospital. I live in that area myself, my family go to that hospital, I dont have any fear of the clinical care for people attending that hospital, he said. Mr Gloster also said that there are times when there is no more than one emergency consultant working in the emergency department at UHL after 5pm and at weekends. At times there will be and at times there wont be, Mr Gloster said and he mentioned that people spending days waiting on a trolley at the hospital is not acceptable. I think its important to reflect the fact that in the first nine weeks of this year alone, attendances at our emergency departments across the country have gone up by 13% and in Limerick by 16%. Those kinds of numbers dont mean anything to people when theyre waiting but we have seen, certainly post-Christmas a very significant change in attendances at hospital, Mr Gloster said. On Tuesday this week, elective surgeries were suspended at all UL Hospital Groups five hospitals. It is understood that UHL was seeing very high levels of people presenting at the emergency department. Surgeries in UHL, St Johns Hospital, Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, and hospitals in Ennis and Nenagh were all postponed until this Thursday morning. I have been very much to the fore in calling out the problems in Limerick and the challenges that the team there need to respond to as well as the support I need to give them, Mr Gloster said. What I would say is, this is a hospital group that last year, was also under serious pressure at the start of the year and despite that, delivered one of the best elective performances on waiting lists throughout the year. I am conscious there is a long way to go this year and we will get to reschedule those procedures, Mr Gloster added. According to Mr Gloster at 8pm on Wednesday night, there were 171 people awaiting a bed on trolleys in emergency departments across the country, 23 of those were in Limerick. Mr Gloster also said that there were 59 people on extra trolleys in various inpatient wards across Irish hospitals with 38 of those being in Limerick. READ MORE: Report into death of Aoife Johnston, 16, may take weeks to be made public That is certainly a worry but its a distributed risk Mr Gloster said. I absolutely do accept that they [UHL] need more beds and there are more beds coming. Theres 96 beds coming on profile there at the start of next year and theres a further 96 where the enabling works have started, Mr Gloster said. A lot has happened in the 13 years since the reconfiguration of the health service in the Mid-West according to Mr Gloster. Limerick didnt end up with the beds that would have been expected at the time. The investment in community health care across the country has fundamentally changed also. So there is very significant investment and resource there. Im not satisfied we are using it in the best way that we can, but Limerick needs more, we also need to do different with what we have, Mr Gloster said. Mr Gloster also mentioned that the acute medical assessment units in St Johns, Nenagh, and Ennis will soon move to a 24-hour system. A LIMERICK woman has been conned out of almost 5,000 by a rogue tradesman posing as a council worker. Gardai have launched an investigation into the incident with the culprit described as absolutely appalling by a councillor. Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey, who chairs the Joint Policing Committee, says he has received calls from people across the west of the county reporting fraudsters posing as local authority workers offering services at a reduced rate. The story they spin is they are working for Limerick City and County Council and that there is a burst water main, with the existing tarmac likely to crater. They would then re-tarmac somebodys land, he explained. A council spokesperson has described the news as concerning, and pointed out that their own staff and sub-contractors have official identification badges. These badges contain the employees/contractors name, photograph and the Limerick City and County Council logo. We emphasise that any individual claiming to represent the council should be able to provide valid identification upon request and we would urge the public to always ask to see valid identification, they said. It was a warning reflected by a garda spokesperson, who added if people become aware of bogus tradesmen operating in the area, they should alert elderly or vulnerable neighbours. Sadly, one woman Cllr Teskey knows lost out on close to 5,000 after she agreed to have work done. He said the invoice the trader issued was completely bogus, with a false name, address and VAT number. The (tarmac) work was far from being up to scratch - it was amateurish, he added. Cllr Teskey claimed that when the woman - who we are not identifying - questioned the payment, intimidating measures were used to get the money. These lads are not professionals. Anyone who wants to avail of services of tarmac laying should go to a reputable company, the Adare-Rathkeale councillor said. He also criticised those who try and con people out of money in this way. We are living through an immense cost-of-living crisis. Households are budgeting to the nearest cent, and we have people struggling to live. When people are taking advantage, taking people for granted and trying to profit from amateur work, its absolutely appalling, said Cllr Teskey. READ MORE: Intruder disturbed after breaking into Limerick home He also warned against letting any rogue trader into your home, saying they could take the opportunity to gather intelligence for future exploits in an area. Be extremely cautious, he warned. A council spokesperson said they will be working with gardai to ensure the matter is investigated thoroughly. Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of residents and maintain the integrity of our services, they added. People who feel they have been targeted are being asked to contact An Garda Siochana immediately. Gardai have said incidents and concerns can be reported to Newcastle West garda station at 069-20650. PATRICKSWELLS new community centre has officially opened - delivering a transformative facility on a formerly vacant site at the centre of the County Limerick village. The official opening was performed by the Deputy Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Dan McSweeney and the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD. The project was given 500,000 of funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development under the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Scheme. Additional significant funding was provided by Limerick City and County Council, the JP McManus Benevolent Fund, the Office of Public Works and from within the local community. Patrickswell Community Council spearheaded the development with support from Limerick City and County Council. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme aims to enhance rural towns and villages through the provision of local recreational amenities. The 2021 scheme had a particular focus on projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces. At the official opening, Cllr McSweeney was enthusiastic about the new amenity, saying that this is a momentous day for the Patrickswell community. This project is testimony to the power of positive partnerships with the community, local and national government and philanthropic endeavours combining to deliver for the people of Patrickswell. This community centre will no doubt become a hub of activity, a focal point, helping to foster a sense of belonging and pride, Cllr McSweeney said. Minister Humphreys said that she was delighted the Town and Village Renewal Scheme was able to provide 500,000 for the development of the Patrickswell Community Hub. READ MORE: PICTURES: Limerick audiences enjoy performances of The Field Minister Humphreys congratulated those involved for working together to develop the vision for this project. It is community engagement, your vision and your determination that transforms a building into something that really enhances a community, Minister Humphreys said. Overall, Limerick has been allocated over 7 million to date, which I am sure you will agree is a significant investment under this scheme, she added. The project has been complemented by the Active Travel Team with funding from the National Transport Authority. A LIMERICK sustainability firm has secured 1.2m in European funding which will be used to continue its research around water. 20Fifty Partners has been given the grant by Horizon Europe which is the European Unions (EU) research and innovation fund. Based in Plassey, 20Fifty Partners designs and delivers sustainability programmes. The research this funding is tied to will allow the companys staff to continue on its state-of-the-art research on the reuse and repurposing of water and the decarbonisation of industrial water life-cycles among other things. 20Fifty Partners was one of only three firms granted funding in this round. The funding programme plays a role in addressing the issue of climate change, achieving the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals and boosting the EUs competitiveness and growth. Ken Stockil, the chief executive of 20Fifty Partners said: According to the UN, industrial water use globally is expected to grow dramatically by 2050 with a 400% growth rate predicted across global manufacturing sites alone. This is unsustainable. "Delivering this highly impactful research will provide significant environmental and societal benefits, contributing to the EU climate neutrality goal. READ MORE: Limerick coffee shop owner asks government to support retailers on hidden tax 20Fifty management are also working with the Environmental Protection Agency on its research. Its programme manager Dr Tara Higgins said: The EPA is delighted to see previous EPA-funded research by 20Fifty Partners now being built on and taken forward through these larger European projects. The funding the firm receives is divided across two separate projects. LIMERICKS own DIY music festival has been shortlisted for a prestigious award. Feile na Greine, a local festival of emerging and experimental music, has been shortlisted for the IMRO awards. The festival has been nominated within the Small Music Festival of the Year category. The Limerick festival has been recognised amongst other Irish music festivals in this category, such as Other Voices, Beyond the Pale and Another Love Story. The nomination demonstrates the quality of cultural offerings within Limerick, a city developing a reputation for championing underground Irish music. Chairperson of Feile na Greine, Diarmuid O Se, said: "As a community-led effort we are surprised and delighted by the nomination. We have always been uncompromising in what we believe a festival can offer audiences, artists and communities and it is great to see our efforts recognised among some of the best festivals in the country. Feile na Greine is a festival of emerging and experimental music, which celebrates art and community in an attempt to provoke moments of joy in spaces and places across Limerick. READ MORE: PICTURES: Limerick Literary Festival celebrates 40th anniversary Their work is entirely volunteer-led, with a DIY perspective and an unapologetic approach. To celebrate St Patricks Day, the festival will showcase four of its bands in London at the Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith on Thursday, March 14. His Fathers Voice, The Low Field, Laura Duff and The PVP will be performing at the event, which is organised in collaboration with Glor Nua: Next Generation Music. *READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED" A 40-YEAR-OLD Clare man sent a lewd image of himself to a female "public figure, a court has heard. In the case at Ennis District Court, the man pleaded guilty to sending lewd pictures of himself to three random females around the country in Dublin, Kerry and Limerick and committing a solo sex act in public on the early Galway to Limerick train service. One of the injured parties who witnessed the man masturbating on the 6.15am Galway to Limerick service on February 20, 2023 videoed the incident and handed over the recording to gardai as evidence in the case, the court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett remarked that one of the women to receive a lewd image is a public figure. Judge Gabbett asked that victim impact statements be provided, commenting that the women on viewing the images would not forget what they viewed for a long time. The judge said that the accused needs to understand that these are very, very serious charges and have the capacity to damage someones life. Judge Gabbett said a Probation Report handed into court confirms that vigilantes have come upon the man". The judge ruled that the man due to "the vigilante behaviour and out of concern for the personal safety of the accused that reporting restrictions would continue in the case. Judge Gabbett remarked that the man has stated that the "vigilantes are after me. "That troubles me greatly - people taking law into their own hands which they shouldnt do," said the judge. Judge Gabbett said that the public does have a right to know the identity of the accused and told solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick, for the accused, he is not sure that he would order the reporting restrictions if I was pushed on that. READ MORE: Limerick feud criminal jailed for role in attempted murder of crime boss Christy Keane Mr Fitzpatrick said that the accused is facing charges of a similar nature in Dublin. In Dublin, the accused is facing five charges including ones of attempting to send explicit material to and sexually exploit a child online. Judge Gabbett said that "the biggest concern I have here is the issue of the pattern of harmful exhibitionist behaviour. Judge Gabbett said that the accused by his own admission "has this compulsion. The Probation Officer told Judge Gabbett that her report has recommended a therapeutic programme which deals with individuals who have sexual harmful behaviours. In response to the vigilantism, Mr Fitzpatrick said his client "has left himself in a very vulnerable position. Mr Fitzpatrick said that his client has lost a lot. He said that his client lives in a rural area and is isolated. He said: He has withdrawn from society. He is not working at present and he has a lot of personal shame and embarrassment over what has happened. He said that his client no longer has a smartphone and that he has insight into his condition. Mr Fitzpatrick said that his client sourced the phone numbers of the three women he sent images to from Instagram. He said that his client has expressed a willingness to address his harmful behaviour. Judge Gabbett commented that the accused might have to spend some time in a custodial setting to recalibrate his ideas on what his continuous offending is going to do. He said: "I would move to that level unless I knew it had no other option. Judge Gabbett adjourned sentencing for the victim impact statements and to allow the case in Dublin against the accused to advance. The offence on the train in February 2023 came only nine days before the man made his first appearance in court on March 1, 2023 concerning sending the lewd images of himself to females. In relation to the first offence, the man randomly selected a Co Kerry womans phone number before sending her a lewd image of himself on October 16, 2020. READ MORE: Limerick garda cautions pub owners after increase in thefts of beer kegs The man has also pleaded guilty that on May 1, 2021 of intentionally engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature by sending an image of his erect penis via WhatsApp to a female living in Limerick in such a manner to cause fear, distress or alarm to another person. The man has also pleaded guilty to on May 4, 2021 of intentionally engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature by sending an image of his erect penis via WhatsApp to another female living in Dublin in such a manner to cause fear, distress or alarm to another person. The charges are contrary to Section 45(3) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 where a maximum sentence of six months in the district court applies. In her speech, Mrs. Boluarte said she issues this request to the public and the private sectors, so that equal rights and opportunities between men and women are guaranteed. ? El Gobierno tiene un compromiso irrenunciable con las mas de 17 millones de peruanas: luchar para lograr la igualdad y construir una sociedad mas justa e inclusiva, que sancione la violencia y empodere a las mujeres, a fin de que puedan alcanzar sus metas y vivir con plenitud. pic.twitter.com/4k6tcBhF6Q LIMERICK people are going to the polls for the first time in more than four years this Friday. Polling stations across the city and county opened at 7am, as tens of thousands of people have their say on whether to accept or reject two proposed changes to the Constitution. Polling places will stay open until 10pm. Upon arrival at polling stations - which remain largely unchanged from the 2020 general election - voters will be given two slips of paper in white and green. The white sheet of paper will ask people to vote on the family amendment. In this there is one vote for two proposed changes. The proposals involve the insertion of additional text to article 41.1.1 of the Constitution and the deletion of text in article 41.3.1. READ MORE: Money stolen from tip jar in Limerick restaurant The green sheet of paper will ask people to vote on the care amendment. It proposes deleting articles 41.2.1 and 41.2.2 of the Constitution and inserting a new article, 42b. These proposed changes can be found online at www.electoralcommission.ie/referendums, or by calling 01-888-2780. Voters will be asked to vote yes or no to each proposal. Irish citizens, aged 18 or over living in the State and on the electoral register are allowed to cast a vote. If you are eligible to vote, you should have received a polling card in the post informing you of your local polling station. If you do not receive a card, you can check your polling station by calling 061-556000 or by visiting www.checktheregister.ie At the polling station, you are advised to bring some valid form of photographic identification. After polling closes on Friday evening, ballot papers from across Limerick city and county will be transferred to the Limerick Racecourse. Here, counting locally will begin at nine oclock on Saturday morning. The votes for Limerick will be counted on the basis of the Dail constituency boundaries. Therefore, there will be two results from Limerick - from the city constituency and the county area. The results from Limerick and the rest of the country will be fed up to Dublin Castle, at which stage details on how the vote locally went will be made available. A national declaration is due by Saturday evening. After this, the next time an election will take place in Limerick will likely be Friday, June 7. At this time, the local and European elections will take place, alongside the first ever election for an executive mayor for Limerick. An Australian police force is coming to Ireland this month in an attempt to lure Gardai abroad. South Australia Police (SAPOL) is encouraging interested Gardai to attend the Down Under Live expo in Dublin on March 20 to learn all about why they should leave An Garda Siochana and move to the other side of the world. In an Instagram post published this week, SAPOL posted a picture of an Australian sunset with the caption: "G'day mate! Fancy a change of scene... to South Australia, perhaps? South Australia Police is now recruiting Police Officers/Gardai from across the UK and Ireland! "Our recruiting efforts are fair dinkum, as we are travelling to you! Meet us at the Down Under Live expo or our exclusive event in London." The recruiters are also running the expo in Glasgow on March 16, Birmingham on March 23, and London on March 25. They continued: "Join us at any of the above to have a yarn, it'll be heaps good! Register now and receive an exclusive bonus. Posting this from where you'd rather be. "Or if you're ready to be a happy lil Vegemite, apply now. If you didn't understand some of the above, come along to the expos and we'll teach you all the Aussie slang." According to a listing on Jobs.ie, the salary for the role is between 93,000 and 108,000 per year. Gardai who make the move will be reimbursed for visa expenses, and allocated six weeks annual leave. They will also be able to earn while they learn during fully paid streamlined transition training courses. Further salary increases can be expected upon permanent appointment (dependent upon experience and classification), as well as additional financial and flexibility incentives for regional postings. The listing reads: "SA is home to Australia's 'best beach', the country's finest wine, outback mountain ranges and a thriving arts scene. If you're chasing a Mediterranean climate, friendly, laid back lifestyle, with a much lower cost of living than our eastern counterparts - that's us! "SA makes a great place to raise a family and expand your policing journey, while enjoying a competitive salary and limitless opportunities for learning and career growth." Currently, new Gardai receive a salary of 35,322 per year, and rises to 55,592 per year after 8 years up to a maximum of 59,842 per year after 19 years. Ireland's weather could be about to undergo two major shifts over the next few days with hopes of a long-promised dry spell now possibly "slipping away," according to one forecaster. Met Eireann has been forecasting a period of dry weather early next week but it now looks like it will be short-lived. Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather has said: "Chances of dry spell week look to have slipped away for South and East at least. Still some uncertainty but not heading the right way." Meanwhile, Met Eireann is predicting a mixed mixture over the week and into next but a brief reprieve from the wet weather of late is still on the cards. Their outlook for the next few days says there will be "outbreaks of rain initially before turning drier for a time early next week. Unusually high tides will continue out through Tuesday with the possibility of coastal flooding for all coasts." For Friday night, they say it will be "dry in most areas with a mix of cloud and clear spells, however some light rain and drizzle will occur in southern and southeastern areas. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees, coldest in the north. Easterly winds mostly moderate in strength, but strong on coasts. Unusually high tides will bring the possibility of coastal flooding for all coasts." Their forecast continues for the weekend and into next week: "Mostly cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, most frequent in the east and south [on Saturday]. Some mist about also. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in moderate to fresh east to northeast winds. Unusually high tides will bring the possibility of coastal flooding for all coasts. "A good deal of cloud over the south and east of the country with further outbreaks of rain [on Saturday night]. Drier with clear spells in the north and west. Lowest temperatures generally of 1 to 5 degrees in mostly moderate northeast winds. "Plenty of cloud with further outbreaks of rain expected [on Sunday], especially in the eastern half of the country. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in light to moderate north to northeast winds. "Outbreaks of rain will continue, mainly near the Irish Sea [Sunday night]. Further west it will be drier with some clear spells. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees in light to moderate northerly breezes. Chances of dry spell week look to have slipped away for South and East at least still some uncertainty but not heading the right way. pic.twitter.com/DWhPPJTKo3 Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) March 7, 2024 "Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, mainly over the eastern half of the country [on Monday]. Later in the day, some sunny spells will break through as the rain becomes patchier. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees in moderate northerly breezes, falling light later. "Any remaining patches of rain and drizzle will clear through the morning [on Tuesday] as sunny spells and scattered light showers develop for the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in light variable breezes." The outlook beyond that says: "Current indications suggest that it will turn more unsettled for midweek with rain and showers." Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) have become a popular choice for many individuals looking to invest systematically over time. One critical aspect to consider when investing in SIPs is the investment horizon essentially, how long you plan to keep your money invested. In this discussion, we'll explore the practical considerations of choosing the right timeframe for your SIPs. Understanding SIPs: SIP investments involve regularly investing a fixed amount at scheduled intervals, typically monthly. The collected funds are then used to purchase units in mutual funds. The goal is to inculcate a disciplined and gradual approach to investing. The impact of time Time is a significant factor when it comes to SIPs. The duration you stay invested can substantially influence the returns on your investments. Unlike lumpsum investments, SIPs thrive on consistency and a more extended time commitment. Short-term vs. Long-term goals To determine the suitable investment horizon, it's crucial to align it with your financial goals. Short-term goals, such as accumulating funds for a vacation or purchasing a high-ticket item, usually have a timeframe of 1-3 years. Long-term goals, like buying a house, funding education, or preparing for retirement, extend beyond 5 years. Short-term SIPs For short-term goals, opting for short-term SIPs is practical. These could include debt funds, which are less volatile compared to equity funds. Debt funds provide relative stability and are suitable for those seeking to achieve their financial objectives within a relatively brief timeframe. Long-term SIPs: Conversely, long-term goals demand a more extended investment horizon. Long-term SIPs are well-suited for objectives spanning over 5 years. Equity funds, which may experience short-term fluctuations, tend to yield relatively higher returns over an extended period. Despite market ups and downs, the more extended investment horizon allows for a smoother ride, mitigating the impact of short-term volatility. Determining the right horizon: Industry experts often recommend a minimum investment horizon of 5-7 years for equity SIPs. This duration allows investors to weather market fluctuations and benefit from the power of compounding. Market fluctuations and SIP adjustments: Financial markets are dynamic and subject to fluctuations. While short-term market movements can be unpredictable, over a more extended period, they tend to follow an upward trend. The flexibility of SIPs allows investors to adapt to changing market conditions. Periodically reassessing your investment horizon and adjusting your SIP contributions accordingly ensures a strategic response to market dynamics. You can estimate the SIP top-up amount and its impact on the overall investment with the help of an SIP top-up calculator. Compounding impact One of the key advantages of a more extended investment horizon in SIPs is the power of compounding. Compounding is the process where your returns generate additional earnings, creating a snowball effect over time. The longer your money remains invested, the more substantial the compounding impact on your overall returns. You can make use of a compounding calculator to estimate the impact of compounding on your returns. Flexibility for life changes: As life unfolds and financial goals evolve, SIPs provide the flexibility to adapt. Whether you experience changes in income, family dynamics, or financial priorities, SIPs can be adjusted to align with your current circumstances. This adaptability ensures that your investment strategy remains in harmony with your life goals. In conclusion: Selecting the appropriate investment horizon for SIPs focuses on aligning it with your specific financial objectives. Short-term SIPs are practical for immediate goals, while long-term SIPs provide a robust strategy for enduring objectives. Ultimately, the length of your investment commitment, coupled with a well-informed understanding of your financial goals, will guide you towards a well-defined and tailored SIP investment journey. About Bajaj Finserv Asset Management Ltd. Bajaj Finserv Asset Management Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv Limited, has entered the investment solutions industry. Backed by one of Indias most respected and oldest brands, it offers a host of innovative products and solutions to every Indian. With a future-focused and differentiated investment strategy, its ambition is to help every Indian achieve his/her financial goals. Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. This information does not constitute a financial advice. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! India's e-commerce giant, Flipkart , is gearing up to enter the quick commerce sector, Entrackr reported citing sources. The company plans to strategically establish a network of dark stores in cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi (NCR), and Hyderabad, intending to launch 10-15 minute deliveries in at least a dozen cities within the next six to eight weeks, it added. Flipkart's foray into quick commerce signals a strategic move, evident in recent launches such as same-day delivery in 20 cities and the delivery of flowers and cakes during the Valentine's season in February 2024. The company is expected to have a comprehensive product catalogue, with a focus on fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), grocery, daily essentials, electronics, and fashion, distinguishing itself from existing players. Competitive Landscape and Market Trends Existing quick commerce players, including Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto, have been expanding and diversifying their offerings. These would be the players that Flipkart would directly compete with. Top players in the quick commerce segment, such as Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto, have achieved significant scale. Blinkit processes approximately 6 lakh orders daily, while Swiggy Instamart and Zepto handle around 5 lakh and 3 lakh orders, respectively. Financial data reveals Blinkit's average revenue run rate of 12,000 crore in the ongoing fiscal year, Swiggy Instamart's ARR at 8,000-8,500 crore, and Zepto's gross merchandise value nearing 7,000 crore. Over the past few months, we have made several investments to enhance our delivery capabilities, including adding same-day delivery in 20 cities. This covers mobiles, essential items, electronics, home appliances, fashion, books and lifestyle products. We are committed to meeting evolving customer expectations and delivering excellence in value, selection and speed, with more initiatives expected on this front in the coming months," a Flipkart spokesperson told the publication. Anticipating Shift in Market Dynamics Despite the growth, the market faces challenges of sustainability and competition. Some players, like Dunzo, backed by Reliance and Google, have struggled to maintain their position, reporting lower revenue and facing funding challenges. Discussions regarding potential acquisitions, such as Flipkart's engagement with Dunzo, indicate the ongoing consolidation within the market. Industry experts however anticipate a shift in market dynamics, with quick commerce gaining prominence over traditional e-commerce in India. The total addressable market for quick commerce in the country is valued at nearly $45 billion, according to a 2022 Redseer report. Notably, quick commerce players such as Zomato's Blinkit, Swiggy's Instamart, and Zepto have demonstrated resilience, attracting investor confidence in the concept's future in India. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! JM Financial Ltd has said it would fully cooperate with capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in its investigation into the public issue of debt securities. The statement came after SEBI barred JM Financial from accepting new mandates to act as a lead manager for the public issue of debt securities, for flouting regulatory norms. However, JM Financial can continue to act as a lead manager for the public issue of debt securities for a period of 60 days in case of existing mandates, Sebi said in its interim order on Thursday. Further, the regulator will undertake an investigation into these issues, to be completed within six months. Following the order, JM Financial in a filing to the stock exchanges said, "The company shall fully cooperate with Sebi in this investigation". The SEBI's directive came days after the Reserve Bank barred JM Financial Products Ltd from providing any form of financing against shares and debentures, including sanction and disbursal of loans against initial public offering (IPO). The regulator's order followed after it undertook a routine examination of the public issues of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCD) during the year 2023. The investigation focused on the activities of JM Financial and its related entities in a particular debt issue. In its interim order, Sebi said the manner in which subscriptions have been managed in this public issue of debt instruments is "shocking". The transactions at every stage of this public issue appear to have been done in a pre-determined and pre-meditated manner; and executed clinically to ensure subscription and success. "The regulator noted that notice (JM Financial) along with its connected group entities were prima facie noted to have given an assured exit to certain investors at a profit, thereby incentivising them to apply in the public issue in contravention of the regulatory mandates," it stated. The scheme, it is prima facie noted, involved getting individual investors, who would otherwise not have participated in the issue, to make applications not just by providing funds to them but also by assuring them an exit at a profit on the listing day. While the regulator has examined modus-operandi in one case, the bank statements of the investors, operated through Power of Attorney (PoA) by the JM Group entities, suggest that this practice is followed in most public issues. The pattern of transactions seen in the bank statements suggests that this is not an isolated incident, Sebi noted. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. BENGALURU : Walmart Inc. has invested billions of dollars in technology, both to improve the online shopping experience as well as to automate two-thirds of its stores by the end of 2026. Suresh Kumar, Walmarts global chief technology officer, says technology is all about reducing friction for customers as they shop. Kumars role at the global retail giant includes overseeing technologists at Walmart US, Sams Club, and Walmart International. Kumar is also an executive vice-president and the chief development officer at Walmart. In an interview with Mint, Kumar, who graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, speaks about how Walmart combines technology advances such as artificial intelligence and generative AI with its adaptive retail strengths. Edited excerpts: Can you describe specific instances where Walmart has successfully implemented advanced solutions to boost operational efficiency and customer satisfaction? Every aspect of the industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Earlier, people used to go to a (physical) store to find products. Then with e-commerce, you could type a few keywords and be presented with a list of products. Now with things like social commerce, like Shop with Friends, there is an aspect of product discovery that extends far beyond traditional ecommerce search. (Walmarts Shop with Friends feature enables virtual fitting rooms that can be shared across messaging and social platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram.) In India, payments and identity (read: Aadhaar) have had a huge impact on commerce. Supply chain is dramatically evolving as well. Its not just about drones and self-driving cars, but also about how the product itselfall the way from manufacturinggets delivered into our customers homes, and sometimes even into their refrigerators. At Walmart, you use technologies ranging from augmented reality, robotics, digital twins, AI and now GenAI. How do you connect the dots for the customer? The thread that brings it all together is adaptive retailit is about how technology adapts to what the customer needs. Take social commerce or GenAIits about reducing the friction for a customer as part of their shopping mission. Most of what we are trying to do with technology is eliminate the friction out of the customer experience in terms of finding, transacting and receiving products. Whats the process you adopt to enhance customer experience with the help of analytics and AI? Our process puts the customer right at the very centre. Its how we start every meeting. We dont start with, Hey, heres a nice, cool technology, lets go figure out if it is going to help the customer or not. Instead, we look at customer usage patterns and directly talk to customers and get information about their likes and dislikes. We have also got a huge wealth of data about customers and their shopping habits and preferences online, as well as when they walk into the store or pick up their deliveries. We gather all of this data (from multiple channels) and make use of some AI models we have built in-house, and also leverage the best (large language models, or LLMs) that are available in the market. We train (these LLMs) on our data and we build our own custom models on top of it so we can gather insights out of that. From those insights, we start designing the experiences based on what we see as the most important problems that we need to solve for the customer. What we essentially want to do is to continuously keep closing the loop between what the customer wants, whats the best technology to solve that problem, implement the technology, go back and see whether it has helped or not, and then keep refining it. Can you give us an example of how this process is helping customers? Consider the example of our home-delivery, which we started as a relatively small project or proof-of-concept, where a customer places an order, following which we send an associate to deliver the product not just to your home but inside your home and in your refrigerator. This calls for a lot of customer trust. We also have to understand substitution preferences. Lets say you had placed an order for orange juice but we may have run out of stock due to a spike in demand, and maybe you want a substitution. So we listen, we go back and we fix the problem. Its an ongoing process, which helps us enhance the customer experience. How is GenAI helping Walmart increase productivity, efficiency, and efficacy of the conversations? With GenAI, we focus on four broad areas. One is around customer experience. The second area is for a lot of our internal applications. We recently launched a product that helps our associates inside the store. Its called Sidekick. It allows the store associate to focus on the next best thing that they need to do. The store is a very complex environment. People are running around and many tasks need to be done. GenAI, when combined with our in-house models, now not only identifies the perfect associate for a specific task but also assigns the task to the associate. The ability of AI and GenAI to understand context is helping our associates become a lot more effective. The same thing is happening on the corporate side as well. If you look at our supply chain, we have built models that understand demand and are able to optimise the inventory flow. Our supply chain is very dynamic. When demand spikes in one area, we are able to now automatically figure out the most optimal way to divert inventory there. The third area is on the creative side, whether GenAI is creating personalised advertising and marketing campaigns for our customers so that we can understand what the customer needs are, or getting deeper insights into our product catalogue. Fourth, we are also using GenAI to build our own tools such as for better testing, better operations, and understanding how our systems can be scaled up and down. That said, with GenAI tools you also have to take care of data privacy, security, and things like hallucinations. Yes. One of the fundamental pillars is trust. The key is to make sure that any technology we deploy is going to be built on the trust that our customers and our associates have placed in us. We dont pluck LLMs from the wild and let them loose on our customers and associates. We have built an in-house platform where we build data privacy and security safeguards to protect our customer data and other sensitive data since we also run one of the largest pharmacies in the world. We also do not want to compromise our supply chain data. Second, we have built an internal layer which helps us select the LLM that is most appropriate for the task we are trying to perform. For instance, were in the process of rolling out a pilot that will help our legal department sift through the complex regulations we have to deal with. A general purpose LLM will not help us in this case. This also helps us address hallucinations. What role do your India centres play in implementing emerging technologies such as AI and GenAI? India is a great place for engineering talent of different flavoursfrom software engineers to data scientists to product and UX (user experience). We have grown our presence in Bengaluru, and opened another location in Chennai during the pandemic. Our India presence is one of the largest groups of technologists anywhere around the world. But we work as one global virtual team. Take GenAI as an example. Theres a very strong team here in our IDC (Indian Development Centre), which works very closely with our teams based in Hoboken (New Jersey) and Sunnyvale (California). Their sole focus is to generate the best search experience using LLMs. Are there any synergies between your other businesses such as Flipkart, Myntra or PhonePe where youre sharing technology expertise across units? Our subsidiaries in India are largely self-sufficient. But since we are majority owners (in these units), we continuously keep looking at places where it makes sense to share information, best practices, etc. Teams in Flipkart, as an example, work very closely with our teams in our IDC and the US to share learnings, for example, in the area of GenAI. What about the role of automation and robotics in enhancing productivity and customer experience? We have announced a large set of investments to automate large parts of our supply chain. This is important as we plan to build a supply chain of the future, or, more broadly, our retail future. The focus is to use automation, whether its in the form of robotics or our automated storage and retrieval systems, to tackle difficult and repetitive tasks so that our associates can focus on what they do bestserve our customers with a human touch and deal with cases that need human intervention. We recently opened an automated storage and retrieval facility for our cold chain to make sure that the entire facility is chilled several degrees below freezing. This is not an ideal situation for most associates. Imagine having to lug big product cases while wearing cumbersome thermal clothing. This is where automation helps a lot, and also allows us to serve our customers a whole lot better, and reduce the time it takes to get the products to them. How do you address the sensitive issue of job losses due to automation? We have discovered that our associates are thrilled that we have invested in automation because they see us doing two things. One is creating a much better working environment for them because it dispenses with the most dangerous tasks they disliked the most. And two, it has given them a path to be able to upskill. So from a job, they are able to carve a career. I agree that overall the nature of the job is going to change (due to automation, AI and GenAI). But almost always, it seems to change for the better. Given the incredible pace at which technology is moving, what is your advice to CXOs when implementing these technologies? Technology evolves quite rapidly. And part of the challenge is to keep abreast of all these changes. So one has to keep three things in mind. First is to make sure that we have a team of skilled, talented people, and empower them. Second, its important not to get enamoured about new breakthroughs in technology for technologys sake. It can be distracting, so ground yourself. The way we do this is by starting with the customer, seeing what the real problem is, and then exploring how technology can benefit them. The third thing is to start small. At Walmart, we have a number of proof-of-concepts where we test and learn. We didnt switch over our entire search algorithm, for instance, just because we had access to an LLM. You need to understand the trade-offs and the risks, like regulatory issues and hallucinations. When the technology matures, you can do a wider rollout. The combined market capitalization of all listed Tata stocks recently crossed the 30 lakh crore mark, making the groups value bigger than the entire economy of Pakistan!" This WhatsApp message doing the rounds appropriately describes the robust growth in Tata stocks. Tata Group stocks have been rallying this week. Tata Investment, Tata Chemicals, Tata Motors you name it, and the group company would be sitting on pretty decent gains. Among group companies, Tata Technologies share price gained over 5% on Thursday after touching a 52-week low not long ago. About Tata Technologies Tata Technologies' primary business line is services, which includes outsourced engineering services and digital transformation services to global manufacturing clients helping them design better products for their customers. The company has been positioned in the leadership zone by Zinnov Zones for Engineering Research & Development (ER&D) services ratings in 2023 for the seventh consecutive year. The company is also ranked first among all India-based ER&D service providers and is among the top two globally in electrification. Insider Selling in Tata Technologies The Indian share market scaled a new peak today, but the insider activity is sounding alarm bells. At 1.1 trillion,insider selling this year has been almost 2x of insider selling in 2020. And almost six times higher than 2018. View Full Image ... Opposite trends in insider activity and institutional activity, in the context of high valuations, has led to a dilemma of whether to stay put or get out. We could already see foreign investors (FIIs) pulling out money from financial and banking stocks in recent days. Add to that the latest insider selling in Tata Technologies. View Full Image ... Data on the BSE website shows that the special board advisor member Patrick McGoldrick netted millions by selling his shares in the open market. Notably, that recent sale was the biggest insider sale of Tata Technologies in the last one year. If you follow the trend of insider selling to insider buying regularly, interesting patterns and conclusions emerge. In recent months, and for most of 2023, the insider trades were more skewed towards selling than buying. It's an eye-opening statistic. Tata Technologies Q3 Results In January 2024, Tata Technologies posted a 6% sequential rise in its third-quarter net profit while revenue remained more or less the same as compared to September 2023 numbers. On a YoY basis, Tata Technologies' net profit of 1.7 bn was 15% higher compared to 1.5 bn reported in the previous year period. The company's CEO Warren Harris said... "We delivered sequential growth and a healthy operating EBITDA margin at 18.3% in Q3FY24 while making strategic investments in relationships to enable future growth. Our deal win momentum has stayed robust, with 5 large deals won in the quarter, including one deal with over $50 million in TCV and another one with $25 million in TCV." After announcing results, the company, in a separate development said Agratas - Tata Group's global battery business - and Tata Technologies have announced their collaboration to scale the former's product development and enterprise systems. Agratas will accelerate its product development timelines, including integrating battery cells into modules and packs across multiple applications to match customer requirements. What Next? In a recent interview with CNBC, Warren Harris sees the company sees no slowdown in momentum from an ER&D perspective. He also shed some light on the recent demerger of Tata Motors, which is among Tata Tech's major clients contributing to roughly 33% of its revenue. According to Harris, the demerger will help Tata Motors harness the synergies between JLR's passenger vehicle (PV) and EV businesses better. Since Tata Tech is closely associated with both these businesses, the company is ideally positioned to benefit from these synergies between divisions. Going forward in the last quarter of 2024, Tata Technologies is anticipating strong traction in terms of deal wins. How Tata Technologies share price has performed recently Tata Technologies share price rose more than 6% in early trade on Thursday to touch a high of 1,147 on the BSE. In 2024 so far, the stock is down 4% while since listing in November 2023, Tata Tech share price is down 7%. Tata Technologies has a 52-week high of 1,400 touched on 30 November 2023 and a 52-week low of 1,034 touched on 29 February 2024. View Full Image .. At the current price, the company trades at a PE multiple of 69x and a price to book value multiple of 13.7x. View Full Image ... For more details, check out Tata Tech's fact sheet and quarterly results. Happy investing! Disclaimer:This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com Sumeet Bagadia of Choice Broking has chosen IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as his Women's Day 2024 Pick. Bagadia has recommended a Buy on the IT stock at 4,070 and up to 4,000 for a target price of 4,400 to 4,600. As per the expert, TCS, currently priced at 4070, has shown a promising technical setup on the weekly chart with the formation of a rounding bottom pattern. The recent breakout from a daily trendline accompanied by substantial volume suggests a robust uptrend. Immediate resistance is anticipated around 4,400, while solid support is observed near 3,780. Furthermore, he pointed out that TCS is trading above crucial Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) such as the 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day, indicating a strong bullish momentum and signaling the potential for further upward price movement. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has rebounded from lower levels and currently stands at 55.84, reflecting increasing buying momentum. Additionally, the Stochastic Relative Strength Index (Stoch RSI) displays a positive crossover, further supporting the bullish outlook. Collectively, these technical indicators suggest that TCS may have the potential to achieve target prices of 4,400 and 4,600 in the near term. A prudent strategy would involve considering buying opportunities on market dips, particularly around the 4000 level, he added. In summary, given the positive technical analysis and prevailing market conditions, TCS appears to present a promising buying opportunity for those targeting 4400 and 4600 price levels. It is essential to implement prudent risk management measures when considering such trades, added the expert. View Full Image TCS stock chart by Choice Broking Stock Price Trend The stock has jumped almost over 20 percent in the last 1 year. In comparison, the Nifty IT index has advanced 23 percent in the last 1 year. Meanwhile, it is flat, up just 0.3 percent in March 2024 so far, extending gains for the fifth straight session. It jumped a 7.6 percent in February 2024 after a 0.74 percent rise in January. In this period, between November 2023 and March 2024, the stock has added over 22 percent. The stock is just around 2 percent away from its record high of 4184.75, hit on February 9, 2024. Meanwhile, it has jumped almost 34 percent from its 52-week low of 3,070.30, hit on April 17, 2023. Earnings The IT major TCS reported a 2 percent YoY rise in its net profit at 11,380 crore. In the same quarter a year ago, the company recorded a net profit of 10,883 crore. The firm also posted a 4 percent YoY rise in its Q3 consolidated revenue from operations at 60,583 crore against 58,229 crore in the same quarter last year. The company's operating margin improved by 50 bps to 25 percent during the quarter under review which, as per the company, excludes the one-time charge of $125 million towards the settlement of legal claim. Commenting on the Q3FY24 performance, K Krithivasan, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, said: Our strong performance in a seasonally weak quarter buffeted by macro-economic headwinds, demonstrates the strength of our business model with a well-diversified portfolio and a customer-centric strategy. We are seeing strong deal momentum across markets resulting in a solid order book providing visibility into our long-term growth." Fundamental View UBS: UBS increased TCS's target price to 4,700/share from 4,050/share, noting its current premium over peers is below the historical average. They suggest further outperformance could prompt a re-rating, showing confidence in the current valuation. Historically, TCS has traded at a 29% premium, currently at 16%, which could rise if TCS continues to outperform. UBS sees minimal risk to TCS's PE multiple of 24x on FY26 EPS. TCS is expected to outpace peers in revenue growth by 100150 basis points in FY25, with a projected 8.8% YoY USD revenue growth, compared to 4.7% in FY24, surpassing peers' expected growth of 3.68.2%. Choice Broking: As per the brokerage, the company's Q3 growth remained robust, particularly in emerging markets like India and the Energy, Resources, and Utilities vertical. Manufacturing and Lifesciences and Healthcare also contributed to growth. Geographically, the UK and India are seen as growth opportunities, with significant growth in the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. Despite some challenges such as macro uncertainty, the company expects vertical growth in Q4 due to a strong pipeline. Attrition rates were low, and fresher hiring is anticipated in FY25. The brokerage expects strong deal momentum and solid order book visibility for long-term growth, particularly with client interest in GenAI. Choice Broking predicts Revenue/EBIT/PAT to grow at a CAGR of 8.4%/9.4%/8.9% respectively over FY23-FY26E. They maintain an ADD rating with a revised target price of 4,065, implying a PE of 25x (unchanged) on FY26E EPS of 163. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! For this womens day, we wanted to highlight the different aspects of a womans financial life. We talked to a few female mutual fund distributors (MFDs), and SEBI registered investment advisors to share their experience handling women investors. Variables that might impact women's participation Shifali Satsangee, Founder & CEO - Funds Vedaa, believes that different variables impact women's participation in money matters. Whether the woman is from tier 1/ tier 2 or other smaller cities, conservative or modern households, working or non-working women, belongs to a nuclear or joint family, married or single will impact her involvement with money, whether it is with her own money or her overall family finances," she said. Also Read: International Women's Day: This is why you should invest as an investor, and not as a woman Men hesitate to involve women in financial discussion To address the hesitancy among men to involve their spouses in financial discussions, Shaili Shah, CEO at Purva Investments, actively advocates for family participation in portfolio reviews and educational sessions. We emphasise the unpredictability highlighted by the Covid situation, stressing that involving family members is crucial. We want the kids and spouses to be involved in financial discussions. We understand that they will not be able to understand anything on Day 1, but it will develop over time. While we are not 100% successful, this approach has led to positive changes. Families are opening up to involving their spouses and children," she said. Strategies to increase womens participation It is hard for women who have never taken any initiative to know about money and financial matters to jump into investments. Hence, the better way to start would be to focus on their mindset and make sure that they know about their husband's investment and insurance. Importance of information and Will Prathiba Girish, Founder of Finwise Personal Finance Solutions, believes that women should let go of the mindset that talking about money is evil. The first and very important thing is information. Women should know where their husbands have their investments, insurance policies, log in details, and advisors' contact details. The second aspect is creating a will. If the husband dies intestate, i.e. without the will, the property is distributed according to their religion. In the case of Hindus, the property is divided equally between the wife, their children and his mother. Having a will makes it easier for women to manage the household and look after the kids even when he is not around. So, it is important for women to make sure that their husbands have made a will," said Prathiba. 2. Investor awareness programs Shaili Shah said that she has been deeply involved in investor awareness programs to increase awareness among women investors. I've noticed a remarkable comfort level among female investors. This reflects a positive shift in mindset and a greater openness to financial education. My approach prioritises education and empowerment rather than just pushing financial products. Women, in general, prefer a thorough understanding before making decisions, and this emphasis on education has not only boosted confidence but has also encouraged even the most hesitant clients to discuss their financial knowledge gaps," said Shaili. 3. Strategies to help investors continue SIP Tejal Gandhi, CEO & Founder of Money Matters India, said millennials are very savvy about investments and big on investing in mutual funds through SIP. I see a lot of women investors who stop their SIPs when the market is not doing well. We ask our investors to shortlist three goals and invest in them for three years. After three years, we repeat the process. Our focus is on the long-term goal and ensuring the investor stays invested for the long term. However, making mid-term actionable strategies helps women investors implement the investment strategy and stay invested for the long run," said Tejal. 4. Activities for homemakers Dilshad Billimoria, Managing Director of Dilzer Consultants Pvt Ltd, shared the general perception surrounding homemakers and the reality. People generally have the perception that homemakers are generally quiet and may hesitate to voice their opinions. However, in my experience, these women contribute practical solutions and valuable insights into financial matters. Their understanding of budgeting, expense prioritisation, and effective cash flow management is often underestimated, and they might have some fabulous ideas," she said. We encourage financial independence among homemakers through small projects, like tracking expenses or managing separate envelopes for personal spending. Initiating a modest systematic investment plan (SIP) in their name makes them confident to handle finances independently. Additionally, we invite them to our office to discuss topics such as savings, investments, and the distinction between good and bad debt. We guide them to online resources, including webinars, to enhance their financial literacy. These efforts can help empower homemakers and spark their interest in financial matters," she added. Also Read: International Women's Day 2024: How can you assert control over your personal finances? Financial compatibility Money is one of the major reasons behind conflicts between spouses. Hence, it is essential to make sure that both partners are financially compatible. Bhuvanaa Shreeram, Co founder, House of Alpha Investment Advisers does an exercise with young couples called the 'Money Egg' to understand and deepen their financial compatibility. This exercise helps a person understand where the partners financial beliefs come from such childhood instances or whether they believe in spending or saving. If you're in a relationship, it's a good idea for both partners to do this exercise together and see if your money values match up. I suggest doing this reflection to avoid judgement and blame. It's about understanding why you and your partner make the money choices you do. This exercise can be especially helpful for couples in counselling or planning to get married," said Bhuvanaa. Also Read: Women and Wealth: Strategies for successful long-term investments Women in ultra-HNI families and the mindset of the other family members Nita Shivdasani, Managing Director, Head of Heritage, Waterfield Advisors, shared that the number of women billionaires has increased, but work must be done to empower women. There are more women billionaires and entrepreneurs in India than ever before. The number of women investors has tripled in the past decade. In UHNI families, where women are well-travelled, the rate of progress is faster. These women are now contributing to households, family businesses, as well as the corporate landscape, and are getting more involved in the familys financial decisions," said Nita. However, we are still at a very early stage of this transition and challenges persist. Lack of confidence and lower financial literacy discourages active financial management. We still live in a patriarchal society where many family patriarchs discourage women from taking charge of their finances. Hopefully, we stay on track and ensure that the next generation of women feel empowered to take control of their finances," she added. Sraboni Haralalka, Co-Founder & Executive Director at Wodehouse Capital Advisors, said that more and more families are involving their spouses and daughters in the business, and they are holding key positions. Traditional, large families believe in bestowing large assets to daughters at the time of their marriage and gift assets only on specific social events. These used to be largely bestowed by fathers and brothers and subsequently managed by the male members of their husbands' family. However, increasingly, with smaller families and higher levels of education, parents are creating wealth pools that are lifelong for their daughters as well. The spouses and daughters are also being involved in the businesses and often hold key positions thereby partaking of the profits on an ongoing basis. We have seen large businesses being solely inherited and managed by daughters very successfully," said Sraboni. Aarti Mohan, Principal, Aurion Advisors said that within the affluent segment, despite most women successfully running their businesses and philanthropic endeavours, their active involvement in managing the familys financial assets is almost non-existent, with very few exceptions. One primary reason could be that historically, even as young girls, they have not seen their mothers play that role, nor were they encouraged to build knowledge/skill levels as part of their upbringing. Unfortunately, most schools/colleges do not address this basic requirement today. We see that younger families in multi-generational businesses are trying to involve and educate their children on the basic tenets of money management. There is a greater inclination to be more aware and hands-on with managing family assets," said Aarti. Divorce cases Most of the financial planners we discussed in this article said that they see women reaching out to those who want to go for a divorce. Sraboni said that the family office could ring-fence their assets and ensure wealth preservation, growth and regular income as required on a long-term, sustainable basis. Nita shared the importance of hiring experts to make the process easier. It is important to have a financial consultant along with a legal advisor when a woman is going through a separation. In this emotionally riveting period, even in the most amicable divorce, making wise and strategic financial decisions becomes difficult. Strategically planning alimony, navigating the division of joint-owned properties, estimating the streedhan, and investment objectives post-divorce are some crucial decisions that need to be backed by strategy rather than intuition. This is where the family office comes into the picture. The family office ensures the presence of governance structures, drafts a family constitution, and keeps family members informed about their financial situation. Furthermore, family offices engage with wealth advisors who help navigate the inherited wealth by guiding on investments as per the client's risk profile and advising on estate and succession planning," said Nita. In conclusion, overall, financial planners shared that with the increase in women's participation in the workforce and having a source of income, women are now more interested in financial matters and take independent financial decisions. However, there is still a long way to go. Padmaja Choudhury is a freelance financial content writer. You can reach out to her at padmaja@padmajachoudhury.com. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! ? Mas de 1 000 mujeres laboran dia a dia en la construccion de la Linea 2 del Metro de Lima, para mejorar el transporte de la capital. De esta manera, contribuyen a que, proximamente, mas de un millon de ciudadanos puedan movilizarse diariamente en un medio de transporte comodo pic.twitter.com/zeqKrRtd2W Several tax-related initiatives can encourage women's participation in the stock market. The declining number of demat accounts among women is a concerning trend, highlighted by CA Sandeep Agrawal, Director and Co-founder at Teamlease Regtech. Meanwhile, Tax Expert Megha Jain from ClearTax proposes various tax-related initiatives to encourage women's participation in the stock market. The decline in demat account openings among women is a concerning trend, and it is essential to address this issue to promote financial inclusion. The government has taken certain tax-related initiatives to encourage women's participation in the stock market," said CA Sandeep Agrawal, Director and Co-founder at Teamlease Regtech. Tax Initiatives to encourage women's participation in stock market Megha Jain from ClearTax proposes various tax-related initiatives 1) Tax Deduction for Women Investors An idea under consideration is to provide tax deductions or incentives designed specifically for women investors. This could include deductions on capital gains tax for investments made by women in the stock market, thereby reducing their tax burden and incentivising participation. 2) Lower Capital Gains Tax for Women Another strategy entails lowering the capital gains tax rate for women investors, encouraging them to engage in long-term investment strategies. 3) Exemption on Dividend Income Furthermore, considering exemptions on dividend income for women investors could serve as a motivating factor. 4) Educational Initiatives Educational initiatives aimed at enhancing financial literacy among women investors are crucial. 5) Tax Incentive or Exemption for First-Time Woman Investors The introduction of specific tax incentives or exemptions for first-time women investors 6) Higher Basic exemption limit for women Reinstating a higher basic exemption limit for women, a policy that was in effect until FY 2012-2013, is another effective measure. Overall, these measures aim to empower women financially and promote their greater participation in India's economy. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) have in a study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia on March 6, shared key insights into the effectiveness of Covishield and Covaxin the two most used COVID-19 vaccines in India, the Hindustan Times reported. The study, titled 'Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines BBV152 (COVAXIN) and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (COVISHIELD) in seronegative and seropositive individuals in India: a multicentre, non-randomized observational study', compared the immune responses in users for Covishield v Covaxin, it added. The study involved collaboration between 11 institutes, including at least six from Pune. These six included the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune (IISER), the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), and the Pune Knowledge Cluster. Covishield was AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine produced and branded locally by the Adar Poonawalla-led Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune, while Covaxin was developed and produced by the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech. Here Are the Key Findings of the Study: 1. Covishield's Robust Immune Responses: The comprehensive study, conducted from June 2021 to January 2022 and encompassing 691 participants aged 18 to 45 from Bangalore and Pune, found that Covishield, which employs a virus vector for spike protein delivery, consistently showed more robust immune responses than Covaxin, an inactivated virus vaccine. 2. Differential Immune Responses: The majority of participants exhibited a near-complete immune response to Covishield, while the response to Covaxin varied, particularly among those vaccinated before the emergence of the Omicron variant. 3. Antibody Levels and T Cells: Covishield induced higher antibody levels in both seronegative (individuals without prior exposure) and seropositive (individuals with prior exposure) subjects, suggesting a more potent and enduring immune response. Additionally, Covishield triggered a higher number of T cells compared to Covaxin, indicating a stronger overall immune response. 4. Protection Against Variants: Covishield consistently demonstrated higher antibody levels against various virus strains, suggesting its potential superior protection against variants such as Omicron. Significance and Future Implications Follow-up studies on vaccine immunology and the analysis of immune protection factors were lacking and theres a scarcity of comparative studies on these two vaccines. This is one of the very few studies that not only investigates the immune responses of participants after vaccination but also considers their immune history prior to vaccination," said Dr Mangaiarkarasi Asokan, former programme head, of VISION, and lead author of the study. "While there was a whole lot of talk going on about which vaccine performed better against the COVID-19 virus, for us in India, only two vaccines were available and the majority of citizens were vaccinated in a phase-wise manner," said Vineeta Bal, emeritus professor, Biology, IISER Pune on the overall significance of this research. She added that before this study, there was no comparison data available about the performance and effectiveness of these vaccines. "Some people only had data on Covaxin while others had data on Covishield. For the first time, this study has given us the comparative data for both vaccines," she added. Bal also added that they pioneered technology to conduct this study, which will "now be helpful for immunology assessment in future". Professor LS Shashidhara, centre director, NCBS, called it a "first-of-its-kind population-level immunological study on vaccines" and noted that it is significant as the virus is "still spreading and evolving". "Such studies need serum samples from diverse subjects representing genetic, geoclimatic and nutritional diversity and innovative study design and rigorous statistical methods. No one single organisation can undertake such a study. We are grateful to all our partners and indebted to Hindustan Unilever for its generous funding. Results of this study so far and additional research that we are pursuing will have major inputs for future vaccine strategies as a public health programme," he added. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! As the world is celebrating International Women's Day on Friday, PM Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of projects worth around 18,000 crore during his two-day tour of Assam starting Friday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Here are top events of the day. Mahashivratri 2024: Are banks, Indian stock markets open today? Bank Holidays in March 2024: Banks will remain closed today in most states on March 8 due to Mahashivratri, Except for the states of Tripura, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Itanagar, Rajasthan, Nagaland, West Bengal, New Delhi, Goa, Bihar, and Meghalaya, where banks will function as usual. Further, March 9 is the second Saturday of the month and March 10 is a Sunday, which means all banks across the country, regardless of state or region, will remain closed. Meanwhile, trading activity on the BSE and NSE will remain suspended on 8th March 2024 i.e. on Friday this week. As per the list of stock market holidays in 2024, BSE and NSE will remain closed on 8th March 2024 as the whole nation will be celebrating the Mahashivratri festival today. Therefore, 8th March 2024 will be a stock market holiday. Read here. International Women's Day 2024 The world is celebrating International Women's Day (IWD) on 8 March globally, focusing on recognizing women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. The United Nations has decided this year's theme as Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress is aimed at tackling economic disempowerment. While the campaign theme for the same year is 'Inspire Inclusion.' President Droupadi Murmu extended her wishes and emphasised the importance of equal opportunities for women. President Murmu advocated for the need to empower females in all spheres of life. "It is also an important occasion to emphasise the need to provide equal opportunities for women and empower them in all spheres of life. Even today, women face several challenges which we need to address," said President Murmu in her message on the occasion of International Women's Day, which is observed every year on March 8. PM Modi to visit Kaziranga National Park Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of projects worth around 18,000 crore during his two-day tour of Assam starting Friday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Addressing a press meet here on Thursday, Sarma said Modi will, for the first time, visit UNESCO heritage site Kaziranga National Park and undertake a safari. Giving details of his tour programme, Sarma said Modi will arrive in Assam on Friday afternoon and will spend the night at the Kohora range of Kaziranga National Park, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma added. Lok Sabha Polls: Congress to declare its list of candidates for Assam Assam PCC chief Bhupen Borah said that the Congress will declare its list of candidates for Assam on Friday. Borah mentioned that there is currently no collaboration among the leaders of national-level opposition parties regarding seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming Lok Sabha election at the state level. Govt, exporters to discuss on Red Sea crisis Officials from ministries and exporters are scheduled to convene a meeting on March 8 to discuss the challenges faced by exporters due to the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea region, as reported by PTI citing officials. Since November, Houthi rebels based in Yemen have been targeting ships in the Red Sea and adjacent waters in connection with the Israel-Hamas conflict. The situation escalated in December, particularly around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime route linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, due to these attacks. President Murmu to deliver Standard and Colours to four IAF units The Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Friday that President Droupadi Murmu will present the Standard and Colours to four Indian Air Force units on Friday. It will be the first time in the history of the IAF that four units will be awarded President's Standard and Colours together. President Murmu will bestow the Presidents Standard upon the 45 Squadron and the 221 Squadron, as well as the Presidents Colours upon the 11 Base Repair Depot and the 509 Signal Unit, as stated by the Rashtrapati Bhavan in a brief announcement on Thursday. The President's Standard and Colours represent the highest military recognition bestowed upon any armed forces unit. The selection of these four units for these prestigious awards highlights their exceptional contributions to the history of the Indian Air Force. Bombay High Court to hear plea challenging Maratha reservation The Bombay High Court will hear on March 8 a petition challenging the recent reservation granted to the Maratha community. The request for an early hearing came from Advocate Gunaratan Sadavarte, also one of the petitioners. The petition contests the legislation approved by the Maharashtra legislature, which provides 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community within the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) category for government jobs and educational opportunities. This law was passed on February 20, with the Governor's notification following on February 26. Find the other important events for the day: Oil India to consider 2nd interim dividend for FY24 on March 8 Finmin asks depts to surrender unspent Budgetary allocation March 8 International Womens Day: Traders body to host a Virat Lakhpati Didi Women Entrepreneur Summit." Telangana CM Reddy to lay foundation stone for Hyderabad Old City Metro on March 8. South Africa: 13th African Games opening on March 8. Pune International Film Festival's Nagpur Edition to start from March 8. OIL INDIA More Information Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! An international plan to facilitate aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip via the Mediterranean Sea will launch this weekend, European officials said, testing the ability of the U.S. and its allies to deliver food and essential supplies to a Palestinian population caught in a growing hunger crisis. Biden in his State of the Union address Thursday said he would direct the U.S. military to erect a floating pier to allow a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day," while urging Israel to allow more aid into Gaza as well. A pilot operation to bring aid mobilized by the United Arab Emirates into Gaza via the maritime corridor is expected to head out from Cyprus on Saturday or Sunday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The announcement comes after weeks of failed attempts by U.S. and Arab negotiators to mediate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas to alleviate an increasingly pressing humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip and allow more aid into the enclave. After a recent aid mission overseen by the Israeli military turned deadly, the U.S. last week began airdropping aid over Gaza, a move that some observers said would have little impact on the ground given the small amounts of supplies that can be delivered this way. The sea corridor plan shows the limits of Bidens willingness to pressure Israel, which has resisted his calls to open additional border crossings for aid into Gaza, said Mairav Zonszein, senior analyst with the International Crisis Group in Israel. The irony of the U.S. having to use airdrops and now this temporary pier, when in fact its greatest beneficiary and ally isnt cooperating on humanitarian access, is stunning." Zonszein added that without a cease-fire in Gaza, distributing aid would continue to be very difficult. The American plan is fraught with uncertainty: The shipments, enabled by the U.S. and a coalition of allies and partners, will initially be screened by Israel before departing Cyprus to ensure no weapons or other products helpful to Hamas fighters in Gaza are included. Israel will also monitor the shipments to ensure nothing is added en route. Cyprus first proposed a maritime corridor in October, but for months got little traction. The initial plan was for aid to be delivered that way once the fighting ended. Cypriot officials have said once the corridor is fully up and running, a landing ship could deliver 2,000 metric tons of aid in less than a day and return to Cyprus to be ready for a follow-up voyage in around 30 hours. U.S. officials hope that, if things works as planned, within four weeks, the equivalent of 200 truckloads of aid would arrive every day. That would still make it a stopgap measure compared with prewar times, when Gaza relied on approximately 500 truckloads a day. Questions also remain over how the aid delivered will make its way to Palestinians who need it most in the enclave. Last month, Israeli soldiers opened fire on civilians during an aid delivery by trucks, causing a stampede that left more than 100 Palestinians dead. Even before, the flow of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip from the southern border crossing with Egypt had slowed to a trickle amid a collapse of law and order in the enclave. U.S. officials said they are working with the U.N. and other partners to find safe routes within Gaza for the supplies to be transported by land to those in need after they reach the pier. Biden said no U.S. personnel will set foot in Gaza as part of the operation. Dave Harden, managing director of Georgetown Strategy Group and former USAID mission director to the West Bank and Gaza, said opening a temporary port in Gaza would be qualitatively different and could have a real impact, as opposed to the U.S. airdrops of aid, which he described as a stunt." Biden deserves credit for creative thinking. Obviously, the land crossings are the most important and efficient ways of moving assistance into Gaza and blunting famine risk," Harden said, adding that the pier would be a public indictment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus failure to open more crossings. But building a port in Gaza actually establishes facts on the ground, which changes the calculation between the Israelis and the Americans and helps push more aid in coordination with the U.N. to Gazas most vulnerable," he said. Meanwhile, Zonszein said, the maritime aid corridor also serves to relieve pressure on Israel by keeping Gaza from the brink of even worse humanitarian disaster and allowing it to continue its military campaign. The discourse in Israel is that we need the aid to come in so we can keep fighting," she said. In circles of the security establishment, it has been clear that you cant run an operation for months and months to root out Hamas without the people of Gaza functioning." Stephen Kalin contributed to this article. The 73-year-old, whose nomination comes on International Women's Day, was awarded the Padma Shri in 2006 and the Padma Bhushan in 2023 Philanthropist and author Sudha Murty was nominated to the Rajya Sabha on Friday. In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that her presence in the Upper House is a powerful testament to "Nari Shakti" (women's power), exemplifying the strength and potential of women in shaping the nation's destiny. Wishing her a fruitful tenure, he said, "I am delighted that the President of India has nominated Sudha Murty Ji to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Ji's contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy, and education have been immense and inspiring." Reacting to the news, Murty told CNN-News18, Its a big Womens Day gift to me. Its a new responsibility to work for the country." My heartiest congratulations to @SmtSudhaMurty Ji on being nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Your struggles, victories, and courage set a brilliant example of what Nari Shakti can achieve for our society and our nation. A warm welcome to the upper house where I am sure you will further embolden the voice of democracy," Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X. Sudha Murty, wife of Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy, is also the chairperson of the Murty Trust and has authored several books. Delighted to hear of @SmtSudhaMurty Ji's nomination to the Rajya Sabha by Hon'ble President of India. Her remarkable contributions in social work, philanthropy, and education inspire us all. In the Rajya Sabha, she embodies the strength of '#NariShakti,' showcasing the transformative power of women in shaping our nation's future. Wishing her a fruitful parliamentary tenure ahead," read a post on X by Nitin Gadkari. Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights! Click here The 73-year-old, whose nomination comes on International Women's Day, was awarded the Padma Shri in 2006 and the Padma Bhushan in 2023. Murty is also the mother-in-law of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Murty began her professional career in computer science and engineering. She is a also member of the public healthcare initiatives of the Gates Foundation. She has founded several orphanages, participated in rural development efforts, supported the movement to provide all Karnataka government schools with computer and library facilities, and established the Murty Classical Library of India at Harvard University. -With agency inputs Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The Google Doodle on Friday celebrated International Womens Day and all the progress that has been made towards gender equality. Meanwhile, on this day in 1975, the United Nations celebrated International Womens Day (IWD) for the first time. As per the description, March 8th commemorates two early Womens Day demonstrations, one in Saint Petersburg, and the other in New York City. While in different years and places, these rallies had common goals of achieving gender equality including fair and safe employment, the right to vote, and the right to hold public office." Also Read: Google Doodle celebrates Bulgaria Liberation Day. Know history, significance and more Moreover, this Doodle was illustrated by Doodle artist, Sophie Diao. The description further noted that IWD marches today focus on issues like gender and racial wage gaps, reproductive rights, and the prevention of violence against women. Today, people celebrate women who have transformed society, fought for equality, and set positive examples for people everywhere," it added. Google Doodle stressed the progress made by women over the years would not be possible without the courageous acts of those before them. Meanwhile, recognized as a pivotal date each year, International Women's Day serves as a cornerstone for celebrating women's accomplishments, amplifying discussions on gender equality, advocating for swifter progress towards parity, and mobilizing resources for women-centric initiatives. Also Read: International Women's Day 2024: 7 steps that lead to financial empowerment Heres to those who paved the way and to those who are carrying the torch further Happy International Womens Day!," it added. The colours associated with International Women's Day are purple, green, and white, each carrying symbolic significance. Purple represents justice and dignity, while green symbolizes hope. White, although a contentious concept, signifies purity. It is to be further noted that The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that follows the life of a young African American woman in the early 20th century South, exploring themes of race, gender, and identity. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The Hindu festival of Mahashivratri, which honours Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is being celebrated across India on Friday. In a post on X, Mahindra Group chairman, Anand Mahindra, said, Shiva is worship, there is no one else like Shiva, Shiva is devotion, Shiva is power, Shiva is love, Shiva is the protector of all. Best wishes to everyone on this great festival of worship of Lord Shiva." This auspicious occasion is marked by elaborate festivities held at Hindu temples, where devotees gather to offer prayers to Lord Shiva, the destroyer, and one of the most revered deities in Hinduism. Also Read: Maha Shivratri 2024: Know date, history, significance, timing, other details In Hindu mythology, it is believed that Mahashivratri commemorates the sacred marriage between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This occasion, known as 'The Night of Lord Shiva,' celebrates their divine union, symbolizing the harmony between consciousness (represented by Lord Shiva) and energy (represented by Goddess Parvati). Lord Shiva embodies mindfulness or Purusha, while Maa Parvati represents nature or Prakriti. Their union is believed to promote creation and the balance between the spiritual and material worlds. Also Read: International Women's Day 2024: Find out how Indian women wish to close gender pay gap while ensuring work-life balance Mahashivratri is celebrated with great reverence and grandeur, symbolizing the worship of both Lord Shiva's destructive and compassionate aspects. Devotees participate in various rituals, including fasting, meditation, and night-long vigils, seeking blessings for spiritual growth, prosperity, and well-being. On March 8, 2024, the Chaturdashi Tithi, or the fourteenth day, will commence at 09:57 PM and conclude at 6:17 PM on March 9. The Nishita Kaal Puja Time, a particularly significant period for worship, will commence at 12:07 AM and end at 12:56 AM on March 9. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Canada mass stabbing news: A 19-year-old student from Sri Lanka is accused of stabbing and killing six people he lived with, including a 2 1/2-month-old baby girl and three other kids from a Sri Lankan family, Ottawa police said Thursday. Ottawa police chief Eric Stubbs said an edged weapon" or knife-like object" was used by the suspect, who was identified as Febrio De-Zoysa. He has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Mass killings are rare in Canada. Stubbs said the deceased are Sri Lankan nationals who recently came to Canada. He said they include a 35-year-old mother, a 7-year-old son, a 4-year-old daughter, a 2-year-old daughter and the 2 1/2-month-old baby girl as well as a 40-year-old acquaintance of the family. The police chief said when the first officers arrived at the home the family's father was outside and screaming for someone to call 911. Police received two emergency calls at 10:52 p.m. Wednesday. The father is in hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries. This was a senseless act of violence perpetrated on purely innocent people," Stubbs said. Sri Lanka's high commission said that it is in touch with relatives in the country's capital, Colombo. De-Zoysa made a brief appearance in court Thursday and mumbled his assent as the justice of the peace ordered him not to speak to the father who survived the attack or to four other witnesses who provided statements to the police. His case was adjourned until March 13 to give him time to find a lawyer. Police were called to the home in the Barrhaven area just before 11 p.m. Wednesday night. The suspect was arrested quickly after that, and police said there was no continuing threat to public safety. Don Perera, a neighbor, said he met the family that lived in the home last fall at a Halloween party at the nearby Catholic elementary school. He said the father was from Sri Lanka. Shanti Ramesh, who lives across the street, was alerted to a commotion late Wednesday. From her balcony, she saw a man sitting on the driveway of the home and yelling before two police officers arrived and carried him away. On Thursday morning, five marked police cars were parked on the street and in driveways near the home, which is a middle unit of a row of brick townhouses. Several people in white jumpsuits were going in and out of the home throughout the early morning, while parents and kids walked and biked by on their way to a nearby elementary school. Our first reactions are all ones of shock and horror at this terrible violence," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe called the news distressing for all the city's residents. It's hard to believe," he said. It's devastating and heartbreaking." Police have identified the victims as Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake, the 35-year-old mother; Inuka Wickramasinghe, a 7-year-old boy; Ashwini Wickramasinghe, a 4-year-old daughter, Rinyana Wickramasinghe, a 2-year-old daughter and Kelly Wickramasinghe, a 2 1/2-month-old baby girl. A sixth victim, Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, 40, was also found deceased. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. When China launched the Yaogan-41 satellite into space late last year, it travelled further than most such objects. Reconnaissance satellites tend to sit in low-Earth orbit (LEO), whizzing around the planet between 11 and 16 times a day (see chart 1). But Yaogan-41 headed for higher ground, some 36,000km from the Earth. There, in geostationary orbit (GEO), the point at which a satellite circles the planet slowly enough to remain above the same point, it began watching. View Full Image ... China says Yaogan-41 will be used for benign activities, such as estimating crop yields and meteorological forecasting. But it is positioned over an area that includes Taiwan, the South China Sea and other potential flashpoints. Pairing its sharp eyes with artificial intelligence (AI) and information from other satellites could give China a unique ability to keep tabs on vehicles and vessels in the region. That would come in handy in the event of war, suggests a new analysis by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The launch of the Yaogan-41 is part of a larger Chinese push into the cosmos. China spends more on its space programme than any country bar America. In 2019 China landed a rover on the far side of the moon. Two years later it deployed one on Mars. Those efforts seem innocuous enough, but much of its activity has potential strategic value. An area of particular concern is satellites. View Full Image China-s-satellites-are-improving-rapidly--The-PLA- Over the past decade China has massively increased the number of satellites it has in operation, to a total of over 600 today (see chart 2). Of those, more than 360 are intelligence, surveillance or reconnaissance (ISR) satellites, which observe the Earth using sunlight, infrared waves or reflections from radar pulses. Chinas ISR fleet is second in size only to Americas, and its capabilities are finding appeal in the global marketplace. America recently sanctioned two Chinese firms for allegedly giving satellite images of Ukraine to the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary outfit. Most of Chinas satellites are of the LEO variety. Being closer to Earth, they tend to produce images with a higher resolution than those captured by GEO satellites. In terms of coverage, Chinas growing constellation of LEO satellites has gaps of less than 30 minutes between images of any one spot, says Juliana Suess of the Royal United Services Institute, a think-tank in London. GEO satellites have no gaps at all. Yaogan-41, for example, can watch over Asia without interruption. When used with other technologies, it could give China an unprecedented ability to identify and track car-sized objects throughout the entire Indo-Pacific region," writes Clayton Swope, a former CIA analyst now at CSIS. When covering such a large area, it is often difficult to know where to look. Modern software may help. In a paper published in Fire Control and Command Control, a journal linked to Chinas state defence industry, researchers noted that AI technology applied to images from the countrys Jilin-1 satellite, in low-Earth orbit, had achieved a 95% success rate in identifying small objects, including those that are moving. Such claims ought to be viewed with some scepticism. How the technology performs when objects are camouflaged or hidden is an open question. Optical satellites such as Yaogan-41, which sense visible light, can also be defeated by clouds. Still, as AI technology matures, it could give the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) the ability to quickly find American targets, such as warships at sea or bombers on runways, that are beyond the range of coastal radar. The concept is nothing new: the Soviet Union used both radar and radio-frequency satellites to track NATO ships and American aircraft-carriers, which sought to hide themselves physically and electronically. But it poses a serious challenge to American military planners. China has optical, multispectral, radar and radio-frequency sensors," says Jason Schramm, the deputy commander of Americas space forces in the Indo-Pacific. Those increase its ability to detect US aircraft-carriers." Mr Swope points out that optical satellites can even spot stealthy objects that are designed to deflect radar waves. In time, the combination of space-based sensors and advanced software might even allow the PLA to find and target small units of soldiers dispersed over a wide area, of the sort that America hopes to deploy in countries such as Japan and the Philippines. America should be under no illusions about the potential for China to detect and locate" most of their forward-deployed forces, in peacetime or in war, writes Russell Hoole, a Marine Corps intelligence analyst. But this is all harder in practice than in theory. Even America is struggling to build a battle network which can shunt data seamlessly from satellites to ships to guns. On the Chinese side, satellites like Yaogan-41 would probably still find it hard to locate and track a warship in the middle of the ocean with enough precision to enable a strike. And there is a lack of agility in the chain of command, meaning good intelligence may not get to the right people at the right time. Add in American countermeasures and the result is a lot of misses. This could potentially exhaust" Chinas arsenal if the PLA were to target a large number of American ships, said the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think-tank in London, in a recent report. China, though, is moving forward. In the past it invested heavily in counter-space weapons which could blind or destroy the satellites that Americas armed forces depend on to see, communicate and fight. Now it is on a path to recreating Americas vast and sophisticated network of capabilities in the cosmos. As it catches up, it will become increasingly exposed to the same sort of satellite-killing strategies with which the PLA has long threatened America. The result might be an era of mutually assured vulnerability in space. 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) -- France received a show of support from Baltic countries and Ukraine after President Emmanuel Macron irked other allies when he left the door open to sending troops to Ukraine. Lithuanias Gabrielius Landsbergis, Estonias Margus Tsahkna, Latvias Krisjanis Karins and Ukraines Dmytro Kuleba praised Macrons outside of the box" approach during a joint press conference, after Paris convened a meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Vilnius on Friday. What Macron is reminding everyone and bringing again to the forefront is the sense of urgency," Karins said. This is what is needed." Following an informal gathering of European leaders in Paris last week, Macron said nothing can be ruled out" when responding to a question from Bloomberg News about the possibility of dispatching ground troops to Ukraine. The French president added that European leaders had agreed to work on sending military staff there for non-combat tasks, such as de-mining and training. But some countries, including Germany and the US, have since said publicly they wont be sending troops, revealing a divide among Ukraines allies. Read more: Macrons Ambiguity on Ukraine Backfires as Allies Balk at Troops What I heard in Paris was unanimous support for Ukraine," French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said. De-mining, training, co-production it is about looking at how to do more. How to defeat Russia without going to war with Russia." Ukraines Kuleba welcomed the presence of European troops to train soldiers. We must win this race if you dont want your boots to be defending your own ground," he said. If you can train soldiers faster, you get advantage. If you can repair your equipment faster, you get advantage." Now in the third year of the invasion, Kyivs troops are struggling to overcome a shortage of ammunition and personnel, as well as a stalled $61 billion aid package from the US. During a trip to the Czech Republic this week, Macron told reporters that he found it necessary to shake up allies at a critical time for Ukraine. The French president, who plans to travel to Ukraine this month to show his support, has backed a Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Kyiv from non-European countries, possibly with EU funds, suggesting a shift in the French position that has long favored giving priority to EU-made defense equipment. The Czech plan could deliver about 800,000 shells to Kyiv as early as May, according to a person familiar with Ukraines thinking, though that still falls short of the 2 to 3 million rounds of ammunition needed. Estonia has identified more ammunition that can be bought on the markets but funding remains an issue, the person added, slamming Europe for being a less reliable supplier to Ukraine than North Korea is to Russia. Were entering a moment in Europe when we mustnt be cowards," Macron said in Prague on Tuesday. The comment was seen by some as a jab at Berlin, after German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius dismissed discussions on courage as unnecessary. Czech President Petr Pavel said this week he was open to discussing the potential presence of troops in Ukraine as long as they arent engaged in combat, a position echoed by Lithuanias defense minister last week. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Friday that the presence of NATO forces in Ukraine isnt unthinkable." Macron has been hardening his stance against Moscow, prompted by signs of a more aggressive Russia, French officials familiar with the presidents thinking said. They pointed to the handling of the death of Alexey Navalny, a strike on Ukraine during the visit of Greeces prime minister, attacks in the Red Sea and a leak of German military conversations broadcast by a Russian TV channel. France this week agreed to a defense pact with Moldova, the former Soviet republic of 2.6 million people thats wedged between Ukraine and Romania, and where Russian troops are stationed in the breakaway region of Transnistria. On Thursday, a Kremlin spokesman said Macron continues to raise the level of Frances direct involvement in this war." The French president who two years ago was calling on Europe not to humiliate Russia plans to hold national talks in Parliament on a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine starting Tuesday. Hes already facing domestic criticism as campaigning for European Parliament elections gears up: Marine Le Pen, head of the biggest lower-house opposition party, accused Macron of playing warlord" and talking so carelessly about our childrens lives." --With assistance from James Regan, Ott Tammik and Aliaksandr Kudrytski. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! YEREVAN, MARCH 8, ARMENPRESS. The speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, has issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of International Womens Day. The message reads as follows: ''Dear women, I heartily congratulate each of you on this beautiful day, International Womens Day. You are the beginning of life and you make the world the way it is with your gentle and tender nature. Dear mothers, there would be nothing without you. We thank you for giving life and creating destinies with unspeakable devotion, care and patience, often with hardships. Respect to the mothers of our soldiers who gave their lives for the motherland, who gave birth and raised heroes. We can talk about strong women endlessly. Historically, it has been proven many times how big role women play in all spheres. Dear women and girls, Be the way you are: Strong in subtlety, brave in modesty, wise in simplicity, and continue to fill the world with love with your existence. Love and appreciate yourself and believe that you can achieve all possible and seemingly impossible successes - be a good mother, sister, wife, businesswoman or all of them together. May your strength and charm always warm us. Congratulations on your day.'' Delivering humanitarian supplies to Gaza by airdrops or sea cannot sufficiently substitute" land deliveries, the UN aid coordinator for the Palestinian territory said Thursday after a closed-door Security Council meeting. Sigrid Kaag said her message to the UN Security Council was that the international community must "flood the market in Gaza with humanitarian goods" and re-energize the private sector" so more commercial goods can enter to meet civilians' needs. The diversification of the supply routes via land" this remains the optimal solution, she said. It's easier, it's faster, it's cheaper, particularly if we know that we need to sustain humanitarian assistance to Gazans for a long period of time." Her remarks came after the White House on Thursday announced plans to build a port in Gaza to get more humanitarian aid in and after several countries, including the United States, have dropped aid from airplanes in recent days. View Full Image Activists from the 'Standing Together' movement fill a truck with food aid, at the parking lot of a shopping centre of the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, before driving in a convoy toward the border with the Gaza Strip on March 7, 2024, in a symbolic show of support for Palestinians. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (AFP) Kaag welcomed the airdrops, which she said were a "symbol of support for the civilians in Gaza" and a testimony to our shared humanity." "But it's a drop in the ocean, it is far from enough," said the former Dutch finance minister, who was appointed in December following a Security Council resolution calling for large-scale" aid for Gaza. Asked about the main obstacles to delivering aid to the people of Gaza, Kaag noted the complicated border inspection process. "If everything goes through one or two crossings, it's harder to process. Verification checking takes time. There are cumbersome processes," she said. The UN secretary-general's spokesperson said that trucks arriving at the Rafah crossing on the Egypt-Gaza border must be unloaded after inspection and then reloaded, often onto smaller trucks. And then we need to find ways to distribute it; we need to find ways to facilitate that distribution in many areas, which requires the security coordination with the Israeli forces," Stephane Dujarric said. Kaag warned that "when fighting continues, when people are desperate, when the social fabric is torn down and lawlessness is on the rise, it gets harder and harder for us on the other side once it's been checked and verified to receive and distribute safely." Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! (Bloomberg) -- The United Nations atomic watchdog reiterated demands for Russia to return Europes largest nuclear power plant to Ukrainian control amid concern that deteriorating safety could lead to a meltdown. A majority of the International Atomic Energy Agencys 35-member board of governors passed a formal resolution of censure against Russia late Thursday. That came a day after Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi lauded the country for being the No. 1 vendor of nuclear technology in the world" and held talks with President Vladimir Putin in Russias Sochi. While the IAEA resolution is largely symbolic, it underscores official concern that Russias occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant could threaten a broader revival of atomic power as part of a shift away from carbon energy sources. Even a small nuclear accident at Zaporizhzhia could destroy development of the nuclear industry in the world," Ukraine Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in an interview before the vote. It is not in anybodys interest." Support for nuclear power has only slowly recovered 13 years after a tsunami triggered the triple meltdown at Japans Fukushima Dai-Ichi atomic plant, which is still laden with tens of billions of dollars in clean-up costs. Ukraine is home to historys biggest nuclear-power disaster, the 1986 meltdown at Chernobyl under the Soviet Union that rendered more than 1,000 square miles uninhabitable. Russia has repeatedly failed to take the necessary and prudent steps to minimize nuclear safety and security risks," US Ambassador Laura Holgate said. We reiterate our longstanding call on Russia to withdraw its military and civilian personnel from the plant and from all of Ukraine." Russias state-owned Rosatom Corp. took control over Zaporizhzhia home to six reactors built to supply a fifth of Ukraines electricity in September 2022, after Russian forces occupied the area during the early stages of the invasion Putin ordered. Ukraines military is fighting to push back Russian forces and regain control over its territory, though its counteroffensive has stalled in recent months. Building a new plant with Zaporizhzhias capacity would cost at least $40 billion. Even after two years of war in Ukraine that have triggered unprecedented international sanctions on other parts of Russias economy, the Kremlin continues to dominate key nuclear markets. Rosatom is the biggest exporter of reactors, supplying new projects in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Iran and Turkey. Russia is also the top producer of uranium fuel, which it transports to Europe and the US. During his trip to meet with Putin, which came a month after visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, the IAEAs Grossi said the nuclear energy industry was at a very important moment." Amid worldwide military conflict and political fragmentation, theres international consensus" that nuclear power needs to grow, he said. I must talk to both sides to help reduce the danger of a potentially severe nuclear accident that would recognize no borders," Grossi said Friday in a statement. No one stands to gain from a nuclear disaster, and we must do everything possible to prevent it. This was also my message to President Putin." A range of safety issues including frequent cuts to critical external power supplies and low water levels continue to plague Zaporizhzhia. Even as all six reactors are in a state of shutdown, Ukrainian engineers have warned that critical components need to be serviced and fuel must be replaced. European Union envoys warned Russia against any attempt to restart the plant. Zaporizhzhia must remain in a shut down state," the EU said in a statement. Russias attempts to illegally take ownership of Ukraines ZNPP have no validity under international law." (Updates with IAEA statement in the 11th paragraph) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Asserting that Asif Ali Zardari is set to be elected as the next President of Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said there will be strong coordination" between them. Meanwhile, during a dinner hosted to honour leaders of allied parties, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-chairman and former President Asif Zardari was announced as the candidate for the upcoming presidential election on March 9, as stated by Sharif. The coalition government secured two-thirds of the votes in the recent general elections and it would be reflected during the presidential election," he added. Also Read: Shehbaz Sharif thanks PM Modi for felicitating him upon re-election as Pakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif likened Pakistan's significant challenges to the towering Himalayas, emphasizing their magnitude. Despite this, he expressed optimism that these challenges could be surmounted with a resolute commitment and sincerity. Moreover, Sharif voiced concern regarding the poor indicators of the economy. He highlighted that the circular debt associated with gas and electricity stands at a staggering five trillion rupees. Additionally, he noted that Pakistan International Airlines owes 825 billion rupees, and electricity theft has surged to 500 billion rupees. He stated that he wished to increase the country's tax base to alleviate the problem of economic hardship, pointing out that Pakistan had a far lower tax-to-GDP ratio than its neighbours. Who is Asif Ali Zardari? Born on July 21, 1955, Asif Ali Zardari hails from a prominent family in Karachi. His father, Hakim Ali Zardari, held the position of chief of the Baloch Zardari tribe and was also a seasoned politician associated with the Awami National Party. Growing up in Karachi, Zardari enjoyed a privileged upbringing owing to his family's affluence. Also Read: Benazir Bhutto murder case: Pakistan court declares Pervez Musharraf fugitive In December 1987, Zardari tied the knot with Benazir Bhutto, marking a significant juncture in his personal life. From 1988 to 1996, he played a powerful albeit often discreet role during his wife's tenures as Prime Minister of Pakistan. However, his involvement in politics subjected him to a relentless campaign of retribution during Nawaz Sharif's tenure in Islamabad. Zardari's political career Zardari's political career included two terms as a Member of the National Assembly, from 1990 to 1993 and from 1993 to 1996. Zardari has faced nearly 11 years of imprisonment on various charges, including corruption and murder, despite never being convicted. In 1990, he was accused of orchestrating an attack on an MQM camp, resulting in the death of Syed Adnan Haider, as well as charges of robbery and vandalism, as per a report by ORF. Also Read: Pakistan Taliban claims it killed Benazir Bhutto Additionally, he was alleged to have attached a remote-controlled bomb to the leg of UK-based tycoon Murtaza Bukhari in an extortion attempt. Both Pakistani and Western investigators have accused Zardari of embezzling up to $1.5 billion from government accounts. Following his tenure as a Member of the National Assembly from 1993 to 1996, Zardari was charged with the murder of Murtaza Bhutto and detained under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. Also Read: Imran Khan claims Asif Ali Zardari hired a terrorist outfit to kill him During these periods, he occupied prominent ministerial roles such as Federal Minister for Environment and Minister for Investment. Despite sometimes operating behind the scenes, Zardari left a notable imprint on Pakistani politics. On January 2023, Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan alleged that former president Asif Ali Zardari had hatched a plan to assassinate him and also claimed that Zardari had given a contract to a terrorist outfit. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! ISTANBUL (AP) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , whose NATO-member country has sought to balance its close relations with both Ukraine and Russia, offered during a visit Friday from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to host a peace summit between the two countries. Erdogan, who has repeatedly discussed brokering a peace deal, said at a news conference in Istanbul following his meeting with Zelenskyy that he hoped Russia would be on board with Turkeys offer. Since the beginning, we have contributed as much as we could toward ending the war through negotiations," Erdogan said. "We are also ready to host a peace summit in which Russia will also be included." Zelenskyy said in a statement at the start of the meeting that he was grateful for Turkeys support. He said he was interested in strengthening bilateral cooperation, protecting commercial vessels in the Black Sea, and having Ukraine work with Turkish defense companies. Erdogan said the two discussed the stability of the shipping corridor and he reiterated Turkeys support for Ukraines territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence." The visit comes as Zelenskyy and other officials continue to press other nations for more munitions and weaponry to halt the advance of Russian troops trying to make deeper gains into the Ukraine-held western part of the Donetsk region and also penetrating into the Kharkiv region north of it in the third year of war. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he was attending a meeting of the foreign ministers of France, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, that "drop by drop" aid to Ukraine no longer works. If things continue as they currently happen, its not going to end well for all of us," Kuleba said. "What is required is an unrestricted and timely supply of all types of weapons and ammunition to ensure that Ukraine beats Russia and the war in Europe does not spill over." An envoy from China, which has frustrated Ukraine and its Western allies by boosting trade with Russia and portraying the conflict and its causes largely from Moscows point of view, was in Kyiv on Thursday during a European visit for talks on settling what it calls the Ukraine crisis. Li Hui, the special representative for Eurasian affairs, met with officials from Russia, the EU, Switzerland and Poland before his stop in Ukraine and was scheduled to go on to Germany and France. Shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Turkey hosted a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers as well as unsuccessful talks between negotiators from the two countries aimed at ending the hostilities. Later in 2022, Turkey, along with the United Nations, also brokered a deal between Russia and Ukraine that allowed the shipment of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. Russia, however, pulled out of the deal last year, citing obstacles to its export of food and fertilizers. In Istanbul, Zelenskky also was to visit shipyards where Turkish companies are building two corvettes for the Ukrainian navy, according to his office. Zelenskyy last visited Turkey last July, when he returned to Ukraine with a group of Ukrainian commanders who were in Turkey following a prison exchange deal, and were to remain on Turkish territory until the end of the war. There was no explanation from Ankara or Kyiv about why they were allowed to return to Ukraine. During Li's visit to Kyiv, Ukrainian officials described the horrors of the war. It is very important that you hear firsthand about the situation on the front line, what is happening and where we are," Andriy Yermak, the head of the presidential office, said, according to a Ukrainian statement. It wasnt clear how Li reacted to the presentation. China released a terse statement Friday saying only that Li arrived in Kyiv by train at noon, held candid and friendly talks, and departed by train the same evening. The war has created a sharp division between China and the West. The Chinese government avoids using the words war" or invasion" to describe Russias attack and cites NATO expansion as a root cause of the conflict. The Ukraine statement said the two sides discussed the possibility of Chinas assistance in prisoner exchanges, the return of Ukrainian children in Russia and the return of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia took control of during fighting in 2022. Ukraine Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko on Friday urged Russia to immediately comply with an International Atomic Energy Agency resolution calling for the complete withdrawal its troops from the Zaporizhzhia plant and return of the station to Ukrainian control. Every day that Russians stay at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant increases the number of the existing problems and increases the threat of a nuclear incident," Halushchenko said on national television. In other developments: Zelenskyy signed an order Thursday allowing the first demobilization of soldiers who were conscripted into the army before Russias full-scale invasion. The order takes effect in April or May. The soldiers, who had been required to continue their service after martial law was declared, can return home and remain in the army reserves, according to the order. It was not known how many troops are eligible because that information is classified. Indian authorities said Friday that they are in talks with Russia about returning Indian citizens duped into working for the Russian army, a day after a federal investigation agency said it broke up a human trafficking network that lured people to Russia under the pretext of giving them jobs. ___ Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press writers Ken Moritsugu in Beijing, Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi and Liudas Dapkus in Vilnius contributed to this report. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! A United Airlines Boeing 777 bound for Japan landed safely in Los Angeles on March 7 following a tyre mishap during takeoff from San Francisco, AP reported. Video footage captured the moment the aircraft lost one of its six tyres on the left-side main landing gear assembly shortly after takeoff. The dislodged tyre landed in a San Francisco International Airport employee parking lot, colliding with a car, shattering its rear window, and eventually coming to a halt in a neighbouring lot. Despite the dramatic incident, no injuries were reported, according to airport spokesperson Doug Yakel's statement. Boeing 777s are equipped with six tyres on each of the two main landing gears. The incident involved the loss of one tyre from the left-side main landing gear assembly. Smooth Landing in Los Angeles Fire engines were on standby at Los Angeles International Airport, but the Boeing 777 executed an uneventful landing, stopping approximately two-thirds down the runway. Airport spokesperson Dae Levine confirmed the safe landing and mentioned that the aircraft was subsequently towed away. The flight carried 235 passengers and a crew of 14, as disclosed by United Airlines. The airline assured that the 2002-built plane was designed to land safely even with missing or damaged tyres. Passengers are expected to continue their journey on another aircraft. Expert Insights Aviation experts told AP the public can be reassured that incidents of planes losing tyres are uncommon and do not signal broader safety concerns. In aviation, we never want to have single points of failure if they can be avoided, and this is a case in point. The remaining tyres are fully capable of handling the load," said Alan Price, a former chief pilot for Delta Air Lines. He added that a loose tyre is normally a maintenance issue and not a problem created by the manufacturer. John Cox, a retired pilot and professor of aviation safety at the University of Southern California, agreed. I dont see any impact for Boeing as it was a United maintenance team that changed the tyre," he said. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will investigate the incident, as confirmed by spokesperson Tony Molinaro. (With inputs from AP) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! US President Joe Biden, during his State of the Union address, announced that the US military will build a temporary port on Gaza's Mediterranean coast to provide large-scale humanitarian aid by sea. President Biden's announcement comes as a famine threat looms over battered Gaza, which is also facing mass displacement owing to Israel's incessant attacks. Joe Biden, who started off as the ally to Israel in its right to defend", has now called out the Benjamin Netanyahu government for orchestrating an impending famine in the Palestinians enclave. Israel's military campaign against Hamas fighters has devastated the Gaza Strip and plunged its 2.3 million people into a humanitarian catastrophe. The world has accused the Benjamin Netanyahu Government of genocide as Gaza's death toll crossed 30,000 in the fifth month of inflated war. During his State of the Union address, US President Joe Biden had said, To Israel, I say this: humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be priority". As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time." Biden stated, much to Israel's dismay. Nearly two million more Palestinians under bombardment or displaced, homes destroyed, neighborhoods in rubble, cities in ruin, families without food, water, medicine. Its heartbreaking," Biden said on Thursday night, declaring that the US was leading humanitarian relief efforts. Tonight, Im directing the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters," the president said. Biden promised no US boots will be on the ground", and said, This temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day." Biden also warned Israel that it must also do its part." We are not waiting on the Israelis. This is a moment for American leadership," Guardian quoted a senior official in the US government. How has Gaza been receiving aid till now? Most of the aid to Gaza has been brought by road as Israel cut off other sources in October 2023. According to Reuters, the aids come through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and, since December, via the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel. How will the temporary post promised by Biden help Gaza? According to a Reuters report, US military will build a floating port and install it on the Gaza shore. An official was quoted in US media saying it would be attached to land by a temporary causeway. Humanitarian aid will be shipped to the temporary port in Gaza from Cyprus where Israeli officials will inspect it. Israel has said that it "fully supports the deployment of a temporary dock" and promised "full cooperation between the two parties". Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Despite some progress, the state of women's representation on corporate boards globally and in India remains a concern for those advocating for gender equality. According to a Deloitte report, women held 29% of board seats globally. Europe made significant strides in gender diversity on boards, with countries like Norway, Finland and Sweden implementing quotas or legislative measures to boost female representation. According to Catalyst, women hold 34.7% of board seats in the European Union. In the Asia-Pacific region, women account for 16.8% of board seats. In India, women occupied 17.1% of board seats in Nifty-500 companies as of 2020, according to the Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IiAS). Women's representation on corporate boards in India tripled from 2013 to 18% in 2022, an EY report indicated. India introduced mandatory female directorship quotas in 2013, requiring certain classes of companies to have at least one woman on their boards. This move was aimed at galvanizing and fast-tracking the presence of women in corporate leadership roles. While there has been progress in increasing female representation on boards, it has been relatively slow. Even now, around 300 of Nifty-500 companies have only one woman director. All the talk about gender diversity, hyped by media, statements of corporate chieftains, and intent expressed by our leaders in the legislature are just good for the optics and are contrary to the ground situation faced by women. Conscious and unconscious bias galore. Simply having women on boards is not enough; their presence must be made meaningful and impactful. Women board members can foster diverse perspectives, drive inclusive decision-making, and bring positive change within organizations. Promoting inclusive governance practices is essential to ensure all voices are heard and valued in the boardroom. Women can advocate for policies and processes that drive inclusivity, such as ensuring diverse candidate slates for board positions, promoting open dialogue and respectful debate, and seeking input from all board members. Women can create a more collaborative and effective decision-making environment by championing inclusive governance. Even if theres only one woman in the boardroom, she can make a difference. One of the most significant contributions women board members can make is bringing a different perspective to the table. Women approach problems and opportunities from diverse angles, drawing on their unique experiences, backgrounds, and insights. They can challenge conventional wisdom, stimulate innovative thinking, and uncover new solutions to complex issues. Many women leaders bring a strong sense of social responsibility and sustainability to board discussions bringing in long-term sustainability and positive societal impact. Women in board positions can serve as role models and mentors for the next generation of leaders. They can share their experiences, offer guidance, and provide support to aspiring professionals so that they can cultivate a diverse pipeline of talent within the enterprise. They can use their influence to actively sponsor and advocate for the advancement of women into leadership positions. Leena Nair as Unilever's chief human resources officer did precisely that and reportedly achieved gender parity at senior roles globally there. And look where it has taken her: she is now the CEO of Chanel. The effectiveness of stakeholder engagement is critical for building trust, managing risk, and driving sustained value creation. Women board members can play a crucial role in ensuring that the interests of all stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors, and the community, are considered in board deliberations. How women can own the boardroom: Invest in ongoing learning and development opportunities to enhance skills, knowledge, and effectiveness in the boardroom. Participate in board governance programmes, seek mentorship from experienced directors, and stay informed about emerging trends and best practices in the industry. Build strong relationships with fellow board members, executives, and stakeholders to maximize influence and drive positive change. Voice opinions, ask questions, and challenge assumptions. Start leading by example and demonstrate the qualities of effective leadership. As the corporate world evolves, women on boards are not just fulfilling a quota; they are key to fostering inclusivity, innovation, and ethical governance. Their voices must be heard to shape the future of corporate leadership. (M. Muneer is a Fortune-500 advisor, startup investor and co-founder of the non-profit Medici Institute for Innovation. Chavi Hemanth is director of Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy. Views are personal.) Sure, Indian women have come a long way since 1947, when female infant mortality was unconscionably high and womens literacy hugely lagged that of men, especially in large swathes of north and central India. Today, more girl children survive into adulthood than ever before; female infant mortality has fallen from 213 deaths for every 1,000 live births in 1972 to 31 per 1,000 in 2021. Meanwhile, female literacy improved from 54.2% in 2001 to 65.5%, according to the 2011 census, while the gender gap narrowed. So, even as we hang our heads in collective shame over the horrific rape of a Swedish tourist in Jharkhand less than a week ago, showing how much further we must go, women today are far more empowered than even a few years ago. Studies like those conducted by ASER may take some of the shine off these numbers by pointing to the appalling quality of education in many of our schools. There are also the usual regional disparities that dog all aspects of economic and social life in a country as vast as diverse as ours, with our southern states ahead on gender indicators. But it is not enough that more women are better educated today and able to compete on equal terms with their male counterparts for the best jobs in the country. They must also be able to take their own financial decisions. A womans best protection" is no longer a little money of her own," as US politician Clare Booth Luce once said, but the ability to manage it on her own. Unfortunately, an overwhelming majority of women lack the financial knowledge and skills that are key to their empowerment. Like the gender gap in mortality and literacy, women are found to lag men in both financial knowledge and access to financial products. While progress is clearly a function of societal changes, especially the chipping away of patriarchal social structures in the country, it is hard to say which comes first. Does societal change pave the way for financial empowerment or is it the other way round? The example of womens self-help groups, like Keralas Kudumbashree, suggests its the latter. Financial inclusion can and must be given a gender dimension. This is where initiatives like women-only branches, pioneered by nationalized banks, could help. The digitization of our economy and digital public infrastructure mean that women can now access financial products sitting at home. Government initiatives like the Jan Dhan Yojana, under which direct cash transfers are made to womens bank accounts, and platforms like the Open Network for Digital Commerce, which enables women entrepreneurs to market their products online, are examples of what can be done for gender inclusion. As women become equal partners in the countrys development, the current government slogan of Beti bachao, Beti padhao, asking people to save the girl child and educate her, should be appended with Vitt sikhao: Teach her finance. In a country that boasts of an elaborate identity platform in Aadhaar that serves as a basis for our much-vaunted digital public infrastructure, its hard to grasp why the rejection rate of final provident fund (PF) claims should rise from about 13% in 2017-18 to nearly 34% in 2022-23, as reported. This hit the spotlight after a retired man who waited nine years for his dues took his life in frustration last month. The Kochi office of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), which had reportedly rejected the mans claim on account of an ID mismatch, released his savings soon after his death. With PF accounts Aadhaar-linked and EPFO dealings having gone online, its identity validation should have gotten easier and internal processes faster. Yet, even if the Kochi case is aberrative, the high PF rejection rate suggests something is amiss. Could it be that a heavy focus on identity, brought about by a big regulatory push for know-your-customer details across the financial sector, is going against the stated intent of easing our lives? While cross-linked databases may serve valid aims of governance, tiny discrepancies can play havoc. Lets face it: a human interface still matters. Congress candidate List: Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Rajnandgaon constituency, said Congress general secretary KC Venugopal at the party's press conference held on Friday. The grand old party announced the first list of its Lok Sabha candidates on Friday. High-profile names like former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, and Dr Shashi Tharoor were included in the 39-member list of Congress' Lok Sabha candidates. The first list of the grand old party has come almost a week after the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first list of candidates for the general elections in 2024. About Bhupesh Baghel The former CM of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel was the chief of the state Congress between 2014 and 2019. He holds a strong presence in the Patan constituency from where he has won assembly elections multiple times. He has also served as a minister in Digvijaya Singh's government in Madhya Pradesh. Baghel has been elected from the Patan constituency to the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly five times over the past three decades. Last year in December, the Congress leader won the Patan assembly seat once again with a wide margin of 19,723 votes by defeating his distant nephew and BJP leader Vijay Baghel. Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, and other prominent names on Congress candidate's first list The first list of the Congress candidates for Lok Sabha polls 2024 mentioned Rahul Gandhi, from Kerala's Wayanad, Shashi Tharoor from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, former minister Tamardwaj Sahu from Mahasamund and Jyotsna Mahant from Korba seats in Chhattisgarh. In Karnataka, DK Suresh will fight elections from Bangalore Rural. Whereas, in Kerala, K Sudhakaran is from Kannur. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal will contest from Alapuzza. The names of the Congress leaders mentioned in the list were approved by the party's Central Election Committee (CEC). The CEC's first meeting was held in the national capital on March 7. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! With a growing number of Australians reportedly resorting to dumpster diving, a veteran dumpster diver has revealed how productive it can be for those willing to get their hands dirty. Simon Eden has been dumpster diving for decades. The now 61-year-old has a passion for recycling and saving "as much" as he can from landfill, and says "80 per cent" of his food is found discarded in bins around South Australia. "All I buy is my soy milk and bananas once a week," he tells Yahoo News. The Adelaide local films his hauls and shares it online to "show how much food waste" there is out there, which has brought thousands of subscribers from across the globe. "It's atrocious," Simon says of the waste he sees. Simon Eden films his dumpster finds to highlight how much food waste there is from big supermarkets. Source: Supplied Aldi, petrol stations and op shops are go-to dumper diving spots Simon gets a majority of his food finds from Aldi stores near his home in the Adelaide CBD. "Tonnes of bananas, just tonnes of bananas" he can be heard saying in a YouTube video he posted this week showing bread, sausages, ready-made meals and produce in a skip outside an Aldi store. However he says he is no longer able to go to retail giants Coles and Woolworths. "I see them standing there on the loading dock, ripping the packaging open and throwing the contents in," he claims. A Senate inquiry into supermarket pricing on Thursday heard a growing number of Australians are turning to dumpster diving due to the increased cost of living. Simon says he rarely sees other fellow dumpster divers at the bins he goes to in Adelaide despite how much edible food is there for the taking. Speaking to the inquiry, Amelia Cromb from the organisation Grassroots Action Network Tasmania said large amounts of food at supermarkets had been needlessly thrown away before the expiry of 'best before dates'. "It just seems like such a cruel mockery almost that people are going to supermarkets to buy food that is a human right ... and at the end of the day the supermarket can just basically rip the tag off that high price, throw it in the bin as though it had no value at all," she said. "It's criminal, there's no other way to put it, it's just unacceptable." Story continues Ms Cromb told the committee that significant portions of food that were thrown out of supermarkets were still consumable, which the community group had regularly passed on to people in need. As well as food, Simon finds many things from "expensive dinner sets" and "electronics" to brand new "board games" in the bins of op shops in affluent areas. "One of my most expensive finds was two Samsung smart TVs," he recalled. Simon not only finds food but once found two working smart TVs thrown away (left). Source: Supplied Practice not legal in Australia Dumpster diving does come with its dangers however, with some shop staff threatening to call the police on Simon if they see him rummaging through their bins. At one op shop recently, he says a woman "raced out" of the store to stop him before threatening to call the police. "They put these skip bins on the front footpath and [she] came racing out I was stupid enough to go there while they were still open and she came racing out and she slammed the lid down almost on my fingers," he said, adding the bins were on "public property" and the rubbish was headed to landfill. The laws on dumpster diving vary between council areas but overall it is considered illegal in Australia, treated similarly to trespassing. Police have also warned that some forms of dumpster diving can be deadly. In February, a man's body was found "wedged in a clothing bin" at a Westfield shopping centre car park on the NSW Central Coast after police believe he was bin surfing, fell and broke his neck. The dumpster diving community unofficial rules Simon says the best time of year to go looking for food in bins is when it is cooler, so the food does not go off so fast, and that it's better to wait until shops are closed before digging in. For those who are within the dumpster diving community, there are also unofficial "rules" to follow to make sure the practice can continue peacefully, Simon said. That includes never leaving a mess behind and even leaving areas cleaner than how you found them. "Pick up the rubbish others have left," he implores. A dumpster diver picks through discarded food items in the back lot of a supermarket. Source: Getty Cost-of-living pressures driving more people to the bins Judging by comments in private dumpster diving groups on social media, many Australians are interested in the potential of sourcing their food from the rubbish of retail giants and joining the likes of Simon. The ongoing Senate inquiry into supermarket pricing was told cost of living pressures have led to many people skipping meals altogether, or sourcing food that had been thrown out. In 2023, a community leader in Lismore on the NSW North Coast told Yahoo he hosts workshops to teach struggling individuals how to safely and successfully participate in the activity, saying a "treasure hunt" awaits those eager to join. "I couldn't have imagined the insane amount of perfectly good food that is thrown away," he told Yahoo. "It's really shocking and disturbing." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A Delhi court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam . As reported by PTI, Special Judge M K Nagpal extended their custody after they were brought before the court following the expiration of their earlier judicial remand. ED requested an extension of their judicial custody, citing the critical stage of the case and expressing concerns that if released, the accused might interfere with the ongoing investigation. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), irregularities were reported during the modification of the Delhi excise policy. Allegations include providing undue advantages to license holders, waiving or reducing license fees, and extending the L-1 license without approval from the competent authority. The individuals who benefited from the alleged illegal gains redirected them to the accused parties and falsified entries in their financial records to avoid detection. Also Read: Delhi excise policy scam: ED attaches 52-cr worth assets of arrested AAP leader Manish Sisodia, wife The ED initiated its inquiry following a case filed by the CBI and is examining the money laundering aspect of the purported scam. The CBI arrested Sisodia in February 2023 and he was taken in custody from Tihar Jail by the ED in March. Following his arrest by the CBI, Sisodia stepped down from his position as Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi. Sanjay Singh, who was detained by the ED in October 2023, secured reelection for a second consecutive term to the Rajya Sabha in January of this year. (With inputs from PTI) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. He has been pitted against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. ALSO READ: BJP candidate list 2024: PM Modi, Amit Shah, others feature in first list of 195 candidates | State-wise full list After being a declared a Congress candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor said, I am honoured and humbled that the Congress has given me an opportunity to defend my seat...I look forward to a fair and effective contest." Tharoor was among 39 candidates declared in Congress' first list for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The Congress' first list of candidates, announced on Friday, included high-profile leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Bhupesh Baghel and K Muraleedharan. Follow Congress candidate list LIVE Updates here Shashi Tharoor is currently representing the Thiruvananthapuram constituency for the third time. He was first elected as a Lok Sabha MP from this seat in 2009. He has previously served as the Minister of State for Human Resource Development and Minister of State for External Affairs in the Congress-led government. Meanwhile, Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Information Technology and Skill Development, is a three-time Rajya Sabha member. He will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls for the first time in 2024. He has been a prominent voice in the Narendra Modi government. Chandrasekhar and Tharoor are from Kerala. However, neither of them were born there. Chandrasekhar was born to Malayali parents in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. His ancestral home is in Thrissur district of Kerala. Tharoor was born in London to Chandran Tharoor and Sulekha Menon, a Malayali couple from Palakkad, Kerala. As per the first list of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad in Kerala. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel will fight from Rajnandgaon seat. Former minister Tamardwaj Sahu has been fielded from Mahasamund and Jyotsna Mahant from Korba seats in Chhattisgarh. DK Suresh will contest from Bangalore Rural in Karnataka, K Sudhakaran from Kannur. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal will contest from Alapuzza. The list of 39 candidates was released after the party held its Central Election Committee meeting on Thursday. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 are set to be held this year in May. The Election Commission of India is yet to announce the poll dates. However, political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, have started campaigning, announcing candidates and making poll promises. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will launch its poll campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024 from the national capital on March 8. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also the National Convenor of AAP, his Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, and other party leaders and declared candidates will be present at the campaign launch, according to reports in news agencies. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in alliance with Congress in five states, including Delhi, as part of the Opposition INDIA bloc. AAP will contest four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, while the Congress party will contest the remaining three as part of the agreement between these two INDIA bloc partners. The four seats that AAP will contest in the national capital are New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and East Delhi. The Congress will contest from Chandni Chowk, North East Delhi and North West Delhi. Also Read: When will women start getting 1,000 in their bank accounts? Delhis Finance Minister Atishi answers... AAPs sops to woo the electorate Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal announced on Thursday, March 7, that the free electricity scheme in the national capital has been extended until March 31, 2025. I am extremely glad to announce that in todays cabinet meeting, it has been decided that free electricity bills and subsidies will continue in 2024-2025 as well for the people of Delhi," said AAP leader and minister Atishi while addressing the media on Thursday. The party also announced a scheme of giving 1000 per month to all women in Delhi above the age of 18 years in its Delhi budget presented last week. The scheme is expected to benefit at least 50 lakh women in the union territory. AAP is banking on these schemes to ensure a good showing in the Lok Sabha Polls. In 2019, the BJP had won all seven Lok Sabha seats in the state. AAP and Congress have also agreed on a seat-sharing arrangement in Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Goa. AAP will contest two seatsBharuch and Bhavnagar in Gujarat. (With agency inputs) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The Congress party will soon release its first list of candidates from about ten states and union territories for the Lok Sabha 2024 polls. The list will likely clear names for candidacy, including that of Rahul Gandhi, from Wayanad in Kerala, by the party's Central Election Committee (CEC), which had its first meeting in the national capital on Thursday, March 7. "I believe the announcement of candidates from the states that were discussed during yesterday's meeting will be done today or tomorrow," Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, told news agency ANI. The CEC meeting was chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by senior leaders, including Sonia Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi attended the meeting virtually from Gujarat. The CEC, which is meeting again on Monday, has also cleared names of 11 candidates from Karnataka. The meeting approved the candidacies of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon seat, former minister Tamardwaj Sahu from Mahasamund and Jyotsna Mahant from Korba seat in Chhattisgarh. Also Read: Lok Sabha Polls 2024 : Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad again, name cleared by Congress CEC, say sources Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi's name was suggested for re-election by the party's screening committee in Kerala. His candidature from Amethi is unclear yet because candidates from Uttar Pradesh were not discussed in the CEC's Thursday meeting. The Communist Party of India (CPI) has fielded senior party leader Annie Raja from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency. Rahul won Wayanad by a record margin in 2019. However, he lost Amethi, the erstwhile Congress bastion in Uttar Pradesh, to BJP leader Smriti Irani. Among other names, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor's name has also been cleared for re-election by the CEC. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar from this seat in Kerala. The Congress party is contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as part of the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties. Also Read: Lok Sabha Election 2024: Shashi Tharoor vs Rajeev Chandrasekhar? High-octane poll battle likely in Thiruvananthapuram The BJP has kept a 370 seats target for the party in the upcoming polls and 400 for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The BJP has already released its first list of candidates, comprising 195 names, including those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In 2019, the Lok Sabha polls were held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The result, declared on May 23, saw a landslide victory for the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi with 303 seats in the 543-member House. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Commenting on the recent no-family remark made by RJD chief Lalu Yadav against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, JKNC leader Omar Abdullah on Friday said that voters are not swayed by such statements. He stated that the opposition has never gained any advantages from such rhetoric. As reported by PTI, Abdullah said, I was never in favour of such slogans (statements) and we have never benefited from them. Voters are not influenced by such things, they want to know how the issues they are facing at present will be resolved." Also Read: Countering Lalu Prasad jibe: Why BJP's Modi ka Parivaar trend is deja vu moment for Congress-led INDIA coalition JKNC leader further added, We do self-goal by giving such statements and allow (PM) Modi to score. We should raise issues concerning people. Chowkidar, Adani-Ambani, Rafale, family...these things don't work." Also Read: Modi Ka Parivar: From Chai Pe Charcha to Main Bhi Chowkidar, how BJP weaponises Opposition jibes at PM Modi While speaking at the party's 'Jan Vishwas Maha Rally' in Patna on Sunday, Lalu Yadav criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of spreading hatred under the guise of religion. Earlier on Monday, in a united move against RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav's 'no family' remark jibe against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top BJP leaders including Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari, Jyotiraditya Scindia and others added 'Modi ka Parivaar' to their social media biodatas. "These days he is talking about dynastic politics. You (PM Modi) don't have a family. You are not even a Hindu. When your mother died, every Hindu, as per tradition, shaved his beard and head. Why did you not shave? You only spread hatred in society," RJD Chief Lalu Yadav said. Soon after, while addressing a public gathering in Telangana's Adilabad, PM Modi reacted to the RJD Chief's remarks. He said, The leaders of the INDI-Alliance, deeply engrossed in corruption, nepotism and appeasement, are becoming nervous. When I question their 'Parivarvad', they have started saying that Modi has no family," the Prime Minister said. Also Read: PM Modi in Bengal: Modi Ka Parivar Mothers, sisters, daughters stand as shield when... "My life is an open book, 140 crore people in the country are my family. Today, crores of daughters, mothers and sisters of the country are in Modi's family. Every poor person in the country is my family. Those who have no one also belong to Modi and Modi belongs to them. They say 'Nene Modi Kutumbam' (I'm Modi family)," he said. In 2019, after the Prime Minister introduced the Chowkidar" slogan, both BJP leaders and members of the public adopted the prefix Main Bhi Chowkidar" to their names. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi should apologise for the Pakistan Zindabad slogan in the Karnataka Assembly premises , BJP demanded. Referring to the February 27 incident, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Thursday blasted the Congress leadership, saying senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were seen with a person arrested for allegedly raising the Pakistan Zindabad slogan. Bhatia also pointed out that the Congress leaders initially denied that such a slogan was raised and instead targeted the BJP for raising the issue. He further asserted that, hence, senior leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi must acknowledge their partys mistake and apologise. The slogan was raised by some supporters of Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain after his victory in the Rajya Sabha elections. Bhatia said, While democracy is getting stronger under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, it will not be wrong to say that the opposition is being cunning and doing treachery." The BJP leader showed pictures of one accused with different Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi. He also highlighted photographs of another accused with state Congress leaders. Three persons were arrested for allegedly raising the Pakistan Zindabad slogan in the Vidhana Soudha corridors on February 27. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered an investigation by government-run Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to check the veracity of the allegations. Based on the FSL report, the police arrested the three persons. Bhatia claimed that the Karnataka government acted under pressure after the BJP raised the issue. He also took a swipe at some fact-checkers" for rejecting the BJPs allegation. Rahul Gandhi is seen hugging" one of the accused, he said, claiming that the opposition party is now seeking to draw its sustenance from Pakistan. The BJPs resolve is to develop India and stamp out terrorism, but the Congress is concerned solely about coming to power even if it has to express its love for Pakistan and those who are anti-national, he alleged. People will give Modi a historic mandate for a third term in government, he asserted. (With agency input) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! In summer, an air conditioner is not just a luxury but a necessity. If you're on a budget, finding the right one that balances cost and performance is crucial. In this comprehensive list, we've curated a selection of the best air conditioners under 45,000 to help you stay cool without breaking the bank. Our expert recommendations cover a range of AC types, including split and window units, to suit your specific needs. We've evaluated each model based on factors like cooling capacity, energy efficiency, and additional features, ensuring you get the most value for your money. Whether you're looking for a powerful AC for a large room or a compact unit for a smaller space, we've got you covered. With our detailed insights and comparisons, you'll be able to make an informed decision and enjoy a cool and comfortable environment at home or in the office, even during the hottest days of summer. 1. Panasonic 1.5 Ton 5 Star Wi-Fi Inverter Smart Split AC Panasonic, a trusted name in Indian households for years, offers the 1.5 Ton 5-Star Wi-Fi inverter smart split AC, a testament to their commitment to quality. This AC boasts an array of features, including a 7-in-1 convertible mode with AI intelligence for optimal cooling and energy savings. Its 100% copper condenser ensures durability, and the PM 0.1 air purification filter ensures clean, healthy air. The Wi-Fi connectivity and voice control via Alexa and Hey Google add convenience, while the 4-way swing ensures consistent cooling. With low-noise operation and environmentally friendly refrigerant, it's a great choice. Specifications of Panasonic 1.5 Ton 5 Star Wi-Fi Inverter Smart Split AC Capacity: 1.5 Ton Energy Rating: 5 Star Warranty: 1 Year Comprehensive, 9 years on Compressor, 5 years on Outdoor Unit Inverter Compressor: Twin Cool Inverter with variable speed Refrigerant Gas: R32 Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Smart AI features for energy-efficient cooling Relatively higher price point Reliable and longstanding brand Requires Wi-Fi for full functionality 2. LG 1.5 Ton 4 Star DUAL Inverter Split AC The LG 1.5 Ton 4 Star DUAL Inverter Split AC is a powerful and energy-efficient air conditioner suitable for small-sized rooms. It features an inverter compressor that adjusts its power based on the heat load, providing variable-speed cooling. With AI Convertible 6-in-1 technology, users can adjust the cooling capacity as needed. The AC has a 4-way swing, and HD filter with anti-virus protection and operates quietly indoors. Its copper condenser with Ocean Black Protection ensures durability and uninterrupted cooling. Specifications of LG 1.5 Ton 4 Star DUAL Inverter Split AC Brand: LG Capacity: 1.5 Tons Energy rating: 4 Star Refrigerant: R32 Warranty: 1 Year on product, 5 Years on PCB, 10 Years on Compressor with Gas Charging Features: Inverter Compressor, AI Convertible 6-in-1 Cooling, VIRAAT Mode, HD Filter with Anti-Virus Protection, 15 MTS Airthrow, ADC Sensor Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Energy-efficient May be expensive Inverter compressor Requires regular maintenance 3. Voltas 1.5 Ton 5 Star, Inverter Split AC Voltas, a trusted Indian brand, presents its 1.5-ton 5-Star inverter split AC, perfect for beating the scorching heat. This AC offers versatility with its 4-in-1 adjustable mode, allowing you to tailor the cooling capacity to your needs. It's highly energy-efficient, boasting a 5-star rating. A copper condenser coil, it ensures robust cooling and longevity, while features like anti-dust and antimicrobial protection contribute to healthier air quality. Voltas' commitment to quality and energy efficiency makes this AC a reliable and eco-conscious choice for Indian households. Specifications of Voltas 1.5 Ton 5 Star, Inverter Split AC Capacity: 1.5 Ton Energy Rating: 5 Star Warranty: 1 Year Comprehensive, 10 Years on Compressor Refrigerant: R32 Noise Level: IDU - 47 dB Stabilizer-Free Operation (110 - 285 V) Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Indian brand with a strong reputation Installation charges may apply Energy-efficient and eco-friendly R32 refrigerant Suitable for medium-sized rooms Also read: Best 1.5 ton AC in India: Top 10 options to get summer ready with high capacity and advanced features 4. Samsung 1.5 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC The Samsung 1.5 Ton 5-Star inverter split AC is a cooling powerhouse with its Convertible 5-in-1 modes, offering flexibility to match your needs. With a 5-star BEE rating and an impressive ISEER rating of 5.16 W/W, it's energy-efficient and eco-friendly, using R32 refrigerant. The copper condenser coil ensures efficient cooling and minimal maintenance. Notable features include 3-Step Auto Clean, Easy to Clean Filter, and Triple Protection Plus. While it excels in cooling modes and energy efficiency, installation charges and suitable room size should be considered. Specifications of Samsung 1.5 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC Capacity: 1.5 Ton Warranty: 1 Year Standard, 10 Years on Digital Inverter Compressor Refrigerant Gas: R32 Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Versatile Convertible 5-in-1 cooling modes Requires consistent power supply Low maintenance with copper condenser coil Suitable for medium-sized rooms only 5. Daikin 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC The Daikin 1.5 Ton 3-star inverter split AC is an efficient cooling solution with a focus on healthy air. It features a PM 2.5 filter to ensure you breathe clean and purified air. The rotary compressor offers energy efficiency, and the copper condenser coil provides effective cooling while requiring minimal maintenance. Additional features like Coanda airflow and Power chill enhance your cooling experience. While it excels in air purification, it's worth noting that this AC is suitable for medium-sized rooms and operates with a noise level of 33 dB indoors. Specifications of Daikin 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC Capacity: 1.5 Ton Warranty: 1 Year on Product, 5 Years on PCB, 10 Years on Compressor Refrigerant Gas: R32 Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Effective PM 2.5 Filter for healthy air 3-star rating Copper condenser coil ensures efficient cooling Moderate noise level 6. Blue Star 1.5 Ton 5 Star Convertible 5 in 1 Cooling Inverter Split AC The Blue Star 1.5 Ton 5-Star convertible 5 in 1 cooling inverter split AC is a stellar choice for cooling needs. Its 4-way swing ensures even cooling, while hydrophilic Blue Fins enhance durability by preventing corrosion. The self-diagnosis feature simplifies troubleshooting. With 5-star energy efficiency and a 10-year warranty on the inverter compressor, this AC offers both performance and longevity. It's a smart investment for efficient and reliable cooling in your space. Specifications of Blue Star 1.5 Ton 5 Star Convertible 5 in 1 Cooling Inverter Split AC Capacity: 1.5 Ton Warranty: 10 years on inverter compressor, 5 years on PCB, 1 year on Product Noise Level: 30.8 dB Ambient Temperature: 54 degrees Celsius Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid 5-in-1 Convertible cooling for personalized comfort Suitable for small-sized rooms Self-diagnosis feature for easy troubleshooting 7. Daikin 1 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC The Daikin 1 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC is a high-performance air conditioner suitable for small-sized rooms. It features a swing compressor with high ISEER (5.2) for energy efficiency. The AC comes with Dew Clean Technology for healthy air, a 5-star energy rating for efficiency, and a copper condenser coil for better cooling and low maintenance. Special features include Turbo cooling, 3D Airflow, Remote Control, Triple Display, Automatic Moisture Adjustment, and PM 2.5 Filter for air purification. The AC also offers a warranty of 1 year on the product, 5 years on PCB, and 10 years on the compressor. Specifications of Daikin 1 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC Brand: Daikin Capacity: 1 Ton Energy Rating: 5 Star Refrigerant: R32 Warranty: 1 Year on Product, 5 Years on PCB, 10 Years on Compressor Features: Inverter Compressor, Turbo cooling, 3D Airflow, Remote Control, Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid High energy efficiency May be expensive for some Turbo cooling for quick cooling Requires installation Dew Clean Technology for healthy air May not be suitable for large rooms 8. Blue Star 2 Ton 3 Star Fixed Speed Window AC Blue Star 2 Ton 3 Star fixed speed window AC is a powerful cooling solution for large rooms. Its copper condenser and highly efficient rotary compressor ensure effective cooling even in extreme temperatures. The 3-star energy rating makes it relatively energy-efficient. This AC offers versatile modes, including Comfort Sleep and Turbo Cooling, to cater to different needs. It also features humidity control, dust filters, and self-diagnosis for enhanced convenience. While it provides robust cooling, it lacks some advanced features found in newer models. Nevertheless, it's a reliable choice for those seeking efficient window AC cooling. Specifications of Blue Star 2 Ton 3 Star Fixed Speed Window AC Cooling Capacity: 2 Ton Energy Rating: 3 Star Condenser: Copper Modes: Auto/Cool/Fan/Dry Noise Level: 53 dB Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Effective cooling for large rooms Lacks advanced features like smart connectivity Versatile modes and features like Comfort Sleep and Turbo Cooling Fixed speed compressor Self-diagnosis for easy troubleshooting 9. Lloyd 1.5 Ton 4 Star Fixed Speed Window AC The Lloyd 1.5 Ton 4 Star Fixed Speed Window AC is a reliable and efficient cooling solution for medium-sized rooms. It features a non-inverter compressor that is economical and easy to install. The AC has a smart and elegant design, making it suitable for both office and home interiors. With a 4-star energy rating, it offers low noise operation and consumes less energy. It is equipped with special features such as a self-diagnosis function, copper tubes for better heat exchange, and bluefin coils for better cooling performance and durability. Specifications of Lloyd 1.5 Ton 4 Star Fixed Speed Window AC Brand: Lloyd Capacity: 1.5 Tons Energy rating: 4 Star Refrigerant: Not specified Warranty: 1 Year on product, 5 Years on compressor Features: Self Diagnosis Function, 100% Copper, Corrosion Resistance Coating Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid 4-star energy rating Non-inverter compressor Copper tubes for better heat exchange Fixed speed operation Blue fin coils for better cooling performance Limited cooling capacity in larger rooms Also read: Best air conditioners in India: 10 top-rated AC brands and prices 10. HITACHI 1.5 Ton 5 Star, Window Inverter AC Imagine a scorching summer day, and you return home longing for a cool oasis. Hitachi's 1.5 Ton 5 Star window inverter AC is your answer. With its inverter compressor, it efficiently cools rooms sized 150-180 sq. ft., even in searing heat (up to 43C). Its 5-star energy rating ensures high efficiency, and the copper condenser guarantees low maintenance. The AC offers versatile modes and comes with an LCD remote for convenience. While it's a great cooling solution, it may be a bit expensive compared to non-inverter models. Specifications of HITACHI 1.5 Ton 5 Star, Window Inverter AC Capacity: 1.5 Tons Cooling Power: 4900 Kilowatts Features: Remote Controlled, Anti-Bacterial Filter, Dehumidifier Product Dimensions: 75.5D x 66W x 43H cm Warranty: 1-Year Comprehensive Warranty Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Exceptional cooling, even in extreme heat Higher initial cost due to inverter technology Versatile modes and LCD remote control Best 3 features for you Product Name Capacity Energy Rating Features Panasonic 1.5 Ton 5 Star Wi-Fi Inverter Smart Split AC 1.5 Tons 5 Star 7 in 1 Convertible Modes with additional AI Mode, PM 0.1 Air Purification Filter, Voice Control with Alexa and Hey Google, 4 Way Swing LG 1.5 Ton 4 Star DUAL Inverter Split AC 1.5 Tons 4 Star Inverter Compressor, AI Convertible 6-in-1 Cooling, 4 Way Swing, HD Filter with Anti-Virus Protection Voltas 1.5 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC 1.5 Tons 5 Star Inverter compressor, 4-in-1 Adjustable Mode, Anti-dust Filter, R32 Refrigerant Samsung 1.5 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC 1.5 Tons 5 Star Convertible 5in1 Cooling, 3 Step Auto Clean, Copper Anti-Bacterial Filter Daikin 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC 1.5 Tons 3 Star Inverter Compressor, PM 2.5 Filter, Fast Cooling Blue Star 1.5 Ton 5 Star Convertible 5 in 1 Cooling Inverter Split AC 1.5 Tons 5 Star Convertible 5 in 1 Cooling, Heating And Cooling Function, Air Purification Filter Daikin 1 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC 1 Tons 5 Star Inverter Swing compressor, Dew clean technology, Triple Display, R32 Refrigerant Blue Star 2 Ton 3 Star Fixed Speed Window AC 2 Tons 3 Star Fixed Speed Compressor, Turbo Cool, Humidity Control Lloyd 1.5 Ton 4 Star Fixed Speed Window AC 1.5 Tons 4 Star Non-Inverter Compressor, 100% Copper, Self Diagnosis Function Best value for money The Voltas 1.5 Ton 5 Star inverter split AC stands out as the best value for money choice. It offers versatile cooling modes, stabilizer-free operation, and effective dust and antibacterial filters. With a 5-star energy rating, it's energy-efficient, reducing long-term running costs while providing optimal cooling performance. Best overall product The Panasonic 1.5 Ton 5 Star Wi-Fi Inverter Smart Split AC stands out as the best overall product due to its smart AC features, 7 in 1 Convertible Modes, and PM 0.1 Air Purification Filter. It offers optimal cooling performance for small-sized rooms and has a high energy rating of 5 stars, ensuring energy efficiency. The AC is equipped with a copper condenser coil for better cooling and durability. Additionally, it comes with a comprehensive warranty and smart features like Wi-Fi connectivity and voice control. Overall, the Panasonic AC provides superior performance, advanced features, and excellent value for money. How to find the best air conditioner in 45,000 range? To find the best air conditioner in the 45,000 range, consider factors like capacity, energy efficiency (star rating), brand reputation, and additional features. Assess the AC's cooling capacity based on your room size. Opt for a higher star rating for long-term energy savings. Research trusted brands known for reliability. Look for features such as inverter technology for efficient cooling and convenience features like Wi-Fi control or voice control. Read user reviews and compare prices from various retailers. The Voltas 1.5 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC and LG 1.5 Ton 5 Star AI DUAL Inverter Split AC are excellent options in this price range. FAQs Question : What's the significance of an inverter compressor in an AC? Ans : An inverter compressor adjusts its speed based on the cooling demand, offering energy savings, quieter operation, and more precise temperature control. Question : Are higher star-rated ACs more energy-efficient? Ans : Yes, higher star-rated ACs are more energy-efficient. A higher star rating indicates better energy-saving performance. Question : What's the advantage of Wi-Fi connectivity in an AC? Ans : Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to control your AC remotely using a smartphone app, offering convenience and the ability to manage your AC even when you're away from home. Question : What are convertible cooling modes in ACs? Ans : Convertible cooling modes allow ACs to operate at different capacities, making them versatile for various cooling needs, such as cooling quickly or maintaining a set temperature. Question : Why is a PM 2.5 filter important in an AC? Ans : A PM 2.5 filter helps in removing fine particulate matter from the air, ensuring cleaner and healthier indoor air quality. Disclaimer: At Livemint, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Mint has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act of 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! If youre already dismayed by the state of Australias increasingly not so Great Barrier Reef, then maybe dont read on. The UNESCO World Heritage site has suffered its fifth mass bleaching event in eight years, according to the Australian Government. At the turn of the century mass bleachings were rare, with the first occurring in 1998 and then in 2002. But the frequency is ramping up, and events have cooked the reef in 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022 and 2024. Responding to todays announcement by the tax-payer funded Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority (GBRMA), World Wide Fund for Nature Australia said it's clear global heating is putting tremendous pressure on the reef, and its particularly concerned the bleaching looks likely to reach the southern end. "WWF is very concerned that this bleaching event is unfolding in an area where corals have not been previously exposed to these extreme temperatures. Unless we see a significant drop off in temperatures in the next few weeks, the risk of significant coral mortality is high, its head of oceans Richard Leck said. The Great Barrier Reef was once a sea of colour, but large areas of coral are now being impacted by widespread bleaching. Source: Getty/AAP Todays announcement was not unexpected it came three days after the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the entirety of the Southern Hemisphere was set to bleach in 2024. "We are literally sitting on the cusp of the worst bleaching event in the history of the planet," NOAA ecologist ecologist Derek Manzello told Reuters. RELATED: What is coral bleaching? Government urged to protect Great Barrier Reef Several non-profits responded to the GBRMA announcement, urging the Albanese government to do more to tackle climate change. Since coming to office, it successfully prevented the reef from being added to the in danger list of UNESCO World Heritage sites by committing to better protect it. The world is watching how the Albanese government will respond to the first mass bleaching of the Reef on its watch, Australian Marine Conservation Society campaigner Dr Lissa Schindler said. Story continues If its serious about its commitment to UNESCO to protect the reef, then it must lift its emissions reduction target in line with keeping global warming to 1.5C a critical threshold for coral reefs. That means the Albanese government must commit to net-zero emissions by 2035 and stop approving new fossil fuel projects. Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter said claims Australia is taking the health of the reef serious ring hollow. He questioned the government's ongoing support of big polluting projects like Woodsides gas expansion on the Burrup Hub. We know that the climate crisis is driving deadly marine heatwaves and devastating our marine ecosystems, but the frequency and scale at which these mass bleaching events are now occurring is frightening every summer we're holding our breath, he said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. She arrived in Clarksville, TN, today to begin the competition for Miss Tennessee USA. It can be difficult to notice if someone is in a volatile relationship because the victim may not be honest with you or dismiss your concerns. This is what therapists call 'freezing'. Residents are furious after Queensland authorities mapped a forest as koala habitat then subsequently bulldozed it to make way for a new car park at a Brisbane hospital. The project decision followed ongoing complaints about a lack of available spaces, but locals have questioned why planners didn't simply solve the problem by converting one of two existing open air car parks into a multi-story one. Responding to criticism of the state's efforts to protect koalas, Queensland Environment Minister Leanne Linard told Yahoo News the Miles Governments policies strike the right balance between wildlife protection and delivering infrastructure to the growing southeast region. But local wildlife rescuer John Knights shot back, saying koalas cant afford to lose any more habitat and another solution should have been found to solve the area's parking woes. Endangered koala habitat has been destroyed by Queensland Health to create a new car park. Source: Dominic Geiger I'm devastated to hear the news, absolutely shattered, he said after hearing the site had been bulldozed in February. I work every hour, every minute of every day trying to save our wildlife and some f***wit comes along and destroys it to park a few cars. Knights believes the destruction will have a severe impact on the areas koalas as forest territories are largely already full, and juveniles have limited options when they grow up and need to establish their own range. That habitat was a sanctuary area. And with a likely increase in the number of dispersing koalas this year, they will be dead, he said. Australia's koala management under fire It's not just Queensland that's raised eyebrows by paving a koala paradise to put up a parking lot. Nationwide, Australia is increasingly in the spotlight over its destruction of the marsupial's habitat, since they were listed as endangered in NSW, Queensland and ACT after the 2019-2020 Black Summer Bushfires. Earlier this week the federal government was slammed for parading a captive koala in front of foreign journalists at the ASEAN summit in Melbourne, while allowing the wholesale destruction of habitat by developers. The criticism followed allegations koalas on Kangaroo Island were being routinely killed and injured as their plantation tree homes were felled to make way for farmland. Story continues The new P2 carpark (right) is being built on mapped koala habitat which is indicated in green (left). Source: QLD Globe/Queensland Health Developer claims little sign of koalas at site Queensland Healths car park project underwent environmental assessment and consultation before contractors began clearing land to the west of Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital in outer Brisbane. Around a quarter of the site has now been cleared but Queensland Health maintains its project will have minimal environmental impact. Ecologists paid to survey the site reported little evidence of koala activity and no sightings. But wildlife rescuers say they are routinely called to help koalas around the wider hospital campus, including the area which has now been destroyed. They claim the site is used as a corridor by several of the 400 species known to live in the sprawling 260-hectare Toohey Forest which lies on the other side of busy Kessel Road. Despite being the most prominent koala rescuer in the area, with site specific knowledge of how it is utilised by wildlife, Knights says he wasn't contacted by anyone connected with the project. I work every hour, every minute of every day trying to save our wildlife and some f***wit comes along and destroys it to park a few cars.Wildlife rescuer John Knights Other community members, including Dominic Geiger, have been frustrated by what they see as a lack of consultation with residents before the trees were removed. "The area is sizeable for an inner city patch of vegetation. And because it supports wallabies, koalas, bandicoots, and a host of other species, one would have thought that there would have been more thought given before they simply bulldozed it," he said. Local man Brad Lambert, who campaigned against the project on a social media page that documents wildlife living in Toohey Forest, questioned why the government bothers to map koala habitat if its still subject to destruction. Whats the point? You may as well go back to saying its just national parks and conservation areas that are protected, he said. How developers can bulldoze koala habitat Minister Linard said the car park project was required to undergo environmental assessment and consultation. It was assessed under the states Koala Conservation Policy which requires developers to either offset destruction themselves or pay a levy. In Queensland, mapped koala habitat is frequently earmarked for development by the state government. Its planning to bulldoze habitat on the Gold Coast to build a new public hospital as well as a freeway to cut travel time for motorists visiting Brisbane. But government plans to develop mapped koala habitat arent always completed in Toowoomba aspirations to build a new highway were scrapped after a community outcry. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Courtesy of Maxwell Photography USE ARROWS OR NEXT BUTTON TO SEE MORE PICTURES Voting is underway at polling stations across the country on the constitutional referendums on Family and Care. Almost 3.5 million Irish citizens living in the State are eligible to vote between now and 10pm this Friday. While President Higgins previously spent a week in St James Hospital, Dublin after "experiencing a mild transient weakness", he has made a full recovery and voted in his local polling station this Friday morning. The President was admitted for precautionary tests on Thursday, February 29. Tests results indicated no serious or long-term concerns for the Presidents health. Upon their arrival at polling stations, voters will be given a white ballot paper for the Family Amendment and a green one for the Care amendment. The proposals involve the insertion of additional text to article 41.1.1 of the Constitution and the deletion of text in article 41.3.1. The green sheet of paper will ask people to vote on the care amendment. It proposes deleting articles 41.2.1 and 41.2.2 of the Constitution and inserting a new article, 42b. Voters will be asked to vote yes or no to each proposal. While there will be local declarations for each of the existing Dail constituencies, the national results will be announced at Dublin Castle early on Saturday evening. Polling booths across county Longford opened at 7:00pm this morning. The referenda on changing Ireland's constitution regarding family and care has seen a steady trickle of voters to polling booths across the county. Voters are being asked if they wish to expand the definition of family to include those not based around marriages. They will also be asked if they wish to remove a reference to the role of women in the home, and put in one recognising care provided by family members. The consensus appears to be that the referenda have captured the public imagination in a similar manner to the two previous, the Repeal the 8th and Marriage Equality, and . Speculation is that a low turnout could go against the government resulting in a 'no' to both amendments even. Government parties have expressed a concern that the voting platform may be used as an opportunity to voice opposition to policy on many pressing social issues, like housing, homelessness and immigration. This morning a voter in Newtownforbes polling booth spoke of the low profile of the referenda: There have been no posters up, I have not been approached by one politician asking me to vote on the issue. I think there will be a very low turnout. At the St Joseph's NS polling booth in Longford town the uptake of voters is very slow. The invigilating staff report low turnout: We usually have more voters in the door at this time on election days. So far our voters have been predominantly in the over 50s age group. At the polling stations on Friday, voters will be given two ballots - one white and one green. The white ballot will ask if voters want to accept or reject the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution Bill - otherwise known as the family amendment. If rejected, the current wording will remain the same. Voters will also receive a green ballot. This refers to the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill - or the care amendment. This amendment proposes to delete wording which references the role of women in the home. The booths are set to close at 10:00pm tonight. Counting for the twin referendums will begin on Saturday morning. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: March 08 2024 Bechir Lehbeib allegedly stole two pro-Israel flags from residence and assaulted homeowner. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a grand jury has indicted a 26-year-old man with multiple hate crime charges for a February 2024 anti-Semitic attack in Hewlett. Bechir Lehbeib, with a residence in Jamaica, Queens, was arraigned today before Judge Colin ODonnell, on charges of Robbery in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime (a B violent felony), Robbery in the Second Degree (a C violent felony), Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime (a C violent felony), Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony), Petit Larceny as a Hate Crime (an E felony), Petit Larceny (an A misdemeanor), Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree as a Hate Crime (an E felony) and Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $125,000 cash, $250,000 bond, and $1,000,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court on April 1, 2024. If convicted of the top charge, the defendant faces up to 25 years in prison. Hate crimes have no place in Nassau County, said DA Donnelly. As alleged in this indictment, a Hewlett homeowner was beaten and robbed in an unprovoked antisemitic attack simply because he flew two flags from his home that showed his familys support of Israel. Crimes committed because of our religion, our skin color, or who we love, will be vigorously prosecuted by my offices Hate Crimes Unit. DA Donnelly said that, according to the indictment and charges, at approximately 1:08 p.m. on February 4, 2024, defendant Bechir Lehbeib allegedly walked up to a home on Steven Drive in Hewlett. The defendant then allegedly took two flags from the front of the property - one flag which read, In this home, we stand with Israel, and a second flag depicting a blend of the Israeli and American flags. The homeowner saw the defendant walk away from his property with the flags, via a Ring camera app on his phone, and went outside to confront the defendant. At that time, Lehbeib allegedly punched the homeowner in the face and brought the victim to the floor, where a physical altercation continued. While on the floor, the defendant allegedly headbutted the homeowner and trampled the flags that he had taken from the porch. The defendant then allegedly left the area and the victim called 911. The defendant was arrested shortly afterwards by members of the Nassau County Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Melissa Yurisak of the County Court Trial Bureau. The defendant is represented by Taryn Shechter, Esq. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 08 2024 Public Service Commission and Division of Consumer Protection Combined Helped Over 51,000 New Yorkers with Complaints in 2023. In honor of National Consumer Protection Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Office of Consumer Services at the New York State Department of Public Service the staff arm of the Public Service Commission and the New York Department of States Division of Consumer Protection assisted 276,000 New York households with a variety of consumer protection matters, returning nearly $9.7 million to consumers in 2023. The Public Service Commission conducted nearly 25,000 investigations, resulting in the Department returning nearly $7 million to consumers. The Division of Consumer Protection handled 26,137 consumer complaints and inquiries returning nearly $2.7 million to consumers. This year, National Consumer Protection Week runs from March 3 to March 9. We are putting money back in the pockets of hard-working New Yorkers who have been victims of a scam or overcharged by their utilities," Governor Hochul said. "My administration has made a tremendous effort to respond to thousands of complaints and return millions of dollars to New York households. We will continue working to protect consumers and hold dishonest businesses accountable." The Department of Public Service's Office of Consumer Services monitors the number and types of complaints received against all utilities operating in New York State to ensure that utilities fulfill their obligation to provide effective customer service in compliance with the laws, rules, regulations and policies. Each month, the Office of Consumer Services makes public a detailed overview of complaint activity and utility responsiveness that is informative to both consumers and utility companies. The New York State Division of Consumer Protection's mission is to assist, protect, educate, and represent consumers in an ever-changing economy. The Division of Consumer Protection works hard to assist individuals aggrieved in the marketplace through its complaint mediation efforts, along with educating the public on marketplace scams, and advocating consumers' interest before legislative and regulatory bodies. Top Five Categories of Consumer Complaints the Division of Consumer Protection Received in 2023: Refunds/Store Policy: Complaints related to refunds and store policies, including return policies, restocking fees, and refunds for damaged goods. Orders/Deliveries: Complaints related to the order and delivery of goods purchased, including missing items, incorrect items received, late or delayed delivery or items never shipped. Merchandise/Product: Complaints related to merchandise or products that did not meet consumers' expectations. Credit Cards: Complaints related to erroneous charges, billing, card benefits and illegal surcharges. Home Improvement: Complaints related to home improvement, repair services and contractors. For example, a consumer in Columbia County purchased a set of new kitchen appliances for over $5,000, but immediately after installation, the oven would not work properly. After multiple repair attempts, the consumer was still having issues with the appliances, so she contacted the retailer to return them for a refund. The retailer first refused to take them back and said they would only replace them for new units, but the consumer was not willing to do that. Then the retailer said they would take them back, but they would have to apply a restocking fee since the appliances were now used. The consumer then contacted DCP for assistance. DCP contacted the appliance retailer and through mediation was able to arrange for a full refund for the consumer. Additionally, a consumer in Staten Island purchased kitchen cabinets totaling over $13,000 from a large retailer that showed signed of being defective. The cabinet manufacturer inspected them and said they would submit an order for replacements. After a year and numerous unanswered phone calls, the consumer had received only two replacement doors. DCP contacted the retailer and manufacturer, and soon after, the full set of cabinets were replaced. The Federal Trade Commission leads several public events during National Consumer Protection Week that promote consumer protection awareness. All events are free to join and can be found here. PSC Chair Rory M. Christian said, The PSC and Department remain laser focused on resolving utility complaints for the States consumers and ensuring utilities comply with consumer protection regulations. This focus enables us to promote our historic mission and activities on behalf of the public interest and helps ensure that utilities provide refunds to consumers when the utilities make a mistake. Secretary Robert J. Rodriguez said, Our top priority is to protect consumers from fraudulent business practices, defective products and dangerous goods and services. The Department of States Division of Consumer Protection is proud to help individuals by educating them on how to protect themselves from scammers and by providing businesses with guidance on the laws to create a fair marketplace for all New Yorkers. The Department of Public Service's Office of Consumer Services also monitors complaints against the competitive energy service companies (ESCOs) operating in New York, and against distributed energy resources (DERs), a crucial element of the States transition to clean energy. In terms of added consumer protections, the Department also began regulating energy brokers in 2023, and is continually tasked with ensuring regulated entities meet or exceed rules and regulations regarding providing customer service. In addition to its ongoing Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. billing investigation, the Department expanded its investigation into New York State Electric & Gas Corp. (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. (RG&E) regarding potential mismanagement of their utilities' billing systems and protocols. As part of the investigation, the Department's Consumer Advocate hosted a series of public forums in affected areas in January and February 2023 to hear consumer concerns first-hand. The problems with the NYSEG and RG&E billing systems became apparent when the Department began to see a significant spike in the number of complaints from customers. As a direct result of the unprecedented numbers of consumer complaints, Department staff commenced a review and an investigation related to a change to the companies' customer information and billing system. The complaints received by the Department range from incorrect bills being sent to consumers, extremely late bills being sent, multiple conflicting bills being sent, or difficulties billing renewable energy customers. In 2023, the number of consumer complaints against Central Hudson, NYSEG and RG&E soared to more than 1742, 4260 and 2293 complaints, respectively; four times more than the number of complaints received in 2021 and 14 percent more than 2022. In February, the PSC adopted a $200 million New York State energy bill credit to be administered by the electric and gas utilities, which is funded in the 2023-2024 Budget to offset increases in energy commodity prices, requests by the utilities for delivery rate increases, and pressures on affordability generally. The energy bill credit is a one-time credit that will provide energy bill relief to more than seven million electric and gas utility customers. As part of its consumer assistance education programs, the Department provides consumers with comprehensive, clear educational materials and guidance to assist them in reducing their energy bills, preparing for winter and summer's extreme cold and heat, and learning and exercising their rights under New York's nation-leading utility consumer protection laws, the Home Energy Fair Practices Act (HEFPA). Department staff also informs, educates and empowers consumers through live outreach presentations statewide, rich consumer education resources, and timely social media consumer information campaigns. To file consumer complaints against a utility or to receive more consumer services information, go to http://www.dps.ny.gov/ complaints or call the Department's helpline at 800-342-3377, Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 4:00pm. You may contact the Department in writing at the NYS Dept. of Public Service Office of Consumer Services, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350. The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State's consumers. Consumers can file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Protection at https://dos.ny.gov/file- consumer-complaint. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 08 2024 Shake A Paw Sold Sick Puppies, Some of Which Died Shortly After Purchase, to Unsuspecting New Yorkers. New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that pet store, Shake A Paw, will pay $300,000 to approximately 190 customers who they illegally and knowingly sold sick puppies to at locations on Long Island. As part of the settlement, Shake A Paw will also be required to change their business practices after an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found Shake A Paw kept dogs in inhumane conditions and sold critically sick puppies that died within days or weeks after purchase. Shake A Paw will pay $300,000 in restitution to all impacted customers, many of whom spent thousands of dollars on medical bills after the puppies they bought fell sick. The company is also required to stop all misleading advertising about selling the healthiest and best of the best puppies from the most trusted breeders, and can only purchase animals from reputable breeders or brokers that follow state and local laws. Shake A Paw will be banned from selling dogs entirely starting in December 2024 as the result of a new state law taking effect that prevents pet stores from selling dogs. New Yorkers who purchase a dog are seeking loyal and loving additions to their families. Unknowingly buying a sick puppy can be downright heartbreaking, said Attorney General James. Not only did Shake A Paws owners treat the dogs in their care despicably, they defrauded their customers by lying about their health, leaving many families stuck with expensive veterinary bills. Shake A Paws days of buying and selling sick puppies are over, and their former customers will get restitution for the losses they suffered. I will continue to fight to protect consumers and hold accountable all those who violate laws meant to protect innocent animals. In December 2021, Attorney General James sued Shake A Paw after an OAG investigation revealed its two Long Island locations in Hicksville and Lynbrook falsely advertised sick pets as healthy, failed to disclose the animals legitimate medical conditions, misrepresented puppies breeds, and refused to reimburse consumers for veterinarian bills they incurred because the dogs they purchased were sick. In one case, a customer purchased a puppy who died just six days after a Shake A Paw employee told them that the puppy was fine. In another case, a customers puppy was hospitalized for severe double pneumonia only two days after purchase. One customer spent over $2,000 on veterinary bills after a puppy she bought from Shake A Paw was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection just a week after purchase. Shake A Paw refused to reimburse her for the full cost, in violation of the law. The OAGs investigation analyzed over 400 veterinary records of puppies sold at the stores and found that more than half of the puppies had upper respiratory infections and/or breathing problems or were infected with parasites. Almost 10 percent were diagnosed with pneumonia, which can be fatal in dogs. The illnesses and congenital defects in these animals were found to be consistent with puppies that are purchased from puppy mills. Shake A Paw also lied to customers about the sources of its puppies, failing to fully disclose to consumers that their puppies originated from known puppy mills. While its website claimed that they work with the most trusted breeders nationwide and handpick the best of the bunch, in reality, Shake A Paws owners shipped thousands of puppies from known puppy mills, including one on the Humane Societys horrible hundred list of the worst breeders in the country. After selling sick puppies to customers, Shake A Paw refused to offer reimbursements when they called to complain. Instead, Shake A Paw directed customers to the companys own veterinarians, who would often fail to correctly diagnose illnesses. In violation of New Yorks Pet Lemon Law, Shake A Paw refused reimbursements to customers and told customers they would not be reimbursed if they visited an independent veterinarian. Shortly after filing the lawsuit against Shake A Paw, Attorney General James secured a temporary court order banning its two Long Island stores from purchasing or adopting any new animals for resale in New York, requiring a vet appointed by OAG to examine all puppies in Shake A Paws possession prior to their sale, and freezing its bank accounts. The settlement announced today resolves OAGs case against Shake A Paw. Shake A Paw will pay $300,000, which OAG will distribute to impacted customers. The company must comply with all local and state animal welfare laws, including providing adequate housing, enclosures, infection treatment, and other measures to ensure proper care. Shake A Paw will also be banned from sourcing animals from puppy mills and must only purchase animals from breeders or brokers that are licensed with the USDA and do not have recent USDA violations. In addition, Shake A Paw must remove all false and misleading advertising about selling the healthiest and best of the best puppies, and using the most trusted breeders from their website and will modify their contract and sales documents to remove deceptive language and conform with the law. Shake A Paw must also provide consumers with all notices and disclosures required by law, including statements certifying the health of the puppies they sell, the breeders information, and vaccine information. Beginning in December 2024, Shake A Paw will be banned from selling dogs when a New York law banning retail sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores takes effect. The law mandates that pet stores will only be able to offer shelter adoption services for these animals in an effort to combat abusive breeders and puppy mills. It was deeply troubling to uncover Shake A Paw's practices and conditions back in 2021, which not only deceived pet owners but also endangered the well-being of innocent animals, said Senator Kevin Thomas. I applaud Attorney General James for securing restitution affected customers, marking a crucial step towards justice for consumers. New York remains steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding consumers and ensuring the humane treatment of all animals, fighting deceptive practices and promoting accountability. As a staunch advocate for animal rights in the legislature and someone who is in mourning over the recent loss of our beloved rescue dog Mona, I commend Attorney General James handling of this case, said Assemblymember Charles Lavine. By securing restitution for customers and forcing changes to Shake A Paws deceptive practices, she has provided a satisfactory outcome for people who were deeply affected not only financially but emotionally." For too long, pet stores have deceptively marketed and sold sick commercially bred puppies, passing them off as heathy pets from high-quality breeders. In this cruel and unconscionable business model, pet stores and out-of-state puppy mills profit, while families are left emotionally and financially drained caring for a puppy with painful, chronic or fatal illnesses or deformities, said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President and CEO. We thank Attorney General James for holding Shake a Paw accountable for the pain they have caused so many New Yorkers. I would like to thank the Attorney Generals office for working tirelessly for years on this case, said Erin Laxton, a former Shake A Paw customer. I appreciate that Shake A Paw is being held accountable for their deceptive practices. Coming to a resolution after so much time is a huge relief and I feel like I was able to get justice for my poor puppy, Merlin. I miss my puppy every day but I am proud to have been part of this process. With the stricter oversight and more truthful disclosures, I hope that no one else will have to experience what my family and I went through. I want to thank Attorney General James office for taking action and helping people like me throughout this very emotional process, said Meaghan Huber, a former Shake A Paw customer. As a longtime dog lover and customer affected by the neglect of these small helpless puppies, I am happy that justice is being served. While nothing will ever fill the void of losing my familys dog Mei Mei just shy of her second birthday and seeing her as sick as she was, we will always love her unconditionally and know she is running around pain free looking down on us with her angel wings. The puppies they mistreated never had a voice, but today the people behind Shake A Paws actions are finally being held accountable. Attorney General James urges New Yorkers who have been the victim of pet retailers using similar deceptive or fraudulent practices to file a complaint online. The Attorney Generals Office would like to thank: Dr. Julie Fixman, DVM; Dr. Diane Levitan, DVM; Kathleen Summers, Director of Outreach and Research of the Humane Society of the United States Stop Puppy Mills Campaign, ASPCA; and Investigator Matthew Roper of the Nassau County SPCA for their assistance in this investigation. This matter was handled by Valerie Singleton, Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Nassau Regional Office, Toni Logue, Deputy AAGIC, and Christina Bedell, AAG, with support from Consumer Frauds Representative James Sfiroudis, Investigators Paul Matthews, Michael Christian, Andre Job, Robert Pompey-Goodman, and Heather Harmer, Legal Assistants Elizabeth Hatchett and Karen Swett, Assistant to the Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Tasha Bartlett, and interns Annie Wang, Ingrid Chung, and Zoe Basulto. Data Analysts Anushua Choudhury and Casey Marescot, under the supervision of Gautam Sisodia, Acting Director of Research & Analytics, Hewson Chen, Manager of Criminal Justice Discovery of the Practice Technologies Group, and Detective Investigator Eamon Murphy also assisted in this investigation. The Nassau Regional Office is part of the Division of Regional Affairs, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Jill Faber. The Division of Regional Affairs is overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 08 2024 Sloan Research Fellows are marked as the most auspicious scholars in their fields and are projected to become the next generation of scientific leaders across the United States and Canada. Stony Brook University Assistant Professor Theodore Drivas, PhD, in the Department of Mathematics has been selected as a 2024 Sloan Research Fellow and awarded $75,000 toward his research investigating the mathematical characteristics of fluid motion. Sloan Research Fellows are marked as the most auspicious scholars in their fields and are projected to become the next generation of scientific leaders across the United States and Canada. The funding granted to each fellow may be spent over a two-year term on any research-related expenses of choice. Professor Drivas is one of 126 early-career scholars honored in 2024 and the 71st Stony Brook faculty member to receive the distinction since 1961. Congratulations to Dr. Drivas for this extraordinary accomplishment that recognizes exemplary early career performance, said SBU President Maurie McInnis. As a Sloan Research Fellow, Dr. Drivas is among the top researchers in his field who is also an inspiring educator and mentor to our students. It is a proud moment for Stony Brook, and I look forward to watching the continued evolution of his research and scholarly work in the years to come. Drivas, who joined Stony Brook in 2021, has also received a Charles Simonyi Endowment from the Institute for Advanced Study as well as several awards from the National Science Foundation, including a Faculty Early Career Development grant. He currently teaches an upper-division undergraduate course and a graduate course and has contributed to dozens of studies on fluid dynamics, turbulence theory, differential equations and more. This is a tremendous honor for Dr. Drivas, placing him among a select set of researchers recognized for their potential to significantly advance their fields, said Provost Carl Lejuez. These prestigious awards are cause for celebration, both for the acclaim they bring to the individual researchers, and for the further elevation of Stony Brooks reputation as an institution that promotes excellence and innovation in all that we do. I am thrilled for Dr. Drivas to be recognized with a Sloan Fellowship. "This has been an exciting year for Theo Drivas, having also recently received an NSF CAREER award in support of his research," said Scott Sutherland, professor and chair, Department of Mathematics. "In addition to his research program, which is of the highest caliber, Theo has been an exemplary member of the Stony Brook Department of Mathematics. He joins a cohort of distinguished faculty in our Department who have been honored with this prestigious award, and I am exceedingly pleased that the Sloan Foundation has recognized his outstanding achievements. We are very fortunate to have Theo as a member of our Mathematics faculty." Before joining Stony Brook, Drivas was Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University, where he completed his postdoctoral fellowship. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics & Statistics from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in Mathematics & Physics with honors from the University of Chicago. About Stony Brook University Stony Brook University New Yorks flagship university and No. 1 public university is going far beyond the expectations of todays public universities. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With nearly 26,000 students, more than 2,900 faculty members, more than 200,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the worlds biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #58 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Reports Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brooks membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The universitys distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $7.23 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ stonybrooku/ and X @stonybrooku. WARNING DISCUSSIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT: Karen Iles was just a child when she became the victim of one of Australias most serious alleged crimes ever reported to police. It was October, 1993 when the then 14-year-old was horrifically gang raped at the hands of up to 15 men and teenage boys, as more watched on. Despite the atrocity she endured while holidaying with her family on the Gold Coast, it wasn't until over 10 years later, on International Women's Day (IWD) in 2004, that she built up the courage to go to the police to report the act of aggravated sexual assault. Exactly 20 years to the day, this IWD, no person has been interviewed or charged. To mark the anniversary, she is again bravely speaking up to call for the government to take "drastic action" and implement a set of national standards to ensure no victim of a sexual crime is ever made to feel the "shame" of being ignored again. "Violence against women, whether it's sexual assault or domestic violence, is such a defining thing it's so widespread, and we've got to take drastic action," she told Yahoo News Australia. Karen Iles has been using her rape as a 'case study' to fight for better support and justice for victims of sexual assault. Source: Supplied Karen, a Dharug Aboriginal woman, sexual assault survivor and now a lawyer supporting women and Indigenous peoples, came forward to Newtown Police, NSW in 2004 when she was in her early 20s to report her 1993 assault after years of "shame", "self-blame" and "minimising" what had happened to her. In the initial statement, she told police that she was lured into a hotel room by a man part of a local surf gang before being held down in one of the rooms and gang raped. Fifteen days after her initial 2004 report, she provided a comprehensive, typed statement of her ordeal which included names, a photo of one of the rapists, the location pages from the diary she had written in at the time, and witness and co-victim information. Yet, following this, both Queensland and NSW Police have not contacted a single person in relation to the allegations. In fact, in 2018 when Karen tried to follow up, Queensland Police told her they thought her case documents had been disposed of. Story continues Then, in 2021, when Karen tried to seek answers again, she found out the documents were rediscovered but her case had been shut for over a decade without her ever being told. Freedom of Information requests showed Karens case had stalled due to inaction from detectives. After the documents were rediscovered, NSW Police said they had conducted a review of the matter in December, 2021. "NSW Police understand that reporting sexual assault can be distressing and traumatic for victims," they said in a statement. Karen Iles was in her early teens when her assault took place on a family holiday. She reported it over ten years later Source: Supplied Calls for national standards for reports of sexual violence According to Queensland's Department of Justice and Attorney-General, about 92% of women who experienced sexual assault did not report the incident to the police between 2021 and 2022. And Karen says, for most of those who do, "the police do practically nothing". Due to this, she is calling for "our Prime Minister and Attorney-General" to introduce a "set of national standards" that would require police to investigate reports of sexual assault. Karen isn't saying that "every" crime needs to meet this criteria. "But, the most serious crimes in our criminal statute, like aggravated child sexual assault at least, we would want to think that police are compelled to have to investigate to a minimum basic standard," she said. State legislation governs police in each Australian state or territory, but generally, police in each jurisdiction will use their discretion to decide whether an investigation should be continued based on the nature and circumstances of the offence, the chances of solving the crime, the victim's needs and community needs. Karen is fighting for "checks and balances" to be put in place that would remove conscious or unconscious biases such as sexism, racism and homophobia when police are making these calls. "That doesn't remove their discretion on whether or not to press charges," she said. "It simply says that where theres a victim, take a statement [and] dont destroy the statement. Where there is a witness [or] named perpetrator, please interview them. [Its about] collecting the evidence properly and then making a decision on that basis." Karen has been speaking publicly about her case for over 18 months now in a bid to fight for better justice. Source: The Project/Supplied Response from the Australian government Karen told Yahoo she has had meetings with the prime minister and attorney generals offices to propose this before. Yahoo reached out to both offices directly, and although the prime minister has not yet responded, a spokesperson for Attorney-General Hon Mark Dreyfus told Yahoo "womens safety is a national priority, and while criminal law in Australia is largely a matter for states and territories, the government is committed to strengthening and harmonising sexual assault and consent laws." "In January the Attorney-General asked the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to undertake an inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence," the spokesperson said. "The inquiry is an essential part of the governments $14.7 million 2023-24 Budget commitment to strengthen the way the criminal justice system responds to sexual assault and prevent further harm to victims through the justice process." According to the spokesperson, as part of this inquiry, ALRC has been asked to look into "policies, practices, decision-making and oversight and accountability mechanisms for police and prosecutors" and are due to report by January 22, 2025. International Womens Day a 'space to shine a light' on violence against women In her ongoing campaign, Karen is using her rape as a "case study" to show why change is so desperately needed. "This issue happens to so many Australians and their families," she told Yahoo. "And I think why people don't speak up about it is [due to] a sense of shame. "If the police dont do anything then [we think] it must be because they dont believe us, or we made it up, or we were to blame." To help others who have experienced sexual assault, Karen is asking for people to do more than just back up women with "words and platitudes", but to use drastic actions and help create the change needed. This years International Womens Day (IWD) theme is "Inspire Inclusion" and is urging people to: Call out poor practices when women are discriminated against, and to take action when the treatment of women is not equitable. "This year's campaign calls for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected," IWD states. "Inspire Inclusion encourages everyone to recognise the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalised communities." If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, please call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Fernand Kartheiser is partys election leader for drive to claim an ADR seat in the European Parliament The ADR candidates in the European elections are (from left to right) Jeff Engelen, Alexandra Schoos, Fernand Kartheiser, Sylvie Mischel, Alex Penning and Veronique Stoffel. The ADR candidates in the European elections are (from left to right) Jeff Engelen, Alexandra Schoos, Fernand Kartheiser, Sylvie Mischel, Alex Penning and Veronique Stoffel. Photo credit: Anouk Antony The ADR candidates in the European elections are (from left to right) Jeff Engelen, Alexandra Schoos, Fernand Kartheiser, Sylvie Mischel, Alex Penning and Veronique Stoffel. Photo credit: Anouk Antony Luxembourgs lawmaker Fernand Kartheiser will lead the conservative-nationalist Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) into this Junes election to select members of the European Parliament. The partys six-member slate introduced on Friday is topped by 64-year-old Kartheiser, who has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2013 and previously served as an army officer and Luxembourgs ambassador to Greece, Cyprus and Romania. The ADR list also includes fellow members of the national parliament Jeff Engelen, 73, and 35-year-old Alexandra Schoos. Also running are former party vice president Sylvie Mischel, 57, lawyer Alex Penning, 49, and 48-year-old lawyer Veronique Stoffel. Also read: Surprise election result not that surprising, pollster says The ADR came in fifth place among Luxembourgs political parties during the last European elections in 2019 with around 10% of the vote, not enough for a seat in Strasbourg. The party won 9.3% of votes during Luxembourgs national elections in October, giving it five seats out of 60 in the Chamber of Deputies. (This story was first published in the Luxemburger Wort. It was translated and edited by Emery P. Dalesio) From reproductive care and maternal health to economic empowerment, women feature high on the agenda of Luxembourgs development cooperation Luxembourg helps lift women out of poverty in worlds most destitute countries Certain sectors are not accessible to people with disabilities Certain sectors are not accessible to people with disabilities Photo credit: dpa Certain sectors are not accessible to people with disabilities Photo credit: dpa People living with a disability in the Grand Duchy have a harder time finding jobs in the country with access to certain sectors like the financial industry especially difficult. About 15% of Luxembourg residents said they had a disability when surveyed during Statecs population census in 2021. Of these respondents, only slightly more than half of those aged 20 to 64 had a job (57%) while 26% were declared permanently incapacitated, 5% were students and 5% lived off unemployment benefits. People with disabilities have a lower level of education than other people, Statec said in a statement on Friday. Their integration into the labour market is also more complicated. The topic of disability was part of the questions for the first time during the 2021 census, the national statistics bureau said. Although 21% of persons with a disability worked in the public sector, the industrial (4.8%), hospitality (4.9%) and transport (5%) sectors were less accessible to them. The financial and scientific sectors, which employ 9% and 10% of Luxembourgs workforce, were also less likely to hire persons with a disability, with only 5.5% of disabled workers active in these fields. This is because the sector requires a high level of training, which many disabled workers do not have, Statec explained. Unlike fully-abled people, persons living with a disability in Luxembourg were more likely to only complete middle school (42%) or high school (38%). Less than one in five persons with a disability pursue higher education. Also read: Disabled workers still excluded from Luxembourg jobs The healthcare sector employed 17% of persons with a disability, as sheltered workshops are classified in this sector. The likelihood of disability increases with age, the census found. Less than 5% of children under the age of five were disabled while 70% of over-90s declared a disability. Partial or full blindness were the most prevalent disability (8.7%) in the country, followed by reduced mobility (3.9%) and hearing loss (2.5%). To enable everyone to live an inclusive life and play an active part in our society, Luxembourg is committed to various inclusion projects, including accessible buildings, accessible elections, accessible communication and the introduction of silent hours in various shops. And we will continue to work towards inclusion with the people concerned and their families, Family and Integration Minister Max Hahn emphasised at the press conference. Despite government support schemes being available, almost 2,000 companies in Luxembourg did not meet the legal hiring quota for persons with a disability in 2021. At the start of last year, then-labour minister Georges Engel revealed that in the four years of its existence, a government scheme that allowed companies to request a state-sponsored assistant for their disabled workers had never been used. The aim of the programme was to help persons with a disability reintegrate into the workforce. Companies had cited the heavy administrative burden as a reason to not apply for the programme. Also read: Disabled workers scheme not used at all in four years My personal favorite is the used cigarette butt, which went for $7475 as it was the last ever to be legally smoked indoors in Aotearoa. Similarly, a plastic PaknSave bag went for $50 in 2019, around when supermarkets decided to get rid of em altogether. A student has been charged an $80 cleaning fee for a mess he adamantly claims he "didn't make" after taking an Uber on Monday. And despite his protests of innocence to the transport company, he is still no further forward in getting a refund. The man said his journey was a "regular Uber ride" in Melbourne but days later he noticed more money was deducted from his bank account due to the driver flagging a "mess" was left in the car, blaming the student. He was charged a total of $137.14 for the journey. The Uber rider was charged an $80 cleaning for a 'vomit mess' they claim they did not make. Source: Reddit The student reached out to Uber to dispute the charge, claiming he had not consumed any alcohol and was wrongfully accused of the condition of the car. "I am 100 per cent sure that the car was as clean as when I came in as when I left the Uber. I don't like [Uber] charging payment from my account for something I didn't do," the rider wrote. Uber driver's image of 'vomit' backs rider into corner After disputing the charge the rider requested evidence to which Uber responded, showing an image of one of the car seats with "vomit" smeared onto it. Since evidence was provided to the student and the driver pinned it against his specific ride, the rider had no other option but to seek help online as he hit a dead end on the app with no other complaint avenue available to riders. This makes it difficult for riders to get in touch with customer service or report such issues. The rider has now resigned to the fact he will have to cop the cost and take photos in the future. "Now I've learned my lesson the hard way to click before and after photos for Uber," he said, sharing he will gather evidence every Uber ride to document the vehicle's condition. Story continues Uber respond to riders being charged $80 cleaning fees Uber told Yahoo News cleaning fees are only applied to riders when the driver provides "visual evidence of the mess that occurred in the vehicle". If a rider believes they are not responsible, they can contact the team via the Help section in the app. "Riders are able to dispute the charge, which is then reviewed closely by our team, and may be refunded," the Uber spokesperson said. "All customer service issues are routed via the help function in the app, due to the scale of the platform and the vast amount of interactions we have with riders, eaters, merchants, drivers and delivery people every day." However, no comment was given on the specific incident in Melbourne or how Uber verify which rider made the "mess" when a driver flags it. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Manchester, VT (05254) Today A few snow showers scattered about the area this morning, otherwise a good deal of clouds. High 38F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%.. Tonight Variably cloudy with snow showers. Low 27F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. What Cayuga County officials know is visitors may show up on April 8 to view the total solar eclipse, especially in the northern half of the county that's in the path of totality. What isn't known is how many people will arrive in Cayuga County that day. According to Riley Shurtleff, the county's emergency services director, the state has told them the influx could be anywhere between 3,000 and 30,000 visitors. Parts of central New York, the Finger Lakes, North Country and western New York are in the path of totality. The farther north you go, the longer it will last. In Fair Haven, the county's northernmost village, totality will last more than three minutes. Despite the lack of a good estimate, the county is preparing for a sizable crowd. Areas within the path of totality are expecting throngs of people because it's a rare event. A total solar eclipse won't occur here for another 121 years, Shurtleff said. A coordination plan has been developed for the eclipse, with a focus on managing traffic and ensuring emergency vehicles have clear routes on main thoroughfares in Cayuga County. Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck told The Citizen that he has been tasked with the public safety and transportation aspects of the plan. His agency will have additional patrols on the day of the eclipse and they will monitor traffic in the northern part of the county. "The top concern for us is traffic and making sure that our roadways stay open for travel," Schenck said. Temporary signs will be installed along some roads to limit parking. Schenck explained they want to avoid bottlenecks on main thoroughfares that could prevent the passage of emergency vehicles. Communication is an important part of the plan. Shurtleff said his department is working with local agencies to prepare for the eclipse. There will be additional resources, including the rope rescue team, moved to the northern end of the county. Like Schenck, Shurtleff highlighted the importance of maintaining a corridor for emergency vehicles to move through the county. But county leaders acknowledge it's a difficult event to plan for because it's unknown how many people will come to Cayuga County to view the eclipse. Shurtleff said there could be fewer people here than neighboring counties, such as Wayne, that are entirely within the path of totality. Schenck and Shurtleff said they have checked local hotels to gauge how many people are coming, but there are still rooms available. Most visitors will likely be people who make a day trip to Cayuga County for the eclipse. "This is going to be a very large event and it's a once-in-a-lifetime event," Shurtleff said. "If we don't prepare for it, we could certainly have our hands full. That's why we put the time and effort into this coordination plan." The Citizen's total solar eclipse guide: Local events for the April 8 spectacle The first total solar eclipse to touch Cayuga County in 99 years is less than a month away, and events celebrating the once-in-a-lifetime cele Restaurant owners in Bostons North End loudly vocalized why they feel their neighborhood is getting the shortest end of the citys outdoor dining stick on Friday, congregating with signs and a podium at the Paul Revere Mall. We are asking for the right to compete equally, said Jorge Mendoza, owner of Vinoteca di Monica, as he stood at microphones next to the owner of Terramia Restaurant, Carla Gomes. This is a slap on the face to all of us, Mendoza continued. Once again, the North End restaurants are left out in the cold for the outdoor patio season. Were being excluded by an amateur who decided to apply for a job that shes not capable of delivering, he said of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. The protests came after complaints were amended to demand millions in monetary damages from the city for the losses restaurants faced over the past year during the ban on outdoor dining in the neighborhood, all within a lawsuit filed last year by 21 owners and the Chamber of Commerce. Diners eat in the North End of Boston, some along the sidewalk, some on the road but blocked off from cars, after COVID-19 made indoor dining a health risk. (Photo by Pasquale Trotta)Contributed Outdoor dining was introduced during COVID and the North End originally participated, with the owners crediting it as their ability to stay afloat when diners otherwise couldnt sit together inside. After Wu took office in 2022, the city imposed a $7,500 impact fee on North End restaurants, then limited outdoor dining in the neighborhood in 2023. The lawsuit amendments included a refund of the $7,500 impact fee the North End restaurants had to pay in 2022, compensation for losses of income for outdoor dining bans in 2023 and 2024, and compensation for fees to store the equipment and furniture they had been using for outdoor dining but no longer could. Currently, the city of Boston completely banned the outdoor dining program for the last remaining Italian neighborhood in the country, for reasons that make absolutely no sense at all, said Gomes. The restaurant owners said the city had cited cleanliness in the streets and over-congestion as a potential safety hazard as issues with outdoor dining in the small neighborhood. But Mendoza said the draw of the neighborhoods Italian culture comes from its authentic ways, and that most people in the area enjoy the things that are privy to their culture, like people sitting outside to have their coffee. He argued the mayors true agenda is to redistribute wealth. Without the outdoor dining program, the city has put us at a disadvantage to hire and to retain employees. And theyve also put us at an economic disadvantage to compete, because people will be flocking to other outdoor patios in the neighborhoods throughout the city, said Gomes. Antonio Chiccarelli, a resident of the North End for the past seven years, said its beautiful when people are dining outside, and much more cultural. He likened the atmosphere to people sitting outside at tables in Rome, or at the beach in Naples. Four-year resident Pasquale Trotta said, People invest a lot of money for these tables, chairs outside, and now theyre going to lose a lot of money ... so why would the city ban these people? Mendoza said the restaurants moved forward with the lawsuit because they felt there hasnt been enough clarity with Wus position on the matter. Why hasnt she taken the chance to meet with us? To talk with us, to realize how it affects us? Mendoza questioned. And why are we electing officials to the City of Boston that dont know the first thing about the economy? Devaluing our businesses devalues our neighborhood, he said. Diners eat in the North End of Boston, some along the sidewalk, some on the road but blocked off from cars, after COVID-19 made indoor dining a health risk. (Photo by Pasquale Trotta)Contributed As for the concerns on congestion and cleanliness, Mendoza said the owners had done their own research given Wus foggy message, and found the neighborhood is not the most congested area of Boston, nor does it have the highest volume of rats. When asked further on specifics around the citys restrictions, such as the 11-feet sidewalk clearance rule, Mendoza said, Let me put it this way: We dont know whats allowed, OK? We dont know whats allowed because the mayor has done a very good job of sending a foggy message. This is exactly what happens when the city of Boston and the few that vote elect an amateur, he continued. They elected somebody who is obviously in over her head. Its that simple ... why does she feel that its necessary to stomp on the businesses of the North End, to put us aside, to neglect us? he said. Wu was not at the protest, but at another event Friday morning, she told the Boston Globe residents opinions need to be weighed against business needs. We need a targeted solution, she told the Globe, and were not there. Massachusetts has its fair share of coastal towns, but Marblehead is the best of the best, according to New England.com. The outlet named the North Shore town as the best coastal town on its list of the 2024 Best Places to Live in New England, which was published Feb. 19. A breeze ruffles Marbleheads harbor, having sailed in from across the world, the magazine wrote. Colorful houses grow mellow in the dusk as vintage-style street lamps glow, it continued. A few blocks beyond the section known as Old Town, restaurant stovetops are fired up and diners settle in. Read More: Massachusetts museum named best open air museum in the country by USA Today New England Magazine also applauded Marblehead for its deep coastal history, backed by its rows of historic houses. Other highlights include the towns several yacht clubs, harbor, Crocker Park, F.L. Woods, Saltwater Bookstore, Shubies Marketplace and Flores Mantilla. Read More: Bricco bringing its signature drink to stores with bottled espresso martini Marblehead wasnt the only Massachusetts town to be featured on the list. North Adams was named as one of the best culture towns, Barnstable one of the best remote-work towns, Greenfield one of the best river towns and Provincetown one of the most walkable towns. Meanwhile, Salem was considered one of the best revitalized small cities. You can see the full list by clicking here. The 2024 Oscars will see the return of Barbenheimer, serve as a stage for potentially historic wins, and help actors popularity continue to skyrocket. With all these monumental moments buzzing around audiences heads, it may be worth knowing whether your favorite movie or performers will take home an award. Scott Malia is a theatre professor and chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. He specializes in television, comedy, GLBTQIA, and Italian theatre. Malia told MassLive that the Oscars come at the end of an ever-growing number of film awards shows and that clear trends often emerge. However, its important to know that the voting bodies for these organizations have varying degrees of overlap with those of the Academy Awards, which allows for the occasional surprise, the professor continued. Here are Malias picks for winners in the top six categories at this years Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress Malia said this is going to DaVine Joy Randolph for her role in The Holdovers. Her performance as Mary Lamb in the movie has already netted Randolph numerous awards including a Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globe, Satellite Award and Screen Actors Guild Award so this feels like a no-brainer. Best Supporting Actor At first, Malia would have said that Sterling K. Brown would take home Best Supporting Actor for his performance in American Fiction. However, the films lack of momentum seems to have rubbed off on him, Malia said. He now believes that Robert Downey, Jr. will win for his role as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, which is the most awarded film at the Academy Awards this year. Also, Downey, Jr. has been in the industry for almost 40 years, and this is definitely an awards show with a reputation for giving actors Oscars as a lifetime-achievement recognition, Malia added. Best Actor While this race is between Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer and Bradley Cooper for Maestro, Malia expects Murphy to take home the win. This is Murphys first-ever Oscar nomination. Coopers been up a number of times, but the lack of love for Cooper in the directing category (which also happened with his remake of A Star is Born) suggests that critics see Cooper the director as mainly existing to get Cooper the actor an Oscar, Malia said. Given that, expect journeyman actor Murphy to pick up the trophy. Best Actress This is another close race between Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon and Emma Stone in Poor Things Stone has already won a BAFTA, Golden Globe, Critics Choice, Satellite award for her performance as the young woman resurrected by a scientist in the film. However Gladstone, who is the first Native American actress to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, will most likely take the win, according to Malia. Gladstone already made history with her role as Mollie Burkhart by becoming the first Native American actress win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama. Best Director The Oscars love epics and filmmakers who paint on a big canvas, so Christopher Nolan seems like a shoo-in for Oppenheimer, Malia said. Also, some felt Nolan was overlooked for The Dark Knight, so like Downey, Jr. its recognition for his body of work. Best Picture The race for Best Picture feels like a rematch between Barbie and Oppenheimer, Malia said. While the latter has picked up a whopping 326 awards already, Barbie could bring home the trophy given the backlash against the snubs for Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig. Their omission probably tanked Ryan Goslings chances, because giving an Oscar to a man for a girl-power movie would not help the Oscars convince people that it is becoming more modern and diverse, Malia said. So, if theres any chance of bombing Oppenheimer, it will be if the same populist groundswell that anointed Everything Everywhere All at Once last year returns with a decidedly pink sheen. You can find a full list of nominations here. The 96th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will air at 7 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, March 10 on ABC. A bomb threat that prompted the evacuation of a Suffolk University building Thursday afternoon was likely a hoax, according to university officials in an email to the school community on Thursday night. Boston police were notified of a bomb threat at the universitys Sargent Hall at around 4:05 p.m. Thursday at 120 Tremont St. and the building was evacuated approximately 10 minutes later, police told MassLive. Students were given the all-clear to re-enter the building at around 6 p.m. Thursday after a sweep of the building by Boston police. The Boston woman charged with attacking her principal at school when she was 16, sending her to the hospital, has been deemed competent to stand trial, the Suffolk County District Attorneys office announced. Laurette LeRouge, 19, of Mattapan, was declared fit on March 7 by Judge Michael Coyne after a court clinician testified to her competence, the district attorneys office said. LeRouge is charged with assaulting and seriously hurting Patricia Lampon, the principal of Dr. William W. Henderson Inclusion School, on Nov. 21, 2021, the office said. The Connecticut National Guard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are mourning the loss of Chasity Nunez, a Worcester woman who was killed with her daughter Zella in their car on Tuesday. The mother and daughter were shot in a parked SUV in the area of Englewood Avenue and 1 Lisbon St. around 3 p.m. on March 5, police said. They were taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead. Karel Mangual, 28, was charged in connection with the killings with two counts of armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.s spokesperson told MassLive. Judge John Stapleton ordered Mangual held without bail Thursday and scheduled his dangerousness hearing for March 12. Police are still trying to find another suspect, Dejan Belnavis, 27, who is wanted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm without a license, Worcester police said in a press release Wednesday night. He should be considered armed and dangerous. Nunez was a decorated patient administration specialist of the 142nd Medical Company based in Danbury, National Guard Major David Pytlik said in a statement to MassLive. She received the National Defense Service Medal, the Service Ribbon and the Army Achievement Medal, and served for four years after she began in 2020. Our hearts are broken because we lost Specialist Chasity Nunez to senseless violence, Pytlik said. She and her daughter were killed while sitting in their vehicle in their own neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon. Chasity was beloved by her fellow soldiers in the 142nd Medical Company. Nunezs wit, social nature and dedication to duty made her one of the best Soldiers in our unit, he continued. I cannot begin to make sense of why this happened and why her family, friends, co-workers and fellow soldiers have been robbed of her and Zella, Pytlik said. What we can, and must do now, is support one another as we grieve, process this profound loss and honor their memory. He described her as incredibly resilient, brilliantly intelligent and destined for success in her civilian and military careers, and more full of compassion than anyone I know. During this time, Nunez worked as a patient access representative at UMass Memorial Medical Center, beginning in March 2021, according to her LinkedIn. Nunez served as a patient safety and clinical quality program coordinator at MIT Health since July 2023, MIT spokesperson Kimberly Allen told MassLive. Conversations are being had to offer care and support for colleagues she knew, along with conversations about setting aside time for MIT Health staff to come together to mourn and reflect, Allen said. Chas was passionate about the health and well-being of the MIT community, Chief Health Officer Cecilia Stuopis said in a statement. She was beloved by the colleagues who worked closely with her, and her dedication to our patients was powerful and impactful. She will be deeply missed. First responders rescued a driver after a serious solo crash at the border of Dracut and Lowell on Friday, Dracut Police Chief Peter Bartlett and Fire Chief Richard Patterson said in a joint statement. Police arrived at around 12:23 p.m. on Friday at the area of Hildreth Street after receiving several 911 calls about a crash, the chiefs said. When they arrived, they found a lone vehicle at rest in the yard of a home on Hildreth Street with the driver trapped inside. Lowell firefighters worked with Dracut fire officials to pull the driver out of the vehicle, Bartlett and Patterson said. Once they were out of the vehicle, the driver was taken to Lowell General Hospital before they were transferred to a Boston area trauma center. Lowell Police also assisted at the scene, the chiefs said. The crash continues to be under investigation by Dracut police. A woman who worked as chief of staff for former state Sen. Dean Tran was sentenced to 30 days in prison and one year of supervised release for filing false and fraudulent tax returns over the course of four years beginning in 2016, prosecutors said. Christianne Mylott-Coleman, 55, pleaded guilty to five counts of filing a false and fraudulent tax return in November 2022, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levys office said in a statement Thursday. She was also ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $269,209. U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni handed down Myott-Colemans sentence in federal court in Springfield on Wednesday, Levys office said. A nearly 100-year-old building in Bostons Back Bay that has housed a hotel, a theater, a school and more is now home to the states largest supportive housing community for people experiencing chronic homelessness. The building at 140 Clarendon St., steps away from Copley Square, is now home to 210 affordable apartments, 111 of which are reserved for people coming out of homelessness. Lyndia Downie, president and executive director of Pine Street Inn, which is providing supportive services at the property, said providing housing to these residents makes a profound difference in their lives. It makes your life whole. It gives you back your dignity, Downie said at a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday. It takes away the stigma of being the person who has nowhere to go, to being the person who has a key and a place to go. The 1929 building was originally used by the YWCA to house poor, young single women, but between 2003 and 2006, the organization renovated the building to create 118 apartments and a 66-room budget hotel, according to the city. Boston-based developer Beacon Communities purchased the 13-story building from the nonprofit, now know as YW Boston, in 2021. YWs administrative offices are still housed there, along with Lyric Stage Company and the Snowden School, a charter high school. Existing residents were allowed to remain at the property through the renovations, moving into new units as they were completed. Resident Les Miller said Thursday that about halfway through the project, she moved into a new, beautiful, fully handicap-accessible apartment that (she) just loved. We were a bit apprehensive about the housing-first (formerly homeless) residents moving in, but now that the building is at capacity, I can tell you it has been fairly seamless, she said. Miller added that residents have access to a variety of activities and field trips that she has enjoyed, including seeing mansions in Newport, Rhode Island, Bostons Castle Island, and the holiday Festival of Lights at La Salette Shrine in Attleborough. Each resident or family is provided with a project-based housing voucher through the Boston Housing Authority, which covers a portion of the rent each month to keep the units affordable. This makes a big difference in Back Bay, one of the citys most expensive neighborhoods. Read more: Springfield shelter system at capacity and homelessness expected to expand Mayor Michelle Wu said recent changes to the way housing vouchers are reimbursed, basing the amount paid per month on zip code rather than larger geographic regions with more diversity of income, have given low-income residents the opportunity to live in more expensive neighborhoods. That has completely opened up different geographic areas and the ability to truly welcome residents to every part of the city, not just on paper, Wu said. Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus pointed out that the project would benefit not just the more than 200 residents and families currently living there, but thousands of people in the future as the apartments turn over. Augustus alluded to recent controversies in some suburbs including Milton where residents have pushed back against regulations forcing them to change zoning in order to allow the construction of more multifamily housing. He said the state needed to use every tool possible to address the housing crisis. It is everybodys responsibility. Its every community. Its every neighborhood. We are in this together, he said. We are only going to get out of this if everybody participates in creating the housing that we need so that every single person has a place to call home. Financing for the nearly $130 million project came from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, the Boston Department of Neighborhood Development, MassHousing, state and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and historic tax credits, according to EOHLC. AUBURN Opening statements were made and a key witness took the stand Thursday in the Cayuga County Court trial of an Auburn murder suspect. Monday through Wednesday were dedicated to jury selection for the trial of Gage Ashley, 26, who is charged with fatally shooting Joshua Poole on Nov. 15, 2019, at 8 Delevan St. in Auburn. On Thursday, Cayuga County District Attorney's Office Special Counsel Mark Moody addressed those 12 jurors. He said Ashley bought gloves and masks the day before the shooting at the Auburn Walmart along with Lucciano Spagnola and Tyree Anglin, who would be convicted of killing Poole. Ashley wore a black hoodie and tan work boots, while Anglin wore a Texas Rangers hat and a black puffy coat. Telling the jurors those clothes would resurface throughout the trial, Moody said the three left Walmart and went with another man, Markese Burke, to the Woodruff Place home of Christian Rivera. Rivera would be convicted of first-degree attempted robbery for planning what resulted in Poole's death, though he wasn't present at Delevan Street. At Rivera's house, Moody said, pictures were taken with weapons, including a black 9 mm handgun in Ashley's waistband. He, Anglin and Burke then left in a red 1999 Oldsmobile registered to Ashley. The four left "with the express purpose of robbing someone, specifically a drug dealer," Moody said. The vehicle, driven by Ashley, stopped at 8 Delevan St., the prosecutor continued. Anglin entered and quickly exited, and then he, Ashley and Spagnola entered as Burke stayed in the car. The three demanded everyone in the house get on the ground and "run their pockets," Moody said. They fired two warning shots, and Poole appeared from another room. Then, six more shots were fired. Poole was hit five times, destroying his liver and kidney and rupturing his femoral artery. He ultimately died "in a pool of his own blood," Moody said. The four left the house around 2:05 a.m., Moody continued, and security camera footage showed Ashley and Anglin in the clothes they were wearing at Walmart. Additional evidence of Ashley's guilt, the prosecutor told the jury, includes a New York State Police photo of his car outside Rivera's house. The same car was later found submerged in the Seneca River. Police would also find bullet casings, gloves and a mask at the house. Shotgun shells, and Ashley's hoodie and boots, were found at the Aurelius home of Mary Ferro, Ashley's romantic partner. Ashley's attorney questions credibility of witness The defendant's attorney, Shaun Chase, then gave his opening statement. He said no one at 8 Delevan St. during the shooting could identify Ashley as "being involved," and argued that the prosecution's case rested on the testimony of Burke, whom law enforcement hadn't publicly identified as being at the scene until Thursday. Chase questioned the credibility of Burke, being a possible accomplice. "You're going to have reasonable doubt about the quality and veracity of the evidence in this case," Chase told the jury. Burke took the stand later that morning. He said that after he spoke to police, he was told that if he cooperated and testified about the shooting, he would not be charged. He went on to say that he was friends with Rivera, whom he called "Unc" and went to for advice, but only knew Ashley, Spagnola and Anglin through Rivera. The night of the shooting, Burke recalled smoking a cigarette in Ashley's car until hearing "three or four" gunshots. Ashley, Spagnola and Anglin then ran out of the house with bags, he said. The next morning, at Rivera's house, Burke said he was told to "keep my mouth shut" about the shooting. He identified Ashley and his associates with weapons pictured there, as well as Ashley's red 1999 Oldsmobile in security camera footage from 8 Delevan St. He also identified Spagnola and Anglin in the footage, and said he thought he saw Ashley. Chase asked if Burke "had no problem talking to the police and telling them about people you weren't friends with." Burke said "no." The attorney then asked Burke if Ashley was too intoxicated to take part in the robbery and if Rivera had put on Ashley's black hoodie to take his place, and Burke again said "no." Cayuga County Chief Assistant District Attorney Chris Valdina asked Burke if he was specifically told by police to tell the truth as a part of his deal. Burke said "yes." Also testifying Thursday was Brant Wright, who owned 8 Delevan St. at the time of the shooting and said he was present for it. He identified Ashley and his associates in footage from the house. Police officers and an emergency medical technician who responded to the shooting testified on Thursday as well. Why Ashley is being tried now Ashley originally pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree attempted robbery and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in September 2021. He was sentenced that December to 21 years to life in prison, but his conviction was overturned in May 2023 after a state appeals court determined the grand jury that indicted him was illegally constituted because a member had a criminal conviction. He was indicted again on the same charges in June, and his trial will continue on Friday. A 48-year-old Lawrence man was arrested on Interstate 93 in New Hampshire Friday morning after New Hampshire State Police said they measured him traveling 128 mph on the highway. Reginald Carter was arrested and charged with reckless driving during a New Hampshire State Police effort to crack down on increased speeding and hazardous driving in and around Salem, N.H., using the State Police aircraft, the agency said in a statement. While monitoring traffic, a trooper observed a vehicle traveling at a very high rate of speed as it was passing other traffic in the area and measured its speed as 128 mph around 8:13 a.m. Friday. Using the aircraft, troopers stopped people for 56 violations, 21 of which were for operators driving more than 90 mph, and seven of which were for operators driving more than 100 mph, New Hampshire State Police said. The rest of the stops were for other violations such as following too closely, use of mobile devices, negligent driving and move-over law violations. Carter will appear in the 10th Circuit District Division Salem Court on April 18, the statement said. Drivers traveling through New Hampshire can expect initiatives like the one conducted Friday morning to continue throughout the state as New Hampshire State Police attempt to crack down on an increasing number of traffic violations and crashes on highways in the state, the statement said. The use of State Police Aircraft allowed troopers to effectively monitor and enforce traffic laws from above, resulting in a significant reduction in reckless driving and other dangerous behaviors, the statement said. A 44-year-old Lowell man was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Monday for setting his wife on fire while she was in a bathtub inside their home, prosecutors said Friday. When first responders arrived at a Varnum Street residence in Lowell around 10:40 p.m. on March 31, 2021, they found large visible flames inside and Celeste Marte Lebron, 49, being assisted by a neighbor outside the residence, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office said in a statement. Marte-Lebron had suffered burn injuries covering approximately 90% of her body, and was taken to a hospital for treatment before she died weeks later, on April 20, 2021. Marte-Lebron told the neighbor, who assisted her out of the building, that her husband, Santos Lebron De Los Santos, had lit her on fire after accusing her of infidelity, according to the statement. De Los Santos was the only person home with Marte-Lebron at the time of the fire. During the investigation, De Los Santos gave widely conflicting stories as to what caused the blaze, attempting to pass his actions off as a joke, a scare tactic or a faulty electrical issue, Ryan said in the statement. Massachusetts State Police, however, found De Los Santos went inside the bathroom and set his wife on fire while she was in the bathtub by dousing her with gasoline and igniting her with a lighter. After the fire started, De Los Santos did not attempt to get assistance for his wife, the statement said. Instead, when the neighbor was helping Marte-Lebron out of the home, he attempted to grab her and bring her back inside before police arrived. De Los Santos also attempted to cover up the cause of the fire by taking the gas can he used and storing it underneath tools in his truck. De Los Santos isolated his wife and threatened violence if she reported his actions to police, Ryan said. Literally on fire, Ms. Lebron managed to get herself out of the tub and out of the apartment to seek help. Yet, the defendant was not finished controlling her. As a neighbor frantically tried to help Ms. Lebron, who was suffering from horrific burns, the defendant tried to prohibit that mans helping and pushed to get her back inside the apartment where he had attempted to incinerate her, Ryan said. With this verdict, the jury placed responsibility squarely on the defendant for the horror that he inflicted on Ms. Lebron. Judge John Pappas sentenced De Los Santos to life in prison without the possibility of parole Monday. Boston police arrested more than 50 activists who took to the streets to block morning rush hour traffic in Boston on Thursday while calling on the Biden administration to declare a cease-fire in the war in Gaza, IfNotNow Boston told MassLive. Over 300 Jewish American protestors and their allies blocked morning rush hour traffic in Dewey Square as President Biden prepared to deliver his State of the Union address, IfNotNow Boston said in a statement. The protest started before 8:23 a.m. Thursday in the area of Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue, the department posted to X. The area is located just over the bridge near the South Station MBTA terminal. Boston police had advised drivers to take an alternative route if traveling in the area, but said the lanes were reopened as of 8:49 a.m. on X. A spokesperson for the department confirmed the protesters were blocking the streets as of 8:30 a.m., and that officers were on the scene to respond. Protestors waved banners and caused gridlock for an hour before police began to disperse the crowd and make arrests, IfNotNow said. We are fed up with Bidens equivocations, shaking his finger at [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu with one hand and giving him billions of dollars with the other, Gail Rosewood of Cambridge said in IfNotNows statement. The State of the Union right now is that we are funding a deliberately made humanitarian crisis. Were funding a genocide. Protestor and IfNotNow member Dalya Lessem Elnecave said, We are blocking traffic because we are livid. Its been five months since Oct. 7, Israels massacre is ongoing and over 130 hostages are still held in Gaza. That Biden has not called for a lasting ceasefire with a hostage exchange deal to end this massacre is outrageous, Lessem Elnecave said. The war began following a Hamas-led sneak attack on Israel on Oct. 7 that killed 1,139 Israelis, while in Gaza at least 30,800 Palestinians have since been killed and 72,198 have been wounded, according to Al Jazeera on Thursday. Biden is expected to deliver his third State of the Union address Thursday night, where hes expected to talk about the war in Gaza. The president will announce an emergency military mission to build a port in the Mediterranean Sea on Gazas coast for humanitarian aid to enter, ABC News reported. Students can re-enter Suffolk Universitys David J. Sargent Hall after they evacuated due to a bomb threat, the school said in an email Thursday. Boston police were notified of the threat at around 4:05 p.m. at 120 Tremont St., police told MassLive. About 10 minutes later, the building was evacuated, the school told students. The first email to students was sent at 4:40 p.m. Access to Sargent Hall is restricted and evening classes have been canceled, the school said in its initial email. ... Students who are awaiting outside are encouraged to keep warm in 73 Tremont St. until the building is cleared by police. Boston police and Suffolk University police requested a bomb squad to search the building, Boston police told MassLive. At 5:58 p.m., emails were sent to students to inform them that after Boston police swept the building, an all-clear was given and students could re-enter the building. A MassLive reporter who evacuated noted that police surrounded the building with caution tape. MassLive reporter Jackson Cote contributed to the reporting of this story. Along with being suspected in connection with the shooting deaths of Chasity Nunez and her daughter Zella, Karel Mangual has a history of charges and crimes while in Worcester. Mangual, 28, was charged with two counts of armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.s spokesperson on Wednesday. Another suspect, Dejan Belnavis, 27, is wanted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm without a license, Worcester police said in a press release Wednesday night. He should be considered armed and dangerous. Chasity Nunez and her daughter Zella, 11, were shot in a parked SUV in the area of Englewood Avenue and 1 Lisbon St. around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, police said previously. They were both pronounced dead after they were brought to the hospital. While Worcester police investigated the Nunezes deaths and sought out Belnavis and Manguals getaway vehicle, Manguals face was spotted on security video footage. Officers were very familiar with Mangual and [have] known him since he was a young child, according to court documents. He previously was sentenced to three to five years in prison over a fatal shooting that was done in retaliation for the death of Christian Obeng, 19, on Oct. 4, 2014, according to the Telegram & Gazette. Mangual was accused of shooting a man five times and leaving him for dead in retaliation for the killing of Obeng. Mangual was arrested in 2019 after an officer attempted to pull him from a car during a traffic stop, according to the Massachusetts Appeals Court in their 2022 decision on the matter. The officer kept asking Mangual to get out of the car, a Nissan Altima, but the car accelerated and the officers right elbow was struck by the vehicle and he kind of bounced off, the decision said. After his conviction, he was sentenced to nine months in prison, the Telegram reported. During his arraignment on Thursday, Assistant District Attorney David Feraco raised the points of three other ongoing cases involving Mangual, including out of Dudley District Court involving assault and battery on a police officer and carrying a dangerous weapon. He was released from jail on $10,000 bail in March 2023 but his trial is due to start on March 26, the Telegram wrote. Mangual also has an open case in Worcester District Court in connection with police finding 8 grams of cocaine believed to be sold along Main Street, according to court documents obtained by the Telegram. He also has another Dudley District Court case from 2023 in connection with charges of being a fugitive from justice, the newspaper added. Webster police said there was an extraditable warrant for Mangual out of Rhode Island for carrying a firearm without a license. After Tuesdays shooting, police reviewed security footage that showed the mother and daughter inside a parked vehicle on the side of the road as two men walked up to the car and fired their guns, documents read. Worcester police spokesperson Lt. Sean Murtha told MassLive on Tuesday that the shooting happened in the area of Englewood Avenue and 1 Lisbon St. After shots were fired, the two men ran over to a parked white sedan, whose owner the police said is known to the Commonwealth. The registered owner ... stated to detectives that he had let [suspect] Dejan Dante Belnavis use his vehicle and he has had it for about a year, documents said. Shrewsbury police had a motor vehicle accident in their town this year where [the sedan] was involved and Dejan Dante Belnavis was the listed operator. Police made an exigency request for Belnavis phone, where they were able to find his location. The police document does not specify the location. Investigators looked at security video footage that found the white sedan circling an area in Worcester before the shooting and showed it leaving the Englewood Avenue/1 Lisbon St. area after the shooting. Realizing the need to locate this vehicle after the murder of two people and the danger presented to the public, we used the vehicles connected car system through AT&T and we were able to locate the vehicle in Hartford, Connecticut, police said. A check of Belnavis showed that he had a relative who resided close to where the vehicle had been parked in Hartford. Police and Earlys spokesperson did not identify where Mangual was arrested. Editors note: This story first appeared on palabra, the digital news site by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. By Gabriela Barzallo In aingae, my native language, the words oil, contamination, and cancer did not exist until Texaco arrived on our lands, says Don Arturo, an elder among the Ai Kofan Siangoe people, one of Ecuadors 11 Amazonian communities. The Ai Kofan worldview is based on an intimate relationship with nature and its environment, and a strong spiritual connection with its ancestral territory. Don Arturo lives in Dureno, a community located on the banks of the Aguarico River. The river crosses the province of Sucumbios in the northwestern reach of the Ecuadorian Amazon, near the border with Colombia. To get to his home, built with materials such as wood and zinc, you have to cross the river by raft. Don Arturo says that when he was a child, the river was crystal clear and full of fish, which allowed him and his community to make a living. In those days, everyone in the community was healthy and led quiet lives. As Don Arturos memories gradually fade, he says hes compelled to remember and share his story. At 72, nostalgia takes him back to when he was 13 years old. The petroleum company Texaco (now Chevron) had just arrived on his land. White men arrived in the Amazon with huge machines that razed the forest and the communitys land. To this day, he harbors terrible memories of having witnessed abuses by company workers, worst among them the rape of an indigenous woman. Don Arturo, an Ai Kofan indigenous man, resides along the banks of the Aguarico River in Sucumbios province, in the Ecuadorian Amazon. He lives with the harsh consequences of oil industry exploitation. Photo by Andres Cornejo Pinto for palabra In a soft voice and broken Spanish, he recounts how, from one moment to the next, neighbors noticed that cattle began to die, and his relatives suffered from unfamiliar diseases. For him and his people, the arrival of the petroleum company meant a break in their way of life and the loss of everything they knew and loved. Don Arturo now has prostate cancer. The Aguarico River, once crystal clear and full of fish, is polluted and empty. These days residents must leave their land to buy food in the city. The life he knew is just a memory. The story of Don Arturo is like that of thousands of Amazonian indigenous people living with the consequences of oil exploitation in Ecuador, and neglect and abandonment by the government. Thirty years have passed since the community began to demand justice and struggle against official impunity and a hostile and precarious environment. Chevron in Ecuador: A painful history Almost 60 years ago, U.S.-based Texaco Gulf arrived to operate oil wells in the Ecuadorian jungle. The companys time in Ecuador lasted until 1990. A decade later, the company became part of Chevron. Chevron evokes in the memories of many Ecuadorians and environmental organizations that of one of the worst environmental disasters in history. According to documents from Ecuadors Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility (MREMH, in Spanish), the company failed to comply with proper environmental protocols and dumped millions of gallons of toxic water and oil residue into rivers and streams adjacent to oil wells, spreading pollution across some 400,000 hectares. According to a 2008 study, environmental damage was followed by a decline in the health of the local indigenous population, including children, who suffered from chronic and congenital diseases that in many cases led to death. The document found that those who live in places surrounding the exploited area, in the provinces of Orellana and Sucumbios, have three times more cancers than the rest of the country. The figure is higher when compared to communities in the same Amazon region not exposed to contamination. It is estimated that around 30,000 people were affected, belonging to different indigenous groups and farming communities. A gas flare in Lago Agrio, a common device used in the oil-rich regions of the Ecuadorian Amazon to burn off excess gas and extraction waste. In the photo, Donald Moncayo, a prominent advocate in the fight for justice against Texaco Chevrons pollution. Photo by Andres Cornejo Pinto for palabra Donald Moncayo, a community leader from Lago Agrio and spokesperson for the organization Union of Those Affected by Texaco (UDAPT, in Spanish), remembers clearly the tragic experience of his mother, who suffered three miscarriages. Moncayo says that happened after Texaco arrived. He says hes convinced there were more in the same community. A 2004 investigation found that the risk of having a miscarriage was more likely in communities near oil wells, versus those free of contamination. But the tragedy did not end there. Cancer was discovered in residents of the area. During those years, he recalls, residents were being led to believe that the oil was medicinal. Some neighbors rubbed their bodies with the traces of oil that began to appear in the forest, believing that this would heal various ailments. They even walked barefoot over black puddles of oil, convinced that this black liquid was a source of healing. The environmental catastrophe only became known to the public around the 1990s. It was then that Ecuadorian lawyer Pablo Fajardo, later a recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize, filed a lawsuit in a New York court, but the corporation successfully fought to have the dispute moved to Ecuador. In 2011, an Ecuadorian judge ordered Chevron to pay as much as $9 billion in compensation to communities affected by contamination in the Lago Agrio region in the Ecuadoran Amazon. Chevron refused to pay, as it had already ceased operations in the area. Over months, palabra made multiple efforts to contact Chevron for this story. The company has not responded. But since the judgment, Chevron questioned the legitimacy of the verdict, arguing that the ruling was the result of fraud and bribery. The petroleum company claimed that it complied with proper environmental care requirements and attributed the damage to Petroecuador, the Ecuadorian company that took over oil development in the region after Chevron left Ecuador. But the damage was indisputable: vast expanses of jungle were left covered by toxic black oil. The agony of residents with unknown diseases was clearly visible, and a number of studies and professional results attested to the damage. None of that, however, was enough to obtain justice or reparations. After the first ruling in an Ecuadorian court, the issue was transferred to U.S. courtrooms. In a new trial, former Ecuadorian judge Alberto Guerra testified that he had been bribed by lawyer Steven Donziger to rule in favor of the victims of the petroleum company. These statements caused U.S. federal judge Lewis A. Kaplan to rule in 2014 that the Ecuadorian judgment against Chevron was because of fraud. Years later, former judge Guerra retracted what he had said in U.S. court, admitting that it was Chevron who had given him $2 million. To discredit the ruling against them, the oil company launched an international smear campaign against the communities, their lawyers, and judges in Sucumbios. Chevron also started international arbitration to place blame for the contamination in the Amazon on the Ecuadorian government. Community lawyer Julio Prieto asserts that since 2004, Chevron has initiated claims seeking to have the Ecuadoran government take charge of the environmental cleanup. Chevrons version The oil company says that the alleged environmental control failures occurred in previous decades and that the problem of decontamination is the responsibility of the Ecuadorian oil company that took over after Chevron left. In 2009, Chevron took the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in the Netherlands, asserting that it had not received a fair hearing in Ecuador, and that the country violated the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) signed in 1993 between Ecuador and the United States. In 2017, the international court ordered Ecuador to annul the 2009 ruling and compensate the oil company for legal expenses. In 2020, a ruling from the International Court of Arbitration on the Chevron v. Ecuador case favored the oil company, and on June 28, 2022, the Court of Appeal in The Hague affirmed the decision. The result was a dramatic turnaround: the petroleum company originally ordered to pay for the environmental damage was now the plaintiff and allowed to file claims to recoup legal costs. The ruling drew sharp criticism from some legal observers who called it an affront to justice and a setback in the fight against environmental pollution. Donald Moncayo, a community leader in Lago Agrio and spokesperson for the Union of Affected People by Texaco (UDAPT), reflects on how his mother endured miscarriages as a result of oil pollution, which deeply alarmed the community. Photo by Andres Cornejo Pinto for palabra Pressure from the UDAPT and an international media campaign led by environmental activists led to an appeal by Ecuador on September 27, 2022 in The Hague. A decision is pending. Despite resisting blame, Chevron has repeatedly said it had indeed helped clean up around its former operations in the Amazon. But Moncayo says no such thing ever happened. Instead, it has been the state-owned oil company, Petroecuador, that has cleaned up some pools. The remediation carried out by Chevron took place between 1995 and 1998, according to Moncayo. It consisted of collecting the upper part of the spilled oil, the thickest part, and covering it superficially with dirt. However, residents observed that liquid oil continued to seep into the jungle. All the mud from the drilling and the toxic liquid remained in the pools, says Moncayo. Chevron claims the pools belong to the government-owned company that took over its operations in the region. Aerial photos certified by Ecuadors Military Geographic Institute were obtained from 1976 when Texaco not Petroecuador operated in the region. Political impact in Ecuador The lack of a legal defense strategy, free of political fluctuations, has also affected the fight against pollution in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Various federal administrations have held contradictory positions on environmental protection in the countrys Amazon region. This lack of coherence in public policies has generated uncertainty and mistrust among people still living with the pollution. Protesters paint an oil pipeline in Lago Agrio, demanding justice for Texacos Chevron oil pollution. Photo by Andres Cornejo Pinto for palabra A tragic example of this is how two presidents former allies turned political enemies fought over credit and blame for the pollution and its consequences: During the administration of President Rafael Correa (2007-2017), the government led protests against the oil company with The Dirty Hand of Chevron campaign in 2014. Years later, President Lenin Moreno accused Correa of misusing public funds for that campaign. After Correa, interest dwindled amid the political contradictions. In 2022, the Ecuadorian government finally appealed the ruling in The Hague. According to Manuel Pallares, a biologist and environmental educator who has lived with the Secoya people, another of those most affected by the contamination, The biggest mistake in the Chevron case has been its politicization. Pallares believes that this case should not have been used by any party or political line, since it is a violation of human rights and an environmental crime. The Chevron-Donziger lawsuit Despite the magnitude of the pollution and the health consequences for residents in this part of Ecuadors Amazon, for many years the case was practically unknown to global public opinion. In 2021, the Chevron case rose to prominence again, especially in the United States, after the Chevron v. Donziger lawsuit. Steven Donziger was part of the legal team that helped win the original claim against Chevron. Years later, Chevron initiated legal action against Donziger, which led to him being disbarred. He spent almost three years under house arrest, accused of contempt of court. Critics said the trial against Donziger was an alarming example of corporate persecution. U.S. media coverage sparked support for Donzinger from activists, celebrities, Nobel laureates, and politicians including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ecuadorian immigrants in New York also became active, organizing rallies and marches to demand Donzigers release. Among the protesters were many who had migrated from affected areas in the Ecuadorian Amazon indigenous men and women who said they suffered because of the black gold and its toxic waste. The indigenous leader Lino Wamputsrik, because of the precariousness of his life in the Amazon, decided to migrate to New York from his native jungle to what he called a concrete jungle, where he continues to demand justice for his community. Current reality After the departure of the U.S. oil company in 1990, around 880 pools with toxic waste were abandoned in the Ecuadorian Amazon. At present, elderly residents of the area are being affected by diseases that have never before been diagnosed in the region, according to residents and the communitys Environmental Clinic doctor Adolfo Maldonado. The list includes various cancers, with the most common being skin and liver cancer and leukemia. Don Arturo is in the midst of a battle against prostate cancer. In regions marked by oil exploitation, such as Lago Agrio, people grapple with comparable health challenges. Photo by Andres Cornejo Pinto for palabra According to Moncayo, despite the seriousness of the situation, the Ecuadorian government does not provide preventive measures to limit exposure to contaminants, or basic services to the affected communities. Residents say there is also inadequate medical care. palabra reached out to health officials to corroborate this information, but as of publication time had not received a response. Data provided by Ecuadors Ministry of Public Health show cancer in the affected area is scarce, since officially only 31 cases have been registered in the Siekopai community, one of the most affected. However, Moncayo explains that the historical lack of health monitoring in the Amazon by public institutions misses many cases in clinics and hospitals not monitored by the government. The hospital in Lago Agrio, the provincial capital of Sucumbios, where oil companies still operate, does not have equipment to treat catastrophic illnesses. That means Don Arturo, one of the Kofanan indigenous people who suffers from prostate cancer, must travel hundreds of miles to the capital city of Quito for his chemotherapy. Some of the drugs he needs are so scarce that he buys them from Colombia on the black market. He says that the damage that Big Oil left around his home goes beyond the environmental. It has affected his culture. Fewer people now live in the Kofan indigenous region. Traditions have disappeared. He says hes lost hope; he just wants a cleanup so his grandchildren dont share his fate. There is nothing to do anymore, I will soon die; my culture will never come back, he says in a soft, slow voice. The cancer legacy According to Miguel San Sebastian, a specialist in environmental epidemiology, an analysis titled the Yana Curi Report found that women living in communities near oil wells have a 2.5 times higher risk of miscarriages compared to those who live in uncontaminated communities. There is also a higher risk of death from cancer especially stomach, liver, and skin among men in the area. Several decades have passed since the start of the contamination, and people affected by government and corporate negligence have yet to receive reparations. Its dragged on so long that its become an intergenerational crisis. Emilio Lucitante, a 105-year-old elder and member of the Siekopai nationality, is one of the original plaintiffs against Texaco. Photo by Andres Cornejo Pinto for palabra Don Emilio Lucitante, 105 years old and a member of the Siekopai community, lives three hours from Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is one of the original plaintiffs in the Chevron-Texaco case. In his community, several people have died of cancer, and others with little income treat themselves. Theyve received no help from oil companies or the Ecuadoran government. Lucitante lives in perilous conditions with his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and 5-year-old grandson. There is a noticeable chemical in a nearby river, the family says, and the little boy has persistent spots on his skin. His father, Orlando Lucitante, has taken the boy to doctors in Quito, but the skin condition has not improved. The family fears he may have skin cancer. Don Emilio has said hes been threatened for his participation in the lawsuits against the oil companies. He signed various documents and writings supporting the communities complaints. But hes also learned that the attorney generals office may be investigating him for allegedly bribing Nicolas Zambrano, a former judge of the Sucumbios provincial court. Despite the challenges, Don Emilio says he is not afraid. He will continue to fight for his family, he said. The toll According to advocacy groups like Amazon Watch and INHRED, the high levels of chemicals such as cadmium and lead caused congenital anomalies and cancer in hundreds of people who live in areas exposed to oil contamination such as Sucumbios and Orellana, in the Amazonian provinces of Ecuador. Reports from these organizations state that Texaco contaminated water in Ecuador with carcinogenic and volatile organic compounds. A 1994 study from the Center for Economic and Social Rights found a risk between 12 and 1,000 times higher than what is acceptable in the United States. Oil exposure is linked to adverse health problems, including cancer, respiratory diseases, birth defects, and miscarriages. In addition, Texaco according to the same study withheld information about its environmental impact. The high-level studies underscore what local activists have long claimed: the emergence of cancer as a leading health threat is due to petrochemical pollution. A study from 2002 to 2008 on 471 patients and published in the Scientific Research Journal explored the relationship between cancer cases and oil exploitation in the Ecuadorian Amazon. It revealed that the Napo and Sucumbios regions had the highest cancer rates, with female genitourinary tract cancer being the most common. Based on a report from Registro Biprovincial de Tumores and UDAPT, two out of every three patients are women. Already, 132 patients have died. The three most lethal cancers are cervical, breast, and leukemias and lymphomas. A documentary produced by the Environmental Clinic and Ecuadorian filmmaker Pocho Alvarez depicts how deaths have recently increased because of a lack of specialized doctors, insufficient early diagnosis and proper medicines, and the difficulty of access to chemotherapy. An oil spill, a frequent result of oil extraction, poses a significant environmental threat to Amazonian communities. Photo by Andres Cornejo Pinto for palabra Seventy-two percent of the cancer cases registered in the Amazon affect women and that is another form of aggression and gender violence, said Pablo Fajardo, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. Isnt that a genocide? asks Moncayo, who insists on calling the pollution and health crisis a crime against humanity. The fight has not been easy and has claimed the lives of indigenous leaders such as Eduardo Mendua. In February 2023, Mendua, a member of the Kofan Sucumbios community, was shot dead at point-blank range in his home while protesting Petroecuadors oil extraction in the Kofan territory. The community demanded an investigation and called out armed attacks of local indigenous people by workers of the Ecuadorian oil company. The Ecuadorian government has ordered an investigation into Menduas murder. Community solidarity For environmentalists, the story of oil and Ecuadors Amazon is a painful lesson on the human impact of ignoring the environment and the voices of residents. Global oil companies are well-documented culprits of climate change. Yet drilling continues at a profitable rate for the industry, even as it has yet to lead to any level of prosperity for the inhabitants of the Amazon region, where more than half of the residents are poor and do not have adequate sanitation, drinking water, and an education system. Scientists warn that the Amazon, weakened by deforestation, exploitation of natural resources, and climate change, could become a grassland. Indigenous communities in the Amazon rightly say they are guardians of a priceless treasure: the largest tropical forest in the world. Until now, community residents say, their ray of hope has been the only alternative that has brought actual help and support for those affected by oil contamination, which has been community solidarity and an increase in residents organizing. The odds are against them but despite their slim chances, members of groups and so-called Reparation Committees in some communities have reached agreements with charities to provide free medical care and donations to cancer patients. Donald Moncayo, leader of the Union of Affected People by Texaco Chevron (UDAPT), keeps decades of records and documents in his office from a 30-year legal battle. Photo by Andres Cornejo Pinto for palabra Additionally, a group mostly women, calling themselves therapists, has stepped up to accompany patients throughout the imposing journeys and trajectory of their disease and difficult treatment. These counselors have received training in alternative therapies thanks to the support of the Esculapio Technical Institute and its Community Links program. Communities have also stepped up where the government and oil companies seem inactive. Theyre doing their own land remediation, by hand in some places, over long days and despite exposure to biohazardous waste. So that oil contamination is not forgotten, Moncayo has since 2003 been carrying out what he calls Toxic Tours, free expeditions to what was Field 46, where Chevron operated and where the contaminated and unremediated pools remain, to raise awareness and tell the world what happened there. The leader of the fight against Chevron says he has received threats on several occasions, as have many of his neighbors. Still, despite years of frustration, Moncayo maintains the hope that one day the community will find justice and his descendants will be able to once again swim in the rivers without fear of disease. Gabriela Barzallo is a journalist based between New York City and Ecuador. Her work covers issues related to human rights, the environment, politics, social justice, and solutions in Latin America and its connection to the U.S. She has been published in Al Jazeera, El Pais, BBC Future, among others. Additionally, she is a climate fellow for the Solutions Journalism Network. Andres Cornejo Pinto is a non-fiction filmmaker based in Ecuador whose work as a director has been screened at festivals worldwide, including IDFA, HOT DOCS, BUSAN, EDOC, and SHEFFIELD. He is currently producing the documentary Ozogoche. Andres has a degree in film from ESCAC (Barcelona) and a masters degree in film directing from Docnomads (Lisbon, Budapest, Brussels). In addition, Andres is a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. Ricardo Sandoval-Palos is palabras founding editor. He is currently the Public Editor for PBS, serving as an intermediary on matters of ethics, integrity, and standards, between the broadcasters nationwide audiences and its global journalists and producers. Ricardo is an award-winning former foreign correspondent, investigative reporter, and editor at the Dallas Morning News, the San Jose Mercury News, the San Francisco Examiner, and the Orange County Register. Hes also co-author of the biography, The Fight In The Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Movement. Patricia Guadalupe, raised in Puerto Rico, is a bilingual multimedia journalist based in Washington, D.C. She has been covering the capital for both English and Spanish-language media outlets since the mid-1990s. She previously worked as a reporter in New York City. Shes been an editor at Hispanic Link News Service, a reporter at WTOP Radio (CBS Washington affiliate), a contributing reporter for CBS Radio network, and has written for NBC News.com and Latino Magazine, among others. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and has a Masters degree from the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University. She specializes in business news and politics and cultural issues. She is the former president of the D.C. chapter of NAHJ. Arguing that it will be both an economic boon and more equitable, officials at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the MBTA on Friday recommended extending the Ts Silver Line 3 branch to Everett, instead of its current end-point in Chelsea. The recommended change in service would mean the SL3, as its known, would finish its run at the Ts Orange Line stop at Sullivan Square, officials said in a statement. The recommendation came as the two agencies released the results of an ongoing Silver Line Extension Alternatives Analysis project. The extension is exactly what we are talking about when we say the [Healey] administration is prioritizing public transportation investments which fill gaps in our system, increase access for residents in underserved communities, and make our transportation network more equitable, state Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt said in a statement. First opened in 2018, the SL3 currently connects Chelsea with Boston Logan International Airport, East Boston, the Seaport District, and South Station. The line allows for connections with the Ts Blue and Red lines as well as the Commuter Rail. The route of the proposed extension of the MBTA's SLX3 line (MBTA image).MBTA The extension recommended Friday would continue SL3 service through Everett and into Boston, connecting Chelsea with the Orange Line and a dozen MBTA bus routes, officials said. About 80% of the six-mile-long proposed extension through Chelsea, Everet and Boston includes bus-only lanes, with the SL3 providing service to eight new stations. The extension would provide strap-hangers with more frequent rides and expanded access to 345,000 jobs via a 45-minute transit commute. Extending the SL3 is projected to increase daily SL3 ridership by over 15,000 riders, officials said. The importance of the Silver Lines ability to increase access to jobs and educational opportunities for all Everett residents cannot be understated and I am proud to endorse this commitment from the MBTA, Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria said in a statement. The Silver Line will also provide critical transit access that will support Everetts growth while reducing reliance on private vehicles. The extension will will reduce traffic, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and drastically improve lives and livelihoods for countless people throughout Chelsea, Everett, and beyond, state Sen. Sal DiDomenico, D-Middlesex/Suffolk, who represents Everett on Beacon Hill, said. Streetscape improvements in Springfield and Fall River. Money for a MetroWest YMCA. A new fire station in Quincy. Those are just some of the projects in line for a share of $175 million in federal funding earmarked for the Bay State in a series of federal budget bills, the 11 members of Massachusetts Capitol Hill delegation announced Friday. The projects that are on track for that infusion of federal cash will improve our essential infrastructure, expand public transportation access, support the development of affordable housing, invest in clean drinking water, promote climate resiliency, and help build a more livable future, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said in a statement. Read More: You can read the You can read the full list of projects here. All told, the funding announced Friday will underwrite a total of 159 community projects across the state, the lawmakers said. That includes more than $106 million for transportation, community development, and affordable housing projects; $47.6 million for such public infrastructure projects as clean drinking water and wastewater projects; $11 million for rural development efforts, and $9.8 million for justice and science-directed efforts, the lawmakers said. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District, the dean of the Bay States House delegation, said he was particularly pleased that nearly $15 million in funding was headed for projects in central and western Massachusetts. The federal money will further improve our regions infrastructure, invest in our childrens education, and deliver for working families, Neal said. In addition to the $4.1 million earmarked for streetscape improvements around Springfields Union Station, a further $4.6 million will help the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission design a new drinking water treatment plant that will eventually serve 250,000 people across the lower Pioneer Valley. Some of the beneficiaries there are residents of environmental justice communities in Springfield. In eastern Massachusetts, $13 million in funding is headed for 15 projects across the North Shore, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, said. These projects were developed by our community members themselves and will directly address many of our most pressing local challenges, Moulton said. Some of the other projects include: $5 million for the MetroWest YMCA to build a Regional Early Learning Center for the communities of Ashland, Framingham, Hopkinton, Holliston, Sherborn and others. $4.1 million for a new fire station in Quincy. $3.6 million to rehabilitate the Commuter/ADA Access Way at Gallagher Intermodal Transportation Center. $3.5 million that allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finish repairs and improvements to the hurricane barrier that protects New Bedford and Fairhaven. $3 million for Gloucester to make critical upgrades to the citys primary treatment Water Pollution Control Facility $2.6 million for the Latin American advocacy group, CENTRO Inc. , to acquire underutilized and blighted properties in Worcesters poorest neighborhood to allow for the construction of 112 affordable housing units, and support for 32 first-time homebuyers. $2 million for the Coonamessett Farm Foundation to provide Massachusetts fishers with the necessary equipment and training to further develop its ability to collect and disseminate oceanographic and fisheries data $1,666,279 for Fall River to implement a streetscapes improvement project along Pleasant Street $1,500,000 for St. Marys Center for Women and Children in Dorchester for renovations for their Young Parenting Living Program Nearly $14 million in federal funding will support the completion of long overdue projects from Lawrence to Lowell and Gardner and down to Berlin, stimulating our local economy and making a real difference in the lives of so many families, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District, said. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, D-5th District, offered a similar sentiment, noting that these investments will touch so many lives in our community. This federal funding will help clean our air and water, enable the construction of new community gathering spaces, and advance our work of building climate readiness and resiliency, Clark said. I want to thank my partners in local and state government for helping me identify these critical priorities. This is how our elected leaders should operate: partnering together to deliver for families back home. Aprils total eclipse of the sun is a month away and weather forecasters are predicting whether viewers will get a clear shot at it or miss out behind overcast skies. The bad news for those in the Northeast is that it isnt looking great right now. The best place to view a solar eclipse is in a region called the path of totality, where the moon will completely block the sun. In this region, the suns corona is visible assuming there arent clouds in the way. For the upcoming eclipse, the path of totality stretches from Texas through northern New England. AccuWeather released a map showing the likelihood of clear skies on April 8, when the eclipse will be visible across the United States, and areas in the path of totality in Pennsylvania, New York and New England showed the highest likelihood of cloud cover. The Northeast shows the lowest chance of clear skies during April's solar eclipse, but weather patterns could still change. (AccuWeather graphic)AccuWeather graphic The good news for those in the Northeast is that weather prediction can change in a months time. AccuWeather admitted that predicting the cloud cover for the four-minute window when the moon will block out the sun is complex and that multiple factors could change the current outlook. There is a good possibility that a cold front will be moving across central and eastern U.S. near this time of the eclipse, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said, adding that the location of this front could be the difference between cloudy and clear skies. Also a slow-moving storm system may move over the Southeast during April. If one of these [systems] forms, the duration of cloud cover can be longer with any system leading to poor viewing, Pastelok added. At present, areas in the Ohio Valley and southern Texas have the best chance of clear skies, AccuWeather predicted. Other forecasters are not predicting the sky cover at this time. The National Weather Service office at Burlington, Vermont, where the path of totality will cross, is making no prediction as of yet, according to meteorologist Robert Haynes. Sky cover can be hard to get three days in advance, Haynes said Friday. Instead, Haynes office is getting out information about cold water safety, as many are expected to visit the state to view the eclipse, especially on or near the waters of Lake Champlain. Were trying to warn people if youre out on the water, that water temperature is upper 30s to lower 40s, Haynes said, adding that cold water shock could be present during the viewing time. SPRINGFIELD Springfield Technical Community College capped off its celebration of Black History Month with a talk by Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, an award-winning author, educator and producer. Shabazz was greeted warmly by cheers and a standing ovation as she stepped up to the podium at Scibelli Hall on Feb. 29. She smiled broadly and noted she is one of six tall, opinionated daughters of the late activists Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz. AUBURN Colleen Rejman is proud of her daughter, a science teacher at Southern Cayuga High School. But she is worried about her future because of Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed budget that would cut the school district's base state aid by more than $1 million. Rejman was among the critics of Hochul's school aid proposal at state Sen. Rachel May's budget town hall Thursday at Cayuga Community College in Auburn. Hochul's $233 billion budget would, overall, increase state school aid. But many rural districts, like Southern Cayuga, would get less foundation aid compared to last year's budget. Foundation aid is the base funding provided by the state. The Citizen's review of the proposed school aid runs found seven districts in the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES system, including the Auburn Enlarged City School District, face foundation aid cuts. The proposed foundation aid for Southern Cayuga is $6,171,953, down 15.03% from $7,264,241 in the 2023-24 budget. Despite the state fully phasing in the foundation aid formula last year, many districts are facing cuts because Hochul's budget proposal would remove the "hold harmless" provision, which ensures schools get at least the same level of state aid they received in the previous budget. School districts are considering layoffs and cuts to programs if Hochul's budget is adopted. Teachers, like Rejman's daughter, could lose their jobs. "She loves to teach," Rejman told May. "She would be a huge loss to that school district." Other attendees spoke out against the proposed cuts. Barry Schwarting, a member of the Union Springs school board, warned that districts would need to increase property taxes to make up for the lost aid. In Union Springs, Schwarting said the district would need an 18% tax levy increase. Another concern raised by Schwarting is the potential for a late state budget and how that would affect school districts as they draft their budgets. If the state budget isn't adopted close to the April 1 deadline, then "cuts would become a reality," he said. Chad Mitchell, president of the Weedsport school board, asked May for a long-term school aid solution. While Hochul's proposed budget would increase foundation aid for Weedsport by 4.81%, from $7,335,115 to $7,688,334, Mitchell is frustrated by the "continuous battle" over base aid. In the upcoming state budget, legislators will likely reject the proposed cuts. May told the crowd that the state Legislature is fighting back against the plan to slash school aid. Lawmakers have traditionally advocated for more state school aid, even when governors propose increased funding. "This is one I'm sure we're going to win," she said. A long-term resolution will require more effort. An obvious change, May noted, would be to use 2020 census figures to calculate the aid for school districts the current formula is based on the 2000 census and to make the formula more equitable, especially for rural and urban school districts. One idea being floated, according to May, is the formation of a commission to examine the funding formula. But she warned that some school districts would lose aid if the formula is updated. "No one wants to see a cut to their school district's allocation," May said. "But if we have a new formula and we follow it, there will be cuts to some districts." 'A terrible position': Cayuga County-area school districts brace for NYS aid cuts Some Cayuga County-area school district officials are concerned about the decreased funding they would receive under Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed 2024-25 budget. Both countries have recently published their first FiTI Reports, covering calendar year 2022, taking another significant step towards fisheries transparency and reaffirming their commitment to the FiTI. By providing these reports and a range of previously unpublished data, interested national and international stakeholders now have another important means to understand the current state of the countries marine fisheries sector. Madagascars FiTI Report includes, among others, a comprehensive overview of fisheries laws and regulations, a list of large-scale fishing vessels, total payments for industrial fishing activities, and basic information on artisanal fishing in Madagascar (e.g. numbers of boats, payments). In Cabo Verde, the countrys first FiTI Report provides a listing of foreign fishing agreements, information on industrial and semi-industrial fishing vessels (such as type of vessels and their flag State), payment information for granting industrial vessels fishing rights in Cabo Verdes waters, semi-industrial catch data, and basic information on artisanal fishing in Cabo Verde (based on its most recent, Five Year Census 2021). At the same time, both reports also clearly acknowledge where data gaps exist, where information is currently non-accessible and state clear recommendations for the national authorities on how to gradually improve transparency in their marine fisheries sectors. Both reports have been reviewed and approved by each countrys FiTI National Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG), which consists of equal numbers of representatives from government, commercial fisheries and civil society. Madagascars and Cabo Verdes commitment to fostering stakeholder engagement and improving publicly available fisheries information highlights how fisheries transparency can support a sustainable and resilient future for marine fisheries. Westport-based councillor Fianna Fail Brendan Mulroy launched his re-election campaign with a vow to continue to fight for the people of Westport and surrounds as he entered his sixth election campaign since he was first elected in 1999. A large number of supporters, party members, town folk and elected representatives were in attendance at The Jester Bar in Westport when Mulroys campaign for re-election was launched. Cllr Mulroy was first elected to Westport Town Council in his first election in 1999 and was re-elected by the people of Westport in the subsequent two local elections in 2004 and 2009. Having served on Westport Town Council for 15 years, he was then elected for the first time to Mayo County Council in 2014 and was later re-elected in 2019. John Geary was the MC at the launch and said that Brendan Mulroy had an excellent track record and had his finger on the pulse of West Mayo and its people. Brendan is both impressive and personable. He is a candidate of high calibre who is not afraid to take on tough issues and face his opponents down when he needs to. Even in the past few weeks, Brendan has been raising important issues such as the lack of taxis servicing the country locations outside Westport at night areas like Aughagower, Kilmeena, Louisburgh, Drummin and such outer lying areas. He has also taken a stance on not having election posters in the upcoming election and has highlighted the environmental benefit of not putting election posters up, he said. The launch was attended by Senators Niall Blaney and Lisa Chambers who are both Fianna Fail candidates in the upcoming European elections for the MidlandsNorth-West constituency in June. Senator Chambers spoke to the assembled crowd about how Brendan Mulroy is involved in so many voluntary groups and community initiatives. He has been a great contact point to assist those in need of support or advice young and old and especially through his presence on Facebook and social media. Brendan Mulroy has stood up and is fighting the battle with the residents and homeowners at the pyrite-stricken Pairc na Coille Estate in Westport. He is not afraid to take on difficult issues, she said. Senator Blaney spoke about Brendan Mulroy being a very effective Mayo County Councillor who represents the West Mayo area with distinction. He said that he was delighted to be in Westport for his campaign launch and wished Brendan continued success at the polls. In June 2018, Brendan Mulroy was elected by his fellow county councillors when he took up the highest accolade in local government politics by being chosen as Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council. Minister for State at the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment, Dara Calleary TD said that during the Covid pandemic, Brendan Mulroy brought great leadership to the people of Mayo when he served as Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council. Brendan reached out to the people of Mayo and was a visible beacon as the first citizen of the county and offered real assistance and support to those who needed it. He had such a visible presence on the ground and across the county and provided leadership and courage to many. Minister Calleary singled out Cllr Mulroy as being a hugely effective voice for getting the Newport sewerage system upgraded and said he undertook a relentless campaign to highlight the ongoing pollution of Clew Bay at Newport . He put his neck on the line and kept immense pressure on Irish water and other agencies to ensure that Newport will be getting its long-overdue sewerage update. Councillor Mulroy said he is honoured to represent the Westport Electoral Area and he thanked the people of West Mayo for their continued support and faith in him. He remarked that if they placed that faith in him again come June 7, he would repay them with his continued committed dedication. THE endurance and popularity of her biography reflects the sheer magnetism of its subject. Grace OMalley (also known as Granuaile) continues to enthral, inspire and capture the imagination of new generations of devotees worldwide as she undoubtedly first captured mine. For many centuries Grace OMalley was a victim of the mainly male orientation of historical record. While she had more than created her own legend, nonetheless, she never appeared in the pages of my school history books, which left me to wonder, no doubt like many more, if she had ever existed. Despite the fact (as I subsequently discovered) her life is well documented in the Elizabethan State Papers and other contemporary collections of her time and her name, unique for a woman, enshrined in the famous 1599 Boazio map of Ireland the only female leader ever so listed it was her absence from Irish historical record that initially motivated my own interest. Imprisoned within the swirls and flourishes of these now faded, brittle Elizabethan parchment relics, the story of Grace OMalley springs to life. When analysed within the historical context of the traumatic epoch in which she lived, as well as a daughter, wife, mother, divorcee, lover, widow, grandmother and great-grandmother, she emerges as a fearless leader, by land and by sea, a shrewd political tactician, an intrepid seafarer, successful independent business woman, ruthless plunderer, mercenary, rebel, the protective matriarch of her family and her tribe. Above all else she was a woman who broke the mould and refused to allow the barriers placed in her path, either by society or by nature, to deter her from her quest. Grace OMalleys place and contribution to political, social and maritime history is now acknowledged and celebrated. Her factual story has been documented for radio and television worldwide and in a diverse range of printed media most recently, if unlikely, in Forbes Magazine! Most importantly she is now part of schools historical curricula. Over the years my own journey in the company of this remarkable woman has lead me to many places around the world to tell her story; from Montreal to the old pirate city of Port Royal in Jamaica, to Harvard university, from Greenwich to Galway and many places in between. International focus on gender equality, the #MeToo movement and other feminist campaigns make the life of Grace OMalley, albeit lived over 400 years ago, resonate even more today. She shines as an inspirational beacon to woman everywhere, throwing light on what they can achieve even, like her, in the most demanding and difficult circumstances and environments. For Grace OMalley it was to survive, against the odds, the political and social chaos and destruction perpetrated against herself, her family and followers during the military conquest of her country in the 16th century, as well as to survive the dangers and the awesome power of the formidable Atlantic Ocean. As ageism in society, particularly attitudes to older women, comes under greater scrutiny today, that she retained her status as a woman of power and influence and remained actively involved, by land and sea to the end of her long life, makes Grace OMalley a symbol of positive ageing too. And through her example comes the realisation for women everywhere that age need not be a terminus but as it was for her just another port of call. My voyage in the company of this pioneering woman continues, as her story a testimony to female ability and endurance is even more relevant today to counteract the widespread discrimination, inequality and negativity that continues to exist in politics, society, business and religion, preventing women from achieving and developing their potential and thereby depriving society of a reservoir of intuition, talent, knowledge and experience. Grace OMalley The Biography of Irelands Pirate Queen, 1530-1603, by Anne Chambers, is published by Gill Books. Other works by the Mayo-born author and historian include TK Whitaker: Portrait of a Patriot, Eleanor Countess of Desmond, The Great Leviathan: the life of Howe Peter Browne, 2nd Marquess of Sligo (1788-1845) and Lord Mayo: Son of the Pirate Queen 1567-1629. Tony Deffely from the Castlebar Council of Trade Unions has called for a civic reception to celebrate West on Tracks Meitheal of the Year award. Mr Deffely made the call at a Corporate, Education, Culture, Heritage and Library Services committee meeting yesterday. The community group was announced as the winner of the Paddy Joe Moran Mayo Meitheal of the Year award last week. They fight a great fight for us all and continue to fight it; my own organisation nominated them [for the award], said Mr Deffely. He told the committee that the publicity is doing the [organisation] a lot of good. Mr Deffely shared that he was going to whisper at this meeting the possibility of a civic reception for the group from the council to once more, highlight the fantastic contribution theyre making to the community. Chairman of the Corporate, Education, Culture, Heritage and Library Services Committee, Cllr Michael Burke, explained that there is a criteria as to what qualifies for a reception. Director of Services at Mayo County Council, Catherine McConnell, said civic receptions are very rare and usually mark some outstanding achievement There are certainly other ways to acknowledge the very valuable contribution that the group has made to further the particular endeavour which, when in place, will have a huge impact on business and travel opportunities in county Mayo,'' said McConnell. Senior executive officer of Mayo County Council, Martina Hughes, told the meeting that the request will be brought to the Corporate Policy Group where it will be discussed whether it's more municipal district related or has a county impact, and that's possibly a starting point. West on Track will be presented with the award tomorrow, Friday, at a lunch in Dublin. MAYO County Council is currently recruiting for a manager for a designated zone that could deliver thousands of jobs near Knock Airport. Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) received approval for the designation of lands as an area for the establishment of a Strategic Development Zone in May 2017. The SDZ would create a tax-free zone around the airport with potential to create up to 4,000 jobs in the region, it has been claimed. The monthly meeting of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District was told that the local authority are to conduct interviews for a manager to oversee the development of an Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at the airport. Joanne Grehan, Director of Services for Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District, said the new employee would be tasked with creating a roadmap to develop the SDZ. Ms Grehan said that she would inform the working group assigned to the SDZ of a broadband rig at the airport that has not been activated. Cllr Neil Cruise had expressed concern regarding the rig, which was constructed with EU funding in 2009, saying it should be the first priority of the new SDZ manager. The Fine Gael councillor also said that the new SDZ should facilitate industries other than aviation. As New York conducts a one-year pilot program to screen for congenital cytomegalovirus, a bipartisan coalition in Congress has introduced legislation that would incentivize hospitals to check infants for the virus. The bill, named the STOP CMV Act, would provide funding to hospitals and health care facilities that screen infants for the virus, known as CMV. Additional funding would be allocated for CMV data collection and the National Institutes of Health would be required to research congenital CMV. CMV is a common virus, but it can cause complications in infants. Babies who contract the virus could have developmental delays, hearing or vision loss, or seizures. It's estimated that more than 30,000 babies are born with CMV annually. New York has sought to raise awareness of CMV. In 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed "Elizabeth's Law" requiring child care providers to receive information about the risks of congenital CMV. The legislation, which was sponsored by central New York state Sen. John Mannion, is named in honor of Elizabeth Saunders, the daughter of Jim and Lisa Saunders. Jim Saunders is an Auburn native. Elizabeth Saunders had congenital CMV and was born with cerebral palsy, hearing and vision problems. She died of a seizure in 2006. Lisa Saunders, who was the driving force behind the New York law bearing her daughter's name, told The Citizen she is thrilled that Congress will consider federal legislation to encourage screening. The bill, she said, would be a game-changer. "This is the miracle I've been hoping and praying for," she said. Although it's known that CMV causes birth defects, most states lack universal screening. Minnesota was the first state to screen all newborns for congenital CMV. Connecticut will become the second in 2025. New York is moving toward that goal with a pilot program that launched last year. While it would not impose a mandate on states, the federal legislation could boost newborn screening for congenital CMV. U.S. Rep. Michael Lawler, a Republican who represents parts of the Hudson Valley in New York, introduced the bill in the House along with U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, an Ohio Democrat. U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both Connecticut Democrats, and U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, unveiled the Senate version of the measure. Lawler noted that one in 200 babies is born with congenital CMV and 20% of the infants develop symptoms or long-term health issues. "It is crucial that Congress invest in early intervention services to overcome these startling statistics," said Lawler, who added that it will "improve access to screenings and invest in the critical research necessary to ensure children born with CMV grow up to live healthy lives." The bill has been endorsed by the National CMV Foundation, the American Cochlear Implant Alliance and the American Speech-Language-Hearing-Association. Mary Uran, president of the National CMV Foundation, and Khaliah Fleming, the foundation's executive director, lauded lawmakers for introducing the measure, which they said will help raise awareness and prevent congenital CMV. "(Congenital CMV) is common, serious and preventable, and it's unacceptable that only 9% of women have heard of it," Uran and Fleming said. "This legislation represents the first coordinated federal effort to improve and invest in CMV research, testing, education and data collection." by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, March 8, 2024 Anyone who tuned into the State of the Union address last night expecting -- or perhaps hoping -- to see Joe Biden suddenly lose his place, run out of gas or fall asleep had to be disappointed. The Presidents age, physical stamina and cognitive acuity were all anybody could talk about in the lead-up to the speech. His detractors wanted him to falter. His supporters held their breath. In the end, he surprised everyone. Though the speech may have been past his bedtime (sorry, just joking), Biden was vigorous and his voice forceful. On TV, he came across not as an 81-year-old in his dotage, but as a veteran career politician who successfully positioned his age and experience as assets, not defects. advertisement advertisement The best moments of the speech were when he addressed Republicans directly in the language of the U.S. Senate, calling out some of them by name, and reminding us all that politics on the level practiced by the Joe Bidens of the world takes years to master. True, there were many moments when the President faltered. Sentences ran together and words were slurred. One of the more curious passages was when he launched into an initiative that would hold snack food brands accountable for filling their snack bags with fewer potato chips than they used to. He then said something about Snickers bars not having enough Snickers in them, or something to that effect. And then, suddenly, he segued from junk food to junk fees. Was this just a coincidence, or did his speechwriters juxtapose these two issues on purpose? This was about halfway into the speech, and fragments of his sentences were beginning to blur into intelligibility. It began to look like the President was on the precipice of a decline. And then, he wasnt. Indeed, as the speech wore on, he actually seemed to gain strength -- a warrior right at home in a chamber he knew well. It was Bidens fourth State of the Union speech as president, but at least the 50th that he has attended, one TV commentator noted. Multiple commentators also pointed out that the timing of this years SOTU was perhaps without precedent, held just two days after a Super Tuesday primary day that virtually locked in the Presidents opponent in the presidential campaign. In this context, some of the commentators positioned the speech as the unofficial start of the Biden reelection campaign. Indeed, the speech included multiple negative references to Trump, although the former President was never referred to by name. The President referred to Vladimir Putin by name, though, in one of the first sections of the speech in which he called on Congress to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. Biden vowed never to bow down to Putin, which struck me as a terribly worded passage of the speech, for it conjured an image of a U.S. President actually bowing down to a dictator. Besides, to my knowledge, no one has accused Biden of bowing down to Putin or anybody else. The speech started at 9:25 p.m. Eastern and ended an hour and eight minutes later -- relatively short by SOTU standards. Biden spent the last few minutes of the speech telling us his life story in the manner of a campaign speech. It seemed out of place in a speech that is supposed to be about the country -- the Union, as in State of the Union, not the State of Joe Biden. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, March 7, 2024 A former Google employee and software engineer secretly working for two Chinese companies has been arrested for allegedly stealing artificial intelligence (AI) technology from the search giant. Linwei Ding, 38, who goes by the name of Leon Ding, faces four counts of theft of trade secrets, Merrick Garland, the US attorney general, published in a statement. The court documents describe the technology Ding allegedly stole. It includes the building blocks of Googles advanced supercomputing data centers, which are designed to support machine learning workloads used to train and host large AI models. The models are AI applications capable of understanding nuanced language and generating intelligent responses to prompts, tasks, or queries. The advanced computer chips with very high processing power are required to facilitate machine learning and run AI applications. The several layers of software, referred to in the indictment as the software platform, runs the machine learning workloads. advertisement advertisement Ding, who was arrested Wednesday, is a national of the Peoples Republic of China and resident of Newark, California, according to the indictment, returned on March 5 and unsealed Wednesday. He allegedly transferred sensitive Google trade secrets and other confidential information from Googles network to his personal account while secretly affiliating himself with PRC-based companies in the AI industry. FBI Director Christopher Wray noted that the charges are the latest illustration of the lengths of workers of companies based in the Peoples Republic of China are willing to go to steal American innovation. The inditement explains that Google hired Ding as a software engineer in 2019, to develop the software in Googles supercomputing data centers. Ding had access to Goggles confidential information related to the hardware infrastructure, the software platform, and the AI models and applications they supported. The indictment alleges that on May 21, 2022, Ding began secretly uploading trade secrets that were stored in Googles network by copying the information into a personal Google Cloud account. He continued periodic uploads until May 2, 2023. He allegedly uploaded more than 500 unique files containing confidential information. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 7, 2024 The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday voted 50-0 in favor of two bills aimed at preventing the Chinese government from obtaining data about Americans, including a measure that could result in a ban on TikTok. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (H.R. 7521), introduced Tuesday by Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois) and Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) and advanced by lawmakers on Thursday, would prohibit app stores or internet hosting services from offering TikTok, unless the app is sold by its parent company, the China-based ByteDance. The other bill approved Thursday, Protecting Americans Data from Foreign Adversaries Act (H.R. 7520), would prohibit data brokers from transferring sensitive information to foreign adversaries or companies owned by foreign adversaries. advertisement advertisement The Krishnamoorthi-Gallagher bill -- the more controversial of the pair -- sparked a lobbying campaign by TikTok that involved rallying users to voice opposition to Congress. Committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) referenced that effort Thursday afternoon, arguing it showed how the Chinese Communist Party can weaponize platforms like TikTok to manipulate the American people. This morning, prior to our hearing, TikTok used its influence and power to force users to contact their representatives if they wanted to continue using TikTok, Rodgers said before the vote. A coalition of civil rights groups also urged lawmakers to reject the Krishnamoorthi-Gallagher bill, arguing it would violate the First Amendment. H.R. 7521 is censorship -- plain and simple, the American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Democracy & Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Fight for the Future said in a letter sent to lawmakers on Wednesday. Passing this legislation would trample on the constitutional right to freedom of speech of millions of people in the United States, the groups wrote. TikTok is home to massive amounts of protected speech and association: it enables its users to discuss their opinions, share their hobbies, make art, and access news from down the street and around the world. TikTok stated after the vote that the bill attempts to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression, adding that doing so will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country. Last year, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula, Montana blocked enforcement of a state law that would have banned TikTok, ruling that the statute oversteps state power and infringes on the Constitutional rights of users and businesses. Molloy added that the law wasn't narrowly tailored to prevent the Chinese government from accessing data about U.S. residents, noting that China could also gather similar information by purchasing it from data brokers, or through open-source intelligence intelligence gathering. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 7, 2024 A recent court decision that allows parents to sue Snapchat over their children's fentanyl overdoses could effectively gut Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act -- a 28-year-old media law that protects websites from lawsuits over users' posts -- tech industry organizations and a nonprofit overdose prevention group told a California appellate court this week. By denying immunity for third-party content, the trial courts decision renders Section 230 nearly meaningless, creating confusion and inviting frivolous litigation against internet services that Section 230 is meant to prevent, NetChoice, the Chamber of Progress and Team Awareness Combating Overdose said in a proposed friend-of-the-court brief filed Wednesday. The resulting wave of drawn-out litigation -- or its mere threat -- would pressure, if not practically force, services to remove legitimate content and drop key design features like encryption, undermining the Internets vibrancy and threatening users privacy and safety, the organizations added. advertisement advertisement The groups' papers come in a lawsuit brought last year against Snapchat by parents of minors who overdosed after purchasing fentanyl from connections made through the social platform. The parents' class-action complaint largely centered on claims that Snapchat's service was defective due to design features such as disappearing messages, which the parents alleged facilitated drug sales. Snapchat sought a fast dismissal, arguing it was protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act -- a 1996 law that broadly immunizes web companies for illegal content posted by users. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff rejected Snapchat's request last month, essentially holding that Section 230 doesn't protect interactive companies from liability over the design of their services. Snapchat appealed Riff's ruling and, on Tuesday, 2nd Appellate District Court of Appeal Judge Judith Ashmann-Gerst issued an emergency stay that temporarily halted the parents' lawsuit, pending further arguments. NetChoice and the other outside groups are now backing Snapchat's appeal. The organizations argue in their brief that Riff's ruling could allow other plaintiffs to circumvent Section 230 by arguing that their claims focus on design choices. Imagine a website that allows users to post candid and graphic coverage of the wars in Ukraine or Gaza, the groups write. In some vague sense, the website is arguably 'designed' to host violent content. A plaintiff could note this and sue for harms allegedly caused by distributing such coverage. The organizations add that unless Riff's ruling is reversed, it will pressure web companies to abandon privacy-promoting features, such as Snapchat's automatic deletion of messages. The complaint attacks Snaps ephemerality features as harmful, even though these features facilitate healthy social expression and privacy, the organizations write. By deleting data, Snaps features reduce the risk of data breaches and mitigate the general concern that everything a person does is permanent on the Internet, the groups add. by Ray Schultz , March 7, 2024 Time magazine has taken a stand for journalistic freedom by placing Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia since March 29, 2023, on its cover, with the headline: The Fight to Free Evan Gershkovich. The shock running through the Wall Street Journal newsroom and indeed, throughout the profession when Gershkovich was detained speaks volumes about the unreality of his abduction into the Russian judicial system, writes Sam Jacobs, editor in chief of Time. Gershkovich told his parents not to worry; after all, he was a journalist accredited by the Foreign Ministry, Jacobs continues. Gershkovich thought that status would protect him, even as he knew life there had changed. Reporting on Russia is now also a regular practice of watching people you know get locked away for years, he wrote on Twitter, now X, in July 2022. advertisement advertisement Jacobs adds that Gershkovich saw reporting in Russia as a calling, one made all the more important because the freedom of Russian journalists had been almost entirely curtailed. Gershkovich seems to be holding up and hasnt lost his sense of self or his sense of humor, Jacobs reports. But he has joined the number of people now imprisoned, including fellow American Paul Whelan. And the recent death of Alexei Navalny in a Russian penal colony only underscored the precarity of their situation. Whats more, it negated the possibility of a prisoner exchange that could have included all three, as Charlotte Alter reports in her cover story, Jacobs argues. Jacobs concludes, We join the journalists and their supporters at the Wall Street Journal, as well as our colleagues across our industry, in calling for his release. We look forward to the day when Gershkovich is free, back with his friends and family, back doing the work he loves. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 8, 2024 The defunct Atlanta-based ad tech company Inform, which provided video services to outside publishers, can proceed with claims that Google violated antitrust laws by discontinuing support for Adobe Flash in favor of HTML5 in YouTube and the Chrome browser, a federal judge ruled Thursday. In a 26-page decision, U.S. District Court Judge Kevin Castel in the Southern District of New York ruled that the allegations in Inform's complaint, if proven true, could support the conclusion that Google both monopolized and attempted to monopolize the online video advertising market. The complaint plausibly alleges that through its Chrome browser, Google abruptly transitioned from allowing video platforms to play through the long-established Adobe Flash to HTML5, and disabled Flash advertisements in order to 'steal' the online video market, Castel wrote. The ruling comes in a battle dating to 2019, when Inform alleged that it was put out of business by Google's decision to end support for Flash. The company said it garnered more than $100 million in revenue for online ad services between 2014 and 2016, but was effectively squeezed out of the market in 2016 -- the year Google discontinued supporting Flash. advertisement advertisement Flash was superior in many respects and Googles primary reason for wanting to marginalize Flash was Googles lack of control over Abodes proprietary product, Inform alleged in its initial complaint, which was filed in federal court in Georgia. Inform also alleged that starting in 2015, Google automatically converted Flash campaigns to HTML5 -- but only for advertisers that used or switched to Googles ad buying tools and uploaded their ads through Googles AdWords, AdWords Editor, or third-party tools that contracted through Googles ad platform. The upshot, according to Inform, was that advertisers had to either manually convert content from Flash to HTML5 or use Google, which did so automatically. Publishers also were coerced into transacting for programmatic ad inventory through Google tools because publishers direct relationships with advertisers were disrupted as advertisers worked through the transition to HTML5, Inform alleged. Google urged Castel to dismiss the complaint for several reasons, including that the transition to HTML5 was a valid design choice, and that the industry overall was moving away from Flash. Google also noted Apple CEO Steve Jobs's well-publicized criticisms of Flash -- which wasn't allowed on Apple products. Castel essentially said in his ruling that Google's argument on that point hinged on evidence that wasn't yet part of the record, and therefore couldn't be considered at this time. The ruling leaves open an opportunity for Google to defeat the claims at a later stage of the proceeding. While Castel sided against Google on Inform's major claim regarding Flash and HTML5, the judge narrowed the lawsuit by throwing out some counts relating to Google's ad auction procedures -- including a claim that Google set unreasonably high minimum bids. The allegations relating to that count provide no clarity as to the nature of Googles alleged anticompetitive conduct and its claimed effect on Inform, Castel wrote. A Google spokesperson said the company was pleased the court significantly narrowed the case. He added: We'll continue to defend ourselves against these meritless allegations. This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy Privacy Policy , and our Terms of Use What is Cholestatic Jaundice? Cholestasis is a Greek word that means stopping or slowing of bile flow from the liver to the small intestine due to a block (obstruction) in the biliary duct system that connects the liver and small intestine, causing the bile to remain in the liver. It is therefore a form of obstructive jaundice. Normal Flow Of Bile From Liver To Small Intestine An Overview of The Biliary System The bile ducts within the liver (intrahepatic bile ducts) contain the bile formed in the liver. These intrahepatic ducts join together and exit the liver as the right and left hepatic ducts, forming the first part of the extrahepatic (outside the liver) biliary system. The right and left hepatic ducts join together to form the common hepatic duct. The common hepatic duct is joined by the cystic duct from the gall bladder. The point where the cystic duct meets the common hepatic duct marks the start of the common bile duct. The common bile ducts travels for a distance and empties into the second part of the duodenum (part of the small intestine) via the ampulla of Vater. The common bile duct is usually joined to the main pancreatic duct just prior to the opening in the ampulla. Bile is important in the digestion of fats in the small intestine, and consequently this becomes affected. When bile remains in the liver, bilirubin, a pigment occurring in bile escapes and accumulates in the blood resulting in symptoms of jaundice. Jaundice is one of the most discerning features of cholestasis and yet it may not always be the first discernible symptom. Cholestasis affects both the young and old. Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are the main cholestatic liver conditions in adults while in infants, biliary atresia and Alagille syndrome mainly cause cholestasis. Cholestasis observed in infants and children (1 out of 2500) can be either congenital (at birth) or hereditary. Jaundice that occurs due to cholestasis mainly occurs in acute or acute-on-chronic cases. It is rare to observe jaundice in severe longstanding chronic cases since they are treated with liver transplants. Advertisement Cholestatic jaundice can be broadly classified according to the type of pathology in the biliary system Type of Biliary System Pathology Common Examples Congenital Biliary atresia Choledochal cyst Inflammatory Ascending cholangitis Sclerosing cholangitis Obstruction Common bile duct (CBD) stone Biliary duct stricture Parasitic infection of bile ducts Neoplastic Carcinoma head of pancreas Periampullary carcinoma Cholangiocarcinoma Klatskin tumor (tumor of biliary system where the right and left hepatic ducts meet) External compression of CBD Lymph nodes, tumor (Mirizzis syndrome) Cholestatic jaundice in infants may be caused by several factors, such as - Congenital hypopituitarism Adrenal insufficiency in infants (very rare) This has not been observed in adults Rare genetic disorders in children Accounts for 25% of cholestatic jaundice cases caused by gene mutations (e.g. Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis; Alagille syndrome; Bile acid synthesis disorders; Cystic fibrosis; Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency; metabolic errors; zinc storage disorders) Biliary atresia accounts for 25% to 40% of cases in the initial months of life Bacterial sepsis Galactosemia Bile acid synthesis disorders Tyrosinemia Advertisement In adults, there are intrinsic and extrinsic factors pertaining the liver, which can cause cholestatic jaundice - Infections (e.g. viral hepatitis A, B, C; rubella, syphilis, herpes virus; toxoplasmosis; cytomegalovirus, AIDS, PBC, alcoholic hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, PSC, autoimmune cholangitis) Infiltrative conditions (e.g. fatty liver, granulomatous hepatitis, lymphoma, sarcoidosis Structural conditions choledocholithiasis (gallstone obstruction with inflammation), intralobular duct destruction Medications e.g. estrogen, erythromycin, statins, nitrofurantoin, sulindac, cimetidine, gold salts Surgical complications leading to biliary ductal strictures and scarring Graft-versus-host disease Third trimester of pregnancy (obstetric cholestasis) Cystic fibrosis Tumors gallbladder carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic tumors, ampullary tumors Vanishing bile duct syndrome rare condition occurring due to drug induced liver damage Jaundice due to cholestasis is one of the symptoms. Sometimes, prior to jaundice setting in, the patient may show certain signs indicating potential cholestasis. Clinically, cholestasis may present with the following symptoms - Advertisement Pruritis (itching) due to deposition of bile products in the skin Tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea due to liver disease Pale-coloured stools (since bile and associated pigment does not reach the intestine) Deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins (since bile is needed to absorb fat soluble vitamins) Steatorrhea (presence of undigested fat in the stools) Urine is dark in colour (since urine is a filtrate of blood in which the bile pigment accumulates) Loss of weight due to associated cancer as well as impaired digestion Bone pain due to calcium and vitamin D deficiency (poor absorption of fat soluble vitamins) Increased bruising or bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency (poor absorption of fat soluble vitamins) During diagnosis, it is essential to evaluate the risk factors of the patient, which may have triggered the onset of cholestatic jaundice. Medications such as estrogens, erythromycin, NSAIDs, alcohol, Cimetidine and Itraconazole Premature babies Alcoholism Previous history of liver disease Pregnancy (obstetric cholestasis) Family history is considered in the case of benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis Cholestatic jaundice is diagnosed by blood tests, imaging techniques, and liver biopsy. In order to diagnose cholestatic jaundice, it is imperative to first assess the cause of cholestasis; is it due to an intrahepatic (within the liver) condition (predominantly chronic) or an extrahepatic condition (external to the liver). The doctor will assess the patients symptoms and perform a thorough a physical examination of the patient. Following are the strategies employed (in the order provided) to confirm diagnosis of cholestasis. Blood Tests Elevated serum bilirubin levels indicate the severity of jaundice but are not useful in determining the cause of cholestasis High levels of the enzyme gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase High serum transaminase levels observed in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) Imaging If the blood tests are abnormal, imaging studies are done to determine the etiology of cholestatic jaundice. Ultrasonography of the abdomen is an effective, inexpensive, specific, and sensitive tool to distinguish between intrahepatic or extrahepatic cause of cholestasis. of the abdomen is an effective, inexpensive, specific, and sensitive tool to distinguish between intrahepatic or extrahepatic cause of cholestasis. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done instead of or in addition to ultrasound imaging. These may show the location and extent of cancer or other diseases. Abnormalities detected help to formulate the required therapy. Other Biochemical tests Negative data from ultrasound necessitates other diagnostic tests. Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) are diagnostic of PBC. Fibrosis or beaded appearance of the biliary system (bile production) is indicative of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Liver biopsy If the investigations point to a cause within the liver, a liver biopsy may be useful in establishing the diagnosis such as bile duct carcinoma (cholangiocarcinoma) or autoimmune disease. A liver biopsy also helps to confirm the diagnosis of vanishing bile duct syndrome, a common cause of drug induced cholestatic liver disease Advanced Imaging Tests Abnormalities of the bile duct and biliary system , including sclerosing cholangitis (SC) can be observed with advanced imaging tools, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): A thin flexible tube (endoscope) is passed through the mouth and into the small intestine. Then, a radiopaque contrast agent (which can be seen on x-rays) is injected through the tube into the bile and pancreatic ducts (biliary tree) and x-ray images are taken. (ERCP): A thin flexible tube (endoscope) is passed through the mouth and into the small intestine. Then, a radiopaque contrast agent (which can be seen on x-rays) is injected through the tube into the bile and pancreatic ducts (biliary tree) and x-ray images are taken. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP): MRCP is MRI of the biliary tree (bile and pancreatic ducts), with specialized techniques that to make the fluid in the ducts appear bright against a surrounding dark background. (MRCP): MRCP is MRI of the biliary tree (bile and pancreatic ducts), with specialized techniques that to make the fluid in the ducts appear bright against a surrounding dark background. Endoscopic ultrasonography : An ultrasound probe is inserted with a flexible viewing tube (endoscope) through the mouth and into the small intestine and images are taken. : An ultrasound probe is inserted with a flexible viewing tube (endoscope) through the mouth and into the small intestine and images are taken. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography: A long needle is inserted through the skin into the liver and then a radiopaque contrast agent is injected into a bile duct in the liver, using ultrasonography for guidance. Treatment of cholestatic jaundice has to take into account the reason behind the retention of bile in the liver and bloodstream and the effect of diminished quantities of bile acids in the digestive tract. Autoimmune cholangitis is treated with corticosteroids while bacterial cholangitis can be treated with antibiotics Cholestyramine a bile acid binding resin to symptomatically treat pruritis Supplements of vitamin D and K Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a bile acid that improves the functioning of the liver by enhancing the flow of bile. The use of UDCA is effective in treating PBC. Corticosteroids are effective only in treating early stages of PBC since osteoporosis may result in the advanced stages of the disease . Chenodeoxycholic acid and cholic acid are used to treat bile acid synthesis disorders in infants Surgery is effective in treating only extrahepatic blocks to bile ducts Glucocorticoids can be used to treat cholestatic jaundice caused by adrenal insufficiency Patients are advised to discontinue medications or alcohol that may be the cause of the condition. What is Duanes Syndrome? Duanes syndrome is a congenital non-progressive form of squint or strabismus. The sideways movement of the eyeball is impaired and the eyelids open and close inappropriately as the eyes turn. The outward movement of the eye away from the nose (abduction) and similarly the inward movement of the eye looking toward the nose (adduction) is defective. The condition was first recognized by ophthalmologists Jakob Stilling (1887) and Sigmund Turk (1896) but was described in detail by Alexander Duane in 1905 after whom it is named. Other names used to refer to this disorder include Duane's retraction syndrome (DRS), eye retraction syndrome, congenital retraction syndrome retraction syndrome, and Stilling-Turk-Duane syndrome. Duanes syndrome may affect one or both eyes, with the left eye involved more often for reasons not known. Duanes syndrome is seen more frequently in females. Most cases are diagnosed by 10 years of age. There is no particular race predilection. About 10-20% cases are familial and these are more likely to be bilateral than the sporadic form of Duanes syndrome (80%). It is a rare condition affecting 1 in 10000 persons and accounts for between 1-5% of all squint cases. To understand what goes wrong in Duanes syndrome, it is important to know how the eye muscles function to move the eye in various directions. There are normally, six muscles on the outside of each eyeball which allow us to move the eye in all directions as needed. These eye muscles are innervated by nerves which control the eye movement. Normally the muscle that moves the eyeball laterally outward away from the nose is the lateral rectus muscle innervated by the abducent (cranial nerve VI) nerve. The eye muscle that moves the eyeball inward to look at the nose is the medial rectus and it is innervated by the oculomotor (cranial nerve III) nerve. Advertisement For normal eye movement to occur, both the muscle and its nerve supply must be intact. The brain sends electrical signals along nerve fibres to the muscles causing eye movement. These nerve fibres and muscles are formed much before we are born. Duane syndrome is caused by a miswiring of the nerves that supply eye muscles. The abducent nerve that supplies the lateral rectus muscle does not develop, and thus this muscle cannot function properly. However, instead, the muscle gets a twig from the oculomotor nerve which also supplies the medial rectus muscle which has the opposite movement of the lateral rectus muscle. Therefore when the eye attempts to look sideways, the opposing medial rectus muscle also will be stimulated, thus limiting abduction or outward movement and instead the eye appears to retract into the socket with the eyelids opening and closing inappropriately. In some cases, which involve both eyes (bilateral DRS), mutation in the CHN1 gene have been noted leading to familial DRS . have been noted leading to . Exposure to thalidomide of the fetus in early pregnancy (20-26 days) has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of Duanes syndrome. Duanes is subdivided into three types, which are distinct entities with unique features. Type 1: Impaired ability of involved eye/eyes to move outward towards the ear, but the ability to move towards the nose is near normal Type 2: Impaired ability to move inward towards the nose, but the ability to move outward away from the nose is near normal Type 3: Limited ability of affected eye/eyes to move both inward toward the nose as well as outward away from the nose Advertisement Squint: the eyes may be misaligned and point in different directions some or all of the time Abnormal head position: children often maintain an abnormal head posture or turn their head to keep the eyes aligned or straight Upshoot or downshoot of eye: when attempting outward movements, the eye may deviate upward or downward Amblyopia (reduced vision in the affected eye): occurs in a small proportion of cases Eyelid narrowing: the affected eye may appear smaller than the other eye Examination of eye movements and visual acuity by the eye specialist will raise the suspicion of the diagnosis. Other tests that may be performed to confirm the diagnosis and determine the residual function of the involved eye muscle. These include Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brainstem may reveal small or absent abducent nerve nucleus and nerve; the optic, oculomotor and trochlear nerves may also be poorly developed Electromyography of eye muscle - may demonstrate degree of activity in the lateral rectus muscles ranging from no activity during outward eye movement to essentially equal activity in both outward and inward eye movements. Goal of treatment is to reduce squint, prevent or reduce abnormal head posturing and prevent vision impairment in the affected eye Conservative Management Children diagnosed with Duanes syndrome most often do not require any treatment. They have to be followed up by the eye doctor regularly to check for vision. Most children will have normal vision, although in some cases, glasses may be prescribed to achieve best vision. In some children, it may be necessary to use an eye patch over the normal eye to prevent Duanes eye from becoming lazy leading to visual impairments. leading to visual impairments. Fresnel prisms attached to glasses may be prescribed to avoid abnormal head posturing. Advertisement Surgery Surgical correction may be necessary if the eyes are misaligned even when looking straight, there is significant head turning to see properly, or there is marked upshooting or downshooting of the eyes. Surgery will improve vision although it will not make the eye movements normal. This is because the main problem is in the signaling from the brain which cannot be modified by surgery. Sporadic Duanes syndrome cannot be prevented as they occur spontaneously in offspring of normal parents. However persons with familial DRS wherein other family members are also similarly affected, may be advised to seek genetic counselling to understand the risk of having an affected baby. Prenatal diagnosis is possible for pregnancies at increased risk i.e. if the condition is present in a family member. Health Tips About Herpes labialis or orolabial herpes is an infection which causes groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth by herpes simplex virus (HSV-1)(1 Trusted Source Herpes simplex virus Go to source). It is more commonly referred to as cold sores or fever blisters, but they have nothing to do with cold or fever. Greek scholars, including Hippocrates, initiated the use of the word 'herpes' to describe these lesions caused by the virus we now call herpes simplex. The word 'herpes' means to creep or crawl. The Greeks describe it as the manner in which these lesions spread(2 Trusted Source Herpes simplex viruses: is a vaccine tenable? Go to source). The first outbreak is confusing as the patient gets a tingling sensation that is accompanied with a burning and itchy sensation, and just when the patient feels that it will subside, a blister or cluster of small blisters appear at the corner or edge of the lips which are painful and reddish purple in color at first. Occasionally, they occur on the nostrils, chin or fingers. Although unusual, they may also occur inside the mouth (gums or hard palate)(3 Trusted Source Cold sores Go to source). With each new breakout cold sores typically form in the same location as they have before. These blisters may break open and leak a clear fluid; then scab over after a few days. They usually heal in several days to 2-weeks(4 Trusted Source Cold sores: Overview Go to source). Canker sores are white-reddish, inflamed spots that occur inside the mouth. Canker sores are painful, but they usually heal on their own and do not cause any problems(5 Trusted Source Canker sores (mouth ulcers): Overview Go to source). Cold sores are painful, fluid-filled sores that develop on the lips or around the mouth, whereas canker sores develop inside the mouth(6 Trusted Source Fever Blisters & Canker Sores Go to source). The herpes simplex virus is not completely eliminated from the body. Following orofacial infection, it remains dormant in the facial nerves, periodically reactivating to create sores in the same area of the mouth or face at the site of the original infection. An infected person typically experiences 1-3 outbreaks every year(7 Trusted Source Herpes can Happen Anyone Go to source). The frequency and severity of the outbreaks decreases with time(8 Trusted Source Herpesviruses: latency and reactivation a viral strategies and host response Go to source). Advertisement Cold sores are caused by a virus that is highly infectious and is called the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are actually eight different types of human herpes simplex viruses but only two types can cause cold sores. These two types are categorized as- Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV- 1) - The herpes simplex virus-1 causes cold sores. Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) - The herpes virus-2 generally causes genital herpes and at times herpes labialis too( Trusted Source Herpes simplex virus Go to source Trusted Source The most common route by which the herpes virus is transmitted to others is by way of direct skin-to-skin contact. The virus enters the body through a cut inside or around the mouth either by kissing someone with cold sores or brushing up against their lesion accidentally. It is transmitted through oral sex. It can also spread by way of an intermediary object such as an eating utensil, cup, lipstick or lip balm applicator, toothbrush, or even a face towel(4 Trusted Source Cold sores: Overview Go to source). Cold sores can also spread to other areas of the body of an infected person. The herpes simplex virus can cause herpetic whitlow, a painful infection of the fingers( Trusted Source Herpetic Whitlow Go to source Trusted Source If the herpes virus infects the eye, it can cause a chronic corneal ulcer( Trusted Source Basics of HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus) Keratitis Go to source Trusted Source 10 The HSV lies in a dormant state in the body and has a tendency to recur. It hides inside the nerve cells closest to the face. As the virus travels along the nerve tissue, the victim feels a tingling sensation. Following this tingly and itchy feeling, the area swells to form one or several painful pimples which become weeping open sores or blisters. The sore heals without leaving a scar(4 Trusted Source Cold sores: Overview Go to source). A person with a cold sore needs to be careful so as not to transmit the infection to others. People with an outbreak should not pick or scratch the blisters and should wash the hands every time after touching it. Advertisement What Causes an Outbreak of Cold Sores? The onset of herpes outbreaks often coincides with those periods when a person's immune system is stressed or weakened. During normal times a person's immune system is able to keep the herpes virus in check, but when a person's immune system is compromised the herpes virus is able to overcome a person's natural defenses and cause the formation of a lesion(11 Trusted Source Herpesviruses: latency and reactivation a viral strategies and host response Go to source). Factors that trigger cold sore outbreaks- Emotional stress Physical stress and fatigue Illness (including a cold or flu) Injury to the lips or skin, such as physical trauma or severe chapping Injury to the lips from excessive exposure to bright sunlight or ultraviolet lamps Menstruation or pregnancy Very hot or cold temperatures An immune system deficiency( Trusted Source Cold sores: Overview Go to source Trusted Source Symptoms before the appearance of the blisters(4 Trusted Source Cold sores: Overview Go to source) - Pain around the mouth and lips Fever Sore throat Swollen glands in the neck or other parts of the body Drooling is seen in small children Following the appearance of the blisters; the cold sores usually break open, leak a clear fluid, and then crust over and disappear after several days to 2-weeks. Cold sores can be very painful in some people. Symptoms of a primary orolabial infection occur between three days and one week after the exposure. Patients will often experience a viral prodrome consisting of malaise, anorexia, fevers, tender lymphadenopathy, localized pain, tenderness, burning, or tingling prior to the onset of mucocutaneous lesions. Primary HSV-1 lesions usually occur on the mouth and lips. Patients will then demonstrate painful grouped vesicles on an erythematous base. These vesicles exhibit a characteristic scalloped border. These vesicles may then progress to pustules, erosions, and ulcerations. Within 2 to 6 weeks, the lesions crust over and symptoms resolve. Symptoms of recurrent orolabial infection are typically milder than those of primary infection, with a 24-hour prodrome of tingling, burning, and itch. Recurrent orolabial HSV-1 infections classically affect the vermilion border of the lip (as opposed to the mouth and lips as seen in primary infection)(22 Trusted Source Herpes Simplex Type 1 Go to source) Advertisement Different stages of cold sores Day 1-2: The Tingle stage (The Prodrome Stage) - Usually a person's first indication that a cold sore is developing is that they notice a sense of soreness, tautness, or swelling in the location where their cold sore will ultimately form. Sometimes this same area is slightly reddened. Day 2-3: The Blister stage - The first readily visible sign of cold sore formation is an outbreak of fluid filled blisters. Usually these blisters are very small in size (smaller in diameter than the thickness of a dime) and they usually form in a cluster that is no larger than about the size of a nickel. Sometimes individual blisters coalesce with others so to form a single larger blister. Day 4: The Weeping stage (The Ulcer Stage) - Cold sore blisters usually rupture shortly after they are formed leaving a shallow reddish ulceration whose surface becomes gray. This phase of cold sore's formation can be the most painful stage. This is also the stage at which a cold sore is most contagious. Days 5 - 8: The Crusting stage - In those areas where the cold sore lesion is not kept wet by moisture from the mouth the ulcer will become dry and scab over with a brownish crust. The formation of this scabbing is often accompanied by an itching or burning sensation. Often the scab will crack or break, which in turn produces bleeding. Days 9 - 12: The Final Healing stage - As time progresses the cold sores begin to heal. Usually a series of scabs will form on the lesion, each subsequently flaking off. Each new scab will be smaller than the previous one until the cold sore resolves itself fully, usually without scarring. Cold sores heal without treatment in 7-10 days. Antiviral medicines help reduce the severity and frequency of cold sores. Products containing docosanol - Docosanol is a compound that is capable of inhibiting the herpes virus and therefore can help to limit both the duration and severity of cold sores(12 Trusted Source Clinical efficacy of topical docosanol 10% cream for herpes simplex labialis: A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial Go to source). Penciclovir (Denavir) - It has the capability of interfering with the herpes simplex virus' ability to replicate (produce more virus particles) and therefore is a true antiviral medication. If applied early enough this product has been demonstrated to significantly limit both the severity and duration of cold sores. Denavir is an antiviral cream that has been specifically developed as a medication for the treatment of cold sores. It is the first and only prescription cold sore medication to be approved by the FDA. Studies have shown that Denavir can both lessen the pain from cold sores and speed up their healing(13 Trusted Source Penciclovir cream for the treatment of herpes simplex labialis. A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Topical Penciclovir Collaborative Study Group Go to source). Numbing agents for cold sores - When numbing agents are applied to cold sores, they can help alleviate a cold sore's burning, itching and pain. Some of the active ingredients found in these types of products are: tetracaine, benzocaine, lidocaine, benzyl alcohol, camphor and phenol(14 Trusted Source Herpes Labialis: A New Possibility for Topical Treatment with Well-Elucidated Drugs Go to source). Medications that moisturize and soften cold sores - Lip balms or moisturizing agents such as petroleum jelly can help to prevent the cold sore scabs from cracking and bleeding. Common ingredients found in this type of product are petrolatum and allantoin(15 Trusted Source Microemulsion-Based Oxyresveratrol for Topical Treatment of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection: Physicochemical Properties and Efficacy in Cutaneous HSV-1 Infection in Mice Go to source). Medications that provide sunscreen protection - Exposure to excessive amounts of sunlight can trigger the formation of cold sores. Many lip balm medications that contain zinc oxide or some other compound that provides sunscreen protection can be helpful(16 Trusted Source Metal oxide sunscreens protect skin by absorption, not by reflection or scattering Go to source). Products that limit cold sore formation or promote their healing - The compounds zinc, lysine, phenol and tannic acid have each been suggested as having antiviral properties, and thus are thought to have an inhibitory effect on the herpes virus particles' ability to form cold sore lesions. Antibacterial agents will not affect herpes virus particles but medications that contain these types of compounds can help to provide an environment that will promote the prompt healing of cold sores by way of preventing a secondary bacterial infection. Over the counter (OTC) pain killers - They can be used to relieve the pain caused by the blisters(17 Trusted Source Tannic Acid with Antiviral and Antibacterial Activity as A Promising Component of Biomaterials-A Minireview Go to source). Cold compression - Applying ice or cold compression to the blisters can ease the pain. Application of ice for 5-10 minutes each hour during the day will reduce the temperature of the area where the cold sore is forming. This temperature reduction will lower the area's metabolic rate and, in turn, hamper the cold sore's development. Intermittent application of ice to cold sores can act as a numbing agent, which can lessen their pain and itching(18 Trusted Source Cold applications for the treatment of pain Go to source). Apply Tea Bag - Tea contains tannic acid and it has been suggested that tannic acid possesses antiviral properties. Placing a tea bag on cold sores when they begin to form especially during the tingle stage can possibly minimize the extent to which they will develop. One should position the moistened tea bag on the area where the cold sore is forming for a few minutes every hour(19 Trusted Source Tannic acid modified silver nanoparticles show antiviral activity in herpes simplex virus type 2 infection Go to source). Nutritional supplements - L-lysine an amino acid, has been reported to reduce outbreaks of cold sores but this fact has not been conclusively proven by medical research. Lysine supplements should only be taken only with the recommendation of a health care professional(20 Trusted Source Success of L-lysine therapy in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Treatment and prophylaxis Go to source). Herbal remedies - The herbal antiseptics Sage and Tea Tree Oil and the herbal sedative Violet have each been suggested as treatments for cold sores. Herbal treatments must be used appropriately, and therefore should only be used with the recommendation of a health care professional(21 Trusted Source Efficacy of plant products against herpetic infections Go to source). Let the cold sores heal by themselves. Avoid squeezing, pinching or picking at any blister. How to avoid getting infected with cold sores? You can take the following steps to guard against cold sores - Avoid kissing and skin contact with people while blisters are present. The virus( Trusted Source Herpes Simplex Type 1 Go to source Trusted Source 22 The virus( Avoid sharing items. Utensils, towels, straws, glasses, and other items can spread the virus when blisters are present. Utensils, towels, straws, glasses, and other items can spread the virus when blisters are present. Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands carefully before touching another person when you have a cold sore. Wash your hands carefully before touching another person when you have a cold sore. Be careful about touching other parts of your body. Your eyes and genital area may be particularly susceptible to spread of the virus. Your eyes and genital area may be particularly susceptible to spread of the virus. Avoid triggers. Situations that can trigger cold sores include too much exposure to the sun. Situations that can trigger cold sores include too much exposure to the sun. Use sunblock. Apply sunblock to your lips and face before prolonged exposure to the sun during both winter and summer, to help prevent cold sores. Apply sunblock to your lips and face before prolonged exposure to the sun during both winter and summer, to help prevent cold sores. Apply a moisturizing balm to prevent the lips from becoming too dry. Lip balms are used to treat cold sores on the lips. Do not have oral sex if you have oral herpes, especially if you have blisters. You can spread the virus to the genitals. Both oral and genital herpes viruses can sometimes be spread, even when you do not have mouth sores or blisters(23 Trusted Source Herpes - oral Go to source). What is Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever? Marburg hemorrhagic fever first became significant during an outbreak in Marburg and Frankfurt - Germany when infected monkeys brought for research purposes from Uganda caused an accidental spread among humans. Marburg fever is caused by the Marburg viruses - Marburg virus (MARV) and the Ravn (RAVV) virus, which are animal viruses wherein the initial infection arises from an animal to human contact, after which it spreads through person-to-person contact. The Marburg virus is highly virulent, capable of setting off an outbreak with many fatalities. Marburg and Ebola virus diseases are clinically similar and viruses that cause them belong to Filoviridae family (filovirus). The virus is native to the African fruit bat Rousettus Aegyptiacus and the bat does not show any symptoms of the disease. Primates (monkeys and humans) when infected with the virus display severe symptoms. From time to time sporadic cases of Marburg fever are seen in Uganda, mostly when workers from the Mining Industry come in contact with infected bats. Poor hygiene and personal care result in spread of the fever among the community. Advertisement Spread of the Virus from animals-to-humans occurs through: Contact with body fluids : Contact with blood while killing the animals or while cooking or eating the infected animals will result in spread of the virus. Scientists who studied infected monkeys have also been found to contract the disease. : Contact with blood while killing the animals or while cooking or eating the infected animals will result in spread of the virus. Scientists who studied infected monkeys have also been found to contract the disease. Contact with bat guano: Mine workers and tourists who come in contact with wastes from bat like urine and faeces also get infected. Spread from person-to-person: Although this virus originates from animals, person-to-person spread is very rapid and occurs when there is contact with the infected individual. An infected person does not become infectious nor will not spread the infection till the individual begins to display symptoms of the disease: Caregiver - Relatives or friends who look after the infected person are often infected as they fail to protect themselves appropriately - Relatives or friends who look after the infected person are often infected as they fail to protect themselves appropriately Doctors and other hospital staff - Doctors and hospital staff who treat patients may be associated with an accidental cut leading to spread of the disease - Doctors and hospital staff who treat patients may be associated with an accidental cut leading to spread of the disease Re-using injections and syringes- Reusing injections or using the same syringe for multiple patients will result in the spread of the disease. Cash torn hospitals in Africa witness extensive spread of the disease due to reusing of the syringes. Researchers - Research scientists who handle primates for their experiments are also at increased risk of infection. - Research scientists who handle primates for their experiments are also at increased risk of infection. Preparing the dead for burial- The disease spreads when people prepare the body for burial without protective gear. Advertisement The incubation period of Marburg fever ( i.e. time interval from infection to onset of symptoms) varies from 2 to 21 days. Symptoms include the following: Maculopapular rashes that develop in the head, neck and stomach High fever Severe headache Chills Nausea Vomiting Abdomen pain Cramping Muscle pain Sore throat Chest pain Fatigue Watery diarrhea Joint pain Excessive weight loss Delirium Jaundice Severe haemorrhagic manifestations result in some form of bleeding from multiple areas like the nose, ear, gums and rectum. Death is largely due to severe hemorrhage. The curious factor about this virus is though there is no cure or vaccination for this disease, some people survive while others do not. The reason behind this remains unknown. People who do recover from the fever, do so after a long period of time, sometimes even take months to regain their strength, They may exhibit the following signs: Inflammation of the eye, liver or the testis, or all three Loss of hair Headaches Excessive weight loss Sensory changes Hepatitis Advertisement Initially Marburg fever resembles malaria or typhoid, which makes diagnosis difficult. This is especially true when the case is unique and not part of an outbreak. The risk is determined by whether The individual has travelled to Africa or Marburg fever prone areas in the recent past The individual was associated with a person/animal infected with the virus Marburg hemorrhagic fever is detected by a number of different tests: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Assay Isolating the virus by cell culture Antigen detection tests There is no specific anti-viral drug for the Marburg virus, nor is there any vaccination, though scientists are working almost overtime to find effective means of protection. Studies have shown that mutations in the glycoprotein of the virus are responsible for their successful evasion of the immune system. During infection, the host immune cells recognize certain regions of the virus which help them host an immune response. However, the Marburg virus has been found to have structural flexibility that prevents recognition by the hosts immune system, which results in the flourishing spread of the disease. Treatment for Marburg fever, therefore, depends on the symptoms exhibited by the host. Blood pressure monitoring and maintenance Oxygen support Fluid administration Treatment of secondary infections Blood transfusions Though there are no specific treatment methods for Marburg hemorrhagic virus in humans, there are several studies that are being carried out on primates like monkeys and apes. Notable of those is the use of Si RNA. Sixteen monkeys were infected with the virus and injected with the Si RNA at varying stage of the disease progression, from 30 minutes after injection of the virus to 3 days. All monkeys that were injected with the Si RNA survived while the controlled monkeys which did not receive the Si RNA injection died. Other studies detail the identification of new antibodies that are found to be effective against Marburg virus. A disease of any kind is detrimental to health and more so with Marburg fever as there is no specific treatment while the virus is highly virulent. Therefore, it is better to be cautious to safeguard health. Pasteurization Of Milk - Louis Pasteur: Father of Microbiology French chemist Louis Pasteur was the founder of microbiological sciences. Born in Dole, France, Pasteur received his scientific education at the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris. He served successively as professor of chemistry in Strasbourg and professor of chemistry and dean of the Lille Faculty of Sciences, which he organized in 1854. Three years later he returned to the Ecole Normale as director of scientific studies, a post he retained until 1867, when he became professor of chemistry at the Sorbonne. Pasteur's studies of fermentation began in Lille when he was approached by an industrialist disturbed because undesirable products often appeared during the fermentation of sugar into alcohol by yeast. Pasteur postulated that these products came from microscopic organisms other than yeast and suggested that each particular type of fermentation was the effect of a specific microorganism, called the germ. He soon illustrated this revolutionary theory with brilliant studies on the conversion of sugar. Advertisement Pasteur claimed that types of microbes could be separated from each other by proper techniques, and could be shown to differ in nutritional requirements and in their susceptibility to antiseptics. He also suggested that just as each type of fermentation was caused by a particular type of germ, so it was with many types of diseases. Pasteur became preoccupied with the origin of microorganisms and demonstrated that each microbe is derived from a pre-existing microbe, and that spontaneous generation does not occur. What is Retinoblastoma? Retinoblastoma is a type of cancer of the eye occurring in children. It is a malignant tumor (cancerous growth ) of immature cells of the retina (the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye). Retinoblastoma is the most common primary cancer of the eye occurring in childhood, with a frequency of 1:14,000 to 1:20,000 live births depending on the country, and accounts for 3% of all childhood cancers. It is more frequent in Africa and India. About 80 % of retinoblastoma cases are diagnosed before 3 years of age. Untreated retinoblastoma can be fatal; in developed countries, advances in treatment have resulted in a 95 to 99% survival rate. Retinoblastoma occurs in 2 forms a heritable and a non-heritable (sporadic) form. Heritable retinoblastoma indicates that the tendency to develop retinoblastoma is transmitted from parents to offspring, and accounts for 40% of the cases. The differences between the two forms are listed below: Heritable retinoblastoma Sporadic retinoblastoma Percentage of total retinoblastoma cases 40 60 Laterality Bilateral in 85 % of cases Unilateral Average age at diagnosis 12-15 months 24 months Transmissible to offspring Yes No Predisposition to second nonocular cancers Yes No Multifocal tumors(multiple growths in different parts of the retina ) Yes No Family history of retinoblastoma Present in 10-20% of cases Absent Associated with increased paternal age Present in some cases Absent Children with the heritable type of retinoblastoma are more at risk of developing cancer (second non-ocular cancers) in other organs of the body, the most common of which are osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer), soft tissue sarcomas and melanomas (tumors of pigmentary cells). These second cancers are more common in patients who have received radiotherapy for their retinoblastoma, and even more so when this radiation has been given before 12 months of age. These second primary malignancies are the most common cause of death following retinoblastoma in developed countries. The development of most cases of retinoblastoma may be explained by Knudsons two hit hypothesis. Every individual has 23 pairs of chromosomes, one chromosome of every pair obtained from each parent. Genes (containing codes to synthesize proteins and thus determining various characteristics of an individual) are situated on these chromosomes. The retinoblastoma gene (or RB1) is situated on the 14th band of the long arm of chromosome 13 (13q14). This is a tumor suppressor gene. This means that presence of this gene in its normal form protects against retinoblastoma. Advertisement According to Knudsons two hit hypothesis, the DNA has to suffer two hits or two mutations for the cancer to occur. In the heritable type of retinoblastoma, one mutation is inherited from the parent, and so all the cells in the body have this mutation (germline mutation). The second mutation occurs later after fertilization in the retinal cells, resulting in retinoblastoma (somatic mutation). In the sporadic variety, both mutations occur within a single retinal cell after fertilisation of the egg (both are somatic mutations). Recently, another variety of retinoblastoma has been discovered, where the retinoblastoma gene was normal, but there was a high level of amplification of the MYCN gene only in the tumor cells. This does not result in heritable retinoblastoma, and these children do not have any of the characteristics of heritable retinoblastoma, including the risk of transmission to offspring. Retinoblastoma may present in a variety of ways. However, the most common modes of presentation are - Most common modes of presentation of retinoblastoma Leucocoria (white reflex in pupil or amaurotic cats eye reflex) In 60% of cases The pupil that normally appears dark, now appears whitish in color due to the tumor or detached retina showing through the pupil Strabismus or squint In 20% of cases Either an outward or inward deviation of the affected eye occurs Ocular inflammation In 5% of cases The eye is red and whitish pus like material may be seen behind the cornea Less common modes of presentation include blood in the anterior chamber (seen behind the cornea), cataract, increased pressure in the eye and inflammation of the tissues surrounding the eye. In neglected cases, spread outside the eyeball results in the eye being pushed forward (proptosis) and appearing very prominent. Retinoblastoma most commonly spreads along the optic nerve and into the brain and skull bones. It spreads through the blood to the bone marrow. Other organs to which it can spread are bones of the arms and legs, spinal cord, lymph nodes and abdominal organs. Advertisement The diagnosis of retinoblastoma is mainly clinical. The classical presentation of leucocoria or whitish appearance of the pupil should be considered to be retinoblastoma unless proved otherwise. The pupil is dilated and a detailed fundus (examination of the retina) is carried out, to determine if the tumor is monofocal or multifocal. If multifocal, all the tumors should be documented. Since most children in this age group are not very cooperative, an examination under anesthesia is required in all patients for a thorough assessment of ocular disease prior to treatment. Ultrasonography (ultrasound examination of the eye and orbit) measures the tumor size and shows the presence of heterogeneity (variations in the tumor) and calcification (accumulation of calcium in tissues) CT (computed tomography) scan of the eye may show calcification. However, CT scan is less preferred because it exposes the child to radiation. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the eye, orbit and head is the preferred mode of imaging to evaluate the tumor in the eye and to detect possible extension into the orbit and brain. MRI can also detect if there an associated tumor of the pineal gland; this condition is referred to as trilateral retinoblastoma. MRI also helps in differentiating other conditions that simulate retinoblastoma. If extension into the optic nerve (the nerve at the back of the eye that transmits visual signals from the retina to the brain) is suspected, a lumbar puncture (placing a needle into the back and withdrawing cerebrospinal fluid which surrounds the spinal cord) may be done. If there is evidence of extension outside the eye, bone scans and bone marrow testing to detect the spread are required. Genetic studies to determine heritability and the type of genetic involvement are done to help in genetic counselling. There are a number of conditions that simulate retinoblastoma as they also cause leucocoria or a whitish appearance of the pupil. Though all of these conditions (collectively referred to as pseudoglioma) should be kept in mind and the patient must be examined to rule out these conditions, leucocoria should be considered to be due to retinoblastoma unless proved otherwise, as this condition can be fatal. Advertisement Conditions that simulate retinoblastoma Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous ( PHPV) Developmental disorder in which there is failure of regression of primary vitreous Unilateral in 90% of cases Associated with a small eye Retinopathy of prematurity Retinopathy affecting premature infants exposed to high oxygen concentration Formation of new vessels in the immature retina with fibrous proliferation to form a mass behind the lens that gives appearance of leucocoria Congenital cataract Cataract present since birth gives whitish pupillary appearance Coats Disease Massive leak of lipids (fats) resulting in retinal detachment Unilateral in 90% of cases More common in boys Cyclitic membrane Organisation of exudates behind the lens following inflammation of ciliary body. The ciliary body controls the shape of the lens and secretes aqueous humor, the fluid in the front part of the eye Fundus coloboma Very large fundus coloboma (absence of tissue) may cause whitish appearance of pupil. The fundus is the part of the eye opposite the pupil Toxocara Endophthalmitis Infestation by dog roundworm or cat roundworm Severe vitreous inflammation causes the whitish appearance of pupil Norries Disease X-linked recessive disorder in males with bilateral mass formation behind the lens The patient may have mental retardation and deafness Incontinentia Pigmenti X-linked dominant disorder in females Retinal vascular disease and skin pigmentation may be present Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy Condition that prevents blood vessels from forming at the edges of the retina The management of retinoblastoma involves a multidisciplinary approach and involves ophthalmologists, pediatric oncologists (doctors who specialise in cancer in children), pathologists, radiation oncologists (doctors who specialise in giving radiotherapy for cancers) and genetic counsellors. The primary focus of treatment in advanced disease is the preservation of life; however modern techniques have more precise goals like preservation of the eyeball and vision as far as possible. The treatment of retinoblastoma involves strategically choosing among the various available modalities according to the individual case. This would depend on laterality, stage of the disease, age of the child and presence of spread at the time of diagnosis. In children who present with advanced disease contained in one eye with no visual potential in that eye, that eye is surgically removed , resulting in a 95- 99% cure rate. Where there is visual potential or in bilateral tumors, chemotherapy (treatment with anti-cancer drugs) is the treatment of choice. Chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with other modalities, especially in the concept of chemoreduction, wherein the size of the tumor is reduced with chemotherapy, thus rendering the tumor amenable to one of the local therapies. The following table lists some of the important modalities of treating retinoblastoma. Various treatment modalities for retinoblastoma Chemotherapy (use of anti-cancer drugs) Intravenous (injection into the veins of the arms) To reduce the size of the tumor which is beneficial for additional local adjunctive treatments including cryotherapy and laser Useful in large and bilateral tumors Number of cycles of treatment depends on the stage Intra-arterial (injection into the ophthalmic artery which supplies the main central artery of the retina) Useful in selected cases, and in vitreous seeds (free floating groups of tumor cells in the vitreous). Useful as primary therapy Reduces risk of systemic toxicity (toxicity to the remaining organs in the body) Drugs used are melphalan, topotecan and carboplatin Periocular (injection into the tissue around the eyeball) To provide extra drug dose near the tumor in advanced cases Intravitreal Injection into the vitreous of melphalan (with or without topotecan) is useful in cases of vitreous seeding following treatment of retinoblastoma Laser Photocoagulation Laser application with argon or diode laser Useful in small tumors May be used as an adjunct to chemotherapy 2-3 sessions at monthly intervals Cryotherapy Exposure of the tumor to very cold temperatures May be used in small primary or recurrent tumors Brachytherapy Placement of a radioactive implant (Iodine-125 or Ruthenium-106) on the sclera near the base of the tumor Useful in medium- sized peripheral tumors Enucleation Surgical removal of the tumor containing eyeball Performed in eyes with large tumors (that are contained within the eyeball) and where there is no visual potential Transpupillary thermotherapy (with or without the aid of indoycanine green) Application of heat through the pupil by infrared diode laser May be used in isolation for small tumors External beam radiotherapy Application of radiation to the eyeball region from outside Used along with chemotherapy for spread of the cancer outside the eye. Very rarely used nowadays because of the danger of complications, like inducing second primary malignancies, and local facial abnormalities Retinoblastoma is fatal if untreated due to spread to the brain and various organs of the body. Since early diagnosis and treatment is optimal in industrialised countries, the prognosis for the eyes is very good. The latest techniques of intra-arterial chemotherapy (referred to as ophthalmic artery chemosurgery or OAC) and intravitreal injections have reduced the need for removal of the eyes, and for external beam irradiation. However, long term outcomes still depend on the development of secondary tumors, predominantly bone tumors. The risk of second tumors increases with radiation for the treatment of the original condition. Adult survivors of retinoblastoma often have subnormal visual function. Children with unilateral retinoblastoma without a germline mutation have a very small risk of developing a tumor in the other eye. A regular clinical eye examination and ultrasound examination is recommended. With treated bilateral retinoblastoma, clinical examinations are conducted every 3-6 months up to the age of 7 years, then annually, and later every 2 years for life not only for new retinal tumors, but also for other second non-ocular tumors. Patients with heritable retinoblastoma should preferably avoid radiotherapy, tobacco and exposure to sunlight (agents that damage DNA and thus predispose to cancers) to reduce the risk of second non-ocular tumors. Individuals with retinomas (non-cancerous retinal tumors) should undergo clinical examination and imaging every 1-2 years to detect malignant (cancerous) change. Genetic counselling forms an integral part of the management of a patient with retinoblastoma. The susceptibility to heritable retinoblastoma is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Unfortunately, genetic counselling is very complicated in retinoblastoma and depends on the type of retinoblastoma and genetic testing. The following table gives the risk of having children with retinoblastoma, and the risk for subsequent children if one child develops the disease. Parent has - Risk of having a child with retinoblastoma If one child has retinoblastoma, risk for subsequent children getting retinoblastoma Bilateral retinoblastoma 45-50 % 45-50 % Unilateral retinoblastoma 7 15 % 45-50 % Unaffected < 1% 5% Unaffected , but a carrier 45-50 % 45-50 % The above table is a simplified version, and actual risks should be determined after molecular genetic testing of the blood of at risk persons. Retinoblastoma can only be prevented by proper genetic counselling, wherein parents do not go in for more children if there is a high risk for developing retinoblastoma. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis may be made by testing the embryo after in-vitro fertilisation (test tube baby). If found to have the retinoblastoma gene mutation, then implantation may be deferred, thus preventing a pregnancy in which the child is at risk. Prenatal genetic testing (during pregnancy) may be done by chorionic villus sampling (cells from placenta) before 12 weeks of pregnancy, or from amniotic fluid (after 12 weeks of pregnancy). If found to be positive for the mutant gene, then fetal ultrasound can be used for early detection of tumors, and an early delivery may be planned to start early treatment. However, non-continuation of pregnancy has certain medical and legal issues which need to be ascertained. About There are not too many words in the English dictionary that start with the letter x and have a Greek aura about them but pronounced Ze rather than uttered as X. One such word is xenophobia that derives its meaning from the Greek "xenos" meaning strange and "phobos" meaning fear. Xen is pronounced as Zen (a doctrine of Buddhism). The dictionary definition of Xenophobia is an unreasonable fear, distrust, or hatred of strangers, foreigners, or anything perceived as foreign or different. (1 Trusted Source Xenophobia Go to source) Xenophobia can manifest itself in several ways in a country - victimization by police, brutal assaults, murders, ethnic cleansing in an area, mass expulsion from the country. Could xenophobia have a biological significance and be programmed within our genes. Neurobiologists often see this as an evolving behavior for self preservation. For example a newborn baby has no fear of strangers whereas as it grows it starts differentiating between strange faces and familiar faces. This fear of strangers is the early instinct of xenophobia. The reflex in the infant is seen as a natural instinct and the loud cry is seen as an alarm to attract the attention of parents and initiate a rescue. Similarly, toddlers show an intrinsic and automatic fear of snakes. Advertisement Assistant professor in social psychology at Michigan State University, Carlos David Navarrete famously researched "the psychology of prejudice" by studying the nexus between race and gender discrimination. He focused on the neurophysiological and behavioral correlates of xenophobia. Dr. Navarrete used mild shocks to induce fear in men and women (both black and white) of other black and white men and women. In essence, white men were conditioned to be fearful of black men, white men, black women, and white women. The same went for the others. Once conditioned, he studied to see which of these fears lasted and which didn't. The conclusions of this study, reported in Psychological Science, were both intriguing and unexpected. It's commonly understood that our fears are of people different from us; what psychologists call the "out-groups". And this fear of "the other" is clearly demonstrated with race. But the results emerging from Dr. Navarrete's study surprisingly revealed that racial fear is also gender-specific. The persistent fears in the study's volunteers were reserved for men of the out-group alone. So white men and women feared black men; and black men and women feared white men. Conditioned fear for women diminished quite quickly. Advertisement Additionally, Navarrete found that people with close relationships outside their own race had less persistent fears than did those with little interracial experience. Hence xenophobia is more complex and its dynamics need to be studied from two different perspectives. First, as a medical condition (a phobia like all others) whose underlying causes need to be addressed. Secondly, and more importantly, as a cultural and social malaise that has moth-eaten the concept of a utopian world. Here, both outlooks are examined and suggestions have been offered with regard to appropriate treatment options for the medical ailment while also studying possible cultural solutions to widespread xenophobic sentiments. What is Xeroderma Pigmentosum? Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is an extremely rare inherited condition affecting the skin and eyes. It is also referred to as DeSanctis-Cacchione syndrome. According to a quote, "People with xeroderma pigmentosum experience an almost 100% risk of developing multiple skin cancers if their environment is not very carefully controlled." Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) was first described by Hebra and Kaposi in 1874. The term xeroderma pigmentosum for the condition was coined by Kaposi in 1882, referring to its characteristic dry and pigmented skin. XP is characterized by marked sensitivity to sunlight (ultraviolet radiation) and an inherited inability of the body to repair the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Unless precautions are taken to protect from sunlight, there is severe damage to the skin and eyes and resultantly increased occurrence of skin and eye cancers. It is therefore a precancerous condition. Nearly 25 percent of affected persons also have central nervous system (CNS) involvement for reasons not clear. Xeroderma pigmentosum occurs when the genes involved in the repair of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid, the genetic material) in the cell are faulty. Normally when a person is exposed to ultraviolet radiation or toxic chemicals, for example, cigarette smoke, the DNA damage caused is corrected by innate repair mechanisms in cell repair before it can cause any serious problems. However in XP, the body is unable to repair this DNA damage and as more and more DNA abnormalities accumulate, the cell may either become cancerous or die. Advertisement Xeroderma pigmentosum is an inherited autosomal recessive condition. This means that the person carries two copies of a faulty gene (one from each parent), with consequent disruption of normal cellular repair mechanisms of the body when exposed to ultraviolet radiation (from sun exposure). Although both parents also carry one copy each of the faulty gene, they are not affected because two copies of the faulty gene are necessary for the condition to get manifested clinically by the definition of an autosomal recessive condition. Xeroderma pigmentosum affects both sexes and all ethnic groups. Estimated rates of incidence vary from 1 in 250, 000 in the USA, approximately 2.3 per million live births in Western Europe and Japan (1 in 20,000). It is more prevalent particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, probably due to the high degree of consanguinity in these regions. Inherited changes (mutations) in at least eight genes have been found to cause Xeroderma pigmentosum. The normal variants of these genes are involved in various DNA repair mechanisms within the cell that are referred to as nucleotide excision repair (NER). The genes involved in DNA repair (NER) perform the following important functions: Recognize that DNA damage has occurred Unwind portions of DNA where the damage has occurred Cut out (excise) the abnormal areas, and Replace the damaged portions with the normal DNA. Advertisement Thus, inherited defects in the NER-related genes (7 genes) prevent cells from carrying out one or more of these steps. Additionally, the POLH gene is another gene that is involved in protecting cells from UV-induced DNA damage, although it is not involved in the steps of NER. Mutations in the latter gene (POLH) lead to a type of XP referred to as the variant form (XP-V), while the remaining seven types are known as groups A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The major clinical features of xeroderma pigmentosum occur due to a buildup of abnormal unrepaired DNA. When abnormal DNA builds up, cells can either die or multiply in an unregulated manner. Such uncontrolled cell growth can lead to the development of cancerous tumors. Although the brain is not exposed to UV rays, neurological abnormalities are also thought to result from an accumulation of DNA damage; it is suspected that other factors contribute to DNA damage in nerve cells. However, it is unclear why some people with xeroderma pigmentosum develop neurological abnormalities while many do not. The various clinical features of Xeroderma pigmentosum affecting the skin, eyes and nervous system include: Tendency to sun burn easily despite adequate sun protection, unrelated to the color of your skin. Persons with XP-V do not have neurological problems and their sunburn pattern conforms to their skin type despite adequate sun protection, unrelated to the color of your skin. Persons with XP-V do not have neurological problems and their sunburn pattern conforms to their skin type Unusually long time (few weeks) for the sunburn to resolve Freckles from an early age (under two years) at sites exposed to daylight from an early age (under two years) at sites exposed to daylight Marked eye sensitivity to bright light (photophobia), becoming clouded or bloodshot (photophobia), becoming clouded or bloodshot Increased incidence of skin cancers - Without adequate protection, nearly half the children with this condition develop skin cancer by 10 years. Sites involved are face, lips, eyelids and scalp Noncancerous and cancerous tumors of the eye Premature skin aging (skin of affected persons resembles the skin of elderly persons who have spent much of the time under the sun) (skin of affected persons resembles the skin of elderly persons who have spent much of the time under the sun) Nerve/brain (neurological) problems, such as hearing loss , poor memory or learning problems and poor balance and poor balance Short stature Lack of development of normal sexual characteristics in some cases Advertisement In persons with XP, the changes caused by sun exposure and damage usually begin in infancy, and almost always before 20 years of age. Xeroderma pigmentosum is an inherited condition. Therefore, the risk factors of this condition include: Having a parent or both parents who are carriers of the defective gene or have the disease Certain regions such as Middle East and North Africa where marriage between blood relatives and first cousins is common Clinical history and physical examination In most cases, the initial clinical diagnosis can be made on the basis of extreme sensitivity to sun exposure, or by the appearance of freckles on the face at an unusually early age. A history of consanguinity between the parents may be an additional clue. Confirmatory Tests for Xeroderma Pigmentosum Tests to detect defective DNA repair When there is a high index of suspicion, a piece of skin is removed (skin biopsy) using a local anesthetic and sent for a confirmatory test. These tests detect defective DNA repair and are offered in several countries. A type of cells found in the skin termed fibroblasts that are hypersensitive when exposed to UV radiation can be studied with the help of a microscope to see how effective the DNA repair mechanism is. A blood sample can also be used to perform this test. Histology A skin biopsy may show findings of hyperkeratosis and increased pigmentation along with other findings which may confirm the diagnosis. Genetic Testing Molecular testing and gene sequencing can be done to identify the specific defect. Prenatal diagnosis Prenatal diagnosis may be done if there is already an affected sibling or one of the parents is affected by the condition. The DNA repair tests can be performed on amniotic cells or chorionic villi derived cells. Molecular analysis can also be done in the presence of a known mutation. Xeroderma pigmentosum is a chronic lifelong condition with no cure. It can be controlled effectively by the following measures: Complete protection from ultraviolet light to reduce skin damage to a minimum possible level. Exposed skin should be covered with sunscreen and lip balm should be applied. Long sleeved dresses and full length dresses are preferable to reduce skin damage to a minimum possible level. Exposed skin should be covered with sunscreen and lip balm should be applied. Long sleeved dresses and full length dresses are preferable UV resistant face mask can be worn but if this is not preferred, a broad-brimmed hat along with wraparound sun glasses must be worn Areas of bright light should be avoided or Take simple preventive measures to adequately protect yourself Periodic skin checks (usually three monthly) to identify and treat any signs of skin cancers early (usually three monthly) to identify and treat any signs of skin cancers early Eye check (at least once a year) to detect any lesions as early as possible and to ensure you are offered treatments, advice about glasses and biopsies of any suspicious parts in the eye (at least once a year) to detect any lesions as early as possible and to ensure you are offered treatments, advice about glasses and biopsies of any suspicious parts in the eye Neurological assessment to identify any associated brain or nerve problems. This involves a thorough physical examination and sometimes hearing tests, nerve conduction studies and an MRI scan Neurological problems may be appropriately managed with hearing aids, speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy Defining HbA1c The HbA1c assay is the gold-standard measurement of chronic glycemia and measures the amount of glucose that binds to hemoglobin over a period of 3 months. The HbA1c Test is often prescribed as a must-do blood test for pre-diabetic, type 1 diabetic or type 2 diabetic or even non-diabetics. So what exactly is HbA1c? How does this measure work? How will it help you manage your diabetes better? All this and more info on the HbA1c counter and teach yourself how best you can interpret your blood test results.(1 Trusted Source Is there a Relationship Between mean Blood Glucose and Glycated Hemoglobin? Go to source) In the abbreviation HbA1c, Hb refers to hemoglobin while #$#A1c#$# is a specific subtype of hemoglobin. Also called the Glycated/ Glycosylated Hemoglobin A Protein test, the HbA1c test gives the level of blood glucose estimated over a period of time (ideally 3 months or 8-10 weeks), The correct format of HbA1c is HbA1c but for convenience it is mentioned as HbA1c. Unlike the customary finger-prick blood test which reads blood glucose at a specific point in time, the HbA1c gives us a long range value. This reading of blood glucose is unaffected by immediate or short-term fluctuations in blood sugar and reflects how well glucose levels have been maintained over the specific period. Advertisement HbA1c test improves the effectiveness of diabetes treatment by tablets or insulin injection or both. It is a good guiding test by which the patient can understand how best he has controlled his condition and take further necessary corrective action. The HbA1c test range should be as follows - A non-diabetic should have an A1c result between 4% and 6%. In Diabetics - A1c level should be 6.5% (47 mmol/mol) or higher. In Pre-diabetes (increased risk of developing diabetes in the future): A1c is 5.7% to 6.4% (39 - 46 mmol/mol) Advertisement In most diabetic individuals the blood glucose level is higher and results in a higher HbA1c level. This higher level also reflects the possible level of damage to tissues due to glycation and hence diabetic complications. The normal recommended HbA1c readings for diabetics should fall within the reference range of 6.5 to 7%. What this really implies is that for every 100 red blood cells, 6-7 cells have glucose attached to them. In the long term the importance of the HbA1c test can be understood from the fact that if well controlled, it lowers the possibility of vascular complications that can be traced back to diabetes. How often should one test with HbA1c If someone is first diagnosed with diabetes or if the control of diabetes is not good then Hb A1c is usually ordered more frequently. The American Diabetes Association recommends testing HbA1c at least twice a year. Usually the test is conducted less often if diabetes is well controlled but most physicians would subject their patients to have the test 2 to 4 times each year. When should HbA1c Not be Used as a test to detect Diabetes control- Pregnant women Recent severe bleeding Recent blood transfusions Chronic kidney disease Chronic liver disease Iron-deficiency anemia Anemia due to Vitamin B12 deficiency Hemoglobin variants like sickle cell hemoglobin (hemoglobin S) Advertisement Many epidemiological studies and clinical trials (UK Prospective Diabetes Study and the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial) have now established the importance of the relationship between HbA1c levels and risk for long-term diabetes complications. Today worldwide, HbA1c targets for diabetes management are used as the means to delay or prevent the development of complications. "Medicine might Be winning the battle of glucose control, but is Losing the war against diabetes" About Doctors believe that 15 percent of adults might have a taste or smell problem but do not seek any advice from doctors. In the USA, 200,000 patients seek advice of their doctors for loss of taste. Symptom of loss of taste can vary from complete loss to partial loss. It can also be temporary or permanent, though the latter is very rare. Again the loss can be in certain segmental sections of the tongue depending on a particular nerve pathways that is affected. It is not unusual to have altered taste when we have fever or have a gastric upset. The sensation of taste can be categorized into five basic tastes: sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, sourness, and umami. The tongue is divided into zones for different types of tastes. For example sweet and salty tastes are located in the front and at the tip of the tongue whereas the sour taste is located on the side and bitter at the back. Do You Have a Taste Disorder? Do you have a problem with your taste? If you do, then you need to answer the following questions: Have you recently had cold or flu? Have there been any changes in sense of smell? Do you take any medications and if so the names and the dose and for the condition they are being prescribed? What changes in taste have you noticed and for how long? Do all foods and drinks, sweet or sour, taste the same? Advertisement Taste disorders are classified depending upon the degree and variation of loss of perception of taste into these broad category - a. Phantom taste perception: This is the most common of the taste disorders. The person has a unpleasant taste even though there is nothing in the mouth. b. Reduced ability to taste the five tastes - sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. The condition is called hypogeusia [hy-po-GYOO-zee-a] c. Altered taste where the patient experiences metallic, salty, rancid or foul taste- Dysgeusia [dis-GYOO-zee-a] d. Complete loss of taste - Ageusia[ah-GYOO-zee-a]. This is rare; usually there maybe loss of smell and not taste. Loss of taste usually occurs in combination with loss of smell. Also, in certain cases, loss of smell is often perceived as loss of taste due to their close relation. There is loss of taste buds as we age and a 70 year old has only 15 to 20% taste buds of a 20 years old. Nerves are like thin cables that carry sensation from the periphery or the surface of the body to the brain and carry commands from the brain or spinal cord for any action that is required. Taste buds sense the taste in the food, the signals of which are transmitted to the brain via nerves where the taste sensation is perceived. Thus, a problem in either the taste buds, nerves supplying the taste buds or the brain can result in loss of taste. Conditions with loss of taste that occur commonly are discussed below: Advertisement 1. Age and Loss of Taste - We lose taste as we age and the order in which taste is lost is usually first for sweet then for salty items followed by bitter or sour. Sweet Salt Sour Bitter 2. Upper respiratory infection - The loss of taste in this condition is usually transient or temporary. It usually occurs immediately after an episode of upper respiratory infection. Chronic middle ear infections are also associated with loss of taste sensation. An upper respiratory infection can be diagnosed though patient history and physical examination. 3. Glossitis - Glossitis or inflammation of the tongue results in loss of taste buds, giving rise to loss of taste. Anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency and iron deficiency are common causes of glossitis. 4. Medications - Commonly used medications can cause varied degree of taste disturbances. Usually, no treatment is required. Dosage modification or discontinuation of the drug causing this problem usually resolves the issue. Some of the medications that cause taste disturbance include - Antifungals, (terbinafine) Antimicrobial drugs (metronidazole) ACE inhibitors (captopril) Chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, etoposide) Antibiotics (tetracyclines) 5. Tonsillectomy - Loss of taste sensation of variable degree is noticed after tonsillectomy surgery. Chemical testing reveals reduced taste sensation on the posterior third of the tongue. 6. Bells palsy - Bells palsy is a condition that results in paralysis of one side of the face. Patients might experience sudden loss of taste along with the paralysis, Evoked electromyography and chemical gustometry are useful in confirming the diagnosis. Advertisement 7. Sjogrens syndrome - Reduced taste perception occurs with other symptoms like problems with swallowing, dry skin, eyes and mouth, and painful joints. Tests like Schirmer test (which shows reduced tear production), slit lamp examination of the eye (which reveals kerato-conjuntivitis sicca) and biopsy of the salivary gland are useful in confirming the diagnosis. 8. Trauma - Trauma to the head and neck region can alter taste sensation. It could arise due to radiation treatment to the head and neck, surgeries in the head and neck, dental procedures, head injury etc. A history of the underlying condition is usually available. 9. Cancer - Cancers of the mouth could affect taste sensation. Cancers of the oral cavity damage the taste buds leading to loss of taste. In general, any cancer being treated with chemotherapy drugs leads to changes in taste due to damage to the oral cavity, salivary gland dysfunction and infection in the oral cavity. 10. Digestive tract disorders - There are various digestive tract disorders like reflux disease (GERD), gastritis and gastroenteritis that can cause taste disturbances. GERD causes bitter/sour taste due to back flow of stomach acid and juices into the esophagus, while gastroenteritis causes metallic taste. 11. Neurological disorders - Patients with neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons syndrome, Alzheimers disease etc. experience change in taste / reduced taste perception. This happens due to damage to the brain tissue in area of taste recognition like thalamus, cranial nerves etc. MRI Scans are helpful in confirming the cause for taste disorders. 12. Diabetes mellitus - Taste disorders are common in patients with poor blood sugar control. This is due to complications that arise due to poor sugar control such as periodontitis, gingivitis, bacterial/fungal infections, stomatitis, salivary dysfunction etc. Henkins test is useful in confirming the diagnosis. 13. Smoking - It affects the shape and functional ability of taste buds there by causing taste disorders. However, the number of taste buds is not affected by smoking. Quitting Smoking decreases the intensity of damage to the taste buds, as well decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer etc. 14. Kidney disorders - In chronic renal failure patients, taste disorders are due to fewer fungiform taste buds. Also excessive urea in the body leads to change in the perception of taste of food and bad breath leading to loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss. 15. Other causes - There are a number of other conditions which can cause taste disturbances like Cushings syndrome, Hypothyroidism, Niacin/Zinc deficiency, Familial dysautonomia etc Tests for the diagnosis of loss of taste Loss of taste is assessed with examination, history taking and investigations. Examination includes physical examination of ear, nose and throat along with dental examination and assessment of oral hygiene. Investigations include: Sip, spit and rinse test Tests to determine response to different concentrations of a substance Tests to recognize lowest concentration of a substance Tests to compare the tastes of different substances Apart from the above tests depending upon the medical history additional investigations might be required like X-ray, CT scan head and neck etc. to rule out causes of loss of taste in the brain. Frequently Asked Questions 1. Which specialist doctor should be consulted for Loss of Taste? You should consult an ENT specialist or a General Physician 2. Which is the most common pure taste disorder? The most common pure taste disorder is phantom taste. It is perceived as a bad taste in the mouth. About For every disease we know Mother Earth provides a herb to health and grow. Mother Earth has provided herbs to cope with anxiety and depression diseases as well. Anxiety and depression are the two most commonly reported psychiatric conditions and they generally occur together in a person. Both conditions are recurring or chronic and may require long term treatment. Although conventional drug therapies for the disorders are easily available, financial, cultural, or personal reasons may cause the individual to seek alternative therapies. Herbs and herbal products may be slower acting than conventional drugs but they provide an inexpensive, effective way to treat the root cause of the disease rather than treat just the symptoms. The following herbs are effective to a certain degree in reducing (sometimes curing) anxiety and depression. Advertisement Holy basil (tulasi, Ocimum sanctum) - Holy basil soothes and calms the nerves, according to the Indian traditional medicine. Research too has confirmed the fact that basil helps with anxiety disorders. For example, a study of 35 people given 500mg per capsule of tulasi twice a day for two months showed not only a significant reduction in their generalized anxiety disorders but attenuation of its correlated stress and depression too. No wonder, tulasi is one of the ingredients in Manasamitra Vataka, an Ayurveda formulation that treats anxiety disorders. Kava (Piper methysticum) - Kava has also been proved effective in treating anxiety. Number of studies have shown anxiolytic (reducing anxiety) effects of kava to be superior to that of placebo. Actually, it is the only herb that is demonstrably effective in reducing anxiety. However, use it cautiously since kava has adverse effects such as liver damage. Kava is also known to interact with levodopa and alprazolam causing extrapyramidal symptoms or lethargy. Advertisement Lemon balm (Mellissa officinalis) - Also known as sweet balm, this lemon-scented herb is found worldwide. A study published in the 2004 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine revealed that lemon balm administered to people during gave short-term anxiolytic effects to them. A more recent study found that rosmarinic acid in the leaf extract gave the plant its anxiolytic and anti-depression effects. It acted by increasing the GABA levels in the brain thus reducing anxious behavior. The researchers of this study made an interesting observation; they found that the effect of lemon balm extract was significantly higher in female lab animals than in males. Males required the highest dose to have the same effect. Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) - Passion flower has been used since ages to reduce stress and anxiety. The whole plant except for the roots show anxiolytic activity. However, pharmacologic work on this plant are inadequate, so it is difficult to say how the herb acts to relieve anxiety. Advertisement Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) - Chamomile is used as a traditional herbal remedy for its calming effect since the ancient Rome and Greek period. Studies too have established its function as an anxiolytic and anti-depressive agent. The mode of antidepressant action in chamomile is unknown but it is known to be independent of anxiolytic action. Some studies suggest that the flavonoids in chamomile exert an antidepressant effect by modulating the neurotransmission of noradrenalin, dopamine, serotonin, and GABA levels. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) - Also called the maiden hair plant, Ginkgo has been used in Chinese traditional medicine for treating various health disorders. The extract is particularly helpful with concentration problems, depression, anxiety, dizziness, tinnitus and headaches. The herb apparently works by dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow, reducing blood viscosity, reducing free radicals in the body, and also by modifying neurotransmitter systems. Although some studies reported beneficial effects of Ginkgo at doses of less than 200mg per day for 12 weeks with no side effects, big trials showed inconsistent results. Other studies reported no benefits as regards anxiety and depression. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - Yarrow is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, Anxiety and insomnia. A study done to investigate the effect of yarrow on acute and chronic anxiety disorder indicated that the herb exerted anxiolytic effect at doses that did not alter locomotor activity. Its behavior was similar to that of diazepam. St. Johns wort (Hypericum perforatum) - St Johns wort is the only herb that has shown beyond reasonable doubt to be effective as a treatment for mild and moderate depression. The active ingredient for the herb is hypericin and /or hyperforin that act by inhibiting serotonin reuptake and monoamine oxidase. Five trials involving more than 2200 people showed that St Johns wort acts more or less in a similar fashion as conventional antidepressants. However, evidence suggests that the herb is safe only for people who dont take any other medication. A study even showed that the herb can trigger psychoses in people who concomitantly take SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) - Lavender is also a promising herbal remedy for depression. Trials compared lavender with imipramine and found both to be effective in a similar way. In fact, lavender oil therapy (inhalation or massage) is a very effective way to counter depression. A trial to investigate the anti-depressive effect of lavender found that adjuvant therapy of lavender tincture (1 : 5 in 50% alcohol; 60 drops/day) and imipramine (100 mg/daily) in patients suffering from mild-to-moderate depression led to a better and earlier improvement. Side effects of imipramine, such as dry mouth and urinary retention, were observed less often when lavender was administered with impramine. Trials have also found lavender to improve mood and reduce anxiety. Saffron (Crocus sativus) - Widely cultivated in India (in Kashmir), Iran, and Greece, saffron is a useful remedy for a number of health disorders. The active ingredient, alpha-crocin, present in the red dried stigma of the herb is known to possess not only anxiolytic and anti-depressive qualities, but also has antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and relaxant activities and some studies even found tumoricidal properties. Studies have compared saffron to the antidepressive drug fluoxetine and found that saffron performed as well as fluoxetine in treating depression. Borage (Echium amoenum) - A study in mice has shown that borage flowers have anxiolytic effect with lower sedative effect as compared with diazepam. Further, tolerance to the extract was not observed after one week of its use. Trusted Source Potential Health Effects Associated with Dermal Exposure to Occupational Chemicals Go to source Trusted Source Did you Know? Benzene levels in acne treatments exceed FDA limits by 800x, posing serious health risks. #cancer #benzene #acne #consumersafety Advertisement Valisure's Petition: Urging FDA Intervention Advertisement Industry Response and Consumer Concerns Advertisement Benzene Contamination: A Threat to Consumer Health Potential Health Effects Associated with Dermal Exposure to Occupational Chemicals - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4270264/) In a shocking revelation, independent U.S. laboratory Valisure has unearthed alarming levels of the cancer -causing chemical benzene in various acne treatment products. The findings have sent ripples of concern through consumers, regulators, and the cosmetic industry alike ().Valisure's recent report, released from its base in New Haven, Connecticut, has spotlighted prominent brands such as Clinique, Clearasil, and Target's Up & Up for containing high levels of benzene. The implications are dire, as benzene is a known carcinogen with severe health risks, particularly with prolonged exposure.The gravity of the situation prompted Valisure to file a petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging immediate action. The petition calls for the recall of the contaminated products, a thorough investigation into the matter, and a revision of industry standards and guidelines.Among the products flagged by Valisure, Estee Lauder's Clinique, and Reckitt Benckiser-owned Clearasil experienced a notable impact. Estee Lauder shares tumbled by 2% following the report, reflecting investor concerns over the potential fallout from the benzene contamination.Furthermore, Valisure's findings extended beyond household names, implicating other widely used products like Proactiv, PanOxyl, Walgreens' acne soap bar, and Walmart's Equate Beauty acne cream. The scope of the contamination underscores the urgency of addressing systemic issues within the cosmetic industry.Valisure's President, David Light, emphasized the severity of the findings. He highlighted that benzene wasn't a byproduct of contaminated ingredients, as seen in previous cases with sunscreens and hand sanitizers . Rather, benzene was inherent in benzoyl peroxide, a key component in acne treatment products. The discovery represents a fundamental flaw in product formulation and quality control.Reckitt Benckiser, responding to the allegations, maintained that Clearasil products were safe when used as directed. Estee Lauder echoed similar sentiments, asserting the safety of benzoyl peroxide in Clinique products. However, consumer confidence has been shaken, with skepticism mounting over the adequacy of safety protocols and regulatory oversight.Surprisingly, Target, Walmart, and the FDA have yet to respond to Valisure's petition, leaving consumers in a state of uncertainty and vulnerability. The lack of swift action raises questions about accountability and consumer protection in the cosmetic industry.Benzene contamination in acne treatments represents a substantial departure from previous incidents involving consumer products. Valisure's tests revealed benzene levels exceeding 800 times the FDA's restricted concentration limit, underscoring the severity of the issue.The implications of benzene contamination extend far beyond the cosmetic aisle. They underscore broader concerns regarding product safety, regulatory oversight, and corporate responsibility. Immediate action is imperative to safeguard consumer health and restore trust in the cosmetic industry.Source-Medindia Breaking the Silence: The Hidden Struggle with Urinary Incontinence Trusted Source Prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence in Indian women: A hospital-based survey Go to source Trusted Source Did you know? One-third of Indian women face urinary incontinence, battling societal stigma and psychological distress. #urinaryincontinence #socialstigma #mentaldistress #womenshealth #womensday #medindia Did You Know? Over 50 million women in India are affected by urinary incontinence, yet the majority suffer in silence due to societal stigma. Advertisement Prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence in Indian women: A hospital-based survey - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3649597/) Urinary incontinence affects one in three Indian women, yet societal stigma and insufficient awareness often lead many to endure this condition silently, without knowledge of available treatments and support. It is essential to address this issue directly and offer women the resources and assistance necessary for them to regain their dignity and autonomy, say health experts.Countless women grapple with the debilitating effects of this condition but cultural taboos and societal pressures force them into silence and shame. Physicians say many women experience psychological distress due to this condition and called for breaking free from the shackles of stigma ().According to Dr Sarika Pandya, Head of the Female Urology Department at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU), urinary incontinence is a prevalent issue among Indian women."It often remains shrouded in silence due to societal taboos and lack of awareness.Many women feel housebound, and isolated, and experience psychological distress due to this condition. However, it's crucial to understand that there are effective treatments available, and no woman should suffer in silence," she said.Dr Banu Priya, Consultant General Physician & Diabetologist, Kamineni Hospital, mentioned that urinary incontinence, often dismissed as a taboo topic, inflicts profound physical and emotional wounds upon its sufferers."Behind the facade of celebration lies the hidden anguish of Indian women battling urinary incontinence. It's time to rip off the mask of shame and offer these women the compassion and support they deserve. We cannot continue to sweep this issue under the rug. Urinary incontinence is not a personal failure; it's a medical condition that requires attention and treatment.""It's time for Indian society to break free from the shackles of stigma and provide a voice to the voiceless," she added. Dr Kajaree Giri, Internal Medicine and Consultant Nephrologist and Renal transplant Physician, at Amor Hospital, believed that urinary incontinence can stem from myriad factors, including childbirth, aging, and underlying medical conditions."The prevalence of urinary incontinence in India is staggering, with studies indicating that approximately 1 in 3 women in India experience urinary incontinence at some point in their lives. However, due to cultural taboos and lack of awareness, many women suffer in silence, unaware of available treatments and support. It's crucial to confront this issue head-on and provide women with the resources and support they need to reclaim their dignity and autonomy."to support Indian women in their battle against urinary incontinence. By fostering open dialogue, raising awareness, and advocating for change, we can empower women to step out of the shadows and reclaim control over their bodies and their lives," she said.Source-IANS Did you Know? 25% of medicines in India are fake. #counterfeitdrugs #fakemeds #medindia Advertisement Identifying Counterfeit Drugs: Tips for Consumers Advertisement The Role of Pharmaceutical Companies and Regulatory Agencies Advertisement Know Your Meds: Counterfeit Kills Understanding and fighting the medicine counterfeit market - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23384475/) Imagine paying a hefty sum for what you believe to be essential medication , only to discover that it's nothing more than chalk and starch powder. This scenario isn't just a hypothetical; it's a grim reality faced by many unsuspecting individuals in India.According to a sobering study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM),, counterfeit, or substandard. This statistic underscores the urgent need for heightened awareness and vigilance among consumers when purchasing medication.Fake medicines represent a multifaceted problem, posing significant risks to public health and well-being. From counterfeit cough syrups claiming innocent lives in countries like the Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Indonesia to the seizure of fake medications masquerading under the guise of legitimate pharmaceutical products, the consequences of counterfeit drugs are dire and far-reaching.Spotting fake medicines requires a discerning eye and a cautious approach. Experts in the medical and pharmaceutical fields emphasize the importance of paying attention to minute details and remaining informed during the purchasing process.Dr. Uma Mishra, a prominent gynecologist, advises patients tofor spelling errors and irregularities in packaging.in favor of intact strips can also mitigate the risk of encountering counterfeit drugs. Amy Callanan of Pfizer reinforces the importance of consistency in medication appearance and packaging integrity as telltale signs of genuine products.Furthermore, consumers are urged tometiculously, as these can serve as indicators of authenticity. Tarun Garg, a pharmacist, advocates for in-person prescription purchases at reputable pharmacies to minimize the likelihood of encountering counterfeit drugs, particularly in the age of online pharmacies.Speaking of online platforms, the rise of e-pharmacies has introduced new challenges in the fight against counterfeit medicines. Consumers are advised to exercise caution and skepticism when navigating online pharmacies, as fraudulent websites and substandard products proliferate in the digital realm.Pharmaceutical companies are also implementing innovative solutions to combat the scourge of fake medicines. QR codes, incorporated into medication packaging by industry leaders like Natco Pharma and Dr. Reddy's, serve as valuable tools for verifying authenticity and thwarting black market activities.Despite these efforts, the prevalence of counterfeit and substandard medicines persists, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance and regulatory scrutiny. Dr. Ashesh Bhushan of Yatharth Hospital emphasizes the importance of consumer awareness and proactive engagement in safeguarding against counterfeit drugs.In addition to counterfeit medications, the issue of wrong prescriptions further compounds the risks associated with medication use. Instances of pharmacists dispensing incorrect drugs underscore the critical need for improved communication and oversight within the healthcare system.In conclusion, combating the menace of fake medicines demands collective action and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders. While regulatory measures and technological innovations play a crucial role in curbing counterfeit drug trade, individual consumers must remain vigilant and informed. By exercising caution and diligence, consumers can protect themselves and their loved ones from the dangers posed by counterfeit medications, ensuring that what they're buying is genuine medicine and not chalk powder or starch masquerading as a cure.Source-Medindia Empowering Women Surgeons: Closing the Gap there is a gradual shift as more women excel in the application of robotic technology, particularly in the field of gynecology. #roboticsurgery #womensday Did You Know? Women in the field of surgery tend to be more meticulous, demonstrating a higher level of precision and safety, leading to fewer complications. On International Womens Day , women robotic surgeons expressed that there is a growing presence of female surgeons entering the predominantly male-dominated field of robotics."The number of women taking up robotic surgery is increasing. Still there is a lot of desire to be improved here. In general, the surgical field appears to be a male dominated field.Rooma SinhaPresident AGRS Association of Gynecological Robotic Surgeons of India Professor Gynecology Apollo Hospitals, told IANS."While more women are entering surgical branches, there is a dire need to keep pace. And it is especially important for women because surgery is long been perceived as only boys club," added Dr Shabnam Bashir, Senior Consultant, Breast & Colorectal Cancer Surgeries, at Ujala Cygnus Superspeciality and Mubarak Hospital in Srinagar, Kashmir. With technology racing ahead, the experts called upon women surgeons to upskill themselves. Although upskilling is important for all, women surgeons cannot afford to lag behind, they said.Dr. Rooma said lack of robotic infrastructure in every hospital that the women are working in; as well as lack of good mentors for women are the major barriers to women surgeons adopting robotics."Most often it is men who do robotic surgery and they tend to teach their younger men colleagues for the same surgery. We need to stand out. Women surgeons who can mentor and Proctor and even encourage younger women surgeons to take up robotics in their respective fields," she told IANS. Besides affecting their profession, the lack of women surgeons has also affected patients.Several studies have shown that women in surgery are more meticulous or safe surgeons with lesser complications.The eminent doctors noted that robotic surgery has also revolutionized health care for women patients. Robotic surgery with its advantage of minimal invasion of the body, less blood loss translates to quicker patient recovery and better cosmesis has significant relevance to women.The complex surgery that I as a surgeon do for a patient is made safer and recovery is made much quicker with the help of robotic surgery," Anupama Rajan Babu, Consultant Gynecologic Oncologist, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough , UK, told IANS.Source-IANS On December 31, 2016, millions of school kids were on the verge of breaking up with their respective partners and were praying to the god of free internet, Mukesh Ambani', that the free internet service gets extended by a few days so their romance could fully blossom. Yes, I am talking about the Jio era that changed the entire country and how we virtually connect as people. iStock When Mukesh Ambani announced that he would be extending the free internet service from December 2016 to March 2017, he became the Messiah for thousands of teenagers who were in social media relationships. Out of the vast multitude of teenagers, my friend Ayush* was one of them, bestowed with the blessing of online romance and resolved to make the most of it. According to Ayush, he was in the science section and was dating a commerce batchmate, Suhani*. Their romance started with the introduction of the Jio network when Ayush installed Snapchat for the first time and started talking to Suhani. iStock Though Suhani and Ayush were from different sections, they often met in the physical health education classes, which were common in their courses. According to Ayush, Suhani had been obsessed with her social media since the beginning and she had fallen prey to the aesthetic appearance. iStock Whereas, according to Suhani, she was like everyone else on social media. I used to post normal pictures and yes, who doesnt want to look good and have social media followers at that age? said Suhani. Anyway, Suhani and Ayush started maintaining streaks on Snapchat and according to the Gen Z constitution for relationships, the longer your streak, the deeper your relationship with the other person. What are Snapchat streaks? Snapchat provides this feature on its application, where you can send snaps or pictures to your friends and maintain a streak with them. For example, if you send a picture to them and then they send a picture back to you and this continuously goes on for 20 days, then you will have 20 streaks with him/her. iStock It was the month of February and board examinations were approaching. Ayush decided to cut himself off from his social media accounts and even talked to Suhani about it. Both of them got into a heated argument and concluded that Ayush would install Snapchat just to keep the promise of maintaining streaks he made to Suhani. Ayush started preparing for his boards and got his study leave from school. Both of them were not seeing each other, but Ayush was living up to his pledge of not breaking the snapstreaks. But then came a day when Ayush had to break his promise because he got a call from his school to collect his admit card and had to get all the pre-examination formalities done. Honestly, I didnt remember the streaks because I was caught up in the formalities and had to fill out all sorts of forms, but I didnt think that it would become the reason behind our breakup, said Ayush. Ayush and Suhani had their exams on the same days but they couldnt talk as Suhanis parents used to drop and pick her up from the exam centre. After a month, Ayush finally took out his phone and installed all his social media apps, expecting that Suhani would also be excited to talk to him, but he couldnt find her anywhere. Hannah Cvancara grew up watching military documentaries with her father, visiting war museums on family vacations, and playing with the little toy soldiers dutifully deployed to her windowsill. She would look at the small green men molded into their fighting positions and knew, even though she was missing her left foot, she wanted to serve some day. Cvancara is the namesake of the "Hannah Cvancara Service Act," a bill introduced by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., in February. If passed, it would allow amputees interested in joining the military to serve in medical personnel fields in the National Guard, reserves and on active duty. "The goal is to create more opportunities for individuals with a disability -- who can otherwise prove their physical fitness -- to serve their country with honor in a role they are capable of executing," Kyle VonEnde, spokesman for McMorris Rodgers, told Military.com in an email. Read Next: They Stood Sentry over America's Nuclear Missile Arsenal. Many Worry It Gave Them Cancer. Cvancara, who currently works as an emergency room nurse in Spokane, Washington, hopes to join the Air National Guard if given the chance. The bill adds an amendment to Title 10, Chapter 49, of the U.S. Code, which provides the guidelines for military service. While Cvancara's bill is tailored specifically to allow individuals with amputations to serve in military medicine, the hope is to expand service options across other occupational specialties. "Baby steps," Cvancara said of her and McMorris Rodgers' decision to narrow the reach of the bill. "The hope is, if we start small, and the bill gets passed, we can always revise it to include other things. It may be even more than amputees, maybe more than medical personnel roles." If successful, she would potentially be the first pre-service amputee allowed to join the military, defense officials said. Cvancara was born with a condition called fibular hemimelia, meaning she was born without a fibula bone and had a few other bone defects through her left leg and foot. As a one-year-old, she underwent a below-the-knee amputation and has been using prosthetics since. This didn't stop her, however, from being physically active growing up. Cvancara played volleyball, swam competitively, rock-climbed, practiced gymnastics and surfed. As an adult, Cvancara has remained active, completing a 10-kilometer Spartan Race in 2022, and she works out regularly. As part of her first attempt at joining the Navy in 2021, she scored well above the minimums needed to pass a physical readiness test, doing 30 push-ups, a 2:30 minute plank, and a 1.5-mile run in 13 minutes and 29 seconds. Excluding her left leg, Cvancara otherwise passed her Military Entrance Processing Station exams, all but qualifying her for entry into the Navy. Despite this, Cvancara received a letter from Navy Recruiting Command in 2022, thanking her for her interest in serving but saying ultimately it was not enough. "Based on a review of available medical information, the subject applicant does not meet established physical standards due to left leg below the knee amputation, patella chondromalacia," which is a medical condition of the knee, and a number of other physical ailments related to her left leg, the letter said. "Unfortunately, a waiver of the physical standards cannot be issued." In response, Cvancara turned to her local congresswoman, McMorris Rodgers, who pushed for a solution on the legislative side. This is when the first version of the bill was introduced under the umbrella of the National Defense Authorization Act. The provision made it through the House, but failed to make the final version of the NDAA, having been dropped while on the Senate floor. It wasn't that it necessarily faced opposition, Cvancara said, it just wasn't a top priority and didn't make the cut. While some people may be concerned that allowing those with amputations to serve would lower standards or endanger service members -- the amputees included -- while deployed, Cvancara said there are actually some advantages to think about. "What would you do if your leg breaks [while deployed]?" Cvancara asked, laughing. "Mine at least is made of titanium and steel, and I'm pretty sure it's a lot stronger than real legs, and it wouldn't hurt. So ... if that did happen, well, I'll have an Allen wrench with me." McMorris Rodgers and Cvancara stress that the goal is not to lower standards -- a detail specifically noted in the bill and a topic discussed at length as the branches attempt to combat dismal recruiting numbers. In 2023, only the Marine Corps and Space Force -- the two smallest services -- met their recruiting quotas. And while the military took a variety of approaches to jump-start public interest in military service, including the Air Force loosening prior tattoo and drug testing policies and the Navy offering record-high incentives of up to $140,000, it still wasn't enough. The Hannah Cvancara Service Act may apply only to a small number of Americans, but it could signal an alternative solution for one facet of recruitment troubles. Cvancara is scheduled to meet with lawmakers over the next few weeks to discuss their potential support of the bill. "I have a skill set in nursing that I want to use, and I'd like to use it to serve with and for our service members, alongside them," Cvancara said. "[If this bill passes] I can combine the passion I have for my job with helping people who serve, combining my passion and my patriotism." -- Rachel Nostrant is a Marine Corps veteran and freelance journalist, with work published in Reuters, New York Magazine, Military Times and more. Related: Quadruple Amputee Marine Opens Up About the Moment That Helped Him Overcome Depression NASHVILLE, Tenn. An Army soldier has been arrested on charges of selling sensitive information related to U.S. military capabilities, Justice Department officials said Thursday. Korbein Schultz, who is also an intelligence analyst, was accused in a six-count indictment of charges including conspiring to obtain and disclose military defense information and bribery of a public official. According to the indictment, Schultz who had a top-secret security clearance allegedly conspired with an individual identified only as Conspirator A to disclose various documents, photographs and other national defense materials since June 2022. The indictment claims that Schultz was recruited by the individual not only due to his security clearance but also because he was tasked with gathering sensitive U.S. military information. Some of the information that Schultz supposedly gave to the individual included information related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, hypersonic equipment, studies on future developments of U.S. military forces and studies on military drills and operations in major countries like China. The indictment outlines that Schultz was initially asked to provide documents detailing lessons that could be learned from Russia's war with Ukraine and how those lessons could be applied to the U.S. helping Taiwan in the event of an attack. Schultz was paid $200 for that information, which then prompted Conspirator A, to ask for a "long-term partnership." Conspirator A, who was described in the indictment as a foreign national purporting to reside in Hong Kong, later suggested that Schultz could earn more money if he handed over internal only material rather than unclassified documents. In total, Shultz received at least 14 payments totaling $42,000. The case is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions of current or former military members accused of illegally disclosing sensitive government secrets. For instance in April 2023, Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was charged with leaking highly classified military documents about Russias war in Ukraine on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. He pleaded guilty on Monday in a deal with prosecutors that calls for him to serve at least 11 years in prison. In August, two U.S. Navy sailors were charged with providing sensitive military information to China including details on wartime exercises, naval operations and critical technical material. And more recently, the Justice Department announced charges this week against a civilian Air Force employee and retired Army lieutenant colonel for sharing classified information about the war with Ukraine on a foreign dating site. ___ Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report from Washington D.C. The father of a Marine killed during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan interrupted President Joe Biden's State of the Union Speech on Thursday night, crying out "Abbey Gate! Abbey Gate!" -- the name of the airport gate where his son was killed by a suicide bomber. Steve Nikoui, the father of fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, was arrested by Capitol Police for the outburst, which also included yelling his son's name while Biden spoke of violent crime in the U.S. Lance Cpl. Nikoui was one of 13 service members and at least 170 Afghans killed in the bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021. "Last night at approximately 10:15 p.m., a man disrupted the State of the Union Address by yelling. Our officers warned him to stop and, when he did not, the man was removed from the House Galleries and was arrested," U.S. Capitol Police told Military.com in an email. Read Next: Ospreys Cleared to Fly Again After Deadly Crash Despite Mechanical Failure with Unknown Cause Nikoui was charged with crowding, obstructing, or incommoding, "a routine charge on Capitol Hill," Capitol Police said. "People who illegally demonstrate/disrupt Congress typically are released after they pay a $50 fine, so the misdemeanor charge is resolved without going to court." In addition to losing Kareem, Nikoui's other son took his own life in 2022 at a park near Lance Cpl. Nikoui's grave just weeks before the first anniversary of his death. Nikoui could not be reached for comment. He attended the address as a guest of Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., who told Military.com in an email he believed the charge levied against Nikoui for the outburst was disgraceful. "Mr. Nikoui lost his son due to Joe Biden's incompetence, and lost another son to grief over his brother being killed," Mast told Military.com. "This man and his family have given America more than I could personally bear, and to attack him with a 'BS' charge of 'demonstrating' is a disgrace." Nikoui and his wife, Shana Chappell, have been vocal critics of the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal. "The BYEDONE administration is why I have two dead sons!" Chappell wrote in an Instagram post in December. "Time is not healing so I'm taking it one day at a time! That's all I can do." Last year, service members and veterans who had been deployed for the withdrawal testified in front of Congress about their experiences as the Taliban reclaimed control of Afghanistan. Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews, a Marine sniper who lost an arm and a leg in the blast, said troops' warnings about the suspected bomber had been ignored in the moments leading up to the blast. "Plain and simple, we were ignored," Vargas-Andrews said about his and others' efforts to get approval to shoot the person they suspected to be the suicide bomber. "My body was overwhelmed from the trauma of the blast. My abdomen had been ripped open. Every inch of my exposed body except for my face took ball bearings and shrapnel." The Biden administration has largely cast the evacuation as a success, pointing to the 120,000 people, including 76,000 Afghans, who were airlifted out. But tens of thousands of Afghans who helped the U.S. military and so are eligible to immigrate to the U.S. were left behind in the hasty withdrawal, while the Aug. 26 suicide bombing remains one of the single deadliest days for U.S. forces of the entire war. Editor's note: This story was updated to correct a word Nikoui shouted during his protest. -- Rachel Nostrant is a Marine Corps veteran and freelance journalist, with work published in Reuters, New York Magazine, Military Times and more. Related: PACT Act Takes Front and Center Among Veteran Issues in Biden's State of the Union Address on Accomplishments The last known Pearl Harbor attack survivor living in Hawaii was laid to rest Thursday alongside his late wife at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe. Sterling Robert Cale was 102 years old when he died Jan. 10 in his Aiea home, which overlooked Pearl Harbor's battleship row. Even into the last years of his life, Cale regularly volunteered at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial to share his experiences with visitors. He would spend almost every birthday outside the bookstore there, often posing for photos with visitors and letting out his catch phrase "Ready, aim, fire !" as the camera clicked. "It didn't matter how many times I've heard that, I smiled just as much as the people who heard it the first timeit was always fun, " recalled C.R. Drumhellier, commander of American Legion Post 17. "He was animated around the cake, giving fist bumps, and the kids loved it. Moms and dads obviously loved it, too." During a eulogy, his grandson Sterling Robert Cale Jr. said he was "always humble, kind and patient. He never complained, even when he was in pain. I would always ask him how he was feeling today, and his answer to me was always the same : 'I feel with my hands. How do you feel ?'" But though he was known for his sense of humor, he also carried with him painful memories of war. Cale was raised in rural Illinois by adoptive parents, but many of the defining moments in his life happened in Hawaiia duty station he had specifically chosen. He had seen pictures of the beaches and hula girls and knew that's where he wanted to go. He joined the Navy and became a pharmacist's mate. On the day of the attack, he had just finished a long night of working at the base hospital. When Japanese planes flew into the harbor strafing and bombing American forces, Cale was among those who became part of the effort to rescue sailors who had gone overboard when their ships were attacked. The ships leaked oil, which soon caught fire. The water's surface was burning, forcing Cale and other serv ice members to swim underwater beneath the flames as much as possible as they struggled to rescue trapped and drowning sailors. Cale was in the water helping survivors when the USS Arizona exploded. Of the 2, 390 Americans killed in the attack, 1, 177 were members of the Arizona's crew. After the initial explosion, the Arizona continued to burn for 2-1 /2 days. Cale became a member of a 10- person detail that spent three weeks removing the bodies from the burning battleship, many of which were maimed and charred beyond recognition. But despite being surrounded by death and war, Cale also found time in Hawaii for life. He fell in love with Victoria Ventulaa local girl who danced hulaand married in 1942 at historic Kawaiaha 'o Church. During the war Cale went on to serve in the Pacific and fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal. He stayed in the Navy until 1948, then joined the Army, where he would serve decades in medical units. In Hawaii he served as head of the pharmacy at Tripler Army Medical Center and at a medical company at Schofield Barracks. He served in the Korean War and after returning home was sent to language school where he learned French and Vietnamese. He did multiple tours in Vietnam as soldier and after leaving the military returned to Vietnam with the U.S. State Department working for the U.S. Agency for International Development. After returning to Hawaii, he earned a degree from Chaminade University and got a job at the Officers Club at Schofield Barracks. In 2005 he retired after 57 years of government serv ice. For the rest of his life, he dedicated his time to his family and to volunteer work. Among those who attended the funeral were Kit and Linda Lirot, a couple from Michigan who regularly summer in Hawaii. They had met Cale one of the days he was volunteering at Pearl Harbor and were taken by his charm and his openness. "We thought he was an American hero. He had a very touching story and was very willing to share, " said Linda Lirot. "We saw on the news the other night that he had passed and decided we'd better rent a car and come up here. So here we are." But while his military career brought him to Hawaii and defined much of his life, it was its people and culture that made him stay. He and his wife had two children, and their ohana would continue to grow. He is survived by four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Neighbors and friends from across Oahu also turned out to say goodbye. He was well known in his neighborhood and community and loved going to Zippy's. During his funeral service, his great-granddaughter Mikayla Lancaster-Hoover performed hula in his honor. "My grandpa always appreciated Hawaiian culture. I'm Hawaiian, and he always encouraged me to do hula when I was little and so it's only right that I do it for him, " said Lancaster-Hoover. "He was just a treasure. ... He was just sort of a once-in-a-lifetime kind of guy. He always did everything for his family." During remarks at the funeral, Jim McCoy, communications director of Pacific Historic Parks, told the Sterling family, "Thank you for sharing him with us. He meant so much to us." Today of the 87, 000 military personnel who were stationed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, only about two dozen remain alive. "I recently walked by the bookstore. Outside there was nothing where he would usually stand, " said McCoy. "It was pretty quiet and kind of sad, but inside my head I heard, 'Ready, aim, fire !'" ___ (c)2024 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The U.S. Air Force said Thursday that Marylands Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport in Middle River is the preferred location to transition from a flying mission with aging A-10 aircraft to a cyber wing mission. Maryland is home to the nations most advanced cyber assets, and the expansion of the National Guards mission is further testament to the vital work our men and women do for our national security as our country prepares to confront future challenges and adversaries, Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, said in a statement. The A-10 Thunderbolt II provides close air support for forces on the ground. The planes have been flown by the Maryland National Guard since 1979. A news release from the Air Force said that replacing those 21 aircraft at the 104th Fighter Wing with a cyber mission would mesh well with preexisting cyber assets at Fort George G. Meade in Anne Arundel County, as well as the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group operating at Warfield. This transition would not preclude Warfield from being considered for potential future missions. The Air Force will perform an environmental impact analysis for the cyber wing, which will be completed by fall 2025. Warfield will start to divest its A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft later this year. According to Moore, members of the Maryland Air National Guard have 60,000 hours of combined flying experience, 12,000 hours of combat flying experience, and provide support for combat airpower, cyber warfare capacity, partner nations, home communities and the State of Maryland. He said that Marylands A-10 aircraft are prepping to deploy to the U.S. Central Command theater of operations in the Middle East later this month. Moore said he and the Maryland congressional delegation are advocating vigorously to maintain the states flying mission, and were disappointed to learn that the Air Force is retiring the A-10 mission across the country with no plan to replace older systems with advanced aircraft or keep experienced pilots and maintainers. They said they are committed to working with federal partners at the White House and the Pentagon to secure another flying mission in Maryland this year. The dedicated pilots and maintenance personnel of the 104th Fighter Squadron have bravely served our nation both at home and abroad, U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and U.S Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger all of whom are Democrats said in a statement Thursday. These professionals will continue to operate the venerable A-10 Warthog until it is retired next year. 2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. ABOARD the Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel Bjrnya -- U.S., Finnish and Norwegian military officials flanked a representative from the newest NATO member, Sweden, on Friday as congratulations were shared and Russia remained top of mind. Sweden officially joined NATO on Thursday, ending centuries of neutrality, amid the largest NATO exercise since 1988. It was a clear sign to the Kremlin that its full-scale invasion of Ukraine has not gone unmet, and that Nordic countries -- along with the U.S. and other NATO allies -- are prepared to defend their own borders. U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Doug Perry, the commander of one of NATO's three operational hubs, was in attendance aboard a Norwegian ship off the coast of Alta, Norway, where U.S. and NATO allies are holding a major exercise, Nordic Response 2024. He told reporters that Sweden's accession to the alliance was critical to deterring Russia from further destabilizing the continent, something that members of the Swedish armed forces told Military.com they agreed with. Read Next: Ospreys Cleared to Fly Again After Deadly Crash Despite Mechanical Failure with Unknown Cause "NATO's adversaries and potential adversaries should and -- I'm certain -- are taking note," Perry said. "We're capable, we are ready and we are willing to defend every inch of our allied territory." Lt. Gen. Carl-Johan Edstrom, chief of joint operations for the Swedish Armed Forces, hailed Sweden's accession to NATO not as the end of an era of neutrality, but as the beginning of a new age of Swedish history. The country's entry into the alliance comes two years after it originally applied for membership on the heels of the war in Ukraine. "Let us all remember that we are entering as a country at a time when Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has thrown Europe into a very serious security situation," Edstrom said. Nordic Response involves 20,000 troops from more than 13 countries, as well as over 100 aircraft and 50 ships. Roughly 2,500 Marines are participating in the exercise as well, alongside their U.S. Navy counterparts. The exercise's parent operation, Steadfast Defender, is the largest in decades and the second largest since 1952, just a few years after NATO was founded. Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership just months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While Finland was ratified in 2023, Sweden faced holds from Hungary and Turkey until last month, when the former finally voted to accept the Nordic country into the alliance. Now, NATO has been joined by two countries with enormous military industrial bases, right near Russia. Sweden's accession into NATO also comes as the need for the alliance is being questioned by the political right in the U.S. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner for the 2024 presidential election, said last month that he would encourage Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" if NATO members did not meet their payment obligations. "Look, if they're not going to pay, we're not going to protect. OK?" he said. Most Americans support NATO, according to last month's Gallup poll, which said that two-thirds of Americans want to maintain or increase U.S. support for the alliance. Sixteen percent said it should decrease its commitment to NATO while only 12% said they think the U.S. should withdraw from the alliance completely. Breaking down those numbers, Republicans were least supportive of NATO, according to Gallup. Experts Military.com spoke to in recent interviews said that, while European nations have made "huge strides" in bolstering their defense spending, there is still a sense of "nervousness" across the continent regarding U.S. support of NATO, Sean Monaghan, a visiting fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Military.com on Monday. "At the current time, there is a sense in Europe -- given Trump's recent comments and the possibility he may return to the Oval Office -- that ... the U.S. might adjust its traditional policy to defending Europe and its commitment to the NATO alliance," Monaghan said. In 2019, NATO bolstered its operational capabilities in response to the growing Russian threat by establishing Joint Force Command-Norfolk, or JFC-NF, a command node that physically placed alliance planning and preparation on American soil. That decision "has been soundly validated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine two years ago," according to Perry. Military.com asked Perry what he would say to Americans who question NATO's importance domestically and to overall strategic defense. He pointed to how NATO has unified North America and Europe for 75 years and noted that the only time Article V of the alliance agreement -- an attack on one member nation is an attack on all -- has been invoked was in the aftermath of 9/11 when "NATO rallied to support the USA." "NATO contributes to American homeland security on a daily basis," Perry said, adding that JFC-NF routinely works with other North American defense units to track threats from the Atlantic and Arctic. "With the invasion of Ukraine, the importance of NATO's contribution to the collective defense of the Euro-Atlantic area, including the American homeland, has never been more relevant," he said. For the Swedish marines trolling the waters off the coast of Alta, Norway, not much had yet changed the day after their country was ratified. The Swedish military has been participating in NATO exercises for many years, and now it is official. As light flurries of snow cascaded into the bay, they showed off two docked Swedish CB90 assault vessels. Some marines sat perched behind large machine guns, and one boat ran a lap around the Norwegian coast guard vessel the NATO leaders were on. "I think it's really good," Swedish Gunnery Sgt. Joakim Sjogren told Military.com of his country's recent accession to the alliance. "We've been basically a part of NATO -- in my opinion -- for a long time and have been doing a lot of exercises with them. So, it's the next step going forward." When asked whether anything had changed on the ground for him since Sweden joined, he said, "No, it's business as usual." Related: NATO Conducts Its Largest Exercises Since the Cold War in Northern Norway The new sea wall along the U.S. Naval Academys Farragut Field meant to bolster its resilience against climate change is on track to be completed before the end of the year. The sea wall project, designed to provide structural protection against flooding and sea level rise, is approximately 80% complete, said Madelyn Flayler, a public affairs officer for Naval Support Activity Annapolis, which handles public works at the academy. Specific repairs include construction of a new sheet pile bulkhead outboard of the existing bulkhead. A tieback system, which reinforces the support system, will be built inland of the existing structure for lateral stability, according to a news release from the academy. The sea wall is at the eastern corner of the academy grounds where the Severn River meets Spa Creek and the Annapolis Harbor, a location that makes it subject to localized flooding from high tides and sustained winds blowing from the south and east. Triton Light, the iconic navigational beacon situated on the seawall, has not been in operation during construction. The light will be reinstalled at its original location and raised to the new elevation for visibility above the new wall, Flayler said. Concerns with the Naval Academys sea wall date back several years. A prior assessment of the condition of the academys facilities found that the existing steel sheet piles in bulkheads at Farragut Field and the east wall of Santee Basin were showing increased deterioration, with corrosion holes developing below the concrete pile caps. Officials broke ground on the new sea wall in November 2022, two months after the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Washington awarded a $37.5 million contract to Cianbro Corporation for the repairs. The project is the first in a series of efforts outlined in a Military Installation Resiliency Plan, which aims to mitigate the effects of flooding and combat climate change, rising sea levels and changing weather patterns affecting the waterfront grounds. The plan is set to be implemented over the next 40 years. Short-term projects slated for planning, design and execution over the next four years include protection of existing utility tunnels, stormwater management, waterfront infrastructure and shore protection. A stone revetment, or retaining wall, along Turner Joy Road, which runs along the land inside of the sea wall and around Farragut Field, is also vulnerable to impacts from strong weather. Though its listed as a short-term project, design has not yet started. NSA Annapolis is continually evaluating the sequencing of projects at the academy, Flayler said. Numerous other resiliency projects are being actively planned and designed, with a goal of executing multiple projects within the next decade. Repairs and flood protection on Ramsay Road are on schedule to be awarded this fiscal year, she said. The project will preserve the columbarium near the Naval Academy Cemetery and protect a primary transit route on the upper portion of the yard. Over the last 95 years, the relative sea level in Annapolis has risen more than a foot, increasing the frequency and severity of flooding. A storm that swept through the region in January marked the third-worst flooding in the citys history, with floodwaters reaching five feet over normal levels. Efforts to protect downtown Annapolis from flooding are underway as well. In early February, the Annapolis Planning Commission approved site plans for the redevelopment of City Dock, which proposes turning the parking area from Craig Street to Susan Campbell Park into a raised earthen berm to hold back water. Flood barrier gates extending from just beyond the Naval Academy, bordering Ego Alley and stopping at the newly proposed Donner Park are also included in the citys plan. 2024 Capital Gazette. Visit at capitalgazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Military officials have announced that the V-22 Osprey -- an aircraft that already has one known parts issue -- is returning to flight despite an investigation into a deadly Air Force crash in November revealing another new mechanical failure that is not fully understood. The V-22 Joint Program Office -- part of Naval Air Systems Command -- grounded the aircraft nearly three months ago after a deadly crash of an Air Force Special Operations Command Osprey on Nov. 29 off the coast of Japan that killed eight airmen. That same office now says data analysis has led to lifting the grounding, even as many aspects surrounding this latest chapter in the Osprey saga remain shrouded in secrecy. The move to push the crucial aircraft back into service despite lingering questions, and the investigations into the Japan crash and an earlier deadly Marine Corps Osprey crash in Australia not being fully completed, sparked concern among families connected to the aircraft -- and drew a rebuke from a House chairman who leads a key oversight committee looking into the safety issues. Read Next: They Stood Sentry over America's Nuclear Missile Arsenal. Many Worry It Gave Them Cancer. "We have high confidence that we understand what component failed, and how it failed," Marine Corps Col. Brian Taylor, the program manager for the V-22 program, told reporters in a hours-long briefing Wednesday. The briefing was provided to reporters on the condition that it could not be immediately published. "I think what we are still working on is the 'why,'" Taylor said, noting that "this is the first time that we've seen this particular component fail in this way." The Osprey is valued among the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force for its ability to fly long distances, at higher speeds than helicopters, and land in relatively tight locations. The airframe has become crucial for its flexibility and ability to conduct a wide variety of missions like moving large numbers of troops or cargo while being able to be refueled mid-flight. Neither Taylor nor any other official who spoke with reporters Wednesday would identify the part that failed or offer any major details on procedural changes that are being made as part of the aircraft's return to flight. Instead, Taylor explained that the decision to return the aircraft to the air was based on "data gathered from this particular mishap investigation but, then, also a deep evaluation of the close to 750,000 flight hours that we have on V-22s over the last ... 20 or so years." The fix, Taylor said, is not any sort of hardware change to the aircraft. "We're changing some inspection intervals. We're changing some other kind of maintenance and procedural limits that we have on the aircraft that address this particular issue," he explained. The Air Force special operations Osprey that went down Nov. 29, call sign Gundam 22, was on a training mission off Japan's Yakushima Island. The deadly crash triggered a grounding of all Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy V-22s. Additionally, three Marines were killed in an MV-22 Osprey crash during training in Australia last year. Both incidents are still under investigation. The new part failure is now the second known, persistent mechanical issue that is plaguing the Osprey. The aircraft also has a yearslong problem with its complex system of clutch assemblies that have caused at least 15 mishaps -- some of which could have become fatal -- since the Osprey entered operations. That problem was revealed only because it prompted the Air Force to briefly ground its fleet of Ospreys in the summer of 2022. Despite assurances from the Marine Corps that the problem was under control, the clutch issue became deadly in June 2022 when one of its Ospreys crashed in the California desert, killing five Marines. An investigation into that crash was made public last summer, and Taylor made a strikingly similar defense of the aircraft to Military.com at that time. The Osprey program manager argued last July that data analysis of some of the more recent incidents involving the clutch led officials to believe that replacing a critical component -- the input quill assembly -- more frequently was 99% effective despite skepticism from a Marine Corps widow of one of the pilots. Just like now, Taylor conceded to Military.com then that "we have a good understanding of what happens and where it happens, and it happens inside of the input quill" but that "the piece that we're missing, really, is just the initiating events ... that's the part that we're continuing to look for." Military officials at first argued that the exact hours it takes for the input quill to degrade was an operational secret and refused to provide it to reporters. The release of a Marine Corps investigation a few months later, however, revealed that figure to be 800 flight hours. Crawl, walk, run ... fly While the Joint Program Office has lifted the grounding for flights, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy officials said they all plan to proceed judiciously -- meaning it could be weeks or even months before they put their Ospreys in the air. Investigations are ongoing into the Air Force's crash, but all three services -- the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy -- said part of their response has been to put their V-22 crews through extensive simulator training following the incident. "Our crews have been in the simulator since the stand-down to hold a modicum of their capabilities as it moves forward," Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, told reporters. "Aviation is inherently risky, and that's why we train so hard and focus so hard on risk management so that we're never taking unnecessary risks. And when risks are identified, we are finding ways to mitigate that risk to the maximum potential," he said. Other services, such as the Marines, are following similar guidance. Brig. Gen. Richard Joyce, the Marine Corps assistant deputy commandant for aviation, told reporters that pilots with Aviation Combat Element-Crisis Response-Africa in Djibouti and MV-22 crews with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit were pulled out of their areas to go back for simulated training. "We pulled them out of country, flew them to Japan to get in the simulator to try to minimize degradation and proficiency by continuing to exercise the systems in a virtual environment," Joyce told reporters. Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, the commander of Naval Air Forces, told reporters that, similar to the other services, his aircrews will slowly work their way back into the cockpit and then aboard ships. "What I need to do is get them up to a certain amount of flight hours for currency and proficiency before I put them on a ship," he said. "So, as we build that capability and capacity, you have weeks, maybe over a month time frame that will build that currency and proficiency and crawl, walk, run into this thing ... then we'll get back to mission." Meanwhile, Bauernfeind said Air Force Special Operations Command has convened a safety investigation board and an accident investigation board in addition to conducting a comprehensive review of the Air Force CV-22 force as a whole. That final review is analyzing whether the CV-22 force is appropriately organized, trained and equipped for safe and efficient special operations. Despite not disclosing the cause of the crash and stating that investigations are still ongoing, the service officials all seemed to be inherently OK with the risk their pilots may be taking on. Cheever specifically cited "transparency" -- "just sharing information and data and that kind of stuff" -- as a chief reason for why he was confident the Navy could operate the aircraft safely. When asked for more details, he said: "I don't want to get in front of our investigation, so I can't divulge any of that." Families fear lack of transparency Adding to the mystery surrounding the Osprey's return to flight is a lack of detail about how the families of the aircraft's most recent fatal crash feel about the situation. As part of the agreement laid out by Naval Air Systems Command to receive the information about the lifting of the grounding order, Military.com had to agree not to contact any of the family members of airmen killed in the Nov. 29 crash. Officials said that the reason was families were still receiving official notification about the lifting of the flight ban. The Associated Press reported last week that the ban was being lifted. Meanwhile, officials who briefed reporters Wednesday offered competing narratives on the process of notifying families. Taylor, the Osprey's program manager and a key figure in getting the aircraft back in the air, told reporters that he needed "to wait for the investigation to come out in order to be ... more transparent" with the public and noted that "the families of those eight fallen airmen ... deserve to hear first exactly what happened and exactly what transpired." However, Bauernfeind said that the families have been getting "updates on the status of the safety investigation board" and his "intent is to make sure that our families are aware of the process." But Bauernfeind also told reporters that only the Air Force's internal investigation into the crash -- the Safety Investigation Board -- was complete, while the broader Accident Investigation Board, the results of which the general said would be shared with the families, was "less than double-digit weeks" away from being finished. Military.com did speak with a member of the Osprey community who said they have been in contact with many other families in the community and that there is a strong sense of concern and fear for service members who operate the platform. The member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, noted that many of the families within the tight knit community have "so much loyalty to the Osprey. ... They want to see it continue flying; I want to see it flying" before clarifying that "I want to see it flying, but safely." "It's not like these people want this to be grounded forever -- they want the dark era to be over, but there's a lack of transparency that needs to be addressed," they said. Taylor told reporters that he believes "without hesitation" that the Osprey should return to flight. "I firmly believe in the V-22, and I would fly one anytime," he added. However, the member who spoke with Military.com noted that "the people that are making these decisions, obviously, aren't in these aircraft" on a regular basis. They said that the crews operating the Osprey don't balk at the idea of combat situations. "You could be in danger, you could be shot at, but you have a mission to do and it's an acceptable risk," they said. "But that's a very different mindset versus, say, a training mission. You need these quals, it's an ordinary day, ordinary operations. Your aircraft might suffer a catastrophic failure and could fall out of the sky, but we're doing what we can." The families aren't the only critics. Congressional leaders have also spoken out about the move to get the Osprey flying again. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., railed against the move in a press release ahead of the official announcement. "Serious concerns remain such as accountability measures put in place to prevent crashes, a general lack of transparency, how maintenance and operational upkeep is prioritized, and how DoD assesses risks," he said. Comer launched an investigation into the aircraft shortly after the Air Force's deadly crash. At the time, he gave Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin until Jan. 4 -- two weeks -- to provide him documents. Now, two months later, Comer says that his committee "has yet to receive adequate information requested from DoD" and noted that lawmakers "will continue to rigorously investigate the DoD's Osprey program to attain answers to our questions on behalf of American taxpayers and protect U.S. service members defending our nation." 1980s first-generation tiltrotor technology Military.com reported last year that the Air Force, Marines and Navy have stopped new purchases of the aircraft and said only that they "will complete the MV-22 and CMV-22 programs of record, with deliveries through 2025." Despite seemingly frequent deadly crashes and incidents with the V-22 over the last few years, experts say it's highly unlikely that any of the services would stop flying them altogether. Jeremiah Gertler, a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington, D.C., who specializes in aviation, told Military.com that, until a suitable replacement for the V-22 is ready to be immediately adopted by the services, officials will find the best ways to keep flying the Osprey. "Do they keep flying these until they're replaced by something else?" Gertler said. "And history suggests that the answer to that is 'yes.' They're not going to make the capability go away and rely on older technology until they have something to move to." The grounding put operational challenges on all the services and some, like the Navy, had to rely on older aircraft such as the C-2 Greyhound to complete their mission requirements. Gertler said the services could revert to older technologies, but as global tensions increase and as many of the service branches turn their eyes toward competition in the Pacific, that's not a likely long-term solution. "They can step back and do things the way they were doing it before V-22 existed, but that requires them to change their operations in ways that they don't want to," Gertler said. "That's why they bought the V-22 in the first place, was to improve the way they were doing things. So, the idea of stepping back 20 years in time is not appealing to the services." Bauernfeind signaled to reporters that the V-22 has provided a unique capability for the Air Force but also criticized it as "1980s first-generation tiltrotor technology." He also noted that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, has a program looking into an experimental vertical takeoff and landing plane. Notably, in 2022, the Army announced Bell's tilt-rotor V-280 Valor as a replacement for the service's fleet of Black Hawk helicopters. Gertler said that if it proves successful for the Army, there's a chance the other services may want that aircraft in the future, too. While a replacement for the Osprey is not near, the services said they remain, mostly, confident in the procedures, training and increased maintenance they've put in place. "I have high confidence the protocols we're putting in place will avoid a catastrophic event like this happening again in the future," Bauernfeind told reporters. "I never say things with a finality because there is an inherent risk of what we do in military operations." Related: Air Force Confirms Parts Failure Occurred in Deadly Japan Osprey Crash that Left 8 Airmen Dead Veterans issues played a diminished role in President Joe Biden's Thursday night State of the Union address in which he sought to sell voters on what a second term of his presidency could look like by touting the accomplishments of his first three years in office and contrasting himself to former President Donald Trump. While Biden dedicated significant portions of his first two State of the Union speeches to veterans policy, this year's speech included just a brief mention of his biggest accomplishment so far on veterans issues: the PACT Act. Speaking toward the end of the speech about his "unity agenda" of proposals designed to garner bipartisan support in Congress, Biden urged lawmakers to "keep our truly sacred obligation, to train and equip those we send into harm's way, and care for them and their families when they come home, and when they don't." Read Next: Ospreys Cleared to Fly Again After Deadly Crash Despite Mechanical Failure with Unknown Cause "That's why, with the strong support and help of [Secretary] Denis [McDonough] at the VA, I signed the PACT Act, one of the most significant laws ever, helping millions of veterans exposed to toxins who now are battling more than 100 cancers," he added. "Many of them didn't come home, but we owe them and their families support." This year's State of the Union, a constitutional requirement for the president to periodically update Congress that has increasingly grown into a campaign-style rally, comes as the 2024 general election revs up. All of Trump's challengers in the Republican primary have dropped out as of this week, effectively making him the presumptive GOP nominee and allowing him and Biden to square off more directly. Biden never mentioned Trump by name on Thursday but repeatedly derided "my predecessor" on issues such as NATO, the Jan. 6 insurrection, abortion and immigration. In his first State of the Union in 2022, Biden used the speech to call on Congress to help veterans suffering from illnesses caused by toxic substances they were exposed to during their military service. The push in a forum watched by millions of Americans helped build momentum for the passage of the PACT Act, the biggest expansion of veterans benefits in a generation, later that year. Last year, the veterans portion of Biden's speech focused on efforts to curtail veterans homelessness and suicide. While Biden did not place as much emphasis on veterans in this year's address, Democratic lawmakers made veterans and the PACT Act a large part of their messaging ahead of the event. More than a dozen Democrats invited veterans who have benefited from the PACT Act as their guests to the speech, including Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester of Montana, House Veterans Affairs Committee ranking member Rep. Mark Takano of California and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Takano and other House Democrats who invited PACT Act veterans also held a news conference ahead of the address to vow that they, as Takano said, "will deliver for veterans in any way we can." Takano and Biden also discussed the PACT Act as Biden gabbed with lawmakers on his way out of the House chamber, with Biden suggesting the law may provide some support for his son Beau's family. Beau Biden died of brain cancer that the president has said he suspects was caused by burn pits in Iraq and Kosovo. Meanwhile, foreign policy issues that have entangled the U.S. military took center stage in this year's speech. Biden used the address to formally announce that he is directing the military to build a temporary port on the coast of Gaza to increase the amount of humanitarian aid getting to Palestinians amid the brutal Israel-Hamas war there. Biden also touted U.S. military strikes he has ordered against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen in response to the militants' ongoing attacks against ships transiting the Red Sea. One of first lady Jill Biden's guests for the speech was Cmdr. Shelby Nikitin, the former commanding officer of the USS Thomas Hudner destroyer, which shot down Houthi drones during its recent deployment in the Red Sea. "As commander in chief, I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and military personnel," Biden said. During an earlier portion of the speech, Biden was heckled by a man later identified as Steve Nikoui, whose son Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui was killed in the suicide bombing at Abbey Gate during the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Nikoui, a guest of Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., who was one of several relatives of Abbey Gate victims invited by Republicans, shouted "Abbey Gate" and "United States Marines" before being escorted out of the House chamber by Capitol Police. "The sergeant at arms is holding my State of the Union guest for yelling at @POTUS in protest because his son was killed in action at the Abbey Gate due to Biden's incompetence," Mast posted on social media after the speech. "So much for the right to petition our government for the redress of grievances." Biden also started the speech by imploring lawmakers to pass aid to Ukraine, which has stalled in the House because of GOP opposition. "If anybody in this room thinks [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not," Biden said. "My message to President Putin is simple. We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down." Related: Preventing Vet Homelessness and Suicide Top Biden's State of the Union 'Unity Agenda' The Army's newest operational laser weapon may be undergoing testing in the Middle East, but the top general responsible for U.S. troops in the region is already looking ahead to bigger and better directed-energy systems amid a rising tide of adversary drones. Speaking during a Senate Armed Service Committee hearing on Thursday, U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla argued that lawmakers should continue to invest in directed-energy weapons like high-powered microwaves rather than just high-energy lasers to combat the potential future threat of drone swarms. "The bigger concern is if you start talking about swarms, so we need to continue to invest in things like high-powered microwave [sic] to be able to counter a drone swarm that is coming at you," Kurilla said. "I mean, nothing is 100%. And at some point, the law of statistics will come up to you. You have to have layered defense." Read Next: Ospreys Cleared to Fly Again After Deadly Crash Despite Mechanical Failure with Unknown Cause High-energy laser weapons are designed to defeat incoming drones and missiles by employing a narrow beam of energy to burn incoming threats out of the sky. In contrast, high-powered microwaves create a cone of electromagnetic interference that disables electronics across both a wider area and a wider range of target systems, according to the latest Congressional Research Service report on directed-energy weapons. While lasers provide point defense against individual drones, microwave weapons are widely considered a more effective blanket defense across a broader area, making them suited to deal with complex attacks involving swarms of multiple fast-moving drones. (GAO Analysis of Department of Defense Information) The Defense Department is working on at least 31 directed-energy projects at the moment (and funding them to the tune of $1 billion a year, according to a 2023 report from the Government Accountability Office). However, only a handful of projects focus on employing high-powered microwaves. Those weapons include the Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High-Power Microwave, or IFPC-HPM, weapon developed by Epirus, which the service first took possession of in November; the Air Force's Tactical High-Power Operational Responder, or THOR, which faced off against a drone swarm in a first-of-its-kind test last May; and the Counter-Electronic High-Power Microwave Extended-Range Air Base Defense, known as CHIMERA, which is mostly classified. While the THOR underwent an initial "real-world" test in Africa in 2020, none of the DoD's high-powered microwave systems appears ready for an actual operational deployment, according to publicly available information gathered by the CRS. Low-cost attack drones, which Central Command leaders consider the greatest threat to U.S. service members in the region since the improvised explosive device, have increasingly plagued troops deployed to outposts in Iraq and Syria and warships in the Red Sea, where Iran-backed militias have taken shots at American forces following the outbreak of Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. One attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan killed three U.S. service members in January; as of February, there had been 186 U.S. casualties in Iraq, Syria and Jordan, including more than 130 traumatic brain injuries, according to the Defense Department. Speaking to lawmakers during the Senate hearing on Thursday, Kurilla emphasized that incoming drones have come uncomfortably close to injuring or even killing more troops. "There are several incidents where [drones] coming into a base hit another object, got caught up in a netting or other incidents where, had they hit the appropriate target that they were targeting, it would have injured or killed service members," Kurilla told lawmakers. While the Army has sent Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, known as DE M-SHORAD, to the Middle East for an operational experiment -- Stryker infantry carrier vehicles outfitted with 50-kilowatt "Guardian" laser weapons -- it's Navy surface warfare leaders who are putting pressure on the DoD to furnish warships with directed-energy weapons rather than forcing them to rely on relatively costly missiles to take out incoming drones and anti-ship ballistic missiles. Only one Navy warship, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Preble, is currently outfitted with one 60-kilowatt High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-Dazzler and Surveillance system, which is known as HELIOS. "What we're facing in the Red Sea is more than just drones. We're looking at land-attack cruise missiles, we're looking at anti-ship ballistic missiles that are getting shot in the Red Sea by the Houthis. And our ships are dealing with all of those," Naval Surface Forces commander Vice Adm. Brendan McLane told reporters in January. "One of the things that I think we really need to get after quicker is we need to accelerate the development of directed-energy weapons, whether it's a laser, whether it's a microwave." Kurilla echoed McLane's comments on Thursday, stating that he "would love to have the Navy produce more directed-energy [weapons] that can shoot down a drone, so I don't have to use an expensive missile to shoot it down." Related: Luck Has Prevented More US Casualties from Drone Attacks in Iraq and Syria, Top Mideast General Says Inheritor Hong Yujing and her Chaozhou embroidery artworks Photo: Chen Tao/GT By Li Yuche in Shantou Global Times-Local people in Shantou, South China's Guangdong Province rarely greet someone with handshakes. Instead, they will often welcome people, including strangers with a cup of "Phoenix Dancong," a type of aromatic oolong tea, also a local specialty. Compared to provincial capital Guangzhou, Shantou used to be an open commercial port and now a modern third-tier city characterized by a much slower-paced lifestyle. 'Sculpture on textile' Spending all day long in a studio sorting out silk threads is part of Hong Yujing's daily routine. Hong, a 57-year-old Shantou local and an inheritor of Chaozhou embroidery art, told the Global Times that she has been practicing this art form since she was 5. The Chaozhou embroidery is a part of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) that originated in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and developed in the Chaoshan area which refers to three cities, Jieyang, Chaozhou as well as Shanshou. Unlike the delicate Suzhou embroidery and the smooth Shu embroidery famous in Sichuan Province, Chaozhou embroidery is characterized by vibrant colors, particularly red and black. Hong emphasized two defining features of Chaozhou embroidery: the use of "golden thread" and "3D visual aesthetics." For instance, Hong's depiction of a koi fish showcases her skillful use of mulberry silk threads dyed in varying shades of orange, red, and pink to capture the fish's intricate scales. Golden threads are then meticulously applied to delineate the fish's silhouette, showcasing the artistry and attention to details synonymous with Chaozhou embroidery. Animals and Chinese mythological beasts such as the pixiu are often featured in Chaozhou embroidery. Artisans employ techniques such as padding cotton and wool chunks beneath the embroidery cloth to create an embossed effect, enhancing the pieces' "3D visual aesthetics," as described by Hong. Often referred to as the "sculpture on textile," Chaozhou embroidery garners admiration not only from locals, but also from international enthusiasts in European countries like Germany. Hong told the Global Times that in 2021, she met with a group of German students at a local cultural exchange event in Berlin. Her art was a rare opportunity for those kids to see an aspect of authentic traditional Chinese culture. By also stitching a tiny flower on a German artist's belt, Chaozhou embroidery became a token of friendship that underscored the global appeal of Chaozhou embroidery, serving as a channel for cross-cultural understanding. "Those children and parents' desire to learn this art form from me was so overwhelming, it later made their school 'break its rule' by allowing kids to use needles," Hong reminisced, adding that the Chaozhou embroidery really highlights the "delicate and elegant" Chinese style. 2 million to 200 million Visitors to Shantou cannot miss out on trying the local handcrafted "thumped" beef balls. Unlike industrially produced meatballs, the Shantou beef balls are entirely handmade. With only basic tools such as a cutting board, a big chunk of raw beef will be tenderized by a skillful chef for hours. Chen Zhibin, an inheritor of the ICH culinary art Chaoshan meatball since 1997, told the Global Times that 30 minutes of tenderizing 2.5 kilograms of beef only yields around 20 balls. Chen exemplifies the locals' dedication to preserving this artisanal craft. Despite acknowledging the challenges faced by younger generations in continuing manual, labor-intensive practices, Chen remains committed to upholding the cultural legacy of Chaoshan meatballs. Originally a royal delicacy, Chaoshan meatballs have evolved into a symbol of local identity, cultural tourism, and economic growth for Shantou. Chen's enterprise, the Chao Ting Food Processing Company, represents a shift towards industrialization while maintaining the essence of traditional craftsmanship. Chen explained that nowadays the dish has transformed from just a food to the fulcrum of Shantou's culture and tourism, and even its economic growth. From January to September 2023, the city of Shantou has exported 4.16 billion yuan ($554 million) of agricultural products, and the beef ball is one of the most iconic ones, which is well-received by countries such as Thailand and Singapore. Back in early 2015, around 40,000 kilograms of beef balls were exported per day from Shantou, bringing about an overall output value of around 1.5 billion yuan for the city. The enterprise now includes not only a beef ball processing factory, but also several franchised restaurants with the same name, raising its value from 2 million yuan to 200 million yuan in less than 20 years. "Turning a small workshop to an industrialized business is essential for us to continue our beef ball culture. It caters to how the modern world works, and it can engage more people in sharing our collective cultural memory," Chen told the Global Times. DyNell Lane had been seeking answers for months when he stepped up to a podium in February to address a group of civilian police watchdogs. I really just want to know the status of whats going on, the disabled veteran told Dallas Community Police Oversight Board, made up of 15 residents appointed by the City Council. Nine months ago, Lane filed a complaint over an incident in which four police officers laughed after he urinated on himself when he wasnt allowed to use the restroom at a Deep Ellum pizza joint. The incident was caught on body camera video and the case went viral after the oversight office shared the footage at one of its monthly meetings. Hes still waiting for the Dallas Police Department to address the officers behavior. The citys handling of Lanes case has led to questions from the oversight board, activists and experts about Dallas commitment to independent police oversight, according to an investigation by The Dallas Morning News. At issue is how the citys oversight office and the civilian board that guides it lost its authority to investigate complaints when its only investigator was shifted out of his role and lost its control over what grievances could be reviewed when the power was diminished by city officials, multiple board members told The News. The oversight office, which has four full-time employees, works with the civilian board to review residents complaints against police. The office was created in 2019 and is overseen by City Manager T.C. Broadnax, who declined to answer questions about the Lane case. The News interviewed 10 board members, as well as city leaders, activists and national civilian police oversight experts, who identified multiple obstacles impeding oversight: Gaps in communication between the city, the office, the board and police. Board members said their work is hindered because they are left in the dark about staffing changes, but the city manager said its not the boards job to be informed about hiring or personnel changes. Lack of transparency about ongoing investigations. Many board members said they are not getting regular updates about the status of investigations. Staff turnover over the past 12 to 18 months. Dallas first police monitor and oversight investigator left their positions in the months after Lanes case was brought to light. The city manager would not spell out why. Lack of urgency from city officials to find a new permanent police monitor. Dallas first director of the oversight office left her role in September, but officials didnt list a job posting to replace her for four months. The interim police monitor does not have a background in criminal justice, which board members say hampers oversights ability to conduct thorough investigations and reviews of complaints. Board members said their questions and concerns are dismissed by city and police officials. Board members at times dont receive follow-up materials, such as video and other information to help understand complaints. The offices budget is $784,565, less than one-sixth the budget of Austin, which has fewer police officers, and well below that of many large cities with oversight. To the oversight board and former office staffers, the circumstances of Lanes case represented the pinnacle of their role as police watchdogs. Dallas police first declined to investigate it, but after the oversight office shed light, the department opened a probe into Lanes complaint in August. Soon after, according to several board members, Dallas inaugural police monitor and an investigator left under uncertain circumstances, the search for replacements was muddied by unexplained delays and oversight officials felt paralyzed and confused about how to fulfill their mission after sudden limitations to their power. Dallas police Chief Eddie Garcia told The News he understands the frustration with the Lane case, but said he wouldnt characterize the time it has taken as a delay. He pointed to the procedural part of any administrative investigation and officers civil service rights, adding that he knows of cases that took much longer than a year before he got to Dallas in 2021. He said the Lane case shows the oversight process worked after the board decried the departments handling of Lanes complaint, DPD opened a review. I have always advocated for the director to come to me if there were disagreements in a case, he said. As Ive said many times, we may not agree all the time, but oftentimes we do. And oftentimes we do miss something, and we do need to take another look at it. In a memo in January, the chief told the board the investigation was on hold due to circumstances beyond my control, adding police would promptly continue processes once one of the officers who was involved was back from family medical leave. That officer has returned, but the case is open until discipline, if any, is issued, according to police officials. The chief told The News the attention the case has received wont affect his response or the process. We want to do the right thing when no ones looking, Garcia said. The last thing that we want to do is violate a process and then later on be found that we did something wrong with regards to discipline if any was imposed. Lane told The News hes frustrated by his inability to get closure and said he doesnt believe police are taking his complaint seriously. He said he had a difficult time leaving his home after the case went viral. I think about it every day, he said. Im like, Nah, I dont want nobody to recognize me. The shame I feel, theres no need for me to go. It makes you not want to call for help, cant call because I dont want to get frustrated, I dont want to spaz out in public. Lane said this isnt about settling a case with the city of Dallas. He wants to make sure what happened to him never happens to anyone else with a disability. He is calling for the officers to be fired. Lane has not filed a lawsuit against police or the city, but the completion of the investigation would not prevent him from doing so in the future. It isnt enough, he said, to leave his case with a police department he no longer trusts. I want the Dallas oversight board to have their shot at it, Lane said. I want the resources that are already available, that are already a part of this, to do their job. Dallas first police monitor Dallas Office of Community Police Oversight and the civilian oversight board are separate entities that work together. An internal document shows plans for seven positions in the office, but not all of them have been budgeted or filled. The current employees are the interim monitor, a mediator, an intake specialist and a community outreach manager, according to city officials. The office serves as a liaison between police and the board and investigates civilian complaints as directed by the board. The office typically receives dozens of complaints every month, but only a sampling is brought to the board for a full review and vote on whether to launch an independent investigation, according to data presented at the monthly meetings. The board, made up of volunteers, reviews critical incidents and civilian complaints about police, outlines policy recommendations and calls for independent investigations when it disagrees with the police departments handling of a grievance. Their findings are routinely forwarded to the police chief as a recommendation. Its up to the chief to act on the recommendation. Dallas has long had a civilian board that reviews complaints about police, but it was previously called the Citizens Police Review Board and its primary role was to request that police reinvestigate civilian complaints if it disagreed with the departments initial investigation. In 2017, a coalition of social justice and activist groups began to work on recommendations to restructure the board. That work took on a renewed sense of urgency and began to gain political support after the 2018 murder of Botham Jean by former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger. Jean, a Black 26-year-old accountant and St. Lucia native, was eating ice cream on his couch when Guyger, a white off-duty officer still in uniform, entered his apartment that was a floor above hers. Guyger testified that she mistook Jeans apartment for hers, thought he was an intruder and fatally shot him. She is serving a 10-year sentence for murder. As outrage and protests grew over the murder, the city held a series of town halls that often laid bare political and racial tensions between Dallas residents. In April 2019, the City Council voted unanimously for the revamped Community Police Oversight Board. The overhaul created a position: police monitor, who would review DPD internal investigations and report the findings to board members. Under an ordinance that laid out the new rules, the monitor would lead a new Office of Community Police Oversight, which was placed under Broadnax. Broadnax recently announced hes resigning as the citys top administrative official. He spoke with The News in January about the state of Dallas police oversight. I dont think our thoughts or opinion, or at least mine, is any different than when we created the office and changed it from a review board to oversight, the city manager said. He said he supported the shift to an oversight board, adding its about awareness and engagement with the community so residents have a central place to turn outside of the police department if something doesnt seem right or police arent living up to expectations. According to the ordinance that created the office, the monitor shall be a person professionally competent by experience and training to manage the office, and would have a staff of assistants. After a national search, Broadnax appointed Tonya McClary to the post in early 2020. Board members were pleased by the selection, highlighting McClarys background as a pastor and criminal defense attorney who headed a similar oversight office in New Orleans. She was great and had so many great qualifications we were moving forward, said oversight board vice-chair Jose Rivas, who was appointed by council member Adam Bazaldua. Progress over time In her three years as police monitor, McClary introduced many firsts to Dallas police oversight. She was the first civilian to gain access to DPD internal affairs records. She helped craft DPDs video-release policy, which mandates the department release footage of critical police incidents within 72 hours unless the chief decides to withhold it. She led an effort to document experiences by protesters during the 2020 civil unrest in downtown Dallas after George Floyds murder. Her certifications allowed her to be present at the scene of shootings involving officers. She organized community meetings and invited the public to air concerns to oversight members. Even with the strides she made, McClary was vocal about the obstacles she faced. She said Dallas police often left her out of the loop on the status of investigations, including a probe in 2021 into Sgt. Roger Rudloff, who shot a protester at close range with pepper balls during the George Floyd protests. Rudloff, who has retired, was cleared of wrongdoing. McClary has said she had to fight to get police data to analyze misdemeanor arrests in Dallas. She also managed a smaller budget than her previous office in New Orleans. Dallas carved out $784,565 for the oversight office in fiscal year 2023-24. New Orleans which has a police department about a third of the size of Dallas has an oversight budget of about $1.2 million. Dallas oversight budget also is smaller than other large cities. Austin, with about half as many officers as Dallas, has an oversight budget of about $4.9 million. The police oversight budget in San Diego, which has about 1,100 fewer officers, is $2.2 million. The most recurring concern McClary and board members echoed in monthly meetings revolved around officers unwillingness to cooperate. Dallas police officers have been advised by association leaders not to respond to oversights requests, and the ordinance governing the office does not grant subpoena power. It states the board may request statements from city employees or police officers through the office, which would be provided to the office in a non-public setting. An officer cannot be disciplined for refusing to appear voluntarily before the board, according to the ordinance. In September 2023, McClary left the role. She said in her time as police monitor, only one officer ever gave a statement during an oversight investigation. Former Dallas Police Association president Mike Mata, who retired in January, was vocal in the past about how no officers would testify or accept oversight decisions until the board went through at least 16 hours of use-of-force training. Sr. Cpl. Jaime Castro, the associations new president, said DPA doesnt encourage members to ignore oversight they notify members of their rights, which he said is part of their due process. He said DPA feels as if oversight has tried to go from overseeing internal affairs proceedings to becoming a disciplinary entity, adding thats never going to happen and the association wouldnt support changes to the ordinance. The DPA will continue to represent and vigorously defend the rights of our members, Castro said. We sat with the board when this was first created and both parties agreed to the procedures and the policies that were going to be implemented. In an email to The News on Thursday, McClary said she continues to cheer for the board and is hopeful the next police monitor will build on the foundation she and her staff laid. I continue to say that what happens with oversight in Dallas has ripple effects in the civilian oversight world nationally and globally, McClary said. Chief Garcia told The News theres no question there needs to be police oversight, but he said board members need to put in more effort to get officer buy-in a sentiment some board members argue shouldnt be necessary. Some people believe that were out to get cops, said board member Brandon Friedman, who was appointed by council member Paul Ridley. But were not. This board is one of the most thoughtful collections of people who try their very hardest to be fair and equitable when it comes to conflict between residents and the police department. Before she abruptly resigned, McClary was in the process of reviewing DPDs use-of-force and protest policies. She was also working with the police academy to line up a series of trainings for the board and office staff, according to internal documents. There was often some strife either between her and the city, her and the board, but it was all professional and I dont think she was doing a bad job, Friedman said. She was doing a perfectly fine job and then she was gone and no one told us why. A case sparks international outrage At the start of the oversight boards August meeting, a soft-spoken veteran made his way to the dais at the center of City Halls chambers. There, DyNell Lane told his story publicly for the first time. In the overnight hours of June 10, he said, two off-duty Dallas officers working security at Serious Pizza refused to review his medical documents so he could use the bathroom. Lane told the board he was wounded while deployed in Afghanistan and Kuwait as an army sergeant. He called 911 for help, but soiled himself and left before two on-duty officers arrived. Body-camera footage, shared by the oversight office at the meeting, shows all four officers burst into laughter while recounting how someone pissed themself. The footage sparked an onslaught of outrage from oversight board members and the public. Many states including Texas have a restroom access law known as Allys Law, which says people lawfully in an establishment should be allowed access to a restroom if they provide evidence they have a medical condition that requires immediate access to a toilet facility. At the boards meeting in September, McClary said the oversight office had been inundated with angry calls about the citys lack of attention toward Lanes complaint. People are cursing us out, she said, noting the international headlines. She told the board that oversights investigation into Lanes case was halted until DPD completes theirs, but would resume afterward if Lane was unsatisfied. Irene Alanis, the police major over internal affairs, told the board she expected the DPD investigation would be resolved in less than a month. Two days later, Broadnax alerted the board that McClary was leaving. She was placed in the citys HR department. The city manager appointed Elaine Chandler, who helped manage the citys HR department, as her interim replacement. In his interview with The News, Broadnax declined to explain why McClary left, saying he would not discuss personnel issues and transitions are the nature of city government. Its probably not a board discussion and one that Im not going to entertain, he said. So I appreciate the question, but again thats probably not appropriate conversations for board members to be having nor am I going to discuss that with anyone specifically the media. Emails obtained by The News through a public records request show city officials had been discussing McClarys departure since at least July. On July 11, Broadnax wrote to McClary that he accepted her letter of resignation. Its not clear in the emails what prompted the resignation. Nine days later, the city managers chief of staff, Genesis Gavino, asked McClary for a summary of a meeting and wrote: I know the announcement is delayed but I think there are still action items I can get started on to ensure a smooth transition for the future person. On July 25, McClary sent documents to Broadnax and his chief of staff and wrote: I know you and the interim director will have questions. I am here for you and that person. I will work with TC around my last day in the physical office. On Aug. 30, McClary wrote to Gavino that she would like to help with the hiring of an oversight office executive assistant. Gavino replied: We will leave this to the Interim Director to lead. The search process for McClarys replacement did not start until January, when the city officially posted a job listing online. Broadnax said he wasnt in a rush to fill that position, noting Chandler was capable and competent. Chandler had been the employee relations manager in the citys HR department since 2019 and city officials did not note any criminal justice or policing-related roles in her background. As part of her shift to the police monitor position, she received a $35,000 pay boost for a total of $140,000, according to the emails obtained by The News. In her statement to The News, McClary did not elaborate on her departure, but said shes saddened by what appears to be backward movement in the historic work of the office and the board. Despite the many obstacles, roadblocks and challenges she faced as monitor, she said, she was excited to end her tenure bringing to light the DyNell Lane case. She noted that even her youngest sister, who lives in Tanzania, heard about the case. The Lane case truly showed the power, authority, and breadth of what civilian oversight can do, she said. I also applaud Mr. Lane for the courage to speak his truth. Beginning to unravel transparency concerns Board members said they werent told the reasons for McClarys departure. Changa Higgins, recently appointed by council member Zarin Gracey, said McClary told him shed been laid off. He said the city doesnt want any bad PR about the police department. At this point, this feels intentional, said Higgins, who was part of the coalition that brought recommendations for the oversight board overhaul in 2019. This board has been weakened, silenced, and then almost kind of like alienated. McClarys departure triggered a wave of changes. Members said theyve been blindsided to learn at their monthly meetings when new people were hired to the oversight office. They lambasted the lack of transparency, saying even an email with updates would help. We all wouldve been better off if we were told what was happening, said David Kitner, appointed to the board by council member Gay Donnell Willis. Were at best at a standstill. Rivas said he was once shocked to find out the only attendee in the audience was the offices new data support officer. Months later, in January, board members learned oversights only investigator, Kevin Williams, had been moved to a community engagement position. They publicly questioned, without an investigator, how theyd be able to launch independent investigations. They wondered what theyd tell civilians who wanted to complain about officers. Its hard to defend and say this isnt a b.s. board, board member Jonathan Maples, who represents Jesse Morenos district, said at the January meeting. Broadnax told The News the city hired an outside firm to help investigate residents complaints. He said multiple positions came open even while McClary served as monitor, and the city is looking to fill some of the slots. City spokespersons did not provide comment after The News sent multiple emails with follow-up questions about the investigative firm, including which firm is working with Dallas, if it has already been hired and the cost of the partnership. Chandler echoed Broadnaxs sentiment, noting shes proud of the accomplishments the office has made in putting resources in. With change in leadership, theres always going to be some differences, she told The News in January. But I think that thats mostly what the board is feeling. Its just some of the changes. Some board members said oversights day-to-day work with the community has suffered as a result of those changes. Friedman said board members have generally stopped doing outreach events with the public, which the oversight office has always been responsible for supporting. He said it didnt seem like it was really being treated as the priority it once was. Chandler did not respond to an email and multiple phone calls seeking comment. Many members have experienced technical difficulties that have barred them from accessing video or complaint information key to making decisions. They noted that Chandlers background is in HR, not criminal justice, and said she hasnt brought them concerns about DPDs decisions. McClary frequently voiced worries at board meetings about the outcome of DPD investigations. Board member Loren Gilbert-Smith, appointed by council member Carolyn King Arnold, told The News that oversight has felt like the blind leading the blind with the lack of experience between Chandler and the other recent hires to the oversight office. We have no one with any oversight experience running this ship for more than six months, Gilbert-Smith said. Would you get on a plane without a pilot? Would you get on a boat without someone with boating experience? In a recent board meeting, Chandler acknowledged she hasnt been to the scene of every officer shooting to provide oversight. That prompted at least one board member to visit a scene on his own to ensure oversight was represented. McClary has said she or a staffer from her office went to nearly all officer shootings. Were struggling to be as effective as we were last year, last summer, said Dee Wadsworth, who represents Cara Mendelsohns Far North Dallas district on the board. Tension, confusion In February, tensions came to a head. Near the end of oversights monthly meeting, Chandler told the board shed received a legal opinion from the City Attorneys Office stipulating members cant review anything that hasnt first been investigated by DPD. Members erupted. That meant the way the board had interpreted the ordinance that governs the office and acted the previous three years was incorrect, they said. That made them toothless, they added, since DPDs internal affairs division would act as a gatekeeper for all complaints. This seems to fundamentally change what the board is, Friedman said at the meeting. Whats the point of a citizen filing a complaint with the police oversight board if IAD can override that complaint? Why doesnt the citizen just go complain to IAD? Whats the point of the board? Under that understanding, Lanes case would never have been brought to oversight, Rivas said. Dallas police initially declined to open an investigation into Lanes complaint. Under questioning by the board, Chandler said DPD brought the issue to her attention and she requested a review from the city attorneys office. She said the document she got in response was confidential and she wasnt going to name names about who rendered the opinion. Ive got real problems with this, Rivas said at the meeting. For over two years, we have been operating incorrectly and I just have a question for our city manager, city attorneys office, both of them how they allowed that to happen? Activists watching in the audience audibly groaned and laughed in disbelief. Board members dropped their heads in their hands, or looked up to the ceiling and sighed in frustration. A representative from the city attorneys office was not at the meeting. I dont know that we get pushed around by secret lawyers who arent here and didnt write us anything and whose names you wont tell us, added board member Alison Grinter Allen, who was appointed by council member Paula Blackmon. Amid the turmoil, Broadnax joined the meeting through an impromptu appearance on Zoom. He told the board nothing had changed about the ordinance and oversight has the ability to do independent investigations. He said hed need to talk to the city attorneys office about what power oversight has if DPD decides not to investigate a complaint, adding its not clear. Afterward, activist Dominique Alexander, president of the Next Generation Action Network, told the board many cities have more functional police oversight than Dallas. Alexander was one of the leading advocates for an overhaul of the previous board. I aint never been more disappointed a day in my life than what I saw at this foolishness, Alexander said. I sacrificed a lot for this office to be created. This is a dog and pony show. Weeks later, in a 15-page report dated March 6, 2024, that was obtained by The News, Chandler told the board the city attorneys new interpretation was sound and legally correct oversight is not allowed to review complaints that DPD deemed a no investigation. She acknowledged that interpretation has a crippling effect on oversights power, and suggested tweaks to the ordinance that she said could fix confusing language and allow the board to return to its yearslong practice. Any ordinance changes would need to be approved by the City Council. She said the ordinance was intentionally designed with gaps that needed further edits and clarifications because the stakeholders, such as the activists who came up with recommendations for the overhaul, were under a time crunch and opted for language that could pass with the least resistance before momentum was gone. DPD and the City were given the power to interpret the gray areas of the Ordinance and did so, accordingly, Chandler wrote. The stakeholders made those concessions and we are witnessing the consequences. In conclusion, she wrote, the board needs to accept that the prior processes and procedures it relied on were not in line with the ordinance. She said the right approach to fixing the issue depends on the type of fight the board and office are willing to go through. [Oversights] only answer, she said, is to move forward by fixing the Ordinance. Grinter Allen, the board member for Blackmons district, told The News shes not sure whose opinion is reflected in the document, but its essential that we press for an interpretation of the ordinance that allows the board and the office to actually conduct meaningful oversight. This kind of capitulation doesnt reflect the letter of the law, Grinter Allen said, nor does it reflect the spirit of the community that established community police oversight in Dallas. Serious oversight Civilian police leaders told The News its common for cities that launch oversight offices to experience high turnover and communication issues in the early stages of development. Usually, theres widespread buy-in from city leaders who see the establishment of an oversight office as the politically expedient thing to do, said Cameron McEllhiney, executive director of the National Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement. Then, its easy to get immediate pushback, McEllhiney said. Weve talked to a lot of cities who are in similar situations, she said. The power has been stripped from them or budgets have been stripped down or they may not be able to do the work because theyre not getting full cooperation from stakeholders. The city of Dallas has to decide whether it wants to engage in serious police oversight, McEllhiney said. If it does, it may have to start over, she said the office would need to return to levels of staffing and investigative processes in place a year ago. Unfortunately, its kind of a build back up process, she said. Youve got to start at the base, where it is about building legitimacy. Jayson Wechter, a civilian oversight practitioner and advocate for more than 40 years, said he encountered similar obstacles when he helped establish San Franciscos Office of Citizen Complaints, now known as the Department of Police Accountability. He left after a year because it was apparent the agency had ineffective management and inadequate resources and staff to carry out its mission. There was also inadequate preparation. The office did not have in place a series of policies and procedures, he said. As a result, the deluge of cases quickly overwhelmed its inadequate staff. Fifteen years later, he returned as an investigator to the office. At that point, it had an effective leader and sufficient staffing and resources, Wechter said. He stayed over 19 years. Wechter said many large cities have embraced oversight because theyve learned it provides an important bridge to residents ensuring law enforcement agencies have positive relationships with the community and are serving people effectively. Even so, what is happening in Dallas delayed investigations, staff turnover, communication gaps is often inevitable, he said. The establishment of civilian oversight is a significant change, he said. There could be a lot of fear, misunderstanding. The path forward As challenges to achieve oversight have continued to mount in Dallas, some board members like Higgins believe the most viable path forward is in being more aggressive. Higgins pointed to the DyNell Lane case as an example, saying every meeting has felt like Groundhog Day with members venting about how long the investigation has gone on. At some point, Higgins said, it must go past expressions of frustration. There needs to be fire, a sense of urgency put under the board, he said. They need to remember that even though it may not feel like it, they could be making decisions in there that could potentially save someones life, keep somebody from being injured, keep someone from being arrested that shouldnt be arrested. The chief said DPD is looking for its own blind spots. He pointed to initiatives including the departments new constitutional policing unit and a use-of-force dashboard and analysis unveiled last year. I certainly dont want to leave readers or people thinking that were a department that we think were perfect, Garcia said. I know were not. Which is the reason why Im bringing in outside experts to let us know where we can be better. From a board perspective, this isnt a department that you need to push to be better. We know that, and were trying. In one of few signs of progress theyd seen in months, the oversight board in February took on a new oversight board chairman, approved by the City Council. John Mark Davidson was appointed by the mayor and had been a board member for about two years. Davidson and other board members said they are saddened by the citys effort to weaken the office, adding they cant do oversight without adequate communication from the city about personnel changes and investigations. And they need investigators and others to help them manage complaints. Theres been a lack of love and investment, Davidson said. Its almost like the city has lost faith in the importance of what this office can do. 2024 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Cornelia Fort was less than a year into her job as a flight instructor in Hawaii when she and her student pilot narrowly avoided a midair collision, saved only when Fort grabbed the controls and caused their single-engine plane to climb rapidly. Not sure who the other plane belonged to, Fort's doubts were erased when she glimpsed Japan's rising-sun insignia on its wing, then noticed smoke over nearby Pearl Harbor. It was Dec. 7, 1941, and Fort was among the first to realize that the United States was under attack. Fort was killed on March 21, 1943, while serving with the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP, becoming the first female American pilot to die while on active duty. "Any girl who has flown at all grows used to the prejudice of most men pilots who will trot out any number of reasons why women can't possibly be good pilots," Fort once said, according to a PBS article about the 1999 "American Experience" documentary, "Fly Girls." "... The only way to show the disbelievers, the snickering hangar pilots, is to show them." At first blush, Fort seemed an unlikely candidate to show them. From the time of her birth to a prominent Tennessee family in 1919, she lived in the lap of wealth. Fort shunned life as a socialite, though, her sense of adventure so strong that not even her family's 365-acre estate in Nashville could contain it. When Cornelia was 5, her father took her and her brothers to watch a demonstration by a barnstorming pilot. A doctor and owner of a life insurance company, Rufus Fort -- worried about the risks -- asked his three sons to promise him they would never fly. It never occurred to him to exact the same pledge from Cornelia. Once she got into the air, she was hooked. Shortly before she turned 21, Fort, who once attended the same school as Amelia Earhart, took her first flying lesson early in 1940, and by the end of the following year, she had earned her pilot's, commercial pilot's and instructor's licenses. "I can't say exactly why I fly, but I know why as I've never known anything in my life," Fort was quoted as saying in "Fly Girls." "I know that in dignity and self-sufficiency and in the pride of skill." Fort worked briefly at a flying school in Colorado before relocating to Honolulu to serve as a flight instructor for soldiers, sailors and defense workers. It was in that role that Fort found herself when Pearl Harbor was bombed. After the attack, the public was so interested in her eyewitness account that she was used to sell war bonds. She flew for the Civil Air Patrol before joining the Womens Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), which the Army Air Forces established -- along with the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) -- in September 1942. Women Airforce Service Pilots director Jacqueline Cochran pins the wings on new WASP training graduate Isabel Fenton during a graduation ceremony at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, on July 3, 1943. (Wikimedia Commons) Organized by Jacqueline Cochran, who later became the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound, the prospective female pilots were trained in the west Texas town of Sweetwater, where the days were long, snakes were as prevalent as the oppressive heat, and no dating was allowed. Six women were assigned to a room, and 12 trainees had access to one bath. They did not have time for extracurricular activities, not that any were available, during the four-month training program. "Because there were, and are, so many disbelievers in women pilots, especially in their place in the Army, all of us realized what a spot we were [in]," Fort said. "We had to deliver the goods or else -- or else there would never be another chance for women pilots in any part of the service." Women Airforce Service Pilots, created in August 1943 after WAFS and WFTD merged, flew at 126 military bases, handling 80% of all ferrying missions during the war while freeing men for combat. They accepted conditions that few male counterparts would abide, flying in repaired planes that had seen combat and facing incidents of sabotage -- sometimes with deadly consequences. After the death of two WASPs, an investigation found sugar in one of the downed plane's gas tanks. Members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots stand in front of an AT-10 plane at Camp Davis, N.C., Oct. 24, 1943. (AP Photo) Despite the overt discrimination, WASPs persevered, and as they displayed their proficiency, their responsibilities expanded to include becoming test pilots and flight instructors, and towing targets for gunnery training. In the spring of 1943, Fort was among the pilots (both male and female) assigned to fly BT-13 trainers from Long Beach, California, to Dallas. At a stop along the way, some aviators discussed formation flying, a maneuver prohibited during such deliveries. That did not stop a small group, including Fort, from trying it. About an hour from their destination, Fort's left wing was accidentally struck by another plane's landing gear, sending her fuselage into a spin before it plummeted to the ground near Sweetwater. A subsequent Army Air Forces investigation absolved Fort of fault, instead placing the blame on the male pilot, Frank Stamme Jr. Fort was 24 years old. "If I die violently, who can say it's before my time?" Fort recalled in the Fly Girls documentary. "I want no one to grieve for me. I was happiest in the sky." About 1,100 WASPs served during World War II, and 38 died. At the time of their service, they were considered civil servants -- an indignity that Congress finally removed by granting WASPs veteran status in 1977. The group received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010. Although WASPs were credited with flying more than 60 million miles, delivering nearly 13,000 aircraft and, outside of combat, flying every mission a male aviator did before the program was disbanded in December 1944, female pilots did not resurface in the U.S. military again until the mid-1970s. Just imagine how many Cornelia Forts were overlooked during those intervening years. Want to Know More About the Military? Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. Jim Beard, the keyboardist for legendary rock band Steely Dan, has died, the band announced. He was 63. Beard died March 2 at a New York hospital due to complications from a sudden illness, according to his publicist. It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of our friend and colleague, Steely Dan wrote in a post on its website shared Wednesday. Beard, who joined Steely Dan in 2008, had been touring with the band on its current Long Goodbye tour. His final performance was Jan. 20 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. In addition to his work with Steely Dan, Beard is also known for his collaborations with jazz legends John McClaughlin, Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, and more, according to his website biography. He also produced dozens of records for artists including Eliane Elias, Bob Berg, Bill Evans, Mike Stern, and more. He recorded six solo CDs between 1990 and 2013 and, in 2007, won a Grammy award as a featured performer on Some Skunk Funk by the Brecker Brothers, Michael and Randy. Beard is survived by his mother, Sarah; his sister, Nancy; his brother, Bill; and his two children, Victor and Caitlin. MACOMB COUNTY, MI Two Michigan police officers are facing charges related to the assault of a semi-truck driver who they allegedly pulled over, attacked and arrested while in uniform and outside of their jurisdiction, officials said. Warren Police officers Dammeon Player, 50, and Carlos Taylor, 28, are accused of carrying out the assault in Center Line during July 2023, FOX 2 Detroit reports. Player is charged with felony assault, a four-year felony; and public official willful failure to uphold the law, a one-year misdemeanor, the report said. Taylor is charged with public official willful failure to uphold the law; and assault and battery, a 93-day misdemeanor. Both defendants were released on a $5,000 personal bond with conditions not to have contact with the victim, the report said. This photo taken on Feb. 19, 2024 shows a scene during the parade of the gods in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo by Lin Ruile/Xinhua) by Xinhua writers Yao Yuan and Deng Qianqian Xinhua- In an eastern Chinese village, a formidable group of divine generals parade the streets with great panache, their ornate headwear and chiseled features commanding the thunderous applause of firecrackers and a barrage of flashlights. Known as "youshen" or the "parade of the gods," this lively and grand procession is popular in Fujian, Guangdong, and Taiwan. The procession invites celestials to visit the mortal realm, revel with local residents and distribute blessings. This year, this folk tradition, with its unique regional flair and cyberpunk ambience, became a social media phenomenon and transformed many otherwise anonymous villages into tourist hotspots. "Youshen used to be a local affair, but this year, our village was chock-a-block with cars from across China, including Beijing, Jiangsu and Shanghai," said Lin Xiangguo, Party secretary of Kefeng Village in Changle, a suburban district of Fuzhou in Fujian Province. Youshen activities are usually held in the first lunar month following the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, and during the godlings' birthdays. A statue of the main deity is seated on a sedan, preceded by a formation of divine generals and other attendants. The latter characters are usually giant or life-sized hollow effigies worn by temple workers. Changle is renowned for its spectacular youshen festivities. On Feb. 19, hundreds of deities walked through 18 villages in a lively carnival that lasted from 9 a.m. to the next morning. Changle's many "shenjiang," or divine generals, attracted the most online attention this year, their dashing looks described by some netizens as "coming straight out of anime." Lin Bin, 23, is one of a new-generation of divine general designers. He explains that, traditionally, the faces of the celestial generals were painted in the claborate style to give them a solemn look, but young designers, like Lin, instead opted for a more stylised, animesque face. "We hoped the new designs would promote the youshen culture and increase its fandom," said Lin, a Changle local. "It took quite a lot of persuading before the older villagers agreed to our unconventional vision, though." Heavy participation of young people is one feature of the youshen tradition. The divine generals' effigies, which can weigh up to 40 kg, are often carried by the younger generation, such as students or urban workers who return to their villages for major festivals. "I've not received professional training (of carrying gods), but I have watched the parades since I was a child," said Lin Yanxin, a 20-year-old college student who has volunteered to be a god carrier for three years straight. "Many villagers of my age also volunteer at the parade, inspired by a sense of calling," he said. Lin Yating, 32, is proud to not only be an inheritor of the centuries-old youshen traditions but also, by becoming a chief drummer in the local youshen team, a challenger. "The older generation would never have contemplated having girls in the drumming lineup, but we young people must have the courage to challenge outdated customs," she said. A TRADITION TO RETURN TO Apart from drawing back young villagers studying and working in other parts of China, the youshen celebrations have in recent years risen as a major magnet for overseas Chinese. Fuzhou is the hometown of 4.3 million Chinese who reside abroad, and youshen festivities in the city often include prayers for those working and living far away from home. "This is the first time in 33 years that I have returned to my hometown for the Spring Festival, and watching youshen brings back many childhood memories with my family," said Lin Liangping, a businessman and head of the Fujian Houfu Association of America. Lin said many fellow villagers living in the United States decided to return to Changle for the Chinese Lunar New Year after watching youshen videos on the Internet. "The appeal of youshen is incredible. It ignites deep feelings for the homeland for many overseas Chinese," he said. Two companies are voluntarily recalling ground cinnamon and cinnamon powder sold at discount stores in the United States due to possible lead contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced. This comes after the FDA warned consumers Thursday about six brands of cinnamon that had high levels of lead when tested. SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI Five Florida men have now been charged in the carjacking, torture and unlawful imprisonment of a Michigan man, officials said. The alleged incident began outside Lifetime Fitness on Oct. 23 in Shelby Township, according to the Macomb County Prosecutors Office. Six suspects are accused of carjacking the victim at gunpoint before restraining him in his own vehicle and driving away. They allegedly tortured the victim, drove the victim to his home in Sterling Heights, and entered the residence. The suspects fled when the police arrived. One of the suspects fled in the victims vehicle with the victim still inside and eventually crashed, leading to his arrest. A sixth suspect is still at large. Xavier Gardner, 29, of Florida, was extradited to Michigan this week. He was arraigned in Macomb County court on charges of carjacking, a life felony; conspiracy to commit carjacking, a life felony; three counts of felony firearm, a two-year felony; armed robbery, a life felony; conspiracy to commit armed robbery, a life felony; torture, a life felony; unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; conspiracy to commit unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; first-degree home invasion, a 20-year felony; and first-degree conspiracy to commit home invasion, a 20-year felony. His bond was set at $5 million cash. Romeo Osorio, 23, of Florida, was extradited to Michigan on Feb. 29. He was arraigned on charges of carjacking, a life felony; conspiracy to commit carjacking, a life felony; armed robbery, a life felony; conspiracy to commit armed robbery, a life felony; torture, a life felony; unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; conspiracy to commit unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; and first-degree conspiracy to commit home invasion, a 20-year felony. His bond was set at $3 million cash. Renado Coleman, 38, of Florida, was extradited to Michigan on Feb. 15. He was arraigned on charges of carjacking, a life felony; conspiracy to commit carjacking, a life felony; three counts of felony firearm, a two-year felony; armed robbery, a life felony; conspiracy to commit armed robbery, a life felony; torture, a life felony; unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; conspiracy to commit unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; first-degree home invasion, a 20-year felony; and first-degree conspiracy to commit home invasion, a 20-year felony. His bond was set at $5 million cash. RELATED: Suspect in kidnapping outside Michigan gym arraigned, 2 others awaiting extradition Angel Pantoja, 22, of Florida, was arraigned on Jan. 9 on charges of carjacking, a life felony; conspiracy to commit carjacking, a life felony; armed robbery, a life felony; conspiracy to commit armed robbery, a life felony; torture, a life felony; unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; conspiracy to commit unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; and first-degree conspiracy to commit home invasion, a 20-year felony. His bond was set at $3 million cash. Angel Antonio Andujar-Ruiz, of Florida, was arraigned on Oct. 25 on charges of carjacking, a life felony; conspiracy to commit carjacking, a life felony; three counts of felony firearm, a two-year felony; armed robbery, a life felony; conspiracy to commit armed robbery, a life felony; torture, a life felony; unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; conspiracy to commit unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony; first-degree home invasion, a 20-year felony; and first-degree conspiracy to commit home invasion, a 20-year felony. Bond was denied and he was remanded to jail. Andujar-Ruiz was arrested on Oct. 23 after allegedly crashing the victims vehicle during a police chase as he fled from the victims home. The victim was still in the vehicle. WAYNE COUNTY, MI - A Flushing man accused of stalking Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and her wife was charged Thursday in Wayne County, officials said. Christopher Dean Baldwin, 40, was charged March 7 on two counts of misdemeanor stalking, according to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. The charges stem from a March 5 incident at Nessels family home in Plymouth, officials said. Officers responded around 8:34 a.m. to reports of a man sitting on the front porch of Nessel and Plymouth City Commissioner Alanna Maguire, officials said. Arriving officers found Baldwin at the location, officials said. He allegedly rang Nessels doorbell and sat on her front porch until Plymouth Police Department officers arrested him, officials said. Baldwin is also accused of attempting to contact Nessel unsolicited on a prior occasion, officials said. He also came to a March 4 Plymouth Township government meeting where Maguire was in attendance, officials said. The Wayne County Prosecutors Office will always take any and all threats against public officials very seriously, Worthy said in a release. This simply will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, in todays climate threats to elected and other officials have become normalized. A message was left with Nessels office seeking comment. Baldwin was arraigned March 7 in 35th District Court, as Judge Michael Gerou gave him a $100,000 or 10% bond with a GPS tether, officials said. Gerou also ordered Baldwin to have no contact with Nessel or Maguire, as well as take no controlled substances and surrender all firearms, officials said. A pre-trial examination is scheduled for 9 a.m., March 15 before Judge James Plakas, officials said. A federal judge has partially resolved a long-running and contentious legal fight between wineries on Old Mission Peninsula and many of their neighbors. At issue is a patchwork of zoning regulations that the wineries say unlawfully impede their ability to do business on the peninsula. It bars them, for instance, from hosting weddings, opening restaurants and hosting guest activities past 9:30 p.m. Peninsula Township and a citizens advocacy group called Protect the Peninsula say such restrictions are necessary to preserve the peninsulas character. U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney ruled last week that Peninsula Township cant bar the wineries from playing amplified instrumental music and cant stop them from using their kitchens for catering, saying that state law preempts both regulations. The township can, however, force wineries to close to the public at 9:30 p.m., he found. Joseph Infante, an attorney for the 11 wineries that filed the lawsuit in 2020, said theyre pleased with the outcome so far. For us, this is just another sort of step in the process of getting to a final resolution from the court of striking down every part of this ordinance, he said. He noted that the Feb. 29 ruling is very similar to Maloneys ruling on the same issues in the summer of 2022, before Protect the Peninsula had joined the case. But, in the wake of that ruling, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the citizens group deserved a chance to make their own arguments about the deleterious effects of loud music and increased traffic on the one road that leads onto and off of the peninsula. In the interim, the Sixth Circuit said, the township could continue enforcing the rules Maloney had said didnt pass muster. But theres also a great deal that was in Maloneys 2022 ruling that wasnt repeated, and the absence of them is maybe significant, said T.J. Andrews, an attorney representing Protect the Peninsula. Maloney had previously found that the 9:30 p.m. closing time rule wasnt preempted by state law, but he overturned it anyway, saying the township had enforced the rule unevenly and hadnt adequately defended it. This time he left it in place. He also held that a number of the townships zoning ordinances violated Constitutional protections. including ordinances that prohibited them from hosting weddings and from advertising. The latest ruling doesnt address those issues. Perhaps most promisingly for Peninsula Township, Maloney also ruled that the wineries werent entitled to any monetary damages related to the preempted ordinances. That ruling doesnt eliminate the possibility of damages but is likely to reduce final amount, Andrews said. As of 2022, an expert hired by the wineries estimated their lost revenues due to the contested ordinances at close to $200 million. Township Supervisor Isaiah Wunsch and attorney representing the township did not return messages left on Wednesday and Thursday. Infante said he expects Maloney to rule on the wineries Constitutional claims before the case moves to a settlement conference and then to trial next month. Hes not optimistic about a negotiated settlement. The wineries have gone into every mediation and teleconference with the hope of reaching some sort of compromise, a resolution with the township, and so far it hasnt happened yet, he said. Andrews isnt either. We would love to reach resolution outside of trial. This was the type of case that would be best served through a settlement resolution, she said, but Im not holding my breath. Read more at MLive: On Old Mission Peninsula, a two-year court fight about wine, weddings and amplified music Old Mission Peninsula and its wineries still cant agree on weddings, music, grapes Old Mission farmers worried after winery lawsuit prompts new rules - mlive.com MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI -- A Fruitport Township man with youth contacts in the Muskegon community has been charged with aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material, the Muskegon County Prosecutors Office reports. On Thursday, March 7, the Muskegon County Justice for Women Task Force and the FBI West Michigan Based Child Exploitation Task Force (WEBCHEX) executed a search warrant and arrested 49-year-old Daniel Byron Devries of Fruitport Township. The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled that a reduction in the state income tax rate for the 2023 tax year will not be permanent. The court made the decision on March 7, bringing the reduced tax rate of 4.05% back to its original 4.25%. Under Michigan law, if the states general fund revenues increase faster than inflation (assuming inflation is increasing), the income tax rate for the following year drops proportionately. State revenues were up in 2022, in part because of COVID-19 relief funding, and so the income tax rate for 2023 dropped from 4.25% to 4.05%. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel advised Treasurer Rachel Eubanks last year that the tax rate should revert to 4.25% for 2024. But in August, several argued in a lawsuit that the lower rate should remain, including two trade organizations, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan and National Federation of Independent Business; two state legislators, state Sen. Ed McBroom and state Rep. Dale Zorn; and six state taxpayers The law in question says, when revenues outpace inflation, the current rate shall be reduced. The lawsuit argued that the current rate means the most recent rate. The Court of Appeals disagreed, writing in an opinion released Thursday afternoon that the statute contains no language indicating a legislative intent to make the rate reductionpermanent, and noting that allowing one reduction on top of another could ultimately result in no income tax. Patrick Wright, vice president for legal affairs at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, who argued the case for the plaintiffs, said they remain convinced of their interpretation of the statute and that based on the legislative historyeverybody knew that this was meant to be a permanent tax cut. He said they almost certain to appeal the case to the Michigan Supreme Court. Read more at MLive: Michigans income tax cut wont be permanent in 2024, judge rules Platte River canoe livery wins its lawsuit against the National Park Service AGs office charges 2 Republican fundraisers in dark money scheme linked to Unlock Michigan By ED WHITE Associated Press PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) A gun shop employee testified Friday that the father of a Michigan school shooter knew what he was looking for when he bought a handgun shortly before the attack, telling her hed had his eye on it for quite some time. Cammy Back said James Crumbley was accompanied by his son, Ethan Crumbley, when he paid roughly $520 in cash, including tax, for the Sig Sauer 9 mm on Nov. 26, 2021. Mr. Crumbley asked to see the Sig Sauer, that he had his eye on it for quite some time, Back testified. The gun, which turned out to be Ethans murder weapon at Oxford High School, also came with a cable lock, though prosecutors said the lock was left unopened when they searched the Crumbley home after the mass shooting. James Crumbley is on trial for involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of four students killed four days after the gun purchase. Hes accused of failing to secure the gun at home and ignoring signs of Ethans mental distress. Ethan referred to the gun as my beauty on social media. When he pleaded guilty to murder and terrorism, he said that his money was used to buy the gun. That detail hasnt emerged in his fathers trial. Earlier Friday, the sheriffs office said James Crumbleys use of a phone and tablet would be restricted after he used them to make threatening statements from jail. Authorities didnt elaborate on the threats. Neither did Judge Cheryl Matthews, who said he can use a phone or tablet only to communicate with his lawyer or clergy. A gag order in the case bars attorneys from speaking to reporters. An Instagram post is entered into evidence of Ethan Crumbley showing off the murder weapon during the trial of James Crumbley, his father, in the Oakland County courtroom of Cheryl Matthews on Thursday, March. 7, 2024 in Pontiac, Mich. James Crumbley, 47, is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one for each teenager killed by Ethan Crumbley at Oxford High School in 2021. (Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press via AP, Pool)AP James Crumbley, 47, isnt accused of knowing beforehand that 15-year-old Ethan planned to shoot up Oxford High, but prosecutors allege that his gross negligence was a cause of the tragedy. The shooters mother, Jennifer Crumbley, was found guilty of the same involuntary manslaughter charges last month. The Crumbleys are the first U.S. parents to be charged with having criminal responsibility for a mass school shooting committed by a child. Ethan, now 17, is serving a life prison sentence for murder and terrorism. WEXFORD COUNTY, MI -- A man accused of assaulting multiple people was arrested Wednesday night before he then allegedly damaged a police vehicle and assaulted a corrections officer. Michigan State Police say troopers were dispatched to a home on 13th Street in Selma Township around 10:10 p.m. for reports of an alleged domestic assault. When police arrived on scene they found a man who matched the description of the suspect walking in the back door of the house. The man was placed under arrest and identified as 37-year-old Jack Duncan Jr. Witnesses at the home were interviewed and said Duncan had arrived at the residence around 9:30 p.m. LAPEER, MI Since Michigan State Police detectives took into custody a second suspect in the 2011 murder of Andrea Eilber of Lapeer County, theyve maintained along with the Michigan Attorney Generals Office he committed the crime along with the man authorities originally pointed their fingers at. But months since Chadwick Mobley was taken into custody and brought to Michigan from out of state, where he had been living for some time, the attorney for that initial suspect Kenneth Grondin is demanding of investigators: if you believe the two men are connected, show it. CASS COUNTY, MI A man was killed in a Southwest Michigan crash after another car struck a deer and it flew through his windshield. Police identified the man as 67-year-old Daniel Haskett, of Elkhart, Indiana. Authorities responded to the fatal crash at 6:54 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in the area of Cassopolis Road and Bullhand Street in Calvin Township, according to a news release from the Cass County Sheriffs Office. Investigation showed that a 20-year-old Osceola, Indiana woman was driving north on Cassopolis Road when she struck a deer that was in the roadway. The impact propelled the deer through the windshield of Hasketts car, which was traveling in the opposite direction, police said. The crash caused Haskett to drive off the roadway before coming to a stop, police said. He was pronounced dead on the scene from injuries sustained in the crash, according to the release. The other driver was not injured in the crash, police said. Police said both drivers were wearing seatbelts in the crash. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation, police said. Cass County sheriffs deputies were assisted at the scene by Ontwa Township Edwardsburg Police, Michigan State Police, Porter Township Fire Department, and SEPSA EMS. Authorities arrested a juvenile for multiple offenses after a stolen vehicle was found in Beatrice. On Thursday afternoon, a 17-year-old runaway from Norfolk was arrested by Beatrice Police for terroristic threats, use of a weapon to commit a felony, theft by receiving stolen property, trespassing and obstructing police. The suspect also had a Madison County felony warrant for his arrest for theft and terroristic threats. A press release stated that officers located an abandoned vehicle near the area of 16th and High streets on Thursday. The vehicle was later found to be stolen from Lincoln. A cell phone found in the vehicle was later determined to belong to the suspect. Shortly after the vehicle was found, police received a report of a male going in and out of various garages in the 1400 block of Scott Street. Officers were unable to locate the subject at that time. Shortly before 3 p.m. that day, a female at 1800 Scott Street confronted a male who was inside of her vehicle. The male started walking away and the female followed him. At that point the press release stated the suspect pulled what appeared to be a handgun from his waistline and held it to his side while turning around to the female. He then left the area. The description of the suspect was the same as those given of the suspect in the 1400 block of Scott Street. Members of the Beatrice Police Department, Gage County Sheriff's Office and the Nebraska State Patrol began searching for the suspect. After a short foot pursuit, the suspect was apprehended near the intersection of 16th and Park streets in the backyard of a residence. The suspect still had the handgun on his person, and it was determined to be a pellet gun. The suspect was lodged in the Gage County Detention Center. PORTAGE, MI -- Portage Public Schools will no longer hold major school events on Jewish holidays. The new rules include the Jewish day of rest, Shabbat, which occurs every week from 30 minutes before sundown on Friday until 30 minutes before sundown on Saturday. SAGINAW, MI President Joe Biden will visit Saginaw Thursday, March 14, county officials confirmed. The presidents scheduled stop in the community was communicated via email from White House staff sent to Saginaw County Board of Commissioners Chairman Christopher Boyd. The official White House travel notification sent to Boyd followed days of reports and rumors of the presidents planned trip to the region. The correspondence stated more details would be provided at a later point. The exact location and time of Bidens visit were not revealed in the email. The purpose of Bidens planned visit also was unclear, but it would come as campaign season for the November presidential election campaign ramps up across the U.S. Saginaw County Sheriffs Department also confirmed the United States Secret Service contacted them about Bidens visit but were not given any other details. Police agencies across the county were to be briefed on the visit Friday, March 8, the sheriffs department said. Less than two weeks ago, the Democrat won the Michigan presidential primary, as did the candidate now positioned as his GOP opponent. Republican Donald Trump Bidens predecessor in the White House won over Michigan GOP voters one week before Republican rival Nikki Haley dropped out of the race. Bidens planned Saginaw visit also would come seven days after his State of the Union address, delivered Thursday, March 7. It was a speech where the president outlined his contrasts with Trump, touted the Biden administrations domestic policy, and discussed threats to American peace from abroad. Bidens visit would mark the second time in less than two years he spent time in the region. Biden last touched down in Saginaw County in November 2022. Thats when Air Force One landed at MBS International Airport in Freeland. From there, Biden and his motorcade traveled to Monitor Township-based SK Siltron, a polysilicon-producing plant. During his 3-hour visit, he led a rally touting the success of Michigans manufacturing industry. He also visited mid-Michigan when he was vice president. A February 2010 Biden trip included stops at Delta College in Frankenlust Township and Fuzzys restaurant in Saginaw. Biden has served as president since January 2021, after he secured 50.6% of the states votes in the November 2020 general election to beat Trump by more than 154,000 votes. The president narrowly bested Trump among Saginaw County constituents that year. Biden earned 51,088 Saginaw County votes compared to 50,785 for Trump, for a .3-percentage point victory. Biden served as vice president from 2009 to 2017 under then-president Barack Obama. Before that, he served in the U.S. Senate for 36 years. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. SAGINAW, MI Owosso-based Memorial Healthcare has partnered with Saginaw Valley State University to allow employees to access reduced tuition rates. Memorial Healthcare employees will soon be eligible for reduced tuition rates on undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs. A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment. Florida is moving forward with legislation that would prohibit cities and counties from adopting mandatory protections against extreme heat laws that workers say is a blow to labor rights amid increasing climate concerns. House Bill 433 and Senate Bill 1492 would preempt local ordinances that protect employees and outside workers in industries like agriculture and construction, according to the ACLU of Florida. HB 433 would also prohibit local governments from regulating any term or condition of employment, including minimum wage, that exceeds or conflicts with state and federal law. While working to feed us, farm workers have died because they were exposed to extremely high temperatures but were denied water, shade and paid breaks, said Leydy Rangel, a daughter of farm workers and the United Farm Workers Foundation spokesperson. This will only create a more dangerous work environment for the men and women who do backbreaking work under the sun. Heat kills more people in the U.S. each year than any other kind of extreme weather, according to the National Weather Service. A study by NPR and Columbia Journalism found that almost 400 people have died of heat-related illness in the last decade, with Latino workers disproportionately impacted. Last summer, record-breaking temperatures caused a resurgence of interest in weather policy. Texas passed legislation similar to that of Floridas, limiting local governments from enacting ordinances for mandatory breaks for outdoor workers. House Resolution 3965, a bipartisan bill introduced by legislators from Arizona, Texas and Nevada in June, would have designated extreme heat as a major disaster under the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but it was stalled. It is part of a larger trend of states denying explicit worker protections in extreme weather. Only a few states like California, Oregon, Minnesota and Washington have mandated heat safety measures, according to the United Farm Workers. On Wednesday, Arizona appointed the nations first-ever heat officer. The Florida House passed HB 433 on Monday as SB 1492 awaits a vote in the Senate. Both bills would go into effect July 1. This comes after Florida, and the rest of the world, experienced the hottest year in recorded history in 2023. The warming trend is expected to continue as the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, with last month recorded as the warmest February ever. Both bills are believed to be in response to efforts made last year by Miami-Dade County to require employers to give workers water and shade breaks on hot days. The legislation, called the Que Calor! Ordinance, would have been the first to mandate workplace heat-safety measures on days over 90 degrees and offer related trainings, but it was stalled due to pressure from the agriculture and construction companies, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Consideration of the bill has been delayed to March. In Florida, outdoor employers are not required to provide protections from the heat. There are no federal laws that require it although its strongly suggested that workers be accommodated. Rangel said this makes existing local ordinances all the more important. For years, weve urged (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to establish a permanent heat standard so that all farm workers and other outside workers can have a safe work environment regardless of the state they live in, Rangel said. Unless OSHA establishes a standard immediately, farm workers and other outdoor workers who toil under the sun will continue to succumb to extreme heat. OSHA in 2022 began a National Emphasis Program on heat exposure to encourage employer intervention during hot weather. Conservatives against heat regulations say they dont want to get between employers and workers, current policy is enough and any more would be a case of overregulation. According to the Orlando Sentinel, since 2020, five companies in Florida have been fined after employees died of heat-related illness. Another four were cited after workers were hospitalized. The years biggest skywatching spectacle is now just one month away. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross a significant portion of North America and a dozen U.S. states. Depending on ones location, viewers will get to witness the moon either partially or entirely blocking the sun, creating an eerie and even profound scene. If you plan on viewing this historic event, here are a few things to know: Where the total solar eclipse is happening. According to NASA maps, the eclipses path of totality will travel across the U.S. in an arc from Texas to Maine. This path is the viewing area where the moon will completely cover the disk of the sun. For several minutes during this period, the sky will darken as if it were dusk or dawn, birds may stop briefly stop singing, and the suns dazzling outer atmosphere, called the corona, will be revealed. What youll see if youre not in the path of totality. U.S. observers outside the path of totality will experience a partial solar eclipse. In this case, the sun becomes a crescent shape as the moon crosses in front of a portion but not all of the suns surface. The farther away you are from the path of totality, the less of the sun youll see covered by the moon. What well see in Michigan. Michigan is almost entirely outside the path of totality, with only a very tiny wedge of the southeastern-most corner of the state, close to Toledo, landing within that special 100-percent eclipse zone. Under clear skies the rest of Michigan will experience a partial eclipse ranging from about 90% to 99% in Lower Michigan, and 80% to 90% in the Upper Peninsula. How to mark this rare occasion. The next total solar eclipse to cross a significant portion of the U.S. wont happen for more than 20 years, so make the most of this one! Consider gathering with other skygazers for this historic event; check with local planetariums, libraries, nature centers, dark sky parks or astronomy groups to find out who is hosting eclipse watch parties near you, as well as the exact timing for the eclipse in your location. Just be sure to give yourself plenty of time to travel to and from your viewing location, as eclipses can cause long traffic delays as observers cram roads at the same time. Order your eclipse viewing glasses now. Eclipses can cause serious damage to your vision if you look at them directly. Be sure to use special solar filters or solar-viewing glasses (not sunglasses); NASA has a list of suppliers online and does not recommend ordering from marketplaces like Amazon, eBay or Temu. As an alternative, you can find creative ways to safely watch the eclipse and other safe eclipse viewing tips here. Find downloadable, high-resolution maps to see exactly what percentage of the eclipse youll see in any given U.S. location, as well as approximate times, at NASAs site. A 19-year-old Lincoln man was charged Wednesday after allegedly leading Nebraska State Patrol troopers on a 45-minute chase. At about 4 p.m. Tuesday, a trooper saw someone speeding on a motorcycle, later identified as Jack Henry, on U.S. 77 in west Lincoln. The rider exited at Van Dorn Street, and the trooper attempted a traffic stop, a State Patrol news release said. Police say Henry started to flee east on Van Dorn Street, swerving between vehicles stopped at a red light. The trooper stopped chasing Henry when the State Patrol helicopter took over pursuit from the air. The motorcycle fled through Lincoln and began traveling south toward Adams. Henry eventually stopped near the intersection of South 148th Road and East Cedar Road in Gage County, according to the news release. He was taken into custody without further incident and was lodged at the Lancaster County jail. Henry was charged with operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, reckless driving, driving when license is revoked and no proof of ownership all misdemeanor charges. Judge Laurie Yardley set Henry's percentage bond at $10,000, meaning he would have to pay $1,000 to be released. Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 After last week, you must've thought we were out of events in the Billings area. Well you were wrong, because we're back at it. Here's everything you need to know. 'Calvin and Hobbes' Appreciation Night at the Billings Public Library Every day is a good day to appreciate "Calvin and Hobbes." Bill Watterson's masterpiece of a comic strip ran for 10 years from 1985 to 1995, a bitterly short run for what is not only far and away the finest comic strip to ever run in American papers, but maybe the single greatest piece of American literature from the last 40 years. Watterson deftly examined environmentalism, identity and subjective realties with heaps of philosophical nuance, although his true brilliance was making all of that feel not only not pretentious, but entertaining and revelatory. And who better to tell the tale than an adventurous six-year-old and his imaginary (or maybe not? Welcome to existentialism, kids) stuffed tiger? But what is appreciation if you can't do it with like minded folk? So on Friday, March 8 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Billings Public Library is hosting a fun night that'll focus on "Calvin and Hobbes," including crafts and some of Calvin's favorite snacks (no official word on whether or not the noddle incident will finally be addressed). 'Barefoot in the Park' at NOVA The NOVA Center for the Performing Arts has a new show opening this weekend, and it's a doozy. They're adapting "Barefoot in the Park," Neil Simon's 1963 play (directed by Mike Nichols) that helped shoot Robert Redford to superstardom, especially after he jumped from stage to screen to star in the 1967 film adaptation. NOVA's version, which is directed by Jorden Gilfeather, runs March 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinee is at 2 p.m. Tickets, which range from $12-$23, are at novabillings.org. Oscar prep at the Babcock and Art House Get in the Oscar spirit at the Babcock this weekend, as they're showing the movie that's the prohibitive favorite, "Oppenheimer," showing at 7 p.m. on Friday and at 6 p.m. on Saturday. As you may read elsewhere in this newspaper, that movie is good. You know what else is good? The Marx Brothers. The foursome (Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo) so dominated American comedy that their influence is still all over it, 100 years after their breakthrough. You can see said breakthrough in "Animal Crackers," showing at 6 p.m. on Monday (as part of the Babcock's curated Marxy March Mondays lineup). Adapted from one of their Broadway plays, "Animal Crackers" was the brother's second film, and sort of defines their ethos: very little plot, with lots of goofiness, gags and songs. Meanwhile, down the street at Art House there's lots of turnover. "Dune: Part Two" is staying, but everything else is new. Opening this week is the new Wim Wenders movie "Perfect Days." Nominated for Best International Feature at the Oscars, the movie stars Koji Yakusho as a Tokyo toilet cleaner. It's being hailed as one of Wender's best, and he made "Wings of Desire" and "Paris, Texas." Also premiering this week is "Hundreds of Beavers," a "silent supernatural epic" about a man fighting beavers err, at least, guys wearing beaver suits? The trailer must be seen to be believed. And hey, if nothing else it does look like the type of movie the Marx Brothers would make if they'd been born a century later. Tickets and showtimes are at arthousebillings.com. Tiann Lubkeman Live in Concert at RMC If you're looking for a combination of great music and a good cause, head to Losekamp Hall at Rocky Mountain College at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, for a violin concert from Tiann Lubkeman. She's a classically trained musician who has played Carnegie Hall with the National Youth Orchestra and is currently part of the Canyon Creek String Ensemble. She's also a member of the Rocky Mountain College cheerleading team. The RMC team is set to compete at the National Cheerleader Association Nationals in Daytona, Florida. Lubkeman's concert is free, but she'll be raising money for the RMC cheerleaders. Ben Pease artist talk at YAM One of the best (and tallest!) artists from our area, Ben Pease, will do an artist talk on Thursday, March 14 at the Yellowstone Art Museum. Pease works in a variety of mediums (his teepee art was featured in last year's "Yellowstone Revealed" art show at Madison Junction in Yellowstone National Park), and this talk will focus on his massive sculpture "Future in Our Eyes," which is so big and eye catching you can see it from the street if you walk by the YAM. Casual reception starts at 5 p.m., artist talk follows at 5:30 p.m. Honorable mentions Kirks' Grocery's pay-what-you-can Kitchen Party is back from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 8. Food by Ash Woodward of Rose Hollow Catering, and beats from DJ Dixon Moonstomper. BST's jukebox musical "Honky Tonk Laundry" rolls on March 8, 9, 10, 14, 15 and 16. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees are 2 p.m. $22-$24 tickets are at billingsstudiotheatre.com. Billings hip-hop luminary Goggins is playing at Thirsty Street at 7 p.m. on Friday, and the show includes a spaghetti dinner. General admission is $10 ($15 at the door), or $24 including dinner, which must be preordered at holdmyticket.com. Friday is Latin Night at the Pub Station, starting at 8 p.m. $20 tickets are at thepubstation.com. Get your snapping fingers ready for "Words. Sentences. Poetry" at Kirks' Grocery at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 9. Hear poems from Molly Ouellette, Epitome J, engelskrallen and Erin Mullins. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. If you love the music of the Red Hot Chili Peppers but hate actually looking at those weirdos, boy are you in luck. Cover band the Red NOT Chili Peppers are playing the Pub Station on Saturday at 8 p.m. Get a $20 ticket at thepubstation.com. Billings-based author Craig Lancaster will discuss his High Plains Book Award winning novel "And It Will Be a Beautiful Life" at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Billings Public Library. Both Brad Welbes and Octopi Drive-By are playing Thirsty Street on Saturday at 7 p.m. No cover. Little Joe and the Cartwrights are playing the Heights VFW on Friday from 6-10 p.m. and Sunday from 2-6 p.m. A Killer's Confession and Mike's Dead are playing Billings on Sunday, March 10. If you know who/what that is, perhaps you'll want to be at the Pub Station at 8 p.m. $17 tickets are at thepubstation.com. BSCI is holding a dance at the Columbia Club on Wednesday, March 13 from 7 to 10 p.m. Tunes from Cimarron Band. $5 at the door, includes raffle and door prizes. Just in case you're sitting around Wednesday and unsure of what to do, you could go see a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (supported by a band that also should be in) at the Metra. Journey and Toto will play, starting at 7:30 p.m., and there are tickets still available at axs.com. The twelfth of 26 defendants in a large-scale meth trafficking ring, organized by a cartel and operating out of the Crow Indian Reservation, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison. Frederica Lefthand, 52, stands out amongst defendants because she holds a PhD in Education from MSU Bozeman and she previously served as an administrator at MSU Bozeman and as Dean of Academic Affairs at Little Big Horn College. She accomplished all of this as a single mother of two and had undergone treatment for substance abuse at 18 years old. Frankly, Ms. Lefthand knew better, reads a court document submitted by the U.S. Attorneys Office, which prosecuted the case. Indeed, her involvement in this conspiracy demonstrates how anyone can fall victim to the predation of the cartel. I went all the way to the top in education because I could, because Im strong, she said during her sentencing. But in 2022, her brother, another co-defendant in the case, told her he was $17,000 in debt to the cartel and that his life was being threatened, so she left her job at MSU to return to the reservation to help settle his debts. What kind of sister would I be if I told my mom I didnt even try to help him? she told the court. The drug ring operated out of her home, and she became romantically involved with the cartel member in charge, Virgilio Arciga-Galvan, who went by Carlos. Because Arciga-Galvan did not speak much English, and was often away from the reservation, leaving Lefthand to manage operations. Carlos may have been the source of supply, but he needed Frederica to run the business, said Julie Patten, an attorney at the U.S. Attorneys Office. While prosecutors described her as a ringleader, her lawyer, Lance Lundvall, argued otherwise, saying she didnt even profit financially from her involvement in the drug ring. Its just not true that Frederica is the Pablo Escobar of the reservation, Lundvall said. Though she was distributing drugs, she wasnt making any money. When Arciga-Galvan was away from the reservation, Lefthand was driving around in broken down or stolen cars, or hitchhiking. Arciga-Galvan was absolutely using her, Lundvall said. Shes here because of her devotion to her family, said Lundvall. Shes not the person being portrayed by the government. Arciga-Galvan and two other cartel affiliates, Daniel Jimenez-Chavez and Juan Ignacio Ortega Almontes, came to Montana from Washington, which was where they obtained the meth they distributed on the reservation. Arciga-Galvan and Almontes remain fugitives. They have to parade her around as the ringleader because they didnt get the ringleaders, Lundvall said. Though cartel members may provide drugs to ingratiate themselves to potential distributors early on, as Lefthands brother discovered, eventually they look to collect their debts. Men who would come from Washington state to front large quantities of meth for distribution seemed very friendly and generous, reads a court document from a co-defendants case. The cartels business model involves first locating and ingratiating themselves upon the local distributors. Then, when the bills started coming due, they brought in other, less friendly individuals. Of the 12 other defendants previously sentenced by the court, 10 received sentences of seven years or less. Co-defendant Roderick Plentyhawk was sentenced to 25 years in prison, the only sentence longer than Lefthands, and is in the process of appealing his sentence to the Montana Supreme Court. Meanwhile, elected officials have called on law enforcement to better combat cartel influence on reservations. In a letter from Sen. Jon Tester to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, in anticipation of the AGs recent visit to Billings and the Crow Reservation, Tester detailed the conditions that make it possible for cartels to flourish on the reservation. They are able to operate with impunity because of complex jurisdictional rules and the fact that Tribal law enforcement agencies have been under-resourced and under-staffed for decades, Testers letter reads. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters, who presided over the case, acknowledged the exploitative nature of the cartel at Lefthands sentencing. The cartel knows exactly what theyre doing when they come to the reservation, she said. The socioeconomic factors at play make people on the reservation so vulnerable. That said, Watters gave Lefthand the full sentence recommended the U.S. Attorneys Office. The seriousness of this crime is hard to even put into words, she said. More than 30 friends and family members of Lefthand attended her sentencing. Theyre the victims, she said. These people, they love me, and Im sorry to them. I didnt want to humiliate them. A Shepherd woman has pleaded not guilty to fatally shooting a man at their home. Kennedy Rose Aigner has been charged in Yellowstone County District Court to felony counts of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence. County prosecutors are accusing the 22-year-old of killing Quaid Fluckiger late last month, shooting him at their residence in Shepherd. As of Thursday morning, she remained in custody with her bail set at $500,000. On Feb. 28, 2023, the Gazette previously reported, ambulance crews and deputies with the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of an injured man at a home on the 5700 block of Chicago Road in Shepherd. They found Fluckiger, a 24-year-old, who was unconscious and not breathing. First responders initially treated Fluckiger for a possible overdose before he was transported via helicopter to a Billings hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Hospital staff found he had a gunshot wound to his head, according to court documents. YCSO investigators interviewed several people at the home on Chicago Road, including Aigner. The two had been living together since December 2023, charging documents said. Aigner agreed to speak with law enforcement, at first saying she left the house late on Feb. 27, returning early the following morning. An argument ensued between her and Fluckiger that ended with her again leaving the home, driving away in his vehicle. When she came back roughly 10 minutes later, Aigner allegedly told YCSO, she and other members of Fluckigers family found him in his room on the floor and unresponsive. On Feb. 29, court documents said, Aigner gave a second interview in which she admitted to shooting Fluckiger. The argument early the previous morning allegedly ended with Aigner getting a handgun from her purse, going into Fluckigers room and shooting him while he sat in bed. Aigner removed the magazine to the gun and tossed it under a workbench in a nearby garage, then moved Fluckiger from the bed to the floor. Aigner was arraigned on March 4, appearing in court through teleconference. Along with setting her bond at $500,000, District Judge Brett Linneweber is also requiring that she be monitored by GPS and randomly tested for alcohol should she be released. If convicted of deliberate homicide, Aigner could be sentenced up to life in prison. High Falls Advisors Inc raised its stake in Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 4,077 shares of the credit-card processors stock after acquiring an additional 201 shares during the period. High Falls Advisors Incs holdings in Visa were worth $938,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Belpointe Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Visa by 38.6% in the third quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 11,768 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $2,707,000 after purchasing an additional 3,276 shares during the last quarter. Greenwood Gearhart Inc. increased its stake in Visa by 1.1% in the third quarter. Greenwood Gearhart Inc. now owns 57,642 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $13,258,000 after purchasing an additional 639 shares during the last quarter. Spouting Rock Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Visa in the third quarter valued at approximately $954,000. Advisors Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Visa by 2.8% in the third quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC now owns 176,357 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $40,564,000 after purchasing an additional 4,814 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Journey Advisory Group LLC increased its stake in Visa by 0.4% in the third quarter. Journey Advisory Group LLC now owns 17,661 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $4,062,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. 81.35% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Visa alerts: Visa Price Performance Visa stock traded down $2.17 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $278.26. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,620,833 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,393,464. The firm has a market capitalization of $511.03 billion, a PE ratio of 32.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 1.45 and a current ratio of 1.45. Visa Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $208.76 and a fifty-two week high of $286.13. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $272.67 and its 200 day simple moving average is $254.55. Visa Dividend Announcement Visa ( NYSE:V Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.34 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $8.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.55 billion. Visa had a return on equity of 50.02% and a net margin of 53.92%. The businesss revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.18 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Visa Inc. will post 9.9 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th were paid a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.75%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. Visas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.94%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on V. Monness Crespi & Hardt began coverage on shares of Visa in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Visa in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. They set an outperform rating and a $280.00 target price on the stock. KeyCorp raised their target price on shares of Visa from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Raymond James raised their target price on shares of Visa from $287.00 to $311.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Visa from $290.00 to $309.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $293.30. View Our Latest Research Report on Visa Insider Transactions at Visa In related news, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of Visa stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $278.88, for a total transaction of $729,271.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,898 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,365,954.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Rajat Taneja sold 36,546 shares of Visa stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $270.20, for a total transaction of $9,874,729.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 232,112 shares in the company, valued at approximately $62,716,662.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of Visa stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $278.88, for a total value of $729,271.20. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,365,954.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 72,311 shares of company stock valued at $19,333,129 in the last 90 days. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Visa Company Profile (Free Report) Visa Inc operates as a payment technology company in the United States and internationally. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, and click to pay services; Visa Direct, a solution that facilitates the delivery of funds to eligible cards, deposit accounts, and digital wallets; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral business-to-business cross-border payments network; Visa Cross-Border Solution, a cross-border consumer payments solution; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value-added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding V? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Visa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Visa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. McDonough Capital Management Inc boosted its stake in Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 23,174 shares of the credit-card processors stock after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the period. Visa comprises approximately 5.0% of McDonough Capital Management Incs portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. McDonough Capital Management Incs holdings in Visa were worth $5,335,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hibernia Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in Visa in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Visa during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. West Tower Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Visa during the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Financial Freedom LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Visa during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Nalls Sherbakoff Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Visa by 545.5% during the 3rd quarter. Nalls Sherbakoff Group LLC now owns 142 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.35% of the companys stock. Get Visa alerts: Visa Stock Down 0.8 % NYSE:V traded down $2.17 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $278.26. 5,620,833 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,393,464. The company has a quick ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $272.67 and its 200-day simple moving average is $254.55. Visa Inc. has a one year low of $208.76 and a one year high of $286.13. The company has a market cap of $511.03 billion, a PE ratio of 32.08, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.96. Visa Announces Dividend Visa ( NYSE:V Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.34 by $0.07. Visa had a return on equity of 50.02% and a net margin of 53.92%. The firm had revenue of $8.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.55 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.18 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Visa Inc. will post 9.9 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th were paid a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.75%. Visas dividend payout ratio is currently 23.94%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth V has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Visa from $287.00 to $311.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Visa from $296.00 to $306.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Susquehanna boosted their price target on shares of Visa from $300.00 to $326.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on shares of Visa from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Visa from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $293.30. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Visa Insiders Place Their Bets In other Visa news, insider Rajat Taneja sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.04, for a total value of $6,501,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 232,112 shares in the company, valued at approximately $60,358,404.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 8,150 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $273.39, for a total transaction of $2,228,128.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Rajat Taneja sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $260.04, for a total value of $6,501,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 232,112 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $60,358,404.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 72,311 shares of company stock worth $19,333,129 in the last quarter. 0.19% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Visa (Free Report) Visa Inc operates as a payment technology company in the United States and internationally. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, and click to pay services; Visa Direct, a solution that facilitates the delivery of funds to eligible cards, deposit accounts, and digital wallets; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral business-to-business cross-border payments network; Visa Cross-Border Solution, a cross-border consumer payments solution; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value-added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding V? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Visa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Visa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Samsara (NYSE:IOT Get Free Report) updated its first quarter 2025 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 0.000-0.010 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of -0.010. The company issued revenue guidance of $271.0 million-$273.0 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $266.8 million. Samsara also updated its FY 2025 guidance to 0.110-0.130 EPS. Samsara Stock Performance Shares of NYSE IOT traded up $1.01 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $34.36. 6,667,226 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,319,416. The company has a market cap of $18.56 billion, a PE ratio of -81.81 and a beta of 1.55. Samsara has a one year low of $16.63 and a one year high of $36.91. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $32.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $29.36. Get Samsara alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Samsara from $28.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Samsara from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Samsara from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Piper Sandler upped their price target on Samsara from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Samsara from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $31.56. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, major shareholder Horowitz Lsv Fund I. Andreessen sold 270,325 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.51, for a total value of $9,599,240.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Horowitz Lsv Fund I. Andreessen sold 270,325 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.51, for a total value of $9,599,240.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO James Andrew Munk sold 13,495 shares of Samsara stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.99, for a total value of $458,695.05. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 319,279 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,852,293.21. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 2,061,207 shares of company stock worth $69,019,248. 66.14% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Samsara Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in IOT. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in shares of Samsara in the first quarter valued at about $558,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Samsara by 141.6% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 20,170 shares of the companys stock worth $322,000 after buying an additional 11,820 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Samsara by 17.3% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,227,576 shares of the companys stock worth $51,704,000 after buying an additional 477,013 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Samsara by 52.8% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,033,132 shares of the companys stock worth $48,591,000 after buying an additional 1,048,694 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Samsara in the first quarter worth about $3,109,000. 52.47% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Samsara (Get Free Report) Samsara Inc provides solutions that connect physical operations data to its Connected Operations Cloud in the United States and internationally. The company's Connected Operations Cloud includes Data Platform, which ingests, aggregates, and enriches data from its IoT devices and has embedded capabilities for AI, workflows and analytics, alerts, API connections, and data security and privacy; and applications for video-based safety, vehicle telematics, apps and driver workflows, equipment monitoring, and site visibility. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Samsara Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Samsara and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Strait & Sound Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm acquired 1,438 shares of the insurance providers stock, valued at approximately $235,000. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TRV. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in Travelers Companies during the first quarter worth $160,000. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its stake in Travelers Companies by 28.8% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 5,934 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,084,000 after purchasing an additional 1,327 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its stake in Travelers Companies by 1.0% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 11,905 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,210,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its stake in Travelers Companies by 40.6% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 51,551 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $9,420,000 after buying an additional 14,873 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake in Travelers Companies by 5.0% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 27,212 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $4,952,000 after buying an additional 1,286 shares during the last quarter. 81.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Travelers Companies In other Travelers Companies news, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 4,500 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $215.06, for a total transaction of $967,770.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 255,178 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $54,878,580.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 4,500 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $215.06, for a total transaction of $967,770.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 255,178 shares in the company, valued at approximately $54,878,580.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 38,000 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.55, for a total value of $8,076,900.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 14,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,147,865.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 109,775 shares of company stock valued at $23,343,903 in the last 90 days. 1.29% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Travelers Companies Trading Down 0.4 % TRV traded down $0.95 during trading on Friday, reaching $218.45. The company had a trading volume of 978,741 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,582,754. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $209.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $183.75. The company has a market cap of $50.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.16, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.58. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $157.33 and a 12-month high of $223.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a current ratio of 0.34. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 19th. The insurance provider reported $7.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.10 by $1.91. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 13.68% and a net margin of 7.23%. The company had revenue of $10.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.18 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.40 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.68 earnings per share for the current year. Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.83%. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.27%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. HSBC assumed coverage on Travelers Companies in a research note on Thursday, December 28th. They issued a hold rating and a $203.00 target price on the stock. Janney Montgomery Scott assumed coverage on Travelers Companies in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $215.00 target price on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on Travelers Companies from $194.00 to $215.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. StockNews.com cut shares of Travelers Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $204.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong 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 $201.38. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Travelers Companies 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Obsidian Personal Planning Solutions LLC bought a new position in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm bought 14,510 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $416,000. Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Buckingham Strategic Partners lifted its stake in Bank of America by 23.7% during the 2nd quarter. Buckingham Strategic Partners now owns 54,963 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,577,000 after acquiring an additional 10,535 shares in the last quarter. Goodman Advisory Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Bank of America by 104,312.4% during the 2nd quarter. Goodman Advisory Group LLC now owns 194,207 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,572,000 after purchasing an additional 194,021 shares during the period. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Bank of America by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC now owns 55,348 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,515,000 after purchasing an additional 4,187 shares during the period. Eastern Bank raised its stake in shares of Bank of America by 354.5% during the 3rd quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 119,713 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,278,000 after purchasing an additional 93,375 shares during the period. Finally, Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL bought a new stake in shares of Bank of America during the 2nd quarter worth $6,317,000. 68.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bank of America alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently commented on BAC. Barclays lifted their target price on Bank of America from $39.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Odeon Capital Group lowered Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $33.90 price objective for the company. in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Bank of America from $37.00 to $36.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley raised Bank of America from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $32.00 to $41.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Bank of America from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $35.53. Insider Activity In other Bank of America news, major shareholder Of America Corp /De/ Bank bought 5,398 shares of Bank of America stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $10.56 per share, with a total value of $57,002.88. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 5,398 shares of the companys stock, valued at $57,002.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. Bank of America Trading Up 0.2 % BAC stock traded up $0.06 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $35.69. The company had a trading volume of 20,119,176 shares, compared to its average volume of 40,882,699. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. Bank of America Co. has a 52 week low of $24.96 and a 52 week high of $36.13. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $33.61 and its 200 day moving average price is $30.54. The stock has a market cap of $280.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.60, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.38. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.01. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.38% and a net margin of 15.42%. The firm had revenue of $22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23.70 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.85 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Bank of America Co. will post 3.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bank of America Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.69%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.27%. About Bank of America (Free Report) Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The story of Wyomingite Larry "Sissy" Goodwin, known for his penchant for wearing women's clothing as a married, heterosexual man, will make its stage premiere at the Broadway Theater in Rock Springs. While the play, based on Goodwin's life, has had a statewide tour before, it will run, for the first time, regularly in Rock Springs. "Born to oilfield origins, Sissys passions took him all around the world, though he always returned home to Wyoming. In his early years, Goodwin labored to be a masculine, bronc-riding cowboy, but this was to hide his preference for feminine clothing. He eventually came out as a proud heterosexual male whose outfits tended toward the frilly side, which caused challenges for himself and his family," a press release from the theater synopsizes the play. Goodwin died in March, 2020, from brain cancer. The titular and only role of Goodwin will be played by Cory Schaeperkoetter, an actor as well as a cosplay and drag artist. The free show will feature a "talkback" session after each performance. During that time, attendees can ask guests including the playwright, Gregory Hinton and Goodwin's wife, Vickie Goodwin questions. Nominated by the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center, "A Sissy in Wyoming" and Hinton are the recipients of the Diversity Award from The Society of American Archivists and the Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History, as well as the winner of a first-place award in the fine arts category at the Wyoming Historical Society, the release notes. First Foundation Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 11.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 18,899 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after acquiring an additional 1,985 shares during the period. First Foundation Advisors holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $1,830,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 137,153,545 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $14,952,480,000 after acquiring an additional 1,584,552 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 77,225,258 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $8,419,032,000 after acquiring an additional 820,369 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 74,817,109 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $8,156,561,000 after buying an additional 1,362,889 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors grew its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 4.9% during the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 59,178,607 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $6,451,127,000 after buying an additional 2,747,652 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 38,966,499 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $4,278,132,000 after buying an additional 4,886,954 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.70% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 42,500 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction on Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total transaction of $4,781,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,315,537.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 42,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total value of $4,781,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,315,537.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.00, for a total value of $1,620,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,022,916. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 71,435 shares of company stock valued at $8,071,298. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently issued reports on ABT. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. Raymond James raised their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $124.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Barclays lifted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $133.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. 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. Finally, TheStreet upgraded 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 assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $120.00. Read Our Latest Stock Report on ABT Abbott Laboratories Price Performance Shares of Abbott Laboratories stock traded up $0.17 during trading on Friday, reaching $121.09. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,029,683 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,074,759. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Abbott Laboratories has a 12-month low of $89.67 and a 12-month high of $121.64. The company has a market capitalization of $210.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.75. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $114.34 and a 200-day moving average price of $105.24. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.19. The firm had revenue of $10.24 billion during 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%. Abbott Laboratoriess revenue was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.03 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.62 EPS for the current year. Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Investors of record on Monday, April 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 12th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.82%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is presently 67.48%. 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Free Report) by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,876 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the quarter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLCs holdings in AbbVie were worth $280,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in ABBV. Polar Capital Holdings Plc boosted its position in shares of AbbVie by 11.6% during the second quarter. Polar Capital Holdings Plc now owns 358,872 shares of the companys stock worth $48,351,000 after buying an additional 37,368 shares during the period. Altfest L J & Co. Inc. boosted its position in shares of AbbVie by 0.9% during the third quarter. Altfest L J & Co. Inc. now owns 23,346 shares of the companys stock worth $3,480,000 after buying an additional 215 shares during the period. Torray Investment Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of AbbVie by 13.0% during the third quarter. Torray Investment Partners LLC now owns 21,190 shares of the companys stock worth $3,159,000 after buying an additional 2,446 shares during the period. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. boosted its position in shares of AbbVie by 21.3% during the third quarter. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. now owns 26,409 shares of the companys stock worth $3,936,000 after buying an additional 4,633 shares during the period. Finally, Wintrust Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of AbbVie by 39.4% during the second quarter. Wintrust Investments LLC now owns 37,140 shares of the companys stock worth $5,004,000 after buying an additional 10,493 shares during the period. 67.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get AbbVie alerts: AbbVie Stock Down 0.3 % NYSE:ABBV traded down $0.49 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $180.57. 5,780,428 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,277,907. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $168.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $154.66. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.02. AbbVie Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $130.96 and a fifty-two week high of $182.42. The firm has a market cap of $318.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 66.03, a PEG ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.58. AbbVie Dividend Announcement AbbVie ( NYSE:ABBV Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The company reported $2.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.03. AbbVie had a net margin of 8.95% and a return on equity of 162.28%. The company had revenue of $14.30 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.02 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $3.60 EPS. The companys revenue was down 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that AbbVie Inc. will post 11.14 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 15th will be paid a $1.55 dividend. This represents a $6.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.43%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 12th. AbbVies dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 227.11%. Insider Transactions at AbbVie In related news, SVP Kevin K. Buckbee sold 5,144 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.65, for a total value of $908,687.60. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 6,983 shares in the company, valued at $1,233,546.95. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other AbbVie news, CEO Richard A. Gonzalez sold 138,616 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.27, for a total transaction of $24,572,458.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 519,099 shares in the company, valued at $92,020,679.73. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Kevin K. Buckbee sold 5,144 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.65, for a total transaction of $908,687.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 6,983 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,233,546.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 306,205 shares of company stock valued at $53,974,299. 0.26% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on ABBV shares. Raymond James boosted their price objective on AbbVie from $181.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. William Blair upgraded AbbVie from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded AbbVie from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $173.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on AbbVie in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $150.00 target price for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on AbbVie from $187.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AbbVie has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $175.36. Read Our Latest Analysis on AbbVie AbbVie Profile (Free Report) AbbVie Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Humira, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune, intestinal Behcet's diseases, and pyoderma gangrenosum; Skyrizi to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic disease, and Crohn's disease; Rinvoq to treat rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, atopic dermatitis, axial spondyloarthropathy, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease; Imbruvica for the treatment of adult patients with blood cancers; Epkinly to treat lymphoma; Elahere to treat cancer; and Venclexta/Venclyxto to treat blood cancers. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABBV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AbbVie Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AbbVie and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ashtead Group plc (OTCMKTS:ASHTY Get Free Report) crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $268.15 and traded as low as $263.09. Ashtead Group shares last traded at $267.75, with a volume of 10,154 shares changing hands. Ashtead Group Stock Down 0.5 % The stock has a market capitalization of $29.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The businesss 50-day moving average is $267.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $259.23. Get Ashtead Group alerts: Ashtead Group (OTCMKTS:ASHTY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, December 5th. The company reported $4.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.19 by ($0.48). Ashtead Group had a net margin of 16.64% and a return on equity of 27.08%. The company had revenue of $2.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.91 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that Ashtead Group plc will post 15.39 EPS for the current year. Ashtead Group Cuts Dividend About Ashtead Group The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, January 12th were issued a $0.58 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 11th. Ashtead Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 7.79%. (Get Free Report) Ashtead Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the construction, industrial, and general equipment rental business in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It provides pumps, power generation, heating, cooling, scaffolding, traffic management, temporary flooring, trench shoring, and lifting services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ashtead Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ashtead Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian National Railway (TSE:CNR Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNI) shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$159.23 and traded as high as C$177.10. Canadian National Railway shares last traded at C$176.19, with a volume of 986,069 shares changing hands. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have commented on CNR. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$175.00 to C$185.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. ATB Capital upped their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$165.00 to C$180.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Veritas Investment Research lowered shares of Canadian National Railway from a buy rating to a reduce rating and set a C$168.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. National Bankshares upped their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$168.00 to C$172.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, Scotiabank upped their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$168.00 to C$173.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian National Railway has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$178.21. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on CNR Canadian National Railway Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 93.89. The company has a market cap of C$111.26 billion, a PE ratio of 20.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.66. The businesss fifty day moving average is C$170.97 and its 200-day moving average is C$159.41. Canadian National Railway (TSE:CNR Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNI) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported C$2.02 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$1.96 by C$0.06. Canadian National Railway had a net margin of 33.43% and a return on equity of 27.11%. The company had revenue of C$4.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$4.38 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that Canadian National Railway will post 8.0022645 EPS for the current fiscal year. Canadian National Railway Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 7th will be given a dividend of $0.845 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 6th. This represents a $3.38 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.95%. This is a boost from Canadian National Railways previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. Canadian National Railways dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.62%. Insider Activity In other news, Senior Officer Donald K. Reardon sold 6,383 shares of Canadian National Railway stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$118.35, for a total transaction of C$755,428.05. In related news, Senior Officer Derek Michael Taylor sold 2,610 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$131.26, for a total value of C$342,577.38. Also, Senior Officer Donald K. Reardon sold 6,383 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$118.35, for a total transaction of C$755,428.05. Company insiders own 10.18% of the companys stock. Canadian National Railway Company Profile (Get Free Report) Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail, intermodal, trucking, and marine transportation and logistics business in Canada and the United States. The company provides rail services, which include equipment, custom brokerage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services, such as temperature controlled cargo, port partnerships, and logistics parks. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CCL Industries Inc. (TSE:CCL.A Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$60.86 and traded as high as C$69.99. CCL Industries shares last traded at C$69.99, with a volume of 100 shares. CCL Industries Stock Performance The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$61.45. The company has a current ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.37. The company has a market cap of C$855.26 million, a P/E ratio of 24.57 and a beta of 0.55. CCL Industries Company Profile (Get Free Report) CCL Industries Inc manufactures and sells labels, containers, consumer printable media products, technology driven label solutions, polymer bank note substrates, and specialty films. The company operates through four segments: CCL, Avery, Checkpoint, and Innovia. The CCL segment offers pressure sensitive and specialty extruded film materials for decorative, instructional, functional, and security applications in the consumer packaging, healthcare, chemicals, consumer electronic device, and automotive markets. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for CCL Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CCL Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Conifex Timber Inc. (TSE:CFF Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low on Friday . The stock traded as low as C$0.45 and last traded at C$0.57, with a volume of 95700 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$0.72. Conifex Timber Stock Performance The stocks 50 day simple moving average is C$0.74 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$0.77. The company has a market capitalization of C$23.00 million, a P/E ratio of -1.13, 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. Conifex Timber Company Profile (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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Conifex Timber Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Conifex Timber and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cravens & Co Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report) by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,270 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after purchasing an additional 409 shares during the period. EOG Resources makes up 1.1% of Cravens & Co Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Cravens & Co Advisors LLCs holdings in EOG Resources were worth $1,175,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 9,118 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,019,000 after buying an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 2,614 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $331,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,215 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $154,000 after buying an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. ORG Partners LLC raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 8,822 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,118,000 after buying an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Finally, White Pine Capital LLC raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. White Pine Capital LLC now owns 3,942 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $511,000 after buying an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.21% of the companys stock. Get EOG Resources alerts: EOG Resources Trading Up 0.3 % Shares of EOG traded up $0.41 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $118.26. 1,701,023 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,305,613. The companys fifty day moving average price is $114.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $122.07. The company has a market capitalization of $68.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a quick ratio of 2.13, a current ratio of 2.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 12 month low of $98.52 and a 12 month high of $136.79. EOG Resources Dividend Announcement EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 23rd. The energy exploration company reported $3.07 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.14 by ($0.07). EOG Resources had a return on equity of 25.38% and a net margin of 31.40%. The business had revenue of $6.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.18 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.30 EPS. The companys revenue was down 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal 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 paid a dividend of $0.91 per share. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.08%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 15th. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is currently 27.98%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. KeyCorp lowered their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $157.00 to $147.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of EOG Resources from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $156.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. TD Securities decreased their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $135.00 to $130.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. Bank of America cut shares of EOG Resources from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $147.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Friday, January 5th. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $164.00 to $147.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, EOG Resources has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $141.80. View Our Latest Analysis 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EOG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW Get Free Report) VP Daniel J. Lippis sold 1,715 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.98, for a total transaction of $156,030.70. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 17,213 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,566,038.74. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Edwards Lifesciences Trading Up 6.2 % Shares of NYSE EW traded up $5.48 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $93.81. The company had a trading volume of 6,845,682 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,140,045. The businesss 50-day moving average is $80.43 and its 200-day moving average is $74.22. The company has a current ratio of 3.38, a quick ratio of 2.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The stock has a market cap of $56.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.32 and a beta of 1.05. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 52 week low of $60.57 and a 52 week high of $94.87. Get Edwards Lifesciences alerts: Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The medical research company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.64. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 23.35% and a return on equity of 23.56%. The company had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.50 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.64 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup lowered shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $70.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $80.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $87.38. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on EW Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Truvestments Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 260.0% in the 2nd quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 270 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. Castleview Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. DSM Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. 79.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Edwards Lifesciences Company Profile (Get Free Report) Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Edwards Lifesciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edwards Lifesciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Finsbury Growth & Income (LON:FGT Get Free Report)s share price crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 845.93 ($10.74) and traded as high as GBX 862 ($10.94). Finsbury Growth & Income shares last traded at GBX 862 ($10.94), with a volume of 484,609 shares traded. Finsbury Growth & Income Stock Down 0.4 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87, a current ratio of 3.33 and a quick ratio of 0.48. The company has a market cap of 1.75 billion, a PE ratio of 1,231.43 and a beta of 0.53. The businesss 50 day moving average is GBX 846.01 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 840.90. Get Finsbury Growth & Income alerts: Insider Activity at Finsbury Growth & Income In other Finsbury Growth & Income news, insider Katherine Cornish-Bowden bought 139 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 853 ($10.83) per share, with a total value of 1,185.67 ($1,504.85). In related news, insider Katherine Cornish-Bowden purchased 139 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 853 ($10.83) per share, for a total transaction of 1,185.67 ($1,504.85). Also, insider Simon Hayes acquired 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 9th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 836 ($10.61) per share, for a total transaction of 33,440 ($42,441.93). Insiders have acquired 7,139 shares of company stock valued at $5,976,567 over the last quarter. 4.79% of the stock is owned by insiders. Finsbury Growth & Income Company Profile Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched Frostrow Capital LLP. The fund is co-managed by Lindsell Train Limited. It invests in public equity markets of the United Kingdom. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Finsbury Growth & Income Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Finsbury Growth & Income and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The First Citizens National Bank of Upper Sandusky (OTCMKTS:FSDK Get Free Report) dropped 2.9% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $66.00 and last traded at $66.00. Approximately 100 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 20% from the average daily volume of 125 shares. The stock had previously closed at $68.00. First Citizens National Bank of Upper Sandusky Trading Down 2.9 % The firms 50 day moving average price is $68.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.02. First Citizens National Bank of Upper Sandusky Company Profile (Get Free Report) The First Citizens National Bank of Upper Sandusky provides personal and business banking products and services. The company offers checking, savings, money market, certificates of deposit, health savings, and individual retirement accounts; and home mortgage loans, home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, auto loans, cash reserve loans, personal loans, and business and agriculture loans, as well as credit and debit cards. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for First Citizens National Bank of Upper Sandusky Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Citizens National Bank of Upper Sandusky and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Montana Trout Unlimited and the Custer Gallatin National Forest are partnering on stream restoration projects in the Beartooth Mountains beginning this summer. The work will invest $3 million over five years to make waterways damaged by the 2022 flood more resilient to future flooding, according to David Brooks, Montana TUs executive director. That could include everything from new culverts to fake beaver dams, reworking channels and rebuilding floodplains to reduce the velocity of high waters. To guide the process of identifying projects, Trout Unlimited is hiring Katie Young as its first project manager in the south-central region of Montana and making the job permanent. Young will start out spending much of this summer examining possible project sites in the area, with an emphasis on the tributaries to Rock Creek outside of Red Lodge, her hometown. We will be drawing on decades of Trout Unlimited work doing this all over the country, Brooks said. We have that experience. Montana probably has more TU project managers than any other state that Young will be able to work with. Historic flood The June 2022 flood was a historic event that sent water gushing down streams across an 11,000-square-mile watershed. The runoff was generated by heavy rain falling on late snow in the Beartooth and Absaroka mountains. Some of Yellowstone National Parks roads were so damaged that parts of the northern portion of the park were closed for the summer. The Yellowstone River below Gardiner peaked at a record-setting crest of 13.88 feet, more than 2 feet higher than the previous record. As the water backed up at the narrows of Yankee Jim Canyon, 15 inches of sediment was deposited on adjacent fields, fishing access sites and roads. Outside the park, high flows on the Yellowstone, Clarks Fork Yellowstone and Stillwater rivers and their tributaries inundated streamside residences 300 just in the community of Bridger sweeping a few into the raging waters. Rock Creeks peak flow hit 2,570 cubic feet per second before the gauge was washed out. Boulders 3 feet in diameter could be heard rolling down the towns main street under the turbid water. The Stillwater River climbed to 23,200 cfs and the Clarks Fork hit a peak flow of 21,900 cfs. All were considered 1,000-year floods. By the time the streams had joined in the Yellowstone River at Billings, the flow was up to 84,000 cfs, an increase of more than 58,000 cfs in just five days. Rock Creek The flood caused an estimated $38.5 million in damage at 150 sites on the Custer Gallatin National Forest, including 66 along roads, 26 road bridges, 13 recreation sites, 25 trail sites and 12 trail bridges. Although some of the big flood repair projects were quickly completed, like repairing the Beartooth Highway, much still remains to be done. Clint Sestrich, fisheries biologist for the Forest Service, said one of the key focuses will be on moving around woody debris in Rock Creek and its tributaries. In addition to providing fish habitat, trees and their root wads help reduce stream velocity. During the flood, many of the downed trees and newly uprooted pines were stacked in huge piles. I think theres a need to reposition wood from those large log jams, Sestrich said. Bankfull bench He also is considering the construction of small terraces next to the highway to help prevent erosion of the bank. In stream restoration these terraces are called bankfull benches, a flat or shallowly sloped area above bankfull, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The terraces can be built by anchoring trees into the bank, rather than utilizing riprap, he added. Although much of the Rock Creek drainage, and its tributaries, are located in narrow canyons, Sestrich said the terraces have been successfully installed in other restricted areas. In addition to Rock Creek, Sestrich said Soda Butte Creek near Cooke City was seriously ravaged by the flood and is in need of restoration. Some of the reaches were pretty gutted by flooding and the flood response, he said. The waterway has seen significant investments in the recent past to remove old mining tailings and nonnative brook trout to create a better habitat for native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Soda Butte Creek flows into Yellowstone National Park in the Lamar Valley. It will take time to survey and find where we can have the biggest impact, Sestrich said. So far, the Forest Service has been focused on replacing infrastructure like damaged bridges and roads, he added. Trout Unlimited really brings to the table some extra capability to focus on this work, Sestrich said. New hire Young, the newly hired TU project manager, attended the University of Montana for her undergrad work. She will receive her master's degree in Environmental Management, with an emphasis in watershed-scale restoration, from Western Colorado University in May. Young also has about seven years experience in ecological restoration and community outreach with government agencies, private business and nonprofits, Brooks said. Local knowledge and the ability to build relationships are maybe as important as the tools we bring to the work, he added. First Foundation Advisors grew its holdings in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 26.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,688 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 3,114 shares during the period. First Foundation Advisors holdings in Accenture were worth $4,511,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in shares of Accenture in the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Accenture during the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. RVW Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Accenture during the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Accenture during the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Canton Hathaway LLC acquired a new position in shares of Accenture during the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.42% of the companys stock. Get Accenture alerts: Accenture Stock Up 1.6 % ACN stock traded up $6.08 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $386.91. The company had a trading volume of 1,550,394 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,951,922. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $363.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $335.77. Accenture plc has a fifty-two week low of $242.80 and a fifty-two week high of $387.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $242.71 billion, a PE ratio of 35.31, a P/E/G ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 1.20. Insiders Place Their Bets Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, December 19th. The information technology services provider reported $3.27 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $16.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.17 billion. Accenture had a return on equity of 29.08% and a net margin of 10.65%. Accentures quarterly revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.08 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Accenture plc will post 12.22 EPS for the current year. In other Accenture news, CEO Manish Sharma sold 1,486 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $370.39, for a total value of $550,399.54. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 4,503 shares in the company, valued at $1,667,866.17. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Accenture news, CEO Manish Sharma sold 1,486 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $370.39, for a total value of $550,399.54. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 4,503 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,667,866.17. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $371.81, for a total transaction of $1,859,050.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 20,316 shares in the company, valued at $7,553,691.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 26,551 shares of company stock worth $9,739,791 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts recently issued reports on ACN shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Accenture from $350.00 to $385.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Mizuho initiated coverage on Accenture in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a buy rating and a $426.00 target price for the company. BNP Paribas raised Accenture from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $440.00 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $374.00 target price on shares of Accenture in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Accenture from $364.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Accenture currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $368.85. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Accenture Accenture Company Profile (Free Report) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Berenberg Bank reiterated their hold rating on shares of Ibstock (LON:IBST Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Berenberg Bank currently has a GBX 150 ($1.90) price target on the stock. Ibstock Trading Down 1.7 % Shares of LON IBST traded down GBX 2.59 ($0.03) during midday trading on Thursday, hitting GBX 148.81 ($1.89). The stock had a trading volume of 1,184,602 shares, compared to its average volume of 863,867. The companys 50-day simple moving average is GBX 153.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 143.59. The firm has a market cap of 584.59 million, a P/E ratio of 875.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.35. Ibstock has a fifty-two week low of GBX 118 ($1.50) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 179.60 ($2.28). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 37.28, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.19. Get Ibstock alerts: Ibstock Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, May 9th will be paid a dividend of GBX 3.60 ($0.05) per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 9th. This is a boost from Ibstocks previous dividend of $3.40. This represents a dividend yield of 2.25%. Ibstocks payout ratio is 5,294.12%. Ibstock Company Profile Ibstock plc manufactures and sells clay and concrete building products and solutions in the United Kingdom. The company offers bricks and masonry, which includes facing and engineering bricks, brick slips, special shaped bricks, walling stone, architectural masonry, prefabricated components, eco-habitats, and padstones and lintels, as well as facade systems; roofing products comprising roof tiles and accessories, and chimneys; retaining walls, such as stepoc, slopeloc, and keystone. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ibstock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ibstock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tidewater Inc. (NYSE:TDW Get Free Report) EVP Daniel A. Hudson sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.00, for a total value of $656,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 104,312 shares in the company, valued at $8,553,584. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Tidewater Stock Up 0.5 % Tidewater stock traded up $0.37 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $79.69. 981,987 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 760,813. The business has a fifty day moving average of $70.06 and a 200 day moving average of $66.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a current ratio of 1.80. The firm has a market cap of $4.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.33 and a beta of 1.17. Tidewater Inc. has a 12-month low of $37.76 and a 12-month high of $86.99. Get Tidewater alerts: Tidewater (NYSE:TDW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, March 1st. The oil and gas company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.73 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $302.66 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $309.46 million. Tidewater had a return on equity of 13.37% and a net margin of 9.62%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 62.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.30 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Tidewater Inc. will post 4.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Tidewater announced that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, February 29th that permits the company to buyback $48.60 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the oil and gas company to reacquire up to 1.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued. A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new stake in Tidewater in the first quarter valued at approximately $2,413,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Tidewater in the first quarter valued at approximately $393,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Tidewater by 24.8% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 21,360 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $464,000 after acquiring an additional 4,241 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Tidewater by 12.7% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,075,799 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $23,388,000 after acquiring an additional 121,346 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new position in Tidewater in the first quarter valued at approximately $505,000. 84.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently commented on TDW. StockNews.com raised Tidewater from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday. Evercore ISI upped their target price on Tidewater from $87.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday. Johnson Rice began coverage on Tidewater in a research note on Friday, February 9th. They set a buy rating and a $88.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Pickering Energy Partners began coverage on Tidewater in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. They set an outperform rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $88.25. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Tidewater About Tidewater (Get Free Report) Tidewater Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides offshore support vessels and marine support services to the offshore energy industry through the operation of a fleet of marine service vessels worldwide. It provides services in support of offshore crude oil and natural gas exploration, field development, and production, as well as windfarm development and maintenance, including towing of and anchor handling for mobile offshore drilling units; transporting supplies and personnel necessary to sustain drilling, workover, and production activities; offshore construction, and seismic and subsea support; geotechnical survey support for windfarm construction; and various specialized services, such as pipe and cable laying. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tidewater Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tidewater and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC lessened its holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Free Report) by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 19,791 shares of the companys stock after selling 121 shares during the period. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF makes up approximately 1.0% of Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest position. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $8,499,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Csenge Advisory Group increased its holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 7.3% in the third quarter. Csenge Advisory Group now owns 48,155 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,679,000 after buying an additional 3,256 shares during the last quarter. Sage Financial Management Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the third quarter valued at about $19,984,000. Simon Quick Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 1.9% during the third quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC now owns 69,159 shares of the companys stock worth $29,699,000 after buying an additional 1,263 shares during the period. Chesley Taft & Associates LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 13.3% during the third quarter. Chesley Taft & Associates LLC now owns 31,707 shares of the companys stock worth $13,616,000 after buying an additional 3,730 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Patten Group Inc. increased its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Patten Group Inc. now owns 12,149 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,217,000 after acquiring an additional 292 shares during the period. Get iShares Core S&P 500 ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Stock Performance iShares Core S&P 500 ETF stock traded up $5.09 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $517.43. 4,555,437 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,355,083. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $492.35 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $462.33. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a twelve month low of $382.37 and a twelve month high of $518.43. The firm has a market cap of $400.31 billion, a PE ratio of 18.43 and a beta of 1.00. About iShares Core S&P 500 ETF iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of John Wood Group PLC (OTCMKTS:WDGJF Get Free Report) crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $2.08 and traded as low as $1.85. John Wood Group shares last traded at $1.85, with a volume of 200 shares trading hands. John Wood Group Trading Up 2.4 % The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $2.07 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $1.96. John Wood Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through Projects, Operations, Consulting, and Investment Services segments. The Projects segment provides engineering design and project management services across energy and materials markets including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, minerals, and life sciences. See Also Receive News & Ratings for John Wood Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Wood Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Trust plc (LON:JESC Get Free Report) shares passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 499 ($6.33) and traded as high as GBX 509 ($6.46). JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Trust shares last traded at GBX 499 ($6.33), with a volume of 179,129 shares traded. JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Trust Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 107.92, a current ratio of 107.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.72. The stock has a market cap of 795.72 million and a P/E ratio of 7.60. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 499 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 499. About JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Trust (Get Free Report) JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Trust plc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by JPMorgan Funds Limited. The fund is co-managed by JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Europe, excluding the United Kingdom. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN-B Get Free Report) shares dropped 1.3% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $146.49 and last traded at $146.65. Approximately 25,835 shares traded hands during trading, The stock had previously closed at $148.58. Lennar Stock Up 2.0 % The company has a 50 day moving average price of $140.42 and a 200-day moving average price of $121.29. Get Lennar alerts: Insider Activity at Lennar In related news, VP Mark Sustana sold 37,304 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.38, for a total transaction of $5,460,559.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 18,694 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,736,427.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, VP Mark Sustana sold 37,304 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.38, for a total transaction of $5,460,559.52. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 18,694 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,736,427.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Diane J. Bessette sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $147.73, for a total value of $1,477,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 260,556 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,491,937.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. About Lennar Lennar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a homebuilder primarily under the Lennar brand in the United States. It operates through Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central, Homebuilding Texas, Homebuilding West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other segments. The company's homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land; and development, construction, and management of multifamily rental properties. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Lennar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lennar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Maripau Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 1,546 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $224,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in JPM. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 105,652.2% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 98,000,567 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,141,876,000 after buying an additional 97,907,897 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 4th quarter valued at $3,894,646,000. Morgan Stanley grew its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 15.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 59,049,256 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,918,506,000 after acquiring an additional 8,088,433 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 51.6% in the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 8,422,975 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,225,037,000 after purchasing an additional 2,868,091 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 7,427.6% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,664,092 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $363,169,000 after purchasing an additional 2,628,701 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.94% of the companys stock. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: Insider Activity at JPMorgan Chase & Co. In other news, CEO James Dimon sold 821,778 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.73, for a total transaction of $150,163,493.94. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 595,316 shares in the company, valued at approximately $108,782,092.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, insider Lori A. Beer sold 3,920 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.74, for a total value of $716,340.80. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 44,996 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,222,569.04. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO James Dimon sold 821,778 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.73, for a total transaction of $150,163,493.94. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 595,316 shares in the company, valued at $108,782,092.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 877,626 shares of company stock valued at $159,500,516. Insiders own 0.79% of the companys stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Stock Performance JPM stock traded down $1.66 during trading on Thursday, reaching $187.87. 5,304,903 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,104,843. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 1-year low of $123.11 and a 1-year high of $190.50. The firm has a market cap of $541.14 billion, a PE ratio of 11.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 1.14. The companys fifty day moving average price is $175.46 and its 200-day moving average price is $158.77. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $3.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.73 by ($0.69). The company had revenue of $38.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.73 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a return on equity of 17.80% and a net margin of 20.70%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.57 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, January 4th were issued a dividend of $1.05 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 4th. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.24%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s dividend payout ratio is 25.89%. Analysts Set New Price Targets JPM has been the subject of a number of research reports. Barclays lifted their price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $186.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $140.00 to $190.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $177.00 to $188.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $191.00 to $221.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $179.11. Get Our Latest Stock Report on JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Profile (Free Report) JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services; mortgage origination and servicing activities; residential mortgages and home equity loans; and credit cards, auto loans, leases, and travel services to consumers and small businesses through bank branches, ATMs, and digital and telephone banking. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JPM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Metros Development Co. Ltd. (MTRS) expects to raise $6 million in an initial public offering on the week of March 11th, IPO Scoop reports. The company plans to issue 1,000,000 shares at a price of $6.40 per share. In the last year, 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/. Receive News & Ratings for Metros Development Co. Ltd. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Metros Development Co. Ltd. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuburu, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:BURU Get Free Report) shares traded down 4.3% on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $0.14 and last traded at $0.15. 207,032 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 82% from the average session volume of 1,159,753 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.15. Nuburu Price Performance Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nuburu Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Nuburu in the first quarter valued at about $228,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in Nuburu during the 1st quarter worth about $86,000. HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Nuburu during the 1st quarter worth about $49,000. Barclays PLC bought a new stake in Nuburu during the 1st quarter worth about $48,000. Finally, Two Sigma Securities LLC bought a new stake in Nuburu during the 1st quarter worth about $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 9.34% of the companys stock. About Nuburu (Get Free Report) Nuburu, Inc develops high power precision blue light engine lasers for the metal processing and 3D printing industries worldwide. The company offers Nuburu AO and NUBURU BL series lasers. Its products have applications in battery, e-mobility, consumer electronics, and 3D printing metal systems. Nuburu, Inc is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nuburu Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuburu and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. In 2011, it was so unusual to see a moose in Eastern Montana that John Rahr drove all the way home to get his camera and returned to Deer Creek to capture a photograph. In the 50 years he lived in the area, he never had seen one of the long-legged, dark-brown creatures roaming the Glendive region. Since Rahrs rare sighting 13 years ago, moose have migrated into almost all portions of southeastern Montana, said Brett Dorak, Region 7 wildlife manager for Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Tanner Roth noted evidence of the regions increasing moose population last year during archery season. The Sidney hunter wrote in an email to the Fish and Wildlife Commission that he saw five moose between Glendive and Sidney. Subsequently, he advocated for issuing a tag to hunt them in the region. FWP agreed, and this spring is offering one moose tag in Region 7. It starts off as a rarity and then after a while numbers and observations seem to grow, Dorak said. Were encountering them on our (wildlife management areas), and one of our biologists just flew a waterfowl survey along the Missouri River and observed eight moose, which included immature bulls, adult bulls, cows and calves. Moose migrations The largest members of the deer family, which can weigh 600 to 1,200 pounds when fully grown, are probably trickling in from western North Dakota as well as Wyomings Bighorn Mountains. Southwest Saskatchewan and southeast Alberta moose populations to the north are also reportedly growing. These population sources along the Regions boundaries are potentially providing the individuals that not only move through the area but have also taken up residence in the area, FWP noted in its December memo to the Fish and Wildlife Commission advocating for the new Region 7 license. Although moose can be homebodies, Montana biologists have tracked collared cow moose taking 500-mile roundtrip journeys. Since 2012, when FWP began asking hunters if they had seen moose in Region 7, numbers have ranged from as low as 11 to as many as 75. More recently, some landowners along the Yellowstone River have complained about crop depredation caused by moose. They were an anomaly for a while, until they started taking up residence, Dorak said. NoDak moose Despite an increase in development driven by the oil fracking boom, North Dakotas moose population has swelled in the Williston region along the Missouri River since about the mid-2000s. One speculation is that the moose population may be thriving because deadly brain worms, which infect moose in wetter climates in eastern North Dakota, cant survive in the more arid regions of western North Dakota. Moose tags in northeastern Montanas Region 6, another largely plains and prairie region, have been offered since 2008. In that first year, 98 hunters applied for the two tags offered. Since then, interest has steadily climbed. Last year, more than 1,600 residents applied in the hunting district in Region 6 for a chance at one of nine tags. In terms of applicants, the area was third highest for submissions, falling behind only two hunting districts in Region 3 in southwest Montana. Annually, Montanas moose harvest averages around 300 animals. One reason for the interest in hunting northeastern Montana moose may be because the success rate is so high, 100% every year an anomaly when compared to the average success rate across the West of about 80%. Since the inaugural 2008 season, 69 moose have been killed in Region 6, only three of them cows. Such success has come even though river and creek bottoms, prime moose habitat, are often on private lands. Difficulty gaining access to moose in southeastern Montana was one of the issues FWP noted in its comments to the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Hunter access may be limited along the riparian habitats where moose have been frequently observed, but there are multiple WMAs and other access points that can provide access opportunities, the agency noted. Hunters may need to contact private landowners for additional access opportunities. Prairie moose This whole scenario of moose now homesteading on the prairie may seem kind of wacky for those used to them being mainly a mountain, forest-dwelling animal in Montana. Biologists have long believed moose inhabit these higher elevations because the big animals have thrived in wet, cool climates where the temperatures remain below 60 degrees. Yet the Williston area can see temperatures in the mid-80s or warmer in the summer. It also seems out of character for moose to be thriving in this different habitat considering that in many of their traditional territories, the animals are declining due to infestations of parasites like arterial worms and winter ticks. One theory scientists considered to explain the moose expansion in Eastern Montana was the arrival of a different subspecies. The subspecies living in the western third of Montana is called the Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi). The midwestern moose is recognized as a different subspecies, Alces alces andersoni. Recent range expansion of moose into eastern Montana has come with some uncertainty regarding subspecies identity, a 2017 study noted. It is unclear whether animals east of the Rocky Mountain chain in the eastern portions of Montana, with neighboring moose populations in Saskatchewan and North Dakota, would be better described as A. a. shirasi or as belonging to the northwestern subspecies A. a. andersoni. To find out, biologists conducted a study. The research, published in 2020, analyzed genetic samples taken from moose living across western North America. The findings showed a low degree of genetic diversity. Differences in body size or antlers may be as much tied to nutrition as to genetics, the scientists theorized. In a continuation of the research, genetic samples were collected by 699 moose hunters across Montana for further analysis of the connectivity of the states moose populations. Tying the genetic analysis in with fossil remains from Ice Age moose, showed the animals likely populated North America after the last large glaciers began melting about 15,000 years ago, with no populations south of the glaciers before then. Wild invaders The movement of moose to Eastern Montana is encouraging considering the species was nearly exterminated from the state by the 1900s. In 1910, following the inaction of game laws, it was estimated fewer than 300 moose inhabited the entire state. Now Montana's population is estimated at around 5,000 animals. Although moose may be the most recent wildlife to take up residence in Eastern Montana, they arent the only ones to find the region to their liking. Populations of black bears, cougars and elk have also grown in Eastern Montana. The occasional wolf will also pass through, although not-so-humorous jokes are made about them not staying above ground for long. Through our elk objective meetings two summers ago, we talked with a lot of landowners who say I recall seeing my first elk in the late 80s, early 90s, and now there are thousands of them, Dorak said. The increase in wildlife variety is no surprise. Its prime habitat, and theyre certainly utilizing it, he said. Panoramic Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 13,915 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $764,000. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Greenwood Gearhart Inc. grew its position in Charles Schwab by 2.9% in the third quarter. Greenwood Gearhart Inc. now owns 293,906 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $16,136,000 after acquiring an additional 8,181 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Charles Schwab by 5.0% in the third quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 79,423 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,360,000 after acquiring an additional 3,776 shares in the last quarter. Elmwood Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in Charles Schwab by 4.9% in the third quarter. Elmwood Wealth Management Inc. now owns 16,145 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $886,000 after acquiring an additional 750 shares in the last quarter. Studio Investment Management LLC grew its position in Charles Schwab by 32,107.7% in the third quarter. Studio Investment Management LLC now owns 4,187 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $230,000 after acquiring an additional 4,174 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Trust boosted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 17.7% during the third quarter. American Trust now owns 61,999 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,404,000 after buying an additional 9,344 shares during the period. 81.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab In other news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 5,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.71, for a total transaction of $361,405.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 24,111 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,584,333.81. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Carolyn Schwab-Pomerantz sold 9,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.29, for a total transaction of $587,610.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 585,057 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,198,371.53. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 5,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.71, for a total transaction of $361,405.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 24,111 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,584,333.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 172,616 shares of company stock valued at $11,181,109 in the last ninety days. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Charles Schwab Stock Performance Shares of NYSE SCHW traded down $0.30 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $67.89. The stock had a trading volume of 4,230,911 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,590,417. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.43. The company has a 50 day moving average of $64.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $60.27. The Charles Schwab Co. has a twelve month low of $45.00 and a twelve month high of $73.16. The firm has a market cap of $120.40 billion, a PE ratio of 26.84, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.00. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a 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 analyst estimates of $4.49 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.07 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 18.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.34 EPS for the current fiscal year. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th were issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 8th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is 39.37%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have issued reports on SCHW shares. StockNews.com lowered Charles Schwab from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday. Citigroup lowered Charles Schwab from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the company from $75.00 to $70.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered Charles Schwab from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and lowered their price target for the company from $75.00 to $70.00 in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Barclays boosted their price target on Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Charles Schwab from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $69.92. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on SCHW 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RB Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 0.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,808 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the period. RB Capital Management LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $1,186,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $753,000. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Spotlight Asset Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. 79.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Philip Morris International Trading Up 1.3 % NYSE PM traded up $1.17 on Friday, hitting $92.68. 3,543,090 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,895,876. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $92.01 and a two-hundred day moving average of $92.64. The company has a market cap of $143.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.61. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1-year low of $87.23 and a 1-year high of $101.92. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.44 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $9.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.99 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 116.29% and a net margin of 8.53%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.39 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 EPS 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 Thursday, March 21st will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.61%. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 103.59%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Societe Generale raised Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 target price for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Argus reissued a hold rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. UBS Group lowered Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $105.00 to $86.50 in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, Redburn Atlantic began coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, November 16th. They set a neutral rating and a $95.00 price objective on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $105.40. Get Our Latest Report on Philip Morris International Philip Morris International Company Profile (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski Spolka Akcyjna (OTCMKTS:PSZKY Get Free Report) shares rose 201% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $15.80 and last traded at $15.80. Approximately 14,084 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 17% from the average daily volume of 16,900 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.25. Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski Spolka Akcyjna Stock Performance The stocks 50 day moving average is $5.67 and its 200 day moving average is $5.40. Get Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski Spolka Akcyjna alerts: Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski Spolka Akcyjna Cuts Dividend The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 25th were paid a dividend of $0.2225 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 24th. Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski Spolka Akcyjnas dividend payout ratio is presently 20.24%. About Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski Spolka Akcyjna Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski Spolka Akcyjna provides various banking products and services in Poland and internationally. The company operates through three segments, Retail, Corporate and Investment, and Transfer center and other segments. It offers current and savings accounts, term deposits, private and electronic banking services, investment and insurance products, investment funds, electronic and mobile banking services, credit and debit cards, and consumer and mortgage loans, as well as corporate loans to firms and enterprises, developers, cooperatives, and property managers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski Spolka Akcyjna Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski Spolka Akcyjna and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Renewi plc (LON:RWI Get Free Report) shares were down 0.2% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as GBX 538 ($6.83) and last traded at GBX 538 ($6.83). Approximately 64,617 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 60% from the average daily volume of 159,919 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 539 ($6.84). Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 710 ($9.01) target price on shares of Renewi in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. Get Renewi alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Renewi Renewi Trading Up 0.7 % Renewi Company Profile The company has a current ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 198.57. The stock has a market cap of 438.78 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,165.96, a P/E/G ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 595.67 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 592.31. (Get Free Report) Renewi plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides waste-to-product services. The company operates through Commercial Waste, Mineralz & Water, and Specialities segments. The Commercial Waste segment engages in the collection and treatment of commercial waste in the Netherlands and Belgium; and processing of wood, aggregates, plastics, paper products, and organic waste. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Renewi Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Renewi and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stellantis (EPA:STLAP Get Free Report)s stock price rose 0.5% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as 24.75 and last traded at 24.73. Approximately 1,941,247 shares were traded during trading, The stock had previously closed at 24.61. Stellantis Trading Up 0.7 % The business has a 50-day moving average price of 21.69. About Stellantis (Get Free Report) Stellantis N.V. engages in the design, engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of automobiles and light commercial vehicles, engines, transmission systems, metallurgical products, mobility services, and production systems worldwide. It provides luxury and premium vehicles; sport utility vehicles; American and European brand vehicles; and parts and services, as well as retail and dealer financing, leasing, and rental services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Stellantis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stellantis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited (LON:SMIF Get Free Report)s share price passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 80.35 ($1.02) and traded as high as GBX 81.80 ($1.04). TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund shares last traded at GBX 81 ($1.03), with a volume of 352,725 shares traded. TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Price Performance The stock has a market cap of 199.80 million and a PE ratio of -1,022.50. The business has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 80.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 76.87. Get TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund alerts: TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th were paid a GBX 0.50 ($0.01) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 15th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.62%. TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Funds payout ratio is -8,750.00%. Insider Buying and Selling About TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund In related news, insider Ashley Paxton purchased 20,000 shares of TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 79 ($1.00) per share, for a total transaction of 15,800 ($20,053.31). 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. (Get Free Report) TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Numis Securities Ltd. The fund is managed by TwentyFour Asset Management LLP. It invests in fixed income markets of the United Kingdom. The fund primarily invests in less liquid instruments across the debt spectrum, including asset backed securities, bank capital, corporate loans, high yield bonds, and leveraged loans issued by a wide variety of issuers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. VitalStone Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:MUB Free Report) by 67.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 17,759 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 7,179 shares during the period. iShares National Muni Bond ETF comprises approximately 1.6% of VitalStone Financial LLCs holdings, making the stock its 14th largest position. VitalStone Financial LLCs holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF were worth $1,840,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. First Manhattan Co. purchased a new position in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. CNB Bank purchased a new stake in iShares National Muni Bond ETF in the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Finally, EPG Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in iShares National Muni Bond ETF in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Get iShares National Muni Bond ETF alerts: iShares National Muni Bond ETF Stock Down 0.1 % MUB stock traded down $0.08 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $108.10. The company had a trading volume of 996,707 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,897,971. iShares National Muni Bond ETF has a 12-month low of $100.78 and a 12-month high of $108.82. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $107.97 and a 200 day moving average price of $105.72. iShares National Muni Bond ETF Profile iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index (the Index). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MUB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares National Muni Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:MUB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares National Muni Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares National Muni Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. An investigation into former lawmaker Ray Holmberg for alleged child sex abuse led to the discovery of long-sought state emails from the deleted account of former North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. Attorney General Drew Wrigley said in a letter to a county prosecutor that the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation discovered on Feb. 7 that a cellphone extraction software program may have automatically copied and stored the contents of Stenehjems personal cellphone. The emails became the focus of public intrigue after Stenehjem died in office in January 2022. The former attorney generals executive assistant, Liz Brocker, immediately asked IT staff to delete Stenehjems entire email account. Last week, Mountrail County States Attorney Wade Enget concluded no criminal charges were warranted for the deletion of the emails. For two years, the state thought the emails could not be recovered after review by the state Information Technology Department, Microsoft and an outside expert. But new information has come to light through an investigation into Holmberg, a former lawmaker who was a close associate of Stenehjem, Wrigley told the North Dakota Monitor. Not long after his death, Stenehjems family asked for help from BCI personnel to unlock the former attorney generals personal phone to recover his photographs, Wrigley wrote in the Friday letter to Enget. At the time, the BCI didnt have the technology to get into the phone, so they left the matter alone. State police tried again to unlock the phone about a year later -- in February 2023 -- with improved technology, the letter indicates. After some technical difficulties, the agency successfully accessed the phone that summer. The BCI at that point returned the phone to the Stenehjems. The agency informed Wrigley in February that the software used to unlock the phone automatically copied and saved the phones data. We have a mirror image, a digital file of everything in that phone as of the time it was accessed with this law enforcement technology, Wrigley said Monday. Since Stenehjem had used his personal phone to access his state email account, the BCI ended up with backed-up copies of Stenehjems emails. The state obtained a federal warrant to look through the device in connection to the ongoing investigation into Holmberg, Wrigley said. Stenehjem was interviewed as a witness in the inquiry prior to his death, according to Wrigley. Having a warrant for somebodys phone is not an indication that that individual is under investigation, he said. In order for the warrant to be approved, investigators had to demonstrate that evidence relevant to a crime may be found on Stenehjems phone, he added. The affidavit for the search warrant is under seal, Wrigley said. There are at least around 2,000 emails on the phone and thousands of text messages, Wrigley said. Investigators may be able to review other records on the device depending on the parameters of the warrant. We dont know whats in there yet, Wrigley said. The state secured another piece of electronic equipment as evidence as part of the investigation this morning, according to Wrigley. He would not say what it is. Holmberg, a Republican from Grand Forks, was indicted in October 2023, with federal court documents alleging that Holmberg repeatedly traveled from North Dakota to Prague, Czech Republic, to have sex with children. He resigned from the North Dakota Legislature in 2022 after serving for more than 45 years. The indictment says the allegations occurred between June 2011 through November 2016. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. A trial is scheduled for April 29 in Fargo. Enget, the Mountrail County states attorney, will be provided copies of the emails, Wrigley said. He said Enget was informed that data from the phone was recovered prior to his decision not to pursue charges related to the deletion of Stenehjems emails. Enget on Monday said he was not aware the state was planning to send him the emails. He maintained he was only asked to review the findings of the report by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, which was requested by Wrigley in 2022. I dont know under what authority I would have to look at these, Enget said. News that Stenehjems emails were deleted by state employees became public following media open records requests related to an over-budget building project spearheaded by Stenehjems administration. You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK Siddharth Upasani is a Special Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He has been covering the Indian economy, economic data, and monetary and fiscal policies for nine years. He tweets at @SiddharthUbiWan. Contact: siddharth.upasani@nw18.com Former President Donald Trump easily won North Dakota's 2024 Republican Presidential Caucus, the latest step in his path toward a likely GOP presidential endorsement for this year's November general election. Trump's victory Monday is his latest in a string of resounding state-level successes: His only remaining mainstream opponent, former U.N. Ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, has managed to win just one contest thus far, which was Sunday's Washington, D.C., presidential primary. His win also came just one day before Super Tuesday, the date when a large swath of states hold their primaries. Trump received 84% of the 1,933 votes cast at 12 caucus sites, well ahead of Haley. The turnout was a sharp decrease from the last time the party held an in-person caucus in 2012 and saw more than 11,000 ballots cast. Voting sites this year were in Bismarck, Dickinson, Williston, Minot, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Devils Lake, Carrington, Valley City, Wahpeton and Cavalier. Trump posted on Facebook "Thank you North Dakota!" with a picture of himself and the words "Trump wins North Dakota!" The results mean that Trump gets all 29 of North Dakota's delegates to the national convention. Delegates in North Dakotas Republican caucus are allocated first to any candidate who receives more than 60% of the vote, as Trump did on Monday. If no candidate meets that threshold, the states 29 delegates are distributed proportionally to candidates who receive more than 20% of the vote. Haley garnered a sliver of support across the state but less than 20%. She received 14.2% of the votes cast. Jan Wangler, of Bismarck, said the caucus at Bismarck State College -- and the overall state vote -- was kind of a unifying event for North Dakota Republicans. That unification was clear as votes were tallied, with the state overwhelmingly backing Trump. Candidates had the chance to electronically address voters simultaneously at the 12 caucus events across North Dakota during the three hours of voting on Monday night through a Zoom that was broadcast at all voting sites. Gov. Doug Burgum spoke on behalf of Trump, while Haley and David Stuckenberg, a Florida businessman and Air Force veteran, both spoke for themselves. Ryan Binkley, a Texas pastor and businessman, also appeared on the ballot, though he suspended his campaign on Feb. 27 and endorsed Trump. North Dakota GOP Caucus Chair Bob Harms said the decision to have Burgum speak for Trump was made by the Trump campaign, which alerted him of the plan about 10 days before the caucus. During his speech, Burgum included an anecdote from a flight he took on "Trump Force One" -- the Trump Organization's Boeing 747 -- the night after the Iowa Caucus. He said Trump worked the entire flight from Iowa to New Hampshire, which took off after midnight, and cited it as an example of the candidate's work ethic. Trump and Haley have focused their energy in other states throughout the primary, so the 15-minute speeches from candidates and their surrogates provided a chance for North Dakota residents to hear a pitch tailored to them. Party Chair Sandi Sanford said the opportunity to speak at all caucuses through Zoom was an important part of the caucus process. To know that the candidates are listening, I think that helps, she said. And wanting to get to know us as a small state, I think that's what it showed, that the candidates took the time to do this. Arnie Zent, a Bismarck resident, said Monday's event was the first time he had ever attended a Republican caucus. The 74-year-old told the Tribune that he felt it was important to "try to do what I can to keep a decent face on the Republican Party" -- and he thinks Trump will be able to provide taxpayers with the results he says he isn't seeing. "The reason why I'm so strongly supporting Trump is not necessarily his personal actions," Zent said. "People may have a problem with that. But when he says something, he does it. And the world leaders in this world know that, and we need somebody with a backbone and not a fishbone." Trump has been immensely popular in North Dakota. He won 63% of the vote in the 2016 presidential election and 65% in 2020. He traveled to North Dakota in September 2017, making a visit to the Mandan oil refinery to speak about tax reform. He also came to Fargo in 2018 on behalf of U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Cramer. One of the first things Trump did after taking office in January 2017 was push through the stalled Dakota Access Pipeline, a project state officials said was key to maintaining North Dakota's energy economy. State Sen. Dick Dever, R-Bismarck, said he's previously supported Trump, but on Monday he was backing Haley. He views Trump and Biden as two extremes of their parties, he said, and he hopes to see a more positive attitude in North Dakota in the coming months. "So many people say, 'I like his policies, but I don't like the way he acts,'" Dever said. "I say that we make a mistake if we think that he's the only one that would put forward those kinds of policies. So we should return to sobriety." Trump's win in North Dakota was also far from his biggest victory of the day. On Monday morning the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Colorado doesn't have the authority to bar him from the ballot under an interpretation of a 14th Amendment provision. Colorado and multiple other states have argued that Trump is ineligible for the presidency because the amendment disqualifies people who engaged in an insurrection after taking an oath to support the Constitution from holding office again -- but the court indicated that giving such a power to the states could result in inconsistencies in federal elections. The court didn't wade into the question raised by these efforts -- whether Trump is eligible to run for the presidency in the wake of his actions leading up to and on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying Democratic President Joe Biden's win in the 2020 election. And the door was still left open for federal court input on the argument that the 14th Amendment disqualifies him from the ballot. Mandan resident Dave Faulkner showed up on Monday to support Trump, citing the former president's business background as a primary motive. He said he was excited to cast a ballot for Trump in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling. "I really think if he would have been eliminated from the ballots, I would hate to see where the country would have gone," Faulkner said. Republicans will hold their national convention from July 15-18 in Milwaukee. North Dakota's Republican delegates will be selected at the state party's convention, which is scheduled for April 5-6 in Fargo. Kayezad E Adajania heads the personal finance bureau at Moneycontrol. He has been covering mutual funds and personal finance for the past two decades, having worked in Mint and Outlook Money magazine. Kayezad was the founding member of Mints personal finance team when it was set up in 2009. Rachita Prasad heads Moneycontrols coverage of conventional and new energy, and infrastructure sectors. Rachita is passionate about energy transition and the global efforts against climate change, with special focus on India. Before joining Moneycontrol, she was an Assistant Editor at The Economic Times, where she wrote for the paper for over a decade and was a host on their podcast. Contact: rachita.prasad@nw18.com Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years. Criminal proceedings against a Bismarck man accused of attempted murder, gross sexual imposition and burglary in addition to other crimes have been delayed at least 30 days following a court hearing Thursday. Edward Harper Jr. will be transported to the State Hospital in Jamestown to undergo an evaluation set for March 11, according to an order signed by South Central District Judge Daniel Borgen. He ordered another status conference sometime after April 11. "Just so we don't lose track of the case," he said. Harper, who is in his late 30s, faces a number of charges that could see him sentenced to a maximum of life in prison without parole. In addition to attempted murder, burglary and gross sexual imposition by force, he faces charges of felonious restraint, attempted gross sexual imposition, robbery and terrorizing. The charges stem from events in Bismarck late last December. Police responded to an address on North Seventh Street after receiving a call from a woman who claimed a man broke into her home, beat her and sexually assaulted her, according to an affidavit. Officers reportedly discovered a woman on the front steps of the home exhibiting visible signs of injury. The affidavit states the woman told officers she had been approached by a man she believed to be Harper while walking home from a bar-restaurant. That man later entered her home through an unlocked back door and threatened her, beat her, sexually assaulted her then fell asleep, she reported. The document states the woman was able to make her way outside and call police, who found Harper naked and asleep on a bed covered in blood inside the residence. Harper has been held on a $1 million bond since his initial court appearance. During that hearing Harper told Borgen he had difficulties understanding the charges filed against him due to what he described as a learning disability and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Harper requested being released into psychiatric care and given access to medications he said were inside his apartment. That request was denied. Court records show Harper has previous convictions for terrorizing and burglary from Grand Forks County stemming from cases in 2019 and 2020. Lakshman Roy is Economic Policy Editor and Chief of Bureau at @CNBC_Awaaz A 70-year-old man accused of breaking into and stealing from a drug store in Crosby last November has pleaded not guilty to burglary, theft and criminal mischief. James McClintock was charged after agents with the Northwest Narcotics Task Force and the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation interviewed him following an arrest in Williston in late January. McClintock had been taken into custody following execution of a search warrant at a Williston motel, according to an affidavit. The document states authorities were looking into incidents of drug trafficking taking place at the motel and when agents approached, McClintock attempted to flee by exiting through a window. Once in custody, McClintock allegedly told police he had stolen a variety of drugs, including fentanyl patches, during the break-in at Crosby Drug last fall. The affidavit states McClintock gained entry to the drug store by cutting a hole in the buildings roof. McClintock reportedly told investigators he disposed of clothing and tools used in the burglary by throwing them into a body of water somewhere between Williston and Crosby. McClintock also faces a series of charges in Williams County in connection with attempted sale and possession of the drugs. He pleaded not guilty to those charges on Feb. 7. Trials in the Williams County cases are scheduled to begin on May 13. McClintock faces an Aug. 5 trial in the Divide County case. He remains in custody at the Williams County Correctional Center in Williston. Court documents list McClintock's address as Williston. Court records show he has a history of similar crimes and drug offenses in Minnesota and Wisconsin since 2010. Before that he had been living in Alabama. Divide County Sheriff Zach Schroeder has said his investigation didn't find any ties between McClintock and anyone in northwestern North Dakota. Karishma Vaswani is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Tim Culpan is a technology columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. Based in Taipei, he writes about Asian and global businesses and trends. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication Trisha Shreyashi is an Odisha-based advocate. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication Rajan Mahan is a journalist who headed NDTV and Star News in Rajasthan. He was also a Professor of Journalism at the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_ Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Bindu Gopal Rao is a Bengaluru-based freelance writer and photographer. Views expressed are personal. She's on Instagram @bindugopalrao The Bombay High Court has granted bail to Hari Sankaran, former vice chairman and managing director (MD) of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS), almost five years after his arrest by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). In the order, justice Prithviraj K Chavan noted that Mr Sankaran has been suffering from various severe ailments, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other comorbidities. The bench also observed that continuing his detention would increase the risk of cardiac death and frustrate the very object of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. In view of such a fragile heart as well as the overall health condition of the applicant, no purpose would be served in continuing his detention, else, it would frustrate the very object of Article 21 of the Constitution. In case detention of the applicant is continued in judicial custody, perhaps it would increase a risk of cardiac death in view of the medical reports placed on record, the HC says. The bench noted that Mr Sankaran had already undergone half of the maximum sentence for the offences he was charged with, and given the complexity of the case and the large number of accused persons involved the trial was unlikely to commence anytime soon. Hari Sankaran was arrested on the grounds of abusing his powers in IL&FS Financial Services Ltd (IFIN) through his fraudulent conduct and in granting loans to entities which were not creditworthy or have been declared non-performing assets and caused wrongful loss to the company and its creditors. In April 2019, the SFIO arrested Hari Sankaran for abusing his powers in IFIN, through his fraudulent conduct and in granting loans to entities which were not creditworthy or have been declared non-performing assets and caused wrongful loss to the company and its creditors. (Read: IL&FS Scam: SFIO Arrests Ex-chairman Hari Sankaran) On 28 May 2019, the SFIO submitted a report to the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) against IFINs directors, including Mr Sankaran and auditors, running into more than 32,000 pages. The next day, the MCA issued a sanction letter asking SFIO to file a complaint before the special court against Mr Sankaran and others in this case. However, aggrieved by the direction issued by the MCA to file a criminal complaint, Mr Sankaran filed a writ petition in the Bombay HC seeking quashing of the said direction, the complaint and consequently, the prosecution lodged by SFIO, on the premise that the MCA had not applied its mind whilst granting sanction. Similar petitions were also filed by the other directors and auditors of IFIN. During the hearing at that time, a division bench of chief justice BP Dharmadhikari and justice Nitin R Borkar observed that the SFIO had admitted that the court had not taken cognisance of the report and in these facts, if cognisance is not taken, the court may not have power to remand and, as such, the detention of the petitioner-director may not be legal. The bench also observed that, however, since in that petition, they were not required to answer the question of detention of Mr Sankaran, the issue was kept open for consideration and liberty was granted to him to file appropriate proceedings for his release. Mr Sankaran had filed an application before the sessions court, which, on 28 April 2020, granted interim bail to him. SFIO, however, challenged the order passed by the sessions court granting interim bail to Mr Sankaran. The application was allowed by the Bombay HC. However, Mr Sankaran challenged it before the Supreme Court. After hearing the counsel for Mr Sankaran, the apex court, on 16 June 2020, permitted him to withdraw his special leave petition (SLP) and allowed him to pursue appropriate remedies available in the law. Mr Sankaran then approached the Bombay HC seeking his release on the premise that his detention, post-filing of charge-sheet, was illegal as no cognisance of the complaint had been taken by the special judge. NEW YORK (AP) Fear of crime on subways and buses is back as a top concern in some U.S. cities, and so are efforts to persuade public officials to take the issue seriously. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday she would task 750 members of the National Guard with helping patrol the nations busiest subway system, saying she felt New York City police need reinforcements after a shooting on a train platform and a conductor getting slashed in the neck. Pennsylvania legislators created a special prosecutor to go after crimes committed in the transit system that serves the southeast of the state. In Philadelphia, where a spate of transit-related shootings left three dead and 12 wounded, many of them high schoolers, Mayor Cherelle Parker also promised Thursday to beef up police patrols. Enough is enough, she said on WURD radio. It remains to be seen whether such moves will have any effect on reducing crime in these massive public transit systems. Hochul acknowledged that calling in the National Guard was as much about soothing fears and making a political statement as it was about making mass transit safer. The citys subways were already safe, the Democrat reasoned, but a show of force might help dispel anxieties more than any statistic. If you feel better walking past someone in a uniform to make sure that someone doesnt bring a knife or a gun on the subway, then thats exactly why I did it, Hochul said Thursday on MSNBC. I want to change the psychology around crime in New York City. Im also going to demonstrate that Democrats fight crime as well, she added. So this narrative that Republicans have said that were soft on crime, that we defund the police? No. Major crimes in the New York City transit system dropped nearly 3% from 2022 to 2023, with five killings last year, down from 10 the year prior, according to police. Overall, violent crime in the subway system is rare, with train cars and stations being generally as safe as any other public place. In Pennsylvania, overall crime has declined in recent years on the regional transit system, though there were six killings in 2023, up from a total of seven during the previous three years. Still, the issue of safety on buses and trains is one that keeps resonating with voters particularly as some systems recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, when passengers stayed away. Recently its been a little unsafe. So I think they should control it before it gets out of hand, said Alan Uloa, a 43-year-old New York resident. The other day they slashed the conductor, and thats not cool. New York Republicans hammered Democrats on crime during the 2022 midterms, a message that helped the GOP capture suburban congressional seats. But heightened law enforcement presence can be a double-edged sword, said Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and the former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics. For some people, theyd like to see the added security, he said. And for other people, theyll say were overreacting. The political tough talk can also gloss over the reality that transit crime accounts for just a tiny percentage of all crime, said Vincent Del Castillo, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former chief of New York Citys transit police. You can have 10 to 12 murders in the system when there are literally hundreds across the city, he said. But because its so rare, it gets a lot of attention. The four shootings linked to Philadelphia's bus system began Sunday, when a man was killed by another passenger shortly after they got off a bus. Two more bus-related shootings in the next two days left two more dead and four injured. Then on Wednesday eight teenagers waiting to take a city bus home after school were shot, leaving a bus riddled with bullet holes. Charles Lawson, chief of the city's transit police, vowed that officers will take an aggressive approach, using every criminal code on the book" to crack down on crime. Were going to target individuals concealing their identity, he said. Were going to target fare evasion. Were going to target open drug use. The Guard troops in New York won't be that active. Instead they have been tasked with helping police conduct random searches of bags, a practice in place for nearly two decades. Passengers have the right to refuse such searches, though if they do they are asked to leave the subway system. Guard troops can't make arrests, but if they witness a crime, they can detain someone until police arrive, just as any civilian can do. The troops were deployed Thursday, but transit riders might not have noticed as they weren't widely visible at stations or in trains. Some were seen patrolling major hubs, including Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station, where they have been a regular presence since the terror attacks of Sept. 11 , 2001. Riders have long been split over bag checks, which are infrequent but can hold people up as they race for a train. Searches have also long been a subject of concerns iver racial profiling, though the NYPD says it takes steps to avoid that. Sometimes when Im in a hurry and I have a bag, I dont like to be stopped, said Jerome Brooks Jr., a 44-year-old actor and musician. So then I try to see, do they stop me if theyre going to stop somebody else that doesnt look like me? Cheryl Ann Harper, 46, said she welcomed the precaution. We need it, she said, noting that similar checks are common at theaters. I do it all the time. Not a big deal. If you dont have anything to hide, why you cant open up your bag? Associated Press reporters Anthony Izaguirre and Michael Hill in Albany, Ted Shaffrey and Michael Sisak in New York City, Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia and Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed. Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to examine the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan on Capitol Hill, in Washington, U.S., September 14, 2021. When facing the aftermath of a truck accident, the expertise of a Connecticut truck accident attorney is indispensable. These legal professionals are equipped to handle the unique challenges and complexities inherent in truck accident cases, ensuring that justice is sought with precision and dedication. Understanding The Uniqueness Of 18-Wheeler Accidents Truck accidents, especially those involving 18-wheelers, significantly differ from standard vehicle collisions. The size and weight disparity between an 18-wheeler and a passenger car can have devastating consequences. These incidents often involve complex liability issues, with potential responsibility lying with various parties, including the driver, trucking company, and possibly maintenance providers. The intricate web of federal and state regulations governing the trucking industry adds another layer of complexity to these cases, necessitating a lawyer's deep understanding to navigate effectively. 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A skilled attorney will pursue compensation diligently and provide the support and guidance victims need during such a tumultuous period, emphasizing the importance of specialized legal assistance in these challenging circumstances. Navigating Complex Regulations And Insurance The legal landscape of trucking accidents is fraught with complex regulations and daunting insurance policies. A proficient attorney's role is crucial in deciphering these complexities, ensuring compliance with the law, and advocating for fair compensation. Their understanding of the nuanced insurance issues specific to trucking accidents is vital for effectively negotiating with insurance companies and, if necessary, litigating to uphold the victim's rights. Advocacy Beyond The Courtroom The journey to justice in a truck accident case is multifaceted. Beyond the courtroom, an attorney's advocacy extends to offering sound legal counsel, managing evidence collection, and providing moral support. They stand as the client's steadfast ally, committed to securing a resolution that reflects the gravity of the losses incurred and the pain endured. Empowering Victims Through Legal Support The value of an experienced truck accident attorney cannot be overstated. They empower victims by providing not just legal representation but a comprehensive support system. Through their dedicated advocacy, they ensure that the victim's voice is heard, their rights are protected, and their recovery is prioritized, paving the way for healing and closure. The Journey Through The Legal Process Navigating the aftermath of a truck accident involves a detailed legal process that demands expertise and strategic precision. The right attorney not only guides you through this journey but also demystifies the steps involved, ensuring you are informed and empowered at every stage. Initial Consultation And Case Evaluation The legal journey commences with an initial consultation, where the attorney evaluates the specifics of your case, discusses the potential for compensation, and outlines the path forward. This stage is crucial for establishing a trust-based attorney-client relationship and setting the groundwork for the comprehensive legal strategy that follows. Strategic Litigation And Resolution Following the vehicle crash case evaluation, your trucker attorney strategically advances your claim, navigating through negotiations and if necessary, litigation. This phase is pivotal in securing a just outcome, whether through a settlement or court verdict, with the attorney's adept negotiation and litigation skills coming to the forefront to advocate for your rightful compensation. Conclusion: The Vital Role of Your Legal Ally When you come to 42 North Brewing Co.'s new downtown location at the Wurlitzer Flats building in the Theatre District, don't expect the same rustic, Colorado vibe of its location in East Aurora. Instead you will find art deco: shiny gold fixtures, emerald green seating and a gleaming marbled bar top. "Design-wise, that look and feel wouldn't fit, right? And so what we find here is much more of an art deco kind of roaring '20s kind of vibe," owner John Cimperman said. Though the food will be done by the same owners as Fat Bob's Smokehouse, as it is in East Aurora, the location will not be barbecue based, but a new concept called Queen City Bistro, featuring all-American favorites with an elevated twist, such as truffle macaroni and cheese, artisanal flatbreads, specialty burgers and pasta. Longtime Fat Bob's executive chef Alex Obenauer will be at the helm. "He's very excited. He's had a great tenure at Fat Bob's and this is a way for him to develop himself," Queen City Bistro co-owner Bridget Ryan said. Many of the dishes have been tested at 42 North in East Aurora and at Fat Bob's. Tableside service will be different, too with customers putting in drink and food orders through their smartphones and sending them straight to the bar or kitchen. Though ordering and payment will mostly be done via a QR code, servers will visit tables several times, and customers can pay at the bar with cash if they prefer. "This service is adding efficiency and it's adding to the experience. This isn't about saving staff," Cimperman said. "This is to bring some efficiency to it and taking advantage of the technology that's out there." 42 North at the Flats is centered on community, and the seating arrangements reflect that. In the front is beer hall-style seating with long tables, and in the rear is modular seating that can be rearranged to accommodate different group sizes. A space in the rear may eventually be adapted to host small parties if there is demand for it. "This is your community meet-up area, and I really do truly believe in that. It's not just a gimmick for a headline," Ryan said. "It is the point of this. Ten years ago, the number of people living in the immediate downtown area has grown from hundreds to thousands, and it's just so exciting to know that we can be a part of that community." Just inside the main entrance at 674 Main St. will be a small stage for musical acts, comedians and speakers. "We know we'll have great crowds before and after shows, but for us, we're really focused on how to program this space for people, six days a week," Cimperman said. 42 North at the Flats is shooting for a St. Patrick's Day opening March 17. Buffalo Next brings you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com. Paris Baguette coming to Williamsville Paris Baguette, a French-inspired bakery and cafe, is in talks to open a location on Main Street in Williamsville. With its closest stores in Ontario, it will be the first of its kind in Western New York. Franchisees Ivan Shen and Jin Zhang have been friends for 20 years, and were co-owners of a nail salon when trouble finding skilled nail technicians drove them to diversify into another kind of business. The pair, who were already fans of the South Korea-based brand, have plans to eventually open multiple locations. Meat & Eat Charcuterie to open in Larkinville Meat & Eat Charcuterie will open April 20 at 799 Seneca St. in Millrace Commons. It will serve specialty charcuterie boards, with selections of meats, cheeses and accompaniments such as olives, grapes and jam. It also will feature a wine bar, with wines paired to the charcuterie menu, a market with locally made merchandise for sale and the Western New York Cheese Academy, which will host classes and can be booked for events. White Dog Vintage moves White Dog Vintage a vintage clothing, home and gift store has moved from 1241 Hertel Ave., to a new spot at 43 Allen St. Temporarily closed for the move, it has now reopened and resumed its regular hours. Rin gets second location Rin Thai Bistro, a Thai restaurant, has opened a second location at 1020 Elmwood Ave., called Rin Citi. That location was formerly the Village Juicery. Rin's Thai Bistro at 4446 Main St. remains open. THE LATEST An Amherst schools is complaining about debris from a nearby demolition project. HP Hood is seeking tax breaks for a Batavia expansion. Buffalo Bills season ticket holders are getting a chance to see the new stadium virtually. More than 2,000 staffing complaints have been filed by a union against Catholic Health. Amazon's distribution center in Hamburg has topped its hiring goals. Neighbors aren't happy with a plan to reopen a South Buffalo scrapyard. Carley Hill's new way to support construction industry is an academy accelerating workers into the field. Buffalo Niagara home prices look cheap compared with most big cities. ICYMI Five reads from Buffalo Next: 1. What could the future hold for the site of Erie Community College's South Campus? 2. Western, upstate NY tech hub bid aims for $54 million in federal funds. The joint bid expects to find out this summer if it wins funding in the Commerce Department competition. 3. This UB program aims to help women and minorities build their startups. 4. FanDuel's CEO hasn't forgotten about her roots in the Buffalo Niagara region. 5. Need a place to stay to see the eclipse? The prices are astronomical. 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. At least 200 people, mostly women and children, abducted by extremists in northeastern Nigeria ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) Islamic extremists have abducted at least 200 people who were out searching for firewood, mostly women and children displaced by violence in northeastern Nigeria, the United Nations office in the country said. Locals blamed the attack on Islamic extremist rebels who launched an insurgency in Borno in 2009 seeking to establish their radical interpretation of Islamic law in the region. Many of those fleeing the deadly violence are in displacement camps with limited aid, often risking their lives to go to areas with inadequate security presence in search of food and firewood. The victims of the latest attack had left several displacement camps in Borno states Gamboru Ngala council area when they were ambushed near the border with Chad and taken hostage, the U.N. said late Wednesday. The incident occurred several days ago but details are only emerging now because of limited access to information in the area. The exact number of people abducted remains unknown but is estimated at over 200 people, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria Mohamed Fall said in a statement, adding that some of the victims were later released. The latest attack is a stark reminder that women and girls are worst hit by the conflict, Fall said as he called for the immediate release of the victims. This act of violence against already traumatized citizens offends our common humanity, he said. At least 35,000 people have been killed and more than 2 million displaced due to the violence by the militant Boko Haram group and a breakaway faction backed by the Islamic State group. Nigerian security forces fighting the insurgents are overstretched as they also battle dozens of armed groups attacking remote communities in other parts of the northern region. The crises have added to pressures on Nigerias President Bola Tinubu, who was elected last year after promising to end the violence. ____ Follow APs Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa By CHINEDU ASADU Associated Press US diplomat criticizes China for using coercion and intimidation as it presses maritime claims US diplomat criticizes China for using coercion and intimidation as it presses maritime claims View Photo BANGKOK (AP) The top American diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific criticized China on Thursday for using intimidation tactics against other countries in the region to press its sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea. Speaking to reporters after returning to the United States from meetings with officials in Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei, Daniel Kritenbrink said he had used the trip to emphasize Washingtons commitment to ensuring all nations respect freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight in the peaceful resolution of disputes. He said China has taken a number of steps in the South China Sea that both run counter to international law, but that also utilize coercion to intimidate partners in ways that we find deeply unacceptable and destabilizing, said Kritenbrink, who is the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own territory, and has active disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. It has become growingly assertive with its maritime presence in the resource-rich and busy waterway, and Kritenbrinks comments came the same week that a Chinese coast guard ship sideswiped a Philippine patrol vessel at sea. The hostilities Tuesday off the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal were just the latest in the contested waters, which many fear could spark a larger conflict between China and the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. regularly sails warships through the Taiwan Strait and conducts naval maneuvers in the South China Sea and everywhere that international law allows, which Kritenbrink said demonstrates that all countries share those same rights. The U.S. strategy also involved helping ensure its partners have their own ability to protect their sovereignty and their own interests, he said. If we do that, we maximize our chances of preventing miscalculation and conflict and, again, promoting peace and stability, he said. In Beijing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the U.S. of stirring up trouble in Taiwan and the South China Sea, without mentioning it by name. For unreasonable provocations, we will take just countermeasures, Wang told reporters. We also advise certain countries outside the region not to stir up trouble, choose sides, and not to become disruptors and troublemakers in the South China Sea. Beyond security issues, Kritenbrink said his talks with officials in the region included discussions on economics, climate and energy policy and other issues. In meetings with new Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, he said he again brought up U.S. concerns about Chinas involvement in the expansion of the Ream Naval Base, a project begun under Hun Manets authoritarian father, Hun Sen. Hun Manet succeeded Hun Sen as prime minister last year. Even though Cambodia insists its constitution does not allow any foreign military bases on its soil, two Chinese naval ships already docked there in December. The base on the Gulf of Thailand could give China better access to the strategically important Malacca Strait nearby. The United States and a number of countries in the region have expressed serious concerns about the intent, the nature and the scope of construction at the Ream Naval Base, as well as the role that the PRC military is playing in this process and in the future use of the facility, Kritenbrink said. He did not say how Hun Manet responded to the concerns, but said overall we had a very productive and candid exchange. Throughout his trip in Southeast Asia, Kritenbrink said, he sought to assure officials that even with much of the worlds focus currently on the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, the U.S. remains committed to the region. Despite the many global challenges that we collectively face, the United States remains squarely focused on the Indo-Pacific region, he said. It is a region, he said, where we think much of the history of the 21st century will be written, and where Americas future security and prosperity will largely be determined. By DAVID RISING Associated Press Japan and India agree to step up security and economic cooperation amid regional security concerns Japan and India agree to step up security and economic cooperation amid regional security concerns View Photo TOKYO (AP) Japans and Indias foreign ministers on Thursday agreed to step up security and economic cooperation as the two Asian countries look to boost their ties in the face of Chinas growing influence in the region. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told a joint news conference after talks with her Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar that they reaffirmed their countries would expand bilateral security cooperation, including in the field of defense equipment and technology transfers. She also said they agreed to look for possibilities to extend their cooperation to new areas of space and cybersecurity. Japan and India, members of the Quad grouping that also includes the United States and Australia, have rapidly intensified bilateral ties amid shared concern about Chinas increasingly assertive economic and military activities in the region. India and Japan, as two major Indo-Pacific nations sharing values, history and interests, have an abiding stake in the peace, security, and prosperity of our region, and are ready to play a responsible role commensurate to the needs of our times, said Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit in Tokyo to meet with Japanese government and business officials. Noting rapidly changing strategic relations and a worsening security environment on the global stage where divisions and contention are deepening, Kamikawa said Japan wants to work with India in resolving common issues through dialogue and cooperation. Japan especially places importance on its relations with India, which has nurtured its own democracy and history and represents the Global South, Kamikawa said. In light of the increasingly severe security environment of today, we confirmed the need for our defense and security cooperation, she said. The two ministers welcomed expanding joint military exercises. Jaishankar said their countries would work together to enhance economic security and supply chain resilience, and discussed cooperation in areas such as semiconductor, green technology and digital transformation. Japan has also been supporting infrastructure development in India, and Kamikawa reaffirmed Tokyos continued help in high-speed rail projects. ___ AP video journalist Ayaka McGill in Tokyo contributed to this report. By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press 10 years on, parents of Chinese passengers on MH370 are still asking: What happened to my child? 10 years on, parents of Chinese passengers on MH370 are still asking: What happened to my child? View Photo BEIJING (AP) Ten years on, the families of Chinese passengers who disappeared on board a lost Malaysia Airlines flight still are searching for answers. On Friday, a few dozen relatives of the passengers met officials at Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing as part of their long journey for answers. They also visited the Malaysian Embassy to present their demands. Even after such a long time, the wound remains raw for many of the families. Friday is the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of flight MH370. The Boeing 777 left Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing with 239 people on board on March 8, 2014, but took a sharp turn south and fell off the radar. It never made it to Beijing. The planes disappearance drew attention from around the world and has generated countless conspiracy theories. Only debris from the aircraft has been found. The majority of the planes passengers, 154, were Chinese. Among the families were elderly parents who lost adult children. Where did the plane go? Where is the person? said Li Shuce, who lost his son on the flight. If hes alive I want to see him; if hes dead, I want to see his body. Li was surrounded by police, who were managing the crowd in front of the building where the families met government officials. They corralled journalists behind a barrier made of ropes and a whiteboard. Later, the families went to the Malaysian embassy in Beijing where they chanted in front of the building, Malaysia, return my loved one! Without seeing them, we wont give up. Another woman who gave only her last name, Gao, because she was concerned about police harassment, said she believed her husbands death last year was precipitated by not knowing the circumstances of their sons death: He was returning from a vacation with his wife and 3-year-old daughter in Malaysia when the flight vanished. Gao and her husband belonged to a generation that could only have one child because of Chinas one-child policy, which has since been relaxed. My only request, I just want to know what happened to him. We need this, said Gao, a Beijing resident. I dont have any other requests. She said she didnt care about possible compensation from the airline, which a Chinese court is holding hearings on. The families are still holding out hope for answers. Last week, Malaysian officials said they would consider restarting the effort to find the aircraft, after a U.S. company that conducted a previous search proposed another attempt. Gao said she has forced herself to carry on living for her family. How could I give up? If I dont stand up, how can I face them? When you meet these type of situations, you have to act for yourself, you have to be strong. ___ AP journalist Dake Kang contributed to this report. By HUIZHONG WU Associated Press A Greek novelist and a lawyer are the first same-sex couple to wed at Athens city hall A Greek novelist and a lawyer are the first same-sex couple to wed at Athens city hall View Photo ATHENS, Greece (AP) A Greek novelist and his partner became the first same-sex couple to be married in Athens city hall, three weeks after the legalization of same-sex marriage in Orthodox Christian Greece. The Greek capitals mayor officiated at the civil wedding on Thursday of Petros Hadjopoulos, who writes under the pen name Auguste Corteau, and lawyer Anastasios Samouilidis. Hadjopoulos said the event was a dream that we didnt dare entertain when we were in our teens. There is a symbolism to this, he told The Associated Press. I understand that (marriage) doesnt work for everyone, but for people who grew up in Greece in the 1980s and 90s, when guys like us lived a very lonely existence, even symbols have a great value. The couple arrived with their dog, to the applause of more than two dozen guests. A cross-party majority of Greek lawmakers approved same-sex marriage in a vote on Feb. 15, despite strong opposition from the socially conservative Orthodox Church. While polls show that a slender majority of Greek public opinion backs same-sex marriage, the Church has been fuming at its legalization. On Tuesday, Church officials on the island of Corfu imposed a religious ban on two local lawmakers who voted for the reform. The law also confers full parental rights on married same-sex partners with children. But it precludes gay couples from parenthood through surrogate mothers in Greece an option currently available to women who cant have children for health reasons. Athens Mayor Haris Doukas described Thursdays ceremony as a historic moment, and encouraged other same-sex couples to follow suit. Every citizen of Athens should be able to live and love in the way they choose, he told The Associated Press. The first same-sex wedding under the new law was held over the weekend in the southern Athens municipality of Nea Smyrni. Greece is the first majority Orthodox Christian country to allow same-sex marriage. It legalized same-sex civil unions nearly a decade ago. ___ Associated Press writer Nicholas Paphitis in Athens, Greece, contributed to this report. By THEODORA TONGAS and MICHAEL VARAKLAS Associated Press On Mothers Day last year, the family of Sharon Stocksdale opened the urn that, they believed, held her cremated remains. Instead, they found paperwork that, they say in a recently filed lawsuit, revealed the urn held the ashes of someone else entirely. The mistake dates back three months earlier, according to the complaint, when staff at an Amigone Funeral Home handed over cremains to the families of two women who died on the same day. The family of the other woman, Gabriella Antersol, displayed their urn at a funeral service and, later, had it interred in a cemetery mausoleum all without realizing the urn held the wrong ashes. The lawsuit filed last week in State Supreme Court in Buffalo accuses Amigone and Forest Lawn Cremation Co. of mishandling the womens remains and causing the Stocksdale and Antersol survivors deep emotional distress. Every one of them was very, very upset. Extremely upset, Jill Trembath, the families attorney, said in an interview. Amigone declined to comment late last week. But Forest Lawn officials said they have robust safeguards in place to ensure the proper handling of the remains with which they are entrusted. We are confident that we followed all of our procedures, Forest Lawn CEO Julie R. Snyder told The Buffalo News, adding, It is a secure, organized, redundant process. Surprising discovery Stocksdale, a Town of Tonawanda resident who was 67, and Antersol, an 83-year-old Cheektowaga resident known as Terry, both died on Feb. 19, 2023, records show. Both families retained the Amigone Funeral Home at 2600 Sheridan Drive, Town of Tonawanda, to handle the funeral arrangements, according to Trembath. Amigone took in the bodies of the two women and, in turn, contracted with Forest Lawn Cremation to perform the cremations. The funeral home transferred the womens bodies to Forest Lawn Cremation on Feb. 20, one day after they died, according to the complaint. Trembath said she didnt know precisely when Forest Lawn employees returned the womens cremains to Amigone or when funeral home staff handed them over to each family. Unknowingly, the Antersol family held a funeral with their urn on Feb. 22, 2023, and, one day later, had the urn interred within a mausoleum compartment at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cheektowaga, according to the lawsuit. It wasnt until members of the Stocksdale family opened their urn on May 14 that they discovered what had happened, the complaint states. The lawsuit, filed Feb. 26, doesnt include a timeline of when the Stocksdale family alerted Amigone to the error, when the Antersol family learned of the mistake or when they contacted a lawyer. The urns containing the remains of Stocksdale and Antersol have not gone to a final resting place, Trembath said. She declined to say where they are now but confirmed Stocksdales ashes were removed from the Antersol mausoleum plot. Stocksdales daughter, Courtney Michaud, and sisters Marsha Roth and Elaine Evans are joined in the suit by Antersols three children: Russell Antersol, Michael Antersol and Jennifer Chomen. They declined through their attorney to comment for this article. The lawsuit claims the companies negligence caused the womens survivors to suffer profound mental anguish. They are seeking an undisclosed amount in damages. As for how the mix-up occurred, Trembath said this remains a point of dispute. Everybodys pointing fingers at each other, she said. Each company has denied responsibility and insisted it has protections in place to prevent something like this from ever happening, Trembath said. I have proof that the mistake was made, she said. I dont know at what point it was made. Checks and balances Anthony P. Amigone Jr., president of his familys chain of funeral homes, said he couldnt comment on pending litigation. We also consider any information regarding families we serve as confidential, he said in an email. Forest Lawn officials also said they couldnt comment directly on the claims made in the lawsuit. But they generally defended their procedures as painstaking and provided a detailed account of the crematorys operations. The Forest Lawn Crematory at 901 W. Delavan Ave., across from the cemetery, opened in 1885 and Forest Lawn took over the facility in 2012, according to Chris Converse, a vice president with the nonprofit. The crematory performs about 5,000 cremations annually. The transfer of human remains from the funeral home to the crematory, the cremation itself and the return of the cremains to the funeral home all are closely regulated by the state Division of Cemeteries, Converse said. At each step of the process before, during and after the cremation, paperwork and a coin with a unique code accompany the remains to ensure their proper identification, Converse and Snyder said. After the cremation is complete, the cremains and that coin are sealed within two bags and placed in a plastic box, which is labeled, before the plastic box is placed inside a cardboard box that is, in turn, labeled again. Surveillance cameras are set up throughout the crematory to provide another level of security for the process, Converse said. The body delivery receipt, which is mandated by New York State, is the start of our chain of custody. Once they sign that and we sign it, we take responsibility for that decedent, he said. And our signature form, upon delivery or pickup by a funeral director at the crematory, is our end of the chain of custody of that decedent. Given all this, Snyder was asked whether its possible cremains could get mixed up at Forest Lawn. Not at our crematory, she said. One hundred percent confidence that could not happen. Anthony Basile, president of the Erie Niagara Funeral Directors Association, said employees of funeral homes and crematories must be meticulous in handling the remains in their care and the identifying paperwork that accompanies those remains. Regardless of what way youre going, theres definitely a tremendous amount of checks and balances, both on the funeral home side of things as well as the crematory-cemetery side of things, said Basile, who is an owner and licensed funeral director with the John J. Kaczor Funeral Home. He said funeral homes must keep on file for four years a document, signed by the next of kin, that details what their wishes were for their loved one and where the decedents remains ended up. At Basiles funeral home, employees make a final check that everything matches up when they transfer the cremains from the crematorys packaging to the urn selected by the family, he said. I would say most funeral directors, most funeral homes, they like to handle that kind of stuff themselves, Basile said. Just for their own peace of mind if you have two families at once, Mr. Jones and Mrs. Smith, that youre making sure that the right person is going in the right urn. That you have the right ashes and that the urn is going to the right place that it needs to be. 2 American men are back in Italian court after convictions in officers slaying were thrown out 2 American men are back in Italian court after convictions in officers slaying were thrown out View Photo ROME (AP) A new trial opened Friday for two American men in the slaying of an Italian plainclothes police officer during a botched sting operation after Italys highest court threw out their convictions. Italys highest Cassation Court ordered a new trial last year, saying it hadnt been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants, with limited Italian language skills, had understood that they were dealing with Italian police officers when they went to meet an alleged drug dealer in Rome. Finnegan Lee Elder, 24, and Gabriel Natale-Hjort, 23, who were teenagers at the time of the July 26, 2019 slaying, sat side by side as an appeals court judge made opening remarks in the new trial. The two are being held in separate prisons near the Italian capital. The friends from California were found guilty in the killing of Carabinieri Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega and on four other counts and sentenced to life in prison, Italys harshest punishment. The sentences were reduced to 24 years for Elder and 22 years for Natale-Hjorth on appeal. Prosecutors alleged Elder stabbed Cerciello Rega 11 times with a knife that he brought with him on his trip to Europe, and that Natale-Hjorth, then 18, helped him hide the knife in their hotel room. Natale-Hjorth testified that he grappled with Cerciello Regas partner and was unaware of the stabbing when he ran back to the hotel. The two friends had arranged to meet a small-time drug dealer, who turned out to be a police informant, to recover money lost in a bad deal and return a backpack they had snatched in retaliation, when they were confronted by the officers. According to the defendants lawyers, the Cassations decision changed the evaluation of the incident, suggesting that the two Americans didnt know they were facing Carabinieri police officers when the attack happened. Our strategy remains the same, Elders lawyer Roberto Capra told The Associated Press. We always said that Elder didnt know he was confronting a police officer This changes the whole reconstruction of the incident and we believe it will have an impact on the punishment. Elder and Natale-Hjorth were school friends from northern California who were meeting up for a few days in Rome, where Natale-Hjorth had family. The two young men have both studied Italian during detention and are now enrolled at university, their lawyers said during the hearing, The killing of 35-year-old newlywed Cerciello Rega shocked Italians, who mourned him as a national hero. What we care about is that (the defendants) responsibilities are clarified, Cerciello Rega familys lawyer Franco Coppi told AP. We said since the beginning that there are no vengeful intentions or desire to punish at all costs. The next hearing has been set for April 10, when the general prosecutor will present his own indictment. The following hearings will be held in May, with lawyers expecting the trial to be closed before the summer. By GIADA ZAMPANO Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) Prosecutors in Mexico said Thursday they have arrested two taxi drivers who participated in the beating of two German tourists outside a club in the Caribbean coast resort of Playa del Carmen. Prosecutors in coastal state of Quintana Roo said the two drivers were arrested on charges of drug possession, after they were found to be carrying marijuana and cocaine in their taxis. The cab drivers were not immediately charged in relation to the beating last week. A video of the attack was posted on social media, showing a group of about a half dozen men in the white-shirt, dark-pants uniforms worn by local cab drivers beating and kicking a couple who are on the ground. The woman can be seen trying to protect the man from the rain of blows by covering him with her body as both lie on the street. But the cabbies continued to beat the couple with what appeared to be boards or signs, and kicked the man. Authorities offered no further information on the tourists, or whether they were injured in the night-time attack. But they did say the permits for the two suspects taxicabs would be cancelled. It is not the first time that cab drivers in Playa del Carmen and Cancun, to the north, have been involved in attacks. In 2023, there were a number of violent confrontations between medallion taxi drivers and people working for ride-hailing apps. High taxi fares have long been a subject of debate in Cancun. Nor is it the first time there have been links between taxi drivers and drugs in the area. In January, authorities acknowledged that criminal gangs are trying to extort protection payments from taxi drivers in Cancun. Five suspects were arrested for demanding about $12 per week from 200 unionized taxi drivers to allow them to work. In the past, such demands have usually been accompanied by threats to shoot drivers and burn taxis that fail to pay. The five men were arrested aboard two taxis, and were found with marijuana and meth in their possession. They have been ordered held pending trial on extortion charges. Violence in the areas resorts have sometime affected tourists. In February, prosecutors said an American woman and a man from Belize were shot to death in what appears to have been a dispute between drug dealers at a beach club in the resort city of Tulum, south of Playa del Carmen. Prosecutors stressed the American woman had no connection to an alleged drug dealer also killed in the shooting Friday night. The woman appeared to have simply been caught in the crossfire. Foreign tourists have been killed in the past after getting caught in drug gang shootouts in the once-tranquil beach resort. In 2021 in Tulum, two tourists one German and a California travel blogger born in India were killed while eating at a restaurant. They apparently were caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival drug dealers. ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america There are several events planned for this weekend, March 9th and 10th. First, Friday March 8th at 9:30 am the Calaveras Celtic faire and Concert opens at the Calaveras Fairgrounds. The Scottish Highland games are back along with the Imperial Knights Tournament of Champions, over 100 vendors to help find your kilt, your family history shield, a Scottish meat pie, or even a Guinness on tap. The weekend features a whiskey tasting competition, over four hundred costume performers, juggling and more. There are five stages with the main stage hosting Blaggards, Wicked Tinkers, Blackeyed Dempseys, Stout Rebellion, Hounds of Belfast, Golden Bough, and Black Irish Band. The event is rain or shine with light rain expected Sunday. Parking is free Friday for the educational day for families and students with the venue closing at 2:30 pm. Saturday and Sunday the gates open at 10 am, parking is $10 cash only, details are here. The annual TuCare Dinner and Auction will take place this Saturday inside of the Sonora Elks Lodge. The theme is Working Together to Make California Golden. The Keynote speakers are California State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil and Mike Albrecht, the President of the American Loggers Council. The Sonora Chamber of Commerce and the 2nd Saturday Art Night Committee are promoting Second Saturday Art Night in downtown Sonora along Washington Street from 5 until 8 PM. Galleries, restaurants and shops will be open later to offer art, live music performances and demonstrations. The Tuolumne County Arts festive and froggy closing reception is Saturday from 2-4 PM at the Tuolumne County Arts main building at 21 N. Washington Street in Sonora. Later the building will be open for free arts and crafts with Stacy Lindsey hosting a workshop about print making. Details are here. At the Aronos Club their monthly dance is held on second Saturday from 7:00pm to 9:00pm for social dancing. Theres a variety of dancing from ballroom to line dancing for the whole family. Entry is $10 for adults, event organizers note its a great way to meet new friends. Laurel McGraws Senior Project for literacy will feature games, treats, prizes, photos with Cat and the Hat, and Dr Seuss read aloud at Twain Harte Elementary Schools cafeteria. The event is from 1 to 4 pm on Saturday as detailed here. If you have a dog or cat in Calaveras need of a Rabies vaccine or microchip, come to the Dog and Cat Rabies Vaccination and Microchipping Clinic Saturday morning. The clinic is free to all Calaveras County residents as detailed here. The Valley Springs Optimist Club is supporting the Volunteer Center and Partners to present the 2024 Melodrama Showdown at Lolas Saloon or Leave Lillie Alone Performances are Fridays and Saturdays through March 16th. You are invited to cheer, boo and hiss throughout the show inside of the Veterans Memorial Hall in Valley Springs as detailed here. MYACT is performing Freaky Friday: The Musical is a stage adaptation of the classic story where a mother, Katherine, and her teenage daughter, Ellie, magically switch bodies. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. Details are in the event listing here. Sierra Repertory Theater is performing The Play That Goes Wrong at the East Sonora Theater. The play is a classic murder mystery full of mischief, more details are in the blog Monty Python Meets Sherlock Holmes In SRTs Latest Show. The Sonora High Ag Boosters and the FFA will be at Wilco this Saturday, March 9th, from 10 am- 1pm selling tickets for the annual Ag Boosters drive through dinner. Tickets are pre sale only and are $90 each. Each ticket is for a dinner that feeds 4-6 people with the dinner pick up at the Sheriffs Posse grounds Saturday, April 6th from 4-6 pm. Calaveras Big Trees State Park is open, check out our traffic section for any changes in chain controls on Highway 4. The parks Saturday guided walk around the North Grove Trail is free with paid admission to the park, details are here. The Odd Fellows of Lafayette Lodge Number 65, will serve an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast this Sunday morning from 8 until 11 AM at the La Grange Odd Fellows Hall in La Grange. Breakfast usually includes ham and cheese omelets, sausages, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, coffee and orange juice. Make reservations by Saturday for the VFW Post 2600 San Andreas Irish Dinner on Tuesday at 6 PM by calling 209-754-3916. They will be serving Corned Beef n Cabbage with Veggies, Salad, and Dessert inside of the Hall. The cost for dinner is $15 each or $14 for Veterans and free for World War II & Korean War Veterans. Register your classic vehicle now for the second annual Horses and Horsepower event in May. The event will take place at the Chester and Push Horse Rescue. All car and truck models up to 1975 are invited to be a part of this show, details are here. The restaurant of the month in our dining guide is Papas New Roost. Check out the movie times at local theaters, skiers and snowboarders check out the Snow Report in the weather section and see the conditions yourself via local webcams here. Calaveras County Office of Education hosts science fair competition View Photo San Andreas, CA This weekend, Calaveras County students will get a chance to show off their science knowledge and skills while competing for a top prize of $250. The 39th Annual Calaveras County Science Fair will feature competitive and demonstration projects for students in the 4th through 12th grades. It will be held at the Calaveras River Academy/Mountain Oaks School gymnasium at 150 Old Oak Road in San Andreas on Saturday (3/9). The public can explore the science fair projects from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. The public can vote on non-competitive demonstrations from 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and attend the awards ceremony at 3 p.m. The STEAM Advisory Council will award the Albert Michelson Science Fair Award to first-, second-, and third-place winners in each category. The winners will take home a bank of $250, $100, and $50, respectively, along with gold, silver, and bronze medals. All made possible by council members, the community, and a grant from the Calaveras Community Foundation. Judging is based on creativity, scientific thought, skill, clarity, and students interviews. The top projects in Life Science, Behavioral & Cognitive Science, Physical Science & Engineering, and Math & Computer Science will receive plaques and $250 cash. Additionally, up to six competitive projects may be recommended for entry in the California State Science and Engineering Fair, which will be virtually held on April 16, 2024. Further details regarding this weekends science fair can be found here. Protesters march in Syria against al-Qaida-linked group as a prominent militant is released View Photo IDLIB, Syria (AP) A powerful al-Qaida-linked group that dominates much of rebel-held northwestern Syria released Friday one of its founders after he spent months in jail on suspicion of having links with forces outside the country. The release appears to be a move by the militant groups top leader to appease the public as many have been protesting over the past week, demanding he leave and asking that the detainees be released. On Friday, hundreds marched in a show of defiance against the militant chief, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who runs the al-Qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. The protests took place in the city of Idlib, the capital of the province with the same name, and surrounding towns and villages. Al-Golani, we dont want you, chanted some of the protesters in Idlib. The al-Qaida-linked group has crushed several rival groups in the enclave over the past few years and violently suppressed any protests against it. But public anger against the militants wrongdoings has escalated. The released militant is one of the groups co-founders, Maysara al-Jubouri, better known as Abu Maria al-Qahtani. He had been jailed since August over misuse of social media. The group said he was released after an investigation proved he was innocent. Earlier in the week, the militant group released 420 detainees from its jails, following similar demonstrations sparked by the recent death of a member of a rebel faction, allegedly while being tortured in a jail run by the al-Qaida-linked group. There have been allegations that the jails run by al-Golani targeted the groups own members suspected of allegedly having provided intelligence to the U.S.-led coalition, which over the years led to the killing of top al-Qaida commanders in drone strikes in different parts of Syria. During a rally on Tuesday night in the town of Daret Azzeh, al-Qaida-linked militants opened fire at the protesters but no casualties were reported. Public sentiment against Hayat Tahrir al-Shams leader has been rising since it arrested several senior members of the group, previously known as Nusra Front. The group has sought to distance itself from al-Qaida over the past years. Al-Jubouri, an Iraqi citizen, had been a longtime al-Qaida member who fought against U.S. forces in Iraq following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. In 2011, he was one of several al-Qaida figures who moved to Syria, months after the countrys ongoing deadly conflict began. ___ Mroue reported from Beirut. By BASSEM MROUE and GHAITH AL-SAYED Associated Press Canadian town mourns devastating loss of family killed in Nashville plane crash View Photo NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Police in Tennessee identified those killed in a fiery small plane crash next to Interstate 40 on Monday as a family of five from Canada. The pilot was Victor Dotsenko, 43, and the passengers were his wife Rimma, 39, and their three children, David, 12, Adam, 10, and Emma, 7, Metro Nashville Police said in a news release. I was shocked. I couldnt believe it at first, when I got the call, Rabbi Chaim Hildeshaim said in a telephone interview. The family were members of the Chabad Russian Center of Thornhill Woods, he said. He officiated at the couples wedding and counted them as friends. Victor Dotsenko was a very, very generous person, a very, very kind person, he said, adding that his wife was also very kind. They had a beautiful relationship between them. They were great parents as well. Victor Dotsenko installed windows and when the synagogue needed new ones, he donated the entire installation, Hildeshaim said. The family often came to the rabbis home and Victor Dotsenko would come by the synagogue and pray together with him. I would ask people to do a good deed in their memory, an act of kindness in memory of this family, these beautiful five precious souls, he said. The Mayor of King Township, where the family lived, released a statement on Thursday calling the deaths a heartbreaking and devastating loss for our tight-knit community. While we await further details from the ongoing investigation, our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the victims during this incredibly difficult time, the statement from Mayor Steve Pellegrini reads. We also extend our gratitude to the first responders and officials involved in the response and investigation. The UMCA Rich Tree Academy posted a statement saying the three children were part of the UMCA family for many years. These beautiful children lit up our hallways every day. They all had such a positive energy and attitude towards their friends and teachers, the statement reads. Words cannot express the profound sadness and grief we are experiencing as we mourn the loss of the Dotsenko family. Their flight originated in Ontario and made stops in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, likely to refuel, before attempting to land in Nashville at dusk on Monday evening, NTSB investigator Aaron McCarter said at a Tuesday news conference. Victor Dotsenko radioed to air traffic controllers at around 7:40 p.m. saying his engine has shut down. He said he overflew John C. Tune airport, just west of downtown, at 2500 feet (762 meters) and circled back around, according to a recording of the transmissions. Im going to be landing I dont know where! Dotsenko said. The air traffic controller told him they were clearing a runway and urged him to try to glide in. But he said they had already descended to 1600 feet (488 meters), and in his last transmission he said, Im too far away. Im not going to make it. Many witnesses called 911, some of them still in shock and disbelief at what they had seen, according to audio of the calls obtained through a public records request. Some who didnt see the plane fall assumed a car or truck had caught fire. Oh my God. It almost hit my car! one caller said. Another said the explosion was so big that she had to swerve around it on the interstate with her three kids in her car. We were driving, and I saw it kind of come across out of the corner of my eye, and I saw that it was tilted, the caller said. You know, you see something out of the corner of your eye, and youre like, Wait. Is that closer than I think it is? And then suddenly, it hit the other side of the ground and, like, completely exploded. McCarter said they packed up the wreckage for transport to a facility in Springfield, Tennessee, where the plane will be reassembled. The NTSB will have a preliminary report out in about 10 days. The full report will take about nine months. ___ This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the last name of Rabbi Chaim Hildeshaim. ___ Associated Press writer Jonathan Mattise contributed to this report. By TRAVIS LOLLER Associated Press Woman whose husband killed his 5-year-old daughter granted parole for perjury View Photo CONCORD, N.H. (AP) The estranged wife of a New Hampshire man convicted of killing his 5-year-old daughter and moving the body around for months was granted parole on Thursday, more than a year after she was sentenced to prison for lying about where she was when the child was last seen. Kayla Montgomery, 33, is expected to be released in May, days before her husband is scheduled to be sentenced. She was ordered to complete mandatory prison programs related to substance abuse treatment and have an approved home plan. She will be under intense supervision for at least several months. She should have spoken up so that authorities could find the girl and know what happened to her, she told the three-member panel of the New Hampshire Adult Parole Board during her hearing at the state correctional facility for women. I didnt tell the truth about where I was during that time, Montgomery said. And not being able to cooperate with the detectives, I got all caught up in the situation and if I just was honest from the beginning, they could have done their job sooner. Harmony Montgomerys case has exposed weaknesses in child protection systems and provoked calls to prioritize the well-being of children over parents in custody matters. Harmony Montgomery was moved between the homes of her mother and her foster parents multiple times before Adam Montgomery, her father, received custody in 2019 and moved to New Hampshire. Michelle Raftery, who was a foster parent to Harmony Montgomery, attended Kaylas hearing and cried as she heard the parole boards decision. She declined to comment afterward. Kayla Montgomery was the star witness against her husband during his two-week trial last month on second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter. Authorities believe Harmony Montgomery was killed on Dec. 7, 2019, but the child wasnt reported missing for nearly two years after that. Her body has not been found. Kayla Montgomery, her stepmother, has lost her parental rights to her own four children, three of them fathered by Adam Montgomery. She said she put in an appeal to get them back. She was tearful at times answering the boards questions about how she had suffered some missteps in not completing one treatment program and violating the rules of another by pretending to take her medication. She eventually was allowed back into the program. Ive actually been working on myself, she said. Board member Tricia Thompson noted that Kayla Montgomery would face a lot of pressure in the community to be able to keep herself together and not lie. Once you tell one, youre beat, because youre not going to be able to keep up, Thompson said. All I can do is take it one day at a time, Kayla Montgomery said. Kayla Montgomery pleaded guilty in 2022 to two perjury charges for lying during grand jury testimony about working at a doughnut shop on Nov. 30, 2019, the day she said she last saw Harmony. She was sentenced to at least 18 months in prison and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in their case against Adam. In exchange, prosecutors dropped charges that Kayla also lied to state health officials about having the child in her care in order to collect welfare benefits and that she received stolen firearms. Kayla Montgomery had testified that her family, including her two young sons with Adam Montgomery, had been evicted right before Thanksgiving in 2019 and were living in a car. She said on Dec. 7, Adam Montgomery punched Harmony Montgomery at several stop lights as they drove from a methadone clinic to a fast food restaurant because he was angry that the child was having bathroom accidents in the car. After that, she said she handed food to the children in the car without checking on Harmony Montgomery and that the couple later discovered she was dead after the car broke down. She testified that her husband put the body in a duffel bag. She described various places where the girls body was hidden, including the trunk of a car, a cooler, a homeless center ceiling vent and the walk-in freezer at her husbands workplace. During Adam Montgomerys trial, his lawyers suggested that Kayla continued to lie to protect herself. They said their client did not kill Harmony, and that Kayla Montgomery was the last person to see the child alive. Kayla Montgomery testified that she didnt come forward about the childs death because she was afraid of her husband. She said Adam Montgomery suspected that she might go to the police, so he began punching her, giving her black eyes, she said. She eventually ran away from him in March 2021. Last year, Kayla Montgomery testified in an unrelated case against her husband in which he was convicted of gun theft charges. He was sentenced to over 30 years in prison, taking a moment to proclaim his innocence in his daughters death. By KATHY McCORMACK Associated Press Luck strikes twice for Kentucky couple who lost, then found, winning lottery ticket Luck strikes twice for Kentucky couple who lost, then found, winning lottery ticket View Photo LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Luck struck twice for a Kentucky couple who thought they lost a winning Powerball ticket. The Bowling Green couple found out in November that they had won $50,000 but couldnt find the ticket they had purchased about a week before, the Kentucky Lottery said in a news release. Mark Perdue said the owner at AM Express congratulated him when he walked into the convenience store. I said, for what? And she said, You won the lottery. I said, I wish. She said, You did, I have you on video. He and his wife then looked but couldnt find the ticket and thought it might have been thrown away. Ive been beating myself up for three months thinking I threw this ticket away, his wife said. Then in February, Perdue, who is president of Kiriu USA, went to check out the condition of a company car and saw the ticket inside. The car, which isnt used often, was needed because a visitor from another plant was in town and needed to use a company vehicle. I dont know how long it might have sat out there if I hadnt needed the car, Perdue said. I was shaking a little bit. He told his wife and the next day they went to lottery headquarters, where they received a check for $36,000 after taxes, the lottery statement said. The couple said they plan to pay off bills and may take a trip. Uvalde parents angered by new report that clears city police of missteps during Texas school attack Uvalde parents angered by new report that clears city police of missteps during Texas school attack View Photo UVALDE, Texas (AP) An investigation Uvalde city leaders ordered into the Robb Elementary School shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers defended the actions of local police in a report released Thursday, prompting shouts of cowards during a City Council meeting and causing several family members of the victims to angrily walk out. The report acknowledged wide failures by police during the 2022 attack and reiterated rippling missteps that the Justice Department and state lawmakers have previously laid bare. Nearly 400 law enforcement agents, including Uvalde Police Department officers, rushed to the scene of the shooting but waited more than an hour to confront a teenage gunman armed with an AR-style rifle. But an investigator hired by Uvalde officials found that the citys officers did not violate policies, and in some cases, praised their actions during one of the deadliest classroom shootings in U.S. history. The presentation prompted an eruption of anger among some of the victims family members, who also scolded the investigator for leaving the room before they had a chance to address him. You said they did it in good faith. You call that good faith? They stood there 77 minutes, said Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose daughter was among those killed in the attack, after the presentation ended. Jesse Prado, an Austin-based investigator and former police detective who made the report for the Uvalde City Council, began his presentation by describing the failures by responding local, state and federal officers at the scene that day: communication problems, poor training for live shooter situations, lack of available equipment and delays on breaching the classroom. There were problems all day long with communication and lack of it. The officers had no way of knowing what was being planned, what was being said, Prado said. If they would have had a ballistic shield, it would have been enough to get them to the door. The citys report is just one of several probes into the massacre, including the Justice Department report in January that criticized the cascading failures of responding law enforcement. Law enforcement took more than an hour to get inside the classroom and kill the gunman, even as children inside the classrooms called 911, begging police to rescue them. But Prado said his review showed that officers showed immeasurable strength and level-headed thinking as they faced fire from the shooter and refrained from shooting into a darkened classroom. They were being shot at from eight feet away from the door, Prado said. Prado also said the families who rushed to the school hampered efforts to set up a chain of command as they had to conduct crowd control with parents trying to get in the building or pleading with officers to go inside. At times they were difficult to control, Prado said. They were wanting to break through police barriers. Family members erupted when Prado briefly left after his presentation. Bring him back! several of them shouted. Prado returned and sat and listened when victims families cried and criticized the report, the council and the responding officers. My daughter was left for dead, Ruben Zamorra said. These police officers signed up to do a job. They didnt do it. A criminal investigation by Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchells office into the law enforcement response in the May 2022 shooting remains open. A grand jury was summoned earlier this year and some law enforcement officials have already been asked to testify. Tensions remain high between Uvalde city officials and the local prosecutor, while the community of more than 15,000, about 85 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of San Antonio, is plagued with trauma and divided over accountability. Uvalde City Council member Hector Luevano said he was embarrassed and insulted by the citys report. These families deserve more. This community deserves more, Luevano said. I dont accept this report. The city report comes after a nearly 600-page report by the Department of Justice in January found massive failures by law enforcement, including acting with no urgency to establish a command post, assuming the subject was barricaded despite ongoing gunfire, and communicating inaccurate information to grieving families. Had law enforcement agencies followed generally accepted practices in active shooter situations and gone right after the shooter and stopped him, lives would have been saved and people would have survived, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said when the federal report was released. The DOJ reported that 48 minutes after the shooter entered the school, UPD Acting Chief Mariano Pargas continued to provide no direction, command or control to personnel. The city report notes the agencys SWAT team had not trained consistently since before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Three UPD officers who were present in the hallway during the shooting were the leadership of the SWAT team and had the most experience with Uvalde PD. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott initially praised the law enforcement response, saying the reason the shooting was not worse is because law enforcement officials did what they do. He claimed that officers had run toward gunfire to save lives. But in the weeks following the shooting, that story changed as information released through media reports and lawmakers findings illustrated the botched law enforcement response. At least five officers who were on the scene have lost their jobs, including two Department of Public Safety officers and the on-site commander, Pete Arredondo, the former school police chief. No officers have faced criminal charges. ____ Associated Press writers Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City, Valerie Gonzalez in McAllen, Texas, Juan A. Lozano in Houston and Anita Snow in Phoenix contributed to this report. By ACACIA CORONADO Associated Press Senate passes bill to compensate Americans exposed to radiation by the government View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate passed legislation Thursday that would compensate Americans exposed to radiation by the government by renewing a law initially passed more than three decades ago. The bill by Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., would expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include more people who believe that exposure caused their illnesses. While some Republicans have balked at the cost an estimated $50 billion, according to Hawleys office the senators have argued that the government is at fault and should step up. Hawley stood outside the Senate before the vote with advocates for the legislation, several of whom have been diagnosed with cancers or who have family members who have been diagnosed. He said its hard to look them in the eye and say they were poisoned by their government, but were not going to be there for you. The bill passed the Senate 69-30, with 20 Republicans and all but two Democrats voting in favor. But its prospects in the House are uncertain. Uranium processing in the St. Louis area played a pivotal role in developing the nuclear weapons that helped bring an end to World War II and provided a key defense during the Cold War. But eight decades later, the region is still dealing with contamination at several sites. In July, an investigation published by The Associated Press, The Missouri Independent and MuckRock showed that the federal government and companies responsible for nuclear bomb production and atomic waste storage sites in the St. Louis area were aware of health risks, spills, improperly stored contaminants and other problems but often ignored them. While it is difficult to prove definitively that the waste caused residents illnesses, the advocates argue that there is more than enough evidence that it has sickened people in the area. I am a two-time breast cancer survivor, said Missouri state Rep. Chantelle Nickson-Clark, a Democrat who represents Florissant, an area that sits along the creek that was contaminated by nuclear waste in the 1960s. I lost my mother to breast cancer, an aunt to breast cancer. Two cousins that are breast cancer survivors, a nephew that had a cancerous brain tumor and other genetic mutation deficiencies in my family. Im here to represent a community that has been underserved, undervalued, underrepresented and unheard. President Joe Biden signed an executive order in 2022 extending RECA for two years, but it expires in June. Hawleys bill would extend the law for five years and expand coverage to include people in Missouri as well as Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alaska and Guam. The White House indicated Wednesday that Biden would sign the legislation. The President believes we have a solemn obligation to address toxic exposure, especially among those who have been placed in harms way by the governments actions, the White House said in a statement. Others worried about the cost. The taxpayer advocacy group Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said that the legislation should include budget offsets to pay for it. Advocates have been fighting for years to expand the program to include more sites in the U.S. In New Mexico, residents in the communities surrounding the area where the first atomic bomb was detonated in 1945 the top-secret Manhattan Project were not warned of the radiological dangers and didnt realize that an atomic blast was the source of the ash that was raining down upon them. That included families who lived off the land growing crops, raising livestock and getting their drinking water from cisterns. Tina Cordova, a cancer survivor and founder of a group of New Mexico downwinders, talked about the wave of momentum for expanding the compensation program that has been building since Oppenheimer, a film about the development of the first atomic bomb, premiered last year. You know, we are ground zero, she said. Were where it all started. The origins of the whole nuclear program are in New Mexico, and we were the first people exposed to radiation as a result of an atomic bomb and to be left out for 79 years is just truly unacceptable. Cordova has had many family members and friends die of cancer over the years. Thursday marked the 11th anniversary of her fathers death, and she said she was thankful to be in Washington to celebrate the vote. People have been waiting for justice for far too long, and its just simply time to do the right thing, she said. The vote was a rare up-or-down roll call on standalone legislation as Congress is busy trying to fund the government. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced that he would put the bill on the Senate floor last week amid negotiations on the spending package. Hawley would not say if he had threatened to hold up the spending bill over his legislation, which was included in a massive defense bill last year but stripped out at the last minute. But he said he had pledged to use every tool at his disposal to get the bill passed. Persuading the GOP-led House to take up and pass the legislation could be more difficult. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., is among those pushing for the measure. In St. Louis, nuclear waste stored near Lambert Airport made its way into Coldwater Creek in the 1960s. Many people who live near the meandering creek believe the contamination is responsible for cancers and other illnesses, though experts say connecting radiation exposure to illness is complicated. Cancer concerns also have been raised by people in nearby St. Charles County, Missouri, where uranium was processed and a large quarry became contaminated, resulting in a Superfund cleanup. In 2022, a St. Louis County grade school closed amid worries that contamination from Coldwater Creek got onto the playground and inside the building. The Army Corps of Engineers announced this week that it is testing a few homes near the creek after high radiation levels were found in their backyards. After the report by AP and the other news agencies last year, Hawley introduced an amendment to the annual defense bill that would have extended the law. It also would have provided health care coverage and compensation to so-called downwinders exposed to radiation during weapons testing in several new regions, as well as to people in Missouri who were exposed to the nuclear waste. But it was removed during negotiations with the House. Advocates for the bill who traveled to Washington for the vote said it represents hope for them and their families as they have been burdened with medical costs. Christen Commuso, who works for the advocacy group Missouri Coalition for the Environment, said she has dealt with many health issues, including thyroid cancer, and has had to at times ration her care because it is so costly. Its not about putting money in my pocket, Commuso said. Its about providing me the ability to get the care that I deserve and need. ___ Associated Press writer Susan Montoya contributed from Albuquerque, N.M. Salter reported from OFallon, Mo. By MARY CLARE JALONICK and JIM SALTER Associated Press For about six months, the woman who called herself Julie Wilson babysat full time for the four Leochko family children near Raleigh, N.C. Garrett and Leah Leochko had found her online while searching for a new nanny. Wilson told the Leochkos that she had grown up in an orphanage, had no family and recently moved from Buffalo to the Raleigh area. She took to the kids, and we took to her. She was very likable, Garrett Leochko said. Wed all make little jokes about the Bills, he said. Friday morning, when Wilson was with their 4- and 2-year-old sons at a public library near the Leochkos house, a U.S. marshal called Leah Leochko on the phone and told her their children were safe, but the woman they knew as Julie Wilson was under arrest. She was really Lisa Noble, a fugitive from the Town of Tonawanda suspected of stealing $465,000 from St. Amelia Church in Tonawanda, where she worked in 2023 as a business manager, and more than $500,000 from a Tonawanda medical office where she had worked prior to that. You would have never known anything was amiss, a shocked Garrett Leochko said Friday afternoon. She was doing a fake life here. He said their youngest sons told him, Julie got arrested. They know what arrested means now. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn confirmed the arrest Friday afternoon in an interview with The Buffalo News. She was caught late this morning. She is in custody, and I cannot provide any other details at this moment, Flynn said. Woman accused of theft from church stole more than $500,000 from Tonawanda business, ex-boss says A local audiologist alleged on Friday that Lisa Noble who is accused of stealing $465,000 from St. Amelia Church as its business manager stole from his Audiology Service Associates business when she was his business manager. Noble has been the subject of a manhunt by the U.S. Marshals Service and other police agencies for more than six months. She has been identified by St. Amelia and law enforcement officials as the prime suspect in a theft of $465,000 from the church. Her former boss at an audiology business in the Northtowns also told The News that he has reported to police that she also stole more than $500,000 from his company. Also known as Lisa Prynn, Noble, 43, had intended to take a plea deal in connection with the thefts in November, her attorney, Michael Dwan, said. But Noble failed to show up at two scheduled meetings at the DAs office and left town, Dwan said. Early Friday afternoon, Flynn declined to comment when asked whether Noble has been indicted. If there was an indictment, and it was unsealed, I would be able to say more about the case after that happens, Flynn said. Woman accused of stealing $465K from church had served prison time after previous thefts Frustrated officials at St. Amelia Church say they hope a former business manager will be arrested soon in connection with the theft of $465,000 in church funds. He did confirm that his office has been investigating large-scale thefts at St. Amelia and also at Audiology Service Associates, a company that recently said it had to close its doors because of employee theft. Under the name of Prynn, Noble has been caught stealing from other employers four other times. She was sentenced to a prison term in Niagara County more than 10 years ago. Militarys Ospreys are cleared to return to flight, 3 months after latest fatal crash in Japan View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) The Osprey, a workhorse aircraft vital to U.S. military missions, has been approved to return to flight after an unprecedented part failure led to the deaths of eight service members in a crash in Japan in November, Naval Air Systems Command announced Friday. The crash was the second fatal accident in months and the fourth in two years. It quickly led to a rare fleet-wide grounding of hundreds of Ospreys across the Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy. Before clearing the Osprey, which can fly like an airplane and then convert to a helicopter, officials said they put increased attention on its proprotor gearbox, instituted new limitations on how it can be flown and added maintenance inspections and requirements that gave them confidence it could safely return to flight. The entire fleet was grounded Dec. 6, just a week after eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members were killed when their CV-22B Osprey crashed off Yakushima island. Before lifting the flight restrictions the military also briefed officials in Japan, where public opinion on the Osprey is mixed, on the crash findings and new safety measures. In a statement Friday, Japan defense minister Minoru Kihara said his nation would likewise return its 14 Ospreys to flight status following an adequate analysis of the cause of the crash, extremely detailed information on the accident and the steps to mitigate the issue in the future. Kihara said Japan and the United States will closely coordinate the timeline for resuming flights in Japan, to give the government time to thoroughly explain the issue to its citizens. However, Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki did not support the return to flight. Okinawa is home to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and its 24 MV-22B Ospreys and is where the public has been most vocal in its opposition to the aircraft. It would be best if they stay on the ground, as we have all along requested scrapping of the Osprey deployment, Tamaki said. Officials who briefed reporters Wednesday ahead of the flight restrictions lifting said that they quickly grounded the entire fleet in December because it became clear that the way the Osprey part failed in that crash was something they had not seen before on the tiltrotor aircraft. While the officials did not identify the specific component, because the Air Forces crash investigation is still not completed, they said they now have a better but not complete understanding of why it failed. This is the first time that weve seen this particular component fail in this way. And so this is unprecedented, said Marine Corps Col. Brian Taylor, V-22 joint program manager at Naval Air Systems Command, or NAVAIR, which is responsible for the V-22 program servicewide. However, the decision by the Department of Defense to return to flight before separate congressional investigations on the Osprey program are complete drew criticism from the chair of the House Oversight Committee. DoD is lifting the Osprey grounding order despite not providing the Oversight Committee and the American people answers about the safety of this aircraft, said Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican. Serious concerns remain, such as accountability measures put in place to prevent crashes, a general lack of transparency, how maintenance and operational upkeep is prioritized, and how DoD assesses risks. A former Osprey pilot familiar with the investigation confirmed that the component in question is part of the proprotor gearbox, a critical system that includes gearing and clutches that connect the Ospreys engine to the rotor to turn it. The services have done a deep dive into the proprotor gearbox, and the new safety measures will address the issues we saw from that catastrophic event, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, said Wednesday. I have confidence that we know enough now to return to fly, he said. The proprotor gearbox system as a whole is a recurring trouble spot for the Osprey. Service safety data obtained by The Associated Press show dozens of instances among the Marine Corps and Air Force Ospreys in which power surges, sudden loss of oil pressure due to leaks, engine fires or chipping when the metal components inside the gearbox shed sometimes dangerous metal chips have damaged the proprotor gearbox in flight, sometimes requiring emergency landings. Other components of the proprotor gearbox, including the sprag clutch and input quill assembly, have been factors in previous crashes, and the services have made changes, such as replacing those parts on a more frequent basis. The services are also looking closely at the material that the failed part is made of and how it is manufactured, Bauernfeind said. NAVAIR is also running further tests to give the services more insight into why the component failed. It was a single component that failed in such a way that led to catastrophic consequences, Bauernfeind said. After that testing is complete, he said, some of the operational safety controls now placed on the Osprey may be lessened to give us greater flexibility with the platform. The investigation, known as an accident investigation board, will be made public and is expected to be completed within the next two months. The proprotor gearbox failure was first reported by NBC News. Crews have not flown now for more than 90 days a factor that will make their return to flight more dangerous. The services said Wednesday they are taking a cautious approach that could last from 30 days to several months to retrain their crews before their Osprey squadrons are back to normal flight operations. The Osprey has been in development for four decades but only became operational in 2007. The U.S. military has flown the Osprey about 750,000 hours and relied on its ability to fly long distances quickly like a plane and then convert to a helicopter to conduct operations in the Middle East and Africa, where some Marine Corps squadrons received an exemption to the flight ban because it was so critical to the mission. In future needs to counter China, the military has planned on using the Osprey in the Indo-Pacific to operate throughout islands that lack the airfields necessary for traditional aircraft. But it has also been a controversial, first-generation design of military tiltrotor technology that has recorded more than 14 major accidents that have killed 59 people and in some instances led to the loss of the aircraft, which costs between $70 million and $90 million depending on the variant. None of the services is planning on new production orders of the V-22, which is produced by a joint venture between Bell Flight and Boeing. The Army has contracted with Bell Flight to buy the Ospreys successor, the Bell V-280 Valor, which is a tiltrotor like the Osprey but smaller and with an important design change the engines stay in a fixed, horizontal position. On the Osprey, the rotors and entire nacelle that houses the engine and proprotor gearbox tilt to a vertical position when it flies in helicopter mode. The Marine Corps operates the vast majority of the Ospreys, with more than 240 currently assigned to its 17 squadrons. Its aviation mission is dependent on the aircraft returning to flight, and the Marine Corps is committed to the Osprey remaining in its fleet through the 2050s, said Marine Corps assistant deputy commandant for aviation Brig. Gen. Richard Joyce. There is no taking our eye off of V-22 and the years of service life that it has in front of us, Joyce said. The Air Force, which has the second most Ospreys in the fleet, with about 50 assigned to its special operations mission, however, suggested on Wednesday it may start to consider other options. The early concepts for the Osprey date back to the 1980s, when the Iran hostage crisis exposed a need to have an airframe that could move fast and hover or land like a helicopter, Bauernfeind said. And its met that need quite well, but it is still an older platform, he said. I do think that its time for us to start talking about what is that next generation of capability that can replace what the V-22 does. ___ Yamaguchi reported from Japan. By TARA COPP and MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press Former president of Honduras convicted in US of aiding drug traffickers Former president of Honduras convicted in US of aiding drug traffickers View Photo NEW YORK (AP) Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted Friday in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tons of cocaine to make it unhindered into the United States. The jury returned its verdict at a federal court after a two-week trial, which has been closely followed in his home country. Hernandez was convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the U.S. and two weapons counts. The charges carry a mandatory minimum of 40 years in prison and a potential maximum of life. Sentencing was set for June 26. Hernandez, 55, who served two terms as the leader of the Central American nation of roughly 10 million people, patted a defense attorney, Renato Stabile, on the back as they stood along with everyone else in the courtroom while the jurors filed out after the reading of the verdict. When the news reached nearly 100 opponents of Hernandez on the street outside the courthouse, they applauded and began jumping into the air to celebrate the outcome. The scene in the courtroom was subdued and Hernandez seemed relaxed as the verdict on three counts was announced by the jury foreperson. At times, Hernandez had his hands folded before him or one leg crossed over the other as each juror was asked to affirm the verdict. They all did. In remarks to the jury before they left the courtroom, Judge P. Kevin Castel praised jurors for reaching a unanimous verdict, which was necessary for a conviction. We live in a country where 12 people cant agree on a pizza topping, the judge told them, saying his message would have been the same regardless of their verdict. Thats why Im in awe of you. Defense attorney Sabrina Shroff said Hernandez will appeal the conviction. In a release, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said he hopes the conviction sends a message to all corrupt politicians who would consider a similar path: choose differently. He added that Hernandez had every opportunity to be a force for good in his native Honduras. Instead, he chose to abuse his office and country for his own personal gain and partnered with some of the largest and most violent drug trafficking organizations in the world to transport tons of cocaine to the United States. Hernandez was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the U.S. in April of that year. U.S. prosecutors accused Hernandez of working with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, saying he took millions of dollars in bribes as he rose from rural congressman to president of the National Congress and then to the countrys highest office. Hernandez acknowledged in trial testimony that drug money was paid to virtually all political parties in Honduras, but he denied accepting bribes himself. He noted that he had visited the White House and met U.S. presidents as he cast himself as a champion in the war on drugs who worked with the U.S. to curb the flow of drugs to the U.S. In one instance, he said, he was warned by the FBI that a drug cartel wanted to assassinate him. He said his accusers fabricated their claims about him in bids for leniency for their crimes. They all have motivation to lie, and they are professional liars, Hernandez said. But the prosecution mocked Hernandez for seemingly claiming to be the only honest politician in Honduras. During closing arguments Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gutwillig told the jury that a corrupt Hernandez paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States. Stabile said his client has been wrongfully charged as he urged an acquittal. Trial witnesses included traffickers who admitted responsibility for dozens of murders and said Hernandez was an enthusiastic protector of some of the worlds most powerful cocaine dealers, including notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who is serving a life prison term in the U.S. Hernandez, wearing a suit throughout the trial, was mostly dispassionate as he testified through an interpreter, repeatedly saying no sir as he was asked if he ever paid bribes or promised to protect traffickers from extradition to the U.S. His brother, Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in 2021 in Manhattan federal court for his own conviction on drug charges. By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press Biden wins Democratic caucuses in Hawaii as he moves closer to seizing the nomination again Biden wins Democratic caucuses in Hawaii as he moves closer to seizing the nomination again View Photo HONOLULU (AP) President Joe Biden won the Democratic caucuses in Hawaii on Wednesday, propelling him closer to winning his partys nomination again after romping through the Super Tuesday contests earlier this week. The president defeated long-shot candidates including U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson. Biden went into the vote with the advantage of incumbency and name recognition. Hes expected to formally clinch the Democratic nomination later this month and will almost certainly face Donald Trump in the general election after his last major Republican rival, Nikki Haley, exited the race. Biden won with 66% of the vote in a contest in which only 1,563 votes were cast, according to the Hawaii Democratic Party. Twenty-nine percent of voters chose Uncommitted. John Bickel, a high school social studies teacher, voted for Bernie Sanders four years ago but showed up to this years caucus in a blue Biden-Harris T-shirt. He liked how Biden shepherded an expansion of the child tax credit, which cut the U.S. child poverty rate in half, and how he stood on the picket line with striking auto workers. He said no other president has done what Biden has done to be there personally for labor. Those kinds of things really impressed me about Joe Biden, he said. Bill Milks, an 80-year-old retiree, voted uncommitted because he doesnt think Biden, who is 81, is capable of effectively debating or campaigning for president. He just is not healthy enough to exhibit a lot of enthusiasm and inspire people to believe that he can hang in there and do a good job for four more years, Milks said. Democrats in Hawaii cast their ballots at school cafeterias, community centers and union halls across the state. Only registered voters who were party members were allowed to participate but the party made same-day day party enrollment and voter registration possible at each poll site. Hawaii is a Democratic Party stronghold. Democrats control both chambers of the state legislature and the governors office. All four members of the states congressional delegation are Democrats. Republicans in Hawaii will hold their presidential caucuses on March 12. By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press Voters backed abortion rights. Yet Kansas could make doctors ask patients why they want abortions Voters backed abortion rights. Yet Kansas could make doctors ask patients why they want abortions View Photo TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas moved closer Thursday to requiring abortion providers to ask patients why they want to terminate their pregnancies and report the answers to the state. It would join other states with Republican legislatures that ban most abortions even though Kansas voters have affirmed abortion rights. The House approved, in an 81-39 vote, a bill that would require providers to ask patients 11 questions about their reasons for terminating a pregnancy, including that they cant afford another child, raising a child would hinder their education or careers, or a spouse or partner wanted her to have an abortion. The bill goes next to the state Senate, where it also is likely to pass. At least eight states require similar reporting, but none have had a statewide vote on abortion rights as Kansas did in August 2022. In the first state ballot question on abortion after the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, voters decisively protected abortion rights under the state constitution. Democrats are frustrated because Republicans and anti-abortion groups have pursued new rules for abortion providers and aid to anti-abortion counseling centers despite that vote and votes affirming abortion rights in other states, including GOP-led Kentucky and Ohio. Quite honestly, I dont understand it, you know, because I think Kansans made it very, very clear how they want Kansas to operate in this arena, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, a strong abortion rights supporter, said during a brief Associated Press interview this week. Why would an elected official whos facing an election in November go against the wishes of their constituents? Both chambers have large anti-abortion majorities and both sides believe theres a strong chance abortion opponents could override a Kelly veto of the reporting bill. Last year, Republicans overrode Kellys vetoes of other restrictions on providers. But Republicans are sensitive enough to criticism that their proposals go against the wishes of Kansas voters to argue that their proposals since the August 2022 ballot question have not reduced access to abortion. Kansas allows most abortion up until the 22nd week of pregnancy, and that would not change under the reporting bill. This bill has nothing to do with eliminating abortion in Kansas, doesnt ban it, doesnt touch on that whatsoever, said House health Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican. Ive respected that vote. Backers of the bill argued the state needs more and better data about why women and girls have abortions so lawmakers can create programs to address their concerns. If were looking to protect unborn children and its a socio-economic reason, then maybe a state can step up, said Ingrid Duran, state legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee. In Kansas, a doctor who provides an abortion already must report the patients age and ethnicity, whether the person was married and the method used to terminate a pregnancy. States requiring doctors to report the reasons for an abortion include Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah. Minnesotas Democratic-controlled Legislature repealed its similar reporting requirement last year. The law in Oklahoma, where most abortions are banned, includes a list of more than 30 questions a provider must ask a patient about her motives. Potential reasons include relationship problems and not feeling mature enough to raise a child. Isabel Guarnieri, a spokesperson for the Guttmacher Institute, which researches abortion issues and supports abortion rights, said such data can be useful in public health. But she said such mandates also should be assessed in the context of lawmakers long history of trying to restrict access and stigmatize abortion. Alesha Doan, a University of Kansas dean and professor who studies policy and gender, called the bill approved by the House an unnecessary way for the state to continue to surveil peoples health decisions. Democrats, particularly female lawmakers, attacked what they saw as the unfairness of requiring women to face detailed questions about their motives for seeking health care when men would not. They started with vasectomies. Then, Kansas City-area Democratic Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton suggested requiring doctors to ask male patients whether they wanted to treat erectile dysfunction because a spouse wanted that or because it caused the man stress or embarrassment. Because I am still fertile right now, I dont have that right to privacy, she said after Thursdays vote, summarizing what she sees as the bills real message. Why am I less of a person than a post-menopausal woman? Why am I less of a person than a man? But that tactic prompted an eye-roll from Landwehr during a post-vote interview. She said Democrats should favor better data collection. You know, it amazes me that they dont support this, she said. ___ Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. ___ This story was first published on March 7, 2024. It was updated on March 8, 2024, to make clear that at least eight states have reporting rules similar to what is being proposed in Kansas for those seeking abortions. By JOHN HANNA AP Political Writer Tennessee lawmakers propose changes to how books get removed from school libraries Tennessee lawmakers propose changes to how books get removed from school libraries View Photo NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessees Republican-controlled Statehouse is once again looking to tweak how books can be removed from school library shelves despite concerns that the latest proposal could result in the Bible being possibly banned. The legislation is the latest development in the ongoing battle many conservative leaders have launched against school libraries across the U.S., where many have become suspicious of the materials provided to children particularly targeting those that touch on racism and LGBTQ+ issues. Two years ago, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed off on legislation requiring school libraries to post their contents online and regularly review their policies to make sure the materials are age appropriate and suitable for children. The Republican then also approved a new appeals process for removing books from school libraries, allowing the states textbook commission made up of all political appointees to have the ultimate say in whether a book can or cant stay in school libraries. This year, Republican lawmakers are looking to overhaul the definition of suitable materials in library collections by defining that it must not contain nudity or descriptions or depictions of sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence, or sadomasochistic abuse for the age or maturity level of a student in any of the grades K-12 or materials that are patently offensive. The bill would then require local school boards to decide within 60 days when they receive a complaint about a book. If that doesnt happen, the person who made the complaint may take the issue immediately to the states textbook commission. However, the proposals latest definitions have raised concern that previously innocuous materials could now face challenges. Im curious, at what age group would the holy Bible be allowed in public schools? asked Democratic Sen. Jeff Yarbro. You cannot read the book of Samuel without significant discussions of rape, sexual excitement and bestiality. Thats before you get into very explicit descriptions of violence. Republican Sen. Joey Hensley argued that he thought the Bible would be appropriate at any age and downplayed any concerns about the new changes. This bill is not really changing the material in the law, Hensley said. I dont think the Bible would be considered offensive to any age. The Senate approved the legislation on a 22-4 vote. The proposal had previously passed the House chamber last year, but due to a small clerical error between the two versions, the bill must clear the House once more before it can head to Lees desk. By KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated Press Tennessee lawmakers advance bill to undo Memphis traffic stop reforms after Tyre Nichols death View Photo NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Republican Tennessee House lawmakers on Thursday advanced a bill to undo the reforms to police traffic stops made by the city of Memphis in response to the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols by officers last January. Republicans held the vote as Democrats accused Memphis Republican Rep. John Gillespie of being misleading about when the bill would come up again, resulting in Nichols parents not coming to the Capitol in Nashville on Thursday. Gillespie called it a miscommunication. Nichols parents attended Monday when the bill was initially on the itinerary, but it was pushed back, as Gillespie spoke with them in the gallery. Nichols death sparked outrage and calls for reforms nationally and locally. Videos showed an almost 3-minute barrage of fists, feet and baton strikes to Nichols face, head, front and back, as the 29-year-old Black man yelled for his mother about a block from home. Five officers, who were also Black, were charged with federal civil rights violations and second-degree murder and other criminal counts in state court. One has pleaded guilty in federal court. The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating how Memphis Police Department officers use force and conduct arrests, and whether the department in the majority-Black city engages in racially discriminatory policing. Activists and Nichols family drummed up support for the city council last year to pass ordinance changes. One outlawed so-called pretextual traffic stops, including for minor violations such as a broken taillight. An officers incident report said Nichols was stopped for driving into oncoming traffic. Police chief Cerelyn CJ Davis has said there was no evidence Nichols was driving recklessly. Local governments in Tennessee couldnt have similar ordinances under the House-approved bill. The proposal says local governments cant have laws prohibiting or limiting traffic stops based on observation of or reasonable suspicion that the operator or a passenger in a vehicle has violated a local ordinance or state or federal law. A broader Senate version is awaiting a floor vote. Democratic Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis said Gillespie lied to Nichols parents that the bill wouldnt be heard that day. You saw the Wells family, spoke with them briefly, told them this bill wouldnt come up until probably next Thursday, Pearson said. Gillespie, meanwhile, told reporters he offered to arrange a meeting during a conversation Tuesday with Nichols stepfather Rodney Wells and mother RowVaughn Wells. Gillespie said he feels horrible that they feel this way, but I told them this bill was on the calendar today and that my intention was adding an amendment if I was allowed. My heart goes out to that family. I have had multiple conversations with that family, Gillespie told lawmakers. However, I do not set the calendar here. In a news release, Nichols parents said Gillespie had told them Wednesday not to attend Thursday because he did not plan to bring the bill to the floor. The Memphis ordinances, which we view as part of Tyres legacy, were crafted with the goal of preventing future tragedies and fostering trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, Nichols family said in a news release. The state bill not only undermines these efforts, but also disregards the collective voice of the people who tirelessly advocated for change, they said. Gillespie said he brought the bill because people in his area are begging for safer streets. Another Republican supporter, Rep. Lowell Russell of Vonore, said the bill is a no-brainer and a vote to back the blue. Former Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, whose term ended Dec. 31, said he did not enforce the traffic stop ordinance and others passed after Nichols death because he thought they were illegal. New Mayor Paul Young has said he would enforce them. Young is among those urging lawmakers to reject the state rollback bill. Lawmakers and Memphis citizens have shown frustration with an increase in overall crime in 2023, which includes a city-record 398 homicides and a jump in auto burglaries to more than 14,000. Memphis City Council chair JB Smiley Jr. cited the statistics during a meeting about retaining Davis as police chief under Young. Young and the council kept Davis as interim police chief. Davis has been under the spotlight during the crime increase and after Nichols death. The Memphis-Shelby County Crime Commission reported that the overall crime rate increased by 7.2% in Memphis and 6% countywide last year compared with 2022. The last three months of 2023 saw the crime rate drop 6.4% in Memphis and 7.2% in the county compared with the last quarter of 2022, the commission said. Law enforcement was very proactive in addressing car thefts, including handing out 10,000 free wheel locks and using an auto theft task force, commission president Bill Gibbons said in a news release. In November, Republican Gov. Bill Lee announced that about 55 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers, would come to Shelby County to patrol roads and highways. Tensions on the House floor escalated during an unrelated scuffle Thursday. Democratic House Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons and Republican Rep. Scott Cepicky briefly had to be separated by other lawmakers. Cepicky had tripped up a resolution praising Nashvilles public schools. Clemmons said Cepicky then made derogatory comments to him about Nashvilles schools. By JONATHAN MATTISE and ADRIAN SAINZ Associated Press Spain puts temporary ban on Worldcoin eyeballs scans, citing concerns over privacy View Photo BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Spains privacy watchdog has ordered for Worldcoin, the company created by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman that scans eyeballs to make digital IDs in exchange for crypto, to cease its operations in the country for three months amid concerns over what it is doing with users personal information. The stated goal of Worldcoin is to give people a form of identification that could never be stolen or duplicated. It says the way it can do this is by creating a World ID by scanning someones eyeballs through orbs a device that captures an image of their irises, the colored parts of the eyes. In exchange, people who sign up get Worldcoin cryptocurrency. Spains Agency for Data Protection told Worldcoins parent company Tools for Humanity Corporation on Wednesday to stop collecting personal data and keep hold of all information already collected. The agency said in a statement that it had received various complaints against the company that range from gathering the personal information of minors to not allowing for people to withdraw their consent to sharing personal data. People have lined up at points where these orbs are placed in cities like Madrid and Barcelona in recent months. More than 360,000 people in Spain have signed up for Worldcoin, according to the most recent company data from November. While Worldcoin argues that the data is used to create a unique, secure form of identification, privacy experts have concerns that the company may use the information in other ways, like personalized marketing. That has led other countries to investigate Worldcoins operations, including France and Germany. The Kenyan government has likewise suspended new sign-ups for Worldcoin as it investigates whether peoples information is being properly protected. Worldcoin responded that their operations preserve privacy. The Spanish data protection authority (AEPD) is circumventing EU law with their actions today, which are limited to Spain and not the broader EU, and spreading inaccurate and misleading claims about our technology globally, Jannick Preiwisch, Worldcoins data protection officer, said in a statement. By JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press Juntas ruling Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso agree to create a joint force to fight worsening violence View Photo BAMAKO, Mali (AP) A joint security force announced by the juntas ruling Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to fight the worsening extremist violence in their Sahel region countries faces a number of challenges that cast doubt on its effectiveness, analysts said Thursday. Nigers top military chief, Brig. Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou said in a statement after meeting with his counterparts Wednesday that the joint force would be operational as soon as possible to meet the security challenges in our area. The announcement is the latest in a series of actions taken by the three countries to strike a more independent path away from regional and international allies since the region experienced a string of coups the most recent in Niger in July last year. They have already formed a security alliance after severing military ties with neighbors and European nations such as France and turning to Russia already present in parts of the Sahel for support. Barmou did not give details about the operation of the force, which he referred to as an operational concept that will enable us to achieve our defence and security objectives. Although the militaries had promised to end the insurgencies in their territories after deposing their respective elected governments, conflict analysts say the violence has instead worsened under their regimes. They all share borders in the conflict-hit Sahel region and their security forces fighting jihadi violence are overstretched. The effectiveness of their security alliance would depend not just on their resources but on external support, said Bedr Issa, an independent analyst who researches the conflict in the Sahel. The three regimes are also very fragile, James Barnett, a researcher specializing in West Africa at the U.S.-based Hudson Institute, said, raising doubts about their capacity to work together. Theyve come to power through coups, they are likely facing a high risk of coups themselves, so it is hard to build a stable security framework when the foundation of each individual regime is shaky, said Barnett. - Associated Press writer Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria contributed. BABA AHMED Associated Press Pressure grows on Israel to open more aid routes into Gaza by land and sea as hunger worsens RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Efforts to get desperately needed humanitarian aid to war-wracked northern Gaza gained momentum Wednesday with the European Union increasing pressure for the creation of a sea route from Cyprus to Gaza and British Foreign Minister David Cameron saying that Israels allies were losing patience. While aid groups say all of Gaza is mired in a humanitarian crisis, the situation in the largely isolated north stands out. Many of the estimated 300,000 people still living there have been reduced to eating animal fodder to survive. The U.N. says that one in six children younger than 2 in the north suffers from acute malnutrition. Amid the global pressure to alleviate the crisis, two Israeli officials said Wednesday the government will begin allowing aid to move directly from its territory into northern Gaza and will also cooperate with the creation of the sea route from Cyprus. Israel would allow 20 to 30 aid trucks to enter northern Gaza from Israel on Friday, the start of more regular deliveries via that route, one of the officials said. It will also begin doing security checks Sunday on aid in Cyprus before its delivered via sea to Gaza, the official said. The ship will be part of a pilot project to test the feasibility of the sea route. The aid is UAE-funded and made possible with US involvement. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the upcoming shipments with the media. Aid groups have said it has become nearly impossible to deliver supplies within most of Gaza because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of public order. It is even more difficult to get aid to the north. Trucks carrying humanitarian aid have to drive from the Rafah crossing with Egypt or the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel, both on the southern edge of Gaza, through the conflict zone to reach the largely cut-off areas in the north. Last week, an attempt by the Israeli military to facilitate the movement of aid ended in tragedy when more than 100 Palestinians were fatally shot by Israeli forces or trampled to death in a melee. On Wednesday, hundreds of people ran along a seaside road on the outskirts of Gaza City to collect bags of flour and boxes of water and canned food donated by Turkey and Egypt and were part of a shipment trucked in from southern Gaza. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron met with Benny Gantz, a visiting member of Israels war Cabinet, and pressed him to increase the flow of aid into Gaza. We are still not seeing improvements on the ground. This must change, Cameron said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. South Africa, which filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, asked the court Wednesday to order Israel to allow in aid to address famine and starvation in Gaza. Meanwhile, European Union Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen will visit Cyprus on Friday to inspect installations at the port of Larnaca, from where aid would leave for Gaza if a sea route is established, Cypriot government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis said. EU spokesman Eric Mamer said the bloc is hopeful the corridor will open very soon. Concerned by the lack of access to food, the United States, Jordan and other nations have begun making air drops of aid in recent days, but aid groups say only a fraction of the needed assistance can be delivered by air. The war began with a Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which Palestinian militants killed around 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. More than 100 of them were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. The attack sparked an Israeli invasion of the enclave of 2.3 million people. Gazas Health Ministry said Wednesday the Palestinian death toll from the war climbed to 30,717. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and maintains detailed casualty records. It does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tallies but says women and children make up around two-thirds of those killed. Israel says it has killed over 13,000 Hamas fighters, without providing evidence. Aid groups say the fighting has displaced most of the territorys population and pushed a quarter of the population to the brink of famine. Meanwhile, efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to start before the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a few days have so far borne no fruit. The U.S., Qatar and Egypt have worked on an agreement in which Hamas would release up to 40 hostages in return for a six-week cease-fire, the release of some Palestinian prisoners and a major influx of aid to Gaza. Hamas has said it wants a full end to the war and Israeli forces withdrawal. ___ Tia Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Julia Frankel in Jerusalem and Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus, contributed to this report. ___ Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war By TIA GOLDENBERG and WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press Ancient stone tools found in Ukraine date to over 1 million years ago, and may be oldest in Europe Ancient stone tools found in Ukraine date to over 1 million years ago, and may be oldest in Europe View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) Ancient stone tools found in western Ukraine may be the oldest known evidence of early human presence in Europe, according to research published Wednesday in the journal Nature. The chipped stones, deliberately fashioned from volcanic rock, were excavated from a quarry in Korolevo in the 1970s. Archaeologists used new methods to date the layers of sedimentary rock surrounding the tools to more than 1 million years old. This is the earliest evidence of any type of human in Europe that is dated, said Mads Faurschou Knudsen, a geophysicist at Aarhus University in Denmark and co-author of the new study. He said its not certain which early human ancestors fashioned the tools, but it may have been Homo erectus, the first species to walk upright and master the use of fire. We dont have fossil remains, so we cant be sure, said Roman Garba, an archaeologist at the Czech Academy of Sciences and co-author. The chipped stone tools were likely used for cutting meat and perhaps scraping animal hides, he said. The researchers suggest the tools may be as old as 1.4 million years, but other experts say the study methodology suggests that they may be just over 1 million years old, placing them in roughly the same date range as other ancient tools unearthed in Spain. The very earliest stone tools of this type were found in eastern Africa and date back to 2.8 million years ago, said Rick Potts, who directs the Smithsonian Institutions Human Origins Program. The Ukraine site is significant because its the earliest site that far north, suggesting that the early humans who dispersed from Africa with these tools were able to survive in diverse environments. The oldest humans with this old stone tool technology were able to colonize everywhere from warm Iberia (Spain) to Ukraine, where its at least seasonally very cold thats an amazing level of adaptability, said Potts. 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 CHRISTINA LARSON AP Science Writer WASHINGTON President Joe Biden turned his State of the Union speech Thursday night into an animated argument for a second term as he laced into GOP front-runner Donald Trump for espousing resentment, revenge and retribution" and jeopardizing freedom at home and abroad. Over and over, Biden delivered broadsides at my predecessor without mentioning Trump by name, raising his voice as he tried to quell voter concerns about his age and job performance while sharpening the contrast with his all-but-certain November rival. It was a far different and feistier tone from Biden than in his previous State of the Union address, and it was designed to banish doubts about whether the 81-year-old is still up to the job he bids for a second term. Biden goaded Republicans over their policies, invited call-and-response banter with fellow Democrats and seemed to revel in the fight. Freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time, Biden said as he appealed for Congress to support Ukraine's efforts to defend itself against Russia's invasion. History is watching. Biden quickly pivoted to the threats at home, referencing the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol by Trump supporters seeking to overturn the 2020 election, and calling for the threat to democracy to be countered. My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6 I will not do that," Biden said. This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Heres a simple truth: You cant love your country only when you win. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, Biden said. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me. The president showcased his accomplishments on infrastructure and manufacturing, and pushed Congress to approve more aid to Ukraine, tougher migration rules and lower drug prices. He also sought to remind voters of the situation he inherited when he entered office in 2021 amid a raging pandemic and a contracting economy. He needled Republicans over positions he believes are out of step with the country, particularly on access to abortion, but also tax policy and health care. He also sought to remind voters of the situation he inherited when he entered office in 2021 amid a raging pandemic and a contracting economy. Taking a victory lap in selling his legislative accomplishments, such as one that bolsters manufacturing of computer chips nationwide, Biden veered from his prepared script to take a dig at Republicans who voted against such policies but are eager to take credit for them back home. If any of you dont want that money in your districts, Biden said, just let me know. The president spoke before a historically ineffective Congress. In the GOP-led House, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., took power five months ago after the chaotic ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Legislators are still struggling to approve funding bills for the current year and have been deadlocked for months on foreign assistance bills to help Ukraine stave off Russia's invasion and support Israel's fight against Hamas. Biden unveiled an expanded plan to raise corporate taxes and use the proceeds to trim budget deficits and cut taxes for the middle class. He also raised the problem of shrinkflation companies putting fewer pretzels in the jar and less yogurt in sealed cups and highlighted his administration's actions to eliminate so-called junk fees on services. Johnson urged Republicans in a private meeting Wednesday to show decorum during the speech, according to a person familiar with his remarks to lawmakers. He appeared to have limited success. A number of House Republicans began to stand up and leave the chamber as Biden discussed raising taxes on billionaires and corporations. Other remained in their chairs and shook their heads. Biden painted an optimistic future for the country as legislation he signed into law during his first two years in office are implemented. He also warned that the progress he sees at home and abroad is fragile and particularly vulnerable if Trump returns to the White House. Trump said he planned to respond in real time to Biden's remarks on his Truth Social platform. Amid growing concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Biden announced in his address that he directed the U.S. military to establish a temporary port on the Gaza coast to boost the flow of aid into the beleaguered territory. The White House initially hoped a short-term cease-fire would be in place by the speech. A slew of Democrats and Republicans wore pins and stickers in honor of the Israeli hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Meanwhile, several House progressives wore Palestinian keffiyehs, the black and white checkered scarfs that symbolize Palestinian solidarity. Biden's motorcade took a circuitous route to the Capitol, as hundreds of pro-cease-fire demonstrators tried to disrupt its path from the White House. Access to abortion and fertility treatments was also a key component of Biden's speech. "If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again," Biden said. Several House Democratic women were wearing white a symbol of women's suffrage to promote reproductive rights. The White House also invited union leaders, a gun control advocate, and others that Jill Biden and her husband have met as they traveled the country promoting his agenda. The prime minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, will attend to mark his country's accession to NATO in the wake of Russia's war in Ukraine. Expelled and disgraced, former Rep. George Santos, who still retains floor privileges as an ex-member of Congress, also showed up for the speech. Biden entered the speech with work to do shoring up his standing. Just 38% of U.S. adults approve of how he is handling his job as president, while 61% disapprove, according to a recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Read more related to Biden's address here: Canada will restore funding to UNRWA, the embattled UN agency in Gaza View Photo TORONTO (AP) Canada will restore funding to the United Nations relief agency for Palestinians, weeks after the agency, known as UNRWA, lost hundreds of millions of dollars in support following Israeli allegations against some of its staffers in Gaza. Canada was one of 16 countries that temporarily halted future payments. Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, said Canada has been reassured after receiving an interim report from the United Nations investigation of Israels allegations. Canada is resuming its funding to UNRWA so more can be done to respond to the urgent needs of Palestinian civilians. Canada will continue to take the allegations against some of UNRWAs staff extremely seriously and we will remain closely engaged with UNRWA and the UN to pursue accountability and reforms, Hussen said. The Canadian government was set to announce the decision on Wednesday but delayed it until Friday, for reasons that were not immediately clear. The Israel-Hamas war has driven 80% of Gazas population of 2.3 million Palestinians from their homes, and U.N. officials say a quarter of the population is starving as access to the enclave is restricted. UNRWA, which employs roughly 13,000 people in Gaza, is the main supplier of food, water and shelter there, but it is on the brink of financial collapse. Israel accused 12 of its employees of participating in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people and left about 250 others held hostage in Gaza. In response, more than a dozen countries including Canada suspended funding to UNRWA worth about $450 million, almost half its budget for the year. Two U.N. investigations into Israels allegations were already underway when the European Union said last Friday it will give 50 million euros ($54 million) to UNRWA after the agency agreed to allow EU-appointed experts to audit the way it screens staff to identify extremists. Israel now alleges that 450 UNRWA employees were members of militant groups in Gaza, though it has provided no evidence. The Canadian government is due to contribute $25 million Canadian ($19 million) to UNRWA in April and did not miss a payment as a result of the pause. Canada will also send $100,000 Canadian (US$74,000) to the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization for supplies including food and blankets to be delivered to the territory. The Canadian military will also send 300 cargo parachutes to Jordan to help with airdrops of critical supplies. UNRWA in a statement has accused Israel of detaining several of its staffers and using torture and ill treatment to force them to give false confessions about the links between the agency, Hamas and the Oct. 7 attack. The attack sparked an Israeli invasion that Gazas Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas, says has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians. By ROB GILLIES Associated Press Police officer convicted of human trafficking: Zimbabwean job seekers subjected to slave labour in the Middle East In a shocking case of human trafficking, a 38-year-old police officer has been found guilty and awaits sentencing for his role in luring Zimbabwean job seekers to the Middle East, where they were subjected to slave labour and exploitation. Forward Mashonganyika, along with his co-accused Tendai Muswe, played a key role in orchestrating the trafficking operation, leaving victims stranded without their passports upon arrival in Oman. During the trial, Magistrate Estere Chivasa listened to harrowing testimonies from the victims, who revealed that Mashonganyika and his associates were instrumental in facilitating their trafficking to Oman, where they fell prey to a web of exploitation and abuse. According to the prosecution led by Ngoni Kaseke, the ordeal began in February 2022 when Mashonganyika, Muswe, Hassan Mohammed Ali Shihhi (based in Oman), and a local agent conspired to deceive the victims with promises of lucrative hotel jobs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mashonganyika used a WhatsApp group to advertise these non-existent opportunities, enticing three victims with the prospect of high-paying positions. The court established that Mashonganyika housed the victims for three days before they departed Zimbabwe. He then organized visas, air tickets, medical examination reports, and transportation to Oman instead of Dubai, as initially promised. Disturbingly, photographs obtained from the victims were handed over to their slave masters in Oman, enabling their identification at Muscat International Airport. Upon their arrival in Oman, the victims were immediately taken to an undisclosed location, where they were subjected to Mashonganyikas commands and forced into domestic work as housemaids. Trapped in a cycle of exploitation, the victims endured gruelling hours of labour without any remuneration, while also suffering xul and physical abuse. Their freedom of movement was curtailed, forcing them to remain indoors under strict surveillance. The shocking plight of these victims came to light when they bravely reported their ordeal to the police, who then involved Interpol in the investigation. The collaboration between the international law enforcement agencies ultimately led to the arrest and subsequent conviction of Mashonganyika on charges of human trafficking. Breaking News via Email Late former Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive officer and liberation war fighter Dr Karikoga Kaseke, who died last week after a long illness was buried at his rural home in Matienga Village, Chivero, Mhondoro yesterday. Dr Kaseke was declared a liberation war hero by President Mnangagwa. In graveside eulogies by politicians, captains of industry and villagers who braved the heavy rains, Dr Kaseke was described as a true patriot, a unifier and hard-worker. Traditional leaders, including Chief Chivero said the heavy rains were a sign that the land had lost a hero. His brother, Mr Chamu Kaseke, lauded President Mnangagwa for according his late sibling the assistance, saying apart from teaching them love and unity, Dr Kaseke had also taught them patriotism. My brother joined the liberation struggle in 1978 at the age of 16 and this was his first lesson to us as his family to be patriotic. He worked for our Government which saw him getting rewarded by being appointed to head parastatals and Government departments, he said. Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Marian Chombo, said the late Dr Kaseke played his part and the onus was now on the family to carry forward his legacy. Dr Kaseke left an indelible mark on the country and its citizens. As Government, we are saddened to lose a hard working cadre like him as he contributed notably within Zimbabwes military, transportation, aviation, and tourism sectors, she said. His three wives, Irene, Onai and Betty with whom he had 12 children spoke highly of their late husband. They said although they were in a polygamous set-up, the family was united and happy because the late Dr Kaseke sowed a seed of love in his three families. ZTA Director Mr Reason Machigere, said Zimbabwe became popular as a brand through Dr Kasekes strategies. Zanu PFs spokesperson and war veterans chairman, Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, who spoke on behalf of liberation fighters, said Dr Kaseke continued to stand and fight for Zimbabwe after it attained independence. Cde Kaseke believed in the Look East Policy and he was part of the delegation that met Chinese investors in Addis Ababa in 2003 where he marketed brand Zimbabwe. His contribution to the liberation struggle even as a youth, was a sign that he dedicated himself to his country first, he said. The late Dr Kaseke was born on June 16, 1962 and after the war, he continued with his studies attaining degrees in administration, business, strategy, and tourism. Breaking News via Email By Lambert Strether of Corrente The State of the Union address, as ordained by Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constition, will take place in about a half an hour, at 9:00PM ET. If you like to watch: In addition to major networks and political cable channels that will air the address, you can stream it directly on WH.gov/SOTU and on the White House or presidents social media platforms, including YouTube, X, Facebook, and for the first time Instagram, as the administration aims to seek a younger audience. Not TikTok? Other media: If you want to watch the State of the Union address through a TV channel (and commentary afterward) but dont have cable, grab a free trial to fuboTV or DirecTV Stream. Both of these streaming services will let you watch the 2024 SOTU on channels like ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC. Both services start at $79.99 a month, but neither will charge until after their free trials, letting you watch the SOTU address for free. Here is Trumps announcement on Truth Social: Newsweek says that Trump will be using TruthSocial for his play-by-play, but I cant find a formal announcement anywhere (and Im blocked on TruthSocial). I dont think theres any point speculating on the content of Bidens speech, unless he wants to pay me that six hundred bucks he owes me. Anyhow, the only real story is whether Biden slips a cog, or, more subtly, his general demeanor, delivery, pauses, verbal infelicities, etc. I would imagine the dose of whatever they juice him up with is timed, so I would pay particular attention to what happens when the speech is finished assuming it indeed finishes and Biden has to get down off the podium and then move through the crowd, shaking hands, slapping backs, and kissing babies, if any. I looked for drinking games, but couldnt find any good ones. You can make one up! Enjoy! APPENDIX Here is an interesting example of censorship from [gasp] The New York Sl Times. They mention the guests that various electeds will be bringing. For example: Jill Biden has invited 20 guests who are intended to underscore the presidents domestic and foreign policy positions and achievements, including the prime minister of Sweden, which joined NATO earlier Thursday; a Texas mother whose petition for an abortion was denied by state courts; and a woman whose in vitro fertilization treatments were halted by the Alabama state Supreme Court decision last month. With access to abortion and womens reproductive health national issues that continue to mobilize Democrats, lawmakers from the party have invited a number of reproductive care providers and advocates. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia has invited the first person born in the United States as a result of in vitro fertilization, and Representative Judy Chu of California invited the Indiana doctor who in 2022 provided an abortion to a 10-year-old victim of rape. House Speaker Mike Johnson has invited the parents of Evan Gershkovich, The Wall Street Journal reporter who has been held in Russia for roughly one year on charges of espionage that his newspaper and the U.S. government forcefully deny. More than a dozen family members of current and former American hostages held in Gaza after the Oct. 7 invasion of Israel will also be in attendance as the guests of lawmakers from both parties. And after all these paragraphs, you know who theyre not mentioning? Thats right: U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie has invited Gabriel Shipton, the brother of imprisoned Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, as his guest for this weeks State of the Union address. The Kentucky Republican decided to bring Shipton as part of his message that the U.S. should drop Assanges criminal charges and stop seeking his extradition. The U.S. governments ongoing effort to prosecute Julian Assange threatens the First Amendment rights of Americans and should be opposed, Massie said in a statement to The Courier Journal. During his term in office, I asked President Trump to pardon Mr. Assange, and I was disappointed by his failure to do so. President Biden should stop seeking Assanges extradition and should instead drop the criminal charges currently being pursued by the Department of Justice. I guess the Times spook handlers would have looked askance. (And its not because Massies a Republican, either, because they didnt censor Johnson inviting Gershkovich.) Yves here. Sadly it goes with the terrain of being a great power to have thugs like our JSOC. For sticklers, the etymology of thug: Also thugee, from the native Hindi name for the system of religious assassination practiced by the thugs. thuggish (adj.) ruffianly, brutal and forceful, Even though the existence of these special forces is not a surprise, the scale of their operation might be. By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at Gods Spies Whereas the late scholar of militarism Chalmers Johnson used to refer to the CIA as the presidents private army, today JSOC performs that role, acting as the chief executives private assassination squad, and its parent, SOCOM, functions as a new Pentagon power-elite, a secret military within the military possessing domestic power and global reach. Nick Turse [JSOC is] the ace in the hole. If you need someone that can sky dive from thirty miles away, go down the chimney of a castle, and blow it up from the inside those are the guys you want to call on. General Hugh Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Clinton Im working on a series of novels set in the near future. But one aspect of these novels thats decidedly not futuristic, near or otherwise, is U.S. government kill teams. This is an introduction to how JSOC (the Joint Special Operations Command) and how it operates. Its drawn from the work of investigative reporter Nick Turse, now with The Intercept. The Presidents Private Army Lets start here, with this 2011 piece by Turse published in Aljazeera. The US militarys secret military Special US commandos are deployed in about 75 countries around the world and that number is expected to grow Somewhere on this planet a US commando is carrying out a mission. Now, say that 70 times and youre done for the day. Without the knowledge of much of the general American public, a secret force within the US military is undertaking operations in a majority of the worlds countries. This Pentagon power elite is waging a global war whose size and scope has generally been ignored by the mainstream media, and deserves further attention. After a US Navy SEAL put a bullet in Osama bin Ladens chest and another in his head, one of the most secretive black-ops units in the US military suddenly found its mission in the public spotlight. It was atypical. While its well known that US Special Operations forces are deployed in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq, and its increasingly apparent that such units operate in murkier conflict zones like Yemen and Somalia, the full extent of their worldwide war has often remained out of the public scrutiny. Keep in mind, this is 2011. Last year, Karen DeYoung and Greg Jaffe of the Washington Post reported that US Special Operations forces were deployed in 75 countries, up from 60 at the end of the Bush presidency. By the end of this year, US Special Operations Command spokesman Colonel Tim Nye told me, that number will likely reach 120. We do a lot of travelling a lot more than Afghanistan or Iraq, he said recently. This global presence in about 60 per cent of the worlds nations and far larger than previously acknowledged is evidence of a rising clandestine Pentagon power elite waging a secret war in all corners of the world. Turse details the creation and rise of SOCOM (the Special Operations Command), one of eleven unified combatant commands run by the Pentagon. Others include CENTCOM (Central Command, responsible for the Middle East), NORTHCOM (responsible for domestic surveillance in North America) and others. What does SOCOM do? SOCOM carries out the United States most specialised and secret missions. These include assassinations, counterterrorist raids, long-range reconnaissance, intelligence analysis, foreign troop training, and weapons of mass destruction counter-proliferation operations[.] SOCOM contains a sub-command called JSOC: One of [SOCOMs] key components is the Joint Special Operations Command, or JSOC, a clandestine sub-command whose primary mission is tracking and killing suspected terrorists. Reporting to the president and acting under his authority, JSOC maintains a global hit list that includes US citizens. It has been operating an extra-legal kill/capture campaign that John Nagl, a past counterinsurgency adviser to four-star general and soon-to-be CIA Director David Petraeus, calls an almost industrial-scale counterterrorism killing machine. [] In addition, the command operates a network of secret prisons, perhaps as many as 20 black sites in Afghanistan alone, used for interrogating high-value targets. Again, this is 2011, three years into Barack Obamas presidency. But the bottom line is as striking now as it was then: Whereas the late scholar of militarism Chalmers Johnson used to refer to the CIA as the presidents private army, today JSOC performs that role, acting as the chief executives private assassination squad, and its parent, SOCOM, functions as a new Pentagon power-elite, a secret military within the military possessing domestic power and global reach. More on JSOCs Earlier Days Other articles from this period offer more context. The Special Ops Command Thats Displacing The CIA The Atlantic, 2009 After Sept. 11, 2001, the Bush administration began waging a global war on terrorism both openly and on the dark side. [] Directed by Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the White House expanded the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) into a global capturing and killing machine. The End of Dick Cheneys Kill Squads The Atlantic, 2010 In March 2009, investigative reporter for the New Yorker Seymour Hersh caused a minor controversy by telling an audience in Minnesota that he had uncovered an executive assassination ring that the Bush administration operated abroad. It is a special wing of our special operations community that is set up independently, he said of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). They do not report to anybody, except in the Bush-Cheney days, they reported directly to the Cheney office. The Rise of JSOC in Dirty Wars Business Insider, 2013 Their real days of glory really only started after 9/11, Colonel Walter Patrick Lang, who spent much of his career in covert operations, told [writer Jeremy] Scahill. They didnt do a lot of fighting before that. Known within the covert ops community as ninjas or snake eaters, JSOC operators train to track a target, fix his position, and then finish him off without being detected. Theyre the ace in the hole, General Hugh Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Clinton, told Scahill. If you need someone that can sky dive from thirty miles away, go down the chimney of a castle, and blow it up from the inside those are the guys you want to call on. The real-life stuff of movies, straight from your imagination. First, note Dick Cheneys role in the JSOC story. They operated at his command. Next, about the end of the kills squads, hold onto the salt shaker as you read that piece. Hersh has said many times that Obama changed little about Bush policies. And as to displacing the CIA, dont count on it. Since no one knows what the CIA does perhaps even the CIA displacement seems highly unlikely. Are there CIA kill teams today? According to my read of this, there used to be. Why would they want to stop? JSOC Today Where are we now? Another Nick Turse piece, this one from 2019, brings us mostly up to date. (See map at top.) Revealed: The U.S. militarys 36 code-named operations in Africa Between 2013 and 2017, U.S. special operations forces saw combat in at least 13 African countries, according to retired Army Brig. Gen. Don Bolduc, who served at U.S. Africa Command from 2013 to 2015 and then headed Special Operations Command Africa until 2017. Those countries, according to Bolduc, are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan and Tunisia. He added that U.S. troops have been killed or wounded in action in at least six of them: Kenya, Libya, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan and Tunisia. Yahoo News has put together a list of three dozen such operations across the continent. The code-named operations cover a variety of different military missions, ranging from psychological operations to counterterrorism. Eight of the named activities, including Obsidian Nomad, are so-called 127e programs, named for the budgetary authority that allows U.S. special operations forces to use certain host-nation military units as surrogates in counterterrorism missions. Used extensively across Africa, 127e programs can be run either by Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), the secretive organization that controls the Navys SEAL Team 6, the Armys Delta Force and other special mission units, or by theater special operations forces. These programs are specifically designed for us to work with our host nation partners to develop small anywhere between 80 and 120 personnel counterterrorism forces that were partnered with, said Bolduc. They are specially selected partner-nation forces that go through extensive training, with the same equipment we have, to specifically go after counterterrorism targets, especially high-value targets. Not all of the operations listed in the Yahoo report are murder squads. But Jupiter Nimbus in Nigeria (running a military operation against Boko Haram), or Paladin Hunter and Ultimate Hunter operating in Somalia, dont look like teams of crossing guards. Ultimate Hunter? Really? Sunaks father-in-laws company, Indian tech giant (and digital identity developer) Infosys, has been doing a roaring business with UK government departments since his son-in-law became chancellor and then PM. The Indian tech company Infosys, co-founded by Rishi Sunaks father-in-law, N R Narayana Murthy, has seen its contracts with the UK government mushroom since Sunak became chancellor of the exchequer in 2020. Per Wikipedia, Murthy is not just one of the companys seven co-founders; he served as its CEO for 21 years (1980-2001), its president for nine years (2002-11), and its chief mentor before retiring under the title chairman emeritus. His daughter, Akshata Murthy, who married Sunak in 2009, holds a 0.94% stake in the firm, worth some 600 million, while the Murthy family as a whole owns around 3%. Over the past ten years, UK government contracts have earned the company some 65 million, around 47 million of which has poured in since 2020, when Sunak was appointed chancellor of the exchequer. A report by Peter Geoghegan, author of the book Democracy for Sale who runs a Substack by the same name, suggests the money flowing between Sunaks government and his father-in-laws company could soon accelerate: Infosys has been listed as a supplier on a series of major public contracts that have a combined value of more than 750 million. These framework agreements which have not been reported before are by some distance the largest public contracts that Infosys has been involved with in the UK Infosys is one of 62 suppliers on a 562.5m contract for IT services published by the Financial Conduct Authority in October, according to the governments Contracts Finder website. The firm is also one of 25 suppliers on a 250m contract published by NHS Shared Business Services last month for intelligent automation These framework agreements let public bodies directly award contracts without further tendering. No awards have yet been made, but Infosys may be in line for millions in taxpayers money. The contract up for grabs with the NHS is noteworthy given Infosys ties to Palantir, the US spyware company that recently picked up a 360 million contract to operate NHS Englands Federated Data Platform. Palantir is one of roughly 200 international companies Infosys has struck a partnership with over the years. As we reported just last week, almost three-quarters of the text of Palantirs NHS contract, including, ironically, almost entire sections relating to patient privacy and protection of their data, has been redacted. What Does Infosys Do? Infosys describes itself as a global leader in next generation digital services and consulting, enabling clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. It provides business consulting, information technology and outsourcing services. As NC reader Paul Art points out below, Infosys was one of the earliest Body Shoppers a term of art in the 1980s for companies in India which shipped programmers to the USA. They also in-sourced plenty of work from the USA and other parts of the globe leaving behind devastated armies of unemployed American and British Programmers. Today, Infosys is a global powerhouse with a huge roster of corporate clients and partner companies. It is not just a partner but a strategic partner of the World Economic Forum, which has spent decades promoting its own corporate-designed model of digital transformation globally. In 2005, Murthy himself co-chaired the WEFs 2005 annual meeting in Davos. Infosys has played a central role in developing and implementing Indias Aadhaar system, the worlds largest digital identity program. By 2021, the Indian governments Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) had issued 1.3 billion unique identity numbers (UIDs) covering roughly 92% of the countrys population. Aadhaars chief architect is Nandan Nilekani, another co-founder and nonexecutive chairman of Infosys, who was a few years ago lauded by Bill Gates as one of his so-called heroes of the field for having made the worlds invisible people, visible. While celebrated and even emulated by Silicon Valley billionaires, Aadhaar has major security flaws. In early November, the system suffered its largest ever breach, resulting in the personal data of hundreds of millions of Indians being put up for sale on the dark web, for as little as $80,000. Besides the vulnerability of its data storage, Indias Aadhaar system has many other downsides, as I note in my book Scanned: [I]t tracks users movements between cities, their employment status and purchasing records. It is a de facto social credit system that serves as the key entry point for accessing services in India. While the system has helped to speed and clean up Indias bureaucracy, it has also massively increased the Indian governments surveillance powers and excluded over 100 million people from welfare programs as well as basic services. But the system is also being extolled by prominent global technocrats, including Gates and the WEFs President Borge Brende, as the main driver of Indias rapid economic growth in recent years. The goal is to export the model as far and wide as quickly as possibly, particularly to Africa, with the help of the World Bank and the United Nations. Facilitating A Bigger Infosys Presence in the UK Back in the UK, the Sunak government is determined to introduce its One Login digital identity system despite broad public opposition. Coincidentally or not, it is also looking to strengthen its commercial ties with Infosys. In April last year, the UKs Trade Minister Dominic Johnson (no relation to Boris) told senior representatives of Infosys, whose names were redacted in the governments public records, that he was keen to see a bigger Infosys presence in the UK and would be happy to do what he could to facilitate that. Johnson has his own conflict of interest. Before becoming trade minister, he ran an investment fund with fellow Tory politician Jacob Rees Mogg. That fund, Somerset Capital Management LLP, holds a significant stake in Infosys. Shortly after his meeting with the Infosys executives, the fund increased that stake by around 18m, to 105m, according to a report in the Sunday Mirror. The department for business came up with the lamest of defences: Lord Johnson, it said, had resigned from Somerset Capital before becoming a minister and has had no contact with the business since. Meanwhile, the ethics adviser in parliament has ruled that Sunak is not required to declare his wifes interest in Infosys in the register of interests. But as Geoghegan notes in an interview on the Politics JOE channel, everybody knows its there, and theres a strong argument for declaring these things. After all, he said, if you were on the board of a company, these are the kinds of things you would have to declare, not as live conflicts of interest per se but as potential conflicts of interest so that they can be managed better. In the interview, Geoghegan is at pains to stress nothing illegal has happened here, but the opaqueness of how these decisions are made, the opaqueness of relations between people is troubling. Unfortunately, we have had a rather bad track record in this area in the past few years. Even more worrisome are the financial interests Infosys has in Israel, which is currently committing genocide in Gaza with the unwavering support of Sunaks government. From Declassified UKs November article, No Outcry Over Rishi Sunaks Family Investments in Israel: Until April this year, the Infosys board of directors included Uri Levine, an Israeli entrepreneur known for creating the popular Waze traffic navigation app. Levine is a veteran of Unit 8200, an elite Israeli army cyber warfare division that spies on the countrys adversaries. He served with Unit 8200 during a five year spell in Israels military in the 1980s. Levine was appointed to the Infosys board in 2020. Infosys was already operating in Israel before hiring Levine. In 2012, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Office of the Chief Scientist of Israel, to collaborate on research and development (R&D). This has led some to speculate that Infosys supplies technology to Israels security apparatus. Declassified could not find direct evidence of this and Infosys did not respond to a request for comment The companys investment in Israel deepened in 2015 when it acquired Panaya, a local tech firm, for around $200m, although Murthy was critical of the deal. Last year, Panaya hired Tal Arnon as its vice president of R&D. As the article concludes, if Sunaks wife and in-laws were making money from businesses managed in part by former Russian or Chinese spies, then there might be more of an outcry. While Infosys continued operations in Russia despite US-EU-UK sanctions have drawn scrutiny and criticism in the British press, its connections with Israel are unlikely to cause Sunak any problems since Israel is a British ally. Moderna Money Sunaks potential conflicts of interest are not only family-related. Since becoming chancellor in 2020, he has faced allegations that he profited, or one day will profit, from the massive growth in sales, revenues and share price of Moderna. Thelene, a Cayman Islands-based hedge fund he helped set up, began investing in the US-based mRNA vaccine maker in 2011. By late 2020 it was Modernas largest hedge fund investor. Sunak had left the company seven years earlier to pursue a political career. For the past four years he has refused to confirm whether or not he stands to benefit personally from the huge returns Theleme has earned on its investment. Today, 34% of Thelemes funds, reported to be valued at $710m, are invested in Moderna, according to the Good Law Project. Sunak insists his investments are in a blind trust, which is supposed to protect politicians against conflicts of interest by preventing them from knowing what they are invested in. However, as an article in The Guardian suggested last year, blind trusts are more likely being used to blind the public rather than the beneficiary: The list of ministers interests does not explicitly state whether Sunak, Cameron and the other ministers have handed over their assets to trustees, formally moving the legal ownership of the shares. There is no formal legal definition of a blind trust or exactly what constitutes a sufficiently independent third party to act as a trustee. A Spotlight on Corruption report said blind trusts were a tool to encourage the public perception that steps have been taken to manage conflicts of interests. The ambiguous disclosures leave open the possibility ministers are simply using a blind management arrangement, where they may have an informal agreement with their fund managers not to consult them on their present holdings or make decisions on the purchase and sale of assets. Neither system has any formal oversight. Sunak, who is reported to be the richest ever occupant of 10 Downing Street, only released his tax details for the first time last year. Even then, they were somewhat short on detail. The documents showed that the PM pocketed nearly 5 million over the past three years, thanks mainly to dividends. If, as seems likely, Sunak stands to profit from Thelemes significant investments in Moderna, it calls into question not just the millions of Moderna vaccines his and the Boris Johnson government have purchased but also the 1bn, 10-year deal the UK government signed with the company in June 2022 to build the UKs first manufacturing center for messenger RNA vaccines for COVID-19 and other diseases. For Moderna, it was an exceedingly generous offer: set up operations in the UK, conduct clinical trials there (testing its latest, experimental mRNA products) and as a sweetener, the government would throw in 1bn. Although Boris Johnson was still prime minister at the time, it was Sunak, as chancellor, who had to sign off on the deal. And yet the British public still didnt know whether he holds a financial stake in the firms biggest backer. And to all intents and purposes, they still dont. To cap it all off, when the Covid inquiry requested access to his WhatsApp messages from his time as chancellor, he failed to hand them over, claiming he had changed his phone several times and failed to back them up. Two very different versions of the Education Freedom Scholarship Act passed two key legislative committees in the state House and Senate Wednesday. The EFSA a pet project of Gov. Bill Lee seeks to provide universal vouchers to students across Tennessee, allowing them to attend private schools using public dollars. A tense, hours-long conversation in the House Education Administration Committee resulted in the passage of that chambers massive version of the EFSA, which folds in a range of policies extending beyond vouchers and would set sweeping changes to the public schools system. Such changes include allocating more money to schools through the states education funding formula and increasing the states share of teacher insurance costs. It would decrease the amount of state testing, decrease the number of evaluations for well-performing teachers and decrease the amount of interventions schools would be obligated to provide to students who are behind academically. Acknowledging the controversial retention law that could hold back thousands of third- and fourth-graders, the bill would also allow fourth-graders who dont pass a state tests reading portion to be promoted if they attend summer school and receive tutoring in fifth grade. It would also extend the time between teachers professional licensure renewals, give schools more flexibility on how they meet the required amount of classroom instruction time and allow districts more agency in how they address chronically absent students. Baked into the legislation is a provision that would dissolve the states largely unsuccessful Achievement School District and a severability clause that would ensure parts of the bill remain in place in case one section is overturned in court. Maryville City Schools director Michael Winstead testified before the committee, as did Nashville public school parent Maryam Abolfazli, far-right political gadfly Robby Starbuck and Walter Blanks Jr., a spokesperson for conservative pro-voucher group American Federation for Children. Vouchers are a bitter pill maybe some would say a poison pill and you can coat that with a lot of good things and make it go down a little easier, but in the end we're being asked to ingest a poison pill, Winstead told the committee. I think vouchers are the great destabilizer, and will be the straw that breaks the camel's back in some of our rural districts when it comes to finances down the road. Several times throughout the committee meeting, members addressed concerns about parliamentary rules. At one point, Rep. Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville) accused committee Chair Mark White (R-Memphis) of breaking House rules. Breaking of these rules got people kicked off this body, said McKenzie in reference to last year's expulsion of House Reps. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Justin Pearson (D-Memphis). Ultimately, after more than four hours of discussion, the debate was cut short. All of the committees Democrats voted against the bill, as did Reps. Monty Fritts (R-Kingston), Chris Hurt (R-Halls), Bryan Richey (R-Maryville) and Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill). The bill nevertheless passed and is headed to the House Government Operations Committee. While the House version of the bill would not provide vouchers to home-schoolers, the Senate version would. The Houses version would cost just under $398 million in its first year and exceed $425 million by fiscal year 2026-27 and onward. The Senates version would cost more than $95 million in its first year and could exceed $333 million in fiscal year 2026-27 and onwards. The House and the Senate is [sic] never going to agree on this 39-page master-growth of government, said Warner on Wednesday. This is gonna go to a conference committee at the end of session, and to a backroom deal that we will get one hour, more than likely, on the House floor to discuss. Meanwhile, the Senate Education Committee discussed its own very different version of the bill, brought forward by committee Chair Jon Lunberg (R-Bristol). The bill is very similar to what was initially introduced by Lunberg and discussed last week, with slight adjustment related to funding procedures. Major aspects of the Senate bill include testing requirements for private school students who use vouchers and the ability for families to use state dollars to attend schools in other districts. Some members of the Senate, including Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald), noted the differences in the House and Senate bills and expressed a desire to reconcile differences in committee rather than later in the process. The bill passed and is headed to the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee. A group of 39 community organizations had every right to be frustrated. Their members gathered in front of City Hall on a chilly February day to protest the continuing exposure of Buffalos children to toxic lead paint. Lead paint is mainly a problem in older homes, built before the 1980s. Unfortunately, those homes dot the citys landscape, their paint chipping and finding its way into the mouths of curious small children. From there, it could be a matter of time before behavioral problems arise, along with irreversible effects on growth and development, and a host of other consequences including damage to the brain and nervous system. Since at least the early 1990s, Buffalo has ranked among the nations worst cities for the lead poisoning of children. All parties want a solution. The quicker the better. That is why the Erie County Health Department designated nine ZIP codes in the city as communities of concern because of elevated childhood lead poisoning. But Buffalo has its own program that is moving too slowly. New York State, meanwhile, allocates millions of dollars to dealing with the problem. That includes $1.4 million this year to Erie County to inspect housing for lead paint hazards and to cite owners. The city receives none of this funding. Moreover, the federal government provided about $212,580 to Erie Countys childhood lead poisoning prevention program. City officials acknowledge their role in helping to safeguard children living in rental houses with lead lurking on windowsills, on doors and on wooden floors, to name a few. The question is whether it is working quickly enough. Contaminated houses can largely be found in neighborhoods of color that are 12 times more likely to suffer lead poisoning than children in predominantly white neighborhoods, said Andrea O Suilleabhain, executive director of think tank Partnership for the Public Good. O Suilleabhain wants the city to take seriously the measures required by its own Proactive Rental Inspections program, implemented in 2021. So far, the program has completed 4,765 inspections out of 36,000 units covered under the legislation, and 415 certificates of compliance have been issued, said Catherine Amdur, the citys commissioner of permit and inspection services. So far this year, city inspectors have completed 140 PRI inspections and issued 46 certificates, which seems a meager amount. But, as Amdur explained, it is a big undertaking. One must also consider the stunting effect Covid-19 played on all facets of life. Businesses, schools and just about everything stalled during that period. Not many renters would have wanted strangers traipsing through their living spaces even lead paint inspectors in those early days. Perhaps the city can comply with the community organizations written demand to Mayor Byron W. Brown and Amdur, for documentation within 30 days to show the city is fully complying with the rental inspections required by the PRI legislation. It would be an act of transparency. There is a cost to the program $2 million a year to meet the defined goal, according to Amdur. The citys PRI program, created by the Buffalo Common Council in November 2020, is currently funded with federal American Rescue Plan money, about $1 million total over three years. The inspections are conducted at no cost to the owner. Inspectors check for various factors affecting health and safety, including lead paint, infestation, safety exits, smoke detectors, carbon dioxide detectors and leaking pipes. O Suilleabhain referred to similar legislation in Rochester that has been in effect for more than a decade and significantly reduced lead poisoning in that city. Surely, similar efforts can be made in Buffalo. Indeed, it is imperative that all stakeholders remain steadfast in eliminating lead paint from older housing stock, safeguarding children from the life-altering effects of poisoning. 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. Anti-misinfo AI tapped by Washington secretary of state is FLAGGING real news stories as fakes An artificial intelligence (AI) program tapped by the Washington Secretary of State (WASOS) to monitor potential election "misinformation" is under fire for flagging real news stories as fake According to the National Pulse, the WASOS hired the England-based AI firm Logically in 2023 to scan for "false content" on various social media platforms. Per the state's contract with Logically, the British company is mandated to use its AI tools to identify "harmful narratives" concerning the Evergreen State's elections and generate reports for the state secretary's review. The company did generate reports it was tasked to do last summer but included two stories from the Center Square about illegals unlawfully voting in the state. One story touched on the Evergreen State's election laws, while the other talked about an incident in which a foreign national avoided prosecution after illegally voting 28 times. The British firm argued in its reports that the two stories were deemed as "misinformation" due to how social media users interpreted them. The first story was deemed as such due to users concluding that "no government agency in Washington State has the mandate or authority to verify the citizenship of registered voters." In addition, some users reportedly claimed it was "intentional negligence by Washington authorities to enable voter fraud. Meanwhile, the second story was deemed as "misinformation" as it may "motivate individuals to call for stricter voter registration laws and more oversight of the process." WASOS spokesman Derrick Nunnally said neither Logically nor his office has used the reports to push for the censorship of news stories. He also insisted that the British AI company's reports have also not been utilized to label social media users as having spread "misinformation." 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. AI will see more uses as the 2024 election nears The WASOS' use of AI isn't the first time the technology was tapped ahead of the elections this November, and it certainly won't be the last. In fact, technology giant Microsoft has expressed its intent to utilize AI to address election-related mis- and disinformation. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced this plan during a Jan. 30 appearance on "NBC Nightly News." His response came as an answer to program host Lester Holt's question about how AI might either assist or endanger future elections. However, according to Reclaim the Net, "Nadella's response seemed to imply a willingness to use technology for censoring content in pursuit of fighting what he identified as disinformation." "This is not the first election where we dealt with disinformation or propaganda campaigns by adversaries and election interference," the Microsoft CEO said. "We're doing all the work across the tech industry around watermarking, detecting deep fakes and content IDs. There is going to be enough and more technology quite frankly in order to be able to identify the issues around disinformation and misinformation." (Related: Microsoft CEO hints that upcoming AI "misinformation" censorship tools might DISABLE your Windows PC for questioning establishment narratives about the election.) Reclaim the Net also pointed out that "concerns are growing over the role of Big Tech companies in moderating 'misinformation,' particularly due to the fear that these corporations already wield significant power and influence [that] could potentially sway political outcomes, including elections." "Many worry that the concentrated power in these tech giants allows them to arbitrarily define what constitutes misinformation, leading to a situation where they could suppress certain viewpoints or information. This raises questions about the impartiality and fairness of such moderation, especially in the context of political discourse and the democratic process. The debate is fueled by the concern that these companies, due to their size and reach, could have a disproportionate impact on public opinion and electoral processes." Head over to Robots.news for more stories about the use of AI ahead of the 2024 elections. Listen to the Health Ranger Mike Adams as he explains how AI is being weaponized against people. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Are OpenAI and the White House colluding to influence elections? China using AI technology to IMPERSONATE U.S. voters, Microsoft confirms. ELECTION INTERFERENCE: Google launching "anti-misinformation" campaign in five European countries ahead of EU Parliament elections in June. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com ReclaimTheNet.org Brighteon.com CLAIM: China secretly arming American criminals with machine guns As part of an alleged "Disintegration Warfare" strategy, communist China is said to be arming American criminals with machine guns in order to take down the country from within. Breitbart News Senior Contributor Peter Schweizer claims this and more in a new book he wrote called Blood Money: Why the Powerful Turn a Blind Eye While China Kills Americans. In it, Schweizer says powerful Chinese companies are flooding America with auto sear switches, which are small metal devices also known as "Glock switches," that convert ordinary handguns into machine guns. For most gun owners in the United States, auto sear switches are illegal. Even so, they are being shipped in boxes to America by the "thousands" from China, according to Schweizer. Along with fentanyl, communist China is sending these auto sear switches to the U.S. for the purpose of destabilizing the nation or as Schweizer puts it, "to sow chaos and death inside the U.S." Chinese leaders themselves admit to going after the "soft underbelly" of America in terms of politics, economics and the spirit and psychology of its people, Schweizer warns. "It is based on the ancient Chinese strategist and general Sun Tzu's teachings on how to win a war without fighting," he says. "The strategy is aimed at undermining a rival country's 'national will, values and cohesion.'" (Related: Last summer, we asked the question: "Is communist China planning to attack the United States?" Perhaps this is how.) China drugging and gunning America to death Auto sear switches first started arriving in the U.S. in bulk around 2018, not long after Donald Trump was elected president. Law enforcement documents suggest most of them are making their way into the hands of felons and criminal gangs all across the country. 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. Roughly the size of a penny, auto sear switches are generally illegal in America, except for law enforcement personnel and select others who obtain federal license requirements and undergo an extensive criminal background check. Chinese websites translated into English sell auto sear switches to people everywhere in the world, outside the bounds of the law. As a result, machine gun fire incidents in the U.S. increased by 4,200 percent between 2019 and 2021. Keep in mind that auto sear switches can also be produced at home using 3-D printers, so not all of this is China's fault. Even so, "the vast majority on the street," according to Schweizer, came from China. As law enforcement catches on to China's shipping tactics for auto sear switches, the communist regime is starting to shift its tactics by shipping the devices through Mexico instead, after which they are smuggled across America's open borders into the U.S. "This is a strikingly similar replay of the Chinese government's strategy with fentanyl: when U.S. authorities successfully began blocking shipments sent from China via mail or parcel, Chinese sellers switched to a land bridge in Mexico to continue supplying these devices to criminals in the United States," Schweizer contends. "This is 'delivery saturation around the United States,' warned the Department of Homeland Security in an internal memo obtained by the author, with a map showing that distribution is concentrated in major cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Washington, New York and Philadelphia." Another thing China is flooding America with is firearm suppressors, also known as "silencers." Beginning around 2019, a "huge influx" of suppressors started making their way into the U.S. from China, and are now in the hands of criminal gangs and drug cartels. "No American president appears to have brought this up with Beijing in his consultations with President Xi," Schweizer notes. "President Biden has pressed for gun restrictions on ordinary Americans but has never publicly discussed this problem, where criminal elements are gaining access to machine guns courtesy of Chinese manufacturers' illegal shipments." More related news can be found at CommunistChina.news. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com QUACKCINE expert and Eugenicist Janet Woodcock, who approved Pfizers mRNA jab, also approved OxyContin and Fentanyl Janet Woodcock, the Principal Deputy Commissioner of Food and Drugs, joined the Fraudulent Drug Administration (FDA) way back in 1986. This is the woman who presided over the worst regulatory agency failure in U.S. medical history, better known as the opioid holocaust. She approved the mass use of opioid drugs without adequate evidence of safety or long-term efficacy, despite an overwhelming majority vote against this "approval" by a scientific advisory committee. Yes, that is when OxyContin was inappropriately approved (as Woodcock later admitted) for kids as young as 11 years old. This same woman granted FULL APPROVAL of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid quackcine just three years ago, and now THAT is the worst regulatory agency failure in U.S. medical history. Let's take an inside look at the fraud, mayhem and quackcine holocaust taking place now, thanks to Eugenicist Janet Woodcock and her quackcine cohorts. The most dangerous jab ever created was approved by the same person who approved the most dangerous and addictive prescription drugs for pain, ever The year was 2021, and the world of brainwashed vaccinators were in panic mode, thanks to the fake news mass media complex and the globalist narrative of Covid-19. The approval of the clot shot that creates millions (if not billions) of microscopic spike prions in the vascular system, which invade the heart, brain, cleansing organs and ovaries, was approved and followed by employer-enforced vaccine mandates across America. This included most corporations, nearly all U.S. government jobs, and anyone who works at a hospital, school or daycare center. 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. That's when all the big lies came down the pike, falsely claiming the quackcine was "safe and effective," and that "the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product, as quackcine expert Janet "Opioid-Queen" Woodcock said in a statement following the approval. Woodcock is relentless in approving dangerous drugs and jabs. She never quits. She also approved a most controversial Alzheimer's drug called Biogen (that costs patients over $50,000 per year). Woodcock is Biden's drug and quackcine czar, who seems to be a permanently affixed drug lord for the communist regime in Washington DC. Here's the timeline for Woodcock's opioid reign of terror One would think that an FDA head that approves a drug that has maimed and killed millions of Americans would be ousted from the position, and even sued for millions or jailed, but not in the quack-drug-ridden USA. Check out this timeline of mayhem and drug terror, sponsored by the FDA's quackcine czar, Janet Woodcock: 1995: OxyContin (oxycodone controlled-release) approved; first formulation of oxycodone that allowed dosing every 12 hours (instead of every 4 to 6 hours). 1998: Actiq (fentanyl) approved; first pain medicine approved to treat cancer breakthrough pain, but with fake "additional safety measures." Early 2000s: Reports of overdose and death from OxyContin rise sharply. 2001: OxyContin label changed to strengthen warnings about the drugs potential for misuse and abuse (always too little, too late). 2003: FDA issues a Warning Letter (External Link Disclaimer) to OxyContins manufacturer for misleading ads. Surprise, surprise. 2011: FDA approves immediate-release of fentanyl (TIRF) products, such as Actiq. Shortly thereafter, quack-drug-lord Woodcock issues sweeping statement that there was a massive "miscalculation about projected harms" of OxyContin, that was approved 15 years prior, by her. Yes, 15 years it took to admit it. The U.S. opioid epidemic (holocaust actually) was a decade-and-a-half deep before the FDA even began to fire up warnings. How long before those warning flags come out for the mRNA death jabs? Will it be the year 2035, after 100 million Americans die of "unexpected" and "unexplainable" causes? Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on FDA-approved experimental gene therapy injections that lead directly to vascular clots, hypertension, myocarditis, pericarditis, heart attacks, strokes, PCVS, SPS and Long-Vax-Syndrome. Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news USAtoday.com News.bloomberglaw.com FDA.gov/drugs Jeff Bezos regains title of worlds richest person, overtaking Elon Musk for the first time since 2021 Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is once again the richest person in the world , after the tech giant's net worth surpassed that of Tesla CEO and Twitter (now X) owner Elon Musk for the first time since the fall of 2021. This is according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which reported on Monday, March 4, that Bezos' topping of the billionaire list with his net worth of $200.3 billion has more to do with Musk's net worth diminishing. The index reported that shares in Tesla tumbled by 7.2 percent on Monday, causing Musk's net worth to fall below the $200 billion mark to $197.7 billion. (Related: Control freak "controligarchs," many of them billionaires, are leading the world off a cliff.) Musk's net worth comes from his stakes in his many business ventures, primarily the electric vehicle company Tesla and the private space tech and exploration firm SpaceX. The Bloomberg index includes all of his ventures in its calculations of his wealth. Meanwhile, the vast majority of Bezos' fortune comes from his nine percent stake in Amazon, which makes him the online retail giant's largest shareholder, even after he dumped 50 million shares worth about $8.5 billion in February. Bezos being atop wealth rankings is a familiar position for him. He first overtook Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates as the world's richest person in 2017. But then a massive rally in the value of Tesla's shares left Bezos and Musk jockeying for the top spot for much of 2021. Late that year, Bezos fell way behind and was unable to regain the position until now. 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. Musk's wealth may diminish even further At one point, the wealth gap between Musk, 52, and Bezos, 60, was as wide as $142 billion in Musk's favor. But this has been steadily shrinking, as shares of Amazon and Tesla move in opposite directions. While both are part of the "Magnificent Seven," a group of U.S. stocks that have been largely responsible for propelling the growth of American equity markets, the value of Amazon's shares has more than doubled since late 2022 and are within striking distance of a record high. Meanwhile, Tesla's stocks have diminished in value by about 50 percent from its 2021 peak. The latest tumble for Tesla on Monday came after preliminary data showed shipments from its car factory in Shanghai slumped to the lowest in more than a year. Meanwhile, Amazon is coming off its best online sales growth period since early in the pandemic in 2020 when everybody was forced to turn to online retail. Musk's net worth could take a further hit after legal proceedings in Delaware, where a judge struck down his proposed $55 billion pay package at Tesla. The judge took the side of an investor who challenged Musk's compensation plan, which was the largest in recorded history. Options included in the voided plan are one of Musk's largest assets, alongside his stakes in Tesla and SpaceX. The longer these legal proceedings play out, the more likely Musk's wealth will diminish even further, and he could eventually be overtaken by Bernard Arnault, 74, of France, the chairman of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury goods maker. Arnault's net worth is $197.5 billion. Watch this episode of "X22 Financial Report" discussing how the world's wealthiest billionaires like Jeff Bezos are selling their founding company stocks. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Carbon credits, as pushed by Elon Musk, could stop people from growing their own food. America's second-largest foreign owner of land is a CHINESE BILLIONAIRE. Study: World's richest 1% emit the same amount of carbon as 5 billion of the world's poorest. New Amazon CEO faces FTC lawsuit over alleged anti-competitive practices under his predecessor Jeff Bezos. Jeff Bezos to dump most of his net worth into fighting "climate change" (which means left-wing causes). Sources include: WSJ.com Bloomberg.com Brighteon.com Pentagons Lloyd Austin warns: NATO-Russia war is INEVITABLE if Ukraine loses Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has warned that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could be dragged into war with Russia if Vladimir Putin's forces are not stopped in Ukraine. He issued this chilling warning during a Feb. 29 hearing of the House Committee on Armed Services. Aside from warning of the potential conflict between the bloc and Moscow, he also expressed concern about the potential consequences of a Russian victory in Ukraine. According to the secretary, Russian President Vladimir Putin won't cease his aggression after Kyiv falls. His victory, Austin added, might also encourage autocratic leaders worldwide to do the same undermining democracy as a result. The defense secretary also pointed to the cascading impact on other nations, particularly those in the Baltic region. (Related: NATO holds massive military exercises to prepare for planned escalation of war with Russia.) Austin's remarks underscored the geopolitical complexities at play, with potential repercussions extending beyond Ukraine's borders. He emphasized the interconnected nature of global politics and the potential domino effect that could result from a failure to support a democracy under threat. The secretary's warning came in the aftermath of Congress' refusal to approve a $60 billion military aid package for Ukraine proposed by President Joe Biden, citing citing disagreements over border security. The comments also coincided with a significant NATO maneuver in the East Mediterranean, where a sizable strike force assumed command, showcasing the alliance's commitment to maritime defense. 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. This display of military strength by NATO in a key geopolitical region underscored the bloc's determination to counter any potential aggression that might arise from Russia's actions. The East Mediterranean holds strategic importance, controlling access to the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia. Biden admin officials discuss need to address Kyiv's military shortages Meanwhile, Biden administration officials gathered at the Pentagon complex the home of the Department of Defense to address the urgent need for artillery and ammunition in Ukraine. Discussions revolved around potential strategies, including drawing down U.S. stockpiles without immediate replenishment to quickly supply critical weaponry to Ukraine. The pressing concern stems from the imminent depletion of crucial munitions, such as 155 mm artillery rounds and air defense ammunition. Despite a stalled request for new funding from Congress, officials explored options to fulfill Ukraine's immediate requirements. The urgency arises as Ukraine faces the potential exhaustion of key weaponry within the next few weeks. While no final decisions have been made, the administration is navigating the complex landscape of addressing the immediate crisis without compromising broader diplomatic and strategic goals. The Biden administration has been advocating for approximately $60 billion in new aid for Ukraine, yet the House is not expected to address the matter until late March. Republican opposition in the House adds to the challenges in securing swift approval for the aid package. The Defense Department, still possessing around $4 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority funding, is contemplating providing weapons and equipment from U.S. stockpiles to Ukraine. However, the absence of approved funding for replenishment poses a significant hurdle. Officials are weighing the potential risks of depleting U.S. stockpiles without assurances of prompt replenishment. Concerns have been raised regarding the impact on ongoing negotiations with Congress, particularly the potential strain in relations with House GOP leaders. The delicate balance involves navigating the immediate needs of Ukraine, the intricacies of congressional processes and maintaining readiness for U.S. military forces. While supplying artillery and ammunition from U.S. stockpiles without immediate congressional approval is considered a last resort, the administration is working towards securing Ukraine funding by the third week of March. The timeline aims to sustain Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, with a vote anticipated by the end of March. The Biden administration faces the challenging task of managing the evolving situation, aligning diplomatic efforts, and addressing the urgent needs of a nation at war. Watch this video about NATO escalating new frontlines due to its inability to win in Ukraine. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: NATO running out of weapons for Ukraine: "bottom of the barrel" now visible. NATO wants to give Ukraine 1 MILLION DRONES in 2024 but who will make them? NATO engaged in direct aggression against Russia. Sources include: The-Express.com NBCNews.com Brighteon.com Dr. Michael Nehls: Government response to COVID-19 sought to turn people into SHEEPLE German author and post-doctoral molecular geneticist Dr. Michael Nehls told the Health Ranger Mike Adams during a recent episode of the "Health Ranger Report" that the government response to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic sought to turn humans into blindly obedient "sheeple." In a piece on his Substack, Nehls explained that a human's ability to live a long and healthy life depends on the optimal functioning of both the mental and physical immune systems. These systems do not operate independently of each other, he added, but mutually influence each other and share common needs. But according to Nehls, the government's response to COVID-19 undermined the functioning of these two systems. People were stuck at home with the lockdowns, prevented from interacting with each other. "We had sedentary lifestyles, [and] no purpose in life. People had chronic exhaustion and Alzheimer's disease even before 2020, when pandemic public health mandates were rolled out," he told Adams. The Health Ranger agreed, adding: "By locking us down, the powers were able to zap people's individuality, creativity, cognition, memories, ability to reason and navigate the world around them." Nehls cited a 2019 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that showed how quickly he hippocampus a part of the brain responsible for memory, spatial processing and emotion can shrink. Eight people were sent to Antarctica for a foreign expedition, while another eight people were told to stay at home. The hippocampal volume for both groups were measured before the study commenced. Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Learn about our free, non-commercial AI / LLM project here. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions. The study authors then measured the two groups' hippocampal volume after 14 months. They found that the stay-at-home group who were isolated in an indoor environment had a dramatic shrinkage rate for their hippocampi. The researchers pointed to two factors that caused this shrinkage social isolation and monotony. Nehls then continued that the government put forward the mass vaccination program as an escape from the confinement and solitude it imposed on the population. To be able to go out, people would need to submit to the COVID-19 injections. Globalist agenda involves sowing fear and weakening psychological resilience The doctor and author further explained to the Health Ranger how this globalist agenda of zombifying people was implemented. First, the powers that be used mind conditioning in the form of fearmongering. Nehls said that people were told that the elderly or children will die if they do not follow the draconian COVID-19 mandates. (Related: Globalist World Economic Forum now parroting "Disease X" narrative to instill FEAR in the public.) "We experienced pre-traumatic stress," he remarked. "And the hallmark of post-traumatic stress syndrome, besides strong depression, is the shrinkage of the hippocampus." According to Nehls, this targets the mental immune system, leading to a chronic lack of index neurons. This translates to people losing their natural curiosity and refusing to question anything happening around. Moreover, the psychological resilience begins to weaken with people easily becoming anxious. With both the ego and personality shrinking as a result of this anxiety, people have an increased tendency to lean toward collective narcissism and blindly following the herd. "People stopped questioning and started going along with everything, accepting dangerous [and] nonsensical orders. You seek your group no matter what nonsense the group is saying, but you feel more confident being with them," Nehls commented. He concluded that people eventually become trapped in stereotypical thinking and behavior, which leads to an acceptance of objectively harmful measures such as injections. "We see different wars, the war against the pandemic, climate change and over borders, which might be global walls, eventually. But for me, the only war is against the brain," Nehls told the Brighteon.com and Natural News founder. "All the fears and narratives point in one direction: To solve each of these problems, we need a global government. They want us to believe that not a single government in the world can solve the problem. That's the narrative that's implanted in our brains." Head over to Sheeple.news for more stories like this. Watch the full conversation between Dr. Michael Nehls and the Health Ranger Mike Adams on the "Health Ranger Report" below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Globalist WEF claims MISINFO and DISINFO are the greatest threats to humanity Globalists aiming to "peacefully" depopulate six billion people with mass euthanasia. Heartless globalists CELEBRATE demise of poor people who can no longer afford basics like electricity, food: "It gives us some hope and optimism, actually." Sources include: Brighteon.com MichaelNehls.Substack.com Nikki Haley finally DROPS OUT of Republican presidential race after burning through huge donation war chest Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has dropped out of the race for the Republican Party's presidential nominee, clearing the way for former President Donald Trump. The erstwhile U.S. ambassador to the United Nations ended her bid for the presidency on March 6, a day after Super Tuesday in which Trump won 14 out of 15 state primaries. She made the announcement before her supporters in the city of Charleston in her home state of South Carolina. While other candidates who withdrew offered their support for Trump the GOP's presumptive nominee she refused to do so. "I am filled with gratitude for the outpouring of support we've received from all across our great country. But the time has now come to suspend my campaign," she told the crowd. "I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets. And although I will no longer be a candidate, I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in." Haley also acknowledged in her March 6 speech that "in all likelihood, Trump will be the [GOP] nominee when [the Republican National Convention] meets in July." She then congratulated him on the achievement and wished him well, but stopped short of endorsing him. "I congratulate him and wish him well. I wish anyone well who would be America's president. Our country is too precious to let our differences divide us." "I have always been a conservative Republican and supported the Republican nominee. But on this question, as she did on so many others, [the late former British Prime Minister] Margaret Thatcher provided some good advice when she said: 'Never just follow the crowd. Always make up your own mind." 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. Haley ultimately concluded that it is now up to Trump himself "to earn the votes of those in [the GOP] and beyond it who did not support him and I hope he does." It took Super Tuesday for Haley to step down The former president reacted to news of Haley's withdrawal through a post on his Truth Social account. He pointed out that the former governor of the Tar Heel State "got trounced" on Super Tuesday "in record-setting fashion." "Much of her money came from radical Left Democrats, as did many of her voters. Almost 50 percent, according to the polls," Trump continued. "At this point, I hope she stays in the 'race' and fights it out until the end." (Related: Matrixxx Grooove: Nikki Haley's presidential campaign is backed by Democratic DARK MONEY Brighteon.TV.) The former president also invited Haley's supporters to "join the greatest movement in the history of [the] nation," He also stressed that President Joe Biden "is the enemy destroying [the] country." "Haley exits the race winning only two primary contests during her campaign one in the Washington, D.C. swamp and the other in Vermont," Breitbart News mentioned. Before her withdrawal from the race on March 6, her other rivals for the GOP presidential nomination stepped back and yielded to Trump. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis both dropped out of the race following the Iowa caucuses in January, which Trump won. Haley landed in third place during the Hawkeye State's primary election. "I think it is true that we did not achieve the surprise that we wanted to deliver. As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign. There is no path for me to be the next president," Ramaswamy said on Jan. 15. DeSantis meanwhile said on Jan. 21: "Following our second-place finish in Iowa, we've prayed and deliberated on the path forward. It's clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Trump another chance." Haley refused to drop out of the race despite the withdrawals of DeSantis and Ramaswamy. In between the Iowa caucuses and Super Tuesday, she consistently landed a distant second behind Trump. Unfortunately, it took the results of Super Tuesday for Haley to do the best thing. VoteRepublican.news has more stories about Nikki Haley's now-suspended presidential run. Watch New American Senior Editor Paul Dragu discusses Haley's withdrawal from the race after her dismal Super Tuesday results. This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: DeSantis withdraws from presidential race, endorses DONALD TRUMP. Vivek Ramaswamy drops out of Republican primary race, endorses Donald Trump. DeSantis DROPS OUT of presidential race, leaving Trump as clear Republican nominee. Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns for Donald Trump after dropping out of the presidential race. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com 1 Breitbart.com TruthSocial.com TheEpochTimes.com 2 LifeSiteNews.com Brighteon.com Another 9/11? NYC mobilizing 1,000 National Guard troops to patrol SUBWAYS Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York is bringing in 1,000 National Guard troops and State Police officer to the Big Apple as a major show of force to patrol the city's increasingly dangerous subway system. The job of these State Police officers and National Guard troops will be to dodge poop piles and urine puddles all along the city transit system's filthy terminals to deter criminals from terrorizing passengers. According to an announcement from Hochul, 750 guardsmen and 250 state law enforcement officers will be sent to "the city's busiest transit stations" in an attempt to put a lid on spiraling, out-of-control crime throughout New York City. "These brazen heinous attacks on our subway system will not be tolerated," the governor said, trying to sound tough. Hochul's plan with these militarized troops will be to implement her five-point plan to crack down on crime in New York City. "No one heading to their job or to visit family or go to a doctor appointment should worry that the person sitting next to them possesses a deadly weapon," Hochul added in a statement. "They shouldn't worry about whether someone's going to brandish a knife or gun. That's what we're going to do with these checkpoints." JUST IN: Violent crime is getting so bad in New York City subways that Gov. Kathy Hochul is deploying 1,000 total National Guardsmen, state police & MTA police to patrol them. Liberal policies have consequences. 750 members of the National Guard and 250 state troopers will now pic.twitter.com/l6yn24CSN9 Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 6, 2024 (Related: Remember back in 2021 when DHS and other federal agencies teamed up to stage chemical gas attack simulations in the New York City subway system?) Is there more to the story? One wonders why Hochul is not simply deploying, oh, you know, New York Police Department (NYPD) officers to do the job, seeing as how there are plenty of them ready and able to do the job. The fact that she is bringing in the National Guard as the primary show of force points to a more serious threat that she is not disclosing. "What's puzzling is if the only threats were violent criminals and migrants, why deploy the National Guard?" asked Zero Hedge about the matter. Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Learn about our free, non-commercial AI / LLM project here. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions. "The NYPD is fully capable of increasing its presence and flooding subway stations with officers. This raises the possibility that the threat is more significant than just migrants, potentially hinting at terrorism-related concerns." Keep in mind that just a few short days ago, the FBI released information about what it claims is a rogue Iranian intelligence officer who is allegedly planning assassination attempts on both former and current U.S. government officials, of which Hochul is one. Is Hochul doing all this to protect her own hide from a possible attack? Another possibility is that another 9/11-style terrorist attack could be in the works, and this is why Hochul, filled with crippling fear, is trying to militarize the National Guard in her state's largest metropolitan area to try to deter one from happening. "Calling in the National Guard for civil disturbance doesn't make sense," Zero Hedge further noted. "This also suggests that whatever threat has spooked NY and NYC officials could be much greater than what the NYPD can handle." "The threat could be related to Iran and a possible upsurge in attack vectors during the U.S. presidential election." It should be noted that when Donald Trump as president suggested bringing in the National Guard to America's most dangerous cities to deal with Black Lives Matter (BLM) looting, he was accused of being a dictator is Hochul not also a dictator for doing what she is doing? What do you think? Will there be another 9/11-style event that occurs in New York City? Find out more at Terrorism.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com Biden wants to redirect U.S. Army funding to UKRAINE Welfare queen Volodymyr Zelensky wants even more money from the United States, and President Biden plans to give it to him by siphoning cash from the U.S. Army The latest reports suggest that Biden is strongly considering tapping the U.S. Army budget to refill the coffers of Kiev, which is losing badly at the hands of Russia and its special military operation. Though a final decision on the matter has yet to be made, sources close to the decision-makers say the amount sought by the White House is around $200 million, which is just a fraction of the $61 billion in additional aid that Biden is begging Congress to send to Ukraine. In his State of the Union address, Biden, as planned, urged Congress to approve more cash-money for Zelensky, arguing that the actor and exotic dancer needs it to stave off Vladimir Putin. Thus far, Republicans are refusing to back Biden's bill. What they want in exchange for supporting the $61 billion aid package to Ukraine is stronger measures to close the southern border. The holdup comes at the worst possible time for Ukraine, which is now having to retreat from several key positions in the Donbass in recent weeks. Zelensky is also complaining about ammunition and other equipment shortages that he blames for his military's continued losses in the fight against Russia. (Related: Pro-Ukraine war hawk Victoria Nuland quit her post the other day as Russia gains ground and NATO's military efforts falter.) China pushing Ukraine peace talks Meanwhile, the communist dictatorship of China is pushing for a peace deal in Ukraine, led by its special representative for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui. We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. The Chinese diplomat is taking a trip to Europe during which he plans to "test the water" on whether the current mood in Ukraine is favorable towards a political settlement, which China has been pushing since last year. "China believes that the geopolitical landscape is changing, and that the so-called peace negotiations are more likely," said Yuri Poita, head of the Ukrainian Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies, a think tank. It is likely that Li will pitch the idea of communist China being the mediator in upcoming peace talks between Kiev and Moscow, though Poita doubts that the effort will be well received due to China's close trade ties with Russia. On the other hand, Kiev could be agreeable to the proposal "because China is the only country who is welcome in Moscow and Kiev at the same time," said Vita Glood from the Ukrainian Association of Sinologists. The European Union (EU) is expected to be agreeable to the peace talks as well, seeing as how its influence continues to grow among the developed nations of the Global South, as they call it. "If China's involved in talks like the ones in Jeddah that are more directed at the Global South, this also kind of legitimizes Kiev's position among those countries that are not fully in the Western camp," commented Jakub Jakobowski, deputy head of the Center for Eastern Studies, a think tank in Poland. Last year, Xi Jinping, China's president, proposed a 12-point plan to stop the fighting in Ukraine. Xi called for a ceasefire and peace talks, as well as a halt to all anti-Russia sanctions. "Are the American people really as dumb as they appear, having no say in the psychopathic lengths their government is willing to go?" asked a commenter at RT concerning Biden's plan to redirect U.S. Army funding to Ukraine. "Are they so apathetic to the point of complicity that they are literally amoral? It sure looks like it." More of the latest news about Ukraine can be found at Corruption.news. Sources for this article include: RT.com NaturalNews.com RT.com Canada moves to ban Christianity changes to bill C-367 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has passed numerous pieces of legislation prohibiting free speech in Canada, yet nothing has been as restrictive as Bill C-367, an amendment to the Criminal Code that will prohibit Canadians from expressing an opinion based on a belief in a religious text. If passed, people can be arrested for quoting the Bible on Canadian soil. (Article republished from ArmstrongEconomics.com) Proponents are cloaking this attack on religion under the premise that it will curtail antisemitism. Yet, months ago, Justin Trudeau stood with Zelensky and the Canadian Parliament, celebrating a known Nazi war criminal, and even giving him a standing ovation. This is precisely what the bill would remove from the Criminal Code of Canada through Private Members Bill C-367: Removing Religious Protections For Antisemitic Expression: 3) No person shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (2) (a) if he establishes that the statements communicated were true; (b) if, in good faith, the person expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text; (c) if the statements were relevant to any subject of public interest, the discussion of which was for the public benefit, and if on reasonable grounds he believed them to be true; or (d) if, in good faith, he intended to point out, for the purpose of removal, matters producing or tending to produce feelings of hatred toward an identifiable group in Canada. 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. Defences subsection (2.1) (3.1) No person shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (2.1) (a) if they establish that the statements communicated were true; (b) if, in good faith, they expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text; (c) if the statements were relevant to any subject of public interest, the discussion of which was for the public benefit, and if on reasonable grounds they believed them to be true; or (d) if, in good faith, they intended to point out, for the purpose of removal, matters producing or tending to produce feelings of antisemitism toward Jews. This is an outright attack on religion. There are countless examples throughout history from every area of the globe where religious prosecution led to heinous massacres. Outright bans on religion start off small, removing a provision or two, until the government deems entire groups of people a danger to society. I discussed the case of Pastor Artur Pawlowski who was arrested for speaking out against the Canadian government, in particular their COVID era restrictions on medical autonomy. Pawlowski was charged with criminal mischief for preaching from the Bible to the Trucker Convoy. He did not commit a violent offense nor did he say anything hateful, but the words from the Bible are now deemed as offensive similar to how the government is labeling words like mother or father unacceptable. Religion demands that followers believe in a higher power greater than the almighty government. Statistics Canada reported that only 68% of Canadians identify as religious, with a notable decrease among the Christian community in particular. The same organization believes that non-Christian religious affiliation will double by 2036. An Angus Reid survey from April 2022 showed that religious tolerance in Canada is at an all-time low, with 22% of respondents saying all religion is harmful to society. This legislation will prohibit Christians, Muslims, and others from freely expressing their opinions. They speak of banning antisemitism, but the law will also target Jews. Anyone expressing an opinion relevant to any subject of public interest based on a religious text will be considered a criminal, a danger to the new world order. For example, if someone says they are against MAID, child transgenderism, abortion, or anything that is not deemed acceptable by the Abrahamic religions, they will be accused of promoting hate speech and prosecuted for their religious beliefs. ?? Christian persecution is about to be introduced in Canada: If passed, Bill C-367 could land Christians in jail for quoting the Bible or expressing a faith based opinion if the Canadian government deems it promotion of hatred or antisemitism. This is an absolute disgrace. pic.twitter.com/Bq8zT8N3J9 Eva Vlaardingerbroek (@EvaVlaar) February 22, 2024 Karl Marx deemed religion the opium of the masses that was intended to give false hope to the impoverished who should fill their hearts with hatred and entitlement. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions, Marx continued. What is happening in Canada will spread throughout the Build Back Better nations under the direction of the World Economic Forum. This is happening precisely on target with our models forecasts. It is rather stunning how we come to major religious events every 309.6 years. This appears to be a change in beliefs that does not necessarily suggest complete changes in religions but rather moving away from the belief in a higher power. Often, these are shifts that become more fundamentalist in their beliefs or a turn toward liberalism. There are two primary cycles. First, we can look at the cycle of change in religion, which seems to follow the 309.6-year cycle, which is, of course, the 8.6-year frequency. The second is to look at the derivative of the 8.6-year, which produces a target for a major collapse in religion, which is underway at this time, by 2033. Read more at: ArmstrongEconomics.com The heartbreak is widespread over the sudden closing of parish churches and schools in the diocese of Buffalo. Parishioners and parents, quietly suffered the pain of the sex-abuse scandal and continued to fund their individual parishes in order to keep the lights on. Then came bankruptcy. The diocese had begun a Road to Renewal project, grouping parishes into families, sharing priests, eliminating Masses and assigning other Masses to various parishes, causing confusion and difficulty for faithful Catholics who gladly contributed on a regular basis to their church. Buffalo Catholics have heard family ad nauseam since the renewal project began, as if Catholicism hasnt been one universal family since its foundation. We are family comes in handy now, as the diocese refuses to take total responsibility for the apparent reason for the bankruptcy. At the same time, they are going full steam ahead with welcoming a new organization into the diocese, beginning a new ministry that rejects Church teaching. The Road to Renewal director, in a TV interview, claimed that we are all family. There is no one (diocese) responsible- we are all in this together Really? Now? I dont know any lay people who were involved in the sex-abuse or the well-carried out cover-up over decades. Even now, the arrogance in diocesan failure to understand those people whose very faith is shaken, is heartbreaking and antithetical to the Catholic faith. Great Israeli Real Estate Event sparks outrage after illegally advertising properties that are on track to be confiscated from besieged West Bank As Palestinian men, women and children continue to get slaughtered by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza, an Israeli group has begun dividing and divvying out the land at real estate events in Canada and the United States. Called the "Great Israeli Real Estate Event," the traveling roadshow has thus far made stops in Montreal, Toronto, New Jersey and New York, offering land for sale in not just Israel proper but also in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Reports indicate that Israel is now selling land in the West Bank settlements of Neve Daniel, Efrat, Ma'ale Adumim and East Jerusalem, even though this is illegal under international law. The group behind the real estate project, known as My Home in Israel, says the property currently in occupied East Jerusalem will be available for sale at an exhibition in Teaneck, N.J., and specifically at the Congregation Keter Torah synagogue. Locals in Teaneck, including Palestinians, Muslims, and Jewish residents, have been holding protests against the real estate selloff. "Teaneck's Muslim and Jewish communities have both expressed concern with the sale taking place in their township," said Dina Sayedahmed, communications manager at the Council on American-Islamic Relations' New Jersey chapter. "We call on federal authorities to act immediately and launch an investigation into this planned event." (Related: If you "support Israel," you also support the massacre of Christians in Azerbaijan.) Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in West Bank All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law, but the way Israel is trying to get away with keeping them is by using its own laws, which allow for settlements but not for "settler outposts," whatever that means. 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. Not only have more than 30,000 Palestinians, most of them innocent with no involvement in the October 7 Hamas false flag attack, died at the hands of Israel since last fall, but there are also reports of increasing Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. According to the latest figures, there have been at least 200 incidents of Israeli violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, incidents that clearly stem from anti-Palestinianism. All of this and more has so outraged residents of Teaneck and the other aforementioned areas where Israel is trying to sell property that many of them are speaking out in protest. "We have been mobilizing our communities en masse to protest against a foreign group's alleged illegal looting and selling of Palestinian territory," said Wassim Kanaan, chairman of the New Jersey chapter of American Muslims for Palestine. "We are watching Israel commit genocide in Gaza and pillage Palestinians homes in the West Bank and Jerusalem. These are both stark violations of international law." In defense of Israel, Teaneck Councilwoman Hillary Goldberg tried to argue that these protests are unfounded, insinuating that they are the product of antisemitism. "I have heard from residents that they are afraid for Teaneck," Goldberg commented. "I think the overall temperature in town continues to be inflamed, and I personally feel that Jewish fear and pain is not being acknowledged." Congregation Keter Torah spokesman Juda Engelmayer also tried to defend the real estate event as acceptable, even as genocide continues to unfold in Gaza. "This is not being run by the synagogue," Engelmayer said. "It's an informational event being run by a private company renting the venue. It's an educational fair that discusses the tax and financial implications of buying real estate abroad." "Some developers may be on hand to talk about apartments around Israel, but no sales will take place," he added, calling the session "strictly informational." The latest news about Israel can be found at IsraelCollapse.com. Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net NaturalNews.com NorthJersey.com Rep. Massie warns about fed plan to electronically track all U.S. cattle to stymie beef production Hidden deep within the new omnibus bill is a secret provision to allow the federal government to electronically trackcattle in the United States. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) warned about the hidden provision on X, stating that lobbyists will receive $15 million in taxpayer funds to unleash the electronic tracking grid on the nation's meat-producing cows and bison. As stated directly from the omnibus, the agreement "directs the Department to continue to provide the tags and related infrastructure needed to comply with the Federal Animal Disease Traceability rule (9 CFR 86), including no less than $15,000,000 for electronic identification (EID) tags and related infrastructure needed for stakeholders to comply with the proposed rule, 'Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison' (88 FR 3320), should that rule be finalized." None of this, warned Rep. Massie is legal. And yet, the near-total apathy of the American people these days means these kinds of things are easily passable without so much as a peep from the wider constituency. "No law authorizes this!" Rep. Massie wrote on X. "It will be used by the GREEN agenda to limit beef production, and by the corporate meat oligopoly to DOMINATE small ranchers." (Related: Back in 2021 at the height of the Wuhan coronavirus [COVID-19] "pandemic," Rep. Massie called for everyone at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] to be fired for lying about the nature of the so-called "virus.") Attorney Tom Renz warns electronic tracking of cattle will unleash universal GMO "vaccines" on food supply What Rep. Massie means by the "green" agenda is that this little ear tag scheme is merely a front to further dig into the American meat supply in order to crush it, paving the way for synthetic "meat," bugs, and other "climate-friendly" replacements to flood the market instead. 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. One of just a few in Congress, or anywhere, calling out the scheme, Rep. Massie deserves credit for keeping the American public abreast of these latest developments, even if most people seemingly do not care what happens to their food supply. "It's important to make sure similar nonsense isn't occurring at state and local levels," warned an X account called "Justin George" (@jdgeorge94) about the plot. Even more ominous was a warning that attorney Thomas Renz put in response to Rep. Massie's tweet about the implications of the electronic ear tag scheme on food safety. "It will also be used to ensure the introduction of genetics modifying vaccines on a universal basis into the food supply," Renz wrote about the scheme. "This is not just about limiting beef output ... it's about ensuring the beef available has mRNA vaccines in it." Renz responded to Rep. Massie further by offering to speak with him directly about the details of all this, emphasizing surety in his understanding of the long-term plan. "We need to pass an omnibus that outlaws omnibuses," joked another about how ridiculous this all is. "This is exactly why we need single-item spending bills," wrote another, further joking with a play on words blending the word communism with omnibus. "No more (c)omnibus." All this constant fighting over the climate, the food supply, and other pertinent issues is exhausting, wrote another, which is why increasingly more people seem to support the idea of splitting up the country into two separate entities. "No wonder why people are asking for a national divorce to split this country up," one wrote. "Give them their green new deal, illegals, crime and drag shows and let the people on planet sane have the rest of the country!" The anti-beef brigades have been unleashed to rid the world of "climate-polluting" beef. Find out more about what they are up to at GreenTyranny.news. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com NaturalNews.com Michelle Obamas office says SHE WONT RUN for president in 2024 really? The office of former First Lady Michelle Obama has reiterated that she won't run for the 2024 presidential election this November. Her office sought to shoot down speculation from both sides of the political spectrum in a statement sent to NBC News. Crystal Carson, communications director for the former first lady, said in the statement that "she will not be running for president" adding that Michelle herself has expressed this refusal "several times over the years." Carson added that the former first lady "supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' reelection campaign." Inside sources appeared to attest this, adding that she intends to assist the Biden campaign this fall as she did in 2020. Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz meanwhile said in a separate statement that Michelle and her husband, former President Barack Obama, "were enormously helpful" in electing the incumbent president and vice president in 2020. "We are grateful to have their voice and their support in the fight for the fate of our democracy this November," he continued. (Related: Report: Michelle Obama preparing to replace Biden for White House run against Trump.) Michelle's name emerged as a potential replacement for the 81-year-old Biden, most especially after Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Hur released his report. The government prosecutor pointed out Biden's cognitive decline in his report, prompting Democratic donors and others to suggest the former first lady as a replacement. Michelle even became a trending topic on X (formerly Twitter) in the wake of the report's release. Thanks to your generous support, we are building the infrastructure of human freedom and actively donating our technology to independent publishers, authors and home schooling organizations. Learn about our game-changing non-commercial AI project here. Support our ongoing efforts to preserve and enhance human knowledge by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com. The former first lady has downplayed suggestions for her to run as president in various interviews. During a January appearance on the "On Purpose" podcast, Michelle told host Jay Shetty that she is "terrified about what could possibly happen" in the upcoming election. In a 2023 Netflix special with talk show host Oprah Winfrey, Michelle acknowledged the difficulty of politics and said it was "not in her soul." She also told the BBC in a 2022 interview that she "detests" questions about potentially running for chief executive. GOP puts forward the possibility of Michelle replacing Biden "Republicans have for months alternatively warned and delighted in discussing the prospect of [a Michelle] Obama candidacy," NBC News stated. It cited the February 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference that devoted an entire panel discussion to the possibility of her being "parachuted" in as the Democratic presidential nominee. The Democratic National Convention to be held in Chicago this year often serves as the event where the Democratic Party announces its nominee. Jason Miller, senior campaign advisor to former President Donald Trump, said Michelle's name comes up in discussions he has with his boss. "Everyone sees what's happening with Biden, but only a few Democrats will say it out loud," Miller commented. "Behind the scenes, Democrats across the country are calling for Biden to be replaced and of course, Trump is going to be asked for his opinion." But former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy raised the idea of Michelle running for president no less than 20 times during his campaign. He argued that even if Biden won the Democratic nomination, "there's no way they [would] let [him] run." Ramaswamy dropped out of the GOP presidential race after Trump's win at the Iowa caucus. "It's going to be a new puppet [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom, Michelle Obama, you name it," he said. Incidentally, Ramaswamy earlier remarked that the former first lady has no say in the matter and that Democrats will push her to replace Biden whether she likes it or not. "I personally think it's [going to] be Michelle Obama," Ramaswamy told Newsmax's Benny Johnson during an appearance on "The Benny Show" podcast. "People say she doesn't [want to] run, [but] she doesn't have any choice in the matter, really." "The idea that her choice actually matters? It doesn't matter. These people are puppets, they're pawns. Most of them are coin-operated, either directly or indirectly." Head over to BarackObama.news for more stories about the former first lady. Watch Joel Gilbert explain the Democrats' plan to field Michelle Obama as the party's presidential nominee to "War Room" host Steve Bannon below. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: White House concerned about Biden's DECLINING mental state and Kamala's UNPOPULARITY. CLAIM: White House quietly pondering replacing Kamala Harris, fessing up about Joe Biden's mental decline. Betting firm predicts Michelle Obama as possible REPLACEMENT for Joe Biden in November 2024 elections. Sources include: NBCNews.com Modernity.news Brighteon.com Queensland Supreme Court rules COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cops and paramedics were unlawful Four years after the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) began when public health mandates such as lockdowns, social distancing and vaccines were rolled out Australia has finally realized that its pandemic response was not in accordance with the law based on human rights grounds. On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Queensland Supreme Court ruled that COVID-19 vaccine mandates for frontliners, including for police officers and paramedics, were unlawful. Senior Judge Administrator Glenn Martin delivered a 115-page judgment stating that the directives issued by Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll failed to give proper consideration to human rights. According to the decision, the directions limited the human rights of the said workers because they were required to undergo a medical procedure without full consent. Former Queensland Health Director-General John Wakefield was unable to prove he issued the vaccine mandate under an implied term of the employment agreements for ambulance service workers. As a result, both vaccine mandates were found by the court to be "unlawful" and to have no effect. This means 74 named applicants to the court, who are current employees of the ambulance and police services, cannot be fired or otherwise disciplined as a result of not following the vaccine mandate. "This decision by the Queensland Supreme Court makes it paramount we have a Royal Commission into the Covid-19 pandemic," Senator Pauline Hanson said about the landmark ruling from three lawsuits brought against the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Ambulance Service for their directions to workers issued in 2021 and 2022. 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. Today has seen an important victory in the fight for freedom and human rights in Australia. The Queensland Supreme Court today determined that COVID-19 vaccine mandates imposed on police and health workers were unlawful. The Queensland Police Service and Queensland Health were pic.twitter.com/sT7AVZoZId Pauline Hanson ?? (@PaulineHansonOz) February 27, 2024 "Today has seen an important victory in the fight for freedom and human rights in Australia. The Queensland Supreme Court today determined that COVID-19 vaccine mandates imposed on police and health workers were unlawful," Hanson said in the Australian Parliament yesterday. She also called for a Royal Commission. Meanwhile, businessman and former politician Clive Palmer, who claimed to have provided at least $2.5 million to support the case, also lauded the decision. "We can celebrate because this is the first precedent in the Western world where a trial has gone the full distance and the court has found a trampling of human rights," Palmer said. According to reports, the decision could still be appealed in the Supreme Court of Appeals. Both Queensland Health and the Queensland police said on Tuesday they were considering their legal options. Landmark decision paves way for demands for reinstatement and compensation Though not delving much into the efficacy of the vaccines, the decision was a victory because it highlighted the violation of basic human rights for coercing vaccination of employees without full consent. This now serves, though long overdue, as an eye-opener to policymakers to navigate more carefully the delicate balance between public health imperatives and personal freedoms. "It also serves as a reminder to senior officials within the police and ambulance services to rebuild relationships and trust eroded in the wake of these mandates," the BNN's correspondents wrote in a commentary. Analysts think that this is the start where more claims would "definitely" be made in Queensland courts and other jurisdictions over the coming months. "This is the first of a wave of claims of this type that we're going to see come before the courts, Wendy Bonython, a Bond University associate law professor said. "It's an interesting decision because it's the first one of its type." However, Bonython said the largest part of the decision focused on the applicability of the Queensland Human Rights Act, and only the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Victoria have "comparable" legislation. "So, if we're looking at other jurisdictions and states, any arguments along similar lines, they're going have to be raised under different legal grounds," she said. Also, the ruling does not order terminated employees to be reinstated, or any other penalties encountered due to the mandate, but she said it "does open the door for them to seek reinstatement," adding that workers involved in the ruling may have to go through further legal channels to be reinstated. "The outcome of the decision is actually quite limited," she admitted. Criminal lawyer and former Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts said the decision is "a very live can of worms" as to whether the workers involved can request compensation. He further stated that it would be a matter for the courts whether the workers would be able to successfully receive compensation for "loss of employment" or "lost and suffered damages." Bonython added that in this case, the applicants weren't seeking back pay or reinstatement. "All they've sought, and all they've got, is a correction from the court saying that these directions are unlawful," she said. (Related: Employers that mandated COVID-19 injections for workers can be held LIABLE for vaccine injuries, Australian court rules.) Visit VaccineWars.com for more news related to COVID-19 vaccine mandates' efficacy, safety and legality. Sources for this article include: Expose-News.com Archive.SCLQLD.org.au BNNBreaking.com ABC.net.au Smokehouse Creek Fire KILLS over 10,000 cattle in Texas, devastating local beef supply The Texas Department of Agriculture estimates that over 10,000 cattle have been killed by wildfires that recently ravaged the Texas Panhandle and neighboring areas. The Smokehouse Creek Fire, as it is called, is the largest wildfire in the history of Texas. It has burned down at least 500 structures and 1,700 square miles in Texas and Oklahoma. One of the people affected by the fire is Shane Pennigton, a 56-year-old cattle farmer near Canadian, Texas. When he first saw flames from an enormous wildfire approaching the ranch he manages, his first concern wasn't his home. It was his animals. Pennington said when he got to his ranch, he found around 50 of his cattle already dead and many nursing cows were desperately searching for their lost calves. As the flames tore through the ranch, they caused excruciating injuries, burning off some animals' tails and rendering others blind. "It just burned all the hair off them," he said. "Their feet are coming off. Their hooves, they're bloody." Some of them are "cows that I raised right here," he said. "It's just hard to see them burn up." (Related: Another blow to the food supply: Explosion and subsequent fire devastate Texas chicken plant.) Pennington is one of many cattle farmers whose livelihoods have been devastated by the Smokehouse Creek Fire. Many more farmers have been affected by the disaster, which is likely going to harm the supply of beef for a few years as ranchers try to rebuild. Texas is home to about 4.1 million beef cattle, according to David P. Anderson, professor of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University. Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller noted that more than 85 percent of the cattle in Texas are housed in the Texas Panhandle. 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. Miller added in a press release that in addition to the thousands of animals that have died, many grain and seed operations have also reported total losses. Farmers and agricultural experts say the wildfire will continue to affect the cattle industry for years to come. More cattle likely to die in coming weeks In addition to the short-term effects of cattle killed and grievously injured by the flames, there will be lasting repercussions, as herds cultivated for years struggle to recover and traumatized cows fail to reproduce. Miller has called for donations and prayers to be provided to Texas residents who have lost their homes and livestock in the wildfires. "There's no grass, there's no water for the livestock," Miller stressed. "We've lost over 3,000 head, which is a very small number, that will double or triple easily. We've got cattle that we're going to have to euthanize because of the damage to their hooves, their udders. We'll just have to put them down." For Pennington, the inferno has been both financially and emotionally catastrophic. "Your job is to keep them alive, not to destroy them," he said. "It's tough." "Even if [the cattle] survive in [the wildfire], more than likely they're gonna get pneumonia, they're gonna get sick, they're gonna die," Pennington added, strongly suggesting that the estimate of 10,000 dead cattle will rise. "There are literally hundreds of structures burned to the ground houses, barns," said Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Amarillo), whose congressional district covers most of the Texas Panhandle. "There are dead animals everywhere cattle, horses. Unfortunately, there are many animals that are seriously burned, that aren't dead yet, that will have to be put down." Watch this video discussing how the Smokehouse Creek Fire is threatening a nearby nuclear weapons plant. This video is from Justin Barclay on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Largest wildfire in Texas burns approximately 1,700 square miles and 500 structures (and counting). Massive fire engulfs Texas chicken plant as global elites ramp up calls for world to stop eating meat. Grocery stores are LEAVING crime-ridden U.S. cities in droves, creating "food deserts." Sources include: SHTFPlan.com Edition.CNN.com Brighteon.com SUPER TRUMP wins 14 of 15 states on Super Tuesday, forcing Haley to withdraw from GOP presidential race Former President Donald Trump won several states in the GOP primary race on Super Tuesday, March 5 According to LifeSiteNews, the real estate mogul-turned-president won in 14 of 15 states that held primaries on that day. Meanwhile, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley his lone rival for the Republican presidential nomination won in Vermont by a small percentage. The Associated Press (AP) pointed out that Haley's victory against Trump in the Green Mountain State denied him a sweep on Super Tuesday. But this ultimately did not matter as Trump "carried other states that might have been favorable to her such as Virginia, Massachusetts and Maine which have large swaths of moderate voters like those who have backed her in previous primaries." Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida was well-prepared and well-packed for the Super Tuesday celebration. Several staff members and supporters were in attendance, including conservative rapper Forgiato Blow (born Kurt Jantz) and former North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn. The crowd erupted as Fox News announced Trump's victory at the Tar Heel State's GOP primary. "They call it Super Tuesday for a reason," Trump then addressed a raucous crowd at his estate. The AP remarked: "After beginning the night with victories in Virginia and North Carolina, he wrapped Super Tuesday by winning contests in Alaska and Utah." On the Democratic side, incumbent President Joe Biden also won in 14 state primaries. However, he placed second in the Democratic primary held in the U.S. territory of American Samoa. Biden garnered 44 percent of the votes, allowing investor Jason Palmer to secure the territory with 56 percent of votes. 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. "Not enough states will have voted until later this month for Trump or Biden to formally become their parties' presumptive nominees," the AP stated. " Both the 81-year-old Biden and the 77-year-old Trump continue to dominate their parties despite facing questions about age and neither having broad popularity across the general electorate." (Related: Bulk of Republicans locked in on support for Trump.) Haley barely avoids sweep According to LifeSiteNews, Haley's win in Vermont can be attributed to the fact that it has "a more liberal-leaning GOP" base and its open primary election allows individuals unaffiliated with a political party to vote. Given Trump's win in 14 out of 15 states on Super Tuesday, Haley announced her withdrawal from the GOP presidential race. According to the AP, she reportedly watched the results in private eventually culminating in her decision. Three people with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed Haley's withdrawal from the race, albeit on the condition of anonymity. In a statement, Haley's campaign said the results of the Super Tuesday primaries reflected that there were many Republicans "who are expressing deep concerns about Trump." Olivia Perez-Cubas, a spokeswoman for the former South Carolina governor, remarked: "Unity is not achieved by simply claiming 'We're united.'" Meanwhile, Biden issued a statement warning that the results of Super Tuesday had left Americans with a clear choice. He also touted his own "accomplishment" after winning against Trump in the 2020 presidential election, which was marred by vote fraud done through mail-in ballots. "If Trump returns to the White House, all of this progress is at risk," said the incumbent chief executive. "He is driven by grievance and grift, focused on his own revenge and retribution, not the American people." Head over to Trump.news for more stories about the former president's journey back to the White House. Watch this video that tackles Donald Trump's wins in 14 state primaries on Super Tuesday. This video is from the Right Edition channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: VICTORY: Trump takes Iowa in historic caucus win. South Carolina poll: Trump leads Haley by 35 points in her own backyard. New Hampshire goes to Trump, who's now slated for Republican nomination. RFK Jr. says Democrat Party has already "rigged" nomination for Biden by EXCLUDING everyone else. Polling indicates Trump's nomination by the Republican National Convention is ALL BUT GUARANTEED. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com APNews.com Brighteon.com Lizards across North America are facing population decline due to deforestation and climate change, wherein 8 in every 10 lizards or 1 in 5 species could start to lose their numbers. This is according to a new study by scientists from the United States and Israel, who found that most of the said reptiles living in the sub-continent could suffer severe ecological disaster in the coming decades until the end of the century. As the climate crisis alters weather patterns and intensifies devastating natural disasters, most lizards across the region will have a hard time breeding or surviving these environmental risks. The new research paper explains since lizards are cold-blooded, some of their species rely on climbing trees to receive the warmth of the Sun. In addition, the North American lizards use leaves by sitting on them to warm themselves. Lizard Population Decline In the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change, researchers from the University of Colorado, Boulder in the US and Tel Aviv University in Israel found that the North American lizard population decline is caused by deforestation and climate change. The joint research team asserts that these two factors could negatively impact 84% of the lizards in North America by the end of the 21st century. In their research paper entitled "Deforestation poses deleterious effects to tree-climbing species under climate change," the team emphasized the major threat of habitat loss to global biodiversity. In this context, the US and Israel researchers cited many studies have explored the possible damages of deforestation to animal populations but added few of them have considered how tree loss may impact species under climate change. Also Read: Asian Water Monitor Lizards Thought Nearly Extinct in China Caught on Camera for the First Time After a Decade Deforestation and Climate Change Lizards are vulnerable to deforestation and climate change, unlike warm-blooded mammals that can maintain their body temperatures such as by sweating, according to a news release by the University of Colorado, Boulder on Tuesday, March 5. Based on their estimate, the team projects deforestation would accelerate North America's lizard population decline by 18% during the said time period, which is short on a geological scale. Furthermore, the scientific report about the lizards in North America used a biophysical approach; mainly by focusing on how tree loss might affect "semi-arboreal diurnal ectotherms (lizards)" under ongoing and expected climates in the future. Based on the data provided by the study, the research advocates for forest conservation and the integration of biophysical modeling and microhabitat aspects into conservation efforts. Aside from climate change, deforestation is also driven by anthropogenic or human-induced activities like agricultural expansion, illegal logging, mining, and urbanization worldwide, according to Conservation International, a non-profit environmental organization. Since the 1960s, more than 50% of the world's tropical forests, including Brazil's Amazon rainforest in South America, have been destroyed by these activities. Related Article: Climate Change and Lizards: Reproduction Strategy May Need to Change, Researchers Say Severe thunderstorms are expected on the Central Gulf Coast this week, causing possible travel hazards and tree damage. Motorists should be extra careful when driving to avoid slippery roads and strong thunderstorms. The National Weather Service (NWS) warns of a moderate risk of excessive rainfall in the southeastern states, including in the Atlanta metro areas and Birmingham. Homeowners should also stay alert for potential flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas. Meanwhile, stormy conditions can spread over Carolinas. A slight risk could emerge in southern Arkansas, northeastern Texas, Alabama, central and southern Mississippi, and Louisiana. Florida Panhandle can also expect a challenging weather outlook this week. In a recent NWN report, portions of the Southeast could experience rounds of severe weather, including hail conditions, tornadoes, and flooding rainfall. When traveling is not important, staying at home is the best option until the weather improves. Severe Thunderstorms in Central Gulf Coast According to a short-range public discussion at NWS, showers and thunderstorms could emerge in the Middle Mississippi Valley. Homeowners should watch out for lightning conditions and strong winds. Power outages and inaccessible road conditions are likely. NWS monitors the development of a system, bringing troublesome weather outlooks in Ohio, Tennessee Valleys, and Central to Southern Appalachians. Communities near rivers or streams are vulnerable to small to severe flooding this week. In the Central Gulf Coast, homeowners should watch out for severe thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center issued a slight risk of severe thunderstorms in the region this weekend. Also Read: Dallas, Austin Weather Forecast: Strong Winds, Large Hail Likely in South This Late Week Weather Conditions in the Northeastern US: Where Will Heavy Rain and Urban Flooding Unload? According to forecasts, a weekend rainstorm could impact portions of the Northeast. On the weekend, the rain is expected to spread over the following areas: Ottawa Buffalo Detroit Pittsburgh New York Washington Virginia Beach Nashville Evansville Indianapolis Detroit On Sunday, homeowners can expect a colder weather outlook, bringing the blast of winter and cooler temperatures with possible snow. The chilly weather can unload in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Barrie, and Sudbury. Due to a mix of snow and rain, travel hazards are possible this weekend, with slippery commutes and a foggy outlook. Slower commutes to travel disruption can unfold. Next week, homeowners can expect the rounds of cold winds in the Northeast. Colder weather conditions could emerge in Portland, Boston, New York, Washington, Burlington, Ottawa, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Charleston. Hypothermia and frostbite are both possible due to the potential extreme cold. People with medical conditions, children, outdoor workers, and older adults are vulnerable to cold-related health illnesses. Related Article: Powerful Hurricane Season Likely in Atlantic This Year, Forecast Warns For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News Researchers warn of potential threats to deepwater sharks and rays, including overfishing, incidental bycatch, and fishing for oil. According to a recent report, one in seven species can likely suffer from the brink of extinction. The deep sea is still unexplored, indicating that there are many unknown species underwater. Researchers have been finding ways to unearth more species, especially marine animals, requiring urgent conservation efforts. In a report, researchers discovered that one in seven species of rays and sharks could lead to extinction problems based on eight-year-old research. Understanding the possible threats to deep-sea species is crucial to saving them from population decline amid a warming trend and climate change effects. Deep Water Sharks, Rays Under Threats In the latest NWN report, scientists warned of the potential decline of the white shark population in Africa. The findings were published in the Ecological Indicators journal. The researchers emphasized the need for a precautionary approach to ensure an effective conservation effort in the region amidst the following threats: Fishing gear entanglement Pollution Climate change Bycatch by commercial fisheries "About half of the world's sharks are found below 200 meters, below where the sunlight reaches into the ocean. The first time they see sunlight is when they're hauled onto the deck of a fishing boat," Nicholas Dulvy, SFU Professor of Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, said, as quoted in an SFU News report. The research findings were published in Science. The report highlighted that deepwater sharks and rays are sensitive to overexploitation. The said species suffered from bycatch and overfishing and became a target of the liver oil trade. "Many deepwater sharks and rays can only withstand very small amounts of fishing pressure. Some species may take 30 years or more to mature, and possibly up to 150 years in the case of the Greenland Shark, and only produce 12 pups throughout their entire life," Dulvy said in the same report. The eight-year study analyzed over 500 shark and ray species. In the analysis, they raised concerns about the potential risk of the decline of 60 species, exacerbated by overfishing. Deep ocean sharks have become targets for liver oil, affecting their population. Researchers emphasized the need for spatial fishing activity and developing effective conservation efforts. The mitigation and regulation of bycatch will be crucial to preventing species from declining. Notably, the deep ocean has complex ecosystems and is challenging to monitor. Also Read: Plastic Debris in Marine Animals Can Likely Harm Humans, Study Warns Microplastics in Apex Predators and Sharks Plastic pollution has been a pressing environmental concern, affecting communities and wildlife. The increasing plastic production can threaten the habitats of many animals, including in the oceans. In the latest report, researchers discovered the presence of microplastics and cellulose-based fibers in sharks. The report was published in the Chemosphere journal. Related Article: Microplastic Particles Found Inside the Bodies of Whales and Dolphins For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News. Wild animals, including an endangered red panda, were found inside the luggage of foreigners at a Thailand airport earlier this week, according to local authorities. On Monday, March 4, a total of 87 animals, ranging from birds to bats, lizards, snakes, and squirrels, were discovered by Thailand's customs officials at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Six Indian nationals were arrested over alleged smuggling of live animals out of the country. The suspected foreign passengers were reportedly attempting to bring the animals overseas as they headed for Mumbai, India, Thailand's customs department said in a report. In addition to the mentioned luggage animals, local officials also found a fishing cat, a cotton-top tamarin monkey, and a Sulawesi bear cuscus in the suitcases of the alleged smugglers. The recent incident is one of the growing cases of wildlife trafficking in recent years. 87 Animals Found in Luggage Dozens of the creatures discovered from the travel bags of departing Indian nationals at Suvarnabhumi Airport were stowed in baskets, fabric bags, and plastic tubs. Through airport x-ray images, the animals were detected inside large wheeled suitcases that were checked in to be loaded onto the plane en route to Mumbai. The incident was confirmed by Thailand's Department of Customs on Wednesday, March 6. The arrested suspects, aside from attempting to smuggle live animals, also violated several laws, including those by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The six passengers were also accused of exporting the animals without officially declaring them and violating animal disease control laws. Following the incident, similar cases show that it is part of a large network of wildlife trafficking. Also Read: Wildlife Trafficking: 130 Poisonous Frogs Found Inside Luggage of Brazilian Woman at Colombia Airport Wildlife Trafficking Cases In recent years, similar wild trafficking cases have been reported in Thailand. In February 2024, Thailand's customs officials also at the Suvarnabhumi Airport stopped a Mongolian national passenger who attempted to transport live animals out of the country, including endangered animals listed by CITES. In June 2022, officials at the same Thailand airport arrested two Indian women for illegally carrying over 100 animals. For the past several decades, wildlife trafficking cases have increased in different parts of the world, particularly in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. However, this illegal wildlife trade is also felt in other continents due to its vast network, fuelled by the underground black market and increasing demand for exotic pets or their body parts. The activity has also led to significant population decline of some of the world's endangered or threatened animals. In a report by the World Economic Forum in December 2023, INTERPOL warned that wildlife crime is now one of the world's largest and most profitable criminal industries or sectors. The illegal wildlife trade is threatening over 2,000 animal and plant species worldwide. Because of wildlife trafficking, the illegal trade of wild animals is causing severe damage to biodiversity and communities, the report adds. Related Article: Illegal Wildlife Trade: Canada Bans Trade of Elephant Ivory, Rhino Horn Indian cinema is seen worldwide now: Ayushmann Khurrana Mumbai, March 7 Actor Ayushmann Khurrana expressed pride over the massive representation of Indian cinema on a global map. He added, "All kinds of films are doing well nowadays, be it commercial or mid-budget films...This an era when heightened emotions need to be shown, be it in drama or comedy as we need to meet the benchmark set by world cinema." Ayushmann on Thursday attended FICCI Frames 2024 as one of the speakers. Meanwhile, on the film front, Ayushmann Ayushmann was last seen in the comedy-drama 'Dream Girl 2'. The film also starred Ananya Panday, Annu Kapoor and Abhishek Banerjee. It emerged as a hit. He is also excited about his next slate of films, which will be released this year.He said that he will explore a 'number of genres' in 2024. Ayushmann said in a statement, "I'm going to experiment with a lot of genres in 2024. My slate of films will be extremely diverse as always and it will focus solely on delivering quality theatrical experience to the audience. I'm currently locking some interesting films that one will love watching with the entire family in theatres." "Delivering a shared community-watching experience has always been my priority as an entertainer. My next set of films will reflect my theatrical content choices as an audience. I have always chosen my films keeping in mind the movies I would like to watch in cinemas."In 2024, I'm going to follow my gut even more. I'm thrilled to share my lineup with all of you and the reveal will happen in due course of time because each one of these films deserves a big announcement," he added. (ANI - Posted on 07 March 2024) Indian cinema is seen worldwide now: Ayushmann Khurrana Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch gets engaged at 92 to Elena Zhukova New York, March 8 Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch has got engaged to a retired molecular biologist, Elena Zhukova. Murdoch reportedly began seeing Zhukova during the summer after meeting her through his third wife, Wendi Deng. Zhukova is described as a retired molecular biologist who studied diabetes at the University of California, Los Angeles. The New York Times first reported the new engagement. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the news comes nearly a year after Murdoch announced his engagement to Ann Lesley Smith, a retired dental hygienist, in the spring of 2023. But he broke it off a few weeks later. The upcoming June nuptials would make it Murdoch's fifth marriage. He was previously married to model Jerry Hall from 2016 to 2022. He married Patricia Booker in 1956, but they divorced eleven years later, in 1967. They have one child. He later married his second wife, Anna Maria Torv, in 1967, and the couple had three children. After 32 years of marriage, the couple parted in 1999. Murdoch and his third wife, Deng, were married in 1999 but divorced in 2013. They also have two children together. Zhukova, who moved to the United States from Moscow, was formerly married to billionaire energy investor Alexander Zhukov. Last year, Murdoch revealed that he was stepping down as the chairman of his empire, Fox Corp. and News Corp, transitioning to the role of chairman emeritus. His son Lachlan Murdoch took over the top title at the two companies. "For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change," he wrote in a letter to employees in September. "But the time is right for me to take on different roles, knowing that we have truly talented teams and a passionate, principled leader in Lachlan who will become sole chairman of both companies," as per The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI - Posted on 08 March 2024) Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch gets engaged at 92 to Elena Zhukova Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Alia Bhatt's posts picture of red heart by her little woman, social media users perplexed Mumbai, March 8 To celebrate International Women's Day 2024 on Friday, actor Alia Bhatt took to social media to share a picture of a heart made by her "little woman." https://www.instagram.com/p/C4PdiOfN8ez/ As soon as the 'Highway' actor shared the picture, friends and fans responded in the comments section and shared their reactions. While some fans extended Women's Day wishes to the actor, others expressed surprise. A user wrote, "Raha knows sewing??how can a 2 yr old make this.can someone explain.asking just out of curiosity." Another user commented, "Raha itni badi ho gyi kya jo yeh sab bana leti hai." A user wrote, "Choti bacchi kaise bana sakti hai yeh." However, Alia didn't mention in the picture's caption who the "little woman" is. The 'Raazi' actor recently shared an adorable picture of her daughter Raha from the pre-wedding functions of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant.The image shows Alia holding baby Raha in her arms. Both mother-daughter duo can be seen twinning in printed brown outfits. Also, this post is special because this is the first time Alia dropped a picture of Raha's full face on social media.Alia and Ranbir tied the knot on April 14, 2022, and the couple welcomed their first child in November 2022.Meanwhile, on the work front, Alia will be next seen in director Vasan Bala's 'Jigra' and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Love & War." (ANI - Posted on 08 March 2024) Alia Bhatt's posts picture of red heart by her little woman, social media users perplexed Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! President Droupadi Murmu presents Standard and Colours to 4 units of IAF New Delhi, March 8 President Droupadi Murmu presented the President's Standard to 45 Squadron and 221 Squadron and President's Colours to 11 Base Repair Depot and 509 Signal Unit of the Indian Air Force at a function held at the Air Force Station Hindon in Uttar Pradesh today, an official statement said. The President said that it is a matter of immense pleasure that the Indian Air Force is not only protecting the country's space but is also making an important contribution to India's space programme. It is a matter of great pride for all the officers and soldiers of the Air Force that the four astronauts who have been selected for ISRO's Gaganyaan mission are Air Force officers. The President said that in this rapidly changing era, security requirements and priorities are also changing rapidly. Like other sectors, the role of technology is becoming more important in the defence sector too. She was happy to note that the Indian Air Force has been adopting modern technology over the past few years, as per the statement. The President greeted all women on the occasion of International Women's Day and said that it is a matter of joy that women are being provided equal opportunities in all branches of the Indian Air Force. They are being encouraged to make a career in the Air Force. She expressed confidence that in the coming times, more and more girls will join the Air Force and serve the country. She added that increased representation of women in the Air Force will make this Force more inclusive, the release added. (ANI - Posted on 08 March 2024) President Droupadi Murmu presents Standard and Colours to 4 units of IAF Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Every day must be Women's Day not just March 8, says Kalki Subramaniam Chennai, March 8 Kalki Subramaniam is a renowned trans woman and a member of the National Council for Transgender Persons, constituted by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. In an exclusive interview with IANS, the activist says that every day should be Womens Day and not just March 8. IANS: As a trans woman, what do you feel about International Womens Day? Kalki Subramaniam: Every day must be Women's Day not just March 8 as women around the world, including trans women, work harder at home and at their workplace. International Women's Day is a day to remember and honour the accomplishments and sacrifices of women; continue to work for gender equality; advocate for the safety of young girls and bring transformative change. IANS: How is the condition of trans women in Tamil Nadu now? Kalki Subramaniam: Women in Tamil Nadu are more progressive, better educated and are becoming economically independent. However the progress of transgender women remains slow. Thousands of transgender women still continue to beg and our community's social status isn't anywhere near equal to cis men and cis women. Reservation in education and employment still remains a dream. We are repeatedly demanding that the government focus on our social and economic progress. IANS: Do you think that there should be more governmental intervention to uplift trans women? Kalki Subramaniam: Absolutely yes! As a member of the National Council for Transgender Persons I am in close touch with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Though I represent all the five South Indian states and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, I urge the government to work for the progress of transgender people all over India. The ministrys officials are keen to make various schemes in order to reach out to the transgender persons in the country. I advise the ministry on the priorities of the community like health, education and economic uplift. I want the transgender community to be poverty free. There is a long way to go, but I am not resting. IANS: What were your struggles as a trans woman? Kalki Subramaniam: For all my success today, I had to struggle hard in life. As a transgender teenager I struggled at school and again in college as I didn't want the world to see me as the person I am not. I rewrote my destiny like a movie script and created my own fate in order to be the genuine person I am today, my true and real self. But as I progressed, I reminded myself that I will always represent and fight for the rights of the transgender community. I am proud of the thorny path I walked on, but I try to spread roses on that path for the younger generation of trans people. IANS: You are an artist, a writer and an entrepreneur. How do you achieve so much? Kalki Subramaniam: I have always followed my heart. I write and paint on my journey as a transgender woman. I document my life and of those like me through my writings and works of art and poetry. I am now into fashion, fusing my creations with art and poetry. Many of my creations carry my poetry and art. I am excited about the infinite creative possibilities this offers. I will soon launch an e-commerce website for my creations. IANS: You have been part of the court case which led to the trans community getting the Third Gender status in government records. Please fill us in on that. Kalki Subramaniam: I sensitised Supreme Court lawyers and the judiciary for legal recognition of the transgender community. Former Chief Justice of India, the late Altamas Kabir, was the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority. He was very instrumental in filing the PIL for transgender legal recognition. I worked hard with him for the legal recognition of the community. I have sensitised several Supreme Court and High Court lawyers and judges through sessions in the National Judicial Academy and the Madras Judicial Academy. IANS: What are your plans in the days to come? Kalki Subramaniam: Our organisation, Sahodari Foundation is opening an Art and Design Skill Centre on March 23 to train underprivileged transgender and cis gender women in art, design and tailoring and encourage them to be entrepreneurs. IANS: You are an international gender activist. You have spoken at world renowned universities like Harvard, Yale and Cornell. Where are you speaking next? Kalki Subramaniam: I have received an invitation from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada to speak on gender and sexuality. It is one of the reputed universities of Canada. That is where Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau graduated from in 1998. I am excited to speak at UBC. (IANS - Posted on 08 March 2024) Every day must be Women's Day not just March 8, says Kalki Subramaniam Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! What we learned from a newsy city council meeting including the reasons members opted to reduce the penalty for future blown deadlines at Hotel Royer (from $500,000 to $150,000), why Orlando is such a coveted Willard destination (89 county travelers a day, just five of whom fly out of Savoy) and much more. Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. Elena Cleary, right, talks about adjusting to sleep schedules in Sierra Leone as classmates, from left, Faith Lee, Stephanie Wayda, Nour Longi, Piper Pascarella and Maggie Knutte prepare Monday for their trip in their class in the English Building. With $625,000 committed of the $1 million airport officials believe they'll need to lure a low-cost leisure service airline, here's a look at the top 15 destinations Champaign County residents fly to and from and which airport they use most often when they do. The Latest | Biden says temporary pier in Gaza will boost aid deliveries as hopes for truce dim U.S. President Joe Biden Biden says the U.S. military will help establish a temporary pier on the coast of Gaza as a way to boost the delivery of aid for Palestinians trapped in the besieged territory by the Israel-Hamas war When Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry filled the void left by the assassination of the countrys president in 2021, he did so over the protest of wide segments of the population but with the full-throated support of the Biden administration A new device tested in pigs enables monitoring and early detection of pH changes in deep tissues due to post-operative leaks following gastrointestinal surgery. Such leaks which occur at high rates 3-7 days following surgery can be fatal if overlooked, and as such, require constant monitoring. Yet, early detection of these leaks remains a challenge. To address this need, Jaiqi Liu and colleagues developed a novel class of pH-responsive materials for real-time ultrasound measurement of pH changes indicative of leaks from healing surgical joins following gastrointestinal surgery. They dubbed their bioresorbable, shape-adaptive, ultrasound-readable materials structure, "BioSUM." The thin and implantable device is comprised of small metal discs within a pH-responsive hydrogel. During recovery, the distance between the metal discs can be measured using ultrasound. Should a leak occur, the hydrogel reacts to the change in pH and swells, pushing the metal discs further apart, signaling a complication. This would allow intervention before further organ damage could occur. Moreover, the hydrogel can be tuned to the pH range native to where it is implanted, allowing leaks to be identified across several gastrointestinal organs, such as the stomach, small intestines, and pancreas. Liu et al. demonstrate the device in vivo across two small and large animal models, including pigs, which have a gastrointestinal tract similar to that of humans. "Monitoring technologies that meet societal demands for precise, personalized, and convenient health care are on the rise," write Shonit Nair Sharma and Yuhan Lee in a related Perspective. "BioSUM, in its current iteration, introduces a platform technology that yields the potential to fit within a repertoire of emerging monitoring tools, such as capsule-based diagnostics and ophthalmic imaging techniques, that enhance the way that disease can be understood, monitored, and managed." In a recent case report published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, researchers described a case of a 62-year-old male who received 217 vaccinations against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 29 months and examined his immunological responses. They found that hyper-vaccination did not cause adverse events or significantly affect the quality of adaptive immune responses while resulting in increased T-cells and spike-specific antibodies. Study: Adaptive immune responses are larger and functionally preserved in a hypervaccinated individual. Image Credit: Douglas Sacha / Shutterstock Background Booster vaccinations may potentially amplify immune responses, while persistent antigen exposure may induce immune tolerance. However, the advantages, constraints, and risks of recurrent vaccination in humans remain to be thoroughly investigated. In the present study, researchers investigated the immunological responses in an older man hyper-vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. The case In this case study, a 62-year-old male from Magdeburg, Germany (referred to as HIM), engaged in deliberate hyper-vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, receiving 217 vaccinations over 29 months for personal reasons. This occurred outside a clinical study context and contrary to national recommendations. Despite an investigation by a public prosecutor for potential fraud, no criminal charges were filed. Notably, HIM's immunological evaluation, initiated during the public prosecutor's investigation, received active and voluntary cooperation from HIM and was ethically approved. Throughout the extensive hyper-vaccination, HIM reported no vaccine-related side effects, and routine clinical chemistry parameters displayed no abnormalities between November 2019 and October 2023. In the repeated negative SARS-CoV-2 tests, including antigen tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and nucleocapsid serology, HIM showed no signs of past SARS-CoV-2 infection. Starting from the 214th vaccination, HIM's anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were measured before and after vaccinations. The antibody peak occurred at the 214th vaccination, and there was a slight increase after the 217th vaccination. Additionally, HIM showed IgG4 subclass switching after the 215th vaccination, which is uncommon in regimens with adenoviral-based vaccines as the first dose. A total of 29 individuals who received three doses of a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine formed the control group. As compared to controls, HIM exhibited mildly elevated levels of anti-spike IgM and IgA in the serum. However, in saliva samples, HIM showed detectable levels of anti-spike IgG, contrary to the control participants. HIM's serum neutralization capacity was higher (5.4-fold for wildtype and 11.5-fold for Omicron B1.1.529 spike proteins) than the controls, indicating elevated quantities of spike-specific IgG. This observed difference was not attributed to antibody avidity as it remained comparable among the groups. HIM showed a slightly increased number of spike-specific B-cells, with the same phenotype as seen in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). No significant differences were observed in the rates of somatic hypermutation or clonal expansion. CD8+ T-cells specific to the spike epitope were about six-fold more frequent in HIM, with a preference for effector memory T-cells. Further, scRNA-seq of LTD-specific T-cells showed a more differentiated phenotype and increased clonal expansion compared to controls. Flow-cytometric analysis and metabolic profiling showed no significant abnormalities in 14 protein markers. LTD-specific CD8+ T-cells in HIM showed a proliferative capacity similar to control individuals, aligned with conserved numbers of T-cells with a phenotype like early differentiated stem cells. After epitope-specific stimulation, HIM displayed higher cytokine-positive cells, but the cytokine release per cell remained roughly equal. Cytokine analysis in the supernatant revealed the typical pattern of virus-specific CD8+ T-cells. Additionally, HIM's CD8+ T-cells showed higher peptide sensitivity than the control group. Examination of spike-reactive CD4+ T-cells revealed a dearth of nucleocapsid-specific immunity, with similar cytokine-producing CD4+ T-cell amounts in HIM compared to the control group while retaining peptide sensitivity. Conclusion In conclusion, the present case report showed that hyper-vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 yielded no adverse events and elevated T-cell levels and spike-specific antibodies. Notably, the implicit quality of adaptive immune responses showed no significant effects. Although breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections were not observed in the individual, any causal link with the hyper-vaccination regimen remains unclear. The researchers emphasize that they do not advocate for hyper-vaccination as an approach to improve adaptive immunity. Thought Leaders Sarah Smith and Tim Simpson Senior Marketing Manager and General Manager Hologic In celebration of International Women's Day 2024, we're honored to host Tim Simpson and Sarah Smith from Hologic, a forefront leader in women's health. As we dive into this year's theme, "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" and "#InspireInclusion," let's explore how Hologic's pioneering work and dedication align with these powerful calls to action. Join us as we discuss the crucial role of investment in women's healthcare and the innovative strides Hologic is making toward inclusive and progressive healthcare solutions. Firstly, please introduce yourself and Hologic. More specifically, how does Hologic's mission align with the 2024 International Women's Day theme of "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" and ''#Inspireinclusion''? Tim: Im Tim Simpson, General Manager UK & Ireland at Hologic. Hologic is a global champion of womens health, providing innovations designed to detect, diagnose, and treat womens health conditions. We see it as our mission to advance womens health, and for this to happen in the UK, targeted investments in research and technology are crucial. Sarah: Im Sarah Smith, Senior Marketing Manager, Surgical Gynaecology, EMEA. Improvement in womens healthcare only begins when there is investment in empowering women to feel confident to know when to talk to a healthcare professional (HCP) about their health concerns. By the same token, we also need to invest in educating HCPs so that when a woman speaks to their GP, they leave feeling heard and understood. Learn more about Hologic From your perspective, why is putting women at the heart of decision-making critical in advancing women's healthcare? Sarah: Putting women at the heart of all decisions is the cornerstone of patient-centered care. Shared decision-making is needed to ensure that the patient and clinician work together to make the best healthcare decision for the individual. In womens health, it is particularly important to champion shared decision-making. High rates of misdiagnosis, myths, and misperceptions about conditions1,2, as well as barriers to dialogue due to the sensitive nature of some conditions, can often leave women in the dark when it comes to decisions about their health and treatment.2 Providing women with better education via initiatives, such as our Wear White Again awareness campaign for women suffering from Heavy Menstrual Bleeding, is vital in empowering them to seek help. Improved education and knowledge can make a considerable difference, especially in situations where dialogue barriers may prevent women from clearly communicating their condition's impact on their lives. Equally, providing clinicians with relevant and up-to-date information is crucial so that when women present symptoms, the conversations between them and their clinicians are productive and satisfactory for both parties. In the context of reducing health inequalities, what are some of the barriers to accessing quality healthcare for women, and how is Hologic working to overcome these challenges? Tim: We know from our annual Hologic Global Womens Health Index that cancer testing amongst women has improved. However, our supplementary research found that women from ethnic minorities (non-white women) reported lower attendance for breast cancer screening (11% vs. 25%), compared with white women.3,4 It is concerning to see these discrepancies, as we know cancer can affect anyone. One of the main barriers to attending screenings is being time-poor, with another being not having access to the correct health information. We know its vital that health information is accessible for all and translated into multiple languages. To tackle these inequalities, we must work in partnership with different organizations, for example, charities that hold vital insights into womens experiences, to better understand how we make breast cancer screening accessible for all. In 2021, we partnered with Manchester-based charity, Prevent Breast Cancer for our global Project Health Equality Campaign, which engaged with hundreds of women to raise awareness of breast cancer and the importance of attending their screening. Both breast and cervical cancer remain a significant concern worldwide. Could you discuss the efficiencies Hologic is implementing to help reduce the incidence of these common cancers? Tim: We believe diagnostic innovation is key to helping detect cancers early, therefore improving the chances of a better outcome. Both cervical and breast cancer screening are well suited for digital technologies and the application of artificial intelligence (AI), given both require highly trained medical professionals to identify rare, subtle changes visually. This process can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. AI and computer vision are technologies that could help to improve this significantly. AI and increased screening units and mammographers can potentially increase breast cancer screening capacity by removing the need for review by two radiologists5. When AI-guided imaging is used as part of a screening program, it could effectively and efficiently highlight the areas that are of particular interest to the reader, in the case of breast screening or cytotechnologists, when considering cervical screening. Additionally, AI can be used for risk stratification, meaning it could help identify women who are particularly at risk and push them further up the queue for regular screening. For example, women with dense breast tissue have a greater risk factor than having two immediate family members who have suffered from breast cancer. What is more, dense breasts make it more difficult to identify cancerous cells in standard mammograms6. This means that in some cases, cancers may be missed, and in others, women will be unnecessarily recalled for further investigation. Could you discuss the advancements in diagnosing and treating heavy menstrual bleeding and how these impact women's lives? Sarah: Our research conducted in 2022 found that only a quarter of those who reported symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) (24%) have received a formal diagnosis. Perhaps even more concerning is that nearly half of the women who experience symptoms of the condition (42%) have not spoken to their GP about them, demonstrating a potential belief that it is something to be endured rather than managed7. GPs cannot be experts in every area, and as they continue to do more with limited resources, it is vital to ensure that primary care is supported to understand HMB better. This is a point echoed by the Womens Health Strategy, which has the ambition of healthcare professionals in primary care to be well-informed and trained in menstrual and gynecological health8. Alongside this research, Hologic has launched a report entitled, The right patients, the right setting, the right clinicians to set out its vision on tackling HMB. The report recommends launching Womens Health Hubs and the development of a specific Office for Health Improvement and Disparities communication campaign to support clinicians with building a greater knowledge of menstrual conditions, so GPs can effectively recognise and diagnose HMB. How does Hologic's approach to women's health care exemplify innovation in addressing long-standing health issues like endometriosis and menstrual health? Sarah: Part of our approach at Hologic when championing womens healthcare is to make sure we connect with key stakeholders along the patient pathway, as we know we need to work collaboratively to change the status quo. This attitude is reflected in our everyday lives - I spend much of my time speaking to clinicians and patients to understand better the challenges they face and the solutions we can collectively create. This was the approach we took when conducting the heavy menstrual bleeding roundtable. We made sure we had a diverse set of menstrual health experts who could speak to different parts of the patient pathway. We were also honored to be joined by Dame Lesley Regan, the first Womens Health Ambassador for England. As mentioned, we produced the report following the inspiring roundtable discussion. It is available on our Hologic UK website. Image Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock.com How does Hologic UK & Ireland measure the impact of its initiatives on women's health, and what benchmarks do you use to evaluate success in contributing to the broader goals of healthcare equity and access? Tim: At Hologic, we believe you cannot improve what you dont measure, so we must continue to collect vital data to help us pinpoint how we best support women across the country. In 2021, we launched the Hologic Global Womens Health Index (HGWHI)*, a globally comparative study in partnership with Gallup, to measure and monitor the behaviors and attitudes influencing womens access to quality healthcare. It provides us with a unique insight into the experiences of women across the globe, including the UK. HGWHI runs annually; were launching the UK data in May. Our ambition is that the HGWHI results, in partnership with research from key organizations, will help to form a quality data set that can be used as a benchmark for how UK women perceive their health in the years to come. As leaders in the healthcare industry, how do you foresee the role of technology evolving to further support women's health initiatives in the next decade? Tim: We know that preventing disease saves lives9. Therefore, as a business leader, I believe technology should lie at the heart of prevention, detection, and diagnosis. Technology for breast cancer screening is an area where investment is crucial to meet womens health needs in preventative health. Currently, many screening programs use traditional 2D mammography technology, which makes identifying cancer lesions more difficult in dense breasts. Therefore, investing in technology such as tomosynthesis (3D Mammography) for breast cancer screening would help provide the reassurance that women deserve. Tomosynthesis detects up to 65% more invasive breast cancers when compared to traditional 2D Mammography alone10.** The second method of improving breast and cervical cancer screening programs is using artificial intelligence (AI) to support reading images. Therefore, investing in digital infrastructure is crucial to improving the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosis, as it will ultimately lead to earlier treatment and, thus, better patient outcomes. Endometriosis Month coincides with International Women's Day. How is Hologic raising awareness and advancing treatment options for this often-overlooked condition? Sarah: This years Endometriosis Month theme is, Could it be endometriosis? which makes me think about all the undiagnosed women and girls living in pain. At Hologic, we prioritize fostering relationships with stakeholders and policymakers to raise awareness of what is needed to improve womens health and the importance of treating gynecological health. As previously mentioned, the HMB roundtable with Dame Lesley Regan, the first Womens Health Ambassador for England, and other influential leaders from across the continuum of menstrual health care to discuss how we can improve patient pathways for heavy menstrual bleeding was a recent example. Additionally, we recognize the importance of data to understand womens conditions and care and, therefore, conducted research in 2022. This data collected provided the below insights on pain 4: Nearly a quarter of women in the UK experience pain daily, and a fifth of those have had to stop working because of their pain. Among these respondents, the top causes were joint pain, backache, and headache. Women also reported pain due to periods, menopause, heavy menstrual bleeding, and endometriosis. It takes women, on average, 4.29 visits with a healthcare professional before being diagnosed with the cause of their pain, with just more than a quarter of women still not having a diagnosis. At Hologic, we believe that to achieve improvement in the treatment of womens pain is two-fold. We need to continue to educate healthcare professionals (HCPs), so they are provided with the most up-to-date information to diagnose menstrual conditions effectively. We also need to ensure that HCPs know that diagnosis and treatment can be overwhelming for the patient and allow time to support patients through the process, setting clear expectations to avoid disappointment post-treatment. Can you share a success story or case study where Hologic's initiatives directly impact women's healthcare outcomes? Tim: Weve seen first-hand the positive impact AI-guided imaging can directly have on womens healthcare outcomes. An example of this would be the UKs first pilot of digital cytology in cervical cancer screening at University Hospital Monklands. The technology rapidly reviews test slides, providing the screener with the most diagnostically relevant cells. The initial results are promising, with the hospital reporting increased capacity in slide assessment and improved analysis turnaround times. Allan Wilson, Consultant Biomedical Scientist at NHS Lanarkshire, who led the pilot project, commented on the possibilities of the technology in allowing screeners to dedicate more time to training on the latest technologies and dealing with difficult-to-diagnose cases. He also noted that with advanced technology, giving women their results quicker increases their confidence in cervical cancer screening while reducing the likelihood of a false negative so any pre-cancerous changes can be picked up and treated earlier before they become cancerous. How does Hologic ensure that women's voices and experiences are incorporated into the development and improvement of gynaecological surgical solutions? Sarah: At Hologic, we work extremely closely with patient groups and women's charities to better understand the patient's voice. They hold key knowledge and insights about the patients experience. At the Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Roundtable that I referenced earlier, we brought together experts from different parts of the patient pathway to ensure that womens experiences were an integral part of the discussion. This meant that their views shaped the resulting report. helped ensure that we were able to understand a womans experience. This, in turn, helps us to improve our services and solutions. Looking towards the future, what are the main areas of women's health that Hologic is focusing on for research and development? Tim: Hologic is passionate about delivering solutions that are based on data-driven insights that improve womens well-being. As we look ahead to the future, we will continue to invest in developing our solutions and services that enable healthcare professionals to provide better healthcare to women. We also remain committed to raising awareness of the need to address the inequities in womens health and educating women so they can better advocate for themselves. Where can readers find more information? Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Report: https://www.hologic.co.uk/en-gb/articles/improving-patient-pathways-heavy-menstrual-bleeding Year 3 results, Hologic Global Womens Health Index: https://hologic.womenshealthindex.com/en?atr=false Wear White Again: https://www.wearwhiteagain.co.uk/ About Tim Simpson Tim Simpson General Manager at Hologic, UK and Ireland. Tim joined Hologic in 2019 as UK Country Business Manager, before becoming Hologic UK and Irelands General Manager in February 2022. About Sarah Smith Sarah Smith, Senior Marketing Manager, Gynaecology Surgical EMEA. Sarah has worked at Hologic for over twenty years, beginning her role as Senior Marketing Manager EMEA in 2023. ARIES Ganesha says today will be full of expenses for you. You will be worried about your expenses, due to which you will not feel like working. If you already have some debt, it may increase further. You will meet a close family member. You can participate in some auspicious event with a family member. You will have to avoid investing in someones advice. If any dispute arises in your neighbourhood, it would be better for you to remain silent; otherwise, it can become legal. Lucky Colour: Burgundy Lucky Number: 18 TAURUS Ganesha says today will bring an increase in your influence and glory. The work done by you will be appreciated among social people. You will have to maintain coordination with your life partner, otherwise there may be a rift in love relationships. You will face some minor problems, due to which your nature will remain irritable. Those who want to go abroad and get a job may get a golden opportunity, but today you may hear some disappointing information from the childrens side. If you want to invest in any scheme related to the future of your child, then it will be better for you. Lucky Colour: Mustard Lucky Number: 5 GEMINI Ganesha says may today bring positive results for you. The atmosphere at home will be harmonious. Everyone will be happy if a suitable relationship comes for the people eligible for marriage. Meeting a special friend will bring peace to your mind. You can take your mother to meet the people from her maternal side. People who consume meat and alcohol may consider giving it up. If you express your thoughts to someone, he may make fun of you later. Lucky Colour: Cream Lucky Number: 7 CANCER Ganesha says today will be a good day for people living a love life. You will meet an experienced and influential person. You will get many opportunities for small profits in your workplace, you will have to identify them and act on them, and only then you will be successful in earning profit. You will have to avoid getting into any argument with officials in your job. Due to adverse effects of weather, you may suffer from problems like cough, cold, fever, etc. People who work online may get a big order today. Lucky Colour: Charcoal Lucky Number: 9 LEO Ganesha says today may bring some kind of problem to your health. You have to be careful in purchasing any land or vehicle, otherwise someone may cheat you. If you have any property-related dispute going on in the law, then you will not get relief in it right now. Students should concentrate on their studies rather than spend their free time sitting with people. You may come to know about some money-related scheme from some of your friends, but avoid investing in it. Lucky Colour: Olive Lucky Number: 14 VIRGO Ganesha says today you will be successful in finding solutions to many problems with your strength and intelligence and you will be able to get everything that you were lacking. The atmosphere at home will be peaceful, but there will be problems in your mind due to unnecessary complications. Your good image will become your identity in society, but due to the confusion going on in your mind, you may speak some harsh words to someone, due to which you will be in trouble. You may have to face scolding from senior members too. Lucky Colour: Silver Lucky Number: 11 LIBRA Ganesha says today will bring an increase in your influence and glory. You also seem to be getting benefits from some government scheme. Some of your plans will come to fruition today, from which you will get benefits. If you are thinking of starting a new business for your spouse, then the day will be good for that too. But you will spend some time in the service of your parents. You may think of having a party with friends, in which it would be better to go after consulting family members. Lucky Colour: Purple Lucky Number: 17 SCORPIO Ganesha says today is going to be a good day for you from a financial point of view. You will participate enthusiastically in religious activities. You will invest some part of your money in charitable works. A family members marriage proposal may also be approved, due to which there will be a happy atmosphere in the family. If you have to take any important decision, then take it very carefully, otherwise you may have to regret it later. You will also have to be careful while using fast-moving vehicles, otherwise, your financial expenses may increase due to the sudden breakdown of the vehicle. Lucky Colour: Blue Lucky Number: 15 SAGITTARIUS Ganesha says today is going to be a fruitful day for you. You will make some plans for the beautiful future of your children, which you must discuss with your spouse. If you have made some mistakes in the past, you will get a chance to correct them. Students will be very interested in their studies. Some good news may be received from family members. You will make some trips for business. By getting the support and companionship of your spouse, you will get solutions to many problems. Lucky Colour: Pink Lucky Number: 9 CAPRICORN Ganesha says today is going to be fruitful for you. You will make some plans for the beautiful future of your children, which you must discuss with your spouse. If you have made some mistakes in the past, you will get a chance to correct them. Students will be very interested in their studies. Some good news may be received from family members. You will make some trips for business. By getting the support and companionship of your spouse, you will get solutions to many problems. Lucky Colour: Black Lucky Number: 19 AQUARIUS Ganesha says today is going to be a bit weak for you. This is the right time to implement new plans in business, the economic situation will be a little weak. Your efforts will be successful. You may get a chance to invest in a finance company. Some of your friends will also appear to be your opponents, which will surprise you. People who are working in politics will get a chance to hold some public meetings, due to which their fame will spread all around. Love relationships will become more intense. Lucky Colour: Red Lucky Number: 2 PISCES Ganesha says today is going to be a pleasant day for married life. Plans will be made for expansion in business and all work will be completed on time, this will make you happy. Your wish of buying a new property will also be fulfilled, but there may be some disturbance in the happiness and peace at home because there will be a lot of running around due to injury to a member of the family. Students can apply for a new examination, in which they seem to get success only after a lot of hard work. The Karnataka government has given the green light to a new law that will make registering vehicles in the state more expensive. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot approved the Karnataka Motor Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Act, 2024, on March 6. The law was officially published in the gazette on March 7, as reported by Money Control. Karnataka Motor Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Act, 2024: What Does It Says? Under this new law, a 3 percent extra fee will be charged on transport vehicles. This money will go into the Karnataka Motor Transport and Other Allied Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund. Additionally, the government now has the power to impose a lifetime tax on electric vehicles (EVs). If an electric car, jeep, omnibus, or private service vehicle costs more than Rs 25 lakh, a 10 percent tax will be levied on its cost at the time of registration. This is the first time such a tax is being imposed on electric vehicles in the state. Impact On Prices Currently, Karnataka already has some of the highest road taxes in the country, ranging from 13 percent to 20 percent. The new 3 percent tax on transport vehicles will make owning a vehicle even more expensive. The Karnataka Motor Transport and Other Allied Workers Social Security and Welfare Act, 2024, was also approved by Governor Gehlot on March 6. This law aims to provide social security and welfare measures for workers in the transportation sector. Who Does It Apply To? The law applies to workers in motor transport companies, garages, workshops, and similar establishments recognized by the state government. It defines workers as those employed in transportation, excluding certain groups like government employees and those in managerial positions. Benefits Of The New Law For Workers The state government will establish a board called the Karnataka State Motor Transport and Other Allied Workers Social Security and Welfare Board to oversee these measures. This board will have members including the Labour Minister and senior officials from the Department of Labour. Benefits for Motor Transport and Other Allied Workers (MTOAW) include accident benefits, educational aid for children, maternity benefits, pension schemes, and more. BH-Series Registration In a related development, the Karnataka High Court recently upheld a decision to allow employees of private companies operating in multiple states to register their vehicles under the Bharat (BH) series. However, the transport department is hesitant to promote BH series registration for private sector employees, fearing a loss of revenue. Introduced in August 2021 by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the BH-series registration eases vehicle registration for individuals relocating between states. While made available to various government employees, the transport department fears the potential revenue impact if extended to private sector employees, estimating a loss of 5-7 percent of Motor Vehicle tax per vehicle based on its category or price. International Womens Day: Whats common between Madhabi Puri Buch, Kristalina Georgieva, Nirmala Sitharaman, Vibha Padalkar, and Praveena Rai? They are heading the top financial institutions in India and across the globe, creating wealth and driving financial inclusion across the length and breadth of India and globally. Once considered a male bastion, these ladies are a testament that women are defying stereotypes and conquering new heights in finance. Also Read: Power Of Compounding: How Women Can Grow Their Wealth With Time The Barriers and a Welcome Shift Traditionally, women have encountered multiple obstacles in overcoming financial barriers. As daughters, sisters, or wives, more often than not, they have relied on their fathers, brothers, or husbands to make financial decisions on their behalf. The existing family dynamics have frequently trivialised their inputs regarding money management, giving them the cold shoulder. Even in dual-income households, women often take career breaks to focus on family duties. However, of late, there has been a shift with women increasingly asserting their financial independence and challenging traditional gender roles. Not only at home, but they are also emerging as the flag bearers in the financial world, challenging outdated norms and patriarchal mindsets. There has been a marked increase in female advisors, wealth managers, and executives bringing expertise and different perspectives. They are not only driving innovation but also advocating gender equality and inclusion within the industry. Taking Control of Their Financial Future Today, an increasing number of women are taking control of their finances and investing in their future. Traditionally, investment and financial planning were often thought to be male-centric activities. More frequently than not, males had the final say in a households financial decisions. This is slowly changing. With greater access to information and resources, women are actively formulating investment strategies and investing in various financial instruments. According to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), the number of women investors in the mutual fund industry rose to 74.49 lakh at the end of December 2022 from 46.99 lakh in December 2019. A recent survey conducted by CRISIL in association with a leading multinational bank found 47% of female earners in Indian metros making independent financial decisions, with 98% actively participating in long-term family decisions. The fact that 47% of women make independent financial decisions reflects a shift in traditional gender roles and a growing recognition of womens financial capabilities. Also, a high percentage of women actively participating in family decisions highlights their indispensable role in shaping the financial future of their households. The overwhelming participation underscores their expertise in key objectives, including childrens education and retirement planning. Despite these remarkable strides, its a fact that challenges still exist. Limited access to capital, gender pay gaps, and subconscious biases continue to hinder womens progress in the financial realm. That said, women must continue to educate themselves on personal finance, understand the basics of investing, and keep updated on the latest financial strategies and products. On this Womens Day, lets celebrate womens tenacity and resilience in breaking the financial barriers and continue to work towards a future where gender boundaries are non-existent. Happy Womens Day! -The author is President & Head, Nuvama Wealth. Views expressed are personal. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) announced a significant change on March 7 in the pattern of the CA Foundation and Intermediate exams. According to the new guidelines, the Foundation and Inter exams will be held three times a year. Until now, the ICAI administered the CA Inter and Foundation exams twice a year. A Central Council Member (CCM) of the ICAI, Dhiraj Khandelwal, announced the big change in pattern on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. Welcoming move by the ICAI to bring a beneficial change in favour of the CA student fraternity by introducing CA examinations thrice a year for CA Foundation and CA Inter level. Further Updates shall be clarified by the ICAI soon, reads Khandelwals post. Welcoming move by the ICAI to bring a beneficial change in favour of the CA student fraternity by introducing CA examinations thrice a year for CA Foundation and CA Inter level.Further Updates shall be clarified by the ICAI soon.#icai DHIRAJ KHANDELWAL (@kdhiraj123) March 7, 2024 The ICAI foundation exam is the first stage or entry-level exam in India to become a Chartered Accountant (CA). Candidates who pass the Class 12 exam can sit for the CA foundation exam. Furthermore, CA Intermediate is the second step after the foundation exams. The CA intermediate stage is divided into two groups of four subjects. A student is eligible to register for the CA Intermediate course once they have completed Foundation. In addition, the CA final is the final stage in becoming a CA. On the other hand, the ICAI has released the ICAI CA mock test series 1 for intermediate and final students who are going to appear in the ICAI CA May 2024 exams. To access the ICAI CA May 2024 mock tests, candidates must log in using their registration number and password. The ICAI CA mock test series 1 will be administered in both physical and virtual formats. Candidates who wish to take the physical mode test should contact the respective branches in their area. The official notice includes a list of the ICAIs regional branch offices. As per the timetable, the ICAI CA intermediate exams 2024 are scheduled for May 3, 5, and 7 for group 1 while May 9, 11, and 13 for group 2. Meanwhile, CA final group 1 and group 2 exams will be held from May 2 to 6, and May 8 to 12, respectively. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has released the UCEED 2024 results on its official website today, March 8. Those who took the Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design (UCEED) 2024 can view their results by visiting the official website uceed.iitb.ac.in. However, the scorecards can be downloaded from March 11 up to June 12. The official website requires applicants to enter their login ID and password to view the UCEED 2024 results. The UCEED result, displayed in the form of a scorecard, comprises important information such as the candidates name, roll number, sectional score, and total score. Candidates are shortlisted for the counselling process, which includes document verification and seat assignment, based on their UCEED score. Every shortlisted candidate will be assigned a common merit rank. The rank list will be generated using the combined Part-A and Part-B marks for UCEED 2024 as the basis for the computation of the total marks. UCEED 2024 RESULT: HOW TO CHECK Step 1: Go to uceedapp.iitb.ac.in, the official UCEED website. Step 2: Select the link titled UCEED 2024 Result. Step 3: Fill in your password, email address, and UCEED registration number and click on the Submit button. Step 4: The UCEED 2024 scorecard will be presented on your screen. Step 5: Download the UCEED 2024 scorecard, then print it out for your records. All candidates who took the UCEED 2024 exam will have their Part-A grades displayed on the Portal, according to the UCEED information booklet issued by IIT Bombay. For the applicants who did not pass the UCEED 2024, the Part-B score, rank(s), and total marks received will not be shown. Downloading the candidates Part-A replies for UCEED 2024 will only be possible up until the results are announced. Following the announcement of the UCEED results, the Part-A answer download feature will be deactivated. No additional requests will be considered in this regard. IIT Bombay administers the UCEED, a national exam, to candidates for admission to the Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) programme at IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Roorkee, and IIITDM Jabalpur. The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) will conduct the board exams semester-wise instead of conducting them annually. Students of class 11 and class 12 class will have to take the exam in the semester system from the academic year 2025-26. The state government has approved the semester system examination in higher secondary. From the next academic year, two exams will be conducted in higher secondary every year. Students who are currently studying class 11 will have to take the exam in the semester system. In other words, those who will be admitted to the 11th class after passing secondary school this year will have to take the exam in the semester system. WBCHSE had earlier submitted a proposal to the School Education Department suggesting that the Higher Secondary Examination be divided into two parts instead of one. According to the proposal, the examination will be divided into two parts one semester to be held in November 2025 and the other in March 2026. The final examination will consist of two segments and the final marks will be calculated by averaging the scores from these two tests. The first exam will comprise only OMR sheets, requiring multiple-choice question answers, while the second exam will feature short questions. The West Bengal Class 12 examinations 2024 have already concluded. The exams took place from February 16 to February 29, 2024. This time, as many as 41 students were disqualified after they were found in possession of mobile handsets during the class 12 board exams in West Bengal, reported PTI. ALSO READ | Karnataka HC Allows State Govt to Conduct Board Exams For Classes 5, 8, and 9 Meanwhile, the West Bengal boards class 10 examinations for the year 2025 will be held between February 12 and 24, according to an official announcement. The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) released a statement that mentioned that the exact timetable for the Class 10 board exams 2025 will be announced together with the results of this years Madhyamik Class 10 exams. WBBSE President Ramanuj Ganguly informed that they typically announce the results within 90 days of the exams completion. The WB Madhyamik exams 2024 were held from February 2 to 12. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a busy Saturday as he starts his day early with a 5.45 am safari in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam and will end it with night prayers at the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and a road show in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi from where he will be contesting again in the soon-to-be-held elections. The packed day will also see three public programmes in as many states, apart from the visit to UP. The PM stayed overnight in the Kaziranga National Park on March 8 after arriving in Assam. On Saturday, at around 5.45 am, the Prime Minister visited Kaziranga and went on a safari in the Park famous for one-horned rhinos, elephants, wild water buffaloes, swamp deer, and tigers. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kaziranga National Park in Assam today. The PM also took an elephant safari here. pic.twitter.com/Kck92SKIhp ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2024 WATCH | PM Modi Starts His Day Early With 5.45 AM Safari From Assam, he will leave for Arunachal Pradesh where at 10.30 am the PM will participate in a Viksit Bharat Viksit North East programme in Itanagar, then dedicate the Sela Tunnel to the nation, and launch about Rs 10,000-crore-worth UNNATI scheme. Here, he will also inaugurate, dedicate, and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects worth about Rs 55,600 crore in Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh. Thereafter, the Prime Minister will reach Jorhat in Assam at around 12.15 pm and unveil the magnificent statue of renowned Ahom general Lachit Borphukan. He will also participate in a public programme in Jorhat, and inaugurate, dedicate, and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 17,500 crore in Assam. After that, the Prime Minister will travel to Siliguri in West Bengal and participate in a public programme at around 3.45 pm. Here too he will inaugurate, dedicate, and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects worth about Rs 4,500 crore in West Bengal. At around 7 pm, the Prime Minister will reach Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. He will perform darshan and pooja at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple. There could also be an impromptu roadshow of the Prime Minister in Varanasi on the night of March 9 from the airport to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple over a distance of 28 km. The PM will be at the temple a day after the auspicious festival of Shivratri. The PM is staying the night in Varanasi before leaving for Azamgarh on the morning of March 10, prior to which he could also hold a meeting with BJP leaders in his constituency about the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections here. Rahul Gandhi was absent on Thursday at Congresss Central Election Committee meeting, but his presence was felt. The message that emerged was all hands have to be on deck; no one should shy away from a fight as the coming Lok Sabha election is a do-or-die battle. This had to be communicated, said sources, as the Congress is facing a problem of its top and high-profile leaders being reluctant to fight. Rahul Gandhi has been a strong advocate of everyone battling it out, but he has seldom got support, and this has led to a rift between him and many in the party. The Congress wants to contest 275 Lok Sabha seats on its own as it feels that it is here that it will be in a direct fight with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP has been able to experiment with its candidate choices as most leaders are confident that the Modi name would work its magic. But the Congress is not so sanguine as it has faced poll reversals, exodus, and confusion in the ranks in recent times while it is in an alliance with former opponents like the Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party. On top of the Congresss candidate list, expected to be announced on Friday, is Rahul Gandhi, who will be defending his Wayanad seat. Its a Congress bastion and should be easy for him to win. Shashi Tharoor being repeated from Thiruvananthapuram is not a surprise. But it could be a tough contest for him as he would be looking to get elected from there for a fourth time and the BJP has fielded union minister of state Rajeev Chandrasekhar. What could be a surprise though is Rahul Gandhis confidant and general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal taking the plunge. This would be a big step and may force other party seniors to contest. The BJP has stolen a march on the Congress by announcing its first list early. Some seat-sharing talks with allies are ongoing on both sides. Now all eyes will be on the next Uttar Pradesh meet where there could be clarity on whether Rahul would contest from Amethi or Raebareli, and whether sister Priyanka would finally take the electoral plunge. A day after the Union cabinet approved the bill to facilitate reservation to scheduled tribes (ST) in the Goa Assembly, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that four assembly constituencies would be reserved under this category. Sawant said that the four constituencies would be reserved for STs during the 2027 Assembly polls. Amid demands from ST members, the central cabinet on Thursday gave its nod to the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes Bill, 2024, which will empower the census commissioner to notify the population of STs in Goa. Based on it, the Election Commission will amend the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008, to make way for ST reservation in the 40-member Goa Assembly Sawant thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the decision and said the issue was pending for over 20 years. He said it was during the time of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government that the then CM Manohar Parrikar had given tribal status to Gauda, Kunbi and Velip communities. He said that all these communities had protested in 2005 with 12 demands when the Congress was in power at the Centre as well as in Goa. Shame on Congress that they could not fulfil the demands. Two tribals were martyred in the agitation over this under Congress rule, Sawant said. The CM alleged that Congress had fooled the community by moving three faulty ordinances in 2013 and 2019. Then Congress government did not even pass the Bill, he said adding, I challenge the Congress to show one thing that they have done for the scheduled tribe community. Sawant said his government has been working for the rights of tribals. A total of 10 per cent of the funds in different departments is reserved for use in areas with a tribal population, he said. The chief minister said that his government has also been disposing of cases registered under the Forest Rights Act. We had 10,000 cases under FRA of which 2,500 have been disposed of, while the remaining 7,500 are being fast-tracked, he said. The cabinet nod to the bill to reserve seats for STs in the Goa Assembly was announced by Union minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday. Minutes later, Sawant wrote on X, I wholeheartedly thank the Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji, for Central Cabinet approval to readjustment of the seats in the Legislative Assembly of the state of Goa for providing reservations to the Scheduled Tribes of the state. I also thank Honble HM Shri @AmitShah Ji for his continued support in giving justice to the ST community in Goa. This is a major victory for the ST community of Goa!, he added. The ST community in the state has been demanding reservation in Assembly constituencies. To press for their demand, community leaders under the banner of GAKUVED (Gauda, Kunbi, Velip, Danger) have been on a hunger strike in Panaji since Wednesday. Image source: Getty Images Written by Adam Othman at The Motley Fool Canada For over a year, there has been a lot of buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) technology and AI stocks . With AI becoming integrated into all aspects of our lives, this will only be a growing trend in the market for the next decade and beyond. While the tech bubble a few years ago might have popped, the growing popularity of AI integration looks as though it will only grow bigger. There is anticipation that the AI market will soar past US$1.6 trillion by the end of this decade. The expected rise of the sector reflects an impressive 33.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in just seven years. ADVERTISEMENT It is not just the future of AI by the end of the decade that should excite investors. Several companies are actively using AI for their benefit. In turn, the stock of the underlying companies is being set to drive significant growth for investors. AI-integrated systems for use at home will continue to be crucial. That said, companies leveraging its power can enact significant operational improvements to grow shareholder value and offer better returns. Today, I will discuss two Canadian AI stocks delivering on that front that you can consider adding to your holdings to capture the immense wealth growth potential in your portfolio. Kinaxis Kinaxis (TSX:KXS) is a cloud-based supply-chain management and sales and operation planning software company headquartered in Ottawa. Through the use of tech-based innovations, it has been providing top-notch solutions to the supply-chain space for some time, and it is no stranger to AI integration to improve its offerings. The RapidResponse system by Kinaxis uses AI technology to forecast demand, optimize inventory, and improve transportation planning. The last few years have seen its share prices fall after the tech bubble popped. As of this writing, it trades for $146.00 per share, down by 36.27% from its November 2021 all-time high. With growing subscription-based revenue and a well-established position as a leader in the supply-chain management space, its future-ready AI-powered software puts it in pole position to drive significant growth in the coming years. Story continues Open Text Open Text (TSX:OTEX) is a $13.83 billion market capitalization Canadian software company that develops and sells enterprise information management software. Like Kinaxis, it has been using AI for a few years now. However, the company recently announced that it will double down on its AI-powered initiatives to continue innovating and driving more growth. The companys Open Text World event saw it announce that it will expand AI to multiple new sectors, from chat spaces to engineering. It has already been using AI-enabled solutions to improve customer experience, enhance security, and bolster content analytics. Its AI-based engineering software solution is already up and running. As several more of its AI vectors hit the ground running, it will grow its subscription-based revenue by diversifying its client portfolio across several more industries and driving growth. As of this writing, Open Text stock trades for $50.83 per share. Down by 26.04% from its August 2021 all-time high, it can be an excellent time to pick up its shares at a significant discount. We just revealed five stocks as best buys this month join Stock Advisor Canada to find out if Kinaxis made the list! Foolish takeaway The recent rise of AI technology is being touted as the next big thing since the Industrial Revolution. With the potential to create significant improvements across all sectors of the economy, the buzz around AI stocks is not surprising. If you have a well-balanced portfolio and want to inject some growth into it, allocating some of your savings to well-picked AI stocks can be an excellent way forward. To this end, Kinaxis stock and Open Text stock warrant being on your radar if not in your self-directed investment portfolio. The post 2 AI Stocks to Turbocharge Your Savings appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. Motley Fool Canada's market-beating team has just released a brand-new FREE report revealing 5 "dirt cheap" stocks that you can buy today for under $50 a share. Our team thinks these 5 stocks are critically undervalued, but more importantly, could potentially make Canadian investors who act quickly a fortune. Don't miss out! Simply click the link below to grab your free copy and discover all 5 of these stocks now. Claim your FREE 5-stock report now! More reading Fool contributor Adam Othman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Kinaxis. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2024 With major political parties ramping up their preparations for the upcoming polls to select 543 participants in the Lok Sabha, all eyes are on the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the schedule of the much-anticipated polls. The poll body is likely to announce the dates for the biggest political battle in the worlds largest democracy within a few days after which the Model Code of Conduct will be put in place. Most political parties are trying to put their best foot forward in the remaining weeks as the elections are expected to be held in April-May. Lok Sabha Election Date The Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha Polls as well as assembly elections for some states on Saturday (March 16) at 3 pm. The announcement will be streamed live on social media platforms of the ECI. 2019, 2014 Lok Sabha Polls Speculations are rife that the polls will be held in seven phases like the last elections held in 2019, which saw the BJP clinching victory for the second time with a whopping 303 seats. Meanwhile, the Congress managed to win only 52 seats. While this time PM Modi has set the target for BJP alone at 370 seats and 400 for the NDA, he prayed the Congress crossed at least 40 seats. In 2014, the general elections were held in nine phases from April 7 to May 12. With 834 million registered voters, they were the largest-ever elections in the world until being surpassed by the 2019 elections. The results were declared on May 15, 15 days before the 15th Lok Sabha completed its constitutional mandate on May 31. The counting exercise was held at 989 counting centres. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received 31% of the vote and won 282 seats, while its National Democratic Alliance won a total of 336 seats. The BJP won 31.0% votes, while NDAs combined vote share was 38.5%. Along with the Lok Sabha polls, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Haryana and Maharashtra will also go for polls in 2024. Major players announce list of candidates Major political parties have started announcing their candidates for the different Lok Sabha seats. Last week, the BJP released a list of 195 candidates for the upcoming polls and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest from Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi for a third time. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been fielded from Gujarats Gandhinagar once again, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will fight from his seat, Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh, according to the list that has 34 federal ministers. Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani is the BJPs pick from Amethi, an erstwhile Congress stronghold where she pulled off a sensational victory over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in 2019. Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, has been given the New Delhi seat, while former Assam Chief Minsiter Sarbananda Sonowal will fight from the eastern states Dibrugarh seat. Five years ago, the BJP contested 436 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats. The announcement of Saturdays 195 seats meant the BJP has already declared almost 40% of the 2019 number. Also, in 2019, the BJPs first list of 180-odd candidates came out on March 21 more than 10 days after the announcement of the election schedule. Congress Candidate List 2024: The Congress party on March 8 announced the first list of 39 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, including Rahul Gandhi, who will contest from Wayanad. The list also includes former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor. AAP Lok Sabha 2024 Candidate List In February-end, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced Lok Sabha election candidates for Delhi and Haryana. AAP senior leader Somnath Bharti, Malviya Nagar MLA, is set to contest from New Delhi. TMC Candidate List Lok Sabha Election 2024 Trinamool Congress on Sunday announced its list of 42 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In a surprise move, the party fielded former cricketer Yusuf Pathan from Berhampore and brought in 26 new faces to contest in the polls. Trinamool Congress on Sunday announced its list of 42 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. TMC Party fielded former cricketer Yusuf Pathan from Berhampore and brought in 26 new faces to contest in the polls. TMC MP Mahua Moitra will contest the polls from the Krishnanagar constituency, while Partha Bhowmick has been fielded from Barrackpore. Heres what the major players are up to BJP-BJD alliance likely Theres a buzz that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik could rekindle ties with the BJP. Although there has been no formal announcement yet, leaders of both parties have hinted at a re-alliance. The BJD left the BJP-led NDA in 2009 after an 11-year political partnership due to failed seat-sharing talks. The top leaders are likely to finalise the alliance in a few hours. BJP, TDP to join hands Amid speculations of a possible BJP-TDP alliance in Andhra Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday night. According to sources, both parties are ready to join hands. A second round of talks between the parties is set to be held today. Meanwhile, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan also met Home Minister Amit Shah and JP Nadda. Jana Sena Party, which has been a member of the NDA, has already joined hands with the TDP. BRS-BSP to fight together In Telangana, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has announced a tie up with Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to fight the polls together in Telangana. BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, whose government lost to the Congress in November last year, met the BSPs state unit chief RS Praveen Kumar here. Both sides have announced that the seat adjustment would be done after consulting BSP supremo Mayawati. Congress finalises 40 names The Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) on Thursday finalised the names of 40 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections including that of Rahul Gandhi from Keralas Wayanad, sources said. A total of 60 Lok Sabha seats from 11 states and union territories were discussed during deliberations at the CEC meeting which was chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, they said. Discussions were held on Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Lakshwadeep. Rahul Gandhi, who is taking part in the Bharat Jodo Nyay yatra that started on January 14 from Thoubal in Manipur and will end on 20 March 2024 in Mumbai spanning east-west of India, has started highlighting some of the salient features of his partys manifesto in rallies. In Assam, the Congress has promised to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has been talking a about price hike, unemployment and caste census. TMC and Sandeshkhali issue In West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress, which is trying to spread its presence in the Northeast, is under fire from the Opposition over the Sandeshkhali row. One of the partys strongman, jailed and suspended Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides have been accused of sexually abusing the women of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas and forcibly grabbing their land, sparking days of protests. The BJP has been slamming the Bengal government over the matter. Meanwhile, the TMC has launched a volley of attacks against a Calcutta High Court judge, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who submitted his resignation and joined the BJP soon after. In the past few years, Gangpadhyay handled cases involving the Trinamool-led West Bengal government and passed a number of orders against TMC. BJPs Preparations While BJP leaders across the country are busy campaigning unitedly. Most of them added Modi ka Parivar tags to their names on X following Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadavs Modi has no children remark. PM Modi, who is on a Bharat Darshan for nine days from Monday (March 4), visiting at least 10 states and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir by March 12, addressed a public event in Srinagars Bakshi Stadium for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370. He stressed on how BJP was helping the region grow. The dreaded climate change is here! Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India, and many parts of Karnataka are the moment facing the worst water crisis aggravated by the failure of both southwest and northeast monsoons in the state. As a result, the metropolitan city has seen declining groundwater levels, diminishing reservoirs, dried bore-wells and water supply cuts. Women carrying half empty buckets of water queueing in front of the water tankers is now a common site in Bengaluru. The decline in Cauvery water river, on which the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) depends, has impacted the drinking water supply and irrigation. An official at the Board, The Times of India, quoted as saying the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam in Madhya district from where Cauvery water is supplied to Bengaluru does not have adequate water due to summer. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has attributed the prime reason for scanty rainfalls in the state in 2023 due to the El Nino effect. On March 6, Bengaluru recorded a temperature of 36 degrees Celsius. The city recorded highest temperature in March in 1986. The rapid urbanisation has also cost the environment, with Bengaluru losing 79% of water bodies and 88% of green cover over the last four decades. Areas covered by concrete have increased 11-fold, according to studies at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). What are the Karnataka People Saying? According to reports, residents of Bengaluru have complained about the water tanker companies charging higher prices. A 1,000-litre tanker would cost between Rs 600 and Rs 800 but now it costs more than Rs 2,000, as mentioned by several reports. Among the 236 taluks in Karnataka, 223 have been drought-hit, with 219 severely affected. An official said dry spell affected water supply both from the Cauvery, and borewells that are two of Bengalurus principal sources of water. The Residents Welfare Association (RWA) in Bengaluru are also not taking adequate measures to look into the water crisis. The crisis may worsen if there is no good rain in the coming days as already close to half the borewells have dried up, Hindustan Times quoted an official as saying. What is the Govt Doing? The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has set up a control room at its head office to tackle water supply challenges in 110 villages across 35 wards. The civic body has also appointed nodal officers to manage drinking water issues. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that the government would seize unregistered water tankers if their owners fail to register with the authorities by March 7. Of the total 3,500 water tankers in Bengaluru city, only 10 per cent, that is 219 tankers, have registered with the authorities. The government will seize them if they dont register before the deadline. Water is not the property of any individual but is a resource that belongs to the government. The government has the right to take control of water sources, he had said at a press conference. Milk tankers used by the Karnataka Milk Federation will also be used for water supply. Each MLA in Bengaluru city has been granted Rs 10 crore to address water scarcity in their respective constituencies. Additionally, the BBMP has earmarked Rs 148 crore, while the BWSSB has allocated Rs 128 crore to tackle the water issue. India will now be able to make its own fifth-generation stealth fighter, the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA) at supersonic cruise speed, at the estimated cost of Rs 15,000 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the design and manufacture of five prototypes of the aircraft in the next five years. The approval happened more than two years after Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) initiated the process to obtain the CCS approval for Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) design and prototype development. According to a source, quoted by The Times of India, the first AMCA prototype will roll out in four years, and will make its maiden flight a year later. It will take 9-10 years for the actual production of AMCA by HAL to begin after all the development and flight-testing of prototypes. So, IAF will begin inducting them after 2035. What is Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft? The 25-tonne aircraft will range from serpentine air-intake and an internal bay for smart weapons to radar absorbing materials and conformal antenna. It will be able to achieve supersonic cruise speeds without the use of afterburners as well as have data fusion and multi-sensor integration with AESA (active electronically scanned array) radars, as quoted by The Times of India report. The AMCA will incorporate advanced technologies like super manoeuvrability, super cruise, stealth, state of the art sensor suite with fusion. The AMCA is being designed as a stealth, medium weight, twin-engine, fifth generation multi-mission aircraft with the capability to swing roles. The stealth mission features the Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD), precision strike and maritime operations. What is IAF Plan? The IAF will induct Tejas Mark 1A and Mark 2 jets. While IAF has only 40 Tejas Mark-1 jets powered by GE-F404 engines, deliveries of the 83 improved Tejas Mark-1A fighters for Rs 46,898 crore will soon begin. It will be followed by another 97 such jets for around Rs 67,000 crore, The Times of India report added. At present, there are four fifth-generation aircraft F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning-II from the USA; J-20 of China and Su-57 from Russia. Turkeys fifth-generation fighter Kaan made its brief maiden flight last month. These platforms include stealth, low probability of intercept radar, agile airframes with super cruise performance, advanced avionics features, and highly integrated computer systems capable of networking with other elements in the battle, according to a report by Deccan Herald. The CCS had in 2022 cleared Rs 9,000 crore development project for Tejas Mark-2 fighters with more powerful GE-F414 engines. The IAF is expected to induct six squadrons (108 jets) of Tejas Mark-2, which will have a longer combat range, as mentioned by The Times of India. The CCS also cleared proposals to buy 34 ALH Dhruv helicopters for the Indian Army and Indian Coast Guard. The Army will get 25 of these choppers while the Indian Coast Guard will get nine of them. The helicopters would be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The Indian Coast Guard is going to get nine of these choppers, while the Indian Army will be inducting 25 of them into their fleets, top government sources told ANI. MH370 has been shrouded in mystery for the last 10 years. Nobody knows what happened to the 239 passengers on board the Malaysian Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8. The cliffhanger has spawned several theories, books and documentaries, making MH370 disappearance one of the modern eras biggest mysteries. The 40 Minutes After the Take-Off The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 was an overnight flight that had the last transmission from Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah as the aircraft moved to Vietnamese airspace in the early hours of March 8, 40 minutes after taking-off from Kuala Lumpur. Shahs last words recorded were Good Night Malaysian three seven zero, after which, there had been radio silence till today. Reports hinted that the plane continued to fly for hours before disappearing from the radar. Early searches in South China Sea suggest that the plane had shifted to the remote part of the Indian Ocean, with satellite information suggesting it went down after running out of fuel. After MH370 went dark, its transponders were turned off and its tracking system was disabled. Military radar showed the plane left its path to fly over Malaysian and Penang Island, and then out of the Andaman Sea towards the tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, as mentioned in a report by Al Jazeera. The plane was last spotted on the military radar on March 8 at 2:22am Malaysian time (18:22 GMT, March 7). From there, the aircraft turned south into the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, the report added. Apparently, smaller pieces of fuselage were found on the eastern coast of Africa and the islands in the Indian Ocean in 2014, but nothing has been corroborated or confirmed. To date, the body of the aircraft and black box have never been found. Another Search? After shattered families of those on board the flight urged and pressured the local authorities in Malaysia, a new search into the mystery is likely to be launched. There have been ships lost that are found after hundreds of years. So we cannot say that this plane will never be found, one family member VPR Nathan told Reuters during a recent commemorative event. His wife Anne Daisy was on board MH370. Aviation experts have given hope that with better technology the new search would bring the relatives closer to the missing plane but that will not be cheap, as quoted by CNN. Expensive Expedition So far, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent in the searches into the Indian Ocean that first began on March 18 and covered an area of 4.5 million sq km. Several countries, including Australia, failed to find any trace of the plane and ended the search in six weeks. The search was then carried out into the inhospitable seabed, some 2,800 km off the coast of Western Australia. The search, covering some 120,000 sq km (46,332 square miles), involved ships, submarines and aircraft, and cost $147m. The initial search carried out by Malaysia, China, and Australia, estimated to have cost $132 million, was called off in January 2017 after failing to find any trace. Ocean Infinity was brought in by the Malaysian government on a no-find, no-fee basis. But it did not show any results, and was called off within 90 days of search in 2018. What are the Theories So Far? Malaysias officials in 2018 found that while foul play was involved into the disappearance of the aircraft, it was not possible to say who could turn off the transponders and turned the plane around, as mentioned by an Al Jazeera report. Another set of experts are more intrigued in understanding what happened in the 40 minutes flight after the take-off. Some believe that the planes transponders stopped transmitting, and it soon disappeared from the military and civilian radar, which made experts conclude that MH370 would have flown off course. According to aviation experts, the plane might have glided south to the Indian Ocean instead of flying northeast across the South China Sea. The Indian Ocean Region is one of the worlds remotest locations in terms of flight monitoring. A 440-page report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) in 2017 said the pilot had flown a route on his home flight simulator six weeks before MH370 disappeared that was initially similar to the one actually flown on March 8, as quoted by Al Jazeera. Is There Any Hope to Find the Plane? Charitha Pattiaratchi, a professor of coastal oceanography at the University of Western Australia, said with the advancement in technology in the last 10 years, there is a high probability of finding MH370, Al Jazeera quoted as saying. In the area where the search is to take place, the ocean is around 4,000 metres deep, Pattiaratchi wrote in the Conversation newsletter earlier this week. The water temperatures are one to two degrees Celcius [33.8 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit], with low currents. This means that even after 10 years, the debris field would be relatively intact. Some aviation experts have mentioned about Weak Signal Propagation Reporter technology released in 2008, which uses radio amateurs to track the strength of radio signals around the world, and catch anomalies. Retired British Aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey said he traced WSPR data back to the time when MH370 disappeared and concluded the aircraft may be lying between 3,000 and 4,000 metres (9,800 to 13,000 feet) below the Indian Ocean, about 1,500 km (930 miles) off the coast of Perth, Australia, as quoted by CNN. I certainly believe MH370 can be found, he said as quoted by CNN. Bengalurus Rameshwaram Cafe, the site of a recent Bengaluru blast, is set to resume operations on Saturday. Raghavendra Rao, who is the owner of the famous cafe, assured that stringent security measures have been implemented ahead of the reopening. We commence our day with the national anthem as our ritual. We have provided all CCTV footage and information, cooperating fully with authorities. Grateful for government support in swiftly reopening the cafe, we await the NIAs resolution of the case, Rao told news agency ANI. On March 1, a man walked into the cafe and set down a bag carrying explosives nearby, which had a timer set for an hour. Ten people were injured in the blast at the popular eatery in the Brookefield area. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh to find the suspect, whose image has been captured on CCTV. Earlier today, PTI reported that a cloth merchant from Kaul Bazaar in Ballari was detained by the NIA and Central Crime Branch in their joint investigation of the March 1 blast. The teams suspect that the detenu, who was an active member of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), was part of the plot. The investigation teams found that the man who planted bomb at the food joint on March 1 travelled from Bengaluru to Tumakuru, Ballari, Bidar and then Bhatkal. On Wednesday, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said the police are pursuing vital clues and getting close to cracking the March one Rameshwaram Cafe low-intensity blast incident. The police got some vital clues in the past two days, which were promising, he told reporters here. Our officers are getting close (to crack the case). Some vital information was received yesterday and day-before-yesterday, which we have taken very seriously. If we proceed this way then we will complete the investigation, Parameshwara said. Are you sneezing, coughing or suffering from runny nose too often these days? Amid frequent weather changes, there has been a notable increase in patients seeking treatment for seasonal allergies at both hospital outpatient departments (OPDs) and local clinics. The most commonly experienced symptoms are sneezing, itchiness in the nose or throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy and watery red eyes, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Doctors also indicated that several cases coming up overlap with flu and allergies. The allergies are quite common these days, and I have been seeing 20-25% of my OPD patients presenting allergy-related issues, Dr Rajeev Gupta, director of internal medicine at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi told News18. Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, head of the department, pulmonology, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad is also seeing almost seven new patients for respiratory allergies every week. He has been advising skin prick tests instead of blood tests to his patients when required. This is very accurate and helps in identifying the common allergen and at times with the help of immunotherapy, the impact of these allergens on the human body can be mitigated. Similarly, Dr Anirvan Karmakar from Narayana Hospital in Howrah, West Bengal, believes that allergy among Indians is a growing concern. During the onset of the summer season, people are vulnerable to several allergies that often include pollen allergies, commonly from trees, grasses, and weeds, Karmakar said, adding that daily, a considerable number of patients are diagnosed with seasonal or general allergies, especially during peak allergy seasons such as March-April. We are treating 1-2 patients every day. Doctors recommend avoidance measures such as staying indoors during peak pollen times, using air purifiers, wearing masks outdoors, and taking over-the-counter antihistamines or nasal steroids to relieve symptoms. What Leads to Seasonal Allergies? Seasonal allergies can develop at any age, without a previous history of allergies, experts said. Allergies commonly seen in the current weather are referred to as seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis. These symptoms occur during specific times of the year, typically when trees, grasses, and weeds release pollen particles into the air. In March, common allergens include pollen from trees like neem and oak, which can trigger allergic reactions. Additionally, dust and pollution may contribute to respiratory allergies during this time. When these allergens enter the bloodstream of sensitive individuals, they trigger the release of histamines, causing allergy symptoms, explained Dr Tushar Tayal, lead consultant, Department of Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital in Gurugram. To relieve respiratory allergies, its crucial to reduce environmental triggers by using air purifiers, keeping doors closed, and reducing exposure to irritants like burning wood and incense. While medications such as antihistamines and steroids can provide relief, its essential to use them under medical guidance. Also, home remedies like wearing masks outdoors and staying hydrated. Which are the Lethal Allergies? While most allergic reactions are mild, causing discomfort like sneezing, itching, or rashes, some can be life-threatening. Certain food allergies such as shellfish, prawns, peanuts, and eggs, or allergies to certain medications like antibiotics and painkillers can lead to a life-threatening allergic condition known as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a serious medical emergency characterised by symptoms such as itchy rash, throat swelling, shortness of breath, vomiting, light-headedness, loss of consciousness, low blood pressure, and shock, said Dr Neeraj Gupta, an allergist consultant at the Department of Paediatrics, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi. Treatment typically involves epinephrine injection, intravenous fluids, and placing the individual in a reclined position with elevated feet to restore normal blood flow. Other reasons for suffering anaphylaxis could be reactions to blood components during blood transfusion and the use of anaesthetics and muscle relaxants during surgery can cause anaphylaxis. US FDAs First Drug for Allergies Useful? Many of the experts quoted above told News18 that patients approached them seeking a prescription for the worlds first drug approved by regulatory authorities for reducing allergic reactions to multiple foods after accidental exposure. US FDA approved Xolair, which is a brand name for the chemical salt Omalizumab, on February 16 for reducing the risk of anaphylaxis, which may occur with accidental exposure to one or more foods. The drug was originally approved in 2003 for the treatment of moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma in certain patients. The drug works by targeting and blocking a specific type of antibody, immunoglobulin E (IgE), that plays a key role in allergic reactions. By reducing IgE levels, Omalizumab helps prevent the lethal side effects, that could lead to the death of the patient. The medication is particularly effective in treating, severe sinusitis, allergic rhinitis or hay fever, moderate to severe forms of eczema characterized by itchy, inflamed skin and multiple food allergies. Omalizumab may offer relief to some individuals struggling with multiple food allergies, but an omalizumab trial is necessary to assess the individuals response, Gupta from CK Birla Hospital said, adding that overall, Omalizumab provides a targeted approach to managing various allergic conditions, improving the quality of life for patients experiencing moderate to severe symptoms. However, the drug is injectable and can be prescribed where IgE levels in the blood are raised and the doctor ascertains the allergic problems in this patient are IgE-related only. It is specifically designed to reduce the risk of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in certain adults and children aged one year or older. But in India, experts believe that preventive medicine would remain out of pocket for the masses due to its high cost which is around Rs 32,590. We can only prescribe this to those who can afford it. Xolair can have side effects and patients prescribed Xolair should continue to avoid foods they are allergic to and take the medication repeatedly every few weeks, said Karmakar from Narayana Hospital. Delhis water minister Atishi on Friday wrote a letter to the chief secretary over complaints of sewer overflow, dirty water, and pipeline leaks coming from all over the city, giving a 48-hour deadline for resolution. In her letter, Atishi the Delhi Jal Board chairperson said multiple complaints had been received in the previous 24 hours regarding sewer overflow, water contamination, and water pipeline leakages. Am receiving complaints from all over Delhi regarding sewer overflow, water contamination and water pipeline leakages. Have given strict directions to Chief Secretary to resolve these problems within 48 hours and to ensure that long term solutions are initiated within a week. pic.twitter.com/mxnTiXrRUd Atishi (@AtishiAAP) March 8, 2024 Im receiving complaints from all over Delhi regarding sewer overflow, water contamination and water pipeline leakages. Have given strict directions to the chief secretary to resolve these problems within 48 hours and to ensure that long-term solutions are initiated within a week, she said in the letter. The minister mentioned that similar directions had been issued to the Delhi Jal Board CEO and other board members. Since sending the complaints to CEO Delhi Jal Board and to the Members in DJB has borne no results, I will now be sending all Delhi Jal Board-related complaints to you. It is now your responsibility to resolve these issues, the minister said. Atishi said the Delhi Jal Board has more than 10,000 unresolved complaints and added that she did not receive any inspection report. Despite my instructions that inspection reports of the CEO, chief engineers and other officers have to be sent to me every Monday, I have not received a single inspection report, Atishi wrote. She further mentioned that despite bringing the complaints to the CEOs notice, the situation on the ground has not changed. I am shocked that senior Delhi Jal Board officers have not been able to take any long-term corrective action in the matter despite recurring complaints. In the absence of an effective public grievance system, the people of Delhi are being forced to live in inhuman conditions, she said. The Supreme Court will on March 11 hear the State Bank of Indias (SBI) plea seeking an extension of time to give details of all electoral bonds encashed from April 2019 onwards. The bank sought an extension till June 30 to comply with the details order. The 5 judges bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud will also hear the contempt plea by ADR alleging deliberate delay by SBI. Last week, the SBI moved the Supreme Court seeking an extension of time till June 30 to disclose details of each electoral bond encashed by political parties. In its verdict last month, the apex court directed the SBI to furnish the details to the poll panel by March 6. In its plea, the SBI said that retrieval of information from each silo and the procedure of matching the information of one silo to that of the other would be a time-consuming exercise and hence more time is needed to finalise the process. The top bank also said that due to stringent measures undertaken to ensure that the identity of the donors was kept anonymous, decoding the electoral bonds and matching donors to the donations made would be a complex process. Opposition Attacks Modi Govt on SBIs Extention Plea Meanwhile, the opposition launched a full-out attack on the Modi government over the extension plea. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed the government over SBIs extension of time to disclose electoral bond details, terming it a last-ditch attempt before the Lok Sabha polls to hide Prime Minister Narendra Modis real face. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Congresss position on the electoral bonds scheme is that it is opaque, undemocratic and destroyed the level playing field. Modi government is using the largest bank of our country as a shield to hide its dubious dealings through Electoral Bonds, he said. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said SBIs move to seek an extension on disclosing information related to electoral bonds raises suspicious apprehensions. (With PTI inputs) Hours before his wedding, a 29-year-old man from Delhi was brutally killed allegedly by his father. The man, who was a gym trainer, was stabbed 15 times in his face and chest in his residence on Thursday. The incident occurred in South Delhis Devil Extension area. While the motive behind the murder is not clear, the police found that there was some dispute between father and son. Singhals family members, however, said they do not suspect any foul play by anybody belonging to the family. The Delhi police have launched an investigation and are looking for the mans father, who is the main suspect in the murder case. At least five teams have been deployed to probe the case. Meanwhile, deceased Gaurav Singhals younger brother and a relative have been detained for questioning, they said, adding that all angles are being looked into. I got a call at around midnight about the murder of my nephew. I immediately came to the house. When I reached there, family members of Gaurav had taken him to a hospital. We do not suspect any foul play from the family side, Jawar, the uncle of the deceased told PTI. Another family member told the police that they couldnt hear the screams as there was dhol playing in the house. The CCTV footage in the area is being scanned. Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Ankit Chauhan said police received a call about the incident around 12.30 am. Following the attack, Singhals family members rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead, he said. Singhals wedding ceremony was scheduled for Thursday It was an arranged marriage, the DCP added. Police have shifted the body to the AIIMS mortuary for a post-mortem examination and legal proceedings have been initiated. (With PTI inputs) A small village of Samboora in south Kashmirs Pulwama, which otherwise was infamous for stone pelting, clashes and encounters, is now being known for its young entrepreneur, Nazim Nazir. On Thursday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Kashmir, not only did he click a selfie with his friend Nazim, but also spoke to him about his honey business. A beneficiary of the Viksit Bharat programme, Nazim interacted with Modi and impressed him with his journey. Im delighted after clicking a selfie with the PM. Its not a small thing for me. I requested him for a picture at the end of the interaction and he agreed, Nazim told News18, in an exclusive interview. I also hugged him and exchanged a handshake while requesting him to take forward our beekeeping industry, he said. The beekeepers business didnt grow overnight. He started with just two boxes of bee hives and now supplies honey across India. I feel lucky that I have reached so far, but this hasnt been easy. I had to struggle. I have been working on my business since 2018, he told News18. The PM also posted his picture of Nazim on his X handle with a caption: A memorable selfie with my friend Nazim. I was impressed by the good work hes doing. At the public meeting, he requested a selfie, and was happy to meet him. My best wishes for his future endeavors. Nazim told the PM that his family wanted him to become a doctor or engineer, but he wanted to do something different. When Nazim started his business, the situation in the valley was volatile. My passion for work has created his brand today. This isnt an overnight success, I have worked very hard behind this. I sold honey in a plastic soft drink bottle in the beginning. There is no shortcut to hard work, he said. Nazim wants the youth to set up their startups, instead of waiting for opportunities. Australia has offered to support the Malaysian government in a possible fresh search for the wreckage of missing flight MH370, on the 10-year anniversary of one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. The Malaysian Airlines flight left Kuala Lumpur airport on 8 March 2014 with 277 passengers and 12 crew members on board but never made it to its destination in Beijing. It disappeared from radar just 40 minutes after takeoff and has remained missing ever since. Australias foreign minister Penny Wong on Friday said the countrys sincere sympathies remained with those who lost their loved ones a decade ago. Australia coordinated one of the biggest search operations of its kind in history at that time of the disappearance but did not find the missing aircraft, Ms Wong said in a joint statement with transport minister Catherine King. The Australian government is supportive of all practical efforts to find MH370, the statement said. Australia stands ready to assist the Malaysian government if it considers that Australian agencies are able to offer technical information as a result of their involvement in previous searches. There were seven Australians among passengers from 14 nations on the plane the night it went missing. It is believed to have fallen somewhere in the Indian Ocean within Australias area of search and rescue operations. The statement by Ms Wong and Ms King said during the Australia-led search operation, teams covered over 3 million square kilometres above the water and more than 120,000 square kilometres under the water. Debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is displayed during a Day of Remembrance for MH370 event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) They thanked the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and other departments for their help. Ten years on from the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight 370, the Australian governments sincere sympathies remain with the loved ones of the 239 passengers and crew on board, including seven people who called Australia home, the statement said. Story continues An office building is illuminated with lights displaying "Pray for MH370" in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2014 (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Despite coordinated efforts to locate the missing plane over the last decade, those who lost loved ones have not had the answers they seek. We recognise their ongoing heartache and grief, it added. Hopes for closure among family members were rekindled after Malaysias transport minister Anthony Loke said the government is open to conducting a further search if there is credible evidence. Chinese farmer Li Eryou looks at a book written about the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 flight from a bookshelf of his son's former room at a village in Handan in northern China's Hebei province (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) He said the government was in talks with the US marine robotics company Ocean Infinity after the American company submitted a proposal to the government. Ocean Infinity had led a search in a 112,000km area in 2018 but said it could have missed the remnants due to extremely challenging terrain such as underwater canyons. Now the company says it has enhanced its ocean search capabilities with robotics. I will do everything possible to get the cabinets approval to sign a new contract with Ocean Infinity for the search to resume as soon as possible, Mr Loke said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Assam for a two-day visit during which he will stay at Kaziranga National Park, and inaugurate and lay the foundation of projects worth Rs 18,000 crore. PM Modi will be the first prime minister to spend the night at the Assam Police Guest House at Kahra in Kaziranga. This comes after President Droupadi Murmus Kaziranga visit last year and former President Ram Nath Kovind in 2022. On Thursday Assams Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that PM Modi is the only prime minister who visited maximum times to Assam. PM Modis Kaziranga Visit: Arrangements in Place All the arrangements are in place at Assams Kaziranga as NSGs and security personnel will be responsible for the security. On Saturday, the prime minister will undertake a jungle safari, with authorities making arrangements for both jeep and elephant safaris. He will be there for around two hours. The Prime Minister will visit Kaziranga on Saturday and will enter the wild through the Kohora range. The old furniture at the Gateway of Kohora Forest, Mihimukhas has been replaced with new furniture while the tourist track in the national park has been repaired and the Elephant Tower has been beautified with both elephant safari and jeep safari for the Prime Minister. The BIG FIVE of Kaziranga The prime minister will get to witness the Indian Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Wild Water Buffalo and Swamp Deer collectively known as the Big Five of Kaziranga. Kaziranga National Park is home to about 3,000 rhinos, 1100 elephants, hundreds of tigers and the largest number of Asiatic wild buffaloes. Notably, the global population of Asiatic wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee) has been estimated at 3,400 individuals, of which 95% live in India and mostly in Assam. With over 2,600 estimated numbers, the worlds single largest population resides in Kaziranga National Park which offers a perfect habitat for them. Kaziranga contains significant breeding populations of 35 mammalian species, of which 15 are threatened as per the IUCN Red List. The park has the distinction of being home to the worlds largest population of the Indian rhinoceros, wild water buffalo and eastern swamp deer. Significant populations of large herbivores include Indian elephants, gaur and sambar. Recently GHARIYAL also found in Kaziranga. Apart from these, the rare white Royal Bengal Tiger is another peculiarity of Kaziranga. Also, Kaziranga has been identified by Birdlife International as an Important Bird Area. Significance of PM Modis Kaziranga Visit The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kaziranga is expected to take on a new dimension after the Prime Ministers arrival. As mentioned, PM Modi will visit Kaziranga on March 9 at 5.30 am. PM Modis Kaziranga visit is likely to garner significant media attention and would establish the wild park as a major tourist attraction. In this regard, the Prime Ministers recent Laksswadeep visit can be cited. We are eagerly waiting for the Prime Ministers visit. From various sides, our Kaziranga is very important. We hope PM Sirs visit will make Kaziranga popular internationally, a forest official said. Both Elephant and Jeep safaris have been arranged for PM Modis Kaziranga visit. PM Modi will decide by which mode he will visit Kaziranga Wild. India on Friday began deporting Myanmar nationals who had fled a recent surge in fighting between the junta and rebels in a border region. This comes as thousands of civilians have fled the fighting in the Southeast Asian country, crossing into Indias northeastern states. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh posted a video showing the Myanmar nationals being sent away. First batch of Myanmar nationals who entered India illegally deported today, the chief minister of Manipur state which borders Myanmar, said in a post on social media platform X. Although India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it has given shelter & aid to those fleeing the crisis in Myanmar on humanitarian grounds with a systematic approach, Singh said. First batch of Myanmar nationals who entered India illegally deported today.Although India is not signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it has given shelter & aid to those fleeing the crisis in Myanmar on humanitarian grounds with a systematic approach. pic.twitter.com/zgte8RfmGl N.Biren Singh (Modi Ka Parivar) (@NBirenSingh) March 8, 2024 Free movement Deal The deportation comes a month after the Centre called for an immediate end to a free movement border agreement with Myanmar that allowed residents living in border zones to venture a short distance into their neighbouring nations territory without a visa. The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided that the Free Movement Regime between India and Myanmar be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of Indias northeastern states bordering Myanmar, Home Minister Amit Shah said in a statement. India shares a long land border of over 1600 kms with Myanmar as well as a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal. Four north-eastern states, viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, have a boundary with Myanmar. Both countries share a heritage of religious, linguistic and ethnic ties. Myanmar is the only ASEAN country adjoining India and, therefore, the countrys gateway to Southeast Asia. However, parts of Myanmar near the Indian border have seen frequent clashes since Arakan Army (AA) fighters attacked security forces in November, ending a ceasefire that had largely held since a 2021 military coup. Hundreds of soldiers were among those who had fled Myanmar and crossed over to India to escape the fighting. Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued an advisory, calling on Indian nationals in the Rakhine State of Myanmar to leave the State immediately. (With agency inputs) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the first-ever National Creators Award, said that the country must adapt to the changing times. He added that the Digital India movement has created a whole new world for content creators. You are the people who have created a place for yourselves and this is why you are at the Bharat Mandapam. This is the place where the G20 was organised and discussion for creating the future of the world was done. Today, you all have gathered here to discuss how to create the future of IndiaWhen the times change, when a new era begins, it becomes any countrys responsibility to adapt to the same. Today, at Bharat Mandapam, India is fulfilling that very responsibility, the prime minister said. PM Modi presented the Celebrity Creator of the Year award to boAT co-founder Aman Gupta, while Kavitas Kitchen won the Best Creator Award and RJ Raunak won the Creative Creator award. The prime minister also took a jibe at the Opposition during the Friday event. Malhar Kalambe, who after receiving the first ever National Creators Award in the Swachhta Ambassador category expressed his expressed his willingness to work with the PM in safai abhiyan. Har prakaar ki safai mein kaam aa sakta hai, iss chunaav mein bhi safai hone wali hai (In this polls too there is going to be a clean sweep), the PM told Kalambe to applause from the audience at the Bharat Mandapam venue in the National Capital. Modi also shared a light moment with Kalambe, asking to him eat properly as he looks very thin. Prime Minister Modi also congratulated the winners of the National Creators Awards and said it would encourage the young talent. https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1766033955218985230 I would also like to congratulate all those who took part in the entire process in the run-up to the National Creators Awards. These Awards are going to emerge as a prestigious and effective way of encouraging talent. I do urge all content creators to keep working hard and creatively, and keep making us all proud, Modi wrote on X. Over 1.5 lakh nominations and around 10 lakh votes were cast more than 1.5 lakh nominations across 20 different categories were received. Subsequently, in the voting round, about 10 lakh votes were cast for digital creators in various award categories. Following this, 23 winners, including three international creators, were decided. The award was provided across 20 categories including the Best Storyteller Award; The Disruptor of the Year; Celebrity Creator of the Year; Green Champion Award; Best Creator For Social Change; Most Impactful Agri Creator; Cultural Ambassador of The Year; and International Creator Award. The categories also include the Best Travel Creator Award; Swachhta Ambassador Award; The New India Champion Award; Tech Creator Award; Heritage Fashion Icon Award; Most Creative Creator (Male and Female); Best Creator in Food Category; Best Creator in Education Category; Best Creator in Gaming Category; Best Micro Creator; Best Nano Creator; Best Health and Fitness Creator. (With inputs from ANI) The plan for ropeway connectivity to the Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar is getting closer to fruition as the ministry of road transport and highways has allocated Rs 126.58 crore for it. Targeted to be operational by December 2026, it is expected to cut the travel time between the city and the Hindu shrine on a hilltop to around five minutes. At present, it takes at least half an hour, most of it by road followed by a short hike. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the Kashmir Valley on Thursday, also posed against the backdrop of the Shankacharya hill, atop which sits the temple. He offered his reverence to the temple and later posted on X: Upon reaching Srinagar a short while ago, had the opportunity to see the majestic Shankaracharya hill from a distance. Speaking to News18, a ministry official said gondolas on a monocable setup will have a capacity to carry 14,000 passengers per day to the temple, situated at a height of 1,100 feet above Srinagar city. The shrine is dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva and is one of the oldest in the Jammu and Kashmir region. It is believed that the temple was visited by the Adi Shankaracharya, a legendary Vedic scholar and preacher. Nitin Gadkari shares details In a post on X (formerly Twitter), union minister Nitin Gadkari said the ropeway will run from the SDA Parking, near Zabarwan Park, directly to the temple. Spanning 1.05 km in Srinagar district, this initiative operates on the Hybrid Annuity Mode, utilising MonoCable Detachable Gondola (MDG) technology with a capacity to transport 700 PPHPD (passengers per hour per direction), he wrote. The ropeway commute will also offer a panoramic view of Srinagar, including Dal Lake, besides being a faster option for pilgrims. It ensures easy access for individuals with disabilities and senior citizens to visit the temple, reducing travel time from approximately 30 minutes to about 5 minutes, Gadkari further said. Additionally, it serves as an eco-friendly mode of transport, and is likely to create employment opportunities by enhancing tourism. Ropeways in focus Gondolas or cable cars on ropeways are seen as a relatively more viable option in some challenging terrains. This mode was first used in India in 1968, and about 65 km of ropeways are operational at present. Many new projects are at various stages, and at least eight are expected to be ready by 2026, including the Srinagar one. In the 2022-23 Union Budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a National Ropeways Development Programme to be implemented in the public private partnership mode. At present, the ministry of road transport and highways manages it. The preparations for Lok Sabha election 2024 have entered the last leg with the Election Commission of India (ECI) discussing security arrangements with the Union Home Ministry for the deployment of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel across India. The meeting, a matter of routine before every election, will take place later on Friday. The forces are deployed by the Ministry of Home Affairs on ECs direction for elections. The list of personnel includes all CAPFs, State Armed Police Forces, Indian Reserve Battalion, Railway Protection Force and others. The commission directs deployment of CAPFs for free, fair and peaceful conduct of elections, be it general or bye-elections to the Lok Sabha or assemblies. The CAPFs which are deployed for election duties will not be used for any other purposes. The forces are required in pre-poll as well as post-poll stage, an official told News18. Starting with surveillance in the pre-poll stage to guarding polling stations and later providing security to polled EVMs and VVPATs as well as the polling and counting personnel, the role of CAPF is critical. More than 3,000 companies of the CAPFs, each comprising 100 personnel, will be required across India in a phased manner for the Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls. Last month, the ECI had asked the Railway Board to ensure smooth and hassle-free train movement for these personnel. The terms of the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim will end in June. These four states will witness simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. In 2019, the elections were announced on March 10, while the counting of votes took place on May 23. The announcement of the election schedule is expected later this month. However, last month, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had said that the EC team will visit Jammu and Kashmir before announcing the dates. The team is expected to visit J&K next week. Since February 16, the EC team has completed the tour of five states Odisha, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. It visited Andhra Pradesh in January. Thanks to the carelessness of Lucknows authorities, one family had to perform the last rites twice, the first time with the wrong body, while the other, instead of bidding the last adieu, had to make do with the urn of ashes. Both the families have now filed a complaint with Lucknows Chowk Kotwali Police Station, demanding strictest action against the errant officials. Vipin Prajapatis wife, Sandhya, 26, attempted suicide on Tuesday, after which the family rushed her to the trauma centre. She breathed her last at 11:53pm. I was told that the postmortem would be carried out the next day. They told me to collect Sandhyas body on Wednesday, said Prajapati. As he reached the postmortem house the next day, Prajapati was told that her body had already been handed over to her family, only that it wasnt. We told them that we havent received the body, but they paid no heed. The officials shoved us out of the premises, stating they had already handed over the body to its claimants, lamented Prajapati, who is yet to recuperate from the trauma of his wifes death. You are requested to help me in getting the body of my wife, read Trivedis complaint with police. The police rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the family members, but they demanded a probe. We immediately cross-checked the records with the Postmortem House, where we discovered that on March 4, a body of one Sandhya Trivedi, 24, who hails from Madiyaon area of Lucknow, was also brought here and her postmortem, too, was scheduled for Wednesday. The handed over the body of Sandhya Prajapati to Sandhya Trivedis family by mistake, said Nagesh Upadhyay, Station House Officer (SHO), Chowk Kotwali, Lucknow. Same name and almost similar age may have led to the confusion among officials, added Upadhyay. But this was not the end of the story. By the time the Prajapatis managed to contact the Trivedis to inform them about the error, the latter family had already performed the cremation. It was shocking for us too. As the body was over two days old and the face was little deformed, we, perhaps, didnt recognise her, said Sumit Trivedi, brother of deceased Sandhya Trivedi. Amid the blame game, the authorities then handed over the body of Sandhya Trivedi to her family, which performed a cremation for the second time that day, whereas the Prajapati family got the urn of ashes. I am the most unfortunate person on Earth who couldnt even give a farewell to his beloved wife, said an inconsolable Prajapati. Officials with the Postmortem House, a part of King George Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, blamed police for the negligence. The police bring in the body for the postmortem, after which it is handed over to them. It is their responsibility to hand over the body to the family after completing the paperwork, said Professor Sudhir Singh, spokesperson, KGMU. The Enforcement Directorate on Friday attached 161.30 acres of land, plant and machinery, and building structures belonging to a sugar unit in Kannad, Aurangabad. These assets were held by M/s Baramati Agro Ltd, with a total value of Rs. 50.20 crore, and were seized in connection with a money laundering case related to the illegal sale of sugar factories by the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank to M/s Baramati Agro Ltd. What is this case? An FIR was filed with Mumbai Polices Economic Offence Wing (EOW), leading to the registration of an ECIR by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Last year, the ED submitted its first chargesheet in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam case against Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills. The chargesheet established links to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, but did not name him as an accused. Subsequently, another chargesheet was filed, which included the name of NCP MLA Prajakt Tanpure, among others. In this case, the ED has twice interrogated Rohit Pawar, the grandnephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, regarding his involvement in the acquisition of the distressed sugar mill, Kannad SSK Aurangabad, through his company Baramati Agro Pvt Ltd in an auction conducted by MSCB. The probe agency asserted that the acquisition of Kannad SSK by Baramati Agro Ltd was illegal, designating the assets acquired as proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). MSCB, spanning 31 district central co-operative banks, provided loans to cooperative sugar factories from 2002 to 2017. Subsequently, these factories were auctioned off at lower prices. The EOW FIR alleged that the SSKs were fraudulently sold by MSCB officials and directors of MSCB at throw-away prices to their relatives or private persons without following the due procedure. What is EOWs stance? The EOW has submitted its second closure report, giving a clean chit to Ajit Pawar and other senior politicians, including Rohit Pawar. Over 15 children suffered electric shock during a procession on the occasion of Mahashivratri in Rajasthans Kota. Lok Sabha Speaker and MP from Kota, Om Birla, reached the hospital and gave instructions to the doctors for proper treatment of the injured kids. #WATCH | Rajasthan: Several children were electrocuted during a procession on the occasion of Mahashivratri, in Kota. Further details awaited. pic.twitter.com/F5srBhO9kz ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 The children, aged 10-16 years, were electrocuted from a high-tension power line passing overhead in the Sakatoura area under the Kunhari police station. Two of the children sustained 100 and 50 per cent burn injuries, respectively, while the rest 12 sustained less than 50 per cent injuries, a senior police official said. The other boys who attempted to rescue him also sustained burn injurie All the injured children have been rushed to MBS Hospital for treatment and will be referred to Jaipur. Rajasthan Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar also reached the hospital. The mishap occurred around 11.30 am-12 pm on Friday when a procession of Shiv Barat was marching through Kalibasti, where one of the boys in the procession, holding a flag atop a 22-feet-high bamboo stick touched the high-tension line passing overhead. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi praised the Viksit Bharat Ambassador community on Thursday for their determination and commitment towards building the nation. Taking to X and replying to a post by Union Minister Smriti Irani, PM Modi said, I laud the #ViksitBharatAmbassador community for their determination and commitment towards nation building. The active participation of our Nari Shakti will undeniably accelerate our journey towards achieving a developed and empowered India. I laud the #ViksitBharatAmbassador community for their determination and commitment towards nation building. The active participation of our Nari Shakti will undeniably accelerate our journey towards achieving a developed and empowered India. #ViksitBharatKiViksitNari https://t.co/fLpZTqvLyc Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2024 The Viksit Bharat Ambassadors Nari Shakti Conclave was conducted at the DU Indoor Stadium in Delhis North Campus. The conclave witnessed a historic gathering of over 6,000 female students and faculty and infact an additional 3,000 students also joined. All the participants were united under the shared goal of building a developed India by 2047. The conclave was marked as the first-ever female-only event of such a scale and it was organized on March 7, a day before Womens Day is celebrated globally. The event saw a conversation between Chief Guest and Union Minister Smt. Smriti Irani and Guest of Honor RJ Sharat and their dialogue covered crucial topics such as the role of women in education and their leadership in spearheading the Viksit Bharat journey. During her address at the Viksit Bharat Ambassadors Nari Shakti Conclave, Union Minister Smriti Irani said, Today, enrolment of girls in education at school is 100% almostWhen PM has made credits movable in the country, the number of women who do PhD has gone up by 99%. These are hardcore numbers. But with every number comes a life that stands transferred The Viksit Bharat Ambassador movement aims to encourage citizens to take responsibility for contributing to Indias development. Send farmers, unemployed graduates and youngsters looking for jobs to Russia via the Dubai route. There, get their own countrymen Rajasthani and Keralite handlers to push them in the jaws of death in the Russia-Ukraine war zone. This was the modus operandi of the pan-India human trafficking network busted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday. The overseas foundation registered in Delhi conspired with visa agents from Ambala in the north to Madurai in the south. The CBI has registered a case under sections of cheating, criminal conspiracy and human trafficking. ALSO READ | CBI Launches Major Crackdown On Dubious Visa Agencies After Indians Tricked Into Fighting Russia-Ukraine War The CBI raided 13 locations at Ambala, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai and revealed that the network charged huge amounts from the victims on the pretext of getting them jobs related to the Russian army, as security guards or house help in Russia. Many were promised admission to Russian universities, jobs and a better life. The CBI believes at least 35 more Indians are similarly trapped in Russia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in its statement, said: Several Indian nationals have been duped to serve in the Russian army. We have raised the issue with Russian authorities and asked for an early discharge. Strong action has been initiated against the agents. The CBI busted a major human trafficking network in many cities. A case has been registered. We appeal to people not to fall into the trap of such agents." The CBI has also issued a public appeal, urging gullible youngsters to not fall prey to such job advertisements. #WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Several Indian nationals have been duped to work in the Russian army. We have strongly taken up the matter for the early discharge of such Indian nationals. Strong action has been initiated against agents who recruited them on pic.twitter.com/4o9Puxxm9Y ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 PROMISED JOBS AS HELP, ASSISTANT, 2 KILLED One of the companies named as an accused in the CBI FIR is Baba vlogs Overseas Recruitment Solutions Pvt Ltd. The companys YouTube post allegedly lured 30-year-old Mohammad Afsan from Hyderabad to Moscow. As per Afsans family, he was promised job as help, where he could earn Rs 1-2 lakh. Afsan was allegedly charged Rs 3 lakh by the traffickers. In a call made to his family in January, Afsan had said he was in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, deployed to fight at the Russia-Ukraine frontline. Afsan was killed in the warzone three days ago, as per a social media post by the Russian authorities. The news of Afsans death came a fortnight after 23-year-old Hamil Mangukiya from Surat was killed. Mangukiya had reportedly applied for a job in Russia through an online advertisement and reached Moscow from Chennai. He was recruited as an assistant in the Russian Army. He was reportedly killed in an airstrike by Ukraine in the Donetsk region of the Russia-Ukraine border on February 21. THE CBI FIR The CBI probe has found that once the victims reached Russia, their passports and other documents were taken/snatched by agents in Moscow. Indian nationals were then forcibly trained in combat roles and provided with Russian army uniform and badges. The agents questioned so far told the CBI that post combat training, the trafficked Indians are/were being deployed at front bases in Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes and put their lives in grave danger". It has been ascertained that some human trafficking victims also got grievously injured in the war zone," the CBI stated. Credible information has been received from reliable sources that a company, namely M/s24x7RAS Overseas Foundation, registered at 501, Ambadeep building KG Marg New Delhi and its Director Suyash Mukut, in conspiracy with Tanu Kant Sharma r/o Ashram, Delhi,; Srividhya, r/o Chennai; Rakesh Pandey r/o Mumbai; Director of M/s O.S.D Bros Travels & Visa Services Pvt Ltd; O.S.D Bros Travels & Visa Services Pvt Ltd; Manjeet Singh r/o Barnala, Sangrur, Punjab; Adventure Visa Services Pvt Ltd; Christina r/o Russia; Faisal Abdul Mutalib Khan @ Baba based in Dubai; Mohd. Sufiyan Dawood Ahmad Darugar r/o Palghar, Mumbai; Baba vlogs Overseas Recruitment Solutions Pvt Ltd; Pooja w/o Md Sufiyan; Ramesh Kumar Palanisamy r/o Tamilnadu; Md Moinuddin Chhipa r/o Rajasthan, presently based in Russia; Santhosh based in Russia Tomy r/o Kerala; Robo r/o Kerala; and Job r/o Kerala and unknown others are engaged in trafficking of gullible Indian Nationals to Russia and duping them for better employment and high paying jobs," the CBI said in its FIR. It has also been informed that these agents/human traffickers are duping Indian students/citizens for admission in dubious private universities in Russia instead of Govt/public known universities by offering them free discounted visa extensions, fee structure, etc. and thereafter they are left at the mercy of visa agents and college authorities," the CBI said. LONDON Before Jeremy Allen White took the internet by storm in his Calvin Klein briefs, it was another item of clothing that had the internet talking: his white Merz b. Schwanen T-shirt worn by his character Carmen Carmy Berzatto in the show The Bear. The German brand that dates all the way back to 1911 has now opened shop in New York City on Canal Street. More from WWD The husband-and-wife duo behind the brand Gitta and Peter Plotnicki discovered the location while visiting the city 28 years ago. Peter always dreamed of doing business one day in New York because he loves the city so much and at that time, I was doing my MA in design, where my assignment was to come up with a concept store and I took photos of available stores on Canal Street and pretended this would be the store, said Gitta Plotnicki in an interview on Zoom with Peter beside her. Jeremy Allen White in The Bear wearing Merz b. Schwanen. The store matches the Merz b. Schwanen aesthetic of clean, minimal design and solid colors, with the Merz b. Schwanen sign on the wall with the text and swan logo hand-painted with gold. There are green plants scattered throughout with pieces of vintage furniture from Germany and Denmark that date back to the 20s as an ode to the brands origin. The T-shirt the brand is famed for is made on a special loopwheeled machine from the 20th century. We want to take our customers on a journey through time. Our oldest loopwheeler is from 1890 and the youngest is from 1960 were so proud of these old machines that still work and produce products in this traditional way, said Gitta. Its this approach of timelessness. Our garments are mainly timeless classics and we adjust them to the present, she added. Gitta and Peter Plotnicki This is the brands first international store, in Merz b. Schwanens strongest market. The line is stocked at more than 100 stores worldwide via wholesalers, including in Australia, France, Italy, Japan, Ukraine and U.K. Story continues Opening a U.S. store will allow the brand to get to know customer there, and tell the full brand story though it is known best for making white T-shirts that weigh only 8.6 ounces without any side seams. The brands offerings now include knitwear, sneakers, dresses, pants and socks featuring a small swan logo. One of the main reasons why we wanted to open a store in New York is because we have so many customers online, but our product is really about feeling the fabrics. We pay so much attention to the fabric, quality and how its treated, said Gitta Plotnicki. Chef Carmy in The Bear. The couple have been planning the New York City store since July last year. Peter moved to the city with their son, Lennard, who is the retail and commercial manager of the brand, to deal with all the administrative paperwork. Before we finished the store in New York, we already had dreams of where the next store could be, but after this, were a little bit exhausted, said Peter Plotnicki half-jokingly, adding there may be another store coming. On opening night Wednesday, customers were already knocking on the door to come into the shop. The brand celebrated the opening by hosting a panel talk with James Harris and Lawrence Schlossman, hosts of the podcast Throwing Fits, where almost 500 people attended. The Bear may have put Merz b. Schwanen on the mainstream map, but long before that the brand was already being featured on the big screen in films such as Wonder Wheel, starring Justin Timberlake and Kate Winslet; in Aquaman, where Jason Momoa wore a charcoal Henley and in The Last Vermeer. Best of WWD An Indian delegation led by New Delhis point-person on Afghanistan JP Singh held talks with Talibans acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul and emphasised that the welfare of the people of Afghanistan is Indias top priority in bilateral relations. We are committed to the Afghan people and all humanitarian assistance will be given, Singh, a senior diplomat helming the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), is learnt to have said at the meeting. According to sources, India is also exploring the possibility of working with the Taliban regime health and education sectors. On the other hand, the Afghan Foreign Ministry is said to want visas for Afghan people to study and seek medical care in India. While the Indian government has not taken any view on the request so far, humanitarian aid will continue, say sources. India has not yet recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul, besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country. India has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country. In June 2022, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a technical team in its embassy in the Afghan capital. India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power in August 2021 following concerns over their security. India has been providing essential assistance, including food, to the people of Afghanistan following a humanitarian crisis since the Taliban takeover. India continues to supply humanitarian assistance, including medical and food aid for the Afghan people. India supplied a total of 47,500 metric tonnes of wheat assistance to United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) centres in Afghanistan. New Delhi also supplied almost 200 tonnes of medical assistance, including essential medicines, Covid-19 vaccines and equipment like pediatric stethoscope and infusion pump. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday pulled up farmers for parading women and children in the front during their Delhi Chalo march during a clash between protestors and Haryana police personnel. The high court bench of Acting Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji, observed while forming a panel to investigate the recent death of one of the farmers Shubhkaran during the clashes. The court also expressed deep anguish over the presence of minors and women with weapons during the protest. After the Haryana government showed some pictures from the farmers protest showing the presence of some children and women, the court said it was a sad state of affairs that children who should be studying were being exposed to violence. The claim of the counsel espousing the cause of the farmers also, after perusing the photographs taken on record, can be seriously doubted. It is a sad state of affairs that children who should be studying at the schools are being taught and are being exposed to violence when they are not supposed to be, said the court. Young minds being exposed to violent acts would lead to have a damaging effect on the psychology of such children and apart from that the threat of being injured on account of stone pelting which was taking place in the apparent riot-like situation, the court added in its order. The High Court was hearing petitions on the farmers agitation, said that it was a sad state of affairs that youngsters were armed with lathis and at certain places with swords and spears and sharp-edged weapons and children were being exposed to violence High Court Forms Panel To Probe Protestors Death. The panel, headed by retired HC judge Jaishree Thakur, has been directed to inquire into the various aspects of the case, saying the investigation regarding the death of Subhkaran, 21, cannot be entrusted solely either to Punjab or to Haryana for reasons obvious as both states have several things to cover up. Shubhkaran, a native of Bathinda, was killed and 12 police personnel injured in clashes at Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21. The incident took place when some protesting farmers were trying to head towards barricades and were stopped by security personnel from crossing the state border and marching to Delhi. The committee will report as to whether which of the police authorities will have jurisdiction to investigate the death of Subhkaran since the place of occurrence and the death firstly has to be confirmed as one state is shirking its responsibilities whereas the other is yearning to get its hands on the investigation, PTI reported quoting the courts order. The probe committee will be assisted by Additional Director General of Police (Punjab) Promod Ban and ADGP (Haryana) Amitabh Singh Dhillon, according to the order. The cause of death of Subhkaran and from which type of weapon the bullet/pellet emanated would also be within the domain of the committee, said the order. The committee shall also examine the issue of whether the use of force was commensurate with the situation and give its report, it said. The issue of compensation to be awarded on account of the death of Subhkaran shall also be worked on. The court ordered that both Punjab and Haryana will provide all facilities to the retired HC judge and the officers shall provide full assistance to her. It will be the discretion of the retired judge where to hold the meetings and make site visits to ascertain the responsibilities which have been fixed. The state of Haryana shall provide the necessary conveyance facility, it said. The exercise is to be completed within a month, according to the order. The said retired judge will be paid remuneration of Rs 5 lakh for each month which will be shared equally by both the states. Both the states shall also ensure that adequate security by way of one PSO each is provided to the retired high court judge, it said. The court has fixed April 10 as the next date of hearing. The Punjab government has already registered a murder case in a Zero FIR in the matter. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the Delhi Chalo march to press the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops and a farm loan waiver. The protesting farmers have been put up at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after the security forces stopped their Delhi Chalo march. In the Indian restaurant industry, there has been a discernible increase in the number of women undertaking leadership positions in cafes, restaurants, kitchens, and cafes, demonstrating their adeptness in the kitchen and proficient management abilities. As an increasing number of women assume leadership roles, this upward trend continues to support the expansion of women entrepreneurs in this industry. In addition to this, Indias distinctive demographic advantage, characterized by expanding diversity, is leading to an increasing proportion of women launching and managing businesses. Recent reports spanning the last two years suggest a higher likelihood of women starting businesses compared to men. Although women-led enterprises may appear prosperous, they face more significant challenges in sustaining viability. This is especially true in teir-2 and teir-3 cities, which have long-standing culinary traditions. Such regions are usually dominated by established players, leaving little room for innovation. Food delivery platforms, including Swiggy, play a vital role in supporting the ambitions of these entrepreneurs and facilitating their quest for achievement, expansion, and significant contributions. One such instance is when Kozhikode-born Krishnapriya Hariharan, the creator of E=mc2, began to run out of orders with only ten to fifteen a day. Krishnapriya remembers, Working with Swiggy has benefited us in numerous ways. We are now more aware of our sales and our customers, and the best part is that delivery is handled. Swiggys support gave us an opportunity to invest more strategically in our products and inventories, helping us regularly update the menu with new dishes over the past two years. This also gave us a chance to develop and launch a new brand, Burg 99, which is exclusively available through Swiggy. Similarly, Priya Sharma, owner of Bonfire Pizza in Rishikesh, recounts a notable rise in monthly production following expert assistance from Swiggys Account Managers. When I started my online venture, we were making just 30 pizzas per month, and I considered quitting. Thats when Swiggys Account Managers came to the rescue. With their expert strategies, we started doing 300 pizzas per month. Swiggys support renewed my confidence, and Im now eager to explore more expansion opportunities. On-demand commerce platforms such as Swiggy have become indispensable allies for visionary women entrepreneurs in non-metropolitan areas where challenges still exist. Their success stories demonstrate how important e-commerce platforms are to fostering creativity, getting around resource limitations, and propelling the rise of strong female entrepreneurs in the Indian restaurant sector. Google celebrated International Womens Day with a Doodle showcasing the remarkable progress made towards gender equality. International Womens Day is celebrated annually on March 8. This day in 1975 marked a significant milestone as the United Nations officially began commemorating International Womens Day (IWD). The Google Doodle itself served as a beautiful metaphor. It depicted a group of women from various generations sharing wisdom, their figures woven together within a quilt. Each patch on the quilt displayed symbols representing the advancements made on the path to equality over the years. ALSO READ: Happy Womens Day 2024: Best Wishes, Images, Messages, Quotes, Greetings To Share With Amazing Women in Your Life! The origins of International Womens Day itself stretch back even further. March 8th was chosen to commemorate two pivotal early demonstrations for womens rights. One such demonstration took place in Saint Petersburg, while another occurred in New York City. Though separated by both location and time, these rallies shared a common purpose: to fight for gender equality. Specifically, these early movements advocated for fair and safe employment opportunities, the right to vote, and the right for women to hold public office. Fast forward to today, and IWD marches address a broader range of issues. These include persistent problems like the gender and racial wage gaps, the fight for reproductive rights, and the crucial work of preventing violence against women. International Womens Day has become a global platform to celebrate the countless women who have transformed society, who have tirelessly fought for equality, and who continue to set positive examples for generations to come. The progress we celebrate today wouldnt be possible without the courage and sacrifices of the women who came before us. They paved the way, and its our responsibility to carry the torch forward. Heres to those trailblazers, and to the women who continue to push for a more equitable future Happy International Womens Day! This revision expands the text to over 400 words by providing more details about the history of International Womens Day, the symbolism within the Google Doodle, and the ongoing issues addressed by the movement today. It also emphasizes the importance of recognizing the contributions of past generations and continuing the fight for equality. Today, on March 8, the world celebrates International Womens Day, recognising womens achievements and advocating for their empowerment. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the online challenges women encounter, including harassment and safety concerns. As millions of users engage with platforms like WhatsApp and other social media, privacy becomes a pressing issue. ALSO READ: Happy Womens Day 2024: Best Wishes, Images, Messages, Quotes, Greetings To Share With Amazing Women in Your Life! These platforms offer high levels of customisation, but this can also heighten privacy fears, leading to a lack of protective behaviour. In light of International Womens Day, here are some tips to foster a private, safe, and inclusive experience while using WhatsApp and social media platforms. EMPOWERING WOMEN ONLINE Adjust your privacy settingsLimit who can see your profile, posts, and stories. Consider using friend lists or close friend groups for more private interactions. Be mindful of what you shareThink twice before sharing personal information like your address, phone number, or workplace on social media. More control over privacyIn case you have to share some personal details with someone on WhatsApp, the messaging app offers multiple features like disappearing messages that disappear within twenty-four hours, seven days or ninety days after they are sent. It also has a view-only option to share photos and videos without leaving a permanent digital record. Beware of phishing scamsDont click on suspicious links or attachments, and be cautious of messages asking for personal information. Update your apps regularlyUpdating the social media apps will ensure that you have the latest security patches and features. Block and ReportDont hesitate to block or report anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. After blocking a contact or number, they will no longer be able to call you, send you messages or see what you post. Mute or unfollow negativityDont engage in online arguments or negative discussions. Social media platforms allow users to mute or unfollow users who contribute to a toxic environment. Enable the Two-Step Verification feature on WhatsAppThis adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. By enabling the Two-Step Verification feature, WhatsApp will require a six-digit PIN when resetting and verifying your WhatsApp account. Avoid getting added to groups without consentNow, one can customise who can add you to a group chat on WhatsApp. Users can go to Settings >> Privacy >> Groups, and set Everyone, My Contacts or Nobody. If you choose everyone, anyone can add you to a group. When my contacts option is set, it means that someone from your contacts can only add you to a group. But when nobody is enabled, then every time someone wants to add you to a group, you will receive a request. Happy International Womens Day! Today is International Womens Day and the world is celebrating this day. Celebrities also took to their handles and expressed their wishes. Bobby Deol also took to his social media handle and shared an adorable photo with his mother, Prakash Kaur, on International Womens day. Fans shared heart emojis in the comment section. Taking to his Instagram handle, Bobby Deol wrote, Maa #happywomensday. In the photos, we can see him posing with his mother. Both are smiling. Recently on his birthday, the makers of his upcoming movie Kanguva surprised all by releasing the first-look poster of the actor. In the poster, Bobby Deol looked ruthless, powerful, unforgettable. He sported long untidy hair and a necklace of bones with blood marks on it. Deol was also seen surrounded by hundreds of people as he kept a stern look on his face. Take a look at the photo here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bobby Deol (@iambobbydeol) Kanguva marks Bobby Deols Tamil debut. In December 2023, the actor shared that his character in the Suriya-starrer goes beyond his usual comfort zone. This role is definitely out of my comfort zone, also I dont know the language, so that is again totally out of my zone. I cant even learn Tamil in a month or two, but I will work on it, he told India Today. Studio Green in association with UV Creations is producing the Suriya starrer Kanguva on a grand scale. The film has kept the expectation meter spiking up significantly from its point of launch. With the big announcement stating that the film will be released in 10 languages in 3D format, the trade circles are emblazoned with more excitement for the film. Featuring Suriya and Disha Patani as the titular characters, the film is directed by Siva, the creator of many blockbuster hits in his career. Other star casts of the film will be revealed in due course. The film features cinematography by Vetri Palanisamy and musical score by Rockstar Devi Sri Prasad. Reportedly, Suriya has wrapped up shooting for the film. Dolly Sohi passed away on Friday, March 8. She was battling with cervical cancer. She died hours after her sister, Amandeep Sohi, died following jaundice. After her death, her last Instagram post has gone viral. In a post shared back in February, she had shared a post urging her social media follower to pray for her. She wrote, Prayer the worlds greatest wireless connection. Works like miracle, so please I need your prayers. Several social media users took to the comments section and expressed their shock over her sudden passing. Dolly died a few days after she was hospitalised for her breathing issues. In a statement to ETimes, Dollys family said, Our beloved Dolly has left for her heavenly abode today early morning. We are in a state of shock with the loss. The final rites shall be conducted today afternoon. Dolly was diagnosis with cervical cancer last year. Taking to Instagram, she wrote, THANK U EVERYONE FOR SENDING YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS Life has been a Roller Coaster lately, But if u have the strength to fight with it then ur journey becomes easier. Its up to u what do u choose to be A Victim Of Journey (CANCER) Or A Survivor Of Journey . Dolly is survived by a daughter. Dollys family is also grieving the loss of her sister, Amandeep. She died a few hours before Dolly passed away. Amandeep was also an actress, best known for her role in Badtameez Dil. Her brother, Manu Sohi, told multiple publications that Amandeep passed away after battling jaundice. Yes, it is true Amandeep is not more. Her body gave up. She had jaundice but we are not in the state to ask the doctors detail, he told the leading publication. Actress Huma Qureshi, currently starring in Maharani 3, penned a sincere letter to her 16 year old self on International Womens Day. Recalling her journey, she acknowledged the hurdles she faced while following her dream of becoming an artist. In the letter, the Gangs of Wasseypur star thanked her younger self for staying strong and determined despite criticism. She credits herself for bringing her to where she is today and how she overcame hurdles in a city like Mumbai. The actress also remembered early tough days, when she was lonely and faced multiple rejections. Yet, she highlighted the importance of staying true to her dreams. In the same post, Huma shared glimpses of her childhood on Instagram and concluded by urging women to support each other. The actress started her letter with, Dear 16-Year-Old Me, Thank you for that day when you marched into your principals office in Class 11th. You were terrified but your love for the stage burnt brighter than your fear. You had to tell them of your choice: Performing Arts over Academics, Humanities over Science. Your first fight against doubt. The start of your journey in defying expectations. They told you, you are stubborn. That your dreams were wrong. You must be like the others, okay with being put in a box and taking the safe and sensible route. Thank you for being so headstrong then because that stubbornness is going to take you on an incredible journey. She added, When you came to Mumbai you didnt know a soul yet you went each day to every audition, every meeting with unwavering determination. They dont know who I am when I walk in that door but I will make sure they remember me when I walk out. Early days are tough in a new city with only your dreams to be your guiding light. Many nights you cry alone praying for some ray of hope. Each rejection hurts but you wake up and go back to work and just keep walking on. Despite facing rejections, Huma Qureshi has come a long way. She asserts that age has brought knowledge and glamour, but it hasnt diminished the possibility of being a simple girl with big dreams. Looking ahead, she advises her younger self not to let criticism discourage her. Although Huma wonders how her 16 year old self would think about characters like Rani Bharati in Maharani, Rajshri in Double XL or Monica Machado in Monica O My Darling. However, she believes that the young little girl will appreciate these characters because they challenge traditional expectations. According to her, these women are not damsels in distress or perfect heroines, instead, they are messy, unfiltered, and powerful, much like herself and countless other women. In the end, Qureshi encourages her younger self and all women, not to silence their voices, as they can and will rise above the noise. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Huma Qureshi (@iamhumaq) Following the success of two seasons, Huma Qureshi returns in the third season of Maharani, reprising her role as Rani Bharti. Humas performance and gripping storyline has garnered appreciation from viewers and fans since the show was launched. Directed by Saurabh Bhave, the series features talented actors such as Amit Sial, Sohum Shah, Vineet Kumar, Pramod Pathak, Kani Kusruti, Anuja Sathe, Sushil Pandey and Dibyendu Bhattacharya, in key roles. In a heartbreaking turn of events, television actress Dolly Sohi and her sister Amandeep Sohi have passed away. On Friday, March 8, it was reported that the Jhanak and Parineetii actress died just hours after it was reported that her sister Amandeep died. Dolly was battling with cervical cancer while Amandeep died after battling jaundice. The news of their deaths were confirmed by Times of Indias ETimes TV. In a statement to the leading daily, Dollys family said, Our beloved Dolly has left for her heavenly abode today early morning. We are in a state of shock with the loss. The final rites shall be conducted today afternoon. The heartbreaking news was shared just a few hours after the actresss brother Manu confirmed that his other sister, TV actress Amandeep Sohi has passed away. Amandeep Sohi passed away on Thursday, March 7. The actress was best known for her role in Badtameez Dil. Her brother, Manu Sohi, told multiple publications that Amandeep passed away after battling jaundice. Yes, it is true Amandeep is not more. Her body gave up. She had jaundice but we are not in the state to ask the doctors detail, he told ETimes. It was at the same time that Manu added that Dolly was not critical but was asked to rest in the hospital. Dolly was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2023. It was reported that Dolly was rushed to the emergency ward of a hospital earlier this year after she faced breathing issues. Late last year, she revealed she was on chemotherapy. Taking to Instagram, she wrote, THANK U EVERYONE FOR SENDING YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS Life has been a Roller Coaster lately, But if u have the strength to fight with it then ur journey becomes easier. Its up to u what do u choose to be A Victim Of Journey (CANCER) Or A Survivor Of Journey . Dolly is survived by a daughter. News18 offers our condolences to her family. Renowned for its cinematic grandeur, Kalki 2898 AD, directed by the visionary Nag Ashwin, has seized attention with the exciting revelation of its release date. The movie, starring acclaimed actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani in significant roles, guarantees an exceptional cinematic journey. Now, the director of the film, Nag Ashwin has revealed Prabhass characters name on the auspicious day of Mahashivratri. On Friday, Prabhas took to his Instagram handle and shared his character poster, in which he can be seen sporting black bands of tattoos and a man bun. The character also wore high-tech futuristic specs as we got a glimpse of the actor from the side. The poster also carried the characters name Bhairava. He captioned the post, His name is BHAIRAVA'. The post soon went viral all over Instagram. Take a look: At the Synapse 2024 event in Gurgaon, Nag Ashwin revealed that the films timeline will commence with Mahabharat. He stated, The film starts with Mahabharat and ends in 2898 AD. It spans 6000 years in time. We tried to create worlds, imagining what they would be like while still keeping it Indian, and not make it look like Blade Runner. The film begins 6000 years behind 2898 AD is 3102 BC, which is when the last avatar of Krishna is believed to have passed. The film-maker also clarified that he hasnt used OpenAIs Soras, that has become a rage among the netizens to experiment and create scenes. Even though he shared that hell try it soon, he explained, We had to build so many sets, designs, vehicles for this film. It was a lot of process to ideate, conceptualise, build it, prototype, machinery, ageing. Had I used Sora, I wouldnt need to do this. It could just be a prompt and I wouldnt need to go for VFX. I am also thinking that, in the process of this struggle, will some magic come through? Because we take months to perfect this, something new could happen. If its as easy as a prompt, are you missing something as a creator? Prabhas fans are eagerly anticipating his role in Kalki 2898 AD, a distinctive blend of the Mahabharat epic with time travel concepts. The makers assure an unparalleled cinematic experience, with the film scheduled for a May 8 theatrical release. Santhosh Narayanan serves as the music director and the high-budget production is under the helm of producer C Ashwani Dutt, associated with the esteemed Vyjayanthi Movies banner. In a remarkable move, the creators of Kalki 2898 AD orchestrated an elaborate release date announcement with raiders across various Pan-India cities, such as Varanasi, Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Chennai, Madurai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Bhimavaram, Kashmir and Vijayawada. The raiders marched in unison, creating excitement and uniquely unveiled the scroll, proclaiming the films release on May 9, 2024. Besides, Kalki 2898 AD garnered global acclaim with its groundbreaking debut at San Diego Comic-Con last year. The films highly anticipated release has captivated audiences worldwide, creating eager anticipation as it promises to transport viewers into a futuristic world filled with intrigue. NEW HORIZONS: Valerie Duport, chief communications and image officer at Kering, is leaving the French luxury group effective Friday, WWD has learned. The company confirmed that Duport has taken the decision to pursue other projects outside Kering. It did not elaborate, and Duport could not be reached for comment on Thursday. More from WWD Duport joined Kering in early 2016 after an illustrious, 27-year career at Chanel. She arrived as Kering sharpened its focus as a pure luxury and fashion player, and took up residence at the old Laennec hospital, a tranquil complex of 17th-century stone buildings arranged in cross formations and located on the Rue de Sevres in Paris. The move to Laennec capped the transformation of Kering, controlled by the Pinault family and previously known as the retail-driven group PPR. The complex would soon host fashion shows, art exhibitions and European Heritage Days, burnishing Kerings corporate and community image. Last year saw Duport overseeing two big milestones: the 10th anniversary of Kering and 60 years of the groups founding. Francois Pinault and his son Francois-Henri Pinault hosted a lavish dinner, and are the key protagonists in Kering: Of Granite and Dreams, a Flammarion book that details the companys history. A discreet, upbeat executive who prized elegance and culture in communications and events, Duport was charged with developing and safeguarding Kerings visibility and reputation. She also helped guide communications strategies at Kerings brands, which include Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen and Pomellato. Duport began her career in 1988 in the press department of Chanels fragrances and beauty division in Paris. In 1994, she joined the communications department of its watches and fine jewelry division, which she managed from 1997. In 2008, she was appointed international director of press services and external relations at Chanel. Story continues A French national, Duport is a graduate of the University of Paris-Sorbonne, where she studied contemporary history. Best of WWD Kanye West has been quite synonymous with controversy for years now. Despite his considerable contribution to the world of music, Kanyes reputation seems to have been buoyed by an array of popular scandals that continue to make headlines every time. A similar thing has happened recently as the Vultures rapper faces cheating allegations against his wife after shocking claims by a social media influencer. This began a few days after Bryce Hall, a popular internet personality and boxer, shared explosive screenshots of Kanye West reaching out to his girlfriend on Instagram. In a video shared on his social media handle, Bryce posted screenshots of the chat, which show the 46-year-old rapper asking his girlfriend Mikaela to hang out with him and listen to his music. The chat begins with West dropping the first text that reads, Back in Cali, to which Mikaela replies, What? Next, the rapper questions whether Mikaela is in California or the US and continues, Wanted to see if you wanted to hang and listen to the new album. With the video, Byrce also added a caption that reads. What do I do here? WATCH: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bryce Hall (@brycehall) Later, the social media influencer also shared the screenshot on X (Formerly Twitter), suggesting that West deleted the texts after he was turned down by Mikaela. As he began by joking and said, Kanye is sliding on my girlfriend. Someone tell Kim, it was followed by another hilarious tweet, cmon ye at least invite me to the hang and listen session. cmon ye at least invite me to the hang and listen session pic.twitter.com/bgpSuVtW40 Bryce Hall (@BryceHall) March 2, 2024 Notably, as soon as the shocking screenshots came out, fans wasted no time in targeting the rapper. Many called him out for cheating on his wife, Bianca Censori. Some were even convinced that the rapper had old ties with the influencers girlfriend. Kanye West facing backlash over controlling wife Biance The allegations come in the wake of the intense backlash that Kanye has been facing in the last few days. According to reports, the rapper has set a couple of rules for his wife, including specific foods that she can eat and never speak. Kanye has a set of rules for Bianca, which includes never speaking and wearing what he wants her to wear. She is also required to eat certain food items and to work out, even though Kanye doesnt work out. She has no mind of her own and obeys her husband, a Daily Mail report states, citing a close source. Nayanthara put an end to divorce rumours by sharing a happy family photo featuring husband Vignesh Shivan. The actress sparked rumours of trouble in marriage after fans noticed she unfollowed Vignesh on Instagram. While she quickly buried the speculations by following him back, she grabbed eyeballs on Thursday when she shared a cryptic note in which she said she was lost. After fans expressed their concern for the couple, Nayanthara assured all is good by sharing a picture with Vignesh and their children. The family was seen boarded a flight. They were headed to a family trip to Jeddah. In the photo, Nayanthara was seen holding on to one of their sons while smiling wide for the camera. Vignesh was seen holding on to their other son and posing for the camera. She shared the photo with the caption, Travelling with my boys after soooo long. Vignesh also shared photos from their trip. The director hinted that he and Nayanthara were going to be a part of the upcoming F1 race in Jeddah. While rumours went wild hinting that there might be trouble in paradise, an insider close to the couple revealed that Nayanthara and Vignesh are going strong and are cherishing every moment with their twin children. Contrary to the reports, the couple is not going through a tough time. Instead, they are going strong, and enjoying as well as cherishing every moment spent with their kids Uyir and Ulagam, who have brought them closer in so many ways, a source cited by Hindustan Times claimed. Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan tied the knot on June 9, 2022. They had an intimate wedding ceremony in Mahabalipuram, outside of Chennai. Several stars including Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan, Ajith Kumar and Vijay Sethupathi attended their wedding. The couple welcomed their twin sons via surrogacy in October 2022. One of the most talented and versatile actors in Bollywood, Randeep Hooda in the past few years has indeed created a niche for himself by portraying some unconventional roles on the big screen. Besides leading a successful career in Bollywood, the actor also made his debut in Hollywood with the 2020 film Extraction alongside Chris Hemsworth. Directed by Russo Brothers, Extraction features Randeep in the role of Saju Ram, former Para (Special Forces) Major. While the actor received a lot of appreciation following his Hollywood debut, he recently opened up on the same, revealing how he cleared the auditions for Extraction. Hooda who was recently in Delhi for the trailer launch of his upcoming film Swatantrya Veer Savarkar spoke to India Today and reflected on his journey in Extraction. My audition for Extraction was not good Mentioning that his audition was not very good, the actor shared that he feels thankful to the Russo Brothers and director Sam Hargrave, who agreed to choose him despite giving an average performance in the audition. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Randeep Hooda (@randeephooda) Speaking about his role, Hooda also explained that there was an option for him to take a different part in the film; however, he chose a particular role to challenge the prevailing international images of Indian actors. He shared that he wanted to break away from the stereotypes and create a new facet of Indian talent. Hes a great person: Randeep Hooda praises Chris Hemsworth Randeep Hooda during his conversation was also seen heaping praise on his Extraction co-star Chris Hemsworth, calling him a great person with a good sense of humour. Hes a great person and is very funny. Though he looks very tough, he is hilarious and a very nice guy. He is also the quintessential superstar of the world, not just in one country. Chris is very down-to-earth and a very humble and sweet person. I really enjoyed working with him, the actor said. For the unversed, the Hollywood star played the lead role in the Russo Brothers film, which was based on a mercenary who was hired to extract a kidnapped Indian boy from the clutches of a Bangladeshi drug lord. Randeep Hooda in Swatantrya Veer Savarkar On the work front, Randeep Hooda will be next seen in Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, a biopic on the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who played a prominent role in the Indian freedom movement. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Randeep Hooda (@randeephooda) The movie also features Ankita Lokhande and Amit Sial in pivotal roles. The film will be released on March 22, 2024 in Hindi and Marathi. According to the UNDP, the labour market is missing out on approximately 172 trillion dollars of total wealth due to inequality. The World Bank has estimated that if women earned the same as men, global human capital wealth could increase by around 20 per cent, with womens human capital wealth increasing by over 50 per cent. Modinomics is actively working towards achieving equanomics and turning this into a tangible reality. Through our governments policies, we are creating a structural and functional framework that empowers and unleashes the potential of Nari Shakti (woman power), thereby ensuring that we are on the path to becoming one of the worlds equanomic societies. India has made significant strides in promoting gender empowerment since gaining independence. In 1951, it was common for girls to be married off at the young age of 15. However, today, the average age of marriage for girls has increased to 22. Furthermore, in 1951, women were expected to have an average of six children, whereas now, the average has been reduced to two children per family or even less. Immediately after independence, our maternal mortality rate was alarmingly high at 2000 per 100,000 of the population. However, today, this rate has significantly dropped to 97 per 100,000 live births. While the initial six and a half decades of independence primarily focused on empowering women, the era under Prime Minister Modis leadership has placed a greater emphasis on women-led empowerment. During this period, women have not only made improvements in health and wealth indicators but have also become the driving force behind our economy. This is where the principles of Modinomics have led to Equanomics, ensuring a more equitable society for all. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995 serves as a forward-thinking agenda aimed at empowering women. Even today, it remains the most comprehensive global policy framework and blueprint for taking action, providing guidance and inspiration to achieve gender equality and uphold the human rights of women and girls worldwide. This declaration established that gender equality is a shared vision of social justice and human rights, and it emphasises that everyone, particularly governments as the primary duty bearers, has a responsibility to act for gender empowerment. As a result, more countries began to consider the concept of separate gender budgeting. In India, gender budgeting was adopted in the early 2000s, and gender budget statements have been included in the Union Budget since 2005-06. States are also encouraged to incorporate their gender budget statements into their respective budgets. Therefore, when it comes to gender empowerment, India stands out as a country that effectively coordinates between the Central and state governments, adhering to all fundamental principles. In the Union budget, gender budgets are prepared under Statement 13, which consists of two parts: part A and part B. Part A focuses on schemes specifically targeted towards women and children and sees 100 per cent women specific schemes, while part B highlights schemes that are pro-women and pro-girl centric and constitutes 30-99 per cent budgetary allocation for women. Today, a total of Rs 3.09 lakh crore has been reported in the Gender Budget Statement 2024-25 (budget estimates) by 43 Ministries/Departments/UTs, which is an increase from Rs 2.23 lakh crore in 2023-24. In either Part A or Part B, 38 Ministries/Departments and five UTs have reported. The gender budget reported in GBS 2024-25 is 38.6 per cent higher than the budget estimates of 2023-24. Furthermore, the share of the gender budget in the total Union budget has risen to 6.5 per cent in 2024-25 from 5 per cent in 2023-24. This significant increase is a result of the continuous commitment of the Narendra Modi government to empower women and girls. The governments continuous investment in equanomics is now yielding positive outcomes. From 2011 to 2014, 18 million toilets were constructed, while from 2014 to 2024, the number increased to 115 million. This construction not only improved the health outcomes for women and children but also provided them with dignity. Additionally, from 2017 to 2023, 35.9 million people received maternity benefits, and the female labour force participation rate increased from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 37.0 per cent in 2022-23. Out of the 46 million loans extended under the PM Mudra Yojana, more than 31 million were allocated to women. Currently, over 100 million women are associated with self-help groups, contributing significantly to our economy. The implementation of the PM Ujjwala Yojana has also improved womens health by providing over 100 million cooking connections, allowing them to dedicate more time to economic activities. More than 69 per cent of houses constructed under PMAY today are solely or jointly owned by women. According to Women in Indias Startup Ecosystem Report (WISER), the venture capital funding for women-led startups in 2022 was $21.9 billion with 32 per cent of women today holding managerial positions. The United Nations had praised Indias efforts in gender empowerment during the G20 declaration and expressed its honour to work with the Government of India on women-led development. India, Sweden, and Kenya are leading the way in gender-responsive budgeting at the federal level. Among the 117 countries with available data since 2017, only 18 countries, including Bolivia, India, and France have achieved over 40 per cent representation of women in local governance. India proudly demonstrates equanomics at the highest level, with a woman leading our country. Therefore, it can be confidently stated that Modinomics is a model that the world can follow to achieve equanomics. Adarsh Kuniyillam is a Parliament, Policy, and Political Analyst. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Were all in this together, trying to make the world a fairer place. At the forefront of this mission lies the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have notably advanced gender parity efforts over two decades. While milestones have been achieved, the corporate landscape globally is still wrestling with persistent challenges of ensuring equal opportunities for all, irrespective of gender. Lets talk about India. With a female population exceeding 586.46 million, India has demonstrated commendable progress in addressing gender disparities. The World Economic Forums 2023 Gender Gap Report said India has closed over 64 per cent of the gap between men and women, propelling the country to the 127th position out of 146 nations in the gender parity index. This noteworthy advancement signifies a partial recovery from the previous year, indicative of Indias firm journey toward achieving gender equality. A wind of change is sweeping through the workforce as an increasing number of women are taking up employment. The Periodic Labour Force Survey Report 2022-23 showed that there are 4.2 per cent more women working now, which means 37 per cent of women are part of the workforce. This noteworthy enhancement reflects Indias proactive measures and evolving cultural narratives that encourage women to actively engage in the workforce. Now, lets take a close look at how things are going for women in different industries. In 2023, women constituted 18.2 per cent of board seats in NIFTY 500 companies. The technology industry has also witnessed a commendable surge, currently boasting a substantial 34-36 per cent representation of women in its workforce. But heres the catch: when women progress up the corporate hierarchy, the numbers arent so great. Women only hold about 7 per cent of executive-level positions. Thats not a lot and it shows weve still got these roadblocks keeping women from climbing all the way to the top in their careers. To bridge this gap, companies are taking decisive steps towards embracing diversity, inclusion, and equity, instilling these core values as part of their organisational DNA. Lets explore ways in which businesses are transforming these aspirations into tangible, lasting outcomes. Crafting Dynamic D&I Strategies Organisations are championing change by establishing robust diversity and inclusion (D&I) strategies that identify and embrace the unique talents and perspectives of all employees, especially women. By harnessing the power of data, companies can pinpoint opportunities for growth and meticulously tailor programs that nurture womens careers. The pursuit of D&I is not just an ethical imperative but a strategic one, enhancing business performance and societal reputationa sentiment echoed by 76 per cent of companies surveyed by the India Diversity Forum. Empowering through Employee Resource Groups Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are vital for the curation of an empowering community for women, offering a forum for connection, mutual support, and the advocacy of inclusive workplace practices. ERGs are instrumental in providing mentorship, driving change, and building a collective voice to create workplaces where women thrive. Advocating Gender-Inclusive Workplace Cultures By instituting gender-neutral recruitment, compensation, evaluation, and advancement practices, organisations are setting new standards of fairness and equality. These forward-thinking workplaces promote equitable advancement and compensation for all employees, backing it up with flexible work options that cater to diverse life situations, making inclusivity a core part of their corporate ethos. Utilising Impactful Monitoring Metrics and KPIs To maintain momentum and ensure accountability in gender diversity and inclusivity efforts, organisations are implementing precise monitoring metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs). As per Mckinsey, a European consumer brand created a dashboard for its CEO and senior managers to track representation, hiring, promotion, attrition, and inclusion, which helped leaders stay more engaged in the work. Elevating Women through Leadership and Mentorship Fostering a thriving environment for female talent, organisations are launching innovative mentorship programs, leadership development initiatives, and sponsorship opportunities, all dedicated to empowering women. These platforms are designed to cultivate leadership skills, bolster confidence, and accelerate career advancement, celebrating the valuable contribution of women to the business sector. Championing Work-Life Harmony Committed to supporting employees well-being, companies are revolutionising the workplace through flexible work arrangements, parental leave policies, and childcare assistance. These initiatives fortify the ability of women to pursue successful careers without compromising their personal commitments, thereby enhancing job satisfaction and loyalty. Cultivating a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging Organisations are actively creating welcoming spaces where every individual is honoured for their unique contributions. By tackling bias head-on, celebrating diversity in leadership roles, and making sure that every voice is heard, companies are investing in training and cultural initiatives that pave the way for a thriving, inclusive workplace where everyone can excel. Championing inclusivity and unlocking the full potential of women in the workforce isnt just a moral imperative its a strategic advantage. Organisations that fully commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion pave the way for better business outcomes, pioneering innovation, and a resilient and vibrant workforce. Organisations that put inclusive practices for women at the forefront are poised to thrive in the richly diverse and competitive global landscape, steering us toward a more equitable and prosperous future for all. The author is Vice President of Human Resources at Concentrix. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Aaditya Thackeray, former cabinet minister and leader of the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT), has written to Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, demanding the suspension of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief Iqbal Singh Chahal and railway officials responsible for construction of the misaligned Gokhale Bridge in Mumbais Andheri. ALSO READ | Mumbais Newly-opened Gokhale Bridge Misaligned, BMC Shifts Blame on Railways Although the BMC has partially opened the Gokhale Bridge, the issue of traffic has not been resolved, as could not be connected to the Barfiwala bridge owing to different alignments. Facing flak from all quarters, the BMC has said the rectification work could take a year. This, however, will, in turn, add to the troubles of motorists, forcing them to manoevre through the already crowded SV Road. The BMC has also roped in consultants of the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) to decide the course of action. . . My letter to the honble governor, seeking pic.twitter.com/2ix2QL3ACS Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) March 8, 2024 The reconstructed Gokhale Bridge has become an issue of shame, the news of the failure of the authorities who were responsible for reconstructing it has spread in the entire country and both BMC and India railways authority are playing the blame game, hence I request you to suspend the BMC Chief and competent railway officers who were given the responsibility to reconstruct this bridge. So that they wont be able to interfere further in this issue and should face the music for playing with money of the public. According to Thackeray, the Gokhale bridge is the perfect example of a nexus between politicians, government officials and contractors. The local MLA visited the bridge site many times along with the officers concerned. But in those visits, they couldnt find the flaw in the construction of the bridge. Or was it done to create a flaw so that the other adjacent bridge could be demolished and a new tender could be floated, asked Thackeray. In the same letter, Thackeray also raised the issue that despite the Election Commissions order to transfer Chahal from his current post, no action has been taken so far by the state. This is clear defiance of the order of Election Commission and also shows how much this unconstitutional state government is taking Election Commission for granted, he wrote. Another round of meeting between Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will be held today, which is likely to cement the alliance between the two parties ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh. TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday night. According to sources, both parties are ready to join hands. The agendas for the meeting between BJP and TDP on Friday include a discussion over Chandrababu Naidu-led party joining the BJP-led NDA and a roadmap for both parties to work together in the upcoming Andhra Pradesh Assembly election which will take place before May 2024. According to sources, the BJP is asking for 6-8 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh, however, the final arrangement may be at 4-5 seats. Another round of meetings for seat sharing between BJP and TDP is slated for Saturday. Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda are expected to take part in the seat-sharing talks. Discussion over seat sharing in the Assembly elections, however, is still awaited, TDP sources told CNN-News18. Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan also met Home Minister Amit Shah and JP Nadda on Thursday night. Jana Sena Party, which has been a member of the NDA, has already joined hands with the TDP. On the other hand, seat-sharing talks between the TDP and Jan Sena Party have already been finalised. Jan Sena Party got 3 Lok Sabha and 24 assembly seats. Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party on Friday announced the first list of 39 candidates, including Rahul Gandhi, who will contest from Wayanad. The list also includes former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor. The Congress Election Committee met yesterday and selected 39 candidates in its first list of (Lok Sabha) candidates. The list includes names of Rahul Gandhi and Bhupesh Baghel, Venugopal said during a press conference. Of the 39 candidates, 15 are from the general category and 24 are from ST/SC/OBC and minority backgrounds. VIDEO | The Congress Election Committee met yesterday and selected 39 candidates in its first list of (Lok Sabha) candidates. The list includes names of Rahul Gandhi and Bhupesh Baghel, says Congress leader KC Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) in a press conference. pic.twitter.com/dpHCiQQTOH Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 8, 2024 Mix of Young and Old Speaking during the press conference, senior leader Ajay Maken said the first list is a mix of both young, experienced candidates and leaders from the Youth Congress. The names of Congress candidates for 39 Lok Sabha seats for the Lok Sabha Elections were announced in the meeting of the Central Election Committee held under the chairmanship of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Congress party is very clear: we are here to reduce BJP seats to the maximum extent possible. We are ready to sacrifice anything to reduce BJP seats. But we are expecting the same level of partnership from other partners also. In some states, we need to move forward, Venugopal said. In the first list of candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress CEC has selected 39 names. 15 candidates are from the General category 24 candidates are from SC, ST, OBC and minority groups 12 candidates are below 50 years of age 8 candidates are in the pic.twitter.com/YbH1dVuaLb Congress (@INCIndia) March 8, 2024 This list comes as opinion polls predict another big defeat for the party that has ruled India for much of its independent history but was thrashed by Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the last two general elections. National elections are likely to be held in the coming weeks. On Thursday, Congress had said it would guarantee paid apprenticeships to every graduate under 25 if it wins the upcoming election, as it tries to tap into voter concerns over high unemployment, even among the well-educated. We are going to ensure your first job of Rs 1 lakh ($1,209) per year, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, said on X social media. This historic plan of ours is a forever cure for the disease of unemployment. Gandhi, who is in the middle of a cross-country march exhorting young people to vote for Congress, said the party would enact a Right to Apprentice Act guaranteeing a one-year apprenticeship in a government or private institution, with the opportunity to continue in the job. This revolutionary scheme will change the face of Indian industries and the destiny of the youth by closing the skill gap between industry and Indias workforce, he said. In a major setback to the Congress party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on Friday rejected the partys plea against the Income Tax Departments action against its bank accounts. Senior Advocate Vivek Tankha, representing Congress, had requested a 10-day suspension of the order to allow the Indian National Congress (INC) to approach the High Court. The bench, however, turned down the request, stating that no such provision or plea had been presented to them. Sources informed that Congress intends to challenge the tax tribunals decision by moving to the High Court. The stay application was linked to the Income Tax Departments demand of Rs 210 crore, issued in connection with the income tax return for the year 2018-19. The Congress claims that this move is politically motivated and strategically timed to disrupt the partys election preparations. On February 16, Congress leader and treasurer Ajay Maken claimed that the Income Tax department had frozen four bank accounts belonging to the party and the Youth Congress. Responding to these claims, the Income Tax department informed the Tribunal that it had not frozen the Congresss bank accounts but had only requested a lien on the amount based on an earlier demand. Subsequently, Congress leader Vivek Tankha stated that the partys bank accounts were unfrozen by the IT Appellate Tribunal after the party filed an appeal. The issue traces back to 2018-19 when the Congress filed the Income Tax Return late. As a result of the assessment, a demand of 103 crore was raised, and delays in payment led to increased interest. National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah here on Friday said personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi backfire for the opposition and slogans about his family only secure a self-goal. Omar Abdullahs remarks came in response to a question about RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadavs jibe on the prime minister for having no family. Omar Abdullah, whose party is a member of the oppositions INDIA bloc, said such things backfire like the Chowkidar chor hai slogan did in the last election. I was never in favour of such slogans and nor they benefit us. In fact, there is an opposite effect when we use such slogans, it causes loss to us. A voter is not satisfied with these slogans, he wants to know how the issues he faces today would be addressed. He wants to know about employment generation, tackling agricultural distress, reactivate rural economy. He wants to hear about those things rather than whether someone has a family or not, Abdullah told reporters. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said the opposition only secures a self-goal with such slogans. Now, we have given him (Modi) an open goal post and he has used the opportunity to his advantage by saying that Modi belongs to those who do not have anyone. We do not have any answer to that now. I will only say that we should not indulge in such personal politics but raise the issues of the public. Chowkidar, Adani-Ambani, Rafale, Parivar these do not work, he added. To a question about the NC not leaving any seat in the valley for the PDP for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and its impact on the INDIA bloc, Abdullah said the situation has kept the PDP out, not his party. The PDP came at the third number in the last Parliament elections and how is it justified that the number one or number two party will leave the claim on the seat and give it to the third number? Also, I do not see any influence of the BJP on the seat (south Kashmir-Rajouri), he said. As far as coalition is concerned, Abdullah said, it is the responsibility of every party to keep the coalition running. You ask us about the seats for them, but when they target the NC through their tweets or on social media, then you dont ask them if that is the coalition dharma The NC is attacked even when elections take place in Pakistan. They said on Twitter that what happened in Pakistan elections, reminded the people of what happened here in 1987 elections. What coalition dharma is this? I do not know under what influence did Ghulam Nabi Azad target Farooq Abdullah, but the PDP forced itself into that as well and attacked the NC. They along with Azad attacked Farooq Abdullah and the NC from their Twitter platform and you ask us where is the coalition dharma, he said. He, however, said that despite the PDPs attacks on his party, the NC has told the Congress that it is ready to keep doors open for an alliance for the assembly polls in the Union Territory. But, first we will see their (PDPs) approach in the forthcoming Parliamentary polls, he added. The NC vice president said his party has discussed the seat sharing with the Congress and the national party would contest from two seats in the Jammu region. We have told them to field their candidates from Udhampur and Jammu seats. We have also told them that the NC will not field its candidate on the Ladakh seat, but our endeavour should be to field a consensus candidate there who can take back the seat from the BJP, he said. Abdullah said had he known before joining the INDIA bloc that he would have to weaken his party for the sake of some other member of the alliance, then perhaps I would never have joined the alliance. Eden Golan (REUTERS) Israels Eurovision entry has been approved after the country changed the lyrics to its song which had been deemed too political by some competing nations. Eden Golan will represent Israel at the contest in Sweden this May after the words of October Rain were tweaked, with the entry now called Hurricane. Her original song was thought to reference the Hamas attacks of 7 October and had been barred for breaking contest rules on political neutrality. In a statement, The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the contest, said on Thursday: "The EBU can confirm that the official submission from its Israeli Member Kan has been deemed eligible to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest in May. "The Contest's Reference Group, its governing board, made the decision to accept the song 'Hurricane' for the upcoming competition after careful scrutiny of the lyrics. "It was agreed that 'Hurricane' met the necessary criteria for participation in accordance with the rules of the competition." Israeli broadcaster Kan, which chooses Israels entry, gave way to pressure from the countrys President Isaac Herzog who called for "necessary adjustments" to ensure Israel can take part in the contest. The original lyrics of October Rain, written in English, were published on Kan's website last month. They included the lines "They were all good children, every one of them" and "Who told you boys don't cry/ Hours and hours/ And flowers/ Life is not a game for the cowards." Despite the change in lyrics Belgium's Culture Minister Benedicte Linard called for Israel to be banned from Eurovision over the war in Gaza. She wrote on X."Just like Russia has been excluded from competitions and Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine, Israel should be excluded until it puts an end to its flagrant violations of international law, which are causing thousands of victims, especially children. Israel insists that its ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza is being carried out in line with international law. Its military has repeatedly said that it goes out of its way to try to avoid harming civilians. He was mobbed for selfies at a book fair. Desperate job seekers would turn up at his residence late at night as the last resort for justice. Abhijit Gangopadhyay was akin to Anil Kapoors no-nonsense chief minister in the 2001 movie Nayak, ruling tough on scams and sending top ministers to jail, showing no signs of slowing down. Only, Gangopadhyay did it as a judge of the Calcutta High Court while fishing for bigger catch. So why is it so surprising that the well-behaved but aggressive Bengali Bhadralok in his early sixties quit the courtroom and joined politics with the BJP five months before his retirement? He has always maintained that the job is not done yet. After all, this is not the first time a judge has joined politics. Baharul Islam was a member of the Congress party who resigned from the Rajya Sabha to become a judge of the Gauhati High Court. After he retired as the Chief Justice of the HC, he was made a judge of the Supreme Court. He later resigned from the Supreme Court to contest elections and became a Rajya Sabha member again. If that didnt unsettle the conscience of the society, why make an issue out of Abhijit Gangopadhyay, famous for his anti-corruption stance, joining the BJP after quitting legal service? If you think Islams was a one-off incident, think again. After his stint as a judge, MC Chagla, a judge of the Bombay High Court, served as Indias education minister from 1963 to 1966 and then as the external affairs minister till September 1967. Mohammad Hidayatullah was the Chief Justice of India from 1968 to 1970. He served as the Vice-President of India for a brief while in 1969 when President Dr Zakir Hussain died. Technically speaking, Hidayatullah was Indias Vice-President while he was Indias Chief Justice. Though an independent MLA, VR Krishna Iyer served as a minister in Keralas Communist government. But that didnt stop him from becoming a Supreme Court judge. A person with political affiliation serving as a judge should have been a far more serious issue than a judge resigning and then accruing political affiliation. Congress national spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed took to X (formerly Twitter) to suggest quid pro quo citing Gangopadhyays previous rulings against the state government, which is led by the Trinamool Congress. But what she seems to have forgotten is that Supreme Court judge BR Gavai admitted in open court that he comes from a political background. During the hearing on Rahul Gandhis disqualification from Parliament, Justice Gavai offered to recuse, citing his familys connections with the Congress party. Yes, Abhijit Gangopadhyay didnt go for a cooling-off period which wouldnt have given rise to such questions. He should have. But is it worse than Baharul Islam shuttling from the Rajya Sabha to the High Court, then to the Supreme Court and back to Rajya Sabha again? In 2012, as the Leader of Opposition, BJP leader Arun Jaitley made a speech at BJPs legal cell that made heads turn. There are two kinds of judges those who know the law and those who know the Law Minister. Not holding back, the otherwise diplomatic Jaitley added: Pre-retirement judgments are influenced by post-retirement jobs. Nitin Gadkari had previously suggested a two-year mandatory cooling-off period, something that was mocked by the Congress at the time. Meanwhile, the collegium to appoint judges has appointed persons with political backgrounds even in the recent past. Take retired CJI Ranjan Gogoi, for instance, whose father was a former chief minister of Assam. The National Judicial Appointments Commission was binned by the Supreme Court, but the collegium is not perfect either. Abhijit Gangopadhyay isnt the first judge to join politics and wont be the last either. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the Disruptor of the Year award to YouTube creator Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps) at the National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam on March 8, 2024. A video of a fun banter between PM Modi and Ranveer Allahbadia from the event was shared on social media and is going viral. In the video, the presenter calls Ranveer Allahbadia on stage, where he receives his award from Prime Minister Modi. After giving him the award, PM Modi asks Ranveer to share some fitness tips with the audience. Responding to it, Allahbadia says people should do yoga and meditation. To this, PM Modi responds and says, Phir toh log kahenge ye toh Modiji ki baat bata raha hai (People may say now that hes saying what Modiji says)". The prime minister further talks about the importance of sleep in ones life. He also highlights how he is not disciplined regarding his sleep routine. The prime minister also talks about what is Yoga Nidra. PM Modi suggests Allahbadia make a segment on sleep. The YouTuber also asks PM Modi, Aapke saath podcast krne ka mann ho rha hai (I want to do a podcast with you)." At the end of the video, PM Modi wishes all the best to Ranveer. Also Read: Delhi Man Gets New Hands After Historic 12-Hour Transplant Surgery Watch the hilarious conversation between PM Modi and Ranveer Allahbadia: Also Read: Former CM of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan Hugs Kid, Says Love You Beta In Viral Post The video was shared a few hours ago. Since being shared, it has collected thousands of views and likes. Some people took to the comments section of the YouTube post to share their thoughts. Bhai itni frank ceremony me Sapna to nhi dekh rha (I havent seen such a frank ceremony, I hope I am not dreaming)," wrote a viewer. This is our Prime Minister Modi, fun side with humor," added another user. Drug abuse among youngsters, particularly among university and college students, is a growing concern for parents and authorities. The availability of these harmful substances is also an equally bigger issue. Confronting the police officials about the same, a college student has taken the internet by storm. In a now-viral video, during a drug de-addiction campaign, a college student is seen asking police officials why the drugs were available so conveniently to students. Sir, we have seen such a big program of drug de-addiction campaign, but the university is the biggest epicenter of drug addiction. Today, students from four universities are gathered here. Getting Ganja or any intoxicating substance is as easy as getting toffee or lollipop, he said. If a first or second-year student can trace or track the drug dealers, then why cant police do so? Are the police lagging behind? he further asked. Being a student here, I know that there is a police station nearby and ganja is available right in front of the post. So, dont you think this is a failure of the police? he added. The viral video was captioned, A student from Dr BR Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat, showed courage by addressing an issue that the police were avoiding discussing. Watch the post below: A student from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat, showed courage by addressing an issue that the police were avoiding discussing. pic.twitter.com/mSvHwmgVIH Divya Gandotra Tandon (@divya_gandotra) March 8, 2024 Needless to say, the clip went immensely viral within a few hours of being shared. Social media users couldnt keep calm but heaped praise on the college student. Many filled the comment section by appreciating the students question and calling him courageous, while others agreed with the student and said that if the police want, they can catch all these drug dealers, but they dont because of local politicians. Excellent question and courageous kid indeed. Were asking the exact same questions here in the US (small town high school in the pnw) and guess what? Theyre not able to answer, praised a user. Excellent question and courageous kid indeed. Were asking the exact same questions here in the US(small town high school in the pnw) and guess what? Theyre not able to answer. Sudhir Gautam (@thesudhirgautam) March 8, 2024 Another commented, Very courageous kid. We need more like him. The future of this country is bright. Very courageous kid. We need more like him. The future of this country is bright. Parag (@paragp) March 8, 2024 Yeah, its all over in all the departments. Its called hafta!! The major problem is the ground level corruption which still needs to be addressed, wrote another user. Yeah its all over in all the departments its called hafta!! The major problem is the ground level corruption which still needs to be addressed.. Vik k (@vikk0007) March 8, 2024 An account exclaimed, I appreciate what the student said but has to understand law first. Why not report if something is going wrong? He is also a civilian and can do his duty. Why are we so dependent on the system. I appreciate what student said but has to understand law first . Why not he has reported if something is going wrong ? He is also a civilian and can do his duty . Why are we so much dependent on system Bhartiye (@PawanGu93474695) March 8, 2024 Well said! Even now you can get drugs outside the schools. If police want, they can catch all these drug dealers in 1 week. But I guess it will not be good for the police and local politicians for their personal interests, added another. Well said! Even now you can get drugs outside the schools. If police want they can catch all these drug dealers in 1 week. But I guess it will not be good for the police and local politicians for their personal interests. Dinesh Thakur (@DineshSEM) March 8, 2024 Another individual remarked, More power to him. Haryana Police we need to rethink. More power to him. @police_haryana we need to rethink.. ATUL GAIROLA (@ATULEFFECT) March 8, 2024 Shared three hours ago, the clip has pulled in more than 202,000 views and over 6,900 likes. While many travel bloggers and fashion influencers have to put in much effort to garner a sizable following, Bao, a three-year-old Chihuahua, with a lavish life of adventure with his owner, Xa Thi Ngoc Tran, is living an influencers dream. Together, they journey across the globe, from Paris to Mexico, indulging in luxurious accommodations along the way. Tran, a 37-year-old finance professional from Toronto, Canada shared that she welcomed Bao into her life during the COVID-19 pandemic, but their travel escapades only began in 2022. Speaking to SWNS, Tran expressed a strong bond with Bao, affectionately calling him her baby boy and emphasising that she couldnt imagine travelling without him. Their travels kicked off with a four-hour flight to Lake Louise, Alberta, providing the six-pound pup with his first taste of the travel experience. Since then, they have explored various continents, including a memorable stay in Paris. In the City of Lights, they enjoyed accommodations at the prestigious Hotel Louvre Saint-Honore, dined at Cafe de Flore, and explored iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bao the Chihuahua (@baothechi) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bao the Chihuahua (@baothechi) Bao has his wardrobe which is worth Rs 2 lakh and he dons them during his frequent escapades with Tran. He looks like a complete show stealer donning expensive suits and shades and they have earned the chihuahua almost 166,000 followers on Instagram, making him no less than any fashion influencer. Baos taste in style is just as perfect as his owners, ranging from glittering jackets and turtleneck sweaters to Chanel silk scarves. Tran told SWNS that she likes to match Baos clothes to her simple style, even though the dog prefers Hawaiian shirts for the holidays. With more adventures in store, Tran and Bao hope to visit Beverly Hills and enjoy a true Beverly Hills Chihuahua experience. They have a passion for Mexico, so they also intend to return there and explore more of Europe, including Italy. All around the world, many people love to travel to different places. As much as they give importance to their destination, for some people, it is also important to have an exciting journey as well. People spend a lot of money on flights and cruises just to have a unique and comfortable way of travelling. One of the most luxurious forms of travel can be experienced on cruises. People travel for days in the sea and experience a lavish journey. Now, a cruise has been going viral on social media for offering a unique travel experience to customers. As per reports, one of the highlights of travelling on this cruise is that it offers a stress-free and clothing-free experience to the travellers. People can be on the cruise naked. But some specific rules have to be followed. According to reports, a Texas-based travel company named Bare Necessities in the USA provides this unique trip to its travellers. This is probably the only cruise line in the world where passengers are provided with an amazing, stress-free and clothing-free travel experience. The company has been providing chartered travel to people since the 1990s. But recently, a 67-year-old passenger has talked about it and shared his experiences on Reddit. After his revelation, many people asked different questions on the thread. He added that certain rules have to be followed by the passengers on the cruise. To protect peoples privacy, no photograph, video, or electronic photo can be taken on board the ship without consent. Talking about their naked policy, passengers can be without their clothes with the permission of the captain. But they will have to wear full clothes from the balcony to the dock of the port. Apart from that, the company has special rules for certain cruises, especially for the Norwegian Pearls, where passengers can be without their clothes in the buffet but not in the dining area. The US mission in Russia warned that extremists had imminent plans for an attack in Moscow, hours after Russian security services said they had foiled a planned shooting at a synagogue by Islamic State. The embassy, which has repeatedly urged all US citizens to leave Russia immediately, said people should avoid concerts and crowds and be aware of their surroundings. The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours, the embassy said on its website. Foiled IS Attack The warning was issued several hours after Russias Federal Security Service, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said it had foiled an attack on a synagogue in Moscow by a cell of the militant Sunni Muslim group Islamic State. It was unclear if the two statements were linked. The FSB said an Islamic State cell was operating in Russias Kaluga region as part of the Afghan arm of the group, which is known as ISIS-Khorasan and seeks a caliphate across Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran. The group first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in late 2014 and established a reputation for extreme brutality. The cell was preparing to attack the congregants of a synagogue using firearms, the FSB said. When tackled, the militants offered resistance by Russian special forces and were neutralised by return fire, it said. Firearms, ammunition, as well as components for the manufacture of an improvised explosive device were found and seized, the FSB said. This latest development comes as the war in Ukraine has triggered the deepest crisis in Russias relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The Kremlin accuses the US of fighting against Russia by supporting Ukraine with money, weapons and intelligence. (With agency inputs) Amid mounting tensions in the Taiwan Strait in the wake of growing Chinese aggression, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday stressed the need for global stability, suggesting that the last thing that the world needs to see is any kind of disturbance. Jaishankars remarks came in response to a question during an interaction at the Nikkei Forum in Japan. Tensions have risen sharply in recent years over Taiwan, the democratically ruled island that China claims as its own. China recently announced that it will boost its defense spending by 7.2% this year, fueling an already big military budget as Beijing hardens its stance on the island. Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijings sovereignty claims, has complained in recent years that China has been using so-called grey-zone warfare. Notably, Beijing has also dropped the mention of peaceful reunification in a government report delivered in the rubber-stamp parliament on Tuesday. Do sanctions work? During his visit to Japan, Jaishankar was asked whether India would impose sanctions in the event of a Taiwan contingency if Russia and North Korea took part in Chinese aggression. In response, Jaishankar said, By and large it has not been Indias foreign policy method really to do the sanctions issue. He underlined that sanctions are often rooted in Western or G7 approaches, questioning their efficacy and broader impact. Very good to meet @moteging, Secretary General of LDP again.Appreciate his friendship as well as support for our partnership. Fruitful conversation on ways to strengthen ties in an uncertain world. pic.twitter.com/2Pfo47s2N5 Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) March 8, 2024 The only time when we have strongly advocated for sanctions ourselves was against South Africa during the apartheid period. At that time, most of the developed countries did not want to impose sanctions, he said. Its a big debate. Do sanctions really work, or they dont work? What is the cost? What is the cost to people who apply sanctions? Not every country in the world thinks that this is the immediate, right, and effective way of conveying what you want to convey, he added. World is very disturbed Elaborating on Indias response to a Taiwan contingency as a partner of Japan, Jaishankar said, Today, the state of the world is very disturbed. We are seeing conflicts. We saw covid. There are very big economic issues which are below the surface. Additionally, the external affairs minister refrained from discussing specific actions, asserting that he should not elaborate further as a foreign minister. The last thing that the world needs to see is any kind of disturbance, you know, at this moment. How to strengthen the stability and the growth and development of the world should be a common objective. Beyond that, I think, as a foreign minister, I should not say anything to you. His veiled response was received with applause from the audience. India-Taiwan relations, while unofficial, have gradually strengthened in recent years. Both sides have sought to enhance bilateral trade and investment through various mechanisms. Last week, China expressed outrage against an Indian TV channel for broadcasting an interview with Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, where he raised concerns over Chinas growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. 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. Responding strongly to Chinese criticism, the Taiwan Foreign Office said, that neither India nor Taiwan are part of the Peoples Republic of China or its puppets. A day after a major human trafficking network that lured young men to Russia was busted, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday that New Delhi has strongly taken up the matter with Moscow. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said late on Thursday that about 35 people had been sent to Russia in the dubious scheme. Several Indian nationals have been duped to work in the Russian army. We have strongly taken up the matter for the early discharge of such Indian nationals. Strong action has been initiated against agents who recruited them on false pretexts. We remain committed to the early release of our nationals serving as support staff with the Russian army and then eventually return home, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press conference. Read More: CBI Launches Major Crackdown On Dubious Job Firms After Indians Tricked Into Fighting Russia-Ukraine War #WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, Several Indian nationals have been duped to work in the Russian army. We have strongly taken up the matter for the early discharge of such Indian nationals. Strong action has been initiated against agents who recruited them on pic.twitter.com/4o9Puxxm9Y ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 Two men died Jaiswal said that around 20 people have contacted reached out and govment is doing its best to locate them. We are in constant touch with families and also to bring back mortal remains. These deaths happened at a distance from the capital so we are trying our best to bring the mortal remains of those who died, he said. So far, at least two men who went to Russia expecting to work as helpers in the army have died while fighting at the front. The Indian Embassy in Russia confirmed their deaths. The traffickers, operating across several Indian states, targeted people using social media platforms and through local agents, the CBI said in a statement. On Thursday, the CBI said searches were being conducted at a number of locations, including in the capital New Delhi and Mumbai, and cash amounting to $605,000 had already been seized. Certain suspects have also been detained for questioning at various locations, it said. Read More: Indian National Mohammed Asfan Dies Fighting Russia-Ukraine War On Wednesday, the Indian Embassy in Russia confirmed the death of Indian national Mohammed Asfan and assured the family of the deceased that the government will make efforts to repatriate his mortal remains. Asfan, 30, who hailed from Hyderabad, was reportedly killed in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. He, along with several others, was duped by agents and recruited as helpers to fight alongside the Russian army, according to media reports. Asfans family earlier reached out to the government seeking help in bringing back the youth from the war zone. In the video, the seven men are seen wearing army uniforms inside a room with a closed window. Six of them stand in a corner while one explains their situation. Several men from Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Telangana find themselves trapped in the conflict, having been misled under false promises. They were enticed by a YouTube channel offering lucrative job opportunities, only to end up coerced into frontline combat duty. A terrorist attack on Pakistans Adiala Jail which counts numerous VVIPs, including former premier Imran Khan, among inmates was thwarted by the police and the ICounter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Thursday and three terrorists were arrested. Khans family and aides have alleged that the attack was a ruse to carry out a second assassination attempt on Khan. Police officials claimed to have recovered heavy weapons and ammunition from the apprehended terrorists who were later shifted to undisclosed locations for joint interrogation. A spokesperson for Rawalpindi Police said police and CTD officials thwarted the attack on the Central Jail in Adiala and arrested three terrorists of Afghan origin. In addition to automatic weapons, hand grenades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and maps of the jail were also seized from them, the spokesperson added. Imran Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April 2022, is currently serving multiple terms in the central prison and has some 170 legal cases pending against him on charges ranging from corruption to inciting people to violence and terrorism. Khan has denied wrongdoing and insisted since his arrest last year that all the charges against him are a plot by rivals to keep him from returning to office. He was barred from running in the February 8 parliamentary elections in which his rivals from the Pakistan Muslim League party, or PML-N, emerged as the largest presence in the National Assembly, or lower house of the parliament. Khans rival, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, formed a coalition government last week. This was a second attempt to kill Imran Khan. Imran is dangerous for the army and the only PM who didnt compromise with their ideology and dictations. This is not only about three Afghan terrorists. We fear more have already been sent inside the prison and Imran Khans life will be in danger always. This is only and only ISI-sponsored attempt to kill Imran Khan, a source close to the PTI chief said. Khans sister Aleema Khan, too, raised questions over the alleged attack on the jail. Why would anyone come from outside to break into a high security jail? Most of Pakistan voted for Imran Khan! They must be planning to shift him and played out a bad script. A Pakistani court has sentenced a 22-year-old student to death for blasphemy over insulting WhatsApp messages about Prophet Muhammad and his wives. A provincial court in the countrys most populous region found him guilty of sharing blasphemous pictures and videos intended to outrage the religious sentiments of Muslims, BBC reported. In the same case, a 17-year-old received a life imprisonment sentence. Both defendants have denied the allegations. Notoriously, blasphemy carries the death penalty in Pakistan, with some individuals even lynched before their trials. This Punjab province case comes less than a month after an angry mob accused a woman of blasphemy for wearing a dress adorned with Arabic calligraphy, mistaken for Quran verses. The latest complaint originated from the cybercrime unit of the countrys Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Lahore, which referred the case to a local court in Gujranwala. In the ruling, Pak judges determined that the 22-year-old prepared photos and videos containing derogatory content about Prophet Muhammad and his wives, leading to his death sentence. The younger defendant received life imprisonment for sharing the material. The FIA confirmed the receipt of obscene material by the plaintiff, extracted from three different mobile phone numbers. Defense attorneys argued that the students were ensnared in a fabricated case. The father of the death-row convict, whose identity remains undisclosed, announced plans to file an appeal in the Lahore High Court. The minor defendant received life imprisonment instead of capital punishment. Blasphemy laws in the Islamic country were initially introduced during British rule and expanded under the military government in the 1980s. In a separate incident last August, numerous churches and homes were set ablaze in Jaranwala following accusations against two Christian men for damaging the Quran. Last month, hundreds of supporters from Pakistani Islamist parties on Friday rallied to protest against what they say were blasphemous remarks by the countrys chief justice. The protest call, led by hardline Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) whose rallying cry is death to blasphemers, said that remarks by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa in a case against a member of the minority Ahmadi community were blasphemous. The court had granted bail to an Ahmadi community member in February, ruling that blasphemy charges against him did not stand. The man, accused of blasphemy for distributing Islamic literature, had been in jail for 13 months. (With agency inputs) People gather around an area were gunmen kidnapped school children in Chikun, Nigeria, Thursday, 7 March 2024 (AP) Suspected Islamist extremists have abducted more than 280 children in the north-western town of Kuriga in Nigeria. While authorities initially said more than 100 students were taken hostage, the school headteacher told Kaduna governor Uba Sani that the headcount of those missing has reached 287. This is the second mass abduction in the West African nation in less than a week. We will ensure that every child will come back. We are working with the security agencies, the governor was quoted as saying by the Guardian. Gunmen attacked the school when the pupils were in the assembly ground for morning prayers at around 8.30am local time. According to eyewitness, one of the students was shot by the gunmen and is receiving treatment in Birnin Gwari hospital. The government is trying everything possible with the security agencies to see how we can rescue them, said Musa, chairman of the local council. The incident comes days after Islamist extremists abducted at least 200 people who were out searching for firewood, mostly women and children displaced by violence in northeastern Nigeria. Officials do not believe the two cases are not related. Locals blamed the earlier incident on extremist rebels from Boko Haram, who launched an insurgency in Borno in 2009 seeking to establish their radical interpretation of Islamic law in the region. Thursdays attack, meanwhile, occurred in an area controlled by a breakaway faction of Boko Haram. A woman cries as she calls upon the government to help and rescue school children that were kidnapped by gunmen in Chikun, Nigeria, Thursday, 7 March 2024 (AP) Many of those fleeing Boko Harams deadly violence are in displacement camps with limited aid, often risking their lives to go to areas with inadequate security presence in search of food and firewood. The victims of the latest attack had left several displacement camps in Borno states Gamboru Ngala council area when they were ambushed near the border with Chad and taken hostage, the UN said late on Wednesday. The incident occurred several days ago but details are only emerging now because of limited access to information in the area. Story continues Nigeria army trucks are park in an area were gunmen kidnapped school children in Chikun, Nigeria, Thursday, 7 March, 2024 (AP) "The exact number of people abducted remains unknown but is estimated at over 200 people," the UN humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria Mohamed Fall said in a statement, adding that some of the victims were later released. The attack is a "stark reminder" that women and girls are worst hit by the conflict, Fall said as he called for the immediate release of the victims. "This act of violence against already traumatised citizens offends our common humanity," he said. (AP) At least 35,000 people have been killed and more than two million displaced due to violence by Boko Haram group and a breakaway faction backed by the Islamic State group. Nigerian security forces fighting the insurgents are overstretched as they also battle dozens of armed groups attacking remote communities in other parts of the northern region. The crises have added to pressures on Nigerias president Bola Tinubu, who was elected last year after promising to end the violence. Additional reporting by agencies Strong women can be brought down by weak men, says Ayesha Vardag (Stefan Gifitthaler) When Italian PM Giorgia Melonis partner Andrea Giambruno was caught on tape appearing to flirting with a colleague, saying hes known to cheat on Meloni and inviting a woman to join a threesome or foursome, you could almost hear the waves of Schadenfreude crashing across Europe. Many dislike Meloni for her right-wing politics. Many find her style abrasive. Many in Italy just werent ready for their country to be run by a woman. But even those who feel she is a good thing were gripped by the drama. Meloni has had to exercise high levels of restraint about Giambrunos gaffes before. He made a controversial comment, as a current affairs TV presenter, in the context of a string of high-profile rape cases. He advised avoiding becoming drunk and unconscious because that is when the wolf appears. It was seen as victim-blaming. Meloni surfaced to say he just meant, keep your eyes and ears open, as her own mother had told her. The common-sense vibe plays well with Melonis power base, but she could have done without the ammunition he gave to her opponents. This scandal, though, was one too far. Meloni gave a graceful statement thanking Giambruno for their years together and their daughter and announced that their relationship ends here. She sacked him on social media. He disappeared from public life; exit stage left the delinquent partner. The lesson is: dont humiliate and undermine someone driven enough to become the first woman PM of Italy. But it raises two broader issues: is there a compulsion for some men to choose powerful women only then to bring them down? And is there a compulsion for powerful women to choose men who will do that? Psychology suggests: yes. Again and again, the highest profile women find that the men they marry become their Achilles heel The idea is that insecure men burnish their egos by conquering strong, impressive women only then to batter them, literally or figuratively, into line. When the women rise above and beyond the men, they resort to passive-aggressive subversion: affairs, controversy, reckless behaviour. Kanye West wouldnt stop his controversial tweeting, even though he knew it was a nightmare for Kim Kardashian. Nicola Sturgeon, once the apparently unstoppable Scots leader who transformed SNPs fortunes, was broken when her husband was arrested in a probe into the partys finances. Again and again, the highest profile women find that the men they marry become their Achilles heel. Story continues You might say the same thing happens to men. Carrie Johnsons hold on Boris was what caused people to see through the charm, the talent and the charisma into the void within. Its arguable that he would have kept pulling it all off if she hadnt driven out Dominic Cummings. So now, Boris is remembered for partygate and overspending on wallpaper, not a landslide victory and working himself near to death when he had Covid. But the fact is that Boris made these decisions for himself. He let Cummings go. He let his staff have a party in lockdown. He chose to lie about it. He wasnt a victim, he was a player. Its very different. He was influenced, perhaps, by Carrie, but he made bad moves himself. With high-profile, powerful women, they dont have to do anything themselves to be brought down by their husbands or partners. The news can hit them from the front page or Twitter, and then their whole story starts to be about their husband, and they become someone who is judged only in relation to what they did or didnt do to deserve it. So why do these women get hooked on guys like that? Psychological opinion favours the idea that, having started out seduced by charm and passion, women who are used to making things happen believe they can fix things even when they go to hell. They can save their man, their relationship, their family. But also, so often, strong women have been made strong by pain. Paternal abandonment thats a good one. Meloni and I share that. On the one hand you have a strong woman role model, if youre lucky. But at the same time, you live with the pain and fear that you might not be lovable. That its your imperfections that are causing the problem. Or if not that, then certainly that if you cut loose from this man then you may never find another to love you you may be alone, abandoned as you were as a child. Ive certainly persisted in relationships that trashed my career, wellbeing or both. Only when I had decided I didnt want a serious relationships did I end up with a solid one. In my experience as a divorce lawyer, women who have been deprived of paternal love are especially prone to persist after all reasonable prospect of happiness has gone. Meloni was strong. She stopped trying to keep a relationship that had started to bring her down. She provided all women who are being brought down by their men with the one phrase they need to remember: It ends here. Ayesha Vardag is the president and founder of Vardags, a high-end law firm specialising in divorce A TEAM of paediatric surgeons, nurses and junior doctors at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare successfully separated an asymmetrical conjoined twin from a two-year-old boy in a delicate four-hour procedure on Tuesday. After struggling to find help at other hospitals, the two-year-old boys family from Beitbridge finally found the treatment he needed, freeing him from the parasitic twin. A parasitic twin is a type of conjoined twin where one foetus stops developing, but remains attached to its twin. The other twin continues to develop, but is usually born with the limbs, organs or other tissue structures from its parasitic twin still attached. In this case, the partially developed conjoined twin had a head, bones, stomach, pancreas and loops of bowel to the rectum and was fused to the boys liver but with separate gallbladders. This development comes as the team is preparing for a second set of fully developed conjoined twins who are scheduled for surgery in the coming weeks. The operation, which is expected to take approximately 36 hours, will involve a team of over 100 medical professionals, and is considered to be a complex and challenging procedure. The operation took about four hours and our young patient is recovering well, team leader Dr Kudzayi Munanzvi said. The parasitic twin had what looked like a head, some bone, a stomach, pancreas loops of bowel to rectum. It also had a liver which was fused into the young boys liver but with separate gallbladders. The boy and his family are originally from Beitbridge and had been seeking help at local hospitals, but were ultimately referred to Bulawayo Central Hospital, where they also did not receive the necessary treatment. I think someone suggested that they come to Harare, where they were able to receive the care they needed, she said. Other members of Dr Munanzvis medical team were Dr Precious Mutambanengwe, with Dr Brighton Muchini serving as an anaesthetist, Sister Memory Zvikaramba and Sister Shangwa as nurses. The junior doctors included Dr Munyaradzi Nhare and Dr Chigova. The team collaborated to ensure the safety and success of the surgery. Dr Munanzvi said it took them close to a month to do thorough investigation of what needed to be done. From the stomach, the pancreas, the small intestine, the large intestine, we noticed that the liver from the boy and the parasitic twin were also joined and the parasitic twin also had its own set of lungs but there was no heart. We managed to separate all the things that belonged to the parasitic twin and we left what belonged to the young boy in his own abdomen. She also revealed that the boy was now recuperating adding that his mother was very excited since there was a lot of stigma around the twins. The boy is recovering well. He is actually in the ward and he is not in the Intensive Care Unit. He is feeding and the mom is very happy. The mom was so happy because she was having a lot of challenges with the boy at home. There was a little stigma from the surrounding community. Right now hes eating and he is talking and playing. He is quite a happy young young boy. The mother could not comment on the development. This operation reflects the advancement in medical science and the unwavering determination of healthcare professionals in Zimbabwe to change lives for the better. Separation of conjoined twins is always a formidable undertaking but the specialists that are available in the country have the necessary skill set and expertise to ensure a successful outcome. The first set of conjoined twins that we separated is already in Grade Three, Dr Munanzvi said. In 2021, Zimbabwean paediatric surgeons successfully separated conjoined twin three-month old girls, in a complex 18-hour operation at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. Anotidaishe and Atipaishe were joined at the abdominal-pelvic region, sharing a liver and some parts of their intestines, making the operation complex. On July 29, 2014, a team of about 50 local health workers left an indelible mark in the history of the countrys medical sector following the successful separation of two conjoined twins from Murehwa District in Mashonaland East province. Herald It's a "pretty weird forest"but a record-setting one. Scientists say they've found the oldest known forest on Earth, taking the crown from a forest in New York's Catskills that had previously held the title. The BBC reports the fossilized forest, reported on in the Journal of the Geological Society, was discovered in high sandstone cliffs on the coast of South West England and dates to 390 million years ago; that's about 4 million years older than the New York one. More on the find: The trees themselves: Lead author Neil Davies of Cambridge explains the forest's weirdness, noting the find is "not like any forest you would see today." The fossilized trees are Calamophyton, which looked like palm trees. But as a press release explains, they "were a 'prototype' of the kinds of trees we are familiar with today," with hollow trunks, zero leaves, and branches covered in a sea of twig-like structures. The tallest was 12 feet. Federal investigators determining why a Florida condominium tower partially collapsed three years ago, killing 98 people, said Thursday there were many faulty support columns in the tenant garage below it and the adjoining pool deck. National Institute of Standards and Technology investigators told an advisory panel that tests show that some of the steel-reinforced concrete columns at Champlain Towers South were half the strength they should have been and were not up to construction standards in 1980 when the 12-story tower was built. The steel in some had become moderately to extremely corroded, weakening them further, the AP reports. Investigators have also confirmed eyewitness reports that the pool deck fell into the garage four to seven minutes before the beachside tower collapsed early on June 24, 2021, in the Miami suburb of Surfside. Thursday's meeting was held in Maryland and streamed online. One of the lead investigators stressed that the results are preliminary and will not be official until all tests are completed and the final report issued next year. "The implications of our recommendations are very large, and we feel pressure to get this right," Glenn Bell said. "Bringing about the changes that may be required based on the lessons that we learned may not be easy." The federal agency cannot change state and local building codes, but it can make recommendations. The concrete pool deck was attached to the building, and investigators said its failure likely damaged and destabilized the base of a support beam that ran through the tower section that fell first. When that beam failed, it caused that tower section to pancake down and a neighboring section to fall onto it, they said. The question remains whether the pool deck collapsed on its own or something happening within the building triggered it. Pablo Langesfeld, whose 26-year-old daughter Nicole died in the collapse with her husband, Luis Sadovnic, criticized the investigation for taking too long. He pointed out that Miami-Dade County prosecutors have said they cannot determine whether any criminal charges are warranted until the federal investigation is completed. "It is frustrating that justice and accountability seems nowhere in sight," he said. (More Florida condo collapse stories.) WESTconsin will accept donations of non-perishable food items in all offices, the release says, and proceeds will be distributed to 15 different community partners across western Wisconsin. Monetary donations are especially valuable because information shows food pantries have great buying power with monies available to them, and for every $1 in cash, they can purchase up to $10 worth of food, says Stephanie Rasmussen, WESTconsin Credit Union chief experience officer. Last year, we raised nearly $2,400 and collected 1,564 non-perishable food items. That money allowed local pantries to buy nearly $24,000 worth of food for those in need. We are hopeful this upcoming food drive will make that same level of impact. The State of the Union address is a popular place for lawmakers to make fashion statementspolitical fashion statements. And they were in abundance this year. The AP reports that there were a number of female House Democrats wearing white (a symbol of women's suffrage) to telegraph support for reproductive rights, and there were a number of House progressives wearing Palestinian keffiyehs, "the black and white checkered scarfs that have come to symbolize Palestinian solidarity." There were also plenty of lawmakers, both Democrat and Republican, wearing pins and stickers honoring the Israeli hostages who remain captive in Gaza. Some wore blue and yellow for the colors of Ukraine's flag, Reuters reports. Former US Representative Gabrielle Giffords wore orange to call for an end to gun violence. And then, of course, there was Marjorie Taylor Greene, who showed up in bright red, including a "Make America Great Again" hat. The Daily Beast reports that could be seen as a violation of House rules, which generally forbid House buildings from being "used for the conduct of campaign or political activities." The MAGA hat, closely associated as it is with Donald Trump, could be seen as campaigning. The Daily Beast predicts she'll be subjected to an ethics complaint, but that since Republicans control the House, it will go nowhere. For more on the subject, the Washington Post has a piece on "how the State of the Union became the red carpet of politics." (More State of the Union stories.) Akira Toriyama, the creator of the bestselling Dragon Ball and other popular manga and anime that influenced Japanese comics, has died, his studio said Friday. He was 68. Toriyama died March 1 of a blood clot in his brain, Bird Studio said in a statement. "He was working enthusiastically on many projects, and there was still much he was looking forward to accomplishing," the studio wrote, per the AP . Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga series, which started in 1984, has sold millions of copies globally and was adapted into hugely popular animated TV shows, video games, and films. Born in Aichi prefecture in central Japan in 1955, Toriyama made his manga debut in 1978 with the adventure comic Wonder Island, published in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. His Dr. Slump series, which started in 1980, was his first major hit. It made him a celebrity, but Toriyama avoided the spotlight. In 1982, he told Japanese public broadcaster NHK: "I just want to keep writing manga." Dragon Ball, the story of a boy named Son Goku and his quest for seven magical balls that can make wishes come true, has sold 260 million copies altogether, according to the studio. Toriyama also designed characters for the video game series Dragon Quest. He received awards in the manga industry and beyond, including France's Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. A new TV adaptation of Toriyama's Sand Land, a desert adventure story released in 2000 and later adapted into a 2023 anime movie, is due to be released on Disney+ in the spring. Messages of condolences and grief from fellow creators and fans filled social media. story continues below Eiichiro Oda, creator of the blockbuster manga One Piece, said Toriyama's presence was like a "big tree" to younger artists. "He showed us all these things manga can do, a dream of going to another world," Oda said in a statement. His death leaves "a hole too big to fill," Oda added. Bird Studio thanked fans for more than 40 years of support. "We hope that Akira Toriyama's unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come." (More anime stories.) Strong name recognition and experience serving in Congress may not be big pluses for a new entrant in the Republican primary in New York's 1st Congressional District. After attending the State of the Union address Thursday night, George Santos announced that he is challenging GOP Rep. Nick LaLota in another run for Congress, CNN reports. In December, Santos was expelled from the House after the release of a scathing House Ethics report. A Democrat won the special election for his 3rd District seat. The primary is on June 25months before Santos is due to stand trial on 23 federal charges, including campaign finance fraud, NBC News reports. India authorities on Friday said they are in talks with Russia's government about the return of Indian citizens who were duped into working for the Russian army, a day after a federal investigation agency said it broke up a human trafficking network that lured people to Russia under the pretext of giving them jobs. India's foreign ministry said the government has initiated action against a network of agents who operated across India and duped the men into traveling to Russia, reports the AP . On Thursday, India's Central Bureau of Investigation said at least 35 Indian nationals have been sent to Russia after being recruited through social media and local agents. It said the men were being trained in combat roles and deployed at frontline bases in the Russia-Ukraine war against their wishes. Some of the men were "grievously injured," it said, with the BBC reporting two men have been killed. A rep for the Indian External Affairs Ministry urged Indian citizens not to be deceived by offers by agents of support jobs with the Russian army. "This is fraught with danger and risk to life," he said. One man from Uttar Pradesh state who is now in Moscow tells the BBC he ended up in Russia after seeing a promise of a job that paid about $1,800 a month on a YouTube channel. "We were not told that we are being drafted in an army," he said. India considers Russia a time-tested ally from the Cold War era and has so far avoided voting against Russia at the UN or criticizing Vladimir Putin since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.) A lot has changed in the time since MH370 took off and disappeared 10 years ago today. Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in our knowledge of a specific type of gooseneck barnacle. Lepas anatifera were found coating the chunk of plane wing that washed ashore on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion about 16 months after MH370 vanished. As New York reports, the discovery instigated years "of fruitful worldwide research into a previously obscure organism and unlocked the creature's potential to serve as a natural data logger in all kinds of investigations." Researchers believed that understanding how the barnacles grow on floating debris would allow them to trace the flaperon to the spot the plane went down. But Lepas have only uncovered more mysteries. As Lepas tends to latch to and grow steadily on any object floating in the ocean, the aim is to determine how long an object has been in the water based on the largest barnacles in a clump. This data, combined with drift modeling, should indicate a likely time and area the object became open to a barnacle infestation. But various studies since 2015 have shown Lepas "grows at different rates and winds up at different sizes depending on the temperature of the water and how much there is to eat," per New York. The largest on MH370's flaperon was 36mm. It hasn't been studied, per LBC. But researchers found Lepas grew up to 35mm in 105 days in the Maldives, where the water temperature is similar to what the flaperon likely experienced in reaching Reunion. If the flaperon had attracted barnacles for only a few months, where was it for the year or so after MH370 vanished? This isn't a question that applies just to the flaperon. "Of the three dozen or so pieces of the plane that have been collected, not a single one has marine life on it that matches what you would expect to see" after 16 months in the ocean, per New York. In another "apparent contradiction," scientists determined the flaperon must've floated with its long edge out of the wateryet this was the same edge populated by Lepas, which can't grow out of water. All this suggests "authorities' understanding of the case is badly flawed" and a solution will require them "to revisit their assumptions." Malaysia's government is in talks with marine robotics company Ocean Infinity about a new search, per the Guardian. CNN has more on efforts to find the missing plane here. (More MH370 stories.) Pope Francis again asked an aide to read his remarks and was unable to get back into his popemobile on Wednesday, as lingering respiratory and mobility problems continued to take their toll on the 87-year-old pontiff. Francis presided over his weekly general audience, held outside for the first time this year in a chilly St. Peter's Square. But he had an aide read his catechism lesson, as he has done for the past several days. Last Wednesday, Francis went to the hospital for unspecified diagnostic tests, the results of which haven't been released, per the AP. He has been suffering on and off this winter from what he and the Vatican have said was a cold, bouts of bronchitis, and the flu. Late last year, Francis underwent a CAT scan that ruled out pneumonia, but the pope was still forced to call off a trip to the Gulf because of a bad bout of acute, infectious bronchitis. Francis has also been suffering from a fracture in the knee and inflammation of its ligaments that, starting in 2022, pushed him to use a wheelchair. But he has usually managed to get around with a cane or walker and the help of aides to get him to a standing position. On Wednesday, however, Francis appeared unable to climb up the few steps to board his popemobile at the end of his audience, even while grasping onto handrails. Aides quickly brought his wheelchair and he sat back down. He then greeted the crowd before being wheeled out of the piazza. The Argentine pope had part of one lung removed as a young man due to a respiratory infection, and he often speaks in a whisper even when not sick. (More Pope Francis stories.) Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted Friday in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tons of cocaine to make it unhindered into the US. The jury returned its verdict at a federal court after a two-week trial, which was closely followed in his home country. Hernandez was convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the US and two weapons counts, the AP reports. The charges carry a mandatory minimum of 40 years in prison and a potential maximum of life. Sentencing was scheduled for June 26. Hernandez, 55, who served two terms as the leader of the Central American nation of roughly 10 million people, patted a defense attorney, Renato Stabile, on the back as they stood along with everyone else in the courtroom while the jurors filed out after the reading of the verdict. When the news reached nearly 100 opponents of Hernandez on the street outside the courthouse, the gathering applauded and began jumping into the air to celebrate the outcome. The scene in the courtroom had been more subdued, and Hernandez seemed relaxed as the verdicts were announced by the jury foreperson. In remarks to jurors before they left, Judge P. Kevin Castel praised jurors for reaching a unanimous verdict, which was necessary for a conviction. "We live in a country where 12 people can't agree on a pizza topping," the judge told them, saying his message would have been the same regardless of their verdict. "That's why I'm in awe of you." Defense attorney Sabrina Shroff said Hernandez will appeal the conviction, per the AP. In a release, US Attorney Damian Williams said he hopes the conviction "sends a message to all corrupt politicians who would consider a similar path: choose differently." (More Juan Orlando Hernandez stories.) Emergency services rushed to central Wellington on Friday following an explosion in an apartment building. A police spokesperson told Newshub emergency services are at a building on Church Street, which has since been evacuated. Boulcott St is closed, and police have asked the public to stay away. Two people have been taken to hospital following the explosion, one seriously injured, the other in a moderate condition, Wellington Free Ambulance confirmed to Newshub. Marine security expert, then-Australian Naval current operations manager, Jennifer Parker oversaw the search a decade ago. On Friday, Parker told AM due to the large area the plane could've gone missing and the weather at the time, it's not surprising they couldn't find the debris field. "That might seem strange to the listeners, those watching, but you just had no idea where it could have gone down," she said. "The Indian Ocean is a vast area... it's a deep area and there isn't actually a lot of data in terms of the last location of the plane before it went down." Parker described the challenges of the search, in which over 19 ships from five counties took part, including weather, visibility and not knowing exactly where currents could have pushed the plane. The search went on for years. Between 2014 and 2017, an underwater search took place, before company Ocean Infinity tried to do it in 2018. "But the challenge again with the Indian Ocean is it's incredibly deep," Parker said. "There's areas of the Indian Ocean that are not chartered at all so it's really, I hate to use the analogy, but it's that needle in a haystack analogy in terms of the size of the area and the depth of the water. It's going to be difficult to find." Parker said it was "a really significant and sad day as we reflect on 10 years since the loss of 239 lives on MH370, including Australian and New Zealand lives". A sad reality is that "unfortunately no" we're not any closer to finding answers on what happened that day. "As the Malaysian Government has said, without any further information coming out that could reduce down that search area and when you look at the nature of the water in the southern Indian Ocean and the depth, I think it would be heavily challenging," Parker said. "I do hope for the families of those lost that it is [found] but I'm not confident that it would be." A coalition of conservation groups filed a last-minute federal lawsuit seeking to stop plans to build the high-voltage Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line across a Mississippi River wildlife refuge. American Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative Inc. want to build a 102-mile 345-kilovolt line linking Iowas Dubuque County and Wisconsins Dane County. The cost of the line is expected to top half a billion dollars but the utilities contend the project would improve electrical reliability across the region. A portion of the line would run through the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge near Cassville. The federal wildlife refuge is a haven for fish, wildlife and migratory birds that use it as their breeding grounds within the Mississippi Flyway. Millions of birds fly through the refuge, and its the only stopping point left for many migratory birds. Opponents have been working to stop the project for years. The National Wildlife Federation, the Driftless Area Land Conservancy and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation filed an action in federal court in Madison on Wednesday seeking an injunction to block the refuge crossing. The groups argue that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued final approvals for the refuge crossing in February without giving the public a chance to comment. They also contend that the FWS and the utilities improperly reached a deal calling for the utilities to transfer about 36 acres south of Cassville into the refuge in exchange for 19 acres within the refuge for the line. The groups argue the deal violates the 1997 National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, which establishes a formal process for determining refuge use. The groups went on to argue in their filing that they need an injunction quickly because the utilities are already creating construction staging areas on both the Iowa and Wisconsin sides of the river to begin work on the crossing. The lawsuit names the FWS, the refuges manager and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as defendants. Online court records showed U.S. Department of Justice attorney Kimberly Anne Cullen is representing them. She referred questions to U.S. DOJ spokesperson Matthew Nies, who didnt immediately respond to an email message. In a joint statement, Dairyland Power Cooperative and ITC Midwest officials said they were dismayed at the lawsuit. They said that the land exchange would trade lower quality wildlife habitat for higher quality habitat, allowing for greater protection for birds, animals, fish and plants. They added that the lawsuit will only drive up costs and will slow efforts to link renewable energy sources to the transmission system. ATC officials had no immediate comment. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Export Bahrain proudly welcomed HE Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), during her official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. This visit signifies a collaborative effort to explore and enhance export opportunities, emphasizing Bahrains steadfast commitment to fostering global trade. During the visit, discussions centered around key areas such as exploring export opportunities, supporting businesses, and fostering collaborative efforts for global market access. Export Bahrain provided a comprehensive overview of the diverse export opportunities emerging from the Kingdom, focusing on sectors and industries poised for international growth. These discussions effectively showcased Bahrains potential as a thriving hub for global trade. Export Bahrain emphasized its pivotal role in supporting businesses to access global markets, highlighting the broad range of initiatives and resources available to facilitate their entry into the global marketplace. The organizations comprehensive support system aims to create a conducive environment for businesses, empowering them to thrive on the international stage. The meeting further underscored the significance of collaborative efforts between Export Bahrain and the World Trade Organization in promoting fair and inclusive trade practices. Both parties expressed their shared commitment to cultivating an environment that nurtures businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises and enables them to excel globally. Significance Commenting on the occasion, Export Bahrain Chief Executive, Ms. Safa Sharif Abdulkhaliq, expressed her honor in welcoming H.E. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala to Bahrain. She emphasized the visits significance, solidifying Bahrains dedication to fostering global trade and creating a favorable business environment. President Joe Biden will visit Milwaukee on Wednesday, underscoring the Democrats focus on the battleground state ahead of 2024 election. His visit will come the week after the State of the Union and a week after Vice President Kamala Harris visited Madison to tout the administrations work to gain support among blue-collar workers. A brief statement from the White House said Biden will travel to Milwaukee on Wednesday to participate in political events. Biden was last in Wisconsin for a Milwaukee appearance in December. He also followed up his last State of the Union address in February 2023 by visiting DeForest to focus on unions role in building the countrys economy The visit comes as the presidential race shifts to a general election matchup between Biden and former President Donald Trump, after Trumps last remaining significant challenger, Nikki Haley, dropped out last week. The presidents campaign announced Friday that he and Harris will visit every major swing state in coming days, while launching a $30 million, six-week advertising campaign on TV and digital platforms designed to highlight key themes from the State of the Union address to Black, Asian and Hispanic communities. That push will include buys during the NCAA basketball tournament, as Bidens camp attempts to leverage high ratings, like it says it did when airing an ad promising to defend abortion rights during the recent Grammy Awards. By the end of this month, the Biden campaign expects to expand from 100 staff members in seven battleground states to more than 350, while also opening more than 100 field offices. Trumps campaign is targeting essentially the same areas, looking to flip Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona after 2020 defeats there, while fending off Bidens efforts to make inroads in North Carolina and Florida. Bidens campaign is seeking to hit Trump hard at one of his most vulnerable moments, when the former president may be struggling to consolidate his party after the primary and as more potentially persuadable voters begin coming to terms with the fact that November really will be a 2020 rematch. We know that he lost in 2020 and so, in order to win, hes got to expand his base of voters to find new people to be with him, and that is not something that hes shown that hes really focused on, Biden campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon said on a conference call with reporters on Friday. Biden and Trump remain deadlocked in Wisconsin, according to a Marquette Law School Poll released in February, although the poll was taken when Haley was still a candidate for the Republican nomination. The poll found both Trump and Biden receiving support from 49% of registered voters, with 2% saying they had not yet decided. The results mark a slight shift from Marquettes November poll, which found Biden holding 50% support among registered Wisconsin voters to Trumps 48%, well within that polls margin of error. Of respondents who are very enthusiastic to vote, Trump holds a 19-point lead over Biden. However, Biden has more support among respondents who said they were somewhat enthusiastic, as well as those who are not very and not at all enthusiastic to vote. Today in history: March 7 1911: William Howard Taft 1926: Radio-telephone 1936: Adolf Hitler 1965: Edmund Pettus Bridge 1994: Roy Orbison 1999: Stanley Kubrick 2005: George W. Bush 2012: The Indianapolis Colts 2016: Peyton Manning 2017: CIA 2021: Team LeBron 2021: Oprah Winfrey VANCOUVER, BC, March 8, 2024 /CNW/ - Carbon Done Right Developments Inc. ("Carbon Done Right" or the "Company") (TSXV: KLX) (FSE: Q1C) formally Klimat X Development Corp. a company that carries on the business of developing validated and verified carbon credits from afforestation and reforestation of degraded land areas and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, for sale into international voluntary carbon markets, is pleased to announce the Company's intention to acquire London Carbon Exchange "LCE" in an all-share transaction for the equivalent of USD450,000 issued in shares at the date of the next placing, concurrent with the dual listing of the Company on the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market ("AIM"). Combined with the recently announced launch of the highly innovative Carbon Quantification System (CQS) that provides unprecedented transparency into carbon credit transactions this will further strengthen the Company's commitment to the rapid growth of investment in large scale carbon credit restoration and conservation projects on degraded and threatened land. The Company has agreed to acquire the London Carbon Exchange, a fully developed blockchain and enabled carbon trading platform in a share transaction from Supernova Digital Assets Plc. The platform is designed to serve three pivotal roles within the blockchain-enabled carbon trading ecosystem: Transparency, Traceability, and Verification of Carbon Credit Transactions: The primary function of the platform is to ensure complete transparency and traceability of Carbon Credits (CCs) obtained by Carbon Done Right's clients. This includes both the potential for immediate investment into the cost of carbon credit production and contracts for future credits that will belong to the customers. By leveraging blockchain technology, every transaction is meticulously recorded on a decentralized ledger, guaranteeing the origin, ownership, and complete transaction history of each credit is both verifiable and immutable. Decentralized Marketplace for Carbon Credits : The second role of LCE is to establish a decentralized marketplace for the trading of current and future credits. Leveraging smart contracts, the platform will automate the matching of supply (sellers) and demand (buyers) in the carbon credit market. This will facilitate a seamless, secure, and efficient trading environment, reducing the need for intermediaries and enhancing market liquidity. Tokenization and Trading of Carbon Credits : LCE will also introduce a mechanism for the tokenization of purchased credits that have not yet been retired, as well as for the pre-retirement trading of future credits. By representing the credits as digital tokens on the blockchain, LCE is intended to enable customers to trade these tokens in a secondary market. This will provide flexibility for customers to manage their carbon offset portfolios, allowing them to sell or exchange tokens representing their credits before the actual retirement of the credits, thus enhancing liquidity and price discovery in the carbon market. The newly expanded company will combine a strong track record in carbon credit nature-based project development covering four jurisdictions around the world, with a unique 'tree to trade' technology that brings the concept of radical transparency to bear on opaque carbon markets. The platform will allow for real time tracking of the growth and performance of restoration and conservation areas using the AI and machine driven Tree Counter technology, developed in partnership with the University of Copenhagen . . The combination of LCE with CQS will significantly expand the market reach of the Company, meeting the needs of a wide range of corporate buyers for greater transparency and increased risk management over their purchases, as well as allowing for earlier investment into the land base for carbon credit production. The Company has built a strong track in Sierra Leone, Suriname, Guyana and Mexico in restoring and conserving highly productive tropical forest and mangrove ecosystems. The most advanced model, in Sierra Leone, aggregates land leases from smallholder farmers who own unproductive degraded land and undertakes large scale restoration projects to plant a broad mix of native tree species. Land leases are secured under independently monitored Free and Prior Informed Consent rules. The Company has planted 1400 ha of forest to date and 14 ha of mangrove and has a previously announced pre-purchase agreement in place with BP Carbon Trading to plant a minimum of 5000 ha that will produce up to 1.9 million tonnes of carbon credits over 30 years. CQS tracks each individual tree at the time it is planted and combines proprietary AI and ML models, drone and satellite data to provide unprecedented levels of transparency into the health and growth of the natural assets. 'Radical Transparency' means that buyers can access the underlying smallholder contracts and have increased confidence about the equity of the benefit sharing agreements in place to significantly improve rural livelihoods in some of the poorest regions in the world. The 'tree to trade' technology will ensure smallholders are paid promptly and directly. The Company intends to expand operations in Sierra Leone beyond the areas that have been secured to date and will transfer the same model to other countries across Africa, starting in Ghana and Liberia. Approximately 90% of land suitable for restoration in Africa is held by smallholders. About Carbon Done Right Developments Inc. 'Carbon Done Right' is a technology enabled rainforest planting company that carries on the business of developing validated and verified carbon credits from afforestation and reforestation of degraded land areas and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, for sale into international voluntary carbon markets. Carbon Done Right works upstream as a direct owner and operator of projects, addressing a key supply constraint in the current market and the rapidly growing demand for carbon credits in global voluntary and regulated markets. The Company achieves this by investing in the exploration, restoration and management of terrestrial and marine systems that can either be protected to enhance the sequestration of greenhouse gases or restored from a degraded status to fully productive ecosystems. Carbon Done Right draws on the experience of a senior executive team and board that provide access into key target jurisdictions through relationships in the mining and natural resources sectors, combined with decades of experience in carbon markets. The company deploys capital at risk under various arrangements (including cooperation, assignment, and production sharing agreements) with large landowners and governments in various suitable jurisdictions around the world. On behalf of the Board of Directors "James Tansey" James Tansey Chief Executive Officer "Kevin Godlington" Kevin Godlington President Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward looking statements and information concerning the acquisition of London Carbon Exchange and the ongoing business of the Company. Carbon Done Right cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of Carbon Done Right including expectations and assumptions concerning the Company and the performance, market barriers, regulatory review requirement and functionality of the London Carbon Exchange. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Carbon Done Right . The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Carbon Done Right does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by securities law. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. SOURCE KLIMAT X Developments Inc. For further information: Carbon Done Right Developments Inc.: James Tansey, Chief Executive Officer, Email: [email protected], Website: http://www.klimatx.com; Yellow Jersey PR: Charles Goodwin, +44 (0)7747 788 221; Annabelle Wills, +44 (0)7775 194 357, [email protected] Designed to reflect kids today, the Cat & Jack assortment at Hudson's Bay features hundreds of pieces of versatile basics and on-trend styles for kids, from tanks and tees to shorts, pants and dresses, including stand-out pieces in denim and fleece. The starting price point is $7 and goes up to $35, with an average price of $15 within the assortment. Sizes range from 4 to 14 in both girls and boys. "Now more than ever parents are looking for stylish and durable clothing that is also affordable for their families," says Liz Rodbell, President and CEO, Hudson's Bay. "We're listening to customers, and are very focused on delivering an assortment that is relevant and reflects what Canadian families are looking for. Cat & Jack will be key in our kids assortment, and we know our customers will be excited that they can now get this loved brand in Canada." "Target has an industry-leading portfolio of dozens of owned brands that deliver amazing design at an incredible value to millions of consumers," says Bill Foudy, President, Owned Brand Sourcing and Development, Target. "As we continue to expand this established area of our business, we're pleased to work with Hudson's Bay to offer our popular Cat & Jack kids brand to Canadian shoppers in all Hudson's Bay stores and via TheBay.com." Cat & Jack will be available in every Hudson's Bay store, beginning March 14 in the majority of stores as well as on TheBay.com. Cat & Jack is available in Canada exclusively at Hudson's Bay. ABOUT HUDSON'S BAY Hudson's Bay helps Canadians live their best style of life. Operating TheBay.com featuring Marketplace, one of the largest premium life & style platforms in Canada, with a seamless connection to a network of 82 Hudson's Bay stores from coast to coast. Hudson's Bay has established a reputation for quality and style through an unrivaled assortment of products and categories including fashion, home, beauty, food concepts and more. Follow us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok. Hudson's Bay operates under the HBC brand portfolio. Founded in 1670, HBC is North America's oldest company. The signature stripes are a registered trademark of HBC. ABOUT TARGET Minneapolis-based Target Corporation serves guests at nearly 2,000 stores and at Target.com, with the purpose of helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. Since 1946, Target has given 5% of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week. Additional company information can be found by visiting the corporate website and press center. SOURCE The Bay For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: Tiffany Bourre, VP, Communications & PR, [email protected]; Megan Menard, Director, Public Relations, [email protected]; Jennifer Kron, Target Communications, [email protected] TORONTO, March 8, 2024 /CNW/ - The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is pleased to announce that TSSA President and CEO Bonnie Rose has once again been honoured as one of Canada's Top Women in Safety by Canadian Occupational Safety (COS) magazine. Bonnie Rose, President and CEO, TSSA (CNW Group/Technical Standards and Safety Authority - Research and Education) "I'd like to congratulate Ms. Rose for once again being recognized with this prestigious honour, especially fitting as we mark the International Women's Day today," said RJ. Falconi, Chair of TSSA's Board of Directors. "Bonnie has steered TSSA through an ambitious transformation into an Outcome-Based Regulator that uses data insights and other modern regulatory tools to improve safety for Ontarians. Thanks to her strong leadership, TSSA has a phenomenal foundation upon which it can advance safety standards, better target safety risks to reduce harm and blaze new trails in safety." TSSA has launched innovative regulatory initiatives that enhance safety for the province. These efforts include establishing compliance standards and a compliance support program that leverage data for harm reduction. Rose said, "Everyone at TSSA has worked together to improve safety. I'm very proud of the work we have done as One TSSA, working collaboratively with our valued stakeholders, for a safer Ontario." Rose was initially recognized as one of Canada's Top Women in Safety in 2021. Her leadership profile is now showcased on COS Top Women in Safety 2024 website. Canada's Top Women in Safety is a nomination-based award. Nomination needs to include the nominee's professional achievements over the past 12 months, initiatives and innovations, and contributions to the Occupational Health and Safety industry. About TSSA The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is one of Ontario's public safety regulators mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce provincial safety regulations and enhance public safety. Throughout Ontario, TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services include public education and consumer information, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support and enforcement and prosecution activities. The organization's vision is to be a valued advocate and recognized authority in public safety. SOURCE Technical Standards and Safety Authority - Research and Education For further information: Alexandra Campbell, Vice President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Technical Standards and Safety Authority, Telephone: 416-734-6227, Email: [email protected] Pharmacy Owner and Operations Manager Convicted of $2.3 Million Ohio Medicaid Fraud A federal jury convicted an Ohio pharmacist and his operations manager, a pharmacy technician, yesterday for conspiring to defraud Ohios Medicaid program. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Nathanael Thompson, 45, of Westerville, owned four pharmacies in Columbus, Ohio. Sanam Ahmad, 34, of Galena, managed the pharmacies. Thompson and Ahmad conspired to charge Medicaid for a particular manufacturers omeprazole, a type of proton pump inhibitor, which was reimbursable at a significantly higher rate than most omeprazole. In reality, the dispensed medication was generic omeprazole purchased at big-box warehouse retail stores. In addition, to maximize profits, Thompsons pharmacies put in place certain protocols to dispense omeprazole as though a doctor had prescribed the drug even when there was no prescription. The jury convicted Thompson and Ahmad of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and two counts of defrauding Medicaid. They face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the conspiracy charge and each health care fraud charge. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio, Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Mimura of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Chicago Region, Special Agent in Charge Jeff Krafels of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, and Director Steven W. Schierholt of the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy Executive made the announcement. The DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, USPS-OIG, Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Kathryn Furtado and Leslie Fisher of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Divisions efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. This story has been published on: 2024-03-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Oohs, ahhs and oh my's echoed through the empty auditorium of the Columbus Theater on 13th Street March 5 as some once-familiar faces walked through its shuttered doors. The Columbus High School Class of 1970 explored the building a bit, taking a trip down memory lane to the 1960's, when the theater was not only operational, but buzzing with activity. They were there in the hopes of seeing it live someday again. "We grew up here with Saturday morning cartoons, afternoon matinees. When 'Lawrence of Arabia' played, people were lined up around the block," Mike Applegate said. The group was there to present a check to Columbus in Action, a local nonprofit that has taken the initiative of saving the theater and renovating it into a space where live shows can be performed, hopefully drawing some traffic to downtown Columbus. "We meet pretty regularly, we have a very active class. We've done some fundraisers previously, wondered if we could do something in Columbus. I saw in the Columbus in Action catalog a big article about the theater, took it to the rest, we looked at it and decided we were going to go that way," Applegate said. The group reminisced on sneaking friends in back in the day, throwing candy at friends in the lower level, even the people who made theater run before it closed in 1992. One recalled sneaking in to see "Barbarella" starring Jane Fonda in the late '60s and seeing "Shenandoah" a few years earlier, a very emotional film for him. Terri Hoesly, the one who sent an email to the 300 people in the class to gather interest and support, said the class is excited at the prospect of the theater not only coming back, but with a new lease on life. "We think it's great, it's so good to have this part of the street renovated, people coming here to see plays and other productions here," Hoesly said. "We're also excited they're going to offer a spot where you can come in and maybe have a class reunion or things like that. Our class is always interested in stuff like that, and what better place than downtown Columbus?" The class also challenged other Columbus High School alumni classes to donate and to beat their $4,100 total. The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has called for stronger purpose and efficiency as measures of combating economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. Olukoyede made this call on Thursday in Abuja at the Opening Session of a Management Retreat of officers of the EFCC, themed, Repositioning EFCC for Greater Efficiency. He said the fight against corruption needed to be fought with vigour, tenacity of purpose, clear focus, doggedness, and efficiency to achieve optimal results. Every success in the fight against corruption will be determined by genuineness, efficiency, and need for higher productivity. Be painstaking in all you do, be thorough with a mind to respect the law, he said. He tasked officers of the EFCC to be ready to make more sacrifices and add more value to the work of fighting corruption. He charged the officers not to rest on their oars but to adhere to his three-pronged agenda that had been robustly presented to Nigerians. Olukoyede emphasized the need to respect the rule of law, maintaining that getting results was good but the method more important. Five police officers were killed in the early hours of Friday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital. According to sources in the area, the unfortunate incident occurred around 5am at Ebyia bridge, along Hilltop/Nwoke road. President Bola Tinubu has unveiled the Nigeria for Women programme tagged P-Bat Cares for Nigerian Women. Tinubu launched the initiative on Thursday at the State House conference centre in Abuja. The president was represented by George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF). The initiative comprises different packages such as an e-market portal, a national womens helpline, a Naija Save Nigeria integrity/transparency brigade, and a Nigeria be informed national broadcast channel. Tinubu said the programme is to advance the course of women and children in the country with a focus on empowerment and protecting rights. Speaking on the annual International Womens Day observed on March 8, the president said his administration is working to develop policies that will enable the growth of women but noted that policies alone cannot fix everything. We need a change in attitude, the determination to make things work, the determination to build our nation. This means knocking down the outdated obstacles that hold women back, he said. Social and gender norms are a critical underlying factor limiting the progress of Nigerian women, there are so many unspoken barriers to women empowerment, many of this start from birth of our female children and run the course of their lives, limiting them mentally and physically, this has to stop. This administration is very concerned about ending norms that affect our girl child and women. We need to take the diversity issue very serious, we need to do things differently, take a leap of faith, hire, promote and invest in our women. We know what it takes to have a more gender-inclusive country, we need to all make a deliberate effort to achieve this. It is time to empower our women. There is a limit, of course, to what the government can accomplish on its own. We extend a hand of partnership to all the stakeholders present and beyond, imploring them to join us in building our women and nation. Think of these and also of the millions of Nigerian women today, brimming with talent and potential, just waiting for the chance make their mark and turn their dreams into reality. WELL HEAD TO CJNS OFFICE AND CRY FOR COMPASSION Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs and social development, said the ministry will fight for the rights of women through legal means supported by the Naija Save Nigeria integrity/transparency brigade. Kennedy-Ohanenye said the brigade was created to ensure cases concerning women are promptly attended to at the courts. If the plan fails we will head to the CJNs office and cry to him, he will have compassion on us because he has a mother, the minister said. We will cry to the ones in the states and they will have compassion on us and listen. Theres nothing we will not achieve if we do so peacefully. If a woman has been maltreated, we will come out and make noise, come to our aid and trust me they will come to our aide. If a child is maltreated, we will make the same noise and attract attention of those who will come to our aid. We are asking for more compassion as women and a human being as a whole and reduce our wickedness and greed, trust me the country will move further. The minister added that women do not want to remain silent or continue to make noise in the usual way by going on protests knowing that Tinubu cares for them. Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has pledged to rescue all the students who were abducted by bandits in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area on Thursday. During a visit to the community to commiserate with them over the incident, the Governor assured the community of the support of President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Although the exact number of the abducted children is yet to be confirmed, Sani urged the community to remain calm and work with the government to secure the release of the children. He also announced that a security committee would be established in Kuriga and requested the establishment of a military base in the area to strengthen security. A Security Committee will be established in Kuriga, with membership drawn from key stakeholders in Kuriga Community, Security Agencies, and the State Government. I will make a strong case to the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff for the establishment of a Military Base in Kuriga to strengthen security in the area, Sani added. NAN reports that the governor in a statement later, said the Kuriga incident has reinforced the need for state police. The unfortunate Kuriga incident reinforces our positions in support of the establishment of State Police. With State Police, there will be a standing Police Force in Kuriga drawn from members of the community who understand the terrain, the people and the issues at play. They can gather intelligence with ease. They will also be constitutionally empowered to bear arms, including sophisticated ones. This is important because vigilante groups are not allowed to carry arms. They are always at the mercy of these criminal elements who have scant regard for human life, he added. A former Lincoln police officer fired two years ago is the latest to file a lawsuit against the city alleging sexual harassment and retaliation within the department. Laura Stokey worked at LPD from July 2018 until her termination Jan. 11, 2022, and currently works as an officer at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. "While working for LPD, Laura experienced sex discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation. After filing an internal EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) complaint about the hostile work environment, Laura was investigated and subsequently terminated," her attorney, Kelly Brandon, wrote in the complaint filed in Lancaster County District Court. City Attorney Yohance Christie declined to comment Wednesday, saying the city doesn't comment on pending litigation. Laura Stokey is one of seven current and former officers who have publicly alleged systemic harassment, discrimination and retaliation within the department for reporting it. In the lawsuit, Brandon said the discrimination started in 2019 after Stokey rebuffed a coworker's romantic advances and it got worse after she was transferred in the spring of 2021 to the Northeast Team, where the other officer worked. When Stokey was fired, then-Police Chief Teresa Ewins sent out a department-wide email tying her decision to a May 30, 2021, incident where Stokey had forgotten to log into evidence a bullet that she had found on a suspect. Brandon said Stokey had mistakenly left it in the pocket of her uniform pants, which she had left in her work locker. When the error was discovered five days later, she logged it into evidence and wrote a report about what had happened. Her supervisor, then-Sgt. Angela Sands, wrote her up for it. But that wasn't the end of it. Brandon said the other officer who Stokey had rebuffed had continued to harass and spread rumors about her and, despite Stokey's complaints, LPD failed to investigate it. Before leaving LPD, the employee told coworkers she was "going to stir the pot" and alleged to a captain that Stokey had lied on her report about the missing bullet, according to Brandon. She said Ewins ordered a second Internal Affairs investigation, where the officer said Stokey had washed it in her uniform pants and covered it up with Sands' help. Both women deny it. Stokey told the IA sergeant that the officer who made the allegation had long been on a campaign of hostility toward her, and this was just the latest attempt to smear her reputation, according to the lawsuit. In a little over two months, despite the IA investigation finding that the alleged dishonesty had not been sustained, Stokey and Sands were fired and Ewins told their former coworkers the two had conspired to cover up the mishandling of evidence. LPD submitted a report about Stokey with the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center that "locked" her ability to be a police officer and sent out a "Brady-Giglio" letter to various federal and state agencies, which raised questions about her trustworthiness. Stokey later received a letter from the training center that her law enforcement certification was no longer locked, based upon their review of her termination from LPD, and found no probable cause to revoke her law enforcement certificate. In the lawsuit, Brandon alleged members of LPD's command staff were aware of the discrimination that was going on and failed to take appropriate steps to deal with it. She said the unwelcome and offensive conduct was based on Stokey's sex or sex stereotypes for rebuffing advances of a coworker and because she was bold enough as a female police officer to speak out against the harassment, which had been by a female officer. "The unwelcome and offensive discriminatory conduct combined with LPDs negligence in failing to correct and end the harassment created a hostile work environment at LPD," she said. Stokey is asking for a jury trial. Sands previously filed a lawsuit that included similar claims, as has Erin Spilker, Sarah Khalil, Melissa Ripley and Sarah Williams. Luke Bonkiewicz also has alleged he was retaliated against for reporting harassment to his superiors at LPD but has not filed a lawsuit. To date, the city has only settled one of the lawsuits out of court, giving $65,000 to Williams, who left to work at the Omaha Police Department. In January, the city paid to settle lawsuits filed by two female firefighters who made similar allegations of discrimination at the Lincoln Fire and Rescue. They paid Amanda Benson $650,000 and Jessie Lundvall $250,000. Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, says every effort should be directed towards the release of schoolchildren abducted by bandits in Kaduna. On Thursday morning, bandits abducted over 200 students from a primary and secondary school in the Kuriga community in Chikun LGA of Kaduna. Obi, in a post on his X page on Friday, said better security measures need to be implemented to avoid future occurrences. Just yesterday, I was lamenting the horrible spate of killings, terror attacks, and abductions in the country, while calling for more concerted efforts to combat the continuing menace of nationwide insecurity, he wrote. We are again confronted with the ugly news of the abduction of over 200 pupils and students plus a teacher of local primary and junior secondary schools in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government area of Kaduna State. While every effort should be directed towards the safe release of the children, better security measures need to be implemented to avoid future occurrences. While insecurity has continued to bear down on every sector of our national existence, its negative impact on education will be more devastating for the nation. We are already contending with an army of over 18 million out-of-school children, arising from the closure of schools due to insecurity. Further attacks on schools will only aggravate these numbers, drive more children into the streets, and add to the insecurity situation of the country. The former Anambra governor urged the federal and Kaduna state governments to explore all possible means to ensure the safe return of the abductees. He also implored Nigerians to continue to work hard and pray for the nation. I once again appeal to the government, both state and federal, to explore all possible means to ensure the safe release of the abducted school children and their teachers, Obi added. I urge every Nigerian to continue to work and pray for the nation so that we can collectively conquer these unusual challenges. We must ensure that every Nigerian child can pursue their dreams and aspirations in a safe and secure nation. A picture showing Umar Bago, governor of Niger state, kneeling to greet President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa, has appeared on social media. Bago visited Tinubu at the presidential villa on Thursday. Bago was at the State House ahead of the planned visit of the president to Niger state. In a post published on X, Abdullbergy Usman Ebbo, special adviser on digital communications to Bago, said Tinubu will be welcomed to Niger on Monday. Ebbo said the president will launch machinery for large-scale agro-value chain development in the state. He added that Niger is the pilot state for the Renewed Hope Agenda on Food Security and Agricultural Mechanization in this administration. Niger State will, on Monday, March 11, 2024, welcome the Father of the Nation, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), to Minna Airport City Special Agro-Processing Free Zone (the first in Nigeria). Niger is the Pilot state for the Renewed Hope Agenda on Food https://t.co/Ldho0wjPJ4 pic.twitter.com/ZXd3SWL4PQ Abdullberqy Usman Ebbo (@Nupenchi_) March 7, 2024 As Mr. President prepares to launch the state-of-the-art machinery and cutting-edge technologies for large-scale agro-value chain development in Niger State, Governor Umaru Bago and the people of Niger State are preparing to show their unanimous love and support, the media aide wrote. NIGERIA HAS NO REASON TO BE POOR Speaking at the Leadership annual conference and award 2023 on Tuesday, Bago said it was shameful that war-torn Ukraine was sending grains to Nigeria. The Niger governor agreed with Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last election, who was present at the event, that the country must be productive. My boss (referring to Peter Obi), you are very right on what you have said. We have no reason to be poor, he said. People may not like you but they must hear you. What you say is the gospel truth. Nigeria needs to be productive. You cant be out of poverty unless you start to produce. Im not an advocate of handouts and palliative. It is high time we tell ourselves the basic truth we need to feed ourselves. Last week, Ukraine reportedly donated 25,000 tonnes of wheat as emergency food assistance to 1.3 million vulnerable, crisis-affected people in north-east Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu has condemned the abductions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno and students in Kaduna state. About 287 students went missing after bandits attacked the Government Secondary School in Kuruga, Chikun LGA of Kaduna state on Thursday. Pupils and staff of the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School in the community were also abducted. In Borno, over 200 IDPs were kidnapped by bandits from their camp in Ngala LGA of Borno on Tuesday. In a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, Tinubu directed security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the victims and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators of these abominable acts. I have received a briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered, Tinubu said. The president sympathised with the families of the victims, assuring them that they will soon be reunited with their loved ones. The Federal Government has inaugurated the Committee on the implementation and review of reports and White Papers on the Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, and Commissions also known as the Steve Oronsaye Report. The committee inaugurated on Thursday will be headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume. Speaking, Akume who inaugurated the committee on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, said the Oronsaye report was aimed at reducing cost of governance and streamlining efficiency. A statement by the Director, Information, Office of the SGF, Segun Imohiosen, said Tinubu gave the committee a 12-week deadline to submit its report. The statement reads: The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON, while inaugurating the Committee on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stressed that the implementation of the White Papers on the report which would involve the merger, relocation, subsuming or scrapping of some Parastatals, Agencies, and Commissions is aimed at reducing cost of governance and streamlining efficiency across the governance value chain, the statement read. President Tinubus approval for the implementation of the Oronsaye report comes twelve years after the panel submitted its report and multiple attempts were made at implementing its recommendations. He listed members of the committee to include: SEN. GEORGE AKUME, FNIM, CON Secretary to the Government of the Federation LATEEF OLASUNKANMI FAGBEMI, SAN Attorney General of the Federation/ Minister of Justice SEN. ABUBAKAR ATIKU BAGUDU, CON Minister of Budget & Economic Planning DR. FOLASHADE YEMI-ESAN, CFR Head of the Civil Service of the Federation USMAN HADIZA BALA Special Adviser to the President, Policy & Coordination DR. DASUKI IBRAHIM ARABI Director-General Bureau of Public Service Reform SEN. ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR GUMEL Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) ADVERTISEMENT HON. IBRAHIM KUNLE OLAREWAJU Senior Special Assistant to the President on the National Assembly (House of Representatives) HAKEEM MURI OKUNOLA Principal Secretary to the President RICHARD P. PHEELANGWAH Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office. Akume outlined the general guidelines of the Committee as follows: Review current mandates to understand the existing functions, responsibilities, and objectives outlined in the mandates of the Agencies. Identify redundancies and overlaps or conflicting objectives among the mandates of different organisational units. Define strategic objectives to ensure the revised mandates align with the strategic objectives and priorities of the government. Engage key stakeholders and gather input and feedback on the proposed revisions to the mandates. Draft clear, concise, and actionable revised mandates for the organisations involved in the restructuring. Ensure the revised mandates comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies governing government operations. Obtain necessary approvals from relevant authorities for the revised mandates. Effectively communicate the revised mandates to employees and stakeholders. Implement the revised mandates effectively and monitor their implementation to identify any issues or challenges. Yusuph Olaniyonu, the media aide to Bukola Saraki, an ex-president of the senate, says former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to fund constituency projects of the eighth national assembly because its members scrutinised his loan request. Olaniyonu was reacting to comments by Senate President Godswill Akpabio that he was not part of the red chamber led by Saraki noting that it only funded 40 percent of constituency projects. Akpabio was the minority leader at the time. Under the leadership of Saraki, the senate rejected a loan request by Buhari because it was not accompanied by explanations for projects he intended to fund at the time. In a statement on Thursday, Olaniyonu said Akpabio ought to know about the issue because he was the minority leader for about three years. Our initial response was to ignore the report because Dr. Saraki believes there are more serious existential issues confronting our country and her people like hunger and extreme hardship which should keep the leaders disturbed, busier, and more focused than throwing banters, the statement reads. However, he has also been persuaded by the need to explain the project funding process in the budget such that members of the public will not be misguided about the roles of the various institutions and individuals in the process. For clarification, the Saraki Media Office will want members of the public to note that then President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately refused to approve funds for the constituency projects of members of the eighth National Assembly obviously to punish the members for questioning some of the loan requests presented by the executive before the legislature. Instead of viewing the legislatures scrutiny of the loans request and the demand for elaborate explanations that would help in making informed decisions as democratic necessities, the Buhari governments reaction was to be hostile and to seek to stifle the performance of the legislature. The refusal to fund constituency projects of members of the legislature was used as one of the retaliatory instruments. That was the experience of the 8th National Assembly. Mr. Akpabio, as Senate minority leader for over three years in the four-year tenure of the 8th Senate, ought to know better and even his experience as Senate President in the last eight months also ought to have made him more informed. Sarakis spokesperson said the eighth senate could not be held responsible for failure to fund constituency projects. Presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale has described President Bola Tinubu as a workaholic, saying the president doesnt go to bed until 2 or 3 am every day, including Sundays. Ngelale disclosed this in a chat with Chude Jideonwo on Thursday. He said, Im saying hang in there because I can see an end to this. Im working with a man who I can personally vouch for because hes going to bed at 2am-3am every night, including Sundays. He [Tinubu] wakes up at 7am-8am every morning including Sundays. Opening his files, working into the late nights when no one is there to say anything good or bad about him. He is doing the work. He is a workaholic, and he is doing it all to build a country that is reflective of a progressive and advanced country that he has envisioned, amen way he did in Lagos. Im asking Nigerians to support the president, he means well, he added. The presidential spokesperson assured Nigerians that the current economic hardships will soon be a thing of the past. He said President Tinubu is working tirelessly to ensure the growth and progress of the country. Mike The Situation Sorrentinos brood is growing. The Jersey Shore star just announced the birth of his third child. Gym Tan Situation Family of 5 he posted on Instagram Thursday afternoon, tagging his wife, Lauren Sorrentino. We are overjoyed to announce the newest member of our growing Italian family. Luna Lucia Sorrentino born March 6th 2024 at 3:49pm weighing in at 5 pounds 6 ounces and 18.25 inches in length. Sorrentino, 42, shared photos of their newborn daughter in the hospital. The Sorrentinos, who regularly appear on MTVs Jersey Shore Family Vacation, live in Holmdel. Lauren, 39, and Mike were college sweethearts prior to his rise to fame on Jersey Shore. They got married in 2018 before Mike reported to federal prison in 2019 for tax evasion (he was released after eight months). The Sorrentinos shared their experience with miscarriage before welcoming their first child, son Romeo Reign Sorrentino (who has 458,000 followers on Instagram), in 2021, and daughter Mia Bella Sorrentino in 2023. 3 under 3 will be quite the situation but we wouldnt have it any other way, Sorrentino said in his post. Romeo will turn 3 in May and Mia is 1. Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup. A former corrections officer at the Essex County Jail has filed a lawsuit against county officials, alleging she was terminated after a prisoners suicide even though she was cleared of criminal wrongdoing. Idesha Howard, 47, states in court papers she had a stellar record as a jail employee, until the Essex County Prosecutors Office charged her in March 2022 with falsification of documents and of failing to conduct tours of at-risk prisoners. Howard retained an attorney who cleared her of criminal charges, and she was expecting to return to work but her employment was terminated instead, the lawsuit alleges. A spokesman for the Essex County Prosecutors Office on Friday declined to comment, saying prosecutors had not yet reviewed the complaint and citing a policy of not discussing pending litigation. A spokesperson for the jail did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment. The Essex County Jail has been under scrutiny for years with regard to the in-custody deaths of several prisoners. Four years before she was charged, Howard had been asked to fill in for officers taking a meal break during the overnight shift in the 2D3 Unit on Aug. 28, 2018. The unit is made up of just under 100 prisoners, with two officers responsible for making checks, according to the lawsuit, filed March 4 in state Superior Court of Essex County. Of the 100, about five were considered close custody, meaning they needed to be watched for various reasons and had cameras in their cells monitoring their movements. The suit states Howard observed all prisoners in the unit every 30 minutes through their jail cells. She observed the close-custody prisoners both in person and on a large monitor at the officers desk area, according to the suit. At times during the tours, plaintiff stopped to speak with inmates who were awake during her tours, the suit states. Plaintiff gave the inmates that she spoke with positive statements and hope. When Howard completed the assignment, she left the unit to take care of other responsibilities, including work in her role as union representative, the lawsuit says. In the following days, Howard learned a prisoner in Unit 2D3 had died by suicide. In September 2018, Howard was summoned to the Professional Responsibility Division of the Essex County Prosecutors Office. Howard went to the office with a legal representative and was questioned about her actions the night she had filled in for officers taking a meal break. After questioning, Howard claims she heard nothing more about the incident for nearly four years. On March 3, 2022, an assistant prosecutor from the Essex County Prosecutors Office served Howard with a summons and complaint accusing her of falsifying a document that essentially placed an inmate in a position where he was at risk of being harmed, the lawsuit states. After receiving the paperwork, she was served by jail personnel with a preliminary notice of disciplinary action and suspended without pay, the suit says. Plaintiff was suspended without pay because she had been served with criminal charges. It was also noted that plaintiff had violated the policies of the (jail) and this served also as the basis for the suspension, the suit states. At the time of the criminal and internal charges, Howard was on a list to be promoted to sergeant. As a result of the charges, plaintiff could not be promoted, the suit states. Howard retained a lawyer and fought the criminal charges. On July 12, 2022, the charges were dismissed. When the criminal charges were dismissed, plaintiff should have been returned to work. However, she remained out of work with no notice from (jail) personnel to return to work, the suit says, noting she was entitled under New Jersey law to get her job back. The suit says after the criminal charges were dismissed, the Essex County Jail had 45 days to refile internal charges against her, but they did not and no further investigation was done. In addition, the earlier internal investigation allegedly found that Howard did nothing wrong prior to the prisoners suicide, the suit says. The suit says Howard was terminated and forced to take a lesser paying job, which has caused her to experience economic hardships due to the alleged intentional actions of managers at the jail. The suit also states Howard, who is Black, was treated differently than white officers who received a slap on the wrist after being accused of wrongdoing. The suit alleges violations of New Jerseys Law Against Discrimination, malicious prosecution, interference with economic advantage, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiff lost income, and was subjected to humiliation, embarrassment, and persons that she worked with thought less of her because of the allegations made against her, the suit says. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Middlesex County police are crediting a bank for leading investigators to a Maryland man now accused of scamming an elderly customer. Zhongqiang Chen, 32, of Rockville, was arrested after driving to New Jersey to collect cash from the woman he allegedly scammed online, Sayreville police said Thursday. Chens attorney information was not immediately available. He is charged with multiple counts of theft and conspiracy to commit theft, police said. The Flagstar Banks location on Main Street in Sayreville called police after discrepancies gave the staff reason to believe the elderly woman was the victim of an online scam. Police said investigators found Chen allegedly targeted the woman through a pop-up message that urged her to contact a Microsoft phone number. The woman, police said, was convinced she needed to provide money to restore her compromised bank account. It was unclear Thursday if any other alleged scammers were involved in the scheme. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com. The captain and pilot of a Hudson River sightseeing boat have been charged in the deaths of two passengers after federal authorities alleged they acted in a negligent way while operating the watercraft. Richard Cruz, 32, and Jaime Pinilla Gomez, 25, both of Elizabeth, are charged with misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death, the U.S. Attorneys Office Southern District of New York said. They were arrested on Thursday and were scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court later in the day. The duo operated the Stimulus Money tour boat during the summer of 2022. During a ride on July 12, 2022, the boat capsized near Hudson River Parks Pier 86, resulting in the deaths of two passengers on board, a 48-year-old woman and seven-year-old boy, officials said. The impact caused all 13 occupants to be thrown overboard. Everyone except for the two victims were rescued by dive teams within 25 minutes and were conscious. The woman and boy had become trapped under the boat and both drowned, authorities said. Charging documents did not identify the victims, but NBC New York and several other media outlets identified them as Lindelia Vasquez and her nephew Julian Vasquez. Federal prosecutors allege that Cruz and Gomez operated Stimulus Money without the U.S. Coast Guard inspections and certifications that are required by law for watercrafts that accept paying customers. The men are also accused of traveling at a high speed leading up the crash during an advisory that prohibited them from doing so due to high winds and heavy seas. The boat was carrying 13 people at the time of the crash, while the capacity for that specific model, a 24-foot Yamaha AR 240 jet boat, is 12. Gomez, who was driving the boat on July 12, was also not wearing his safety device that could have immediately shut the engine off, authorities alleged. Cruz bought the boat in April 2022 from a person who listed it on Facebook Marketplace. He met the seller in Berkely Township, Ocean County, and paid in cash, according to the criminal complaint. At the time of the crash, he and Cruz had been accepting paying customers for rides in both the New York Harbor and Lake Hopatcong in northwestern New Jersey at a rate of $200 per hour, court records said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. After eight hours of debate across two days, a bill that initially would have expanded tenant rights and privacy in Nebraska eviction cases failed to overcome a filibuster Thursday, effectively killing the proposal that faced unexpected opposition from a group of conservative lawmakers. When the Legislature first took up the bill (LB175) Wednesday morning, it would have provided Nebraskans the right to a jury trial in eviction cases and allowed some eviction court records to be sealed from public view. But by the time lawmakers voted Thursday afternoon on the bill which was introduced by Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln and prioritized by Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington the bill had been significantly watered down in an attempt to appease conservatives who had cast the proposal as "an attack on property rights." In an effort to strike a compromise Wednesday afternoon, Dungan had reduced the number of times tenants could seek a "clean slate" following certain eviction proceedings under the bill and axed the provision that would have restored the right to a jury trial in evictions, replacing it with a separate proposal allowing eviction notices to be delivered electronically if tenants consent to e-notices. The Lincoln senator's efforts to reach a consensus proved fruitless. Even after the Legislature adopted an amendment narrowing the scope of the bill Wednesday, Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar continued to lead the filibuster of the bill that proponents of the measure failed to overcome Thursday. The Legislature voted 30-16 to shut off debate on the bill, a procedure that requires 33 votes to succeed. "I mean, I'm disappointed that it went the way it did," Dungan said, pledging to "keep fighting" for tenant rights in the Legislature. Slama, a fierce fiscal conservative who declared war against the bill early Wednesday, repeatedly characterized the proposal as "a big government bill" that, she and other conservatives argued, would mark the first step toward the erosion of the rights of the state's landlords. She accused the bill's proponents of "gaslighting" members of the Legislature to believe the initial draft of the bill would address a "constitutional crisis" Wednesday before shifting their argument and claiming Thursday that the bill would actually be helpful to landlords. "LB175 is a clear first step down the road of continuing to erode landlords' property rights," Slama said. "And there's no other way around it. It's a very simple bill. You're either in support of big government getting involved and forcing landlords to subsidize bad actors who rent from them, with one free shot for renters to misuse and abuse property that they don't own. "Or, you're a conservative who supports small government and landlords being able to talk about the actions they had to take against the tenant." Still, many of the Legislature's conservatives supported the bill. The Legislature's Judiciary Committee made up of four conservative and four liberal senators voted 8-0 to send the bill to the full Legislature last month, adding to it an amendment that established the right to a jury trial in eviction cases in Nebraska, which is one of eight states in the U.S. that has banned such trials. Nebraskans could seek a jury trial in eviction cases up until 1995. And in a concurring opinion last year, Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Jonathan J. Papik said a moot eviction case had raised "a potential constitutional problem in taking away that right an alarm that the bill's supporters repeatedly sounded amid debate Wednesday before ditching the jury trial measure. The bill ultimately failed to overcome the opposition led by Slama and bolstered by several senators who are, themselves, landlords. Three of the 16 lawmakers who voted against the bill including Lowe, Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus and Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard personally own rental properties, according to their latest financial disclosure filings. Midway through debate Thursday, Dungan seemed to chide some of his colleagues to their inattention to the bill because of the filibuster, which at times played out with few senators left in the chamber to listen in. The fact that were coming up on a vote in maybe an hour and a half or so and Im still explaining to people what this does despite the fact that Ive gotten on the mic now multiple times to explain what this does is a little bit frustrating, so I apologize for my tone, he said. But if people have questions, come talk to me. I would have liked to have been talked to before this filibuster happened. Debate derailed around noon Thursday after Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte suggested that some of the Judiciary Committee members said to have voted for the bill in committee didnt remember doing so, casting doubt on the committees report that members voted 8-0 to send the bill to the floor for debate and angering Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, the committees chairman. Its OK to play games. Its OK to change your vote. Its OK to say, I no longer support something for whatever reason whether I think its a valid reason or not, Wayne said Thursday, after placing the body under call to ensure the entire Legislature was in the room to hear his fiery speech. Whether its the governor influencing somebody and we dont have three separate branches of government I dont, thats fine. Its your decision, he continued. But when you implicate my staff, who dont get paid a whole lot, to say that were making up stuff, that you dont recall that is outrageous and disrespectful and it undermines the entire body! I thought we were better than this, he added. I thought it was gonna be different this year. But I see these last 20 days might be very long. The committees seven other members all confirmed either on the floor of the Legislature or directly to the Journal Star that they had, in fact, all voted to advance the bill from committee. And all eight members of the committee ultimately supported the failed effort to overcome Slamas filibuster Thursday afternoon. Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, said the vote was absolutely 8-0 but acknowledged that he had not explicitly said so when asked about the bill days later. Well, I did get a question a few days afterwards and the question came like, Did you vote for that bill? and I didnt remember voting for the bill, Holdcroft said Thursday. Thats what I said: I dont remember, because we had done so many. But, no, I we voted, as Sen. Wayne explained, we voted, we had the (executive session) and it came out 8-0. DeBoer, who had used her personal priority designation on Dungans proposal to help ensure it would be taken up by the full Legislature, said the episode had amounted to a telephone game that blossomed out of a misunderstanding one that did no favors for a bill that supporters expected would become law. It is gutting to see support for a bill dwindle, she said. How they voted A vote to shut off debate on LB175 failed Thursday, effectively killing the bill. Thirty-three votes were needed. Voting yes (30): Arch, Blood, Bosn, Bostar, Brandt, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, Day, DeBoer, DeKay, Dorn, Dover, Dungan, Fredrickson, Holdcroft, Hughes, Hunt, Ibach, Jacobson, Linehan, McDonnell, McKinney, Raybould, Riepe, Vargas, von Gillern, Walz, Wayne, Wishart Voting no (16): Aguilar, Albrecht, Ballard, Bostelman, Brewer, Clements, Erdman, Halloran, Hansen, Kauth, Lippincott, Lowe, Meyer, Moser, Murman, Slama Excused, not voting (3): Armendariz, Hardin, Sanders Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 Fans of the Battleship New Jersey can travel alongside or even catch a ride on the deck as the famed U.S. Navy ship makes its much-anticipated dry dock journey later this month, officials announced this week. The Battleship New Jersey, which has served as a museum on the Camden waterfront since 2011, will be towed back to Philadelphia for maintenance and repairs for the first time in over 30 years. The ship, also known as Big J, was built in the 1940s in Philadelphia. It has a long history dating back to World War II and served for over five decades before its retirement in 1991. Officials overseeing the move announced opportunities to witness the event in person, including a first-time-ever auction to ride on the vessel as it travels south on the Delaware River. Two sets of tickets each for one person and a guest are being auctioned off this month on eBay for a chance to ride on the ship as it departs from the Paulsboro Marine Terminal and travels to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for dry docking. As of Friday, the bidding for the first pair of tickets, which ends Monday, is up to $5,600. The bidding for the second pair of tickets will begin Monday and end March 15, Battleship New Jersey museum officials said. The Battleship New Jersey, in Camden, on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance When the ship leaves the Camden Waterfront on March 21 guided by tugboats traveling 5mph, the Paulsboro Marine Terminal is the first stop on its journey. There, it will be ballasted, or balanced to prepare for dry docking. Six days later, it will depart Paulsboro to arrive at the Philadelphia Naval Yard for the maintenance project, which should take about 60 days, officials said. Tickets to cruise alongside the battleship aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia sold out this week, but the museum is still offering tickets to board the Spirit of Philadelphias sister ship, Rendezvous. Only 100 tickets are available and they are $110 each, with a portion going to the battleships nonprofit museum and memorial, officials said Wednesday. The cruises will depart from Penns Landing in Camden at 11:30 a.m. on March 21 and the ship will begin moving from the pier at 12:10 pm, officials said. Once at the naval shipyard, the vessel will undergo three major repair projects, including repainting the ships hull, fixing the anti-corrosion system underneath the vessel and inspecting the through-hull openings. Navy regulations and guidance says decommissioned museum ships should be taken to dry land for repairs every 20 years, officials said. During its time in Philadelphia, tickets can be purchased for walking tours underneath the ship on Saturdays and Sundays from April through May while it undergoes repairs, according to the Battleship New Jerseys chief executive officer Marshall Spevak. This is sort of a once in a generation opportunity to come visit the ship on a tour on the dry dock and to see this ship move, Spevak said. For many of our remaining World War II veterans and for Korean War veterans and many of our volunteers who are getting older ... this will likely be the last time they ever see this ship move, he added. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Nyah Marshall may be reached at Nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com. Two homeowners groups are challenging New Jerseys preliminary approval of two new offshore wind power projects, saying they would be unlawfully costly to electricity customers. Protect Our Coast New Jersey and Defend Brigantine Beach and Downbeach filed an appeal to the approval Tuesday in state court, saying that power contracts granted to the project developers violate state law. The state Board of Public Utilities in January chose Attentive Energy LLC and Leading Light Wind LLC to build offshore wind projects. But the contracts they were awarded violate New Jersey law that mandates that any increase in rates for offshore wind must be exceeded by economic and environmental benefits to the state, according to attorney Bruce Afran, who filed the appeal on behalf of the groups. If these awards are allowed to stand, residents throughout the state could pay up to $20 billion extra for power and see their already high bills increase by up to 20% or more, said Keith Moore, government affairs director for Defend Brigantine Beach. Besides the cost to residents, the rate impacts to commercial and industrial users will be severe, up to 25 and 30% respectively. Many businesses may have to close under that financial pressure. The BPU declined comment Friday. In announcing the new projects in January, the board said they would add $6.84 a month to the average residential customers bill; $58.73 a month to the average commercial bill and $513.22 a month to the average industrial bill. Edward ODonnell of Whitestrand Consulting, who has prepared a report in support of the appeal, said the board has deliberately and improperly chosen to use hypothetical benefits to future global populations from reduced carbon emissions at an extremely high value to justify the exorbitant prices for power from these projects. The groups also say the board failed to include over $5 billion in added costs for onshore transmission upgrades, which they said will push electric rates even higher. At a press conference last week touting the projects, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said they will guarantee that New Jerseyans have access to clean, affordable energy produced right here in our state. The action brings the states total of preliminarily approved offshore wind projects to three the same level it was at before Danish wind developer Orsted scrapped its two wind farms proposed for the states southern coast in October. The projects join Atlantic Shores, a previously approved wind farm. The board is preparing for a fourth round of project solicitations. A man who was shot and injured by police in a hotel room in Old Bridge after he allegedly stabbed a woman had minutes earlier called 911 because he alleged people were threatening him, a court document said. Christopher Serrano began to stab the woman in the neck as police entered the room at the Hampton Inn on Spring Valley Road shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday, according to an affidavit of probable cause outlining an attempted murder charge against the 42-year-old Manalapan man. Serrano met the woman at the hotel earlier that night and later became furious when he thought she was talking to another man, the complaint says. Serrano called 911 and a short time later got irritated and retrieved a pair of scissors from his bag, authorities said. He then put one arm around the womans neck while using his other hand to place the scissors against her throat. When he heard police arrive at the door, Serrano began stabbing the woman, the affidavit states. Police fired on Serrano when they entered the room. The woman was brought to an area hospital with neck, head and arm injuries. She is expected to make a full recovery, authorities said previously. Serrano remains hospitalized Friday morning, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office said. The suspects attorney, Thomas S. Mirigliano of New York, couldnt immediately be reached Friday. The suspect is also charged with two weapons offenses. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. After U.S. courts and jurors decided and ruled a close to a half-billion dollar blow to former President Donald Trump, a judge in the United Kingdom has ordered him to pay the six-figure legal costs of a company he sued over alleged claims of perverted sex acts and bribes to Russian officials. A London judge, who threw out the case against Orbis Business Intelligence last month saying it was bound to fail, ordered Trump to pay legal fees of 300,000 pounds ($382,000), according to court documents released Thursday. Orbis was founded by Christopher Steele, who once ran the Russia desk for Britains Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6. Trump makes another move to avoid paying E. Jean Carroll E. Jean Carroll has a message for die-hard Trump supporters In battle with Trump, Biden has message for those who thought hed get his ass kicked Joe Scarborough flips at Trump supporters: Whats wrong with you people? Steele was paid by Democrats for research that included salacious allegations Russians could potentially use to blackmail Trump. The so-called Steele dossier assembled in 2016 created a political storm just before Trumps inauguration with rumors and uncorroborated allegations that have since been largely discredited. Attorney Hugh Tomlinson said at an October hearing that the former president suffered personal and reputational damage and distress over claims in the dossier that hed taken part in sex parties in St. Petersburg and consorted with sex workers in Moscow. Tomlinson said the dossier contained shocking and scandalous claims about the personal conduct of President Trump and included allegations he paid bribes to Russian officials to further his business interests. Orbis said the lawsuit should be thrown out because the report was never meant to be made public and was published by BuzzFeed without the permission of Steele or Orbis. Judge Karen Steyn, who sided with Orbis in her Feb. 1 ruling, issued an order several days later on the legal costs. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has referred to former President Donald Trump as an asshole, once joked that he belongs in a mental institution, and campaigned like hell for Trump rival Nikki Haley. But now with Haley out of the race, hes back on Team Trump. Im going to support the ticket. Im going to support Donald Trump, he told a New Hampshire reporter Friday. The news isnt shocking. Hes said on the Haley campaign trail hed get behind Trump if he were the nominee. But given some of the things he had to say about Trump and how hard he campaigned to try and get Haley to be the partys nominee, it may have some people scratching their heads. It wont be his party forever. Right? It just wont. At some point, Donald Trump wont be here forever, Sununu said last month at a public event. Let me put it a different way: Assholes come and go. But America is here to stay. And then there was the Gridiron Clubs spring dinner in 2022. Admittedly, the point of the event is to roast people. But Trump is notorious for enjoying being the butt of jokes (think of the infamous 2011 White House correspondents dinner). Hes f---ing crazy! Sununu said at the event, adding, The press often will ask me if I think Donald Trump is crazy. And Ill say it this way: I dont think hes so crazy that you could put him in a mental institution. But I think if he were in one, he aint getting out! Trump, for his part, has called Sununu a spoiled brat. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco. As officials squabbled over a controversial $500,000 consulting contract to deal with the coronavirus crisis inside state-run nursing homes, New Jerseys top health official made a prediction. This is going to be OPRAed, former state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said in a secretly recorded 2020 conversation, before nursing home deaths exploded into a scandal for Gov. Phil Murphys administration. It will hit the light of day. She was referring to the Open Public Records Act, the preferred tool of government watchdogs. Now, top Democrats in the state Legislature are fast-tracking legislation to overhaul OPRA for the first time in more than two decades, giving local, county and state government more resources, time and leeway to fulfill records requests. Transparency advocates are raising the alarm, saying the proposal would gut OPRA and make it harder for the press, activists and everyday citizens to shine light on government functions. I think this is such a backwards move for the state of New Jersey, said former state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, a longtime state lawmaker, now retired, who pushed to expand access to government records during her tenure. I hope my former legislative colleagues will look very closely at this and refrain from voting for it. The bill (S2930) is supported by the New Jersey League of Municipalities, which lobbies on behalf of the states local governments in Trenton. Michael Cerra, the groups executive director, said the bill addresses concerns that local officials and records custodians have been bringing to the Legislature for a number of years and modernizes the act to take into account emerging technology. OPRA was enacted in 2002 when cell phones were novel and The Matrix still felt like speculative fiction. Since then, the universe of government records text messages, spreadsheets, police body camera footage, an officials Outlook calendar has exploded. So, too, has the volume of requests, officials say. Towns are getting crushed by these requests, said state Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, pointing to a growing industry of data brokers that collect everything from criminal records to dog licenses for various commercial purposes. Supporters are also concerned about the personal information of private citizens, who often provide their social security or phone number to government agencies, expecting it will be kept safe. Among many changes, the measure would make clearer what personal information should be protected in the state. It would also make draft documents off-limits, allow agencies to sue requesters they deem harassing and do away with a requirement that governments that lose lawsuits over records requests have to cover the requestors legal costs. Critics say such provisions would take the teeth out of OPRA. The cases that involve grey areas of the law that need courts to weigh in on? Those will be nearly impossible to take because it will be too easy for an agency to evade fees by claiming their response was reasonable, said CJ Griffin, a public records attorney who often represents news media and gadflies in government disputes. Despite OPRA telling them to err on the side of disclosure, theyll all start erring on the side of secrecy because there wont be any penalty for doing so, Griffin said. All this in the state that brought you Bridgegate. And Jersey Hustle. Home to a senior U.S. senator accused of taking bribes of gold bars, a mayor charged with running his landscaping business from town hall and a local judge who told the cops arresting him on suspicion of drunken driving, Im a f--king judge. News organizations including NJ Advance Media have used OPRA to document how government contractors mishandled dead bodies, investigate boardwalk cheating at the Jersey Shore, probe deaths at nursing and veterans homes during the pandemic and conduct a statewide examination of police use of force, among other examples. Marc Pfeiffer, a senior fellow at the Bloustein Local Government Research Center at Rutgers University who helped draft the current law in the early 2000s, said reform was long overdue but that the bill as written doesnt solve many of OPRAs shortcomings. While the bill creates some streamlining, it complicates many issues, he said. Pfeiffer said the current bill doesnt address OPRAs biggest problem: the Government Records Council. Created along with OPRA to play referee between citizens and their government in records fights, the GRC takes more than two years on average to settle a dispute, a 2022 report from the state comptroller found. Its common knowledge among records-requesters that if you want to win a records fight in New Jersey, you skip the GRC and go right to court. I can reasonably say that it has never been adequately funded with the personnel and financial resources that it needs to do the job thats expected of it, Pfeiffer said. The measure allocates $8 million in funding, but doesnt specify how it will be spent. Top Democrats in the state Legislature who sponsored the bill arent talking. Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, the Senate sponsor of the measure, did not return messages seeking comment. Send your questions to my office, said Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, D-Somerset, the sponsor in the Assembly. Well take a look at it. His office did not reply. In a position paper circulated this week, the New Jersey Press Association which lobbies in Trenton on behalf of news organizations, including NJ Advance Media said it had been assured it would receive a copy of the bill to weigh in before it was introduced, but unfortunately, that did not occur, despite multiple follow-up inquiries by NJPA. The bill is on the fast track in Trenton. Sarlo introduced it earlier this week and legislative leadership has already scheduled it for dual committee hearings on Monday at 10 a.m. Thats less time than it takes many agencies to fulfill an OPRA request. This, of course, means that many who want to testify before both the Senate and Assembly committees on this critical piece of legislation, will be impeded from doing so, the NJPA said in its statement. This entire process is a disservice to the public. Gov. Phil Murphy also declined to discuss the proposals details. No comment on a bill thats not with us, but we are big proponents of transparency in government, he said Thursday after an unrelated event in Asbury Park. Were also big pragmatic proponents of transparency. Murphy and his fellow Democrats who control the Legislature have taken heat from transparency advocates over suspending OPRA deadlines during the pandemic and last year enacting the Elections Transparency Act a campaign finance measure that critics contended actually made elections less transparent. A package of bills introduced last year proposing similar changes to OPRA met fierce opposition and never received a full vote. John Donnadio, executive director of the New Jersey Association of Counties, another government lobbying group that supports the bill, said restricting public access to government records was never our intention. Our goal was to limit commercial requests that have inundated local officials, Donnadio said. I dont think it impacts the average, everyday citizen who makes a request. Id argue this makes it easier because they can access records online. Weinberg, the retired lawmaker, scoffed at the claim the bill as written was primarily meant to curb exploitation by commercial entities. For them to claim all theyre doing is correcting data mining, she said, I think they should read their own bill. NJ Advance Media staff writer Susan K. Livio contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @spsullivan. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @johnsb01. Well, that didnt seem to go as well as planned. The Republican Partys official response to Democratic President Joe Bidens State of the Union address Thursday was so cringy that even GOPers apparently had to look away. It was given by Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, who has been floated as a possible vice president pick for former President Donald Trump. And was something to behold. Ive watched thousands of hours of political videos in the past 20 years and I have never seen anything like Senator Katie Britts rebuttal to the State of the Union. pic.twitter.com/aMN5Q7hJn8 Yashar Ali (@yashar) March 8, 2024 Britts delivery blew Marco Rubios struggle in his SOTU response years ago for a sip of water, well, out of the water. Even among Republicans. She really thinks shes killing it. But its comical. Like SNL quality. Business Insiders Bryan Metzger reported a GOP Hill staffer told him, likening the rebuttal to giving high school freshman speech. And from Rolling Stone: Into the late hours of the night, Rolling Stone was inundated, sometimes completely unprompted, with messages from longtime GOP operatives, right-leaning pollsters, conservative Capitol Hill staff, MAGA lawyers, and even some senior members of Trumps own 2024 campaign absolutely torching Britts absurdly over-dramatic rebuttal. What the hell am I watching right now? a Trump adviser reportedly asked someone at Rolling Stone, according to the report. Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative Turning Point USA group, posted on social media: Im sure Katie Britt is a sweet mom and person, but this speech is not what we need. Joe Biden just declared war on the American right and Katie Britt is talking like shes hosting a cooking show whispering about how Democrats dont get it. I'm sure Katie Britt is a sweet mom and person, but this speech is not what we need. Joe Biden just declared war on the American right and Katie Britt is talking like she's hosting a cooking show whispering about how Democrats "dont get it." Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 8, 2024 Conservative commenter and podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey declared: Never again. Ok, GOP. Never again. I know yall were going for the relatable mom speaking in her kitchen from her heart, but it didnt work. Just a straight, strong speech will do in the future. Thanks Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) March 8, 2024 Sarah Longwell, a former Republican turned never-Trumper and publisher at the Bulwark, had one last thing to add: For months Ive been saying that Katie Britt is at the top of Trumps VP shortlist. But Im going to stop saying that now. Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) March 8, 2024 AUTHOR HTML: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco. UPDATE: Flood watch issued in 10 counties with threat of heavy rain in weekend storm A wild weather weekend is ahead for New Jersey with a stormy forecast including heavy rain, coastal flooding and wind gusts topping 50 mph after what should be a dry and pleasant Friday. The weekend gets off to a good start on Friday as the sun returns for much of the day with highs ranging from the upper 40s along the Jersey Shore to the mid 50s inland. Winds will be light before clouds increase later in the day and temperatures dip into the mid to upper 30s overnight, the National Weather Service said. The rest of the weekend outlook is less promising. Rain pushes into the state Saturday from southwest to northeast starting as early as 10 a.m. with the heaviest of the rain falling in the evening and at night before clearing out Sunday morning. Well end up with about a half-inch to an inch of rain in most places. The National Weather Service forecast for this weekend includes heavy rain, coastal flooding and wind gusts over 50 mph.AccuWeather.com Highs on Saturday will be in the upper 40s. If thunderstorms pop up, a few spots could see up to 2 inches, the weather service said in its Friday morning forecast discussion. By Saturday night, expect winds gust as high as 30 to 40 mph across most of the state and possibly higher along the coast. After a lull in the winds early Sunday, gusts will quickly strengthen and approach 45 to 50 mph with wind advisories likely to be issued by the weather service. Scattered power outages and tree damage remain concerns. Well have peaks of sun with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s. Windy conditions continue into Monday amid sunny skies and highs again the upper 40s to low 50s. Minor coastal flooding is expected much of Saturday and Sunday morning along the Raritan Bay, Delaware Bay, the Jersey Shore and along the Delaware River. Current weather radar Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com The start of Daylight Saving Time, when clocks spring forward an hour, finally arrives this weekend along with later sunsets and the official end of winter less than two weeks away. Daylight Saving Time will officially begin at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 10, 2024, nine days before the arrival of spring. Although the time change will trigger later sunsets, it also results in a later sunrise. The sun will set around 6 p.m. in New Jersey on Saturday. The following day, after the time shift and the end of standard time, sunset is at 7 p.m. The sun will, however, rise nearly an hour later at about 7:16 a.m. on Sunday after coming up at 6:18 a.m. on Saturday. Daylight Saving Time, sometimes incorrectly referred to by the plural Daylight Savings Time, begins the second Sunday in March and ends the first Sunday in November. Spring starts on March 19 at 11:06 p.m. When does Daylight Saving Time end in 2024? Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov. 3, 2024 at 2 a.m. Until 2007, Daylight Saving Time began at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in April and ended at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in October. While most states change clocks for Daylight Saving Time, there are some holdouts. Most of Arizona and all of Hawaii do not observe Daylight Saving Time. In addition, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not participate in Daylight Saving Time. Indiana didnt start observing Daylight Saving Time until 2006. Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 10, as clocks move ahead one hour. file The Uniform Time Act of 1966 allows states to exempt themselves from observing Daylight Saving Time. Any bill would need authorization of the U.S. Congress to be implemented, as federal law does not allow year-round Daylight Saving Time. Two bills introduced in the state legislature in New Jersey in 2022 that would establish Daylight Saving Time as the official time year-round remain pending, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. At least 29 states considered or were considering 75 pieces of legislation related to Daylight Saving Time last year, the NCSL said. Nineteen states have either passed resolutions or passed legislation calling for permanent Daylight Saving Time, the NCSL reports. While the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act in March 2022, the House of Representatives didnt act on it, so it never reached the desk of President Joe Biden. In 2023, 12 U.S. senators reintroduced the bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. A CBS News poll in 2022 showed 46% of Americans prefer year-round Daylight Saving Time, with 33% wanting year-round Standard Time and the remaining 21% happy to continue to switch back and forth. During World War I, the German Empire implemented an idea that most resembles the Daylight Saving Time that we observe today. Believing that it would conserve fuel during the war, the German Empire in 1916 became the first to switch its clocks to save daylight. Benjamin Franklin is credited with coming up with the notion of making better use of the days light. While visiting Paris in 1784, Franklin came to believe that sunlight was being wasted during the day. In a joking letter to the editors of a Paris newspaper, Franklin proposed a tax on all Parisians whose windows were closed after sunrise. He believed that this would encourage the economy of using sunshine instead of candles, according to Michael Downing, author of Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time. In 1918, the U.S. enacted the first Daylight Saving Time law as a way to conserve fuel. It was reintroduced during World War II. The U.S. put nationwide, year-round daylight saving into effect during World War II starting on Feb. 9, 1942, thinking it would help conserve energy, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Nicknamed War Time, it remained in effect until September 1945 when Japan surrendered. In 1973, President Nixon signed into law the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act, which made DST permanent in the U.S. This helped reduce confusion throughout the country with some regions of the U.S. participating in the practice and some regions opting out. The law was redacted less than a year later, though. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Do Kwon Extradition To South Korea Challenged Again By U.S. Prosecutors Terra founder Do Kwon has been caught in a legal battle between the United States and South Korea over which nation gets to extradite the crypto mogul to their turf. In a March 8 statement to Bloomberg, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed it still expects to receive Kwon within U.S. borders, despite a high court decision overturning those plans. The Do Kwon Extradition Battle The United States continues to seek Kwons extradition in accordance with relevant international and bilateral agreements and Montenegrin law, the Justice Department wrote. The United States appreciates the cooperation of the Montenegrin authorities in ensuring that all individuals are subject to the rule of law. On the other hand, South Korea is also ramping up efforts to get Kwon extradited. On Thursday, the National Police Agency of South Korea sent a letter to the Secretariat of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) requesting aid in extraditing Kwon from a Montenegro jail. This followed a High Court ruling earlier this week that revoked a prior ruling to extradite the crypto mogul to the United States, given misinformation about the order in which South Korea and the U.S. filed their petitions. Before this, the U.S. extradition had been approved twice by a lower court. Both nations are seeking out Kwon on charges related to his now-defunct Terra blockchain, an algorithmic stablecoin network whose spectacular blowup wiped out $44 billion of investor value in May 2022. Contagion around the blowup triggered more high-profile collapses at firms like Three Arrows Capital, Celsius, and FTX. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has since slapped Kwon with a litany of charges for deliberately defrauding investors, including by selling the platforms native LUNA token as an unregistered security. A Preference For South Korea An extradition to South Korea would be a win for Kwon, the country being a preference among Kwons lawyers, and more likely to offer him a lighter punishment. According to Terrence Yang, Managing Director at Swan Bitcoin, extradition to South Korea would be a travesty for victims seeking proper justice. The US probably has the largest number of victims by both number and dollar amount, Yang said. It seems a bit ridiculous for the Montenegro court to extradite Do Kwon to South Korea, where he might get acquitted or a comically light sentence as opposed to the United States. A U.S. court has already convicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried of multiple counts of fraud, for which he will potentially face decades behind bars. A group of South Korean Terra investors have also called for Kwon to be extradited to the U.S. where they say he will face proper punishment. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Variably cloudy with snow showers. High 38F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snowfall around one inch.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. The New Orleans City Council Thursday voted five to two to direct the landlord of the citys French Quarter apartment to evict Mayor LaToya Cantrell and remove her possessions from the unit, the latest development in one of the citys most embarrassing and avoidable scandals ever. The order specifically directs the French Market Corporation, which manages the Pontalba properties on behalf of the city, to remove Cantrells possessions from the apartment, to change the locks and put the unit up for sale. FMC has been reluctant to do so out of concern that they did not have the legal authority to evict the mayor. Moments before the vote, the council was discussing blighted properties and the unhoused in Treme. During the discussion, Council Member Eugene Green engaged in a lengthy, blistering monologue about the citys unhoused population. He complained that when the New Orleans Police Department does sweeps of areas where the unhoused live they come under criticism from the public. Green, who said he stands with NOPD, insisted the unhoused need to understand either you have to move or you risk arrest. When the council took up the eviction vote, however, Green took a markedly different approach to Cantrell who has her own private residence in the city remaining in the apartment, despite the fact that the council has passed ordinances against that. This is a very complex matter. I wish it was not so complex ... Im not even sure we have the power to force her out, Green said. Council Vice President JP Morrell, however, noted the council in August passed a measure on the apartment which gives the council the ability to take steps to address the situation. Green argued he still had reservations, saying I find it difficult to order an organization, of which the mayor is the only shareholder, to evict the mayor." Green and Council Member Oliver Thomas voted against the measure. Im tired of talking about this. It's embarrassing, Council Member Freddie King said, echoing the sentiments of much of the city. None of us wants to be here today ... last year we spent a tremendous amount of time trying to resolve this, Morrell said. There was every effort by this council to compromise ... the council gave an inch, the mayor took a mile. In theory, the vote should bring the 18-month long Pontalba apartment scandal to a close. But council members thought the same thing last April when they passed an ordinance essentially barring Cantrell from living in the apartment only to have to pass a second, more explicit ordinance months later when she ignored the law. Philippine Central Banker Unveils Project Agila: A Leap into wCBDC Pilot The central bank of the Philippines (BSP) aims to complete a CBDC pilot by the end of the year, according to a local press report. Central bank Deputy Governor for Payments and Currency Management Mamerto Tangonan told a press briefing Wednesday: For CBDC our timeline for that is to complete the pilot this year, towards the end of this year. He called the pilot a learning exercise [] to assess whether this technology is what, itself, claims to be. He added: So we are piloting it, testing it with the six other domestic financial institutions. The six financial institutions involved are BDO Unibank Inc., China Banking Corp., Land Bank of the Philippines, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Union Bank of the Philippines, and Maya Philippines Inc. We are using it to transfer funds among these financial institutions, he explained. But we also like to see if this wholesale CBDC can be used for higher value-adding services like securities settlement. He then gave a compelling vision of a Philippines with more democratized access to securities and similar investment instruments, meaning they could be purchased for smaller issue sizes and much much lower fees so that any Juan or Maria cannot only dream but actually own securities. The Philippines in Recent Crypto News In February, the BSP Governor Eli Remolona in an interview disclosed details about the Philippino CBDC project. He said it would not be on a blockchain but on a private payment and settlement system owned by the bank. Remelona also revealed that it would be a wholesale CBDC (wCBDC), meaning that it would not be available to retail anywhere else than through banks, the licensed intermediaries, for use in wholesale transactions. He added that the idea is to build a system where the CBDC complements cash. Remolona listed potential issues with retail CBDCs as disintermediation, bank runs during financial stress, and magnifying the central banks footprint. Just yesterday, the Philippine National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) began blocking unlicensed crypto platforms in the country in line with a directive issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. For now, Binance remains accessible, although SEC Chairman Emilio Aquino said the Commission will eventually block Binance after the regulator has managed an internal transition. An official statement from the Commission itself said it needed more time to analyze the ramifications of blocking Binance and prepare accordingly. Broadly speaking, the Philippines is grappling with crypto cautiously. As with other countries, the technological convenience of crypto is whats really winning regulators and lawmakers over. Last year, the countrys Bureau of the Treasury announced plans to issue at least 10 billion pesos (approximately $180 million) worth of one-year tokenized Treasury bonds on a blockchain system. Anti-death penalty activists place signs along the road heading to Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala., ahead of the scheduled execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. The state plans to put Smith to death with nitrogen gas, the first time the new method has been used in the United States. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler) Tether, NAPP of Uzbekistan Sign MoU to Explore Blockchain, Digital Assets Tether, the issuer of the worlds largest stablecoin by market cap, USDT, is collaborating with the National Agency of Perspective Projects (NAPP) of Uzbekistan. NAPP is tasked with crypto regulation in the country. Tether Partners With NAPP Of Uzbekistan In a press release on March 7, Tether said the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signifies a strategic deal aiming to position Uzbekistan as a leader in peer-to-peer (P2P) and blockchain technology. The collaboration will also explore the development and adoption of blockchain, stablecoins, and tokenization, among others. In recent months, industry leaders, including BlackRocks Larry Fink, have backed tokenization as the next frontier. The success of stablecoins, mainly USDT, the token issued on multiple blockchains, including Ethereum and Tron, highlights the benefit of tokenization. Every USDT in supply tracks the value of USD. As part of this collaboration, Tether will also contribute to developing the crypto legal framework and policy. According to the press release, Tether will help create and implement Uzbekistans digital currency and payment infrastructure. Uzbekistan has yet to officially announce plans to release its central bank digital currency (CBDC) or token. The MoU between Tether and NAPP will also look at stimulating economic growth and contributing to tech innovation. Further efforts will be made to promote blockchain and crypto education. Tethers global strategy of building resilient cities and nations will continue to live on with this initiative. Buying Bitcoin And Investing In Mining Farms In Q4 2023, Tether bought $380 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC), bringing its total haul to 66,465 BTC. The company started purchasing BTC in September 2022, initially acquiring 33,980 BTC. Besides direct purchases, Tether is active in Bitcoin mining and energy production. The firm has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in building mining firms in South America and financing other centers, including Northern Data AG. One of the last surviving D-Day veterans has reached a remarkable milestone as he has turned 100-years-old at Kenwith Castle care home in Bideford. John White celebrated his landmark birthday on February 11 and enjoyed a special afternoon tea with his family, because as a Yorkshireman, he didnt want any fuss. His bedroom was filled with 100th birthday cards, including his special card from King Charles and Queen Camilla, banners, balloons and his favourite chocolate treats. The centenarian joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 18 and played a pivotal role in World War Two, serving in the D-Day landings and traversing France and Germany as a driver. His wartime experiences also led to a chance encounter with his late wife, Betty, who was in the Women's Royal Air Force and they were married at the end of the war. En route to their honeymoon, John was even tasked with driving Hermann Gorings staff car to an American airbase to be flown over to the United States. Above shows John sat in Hermann Gorings staff car which he drove to the US airbase. Moving to Barnstaple, John and Betty welcomed a child into their lives, his late daughter Lynne. John then went to work for BT for 37 years before retiring in Barnstaple. Betty passed away in 2020, just a few weeks prior to the couple's 70th wedding anniversary. When asked what the secret was to living to reach 100, John said that he only smoked for 3 months and then he gave up. Catherine, Activities Assistant at Kenwith Castle said: John is a joy to look after at our care home. We were only too keen to make sure he felt like a VIP on his 100th birthday. As John celebrates his centenary, the world will also commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings later this year. The Normandy landings, launched on June 6, 1944, as part of Operation Overlord, marked a turning point in World War II. US Prosecutors to Appeal Montenegrin Courts Decision to Extradite Do Kown to South Korea US prosecutors aim to appeal the Montenegrin High Courts decision to extradite former cryptocurrency mogul Do Kwon to South Korea to face charges related to the $40 billion collapse of the TerraUSD stablecoin in 2022. The US Justice Department stated on Thursday that it will continue to seek Kwons extradition in accordance with relevant international agreements, bilateral agreements, and Montenegrin law, according to a Bloomberg report. The United States appreciates the cooperation of the Montenegrin authorities in ensuring that all individuals are subject to the rule of law, the authorities wrote. Do Kwon Remain in Custody in Montenegro Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs Pte, was arrested in Montenegro in March 2023 for using a fake passport. Kwons arrest triggered competing extradition requests from prosecutors in Seoul and New York. While the court ruling may be viewed as a victory for Kwon, as his lawyers have expressed a preference for him to be extradited to South Korea, some legal experts in the crypto industry have raised doubts about the decision. Terrence Yang, a managing director at Swan Bitcoin and former counsel at Merrill Lynch, called the ruling a travesty and questioned the wisdom of sending Kwon to South Korea. The US probably has the largest number of victims by both number and dollar amount, Yang said. It seems a bit ridiculous for the Montenegro court to extradite Do Kwon to South Korea, where he might get acquitted or a comically light sentence as opposed to the United States. The SEC has been pursuing a civil case against Terraform Labs and Kwon, linking their operations to an alleged $40 billion cryptocurrency fraud. Previously, the SEC agreed to postpone Kwons trial to mid-March due to Kwons extradition request. Kwons legal team filed an appeal against the Montenegro High Courts decision to uphold the extradition requests from both the United States and South Korea. Moreover, Do Kwons legal representative in Montenegro Goran Rodic has presented an argument favoring Kwons extradition to South Korea over the United States. Terraform Labs Files for Bankruptcy Terraform Labs filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on January 21, citing estimated assets and liabilities between $100 million and $500 million. The company later said that the bankruptcy protection filing would enable the pursuit of an appeal against the SECs securities fraud lawsuit. In a filing, Terraform Labs CEO Chris Amani emphasized the importance of bankruptcy protection for the companys operations and the preservation of value for stakeholders, including the Terra community. Childrens Hospice South West (CHSW) is relaunching its Business Club and invites businesses from across the South West to join its regional business networking club; connecting with like minded business supporters who care about their community. The charity, which runs three childrens hospices including Little Bridge House in Barnstaple, launched its Business Club initiative in 2021 as a way for companies to stay connected during the pandemic. Since it started, more than 150 members have joined forces to share ideas and raise awareness of their business at special networking events, while their support has also helped CHSW to continue providing vital hospice care for hundreds of local children and their families. Emma Perry, Head of Fundraising at Little Bridge House said the charity hoped to reach out to even more businesses big and small in 2024. Emma said: As a regional charity, we partner with businesses of all sizes, from family run firms to national brands. If you join our Business Club you will have the chance to network and share ideas with this inspiring community of like minded businesses. Members also benefit from coverage on CHSWs social media channels and receive regular updates about how their support is making a difference. The charity is holding various Business Club member events throughout the year with its first one also open to non-members on 12 March at Little Bridge House from 8:00am 10:00am. This event will provide the opportunity, alongside networking, to hear from CHSW about the care currently being provided to local families by Little Bridge House childrens hospice. Other events will be happening in Devon throughout the year on July 1, 2024 and October 16, 2024. As a regional Business Club, regular events are also scheduled across Somerset and Cornwall throughout the year too if members wish to attend and make new connections. Emma continued: It costs just 300 to join for the year, less than 1 a day, and provides 12 months of opportunities, as well as the knowledge that your business is part of a family of supporters ensuring CHSW is there for local families now and in the future. We hope this year that our Business Club is going to be bigger and better than ever before and we cant wait for you to join us. To find out more about CHSWs Business Club and its upcoming events or to sign up, visit www.chsw.org.uk/businessclub Worldcoin Controversy Benefiting South Koreas Bithumb Exchange Worldcoin controversy in South Korea is driving trades on the Bithumb crypto exchange, a media report has claimed. According to Busan Ilbo, trading in the Worldcoin (WLD) token has spiked in the wake of a new Personal Information Protection Commission probe. This has seen WLD trading balloon on the platform. On March 4, 24-hour Worldcoin trading surpassed Bitcoin transaction volumes by nearly 2 billion won [over $1.5 million]. Worldcoin Controversy: Bithumb a Beneficiary? Authorities believe that at least 50,000 South Koreans hold WLD tokens. However, the coin has reportedly gained great popularity among crypto investors in recent weeks. The media report noted that as of 6:30 am UTC on March 7, 24-hour WLD trading volumes on Bithumb hit the $107.3 million mark. These figures were only surpassed by two other tokens: Bitcoin and Dogecoin. Bithumb has benefited from listing the coin, unlike its closest rival Upbit which once dominated the market in almost every trading pair. On March 7, Spanish regulators ordered the Sam Altman-orchestrated Worldcoin project to halt operations in the nation. This has likely sparked more trading fervor on Bithumb. At the time of writing, WLD transaction volumes on the platform were higher than all but SHIB and BTC. The media outlet wrote: This is all good news for Bithumb. Typically, cryptoasset exchanges make money from commissions generated from trading. In other words, the more active WLD traders are, the more profit Bithumb can make. WLD holders seem confident that despite the Worldcoin controversy in South Korea, their investments are safe for the time being. The report noted that even if the regulator rules that the Worldcoin project violates personal information protection protocols, the industry consensus is that delisting is still a long way off. Worldcoin officials have temporarily suspended iris scanning in South Korea until at least March 20. Bithumb appears resolute on the matter. A spokesperson told the outlet that the exchange was following the deliberations of the Personal Information Protection Committee. The Bithumb spokesperson said that it was still too early to discuss Worldcoin delisting-related matters. Self-regulating Body May Eventually Decide WLDs South Korea Fate However, the exchange conceded that if the committee were to rule in the negative against the project, a body named DAXA would make delisting-related decisions. Spain blocks Sam Altmans eyeball-scanning venture Worldcoin https://t.co/THiU9YX0QC Financial Times (@FT) March 6, 2024 DAXA, short for the Digital Asset Exchange Association, is a self-regulating body that comprises the nations five licensed, KRW-trading crypto exchanges. Both Bithumb and Upbit are members. The body makes decisions on a wide range of crypto-related matters, including token listing and desisting policies. Spanish regulators have said it has concerns that Worldcoin representatives have collected data about minors. They have also said the firm failed to follow domestic data laws that allow users to exact greater control over their private information. The South Korean Personal Information Protection Committee, meanwhile, said that it had received complaints Worldcoins handling of personal information and iris scanning activities. The committee said Worldcoin representatives were still collecting facial and iris recognition data at some 10 locations in the country. Hong Kongs data protection authority has also investigated six Worldcoin operators over similar concerns. CROWN POINT A Lake Criminal Court jury found a Hobart man guilty of molesting an 11-year-old girl on multiple occasions after deliberation Wednesday, a Lake County prosecutor's office spokeswoman said. Aaron Seidel, 39, was found guilty of two counts of child molesting, a level four felony. Level four felonies carry a possible sentence of between two and 12 years. The jury heard testimony from multiple witnesses including the victim, a Hobart police detective and forensic interviewer throughout the approximately two day trial in Judge Gina Jones' courtroom. The victim, now age 15, testified in court Tuesday that she first met Seidel through her mother. Seidel first touched her a few months after her mother moved into an apartment on the 300 block of Main Street in Hobart. As they sat in the living room together he massaged her shoulders, which progressed to her upper chest, then stomach, then lower body. She said he touched her in the spot "where you go to the bathroom." She described the touch as a "gentle press" over her clothing. The second time Seidel allegedly molested her was a few months later while she was getting ready to go to sleep while in a trailer on the 500 block of East 37th Avenue. They went into her bed and played a game on their phones together, but Seidel left after awhile to let her go to sleep. She heard her door open a few minutes later and saw someone come in, she said. The victim testified she didn't actually see Seidel himself come in, but determined it was him because her mom and brother were asleep in their respective rooms. Seidel used a flashlight to look at her genitals and rubbed her vagina over her pants before going to the bathroom to wash his hands. After this, he left the room. The victim eventually told her brother what happened and then told her father, who contacted authorities. When asked by prosecutors why she never told anyone, she said it was because she was scared. Seidel had instructed her not to tell anyone, especially her mother. "I would just want to freeze up and go hide somewhere," she said of how she felt during the touching. Hobart police Lt. Robert Brazil said he started investigating the case in October 2019 when a Child Protective Services investigator in LaPorte County reached out to him with information on a molestation that was revealed to them by the victim. She told a forensic interviewer that it happened first in March 2019 and again in September 2019. Brazil said Seidel denied any wrongdoing and denied ever being home alone with the victim. Seidel, who is a registered sex offender, was previously convicted of a federal sex offense in 2014. A sentencing hearing for Seidel has not yet been set. CHICAGO An alleged road rage incident on a nearby stretch of a Chicago expressway resulted in arrest this week of a 26-year-old man on a charge of attempted murder, Illinois State Police said. The arrest comes amid two separate vehicle shootings in Northwest Indiana this week, one involving a fatality stemming from road rage, police have said. Illinois police say they were notified around 12:30 a.m. Monday about a shooting along the southbound lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway near 91st Street. "A minor sideswipe collision occurred between the suspect vehicle and the victim vehicle," police said. "An occupant in the suspect vehicle then fired a weapon, striking the victim vehicle. The victim was uninjured, and the suspect fled the scene." An investigation led police to 26-year-old Eric D. Peterson, of Chicago, who was taken into custody Wednesday "A weapon was also recovered," according to police. Fatal I-94 shooting of Chesterton man ruled a homicide by coroner CROWN POINT Wednesday morning's fatal shooting of a Chesterton man along the local stretch of Interstate 94 has been ruled a homicide by the "ISP reminds the public that when it comes to aggressive driving, dont lose your temper or your life. Road Rage. Dont Engage." "If you are the victim of road rage or believe a driver is following or harassing you, call 911 and/or go to the nearest police department to report it," police say. For more information about how to avoid road rage visit isp.illinois.gov/TrafficSafety/RoadRage. Vehicle struck by gunfire in Portage just hours after fatal I-94 shooting, police say PORTAGE Just hours after a 55-year-old Chesterton man was shot to death Wednesday during a suspected road rage incident along the local stre A 55-year-old Chesterton man was shot and killed early Wednesday during an alleged road rage incident along Interstate 94 near Ripley Street, Indiana State Police said. The shooting of Mark Brant was ruled a homicide this week by the Lake County Coroner's Office. Then around 5:14 p.m. Wednesday, Portage police said they were notified that a vehicle was struck by gunfire near the intersection of U.S. 6 and Lake-Porter County Line Road. Two other vehicles were involved in that shooting and police said they do not believe the damaged vehicle was the intended target of the shooting. No one was reported injured. CROWN POINT A Merrillville man was found guilty Thursday afternoon of murdering a 44-year-old man after an argument over car batteries led to the violence in 2018. Hillard Hathaway, 52, was found guilty of one count of murder for fatally shooting Danny Leake on Jan. 25, 2018 in an empty car lot on the 1400 block of East 49th Avenue, according to Lake County prosecutor's office spokeswoman Myrna Maldonado. He was found not guilty of the attempted murder of another man who testified during trial on behalf of the prosecution. The jury deliberated for four hours. Lake Criminal Court Judge Samuel Cappas will take a firearm enhancement under advisement, which was filed with the original case. Firearm enhancements add between five to 20 years onto a sentence. Eyewitness Arthur Smith testified Tuesday that he and Leake had grown up together and recently decide to go into the business of "junking" and selling cars together. On the evening of Leake's murder, they drove to Chicago to run a work-related errand and upon returning to Gary, stopped at a liquor store. While on the way, their car began to break down, Smith said, so he called his child's mother to come pick them up from the store and take them to get a tow truck. They obtained the tow, went back to the store and discovered the vehicle was all-wheel drive and they would need a flat bed. They then went to the empty lot, which was owned by Smith's godfather, he said. When they arrived, they saw two vehicles parked in front of the gate that they did not recognize, Smith said. He and Leake saw a man with a flashlight who appeared to remove car batteries from another vehicle. He knew the man as "Hilton" because the two had met a few days prior to do business. When prompted, "Hilton" said he was simply working on his truck. Smith wasn't sure if he was telling the truth and asked "Hilton" to leave and call the driver of the Suburban, Michael Brown, who had left the scene by then. The conversation was not hostile, Smith said. Smith said he asked "Hilton" for Brown's number, then called Brown and asked him to bring back the batteries. Brown said he was on his way back and "Hilton" then drove off. Smith said he and Leake waited around for about 40 minutes for Brown to come back. They drank beers to pass the time. They saw the Suburban pull up and Leake approached the car window. Smith saw the man he knew as "Hilton," whom he later found out was Hathaway, pointing a gun at Leake. Smith rushed over and placed himself in between the two men. Neither Smith nor Leake had a weapon. Leake and Hathaway began to argue and eventually Hathaway started shooting, Smith said, chasing Leake around a tree. Smith saw Leake grab his upper torso, bend over, and fall to the ground. A sentencing hearing for Hathaway has not yet been set. His co-defendant, Michael Brown, 42, was found not guilty of the murder in a November 2018 trial. HAMMOND Hundreds of elementary students got the opportunity on Thursday to learn more about college and career opportunities Thursday as education leaders look to find ways to introduce post-secondary options. During Franklin Elementary School's annual College and Career Expo, students, most of them sixth graders, could speak with middle school and high school counselors, learn about local colleges and universities, and interact with professionals from various fields. Jackie Minkalis, a school counselor at Franklin, has put together a college and career event nearly every year since 2020. Initially, it was meant for just Franklin students but has expanded to include students from all Hammond elementary schools. According to Minkalis, the event is a way to tie in what students are learning in the classroom to their future career plans. "We're just making sure that our kids know that they can achieve whatever they want to achieve," she said. Around 75 vendors were present Thursday, with Minkalis noting that each year more local partners are reaching out to her to take part in the event and spend time with the students. Minkalis stressed the importance of making students aware of post-secondary options at a younger age, saying that for some students, waiting until high school might be too late. School City of Hammond's College and Career Coordinator Lydia McNeiley said Franklin's event was a prime example of the district's efforts in exposing students to post-secondary opportunities at earlier grade levels. McNeiley also noted Purdue University Northwest's involvement in providing college and career readiness to students in the district, such as with the TRIO programs, which provide support services mainly for low-income and first-generation students to prepare them for post-secondary education. Officials from the Indiana Department of Education were also present at the college and career. Flora Jones, the department's director of student pathways, said they were looking to increase knowledge of post-secondary readiness in elementary and middle schools across the state. The IDOE official also emphasized the need to provide college and career readiness not just through events, but also through classroom instruction. GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week CROWN POINT The individual held for questioning in the wake of Wednesday's fatal shooting along Interstate 94 has been released as the investigation continues, Indiana State Police announced Friday afternoon. "No other information regarding the incident is able to be released," according to ISP. Porter County cop injured in high speed chase ending in fiery crash A pursuing Porter County police vehicle was reportedly unable to avoid crashing into the Audi and the officer suffered a possible broken thumb and his head struck the inflated airbag in his vehicle. ISP said an individual involved in the alleged road rage incident and subsequent shooting contacted police around 4 a.m. Wednesday. "At this same time, reports began to come in of a single vehicle crash on I-80/94 westbound at the 12.8 mile-marker (just west of Ripley Street)," ISP Sgt. Glen Fifield said. "The original caller stopped their vehicle on I-65 near 61st Avenue," he said. "Troopers responded to both the crash scene and to the callers location." Officers spoke to the original caller about the confrontation and took the person into custody, Fifield said. Other troopers began providing first aid to the driver and lone occupant at the crash scene, but found he was deceased, Fifield said. The deceased driver was identified by the Lake County Coroner's Office as Mark Brant, 55, of Chesterton. Brant's cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide by the coroner. The shooting and subsequent investigation brought the westbound lanes of the busy highway to a halt for several hours during the morning commute Wednesday, according to police. Just hours after the shooting around 5:14 p.m. Wednesday another vehicle was reportedly hit by gunfire near the intersection of U.S. 6 and Lake-Porter County Line Road, according to Portage police. That case, which does not appear to have resulted in injuries, remains under investigation, police said. An alleged road rage incident on a nearby stretch of a Chicago expressway early Monday resulted in arrest this week of a 26-year-old man on a charge of attempted murder, Illinois State Police said. GARY Thirty-two Gary-based entrepreneurs, in fields ranging from dog training to gourmet trail mix to power washing, received over $200,000 in grants from the city on Wednesday. "We can't wait on some megacorporation to come in and build out the city," Mayor Eddie Melton said at a press event. "Our administration will be very intentional to make sure we support our small businesses." Twenty-one of the businesses received $10,000 from the city, and 11 received $7,500. To be eligible for start-up funding, prospective grantees were required to complete a 12-hour, four-week business course provided by Indiana University Northwest, during which they developed and submitted business plans. Melton, who took office at the end of December, inherited the start-up grant program from his predecessor. The funds, which came from a pool of federal money that Gary received through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), were set aside for the grants by the Gary Common Council last March. The council voted to appropriate $2.5 million in ARPA funds to support local businesses and another $500,000 for local nonprofits. In September, then-Mayor Jerome Prince announced that 91 Gary-based small businesses had been selected to receive between grants of between $5,000 and $60,000. Including Wednesday's start-up grants, the city has so far distributed just over $1.9 million in ARPA funds to local businesses, Melton said. The remaining funds will be doled out in future application cycles. Lindsey Wright III, the founder of Wright Way Kennel LLC, received $7,500 towards his dog training business. He hopes the venture can help ease the burden on Gary's strained animal control infrastructure. "Our dog pound is kind of overfilled," Wright said. "I figure if you get a trained animal, it's very unlikely that your dog will end up in jail." The start-up grantees were selected from an initial pool of 150 applicants, Melton said. Sixty were selected to join the IUN course, of whom 49 participated. A review committee comprising university and city representatives alongside local business leaders recommended grant awards based on the strength of the applicants' business plans and their likelihood of success. Also among Wednesday's recipients were married couple Melvin Summers and Geri Shanks-Summers, who received $10,000 for their company Ultra Violet Cleaning Solutions. The money will be a "huge leg up," for the fledgling enterprise, Summers told The Times. He and his wife founded the business, which disinfects indoor spaces using ultraviolet light, after witnessing a spike in demand for cleaning services driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Ten thousand dollars is not a huge amount of money," he said, "but (for) this business it will provide equipment. It'll provide maybe two to three months of working capital. It takes care of the insurance the internet bill, phone bill, supplies. It's really huge for a small business like this." Cornelius Clark, another of the grantees, plans to use his $10,000 to revive The Gospel Cafe, a restaurant venture that stalled shortly after he opened it in 2013. "I know exactly what I'm doing now and God just gave me all the knowledge to do it," he told The Times. Clark said he plans to use the proceeds from his business to provide training in entrepreneurship to ex-felons. PHOTOS: First Gary Common Council meeting of 2024 Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting Gary Common Council reorganization meeting LAPORTE A LaPorte County Commissioner will not have his name returned to the May primary ballot after losing an appeal Thursday in court. LaPorte Circuit Court Judge Tom Alevizos upheld a Feb. 23 decision by the LaPorte County Election Board to remove County Commissioner Rich Mrozinski from the ballot for mistakes on his candidacy filing documents. Mrozinski, a Republican, failed to place his initials on three spots of the paperwork. Attorney Chris Willoughby, representing the election board, argued county election boards are required by state law to remove a candidate from the ballot when mistakes are found on their filing documents. Willoughby also argued the placement of initials is clearly outlined under state law as a must. Theres no ambiguity to it. Its clear. They were required to deny that filing, he said. Mrozinskis attorney, Alan Sirinek, argued the intent of the Indiana legislature, historically, has been for state election law to be viewed broadly to keep technicalities from preventing people from running for office. He said Mrozinski, basically, met the only legitimate requirement to be on the primary ballot by voting as a Republican in the two previous primaries. Sirinek said failing to properly initial the documents was a minor, easy to correct mistake that fits within the parameters of whats supposed to be a loose interpretation of the election law. The intention of the legislature is clear. We dont want to disenfranchise voters, he said. Alevizos, though, said the word "must" in state law on properly filling out candidacy documents is not optional. He also pointed out the mistakes were not corrected before the Feb. 16 deadline to file candidacy papers. The judge told Sirinek the burden of proof was on him to present a strong enough case to overturn the election board decision. Your burden is pretty high. I dont think youve met it, Alevizos said. Alevizos did overturn the election board on another reason it cited for removing Mrozinski from the ballot. The election board also disqualified Mrozinski for not being "in good standing" with the party. The LaPorte County Republican Party Central Committee voted unanimously in September of 2022 to remove Mrozinski as an official party member following disputes with other Republicans and going back on his promise not to hire Shaw Friedman as county government attorney. Sirinek said political parties have authority to discipline members from within their own ranks but no right to keep someone from running for office as a member of the same party. Alevizos agreed, saying, I think weve come a long way from smoke-filled rooms of party decision makers. LaPorte County Republican Party Chairman Allen Stevens, who sought to have Mrozinski removed from the ballot, said he was pleased with the judges ruling. Im happy justice was served, he said. Mrozinski still has the option of running in the November general election, but only as a Libertarian or as an independent or write-in candidate, said LaPorte County Clerk Heather Stevens. Purdue University Northwest recognized several students, faculty and staff members, nominated by their peers, for accomplishments relating to their on-campus community-building and leadership. The awards were announced at the universitys 2024 Founders Day celebration, an annual campus tradition celebrating the anniversary of the universitys founding and its mission to deliver transformational change for the metropolitan region. Founders Day serves as an opportunity to recognize nominees who advance the university mission of academics, scholarship and service to the campus and Northwest Indiana communities, the university said in its announcement of the awards. PNW also honors select employees for their years of service. Awards Two PNW students received awards for their accomplishments: Outstanding Undergraduate Student Dikshant Sharma, fourth-year Mechanical Engineering major Outstanding Graduate Student McKenzie Dinga, Technology master's student Three PNW faculty members were honored for their service: Outstanding Faculty, Scholarship Julia Rogers, assistant professor of Nursing Outstanding Faculty, Teaching Hubert Izienicki, associate professor of Sociology Outstanding Faculty, Engagement Jodi Allen, assistant professor of Nursing Seven PNW administrators and staff members received awards: Outstanding Academic Administrative Leadership Award Shuhui (Grace) Yang, department chair of Computer Science and professor of Computer Science Outstanding Administrative Leadership Award (Staff) Karen Sullivan, director of Building Services Outstanding Clerical Staff Award Joan Buss, administrative assistant, department of Construction Science and Organizational Leadership; Mary Rose Sicinski, graduate program coordinator, College of Technology Outstanding Service Staff Award Dianna Vaughn, Print and Mail Services Coordinator Outstanding Management and Administrative Professional Award Noemi Elizalde, Graduation and Records Manager, Office of the Registrar; Salvador Cordova, assistant director for Programming and Administration, Office of Student Life Recognitions Gisele Casanova, interim chair of PNWs Department of Psychology and associate professor of psychology, was recognized for her 2024 Purdue University system-wide Dreamer award. Purdues Dreamer awards annually recognize individuals and organizations who further the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s vision of service and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Shontrai Irving, clinical associate professor of business law, was recognized for his 2023 Purdue Special Boilermaker Award. The award is presented to faculty and staff members from throughout the Purdue University system that have contributed to the improvement of the quality of life or the betterment of the educational experience for a substantial number of students. Kwangsoo Park, associate dean of the College of Business and director of the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, was recognized for recently receiving the 2024 Purdue Focus Award. The award is given annually in honor of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to furthering the Purdue systems commitment to disability accessibility and diversity. A proposal crafted by a Northwest Indiana lawmaker focused on making child care more accessible and affordable for Hoosier workers is headed to the desk of Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to be signed into law. Senate Enrolled Act 2, sponsored by state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, takes just about every idea that's been floating around the Statehouse for improving child care availability in Indiana and attempts to implement each one of them. "I am proud to champion a bill that would support Hoosier families by expanding child care options, and I am pleased to see this bill move to the governor's desk for final consideration," Charbonneau said. The legislation includes, for example, a provision expanding the number of people qualified to work in child care by lowering the minimum age for child care workers to 18 from 21, and permitting even 16 year olds to assist in child care programs under certain circumstances. It also ensures the children of child care workers automatically qualify for assistance from On My Way Pre-K and the Child Care Development Fund to encourage more Hoosier parents to become child care workers by reducing their financial burdens. In addition, the legislation directs the Early Learning Advisory Committee to promptly evaluate Indiana's child care regulations to see if revising or eliminating some of them will open up more spaces in child care programs or attract more workers to child care jobs. Along that same line, the measure establishes a pilot program for operating at least three child care micro facilities in the state to try to determine whether sites serving between three and 30 children can be safely operated with fewer state regulations than typically apply to child care centers. "Senate Enrolled Act 2 would give Indiana the opportunity to address the child care shortage many families are facing and gain more information on ways we can continue to improve child care standards," Charbonneau said. To measure the impact of the plan on child care affordability, it requires the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration to develop an online dashboard, updated monthly, detailing the number of child care subsidies available, the average copay for each subsidy, and the number of children on a wait list for each subsidy. "I strongly believe in making data-based decisions, and Senate Enrolled Act 2 would ensure we get the information we need to increase child care options for both child care workers and parents seeking child care," Charbonneau said. The legislation was approved 45-2 in the Senate and 98-1 by the House. It was cosponsored by, among others, state Sens. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores; Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton; and Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago. Meet the 2024 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Dave Vinzant, D-Hobart State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr. State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie South Middleton School Board on Monday voted 7-2 to buy property adjoining the main entrance to the district campus in Boiling Springs. Eric Berry and Brandon Hall opposed the motion to buy 20 Forge Road for $226,000 from Drew S. DeWalt. Having seen the preliminary budget, and had some time to think about it, I believe this money could be used for something else, Hall said, before commenting on priorities. If someone were to ask me to list out the top 20 items, this property would not be one of those items. By budget, Hall was referring to an early version of the 2024-25 fiscal plan that calls for a proposed 5.3% real estate tax increase to offset most of a projected shortfall of almost $1.4 million. The numbers are preliminary and a decision on the millage rate is months away. Final approval could come as early as mid-May, but the board has until June 30 to submit a budget to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. During a public comment period Monday, retired school principal Dean Clepper asked district administrators whether the money for the purchase of 20 Forge Road would come out of the current years budget or the 2024-25 budget. No answer was given during the meeting. In a follow-up phone call Tuesday, Tina Darchicourt, director of business and operations, told The Sentinel that the district plans to settle on the property before June 30 the end of the current fiscal year. The intent is to have the money for the purchase come out of a projected fund balance of almost $9.2 million, she said. During the meeting Monday, board member Jim Decker said he shared the same budget concerns as Hall when it comes to buying 20 Forge Road. However, Decker joined with the majority in approving the agreement. Unfortunately, we dont control when a property becomes available, Decker said. Board Vice President Robin Scherer said 20 Forge Road sits along the main driveway into the district campus. The property lies in an area where we could maybe ease some of the traffic coming in and out, she said. I feel like it might be something thats worthwhile. She said is is possible that traffic volume will increase with more development in South Middleton Township and more families enrolling students into the district. If the property was purchased, what would be the timeframe before anything could be done with it? Berry asked Superintendent Kevin ODonnell Jr. prior to the board vote. Do you have any idea what that cost would be? ODonnell said the intent is for the district to bid out the costs of demolition and then follow through with a contract to have the work done over the summer. Board member Devin Flickinger asked ODonnell if the district could allow local firefighters to practice emergency procedures at 20 Forge Road prior to its demolition. ODonnell said that could be arranged. Flickinger has 30 years of experience as a first-responder and paramedic in the Carlisle and West Shore areas. The Indiana University Board of Trustees approved two architectural designs for projects at IU Bloomington during its March 1 meeting at IU Southeast in New Albany. According to the university, changes planned for the exterior of the School of Public Health building will improve accessibility by providing a new, unified entrance on the east side and renovating existing entrances at the west and south. The new accessible entrance will be constructed in an existing limestone wall and replace the two sets of emergency exit doors. The doors will be replaced by glass openings and provide a more visible entrance for users. To meet accessibility requirements, wider doors will also be placed at the west entrance to the building. The interior lobby level will be accessible from the existing plaza using a new ramp. Existing limestone stairs will be moved to the west to accommodate the ramp. On the south entrance, two sets of existing fire doors will be replaced with entryway doors to meet accessibility requirements, requiring the relocation of nearby mechanical and electrical distribution systems. The number of designated accessible parking spaces next to the south entrance will be expanded to a total of six. Trustees also approved the installation of a screen wall on the east and west roofs of the Jacobs School of Musics Music Addition. The 7-foot screen wall will conceal views of two large air handling units that will be installed on the buildings rooftop during renovations. The wall will be consistent with the round architecture of the building and consist of metal with a soft limestone tone and perforation pattern that mimics the design of the existing center penthouse structure. Both projects are part of the Wells Quad and School of Public Health facilities renovation project that was approved by the Board of Trustees in June 2023. They will be funded by the state of Indiana through capital appropriations included in the 2023-25 biannual budget bill. Construction for each project is expected to begin this year, the university said. President Biden used his State of the Union address on Thursday to launch a series of fiery attacks against former President Donald Trump, a competitor whom he did not mention by name but made clear was a dire threat to American democracy and stability in the world. In a televised speech to a joint session of Congress, Mr. Biden brought the energy his allies and aides had hoped he would display to warn of what could happen should Ukraine continue to lose ground to Russia. Invoking an overseas war at the top of his address was an unusual introduction to a speech that was in many ways a political argument for his re-election. Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today, Mr. Biden said, raising his voice to a shout. What makes our moment rare is the freedom of democracy, under attack both at home and overseas. Mr. Bidens speech had to accomplish several goals at once, including taking credit for an economy that has outperformed expectations but whose effects many Americans say they cannot feel. In a speech that ran for an over hour, he ran through a lengthy list of issues, including immigration, abortion, prescription drug costs and the war in Gaza. Past and present trauma fuse in Jeff Wadlows Imaginary, the latest in the Blumhouse catalog of reliably creepy horror movies whose fans typically expect well-executed jump scares, fun plot twists and the occasional rubbery monster. What they probably dont expect is the sophisticated allegory that Imaginary appears to be flirting with and comes close to pulling off before losing its nerve. Or maybe its my imagination gone supernova alongside that of little Alice (a delightful Pyper Braun) and her stepmother, Jessica (DeWanda Wise), a writer and illustrator of childrens books. After Jessicas father is settled in a care facility, she and her family including a rebellious teen (Taegen Burns) and a guitar-playing husband (Tom Payne) who smartly buzzes off on tour when things get hairy move into her childhood home. Almost immediately, Alice is conversing with a stuffed teddy bear she finds in the basement, an imaginary friend whose increasingly sinister games stir memories Jessica has long suppressed. An 8-year-old boy in Brooklyn carried a gun to school on Thursday, according to the authorities, who said police officers found it after searching his backpack. The child attends Public School 158 in the East New York neighborhood, and the police said he had threatened another student with the weapon earlier in the week. When the police arrived at the school and searched the boys belongings on Thursday, officers discovered what appeared to be an unloaded Taurus gun inside his bag. The 8-year-old was not identified by the police, and several details about his case were not immediately clear. The authorities said that no students were injured, and the school is expected to send letters to families with information about what happened. New York City schools have confronted a stubborn rise in discipline issues. Major felonies in schools remain under prepandemic levels. But a string of violent incidents involving children and teenagers has raised anxiety for some parents this year. Scarcely three months after he was expelled from the House of Representatives and bitterly swore his intent never to return, George Santos went back on his word and declared his intent to run again. Mr. Santos made the announcement on Thursday evening after returning to Washington, where he made use of the lifetime floor privileges given to members of the House and attended the State of the Union address. And as he had done throughout his brief tenure on Capitol Hill, he attempted to seize the spotlight, posting the news on social media in the middle of President Bidens speech. The disgraced former representative, who was expelled from office after an overwhelming bipartisan vote and faces 23 felony counts in an unresolved criminal case, made his announcement on Thursday evening on social media. He said the decision had followed a lot of prayer and consultation with friends and family members. Soon after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she would be deploying hundreds of members of the National Guard and state police to help conduct bag checks in the New York City subway system, questions began to emerge about how the plan would work. How long will the National Guard be doing this? Is it a violation of rights? What happens if you refuse to have your bag checked? Here are some answers to those questions: Can you say no to a bag check? Yes. Under the Fourth Amendment, which guarantees the right to protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, a rider can decline a bag search if the police do not have a reasonable suspicion that the rider has done something illegal or is carrying a weapon. On Thursday, Ms. Hochul made several appearances on news shows to explain the initiative. The National Guard and the state police, she said, would assist the citys police officers as they checked bags for weapons in the busiest stations. A New York judge on Thursday effectively barred former President Donald J. Trump from exposing the identities of potential jurors at his first criminal trial later this month, emphasizing a need to protect those who might decide the highly sensitive case. The judge presiding over the trial, Juan M. Merchan, granted a request from the Manhattan district attorneys office to withhold the names of jurors from the public. The judge also ordered that their addresses be kept from everyone except the lawyers in the case. Mr. Trumps legal team, which is defending the former president from accusations of covering up a potential sex scandal during the 2016 election, agreed that it was appropriate to keep the jurys information private. A lawyer for Mr. Trump, Todd Blanche, declined to comment Thursday. New York State does not allow juries to operate in full anonymity, meaning that defendants are allowed to know jurors names. Justice Merchan, however, moved to shield the names of the jurors in Mr. Trumps trial from the broader public, underscoring the potential harm in a case involving a polarizing figure like the former president who can whip his supporters into a frenzy. Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor of North Carolina, has, for some reason, not bothered to take down his old Facebook posts about the Jews. There is a REASON the liberal media fills the airwaves with programs about the NAZI and the 6 million Jews they murdered, Robinson, the states lieutenant governor, wrote in one 2017 post. (The reason was left unsaid, but the scare quotes spoke loudly.) He regularly argued on Facebook that focusing on the evils of Nazism obscured the greater danger: the one represented by the Democratic Party. George Soros is alive. Adolf Hitler is dead, he wrote in one post, and in another, Who do you think has been pushing this Nazi boogeyman narrative all these years? In 2018, Robinson, who is Black, offered some thoughts about what he seemed to see as a Jewish plot behind the hit movie Black Panther. The title character, he wrote, was created by an agnostic Jew and put to film by satanic Marxist, calling the movie trash that was created to pull the shekels from the pockets of Black people, whom he referred to using a Yiddish slur. He has refused to apologize for these statements, though he called them poorly worded and has denied that hes antisemitic. None of this appears to have hurt Robinson with the Republican electorate in North Carolina, where on Tuesday he won nearly 65 percent of the vote in the gubernatorial primary. (In November, he will face the Democratic state attorney general, Josh Stein, who is Jewish.) Donald Trump enthusiastically endorsed Robinson, calling him better than Martin Luther King. Were in the middle of a wrenching national discussion about antisemitism on the left, and where it overlaps with anti-Zionism. But Robinson is a reminder that in electoral politics, there is far more tolerance for antisemitism in the Republican Party than the Democratic one. A commission investigating the October mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, interrogated Army Reserve colleagues of the gunman, Robert R. Card Jr., at a hearing Thursday, pressing for answers about their failed efforts to prevent him from inflicting harm and eliciting some of the most detailed accounts yet of the months leading up to the rampage. Members of the commission drilled down on key moments of inaction by military supervisors who knew of the shooters threats, erratic behavior and access to weapons, seeking accountability among the multiple law enforcement agencies and military personnel who traded concerns about Mr. Card, as his mental state deteriorated last year. Since families cant police their own, was it a very good plan that relied on the family to remove his weapons? George Dilworth, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Maine and a commission member, asked Army Reserve Capt. Jeremy Reamer, who was involved in the response to Mr. Cards worrisome behavior. After a failed attempt by the local sheriffs office to check on Mr. Cards welfare in September, authorities conferred with his family on a plan for them to secure his firearms. President Biden took his bid for a second term on the road on Friday, effectively opening the general election campaign with a strongly populist pitch and an aggressive attack on his Republican challenger, former President Donald J. Trump. Kicking off a monthlong set of barnstorming trips mainly to swing states, Mr. Biden reprised the themes of his State of the Union address at a rally in Wallingford, Pa., as he sought to capitalize on his robust nationally televised performance and galvanize Democrats who have been anxious about his age and poor poll numbers. Mr. Biden made clear that his regular targets during this re-election bid would be billionaires, corporations, pharmaceutical companies, banks, credit card companies and even potato chip makers. All of them, in his telling, are out to gouge consumers and duck their fair share of taxes. But his favorite villain in his election-year narrative will still be Mr. Trump, his opponent from 2020 now in a rematch set by this weeks Super Tuesday primaries. Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans are trying to take away our freedoms, Mr. Biden told a crowd of cheering Democrats in a school gymnasium, this time not shying away from citing his challenger by name, unlike the night before. Thats not an exaggeration. But guess what? We will not let him. A retired educator called on the South Middleton School Board Monday to hold down costs to avert a proposed 5.3% real estate tax increase. We always go to the Act 1 Index maximum, said Dean Clepper, former principal of the W.G. Rice Elementary School. Maybe its time that we try to rein in a little bit and not go to the index because the state says we can go that that high, he said. Look out for the people in the community. Things are not good out there. Financially, they are not well. His comments came a week after the Feb. 26 budget workshop during which board members were briefed on a projected shortfall of almost $1.4 million in the districts 2024-25 budget. The proposed 5.3% tax hike would increase the district rate to 12.9542 mills and generate about $1,321,737 in additional revenue. That would reduce the projected deficit to $74,278. The owner of an average home, assessed at $209,600, would pay $136.65 more in taxes. The numbers are preliminary and any decision on the millage rate is months away. Final approval of the district budget could come as early as mid-May, but the board has until June 30 to submit a fiscal plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In his request to cut costs, Clepper mentioned the proposal to hire a full-time academic programs coordinator with a starting salary of $90,000 to $117,000. Thats quite a lot [of money], Clepper said. When I look at the duties that were outlined, they look very similar to the duties that Jason does. Are we duplicating Jasons efforts? Clepper was referring to Jason Baker, assistant to the superintendent. The position of coordinator was discussed during the Feb. 26 budget workshop. At the time, Superintendent Kevin J. ODonnell Jr. said the coordinator would work directly with teachers and subject matter program chairs as the district grapples with projected enrollment increases, a reexamination of the team-teaching model at Yellow Breeches Middle School and an expansion of the elective courses to facilitate a career pathways initiative being implemented at Boiling Springs High School. Hiring a coordinator would also enable the district to follow through on requests from faculty members who see a need to retool and recraft curriculum offerings, ODonnell said. Several board members responded to Cleppers comments on Monday. We are certainly not out there to keep hammering people with taxes, Vice President Robin Scherer said. That is not our intention at all. Unfortunately, we had many years with no tax increases and now we have failing infrastructure, she said. It is not like we want new carpet or new chalkboards or whatever, it is HVAC systems and leaky pools. Things that really need to be taken care of, so our students have a comfortable place to learn. Scherer asked residents to be patient. Our budget is, by no means, completed, she said. I think before we all jump to conclusions, join us in the whole budget process. The next budget workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 25 in the board room of the district administrative wing of the Iron Forge Elementary School. I just want to assure everyone that we are thinking very carefully about the budget and not just trying to spend frivolously, board member Eric Berry said. He agreed with Scherer that there have been plenty of years where the board opted not to approve incremental tax increases. Now the results of those past decisions have come home to roost, Berry said. Unfortunately, it happened on our watch. As a homeowner, believe me, voting for a tax increase is not something that I ever wanted to do. It is one of those things that, at some point, needs to be done. Board member Jim Decker called on district residents to contact state lawmakers and lobby for school funding and charter school reform. The system is broken, Decker said. The state continues to underfund our schools. For the first time, charter school expenses for South Middleton are projected to exceed $2 million next year, he said. Tonight, the president is likely to call for new curbs on social media yet again. What is different this year is that a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers is moving closer to passing new social media rules. In the Senate, a bill called the Kids Online Safety Act has gained traction among both Democrats and Republicans. The measure would cover social media and video game platforms with certain design features like never-ending newsfeeds and personalized content recommendation systems. It would require those online service to turn on the highest privacy settings by default for minors. It would allow young people to opt out of personalized recommendation algorithms. And it would impose a duty of care on many social media and video game platforms to prevent harms to minors including depression, eating disorders, violence, sexual exploitation and predatory marketing. Introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, the online safety bill now has more than 60 co-sponsors, more than enough support to pass. The measure has also been endorsed by health organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association. It has not yet been scheduled for a Senate vote. Even if the bill passes the Senate, however, it faces an uphill battle. Civil liberties groups and tech industry trade organizations have raised First Amendment concerns about the measure, warning that the bills duty of care provision could lead social media platforms to limit information on significant issues like eating disorders, gender identity and reproductive health. That would make it more difficult for young people to find crucial news, resources and communities, critics say. President Biden has selected his education secretary, Miguel Cardona, to be the so-called designated survivor during Thursday nights State of the Union address, a grim moniker meant to ensure at least one decision maker survives if a calamity were to wipe out the nations leadership assembled at the Capitol for the speech. Secretary Cardona will follow the evenings proceedings from an undisclosed location, becoming the latest member of a tradition that dates back to the Cold War tensions of the 1950s. The first survivor to be publicly disclosed was Terrel Bell, who served as education secretary to Ronald Reagan, in 1981. There are few moments in American life when so many of the countrys top leaders are gathered in one place. Those gathered in the House chamber on Thursday will include many members of the Supreme Court, most of Mr. Bidens cabinet, a great number of lawmakers and top military officials. Those attending are in line to become president if something were to happen to Mr. Biden, as established by the Presidential Succession Act of 1947: the vice president, the speaker of the House, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the secretary of state, the secretary of the Treasury, the secretary of defense and the attorney general. (Beyond that, the succession proceeds through the rest of the cabinet.) Three men who had escaped from a prison in Grenada and were accused of hijacking an American couples yacht to flee have been charged with their murder, the police said on Thursday. The couple, Ralph Hendry, 66, and Kathy Brandel, 71, went missing while sailing off the coast of Grenada. They had been spending the winter cruising in the Caribbean in their catamaran called Simplicity, which was found abandoned in neighboring St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Feb. 21. There was no indication in the latest police statement that the bodies of the couple had been recovered as of Thursday. Trevon Robertson, 23; Atiba Stanisclaus, 25; and Ron Mitchell, 30, face two counts of capital murder by intentionally causing the death of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel, the Royal Grenada Police Force said. Haiti, a Caribbean nation with a long history of upheaval, is enduring one of its worst periods of chaos. Gangs have shut down the airport; looted seaports, public buildings and shops; and attacked nearly a dozen police stations. Roads are blocked, cutting off the food supply, and 4,600 inmates were freed after prisons were attacked. The prime minister, Ariel Henry, is stranded in Puerto Rico while gang members wreak havoc, demand his resignation and hold up dozens of trucks filled with World Food Program food shipments. A state of emergency around Port-au-Prince, the capital, was extended another month. With the government on the verge of collapse, the United States and Caribbean nations are working to come up with a resolution including a plan for a transitional government that would restore some semblance of order to the troubled nation and allow Mr. Henry to return home. Under pressure from Beijing, officials in Hong Kong are scrambling to pass a long-shelved national security law that could impose life imprisonment for political crimes like treason, a move expected to further muzzle dissent in the Asian financial center. The law, known as Article 23 legislation, has long been a source of public discontent in Hong Kong, a former British colony that had been promised certain freedoms when it was returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Now, it is expected to be enacted with unusual speed in the coming weeks. Chinas Communist Party officials, who have pressed the city to push through this law, appeared in recent days to make their urgency clear. After meeting with a senior Chinese official in charge of Hong Kong, the citys top leader, John Lee, reportedly cut short his visit to Beijing to return to the city, vowing to get the law enacted as soon as possible. The Hong Kong legislature and Mr. Lees cabinet, the Executive Council, hastily called meetings to discuss the law. The full draft of the legislation was only made public for the first time on Friday, as lawmakers began to review it. It targets five offenses: treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, and theft of state secrets and espionage. The first sea shipment of humanitarian relief to Gaza food aid from the World Central Kitchen aid agency could depart the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus by Saturday, weather permitting, Cypriot officials said on Friday. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Unions executive body, described the shipment as a pilot project for a maritime aid corridor to Gaza, but offered few details of how it would take place or where in the territory it would be delivered. The renowned Spanish chef Jose Andres, the founder of the World Central Kitchen, posted images on social media on Friday showing pallets being loaded onto a vessel stamped with the names of his group and Open Arms, a Spanish aid group. He said that the plans for the shipment were in the final stages, and that it would land in the beaches of Gaza with 200 pallets. It remained unclear how the aid, if it reached Gaza, would be collected or distributed. Since October, organizers and Palestinian cooks working with the World Central Kitchen have served more than 32 million meals in Gaza, the group has said. Its efforts could be bolstered by U.S. military plans to build a floating pier to bring more aid into Gaza, and announcements by Britain, the European Union and other nations on Friday that they would establish a maritime corridor for aid into the territory. In an interview on Thursday, after the United States announced plans to build the floating pier, Mr. Andres said it would give the group critical access to a steady supply of food theyd need to more than double the meals theyre serving daily and further aid people in the northern portion of Gaza. Were trying to do the impossible, he said. Its worth trying the impossible to feed the people of Gaza. A pro-Palestinian group slashed and spray-painted a century-old portrait of Arthur James Balfour at the University of Cambridge on Friday, defacing a painting of the British official whose pledge of support in 1917 for the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people helped pave the way to Israels founding three decades later. The group, Palestine Action, said in a statement that the destruction of the portrait in Trinity College, Cambridge, was intended to call attention to the bloodshed of the Palestinian people since the Balfour Declaration was issued, particularly in light of the current conflict in Gaza. A spokeswoman for Trinity, whose alumni include King Charles III as well as Balfour himself, said in a statement on Friday that the college regrets the damage caused to a portrait of Arthur James Balfour during public opening hours and that it had notified the police. A Cambridge police statement said officers were on the scene to investigate a report of criminal damage. Palestine Action posted a video of a protester first spraying the portrait, painted in 1914 by Philip Alexius de Laszlo, with red paint and then slashing it with a sharp object. The groups statement said Balfour had given away the homeland of the Palestinians a land that wasnt his to give away touching off what it described as decades of oppression. Joe Biden, you might have heard, is old. Im sure you have thoughts about that: about his mental agility and physical stamina, about his chances for surviving a second term that is scheduled to end two months after his 86th birthday. But presidential age isnt only a medical or actuarial matter. It has a symbolic weight, a range of cultural meanings that have so far been overlooked. Biden is 81. Donald Trump is 77. Bidens age has become an issue in a way that Trumps has not, because we are being asked, as citizen-critics, to judge the presidents late style. This is what we saw at the State of the Union on Thursday night. In criticism, to speak of a late style is to highlight the way certain artists, at the end of their careers, enter a new and distinctive phase of creativity. Sometimes they produce a succession of masterpieces that both fulfill and transcend the promise of the earlier work: Richard Wagners final run of operas; the three major novels Henry James published at the start of the 20th century; the movies Martin Scorsese is making now. In other cases, an older artist will revisit familiar themes with a new sense of playfulness and freedom, like Henri Matisse making cutouts, Shakespeare bending the rules of genre in The Winters Tale and The Tempest or Bob Dylan reshuffling the pages of his own songbook. And then there are those artists who swerve in a more radical, dissonant direction. The maturity of the late works, the German theorist Theodor Adorno wrote of Ludwig van Beethoven, does not resemble the kind one finds in fruit. They are, for the most part, not round, but furrowed, even ravaged. Beethovens Missa Solemnis and last string quartets often unsettle listeners with their dissonances and their unexpected harmonies. Biden assailed Trump in the State of the Union In a forceful State of the Union address last night President Biden criticized former President Donald Trump, an electoral opponent he did not mention by name, as a dire threat to democracy and stability in the world. The speech before Congress also served as a campaign kickoff, as Biden leveraged what was expected to be one of his largest televised audiences this year to make a case that he was fit enough for another four years in office. Biden, who often spoke in a raised voice, sparred with Republican hecklers and discussed his record and plans for the future, focusing on issues like the economy; immigration; abortion; the costs of prescription drugs and housing; and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. (Here is a transcript.) But the battle for democracy was a recurring theme. Biden assailed Trump, talking about how his predecessor seemed dangerously supportive of President Vladimir Putin of Russia and had lied that Biden stole the 2020 election, among other things. Seizing one of his biggest media moments ahead of the election in November, President Biden delivered a State of the Union address on Thursday that doubled as a campaign kickoff speech, presenting himself to Americans as a still-feisty leader prepared for the rigor of a grueling campaign. Whether his pitch resonates with voters remains to be seen. But plenty tuned in to see what he was offering. About 32.2 million people tuned in live to watch Mr. Bidens speech, up 18 percent from last years audience of 27.3 million, the ratings agency Nielsen said on Friday. The 66-minute-long appearance was Mr. Bidens second-most-watched speech to Congress. His first, in 2021, attracted 26.9 million viewers, and about 38.2 million watched in 2022, days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As the world grapples with the rise of digital currencies, a frequently overlooked aspect is how such global phenomena ripple through local communities. Central to understanding this impact is the concept of Bitcoins price fluctuation, which can be both a boon and a bane for investors worldwide. This volatility, while often criticized, has played a crucial role in drawing attention to digital currencies and their potential to redefine the understanding of money and value exchange. The local economic echo of global cryptocurrency exchanges In the heart of Vancouver, a city known for its vibrant tech scene and innovative businesses, the influence of global cryptocurrency exchanges is increasingly evident. Beyond merely providing a platform for buying and selling digital currencies, these exchanges are catalysts for a broader economic dialogue. They bridge diverse markets, connecting local businesses with the global stage and introducing a new layer of economic activities. For communities like Vancouver, this doesn't just mean a handful of tech enthusiasts dabbling in digital coins; it signifies the gradual embedding of cryptocurrencies in everyday transactions and the broader business landscape. Local economies are becoming more interconnected with the volatility of cryptocurrency markets, with entrepreneurs and startups in burgeoning tech hubs discovering that their funding prospects and operational models are heavily impacted by Bitcoin's price fluctuation and other digital assets. As investors worldwide look to diversify their portfolios with cryptocurrencies, local businesses often experience the effects of this capital influx, which may stimulate innovation and foster the expansion of the local tech ecosystem. How Vancouver businesses are riding the digital currency wave From corner coffee shops to upscale real estate agencies, Vancouver's local businesses are increasingly open to accepting cryptocurrencies as payment. This shift, albeit gradual, is part of a larger trend where digital currency affects market dynamics. By adopting digital currencies, these enterprises are not only catering to a new demographic of customers, but also positioning themselves on the global map. Embracing such forms of payment may open up a realm of possibilities, including reduced transaction fees and faster payment processing, which could be potentially beneficial for small to midsize businesses looking to expand their reach. The adoption of cryptocurrencies can alter the local business landscape. Companies are beginning to recognize blockchain technology, which underpins digital currencies, potentially leading to increased efficiency, improved security, and more transparent supply chains. Moreover, cryptocurrency transactions may help businesses target a global customer base, breaking down traditional geographical barriers and fostering a more inclusive global market. Cryptocurrency's footprint in day-to-day commerce and investment Imagine buying your morning coffee, paying for yoga classes, or even securing a piece of property, all using Bitcoin or another digital currency. This scenario is becoming increasingly common in Vancouver, reflecting a broader trend of integrating digital currencies into everyday transactions. Moreover, the real estate sector's gradual opening to digital currency transactions, for purchasing luxury condos to commercial sites, showcases the potentially broader economic acceptance and the changing landscape of investment and asset acquisition. Cryptocurrency is changing the way consumers purchase goods and services and altering the investment strategies of local residents. As digital currencies are increasingly accepted, they are potential alternatives for storing wealth and asset diversification. This not only has the potential to democratize financial services but also encourages individuals to educate themselves about investment opportunities that were once out of reach. Bridging the gap and making cryptocurrency accessible to Vancouver residents The surge in digital currency adoption underscores the need for accessible and understandable platforms for the average person. Recognizing this, Vancouver-based exchanges and businesses have initiated several efforts aimed at demystifying digital currencies. From hosting educational seminars to providing user-friendly trading platforms, these initiatives aim to lower the entry barrier for locals. By equipping residents with the knowledge and tools to participate in the digital currency ecosystem, Vancouver is helping the community to navigate the complexities of the digital age. To truly capitalize on the growing trend of cryptocurrency use, local initiatives are also focusing on enhancing digital financial literacy among the community. This includes the development of workshops and online courses tailored to various skill levels, from novice traders to seasoned investors. It's through these educational ventures that residents can gain knowledge to make informed decisions about cryptocurrency. Conclusion The intertwining of global cryptocurrency trends with local economies presents both opportunities and challenges. In Vancouver, the adoption of digital currencies by local businesses and the real estate market highlights the potential for change. However, making this digital currency inclusive requires ongoing education and accessibility efforts. As we witness Bitcoin's price fluctuation and the broader digital currency market's evolution, the enduring impact will likely be on how communities like Vancouver adapt and thrive in the new economic landscapes emerging around them. This information is intended for educational purposes only and is not to be used as investment advice. As with all investments, there is risk and the past performance of a particular asset class does not guarantee any future performance. Lee Enterprises newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content. Kuessipan Stream it on Amazon Prime Video. This gorgeous French Canadian drama opens with two orbs of light approaching the camera in a dark, nocturnal frame. Slowly, the joyous faces of a pair of young Innu girls come into view, bathed in the glow of headlamps, as they delight in a night-fishing expedition with their families. Kuessipan jumps ahead soon after to Mikuan and Shanisss teen years, fraught with conflicts and complications, but that luminous sense of possibility lingers throughout. The two girls are still close, but lead entirely different lives. The studious, ambitious Mikuan dreams of going to university outside the reservation and becoming a writer, while Shaniss struggles to raise her baby with her abusive husband. The director, Myriam Verreault, beautifully mixes joy and tragedy, offering a view of Indigenous life that feels both authentic and bereft of cliche. As both Mikuans naive optimism and Shanisss cynicism are tempered over the course of the film, they arrive at a truth somewhere in the middle: that while the world is an unfair and unequal place, they can dream of a different one. Under the Fig Trees Rent or buy it on most major platforms. The best documentary award became part of the Oscars in 1942, and the list of winners is genuinely fascinating. In the categorys early years, the State Department and various branches of the U.S. military were routinely nominated, and even won. As time wore on, films critical of the government and its policies whether the focus was labor, nuclear war or the surveillance state were more likely to take home the prize. At the Oscars, the documentary category might tell us more about America than any other. One of my favorite winners is from 1970: Michael Wadleighs Woodstock (for rent on major platforms). It ran more than three hours when it was first shown; a 1994 directors cut stretched to nearly four. The film is a document of the seminal 1969 music festival near Woodstock, N.Y., which has in the decades since taken on almost mythic proportions in American culture, a touchstone for boomers and everyone after. Whats clear from the movie is how Woodstock was very nearly a catastrophe, logistically speaking. Far more people showed up for the three-day festival than anyone had expected. There wasnt enough food to go around, and the whole unsheltered crowd nearly fried in an electrical storm. Its easy to imagine violence breaking out, or some other terrible event that would consume cultural memory. In fact, that did happen a few months later, when a teenage Rolling Stones fan was stabbed and beaten to death at the Altamont Speedway, an event captured by Albert and David Maysles in their 1970 film Gimme Shelter. (Everything that people feared would happen (but didnt) at Woodstock happened at Altamont, the New York Times critic Vincent Canby wrote of that film.) Woodstock is a mesmerizing watch, as the cameras roam from the stage to the organizers chaotic approach to managing the crowd to the many ways that attendees figured out how to take care of one another. (And there is, of course, the music.) Just as the festival threatened to veer out of control at any moment, the filming was a skin-of-the-teeth operation, with a team populated by many young and relatively inexperienced filmmakers. Perhaps thats why it ended up working. A federal appeals court on Friday revived corruption charges against former Lt. Gov. Brian A. Benjamin of New York, saying prosecutors had sufficiently demonstrated a plan to funnel state money to a now-deceased developer in exchange for campaign contributions. The appeals courts decision reversed a December 2022 ruling by Judge J. Paul Oetken of Federal District Court in Manhattan that had thrown out the bribery charges. The decision sent the case back to Judge Oetken for further proceedings. The prosecution still faces uncertainty. The developer, Gerald Migdol, who was likely to be prosecutors primary witness, died in February. And in the time since prosecutors had brought the case two years ago, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that raised the bar on what constitutes corruption. On Friday, though, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit said that in Mr. Benjamins case, the indictment cleared that bar and sufficiently alleged an explicit quid pro quo. For more than a decade, Juan Orlando Hernandez wielded power in Honduras, first as a member of Congress, then as that bodys leader and finally as the nations president. On Friday, an American jury in Federal District Court found Mr. Hernandez guilty of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and of possessing and conspiring to possess destructive devices, including machine guns. After the verdict was delivered, Mr. Hernandez, who faces a mandatory prison term of at least 40 years and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26, rose to his feet and stood quietly with folded hands as the jurors filed from the courtroom. During his first presidential campaign in 2013, Mr. Hernandez, a member of the right-wing Honduran National Party, portrayed himself as a law-and-order candidate who could stem the epidemic of drugs and crime that had suffused the country. Donald J. Trump on Friday posted a $91.6 million bond in a defamation case he recently lost to the writer E. Jean Carroll, staving off a potential legal and financial disaster just days before a deadline to secure the deal. The bond, provided by an outside insurance company, will prevent Ms. Carroll from collecting the judgment while Mr. Trump appeals. A federal jury awarded Ms. Carroll $83.3 million in January, and Mr. Trump recently asked that the judgment be paused. The judge presiding over the case, Lewis A. Kaplan, denied Mr. Trumps request for a preliminary reprieve, putting pressure on Mr. Trump to either come up with the money himself or secure the bond. With a Monday deadline looming, Mr. Trump posted the bond, which is higher than the $83.3 million judgment because the former president is also responsible for interest. The United States should commit $1.6 billion to building an extremely large telescope that would vault American astronomy into a new era, according to the National Science Board, which advises the National Science Foundation. In a statement on Feb. 27, the board gave the foundation until May to decide how to choose between two competing proposals for the telescope. The announcement came as a relief to American astronomers, who have been fretting about losing ground to their European colleagues in the quest to examine the heavens with bigger and better telescopes. But which of the two telescopes will be built and the fate of the dreaming and the billions of dollars worth of time and technology invested already remains an open question. Many astronomers had hoped that the foundation, the traditional financier of national observatories, would find a way to invest in both projects. The two projects are the Giant Magellan Telescope at Las Campanas in Chile and the Thirty Meter Telescope, possibly destined for Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island. Both would be larger and more powerful than any telescope currently on Earth or in space. Each is expected to cost some $3 billion or more, and less than half the projected cost has been raised so far by the international collaborations backing them. In an announcement circulating among astronomers, the board said that funding even one telescope at the price point of $1.6 billion would take up most of the N.S.F.s typical budget for construction. The American tropics are uniquely blessed with birds. Thirty-six percent of the worlds 11,000 bird species live in the region south of the border between the United States and Mexico, more than in Asia or Africa. That diversity is reflected in the national birds chosen to represent the countries of Latin America, from the slight southern lapwing Uruguays avian symbol to the 30-pound Andean condor, the national bird of four countries. Some birds carry Indigenous cultural importance; others were once ubiquitous in, or are endemic to, their countries. But an increasingly common characteristic is a decline in their numbers, sometimes even in the nations they represent. On May 6, 2023, about 10 minutes after they were pronounced husband and wife in front of 120 guests, Dr. Erika Frances Amundson and Eli Brownlie Newell were in the back of an ambulance speeding toward Los Angeles General Medical Center. From his gurney, as sirens wailed, Mr. Newell signed their marriage certificate. Major medical decisions awaited them, and he wanted Dr. Amundson to make them as his wife. Dr. Amundson, a resident in pediatrics, had already been the one to decide that Mr. Newell was in no shape to continue the wedding celebration. Friends at Millwick, an events space in Los Angeless Arts District where they exchanged vows, thought Mr. Newell had fainted from a combination of wedding-day emotion, exhaustion and dehydration, but his momentary facial droop told Dr. Amundson otherwise. She instantly recognized something else was wrong, Mr. Newell said. Hours later he was in open-heart surgery for a tear in his aorta, a serious condition known as aortic dissection. While Dr. Amundson sat under the emergency rooms bright lights that night trying to process what was happening, Dr. Stephanie Zia, the assistant dean for career advising with the Keck School of Medicine of U.S.C., where Dr. Amundson would complete her medical degree one week later, sat with her. Dr. Zia just happened to be on call at the hospital that night. A month after Andrew proposed to me, he and I went to couples counseling, where, in our first session, he said, If I have to choose between you and the Army, I choose the Army. His words knocked the air out of my chest. Five years earlier, on our first date, he had said (after a few too many drinks), Im going to marry you. Youre out of your mind, I replied. Apparently he wasnt. But by the time he proposed, he had been grappling with his desire to join the Army and my desire for him not to for two years. I was 27. He was 28. I knew this desire of his was so strong some might say it was a calling. But it wasnt until he made his blunt declaration in the therapists office that I understood the magnitude of his conviction. I had been raised a pacifist. I had marched against the war in Iraq and was opposed to our involvement in the war in Afghanistan in the way of much of my generation, which is to say, vaguely and comfortably. I didnt want the man I loved to fight in Afghanistan or any war. I didnt want to leave New York City for wherever the Army decided to send him, quit the editing job Id worked so hard to get, or leave my friends. Days after Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, complained publicly that Apple had blocked it from starting a competing app store in Europe, the technology companies said Apple had reversed course and would allow Epic to go ahead with its plan. The reversal highlights the way that Apple is changing its operations to comply with a new European tech competition law. That law, the Digital Markets Act, which went into effect on Thursday, requires Apple to give app makers alternatives for selling software to iPhone and iPad users, including the ability to use competing app stores and payment systems other than its own. By opening up the iPhone to competing stores, European regulators hope that smartphone users across the region will benefit from lower prices. Epic Games, which planned to start a competing app store, currently takes a 12 percent commission for every game it sells on personal computers and other platforms. The fee is less than half of the 30 percent that Apple typically collects. People ask: Why do you need another app store? said Justin Kan, one of the founders of the video game streaming service Twitch and the creator of Stash, an open payments platform for video game companies. But competition generally creates lower prices. Ultimately, its probably good for Apple because it could grow the market of apps. An Orange County teenager is in custody after authorities say he posted a threatening video targeting the local high school. Around 8:21 a.m. on Wednesday, the school resource officer at Orange County High School was notified that a person in the back parking lot had posted a short video to Snapchat, according to a statement from the Orange County Sheriffs Office. The video showed the back of the high school and the teen exposing an AR-style rifle. The school resource officer said they immediately confronted the student and took him into custody. An investigation revealed he had a BB or pellet gun matching the description of the AR-style rifle from the video, according to the sheriffs office. Dakota Dickerson, an 18-year-old Barboursville resident, was arrested and charged with making threats of death or bodily injury to persons on school property. He is being held at the Central Virginia Regional Jail without bond and was expected to appear in court on Thursday. In a statement released after the arrest, Orange County Public Schools officials called the video very concerning. School officials said the BB gun was later found to be nonfunctional. This behavior will be dealt with to the full extent of the law and the OCPS Student Code of Conduct, according to the school division statement. We would like to thank all members of the OCHS community and student body who quickly alerted school officials and law enforcement. Their incredibly timely reporting allowed us to address the situation swiftly, ensuring the safety of all OCHS students and staff. We would also like to thank the Sheriffs Office for their assistance in quickly resolving this matter. In 2003, three decades into her career, Dominique Blanc experienced every actors worst nightmare: The phone stopped ringing. Approaching 50, she was one of Frances most celebrated performers, fresh off an acclaimed stage run in a classic tragedy, Jean Racines Phedre. But the subsequent, yearslong lack of offers deeply unsettled me, Blanc said in a recent interview. I found myself in extreme solitude. I really believed I would never be able to set foot on a stage again. La Douleur, a searing, award-winning one-woman show that will have its American premiere at the FIAF Florence Gould Hall in New York on March 13, became a way to process the hurt and take charge. Blancs character, lifted from a book by the French author Marguerite Duras, awaits her husbands return from a Nazi concentration camp in 1945, uncertain whether he is even alive. The show grew out of a series of readings she did from the book with the director Patrice Chereau, a longtime collaborator. In 2008, Blanc pitched him a light stage version, requiring only a table, chairs and old costumes from Blancs closet. While Durass book was translated into English as The War: A Memoir, its original title simply means Pain, and in her show, Blanc starkly recreates womens anguish as their partners return from untold horrors. Over the course of three days last week, winds in Death Valley in California were strong enough to move a temporary lake, known informally as Lake Manly, two miles north, the National Park Service said this week. The lake went for a walkabout, Abby Wines, a park ranger at Death Valley National Park, said in an interview on Thursday. The powerful winds were part of a storm system out of the Pacific Northwest that moved across portions of California and Nevada, Brian Planz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Las Vegas, said on Thursday. In Death Valley, the winds started to pick up in the afternoon on Feb. 29, and they consistently blew between 20 and 33 miles per hour on March 1 and 2, according to weather data from the National Park Service. At times on March 1 and 2, the winds reached speeds of 40 to 50 m.p.h., peaking at 54.8 m.p.h. at 10 a.m. on March 2, according to the Park Service. Steve Nikoui, the father of a U.S. Marine who was killed in 2021 during the evacuation of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for interrupting President Biden during his State of the Union address, according to Capitol Police. Mr. Nikoui yelled Abbey Gate, Abbey Gate during the presidents speech, a reference to the place where his son, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, and 12 other troops were killed during the chaotic final days of the U.S. presence in Kabul, Afghanistan. Police officers quickly removed Mr. Nikoui, 51, from the gallery where he was a guest of Representative Brian Mast, Republican of Florida. Mr. Biden paused briefly during the interruption but moved on quickly. A statement from the Capitol Police said officers had warned Mr. Nikoui to stop, and when he did not, they removed him from the chamber. A Republican candidate who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Nevada in 2020 with the backing of President Donald J. Trump surrendered to the police on Wednesday after he was charged with killing a man in Las Vegas last year, his lawyers said. The Las Vegas police issued an arrest warrant earlier on Wednesday for the former candidate, Daniel Rodimer, 45, a onetime professional wrestler, after he was charged with murdering Christopher Tapp, 47, at a resort on the Las Vegas Strip on Oct. 29. Medical workers found Mr. Tapp suffering from injuries as a result of a purported accident, and took him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement. Homicide detectives learned that Mr. Tapp had been in an altercation inside a room at the resort, the statement said. The Clark County medical examiners office ruled that Mr. Tapp died as a result of blunt-force trauma to the head. When Republicans won the House majority, some of their most conservative members pledged to use their power to slash the budgets of the federal agencies they claimed had been weaponized against them chief among them the Federal Bureau of Investigation. So when Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled the package of six government spending bills he had negotiated with Democrats, which President Biden signed into law on Saturday, he touted the deep cuts 6 percent Republicans had secured to the agencys budget. But the story of the F.B.I. cut is not so much one of how House Republicans used their slim majority to raze the budget of an agency they claim has gone rogue. Instead, it is a remarkable yarn about how a single powerful senator used budgetary sleight of hand to steer hundreds of millions of dollars to a single project in his state, only to see the money slashed by members of his own party after he retired. Out of the $654 million lawmakers agreed to cut this year from the F.B.I.s operating budget, $622 million came from eliminating what was essentially an old earmark: money for construction at the bureaus campus at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. The funding was placed into the budget years ago by Senator Richard C. Shelby of Alabama, the legendary pork-barreling veteran who retired in 2022 at the age of 88. President Biden delivered the speech. He survived the speech. He had some jokes, got some laughs and provided some rousing economic commentary about the availability of Snickers bars and potato chips. Then came the fun part. No ones going to talk about cognitive impairment now! Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York, told the president after the speech, referring to all the concern about Mr. Bidens age and his ability to handle the demands of the job. I kind of wish sometimes I was cognitively impaired, replied Mr. Biden, perhaps talking about the speech he had just delivered. Or the stress of his job. Or House Republicans. For at least 25 minutes after completing his State of the Union address on Thursday, Mr. Biden lingered with well-wishers who had gathered to praise a speech that had been energetic and more political than in previous years. President Biden delivered his annual State of the Union address on Thursday to a joint session of Congress. The following is a transcript of his remarks, as recorded by The New York Times. Good evening. Good evening. If I were smart, I would go home now. Mr. Speaker, Madam Vice President, members of Congress, my fellow Americans, in January 1941, Franklin Roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation, and he said, I address you in a moment, unprecedented in the history of the union. Hitler was on the march. War was raging in Europe. President Roosevelts purpose was to wake up Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary time. Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world. Tonight, I come to the same chamber to address the nation. Now, its we who face unprecedented moment in the history of the union. And yes, my purpose tonight is to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either. Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today. Former President Donald J. Trump promised Americans a play-by-play of President Bidens State of the Union address on Thursday night. That, Mr. Trump declared before the event began, would happen on Truth Social, the real voice of America, praising the social media platform in which he has a financial stake that would be his bully pulpit for the night. But shortly after, that voice sputtered. Truth Social began experiencing outages toward the beginning of Mr. Bidens remarks, with more than 3,000 reported outages on the site by 9:30 p.m., according to Down Detector, a website that tracks user reports of web disruptions. The outages paused the barrage of derogatory posts that made up Mr. Trumps response to Mr. Bidens remarks, which included an unusual video that deployed Snapchat filters to mocking effect. Mr. Biden took numerous shots at Mr. Trump, the expected Republican nominee, on Thursday night, referring to him only as his predecessor in an effort to highlight the stakes of the election and draw a contrast for viewers between his vision for the country and the one depicted by his all-but-certain opponent. Gang violence has plunged Haiti, a Caribbean nation with a long history of upheaval, into one of its worst periods of chaos. Attacks on prisons have set thousands of inmates free. Gunfire at the airport in Port-au-Prince, the capital, has forced the suspension of flights. Homes have been ransacked. The countrys embattled prime minister, Ariel Henry, has been stranded for days in Puerto Rico as the gang takeover has made it impossible for him to return. Mr. Henry had traveled to Kenya last week to make final arrangements for the East African country to deploy 1,000 police officers in a U.N.-sanctioned mission to quell the violence. But the deepening chaos is raising doubts about whether the plan can move forward. The Biden administration is increasing pressure on Mr. Henry to establish what Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, called a presidential transitional council that will lead to elections. Mexican police officers shot and killed a student from a rural teachers college on Thursday night in the western part of the country. The episode comes at a moment of increased tension between the government and students at the college, which is linked to one of the worst atrocities in Mexicos recent history. The shooting on Thursday unfolded in the state of Guerrero after state police officers tried to stop a white pickup truck that had been reported stolen and were met by gunfire, according to state authorities. The authorities said that in the ensuing shootout, one person in the vehicle, Yanqui Kothan Gomez Peralta, 23, was shot in the head by the police and later died in a hospital. A second person in the truck was arrested, and a firearm and drugs were found in the vehicle, the police said. The Guerrero state secretary general, Ludwig Reynoso, told reporters after the shooting that Mr. Gomez Peralta was a student at the Escuela Normal Rural Raul Isidro Burgos a teachers college in a rural area of Guerrero with a history of activism and social protest. Nearly 20 years after 47-year-old Fluvanna County man Jesse Hicks went missing and nearly 10 years after a partial skeleton was found, the trial of the man accused of killing the self-employed trucker is now underway. Arguments and evidence in the murder trial of 39-year-old Kevin Moore of Albemarle County began Thursday with testimony from the dead mans widow, sister and the former University of Virginia student who found the bones. Witness John Hensley told the Albemarle County Circuit Court that he grew up in southern Albemarle, graduated from Monticello High School and had just finished his first year at UVa when he decided to go turkey hunting on May 7, 2014. He said he went to the Scottsville-area hunting club where his grandfather had long taken him, but he was alone that day and following a deer trail along the Hardware River when he spotted an unusual sight. I thought initially it was a very strange, shiny rock, Hensley said. He said it was about halfway up a bluff above him and perhaps 20 yards away. But as he moved closer, he said there was a painful realization. It was the top of a human skull sticking out from some debris, some brush, he said. His discovery launched a recovery operation the following day, according to another witness, Sara Sochor, an investigator assisting the Virginia medical examiners office. Sochor said the site was too steep to approach without assistance. We rappelled down with ropes, said Sochor. It was not an easy scene to navigate. In addition to the skull, investigators found some ribs, vertebrae, a pelvis and other extremities. But it was far, she said, from a full skeleton. Sochor said her team also unearthed an array of personal belongings including a couple of keys, a Progressive insurance card, a pair of pocketknives, some mostly degraded Levis jeans and a leather belt with a distinctive metal adornment in the form of a dog. Thats it, said Hicks widow, Nancy, after a prosecutor cut open an evidence box and showed her the weather-damaged belt. In his opening argument, the prosecutor, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Richard Farley, said the hunt club belonged to Moores family and suggested that the jury would eventually hear a set of tape recordings made by an informant. Farley said the informant befriended Moore and offered to fund a bogus murder-for-hire deal to provoke admissions. He said the informant asked Moore if hed ever done something like this. His answer was yes, said Farley. Farley said that Moore then proceeded to divulge details about his prior killing: the method of death, burying the body at the hunt club and the location of the victims discarded pickup truck. But he was intentionally coy, said Farley. As he gave details and gave information, the one bit he left out was the name of the person he killed. Farley said that among the bombshells the court would soon hear is that one motive for the killing was Moores desire to impress his formerly estranged father, Richard Glenn Spradlin, a member of the family that owned the Woodridge Market on Rolling Road between Scottsville and Charlottesville. He wanted to be a Spradlin, said Farley. Once he killed this person, he felt like he gained respect. Nancy Hicks testified that on the day he disappeared, Sept. 1, 2004, her husband had a planned meeting to collect a debt owed to him by her cousin, Spradlin, who went by his middle name, Glenn. She said the amount borrowed from her husband was $35,000, but it had ballooned to $70,000 due to the passage of time. They were supposed to meet that day, and Glenn was supposed to have his money, she said. Along with his son, Spradlin was initially charged in 2018 with murder, murder conspiracy and a firearms charge in this case. The trials were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and by a defense motion on the eve of one planned trial in 2022. Spradlins trial was to be held after his sons, but after a short bout with cancer, he died last year at the age of 60. The prosecutor revealed that the informant has also died. Defense lawyer Blair Howard blasted the case against his client. Theres no gun, theres no fingerprints, theres no DNA, said Howard. Howard noted that investigators obtained no evidence of a gunshot either among the bones or on the land around them. There is no explanation for why this person died and certainly no evidence that it was homicide or a violent act, said Howard. The attorney said the victims pickup truck similarly contained no physical evidence that linked to Moore. There is no evidence but circumstantial evidence, said Howard. They dont have anything. Looking little like his bearded and long-haired early intake photo at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, where he currently resides, Moore appeared in court clean-shaven with a high-and-tight haircut. A group of six of his relatives watched the proceedings while eight members of the victims family gathered across the aisle. The trial is expected to last through the end of next week. Hiding for days in the basement of a kindergarten in Bucha, the Kyiv suburb that became synonymous with Russian war crimes, Oksana Semenik had time to think. Outside, Russian troops were rampaging through the town, killing civilians who ventured into the streets. Knowing she might not make it out, Ms. Semenik, an art historian, mulled over the Ukrainian artworks she had long wanted to write about and which were now in danger of disappearing. That time spent holed up in Bucha was during the early days of Russias full-scale invasion, but even then, two years ago, she had already seen reports of destroyed museums. Precious folk paintings by her favorite artist, Maria Primachenko, had gone up in flames. Moscow, she realized, was waging a war on Ukrainian culture. Theyre destroying artworks. Theyre destroying museums. Theyre destroying architecture, Ms. Semenik recalled thinking in the basement. She vowed that if she escaped from Bucha, she would not allow Ukrainian art to fall into oblivion. It was like: Theres a war. You can die any minute. You should not postpone all this research any longer. For more than eight decades, Irelands Constitution has included language enshrining the role of women in the home, which equality advocates have long seen as a relic of a patriarchal past. On Friday, the Irish public will vote on proposals to change that language and to broaden the definition of what constitutes a family. The voting coincides with International Womens Day and could be another milestone in a transformative few decades during which Ireland has reshaped its Constitution in ways that reflect the countrys more secular and liberal modern identity. If passed, the amendments would provide the latest updates to the Constitution, a document originally written in line with the values of the Roman Catholic Church and ratified in 1937, when religion and social conservatism dominated society. What exactly is the Irish public voting on? Voters will be asked to consider two separate questions. The first asks whether the public is in favor of amending Article 41 of the Constitution to provide for a wider concept of family. The International Criminal Court announced on Tuesday that it had issued arrest warrants for two senior Russian commanders, charging that they committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. The I.C.C., which is based in The Hague, the Netherlands, is the worlds only permanent international criminal court with the power to investigate and prosecute genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. It was created as a court of last resort, and has a mandate to try especially serious crimes that domestic courts are unable or unwilling to handle. Because its cases are relatively rare, they are closely watched by the international community. Tuesdays announcement marks a significant step forward for the I.C.C. prosecutors case against Russia. Last year, the court issued warrants against the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian commissioner for childrens rights, on charges relating to Russias abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. But this is the first time the prosecutor has brought charges specifically relating to how Russia was conducting its war in Ukraine. Russia has said that it does not recognize the arrest warrants, or the International Criminal Courts jurisdiction, and that it denies war crimes. And, to be clear, it is unlikely that the commanders, Lt. Gen. Sergei Ivanovich Kobylash and Adm. Viktor Nikolayevich Sokolov, will ever be arrested. The court relies on member states to make arrests, because it has no police or enforcement powers of its own. So as long as the men remain in Russia or another friendly jurisdiction, they are unlikely to end up in custody in The Hague. Theresa May, the former British prime minister whose time in Downing Street was scarred by a protracted battle over Brexit, is to leave Parliament at the next general election after 27 years as a lawmaker. With the Conservative Party trailing badly in opinion polls before an election that many analysts expect it to lose, Mrs. May is the most senior of the approximately 60 lawmakers from the party who have so far announced plans to leave Parliament. Mrs. May, Britains second female prime minister, said in a statement to her local newspaper that she had taken the difficult decision to stand aside because she no longer felt she could represent voters in her district of Maidenhead in the way they deserved. Causes that she has championed since leaving Downing Street, including tackling modern slavery, were taking an increasing amount of her time, she said. A day after President Biden announced plans for maritime aid delivery to the Gaza Strip, European leaders said Friday they would deliver aid by ship as early as the weekend. But aid groups and Gaza officials criticized shipments by air or sea as too cumbersome, urging that vastly more food and medicine be supplied by trucks. The complications of delivering aid to the hungry residents of Gaza were underlined on Friday when the authorities in Gaza said at least five Palestinians were killed and several others were wounded after they were struck by packages of humanitarian aid that were dropped from an aircraft. The United Nations has warned that five months of war and an Israeli blockade have left hundreds of thousands of Gazans on the brink of starvation, prompting a variety of proposals to speed the delivery of food and other vital needs. Israel insists on inspecting all supplies going into Gaza, and aid trucks have been allowed in through just two border crossings one from Egypt and one from Israel in southern Gaza. President Biden on Thursday night outlined a U.S. military plan to build a floating pier on Gazas Mediterranean coast to supply food, water, medicine and other necessities to civilians, saying the operation would enable a massive increase in the assistance entering the territory. United Nations investigators say Iranian authorities killed, tortured and raped women, men and children in a brutal repression of mass protests that erupted over the death in police custody of a young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly wearing a mandatory hijab incorrectly. A U.N. fact-finding mission reporting to the Human Rights Council in Geneva cited as credible estimates that 551 people were killed by security forces, most of them by gunfire, as part of a widespread and systematic crackdown on the protests, which were mostly led by women. The casualties included at least 49 women and 68 children. Many of the serious human rights violations outlined in the present report amount to crimes against humanity, specifically those of murder, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution, enforced disappearance and other inhumane acts, that have been committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against a civilian population, the mission states in the report. The Human Rights Council will discuss the report next week. The use of lethal force during largely peaceful protests was unlawful and the deaths amounted to extrajudicial executions, the investigators said. But they also reported that the authorities had summarily executed at least nine young men after cursory trials on charges linked to the protests and that several people had died in custody as a result of torture. Israeli soldiers fired precisely at Gazans who approached them during a chaotic scene near an aid convoy in northern Gaza last week that led to the deaths of dozens of Palestinians, but they did not fire on the convoy itself, the Israeli military said on Friday after an initial internal review. The account differs sharply from those of witnesses and Palestinian officials who described extensive shooting after thousands of desperate Gazans massed around an Israeli-organized aid convoy. The deaths prompted global outrage and underscored the widespread hunger and hopelessness in northern Gaza, where five months of war and little aid have driven many to the brink. The initial review largely matched Israels early account of the disaster, reiterating its claim that many civilians were harmed or killed in a stampede as they crowded around the aid trucks. It said that Israeli forces had opened fire toward dozens of Gazans who had approached them. Gazan officials did not immediately respond to the Israeli review. The Israeli military said that its review found that the soldiers had fired precisely at people who were approaching them in what it said was an attempt to keep suspects at a distance. As they continued to approach, the troops fired to remove the threat, it said in a statement summarizing the reviews findings. Hours after the disaster, doctors in Gaza described receiving scores of casualties at hospitals in the area, many of them killed or wounded by gunfire. A fact-finding committee appointed by the Israeli military chief of staff will continue to investigate the episode, the military said. Some human rights groups say that the Israeli military lacks independent accountability mechanisms and rarely penalizes soldiers for harming Palestinians in contested circumstances. 44% Share of fully remote and hybrid workers 29% 17% 9% High school or less Some college Bachelors degree Graduate degree 44% Share of fully remote and hybrid workers 29% 17% 9% High school or less Some college Bachelors degree Graduate degree Who Still Works From Home? The American workplaces experiment with remote work happened, effectively, overnight: With the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, more than half of workers began working from home at least part of the time, according to Gallup. But the shift to a permanent hybrid-work reality has been gradual, with periods of tension as workers across white-collar industries pushed against executives return-to-office orders. Those battles have largely come to an end, and workplaces have reached a new hybrid-work status quo. Roughly one-tenth of workers are cobbling together a combination of work in the office and from home, and a similar portion are working entirely remotely. This population of hybrid and remote workers in the United States doesnt quite mirror the larger population of workers: Government data shows they tend to have more education and are more often white and Asian. Type of worker In person Hybrid Fully remote ~115 million workers ~14 million ~15 million High school or less Some college Bachelor's degree Graduate degree Each square here represents 50,000 workers between the ages of 18 and 64. In 2023, about 143 million people in that age range were working in the United States. A graphic shows a grid of squares representing 143 million workers between 18 and 64. Roughly 80 percent of those work fully in person. The remaining work either a hybrid schedule or fully remote. The grid is then split into three sections with color, showing that roughly 115 million of the total 143 million workers are working in person, while about 14 million work a hybrid schedule and another 15 million work fully remote. If we look at all workers by their level of education, the biggest group of workers have no college education. The squares are then arranged by education level, showing that the largest group of workers, more than 47 million, have no college education. But if we focus on just those who work at home all or some of the time, college educated workers become the most prominent. Working from home is, for the most part, a luxury for the highly educated. All of the squares representing workers who work in person fly out of the graphic, leaving only workers who work either hybrid or fully remote. The largest group left is now workers with a bachelors degree, 12.5 million, followed by workers with graduate degrees, another eight million. The pandemic laid bare inequalities in the American economy. White-collar workers were in many cases able to do their jobs safely at home, but lower-income workers often had to continue to work in person, even when health risks were highest. And now that the public health emergency is over, that workplace divide who gets the benefits of remote flexibility and who does not has become entrenched. White and Asian workers are more likely to work from home Share of fully remote and hybrid workers who identify as a given race or ethnicity vs. the same groups share of the entire work force White Asian Hispanic Black Other 0 10 20 30 40 50 60% Hispanic workers and Black workers are underrepresented in remote work. Only 10% of remote 20% of all share of all workers The divide in who gets the flexibility to work remotely also reflects the countrys racial inequalities. Because white and Asian workers are more likely to hold office jobs, they are more likely to have the opportunity to work remotely part or all of the time. Black and Hispanic workers, meanwhile, more frequently hold jobs in food service, construction, retail, health care and other fields that require them to be in person. The youngest workers are working from home less often Share of fully remote and hybrid workers who fall in each age group vs. the same groups share of the entire work force Under 25 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 0 5 10 15 20 25% share of all workers When employers were first mounting their return-to-office battles, many assumed that their youngest employees would be the toughest to persuade to come back. But today, young people make up a greater share of those working in person than their share of the total work force. That is partly because a smaller share of Americans under 25 have completed college degrees. Many work in jobs like food service that cannot be done remotely. But that is not the whole story: Even among college graduates, workers in their 20s are more likely to be in the office full time than their older colleagues. That suggests that young workers are embracing the benefits of in-person work: socialization, mentorship and face time with the boss. The potential downsides of fixed office schedules may also matter less to them: Relatively fewer young workers might have children (or aging parents) at home, making remote flexibility less of a priority. More women work remotely, but its complicated. Remote work also breaks down along gender lines though it does not lend itself to a simple narrative. Overall, women are more likely than men to work remotely. Thats partly because more women have college degrees, so more of them are in the kind of professional jobs in which flexible arrangements have become the norm. Even among those without college degrees, women are more likely to work at a desk in an administrative or customer support role, while men more often work in construction, manufacturing and other jobs that can only be done in person. Looking narrowly at just college graduates, remote work patterns for women and men look more evenly distributed, with men slightly more likely to work remotely than women. But theres one place where the pattern looks different: among parents with young children. Parents have been some of the biggest winners in the flexible-work era. Remote flexibility made more feasible the constant juggling of professional and caretaking obligations. But it is mothers, not fathers, who appear to be taking the most advantage of workplace flexibility, whether out of choice or necessity. Share of fully remote and hybrid college-educated workers who have children or not, by gender College-educated men With no kids With young kids With older kids 0 10 20 30 40 50 60% vs. share of all working college-educated men College-educated women With no kids With young kids With older kids Mothers of young kids are more likely to work from home than other women. Note: Young kids are those 5 years old or younger. Among college-educated men, having children does not make much difference to whether they work at home or in person. Among women, its a different story. Mothers of young children are much more likely to work remotely than women without children or mothers of older children. When possible, disabled workers often choose to go fully remote Fully remote and hybrid work often get talked about in the same breath. But in some cases, the implications are different. For many workers with disabilities, the normalization of remote work has offered an opportunity to avoid energy-draining commutes and offices that are not designed to accommodate their needs. For others, it has opened up pathways into industries that were previously difficult to break into. But those gains come primarily from fully remote work, not the hybrid model that has come to dominate some industries. Workers with disabilities are 22 percent more likely to work fully remotely than otherwise similar workers without disabilities, but only slightly more likely to work a hybrid schedule, according to research from the Economic Innovation Group. Workers with disabilities that limit mobility, such as those who use wheelchairs, were particularly likely to benefit from the opportunity to work entirely from home. Employers should understand the significant difference between full-remote and hybrid-remote, the researchers wrote. A labor market that includes a greater number of full-remote jobs will open the door for far more otherwise qualified workers. King Family Vineyards 2019 Meritage has been awarded the 2024 Virginia Governors Cup, outscoring more than 750 entries in the prestigious competition that is the top prize for winemakers in the commonwealth. It marks the fourth time the Crozet winery has won the Governors Cup. It also marks the second year in a row that a winery from the Central Virginia wine country, known as the Monticello American Viticultural Area, has won the cup. At a glittery gala Thursday night, Gov. Glenn Youngkin presented the award to the King family and their head winemaker Matthieu Finot for their 2019 Meritage. The wine, the American equivalent of a Bordeaux-style red blend, is a rich ruby red color with aromas of cherries and blackberries, hints of baking spice and rounded tannins that still manage to tingle the tongue while going down smoothly. Accepting the prize, Finot paid tribute to the late David King, the winerys founder who died in 2019. It was the first year, 2019, when David was not with us at harvest time, but I like to think that he was helping us from above, Finot said at Thursdays gala, which attracted a record 850 people to a sold-out Main Street Station in downtown Richmond. Now in its 42nd year, the competition sponsored by the Virginia Wineries Association received a record 752 entries from 79 wineries across the commonwealth. There are more than 300 wineries in Virginia. Not all enter the competition, but it does carry a tremendous amount of cachet among winemakers and drinkers. Meritage blends led all categories with 90 entries, followed by cabernet franc with 73, chardonnay with 59, petit verdot with 58, viognier with 46 and petit manseng with 45. Judges evaluate the wines on appearance, aroma, flavor, quality and commercial suitability. All wines must be made from 100% Virginia fruit. The contest not only recognizes wine but ciders as well. The 2024 best-in-show cider was awarded to Buskey Cidery, a Richmond establishment, for its 2022 Ruby Red Crab Apple Cider. King Familys 2019 Meritage will be featured alongside 11 other wines in the Virginia Governors Cup Case, a collection of the competitions 12 highest scoring wines. The Virginia Wineries Association purchases 96 bottles of each wine to put together the cases for education and marketing purposes. The full 2024 case includes: King Family Vineyards, 2019 Meritage. Afton Mountain Vineyards, 2019 T. Barboursville Vineyards, 2019 Paxxito. Bluestone Vineyard, 2017 petit verdot. Breaux Vineyards, 2019 The Fog Nebbiolo Reserve. Cave Ridge Vineyard, 2019 Fossil Hill Reserve. CrossKeys Vineyards, blanc de noir. Hark Vineyards, 2019 Spark. Michael Shaps Wineworks, 2020 L.Scott. Mountain & Vine Vineyards and Winery, 2022 chardonnay. October One Vineyard, 2022 albarino. Paradise Springs Winery, 2022 petit manseng. King Family has been making wine for more than 20 years. The winery won the Governors Cup in both 2010 and 2018 with a Meritage and in 2004 with a cabernet franc. The 300-plus acre property is managed by David Kings three sons and has become a popular attraction not only for its wine but for the polo matches every Sunday during the summer. Last years Governors Cup winner was Faber-based Mountain & Vine Vineyards and Winery, formerly Delfosse Vineyards, which also won for a Meritage. Outside of the cup and the case, the contest also awards medals to competing wineries. Mountain & Vine, King Family and their fellow Central Virginia wineries dominated this years contest in the medal categories. Central Virginia winemakers secured 48% of the 2024 awards. The Monticello region, which just last year was named Wine Enthusiast magazines Wine Region of the Year, took home 49 gold medals this year, six fewer than last year but still far and away one of the most successful wine countries in the competition. Trump Winery just south of Charlottesville was awarded the most gold medals of any Monticello estate this year with five, the same number it received last year. Trump won for its 2017 blanc de noir, 2021 chardonnay reserve, 2022 chardonnay, 2022 sauvignon blanc and 2022 viognier. Michael Shaps Wineworks in nearby Keene and Barboursville Vineyards in Orange County both secured four gold medals. Michael Shaps won for its 2020 and 2021 L. Scott red blend as well as its 2021 chardonnay and 2021 petit manseng. Barboursville won for its 2019 Nascent white blend, 2019 Paxxito dessert wine, 2020 Octagon red blend and 2022 vermentino. The full list of this years gold medal winners in the Monticello American Viticultural Area: Afton Mountain Vineyards, 2017 Tradition. Afton Mountain Vineyards, 2019 T. Afton Mountain Vineyards, 2022 albarino. Barboursville Vineyards, 2019 Nascent. Barboursville Vineyards, 2019 Paxxito. Barboursville Vineyards, 2020 Octagon. Barboursville Vineyards, 2022 vermentino. Barn at 678, 2021 reserve red. Chestnut Oak Vineyard, 2019 petit verdot. Chestnut Oak Vineyard, 2021 Chestnut One. Chisholm Vineyards, 2019 petit verdot. Cunningham Creek Winery, 2022 viognier. Eastwood Farm and Winery, merlot. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2022 rose. Flying Fox Vineyard, 2017 cabernet franc. Flying Fox Vineyard, 2019 Trio. Grace Estate Winery, 2021 petit verdot. Hark Vineyards, 2019 merlot. Hark Vineyards, 2019 Spark. Jefferson Vineyards, 2021 cabernet franc reserve. Jefferson Vineyards, 2021 viognier. Jefferson Vineyards, 2022 chardonnay reserve. Keswick Vineyards, 2019 cabernet sauvignon. King Family Vineyards, 2019 Meritage. King Family Vineyards, 2021 Mountain Plains White. Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard, 2021 Calaboose cabernet sauvignon. Michael Shaps Wineworks, 2020 L.Scott. Michael Shaps Wineworks, 2021 chardonnay. Michael Shaps Wineworks, 2021 L. Scott. Michael Shaps Wineworks, 2021 petit manseng. Mountain & Vine Vineyards and Winery, 2021 petit verdot reserve. Mountain & Vine Vineyards and Winery, 2022 chardonnay. Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, 2019 petit verdot. Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, 2021 chardonnay reserve. Pollack Vineyards, 2021 cabernet franc reserve. Pollack Vineyards, chardonnay reserve. Reynard Florence Vineyard, 2021 Recherche. Southwest Mountains Vineyards, 2021 cabernet franc. Southwest Mountains Vineyards, 2021 petit manseng. Mount Ida, 2021 High Ridge 1810 reserve red. Mount Ida, 2022 Moonlight Red. Trump Winery, 2017 blanc de noir. Trump Winery, 2021 chardonnay reserve. Trump Winery, 2022 chardonnay. Trump Winery, 2022 sauvignon blanc. Trump Winery, 2022 viognier. Veritas Vineyard and Winery, 2021 Momentarius collection white blend. Veritas Vineyard and Winery, 2021 reserve. Veritas Vineyard and Winery, 2022 sauvignon blanc. Woodbrook Farm Vineyard, 2020 petit verdot. A 70-year-old retiree from Bahia, Brazil, claims that he has drunk a drop of water in the last 50 years, relying solely on Coca-Cola for hydration, despite suffering from diabetes and heart problems. Roberto Pedreira, probably the worlds no. 1 Coca-Cola fan, recently went viral online for his love of the popular fizzy drink. While hospitalized with Covid-19, the Brazilian pensioner wrote in his care chart that he did not drink liquid medicine or water, only Coca-Cola Zero. A photo of the chart somehow made its way onto social networks like Facebook and X (Twitter) and eventually went viral. Initially, people thought it was a joke, but the mans 27-year-old grandson confirmed that for as long as he could remember, Pereira had never drunk anything but Coke. Photo: Mahdi Aminrad/Unsplash I dont take liquid medicine! Please do not insist! I dont drink water, only Coke Zero, Roberto Pedreira wrote on his hospital chart. Apparently, he wasnt joking, as he recently told G1 Globo that he detests water so much that he hasnt touched it in half a century. Despite suffering from serious health problems, he insists that if Coke was bad for him, it would have killed him by now. I havent drunk water in 50 years, Roberto said. I dont like water, just Coca-Cola Zero. All the doctors I go to recommend water, but I butted heads about it with my cardiologist and my endocrinologist. I even take my medicine with Coke. Nothing with water, not a drop! It seems like a lie, anyone who sees it from the outside wont believe it. But for as long as I can remember, he only drinks soda, even with ice cream Segue video dele fazendo uma propaganda de uma sorveteria com seu item obrigatorio, COCA COLA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA pic.twitter.com/wbl2NYpbK9 Joao Victor (@ijoaovv) February 25, 2024 The 70-year-old man is a diabetic, suffers from chronic venous insufficiency in three of his four saphenous veins, has six stents in his heart, and has already suffered a heart attack. But he never considered switching from Coca-Cola to water. I was never afraid. I say Ive already won, Im 70 years old, the pensioner said. The doctors tell me to drink water, but I dont want to and thats that. If Coke killed, I would already be dead. I havent drunk water in 50 years. I dont drink a single drop of water! E meu padrinho que o UNICO liquido que ele bebe ha mais de 30 anos e Coca Cola. Sim, ele nao bebe nenhum outro liquido que nao seja Coca Cola, nem agua. A imagem da direita nao me deixa mentir pic.twitter.com/s8cAqn719Z Joao Victor (@ijoaovv) February 24, 2024 The mans grandson, 27-year-old Joao Victor Paixao, confirmed that Roberto has been drinking Coke ever since it launched in Japan, adding that his grandfather is very careful about his health. He gets tested regularly, goes to the doctor, and takes all his medication. But he just doesnt want to give up on Coca-Cola as his main source of hydration. It seems like a lie, anyone who hears this for the first time wont believe it. But for as long as I can remember, he only drinks soda, even with ice cream, the mans grandson said. Stressed Chinese parents are reportedly suffering heart attacks and strokes while helping their children with homework, especially math. One evening in January, Ms. Dong, a 40-year-old mother-of-two from Hangzhou, was helping one of her sons with his math homework when she lost her cool because the child didnt understand a problem. Soon after this outburst, the woman felt a splitting headache, followed by vomiting. She tried laying down for a few hours, but her condition didnt improve at all, so she went to the hospital. After a thorough examination and a CT scan, Ms. Dong was diagnosed with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage, a minor stroke most likely caused by constant long-term stress. The sudden outburst while tutoring her son was just the final nail in the coffin, but this is a scenario that is becoming worryingly frequent in Chinese society. In 2019, when we first wrote about a 36-year-old mother who got so worked up because her son couldnt solve a math problem that she suffered a heart attack, such a case was virtually unheard of. But, the following year, we wrote another similar story about a 45-year-old Chinese man who reportedly suffered a heart attack after getting angry while helping his son with homework. Since then, stories of parents suffering strokes and heart attacks while helping their kids with homework have become common. A similar story was reported last month. On January 13, a 37-year-old woman from Lianyungang, Chinas Jiangsu Province, was tutoring her 4th-grade son in math when she became upset that the boy appeared confused after she had explained a problem to him countless times. The woman suppressed her boiling anger, but it only made her already high blood pressure go even higher, and at one point she felt a mild pain in her chest and started having trouble breathing. The mother decided to lie down and called her 6th-grade son to help his brother with math while she rested on the couch, but after seeing that the younger boy still didnt understand, she got angry again and tried getting up to re-enter the fray. At that point, she felt a sharp pain in her chest and fell down. She started sweating profusely and had trouble breathing and moving. Her sons called to their father for help, and he phoned an ambulance. After being rushed to the Lianyungang No. 1 Peoples Hospital, the woman was diagnosed with a type A aortic dissection and scheduled for emergency surgery. Doctors found a puncture of about 2cm in the posterior wall of the aorta, as well as a high number of thrombi. After about 7 hours, doctors managed to fix the tear and the womans condition became stable. Health experts explained that women are more prone to suffer this kind of health problems because they are in a constant state of stress and anxiety with work, house chores, and peer pressure, so childrens homework just adds to the list of stressors. A Vietnamese man who started experiencing throat discomfort and speaking with a hoarse voice discovered that he had a 6-cm-long leech sucking blood from his throat. Ever wake up with a soar throat and a scratchy voice? Of course, you have, but you probably never thought it was more than a mild cold. A 53-year-old Vietnamese man suffering these symptoms thought the same thing until he started spitting blood, at which point he realized things were worse than they appeared. At first, he tried identifying the cause himself, by opening his mouth and looking in the mirror, but he couldnt see much apart from what looked like a brown mass in the upper part of his throat. The man panicked and immediately sought professional medical assistance; thats how he learned that he had a leech attached to his throat. When the man arrived at the National Hospital of Endocrinology in Hanoi complaining of throat discomfort and occasionally spitting blood, doctors performed an endoscopy that revealed a 6-cm-long leech attached firmly to his throat, firmly below the glottis near the trachea. Such discoveries are not unheard of another Vietnamese man made news headlines in 2019 for the same reason but they are considered extremely rare. Leeches usually manage to enter the human body due to a lack of proper hygiene. In this particular case, the 53-year-old patient told doctors that he had sustained an injury to his hand while handling a mouse trap about a month prior. A fervent believer in Shennong herbal medicine, he went out and picked medicinal plants, put them in his mouth, and chewed them into a paste that he applied to his wound. His hand was fine, but doctors believe that by putting the unwashed leaves in his mouth, he allowed a tiny leech access to his body. They are usually tiny, but by constantly feeding on blood, they can grow very fast. To avoid such situations, doctors advise people to avoid contaminated water sources and dirty leaves while out in the wild. A Bangladeshi medical school teacher has been suspended after allegedly pulling out a firearm and shooting a student in the leg during a heated argument. Raihan Sharif, a lecturer at a medical college in Sirajganj, north-western Bangladesh, has been suspended from his job two days after allegedly shooting and injuring a student in a classroom. Local media reported that the incident took place on Monday, while Dr. Sharif was conducting an oral exam. At some point, he got into an argument with 23-year-old student Arafat Amin Tomal, pulled out a gun, and shot the student in the right knee. Luckily for Tomal, the bullet hit the mobile phone he had in his pocket and prevented a potentially life-threatening injury, but he still wound up in the hospital and had to undergo surgery on his leg. Photo: Tsvetoslav Hristov/Unsplash The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reports that there were 45 students in the classroom when the shooting occurred, many of whom rushed to help their colleague, locking Sharif in a room until police arrived. He was taken into custody and police seized the gun, as well as a second pistol, 81 bullets, four magazines, two knives, and 10 daggers which were found in the teachers bag. In a police statement, it was revealed that Raihan Sharif was known for bringing firearms to school which he would often showcase to his students during classes. News of Raihan Sharif suspension by the medical college sparked outrage in Bangladesh, with people voicing their outrage at the lecturers actions. Students at the college protested this week asking for a more severe punishment and his immediate dismissal. The teacher remains in custody and police said that a special committee has been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. 5W Public Relations is named PR AOR for Le Sauce & Co. and its collection of restaurant-quality finishing sauces. The scope of work on the account includes media relations, awards programming, influencer outreach, and product recognition. It will also spearhead product launches throughout the year, including a pasta sauce collection in the spring, finishing sauces during the summer, and an assortment of gravies at the holidays. The 5W press campaign kicks off with the launch of the Le Sauce Pomodoro Collection this month. We're excited to align with an agency renowned for its innovative strategies and industry expertise, said Le Sauce & Co. founder Kyle Kirl. Strategic Objectives comes on board as agency of record in Canada for Edrington, the international spirits company and producer of Scotch whisky and rum brands. The agencys central focus will be on The Macallan, supported by Highland Park and The Glenrothes in the single malt category and Naked Malt in the blended malt category. The assortment is rounded out by Brugal premium rum from the Dominican Republic and The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch whisky, among others. The six brands being represented by Strategic Objectives are distributed coast to coast in Canada by Beam Suntory. Our objective is to continue propelling our nuanced brand portfolio in the Canadian market, and Strategic Objectives is the ideal PR agency to help us build far-reaching, multi-channel communications campaigns that drive impact, Edrington Americas brand manager Justyna Maksymiw. Kahn Media, which specializes in the automotive, outdoor and luxury-lifestyle markets, is named agency of record for RIGID Industries, an Arizona-based leader in off-road and OEM (original equipment manufacturers) LED lighting. The company offers technologically advanced products for a wide range of UTVs, trucks, 4x4s, Jeeps, race vehicles and industrial applications. Kahns scope of work will include public relations, content creation, digital marketing, social media management, experiential events, influencer engagement and strategy development. The Kahn Media team is a longstanding strong voice, advocate and partner for the Specialty-Equipment Industry at large, said RIGID Industries president Mitch Williams. Port of Dublin Floats PR/Marketing RFP Fri., Mar. 15, 2024 The Port of Dublin, which handles 50 percent of Irelands total trade and 80 percent of its containerized traffic, wants a PR/marketing services firm to position it as an essential state asset. Ann Andrews Morris The National Alliance on Mental Illness hires Ann Andrews Morris to serve as chief communications and marketing officer. Morris joins the organization from AndMore Communications, where she served as principal. She was previously head of communications at US Farmers & Ranchers in Action, and managing director, association communication at AAA National. Morris is an active leader in the Public Relations Society of America, including serving as board chair of the mid-Atlantic district, chair of the Honors and Awards Committee, and as a senior judge for the Silver Anvil awards. In her new role, Morris will oversee all internal and external communications, public relations, marketing, and advertising efforts. "Her strategic communications acumen and nonprofit leadership experience will be invaluable in advancing NAMI's strategic objectives, said NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. Elaine Li Brunswick Group names Elaine Li, who leads its financial services practice in Asia-Pacific, head of the firms Hong Kong office. Li joined Brunswick as a director in 2015. She was previously investor relations director at oil and gas company China Sunergy and has served as an auditor at Deloitte. The first of Brunswicks six Asia-Pacific offices, established 20 years ago, the Hong Kong team comprises experts across the financial, regulatory and political, and social spheres who advise clients in the region and internationally. She has played a central role in supporting the continued growth of the office over several years, bringing her extensive expertise and networks to bear for clients and colleagues, said Brunswick CEO Neal Wolin. Emily Brakebill True Wind Capital, private investment firm, brings on Emily Brakebill as partner, head of investor relations. Brakebill joins the firm from HMI Capital Management where she was a co-founding partner and served as partner, head of investor relations, COO and CCO; she also served on the management committee and investment committee. She will serve on the investment committee at True Wind as well. Emilys expertise, leadership and terrific network amongst top-tier investors make her the ideal person to serve as our head of investor relations, said True Wind Capital chairman James H. Greene, Jr. A child was hospitalized Tuesday after they were struck and injured by a shuttle bus in Charlottesville. Charlottesville police said that officers received a report that a juvenile had been hit by a vehicle near the 700 block of Prospect Avenue in the citys Fifeville neighborhood at 7:46 p.m. Tuesday. Before officers arrived on the scene, those present were able to safely extract the juvenile from underneath the vehicle, police said in a statement. The child, whose identity has been withheld due to their age, was transported to University of Virginia Medical Center, where they are recovering from their injuries, which police said are not considered life-threatening. Charlottesville police have said the shuttle bus involved in the accident was not affiliated with Charlottesville Area Transit. An investigation into the matter is ongoing. According to the latest weather forecast from Met Eireann for Ireland for the weekend, the weather is going to be mixed with mostly cloudy skies and outbreaks of rain. According to Met Eireann, Saturday will be mostly cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, most frequent in the east and south. Some mist about also with highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in moderate to fresh east to northeast winds. Unusually high tides will bring the possibility of coastal flooding for all coasts. On Saturday night, there will be a good deal of cloud over the south and east of the country with further outbreaks of rain. Drier with clear spells in the north and west. Lowest temperatures generally of 1 to 5 degrees in mostly moderate northeast winds. According to Met Eireann, there will be plenty of cloud with further outbreaks of rain expected on Sunday, especially in the eastern half of the country. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in light to moderate north to northeast winds. Outbreaks of rain will continue on Sunday night, mainly near the Irish Sea. Further west it will be drier with some clear spells. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees in light to moderate northerly breezes. Monday will continue mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, mainly over the eastern half of the country. Later in the day, some sunny spells will break through as the rain becomes patchier. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees in moderate northerly breezes, falling light later. Media minister Catherine Martin said she discussed the programme of reform at RTE during a meeting with the new chair of the board of the broadcaster, Terence ORourke. Mr ORourke was appointed to the position this week following the resignation of former chair Siun Ni Raghallaigh. Mr ORourke and Kevin Bakhurst, director general at the crisis-hit broadcaster, met with Ms Martin on Thursday. The minister said: This was a very positive engagement where we discussed the importance of continuing the programme of reform of RTE, and the priority of putting in place a sustainable funding model for RTE and public service media in Ireland. The meeting discussed responses to recommendations published by the Public Accounts Committee and two independent expert advisory committee reports that Ms Martin has commissioned. She said: I am looking forward to working with the chair and the board in progressing the major reform agenda underway in the organisation. Ms Ni Raghallaigh resigned from her role on the board of the broadcaster hours after Ms Martin expressed disappointment in her during a live television interview. Appearing on Prime Time on February 22, the minister refused to express confidence in Ms Ni Raghallaigh, saying she had been misinformed about the chairwomans role in approving an exit package for former RTE chief financial officer, Richard Collins. The minister was criticised for her handling of the situation with opposition TDs claiming she had effectively sacked the chairwoman live on air. Gardai discovered an illegal rave in Dublin 4 which included a makeshift DJ booth, bar and quantities of drugs after a woman was taken ill at the rave. Revellers at the illegal rave in Donnybrook contacted emergency services when a woman became unwell after taking ketamine in the early hours of Monday morning, March 4. Gardai from Donnybrook arrived to the scene to find "dozens of people raving away - makeshift DJ booth, bar and all - having paid 15 each to attend", according to a post on the official An Garda Siochana Instagram page. "The place was quite obviously in breach of all health and fire safety regulations, and we cleared it right away." Gardai also discovered quantities of ketamine, MDMA, acid and Alprazolam tablets (Xanax) at the property. "Our enquiries are ongoing in co-ordination with Dublin Fire Brigade," Gardai said. The woman that had become unwell is said to have made a full recovery. Its a well-known story. In April of 1775, an American patriot receives intelligence communicated by lantern light and travels on horseback from Charlestown to Lexington, Massachusetts, to warn his fellow revolutionaries that British forces are approaching. The British are coming! The British are coming! the brave rider shouts as he flies through the New England countryside. Paul Revere and his midnight ride are credited with saving Founding Fathers John Hancock and Samuel Adams and putting the American militia on high alert, tilting the balance of power in Americas favor ahead of the Battles of Lexington and Concord just days later. And while the Revere that most Americans know today is more myth than man (He was not the only rider that night, he likely never shouted The British are coming! and he was actually arrested by British forces later that night), his story is considered a singular tale of the heroics Americans expect from their Sons of Liberty. But many Virginians know Revere was far from singular. Six years after Reveres heroics, Jack Jouett, known as the Paul Revere of the South, managed his own midnight ride, saved his own Founding Fathers and changed the course of history. The night of June 3, 1781, Jouett was at the Cuckoo Tavern in Louisa County when he overheard British soldiers discuss confidential war strategies. With Richmond under threat, the Virginia government had relocated to Charlottesville. Jouett understood the British troops to be preparing for a march on Charlottesville, with plans to capture, or kill, members of the General Assembly and Thomas Jefferson, who had just finished his term as governor. Jouett took his horse and rode the 40 miles between the tavern and Jeffersons Monticello estate just south of Charlottesville, where he warned the author of the Declaration of Independence and the other assembled legislators that the British were coming. Jefferson and the General Assembly parted ways, fleeing the Charlottesville area and avoiding arrest and, in some cases, perhaps death. Jouetts tale has become better known in recent years thanks to educational campaigns in the commonwealth, but its what happened next that many dont know. Whereas Americans are brought up learning about the early American victory at Lexington and Concord, many dont know about Jeffersons flight from Monticello. A group of six women are trying to change that. Plenty of people around here have heard of Jack Jouett, lots of kids growing up around here know about that, Wendy Tackett told The Daily Progress. But, most people havent heard of Jeffersons route to escape the British. Tackett along with Charlotte Bailey, Nancy Bolton, Pamela Comberg, Wendy Smith and Yates Nobles are members of the Albemarle Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a nonprofit, lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from supporters of the American Revolution. As part of a project for a Daughters of the American Revolution members course, the women dedicated the past year to researching and mapping out the path Jefferson and his family took from Monticello to Poplar Forest, their retreat outside of Lynchburg. They collected their findings in a brochure now available at both Monticello and Poplar Forest. Following the brochures directions, people can almost exactly replicate the route taken by the Jeffersons all while enjoying the modern conveniences of air conditioning and paved highways not afforded to the Founding Father who was fleeing down dirt roads in a horse-drawn carriage. The route up until Shipman is the route Jefferson took, its almost identical, said Tackett. Once you get to U.S. 29, its about what he took, because some of the roads just dont exist anymore. By combing through primary sources in Jeffersons library at Monticello and speaking with historians at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the University of Virginia and the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, the women pieced together the events that unfolded after Jouett raised the alarm at Monticello on the morning of June 4, 1781. Right away, Jefferson sent his wife, Martha, and their daughters, Martha and Maria, ahead to a neighboring farm, Col. Edward Carters Blenheim, while he remained behind to collect documents. Jefferson then climbed to the top of Montalto, the peak neighboring his mountaintop home, from where he could view the advancing troops. Taking his fastest horse, Caractacus, Jefferson flew to his family and together they continued on to Poplar Forest. The Jeffersons spent the night at several ordinaries, or inns, over the course of their 10-day trek south. Though these structures are no longer standing, the brochure points out some still-existing stops the family made along the way in addition to unrelated but still interesting attractions, including Michie Tavern, James Monroes Highland, the Monacan Indian National Museum, the Scottsville Museum and the Waltons Mountain Museum. At the Scottsville Museum, visitors can learn about Enniscorthy, the estate where the Jeffersons stayed during their first night on the run. We thought that telling more of the story would, one, help get kids engaged because Jack Jouett is exciting, said Tackett. Two, theres so much more history along the way which is why we provided other stops and, third, people can learn as a family while traveling throughout Virginia. Tackett said the Daughters of the American Revolution is considering installing markers at the sites where the Jefferson family stayed at ordinaries on their journey south. The inspiration behind the brochure came from Jefferson himself, or rather Bill Barker, the longtime Jefferson interpreter at Monticello. Barker attended the local DAR chapters meeting last March and brought up the escape route Jefferson and his family took after Jouetts ride. Surprised by how few people knew the story, the women decided it would be a worthwhile research topic project to tackle for their members course. They uncovered plenty of obscure facts throughout the process. For instance, Jefferson composed the entirety of one of his more famous works, Notes on the State of Virginia, during the familys five-week stay at Poplar Forest. Tackett said the group also was also fascinated to learn of the enslaved communitys efforts to preserve Monticello from British raids; two men in particular, Martin Hemings and Caesar, stayed behind at Monticello and hid all of the houses silver under the floorboards. Our members had an opportunity to do primary research, and most of them hadnt done that before, said Tackett. We got to see this from a concept to fruition and now were going to roll it out. Its a way to give back to the community, and its created a lot of energy and excitement in the chapter, both within the state and nationally. The chapter received a grant that allowed them to print 25,000 editions of the brochure currently only in circulation at Monticello and Poplar Forest. However, they are seeking out additional funding for another round of printing, according to Tackett. The group is also working on forming an educational outreach component to disseminate the brochure to visitor centers across the commonwealth as well as schools at all levels. This fall marks the 10th year of marriage equality in Virginia, but our commonwealth still does not have inclusive marriage laws on the books. For couples like us, not having explicit protections could be used against same-sex couples in the future. Right now, a bill that would right this wrong HB 174 has been transmitted to Gov. Youngkins office and is awaiting action from him. We urge the governor: Sign HB 174 into law and bring Virginias marriage laws up to the legal standard that Virginians support and deserve. Weve been married since 2008. We tied the knot in Massachusetts, because at that time, we were unable to get married at home. We got married for the same reasons that millions of Americans do: to make a commitment to each other, solidify our relationship and do both of these in the eyes of the law. It was bittersweet to get married in Massachusetts. Sweet, because we were able to cement our relationship and start our lives as a married couple. Bitter, because we couldnt do it at home. Now, thankfully, couples like us can get married in Virginia, but this right is not guaranteed under Virginia law it is a consequence of a court decision. Nationally, a court decision also led to marriage equality in every state. But the thing about court decisions: They can be overturned. As weve seen from the Supreme Court in recent years, if a decision is gutted at the court, it allows preexisting state laws to go immediately into effect. If, God forbid, the court were to do this with the Obergefell decision that granted nationwide marriage equality, we would find ourselves in the same situation as in 2008. A lot has happened since we got married: Weve had three presidential administrations; weve lived through a global pandemic; political winds have shifted, changed and evolved. We met in 2005, and in 2006 voters in Virginia approved a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality by a margin of 57 to 43. In 2021, public polling showed that 71% of Virginians support marriage equality. This is a seismic shift, and it shows how obviously popular this issue really is. Its so popular, in fact, that the bill that is awaiting gubernatorial action was passed in bipartisan fashion through the general assembly. In addition to being a gay couple, were also an interracial couple. Without the decision in Loving v. Virginia, our relationship would be illegal yet another way. Thats why this bill is extra important: It doesnt just provide protections for LGBTQ+ couples, but also interracial couples. While it would be presumptuous to claim that rulings such as Obergefell v. Hodges and Loving v. Virginia could be at risk, its not disputable that if they were overturned or revisited and gutted, Virginias existing laws would put couples like us at risk for discrimination. The court has bucked precedent before and recently. We must be proactive to protect marriage in Virginia. Marriage is about love. Its about commitment. We do not take marriage lightly not only because its a promise we made to each other, but because weve lived in a country in which it was impossible to access. We cannot and should not leave the door open to revisiting that dark chapter. Lastly, we would like to speak directly to Gov. Youngkin, who may be mulling his decision on this bill. To the governor, we'd like to say: Marriage equality is supported by more than 7 in 10 Virginians; members of your political party voted for this bill. We are simply asking that you help protect an existing right and grant us the freedom to live our lives and enjoy our marriages without the specter of doubt that they could be at risk. We know you value freedom, and at its core, codifying more inclusive marriage language is about extending freedoms to more of your constituents. Gov. Youngkin, please sign this bill. We have something to lose, but by supporting this broadly popular issue, you would not. Elizabeth Carr was born to the fight for reproductive rights. I am faux famous, Carr, the nations first IVF (in vitro fertilization) baby, said with a laugh Wednesday, the eve of her appearance in Washington, D.C., for President Bidens State of the Union address, a central theme of which will be the freedom to be pregnant or not. If I walk into a supermarket, no one knows me. If I walk into a fertility conference, everyone knows me. Carr, who lives in Massachusetts, was born Dec. 28, 1981, in Norfolk, at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, where her parents were patients at the pioneering fertility clinic of the husband-wife team of Drs. Howard and Georgeanna Jones. Headline writers, averse to the argot of medical science, declared Carr a test-tube baby. Nearly 43 years and 12 million test-tube babies later, IVF is a commonplace term. Its become more so because of a weird ruling last month by the Alabama Supreme Court that frozen embryos created through IVF a process that has blessed infertile couples with the sons and daughters they longed for should be considered children. Under that decision, embryos would have legal protections, and medical and scientific staff even prospective parents could risk prosecution if the embryos are mishandled or destroyed. Backlash to the ruling has been swift: Even Republicans hostile to reproductive rights, principally abortion, are running from it. Deep-red Alabama is now promising guarantees for IVF, though critics say steps taken by the state are legally weak. And Democrats among them, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who is running for a third term this year and invited Carr to D.C. for the Biden speech are betting that their support of national legislation ensuring access to IVF and other infertility treatments will amp up their already-proven appeal to voters in both parties of their commitment to reproductive rights, following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2022 reversing a half-century of abortion protections. Kaine, a former governor and 2016 vice presidential nominee, has been artful in his position on reproductive freedom. As a candidate for governor, Kaine said he personally opposed abortion because of his Catholic faith he considered the priesthood as a young man but that as a public official he had an obligation to uphold laws allowing a woman to terminate a pregnancy. Kaine, however, has become more forceful in his support of reproductive rights, which has become a powerful issue in a suburban-dominated Virginia where women are in the majority. These trends have not blunted Republican efforts to curb abortion, most recently, Gov. Glenn Youngkins call for a ban on most abortions after 15 weeks a position that backfired for the GOP last year, tipping the General Assembly to Democratic control. I absolutely think its going to be a defining issue in this cycle, Carr said. Its time to wake up and speak up, if we want to protect IVF. With the Alabama decision Carr learned of it while on vacation on winter-stilled Cape Cod with her husband and 13-year-old son, who was conceived the old-fashioned way all my worst fears had come true, she said. The order appeared to validate the notion embraced by some on the ideological right of personhood. That is, fetuses, embryos and fertilized eggs are, in effect, people and, thus, entitled to the same rights as the already-born. When Roe fell, this was the outcome we all feared, said Carr, a former reporter who worked on the morning newspaper of her Norfolk birthplace, The Virginian-Pilot, before a stint with The Boston Globe. Carr recalls being belittled by those who oppose technology-assisted pregnancy as wrong and unnatural and that objections to family-producing breakthroughs such as in vitro fertilization are a consequence of trepidation: Honestly, it comes from a place of fear a fear of not understanding. The difference between IVF and run-of-the-mill conception is that it takes place in a petri dish. Though she now works for a genetics firm that tests embryos before transfer to a uterus for such disorders as Down syndrome and Tay-Sachs disease, Carr is still very much the journalist. To put in focus her feelings about the Alabama ruling and its implications, Carr did what reporters do: She started writing, preparing a piece that would be posted on the website of WBUR, a Boston public radio station. Carrs lead was punchy and haunting: For the first time in my 42 years of life, I feel like an endangered species. If those words dont grab you, her voice will. Carrs recording of the commentary she used her handy, dandy iPhone was also carried by WBUR. Carrs parents her mother, Judith, is a now-retired teacher; her late father, Roger, a Virginia-born Army brat and mechanical engineer turned to the Jones clinic after several failed attempts to have children. IVF was not available in their home state, Massachusetts, nor was the procedure covered by insurance. Fast forward to 2024: Virginia is among 30 states in which insurance companies are not required to pay for fertility treatments, according to Resolve, a national fertility group. A personal note: I was working in the Richmond bureau of United Press International in 1981, when sometime after midnight a call came in, forwarded from the news services Norfolk office. An employee of Eastern Virginia Medical School she did not identify herself said that the following morning the Joneses would announce the birth of the nations first IVF baby: Elizabeth Carr. I made a couple of calls, but at that hour, people werent answering their phones because they were sleeping or they had no interest in talking with a reporter. It wasnt the first time that happened. It wouldnt be the last. In recent years, Carr has argued for fertility coverage in testimony before Virginia legislative committees. The General Assembly has frequently been pressed to mandate such benefits. Three decades ago, then-Del. Jerrauld C. Jones, a Norfolk Democrat who is now a circuit court judge, urged lawmakers to back fertility coverage, sharing the difficulties he and his wife faced in starting a family. Their son, Jay, held the House seat occupied by his father and is readying for a second run for attorney general. Carr said she is frustrated by resistance to reproductive freedom; that when confronted by opponents, she recalls her fathers wisdom: It always comes back to what my dad said: What do you say to people who are against you having a family? I really dont understand people who dont understand two people should want a baby to have a family. Carr continued: People share their stories with me all the time. They often say thank you. I really didnt do anything. I just showed up. My parents and the doctors did all the hard work. New Delhi: Every citizen has the right to criticise any decision of the state, the Supreme Court on Thursday said while quashing an FIR against a professor for his WhatsApp status criticising the abrogation of Article 370. Setting aside an order of the Bombay High Court, the top court quashed the case against Professor Javed Ahmed Hajam against whom a case was registered under Section 153A (promotion of communal disharmony) of the Indian Penal Code. The Maharashtra Police had registered the FIR at Hatkanangale police station in Kolhapur against Hajam for posting WhatsApp messages regarding the abrogation of Article 370 which said, "August 5-Black Day Jammu & Kashmir" and "14th August-?Happy Independence Day Pakistan". The top court also said every citizen has the right to extend good wishes to the citizens of other countries on their respective independence days. If a citizen of India extends good wishes to the citizens of Pakistan on 14th August, which is their Independence Day, there is nothing wrong with it, the apex court observed. "The Constitution of India, under Article 19(1)(a), guarantees freedom of speech and expression. Under the said guarantee, every citizen has the right to offer criticism of the action of abrogation of Article 370 or, for that matter, every decision of the State. He has the right to say he is unhappy with any decision of the State," a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said. The top court said every citizen of India has a right to be critical of the action of abrogation of Article 370 and the change of status of Jammu and Kashmir. "Describing the day the abrogation happened as a 'Black Day' is an expression of protest and anguish. If every criticism or protest of the actions of the State is to be held as an offence under Section 153-A, democracy, which is an essential feature of the Constitution of India, will not survive," the bench said. The apex court said the right to dissent legitimately and lawfully is an integral part of the rights guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a). "Every individual must respect the right of others to dissent. An opportunity to peacefully protest against the decisions of the Government is an essential part of democracy. "The right to dissent in a lawful manner must be treated as a part of the right to lead a dignified and meaningful life guaranteed by Article 21," it said. The protest or dissent must be within four corners of the modes permissible in a democratic set-up, the bench said, adding it is subject to reasonable restrictions imposed per clause (2) of Article 19. The apex court said in the present case, the appellant has not at all crossed the line. The SC bench said the high court has held that the possibility of stirring up the emotions of a group of people cannot be ruled out. "The appellant's college teachers, students, and parents were allegedly members of the WhatsApp group. As held by Justice Vivian Bose, the effect of the words used by the appellant on his WhatsApp status will have to be judged from the standards of reasonable women and men. "We cannot apply the standards of people with weak and vacillating minds," it said adding that "our country has been a democratic republic for more than 75 years". Observing that the people of the country know the importance of democratic values, the top court said it is not possible to conclude that the words will promote disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious groups. "The test to be applied is not the effect of the words on some individuals with weak minds or who see a danger in every hostile point of view. The test is of the general impact of the utterances on reasonable people who are significant in numbers. Merely because a few individuals may develop hatred or ill will, it will not be sufficient to attract clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 153-A. As regards the picture containing "Chand" and below that the words "14th August'? Happy Independence Day Pakistan", the bench said it was of the view that it will not attract clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 153-A of the IPC. "Every citizen has the right to extend good wishes to the citizens of the other countries on their respective independence days. If a citizen of India extends good wishes to the citizens of Pakistan on 14th August, which is their Independence Day, there is nothing wrong with it. "It's a gesture of goodwill. In such a case, it cannot be said that such acts will tend to create disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious groups. Motives cannot be attributed to the appellant only because he belongs to a particular religion," the bench said. The top court said the time has come to enlighten and educate our police machinery on the concept of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and the extent of reasonable restraint on their free speech and expression. They must be sensitised about the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution, it said. The court said a continuation of the prosecution of the appellant for the offence punishable under Section 153-A of the IPC would be a gross abuse of the process of law. "Accordingly, we set aside the impugned judgment dated April 10, 2023, of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay and quash the impugned FIR," the bench said. Nedumbassery: The schedule of the summer services in various routes and sectors from the Cochin International Airport has been published. It begins on March 31 and is valid until October 26. There will be 1628 weekly services in the domestic and international sectors. Currently, there are 1330 services in these sectors from the Cochin International Airport. Additional services to London, Mali and Bangkok have been introduced in the latest schedule. Besides, new services will begin in Kozhikode too. Twenty-six airline companies operate services in the international sector while eight companies run services in the domestic sector. In the international sector, the most number of services have been scheduled in the Abu Dhabi sector. There are 66 weekly flights from Cochin to Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, there are 46 services to Doha and 45 services to Dubai. Air India Express will operate two additional services to Hyderabad. The number of services in the Cochin Bengaluru sector has been increased to sixteen. Indigo has begun new services to Kozhikode. The aircraft that departs from Kozhikode at 8.30 am reaches Cochin at 9.30 am. Meanwhile, the aircraft returns from Cochin at 1.35 pm and reaches Kozhikode by 2.35 pm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Either this nation shall kill racism, or racism shall kill this nation." (S. Jonas, August, 2018) (Please note that the OpEdNews software program would not permit the publication in this space of a very nice illustration from the 1612 edition of the "King James Version" of the Bible.) Here's the title that I wrote for it: "1612 First Quarto of the King James version of the Bible, which version (translated by an English/Scottish committee of 52 academics and theologians]) is used by certain Protestant foes of freedom-of-choice in the outcomes of pregnancy to justify their doctrine that 'life begins at the moment-of-conception.' " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There have been some very succinct slogans in U.S. political history. The one above (which I immodestly made up) is drawn from Jim Carville's famous slogan which in 1992 helped Bill Clinton defeat G.H. W. Bush: "It's the economy, stupid!" I view Jim's original in the context of other short, but sweet, U.S. Presidential election slogans, like: "Tippecanoe and Tyler too (1840); "54-40 or Fight" used by James K. Polk in the election of 1844; and "He kept us out of war," (Woodrow Wilson, 1916). The battle over abortion rights and freedom of choice in the outcome of pregnancy has been with us since the adoption of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court in 1972. As the religious right closed in on getting a reversal of that classic decision, I wrote periodically on the battle. Most often my argument centered on the Constitution's Establishment Clause, found in the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;". Since the anti-abortion rights advocates often (actually, almost always) invoked "the Will of God" in support of their position, for reasons which I still do not understand the Establishment Clause simply was very infrequently used by the Abortion Rights advocates (and if used, was not used very prominently). In his opinion on Dobbs, at the end Justice Alito said: "Abortion presents a profound moral question. The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion." Well, yes it does. As it happens, the arguments against abortion rights have always been made on religious grounds. E.g. "life begins at the moment of conception," a totally religious concept (as discussed in detail further below), and this statement from a member of the Alabama Supreme Court declaring that destruction of a (non-implanted) IVF embryo is a human life: "Human life," Parker wrote, "cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God, who views the destruction of His image as an affront to Himself." And then there is: "U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson saying the notion [emphasis added] of church-state separation in the U.S. was a 'misnomer.' " Well, I guess that neither a Supreme Court Justice in Alabama nor the present Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives ever took Civics (and must have also skipped the course on Constitutional Law when they were in law school). For here, again, is that Clause, which happens to be the very first one in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." At any rate, the rest of this column, on this subject, is drawn from a previously published one of mine entitled: "Abortion Rights: Once More into the Breach Dear Friends," published on OpEdNews.com on December 2, 2021. Of course, we are now engaged in a "Restoration of Roe" battle, which is going to take a very long time. But I do think that if it is going to succeed, to the very correct "right to choose," "female bodily autonomy," and "if you don't' believe in abortion, don't have one," positions, must be added the prescription for religious liberty that is right there in the First Amendment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For quite some time, I have been writing on the matter of abortion rights, and most especially on the consideration of them in the context of the very real threat of the imposition of religious authoritarianism on the nation by the Republo-fascist Party. On the side of the pro-abortion rights forces a consideration of that approach to the conflict has received little if any attention. In the context of what happened in the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 1, 2021, which brings that conflict ever-closer to the surface, I am re-running one of my more recent columns on the subject, with a few additional observations. Introductory Comment : At his Supreme Court hearing Justice Brett Kavanaugh (who, Sen. Susan Collins from Maine assured us, would view Roe v. Wade with an open mind) among other things had this to say, in response to a question from a lawyer from Mississippi: " 'You're arguing that the Constitution is silent and, therefore, neutral on the question of abortion?' Kavanaugh asked a lawyer for Mississippi, with seeming approval. 'In other words, that the Constitution is neither pro-life nor pro-choice on the question of abortion but leaves the issue for the people of the states or perhaps Congress to resolve in the democratic process?' " Actually, Mr. Justice, the Constitution is NOT silent on that question, but I guess that whatever law school you went to didn't cover that subject. Every destroyer-of-abortion-rights whom I have ever come across in support of their position has taken one version or another of the life-beings-at-the-moment-of-conception concept, because any new fertilized egg is a "gift from God," or some equivalent thereof. Actually, to adopt a Constitutional position that the criminalization of abortion is justified, regardless of the religious views of the woman desirous of having one, is to place religion at the center of the Constitutional law. Which is, in case the Justice doesn't know, a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which begins with the words: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;""Life begins at the moment of conception" is a religious concept, which its promoters make clear over-and-over again. Thus, once again, any imposition, by law, on any person, Mr. Justice, is a violation of the Establishment Clause. Clearly, the Constitution is NOT silent on this matter. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now, on to one of my previous columns on this matter, with some editing here and there (from: " The Destruction of Abortion Rights and the Rise of Religious Authoritarianism," 9/30/2020: Click Here ) As many observers have noted, with the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg our nation is heading into what could be an enormously retrograde period in regard of individual rights and liberties. In the immediate future Trump is going to get his far-Rightist woman (whichever one) confirmed to the Supreme Court. Even if John Roberts, a Rightist himself, but not that far a Rightist, continues to maintain something of an institutionalist approach to the Constitution and the role of the Court, again as is well-known, in the immediate future the Court will at least be a consistent 5-4 Right. And Trump, actually celebrating the Justice's death (while at the same time revealing what he thinks of his chances of re-election with fair vote-counting), gleefully said words to the effect of "Now I can win a second term, 6-3." Now, IF Biden can win the Presidency, and IF the Democrats can take the Senate with more than one seat to spare (one does not want to be in the position of having to count on Joe Manchin [ah yes{!}]), as is well-known, the Democrats could a) end the filibuster, b) admit the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as reliably Democratic states, and c) pack the Court. Of course, even with the requisite number of Senate seats, that master of the Senate Rules Moscow Mitch could possibly figure out a way to gum up the works. But before we would need to start worrying about that, we would have to get to that position first. In the meantime, Trump could remain in the Presidency. Notice that I did not say "win," because I don't think that he can. But the Trumpublicans probably have cheating systems in place (including the mass theft and destruction of paper ballots before counting) that even Greg Palast ( How Trump Stole 2020 ) hasn't thought of. So, especially with the Court suddenly tilted sharply his way, Trump could still be there. And then, in terms of civil liberties, everything would be under attack. Especially Roe v. Wade and ab ortion rights (and oh how I wish that the pro-abortion rights movement would use that term instead of the more common "we favor abortion." For actually, no one favors abortion --- a medical procedure that does carry some risk no matter how it is performed ---- if it can be avoided. But that's another story.) The battle will be joined. The essence of Roe v. Wade was that, until the generally accepted time of fetal viability outside the womb, 24 weeks, women were to have freedom of choice in the outcome of pregnancy. The anti-abortion-rights movement lay fairly low during the 1970s. It began ramping up with the advent of the Reagan Administration. In the 1980 campaign, Candidate Reagan and the leadership of the Republican Party decided to use the issue as one means of bringing the then-developing Political Religious Right further into their Party. (Reagan, of course, came from Hollywood. He was very familiar with abortion, then illegal, but certain done frequently, and with those who were taking care of such matters, perfectly safe. But what did that matter to him when religio-politics was involved?) It was at about that time (early 1980s) that the anti-abortion-rights forces began using the term "pro-life" to characterize their movement. ("Pro-life" is a term that was actually invented after the end of the Second World War by Hitler's Pope, that great pro-lifer who kept his own counsel about the Holocaust during the War, Pius XII.) And since that time, even some elements of the pro-choice movement have used the term "pro-life" to describe the anti-choicers. Thus at least some focus has been lost over what was in fact at the center of Roe v. Wade, which was decided on a "right to privacy" interpretation of the 14th Amendment. But there is a very big additional support-for-individual liberties issue out there, just waiting to be mobilized. And that is the issue of religious authoritarianism. As it happens, the position of the anti-abortion-rights forces is based exclusively on the religious concept of "when life begins." They make no bones about this. As is well-known, they equate abortion with murder, because according to them "life begins at the moment of conception." But that is an entirely religious concept. Let's repeat that, for many people, even on the abortion-rights side, miss it. "Pro-life" is an entirely religious concept. For the Protestant side of the anti-abortion-rights movement the authority for their position is the "inerrant word of God" as found in one particular version of the Bible. That the version most often cited by the anti-choicers is the King James version, an English translation created in the early 17th century by a 52-member committee of scholars and theologians, is a point often missed by the "inerrantists" (and their critics as well). (If the King James version were to be regarded as "inerrant," one would have to assume that "God" spoke through every member of that committee. And, of course, what does that say about the myriad other versions of the Bible, appearing in numerous translations from the original Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin? Why, it must be asked, did God wait so long to have an inerrant version produced?) As for the anti-choice Catholics, they rely on an 1869 dictum from Pope Pius IX that life begins at the moment of conception. (This Pope was also the one who established the dictum of Papal Infallibility.) That dictum happens to have reversed Catholic doctrine, going back at least as far as St. Thomas Aquinas, that life begins at the "time of quickening." But since the self-designated "infallible Pope" --- the first one who claimed Infallibility --- what is it about Popes named "Pius" ---said it, it is (as the current U.S. President would say) what it is. What the Republican Religious Right wants to do is right out of the 16th century: put the power of the State and the criminal law behind one particular set of religious doctrines. To say nothing of forcing a fundamental violation of the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment that they totally ignore: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The position of the Religious Right is nothing more or less than the drive to establish religious authoritarianism to govern the country. And of course, it's not just the organized Religious Right. We now have an Attorney General who claims that a major enemy for our nation is "militant secularism." As a militant secularist myself, I take this particular charge most personally. And of course, one must then ask, if they succeed on this matter --- of specifying approved religions as well as non-approved non-religious belief --- what's next? The total violation of the Establishment Clause (in reverse) to go after folk who are non-religious? Or having battles over whose justification for the "life begins at the moment of conception" doctrine is the correct one, Catholic or Protestant (and if the latter, which Bible of the myriad Protestant ones?). What I am suggesting here is that in addition to defending the "woman's right to choose," the pro-choice/abortion-rights side needs to address this fundamental question: are religious fundamentalists going to be allowed to set social policy on one of the oh-so-many matters of personal being and belief, based solely on the religious dogmas that they personally adhere to . They so desperately want their religious beliefs to set social policy, as church-going steadily declines in the United States, that they advocate the employment of the criminal law to do so. Not only that, but the anti-abortion-rights doctrine, religion-based as it is, ignores the fact that many women who seek abortions, and their male partners, are themselves religious. They simply have a different set of religious beliefs than do the Fundamentalists and the Dominionists. Unfortunately, there has been little uptake or recognition for this argument and its potential strength. As it happens, I have been actually have been talking about it for some years now [see my book "The 15% Solution"]). And so, what we have here, well beyond "the woman's right to choose" (in which, to repeat, I firmly believe), is a fundamental struggle over religious liberty. And if Trump remains in the Presidency [remember, dear reader, this was originally written in September, 2020], given a Trumpian Supreme Court [which of course is what we've got], the battle will be fully joined. For, to repeat further, the anti-choice forces always base their position on religious doctrine of one sort or another. The anti-choice forces, again, want to criminalize any belief that life does not begin at the moment of conception, whether religious --- and again, there are many religious people who believe in the right to choose --- or, as in my case as an atheist, non-religious who do too. A prime example is Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama, who has said that in her opinion "every life is a sacred gift from God." That obviously religious position is fine --- for her. But she wants that belief to be ensconced in the law. And the AL law, based on that religious concept, if allowed to go into effect, would imprison physicians or women-having-an-abortion or both, and the death penalty was considered. Cannot get any more religiously authoritarian than that. This is a position and a policy that can take us straight back to the religious wars in Europe and Great Britain of the 16th and 17th centuries. Perhaps if imprisonment doesn't work to stop women from having abortions and physicians from providing them, burning at the stake will be next. If the drive to establish religious authoritarianism on the matter of abortion as the governing doctrine for the nation is not stopped, right now, what will be next? And in my view if the pro-choice forces do not begin to fight on this issue, if we as a nation do get back to the time of Bloody Mary (the English Queen, not the drink), they will be as responsible for that state of affairs as would be the Republican Religious Right. As the great British atheist, Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) said: " No power of government ought to be employed in the endeavor to establish any system or article of belief on the subject of religion." And then, as Barbara Brown Taylor, Episcopal Priest, Professor, Theologian, said: "Jesus was not killed by atheism and anarchy. He was brought down by law and order allied with religion [emphasis added], which is always a deadly mix. Beware those who claim to know the mind of God and who are prepared to use force, if necessary, to make others conform. Beware those who cannot tell God's will from their own. Temple police are always a bad sign. When chaplains start wearing guns and hanging out at the sheriff's office, watch out. Someone is about to have no king but Caesar." (Article changed on Mar 08, 2024 at 4:04 PM EST) (Article changed on Mar 09, 2024 at 10:03 PM EST) (Article changed on Mar 09, 2024 at 10:06 PM EST) The encapsulation market in Europe is expected to grow from US$ 10,023.66 million in 2021 to US$ 23,180.43 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.7% from 2021 to 2028. The Europe Encapsulation Market report formulated at Business Market Insights covers all the most factors which affect the expansion prosperity of the market. The report also contains market dynamics like drivers, restraints, constraints, and opportunities which Cat Welfare Society Of Bangladesh Continues to Provide Assistance to Sick Cats in Bangladesh Dhaka, Bangladesh - The Cat Welfare Society Of Bangladesh, a non-profit organization established in 2020, is continuing to provide assistance to sick cats in Bangladesh. The organization was founded by Jahidul Raju, an animal lover who wanted to make a difference in the lives of cats in need. The Cat Welfare Society Of Bangladesh works tirelessly to help The Oregon Legislature voted overwhelmingly to stop residents of North Plains from contesting the citys plan to expand its urban growth boundary at the ballot box. Opponents of the expansion say that if Gov. Tina Kotek signs the bill, they will sue to stop it from taking effect. North Plains has just about 3,400 residents, but the heated fight over its growth plans could have broad implications for farmers, forests and Oregons tech industry. And House Bill 4026 could answer a novel constitutional question about what issues are subject to voter referendums. The city has been working on expansion for several years, aiming to bring in industry to expand its property tax base and grow into being more than a bedroom community. Plans finalized last year call for North Plains to more than double in size, adding 855 acres. Some residents and others living nearby complained the citys plan was too ambitious, though, and would replace farmland with data centers and e-commerce warehouses of the kind that has proliferated next door, in Hillsboro. So opponents collected signatures to put the issue onto the ballot of North Plains voters in May. It appears to be the first time in the history of Oregons land-use system that anyone had sought to hold a referendum on a citys plan to expand its urban growth boundary. Public officials from around Oregon said theres a reason no one had tried before: They say urban expansions are administrative actions, not legislative, and are therefore not subject to a voter referendum under the state Constitution. Allowing voters to weigh in at the end of a process that can take a decade could render Oregon s urban planning unworkable, they said. And that could imperil the states goal to address its housing crisis by expanding buildable land around cities. Cities need to rely on a predictable land-use process, Ariel Nelson, lobbyist for the League of Oregon Cities, told lawmakers at a committee hearing Tuesday. Cities cannot afford to litigate referrals. HB 4026 aims to clearly spell out that voters cannot challenge a citys boundary expansion with a referendum. Its retroactive, meaning it would apply to the North Plains referendum already scheduled for a May vote. But the Legislatures move to block the North Plains referendum incensed land conservationists and voting rights activists around the state, who say lawmakers are themselves violating the Oregon Constitution by trying to strip voters authority to hold a referendum. You are opening a Pandoras box if you take this right away from Oregons citizens, said Mickey Killingsworth, secretary and treasurer of the Jefferson County Farm Bureau, at Tuesdays hearing. HB 4026 passed the Oregon Legislature by broad, bipartisan margins. The final vote came Thursday when the state Senate voted 25-3 to send the bill to Koteks desk. The governor has not indicated whether she will sign it, which is typical with pending legislation, but expanding housing around cities has been her top priority in Salem this year. A group formed to oppose the expansion, Friends of North Plains Smart Growth, says it will sue to block HB 4026 if the governor does sign it. But unless a judge steps in to order the referendum take place, the bills passage likely means North Plains expansion plans will remain on track and continue to move through the states boundary expansion process. Under that scenario, North Plains could have state sign off on its plans by the end of the year. -- Mike Rogoway covers Oregon technology and the state economy. Reach him at mrogoway@oregonian.com Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe A man accused of repeatedly defacing a Eugene synagogue with white supremacist and antisemitic graffiti has been charged with a federal hate crime. The FBI on Thursday arrested Adam Edward Braun, 34, of Eugene, and he made his first appearance in U.S. District Court in Eugene. The family of Immanueal Jaquez Clark-Johnson, an unarmed man shot in the back by Portland police as he ran away from officers who had approached the wrong car in a robbery investigation, filed a wrongful death suit Thursday against the city and police. The suit alleges police had no probable cause or reasonable suspicion to stop the car that Clark-Johnson was driving on Nov. 19, 2022, as part of an armed robbery call. City Attorney Robert Taylor declined comment on the pending litigation. Grand jury transcripts revealed in September that police surrounded and approached Clark-Johnsons car based on a very general description of the suspected getaway car in the robbery and before officers at the robbery scene had obtained surveillance footage of the car. Clark-Johnson and others in the car also didnt match the description provided by the robbery victim, according to attorney Juan Chavez and audio of the 911 call. On his initial 911 call, the victim said the three to four suspects who took off in a car were white, definitely white men, according to the audio. The dispatch report that appears on police mobile computer screens also described the suspects as white men, dispatch records indicate. Clark-Johnson, who is Black, was driving the car that police stopped and the passengers were another Black man, a white man and a white woman, according to the suit. Its clear as day from the first 911 call from the robbery victim that he described he was robbed by three to four white guys in a car, Chavez said in an interview. The fact that they staged this high-risk felony stop for a car that at best they had reasonable suspicion to pull over for a traffic violation, then of course, youre going to have a terrible result like this. It was just unreasonable for officers to have approached this car in this way. Police had been alerted to an armed robbery in the parking lot of the Super Deluxe fast-food restaurant on Southeast Powell Boulevard and 50th Avenue at 12:27 a.m. shortly before the shooting. The caller reported that a person wearing a ski mask and hooded jacket had pounded on his car window with a handgun. Officer James Brewer, the first to arrive, put out a general description of a dark or gray four-door sedan with four people inside leaving the scene. He said it was last seen heading west on Powell Boulevard, according to grand jury transcripts. According to the computer dispatch report, the victim of the robbery said he did not know the color of the sedan involved. Acting Sgt. Mike Francis spotted a car turn east onto Powell from about 23rd Avenue traveling about 60 to 70 mph, weaving in and out of traffic, and so he got behind it, according to his grand jury testimony. The car was a four-door silver sedan. The sergeant testified that he believed it was reasonable to suspect the silver sedan was involved in the robbery because it was spotted speeding and driving recklessly in the vicinity a short time later. Police surrounded and approached the silver sedan in the parking lot of a church on Southeast Steele Street. Officer Christopher Sathoff, armed with an AR-15 rifle, shot Clark-Johnson, 30, as he ran from the car. Sathoff told the grand jury that he believed Clark-Johnson was digging in his pocket with his right hand to reach for a gun and so he fired three rounds at him, striking Clark-Johnson once in the lower back. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Portland, alleges that not only did police have little reason to stop the sedan but they failed to come up with a plan on how to approach the car once they did. The suit claims police also delayed an ambulance from entering the shooting scene to provide medical care to Clark-Johnson. Medics got to Clark-Johnson 26 minutes after he was shot, according to the suit. He died two days later at OHSU Hospital. For almost half an hour, while Mr. Clark-Johnson lay severely wounded and begging for help, officers tried to get him to crawl toward him. Neighbors heard his cries and would have gotten him medical aid but were prevented by police, the suit says. The suit seeks unspecified damages for the alleged violation of Clark-Johnsons civil rights, his death and the cost of his medical care, burial services and memorial service. Chavez, representing Clark-Johnsons family, is director of Oregon Justice Resource Centers civil rights project. A further police investigation indicated Clark-Johnson had several warrants for his arrest and that the car he was driving had been reported stolen, though officers at the time of the shooting didnt know that, then-Senior Deputy District Attorney Nicole Hermann wrote in a memo her office released with the grand jury transcripts. Authorities provided that information, Hermann wrote, only to explain the probable reason why the vehicle traveled at the speeds and manner in which it was observed to be driving and why at least some of the occupants fled the vehicle after being contacted by police. -- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, or on LinkedIn. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Under siege by Israel, 2 million Palestinian Gazans, the vast majority civilian, severely lack drinking water, medical treatment, sanitation and shelter. Half a million are on the verge of starvation. Because billions of American taxpayer dollars are supporting the Israeli military, we have a responsibility to see that the disaster is addressed. It is also in our self-interest to do so. Any further devastating humanitarian consequences from this war are likely to inspire future terrorists to attack the U.S. as well as Israel. Moreover, as Gazan civilians by the tens of thousands starve to death, we risk Iran entering the war and the subsequent entry of U.S. military in response perhaps triggering a world war. Without American insistence, more humanitarian aid wont reach Gazans. Hamas, the terrorist authoritarian regime that rules Gaza, evinces no interest in alleviating the plight of the people it rules. Some people argue that Gazan civilians could themselves enable adequate relief to reach them by overthrowing Hamas and thus negating Israels rationale for massive military assault that obstructs relief delivery. But badly weakened from hunger, dehydration and bombardment, Gazans are in no position to overthrow Hamas. And Israel, single-mindedly focused on defeating Hamas and freeing Israeli hostages, appears only marginally concerned about humanitarian aid. Israel could, however, do far more. Militaries are expert at ensuring the delivery of sustenance to their troops in war zones. Given Israels distrust of the key relief agencies, Israel should apply this expertise to establishing safe havens for Gazan civilians and making sure relief gets there. We can save hundreds of thousands of childrens lives by pressuring our federal officials to incentivize Israel to do this before it further assaults the city of Rafah, where more than 1 million destitute Gazans, mostly children, have nowhere else to go. City leaders, state representatives and members of Portlands Asian American community continue to express concern after the closure of Pho Gabo, a 5-year-old Vietnamese restaurant fined by the city after a neighbor complained about its smell. As first reported by Willamette Week, owner Eddie Dong first learned from the City of Portlands Bureau of Development Services that he was in violation of a 2022 zoning code that prohibits odors impacting a nearby residential neighborhood. Despite deep cleaning the exhaust system and grilling meats offsite, the restaurant was the subject of an anonymous neighbors continued complaints and the city began issuing fines. Rather than pay up to $40,000 for a new filtration system, Dong taped a sign to the door last month announcing that the Portland restaurants closure Pho Gabo also has locations in Happy Valley and Hillsboro was due to the citys and the neighborhoods complaints about the smell of the food. The building at 7330 N.E. Fremont St. has been home to a Vietnamese restaurant for nearly three decades. Before it was Pho Gabo, the space was a long-running Northeast Portland outpost of local chain Pho Hung, which opened in 1995. On Wednesday, Portland Commissioner Carmen Rubio met with Dong and directed the Bureau of Development Services to put a pause on investigating odor complaints until the citys relevant regulations could be re-evaluated. My goal is to see the code changes happen as soon as possible, Rubio wrote. Also on Wednesday, five Vietnamese American state representatives from the Portland area Rep. Daniel Nguyen, Rep. Hai Pham, Rep. Thuy Tran, Rep. Hoa Nguyen and Rep. Khanh Pham issued a joint statement expressing concern about the citys odor code. We believe that, as currently written and enforced, the citys odor code is discriminatory and not objective by any known standards, the group wrote. We stand ready to work with Commissioner Rubio and ensure that city code is fair and reasonable, and ultimately the city of Portland retains the vibrant food culture celebrating our diverse community. Community and trade groups have also spoken out about the the restaurants closure. Last week, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association demanded that the city stop enforcing its subjective, unfair smell code immediately. For other code violations, such as noise, vibration and even glare, there are measurable, objective standards but surprisingly, the citys code written for odor violations is entirely subjective, wrote association president and CEO Jason Brandt. Its unbelievable that an anonymous persons repeated complaints about an odor can shut down an entire restaurant, potentially displacing its workers and causing the operator irreparable financial harm. Unlike other nuisance complaints, the city does not require the use of any equipment to verify the presence of a problematic odors besides the inspectors nose. According to city code governing offsite impacts, the odor threshold is the point at which an odor may be detected. APANO, a statewide social justice group advocating for Asians and Pacific Islanders, argued in a statement that those perceptions of smell grilling meat, clove-scented broth can be influenced by xenophobic biases and disproportionately impacts the BIPOC-owned businesses that bring vibrancy and cultural diversity to our neighborhoods. Long used as a tactic for displacing and removing Asian communities, olfactory racism has deep roots in this country dating back hundreds of years, the group wrote. With this closure, our community is losing a vital small business and reinforcing harmful stereotypes and tropes around Asians, our food, culture, and right to belong. As for Dong, the restaurateur said he was happy that potential changes to city code might mean that other small business owners dont have to go through the same experience he did. I am deeply appreciative of the support extended to us during the unfortunate circumstances my business is currently facing, Dong wrote. For those interested in providing direct support, the most effective way is to visit our two remaining locations. Pho Gabos remaining locations can be found at 9960 S.E 82nd Ave. in Happy Valley, 503-694-3955; and at 2331 N.W. 185th Ave. in Hillsboro, 503-430-1211; phogabo.com Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com Staff reporter Shane Dixon Kavanaugh contributed to this report. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has resurrected Portland State University professor Bruce Gilleys push for a preliminary injunction against the University of Oregon after he says he was unconstitutionally blocked from seeing or commenting on tweets from the @OUEquity Twitter account. In a 2-1 vote, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit on Friday threw out an Oregon federal judges denial of Gilleys motion for a preliminary injunction and sent the matter back to U.S. District Court. Even if the University of Oregon no longer blocks Gilleys Twitter account, the school hasnt met its heavy burden to show that the conduct cannot reasonably be expected to reoccur, the panel ruled. Gilley sued the University of Oregon and a former university employee after he was bumped from the schools Division of Equity and Inclusions Twitter account following a comment he made on June 14, 2022. Tova Stabin, who worked as a UO communications manager, blocked Gilleys Twitter account after he retweeted and added a comment to an @UOEquity tweet that included a racism interrupter tool designed to help people respond to remarks they consider racist or offensive. The @UOEquity tweet suggested people say: It sounded like you just said ______. Is that really what you meant? Gilley, in his retweet, filled in the blank: My entry:...you just said all men are created equal. He has publicly criticized state efforts for inclusive educational curriculum as identity politics and has been highly critical of university diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Internal emails revealed that UOs general counsel requested that Gilley be unblocked immediately unless he engaged in speech not protected by the United States and Oregon Constitutions, according to court records. The UOs communication department also sent an email to staff reinforcing that viewpoint discrimination isnt permitted when managing social media accounts. In February 2023, U.S. District Judge Marco A. Hernandez said the political science professor raised legitimate claims that the 60-day blocking on Twitter had violated his free speech rights. At the same time, Hernandez denied Gilleys request for a preliminary injunction against the University of Oregon, saying Gilley didnt show that he would face future harm from what was a temporary restriction. In Fridays appellate opinion, the majority said the court cant be sure the University of Oregon wouldnt take similar action in the future, citing the lack of formality and relative novelty of the universitys social media policy, how easily it can be reversed and the lack of procedural safeguards to protect from arbitrary action. In arguing before us that there was a policy, but that Stabin violated it, the University shows that it lacks sufficient policies to prevent such departures from policy by a rogue employee, the majority wrote. These facts readily demonstrate irreparable harm. Judges Daniel P. Collins and Ryan D. Nelson joined in the majority ruling. Judge William A. Fletcher dissented, writing that he agreed with Hernandez that Gilleys allegations are moot and Stabins blocking of Gilley based on his views was an anomaly. Fletcher pointed out that the University of Oregon immediately unblocked Gilley and rejected Stabins actions as inconsistent with its prohibition on viewpoint discrimination, after learning of his lawsuit. Of 2,558 retweets and replies directed at the @UOEquity account in the past decade, only three users have been blocked from the account. One of those three was Gilley, Fletcher wrote. Stabin retired on the same day that the university learned of the lawsuit and unblocked Gilley, his dissent said. The universitys social media guidelines are written and have existed since at least 2019, Fletcher wrote. The university, he added, also reiterated to staff that under the guidelines, (w)e dont delete comments or block users because they are critical or because we disagree with the sentiment or viewpoint. Attorney Angus Lee, who represented Gilley, called the appellate panels majority ruling a triumph not just for Professor Gilley, but for all who cherish the fundamental right to free expression. It sends a clear message that public institutions cannot disregard the First Amendment in digital spaces. The University of Oregon is reviewing the court decision and evaluating next steps, said Angela Seydel, a spokesperson for the university. There has been no court decision on the merits of the allegations, she said. Del Kolde, a senior attorney with the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Institute for Free Speech, praised the decision. The University of Oregon cannot avoid accountability for its unlawful blocking guidelines by simply unblocking Professor Gilley and claiming it wont happen again, Kolde said in a statement. -- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, or on LinkedIn. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. A Deschutes County judge was wrong to throw out a lawsuit filed by a prominent Bend businessman who sued his ex-wife for breach of contract for allegedly saying disparaging things about him including accusing him of assaulting her, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday. The Appeals Courts decision opens the door for Peter Lowes lawsuit to proceed against ex-wife Amy Thompson. While certain forms of speech are constitutionally protected, the Appeals Court ruled that normal protections might not apply because at the time of their divorce the couple signed a non-disparagement clause. It stated neither of them would make any public or private statement that disparages, defames, is derogatory about, or misrepresents the other party or one of their business interests. Non-disparagement clauses are common in a range of civil settlements, including divorce cases and severance packages in which employers dont want former employees attempting to tarnish their reputations. But the clauses are controversial among critics who say they unfairly squelch speech. The National Labor Relations Board ruled last year that overbroad clauses in job separation agreements are unlawful. Lowes and Thompson divorced in 2017. In 2018, Thompson ran for a seat on the Deschutes County commission and Oregon Public Broadcasting quoted Thompson as referring to Lowes as my abuser in a story about Thompsons campaign. Thompson, who was known as Amy Lowes at the time, expanded on her comment in a portion of the story that OPB later removed from its website. At some point, the news organization also updated the story to state that Peter Lowes pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge involving his ex-wife, had completed a domestic violence program and then the guilty plea was withdrawn and the case dismissed. In 2021, Peter Lowes filed a $1.3 million lawsuit against his ex-wife and Oregon Public Broadcasting, claiming Thompson had a history of making false accusations of abuse and that he took a polygraph examination that confirmed he was being truthful when he unequivocally denied having attempted to strangle Ms. Thompson. Lowes later dropped his pursuit of OPB as a defendant and amended his lawsuit to seek a much smaller amount $55,000 from just Thompson. Among Thompsons defenses: She was protected from the lawsuit by Oregons anti-Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (anti-SLAPP) law. Its designed to quell attempts to chill a persons participation in public affairs, according to a previous Appeals Court ruling. But the Appeals Court this week said Deschutes County Judge Bethany Flint was wrong to dismiss the lawsuit against Thompson, including because Thompson had signed the non-disparagement agreement when she divorced. This weeks ruling also will undo the more than $50,000 in attorneys fees and costs that the judge ordered Lowes to pay Thompson after the judge sided with Thompson. OPB also sought more than $100,000 in attorneys fees and other defense-related expenses, according to court papers, but the judge declined to order Lowes to pay OPB. And although Lowes dropped his pursuit of OPB as a defendant and his claims stemming from what Thompson said in the OPB article, he still faulted his ex-wife for breaching the non-disparagement agreement because according to his amended lawsuit she sent a damaging email to the real estate firm he works for. His suit states that the email was addressed to two business associates and claimed that he had strangled her and punched her in the crotch. Lowes contended that the associates spoke with him about how that damaged his reputation as well as the real estate firm. In addition to being a commercial real estate broker, Lowes owns Hola!, a chain of six nouveau Mexican-Peruvian cuisine restaurants in central Oregon. He also owns the Tranquilo brewery in Bend. With this weeks Appeals Court ruling, his amended lawsuit appears to be alive again. Attorneys for both Lowes and Thompson declined to comment for this story. OPB did not return a request for comment. The Appeals Court decision can be read here. Aimee Green covers breaking news and the justice system. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or @o_aimee. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. News was both good and bad Thursday for supporters of the arts in Oregon, when, in the closing hours of the short legislative session, lawmakers approved less than half of the funding arts champions had hoped for. Still, that was better than they fared last year, when the Legislature didnt pass any money to resuscitate arts groups. All of the states anchor arts organizations, which include the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the High Desert Museum, the Portland Art Museum, Portland Opera, Portland Center Stage, Oregon Ballet Theatre and the Oregon Symphony, received resiliency funding to support operations, from $342,000 for the Oregon Ballet Theater to $2.56 million for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The total is just shy of $6 million. The resiliency funding arrives at a critical time for the arts, providing substantial support to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as it rebuilds audiences, said Tyler Hokama, interim executive director for the festival. This funding serves as a significant boost for the current season and aids in planning for the next. OSF works on multiple seasons simultaneously and appreciates the timely support from the state as we begin planning for our 90th anniversary season in 2025. Read more: Oregon arts organizations struggle as audiences are slow to return and money dries up In addition to the state-provided operating funds, capital projects vetted by the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon will receive $5.9 million, including $1,000,000 for the Clatsop County Historical Society to expand the Oregon Film Museum and $900,000 for the Black United Fund of Oregon to build what it envisions as a United Futures Complex. But $2 million for the High Desert Museums capital improvement campaign, the largest project on the list, did not make it into the final bill. Neither did an additional $13.5 million to develop and implement a grant program for Oregon cultural organizations still struggling in the wake of COVID-19. That money would have gone to smaller organizations throughout the state. Its a total surprise, Dana Whitelaw, executive director of the High Desert Museum, said Thursday afternoon. We were assured that legislative leadership was supportive of all of the projects. The $2 million the state failed to allocate for the High Desert Museum is a huge loss for central Oregon, Whitelaw said. The museum is the largest arts organization in that part of the state, attracting 216,000 visitors in 2023. The population of Bend is around 100,000. Whitelaw noted the museum is grateful for the $380,000 they received as part of the anchor arts package, but said the loss of the hoped-for funding will impact the timeline for the $40 million expansion project the museum is working on. So far, the High Desert Museum has raised $22 million. The High Desert Museum is a gem of central Oregon, said Rep. Emerson Levy, a Democrat who represents parts of the region. Im pleased to see the museum receive funding for operations, but disappointed the expansion project wasnt chosen for funding, she said. The arts dont stop at I-5 and we need more funding for the institutions that make central Oregon proud. Lizzy Acker covers life and culture and writes the advice column Why Tho? Reach her at 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com or @lizzzyacker Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Portland leaders may scrap the citys daytime camping ban and replace it with new restrictions more accommodating to people experiencing homelessness. A Multnomah County judge placed the City Councils current ban on hold months ago. If you happened to miss the Lifetime Channels expansive four-part documentary Where is Wendy Williams, fear not. You can still watch the entire series on Lifetime streaming for free. The story of the former celebrity personality and talk show host centers on the 59-year-olds many health struggles, and her recent fight to return to TV. If you missed it airing life last week, you can still watch the new Wendy Williams story on demand for free on Philo (free trial), or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). Dont have cable? You can watch the Wendy Williams Lifetime documentary for free with Philo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). For a sneak peek, check out the teaser trailer video provided below. The latest four-part documentary has sparked a media firestorm and controversy, and is being called exploitative in the wake of Williams aphasia and frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. The Lifetime series looks at the years following the end of The Wendy Williams Show, giving unprecedented access to the the life of Wendy Williams with the camera crews who followed her over the past two years. Williams also reveals problems with her financial situation stemming from her divorce and a court-ordered guardianship, as well as her problems with alcohol abuse that may have accelerated her medical issues. Her family talked more about these issues in a recent interview with People Magazine. However, this isnt the only special report, documentary or film that has looked in on the life of Wendy Williams over the last couple years. Heres a look at where you can find more: If you cant get enough Wendy Williams, you can always watch her most popular 2021 documentary, Wendy Williams: The Movie, another Lifetime production in which Wendy Williams reveals the highs and lows she has experienced throughout the years. In Wendy Williams: What a Mess!, the former talk show host and celebrity gossip expert chronicles both the joys and humiliations she experienced since childhood in this 2021 special report, which includes details about her divorce and her notorious feuds with celebrities. If you signed up to watch either of the above movies, this one is also a Lifetime production and that means you can always watch it streaming for free on Philo. It isnt necessarily a show, but Wendy Williams brother Tommy Williams has a YouTube channel where he provides updates on his sister and his own life. Its a great follow if you want to keep tabs on the latest happenings in the life of Wendy Williams and her family. HOW TO WATCH WHERE IS WENDY WILLIAMS When: On demand, but the two-part docuseries first premiered on February 24 and 25 over four episodes. TV Channel: Lifetime Watch the show live streaming online: You can watch this Lifetime original movie on demand for free with Philo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). Schreiner Institute Corps of Cadets and Military Academy Prep students fire off a ceremonial cannon during exercises. The school has been named an approved Civil Preparatory school by the United States Military Academy at West Point Association of Graduates Scholarship Program, one of only six such programs in the United States. Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has condemned Thursdays attack and abduction of primary and secondary school pupils and students in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria Photo: (Photo : MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images ) A dad from Northern Virginia is being charged in relation with the passing of his four-month-old child, as drugs were discovered both in the home and in the infant's system, according to Fairfax County police. 4-Month-Old Baby Dies Under Father's Care The disastrous scene happened in June 2023, and charges were officially filed against the father, Shane Frye, on Wednesday. Police answered a call at the home on Americana Drive in Annandale on the morning of June 15, 2023, finding the baby not responsive under the care of his father. In spite of being hurried to the hospital, the baby did not live. In the aftermath of an unfortunate scene last summer, Fairfax County officials have seized Shane Frye, a 37-year-old, in relation to the drug-related passing of his 4-month-old child in Annandale. Emergency responders were notified of a passive baby at the 4200 block of Americana Drive, where the baby was under the care of his dad. Despite urgent medication, the baby died. An inspection uncovered drug paraphernalia in the home, and toxicological evidence verified the presence of drugs in both the child's and Frye's systems, leading to Frye's detention and following charges. Detailed Investigation Reveals Disturbing Details Through a thorough inspection, the Fairfax County Police Department found compromising information within the Frye residence. Evident drug paraphernalia cautioned further inspection, revealing narcotics not only in Frye's system but, thoroughly, also in his baby. This discovery played an essential role in shaping the investigation, emphasizing the serious consequences of drug exposure on the most weak. Read Also: Missouri Mother Mistakenly Places 1-Month-Old Baby in Oven for Nap Medical Examiner's Report Confirms Suspicions An autopsy directed by the Medical Examiner shows the distressing cause of the baby's passing: drug exposure. This critical finding concluded doubtful of the circumstances of the deadly scene. The presence of drugs in the baby's system gives apparent information, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Shane Frye. Shane Frye is recently facing severe charges and is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond. The case has sent shockwaves through the Annandale community, sparking a larger discussion about child security, drug abuse, and parental liability. As legal proceedings unravel, the community and authorities alike count on justice for the young casualty, with the hope that measures will be taken to avoid related misfortune in the future. Shane Frye's arrest conveys a gloomy chapter in Fairfax County's continuing battle against drug abuse and its destructive influence on families. This deadly scene serves as a stark reminder of the weakness of childhood and the paramount effect of security and the welfare of the youngest members of our society. As the case advances through the judicial system, many hope it will bring not only justice for the lost baby but also heighten realization and avoidable action against related future scenes. Law enforcement distinguished the presence of drug paraphernalia in the residence, commanding detectives to enforce search warrants. Subsequently, Schedule I/II narcotics were discovered in both the home and Frye's system, as announced in a release by Fairfax County police. Schedule I drugs lack approved medical use and possess a great possibility for abuse, while Schedule II drugs have medical applications but also a great possibility for abuse, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Autopsy findings found the presence of hard drugs in the infant's body. Shane Frye, aged 37, was seized on Tuesday and is now facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, felony child abuse and neglect, along with two counts of possession of Schedule I/II narcotics. Related Article: Illinois Father Arrested in Gruesome Family Shooting: Wife, Three Daughters Dead Photo: (Photo : Brandon Bell / Getty Images) In the aftermath of the tragic Uvalde school shooting at Robb Elementary, a recently disclosed investigative report has sparked discontent among families, who are now passionately calling for accountability due to perceived missteps in the local police response. Failures Unveiled in City's Investigation Austin-based investigator Jesse Prado meticulously laid bare systemic failures in the response to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. The report explored critical issues such as communication breakdowns, inadequate training for live shooter situations, equipment shortages, and significant delays in breaching the affected classroom. Prado, during his presentation to the City Council, emphasized the severity of these issues, highlighting that the officers lacked essential resources, like ballistic shields, which could have expedited their response. The revelations painted a concerning picture of the challenges faced by local, state, and federal officers on that tragic day. Families Express Frustration Over Cleared Officers Despite the acknowledgment of these shortcomings, Prado's report has ignited controversy by clearing the city's officers of any wrongdoing, triggering frustration among the families of the victims. Emotional scenes unfolded during the presentation, with families expressing their anguish and disbelief at the perceived exoneration of the officers involved. Prado's commendation of the officers' "immeasurable strength" and "level-headed thinking" did little to ease the grief-stricken families. Tensions escalated when Prado left the room before families could voice their concerns, deepening the divide between those seeking accountability and those supporting the officers' actions. Read Also: March Brings Unexpected $7,430 Stimulus Checks for Eligible Americans-Find Out If You Qualify City Council Faces Backlash and Demands for Accountability The fallout from the report has now reached the Uvalde City Council, catching them off guard regarding its contents. Council members, including Hector Luevano, now find themselves in the midst of community backlash. Luevano, expressing disappointment, insisted on a more thorough investigation and a transparent explanation for the families and the community at large. "I'm very disappointed. I'm very insulted by this report. The family deserves more; the community deserves more. We know these families, and they deserve a thorough investigation, a thorough explanation," Luevano passionately asserted during a press conference following the contentious City Council meeting. The demand for accountability extends beyond the families, resonating throughout the Uvalde community, where many question the transparency and effectiveness of the investigation. As the controversy deepens, calls for an independent, unbiased reevaluation of the findings intensify, reflecting the community's determination to seek justice for the victims and their grieving families. In the midst of this tension, the Uvalde school shooting serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive, impartial examinations of such tragic events. The aftermath underscores the importance of rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the community, ensuring that accountability remains a cornerstone in the pursuit of justice for the victims and healing for the wounded community. As Uvalde grapples with the repercussions of this harrowing event, the path forward remains uncertain. However, the demand for accountability and justice remains unwavering, a collective plea that resonates across the city, transcending the boundaries of grief and sorrow. In the pursuit of healing, the community awaits further action from its leaders, hopeful that a more thorough investigation will shed light on the unanswered questions surrounding that tragic day at Robb Elementary. Related Article: Pennsylvania Man Arrested for Pregnant Amish Woman's Murder, Shock Grips Rural Community Incl. St. Ignatius of Antioch vs. Faith Alone; Epistle to Diognetus; Council of Trent on Justification by Faith & Imputation; Anti-Catholicism in the Lutheran Confessions Rev. Dr. Jordan B. Cooper is a Lutheran pastor, adjunct professor of Systematic Theology, Executive Director of the popular Just & Sinner YouTube channel, and the President of the American Lutheran Theological Seminary (which holds to a doctrinally traditional Lutheranism, similar to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod). He has authored several books, as well as theological articles in a variety of publications. All my Bible citations are from RSV, unless otherwise indicated. Jordans words will be in blue. This is my 10th reply to Jordan (many more to come, because I want to interact with the best, most informed Protestant opponents). All of these respectful critiques can be found in the Replies to Jordan Cooper section at the top of my Lutheranism web page. ***** This is a response to Jordans YouTube video, A Response to Trent Horn on Sola Fide in the Church Fathers (11-27-23). 3:22 Trent Horn cites a number of passages from the apostolic fathers where these figures write about the necessity of striving, the necessity of continuing to do good works, the necessity of of striving in the faith, even to the point of saying that it is through that striving in the faith that you are going to inherit eternal life, and if you dont strive, then you are not going to. Now these passages, to be clear, fit easily into a Lutheran framework. Theyre really not a problem at all because in a confessional Lutheran framework we recognize that there is is a necessity of perseverance. We do believe that one can apostatize, and if you are not walking in the faith; if you are not striving to walk in Christ, you can indeed fall into what we would call mortal sin, in that you can live in unrepentant sin and in fact be cut off from Christ. 5:07 there are citations that you find in Trent Horns video that speak about a recompense for ones works. This is not a problem at all; there is no issue with this within Lutheran theology . . . the rewards for good works . . . are heavenly rewards. The problem here for Lutherans and Protestants generally is that the Bible doesnt merely describe differential rewards in heaven for the works we do (both sides agree on that). The problem for them is that the Bible massively connects these good works to salvation itself, when it refers to the criteria of salvation and entrance into heaven. I have compiled fifty biblical passages along these lines, and its a huge difficulty for Protestants to explain away, because its clearly a denial of faith alone and of the denial of meritorious works. These passages simply dont read Protestant. To put it another way, if the true view is supposedly that faith alone saves us and works have nothing directly to do with it, and are only rewarded separately with differential rewards in heaven, then Protestants must explain why it is that the Bible so often ties works directly to salvation and entrance into heaven, and why faith was only mentioned once alongside works in all of these fifty passages. We agree that faith and works save us. But why are works featured so prominently and exclusively in all these passages? This biblical fact is not plausible under Protestant soteriology, but its perfectly harmonious with Catholic and Orthodox theology, and not surprising at all to us. 5:31 now it depends on what you mean by recompense. If the assumption is, I am earning my justification or increasing my justification by my good works, we would deny that categorically, explicitly, and clearly. But thats not what these fathers especially Ignatius [say]. Ignatius says he speaks about there being a recompense for our good works once we enter into the kingdom of God eternally. We have always confessed that there are heavenly rewards for the good works that we do in this life. Jordan provides no reference for Ignatius of Antiochs statement[s] concerning this matter. After searching works, heaven, and reward in his letters, as best I can determine, he is referring to this: Let none of you be found a deserter. Let your baptism endure as your arms; your faith as your helmet; your love as your spear; your patience as a complete panoply. Let your works be the charge assigned to you, that you may receive a worthy recompense. (Epistle to Polycarp, ch. 6) I think equally pious, reasonable Christians can hold that he could be referring (in using recompense) either to differential rewards in heaven or the reward of heaven itself. I shall contend that it is the latter, and provide reasons for so believing. If it refers to differential rewards, its no problem for Catholicism, since we agree that these occur. But if it refers to heaven, its a problem for the Protestant sola fide position. The fact that he refers to the possibility of desertion and also includes the corresponding idea of endure may mean that at least at that point Ignatius had apostasy in mind. Thus, recompense would seem to be the converse of falling away: staying the course unto salvation itself. A paraphrase, if this is correct, would be: Dont fall away. Let your baptism, faith, love, patience, and works in general preclude this eventuality, and lead to the reward of heaven. In 1 Corinthians 3:14 Paul, I think, refers to differential rewards in heaven. In Colossians 3:24 it seems to be heaven (from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward). So Paul uses the notion in two ways. In the next chapter (7), Ignatius talks very Catholic and states, I also am the more encouraged, resting without anxiety in God, if indeed by means of suffering I may attain to God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a disciple [of Christ]. He attains to God and will be found to be a disciple if he suffers (not a word about faith there). This is meritorious works (anathema to Lutheranism and larger Protestantism). Ignatius didnt stick works into a separate category of non-salvific sanctification as Lutherans do. Then he writes, Now, this work is both Gods and yours, when you shall have completed it to His glory. For I trust that, through grace, you are prepared for every good work pertaining to God. Here he expresses the paradoxical biblical notion that our good works, enabled by Gods grace and done in faith, are at the same time Gods works, too. This means they are meritorious: examples of what St. Augustine calls God crowning His own gifts. This reflects four statements from St. Paul: 1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. 2 Corinthians 1:12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have behaved in the world, and still more toward you, with holiness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God. 2 Corinthians 6:1 Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. (in 6:7 Paul said that he did various things by the power of God) In his Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, Ignatius couples faith and love three times (Greeting, chapters 6, 13), and he writes: Let no man deceive himself. Both the things which are in heaven, and the glorious angels, and rulers, both visible and invisible, if they believe not in the blood of Christ, shall, in consequence, incur condemnation. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. Matthew 19:12 Let not [high] place puff any one up: for that which is worth all is faith and love, to which nothing is to be preferred. But consider those who are of a different opinion with respect to the grace of Christ which has come unto us, how opposed they are to the will of God. They have no regard for love; no care for the widow, or the orphan, or the oppressed; of the bond, or of the free; of the hungry, or of the thirsty. (6) He places faith and works together; directly reflecting the words of Jesus at the Last Judgment in Matthew 25:31-46, and when he is commenting on grace he immediately brings up various good works. He refers to grace, faith, love, and good works, all in the same context, which is what St. Paul habitually does. Again, in his Epistle to the Trallians, he makes similar connections: Wherefore, clothing yourselves with meekness, be renewed in faith, that is the flesh of the Lord, and in love, that is the blood of Jesus Christ (ch. 8). In his Epistle to the Magnesians, he couples faith and love three times (chapters 1, 6, 13). In his Epistle to the Ephesians, he again uses the phrase faith and love twice (chapters 1, 14). And he associates faith and works: . . . your name, much-beloved in God, which you have acquired by the habit of righteousness, according to the faith and love in Jesus Christ our Saviour. (1) For it was needful for me to have been stirred up by you in faith, exhortation, patience, and long-suffering. (3) . . . faith cannot do the works of unbelief, nor unbelief the works of faith. (8) . . . making use of the Holy Spirit as a rope, while your faith was the means by which you ascended, and your love the way which led up to God. You, therefore, as well as all your fellow-travellers, are God-bearers, temple-bearers, Christ-bearers, bearers of holiness, adorned in all respects with the commandments of Jesus Christ, . . . (9) None of these things is hid from you, if you perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ Jesus which are the beginning and the end of life. For the beginning is faith, and the end is love . . . The tree is made manifest by its fruit; so those that profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognised by their conduct. For there is not now a demand for mere profession, but that a man be found continuing in the power of faith to the end. (14) This simply isnt faith alone, folks; no way, no how. 7:17 there is a way to accept the idea of faith alone or justification through faith alone if what you mean is an initial justification. Indeed. See my papers: Initial Justification & Faith Alone: Harmonious? [5-3-04] Monergism in Initial Justification is Catholic Doctrine [1-7-10] 8:02 there is an allowance for this language of justification through faith alone that simply doesnt seem to be consistent with the Roman tradition when you look at the responses to the reformers [at] Trent and then post-Trent. . . . the allowance for justification through faith alone in one sense really is not there in the way that it tends to be within modern Roman Catholic apologetics. Canons I-III and X on justification from Trent (Sixth Session: 13 January 1547, while Melanchthon and Calvin were still alive) teach initial justification, which is by grace through faith, and not by works: CANON I. If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema. CANON II. If any one saith, that the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, is given only for this, that man may be able more easily to live justly, and to merit eternal life, as if, by free will without grace, he were able to do both, though hardly indeed and with difficulty; let him be anathema. CANON III. If any one saith, that without the prevenient inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and without his help, man can believe, hope, love, or be penitent as he ought, so as that the grace of Justification may be bestowed upon him; let him be anathema. CANON X. If any one saith, that men are just without the justice of Christ, whereby He merited for us to be justified; or that it is by that justice itself that they are formally just; let him be anathema. Likewise, the Decree on Justification, chapter 5: The Synod furthermore declares, that in adults, the beginning of the said Justification is to be derived from the prevenient grace of God, through Jesus Christ, that is to say, from His vocation, whereby, without any merits existing on their parts, they are called; that so they, who by sins were alienated from God, may be disposed through His quickening and assisting grace, to convert themselves to their own justification, by freely assenting to and co-operating with that said grace: in such sort that, while God touches the heart of man by the illumination of the Holy Ghost, neither is man himself utterly without doing anything while he receives that inspiration, forasmuch as he is also able to reject it; yet is he not able, by his own free will, without the grace of God, to move himself unto justice in His sight. The italicized portions refer to initial justification by grace alone and faith alone; over against Pelagianism and in agreement with Protestantism. Former Presbyterian minister and professor Kenneth Howell comments on these declarations of the Council of Trent: I am puzzled why anyone would say that extrinsic righteousness might be excluded by Trent. The only righteousness that justifies is Christs. But Catholic theology teaches that what is Christs becomes ours by grace. In fact Canon 10 anathematizes anyone who denies that we can be justified without Christs righteousness or anyone who says that we are formally justified by that righteousness alone. . . . Canon 10 says that Christs righteousness is both necessary and not limited to imputation i.e. formally. So, imputation is not excluded but only said to be not sufficient. With regard to imputation, if Trent indeed excludes it, I am ready to reject it. But the wording of the decrees does not seem to me to require this. . . . The Protestant doctrine, it seems to me, has at least two sides. Imputation is the declaration of forgiveness on Gods part because of Christs work but it is also a legal fiction that has nothing immediately to do with real (subjective) state of the penitent. Now I think the declaration side of imputation is acceptable to Trent but not the legal fiction side. The difference between the Tridentine and the Reformation views, in addition to many other aspects, is that in the latter view God only sees us as righteous while in the former, Christ confers righteousness upon (and in) us. . . . What is wrong with the Reformation view then? It is the sola part. Faith is essential but not sola fide. Remission of sins is essential but not sola remissione. Imputation via absolution is essential but not sola imputatione. I remember well how this hit me one day in my journey. So much of Protestantism represents a reductionism of the Catholic faith. The Protestants added their qualifiers (sola) and thereby threw out the fullness of faith. [Trent Doesnt Utterly Exclude Imputation, July 1996] 8:24 Now Im glad that theyve kind of changed. I think theyve come our way a little bit and I think thats good, but they dont want to say that, of course. I just want to say that . . . personally in my interpretation of Trent . . . I dont see the way that a lot of modern Roman Catholic apologists have moved on this as consistent with Tridentine soteriology, so I think that its actually a capitulation to our particular view or perspective on things. As I believe I have just shown, there has been no change, and Trent itself does indeed teach monergistic justification or justification by faith alone, as pertains to initial justification. See the crucial distinctions highlighted by Dr. Howell above. Jordan simply needs to be more acquainted with the subtleties and nuances of Trents teaching. I think Dr. Howells exposition in particular can help him do that. Ironically, if Jordan thinks we Catholic apologists have changed and departed from Trents soteriology, whereas in fact if my reasoning above is correct , we havent at all, then Jordan has actually confirmed in a roundabout way that Trent agreed with Protestants on initial justification all along. That should make him happy, I would think, if in fact the two sides have more in common than he had previously thought (and as many Catholics have thought and do think, as well). It makes me happy whenever we can agree; less to disagree about and less work for me as an apologist! 9:03 Im glad that theyre willing to concede that The credit goes to Trent, not us apologists who have supposedly modified it, which would be fundamentally unacceptable for a Catholic apologist to do. It would be like Jordan messing around with the Book of Concord, and ignoring parts of it, in order to be more agreeable to Catholics. Nor did Trent concede this point. It was reaffirming what had been held all along. The condemnations of the Pelagians a thousand years earlier at the 2nd Council of Orange dealt with and resolved all this. 9:13 I see that as kind of proof that there isnt even acknowledgement that maybe weve done some things right or we were right about certain things Not in this instance (because Jordans premise is wrong; we never did disagree here as to initial justification), but generally speaking, Catholics believe that there is a lot of agreement between us, and were delighted about that and see it as Protestants having gotten many things right. See my paper that cites Vatican II in this regard: How Catholics View Protestants. Truth is truth wherever it is found. This works two ways, too, I should add. Catholicism has made a lot of effort in ecumenical matters in the last century or so. But in the Book of Concord: the Lutheran Confessions that Jordan and all orthodox, traditional Lutherans abide by, there are still many statements like the following: The Mass in the papacy must be regarded as the greatest and most horrible abomination because it runs into direct and violent conflict with this fundamental article. Yet, above and beyond all others, it has been the supreme and most precious of the papal idolatries . . . this dragons tail that is, the Mass has brought forth a brood of vermin and the poison of manifest idolatries. (Smalcald Articles [1537], Part II, Article II: The Mass, from The Book of Concord, translated and edited by Theodore Tappert, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House / Muhlenberg Press, 1959, pp. 293-294) So in the papal realm the worship of Baal clings namely, the abuse of the Mass . . . And it seems that this worship of Baal will endure together with the papal realm until Christ comes to judge and by the glory of his coming destroys the kingdom of Antichrist. Meanwhile all those who truly believe the Gospel should reject those wicked services invented against Gods command to obscure the glory of Christ and the righteousness of faith. (Apology of the Augsburg Confession [1531], Article XXIV: The Mass, in Tappert, ibid., 268) There may very well be a way that ecumenical Lutherans reconcile the above with respect for Catholics as brothers and sisters in Christ, through some interpretive means that I am not yet aware of. Id be more than happy to be educated by those who feel that they have a solution to this apparent dilemma for ecumenical Lutherans. Jordan brings up (around the ten-minute mark) the Epistle to Diognetus with regard to justification. I addressed that in an earlier reply to Jordan, entitled, Faith Alone In The Early Church Fathers? [2-28-24]. Jordan refers to this particular passage: As long then as the former time endured, He permitted us to be borne along by unruly impulses, being drawn away by the desire of pleasure and various lusts. This was not that He at all delighted in our sins, but that He simply endured them; nor that He approved the time of working iniquity which then was, but that He sought to form a mind conscious of righteousness, so that being convinced in that time of our unworthiness of attaining life through our own works, it should now, through the kindness of God, be vouchsafed to us; and having made it manifest that in ourselves we were unable to enter into the kingdom of God, we might through the power of God be made able. But when our wickedness had reached its height, and it had been clearly shown that its reward, punishment and death, was impending over us; and when the time had come which God had before appointed for manifesting His own kindness and power, how the one love of God, through exceeding regard for men, did not regard us with hatred, nor thrust us away, nor remember our iniquity against us, but showed great long-suffering, and bore with us, He Himself took on Him the burden of our iniquities, He gave His own Son as a ransom for us, the holy One for transgressors, the blameless One for the wicked, the righteous One for the unrighteous, the incorruptible One for the corruptible, the immortal One for those who are mortal. For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? By what other one was it possible that we, the wicked and ungodly, could be justified, than by the only Son of God? O sweet exchange! O unsearchable operation! O benefits surpassing all expectation! That the wickedness of many should be hid in a single righteous One, and that the righteousness of One should justify many transgressors! Having therefore convinced us in the former time that our nature was unable to attain to life, and having now revealed the Saviour who is able to save even those things which it was [formerly] impossible to save, by both these facts He desired to lead us to trust in His kindness, to esteem Him our Nourisher, Father, Teacher, Counsellor, Healer, our Wisdom, Light, Honour, Glory, Power, and Life, so that we should not be anxious concerning clothing and food. (ch. 9; complete) This is discussing initial justification, which I have addressed above, with citations from Trent. There is no disagreement here. This is referring to an imputation of righteousness to the believer that Catholics can agree with, per the explanations of Dr. Howell above. But as soon as it occurs, the believer works together with God to make it a real, day-by-day righteousness (not merely a declared or proclaimed righteousness that in fact is not righteousness). Thats where the two sides differ, but not on the above. As I noted in my earlier treatment of this epistle, the author states that God will give salvation and the reward of heaven to those who have loved Him (chapter 10). Faith alone without love wont cut it. He writes again along these lines in chapter 12, observing that you shall know what God bestows on such as rightly love Him, . . . presenting in yourselves a tree bearing all kinds of produce and flourishing well, being adorned with various fruits. As I wrote before: I see nothing whatsoever in this work that contradicts Catholic soteriology. This epistle states, For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? Precisely! Trent in agreement stated in its Decree on Justification (5): the beginning of the said Justification is to be derived from the prevenient grace of God, through Jesus Christ, that is to say, from His vocation, whereby, without any merits existing on their parts, they are called . . . 12:13 I think there are plenty of passages in Luther that are very clear that The Great Exchange is more than just a forensic reality I agree, which is why I put out the papers: Martin Luther: Good Works Prove Authentic Faith [4-16-08] Luther on Theosis & Sanctification [11-23-09] Martin Luther: Faith Alone is Not Lawless Antinomianism [2-28-10] Merit & Sanctification: Martin Luthers Point of View [11-10-14] Luther wrote (very Catholic-like: Our justification is not yet finished. It is neither something which is actually completed nor is it essentially present. It is still under construction [to be completed in the resurrection]. (Disputation on the Works of the Law and of Grace, 1537; Luthers Works, vol. 71; cf. Paul Althaus, The Theology of Martin Luther, 245, footnote 96) [T]he entire man, both as to his person and his works, is to be called and to be righteous and holy from pure grace and mercy, shed upon us [unfolded] and spread over us in Christ. (Smalcald Articles, 1537; Pt. III, Art. XIII) It was Luthers successor, Philip Melanchthon, who completely separated works from justification. It was a fatal move, that has led to much false doctrine and the bad fruit that results from falsehood. 16:59 if Rome is willing to say, okay we have [to] enter into a state of grace through faith alone or through a baptism . . . Rome has always said that, so its not an issue. The curious thing here is that Jordan, for some reason, thinks we havent yet asserted this. Jordan continues (per his apparently usual custom) in the rest of the video to be all over the ballpark. Once again, his title is a misnomer. He basically dealt with only two pieces of patristic data regarding soteriology, and I responded to both, along with many other things (ostensibly off the topic of what the title describes, though distantly related). 20:41 I dont want to go back and forth. . . . I dont really want my channel to be a anti-Roman Catholic Protestant channel. Thats never been my desire, but I do think its important to engage in these things. Its important to debate these things. Trent is a professional Roman Catholic apologist and he can go back and forth on these things with people. Thats just not really my mission. I am certainly a Lutheran apologist. Im a Lutheran theologian, but I dont want to just kind of go back and forth on these things. Thats fine. Everyone has his own vocation, as well as desires and strengths and weaknesses. To each his own. He can decide to reply to Trent Horn and/or Catholic apologists, including myself, as he wishes, and no one should judge his decisions as to how he spends his time and uses the gifts that God gave him (which are many). But he should also be aware that a person like me, who specializes in debate and examination of Protestantism and defense of Catholicism, will reply to claims he has made about the Catholic Church and Catholicism, which need to be able to withstand scrutiny, and which are not all self-evidently true, or unquestionable when examined more closely. Jordan is now influencing many thousands of his viewers, and so its only fair and to be expected that if he treats the subject of Catholicism, Catholics including myself will make some kind of reply, so that it can be a fair fight and a scenario where both sides are heard and not just one. I hope he does decide to reply to me. I think it would be fun for both of us. I dont bite! Im friendly, no matter how many disagreements I may have with a person. The two sides (not just us, but readers) can potentially better understand each other, whether or not anyone is persuaded otherwise (which is always rare, anyway). All of that is good and well worth spending time on, in my humble opinion. More accurate knowledge of views other than our own is always a net gain. Do you, like me, have paper documents that have long since been scanned and processed, records or music cassettes that you would like to listen to on your mobile phone, and photo prints that are planned for a digital photo book? Then you will appreciate the two-step instructions in this article, with which you can convert analog media to digital and then process them further. Scan documents and have text recognized Important insurance papers, contracts, invoices, or simply the page-long letter from your favorite aunt there are many paper documents that you want to scan in order to preserve them. If its even a text that you want to search and edit, you can run OCR software over it after scanning, which recognizes the text so that you can search it and, if necessary, edit it with a standard word processor. Step 1: Scan documents With the freeware Not Another PDF Scanner 2 (Naps 2), you have plenty of options for editing and saving the scan after scanning a document. The tool is also very easy to use. IDG To digitize a paper document, you need a scanner and the corresponding software. The scanner can either be a combination printer with a scan function or a standalone device that can only scan. If you need to scan a lot of documents, you can also opt for a dedicated document scanner from Ricohs Scansnap family, for example. Depending on the model, these devices cost from around $350, are designed for high throughput, and are also capable of duplex scanning. If, on the other hand, you dont have the space for a combination printer and only need to scan individual pages of text occasionally, a mobile scanner such as the Brother DS-640 for around $100 is suitable. However, a scanner alone does not make a scan. You also always need scanning software or the scanner driver. This is usually supplied with the device and offers more or less settings with which you can influence the scan result, including the resolution, the output directory, and options for duplex scanning, if a device supports this. If the driver options are not sufficient, you can also use third-party software. We recommend the open source program Not Another PDF Scanner 2, or Naps 2 for short. The tool works with the devices of all major manufacturers and offers an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) function as a special feature i.e. it can recognize scanned text. But more on this in step 2. To use Naps 2, first create a profile for your scanner or combination printer. To do this, click on Profiles > New > Select device and then on the product name, then click twice on OK and Done. Scan the desired document and double-click on the preview. You now have the option of rotating the scan, cropping it, adjusting the brightness, contrast, hue, and color saturation using the slider, converting it to black and white, and sharpening it. Once the corrections are complete, save the scan as a PDF or image, whereby BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG, TIF, EMF, and Exif are available for selection and you can also make further settings. Step 2: Recognize text As already mentioned, Naps 2 offers you the option of running text recognition on the scanned document after each scan. In the Optical text recognition menu item, select the language of the document, the OCR mode (Fast, Best, or Legacy), whether the recognized text is searchable, and whether the OCR should be activated automatically after each scan. German and English are already pre-installed for the document language, other languages can be added free of charge via a download link. Attention: Naps 2 cannot output and save the scanned text as a text file! If you want to edit the text, save the scanned document as a PDF, open it in a PDF viewer, and then copy the text into a word processor using Select all and Paste. The free PDF24 Creator has an integrated OCR function that reads text in PDF files so that they can be searched later. It also outputs the texts as a TXT file for editing if required. IDG Alternatively, you can also use PDF24 Creator and call up the integrated text recognition via the Open PDF24 OCR button. Select the desired PDF via Add files and start the OCR with Start. Once complete, click on the three horizontal lines next to the PDF and on Show recognized text. A TXT file opens with the recognized text, which you can adapt and save as required. Digitize and optimize photos If you still have paper prints of photos sorted in albums or lying around loose, you can photograph them very easily, but also laboriously with your smartphone. If you only want to digitize slides or negatives, you will find what you are looking for in Kodaks Slide-N-Scan range. The devices are available with or without a display and support film formats of 135, 110, and 126 millimeters. Of course, photos can also be scanned using the scan function of a conventional combination device. There are also scanning programs with integrated image processing that are particularly suitable for scanning paper prints. Step 1: Scan photos Photo Commander 16 from Ashampoo lets you scan paper prints in conjunction with a scanner and also has basic editing tools on board. IDG Ashampoo Photo Commander 16 is the perfect software for scanning and editing photos. After installation, click on the three horizontal lines and then under File > Scan/Import > Scan photo. Select your scanner or the combination device, specify the output format here you can choose between PNG, JPG, PDF, and Multipage PDF and the folder in which the images are to be saved. Click on Scan to start scanning. Step 2: Optimize images If you would like to edit your scanned images with Photo Commander 16, you will find various options in the Edit menu, some of which you can also access via the navigation bar: With the Quick Fix Tools you can optimize contrast, colors, and white balance, remove image noise in three stages and straighten an image. A soft focus, red-eye remover, clone stamp, and eraser are also available. Under Edit objects you can add text and shapes, while Modify adjusts the image size and the canvas. Last but not least, you have the option of influencing the color depth, applying blurring, and editing an image with regard to the color channels. By the way: You can customize the appearance of the program under Configuration and All settings. For example, unchecking Modern app menu under General makes the interface much clearer and easier to use. Digitize records and manage music Music enthusiasts still rave about the atmospheric crackling of a record compared to the sterile sound of a CD. If you want to enjoy the crackling sound on your mobile device, you should convert your records to digital. Step 1: Digitize vinyl records There are various ways to connect a record player to your PC. If the device has a USB port, simply connect it to the computer as usual using a USB cable. However, if the record player has a different audio output, such as line-out via cinch, jack, or similar, the PC should have a suitable line-in connection. You will also need the appropriate audio cable (such as RCA to RCA, RCA to jack, or jack to jack) to connect the two devices together. Make sure you use the correct connector type, i.e. TS for mono or TRS for stereo signals. If your PC does not have a line-in socket, you can also use the microphone input, or especially recommended for notebooks that do not have audio inputs you can get a USB adapter with microphone and headphone connection, which is available from Amazon from $9. They usually also provide better sound quality than the built-in onboard sound chips on the motherboard. Especially with notebooks that do not have audio inputs, you can retrofit audio sockets for little money with a USB adapter. The adapters are actually intended for connecting headsets. IDG In addition to the hardware connection, you will also need recording software to digitize your records. The freeware Audacity is suitable for this. You must first configure it after installation: Under Edit > Settings > Devices in the Playback and Recording sections, select the sound card or the connection on your PC as the Device. Alternatively, you can make the selection via the drop-down menus in the main window. You can also specify under Edit > Settings > Devices in Recording under Channels whether you want to make the recording in mono or stereo. If necessary, make further settings under Quality and Directories if you want to change the default storage folders for saving, opening, importing, and exporting. If everything is configured correctly, start playback of the record, and simultaneously start digitization by pressing the red button. Attention: If the sound track in Audacity is cut off at the top and bottom, you must adjust the volume in the program. To save the file, select the desired format via File > Export, whereby the required library for MP3 is already installed. You can download additional libraries free of charge via the menu item of the same name. With the freeware Audacity you can digitize records, cassettes, and other analog media, provided you have a playback device and the necessary connections on your PC. You can regulate the level via the volume in the program. IDG By the way: Music cassettes can also be digitized in the same way. You need a cassette player with audio or headphone output and the appropriate cable to the PC. Audacity then serves as recording software again. Step 2: Organize and play tracks If you have your records in MP3 format on your hard drive, you now need to transfer the data to your mobile device. You can do this with Audials One 2024 Special Edition, for example. The program is primarily designed to record music, podcasts, and free videos from the internet. However, it can also be used to manage and transfer music. The free Audials Play app gives you access to the music on your PC and you can also download it to your mobile phone. The content of your PC then appears as a separate tab in the app. IDG After installation, click on the sheet music symbol in the main view. You will land in the My music area, where you can call up the PC storage location using the arrow to the right of the lettering. Click on the entry, then on the three dots and Options. In the Additional folders to display section, click on Add, music files, and navigate to the folders with the digitized records. Confirm with Select folder and OK. The folders including the audio tracks now appear in the main view of Audials One 2024 SE and can be edited using the pencil icon. To transfer your music to your mobile device, you will need the free Audials Play Android app. Log in with the same Audials account to which you have registered Audials One 2024 SE. Then tap on Music and switch to the tab that bears the name of your PC. You will find your music there and can download it using the three dots and Copy to phone. This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de. The World Bank Group, through its spokesperson, has asserted its longstanding relationship with Ghana despite the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill by Parliament. This comes to extinguish the heated speculation suggesting that the World Bank Group may reduce aid and developmental assistance to Ghana following the passage of the Anti-Gay bill. There have been several concerns about possible financial challenges for Ghana if the bill is assented into law, with warnings from the Finance Ministry about the potential loss of over $3 billion in World Bank funding for various programs and projects. However, a spokesperson from the World Bank clarified that, the institution does not recognise the recently passed bill as a reason for altering cooperation with Ghana on development programmes. He emphasised that the partnership between the World Bank and the Republic of Ghana remains productive. The World Bank Group has a longstanding and productive relationship with Ghana, the spokesman said. In response to inquiries regarding the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, the World Bank stated that it cannot comment on specific legislation. The Bill has not yet been signed into Law. We generally do not comment on Bills. As of now, it is uncertain whether the financial institution will take any punitive measures if the bill is fully enacted. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Senegal's government has announced that the country's presidential election will take place on 24 March. The announcement follows tension in the West African nation after President Macky Sall postponed the election last month, sparking widespread protests. Parliament has also passed an amnesty law for crimes linked to the protests. The president's opponents had accused him of mounting a constitutional coup but he denies seeking to extend his term of office. Mr Sall's 12 years in power is due to end on 2 April. The announcement of the election date has been welcomed by opposition figures. "What we are looking forward now is fair, just and transparent elections. That is the last duty that President Macky Sall has to fulfil," Aminata Toure, a former prime minister under Mr Sall who switched to the opposition, told the BBC's Newsday programme. Senegal has long been seen as one of the most stable democracies in Africa. It is the only country in mainland West Africa that has never had a military coup. Prior to Wednesday's announcement, authorities had attempted to postpone the original 25 February poll to December, which resulted in deadly unrest on the streets. But the Constitutional Council later ruled that the presidential election must take place before 2 April. Earlier on Wednesday evening, Mr Sall dissolved the government and replaced Prime Minister Amadou Ba with Interior Minister Sidiki Kaba. This was so that Mr Ba, the ruling coalition's presidential candidate, could focus on his electoral campaign, the presidency said. President Sall has served two terms as Senegal's leader and when he was first elected in 2012 he promised he would not overstay. In another attempt to defuse political tensions, lawmakers have approved a bill which gives amnesty for all offences "relating to demonstrations or having political motivations" that were committed 1 February 2021 to 25 February 2024. Ninety-four members of parliament backed the measure while 49 voted against it. Critics say the law will shield the perpetrators of serious crimes, including members of security forces who killed dozens of protesters, as well as Mr Sall. But the law's supporters say it will benefit the opposition, as it could pave the way for the release of leading opposition politician Ousmane Sonko and thousands of his supporters. Mr Sonko was at the forefront of the campaign against Mr Sall, and was imprisoned in 2023 on what he said were trumped-up charges aimed at barring him from running for president. Despite the latest political reforms, the list of candidates eligible to contest the presidency remains unchanged, meaning Mr Sonko still cannot run for office. Nevertheless vice-president of his Pastef party, Yacine Fall, told the BBC that the announcement of an election date was "a big relief for the whole country". "Unfortunately, Ousmane Sonko had been illegally prevented from being a candidate, but we are still happy to see that Pastef... has a candidate," she said. "We are hopeful and we are convinced that if the campaign is done and due process is put in motion, Pastef will win the election and Bassirou Diomaye will be the next president of Senegal." However, Mr Diomaye is currently in prison - he is one of those hoping to be freed - while Pastef has been banned on charges of calling for insurrection. Another leading opposition figure, Karim Wade, is not on the list of approved candidates and so will also not be able to take part in the election which is in just over a fortnight's time. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Deputy Director of A-Rocha Ghana, Daryl Bonsu, has criticised President Akufo-Addo for failing to preserve the Atewa forest reserve in his Independence Day address yesterday, [March 6] in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital. The President indicated the governments intent to mine bauxite deposits discovered in the Atewa Forest Reserve. He noted that certain issues have to be dealt with, as mining the bauxite deposit will be a source of employment for the community. However, Mr. Bonsu disagreed with the President. Speaking to Alfred Ocansey on Ghana Tonight, he emphasised the importance of preserving the forest reserve. I think it is about time we realised that we can equally create a significant amount of jobs for the people in the Eastern region without destroying the forest, said Daryl Bonsu, adding that, already studies have shown that we can take advantage of the monumental tourism potential in the area. He urged the President to work up to see the potential that Atewa [forest] has now and not just for its extractive minerals and benefits. Mr. Bonsu maintained that any attempt by President Akufo-Addo to proceed with mining in the Atewa forest would be the biggest failure of the President, who hails from the Eastern region. Daryl Bonsu also expressed disappointment with the Presidents lack of appreciation for the Atewa forest as a source of water supply to some parts of Accra. He noted that water from the forest flows from Densu through Weija to be treated and serve residents in that part of the Greater Accra region. One thing that is very clear and obviously missing in the Presidents own appreciation of the pride of the Eastern region is the fact that Atewa Forest has also been a crucial and important source of water for the countrys capital city, he said. About Atewa Forest Atewa Range Forest Reserve, in the eastern region of Ghana, is internationally recognized as one of the highest-priority ecosystems in West Africa for its high species diversity, high levels of endemism, and great hydrological importance. The forest was gazetted as a National Forest Reserve in 1926, then a Special Biological Protection Area in 1994, a Hill Sanctuary in 1995, and one of Ghanas 30 Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs) in 1999. It is also recognised as an Important Bird Area. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The national Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu has urged President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, to leave a good legacy for generations yet to come by assenting to the Human Sexual and Ghanaian Family Values Bill before leaving office as President. The Chief Imam, through his spokesperson, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu noted that, the President has to assent to the bill in order to protect the Ghanaian family system and to promote the cohesion within the Ghanaian family relations. Speaking on United Television's (UTV) with Yaa Konamah, the Chief Imam expressed his greatest disappointment in the ongoing impasse over the passage of the bill, which according to him, if not passed will affect the Ghanaian family. "I am worried over the Ghana I will be leaving behind. At my age of 104, I do not need anything. All I want is a safe Ghana whose family system will be protected and preserved. The LGBTQ is a dirty lifestyle. Whoever claims it is genetic will not be telling the truth. It is an acquired lifestyle which should not be promoted in Ghana. There has not been any scientific research to prove that such a lifestyle is genetic." Sheikh Aremeyaw added that, the pressure being mounted by the gay communities on the President not to assent to the bill is a great threat to the survival of the Ghanaian family system. "The family was instituted by God with the mandate to procreate. Procreation is done by a man and a woman. Since when did a man and man, or a woman and another woman met to procreate?. This is abominable and should not be tolerated at any point in time," he added. When asked by the host if there had been a broader consultation before the passage of the bill, the Spokesperson for the Chief Imam added that the bill had been subjected to thorough scrutiny through a broader consultation across the length and breadth of the country including all religious and civil organisations. Commenting on the assertion that Ghana is a Theocratic state, Sheikh Shaibu noted that, secularism is not equivalent to godlessness. He, therefore, encouraged the President to assent to the bill without delay. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In a solemn and heartfelt tribute, the immediate past Executive Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, paid his respects to the late Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament of Ejisu, Hon. John Kumah, whose untimely demise occurred yesterday. Dr. Henry Kokofu praised his tireless efforts in serving the nation and contributing to the growth of Ghana's economy. "John will always call me Uncle with deep sense of respect. He was a beacon of integrity and dedication in his role as Deputy Minister of Finance. His commitment to public service, our New Patriotic Party and his overall vision for Ghana were truly inspirational," Dr. Kokofu expressed this on his official X (formerly Twitter) page. The sudden loss of Hon. John Kumah has sent shockwaves throughout the country and beyond. The announcement of his premature demise at the age of 45 has caused significant distress throughout the political world. Hon. Dr. Kokofu extended his deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the late Deputy Minister, emphasizing that his memory and legacy will forever be cherished. The legacy of Hon. John Kumah will continue to inspire generations to come, and his contributions to the nation will be remembered with gratitude and respect. May his soul rest in peace. Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The High Court in Accra has ordered the transfer of Patience Botwe, a former househelp of Cecilia Dapaah, ex-Minister for Sanitation and five others from Police to prison custody. The presiding Judge, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons said all the accused persons should be remanded into prison custody except Sarah Agyei, the second accused who is a lactating mother. This decision follows a prayer by the Prosecution that, although they did not oppose to the bail application by lawyers of the accused persons, the accused persons are still in Police Custody as they have failed to execute their bails. The Prosecution led by a Senior State Attorney, Akosua Agyaponmaa Agyemang explained that, their contineous remand in Police custody has become burdensome to them. The accused persons are currently before the High court for their alleged involvement in the stealing of millions of cedis and other valuables at the residence of the former Minister. They were each granted to bail in the sum of Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand cedis (GHC 750,000) with two surities in November last year but have since not met their bail conditions. On other note the Prosecution has also filed a motion seeking an Order of restriction on the disposal of some properties which is said to be with the accused perosns. Justice Marie-Louise Simmons has adjourned the case for a case management conference (CMC) on March 15. Source: Philipa Atanga/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The United Nations said the figure represents a 20 percent increase from 2022 and that the Mediterranean route from North Africa to Europe remains the riskiest for migrants. "The 2023 death toll represents a tragic increase of 20 percent compared to 2022, highlighting the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of life," the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said in a report released on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. The organization's Missing Migrants project documents worldwide deaths and disappearances of migrants. "These horrifying figures collected by the Missing Migrants Project are also a reminder that we must recommit to greater action that can ensure safe migration for all, so that ten years from now, people aren't having to risk their lives in search o a better one," IOM Deputy Director General Ugochi Daniels said. Last year's death toll surpassed the previous record of 8,084 in 2016. The IOM said that a lack of safe, regulated pathways forces thousands to undertake dangerous migration routes. The most dangerous path for migrants, according to the IOM, remained the Mediterranean Sea, with at least 3,129 deaths in 2023 as migrants attempted to reach Europe. This figure represents the highest death toll on this route since 2017. Data collection on recorded migrant deaths varies widely by region. A high number of migrant deaths were recorded across Africa (1,866) and Asia (2,138) in 2023. In Africa, many of them happened in the Sahara Desert and the sea route to Spain's Canary Islands. In Asia, a large number of Rohingya and Afghan refugees lost their lives. Drowning accounted for slightly over half of the total migrant deaths in 2023, said the report. Nine percent of the deaths were caused by vehicle accidents and 7% to violence. So far, 512 migrants have already lost their lives this year. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Electoral Commission (EC) will now use the guarantor system as part of the voter registration process after abandoning the attempt to introduce a new Constitutional Instrument (CI) for the December 7, 2024 Elections. This means that the Ghana Card will not be the only document for establishing the eligibility of prospective voters who qualify to be captured in the poll book. Furthermore, indelible ink will remain in the mix of systems for identifying persons who have voted during the elections. These were among the key agreements reached at the end of an Inter-party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting in Accra yesterday. The four-hour meeting was chaired by the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa, with her two deputies, Dr Eric Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey, in attendance. IPAC participants Parties at the meeting included the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People's Party (CPP), the People's National Convention (PNC) and the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP). Other stakeholders in the electoral process such as democratic institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs), faith-based organisations and development partners were also present. The key issue for discussion was the electoral calendar which the EC tabled before the political parties. Although the EC Chairperson and her deputies did not speak to journalists after the meeting, the representatives of the political parties confirmed the key issues the participants had agreed on in separate interviews with the Daily Graphic. Parties satisfied The NDCs Director of Elections, Dr Omane Boamah, described the meeting as very cordial with a lot of agreements reached. The Chairperson made statements on a number of issues that we have been arguing about for some time now. She officially informed all political parties that in the 2024 elections, indelible ink will be used. The EC Chairperson said the guarantor system will be used for the limited registration ahead of the December 7 elections, and this is good because it is backed by data that many people still used that system for registration in 2020, he said. Again, he said, the EC had agreed to expand registration beyond district offices, but they will do that in electoral areas that have difficulty-to-reach zones. We were pushing for all polling stations to be used for the registration exercise, but they have met us halfway because of budgetary constraints, he added. He added that the parties had accepted the dates put forward by the EC for the printing of ballot papers, but we will not put it out because of security reasons. But the fact is that they have informed the political parties. Dr Boamah observed that while the NDC was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting and the decisions arrived at so far, the party would continue to ensure that we keep the commission on its toes. The NPPs Director of Research and Elections, Evans Nimako, corroborated Dr Boamahs statements, and added that the EC had informed political parties that it would not submit a new CI to Parliament for the conduct of this year's elections. This means that indelible ink will be used; the date for the election remains unchanged, and there will be a guarantor system, he said. Mr Nimako, however, said the NPP would not support the situation whereby some stakeholders served as guarantors for minors and non-citizens were on the electoral roll. It is the reason why the NPP was in support of the new CI that will ensure that it is the Ghana Card that will be used. That notwithstanding, we will go along with what exists and make sure the right thing is done, he said. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, has attributed the stalling of the National Cathedral to what he describes as financial mismanagement. According to the North Tongu lawmaker, several individuals, including Ghanaian-British Architect, Sir David Frank Adjaye, CEO of Nehemiah Group Cary Summers, and Reverend Kusi Boateng, have purportedly received significant sums of money from the projects funds for doing little to no work. Hon. Ablakwa stated that, Sir David Frank Adjaye is not deserving of the $19.6 million he received for just designing the structure of which he even left out a restaurant structure, and when he was asked to include the crucial component, he charged additional fees. Ablakwa said, When you look at the people who have taken money and done little, look at David Adjaye, He alone received $19.6 million, when you look at the breakdown, after he designed the structure he left out a restaurant area." So he was asked to add a restaurant and for just designing the restaurant he charged an amount of $5.7 million for just the design, he disclosed this while speaking to Nana Yaa Brefo and Isaac Ekow JB on Onua FM, March 7. Another name disclosed was that of the CEO of Nehemiah Group, Cary Summers, described as a consultant for the National Cathedral project, who is said to have received $6 million of taxpayers money. Despite promises to leverage his expertise to raise international funds for the project, Mr Ablakwa claims that Summers has not delivered on this front. Further scrutiny by Ablakwa allegedly revealed that Summers is not CEO of Nehemiah Group in America. He revealed, Cary Summers who is a supposed Consultant for the National Cathedral project has taxpayers money of $6 million. They said he was a consultant who would help us with contacts and expertise that would help us raise funds internationally for the project." "Up to now Cary Summers has not introduced us to anyone capable of helping us finance the project but he has in his possession $6 million belonging to taxpayers and Ghanaians. I went to America to find out he wasnt the CEO of Nehemiah Group in America. I discovered hes merely a coffee brewer in a ramshackle warehouse. He has taken taxpayers money to America. Additionally, Rev Kusi Boateng, according to Ablakwa, received GH 2.6 million from the projects funds under the guise of contractor mobilization. However, his investigations revealed that Boateng is not a contractor but rather a director of JNS Talents Limited under the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi. The politician asserts that Boateng attempted to obscure his identity to avoid being found out for conflict of interest, for paying his own company GH2.6 million for no work done, using a secondary identity. Despite legal actions taken by Rev. Kusi Boateng against Ablakwas claims, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) reportedly validated Ablakwas findings, dismissing Rev. Kusi Boatengs claims. This led me to investigate the matter and I discovered that his company JNS Talents Limited he is there as a director with a different name, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi It was easy for him to create the impression that it wasnt him and there was no conflict of interest., until I unraveled what was going on that he was the same person with a different identity for that name, different mother, different date of birth, different diplomatic passport and all of that." Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minority Leader and Membere of parliament for Ajumako Enyan Esiam, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed grave sadness over the sudden demise of his fellow MP for Ejisu and Deputy Finance Minister, John Kumah. Expressing his deep shock at the unexpected loss, the Minority Leader mentioned that a comprehensive statement would be issued later to address and provide more details about the sad event. He made this brief statement at the headquartes of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), where he was on his way to a National Executives Committee meeting to discuss the announcement of John Mahamas running mate. Sources close to the family confirmed to peacefmonline.com that 45-year-old MP reportedly died after a short illness. He left behind a wife and six children. John Ampontuah Kumah, popularly called Lawyer John Kumah, in Ejisu, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, was commonly described by his constituents as a man of integrity with a focus on job creation and inspires hope for the future in both young and old. He was the founding Managing Director of Majak Associates Ltd, a building and construction firm with footprint construction projects all over Ghana. Upon becoming a lawyer, he founded the Aduaprokye Chambers and was the Managing Partner of the law firm, until the President appointed him as CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) in 2017. At the helm of NEIP, he oversaw the training of 45,000 start-ups in three years, under the Presidential Business Support Programme, and supported 10,000 beneficiaries, leading to the creation of numerous jobs for the youth all over the country. He has over 17 years of continuous working and leadership experience which exhibits his creativity, innovation and resourcefulness in creating jobs, promoting entrepreneurship, and supporting youth development. He was adjudged the most Efficient, Prominent Government Appointee in 2018 and was listed among President Akufo Addos top 20 Most Humble and Respectful Appointees in 2019. As a loyal member of the NPP, he worked for the party from the grassroots since 1992. He was the founding father of the Young Patriots, a youth political activist and pressure group of NPP. He was a member of the Communication Team of the NPP. In fulfilment of promises made to his constituents in Ejisu, he successfully solicited and secured substantial funding to execute several infrastructure and job creation projects in the constituency. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed shock and sadness over the death of Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah. The New Patriotic Partys presidential candidate, in his message of mourning for the young politician, paid a glowing tribute to him, describing John Kumah as a committed member of the party NPP and the government of which he has been an integral part until his passing. "A truly committed member of our administration, and party, who dedicated his all to the success of our endeavours. Rest well John Dr. Bawumia wrote on his social media handles. John Kumah who has been a Member of Parliament for Ejisu, in the Ashanti Region, is a lawyer and an entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in leadership, creativity, innovation and resourcefulness in creating jobs and supporting youth development. He was the first CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) where he successfully positioned the NEIP as the enabler of the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Ghana. Before working for the government, Kumah was the founding member and Managing Partner of Aduaprokye Chambers, a law firm. He also worked as the founder of Majak Associates Ltd, a building and construction company. In November 2020, John Ampontuah Kumah received a Doctorate in Business Innovation from the Swiss Business School in Switzerland. Before then, he had acquired a Masters in Applied Business Research, at the same Business School in 2019. His rich educational background includes a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Business Research in 2019 from the Nobel International Business School (NIBS). In 2009, he had an Executive Masters degree in Business Administration (Finance), from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). At the University of Ghana, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with Philosophy, a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Law) LLB in 2011 and a Professional Law Certificate from the Ghana School of Law in 2013. He was admitted to the Ghana Bar in 2013. John Kumahs death was reported in the afternoon of Thursday, March 7 2024. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video NDC Member of Parliament for Tamale South and former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has accused the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin, of going contrary to the 1992 constitution to re-compose the Parliamentary Service Board. According to the Tamale South legislator, Alban Bagbin failed to comply with Article 124 of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates the formation of a committee to advise the Speaker on re-composing the Parliamentary Service Board following a reshuffle in the Minority caucus leadership last year. Hon. Haruna Iddrisu expressed these concerns while a committee was being established to advise the Speaker on re-composing the Parliamentary Service Board after the recent changes in the Majority leadership in Parliament. He criticized the prolonged absence of the reconstituted board, chaired by the Speaker of parliament, Alban Bagbin. Haruna Iddrisu reiterated that no one, including Rt. Hon. Speaker, Bagbin, is above the 1992 Constitution. He said, The changes in the Minority leadership happened over a year ago, so over the year, what has the Parliamentary Service Board been doing with the Speaker as chair with the participation of Ato Forson? That is unconstitutional, illegal, and unacceptable. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, is not above the 1992 Constitution. He is not above the constitution, and therefore, when we are talking about illegalities, I worry when they are unconstitutional. In a rebuttal, newly appointed Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin refuted Haruna Iddrisus claims, asserting that Speaker Bagbin followed due process in re-composing the Parliamentary Service Board. "The contention of my very senior colleague and respected Minority Leader who is arguing that this has rather come too late, it has not, and I will want to argue with you on that. When you left the chair, the needful, as you complained about, was done, and the record bears me out. You are arguing that constitutionally, why has Speaker [Alban] Bagbin breached the constitution, and I did contend that he has not? The former leader of this House did the needful. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, a Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana (UG) Legon, has expressed that Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is well-equipped to partner with John Mahama for the upcoming December 2024 general elections. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) officially confirmed Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as the running mate for the partys flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, for the 2024 general elections on Thursday. This marks her second consecutive term as the running mate, as she previously served in the same role during the 2020 elections. Despite rumours about other potential candidates, including Julius Debrah, former Chief of Staff to ex-President Mahama; economist Dr. Nii Moi Thompson; Member of Parliament for Asunafo, Eric Opoku; and retired Police Commissioner, Nathan Kofi Boakye, Mr. Mahama decided to retain the former Education Minister. Dr. Asah-Asante stated that Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was a standout among potential running mates for Mr. Mahama, describing her as a valuable asset and someone who had extensive experience and the necessary skills to partner with Mr. Mahama. According to the astute Academician, the NDC had made an excellent selection. Speaking on Eyewitness news on Citi FM, monitored by Peacefmonline.com, Dr. Asah Asante said, I think that it is the best selection that can come from the NDC. The woman has very impeccable records. The woman is fit for purpose. She has what it takes to partner with John Mahama to deliver the ticket come December 7, 2024. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has said he is proud to have Prrofessor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the 2024 general elections. In an X post, John Dramani Mahama wrote, I am proud to have Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as my running mate. Her integrity, dedication, and vision for a better Ghana make her the ideal candidate to join me in leading our party to victory in the upcoming elections." The National Democratic Congress announced her selection on Thursday, March 7. According to the NDC, she is a distinguished academic and leader renowned for her dedication to education and public service. Having served as Minister for Education and as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, she has emerged as a trailblazer for women in leadership across Ghana. Her nomination underscores the party's unwavering commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and the empowerment of women in leadership roles. Possessing extensive qualifications and experience, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the NDCs presidential ticket. In the X post, John mahama expressed confidence in his running mate wrote. He said, I am proud to have Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as my running mate. Her integrity, dedication, and vision for a better Ghana make her the ideal candidate to join me in leading our party to victory in the upcoming elections. In appreciation statement, she said, Today, I received the news of my confirmed selection as the Running Mate to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer and Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and incoming President of the Republic of Ghana with profound humility and great honour." It is worthy of note that this is the second time former President John Mahama has nominated me as his Running Mate. I express my eternal gratitude to him. By this choice, our Flagbearer has demonstrated remarkable consistency, an unwavering commitment to inclusivity and innovation, and an inspirational belief in the Ghanaian woman. I wish to convey my heartfelt appreciation to the NDC Council of Elders, the National Executive Committee, the rank and file of our party, friends, well-wishers and indeed all Ghanaians for the overwhelming support and endorsement. I am not one to take lightly the confidence reposed in me, neither am I oblivious of the national decay and widespread despondency in our beloved country. I express my absolute readiness and commitment to partner His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to serve the people of Ghana with integrity, dignity, truthfulness, hard-work and patriotism to reposition our dear country as a beacon of hope and opportunity. I have no doubt in my mind that we can count on His Excellency John Mahama to give us that selfless, incorruptible, visionary and inclusive leadership that Ghana urgently needs to transform the fortunes of Ghanaians. I shall give this noble task everything in me. Ghanaians are looking up to the NDC, and I firmly believe in our unflinching resolve and sacred pledge to work hard to build the Ghana we want together. Let us make history! Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A High Court in Accra has set May 3, 2024 to deliver its judgement in the trial of Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and two other persons standing trial for willfully causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the state, through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health. This followed a disclosure by Richard Gyambiby, a Principal State Attorney that the Attorney General is considering filing a nolle prosequi to discontinue its case against Dr. Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, who is one of the accused persons but is currently undergoing medical treatment in India. The court has established a video link to enable Dr. Anemana to join the proceedings virtually, but when the case was called yesterday, his wife, instead joined and told the court the accused was at the theatre undergoing a medical process hence could not join. Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court judge, had indicated that the warrant allows Dr. Anemana to join the proceedings, not necessarily to testify but to be present, hence the court could take a new witness if he is able to join the proceedings via Zoom. She, therefore, told Owiredu Dankwah, counsel for Dr. Anemana, to prepare his next witness for the next sitting. But Mr. Gyambiby informed the court that the Attorney General is of the view that he will enter nolle prosequi to discontinue the case of Dr. Anemana. The court then said if the state attorneys statement is anything to go by, counsel for private businessman, Richard Jakpa should hold himself in readiness to open his defence on March 12, 2024. Justice Asare-Botwe went ahead to fix May 3, 2024, to deliver a judgement in the case based on the development. Trial Dr. Ato Forson, Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, as well as private businessman, Richard Jakpa, are standing trial for willfully causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the state, through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health, among other charges. The ambulances, according to court documents, are ordinary buses which are not fit for purpose as they do not have the needed equipment that an ambulance requires. The prosecution, led by the Attorney General and Minster for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame and Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora-Obuobisa, closed its case on February 14, 2023 after calling five witnesses, including the then Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu to prove its case. The main issue raised during the prosecutions case was whether the defective vehicles were purchased in accordance with the purchase agreement approved by Parliament. The other was whether Dr. Forson was authorised by the substantive Finance Minister or any superior officer to write a letter to the Controller and Accountant General directing the establishment of irrevocable letters of credit (LCs) which led to the payments. Dr. Forson opened his defence and called three witnesses Henry Myles Mills, an official of Stanbic Bank, Alex Mould and Seth Terkper, former Minister of Finance. Mr. Terkper, who appears to be Dr. Forsons principal witness, told the court that he authorised Dr. Forson to write to the Bank of Ghana authorising the establishment of the letters of credit (LC). The letter to the Bank of Ghana requesting the setting up of the LC emanated from the Ministry of Finance and had my full authorisation, he told the court. But while under cross-examination by Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, Mr. Terkper admitted that payment for the defective ambulances for which his then deputy is standing trial, was made in error. Apart from this admission, Mr. Terkper was not able to point to any document specifically authored by him authorising Dr. Forson to write to the Controller and Accountant Generals Department (CAGD) requesting the establishment of the letters of credit which was the means of payment for the ambulances. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The South African Chapter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders Chair, Mr Benjamin Kofi Quashie has commended H. E. President Mahama for being visionary in maintaining Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the 2024 general elections. In a statement issued from his office on Friday, 8th March 2024, and signed by Mr Benjamin Quashie, Council of Elders Chair, NDC- South African Chapter, he avers that it is with immense pride and profound appreciation that they commend the flag bearer, H.E John Dramani Mahama, for his visionary decision to appoint Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the second successive time. "This bold and progressive move exemplifies a steadfast commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and the recognition of the invaluable contributions of women in leadership roles", the statement highlighted, emphasising "Professor Opoku-Agyemang's exceptional academic background, extensive experience, and unwavering dedication to the betterment of our nation make her an outstanding choice for this esteemed position". "The NDC South Africa Chapter and Ghanaians living in SA, extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Opoku-Agyemang and pledge our full support to the NDC's vision for a stronger, prosperous, more united Ghana". Below is the full statement: Statement from the Council of Elders Chairman: NDC South Africa Chapter On behalf of the NDC South Africa Chapter and Ghanaians living in South Africa who believe Ghana needs change, it is with immense pride and profound appreciation that we commend the flagbearer, H.E John Dramani Mahama, for his visionary decision to appoint Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate. This bold and progressive move exemplifies a steadfast commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and the recognition of the invaluable contributions of women in leadership roles. Professor Opoku-Agyemang's exceptional academic background, extensive experience, and unwavering dedication to the betterment of our nation make her an outstanding choice for this esteemed position. Her appointment not only strengthens the ticket's appeal but also sets a powerful precedent for future generations, inspiring young women to aspire to leadership roles and demonstrating that gender should never be a barrier to achieving one's full potential. We stand in unwavering support of this decision. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact that Professor Opoku-Agyemang's leadership will undoubtedly have on our nation, as she works alongside H.E John Dramani Mahama to steer Ghana towards a brighter, more inclusive future. The NDC South Africa Chapter and Ghanaians living in SA, extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Opoku-Agyemang and pledge our full support to the NDC's vision for a stronger, prosperous, more united Ghana. Benjamin Quashie Council of Elders NDC- South African Chapter Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video If youre a fan of CBS Daytime soap The Young and the Restless, then you know a little something about Adam Newman and his hard shell of a persona. Hes a character that has a hard time displaying emotion and rarely opens up about his heartbreak. But it might be a quality the soap character and actor Mark Grossman, his portrayer, may not have in common. Grossman opened up about the death of someone close to him recently. The CBS soap star shared a tribute on Instagram that featured numerous pictures of his longtime friend Colin Morrison. Colin, weve been friends since grade school, Grossman wrote. Some of my greatest memories are with you running around Cave Creek and Scottsdale with all the guys, cramming three dirt bikes in the back of your truck to go race in Texas and Oklahoma, countless hours of riding and laughing, and so much more. After all these years and living in different states now, you were always there. Planning get-togethers, checking in on birthdays, or just to say hi and talk about life and our love of motorcycles, the actor continued. You were always a great friend. No matter how much time had passed since we talked, we always picked right back up where we left off. We just spoke about you coming to California for us to ride together for old times sake, the actor shared. Well, Ill see you again someday, my brother, and well go on that ride. Rest in peace, Colin. #822forever. The mere mention of #822 draws significance. In the pictures seen in Grossmans post, Morrison wore the number on his jacket and bike while riding. Grossmans fellow castmates took to his comments to send him love and offer support during his difficult time. Actress Melissa Claire Egan, who plays Chelsea on the show, was one of many to offer her condolences. Im so sorry Mark, Egan expressed. Other fans also sent comforting messages to Grossman in the comments. I am truly sorry for your loss, one fan wrote, while another commented, My sincere condolences so sorry for your loss... Depending on where you live, taxes can be rather punishing. Take, for example, states and municipalities where taxes are more regressive, meaning they hit lower- and middle-income residents a lot harder than wealthier ones. By Jason Nark, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) PHILADELPHIA On a Tuesday in February, 43 years ago, Roberta Michels-Hopkins supposedly walked out into a blizzard to get cigarettes and food stamps and never returned home. That image of Michels-Hopkins disappearing into the snow feels like a dream for the granddaughter who never met her. Growing up in South Jersey, Trinity Jagdeo heard other rumors about Roberta, who was 29 with two young children when she disappeared in 1981. Some people thought she died by suicide or may have been using drugs and disappeared onto the streets of Camden, where she was living at the time. Since Michels-Hopkins was never officially reported missing at the time, all of those rumors just swirled in the air. But even the rumors are unreliable: It barely snowed in February of 1981, let alone a blizzard. The possibilities are endless, Jagdeo, 23, said at her home in Vineland recently. She could be a murder victim or she could have walked away. It could have been a suicide. Im open to anything, even the 1% chance shes still alive somewhere. Jagdeos endless curiosity, coupled with the dearth of details from her family, compelled her to take a DNA test in 2019. The results revealed family shed never spoken to on her grandmothers side, along with a letter that may offer clues into Robertas state of mind at the time. Jagdeo spearheaded efforts to have her grandmother officially reported missing, and in March of 2022, her case was officially entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUs. Family members were told she was running an errand and never returned, her NamUs profile states. Trinity Jagdeo, 23, holds a 1970s era photo of Roberta Anne Michels-Hopkins, her grandmother who went missing in 1981.Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS Through DNA, Jagdeo connected with Judy Erichson, her great-aunt, who is 79 and lives in Burlington County. Erichson told her that Robertas partner, Kumar Jagdeo Sr., called her out of the blue in the winter of 1981. Your sister disappeared, he said. Erichson said she tried to report her sister missing to the Camden Police Department, letting officers know she was suspicious of the disappearance. Erichson said no report was taken at the time or, she claimed, when she called back a month later. They said there was nothing they could do, Erichson said in an interview. The years rolled on, Erichson said, with no news about her sister. She said a family acquaintance with law enforcement experience tried to get more information at the time, to no avail, and her father made inquiries, years later, about Michels-Hopkins small insurance policy, which remains unclaimed today. She has never been declared dead. We never had any closure, Erichson said. Erichson was able to give Jagdeo photos of Michels-Hopkins, along with letters. One was written just a few days before she was last seen and hints at unspecific family tensions over a missed wedding. I will no longer bother anyone, anymore, Michels-Hopkins wrote at the end. The letter was mailed on Feb. 17, 1981, the official date of her last-known contact. While suicide is a possibility, Jagdeo said she hadnt heard that Michels-Hopkins had ever been suicidal or suffered from mental health issues. There were rumors among family members, she said, that Michels-Hopkins could have been using drugs or making money as a sex worker. Erichson said her sister, a Pemberton High School graduate, had a seemingly normal life but that changed when she got divorced. She had a house, a baby, dogs. Went to the Shore together, she said. All of a sudden, she got divorced, moved to Camden, and had a baby. When she got divorced, her husband got custody of their daughter and that was a red flag to me. Michels-Hopkins ex-husband and daughter both live in Georgia today. Neither returned requests for comment, and Jagdeo said shes had little communication with either of them. Trinity Jagdeo, 23, holds an invitation to her grandmother's wedding. Roberta Anne Michels-Hopkins disappeared in 1981.Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS Kumar Jagdeo Sr., Trinitys grandfather, lived in Camden for years but ran into legal troubles and died in Trinidad and Tobago nearly 20 years ago. While others have told her its not likely, Jagdeo isnt ruling out the possibility that her grandfather was involved in Michels-Hopkins disappearance. No one really knew what their relationship was like to say, definitively, oh, that could never happen, she said. Krsna Jagdeo, Trinity Jagdeos father, was too young to remember his mother and spent most of his youth in foster care. It was painful to learn, through Trinity Jagdeos DNA results, that he had family close by he could have lived with. Ive been without my parents for so long, its just another day for me, Krsna Jagdeo, 43, said. Im good with my life. Krsna Jagdeo said hes ready to accept whatever comes of the case. At this point, death is death, no matter the story, he said. Im just trying to support Trinity. Michels-Hopkins missing persons case will be handled by police in Cinnaminson, Burlington County, not Camden, though its unclear why. A detective handling the case declined to comment, but Trinity Jagdeo said the department is working on compiling a sketch that would reveal what Michels-Hopkins could look like today and is also trying to obtain DNA from the stamp on the letter she mailed shortly before she disappeared. DNA, if viable, could be compared against samples from the thousands of unidentified remains cases in the United States. Trinity Jagdeo granted law enforcement access to her DNA and said her father and Erichson have submitted theirs as well. Trinity Jagdeo has also taken her case to the internet, posting on missing persons Facebook groups and sites like Websleuths. They all want to figure out what happened to her and think the case is so bizarre, she said. Thats nice because up until now, Ive been the only one trying to do that. Some online sleuths have noticed similarities between Michels-Hopkins case and the cheerleader in the trunk case out of Maryland in 1982. That woman remains unidentified today. Trinity Jagdeo said its hard to understand how no report was filed for her grandmother, even in 1981. Its even harder to fathom how so many people seemingly moved on without her. Her parents were still alive. Her brother was still alive. Her ex-husband was still alive, she said. Didnt she have any friends? Jagdeos mother, Angela Morrison, said that aspect of the case confused her the most. I think theres people out there who know more than what theyre saying, Morrison said. Jagdeo said she hopes publicity and posting about her grandmother on internet forums can shake something loose. She can imagine a future where theres a funeral or some closure, particularly for her father. Thats kind of the hope anyway, she said. Roberta Michels-Hopkins would have turned 72 on Feb. 26. _____ Anyone with information about the disappearance of Roberta Michels-Hopkins can call the Cinnaminson Township Police Department at (856) 829-6667. A team of firefighters are working to rescue a U-Haul driver who is trapped under a collapsed concrete beam in Alabama. The rescue operation began about 1:15 p.m. Friday in the parking deck at Cortland Vesta apartments in Birmingham. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Battalion Chief Clay Hendon said the driver of the U-Haul was trying to enter the parking deck but did not have the height clearance to do so. The top of the truck hit the beam, which caused it to collapse. The beam came crashing down on the cab of the truck. The beam is about 40 feet long and estimated to weigh 60,000 pounds. The rescue operation began about 1:15 p.m. Friday in the parking deck at Corland Vesta apartments on Highland Avenue.(Carol Robinson) Two passengers in the U-Haul were able to self-extricate and was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. The driver is trapped in the cab from the knees down. He is alert and talking with firefighters. Specialty firefighters are working to stabilize the beam so it doesnt move any more. Once that happens, they will work to cut the truck open and remove the driver. Hendon said it expected to be a lengthy process. This is a developing story. The owners of the abandoned Century III mall in Allegheny County said in court papers filed earlier this week that the Allegheny County District Attorneys office is interfering with their attempts to demolish the property. Century III Mall PA LLC have asked to postpone a hearing scheduled for today, according to TribLive, but the DAs office has refused. As a result, the malls owners are saying that District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. is interfering in their business operations. Zappala filed charges against the mall back in January, charging the owners with causing or risking a catastrophe, a felony, and making a public nuisance, a misdemeanor. Lawyer Steve Townsend, who is representing the mall, wrote in a filing that the commonwealth is refusing to cooperate and accept the exact relief requested in its petition abatement of the nuisance, TribLive reported. At the time charges were filed, the DAs office cited hundreds of reported incidents involving hazardous road conditions, dilapidated building conditions, vandalism, trespass, serious physical injuries, structure fires and other police and public safety related matters with no effort to remediate the Century Three Mall property. The goal of the charges was to get the mall demolished. The owners, however, are saying that the DAs office doesnt have the money available to raze the property. Without sufficient funds to begin the demolition, the commonwealth would need to request funding from the General Assembly or other public tax-funded resources, which request, if granted, would arguably take months if not years to obtain, Townsend wrote. Instead of fostering cooperation to further the goals of the public, petitioner is thwarting any action toward abatement, he wrote, according to TribLive. West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly, however, told TribLive he believes the hearing should go ahead as scheduled. The next time [they] tell me anything thats truthful, it will be the first time, he said to the news outlet. I wont believe that until I see the big ball swinging and knocking down the building. Kelly said the malls owners did approach the borough for a demolition permit earlier this week, but, he said, I dont believe anything [they] say. I have no faith in them. Century III Mall PA LLC, based in Las Vegas and previously known as Moonbeam Capital, purchased the mall during a sheriffs sale in 2013 for 10.5 million. The mall has posed a danger to trespassers. A teenage boy fell through the roof in June and was hospitalized. Later that same month, four people were charged after filming a YouTube video in the abandoned mall. And in November, another YouTuber was charged with trespassing in the mall. Democratic U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Bob Caseys controversial decision to pull a funding request for an LGBTQ center in Philadelphia after a right-wing social media account claimed that sexual kink parties are held there continues to reverberate. Following the cancellation of the $1 million funding request for the William Way Community Center on Wednesday, one LGBTQ leader called the decision a rash overreaction and so goofy, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Controversial conservative Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is being widely credited for masterminding the Laken Riley moment in last nights State of the Union Speech. A MAGA-bedecked Greene was seen waiting for Biden as he walked into the House chamber ahead of last nights speech. As the Associated Press reports, the Georgia congresswoman confronted Biden about the nursing student murdered in her home state, allegedly beaten beyond recognition by an undocumented migrant charged in the case. Greene is seen pressing a button emblazoned with Rileys name into the presidents hand. JUST IN: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene confronts President Biden at the State of the Union and tells him to say Laken Riley's name. "Say her name... Laken Riley," MTG said as Biden walked down the aisle. Riley was murdered in cold blood by an illegal immigrant who entered into pic.twitter.com/JnHQ17sKjL Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 8, 2024 Later, when Biden was discussing the failed Senate compromise bill on stemming illegal immigration, Greene shouted from her seat, Say her name! Biden did. Or did he? Since that tense moment last night, a debate has raged on social media over whether Biden said Laken or Lincoln Riley, the head football coach of the USC Trojans. Theres also blowback on Biden from some Democrats for his use of the word illegal when referring to Rileys accused killer. All of this swirls around the highly charged issue of illegal immigration, which polls show has emerged as a top issue for voters and a major political problem for Biden. Heres Bidens words, according to AP reporting on the speech: Laken, Laken Riley. An innocent woman who was killed by an illegal. Thats right. But how many of the thousands of people being killed by legals? Biden even grabbed the Laken button Greene had given him before the speech, displaying it to the audience. He went on to express his sympathies to Rileys parents and alluded to the death of his adult son, Beau Biden, and the death of a 1-year-old daughter in a 1972 car crash. My heart goes out to you, having lost children myself. I understand, Biden said during the tense, unscripted exchange. Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was beaten to death on Feb. 22 while jogging on a wooded trail on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan who entered the U.S. illegally but was allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case, is charged with her homicide. Since then, her name has become a rallying cry among Republicans. Meanwhile, the controversy on both sides surrounding Bidens Laken Riley moment is still playing out. Many Republicans and their supporters are insisting Biden still hasnt said her name. They say the president uttered Lincoln, not Laken. On their other side of the aisle, Biden is being corrected by supporters of migrant rights that no human being is illegal, a familiar refrain of the movement. Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi headlined the Democrats scolding Biden for not referring to Rileys accused killer as an undocumented immigrant, Fox News reported. Here is USA Today on the fallout from Bidens Laken Riley moment: By calling the suspect an illegal, Biden was using outdated language often preferred by Republicans but long abandoned by Democrats and social justice advocates when referring to people who have entered the country illegally. Unlike the AP, the same USA Today report says Biden appeared to mispronounce the victims first name, calling her Lincoln. And the same report raises a question about Biden line, But how many thousands of people being killed by legals? The USA Today report quotes him as saying, killed by illegals. The New York Times official transcript records Biden as saying Lincoln but quotes him as saying, But how many thousands of people being killed by legals? The New York Post reports Biden said Lincoln and that he said, But how many thousands of people being killed by illegals? The latter statement would play right into the hands of Republicans, who argue Americas porous Southern border is helping usher in many dangerous criminals from other countries, notably Venezuela. If you believe that the cost of living is kicking our butts, billionaires shouldn't exist, student loan debt sucks or wages are absurdly stagnant then a weekly newsletter about student loan debt and economic justice might just be for you. Enter your email to subscribe. When news of a Mississippi bill that could have shuttered three historically Black institutions arose, HBCU students, alumni and supporters across the country flocked to social media in disbelief, ready to take action. At Mississippi Votes, an advocacy group invested in the progression of Mississippi, their team full of HBCU alumni sprung into action inspired to save their institutions and helped kill Senate Bill 2726. The way that the entirety of the country rallied behind little old Mississippi should let folks know how important and pivotal HBCUs are to the legacy and history of Black folks in this country, Hannah Williams, Mississippi Votes policy director said. If passed, Senate Bill 2726 would have required the Institutions of Higher Learning, the statewide governing board for Mississippi colleges and universities, to close three out of the states eight public universities. Among that list were Delta State University, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for University, The University of Mississippi and The University of Southern Mississippi. It also included three public HBCUs, Alcorn State University, Jackson State University and Mississippi Valley State University. With the bills sponsor, Republican state Sen. John Polk, citing declining enrollment, tuition rates and degree attainment as factors for the proposed closures, HBCUs have faced many of these issues due to underfunding. Once the bill made it to the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee, it was struck down. We have enrollment issues nationwide, so thats not unique to Mississippi. I think that once we give them [HBCUs] the tools they need and the programs they need to track students, they will be successful, Democratic state Sen. Hillman Frazier, who serves on the committee, told Reckon. While the bill was considered dead on March 5, according to Mississippi Votes, elements of its policies have resurfaced in another piece of legislation, Senate Bill 2725, which establishes a task force to study the efficiency at Mississippi colleges and universities. Mississippi Votes is working to combat the shuttering of Mississippi HBCUs with campaigns and hashtags like #DontCloseOurSchools meant to kill this new bill just like they squashed the old one. Two bad bills, one big fight With enrollment and degree attainment as a continued concern for the Mississippi Senate Universities and Colleges Committee, the task-force bill was voted out of committee and heads to the full Senate for a vote. The committees chair, Republican state Sen. Nicole Boyd, sponsored the new bill that would create the Mississippi University System Efficiency Task Force. This bill is about us taking a look, which we havent done in a while at what is going on with our universities and colleges, Boyd said. The bill would focus on increased enrollment and graduation rates of Mississippians, as well as how to retain them in the state while addressing anticipated nationwide challenges such as demographic shifts and declining enrollment. According to the Institutions of Higher Learning, Mississippis public university enrollment increased by 1.8% from fall 2022 to 2023, with HBCUs like Mississippi Valley State University seeing one of the largest enrollment spikes in the state with a 16.9% increase. Just last year Mississippi Valley State University increased enrollment and at one time they were on the chopping block, but I think that we need to get them the tools to be successful and to just keep supporting them going forward, Frazier said. Just like the old bill, the new task-force bill based on the task force-recommendations would determine what colleges and universities in Mississippi would remain open, close or merge. This bill is kind of camouflaged as, What can we do better to help these schools? It feels like a two-headed snake, Williams told Reckon. Mississippi Votes is spreading the word to HBCUs and Black communities throughout the state about Senate Bill 2725 and how signing a petition, calling their senator, writing a letter or simply resharing a social media post can help kill this new bill too. HBCUs are historically underfunded, including Mississippis In September 2023, the U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture sent letters to 16 governors in states with land-grant HBCUs calculating a $12 billion disparity in funding from 1987 to 2020. Miss. Gov. Tate Reeves was on the list. Unacceptable funding inequities have forced many of our nations distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities to operate with inadequate resources and delay critical investments in everything from campus infrastructure to research and development to student support services, said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Cardona and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, outlined in each letter that under the Second Morrill Act of 1890, states opening land-grant universities serving Black students are required to provide an equitable distribution of state funds to institutions founded between 1862 and 1890. However, of 18 states with HBCUs only two Delaware and Ohio are upholding the law. With 19 land-grant HBCUs across the country, a lack of funding has impacted everything from building repairs to enrollment numbers at institutions like Alcorn State University, one of the three HBCUs on the list to possibly shutter. While Alcorns enrollment dropped by 1.3% from fall 2022 to 2023, the state of Mississippi currently owes the university $257 million that could go toward improvements that could increase enrollment. Many students, alumni and community members have distrust in the state of Mississippis intentions for HBCUs. Theyre [HBCU alumni] looking at the history of the state in terms of the underfunding of some of the institutions thinking, The state will take action to harm the institutions, and especially with how Mississippi Valley, Jackson State and Alcorn State were underfunded for many years, Frazier told Reckon. As an alumnus of Jackson State University, Sen. Frazier said, and I understand that because underfunding affects their ability to grow. While the Departments of Education and Agriculture expressed in the letters that governors should not decrease the funding at other institutions across their state to rectify funding gaps at the land grant HBCUs, decisions about when the additional funds get distributed could mean that institutions like Alcorn State remain open, close or merge. The closure of HBCUs has been happening literally since they started opening. And I believe that other states will most definitely try to copy and paste this legislation and hide it under the guise of, Were just trying to do whats best with the states money. So I think that all public institutions that are HBCUs need to be on their toes, Williams said. Two starting days of the 2024 SunBet Poker Tour Time Square Main Event have now concluded at the Time Square Casino in Pretoria and the overall field so far has reached 180 entries. Day 1b contributed another 73 entries and 12 players advanced to Day 2 on Saturday, March 9, 2024. The flagship Main Event comes with a buy-in of ZAR15,000 (~$790) and the tournament is more than half-way to meeting the ZAR5,000,000 (~$263,400) guarantee. Another two starting days remain on March 8 and they are expected to be busy with many poker enthusiasts heading to the administrative capital for the weekend to join the action. Among the one dozen survivors of Day 1b are three players from outside of South Africa while a local duo sits atop the leaderboard. Roy Bitton was responsible for the penultimate elimination and advanced with 406,000 while Nick Sissou knocked out Rayhaan Adam to finish the night for everyone else while claiming 371,000 to his name. Third in chips is Edgar Antezana from Bolivia with 339,000, spot on even with Okkie Fourie. The latter was down to just 7,000 at some point but had a very strong finish to the night. Germany's Samuel Tebege is visiting South Africa for the very first time and advanced with 270,000 while Botswana's Huawei Sun is just a single chip behind (269,000). End of Day 1b Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count BB Day 1b 1 Roy Bitton South Africa 406,000 102* 2 Nick Sissou South Africa 371,000 93 3 Edgar Antezana South Africa 339,000 85 3 Okkie Fourie South Africa 339,000 85 5 Darryl Shaff South Africa 284,000 71 6 Samuel Tebege Germany 270,000 68 7 Huawei Sun Botswana 269,000 67 8 Nic Ioannoy South Africa 236,000 59 9 Jacobus de Nysschen South Africa 207,000 52 10 Alvin Pillay South Africa 160,000 40 11 Khushil Shah South Africa 59,000 15 12 Joe Rahme South Africa 45,000 11 *Day 1b concluded with 48:14 minutes left in level 13 at blinds of 2,000-4,000 with a big blind ante of 4,000 It was a quiet day at the start for the new up and coming live poker series in South Africa, which came to life in 2022 thanks to a partnership between the Monster Jam Poker Tour (MJPT) and Sun International Group. Only two tables were running when the cards went in the air at noon, but the number of entries grew consistently. Especially towards the end of the late registration period, the action at the table exploded with the addition of High Roller finalists, who flicked in a flip to build a stack or try again. "NT" and "SM" were the most active of them but neither survived the carnage. Adam Woolf bowed out on the final two tables in the biggest pot of the day when Tebege held up with pocket jacks versus ace-king and Woolf's eights. There was no happy end for Ahmed Karrim either, who flirted with the top of the leaderboard during the final stages of the registration period only to run into a flopped straight. Further notables to come up short on Day 1b were Merwan Corront, Muaaz Gani, Jon Per Persent, Rudolf Fourie, Ronit Chamani, and Mystery Bounty Event champion Marko Nortje. Sissou's brother Costa and father Peter were both among the contestants as well but joined the dozens of casualties. Imran Bhojani Today also marked the conclusion of the ZAR50,000 High Roller ($2,664). The second-most expensive tournament on the schedule drew 72 entries to generate a ZAR3,024,000 ($161,105) prize pool and all cash prizes were awarded on the live-streamed final table. Nahum Lim, Cliton Taliwanth and Imran Bhojani agreed to a three-way deal and Bhojani then came out on top of a heads-up duel with Taliwanth to claim the winner's trophy. Place Winner Country Prize in ZAR Prize in USD 1 Imran Bhojani South Africa R713,000 $37,789* 2 Cliton Taliwanth South Africa R700,000 $37,100* 3 Nahum Lim South Africa R713,000 $37,789* 4 Nic Ioannoy South Africa R348,000 $18,444 5 Kinesh Pater South Africa R225,000 $11,925 6 Ronit Chamani South Africa R150,000 $7,950 7 Muaaz Gani South Africa R100,000 $5,300 8 Eben Mare South Africa R75,000 $3,975 *the top three finishers agreed on a deal and continued to play for the trophy Another two starting days remain in the Main Event for everyone to take a shot at running up a stack. This doesn't exclude an appearance of the 28 Day 1 survivors so far either, as they can enter again with the bigger stack getting carried over to Day 2. Main Event Day 1 Info and Schedule Day 1 Entries Survivors Starting Time Level Duration Day 1a 105 16 March 6, 12.00 p.m. local time 50-minute levels Day 1b 73 12 March 7, 12.00 p.m. local time 50-minute levels Day 1c March 8, 11 a.m. local time 50-minute levels Day 1d March 8, 8 p.m. local time 30-minute levels late reg, 15-minute levels after March 8 will feature the final two starting days. Day 1c kicks off one hour earlier than the previous two flights at 11 a.m. local time with a level duration of 50 minutes each. The turbo heat 1d has been pushed back by one hour to 8 p.m. local time and contains 30-minute levels during the registration period followed by 15-minute levels thereafter. The PokerNews live updates will focus on Day 1c and chip counts as well as a recap of the final two flights will be provided at the end of the following night. President Biden came storming out of the gate at the State Of The Union and destroyed Donald Trump. Biden called out Trump on Russia, It wasnt long ago when the Republican president named Ronald Reagan thundered Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. Now, now my predecessor is, a former Republican president tells Putin, quote, do whatever the hell you want. Thats a quote. The former president said that bowing down to a Russian leader. I think its outrageous, dangerous, and unacceptable. Video: Biden tells Putin, "We will not bow down. I will not bow down!!!" #SOTU pic.twitter.com/uJswENG2GX To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 8, 2024 Biden nailed Trumps election lies: Many of you were here on the darkest of days. We all saw with their own eyes the insurrectionists were not patriots, they had come to stop the peaceful transfer of power, to overturn the will of the people, January 6th lies about the 2020 election and the plots to steal the election post the gravest threat to U.S. democracy since the Civil War. But they failed. America stood! America stood strong, and democracy prevailed. Lets be honest, the threat to democracy must be defended. My predecessor and some of you here seek to carry the truth about January 6th. I will not do that. This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Heres the simple truth. You cant love your country only when you win. Biden is taking on Trump and his lies while showing the American people what he has done and what is at stake in 2024. A Special Message From PoliticusUSA If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. 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 Aiken Standard reporter Bianca Moorman is a public safety and courts reporter for the Aiken Standard, with the occasional coverage of other community news and features. She can be reached at @biancarmooman or bmoorman@aikenstandard.com. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers After reviewing a report earlier this week prepared by an accounting firm, Aiken County government officials still have questions and concerns about how fire fees were spent by the Town of Wagener and its fire department. County Council Chairman Gary Bunker told the Aiken Standard that there were tremendous holes in the information provided to Mauldin & Jenkins LLC by the town and the department during an audit. The county also issued the following statement prepared by its attorney, Brad Farrar: While the Report is helpful, there are a number of instances in it where certain spreadsheet fields are denoted as incomplete or missing underlying or supporting documentation. As a result, the investigation will continue. Along with providing a copy of the Report to the Town of Wagener and the Wagener Fire Department we are asking the Town and the Fire Department to shed whatever light they may be able to on the fields denoted as missing documentation or supporting data, the county said in its statement. As this is a manner of longstanding nature and has been of public concern for some time, our hope is that [the] Town and Fire Department will be able to provide whatever supporting data they may have soon. County Councils Audit Committee heard a presentation of the report and discussed it afterward during a meeting Tuesday at the Aiken County Government Center. Committee Chairman Kelley Mobley, who said he was acting on the advice of Farrar, called for an executive session. The county provided a copy of the report and a statement to the Aiken Standard soon after the executive session ended. Last October, County Council unanimously approved a resolution that gave the county more control over how fire fees are spent in Wagener. As a result a third party administrator is determining if submitted expenses are appropriate before County Treasurer Jason Goings office releases the fees to the town. SAINT HELENA ISLAND In the fall of 1993, a film crew in search of shrimp pulled up to a seafood market on the island's northeastern edge. They would need about 4,000 pounds, they told Gay Seafood Co. co-owner Charles Gay. Paramount Pictures would pay the bill. "We can do that," Gay said. The production team bought just over 6,000 pounds in total for the making of "Forrest Gump." Thirty years later, the film is cemented as an American classic, and Gay still has the receipts that prove Gay Fish Co.'s role in its production. The two receipts were kept in a filing cabinet until about a year ago when Gay's daughter, Cyndy Carr, asked him about the movie. Gay dug them out, and Carr posted a photo of the two on the company's social media. "It went insane," Carr said. Her Facebook post received hundreds of thousands of shares and likes. "I was really kind of surprised, but daddy knew where they were the whole time." Today, a copy of the receipts are displayed in the company's seafood market at 1948 Sea Island Parkway on Saint Helena Island. The originals are locked up somewhere safe, Gay said. The shrimp was used in a joyful scene in which Tom Hanks' character, Forrest Gump, and Lt. Dan, played by Gary Sinise, take in a massive haul following Hurricane Carmen. The piles of crustaceans are seen on screen for a matter of seconds, but the scene took about two weeks to film, Gay recalled. When the cameras weren't rolling, the shrimp were kept on a little barge tied off the side of the boat not an ice cube in sight. Once the scene was a wrap, the crew asked if Gay Fish Co. would take the shrimp back. Gay called up a friend who would often sell seafood to a nearby cat food factory. They wouldn't take it either. "He called me back laughing and said them people told him 'no, nuh-uh,'" Gay said. "The government puts a restriction on it, and those were too rotten." The receipts aren't the only pieces of film history that can be found in Gay Fish Co.'s market. Gay built the captain's chair used in the 1991 movie "Prince of Tides" and held onto it after production wrapped. It sits in the business's screened-in porch. BLUFFTON Sun City resident Martin Raffone, known to family and friends as Uncle Butchie, recently celebrated his 81st birthday. His niece Amy Rosen said he celebrated the occasion several times as different family members made it into town on different schedules. "He enjoyed that," said Rosen, who traveled to South Carolina from her home in Connecticut for Raffone's birthday. Now those celebrations seem like a distant memory as Raffone has been missing since he drove away from his home in the early-morning hours of Feb. 20. The last sighting of Raffone occurred just a few hours later, and the family is asking for the public's help keeping an eye out for the missing man and his car. "This is a horrific nightmare that no family should have to endure," Rosen told The Post and Courier. Rosen described Raffone, who is a veteran of the Army National Guard, as a gentle and thoughtful man who loves his family. He and his wife moved to the Sun City neighborhood from Connecticut about 11 years ago. His disappearance, Rosen said, has devastated the family, and his whereabouts remain a mystery. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office released an alert the morning of his disappearance stating that Raffone was reported missing and endangered by his family. Raffone is cognitively impaired, having been diagnosed with dementia. When Raffone left his home he was driving a white, four-door 2015 Hyundai Genesis sedan with South Carolina license plate KDP973. He was wearing a green sweatshirt and blue jeans. Raffone is 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 164 pounds. He has blue eyes and gray hair. Rosen said that he may have grown a beard since he went missing. A police report filed with the Berkeley County Sheriffs Office shows a womans dog, Lullaby (pictured), was re-homed by the Berkeley County Animal Center after the information on her microchip was cleared and changed. 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 CONWAY Coastal Carolina University didnt set out to launch a space program. The schools original idea was to offer an Air Force ROTC, a course that prepares students to be military officers. It would have been part of the CCU Intelligence and Security Studies Department, but congressional budget cuts forced the university to consider other options. Enter the space program. Our ultimate goal is to be the epicenter of space education and training in South Carolina here at Coastal, said Bob Vipperman, who chairs the Security Studies Department Senior Intelligence Advisory Board and manages the new space program. While looking for another way to expand the offerings for his students, Vipperman came across a type of miniature satellites called CubeSats. I wrote a letter to a couple deans here on campus in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and also the Gupta College of Science, and they thought it was a great idea, Vipperman said. So Id already looked up (associate professor and chair of CCUs Department of Physics and Engineering Science) Wes Hitt as being a potential person Id want to work with, and thats who (Gupta College of Science) Dean (Chad) Leverette asked me to work with. In March 2023, Vipperman and Hitt got together and started discussing the type of satellite CCU might use. They ultimately agreed to go with a 3U CubeSat, which is about the size of a loaf of bread. It will be called ChantSat-1, which stands for CCU High Altitude Natorplane Telescopic Satellite. ChantSat-1s primary camera will collect data that provides insight about sedimentation in the rivers and stormwater, and beach water health. It will also be key for flood research. The camera will be whats called a multispectral camera, Hitt said. So it can see colors that we can sense with the eye, but it can also see colors that we cant sense with the eye, and that multispectral allows strong contrast for moisture and water coverage. So it will provide a way through the satellite imagery to quickly access the extent of flooding during flood events, like a hurricane-related flooding event. CONWAY A college student who fought off a sexual assault by a Lyft driver filed a lawsuit against the rideshare company this month, accusing the firm of negligence and misrepresenting its safety protections, according to court records. The lawsuit names Lyft and M.D. Soriful Islam, a 32-year-old driver, as defendants. The plaintiff is a 19-year-old who lives in Conway and is identified in court records as Jane Doe. She is suing Islam and Lyft for assault and battery and false imprisonment. Sexual predators who hunt for opportunities to take advantage of vulnerable victims rarely strike just once, said George Bryan of The Evans Moore Law Firm, which is representing Jane Doe, in a prepared statement. Based on his experience representing sexual assault survivors, Bryan said he is concerned that Jane Does case was not an isolated incident. He has encouraged people with knowledge about this matter or other victims of sexual assaults by rideshare drivers to contact the firm. A Lyft representative could not be reached for comment. On Oct. 21, Jane Doe was out with friends at the Crooked Floor Tavern in Conway when she purchased a ride from her Lyft app just after midnight, according to the lawsuit. Lyfts app matched her with Islam, and she requested to go to her apartment about 1.5 miles away. When Jane Doe got into the front passenger seat, Islam started making unwanted, concerning and repetitive sexually suggestive remarks, according to the lawsuit. He also disregarded her directions and the Lyft App/GPS, driving past the first turn into her apartment complex. Between M.D. Sorifuls aggressive, sexually suggestive comments and his apparent intentional deviation from the set route to her apartment complex, Jane Doe became increasingly concerned for her safety, according to her complaint, which was filed March 4. Islam eventually drove to her complex and parked in a space near her building. She alleges that he immediately grabbed her arm and demanded that she kiss him. Law enforcement agencies in South Carolina are bracing for what could happen as permitless carry of handguns becomes more widespread in the coming weeks, with one sheriff already fearing the worst. I just said a prayer last night that I hope my greatest fears dont come true, and thats that South Carolina becomes the Wild, Wild West, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott told The Post and Courier. Lotts comments came as Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill into law March 7 granting state residents the right to have handguns in most public places. Key among the change is that obtaining a concealed weapons permit and the training and background checks that come with it is no longer necessary. Additionally, the age to carry a gun lowered from 21 to 18, and firearms no longer have to be secured in the glove compartment or center console of a car. Several law enforcement officials across the Palmetto State agreed the new legislation will mean new training for their officers. Cops can no longer stop people for the sole reason of carrying a gun, either openly or concealed, meaning police officers must reasonably suspect or have probable cause that a crime is occurring if they want to detain someone. The new law wont change how Charleston police officers respond to scenes, spokesman Sgt. Anthony Gibson said. Cops are trained to handle situations where a firearm is present. Part of their job is to determine whether the gun is related to the crime theyre investigating and whether that weapon is legal. The threshold has expanded under the new legislation, Gibson said. In Clemson, City Police Captain Matt Culbreath said it will be difficult now to determine who can legally have a firearm. If someones walking down College Avenue with a gun, theres no way to ask them if its legal or not, he said. SULLIVANS ISLAND This upscale barrier island touts its pristine beaches, fine dining and close-knit community. But behind the scenes, allegations of sexual harassment and boorish behavior have roiled the towns government in embarrassing and costly ways. The latest scandal led to Police Chief Chris Griffins resignation last month after he allegedly made sexually charged comments, discriminated against female officers and spied on their movements. Other town employees also have been accused of inappropriate behavior, raising questions about the extent of an off-color culture that has sparked complaints and legal action. One former police chief admitted to having an affair with a subordinates wife. A former administrator who still works for the town was accused of prying into a female officers sex life and offering to impregnate her wife. And still another police department employee, now gone, was accused of making sexual jokes and planting toys in the shower used by female officers. Island officials have had little to say about any of these incidents, turning instead to its publicly funded checkbook to resolve the disputes. Since 2022, the town and its insurer have shelled out at least $158,000 to settle two lawsuits. Town Council also handed Griffin $10,000 on his way out the door with little explanation as to why, records showed. Griffin, 49, has also remained mum about his departure. That was a mutual agreement in which both parties said this will close the door on all this discussion and we can both move forward, Mayor Pat ONeil said. Thats not uncommon in these kinds of situations. Councilman Justin Novak, who made the motion to approve the funds, said the payment to Griffin was made in the interest of finality and to begin a new chapter with Glenn Meadows as police chief. But not everyone is content to bury the recent past without some accounting to the public. Resident Patricia Votava wrote to The Post and Courier to decry the lack of information provided to citizens about employee misbehavior and the use of taxpayer dollars to make the Griffin scandal go away. 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: 2024-03-08 07:50:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 575 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 AJMAN, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Academicians from across the world have discussed the various ways of reducing carbon emissions in cities and communities as nations try to fight the effects of climate change.In a panel discussion titled: "SHAPING THE FUTURE FOR NET ZERO CITIES AND COMMUNITIES" at the Ajman 7th International Environmental Conference, which was held in Ajman on Wednesday, March 6, Professor Wolfram Hardt, professor of Computer Engineering at Chemnitz University of technology, called for the importance of investigating AI-based services to adopt a realistic application."AI application services are designed to accelerate and develop AI applications, so as to ensure the use of resources in a cost-effective manner; which contributes to reaching global sustainability through advanced AI technology," said Hardt.Professor Ahmed Sobaihi, vice president of the Afro-Asian University and professor at Horizon University in Sharjah University City, presented the efforts made by the emirate of Ajman towards achieving environmental sustainability, while touching upon the tireless efforts being made by the UAE towards becoming a green future.Professor Myles Allen, professor of Geosystems science at the University of Oxford, stressed that the COP28 Conference of the parties laid the foundation stone and charted the way forward, within the framework of the global quest to mitigate and adapt to climate change to reach net zero emissions, consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.For his part, Tomas Prokop, Head Account Manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at "Palas GmbH", spoke about the importance of monitoring fine and ultrafine particles in urban areas in order to achieve improved air quality in cities.Dr. Shadi Saleh, founding director of the Global Health Institute, said that reaching clear skies in the future calls for reaching net zero emissions, stressing the importance of harnessing high-quality data to monitor the environment and air quality.Technology and innovation in climate actionIn another session, titled: " ACCELERATING CLIMATE ACTION WITH TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION & TRANSITION TO LOW-CARBON & INFRASTRUCTURE & WASTE CIRCULAR ECONOMY SYSTEMS ", Dr. Ahlam Khaldoune, from the College of Engineering at the American University of Sharjah, presented a study entitled: "Three-dimensional printed concrete bridge segments reinforced with hybrid smart reinforcement under constant load".He explained that the three-dimensional concrete printing (3dcp) has great potential to revolutionize the construction industry by enhancing productivity and reducing environmental impact through the efficient production of improved structures.Suhail Alghefeli, assistant professor of Environmental Engineering at Zayed University, spoke about the examination of green initiatives in university work, highlighting the importance of the role of youth in the sustainability processDr. Rami Issa Al-Ruzouq, associate professor of geomatics engineering at the Department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Sharjah, spoke about the need to develop a spatial and temporal framework for sustainable planning of buildings based on carbon emissions at the city level.A number of workshops were also held on the sidelines of the conference, during which OMA Krishnan, an expert at the world green economy organization, reviewed the opportunities available to cities within the framework of their commitments to reach net zero emissions, the most important pillars on which the article is based, as well as the most prominent environmental challenges and providing sustainable solutions to them within the framework of this article.Media Contact:Wafa AhmedMunicipality & Planning Department - Govt of AjmanAjman , UAE https://www.ajman.ae/en/servicecatalog/service_categories/municipality-planning-department SOURCE: Municipality & Planning Department - Govt of Ajman PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 10:02:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 703 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against The Boeing Company ("Boeing" or "the Company") (NYSE:BA) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Boeing securities between October 19, 2019 and January 24, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/BA Case Details:The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period Boeing and certain of its executives failed to disclose material information in violation of federal securities laws including:(1) On January 5, 2024, a Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines experienced an in-flight departure of an in-cabin door plug, causing the cabin to become depressurized and forcing an emergency landing.(2) On January 7, 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a grounding order, stating that "Boeing 737-9 aircraft will remain grounded until operators complete enhanced inspections which include both left and right cabin door exit plugs, door components, and fasteners" and that "[o]perators must also complete corrective action requirements based on findings from the inspections prior to bringing any aircraft back into service." On this news, Boeing's stock price fell $20.00 per share, or 8%, to close at $229.00 per share on January 8, 2024.(3) Then, on January 9, 2024, news outlets reported that United Airlines had found loose bolts on exit door plugs during their FAA-mandated inspections of Boeing 737 Max planes. The reports also noted that Alaska Airlines said its initial inspections of the jets had turned up "loose hardware." On this news, Boeing's stock price fell $3.24 per share, or 1.4%, to close at $225.76 per share on January 9, 2024.(4) On January 11, 2024, news outlets reported that the FAA had informed Boeing it had launched a formal investigation into whether Boeing had failed to properly ensure its aircraft were safe for operation.(5) On this news, Boeing's stock price fell $5.18 per share, or 2.3%, to close at $222.66 per share on January 11, 2024. on January 12, 2024, news outlets reported that the FAA would increase oversight of Boeing production and manufacturing processes. The FAA stated that a comprehensive audit set to be conducted on the Boeing 737 MAX 9 production line and its associated suppliers, specifically to assess Boeing's adherence to approved quality procedures, which could result in further audits.On this news, Boeing's stock price fell $4.96 per share, or 2.2%, to close at $217.70 per share on January 12, 2024.(6) On January 16, 2024, Wells Fargo downgraded Boeing, citing risks associated with the FAA's inspection of Boeing's production.On this news, Boeing's stock price fell $17.18 per share, or 7.9%, to close at $200.52 per share on January 16, 2024.(7) Finally, on January 24, 2024, news outlets reported that the FAA had announced it would not allow Boeing to expand production of the 737 MAX due to safety concerns related to the January 5, 2024 incident.On this news, Boeing's stock price fell $12.25 per share, or 5.7%, to close at $201.88 per share on January 25, 2024.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/BA or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Boeing you have until April 1, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 22:50:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 842 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today unveiled a new solar park at its Amber Cove Cruise Center in the Dominican Republic. The park's 1,800-plus solar panels will supply 80 percent of the port's energy demand.Carnival Corporation, Carnival Cruise Line and Amber Cove Cruise Center celebrated with a ribbon cutting that was attended by government, industry and community leaders, including Joel Santos, minister of the presidency of the Dominican Republic, and Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line."As we bring guests to enjoy the beauty and rich culture of the Dominican Republic, we also take our environmental stewardship here and everywhere we visit very seriously," said Duffy. "With this new solar park in Amber Cove, we are furthering our commitment to sustainability at our destinations by focusing on renewable energy sources to power the vast majority of the port's needs." "On behalf of the Government, we celebrate this achievement, which makes Amber Cove the first cruise terminal in the country with a project of this scale," said Joel Santos, minister of the presidency of the Dominican Republic. "This project will undoubtedly contribute to the production of clean energy and environmental sustainability in Puerto Plata, the first tourist destination in the Dominican Republic." The shift to renewable solar energy will replace most of the port's current energy sources and reduce its reliance on fossil fuel-based energy, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be produced. In total, the solar park is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1,000 tons per year - the equivalent to planting more than 30,000 trees.Located in the heart of the Dominican Republic's north coast just outside the historical town of Puerto Plata, Amber Cove Cruise Center is one of eight leading port destinations and exclusive islands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation. The 25-acre port features restaurants, shops, bars, pools, a zipline, waterfront and hilltop cabanas, and many shore excursion opportunities, such as snorkeling and a waterfall adventure. Four of the company's cruise lines - Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises - regularly visit the cruise port, which celebrated one million arriving guests last December - accounting for more than half of all cruise guest visits to the Dominican Republic in 2023.###About Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company, and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines - AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn.Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com www.princess.com , and www.seabourn.com For information on Carnival Corporation's industry-leading sustainability initiatives, visit www.carnivalsustainability.com Carnival Corporation Media Contacts:Amber Hastings, Carnival Corporation, amhastings@ carnival.com Ellie Beuerman, LDWW, ellie@ ldww.co About Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S., two Australian homeports and seasonally from Europe, and employs more than 48,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival's fleet of 27 ships reflects an exciting period of growth since 2021. Carnival's next new guest offering will be the all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key, set to debut on Grand Bahama in summer 2025.About DR Cruise Port LTD (Amber Cove)Carnival Corporation & plc and Grupo Rannik developed the port of Amber Cove, representing an $85 million investment. Since beginning operations in 2015, the port has welcomed more than 3.6 million guests. Amber Cove Cruise Center, a 25-acre facility, offers restaurants, shops, a swim-up bar, over-the-water cabanas and a zipline, and employs 120 people directly and more than 800 indirectly.This release includes claims related to our greenhouse gas emissions reductions, goals, initiatives, accomplishments, and progress reports. Supporting data for such greenhouse gas emissions claims, including data verification information, is published in our Sustainability Reports on carnivalcorp.com/sustainability on an annual basis.From the left: Jesus Mendez, Regional Director, Carnival Corp.; Sharon Mei, Amber Cove General Manager; Vicky Rey, VP, Gov. Affairs, Carnival Corp.; Jeff Rannik, Pres., Rannik Group; Alejandro Campos, Pres. of the Board, Dominican Port Authority; Elba Tineo, Municipal Director, Maimon; Joel Santos Echevarria, Minister of the Presidency, Dominican Republic; Christine Duffy, Pres., Carnival Cruise Line; Claritza Rochtte, Governor, Puerto Plata; Juan Fernandez, VP, Strategic Operations, Carnival Corp. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Carnival Corporation & plc on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Carnival Corporation & plcWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/carnival-corporation-plcEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Carnival Corporation & plc PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 13:00:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 457 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / In a recent construction event, attendees were surprised to hear about Danny Yamnitski's ambitious plans to expand his business into Florida, focusing on providing comprehensive solutions for building compliance challenges. As a guest speaker on the topic of building code violations, Yamnitski unveiled his vision of opening a new division aimed at assisting investors, landlords, and homeowners in navigating the complex landscape of building regulations.Florida CCS Inc., renowned for its expertise in handling building compliance issues, intends to offer a range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of property owners in Florida. This includes not only assistance with paperwork and navigating regulatory requirements but also the inclusion of architects and engineers within his team of professionals. This multifaceted approach aims to provide holistic support to property owners, ensuring that their structures are brought up to code efficiently and economically while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance.CCS Inc.'s expansion directly responds to the growing demand for professional assistance in dealing with building compliance issues in Florida. Yamnitski emphasized the importance of timely compliance to avoid penalties and minimize the risk of legal consequences for property owners.The new division will boast a team of architects and engineers who will work alongside regulatory experts to provide comprehensive support for various compliance aspects. This will include expediting permits, addressing architectural and engineering requirements, and coordinating with inspectors on-site. Yamnitski believes that by centralizing these services and incorporating architects and engineers into the team, property owners will not only save time and resources but also benefit from the expertise and creativity of these professionals in optimizing their structures for compliance and functionality.Investors and landlords in Florida are expected to derive significant benefits from Yamnitski's initiative as it offers a one-stop solution for addressing building compliance challenges with the added advantage of architectural and engineering expertise. By outsourcing these tasks to a specialized team, property owners can focus on their core business activities without worrying about the intricacies of regulatory compliance or the technical complexities of structural design.CCS Inc. aims to become a trusted partner for property owners in Florida, providing reliable and efficient solutions to help them navigate the complexities of building regulations while harnessing the creative input of architects and engineers to enhance the value and functionality of their properties. With his expertise and dedication to client satisfaction, Yamnitski is poised to make a significant impact on the construction and real estate industry in the region, ushering in a new era of streamlined compliance and innovative design solutions.Contact Information:Danny YamnistkiOwnerinfo@ laconstructioncompliancemd.com 3054193387Related VideoSOURCE: CCS Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 16:16:33 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 511 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Hagens Berman, National Trial Attorneys, Encourages CMI Investors with Substantial Losses to Contact Firm Before Mar. 15th Deadline in Securities Class ActionSAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Hagens Berman urges Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Apr. 30, 2019 - Dec. 21, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Mar. 15, 2024Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/cmi Contact An Attorney Now: CMI@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Cummins Inc. (CMI) Securities Fraud Class Action:In a report to clients, analysts at UBS recently commented on Cummins' agreement to pay a $1.675 billion fine for installing devices on hundreds of thousands of engines to allow them to emit excess pollution, the largest-ever civil penalty for a Clean Air Act violation.UBS remarked that "the settlement is bigger than we were expecting," noting that it "equates to ~5.8% of [Cummins'] current market cap." UBS emphasized the "cash drag" the settlement presents, stating that "payment /charge are not tax deductible and there is no insurance to reduce the amount CMI has to pay out," and that "CMI might do some short term borrowing to finance a part of it." In addition to negative analyst sentiment, Cummins also faces a recently filed securities fraud class action stemming from the EPA/Carb settlement.The complaint there alleges Cummins misrepresented and concealed that: (1) contrary to its post-April 2019 assurances about its commitment to compliance, Cummins continued to produce engines utilizing undisclosed engine control software features from 2019 to 2023; and (2) accordingly, the company understated its legal and regulatory risks."We are investigating whether Cummins intentionally made false statements concerning its public health and regulatory compliance," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm's investigation. "We are also investigating when the directors knew of the continued non-compliance." If you invested in Cummins and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Cummins investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Cummins should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email CMI@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP Colorado's winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories remain in effect across the eastern-most mountains from New Mexico to Wyoming until 5 p.m., Friday, with additional accumulations between 3-6 inches. Eldora Mountain Resort (8") west of Boulder received the most snow for Friday. Recap: On Thursday, snow showers were on and off starting mid-morning for most mountains around Colorado. In the northern mountains around Eldora, light snow showers began steadily around 1 p.m., and some flakes were falling at Wolf Creek around 2 p.m. A small but definitive circular rotation over south central Arizona could be seen shortly before sunset Thursday as the low pressure pushed eastward, pushing some moisture into Colorado. A second low pressure stationed itself in the Texas panhandle by late afternoon, wrapping showers and snow counter-clockwise from the north and northeast into Colorado's mountains (upslope), giving the Front Range and I-25 corridor its accumulations as well. Accumulations in the northern mountains were between 2-8 inches, central mountains between dusting-4 inches and southern mountains between 1-3 inches. Forecast: More snow will continue Friday and into Saturday, with soft or even powder conditions for Saturday's first chairs in the east-central mountains (Monarch) and San Juan (Wolf Creek, Silverton and Telluride) and Sangre de Cristo (Cuchara) mountains. On Friday afternoon, the ECMEF high resolution model forecasts snow showers to make their way from north to south over the mountains, with the central and southern mountains receiving additional snow accumulations of between 3-5 inches. On Saturday, snow showers are forecast to linger and be light in the southern mountains with 1-3 inches more accumulation in the San Juan mountains mainly. Otherwise Saturday's and Sunday's weather are forecast to be dry, sunny and warm, with highs in the low 30s Saturday and mid-30s Sunday at most base areas. Long Range: On Monday, a return to high clouds drifting overhead from the west and northwest is forecast, but mostly warmer temperatures ahead of a larger storm beginning Tuesday night into Friday. On Tuesday after sunset it starts to get interesting as a larger and stronger storm moves its way toward Colorado. The ECMWF and ICON models' run from Thursday evening forecast a lot of moisture entering the state Tuesday night into Wednesday as a low pressure system dips southward through Nevada, pulling moisture in from the Pacific and funneling it into the Four Corners area. This storm is forecast to be be a good snow event for the southern mountains and eastern mountains along the Front Range from Wednesday to Friday morning. Further details will become more clear over the next few model runs as the storm nears. Today's 24 hour snow total from Colorado resorts: Arapahoe Basin - 2" Aspen Mountain - 3" Aspen Highlands - 4" Sign Up For Free: Denver Gazette Outdoors Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Beaver Creek - 0" Breckenridge - 2" Buttermilk - 2" Cooper - 1" Copper Mountain - 1" Crested Butte - 0" Echo Mountain - 6" Eldora Mountain - 8" Granby Ranch - 1" Hesperus - Closed for season Howelsen Hill - 2" Kendall Mountain - 5", open weekends Keystone - 2" Loveland - .5" Monarch - 2" Powderhorn - 1" Purgatory - 2" Silverton - 5" Snowmass - 4" Steamboat - 2" Sunlight - 0" Telluride - 4" Vail - 1" Winter Park - 2" Wolf Creek - 2" PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 14:45:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 650 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Firm executes smart deal strategy; successfully sells prime Fort Worth property, elevating investor returnsDALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / MLG Capital today announced that it has sold Copperfield Apartments, a 323-unit multifamily property located at 6051 S Hulen St. in Fort Worth, Texas. The sale closed on March 7 to an undisclosed buyer. The disposition of the property is part of MLG's smart deal strategy to buy and sell real estate investments with a core focus on growing operating income and/or reducing operating expenses to maximize return to investors.MLG Capital purchased the Class B multifamily property in 2019 as part of MLG's series of MLG Private Funds. At acquisition, Copperfield Apartments, which has a prime location in Southwest Fort Worth, offered significant value-add opportunity through interior and exterior renovations. MLG Capital renovated over 100 apartment units and made various common area improvements in its 5-year hold, including renovating the clubhouse, updating the pool area and adding an outdoor firepit."We are excited to go full cycle on this investment. Over the past 5 years, we've executed our asset strategy which included a light value add of select interior units. We were able to improve operations, enhance the asset and amenity set, and offer quality apartments that our residents can be proud to call home," said Ryan Mueller, senior vice president at MLG Capital. "We are proud of our ability to consistently generate strong returns for our investors regardless of the timing of the market cycle. We work hard to preserve capital and to deliver strong outcomes for investors." The series of MLG Private Funds target robust and tax-efficient cash on cash distributions and appreciation over time with an overall target of 11-15% IRR net returns to its investors. MLG's fund strategy provides investors the opportunity to participate in a diversified portfolio of private real estate assets, rather than individual deals. The firm targets property acquisitions with a focus on geographic and asset class diversification across the United States. MLG Capital is currently fundraising for MLG Private Fund VI, with a targeted equity size of $400M and is set to close to new investors later in 2024.###About MLG Capital MLG Capital is a premier investment manager in private real estate for investment advisors, family offices and accredited high net worth individuals. Since its inception in 1987, the firm and associated entities have had active, exited, or pending investments totaling approximately 45.9 million square feet of total space across the United States, inclusive of more than 39,200 apartment units, with exited and estimated current value exceeding $6.78 billion, as of 12/31/23. For more information about MLG Capital and its investments, visit the firm'snewsroom.This release does not constitute an offer to sell an investment in a security. Offers to sell an investment in a security can only be made to a qualified purchaser by delivery of a Confidential Private Placement Memorandum (the "Memorandum"), any supplements to the Memorandum and accompanied by a Subscription Document Booklet. The information contained in this release may be preliminary in nature and may have not been independently verified by MLG Capital or its affiliates. The recipient of this release should consult with its own investment, tax and/or legal professionals about the merits of the investment. MLG Capital does not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information presented in this release. Any financial information or projections may be initial estimates and may be subject to change without notice to recipient. An investment into a private offering is subject to various risks, none of which are described herein. All figures as of 12/31/2023. Value consists of disposed of assets as well as the current internal valuation of currently held assets as of 12/31/2023. Values may not have been reviewed by an independent 3rd party and may be internal projections.For more information, contact: Katie Whitlock, Public RelationsLaughlin Constable kwhitlock@ laughlin.com 414-305-5927SOURCE: MLG Capital PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 16:30:26 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 623 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / The Clorox CompanyBy Bailey Doyle, Associate Director, Marketing TransformationSome of the women who have played a key role in the company's history (pictured clockwise from top): Annie Murray, Hazel McClure, Denise Garner and Roxanne Quimby."If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Isaac NewtonOne of the most influential scientists of all time recognized that we rely on the contributions of the people that come before us. During Women's History Month, I want to share a few of the stories about the long line of amazing women who preceded us at Clorox, building a strong foundation for us to succeed.The reason you can find Clorox in so many households today is because of Annie Murray. She and her husband, William Murray, the first Clorox general manager, had a vision in 1916 of expanding Clorox Bleach beyond its original commercial uses. You could call Annie the first marketer of Clorox Bleach, as it was her idea to give away samples of the product at the family's grocery store in Oakland, California. She was the original "Clorox storyteller" - and helped change the trajectory of the company.Women continued to play an influential role in the direction of the company over the next 100-plus years.In the 1930s, Hazel McClure, Rebekah Lewis and Peggy Lewis, assistants to the company's male leadership team collectively dubbed "The Three Graces," proposed Clorox's very first influencer partnership. They recommended working with home economist Jessie Deboth, whose traveling show "School for Homemakers" drew millions of women for cooking advice, appliance displays, sing-a-longs and networking. Clorox partnered with her to tell the brand's story through laundry demonstrations at events in large auditoriums across the U.S. While all three were awarded stock options for their contributions to the company, in 1973 Hazel made history with her appointment as Clorox's first female officer.Around the turn of the century, a team was tasked with the idea of building on our popular Clorox Clean-up spray cleaner. In its research, the team learned consumers were tired of having to don their battle fatigues every time they cleaned. Instead, they were looking for a product that would make it easier to clean "in the flow." This "aha" moment led to the invention of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. This team was led by Denise Garner, who went on to serve as chief innovation officer for the company from 2015 to 2022.Women have also played pivotal roles in the development of other brands in our portfolio. Many are familiar with Burt Shavitz, the face of Burt's Bees, but not as many people are familiar with Roxanne Quimby, the cofounder of the brand. Roxanne helped tell the Burt's story by branding his products with custom labels, promoting his products at craft fairs, and eventually selling beeswax candles and lip balms at a New York City boutique, which led to the widespread success of the flagship product. Roxanne continues to tell the Burt's Bees story of nature conservation through her land preservation efforts.These are just some of the women who have played a part in shaping our company into what it is today. I have no doubt future generations will look back and see themselves standing on some of our shoulders - and one day they will tell our stories, too.In addition to her day job, Bailey serves on the leadership team of SHOW, our employee resource group for women.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Clorox Company on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: The Clorox CompanyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/clorox-company Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: The Clorox Company PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 16:30:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 568 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 HAGENS BERMAN, NATIONAL TRIAL ATTORNEYS, Encourages EAF Investors Who Suffered Substantial Losses to Contact Firm's AttorneysSAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 /Hagens Berman urges GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Feb. 8, 2019 - Aug. 3, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Mar. 25, 2024Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/EAF Contact An Attorney Now: EAF@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE: EAF) Securities Fraud Class Action:GrafTech continues to feel the residual impact of the temporary suspension of operations in its Monterrey, Mexico facility that began near the end of the third quarter 2022. On Feb. 14, 2024, GrafTech released its financial results for 2023, reporting a net loss of $255 million. Timothy Flanagan, GrafTech's interim CEO, cited the temporary suspension of operations in Mexico as one of the reasons why 2023 results fell short of expectations.The disclosure comes on the heels of a securities class action complaint alleging GrafTech misrepresented and concealed that its Monterrey facility was not in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. Instead, the lawsuit alleges the Monterrey facility had for decades chronically contaminated neighboring communities with harmful carcinogenic gasses and particulate matter.The complaint also alleges that Defendants omitted to disclose that GrafTech had signed agreements with local authorities committing to improving the environmental performance of the Monterrey facility, but repeatedly failed to honor its commitments.The truth emerged over a series of partial disclosures, beginning first on Sept. 16, 2022, when GrafTech unexpectedly revealed that government regulators shut down the Monterrey facility. Mexican news outlets reported that the shutdown order was made in response to GrafTech's excessive pollution of carcinogenic gasses and particulate into neighboring communities.Then, on Feb. 3, 2023, GrafTech announced disappointing Q4 and FY 2022 financial results and slashed its year-over-year sales outlook for the first half of 2023 by 50% (blaming the Monterrey facility closure) and revealed a significant depletion in its on-hand pin stock inventory.Further, on Apr. 28, 2023, GrafTech announced another disappointing quarter, the company again blamed the closure.Finally, on Aug. 4, 2023, GrafTech reported that it suffered an $8 million net loss during Q2 2023 versus $115 million in net income in Q2 2022. The company again blamed its disastrous results on the closure.If you invested in GrafTech and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the GrafTech case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding GrafTech should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email EAF@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 17:00:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 477 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 East China's Jiangxi Province has boosted its economic and social development by implementing green growth in recent years, with 63.1 percent forest coverage achieved, ranking the country's No.2, as well as No.1 among China's six central provinces regarding days with good air quality in 2023, according to the provincial government.NANCHANG, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / East China's Jiangxi Province has boosted its economic and social development by implementing green growth in recent years, with 63.1 percent forest coverage achieved, ranking the country's No.2, as well as No.1 among China's six central provinces regarding days with good air quality in 2023, according to the provincial government.Poyang lake is an important hub for migratory birds and hosts up to 700,000 wintering birds yearly To create better conditions for tourists to enjoy the beauty of migratory birds, Jiangxi has produced a birdwatching roadmap, planning eight birdwatching routes and 20 birdwatching spots.The province has made great efforts in ecological development and building national ecological civilization pilot zone. Located in eastern China along the southern shore of Yangtze River with abundant resources and mild climate and surrounded by majestic mountains, Jiangxi is also known for the Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake. Poyang lake is an important hub for migratory birds and hosts up to 700,000 wintering birds every year.To create better conditions for tourists to enjoy the beauty of migratory birds, Jiangxi has produced a birdwatching roadmap, planning eight birdwatching routes and 20 birdwatching spots. Jiangxi has also built a number of landscaped birdwatching platforms, launched exquisite routes combining "birdwatching+tourism" around Poyang Lake.The first Poyang Lake International Birdwatching Week last year in eastern China's Jiangxi Province to raise public awareness on wetlands and migratory birds protection.Stories of turning green into gold are also emerging in various parts of Jiangxi. Huangling, Wuyuan was named "Best Tourism Villages" by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The provincial wetland management platform has been established and operated, with a cumulative transaction volume of wetland compensation indicators exceeding 74 million yuan and a cumulative transaction volume of forestry-related ecological products exceeding 8.5 billion yuan.In recent years, Jiangxi has integrated green principles into its development. By implementing innovative and pioneering ecological conservation measures, Jiangxi has successfully balanced economic growth with environmental protection. The ecology and economy are now harmoniously intertwined.In recent years, Zixi County has implemented new development concepts, fully utilizing its abundant bamboo resources. Adapting measures to local conditions has expanded the scale of bamboo cultivation, enhanced bamboo ecology, and strengthened the bamboo industry. In 2022, the county's bamboo industry output value reached 2.8 billion yuan.Jiangxi will adhere to the conservation of the Yangtze River with sustained efforts and improving the compensation system for ecological conservation, and continue to form synergy for high-quality development by promoting high-level coordination.Contact InformationGrace ShiPRgraceshi@ xinhuanetus.com 6465712146SOURCE: Jiangxi Provincial GovernmentView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 13:00:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 829 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Continuing to build upon the Company's research initiative. Jolt is currently seeking several opportunities, adding to its health and wellness portfolio. Strategic focus to identify and target those companies that both have tangible quantifiable assets and strong commitment in the health and wellness, AI drug development and pharmaceutical sectors. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Jolt Health Inc. ("JOLT" or "the Company") (CSE:JOLT), the Company is pleased to provide the following letter to shareholders, outlining the Company's advancements and an update on the direction of the Company.To the Shareholders of Jolt Health Inc,We welcome this opportunity to provide our shareholders with a comprehensive outlook of Jolt's efforts in building upon its existing portfolio and establishing its future strategic imperatives by building upon Jolt's existing product portfolio, which is primarily focused on over the counter products.Jolt is exploring current opportunities in expanding its health and wellness portfolio by exploring opportunities in the AI drug development and pharmaceutical sectors. The Company is working to identify and assess biotechnology and pharmaceutical solutions to address a myriad of health concerns, a catalyst for growth in this bourgeoning market.The Company believes that it is at the beginning of a health and wellness renaissance and are looking to participate in the coming wave of interest. Focusing on business fundamentals of strong growth, service and operational excellence as the path to deliver meaningful results, including environmental and social impact is a key driver of how the Company plans to create shareholder value over the long term.In addition, the Company would like to announce that Mr. Cody Corrubia has joined the board as a director. In accepting his resignation from the board, the Company wishes Mr. Mark Tommasi well in his future endeavours.We are also pleased to announce a private placement financing of up to 50,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.01 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $500,000 (the "Offering").Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one half a warrant (a "Warrant"). Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.05 per Common Share for a period of 2 years following the closing date of the Offering, subject to accelerated expiry as described herein. If, at any time, the closing price of the Company's Common Shares is greater than $0.15 per Common Share for 10 consecutive days, including days where there is no trading, the Company may provide written notice (a "Warrant Acceleration Notice") to the holders that the expiry of the Warrants shall be accelerated to a date that is not less than 30 days from the date of the Warrant Acceleration Notice.Thank you for your continued support. We are excited to have you along for the journey.On behalf of the Board of Directors,Gerald TrittPresident and CEOAbout Jolt Health Inc.With a focus on the global Health and Wellness markets, Jolt Health Inc. (CSE:JOLT) was founded in 2023, with a mission to bring to market innovative products that enhance health and wellness and provide an improved quality of life. Jolt Health holds exclusive licenses to produce market, package, sell, and distribute patent-protected therapeutic and pharmaceutical products throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America.For further information, please contact:Investor RelationsTelephone: 1 (604) 343-2977E-mail: investors@ Jolt-Health.comwww.jolt-health.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, financing, and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.SOURCE: Jolt Health Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 13:01:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 867 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / North Shore Uranium Ltd. (TSXV:NSU) ("North Shore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has mobilized and commenced its drill program at its 55,699 hectare Falcon Property ("Falcon" or the "Property") located at the eastern margin of the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan. The Company is planning to drill three targets associated with electromagnetic ("EM") conductors. Information pertaining to the drill program and a summary of the Property were provided by the Company on February 28, 2024 and December 19, 2023.The drill program is being managed by TerraLogic Exploration Inc. The final three targets selected for drilling, which lie along a strong, dominantly northeast-trending EM conductor system, are shown in Figure 1. For each target, a subsurface geophysical model of the EM conductor has been prepared and a hole, which is drilled at an angle, has been designed to intersect the conductor. The program is expected to last approximately ten days with final sample results expected approximately four weeks after the end of the program.Figure 1: Electromagnetics with 2024 drill targets P03, P08 and P12. Processing by Condor North Consulting ULC using 2006 and 2007 airborne data.Falcon Property Background Information Falcon is a highly prospective uranium exploration property with a limited exploration history at the eastern margin of the Athabasca Basin in an area that is seeing increased exploration activity and recent discoveries.Reinterpretation of EM data complemented by geophysical data acquired in 2022 has allowed the Company to identify high priority uranium targets in areas where there has been no previous drilling. The Property is located approximately 35 kilometres east of the active Key Lake uranium mill and former mine. The new uranium discovery potential at Falcon is significant including shallow Athabasca-style basement-hosted mineralization and pegmatite-hosted mineralization similar to that discovered at the Fraser Lakes Zone B uranium resource located just three kilometres south of the Property.Falcon consists of 15 mineral claims; four of the claims comprising 12,791 hectares are 100 percent-owned by the Company and the remaining 11 claims totaling 42,908 hectares are subject to an option agreement with Skyharbour Resources Ltd. Under the terms of the option agreement, North Shore can earn an 80% interest in the 11 claims and has the option to purchase the remaining 20% interest after it has earned its initial 80% interest.About North Shore Uranium The near-term business objectives of North Shore Uranium are to become a major force in exploration for economic uranium deposits at the eastern margin of Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, a tier-one jurisdiction for discovering new mineable high-grade uranium deposits. The Company will work to achieve those objectives by conducting exploration programs on its two properties, Falcon and the West Bear Property, located 90 kilometres northeast of Falcon, and by evaluating opportunities to increase its portfolio of properties in the region.Qualified Person Mr. Brooke Clements, MSc, P.Geol., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and the President and CEO of North Shore, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this press release.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Brooke Clements,President, Chief Executive Officer and DirectorFor further information:Please contact: Brooke Clements, President, Chief Executive Officer and DirectorTelephone: 604.536.2711Email: b.clements@ northshoreuranium.comwww.northshoreuranium.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect","project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's current plans and business objectives. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such forwardlooking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to: assumptions regarding future uranium prices, debt and equity financing market conditions, receipt of regulatory approvals, and other factors. The cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to the Company and persons acting on its behalf. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.SOURCE: North Shore Uranium Ltd. PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 14:50:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 464 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / In a significant acknowledgment of their pioneering efforts in the digital arena, OG Media Group has been honored with the prestigious 2024 AIBC Award for Best Media Company. This award celebrates the company's relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in the Web3 space, distinguishing them as leading figures in the industry.Founded by the visionary trio of Andres Meneses, Paz Gonzalez, and Sean Demosthenous, OG Media Group has established itself as a beacon of knowledge and innovation. With a mission firmly rooted in "Committed to Elevating the Digital Frontier," the company has played a crucial role in demystifying the complexities of Web3, paving the way for over 100 projects to achieve unparalleled success.The founders of OG Media Group bring to the table a rich tapestry of diverse expertise. Their collective experience spans legal, technical, marketing, investment banking, and strategic domains, providing a holistic approach to navigating the intricacies of the Web3 ecosystem. This multidisciplinary prowess has been instrumental in clarifying the confusion surrounding Web3, fostering a deeper understanding and more effective strategies among investors and founders alike.Community engagement and event planning stand at the core of OG Media Group's philosophy. By emphasizing the importance of building a vibrant and engaged community, the company has set new benchmarks in establishing thriving Web3 brands. Their efforts in organizing and participating in pivotal industry events have not only strengthened community bonds but have also enhanced the visibility and impact of Web3 initiatives across the globe.The journey of Andres Meneses, Paz Gonzalez, and Sean Demosthenous through the digital realm is marked by a combined eight years of experience that spans Web3 and related sectors. Their insights and leadership have illuminated the path for countless ventures, demonstrating the transformative power of knowledge and innovation in overcoming digital challenges.The AIBC World Summit, renowned for uniting the world's foremost experts in emerging industries such as FinTech, blockchain, and AI, has recognized OG Media Group's outstanding contributions to the field. Since its inception in Malta in 2018, the summit has grown to encompass global dimensions, reflecting the expanding influence of innovative technologies and the pivotal role companies like OG Media Group play in shaping the future.Also, while this is their first award as a media company, in 2023, the group won the AIBC award for the best web3 podcast of the year.As OG Media Group celebrates this momentous achievement, they remain dedicated to their mission of elevating the digital frontier. With their eyes set on the horizon, Andres, Paz, and Sean continue to lead the charge in the Web3 revolution, inspiring others to explore the vast potential of digital innovation.Media Details Company Name: OG Media Group City: Dubai , United Arab Emirates Mail: operations@ ogmedia.group Website : www.ogmedia.group SOURCE: OG Media Group PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 08:20:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 316 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Qoinix , a digital finance platform, has announced that it is expanding its services to offer better user accessibility and security. They have introduced a range of new features designed to make financial management easier and keep user data secure. With these updates, users can easily manage their finances, whether it be through mobile transactions, online banking, or investment portfolios.According to Qoinix officials, their primary goal is to provide an excellent user experience while ensuring user safety and confidentiality. The latest updates to their platform will offer improved accessibility and security, which the company believes will enhance the overall user experience.They have made several key updates to their platform, including improved interfaces, easier navigation, and better security protocols to keep user information safe from potential threats. Qoinix is committed to keeping up with the latest digital finance innovations and continuously strives to improve and adapt to meet the needs of its growing user base.About QoinixQoinixis a popular platform that offers advanced trading tools and uncompromising security to enhance its users' trading experience. The platform offers institutional-grade infrastructure and over 500 products across various asset classes, including forex and cryptocurrencies, to provide the best trading options. With low costs and extensive educational resources, Qoinix equips traders for success.The platform's distinctive option to trade ETFs, carefully curated by seasoned analysts, is a great opportunity for traders to explore and make profits. Qoinix also provides exceptional customer support to help traders navigate the financial markets effectively. However, it's important to note that trading foreign exchange, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs involves high risk, and traders should carefully consider their investment objectives before proceeding. Qoinix is a suitable platform for traders looking for advanced trading tools and a secure trading environment.Company DetailsCompany Name: Qoinix Email Address: media@ qoinix.comCompany Address: 1 Zurich City Center, Bahnhofstrasse III, Switzerland Company Website: https://qoinix.com/ SOURCE: Qoinix PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 19:30:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1066 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WBA leaders, team members, partners and suppliers came together in a shared commitment to people and the planet.NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / At Walgreens Boots Alliance's first-ever Healthy Communities Day, held in Chicago this week, participants celebrated the progress of WBA's health-centered Environmental, Social & Governance strategy and crafted future ambitions for healthier communities around the world. Marking the launch of its ESG Report for 2023, the event brought together stakeholders active at the forefront of global impact issues, from climate change to healthcare access, for candid discussions of what's next.Representatives ranging from global enterprise leaders to small business owners to nonprofit founders gathered in the National Museum of Mexican Art for the day, itself a testament to Walgreens' community involvement as a museum sponsor and just a short distance from the first Walgreens store opened in 1901. Here are six takeaways from the event.None of us can do it alone. One theme throughout the day was that significant change comes when we work together and multiply our impact. WBA CEO Tim Wentworth set the tone for open partnership: "The most important part of our relationship is that we can share and define goals that we couldn't achieve individually, but together we can exceed."Ornella Barra, WBA COO international and ESG committee chair, agreed, saying, "We understand the need to keep up at this work and will continue to make investments that improve the prospects and environment for our people and our consumers. We cannot achieve this alone." A heartfelt example of what we've already accomplished together, with partner Vitamin Angels and the support of our customers, team members and their incredible network, is the over 400 million parents and children around the world supplied with life-changing vitamins and supplements in the past 10 years. Watch Michaela's story above to see the real-life change we're making.Climate change is closer than you think-and it's personal. In a discussion moderated by Una Kent, WBA's VP of ESG and DEI, International, panelists discussed the inextricable link between climate change and human health. David Croft, Global Head of Sustainability at Reckitt, acknowledged a misconception that many people hear climate change and think of distant polar ice caps and not the impact right at their doorstep."Does that feel personal to you? Do you want to change something about something that's so remote?" he asked. "One of the biggest things we've done together is start to change some of the conversation so that climate change becomes personal." In one such example, Sarah McDonald, VP, Sustainability at Haleon, talked about a study that put trackers on children's backpacks to see how much air pollution they ingested while walking to school. An alternate route on a less congested road meant less polluted air and better health outcomes in the long term.So, what are we doing about it? We're joining forces, for starters. WBA and each company represented on the panel are part of the Climate and Health Coalition, which formed in 2022 to help the private sector accelerate the transformation of our health and climate systems to improve outcomes for both people and planet. Read more about WBA's commitment to a Healthy Planet.Together we can localize healthcare. In a panel moderated by Alethia Jackson, WBA's SVP of ESG and Chief DEI Officer, panelists discussed how 60% of health outcomes are driven by social determinants of health, such as your zip code. What this tells us is that healthcare is local and must be tailored to fit the unique needs of a community.Each panelist represented a different point in the patient's healthcare journey, such as vaccinating people in under-resourced countries, helping mothers through pregnancy, developing medicines and vaccines that can help with chronic disease, decentralizing and diversifying clinical trials, and making the LGBTQ+ community feel seen, heard and supported with their health needs. At the center of it all are pharmacists, embedded in their communities and empowered to provide education, access and care."Approximately 50% of our stores are located in medically underserved areas. Knowing our patients and customers in these communities has allowed us to work in tandem with partners who are also trying to help different segments of the population with the most need," said Jackson. Read more about WBA's commitment to Healthy Communities.Sustainability works when we bring consumers along for the journey. Rajnish Kapur, SVP of Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain, WBA, led a discussion on the influence retailers like WBA can have on creating a better environment through choices on supplier partners, transportation, packaging and more."We need to meet consumers where they are and bring them along with us. We can't expect them to leap the Grand Canyon to come to where we are and our point of view as corporations," said Jennifer Duran, global VP of Product Resiliency and Sustainability at Kenvue, maker of iconic brands like Band-Aid and Tylenol. This includes changing the narrative on sustainability from an add-on or afterthought to an integrated and expected feature of the products.Small business owner Theresa Ging, CEO of Sugar Bliss, notes that in addition to sustainable packaging, it further supports the environment through a partnership with Plastic Bank, which removes plastic from the ocean and supports disadvantaged communities. "I realized the consumer I'm targeting understands that recyclable packaging probably costs more. They understand there's a social mission and we're giving back." Panelists agreed that making more inroads for small businesses to learn how to make sustainable choices would go a long way, and true to theme, working together between industry organizations, retailers and suppliers big and small was the way to do it. Read more about WBA's commitment to Sustainable Marketplace.Forging connections are critical to fighting cancer. Angela Bower, Senior Director of Health Services Diversity and Inclusion, brought together some of the most prominent players in cancer care, awareness and prevention to discuss what patients need now. When you learn that 1 in 2 people will get cancer in their lifetime, and most of our panelists were cancer survivors or family of cancer survivors, you begin to understand the magnitude.The emotional needs of cancer patients came through clearly, as Stephanie Lieber, Executive Director of Imerman's Angels said, "Like many folks on this panel, we do this so that no one faces cancer alone." Pharmacists in our stores can be an important lifeline f PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 17:15:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 513 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 HAGENS BERMAN, NATIONAL TRIAL ATTORNEYS, Encourages CC Investors Who Suffered Substantial Losses to Contact Firm's Attorneys Investigating Possible Securities Law ViolationsSAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Hagens Berman urges The Chemours Company (NYSE:CC) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/CC Contact An Attorney Now: CC@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) Investigation:On Feb. 28, 2024, more questions concerning the propriety of Chemours' statements concerning its historical financial performance were raised, when the Company suspended a slew of its most senior executives pending an internal accounting probe.Specifically, Chemours announced that it placed CEO (Mark Newman), CFO (Jonathan Lock), and CAA (Camela Wisel) on administrative leave pending completion of an internal accounting review. The scope of the investigation "includes the processes for reviewing reports made to the Chemours Ethics Hotline, the Company's practices for managing working capital, including the related impact on metrics within the Company's incentive plans, and certain non-GAAP metrics included in filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise publicly released, and related disclosures." The company also announced that, as a result of the foregoing, it is investigating the effectiveness of "tone at the top' set by certain members of senior management[.]"This news follows Chemours' Feb. 13, 2024 announcement that it postponed the release of its financial results and conference call related to its Q4 and FYE Dec. 31, 2023. The company revealed then that it "is evaluating its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 with respect to maintaining effective controls related to information and communications." The company also revealed that its "Audit Committee also needs additional time to complete a related internal review." Each of the above announcements drove the price of Chemours shares crashing lower.If you invested in The Chemours Company and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Chemours investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding The Chemours Company should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email CC@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP Airtel Tanzania managing director Dinesh Balsingh revealed the operator had expanded its coverage with newly constructed towers, as part of an initiative to boost connectivity in rural locations, The Citizen reported. Balsingh announced the Bharti Airtel subsidiary built 30 new communication towers with the aim to deploy 758 in rural Tanzania, as part of a partnership with government scheme, the Universal Communications Service Access Fund. Balsingh also urged the government to cut taxes on mobile devices to increase mobile device penetration in the country, stating the spread of devices and connectivity services can improve the lives of citizens. The MD did hail the government for its removal of airtime levies and reductions in right-of-way charges and billboard fees in July last year. This spurred the expansion of fibre coverage but Balsingh did not detail how far Airtels network now reaches. PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 16:16:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 714 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 GoDaddy Airo Can Design a Logo, Website, Email and Social Campaigns in the Time It Takes to Read This SentenceTEMPE, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / GoDaddy Originally Published on GoDaddy NewsroomFor small businesses, every second saved and every dollar spent is the difference between surviving and thriving. GoDaddy recently found that, on average, small business owners expect to save more than $4,000 and 300 hours of work this year using generative AI. But they don't always know where to start, and only 26% reported using AI for their business. To make using generative AI fast and easy, GoDaddy launchedGoDaddy Airo, an AI-powered solution that saves small business owners precious time in establishing their online presence and helps them win new customers.Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9134152-godaddy-launches-ai-powered-godaddy-airo-for-small-businesses/ "Generative AI is the great equalizer for small businesses," said GoDaddy President, U.S. Independents, Gourav Pani. "Technology and capabilities usually reserved for large companies with thousands of employees are now at the fingertips of anyone looking to start or grow their business. GoDaddy Airo combines the latest AI technology with the ease of use we're known for - providing effortless and intuitive solutions to small businesses." The Right Solution for Any Small BusinessGoDaddy Airo makes leveraging the power of AI easy for anyone wanting to start a business or take their existing one to the next level. In fact, businesses that use GoDaddy AI tools generate 28% more sales.*If someone has an inkling of an idea, GoDaddy Airo can recommend catchy domain names with just a description of their business. Seconds after registering a domain, GoDaddy Airo automatically starts generating content for the business, including:Unique, eye-catching logo designs that can be easily customized to fit the business. A fully built website with imagery and content designed to help the business engage and attract customers. A professional email account that strengthens the credibility and prestige of the business. By simply uploading a product photo, an auto-generated custom product description is created for an online store. An option to register for an LLC.If a new or existing business wants to grow, it can quickly get plans and recommendations through GoDaddy Airo features in seconds, including:Comprehensive email marketing campaigns with suggested content and imagery. Social media calendar with recommendations of when to ideally post. Compelling social media and search engine ads to bring traffic to the business's website.Even if a business is not online, GoDaddy Airo will support it. Brick-and-mortar business owners can soon lean on beta capabilities of GoDaddy Airo to:Create an entire product or service catalog for their point-of-sale device by simply snapping a photo. Generate real-time insights on their sales trends using voice commands on the GoDaddy Smart Terminal Point-of-Sale device. GoDaddy Airo Is Always EvolvingGoDaddy Airo is live now for small businesses to take advantage of, and even more capabilities are coming."Because it's AI-powered, GoDaddy Airo is constantly evolving and improving to make sure small businesses are benefitting from the latest technology," continued Pani. "We're just scratching the surface of what's possible." Ways to Learn MoreSee everything GoDaddy is doing when it comes to Generative AI by visitingwww.GoDaddy.com/ai Keep an eye on GoDaddy's social media platforms to discover how small businesses are leveraging its AI technology. Additionally, check out the latestcampaign advertisementsshowcasing GoDaddy Airo.Watch Tomorrow's World Today on the Discovery and Science channels in late May to see GoDaddy Airo technology applied in small business settings.*Exclusive to paid US users, this result is based on data from signups between August 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023, where users published their websites on the same day.About GoDaddy GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services and accept payments online and in-person. GoDaddy's easy-to-use tools help small business owners manage everything in one place and its expert guides are available to provide assistance 24/7. To learn more about the company, visitwww.GoDaddy.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from GoDaddy on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: GoDaddyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/godaddy Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: GoDaddy PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 04:09:24 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 781 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 SINGAPORE, Mar 7, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - Organised by Informa Markets, the inaugural Asia Photonics Expo (APE), is successfully launched at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore on the opening day. With an exhibition area of 15,000, APE 2024 attracted 350 international exhibitors showcasing a wide range of sectors including optical communication, optics, lasers, infrared, sensing, and displays. It provides a comprehensive platform for business, technology exchange, and networking, enabling industry professionals to engage in meaningful discussions with leading companies and experts. APE 2024 aims to promote in-depth communication and business collaboration between professionals in the photonics ecosystem.The opening ceremony of APE 2024 attracted numerous distinguished guests and industry professionals. Notable speakers included Mr. Yang Xiancheng, Founder and Executive President of China International Optoelectronic Expo (CIOE), Mr. Sukumar Verma, Managing Director, Informa Markets Singapore, Prof. Tjin Swee Chuan, Chairman of LUX Photonics Consortium, Dr. Prof. Yuhong Bai, Director of Light: Science & Applications, Mr. Perry Shum, President of IEEE Photonics Society, and Mr. Carlos Lee, Director General of European Photonics Industry Consortium.On behalf of the organiser, Mr. Sukumar Verma shared: Asia Photonics Expo is reflective not only of the strength of the local industry, but also the interest from international markets to come explore partnership and investment opportunities in Singapore and the wider Southeast Asia region. The trade show is further complemented by a range of industry conferences, academic forums and seminars for knowledge and networking. Echoing this, Prof Tjin Swee Chuan, Chairman, LUX Photonics Consortium said: It is very heartening to have the first trade show for Photonics industry held in Singapore. This is especially significant for LUX Photonics Consortium where we have been focusing our effort to bring together a very engaging networking platform for both research, academia and industry locally to discuss, exchange and collaborate for novel photonics technologies adoption by industry. Adding on, Dr. Prof. Yuhong Bai, Director of Light: Science & Applications said: The Asia Photonics Expo provides exhibition for worldwide optics and photonics enterprises, in particular showcasing the growth of Asian industry. Beyond exhibition, it is also a superior platform for learning, discovering and collaborating. Mr. Perry Shum, President of IEEE Photonics Society highlighted the importance of Singapore as a symbol of progress and connectivity: It is here, in the heart of Asia, where the seeds of the photonics revolution take root and flourish. This expo transcends mere technological showcase; it stands as a crucible for collaboration and a catalyst for transformative innovation. Mr. Carlos Lee, Director General of European Photonics Industry Consortium expressed in his speech that: "APE is a comprehensive platform catering to the photonics industry and application fields. I hope APE is able to facilitate global exchange and collaboration in photonics technology, driving progress and innovation in the global photonics industry." During the exhibition, APE will also hold a series of site tours for visitors to experience local photonics research and innovation centres. These events provide participants with opportunities to engage and stay updated on the latest trends and market opportunities in the photonics industry.The success of APE 2024 will further stimulate growth in Asia's photonics industry and open up new prospects for the future. It breathes new life into the photonics industry, and we eagerly anticipate more innovations and collaborations that will drive the industry towards a brighter future.About Asia Photonics ExpoOrganised by Informa Markets - the world's leading tradeshow organiser, Asia Photonics Expo (APE) holds at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore from 6 to 8 March 2024. APE will focus on the latest cutting-edge innovative technologies and the emerging application markets in Asia, aiming to promote the in-depth communication and business collaboration between the photonics upstream and downstream professionals. It will cover the entire optoelectronic ecosystem to showcase the latest products in optical communication, precision optics, laser, infrared, sensor, and display fields, targeting the top-notched optoelectronic innovative technologies and solutions of nine major application areas in optical communication/information processing and storage, consumer electronics, advanced manufacturing, surveillance and security, semiconductor processing, energy, sensing and measurement, lighting and display, and medical. APE is the one-stop sourcing platform for industry players to find new products and technologies and follow market trends.With an exhibition area of 15,000 square meters, APE is expected to attract 350 enterprises, and more than 5,000 visitors to attend the show. As a significant event in the Asian photonics industry, APE also features a diverse range of conferences and activities, including the Asia Light Conference, The Asia Photonics Industry Development Forum, PHOTONICS @ SG 2024 Conference and many more.For more details about Asia Photonics Expo, visit: www.asiaphotonicsexpo.com For media enquiries, please contact:Ms. Carrie WuInternational Marketing ExecutiveMs. Belinda GohSenior Marketing Manager PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-08 10:02:59 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 301 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 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 The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) saw a considerable improvement in its turnover for 2023, helping boost the cash the agency paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund by 43.1 per cent year on year. The NPA transferred N131.2 billion into the Consolidated Revenue Fund compared to N91.7 billion a year earlier, according to a document seen by PREMIUM TIMES. That translates to 26.2 per cent of the years revenue. In the year under review, revenue surged to N501.5 billion after turnover grew by nearly two-fifths The turnover for the countrys agency in charge of ports operations and activities advanced 38.9 per cent to more than half a trillion naira in the course of a year during which income generation received a major boost from the launching of West Africas biggest seaport by size, the Lekki Deep Sea Port, in Lagos. A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, had projected that the port, capable of handling equivalent 2.7 million 20-foot-long container units yearly, will contribute $360 billion to Nigerias GDP over the next 45 years. In a separate document, the authority cited expansion in income sources, including proceeds from ports independent power production, fresh water provision, bunkering stations, ships repairs and maintenance as well as fallow lands for logistics as a key revenue drivers. The NPA was able to insulate its income from leakages, even as the authority firmed up its Revenue Invoice Management System (RIMs) to the cutting edge version of RIMs 2.0, it said. Altogether, 118,046 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers were moved by barge in 2023, representing a 47.1 per cent increase over what was recorded one year prior. The Lekki Deep Sea Port processed 6,076 TEUs of transshipment cargo during the year, the NPA said. The agency recorded 2,127 as the number of ship calls up from the 1,997 of the preceding year, indicating a 6.5 per cent improvement. Last year, Gboyega Oyetola, the minister overseeing the newly-created marine and blue economy ministry, announced plans for complete implementation of automation and cargo tracking in Nigerian ports. We are going to be talking of automation of ports to make them more efficient. I would like to tell you that in another two years, it will all change, Mr Oyetola told Gunter Pauli, a professor and sustainability expert during the latters business partnership to Nigeria last September. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to uplifting all women, especially those in rural communities, even as he hailed Nigerian women, describing them as pillars of wealth and power. Mr Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, spoke at the unveiling of the Nigeria for Women Programme in Abuja, Nigerias capital territory, to commemorate the 2024 edition of the International Womens Day. The president acknowledged the womens indispensable contributions to the nations progress. My administration is committed to Nigerian women, and this is reflected in my policies, he said, The future of women in Nigeria looks very promising. Emphasising his administrations dedication to empowering women, President Tinubu pledged support for transformative projects under the Ministry of Women Affairs, which he noted are aimed at enhancing opportunities for women across the nation. The Ministry of Women Affairs is working day and night, leaving no stone unturned to ensure all your needs are met and exceeded, he said. He underscored the importance of collaboration with traditional rulers and international organisations to eradicate poverty among women. I will continue to share with you core ideas that will move our nation forward, he stressed. Minister speaks The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, echoed the call for support for President Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting ongoing efforts to alleviate rural womens hardships through sustainable empowerment initiatives. We want President Tinubu to have all the support he needs because he seems to care about us and has been working so hard to get the country working again, she said. If we have trained so many people and they are on the streets doing nothing, its time to empower those that have been trained. When we empower them, we will reduce poverty, but if we keep training them without that empowerment, we are increasing poverty. She said the distribution of essential resources and innovative tools like fish grilling machines, rice processing machines, cassava (Akpu) machines, bitter leaf machines, garri processing machines, and pink riders tricycles is to empower women in various states. The states that have received these machines are Anambra, Kano, Rivers, Imo, Lagos, Oyo, Katsina, Gombe, Kebbi, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Niger, Bayelsa, Benue, and Jigawa. We have moved ahead to set an example. As they say, charity begins at home. So we have to first set an example. As we speak, we have acquired so many machines because we are interested in economic sustainable development to reduce the suffering of women so that they can make money with less suffering, she said. Mrs Kennedy-Ohanenye also stressed the importance of amplifying womens voices and engaging traditional rulers as crucial allies in grassroots empowerment efforts. The royal fathers are here because the womens national anthem says, we cant remain silent. They are here to give us a voice. This is because when we give out these items, women in rural areas are not benefiting. After all, sometimes, they dont know how to get them. Thats why Mr. President is involving them today to enable us to reach their women in the villages, so they have a vital role as major coordinators, she said. E-market portal The minister unveiled plans for an e-market portal to showcase womens entrepreneurial endeavours, providing a platform for economic empowerment and visibility. Furthermore, she introduced the Integrity Brigade initiative, which she said is aimed at safeguarding womens rights, expressing optimism that it would address longstanding challenges faced by women. We will not keep silentNaija Save Nigeria Integrity Brigade is going to fight for the rights of women legally. If a woman is maltreated by anyone, we will come and make noise and tell Nigerians that a woman has been maltreated, come to our aidI also told women, dont maltreat the men too because they are our children, she said. Sultan speaks In his address, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar, commended what he described as womens natural leadership abilities, even as he urged transparency in collaboration with traditional leaders to ensure the effective implementation of the empowerment initiatives. He advised the government to create an enabling environment for womens advancement, recognising their pivotal role in societal development. The Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi, urged the stakeholders to maintain openness in their collaboration with traditional rulers to achieve the schemes objectives. He also advocated gender-sensitive policies to empower women in alignment with African cultural values. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Ministers of health from African countries with the highest burden of malaria have committed to ending deaths from the disease, as the African region accounts for 95 per cent of malaria deaths globally. The World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed on its official website that the Ministers at a conference held in Yaounde Cameroon signed a declaration committing to accelerated action and pledged to sustainably and equitably address the threat of malaria in the African region. According to the WHO, the African region is home to 11 countries that carry approximately 70 per cent of the global burden of malaria. It noted that the high-burden countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania, have had a retrogression in the fight against malaria since 2017. The Yaounde conference was co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Cameroon, attended by Ministers of Health, global malaria partners, funding agencies, scientists, civil society organisations and other stakeholders. Contributing factors WHO highlighted that some of the contributing factors include humanitarian crises, low access to and insufficient quality of health services, climate change, gender-related barriers, biological threats such as insecticide and drug resistance and global economic crises. Fragile health systems and critical gaps in data and surveillance have compounded the challenge, it noted. Funding for malaria control globally is also inadequate. In 2022, US$ 4.1 billion just over half of the needed budget was available for malaria response. According to WHO, the number of malaria cases recorded globally in 2022 was significantly higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, rising to 249 million from 233 million in 2019. In the same period, the African region saw an increase in cases from 218 million to 233 million. The region continues to shoulder the heaviest malaria burden, representing 94 per cent of global malaria cases and 95 per cent of global deaths, an estimated 580 000 deaths in 2022, it noted. In his remarks, the WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, acknowledged that the world had made significant progress in previous decades until 2017 when it stalled. Mr Ghebereyus observed that the COVID-19 pandemic and long-standing threats like drug and insecticide resistance pushed us further off-track, with critical gaps in funding and access to tools to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria. With political leadership, country ownership and the commitment of a broad coalition of partners, we can change this story for families and communities across Africa, he was quoted. Commitments Giving further details about the declaration, WHO said the Ministers committed to provide stronger leadership and increased domestic funding for malaria control programmes; to ensure further investment in data technology. To apply the latest technical guidance in malaria control and elimination; and to enhance malaria control efforts at the national and sub-national levels, it noted The Ministers further pledged to augment health sector investments to sustain infrastructure, personnel, and programme implementation to ameliorate multi-sectoral integration and to build partnerships for financing, research, and innovation. This declaration reflects our shared commitment as nations and partners to protect our people from the devastating consequences of malaria, the Minister for Health of Cameroon, Manaouda Malachie, was quoted to have said. We will work together to ensure that this commitment is translated into action and impact. According to WHO, the ministerial conference has four key aims, which include reviewing the progress and challenges in achieving the targets of the WHO global malaria strategy: discussing mitigation strategies and funding for malaria; and agreeing on effective strategies and responses for accelerated malaria mortality reduction in Africa. WHOS intervention, accomplishments Mr Ghebreyesus noted that to help accelerate efforts to reduce the malaria burden, WHO and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria launched the High burden to high impact approach in 2018, a targeted effort to accelerate progress in countries hardest hit by malaria. He further stated that the declaration sealed at the conference was in line with the High burden to high impact path, which was established on four pillars: political will to reduce malaria deaths; strategic information to drive impact; better guidance, policies and strategies; and a coordinated national malaria response. In her remarks, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said malaria has caused preventable deaths in children across Africa. We welcome todays ministerial declaration, which demonstrates a strong political will to reduce the burden of this deadly disease, with renewed urgency and commitment, we can accelerate progress towards a future free of malaria, Ms Moeti was quoted to have said. To put malaria progress back on track, WHO recommends a robust commitment to malaria responses at all levels, particularly in high-burden countries; greater domestic and international funding, science, and data-driven malaria responses. It also emphasised urgent action on the health impacts of climate change, harnessing research and innovation; as well as strong partnerships for coordinated responses. ministers meeting Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Fuel scarcity looms in the nations capital, Abuja, as commuters and commercial drivers formed long queues at fuel stations in different parts of the city on Friday. While there were queues at some filling stations visited on Friday, other stations were under lock and key. When this newspaper visited one of the stations, Chukuemeka Eze, a road transport worker, told PREMIUM TIMES that he had been in the queue in Apo for four hours under the scorching sun. Mr Eze told this reporter he had noticed the queues on Thursday but said he overlooked it and planned to get the fuel on his way out on Friday. I came out earlier (8:30 am) than I should have today hoping that I will get the fuel and resume mid-day work by 11 am, but I have not bought fuel at 1 pm. I just have hope that I am already inside the filling station, he said. The filling station, Fynefield, at Apo Resettlement, had locked its gates preventing new vehicles from coming in. Queues at any of the retail outlets of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited are usually long on a normal day because the outlets sell fuel for N617 per litre, lower than most other outlets where the price can be as high as N680. But at the NNPC station, our reporter observed that the queue has since Thursday gone worse causing traffic in the Central Business District Area, Apo, around Herbert Macaulay Way. Other filling stations in Banex, Apo, Kubwa, and Lugbe areas of the city sold fuel at prices ranging from N617 to N680. Nipco filling stations in Banex and Wuse 2 had long queues Friday afternoon, as well as NNPC Ltd stations at Kubwa Express and Arab Road. As of Friday morning, NNPC Ltd and Mobil filling station at Airport Road all had long queues. At Life Camp, a young man was seen pushing his motorcycle to a park from the opposite side of AA Rano filling station, Dape, just before Karmo Market. The man, Haruna Ismail, said he had been working for the day with the 3 litres of fuel he bought from the black market. My fuel finished not far from here and I can not continue to buy black market; I pray they sell to me in this jerrycan, he said as he hurriedly made his way to the already rowdy selling point. Black marketers have since taken advantage of the situation as they now move around crowded filling stations, selling fuel at prices ranging between N1,000 to N1,500 per litre. NNPC speaks The cause of the queue is yet to be known as of press time Friday. However, the spokesperson of the NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye, told this newspaper that there is no cause for alarm. There is no Scarcity, we have abundant products and there is no cause for alarm, he said. In February, fuel scarcity hit Abuja as the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) directed its members to withdraw services. NARTO, in a letter dated 15 February and signed by its National President Othman Yusuf, instructed its members to stop petroleum product loading activities starting from Monday, 19 February. This decision was made due to the industrys high operational costs. The association expressed concern about the steep cost of diesel needed to fuel its trucks for transporting petroleum products across Nigeria. It highlighted the challenging economic conditions, stating that continuing business operations has become unsustainable. In the letter, NARTO appealed for support and understanding from the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and its members. Despite efforts to negotiate fair freight rates with industry authorities, including the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria, NARTO stated that these efforts had not yielded positive outcomes. Consequently, the NARTO National Executive Council (NEC) decided that all members should withhold their petroleum trucks from loading activities starting from 19 February. It later directed its members to resume petroleum loading activities after some agreements were reached. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Defence lawyers in the appeal of Kunti Kamara of his 2022 conviction for crimes against humanity, called for the trial to be abandoned on Wednesday. They entered a motion making a new claim that Mr Kamara, a former Ulimo commander, was born four years later than previously claimed, meaning he would have been 15 at the time of the crimes during Liberias first civil war, and too young to be tried in Frances adult justice system. Mr Kamara originally told immigration authorities in the Netherlands, where he applied for asylum as a refugee in 2021, that he had been born in 1974, making him 19 years of age in 1993, when the crimes were committed in Lofa County. Mr Kamara now claims that he does not know when he was born because there was no hospital or birth certificate in the rural area of Karnplay where he was born. His older brother, who says he was born in 1958, told the court by videolink from Monrovia that Mr Kamara was born in 1978. The judge did not ask to hear arguments from the two sides today. It is expected that he will address the issue on Thursday. Earlier in the day John Stewart, the former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner, explained the TRC process to the jury three judges and nine civilian jurors and the major findings and recommendations of the commission. Mr Stewart told the court that he had travelled to Lofa County with the United Nations Development Programme in the aftermath of the war and observed extreme devastation. He said almost all the housing in Lofa was completely destroyed. He said most of the people fled to Guinea as refugees and they told him they had seen the fighters taking the peoples own belongings there to sell to back to them as refugees. Mr Stewart told the court that Monrovia had been devastated too. He said the city of 500,000 people was emptied to just 80,000 during the fighting in 1990. Bombs and bullets rained down on the city. His house was hit. He explained how his family and other citizens of Monrovia were forced to move constantly risking violence all the time. If a man left home they were not sure he would come back, Mr Stewart told the court. If a woman left it was not sure she would come back without being violated. Chief judge Jean Marc Lavergne asked Mr Stewart what the Liberian people thought about this trial in France, and the other trials of those accused of crimes in Liberia that had been held in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland and the United States. Mr Stewart told the court that the trials were welcomed. He credited coverage of the trials by Liberian reporters with support for the war crimes court that led to the bill to establish a court passing the lower house in Liberia this week. Mr Stewart made a special point of thanking the jury for bringing justice to Liberian victims. The judge asked Mr Stewart if he was afraid of the accused warlords. I am afraid, Mr Stewart told the court. Others have gone into hiding. I am 70 years old. I am not afraid for myself but Im afraid for my children. But I will stay. I will fight for justice. I consider it an obligation and duty. You can only die once. On cross examination the defence sought to have Mr Stewart support their case for the trial to be abandoned by having him lay out what the TRC recommended should happen to accused perpetrators who were under 16 at the end of the war. Mr Stewart confirmed that the TRC had recommended amnesty for all fighters aged under 16. Later, outside the court he said there was a caveat for fighters charged with extreme crimes like those for which Mr Kamara was convicted. He said they should be tried. Luther J. Sumo, county attorney of Lofa, appeared by videolink from Monrovia to testify to the horrors he witnessed during the war and also his role in the investigation that led to the indictment of Kunti Kamara. Mr Sumo detailed looting, cannibalism, torture and rape. He went to great lengths to make sure the jury understood just how depraved he believes the rebels behavior was. Some would have sex with children in front of their parents, Mr Sumo said. Many members of the jury winced and looked disturbed by the atrocities he described. In response to the judges questions Mr Sumo confirmed that he saw these things with his own eyes. He conceded that he had left Lofa by 1993, when Ulimo was formed. He said the crimes he witnessed in Lofa were committed by troops under the command of then rebel commanders Charles Taylor and Prince Johnson. Mr Sumo explained the layered relationships between factions, tribes, religions and traditional societies. Judge Lavergne asked if the eating of hearts and body parts, described by witnesses and victims in the first trial, was part of a ritual or just barbarity. Mr Sumo reacted strongly. It was very barbaric, he said. It was not part of the religion of any of these tribes. Those rebels came with their own ideas. Those rebels cutting human meat and carrying it in wheelbarrows was designed to terrorise the population. Mr Kamaras defence lawyers tried to undermine Mr Sumos evidence that Mr Kamara committed the crimes by questioning Mr Sumo about other fighters who have been named by witnesses as Fine Boy and Ugly Boy. Mr Sumo confirmed that he had not interacted with those men and could not confirm that they were not the same person. At the end of another long day, approaching 7 p.m., the court heard from Patrick Massaly, a Liberian investigator, by videolink from Monrovia, to describe the investigation undertaken in Lofa County by French and Liberian investigators. The defence asked why some of the witnesses were not shown a panel of pictures including Kunti Kamara. Mr Massaly told the court he believed all witnesses were shown a panel of pictures. He said some witnesses could not identify Mr Kamara from the pictures because of the long passage nearly 30 years of time since they had last seen him. The defence asked why investigators had not dug up the graves identified by witnesses. Mr Massaly said he did not know. The defence is trying to raise a number of lines of doubt about the prosecution case in an effort to sow doubt in the minds of the jurors. A majority of the jury must find Mr Kamara guilty by the legal burden beyond a reasonable doubt for his conviction to be upheld. The trial continues Friday. This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The bid by the Tinubu administration to ensure food security through the transformation of agricultural productivity in the country has received a major boost with a consortium of mid-sized agriculture companies pledging to support millions of farmers across different value chains in the country. Speaking during the groups courtesy visit to the presidential villa on Friday, Vice President Kashim Shettima commended the efforts of the young entrepreneurs, particularly in seeking practical solutions to challenges confronting the nation. Mr Shettima who welcomed their partnership said, Mid-sized companies like yours should be the drivers of change in our nation. We can work as a team towards addressing our core challenges. The vice president noted President Tinubus leadership and commitment to stimulating growth in the economy, especially working with the private sector. He said, My boss is very much devoted to stimulating growth in the Nigerian economy, regardless of the challenges. Leadership is actually about challenges and we are mindful of them. We want collaboration from the private sector to turn agriculture into a business and dramatically change our economic landscape. We (as a nation) are one of the resource-endowed countries in the world and have no business being poor. He called on the private sector, including financial institutions, to support the federal governments drive to transform agricultural production and improve the welfare of Nigerians. The vice president stressed the need to engage small-holder farmers with the view to increasing their productivity as part of measures towards achieving the countrys food security objectives. Earlier in his remark, the leader of the delegation and CEO of AFEX a leading commodities exchange in Nigeria, Akinyinka Akintunde, said the group was at the presidential villa to pledge its support to the governments programmes and policies in the agricultural sector. He said the group is proposing an initiative that will support two million farmers across four value chains (Rice, Maize, Sorghum and Soyabeans) to enhance sustainable agriculture and ensure the success of the food security drive of the Federal Government. Mr Akintunde said the consortium comprising mid-sized agricultural companies in Nigeria will achieve the set objectives by engaging and collaborating with key stakeholders, including Private Finance Initiative (PFI), Fertilizer Producers & Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) and farmer aggregation companies. He outlined the proposed initiative to also include linking farmers to markets and enriching the governments grain reserves across the country with assorted commodities, all in a bid to boost the food security targets of the administration. Also present at the meeting were the VP of Operations at Thrive Agric, Oshone Anavhe; Managing Director of SWAgCo (South West Agriculture Company) Limited, Jide Arowosafe; representative of Sterling Bank, Joshua Zira, and Head, of Market Growth at AFEX, Zara Dogo, among others. Stanley Nkwocha Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Fulani groups in Plateau State have demanded compensation for their members who lost cattle during an attack on Wednesday in Nafan Dreji of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state. PREMIUM TIMES reported that some gunmen killed one cattle rearer and injured another in the attack. Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the incident and directed security agencies to arrest the perpetrators. Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Jos, the groups said 104 cows and 30 sheep were killed or stolen in the incident, urging security operatives to recover the rustled animals. The groups read a statement signed by the chairman of a coalition of the groups, Garba Muhammad, and Secretary, Adam Yakubu. They called on the authorities to act swiftly on their demand. On Tuesday the 5 of March 2024, Abubakar Abdulmumin was brutally attacked and killed, Abdussalam Ibrahim was severely injured and is in critical condition and receiving medical attention in Mainasara Hospital in Barkin Ladi. In the attack, 104 cows and 30 sheep were killed, injured and rustled by Berom militia from Nafan and Nyerwei villages in fan district of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. The marauding attackers stormed the area at about 3 p.m. on motorcycles and started shooting sporadically while the Fulani herders were grazing. As law-abiding citizens, we are calling on the security agencies to arrest and bring to book the perpetrators of these attacks that claimed the lives of innocent Fulani herders, killing and rustling of 175 cows valued at about N105,000,000.00, on average and 30 sheep valued at about N N3,000,000.00, on average, they said. The ugly incidences were reported to the Sector 4 of Operation Safe Haven and Divisional Police Station Barkin Ladi. Our cows and sheep are killed, injured and rustled without any effort to retrieve them or pay compensation to our people to cushion their hardship in this crucial era of worsening economic situation facing the country today. Therefore, we are calling on the security agencies to redouble their efforts in retrieving our rustle cattle the coalition said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print MTN Uganda Mobile Money managing director and CEO Richard Yego revealed the operator is aiming to almost double its loans to UGX1 trillion (US$256,000) this year. Yego told The Daily Monitor, the unit is expanding from personal loans that are used to pay for daily activities such as school fees and bill payments, by enabling agents and merchants to provide loans to businesses that focus on capital and stock refinancing. This year we are coming strong on loans. Last year we did lend over UGX550 billion. This year we are targeting over UGX1 trillion. We plan to boost our loan portfolio with business financing by rolling out agent and merchant loan products for business [working capital and stock financing]. We want to support our business growth, said Yego The executive did not provide a timeline for when these new loan products will launch. But he did reveal MTN had partnered with several financial institutions to loan the UGX1 trillion. MTN reported at the end 2022 it had 945,185 mobile money subscribers that borrowed UGX401 billion, a 30% increase UGX261 billion in 2021. A former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to approve funds for constituency projects of members of the Eighth Senate because he wanted to punish the lawmakers for questioning his loan requests. Mr Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said this in a statement by his media office on Thursday. He was responding to the accusation against his leadership of not fully funding constituency projects of the senators. Mr Saraki served as senate president between 2015 to 2019 The incumbent Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the plenary on Wednesday, subtly mocked the leadership style of Mr Saraki, saying he was not able to facilitate complete funding of the constituency projects at the time. I was part of the Nigerian Senate, not Sarakis Senate. This is the Nigerian Senate. If you say I was part of Sarakis Senate, it means I was part of those who paid 40 per cent of the constituency projects, and 60 per cent has not been paid up till today. I dont want to be part of that, Mr Akpabio said during the plenary. But Mr Saraki, in the statement by head of his media office, Yusuph Olaniyonu, explained that Mr Buhari was hostile to members of the Eighth National Assembly because they constantly scrutinised and checkmated his loan requests. For clarification, the Saraki Media Office will want members of the public to note that then President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately refused to approve funds for the constituency projects of members of the Eighth National Assembly obviously to punish the members for questioning some of the loan requests presented by the executive before the legislature, the statement said. Read the full statement Akpabio Knows Why Buhari Refused to Fund 8th Senate Constituency Projects The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office today notes the news reports arising from an exchange on the floor of the Senate in which the incumbent Senate President, Mr. Godswill Akpabio accused the leadership of the 8th Senate of not fully funding the constituency projects of members. Our initial response was to ignore the report because Dr. Saraki believes there are more serious existential issues confronting our country and her people like hunger and extreme hardship which should keep the leaders disturbed, busier, and more focused than throwing banters. However, he has also been persuaded by the need to explain the project funding process in the budget such that members of the public will not be misguided about the roles of the various institutions and individuals in the process. For clarification, the Saraki Media Office will want members of the public to note that then President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately refused to approve funds for the constituency projects of members of the Eighth National Assembly obviously to punish the members for questioning some of the loan requests presented by the executive before the legislature. Instead of viewing the legislatures scrutiny of the loans request and the demand for elaborate explanations that would help in making informed decisions as democratic necessities, the Buhari governments reaction was to be hostile and to seek to stifle the performance of the legislature. The refusal to fund constituency projects of members of the legislature was used as one of the retaliatory instruments. That was the experience of the 8th National Assembly. Mr. Akpabio, as Senate minority leader for over three years in the four-year tenure of the 8th Senate, ought to know better and even his experience as Senate President in the last eight months also ought to have made him more informed. Therefore, Mr. Akpabio is very well aware that the leadership of the Eighth Senate cannot be held responsible for failure to fund constituency projects. Unfortunately, he chose to play politics with facts, and as usual, make a joke and jest with serious national issues. Signed Yusuph Olaniyonu Head, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print As the world commemorates the International Womens Day (IWD), some women with disabilities have highlighted their various plights and called for urgent measures to address them. They spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos at an event organised by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) to mark the IWD 2024. The theme for the IWD 2024, Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, aims at tackling economic disempowerment. Women and girls with disabilities face compounded challenges due to the intersection of gender inequality and disability, leading to heightened vulnerability to violence, social exclusion, and limited access to opportunities. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, recognises this reality, calling for urgent action to address the specific needs and rights of women and girls with disabilities. Lack of financial inclusion Adedoyin Beyioku-Alse, a member of Hearing Impaired/Deaf Cluster, lamented the absence of financial inclusion for women and girls with disabilities. Ms Beyioku-Alse said the turf was already tough on the male gender, not to talk of the women. She said that accessing funds and loans was difficult as financial institutions usually looked down on PWDs, with the notion that the venture may not thrive or that they may not be able to pay back. And without money, we become beggars. However, we are work in progress. But we can only get there when we are counted as part of society, Ms Beyioku-Alse said. She emphasised the importance of education and skills but said that these would be worthless without being put into practice. She said that society must begin to treat persons with disabilities first and with top priority as the law stipulated. Assumpta Khalil, an arm amputee, said there was the need for women with disabilities to be empowered. According to her, stabilising women with disabilities in the area of finances and empowerment will go a long way in reducing the challenges they encounter daily. She urged the government across levels to highlight, implement and enforce policies to mitigate these challenges and stereotypes. Problem of accessibility to healthcare, entrapment in single status Ms Khalil also said that women with disabilities faced tough times accessing health care services just as they often become victims of sexual and emotional abuse. Women with disabilities do not get adequate guidance and attention while accessing health care services in government owned hospitals. There is no priority, there is no empathy. Also, I have done my research and found out that we have more single women in the disability community. Women with disabilities are being seen as for sexual pleasure. The rate of single mothers is high in the disability community, and this has to stop by empowering, even with information, among us the women ourselves. We also have cultural norms and beliefs, a patriarchal society that is affecting us, she said. According to her, families do not want the PWDs to be married into their families, and in some instances, some women with disabilities go ahead to have babies outside wedlock because they feel their biological clock is ticking. We are then left to fend for these children. The discrimination is too much and it needs to stop, she added. Ms Khalil, however, called for increased awareness and continuous sensitisation to address the challenge. Objects for miracles Modupe Akinsola, visually impaired, said that living with visual impairment had been problematic. Ms Akinsola said that PWDs had become objects of/for miracles by churches. She said there was an urgent need for reorientation of the public, to improve the lot of women and girls with disabilities. Need for inclusion awareness campaigns Tolase Kolapo, who has hearing impairment, said that communication remained a major challenge for women with disabilities even as the numbers of interpreters were not adequate. According to Oluwakemi Odusanya, visually impaired from birth, there is stereotype labelling of the PWDS, which needs to be erased. There is a multiplier effect on the negative perception of PWDS and there is a lot of work to be done. There is a need for governments, families, Civil Society Organisations to continue talking about inclusion because its painful to us. This can lead to depression. The society doesnt understand that we are yet coming from a place of healing and being segregated can lead to physical and emotional harm, Ms Odusanya said. She called for continuous sensitisation of the public and PWDs alike, while urging governments to learn and implement good practices from other climes on how to cater to the needs of the PWDs. Discriminative labelling can lead to depression Bolarinwa Olasunbo, an albino, said that people with albinism faced challenges ranging from name calling to diverse forms of discriminative labelling alongside the negative cultural stereotypes in our society. According to her, these negative attitudes can result in depression, low self-esteem and even death. She said that women with disabilities often end up as victims of rejection and abuse in relationships, and these result in mental challenges. She urged women with disabilities to arise above these limiting situations. Need for equal opportunities Mobolaji Oyedotun, hearing impaired, urged governments to create enabling environment for equal opportunities to access loans, as well as inclusive environment. In accessing medical and healthcare, Elizabeth Onayere, a teacher with visual impairment, said women with disabilities also faced challenges in that area. Ms Onayere urged governments to use the health sector to propagate the challenges of the PWDs. There should be counsellors in every health centre, every government hospital. For instance, some children are born blind. Instead of the parents leaving them sad, by the time they receive a certain level of orientation, they would be different, she said. Need for family acceptance, positive personal perception Ms Onayere also harped on the need for family and societal acceptance. She urged persons with disabilities, especially women, to build self-esteem How do you perceive yourself? One sense organ may be impaired, how well do you make use of the remaining ones? I wont deny that there are no challenges; that is the price that we are going to pay for being disabled. Is the price fair? No. But we are not going to let it keep us at a certain level of life, she said. Celebration womens incredible achievements Florence Attah, the Programme Officer, CCD, earlier in her remarks, said the gathering was to celebrate the incredible achievements of women around the world and to reaffirm our commitment to investing in their empowerment. The theme for this year, Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, underscores the vital importance of supporting womens rights, opportunities and contributions to the society. This day serves as a powerful reminder of the invaluable contributions women make in the workplace, our communities, and the world at large. As we embark on todays event, let us reflect on the progress made toward gender equality and acknowledge the challenges that still lie ahead. Let us reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where every individual, regardless of gender and ability, can thrive and succeed. Together, let us honour the achievements of women everywhere and strive for a future where equality is not just a goal, but a reality, acknowledging the challenges that remain, and rededicate ourselves to building a more inclusive and equitable world for all. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says there is no decision on zoning yet, on the 16 November Ondo State governorship election. The partys National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated this in Abuja on Thursday, in a statement on the partys resolutions from the NWC meeting with critical stakeholders from Ondo State. Mr Ologunagba said the NWC thoroughly considered submissions at the meeting and clarified that it had not zoned its ticket to any part or area of the state. He assured all intending governorship aspirants and all PDP members in the state of a level playing field in all party nomination processes and activities leading to the election. He said that everything would be in accordance with the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Party Guideline for the Election. Mr Ologunagba also gave assurance that the nomination process and activities leading to the election would be all-inclusive, free, fair and transparent in accordance with the provisions of Nigeria and PDP Constitutions. He said the NWC also approved the convening of a special meeting to further ensure reconciliation and unity among party stakeholders in the state. The spokesperson said the meeting would comprise party leaders including Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, top party leaders from Ondo State and the NWC. He said the NWC also emphasised the need for all stakeholders to be consistent in a display of fidelity to PDP and work together in the greater interest of the party and the people of Ondo State. Mr Ologunagba said the people were looking up to the PDP to rescue their state. The NWC restates its charge to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the state election is free, fair and credible, he said. A handful of the aspirants seeking to fly the partys flag in the forthcoming gubernatorial election want the party to zone the ticket to the southern part of the state. The overriding sentiment in the state concerning the governorship election is for the next governor to come from Ondo South. Almost all the aspirants on the platform of the ruling party, APC, including the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who has declared his intention to contest, are from Ondo South. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday fixed 22 March for continuation of the money laundering trial of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose. The trial judge, Chukwujekwu Aneke, told the prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs, to inform an ex-official of the EFCC who had earlier testified as a prosecution witness in the case, to appear for cross-examination on 22 March. Mr Fayose is being prosecuted by the EFCC alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd., on 11 counts of N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering. When the case was called on Friday, Mr Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), appeared for the EFCC, while Messrs Ola Olanipekun, a SAN, and Olalekan Ojo, also a SAN, appeared for the first and second defendants, respectively. Mr Jacobs told the court that his 13th witness, Aliyu Madaki, who is to be cross-examined by the defence, was held up in Jos, the Plateau State capital, and unable to attend court. He also told the court that the witness was no longer an employee of the EFCC. Mr Jacobs said the witness now resides in Nasarawa State. The prosecution informed the court that the witness had pleaded for another chance to be present on 28 March, a date the court had already scheduled for continuation of trial in the case. Mr Jacobs, however, said he had just discovered that the court would be on Easter vacation by then, and he consequently, prayed for a new date. Defence reacts Meanwhile, the second defence counsel, Mr Ojo, expressed displeasure at the absence of the witness, on the grounds that it showed great disrespect to the court. Mr Ojo insisted that whatever issues preventing the witness from attending court did not happen today and so the prosecutor could not have kept silent till today before informing the prosecuting counsel. In support of this position, the first defence counsel, Mr Olanipekun, also expressed dissatisfaction on the grounds that the prosecutor ought to treat the matter with the importance it deserved and informed the prosecutor earlier. Adjournment Although the prosecutor insisted that a date in March would not be sufficient for him to ensure attendance of the witness, the judge told the prosecutor to inform the witness that it is an order from the court. Consequently, the court fixed 22 March for cross examination, and ordered the prosecutor to produce his witness on that date. The court also fixed further dates of 25 and 26 April 25 and April for continuation of trial. Charges Mr Fayose is being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering. He was first arraigned on 22 October 2018, before the former trial judge, Mojisola Olatotegun. He was arraigned alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd., on 11 counts of fraud and money laundering. Mr Fayose pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was granted bail on 24 October 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum. READ ALSO: The defendants were re-arraigned before the new judge, Chukwujekwu Aneke, on 2 July 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Ms Olatoregun, following a petition by the EFCC. Mr Fayose, again, pleaded not guilty before Aneke, who allowed him to continue on the bail granted him by Ms Olatoregun. The EFCC has since opened its case before the new judge and has since been calling its witnesses. According to the charges filed by the commission, Mr Fayose and one of his aides, Abiodun Agbele, on 17 June 2014, took unlawful possession of N1.2 billion for the purpose of funding his governorship election campaign in Ekiti State. The commission alleged that the sum formed part of crime proceeds. Mr Fayose is also alleged to have received a cash payment of $5 million from the then Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution. The EFCC also alleged that the former governor retained N300 million in his bank account and took control of the aggregate sums of about N622 million which formed part of crime proceeds. It added that Mr Fayose got De Privateer Ltd. and Still Earth Ltd. to retain aggregate sums of N851 million which formed part of crime proceeds. The commission also accused Mr Fayose of using about N1.6 billion crime proceeds to acquire property in Lagos and Abuja. The former governor also allegedly used N200 million crime proceeds to acquire a property in Abuja in the name of his elder sister, Moji Oladeji. The alleged offences, EFCC said, contravened sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d) and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Rivers State, south-south Nigeria, have arrested a man for allegedly beating his wife to death. Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson in the state confirmed the arrest of the suspect, Michael Chidozie, according to Punch newspaper on Thursday. Mr Chidozie, a father of three, who hails from Anambra State, allegedly assaulted his wife at their residence in Mile 4, Port Harcourt, leading to her death. According to the report, the victim, Ufuoma Chidozie, who hailed from Delta State, died on Tuesday as a result of injuries sustained from her husbands assault. The circumstances that led to the assault remained unclear as of the time of filing this report. The Punch newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying that the man fled the house after calling his wifes brother, and requesting him to come over because there was an emergency at home. When the late womans brother arrived, the house was open and quiet. He then went in only to find the body of his sister. He shouted and called out the name of the womans husband. The in-law who could not locate the suspect, was said to have rushed the victim to the hospital where she was confirmed dead. He then reported the incident to the police. Mrs Iringe-Koko, a police superintendent, said the suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Rivers State for investigation while the corpse has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has reiterated the need to invest in women as a pathway to building progress in Nigeria. Mrs Tinubu said this in a statement on Friday, to commemorate International Womens Day (IWD). She said this years theme: Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, is a call to action. She noted that investing in women in all spheres is crucial to nation-building. Equipping you with education, resources and opportunities to unleash your full potential, supporting your businesses, helping to dismantle economic barriers, and ensuring your voices are heard is a very crucial step, she said. Mrs Tinubu also called on women to stand for one another. She said: Therefore, my question to all women is: what are you doing to help the other woman? How are you investing in her? Let us all come together, bond and love one another. This is the pathway to accelerated progress. I charge all women; just pull a sister up, one at a time. You will be amazed at what we can achieve collectively. Womens alleged marginalisation Although, women constitute half of the world populations talent base, they are said to be marginalised in developing nations and their economic, social, and political potential go unachieved. In many countries, this happened as a result of family traditions, customary law, social norms, religious practices, lack of role models and unequal value placed on women. Nigerias effort towards womens inclusion The administration of then President Muhammadu Buhari launched programmes to better the lives of women across the nation. These programmes included the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and the Girl Child Education Programme. The latter was initiated to increase enrollment in schools for the girl child. Recently, President Bola Tinubu unveiled a womens programme tagged: P-Bat Cares for Nigerian Women with the sole aim of promoting womens economic empowerment and social inclusion in the country. The World Bank in 2023 approved $500 million for Nigeria to scale up its womens programme. The fund was for the Nigerian government to invest and improve the livelihood of women in Nigeria. The programme was to ensure better economic opportunities for women which is essential for addressing gender inequality; guaranteeing better education, and improved health. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias First Lady, OIuremi Tinubu, has advocated the death penalty for kidnappers due to the rampant nature of the crime in the country. Mrs Tinubu, a former senator, called on state governors and lawmakers to put in place laws to make kidnapping punishable by death. According to a statement from her office, Mrs Tinubu said these on Friday during a meeting with the National Women Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja. Currently, kidnappers after conviction often get long jail terms. However, crimes such as murder and some forms of armed robbery are punishable by death in many parts of Nigeria. On the day the world celebrates International Womens Day, Mrs Tinubu decried that women and girls are often the victims of the kidnappers. They are cowards. Our hearts bleed. I call on the state governments that once we take hold of them, they deserve capital punishment. Why cant they take men of their size, why are they touching women and children, she said. Kidnapping for ransom has become rampant in many parts of Nigeria. The criminal acts are carried out by various, often unrelated armed groups. One such incident is Thursdays mass abduction of pupils from a school in Kaduna, North-west Nigeria. PREMIUM TIMES reported the mass abduction of dozens of pupils from a school in Kuriga, Kaduna State, on Thursday. In her Friday speech, Mrs Tinubu referred to the Kaduna school abduction. Why will you now take them from their schools? Right now, I think enough is enough. As a former lawmaker, I believe that any one of them captured deserves capital punishment, she said. Read the full, unedited statement by the First Ladys office below. ANY KIDNAPPER ARRESTED DESERVES CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.Oluremi Tinubu As she admonishes women to raise their children appropriately First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON has called on State Governors and Lawmakers to prescribe capital punishment for kidnapping. She also described as heart rendering, the act of kidnapping innocent children who she also described as the future of the Nation. The First Lady said this on Friday during a meeting with the National Women Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja. She described the kidnappers as coward for majorly taking hold of women and children saying they inhumane and should be treated as such. They are cowards. Our hearts bleed. I call on the state governments that once we take hold of them, they deserve capital punishments. Why cant they take men of their size, why are they touching women and children. What they are doing is that they are trying to kill our future, we all know that when parents are old, we rely on our children, we see them as our investments that have not gone to a waste especially when they are successful. Why will you now take them from their schools? Right now, I think enough is enough. As a former lawmaker, I believe that any one of them captured deserves capital punishment. I believe most mothers will support me on this because we carry our children for nine months, and we cannot watch what we love to wither away. Senator Oluremi Tinubu told the women that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR places a strong emphasis on creating opportunities for women to thrive economically, socially, and politically. As women, we constitute a significant portion of our society, and it is vital that our voices are heard and our contributions acknowledged. As women leaders, your role is very crucial to our nations development. You are the eyes and ears of the Government at the grassroot. I therefore encourage you to set a robust agenda for empowerment, inclusion and welfare of women within our Party and across the Nation. She also celebrated the International Womens Day with the women and all other Nigerian women for their courage, resilience and doggedness. On my part, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) was established to focus on championing womens causes and implementing various programmes and initiatives nationwide with our motto, which states, towards a better life for families. Accelerating progress in any endeavour requires that women have to be more involved, that is why I see investing in women, not as charity, but a crucial strategy to build the future of our dear nation, Nigeria. Empowering women with education, resources and opportunities to unlock their full potential, such as, supporting womens businesses, investing in womens health, agricultural programmes for women, and creating pathways for women in science and technology will help in dismantling economic and social barriers that women face. Therefore, my charge to you all is to be each others keeper, let us all come together, bond and love one another. Each of you should commit to pull a sister up, one at a time. You will all be amazed at what we can achieve collectively. Earlier, the group, led by its National Women Leader, Dr Mary Idele Alile, her Deputy, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim and members of the Executive, thanked the First Lady for her impacts on the lives of Nigerians through her various interventions on the platform of the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI. The group also requested Senator Oluremi Tinubu to help them by press for more inclusion in the activities of the current government. We highlight the remarkable achievement of the RHI spearheaded by our first lady across the country; the RHI has brought about transformative change through various programme which include the Elderly Support Scheme, National Scholarship Programme, Women in Agric Support Programme and many others. The group was made up of the APC National woman leader, her deputy, the 6 zonal leaders and the women leaders of the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT. SIGNED Busola Kukoyi SA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Friday 8th March, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has condemned the heinous incidents of abduction involving very vulnerable victims, internally displaced persons in Borno State, and students in Kaduna State, presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale wrote in a statement. PREMIUM TIMES reported the abduction of scores of pupils from a public school in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna on Thursday. In Borno, the victims were persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the state. The president directs security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the victims and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators of these abominable acts, Mr Ngelale wrote. I have received briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered, President Tinubu was quoted as saying. The president sympathized with the families of the victims and assured them that they would soon be reunited with their loved ones, his office said. Kidnapping for ransom has become rampant in many parts of Nigeria. The criminal acts are carried out by different, often unrelated armed groups operating in Africas largest country. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has condemned the abductions of vulnerable persons, internally displaced persons in Borno and students in Kaduna State. Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. Mr Ngalale said the President had directed the security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the victims and ensure that justice was served against the perpetrators of the acts. I have received a briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered, he quoted President Tinubu as saying. According to him, the President sympathises with the families of the victims, assuring them that they will soon be reunited with their loved ones. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Chief Judge of Taraba, Joel Agya, on Friday, sentenced Yusufa Adamu and Adamu Abdullahi to death by hanging for kidnapping Balkisu Kambe and Maryam Musa in Gashaka Local Government of the state. Mr Agya, while delivering the judgement in Jalingo, said the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The judge said that the duo committed the crime in 2019. The Prosecution Counsel, Samson Gimba, had told the court that Musa was kidnapped on 2 September 2019, at Serti while Kambe was kidnapped at Angwan America in Baruwa on 29 September 2019. He also found them guilty of criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms and sentenced each to 10 years without an option of fine. The judge said that the sentence on criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms would take effect from 2019 when they were arrested and detained. Besides, the judge said the convicts made confessional statements about the crime and collected ransom. He noted that one of the victims, Kambe, identified the defendants as a member of the gang that abducted her in her house when they could not find her husband at Angwan America in Baruwa on 29 September 2019. Kambe said they unmasked themselves when they took her to the bush for two days before her husband sent them N1 million ransom. Based on Section Three, Paragraph 8 of the Kidnapping and Abduction Law of Taraba 2019, I, at this moment, sentence you to death by hanging on the neck. May God have mercy on your souls. You, however, have the right to apply to the Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy for the sentence to be committed to life imprisonment, especially since no life was lost in the process of kidnapping, the judge said. Mr Gimba hailed the judgement as sound and commendable. Mahanar Puki, counsel to the defendants, had pleaded for mercy when the guilty verdict was pronounced before the judge passed the sentence. Mr Puki told the court that the convicts were first-time offenders, had shown remorse throughout the trial, and should be shown mercy. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gunmen shot dead four police operatives at about 5 a.m. on Friday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, during an attack on a checkpoint. Two women were said to have also been killed in the attack. The checkpoint that was attacked is close to a gas station near Ebyia Bridge along Hilltop/ Nwoke Road. This is the second attack on the checkpoint the first which occurred last year left about two persons dead. The road is a major entrance into the city and also leads to Governor Francis Nwifurus country home. Police spokesperson in the state, Joshua Ukandu, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said the operatives were on a stop-and-search duty when they were attacked. He said the attackers were suspected to be members of the Eastern Security Network, the militia arm of the secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB). Mr Ukandu said the gunmen shot sporadically at the operatives who engaged them in a shootout. In the ensuing gun battle, the hoodlums scampered and abandoned a pump action rifle which was recovered. However, four of the operatives paid the supreme price, while two civilians were caught in the crossfire and killed, he added The spokesperson said the police are on the trail of the gunmen after the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Augustina Ogbodo, swiftly dispatched tactical teams to the scene of the attack. She is using this medium to call on the good citizens of the state to provide the command with valuable information that could help apprehend the fleeing hoodlums and assured that the command remains steadfastly dedicated to safeguarding lives and properties in the state, he added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has directed total compliance with the Export Prohibition Act regarding food items to check the smuggling of commodities out of the country. The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the Comptroller-General of the service, Wale Adeniyi, disclosed this during a meeting with the leaders and members of the Dawanau International Grains Market Kano on Friday. He stated that the Act had not been implemented in the past because Nigeria had food sufficiency then. He said that now that the country was going through a food crisis, the president directed that the Act be fully implemented to ensure that food items were not exported when people were in dire need of them. The comptroller-general then urged the Dawanu grains dealers to assist the government by complying with the directive banning the exportation of food items to provide enough food to the people. It is unwise for a reasonable and sincere country to export food items when her citizens need them. You are big stakeholders in this direction, and these are reasons why I am here to interact with you and solicit your support, he said. The President of the Dawanau International Market, Muttaka Isah, told the comptroller-general that members of the association were facing several challenges, which included the unfounded allegation in some quarters that our dealers hoard grains in their warehouses. I want to seize this opportunity to deny this baseless allegation and to inform Nigerians that we do not hoard foodstuff. Whatever grains we procure from the growers and other sources, we store them in our warehouses for a while before we supply them directly to our customers in the markets. So, we store these grains for operational convenience and to protect the foodstuffs from any foreign bodies that might spoil them. That is the truth. Another challenge bedevilling this market is the near absence of operational understanding between our traders who import beans and the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, especially along the Nigeria-Niger International border. We appeal that the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service relax their conditions on the importation of beans and other foodstuffs from the Niger Republic to enable us to transport the goods seamlessly for the benefit of our customers in particular and Nigeria in general. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Boko Haram terrorists abducted over 400 people including women and children in Borno State, north-east Nigeria, this week, Amnesty International (AI) said on Friday. President Bola Tinubu on Friday confirmed the abduction but did not specify the number of victims. According to AI, the victims are Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) from Babban Sansani, Zulum and Arabic IDP camps in Gamboru Ngala, Borno State. The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, said on Thursday that the government is yet to ascertain the actual number of the abducted persons, according to HumAngle. The mass kidnap occurred in the same week that terrorists abducted over 200 pupils from a public school in Kaduna State, north-west Nigeria. The latest mass abductions clearly show President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that are increasingly having a free reign across many parts of Nigeria. Whatever security measures being implemented by President Tinubu and his government are clearly not working, said Isa Sanusi, the director of Amnesty International Nigeria. PREMIUM TIMES reported that President Tinubu on Friday condemned the Borno abduction as well as that of the Kaduna pupils. He directed security agencies to ensure the release of the victims. The Borno Kidnap The Borno abductions took place in different IDP camps in the Gamboru Ngala part of the state, one of the least secure parts of the troubled Borno State. There were reports that an unknown number of IDPs were abducted on their way to fetch firewood in the forest by suspected Boko Haram members. Speaking about the abduction on Thursday, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, said the government is yet to ascertain the actual number of the abducted persons and cautioned about the figures being cited, according to HumAngle. However, Amnesty International said in its statement that over 400 persons were kidnapped. It stated that the Borno abduction and Thursdays abduction of 287 students and teachers in Kuriga, Kaduna State show the Nigerian authorities persistent failure to protect people from attacks by armed groups that have killed thousands of Nigerians in the last five years. While condemning the mass abductions which appear to be resurging after a few months break, the rights organisation asked the Nigerian government to take all necessary measures to ensure the safe return of all abducted persons. The group also decried the rising level of insecurity, noting it shows that protecting lives and properties is not a top priority of the government. Amnesty International also said those with command responsibilities for security in the areas where the abductions took place should be held to account for the glaring failures that have put lives of hundreds of people in danger. Authorities must also promptly, thoroughly, impartially, independently, effectively, and transparently investigate the recurring cases of abductions in many parts of the country, make public the findings of any investigation and ensure that the suspected perpetrators are brought to justice in fair trials, it said. People should not be left to live in fear of the next attack or abduction. The Nigerian authorities consistent failure to protect people is completely unacceptable and must end. Mass abductions in Nigeria Starting from Boko Harams kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in 2014, Nigeria has witnessed several mass kidnappings, particularly in the troubled north-east where Boko Haram terrorists are active and the north-west where banditry is rife. In 2018, Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped 110 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, north-east Nigeria. In the North-west, terrorists staged mass kidnappings in Kankara, Katsina State, where more than 300 schoolboys were kidnapped in 2020. In 2021, terrorists also stormed Government Science School, Kagara, Niger State, north-central Nigeria, and abducted scores of students. Similar abductions also occurred in Government Girls Secondary School Kangebe, Zamfara State and Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State in 2021. Amnesty International knocked the Nigerian government for failing to effectively investigate the kidnappings and prosecute perpetrators. In addition, authorities have failed to put in place security plans for schools in vulnerable areas despite the abduction of hundreds of schoolchildren, it said. These failures have triggered a decline in school enrollment in a major setback for girls education. Nigerian authorities must ensure a safe learning environment for children and address the risks of new abductions in the country. Amnesty International is urging the Nigerian authorities to comply with the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, to which the country is a state party. Children have the right to protection and education. Authorities must take immediate and concrete measures to prevent abductions that are gradually becoming the norm in Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print : President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, has appealed to leaders in Nigeria and across Africa to make poverty history as he outlined a compelling case for welfarist policies and people-centred development. Given the high levels of poverty in Africa, and Nigeria, what is needed are welfarist policies that exponentially expand opportunities for all, reduce inequalities, improve the quality of life of people, Mr Adesina said as he received the prestigious Awolowo prize for leadership at a colourful ceremony in Lagos on Wednesday. Africas present and former presidents were among hundreds of guests who attended the award ceremony where Mr Adesina delivered the Awolowo Foundations annual lecture on Making a New Nigeria: Welfarist Policies and People-Centred Development. Among visiting Presidents were Azali Assoumani of the Union of the Comoros; Samia Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania and Sahle-Work Zewde of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The Prime Minister of Togo Victoire Tomegah Dogbe represented her countrys President Faure Gnassingbe. Leaders from across Nigeria included Vice President Kashim Shettima who represented President Bola Tinubu, former Presidents Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Olusegun Obasanjo and Yakubu Gowon and Ghanas former president John Mahama. Also attending were 19 state governors and royal fathers including the Emir of Bichi Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, the Obi of Onitsha Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse III and the Igwe of Orlu Dr. Patrick Acholonu. The event was moderated by the Senior Advisor for Communication and Stakeholder Relations to the President of the African Development Bank, Victor Oladokun. In his lecture, Mr Adesina identified five critical areas that Nigerian and African leaders need to focus on to transform their economies and peoples lives: The transformation of the rural economy and food security, health security for all, education for all, affordable housing for all and government accountability and fiscal decentralisation for true federalism. Transforming rural economies, ensuring food security for all Mr Adesina said a better Africa must start with transforming rural economies, that is because some 70 per cent of the population lives there. Rural poverty is extremely high. At the heart of transforming rural economies is agriculture, the main source of livelihoods. When rural economies falter, nations falter, Mr Adesina warned, this leads to the spread of anarchy and terrorists who take advantage of the economic misery to entrench themselves. He highlighted how the African Development Bank Group is supporting a farm revolution at scale across the continent. We have invested over $8.5 billion in agriculture in the past seven years which has impacted 250 million people. The African Development Bank and development partners are providing $1.4 billion for the development of 25 Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones in eleven countries, he said. In Nigeria alone, the bank is developing these zones in eight of the countrys 36 states with $518 million. Another $1 billion will go into the second phase of the program which will cover 23 more states. Healthcare for all Nigeria needs health care for all, said Mr Adesina, smart governments provide universal basic health coverage for their citizens. He spoke about how sicknesses and diseases cost Africa $2.6 trillion in lost productivity. Mr Adesina also recounted how the COVID-19 pandemic caught Africa unprepared, unprotected and left at the bottom of the ladder when it came to the distribution of vaccines. He explained the various initiatives the Bank Group introduced to address Africas health needs including a $10 billion facility to support countries to cope with the pandemic; a $3 billion programme to revamp Africas pharmaceutical industries and the recent launch of the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation to support access to proprietary technologies from global pharmaceutical companies. Calling on Nigeria to secure the health of all its population, Mr Adesina said, This will require ensuring that no citizen travels more than a few kilometres to find a health care centre. The widespread use of mobile health centres, e-health facilities, the digitalization of health systems, especially in all primary health care centres, health insurance policies for all, including innovative micro-health insurance pay-as-you-go systems, will capture the bulk of the population that is in the informal sector. Education for all Adesina wants Nigeria to provide education for all. According to the United Nations Childrens Education Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria accounts for 15 per cent of the total population of out-of-school children which includes over 10.2 million at the primary school level and 8.1 million at the Junior Secondary School. This is not a gold medal Nigeria should be proud of wearing, he said and expressed concern about the poor funding of universities, lack of basic infrastructure, poor incentives for lecturers and incessant strikes due to wage disputes, have almost crippled the university system. Mr Adesina gave an example of the Bank Groups investment of $614 million in Nigerias IDICE programme to support the development of digital and creative enterprises. The programme is expected to create 6.3 million jobs and add an estimated $6.4 billion to the economy of Nigeria. Housing for all Mr Adesina told guests that welfarist policies are urgently needed to ensure all Nigerians have access to basic and affordable housing. He noted that according to data by the UN Habitat, 49 per cent of Nigerias population which is equivalent to 102 million people, live in slums. He said what people need is decent housing and not upgrading of slums. There is nothing like a 5-star slum. A slum is a slum. Government Accountability and fiscal decentralisation for True Federalism The Bank Group president said, Citizens accountability forums are needed for the people to have a say in how their nations resources are being used and how their governments are performing. To enhance transparency and accountability of governments to the people, the African Development Bank is developing a public service delivery index, which will rate governments on the quality of service delivery for citizens. If people pay taxes, governments must deliver services, said Adesina. According to the African Development Banks recently published Africas Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook, Nigeria is currently experiencing slow growth. The end of the countrys fuel subsidy regime and measures to unify the exchange rate have contributed to rapidly rising living and import costs, which have weighed on domestic demand and production, as well as investment, leading to an economic slowdown. To get out of the economic quagmire, there is a compelling need for the restructuring of Nigeria. Restructuring should not be driven by political expediency, but economic and financial viability, said the Bank Group president. He said for Nigeria to succeed with much-needed welfarist and people-centred policies, it is necessary to change the governance system to decentralize greater autonomy to the states. Saying it was time to pave the way for a new Nigeria, Mr Adesina said, Instead of a Federal Government of Nigeria, we could think of the United States of Nigeria. The award which promotes the legacy and democratic ideals of the late Nigerian nationalist and federalist leader Obafemi Awolowo, also recognises and celebrates excellence in leadership. African leaders recognised the African Development Bank for its transformative impact on the continent under Adesinas leadership. Tanzanian President Samia Hassan, who chaired the 2023 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership Award ceremony, described Mr Adesina as a dynamic and visionary leader. He has a rare ability to turn vision into concrete transformational solutions that impact the lives of millions of people across Africa. Tanzania is one of many African states that have greatly benefited from his dynamic and astute leadership, she said. Through his leadership and support, we have been able to raise $3.8 billion to support the construction of the regional standard gauge railway that will connect Tanzania to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Burundi. President Azali Assoumani of Comoros said, Dr Adesina has an incredible ability to bring leaders together to engage and commit to initiatives that are transforming Africa every day. A great visionary, innovative, and pragmatic, Dr Adesina has masterfully led transformative initiatives at the African Development Bank. In a message read by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Nigerias President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said Mr Adesinas ability to navigate the complexities of his role at the African Development Bank demonstrates his competence and resilience in the face of challenges. Today, we gather to honour a man who has carved his path in one of the most challenging offices to lead Dr Akinwumi Adesina, he added. Ethiopias Sahle-Work Zewde highlighted how the African Development Bank has become a huge brand in her country and a long-standing, trusted partner in her countrys development. Since Dr Adesina took the presidency of the bank, the African Development Bank has provided us with access to heat-tolerant wheat varieties. Ethiopia, despite the many challenges, has become a lead producer of wheat, leading to self-sufficiency in only four years, she said. We need this hope and concrete action to showcase that Africa can become self-sufficient in food, the Ethiopian president added. Speaking on behalf of President Gnassingbe of Togo, the countrys Prime Minister Victoire Dogbe pointed to the African Development Banks support to help farmers increase their yield. With the support of the Bank, Togo has become an exporter of organic soybeans to Europe, the prime minister said and praised Mr Adesina for providing sound leadership that has transformed the Bank into a globally respected institution. Mr Adesina is the fourth recipient of the Award. Past winners include lawyer Afe Babalola, writer and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, and former South African President Thabo Mbeki. The Chairman of the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership Selection Committee, Emeka Anyaoku, said the Bank Group president was the unanimous choice of the Foundations Selection Committee among many other eminent nominees. Many global figures sent congratulatory messages to Mr Adesina for the award, including the President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; Chief Executive Officer of Agence Francaise de Developpement Remy Rioux; Chief Executive Officer of the Global Center on Adaptation Patrick Verkooijen, President Emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation Kenneth Quinn and the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The Chairman of the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership Foundation, and former President of Nigeria Yakubu Gowon said Mr Adesinas widely acclaimed achievements as Nigerias Minister of Agriculture and two terms as President of the African Development Bank attest to his desirability as the recipient of the 2023 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership. The Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, said Mr Adesina, possesses the attributes for the award to the highest degree. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print I am very proud of Dr Onaolapo Soleye, and everything he represented.A patriot who fiercely resisted selling us cheap for personal gains. A just human being who did not join in selling the national patrimony to family and friends alike. A very humble and fiercely loyal man to friendship, to myself, Oyeleye Oyediran and Olusegun Obasanjo. He was an unassuming successful Nigerian who lived a simple life of integrity and great character. He was a man that the Yoruba would readily designate as an Omoluabi. A friend of mine, while speaking about the competitiveness of the Nigerian claimed that a fetus in the tummy, while listening to the gist of his mother with others about the hardship outside in a country of over two hundred million must hit the ground running at birth. Unlike the situation in other African countries, for the Nigerian, there is hurry in Africa. Everything must be done kia kia, as if delay is dangerous. A form of an endless rat race! The tons of problems in terms of lack of infrastructure on about everything and especially health, as well as the constant chasing of the simple things of life all take their toll on the Nigerian. Little wonder that the average lifespan of a Nigerian male as estimated in 2020 is 54, while that of the female is 56 years. This gives an average lifespan for the Nigerian as 55. The African average lifespan in 2024, is reported to be 64.38 years. Nigeria and Lesotho, reportedly have the lowest lifespan on the African continent. So, to live up to 90 in a country with the average lifespan of a male human being less than 60 years is a salutary fit. It is sad that Dr Onaolapo Soleye has left us as by way of death. I can no longer seek clarifications with him on so many issues. Death is the unavoidable reality that will mark the end of even the best amongst us. The Yorubas often celebrate the lives of persons like Baba Soleye who left after 90 years. Beyond celebrating the life of Baba Soleye, it is necessary to deliberately indemnify the life and legacies of Baba Soleye. But its very painful for me that such a nice soul is no more. Writing this tribute brought a mix of feelings that I had to courageously subdue by taking some solace in the nature of the life of Baba Soleye. I will be unjust to posterity not to say a few things about my numerous lived experiences with Baba. Dr Soleye came on a scholarly resident visit to the University of California, Los Angeles in about 1979/1980, when I was a graduate student there. By fate and the script of the pre-destined as some would say, we bumped into each other and hit it off. He did not allow the 21 years with which he was older than me to stand in the way of a very healthy relationship. I recall events surrounding our numerous weekends spent together till he left, as if we were age mates. We partied and socialised with other Africans. Baba took a lot of time to share elderly knowledge and guidance with me and subsequently introduced me to late Professor Oyeleye Oyediran, and General Olusegun Obasanjo. Our camaraderie continued on my return home. I depended on him for life guidance. I almost nearly copiously took after his lifestyle, as I was very convinced of his personality. For instance, on a very mundane issue that had a tie with strong moral values, I chose to wear the cheapest dress as he did. Initially, my wife did not like my appearing in Ankara danshiki, however great the event was considered to be. I asked Dr Soleye how one handles a situation like I was facing. He readily told me how he handled his: He told his wife to use the front door to an event and he would use the back door, if she were ashamed of his dressing. It ended the dialogue for them and I adopted the same. With our seeming Father-Son level of relationship, I did not need to tell him nor sought his permission to make him an Executor of my first Will (when I had only books and a car to bequeath) in 1988, when people scared me on pursuing the landmark case I took on behalf of my daughter with respect to the federal character clause in our 1979 Constitution. I knew he would guide my family alright if I was indeed murdered. In spite of being a bosom friend of General Obasanjo, who had saddled us with the federal character clause that his Supreme Military Council left in tact, Baba Soleye encouraged me. He blessed and supported my move. I was asked by some to write my Will, as it was predicted that the IBB Government would bump me off the face of the earth. I cannot recall how much time he spent guiding me on many issues of life, including the bureaucratic processes involved in acquiring a plot of land at Igbeba in Ijebu-Ode. The night before he was sworn into office in 1984 as Buhari/Idiagbon administrations Federal Minister of Finance, he chose to have dinner with my family at my University of Lagos accommodation at Oguntona Crescent, Gbagada (just as we used to do at the Married Students Housing on weekends at UCLA). While at UCLA, many a time, he slept in Yinka, my three-year-old daughters room on weekends, before I drove him back to his apartment to prepare for the new week. He taught Sociology at the University of Ibadan and nurtured so many in senior positions in todays Nigeria. He retired as an Associate Professor. However, he was better known years ago for the roles he played in shaping Ogun State in the beginning as Commissioner for Finance and Industry. He later served the nation as the Minister of Finance, without the accoutrements that went with that office, and without enriching himself, his family and friends. The night before he was sworn into office in 1984 as Buhari/Idiagbon administrations Federal Minister of Finance, he chose to have dinner with my family at my University of Lagos accommodation at Oguntona Crescent, Gbagada (just as we used to do at the Married Students Housing on weekends at UCLA). While at UCLA, many a time, he slept in Yinka, my three-year-old daughters room on weekends, before I drove him back to his apartment to prepare for the new week. Having a Sociologist as Minister of Finance meant sensitivities for people, as opposed to the invisible hand of market forces that is an article of faith for economists. When Buhari/Idiagbon got into office, the Nigerian naira had moved downward from one naira fetching one dollar, eighty-two cents to one naira fetching one dollar fifty cents. Chief Obafemi Awolowo (Awo) had warned during the first term of President Shagari that the ship of state was drifting towards a rock and would sink. But Dr Emmanuel Edozien, a professor of Economics at the University of Ibadan, a close friend of General Obasanjo and special adviser to President Shagari on the economy, had shut Awo up and argued that there was nothing wrong with the ship of state, as the economy was sound. The 1983 presidential election held and President Shagari was said to have won with a landslide by Professor Walter Ofonagoro of the National Party of Nigeria. A few months after being sworn into a second term and with huge dissatisfaction, President Shagari was overthrown by General Muhammadu Buhari, supported by his Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon on 31 December, 1983. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who was at the airport as a senior Customs official, confirmed to Dr Ojo that 53 suitcases came in unchecked and he was to be fired but Dr Onaolapo Soleye, as the supervising minister for our Customs, on the basis of fairness and justice, resisted the firing of Atiku for being truthful. On my wanting to know what really happened, Dr Soleye , as a friend, told me that the 53 suitcases were eventually checked and that they did not contain naira notes and that they were the personal effects of an Emir who was reportedly related to Major Jokolo. With the IMF claim that the naira was overvalued, the Buhari/Idiagbon administration, supported by Dr Soleye as Minister of Finance, resisted the devaluation being pushed on Nigeria to accept one naira as equal to one dollar. They drastically reduced Nigerias imports. In 1984, they aimed to reduce the quantity of naira in circulation by wiping out the resources that politicians had stolen and were hiding in their houses by redesigning the naira within two weeks, and fixed a maximum amount that could be changed without explanation. Air/sea/land borders were closed during the naira swap process. However, my late friend, Dr Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, an investigative journalist, got wind of the ferrying into Nigeria of 53 suitcases that were suspected to be old naira notes from Saudi Arabia (the naira was once used internationally), for the purposes of swapping the huge quantity. Major Mustapha Jokolo, as he then was, and ADC to Buhari, supervised the ferrying of the suitcases of an Emir without Customs check. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who was at the airport as a senior Customs official, confirmed to Dr Ojo that 53 suitcases came in unchecked and he was to be fired but Dr Onaolapo Soleye, as the supervising minister for our Customs, on the basis of fairness and justice, resisted the firing of Atiku for being truthful. On my wanting to know what really happened, Dr Soleye , as a friend, told me that the 53 suitcases were eventually checked and that they did not contain naira notes and that they were the personal effects of an Emir who was reportedly related to Major Jokolo. But the currency redesign did not change the value of the naira being dictated by the IMF. It became difficult to sell our crude oil in exchange for dollars. How I wish I could call Dr Soleye now to clarify why our oil was not exchanging for dollars, and if the West boycotted our main export product for not following the dictates of the IMF. We had to resort to trade by barter. The world was not like today with so many alternatives with respective points of sale and sources of supplies of goods and services. There were China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia etc., but without competing products to sell like today. The idea of trading in crude oil in any currency other than the American dollar was unthinkable, given the US power over the world. It was harrowing to be trading by barter. The word essenco joined the Nigerian lexicon. It was coined from two words: essential commodities, which were goods we had been socialised into but which we were then unable to buy from the West. The atmosphere was ripe for another coup against a set of patriots who dared to think differently. In came General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) after a coup that was externally driven but reportedly funded by Dr Soleyes very close friend from their Baptist Boys High School days, who constantly called Baba Soleye Senior MKO Abiola. I do not belong in the intelligence world and cannot confirm this account. But IBB gave us a number of legacies like building the Third Mainland Bridge and the city of Abuja that had been started by the Murtala/Obasanjo administration but which received a fillip when Gideon Orka tried to kill IBB in a counter-coup but failed, and IBB ran to Abuja, and the profligacy of consumption as opposed to production worsened. Two major IBB legacies were the exponential growth in corruption, as he built Abuja and started carving out portions of the ocean as oil blocs to family, friends and allies. He was the grandfather of corruption in Nigeria. He also did the external biddings when he introduced the steady devaluation of the naira against the wish and will of Nigerians when he introduced the Second-tier Foreign Exchange Market (SFEM) that fuelled what is now known as forex round-tripping. Forty years later, the budding industrialisation and manufacturing we were promised are yet to materialise, as the naira has continued to seek its level. Driving by the carcasses of Odutola Industries Limited in Ijebu Ode, as I did on 1 March, could make any patriot cry. Many of such failed industrial ventures are all over Nigeria, as Aboki money changers fed fat, outsmarting all of us on currency round-tripping without production. Authority stealing that Fela Anikulapo-Kuti taught us about has reigned supreme in our land since IBB. I am very proud of Dr Onaolapo Soleye, and everything he represented. I wish I could wake him up and make him reminisce on what we are going through today in the hands of the United Thieves of Nigeria (UTN). We have lost a quintessential role model on probity. A patriot who fiercely resisted selling us cheap for personal gains. A just human being who did not join in selling the national patrimony to family and friends alike. A very humble and fiercely loyal man to friendship, to myself, Oyeleye Oyediran and Olusegun Obasanjo. He was an unassuming successful Nigerian who lived a simple life of integrity and great character. He was a man that the Yoruba would readily designate as an Omoluabi. Babafemi A. Badejo, author of a best-seller on politics in Kenya, was a former Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, and currently a legal practitioner and professor of Political Science and International Relations, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Hisbah is a broad Quranic principle that encompasses both the governments responsibilities as well as any effort exerted by the individual to resolve a conflict or misunderstanding between two individuals, groups, friends, families, or strangers Hisbah thus encourages the individual to participate and get involved in society as an active agent who is mindful of the problems and concerns of the society where he or she lives. There are several verses in the Quran on Hisbah, which is also one of the major themes of the Prophetic Sunnah. In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation, may Allah extol the mention of our noble Prophet Muhammad in the highest company of Angels, bless him and give him peace and security and his family, his Companions and all those who follow him correctly and sincerely until the establishment of the Hour. Dear brothers and sisters! The Shariah-oriented political scientists define Hisbah as the duty of enjoining good when it is neglected and forbidding evil when it is prevalent in society. Ibn Khaldun considers Hisbah as a religious post. That is why jurists (Fuqaha) differentiate between the Muhtasib (one who practices Hisbah), who is appointed by the head of state or the governor to look after the states subjects, and the Mutatawii (volunteer), who practices Hisbah without being assigned by the political authority. Historically, Hisbah as a system was founded in the political life of Muslims during the era of Caliph Umar Ibn Al-Khattab. However, the term itself was known only in the era of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mahdi. According to some Islamic scholars, Hisbah started in a simple form in the early days of Islam, but acquired various features and ramifications over time. In fact, some contemporary government ministries and departments such as those of health, social affairs, municipalities, transport, and police are now assuming duties that used to be entrusted to the Muhtasib. The Muhtasib must be a capable, discerning Muslim adult. This person serves as the eye of the law on both state and society. Hisbah, as defined earlier, is the duty of promoting what is good and preventing what is evil. And it is a collective duty or obligation of the Muslim society. Hence, a considerable number of individuals should assume this responsibility, take an affirmative stand toward it, and put it into practice whenever there is a need for it. Hisbah is a broad Quranic principle that encompasses both the governments responsibilities as well as any effort exerted by the individual to resolve a conflict or misunderstanding between two individuals, groups, friends, families, or strangers. Hisbah thus encourages the individual to participate and get involved in society as an active agent who is mindful of the problems and concerns of the society where he or she lives. There are several verses in the Quran on Hisbah, which is also one of the major themes of the Prophetic Sunnah. Muslim jurists (Fuqaha) have also spoken at length on the conditions and valid application of Hisbah, which need not be reviewed here. However, one deems it mandatory to mention that Imam Ibn Taimiyyah specified certain conditions for one to be eligible to be a Muhtasib such as knowledge, leniency, and patience. So the main Pillars of Hisbah are: 1. The Muhtasib: who must be a capable, discerning Muslim adult. This person serves as the eye of the law on both state and society. In other words, this person supervises the application of the law in society, especially in the marketplace, to protect it against treachery, mishandling, monopoly, usury, exaggerated profits, and the like. 2. A flagrant evil that exists: It should be so clear to the Muhtasib, in such a way that requires no effort exerted for noticing it. 3. The process of Hisbah itself, which refers to the regulation or censorship of public morals as described above. Dear brothers and sisters! Know that enjoining good and forbidding evil in society is one of the essential teachings of Islam. It is the pillar of a justly-ordered society and the guardian of true faith. Everyone is obligated to acknowledge good and reject evil in their hearts, at the very least. Abu Said al-Khudri reported that: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: Whoever among you sees evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is unable to do so, then with his tongue. If he is unable to do so, then with his heart, and that is the weakest level of faith. [Muslim] The lowest level of faith is to reject evil in ones heart and it is an obligation at all times. As for changing evil with ones tongue, or words, and with ones hand, or by direct action, it is only an obligation for those who are able to carry out its duties according to proper methods, principles, and objectives. Imam Ibn Rajab commented on the many Hadith of this nature, saying: All of these Hadiths indicate that it is an obligation to condemn evil by the measure of ones ability. As for condemnation in the heart, it is always required. Whoever does not condemn evil in his heart, it is a sign that faith (Iman) has vanished from his heart As for condemnation of the tongue and hand, it is only obligatory within ones capacity. [See Jamiul Ulum wal-Hikam] The scholars have said that enjoining good and forbidding evil is based upon three principles, or prerequisite and necessary conditions: 1. Knowledge 2. Gentleness 3. Patience It is not appropriate for someone to enjoin good or forbid evil unless they have knowledge of Islamic rulings and their relevancy to real-life situations, they are able to be patient and forbearing with the harm this duty entails, and they are gentle with people as much as possible. Imam Sufyan al-Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, said: No one may enjoin good or forbid evil except for one who has three qualities: gentleness in what he enjoins and forbids, justice in what he enjoins and forbids, and knowledge of what he enjoins and forbids. [See al-Amr bil-Maruf lil-Khallal] And Imam Al-Qadi Abu Yala said: No one may enjoin good and forbid evil unless he understands what he enjoins and forbids, he is gentle in what he enjoins and forbids, and he shows forbearance in what he enjoins and forbids. [See al-Amr bil Maruf li-Ibn Taimiyyah] And Imam Ibn Taimiyyah said: One who enjoins good must have three qualities: knowledge, gentleness, and patience. Knowledge comes before it, gentleness comes during it, and patience comes after it. [See al-Amr bil Maruf li-Ibn Taimiiyyah] Respected servants of Allah! The scholars set these three conditions because, in addition to being mentioned many times in the Quran and Sunnah, they further facilitate the ultimate objective in Islam of reforming and purifying souls on their journey to Allah into the Hereafter. If someone tries to enjoin good while lacking one of these qualities, they will likely end up making the situation worse for themselves and others. Imam Ibn Taimiyyah said: Based on this, it is said to let not your enjoining good and forbidding evil be evil itself. As it is among the greatest of obligatory and recommended deeds, thus the benefit of obligatory and recommended deeds must outweigh their harm. [See al-Amr bil-Maruf li-Ibn Taimiyyah] Being able to balance all considerations of time and place in sound knowledge, graceful patience, and compassionate gentleness is the essence of wisdom, as put by Imam Ibn al-Qayyim: Wisdom is to act as one should, in the manner that one should, in the time that one should. [See Madarijus Salikin] One who enjoins good should have a sound understanding of Islamic teachings on the issues at hand, in addition to the specific circumstances regarding people, their customs, their perceptions, and so on. Enjoining good is an act of worship done for the sake of Allah, so the good of it will be diminished or entirely nullified if it is done in ignorance. Umar Ibn AbdulAziz, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Whoever worships without knowledge will cause more harm than good. [Sunan al-Darimi] One who enjoins good should be gentle to those whom he enjoins, meaning to only use such sternness or force as is necessary to achieve the desired outcome of reformation. The quality of gentleness makes the difference between a beautiful and graceful deed done for the sake of Allah, or an ugly and disgraceful deed done for the sake of ones ego. Aisha (RA) reported that: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: Verily, kindness and gentleness is not found in anything but that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from anything but that it disgraces it. [Muslim] The Prophet (Peace be upon him) was very gentle and charitable whenever he needed to criticise or correct someones behaviour. His habit was to make a general point of correction, without specifying or naming the person, in hopes of salvaging that persons reputation. The reputations of the believers, like their lives and property, are sacred. Aisha (RA) reported that: If the Prophet (Peace be upon him) heard something bad about a man, he would not name them by saying: What is the matter with this person that he says this? Rather, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) would say: What is the matter with some people who say this? [Sunan Abi Dawud] When further criticism was warranted to achieve the intended result, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) would use mild and measured language to correct a persons behaviour. He would neither outright condemn Muslims or believers for their moral shortcomings, nor would he use foul, vulgar, offensive, or ugly language. Anas Ibn Malik reported that: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) would not revile others, he would not use profanity, and he would not curse others. If he wanted to criticise one of us, he would say: What is the matter with him? His forehead be dusted! [Bukhari] The companions likewise followed the Prophets (Peace be upon him) example in correcting people as gently as they could, only being harsh with those who committed brazen sins and violations of others rights in public. Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal reported that: The companions of Ibn Masud, may Allah be pleased with him, if they passed by people from whom they saw something they disapproved, they would say: Take it easy, may Allah have mercy on you. [See al-Amr bil-Maruf lil-Khallal] And Imam Ahmad said: One should enjoin good with gentleness and humility. If they make him hear what he dislikes, he should not get angry such that he wants to avenge himself. [See al-Amr bil-Maruf lil-Khallal] And he also said: People are in need of courtesy and gentleness in enjoining good, without harshness, except for a man who brazenly sins in public, for he has no sanctity. [Jamiul-Ulum wal-Hikam] Dear brothers and sisters! As for patience and forbearance, it was the quality of the Prophets of Allah (Peace be upon them) to endure the harms of their people to whom they delivered the message of Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty said: Verily, Ibrahim was forbearing, compassionate, and repentant. [Quran, 11:75] And Allah the Most High said: They said: We will surely be patient with the harm you cause us, and let them rely upon Allah those who would rely. [Quran, 14:12] My beloved people! One who enjoins good must be gentle to avoid provoking the harmful reactions of those whom he enjoins, but it is to be expected that such harm is inevitable in some cases. This means that the believer should advise others and neither reciprocate their harm and insults, nor retaliate against them for the sake of his or her own ego. Amr Ibn al-As, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The truly forbearing one is not one who is forbearing to those who tolerate him but insults whoever insults him. Rather, the truly forbearing one is forbearing to both those who tolerate him and to those who insult him. [See al-Mudarah al-Nas, 6] Artah Ibn al-Mundhir, may Allah have mercy on him, said: The believer does not take vengeance for himself. He is prevented from doing so by the Quran and Sunnah. He has been restrained. [See al-Amr bil-Maruf lil-Khallal] Enjoining good should always been done with a sincere intention for the sake of Allah, not as a pretext to vent personal grudges or any other egotistically driven motive. Sometimes one who enjoins good is motivated by hope of reward or fear of punishment, but an even better motive is good will and mercy towards the believers and the pure love of Allah and love for the sake of Allah. Imam Ibn Rajab said: Know that enjoining good and forbidding evil is at times done out of motivation to seek reward from Allah, at times done for the fear of His punishment for leaving it, at times done for anger for the sake of Allah in violating His sacred limits, at times done with good will for the believers, mercy for them, and hope in their salvation from what might afflict them of the wrath of Allah and His punishment in the world and in the Hereafter, and at times it is done out of motivation to glorify Allah, to honour Him, and to love Him Whoever considers these last two positions, it will be easy for him every time he endures harm for the sake of Allah Almighty, and perhaps he will even supplicate for the benefit of those who harm him. [See Jamiul-Ulum wal-Hikam] Dear servants of Allah! Islam is based upon sincere good will (Nasihah) towards the believers and human beings in general, which is to desire and intend good for them. Enjoining good always involves giving advice and therefore must be based on this type of sincerity. Believers should love for others what they love for themselves. Jarir Ibn Abdullah reported that: I pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) to establish prayer, to give charity, and to be sincere to every Muslim. [Bukhari] Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Verily, the believers are people with good will and love for each other, even if their lands and countries are far apart. And the hypocrites are people with malevolence for each other. [See Tarikh Dimashq] Even when it comes to non-Muslims and unbelievers, Muslims should be merciful to them and present Islam to them in the best possible manner, as mercy and concern for all beings is at the heart of Allahs message. Abdullah Ibn Amr reported that: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: The merciful (people) will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful (Allah). Be merciful to those on the earth and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you. [Sunan al-Tirmidhi] In this regard, it should be appreciated that changing evil with ones hand refers to direct action and not brute force or violence, unless defending oneself and others from aggression becomes legal and is necessary as a last resort. Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Changing evil with ones hand does not necessarily mean with a sword or weapons. [See Jamiul-Ulum wal-Hikam] At the same time, Muslims should not be reckless in enjoining good if it might bring excessive harm to oneself and others. This principle is most clearly understood in relation to unjust and tyrannical leaders. If one can safely correct their behaviours and condemn their evil, without inciting a civil war or greater persecution, it is an obligation to do so. But if confronting the leader would likely result in bodily harm to oneself and the society, it is no longer an obligation and may even be prohibited. Said Ibn Jubair reported that: I asked Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: Shall I enjoin good and forbid evil upon the leader? Ibn Abbas said: If you fear he will kill you, then no. Then, I asked him again and he said: If you must do so, then do it between you and him privately. [See al-Amr bil-Maruf li-Ibn Abid Dunya] Imam Ibn Rajab commented on this narration, saying: As for rebellion against the leaders with the sword (weapon), then it should be feared that they will cause trials leading to the shedding of blood. Yes, if it is feared that boldness in condemning the leaders will harm his people and his neighbours, it is not appropriate for him to confront them if it involves causing harm to others. Such was said by Al-Fudail Ibn Iyad and others. Along with this, if he fears they will put him to the sword, or whip, or prison, or shackle, or banishment, or seizure of property, and other types of harm like that, then the obligation to enjoin good and forbid evil upon them is dropped. The Imams were explicit about that, among them Malik, Ahmad, Ishaq, and others. [See Jamiul-Ulum wal-Hikam] The issue of confronting tyrannical, unjust and merciless leaders best illustrates the need to wisely consider the harms and benefits of direct action or speech. There are plenty of examples in Islamic history, and human history in general, when zealous revolutionaries incited a civil war in their countries or states and made a very bad situation even worse than it had been before. Imam Hasan al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, said: If people had patience when they are afflicted with trials and injustices from their leader, it would not be long before Allah gives them a way out. Yet they rush to their swords (weapons), so they are left to their swords (weapons). By Allah, not even for a single day did they bring any good. [See al-Tabaqat al-Kubrah] This is not to say that confronting unjust authorities should never be done. On the contrary, it is among the best acts of jihad to speak truth to a tyrant and it is an obligation for those who can reasonably do so. That said, the position of most scholars is that political violence almost always leads to greater evil than the original tyrant. The priority should be the pragmatic safety and well-being of the society or nation, not an abstract commitment to a ruling ideology or Utopian society. Respected brothers and sisters! Enjoining good and forbidding evil is a trial, so it should not be rushed into without the prerequisite faith (Iman), knowledge, and character. A believer ends up harming themselves or others when they confront a trial without being prepared to endure it or manage its fallout. Hudhaifah reported that: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: It is not befitting for a believer to humiliate himself. They said, How does he humiliate himself? The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: He confronts a trial he cannot endure. [Sunan al-Tirmidhi] Imam Ibn Rajab commented on this Hadith, saying: Indeed, it only indicates that if one knows he cannot endure the harm and be patient with it, then in that case one who would enjoin good should not confront it. This is the truth. [See Jamiul Ulum wal-Hikam] Great servants of Allah! Lastly, it is a fact that we will sometimes be confronted with evil that we have no power to change at all, whether it is because we as individuals are in a weak position, or the society as a whole is failing in the collective obligation to forbid evil, or the supporters of evil are too numerous to counter. In such a case, the least we can do, and perhaps the only thing we can do, is to hate the evil we see in our hearts. Ummu Salamah reported that: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: There will be leaders from whom you will see both goodness and corruption. One who recognises their evil and hates it will maintain his innocence, but one who is pleased with it and follows them will be sinful. It was said, Shall we not fight them? The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: No, as long as they pray. [Muslim] Ibn Masud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Soon one of you who lives long enough will see evil he cannot change, yet Allah knows that he hates it in his heart. [See al-Amr bil-Maruf li-Ibn Abi Dunya] In sum, enjoining good and forbidding evil should only be done by those who can do so with a sincere intention, knowledge, gentleness, patience, and forbearance. It is only an obligation upon Muslims in so far as they are able to properly effect change, although true believers must always hate evil in their heart. Enjoining good involves the careful consideration of priorities, benefits, and harms, with the objective being to protect the Muslim societys physical, mental, and spiritual well-being in this life and in the Hereafter. And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers. Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of: Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah Mosque; and Late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene Mosque, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com; or +2348038289761. This Friday sermon (Jumuah Khutbah) was prepared for delivery today Friday, 27 Shaaban, 1445 AH (08 March, 2024). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal on Friday visited Mada town to offer condolences over the killing of the communitys Chief Imam, Sheikh Abubakar Hassan Mada. The Islamic cleric was murdered by a suspected group of vigilantes on Tuesday in Mada town, Gusau local government area of Zamfara State. A statement by the spokesperson of the Zamfara governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that Governor Lawal performed the Jumaat prayer at the Mada Central Mosque. According to the statement, the governor offered condolences to the family of the late Sheikh Abubakar, the district head and the community. In his address to the Jumaat congregation, Mr Lawal promised to do everything he could to ensure that justice prevails over the unfortunate incident. I am here to reassure the good people of Mada town that my government is committed to ensuring that justice is served and that the perpetrators of the incident are brought to book. No stone would be left unturned in the pursuit of justice for the murder of Sheikh Abubakar. We would work tirelessly to ensure that the late Sheikh and his family get the justice they deserve. I was not in Gusau when the incident occurred. However, upon receiving the distressing news, I immediately contacted the heads of all relevant security agencies in the state to take appropriate action. The police have initiated an immediate investigation into the extra-judicial murder. I solemnly swear by Allah that we will ensure that anyone found guilty of this heinous act would be brought to justice, Governor Lawal assured. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has announced plans to introduce electric vehicles to ease challenges associated with intra and inter-state transportation in the region. The chairperson of the reconstituted governing board of NEDC, Paul Tarfa, a retired army general, made the announcement shortly after he met with members of the board in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was the first after the boards inauguration by Vice President Kashim Shettima in August. Mr Tarfa said the e-mobility project aims to address transportation challenges faced by people in the region. We plan to embark on (e-mobility projects) that is electric vehicles to ease the challenges of transportation faced by people in the North East, Mr Tarfa said. He also said the purpose of the meeting was to inform Nigerians of the efforts of the commission so far. Some of the key issues we discussed during the meeting was to ensure the completion of all the ongoing projects. Especially the six major road projects that are ongoing across Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States and we hope to complete them by Dec. 2024. Mr Tarfa also informed the gathering of the boards commitment to key into the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubus administration in keeping with his desire for the vulnerable Nigerians. He, therefore, assured Nigerians of their determination to complete all the ongoing projects embarked upon by the commission. Earlier, the Managing Director of the Commission, Mohammed Alkali, said the board had already approved the use of electric vehicles for inter-state mobility within the region. Mr Alkali further explained that the use of such vehicles would serve as a cost-cutting measure against petrol-consuming vehicles. The NEDC MD also announced plans to release 300,000 bags of rice for immediate distribution to support vulnerable communities in the region. According to him, this is part of the commissions efforts to support families in need due to the current increase in food prices. Some of the items we earmarked for distribution include Spaghetti, vegetable oil, Sugar, branded mats and blankets, male and female clothes as well as children wear, Mr Alkali said (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Sixteen people were killed on Thursday during an attack on Wa-ndoo, a community in Mbalom, Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State. https://x.com/benuestategovt?t=QhsFqqWhbJcm29XsbPJlAQ&s=09 The attackers, whom the state governor and residents claimed were armed herders, reportedly invaded the community at about 7 p.m. while some of the residents were having supper, Tersoo Adagher, a survivor, told PREMIUM TIMES in telephone interview on Friday. Mr Adagher said he lost four family members in the attack. The herders invaded the community with guns and machetes. Then they began shooting indiscriminately. I took cover in the bushes. But by this morning (Friday), we have recovered 16 corpses, including that of a child, Mr Adagher narrated. Sewuese Anene, police spokesperson in Benue State, did not respond to calls and SMS seeking comments on the incident. But, the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, confirmed the killings. Armed herders last Thursday, 7th March 2024, at about 7:00 p.m invaded the Wa-ndoo community in Mbalom of Gwer-East Local Government and killed scores of natives, Mr Alia said in a statement. Governor vows to bring perpetrators to justice Mr Alia, while commiserating with victims of the attack, said the killers must be punished for the crime. He assures that his government will not sleep until the armed herders who perpetrated the heinous act are caught and brought before the law, a statement by the governors Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, said on Friday. The governor directed security operatives in the state to arrest the criminal herders. We gave these criminals orders to leave the state immediately. We also gave ultimatum to those practicing open grazing in the state to ensure they comply with the law or leave the state within 14 days. That ultimatum has since elapsed. I can see what happened at Wa-ndoo is a calculated attempt to test the resolve of my government over the matter I have already given priority, Mr Alia said. Background Benue State in North-central Nigeria frequently experienced armed conflicts between herders and crop farmers that have killed or displaced many people. In 2023, over 100 people were killed by suspected herders in three local government areas of Agatu, Otukpo and Guma within five days. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.channelstv.com/2023/04/08/ortom-mourns-134-killed-in-benue-urges-buhari-to-deploy-more-troops/amp/ In response to the spate of killings by armed herders in the state, the then-governor Samuel Ortom enacted the Anti-Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in 2017. However, the legislation has not been effectively implemented to curtail open grazing by herders. READ ALSO: Benue State Governor revives moribund health scheme as NMN inducts 41 fresh doctors The current governor, Mr Alia, has vowed to enforce the law. He said there is no going back on strict enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law (2017). Victims of Wa-ndoo massacre These are the names of the victims of last nights carnage in Wa-ndoo, as privided by the community. 1. Peter Tion, 2. Nyityo Kyoon, 3. Iorfa Ukombor, 4. Doopinen Awua, 5. Tyoshaa Mkaanem 6. Asan Ate 7. Asough Ate 8. Terzungwe Asoo Ate 8. MWO Mbatsavbun Gbatar (rtd) 9. John Ndahagh Tyohemba 10. Tertsea Ukombor 11. Akuma Kpenge 12. Abume Kpenge 13. Igba Byuan 14. Master Ter Byuan 15. Terzungwe Aulugh 16. A little boy whose name is not yet known Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, says the security agencies are trailing the terrorists who on Thursday abducted scores of pupils at a public school in Chikun Local Government Area of the state. Mr Sani promised that the pupils would be rescued and reunited with their parents soon. The governor stated this during a visit to Kuriga, the community where the abduction took place. An unspecified number of pupils and teachers were abducted on Thursday at a public primary school in Kuriga. PREMIUM TIMES reported how gunmen invaded the school immediately after the morning assembly. At least over 100 pupils and some teachers were abducted in the incident, a resident said, asking not to be named for security reasons. Visit Mr Sani, during the visit, assured the residents and parents of the abducted pupils that the government was on top of the situation and the pupils would be released. He said he notified President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, about the incident before travelling to the scene of the attack. He told the locals that the state government would not relent and the security forces had swung into action to rescue the pupils. We will do whatever we need to do to ensure the safe return of these children. They are my children also it is our responsibility as a government to ensure security, Mr Sani said. The governor also directed the community to constitute a seven-member committee with the traditional ruker as head to provide daily updates while the security agencies carry out their responsibilities. He also pledged to facilitate the establishment of a permanent security outpost in the community to prevent reoccurrence. Kuriga is in the troubled Birnin Gwari axis where terrorists frequently attack vulnerable communities and roads. Three weeks ago, a wanted kidnapper and ruthless killer, Isyaku Boderi, was killed by security forces in the area. It was not immediately clear whether Thursdays mass abduction was connected to his killing. Mr Boderi allegedly led the 11 March 2021 abduction of 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, and the 24 August 2021 deadly attack on a campus of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), both in Afaka, Igabi LGA of Kaduna State. Mr Boderi was killed with some members of his gang in the Bada/Riyawa general area of Chikun and Igabi local government areas. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print OAKVILLE, ON, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. ("AQN") (TSX: AQN) (TSX: AQN.PR.A) (TSX: AQN.PR.D) (NYSE: AQN) announced today that its board of directors has approved and declared the following common and preferred share dividends: US$0.1085 per common share, payable on April 15, 2024 , to the shareholders of record on March 28, 2024 , for the period from January 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024 . Registered shareholders can elect to receive the dividend in Canadian dollars in the amount of C$0.1468. C$0.41100 per preferred share, Series A, payable in cash on April 1, 2024 to preferred share, Series A holders of record on March 15, 2024 , for the period from December 31, 2023 to, but excluding, March 31 , 2024. C$0.31819 per preferred share, Series D, payable in cash on April 1, 2024 to preferred share, Series D holders of record on March 15, 2024 , for the period from December 31, 2023 to, but excluding, March 31, 2024 . Each of the foregoing dividends will be paid in cash. Effective March 16, 2023, AQN suspended the dividend reinvestment plan ("DRIP") for its common shares. If AQN elects to reinstate the DRIP in the future, shareholders who were enrolled in the DRIP at its suspension and remain enrolled at reinstatement will automatically resume participation in the DRIP. The quarterly dividends payable on common shares are declared in U.S. dollars. Beneficial shareholders (those who hold common shares through a financial intermediary) who are resident in Canada or the United States may request to receive their dividends in either U.S. dollars or the Canadian dollar equivalent by contacting the financial intermediary with whom the common shares are held. Unless the Canadian dollar equivalent is requested, holders of common shares will receive dividends in U.S. dollars, which, as is often the case, the financial intermediary may convert to Canadian dollars. Registered holders of common shares receive dividend payments in the currency of residency. Registered holders of common shares may opt to change the payment currency by contacting TSX Trust Company at 1-800-387-0825 prior to the record date of the dividend. The Canadian dollar equivalent of the quarterly common share dividend is based on the Bank of Canada daily average exchange rate on the day before the declaration date. Pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) and corresponding provincial legislation, AQN hereby notifies holders of common shares, preferred shares, Series A, and preferred shares, Series D that such dividends declared qualify as eligible dividends. About Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. and Liberty Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., parent company of Liberty, is a diversified international generation, transmission, and distribution utility with approximately $18 billion of total assets. AQN is committed to providing safe, secure, reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy and water solutions through its portfolio of electric generation, transmission, and distribution utility investments to over one million customer connections, largely in the United States and Canada. In addition, AQN owns, operates, and/or has net interests in over 4 GW of installed renewable energy capacity. AQN's common shares, preferred shares, Series A, and preferred shares, Series D are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols AQN, AQN.PR.A, and AQN.PR.D, respectively. AQN's common shares, Series 2018-A subordinated notes, Series 2019-A subordinated notes and equity units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols AQN, AQNB, and AQNU, respectively. Visit AQN at www.algonquinpower.com and follow us on Twitter @AQN_Utilities. SOURCE Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. NEW YORK, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The ammunition market is estimated to grow by USD 5.17 billion during 2022-2027. Moreover, the growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.29% during the forecast period. The escalation of geopolitical tensions and cross-border issues is significantly propelling market expansion within the ammunition industry. Increasing military budgets and personnel bolstering, particularly in regions impacted by conflicts like the Middle East and Asia, including nations such as South Korea, Russia, and Japan, are driving the demand for large-caliber ammunition. Moreover, heightened R&D investments and technological advancements are further fuelling revenue growth. Similarly, the surge in demand for small and medium-caliber weapons is attributed to regional unrest and conflicts. Notably, Ukraine's recent announcement to boost military spending by USD 8.3 billion amid the Russia-Ukraine war underscores the market's trajectory towards sustained growth, fueled by heightened demand for ammunition. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Ammunition Market 2023-2027 To understand more about the services market, request a sample report. Market insights - Vendors : 15+, including Adani Group, AMMO Inc., BAE Systems Plc, BERETTA HOLDING SA, CBC Global Ammunition, Denel SOC Ltd., Elbit Systems Ltd., Fabbrica dArmi Pietro Beretta S.p.A., General Dynamics Corp., Global Ordnance LLC, Hanwha Corp., Herstal SA, Industrias Tecnos S.A. de C.V., Lockheed Martin Corp., Mesko SA, Nammo AS, Nexter KNDS Group, Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Olin Corp., Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA, Poonfsan Corp., Rheinmetall AG, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., Thales Group, Vista Outdoor Inc., among others : 15+, including Adani Group, AMMO Inc., BAE Systems Plc, BERETTA HOLDING SA, CBC Global Ammunition, Denel SOC Ltd., Elbit Systems Ltd., Fabbrica dArmi Pietro Beretta S.p.A., General Dynamics Corp., Global Ordnance LLC, Hanwha Corp., Herstal SA, Industrias Tecnos S.A. de C.V., Lockheed Martin Corp., Mesko SA, Nammo AS, Nexter KNDS Group, Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Olin Corp., Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA, Poonfsan Corp., Rheinmetall AG, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., Thales Group, Vista Outdoor Inc., among others Coverage: Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and vendor landscape; vendor product insights and recent developments; key vendors; and market positioning of vendors Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and vendor landscape; vendor product insights and recent developments; key vendors; and market positioning of vendors Segments: Product (small caliber, medium caliber, and large caliber), application (defense, civil, and commercial), and geography ( North America , APAC, Europe , Middle East and Africa , and South America ) In 2017, the ammunition market was valued at USD 19.52 billion. From a regional perspective, North America held the largest market share, valued at USD 6.90 billion. Key Companies The global ammunition market is moderately competitive, marked by the presence of many prominent players competing for a larger market share. Technavio report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including Elbit Systems Ltd. - The company offers various ammunition such as cannon ammunition, medium caliber ammunition, mortar ammunition, and tank ammunition. The company offers various ammunition such as cannon ammunition, medium caliber ammunition, mortar ammunition, and tank ammunition. General Dynamics Corp. - The company offers various types of small-caliber ammunition used in defense. The company offers various types of small-caliber ammunition used in defense. Hanwha Corp. - The company offers ammunition such as mortar ammunition and 40mm grenade munitions. The company offers ammunition such as mortar ammunition and 40mm grenade munitions. Mesko SA - The company offers medium caliber ammunition, small caliber ammunition, mortar ammunition, and tank ammunition. Market Segmentation The market is segmented by product (small caliber, medium caliber, and large caliber), application (defense, civil, and commercial), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The small caliber segment will account for a significant share of market growth during the forecast period. Small caliber ammunition refers to ammunition with a caliber of less than 20 mm. The growth of this segment is attributed to factors such as a rise in the demand for weapons for defense and recreational purposes. In addition, the rise in interest in hunting and shooting sports, particularly among younger generations, is fueling the growth of this segment. Major trends Reduction of weight of ammunition Growing asymmetric warfare worldwide Advancement in small caliber The weight of ammunition has decreased significantly owing to new material developments and manufacturing methods. Bullet casings are made of lightweight metals and composite materials, and the weight of propellants has been optimized. In the aviation sector, lighter aircraft lead to longer flight times and successful missions. Moreover, ammunition storage and transportation require fewer resources, which allows for more flexible and quick military operations. Such factors are expected to fuel market growth during the forecast period. Key challenges Rise in ammunition smuggling Proliferation of illicit ammunition manufacturers International measures to control ammunition use The rise in ammunition smuggling is fueled by the high demand for firearms and related goods on the black market. Smugglers are employing strategies such as concealing ammunition in vehicles, shipping containers, and items such as clothing and toys. This makes it difficult for authorities to find smuggled ammunition. Moreover, the introduction of illegal firearms can lead to other criminal activities. These factors are expected to impede market growth during the forecast period. Find more insights in a sample report! The ammunition market report provides critical information and factual data, with a qualitative and quantitative study of the market based on market drivers and limitations as well as future prospects. Analyst Review Global defense spending continues to soar as nations prioritize bolstering their military capabilities. This surge is particularly evident in the realm of infantry support programs where weaponry advancements and newer generation ammunition play pivotal roles. With an emphasis on enhancing penetrating power and efficacy, militaries worldwide are investing heavily in advanced weapons and the small caliber ammunition segment. In response to evolving threats, training ammunition is being refined to better prepare troops for peacekeeping missions and counter-insurgency operations. The demand for reliable rifles equipped with calibers like 6.8 mm ammunition is escalating, with the AK-203 Kalashnikov assault rifles gaining prominence, especially through initiatives like the Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL). Armed forces, including their reserve force, are increasingly reliant on research and development to innovate fire and forget type munitions, amplifying the lethality of weapons on the battlefield. As suppliers of munitions compete to extend munition range and improve domestic production capabilities, emphasis is placed on developing indigenous models. The interplay between global defense spending and the Ammunition Market underscores the significance of technological advancements in shaping military strategies. Geopolitical tensions further fuel military spending, driving innovation in munitions to meet diverse operational needs. Within the Ammunition Market, technological advancements are not only enhancing the performance of existing products but also fostering the emergence of Higher calibers and local manufacturing capabilities. This shift is reshaping the Ammunition Market landscape, with an emphasis on efficiency, reliability, and scalability. In conclusion, the Ammunition Market remains a critical component of global security, where innovation and investment intersect to meet the evolving demands of modern warfare. With geopolitical tensions driving military spending, stakeholders must remain vigilant in harnessing technological advancements to stay ahead in this ever-changing landscape. Find more insights in a sample report! Market Overview In the global defense spending, the Ammunition Market stands as a vital sector, facilitating infantry support programs and the development of cutting-edge weaponry. With a focus on newer generation ammunition, military forces continually seek to enhance their penetrating power through the acquisition of advanced weapons and innovative technologies. Within this landscape, the small caliber ammunition segment plays a pivotal role, catering to the diverse needs of modern militaries. As nations invest in bolstering their armed forces, the demand for ammunition remains robust, driving innovation and competition in the market. The quest for superior performance and reliability underscores the dynamic nature of this essential component of global security. Find more insights in a sample report! Related Reports: The NATO ammunition market size is expected to increase by USD 208.24 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.13%. The defense logistics market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 2.05% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecasted to increase by USD 3,998.66 million. TOC Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Size Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Product Market Segmentation by Application Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, and Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About US Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio PORTLAND, Ore., March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The anti-inflammatory tea market is anticipated to witness significant growth owing to consumer preference for natural remedies and herbal supplements over pharmaceuticals, which is driven by increase in health awareness. Moreover, the rising incidence of chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and cardiovascular diseases prompts individuals to seek alternative solutions. Additionally, lifestyle trends emphasizing preventive healthcare and holistic well-being further fuel the demand for anti-inflammatory teas. Furthermore, ongoing research and development efforts lead to the introduction of innovative blends with enhanced efficacy, catering to diverse consumer needs. Overall, these factors converge to create a favorable environment for substantial growth in the anti-inflammatory tea market. Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Anti-inflammatory Tea Market by Type (Turmeric, Ginger, Green Tea, Black Tea, Chamomile, Peppermint, Lemongrass, and Cinnamon), Packaging (Loose Tea, Paperboards, Aluminum Tins, and Tea Bags), and Distribution Channel (Supermarket-Hypermarket, Specialty Stores, Convenience Stores, Online Sales Channel, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global anti-inflammatory tea market was valued at $2,115.1 million in 2022, and is projected to reach $3,592.4 million by 2032, registering a CAGR of 5.5% from 2023 to 2032. Download Free Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A321985 Prime determinants of growth The growth of the anti-inflammatory tea market is primarily driven by increased awareness of natural remedies and herbal supplements, as consumers increasingly seek alternatives to pharmaceuticals. This trend is further fuelled by the rise in incidence of chronic conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, prompting individuals to explore products that alleviate symptoms and promote overall well-being. Lifestyle shifts emphasizing holistic health practices and preventive care also contribute to market expansion, as people integrate anti-inflammatory teas into their daily routines. Additionally, ongoing research and development efforts lead to the introduction of innovative tea blends with enhanced efficacy and flavor profiles, thus attracting more consumers. Improved accessibility through various distribution channels, including online platforms and specialty stores, further accelerates market growth. In summary, the key determinants of growth for the anti-inflammatory tea market include heightened health awareness, growth in chronic disease prevalence, lifestyle shifts, product innovation, and improved accessibility. Report coverage & details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $2,115.1 Million Market Size in 2032 $3,592.4 Million CAGR 5.5 % No. of Pages in Report 289 Segments covered Type, Packaging, Distribution Channel, and Region. Drivers Growth in consumer awareness about natural remedies for inflammation Increase in demand for functional beverages with health benefits Shift toward preventive healthcare and wellness-focused lifestyles Opportunities Expansion into online sales channels to reach a broader consumer base Collaborations with healthcare professionals for endorsement and distribution Restraints Price sensitivity among certain consumer demographics Competition from conventional pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter pain relievers The black tea segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period By product type, the black tea segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the global anti-inflammatory tea market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Its wide popularity, versatile flavor profile, and extensive research backing its health benefits, especially in reducing inflammation and promoting heart health, contribute to its dominance. Moreover, the ingrained cultural significance of black tea consumption globally coupled with its established supply chains and distribution networks, ensure its sustained preference among consumers, solidifying its leadership status in the anti-inflammatory tea market. The tea bags segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period By packaging, the commercial segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the global anti-inflammatory tea market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Tea bags offer convenience and ease of use, aligning with modern consumer preferences for on-the-go consumption. Additionally, tea bags ensure consistent portioning and brewing, enhancing the overall consumer experience. Moreover, manufacturers increasingly innovate by incorporating diverse blends and herbal ingredients into tea bags, thus catering to various health needs. The widespread availability of tea bags through retail channels and online platforms further solidifies their dominance. Ultimately, the combination of convenience, consistency, innovation, and accessibility positions tea bags as the preferred choice for consumers seeking anti-inflammatory teas, ensuring their continued leadership in the market. For Purchase Enquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/A321985 The supermarket-hypermarket segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period By distribution channel, the supermarket-hypermarket segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global anti-inflammatory tea market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. These retail outlets offer a wide variety of products under one roof, providing consumers with convenience and choice. Secondly, supermarkets-hypermarkets often stock well-known brands and trusted products, instilling confidence in consumers' purchasing decisions. Additionally, these establishments typically invest in marketing and promotional activities, increasing product visibility and consumer awareness. Lastly, their expansive reach and accessibility ensure a broad customer base, solidifying their leadership status in the anti-inflammatory tea market throughout the forecast period. Asis-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032 By region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022 and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is primarily due to the region's rich cultural heritage and long-standing tradition of tea consumption, particularly in countries such as China, Japan, and India. Moreover, the growing health consciousness among consumers in the Asia-Pacific region coupled with the increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related inflammatory conditions, drives the demand for anti-inflammatory teas. Additionally, the availability of a wide range of herbal ingredients and traditional remedies further boosts the market growth, solidifying Asia-Pacific's position as the leading market for anti-inflammatory teas. Leading Market Players: - The Hain Celestial Group Tata Consumer Products Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company Bigelow Tea Company Mountain Rose Herbs Terra Teas Organic Full Leaf Tea Co. Davidson's Organics ArtfulTea Yogi The report analyses government regulations, policies, and patents to provide information on the current market trends and suggests future growth opportunities globally. Furthermore, the study highlights Porter's five forces analysis to determine the factors affecting the market growth. Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies: https://bit.ly/3v90ufJ Trending Reports in Food and Beverages Industry: Organic Tea Market Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2031 Herbal Tea Market Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 Tea Polysaccharides Market Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 Tea Market Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2031 Green Tea Market Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact Data Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/food-and-beverages Follow Us on Blog: https://www.dailyreportsworld.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research The jury, made up of experts from the art world, selected the winner among 93 works by young artists from all over the world. by young artists from all over the world. The 34-year-old Spaniard is represented by Blue Velvet Gallery . is represented by . The winning work, "In the Palm of His Hands", is characterized by the combination of elements from the industrial world and the natural domain. MADRID, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Monica Mays, born in Madrid in 1990, clinched the XVII illy SustainArt Award with her project "In the Palm of Your Hands," backed by illycaffe in partnership with ARCOmadrid to bolster emerging artists. Currently splitting her time between Madrid and Amsterdam, Mays pursued cultural anthropology at the University of New Orleans before graduating with honors from the Ecole Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Strasbourg in 2015. In 2017, she earned a Master's degree from the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam. Monica Mays' artistic oeuvre straddles sculpture, installation, and performance, delving into object symbolism through autobiographical narratives, historical archives, and material knowledge. With "In the Palm of Your Hands," she explores the symbolism of palm plants, drawing from biblical, paradisiacal, and ornamental imagery. The jury, consisting of Patrizia Sandretto Rebaudengo (curator and founder of the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation), Tania Pardo (Director of the CA2M Museum and the Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo), Ianko Lopez (specialist journalist of Vanity Fair), and Carlo Bach (Creative Director of illycaffe), singled out Monica Mays' work from the final 10, chosen from a shortlist of 93 candidates. They commended Mays for the vigor with which she blends diverse elements in her material exploration, combining industrial objects with elements from the natural and organic realms. "Boosting the careers of deserving young artists is one of the goals that the company has set itself since it chose to support contemporary art," comments Carlo Bach, Creative Director of illycaffe. "After 17 years, the illy SustainArt Prize continues to grow and attract the interest of the many galleries that present stimulating projects, the artists who participate with enthusiasm and the visitors who are always during the event." The award ceremony took place at the illy space of the ARCOmadrid International Art Fair. Attendees engaged in discussions on contemporary art, savored the illy blend, and explored the latest illy Art Collection by South Korean artist Lee Ufan. The illy Space also showcased "Costas cuentes," crafted by Cristina Mejias, winner of the 2023 edition of the illy SustainArt Award. illycaffe is an Italian family-owned company, founded in Trieste in 1933 which has always set itself the mission of offering the best coffee to the world. It produces a unique 100% Arabica blend composed of 9 different ingredients. The company selects only 1% of the best Arabica beans in the world. Every day 8 million cups of illy coffee are served in over 140 countries around the globe, in the cafes, restaurants and hotels, in single-brand cafes and shops, at home and in the office, in which the company is present through subsidiaries and distributors. Since its foundation, illycaffe has oriented its strategies towards a sustainable business model, commitment that it strengthened in 2019 by adopting the status of Benefit Company and in 2021 becoming the first Italian coffee company to obtain the international B Corp certification. Since 2013 the company is also one of the World Most Ethical Companies. Everything that is "made in illy" is about beauty and art, the founding principles of the brand, starting from its logo, designed by artist James Rosenquist, up to illy Art Collection cups, decorated by over 125 international artists, or coffee machines designed by internationally renowned designers. With the aim of spreading the culture of quality to growers, baristas and coffee lovers, the company has developed its Universita del Caffe which today holds courses in 25 countries around the world. In 2021, Rhone Capital became a minority shareholder of illycaffe with the aim of contributing to the company's international growth plans. In 2022, the company had 1230 employees and a turnover of 567,7 million. The illy single-brand network has 190 points of sale in 34 countries. www.illy.com [email protected] SOURCE illycaffe RICHARDSON, Texas, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and the Texas Pediatric Society are partnering to enhance maternal and infant health in Texas. Through BCBSTX's Special Beginnings initiative, they will offer training and resources to primary care providers and pediatricians. Supported by a BCBSTX grant, TPS is launching an advisory committee for the new Clinical Series Program to develop pediatric healthcare resources for maternal and infant health, including videos and webinars. In 2024, the program will focus on postpartum depression screenings and infant care after Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stays. "We look forward to developing this Clinical Series Program with TPS to equip providers who are also invested in improving outcomes for Texas moms and babies with the extra support they need all across the state," said Dr. Mark Chassay, BCBSTX VP and chief medical officer. Each focus area will include a 3-to-6-month Project ECHO training, a collaborative medical education and care management model. Participants can engage in virtual communities to discuss cases with specialists, creating continuous learning and peer support. "Due to pediatric subspecialist shortages, primary care pediatricians are expected to manage more complex needs and conditions. In order to manage these cases, primary care pediatricians need access to specialized resources, education and support," said Dr. Alice Gong, President of the Texas Pediatric Society. "The Clinical Series Program we are developing with BCBSTX will focus on empowering and equipping primary care pediatricians with the tools they need in today's environment." Texas providers can find these resources at https://txpeds.org/. To learn more, visit the BCBSTX Newsroom. About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with more than 140,000 physicians and health care practitioners, and 520 hospitals to serve more than 7 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico). Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. About Texas Pediatric Society The Texas Pediatric Society (TPS), the Texas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is the premier state professional nonprofit organization of over 4,800 Texas pediatricians, physician pediatric subspecialists, and medical students. TPS believes that the most important resource of the State of Texas is its children and pledges its efforts to promote their health and welfare. SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas In honour of International Women's Day, Sustainability Magazine, a BizClik brand, is proud to launch the Top 100 Women in Sustainability - celebrating the most inspiring women in sustainability and the ESG sector. LONDON, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The list showcases 100 inspirational women in the sustainability sector, in executive positions or equivalent roles, who are leading the charge when it comes to investment, innovation, capitalising on strategic opportunities, and supporting other underrepresented groups. These women are propelling the sustainability movement forward and paving the way for future generations, creating the space at the table for new faces, growth and innovations. For further details on the Top 100 Women supplement, and to explore the incredible sustainability journeys of these global pioneers click HERE . Glen White, Founder and CEO of BizClik says: "This year's Top 100 Women in Sustainability' highlights the leaders who are dedicated to making a positive impact. BizClik and Sustainability Magazine continue to be proud to celebrate the successful women driving leadership and advocacy across their industries and organisations." You can read the latest news in Sustainability Magazine by clicking HERE . You can now sign up for the Sustainability LIVE London conference at the Business Design Centre, London from 10-11 September 2024. Click HERE . About BizClik BizClik is one of the fastest-growing digital media companies in the UK, host to a growing portfolio of industry-leading global brands and communities. BizClik's expanding portfolio includes Technology, AI, FinTech, InsurTech, Supply Chain, Procurement, Energy, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Mobile, Data Centre, Cyber, and Sustainability. For more information, please visit https://www.bizclikmedia.com/ SOURCE BizClik DUBAI, UAE, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit , one of the world's top three crypto exchanges by volume, today announced an exclusive VIP gathering event in Taipei on March 23, coinciding with ETH Taipei, the largest blockchain event in Taiwan. This exclusive event offers Bybit VIP clients a unique opportunity to: Network with fellow industry leaders and Bybit representatives. Gain valuable insights from a first-hand report by the Bybit team. Be among the first to hear exciting announcements and future plans. Mingle with popular YouTubers and celebrities Enter a chance to win a share of a 660,000 NTD prize pool. This event is exclusive to Bybit VIPs. Existing VIP clients can register through their dedicated VIP client manager. Not yet a Bybit VIP? Sign up between March 5th and March 20th to become a VIP and gain access to this event. Additionally, the first 88 new VIPs will receive the following: A Chivalries of Mantle NFT (floor price value) Exclusive Bybit merchandise Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit stated, "We are thrilled to host this exclusive gathering for our valued VIP clients during ETH Taipei week. This event embodies Bybit's commitment to fostering a close-knit community and rewarding our VIPs for their continued trust and support." Bybit, through this exclusive event, demonstrates its dedication to supporting the local blockchain community and fostering meaningful connections with its VIP clients. #Bybit #TheCryptoArk #BTCHalving About Bybit Bybit is one of the world's top-three cryptocurrency exchanges by volume with 20 million users. Established in 2018, it offers a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One's reigning Constructors' and Drivers' champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team. For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press . For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] For more information, please visit: https://www.bybit.com For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube SOURCE Bybit BEIJING, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Beijing Review: China has set its GDP growth target at around 5 percent for this year. The target was revealed in the government work report delivered by Premier Li Qiang at the opening meeting of the Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, in Beijing on March 5. The Second Session of the 14th National Peoples Congress, Chinas top legislature, opens in Beijing on March 5 (WEI YAO) The report reviewed the country's achievements over the past year and outlined its future direction. The projected GDP growth goal is consistent with last year's growth target. The Chinese economy showed strength and resilience in 2023, recording a year-on-year growth of 5.2 percent. Han Baojiang, head of the China Market Economics Society, said the GDP growth objective is both pragmatic and inspiring, indicating the Central Government's continued emphasis on the quality of growth. The country remains a crucial driver of global development, with its economy rebounding in 2023 and contributing around 30 percent to world economic growth. While challenges persist in furthering China's economic recovery, the overall trend of recovery and long-term improvement remains unchanged. The Chinese leadership has emphasized the importance of pursuing progress while maintaining stability. Consolidating and bolstering the momentum of economic recovery are of the utmost importance. "If China can deliver its growth target, that would be spectacular. The Chinese economy is so large that any level of growth helps the folks in China, and it makes China a contributor to overall growth in the world. And so there's a knock-on effect: If China does well, China will also consume," Michael Hart, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, told Beijing Review. The work report stated that China will pursue a higher standard of opening up and promote mutual benefits. Specifically, efforts will be made to steadily increase the volume and raise the quality of foreign trade. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao mentioned at a news conference on March 6 that positive signs have emerged as China's foreign trade sector maintained its growth momentum in the first two months of this year. And many enterprises are expanding their market presence by participating in trade shows and venturing abroad. To further improve foreign trade, China will intensify support for import and export credit, export credit insurance, as well as improve cross-border settlements, risk management for foreign exchange and other related services, according to the report. The country will deepen efforts to attract foreign investment. This includes shortening the negative list for foreign investment, a list of industries in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited, and ensuring that foreign-funded enterprises can participate in government procurement, bidding, and standard-setting processes as per the law and on an equal footing. The report also stated that all market access restrictions on foreign investment in manufacturing will be abolished, and market access restrictions in service sectors, such as telecommunications and healthcare, will be reduced. The country will also strengthen services for foreign investors to make China a favored destination for investment. Furthermore, efforts will be made to facilitate easier access for foreign nationals to work, study and travel in China. As a major manufacturing country, China has the largest and most complete industrial system, along with fully developed infrastructure, which enhances its attractiveness to foreign companies and investors, especially in the face of a flagging global economic recovery and the economic implications of rising protectionism, according to Zhang Yansheng, chief researcher at the Beijing-based China Center for International Economic Exchanges. The researcher went on to note that China's massive market and huge demand provide strong motivation for foreign investors to set up facilities in closer proximity to their Chinese customers, "without being bogged down by relatively high labor costs." Comments to yanwei@cicgamericas.com SOURCE Beijing Review Honoring the inspirational founder of Girls Who Code who will partner with Cle de Peau Beaute to Launch the 20 Under 20 Campaign TOKYO, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cle de Peau Beaute, the luxury skincare and makeup brand, is proud to announce the recipient of the Power of Radiance Awards 2024: Reshma Saujani, based in New York, US. The Power of Radiance Awards recognize women who are taking action in their communities by advocating for girls' education, especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. Reshma Saujani has dedicated herself to empowering girls in computer science through the founding of Girls Who Code, an international non-profit organization working to close the gender gap in technology. Since its founding in 2012, Girls Who Code has built the largest pipeline of female and non-binary computer scientists in the world. A decade later, the non-profit had served more than 500,000 students through their innovative programs, with their alumni having a seven-fold higher likelihood of earning computer science and related degrees than the national average in the US.[1] Reshma Saujani, 2024 Award Recipient of the Power of Radiance Awards Reshma Saujani receiving Cle de Peau Beaute's Power of Radiance Awards 2024 Cle de Peau Beaute believes that the key to a better world lies in unlocking the potential of girls through STEM education. Through this belief, the annual Power of Radiance Awards were born. This same belief is behind the brand's multi-year partnership with UNICEF, addressing gender inequality with a focus on STEM in education, employment, and empowerment programs for girls. The STEM fields are critical to developing solutions to the many challenges that face the world. Empowering half the world's population of girls and women in these fields will ensure a radiant, inclusive future shaped by innovation and progress unbounded by gender. Reshma Saujani and Girls Who Code are on a mission to close the gender gap in new entry-level tech jobs by 2030. An ambitious goal noting this gap has widened by 13% compared to almost 30 years ago[2]. A lawyer, politician and civil servant, it was during Reshma Saujani's run for US Congress in visits to local schools that she saw computer science classes filled with boys, with few, if any, girls. This instilled in her a need for a cultural shift to address the gender gap a fight she continues today in her role as the Founder and CEO of Moms First. As the recipient of the Power of Radiance Awards 2024, Reshma Saujani will be awarded a grant that will go towards building momentum and widening the reach of her mission. Reshma Saujani will also be spearheading the 20 Under 20 campaign with Cle de Peau Beaute. With the biggest drop off of girls in computer science occurring in middle school and high school,[3] this campaign seeks to intervene and encourage girls to stay on the path towards higher education and careers in STEM. The campaign will provide 20 girls under the age of 20 in the US with exclusive experiences, including access to Cle de Peau Beaute's advanced research facilities, scientists, mentorships and grants to support their STEM pursuits. Reshma Saujani commented: "Showing these girls the beauty of STEM and connecting them with role models is of utmost importance as they make plans for their futures it is what Girls Who Code is all about. After all, you can't be what you can't see. Today, only 28% of computing jobs are held by women. We all have a role to play in ensuring that we don't leave women and girls behind as we fill the jobs of the future, and Cle de Peau Beaute's Power of Radiance Awards is building momentum behind the cultural shift that's needed to close the gender gap in STEM." Ms. Mizuki Hashimoto, Chief Brand Officer of Cle de Peau Beaute commented: "Ms. Saujani's unwavering commitment to empowering girls and women through Girls Who Code perfectly aligns with our mission. We are dedicated to realizing gender equality in STEM and beyond. Collaborating with Girls Who Code and Ms. Saujani on the 20 Under 20 campaign is an opportunity for us to do more towards advancing gender equality and leveling the playing field for girls in STEM." The power to unleash an inner radiance that can accomplish positive change is within every individual, and through the Power of Radiance Awards, Cle de Peau Beaute is standing with girls and women globally as they transform the world for themselves and their communities. Cle de Peau Beaute's journey as advocates for education began with a dream for a better world. This is why the brand has pledged a percentage of sales of one of their most iconic first-step products, The Serum, towards this mission. About Reshma Saujani Reshma Saujani is a leading activist and the founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First, formerly Marshall Plan for Moms. A mom herself, she has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls' economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and most recently advocating for policies to support moms impacted by the pandemic. Reshma is also the author of the international bestseller Brave, Not Perfect, and her influential TED talk, "Teach girls bravery, not perfection," has more than five million views globally. Reshma began her career as an attorney and Democratic organizer. In 2010, she surged onto the political scene as the first Indian American woman to run for US Congress. During the race, Reshma visited local schools and saw the gender gap in computing classes firsthand, which led her to start Girls Who Code. About Cle de Peau Beaute Cle de Peau Beaute, the global luxury brand from Shiseido Co Ltd, was founded in 1982 as the ultimate expression of elegance and science. Cle de Peau Beaute means the key to skin's beauty. The philosophy of the brand is to unlock the power of a woman's radiance by harnessing makeup technologies and advanced skincare from around the world. Forever guided by an exquisite aesthetic sensibility and intelligence, Cle de Peau Beaute has instilled its products with modernity, enchantment, and dynamism to emerge as an industry leader in delivering radiance so remarkable, it emanates from within. Available in 26 countries and regions worldwide. Cle de Peau Beaute Official Website: https://www.cledepeau-beaute.com/int/powerofradiance-2024.html Cle de Peau Beaute Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cledepeaubeaute/ [1][2][3] Source: Girls Who Code. https://girlswhocode.com/about-us Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2352256/Reshma_Saujani__2024_Award_Recipient_of_the__Power_of_Radiance_Awards.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2352257/Reshma_Saujani_receiving_Cl__de_Peau_Beaut__s_Power_of_Radiance_Awards_2024.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1740205/cpb_logo_set_bold_Logo.jpg BEIJING, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn: An integrated approach will be adopted combining measures to combat, prevent and control telecommunications fraud and related crimes and promote comprehensive governance of the telecom network, as the situation regarding such crimes remains complex, said China's procurator-general. "Telecom fraud has seriously infringed on the vital interests of the people and eroded the foundation of social integrity, and such crimes are deeply abhorred by the public," said Ying Yong, procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, in an exclusive interview with China Daily during the ongoing annual sessions of the nation's top legislative and political advisory bodies in Beijing. Procuratorial authorities will thoroughly implement the instructions of the central authorities on cracking down on telecom fraud, strengthen cooperation with other departments, take an integrated approach and fully utilize the power of the rule of law to maintain stability, he said. According to the top procuratorate, since 2023, procuratorial authorities nationwide have collaborated with public security organs and other departments to implement various measures to resolutely curb the frequent and severe trends of telecom fraud at the source in a systematic manner. In 2023, a total of 51,000 individuals were prosecuted for telecom fraud, a year-on-year increase of 66.9 percent. The Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security also jointly dealt with five major transnational telecom fraud cases. Crimes associated with telecom fraud were also severely punished, with the prosecution of 147,000 individuals involved in aiding information network criminal activities, marking a 13 percent year-on-year increase. About 75,000 people were prosecuted for concealing and disguising criminal proceeds and illegal gains via telecom networks, an increase of 106.9 percent year-on-year. Ying emphasized the need to strengthen the governance of sectors closely related to telecom fraud, such as personal information protection. Telecom fraud often involves the infringement of citizens' personal information, seriously undermining the interests of the people. Efforts have intensified to combat crimes involving the infringement of citizens' personal information, resulting in about 8,500 prosecutions last year. Procuratorates also fulfilled their duties in public interest litigation, focusing on key areas such as personal information protection in key industries, SIM card and bank card management, and corporate anti-fraud obligations, and urged relevant departments and companies to strengthen supervision and protection. According to the SPP, telecom fraud and related crimes are usually well-organized, and various forms of scams have proliferated in recent years, including click farming, fake shopping services, impersonation of e-commerce customer service and false credit reporting. Criminals are also utilizing artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to use "deepfakes" to perpetrate fraud, making their fraudulent activities even more covert. In response to the new challenges in the battle against telecom fraud, Ying urged the procuratorial authorities to fully carry out their duties such as in approving arrests, prosecutions and supervising litigation, and further intensifying efforts to crack down on transnational telecom fraud. It is necessary to strengthen the building of specialized teams, continuously improve the research and application of big data legal supervision models related to fraud, and persistently enhance the capability and level of legal supervision, he said. Procuratorial authorities were also asked to strengthen their publicity work, using concrete examples to explain laws and providing preventive warnings, in order to enhance the public's anti-fraud awareness. Ying said that procuratorates should integrate the work of asset recovery and mitigation of damages throughout the judicial process, fully leverage the system of leniency for pleading guilty and accepting punishments, and urge criminals to return stolen assets in order to minimize the economic losses suffered by victims. According to the SPP's analysis, there are so-called "technology parks", "industrial parks" and "development zones" in some overseas locations that specifically provide venues for criminal activities such as telecom fraud. Criminal groups recruit individuals to participate in telecom fraud, tightly control these recruits and allow fraudsters to benefit from the proceeds of fraud through profit-sharing after successful scams. Jointly fighting transnational telecom fraud has become an important consensus of the international community. As an important force in combating such crimes, Chinese procuratorates have carried out a series of measures, making China a global example in this field, Ying said. He also called for greater global unity on combating telecom fraud and related crimes. The SPP has strengthened pragmatic cooperation with the prosecution authorities of ASEAN countries in assisting in cross-border investigation and evidence collection, extraditing criminal suspects, exchanging intelligence and sharing information. SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn CHICAGO, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the world celebrates International Women's Day on March 8th, 2024, CTEK proudly joins the global community in recognizing the invaluable contributions and remarkable achievements of women worldwide. On this occasion, we take immense pride in celebrating the outstanding female talent within our own organization. CTEK Celebrates International Womens Day Recognizing Female Leaders CTEK is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we firmly believe that our collective strength lies in embracing the unique perspectives and talents of individuals from all backgrounds. Today, as we honor International Women's Day, we shine a spotlight on the extraordinary accomplishments of our female leaders across various departments. From engineering and research to marketing and operations, our female employees play pivotal roles in driving innovation, shaping strategies, and achieving excellence in their respective fields. Their dedication, resilience, and leadership serve as a beacon of inspiration for us all, and CTEK is immensely proud to celebrate their achievements. "While the automotive and technology sectors have traditionally been male dominated, we're witnessing an ongoing change as more women choose to work and excel in these industries. CTEK is no exception," said Bobbie DuMelle, President, CTEK North America, CTEK. "We have many amazing women who are setting the tone for future generations." Victoria Ellerstad, Digital Marketing Manager at CTEK, shares her journey, stating, "I've never seen myself as an automotive girl, and it doesn't feel like I'm working in the automotive industry. I mean, I work with marketing; I just do what I've always done." As part of our commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the automotive sector, CTEK is dedicated to encouraging young women to pursue careers in this dynamic industry. Through outreach initiatives and inclusive hiring practices, we strive to create pathways for aspiring female professionals to thrive and succeed in the automotive sector. CTEK brand ambassador, Vanessa Ruck, also known as "The Girl on a Bike", is working to change the narrative for females in the industry. She says, "I'm on a mission to help show the future minds that anything is possible irrelevant of gender. So often we have to see others doing things to believe it's possible for us too. International Women's Day fills me with so much energy as there are trail blazing women in so many realms of life, showing the world the incredible capabilities of women." Ruck continues "CTEK have never doubted my abilities and have supported me going into some of the most extreme and toughest endurance desert races in the world where competitors are 98% male. They're a band that clearly values and sees the balance were all fighting towards, and their products mean my bikes always powered and ready for me!" CTEK is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, and believes that by celebrating the achievements of women, we can inspire positive change and empower future generations. "I'm proud to work at CTEK and am grateful for the opportunities the company offers to women," continued DuMelle. "If we can educate women on the exciting opportunities in the industry and the new emerging technologies, we can inspire the next generation to be a part of the journey." About CTEK Established in Dalarna, Sweden, CTEK is the leading global brand in vehicle charging solutions. CTEK offers products ranging from 12V and 24V battery chargers to charging solutions for electrical vehicles. CTEK's E-mobility solutions range from individual EV chargers to larger corporate and commercial installations with multiple charging stations, that require load balancing and integrate seamlessly with monitoring and payment equipment. CTEK's products are sold via a carefully selected network of global distributors and retailers: as original equipment; supplied to more than 50 of the world's leading vehicle manufacturers; and through charge point operators, property owners and other organizations/individuals providing EV charging infrastructure. CTEK takes pride in its unique culture based on a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to supporting the transition to a greener mobility, by adhering to industry leading ESG standards. Press Contact: Michelle Suzuki 310-444-7115 SOURCE CTEK DDI Commemorates International Women's Day with New Women in Leadership Analysis & Insights PITTSBURGH, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DDI, a global leadership company, today commemorates International Women's Day by releasing new data analysis on women in leadership. Alongside the release, DDI is hosting a live webinar for current and emerging women leaders and allies. The data, drawn from DDI's Global Leadership Forecast 2023 with responses from 1,826 human resource professionals and 13,695 leaders across the world including over 4,000 women leaders dives into advancement opportunities for women in the workplace and the impact of women leaders on inclusion. Key findings from the analysis include: More women leaders support a more inclusive environment: Organizations with an above-average* proportion of women leaders are 1.9x more likely to be rated as having an inclusive culture than those with fewer women. *"Above-average" means having 30% or more women in senior roles and 40% or more women in leadership roles at lower levels. Organizations with an above-average* proportion of women leaders are 1.9x more likely to be rated as having an inclusive culture than those with fewer women. Fewer women receive formal mentors: On average, only 24% of women leaders have had a formal mentor, compared to 30% of men. This gap widens at the senior leadership level, where only 27% of women have had a formal mentor (compared to 38% of men). On average, only 24% of women leaders have had a formal mentor, compared to 30% of men. This gap widens at the senior leadership level, where only 27% of women have had a formal mentor (compared to 38% of men). Women miss opportunities for key executive responsibilities: Women leaders are less likely to be given profit and loss (P&L) responsibility, a crucial steppingstone for advancing into C-Suite roles. Among men at the senior executive and C-suite level, 79% had managed a P&L function. However, only 67% of executive and C-suite women leaders reported having P&L responsibility. Women leaders are less likely to be given profit and loss (P&L) responsibility, a crucial steppingstone for advancing into C-Suite roles. Among men at the senior executive and C-suite level, 79% had managed a P&L function. However, only 67% of executive and C-suite women leaders reported having P&L responsibility. Women lag in receiving critical development support: In their current roles, women were 12% less likely than men to receive leadership skills training and 15% less likely to be assessed to gain insights on their strengths and development gaps as a leader. Lacking this support, especially in vulnerable moments such as transitions to a new leadership role, threatens leaders' long-term engagement and success. In their current roles, women were 12% less likely than men to receive leadership skills training and 15% less likely to be assessed to gain insights on their strengths and development gaps as a leader. Lacking this support, especially in vulnerable moments such as transitions to a new leadership role, threatens leaders' long-term engagement and success. Inclusion benefits everyone: In male-dominated companies (companies with fewer than the average number of women leaders), men are more likely than women to recognize a lack of inclusivity. In these organizations, 39% of men say their culture is not inclusive of different perspectives. Meanwhile, only 24% of women say the same. By contrast, in organizations with greater than the average number of women leaders, only 22% of men say their culture isn't inclusive. "Our research shows the business case for developing, advancing and retaining women leaders couldn't be stronger," said Tacy M. Byham, Ph.D., CEO of DDI. "Women leaders are driving more inclusive cultures and stronger financial performance for their organizations yet the problem of women's disproportionately low representation at the top persists. Our data reveals many women are not getting the leadership development support they need to progress and are turning elsewhere, with women 1.5x more likely to leave their companies to advance their careers than men. To avoid losing out on this valuable talent, companies need to turn their attention toward creating workplaces that enable women to thrive." For more data and recommendations including how women leaders impact companies' bottom line, what women in STEM care most about and how to retain women leaders visit ddiworld.com/blog/women-leadership-statistics. For strategies to strengthen inclusion, trust and belonging, register for DDI's "Inspire Inclusion: A Better Future for Women in the Workplace" webinar today (March 8) at 9am EST. Join Dr. Byham and Dominique Powrie, Managing Director of DDI Australia, live for the webinar or watch the recording after. About DDI DDI is a global leadership company that helps organizations hire, promote and develop exceptional leaders. From first-time managers to C-suite executives, DDI is by leaders' sides, supporting them in every critical moment of leadership. Built on five decades of research and experience in the science of leadership, DDI's evidence-based assessment and development solutions enable millions of leaders around the world to succeed, propelling their organizations to new heights. For more information, visit ddiworld.com. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE DDI Add some extra luck to your day and try the Shamrock Kicker and Lucky Rebel through March 17, or while supplies last. Post this "Joining in the merriment of St. Patrick's Day has never been easier! Our two limited time drinks are an ideal way to celebrate the holiday," said Tana Davila, chief marketing officer at Dutch Bros. "We know how much our customers enjoy new, fun toppings so adding dazzling gold sprinks was a no-brainer!" Add some extra luck to your day and try the Shamrock Kicker and Lucky Rebel through March 17, or while supplies last. About Dutch Bros Dutch Bros Coffee is a drive-thru coffee company dedicated to making a massive difference one cup at a time. Headquartered in Grants Pass, Oregon, where it was founded in 1992 by Dane and Travis Boersma, it's now sharing the "Dutch Luv" with more than 850 locations in 17 states. Dutch Bros serves specialty coffee, smoothies, freezes, teas, an exclusive Dutch Bros Rebel energy drink and nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee. Its rich, proprietary coffee blend is handcrafted from start to finish. In addition to its mission of speed, quality and service, Dutch Bros is committed to giving back to the communities it serves. Through its Dutch Bros Foundation and local operators and franchisees, the company donates several million dollars to causes across the country each year. To learn more about Dutch Bros, visit www.dutchbros.com , follow Dutch Bros Coffee on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , & TikTok , and download the Dutch Bros app to earn points and score rewards! SOURCE Dutch Bros Coffee ESET continues to #InspireInclusion by awarding four scholarships to North American women studying in a STEM field SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the global community reflects on the importance of amplifying women's voices and the demand for better representation in all fields on this International Women's Day, global cybersecurity leader, ESET, is kicking off its ninth annual Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship. To embrace and encourage women to join this rapidly evolving industry, which continues to face a massive shortage of applicants, ESET will once again heed the call to "#InspireInclusion" through this scholarship, which will award $20,000 USD to two women in the United States and $10,000 CAD to two women in Canada this year. Celeste Blodgett, Vice President of Human Resources at ESET, launched the program in 2016 and is excited to continue paving the way for more women to enter cybersecurity and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. "At ESET, we embrace a culture of inclusion and equity," she emphasized. "Each year, we support and empower women through the ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship, enabling them to pursue their passions in cybersecurity and STEM. This initiative is crucial as we strive to dismantle entry barriers into the field and nurture the next generation of female cybersecurity experts." Findings of the 2023 Cybersecurity Workforce Study conducted by (ISC)2 demonstrate that the majority of professionals in the cybersecurity sector are male, with women representing merely 26% of the workforce under the age of thirty. While the participation of women in the field is on the rise, there is significant progress yet to be made in fostering a more inclusive cybersecurity community. Applications are now being accepted and are due by April 5, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. PT. ESET will be awarding two women in the United States scholarships worth $10,000 USD each, and two women in Canada scholarships worth $5,000 CAD each. Those who are ineligible to apply are encouraged to share this opportunity with friends and family. "When we inspire others to recognize and encourage women's inclusion in the cybersecurity field, we contribute to a better world," said Blodgett. "When women are motivated to actively participate, a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment emerges. This allows us to collaboratively forge a more inclusive world for women." REQUIREMENTS, DETAILS, AND HOW TO APPLY ESET will award scholarships to four women who are currently enrolled in graduate or undergraduate programs in North America, majoring in a STEM field of study. The graduate/undergraduate program does not have to be a "cybersecurity" program; however, in your application, you should outline your aspiration to have a career in the cybersecurity industry. ESET has decided to forego the minimum GPA requirement, so anyone can apply! What do I submit / How do I submit my application? Applicants can apply and learn more about the scholarships by visiting our application pages. If you're a US student, you can apply here; if you're a Canadian student, apply here. Applicants are required to submit a personal essay detailing their professional experiences, such as early education and employment, that have motivated their pursuit of a STEM career, as well as offering advice on how they expect a company like ESET can help inspire the next generation of women to pursue careers in STEM. Personal insights shared in essays are appreciated. To ensure fairness and impartiality, all submissions undergo a redaction process, maintaining anonymity for the grading committee. While transparency is valued, applicants are encouraged to focus primarily on addressing the essay question and minimize the inclusion of personally identifiable information. What is the deadline for submission? Submissions will be accepted from March 8, 2024 April 5, 2024, at 11:59PM EST. ESET will announce the winners in May 2024. Additional details Essays may be submitted in English or Spanish for US students. Essays may be submitted in English or French for Canadian students. Applicants are encouraged to focus primarily on addressing the essay question and minimize the inclusion of personally identifiable information. Finalists may be required to supply additional personal or professional references. Judging is conducted by a panel of ESET staff and cybersecurity experts. Winners will be asked to provide a photo of themselves, which may be used for promotional purposes. If the application or essays are incomplete, they won't be considered. Immediate family members or dependents of ESET employees are not eligible to participate. Questions? Email us at [email protected] [US-only inquiries] or [email protected] [Canada-only inquiries] with any questions, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. About ESET For more than 30 years, ESET has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure and consumers worldwide from increasingly sophisticated digital threats. From endpoint and mobile security to endpoint detection and response, as well as encryption and multifactor authentication, ESET's high-performing, easy-to-use solutions unobtrusively protect and monitor 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company that enables the safe use of technology. This is backed by ESET's R&D centers worldwide, working in support of our shared future. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. SOURCE ESET ORLANDO, Fla., March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ Far East Medical Electronics Technology Limited (FEMET), a leading provider of healthcare service platforms in Taiwan, showcased its innovative Emergency Medical Consultation Platform (EMCP) and TravelSIMcare at the 2024 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Annual Conference and Exhibition (HIMSS 2024) held in Orlando from March 12 to 14. These cutting-edge solutions integrate 5G and low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology, demonstrating the company's prowess in R&D and integration of smart healthcare offerings. Through participation in the event, the firm aims to expand the reach of its smart healthcare service platform from Asia to European and American markets. FEMET showcases its EMCP integrating 5G and LEO satellite technology at HIMSS 2024; To the right, the LEO satellite communication equipment is displayed Previous editions of HIMSS had attracted over 40,000 healthcare IT professionals, clinicians, and technology vendors from more than 90 countries. The conference has become a prominent healthcare IT event, serving as a global stage for numerous domestic and international technology giants, including ASUS, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, to unveil their latest healthcare applications to the world. During HIMSS 2024, FEMET, in partnership with Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, exhibited its EMCP at the Taiwan Theme Pavilion. The platform is designed for deployment in a wide range of emergency response vehicles, including firefighting ambulances, rescue vessels, and ambulance helicopters. The solution enables frontline technicians executing ambulance missions to transmit real-time visuals from the field and the patient's vital signs directly to the hospital via cloud technology. Leveraging artificial intelligence, physicians can provide rapid and precise medical support by analyzing the incoming data, evaluating the patient's condition, and making informed, real-time decisions. By integrating Microsoft's global healthcare platforms, AppSource and Azure Marketplace, FEMET has introduced online medical consultations and specialist services for medical institutions in Asia and the United States for the first time. Utilizing the two platforms, the company has developed TravelSIMcare, a comprehensive telemedicine service designed to improve patient experience. TravelSIMcare offers an array of features, including online registration and scheduling, real-time communication via the popular WhatsApp, Line and WeChat messaging apps, batch pricing, an automatic medication dispenser, an AI-powered hub, a customer relationship management (CRM) platform, online payment, and connections to medical institutions worldwide. With the service, individuals abroad can instantly connect with healthcare providers and receive the appropriate care they need. Hospitals can enhance their medical services by subscribing to TravelSIMcare (including medical video conferencing, patient registration, and medical payment) through the Microsoft cloud platform. "FEMET has signed deals to furnish TravelSIMcare to key hospitals in Taiwan, mainland China, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia," explained Teng Chun-Nan, Chairman of FEMET. "Furthermore, the EMCP has been integrated into Taiwan's national defense and maritime patrol services. Looking forward, the company aspires to extend the two intelligent medical services to Europe and the United States, with the aim of providing medical services that transcend borders and distances." About FEMET Far East Medical Electronics Technology Limited, established in 2008, primarily focuses on the research and development of home physiological transmission gateways, integrating a number of home-use physiological measurement devices, including blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters, thermometers and scales, to facilitate self-managed home health and advance the objective of universal health. The company boasts a robust R & D capability, having amassed extensive experience in product development and integration, along with a comprehensive electronic and software R & D team, agency project professionals, offering customers specialized, holistic product integration and medical equipment production services. FEMET's mission is to empower individuals with a healthier body, infuse their daily lives with energy, and provide hope to those battling illnesses. For more information, please visit FEMET's official website at: https://www.femet.com.tw/en/info.html SOURCE Far East Medical Electronics Technology Co., Ltd (FEMET) Draft Plan Released to Collaboratively Manage Ancestral Lands Bears Ears National Monument, Utah, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in U.S. history, a coalition of five Tribal Nations have collaborated with federal agencies to craft a management plan for their ancestral homelands and sacred sites on public lands. The five Tribes of the Bears Ears Commission (the Commission), Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Zuni Tribe, Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation, along with federal partners at the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, today announced the release of the draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Bears Ears National Monument. The Commission was established during the Obama administration, following the President's proclamation that established Bears Ears as a National Monument. The draft RMP is the culmination of nearly two years of collaboration between the Tribes' traditional knowledge holders, Historic Preservation Officers, elected Tribal leaders, and federal land planning staff and leadership at the BLM and the USFS. "The petroglyphs, artifacts, landmarks, and landforms in the Bears Ears region help Hopi people trace our migration histories" said Craig Andrews, Vice Chairman of the Hopi Tribe and Co-Chair of the Bears Ears Commission. "We know that our ancestors decided to leave places that had been occupied by our people for centuries. Some non-native archeologists may use the term abandoned when studying dwellings, but that is not a word that Hopi use because we know our ancestors are still present. Though these areas were never again settled by Hopi/Pueblo physically, they remain inhabited by our ancestors spiritually. Recognition of these places is preserved in our songs and ceremonies, and these places continue to be visited for ceremonial harvesting and collecting. Bears Ears is integral to our ceremonies, traditions, and our identity as Hopi people. Supporting the Preferred Alternative ensures that we can continue to pass down our cultures and ways of knowing." "Our tribal lands and resources extend far beyond our current reservation boundaries. Standing in Bears Ears we are surrounded by our sacred places, resources, and waters." Christopher Tabbee, Vice Chairman of the Ute Indian Tribe Business Committee and Co-Chair of the Bears Ears Commission, continued, "We have always lived and traveled through these lands and used our expertise to sustain these resources. The Management Plan is a model for federal agencies to incorporate tribal knowledge and expertise into land management plans and practices. Tribal knowledge and involvement in managing these lands is needed now more than ever." Both the Obama Proclamation that established the Monument, and the Biden Proclamation that restored the Bears Ears National Monument, recognize the importance of Tribal participation in the care and management of the cultural and natural resources in the Monument; both proclamations require that the management of these resources reflect the Tribal expertise and traditional and historical knowledge of the Bears Ears Commission. "I wish to emphasize the profound connection we, as Dine people, have to our ancestral lands," said Curtis Yanito, Navajo Nation Council member and Bears Ears Commissioner. "The Shash Jaa' (Bears Ears) area isn't just a geographical space; it's the heart of our cultural identity, a sanctuary for prayer, offerings, communal gatherings, and the sustenance of our resources. Its landscapes hold the stories of our forebears and the essence of our traditions, guiding us as stewards of our ancestral homeland." The Bears Ears National Monument was created to honor the region's spiritual and cultural significance to Tribal Nations, and the Coalition Tribes' unique traditional and historical knowledge as evidenced by thousands of years of stewardship. "The archaeological and historical evidence resonates deeply with our oral traditions, reinforcing the enduring presence of our ancestors in the Shash Jaa' (Bears Ears) region across centuries," said Yanito. "For me, as a descendant of Navajo families from Aneth, Montezuma Creek, Mexican Water, Oljato, Navajo Mountain, and Red Mesa, the ties to this sacred land run deep, echoing the voices of generations who have expressed concerns about its stewardship." The draft RMP for Bears Ears includes Indigenous knowledge and tribal input, reflecting a commitment that the past Obama and current Biden administrations have emphasized in federal lands management and tribal consultation. "In the face of modern challenges, such as the management of Bears Ears National Monument, our commitment to collaboration remains unwavering," said Yanito. "The draft resource management plan represents the culmination of our shared knowledge and insights, offered willingly to federal agencies for the betterment of the Monument. Our ancestors have faithfully safeguarded this land for centuries, and as collaborative stewards, we pledge to uphold this sacred duty into the boundless future." Additional Information: The draft RMP is available here . About the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition: The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition is a fiscally sponsored project of the Resources Legacy Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which relies on charitable giving to support the Bears Ears Commission in fulfilling its collaborative management responsibilities. Follow the Coalition on Instagram , Facebook , LinkedIn and X . SOURCE Bears Ears Commission DA NANG, Vietnam, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gamelade, Vietnam's premier digital gaming news platform, continues to redefine the way gamers receive stories with a commitment to delivering fast, accurate, and comprehensive coverage for online games. Reviewing PC games, mobile games, esports, and more, Gamelade has already established itself as the go-to source for Vietnamese gaming enthusiasts and professionals alike. Tin game Gamelade Gamelade - the latest gaming news from Vietnam "Our dedicated team of writers is at the heart of what we do," said Chris Nguyen, Gamelade CEO. "United by a shared passion for digital gaming, they work hard to not only report the news but also enrich the gaming conversation as a whole fostering a community where every gamer feels at home, in a place where all gamers can turn to for the latest info." Gamelade features major upcoming and popular game release news, including: "Dragon's Dogma 2," "WWE 2K24," "Rise of the Ronin," "Tekken 8," "Project L," "Grand Theft Auto VI," and continued coverage for popular games like "No Rest for the Wicked," "Diablo 4," "Baldur's Gate 3" and many others. A Hub for Diverse Gaming Content Gamelade stands out for its ability to pivot swiftly, ensuring its audience is always on top of the latest developments, game releases, and esports tournaments. The site's dedicated team of experienced writers and editors brings passion and expertise to each article, offering in-depth analysis, honest and unbiased reviews, and the most current views. Gamelade also caters to a wide audience, from casual players and spectators to hardcore gamers and esports aficionados providing a little something for everyone. The site's coverage includes: Up-to-Date Gaming News: Stay informed about the latest in the gaming world, from game development, changes, and launches to developer updates. Stay informed about the latest in the gaming world, from game development, changes, and launches to developer updates. In-Depth Game Reviews: Objective and thorough deep-dive reviews that help gamers make informed decisions about new and existing titles. Along with top-quality viewer and contributor content. Objective and thorough deep-dive reviews that help gamers make informed decisions about new and existing titles. Along with top-quality viewer and contributor content. Esports Excellence: Comprehensive coverage of esports events, including tournament info and analysis, team news, and player profiles. Looking Ahead and Empowering the Gaming Community With the Vietnamese digital community growing rapidly, Gamelade's role in the ecosystem is more crucial than ever. The platform not only informs and educates, but also entertains, contributing to the vibrancy and dynamism of gaming culture in Vietnam. And as Gamelade looks to the future, the site is dedicated to expanding its library, incorporating more user-generated content while enhancing community engagement through forums and social media interactions. Gamelade's mission is to continue being at the front of gaming news, adapting to the needs of its readers, and setting new standards for gaming journalism in Vietnam. "At Gamelade, we're not just delivering news, we're building a community and leading the charge in this industry," said Chris Nguyen. "Games evolve quickly, so we pride ourselves on ensuring that our readers never miss out. On the biggest stories, sure, but also on the more nuanced gaming takes. We aim to be a platform where developers, publishers, and gamers all converge to report and celebrate every aspect of gaming's dynamic culture pushing the boundaries of what's possible." For more information about Gamelade and to stay updated on the latest gaming news, visit Gamelade online. And follow them on social media: Facebook. About Gamelade.vn Gamelade is a leading gaming news website, dedicated to providing timely, accurate, and engaging content to the gaming community. With a team of passionate writers and editors, Gamelade delivers quality journalism and remains committed to the advancement of the gaming industry in Vietnam. Learn more at: www.Gamelade.vn. Media Contact: Nguyen Xuan Chinh +84325563899 [email protected] SOURCE Gamelade DUBLIN, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Farming 4.0: The Impact of Digital Industries on Agriculture" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. With the global population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, the farming industry is under pressure to boost productivity. Digital solutions, encompassing autonomous farming equipment, real-time monitoring, and artificial intelligence (AI), are revolutionizing operations by diminishing manual labor reliance and improving efficiency. Farmers acknowledge the necessity to shift from traditional intensive methods to more sustainable approaches. This research explores how digital industries will shape the future of Farming 4.0, analyzing the growth potential of technologies like computer vision, generative AI, predictive analytics, digital twins, and blockchain. The study delves into current and future trends, spotlighting innovative farming practices and how these will ultimately drive industry convergence. It identifies opportunities for technology suppliers in various industries to integrate horizontally into the farming market and ensure pioneering technology applications. The base year is 2023, and the forecast spans from 2024 to 2030. Key Growth Opportunities Collaborative Ventures in Seed Genomics Through Generative AI Utilization Blockchain Technology Set to Revolutionize the Entire Food Supply Chain The Future of Computer Vision in Farming 4.0 Key Topics Covered: Growth Opportunity Analysis Farming 4.0 Value Chain Three Main Trends that will Shape the Future of Farming 4.0 Farming 4.0 Ecosystem Technology Providers - Real-time Condition Monitoring Technology Providers - Precision Farming Technology Providers - Sustainable Farming Growth Drivers Growth Restraints For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/igpvoi About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Top 6 Growth Opportunities in Medical Devices, 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The medical devices industry is facing significant challenges in the form of pricing pressures and a slow growth environment in the traditional markets. Among the traditional markets, the consumables and services segment is gaining traction from activities tied to the installation of new capital equipment, the gradual replacement of capital equipment, and the refurbishing of capital equipment. In the Middle East, the rising number of hospitals is contributing to more capital equipment installations across the region. Medical devices vendors are focused on new business models to provide services such as multi-vendor services, online parts ordering, remote servicing, cybersecurity, and professional services (including consulting) to drive growth in a competitive environment. Increasing healthcare costs and healthcare workforce burnout have led to the creation of innovative business models and disruptive technologies that will drive growth in the medical devices industry during the next year. Patients, payers, and health providers are significantly shifting care into out-of-hospital settings, such as ambulatory care centers and homes, to reduce healthcare costs and provide patient convenience. The development of medical devices such as remote and continuous monitoring devices, wearables, and connected solutions are enabling this transformation. To reduce clinicians' work-related pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare providers implemented telemedicine, remote care, and virtual care solutions, a trend that is still driving demand for medical devices in these areas of care. Providers are also implementing process automation solutions, such as robots, to help reduce workload burden for the healthcare workforce. Top 6 Growth Opportunities in Medical Devices, 2024 Connected/Home Care Managed Services Healthcare Infrastructure Projects in the Middle East Vital Signs Monitoring Devices Virtual Rehabilitation Solutions Healthcare Robots For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/k229kp About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Distribution Deals in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology 2016 to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Understanding the nuances and complexities of distribution agreements is crucial for businesses aiming to thrive in the dynamic pharmaceuticals and biotechnology markets. A newly available research publication offers an exhaustive evaluation of distribution deals within these sectors, meticulously analyzing data from 2016 through to 2024. The latest comprehensive report provides a granular analysis of distribution deal trends, deal values, and the terms of payment, serving as an indispensable resource for companies navigating this competitive landscape. The research transcends mere data compilations, offering access to actual distribution contract documents filed with the Securities Exchange Commission, providing unparalleled insights into the nitty-gritty of these deals. Key insights from the report: In-depth orientation on the intricacies of distribution dealmaking and the strategic approaches businesses can adopt. A comprehensive summary of distribution deal structure, highlighting the essential elements that shape these complex agreements. A directory-style listing of all distribution deals announced since 2016, segmented by company, therapeutic focus, and technology type, accompanied by hyperlinks to full deal records. Top performing deals and most active dealmakers: The report showcases leading agreements by their headline value, as well as the most proactive companies in the deal space. Market Trend Analysis and Future Outlook Alongside providing historical deal data, this report also presents predictive analytics that support strategic planning and inform future decisions. Stakeholders can leverage this research to gain a forward-looking perspective on market trends. Not only does the report function as a directory of past deals, but it stands as a testament to the critical role that distribution plays in the continued growth and global reach of the biopharma industry. It outlines the relationships between deal terms and corporate strategy, emphasizing the value of robust negotiations and thoughtful agreement structuring. Such comprehensive insights into the distribution deal landscape empower businesses with the knowledge to make informed decisions. This report, now available, serves as an authoritative guide for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, investors, and other stakeholders keen on understanding the distribution dynamics that influence the success of these industries. From tracking advancements in therapeutic areas to analyzing the adoption of emerging technologies, the report encapsulates the evolving facets of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. It stands as a crucial tool for entities aiming to maximize their potential through strategic alliance formation and savvy deal-making. With meticulous due diligence and expert analysis, the report paves the way for stakeholders to meticulously assess and navigate the complex environment of distribution deals. The myriad of details provided not only enhances the transparency of deal terms but also equips companies with the foresight to thrive in an increasingly interconnected global marketplace. Distribution Deals in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology provides the reader with the following key benefits: Understand deal trends since 2016 Browse distribution deals Benchmark analysis - identify market value of transactions Financials terms Directory of deals by company A-Z, therapy focus and technology type Leading deals by value Most active dealmakers Identify assets and deal terms for each transaction Access contract documents - insights into deal structures Due diligence - assess suitability of your proposed deal terms for partner companies Save hundreds of hours of research time Distribution Deals in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology includes: Trends in distribution dealmaking in the biopharma industry Overview of distribution deal structure Directory of distribution deal records covering pharmaceutical and biotechnology The leading distribution deals by value Most active distribution dealmakers The leading distribution partnering resources Analyzing contract agreements allows due diligence of: What are the rights granted or optioned? What rights are granted by the agreement? What exclusivity is granted? What is the payment structure for the deal? How are sales and payments audited? What is the deal term? How are the key terms of the agreement defined? How are intellectual property rights handled and owned? Who is responsible for commercialization? Who is responsible for development, supply, and manufacture? How is confidentiality and publication managed? How are disputes resolved? Under what conditions can the deal be terminated? What happens when there is a change of ownership? What sublicensing and subcontracting provisions have been agreed? Which boilerplate clauses does the company insist upon? Which boilerplate clauses appear to differ from partner to partner or deal type to deal type? Which jurisdiction does the company insist upon for agreement law? Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 2 - Trends in distribution dealmaking 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Definition of distribution deals 2.3. Trends in distribution deals since 2016 2.3.1. Distribution dealmaking by year, 2016 to 2024. 2.3.2. Distribution dealmaking by phase of development, 2016 to 2024. 2.3.3. Distribution dealmaking by industry sector, 2016 to 2024. 2.3.4. Distribution dealmaking by therapy area, 2016 to 2024. 2.3.5. Distribution dealmaking by technology type, 2016 to 2024. 2.3.6. Distribution dealmaking by most active company, 2016 to 2024. 2.3.7. Attributes of pure distribution deals 2.3.8. Attributes of distribution in multi-component deals 2.4. Aligning partners to make the distribution agreement work Chapter 3 - Overview of distribution deal structure 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Distribution agreement structure 3.3. Distribution rights as part of a wider alliance agreement Chapter 4 - Leading distribution deals 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Top distribution deals by value Chapter 5 - Top 25 most active distribution dealmakers 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Top 25 most active distribution dealmakers Chapter 6 - Distribution deals including contracts directory 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Distribution deals with contracts 2016-2024 Deal directory Deal directory - distribution dealmaking by companies A-Z Deal directory - distribution dealmaking by therapy area Deal directory - distribution dealmaking by technology type For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/p4p6m3 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets BEIJING, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In his first public appearance before media since taking his new post, Wu Qing, head of China's securities watchdog, outlined on Wednesday his plan to ensure the stable development of the capital market, the world's second largest, and vowed to beef up institutional buildup and to better ensure investor protection. Chinese analysts noted that the institutional and holistic approach outlined by the head of China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), who takes a harsh tone on illegal behavior while being considerate to small investors, is a pragmatic approach that suits the market reality, and is set to boost market confidence, stabilize expectations and shore up the overall investment value of China's capital market. A number of delegates to the ongoing two sessions also contributed their thoughts on the topic, which is under the global media spotlight. Wu's appearance at the press conference, held during the ongoing two sessions, along with several other top government officials in charge of China's economic and trade affairs, is one of the highlights of the political event, as ensuring the stability of the capital market was mentioned in the Government Work Report for the first time following a period of turbulence in the Chinese A-share market ahead of China's Spring Festival holidays in February. The Government Work Report, delivered by Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday at the opening meeting of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, set a growth target of around 5 percent for the country's economy in 2024. Notably, the report pointed out that "the underlying stability of the capital market should be enhanced." Giving his insight on how to ensure the stable development of the capital market, Wu the CSRC chairman, who is one day short of completing his first month in the new post, said enhancing institutional buildup and attracting long-term investment into the market will be among the measures to be taken to accomplish the task outlined in the Government Work Report. Acknowledging that market operation has its own rules and should not be interfered with under normal circumstances, Wu told the press conference that the regulator "won't hesitate to act to correct extreme situations when the market seriously deviates from its fundamentals, irrational and violent fluctuations occur, liquidity is exhausted, market panic occurs and serious draining of confidence appears." The first-time ever mentioning of enhancing the underlying stability of the capital market sends a strong signal of China's commitment to building itself into a financial powerhouse and sets the tone for the future development in related fields, delegates to the two sessions said. Outside of the two sessions venue, Chinese scholars also shared their views on what Wu had said at the press conference. Dong Shaopeng, a senior research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the announcement made by CSRC chairman Wu, with an emphasis on both strength and toughness, laid out a clear-cut vision on improving the construction of fundamental institutions and better regulating the capital market, and is a "pragmatic approach in line with reality." "The dual emphasis by the CSRC on strengthening regulation and bolstering investor protection are set to improve the stability and quality of the Chinese capital market," Dong noted. Dong said that the emphasis on protecting small and medium-sized investors addresses the root of the problem facing China's capital market, as their ranks formed the ultimate source of long-term funding for the Chinese A-share market. The stock market has drawn much attention during this year's two sessions, with members, legislators, and officials putting forward practical and broad-perspective suggestions and motions on stabilizing the capital market, Xi Junyang, a professor at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Wu's remarks at the press conference will be heard by both domestic and overseas investors, Xi Junyang noted. "And his remarks, including protecting investors' interests, lifting the quality of listed companies, and implementing a stricter delisting system, are conducive to boosting investor confidence and the overall investment value of China's capital market." "We can expect proactive measures to be announced in these areas," Xi Junyang said. The Government Work Report set priorities and the direction for this year's economic work, and also offers much-needed reassurance to the capital market, Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund Management Co, told the Global Times on Wednesday. "The stock market is a barometer of a country's economy," Yang said. "Stepped-up macro-policies and stable economic recovery will contribute to a rebound in the A-share market." A note of reassurance With the sound development of the capital market a matter of vital concern, delegates to the two sessions are also contributing their ideas, with some pointing out that the Government Work Report has brought "a certain sense of reassurance to the market." "The Chinese equities market was on a turbulent ride at the beginning of 2024, so the statement in the Government Work Report gives investors a sense of encouragement as well as a certain sense of reassurance," Fang Jie, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and president of Hubei University of Economics, told the Global Times on Wednesday. There is a lot of work to be done to improve the underlying stability of the capital market and ensure its sound development, and first and foremost is to continue shoring up the macroeconomy, which provides a foundation for market performance, noted Fang, who has also served as the deputy secretary general of Wuhan government in Central China's Hubei Province and the director of the Wuhan Financial Work Bureau. Chinese financial authorities also need to further carry out sweeping market reforms, such as creating more innovative capital market products to help release market vigor, and improve the systemic design of the capital market through measures such as increasing the transparency of listed companies' information disclosure and carrying out holistic supervision over the A-share market, Fang said. Yang Chengzhang, a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and chief economist with Shenwan Hongyuan Securities, told the Global Times on Wednesday that in order to ensure the stable development of the capital market, the government should also continuously put efforts and resources into stemming risks in the property sector, local debt and small and medium-sized financial institutions, as these three sectors are major sources of concern for capital market investors in 2023. The Government Work Report's call to tackle risks in key areas and beef up security in key sectors will help ease excessive worries and curb the pessimistic outlook in the market, according to Yang Chengzhang. In order to promote the sound development of the capital market and protect investors' rights and interests, the CSRC has held symposiums to solicit opinions and suggestions on improving the basic system of the capital market, strengthening the protection of the rule of law, and it has also paid visits to listed firms to help them address difficulties to achieve high-quality development. Since Wu took office, the Chinese A-share market has recovered much of its losses from the recent cycle, finishing at 3,039.93 points at the Shanghai bourse and 9,395.65 points at the Shenzhen bourse on Wednesday. Following robust travel and tourism activity during the eight-day Spring Festival holidays, the Chinese economy is off to a good start. Preliminary economic indicators suggest that China is poised to achieve a good start in the first quarter, Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planner, said at the same press conference. Zheng revealed that industrial power use grew at 9.7 percent in the January-February period, exports are likely to grow 10 percent year-on-year, indicating robustness in the economy. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202403/1308345.shtml SOURCE Global Times BEIJING, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- February 29 marks the 17th International Rare Disease Day. The World Health Organization defines diseases with a prevalence of 0.065 percent to 0.1 percent of the total population as rare diseases. As of the end of September 2023, around 780,000 cases of rare disease had been registered in China since the inception of a rare disease diagnosis and treatment service information system in 2019, according to the China Global Television Network. To improve the diagnosis and treatment level of rare diseases and safeguard the health rights and interests of rare disease patients in the country, the Chinese National Health Commission, together with other four Chinese government departments, released the first catalog of rare diseases in 2018. Various localities in the country are implementing policies on medication, health insurance and research according to the catalog. The catalog was revised in September 2023. It now contains 86 rare diseases of 17 medical specialties, including hematology, dermatology and pediatrics, according to the National Medical Products Administration. In 2021, China also for the first time included a rare disease treatment in its National Reimbursement Drug List. These moves together benefited thousands of Chinese suffering from rare diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patient Zhang Jianuo and his parents. SMA treatment Nusinersen was included in the NRDL in November 2021 for the first time, which cut the price of the treatment from 700,000 yuan ($97,266) per dose to 33,000 yuan per dose. "Me and Jianuo's father cried when the news was announced. We are truly grateful to the country for showing us that our child has a chance to be saved and has hope," Zhang Jianuo's mother Li hui was quoted as saying by CCTV. Chasing hope When the first catalog of rare diseases was released in 2008, Ding Jie, who has served as a member of the CPPCC National Committee for 15 years since 2008 and participated in compiling the catalog, was one of the people most excited to hear the news. Ding, former vice president of Peking University First Hospital, believed that this catalog was a milestone, and the joint release by five departments is a key demonstration that "the Chinese government is ready to face the rare disease problem," Ding said. During the 15 years serving as a CPPCC member, Ding's focus has been almost entirely on rare diseases. She had reportedly offered proposals such as the establishment of a rare disease medical security system and regulations for the assistance of rare disease patients. In 2017, she once again suggested that rare diseases be included in the national medical insurance catalog, according to reports at the time by China National Radio. When Ding first began her CPPCC journey, the public's attention to rare diseases was low. "At first, when I spoke at the conference, there were always people around me showing puzzled expressions. But in the past decade, the situation has changed. Whenever rare diseases are mentioned, the members are particularly concerned and want to contribute to solving the problem," she was quoted as saying in a report of the CPPCC Daily. "In the past, it was 'I' suggesting, but in recent years it has become 'we,'" Ding was quoted as saying. During the 2022 two sessions, the Chinese government included "strengthening research of rare diseases and better ensure the supply of medicines" in its yearly work report. This is an achievement thanks to previous efforts of NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members like Ding. It is also an encouragement to more political advisors to continue to fight for patients suffering from rare diseases in the future. For example, this year, Sun Jie, a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and deputy dean of the school of insurance at the University of International Business and Economics, will reportedly propose landmark legislation for rare disease drugs to ensure that patients have access to lifesaving medication. With the increased awareness of rare disease, increased investment is being made available, and the medical needs of patients are becoming an increasing priority. It is imperative to clearly formulate or introduce a landmark law or special policy for rare disease drugs, and to systematically regulate research and development, Sun told chinatimes.net. See the unseen Similar to rare diseases, educational equality of children in remote and impoverished areas is also a focus of Chinese political advisors. "It is such a good news for children in former underdeveloped revolutionary old areas, ethnic minority autonomous counties, and former key poverty-stricken counties in our province!" Li Xingling, a deputy to the 12nd and 13rd NPC, posted on her WeChat in April 2023, after South China's Guangdong Province released the special enrollment plan for key universities in 2023, relaxing admission requirements to cover more students in these areas, according to a report on the Guangdong provincial government's official website. The special enrollment plan is one of the preferential policies in China to better promote educational equity and allow more rural students to enjoy high-quality higher education. Li was so happy as the move Guangdong made is an outcome after she submitted a motion during 2022 two sessions to call for adjustment to the plan in order to help more rural and impoverished students to be able to enroll in high ranking universities. "Although I am no longer an NPC deputy [since 2023], I am still very happy to see my suggestions being adopted. I will continue to pay attention to this policy. In the future, I will continue to focus on my job, strengthen my responsibilities, and make efforts to promote the high-quality development of basic education in mountainous areas," Li was quoted as saying in the report. Since being elected as an NPC deputy in 2013, Li has never stopped focusing on education. In 2013, she submitted a motion on providing subsidies to teachers in mountainous areas, and in 2015, she proposed increasing the per capita funding for high school students. From 2018 to 2021, she has put forward a total of 25 motions, with 13 of them related to education, according to a report of thepaper.cn in 2022. Many rural teachers received subsidies after my motion was adopted, allowing them to teach in rural areas with more peace of mind and reducing talent drain, this is one of the happiest things that happened during my 10 years of service as an NPC deputy, Li told thepaper.cn. Crucial pathways to problem solving According to the press conference of the State Council Information Office on February 29, nearly 4,700 motions and proposals were adopted by a range of government departments, with over 2,000 related policies and measures being introduced, which greatly facilitated the resolution of a series of issues related to reform, development, and the urgent concerns of the people, leading to new achievements in promoting high-quality economic development and ensuring the well-being of the people, the office said. "The two sessions play a powerful role in addressing people's most demanded livelihood issues," said Su Wei, a professor from the Party School of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee. Su has served as a CPPCC member in Chongqing for many years. "Besides my regular duties, I also participate in research and discussions organized by the NPC and CPPCC to investigate issues concerning people's livelihoods," he told the Global Times. Su noted that because NPC deputies and CPPCC members usually come from different sectors such as healthcare and education, they can delve deeper into problems from their own professional experience, providing solutions to government departments. Therefore, the two sessions indeed play a unique and significant role in resolving medical and educational issues. Motions and proposals during the two sessions are crucial pathways for addressing issues impacting people's livelihood, and they're becoming increasingly effective. First, it is because that governments are placing greater importance on proposals and motions put forward by CPPCC members and NPC deputies. Every year, during the two sessions, government departments are required to inform the NPC deputies, the CPPCC member as well as the public of the progress they've made in implementing motions and proposals of the previous year. Second, the quality of motions and proposals is improving, truly reflecting issues impacting everyday people. Furthermore, there are some reward mechanisms and regulations on NPC deputies and CPPCC members, which to some extent encourage them to brainstorm better ideas, according to Su. SOURCE Global Times NEW YORK, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global green ammonia market size is estimated to grow by USD 1,008.31 million from 2022 to 2027, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 90.05% during the forecast period. By geography, the global green ammonia market is segmented into Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa. The report provides actionable insights and estimates the contribution of all regions to the growth of the global green ammonia market. Europe is estimated to contribute 37% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The growth of the market in Europe is attributed to factors such as increased research and development in hydrogen production and the introduction of electric vehicles. Government support, increasing investment from investors, and technological feasibility are also some factors that are driving the growth of the regional market. Rising energy prices and growing awareness of the dangerous impacts of conventional energy sources have led governments to invest in alternatives such as green ammonia. These factors will increase the demand for ammonia in this region during the forecast period. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Green Ammonia Market For more insights on the historic data (2017 to 2021) and forecast market size (2023 to 2027) - Request a sample report Report Coverage Details Page number 159 Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 90.05% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 1,008.31 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 76.43 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution Europe at 37% Key countries US, China, Australia, Germany, and Russia The introduction of green ammonia is notably driving the green ammonia market growth. Green ammonia production drives the market as it does not emit greenhouse gases and therefore does not increase carbon dioxide emissions. A proof-of-concept plant in Harwell, Oxfordshire has allowed it to achieve this by using electricity, water and air to produce ammonia with zero CO2 emissions. In general, ammonia is produced by the Haber process, which involves the conversion of hydrogen and nitrogen under a high temperature (752 degrees F to 842 degrees F) using an iron catalyst. Currently, the production of ammonia by the Haber process accounts for 1.6% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Thus, the production of green ammonia using electricity, water, and air can reduce carbon emissions. The growing demand for carbon emission-free fuels will surge the demand for green ammonia, which, in turn, will boost the growth of the market during the forecast period. The high cost of green hydrogen may hamper the growth of the green ammonia market. Segment Overview Technavio has segmented the market based on application (power generation, transportation, industrial feedstock, and others) and technology (alkaline water electrolysis, proton exchange membrane, and solid oxide electrolysis). The power generation segment will account for a significant share of the market growth during the forecast period. The increasing global population is the main driver of the demand for power generation. Emerging regions such as India and China are undergoing rapid urbanization, and the demand for electricity is constantly increasing due to the growing number of consumers. This has forced governments around the world to take aggressive steps to ensure a stable electricity supply in their jurisdictions. This is important for stable investment inflows into the power generation industry. Demand for power generation will soar as the urban population grows. Such factors are likely to remain the major factors behind the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Insights on the market contribution of various segments including country and region wise, historic data (2017 to 2021) and forecast market size (2023 to 2027) - Download a Sample Report Key Company Technavio has extensively analyzed 15 major vendors, including AquaHydrex Inc., BASF SE, CF Industries Holdings Inc., Cummins Inc., Enapter Srl, ENGIE SA, Fertiglobe plc, Greenfield Nitrogen LLC, Haldor Topsoes Alle1, Hiringa Energy Ltd., ITM Power plc, Maire Tecnimont SpA, MAN Energy Solutions SE, McPhy Energy SA, Nel ASA, Siemens AG, Starfire Energy, thyssenkrupp AG, Uniper SE, and Yara International ASA. Increasing investment is a major trend impacting the growth of the green ammonia market. Insights on Market Drivers, trends, & Challenges, historic period(2017 to 2021) and forecast period(2023 to 2027)- Request a sample report! Analyst Review The green ammonia market is poised for exponential growth, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers that contribute to environmental degradation. Leveraging renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower, the production of ammonia undergoes a transformative process through electrolyzers, utilizing water and nitrogen extracted from an air separation unit. This innovative approach to ammonia production not only reduces reliance on fossil fuels like natural gas but also mitigates greenhouse emissions, aligning with global initiatives such as the Renewable Energy Directive and the Renewable Fuels Standards Program aimed at achieving net zero CO2 emissions. The transition towards a hydrogen-based economy is further facilitated by the investment in renewable energy projects, fostering power generation that minimizes power generation cost and maximizes environmental sustainability. The demand for green ammonia extends beyond environmental concerns; it addresses the need for eco-friendly fertilizers in agricultural production. As fertilizer consumption continues to rise, there is a growing emphasis on soil health and soil conditions. Traditional chemical fertilizers and pesticides have been detrimental to soil ecosystems, leading to contamination and diminishing agricultural yields. In contrast, organic fertilizers and green ammonia promote soil health, enhancing crop yields while preserving the environment. The Asia Pacific region, with its burgeoning agricultural sector, stands to benefit significantly from the adoption of green ammonia. Governments and industries are increasingly recognizing the capital-intensive nature of green ammonia plants and are willing to invest in CAPEX costs to transition towards sustainable practices. The green ammonia market is not limited to its application in agriculture; it extends to transportation fuel and power generation, offering versatile solutions to diverse industries. As awareness of environmental sustainability grows, the demand for green ammonia will continue to soar, driving innovation and transforming the landscape of energy production and agricultural practices worldwide. Request a sample report! Market Overview The Green Ammonia Market is witnessing a surge in demand due to the rising focus on renewable and carbon-free energy sources. This eco-friendly alternative is produced through the utilization of solar, wind, or hydropower to power an electrolyzer, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then combined with nitrogen, typically extracted from an air separation unit, to produce ammonia. This process significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to traditional methods. The ammonia production sector is rapidly adopting these green technologies to meet sustainability goals, driving the growth of the green ammonia market. With an increasing emphasis on environmental conservation, green ammonia presents a promising solution for various industries. Request a sample report! Related Reports: The acrylonitrile market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.69% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecasted to increase by 1,251.1 thousand tons. The isopropylamine market size is expected to increase by USD 110.91 million from 2022 to 2027, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.96%. Table of contents 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation by Application 7 Market Segmentation by Technology 8 Customer Landscape 9 Geographic Landscape 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 11 Company Landscape 12 Company Analysis 13 Appendix About US Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio BALTIMORE, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenLight Baltimore hosted its "Charming Nights" event on March 7th, 2024, at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. The event drew 150 attendees, raising critical awareness for the organization's mission to use a community-driven approach to tackle economic and racial inequities, remove barriers, create new opportunities and improve economic mobility Charming Nights was an evening filled with celebration, food, music, and community spirit featuring a an art collection from the "Artwork for Equity Campaign". Uplifting the leadership and advocacy of Baltimore's young people and the tireless efforts of those working to place power and resources in their hands, attendees celebrated the launch of Point Source Youth's (PSY) Direct Cash Transfers intervention coming to Baltimore. In addition, awards were given to three dynamic local leaders who work to make Baltimore an even better place to live, work and enjoy. "Point Source Youth's Direct Cash Transfer intervention is a welcomed addition in the City of Baltimore," said Ryan Turner, Executive Director, GreenLight Fund Baltimore. "Placing cash in the hands of young people means placing the power for them to accelerate their path towards self-sufficiency and economic success we are elated to celebrate Point Source Youth today." Together with Point Source Youth, GreenLight Baltimore produced a youth-led video documenting the process of co-creating the direct cash transfers program with youth consultants in Baltimore. The video debuted at the event as a showcase of months of community collaboration and the hard work of young people to make the launch of PSY's direct cash transfers pilot in BaltimoreCARE Baltimore (Cash Assistance, Resources, & Engagement) a successful intervention for Baltimore's young people. GreenLight's partner organization, Point Source Youth shared exciting updates coming out of CARE Baltimore, and invited attendees to their 8th Annual National Symposium on Solutions to End Youth Homelessness in Baltimore on June 24-26, 2024. "Point Source Youth is thrilled to be partnered with GreenLight Baltimore to bring CARE (Cash Assistance Resources, and Engagement) Baltimore to fruition," says Anjala Huff, Point Source Youth's Vice President of Direct Cash Transfers."This is our opportunity to show the young people of Baltimore that we are listening, we hear their concerns, and we will act now by putting power and resources directly in their handsoint Source Youth will continue to work with GreenLight to expand direct cash transfers for youth in Baltimore." Through CARE Baltimore, Point Source Youth aims to generate evidence for designing successful housing interventions for youth experiencing homelessness. Additionally, the CARE Baltimore program aims to create stand-up processes, procedures, and infrastructures that are geared for sustainability, scalability, and racial and 2SLGBTQIA+ equity as part of Baltimore's systemic response to ending youth homelessness. PSY believes that by trusting young people, removing financial barriers to housing, and offering supportive services before becoming unhoused, we will see more young people avoid homelessness and stay housed long-term. About GreenLight, Baltimore GreenLight Fund Baltimore uses a community-driven approach to tackle economic and racial inequities, remove barriers, create new opportunities and improve economic mobility Outcomes. GreenLight Fund Baltimore partners with communities to remove barriers to inclusive prosperity by launching and scaling proven programs that meet community-identified needs.For more information, please visit https://greenlightfund.org/sites/baltimore/ About Point Source Youth Point Source Youth (PSY) envisions a world where all young people can enjoy the right to safety, stability, and joy. PSY works with communities large and small, alongside local youth advocates to advance affirming, data-backed solutions that place power and resources directly in the hands of youth experiencing homelessness. Because PSY knows that the young people most impacted by the crisis are QTBIPOC, their interventions work to uplift and meaningfully center their voices most. By providing young people with subsidized rent & leases in their own names (Rapid Re-housing), matching youth with affirming adults and spare rooms in their communities (Host Homes), to giving them monthly cash payments with optional wrap-around services of their choosing (Direct Cash Transfers), and one-time cash payments to young people with the goal of preventing them from entering homelessness in the first place (Direct cash Transfers as Prevention)Point Source Youth works to ensure that youth homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring. For more information, please visit www.pointsourceyouth.org SOURCE POINT SOURCE YOUTH STOCKTON, Calif., March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of renowned American illustrator J.C. Leyendecker, and the Haggin Museum of Stockton, California is proud to announce their year-long celebration in honor of this iconic artist. Through a special exhibition showcasing Leyendecker's remarkable body of work, engaging events, exciting giveaways, and more, the Haggin invites the community to join in the festivities. To kick off the celebration, The Haggin Museum is hosting a special family day on Saturday, March 23rd, coinciding with J.C. Leyendecker's birthday. Families are invited to immerse themselves in a day filled with creativity, fun, and appreciation for the artist's contributions. Event Highlights: Family Day Extravaganza: Join us on Saturday, March 23rd, for a day filled with family-friendly activities and festivities. From 1-3 pm, children aged 5 and up can partake in engaging crafts, while families can enjoy a variety of fun activities throughout the day. Leyendecker-Themed Giveaways: Experience the joy of exclusive Leyendecker-themed giveaways that will be distributed throughout the day, adding an extra layer of excitement to this special celebration. Special Admission Offer: In honor of J.C. Leyendecker's 150th birthday, The Haggin Museum is offering a special $1.50 admission fee to adults, seniors, youth, military, and students. As always, children aged 9 and under enjoy free admission, making it an affordable and enjoyable day for families. About The Haggin Museum: The Haggin Museum, located at 1201 N. Pershing Ave. in Stockton, CA, is dedicated to fostering an appreciation for the arts and culture. With a diverse collection of art and historical artifacts, the museum provides a unique and enriching experience for visitors of all ages. For more information on the J.C. Leyendecker 150th Anniversary Celebration and other upcoming events at the Haggin Museum, please visit hagginmuseum.org. For more information about J.C. Leyendecker's life and legacy, please visit visitstockton.us/leyendecker Visit Stockton, a 5016, non-profit corporation, is the official destination marketing organization for Stockton, California. We are dedicated to positively impacting the local economy through programming and elevating civic pride, highlighting the Stockton community as a positive place to work and live. More information can be found at visitstockton.org. SOURCE Visit Stockton DUBLIN, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Hydrogen Peroxide Market Report by Application, End-Use, and Region 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global hydrogen peroxide market size, valued at US$ 3.3 billion in 2023, is expected to expand substantially to reach US$ 4.5 billion by 2032. This growth trajectory implies a steady CAGR of 3.42% over the forecast period from 2023 to 2032. The demand for hydrogen peroxide is accelerating due to its increasing utilization across various sectors, including medical, environmental, and agricultural applications, driving forward the industry's momentum. Rising Medical Applications Feeding Market Expansion The burgeoning application of hydrogen peroxide as an antiseptic for minor wounds and a mouth rinse for oral issues is infusing significant growth within the market. The compound's capability to release oxygen and induce foaming facilitates the elimination of dead skin and thorough area cleansing. Its efficacy in treating serious illnesses such as AIDS, cancer, influenza, and emphysema further underscores its importance in the medical sector. Competitive Dynamics: A Fragmented Market with Robust Activity A comprehensive competitive analysis included in the report sheds light on the market structure, key player positioning, and their market shares. Despite the presence of numerous players and moderate entry of new participants, the hydrogen peroxide market exhibits a fragmented outlook, with high capital investments and rigid regulations being substantial barriers for new entrants. Market Trends Shaping the Future of Hydrogen Peroxide The market is experiencing a substantial uptick in demand due to hydrogen peroxide's role as an eco-friendly bleaching agent in the paper industry and its usage in water treatment. Government initiatives for pollution control are further bolstering the market. Additionally, the need for hydrogen peroxide in producing hygienic F&B packaging and enhancing crop yields in agriculture catalyzes its market growth. Detailed Market Segmentation Enlightens Key Areas of Growth The report dissects the market into detailed segments based on application and end-use. Applications such as chemical synthesis, bleaching, and disinfectant use are exhaustively analyzed, with chemical synthesis capturing the largest market share. In terms of end-uses, the pulp and paper sector leads owing to the effective bleaching properties of hydrogen peroxide which offer cost benefits and improve product quality. Chemical Synthesis Bleaching Disinfectant Cleaning and Etching Others End-Use Insights: Pulp and Paper Food and Beverages Water Treatment Textiles and Laundry Oil and Gas Healthcare Electronics Others Regional Perspectives The report offers an illuminating overview of the market in key regions, with Asia-Pacific emerging as the most significant market. The growth in this region is attributed to the widespread application of hydrogen peroxide in industries ranging from pulp and paper to food and beverage and healthcare. The competitive landscape section of the report highlights influential players within the market, providing a strategic understanding of the market's dynamics. This in-depth analysis ensures that stakeholders are equipped with the vital insights needed to navigate the market. Key Questions Addressed What is the current valuation and projected growth of the global hydrogen peroxide market? What are the primary drivers stimulating the hydrogen peroxide market? How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the market? What are the leading applications and end-uses propelling market advancement? Which regions are at the forefront of the hydrogen peroxide market? Competitive Landscape The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the global hydrogen peroxide market. Some of the companies covered in the report include: Solvay Evonik Arkema Kemira Oyj FMC Corporation EkO Peroxide LLC (acquired by AkzoNobel) Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company PeroxyChem LLC Aditya Birla Chemicals Limited Kingboard Chemical Holdings Ltd BASF SE Merck Chang Chun Petrochemical Guangdong Zhongcheng Chemicals and Hansol Chemical For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lh0vig About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets Hyundai supports females in STEM-related education by awarding scholarships to the next generation of women leaders Five female STEM students to receive a $10,000 scholarship FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of International Women's Day, Hyundai Motor America has opened applications for its fifth annual Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship. In September, five female STEM students will receive a scholarship in the amount of $10,000 each. Since launching the scholarship in 2020, Hyundai has provided $250,000 to the next generation of women leaders, helping to close the gender gap in STEM fields such as engineering, mobility and autonomous driving. Hyundai Celebrates International Womens Day with Kick Off of Fifth Annual Women in STEM Scholarship "Hyundai is dedicated to making a richer journey possible for all," said Angela Zepeda, chief marketing officer, Hyundai Motor America. "Emphasizing and investing in women in STEM is crucial for shaping the future. With this scholarship, we look to help drive positive change and empower women as they continue their education." For 2024, applicants are to write an essay on how EV technology can help create a more sustainable future and discuss whether the shift towards EVs is the best path for improving global mobility and environmental health. Recipients must be high school seniors or undergraduate students who identify as female, reside in the United States and plan to pursue or are pursuing a STEM-related field of education. Applications are open now until June 20, 2024. More information can be found at www.tun.com/scholarships/the-hyundai-women-in-stem-scholarship/. Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company's Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (in development in Georgia), and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai's 835 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a recent economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com. Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok SOURCE Hyundai Motor America Recognized for Marketing Excellence and Received TikTok for Business Overseas Marketing Awards SHANGHAI, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinix, a trendy tech brand crafted for young consumers, is thrilled to announce its exceptional performance in 2023. According to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, Infinix has achieved a remarkable milestone in year-on-year increase in units in smartphone shipments, surpassing all other global smartphone brands with an astounding accomplishment of over 13 million units increase. This translates to an impressive growth rate of 64.1% compared to 2022. Infinix Tops Charts with Largest Year-on-Year Shipments Increase Among Global Smartphone Brands in 2023 Infinix Was Recognized for Marketing Excellence and Received TikTok for Business Overseas Marketing Awards Tony Zhao, General Manager of Infinix, proudly attributes the company's achievements to a multifaceted marketing approach, technological innovation, and strategic collaborations with key industry players, such as TikTok. By utilizing the platform, Infinix successfully connects with its target users, empowering them to exceed their limitations and unlock their full potential. "Infinix focuses on catering to youth preferences, providing tailored-made technological innovations, and recognizing the pivotal role of strategic partnerships. By leveraging TikTok as a creative platform, Infinix effectively reaches our target users, enabling them to conquer their limits and become the best versions of themselves." Tony Zhao. Infinix Receives TikTok for Business Overseas Marketing Award Infinix's marketing prowess recently earned them TikTok for Business's Overseas Marketing Award for being the "Innovator", recognizing their standout efforts in the international markets. This prestigious award celebrates companies making waves globally, inspiring others with innovative marketing practices. Infinix's success stems from its strategic approach, utilizing TikTok's platform to its fullest. By embracing various gameplay options and collaborating with influencers, Infinix has effectively grown its brand from awareness to tangible results, showcasing the power of creative marketing. Since its inception in 2013, Infinix has established a strong presence in overseas markets. The brand's engagement with users through compelling content and its sales success on e-commerce platforms highlight a symbiotic relationship. Campaigns like Infinix Super Brand Day and the "Capture Your Own Story" Vlog Contest have been key successes, further cementing Infinix's position as an innovative leader in the tech industry. Game-Changing Innovations Unveiled at CES & MWC 2024 Infinix continued to make waves in the industry with its game-changing innovations showcased at CES and MWC. At CES, Infinix amazed the audience with the introduction of Infinix AirCharge, a revolutionary wireless charging technology that eliminates the need for cords or charging pads. This breakthrough innovation provides a hassle-free way to power up the devices. Additionally, Infinix unveiled the Extreme-Temp Battery, addressing the challenges of extreme temperatures to ensure smooth device performance in any environment. Infinix also introduced Infinix E-Color Shift, the industry's first customizable display panel for smartphone appearances. At MWC, Infinix turned heads with their flagship mobile gaming concept, promising a new era of mobile gaming with top-notch performance and graphics. As 2024 unfolds, Infinix is poised to lead the way with more groundbreaking innovations, setting the stage for an exciting future. For more details, visit: http://www.infinixmobility.com, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & X. About Infinix Innix Mobility is a rapidly emerging technology brand that designs, manufactures and markets an expanding portfolio of smart devices worldwide under the Innix brand, which was founded in 2013. Targeting today's youth with rst in class technology, Innix creates trendy, powerful and attainably priced smart devices that bring the latest technology on the market to users around the world at a time when they need it at a price that they want. SOURCE Infinix Mobility VANCOUVER, BC, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (the "Company") - (TSX: ITH) (NYSE American: THM) today announced that it has filed its audited Year-End Financial Statements and associated Management Discussion and Analysis on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company also announced the approval of the 2024 work program. This work will focus on community engagement, as well as advance the baseline environmental data collection in critical areas of hydrology and waste rock geochemical characterization needed to support future permitting. On January 22, 2024, the Company announced that it had completed a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") pursuant to which it issued common shares to existing major shareholders to raise gross proceeds of approximately US$2.5 million. The Private Placement consisted of 3,807,911 common shares of the Company at a price of US$0.664 per common share. Shareholders can obtain copies of the Company's audited Year-End Financial Statements and associated Management Discussion and Analysis and Form 10-K on SEDAR+ at: www.sedarplus.ca, EDGAR at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at: www.ithmines.com. The Company will also provide hard copies of these documents, free of charge, to shareholders who request a copy directly from the Company. About International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. has a 100% interest in its Livengood Gold Project located along the paved Elliott Highway, 70 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. On behalf of International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (signed) Karl L. Hanneman Chief Executive Officer This news release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. SOURCE International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 8th, the International Women's Day, KuCoin, the leading crypto trading platform, and the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) announced two donation programs have been jointly launched, funded by KuCoin's previous CSR donations. The programs aim to provide essential supplies for women and girls to enhance their health and combat climate change through two impactful projects. As the oldest medical multispecialty organization dedicated to advancing women in medicine and improving women's health, AMWA's mission aligns with KuCoin's commitment to social responsibility and sustainability.The two charitable projects aimed at promoting sustainable development and addressing global climate challenges in alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first project, the Climate Change CSR Project, introduces the Climate Change Bucket (CCB), specially designed to assist women and girls disproportionately affected by global climate changes. With KuCoin's funding, a total of 1,900 Climate Change Buckets will be distributed across different locations, providing essential support to communities grappling with climate-related effects. Specifically, 1,250 CCBs will be allocated to the Commonwealth of Bahamas, while 650 will go to St. Jude Hospital and Research to help communities in Africa, contributing to climate resilience and adaptation efforts in these areas. Each Climate Change Bucket contains a carefully curated set of items, including a bucket, safety mat, thermometer, earth hug pillow, and soap, addressing immediate needs and helping communities cope with the diverse challenges posed by climate-related impacts. The second initiative, AMWA's Menstrual Equity Project, is dedicated to empowering socially disadvantaged girls and women with sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions. This initiative will allocate a total of 1,000 reusable menstrual packages, each comprising 10 pads and 2 cups, to support three organizations. Specifically, 500 units will assist the Women and Girls in Suriname's Menstrual Equity Project. Additionally, St. Jude's Children and Research Hospital, and domestic violence shelters in New York and California will each receive 250 units. This effort underscores the commitment to ensuring accessible and essential menstrual hygiene products for those in need. "KuCoin's CSR projects are dedicated to providing essential supplies for women and girls, enhancing their health, and thereby elevating global standards of women's health. This commitment is a testament to our belief in the power of technology to drive social change and improve lives. By focusing on the health and well-being of women and girls, we aim to address some of the most pressing challenges faced by these groups globally. Our goal is not just to contribute financially, but to foster a sustainable impact through ongoing support and engagement in these vital areas. We believe that empowering women and girls is crucial to achieving a more equitable and prosperous future for all," stated Johnny Lyu, the CEO of KuCoin. KuCoin's innovative use of fintech to directly benefit vulnerable global communities exemplifies their commitment to leveraging technology for social good and fostering a sustainable future. Through charitable donations and implementation, they underscore a steadfast dedication to building a better, more sustainable future, marking significant strides toward achieving the UN's SDGs by 2030 and leaving no one behind. About KuCoin Launched in September 2017, KuCoin is a global cryptocurrency exchange with its operational headquarters in Seychelles. As a user-oriented platform with a focus on inclusiveness and community action reach, it offers over 800 digital assets and currently provides Spot trading, Margin trading, P2P Fiat trading, Futures trading, Staking, and Lending to its 30 million users in more than 200 countries and regions. KuCoin is currently one of the top 5 crypto exchanges according to CoinMarketCap. In 2023, KuCoin was named one of the Best Crypto Exchanges by Forbes and recognized as a highly commended global exchange in Finder's 2023 Global Cryptocurrency Trading Platform Awards. Learn more at https://www.kucoin.com . SOURCE KuCoin MONTGOMERY, Ala. Alabama lawmakers gave final approval to a program similar to school vouchers that would provide eligible families with as much as $7,000 to help pay for private school and $2,000 for homeschooling expenses. The Alabama Senate voted 23-9 on Wednesday for the proposal, which now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey, who is expected to sign the legislation. The Senate approval came after more than five hours of debate in which opposed lawmakers presented divergent views on allowing families to tap into public money for private schooling. This bill will add another choice to students, families and parents across the state and options they can either take or not take, said Republican Arthur Orr, the bill sponsor. The state, he added, should focus on the students and not so much institutions. The legislation will allow eligible families to access as much as $7,000 in state money for private school tuition, tutoring or transfer fees to move to another public school. Parents could also get up to $2,000 for home school expenses. The program would be funded at a minimum level of $100 million. Ivey called for the passage of the bill in her State of the State address last month and named it a top priority for the session. While our state has a strong public education system, all Alabama families will soon have the right to choose their childrens schools, Ivey said Wednesday night. The first 500 slots would be reserved for families of students with disabilities. Eligibility would initially be limited to families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level, which would be about $77,460 for a family of three. The income limit would go away in 2027, but lower-income families and families with students with disabilities would have priority for funds. Opposed lawmakers expressed concern about using public dollars for private schools. This is a situation where we are looking to provide money for people to take their kids anywhere they want to take them as if weve taken care of all our other problems, said Sen. Rodger Smitherman, a Democrat from Birmingham. While the program would initially be aimed at low and middle-income families, opposed lawmakers questioned how much they would benefit, noting that private school tuition is often more than the $7,000 the state would provide. A Black lawmaker questioned whether the program would be a mechanism for white families to leave public schools. This is the new segregation. They will get paid to go and segregate, said House Minority Leader Bobby Singleton. The approved plan is smaller than a $500 million proposal introduced last year that critics said would drain too much from public education. BEIJING, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn: Liaoning province aims to develop itself into a hub of Northeast Asian cooperation, deeply integrating with the Belt and Road Initiative and playing a greater role in connecting domestic and international markets, Hao Peng, Party secretary of Liaoning, told China Daily. Hao, who is also a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, said Liaoning has made great efforts to implement the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important speeches on promoting the full revitalization of Northeast China in the new era. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, emphasized the need to improve the level of opening-up and cooperation domestically and internationally during a visit to Heilongjiang province in September. Northeast China is an important gateway for the country's northward opening-up, and its strategic position and role in strengthening regional cooperation in Northeast Asia and the interplay between domestic and international markets are increasingly prominent, Xi said. Hao noted that Liaoning has made progress in deepening economic and trade cooperation with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, with three achievements being included in the list of outcomes for the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Commodities made in Liaoning have been exported to more than 200 countries and regions. The province has handled the largest volume of China-Europe freight train services in Northeast China. Breakthroughs have been made in attracting investment, Hao said, with major foreign-funded projects such as the BMW Brilliance manufacturing unit having made important progress. He added that the province's foreign investment in actual use amounted to $3.38 billion in 2023. Located in the core region of the Northeast Asian Economic Circle, Liaoning has the geographical advantage of being connected by both land and sea, and it stands as a key gateway linking the Eurasian land bridge. The province will continuously deepen exchanges and cooperation with Japan, South Korea, Russia and Mongolia, and strengthen economic ties with Europe, the United States and Southeast Asia, as well as Central and West Asia, Hao said, adding that it will enhance its participation and influence in the opening-up process and formulate a series of "Liaoning models" in areas such as trade investment and industrial cooperation. Liaoning will attract and utilize foreign capital with greater intensity, and facilitate the establishment of iconic foreign-funded projects, he said. The province will upgrade major platforms with international influence, including the China (Liaoning) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and support Shenyang, the provincial capital, in creating a national airport economy demonstration zone, he said. It is also supporting Shenyang in building a national China-Europe freight train assembly center and promoting the construction of the Northeast Asia International Shipping Center in Dalian, he added. SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn Brookline has banned the sale of tobacco to anyone born this century SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a decision that is likely to spur similar laws in other towns, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today upheld a law in the town of Brookline that bans the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2000. The gradual phase-out of tobacco sales based on birthdate is often called Tobacco-Free Generation (TFG). The law forbids only commercial sales, not the purchase, possession, or use of tobacco, meaning the act of smoking is not criminalized. Action on Smoking and Health applauds the decision. Read the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision here> "This is an important day for myself, my family, my neighbors, and my state," said Katharine Silbaugh, a Brookline resident who co-sponsored the law. "This decision secures the right of Massachusetts towns to protect their residents' health by phasing out the sale of tobacco." Ms. Silbaugh is also a professor of law at Boston University. Brookline's Tobacco-Free Generation law was first passed at a town meeting on November 17, 2020. Before passing the law, Brookline sought an opinion from then-Attorney General and now Governor Maura Healey, who concluded that the policy was not preempted by state law. The law has remained in force during litigation, and people 23 years of age or younger cannot be sold tobacco in Brookline. The Public Health Advocacy Institute at the Northeastern University School of Law provided legal counsel to Brookline pro bono. The lawsuit leading to today's decision was brought by a pair of retailers in Brookline, who argued that the policy is preempted by state law, despite the existing legal opinion saying the opposite. The original case was thrown out on a motion to dismiss, and the plaintiffs appealed to the state supreme court. "This is a watershed moment, and I hope places in California and around the world will be inspired to put an end to the tobacco epidemic once and for all," said John Mirisch, Beverly Hills city councilor who was Mayor when his city ended all tobacco sales. Mr. Mirisch also serves on the board of Action on Smoking and Health, an organization dedicated to phasing out tobacco sales worldwide. "Today's decision signals that we've moved from mitigating the death and disease from tobacco to ending it," said Laurent Huber, Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health. ASH operates a California statewide program to assist local health departments and community coalitions with tobacco control efforts that seek to end the sale of tobacco products. Tobacco remains the biggest cause of preventable death in the U.S. and the world. Nearly half a million Americans die from tobacco each year. It also costs the U.S. more than $300 billion annually in health care costs and lost productivity. About 70% of people who smoke want to quit and wish they hadn't started. Nearly all hope their children don't become addicted. Nicotine is one of the most addictive chemicals known to science, and most adults who smoke became addicted as children. Brookline has a history of being on the cutting edge of policies to fight tobacco. It was the first town in Massachusetts to ban smoking in bars and restaurants, and among the first to ban all flavors in tobacco products, including menthol. Massachusetts was also the first state to ban all flavors in tobacco products. Two cities in California Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach have banned tobacco sales altogether, and Dolgeville, New York and Bloomington and Little Canada, Minnesota have laws phasing out tobacco retail licenses. Three Massachusetts towns held hearings on a possible Tobacco-Free Generation law in November 2023. Great Britain's parliament is also considering a Tobacco-Free Generation law. The Tobacco Endgame movement is here and will no doubt save countless lives by accelerating the end of the tobacco epidemic. ACTION ON SMOKING AND HEALTH Founded in 1967, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is America's oldest anti-tobacco organization, dedicated to a world with ZERO tobacco deaths. Because tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, ASH supports bold solutions proportionate to the magnitude of the problem. ash.org Media Contact: Megan Manning [email protected] (202) 390 9513 SOURCE ACTION ON SMOKING AND HEALTH DUBLIN, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Meeting the Needs of the Silver Segment in Personal Care" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Aging populations are changing the global consumer landscape and brands need to tailor their products. This report explores the changing consumer needs and attitudes around aging. Understand the relevant consumer trends and attitudes that drive and support innovation success so you can tap into what is really impacting the industry. Gain a broader appreciation of the fast-moving consumer goods industry by gaining insights from both within and outside of your sector and access valuable strategic take-outs to help direct future decision-making and inform new product development. Scope According to UN data, compared to 2017, the number of persons aged 60 or above is expected to more than double by 2050 and to more than triple by 2100, rising from 962 million globally in 2017 to 2.1 billion in 2050 and 3.1 billion in 2100. Many older consumers accept their age and are looking to express and celebrate it through the products they buy. By promoting inclusivity and challenging stereotypes, brands can build stronger connections with this important silver segment demographic. Key Topics Covered: The Silver Segment Targeted Solutions Authentic Marketing Holistic Ageing What's Next? Take-Outs Contact the Publisher A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes No 7 Earth Rhythm Kiehl's Body Shop Dove Trinny London For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4if1ys About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands and SAN DIEGO, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SkylineDx, an innovative molecular diagnostics company, announces the forthcoming presentation of an impactful poster by Dr. Yu, from University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center, at the upcoming AAD Annual Meeting in San Diego. The abstract concludes that the CP-GEP assay improved risk stratification for nodal metastasis and disease recurrence in patients with cutaneous melanoma [1]. Cutaneous melanoma patients diagnosed over a period of 10 years at University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center undergoing a surgical procedure to determine metastatic spread to their lymph nodes, were analyzed with the non-invasive CP-GEP assay marketed by SkylineDx as Merlin test. Merlin classified these patients as either at low risk or high risk for developing nodal metastasis and disease recurrence. Out of 176 patients, Merlin identified 66 patients as low risk. These patients could have forgone the surgical procedure due to their low risk for having metastasis in the sentinel lymph nodes, equaling reducing the surgery rate by 37.5%. Furthermore, the Merlin low-risk patients have a significant better long-term survival outcome compared to the Merlin high-risk group, 93.6% versus 79.4% for Recurrence Free Survival and 98% versus 91.4% for Melanoma Specific Survival, respectively. The analysis unveiled Merlin test's pivotal role in effectively stratifying CM patients based on their risk of disease recurrence. The poster will be presented on March 9, 8:50AM at AAD (San Diego Convention Center, Upper Level, Sails Pavilion, Poster Center 20). SkylineDx's Chief Scientific Officer, Jvalini Dwarkasing comments: "The study's results confirm that in this institute, the CP-GEP model has potential in optimizing patient management strategies. Recurrence events may be more effectively captured by this test as compared to current standard of care." About CP-GEP CP-GEP is a non-invasive prediction model for cutaneous melanoma patients that combines clinicopathologic (CP) variables with gene expression profiling (GEP). This model is able to identify cutaneous melanoma patients at low-risk for nodal metastasis who may forgo the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) procedure. The CP-GEP model was developed by Mayo Clinic and SkylineDx BV and it has been clinically validated in multiple studies More information (including references) may be obtained at www.falconprogram.com. The test has been launched in the United States and Europe as Merlin test. SkylineDx collaborates with diagnostic service providers globally to bring this test to market and increase the access. In the United States, Tempus is commercializing Tempus Merlin test. Quest Diagnostics launched their own LDT version of the CP-GEP model in the United States, under the brand name MelaNodal Predict. About SkylineDx SkylineDx is a biotechnology company focused on research & development of molecular diagnostics in oncology and inflammatory diseases. SkylineDx uses its expertise to bridge the gap between academically discovered gene expression signatures and commercially available diagnostic products with high clinical utility, assisting healthcare professionals in accurately determining the type or status of disease or predicting a patient's response to treatment. Based on test results, healthcare professionals can tailor the treatment approach to the individual patient. SkylineDx is headquartered in Rotterdam. the Netherlands, complemented by a U.S. base of operations and a CAP/CLIA certified laboratory in San Diego California, USA. To learn more about SkylineDx, please visit www.skylinedx.com. Footnotes 1. Hill et al. Primary cutaneous melanoma patients stratified by the Merlin assay (CP-GEP): risk of nodal metastasis and long-term survival outcome in a U.S. cohort. Abstract selected for poster presentation at AAD Annual Meeting 2024. Abstract AAD2024 Hill and Yu.pdf (falconprogram.com) SOURCE SkylineDx "It was an honor to represent Vivabox on this transaction" - Rocky Pontikes Post this Vivabox is a full-service provider of customized, premium marketing solutions including tailored, multi-brand kitting solutions and packaging products for luxury and premium consumer brands. The Company helps brands grow and engage customers by providing innovative brand experiences that create immediate customer impact and deepen overall brand engagement. Vivabox is headquartered in Rockville, MD but provides solutions on a global scale to its clients. Desiree Paquette, Chief Executive Officer of Vivabox Solutions, said "Mesirow's extensive sector expertise, key industry relationships and excellent execution capabilities played a crucial role in the successful pairing of Vivabox with a like-minded partner in Veritiv." "It was an honor to represent Vivabox on this transaction and we are excited to have reached a successful outcome," said Rocky Pontikes, Co-Head of Investment Banking. "The Company has built a remarkable reputation in the market by providing quality solutions and best-in-class client service. Vivabox and Veritiv's partnership positions the Company for compelling long-term strategic growth." Jim Levitas, Co-Founder of Lion Equity Partners added, "We want to express our sincere appreciation to the Mesirow team for their professionalism and execution of a seamless process that identified the ideal partner for Vivabox. We look forward to watching Vivabox's continued success under Veritiv's ownership." The sale of Vivabox represents another successful business services and distribution & supply chain assignment completed by Mesirow Investment Banking. Mesirow Investment Banking has completed over 325 transactions in recent years across its covered verticals. Committed to leveraging extensive sector-specific expertise across industry groups and nurturing deep longstanding relationships, Mesirow has a proven track record of completing highly tailored and successful transactions on behalf of its clients. About Mesirow Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago, with offices around the world, we serve clients through a personal, custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good. With capabilities spanning Global Investment Management, Capital Markets & Investment Banking, and Advisory Services, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities and our culture. To learn more, visit mesirow.com and follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to Spark, our quarterly newsletter. Mesirow was recently named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business and one of the Top 100 RIA firms by Barron's. About Vivabox Vivabox provides an end-to-end suite of services, including unique turnkey solutions from concept and design to project management, kitting, sourcing, and distribution. The Company serves a global client base across three main locations in Rockville, MD, Dallas, TX, and Scottsdale, AZ. For more information, visit www.vivaboxsolutions.com. About Lion Equity Partners Headquartered in Denver, CO, Lion Equity Partners is an operations-focused private equity firm specializing in corporate divestitures and special situations. Lion's investment strategy is centered on creating value in its portfolio companies through a combination of operational improvements, organic growth, and strategic add-on acquisitions. The firm leverages its strategic, financial, and operational expertise to build businesses that will create long-term value for all stakeholders. For more information, visit www.lionequity.com. About Veritiv Veritiv Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, is a leading full-service provider of packaging, JanSan and hygiene products, services and solutions. Additionally, Veritiv provides print and publishing products. Serving customers in a wide range of industries both in North America and globally, Veritiv has distribution centers throughout the U.S. and Mexico, and team members around the world helping shape the success of its customers. For more information about Veritiv and its business segments visit www.veritiv.com. Media [email protected] Michael Herley | 203.308.1409 Nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy an interest in any Mesirow investment vehicle(s). Mesirow Financial, Inc. is not affiliated with Vivabox Solutions, LLC, Veritiv Corporation, or their affiliates. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Mesirow refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. The Mesirow name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. 2024. All rights reserved. Securities offered through Mesirow Financial, Inc. member FINRA, SIPC. 2022 Crain's Best Places to Work (Received August 2022 reflective of previous 12 months Licensing fees paid post award for use of the ranking). Best Companies Group (BCG), an independent workplace excellence research firm, conducted a two-part survey. Part one, consisted of an employer questionnaire, used to collect information about benefits, policies, practices, and other general information. Part two was a confidential 77-question employee survey used to evaluate local employee's workplace experience and culture. Rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services and/or publications are not indicative of a firm's future performance nor do they evaluate the quality of services provided to clients or guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Mesirow is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services, nor should they be construed as a current or past endorsement of Mesirow by any of its clients. 2023 Barron's Top RIAs (Received September 2023 for the year 2022 Licensing fees paid post award for use of the ranking). In order to be considered for the Barron's 2023 Top RIA Firms list, applicants were required to complete a 145-question survey, with the firm's ADV informing the majority of responses. Firms were also required to meet a number of other specified requirements to be eligible for inclusion. Firms were ranked based on various qualitative and quantitative factors, including assets managed, the size and experience of teams, regulatory records of the advisors and firms, technology spending, staff diversity, organic and M&A growth, client segmentation as well as succession planning. SOURCE Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. Highly Successful Indianapolis-Based Team of Four Wealth Advisors Joins Sanctuary for Open Architecture and Enhanced Support INDIANAPOLIS, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanctuary Wealth (Sanctuary), home to the next generation of elite advisors, welcomes M&K Legacy Wealth (M&K) the latest breakaway to launch their own firm with Sanctuary's Partnered Independence platform. With $1 billion in total client assets, Indianapolis-based M&K was formerly known as Tanner Wealth Management Group and employed by Stifel. Founders and Managing Partners J. Miller, APMA and Chad Keller, CFA, AIF are joined by six-decade industry veteran L. Gene Tanner in launching their new independent firm. Christy Swindel, CRPC, and Suzanne Marshall, Sr. are additional wealth advisors, and the team is rounded out by three associates and operations support staff. M&K elected to co-locate with Sanctuary in its Indianapolis corporate offices. M&K represents Sanctuary's third billion-dollar, multi-generational Partner Firm in the Indianapolis area. "We have been engaged in a multi-year process of evaluating the evolution of the industry to determine the best model in which to serve our clients and grow our business," said Mr. Miller. "After a warm introduction from another of their Indianapolis-based, nationally recognized Partner Firms, we felt confident that Sanctuary's approach and platform could deliver something well beyond what can be found in traditional banks and brokerage firms. The freedom, flexibility and innovative support provided by Sanctuary through its open architecture model made them the right partner at the right time for us and our clients." For more than 50 years, under the stewardship of Mr. Tanner and his partners Mr. Miller and Mr. Keller, the firm has offered comprehensive and innovative wealth management strategies. With its new leadership and independence, M&K will build on its legacy as it helps clients grow and mitigate risk to their wealth by delivering an outstanding level of personalized service. The firm believes in delivering a completely transparent client experience aimed at building long-lasting relationships, while seeking to provide necessary income, increased assets and wealth preservation for future generations. Mr. Keller added, "As a team, we looked at a range of options over the past several years and kept coming back to Sanctuary's Partnered Independence model. Not only do they have the best platform for what we need, but the firm's deeply held values and culture align with our approach to client service and ethical engagement in our communities. Being part of this network of top teams from across the country makes our firm stronger and will yield better outcomes for clients." Focusing on business owners, pre-retirees and retired clients, M&K's services cover all areas of wealth management, from investment and retirement planning to risk mitigation strategies and estate planning. M&K specialize in helping clients develop comprehensive, cohesive financial strategies that fit their different needs and enable them to pursue both short- and long-term goals. Vince Fertitta, President, Sanctuary Wealth said, "Being introduced to great teams like M&K by our existing Partner Firms is the best compliment Sanctuary can receive. All three of our newly launched Partner Firms this year were referrals from within our network. We are incredibly honored that our Partner Firms trust our team and find so much value in our Partnered Independence platform that they are recommending others to join us. We look forward to supporting M&K as they confidently serve the unique needs of their clients." Adam Malamed, CEO, Sanctuary Wealth, concluded, "J.,Chad and their entire team are the perfect fit for our business model and culture, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the Sanctuary Wealth family. I look forward to working closely with the team to further expand the value they can create for their clients and the equity they will build in their own business." About Sanctuary Wealth Sanctuary Wealth (sanctuarywealth.com/) is the advanced platform for the next generation of elite advisors, who have the entrepreneurial spirit to build and own their own practices and desire the freedom to deliver the tailored service their clients deserve. Sanctuary Wealth's ecosystem of partnered independence provides a complete technology and operations platform, as well as support from a community of like-minded advisors and the resources of invaluable affiliated businesses. Currently, the Sanctuary Wealth network includes partner firms in 27 states across the country with approximately $30 billion in assets under advisement. Sanctuary Wealth includes the fully owned subsidiaries; Sanctuary Advisors LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser, Sanctuary Securities, Inc. a FINRA member broker-dealer as well as Sanctuary Alternative Holdings, Sanctuary Asset Management, Sanctuary Insurance Solutions, Sanctuary Global, and Sanctuary Global Family Office. Media Contact: Donald Cutler Haven Tower Group 424-317-4864 [email protected] SOURCE Sanctuary Wealth VANCOUVER. BC, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NAQI Logix, a Canadian technology company that has created a new human-machine interface that does not require brain implants, is proud to have been prequalified by Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) as one of the country's most promising digital innovations for its NAQI Earbuds. NAQI's technology platform, which can be integrated into earbuds and other wearables such as glasses and headsets, allows users to control their digital world without the need for voice, touch, screen, or cameras. NAQI Logix, Breakthrough in Human-Machine Interface Without Brain Implants, Accepted to Innovative Solutions Canada Post this Recently selected by TIME as one of the best inventions of 2023, NAQI turns facial gestures and movements into powerful digital commands. The technology is already being used to control wheelchairs, computers, robots, and even 737 flight simulators with the blink of an eye and other tiny facial gestures and movements. This sophisticated control over the digital world, including AR/VR and Metaverse, is possible without brain implants because NAQI's patented technology uses a non-invasive sensor that gently touches the ear and transforms micro-gestures and movements into digital commands. "We thank the Canadian government for their help in the development and commercialization of our technology," said Dave Segal, NAQI's inventor and Chief Innovation Officer, of Vancouver-based NAQI Logix. "Innovative Solutions Canada is a program that assists companies like ours to bring exciting new technologies to the world. We think NAQI is everyone's digital superpower, and Canada's support will help us bring this to millions of people whose lives will be improved." Former Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan, who is on the company's board, was the first quadriplegic to use NAQI to control his wheelchair. He said: "I have been waiting for a technology like this my whole life." Naqi Logix, under the ISC program, will receive up to $1.1 million to test and validate their neural earbuds and support early development for commercialization. ISC has matched NAQI Logix with Shared Services Canada (SSC) to evaluate the technology's compatibility with federal government IT services, including accessibility features for employees. This initiative aligns with SSC's commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, demonstrated through its Accessibility Plan (2022-2025). The plan outlines actions to create a more inclusive workplace culture and addresses priority areas such as program design, ICT usability, procurement, and employment practices. SSC consolidates and enhances IT services across government departments to improve efficiency and accessibility. SSC's role extends to providing accessible digital services and tools government-wide, supporting initiatives like the Accessibility, Accommodation and Adaptive Computer Technology program (AAACT) for employees with disabilities. The Accessible Canada Act, enacted by the Government of Canada, aims to achieve a barrier-free Canada by 2040. It focuses on proactive identification and removal of accessibility barriers in priority areas like employment, ICT, and transportation, with a principle of consultation with persons with disabilities, making SSC the ideal matching department to test NAQI Logix's technology. The Company believes NAQI is a gamechanger for people with accessibility and mobility issues and aligns with the Government of Canada's commitment to achieving a barrier-free Canada. NAQI can contribute to seven priority areas, including employment, the built environment, information and communication technologies, and transportation, making it a critical asset for over six million Canadians living with disabilities. The company is also in the process of a small manufacturing run to supply commercial partners with test earbud units for product development. Although NAQI Logix is not an earbud manufacturer, they plan to license their technology to a wide range of partners and leading wearable manufacturers. In addition to their ease of use, NAQI Earbuds offer benefits in the healthcare sector, particularly for individuals with quadriplegia, offering an alternative to sip-puff straws and head-arrays for controlling wheelchairs. The NAQI Earbud's technical specifications are user-friendly, making it accessible to individuals familiar with common operating systems like Windows, iOS, and Android. NAQI Logix holds 26 patents worldwide, further solidifying its position as a pioneering force in the tech industry. For more information, please visit [ https://www.naqilogix.com/ ]. ### About NAQI Logix: NAQI Logix is a Canadian technology company dedicated to developing groundbreaking innovations that enhance accessibility and control in the digital age. Our flagship product, the NAQI Earbud, empowers users to interact with information systems and devices hands-free, voice-free, and look-free, ushering in a new era of accessibility and control. We are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of Canadians and the global population through cutting-edge technology. About Innovative Solutions Canada: Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) stands as a pivotal federal initiative, spearheaded by Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED), with a resolute mission to propel the research, development, testing, and commercialization of Canadian technological innovations. ISC's Challenge Stream and Testing Stream play a pivotal role in empowering startups and small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to surmount the obstacles of technology testing and development, enabling them to bring globally sought-after products and services to the market. Simultaneously, these efforts enhance government operations, fostering a win-win scenario for both entrepreneurs and the public sector. About Shared Services Canada: Shared Services Canada (SSC) is a pivotal agency within the Government of Canada, using a government-wide approach, SSC delivers reliable and secure IT Operations, IT infrastructure, and communication and workplace technology services that support and enable government-wide programs and digital services for the Public Service. Accessibility is a core goal for SSC, as evidenced by its commitment to creating an inclusive and barrier-free environment for all Canadians, including those with disabilities. This commitment is reflected in initiatives such as the Accessibility, Accommodation, and Adaptive Computer Technology (AAACT) program, which supports employees with disabilities, injuries, and ergonomic requirements in their workplace. SSC's role extends beyond internal operations to include the provision of accessible digital services and tools to the entire government, ensuring that accessibility considerations are integrated into the technology and services used across federal departments. SOURCE NAQI Logix WASHINGTON, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will preview the agency's Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission to the International Space Station by hosting media tours Thursday, March 21, and with news conferences Friday, March 22, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in T-38 pre-flight activities at Ellington Field. Photo Date: August 16, 2022. Location: Ellington Field, Hangar 276/Flight Line. Credits: NASA/Robert Markowitz NASA and Boeing officials will discuss flight test readiness, objectives, and priorities at 10 a.m. EDT March 22, and mission managers will discuss the flight plan, timeline, and details at 11:30 a.m. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will answer questions at 2 p.m. and will be available for individual interviews. All three news conferences will air live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media. Media will have opportunities the afternoon of March 21 to learn more about the flight test, while visiting the Boeing Starliner mockup, experience training in the Starliner simulator, and meet members of the flight control teams who will support the spacecraft's first crewed flight. The flight test, currently scheduled to launch early May due to space station scheduling, will transport Wilmore and Williams to the orbiting laboratory for a planned stay of up to two weeks. A United Launch Alliance rocket and the Boeing Starliner spacecraft will launch from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This will be the final media opportunity to speak to the astronauts before they travel to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for launch. International media wishing to participate in person or seeking a remote interview with the astronauts must request credentials by 5 p.m. Monday, March 11, by contacting the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 or [email protected]. U.S. media interested in attending must request credentials by 6 p.m. Monday, March 18, from the Johnson newsroom. NASA's media accreditation policy is online. All media interested in participating in the news conference by phone must contact the Johnson newsroom by 9:45 a.m. March 22. Those wishing to submit questions on social media may do so using #AskNASA. Thursday, March 21: 11:30 CDT ( 12:30 p.m. EDT ) Media arrival at Johnson Space Center Briefing participants include (all times Eastern and subject to change based on operations): Friday, March 22: 10 a.m. Program Overview News Conference NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Steve Stich , manager, Commercial Crew Program, NASA , manager, Commercial Crew Program, NASA Dana Weigel , deputy manager, International Space Station Program, NASA , deputy manager, International Space Station Program, NASA Mark Nappi , vice president and program manager, Boeing Starliner Program 11:30 a.m. Mission Overview News Conference Mike Lammers , flight director, Starliner ascent, NASA , flight director, Starliner ascent, NASA Vincent LaCourt , flight director, International Space Station Program, NASA , flight director, International Space Station Program, NASA Ed Van Cise , flight director, Starliner rendezvous, NASA 2 p.m. Crew News Conference Butch Wilmore , NASA astronaut, mission commander , NASA astronaut, mission commander Suni Williams , NASA astronaut, mission pilot Wilmore, a U.S. Navy captain, is a veteran of two spaceflights and has accumulated 178 days in space. Selected as an astronaut in 2000, he served as a flight engineer for Expedition 41 from September to November 2014, then assumed command of Expedition 42 until his return to Earth in March 2015. During this mission, he logged 167 days in space and performed four spacewalks. In 2009, Wilmore served as a pilot aboard space shuttle Atlantis for STS-129. From Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, Wilmore earned degrees from Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Williams, a retired Navy captain, is a veteran of two space station missions, Expedition 14/15 and 32/33, and served as commander of Expedition 33. Selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998, she has logged 322 days in space, first launching on the space shuttle Discovery with the crew of STS-116, then on a Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft. Williams has completed seven spacewalks, totaling 50 hours and 40 minutes. Williams considers Needham, Massachusetts, to be her hometown and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1987 and Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, in 1995. Learn more about how NASA innovates for the benefit of humanity through NASA's Commercial Crew Program at: https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew SOURCE NASA HHS and CDC Omission Labeled a Government Determinant of Health Serious Questions Build Over Inconsistent HHS Approach to Kidney Health WASHINGTON, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), the largest and oldest independent kidney patient organization in the nation, issued an Official Statement (appears below) in response to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control's (CDC) new Respiratory Virus Guidance, publicly announced on March 1, 2024. The CDC announcement occurred on the first day of National Kidney Month. March traditionally unites kidney stakeholders and people of goodwill in efforts to raise awareness of kidney diseases, address ongoing unmet patient needs, and advocate for removal of federal regulatory and payment barriers that impede access to, and development of, new kidney diagnostics, drugs, and devices. AAKP is calling out CDC leadership, as well as appointed leaders at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for their failure to specifically highlight the documented, higher risks of severe COVID illness, hospitalization, and death among immunosuppressed kidney transplant recipients and immunocompromised chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dialysis patients. The unique vulnerabilities of kidney patients, who often manage multiple co-morbidities including diabetes and hypertension, were not specifically mentioned during the CDC's March 1st policy announcement, despite AAKP's request these concerns not be ignored. Over the past year, AAKP has pushed CDC and HHS officials to demonstrate stronger leadership and to do a better job of including the unique medical circumstances and needs of vulnerable kidney patients in HHS agency decisions and public communications. An estimated 37 million Americans have kidney disease. The disease disproportionately impacts minority Americans, many of whom are from historically underserved communities and are Medicare beneficiaries. Mortality rates among kidney patients occurred at historic levels at the start of the COVID pandemic, devastated the kidney patient community and families, and this community's ongoing risks remain a strategic concern among patient advocates and allied kidney professionals. On May 10, 2023, when White House and HHS officials announced the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, AAKP issued a statement entitled "Don't Forget Kidney Patients Their Vulnerabilities Remain." Throughout 2023, AAKP issued concerns about ongoing safety and infection threats to kidney patients in healthcare settings as the CDC's Health Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee deliberated new, draft CDC infection control guidelines. AAKP also raised kidney patient health and safety concerns to CDC officials in stakeholder briefings prior to the March 1, 2024, CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance announcement. CDC and HHS officials have expert knowledge of the evidence documenting the ongoing risks and potential negative consequences of COVID among people with kidney transplants, on dialysis or living with chronic kidney disease. The CDC's official website cites that people with these underlying medical conditions are associated with higher risks for severe COVID infection. Among kidney transplant recipients, COVID-19 vaccines have limited efficacy due to the lifetime, immunosuppressive drug regimens these patients depend upon to maintain their organs. New COVID treatments that help prevent more severe COVID infections and reduce hospitalizations are often not used for transplant patients due to serious concerns over safety and incompatibility. CDC's failure to effectively engage stakeholders in policy development and communications has led to other recent controversies. The agency has been under public and media scrutiny related to the management of the HICPAC and charges over a lack of transparency, failure to engage a broad-range of scientific experts, and selective use of evidence to develop new, draft infection control guidelines for health facilities, including hospitals (Read FORBES article / Read FORBES article). The CDC has received thousands of comments from medical professionals, patients, professional societies, and consumer interest organizations related to HICPAC and the concerns continue to impact agency credibility among key stakeholders. AAKP expressed its own concerns related CDC and HICPAC stakeholder engagement and communications, in its official role as HICPAC liaison organization, during 2023 HICPAC meetings (Read AAKP comments before HICPAC, June 8-9, 2023 see transcript, pages 55-56, and November 2-3, 2023, see transcript page 95). AAKP has strongly recommended CDC consider more inclusive stakeholder engagement models, including those utilized by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). AAKP has a decades-long association with the CDC on issues related to public health and disease prevention. In 2016, AAKP, along with allied kidney medical professional associations, was a founding member of the CDC's Making Dialysis Safer Coalition. AAKP has been a frontline partner in CDC's efforts to prevent infections among kidney patients in healthcare settings, including health acquired infections (HAIs) and catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and over the past several years, AAKP worked closely with CDC career officials to encourage greater awareness and protection from the virus, especially among immunocompromised dialysis patients and immunosuppressed kidney transplant patients, through joint webinars (March 24, 2021; March 27, 2020; August 20, 2020) and presentations (September 21, 2020; September 20, 2023) and awareness campaigns. AAKP is currently engaged in efforts to raise awareness and patient engagement within CDC's Chronic Kidney Disease Surveillance initiative. AAKP has a 50-year history of fighting for greater patient care choice, full access to care innovations, and disability rights. Since 2018, AAKP has conducted the largest national voter registration and mobilization initiative in the kidney space, titled KidneyVoters which engages a broad-based coalition of kidney patients, organ donors, professional medical stakeholders and industry on issues impacting patient outcomes. AAKP mobilizes KidneyVoters to hold elected and appointed leaders accountable for commitments to patients and support of policies that help transcend high mortality, status quo kidney care. AAKP STATEMENT The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), the nation's largest and oldest independent kidney patient organization in the nation, is deeply concerned about the Center for Disease Prevention Control's (CDC) Respiratory Virus Guidelines, including for COVID, announced on March 1, 2024. We believe these guidelines fail to adequately address the ongoing vulnerability of immunocompromised and immunosuppressed individuals and their unique needs, including people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), end stage renal disease (ESRD), and people undergoing kidney failure treatment through dialysis or a kidney transplant. AAKP recognizes the tremendous achievements the nation has made to address COVID, and we celebrate every life that has been saved through new innovations including vaccines and treatments that help prevent severe infection, hospitalization, and death. And, we will never forget all the innocent people who lost their lives to COVID, the impact on their families and friends, and all who are currently hospitalized suffering from long-COVID. The reality is, the threat of severe infection and death remains for many vulnerable Americans and their families, especially those impacted by kidney diseases. For many, the CDC's highly scripted narrative of being "in a better place," does not apply. Instead, these individuals' lives and livelihoods still require constant vigilance, and their day-to-day existence is marked by medical and financial burdens, isolation, and loneliness. The current guidelines ignore these concerns and fail to provide sufficient protection or support for this particularly high-risk group of people. This failure is deeply troubling, especially in light of the federal data available to senior appointed leaders at the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The guidelines do not address the unique needs of immunocompromised and immunosuppressed individuals. These individuals face a significantly higher risk of severe illness or death if they contract COVID and vaccinations afford unreliable protection1, yet the guidelines do not offer clear and specific recommendations tailored to their individual circumstances. This omission is a disservice to those who have fought to stay healthy over the past four years and remain in a precarious position due to their compromised health. And, it is disservice to future patients who will undergo dialysis treatments and/or secure a life-saving kidney transplant. The CDC's failure to address the vulnerability of immunocompromised and immunosuppressed individuals is particularly egregious given the growing body of evidence demonstrating the heightened risk this group faces when it comes to COVID. The propensity of the virus to be spread by infected but otherwise healthy individuals2, along with the suboptimal efficacy of the updated booster to prevent hospitalizations in the general adult population3, are of great concern. Studies continue to show that immunocompromised and immunosuppressed individuals are more likely to experience severe complications if infected with the virus and yet the guidelines do not offer the level of protection necessary to mitigate this heightened risk. The lack of specific guidance for the vulnerable kidney population sends a message that their health and safety are not a priority. This neglect is simply unacceptable and AAKP views it as a negative Government Determinant of Health (GDoH). The CDC has a moral, ethical, and legal responsibility to protect the health of all individuals, including those who are immunocompromised and immunosuppressed, and the current guidelines fall short of fulfilling this serious duty. Americans expect the CDC to put forward reliable science and substance, not surrogates and scripts that deliberately omit the concerns of the most vulnerable people in our society. It is imperative that the CDC revise its guidelines to explicitly address the needs of immunocompromised and immunosuppressed individuals. This should include clear and specific recommendations for reducing the risk of exposure, as well as clear guidelines for accessing and receiving vaccines and other safe, preventative measures. Additionally, there should be targeted guidance for employers, healthcare providers, and the general public on how to support and protect immunocompromised and immunosuppressed individuals in their workplaces and communities. The American people are fair, deeply empathetic, and generous toward people and their families who live with difficult medical circumstances. But the American people deserve clear and timely information to inform their understanding, and the CDC has failed to provide America with a complete picture on where they stand in regard to COVID and ongoing risks to fellow Americans. It is essential that the CDC rectifies this error immediately and demonstrates its commitment to protecting all individuals, especially those who are most vulnerable. The time is now for the CDC to fulfill its duty and take decisive action and rectify the shortcomings of the new Respiratory Virus Guidelines. The lives of kidney patients and millions of other vulnerable Americans are at stake. CDC's ongoing silence and failure to adequately address the concerns of kidney patients and protect immunocompromised and immunosuppressed individuals is unacceptable policy. References: 1) Evans RA, Dube S, Lu Y, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on immunocompromised populations during the Omicron era: insights from the observational population-based INFORM study. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2023;35:100747. Published 2023 Oct 13. doi:10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100747. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(23)00166-7/fulltext 2) Boyton, R.J., Altmann, D.M. The immunology of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: what are the key questions?. Nat Rev Immunol 21, 762768 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-021-00631-x 3) DeCuir J, Payne AB, Self WH, et al. Interim Effectiveness of Updated 2023-2024 (Monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 Vaccines Against COVID-19-Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalization Among Immunocompetent Adults Aged 18 Years - VISION and IVY Networks, September 2023-January 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(8):180-188. Published 2024 Feb 29. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7308a5. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7308a5.htm Since 1969, The American Association of Kidney Patients has been a patient-led organization driving policy discussions on kidney patient care choice and medical innovation. Over the past decade, AAKP patient advocates have helped advance lifetime transplant drug coverage for kidney transplant recipients (2020); the presidential Executive Order on Advancing American Kidney Health (2019); new job protections for living organ donors under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) via the U.S. Department of Labor (2018); and Congressional legislation allowing HIV-positive organ transplants for HIV-positive patients (2013). Follow AAKP on social media at @kidneypatient on Facebook, @kidneypatients on X, and @kidneypatients on Instagram, and visit www.aakp.org for more information. MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer Rate Director, Communications and Digital Operations [email protected] (813) 400-2394 SOURCE American Association of Kidney Patients TROY A Pike County woman awaits sentencing after being found guilty Wednesday of manslaughter and third-degree assault in connection with a 2020 motor vehicle crash that claimed the life one passenger and injured a second passenger. Kylee Bettencourt was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe on Oct. 29, 2020, when she recklessly navigated a left-hand curve, ran off the road, over-corrected, and eventually sent the vehicle rolling through an adjacent pasture, said 12th Judicial Circuit District Attorney James Tarbox following the two-day trial before 12th Judicial Circuit Judge Sonny Reagan at the Pike County Courthouse in Troy. Devin Whitcomb, a passenger, was ejected and succumbed to the injuries he received in the crash. Sarita Hendry, also a passenger, was injured. Tarbox said a toxicologist from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences testified that at the time of the crash, Bettencourt was under the influence of methamphetamine, impairing her judgment and ability to drive. This conviction underscores the communitys stance against those who use illegal substances and choose to operate motor vehicles, Tarbox said. Regardless of the substance, impaired judgment and motor skills can lead to unsafe situations and potential criminal charges when driving. This conviction is important because it shows that our community cannot and will not tolerate those who use illegal substances and choose to drive a motor vehicle, he added. Nationwide law enforcement is encountering an increasing number of drivers who are intoxicated by controlled substances to include marijuana. While alcohol is traditionally viewed as the substance that creates a driving under the influence situation, any substance, whether legal or otherwise, that impairs judgment and/or motor skills can create an unsafe situation and can lead to potential criminal charges if a person is impaired and operating a motor vehicle. Tarbox said the crash was investigated by Traffic Homicide Investigators with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Troopers, with assistance provided by the Pike County Sheriffs Office, Troy Fire and Rescue, and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Tarbox credited Assistant District Attorney Ternisha Jones and the jury for the verdict in the case. Bettencourt is in Pike County Jail awaiting sentencing. CENTER VALLEY, Pa., March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus, a leading global medtech company providing innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures, announced today multiple activities in celebration of International Women's Day on March 8. Additionally, the company was recognized by Mogul as one of their 2024 Top 100 Workplaces for Diverse Professionals. Olympus announced multiple activities in celebration of International Womens Day and its recognition by Mogul as one of their 2024 Top 100 Workplaces for Diverse Professionals Olympus' global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy was created to further the company's journey of achieving its purpose of "Making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling." DEI is an indispensable strategy to ensure increased organizational capability and sustainability for attracting top talent and informing the diverse needs of our medtech customers and their patients. A key goal of the global DEI strategy is to promote the advancement of women in managerial roles throughout the organization. International Women's Day is about empowerment, collaboration, and progress. By participating in these events, Olympus women are demonstrating, to internal and external audiences, a commitment to fostering an inclusive culture where women have equal opportunities to excel and creating the employee resources needed for women to develop and further their careers within the company. "Having women in leadership roles and throughout the workforce helps provide different perspectives contributing to our ability to bring innovation and solutions to market," said Stacey Morey, Vice President of Human Resources, Olympus Corporation of the Americas. "Whether that means ergonomic advancements in our latest endoscopy system and surgical energy instruments to better meet the needs of physicians, or wellness programs that address issues like balancing work and life, women in our company are creating solutions that help strengthen Olympus as a leading MedTech company and as a valuable community resource." Olympus learned in early March that it was receiving the prestigious 2024 Top 100 Workplaces for Diverse Professionals from Mogul, a global mobile app and online social platform. Mogul has issued DEI-oriented lists since 2018. Mogul created the Diverse Professionals list based on factors including: 1) commitment to DEI in hiring practices; 2) significant strides in creating inclusive environments, 3) impact of the DEI efforts on internal and external communities. Olympus is proud to be recognized for its DEI efforts on the Mogul website. Across the U.S. during the month of March, Olympus women are celebrating each other and being celebrated. Some examples of Olympus activities connected to International Women's Day include: Participation in the United Way sponsored celebration of International Women's Day (IWD), held at Air Products corporate headquarters on March 7 in Trexlertown, Pa. Stacey Morey , VP of Human Resources for Olympus Corporation of the Americas, participated as a panelist speaker. The dynamic event also featured Marci Lesko from United Way, leading voices from Air Products, PPL and Victaulic. Attendees explored insights and action steps to build an even more inclusive workplace where everyone thrives, with a focus on employee experience, fostering innovation and fostering creativity and productivity. held at Air Products corporate headquarters on in , VP of Human Resources for Olympus Corporation of the Americas, participated as a panelist speaker. The dynamic event also featured from United Way, leading voices from Air Products, PPL and Victaulic. Attendees explored insights and action steps to build an even more inclusive workplace where everyone thrives, with a focus on employee experience, fostering innovation and fostering creativity and productivity. In the Twin Cities region, where Olympus employs hundreds at its Brooklyn Park facility, Jordan Golomb , Patient Agent for the Olympus legal department, was selected to participate in a panel discussion at an upcoming CHiPs member event , also on March 7 . ChIPs (Chiefs in Intellectual Property) is a nonprofit professional organization that advances and connects women in technology, law and policy. CHiPs accelerates innovation through diversity of thought, participation and engagement. region, where Olympus employs hundreds at its facility, , Patient Agent for the Olympus legal department, was selected to participate in a , also on ChIPs (Chiefs in Intellectual Property) is a nonprofit professional organization that advances and connects women in technology, law and policy. CHiPs accelerates innovation through diversity of thought, participation and engagement. IWD Virtual Panel Event for Olympus employees . The Olympus Women's Employee Resource Group (ERG) will celebrate International Women's Day on March 13 with a virtual panel event featuring four Olympus leaders sharing their career journeys, how they've navigated growth opportunities and challenges and how the power of a support network helped them advance to where they are today. Olympus employees are encouraged to attend this event, featuring: Aasha Wanless , Director, Trade Compliance & Governance Elizabeth Blackburn , Executive Director of R&D, Single-Use Endoscopy Jacqueline Woodward , Executive Director of Marketing, ENT Swarna Alcorn , Business Unit Vice President, Respiratory . The Olympus Women's Employee Resource Group (ERG) will celebrate International Women's Day on with a virtual panel event featuring four Olympus leaders sharing their career journeys, how they've navigated growth opportunities and challenges and how the power of a support network helped them advance to where they are today. Olympus employees are encouraged to attend this event, featuring: The virtual event is followed by a Women's ERG-hosted in-person networking hour in both the Westborough and Center Valley locations, featuring lite bites developed in partnership with Brooke Williamson, winner of Top Chef Season 14. Elena Mack , Vice President of Manufacturing Quality for Olympus' Quality and Regulatory Assurance Department, will be a speaker at the 12th Advancing Women's Leadership in Pharma & Healthcare event March 25-27 in Tampa, Fla. Mack will participate in the session, "Network with Impact in a Digital Era." This conference is designed to be a high-level meeting of the minds as well as a celebration of women in pharma and healthcare. Registration spots are still open. About Olympus At Olympus, we are committed to Our Purpose of making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with healthcare professionals to provide best-in-class solutions and services for early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states. For more than 100 years, Olympus has pursued a goal of contributing to society by producing products designed with the purpose of delivering optimal outcomes for its customers around the world. For more information, visit medical.olympusamerica.com. SOURCE Olympus Corporation of the Americas PALATINE, Ill., March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is written by Avis Proctor, Ed.D., President, Harper College. Harper College President Dr. Avis Proctor Our nation finds itself facing a modern-day Sputnik moment. Americans were shocked in 1957 with the news the Soviet Union had launched the first artificial satellite into the Earth's orbit. It was a disheartening defeat that intensified ideological and political tension between the world's two superpowers and proved a critical wake-up call for the United States. Today, the U.S. risks losing the race in global competitiveness, innovation and national security if we fail to double down in our commitment to accelerating technological innovation for a strong future. One of the key vehicles to ensuring a more secure and prosperous future is the $250 billion CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which researchers and technology leaders regard as one of the nation's most significant innovation bills in decades, according to the nonprofit Brookings Institution. This historic investment seeks to strengthen U.S. competitiveness in areas including artificial intelligence (AI), smart manufacturing, semiconductors, quantum computing and clean energy while diversifying the STEM workforce. It's also a once-in-a-generation workforce development opportunity for the nation's advanced industries to address their glaring needs for STEM and technician talent. Consider this workforce gap: The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and Oxford Economics estimate that of the 3.8 million additional STEM or technical jobs that could be created in the U.S. by 2030, 1.4 million risk going unfilled. Of unfilled new positions, a sizeable portion are skilled technicians with two-year degrees and additional on-the-job "earn and learn" training such as apprenticeships. If we don't leverage this landmark opportunity, we will lose the race for the 21st century. Harper College is working to meet this pivotal moment in a variety of ways. The Biden-Harris administration recently designated 31 innovation and technology hubs across the country to catalyze investment in innovative technologies. For the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area, Harper has partnered with City Colleges of Chicago to jointly develop a proposal, "From Community to Quantum," which would bring together partners to develop the education and training pathways leading to a skilled quantum workforce. If you don't understand what quantum technology is or means, you're certainly not alone. What's most important is to understand quantum's transformational implications on economic growth, national security, job creation and any number of real-world applications. Another way Harper is working to meet regional employer demands for today's and tomorrow's skilled workforce is through its Innovation Accelerator, which we launched in 2022 to streamline and accelerate the development of programs, particularly in emerging technologies. To begin, we are developing accelerated career pathways in cybersecurity, AI and cloud infrastructure. The Innovation Accelerator analyzes labor market data and adopts the National Science Foundation-recognized Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) advisory council model to ensure new programs meet the needs of both students and employers. Members represent employers such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. As a recipient of National Science Foundation funding via the Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity grant (EPIIC), Harper serves as the lead institution of a consortium that's working to build external partnerships for nimble development of programs in emerging technologies. Of course, Harper and other community colleges must ensure broad access to emerging technologies' many opportunities. Of all college undergraduates, community colleges enroll 36% of first-time freshmen, more than half of Native American students, 48% of Hispanic students and 39% of Black students (Source: American Association of Community Colleges). And while STEM fields continue to gradually diversify, women and historically underrepresented racial groups working in these industries remain woefully underrepresented when compared to their share of the total population, and they have lower median earnings. To help remove barriers that contribute to racial and gender inequities, Harper is committed to providing a variety of wraparound services to include subsidized childcare services for Pell Grant-eligible student-parents, supported through the U.S. Department of Education's Childcare Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program. Across the country, community colleges like Harper are at the heart of our country's efforts to develop and grow innovative industries. We are nimble solution providers that open doors to economic and social mobility and create generational impact. Ask yourself, are you part of this national imperative? If not, start by evaluating the 33 CHIPS and Science Act programs and determine fit for your institutional and regional priorities. Also, confirm if you're located within one of the country's 31 new Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs. If you are, you can compete for grants which require strategic collaboration with private industry, state and local governments, education, labor unions, nonprofit organizations and others. The funding is provided for transformative investments in innovation and family-sustaining job creation. As the U.S. faces an economy-wide shortage of skilled workers, we know community colleges play a critical role in developing the talent for our regional economies, particularly for the career opportunities that do not require a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, in some states, we are already delivering on bachelor's degree attainment to meet the accelerated demand in various fields. Recent community college transfer and bachelor's degree attainment reports revealed that only 16% of community college students who transferred earned bachelor degrees; lower bachelor degree attainment rates were also reported for low-income students (11%) and students of color (9% and 13% for Black and Hispanic community college transfers, respectively). We must think differently about access and success for place-bound students who need additional skills, but are unable to leave their homes or workplaces to attend a university. We have decades of empirical data that show community college bachelor's degree attainment contributes to the social and economic mobility of individuals, their families and their communities. Every state should consider how to use community colleges as an economic development arm to expand success at the bachelor level for learners from all walks of life. And lastly, understand what's at stake for our national security, for global competitiveness, for our future workforce, and for our country's obligation to lift up nearly 40 million Americans out of poverty. This is our modern-day Sputnik moment. It is a race for our future. We cannot squander it. Uniquely American, community colleges serve more than 10 million students annually providing critical access to higher education in both academic and workforce development. As the voice of the nation's community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC's member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all. https://www.aacc.nche.edu/ SOURCE American Association Of Community Colleges Pete & Thomas Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Megan Thee Stallion that aims to catalyze resources to effect meaningful and positive change in the lives of women and children, senior citizens and underserved communities across the globe. In addition, SeekHer Foundation is an organization that strives to bridge the gender gap in mental health care and join forces with advocates and allies to co-create an ecosystem of community care for women. As an extension of Planet Fitness' focus on of women's wellness, the Company will also donate to SeekHer Foundation through a corporate contribution and fundraising through new members who join online in March. Following the successful co-branded merch launch that sold out in just a few days this past December, 'Thee Hottie Drop' will feature never before seen items including a black crop top and black sweatpants emblazoned with a slogan that empowers everybody to focus on their mental health while acknowledging that it's okay not to always feel your best, "Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too." In addition, the line also features high-rise socks that read "Real Hot Girl Fit" to inspire gym goers to continue finding their Big Fitness Energy at the home of the Judgement Free Zone in 2024. Research shows 62% of women say movement is the most helpful way to take a moment for themselves, but 62% of women also say they rarely make time for self-care1 and 55% feel they are being judged at the gym for not looking fit enough2. To continue breaking down these exercise barriers and creating inclusive fitness environments, Planet Fitness is proud to provide a welcoming and non-intimidating workout space for women to advance their mental and physical health. "The Hotties loved the last Planet Fitness drop, so we had to run it back with brand new pieces," Megan said. "But more than anything, I'm really proud of the positive impact this collection will have. We came together with Planet Fitness to make sure that a portion of sales went to organizations committed to providing better physical and mental health resources for women. It's always important to use our platforms to help make a meaningful difference in the lives of others." "We saw huge demand for the first merch collection we launched in partnership with Megan, and are excited to offer new apparel items to continue making everyone feel confident and comfortable both in and outside of the gym," said Jamie Medeiros, Chief Brand Officer at Planet Fitness. "Launching this new collection to support Megan's foundation and SeekHer Foundation is so important to us, because we want to help empower women to help them feel their best selves wherever they are in life." Planet Fitness initially launched its partnership with three-time Grammy award-winning artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and health advocate Megan Thee Stallion in December 2023, which included a 360-campaign of ad spots, social content, in-app Planet Fitness workouts inspired by Megan, unique "Ahhfirmations" and social AR filters, as well as a musical performance on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest." Planet Fitness offers extremely low prices and a variety of benefits, including a hassle-free environment, brand name cardio and strength equipment, fully equipped locker rooms, flat screen televisions and much more. Locate the nearest Planet Fitness club to you by visiting PlanetFitness.com and @planetfitness. *Representing at least 29% of the retail purchase price of each purchase. Offer valid in U.S. only (excluding Puerto Rico). The Pete & Thomas Foundation contact information: 540 W 26 Street, New York, NY 10001 | (212) 292-7547. SeekHer Foundation contact information: 12651 San Pablo Ave, Richmond, CA 94805 |(510) 621-7223. Purchase is not tax deductible. For more information, please visit motherishere.com. 1 2023 SeekHer Shift Report 2 FitRated Survey About Planet Fitness: Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the world by number of members and locations. As of December 31, 2023, Planet Fitness had approximately 18.7 million members and 2,575 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone. More than 90% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women. About Megan Thee Stallion: Hailing from Houston, Megan Thee Stallion is a three-time GRAMMY-winning recording artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur. She recently earned her third, Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 in Feb. 2024 with the release of her dynamic song "HISS," which follows her other chart-topping hits such as "Savage (Remix)" with Beyonce and "WAP" with Cardi B. Over the course of her career, Megan has been recognized for her musical achievements, including three GRAMMY wins, nine BET Awards and multiple Billboard Music Awards for "Top Rap Female Artist." Additionally, she has been honored for her advocacy efforts, having received the 2022 Special Achievement Award at The Webby Awards and the Trailblazer Award at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Megan made history in Nov. 2022, becoming the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Forbes' prestigious Under 30 issue. She was previously recognized as one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2020 after publishing her monumental "Why I Speak Up For Black Women" op-ed for The New York Times. She also spearheads the Pete and Thomas Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on uplifting and assisting women, children, senior citizens and underserved communities in Houston, Texas and across the world. The organization focuses on three core pillars that include education, housing, and health + wellness. For more information, visit www.peteandthomasfoundation.org, or follow @PeteThomasFdn on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. SOURCE Planet Fitness, Inc. CARLSBAD, Calif., March 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Air Charter, a leading provider of luxury air travel services, is thrilled to announce that it has been granted approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to commence private air charter service to the Hawaiian Islands. This significant milestone opens up new horizons for discerning travelers seeking unparalleled comfort and convenience in air travel. With the FAA's stamp of approval, Premier Air Charter is poised to offer exclusive access to the breathtaking beauty and allure of the Hawaiian Islands. Whether for leisure or business, clients can now enjoy seamless and personalized travel experiences to this tropical paradise. One of the standout aircraft in Premier Air Charter's fleet is the Challenger 601, renowned for its exceptional performance, spacious cabin, and luxurious amenities. With its long-range capabilities, the Challenger 601 ensures a smooth and comfortable journey for passengers, making it the ideal choice for travel to the Hawaiian Islands. "We are delighted to announce our FAA approval to commence private air charter service to the Hawaiian Islands," said Ross Gourdie, CEO at Premier Air Charter. "This achievement underscores our commitment to providing our clients with unparalleled luxury, convenience, and safety in air travel. With our fleet of top-of-the-line aircraft, including the Challenger 601, we look forward to offering unforgettable experiences as travelers embark on their journeys to Hawaii." Premier Air Charter's dedication to excellence extends beyond its aircraft, encompassing personalized service, attention to detail, and uncompromising safety standards. As travelers embark on their Hawaiian adventures, they can trust Premier Air Charter to deliver a seamless and unforgettable journey from start to finish. For more information about Premier Air Charter and its private air charter services to the Hawaiian Islands, visit www.premieraircharter.com SOURCE Premier Air Charter Ongoing clinical trial has reached target enrollment of 109 patients across clinical sites in the United States and France Open-label dose optimization and proof of concept study of PT-112 monotherapy includes interim data results, with top-line read-out and conference presentations expected in late 2024 NEW YORK, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Promontory Therapeutics Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical company advancing immunogenic small molecule approaches in oncology, has completed enrollment of its Phase 2 clinical trial of lead therapeutic candidate, PT-112, reaching its target enrollment of 109 patients with late-line metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02266745). The study is evaluating PT-112 in patients who have been treated with at least three prior life-prolonging therapies for mCRPC, and who exhibited radiographic evidence of disease progression at study entry. Patients with bone-only metastatic disease are also included in the study. These requirements create a representative treatment population following standard of care of androgen receptor signaling inhibitors, taxane chemotherapies, and any other drug approved by FDA on the basis of overall survival. The clinical trial enrolled patients across leading sites in the United States (23) and France (9). "This clinical trial is the largest study to date of PT-112 and will establish the optimal dose in line with the FDA's Project Optimus, as well as proof of concept in our late-line mCRPC patient population," said Promontory Therapeutics Chief Medical Officer Johan Baeck, MD. "Data from our earlier Phase 1/2 studies have shown that PT-112 is clinically safe and active, and promotes immunogenic cancer cell death induced by the inhibition of ribosomal biogenesis, which is a promising mechanism of action for late-stage patients with prostate cancer an 'immune-cold' disease with no broadly approved and effective immunotherapy." Promontory Therapeutics plans for a Type C meeting with the FDA in the second half of 2024, followed by an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with FDA and further engagement with European regulatory authorities. In addition to safety and efficacy findings among late-stage metastatic patients, the study aims to generate meaningful supportive data via correlative research, including on immune activation by PT-112 monotherapy as evaluated by the propagation of new T cell populations, as well as reductions in circulating tumor cells and ctDNA. "Promontory is grateful to our clinical partners across the U.S. and France, including Gustave Roussy Paris, for completing enrollment of this critical Phase 2 study. We are confident in PT-112's potential as an effective treatment for patients with mCRPC who have progressed on androgen receptor directed therapy, chemotherapy or radioligand therapy and who lack any effective immunotherapy," said Promontory Therapeutics Chief Executive Officer Robert Fallon. "We look forward to presenting topline safety, efficacy, and correlative data at relevant research and medical conferences later this year." About PT-112 PT-112 is the first small-molecule conjugate of pyrophosphate in clinical development in oncology. PT-112 has numerous advantages including its tolerability and inhibition of ribosomal biogenesis which leads to immunogenic cell death, through the release of damage associated molecular patterns that bind to dendritic cells and lead to downstream immune effector cell recruitment in the tumor microenvironment. PT-112 represents a highly potent inducer of this immunological form of cancer cell death. Further, PT-112 harbors a property known as osteotropism, or the propensity of the drug to reach its highest concentrations in certain areas of the bone, making it a candidate for treatment of patients with cancers that originate in, or metastasize to, the bone. The rst in-human study of PT-112 demonstrated an attractive safety prole and evidence of long-lasting responses among heavily pre-treated patients and data were published in eClinicalMedicine, part of The Lancet. The combination Phase 1b dose escalation study of PT-112 with PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor avelumab in solid tumors was reported in a mini-oral presentation at the ESMO 2020 Virtual Congress, and the Phase 2a dose confirmation cohort in non-small cell lung cancer patients was reported at ESMO I-O 2022. The Phase 1 study in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma presented at ASH 2020 is the third completed Phase 1 study of PT-112. Monotherapy Phase 2 development is ongoing in mCRPC, and includes the Phase 2 proof of concept study in thymic epithelial tumors under the company's formal CRADA with the NCI. Interim data from the NCI study were published at ASCO 2023. About Promontory Therapeutics Promontory Therapeutics Inc. is a privately held, clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on small molecule immunotherapy, based in New York City. Clinical data generated across three Phase 1 studies have demonstrated single-agent and combination anti-cancer activity and an attractive tolerability prole, and two Phase 2 studies of PT-112 are underway. The company's research and development work has been conducted in the United States, Europe and Asia. The company sponsored the completed clinical study of PT-112 in combination with the PD-L1 inhibitor avelumab, and has an active Phase 2 trial under formal CRADA collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), utilizing PT-112 in thymic epithelial tumors, rare cancers with no FDA approved drug, where PT-112 has received Orphan Drug designation. Promontory Therapeutics is also a company member of the Paris-Saclay Cancer Cluster, Europe's emerging bio-cluster for oncology, and was a 2023 Nominee for Best Startup by the Prix Galien USA. To learn more about Promontory Therapeutics, visit the company's website here. CONTACTS: Promontory Therapeutics Brooke Raphael, MS VP, Strategy & Operations Tel: +1 (646) 974-6453 Email: [email protected] Investors: Stan Musial Tel: +1 (646) 222-6932 Email: [email protected] ICR Westwicke Media: Alexis Feinberg Tel: +1 (203) 939-2225 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Promontory Therapeutics Inc. NEW YORK, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The protein expression market is expected to grow by USD 2.45 billion from 2022 to 2027. In addition, the momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 13.7% during the forecast period, according to Technavio Research. In the forecast period, North America is anticipated to fuel 37% of the global market's growth. Technavio analysts delve into regional trends and drivers shaping the market, emphasizing increased investment in protein research by asset management firms. This influx of funds drives notable advancements in protein research across the US and Canada, positioning them as key revenue generators in the region. Substantial focus lies on protein quantitation and expression, pivotal for numerous proteomics research initiatives. Notably, the American Crystallographic Association (ACA), affiliated with the American Institute of Physics and the International Union of Crystallography, fosters collaborative interactions among scientists, bolstering experimental and computational research endeavors. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Protein Expression Market 2023-2027 This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Read the Free PDF Sample Report Key Companies Agilent Technologies Inc., Amgen Inc., Becton Dickinson and Co., Bio Rad Laboratories Inc., Bioneer Corp., Danaher Corp., GenScript Biotech Corp., LGC Science Group Holdings Ltd., Lonza Group Ltd., Merck and Co. Inc., New England Biolabs Inc., Oxford Expression Technology Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Promega Corp., QIAGEN NV, Sartorius AG, Sino Biological Inc., Synbio Technologies, Takara Bio Inc., and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Agilent Technologies Inc.- The company offers Protein expression solutions through its Protein expression transfection reagent and kits such as GeneJammer, Mammalian Transfection kit, and ViraPack Transfection kit To gain access to more company profiles available with Technavio, buy the report! Segmentation Analysis The market growth by the products segment is significant during the forecast period. Instruments and consumables are among the products that constitute the market for proteomic studies. In addition, consumables comprise reagents, kits, buffers, dyes, probes, and chemicals that are intended to be used for a limited period as they do not have long shelf lives. Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a Free PDF Sample Report The rise in the usage of protein expression in the food industry is driving growth in the protein expression market. Protein expression comprises a method of analyzing the protein content in food and ingredients, which are important to ensure the quality and safety of food. In addition, protein-based foods are contaminated with melamine and other non-protein substances. The increasing importance of promotional activities is a key trend in the protein expression market. Identify key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market. Download a sample to gain access to this information. Analyst Review The Protein Expression Market stands as a pivotal arena within the vast landscape of biotechnology, catalyzing advancements in therapeutic development, biomarker identification, and drug discovery. At the forefront of this domain lie institutions like Qatar University (QU) Health and the University of California, Berkeley, collaborating with industry giants such as Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research and Vicinitas Therapeutics to unravel the intricate protein-protein interaction (PPI) patterns. Cluster analysis techniques unveil profound insights into biomarkers and differentially expressed genes, fueling the discovery of novel targets for intervention. Protein engineering and the production of recombinant proteins through prokaryotic and mammalian cell expression systems emerge as cornerstone methodologies, powering the development of next-generation therapeutics. In the quest for innovation, product launches surge, driven by strong pipelines and stringent regulatory frameworks like those enforced by the U.S-FDA. Notably, Abevmy (bevacizumab), a groundbreaking biosimilar, symbolizes the convergence of cutting-edge science and regulatory compliance. Key players in the protein expression market, including BioIVT and Cypex, offer indispensable services encompassing antibody production, contract research organizations, and specialized therapeutic segments. These entities cater to the diverse needs of pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies, as well as biopharmaceutical innovators, driving collaborative efforts towards addressing unmet medical needs. Amidst this dynamic landscape, stringent regulations serve as a cornerstone, ensuring the safety and efficacy of therapeutic interventions. Meanwhile, the emergence of novel stringent regulations drives the adoption of advanced protein expression technologies and reagents, fostering a conducive environment for R&D endeavors. The protein expression market embodies resilience and innovation, poised to shape the future of healthcare through its unwavering commitment to scientific excellence and therapeutic advancement. As demand escalates and technological prowess expands, the journey towards unlocking the full potential of protein expression heralds a new era of transformative discoveries and improved patient outcomes. Download a sample to gain access to this information. Market Overview The Protein Expression Market is witnessing dynamic growth, particularly in research institutions like Qatar University (QU) Health, where understanding Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) patterns is paramount. Cutting-edge techniques such as cluster analysis are employed to unravel complex protein networks. Identification of biomarkers through protein expression analysis aids in disease diagnosis and prognosis. Moreover, QU Health explores the potential of protein therapeutics through protein engineering and recombinant proteins, fostering innovative solutions for various health challenges. This market thrives on advancements in technology, driving demand for efficient protein expression systems. Collaborations between academia and industry further propel the development of novel methodologies and products, shaping the landscape of protein expression research and applications. Related Reports: The fetal bovine serum (FBS) market size is estimated to grow by USD 294.16 million at a CAGR of 5.25% between 2023 and 2028. The hot plate stirrer market size is estimated to grow by USD 437.42 million at a CAGR of 6.37% between 2023 and 2028. ToC: 1 Executive Summary 2 Landscape 3 Sizing 4 Historic Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Segmentations 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Vendor Landscape 11 Vendor Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio IRVINE, Calif., March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Purevave, a leading travel bag brand known for its commitment to simplicity, convenience, and environmental sustainability, is excited to announce its participation in the upcoming Travel Goods Show from March 13-15, 2024, in Las Vegas. Purevave Travel Laptop Backpack Purevave Tote Bag "We are excited to showcase our new lines of eco-friendly travel bags at the Travel Goods Show," said Fred Zhao, VP of Marketing. "The Travel Goods Show presents an ideal platform to exhibit our latest lines of eco-friendly travel bags, underscoring our commitment to sustainability and innovation in travel gear. We look forward to connecting with industry professionals and travelers to share our latest products." This year, Purevave will introduce its latest innovation in travel gear: new collections of eco-friendly travel bags. The range features the Travel Laptop Backpack, Briefcase, Weekender Duffle Bag, Tote Bag, and Sling Bag, each designed with a focus on sustainability, using recycled materials to reduce environmental impact. The collections are crafted for durability, versatility, and organization, offering waterproof protection, ample storage space, and intelligent compartments to accommodate various travel needs, from business trips to leisurely weekend escapes. "Our mission is to provide travelers with bags that are not only stylish and functional but also durable and eco-friendly," Fred Zhao further stated, "We believe that our products will redefine standards in the travel industry and become an essential element of both everyday commuting and leisure travel." Visitors to the Purevave booth will have the chance to experience the new collection firsthand and learn more about the brand's dedication to quality design and environmental responsibility. For more information about Purevave and the Travel Goods Show, please visit www.purevave.com. About Purevave: Established in 2020, Purevave is a brand backed by a team with over 15 years of experience in creating exceptional travel products. Purevave aims to design simple yet effective products for consumers and travelers worldwide. Purevave strives to be a favorite brand for frequent flyers looking for luxurious yet affordable travel bags. With a deep knowledge of high-quality and functional bag designs, Purevave is committed to producing outdoor and travel bags that compete with internationally famous bag brands. In response to the fast-changing e-commerce landscape, Purevave has launched a direct-to-consumer retail model. This approach enables loyal customers globally to enjoy top-notch products and designs at the most affordable, competitive prices. SOURCE Purevave LLC NEW YORK, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN) resulting from allegations that Santander may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Santander securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22671 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On February 5, 2024, the Financial Times published an article entitled "Iran used Lloyds and Santander accounts to evade sanctions." This article stated, in part that "Santander UK provided accounts to British front companies secretly owned by a sanctioned Iranian petrochemicals company based near Buckingham Palace, according to documents seen by the Financial Times." On this news, Santander's American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") fell $0.24 per ADS, or 5.7%, to close at $3.94 per ADS on February 5, 2024. 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. 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. 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] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. NEW YORK, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of JBS S.A. (OTC: JBSAY) resulting from allegations that JBS may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased JBS securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22976 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On February 28, 2024, Reuters published an article entitled "New York sues meatpacking giant JBS over climate claims." The article stated, in pertinent part, that "JBS, the world's largest beef producer, was sued on Wednesday by New York state's attorney general, which accused it of misleading the public about its impact on the environment in order to boost sales. Attorney General Letitia James said JBS USA Food Co, the Brazilian company's American-based unit, has "no viable plan" to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, making its stated commitment to achieving that goal false and misleading." On this news, the price of JBS American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") went down by $0.22 per ADR, or 2.38%, to close at $9.02 on February 28, 2024. 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. 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. 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] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. Wisconsin-based, family-owned cheese company corrects inaccurate information surrounding Sargento Branded Product PLYMOUTH, Wis., March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, March 7, Sargento Foods was made aware of inaccurate news circulating around a product recall. The Wisconsin-based company has confirmed that Sargento Branded Product is not affected. This news stemmed from California-based Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc.'s recall on February 5 of its Cotija cheese due to a related listeria outbreak. Sargento immediately investigated the situation last month and determined that the recall impacted a limited amount of its Food Service and Ingredients products. This recall did not impact Sargento-branded products. Out of an abundance of caution, Sargento immediately made the decision to voluntarily recall the products that were supplied by Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc. and products that were packaged on the same lines. Sargento also terminated its relationship with Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc. and immediately notified its affected business customers. To eliminate consumer concern and confusion, Sargento has actively shared this correction across its social channels and website. As a family-owned company, the safety and quality of its products are top priorities and it remains committed to providing transparency and accuracy. About Sargento With over 2,500 employees and net sales of $1.8 billion, Sargento Foods is a family-owned company that has been a leader in cheese for more than 70 years. Founded in 1953 in Plymouth, Wisconsin, Sargento is proud to be the company that successfully introduced America to pre-packaged sliced and shredded natural cheeses and cheese blends. Today, Sargento Foods is still based in Wisconsin, where they make and market amazing, high-quality shredded, sliced and snack natural cheese products, as well as ingredients. Company leadership lives to serve local communities and employees, whom they refer to as the Sargento Family. www.sargento.com SOURCE Sargento Foods The $10 million Victorian Government-backed tech hub, Cremorne Digital Hub, has introduced its first group of high-growth global tech companies selected to participate in its inaugural Scaleup Program. From a pool of 40 global applicants, four standout companies have been chosen to embark on this six-month journey, delivered in partnership with Boab. These companies will gain access to Cremorne Digital Hubs extensive network of partners, investors, and industry advisors, positioning them at the core of a vibrant ecosystem in Cremorne. This support network aims to accelerate their growth, facilitate market penetration, and remove barriers to commercialization. Partners such as Artesian, REA Group, CAR Group, University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, RMIT University, and Kangan Institute will provide tailored support and direct connections to industry leaders. This collaborative effort will assist participants in securing investments, forming partnerships, validating their products, building high-functioning teams, and enhancing brand visibility. Through this comprehensive support system, participants will forge new pathways to commercialization, offering validated products and services that resonate with diverse markets and attract investor interest. The inaugural cohort includes: CADS: A Singapore-based platform offering personalized online learning and workforce development solutions. FCC Analytics: A Hong Kong-based platform providing natural language processing and AI solutions for compliance and fraud management. LARKI: A Victorian-based SaaS and data platform revolutionizing 3D laser scanning for architecture and construction. ZEPIC: A U.S.-based SaaS platform delivering hyper-personalized customer engagement experiences. Cremorne Digital Hub will also facilitate the establishment of CADS, FCC Analytics, and ZEPIC in the Victorian and Australian market, contributing to job creation and enhancing the tech industrys capabilities. CEO Peter Osborne emphasizes the hubs mission to support companies with breakthrough solutions in scaling and commercialization. With the backing of the Victorian Government, venture capital support, and insights from university partners, Cremorne Digital Hub aims to empower visionary founders and drive rapid adoption, scale, and revenue growth. In addition to its founding shareholders, Cremorne Digital Hub has received backing from Kangan Institute, REA Group, and CAR Group, demonstrating a commitment beyond financial investment to accelerate growth and support scaleups. The hub looks forward to collaborating with CADS, FCC Analytics, LARKI, and ZEPIC, as well as welcoming additional companies to its new flagship headquarters in Cremorne. For more information, visit cremornedigitalhub.com.au. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Latest collaboration will see SHEIN pledge US$430,000 towards six local affiliates. SINGAPORE, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SHEIN, a global online fashion and lifestyle retailer, is deepening its commitment to women's empowerment causes by expanding its collaboration with local affiliates of Dress for Success (DFS), a not-for-profit organisation that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a support network, and access to professional attire and development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. SHEIN will provide US$430,000 of financial support to a total of six DFS affiliates across the US, UK, Italy, and Singapore, establishing new relationships with five affiliates in Indianapolis, Chattanooga, Milan, Rome and Singapore, and building on its longstanding collaboration with DFS Greater London. The funds from SHEIN will support DFS' activities, day-to-day operations and special initiatives including sponsorship of: The annual Stepping Out In Style fundraising dinner and fashion show in Indianapolis , US , US The annual CelebrateHer Gala event and the launch of the Professional Women's Group in Chattanooga , US , US A new Multifunctional Centre in Rome, Italy , the first dedicated DFS facility to offer training and support services , the first dedicated DFS facility to offer training and support services Expanded outreach activities and makeover of office premises to serve beneficiaries in Milan, Italy Curated activities including an image makeover and a photoshoot in Singapore The annual Power of Women Awards event in London, UK SHEIN's Global Head of Public Affairs and General Manager of Singapore Mr. Leonard Lin said, "At SHEIN, we recognize the transformative power of fashion as a tool for empowerment and positive change. Our expanded alliance with new Dress for Success affiliates and the continued strong ties with the Greater London affiliate, reflect our commitment to support women who may face barriers to success, and create opportunities for them to access their full potential. This underscores our shared vision with Dress for Success to provide women with the skills, resources, and the network to confidently build their careers and shape their futures." The extended collaboration builds on SHEIN's existing relationship with DFS Greater London which saw SHEIN providing financial sponsorship and clothing donations, impacting the lives of more than 400 women since 2019. In October 2023, SHEIN also launched a 23-piece capsule "Curve" collection with DFS Greater London. This collection was specially crafted for women ranging from UK sizes 16-24 and featured dresses, blazers, jumpsuits, tailored trousers, and blouses in a colour palette of berry, black and cream. The financial support for the six DFS affiliates is part of the US$35 million that SHEIN had committed in September 2023 towards social impact activities focused on women, young people, and underprivileged communities. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2266792/4583378/image_5026813_4105828_Logo.jpg MOBILE, Ala., March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile Infirmary, an affiliate of Infirmary Health, announces today that The Center for Reproductive Medicine will not restart in vitro fertilization procedures following a bill signed Wednesday night by Gov. Kay Ivey. "Based upon the language of the law, we are not reopening until we have legal clarification on the extent of immunity provided by the new Alabama law. At this time, we believe the law falls short of addressing the fertilized eggs currently stored across the state and leaves challenges for physicians and fertility clinics trying to help deserving families have children of their own," stated Hannah Peterson, spokesperson for Mobile Infirmary. SOURCE Infirmary Health, The Center for Reproductive Medicine Retired nurse, Jesse Merril, gets her wish granted by Wish of a Lifetime from AARP: to return to SFCCC's Street Outreach Services for a day of service. SAN FRANCISCO, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1998, Jesse Merril was studying nursing when she was assigned a student rotation to provide street medicine to the unhoused with San Francisco Community Clinic's Consortium's Street Outreach Services (SOS) mobile medical program. "There are some things in life that totally change the course of it and that did," she reflects. Jesse is a wish recipient of Wish of a Lifetime , a charitable affiliate of AARP that grants life-changing wishes to older adults and inspires people to redefine aging in America. Her wish? To spend a day back on the job that helped shape her. From left to right: SFCCC Director of Community Services, Beth Rittenhouse-Dhesi, SFCCC SOS Outreach Worker, Francisco Barrera, Jesse Merrill, Jim Schwartz, SFCCC SOS Program Manager, Lara Cruz Twenty-seven years earlier, while doing outreach with SOS, Jesse had become close to a family living in a converted bus in Bayview, eventually fostering their oldest son. The experience would later inspire her to adopt her daughter from California's foster system, saying "it was very life changing seeing what was going on and being involved with the familyin a lot of ways, it completely altered my life." Though in the intervening years, she'd retired from nursing and moved away from San Francisco, Jesse had long felt a pull to return to SOS. Wish of a Lifetime arranged for Jesse and her longtime friend and fellow nurse, Jim Schwartz, to fly to San Francisco and spend a day doing outreach with SOS staff. They handed out health and hygiene supplies like socks, water bottles, and wound care materials, knocked on the doors of RVs and tent encampments, and helped to make referrals to needed social services. Jesse was pleased to see that the unique bond SOS staff share with their clients was unchanged, "They were very receptive to seeing us coming," Jim observed. "The staff is very intuitive to their clients' needs." Jesse and Jim made such an impression on SOS staff that they were invited back for a previously unplanned second shift the next day, an offer they enthusiastically accepted. Joining SOS at their weekly pop-up clinic at a local soup kitchen, Jesse serendipitously ran into a colleague she'd worked with on the van in '98. "It's been such an incredible trip to come back and see it 27 years laterit was so awesome to see all that they are able to accomplish now." To read more about Jesse's experience, visit SFCCC's blog . About SFCCC: San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium (SFCCC) is a partnership of 12 community health centers that serve as the largest primary care safety net delivery system in San Francisco. For over 40 years, SFCCC and its members have been leaders in improving the health status and reducing the health disparities of San Francisco's diverse low-income communities through direct service, population expertise and community leadership. Media Contact: Mira Levy, [email protected] SOURCE San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium The sale recorded on February 27, 2024 and the new owner received the property fully stabilized. Located at 3560 Rambla Place, Prado is a seven-story building comprised of 251 residential units that include both one and two-bedroom apartments that was completed in 2021 and is part of the Nuevo master-planned community which SummerHill also developed. "PCCP and Alliance are world-class real estate operators, and we are excited to see what's next in store at Prado within this fantastic transit-oriented development," said Doug McDonald, President of SummerHill Apartment Communities. With 600+ additional units under construction in Santa Clara, SummerHill is continuing to provide much needed housing in the area. "We love Prado and believe Santa Clara will continue to be a very strong apartment rental market and we are thrilled to continue working with the City of Santa Clara to provide new housing," added McDonald. Located adjacent to Lawrence Expressway, Prado is minutes from the Caltrain Lawrence Station and easily accessible to San Jose Mineta Airport. Current and future residents have unrivaled access to Silicon Valley's technology hub, home to Apple, Nvidia, Google, and many of the largest technology companies in the world. Situated within the Nuevo master planned community, Prado is surrounded by multiple parks and recreation as well as a community center. KTGY Group, who SummerHill has partnered with on previous projects in the Bay Area, is the architect of record. About SummerHill Apartment Communities SummerHill Apartment Communities (SHAC) is a leading multifamily developer on the West Coast. As a subsidiary of The Marcus and Millichap Company, SHAC draws upon experience gathered throughout the years while developing over 5,000 units in a wide range of West Coast markets focusing primarily on the San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California, and the Pacific Northwest. SHAC's expertise and focus on acquisitions, entitlements, design, and construction is the guiding force behind each one of our successful projects. Our team adapts to the diversity of our markets with creative instincts, an enterprising vision, and a commitment to the core values that guide our decision-making and define our culture. We believe that by encouraging personal and professional growth, our team exceeds expectations. The developments created by SummerHill are an integral part of our communities. It is important for us to improve urban settings, preserve the environment, and cultivate the beauty of our surroundings. Smart housing growth offers more than just shelter, it enhances neighborhoods and lifestyles. Contact: Alvaro Leiva SVP (925) 244-7514 [email protected] SOURCE SummerHill Apartment Communities ACCRA, Ghana, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tbay, the world's leading online gift card trading platform, hosted its second VIP event in Africa on March 3rd. The event took place at Airport View Hotel in Accra, the capital of Ghana. The atmosphere was lively, and the venue was filled to capacity. Tbay stated that the event was a special reward for its VIP users, in appreciation of their support and companionship in Tbay's growth, which gradually makes Tbay No.1 global gift card trading platform. Tbay Ghana VIP Night Event Unveils its Exclusive Security Features and Companys Development Plan for 2024 As a leading global platform headquartered in Singapore, Tbay currently has over 700,000 registered users, with over 180,000 monthly active users and over 400,000 monthly transaction volume. The Tbay app has been downloaded for over 1 million times on the Google Play Store and has received a rating of 4.8 from over 11,500 users, making Tbay one of the largest global gift card trading platforms. Continuous Security Upgrades by Tbay Lizlove Koomson, a journalist from Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and a special guest at the event, shared that Tbay's success as the global leader in gift card trading platforms is mainly attributed to its commitment to providing users with a secure, professional, and efficient trading platform, continuously improving service quality and user experience through product feature upgrades. The security of gift card transactions is a focal point of concern for the entire industry and a pain point for users. Upholding the principle of prioritizing security, Tbay has put forward the brand slogan "You are in safe hands," deeply understanding user needs and ensuring a secure and reliable transaction link between gift card vendors and users through 2FA (Two Factor Authentication) and strict supervision of vendors. Tbay's 2FA, including double password protection for account login and withdrawal, combined with user phone number and email verification to ensure the security of user accounts. In the near future, Tbay plans to develop biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, as well as location authentication feature, which will confirm users' location or device through geographic data, IP address matching, or GPS coordinates so as to verify if the user is accessing the Tbay wallet from an approved location or device. These extra 2 authentications will upgrade Tbay to four-factor authentication (4FA), the highest security standard certification method in the industry. Regarding the admission requirements and regulatory system for gift card vendors, firstly, any gift card vendor who wants to join Tbay must have over three years of work experience, a good credit record, and no criminal record. Additionally, vendors must prove their company's number of employees, registered capital, and annual income to ensure compliance with Tbay's requirements. Secondly, gift card vendors need to pay a security deposit to the platform, which is used to compensate for fraudulent behavior and disputes during transactions. Vendors must also sign an exclusive cooperation agreement with Tbay, with any violations resulting in punitive fines. Finally, vendors must have a fixed workplace, and Tbay conducts 360 real-time surveillance to ensure traceability of every transaction. Vision for advancing Africa's Development and Business Landscape Expansion Tbay has launched Quick Sell Mode recently. Although the majority of transactions on the platform are now being completed within 90 seconds, Quick Sell mode has further reduced the transaction time for at least 50% for specific gift card types. In the near future, this feature will be applied to all types of gift cards, continuing to ensure a swift trading experience for users. In addition to striving for a secure and convenient trading experience, Tbay also endeavors to provide more business opportunities for customers and partners, offering Africans the chance to earn extra income through the online gift card trading platform. As a technology-driven company, Tbay is committed to leveraging the power of internet technology and the digital economy to drive Africa's development. It is believed that the application of internet technology can create more business opportunities for Africa, provide a broader market for entrepreneurs and traders, meet the growing development needs of African people, and open up new prospects for the continuous growth of the African economy. In 2024, Tbay will further expand its business, adopting more currencies from different countries as payment and withdrawal methods to meet the needs of users from various countries, and gradually expanding its business scope globally. At the same time, Tbay plans to hold more global business events and actively participate in global professional seminars to strengthen cooperation and communication within and outside the industry. Tbay states that it will continue to upgrade its platform, expand its business territory, further consolidate its leading position in African and global markets, and make greater contributions to driving Africa's economy. In addition to economic contributions, Tbay has always been concerned about the development of African society and is enthusiastic about public welfare in Africa. Since the launch of the "Donating 1,000 Schools" project in April 2020, Tbay's charity events have covered 10 African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and South Africa, helping over 100 schools and more than 30,000 teachers and students. As Tbay's platform business continues to develop and grow, its contribution to African society through public welfare initiatives will become increasingly significant, fostering a symbiotic relationship between Tbay and the continent's society and the economy. Conclusion The Ghana VIP event ended successfully with singing and dancing. In the future, Tbay will continue to use technology as the engine to drive Africa's development through innovation in internet and digital economy, promote the exchange and cooperation of global technology development, actively expand international markets with partners to achieve a win-win situation. In the meanwhile, Tbay will continue to fulfill its social responsibilities, dedicate itself to African charity events, inject new vitality into African education, and open a new door of hope for the future of Africa. SOURCE Tbay SHENZHEN, China, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL, a leading global intelligent technology company, today introduced #EchoesOfGreatness, its latest global campaign under the flagship #TCLforHer initiative. In celebration of International Women's Day, the integrated campaign is dedicated to all the incredible women around the world and aims to encourage them to go after their dreams, transform them into a reality, and inspire others along the way. "When those before us dream big, it inspires us to do the same and make our dreams come true," said Yuki Wei, Vice President of TCL Technology and Chairman of the TCL Charity Foundation. "Over the years, TCL has been spotlighting women that are making a difference every day through #TCLforHer. We look forward to continuing this celebration of the strength and limitless potential of every girl and woman to dream big and live even bigger." The #EchoesOfGreatness campaign pays homage to renowned silent film actress Dorothy Cumming, who travelled from Australia to the United States in mid 1916 to follow her ambition of establishing a career in Hollywood. A trailblazer of her time that was relentless in pursuing her dream, Cumming eventually landed the breakthrough role of Mary in the 1927 film "The King of Kings", which was also the very first film to stage its premiere at The Chinese Theatre, known today as TCL Chinese Theater, on Hollywood Boulevard. Based on real-life interviews with Cumming's family, news clippings and film studies, the legendary actress' inspiring story was brought to life in #EchoesOfGreatness to honor her legacy and encourage women to keep the momentum going as the director of their own dreams. As part of the campaign, they are invited to share their stories and journey of turning dreams into reality whether it was starting a business, pursuing a passion, or overcoming obstacles on social media. Selected stories will be made into a movie by TCL to inspire others. To TCL, technology holds the power to help girls and women from all walks of life to pursue greatness by opening up new avenues and opportunities. To underscore the role of technology in facilitating women's empowerment, TCL is also set to kick off #TechForHer, an accompanying social media campaign that highlights the functions and potential of the company's innovative technology in impacting lives, including girls' and women's. The campaign will also see online users interacting with TCL through various interactive polls. Since its launch in 2020, #TCLforHer has been enabling the personal development of women worldwide as the Global Promotional Partner of FIBA's "Her World, Her Rules" initiative, as well as in the "Break & Believe" campaign with FIBA. In addition, TCL has been working with Huameng Foundation to uplift young women and support their ambitions. By funding a number of female-focused programs and educational initiatives, TCL has helped close to 1,000 young women from underprivileged families to complete high school and tertiary studies. In addition, TCL takes pride in embracing diverse voices and empowering more women to succeed in the workplace. In the past five years, the number of female executives at TCL Technology Group has increased steadily, with female leaders representing 21.1% of management positions in 2023. At the same time, the number of female employees at TCL's R&D department has also increased for the past consecutive years, with women now taking up 13.8% of the company's total expert base, igniting new sparks for technology breakthroughs. With the mission to facilitate "The Creative Life", TCL is committed to inspiring and empowering girls and women around the world to dream big and live their lives fully and creatively through their beauty, courage, tenacity, wisdom and loving. TCL is a leading global intelligent technology company with a mission to "Inspire Greatness". As a leading technology company, TCL provides diversified consumer electronics covering TVs, smartphones, audio and smart home products, as well as display technology and clean energy solutions. TCL is committed to bringing smart technology experiences and healthy lifestyles to consumers around the world. SOURCE TCL Legislation Undermines State, Federal Standards for Determining Employment Status BOSTON, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Teamsters are calling on Massachusetts lawmakers to vote against H.1099/S.666, legislation that paves the way for the expansion of worker misclassification throughout the Commonwealth. "We should not be changing our laws in support of greedy corporations that want to deny full employment rights to workers in a so-called 'gig economy,'" said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "FedEx, Amazon, Uber, Lyft, and so many other wealthy companies intentionally misclassify workers as independent contractors to sustain business models rooted in wage theft. Workers are either employed by a company or they aren't. There is no 'third way.' Silicon Valley CEOs believe they don't have to comply with the law, that they can deny rights to workers in the name of freedom and flexibility. Our laws must reinforce their responsibility to their employees." The bill tacitly legitimizes misclassification of professional drivers by providing a small portion of collective bargaining rights that workers should already have under federal law. In doing so, the bill undermines a Massachusetts law that applies a three-tiered approach (the "ABC" test) for determining employment status. H.1099/S.666 also conflicts with new, pro-worker standards from the Department of Labor, effective March 11, that outline fair and unequivocal distinctions between employees and independent contractors. "There's already a law that gives workers collective bargaining rights. It's called the National Labor Relations Act and it's almost 90 years old," said Tom Mari, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Joint Council 10. "Passing H.1099/S.666 paves the way for more misclassification and potentially jeopardizes enforcement efforts against employers who refuse to comply with the ABC test. Lawmakers should not compromise with lawbreakers. Kill these bills." Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Matt McQuaid, (617) 894-0669 [email protected] SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters Federal Legislation Levels Playing Field for Rail Workers WASHINGTON, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters are commending the Senate Budget Committee for unanimously voting to pass the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act. "The economy would grind to a halt without these men and women, so Congress needs to make sure their unemployment and sickness benefits are protected," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "We're demanding the Senate pass this bill as quickly as possible." Railroad workers receive unemployment insurance and sickness benefits from a federally overseen fund, the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Account (RUIA). Unlike other unemployment, disability, or sickness benefits, these payments are unjustly subjected to congressional budget sequestration. In practice, that means a percentage of these earned benefits that should be going to railroaders is instead sent back to the federal government. "The RUIA is employer funded, just like state-level funds for unemployment insurance," said Eddie Hall, President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. "There is absolutely no reason that Congress should continue to permit the unfair diversion of these benefits from our members. Congress needs to pass the REEF Act immediately." "We'd like to thank Senators Deb Fischer, Sherrod Brown, Amy Klobuchar and a bipartisan coalition of co-sponsors for their leadership on this issue," said Tony Cardwell, President of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes. "This legislation is about fairness and equity for railroaders, and we urge its swift passage into law." Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Matt McQuaid, (202) 624-6877 [email protected] SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters NEW YORK, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The telehealth market size is estimated to grow by USD 170.82 billion during 2022-2027. The market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 29.3% during the forecast period. North America is expected to contribute to 34% of the market growth during the forecast period. Factors like the adoption of advanced telehealth technologies, and the presence of prominent vendors are driving market growth in the region. As the number of healthcare professionals adapting to the technology is increasing, regional vendors are providing a range of solutions to meet the demand. Governments in the region are also launching programs for programs involving telehealth solutions. For instance, in April 2021, New Jersey governing boards for occupational therapy, respiratory care, counseling, and dentistry planned to consider a bill to broaden reimbursement for covered services offered through telehealth and introduce new flexibilities, such as reimbursement parity, distance, and location requirements. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Telehealth Market 2023-2027 Report Coverage Details Page number 168 Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 2023-2027 market forecast period Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 29.3% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 170.82 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 28.6 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 34% Key countries US, UK, Germany, China, and Japan For more insights on the historic (2017 to 2021) and forecast market size (2023 to 2027) - Request a sample report Key Company The market is fragmented with the presence of various international and domestic vendors. Aerotel Medical Systems Ltd., American Well Corp., Appello Careline Ltd., Cerner Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Dictum Health Inc., Enghouse Systems Ltd., Evernorth Health Inc., General Electric Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Honeywell International Inc., Included Health Inc., Iris Telehealth, Koninklijke Philips NV, Medvivo Group Ltd., Resideo Technologies Inc., Siemens AG, Teladoc Health Inc., Tunstall Healthcare Group Ltd., and GlobalMed are among some of the major market participants. Market Segmentation Product Services Solutions End-user Healthcare Providers Payers Patients Geography North America Europe Asia Rest Of World (ROW) The services segment is estimated to be significant for the growth of the global telehealth market. The healthcare services included in this segment include live video conferencing, remote patient monitoring, and mHealth. These services enable healthcare professionals to provide effective and accurate consultations to many patients remotely. This service also helps healthcare professionals to attend administrative meetings, training sessions, and health administration. Rapid technological advances and improved internet services are majorly contributing to the growth of the segment. Get a glance at the market contribution of various segments including country and region wise, historic (2017 to 2021), and forecast market size (2023 to 2027) - Download a Sample Report Analyst Review In recent years, the telehealth market has witnessed exponential growth, driven by a convergence of advanced technologies and changing healthcare delivery models. This transformation is fueled by various factors, including government initiatives aimed at improving access to healthcare, rising demand for cost-effective medical solutions, and the need for enhanced efficiency in healthcare services. One of the key drivers propelling the telehealth market forward is the increasing adoption of novel technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data analytics. These technologies enable the development of AI algorithms that enhance patient data analysis and remote monitoring tools, paving the way for more personalized and efficient healthcare delivery. Telehealth solutions leverage a variety of telecommunication and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, facilitating online consultations and virtual consultations between medical professionals and patients/customers. This approach not only overcomes regulatory variations and reimbursement models but also addresses healthcare affordability and lack of awareness barriers. Infectious diseases outbreaks have further underscored the importance of telehealth, prompting collaboration among telecommunications companies, electronics manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare providers to develop innovative solutions. These collaborations extend to diagnostic laboratories, radiological services, and orthopedic care, ensuring comprehensive healthcare services are delivered remotely. Moreover, blockchain technology is being integrated into telehealth platforms to ensure patient data security and privacy, addressing concerns regarding hygiene and cleanliness and behavioral barriers towards technology adoption. Telehealth's impact is not limited to traditional healthcare settings; it extends to senior living/post-acute/hospice centers and pharmacies and health retailers, offering convenient access to mental health services and behavioral health solutions. As the telehealth market continues to evolve, startups play a crucial role in driving innovation in the software and services segment, offering cloud-based delivery solutions that cater to the diverse needs of key stakeholders in the provider segment. In conclusion, the telehealth market represents a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery, offering scalable, efficient, and patient-centric solutions that are poised to shape the future of healthcare delivery worldwide. Download a Sample Report Market Overview In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, telehealth emerges as a transformative solution, leveraging advanced technologies to deliver mental health services remotely. A recent research study delved into buying behavior patterns, revealing a growing preference for telehealth platforms. Concurrently, industry trends underscore a substantial uptick in telehealth adoption, driven by convenience and accessibility. Pricing analysis indicates competitive rates among providers, enticing both consumers and insurers. Moreover, patent analysis reveals ongoing innovation in telehealth technologies, fostering market expansion. Conference and webinar materials further disseminate insights, engaging key stakeholders across the healthcare spectrum. As demand surges, understanding consumer needs and industry dynamics remains paramount for sustainable growth in the burgeoning telehealth market. Download a Sample Report Related Reports: The teleradiology market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 15.52% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 2804.51 million. The increasing prevalence of diseases coupled with the growing geriatric population is the key factor driving the global teleradiology market growth. The telerehabilitation systems market size is expected to increase by USD 472.72 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 21.74%. The increasing incidence of chronic diseases is a key factor driving the global telerehabilitation systems market growth. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation by Product 7 Market Segmentation by End-User 8 Customer Landscape 9 Geographic Landscape 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 11 Company Landscape 12 Company Analysis 13 Appendix About US Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio CHICAGO, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Thermoform Packaging Market by Material (Plastic, Aluminium, Paper & Paperboard), Heat Seal Coating (Water-Based, Solvent-Based, Hot-Melt-Based), Type (Blister Packaging, Clamshell Packaging, Skin Packaging), End-Use Industry - Global Forecast to 2028", size is projected to grow from USD 52.2 billion in 2023 to USD 65.6 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2023 to 2028. In the thermoform packaging market, the increasing demand for convenient packaging solutions in the food and beverage sector and e-commerce sector acts as a significant driver, propelled by increasing demand from pharmaceuticals. However, challenges such as stringent regulatory requirements and environmental concerns pose notable restraints. Opportunities arise from the adoption of eco-friendly materials, expansion into emerging markets, and ongoing innovation in design and functionality. Successfully navigating these challenges while capitalizing on opportunities will be essential for industry players to sustain growth and competitiveness in the thermoform packaging market. Browse in-depth TOC on "Thermoform Packaging Market" 370 Tables 55 Figures 298 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=145630051 The blister packaging segment dominated the thermoform packaging market in 2022. Blister packaging dominated the market among blister packaging, clamshell packaging, skin packaging, and others in the thermoform packaging market. Its superior product protection, transparent design for enhanced visibility, excessive usage in pharmaceutical medicine packaging, versatility across various industries, and compatibility with automated processes drive its rapid expansion. Technological advancements further enhance its performance and efficiency, catering to evolving market demands effectively. The plastic segment dominated the thermoform packaging market in 2022. Plastic emerges as the dominant material choice in the thermoform packaging market due to several key factors. Firstly, plastic offers unparalleled versatility, allowing for the creation of a wide range of packaging solutions tailored to diverse product requirements and industry needs. Its inherent flexibility enables the production of intricate shapes and designs, enhancing product visibility and shelf appeal. Additionally, plastic boasts excellent barrier properties, effectively protecting contents from moisture, oxygen, and other external factors, thereby extending shelf life, and maintaining product freshness. Moreover, plastic packaging is lightweight, making it cost-effective for transportation. The heat seal coating segment is estimated to be the largest heat seal coating segment in the thermoform packaging market in the forecast period. Solvent-based heat seal coatings are the preferred choice in the thermoform packaging market due to their exceptional attributes, such as water and grease resistance, strong bonding, and adaptability to different temperatures. They effectively shield against moisture and oils, preserving product freshness, while their robust seals endure handling and transportation, enhancing product protection. Their versatility in processing at varying temperatures adds manufacturing flexibility, meeting diverse packaging requirements. With their superior performance, solvent-based coatings remain dominant in thermoform packaging, meeting stringent industry demands and ensuring packaged goods' reliability. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=145630051 The Food & Beverages segment is estimated to be the largest end-use industry segment in the thermoform packaging market in the forecast period. The food and beverage industry maintains its dominant position among food and beverages, electronics, home and personal care goods, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors due to its indispensable role in meeting essential consumer needs. With diverse product offerings and evolving consumer preferences, including convenience and health-conscious options, the sector experiences consistent demand. Factors such as population growth, urbanization, and rising disposable incomes further drive market expansion. Additionally, thermoform packaging solutions such as clamshells and skin packaging play a crucial role in preserving food freshness and safety. Clamshells provide secure containment and protection, preventing contamination and prolonging shelf life, while skin packaging utilizes a vacuum-sealed film to tightly adhere to food products, enhancing freshness and minimizing oxidation. Asia Pacific is estimated to be the largest region in the thermoform packaging market. The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region emerges as the largest market in the thermoform packaging industry among APAC, North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (MEA), and South America, primarily due to several key factors. APAC boasts a massive population base and robust economic growth, fostering a thriving consumer market with high demand for packaged goods across various sectors. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and expanding middle-class populations in countries like China, India, and Southeast Asian nations contribute significantly to the region's dominance in the market. Furthermore, increasing urbanization has led to changes in lifestyle and consumption patterns, driving the need for convenient and efficient packaging solutions. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce and the increasing adoption of online retail platforms in APAC further stimulate demand for thermoform packaging solutions. Key Players Amcor Limited (Australia), Sonoco Products Company (US), DS Smith (UK), Huhtamaki OYJ (Finland), WestRock company (US), amongst others, are the key players operating in the thermoform packaging market. Expansions, acquisitions, joint ventures, and new product developments are some of the major strategies adopted by these key players to enhance their positions in the thermoform packaging market. Browse Adjacent Market: Packaging Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Blister Packaging Market - Global Forecast to 2025 Rigid Plastic Packaging Market - Global Forecast to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insights: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/thermoform-packaging-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/thermoform-packaging.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2297424/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Former SCB CEO admits to delivering $5.2M bribes to central bank official Former SCB CEO Vo Tan Hoan Van seen at the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City in March 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran A former CEO of the Saigon Commercial Bank, Vo Tan Hoang Van, has admitted in court that he delivered bribes of US$5.2 million to a central bank official. Van, 51, told the Peoples Court of Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday that when he heard that auditors from the State Bank of Vietnam were coming to examine SCBs books, he wanted to conceal the wrongdoing at the bank. He informed Van Thinh Phat chairwoman Truong My Lan of the audit and set up a meeting in Hanoi between her and Do Thi Nhan, head of the central banks department of inspection and supervision. He was not at the meeting and so did not know what the two discussed, but when he went on a trip to Hanoi Lans secretary told him to take a "fruit box" to Nhan. He did that a total of three times. "I knew that the three boxes contained cash but I did not know how much because they were sealed. I only found out that the amount was $5.2 million when I spoke to the police." Since Van had informed the police about the bribery before they announced their investigation, prosecutors have not charged him with giving bribes but only with violating bank regulations and embezzlement. The presiding judge, Pham Luong Toan, said however that since Van gave bribes on Lans behalf on several occasions to cover the wrongdoing at SCB, he would consider whether to punish him for bribery. Nhan, after receiving the bribe, filed false reports to conceal SCBs violations from the central bank and the government. But during the investigation she handed in the graft money she took to the government and helped the police with their investigation. Do Thi Nhan, former head of the State Bank of Vietnam's department of inspection and supervision, seen at the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City in March 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran Meanwhile, Lans lawyers sought permission for Lans family to approach people who owe her money and collect it for paying to the court to recompense for the losses she had caused. The court allowed it and asked for a full list of the debtors. Lan is on trial for bribery, violating bank regulations and embezzlement after allegedly misappropriating VND304 trillion from SCB. She used the money to fund Van Thinh Phats operations. She owned 91.5% of the bank in various peoples names. Between 2012 and 2022 SCB gave Lan over 2,500 loans worth over VND1 quadrillion, equivalent to 93% of its entire credit portfolio. She is accused of causing losses of VND498 trillion to the bank. The 85 others on trial along with her are charged with embezzlement, bribery, abuse of power while performing official duties, dereliction of duty causing serious consequences, and violating bank regulations. Of them, 45 are SCB executives, 15 are State Bank of Vietnam officials, three are from the Government Inspectorate, and one is a former official at the State Audit Office. The trial began at the Peoples Court of HCMC March 5 and is scheduled to go on until April 29. BEIJING, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn: Yunnan, an ecotourism paradise and a mysterious land of biodiversity, welcomes travelers from around the world to explore its charm and learn about its untold stories, said Wang Ning, Party secretary of the province. As a pioneer of ecological civilization, Yunnan will prioritize protection of the environment, animals and plants, while utilizing its green resources to develop related industries. It will pave the way to modernization on the basis of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, said Wang, who is also a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature. With an area of 394,000 square kilometers, the southwestern province is home to 47 million people from various ethnic groups. It hosts all ecosystems, with the exception of the ocean and desert. With its landscape dotted with mountains, rivers, lakes and gorges, it has the most diverse flora and fauna 19,333 species of plants and 2,273 species of vertebrates, or more than half of China's total among all provincial regions in the country, according to authorities. Its biodiversity is recognized by the world, and the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, a major United Nations gathering on environmental issues, was held in Kunming in 2021. "Yunnan has remarkable diversity in landforms, climates and species, earning titles such as the 'Kingdom of Plants', 'Kingdom of Animals' and 'Kingdom of Nonferrous Metals'. It's a renowned paradise for tourists worldwide," Wang said. Back in the 13th century, Italian traveler Marco Polo visited Yunnan and praised Kunming, its capital, as a magnificent city, immortalizing the beauty of Yunnan in his travelogue and sharing it with the world. In the 1920s, explorer Joseph Rock arrived in Yunnan from the United States and stayed for 27 years, showcasing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the region to the world through the National Geographic magazine, according to Wang. In 2023, the province received 1.04 billion visits and raked in tourism revenue of 1.4 trillion yuan ($194.5 billion), up 24 percent and 52.3 percent, respectively, year-on-year. During the Spring Festival holiday in February, multiple attractions, including Dali Ancient City, welcomed more than 100,000 visits daily, earning tourism revenue of 63.74 billion yuan. Besides tourism, green resources also bring in revenue for the province. "Our vegetables grow abundantly throughout the year, and we sell more than 20 million metric tons outside the province; our coffee production accounts for 95 percent of the entire Chinese output, with its aroma spreading both domestically and internationally; our freshly cut flowers yield 19 billion stems annually, and are exported to over 40 countries and regions, taking Yunnan's beauty and romance to the world," he said. Wang added that the ecological environment is a precious asset of Yunnan, serving as a solid foundation for accelerating development and catching up. "To prioritize the ecological environment is to secure the sustainable development of Yunnan and to ensure the well-being of future generations," he said. Yunnan will promote the integrated protection and comprehensive management of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes and grasslands, ensuring that "no ecological environment is damaged no matter how small it is, and ecological conservation will not yield to economic interests", he said. The province will control and reduce air, water and soil pollution to benefit the environment. It will promote green transformation of companies to improve the efficiency of resource and energy utilization and reduce emissions. Yunnan will focus on major agriculture-based industries such as tea, fresh flowers, vegetables, fruits, nuts and coffee, and develop high-quality agricultural brands, Wang said. The province will also be innovative in development of ecological tourism by putting forward themed routes such as Asian elephants, snub-nosed monkeys, black-necked cranes, the Yuanyang terraced fields and old tea forests of the Jingmai Mountain. It will promote the conservation and utilization of biological resources to develop biopharmaceutical industry, he added. SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn Building on the recent announcement that the UAE and US will work together to support NASA's Gateway, humanity's first lunar space station, NASA administrator Bill Nelson praised the deepening relationship, noting that "[t]he partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates is strong and growing stronger. Together, we are taking giant leaps in science and technology that will further the Artemis campaign, and the future of human space exploration." "The UAE is proud to work with partners across the US to build upon humanity's collective understanding of the cosmos," said UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba. "From the Gateway program to exploring Mars' atmosphere, our two nations' partnership continues to go from strength to strength. Not even the sky is the limit for our shared ambitions." Through cooperation with NASA, US research institutions and the wider aeronautics industry, the UAE has developed a space program that has achieved notable accomplishments in a relatively short timeframe. In 2021, the UAE's Emirates Mars Mission "Hope Probe" successfully began orbiting the Red Planet, providing the most detailed look ever of the Martian atmosphere. The MBRSC and NASA have also collaborated on human spaceflight endeavors. In 2019, astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori became the first Emirati to fly to space during a short mission to the International Space Station (ISS), during which time he collaborated with NASA to perform experiments and educational outreach. A second Emirati astronaut, H.E. Dr. Sultan Saif Al Neyadi, who was recently appointed the UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, launched to the ISS in 2023 as part of NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 Mission, leading scientific research to advance human knowledge and improve life on Earth. His six-month tenure aboard the ISS marked the Arab world's first long-duration space mission; he also conducted the first spacewalk by an Arab astronaut. Two first-time astronaut candidates from the UAE, Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammad AlMulla also recently completed their training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and received their NASA astronaut pins. "Our partnership with the US, particularly in space exploration, stands as a testament to humanity's potential when united in a common purpose," said Dr. Al Neyadi. "Together, we have embarked on a transformative journey that transcends boundaries, driving forward a new era of discovery and innovation." "A testament to this thriving collaboration is our partnership with NASA in developing the Emirates Airlock for the Gateway Lunar Space Station," said MBRSC Director General Salem Humaid Al Marri. "As we look to the future, we are reminded that it is through unity and shared vision that we can push the boundaries of what is possible, creating a legacy of innovation and discovery for future generations." In 2020, the UAE and US were among the original signers of the Artemis Accords, which are a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA's 21st-century lunar exploration program. UAE Space Agency's Director General, H.E. Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, said: "International cooperation in space, including through the US-UAE partnership, is fundamental for scientific achievement and advancement. Our partnerships with NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration and several US research institutions strengthen cooperation in support of our shared vision and strategy to improve safety and security in space, expand the scope of international scientific research, and develop new technologies that contribute to improving human lives." "The growing US-UAE partnership goes beyond human spaceflight and the Gateway airlock, to Earth observation, climate resiliency, and the exploration of Mars and the Asteroid Belt, among many other areas," said National Space Council Executive Secretary Chirag Parikh. "The US is also proud that our partnership with the Emirates extends into the safe and responsible use of space via the Artemis Accords. There are infinite possibilities for US-UAE cooperation in space, and we're very proud to call our Emirati partners friends and collaborators along the way." The event comprised a series of discussions featuring senior government officials from the US and UAE space sectors. Participants included Emirati astronauts and experts from both countries. The event was attended by diplomats, current and former US government officials, scientists and business executives. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE UAE-US SPACE PARTNERSHIP, VISIT HERE. Media Contacts: UAE Embassy: Hessa Al Shuwaihi [email protected] MBRSC: Aisha AlZaabi [email protected] SOURCE Embassy of the United Arab Emirates The collaboration elevates EPI-USE to the status of a certified delivery partner and reseller for MakeShift's award-winning staff scheduling technology. CALGARY, AB, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - AppColony Inc., known as MakeShift , a leader in workforce management and employee scheduling technology, has announced a strategic partnership with EPI-USE, a premier global IT services firm and one of the world's leading SAP specialists. This collaboration elevates EPI-USE to the status of a certified delivery partner and reseller, empowering the company to offer MakeShift's award-winning staff scheduling technology to shift-based organizations worldwide. Enhancing Operational Efficiency and Employee Experience The combination of MakeShift's advanced technologies, including its generative AI platform, ShiftMate AI, with EPI-USE's expertise in SAP implementation, ensures that SAP clients across diverse industries, from healthcare and retail to public sector, have the tools to effectively manage their workforce, meet complex scheduling needs, and achieve new levels of operational efficiency while prioritizing employee well-being. Expertise and Innovation Combined Recognized for guiding clients through successful software implementations and change management, EPI-USE's role as a certified delivery partner and reseller is instrumental in bringing MakeShift's cutting-edge technology to a global audience. As MakeShift continues to garner accolades, such as its inclusion on G2's "Top 100 Fastest Growing Products for 2024" list, the synergy between these two companies underscores a shared commitment to offering intuitive scheduling technology that's easy for users to adopt and integrate into their daily operations. Together, MakeShift and EPI-USE are dedicated to ensuring that clients not only navigate this transformation but thrive through change, leading to improved operational efficiency and high levels of employee satisfaction. Partnership Highlights: Global Expansion: Leveraging EPI-USE's extensive network, the partnership strategically positions MakeShift's advanced staff scheduling solutions in new markets. Optimized SAP Integration and User Experience: EPI-USE and SAP clients will benefit from streamlined operations, improved scheduling efficiency, and increased productivity through the seamless integration of MakeShift's AI-driven scheduling technology. MakeShift's people-first user interface enriches the user experience (UX) by integrating intuitive design and smart automation directly into its functionality, fostering enhanced user interaction and satisfaction. Broad Industry Impact: From healthcare and public services to retail, the partnership addresses complex scheduling needs, ensuring access to efficient and employee-centric shift scheduling technologies. Adam Greenberg, CEO of MakeShift, is excited about the partnership with EPI-USE, stating, "This collaboration addresses the complex scheduling challenges faced by industries worldwide such as fluctuating demands, compliance with labor laws, and the need for flexibility by harnessing AI to boost employee well-being and operational efficiency. With EPI-USE's deep expertise in SAP integration and its broad network, we're equipped to scale growth and enhance the effectiveness of workforce management across the globe. Central to our partnership is a dedication to mutual values, focusing on what really mattersenabling our clients and their teams to dedicate themselves to their core missions and values." Riaan Vermeulen, Managing Director at EPI-USE echoed the sentiment, "We're delighted to partner with MakeShift. As a global leader in implementing SAP products, EPI-USE recognizes the importance of complementary solutions and strategic partnerships. MakeShift seamlessly fills a crucial gap in SAP's new SuccessFactors Time Management solution, enhancing our ability to deliver comprehensive solutions to our clients worldwide. This partnership emphasizes our commitment to providing innovative, integrated HR solutions that drive success for our clients." The alliance between MakeShift and EPI-USE is centered on delivering a positive transformation in workforce management, characterized by successful implementation, smooth change management, and ultimately, satisfied clients. MakeShift is available on the SAP Store and is a part of SAP's Industry Cloud Portfolio. It seamlessly integrates with SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central, SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll, and SAP SuccessFactors Time Tracking, while also complementing SAP Time and Attendance Management by Workforce Software. About MakeShift MakeShift ( www.makeshift.ca ) stands at the forefront of workforce management innovation, providing an award-winning, cloud-based solution for complex scheduling challenges. Renowned for its ability to navigate the intricate scheduling demands of regulated industries, MakeShift seamlessly adapts to stringent labor regulations, union agreements, and intense scheduling requirements. Since its launch in 2014, initially targeting the healthcare sector's needs, MakeShift has broadened its impact, offering unparalleled ease of use, guided implementation, and robust features. Its commitment to excellence in functionality and customer support has garnered recognition from G2, Gartner Digital Markets, and Tech Times, establishing MakeShift as a leader in the scheduling technology arena. For more information on how MakeShift is transforming workforce management with its user-centric design and innovative platform, visit www.makeshift.ca. About EPI-USE groupelephant.com is a global group of boutique services firms and software companies, employing 3,500 people in 40 countries. Largely employee-owned, the Group is a mini conglomerate comprising circa 20 trading brands, the best known of which is EPI-USE, the world's largest and most experienced independent SAP HR/Payroll specialist. EPI-USE has emerged as a leader in designing, building, and implementing Cloud-based, hybrid and on-premises HR/Payroll systems for large, complex multinational corporations and public sector agencies. With a suite covering more than 40 countries, EPI-USE is the world's largest developer and purveyor of SAP local payroll country versions, for regions in which SAP does not offer a standard payroll solution. In its 40-plus year history, EPI-USE has implemented or been involved with more than 1,500 SAP HCM-based implementations around the world, and licenses proprietary SAP-related software to over 1,000 large enterprises and public sector agencies worldwide. groupelephant.com is characterized by a primary strategic imperative in terms of which it goes 'Beyond Corporate Purpose' in its day-to-day activities, and operates through a hybrid business model through which it funds and operates non-profits and impact investment businesses. Primary focus areas are the preservation of at-risk Elephants and Rhinos, through the economic upliftment of rural People in areas adjacent to the threatened species, or another definition of 'ERP', if you will. The hybrid business model has been the subject of two University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business case studies, published in 2016 and 2021. Visit epiuse.com, groupelephant.com and erp.ngo for further information. SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. SOURCE MakeShift INDIANAPOLIS, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expects to convene a meeting of the Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee (PCNS) to discuss the Phase 3 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 trial, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of donanemab in early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease. The FDA has informed Lilly it wants to further understand topics related to evaluating the safety and efficacy of donanemab, including the safety results in donanemab-treated patients and the efficacy implications of the unique trial design of the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 study, including its limited-duration dosing regimen that allowed patients to complete treatment based on an assessment of amyloid plaque and the inclusion of participants based on tau levels. The date of the advisory committee meeting for donanemab has yet to be set by the FDA, and, as a result, the timing of expected FDA action on donanemab will be delayed beyond the first quarter of 2024. While it is unusual for an advisory committee to occur after the anticipated FDA action date, the advisory committee meeting for donanemab follows similar meetings for the two other amyloid plaque-targeting therapies the FDA has approved. "We are confident in donanemab's potential to offer very meaningful benefits to people with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease. It was unexpected to learn the FDA will convene an advisory committee at this stage in the review process, but we look forward to the opportunity to further present the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 results and put donanemab's strong efficacy in the context of safety. We will work with the FDA and the stakeholders in the community to make that presentation and answer all questions," said Anne White, executive vice president of Eli Lilly and Company, and president of Lilly Neuroscience. TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 is a Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of donanemab in participants ages 60-85 years with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (MCI or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease) with the presence of confirmed Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and fatal disease that in its early symptomatic stages affects 6-7.5 million Americans. The trial enrolled 1,736 participants, across eight countries, selected based on cognitive assessments in conjunction with amyloid plaque imaging and tau staging by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Compared to participants in similar trials of other amyloid plaque-targeting therapies, the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 participants were more progressed in their disease. All groups of trial participants, regardless of tau level, benefited from treatment with donanemab, with patients in earlier stages of the disease experiencing the strongest results. Donanemab also demonstrated clinical benefits using a limited-duration treatment regimen, with nearly half of clinical trial participants completing their course of treatment in six or 12 months. The key risk associated with donanemab is amyloid related imaging abnormalities, or ARIA, which can be serious and life-threatening. Other most commonly reported risks include infusion-related reactions, headache and nausea. The Phase 3 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 study results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Lilly continues to study donanemab in multiple clinical trials. This action does not result in a change to Lilly's 2024 financial guidance. About Lilly Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 51 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/news, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. P-LLY Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about donanemab as a potential treatment for people with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any such undertaking, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development, and commercialization. Among other things, there is no guarantee that future study results will be consistent with study findings to date, that donanemab will prove to be a safe and effective treatment, or that donanemab will receive regulatory approval. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. Refer to: J.K. Wall; [email protected]; 317-433-5328 (Media) Joe Fletcher; [email protected]; 317-296-2884 (Investors) SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company South Asian Hair Care Brand Vatika Naturals Champions Diversity with #RootForMe Featuring All-Female Comedy Lineup. NEW YORK, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vatika Naturals, a flagship brand from House of Dabur, is pioneering an empowering initiative this International Women's Day with the launch of their IWD2024 campaign, #ROOTFORME. #ROOTFORME is a digital campaign to mark IWD2024 addressing intersectionality at workplace which affects women of colour, compounded by race, ethnicity, religion and several other issues which can pose as a major roadblock for career advancement for a lot of our target segment and make them susceptible to workplace harassment and stereotyping. Standing up for Women by Vatika Naturals #ROOTFORME From being a generic hair care brand for South Asian women, this year Vatika Naturals is embarking on a journey to become the preferred brand by multi-ethnic audiences across the UK and the USA. Redefining women's empowerment this International Women's Day, Vatika leads the conversation with humour to address workplace stereotypes and discrimination, through partnerships with leading stand-up comediennes like Shazia Mirza and Sikisa. In celebration of the campaign launch, Business Head Dabur International Europe UK, Zakir Mansoori stated Vatika Naturals has been bringing bespoke hair care solutions to multi-ethnic audiences around the World for over 35 years and the brand has been garnering a lot of love from our loyal base of customers. Earlier this year we launched our Afro Naturals range especially for women with textured hair. And there is lots to look forward to from Vatika, as we embark on this journey to make the brand relevant to a wider audience, which would include new product launches and newer formulations for different hair types. Roshni Singh, Group Marketing Manager UK EU & Americas stated, "Vatika Naturals is not just a hair care brand but a custodian of values which champion diversity, differences, and uniqueness especially amongst women. With the #ROOTFORME, Vatika endeavours to further strengthen its stand towards being inclusive and diverse." #RootForMe is a call to action for individuals to stand together and dismantle barriers preventing equality for women and specifically women of colour. Vatika is always challenging the status quo or stereotypes that hinder the growth of an individual." Agency Founder and Chairman for HereandNow365, Manish Tiwari further elucidated that "Vatika Naturals is a brand which identifies and celebrates differences, and to match the brand's vision, our team has developed this concept which is not just clutter-breaking but light-hearted. The aim of deploying humour is not to make light of the issues at hand, rather to offer hard hitting provocative messaging through treatment and platforms which resonate with our younger audiences in today's time. The two-week campaign will launch across Vatika's social media channels on the 8th of March 2024 across UK and the USA. To amplify the message, the brand will be seen at iconic landmarks like Times Square, New York city and the London Underground in the month of March, with the aim of sparking dialogue around workplace issues, stereotypes, and navigating these challenges. For more information and media inquiries, please contact: Pradnya Gaikwad Here and Now Infinity E: [email protected] T: +1 416 802 1252 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2358050/Vatika_Standing_up_for_Women.jpg SOURCE Vatika Naturals A roundup of the most newsworthy press releases from PR Newswire this week, including news about electric muscle cars, burgers & March Madness, and a launch to the ISS NEW YORK, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Press Release Roundup, March 4-8, 2024. Photos provided by Boeing, Stellantis and The Wendy's Company. Read more of the latest releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRN_TopStories on Twitter. Can't-Miss Earnings In addition to these popular releases, several must-read earnings reports crossed the wire this week, including the quarterly results for Target, Nordstrom, Couchbase and Foot Locker. Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers, and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story. Subject Matter Experts: Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire PR Newswire is the industry's leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world. SOURCE PR Newswire GUANGZHOU, China, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Yatsen Holding Limited ("Yatsen" or the "Company") (NYSE: YSG), a leading China-based beauty group, today announced that, it will change the ratio of its American depositary shares ("ADSs") to its Class A ordinary shares (the "ADS Ratio") from one (1) ADS representing four (4) Class A ordinary shares to one (1) ADS representing twenty (20) Class A ordinary shares. For the Company's ADS holders, the change in the ADS Ratio will have the same effect as a one-for-five reverse ADS split. A post-effective amendment to the ADS Registration Statement on Form F-6 will be filed with the SEC to reflect the change in the ADS Ratio. The Company anticipates that the change in the ADS Ratio will be effective on or about March 18, 2024 (U.S. Eastern Time), subject to the effectiveness of the post-effective amendment to the ADS Registration Statement on Form F-6 on or before that date. Each ADS holder of record at the close of business on the date when the change in ADS Ratio is effective will be required to surrender and exchange every five (5) existing ADSs then held for one (1) new ADS. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as the depositary bank for the Company's ADS program, will arrange for the exchange of the current ADSs for the new ones. No fractional new ADSs will be issued in connection with the change in the ADS Ratio. Instead, fractional entitlements to new ADSs will be aggregated and sold by the depositary bank and the net cash proceeds from the sale of the fractional ADS entitlements (after deduction of fees, taxes and expenses, where applicable) will be distributed to the applicable ADS holders by the depositary bank. The change in the ADS Ratio will have no impact on the Company's underlying Class A ordinary shares, and no Class A ordinary shares will be issued or cancelled in connection with the change in the ADS Ratio. The Company's ADSs will continue to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "YSG." As a result of the change in ADS Ratio, the ADS trading price is expected to increase proportionately, although the Company can give no assurance that the ADS trading price after the change in the ADS Ratio will be equal to or greater than five times the ADS trading price before the change. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements which are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs, plans, outlook and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, which include but not limited to the following: the Company's growth strategies; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; its ability to continue to roll out popular products and maintain popularity of existing products; its ability to anticipate and respond to changes in industry trends and consumer preferences and behavior in a timely manner; its ability to attract and retain new customers and to increase revenues generated from repeat customers; its expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services; its ability to integrate newly-acquired businesses and brands; trends and competition in and relevant government policies and regulations relating to China's beauty market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; and general economic conditions globally and in China. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. About Yatsen Holding Limited Yatsen Holding Limited (NYSE: YSG) is a leading China-based beauty group with the mission of creating an exciting new journey of beauty discovery for consumers around the world. Founded in 2016, the Company has launched and acquired numerous color cosmetics and skincare brands including Perfect Diary, Little Ondine, Abby's Choice, Galenic, DR.WU (its mainland China business), Eve Lom, Pink Bear and EANTiM. The Company's flagship brand, Perfect Diary, is one of the leading color cosmetics brands in China in terms of retail sales value. The Company primarily reaches and engages with customers directly both online and offline, with expansive presence across all major e-commerce, social and content platforms in China. For more information, please visit http://ir.yatsenglobal.com/. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: Yatsen Holding Limited Investor Relations E-mail: [email protected] Piacente Financial Communications Hui Fan Tel: +86-10-6508-0677 E-mail: [email protected] In the United States: Piacente Financial Communications Brandi Piacente Tel: +1-212-481-2050 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Yatsen Holding Limited PHILADELPHIA, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Your Part-Time Controller, LLC (YPTC) has earned significant recognition for its achievements in success and growth from Accounting Today. For the third consecutive year, YPTC has appeared as a 'Top 100' firm on Accounting Today's national list, ranking #65 in 2024. In 2023, YPTC ranked #75, jumping a staggering 25 places from their debut as #100 on the list in 2022. Additionally, Accounting Today recognized YPTC's outstanding growth by once again naming it a "Pacesetter in Growth," ranking #1 in growth among firms under $100M in revenue. YPTC grew its revenue by over 39% organically, while most firms on the list have experienced growth through mergers and acquisitions. The report notes that Your Part-Time Controller took on private equity investment from Pamlico Capital in November 2023, and the firm's strategic priorities include several capital-intensive initiatives like opening new offices, expanding its hiring of experienced staff, and launching an artificial intelligence product. The report goes on to list firm highlights: Marked its 30th anniversary. Opened new offices in Los Angeles , Dallas , and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina . , , and . In November, took on strategic growth investment from a private equity firm. Invested in technology to support client service. Selected a new CEO to take office in March 2024 . . Grew revenue by over 39%. Named a 2023 Accounting Today Best Firm to Work For. YPTC was founded in 1993 by Eric Fraint and has grown from a one-man operation into a firm made up of close to 700 staff members serving more than 1800 clients. As of March 1, 2024, Fraint has moved away from day-to-day operations after three decades of nurturing YPTC, and Jennifer Alleva, former Managing Partner, has been named CEO of Your Part-Time Controller, LLC. Fraint will continue to be involved with YPTC as a significant shareholder, consultant, and member of YPTC's board of directors. "I am absolutely thrilled and honored to be recognized among the top 100 firms by Accounting Today, achieving the impressive rank of #65," CEO Jennifer Alleva said, "This acknowledgment is a testament to the dedication and hard work of every member of our team. It inspires us to continue striving for excellence in all that we do and reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional service and value to our nonprofit organization nationwide." Delivering excellent service to clients involves not only performing outstanding work but also introducing innovative strategies and services. In 2023, YPTC enhanced its value-added services in three significant areas. First, it formally introduced specialized services tailored for nonprofit organizations in the form of vertical specializations, aimed at addressing their specific needs. Second, a dedicated government funding department was established to assist clients in securing grants from the substantial annual funding provided by the federal government to nonprofits. Third, the firm expanded its range of services including data visualization, analysis, and automation. To ensure its ongoing success, YPTC is examining its existing strengths and determining where it intends to concentrate its efforts moving forward. The firm is committed to excellence in client service, emphasizing technology, staff training, and operational efficiencies. In terms of strategy, the firm is expanding its reach physically with new office locations, digitally through increased online presence, and internally by hiring experienced staff. They're broadening services to assist nonprofits with tailored solutions while continuously adding value through tech-focused divisions and artificial intelligence development. In addition, education initiatives, government funding services, and community partnerships underscore YPTC's dedication to nonprofits. Your Part-Time Controller, LLC proudly acknowledges this achievement and remains committed to offering exceptional nonprofit accounting solutions to mission-driven organizations everywhere. Currently, Your Part-Time Controller, LLC is hiring nationwide. If you're an accounting professional eager to apply your skills for a greater cause, get in touch with us today or submit your application here. We're excited to connect with you! For more information about the Top 100 Firms and Regional Leaders, check out the complete article on Accounting Today and download the full report. SOURCE Your Part-Time Controller, LLC Actress Bernice Liu enjoyed Vietnamese cuisine at a Michelin-starred restaurant and visited the Instagram-famous Train Street during her trip to Hanoi last month. A few days ago, she posted some photos taken at Tam Vi Restaurant, which was awarded with one Michelin star last year, on Instagram. "In the style of a classic tea house of northern Vietnam and equipped with Chinese-style furniture, this traditional cuisine restaurant serves northern dishes along with central and southern dishes. Getting acquainted with Vietnamese cuisine, you will discover flavors made from local ingredients that add more authentic flavor and umami," Liu wrote. Photos of signature dishes at Tam Vi Restaurant in Hanoi shared by actress Bernice Liu after her visit in February 2024. Photo courtesy of Bernice Liu's Instagram Signature dishes of the restaurant on Yen The Street include Vietnamese ham with periwinkle (snails) that comes with fresh herbs, vegetables and rice vermicelli with fish sauce. Liu also posted photos taken at the Train Street inside Hanois Old Quarter. The street runs around two kilometers from Le Duan through Tran Phu, Cua Dong and Phung Hung Streets. While one part of it is blocked off due to safety concerns, another part between Tran Phu and Dien Bien Phu streets is not and draws foreign tourists in droves. Bernice Liu takes photos at Hanoi's Train Street during her trip to Vietnam in February 2024. Photo courtesy of her Instagram This is not the first time the 44-year-old actress has traveled to Vietnam. In 2018, she visited Hoi An after breaking up with her boyfriend. In September last year, she also had a vacation at a five-star resort in Phu Quoc. Liu rose to fame when she won Miss Chinese International 2001, initiating her move from Canada to Hong Kong where she had to learn Cantonese before scoring her first role in the long-running TVB sitcom "Virtues of Harmony" (2001-2002). After leaving Hong Kongs TVB station, she started a wine business, Bellavizio, which produces wine in Bordeaux, France, and Napa, California, U.S. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Four red-crowned cranes have been spotted in Tram Chim National Park in the Mekong Delta's Dong Thap Province, signaling hope of a resurgence for the endangered species. The cranes appeared in the park around Thursdays noon, flew around for a few hours, then perched to forage for about half an hour, said Doan Van Nhanh, Deputy Director of the Conservation Center at Tram Chim. "Normally, a group of cranes will send a few individuals ahead as scouts to thoroughly survey before deciding to settle for the migration season," he said, noting that red-crowned cranes typically start migrating in December, when the Mekong Delta enters its dry season and continue doing so until the end of April. Cranes are seen as creatures of intuition as they only settle in places with clean environments. "Staff in the park are all delighted at the signal of the cranes flying back," Nhanh said. Red-crowned cranes return to Mekong Delta after two years Seu au o ve Tram Chim sau 2 nam vang bong Four red-crowned cranes visit Tram Chim National Park on March 7, 2024. Video by the park According to the National Geographic, the red-crowned crane is the second-rarest crane in the worldsecond only to the whooping crane in North America. The bird, one of the most iconic and revered bird species in East Asia, symbolizing luck, longevity, and fidelity in various cultures, is classified as "endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List. Red-crowned cranes are known for their striking appearance. They have a body of white feathers, with a contrasting black neck and tail. The most distinctive feature is the patch of red skin atop their head, from which they derive their name. Adults stand about 150 to 158 cm (59 to 62 inches) tall and have a wingspan of 220 to 250 cm (7.2 to 8.2 feet). The primary threats to their survival include habitat loss due to agricultural and industrial development, pollution, and human disturbance. In Vietnam, from the end of the year to the early months of the following year, cranes often choose Tram Chim, the 7,400-hectare sanctuary situated 150 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City for their migration. There was a time when the national park recorded about 1,000 cranes, but thereafter, their numbers gradually declined. According to the national park, in 2015 there were only 21 cranes, 14 in 2016, 9 in 2017, 11 in 2018, and 11 in 2019. In 2020, no cranes returned, three came back in 2021, followed by a two-year absence. The reason for the rare bird's absence at the park is thought to be changes in the ecological environment. The reduced seasonal floodwaters failed to wash away the thatch and diminished the fish population, which is the main food source for the birds. According to experts, the cranes' return comes amid several changes in the ecological environment management at Tram Chim. Earlier this year, the national park shifted from water retention for wildfire prevention to natural water regulation, prioritizing biodiversity conservation. The reed fields, where the cranes have returned, had been drained two months earlier, with proactive burning of the thatch layer, helping the reeds to form tubers, a favorite food of the crane flock. Last year, Dong Thap approved a crane conservation project with a total investment of VND185 billion (US$7.55 million), to be implemented over 10 years. According to the plan, the province will receive 60 pairs of cranes from Thailand and then raise an additional 40 birds. After a period of care and training, they will be released into the wild at Tram Chim National Park. However, the cranes have not yet been brought to the park. Red-crowned cranes at Tram Chim National Park in 2019. Photo by Nguyen Van Hung According to the International Crane Foundation, there are an estimated 15,000-20,000 red-crowned cranes worldwide, of which 8,000-10,000 are found in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The population of East Asian cranes (mainly in Vietnam and Cambodia) was recorded at about 850 in 2014, but had dropped to 234 by 2014, and is currently at about 160. Spanning 7,500 hectares, Tram Chim is recognized under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance, the fourth in Vietnam, and 2,000th in the world. Gurugram, March 8 : Preparations are underway for a "grand" inauguration of the much-awaited Gurugram section of the Dwarka Expressway by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 11. Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav and Commissioner of Police Vikas Arora held a meeting with senior officials at the programme venue on Thursday to ensure that the inauguration could be organized in a grand manner. At the meeting, Yadav discussed the responsibilities of various departments and instructed the officials to ensure proper arrangement of medical facilities, drinking water, food, vehicles, electricity and seating at the venue. Apart from this, instructions were given for setting up an exhibition, and help desk at the venue. The Commissioner of Police gave instructions to all concerned officials regarding proper traffic management, route lines, and law and order. He said that arrangements should be made at every level so that the programme can be organized in a grand, safe, and peaceful manner. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gurugram by road on Monday (March 11) to inaugurate the Gurugram section of the Dwarka Expressway. On his arrival in Haryana, the Prime Minister will be welcomed by Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and other dignitaries at the Bajghera border in Gurugram," he said. Arora further said that the Prime Minister will also address a public meeting in Sector 82 after inaugurating the section. "The entire event will be held under CCTV surveillance. On the day of the event, traffic on NH-48 and the service lane of Dwarka Expressway will continue smoothly as normal. Appropriate arrangements have been made by the district administration and police department to ensure that the people coming to the venue do not face any problem related to traffic and parking," he added. According to the Haryana government, more than 35 sectors and about 50 villages of Gurugram district will get direct benefits from the opening of this section of the Expressway. At the same time, traffic pressure on Delhi-Gurugram National Highway will also be reduced. Geneva, March 8 : A United Nations (UN) expert has condemned Israel's "destruction" of the food system in Gaza and urged an end to the "starvation campaign" there. At a meeting of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food Michael Fakhri said that nearly 75 per cent of Gaza's fishing sector had been devastated by Israeli bombardment, Xinhua news agency reported. "Israel has mounted a starvation campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza ... by targeting small-scale fishers," the independent rights expert said. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has denied all access to the sea, he said. "Israeli forces decimated the Port of Gaza, destroying every single fishing boat and shack," he said. "In Rafah, only two out of 40 boats are left. In Khan Younis, Israel destroyed approximately 75 small-scale fishing vessels." The destruction of fishing livelihoods in the enclave had undermined the right to food for people in Gaza and pushed them into hunger and starvation, Fakhri said. On Tuesday, UN experts condemned the violence of Israeli troops that fired on crowds of Palestinians gathered to collect flour in the southwest of Gaza on February 29. At least 112 people died and some 760 were injured, according to a UN press release. Kiev, March 8 : The Ukrainian authorities will start a mandatory evacuation from 57 settlements in the eastern Kharkiv region, regional governor Oleg Synegubov has announced. "We decided to carry out mandatory evacuation of residents of 57 settlements," Synegubov wrote on his Telegram channel after a meeting of the regional defense council on Thursday. Besides, children along with their parents or legal guardians will be forcibly evacuated from 18 settlements in the Veliky Burluk and Olkhovatsky districts, Synegubov said. The regional authorities will cooperate with the National Police and volunteers to carry out the evacuation, he added. (Special Story for Womens Day) Rape and abandonment: Common thread that ties destinies of three UP women together. Image Source: IANS News Lucknow, March 8 : Leading separate lives in different places, three women in Uttar Pradesh share the same destiny and pain as they have been raped, abandoned and forced to live in oblivion for no fault of their own. For these three women, International Women's Day holds no meaning as they have faced an unending, immensely personal and painful crisis in their lives, with no help coming forth from society. These women were raped by their fathers-in-law, abandoned by their husbands and families and chastised by the clerics for no fault of theirs and the last two decades have been unending days of deprivation, toil and misery. The first such reported incident took place in June 2005 in Charthawal town of Muzaffarnagar District, when a 28-year-old woman and a mother of five children, was allegedly raped by her 69-year-old father-in-law Mohammad Ali. The case came to be known as the Imrana case and the woman's marriage was declared null and void by the local panchayat's Council of Elders soon after she was raped. The Council of Elders asked her to leave her husband Nur Ilahi, who they said was now her 'son' as the Islamic law considered sexual relations with both the father and son as incestuous. The Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband and prominent clerics ruled that a woman raped by her father-in-law, could not be allowed to live with her husband any longer as per Islamic law as the husband had now become her 'son'. After Imrana's case was highlighted by the national media, the National Commission for Women directed authorities in Muzaffarnagar to take action. The police registered a case under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code against Mohammed Ali and arrested him. Police also filed a case against him on June 30, 2005 with a medical report and recorded Imrana's statement before a Magistrate. Imrana went to her father's home with her children but as social pressure mounted, she was forced to leave the house by her brothers. In October 2006, Mohammed Ali was condemned to a prison term of ten years for raping Imrana. The judge also directed Mohammed Ali to pay compensation of Rs 8,000 to Imrana for raping her. Today, 19 years on, no one in her village knows about her whereabouts. Sources close to her family claim that she has relocated to another town and her children, now grown up, do odd jobs for a living. In the second such instance, a young woman was repeatedly raped by her father-in-law at gun point. The incident took place in September 2014 but the matter came to light much later when the woman (name withheld) submitted a request to the then District Magistrate, seeking permission to abort her seven-month pregnancy. The woman said, "My husband was working in Dubai since 2012, and did not believe me. In fact, he accused me of making false allegations against his father." The woman was denied permission to abort the child on medical grounds and after she delivered a boy, she was thrown out of her husband's home after being accused of treachery. Today, she stays with a distant relative, does stitching and other odd jobs for a living and waits endlessly for the sun to shine again in her life. More recently, in a chilling reminder of the Imrana case of 2005, a similar case was reported from Muzaffarnagar. On July 5, 2023, a 23-year-old woman, who was then seven months pregnant, was alone at home when her father-in-law, 50, allegedly barged into her room and raped her. He threatened to kill her if she reported the matter. In her police complaint filed on September 7, 2023, the woman stated, "When I informed my husband about the assault he told me that since his father had established a relationship with me, we cannot stay together as I have now become his father's wife." She alleged her husband thrashed her and threw her out of the house. "I remained silent as I wanted to preserve my honour. Despite repeated pleas, my husband refused to take me back for no fault of mine. That is why I decided to take legal action," she said. The then Station House Officer (SHO) Raghvendra Yadav said, "A case under IPC Sections 376 (rape) and 606 (punishment for criminal intimidation) was registered against the father-in-law while the husband was booked under Section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt)." The All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (Shia), President, Shaista Amber says that in all three cases, the common factor was that the victims did not get any help not from their family, not from society and not from the religious leaders. She adds, "A true celebration of International Women's Day would be when such victims get support from society, religious leaders and help from the legal system." Lucknow, March 8 : Huge crowds thronged the Shiva temples across Uttar Pradesh since midnight on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. The Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi and the Mankameshwar temple in Lucknow, in particular, witnessed a massive turnout of devotees on the occasion. A heavy deployment of police has been made across cities and towns like Varanasi, Barabanki and Baghpat, where Kanwariyas converge in large numbers. UP Director General of Police (DGP), Prashant Kumar, said that special arrangements have been made along Kanwar routes and at prominent Shiva temples in Varanasi, Lucknow, Barabanki, and Baghpat. Additionally, a significant number of police personnel, including superintendents, deputy superintendents, sub-inspectors, head constables, and constables, along with traffic police and bomb disposal squads, have been deployed to maintain order and security. In Lucknow, the joint commissioner of police (law & order), Upendra Kumar Agarwal, directed the identification of 26 main temples in Lucknow with significant devotee gatherings, including Buddheshwar Mahadev Temple in the Para area and Mankameshwar Mahadev Temple in the Hasanganj area. Additional police forces have been deployed to ensure security and smooth traffic flow around these temples. The DGP announced the strategic deployment of 241 companies across sensitive districts by the police headquarters. These companies comprise personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). "Special focus is being given to securing Kanwar routes and prominent Shiva temples in key areas like Varanasi, Barabanki, and Baghpat," said the DGP, adding that "In addition to armed forces, we have mobilised additional police personnel, including two superintendents of police, five deputy superintendents of police, 85 sub-inspectors (SI), eight women SIs, 275 head constables and constables, and additional traffic police personnel to manage the expected influx of devotees." To ensure safety during the 'Jalabhishek', vigilance along riverbanks has been heightened to prevent drowning incidents. Quick response teams have been deployed, and district police chiefs have been instructed to identify and closely monitor potential trouble spots. Baghpat, March 8 : The Muslim side has challenged the verdict that quashed their claim over a graveyard on a 100-bigha land considered to be Mahabharata-era 'Lakshagriha (palace of lac)' by Hindus in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat. This comes almost a month after a court in Baghpat district quashed the Muslim side's 1970 plea to restrain encroachment upon a graveyard. The district court on Thursday set May 27 to hear the matter. It may be recalled that the court of civil judge (junior division), Shivam Dwivedi, in an order on February 5, had quashed the claims of Muslims. The Muslim side had then said it would challenge the verdict. Irshad Khan, a member of the Muslim group pursuing the case, said, "Soon after the February 5 verdict we moved the Allahabad High Court and the court gave us relief after studying all documents. It gave us directions to go to the district judge of sessions court and file the matter. Courts function on documents, and we have all the documents. There is no ambiguity. The dargah here is of Hazrat Badruddin Shah, the disciple of Hazrat Nasiruddin Auliya of Delhi. The Tughlaq dynasty used to rule Delhi then. Shah was a Sufi saint and buried here in Barnawa. After his death, a graveyard developed here. Members of the other community keep desecrating the graves of our elders." Muslim representation's lawyer Shahid Ali added, "The verdict was given by the court of civil judge (junior division) and when the Muslim representation filed an appeal in the high court, it was accepted. But the high court directed us to make an appeal first in the sessions court and if there is no relief in the matter, then the higher court can be approached." March 7, 2024 | 03:14 pm PT For people born in the 70s like me, it was not uncommon for a family of 4-5 to live in a collective apartment of just 18 m2 through decades. Back then, in Hanoi and other major cities, people who were state employees, including officials and factory workers, were almost automatically allocated housing in apartment complexes that still exist today: Kim Lien, Trung Tu, Giang Vo, Thanh Cong... Those who "were allocated a house" felt lucky as if they had won the lottery, so if there were any inconveniences due to the small size, or having to share toilets and utility areas with neighbors, they were not much of a problem, and the space could always be expanded by installing cage-like extensions, or even constructing new rooms. Expansion was something minor. Back then, many homes were renovated to include pig pens or chicken coops in any available space to improve living conditions. Authorities knew, but they also knew that the people's needs were real, so they would turn a blind eye to things. During the subsidy period, which was fraught with difficulties, ensuring a minimum supply of food for the family was a top priority. The need for living space was less urgent, and just "having a roof over one's head" was enough. But that was almost half a century ago. While many people are still shocked by the mini apartment fire that killed 56 people in Hanoi in September last year, there's now news of a mini apartment built in 2017 with a damaged main pillar also in the capital Hanoi, forcing nearly 60 families to evacuate. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but this situation reminds us of the need to look deeper into the root of the problem, to find safe housing solutions for a large part of the urban population. This morning I visited five reputable real estate websites, trying to find homes for sale under VND1.5 billion ($60,851) in Hanoi. I discovered that all the apartments in this price range are mini apartments. My survey indicates that mini apartments are the only viable option for people with limited savings. Despite sounding contradictory to the survey above, I must affirm something: mini apartments are not cheap, and their investors have made a fortune off them. To be able to offer an apartment price that fits people's budget while still making significant profit, most of them have cut corners and offer only the bare minimum in terms of apartment size, the area of common spaces, the water supply and drainage system, the structure, fire protection systems... ...and then theres also taxes to pay. After the mini apartment fire in Hanoi, the prime minister and the Ministry of Construction asked localities to inspect buildings for fire safety violations. An inspection of nearly 70,000 buildings in Hanoi found the following amounts of structures at high risk of fire and explosion: 2,600 apartment buildings, 385 mini apartments, over 30,000 business service rental properties, and over 36,000 residential houses that doubled as production businesses. A survey by Hanoi's Thanh Xuan District showed that nearly all mini apartments in the area had violated fire safety regulations. In authorities reports on these buildings, the common refrain is: "Violating fire safety regulations, and if not promptly prevented, may lead to a direct risk of fire, explosion and cause serious consequences." The Hanoi Department of Construction's report also revealed that investors tend to maximize the apartment area while cutting down on the investment cost for infrastructure, resulting in a lack of building amenities, inadequate fire safety, and insufficient emergency escape routes. While a high-rise apartment building must comply with a series of legal regulations, standards, and obtain numerous permits from regulatory bodies, undergo supervision during construction, and be inspected before being put into use, a mini apartment only needs a building permit from the district and does not require quality inspection. While the investors of high-rise apartment projects have to pay 10% VAT and 20% corporate income tax, in addition to maintenance funds, registration fees, and fire insurance, the contracts between mini apartment investors and residents are just handwritten, and the investors hardly pay any taxes. For the reasons mentioned above, it can be concluded that mini apartments are currently priced reasonably (i.e., not "cheap") because they have "evaded" management, and this is precisely the potential risk to the safety of residents. But if mini apartments are not an option, what should be chosen instead? In my opinion, we should intensely develop two models: social housing and affordable housing. For social housing, Vietnam has a plan for one million units, but it seems that the places that need them the most do not have enough of them. At a conference on Feb. 22, the minister of construction pointed out that in 2024, Hanoi only registered about 1,200 such units, and HCMC about 3,800 units. These numbers are too low and cannot meet the urgent housing demand in the two mega-cities. Therefore, additional policies for affordable housing are needed. The current real estate market crisis has clearly exposed the reality that businesses are focusing too much on the luxury segment while neglecting the affordable segment - where millions of people have a need to buy, while the supply only accounted for 6% of demand in 2023. The safety of the people is always a top priority. Social welfare and housing solutions must be carefully considered, accompanied by uncompromising conditions on construction standards. Instead of being lax and neglecting the supervision of the quality and construction standards of mini apartments, which can easily lead to consequences, a more long-term solution is to encourage them through policies and procedures for the affordable housing segment, so that mini apartments can disappear from the housing market. Mini apartments, if not properly managed, will always come at much too high a cost. *Nguyen Hoang Nam is the general director of social housing development firm G-Home. Hamirpur : , March 8 (IANS) It is a story of love and hate story between a man and his wife. On Thursday, in Kurara village of Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur district, Hans Kumar, 35, had a fight with his wife Sunita, 32, and in a fit of rage, he ran out of the house and jumped into a nearby well. As he started to drown, Hans Kumar began crying out for help. Soon, a large crowd gathered around the well but no one made any effort to save him. Hearing the commotion, Sunita came out of her house and found her husband gasping for breath in the well. Not fearing for her own life, she quickly picked up a rope and descended into the well. Her husband, who had lost consciousness by then, was kept afloat by his wife till other villagers helped the couple and them pulled out. Kurara SHO Yogesh Tiwari said that Hans was taken to a local hospital where he regained consciousness and his condition was said to be stable. "He has suffered a minor fracture but will recover soon," said the SHO. New Delhi, March 8 : An increasing number of women surgeons are joining the field of robotics -- dominated by men, said women robotic surgeons on International Women's Day on Friday. New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) An increasing number of women surgeons are joining the field of robotics -- dominated by men, said women robotic surgeons on International Womenas Day on Friday. While women have made a significant mark in the field of medicine, surgery has for years been a male-dominated field. However, things are slowly changing with more women now acing robotic technology in the field of gynaecology. "The number of women taking up robotic surgery is increasing. Still there is a lot of desire to be improved here. In general, the surgical field appears to be a male dominated field. The women find it difficult to break into the field, and where women are taking up a lot of robotic surgery is gynecology," Rooma Sinha President AGRS Association of Gynecological Robotic Surgeons of India Professor Gynecology Apollo Hospitals, told IANS. "While more women are entering surgical branches, there is a dire need to keep pace. And it is especially important for women because surgery is long been perceived as a only boys cluba," added Dr Shabnam Bashir, Senior Consultant, Breast & Colorectal Cancer Surgeries, at Ujala Cygnus Superspeciality and Mubarak Hospital in Srinagar, Kashmir. With technology racing ahead, the experts called upon women surgeons to upskill themselves. Although upskilling is important for all, women surgeons cannot afford to lag behind, they said. Dr. Rooma said lack of robotic infrastructure in every hospital that the women are working in; as well as lack of good mentors for women are the major barriers to women surgeons adopting robotics. "Most often it is men who do robotic surgery and they tend to teach their younger men colleagues for the same surgery. We need to stand out. Women surgeons who can mentor and Proctor and even encourage younger women surgeons to take up robotics in their respective fields," she told IANS. Besides affecting their profession, the lack of women surgeons has also affected patients. Several studies have shown that women in surgery are more meticulous or safe surgeons with lesser complications. The eminent doctors noted that robotic surgery has also revolutionised health care for women patients. Robotic surgery with its advantage of minimal invasion of the body, less blood loss translates to quicker patient recovery and better cosmesis has significant relevance to women. "Robotic surgery has allowed working women to get back to their work faster, women who are pillars at their home to get to the same level of health before surgery much quicker," Anupama Rajan Babu, Consultant Gynecologic Oncologist, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough , UK, told IANS. "The modern independent woman did not have to rely on a caretaker to take care of her after surgery. The complex surgery that I as a surgeon do for a patient is made safer and recovery is made much quicker with the help of robotic surgery," she added. New Delhi, March 8 : Indian Air Force's one of the largest transport aircraft C-295 MW has made its maiden landing at Agatti Airport in Lakshadweep. The IAF said that as part of a training mission, the IAF C-295 MW aircraft made its maiden landing at the Airport recently. "Landing at the remote location after taking off from the hinterland, this marks a significant milestone in enhancing our nation's aerial capabilities," the IAF added. India had signed a deal with Airbus for 56 C-295 aircraft in 2021 and received the first aircraft last year. The aircraft are replacing the IAFas fleet of British origin AVRO, a twin-engine turboprop inducted way back in the 1960s. According to the deal, the first 16 aircraft will be assembled in Seville, Spain. The remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by the Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in Vadodara, Gujarat, as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies. Another Manipur gang-rape horror comes to light after over 100 days. Image Source: IANS News Haveri : , March 8 (IANS) Karnataka Police have submitted a charge sheet in the sensational January 8 Hangal gang-rape case allegedly committed by moral vigilantes in Haveri district. Sources said on Friday that the police have submitted 873 pages of charge sheet with the Hangal JMFC Court. The police had arrested 19 persons in connection with the case, including seven who allegedly committed gang rape. The charge sheet has named all 19 of them, sources said. The victim of moral policing had released a video on January 11 in which she had said that she was repeatedly raped by vigilantes in Haveri district of Karnataka. The homemaker was dragged out of a hotel after being seen with a person from another religion and beaten up in Hangal town of the district on January 8. The victim, who belongs to the minority community, stated that when she was at the hotel, a gang of five to six men barged inside, questioned her and forcibly took her away on their bikes. They took her to an isolated place and assaulted her brutally and later all of them raped her. They asked her to get into a car and the driver also raped her. Her ordeal did not end here. She was taken to two to three other places and gang-raped again. The accused later took her to the national highway where she boarded a bus. "I want them to be punished," she demanded in the video in an appeal to the police. The victim's husband also appeared before the media and stated that his wife was gang-raped by the vigilantes. "They kidnapped and inhumanly attacked my wife. She revealed this brutality to a family member. She had not told me," he stated. The state government had come under pressure as the Bharatiya Janata Party had launched a series of attacks on the Congress government and charged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's government was hushing up the case. The Karnataka BJP unit had staged a massive protest in Haveri led by Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka and former CM Basavaraj Bommai and demanded that the probe be handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Panaji, March 8 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Central Cabinet approval to readjustment of the seats in the Legislative Assembly of the state for providing reservations to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) of the state. Schedule Tribe Community in Goa have been pressing for their demand of political reservations for the last many years. Recently, the delegation along with Pramod Sawant met Home Minister Amit Shah over the issue. "I wholeheartedly thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Central Cabinet approval to readjustment of the seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa for providing reservations to the Scheduled Tribes of the State," Sawant said. The Chief Minister has also thanked Amit Shah for his continued support in giving justice to the Goa's ST community. "This is a major victory for the ST Community of Goa," the Chief Minister said. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday approved the proposal of the Ministry of Law & Justice for the introduction of the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024 in Parliament. "In order to ensure that the Constitutional rights of the Scheduled Tribes in the State of Goa are safeguarded, it is imperative to enact a law to provide for enabling provisions empowering the Election Commission to make amendments in the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008 and readjust the seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa for the Scheduled Tribes of the State," the Central government said. Alia's inspiring Women's Day mantra: 'Celebrate yourself every day for the rest of your life'. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, March 8 : Bollywood star Alia Bhatt penned a heartfelt note on Women's Day, saying, take a minute to celebrate yourself today and everyday for the rest of your life. The diva, who was most recently seen in 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani', took to Instagram and shared a photo of her hand holding a red fluffy heart. The post is captioned: "My little woman made this for me... and I share this with all of you.. Happy women's day ladies. Take a minute to celebrate yourself today and every day for the rest of your life!" However, it was not clear who made the heart for Alia, as her baby girl Raha is just two-years-old. Alia married actor Ranbir Kapoor on April 14, 2022, and on November 6, same year, she gave birth to their daughter. Alia enjoys 83.4 million followers, and the fans took to the comment section and wrote: "Raha itni badi ho gyi kya jo yeh sab bana leti hai." One user said: "It's so cuteeee..But who's that little woman?" Another fan wrote: "Keep inspiring us." Meanwhile, on the work front, Alia was last seen in the American spy action thriller aHeart of Stonea. The film stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan. She next has aJigraa in her kitty. Alia is also the producer of the movie. New Delhi, March 8 : India experiences a fascination with anime characters, particularly females, marking a departure from the days dominated by fictional figures like Wonder Woman and Catwoman. In this evolving cultural landscape, it's incredible to see iconic figures such as Lady Tsunade from Naruto and Usagi Tsukino from Sailor Moon have captured the hearts of fans with their unwavering strength and resilience. Through meticulous cosplay, dedicated enthusiasts not only pay homage to these characters but also embody the qualities of courage and empowerment they represent. Here are some of the standout characters that we have seen women cosplaying at Comic Con India: Mitsuri Kanroji (Demon Slayer) Mitsuri Kanroji charms with her cheerful demeanor and exceptional swordsmanship, adding depth to the Demon Slayer Corps. Lady Tsunade (Naruto) Known for her unparalleled strength and wisdom, Lady Tsunade embodies resilience and leadership as the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. Hinata Hayuga (Naruto) Evolves from a timid ninja to a fierce warrior, showcasing determination and loyalty as she fights alongside Naruto and marries her Nezuko Kamado (Demon Slayer) Nezuko Kamado captivates audiences with her unwavering determination and loyalty to protect her brother, Tanjiro while battling demons in a world of darkness. Anya Forger (Spy X Family) Anya Forger along with Yor Forger, navigates a world of espionage with humour and heart, showcasing the strength of family bonds. Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon) Usagi Tsukino, also known as Sailor Moon, symbolises hope and courage as she battles evil forces to protect the world with her fellow Sailor Guardians. As the upcoming Mumbai Comic Con approaches, one can witness anime fanatics celebrate the profound impact of these characters that were seen across cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai. IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in Tokyo, March 8 : Exuding confidence that India will have a stable government for 15 years, even longer, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Friday that long-term political stability is essential for good governance. His remarks at the Nikkei Forum on India-Japan Special Strategic Partnership in Tokyo came as India heads for crucial general elections with nearly 960 million voters gearing up to exercise their right to vote in the coming months. "Hundred per cent we will have 15 years of stable government; we may have even longer," Jaishankar said in response to a question at the forum. The minister underlined the importance of a reformist, visionary leadership backed by a strong political mandate, which in a democracy means having a majority in Parliament, and results in "long-term stability". "You can have a majority but you do not have a vision, or you have a vision, but you do not have the political support. So you need both. Now what has happened in our cases, certainly for the last 10 years, we have had it and we hope to continue that," S. Jaishankar said as he praised his government that has been able "to take good decisions -- tough decisions but needed decisions". Further reinforcing the importance of political stability for economic growth and investments, the top diplomat said: "Business world today values political stability. For them, political stability means policy stability. Anybody who is coming, you know, somebody who is taking a big bet on India wants to know what will India be in the next 10 years." "Fortunately, that has been good for us for the last decade, and I am very confident for the next one," the minister added. When asked about India's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the minister took a sly dig at world powers, saying they "cherry-pick one issue, one situation, one principle and they highlight it because it suits them". "...even today, parts of India are occupied by another country. But we did not see the world respond saying, oh, there is a great principle involved. And therefore, let us all go with India. So yes, today we are being told that there are principles involved. I wish I had seen that principle in play for the last 80 years. I have seen those principles cherry-pick..." S. Jaishankar remarked. Before taking on questions at the forum, the minister reiterated that India and Japan today are convergent on the big picture and the key concerns with an improvement in their "inclination and ability" to respond in a more coordinated manner. He added that the bilateral partnership has identified more avenues for increased cooperation and will draw strength from their larger activities together, especially in the Quad. Calling all Quad nations -- India, Australia, Japan, and the US -- strong maritime powers, the diplomat said that the grouping is meeting "more rapidly and more issues are getting added on". EAM Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to Japan from March 6-8 to impart further momentum to bilateral exchanges and set the agenda for future cooperation. On Thursday, he addressed the 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue with his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa and participated in the first Raisina Roundtable, a key step towards enhancing track two exchanges between India and Japan. New Delhi, March 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gave a clarion call to the top digital content creators of the country to start a 'Create on India Movement' to promote awareness about the country's products and rich cultural heritage to the world. Several individuals were awarded for their outstanding contributions in various categories. Pankhti Pandey received the 'Green Champion' award, Keerthika Govindasamy was recognised as the 'Best Storyteller', Maithili Thakur was named the 'Cultural Ambassador of the Year', Gaurav Chaudhary received the award for the 'Best Creator in Tech Category', and Kamiya Jani was honoured as the 'Favourite Travel Creator'. Addressing the first National Creators Award function at the Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, PM Modi told the award-winners that they had creative power that could serve as a catalysing agent to accelerate the progress of the country by increasing awareness about the 'New India' that people want to know about. The Prime Minister said India was now making rapid strides to cover lost ground in setting up semiconductor (chip) manufacturing facilities. PM Modi mentioned the Rs 10,300 crore allocation for the IndiaAI Mission, that was approved by his Cabinet on Thursday, as an important step towards bolstering India's AI ecosystem. "I am confident of the success of these ventures, because I have great faith in the talent of the youth of the country, my role is only to clear the hurdles to pave the way for you to go ahead," he remarked. The Prime Minister urged the content creators to become the brand ambassadors of India and promote the 'vocal for local' campaign. He exhorted them to use AI to translate their content into other languages such as German and Japanese to make the world aware of the innovations that were taking place in India and highlight the various brands and tourism hotspots that were of interest to people around the globe. He said that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was discovering various ancient artefacts that were hundreds of years old. Content creators can use their talent to bring these findings to life spread greater awareness about them. On the occasion of the International Women's Day, PM Modi also urged the content creators to spread the message of empowering women in the country. He pointed out that boys and girls were not being treated equally in homes. For example, girls are questioned and scolded by their parents if they come home late whereas boys are not. There was a need to spread awareness on this subject to end this discrimination, he added. The Prime Minister also said that there was a need to highlight the important role that woman were playing in the rural economy which stretched across agriculture, cattle rearing and weaving. He pointed out that western experts were of the view that there are not enough women in the Indian workforce, but this view was incorrect. PM Modi also exhorted the award winners to focus on spreading a positive message to school children so that they do not get stressed, especially during exam time. Content that will make their studies more interesting and enable them to enjoy their experience will go a long way in achieving this, he added. The National Creators Award that were presented by the Prime Minister is an effort to recognise excellence and impact across domains, including storytelling, social change advocacy, environmental sustainability, education, gaming, among others. The award is envisioned as a launchpad for using creativity to drive positive change. Over 1.5 lakh nominations were received across 20 categories. About 10 lakh votes were cast for digital creators across various award categories, with 23 winners, including three international creators, being selected. Tokyo, March 8 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Akie Abe, wife of late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. In the letter, PM Modi conveyed his condolences on the recent demise of Yoko Abe, the mother of Shinzo Abe. "On my visit to Tokyo this time, met with Mrs Akie Abe, wife of late PM Shinzo Abe... Handed over a personal letter from PM @narendramodi conveying his condolences on the recent passing away of Mrs Yoko Abe, mother of the late PM," EAM Jaishankar said in a post on X. In his meeting with Akie Abe, S. Jaishankar also recalled Shinzo Abe's invaluable contribution to the advancement of India-Japan relations. Following Shinzo Abe's death in 2022, PM Modi in an emotional message expressed grief and shock at the "tragic demise of one of his dearest friends", and also attended the state funeral of the leader. He called Abe a "towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator" who dedicated his life to making Japan and the world a better place. India had announced a one-day national mourning as a mark of respect for PM Abe, who was shot dead while making a campaign speech. Having served as the Asian nation's longest-serving prime minister from 2006 to 2007, and then again from 2012 to 2020, Shinzo Abe worked hard to bolster India-Japan relations, which were accorded "top priority" under his tenure. American billionaire Bill Gates and his girlfriend Paula Hurd spent 80 minutes learning about Vietnamese tea and meditation on Ban Co mountain peak during their four-day trip to Da Nang on Wednesday. The route leading to Son Tra peninsula restricted visitors that afternoon for the special visitors attending the tea meditation session at the height of 700 m above sea level. Two days before, two of Gates's assistants flew to Hanoi and went to the house of Vietnamese tea artiste Hoang Anh Suong to discuss every detail about the tea meditation session. Suong, with over 20 years of organizing thousands of tea meditation sessions, was present at the top of Ban Co early in the afternoon and brought with him two ancient tea sets that he often uses to serve heads of state, along with lotus and ancient snow shan teas. Two staff members from a travel company carried a set of ancient tables and chairs up hundreds of stone steps to the top of Ban Co. In Vietnamese culture, especially the old wealthy class, it is common to sit and drink tea on ancient tables and chairs. The tables and chairs were placed next to a fairy chess board, thus named because the board lies next to a fairy statue, with a layer of mist below. Hoang Anh Suong prepares a tea table for Bill Gates on top of Ban Co Mountain in Da Nang, next to a fairy chess board, on March 6, 2024. Photo courtesy of Hoang Anh Suong At 5 p.m., Gates and his girlfriend arrived at the foot of the mountain and walked together to the top, while his representative and bodyguards stayed down. A nun from Da Nang joined them on top of Ban Co that day. Suong said that when he met Gates and his girlfriend, he was surprised by their simple style, with T-shirts, jeans, and sneakers. (From L) A nun from Da Nang joins Bill Gates, his girlfriend Paula Hurd, and tea artiste Hoang Anh Suong for a tea meditation session on Ban Co mountain peak in Da Nang on March 6, 2024. Photo courtesy of Hoang Anh Suong's Facebook page Suong guided the couple on how to meditate, with the nun's help, because "Western people are now very interested in meditation," he said. He added that atmosphere on top of the mountain was so peaceful he could "clearly hear Gates' breathing." After 10 minutes of meditation, Suong brewed two types of Tan Cuong tea marinated with lotus flowers. "The first cups of tea I offered, Bill Gates and Paula Hurd drank them down very quickly. I asked them if the tea was too strong because most Westerners are used to drinking black tea, with a light taste, while lotus tea usually tastes acrid, I got the answer 'very delicious'," Suong said. Tan Cuong tea is a famous brand in Vietnam's northern province of Thai Nguyen. "Paula Hurd explained that at home she also drinks green tea," Suong said. Gates and Hurd were also surprised as they listened to Suong speak of the sophisticated and elaborate art of marinating lotus tea among Hanoians. A kilogram of lotus tea needs to be marinated five to seven times, each time with around 200 lotus flowers from Hanoi's West Lake, he told them. Hurd turned to Gates and joked, "You and I now become king and queen! (for getting to drink such precious tea)" Suong said. Suong also spent time talking about how to brew and enjoy tea the ancient royal way, introduced tea making tools and how to choose a pot, cup, water and how to brew, pour and how to serve or enjoy the first sip of tea for 5-6 seconds, then purse your lips and swallow gently to feel the aroma of the tea. Bill Gates (L) and his girlfriend Paula Hurd sit opposite to tea artise Hoang Anh Suong at a tea ceremony on Ban Co mountain peak in Da Nang, as a nun observes from a distance, March 6, 2024. Photo provided to VnExpress Suong explained to his guests that Vietnamese people always choose quiet places to drink tea: Ancient masters often went to the mountains or to their study rooms. In a quiet space, people have the opportunity to understand themselves. "The foundation and essence of the tea ceremony is a matter of understanding. When you understand each other, love is true love," Suong recalled what he told Gates. He also explained that with tea meditation, tea was not just to enjoy but a way to cultivate the mind. "When I talked about love, both showed their love right in front of us. This made me very happy," Suong shared. They were so engrossed in talking about tea that they forgot to look at the clock and thus the tea ceremony lasted 20 minutes longer than the one-hour schedule, he said. Suong took the initiative to end the conversation, as Gates and Hurd told him that they would return to Vietnam with their families. The couple left Da Nang on their private jet Thursday night. New Delhi, March 8 : Aman Gupta, co-founder of homegrown wearable and audio brand boAT, on Friday said that with the help of initiatives like 'Make in India', they have become the the second largest audio brand globally, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him at the first National Creators' Award. Gupta, who was awarded as 'Celebrity Creator of the Year' at a packed Bharat Mandapam here, said that he aims to sell Indian products globally in the same way as people line up to buy Big Tech products in the country. "When we started in 2016 when 'Startup India' was unveiled, people did not take us seriously. Seven years later, we have become the worldas second largest audio brand," he said to a cheering applause. Gupta, who is a popular Shark Tank India personality, said that now, 70 per cent of the companyas products are now being made in the country. "I wish that a good tech brand goes out to other parts of the world and is appreciated the way we look at global brands," he added. India true wearable stereo (TWS) shipments grew 34 per cent (year-on-year) in 2023 and boAt led the market with 39 per cent YoY growth. boAt took the lead for the fourth consecutive year driven by affordable new launches and domestic manufacturing. New Delhi, March 8 : There was a time when a woman in a five-star hotel's kitchen was such an oddity, as a senior chef remembered some years ago, that she and a couple of new female inductees decided to do exactly what the men did: use foul language and light up a cigarette during breaks. Seeing women just like them, that too women who used English profanities, the male chefs grudgingly accepted them, but also gave them some friendly advice: If they wanted to get married and have children, like all good women should do, they should quickly seek a transfer to the patisserie, which was air-conditioned and the duty hours were regular. You could imagine their utter shock when these 'achche ghar ki ladkiyan' told them bluntly that they had come to become chefs and the hot kitchen was their way forward. Unlike the case in people's homes, kitchens in five-star hotels and restaurants were a man's world where generous dollops of suspicion and contempt used to be heaped upon women who 'trespassed' into them. That was the world that Veena Arora walked into in 1994, after having grown up in Bangkok and trained in London, when she joined the Thai restaurant named Silk Orchid at the then Holiday Inn (now known as The Lalit in New Delhi). Arora left The Imperial, where she presided over the iconic Spice Route restaurant, last year to turn a chef-entrepreneur, satisfied that pioneers like her have made a difference to their industry's old mindset. Less than two decade after Arora's entry into Silk Orchid, author and Parsi cuisine exponent Anahita Dhondy can happily remembers how as an industrial trainee from IHM Aurangabad, she was pushed into the banquet kitchen of New Delhi's Taj Mahal Hotel by the executive sous chef, who wanted them rise and shine by burning their hands and scalding their skin. The gender barrier was finally coming down, but old attitudes continued to persist, as chef and restaurateur Chiquita Gulati, discovered much after she was running her own show. A relative of hers (she grew up in a well-to-do Gujarati family in Mumbai and studied at the prestigious hospitality school at Les Roches, Switzerland) met her in a chef's uniform and (obviously, she had been conditioned by cookery shows!) exclaimed: "Kya baat hai, aaj toh tum chef bane hue ho! (My, my, you are dressed up like a chef today!)" To quote Gulati: "It was a subtle reminder of the gender stereotypes that continue to linger even in my own circles." Of course, the transition has been physically demanding. As Dhondy says, remembering her days at the Taj banquet kitchen, "Honestly I hated it at first. It is loud and hot, it is noisy and hectic, quite the opposite of the air-conditioned pastry room where ambient music is played just to keep you in the right frame of mind." Talking about her decision to stay put in the hot kitchen (she earned her spurs with the Irani-Parsi restaurant chain, Soda Bottle Opener Wala), she mentions her Le Cordon Bleu batch. "Most of the Indians in my batch in London became pastry chefs, except three: Vanshika Bhatia, Urvika Kanoi and I. And I am so glad we did that because we are all successfully running our own businesses." Fortunately for women chefs, as Arora points out, families too have changed the way they view the profession. "Over time, as women proved their strength and dedication, perceptions shifted," Arora said. "Educated women emerged stronger, more independent and confident, breaking free from traditional constraints. Families now recognise the positive impact of women working in the industry, supporting their roles as providers and caretakers." Life, indeed, has changed for women in the profession. "From being the underdogs who had to work extra hard to getting noticed, getting the big-ticket opportunities, to the present, it's been a journey full of ups and downs," Gulati said. Despite being married into the family that owns the established and popular Gulati restaurant at Pandara Road in New Delhi, Gulati launched the Spice Route, a pan-Indian eatery in Saket, and then, during the Covid lockdown, the Call Chotu food delivery service. With 30 years to look back upon -- 30 years that have seen trail-blazing chefs such as Nita Nagaraj, Madhu Krishnan, Manisha Bhasin and Ritu Dalmia -- Arora sees the change in the right perspective. She said: "The evolution is evident in today's kitchens, where women are not only accepted but celebrated. Specialised kitchens with an all-female staff highlight the capability of women to successfully run restaurants and manage kitchens independently. It reflects the resilience, strength and competence of women in large-scale industrial kitchens, and their success in challenging and redefining traditional gender roles." Women no longer have to swear to earn their respect in the hot kitchen. Lucknow, March 8 : Nishad Party president and UP Minister Sanjay Nishad has sought a seat in the upcoming Vidhan Parishad elections. Elections to ten seats of Vidhan Parishad are going to be held on March 21. So far no party has announced its candidate for the seats. He said on Friday that he will be going to Delhi to meet the BJP leaders in this regard. Minister Nishad said that his party had won 11 seats in the Assembly polls -- five of which were by his candidates on BJP symbol while six won the polls as Nishad Party candidates. Sanjay Nishad's son Praveen Nishad is currently the BJP MP from Sant Kabir Nagar. He had earlier won the by-election on the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat in 2018 on a Samajwadi Party ticket. "I am amazed that the BJP has not yet given us a seat for the Lok Sabha. The Nishad community has three to four lakh votes in 27 Lok Sabha constituencies but we are asking for much less," he said on Friday. It is noteworthy that the BJP has already given the Ghosi seat to Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and its president Om Prakash Rajbhar has announced his son Arvind Rajbhar as the candidate. The BJP had lost the Ghosi seat to the SP-BSP candidate in 2019. The Ghosi seat, this time, will be contested by the Samajwadi Party in alliance with the Congress. The SP is still to name its candidate on the seat which has a sizeable number of OBCs and minorities. Rubina Dilaik celebrates her 'strongest and compassionate' mother on Women's Day. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, March 8 : The 'Bigg Boss 14' winner Rubina Dilaik on Friday celebrated the strongest and the most compassionate woman -- her mother on the occasion of Women's Day. Taking to Instagram, Rubina shared an adorable video with her mother, and twin daughters, Jeeva and Edhaa. The reel features the 'Chotti Bahu' fame wearing a black T-shirt and shorts. Her hair is styled in soft curls, and is carrying a side sling bag. The video which features Rubina and her mother's back, shows them walking in a picturesque location. The mother-daughter duo are holding the little bundle of joys in their respective arms. The post had a caption: "#happywomensday to everyone out there..... This day I want to celebrate the strongest and the most compassionate woman I know... My mother, whom are you celebrating today?" Recently, Rubina and her actor husband Abhinav Shukla celebrated three months of their twin daughters. Meanwhile, on the work front, Rubina was last seen in 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10', and Abhinav was seen in aKhatron Ke Khiladi 11a. Agartala, March 8 : Unlike previous years, women's empowerment got a major boost in the last one year in northeastern states. A record number of women became ministers and legislators and thousands of others got involved in diverse economic activities through Self Help Groups (SHGs) and various other fora meant for their economic empowerment. History was made when a record number of 17 women got elected to the state Assemblies of four northeastern states, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram in last year's Assembly elections. Like previous years, this year too, women voters outnumbered men in several northeastern states like Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland. Tripura is one of the very few states in the country where 33 per cent seats were reserved for women in government jobs as part of its 'State Policy for Empowerment of Women'. In April, Nagaland will hold civic body polls and 33 per cent reservation has been made for women candidates. The terms of the civic bodies ended in 2009-10 and the elections to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Nagaland will be held after a gap of 20 years, as many powerful Naga organisations had earlier claimed that reservation for women in ULBs would go against their community's customary laws. Article 371A grants special protection to the traditional, customary, religious and social practices of the Nagas and also on ownership and transfer of land and its resources. It was only after a series of agitations and extensive consultations with tribal bodies, Naga tribal hohos, civil society organisations and all stakeholders that the state Assembly in November 2023 passed the new Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023 with 33 per cent reservation for women. So strong were the sentiments against participation of women in the ULB polls that in 2017 violent protests were witnessed after the then Naga People's Front government led by former Chief Minister, TR Zeliang, tried to hold the elections. Two people died and scores were injured in the 2017 protests while government properties and offices were also vandalised. The agitations eventually led to the fall of the Zeliang government. However, in 2023, signaling the change in the mindset of society, a record 17 women were elected to Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram Assemblies. In fact, Tripura scripted history in the region when nine women were elected to its Assembly, followed by three each in Meghalaya and Mizoram and two in Nagaland. For Nagaland, which had been up in arms about reservation for women in ULB polls, it was a coming of age of sorts, as for the first time in 60 years of statehood, two women, Hekani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse of the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), were elected to the Assembly from Western Angami and Dimapur-III constituencies respectively. This was a far cry from the 2018 Assembly elections in Nagaland when five women contested and none were elected. It was a similar story in other northeastern states as 24 women fought the 2018 Assembly elections in Tripura and just three won. In Meghalaya 32 women tried their electoral fortunes and only three were successful. None of the women candidates won the 2018 Assembly polls in Mizoram. While Meghalaya is a matrilineal society, in Mizoram the society is patriarchal and the state's main political parties hardly ever nominated women candidates for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. In such a bleak scenario, the BJP government in Tripura led the way in women's empowerment by reserving 33 per cent government jobs for women. Tripura Chief Minister, Manik Saha, while addressing a seminar on women empowerment in the farm sector said, "We introduced One Stop Centre scheme the Tripura Mukhyamantri Matru Pushti Uphaar Yojana. The number of SHGs increased to 56,479 this year from 4,000 previously and as many as five lakh women are involved in these SHGs and they earn a reasonable amount from various sectors." In 2023, Tripura set itself a target to make 90,000 women 'lakhpatis' through SHGs by December this year. The Chief Minister said, "If women are not empowered, a country cannot develop. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked us to talk to the beneficiaries and we are doing this and trying to resolve their problems." In violence-hit Manipur, a non-profit organisation, Eta Northeast Women's Network, has been providing emotional and mental succor and livelihood avenues to women hit by the strife. Eta has been counselling hundreds of distressed and displaced women living in relief camps since the ethnic riots broke out in May 2023. Eta's founder-chairperson Sophia Rajkumari told IANS, "We are now providing skill training and mental support to hundreds of women in 12 relief camps in three districts -- Bishnupur, Kakching and Imphal East. Gradually the number of beneficiaries and number of relief camps would be increased." Rajkumari, a lawyer-turned-social activist added, "After providing essential skills for manufacturing various items like incense sticks, clothes, blankets and confectionery items, we are providing them with initial interest-free capital to embark on entrepreneurial ventures and are connecting them to potential markets and customers. We also ensure that all the proceeds go to these women." In the midst of misery and conflict in Manipur, Eta has emerged as a beacon of hope and economic empowerment of women seeking refuge in relief camps. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) From mahout to protector: Assams Elephant Girl Barua broke glass ceiling to do it all. Image Source: IANS News Guwahati, March 8 : The first female mahout (elephant trainer) in India, Parbati Barua, 67, known as the 'Elephant Girl (Hasti Kanya)' in Assam, was honoured with the Padma Shri award this year. Guwahati, March 8 (IANS) The first female mahout (elephant trainer) in India, Parbati Barua, 67, known as the aElephant Girl (Hasti Kanya)a in Assam, was honoured with the Padma Shri award this year. The fourth-highest civilian award was bestowed on her in acknowledgement of her efforts in animal protection and for her groundbreaking contributions as Indiaas first woman mahout. It was not an easy journey and Barua worked hard to break stereotypes to establish a female presence in a traditionally male-dominated field. Born into the Gauripur royal family in the Goalpara District of Assam, Barua first caught elephants with her father Prakritish Barua in the Kachugaon forests of Kokrajhar District when she was only 14-years-old. There was no looking back for her after that first encounter with elephants and Barua spent the next 40 years of her life, reducing human-tusker conflict even as she fought against gender stereotypes in the profession. Human-elephant confrontations have a long history in Assam, and Barua was instrumental in developing government regulations to minimise them. She became a master in taming wild elephants and due to her extensive knowledge of pachyderm behaviour she became well-known not just in Assam but also in West Bengal and Odisha. Barua also assisted the forest department in driving troublemaking elephant herds foraging in agricultural fields, back into the forests. aQueen of the Elephantsa is the title of a 1996 book written about her by British travel writer and naturalist Mark Roland Shand. Later, the BBC produced a documentary that was widely praised. After over 40 years of continuous service as a mahout, Barua committed her life to animal conservation, and is part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Asian Elephant Specialist Group (IUCN). The girl from a royal family, who could have led an easy life, chose a difficult path and broke the glass ceiling in her journey towards becoming a protector of the animals she loves. Srinagar, March 8 : Former J&K Chief Minister and Vice President of the National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah on Friday lashed out at Lalu Prasad Yadav -- an INDIA bloc ally -- and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He also criticised those who raise slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's person, saying that the opposition gets more harmed by such attacks. "I was never in favour of such slogans. These are self-damaging. Such slogans are a self-goal. Chowkidar, Adani-Ambani, Rafale, Parivar etc do not work. We gave them (BJP) a clear goal by raising the Parivar issue. They said PM Modi belongs to those who have no Parivar support and we had no answer to it," Omar Abdullah told media persons. He said that the voters are not interested in these slogans as they want to know the solutions to the problems they are facing. "We must talk about the problems faced by the people. This is what the voters are interested in," Omar said. Omar Abdullah said that NC offered the south Kashmir Anantnag seat to the Congress. "Had Sonia Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi contested from south Kashmir, NC was fine with this arrangement. But how can we leave this seat to PDP which finished at number third in the 2019 elections? It is not the NC, but the people that have kept the PDP away from the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat," he said. He said that they (PDP) talk about alliance but target only the NC at their rallies and through their tweets. "In the last two years, the PDP has targeted the BJP less and the NC more. When Ghulam Nabi Azad recently targeted Farooq Abdullah, the PDP joined them. What kind of coalition dharma is this?" Omar questioned. Anantnag constituency was won by NC's Justice (Rtd) Hasnain Masoodi in the 2019 general elections. On the INDIA bloc alliance, Omar said the NC is willing to give two seats in the Jammu region (Jammu and Udhampur-Kathua) to Congress. He said J&K has just 5 Lok Sabha seats and there was not much for the NC to concede to INDIA bloc allies. He added that the alliances could be worked out when the assembly elections are held in J&K as there are many seats in the assembly elections. Chennai, March 8 : Kalki Subramaniam is a renowned trans woman and a member of the National Council for Transgender Persons, constituted by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Kalki Subramaniam is a multifaceted personality as she is also an artist and an author of three books. Her book titled aWe are not the Others' has now been added to the Harvard Business School library for research and reference on gender studies. In an exclusive interview with IANS, the activist says that every day should be Womenas Day and not just March 8. IANS: As a trans woman, what do you feel about International Womenas Day? Kalki Subramaniam: Every day must be Women's Day not just March 8 as women around the world, including trans women, work harder at home and at their workplace. International Women's Day is a day to remember and honour the accomplishments and sacrifices of women; continue to work for gender equality; advocate for the safety of young girls and bring transformative change. IANS: How is the condition of trans women in Tamil Nadu now? Kalki Subramaniam: Women in Tamil Nadu are more progressive, better educated and are becoming economically independent. However the progress of transgender women remains slow. Thousands of transgender women still continue to beg and our community's social status isn't anywhere near equal to cis men and cis women. Reservation in education and employment still remains a dream. We are repeatedly demanding that the government focus on our social and economic progress. IANS: Do you think that there should be more governmental intervention to uplift trans women? Kalki Subramaniam: Absolutely yes! As a member of the National Council for Transgender Persons I am in close touch with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Though I represent all the five South Indian states and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, I urge the government to work for the progress of transgender people all over India. The ministryas officials are keen to make various schemes in order to reach out to the transgender persons in the country. I advise the ministry on the priorities of the community like health, education and economic uplift. I want the transgender community to be poverty free. There is a long way to go, but I am not resting. IANS: What were your struggles as a trans woman? Kalki Subramaniam: For all my success today, I had to struggle hard in life. As a transgender teenager I struggled at school and again in college as I didn't want the world to see me as the person I am not. I rewrote my destiny like a movie script and created my own fate in order to be the genuine person I am today, my true and real self. But as I progressed, I reminded myself that I will always represent and fight for the rights of the transgender community. I am proud of the thorny path I walked on, but I try to spread roses on that path for the younger generation of trans people. IANS: You are an artist, a writer and an entrepreneur. How do you achieve so much? Kalki Subramaniam: I have always followed my heart. I write and paint on my journey as a transgender woman. I document my life and of those like me through my writings and works of art and poetry. I am now into fashion, fusing my creations with art and poetry. Many of my creations carry my poetry and art. I am excited about the infinite creative possibilities this offers. I will soon launch an e-commerce website for my creations. IANS: You have been part of the court case which led to the trans community getting the Third Gender status in government records. Please fill us in on that. Kalki Subramaniam: I sensitised Supreme Court lawyers and the judiciary for legal recognition of the transgender community. Former Chief Justice of India, the late Altamas Kabir, was the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority. He was very instrumental in filing the PIL for transgender legal recognition. I worked hard with him for the legal recognition of the community. I have sensitised several Supreme Court and High Court lawyers and judges through sessions in the National Judicial Academy and the Madras Judicial Academy. IANS: What are your plans in the days to come? Kalki Subramaniam: Our organisation, Sahodari Foundation is opening an Art and Design Skill Centre on March 23 to train underprivileged transgender and cis gender women in art, design and tailoring and encourage them to be entrepreneurs. IANS: You are an international gender activist. You have spoken at world renowned universities like Harvard, Yale and Cornell. Where are you speaking next? Kalki Subramaniam: I have received an invitation from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada to speak on gender and sexuality. It is one of the reputed universities of Canada. That is where Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau graduated from in 1998. I am excited to speak at UBC. Thiruvananthapuram, March 8 : With four-time former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal also joining the BJP after Anil Antony, son of three-time former CM A.K. Antony, the Congress party in Kerala appears to be unaffected. Various Congress leaders in the state have reacted that "be it Padmaja or Anil, their leaving will not have any impact on the party as they were never leaders with base". "The party is not going to be affected in any manner and no ordinary party workers are going to go with her. Padmaja has enjoyed all the benefits the party gave her. It is no setback for our party and no one else will join the BJP with her," said Sudhakaran, state Congress president and Lok Sabha member. He said, "Padmaja Venugopal was given all the considerations and she got more than what she actually deserved." While Anil Antony was in charge of the IT cell of the Congress party, Padmaja was fielded thrice by the party -- once to the Lok Sabha in 2004, Thrissur Assembly in 2016 and 2021 but failed to win. She was a party general secretary, and very recently she was inducted into the political affairs committee -- the body of the party that takes crucial policy decisions. Padmaja, who arrived here from Delhi on Friday after joining the party on Thursday, was taken to the state party headquarters where she told the media that she was happy to join the BJP as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a tall and a very strong leader. "I was suffocated in the Congress party as it is a party which is leaderless. I tried a few times to meet the national leadership, but despite my best efforts, I was not able to meet either Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi," said Padmaja. Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan reacting to Padmaja's allegations that she was treated badly in the Congress party said, "It's not at all true. She was given more than what she actually deserved. Just see the hundreds of women leaders in our party who continue to slog for the party without getting anything. All that Padmaja has alleged is nothing but a bundle of false stories." Taking potshots at the development, the CPI(M) has said that the membership in the Congress party is a ticket to the BJP. "It appears the floodgates are open and none has a clue which Congress leader will be crossing over next," said veteran CPI(M) leader and Left convenor E.P. Jayarajan. After Padmaja joined the BJP, social media was flooded with reactions in the state, and many pointed out that now there will be the Karunakaran and Antony factions within the Kerala BJP as was seen for more than three decades in the Congress party. New Delhi, March 8 : More than 15 all-female flights of Tata owned Air India and Air India Express (AIX) were operated on the occasion of International Women's Day on Friday, said CEO Campbell Wilson. Wilson, in his letter to employees on Friday, said that the airline spent the week celebrating the achievements of women, and the women (and many men), who have championed the cause of greater gender equality in aviation over the years. The CEO further said that this week, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore's (CCCS) also granted approval for the merger of Air India and Vistara. "This complements the one granted by the Competition Commission of India six months ago and, being the final competition-related approval, permits Air India and Vistara to now share detailed information to optimise our schedules, contracts and accelerate the journey to merger," he said. "In light of this, it is heartening to see that a key enabler of our merger has already been running full steam ahead. The project we've been running, involving more than 80 people over 8 months, to harmonise operating procedures and manuals across the four Tata airlines is now entering its final phase," said Wilson. "The cross-airline team is hard at work, having spent yesterday and today together making the final changes to documents and charting the implementation path. Alignment of procedures will expedite the safe transfer of crew and aircraft from one AOC to another, so it is a critical aspect of bringing our two LCCs, and our two FSCs, into the final state," said Wilson. Flower shops at Nghia Tan market in Hanois Cau Giay district are bustling as March 8 approaches. Photo by VnExpress/Phan Duong Every year on International Womens Day, Thu Hangs office provides its female staff with a photo shoot, a VND500,000 (US$20) bonus, and a banquetbut she feels no joy. "This is just surface-level gender equality," says Hang, a 33-year-old who works for a state-owned company in Hanoi. She points to enduring disparities at her job, particularly evident in the responsibilities assigned to women. Notably, women bear the brunt of organizing and tidying up after the March 8 celebration. For Hang and the only other woman in their department, which has 10 men, the workload intensifies on this day, making it more taxing than usual. Additionally, Hang and her colleague routinely handle numerous informal duties. Their daily tasks include making tea for a dozen people and documenting the minutes at meetings. "Were burdened with these informal office duties, akin to those at home," Hang said, expressing frustration. "Theyre time-intensive, uncompensated, and undervalued." Hang sought a transfer from administrative to project roles two years ago, aiming to broaden her skills. However, she was encouraged by her supervisors to remain in administration to "have time to take care of husband and children," she said. Like clockwork, residents of Bich Ngocs apartment block in Ha Dong district, Hanoi began planning a March 8 banquet early. Its seen as a chance for men to honor their wives and mothers. Ngoc, 43, views the celebration as a community-building event, despite observing that women tend to shy away from eating much at the banquet and men consume more alcohol. She also noted the irony of men who are typically uninvolved in household chores eagerly joining these events. For example, she mentions one 40-year-old man with two young children who relies on his wife and in-laws for all home tasks every day. But during womens day celebrations, he loudly praises womens excellence in "earning, birthing, and homemaking," and even offers to wash dishes. "He washes dishes twice a year (including Vietnam Womens Day October 20) and he believes that equates to equality," remarks Ngoc. Vietnam has shown notable progress in gender equality, climbing 11 spots to rank 72nd out of 146 countries in the 2023 global gender gap index created by the World Economic Forum. This index, which ranges from 0 to 100, reflects the extent of gender parity and indicates Vietnams advancement thanks to its implementation of relevant legal frameworks and policies. But research offers a less optimistic view, highlighting enduring and unacknowledged inequalities, and noting that workplace gender differentiation has become more complicated in a globalized context. A 2023 ECUE study involving 160 Vietnamese businesses revealed widespread misunderstandings about gender, particularly in the workplace, and criticized the commercialization of gender-focused holidays. Le Quang Binh of ECUE criticizes traditional gender roles reinforced by typical International Womens Day events, such as gifting flowers or hosting contests, which pigeonhole women as caretakers. "Marking International Womens Day by gifting flowers, offering beauty treatment days off, or holding cooking and flower arrangement contests reinforces stereotypes of women as caretakers," says Le Quang Binh of ECUE. In the workplace, women predominantly handle drink service and logistical duties, detracting from their professional growth. Theyre frequently placed in administrative, human resources, or service roles. At home, despite ongoing dialogues on dividing caregiving tasks, little progress has been made. The General Statistics Offices 2023 data shows male workers earn an average of VND8.1 million, against VND6 million for females, revealing a 29.5% pay gap, with discrepancies of 21.5% in urban and 35% in rural settings. The UN Womens 2021 report on Vietnam underscores the prevailing view of women as "secondary earners" and men as the "primary earners." Dr. Khuat Thu Hong from the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS) observes that many entities exhibit a shallow commitment to gender equality, evident in ceremonial gestures on March 8 and October 20. She criticizes the dual expectations placed on women to excel in both their professional and domestic lives while maintaining their appearance and making their husbands and children happy, describing it as a superficial or inadequate approach to gender equality. Hong recounts a female factory workers experience of having to pay deductions due to "frequent restroom visits," which turned out to be a result of her heavy menstrual flow and the need to regularly change her sanitary pads. This, Hong argues, exemplifies "gender blindness" in many employers, who overlook womens physiological needs, thus hindering a supportive work environment for female employees. Furthermore, the ECUE study reveals that business owners lack of a deep understanding of gender equality and persistent unconscious biases contribute to the continuation of gender stereotypes. Specifically, some employers mistakenly think they have equated gender equality because "they do not mention gender in recruitment announcements or consider gender a criterion affecting promotions." "Such superficial equality overlooks womens physiological realities and caregiving responsibilities," Binh remarks. "It prevents women from having a fair playing field with men at work." Recruitment expert Nguyen Phuong Mai observes that while Vietnams recruitment trends are aligning with global patterns, subtle inequalities persist. "Employers often balk at hiring women, wary of maternity leave," she says. "Certain sectors, like technology, oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction, are also often considered more fitting for men." This leads to initial discrimination against female applicants, according to her. For genuine equality, experts advocate adjusting workloads and roles, factoring in womens domestic duties and psychological needs for their best performance. Equal task distribution between male and female workers alone falls short. "Women bear considerable responsibilities for their children and elderly parents at home," Hong says. "This duty forms part of their societal role and ought to be acknowledged within their professional contributions." Female employees at a company in Vietnams northern province of Thanh Hoa pose for "Ao dai Week" in celebration of March 8. Photo by VnExpress/Le Thu The expert identifies key indicators of gender inequality in the workplace, starting with womens total work hoursfactoring in household choresbeing consistently longer than mens. According to the International Labor Organizations 2021 "Gender and the labor market in Vietnam" study, women average 59 hours of work per week, against mens 50, with their time on household chores doubling that of mens. Furthermore, there are deep-seated biases questioning womens leadership, with a common belief favoring mens leadership qualities like decisiveness and vision. This is reinforced with the perception of women as too emotional and family-focused for roles of high pressure or "national significance." As a result, despite women constituting over 70% of the workforce in sectors such as education, healthcare, footwear, and textiles, they represent only around 20% of leadership positions. Thirdly, the notion that family and childcare are exclusively womens "natural duties" cements the idea that these responsibilities are solely suited for women for both genders. "These factors highlight the ways in which traditional beliefs put women at a disadvantage," Hong notes. "Its crucial for women to demand their rights and bolster their confidence and strength, rather than settling for comforting yet empty words." New Delhi, March 8 : A retrospective honouring the extraordinary life and work of eminent artist S. H. Raza on the occasion of his 100th birth anniversary opened its doors to the public in Dubai, UAE, on March 1. New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) A retrospective honouring the extraordinary life and work of eminent artist S. H. Raza on the occasion of his 100th birth anniversary opened its doors to the public in Dubai, UAE, on March 1. Titled 'Raza: The Other Modern', it is open till May 31 and invites art connoisseurs to celebrate the late artist's outstanding body of work and explore the depth of his artistic genius. Presented by Progressive Art Gallery in collaboration with The Raza Foundation, this landmark exhibition showcases Raza's iconic Bindu series and his mesmerising abstraction, offering a journey through the evolving phases of his life and artistic endeavours. Sayed Haider Raza, known simply as Raza, is a name that resonates with art aficionados worldwide. From the vibrant landscapes of Babaria in Madhya Pradesh to the bustling art scene of Paris and back to India, the artist's journey embodies the power of artistic vision and cultural amalgamation. In Dubai, the exhibition finds a fitting backdrop, symbolising the synthesis of East and West, tradition and modernity. This exhibition serves as a bridge between cultures, inviting visitors to explore the depth of the artistic genius. The gallery director Harsh Vardhan Singh, commented: "This exhibition not only celebrates the artist's remarkable body of work but also invites you to explore the depth of his artistic genius. As you walk through this retrospective, I encourage you to reflect on the spiritual and cultural resonance in Raza's creations." "Several shows have been held across the world, including in Paris, New York, New Delhi, and Mumbai, to celebrate Raza's birth centenary. This one in Dubai is the latest in the series. Many of these have brought public attention to works that were either inaccessible to or not seen before by the public. Almost all of them reaffirm that Raza merged his life and art seamlessly; that he made colours speak and sing; that he created art celebrating life and being; that he explored the possibility of the sacred through the sensuous; and that he discovered a unique idiom for himself," said Ashok Vajpeyi, Director of the Raza Foundation and a lifelong friend of the artist. Art historian and curator Yashodhara Dalmia said the indigenous traditions of his country, where colours express mood, as well as the influences of abstract expressionism, inform Raza's work. Detailed essays by Dalmia, Gayatri Sinha and Geeti Sen, elaborating on the brilliance of Raza, find space in a book (by Mapin Publishing) which will be launched soon during the ongoing exhibition. Gayatri Sinha writes that In Raza's long career, one may trace at least three phases of abstraction, each seeking a different form of expressivity. Many of these works done in different styles, spanning the length and breadth of his work, will be on view at the Dubai gallery. "In the last 30 years that he painted, Raza's images were transformed into abstractions; they signify more than is stated. Abstraction is a state of mind. With meditation, the cognition of the outer world penetrates to another level of consciousness. In these diagrams is realised the infinite potential of the artist's interior vision. Symbolic images exist, which may be visual referents for his vocabulary. Raza's paintings explore, through a few chosen signs of the circle, the square and the triangle, a sense of the infinite," cultural historian Geeti Sen wrote in her essay. Jaipur, March 8 : This is the story of a woman from Rajasthan who overcame many odds to emerge as a famous folk dancer making a mark on the world stage and winning the hearts of global audiences. Gulabo Sapera, a Kalbelia (folk dance of Rajasthan) dancer, was born in 1973 in Rajasthan's Pushkar in a nomadic family and was buried alive just an hour after her birth. However, she was rescued by her aunt and mother. At the time of her birth, she was taken away by the midwives and buried alive in the woods as her mother already had 3 daughters and the people of her community were against raising this fourth girl child who was the seventh kid in the family. Gulabo's mother was not even informed about the sex of the child and when she came to know that her newborn was taken away, she begged the members of her community to let her know the little girl's location. Gulabo's aunt told her mother the location and both the sisters then went to the jungle to rescue the newborn. "My mother knew that I, being her daughter, cannot die like that. When my aunt told her the place where I was buried, she told her to take her there. My mother was confident that a girl whom she kept 9 months in her womb can't die like that," says Gulabo adding, "Women are born strong and can face all situations." Gulabo adds that she faced all challenges with elan and took all opportunities with confidence and garnered fame and success. She says that her life changed after she participated in the Bigg Boss season in 2011. Gulabo featured in the reality television show as contestant number 12. "Bigg Boss changed my life because I appeared as a celebrity dancer here on screen. The difference here was that I appeared without a ghoonghat on screen in front of so many people . People started identifying me from my face. Earlier I used to dance in a ghoonghat," she says. Gulabo was honoured with the Padma Shri award in 2016. She has a message for the younger generation. "Trust in your parents and respect them for when you respect them, people will respect you and you shall secure a decent place for yourself in society. I respected my parents and followed what they said and they too respected me in return and fulfilled all my wishes despite facing the opposition of society." This woman of substance says that she looks forward to all opportunities. "I don't look back, but I love to look forward. I want to take my dance to the next level so that it spreads to all corners of the world. I am glad to have received the Padma Shri. Also I want that each house is blessed with a daughter like Gulabo whose success story continues to echo in the country," she says adding, "A girl child is a blessing for every household and girls should be allowed to spread their wings." Srinagar, March 8 : Separatist and religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq offered the Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in old Srinagar city. Authorities on Friday lifted the house arrest curbs on the Mirwaiz after which he drove to the Nowhatta area of old Srinagar city to offer the congregational Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid. The Mirwaiz was allowed to move out of house arrest after five months. He was put under house arrest in August 2019 and released in September last year. He offered prayers at the Jamia Masjid for some weeks then, but was again placed under house arrest following Israelas action in Gaza last year. He had challenged his house arrest in the J&K High Court and the court had asked the UT administration to file its reply in the case. Bengaluru, March 8 : Philanthropist, entrepreneur and author Sudha Murty on Friday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the announcement of her nomination to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha, who is not in India at the moment, said: "It's a big Women's Day gift to me. It's a new responsibility to work for the country." "Thank you Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji. It is my privilege and honour to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha by our Hon'ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve our nation," Sudha Murty wrote on X. "Let there be good done to all through me. I did not expect this, I am travelling abroad in Bangkok. I came to know about it through the tweet of PM Modi. Many thanks to him. I will do whatever is possible in my capacity," she wrote. Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also congratulated her saying: "My hearty congratulations to Smt. Sudha Murty on being nominated as a member of Rajya Sabha. She has been a source of inspiration for women's power and the nomination was made on International Women's Day. B.Y. Vijayendra, BJP Karnataka President said: "I'm thrilled to learn that Sudha Murthy ji has been nominated by the President of India to the Rajya Sabha. "It's a moment of great pride for the entire Karnataka to witness Sudha Murty Ji's remarkable contributions to society, philanthropy, and education being recognised. This nomination truly embodies the essence of 'Nari Shakti' under the guidance of our Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji," he said. Sudha is the wife of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy and also the mother-in-law of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. However, she has created a name for herself with her work for the education of the underprivileged and philanthropy. AI will create more jobs than it destroys: IBM India. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, March 8 : The industry leaders on Friday hailed the government's IndiaAI Mission initiative, the country's first artificial intelligence (AI) mission that was approved with an outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore. The IndiaAI Mission will establish a comprehensive ecosystem catalysing AI innovation through strategic programmes and partnerships across the public and private sectors. "The focus on funding deep tech AI startups, developing open source databases, as well as domain-specific large language models will play an instrumental role in fueling AI innovation in the country, making India a global leader in harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence," said Tilakraj Parmar, Co-Founder & CEO, QX Lab AI. He also mentioned that the government's move to provide financial support and a strategic roadmap for AI integration will act as a catalyst for economic growth and innovation. Prashanth Kaddi, Partner, Consulting, Deloitte India, said that this move gives a fillip to the startup ecosystem "to drive innovation helping India leapfrog into areas such as text summarisation, video/image generation, and next-gen chatbots etc., including enablement across Indian languages". The Mission will be implemented by 'IndiaAI' Independent Business Division (IBD) under Digital India Corporation (DIC). According to an official, the approved IndiaAI Mission will propel innovation and build domestic capacities to ensure the tech sovereignty of the country. It will also create highly skilled employment opportunities to harness the demographic dividend of the country. Seoul, March 8 : South Korea and Japan held a vice-ministerial meeting on Friday to discuss ways of cooperating on a wide range of economic and financial issues, Seoul's finance ministry said. South Korea's Deputy Finance Minister Choi Ji-young met with Japanese Vice Finance Minister Masato Kanda in Tokyo earlier in the day for the vice-ministerial finance dialogue, the second of its kind, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Yonhap news agency reported. During the meeting, the two sides discussed issues of mutual concern, including the situation in the global economic and financial markets, and explored ways of working more closely on those matters. They also discussed the envisioned meeting of their finance ministers, as the last one took place in Tokyo in June last year for talks on stronger bilateral relations in the financial and economic fields. "The two officials agreed to continue both high-level and working-level cooperation and consultations closely and agreed to hold their next meeting in Seoul," the ministry said. The dialogue was launched in June of last year, as the two nations have sought to enhance bilateral economic relations amid a recent thaw in the bilateral diplomatic relationship. Last year, Seoul and Tokyo revived a US$10 billion currency swap deal, which expired in 2015. Srinagar, March 8, : Former J&K Chief Minister and President of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, on Friday accused the National Conference of breaking the People's Alliance For Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) by announcing the fielding of three candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections without consulting the PDP. In response to Omar Abdullah's statement questioning PDP's right to seats since the party ranks third, Mufti criticised the National Conference's decision, stating that they wanted the PAGD to continue, but "Omar Abdullah has declared that it is not a part of the alliance". Mufti expressed disappointment at the 'unilateral' decision taken by the National Conference, emphasising that she was not informed about NC's decision to field three candidates. Highlighting the importance of unity in the face of challenges, Mufti indicated that the PDP will now discuss the future course of action with the Congress. She countered Omar Abdullah's argument by pointing out that the previous electoral losses suffered by Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah did not disqualify them from contesting the polls. She also lamented the breakdown of the PAGD alliance, attributing it to the National Conference's unilateral decision-making. New Delhi, March 8 : 'Five Films for Freedom' returns on March 13, marking a decade of celebrating diverse stories from across the globe. This year, the campaign brings five new movies from the Philippines, India, Spain, the UK and the US to audiences worldwide. Continuing its longstanding partnership with the BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, British Council has presented this year's lineup of short films. In celebration of its tenth anniversary, this edition of 'Five Films for Freedom' (March 13 to 24) showcases LGBTQIA+ narratives that resonate with resilience and authenticity. From the historic defiance captured in Compton's 22 in San Francisco to the poignant exploration of love and understanding in Halfway, this year's lineup includes 'Little One', 'Cursive', and 'The First Kiss', each delving into themes of family, identity, and the universal quest for acceptance. The movies offer perspectives on the LGBTQIA+ experience, inspiring conversations and fostering empathy worldwide. The five short films - 'Cursive', 'Little One', 'The First Kiss', 'Compton's 22' and 'Halfway' will stream on JioTV mobile app and on connected TVs through JioTV+. In India, in partnership with The Queer Muslim Project, 12 screenings of the films will be held in 10 cities across the country with 10 partners. They will be screened in Delhi, Kolkata, Gangtok, Agartala, Shantiniketan, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Goa. The partners include British High Commission, QueerFrames Screenwriting Lab, Habitat International Film Festival, Sandbox Collective, Harkat Studios, Eagaro Photo Festival, The We4We Project, Arthshila, Rainbow Hills Welfare Association and The Storiculture Company. Alison Barrett MBE, Director India, British Council said, "We are delighted to be once again partnering with BFI Flare, JioTV and JioTV+ and The Queer Muslim Project for this celebration of inclusivity and cultural exchange. It is a privilege to showcase the exceptional work of immensely talented filmmakers to audiences across India. "Throughout the ten-year journey of 'Five Films For Freedom', we have been able to reach over 23 million viewers globally. We take pride in our ongoing commitment to supporting this initiative, which not only sheds light on new narratives but also fosters new connections and understanding." Rafiul Alom Rahman, Director of The Queer Muslim Project, adds, "We are happy to be collaborating with the British Council and with multiple partners across India to create a space that celebrates love and freedom. The #FiveFilmsForFreedom programme has been a catalyst in spotlighting diverse LGBTQIA+ talent and stories from around the world and fostering conversations around inclusion. This year's curation of FFFF includes powerful short films, community mixers and discussions with industry professionals." Kumar Chheda, Director of Halfway, said, "Halfway is about the things you do, the extra miles you go to make love work. This is why the #FiveFilmsForFreedom programme is the most appropriate place for the world to see the film. For an emerging filmmaker from India, there could have been no greater joy than to see my film reach audiences around the world. I am thrilled that Halfway is the selection from India as the programme celebrates its 10th year." --IANS/ sukant/svn Mumbai, March 8 : On the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, the makers of the Vishnu Manchu-starrer 'Kannappa' unveiled the first-look poster of the film, featuring Vishnu as the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva. The poster shows Vishnu as Bhakta Kannappa with unparalleled charisma and intensity. In the poster, Vishnu stands poised with a bow and arrow after emerging from a waterfall, ready to unleash his prowess on his target. The image hints at the devotion and determination that defines the character of Kannappa. Sharing the poster on social media, Vishnu wrote: "Honoured and privileged to portray the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva, 'Kannappa'. Today on MahaShivaRathri, here is your 'Kannappa'." Featuring actors like Mohan Babu, Mohanlal, Prabhas, Sarath Kumar and Brahmanandam, team 'Kannappa' is currently shooting its second schedule in New Zealand with over 600 international crew members. Talking about the same, Vishnu shared: "'Kannappa' has been an incredible journey filled with dedication and passion. It goes beyond being a film. 'Kannappa' delves into the profound exploration of a warrior's soul. I'm thrilled to reveal the magic that has unfolded as we bring this film to life. Choosing to showcase the first look on Mahashivratri feels like the blessings of lord Shiva are guiding us." The film is directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh. New Delhi, March 8 : The Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that it has initiated strong action against agents and unscrupulous elements who deceitfully sent Indian nationals to Russia under the pretext of providing them with security guard jobs. The remarks came after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) busted a ring trafficking Indians to Russia raiding over 10 locations in seven cities associated with the agents. "Strong action has been initiated against agents and unscrupulous elements who recruited them on false pretexts and promises," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal, said addressing a weekly media briefing. He informed that India has strongly taken up the matter with the Russian government for the early discharge of its nationals stuck there. The CBI raids were conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Ambala, Chandigarh, and Madurai, following which some suspects were detained for questioning, and it reportedly emerged that the number of Indians sent by these firms to Russia is 35. Spokesperson Jaiswal said that the agency has collected incriminating evidence from the raids and a case of human trafficking has been registered against several agents. He urged citizens to be cautious of the offers made by job agents. "We once again appealed to Indian nationals to not be swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian army. This is fraught with danger and risk to life." We remain committed to the early release of our nationals serving as support staff with the Russian army and the eventual return home," Jaiswal added A second Indian national, 30-year-old Mohammed Asfan from Hyderabad, died this week while serving with the Russian Army on the frontlines of the conflict with Ukraine, raising pressure on the Indian government to seek early discharge of citizens in the conflict zone. Before Asfan, 23-year-old Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangukiya from Gujarat was killed in a Ukrainian air strike. He had travelled to Russia last December and was serving as a "security helper" with the Russian Army at Donetsk. Jaiswal said that the Indian authorities are in touch with the families of both victims and are trying to get their mortal remains back to India as soon as possible. "We are in touch with the Russian authorities. The deaths happened some distance away, in areas far away from the capital, so there are certain procedures to be followed. We are doing that and doing our best to bring back the mortal remains," Jaiswal said. In Afghanistan, the drastic erosion of womens and girls rights that began with the return to power of the Taliban, continues, according to a report issued on March 6 by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA. On March 8, we celebrated International Womens Day, which this year highlights the need to invest in women, said UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva. What we are seeing in Afghanistan is precisely the opposite: a deliberate disinvestment that is both harsh and unsustainable. UNAMAs quarterly report notes that The Taliban continue to deny women and girls the ability to exercise their human rights, said Robert Wood, United States Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the UN. The Taliban continue to enforce severe edicts restricting women and girls from secondary or higher education, preventing womens full participation in the workforce. The Taliban are also detaining women deemed noncompliant with a hijab decree. The United States continues to partner with Afghan women to help them prepare for the day when they are able to fully participate in society, said Ambassador Wood. Indeed, On February 27, Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken welcomed the Alliance for Afghan Womens Economic Resilience Summit to the State Department. Secretary Blinken noted the Talibans decrees go against the will of the people of Afghanistan. Surveys show that more than 85 percent of the Afghan population believe that women should have equal access to education, he said. The Alliance for Afghan Womens Economic Resilience will provide virtual job training and skills-building courses for Afghan women around the world, added Ambassador Wood. Working with our partners such as the Qatari government, the Qatari foundation Education Above All, and the American education company Coursera, the Alliance will provide hundreds of thousands of Afghan women with technical job training classes. Taken together, these efforts will support Afghan women as they start and then grow their own businesses. Womens contributions would help create a more resilient society and add over a billion U.S. dollars to the Afghan economy, said Ambassador Wood. It is Afghanistans loss if women and girls are not allowed to reach their full potential. Bengaluru, March 8 : Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) and Sports, on Friday extended his hearty congratulations to Padma Bhushan awardee philanthropist and author Sudha Murty on being nominated as a Rajya Sabha MP. "On International Women's Day, the news of Sudha Murty being nominated as a Rajya Sabha MP has left us elated and excited. The news has made Bengaluru swell with pride. We are also proud of her work and achievements," Anurag Thakur said at a Viskit Bharat Ambassadors event in Bengaluru. "I thank President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nominating her to the Upper House," he added. Anurag Thakur also congratulated all women during the Viksit Bharat event on the occasion of International Women's Day, saying that this is a moment to celebrate 'women power'. Sudha Murty, the wife of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and one of the nation's leading philanthropists and educationists, was nominated to the Upper House on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to announce her nomination, saying that her presence in the House will be a powerful testament to 'Nari Shakti'. The I&B Minister, while addressing the Viksit Bharat Ambassadors event, enumerated Modi government's achievements and milestones in the last 10 years, and also shared the comparative growth numbers to measure the stark difference between the UPA and NDA regimes. Tearing into previous Congress regimes, he said that years of policy paralysis left the country in shambles, and the economy in crawling mode while the corrupt made staggering sums of money at the cost of common people. Gandhinagar, March 8 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday inaugurated a new flyover in the state's Dakor town constructed at Rs 73.28 crore, aimed at facilitating the movement of approximately 15.20 lakh pilgrims during festivals such as Holi and Janmashtami. The flyover is set to ease the travel for those heading from Ladvel Chokdi to Kapadvanj-Modasa to Rajasthan, and from Sevaliya-Godhra to Madhya Pradesh, benefiting locals and visitors alike, an official said. Further bolstering the state's infrastructure, CM Patel performed the e-bhumi puja for the Ahmedabad- Mahemdavad-Mahudha-Dakor high-speed corridor project worth Rs 156 crore. He also launched the four-laning of the Uttarsanda- Narsanda-Vadtal highway with a budget of Rs 17 crore and initiated the core network work project connecting Ahmedabad-Nadiad-Dakor-Sevaliya. During the inauguration event, CM Patel announced the commencement of development projects totalling Rs 353 crore across the state. Among the key projects unveiled was a multi-storey ITI building at Palana near Nadiad, a city bus service in Nadiad with an investment of Rs 10.61 crore for the next five years, and the beautification of a pond in Thasra. Additional dedications included the Kathlal panchayat bhavan, Gujarat's first vaccine store and an urban health centre in Nadiad, a primary cattle treatment centre in Chaklasi, and enhanced facilities for primary schools including 40 new classrooms. Baghdad, March 8 : Two people were killed and another wounded in a Turkish airstrike in Iraq's Duhok province on Friday, a Kurdish security source said. A Turkish aircraft bombed them in the morning when they were collecting herbs in a mountain near their village in the province's Shiladze area, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The Turkish forces often carry out cross-border operations in northern Iraq against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, especially in the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the group. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades. Details are awaited. Jaipur, March 8 : Around 14 children were injured due to electrocution during the Shiva procession being taken out on the occasion of Mahashivratri in Kunhadi police station area of Kota on Friday. These children were participating in the procession when they sustained burn injuries due to the current which spread after the flags they were carrying touched a high tension cable, said sources. The condition of one of these children is said to be serious. According to information, many children were carrying religious flags which touched the high tension line. As there was water on the ground, the current spread quickly and the children were electrocuted. The Shiva procession is organized each year by the people of the locality in Kali Basti. Many children had come alone to this programme. There was chaos at the spot after the accident and people of the locality ran towards the hospital with the children in their arms. The families of the injured children also reached the hospital. Inspector General of Police Ravidutt Gaur said that one child sustained 70 percent burn injuries and the other 50 percent. The remaining children sustained 10 percent burns. The age of all is between 9 to 16 years, he added. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also reached the hospital. This incident will be investigated, he said. Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma directed the administration to provide immediate assistance to the injured children with the best treatment. He said that an investigation will be conducted into the accident. Education and panchayati raj minister Madan Dilawar expressed concern over the accident and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. arc/ New Delhi, March 8 : An occasion like International Women's Day continues to evoke mixed reactions in society. While the world has shed a lot of dogma which had prevented women from exploring and succeeding in roles considered to be male bastions, there is still a long way to go before women get to experience the liberating feeling of emancipation in all walks of life. In the past few years, organisations have assiduously worked towards building a gender-inclusive culture to ensure women professionals get the chances they deserve and are not hamstrung by prejudices. For instance, Sun Life Global Solutions has unique initiatives in place to ensure an inclusive working environment. "At Sun Life Global Solutions, we recognise the importance of fostering an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of gender or orientation, can thrive. Our Employee Resource Groups, such as SunStree, have been instrumental in providing a platform for women employees to address challenges, access developmental opportunities, and prioritize their well-being. By expanding our ERGs to include initiatives like WomenInTech and WorkingFamilies, we aim to advance inclusion and amplify diverse voices across our organisation," says Rajeev Bhardwaj, Vice President & CHRO, Sun Life Global Solutions. Caspian Debt, meanwhile, has managed to achieve the distinction of seeing its women employees lead a male-dominated segment. "Caspian Debt had set a goal of having at least 30 per cent of our teams comprising women. We are proud to share that we have surpassed this target with 45 per cent of our team being women. Not only that, a majority of our investment team is also made up of women, which is rare in financial institutions. "We are committed to providing an equitable work environment and offer the flexibility to work from home for up to 6 days a month. Additionally, new parents, both men and women, are given extra work from home time until their child reaches the age of 36 months, allowing for shared parenting responsibilities," said Avishek Gupta, MD & CEO, Caspian Debt. At Vedanta Sesa Goa, the holistic well-being of female workforce has been bolstered with a 'No Questions Asked' work-from-home policy. "At Vedanta Sesa Goa, we are committed to creating an environment where women not only excel but lead on regional, national, and international stages. Beyond professional achievements, we prioritise the holistic well-being of our female workforce, offering support such as sabbatical leaves for post-birth care and a 'No Questions Asked' work-from-home policy to ensure their mental and physical health. Proud catalysts of their metamorphosis, we shape personal and professional growth, nurturing sustainable societal advancement," said Navin Jaju, CEO - Sesa Goa, Vedanta Ltd. Organisations now realise that by integrating diversity and inclusion as key pillars, they will be able to achieve inclusive growth. "I believe that for a society to progress, it's essential not only to have women represented but also empowered. While it's good to see organisations promoting diversity and inclusion (D&I), this shift should be structural and integral to their core design strategies and also backed by thoughtfully designed policies. Women possess the ability to forge connections and enact meaningful change and I feel fortunate to be in an era where we are all privy to this, across industries and globally," said Carina Chopra, Head of Marketing, Lightspeed India. Raintree Foundation, which recognises that building a society that is fair and equal depends on the active participation of women at all levels of society, engages women to have control over community resources and gets them involved in decision-making processes. "Gender equality is often framed as an urban issue, but true transformation requires equal, if not greater, focus at the grassroots level. At our project site in Velhe, in the Western Ghats region, we are empowering rural women through career exposure visits, focused health camps, and Gram Sabha participation. This approach helps break down traditional barriers and promote a more inclusive mindset. Our workshops on gender equality in rural schools and gender-inclusive intervention protocols offer practical tools for lasting change. "Through education and open dialogue in our village sessions, we have empowered 212 women and 154 girls to become active participants in community stewardship, paving the way for a resilient and prosperous society for all," said Namita Dandekar, Chief Operating Officer of Raintree Foundation. Kolkata: BJP delegation team lead by opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari comes out after meeting with Chief Election Commission. Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, March 8 : The Calcutta High Court on Friday allowed the leader of opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, to hold a public political meeting at the trouble-ridden Sandeshkhali in North 24 Paragans district on Sunday, the same day the ruling Trinamool Congress is scheduled to organise a mega rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. On being denied police permission to hold the meeting at Sandeshkhali, Adhikari had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking the same. On Friday, a single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta gave Adhikari the nod to hold the meeting at Sandeshkhali on Sunday, but with the condition that he will not make any provocative statements there. The timing of the meeting has been fixed between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Justice Sengupta also directed that the originally scheduled venue for the meeting needs to be changed. He also sought to know whom the state government was trying to 'protect' by denying Adhikari permission to hold the political meeting. "Section 144 was not imposed when permission for the meeting was sought. It was imposed only after a petition was filed in this court," Justice Sengupta said. New Delhi, March 8 : The Congress on Friday released its first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, naming 39 nominees from nine states, including senior party leader Rahul Gandhi, who will contest from Kerala's Wayanad again. The party has named six candidates from Chhattisgarh, including former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon, and Tamrdhwaj Sahu from Mahasamund, seven from Karnataka, including sitting MP D.K. Suresh - the brother of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar - from Bangalore Rural, and 16 from Kerala, including Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram. Congress General Secretary (Organisation), K.C. Venugopal, who is currently a Rajya Sabha member, will return to the LS poll fray from Kerala's Alappuzha - the only seat that the Congress-led UDF had lost in Kerala in 2019. The list, announced by Venugopal at the party office here, also includes two candidates from Meghalaya, including sitting Shillong MP Vincent Pala, as well as for the sole seats in Nagaland, Sikkim, and Lakshwadeep, four from Telangana, and one from Tripura. There are 15 candidates from the general category, while 24 are from Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes, Other Backward Class, and minorities. Twelve of the candidates are under 50 years of age, eight are aged between 50 and 60, and 12 are aged between 71 and 76. The candidates were named a day after the meeting of the party's Central Election Committee held here on Thursday evening. New Delhi, March 8 : The schemes of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) schemes helped and encouraged women scientists while also playing a role in the rapid rise of women researchers and principal investigators in the country, experts said on Friday. DST, which comes within the Ministry of Science and Technology, celebrated International Women's Day at its premises on the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" and deliberated on the necessity of investing in women's health, education, among others. Gynaecologist Dr. Aparna Sharma and Cardiologist Dr. Shashi Mohan underlined the importance of focusing on the physical and mental well-being of women and maintaining work-life balance. They discussed the challenges women face in balancing their professional lives with personal well-being and dwelt on prioritising self-care and adopting healthy lifestyles. During the session on the role of women in startups, women entrepreneurs and industry experts shared their experiences, challenges, and success stories. The session underscored the immense potential of women-led startups in driving inclusive economic development and fostering a culture of innovation. A film on "Nari Shakti at DST" was created and unveiled during the event. In addition, a dental health check-up camp was organised by Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences on the DST premises for oral hygiene. --IANS shs/pgh Faridabad : , March 8 (IANS) In a medical marvel, doctors in Haryana's Faridabad have successfully conducted liver transplants in two young girls with rare diseases, using a bloodless technique. The girls, aged 10 and 11 years, suffered from Wilsonas disease, an inherited disorder that accumulates copper in the body; and an autoimmune liver disease, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the liver. Their livers were transplanted using the bloodless technique -- the most advanced technique applied in high-end surgeries, including organ transplants. In the technique, the blood spillage from the patient is transfused back into the body, rendering the requirement of the transfusion of external blood unnecessary, said the doctors at Marengo Asia Hospitals, who pioneered the technique in India and South Asia. "I have witnessed the resilience of these young patients. Despite their small stature, their courage and strength in facing such a challenging surgery inspire hope not just in their families but in all of us," Dr Punit Singla, Director & HOD, Liver Transplant, Marengo Asia Hospitals, told IANS. "Every transplant is a testament to the power of medicine, teamwork, and the generosity of organ donors. Today, we have not just given them a new liver; we have given them the chance to embrace life with renewed vigour and optimism," he added. Baby Lachyn, 11, suffering from Wilson's disease, was admitted to the emergency with abdominal distension in an unconscious state. She had severe jaundice and hepatic encephalopathy. In individuals with Wilson's disease, the defective protein impairs the body's ability to eliminate excess copper, leading to its accumulation in the liver and subsequent release into the bloodstream. While the complex surgery lasted for 12 hours, the bloodless technique helped the surgeons overcome significant risks. The second patient, Aruuzatym,11, from Kyrgyzstan was presented to the hospital with decompensated liver disease, along with low platelet count and recurrent bleeding from the nose. In both cases, the girlsa fathers were the donors, and were discharged after a week, while the girls were discharged after three weeks, the hospital said. New Delhi, March 8 : The Indian creators and influencers' community on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi with rousing applause, calling him the creator of 'New Bharat' and the 'Greatest Of All Time' (G.O.A.T.) at the National Creators' Awards held at the Bharat Mandapam here. New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) The Indian creators and influencersa community on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi with rousing applause, calling him the creator of 'New Bharat' and the 'Greatest Of All Time' (G.O.A.T.) at the National Creatorsa Awards held at the Bharat Mandapam here. "Be thankful guys that he is not a content creator, because if he was, everyone's shops would have been closed. When he creates reels, they go viral. When he tweets, it becomes a trend. Whenever he goes on a radio show, it becomes the world's number one radio show," Raj Shamani, a YouTuber, entrepreneur, and social media influencer, said while welcoming PM Modi to the stage. "He is the influencer of the influencers, the G.O.A.T. who is making the Indian dream possible for millions of Indians, the creator of New Bharat, PM Narendra Modi," he added. Addressing the first National Creators Award, PM Modi told the award winners that they have creative power that could serve as a catalysing agent to accelerate the progress of the country by increasing awareness about the 'New India' that people want to know about. The Prime Minister also urged the content creators to become the brand ambassadors of India and promote the 'Vocal for Local' campaign. On March 8th, the global community comes together to celebrate International Womens Day. It is an opportunity to celebrate womens achievements throughout history and across nations, and to shine a light on issues that continue to hold women back, such as discriminatory gender norms, gender inequality, restrictions on reproductive rights, gender-based violence, and obstacles to womens full participation in society. Despite decades of progress, in far too many places around the world, the rights of women and girls are still under attack, holding back entire communities, said President Joe Biden. We see it in Afghanistan, where the Taliban bars women and girls from attending school and pursuing employment. We see it in Iran, where the regime is brutally repressing the voices of women who are courageously standing up for their freedom. And in the face of Russias vicious and unjust invasion of Ukraine, including the use of rape as a weapon of war, we see countless of women bravely fighting for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Ukrainians. Women have garnered a number of gains even over just the past twenty-five years. This includes progress on gender equality, political representation, maternal mortality; and legislative reform for ending violence against women. Yet in many countries, women still face serious obstacles to obtaining financial services including banking and loans, inheriting property, starting a business, obtaining higher education or jobs outside of the home. Too often, they are locked out of decision-making processes on matters that disproportionately affect them. Promoting opportunities for women and girls strengthens security, stability, and prosperity for everyone, said President Biden. And we know that we cannot solve any of the great global challenges of our time if half the population is left behind. So today, as we celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women and girls around the world, we also reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that all people can reach their full potential. Women are one of a countrys greatest untapped resources. Any society striving to flourish must begin by empowering its women, and by promoting for them the same rights that men already enjoy. On International Womens Day we recognize that Womens rights are human rights. We celebrate women, and we renew our commitment to make the world a place where women are not excluded or marginalized, but are honored, respected, and free to realize their full potential. New Delhi, March 8 : Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Spanish Secretary of State for Defence Maria-Amparo Valcarce Garcia on Friday discussed several bilateral defence cooperation issues, with a focus on industrial collaboration. According to the Ministry of Defence, both sides reviewed the ongoing projects and discussed future joint plans in the maritime and air domains. They appreciated the increased interaction at the business-to-business level between the defence industries of both countries, including an ongoing visit from the Spanish defence industry association TEDAE to India. The Defence Secretary highlighted the increased opportunities in India in the defence production sector. The Spanish Secretary of State for Defence is in India on a two-day visit, accompanied by a high-level delegation. Hyderabad, March 8 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday said that his government will work for the comprehensive development of Hyderabad with support from the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). Terming the old city as the original city, he promised to provide the required funds for various infrastructure projects. Stating that politics and development are different, the Chief Minister, after laying the foundation stone for the old city metro rail project near Falaknuma along with AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, said the support of the MIM is required to ensure the city's overall development. The 5.5 km Metro line will connect Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) to Falaknuma. A part of the first phase of the Hyderabad Metro project, the work could not be taken up in the past due to various problems. Speaking in Urdu, the Chief Minister noted that the government is preparing the Master Plan 'Vibrant Telangana 2050' for comprehensive development of the state and Hyderabad. He mentioned that the Musi riverfront development would be taken up as a world-class project and as part of these efforts, he visited London along with AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi to study Thames riverfront development. Revanth Reddy reiterated that he believes that politics should be confined to elections and afterwards, the focus should be only on development. "Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi are getting elected again and again. I also tried to defeat them but could not defeat them," he said with a smile in the presence of leaders from both parties. He said after the elections, he decided to develop Hyderabad with the support of the MIM and its elected representatives. Exuding confidence that Congress will remain in power for the next 10 years, Revanth Reddy said he takes responsibility for developing the city by providing the necessary funds. He mentioned that he ordered the release of Rs 200 crore for road development works in the old city after a request made by the Hyderabad MP. He also agreed to the suggestion of Asaduddin Owaisi to shift Chanchalguda Central Jail from the old city and use the land for building the KG to PG complex. He also promised that a bridge will be built across Mir Alam Tank at a cost of Rs 366 crore and the foundation stone for the same will be laid in a couple of days. He stated that since Municipal Administration, Urban Development and Minority Welfare portfolios are with him, required funds can be made available expeditiously for the projects. Revanth Reddy recalled that it was during Congress rule that Hyderabad Metro, Outer Ring Road, and international airport were built and the IT sector saw rapid development. He said the government would not only complete the MGBS-Falaknuma Metro stretch but would extend by another 1.5 km from Falaknuma to Chandrayangutta, which will be developed as a major interchange station on the newly planned Airport line from Nagole to Shamshabad Airport. He assured that the old city will be connected to HITEC City through the Metro. Asaduddin Owaisi said his party welcomed the mandate given by Telangana people to the Congress. He assured support to the government to take the state ahead on the path of development. The MP said Hyderabad and Telangana reached new heights of development because of the peace and communal harmony. Voicing concern over the growing hatred and disharmony in different parts of the country, he called for united efforts to defeat fascist forces. Agartala, March 8 : Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the ruling BJP in Tripura on Friday launched its poll campaign vehicles named 'Modi ki Guarantee' with suggestion boxes, urging people to come forward and provide their opinions on how India should progress. Four campaign vehicles were flagged off by former Chief Minister and BJP's Rajya Sabha member Biplab Kumar Deb and state BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee. Deb is the BJP candidate for the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat, currently held by Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Pratima Bhowmik. Speaking at the inaugural event of 'Viksit Bharat - Modi ki Guarantee', Deb said: "The BJP has sought opinions and suggestions from people before preparing its manifesto for the Parliamentary elections." "These suggestions are not for personal benefits like postings, transfer requests, or consideration of applications. These are about building a strong country. PM Modi and BJP President J.P. Nadda are asking for suggestions from the masses. The BJP alone can practice democracy in this way." The former Chief Minister also appealed to leaders and supporters of the opposition CPI-M, Congress, and other political parties to give their suggestions on 'what to do' and 'what not to do' while leading the country ahead. State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, former Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, and others attended the event. State BJP President Bhattacharjee said his party would fight the polls on 'Modi Ki Guarantee' and strive to win in all the seats in Tripura. Stating that the suggestion boxes are meant to be inclusive of people from all walks of life, he said the state government has worked hard to make Tripura corruption-free. He also cited the different welfare schemes like the Chief Minister's Jan Arogya Yojana, social security pension, etc., and the different Centrally-sponsored schemes. On the opposition CPI-M, Bhattacharjee said it often speaks about the poor, but has done nothing to uplift them. Jaipur, March 8 : "Dharma Guardian", the fifth joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, ended at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan on Friday, a Defence Ministry statement said. The joint exercise aimed to achieve interoperability between the two forces and acquaint each other with their operational procedures and combat drills. A 40-member Indian contingent, drawn from a Rajputana Rifles battalion, and a Japanese contingent of similar strength, participated in the joint exercise, whose primary aim was to foster military cooperation and enhance combined capabilities to execute joint operations in semi-urban environments under the UN mandate. Conducted in two phases, the exercise initially focused on combat conditioning and tactical training, accomplished by both contingents. The acquired skills were then applied in the second phase, featuring a validation exercise. Joint activities encompassed establishing temporary operating bases, creating an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) grid, setting up mobile vehicle checkposts, executing cordon and search operations in a hostile village, heliborne operations, and conducting house intervention drills. The exercise also showcased and actively employed new-generation equipment by both armies. The closing ceremony of the joint exercise was held after the culmination of the validation exercise wherein outstanding soldiers were felicitated and both contingents reflected upon the valuable lessons learnt. A weapon and equipment display and an Industrial Demonstration showcasing "Atmanirbhar Bharat" and "Make in India" were also organised on the occasion showcasing the ever-growing industrial capability of the nation. Marking a significant milestone in bilateral relationships, the joint training was an undeniable success, promoting understanding, interoperability and strengthening ties between the two nations, Defence PRO, Col Amitabh Sharma, said. Kolkata, March 9 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday raided the residence of Sheikh Shajahan's close aide Abu Hussain Molla at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Paragans district. Kolkata, March 9 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday raided the residence of Sheikh Shajahanas close aide Abu Hussain Molla at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Paragans district. The operation was carried out in connection with the attack on ED and CAPF teams there on January 5, a case in which the now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader, Shahjahan, is the prime accused. Sources said the raid was conducted with the twin purpose of securing substantiating documents to establish Mollaas links with Shahjahan in the multi-crore ration distribution case, as well as the attack on ED and CAPF teams on January 5. The raid at Mollaas residence was a parallel one, as two other teams of the central agency accompanied by CAPF personnel and a forensic team conducted similar operations at Shahjahanas residence in Sandeshkhali and at his office located nearby. Sources said that Mollaas name surfaced when the CBI officers were scanning the call list of the two mobile phones belonging to Shahjahan. Of the 28 calls made by Shahjahan in 30 minutes before the attack on January 5, some were made to Molla. Shahjahan's office has been closed since the day of the attack on ED and CAPF teams. However, the CBI officers later got hold of a duplicate key and entered the office after unlocking the door. Imphal, March 8 : A serving Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was rescued by the security forces, hours after he was kidnapped from his home by 'unidentified elements' in Manipur's Thoubal district on Friday, officials said. Imphal, March 8 (IANS) A serving Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was rescued by the security forces, hours after he was kidnapped from his home by aunidentified elementsa in Manipuras Thoubal district on Friday, officials said. A defence spokesman said that Naib Subedar Konsam Kheda Singh, a resident of Charangpat Mamang Leikai in Thoubal district, was abducted while on leave from his residence on Friday morning. Army columns along with other security forces immediately launched a coordinated joint search operation, which led to the rescue of the JCO on Friday evening. The JCO is currently at the Waikhong police station in Thoubal district. Though the exact cause of the abduction is not known yet, media reports suggested that it was an extortion attempt as his family had received such threats in the past. Besides the coordinated search operation, checking of all vehicles plying on National Highway-102 (Imphal-Moreh) was conducted to locate the JCO. Further investigation is underway. Since the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur in May last year, soldiers and security personnel, be they on leave or duty, or their relatives have been targeted for nefarious interests. On February 27, the house of Amit Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations), Moirangthem, was attacked in Imphal. The attackers also abducted him and intimidated his family members by firing in the air, besides vandalising properties. The officer was later rescued due to the timely intervention by the security forces. New Delhi, March 8 : The Delhi High Court has dismissed the default bail plea of Supertech Group Chairman, R.K. Arora, who was arrested in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Arora had challenged the trial court's order denying him default bail. He had contended that the investigation was incomplete at the time of filing the prosecution complaint, as the charge sheet lacked a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had summoned another individual in connection with the case after filing the complaint. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri dismissed these arguments, noting that the ED had submitted necessary documents for expert opinion from the FSL, and the preparation of the FSL report was beyond the agency's control. Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala of Patiala House Courts had, on February 16, extended Arora's interim bail on health grounds for 30 days. On January 24, the court dismissed the regular bail plea of Arora, and on January 31, Justice Ohri sought the ED's response to Arora's plea challenging the denial of bail. The trial court, on September 26, 2003, took cognisance of the charge sheet against Arora and dismissed his application, observing that the ED had completed the investigation against the accused. Arrested on June 27 last year after the ED re-attached properties worth Rs 40 crore belonging to him in this matter, Arora had said that he was arrested without being informed about the grounds of arrest. The court, however, rejected his claim, noting that the probe agency complied with the relevant provisions of law. The probe agency had, on August 24, filed the charge sheet against Arora and eight others in the matter. Arora has been accused of defrauding at least 670 homebuyers of Rs 164 crore. Kolkata, March 8 : The Calcutta High Court on Friday sought a report from the West Bengal government on female jail inmates at the different state prisons allegedly becoming pregnant while in judicial custody. A division bench of Justice Jaymalya Bagchi and Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta directed the state government to submit the report by April 5. The bench also said the report should focus on two important aspects -- overcrowding of prisons and the existing security measures adopted there. It also directed the formation of a core committee comprising the state advocate general and other public prosecutors to review the situation of the prisons, especially those in the districts. To recall, while hearing a matter related to female inmates becoming pregnant, Justice Bagchi had observed that he is aware of how such events can impact the society in general. "As it is, these women are behind the bars. If such things happen to them while they are in judicial custody, they get maligned in the society even more. Such things are simply unacceptable and the administrative individuals should take responsibility for such events," Justice Bagchi had observed earlier. There had been complaints that since there are no separate entrances to the female wards in most of the prisons, the female inmates are often taken to their respective wards through the approach-way in front of the male wards. There had also been demands for regular pregnancy tests for the female inmates locked at different prisons in the state. Hyderabad, March 8 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) legislator K. Kavitha on Friday led a protest by women in Hyderabad against the state government's decision to implement horizontal reservation for women in recruitment and educational institutions without roster points. The Member of Legislative Council, who led an agitation by Bharat Jagruthi at Dharna Chowk, said that the Congress government's action is against the spirit of 33 per cent reservation for women. Kavitha, who is the daughter of BRS president and former Telangana chief minister K. Chandarsekhar Rao, said that Bharat Jagruthi will continue its fight till the government withdraws its Government Order (GO) 3 issued by the women and child welfare department. Holding placards and raising slogans, the women demanded immediate withdrawal of the GO 3 issued last month for implementing horizontal reservation methodology to fill up women's quota as directed by the Supreme Court. Kavitha said the order would do injustice to women job aspirants, especially from underprivileged sections. She voiced the apprehension that the order would deprive women of 33.3 per cent jobs in the recruitments being undertaken by the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC). The BRS leader had earlier written letters to top Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge over the issue. The Telangana State and Subordinate Service Rules provide for the implementation of the rule of reservation to the extent of 33.3 per cent to women in all categories in the matter of direct recruitment for the posts. In 2022 the Telangana High Court had directed the TSPSC to follow the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Rajesh Kumar Daria Vs Rajasthan Public Service Commission while making appointments in Group -1 Services and to follow the principles of horizontal reservation for women candidates without earmarking any roster points to them. The Telangana government last month directed TSPSC to follow the direction of the High Court to implement the law laid down by the Supreme Court by implementing 33 per cent reservation for women in all categories in the matter of direct recruitment to the posts horizontally without earmarking any roster points for them in all ongoing recruitments. Kavitha said when the High Court directed the state government to implement the Supreme Court orders, the then BRS government headed by KCR filed a counter in the High Court in January 2023 saying it cannot take away the rights of women. However, immediately after coming to power, the Congress government withdrew the petition from the High Court on February 6 without consulting anyone. She asked why the Congress government did not continue the legal battle. She mentioned that 2.50 lakh job aspirants have already registered themselves on the TSPSC website and one lakh of them are women. The government is saying that it will provide 2 lakh jobs this year. This means women should get a minimum of 66,000 jobs. However, in a rejoinder to Kavitha, the state government stated that it is not correct that injustice is done to women in providing reservation in direct recruitment. It clarified that orders of the Supreme Court and High Court of Telangana were already under examination since 2022 and a provisional decision was taken in December 2022. Final orders were issued on February 10 this year. Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 8 : Top diplomats at the Israeli Consulate office in Bengaluru have arrived here to receive the body of Nibin Maxwell, a 31-year-old resident Kollam in Kerala, who was reportedly killed in a missile attack by the Hezbollah militant group at Margaliot in Israel. Maxwell was killed while working in a farm land at Margaliot on Monday. His body arrived in Delhi from Tel Aviv on Friday, and will be received in Kerala by Consulate General Tammy Ben-Haim and Vice Consul and Security officer Rotum Varulkar at the Thiruvananthapuram airport. The body will then be taken to his home at Kollam where the last rites will be performed on Saturday. Maxwell is survived by his wife, who is seven months pregnant, and a five-year-old daughter. The United States is deeply troubled by reports of Azerbaijani police raiding the office of an independent media outlet and arresting multiple independent journalists and civil society activists, said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller. On March 6, police raided the office of the online TV channel Toplum and detained about a dozen journalists working there. The Toplum office was later sealed shut. The same day police reportedly detained several members of the Third Republic Platform, whose stated goal is the creation of a decentralized and secular republic based on electoral democracy. Members of the pro-democracy civic organization NIDA were also detained. Several of the journalists and civil society activists were released around midnight, but others remained in police custody. Toplum TVs Chief Editor is well-known investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, a former bureau chief for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Ismayilova herself has been harassed and imprisoned by the Aliyev regime and falsely charged with crimes because of her reporting on government corruption at the highest levels. Commenting on the raid and the most recent detentions, Ismayilova said, There is no reasonable explanation for what is happening. It seems [the authorities] want to fully liquidate independent media in the country to leave no platform for critical opinions. We have not been involved in any illegal activities. The authorities intention to liquidate independent media seems to have intensified in recent months. Since November the Aliyev regime has detained numerous journalists deemed critical of the government and called in others for questioning. Among them was the leadership of Abzas Media, an independent anti-corruption media outlet. Prominent civil society members have also been targeted. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the United States is deeply troubled by the latest reported arrests of independent journalists and civil society activists in Azerbaijan. We must express our strong objections to continued attempt to intimidate, repress, and punish journalists, civil society voices, and opposition figures, he said. We call on Azerbaijan to end the harassment of those exercising their fundamental freedoms and urge the release of all individuals being unjustly held in politically motivated cases. No one, said Spokesperson Miller should face incarceration or other retribution for exercising freedom of expression. Patna, March 8 : A minor girl was found murdered in Bihar's Purnea district on Friday, police said. The victim was from a village under the Bhawanipur police station in the district. Local police also suspect that she may have been raped before being murdered. The girl went to the adjoining house to attend the marriage function on Thursday evening but did not return at night. Her dead body was found lying in an agricultural field in the village on Friday morning. The victim was also seen with a woman on Thursday night and district police are investigating this. "We have recovered the dead body of a minor girl and sent it for the post-mortem examination. There was a strangulation mark on her neck. We are waiting for the post-mortem report. The family members have given a complaint and we are investigating from all angles. Her family members are also among the suspects," Bhawanipur police station SHO Rajiv Ranjan said. Guwahati, March 8 : Superintendent of Dibrugarh Central Jail, Nipen Das, has been arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Assam Prisons Act for his alleged involvement in supplying gadgets to the cell of pro-Khalistan leader and Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh, the police said on Friday. Dibrugarh Superintendent of Police, Rakesh Reddy said that Nipen Das has been arrested under section 13 (1) B of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, section 75 of Assam Prisons Act, and section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Reddy on Friday said during the initial investigation, it was learned that Amritpal Singh after getting the devices, got access to Internet and his reach increased. According to Reddy, most of the unauthorised gadgets were found inside Singh's cell and some from other cells. "After the recovery of gadgets, the police collected the digital evidence and registered a fresh case under which the superintendent of jail has been arrested," he said. Reddy said that there are jail manuals and it is different for the detainees under NSA but the jail superintendent violated the jail manual and allowed the gadgets to reach Amritpal Singh and other inmates. Assam Director General of Police, Gyanendra Pratap Singh on February 17 revealed that several unauthorised gadgets including smartphone, spy-cam pen, pen drives, bluetooth-enabled device were found inside the cell of Dibrugarh Central Jail where Amritpal Singh and other members of Waris Punjab De are lodged. DGP Singh wrote on 'X': "Jail staff searched the premises of NSA Cell, leading to recovery of smartphone with SIM, keypad phone, TV remote with keyboard, spy-cam pen, pen drives, Bluetooth headphone & speakers and smart watch which were lawfully seized." The DGP on February 20, visited the jail along with some senior police officers, and later also held a meeting with the top officials. He also ordered the transfer of some of the jail staff and ordered a probe. After several rounds of investigations, the police have arrested the jail superintendent and he is currently being questioned. A few other officials of the Dibrugarh Central Jail were detained by the police on Friday. "This was a major security issue and we may arrest more officials," an investigating officer said. Amritpal Singh along with his associates were arrested in Punjab last year under the National Security Act (NSA) and they were brought to Assam. They are currently lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail. Bhubaneswar, March 8 : The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch has arrested two inter-state drug peddlers and seized 10 kg opium valued at over Rs 10 lakh during a raid at Panposh in the state's Sundargarh district, an official said on Friday. STF SP, Kishore Kumar Panigrahi, said that both arrested individuals -- Bitu Singh Munda and Rohit Munda, are siblings who hail from Sigid village in Khunti district of neighbouring Jharkhand. Rohit used to visit Odisha often and stay at Rourkela. "Following an Intelligence input, a team of STF with the help of Rourkela Police conducted a raid and apprehended the accused siblings near a hotel in Panposh area on Thursday. During searches, opium weighing a little over 10 kg valued at over Rs 10 lakh and other incriminating materials were seized from their possession. They were waiting for some local drug peddler to hand over the drugs," added Panigrahi. The STF has so far come to know that the accused persons and their associates, who are yet to be arrested, used to deliver the opium to the drug peddlers of Sundargarh, Rourkela, and Jharkhand after procuring the same from Rajasthan. Amaravati, March 8 : With the BJP likely to join hands with the TDP-JSP alliance in Andhra Pradesh, the state's ruling YSR Congress said on Friday that even if all the parties come together, they will not be able to stop chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy from another victory. Amid reports of an agreement over seat-sharing between the BJP and the Telugu Desam-Jana Sena combine, YSR Congress General Secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said their "desperate" attempts for an alliance reflect their "weakness" and the "strength" of Jagan Mohan Reddy. "No matter what they do, we have the support of more than 50 per cent of people and hence even if they come together the victory is ours," he told reporters here. TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan on Thursday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J. P. Nadda in New Delhi to discuss seat-sharing. The YSRCP leader said the coming together of different parties also shows their similarities. "The TDP is on a ventilator. Jana Sena has no presence and everyone knows how many votes the BJP polled in the state. After seeing all this, what the result of their alliance will be becomes clear," Ramakrishna Reddy said, claiming that people have understood their "failure politics". Claiming that the YSRCP is ready for elections with clear plans and discipline but other parties are like students who have not even started the preparations, he predicted that the rival camp will see more dissidence and infighting for seats in the coming days. Stating that the TDP is on the ventilator, Ramakrishna Reddy said that Chandrababu Naidu is making desperate attempts for an alliance to revive it. "He is desperate. He feels that if he misses this chance, it will be all over for him. As a last attempt, he is trying to grasp at straws to reach the shore. If some people think that this is his strength and he can do something, it is their delusion," he said. Ramakrishna Reddy, who is also an advisor to the government on public affairs, said the TDP chief always tries to seek someone's help. "This does not work every time. In 2009, he formed an alliance but he did not succeed. This time, he has adopted a different trick. He is not only controlling the BJP but also the Congress. He is trying to bring all the forces together. His attempts prove Jaganas strength and the public support he enjoys," he said. He also claimed that on Chandrababu Naiduas advice, Congress state chief Y.S. Sharmila - the sister of Jagan Mohan Reddy - is running on rent a party which has already gone bankrupt. Dubbing Chandrababu Naidu a national and international "scamster", the YSRCP leader alleged that the Skill Development, Amaravati Inner Ring Road, and other scams were similar to the IMG Bharat scam which had exposed Chandrababu Naidu 20 years ago. He said in 2007, the then government of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy had constituted an inquiry commission to probe the scam and recently Jagan Mohan Reddy exposed the TDP leader. Invest in Rajasthan, govt will provide all possible help: CM Sharma urges Gujarat industrialists. Image Source: IANS News Jaipur, March 8 : Urging Gujarat industrialists to invest in the state, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said on Friday that Gujarat and Rajasthan have shared deep connections for centuries. "These connections are now paving the way for a bright future by continuously strengthening the economic, social, and cultural cooperation between us," CM Sharma said during his virtual address to the aSadakal Gujarat Programme', which was organised by the Shri Akhil Rajasthan Gujarati Samaj at the Birla Auditorium here. The Chief Minister said that both the states share culture, costumes, and food habits in such a way that Rajasthanis and Gujaratis seem to be members of the same family. "The people of Gujarat have a unique identity in the country as well as abroad. Prominent figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah -- all come from Gujarat. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the entire world's trust in India has increased. The Prime Minister is showing a new path to the world, and all the countries are influenced by him." Sharma also said that today, Gujaratis and Marwaris are among the most successful businessmen in the world. "Rajasthan with its rich history, vibrant culture, natural beauty, and favorable industrial environment is an ideal destination for investment. The state government is working with commitment to attract investors," he added. The Chief Minister also said that just like Gujarat, there is immense investment potential in Rajasthan as well. aThere are investment opportunities available in various sectors such as mining, tourism, energy, textiles, food processing, information technology, etc. Important facilities and services like easy land acquisition, tax exemption, single-window clearance, etc., are being provided to the investors in Rajasthan. The state also has young and skilled manpower capable of meeting the requirements of various industries," CM Sharma said. Congratulating the organisers of the programme, he said that such events strengthen relationships and give people an opportunity to work with each other. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that through the initiative of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat', the emotional bond between the people of the country is being strengthened. He also appreciated the efforts being put in by the Rajasthan government for water management. All three Congress RS candidates will win: Siddaramaiah. Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, March 9 : The 63rd State High-Level Clearance Committee (SHLCC), headed by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Friday approved six new projects and eight additional investment proposals worth Rs 17,835.9 crore, with the potential to create 27,000 jobs across the state, an official said. The SHLCC received a nod for six new projects worth Rs 8,220.05 crore, and eight additional investment projects of investment worth Rs 9,615.85 crore, CM Siddaramaiah said. The 63rd meeting of the SHLCC was held at the Chief Minister's home office "Krishna". The SHLCC approved Wistron's proposal to invest Rs 2,095 crore with the potential to provide jobs to at least 21,723 people in the state. Other major proposals that received the government's green signal are Air India Limited (Rs 1,750 crore investment), STT Global Data Centres India Private Limited (Rs 1,352.3 crore investment), Indian Cane Power Limited (Rs 1,078 crore investment), ICT Service Management Solutions (India) Private Limited (Rs 1,450 crore investment). Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Bellary, and Belagavi districts of North Karnataka will attract new and additional investment of Rs 10,433.72 crore. Minister for Large and Medium Industries, and Infrastructure Development M.B. Patil, IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge were also present. Chennai, March 9 : A man was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Kanniyakumari forest area on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border on Friday night, officials said. The deceased was identified as Madhu, 37. The tragic incident occurred on the Tamil Nadu side. Forest officials told IANS that with a herd of elephants still around, the body could not be retrieved yet. Police said that Madhu was killed by a wild elephant near his house. Forest areas in Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been witnessing an increasing human-elephant conflict with several fatalities reported from the latter state in the recent period. New Delhi, March 9 : The murder of a 29-year-old gym trainer, Gaurav Singhal -- who was killed here on March 6 -- just a day before his marriage, was planned by none but his father, who had hired three assailants to eliminate his son. Gaurav was stabbed over 15 times, following which he succumbed to the wounds even before he could receive any medical attention. Gaurav's father -- Rang Lal Singhal, who was missing after the incident, was nabbed in Jaipur on March 7. Rang Lal, a resident of Devli Extension, committed the crime within the confines of his own home while preparations for Gaurav's wedding were underway. Rang Lal was apprehended late Thursday night. Upon his arrest, the police recovered a substantial sum of cash amounting to Rs 15,48,000 and 886 grams of gold from Rang Lal's possession. Rang Lal had aroused suspicion among investigators by evading communication after the incident. However, once located and detained in Jaipur, he confessed to his crime, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding his son's untimely death. Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Ankit Chauhan said that after his arrest, Rang Lal confessed to his son's murder. Three assailants whom he hired were paid Rs 75,000 each for their "assistance" with the total "deal" amounting to Rs 1,50,000. The police officer said that Rang Lal was dissatisfied with his son's extravagant lifestyle and disobedience. He told the investigators that Gaurav's mother's unwavering support for their son further fuelled his frustration. "He revealed that he had been planning his son's murder for the last three to four months," said the DCP. As per investigators, Rang Lal deliberately chose a time around 10.30-11 p.m. when it was noisy due to pre-wedding celebrations near his house. The weapons used in the attack included a pair of scissors, a knife, and an iron rod. The accomplices, aged between 22 and 25, were residents of the same locality. Gaurav was found lying in a pool of blood. The DCP said that the police received a call at around 12.30 a.m. on Thursday regarding the murder at Raju Park area, following which a team rushed to the spot. Upon reaching the spot, it was learned that Gaurav had been attacked with a sharp-edged weapon. Singhal was rushed to a hospital for treatment by his family members but was declared brought dead. More names of K'taka Cong LS candidates after the screening committee meeting: Dy CM Shivakumar. Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, March 9 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar on Friday said that more names of Congress candidates will be finalised for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections after the party convenes a Screening Committee meeting on March 11. The Congress has announced a list of seven candidates from Karnataka in the first list for the Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, Shivakumar said, "More names were to be announced by the party in today's list. But those names will be finalised during the next Screening Committee meeting on March 11." "The candidates have been selected based on the feedback from local leaders and our survey inputs. More names will be finalised after the Screening Committee meeting." Asked about the number of candidates announced, the Deputy Chief Minister added, "It isn't important how many names I had taken to Delhi. The Congress High Command decides it. We only propose the names. The Congress Election Committee gathers its own intelligence. Decisions are taken based on all these aspects." The names of H.R. Algur (Raju) from Bijapur MP seat, Anandaswamy Gaddadevara Math (Haveri), Geetha Shivarajkumar (Shivamogga), M. Shreyas Patel (Hassan), S.P. Muddahanume Gowda (Tumakuru), Venkatarame Gowda aka Star Chandru (Mandya) and D.K. Suresh from Bengaluru Rural MP seat have been announced from Karnataka for the Lok Sabha elections. With the fielding of Geetha Shivarajkumar the competition is expected to be intense in Shivamogga MP seat. Presently it is represented by B.Y. Raghavendra, son of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. Geetha is the daughter of former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa and wife of Kannada superstar Shivarajkumar. Her brother Madhu Bangarappa is the Education Minister in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Cabinet. Maddahanume Gowda (Tumakuru) has returned to Congress recently after quitting BJP. The BJP is looking for a strong candidate for the Tumakuru constituency as the sitting BJP MP G.S. Basavaraj had announced his retirement. The Congress has also announced candidates for Mandya and Hassan seats considered as stronghold of JD (S). Mandya is represented by independent MP Sumalatha Ambareesh and Hassan is represented by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna. Istanbul, March 9 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky here to discuss the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the Turkish presidency said. The two leaders addressed the latest developments about resuming the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has been suspended since last July, the office said on Friday on its website as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. "The latest status of contacts on the continuation of the initiative and the search for lasting peace in the region" topped the agenda of their meeting, according to the office. The United Nations and Turkey brokered the initiative between Russia and Ukraine, establishing a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships transporting food and fertiliser exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports in July 2022. According to the presidency, the two leaders convened at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul at 7 p.m. local time and held a press conference afterward. The United States has sanctioned eleven Zimbabwean individuals and three entities, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program for their connection to corruption or serious human rights abuses. These designations are part of a stronger, more targeted sanctions policy towards Zimbabwe the U.S. is implementing following President Joe Bidens approval of a new Executive Order terminating the Zimbabwe sanctions program that had been in effect since 2003. As a result of the imposition of Global Magnitsky sanctions in Zimbabwe, all property and interests in property of the designated persons in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement expressed continuing concerns regarding serious cases of corruption and human rights abuse in Zimbabwe. Key individuals, including members of the government of Zimbabwe, bear responsibility for these actions, including the looting of government coffers that robs Zimbabweans of public resources. Multiple cases of abductions, physical abuse, and unlawful killing have left citizens living in fear. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo stressed that these sanctions are not intended to target the people of Zimbabwe. They are focused on specific targets, including President Mnangagwas criminal network of government officials and businesspeople who are involved in corruption related to gold and diamond smuggling networks. President Mnangagwa provides a protective shield to smugglers to operate in Zimbabwe and has directed Zimbabwean officials to facilitate the sale of gold and diamonds in illicit markets, taking bribes in exchange for his services. Mnangagwa also oversees Zimbabwes security services, which have violently repressed political opponents and civil society groups. The United States, said Secretary Blinken, is committed to ensuring its sanctions are relevant, timely, and targeted against those most closely connected to corruption and human rights abuses. He urge(d) the government of Zimbabwe to move toward more open and democratic governance, including addressing corruption and protecting human rights, so all Zimbabweans can prosper. Premium online access is only available tosubscribers. If you have an active subscription and need to set up or change your password, please click here New to PW? To set up immediate access, click here. NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. For off-site access, click here. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com. ABC / Reality TV World By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/08/2024 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. 's Rachel Nance has fired back at trolls calling her a "mean" girl with a bad attitude on Joey Graziadei 's season.After aired footage on Monday, March 4 of Rachel snapping at Maria Georgas for speaking to Joey in private before the Final 3 Rose Ceremony, many viewers began leaving hateful comments on Rachel's Instagram page."You asking Maria 'What was that about?' was annoying. It was none of your business. The conversation was between her & Joey. If she wanted you to know, she would've told you to join," one person wrote."Your attitude is not giving what you think," wrote another Instagram user."You're kinda mean huh?" commented a third troll."You give a little mean girl," wrote another hater."Nobody likes your b-tchy comments Rachel!! Its a miracle you made it that far," commented another Instagram user.The haters believed that Joey should have given a rose to Maria -- instead of Rachel -- after hometown dates.Rachel supporters defended the bachelorette and referred to some of the negativity as "casual racism," but Rachel is apparently unbothered by all the noise and catty remarks."Don't worry y'all, my parents raised one tough girl," Rachel wrote via Instagram Stories on Tuesday, March 5."Go touch grass or touch a plant. Go center yourselves! We spread aloha on my page and that's what I stand for."Rachel added, "Thank you to those who are being kind and those with opposing comments... I hope you heal from what you're going through."Rachel received support from Bachelor Nation as well, such as ette's Season 20 star Charity Lawson On Thursday, March 7, Rachel posted a photo of herself with her hand over her face and wrote via Instagram Stories, "Y'all I did was receive a rose."Joey also gave roses to Kelsey Anderson and Daisy Kent at the Rose Ceremony following hometown dates, advancing them to Fantasy Suites in Tulum, Mexico.And Rachel isn't alone in receiving hate. Both Kelsey A. and Daisy have dealt with their fair share of backlash and criticism.Kelsey A., for instance, has been deemed "boring" by many fans Kelsey A. took to TikTok on March 5 and insisted, "I'm not f-cking -- I'm not boring."The bachelorette continued, "I'm not freakin' boring y'all! I'm freakin' cool! Well, I think I'm cool. I do cool things. I drink alcohol. No, I'm just kidding. No, I've been skydiving, I love going on sporadic trips."Kelsey A. revealed that she plans spontaneous trips and loves to laugh, adding, "I don't care what y'all say!... I don't care, because I'm not boring. I have a freakin' lip tattoo in honor of a homeless man that I would go and hang out with when I would go downtown [in New Orleans]. I'm cool."And Daisy, who has a cochlear implant, slammed a critic who had made fun of the way she sounds when she talks -- her alleged "vocal fry" -- on the show last month."I can't always hear exactly what my voice is sounding like. I can't always tell if I'm being loud or if I'm being quiet, or if I have a vocal fry or if I don't," Daisy said."It is sad because losing my hearing and getting a cochlear implant is something that really affected my confidence."She added, "Everyone was so supportive of me, and it's just unfortunate that people online have to comment stuff like this that make me [get] in my head about the way that I talk and speak."Joey recently told E! News that it's "difficult" to navigate a reality dating show and people should always lead with kindness and grace."No one should be treated with any type of... cruelness," Joey noted. Click here to learn more about Joey's bachelorettes or click here to read spoilers that reveal how Joey's season ends and who he picked as his winner.Interested in more news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group I attended Sniper School in October of 1986. I entered the course as a PFC, which was pretty rare. In fact, I was the lowest ranking member of the class. My partner from 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines was a Corporal from Charlie Company. Entering Sniper School was less intimidating than you might imagine. I would suspect my time at ARS helped prepare me for the course. You can see why they dont want junior Marines attending and how the failure rate was so high. For your basic infantry Marine skills, it was sprint to the finish line. Immediately upon arrival to Sniper School you are tested with a short land navigation course. They expected you to understand and be proficient in these skills. It makes perfect sense, We dont have time to retrain you, so bring your A game. The school was located on Stones Bay, just off Main Side Camp Lejeune. I drove my Datsun 240Z out past the training areas, which allowed me to kick the Z in the ass. I was caught by the MPs one trip doing 96 mph through the training area and lost my on-base privileges. Lucky for me, it did not apply to Stones Bay, or I would have been walking. The author drove to Sniper School in his custom Datsun 240Z. During one such trip, he was clocked doing 96 mph in the Lejeune training areas. His base-driving privileges were suspended for a month. Sniper School can be broken down into the skills taught. Field skills, like land navigation, were emphasized, but not to the degree found at Amphib Recon School. Instead, we first focused on concealments, a static form of stalking. You had 10 concealment exercises where you had to hide from the instructors. This was the precursor to stalking. With USMC Scout Sniper School, if you fail any one of these tasks twice, you failed out of the course. So, basically, you have to score 8 out of 10 for each given task. The written test, I believe, was given twice, sort of a practice quiz then a final exam. One of the tasks that failed a lot of students were the observation exercises, which were fun, but nerve-racking in a lot of ways. The instructors could load the dice on these types of courses. The areas used not only for observations but also for stalking had different levels of difficulty. You could wind up on a hard course or an easier one. The objects hidden could be easily identified or very difficult. Hiding a magazine spring or taping an antenna in the tree line is not an easy find. The worst was using the old World War II colored barracks as a backdrop. One day, the instructors decided to place a clear plastic map protractor into the wood siding of the building. Days like this increased the pucker factor. In terms of pure fear of failure, nothing is harder than stalking. We used a lot of power-line breaks as stalking lanes. As the power lines cut through the woods, we set up on either side in order to stalk toward the instructors. They allowed you one meter, or the length of an M40AI rifle, from the cut grass toward the woods. You were allowed to travel along the edges, but you could not flank them by going into the woods. You ended up low crawling for 90 percent of the stalk. The instructors dedicated to you were located on the opposite side of the stalk lane. They had a great angle on the students and took a lot of pride in busting you. We had one instructor who loved to yell, I see you, dickhead, which we took as a term of endearment. As you got closer to the instructors, you were keeping one eye on the walkers hoping none of them traveled in your direction. The Marine Corps Combined Arms Exercise, or CAX, takes place in California at Twentynine Palms. After graduating Sniper School, the author, having gone through several schools to drop artillery and bombs, spent most of his time there dropping ordnance. One particular area, we called it the Pool Table, was especially difficult to navigate. Not only did it have a minimum amount of vegetation to hide in, there was one section of swamp that included cattails. The issue with the cattails is they wave at the instructors when you brushed up against them. You always carried hand clippers when stalking. With cattails you cut the bottom ever so carefully and then lower the flag down. All this is done in hyper slow motion. In the end, its all about route selection and masking. How many natural objects can you put between yourself and the observers? I am sure my size helped me hide. Being small can have an advantage. Most of Sniper School was uneventful; there were no real close calls for me until the end. We had really crappy weather when it came time to qualify with our M40A1. My graduation date was mid-December, and we had a lot of sleet and freezing rain. Through the course, my shooting skills were never a question, but none of us can control the weather. I had to use every option in order to pass the final shooting test. Its amazing looking back at the equipment used to qualify when you consider what we shoot today. The M40A1 rifle with Unertl 10X USMC Sniper Scope was more than capable as an 800-meter rifle, but the ammunition used was definitely subpar. The 173-grain Special Ball is pure surplus garbage. In todays world, if we asked you to compete in any form of precision rifle competition and we handed you special ball, the odds of completion would be slim. The author at CAX in his chocolate-chip cammies. He reports being a sniper at a live-fire range was very entertaining. After a day of practicing in the weather, I managed to qualify and thus sealed my fate graduating USMC Scout Sniper School. During our time in Sniper School, Gunny Hathcock released his book, Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills. We all had dog-eared copies of it in anticipation of the Gunny attending our graduation. For each graduating class, a group of instructors would travel to Virginia Beach, pick up the Gunny and then we would spend a night and the day with him. The first night Gunny arrived at Camp Lejeune, we hung out in town at a local dive bar. In his own soft-spoken way, he relived a bunch of the stories in the book. The next day, we had our graduation ceremony. I recall him chuckling about my size and wishing he had me in Vietnam to gain an advantage. Gee, I bet you can really hide. You bet, Gunny, theyll never find me. Gunny Hathcock signed my copy of Marine Sniper, 93 Confirmed Kills, as well as my Sniper School diploma. Under my name is the signature of Gunny Hathcock and today that piece of paper sits in plexiglass. Sniper School was my ultimate goal and just graduating was a huge win for me. When I first enlisted in the Marines, the guys at my dads shop had bets going on how fast Id be home, forget about the sniper part. This puts a big exclamation point on the discussion. In Sniper School, I had received my Lance Corporal ranking, so I no longer felt like a boot. This was just a preview of one chapter in Frank's book, Precision Rifle Marksmanship: The Fundamentals. TO ACCESS THIS CONTENT YOU MUST OPEN A SESSION OR CREATE AN ACCOUNT MEMBER LOGIN CREATE YOUR USER ACCOUNT TotalEnergies has signed, together with its partner QatarEnergy, an agreement to acquire participating interests in Block 3B/4B, offshore South Africa. . . Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. 2 American men are back in Italian court after convictions in officer's slaying were thrown out A new trial of two American men has begun in the slaying of an Italian plainclothes police officer during a botched sting operation after Italys highest court threw out their convictions The cryptocurrency exchanges in India have got a fresh lease of life following the bull run in Bitcoin, which briefly hit a new all-time high of more than $69,000. Photograph: Edgar Su/Reuters Siddharth Sogani, managing director of CREBACO, expects the price to cross $1,00,000 by the end of the year. This will see a sharp reversal in the Indian market, which has largely been dormant since the new tax regime was implemented in 2023. The recent rally in Bitcoin, the worlds largest cryptocurrency, has been swift. Bitcoin price has surged from $45,000 per coin a month ago to over $66,000 at present, following a few leading US-based exchange-traded funds mopping up large quantities. As a result, Indian crypto exchanges have seen a surge in volumes and an increase in active user accounts. Balaji Srihari, business head of CoinSwitch, said: In the past month, our trading volumes have surged by 40 per cent. In the past two weeks, the number of users in profit has increased by over 80 per cent. CoinDCX, another major exchange, has seen a five-time increase in the trading value from the beginning of February at $5 million in spot to $25 million on February 28. The exchanges co-founder, Sumit Gupta, said, We have seen an increase in the average age of investors from 25 years earlier to 30 years, indicating that smart and mature investors have now entered the market. Siddharth Sogani, managing director of CREBACO said: The primary driver behind Bitcoin's recent surge is the acceptance of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). "With major financial institutions such as BlackRock, Vanguard, Valkyrie, VanEck, and Fidelity launching their ETFs, the cumulative inflow of institutional money into Bitcoin through these ETFs has reached $41 billion, with a significant portion of this inflow occurring over the past two months. Last week, when the Bitcoin price touched $60,000, in a single day, these institutions purchased 10,050 Bitcoins against a total daily production of 900 Bitcoins, indicating their appetite for the crypto market. Another significant factor contributing to Bitcoin's upward momentum is the impending halving event. Every four years, Bitcoin production is programmed to halve, and in the past, in 2012, 2016, and 2020, the market has seen a rally pre and post-halving of production. The halving event is expected around April 20, which will reduce miner rewards from 6.25 to 3.125 Bitcoin. Gupta said they were investing heavily in their technology and infrastructure and forging strategic partnerships to ensure leadership in the crypto market. Going forward, the falling production following the halving event and difficulty in mining are expected to result in Bitcoin prices rallying further. The total supply of Bitcoin is capped at 21 million, out of which 19.64 million are already mined. In the total circulating supply, approximately 4 million Bitcoins are lost forever, and 5 to 7 million Bitcoins are locked in the cold storage wallets. Hence, the actual liquid supply of the asset class is going down every day as more and more people are buying it, along with institutions such as BlackRock, according to CREBACO analysis. Sogani added that with the government's move to urge offshore exchanges to register with the Financial Intelligence Unit of India, there should be regulations in place for Indian crypto investors. The percentage of Indian women in senior management positions in mid-market companies, with revenue between $10 million and $1 billion, has been declining since 2021, a report released on Thursday said. According to Grant Thornton's "Women in Business Report 2024", currently, 34 per cent of women in these Indian businesses have senior management posts. In 2023, it was 36 per cent. In 2021 and 2022, this percentage was 39 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively. However, this is considerably higher than 12 per cent in 2004. The dip was attributed to the "evolving landscape of work models across industries". "Less flexibility in work models, such as the drop observed in India's figure for 2024, may have contributed to fluctuations in women's representation," it said. The report highlighted that businesses offering a hybrid model have decreased to 56.5 per cent in 2024 from 62.3 per cent in 2023. And those asking employees to return to the office have increased to 34.7 per cent in 2024 from 27.4 per cent in 2023. Staff working out of their homes has also significantly dipped to 1.8 per cent in 2024 from 5.3 per cent in 2023. However, the report said that the percentage of women in senior roles is higher in India than the global average of 22 per cent. It topped the global average in 2020 and has stayed above it since then. Among all the roles, the highest percentage of women are in the role of chief finance officer (40 per cent), followed by human resource director (38 per cent) and chief executive officer/managing director (34 per cent). The report added that adopting hybrid models that offer a blend of on-site and remote working could help address the declining trend. "The need of the hour is to prioritise a people-first culture that empowers employees in their personal and professional lives, allows them to work flexibly, and inspires trust and accountability," said Satya Jha, chief business officer at Grant Thornton Bharat. Tax devolution shares, which threaten to create a north-south divide among states, may have more to do with per capita income, and not so much with population. IMAGE: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan addresses the Left Democratic Front protest against the central government's alleged discrimination against Kerala, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Photograph: Ayush Sharma/ANI Photo The 16th Finance Commission may have to grapple with the issue of addressing the grievances of the southern states, but, contrary to widespread perception, tweaking the population parameter may not be the ideal way to do so. The share of southern states -- Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala -- came down to 15.8 per cent in total devolution of central taxes to the states when the 15th Finance Commission gave its recommendations in the second part of its report for 2021-22 (FY22) to FY26 from 19.78 per cent during the period of the 12th Finance Commission -- FY06 to FY10. The share was lower than the 16.02 per cent during FY21, the period of the first part of the 15th Finance Commission's report. The five southern states blamed it on the population parameter. The 15th Finance Commission's terms of reference asked it to base the population parameter on the 2011 census against the 1971 used by the previous commissions. They alleged that this would go against them since they controlled their population better than many other states. To address these woes, the 15th Finance Commission gave weight to demographic performance, meaning population control. The Commission gave 15 per cent weight to population and 12.5 per cent to demographic performance, thus nearly neutralising the bias of the 2011 census against the southern states. The 15th Finance Commission is not the only one that gave weight to population on the basis of the 2011 census; the 14th Finance Commission, too, had based the population parameter to the 1971 census, as cited above, and gave it a weight of 17.5 per cent. However, it had another parameter -- demographic change -- which was given 10 per cent weight. It was nothing but a weight to population in terms of the 2011 census. The 12th and the 13th Finance Commission each gave 25 per cent weight to population in terms of the 1971 census. As such, the reference to the 2011 census in the 15th Finance Commission played just a minor role. That role, with tweaks, may remain, since the reference to the 2011 census cannot be reverted now. Population challenge A former member of one of the previous Finance Commissions says, on the condition of anonymity, that the population yardstick would be a challenge for the 16th Finance Commission as well as future commissions. However, to blame the dip in the share of devolution to the southern states on the population parameter alone would be barking up the wrong tree. The 12th Finance Commission's chairman, C Rangarajan, says this is not an issue specific to southern states, and that the richer-versus-poorer states matters. A higher share of the divisible pool has been going to the poorer states in successive Finance Commission periods, he points out. One has to see whether this is the right approach or not, in principle. "In principle, I don't think anybody can argue that in any form of distribution of funds, the poorer states should not get a higher share," says Rangarajan. The member of one of the previous Finance Commissions, cited above, wonders aloud, "If a bigger chunk of the devolution does not go to the poorer states, what is the use of that money?" Rangarajan cautions that people tend to forget that the major criterion that pulls down the richer states is an income distance criterion. States farther away from the topmost state in terms of per capita income get higher shares in terms of this criterion. This yardstick is the one to look at, he says. Weight of the income distance criterion hovered around 45-50 per cent in the recommendations of the Finance Commissions. Source: Finance Commission reports Income distance Technically and theoretically, this criterion would mean the state with the highest per capita income will not get anything out of the 45-50 per cent devolution in terms of the 14th and 15th Finance Commission reports, Rangarajan says. He suggests this is where some rethinking is required to take care of the aspirations of the richer states. However, all poorer states did not get higher shares in Central taxes in the recent Commission compared to the previous ones, since the income distance criterion is one of the parameters. For instance, area has 15 per cent weight, forest and ecology 10 per cent, and tax effort 2.5 per cent in the 15th Finance Commission reports, besides population, demographic performance and income distance criteria. For example, the share of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the poorest states in terms of per capita income, saw their shares dipping when the 15th Finance Commission gave its recommendations in both of its reports against the 12th Finance Commission period (see chart). This is the period after formation of new states out of these two. Jharkhand, carved out of Bihar, saw its share coming down, albeit a bit, during this period (see chart). The share of Uttarakhand fluctuated during this period and came to 1.12 per cent in the second report of the 15th Finance Commission, which was the same during the 13th Finance Commission period. However, it stood lower, at 0.94 per cent, during the period of the 12th Finance Commission. It is not always the case that the richer states got smaller proportions of devolution in the 15th Finance Commission than the 12th. For instance, Maharashtra, Goa, and Sikkim got higher devolutions during this period. New formula Rajeev Gowda, vice-chairman of the State Institute for Transformation of Karnataka, says the 16th Finance Commission would like to come out with a formula for devolution of Central taxes to the states. "Formulae can be very tricky because ours is a diverse nation. To balance the needs of each state is a complicated exercise," he says. To suggest measures one needs a competent formula. "You need to look at the level of districts too, while deciding devolution between the Centre and the states. For example, we have a very high per capita income at the state level. It is largely because of revenues generated by Bengaluru, but some regions are extremely backward," Gowda points out. Finance commissions do look at district-level conditions, too, but this needs innovative formulae to provide more weight to backward districts. "We need to tweak formulae to address the ground situations within the states," he suggests. The Centre has increasingly resorted to cess and surcharge to bypass Finance Commission recommendations in the past decade or two. Here, the share of southern states hovered around 5.03-5.20 per cent in most years. However, the share was much lower than what would have accrued to them had there been no cess and surcharge. The divergence has increased in recent times. For instance, the share of southern states in total taxes stood at 5.2 per cent in FY11 though it should have been 5.94 per cent, had there been no cess and surcharge, according to implications of the 13th Finance Commission report. The share is projected to come down to 5.03 per cent in FY25 in the Budget Estimates, while it should have been 6.48 per cent without cess and surcharge, according to the 15th Finance Commission. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com After a stellar run on the bourses that saw tractor stocks rise up to 52 per cent, analysts are turning cautious on the sector as muted demand trends may weigh in the near-term. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters Total volumes in the tractor segment for the last three quarters of the current financial year (9MFY24) have remained weak with VST Tillers, Escorts Kubota, and M&M seeing declines of 21 per cent, 5 per cent, and 3 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), respectively, during the period, amid patchy rainfall, delayed crop harvest, and lower reservoir level. Across industry, total domestic sales volume so far in the current financial year (April '23 to January '24) has declined 5 per cent Y-o-Y, as per Tractor Manufacturers Association (TMA). Exports from India to the US and EU, too, are down 27 per cent Y-o-Y FYTD'24. Moreover, increased competition from Korean manufacturers has also dampened sales, analysts said. "We believe that the tractor volumes could remain subdued in the near-term as well due to lower reservoir level in many parts, above normal inventory, and high base of the last year. "In addition, discontinuation of certain incentives in some states will also dent purchasing power. "Thus, we factor industry growth decline of 5-6 per cent for the current fiscal year (FY24) and expect low digits for FY25," said Saji John, research analyst at Geojit Financial Services. On a monthly basis, total tractor retail sales stood at 88,671 units in January 2024, as per data from Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), up 21.16 per cent Y-o-Y and 12.4 per cent M-o-M. February sales, however, are expected to decline again with Nuvama Institutional Equities pegging the slide at over 10 per cent Y-o-Y in the domestic market due to high base (inventory filling before festive season last year) and weak customer sentiments in south/west regions. Nomura, too, expects wholesale tractor sales to decline 13 per cent Y-o-Y in February. "We estimate FY24/25 growth at -6 per cent/5 per cent," it said in a sales preview report. Automobile companies are scheduled to report their February sales data on Friday, March 1. On the bourses, shares of tractor manufacturers have outperformed the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex over the past one year. ACE Equity data shows a surge of 43 per cent in shares of VST Tillers Tractors, 38.04 per cent in Escorts Kubota, and 52.4 per cent in M&M. By comparison, the benchmark Sensex index advanced 23 per cent during the period, while the S&P BSE Auto index jumped 60.2 per cent. El Nino a key trigger Analysts are keeping a close eye on emerging El Nino trends as a normal and well-distributed monsoon is crucial for the majority of Indian farmers and, thus, tractor sales. Reservoir levels in the southern and western region have slipped to 30 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively, of the live storage capacity compared with 51 per cent and 66 per cent a year ago. However, levels in the northern region, especially Uttar Pradesh which contributes 40 per cent tractor demand, has grown by 6 per cent Y-o-Y. "If the impact of El Nino wanes out in FY25, we may expect positive implications in tractor volumes post-Union Elections. "We await projections by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which is expected in mid-March, 2024," said Aditya Welekar, senior research analyst tracking the sector at Axis Securities, who suggests a 'Buy on Dips' strategy for the sector from a medium-term perspective. Saji John of Geojit Financial Services, on the other hand, expects the tractor segment to recover from Q2FY25 as the preliminary monsoon forecast guidance and the new crop cycle kicks in later this year. "In addition, continuous government support for horticulture production is expected to support the rural economy and thereby aid tractor demand. "But, we don't foresee any immediate recovery owing to peak volume and premium valuation," he said. Stock-wise, Nuvama has 'Buy' rating on Escorts (target: Rs 4,200), while Nomura has 'Buy' on M&M (target: Rs 2,143). Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients. Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. 'Mumbai main branch (SBI headquarters) has all the data ready-made. It doesn't take even an hour to out the data from the system.' IMAGE: A five-judge Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice Dr D Y Chandrachud, Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra on February 15, 2024, pronounced the electoral bond scheme as unconstitutional and ordered the State Bank of India to furnish the details of buyers and encashers of electoral bonds with the Election Commission of India by March 6, 2023. A day before this deadline, SBI petitioned the apex court asking for 136 days to furnish these details. Photograph: ANI Photo D Thomas Franco, former general secretary, All India Bank Officers' Federation and an employee of the State Bank of India between 1980 and 2023, knows for sure how the banking system works. In this illuminating interview with Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com, Franco explains how the electoral bonds were bought and encashed and why it doesn't need more than a few clicks for SBI to retrieve, collate and furnish this data to the Election Commission of India as ordered by the Supreme Court in its February 15, 2024 judgment and what exactly is India's largest public sector bank trying to achieve by seeking an extension of 136 days to furnish this detail to the Election Commission, which is duty bound to make this data public in the interest of transparency as mandated by India's apex court. Do you believe that the State Bank of India doesn't have the physical as well as digital infrastructure to give the details that the Supreme Court wanted it to give to the Election Commission? SBI is telling an utter lie. They are telling that it is in two silos and all. That is fine (so far as maintaining secrecy is concerned it is a must) but now that the Supreme Court has asked it to furnish these details then they must follow the Supreme Court's order. How long does it take to tally the two sides? It is just due to the pressure from the (Narendra Modi) government that they (the SBI) are trying to postpone it till the (Lok Sabha) elections. But will it be disclosed after the elections, or after the 116 more days that the SBI has asked for from the Supreme Court after its March 6 deadline? If the Supreme Court allows SBI the time that it needs, do you really believe SBI would come out with these details or share these details after the elections? If they are not disclosing it (who bought electoral bonds when, and who encahsed when) now, (they will not do it) later (after the Lok Sabha elections). It will then depend upon who comes to power and what pressure is mounted (on SBI to disclose the details about who the purchasers of electoral bonds were and who encashed them). How exactly do these electoral bonds work? What kind of infrastructure does the State Bank of India has to store and retrieve the information regarding these electoral bonds? There are 29 branches of the State Bank of India across India which are authorised (to issue and encash these electoral bonds). Out of these 29 I think only 19 branches have so far issued any electoral bonds. Once you want to purchase an electoral bond, you have to go to the bank (one of these 29 authorised SBI branches). These electoral bonds cannot be purchased in lieu of cash. You (the purchaser) have to have your (bank) account. The money will be transferred from your (the purchaser's) account (into SBI's account and then the electoral bond is issued). So it's a transfer transaction and it is recorded in the system of the bank. The State Bank has already stated that they have upgraded the information technology systems to provide facilities to transact these bonds. As soon as the transactions are done, it is advised (informed) to the nodal branch, which is the Mumbai main branch (the SBI headquarter). Mumbai main branch has all the data ready-made. It doesn't take even an hour to out the data from the system. It may not be accessible to everybody. The restriction has been that it should not be known to every employee (of the SBI) because it was supposed to be kept as a secret (till the February 15, 2024 Supreme Court order declared the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional and ordered SBI to share the details with the Election Commission of India by March 6, 2024). The custodians (the political parties) who are holding that bond, they will know who has purchased and SBI will know who has purchased and encashed it. Because while encashing, the political party again deposits it (the electoral bond issued by SBI) through one of its accounts and it (the serial number on these electoral bonds; each electoral bond comes with a unique and secret serial number which is printed by using invisible fluorescent ink that becomes visible by using ultraviolet light so that its identity remains unique and can be quickly retrieved) is matched by the SBI branch where this electoral bond is deposited to find out whether it is a genuine bond (if the serial number is reconciled then it is proof enough of the electoral bond being genuine) only after which is the bond encashed and money transferred into the account of that political party. All that (the transaction records of the purchaser and the encasher) is available in the system and it does not require so much time (to retrieve and collate the transaction records). How does SBI reconcile if the electoral bond issued by one of its 29 authorised branches is a genuine electoral bond and allows its encashment when a political party deposits it? The SBI has a particular account in which the money (deposited by the purchaser of the electoral bond the details about which SBI gives to the buyer) has to be transferred. You (the buyer of an electoral bond) can transfer it (money) through RTGS (real time gross settlement, a banking mechanism by which money is moved between accounts in real time), or you can issue a cheque. So the bank (SBI) will then cash the check or accept the transfer amount in their account and issue the bond. This (the electoral bond) is a physical paper which has a (unique) code number which can be read with an ultraviolet lamp. The buyer can go and hand it over to a political party, or the buyer can hand it over to some friend who will have connections with the political party. Even electoral trusts which were established under an Act passed by Parliament in 2013 (Electoral Trusts Scheme 2013 when UPA II was in power) are eligible to purchase these electoral bonds. India has 18 such electoral trusts as and the biggest among them is the Prudential Electoral Trust (external link). They (the electoral trusts) collect it and they go and negotiate with the political parties that we are getting this much of amount. And naturally, to get some favour from the party, these bonds are used. What are those few simple processes or few simple steps that the SBI would need to initiate to retrieve the data about the buyers and encashers of electoral bonds along with the date when they were issued, deposited and encashed? There is buzz on social media that retrieving these transactions and collating them systematically is too easy a task. Would you believe that? It's just a click of a button. The Mumbai branch (SBI headquarters) is already dealing with all the other (authorised) branches. So it has the data in its system. It takes only few minutes for you to (collate this data). The SBI is saying that they have kept it (the transaction records of buyers and encashers) in different silos. That is, one silo will be for issue (of electoral bonds) and one will be for encashment (of electoral bonds). Take out both the lists, reconcile them using the unique serial codes and you will have all the records about who bought when, and which political party encashed the electoral bond when. You will also know how many bonds have still not been encashed. What are the chances that the State Bank of India could delete this data? What are the chances there could be a whistleblower who blows the lid off these details and makes these details public even if SBI hesitates to do so? No whistleblower will have access to this data. No whistleblower. Somebody who has access to these data would never do that because the employees have signed an oath while joining the service that they will not hand over any of the (sensitive or material) data to anybody. How justified would be fears that the SBI could delete the data? They cannot. They should not and they cannot. What are the safeguards against this? See, number one, all this is also known to the Reserve Bank of India, which prints these bonds. There will be reports (about these electoral bonds); there will be annual audit statements (mandatory for a listed company). Even if you delete it in one system, it will be available in the other report. 'Those who hope for a strong united Opposition are disillusioned at the way in which the INDIA alliance has already been caught in debilitating squabbles.' IMAGE: A meeting of INDIA leaders. Photograph: ANI Photo Retired IAS officer, 85-year-old Thottuvelil Krishna Pillai Ayappan Nair has the unique distinction of having served in the prime minister offices of Inder Kumar Gujral, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh. Mr Nair was principal secretary and advisor to Dr Singh, with the rank of minister of state. He joined the Punjab cadre of the Indian Administrative Service in 1963, served as the state's chief secretary before being assigned to the Centre as a secretary, Government of India in different capacities. Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier met Mr Nair at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram and spoke to him about the prime ministers he had served and, of course, Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi. The concluding segment of a multi-part interview: When there was a discussion on the Constitution, the ruling party said the words secular and socialist in the Preamble, shouldn't be there... Don't you feel those two words make real India? Yes, I have 100% faith in the wisdom enshrined in the Constitution and the fundamental philosophy underlying it. The Preamble to the Constitution embodies the basic principles which form the essence of our democracy and our plural society and diverse country. India is not a monolithic country where there is unanimity or oneness in everything, be it religion or language. The Constitution seeks to strengthen and preserve that plurality and diversity of the country. Deviation from the Constitutional scheme of governance of which secularism and socialism are essential features will undermine the very existence of India. There is no doubt about that. Of late some attempts, sometimes veiled and sometimes open, at diluting or negating the spirit of the guiding principles of the Constitution are visible, and they are dangerous portents to our secular democracy. Do you think a Ram temple in Ayodhya will unite all the Hindus of India? That's what the BJP and the RSS are saying.. Well, as you know there are different perceptions and views about it. The Sankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth in an interview to Karan Thapar has said in the context of the pran prathista that Ayodhya is dividing and not uniting India, and only political Hindus are happy. Certainly, Lord Ram and the saga of Ramayana in different versions are etched in the collective conscience of Hindus. Regrettably, the consecration of the Ram temple turned out to be a divisive but splendorous celebration superbly orchestrated by the prime ,inister. Some former bureaucrats I spoke to said the situation today is worse than the Emergency... Certainly not. Agreed, Hindutva is being pursued vigorously and some aspects of it are not in tune with the spirit of the Constitution of India. There have been reports of attempts at muffling the media and stifling the voice of the leaders of the Opposition and harassing them by government law enforcement agencies. Those reported attempts deserve to be condemned unequivocally. But in spite of that, I don't believe we are in an Emergency-like situation. But I do definitely feel that the government is intolerant of voices of dissent. IMAGE: T K A Nair IMAGE: T K A Nair Do you feel only if a strong leader emerges in the Opposition that Modi can be stopped? You need not just one strong leader, you need a strong Opposition. The country needs a credible vision and narrative of inclusive development. Lack of such a narrative and the ultra-selfishness pervading its leaders is the undoing of the Opposition. Those who hope for a strong united Opposition are disillusioned at the way in which the INDIA alliance has already been caught in debilitating squabbles. Do you see any leader who can take on Modi? Let's be clear. A credible Opposition alliance with an inclusive agenda of development addressing the basic issues of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, unemployment and the divisive rhetoric can do it. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivers his remarks at the second Summit for Democracy, via video conferencing, March 29, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo How do you compare Modi with Indira Gandhi? Modi is more formidable than what Indira Gandhi was in her hey day. She was no doubt one of the most powerful and charismatic leaders of her times, especially acclaimed for her role in creation of Bangladesh. Modi is adroitly cultivating the image of a Vishwa Guru while he is being perceived and painted as a megalomaniac by his political opponents. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com ELKO Elko Countys unemployment rate increased from a year earlier by nearly a half percentage point as 2023 came to an end, state labor officials said on Thursday. At the same time, Nevadas seasonally adjusted jobless rate decline slightly in December. In Elko County, the jobless rate climbed to 3.7% in December from 3.3% a year earlier and from 3.6% in November, according to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. Statewide, the jobless rate held at 5.4%, down from 5.5% in December 2023 but even with Novembers 5.4%, the agency said. Though higher than a year ago, Elkos unemployment rate is the third-lowest in Nevada and equal to the jobless rates in two other neighboring counties, Humboldt and Lander. Eureka County, at 3.2%; and White Pine County, at 3.5%, had lower rates than Elko County. The highest unemployment rate in the state was in Nye County, where 6.9% of the countys population were without work. Labor officials said Elko County in December had a labor force of 25,478 and of those 24,524 people were employed and 954 were without work. Elko County Manager Amanda Osborne did not return a call for comment. Other highlights of the states report on Thursday noted Esmeralda County, with Nevadas smallest job force at 475, had 19 people without work for a 4% unemployment rate; and Clark County, with over 1.2 million people in its work force, the states largest, had over 64,000 people who were seeking jobs for a 5.3% jobless rate. A serving Junior Commissioned Officer of the Indian Army, who was abducted from his home in Manipur's Thoubal district by anti-social elements on Friday morning, was rescued by security forces in the evening, sources said. IMAGE: Security personnel conduct combing operations in sensitive areas of Manipur. Photograph: ANI Photo The JCO, identified as Konsam Kheda Singh, a resident of Charangpat Mamang Leikai, is currently at Waikhong police station (near Kakching) in Thoubal district. The police are investigating the incident, they added. According to sources, a coordinated search operation was launched by all security agencies to rescue the JCO which ultimately led to his safe release at 6.30 pm. Singh, who was currently on leave, was abducted around 9 am after some people barged into his home and bundled him in a vehicle and fled. Though the cause of the abduction is not known, reports suggest that it was an extortion case as his family had received such threats in the past, officials said. This was the fourth incident since the commencement of the conflict in Manipur wherein soldiers while on leave, on duty or their relatives have been targeted for nefarious interests by inimical elements. In September 2023, a former Assam Regiment soldier Serto Thangthang Kom was kidnapped and killed by an unidentified armed group from the valley. He was posted in Manipur's Leimakhong with the Defence Service Corps. Two months later, an unidentified armed group kidnapped four people while they were travelling in an SUV from the hill district Churachandpur to Leimakhong, and killed them. The four were family members of an Indian Army soldier serving in Jammu and Kashmir. A fifth passenger, the father of the soldier, who was injured, managed to escape and was later airlifted by the army to Dimapur for treatment. He was eventually shifted to the base hospital in Guwahati, Assam. An additional superintendent of police from Manipur Police was attacked in his house in Imphal city on February 27. The attackers in this case were identified as Arambai Tenggol, a radical Meitei group. Following the incident, police commandos of Manipur laid down their arms in Imphal and other areas. The open defiance of discipline in the police ranks on the morning of the commencement of the state assembly (February 28, 2024) prompted Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh to visit the police officer in the hospital and also hold discussions with the senior police officials to address their grievances. The Manipur police also published a statement blaming the notorious group AT for the attack and warned all miscreants to refrain from such acts and indicating that prevalence of such conditions will result in reimposition of AFSPA in the valley. The security forces toiling day and night for early restoration of peace and normalcy are being targeted for performing their duty, the officials said, adding the attacks by the inimical elements on security forces and their families need to be strongly condemned and perpetrators caught and punished as per the law. At least 219 people have been killed in the ethnic strife in the state that started on May 3 last year after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 percent and reside mainly in the hill districts. Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had approached him once expressing his readiness to join the party. IMAGE: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu addresses a press conference, at his residence in Patiala. Photograph: ANI Photo Sidhu said this during an interview to a media outlet when asked about rumours that he may join the Bharatiya Janata Party and whether the party had approached him. He shared a clip of the interview on his X handle. There was no immediate response from Mann to Sidhu's claims. "I can tell you one thing about who had approached (me). Bhagwant Mann sahab had come to me. If he tells, I will even tell him the place (where they met)," Sidhu said. "He told me paaji, I am ready to be your deputy if I get him to join the Congress. And he also told me that if you come to the Aam Aadmi Party, still he was ready to be my deputy," the Congress leader said. Sidhu further claimed that he told Mann that he is committed to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and it's not possible for him to leave them. Sidhu said he told Mann that if he wants, he is welcome to join the Congress and that he should talk to the party leadership in Delhi. After this, there was no further discussion, he added. Sidhu said his sole aim is to serve the people of Punjab. He targeted the Mann-led AAP government over Punjab's 'mounting debt', saying, "They move in aircraft and luxury vehicles but debt has to be paid by Punjabis." Senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP K Ravindra Kumar claimed on Friday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Jana Sena and his party have decided in principle to work together for upcoming polls and the modalities are being worked out. IMAGE: Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in New Delhi on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo A day after TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu held deliberations with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief J P Nadda, Kumar told PTI that preliminary discussions have taken place for the "purpose of an alliance" for the Lok Sabha and state Assembly polls, which are held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh. "In principle, the BJP, TDP and Jana Sena have decided to work together," he added. Jana Sena president and actor Pawan Kalyan was also part of the discussions that went on for more than an hour and a half at Shah's residence here on Thursday night. Sources said the number of seats the BJP will get in such an alliance remains a sticking point. Andhra Pradesh has 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly constituencies. The top leaders of the three parties may hold another round of discussions to sort out the differences and finalise the arrangements, the sources added. While the BJP wants to contest more than 20 Assembly and around eight Lok Sabha seats, the main opposition party in the southern state, TDP, is unwilling to concede more than five-six parliamentary seats. The TDP also wants the BJP, which is a marginal player in Andhra Pradesh, to not contest more than 10 Assembly seats, the sources said. TDP leaders believe that agreeing to the BJP's demand may hand over an advantage to the state's ruling YSR Congress Party, headed by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. Though the BJP has made no official comments on the negotiations, some of its leaders have argued that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal can prove to be the "X factor" that may tilt the balance of power in favour of such an alliance. The BJP is keen on expanding the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and is believed to have come close to sealing a tie-up with Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), its former ally like the TDP. While Naidu had walked out of the BJP-led NDA in 2018 in protest against the Centre not granting a special status to Andhra Pradesh, BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had quit the alliance in 2009. The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it has attached assets worth more than Rs 50 crore of a sugar mill owned by a company of Rohit Pawar, the grandnephew of NCP -SP supremo Sharad Pawar. IMAGE: NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar. Photograph: @RRPSpeaks/X The action pertains to the money laundering investigation being conducted by the federal agency in the alleged Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB) scam. A total of 161.30 acres of land, plant, machinery and building of the Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (Kannad SSK) located in Kannad village of Aurangabad district has been provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED said in a statement. The total value of these assets is Rs 50.20 crore, it said. The Kannad SSK is "owned" by Baramati Agro Ltd., a company of Rohit Pawar. He is also an MLA of the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The ED claimed the "acquisition" of Kannad SSK by Baramati Agro Ltd was illegal and hence assets so acquired are "proceeds of crime" under the PMLA. The 38-year-old legislator from Karjat-Jamkhed assembly seat of Maharashtra has been questioned by the ED twice in the past after it searched the premises of Baramati Agro, Kannad SSK and some others in January. The agency said the MSCB, in order to recover an outstanding loan of Rs 80.56 crore of Kannad SSK Limited, took possession of all its assets on 13.07.2009 under the SARFAESI Act. The MSCB conducted an auction on 30.08.2012 of Kannad SSK by fixing a "very low" reserve price based on a questionable valuation report, the ED alleged. "Apart from Baramati Agro Ltd., two other parties entered into the bidding process. The bidder with the highest bid was technically disqualified on flimsy ground, whereas the other bidder was already a close business associate of Baramati Agro Ltd. with no financial capacity or experience of running a sugar unit," it said. Rohit Pawar had earlier told reporters that the EOW has "filed a closure report" in the case for which he was being interrogated by the ED. "I was in business first before entering politics. I haven't done anything wrong. Those in government should know I am not scared. Those who got scared ran away," Rohit Pawar had said in a veiled dig at his uncle, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who broke ranks and joined the Eknath Shinde government in July 2023. The MSCB money laundering case stems from an August 2019 FIR of the Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The scam pertains to an allegation that the SSKs were fraudulently sold by the then officers and directors of MSCB at throw-away prices to their relatives/private persons without following the due procedure. The ED has filed three charge sheets till now as part of this case case investigation and had attached assets worth Rs 121.47 crore. Former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba demanded that he be reinstated by the varsity and compensated for the lost years of service following his acquittal by the Bombay high court in a Maoist links case. IMAGE: Former Delhi University professor Dr GN Saibaba gets emotional while addressing the media during a press conference in New Delhi on Friday. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo The committee for the defence and Release of Dr GN Saibaba comprising academicians, lawyers and Left politicians demanded his reinstatement and compensation for all the six people who were released from the Nagpur Central Jail after the court declared in its judgement that the prosecution failed to establish charges against them. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the 58-year-old said he can't live without teaching and wants to resume his job as a professor. Saibaba was terminated from his service from DU's Ram Lal Anand College in 2021 after being implicated in the case. He said he still feels as if he is in a jail cell after spending seven years in prison. He was released from the Nagpur Central Jail on Thursday, two days after his acquittal. Talking about his family, he said they survived only on hope but regretted not being able to meet his mother on her deathbed and claimed he was denied bail to perform her last rites. "Instead of going to the hospital, I chose to speak to the press because you supported me. My family faced stigma and I was called a terrorist," he said with tears in his eyes. Recalling his "jail ordeal" Saibaba claimed he was forced to live in cramped conditions and was denied medicines and treatment prescribed by doctors for his ailing health. "I was imprisoned in a jail which has a capacity of 1,500 inmates but 3,000 people were lodged there in cramped conditions. There was no space to even sleep. Without a wheelchair I use to struggle to use toilet, take bath or even fetch myself a class of water. There was not even a single ramp in the prison for people like me," he said in a chocked voice. "Today I am alive in front of you. But every organ of my body is failing. I faced many medical emergencies in the jail but they only gave me painkillers and did a few tests," he added. Saibaba said that his family faced stigma because he was framed in a case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Saibaba was lodged in the Nagpur Central Jail since 2017 after his conviction by a trial court in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district. Before that, he was in prison from 2014 to 2016 and was subsequently granted bail. "I am still not able to register that I am free. I feel I am still lodged in the notorious jail cell. It was like an 'agni pariksha' for me. I had to go through a test by fire twice," he said. Thanking his lawyers, friends, and activists, he said one his lawyers fought his case without any fees. "Another lawyer got jailed because of supporting me. During the trial, certain police officers threatened my lawyers," he alleged The Delhi high court has deprecated the move to settle through mediation a case of sexual assault on two minor girls by a close relative, saying offences of such serious nature cannot be resolved like that. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo The high court said it is essential to ensure the perpetrators of such crimes are held accountable through appropriate legal proceedings. It said the victims shall also receive necessary support, protection and justice which they deserve. The high court was hearing the plea by a man, estranged from his wife, seeking revival of his complaint under the Protection of Children from Sexual offences Act against a relative after seven years. While one of the daughters has now attained majority, the other is aged 17 years. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma rejected the plea to re-open the sexual assault case, saying the court cannot exhibit such insensitivity. It is most disturbing that though the petition has been camouflaged in words which may project as if it arises out of love and concern for the children, however, the courts of law are not ostriches who bury their heads in the sand instead of the facts of the case, she said. The court said it is unpleasant and distasteful for a judge to note that parents can use the provisions of POCSO Act to settle their own scores. The man, in his plea, said the trial court had earlier referred the disputes between him and his wife, including the registration of a complaint under the POCSO Act, for mediation and then closed the matter based on a settlement reached between them. The man later approached the high court claiming that he was tricked by his wife and brother-in-law into withdrawing the complaint. Observing that the trial court had referred the case for mediation while ignoring the principles of mediation and judicial precedents, the high court said it was shocking that a mediated settlement agreement was reached whereby the couple agreed to bury their matrimonial disputes. The court said there cannot be any connection between the matrimonial dispute between the husband and wife, and the sexual abuse of their children by a third party over which he compromised in the mediation settlement. it is essential to emphasise that in cases involving offences of serious nature, particularly those falling under the POCSO Act, no form of mediation is permissible. These cases cannot be referred to or resolved through mediation by any court. Any attempt to mediate or compromise in such cases undermines the principles of justice and the rights of victims and must not be entertained under any circumstances by a mediator, the high court said. Amid the political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu on Thursday left for Delhi to 'meet' the Congress high command. IMAGE: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Congress state president Pratibha Singh, in Shimla on February 29, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo According to the information, the chief minister will meet the Congress high command and give a report about the current political situation in the state and will discuss the candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. The chief minister's visit to Delhi is being considered very important amid the political crisis in Himachal. The chief minister appeared to be ready to reconsider the disqualification of six Congress MLAs. "If one realises one's fault then that person deserves another chance," Sukhu said when question on the possible return of the rebel MLAs. Earlier, Himachal minister Vikramaditya Singh, said that he had played the role of facilitator between the Congress high command and disqualified party MLAs, adding that the decision now lies with the party's central leadership. He said that the Congress high command and the observers, D K Shivakumar and B S Hooda, had given him the responsibility to meet and take the views of the 'rebel' and disqualified MLAs. The minister indicated that there was a strong possibility that some of the rebels could return to the party fold. "Everything is possible in politics, there are some pressure tactics, I am learning politics. No doors are open or closed in politics, earlier, Amit Shah ji said doors had been closed for Nitish Babu, but those doors were opened for him later. These are common in politics" Vikramaditya Singh had said. India's pointsperson on Afghanistan JP Singh met senior members of Afghan authorities in Kabul and the discussions focused on New Delhi's humanitarian assistance to Afghan people as well as the use of Chabahar port by Afghan traders. IMAGE: Trucks carrying the next consignment of wheat being sent to Afghanistan as a humanitarian aid, leave the Attari-Wagah border, Punjab, July 2, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo Singh, the joint secretary heading the division for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran in the ministry of external affairs, held talks with Taliban's foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Thursday. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the delegation met senior members of Afghan authorities, former president Hamid Karzai, officials of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and members of the Afghan business community. "The delegation held discussions on India's humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and also discussed use of Chabahar port by Afghan traders," he said. An Afghan readout said Singh and Muttaqi discussed issues relating to security, trade and ways to counter narcotics issues. Extending gratitude to India for its humanitarian assistance, Muttaqi said that Kabul wants to strengthen political and economic relations with India, it said. Muttaqi called for facilitating issuance of visas by India for Afghan businessmen, patients and students, the readout added. India has not yet recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country. India has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country. In June 2022, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" to its embassy in the Afghan capital. India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power in August 2021 following concerns over their security. The time has come to enlighten and educate the police machinery about the concept of freedom of speech and expression, the Supreme Court has said and set aside an order of the Bombay high court against an academic accused of criticising the abrogation of Article 370 that bestowed special status on Jammu and Kashmir and greeting the citizens of Pakistan on the country's Independence Day. IMAGE: Fans of Pakistan hold their flag and cheer their team before a match between India and Pakistan. Photograph: ANI Photo The Maharashtra Police had registered an FIR against professor Javed Ahmed Hajam at Hatkanangale police station in Kolhapur under Section 153A (promotion of communal disharmony) of the Indian Penal Code for posting WhatsApp messages that denounced the abrogation of Article 370 and congratulated the people of Pakistan on their Independence day. "August 5-Black Day Jammu & Kashmir" and "14th August-Happy Independence Day Pakistan," he had written on WhatsApp. "Now, the time has come to enlighten and educate our police machinery on the concept of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and the extent of reasonable restraint on their free speech and expression. They must be sensitised about the democratic values enshrined in our Constitution," a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said. If a citizen of India extends good wishes to the citizens of Pakistan on 14th August, which is their Independence Day, there is nothing wrong with it, the apex court observed. "Our country has been a democratic republic for more than 75 years. The people of our country know the importance of democratic values. Therefore, it is not possible to conclude that the words will promote disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious groups. "The test to be applied is not the effect of the words on some individuals with weak minds or who see a danger in every hostile point of view. The test is of the general impact of the utterances on reasonable people who are significant in numbers," the bench said. Merely because a few individuals may develop hatred or ill will, it will not be sufficient to attract Section 153-A of the IPC, it said. The court said continuation of the prosecution of the appellant for the offence punishable under Section 153-A of the IPC will be a "gross abuse" of the process of law. "Accordingly, we set aside the impugned judgment dated April 10, 2023 of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay and quash the impugned FIR," the bench said. Aam Aadmi Party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann launched the party's Lok Sabha poll campaign in New Delhi on Friday with the slogan Sansad mein bhi Kejriwal, to Dilli hogi aur khush haal. IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and other AAP leaders launch the party's Lok Sabha poll campaign in New Delhi. Photograph: @AamAadmiParty/X General elections are due in April-May. The campaign was launched in the presence of other party leaders and workers from the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters on DDU Marg. "I have made all efforts to serve the people of Delhi who are my family," Kejriwal said. "Our slogan is Sansad mein bhi Kejriwal, to Dilli hogi aur khush haal (Delhi will be more prosperous with Kejriwal in Parliament)," he said. Delhi and Punjab are ruled by the AAP and these are the only two states that have free electricity supply, he said. Kejriwal said the BJP-led central government through the Delhi Lt Governor stalls every project launched by the AAP government and urged the people to "strengthen" him by sending all seven opposition candidates to Parliament. "They hate you because you elected and brought an ordinary man to power in Delhi. They demolished Mohalla Clinics with bulldozers, they stopped door-to-door ration delivery scheme, tests and medicines in hospitals," he alleged. AAP workers will distribute pamphlets describing work done by the party's governments during campaigning for the elections, he said. Punjab chief minister Mann said his state is going to have a 13-0 result in the Lok Sabha polls in favour of AAP. He also accused the Centre of obstructing the work of the Kejriwal government in Delhi and withholding Punjab's funds. "No one will dare to stop Punjab's funds and work in Delhi if the AAP has a good number of MPs in Lok Sabha," he said. The AAP will fight the general election in collaboration with INDIA bloc partner Congress under a seat-sharing arrangement it has struck with it in Delhi, Gujarat, and Haryana. In Punjab, however, both parties have decided to contest the Lok Sabha polls independently. The AAP will contest four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and Congress will field its candidates on the remaining three. The party has also received two constituencies -- Bharuch, Jamnagar -- in Gujarat and Kurukshetra in Haryana under the seat-sharing deal with Congress. Separately, the AAP has also declared its candidates from Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Sonitpur Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam. ELKO March 6 was St. Mark Lutheran Preschools Dr. Seuss day. Children tried a green eggs and ham concoction prepared by the staff to see if they would like it in the same way as Sam-I-Am. Bible verses and dinosaur art hung on the walls, and early morning sun shone through wide-open windows. St. Mark Lutheran Preschool has offered a faith-based education experience for Elko children since 1988. For school Director Shawn Cavaness, the role comes with an assortment of responsibilities. I do all the business aspects of it: I take tuition. I work with the state because were licensed through the state. I do devotions once or twice a week with the kids. I oversee what the teachers are doing and make sure they have the right supplies. And if there are some kids who are sad or need some extra attention, then they come hang out. Cavaness said the school has grown significantly during her time there. She first joined the St. Mark Lutheran Preschool staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, when attendance numbers were smaller. Now, the current number of students has increased to 65. The school has also been successful with fundraising and with installing new playground equipment, she said. Cavaness explained what makes the school a worthy choice for enrollment. The smaller class numbers and the emotional support from teachers are two major aspects, Cavaness said. Also, the schools Christian roots are an appealing factor for many parents. On Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., St. Mark Lutheran Preschool hosts class for 16 students ages 4 and 5. For the same age group, they also hold classes from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays through Wednesdays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they hold classes for ages 3 and 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. What kind of experience can parents expect for their children? When they come in, they wash their hands, sit at the tabletop and do a tabletop activity. After that, they can go and play and then they have a circle time where they do the calendar and songs and different lessons, Cavaness said. The age 4 and 5 classes learn a letter of the alphabet every week, while the age 3 and 4 classes explore colors, shapes and numbers. Then, they go down to devotions for about 15 minutes. They come back and have snacks. They have another circle playtime in between and then they do go out to recess at some point and then they end the day with songs, she said. Cavaness said she has witnessed growth and improvement in childrens lives. For instance, one of the 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds came in not understanding the whole routine of the classroom. And right now, he has grown so much. He knows the routine, hes not running all over like he was at the beginning of the year and his vocabulary has improved so much as well. Before moving to St. Mark Lutheran Preschool, Cavaness taught kindergarten for 28 years, 19 of them at Spring Creek Elementary. Coming here, its a smaller community with lots of room for building relationships with both parents and children, she said. She already had a connection to the school as her own children once attended preschool there. Registration for the 2024-2025 school year opens on Monday and Tuesday with a $75 fee. To register students, visit stmarkelko.com/preschool. Photograph: Vaishnavi Narsale for Rediff.com IMAGE: Devotees throng the Shri Babulnath Temple in South Mumbai, March 8. Mahashivratri, the Night of Shiva, which marks the union of Lord Shiva and Parvati, was celebrated across India on Friday with devotees observing fast, and visiting Shiva temples. In Mumbai, home to the grand Shri Babulnath Mandir dedicated to Lord Shiva, devotees queued up from the morning to offer prayers and worship to the deity. In the morning the queue ran for two km, and by the sunny afternoon it had shortened to about a kilometre. Video: Vaishnavi Narsale for Rediff.com SEE: A one-km-long queue of devotees on both sides of the temple was seen on Friday afternoon. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Philanthropist and author Sudha Murty was nominated to the Rajya Sabha on Friday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauding her contribution in diverse fields. IMAGE: Infosys Foundation chairperson and philanthropist Sudha Murthy speaks to the media during her visit to the Parliament House in New Delhi on December 8, 2023. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo Modi asserted in a post on X that her presence in the Upper House is a powerful testament to 'Nari Shakti' (women power), exemplifying the strength and potential of women in shaping the nation's destiny. Wishing her a fruitful tenure, he said, 'I am delighted that the President of India has nominated Sudha Murty Ji to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Ji's contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy and education have been immense and inspiring.' Murty, wife of Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy, is also the chairperson of the Murty Trust and has authored several books. The 73-year-old, whose nomination comes on International Women's Day, was awarded the Padma Shri in 2006 and the Padma Bhushan in 2023. Murthy said the announcement of her nomination was a double surprise as it came on Women's Day. The former Chairperson of Infosys Foundation, the philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Infosys, said that she has never sought the position and had 'absolutely no idea' why the government chose to nominate her. "It came on Women's Day and that's a double surprise. I am very happy. I am grateful to our Prime Minister," Murty, who is currently on a visit to Thailand, told PTI over phone. On her role as a member of the Upper House, the wife of Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy said, "I have to see what are the things...what I can do. This is a new area to me. So, I have to first sit and study and then I will be able to do it." She said she was pleasantly surprised by the announcement. 'We were sure our appeal would succeed. We knew we could break down the evidence and show it was hollow.' IMAGE: Professor G N Saibaba with his wife Vasanta Kumari after his release from the Nagpur Central Jail. All Photographs: Kind courtesy Jyoti Punwani; provenance not known It took an army of lawyers. Behind the successful battle to prove the innocence of Professor G N Saibaba and his co-accused, went years of preparation. The backbone of that preparation was the work put in by a group of lawyers, all of whom had been juniors to Advocate Surendra Gadling. Advocates Barun Kumar, Nihal Singh Rathod, Harshal Lingayat and Akash Sorte, worked as a team to brief the seniors who argued in court: Advocates Trideep Pais, Pradeep Mandhyan and S P Dharmadhikari. Professor Saibaba, Mahesh Tirki, Pandu Narote (he died in custody August 2022), Hem Mishra, and Prashant Rahi were sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of being Maoists in 2017, while Vijay Tirki got a 10-year-sentence. The appeal against their conviction was filed immediately. But in 2018, Surendra Gadling, the defence lawyer in the trial court, who had filed the appeal, was arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case. "At that time, the appeal hadn't even been listed for hearing," recalls Advocate Barun Kumar, who joined Gadling's team at the fag end of the trial, after the recording of evidence was over. IMAGE: Professor Saibaba with Vasanta Kumari, Advocate Harshal Lingayat, his brother, a friend and a relative outside the Nagpur Central Jail. Their first priority was to get a suspension of sentence for the accused and bail, recalls Barun. However, they manged to get bail only for Vijay Tirki. Professor Saibaba's appeals for bail even on medical grounds were rejected. After repeated rejections of appeals for bail and parole, including when Professor Saibaba's mother was ill and then passed away, the court asked them to prepare for the final hearing of the appeal, recalls Barun. But courts were working only through video conferencing through the Covid lockdown. "Given the bulky documents, it wouldn't have been possible to argue the appeal through video conferencing," says Barun. IMAGE: Harsh Lingayat with Mahesh Tirki (acquitted), Professor Saibaba's brother and friend. After Gadling was arrested, new lawyers had to be found. There wasn't just one lawyer representing all the accused. Hence the juniors divided the work of briefing the three senior lawyers, says Akash Sorte, who joined Gadling as a junior at the appeal stage. "We were sure our appeal would succeed," recalls Sorte. "We knew we could break down the evidence and show it was hollow." In Gadling's absence, what his juniors banked on were his written arguments and the proceedings of his cross-examination. "We would read and re-read them," recalls Barun. "But it was Pradeep Sir (Pradeep Mandhyan) who taught us to read between the lines. He made us study the FIR for an entire day!" "I still remember his words: 'It is not the accused who have conspired; it is the other side that's entered into a conspiracy",' adds Barun. "He could decipher the mind of the police, and he developed his arguments like a story teller. He taught us how to look for the larger picture behind the police documents." IMAGE: Prashant Rahi with daughter Shikha after the release. Harshal Lingayat was Gadling's junior throughout the trial. Speaking to Rediff.com on Wednesday while driving to Gadchiroli to get the necessary documents for Professor Saibaba's release, the 41 year old recalled how confident they had been that all the accused would get acquitted by the trial court. "The nature of the evidence against them gave us that confidence, but the judge overlooked it. Every single point that's been listed by the high court was pointed out by us. These arguments were noted, but never considered," he said. Yet, lamented Barun, a hype was created around that sessions court judgment. It was even found worthy of being included in the SCC Web site (Supreme Court Cases) and on Manupatra, an online data base for legal research. Lingayat was in court when Gadling was told that after Professor Saibaba, his turn would be next. (Details of these threats have been mentioned in Gadling's application for bail in the Bhima Koregaon case.) Sorte has been meeting Professor Saibaba in the Nagpur Central Jail all these seven years, handing over medicines, clothes and dealing with hostile jailors. "There used to be an intelligence officer taking photographs of our meetings in jail," he alleges. Despite these risks, none of the juniors dropped out of the case. Indeed, they are also involved in the Bhima Koregaon case as defence lawyers. Barun Kumar has appeared before the Bhima Koregaon Commission of Inquiry as Harshali Poddar's lawyer. IMAGE: Hem Mishra after being released from the Kolhapur Central Prison. 'In criminal cases, cross-examination is the only effective weapon in the armory of defence to impeach the credibility of prosecution witnesses,' says the judgment acquitting Saibaba and his co-accused. The judges rely significantly on the cross-examination of key witnesses that took place during the trial. That cross-examination was conducted by Surendra Gadling. Gadling meticulously scrutinised all the documents relied upon by the police, such as FIRs, seizure memos, arrest panchnamas, and confronted the witnesses, including the investigating officer, the panch witnesses, and even the magistrate before whom two of the accused allegedly confessed, with the discrepancies he found in them. His cross-examination showed how the provisions of UAPA were flouted by the police throughout the case. Perhaps the most shocking example of police illegality were the admissions made under cross-examination by Jagat Bhole, who worked as a barber on the campus of Delhi University, and who was roped in against his will by the police as a panch witness for the raid on Professor Saibaba's home. In his cross-examination, Bhole said he had told the police he was illiterate. He also said that Professor Saibaba had requested them to conduct the search in the presence of his lawyer or any of his students who had rushed to his house hearing of the raid. Ignoring both their pleas, said Bhole, the police kept him and Professor Saibaba out of the house and locked the doors of the house while they conducted the search. Thus he witnessed neither the search nor the seizure of material from Saibaba's home. Two panch witnesses were examined. Both admitted to being illiterate and not knowing how to differentiate between electronic deices such as CD, DVD, pen-drives, etc, which were seized. While one admitted to be a stock police panch witness, the other admitted to not having witnessed the search! IMAGE: Advocate Barun Kumar. Among the discrepancies brought out in police documents were: 1. Over-writing on FIRs, 2. Different handwriting and different inks used on the same FIR to fill in different details. 3. Different dates on the first and last pages of arrest panchnamas. 4. The date on the bottom of screenshots showing the Facebook pages of Hem Mishra preceded the official date of his arrest, whereas police claimed that he had opened the page for them after his arrest. 5. The seizure panchnamas of the articles seized from Professor Saibaba's house did not indicate that the seized articles were sealed with wax, or labelled with the panch's signature. Observed the court: 'The prosecution case entirely hinges around the seizure of incriminating material from the accused... arrest and seizure of incriminating material is the backbone or foundation of the entire prosecution.' Thanks to the discrepancies that came through during Gadling's cross-examination, which was relied upon by the judges, the court concluded that the defence had 'succeeded in creating a reasonable doubt' about every aspect of collection of evidence, from the date of the arrest, to the seizure of 'incriminating material' from the accused. IMAGE: Advocate Akash Sorte. For this stellar work as a lawyer, said his junior Harshal Lingayat, Gadling was suitably rewarded -- with arrest in June 2018, a year after Professor Saibaba was convicted. Interestingly, Sub Divisional Police Officer (Gadchiroli) Suhas Bawache, who arrested Professor Saibaba, and was the investigating officer in the case, was felicitated by then Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for his 'painstaking investigation' in the case that resulted in the conviction of Professor Saibaba and his co-accused. He is now a deputy commissioner of police. Coincidentally, he was with the Pune police when they raided the homes of Father Stan Swamy and Delhi University Professor Hany Babu, both of whom were arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case. Father Stan Swamy died in custody in 2021. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 44F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A few flurries are possible. Low near 30F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. BRATTLEBORO "Just Getting By" a new documentary film on Vermonters struggling with food and housing insecurity comes to Brattleboro this month. "Just Getting By," a new documentary film by Bess OBrien focused on Vermonters struggling with food and housing insecurity will tour Vermont from March 22 to April 12. The movie will play the Latchis Theater in Brattleboro at 7 p.m. March 31. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. "Just Getting By" is a sweeping, and yet intimate look at the lives of Vermonters who are struggling with food and housing insecurity. Vermont has the second highest rate of homeless people in the United States, right after California. One third of Vermonters struggle to put food on the table. These are big issues for a small state. "Just Getting By" focuses on these issues in the lives of everyday people. The film tells the stories of working families, folks who are homeless and accessing food shelves and soup kitchens and people who are living in temporary hotel/motel programs. In addition, the film focuses on New Americans grappling with the cost of living in America, Native people creating innovative farming practices and folks on the ground providing services to their fellow Vermonters in need. "Just Getting By" explores the day to day challenges and incredible resiliency that low-income Vermonters bear witness to every day. The film was shot during 2022 and 2023 by director Bess OBrien and cinematographer Patrick Kennedy. We wanted to capture the day-to-day lives of Vermonters who were living paycheck to paycheck and who were struggling to keep food on the table and a roof over their head. We also wanted to show the incredible resiliency and courage of folks who have very little and still manage to get up every day and strive for a better life, OBrien says. We hope by touring the film across the state that we can raise consciousness about these pressing issues of food and housing insecurity with Vermont audiences across the state, OBrien said. The movie is produced by Kingdom County Productions. There will be Q&As after each screening of the movie with the director, folks from the movie and audience members. For more information, go to kingdomcounty.org. Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Gordon Hayward of Westminster writes about individual men and women who contribute day in and day out to the life of our community here in Southeastern Vermont. LAS VEGAS Two employees of a politically connected nonprofit that misused state-issued federal COVID relief funds are facing criminal charges for embezzlement after allegedly stealing more than $300,000 from the organization since 2019. Updates on the charges and the organizations financial status came in an emailed letter sent to various community members and The Nevada Independent on Monday from Amanda Cormican, who was formerly the executive director of the Foundation for Positively Kids and, as of January, is its CEO. The nonprofit, based in Las Vegas and established more than two decades ago, serves children who are medically fragile or have developmental disabilities. An outside state audit last year revealed two fraudulent invoices surrounding COVID-19 funds received by the organization, leading two Democratic state legislators to leave their positions with the nonprofit. Positively Kids subsequently conducted an internal investigation that showed that two former employees the previous CEOs executive assistant, Rita Nadamia, and the bookkeeper, Julie Alston had embezzled funding through payroll, unwarranted fuel reimbursements and vendor checks since 2019. In the letter, Cormican said the employees had signature stamps for the then-board treasurer and then-CEO. In hindsight, the embezzled funds felt minuscule in comparison to the turn of events that was triggered by the associated fraud and poor financial oversight, Cormican wrote in the letter. We calculated nearly $5 million in lost revenue from [the audit and embezzlement revelation], in addition to a resignation from most members of our Board of Directors, who didnt want their name or reputation to be associated with us during this difficult time. In an interview with The Nevada Independent on Wednesday, Cormican said the small foundation put too much trust in Nadamia and Alston. By the 2022 and 2023 fiscal year, she said the organizations annual budget had increased to $5.5 million for all programs, and Nadamia and Alston were their own checks and balances. It was also during COVID when a lot of things started happening from home vs. the office where we were all together, Cormican said. So I think that that didnt help. Cormican said the financial difficulties were compounded because Nadamia had signed several contracts with lengthy terms and conditions that she necessarily shouldnt have and hadnt informed staff about problems with paying rent for the organizations office. Judy New, the program director, added the organization knew it was behind on the rent, but Nadamia indicated she had everything under control. [Nadamia] would always come through and say, Oh, I talked to the landlord, and hes giving us a break on this or a break on that. And so were OK, New said. We didnt really realize the severity of it until the eviction notices were actually hung on our doors. The nonprofit is negotiating a settlement surrounding the eviction. The attorney representing Nadamia and Alston, Adam Vander Heyden, did not respond to a request for an interview via his secretary. Cormican wrote in the letter the audit findings led to the termination of the more than $1.4 million award the nonprofit had received from the state and the loss of an expected American Rescue Plan (ARP) award of more than $2.5 million to establish a childcare center for children with special needs at the Harry Reid International Airport. She added in the letter Positively Kids hired professional investigators to take over the fraud and embezzlement case, which was eventually turned over to police and the district attorneys office. Criminal charges were filed in Las Vegas Justice Court on Jan. 24, and the next preliminary hearing for the former employees is scheduled for May 8. The organization fired both employees before they were criminally charged, Cormican wrote, noting that Nadamia was fired in April after she became increasingly uncooperative during the internal investigation. Upon discovering that both had excessive amounts of sick leave and vacation time available but also frequently paid out to themselves in addition to their regular paychecks, Cormican said Alston was fired in June. Reporting from 8 News Now indicates Alston allegedly stole nearly $200,000, and Nadamia reportedly stole almost $140,000. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told the news organization though the foundation provides 200 hours of annual time off for long-term staff, Nadamia allegedly cashed out more than 4,400 hours and Alston more than 5,500 hours. The financial revelations about Positively Kids led to at least two resignations from the organization by sitting state lawmakers last year. Assemblywoman Shea Backus, D-Las Vegas, who served as a member of the board and Assemblywoman Michelle Gorelow, D-Las Vegas, who worked as the vice president of business development, left their roles after learning about the states investigation. Gorelow, who was elected to the Legislature in 2018, is not running for re-election. Backus has announced her intention to run for re-election but has not yet filed for office. Though Cormican took over as CEO from founder Fred Schultz in January, she said that was a planned retirement and had nothing to do with the organizations financial troubles. Cormican said that Schultz had planned to leave in July and then stayed on as part of the transition. During the rise of the organizations financial problems, it began construction on the Center for Special Needs Children. While its original plan to provide 60 beds to serve children with long-term needs was changed to 36 beds for pediatric extended care for medically fragile children, Cormican said the project is now separate from the organization, but Positively Kids had planned to rent a space within the site when it was completed. That was [Schultz]s own business, Cormican said about the center. When we became aware, also around the same time last year, that things were overlapping too much, we tried to draw a hard line making sure all of that was separated. Despite the financial difficulties and need to lay off more than half of the nonprofits staff, Cormican wrote that through revisions to the organizations financial systems and other cost-saving measures, Positively Kids had paid off $1.7 million in outstanding debts, made all past-due accounts current, fulfilled outstanding paychecks and met payroll tasks the organization had not been able to achieve when the financial troubles came to light. Cormican told The Nevada Independent she, New and Jeanette Smith, the finance director, formed an executive committee dedicated to putting the organization on firm financial footing. She said the organization had fulfilled all its contracts and repaid all its debts by January. The three said they tried to be as transparent as possible amid an ongoing investigation, alerting vendors and the community to what was happening. Smith said the organization hosted its annual Christmas give-back for families and tried to show the community that they were still present, adding that she stayed on to help fix the problems because the need for the organizations services was too great. I cant walk away from this, Smith said. So many other places are like just shut the doors, well file bankruptcy and fire everybody, but we knew we had a whole set of kids we couldnt let down. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Partly cloudy. High around 45F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A few flurries are possible. Low near 30F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia in Canberra on March 8. (Photo: VNA) At a working session with CSIRO leaders, the Vietnamese Government leader expressed his impression on the sound cooperation between Vietnam and CSIRO over the past time, and congratulated the organisation on its valuable research that has contributed significantly to Australia and the whole world. He particularly highlighted that the organisation has been on the right track with its studies on digital transformation, green transition, innovation and agriculture, among others, which are in line with Vietnams development policies. He suggested CSIRO and its Vietnamese partners make efforts to remove roadblocks in their cooperation, adding the Vietnamese Government will pen mechanisms and policies to ensure that cooperation programmes are carried out smoothly. The PM asked Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities to step up cooperation with CSIRO, stressing as collaboration in science-technology, innovation, climate change response, digital transformation and green transition is boundless, they need to fully tap the Australian Governments 2 billion AUD (1.3 billion USD) finance facility for trade and investment promotion with ASEAN so as to implement practical and specific programmes and projects. Meanwhile, Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts said as sci-tech and innovation cooperation programmes are a pillar in the bilateral relations, which has been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Australian Government committed to enhancing the sci-tech cooperation with Vietnam through specific projects. Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat said that Australias innovation programmes managed by CSIRO have helped Vietnam develop its fisheries, plantation and modern production sectors on the basis of the commercialisation of the research results. For his part, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that cooperation with CSIRO helps Vietnam handle challenges in agriculture that the country is facing. Vietnam hopes to receive CSIROs support to develop low carbon emission tra fish and shrimp farming models, he added. On the occasion, Dat and CSIRO Chief Executive Doug Hilton exchanged an agreement on sci-tech and innovation cooperation in the presence of PM Chinh. Established in 1916, the Australian national science agency has been one of the worlds largest mission-driven science and research organisations, with 5,500 staff and 57 establishments across Australia and representative offices in the US, Chile, France, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. The organisation has close cooperation ties with the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology for years. Both sides signed agreements on research support in the fields of CSIROs strengths such as agriculture and food, healthcare and bio security, energy, manufacturing industry and land and water resources./. Former Harness.io Asia Pacific (APAC) regional vice president Simon Horrocks has moved to Talkdesk to build up the companys presence in the region in preparation for going public in the future. Based in the US, Talkdesk is a provider of cloud contact centre software solutions that utilise artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, with locations across the world, including Australia and Singapore. In the role, Horrocks reports to the companys global head of sales, Miles Ennis, and is tasked with building the business local presence in the region. Speaking to ARN, he said his goal in the position is to see Talkdesk through to establishing itself as a global company. Before that point however, he needs to first strengthen the business regional presence. Horrocks also said he intends to help the company surpass $1 billion in revenue, with APAC contributing 10 per cent of that figure. However, the role isnt just simply about just delivering revenue, but forecasting the companys revenue reliably. I'm going to be looking at that over time while I'm here and clearly, the more process we can pull up into our sales and go-to-market teams, the more rigor we can put behind that process then the more accurate our forecasting is, Horrocks said to ARN. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with Australian Governor-General David Hurley in Canberra on March 7. (Photo: VNA) PM Pham Minh Chinh expressed his pleasure to meet Governor-General Hurley and his spouse again after their state visit to Vietnam in April 2023. He extended the regards of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and other key Vietnamese leaders to the hosts. He congratulated Australia on successfully organising the special summit marking the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia relations. The PM thanked Australia for providing Vietnam with valuable support both in the past and at present, including the construction of My Thuan and Cao Lanh bridges in the Mekong Delta region, the transport of Level-2 Field Hospital to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, and the training of high quality human resources for Vietnam. For his part, Governor-General Hurley recalled his good memories during his visit to Vietnam, and expressed his hope to visit Vietnam again soon. Highlighting the outcomes of the special summit commemorating the ASEAN-Australia 50-year partnership, the Governor-General said that the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 of Australia, which includes many important cooperation contents, is the foundation for Australia to build stronger relations with ASEAN member countries. The two sides shared the delight at the fine development of the ties between the two countries after more than half a century of establishing diplomatic relations. They agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in education, culture and people-to-people exchanges. Australian Governor-General David Hurley drives a electric vehicle to take Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse on a tour around the Australian Governor-General's Palace. (Photo: VNA) The two sides highly valued the upgrade of the Vietnam-Australia relations on this occasion, holding that this is an important milestone in the bilateral ties, bringing practical benefits to people of the two countries and contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world. PM Pham Minh Chinh suggested Australia create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, work and study in Australia, and maintain the Vietnamese language and traditions. Vietnam welcomes Australian citizens to work, study and invest in Vietnam, he affirmed. Governor-General Hurley proposed Vietnam continue to provide favourable conditions for major universities of Australia to open training establishments in Vietnam./. Rights activist and lawyer Chow Hang-tung, and others, have made immense sacrifices for the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. A woman holds a flower as she joins hundreds of mothers protesting the amendments to the extradition law in Hong Kong, June 14, 2019. On International Women's Day, as we celebrate the rights of women around the world and shine a spotlight on inspiring women, the women of Hong Kong who have paid a high price for fighting for equal rights and for basic rights and freedoms under an increasingly intolerant government. Women human rights defenders face gender-based challenges and restrictions that drive them to use alternative strategies in their activism to achieve their goals and overcome obstacles. They have demonstrated immense bravery and perseverance in the Hong Kong that has emerged since the imposition in 2020 of the National Security Law. During the 2019 Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, young women were prominent in protests, and many faced gender-based and sexual violence. In particular, a number of women reported sexual assault and harassment by the Hong Kong police when they were in detention or in other forms of custody. Few of these cases were prosecuted and the perpetrators have not been held accountable to this date. Many women from Hong Kong said that gender-based and sexual violence was a known phenomenon, particularly at the hands of the police. They added that they would not file a complaint, because the investigation would also be conducted by the police, who were unlikely to hold their own officers accountable. Riot police detain a woman as anti-government protesters gather at Sha Tin Mass Transit Railway station in Hong Kong, Sept. 25, 2019. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) The women acknowledge the violations that they faced were an unfortunate part of pro-democracy activism, and although they did what they could to avoid assault and protect themselves, it was still worth the risk when fighting for democracy and rights and freedom in Hong Kong. In 2023, I wrote a submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on behalf of Hong Kong Watch, about these issues. I provided statistics and case studies, and interviewed women human rights defenders about their own experiences of gender-based and sexual violence, as well as what they observed around them. It was chilling to learn that such violations against women were normalized and that there were so few tools for accountability. But it is nevertheless inspiring to see these strong women persevere. At the United Nations in Geneva, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women did raise concerns about womens rights in Hong Kong. The body urged the Hong Kong government to hold perpetrators accountable and strengthen the framework to protect womens rights. They also warned the Hong Kong government against using national security and public order measures in a way that could violate womens rights. A year on, the Hong Kong government has yet to implement these recommendations or show that they are taking womens rights seriously. Chow Hang-tung At the top of the list of women deserving support on this day is Chow Hang-tung. The former vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, Chow was charged with inciting others to participate in an unauthorized assembly for a Tiananmen Square Massacre vigil in 2021. Remanded in custody since September 2021, Chow, an activist and lawyer, faces a potential 10 years in jail if convicted of inciting subversion of state power in a trial that is expected to begin in late 2024. Having reviewed her circumstances, the UN Human Rights Councils Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Chow was arbitrarily detained, should be released immediately, and that her treatment is in contravention of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Hong Kong is a signatory. Activist and barrister Chow Hang-tung arrives at the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong on June 8, 2023. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP) Chow faces a number of very serious violations to her rights and freedoms, some of which are related to her gender. One thing is clear: she deserves to be free and to exercise her rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Chow remains calm and poised and a source of hope for many of us who stand up to the Hong Kong government, as well as the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. She has not given up and shows no sign of doing so. This year, Chow was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Swedish MP Guri Melby. Her brave and principled peaceful activism against the Chinese Communist Party makes her a deserving candidate. Chow has made immense sacrifices for the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, as well as the people of China. Article 23 advances Many more women in Hong Kong languish behind bars, many of whom are political prisoners, in the jurisdiction that has the highest percentage of women prisoners in the world. This includes women who have been arrested and charged under the 2020 National Security Law and the sedition law. Also on the list are women who were former key personnel at Apple Daily, former members of the Legislative Council, former district councilors, and many others. International Women's Day this year coincided with the publication and Legislative Council reading of the Safeguarding National Security Bill, under Article 23 of the Basic Law in Hong Kong. Lawmakers take part in reading the draft of the Safeguarding National Security Bill at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on March 8, 2024. (Li Zhihua/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images) This fast-tracked law is set to prohibit new types of offences, and has proposed provisions which are vague and will criminalise the peaceful exercise of human rights while dramatically undermining due process and fair trial rights in Hong Kong. The bill will contribute to institutional violations of human rights, including womens rights, in Hong Kong, and it is something the world must condemn and stand up against. Many human rights defenders, including many women human rights activists, are taking action today to raise awareness and coordinate responses to this Bill. On International Womens Day, the strong women of Hong Kong who have fought for equality and against the curtailment of Hong Kongs freedoms over the past decade deserve appreciation and solidarity with their work. Anouk Wear is a research and policy advisor at the international NGO Hong Kong Watch. The U.S.-based Wear, who was raised in Hong Kong, focuses on cultural rights, freedom of expression, digital rights, labor rights, and democracy. Sgt. Korbein Schultz, an Army intelligence analyst, discusses coordinating the support of linguists with Afghans at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Aug. 30, 2021. A U.S. Army intelligence analyst with top secret clearance was arrested on Thursday for allegedly sending troves of sensitive military planning documents related to China including plans to defend Taiwan in case of an invasion to a person in Hong Kong. Korbein Schultz, 24, was arrested at Fort Campbell, a U.S. military installation on the border between Tennessee and Kentucky, and charged with bribery offenses and conspiracy to disclose national defense information, according to an unsealed indictment. The indictment says that Schultz, a native of Willis Point, Texas, joined the Army in November 2018. In June 2022, it says, he began talking over an encrypted messaging app with a person who claimed to be a geopolitical risk analyst living and working in Hong Kong. From that time on, according to a Justice Department statement, he provided the contact with documents, writings, plans, maps, notes, and photographs relating to national defense in exchange for bribes that totalled approximately US$42,000 across at least 14 payments. The documents and photographs included information Schultz had reason to believe could be used to injure the United States or used to the advantage of a foreign nation, the statement alleges. While the unsealed indictment does not specifically identify China as the foreign nation seeking the documents, the Justice Department statement notes that Schultzs contact sought information including studies on major countries such as the Peoples Republic of China. The person also tasked Schultz with gathering information related to a variety of U.S. military weapons systems, including classified information, and information related to the United States potential plans in the event that Taiwan came under military attack, it says. Latest arrest At a press conference in Nashville, Tennessee, following Thursdays arrest, Henry Leventis, the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, said that Schultz had put national security at risk. The unauthorized sale of such information violates our national security laws, compromises our safety, and cannot be tolerated, Levantis said. Todays indictment should serve as a reminder of the Justice Departments vigilance in protecting the United States against any threat to national security, foreign or domestic. U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Henry C. Leventis, left, announces the arrest and indictment of Army intelligence analyst Korbein Schultz as FBI Special Agent Douglas DePodesta, center, and Special Agent Roy Cochran, senior counterintelligence executive with the U.S. Army, look on in Nashville, Tenn., on March 7, 2024. (George Walker IV/AP) Matthew Olsen, assistant U.S. attorney general for national security affairs, said in a statement that Schultz had plac[ed] personal profit above the security of the American people by selling the secrets. Todays arrest shows that such a betrayal does not pay, Olsen said, adding that his team was committed to holding accountable those who would break their oath to protect our nations secrets. Schultz is only the latest active duty or former member of the military to be arrested for allegedly selling classified information to China. In August, a 22-year-old U.S. Navy sailor stationed on the USS Essex in San Diego, California, was arrested for allegedly providing a Chinese spy with technical manuals regarding the ship for $5,000. A 29-year-old former soldier also with top secret clearance was arrested in San Francisco in October for actively seeking out Chinese intelligence services to attempt to provide them with information. In January, a 26-year-old Navy sailor was likewise jailed after pleading guilty to providing a Chinese spy with documents including plans for a large-scale maritime training exercise in the Pacific theatre in exchange for payments that totalled approximately $15,000. Edited by Malcolm Foster. The law steps up an ongoing crackdown on political opposition and public dissent, targets 'foreign forces.' Legislative Council (LegCo) President Andrew Leung speaks to the media after a Legislative Council meeting to scrutinize the bill on Article 23 legislation in Hong Kong on March 8, 2024. Hong Kong's government on Friday tabled a draft national security bill that proposes life sentences for anyone who "endangers national security," with sentences of up to 10 years' imprisonment for "illegally disclosing state secrets." The Safeguarding National Security bill, commonly known as Article 23, is highly likely to pass in the city's Legislative Council within a few weeks due to the lack of opposition lawmakers. It comes amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent in the wake of the 2019 pro-democracy protests that has used both a 2020 National Security Law and colonial-era sedition laws to prosecute and jail people for protest and political opposition in unprecedented numbers. The government says the legislation will plug "loopholes" left by the 2020 National Security Law and claims it is needed to deal with clandestine activity by "foreign forces" in the city, which the ruling Chinese Communist Party blames for the 2019 mass protest movement that was sparked by plans to allow extradition to mainland China. The law proposes sentences of up to life imprisonment for "treason," "insurrection," "sabotage" and "mutiny," 20 years for espionage and 10 years for crimes linked to "state secrets" and "sedition." It also allows the authorities to revoke the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports of anyone who flees overseas, and to target overseas activists with financial sanctions. The concept of "collusion with foreign forces " runs throughout the draft bill, and sentences are harsher where "foreign forces" are deemed to be involved. Hong Kong activist Alexandra Wong, also known as Grandma Wong, waves Britain's Union Jack as she protests the national security law in front of the Central Government Offices in Hong Kong on March 8, 2024. (Holmes Chan/AFP) Currently, pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai is on trial for a similar offense under the 2020 National Security Law -- the case against him relies heavily on opinion articles published in Lai's now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper. The draft law allows police to extend the detention of arrested persons from 48 to 14 days in national security cases, and also creates a new offense: "unlawfully using a computer or electronic system to endanger national security," which is punishable by 20 years in prison. Security chief Chris Tang said there was a "genuine and urgent need" for the new law, citing waves of mass popular resistance and campaigns for full democracy in recent years, and particularly the protests of 2019. "Hong Kong has undergone serious threats to national security, especially the color revolution and black-clad violence in 2019, which was an unbearably painful experience," said Tang, who has previously warned that art "can be a pretext for subversion." Elastic definition of 'national security' Hong Kong officials and national security judges, who operate without a jury, have so far employed a highly elastic definition of what constitutes a threat to national security. For example, dozens of former opposition politicians and activists are currently standing trial for subversion for organizing a democratic primary election. But rights experts and activists including the U.N. Special Rapporteur for Rights Defenders have warned during the consultation process that the law will criminalize actions like peaceful protest or political opposition that should be protected under international law. Some lawmakers expressed concerns on Thursday that the law could be used to curb public speech or the media. Hong Kong security chief Chris Tang speaks during a Legislative Council meeting to scrutinize the bill on Article 23 legislation in Hong Kong on March 8, 2024. (Li Zhihua/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images) Justice Secretary Paul Lam appeared to confirm that it could, saying that the law would be used to target those who "incite hatred," citing the example of "insulting words" used about visitors from mainland China in recent years. Amnesty International in January described the Article 23 legislation as "a dangerous moment" for human rights in Hong Kong, warning that Hong Kong authorities would likely "push through" this legislation with minimal meaningful consultation, and without ensuring its compliance with international law. The government has made clear it intends to double down on repression of civic freedoms under Article 23 by introducing steeper penalties and expanding cases in which the legitimate exercise of rights would be criminalized in the name of national security," the group's China director Sarah Brooks said in a statement on Jan. 30. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. As the National People's Congress convenes, women are conspicuously absent from the ranks of senior leaders. Chinas President Xi Jinping leads members of the Politburo of the central committee as they visit an exhibition in Yan'an, China, Oct. 27, 2022. Addressing an annual parliamentary session in Beijing, ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping extended "festive" greetings in honor of International Women's Day, which falls Friday, to women delegates to the world's biggest legislature earlier this week. "I hope that all women will be spirited and energetic, and play their role in advancing China's modernization by holding up half the sky," Xi said, quoting late supreme leader Mao Zedong's epithet about women. The last time Xi mentioned women specifically in a high-profile speech, he was using similar language to call on them to play an "irreplaceable role" in nurturing "traditional Chinese virtues and fostering stronger family values," according to state media reports of his speech to the All-China Women's Federation in October 2023. Yet women were only mentioned twice in the annual work report by premier Li Qiang to the assembled National People's Congress, in broad-brushed wording about "protecting their rights and interests." Xi Jinping got 18 mentions in the document, the English version of which ran to nearly 14,000 words. Women occupy just over 26% of the nearly 3,000 seats in the National People's Congress and slightly more than 22% of seats in its advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. That puts China 89th out of 190 in the Parline ranking of female representation in global parliaments. For comparison, the United States ranks 72nd and the United Kingdom 48th. Delegates attend the second plenary session of the 14th National Peoples Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 8, 2024. (Pedro Pardo/AFP) Further up the echelons of power, a different picture emerges, however. Just 11 out of 205 members of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee are women, while no women have sat on the 24-member Politburo since the retirement of vice premier Sun Chunlan in March 2023. No woman has ever sat on the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee. 'A male alliance' While things appear to have worsened under Xi's rule, the "core leadership circle" of the Chinese Communist Party has always excluded women, feminist commentators and rights activists told RFA Mandarin in recent interviews. "It's a male alliance, and its patriarchal and authoritarian aspects are reflections of each other," U.S.-based feminist activist and writer Lu Pin said. The few women who do make it to the higher levels of political power aren't representative of Chinese women generally, and don't work to advance their cause, says Lu. "[They] have no connection with the vast majority of women," Lu said. "Everything they do is just an extension of what their male comrades do." Women only occupy 8% of jobs in senior leadership positions in China, according to a December 2023 report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. "All of the national policies affecting China's direction in the 100 years since the Communist Party was founded have been decided by that ... small group of men sitting on the Politburo Standing Committee, which has never had a female member," Zhang Jing, New York-based founder of Women's Rights in China, said in an interview, commenting on that report. "In particular, the decades of persecution under the one-child policy." "Marxism does talk about equality between men and women -- at least the concept is there, but Mao Zedong just used that as a slogan without actually putting it into practice," she told Radio Free Asia. Chinas President Xi Jinping applauds during the second plenary session of the 14th National Peoples Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 8, 2024. (Jade Gao/AFP) Wang Ruiqin, who once represented the All-China Women's Federation at the Qinghai provincial Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, agreed. "The oppression of women ... basically hasn't changed since the founding of the Communist Party 100 years ago -- it's part of traditional culture," she said, commenting on the same report. "After the Chinese Communist Party took power in 1949 ... they brought in three women as ministers because they had just gotten into power and they needed to put on a show," she said. "They had slogans about equality between men and women ... but there hasn't been a substantive boost for women's liberation in the more than 70 years since then ... and things have gotten worse under the Xi Jinping administration," Wang said. The lowest rungs of politics Sociologist Xu Fang, who lectures at the University of California, Berkeley, said Chinese women have typically shown a better level of participation at lower levels of the political system. "But as power becomes more and more concentrated, there will be very few women at the tip of the pyramid," she said. Even on the lowest rungs of politics, participation hasn't even reached the target of one third set during the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing, according to veteran feminist activist Feng Yuan, who was present at that event. "One third is a very important threshold, a kind of critical mass," she said. "The government also made this commitment." So what kind of progress do Chinese feminists most hope to see over the next few years? For Lu Pin, civil and political rights are more important than anything else, including economic, social and cultural rights, especially now that the government has suppressed civic groups and non-government organizations that used to promote women's rights. "Chinese women aren't allowed to fight for their own rights at the moment," she said. "Women should be allowed to decide what rights are important to them, and what methods they want to use to fight for them -- that is the key." "The reason women's rights have been suppressed is that women haven't been allowed to define what their rights are, then pursue them," she said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Roseanne Gerin. Myanmar: Mothers are paying the price of armed conflict and social crisis In Myanmar, where the political and economic landscape is in turmoil, women are facing challenges unlike any in Asia. Among them, married women and mothers are fleeing a civil war under dire circumstances. With one of the highest infant mortality rates in the region 32 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the UN little wonder that women who spoke to RFA said they were hesitant to have children if they could make the choice. "I don't have any plans to have a child, said Thae Oo, a newlywed living in Yangon. Though there is currently no fighting in Yangon, due to the situation in the country, it is not possible to have a child because the income situation is getting tighter every month. In normal times, there are no difficulties, but this time, I am struggling to survive, so I decided not to bring a child into this world because I think it shouldn't be a hardship to my child," she added. Indeed, for too many mothers in Myanmar, hardship is only followed by the worst possible outcome. As of 2022, the latest year for which UN figures are available, at least 382 children have been killed in its civil war. Cambodia: Poverty and poor care make motherhood highly risky According to the World Bank, Cambodia has the highest maternal mortality rate in East and Southeast Asia, with some 218 women dying in childbirth for every 100,000 deliveries. Though Cambodian women are having enough children to sustain population growth, childbearing can be a risky endeavor and some women would not have children if they could avoid it. Poverty is the main driver, these women told RFA Khmer. A woman carries a baby by the waterside in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images) An Sokhims first pregnancy in Phnom Penh was unplanned and stressful. I did not have any money to pay for ultrasound, she said. She could only afford to eat dry noodles throughout her pregnancy as her husband was sick and could not work, and she worried for the health of her child. She had no idea when she would deliver, because she had not been examined by a doctor. Five women in rural Cambodia who work as garbage pickers or migrant laborers told RFA Khmer they wish to avoid pregnancy because they are too poor and have no regular income. If they have children, they have to drop out of school to help support their families a miserable situation, they said. Although the Cambodian government has urged women to have more children, the rural women RFA spoke to said they would abort unintended pregnancies. They would not have the money to deliver the babies, anyway: in Cambodia, when you have no money, you are not welcomed by doctors, several said. Tibet: Culture, policy and economics collide when thinking about motherhood For centuries, Tibetan women have embraced motherhood as the expected norm, with the act of bearing children regarded as one of conscious intention. But now, less so. Today, women both inside Tibet and in the exile community are increasingly weighing their choice to become mothers or not, how many children to have, and at what stage of their life. Several women in the exile Tibetan community told RFA that they view motherhood as fundamental to enabling the preservation of their traditions and values to a new generation of Tibetans outside their homeland. For many people, including myself, the desire to carry forward the family legacy is a significant motivator in choosing to have children, said U.S.-based Tenzin Dasel, 42, and mother of three. A Tibetan woman carries a child as they visit Namtso lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Nov. 18, 2015. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters) But inside Tibet, where family planning is formally controlled by Beijing, women are having fewer children, according to publicly available data despite the Chinese government liberalizing policy. A woman in her 60s living in Tibet told RFA that when she was having children and births were restricted, she was pressured into undergoing sterilization after having her third baby. But a young mother in her 20s living there now said she had no plans to have another child after her first because the cost of child rearing is so high even though the government now encourages women to have three children. China: For many, the cost of motherhood doesnt add up In late May 2021, shortly after unveiling the results of the countrys latest census, the Chinese government unveiled a revision to its prevailing population control policy. Couples would now be allowed to have three children - a further relaxation of the decades-old One Child policy that had already been amended in 2013 to a two-child policy. The pressing issue was a significant drop in fertility. In 2020, there were a mere 12 million births recorded in China, a decline for the fourth consecutive year. The fertility rate for the year stood at 1.3 children per woman, well below the 2.1 threshold required for sustaining population growth. A woman and a child walk past workers sorting toys at a shopping mall in Beijing, Jan. 11, 2023. (Tingshu Wang/Reuters) But government encouragement was met with derision. "I can't give birth [again]! Raising one is already like having a money shredding machine in the house, how can I have another?" asked Mrs Li, who works in the service industry in Changsha, who had a five-year-old daughter. Qiu Xiaojia had been married to her husband for three years and said she gets excited when she sees a baby, but the reality is that she cannot afford to give birth or raise one. "Now that we have a house, our mortgage is even higher than my monthly salary. How can I afford to have a child? Not to mention three children, I don't even have the money to have one, she said. A poll from the state news agency Xinhua asked: The three-child policy is coming, are you ready?" The overwhelming answer from respondents was: not even a little bit. The poll was quickly deleted from Weibo, the social media platform, afterward. Reported by Jane Tang for RFA Mandarin (in 2021) and by Dorjee Tso and Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Boer Deng and Paul Eckert. Meant to terrorize people, the sentences are making the judicial system a joke, rights groups say. Some of the people sentenced to death by Myanmar junta courts include, clockwise from top left, San Lin San, Aung Moe Myint, Tun Tun Oo and Kyaw San Oo. Lawyers and human rights experts in Myanmar have condemned the juntas liberal use of the death penalty, including several recent cases where anti-junta activists received multiple death sentences. Such sentences are meant to terrorize opponents of the junta, which is losing ground to ethnic armies and resistance fighters in a civil war now in its third year, but the absurdity of doing so is turning the judicial system into a farce, rights groups say. "No one should be sentenced to capital punishment twice, Kyaw Win, executive director of the Burma Human Rights Network, told Radio Free Asia. The death penalty for these cases is more than enough, giving twice makes the legal system a joke. Since taking control of the government in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup, the military junta has sentenced a total of 164 people to death, according to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. On Feb. 29, the military junta sentenced seven people to death five of them for the second or third time. The seven Thura Phyo, Tun Tun Oo, Kyaw San Oo, Ko Ko Aung, Aung Moe Myint, Win Myat Thein Zaw and Kaung Si Thu were convicted of murdering two women from the Ayeyarwady regions Pyapon township, who they believed were junta informants, sources familiar with the situation told RFA Burmese. Five of the seven had already been sentenced to death on Oct. 20, along with two other defendants, San Lin San and Wunna Tun, the latter of whom has been sentenced to death twice himself. That case was over the killing of ward administrators in Maubin, Pyapon and Bogale townships. But four of those five had been involved in an even earlier case, meaning they have now received the death penalty three times. In addition, the defendants in all three cases received prison sentences ranging from 15 to 45 years. Imposing multiple sentences is unprecedented in Myanmars judicial history, lawyer Kyee Myint told RFA. "Only one [death] sentence must be given, he said. Sentences should not be imposed again and again. It is against the law. Thike Tun Oo, a leading committee member of the Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar, said that in addition to the repeated death sentences, long-term prison terms are not the fair punishments for the crime. "The death penalty should not be imposed on them at all as they have suffered the same penalty, he said. In addition, some were sentenced to 45 years after the death penalty. It is a totally unfair sentence. RFA Burmese attempted to contact the family members of the sentences by telephone, but were unable to reach them. RFA also attempted to contact Khin Maung Kyi, the minister of social affairs for the Ayeyarwady region, but received no response. Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster. The Bougainville region of Papua New Guinea, which voted unambiguously for independence in 2019, has refused to recognize the central governments appointment of a senior police officer in the latest sign of tensions over the autonomous territorys future. Bougainvilles government wants to achieve its independence aspirations by 2027 but faces opposition from Papua New Guineas leaders who fear it could encourage secessionist movements in other regions of the volatile Pacific island country. An estimated 10,000-15,000 people died in a decade-long war between Bougainville and Papua New Guinea, according to an Australian government report on the conflict. Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama said the appointment earlier this week of a deputy head of police for Bougainville by Papua New Guineas police commissioner usurped his government and was a breach of the 2001 peace agreement that officially ended the civil war. The national government ignored my government in this decision and we were never consulted nor privy to the process, Toroama, a former commander in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, said in a statement Thursday. This appointment will not be recognized by the Autonomous Bougainville Government as it is unconstitutional and breaches the Bougainville Peace Agreement, he said. The anger at the police appointment comes as frustrations simmer over lack of progress in getting Papua New Guineas Parliament to ratify the results of the independence referendum. Papua New Guinea, the most populous Pacific island country with an estimated 12 million people, is a focus of intensifying U.S.-China rivalry for influence in the Pacific. Some analysts have said Bougainville, home to about 300,000 people, would add a new dimension to the great power competition in the region if it were an independent nation. Taiwans government reportedly wrote to Toroama in 2020 following his election, offering support. A report from the Washington-based Heritage Foundation in January said China was already preparing for possible Bougainville independence and has previously offered $1.0 billion for economic development through its contacts with Sam Kauona, a former general in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and a former presidential candidate. A statement Thursday from Bougainvilles Attorney-General Ezekiel Masatt said the central government is treating Bougainvilles people and the law with careless disregard and disdain. Papua New Guineas government has devious and devilish intentions and strategies, he said. National Police Commissioner David Manning, at a general press conference on Friday, said that the police force only consults the Bougainville government on the appointment of the head of police in the region, a police spokesperson told BenarNews. The Panguna mine is seen in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea in this Planet Labs satellite photo received by Reuters on Sept. 26, 2017. (Planet Labs/Handout via Reuters) Bougainville, which makes up the easternmost islands of Papua New Guinea and borders the Solomon Islands, is the site of the long-inactive Panguna copper and gold mine the historical source of conflict with the central government that spiraled into civil war as Bougainville suffered the environmental costs but got little of its substantial earnings. The Bougainville government in February renewed the exploration license of Bougainville Copper, a company in which Bougainville and Papua New Guinea each have 36% shareholdings. The renewal paves the way for redevelopment of the mine in the coming years, the company said citing Toroama, and offers a potential windfall for impoverished Bougainville as the mine has among the worlds largest copper deposits. Masatts statement also criticized the failure of Papua New Guineas Parliament to consider ratification of the results of the independence referendum, which got more than 97% support from Bougainvilles voting public. Despite an agreement between Toroama and Prime Minister James Marape, Parliament did not address the issue in 2023 and failed to address it at its first sitting for 2024 in February, he said, instead adjourning the legislature until May. Papua New Guinea police did not immediately comment on the Bougainville governments statements, but said Police Commissioner David Manning would hold a press conference on Friday. The oppositions Bougainville shadow minister, Puka Temu, said the police appointment is an example of the government failing to maintain respectful relations with the Bougainville administration. The government continues to shift the goal posts with their handling of the ratification of the referendum results, he said. It is becoming clear, Temu said, that the government is not making enough effort to consult with the ABG [Autonomous Bougainville Government], and this is unnecessarily frustrating a straightforward process. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. The group said they welcomed the Biden administrations pressure campaign so far, but that more is needed. From left, Rushan Abbas holds up a photo of her sister, Gulshan Abbas; student Kamile Wayit; journalist Qurban Mamut; and doctor and translator Ahmetjan Juma. A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has called on the Biden administration to press China harder over the jailing of Uyghur activists and to focus on securing the release of four high-profile prisoners. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the 43 lawmakers said they were grateful to see the United States press China over its treatment of Uyghurs at the recent U.N. human rights review, but wanted more pressure. China on Jan. 23 appeared before the U.N. Human Rights Council for a five-yearly review of its human rights record. Beijing was criticized by the United States and its Western allies for its treatment of Uyghurs and Tibetans, even if every country only got 45 seconds to speak. The United States has accused China of carrying out a genocide against Uyghurs most of whom live in the far-western Xinjiang region by imprisoning, torturing and sterilizing those who do not fall into line. Beijing has denied the claims and said that alleged high-security concentration camps are in fact vocational training centers. Led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas, the 43 U.S. lawmakers called for the pressure campaign against China to continue until it at least releases many imprisoned Uyghurs. As the process moves forward, they wrote, we strongly urge [the State] Department, in its role representing the United States at the UNHRC, to continue to vigorously advocate for those arbitrarily detained in China and ensure their swift and safe release. The letter also requests that the United States specifically focus on four Uyghur prisoners who are relatives of American citizens: retired doctor Gulshan Abbas, university student Kamile Wayit, journalist Qurban Mamut and doctor and translator Ahmetjan Juma. Juma was sentenced to 14 years in prison, it says, in retaliation for his brothers work as a journalist for Radio Free Asia. Juma is the brother of Mamatjan Juma, the deputy director of RFAs Uyghur service. Bipartisan effort The letter includes signatures from 43 lawmakers from across the political aisle, including Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois who serves as his partys top member on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Others include Rep. Young Kim, a Republican from California and chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific, and Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia whose Fairfax district is home to the countrys largest community of Uyghur-Americans. Ziba Murat, the daughter of Gulshan Abbas, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Rep. Michael Waltz, a Republican from Florida, and Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, for organizing the letter and called on the White House to renew its focus on Uyghurs. It is amazing to see such bipartisan support from the Congress, Im truly overwhelmed, Murat said, adding she wanted the cases raised in every meeting with China. In spite of the agony and exhaustion, I will never stop speaking out and fighting for my mothers return to us. RFAs Mamatjan Juma said his brother like the relatives of many of his colleagues was innocent and unjustly suffering in jail due to his journalism about Uyghurs and should be immediately released. It's heartening to see the suffering of our loved ones in Chinese prison camps recognized, he said. At Radio Free Asia Uyghur service, eight of our staff members, most of whom are U.S. citizens, have confirmed that their loved ones are jailed in China due to their journalism. We urge the U.S. government to escalate efforts to secure the release of our loved ones from Chinese prisons and to hold China accountable for its crimes against humanity and ongoing genocide, he added. Edited by Malcolm Foster The men were released on Monday, a week after their arrest. At left, Dak Lak and Binh Phuoc provincial police search the residence and check the IDs of three adherents of an independent Protestant house church, March 5, 2024. At right, Y Nam Bkrong (L) and Y Qui Bdap hold a banner promoting Human Rights Day. Updated March 11, 2024, 00:04 a.m. ET. Vietnamese police have released three members of an independent Protestant house church in Dak Lak province in the countrys Central Highlands, who were temporarily detained a week ago without the knowledge of their family. Pastor Y Khen Bdap told Radio Free Asia on Thursday that the three are members of his family his younger brother Y Qui Bdap, his son Y Nam Bkrong and his nephew Y Kic Bkrong. They are from the Ede ethnic minority and permanently reside in Ea Khit village, Ea Bhok commune in the provinces Cu Kuin district. They have been working for KUKA Home Vietnam, an upholstered furniture manufacturer in Dong Xoai city, Binh Phuoc province, for many years and living in a rental unit near the company. Police from both Dak Lak and Binh Phuoc provinces visited their home on Sunday night to check their IDs and to search the place, the pastor said. The following day, the police went to their company while they were working and took them away, he said. The police arrested and detained them without any explanation or warrants, he said. Last Friday, police released the three, allowing them to return to their rented accommodation in Binh Phuoc province. The Evangelical Church of Christ of the Central Highlands and the independent Protestant house church are two religious groups in Dak Lak province that the Vietnamese government hasnt recognized, making it difficult for them to carry out their activities. Members are often subjected to harassment and arrest by authorities. The police earlier stonewalled relatives enquiring about the men. Y Khen Bdap said his family went to the Peoples Committee and the polices headquarters in Ea Bhok commune on Thursday to ask about the detainees whereabouts, but staff there said they didnt know. When family and friends asked the company about the arrests, they were told that police escorted the men away and that they hadnt yet returned, he said. Church established in 2017 RFA was unable to reach the KUKA Home managers and workers for comment at the phone numbers provided by Y Khen Bdap. RFA also contacted Cu Kuin district police and Dak Lak provincial police to verify the arrests and detentions, but staffers told the reporter to go in person to their agencies headquarters in person for information. Y Khen Bdap said he believed the arrests were related to his familys religious practice, because the three, and other adherents of the church, often participate in annual human rights events, including the U.N.s International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief on Aug. 22 and Human Rights Day on Dec. 10. His brother, Y Qui Bdap, who is also a preacher, met with officers from the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi in 2020 to report on the local authorities repeated harassment of his independent house church. Pastor Y Khen Bdap, who was sentenced to four years in prison in 2004 for disturbing public order for his religious activities, said local authorities often had harassed him and other church leaders since the church was established in 2017. Local authorities have summoned him and the other leaders to ask about their religious activities and to prevent the churchs adherents from holding events to celebrate Christmas. In late October 2023, Cu Mgar district police temporarily detained four independent Protestants for five days after they invited President Vo Van Thuong to observe one of their religious services. After interrogating them, district police demanded they stop practicing religion independently and suggested they join the Evangelical Church of Vietnam or other religious groups recognized by the Vietnamese government. The police also demanded they not study civil society, saying its aim was to oppose the government, nor participate in activities commemorating the U.Ns human rights days. Translated by Anna Vu for RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed. Updated with details of the three men's release. International human rights groups called for the immediate release of Nguyen Chi Tuyen and Nguyen Vu Binh. Vietnams state-controlled media have finally broken the silence on the arrest of two famous human rights activists after police confirmed their detention. The reports come a week after Nguyen Chi Tuyen and Nguyen Vu Binh were taken in for questioning by the Hanoi police. Tuyen, 50, is a social activist, regularly participating in protests about national sovereignty and environmental protection. He is best known for running YouTube channels commenting on the issues. Nguyen Vu Binh, 56, is a former editor of Tap Chi Cong San, or Communist Review, and a blogger for Radio Free Asia. RFA issued a joint statement with PEN International, which supports writers at risk, calling for his immediate release. The Hanoi Police Security and Investigation Agency said on Feb. 29, they executed arrest and search warrants for the two men on charges of propaganda against the state under Article 117 of the law. The Voice of Vietnam website said Tuyen repeatedly used YouTube and X to spread what it called fake news. His wife, Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet, told RFA police did not give the family any documentation about the arrest of her husband. She said during the house search, the police only read out the warrants, which she did not remember fully due to the stress of the occasion. RFAs reporter could not contact Nguyen Vu Binhs family. About a year ago, Nguyen Chi Tuyen shut down his Anh Chi Rau Den YouTube channel, which had around 100,000 viewers. He then launched a new channel, AC Media, which is still on YouTube with around 60,000 viewers, focused on reports about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A year ago Hanoi police questioned him about some old YouTube live streams and this January they banned him from leaving the country. Vietnam must free bloggers Nguyen Chi Tuyen and Nguyen Vu Binh and cease its unremitting harassment of independent reporters, said Shawn Crispin, the Committee to Protect Journalists Southeast Asia representative on Thursday. Its high time Vietnam stopped equating journalism with criminal behavior. Vietnam was the fifth worst jailer of journalists worldwide, with at least 19 reporters arrested as of Dec. 1, 2023, according to CPJs annual global prison census. Human Rights Watch also condemned the two arrests and the abuse of Article 117 to suppress freedom of expression. The Vietnamese government treats all online expression of peaceful political views as a dire threat to the ruling party and government, and crushes such dissent with politically motivated arrests, trials, and prison sentences, said HRW Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson. The U.S.-based group called on Vietnams government to stop the crackdown on bloggers, human rights campaigners and social activists, and demanded the immediate release of people detained solely for exercising their basic human rights. Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (second, right) and his spouse are greeted by Australian PM Anthony Albanese and his fiancee in Canberra. (Photo: VNA) Following is the full text of the Joint Statement. 1. Vietnam and Australia have built a strong and broad relationship through mutual strategic trust and understanding since establishing diplomatic relations in 1973. The VietnamAustralia Strategic Partnership, announced in 2018, supported the deepening of ties across all areas of the bilateral relationship. Our friendship and cooperation are underpinned by complementary economies, converging interests and deep people-to-people ties. 2. We share a common vision for an inclusive, stable, peaceful, resilient and prosperous IndoPacific, free from coercion, where independence, sovereignty and international law are respected. We jointly determine to abide by international law, including the United Nations Charter, which underpins regional and global peace, stability and prosperity. We recognise the importance of our collective capacity to shape the response to changing dynamics in our shared region and to address common challenges. 3. Recognising that our relationship is now stronger than ever, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia and H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam announced the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, at their Annual Leaders Meeting on March 7, 2024 on the occasion of the official visit to Australia by H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh from March 7-9, 2024. This reflects our high level of ambition for the relationship and deepening cooperation. 4. In declaring a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, our two Governments undertake to continue to develop all aspects of our relationship and commit to take forward our elevated partnership while respecting international law and each others sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and political systems. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese exchange the joint statement. (Photo: VNA) Deepening Political, Defence Security and Justice Cooperation 5. We renew our commitment to frequent high-level engagement in all channels between the Communist Party, Government and National Assembly of Vietnam, and the political parties, Government and Parliament of Australia; and to bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including Annual Leaders Talks. 6. We acknowledge our close defence, security and justice ties, which contribute to peace, stability and the development of the region, including through education and training, practical exchange and peacekeeping support. We will work together to expand these programs, including elevating our peacekeeping cooperation to a Peacekeeping Partnership and the current Vice Ministerial Security Dialogue to the Ministerial level. 7. We commit to enhancing law enforcement and intelligence cooperation through closer cooperation between Vietnamese and Australian police, maritime and border authorities to target and disrupt transnational organised crime impacting our mutual interests, including people smuggling and human trafficking, drug-related crimes, money laundering, terrorism and its financing, cybercrime and sexual exploitation. We will strengthen our cooperation on legal and judicial matters of mutual interest. 8. We commit to broadening cooperation, including in defence industry, maritime security, information and intelligence sharing; strengthening maritime cooperation, including sustainable marine resource management and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; and enhancing cooperation in cyber-security and critical technology, including through cyber capacity building initiatives to address cyber security threats. 9. We will continue good practice of information sharing and forecasting on strategic issues of mutual concern related to each countrys national security and interests. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese exchange the joint statement. (Photo: VNA) Enhancing Economic Engagement 10. We commit to further deepening the bilateral trade and investment relationship, enhancing economic cooperation and pursuing more open trade and investment through global and regional economic integration. We acknowledge the need to build supply chain resilience and pursue trade diversification to promote economic resilience. We reaffirm our commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Vietnam - Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy and additional actions to implement Invested: Australias Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. 11. We recognise the importance of high-quality investment to support shared prosperity, skills and innovation, green growth, productivity, people-to-people links, womens economic empowerment and inclusive economic growth for all people in their diversity. We will promote market access and trade facilitation measures for both countries, including in agriculture, fisheries and forestry. We confirm our commitment to enhanced labour mobility, including through access for Vietnamese citizens to work in Australia and Australian citizens to work in Vietnam. 12. We recognise the importance of promoting a transparent business and regulatory environment, including to support investment and sustainable financing through capital markets and other mechanisms. 13. We continue to cooperate closely to advance a strong rules-based, nondiscriminatory, fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system as the basis for open international trade based on market principles, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening and reforming the WTO, including the dispute settlement system. 14. We reaffirm our commitment to fully implementing the agreements of which both countries are members such as the ASEANAustraliaNew Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement (RCEP), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP). We will work together through other international mechanisms such as ASEAN-related mechanisms, Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the WTO, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), to create a more stable, predictable, inclusive and transparent trade and investment environment and generate business confidence in our strong economic relations, while addressing new and emerging trade challenges. 15. We recognise the vital role of international standards and best practice regulatory approaches to facilitate trade, drive innovation, enhance resilience and tackle global economic, social and environmental challenges. We affirm our shared commitment to promoting the mutual understanding and uptake of international standards. 16. We commit to further strengthening our agricultural partnership by enhancing trade and investment, co-operating on shared regional challenges and promoting technical, research collaboration and capacity development initiatives that support more competitive, resilient and sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors. 17. We acknowledge Australia's long-standing official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam. Australia will continue to support Vietnams development efforts through bilateral, subregional and regional initiatives focused on areas that are consistent with Vietnams socioeconomic development orientation. We acknowledge the contribution that social organisations continue to make to Vietnams socio-economic agenda. We recognise the importance of ensuring timely and effective delivery of ODA and commit to ensuring domestic approvals processes are streamlined to meet this goal. Building Knowledge and Connecting People 18. We recognise the pivotal role of people-to-people ties in fostering our relations and acknowledge the strengthening connections between the communities and peoples organisations of both countries. 19. We recognise the strong contribution of knowledge and innovation partnerships to our relationship and the improvement of the lives of our citizens and commit to strengthening the participation and leadership of women and girls and persons in vulnerable situations in all areas of cooperation. 20. We commit to working together to support Vietnams human resource development and explore opportunities to increase education and training cooperation through dialogues, cooperation mechanisms and institutional linkages. We will continue to work together to enable increased cooperation and foreign investment in education in Vietnam to enable Australian universities to open foreign branch campuses in Vietnam. 21. We commit to working together to support skills formation, including by supporting Vietnam to develop national policies and frameworks that encourage industry engagement and a responsive vocational education and training system. We also encourage institutional partnerships between Australian and Vietnamese vocational education institutions and Vietnams private sector. 22. We welcome and will look for opportunities to support increased travel and tourism between our two countries. We commit to strengthening the two-way flow of young people seeking to holiday and work in Australia and Vietnam through the reciprocal Work and Holiday visa arrangement. We commit to continuing the two-way flow of students between Australia and Vietnam. 23. We acknowledge the rich contribution of the Australian Vietnamese community and its role in boosting the strong peopletopeople links, economic ties and engagement, which underpin our bilateral relationship. We will continue to facilitate the important contributions made by the Vietnamese community in Australia and the Australian community in Vietnam to our close bilateral ties. 24. We renew our commitment to promote and protect human rights in accordance with international law and to strengthen and contribute to the work of the United Nations Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. We will continue sincere, frank and constructive conversations, including through our annual Human Rights Dialogue. We will cooperate to foster inclusive societies that embrace and provide equal opportunities and respect for the human rights of all people, without discrimination of any kind. 25. We recognise the importance of cultural collaboration in strengthening peopletopeople links between Australia and Vietnam and will explore opportunities to invest in cultural exchange and collaboration across all art forms and collecting institutions. 26. We commit to deepening our cooperation on civil service reform by promoting good governance and regulatory reform. In this regard, were affirm our commitment to the growth of the Vietnam-Australia Centre as a platform to develop capacity building opportunities across the civil services of Vietnam and its neighbours. Strengthening Climate, Environment and Energy Cooperation 27. We acknowledge the significant impacts the climate crisis is having in our region and the importance of taking urgent and ambitious climate action to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement, while ensuring economic prosperity as we transition our economies to net-zero by 2050. We recognise the shared challenges Australia and Vietnam face in responding to climate change. We affirm the importance of adopting an ambitious, cooperative and proactive approach to the challenges that lie ahead. We commit to seizing the opportunities inherent in our respective clean energy transitions to strengthen our economies and support global decarbonisation goals. We will work together to support Vietnams Just Energy Transition that balances economic growth and netzero goals by helping to stimulate higher levels of private sector finance and investment into Vietnams mitigation and adaptation efforts, developing high quality human resources and strengthening governance. 28. In support of Vietnams efforts to respond to the impacts of climate change, we commit to drawing on a range of Australias resources, including ODA, trade and export finance, climate finance and our domestic expertise. We continue to explore opportunities for cooperation on climate action, carbon markets and in the green economy. 29. We will deepen our collaboration on climate adaptation and resilience, climateresilient agriculture, biodiversity conservation, marine science for sustainable development, plastic pollution reduction and food and water security, especially in the Mekong Delta, including through the Mekong-Australia Partnership. 30. To promote our shared energy security in the transition, we will continue to expand collaboration on energy and resources, including through increased trade and investment. We also continue to develop emerging, resilient and diverse renewable energy supply chains through the integration of technological solutions that help both nations meet netzero goals. 31. We reaffirm our commitment to a Ministerial Dialogue on Energy and Minerals and will explore opportunities to deepen cooperation on commodities, products, technologies and services associated with energy systems and carriers, power generation, mining, extractives, processing, minerals and fossil fuels, including coal, oil and gas. Supporting Science, Technology, Innovation and Developing Digital Transformation 32. We commit to deepening strategic cooperation in science, technology (including new and critical emerging technologies), cyber and innovation. We will increase our cooperation to build capacity across science, innovation and technology for the sustainable and inclusive development of Vietnams national research and innovation system, including by supporting women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 33. We will continue to work closely to foster collaboration between Australian and Vietnamese businesses, universities and research institutions via initiatives to enhance research quality, knowledge mobility and training young and talented scientists; promoting safe and responsible technology adoption among small and medium enterprises (SMEs); and improving national innovation ecosystems and building capacity for the sustainable and inclusive development of Vietnam's national research and innovation system. 34.We will deepen cooperation on digital transition and digital inclusion, including through a Digital Economy Memorandum of Understanding, which will identify priority areas for digital trade cooperation and include a work plan for implementation. We reaffirm our commitment to sharing experiences that support Vietnam and Australia to enhance digital government transformation and address digital government objectives. Reinforcing Regional and International Cooperation 35. We will continue to work closely bilaterally, trilaterally and multilaterally to extend mutual support to the institutions that underpin an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. We commit to our shared goal of reinforcing and developing regional, sub-regional and international institutions to promote our common political, economic, and security interests and address regional and global issues of concern. We will seek to encourage all in our region to pursue dialogue as the first step to build confidence, de-escalate any tensions and take positive steps to maintain an environment that guards against conflict. 36. We recognise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as central to regional stability and prosperity and support ASEAN centrality and unity in the evolving regional architecture that is open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based, anchored in international law. We will deepen our cooperation in ASEAN-led mechanisms and work collaboratively to develop further the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a meaningful, substantive and mutually beneficial manner. We reaffirm our support for the ASEAN Outlook on the IndoPacific (AOIP) and the importance of the principles set out in the AOIP in shaping a peaceful, secure and prosperous region. 37. We express our concerns on the situation in the South China Sea and reaffirm our commitment to peace, security, stability, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, to the respect for legal and diplomatic processes and to the settlement of disputes, including those in the South China Sea, by peaceful means without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We reaffirm that UNCLOS sets out the comprehensive legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. We maintain our call that the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) should be implemented in its entirety and that any Code of Conduct for the South China Sea should be effective and substantive, in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS, and should not prejudice the rights of any state under international law. 38. We acknowledge the importance of a prosperous and resilient Mekong subregion and the need for regional cooperation to address shared challenges, including climate change, energy transition, transboundary water management and food security and to ensuring regional security. We commit to continuing our longstanding cooperation to support the sub-regions integration and sustainable development, including through the Mekong-Australia Partnership and Friends of the Mekong, and supporting other Mekong-led frameworks to promote a resilient, sustainable and inclusive Mekong sub-region. Concluded on March 7, 2024 in duplicate, in English and Vietnamese, each being equally valid./. Two exiled Afghan women have told RFE/RL that the Taliban appears to be further tightening restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan. Speaking ahead of International Women's Day, activists Nargis Sadat and Fawzia Wahdat said that more women were being imprisoned amid a fresh clampdown on female activists. The Taliban has barred women and girls from secondary schools, universities, and many jobs since retaking control of the country in 2021. Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended his nearly quarter-century rule with a landslide victory in a tightly controlled election as he seeks to demonstrate overwhelming popular support for his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and increasingly repressive policies. With 99.68 percent of ballots counted, Putin was set to win another six-year term with 87.32 percent of the vote, a post-Soviet record, according to official results. The Central Election Committee said that more than 70 percent of eligible voters cast ballots during the three-day election. 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. The vote is the first for Putin since he launched an ill-fated invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that has killed tens of thousands of Russian citizens, upended the lives of tens of thousands more, 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 nation's full support, experts said. 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." 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. 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. 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. Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here. I'm Abubakar Siddique, senior correspondent at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead. The Key Issue Abdul Salam Zaeef, a former senior Taliban official, has criticized the extremist groups severe restrictions on female education. Those who oppose modern education or invent arguments to undermine its importance, they are either completely ignorant or oppose Muslims under the garb of Islam, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on March 5. The Kabul-based Zaeef is one of the founders of the Taliban and a former deputy minister and ambassador during the groups first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban has banned girls above the sixth grade from going to school and women from attending university, in moves that provoked international condemnation. Zaeef, a dissenting voice for years, is the second prominent Taliban figure who has recently criticized the group's restrictions on female education. The Talibans deputy foreign minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, called on the government to rescind the ban on womens education. "Learning should be open to all because education is obligatory for both men and women, he said. No country can progress without education. Why Its Important: Zaeef and Stanikzais comments highlight the rifts within the Taliban over the issue of female education. The Talibans spiritual leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, has come under growing fire from figures inside the group over his extremist policies, including the severe restrictions on womens rights. In his attempt to create what he sees as a "pure" Islamic system, Akhundzada has alienated many Afghans and isolated the Taliban's unrecognized government internationally. What's Next: It is unclear if Akhundzada, who has the ultimate say on all important matters under the Talibans theocratic system, will moderate the groups policies. Without reversing its repressive policies and creating an inclusive government, the Taliban appears unlikely to gain international recognition. What To Keep An Eye On Afghan laborers and traders say they face increasing visa restrictions in the Gulf states. During the past four decades, the oil-rich states in the Persian Gulf have provided jobs to hundreds of thousands of poor, uneducated Afghans. "I want to go there, but the Gulf Arab nations are now reluctant to grant us visas," Naqibullah, a resident of southeastern Khost Province, told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi. There is no business here, but it is tough to obtain a visa for the United Arab Emirates, said Asmatullah Zadran, a trader in Khost. According to a January report by the Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent research organization, none of the Gulf countries, except Oman, currently grant work visas to Afghans. Why It's Important: The increasing visa restrictions on Afghans are likely to affect tens of thousands of families who have relied on remittances from family members working in the Gulf. Afghanistan is already reeling from an economic crisis and mass unemployment since the Taliban takeover. The drop in remittances from the Gulf are likely to further aggravate the economic situation in Afghanistan, where millions of people are on the verge of starvation. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. Abubakar Siddique If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org Demonstrators in Vilnius protested the treatment of political prisoners in Belarus, decrying at a March 8 rally the policy of holding them incommunicado for extended periods. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya says brutal prison conditions are "not a political issue" and she urged the United Nations to demand changes. Her husband has been kept out of contact behind bars for the last year. When Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker last year, Tehran said the transporter had collided with and damaged an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman. Now, nearly one year later, Tehran said it will confiscate the cargo of the Advantage Sweet, which was transporting oil from Kuwait to the U.S. state of Texas, in retaliation for crippling American sanctions against the Islamic republic. The Mizan news agency, which is affiliated with Iran's judiciary, reported on March 6 that a Tehran court had ruled in favor of confiscating the oil, which is valued at around $50 million. The 55th branch of the Tehran Court of Justice said funds from the sale of the oil will be used to compensate patients suffering from epidermolysis bullosa, a rare skin disease. The court ruled that U.S. sanctions have prevented a Swedish company from selling medicine to Iran that is used to treat the disease and caused Iranian patients severe emotional and physical damage. EB Home, an Iranian nongovernmental organization representing over 300 epidermolysis bullosa patients, had brought a case against the United States in the Tehran court. In a statement following the court ruling, the NGO described U.S. sanctions as criminal and unilateral. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller criticized the ruling and demanded that the tanker be immediately released. Irans continued harassment of vessels and interference with navigational rights and freedoms in the regions vital waterways is a threat to maritime security, regional stability, and the global economy, he said in a press briefing on March 6. The U.S. military said in January that Iran was holding five ships and over 90 members hostage from vessels it seized in 2023. Most Iranian tanker seizures are carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the elite branch of Irans armed forces. Iran said it seized the Advantage Sweet in April 2023. The tanker was chartered by U.S. oil giant Chevron and was carrying oil to the U.S. port of Houston, according to ship tracking data. Irans capture of the Advantage Sweet came days after the United States seized Suez Rajan, an oil tanker that was transporting sanctioned Iranian oil to China. Months after seizing the Suez Rajan, and despite Tehrans threats, Washington begun unloading the ships oil in August 2023. Sanctions And 'Butterfly' Patients The Tehran courts ruling has put the spotlight on the impact of U.S. sanctions on the health sector in Iran. In 2018, then-U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed sanctions against Tehran. Iranians have witnessed rising prices and faced shortages of life-saving medicine -- including drugs for cancer treatment and insulin -- in recent years due to U.S. sanctions and corruption. U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran exclude food and medicine. But in practice, the restrictions have made it difficult for Tehran to purchase some drugs, according to human rights groups. That includes specialized bandages produced by Swedish firm Molnlycke that are used to treat epidermolysis bullosa patients, who often develop painful blisters and wounds, similar to third-degree burns. They are sometimes referred to as butterfly patients due to the fragility of their skin. State Department spokesman Miller told reporters on March 6 that U.S. sanctions have always had a carveout for humanitarian purchases. We have never prevented medicine from reaching the Iranian people, he added. EB Home, the Iranian NGO, had previously filed an unsuccessful complaint against Molnlycke in Sweden in 2021. In its failed complaint, the NGO claimed that Molnlycke had informed it in March 2019 correspondence that it had decided not to conduct any business with relation to Iran for the time being. This also applies to business conducted under any form of exceptions to the US economic sanctions. In a 2021 report, United Nations experts warned about the consequences of over-compliance with U.S. sanctions on butterfly kids, who they said can no longer enjoy the right to health. The following year, the Swedish government provided financial support to the United Nations Children's Fund to procure and deliver specialized bandages to Iran. The lack of availability of certain medicines and health products in Iran is a humanitarian concern, affected by the impact of the sanctions regime on financial transactions, Swedens then-ambassador to Iran, Mattias Lentz, said. We do hope a solution will be found and will continue to support such a solution. The Iranian government "bears responsibility" for the physical violence that led to the death of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman who died in police custody in 2022, and for the brutal crackdown on largely peaceful street protests that followed, a report by a United Nations fact-finding mission says. The report, issued on March 8 by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran, said the mission has established the existence of evidence of trauma to Ms. Aminis body, inflicted while in the custody of the morality police." It said the mission found the "physical violence in custody led to Ms. Aminis unlawful death.... On that basis, the state bears responsibility for her unlawful death. Amini was arrested in Tehran on September 13, 2022, while visiting the Iranian capital with her family. She was detained by Iran's so-called "morality police" for allegedly improperly wearing her hijab, or hair-covering head scarf. Within hours of her detention, she was hospitalized in a coma and died on September 16. Her family has denied that Amini suffered from a preexisting health condition that may have contributed to her death, as claimed by the Iranian authorities, and her father has cited eyewitnesses as saying she was beaten while en route to a detention facility. The fact-finding report said the action emphasizes the arbitrary character of Ms. Aminis arrest and detention, which were based on laws and policies governing the mandatory hijab, which fundamentally discriminate against women and girls and are not permissible under international human rights law." "Those laws and policies violate the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief, and the autonomy of women and girls. Ms. Aminis arrest and detention, preceding her death in custody, constituted a violation of her right to liberty of person, it said. The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran hailed the findings and said they represented clear signs of "crimes against humanity." The Islamic republics violent repression of peaceful dissent and severe discrimination against women and girls in Iran has been confirmed as constituting nothing short of crimes against humanity, said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the center. The governments brutal crackdown on the Women, Life, Freedom protests has seen a litany of atrocities that include extrajudicial killings, torture, and rape. These violations disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in society, women, children, and minority groups, he added. The report also said the Iranian government failed to comply with its duty to investigate the womans death promptly. Most notably, judicial harassment and intimidation were aimed at her family in order to silence them and preempt them from seeking legal redress. Some family members faced arbitrary arrest, while the familys lawyer, Saleh Nikbaht, and three journalists, Niloofar Hamedi, Elahe Mohammadi, and Nazila Maroufian, who reported on Ms. Aminis death were arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced to imprisonment, it added. Amini's death sparked mass protests, beginning in her home town of Saghez, then spreading around the country, and ultimately posed one of the biggest threats to Iran's clerical establishment since the foundation of the Islamic republic in 1979. At least 500 people were reported killed in the governments crackdown on demonstrators. The UN report said "violations and crimes" under international law committed in the context of the Women, Life, Freedom protests include "extrajudicial and unlawful killings and murder, unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and gender persecution. The violent repression of peaceful protests and pervasive institutional discrimination against women and girls has led to serious human rights violations by the government of Iran, many amounting to crimes against humanity," the report said. The UN mission acknowledged that some state security forces were killed and injured during the demonstrations, but said it found that the majority of protests were peaceful. The mission stems from the UN Human Rights Council's mandate to the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran on November 24, 2022, to investigate alleged human rights violations in Iran related to the protests that followed Amini's death. In his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on March 7, U.S. President Joe Biden said that "democracy is under attack" in the United States and abroad and called on lawmakers to move forward on approving stalled military aid to Ukraine. He also spoke out against his main challenger, former President Donald Trump, for what he called "bowing down before a Russian leader." Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) shakes hands with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. (Photo: VNA) Australian PM said the upgrade of the Vietnam-Australia relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership aims to deepen cooperation between the two countries across fields such as climate change adaptation, energy transition, digital transformation, innovation, trade and investment, agriculture, defence, and education - training. Albanese expressed his joy that the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has additional cooperation pillars in combating climate change, environment, and energy cooperation, as both countries have commitments to cutting emissions to net zero by 2050. The two sides are seeking to intensify trade and investment collaboration to promote their economic prosperity, he said, adding that Australia is currently implementing its Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which includes areas such as enhancing business linkages and promoting investment with Vietnam. Both sides agreed to expand education - training and labour cooperation, while discussing the importance of enhancing collaboration to protect and promote security and stability in the region, including agreeing on a peacekeeping partnership and elevating the current Vice Ministerial Security Dialogue to the Ministerial level, the Australian PM said. He emphasised that all initiatives and cooperation programmes must be maintained and further strengthened based on connections and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. PM Pham Minh Chinh congratulated Australia on the success of the ASEAN - Australia Special Summit. He appreciated Australia's support and cooperation for Vietnam's innovation, integration, and development, especially the provision of 26.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and the maintenance of official development assistance (ODA) support at a high level for the Southeast Asian nation. Chinh stressed that the elevation of the bilateral relationship to comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Australia will contribute to further deepening bilateral cooperation, and meeting the common aspirations of their people, for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. With the new cooperation framework, the two nations will boost political trust and diplomacy; more comprehensive, substantive, and effective economic, trade, and investment cooperation; stronger cooperation in science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green transition; more comprehensive cooperation in culture, education, training, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation; stronger people-to-people exchange and connections between generations; more-shared security and defence cooperation towards peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world, he said. Both sides agreed to deepen regional and international cooperation, continue to coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums, especially the UN, ASEAN, and ASEAN-led mechanisms, promote peaceful dialogue and trust building among nations, uphold ASEAN's central role, and enhance cooperation mechanisms in the Mekong Sub-region. Regarding the East Sea issue, both sides reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the sea, and settling disputes through peaceful measures based on international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982); and agreed to exert efforts to make the East Sea the waters of peace, stability, comprehensive cooperation and development. The two sides pledged to create favourable conditions and ensure legitimate rights and interests for the people and businesses of both countries to live, work, and study in each other's country. PM Pham Minh Chinh expressed his belief that after the upgrade, the bilateral relations will enter a new chapter with more substantive, effective, and sustainable cooperation across various fields, for the sake of the two peoples, and significantly contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. Previously, the two PMs witnessed the signing and exchange of 11 cooperation documents between the two countries in the areas of education - training; energy and mining; agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; science -technology and innovation; labour and employment; trade, investment, finance, and banking; defence and peacekeeping; and justice./. PRISTINA -- Placard in hand on the front steps of Kosovo's national assembly here late last month, Blende Asllani and her fellow activists wanted to send a clear message. "Secular state, where?" one of the signs read, signaling the demonstrators' fear that public policy is falling prey to outsized religious influence in the Balkans' newest state. "Does IVF in private hospitals destroy the family?" read another at the February 29 protest in front of Kosovo's parliament, organized by the We March, We Don't Celebrate collective and joined by other groups. The protest was part of an emerging legislative and regulatory battle over in vitro fertilization (IVF) -- a medical procedure where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body, typically in a laboratory dish -- and other fertility treatments in Kosovo, a male-dominated, mostly Muslim country of around 2.2 million people. The argument in Kosovo has been simmering on and off since a proposed law on reproductive health began making the rounds in March 2023. In the draft bill , women are granted access to IVF treatment regardless of whether they are single, in a same-sex or any other type of relationship. But a smattering of lawmakers, including those from Prime Minister Albin Kurti's ruling Self-Determination party, are leading opposition to the bill in its current form. They want IVF and other assisted pregnancies restricted to couples in order to safeguard the institutions of marriage and family. They say they fear "accidental incest" -- where people who were conceived with the assistance of sperm or egg donors unintentionally enter into sexual relationships with their biological relatives -- and have argued that children conceived outside the womb should have the right to know their father. The opponents of the reproductive-health bill, in its more inclusive wording, have so far successfully fended off a plenary vote that would likely result in passage. Long-running efforts at passage failed again last week and once more on March 7, when parliament failed to muster a quorum each time. Since the first "test-tube baby" was born in England in 1978, IVF has advanced and expanded dramatically throughout the world as a response to infertility and other obstacles to natural conception. The procedure has accounted for around 12 million children since then and nearly 1 million births around the world every year, according to an international NGO. It has sometimes come under fire on ethical grounds, including by critics who insist conception should be left to nature. Others object on religious grounds or because they believe IVF threatens traditional family values. Kosovo has regulated IVF since 2013 through an administrative instruction that grants access for individuals or couples but does not envisage the storage of reproductive tissue or so-called embryo banking, in which multiple eggs are fertilized and some of the resulting embryos are frozen for future use rather than being implanted in a uterus. Kosovar Health Minister Arben Vitia, a former general practitioner, has complained that the administrative instruction cannot adequately regulate the IVF sector. "So far, reproductive health and medically assisted fertilization have been affected by a lack of adequate legislation, a lack of human resources and equipment, and a lack of funding in the public sector," Vitia told a session of the Kosovar parliament on February 22. He said the draft law would permit the state-run University Clinical Center to provide IVF services and allow for the launch of a public bank for reproductive tissue. Such facilities typically store frozen sperm and eggs but also embryos. A fully equipped IVF center at the University Clinical Center's OB-GYN department stands mostly idle despite a promise by Vitia's ministry to offer IVF services to the public by the end of 2023. One mother who spoke to RFE/RL's Balkan Service said she had paid around 4,000 euros ($4,375) for a licensed private clinic to perform the procedure, or around two-thirds of the average annual salary. The Health Ministry says patients are forking out a combined 5 million euros each year for IVF in Kosovo. What Makes A Family? But some lawmakers inside and outside the governing coalition disagree with Vitia's inclusive approach and say the proposed bill would unleash a whole new set of problems. Albena Reshitaj, a deputy for the national conservative opposition Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said she agreed in principle with a new law on IVF, but the second draft included "many defects." Patients, she said, and possibly the wider public, should have access to sperm or egg donors' details. Reshitaj said that children should have the right to know the identity of their biological father once they reach adulthood and is seeking tighter sanctions for noncompliance. "My desire is for this draft law to be put into operation once we vote on it," Reshitaj told RFE/RL's Balkan Service, rather than it being struck down in the country's Constitutional Court. Self-Determination lawmakers Eman Rahmani and Visar Korenica have openly opposed the bill's extension of IVF services to individuals, instead of just couples, calling it a threat to the institution of the family. Korenica has suggested he has the support of at least 10 more deputies. In 2023, the U.S.-based analytics giant Gallup ranked Kosovo 108th out of 123 countries or regions on a list of "good places" for gay and lesbian people to live. Although Kosovo's constitution has been interpreted as allowing same-sex marriage, the country's Law on the Family defines marriage as a union between "spouses of different sexes." Kosovo also does not recognize adoption rights for unmarried or transgender people. Kosovar Bosniak lawmaker Duda Balje, who has chaired a parliamentary commission on human rights and gender equality but has publicly opposed same-sex couples, told RFE/RL that she opposed the draft law on IVF because "a woman who gives birth to a child without a fathergives birth to an orphaned child." Balje came under fire last week after she held a meeting with representatives of the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK). The BIK said its representatives had discussed the draft legislation on assisted pregnancies with Balje, which it believed "contributes directly to the destruction of the institution of the family." Balje later denied that they had discussed the IVF bill at the meeting. Contacted by RFE/RL, most representatives of religious communities declined to comment on the draft law. Only Beth Israel Kosovo, a group which represents the country's Jewish community, responded by stressing that "the institution of the family must be protected." "We are not [against] supporting a mother who wants to have children. We, as a community, are very supportive of the family," the community's chairman, Hysen Hyseni, said. "We want a law to be approved regarding artificial fertilization, but the ethical and moral part must be respected." The office of Kosovo's ombudsperson has also expressed concerns about the current draft bill. It cited "ambiguities" in the current wording "that make it difficult to implement the law andprevents citizens from enjoying legal protection in this area" but declined to identify the objectionable passages. With parliament hindered by the opposition's pledge to vote only on international agreements, the bill has languished for a full year since it was first introduced on March 9, 2023. Activist Asllani said that "besides feeling underrepresented, I think this is profoundly unfair." She said she is convinced that, if passed, the bill wouldn't encourage more single women to have children, but she said it is vital that they be given the right to decide for themselves. "The debate has been very dehumanizing, especially toward single women," she told RFE/RL's Balkan Service. "There has been a tendency to demonize them and present them as being able to make decisions about their bodies only if they are married or in a relationship with a man." Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by Doruntina Baftiu in Pristina Thousands of people rallied in Pakistan on March 8 on International Women's Day, calling for an end to violence against women in the home, workplace, and in politics. Known in Urdu as the Aurat March, the annual rallies were held in the capital, Islamabad, and other major Pakistani cities. The theme of this year's demonstration was Politics, Resistance, and Freedom. WASHINGTON -- In a high-profile televised address, U.S. President Joe Biden ripped his likely Republican challenger Donald Trump for "bowing down" to Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged Congress to pass aid for Ukraine, warning that democracy around the world was under threat. In the annual State of the Union address, Biden came out swinging from the get-go against Putin and Trump -- whom he called "my predecessor" without mentioning him by name -- and on behalf of Ukraine, as he sought to win over undecided voters ahead of Novembers election. The March 7 address to a joint session of Congress this year carried greater significance for the 81-year-old Biden as he faces a tough reelection in November, mostly likely against Trump. The president, who is dogged by questions about his physical and mental fitness for the job, showed a more feisty side during his hourlong speech, drawing a sharp contrast between himself and Trump on a host of key foreign and domestic issues. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here. Biden denounced Trump for recent remarks about NATO, the U.S.-led defense alliance that will mark its 75th anniversary this year, and compared him unfavorably to former Republican President Ronald Reagan. "Bowing down to a Russian leader, it is outrageous, dangerous, and unacceptable," Biden said, referring to Trump, as he recalled how Reagan -- who is fondly remembered by older Republicans -- stood up to the Kremlin during the Cold War. At a campaign rally last month, Trump said that while serving in office he warned a NATO ally he "would encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" to alliance members who are "delinquent" in meeting defense-spending goals. The remark raised fears that Trump could try to pull the United States out of NATO should he win the election in November. Biden described NATO as "stronger than ever" as he recognized Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in the audience. Earlier in the day, Sweden officially became the 32nd member of NATO, ending 200 years of nonalignment. Sweden applied to join the defense alliance after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Finland became a NATO member last year. Biden called on Congress to pass a Ukraine aid bill to help the country fend off a two-year-old Russian invasion. He warned that should Russia win, Putin will not stop at Ukraine's border with NATO. A group of right-wing Republicans in the House of Representatives have for months been holding up a bill that would allocate some $60 billion in critical military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine as it defends its territory from Russian invaders. The gridlock in Washington has starved Ukrainian forces of U.S. ammunition and weapons, allowing Russia to regain the initiative in the war. Russia last month seized the eastern city of Avdiyivka, its first victory in more than a year. "Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself," Biden said. "My message to President Putin...is simple. We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down," Biden said. Trump, who has expressed admiration for Putin, has questioned U.S. aid to Ukraine, though he recently supported the idea of loans to the country. Biden also criticized Trump for the former president's attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election, saying those efforts had posed a grave threat to democracy at home. "You can't love your country only when you win," he said, referring not just to Trump but Republicans in Congress who back the former president's claim that the 2020 election was rigged. Biden "really strove to distinguish his policies from those of Donald Trump," said Kathryn Stoner, a political-science professor at Stanford University and director of its Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. By referencing Reagan, Biden was seeking "to appeal to moderate Republicans and independents to remind them that this is what your party was -- standing up to Russia," she told RFE/RL. The State of the Union address may be the biggest opportunity Biden has to reach American voters before the election. More than 27 million people watched Bidens speech last year, equivalent to about 17 percent of eligible voters. Biden's address this year carries greater importance as he faces reelection in November, most likely against Trump. The speech may be the biggest opportunity he has to reach American voters before the election. Trump won 14 of 15 primary races on March 5, all but wrapping up the Republican nomination for president. Biden beat Trump in 2020 but faces a tough reelection bid amid low ratings. A Pew Research poll published in January showed that just 33 percent of Americans approve of Biden's job performance, while 65 percent disapprove. Biden's job-approval rating has remained below 40 percent over the past two years as Americans feel the pinch of high inflation and interest rates. Biden, the oldest U.S. president in history, has been dogged by worries over his age. Two thirds of voters say he is too old to effectively serve another term, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll. Last month, a special counsel report raised questions about his memory, intensifying concerns over his mental capacity to run the country for four more years. As a result, Biden's physical performance during the address was under close watch. Biden was animated during the speech and avoided any major gaffes. "I thought he sounded really strong, very determined and very clear," Stoner said. Instead of avoiding the subject of his age, Biden took it head on, saying the issue facing our nation "isnt how old we are, its how old our ideas are." He warned Trump was trying to take the country back to a darker period. "Some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution," Biden said, referring to the 77-year-old Trump. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. (Photo: VNA) Welcoming PM Pham Minh Chinh, PM Albanese said the visit is of significance and is a milestone in the bilateral ties after the two countries set up their diplomatic relations 50 years ago. He hailed the Vietnamese delegations positive contributions to the success of the ASEAN Australia Special Summit held in Melbourne on March 5 and 6, while recalling his impressions of his official trip to Vietnam and his talks with PM Chinh in June 2023. PM Pham Minh Chinh, for his part, conveyed Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs regards to PM Albanese, and congratulated Australia on the successful organisation of the special summit. He believed that under the leadership of the Labour Party-led government and PM Albanese, Australia will continue to reap great achievements and increasingly affirm its role and position in the region and the world. In the spirit of sincerity and trust, the two leaders expressed their delight at the strong development of the friendship and Strategic Partnership between the two countries and agreed to elevate the ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, while discussing and reaching consensus on close coordination to promote the bilateral cooperation to a deeper and more effective and practical way. With a view to enhancing political and diplomatic trust, they agreed to promote exchange of delegations and contacts at high level, maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and effectively realise the signed documents and prepare the action programme for 2024-2028. Besides, both nations will accelerate people-to-people exchanges, create favourable conditions for friendship associations to organise cultural, sport and charity events, and foster local cooperation and partnership in the fields of gender equality and protection of vulnerable groups. Aiming for more inclusive, practical and effective economic, trade and investment cooperation, the two leaders were unanimous to facilitate market opening for each others agricultural products towards diversifying their supply chains. PM Pham Minh Chinh asked Australia to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to do business and invest in the country, while welcoming Australias investments, especially high-quality ones with state-of-the-art technologies. The two leaders consented to effectively carry out the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on science-technology and innovation, under which Australia will help Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises with technology transfer, and Australian tech firms cooperate with Vietnamese innovation centres and semiconductor producers. They also agreed to strengthen cultural exchanges, promote cooperation in vocational training, increase the number of scholarships for Vietnamese students, and open branches of Australian universities in Vietnam. The two nations will work together to promote green hydrogen production in Vietnam and join hands in climate change response. Australia will help the Southeast Asian country to realise its net-zero target by 2050. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds talks with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Canberra. (Photo: VNA) Along with the existing sound cooperation, the two sides agreed to promote the signing of a cooperative agreement on tourism, making them the top travel markets of each other. They will soon implement an MoU on supporting Vietnamese citizens who work in the agricultural sector in Australia. PM Pham Minh Chinh proposed the Australian Government create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Australia. Touching on security-defence cooperation, they concurred to effectively carry out the Peacekeeping Partnership Arrangement, and continue close cooperation in education and training, prevention of cross-border crimes, information and experience sharing between the two armies' units, post-war recovery and national database building. Discussing regional and international issues, the two PMs agreed to back each other and work closely at regional and international forums, especially the UN, ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms. PM Pham Minh Chinh spoke highly of Australias stance that supports the respect for international law in the region and settlement of disputes in the East Sea via peaceful means in accordance with the international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./. PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the event (Photo: VNA) He thanked the Vietnamese communities abroad, including those in Australia, for their noteworthy and positive contributions to the homeland. The Government leader informed them about the recent upgrade of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties to the highest level - Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during his visit, adding that the move will contribute to improving material and spiritual lives of the Vietnamese people living here. He revealed that during meetings with Australian leaders, he had proposed Australia consider and recognise the Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority of Australia. About issues of concern raised by the OVs, he assured them that the relevant ministries and agencies back home are actively working on solutions. With a desire to build creative overseas Vietnamese communities, he disclosed that the Ministry of Science and Technology has been tasked with planning a sci-tech award for OVs and submitting it to the competent authorities. He also mentioned the possibility of opening more trade representative offices or increasing the number of staff of existing offices to further strengthen trade cooperation between Vietnam and Australia. At the meeting with OV community in Australia (Photo: VNA) In conclusion, he wished that the OVs would continue to join hands to build a united, developed and strong community, uphold national pride, obey the law and contribute to the development of the host country while continuing to be an increasingly solid bridge in the bilateral relationship through practical activities toward the homeland. According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam, the Vietnamese community in Australia currently comprises over 350,000 people, with a network of entrepreneurs, intellectuals, experts and students who have made significant contributions to the local community in the political, economic, and cultural spheres, while also nurturing the relationship between Vietnam and Australia./. By Rebecca Black, PA The legacy of two women was celebrated on International Womens Day with the unveiling of new statues at Belfast City Hall. Crowds gathered in the grounds of the building on Friday afternoon as actors in period costume spoke of social activists and campaigners Mary Ann McCracken and Winifred Carney. Ms McCracken, born in Belfast in 1770, was part of the revival of the Irish language and a supporter of the United Irishmen movement. She also worked to help those in poverty, particularly women and children, and campaigned against slavery. Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, looking at the newly unveiled statue of Winifred Carney on the grounds of Belfast City Hall. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Ms Carney, born in 1887, was an Irish Republican and trade unionist who took part in the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916. She went on to campaign for the right of women to vote and stood for election in Belfast in 1918. They are the first non-royal women to receive the honour of a statue in the grounds of Belfast City Hall. Gerry Murphy, president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions also addressed the crowds, and described the statues as important recognition of two of the most important female historical figures in our city. Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy described them as two absolutely fantastic Belfast women. With today being International Womens Day it seemed really appropriate for the unveiling, he said. It is about who those women were, inspirational leaders, campaigners, socialists, abolitionists. They really will inspire a new generation of people to go out and continue that fight for equality and womens rights. Marivillin Gopurangal movie OTT Platform Release update Date News Marivillin Gopurangal is a Malayalam language romantic film Marivillin Gopurangal movie OTT Release Date Update News : Marivillin Gopurangal movie is out in cinemas today, March 8, 2024. It is a Malayalam language romantic film that features actors like Indrajith Sukumaran, Shruti Ramachandran, Sarjano Khalid and Vincy Aloshious, while it is directed by Arun Bose. Marivillin Gopurangal is a heartwarming tale that follows the journey of Shinto and Sherin, a young couple navigating the ups and downs of married life. Their world is turned upside down when Shinto's jobless brother and his pregnant girlfriend unexpectedly arrive, throwing their plans into chaos. Advertisement Despite the challenges they face, Shinto and Sherin persevere, striving to achieve their dreams amidst humorous and poignant moments. Through its relatable characters and engaging storytelling, Marivillin Gopurangal offers a touching exploration of love, family, and the pursuit of happiness. "Marivillin Gopurangal" OTT Platform Release Date Update News : The makers of "Marivillin Gopurangal" have not yet confirmed any OTT release date as of now. However, there might be further announcements regarding the streaming of the movie online after its theatrical release. Japan is scheduled to release a batch of data on Friday, headlining a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. On tap are January results for household spending, current account and leading and coincident indexes - as well as February figures for bank lending and the eco watchers survey. Household spending is expected to rise 0.4 percent on month and fall 4.1 percent on year after slipping 0.9 percent on month and 2.5 percent on year in December. The current account is tipped to show a deficit of 330 billion yen following the 744 billion yen surplus in the previous month. The leading index was up 2.1 percent on month and the coincident rose 1.3 percent in December. Overall bank lending is seen higher by 3.2 percent on year, up from 3.1 percent in January. The eco watchers survey is seen with a score of 50.6, up from 50.2 a month earlier. South Korea will see January numbers for current account; in December, the current account surplus was $7.41 billion. Taiwan will provide February figures for imports, export and trade balance. In January, imports were up 19.0 percent on year and exports rose an annual 18.1 percent for a trade surplus of $2.49 billion. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission or CPSC has announced recalls including snowmobiles, LaBomba bicycles, Coolers, pants sets, Fossil Bracelets, crib mattresses, and magnetic ball sets citing various reasons. The recall involves about 2,700 units of Textron Specialized Vehicles' Arctic Cat Catalyst 600 Snowmobiles for injury risk; about 3,040 units of GT Bicycles LLC's LaBomba Bicycles for fall and injury risks; about 5,480 units of Anker Innovations Ltd's EverFrost Lithium-Ion Battery Powered Coolers for fire hazard; and about 14,500 units of TJX Companies Inc.'s Tommy Bahama brand children's pants sets for choking hazard. The recall also includes about 260 units of Fossil Group Inc.'s bracelet sold with Skechers Watch and Jewelry Gift Sets for high levels of lead and cadmium; about 750 units of Bubble Bear Crib Mattresses for fire hazard to children; and 216 Pieces 5mm Magnet Balls Sets for ingestion risk. About 650 units of magnetic balls were sold by Joybuy Marketplace Express through Walmart and about 1,140 units were sold by Getallfun's store. CPSC estimates 2,400 magnet ingestions were treated in hospital emergency departments from 2017 through 2021. The agency said it is aware of seven deaths since 2005 involving the ingestion of hazardous magnets, including two outside of the United States. In most of the recalls, consumers are urged to immediately stop using the recalled product, and contact the respective firm for either a free repair, replacement or refund, depending on each product. Textron Snowmobiles Augusta, Georgia-based Textron's recall involves all model year 2024 Arctic Cat Catalyst 600 series snowmobiles. About 900 were sold in Canada. The snowmobiles were sold in various colors and model name "ZR," "Riot" or "Mountain". The vehicles were manufactured domestically and sold at authorized Arctic Cat dealers nationwide from November 2022 through January 2024 for between $13,800 and $16,100. According to the agency, the brake line can come in contact with the brake disc which can cause damage to the brake line and result in brake loss, posing an injury hazard. The recall was initiated after the firm received three reports of brake line damage, but no injuries have been reported to date. LaBomba Bicycles Aliso Viejo, California-based GT Bicycles' recall involves GT Model Year 2019 through 2023 LaBomba 24" bicycles, 26" bicycles, Pro bicycles, Rigid bicycles, and 26" bicycle framesets. The bicycles and framesets were sold in sea green, green, dusty blue, blue, purple, and red colors. The products were manufactured in Taiwan and sold at bicycle stores nationwide from October 2018 through September 2023 for between $400 and $1,450. In addition, about 324 units were sold in Canada. The bicycle headtube/downtube weld can become damaged and separate from the bicycle frame, posing fall and injury hazards. The recall was initiated after the company received five reports of damage to the bicycle headtube/downtube weld, causing the bicycle headtube to separate from the bicycle frame. However, no injuries have been reported to date. Anker coolers Hong Kong-based Anker Innovations' recall involves the lithium-ion battery packs in Anker EverFrost Coolers. The coolers, in dark gray color with wheels and a drop-down rolling handle, are intended for use in outdoor camping, travel and fishing for cooling and freezing food or medicine. The coolers were manufactured in China and sold at Best Buy, TD Synnex and other stores nationwide and online at kickstarter.com from May 2023 through September 2023 for between $250 and $950. In addition, about 160 units were sold in Canada. According to the CPSC, the lithium-ion batteries in the coolers can overheat, posing a fire hazard. The firm has received five reports of overheating, smoke and/or fire, but no injuries were reported so far. Twill Pants Sets TJX Companies' recall involves Tommy Bahama brand brown stretch twill children's pants with rib cuffs and with a drawstring and with style number CP08513. The pant sets were made in China and sold at Marshalls stores nationwide from December 2023 through February 2024 for $13 for set with green top and $15 for set with blue top. In addition, about 720 were sold in Canada. The plastic pieces on the end of the pants' faux drawstrings can come loose and fall off, posing a choking hazard, but the firm did not receive any reports of incidents or injuries related to the recalled product. Fossil Bracelets Richardson, Texas-based Fossil Group's recall involves the braided black bracelet that is a part of the Skechers watch/bracelet gift set. The watch in the gift set has a code number "IF2812307" and model number "SR9082". They were made in China and sold at Skechers stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Watchstation.com and Skechers.com from August 2023 through January 2024 for about $45. The clasp on the braided black bracelet sold as part of the gift set contains high levels of lead and cadmium, which are toxic and can cause adverse effects in children. But no reports of incidents were received till date. Crib Mattresses The recall by China's Shenzhen Coral Island Furniture Co., d/b/a Coral Island involves Bubble Bear brand crib mattresses with a manufacture date of 4/2022 from batch number 20220428CD. It includes models "Gray Style" and "Happy Time." The crib mattresses were manufactured in China and sold online at Amazon.com by Coral Island from May 2022 through July 2022 for about $55. The recalled crib mattresses violate the federal safety regulation for mattresses by failing to meet the flammability and labeling requirements, posing a fire hazard to children. But no reports were received till date. Magnetic Ball Sets The China-made Magnet Balls Sets by JD-E Commerce America Limited, dba Joybuy Marketplace Express, were sold exclusively on Walmart.com from August 2022 through April 2023 for about $14. Getallfun's Magnet Balls, also manufactured in China, were sold at Getallfun's store in Aurora, Illinois and online atGetallfun.com from May 2021 through October 2023 for about $20. According to the agency, the recalled 5mm magnetic ball sets violate the mandatory federal toy magnet regulation because they contain one or more magnets that fit within CPSC's small parts cylinder, and the magnets are stronger than permitted. These high-powered magnets, when ingested, can attract to each other, or another metal object, and become lodged in the digestive system. This can result in perforations, twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning and death. However, both companies did not receive any report of incidents or injuries related to the recalled products to date. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Ireland's manufacturing output declined sharply in January after recovering in the previous month, preliminary figures from the Central Statistics Office showed on Friday. Manufacturing output plunged a seasonally adjusted 34.6 percent year-on-year in January, reversing a 36.4 percent slump in December. On a monthly basis, output in the manufacturing sector plunged 46.5 percent from December, when it grew by 67.8 percent. Industrial production also fell markedly by 31.9 percent in January compared to last year, in contrast to a 32.2 percent strong recovery in the prior month. Compared to the previous month, industrial output showed a decline of 28.9 percent in January after a 19.1 percent increase in the prior month. During the November-January period, production in the manufacturing industries expanded by 29.0 percent compared with the previous three-month period. The modern sector, which includes the chemical, pharmaceutical, and computer and electronics sectors, recorded an annual fall of 14.4 percent in industrial production in the same period last year, while the traditional sector showed an increase of 11.9 percent. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News A US Army soldier and Intelligence analyst has been arrested after he was indicted for selling classified military secrets to a contact in China. Sgt. Korbein Schultz was arrested Thursday at Fort Campbell following an indictment by a federal grand jury. He was charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, exporting technical data related to defense articles without a license, conspiracy to export defense articles without a license, and bribery of a public official. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division said Shultz, who possessed a Top Secret security clearance, provided sensitive government information to his coconspirator in exchange for thousands of dollars. The U.S. Department of Justice did not disclose the identity of the conspirator, but said he lived in Hong Kong and worked for a geopolitical consulting firm based overseas. The indictment alleges that from June 2022, Schultz shared documents, writings, plans, maps, notes, and photographs relating to U.S. national defense. He was tasked with gathering information related to a variety of U.S. military weapons systems, including classified information, and information related to the United States' potential plans in the event that Taiwan came under military attack. Some of the information included documents related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), information on hypersonic equipment, studies on the future development of U.S. military forces, studies on major countries such as China, and summaries of military drills and operations. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The U.S. Central Command chief has told a Senate panel that the central region faces its most volatile security situation in the past half century. Just a year ago the U.S. Central Command area was on the verge of "improbable, unprecedented and transformative progress. Today, the central region faces its most volatile security situation in the past half century. This is not the same central region as last year," said Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, commander of Centcom. He was testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee about the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization request and the future years defense program. "The convergence of crisis and competition make [the Centcom area of responsibility] the most likely region to produce threats against the U.S. homeland, trigger a regional conflict and derail the national defense strategy," he said. The situation in Gaza has created the conditions for malign actors to sow instability throughout the region and beyond, he said. Iran exploited what they saw as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the Middle East to its advantage, using its proxies in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank and Yemen, he added. "Iran knows that its decade-long vision cannot be realized if countries in the region continue to expand integration with each other and deepen their partnership with the United States," he said. Iran has also developed a full-scale production pipeline for supplying weapons to Russia, fueling its war on Ukraine. The risk of attack emanating from Afghanistan is increasing, he said. "I assess ISIS-Khorasan retains the capability and will to attack U.S. and Western interests abroad in as little as six months and with little to no warning," Kurilla said. The Centcom region remains critical to the world's energy supply and remains essential for the flow of global commerce, he said. Centcom provides strategic depth to the defense of the U.S. homeland, he said. "American security and prosperity are at risk if we cede this space to Iran, terrorism and China." Kurilla said the U.S. should remain continuously engaged throughout the region with its partners. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu received the award at the ceremony. This is the 4th consecutive year HCM City has received this valuable title. Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of the City Department of Tourism, attended and received the award. Sharing with the press after the award ceremony, she said she was very proud to represent the city to receive this award. This is recognition for the tireless efforts and dedication of the city tourism industry. According to Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, by 2030, HCM City strives to become a leading destination in Asia, with the image of a Open - Young - Lively - Exciting - Looking to the future city. The World MICE Awards are held annually, honoring destinations, hotels, airlines, venues and service providers specializing in MICE tourism. Within the framework of the award ceremony, other representatives of Vietnam and HCM City also received awards, such as Vietnam Airlines being honored as Asia's Leading MICE Airline and Vietravel was honored as Asia's Leading MICE Tourism Organizer. Speaking at the award ceremony, Mr. Graham Cooke, Chairman of the World Travel Awards, said that HCM City is a special destination, rich in history and culture, a vibrant and colorful metropolis. The city is the leading dynamic and attractive destination in Asia. With a vision towards becoming a global tourism center, the hub will be the driving force to attract high-class corporations and tourism brands, ready to be a regional and global MICE tourism center. The City Department of Tourism continues to commit to improving MICE infrastructure and services, to attract more international events and strengthen its leading position on the regional and world tourism map./. Academy Award winner Cliff Robertson and Betty Knight Scripps at the 78th annual Candlelight Ball. Saturdays gala at Del Mar Country Club netted $3.5 million for Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. ( / U-T file photo) FILE - In this July 11, 1986 file photo, actor Cliff Robertson smiles after he test-piloted a replica of an airplane challenging the Wright brothers status as the first to fly in a tethered test flight at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn. Robertson, who played John F. Kennedy in PT-109, won an Oscar for Charly and was famously victimized in a 1977 Hollywood forgery scandal, died Saturday. He was 88. (AP Photo/Peter Hvizdak) ( / AP) FILE - In this Feb. 29, 2004 file photo, actor, writer, director and producer Cliff Robertson straightens his tie as he arrives for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences official New York Oscar Night celebration of the 76th Academy Awards in New York. Robertson, played John F. Kennedy in PT-109, won an Oscar for Charly and was famously victimized in a 1977 Hollywood forgery scandal, died Saturday. He was 88. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg, File) ( / AP) Advertisement FILE - In this March 1, 1978 file photo, actor Cliff Robertson is interviewed by Gene Shalit on NBCs Today Show. Robertson, who played John F. Kennedy in PT-109, won an Oscar for Charly and was famously victimized in a 1977 Hollywood forgery scandal, died Saturday. He was 88. (AP Photo/David Pickoff) ( / AP) In this Nov. 1975 photo provided by ABC-TV, Cliff Robertson plays a mentally retarded man who falls in love with his teacher, portrayed by Claire Bloom, after brain surgery raised him temporarily to genius level in Charly. Robertson died Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. He was 88. (AP Photo) ( / AP) FILE - In this Feb. 25, 1963 file photo, actor Cliff Robertson takes a break as the skipper of the PT 109, Lt. John F. Kennedy in the movie PT 109. Robertson died Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. He was 88. (AP Photo) ( / AP) President John F. Kennedy had just one critique when he saw photos of the actor set to play him in a World War II drama. The year was 1963 and actor Cliff Robertson looked convincing in his costume for PT-109, the first film to portray a sitting president. Kennedy had favored Robertson for the role, but one detail was off. Robertsons hair was parted on the wrong side. The actor dutifully trained his locks to part on the left and won praise for a role hed remain proud of throughout his life. Robertson, who went on to win an Oscar for his portrayal of a mentally disabled man in Charly, died of natural causes Saturday afternoon in Stony Brook, N.Y., a day after his 88th birthday, according to Evelyn Christel, his secretary of 53 years. Born Sept. 9, 1923, in La Jolla, Robertson was 2 when he was adopted by wealthy parents who named him Clifford Parker Robertson III. After his parents divorced and his mother died, he was reared by his maternal grandmother, whom he adored. Robertson was active in the La Jolla High School Dramatic Club and he appeared at the Globe Theater in 1940 in A World Elsewhere, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In 1993, Robertson, who also was once a trustee of the California Center for the Arts Escondido, told a gathering of The La Jolla Womans Club and the La Jolla Historical Society that the chimes of St. James-by-the-Sea taught him how to tell time; spoke fondly of the old No. 14 streetcar; recalled long-ago picnic trips to the Cuyamaca Mountains in the family Pontiac; and admitted to a lifelong infatuation with airplanes. The actor also owned the historic La Jolla Philip Barber house. He often talked about how he had delivered newspapers to the estate in his youth and vowed that one day he would own the Spanish Colonial residence, which he bought in 1963. He had also said he did not intend to sell it, but having his primary residence on the East Coast led him to sell the estate in 2005. Robertson never elevated into the top ranks of leading men, but he remained a popular actor from the mid-1950s into the following century. His later roles included kindly Uncle Ben in the Spider-Man movies. He also gained attention for his second marriage to actress and heiress Dina Merrill, daughter of financier E.F. Hutton and Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress to the Post cereal fortune and one of the worlds richest women. His triumph came in 1968 with his Academy Award performance in Charly, as a mentally disabled man who undergoes medical treatment that makes him a genius until a poignant regression to his former state. My father was a loving father, devoted friend, dedicated professional and honorable man, daughter Stephanie Saunders said in a statement. He stood by his family, friends, and colleagues through good times and bad. He made a difference in all our lives and made our world a better place. We will all miss him terribly. Robertson had created a string of impressive performances in television and on Broadway, but always saw his role played in films by bigger names. His TV performances in Days of Wine and Roses and The Hustler, for example, were filmed with Jack Lemmon and Paul Newman, respectively. Robertsons role in Tennessee Williams play Orpheus Descending was awarded to Marlon Brando in the movie. Robertson first appeared in the Charly story in a TV version, The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon. Both were based on Flowers for Algernon, a short story that author Daniel Keyes later revised into a novel. Robertson was determined that this time the big-screen role would not go to another actor. I bought the movie rights to the show, and I tried for eight years to persuade a studio to make it, he said in 1968. Finally I found a new company, ABC Films. I owned 50 percent of the gross, but I gave half of it to Ralph Nelson to direct. Critic Roger Ebert called Robertsons portrayal a sensitive, believable one. The motion picture academy agreed, though Robertson was unable to get a break from an overseas movie shoot and was not on hand when his Oscar was announced. Portraying Kennedy in PT-109, presented other challenges. The president warned Robertson he didnt want someone trying to imitate his distinctive New England accent. That was fine with me, the actor commented in 1963. I think it would have been a mistake for me to say Hahvahd or try to reproduce gestures. Then the audience would have been constantly aware that an actor was impersonating the president. He added that the film obviously couldnt be done with heroics, like Errol Flynn gunning down 30 of the enemy. This young naval officer just does things because they have to be done. PT-109 was plagued with problems from the start: script changes, switch of directors, bad weather, snakes and mosquitoes in the Florida Keys where it was filmed. The troubles were evident on the screen, and critics roundly rapped the film, although Robertsons work won praise. In 1977, Robertson made the headlines again, this time by blowing the whistle on a Hollywood financial scandal. He had discovered that David Begelman, president of Columbia Pictures, had forged his signature on a $10,000 salary check, and he called the FBI and the Burbank and Beverly Hills police departments. Hollywood insiders were not happy with the ugly publicity. I got phone calls from powerful people who said, Youve been very fortunate in this business; Im sure you wouldnt want all this to come to an end, Robertson recalled in 1984. Begelman served time for embezzlement, but he returned to the film business. He committed suicide in 1995. Robertson said neither the studios nor the networks would hire him for four years. He supported himself as a spokesman for AT&T until the drought ended in 1981 when he was hired by MGM for Brainstorm, Natalie Woods final film. Robertson studied briefly at Antioch College, majoring in journalism, then returned to California and appeared in two small roles in Hollywood movies. Rejected by the services in World War II because of a weak eye, he served in the Merchant Marine. He set his sights on New York theater, and like dozens of other future stars, profited from the advent of live television drama. His Broadway roles also attracted notice, and after avoiding Hollywood offers for several years, he accepted a contract at Columbia Pictures. I think I held the record for the number of times I was on suspension, he remarked in 1969. I remember once I turned down a B picture, telling the boss, Harry Cohn, I would rather take a suspension. He shouted at me, Kid, ya got more guts than brains. I think old Harry might have been right. Robertsons first performance for Columbia, Picnic, was impressive, even though his screen pal, William Holden, stole the girl, Kim Novak. He followed with a tearjerker, Autumn Leaves, as Joan Crawfords young husband, then a musical, The Girl Most Likely with Jane Powell. In 1959, he endeared himself to Gidget fans as The Big Kahuna, the mature Malibu surf bum who takes Gidget under his wing. He remained a busy, versatile leading man through the 60s and 70s, but lacked the intensity of Brando, James Dean and others who brought a new style of acting to the screen. Im not one of the Golden Six, he commented in 1967, referring to the top male stars of that day. I take whats left over. They all know me as a great utility player. Good old Cliff, they say. Someday Id like to be in there as the starting pitcher. The chance came with Charly, but after the usual Oscar flurry, he resumed his utility position. Robertson had the most success in war movies. His strong presence made him ideal for such films as The Naked and the Dead, Battle of Coral Sea, 633 Squadron, Up From the Beach, The Devils Brigade, Too Late the Hero and Midway. He had a passion for flying, and he poured his movie earnings into buying and restoring World War I and II planes. He even entered balloon races, including one in 1964 from the mainland to Catalina Island that ended with him being rescued from the Pacific Ocean. In 1957, Robertson married Lemmons ex-wife, Cynthia Stone, and they had a daughter, Stephanie, before splitting in 1960. In 1966, he married Merrill and they had a daughter, Heather. The couple divorced in 1989. Robertsons funeral is set for Friday in East Hampton. Exports of fresh, frozen and dried tuna to EU enjoy 317-fold rise Exports of tuna product groups to the EU in the first month of 2024 all increased over the same period. Notably, exports of fresh, frozen and dried tuna coded HS03 (except frozen tuna meat or loin code HS0304) increased by 317 times. Exports of other processed tuna, mainly frozen steamed tuna loin, increased by more than 9 times. This shows that tariff incentives under the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Vietnam (EVFTA) are creating great support for Vietnamese tuna products in the first month of the year. In January 2024, Vietnamese tuna was exported to 21 EU member countries. In particular, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands are still the three largest import markets for the product. Currently, exports to all three markets are growing well. Notably, tuna exports to the Italian market continue to maintain a galloping growth momentum in the first month of 2024, with an increase of 364% compared to January 2023. Italy is currently importing the most fresh and frozen tuna from Vietnam. Along with Italy, tuna exports to Poland are also increasing rapidly. Though in January 2023, Vietnam could not export many orders to this market, in 2024, Poland is now the worlds 4th largest tuna import market in the bloc with sales of more than 1.6 million USD. In addition to Poland, exports to Sweden, Belgium and Cyprus are also increasing rapidly, by 11 times, 2 times and 5 times, respectively. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), tuna exports to the EU are expected to continue to increase in the first quarter of the year due to the impact of tariff incentives under the EVFTA Agreement./. Press Release March 8, 2024 Statement of Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on the death of 2 Filipino Seafarers in the latest Houthi attack in the Gulf of Aden March 8, 2024 We condemn in the strongest possible terms the act of terrorism by the Houthi rebels which led to the death of two Filipino seafarers, three injured and endangered the lives of 10 others. We offer our prayers and sincerest condolences to the families of those affected by this tragedy. Now more than ever, we need to ensure the immediate enactment of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers that will guarantee their rights in situations like this. We urge the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other concerned agencies to exhaust all legal remedies in seeking justice for our kababayans and provide immediate assistance to them. We also call on the agencies to look into repatriating our seafarers sailing through the Gulf of Aden to avoid a repeat of this horrific incident. The event was attended by 6,463 delegates from across the province. Delegates attend the event. (Photo: baocaobang.vn) In his speech at the conference, Head of the Commission of Popularization and Education Be Thanh Tinh conveyed the contents about popularization and introduction of the article titled Proud and confident under the Party's glorious flag, determined to build a Vietnam more prosperous, powerful, civilized and, heroic, with a fine and long lasting culture. In the spirit of thoroughly grasping special subjects on Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style in 2024 and the article of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, he urged Party committees at all levels throughout the province to urgently educate all officials, party members and the masses to build action programs and plans with specific and practical actions associated with the implementation of political tasks. He also requested Party committees at all levels to enhance direction and effectively implement directives, resolutions and conclusions of the Central Government and the province on building and rectifying the Party to prevent and reverse deterioration of political ideology, morality, lifestyle, and manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" internally. It is necessary to make studying and following Uncle Ho and setting an example for cadres and party members a personal, self-aware, regular demand and a great driving force and strength for the entire Party, people and army to promote internal strength and overcome difficulties and challenges, contributing to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, the Resolution of the 19th Provincial Party Congress and the resolution of the Party Congress at all levels for the 2020 - 2025 term./. The 390-million-year-old forest landscape, archived within the Eifelian Hangman Sandstone Formation of Somerset and Devon in England, is roughly 4 million years older than the previous record holder, which was found in New York State, the United States. The Devonian period (419-359 million years ago) was arguably the most crucial chapter in the evolution of Earths land biosphere. Non-marine environments at the end of the preceding Silurian period accommodated nascent invertebrate communities in near-water settings, witnessed frequent invasions of freshwater bodies by jawless fish, and hosted scattered stands of small, simple plants in coastal regions, but their equivalents 60 million years later were unrecognizable. By the end of the Devonian period, the range of permanent invertebrate habitats had expanded to even the driest non-marine settings jawless and jawed fish had become enduringly resident in lakes and rivers, evolutionary developments amongst vertebrates meant that tetrapods traversed river margins and floodplains, and there had been an explosion in disparity amongst plants that saw vast inland forests of multi-meter tall trees in addition to a huge diversity of other plant groups, including woody shrubs. This fundamental transformation not only triggered novel interactions between different organisms, such as the rise of herbivory and detritivory, but also saw many new organism-environment interactions take shape. The Devonian period fundamentally changed life on Earth, said Professor Neil Davies, a paleontologist at the University of Cambridge. It also changed how water and land interacted with each other, since trees and other plants helped stabilize sediment through their root systems, but little is known about the very earliest forests. The fossils discovered by Professor Davies and colleagues are the oldest fossilized trees ever found in Britain, and the oldest known fossil forest on Earth. The fossilized trees, known as Calamophyton, were found near Minehead on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, England. They at first glance resemble palm trees, but they were a prototype of the kinds of trees we are familiar with today. Rather than solid wood, their trunks were thin and hollow in the center. They also lacked leaves, and their branches were covered in hundreds of twig-like structures. These trees were also much shorter than their descendants: the largest were between 2 and 4 m tall. As the trees grew, they shed their branches, dropping lots of vegetation litter, which supported invertebrates on the forest floor. This was a pretty weird forest not like any forest you would see today, Professor Davies said. There wasnt any undergrowth to speak of and grass hadnt yet appeared, but there were lots of twigs dropped by these densely-packed trees, which had a big effect on the landscape. This period marked the first time that tightly-packed plants were able to grow on land, and the sheer abundance of debris shed by the Calamophyton trees built up within layers of sediment. The sediment affected the way that the rivers flowed across the landscape, the first time that the course of rivers could be affected in this way. The evidence contained in these fossils preserves a key stage in Earths development, when rivers started to operate in a fundamentally different way than they had before, becoming the great erosive force they are today. People sometimes think that British rocks have been looked at enough, but this shows that revisiting them can yield important new discoveries. The discovery is reported in a paper in the Journal of the Geological Society. _____ Neil S. Davies et al. Earths earliest forest: fossilized trees and vegetation-induced sedimentary structures from the Middle Devonian (Eifelian) Hangman Sandstone Formation, Somerset and Devon, SW England. Journal of the Geological Society, published online February 23, 2024; doi: 10.1144/jgs2023-204 A lantern fair is held in the underground dwellings in the Shanzhou district of Sanmenxia city, Henan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] The Shanzhou district of Sanmenxia, Henan province, hosted a Year of the Dragon celebration showcasing a scenic area of ancient underground dwellings. The underground dwellings date back to the Yangshao Culture, which developed from around 5000 BC to 3000 BC during the Neolithic period. They have been an integral part of the region's architectural heritage. The dwellings are dug into the ground and connected by a network of corridors. This style allows them to supply warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer. They are considered one of China's four unique ancient residential building types. Visitors to the Shanzhou district of Sanmenxia have the opportunity to explore the historical, architectural and cultural significance of this traditional form of housing. In 2011, these dwellings were listed as a national intangible cultural heritage due to their design and layout, which reflect the cultural traditions and lifestyle of the locals. Qi Xin in Zhengzhou contributed to this story. 4 1 Editor: JYZ Jeremy Hunt and Rachel Reeves are joined in a conspiracy of silence over tens of billions of pounds in tough tax and spending choices, with the next government likely to inherit the toughest outlook for the public finances in 80 years, Britains leading economics thinktank has warned. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the chancellors budget on Wednesday had laid the ground for staggeringly hard choices due after the general election for whichever party forms the next government. Guardian Snaking queues outside Northern Rock have become the enduring image of Britains financial crisis. Now the ghost of the old lender threatens to haunt the countrys banks yet again. Nationwides proposed 2.9bn acquisition of Virgin Money, which includes the remnants of Northern Rock, threatens to reshape the financial services sector and challenge the dominance of Britains six biggest lenders. Telegraph The death of cash has raked in an extra 12bn for Jeremy Hunt as card and digital payments make it harder for people to dodge tax. Richard Hughes, chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), said the shift away from notes and coins had proven lucrative for the taxman because it was now harder to avoid value added tax (VAT). Telegraph British savers withdrew 24.3 billion from funds in what was only the second year of outflows, as investors sought to free up cash amid the cost of living crisis. Equity funds performed the worst, suffering 22 billion in outflows as British companies remained out of favour with investors, according to data from the Investment Association. The Times One of the worlds wealthiest women is facing a formal investigation of her Bet365 gambling empire over possible breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. Bet365, founded by Denise Coates, 56, is being investigated by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, or Austrac, a financial crime watchdog, over allegations that the bookmaker breached the law. - The Times European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen speaks in Bucharest, Romania, March 7, 2024. The incumbent EC President Ursula von der Leyen has won the nomination from the European People's Party (EPP), the largest political group in the European Parliament, for a second term. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) BUCHAREST, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The incumbent European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen has won the nomination from the European People's Party (EPP), the largest political group in the European Parliament, for a second term. The EPP voted Thursday at their two-day Congress here to endorse von der Leyen's nomination. The EC chief won 400 out of the 489 valid votes to become the sole candidate to lead the EPP list in the forthcoming European parliamentary elections in June. During a speech delivered earlier on Thursday, she promised peace, prosperity and security for Europeans. European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen reacts in Bucharest, Romania, March 7, 2024. The incumbent EC President Ursula von der Leyen has won the nomination from the European People's Party (EPP), the largest political group in the European Parliament, for a second term. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) Editor: WRX Jessica J. Lee (photo: Ricardo A. Rivas) Jessica J. Lee's diverse background--her mother is Taiwanese, her father Welsh; and both transplanted to Canada, where Lee was born--has provided rich, fertile inspiration for her previous adult nonfiction titles--Turning; Two Trees Make a Forest; Dispersals. Lee makes her children's debut with A Garden Called Home (Tundra, $18.99), illustrated by fellow Canadian Elaine Chen. The vibrant picture book features a girl who travels with her mother to visit faraway family in their warm, verdant home, where she learns valuable, tasty lessons about plants, trees, landscapes, and relationships. When the pair return home where frigid temperatures trap sad Mama inside, the resourceful girl figures out how to coax her mother outdoors to discover the wonders of their local natural world. After your award-winning titles for adults, what made you write a children's picture book? And was there a specific motivation for creating A Garden Called Home? I've always wanted to write for children--probably even before I began writing for adults. It wasn't until I'd written my second book, Two Trees Make a Forest, that the idea for A Garden took shape. Two Trees had done really well and the team at Tundra asked if I'd ever tried writing for children, and I basically leapt out of my chair with excitement. I took as a starting point an idea that I'd touched upon in Two Trees--that pine tree roots help restore integrity to mountainsides after landslides and are often used in regeneration. And I thought: How could this thematically become a story? How different was writing for children versus writing for older readers? In some ways, I found the writing process quite similar, while in others it was markedly different. I think this book has "big" themes, the kinds of themes that I'd write into any of my adult books--like intergenerational knowledge and loss, the longing created in migration, a lot of plant and environment knowledge, too. But then the voice is so distinctly different: in my nature writing I am myself; the voice is instinctive. For this story, I had to tap into the voice of a child again--I drew a lot on my own childhood to imagine some of this book, but it's fictional, so I had to search for the little girl's voice. I was much more timid in nature than she is! I thought a lot about giving her resilience and thoughtfulness and threw myself into "being" her voice on the page. As with your earlier books, the natural world infuses Garden. What draws you to continuously write about nature? I come back to the natural world as a subject partly because of my training in environmental history but mostly for aesthetic reasons. I really want to spend my time with things that move me: natural beauty, of course, but also the high-stakes feeling that we need to document and bear witness to our world under threat. Nature feels magnetic for me. Also, I didn't really start life out in an outdoorsy way--so for me a lot of my writing has been a way of asking, "What might this look like, to really engage with the natural world?" I realize authors and artists are usually paired by the publisher. What were your interactions like with your illustrator, Elaine Chen? Did you have images in mind before she began her work? I feel so lucky I got to work with Elaine on this! Tundra was brilliant in that they let me suggest who I wanted to illustrate, and Elaine had worked with a friend of mine, Sennah Yee, on two books [Lin's Lucky Red Envelope; My Day with Gong Gong]. I was so drawn to the joyfulness of her illustrations, so she felt a natural choice. When it came to specific imagery, what amazed me was that, though I'd only left a few very minor notes on illustrations in the manuscript, Elaine's first sketches were basically exactly what was in my brain while I was writing. The first spread, in the living room of the family's home, is literally magicked out of my head. I don't know how she did it! I loved seeing those early sketches become these bouncy, vibrantly colored spreads, and the tiny details: the foods on the table, the neighbors peering over the fence! The endpapers were just a bonus: when I saw that the plants begin as seedlings and "grow" into mature plants at the end, I was completely smitten. Elaine superbly captures the nurturing mother/daughter relationship in Garden. Have you shared this lovely book with your own mother? I had some early mock-ups of the book in the winter of 2022, when my mom came to stay with me when my own baby was due. I have this vivid memory of me at 42 weeks pregnant, absolutely giant, sitting with my mom and showing her this story, trying to imagine what it would be like to read it with my own daughter. While the book is fictional, the idea of the mother hating winter is taken from my life--my mom HATES the cold. And she misses Taiwan so much. I think the resonance came across to her, or at least I hope. Now as a new mother, what are the most important lessons you'd like to impart to your daughter about her co-existence on Earth? Oh, this is a big question! When I was writing the book, I hesitated a little bit about the mother's sadness, the idea that her daughter would somehow help turn things around. Because that felt like too much pressure to put on a child. But when I realized it was more about finding shared joy, about reaching out into the wider world and forging connections, rather than turning inward, the story clicked. I suppose that's the lesson: look at the world around you--and the people, too--with not just compassion but curiosity. Reach out and make community, whether with those closest to you or those newer. It's a book, really, about connection. You have two books coming out a month apart, albeit targeting quite different audiences. Your adult title Dispersals is out March 12. What inspired this collection? I wrote the book--actually both these books--during a really turbulent period. And it was turbulent for everyone, between 2020 and 2022, as we know. The essays began as a column while I was still in Berlin, and then the book idea--writing about plants out of place had been lingering since Two Trees--came together while I was in London. When [the pandemic shutdown] started in 2020, I entered a period of life that was unpredictable, despite my trying to hold tight, to set down roots. The whole book became even more about feeling displaced and unmoored. While my own migration history, and that of my family, was always going to be in the book, I really thought I would be writing it from a stable standpoint, from a single, settled home. I was pregnant and trying to finish it before the baby arrived--but of course I didn't! We had to move again. So, this idea that I'd be writing about all these migrations in the past tense just became impossible. I had to write this book while we were still searching for a home. The last essay, which was originally planned to be a meditation on raising a child in England, doubled in size, became something entirely unplanned--because it had to. What might you be writing next? Strangely, I feel like I've come somewhat full circle. There are always lingering questions after a project, and it's just a question of when I'm ready to touch them again. I'm currently writing about freshwaters! After my first book, Turning, I spent time as writer-in-residence at a freshwater ecology lab, so I'm finally getting back to that, thinking about water and biodiversity (and swimming) again. Exactly what the shape of it will be, I'm not yet sure. But I'm puzzling it out. --Terry Hong photo: Vino Wong Parul Kapur holds an MFA from Columbia University and has worked as a journalist, critic, and fiction writer for much of her life. Her writing has appeared in Ploughshares, Pleiades, the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal Europe, Slate, Guernica, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and the Paris Review. Her debut novel, Inside the Mirror (University of Nebraska Press, March 1, 2024), is an examination of art, colonialism, injustice, love, and the ambition of women to seize their own power, and it won the AWP Prize for the Novel. Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less: In 1950s India, visionary twin sisters battle a protective family and shaming society to claim their powers as artists--a painter and a dancer. On your nightstand now: Near to the Wild Heart by Clarice Lispector, a name I first heard from my dearest friend in graduate school, long before Lispector became a figure of fascination in American letters as a bold and provocative woman writer. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, an intergenerational family saga I'm anticipating like a great Indian feast. If Bomber by Len Deighton had not been a book club selection, I might never have picked up this magnificent novel, since Deighton is known as a spy novelist. Here he has created a suspenseful and deeply human story about a World War II British bombing unit preparing to destroy a city in Germany's Ruhr valley, where my husband grew up in the postwar era. Favorite book when you were a child: Any of the six Nancy Drew mysteries by Carolyn Keene my mother bought me at a garage sale. The Secret of the Wooden Lady might have been the first book that got me hooked on Nancy, the astute girl "sleuth." As an immigrant child, I wished I could be as brave, confident, and admired as Nancy Drew. Your top five authors: For their staggering powers of observation and extraordinary skill with language, I admire the writers below as literary artists and not the tarnished human beings some of them have been exposed as (specifically, the two late Nobel Prize winners at the end of my list). I would drop everything to pick up a book I hadn't heard of by any of these geniuses: James Joyce, Charlotte Bronte, Jesmyn Ward, V.S. Naipaul, and Derek Walcott (sneaking in a poet whose world-building is supremely novelistic). Book you've faked reading: Albert Camus's La Peste (The Plague in English), an allegory of war and resistance, is a novel few of us in 10th-grade French were linguistically equipped to tangle with. As my eyes roamed over the sentences, my brain would light up whenever a familiar noun or verb appeared, but never came to a conclusive understanding of a paragraph, let alone a page. Class discussions were a time to direct my gaze anywhere but in the direction of the teacher, who might call on me. Book you're an evangelist for: This Is Not That Dawn by Yashpal, a prolific writer imprisoned as a revolutionary in colonial India, is the most magnificent tale ever told of the tragedy of modern India. It begins with the domestic squabbles of a lower-middle-class Punjabi family in the city of Lahore, takes us through appalling and riveting scenes of horror and violence as the British divide the subcontinent into Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan, resulting in millions killed, and moves beyond that calamity to a broken India picking up the shattered pieces of itself in the 1950s. Originally written in serial form for a Hindi magazine, whose spellbound readers sent sacks of mail to the author's home, This Is Not That Dawn endured a long search for an English translator. Finally, the author's son, Anand, turned his hand to translating the 1,000-page tome, which has been compared with Tolstoy's War and Peace. Book you've bought for the cover: The Harrad Experiment by Robert Rimmer. As a curious middle-school-aged observer of the sexual revolution in the wild and woolly '70s, I chipped in to buy this book with my best friend, attracted by the risque image of a young couple on the cover. Book you hid from your parents: The Harrad Experiment (see above). My friend and I took turns reading Rimmer's story about free love breaking out on a campus where students are assigned roommates of the opposite sex. I read the paperback in an old garden shed I'd converted into my hideout in our backyard edging a cemetery, poised between my great ignorance of sex and my great ignorance of death. Book that changed your life: I knew from a young age I wanted to be a writer. But reading Mrs Dalloway in my early 20s, I was swept up by shimmering flights of language, and believed I'd found my literary style: it would be lyrical, like Virginia Woolf. I saw Mrs Dalloway as a purely aesthetic work, untethered to history, since I knew so little history myself then. Recently I picked the book up again and couldn't read past a few chapters. All I saw was the characters' blithe complicity in colonialism: Clarissa Dalloway, her friend Peter, just returned from India, and others of the ruling class expected at her party represented the British elite who most richly benefitted from Empire, at the cost of crushing generations of Indians, including my family. As we evolve, so does our view of books we've loved. Favorite line from a book: "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." --F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby. Five books you'll never part with: There is no single storyline in my favorite books, but multiple paths of exploration. I would never give up Ulysses by James Joyce, a day in the life of Leopold Bloom, his unfaithful and beloved wife (Molly), his city (Dublin) and his world (Ireland). A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul, equally a comedy and tragedy about an ambitious yet powerless son of Indian indentured servants in colonial Trinidad. Agaat by Marlene van Niekerk, translated from Afrikaans by Michiel Heyns, a tour-de-force portrayal of a bedridden white farm wife in South Africa utterly dependent on the Black girl she once domineered over as a servant and kind of daughter. Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz, part of his Cairo Trilogy, whose scenes depicting the mundane and terrifying ways in which a wife and children are subjugated by the patriarch are so vivid they sear into the mind forever. Douglas Stuart's Shuggie Bain is a surprising masterpiece by an author trained in fashion who paints this intricate, autobiographical portrait of a boy and his vainglorious, alcoholic mother struggling in soot-stained, down-and-out Glasgow with astounding skill. Book you most want to read again for the first time: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead is an utterly enchanting book, for all the savagery it contains of the treatment of the enslaved. It seems to me he took some of the real-life brutalities and peculiarities of enslavement, and mixed it with speculative elements, to evoke the terrifying strangeness of a country that normalized slavery. Every chapter came as a surprise to me, and I wish I could experience again how Whitehead connects one astonishing phenomenon to the next. A cargo ship carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip leaves the port of southern Mersin province, Trkiye, on March 7, 2024. Trkiye sent Thursday a ship to the Gaza Strip carrying 2,737 tonnes of humanitarian aid, a collaborative effort of Turkish organizations led by the Turkish Red Crescent. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) ANKARA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Trkiye sent Thursday a ship to the Gaza Strip carrying 2,737 tonnes of humanitarian aid, a collaborative effort of Turkish organizations led by the Turkish Red Crescent. The aid will reach Egypt's Al-Arish port, and then be loaded onto trucks for Gaza, Turkish Red Crescent President Fatma Meric Yilmaz told reporters in the port of southern Mersin province. The aid includes food parcels, clothes and hygiene items, as well as shelter materials and medical equipment, among others. Trkiye had previously sent humanitarian supplies in 12 planes and six ships after war erupted between Israel and Hamas in October last year. The country has also received more than 300 wounded and sick from Gaza for treatment since the onset of the conflict. A cargo ship carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip leaves the port of southern Mersin province, Trkiye, on March 7, 2024. Trkiye sent Thursday a ship to the Gaza Strip carrying 2,737 tonnes of humanitarian aid, a collaborative effort of Turkish organizations led by the Turkish Red Crescent. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) Editor: WRX As the Middle Easts largest and most impactful cybersecurity event, GISEC Global continues to provide a solid platform and expand the opportunities for women in the field, fuelling the growth of a diverse industry that is set to transform the worlds digital behaviours. This International Womens Day, GISEC Global 2024 is spotlighting some of the most influential women in cybersecurity who will take centerstage at the Inspire conference, the most awaited annual programme gathering female leaders and industry experts, during the three-day cybersecurity showcase from 23-25 April 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. As pioneers forging a complex and dynamic career path, seasoned security architect Alina Tan, esteemed cybersecurity advisor Judy Ngure, and cybersecurity influential digital creator Caitlin Sarian are among the headliners and stand as powerful symbols of female perseverance, talent, and advocacy. Their unique contributions to the cybersecurity space have seen ground-breaking impact across the automotive industry, corporate landscape, and social media while collectively, they continue to expand the industrys understanding of inclusivity and the subsequent potential for even greater innovation. From motorsport aspirations to an unprecedented career in auto cybersecurity A prominent presence in Singapores automotive cybersecurity industry and one of the Top 30 Women in Security in ASEAN Alina Tan is a powerful representation of female success in a largely male-dominated field. Her passion for cybersecurity stemmed from a personal interest in motorsport, which saw her leverage the synergy between the two to establish a specialised interest group, Car Security Quarter, dedicated to automotive security within her local community. She also spearheads the Singapore Chapter of the Automotive Security Research Group, a global non-profit that promotes knowledge sharing and the development of security solutions. I firmly believe in the power of representation and visibility, said Tan. Through my experiences, insights, and accomplishments, I aim to demonstrate that women can excel in cybersecurity and thrive in diverse roles within the industry. Notable initiatives in the Middle East, such as GISEC Global, feature dedicated stages for Women in Cybersecurity, providing a large-scale platform to showcase talent and inspire a new generation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Leading female figures to take the GISEC Global 2024 stage Tan will be joined in the Inspire conference at GISEC Global 2024 by Judy Ngure, the founder and CEO of Bug Bounty Box, a platform to help security leaders manage vulnerabilities. A cybersecurity practitioner for over five years, she sits on various advisory boards across Africa, supporting organisations in furthering diversity in the cybersecurity field. Ngure also co-authored a book titled African Women in Security: Remarkable Women Moving Cybersecurity in Africa, which aims to celebrate women in the field, demonstrate their value and inspire other women to enter the industry. Caitlin Sarian, also known as Cybersecurity Girl, is a dominant cybersecurity influencer with a comprehensive career history including a decade of consulting experience at the likes of EY and a previous role at TikToks Global Cybersecurity Advocacy and Culture team. As well as attending the Women in Cybersecurity roundtable, Caitlin will be leading a talk titled The flawed path: debunking the efficacy of current cybersecurity training approaches and how we can improve our future, in which she hopes to relay the urgent need to overhaul outdated education methods in favour of training strategies that prioritise real-world application and critical thinking. The challenge: women are underrepresented and overlooked Tan, Ngure, and Sarian agree that for many young women, there may be a sense of not receiving the support, recognition, and validation they deserve for their contributions to cybersecurity. A lack of inclusive programmes and opportunities for professional growth often results in feelings of being side-lined, which can dampen enthusiasm for pursuing a career in the industry. An especially significant barrier to upskilling women in cybersecurity is a pervasive lack of understanding around what the field entails. While many assume it is strictly about coding, it has proven to be a multifaceted profession that requires a variety of skills from analytical expertise and problem-solving to communication and creativity. An overwhelming number of available bootcamps and online courses can also make it difficult for beginners to start, with the information overload often leading to confusion and discouragement before women have even stepped foot into the industry. The biggest challenge is getting women excited about technical topics in cybersecurity because it looks like a very male-dominated environment - which it is, said Ngure. The other key challenge is retaining women in the cybersecurity field; I have seen many women move from technical cyber roles to non-technical jobs. I do encourage women to upskill compared to moving because we need more women active in the industrys technical leadership positions. Sarian agreed saying: Increased female participation in cybersecurity is not just a matter of equity its a strategic necessity. The field of cybersecurity benefits immensely from diversity, as it brings different perspectives, ideas, and approaches to problem-solving. Women, with their unique experiences and viewpoints, can drive innovation and enhance the effectiveness of cybersecurity measures. She continued: As the industry becomes more inclusive, we can expect a more holistic approach to security challenges one that has the potential to result in more robust and comprehensive security strategies that strengthen our defence against cyber threats. The solution: awareness, accessibility, and advocacy Addressing these challenges can be achieved through a variety of avenues, largely led by governments and enterprises, to create more opportunities for women in tech, cybersecurity, and defence. On a corporate level, enterprises can adjust their recruitment and hiring processes to eliminate any unconscious biases, as well as partner with female-focused organisations to support with targeted outreach efforts. Mentorship and development are also essential to ensure that women are receiving the senior support they need and are positioned to undertake ongoing training and development to fuel their career growth. Awareness and advocacy remain top-of-mind and play a crucial role in championing female role models in the industry, highlighting their achievements and contributions to the wider cybersecurity community. Awards ceremonies, media campaigns, and conferences can stir conversations around female success and entre- preneurship in the industry. Governments are able to further drive accessibility through education and training initiatives that encourage girls to pursue STEM education and careers, along with dedicated scholarships and grants to fund their academic journey. At a higher level, policy and legislation can better equip businesses to deliver equal pay and opportunity as well as flexible working policies to attract and retain top female talent while cross-industry partnerships serve as a powerful tool for collaboration to foster a more diverse and inclusive tech workforce. The Middle Easts largest and most impactful cybersecurity event GISEC Global 2024 will welcome over 20,000 visitors, 750 of the worlds foremost exhibiting companies such as Huawei, Honeywell, du, Cloudflare, and Qualys, 350-plus leading cybersecurity speakers, and over 1,000 ethical hackers from more than 130 countries in the 13th edition of the annual three-day of the Middle Easts largest and most impactful cybersecurity event. To learn more about GISEC Global 2024, visit: www.gisec.ae The industry leaders hailed the government's IndiaAI Mission initiative, the country's first artificial intelligence (AI) mission that was approved with an outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore. The IndiaAI Mission will establish a comprehensive ecosystem catalysing AI innovation through strategic programmes and partnerships across the public and private sectors. "The focus on funding deep tech AI startups, developing open source databases, as well as domain-specific large language models will play an instrumental role in fueling AI innovation in the country, making India a global leader in harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence," said Tilakraj Parmar, Co-Founder & CEO, QX Lab AI. He also mentioned that the government's move to provide financial support and a strategic roadmap for AI integration will act as a catalyst for economic growth and innovation. Prashanth Kaddi, Partner, Consulting, Deloitte India, said that this move gives a fillip to the startup ecosystem "to drive innovation helping India leapfrog into areas such as text summarization, video & image generation, and next-gen chatbots etc., including enablement across Indian languages". The Mission will be implemented by 'IndiaAI' Independent Business Division (IBD) under Digital India Corporation (DIC). The approved IndiaAI Mission will propel innovation and build domestic capacities to ensure the tech sovereignty of the country. It will also create highly skilled employment opportunities to harness the demographic dividend of the country. In an effort to bolster India's talent pool in emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), Arundhati Bhattacharya, CEO and Chairperson of Salesforce India, highlighted the crucial role women can play in learning generative AI. Speaking on International Women's Day, Bhattacharya emphasized the need for women to be at the forefront of the evolving AI industry, leveraging their multitasking and adaptability to contribute significantly. 'National Programme on Artificial Intelligence' and the upcoming 'India AI Mission' underscore India's commitment to responsible and ethical AI use. The government's focus on skilling and creating a talent pool aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to harness AI capabilities for social development and inclusive growth. Theand the upcoming 'India AI Mission' underscore India's commitment to responsible and ethical AI use. Bhattacharya acknowledged the initial excitement around generative AI but noted that concerns and challenges have tempered expectations. She emphasized that addressing these concerns requires a comprehensive understanding and a focus on skilling. Skilling initiatives, especially in tier 2 and 3 cities, form a critical aspect of the 'India AI Mission' to democratize AI skills. While Prime Minister Modi highlighted the government's commitment to AI at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) declaration in December, Bhattacharya cautioned that skilling is key to bridging the talent deficit in AI. The evolving nature of AI technology, particularly in the field of generative AI, necessitates continuous learning and adaptability. Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, echoed the urgency, emphasizing the imminent talent deficit in AI. He called for collaboration between academic institutions, governments, and the tech industry globally to meet the demand for AI-related jobs. Chandrasekhar emphasized the need for skilled professionals, including architects and designers of large-language models (LLMs), in the AI industry. Nasscom's recent findings highlight India's current leadership in AI skill penetration and talent concentration. However, the industry now faces a shortage of AI skills across the spectrum. As the government prioritizes skilling initiatives and emphasizes responsible AI use, the role of women in the evolving AI landscape becomes crucial for shaping the future of technology in India. The healthcare industry is significantly impacted by the rapidly expanding patient registration software market. Patient data can be methodically collected, stored, and arranged with the help of this software. Healthcare practitioners are able to learn important information about various illnesses, treatment outcomes, and healthcare practices by doing this. The market's potential to improve patient care, increase clinical research, and provide information for health policy decisions makes it clear how important it is. It also makes it easier to identify risk factors, patterns in disease, and the effectiveness of treatments, which eventually leads to better healthcare outcomes and lower costs. The market for patient registration software is growing quickly, and this has a big impact on the healthcare sector. With this program, patient data may be systematically gathered, saved, and organized. This allows healthcare professionals to gain valuable knowledge about different ailments, treatment outcomes, and healthcare practices. It is evident how crucial the market is given its capacity to enhance clinical research, supply data for health policy decisions, and enhance patient care. Better healthcare outcomes and cheaper costs are ultimately the result of its ability to facilitate the identification of risk factors, disease patterns, and treatment effectiveness. The global patient registry software market is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.10% from 2022 to 2032, reaching US$ 3.8 billion by 2032, up from US$ 2.5 billion in 2022. Growing chronic disease rates and an ageing population are two factors contributing to increased revenue. Several studies show that the global market for patient registry software is dominated by North America. Several important aspects that have been carefully considered can be linked to this. Above all, the United States of America has an exceptionally sophisticated healthcare system, highlighting its strong dedication to effective patient data administration. The region's adoption of cutting-edge healthcare technologies and its well-known market players also greatly contribute to its supremacy in this specific industry. It is projected that the illness registry segment will hold a significant share of the global patient registry software market. It is anticipated that the cloud-based delivery strategy would have the biggest impact on the global patient registry software industry. When it comes to functionality, the Population Health Management industry is predicted to maintain its leading position in the worldwide patient registry software market. It is anticipated that the global patient registry software market will be significantly shaped by the hospitals and clinic industry, as hospitals and clinics commonly use patient registry software to manage patient data and track results. Healthcare workers can use these technologies to help them spot trends, evaluate the effectiveness of therapies, and improve patient care. Patient safety initiatives, disease-specific registers, and quality-improvement projects are just a few of the uses for which hospitals and clinics can employ patient registration software. In the healthcare and life sciences industries, IQVIA Holdings Inc. acquired linguistics in October 2019. This acquisition demonstrated IQVIA's dedication to enhancing its patient registry software portfolio by incorporating state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) solutions rooted in natural language processing (NLP). Likewise, in November 2019, OpenText garnered media attention upon revealing its purchase of Carbonite, a well-known supplier of dependable cloud-based data security and backup solutions. By leveraging the extra benefit of strengthened data backup and recovery capabilities, OpenText's strategic decision aimed to strengthen its position in the patient registry software industry. In addition, the partnership that COTA, Inc. a reputable organization that specializes in real-world data and analyticsand IB M Watson Health announced in February 2020 garnered notice in the healthcare sector. Through this agreement, COTA's cutting-edge data curation methods and substantial experience in real-world evidence will be utilized to enhance IBM Watson Health's patient registry software. Phytel (A Division of IBM Watson Health), Liaison Technologies, FIGmd, Quintiles IMS, OpenText Corporation, IBM, IQVIA, EVADO, Dacima Software, and others are some of the well-known players in the patient registry software market. These industry experts help pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, and healthcare organizations improve patient outcomes and streamline clinical research by offering a diverse range of solutions. Best of all, they provide patient data integration, management, and analysis services. These businesses are essential in advancing risk classification, interoperability, and data sharing, all of which improve patient care and support population health management. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Local Staten Island alt/emo pop-punk band, Persei, has released their first single of 2024, titled Not Okay. Persei is a five-member pop-punk band that first met in the marching band program at Tottenville High School and continued being friends after graduation. Sergio Gorno, drummer of Persei, credits the late David LaMorte, their music teacher, for bringing them together. [LaMorte] is definitely the reason we all know each other, said Gorno, Without him, we probably wouldnt have all become friends. The members consist of Jonathan Cutrona on vocals and guitar, Mike Maldarelli also on vocals and guitar, Nick Millus on guitar, Andrew Maino on bass, and Sergio Gorno on vocals and drums. Persei first debuted as a duo with Cutrona and Gorno in 2018 with their first EP titled 117 Whatever St. After wanting to play shows, Cutrona and Gorno recruited the last three members to join them. In 2019, their next EP with all five members, Idle Moments came out. Persei went on to compete in a Battle of the Bands, hosted by iconic punk-rock band Bayside. Their friend and merchandise producer brought the idea to them. My friend was the one who sent it to me originally, and it was strictly based on voting, said Gorno. New York was probably the toughest place to compete in because of the sheer volume. After competing against over 150 bands, the group was announced as the winner of the Battle of the Bands. They went on to play alongside Bayside, as well as Sincere Engineer, at Brooklyns Music Hall of Williamsburg in November of the same year. After their win, Persei got the opportunity to work with Gary Cioni at Sound Acres Studio for the release of their next three singles, Wake, Write Me Off, and A Way Out. He previously worked with famous bands like Hot Mulligan, Sorority Noise, and Crime in Stereo. Cioni originally worked out of a studio in NYC called The Barbershop. He went on to build his own in-home studio, naming it Sound Acres Studios. We were one of the first bands that worked out of his house, said Gorno. We were super happy with everything we got for those first couple of singles. Over the next three years, they returned to Sound Acres Studio to work on their first full-length album, Whats Left Inside, set to release in Spring 2024. Persei previously won the Battle of the Bands with famous pop-punk band Bayside and performed with them at their concert in Brooklyn in November 2019. (Courtesy of Persei)Persei Not Okay releases today, March 8th, and is the bands first single off the album. The song follows the band into the end of their 20s, and the beginnings of adulthood. The song marks progression for all five of us in that our 20s are basically over, said Gorno, Whether its getting married, moving out, having children, the pressure of adulthood has started. The theme of the song is our state of mind as we make this realization, and as the title says: not okay. You can stream the single on Spotify, iTunes, and all other major streaming platforms, and listen to it on their YouTube channel. Check out the band on their Facebook, Instagram, and X. NEW YORK Embattled New York Community Bancorp announced a lifeline of more than $1 billion from a group of investors on Wednesday, after seeing its stock plunge by more than 80% this year. The announcement sent shares of the bank, which has been hammered by weakness in commercial real estate and growing pains resulting from its buyout of a distressed bank, on a wild ride. After nearly halving early in the day, the stock surged nearly 30% after the announcement, only to give it all up and then swivel before ending with a gain of 7.5%. The deal will bring four new directors to NYCBs board, including Steven Mnuchin, who served as U.S. Treasury secretary under President Donald Trump. Joseph Otting, a former comptroller of the currency, will become the banks CEO. Under the deal, which the bank said still needs finalization of definitive documentation and regulatory approvals, NYCB would get investments of $450 million from Mnuchins Liberty Strategic Capital, $250 million from Hudson Bay Capital and $200 million from Reverence Capital Partners. Cash from other institutional investors and some of the banks management will take the total over $1 billion, the bank said. The investors will receive stock in the company valued at $2 per share, along with convertible preferred stock that could pay dividends every three months. The banks stock had tumbled 42% to $1.86 earlier Wednesday, before its trading was halted in the afternoon, pending news. A report from The Wall Street Journal earlier in the day had said the lender was considering raising cash through the sale of stock in order to shore up confidence in it. After the announcement of the $1 billion infusion, NYCBs stock immediately erased those losses and surged toward its best day in nearly a year. But the stock almost as quickly gave up all the gains before climbing into the close. It ended the day at $3.46. Stocks of other regional banks, which have been caught up in nervousness around NYCB, also wobbled. An index of regional bank stocks went from a loss of 3.1% before the announcement to a slight gain and back to a loss of 0.4%. NYCB was a relatively unknown bank until last year, when it bought the assets of Signature Bank at auction on March 19 for $2.7 billion. Signature was one of the banks that crumbled in last years mini-crisis for the industry, where a bank run also sped the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. The sudden increase in size for NYCB meant it had to face increased regulatory scrutiny. Thats been one of the challenges for the bank, which is trying to reassure depositors and investors that it can digest the purchase of Signature Bank while dealing with a struggling real-estate portfolio. Losses in loans tied to commercial real estate forced it to report a surprise loss for its latest quarter, which raised investors concern about the bank. NYCB, which is based in Hicksville, New York, said last week that it had found significant weakness in how it internally reviews loans, caused by ineffective oversight, risk assessment and monitoring activities. That caused it to delay filing its annual report, and it reshuffled its top management. Pressure rose further on the bank after credit agencies cut their NYCB ratings. Industry analysts still say NYCBs troubles appear relatively unique to the bank and downplayed the risk of contagion in the banking sector. Its very interesting that they ended up being an amalgamation of a few bank acquisitions that seems to just not worked out, said Chris Caulfield, a banking industry consultant and analyst with West Monroe, who focuses on mid-sized banks. But weakness in commercial real estate is a looming challenge for all kinds of banks, as changes in how people work following the pandemic leave many office buildings with more vacancies. Ukraine will receive the first tranche of the Ukraine Facility program in the amount of EUR 4.5 billion already in March 2024, and the second tranche in the amount of EUR 1.5 billion will arrive in April, said Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis. The EU is already finalizing the mechanism to support Ukraine, which is called the Ukraine Facility, Dombrovskis said at a joint briefing with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv on Friday. As reported, the European Parliament at the end of February supported the creation of the Ukraine Facility of EUR 50 billion for the period 2024-2027. Its funds will be used to support Ukraine and carry out reforms for the country's future accession to the European Union. The approval of the Fund for Ukraine by the European Parliament now opens the way for the adoption of official regulations by the Council of the EU, which, after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, will come into force. Further funding for the Ukraine Facility will depend on the implementation of the Ukraine Plan by the Ukrainian side. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Brooklyn woman claims she was sexually assaulted by the former leader of a national religious group who at one time taught at a Staten Island school. The civil lawsuit based on the Adult Survivors Act is making its way through Supreme Court in Brooklyn, where it was filed in November by the law firm of Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo & Plotkin. The defendants are Christopher Bacich and Communion and Liberation in the United States, a fraternity of Communion and Liberation and the Human Adventure Corporation. Bacich, a former teacher at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, was national coordinator of the religious group from about 2007 to 2013 and a member of the Memores Domini association of lay participants, who are supposed to practice celibacy, according to the lawsuit. The defendant was affiliated with Communion and Liberation until at least 2019, according to the fraternity. The abuse occurred when the woman was a member of a religious movement spearheaded by Defendants Communion and Liberation in the United States, a fraternity of Communion and Liberation, [and] Human Adventure Corporation, according to the lawsuit. The court filings make no mention of Bacichs time at St. Joseph by-the-Sea and the school is not named as a defendant or accused of any wrongdoing in the litigation. Communion and Liberation was founded in Italy in the 1950s with a special emphasis on educating school children about the faith. Human Adventure is a non-profit organization based in Manhattan that coordinates the fraternitys activities in the United States, according to the lawsuit and public records. The lawsuit alleges that the victim met Bacich in autumn 2007 when she was a freshman in high school and that the leader engaged in a grooming relationship with the victim, who was subjected to repeated sexual advances by Bacich. Between 2010-2013, the plaintiff was sexually assaulted and abused by Bacich on multiple occasions, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that in the summers of 2010 and 2011, Bacich gave the victim rides home from movement events. On two separate occasions, the defendant allegedly climbed on top of her in the car and performed numerous nonconsensual sexual acts on the victim. The lawsuit also alleges several occasions of phone sex. Defendant Bacich used his position, and the representations made by the defendants about his character that accompanied his position, to gain plaintiffs trust and confidence and to create opportunities to be alone with and sexually abuse her, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims Communion and Liberation was negligent in that it knew or should have known about his alleged sexual misconduct and did not take appropriate steps to protect potential victims. After two decades of abuse, defendant finally investigated the claims of abuse despite having received notification of the abuse for many years prior, the lawsuit alleges. Following the investigation, Bacich was banned from all Communion and Liberation activities. More than 10 years later, the victim continues to suffer from physical and psychological symptoms, financial expenses and losses due to the alleged sexual abuse, according to the lawsuit. Attorney Milton Williams, who lived and attended high school on Staten Island, defended his client, Bacich. The discovery process in the case will ultimately show that the allegations against Mr. Bacich are patently false, Williams said in a statement. He has never engaged in a non-consensual physical relationship with anyone. TIES TO STATEN ISLAND Bacich taught history at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School and was instrumental in bringing two Italian exchange students to the high school in 2009, according to Advance/SILive.com records. He gave presentations about Communion and Liberation at Roman Catholic churches on Staten Island in the 1990s until at least 2013. He had aspirations of drawing a large teenage audience to his lecture in the hopes of introducing youth to the fraternity. Bacich said in 1998 that the fraternity strove to teach Catholics that the point of the faith is to live the experience of Christ personally, within a friendship that helps you live your daily life. He added that Communion and Liberation shows how life with Christ frees a person and makes the here and now better. Here in this life, things can be better. COMMUNION AND LIBERATION RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS In a letter issued last October, Communion and Liberation acknowledged that it received and substantiated reports of abuse by Bacich. The reported incidents occurred between 1997 and 2018 and allegedly involved sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, psychological abuse and boundary violations against multiple young adults and minors, according to the fraternity letter. Allegations were reported to the Board of the Human Adventure Corporation in 2018 and an investigation determined that the reports of abuse were substantiated based on credible evidence, the letter said. The proper ecclesial authorities and law enforcement were duly notified of the reports received and, to our knowledge, no criminal charges have been filed to date, the letter said. In March of 2019, Community and Liberation leaders throughout the United States were sent a letter informing them that Bacich was barred from all further activities connected to the organization due to the allegations and findings of the investigation. Mr. Bacich subsequently resigned from the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation and Memores Domini, the letter said. Mr. Bacich denied any wrongdoing. Communion and Liberation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe! Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions. Premium Subscription As low as $8.25 per month Premium Includes: Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. The ability to download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. The ability to clip & download articles or images to share with others. Access to the last 90 days of e-Editions with search, downloading and clipping options. Unlimited access to our award-winning online content Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community She separated from Zhukov in 1984 when their daughter, Dasha, was three. She later had twins in America, a boy and girl, Yuri and Katya, from a relationship with George Gause. In a 2010 profile on Dasha published in The New Yorker, Elena described her daughters family background as the usual, normal Moscow intelligentsia of scientists, linguists and writers. Zhukova had met her first husband, Alexander, when the two were students in Moscow. They married, had Dasha and divorced three years later. After Mikhail Gorbachev relaxed private enterprise rules, Alexander Zhukov formed an energy-trading company, while in 2016 he was linked by the Panama Papers to a network of offshore companies. In 1991 Elena Zhukova left the Soviet Union to do research in Houston, taking her 10-year-old daughter with her. Two months later, the Soviet Union collapsed, and she decided to stay in the US. Loading Given Murdoch and Zhukovas ages, it is unlikely his prospective new wife would impact on his much scrutinised inheritance planning with the arrival of a new heir. However, if his next wife outlives him, she could be set for a handsome windfall, given his history of signing prenuptial agreements. But such payouts have not come easily in the past. An explosive Vanity Fair article last year claimed Hall was watched by security as she packed her belongings after Murdochs brutal email telling her he wanted a divorce; though she eventually left with a multimillion-dollar property portfolio. Murdoch may have other ideas about shuffling off this mortal coil any time soon. As a spritely 83-year-old, he revealed a rigorous health regime: Ive been to some institute at UCLA. Theyve got me on a morning drink, which is frozen fruit and soya powder, and a chap tortures me for an hour from 6 to 7 every morning. His new fiancee was working at UCLA about the same time, specialising in diabetes research, though it is unclear if she met Murdoch when he was visiting. Rupert Murdochs first wife, Patricia Booker. Last year, Murdoch stepped down as chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corp, transitioning to the role of chairman emeritus of the companies and making his elder son, Lachlan, his chosen heir. At the time, Murdoch was estimated to be worth $8.26 billion on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. By his side over the years have been a string of glamorous women as he amassed enormous wealth and influence around the world. His first wife was the glamorous Patricia Booker, a flight attendant and department store model from Melbourne. They married in 1956 when Rupert was just 25. They had one child, Prudence, now 66. They divorced in 1967. Two years later, aged 9, Prudence persuaded her father to seek custody after her mother married Freddie Maeder, described by Murdoch biographer Michael Wolff as a bad-news Swiss jetsetter. Booker died in 1998 and by all accounts sounds like she was far too extroverted for the reserved Murdoch. Mrs Murdoch No.2 was former Daily Mirror reporter Anna Torv. For decades she looked to be Murdochs genetically-blessed perfect fit. Rupert and Anna Murdoch in Crows Nest, Sydney, in April 1967. Credit: Fairfax Photos Their 32-year marriage produced three children Elisabeth, Lachlan and James but it came to a spectacular end in 1998 as an army of lawyers went into battle over the spoils of the Murdoch fortune. Anna wasnt going without a fight. In a 2001 interview with The Australian Womens Weekly, Anna broke her silence on their marital demise, saying: I began to think the Rupert Murdoch that I loved died a long time ago. Perhaps I was in love with the idea of still being in love with him. But the Rupert I fell in love with could not have behaved this way. She described his actions during their break-up as extremely hard, ruthless and determined, hardly the cuddly romantic who so beguiled Chinese beauty Wendi Deng. Rupert Murdoch, Grace Murdoch, Chloe Murdoch, and Wendi Murdoch in New York in 2019. Credit: Getty She became Mrs Murdoch No.3. They met at a company party in Hong Kong when he was 67 and she was 29. They were married two years later, just 17 days after the ink had dried on his divorce from Anna. They were married for 14 years, producing two children Grace, 23, and Chloe, 21. During that marriage, Deng was credited with encouraging Murdoch to dye his hair a suspicious mahogany tint and making him dress in a more youthful manner. She enlisted personal trainers and once reportedly divulged that her husband didnt need Viagra. Rupert filed for divorce in June 2013 stating the marriage had broken down irretrievably. This followed rumours about Wendis close relationship with former British prime minister Tony Blair. Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall at their London wedding in 2016. Credit: EPA A week before his 85th birthday, Murdoch married Hall at St Brides Church in London in 2016. The entire Murdoch family was there to witness the coronation of Mrs Murdoch No.4. He declared he was the luckiest AND happiest man in the world. He even put up with his wifes smoking and was spotted at big parties by her side as she joined the nicotine outcasts for a sly puff. But six years later it was all over, with Murdoch reportedly ending the relationship via email. Rupert Murdoch with former fiancee Ann Lesley Smith. Credit: CHRISBRANDIS.COM / BACKGRID Only a year ago, Murdochs own New York Post reported he was engaged to Ann Lesley Smith, a twice-divorced widow who told the world they shared the same beliefs and, perhaps most tellingly, spoke the same language. Given their engagement was over a fortnight later, it appears something got lost in the translation, though Smith is understood to have kept the 11-carat diamond ring Murdoch had given her, estimated to be worth more than $3 million. 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 When Kristen Stewart first met up with British director Rose Glass, they immediately agreed on one surprising thing. Both were sick of the idea that they should be making films about strong women. Glass thought that passe idea was what was expected of her. Stewart, who sought the director out after seeing her edgy horror film Saint Maude, had a better word for it: bullshit. It means that were not actually letting women define themselves, she told Rolling Stone later. Its the assumption that we need to be empowered, that we have to provide something aspirational. Its the lowest-hanging fruit there is. Glass agreed, but said she had found a way to subvert that expectation. She would make a film about literally strong women. Her central character, played by Stewart, would run an old-school gym. She would fall in love with a bodybuilder. These women would be complicated, vulnerable and do the wrong thing, but nobody could say they werent strong. The film they would eventually make, Love Lies Bleeding, is set in a one-horse town in New Mexico. Local men sweat over the gyms weights and try to get a rise out of manager Lou (Stewart), a skinny, 30-something lesbian with a ready sneer and a self-hacked mullet. The very differently coiffed Jackie (Katy OBrian) turns up en route to Las Vegas for a bodybuilding competition. She has curls and oiled toffee skin over muscles that roll and pop in weird ways. Bodybuilding is a surreal pursuit, Glass agrees, which is what fascinated her. Stewart (right) and Rose Glass in Berlin. Both were tired of seeing on-screen depictions of strong women. Credit: Getty Images Its a sport, but its like a performance art in that youre turning yourself into a sculpture, really. Both these characters, in their own ways, are outliers. Their attraction is immediate, their passion feverish. Advertisement Unfortunately, their love story is soon tangled up with a succession of unnatural deaths that are both viscerally bloody and increasingly funny; this is a film that takes everything to the max, then pushes it a bit further. Lou finds herself dealing with the burdensome business of dragging corpses to the towns usual hiding spots. Her estranged father, Lou snr (Ed Harris, also mulleted) runs a gun range that is a front for his criminal empire; she has grown up knowing exactly where bodies should be buried. But this is a small town. Its hard to do anything without being noticed. Katy OBrian and Stewart in Love Lies Bleeding. Credit: Nixco Films Lous feelings for Jackie are a confection of attraction and her frustration with life in this town, where she tells herself she stays only because her sister (Jena Malone), trapped in a violent marriage, needs her. Really, humans just tell themselves the story they need to hear to get through. Kristen Stewart Jackie is fixated on one goal, but my character fetishises her and makes her up a little bit, says Stewart. Shes a fantasy. Not to say you cant fall in love with a chemical reaction and who knows how well we know anyone, given were all kind of locked in here. She puts her hands across her stomach. We live with these vivid imaginations all the time and your brain is very weird. We believe in this shared reality but inside us, feelings are trippy. Feelings are big. Theyre cartoons. OBrian and Stewart play a bodybuilder and her lover in Love Lies Bleeding. Credit: Nixco Films Lous idea of herself also has a fantasy element. She tells herself some kind of story that separates her from the violence in her family. But really, its baked in. You are comprised of your experiences and upbringing and obviously, theres a bit of nature involved too. Despite herself, Lou knows shes one of the bad guys. Advertisement I really like these people a lot, but theyre morally defunct and completely willing to justify any behaviour because of love, Stewart goes on. Really, humans just tell themselves the story they need to hear to get through. We can all be monsters, she adds, because were only human. And, as she is fond of saying, we contain multitudes. Loading Stewart and Glass are at the Berlin Film Festival a month after the films premiere at Sundance in January. It is a perfect festival fit; the Berlinale is a longstanding champion of queer culture. Stewart is one of only a very few movie stars who is officially, comfortably and publicly gay since she came out on Saturday Night Live. That was in 2017, but she had been very visibly in relationships with women since 2013, when she split up with Robert Pattinson, her co-star in the Twilight movies that made them both huge stars. Stewart was briefly the highest-paid woman in Hollywood and, during the four years she was with Pattinson, meat for the tabloids. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in 2011. Credit: Getty Images Being gay hasnt been a problem in her career since her Twilight years, as far as she knows. But thats probably because of the sort of space that I inhabit and the parts that Im attracted to and the filmmakers that are attracted to me and the audience that exists for those movies, she told Rolling Stone. Not that she has been working in obscurity she has won a French Cesar, a British BAFTA and in 2022 was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of the late Diana, Princess of Wales in Spencer but she is out of the franchise loop. Had I really wanted to carve out more commercial space and maintain that, I dont know if that wouldve worked, she says. Advertisement Another thing she doesnt want, along with having to be strong, is to make films about the fact of being gay. We cant keep doing that, she told a press conference in Berlin. Im really into the idea of not making [a film] all about the reasons that people are sidelined, but their actual experience. What they love, what their desires are, where they come from, where they want to go. And then not feeling like you always have to stand on a f---ing soapbox and be everyones spokesperson. Stewart and Dylan Meyer are partners in life and film production. Credit: AP Stewart lives with her fiancee, Dylan Meyer, her partner in life, writing and production since 2019; they plan to have children, but first of all to find finance for Stewarts debut feature, her adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitchs memoir about female shame and rage, The Chronology of Water. Until she does that, she doesnt want to take any more acting roles; the fact that she hasnt been able to get it greenlit is much more pressing to her than talking about being gay. Because its not about being gay, she is convinced. It is because she isnt a man. Still that. Meanwhile, she also appears in the space adventure Love Me, where she plays a sentient machine also falling in love opposite Steven Yeun. The other day someone asked me - in a quirky, embarrassing kind of interview for a magazine shoot or whatever what does love feel like? she says suddenly, just after the publicist has called time on our interview. And I just said er sometimes its something you cant get out from under, but sometimes it makes you feel really big. Like you can do anything. I didnt think about it at the time; I just thought of this now. Oh, I just made a movie about that! So she did. Advertisement Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Its taken a few decades, but Jack Antonoff is almost at the point where he doesnt feel like an underdog any more. Describing a musician and producer who recently won his third consecutive Grammy for producer of the year, non-classical as some kind of also-ran is a wild premise. Especially when you consider those trophies are on top of the three for album of the year hes picked up as Taylor Swifts go-to songwriting and producing partner since her 2016 pop crossover 1989. (Then add to those the list of other wins and nominations for his contributions to records by Lorde, St Vincent and Lana Del Rey thats so long it would send you cross-eyed.) But while Antonoff prepares to release his fourth album as Bleachers, the indie-rock project best known for its confessional, 80s-inspired anthems, hes coming around to seeing himself through a new lens. Jack Antonoff with his Grammy for producer of the year non classical. Credit: Getty It is important to sit back and remember, in the way I interact with the world, that Im not really someone, any more, who can pile around being like, You dont get it. You dont get it. You dont get it. Because a lot of people are telling me they get it. Ive been thinking a lot about recognising where Im at, he says, and while you cant adjust your soul, itd be false at this point to behave like a misunderstood shitkicker, even if it stems from a legacy truth. We all have our levels of feeling othered and misunderstood that we bring all over the place. Bleachers, like Antonoff, was born in New Jersey. Much of his output and outlook can be boiled down to the fact that both he and his birthplace are often defined as much by what they are (clear-eyed, dyed-in-the-wool Springsteen territory, searching up and out, clamouring for some opaque more) as what they arent. Both his record label and the summer music festival he curates are called Shadow of the City close to, but not quite there. On The Waiter, a track from Bleachers (March 8, Dirty Hit), Antonoff sings of [everybody] always telling you what youre not. Advertisement Its rooted in more than just nebbish self-deprecation. Before Swift co-signed his work, songs Antonoff wrote were often snatched away and offered up to more established, legitimate producers a scenario he mentioned in one of his recent Grammy speeches. A lot of my DNA is very much built on all the years [of thinking] Im not defined by how many people come to my shows. Im not defined by how many people buy my record. Im not defined by how famous I am, he says, over Zoom, as he flits between rooms and couches and poses around Electric Lady Studios in New York City, fidgeting and readjusting every few seconds. I dont know how you reckon with that when you start to realise that this outfit youve worn doesnt really fit any more. Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff at the Grammy Awards in February. Credit: Getty As his stature in pop music has grown, more and more critics, fans and naysayers have tried forcing Antonoff into specific and often ill-conceived outfits. At this point, as many words have been written about his work as have been used to proselytise about what larger, more nefarious ideas his success signals. To some, his work for predominantly women artists is cause for interrogation. To others, he is unavoidable, and criticisms of him (as a producer, artist or person its unclear) hint at some frustration with that ubiquity. The fact he produced not one but two of the records nominated for album of the year at last months Grammys might be seen as either evidence of his Midas touch, or more fuel for the fire. Duplicated sounds or sentiments across songs hes touched is another sticking point for doubters; that the sonic palette of Out of the Woods that first record with Swift could have been a Bleachers B-side in disguise seemed proof of some trademark Antonoff-ism. More recent records made with rapper Kevin Abstract, country legends The Chicks and Motown icon Diana Ross have turned the volume down on those accusations of sameness. Advertisement Listening to Sling, the latest, Antonoff-produced album by Clairo a delicate, deeply felt collection of confessional torch songs suggests less that Antonoff offers a replicable shortcut to pop mega-success, and more that he lays out a borderless map for them to explore in their own time. Loading Our interview reflects that unhurried nature inherent in Antonoff: he compares his gold-rimmed Gucci reading glasses to my own, follows an offhand reference into discussions about the state of music criticism (Maybe this isnt what you think I would say, but I think [critics are] more important than ever Ive noticed myself yearning more for voices that I believe in or trust even if Ive felt at odds or hurt by them at points in my career), and reminisces about a specific time of his life in New York, a decade ago, when we briefly crossed paths. While Im watching the clock, hes asking for follow-ups and digging in deeper. Talking about songwriting is, to paraphrase that oft-misattributed maxim, like dancing about architecture. But that openness and willingness to quietly follow a thought or idea until it deposits him somewhere creatively fruitful seems to be one of the secrets to Antonoffs success, no matter which artist is in the room with him. Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff at last years Critics Choice Awards. Credit: Getty Talking about how you get to a song is forever a fascinating thing, he says, describing them in the same vein one might talk about lady beetles: living creatures, anomalies that find you just as easily as they disappear. Its just so f---ing random. And I like doing a kind of work that cant be mastered because I think it forces you to be very hopeful. The act [of songwriting] is like going to church. Im not a religious person, but when I see people going to church I think, Well, those people havent given up. The feral rant of feeling the pieces click together while making a song has a time limit on it, Antonoff says. Its like this language that some people speak in for a period of time, or a short-term guest that packs up and leaves when the mood strikes. Its like artistic mortality, in a way. On one hand its terrifying, but the other hand its beautiful. Advertisement For Antonoff, he began speaking this new dialect at age 13 or 14. He can barely remember, after each song he finished, quite how he did it but he remembers the feeling of first becoming fluent in that language as a teenager. Bleachers performs on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2023. Credit: Getty At that point, my younger sister who was born with brain cancer was going in and out of remission, and mostly lived a normal life. But she died when I was 18. I really felt obsessed about capturing a lot of what I was going through. And then in my early 20s, I was obsessed about capturing the aftermath of it. While his production work clears a runway from which artists can take flight and follow their own course, with Bleachers, Antonoffs efforts are worn on his chest, as if hes unzipped his skin and is asking you to peer in, like a sidewalk hustler selling counterfeit Rolexes. The first three Bleachers albums track Antonoff, by then a man approaching and then well into his 30s, looking either back at this enduring loss or into the troubling, unknowable future. I still write a lot about that loss, how its affected my life, but [on Bleachers] Im not blasting off about this future and past obsession. I just feel, even as I talk to you, I feel right now. This was a very still moment for me. Jack Antonoff and Taylor Swift hug as they are announced winners of the in 2021 Grammy Award for album of the year for Folklore. Credit: AP The album carries all the Bleachers trademarks: the loving Springsteen pastiche; the band that features not one but two saxophones, and includes members whom Antonoff regularly recruits to play on records by Swift, Del Rey and St Vincent; and the urgent, overlapping lyrical phrases offered up at rapid pace, as if hes worried his mic will be snatched away if he sits in one thought too long. Advertisement Its a sensation he brings to life on the song Self Respect, where attempts to put his finger on a specific, psychically troubling time and place: I think it was the day that Kobe fell from the sky / or the day that Kendall Pepsi smiled / Or the day that I had held her last / These days of our lives theyre rough and theyre fast and unfair. Loading Pop culture, he tells me, is as relevant to his excavation of his emotion psyche as anything else, considering how embedded it is in everything. In the same thought I can be thinking about some distant figure who I dont know, in this tragic accident, some stupid commercial that feels like speaks volumes about how debased parts of culture have become, and the death of my sister. All these things. I got a little tired of assuming that things had to be compartmentalised. Elsewhere on the record, he references a golden era of New York City nightlife, name-checking James Murphys DFA record label and the club night Misshapes. In another breath, he smirks at the perception of himself as a pop music hoarder. But its quickly onto the next. Jack Antonoff performing in 2022. Credit: AP The truth is, your brain is [slingshotting between]: Mortality. This great loss. I lost my sister at this age. Im hungry. Why isnt Starbucks very good and why do I still like going? What the f--- is going on with the presidential race? Do I feel sick? When will I die? Whats for dinner? Advertisement MUSICAL THEATRE & JULIET Sydney Lyric Theatre, March 7 Reviewed by JOHN SHAND You know those restaurants that serve drinks matched to the food? Here, upon arrival, we received a complimentary drink perfectly matched to this musical: a frothy pink gin cocktail served in a plastic martini glass. Just as no self-respecting drinker would savour this, so no musical theatre connoisseur will delight in the frothy, syrupy, plastic & Juliet. That doesnt mean the show will struggle to find an audience. Musical theatre is like sport. When Shane Warne was playing cricket, some people attended who could pick the bowlers flipper; others came to drink the bar dry and chant Warnie for hours. & Juliet is one for the chanters. Lorinda May Merrypor is the perfect Juliet, with her winning smile, belting voice and vast dark eyes. Credit: Daniel Boud Its not that it entirely lacks merit. Some of the story-telling is clever and all the performers are energised and skilled. The problem is the music. Max Martin has composed hit singles for artists including Britney Spears, Pink, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Justin Timberlake, and Lizzo. But bunch 30 of his songs into a jukebox musical, as David West Read has done here, and the excruciating cumulative effect is of faux emotion. Ive lived in Sydney for years but only this summer discovered the joys of the citys ocean pools. I took my first swim in the spectacular Bronte Baths at 6am on New Years Day and have been going so regularly since that my daily (or sometimes twice-daily) Instagram stories from there have become a running joke with family and friends. Ocean pools are a peculiarly NSW treasure; nowhere else in the world has nearly as many. There are 100 adorning beaches from Ballina to Eden, and a third are in Sydney. My newfound fascination with them spawned a wonderful piece of work published last week by chief investigative reporter Jordan Baker, several of our brilliant photographers, and the Heralds visual stories team. Mahon Pool in Maroubra. Credit: Janie Barrett It was a powerful and beautiful piece of storytelling, and an example of what the Herald does best: celebrating our city and the things that make it so special. We did a similar deep dive in 2022 on the return of seals to Sydneys harbour and beaches. As Jordan wrote last week, each ocean pool has its own character, from tiny, triangular Fairy Bower in Manly to historic Wylies at Coogee and Olympic-sized South Cronulla. The sand and surf are often dominated by the fit and the beautiful, but ocean pools shelter the shy, the cautious and the vulnerable. Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhia NPP, together with the denial of access to the industrial site of Ukrainian licensed personnel and the blocking of the automated radiation monitoring system at the facility, has led to the fact that Ukraine and the international nuclear community receive information about the state of nuclear and radiation safety at the site ZNPP with a significant delay. As the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine reported on Friday, this was stated by the head of the inspectorate, Oleh Korikov, during a meeting with Deputy Director General of the IAEA, Director of the Department of Safety and Security, Lydie Evrard in Vienna. "Due to the blocking of automated radiation monitoring system by the Russian invaders, today Ukraine is actually deprived of the opportunity to implement the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident," Korikov said. According to him, the presence of a permanent IAEA monitoring mission at the Zaporizhia NPP is important for Ukraine and the international nuclear community, primarily in terms of informing about the state of nuclear and radiation safety, but agency specialists collect information at the plant virtually manually. At the same time, the Russians continue to operate power unit No. 4 of the Zaporizhia NPP in hot shutdown, which contradicts the conditions of the licenses of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, which clearly defines that all six power units of the Zaporizhia NPP should be operated only in cold shutdown. As the head of the inspectorate said, this fact significantly increases the threat to nuclear and radiation safety at the station in the context of the loss of a reliable source of water supply after the Russians blew up the Kakhovka dam, the lack of stable power supply to the plant from the Ukrainian power system, the lack of proper maintenance and repairs of safety systems and equipment, as well as the presence of industrial site of unauthorized personnel. As reported, on March 7, the IAEA Board of Governors overwhelmingly supported the draft resolution on nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine. The document, in particular, calls on Russia to urgently remove all unauthorized personnel from Zaporizhia NPP, including military personnel, and to immediately return the plant to the full control of Ukraine's competent authorities in accordance with the existing license issued to it by the S State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate. Colourful racing identity Eddie Hayson will remain behind bars after a bail application for an alleged Australia-wide drug supply was dismissed. Hayson, 55, failed to convince a magistrate that he should be granted bail because his urgent foot and dental surgeries were so complex they could not be performed in the prison system. Eddie Hayson arrives at Sydney Airport after his extradition from the Gold Coast following his arrest for a large commercial supply of ice and MDMA Credit: Nikki Short The court heard that the former brothel owner is facing the possibility of a life sentence for the supply of large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs as well as knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group. Police have alleged that on 10 August 2023, Hayson was involved in the planning and transporting of 16 kilograms of methylamphetamine and five kilograms of MDMA from Sydney to Perth via a private plane. The drugs, which had a street value of $5 million, were later seized in Perth. On his last day alive, Marc Kristian Mietus was distant, his speech disjointed. It was Australia Day, 2000. The 21-year-old Melbourne man had travelled north from Brisbane to Booyal, in the Bundaberg region. Marc Mietus had moved to Queensland from Melbourne in the weeks before his disappearance. When he arrived at 143 Booyal Dallarnil Road the property at which he had been staying, on and off in the early hours of the morning, he was asked for his rent money. He explained he needed to call a friend to get the money. He tried to use someone elses phone, but there was no credit. The news Fourteen Queensland road projects that are dependent on federal funding will now cost an extra $2.2 billion and the state government has yet to receive any commitments from Canberra. The projects all still in the planning and pre-construction phase were caught up in a national infrastructure review and did not receive any funding in the Albanese governments midyear budget update. Planned upgrades of the Bruce Highway, and connector roads in Brisbanes north, are dependent on funding. Credit: Glenn Hunt After recalculating their likely cost, the Miles government has an updated list of the in-doubt projects. They include two Bruce Highway projects: the Dohles Rocks Roads to Anzac Avenue upgrade (indicative cost has increased from $250 million to $280 million in six months) and the Gateway Motorway to Dohles Rocks Road upgrade (up from $948 million to $1.93 billion). A doctor who performed corrective surgery on a former patient of Dr Munjed Al Muderis was subsequently the subject of an anonymous complaint to the healthcare watchdog for operating during COVID restrictions. But the complaint was quickly dismissed, and instead the attention of the health commissioner was drawn to the original operation performed by Al Muderis. Dr Munjed Al Muderis and his barrister Sue Chrysanthou, SC (left), and partner Claudia Roberts. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos The incident emerged in an exchange between the barrister representing Al Muderis in his defamation action against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes, and a witness for the media organisations in the Federal Court in Sydney on Friday. Sue Chrysanthou, SC, asked orthopaedic surgeon Andrew Ellis whether he had ever made a complaint about Al Muderis and he affirmed that he had correspondence with the Health Care Complaints Commissioner. Police have shot dead a woman moments after another was allegedly attacked and killed in Melbournes north-east. Victoria Police said officers were called to Kett Street in Lower Plenty about 6.30pm on Friday after reports one woman, aged in her 20s, had seriously assaulted another female aged in her 50s. Upon police arrival, members were challenged by a woman armed with a knife, who was subsequently shot, police said in a statement. That woman, who has yet to be formally identified, died at the scene. The second woman was treated by first responders but also died at the scene. The crime scene was severely contaminated, understandably by police and ambulance in assisting injured members, but later by persons disregarding general crime scene instructions. Loading Emotions were running high, mistakes can be made, but there was a school of thought among some senior police that would underpin a series of decisions that were dumb then and remain dumb now. Noonan believes the initial view was that the murder of two police officers should be treated as any other double murder, failing to acknowledge that such an ambush was an attack on law and order, and by extension on society itself. Does anyone seriously think the assassination of a prime minister would be assigned the same resources as any other murder? It was a full two weeks before the Ty-Eyre taskforce was established, and when it was, it was sent to the 13th floor of the St Kilda Road police building where there were no phones, desks or cupboards. Loading For a period, calls relating to the investigation were sent to homicide. Information was lost because of this move, the review states. This was not a logistical problem but an exercise in bloody-mindedness. When the taskforce requested basic office equipment, detectives were told to find it themselves, resulting in them travelling to police stations begging for spare desks and chairs. They were provided with one computer terminal without software. Police were forced to use pirated software to start inputting information. Melbourne business tycoon Lindsay Fox, who had learned the taskforce was hopelessly under-equipped, donated $50,000 for IT. The police accepted the donation but had a policy that benefactors could not specify how the money was spent. Noonan says it was not used to support the taskforce. Melbourne business tycoon Lindsay Fox, who had learned the taskforce was hopelessly under-equipped, donated $50,000 for IT. Eventually, they were given the new ISYS system for evaluation. Pause here: this was the most important investigation in Australia, and it was provided with an untested computer system. It was down for seven days and eventually crashed without a backup, resulting in the loss of 300 statements. In August 1989 10 months after the murders a new system, valued at $12,000, was purchased. A police surveillance photo of Graeme Jensen, Victor Peirce and Jedd Houghton at the Boronia Shopping Centre in September 1988. Credit: Victoria Police The taskforce was also short on cars. They had a great relationship with a hire car manager that became strained when the police force didnt pay the $40,000 account until the company threatened to repossess the vehicles. They had to engage a cheaper and inferior provider. The listening devices used by police proved to be cheap, nasty, constantly breaking down and easy to detect. This meant police had to break into crooks homes and cars to replace or fix them. Time and again police chose the cheap option rather than the right one. One of the alleged shooters at Walsh Street was Jedd Houghton, who was often armed with four guns (two shoulder and two ankle holsters). He had told friends if he was confronted by police he intended to shoot it out. Despite the likelihood of a fatal confrontation, in a decision that defies common sense, the use of the experts the Special Operations Group (SOG) was initially refused. At the last minute that decision was revoked, and on November 17, 1988, the SOG went to arrest Houghton in a cabin at the Ascot Vale Lodge caravan park at Bendigo. Loading Houghton pointed a gun at police and was shot dead. A search found five loaded guns near Houghton four revolvers and one pistol. I have no doubt that if we rather than the SOG had done that raid, we would have lost members who would have been shot dead, says Noonan. After the suspects were arrested, the taskforce was told it would be disbanded and its office closed. Noonan mutinied and changed the locks. Investigators were sent to new duties, even though the massive brief of evidence for the trial was incomplete. Despite it being one of the most complex cases involving forensics, difficult criminal informers who had become police witnesses, and listening device material, four police three with little experience in court hearings were assigned the preparation. The case involved 960 statements, 11,945 bugged telephone calls, 230 witnesses, 1700 listening device tapes and 700 physical exhibits. Wendy and Victor Peirce in 1987. By that stage, Noonans relationship with his superior officer had broken down to the extent that they needed a go-between to communicate. It created multiple delays. Noonan says: We worked seven-day weeks and 12-hour days to get it ready. It was only finished on the day of the committal it was a disgrace. The key witness was Wendy Peirce, the wife of one of the accused, Victor Peirce. But by the time of the trial, Wendy had changed sides and her testimony was lost. She would later be convicted of perjury and sentenced to jail. Multiple police sources say the delay between charging the suspects and commencing the trial led their star witness to have second thoughts. Years later, Wendy told me: [Walsh Street] was spur of the moment, we were on the run. Victor was the organiser. He just said, They deserved their whack. It could have been me. Jedd was the trigger man, he had the shotgun. Loading Many of Noonans recommendations after Walsh Street, ignored at the time, have been implemented including a taskforce/disaster room ready to go and improved bugging capacity and training. A couple of weeks ago we revealed that country cop Russell Anderson was approached with vital information about the Flemington Crew the armed robbery gang that included the four men charged and acquitted of Walsh Street a year before the murders of the two constables. Anderson approached the armed robbery squad, but the tip was ignored for months and by the time the information was taken seriously it was too late. Here is the twist. The underworld informer, Mr Jones, told police he was offered a contract to kill a chemists wife in Essendon. He refused the job but handed it to another gunman who took the job. Loading That gunman was also connected with the Flemington Crew and became a Walsh Street witness. On May 6, 1988, Anne Louise Crawford, a former primary school teacher and mother of two, was found dead under her 1983 brown Ford Fairlane. The hitman had arranged the crime scene to look as if the car had slipped off the jack as she reached underneath for a wheel nut while trying to change the drivers side front tyre. Police fell for the ruse even though the jack didnt match the car, the victim was wearing smart clothes, she hadnt bothered to put down a protective rug, and both tyres the one to be replaced and the spare were obviously flat. If she was reaching for the nut, why would she have been found on her back, with a fingernail missing and four bruises on her left bicep that seemed to show she had been roughly grabbed? No one seemed concerned. Homicide squad detectives, if notified, would have wondered why two framed photographs on the wall had been displaced as if there was a struggle. But they werent notified, the crime scene was cleaned, and the case treated as an accident, despite Mr Jones claim it was a hit. That is, until a phone call to Crime Stoppers 15 years later from the ex-wife of the gunman, who was known as PS. A cold case investigation led to PS confessing and agreeing to plead guilty if he could serve his time interstate. He was sentenced to 12 years jail. Annes husband, chemist Ron Crawford, was charged with murder. At his trial, his legal team argued PS killed Anne when she found him burgling the family home. Crawford was acquitted by a Supreme Court jury in 2006. A power blackout has plunged the Perth CBD into chaos this morning leaving three workers stranded in lifts. Nearly 2700 Western Power customers in Perth, West Perth and East Perth were left without power for about half an hour this morning. The Western Power outage map. Credit: Western Power That had dropped to about 1777 customers by 8.20am. Department of Fire and Emergency Services officers responded to three callouts for people stuck in lifts. 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 In these Explainers, journey with us to far-flung regions (and some closer to home) to understand the tensions shaping our world. See all 25 stories . The factories run 24/7. Outside, trees obscure the gas tanks that keep them pumping. Guards patrol the perimeter and ask us to delete photos of the buildings. Inside, rare machines perform exquisitely finicky tasks on a nanoscale. Canteens work overtime to feed thousands of specialist employees. The tiny pieces of technology theyre making advanced semiconductors, or microchips are at the centre of a struggle between the United States and China that will help define the 21st century. The chip parts, tinier than viruses, are essential to the phone in your pocket, your car, your microwave. They will power not only the next generation of smart homes but also fighter jets and artificial intelligence. Some 90 per cent of the worlds most advanced chips, including those used by Western powers, come from these factories a few hundred metres apart in Taiwans Silicon Valley, Hsinchu, just over an hours drive south-west of Taipei. Fierce competition among the tech giants, fuelled by an insatiable demand, keeps these sites running hot. Its winner takes all, says Robert Tsao, the billionaire founder of one of the companies, United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC). But the industry, he says, needs to stay highly protected. Otherwise, it could become a hostage. These chips are eye-wateringly costly and devilishly difficult to make, with pinch points along their supply chain. What happens if these chips fall into the wrong hands? Why is there a race to produce them? Why have they become a flashpoint? The light path inside a machine by Dutch company ASML conducts extreme ultraviolet lithography on a silicon wafer. Credit: ASML, digitally tinted Whats a chip? In 1956, three US scientists won a Nobel Prize for inventing transistors, tiny switches (then a centimetre long) that improved on earlier valve technology to become a mainstay of electronics. Two years later, engineers Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce realised electronic systems could be enhanced when many transistors were arranged on whats called an integrated circuit board. (Kilby accepted a Nobel for that breakthrough in 2000.) The transistors have become ever tinier and, therefore, can be packed more densely onto the surface of a chip. Higher density means increased speed and reduced power consumption, says Lan Fu, head of electronic materials engineering at ANU. Advertisement Today, tech companies refer to differences in their chips in nanometres. One nanometre is a billionth of a metre (a grain of rice is 5 million nanometres long.) The Apple iPhone 15 has a three-nanometre chip, while the iPhone 14 has a five-nanometre chip. The differences reflect generations of computing power rather than an actual measurement on a chip. Basically, we are faster, smaller and more powerful, says Bobby, a research and development engineer we speak with from one of the three companies in Hsinchu, TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), which manufactures chips for Apple. (Like many workers we spoke with for this story, Bobby requested to be identified by a pseudonym to protect his employment.) Chinas largest chip producer, the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), is lagging behind the Taiwanese leaders. Beijing has pumped more than $36 billion into SMIC over the past three years, hoping to produce five-nanometre chips by as early as this year, according to the Financial Times. A single rogue atom in the wrong place means ... your silicon chip fails. It is one of the purest things that humankind is capable of making. Author Ed Conway Nowadays, the US makes only a small number of chips. Most US companies send designs to manufacturers overseas, largely in Taiwan and South Korea. The chips can have up to 100 layers; one company involved in making them, ASML, likens them to tiny skyscrapers, thanks to their 3D grids of billions of transistors, which switch on or off to process the lines of zeroes and ones generated by computing code. A 12-inch wafer at a TSMC fabrication plant. Credit: TMSC, digitally tinted Building the chips is an elaborate process. High-quality quartzite is purified by heating it to 1500 degrees and then put through a different heating process to make super-pure polysilicon, says Ed Conway, author of Material World, a book about six of the substances that will shape the future. The whole point of silicon chips is they need to be incredibly pure, Conway tells us from London. A single rogue atom in the wrong place means that your electrical current cant go through, and therefore, your silicon chip fails. It is one of the purest things that humankind is capable of making. Advertisement But thats not all. The second stage of heating is done in a crucible, a bowl-shaped container made from a particularly special type of purified quartzite that only one mining district produces in large quantities: Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Pretty much every microchip in the world will have come into contact, shall we say, with a Spruce Pine crucible, Conway says. If this place goes down, were all in big trouble. Once the silicon cools, a diamond saw slices the sausage into circular wafers that go to fabs, or fabrication plants. Taiwan has the lions share of fabs that produce logic chips the systems that run smartphones and computers while South Koreas facilities build more than half of the worlds memory chips, which store data. The fabs have machines that imprint the shapes of the tiny transistors on each wafer, a process called photolithography. Put simply, a machine shoots light at sensitive chemicals to make patterns on the silicon. Most of the key chemicals in this process are from Japan, and the most advanced of these machines are made by one company, ASML, in the Netherlands. If there were a vast flood in the Netherlands that knocked out that production facility, the machines that make chips would be delayed, and therefore chips would be delayed, says Chris Miller, author of Chip War: The Fight for the Worlds Most Critical Technology. Miller, an associate professor of international history at Tufts University, has visited a fab. People wear hazmat suits in pristine surrounds a speck of dirt can ruin a silicon chip. Its one of the least human environments you can be in; its just mostly robots, and the people who are there are completely covered up as you can barely make out who they are, he tells us from New York. All of the manufacturing is happening at a scale that is far smaller than the human eye [can see]. Unless youre already in mass production, you just cant do it yourself it will be too risky. Maybe even crazy. Chip tycoon Robert Tsao Ed Conway says part of the success of the leading fabs, such as those in Hsinchu, is that they can ensure a high percentage of their transistors work properly. What that underlines is being good at making chips is not just about having the right tools, the right machines and the right buildings; its about running manufacturing plants, he says. UMC founder Robert Tsao puts it like this: The amount of money needed to upgrade technology and equipment is huge. For a high-end semiconductor used in a car, making one piece will take half-a-billion dollars. So, unless youre already in mass production, you just cant do it yourself it will be too risky. Maybe even crazy. Advertisement Billionaire chip pioneer Robert Tsao in his office in Taipei. Credit: Daniel Ceng, digitally tinted All of this investment has made the industry highly secretive. No personal devices are allowed inside TSMC, for example. Each employee is issued with a company phone. The phone has its photo and storage capabilities disabled. It has only one ringtone. On weekends, when employees on call are at Hsinchus Big City shopping centre, many check their pockets to see if theirs is the one ringing. It is high pressure, says Steven, a mask data integration engineer at TSMC. We make products for major clients such as Apple. I joke with my friends that maybe you can buy more iPhones so that my salary will increase. He says the maximum number of errors allowed in chip production is three per day. Any more, and pay can be docked; performance-based bonuses make up two-thirds of wages. TSMC said its annual employee turnover rate was 6.7 per cent and that it encouraged staff to maintain a work-life balance. TSMC is in one of the most competitive industries in the world. In recent years, we have pushed our technology to a world-leading position, a spokesperson said. It is not easy to maintain this position, but the company believes that while hard work is necessary, work is only one part of life. Another worker, Bobby, in research and development at TSMC, says the pressure is worth it. Taiwans universities churn out specialised graduates who are hoovered up by the chip companies, future-proofing the industry. Employees fresh out of uni earn $70,000 a year while those with a PhD take home $100,000 far more than Taiwans average annual wage of $33,000. The technology industry is an oasis in a generally low-paid country, Bobby says. Taiwan makes 90 per cent of the worlds most advanced chips. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted Advertisement Why are chips a flashpoint for the US and China? Chips are the new oil, and America is spending billions to safeguard its supply, declared The Wall Street Journal in 2023. Chips are often described in this way, and the comparison with oil isnt far off the mark, says Greg Allen at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Much of the production of the crude black goop that comes out of the ground is concentrated in a few hands, yet demand for it is global. In the case of semiconductors, this used to be an industry that didnt think a tonne about politics, says Allen. That era is profoundly over; semiconductors are a deeply geopolitically relevant industry. Semiconductors were invented in America But today, the United States produces less than 10 per cent of global supply and none of the most advanced chips. US President Joe Biden In February, President Joe Biden announced the US would invest almost $8 billion in chip research and development. Semiconductors were invented in America and serve as the backbone of the modern economy, Biden said in a statement. But today, the United States produces less than 10 per cent of global supply and none of the most advanced chips. The US wants to wrestle back 20 per cent of the production of these chips by the end of this decade a target its commerce secretary, Gina Raimondo, confirmed in February. Analysts are weighing whether thats achievable. Part of the reason why Korea and Taiwan occupy the position that they do in the semiconductor industry is they can invest rain or shine, Allen says. Its because these $US20-billion ($30bn) facilities take two or three years to bring online. And thats the one question I have for the United States in this area: If your goal is 20 per cent, are you really prepared to invest that? TSMC has pledged to build a $60 billion, four-square-kilometre fab in Arizona, but it has been plagued by delays; its 2026 opening has now been pushed back until 2027 or 2028. There will be a gap, chairman Mark Liu told investors in January. The company has also poured $30 billion into Japan, opening its first fab there in February and announcing plans for a second by the end of 2027, and is looking to build a fab in Germany. Advertisement Factoring in ocean currents, the location of the finds can narrow down the area where MH370 went down in the Southern Indian Ocean with 227 passengers and 12 crew on the morning of March 8, 2014. The debris and satellite communication data disprove conspiracy theories that Russian hijackers landed the plane in Kazakhstan, or that it crashed in the South China Sea. But Gibson says people have staked their reputations, book sales or hopes on such theories, and will do anything to discredit contrary evidence. Were talking about 239 people who lost their lives: A remembrance ceremony for the passengers and crew of MH370 in 2016. Credit: AP He has been too successful, they say. Thus, he must be part of an international plot to hide the truth. The fifth-generation Californian speaks fluent French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and, yes, Russian, sorry. He has been a lawyer, teacher, businessman, consultant, embassy official or student in almost a dozen nations. He acknowledges his full life provides fodder for the conspiracists. You could probably pick bits and pieces of my life and make me into anything you want, he says. But [the rumours] are deeply vicious, very personal and baseless. As ridiculous as they are, I cant bring myself to laugh at them because were talking about 239 people who lost their lives. Its actually very hurtful. Gibsons excellent masala dosa with dipping chutneys. Credit: Arif Kartono For lunch, Gibson picks Saravanaa Bhavan in the Brickfields district, Kuala Lumpurs little India. The masala dosa, a savoury rice crepe stuffed with spiced potato, is his favourite meal, and this is the best place to have it. I order the palak (spinach) dosa. They arrive with dipping chutneys Gibson identifies as mint, coconut and tomato. To drink, we have plain and pineapple lassis. The dosa is just excellent, he says, slowly working towards the end. Ive been eating while he talks and am long finished, spooning whats left of the chutney. I ask if all his adventuring has proved the adage of a rolling stone gathering no moss. He responds that he has dear friends in every corner of the world. An official from Malaysias Department of Civil Aviation briefs reporters on search efforts for MH370 on March 10, 2014 Credit: AP My father was 68 when he had me, so theres still time, he says. I guess a family is one of the great adventures that Ive never done. Malaysia Airlines flight 370 was an otherwise routine red-eye from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Air traffic control lost contact with the cockpit about an hour into the flight over the South China Sea. It was assumed this was where it crashed. But military radar showed the aircraft had turned left over the Malay peninsula. Satellite communications between the plane and British company Inmarsat later suggested the aircraft had turned left again towards the ocean far off the coast of Perth. Seven Australian citizens and residents were on board. All the debris evidence that I and others have found support the Inmarsat data, Gibson says. They support the high-impact crash. They support the big turn south. Rather than say Ive got a theory, Ill say what the evidence tells us, and the evidence tells us this was probably not an accident or a series of accidents. Wreckage from the plane on display inside a shopping centre near Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. Credit: Zach Hope We dont know for certain who was flying it, and we surely dont know why. We need to get the plane to find out. He looks at his bag, and then for something to clean his hands. I dont want to get masala on the debris, he explains. This sorted, he reaches inside and carefully unwraps a plastic bag to produce hand and forearm-sized pieces of what he says are MH370. The authorities arent interested in these, Gibson says. Other than the co-ordinates of where they were found (Riake beach, north-east Madagascar), they hold no answers about the planes demise. Experts prefer he keeps pieces like these to show locals to help them identify bigger, more important sections. Blaine Gibson with the no step piece of the wreckage he found off the Mozambique coast. Credit: Facebook/Blaine Gibson Gibson brought these fragments to Kuala Lumpur to display at the remembrance ceremony, but the families had already arranged larger pieces. So he shows me. With all the technology we have, we are still just copying the bees, he says, lightly running his fingers over the honeycomb design of what he suspects is part of the cabin wall. He has also discovered washed-up personal effects. Things like handbags. But these could have come from anywhere. He reaches into his bag. Theres been no credit cards or passports or luggage tags, he says. But this is a very curious one. A suspected piece of cabin wall with a honeycomb-pattern interior and the remnants of a bag the same colour as a Kuala Lumpur airport duty-free bag. Credit: Zach Hope This is the same colour and design as duty-free bags at Kuala Lumpur airport. Notice that the bottom part and whatever was in it is completely torn off, but its still sealed. Now what would a fisherman in Madagascar be doing with a sealed duty-free bag? The food at Saravanaa Bhavan is cheap, delicious and near his $30-a-night hotel. Being frugal is how he stretches his investments and the sale of his family home to sustain his permanent state of travel. The United Nations recognises 195 countries. Gibson says he has been to 185. The palak [spinach] dosa from Saravanaa Bhavan in Kuala Lumpurs little India. Credit: Arif Kartono Im just an old backpacker, he says. When I was seven, I got a United Nations board game. I memorised all the flags, all the countries, all the capitals, and decided I wanted to go to all of them. He laughs. The thing is, they keep moving the goal posts. New countries keep appearing. He has lived twice in Brazil. For a time, he worked as a lawyer in private practice and for the Washington state Senate. He picked up his Russian language skills from a decade of on-and-off travel to the countries of the Soviet Union during and after its collapse to teach English and help entrepreneurs set up businesses. Adventurer Blaine Gibson at Sundays 10-year remembrance service for flight MH370 in Kuala Lumpur. Credit: Zach Hope Gibson has tried his hand at solving other mysteries, too, including the fate of the Mayan civilisation (they had a revolution and moved to the coast, he says) and the location of the ark of the covenant (Ethiopia, but not where local priests might have you believe). His obsession with MH370 began after hearing a speech from Malaysian lawyer Grace Nathan, whose mother was a passenger, at the one-year anniversary in 2015. Nobody was doing an official search of beaches and shorelines, Gibson says. And I thought, well thats something I can do myself. The Bill Credit: Zach Hope He set to work, first visiting the nations of the Andaman Sea. When an MH370 flaperon, a piece of the right wing, was found on La Reunion Island in 2015, he turned his attention south, meeting with Oceanographers, the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau (which was then leading the Indian Ocean search), and even then-deputy prime minister Warren Truss. All were helpful and enthusiastic, Gibson says. Professor Charitha Pattiaratchi, from the University of Western Australia, advised him to go to Madagascar and Mozambique, so he did. And on February 27, 2016, the Mozambique boat skipper Gibson had hired looked down onto the sandbank to find the soon-to-be famous piece of debris stencilled with the words no step. Here I had in my hands, the second piece of debris from the greatest aviation mystery in history, Gibson says. Loading I had a decision to make: do I keep this quiet or do I go public? I got advice from friends, from the ATSB, from the Australian consul, and I decided people had to know to be on the lookout. We had to get the word out that debris was washing ashore in southern Africa. Because of this decision, more and important pieces of debris have been handed in by locals as far south as South Africa. Gibson says he will keep researching and searching until either the mystery is solved or he can no longer walk, despite the internet conspiracy theorists and disinterest at times from Malaysian authorities. He claims one piece of wreckage, discovered by a fisherman in December 2022, has been collecting dust in Madagascar because Malaysia is yet to pay for its shipment. Washington: The US military confirmed that humanitarian airdrops into the Gaza Strip carried out by other countries killed civilians. The militarys central command, which oversees the Middle East, issued the statement on X, formerly Twitter. Parachutes drop supplies into the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel. Credit: AP It did not identify the countries involved. We are aware of reports of civilians killed as a result of humanitarian airdrops, the statement read. We express sympathies to the families of those who were killed. Contrary to some reports, this was not the result of US airdrops. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the draft memorandum and loan agreement within the Ukraine Facility, which is expected to attract up to EUR 4.5 billion in March and up to EUR 1.5 billion in April 2024, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said. "Today the government is approving two documents that will enable Ukraine to receive EUR 6 billion in March and April of this year," Shmyhal said at a government meeting on Friday. The Prime Minister said we are talking about the approval of the draft memorandum and loan agreement with the EU, which envisages the allocation of up to EUR 4.5 billion in March and up to EUR 1.5 billion in April 2024. "Ukraine will have the resources to fight and win. This is our key goal and we are doing everything necessary for this," he said. As reported, on March 8, Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis said Ukraine will receive the first tranche under the Ukraine Facility program in the amount of EUR 4.5 billion in March 2024, and the second tranche for EUR 1.5 billion will go to April. PHILIPSBURG:--- The participating elementary and high schools are gearing up this Sunday, March 10th, 2024 at the Carib Swim pool in Colebay, for what promises to be another exciting inter-school swim meet. Over the past few weeks, the swimmers from the various school teams have been practicing enthusiastically and consistently to win not only the top individual medals but also the trophies for their respective schools. The elementary inter-school swim meet will begin at 9 am and the High school inter-school swim meet will begin at 3 pm. The participating elementary schools are: Learning Unlimited, St. Dominic Elementary school, Sister. Regina School, Caribbean International Academy (CIA)/ Montessori School, Sister Marie Laurence School and the Browlia F. Maillard Campus (MAC). The high schools that will be competing are the: Milton Peters College (MPC), St. Dominic High School, Learning Unlimited High school, St. Maarten Vocational School (SMVTS), Charlotte Brookson Academy, St. Maarten Academy, Caribbean International Academy (CIA), College Lycee Victor Hugo from the French side and individual swimmers who are homeschooled. Which school will win the coveted first prize? and which school will win the most spirited award? We encourage all parents, guardians, and supporters to come out and support the schools swim teams. This event is being sponsored by St. Maarten Aquatic Federation (SMAF), Caribbean Gems, and Carib Swim Team. Vatican names Google AI boss to scientific academy Vatican City, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 The Vatican on Friday named artificial intelligence pioneer Demis Hassabis, head of Google DeepMind, to its scientific academy, as Pope Francis seeks to influence the expansion of the technology. The 47-year-old Briton was included on a list of experts named to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, alongside Nobel prize-winning physicists Andrea Ghez and Didier Queloz. Founded in 1603, the academy is the Vatican institution that deals with science, technology, medical ethics and philosophy. Its members are not chosen on religious grounds. Pope Francis, 87, published a six-page message in December warning of the dangers of AI and calling for a global treaty to ensure the technology is used in an ethical way. Hassabis founded DeepMind as a start-up in London in 2010. Four years later, it was acquired by US tech giant Google, which last year merged the company with the Brain unit of Google Research to form Google DeepMind. Italy opens probe into OpenAI's new video tool Sora Rome, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 Italy's data protection watchdog said Friday it has launched an investigation into Sora, a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool made by US firm OpenAI. The Italian Data Protection Authority said it was concerned over "the possible implications for the processing of personal data of users located in the European Union and in particular in Italy", and it has asked OpenAI for "clarifications". Sora, unveiled in February but still in a test phase and not yet available to the public, can create realistic videos of up to a minute long via simple user prompts. The watchdog said OpenAI -- which also makes chatbot ChatGPT and the image-generating DALL-E -- has 20 days to provide information on a series of issues. They include what data is collected and used to train the tool, "if it concerns personal data, and if those include certain categories (religious or philosophical beliefs, political opinions, health, sexual life)". It also wants to know if Sora will comply with European data protection rules if it is released in the EU. Italian authorities temporarily blocked OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT at the end of March last year, accusing it of not respecting European regulations and not having a system in place to verify users' ages. Poland wants to achieve bilateral agreement on rules for movement of goods with Ukraine The European Commission has agreed to bilateral agreement between Poland and Ukraine on rules related to the movement of goods, including agricultural products, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Czesaw Siekierski. "We want to achieve bilateral agreement on the rules related to the movement of goods, including agricultural products. We have some agreement on this from the European Commission," the Polish ministry quoted him as saying from a press conference at the Agrotech exhibition. Siekierski said that a meeting with the Ukrainian side, where this issue will be discussed, will take place on Monday, and Polish Minister of Economic Development and Technology Krzysztof Hetman will also take part in it. As reported, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the beginning of the week announced a meeting of the joint intergovernmental Ukrainian-Polish commission on trade and economic cooperation on March 11. Ukraine to demobilise pre-war conscripts Kyiv, Ukraine, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2024 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday signed a decree authorising the demobilisation of conscripts who joined the army before Russia's invasion and whose service has come to an end. The issue of military recruitment is particularly sensitive in Ukraine. It affects conscripts whose military service was due to end before February 24, 2022 but was prolonged due to Russia's invasion, according to a decree by the presidency. February 24, 2022 was the date that Russian troops crossed the border and martial law was established in Ukraine. Authorities did not reveal how many conscripts were affected. Zelensky said during his daily address to the nation that it would take "a few weeks" for the process to be completed but that conscripts would be demobilised "from April". Those concerned would join the ranks of reservists but could also opt to remain in the army. "I know that some of them have already signed a contract to serve in the armed forces," said Zelensky, without revealing how many people that was. The question of military recruitment to replace soldiers that are exhausted after two years of war has become a thorny issue politically and socially. Despite the need to refresh frontline troops, Kyiv is struggling to find volunteers. It comes at a time with the army running short of ammunition and under pressure from advancing Russian troops right along the front line. Last month, the Ukrainian parliament voted on a first reading of a bill to facilitate enlistment, which would allow the country to replace soldiers who are physically and psychologically exhausted. But it sparked a lively debate. The text, which could yet be changed, proposes lowering the mobilisation age from 27 to 25 and to limit military service in wartime to 36 months. Many ordinary Ukrainians are worried about conscription, with videos circulating on social media that show the heavy-handed enlistment of young men, while information has also spread about the whereabouts of police officers distributing summonses in public spaces. French troops to stay in Chad: Macron envoy N'Djamena, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2024 France will keep troops in junta-run Chad as it retreats elsewhere in Africa following crises with other military regimes, an envoy for French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. French influence in its former West African colonies has waned as military rulers battling jihadist rebellions in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger expelled its troops and strengthened ties with Russia. Around 1,000 French troops are stationed in Chad, one of a dwindling number of French allies in the region and ruled by General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno since 2021. "Of course we will stay" in Chad, said Jean-Marie Bockel, Macron's envoy for Africa charged with discussing France's new military footprint on the continent. Macron has requested talks with Chadian authorities on "an evolution" of France's military deployment to "better adapt it" to regional security and military challenges, Bockel added after meeting Deby Itno in N'Djamena. Bockel also said he expressed to Deby Itno France's "admiration" for Chad's transition to civilian rule, a process that began after the junta chief took power following more than three decades of his father's iron-fisted rule. Deby Itno will run in a May 6 presidential election returning power to civilian rule that he looks all but certain to win, with major opposition figures exiled, coopted or killed. His main rival and cousin Yaya Dillo Djerou was killed last week in what his party called an "execution". The government said Dillo violently resisted his arrest in a shoot-out with soldiers. Deby Itno, 39, initially pledged to return power to civilians within 18 months but pushed back the date by another two years. He also previously said he would not contest the election. N.Korean leader oversees artillery drills near border Seoul, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2024 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a large-scale artillery drill amid Pyongyang's fury at US-South Korea joint exercises that began this week, state media reported Friday. The drills on Thursday "aimed to increase the combat readiness posture and actual war capability," the KCNA state news agency reported, as tensions mount between Pyongyang and Seoul. The live-fire drills involved border units "that put the enemy's capital in their striking range," the KCNA report said, and came a day after Kim visited a base in the country's western region. North Korea on Tuesday warned that Seoul and Washington would pay a "dear price" over the large-scale military exercises, known as "Freedom Shield" that started Monday, urging the allies to cease "frantic war drills". So far this year, Pyongyang has declared South Korea its "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement. Washington and Seoul started their annual spring military exercises with double the number of troops participating compared to 2023, to enhance their preparedness in responding to the ever-escalating nuclear threats from Pyongyang, they have said. North Korea has long condemned joint US-South Korea military drills, calling them rehearsals for an invasion. The nuclear-armed North has in the past carried out weapons tests as a response to such joint exercises. Seoul said on Tuesday that its military was thoroughly prepared for North Korea's possible provocations. As he watched the drills on Thursday, Kim "expressed his great satisfaction" that the units are "fully ready for constant mobilization for battles," according to KCNA. On Wednesday, he visited a major operational training base base in the country's western region with photos released afterward showing him talking with camouflaged troops and overseeing firing drills. US soldier arrested for selling defense secrets to China Washington, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2024 A US Army intelligence analyst was arrested on Thursday for allegedly providing national defense information to China. Sergeant Korbein Schultz, who held a top-secret security clearance, was taken into custody at Fort Campbell, a military base on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, the Justice Department said in a statement. Schultz' indictment did not identify the country he was allegedly supplying with sensitive military information, but press reports identified it as China. According to the indictment, Schultz, since June 2022, provided a contact in Hong Kong with documents, maps and photographs relating to US national defense. Schultz was allegedly paid a total of $42,000 for the information. The Justice Department said it included information about potential US plans in the event that Taiwan came under military attack. It also included documents related to fighter aircraft and helicopters, hypersonic equipment, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and studies about the US and Chinese military. Schultz' indictment comes shortly after the arrests in California of two US Navy sailors on charges of spying for China. Petty officer Wenheng Zhao was sentenced to 27 months in prison in January after pleading guilty to charges of conspiring with a foreign intelligence officer and accepting a bribe. Zhao and another US sailor, Jinchao Wei, were arrested in August. Sweden finally joins NATO, ending non-alignment, in Ukraine war shadow Washington, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 Sweden on Thursday became the 32nd member of NATO, turning the page on two centuries of non-alignment and capping two years of tortuous diplomacy after Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered new fears. Days after Hungary followed key holdout Turkey and became the last NATO member to sign off, Sweden ceremonially handed over accession documents to the United States, the leading force of the transatlantic alliance that promises joint security for all. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson late Thursday attended as a guest at the annual State of the Union address of President Joe Biden, whose rival Donald Trump has disparaged NATO as unfairly burdening the United States. "Mr Prime Minister, welcome to NATO, the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen," Biden said as he recognized Kristersson, who sat in the gallery next to First Lady Jill Biden. Biden urged the House leadership of the Republican Party to move on billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine, saying, in a dig at Trump, that "I will not bow down" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you he will not," Biden said. - 'Victory for freedom' - Kristersson, at an accession ceremony at the State Department, called joining NATO "a major step but, at the same time, a very natural step." "It's a victory for freedom today. Sweden has made a free, democratic, sovereign and united choice to join NATO," he said. He later delivered a televised address to the nation from Washington, telling Swedes: "We are a small country, but we understand more than most the importance of the greater world beyond our borders." Secretary of State Antony Blinken said few would have expected Sweden as well as Finland to join NATO before Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. There is "no clearer example than today of the strategic debacle that Putin's invasion of Ukraine has become for Russia," Blinken said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also hailed Sweden's membership, saying: "One more country in Europe has become more protected from Russian evil." - Overcoming Turkish reluctance - Sweden has not fought in a war since the Napoleonic conflicts of the early 19th century. Sweden and Finland, while militarily intertwined with the United States and both members of the European Union, had historically steered clear of joining NATO, formed in the Cold War to unite against the Soviet Union. Finland and Sweden launched a joint bid quickly after the invasion of Ukraine, which itself had unsuccessfully sought to join NATO. Finland successfully joined in April 2023, but Sweden's membership was stalled by Turkey. "Good things come to those who wait," Blinken said as he received the documents from Sweden. Russia has vowed "countermeasures" over Sweden's entry into NATO, especially if the alliance's troops and assets deploy in the country. Sweden's blue and yellow flag is expected to be hoisted on Monday at the Brussels headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance. Before agreeing to ratify membership, Turkey used its leverage to press Sweden, known for its liberal asylum policies, to crack down on Kurdish militants who have campaigned against Ankara. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later demanded action after protesters, enjoying Swedish laws on free speech, desecrated Islam's holy book the Koran. In a clear if unstated sweetener, the United States dangled the sale of F-16 warplanes to Turkey, which has faced the wrath of US sanctions over an earlier major military purchase from Russia. The Biden administration in January approved $23 billion in F-16 warplanes for Turkey swiftly after it ratified Sweden's membership. The United States simultaneously pushed ahead with $8.6 billion in more advanced F-35 jets for Greece, a fellow NATO member and historic adversary of Turkey. Even after Turkey's blessing, Sweden faced another obstacle as it needed approval of a last country -- Hungary, whose nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orban, has often thumbed his nose at Western allies. The Hungarian parliament ratified Sweden's membership on February 26. But in one last hiccup, Hungary could not sign the accession document due to a brief absence in the mostly ceremonial post of president, after an Orban ally resigned over pardoning a convicted child abuser's accomplice. India raids network sending citizens to fight for Russia New Delhi, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 Indian authorities said they had detained members of a "trafficking" network sending citizens of the country to fight for the Russian army in Ukraine after raiding several travel agents. Two years since Russia's invasion began, tens of thousands of its soldiers have been killed in Ukraine and Moscow is on a global quest for more troops. At least two Indian soldiers have been killed in the conflict, with several recruits telling AFP they were shipped to the frontlines under false pretences. Investigators from India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids across 13 locations on Thursday and detained "certain suspects" for questioning, according to a statement issued late that evening. "These traffickers have been operating as an organized network and were luring Indian nationals through social media channels like Youtube etc. and also through their local contacts/agents for highly paid jobs in Russia," the statement said. "Trafficked Indian Nationals were trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes." The CBI said it had established "around 35 instances" of Indians being sent to Russia but added it was working to identify more potential victims. India's foreign ministry had earlier said it was working to secure discharges for around 20 Indian nationals in the Russian army. The CBI named four suspects in the network including Dubai-based recruitment agent Faisal Khan, who had advertised Russian army jobs on his social media channel Baba Vlogs. Khan told AFP last month that he had helped facilitate the travel of 16 Indian passport holders to Russia late last year for what he said were support roles in the army. He said he had been "taken aback" when recruits were issued weapons, and "decided to put a stop to the recruitment process." Several Indian recruits told AFP in February that they were lured into joining up by promises of high salaries and Russian passports before being shipped to the frontlines. The soldiers who spoke with AFP said they had been promised non-combatant roles but were trained to use Kalashnikov assault rifles and other weapons before being sent to Ukraine. India is a longstanding ally of Russia and has shied away from explicit condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine. Unemployment remains high despite rapid economic growth in India and huge numbers seek work abroad each year. N. Korea's Kim guides drills with border units capable of striking Seoul Seoul, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided a large-scale live-fire artillery drill involving a unit Pyongyang says is capable of striking the South Korean capital, the North's state media said Friday. So far this year, Pyongyang has declared South Korea its "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement. Pyongyang's latest announcement came after Washington and Seoul started their annual spring military exercises Monday with double the number of troops participating compared to 2023. The North's live-fire drills on Thursday involved border units "that put the enemy's capital in their striking range," Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, referring to Seoul. Kim urged his soldiers to "vigorously push forward the work for making preparations for regular combat mobilisation" to "take the initiative with merciless and rapid strikes" in the event of an "actual war", according to KCNA. Seoul's military also confirmed the North had carried out live-fire artillery drills involving rocket launchers and self-propelled howitzers. They took place in North Korea's western port city of Nampho toward the Yellow Sea, it added. "Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's signs of provocation ... while maintaining a firm joint defense posture and conducting the ongoing Freedom Shield exercises and joint drills," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. "If North Korea commits a provocation, we will punish overwhelmingly and firmly in accordance with the principle of 'immediately, strongly, and until the end'". North Korea on Tuesday warned that Seoul and Washington would pay a "dear price" over the large-scale military exercises, urging the allies to cease "frantic war drills". North Korea has long condemned joint US-South Korea military exercises, calling them rehearsals for an invasion. The nuclear-armed North has in the past carried out weapons tests as a response to such joint exercises. As he watched the drills on Thursday, Kim "expressed his great satisfaction" that the units are "fully ready for constant mobilization for battles," according to KCNA. On Wednesday, he visited a major operational training base in the country's western region, with photos released afterward showing him talking with troops and overseeing firing drills. Last week, South Korea's hawkish President Yoon Suk Yeol called for the international community to back "unification efforts" to "free" everyone on the peninsula. Russian occupiers continue to attack populated areas of the south with drones, 30 barrage shells of the type of Shahed-131/136 were shot down, the command of the Defense Forces of southern Ukraine reported on Tuesday morning. "For three hours, the air defense units were repelling waves of shaheds that came in different directions and maneuvered difficult, terrorizing civilians. Thirty Shahed-131/136 type barrage shells were shot down in our operational area. In the skies of Odesa region 18, Kirovohrad region 8, 2 each in Mykolaiv and Kherson region," the message posted on the Telegram channel says. According to the Southern Defense Forces, an infrastructure facility in Odesa region was hit. "Unfortunately, it was not possible to avoid hits. An infrastructure facility has been damaged in Odesa region, the buildings of which have been mothballed for a long time. There was a fire in the open area, which was promptly eliminated. There was no information about the victims," the message says. Two killed in Iraq strike blamed on Turkey Arbil, Iraq, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 Two people were killed Friday in a strike on the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, an official said, accusing Turkey of being behind the raid. Turkey frequently carries out ground and air operations on positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -- which has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state -- in northern Iraq. "Two people were killed and two others wounded while they were picking herbs after Turkish warplanes launched strikes" on a remote village in the mountainous region of Sheladiz in Dohuk province, said Razkar Sarki, an official in Sheladiz district. Local media said two civilians were killed in the raid. The Turkish military rarely comments on its operations in Iraq. On February 20, two civilians were killed in a strike that was also blamed on Turkey, security and health officials said at the time. Turkey has over the past 25 years operated several dozen military bases in northern Iraq in its war against the PKK, which Ankara and its Western allies consider a "terrorist" group. Both Baghdad and the regional government of the Iraqi Kurdistan region have been accused of tolerating Turkey's military activities to preserve their close economic ties. Czech-led collection can get Ukraine 300,000 shells: PM Prague, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 The Czech Republic prime minister said Friday an international initiative to buy arms for Ukraine from outside Europe had raised enough money to buy 300,000 shells, revising down figures given by the president. President Petr Pavel said Thursday Ukraine would get 800,000 shells within weeks as 18 donor countries had pledged funding. "We have managed to raise enough money to buy the first batch of 300,000 artillery shells," Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in an update. "However, our goal is to deliver much more! We keep seeking partners so that we can continue to support Ukraine in its brave fight against the Russian aggressor," he added on X, formerly Twitter. Europe has struggled to provide enough munitions for Ukraine. European Union nations had promised one million shells by the end of March but has fallen well short in deliveries. But Pavel told a security conference in Munich last month that the Czech Republic -- an EU and NATO member of 10.8 million people -- was able to collect a substantial amount of weaponry for Ukraine outside the continent. He said at the time that, working with Canada and Denmark, the Czechs had "identified" 500,000 rounds of 155-millimetre and 300,000 122-millimetre shells. The Financial Times had previously reported Prague wanted to raise $1.5 billion to pay for the munitions. Ukrainian forces have for months been contending with a lack of ammunition as they try to hold off Russian troops, which invaded in February 2022. Kyiv's backers have sent millions of their own shells to Ukraine, but stocks are running low. Some EU allies have been reluctant to channel military spending outside Europe. And a US aid package worth $60 billion has been held up amid wrangling in Congress. Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden are among countries contributing to the Czech-led project. The Netherlands has pledged 100 million euros ($109 million), while Germany has offered a "three-digit million euro sum". frj/amj/tw Guinea-Bissau to try senior figures over 'attempted coup' Bissau, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 Top political and military figures in Guinea-Bissau, including opponents of the president, are to be tried for their role in what was described as an attempted coup in 2022, according to an inquiry document sent to AFP on Friday. On February 1, 2022, heavily armed men attacked government buildings in the capital Bissau where President Umaro Sissoco Embalo was believed to be attending a cabinet meeting. The government said 11 people were killed in a five-hour gun battle but the president emerged unscathed. He later described the plot as linked to his fight against drug trafficking and corruption. The list of 20 people facing trial includes former prime ministers Domingos Simoes Pereira and Nuno Gomes Nabiam, former chiefs of staff Antonio Indjai and Jose Zamora Induta, and several MPs. The document from the "independent commission of inquiry" set up after February's events presents former navy chief Jose Americo Bubu Na Tchuto as the "presumed leader of the coup attempt". "Following the ongoing investigation into the attack on the government palace with automatic weapons, the above-mentioned personalities will be brought to justice to answer for the crimes they are alleged to have committed," the document said. No date was given for the trial. "Whoever is found guilty will pay for their actions. People cannot go unpunished," Embalo said Thursday, referring to the case, among others. Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, the small West African nation has seen a series of coups and coup attempts. Volatility, poverty and a porous coastline have made the country a hub for cocaine trafficking between Latin American and Europe, with senior figures in the security forces implicated in the trade. It has moved towards a return to constitutional order since 2014, but this has not spared it from turbulence and a state of chronic political crisis. In December 2023, the country saw clashes between members of the National Guard and special forces of the presidential guard, which left two people dead. The president described the violence as an "attempted coup". Torture part of Russia's war policy in Ukraine: UN expert Geneva, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 Russian armed forces and associated groups systematically use torture in occupied areas of Ukraine, pointing to a "deliberate policy", a United Nations expert said on Friday. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, said she had drawn that conclusion following a visit to war-torn Ukraine in September. "The volume of credible allegations of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or humiliating treatment or punishment (indicate that) torture is an element of Russia's war policy," she told the UN Human Rights Council. "These grievous crimes appear to be neither random nor incidental." Speaking to reporters, Edwards said Ukrainian prosecutors had told her there were around 103,000 open cases related to war crimes and crimes against humanity, of which 90 percent were registered as torture cases. Edwards, who said she had personally examined dozens of cases involving alleged abuse by Russian forces and their allies, said there was clearly "an intent and purpose to carrying out the torture that cannot be described away as aberrant behaviour or ad hoc behaviour". In a report following her visit, Edwards found that "torture has been carried out in an organised and systematic manner", with the same practices allegedly carried out across different occupied regions. Her findings, she told the council, point "to direct authorisation and a deliberate policy". - Torture 'never permissible' - Edwards and other special rapporteurs are independent rights experts, who are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but do not speak on behalf of the UN. On Friday, she said reiterated a plea for Moscow to "issue a strong and unequivocal directive ... that torture is never permissible and that it will be punished". Edwards, who has been denied access to Russia, also urged the country to "open investigations into these allegations and allow international monitors into all places of deprivation of liberty and to observe criminal proceedings". Turning to the conditions Russian prisoners of war face in Ukrainian custody, she said "sincere efforts were being made by the Ukrainian authorities to treat POWs respectfully". Her report did, however, raise concerns about conditions in one penal facility in Lviv, where Ukrainian nationals charged with collaborating with the Russians were being held. And she said she had received "several allegations of abusive treatment by Ukrainian officials", mainly in connection with the capture, arrest and transit of prisoners. "I call on the Ukrainian authorities to investigate such allegations promptly, to reinforce training and disciplinary and other preventive measures, and to guarantee the protection of all legal rights of all complainants and detainees," she said. US ends grounding of Ospreys that began after deadly crash Washington, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 The three-month grounding of American V-22 Ospreys implemented after a deadly crash ended Friday, with changes to maintenance allowing the tilt-rotor aircraft to return safely to flight, the US military said. A US Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan in late November, killing all eight people on board and prompting the decision the following month to ground the aircraft, which have been involved in a series of accidents in recent years. "Effective March 8, 2024 at 7:00 am EST, Naval Air Systems Command is issuing a flight clearance for the V-22 Osprey thereby lifting the grounding," NAVAIR said in a statement on its website. "This decision follows a meticulous and data-driven approach prioritizing the safety of our aircrews," the command said, adding that "maintenance and procedural changes have been implemented to address the materiel failure" that led to the crash, allowing "for a safe return to flight." The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) said that following the NAVAIR announcement, it is "implementing a multi-phased approach to ensure our aircrew, maintainers and aircraft are ready to resume flight operations." It will begin with ground and simulator training, followed by a multi-month program to improve proficiency, and then a return to "full mission profiles, multi-lateral exercises and operational taskings and deployments," AFSOC said in a statement. Osprey aircraft -- which can take off and land vertically like a helicopter and also fly like an airplane -- have suffered a string of fatal accidents, including a crash in northern Australia that killed three US Marines in August, and another in Norway during NATO training exercises in 2022 that left four dead. Three Marines were killed in 2017 when another Osprey crashed off Australia's north coast and 19 Marines died when their Osprey crashed during drills in Arizona in 2000. The United States temporarily grounded the aircraft in Japan in 2016 after an Osprey crash-landed off Okinawa, sparking anger among locals. Ukrainian FM warns West against 'dripping aid' to Kyiv Vilnius, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 Ukraine's foreign minister on Friday warned Western allies against "dripping aid" to Kyiv, saying timely deliveries of military supplies would ensure the war "does not spill over". "The strategy of dripping aid to Ukraine drop by drop doesn't work anymore," Dmytro Kuleba said during a visit to Vilnius. "It's over and, if things continue as they currently happen, it's not going to end well for all of us," he added. He called for an "unrestricted and timely supply of weapons and ammunition to ensure that Ukraine beats Russia". "We have to accept as a new reality that the era of peace in Europe is over," he added. Kuleba called for international training, as well as arms maintenance and production to be set up in Ukraine, saying this would create a logistical advantage for his country. "Cost efficiency, time efficiency and, most importantly, victory efficient way of doing things is to do things not only abroad but also in Ukraine," he said. Kuleba also urged anyone doubting that the war could go beyond Ukraine's borders to "wake up, read history books". "Weak decisions, more war, strong decisions, end of war. It's simple," he said, adding: "For how long will we continue to stumble over weak decisions in 2024?" "When Ukraine has everything it needs, we shoot down Russian planes, we liberate our territories, we sink Russian ships, we prevail," he said. Pentagon says no evidence of secret US work on alien tech Washington, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 Has the United States confirmed sightings of alien craft, or worked to reverse-engineer extraterrestrial technology? A more than 60-page Pentagon report released Friday says no, pouring cold water on popular conspiracy theories about government cover-ups of contact with aliens. The report was mandated by Congress, which required the submission to lawmakers of a "written report detailing the historical record of the United States government relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs)," more commonly known as UFOs. The Defense Department's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) "found no evidence" that any government investigation, academic research or official review "has confirmed that any sighting of a UAP represented extraterrestrial technology." Instead, "all investigative efforts, at all levels of classification, concluded that most sightings were ordinary objects and phenomena and the result of misidentification," said the report. It also "found no empirical evidence for claims that the USG and private companies have been reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology." AARO said the inaccurate reverse-engineering claims are "in large part the result of circular reporting from a group of individuals who believe this to be the case, despite the lack of any evidence." In putting together the report -- the first of two volumes -- AARO reviewed US investigative efforts since 1945, researched archives, conducted more than two dozen interviews and worked with intelligence and defense officials responsible for oversight of controlled and special access programs. Sean Kirkpatrick, the since-retired head of AARO, told lawmakers last year that it had not identified signs of alien activity. AARO "has found no credible evidence thus far of extraterrestrial activity, off-world technology, or objects that defy the known laws of physics," Kirkpatrick said. 'Worth the wait': Swedish troops relish NATO leap Alta, Norway, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 Swedish marines on Friday peered out from their assault vessel as part of a vast NATO military exercise to simulate repelling an invasion of neighbouring Norway. After a ceremony in Washington less than 24 hours earlier, the troops marked their country's first full day as a member of the US-led alliance after two centuries of non-alignment. Sweden's push to join -- along with that of Finland -- was sparked two years ago by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Opposition from first Turkey and later Hungary held up Stockholm's entry for months longer than other allies hoped. "I think it was definitely worth the wait," combat boat commander Karl-Johan Ryden, 21, told AFP, as he watched over the frigid Arctic waters. "It's been a long process," weighed in Major Joakim Sjorgren. "But we always figured it's going to be a yes, some way along the way. So we've been prepared for it." The Nordic Response exercise -- part of NATO's biggest drills since the Cold War -- is far from the first time Swedish troops have trained with alliance members. Sweden has for years been a close partner of NATO and worked with its Nordic neighbours on defence. But now Stockholm has taken the giant leap of becoming the 32nd member of the club of nations bound together by their Article 5 commitment to defend each other. "I would say that for the tactical level, on the unit level, for soldiers and officers, this is not that big of a change because we have been training with NATO and having operations with NATO since the early 2000s," Sweden's commander for joint operations Carl-Johan Edstrom, one of the country's top officers, told AFP. "But for Sweden in general it's a big change. It's the biggest change for 200 years -- it's a mental shift." - 'New era' - Senior Norwegian military commander Vice Admiral Rune Andersen said that Sweden's membership -- on the back of Finland joining NATO last year -- opened up "a new era in how we do defence cooperation in the Nordic region". "We've been working together for a long time, but the membership removes the rest of the hurdles," he told AFP aboard a Norwegian coast guard ship. Andersen said Sweden could now be fully plugged into NATO's secure lines and its territory and capabilities put to the alliance's use. "But perhaps more importantly is that it's only full membership of NATO that provides that mutual support within the Article 5 obligation on all sides," he said. US Vice Admiral Douglas Perry, who heads NATO's Norfolk command that oversees the Atlantic and Arctic regions, said Sweden's membership now meant it could be incorporated fully into the alliance's new plans for a Russian attack. "They bring a lot to the table," Perry said, pointing to Sweden's strategic location between the Artic and the Baltic Seas. Sweden joins NATO at a time when fears of a possible conflict between the alliance and Russia have risen as Moscow's forces push back Ukraine two years into the war there. Onboard the Swedish marine vessel, new recruit Vera Nylander leaned on a machine gun as she thought about the chances that exercises might one day become real combat. "I'll take it when and if it comes," she said. "I think we are ready, we are prepared for it and we are trained for it if it happened." Over the past day, about 18 settlements of Kharkiv region were shelled by the Russian occupation forces, there are victims and injured among the civilian population, said head of the Regional Military Administration Oleh Synehubov. "From 22:14 to 23:00, a series of attacks on Kupyansk were recorded. In total, private houses and cars were damaged. An injured 36-year-old man was rescued from the rubble. A 64-year-old woman and a 58-year-old man were killed," Synehubov wrote on his Telegram channel. He also said that as a result of an enemy S-300 strike on Chuhuyiv around midnight, seven civilians were injured (four men, a 41-year-old woman, a 16-year-old boy and a girl of 3 years and 8 months). As a result of the shelling, windows in a 9-storey residential building were blown out. The facade of the shopping center, bank, store, hotel, and 13 cars were damaged. The day before in Vovchansk, a direct hit of a controlled aerial bomb into a private house was recorded. As a result, a 40-year-old woman died, a 67-year-old resident received minor injuries. She didn't need to be hospitalized. In addition, at least 12 private residential buildings were damaged. As a result of the shelling of Basiv, the warehouse building of the agricultural enterprise, the club building, the library building and the power line were partially damaged. No injuries were reported. After the Bundestag session, Zurab Adeishvili, former Minister of Justice of Georgia and former Prosecutor General, who was convicted in absentia, and Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, met with the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, at the European Commission in Brussels.According to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the meeting addressed issues regarding holding war criminals and those involved in corruption accountable."To achieve this goal, we are enhancing our cooperation in terms of mutual legal assistance and extradition," Kostin remarked.Additionally, the meeting addressed the tightening of sanctions against Russia and the ongoing reform of Ukraine's law enforcement system.Shalva Papuashvili, Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, stated that the opposition lacks both initiative and concrete ideas to offer. Instead, their focus lies solely on determining direction from external sources.According to Papuashvili, the ruling party consistently poses a question to the opposition, inquiring about their critiques of Georgian justice and requesting them to pinpoint specific issues within the system. Nevertheless, he observed that they were incapable of furnishing any concrete examples or specific instances of perceived injustice.Additionally, Papuashvili mentioned that only four opposition MPs attended the discussion of draft laws in the Parliament on March 6th."We ask them what specific aspects of Georgian justice they dispute and dislike. Name the decision that is unfair. They could not name it. Why can't they name it? Wherever they attempted to name it, fingers were burned. They cited the Rustavi 2 case as an example, attacking Georgian judges. What happened after five years? Strasbourg ruled that the judges were accurate and that NGOs, embassies, and the opposition were false. They should at least apologize before discussing Georgian justice," Papuashvili stated. The UK will supply more than 10,000 drones to Ukraine during 2024, Defense Minister Grant Shapps said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, the UK government press service reports. "Britain steps up support to Ukraine today with a complete package of GBP325 million for cutting-edge drones to help fight Putins illegal invasion. The investment, which will deliver more than 10,000 drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces will harness the UKs world-leading defense industries to deliver advanced new drone capabilities to Ukraine throughout 2024," the report says. "The now GBP325 million overall funding commitment will deliver over 10,000 uncrewed platforms the majority of which are first-person view (FPV) drones, 1,000 one-way attack drones which have been researched and developed in the UK, as well as surveillance and maritime drones," it reads. "I am ramping up our commitment to arm Ukraine with cutting-edge new drones coming directly from the UKs world-leading defense industries straight from the factory floor to the frontline. I encourage international partners to join the UK in this effort," Grant Shapps said. "Ukraines Armed Forces are using UK donated weapons to unprecedented effect, to help lay waste to nearly 30% of Russias Black Sea Fleet," he added. "These drones have proven highly effective on the battlefield since Russias full-scale invasion, providing situational awareness to target enemy positions and armored vehicles. Ukrainian forces have also used these drones effectively to strike at the heart of Russias Navy. With more than a GBP100 million of this package being spent on maritime capabilities, Ukraine will continue to turn the tide in the Black Sea," the report says. Following a meeting of the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group last month, which convenes more than 50 countries in providing military support to Ukraine, the Defense Secretary announced that the UK would co-lead an international capability coalition with Latvia to bolster Ukraines drone capabilities. Continuing our season looking at the SME market, we're looking at what happens when you're start-up is a hit? What do you do next? My mum is called Sakthirany, the kind of long composite name Sri Lankans are fond of. It means "energy queen" and, my god, is she one. Like many immigrant mothers, she did two jobs, went to night school to learn English, psychology and other passions and cooked and cleaned for a household of eight. When one of us came down with a stinking cold, she would make this sarakku curry, or medicine curry as we all called it in our house. Coriander brings down your temperature, turmeric is anti-inflammatory and is best absorbed with black pepper, garlic destroys bacteria and chicken, I am told, is full of healing properties. When I left school I attended the London College of Fashion near Oxford Street to study journalism. I needed an affordable place nearby so moved into the YWCA on Great Russell Street, opposite the British Museum an excellent location for mine and [Bananarama bandmate] Kerens teenage clubbing in Soho. Then our friend, Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook, offered to move us into an office above their rehearsal room in Denmark Street. Visibility of black travellers has long been a glaring issue, resulting in the birth of the Black Travel Movement, a global campaign which began in 2013 and focused on uplifting black travellers and authentically representing them. The movement is this generations version of The Green Book, a travel guide first published by Victor Hugo Green between 1936 to 1966 and used then as a guide for African American travellers in the era of Jim Crow and sun down towns. A collaborative study by the Women in Travel CIC, and the university of Surrey School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, revealed the issue of diversity and inclusion in tourism marketing in the UK, which hinders many people of colour from holidaying in certain countries. The report also revealed that safety and concerns over racism were many of the contending factors for ethnic travellers. It is not known for sure whether it was Bath or Paige who manned the Rhib and sailed it solo from the Chatham Albatross, which was waiting nearby, to the cruise. Gerry Murphy, president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions also addressed the crowds, and described the statues as important recognition of two of the most important female historical figures in our city. For 27 years, May has served as the representative for Maidenhead in Berkshire. She led the nation following the Brexit referendum. During her time in Downing Street, she was appointed junior local government minister by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who described her as a "relentless campaigner" who had been "fiercely loyal" to Maidenhead. He observed that she "defines what it means to be a public servant". She wrote on X."Just like Russia has been excluded from competitions and Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine, Israel should be excluded until it puts an end to its flagrant violations of international law, which are causing thousands of victims, especially children. Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, said that he arrived in Ukraine on Friday, March 8. "It is a great honor to return to Ukraine, which is courageously repelling the brutal and illegal aggression of Russia, as well as to once again express the firm support of the European Union. Ukraine and its people have already made their clear choice, whatever the Kremlin has in mind. Their future is in Europe," he wrote on the social network X. Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, also said that she was glad to welcome Dombrovskis back to Kyiv on this special day. Happy International Womens Day! Symbolically under my favourite statue of St. Olha wearing a bullet proof vest, she said on X, attaching a photo. In 2019, Dowden revealed that she was suffering from Crohns disease, and fronted the BBC programme Strictly Amy: Crohns And Me, in which she spoke about her battle with the condition and met other people with Crohns to hear about their experiences. During the day, the Ukrainian military eliminated about 880 enemy personnel, 11 tanks, 19 armored combat vehicles, 25 artillery systems, two MLRS units, three air defense systems, 35 UAVs, 75 units of auto and special equipment, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports. "The total combat losses of the enemy from February 24, 2022 to March 8, 2024 approximately amount to: about 422,310 people of military personnel (plus 880) people, 6,706 tanks (plus 11) units, 12,798 armored combat vehicles (plus 19) units, 10,375 artillery systems (plus 25) units, 1,011 MLRS units (plus two) units, 704 units of air defense equipment (plus three) units, 347 aircraft units, 325 helicopters, 7,998 operational-tactical UAVs (plus 35), 1,919 cruise missiles, 26 ship /boats, one submarine, 13,598 automotive equipment and tankers (plus 66) units, and 1,656 units of special equipment (plus nine)," a message posted on Facebook on Friday morning says. Research should be in style and young people should follow the path of science, believes Dr. Eng. Bianca Musat, a specialist at the Buzau Plant Genetic Resources Bank (BRGV). The career of a researcher often starts in school, where students prepare themselves early on, accumulating the notions of exact sciences. Mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology are the basic subjects through which young people gradually enter the university environment and then prepare for the scientific world. Bianca Musat, one of the seven specialists who form the BRGV research team, discovered her passion for science as a student in the Philology department. "I wanted something different from all my colleagues. I wanted to get into a niche, I didn't know exactly where I was going. I graduated from 'Mihai Eminescu' College, Philology section, I had no practical connection with biology, with the world of plants. I wanted something practical, a university that would give me a profession. It seemed much more practical and relevant and so I chose the Faculty of Horticulture, pushed by my father who told me to go towards this world that pleases our eyes and, why not, from which we live and which brings us health. It is an extraordinary faculty, which reveals the secrets of the universe and you understand that all forms of life - man, animal, plant - are subject to the same laws, it is so simple and in fact we complicate everything," Bianca Musat told AGERPRES. After completing her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Horticulture of the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) Bucharest, the young researcher received support from a mentor, in order to enter the world of science more easily. "We are talking about the year 2011 when I entered into research alongside Dr. Eng. Costel Vinatoru, who is still my mentor today. I had no experience, I liked this idea, I loved plants from all points of view, from all adjacent fields, I mean vegetable growing, floriculture, ornamental flowers. If you don't have a research mentor, it's hard in Romania, because it's an environment where everyone does his own work, but young researchers are not really involved in certain projects, it's very hard to get into this field. It's the lack of confidence, the lack of experience, plus there is the secret of research. There are collections of plants that you can't leave to just anyone. If we're talking about tomatoes, we have over 5,000, even 6,000 varieties. If we get a line code wrong, that means 40 years of research are gone," reveals Bianca Musat. Shortly after graduation, the first career problems arose, as well as those related to the financial and working conditions. Paradoxically, the situations encountered produced the biggest change in the young woman's career, moving from the Vegetable Research and Development Station Buzau (SCDL) to BRGV. "My first contact with research was the contest I took at SCDL Buzau, which I won. I was then called to work where I was faced with financial problems. Salaries were low, plus the lack of adequate equipment. At the USAMV I practiced with equipment, here everything was limited to a ruler and a pencil and it was very difficult. However, research was done and I'm glad that I found it hard because that's what really shaped me. I trained from the ground up, from the field, from the root of the plant. We didn't have storage spaces for the thousands of species and then Dr. Engineer Vinatoru came up with the idea of a genebank for plant genetic resources, which I immediately embraced. I put all my effort into the whole process of setting up the genebank. Now I can't believe that my dream has somehow come true," says the researcher from Buzoa. The intense activity in the service of research, together with her colleagues, was crowned by the printing of the first treatise on vegetable growing, a scientific volume in which cultivation technologies, methods of combating pests, the history of some varieties and, most importantly, the secrets behind a productive crop are presented in detail. The work has won three significant awards, including the Romanian Academy Prize "Gheorghe Ionescu-Sisesti" in 2021. "The most relevant scientific work I have worked on is the 'Treatise on Special Vegetable Growing', a work also produced with the help of Dr. Eng. Vinatoru and my colleague Camelia Bratu. I worked for two years to write this treatise in which most of the vegetable species are presented. We have treated them from a biochemical point of view, a description of the origin of the plant, phenotypically, a description of the plant from a botanical and taxonomic point of view, cultivation technology and the thing that gives originality to the work is the fact that certain secrets discovered in the field are written there, which have never been written before, technological secrets," says Bianca Musat. She will also take part in the European Horticultural Congress in Bucharest from 12 to 16 May, under the patronage of the Romanian Academy. "I will be attending this year's European Horticultural Congress with the BRGV team. There are five papers that I co-authored on and one that I authored. One paper deals with wild garlic, another with pearl peas, two papers are about tomatoes, the recently approved Kumato brown to dark black tomatoes, and the one I authored is about the correlations between genotype and phenotype within a tomato group," says the BRGV specialist. The results often come with sacrifices. Time for personal and family activities is often limited, and strict planning is the key to success. "I balance work and free time with a very strict schedule and organisation. If I don't do what I promised myself that day, it all falls apart and it's not good, I actually have the schedule set by hour. That's the only way I can cope, through a rigorous schedule, efficiency comes from this organization, emergencies are emergencies," says Bianca Musat. Almost 15 years after her debut, she believes that research should be in style and that young eople should follow the path of science. "Research, from my point of view, should be in style. Young people should see beyond the fact that research is said to be short of money. We should not get stuck here. The salary is not so important if you have a dream. You can have a career in research and earn money for example through projects. You can access projects with European or national funds. The important thing is to like it, to dream, to be passionate. My earnings are of all kinds. I get great satisfaction when I come to work. For me colleagues are a second family and I love them very much, it is a satisfaction to do something relevant for the community and the country," emphasizes the BRGV specialist. As far as her career is concerned, she would like to become at some point a mentor for future researchers, so as to carry forward the dowry of plant varieties that the institution keeps for Romania. "Our aim is to conserve plant genetic resources in the short, medium or long term. But this is not a seed museum, we don't just preserve them, they have to be regenerated year after year and then a horticulturist, a researcher has to take care of them, tell them how to take care of the plants, know them very well from a phenotypic and genotypic point of view. We are trying to decipher a genome, we have already taken the first steps because so far there is no genetic fingerprinting in our country, but we can do it. Ideally, the Bank should become a magnet for young people, put itself on the map of universal research and take forward what we have done so far. Let the importance of the Plant Bank be understood. I would like to see myself a mentor in the future, a lesser mentor, I don't think I will reach Mr. Vinatoru's performance. We try not to lose all this information collected over decades," says the researcher. The Archbishopric of Bucharest said on Friday that it disapproves of the use for electoral purposes "of the pretext to support or not the construction of the National Cathedral," adding that the allocation of funds by the authorities is secured under Law 261/2005 which provides support from the national budget and local budgets. "Following the appearance in the media of statements made by a public authority of the capital, the Archbishopric of Bucharest disapproves of the use for electoral purposes of the pretext to support or not the construction of the National Cathedral. Law 261/2005, as subsequently amended, provides for support from the national budget and local budgets for the construction of the National Cathedral, built to honour the memory of all Romanian heroes of all times. The financial support received from the authorities was offered and is offered only under this law of the Romanian state," the Press Office of the Bishopric of Bucharest reports. The European Commission (EC) approving the two-way contract for difference aid scheme will allow Romania to continue exporting energy and consolidate its status as a regional leader in the energy sector, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja says. According to a press release issued by the Energy Ministry on Friday, the European Commission has approved a EUR 3 billion (RON 15.22 billion) Romanian scheme to support installations producing electricity from onshore wind and solar photovoltaic to foster the transition towards a net-zero economy. These funds will come from the Modernisation Fund, and 5000MW green energy (3000MW solar parks and 2000MW wind farms) is the largest investment in Romania's energy transition. The aid will be granted through competitive bidding procedures and will take the form of a two-way contract for difference. "For all Romanians, these investments mean a lower electricity price in the medium and long term, cleaner air and higher energy production. Romania in 2023 became, after many years, a net exporter of energy. And we will continue to export, with Romania consolidating its status as a regional leader in the energy sector. I want to thank you the entire team that managed this victory for Romania. It is a new milestone of the National Recovery and Resilience Fund (PNRR) achieved and, by far, the most important support granted so far by Romania to green energy production. I did a quick calculation. Under my term of office as the energy minister, I supported investments worth over EUR 15 billion in the Romanian energy sector," Burduja said. He added that the aid scheme provides for two bidding rounds: in 2024 (the first auction of 2 GW - consisting of 1 GW solar and 1 GW wind) and in 2025 (the remaining 3 GW in the second auction, comprising 1.5 GW of wind and 1.5 GW of solar). The mechanism will be financed from the Modernisation Fund to reduce the impact on consumers. At least three French defense companies plan to launch production in Ukraine - defense minister French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Friday that three French defense companies intend to start production in Ukraine this summer. "Three French companies will establish partnerships with Ukrainian companies, especially in the field of drones and equipment for the ground forces, for the production of spare parts in Ukraine, and possibly ammunition in the future," Western media quoted the minister as saying. "The goal is to get the first production units this summer," he explained. According to him, among these companies, most likely, will be the Franco-German defense consortium KNDS, formed by the French manufacturer of arms and military equipment Nexter and the German engineering company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co KG. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) announced on Friday that it does not recognise the legitimacy of the presidential elections organised by the Russian authorities in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. "From 15 to 17 March 2024, presidential elections will be held in the Russian Federation. The Russian authorities have announced that the elections will also be held in the Ukrainian territories illegally annexed or temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation since 2014. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not and will not recognize the legitimacy of the aforementioned elections held in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which are integral parts of Ukraine. The MAE also reconfirms its firm support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders," reads a MAE press released sent on Friday. According to the ministry, the Russian authorities have decided not to invite ODHIR/OSCE observers to the March 2024 presidential election, "in contradiction with the international obligations assumed". At the same time, "it is possible that the Russian authorities may extend invitations" to foreign individuals or legal entities to observe and monitor the elections. "Under the given conditions, the MAE strongly discourages the participation of Romanian citizens or Romanian legal entities in monitoring elections in the Russian Federation. MAE reminds that the presence of Romanian citizens in the territories belonging to Ukraine under the occupation of the Russian Federation, including for the purpose of election observation and monitoring, entails criminal and administrative consequences in accordance with Ukrainian law," the press release states. Romania will accelerate common projects with the European Investment Bank (EIB), Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Friday, after a meeting at the Romanian Government House with EIB President Nadia Calvino. "The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a key and strategic partner for Romania. We are going to accelerate the implementation of our common projects with the support of the new president NadiaCalvino. Special focus on health, energy, agriculture and infrastructure," Ciolacu said in a social media post. Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) welcomes Sweden's accession to NATO after Sweden on March 7 deposited the instrument of ratification with the US Department of State, the depositary of the Washington Treaty. "By joining NATO, Sweden, the 32nd allied state, is stronger and safer, and the alliance more consolidated, a development all the more relevant as Europe and the Euro-Atlantic area are facing the worst security crisis since World War II. By joining the strongest political and military alliance in history, Sweden also takes responsibility for participating in collective defence, one of the three pillars on which NATO is founded. Romania, an active supporter of Sweden's accession to NATO, looks with interest at the prospect of collaborating with the new ally to further consolidate, in a unitary and consistent manner, the deterrence and defence posture on the eastern flank, from North to South, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, in order to ensure an integrated vision for forward defence", MAE said on Friday. At the same time, Romania remains "a firm promoter of the open-door policy", supporting the efforts of candidate states to prepare for accession. "Taking into account also the solid benefits won by Romania during the two decades of membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, our country remains a firm promoter of the open-door policy, supporting the efforts of candidate states to prepare for accession, both through bilateral channels and through NATO mechanisms." A small percentage of Romanian women (16%) expect to receive gifts from their employers on March 8, and ideally, they would like them to be vouchers / gift cards (79%) or a day off (55%), according to a survey conducted by Reveal Marketing Research. At the same time, women consider food gifts to be more appropriate (47% versus 28% men), which may indicate that men perceive that women have higher expectations than a symbolic gift or attached to tradition on March 8, say the surveyors. According to the findings of the study, 9 out of 10 Romanians say they celebrate International Women's Day, choosing a suitable gift representing an opportunity to show appreciation for women. Even if choosing a suitable gift can be a challenge, the tradition is preserved this year, with most Romanians considering that flowers are the most appropriate gift to be given / received on Women's Day (83%). Cosmetics (68%) and accessories / jewelry (68%) are also in the top of the most appropriate gifts. "We can also notice a change in the perception of traditional March 8 gifts, with only 38% of Romanians considering food gifts (sweets, coffee, etc.) suitable. Women are more likely to consider food gifts to be appropriate (47% vs. 28% men), which may indicate that men perceive that women have higher expectations than a symbolic or tradition-attached gift for March 8. Only 16% of women expect to receive gifts from their employer, and ideally, they would like them to be vouchers / gift cards (79%) or a day off on March 8 (55%)," reads the press release of the research company. On March 8, Romanian women expect to receive gifts from their partners (77%), children (46%) or other family members (29%). At the same time, 23% expect to receive gifts from friends or acquaintances, and 22% from co-workers. Depending on age segments, women between 45 and 55 years old (60%) and those over 55 (68%) expect more gifts from children. From their life partners, ladies would like to receive flowers (77%), cosmetics / perfumes (44%) or accessories / jewelry (42%). As a trend, Generation Z (18-24 years) mainly want to receive clothing/footwear (41% vs. 23% total sample). Most men are preparing to give gifts to their life partners (81%) and mothers (54%) and intend to allocate a similar budget: RON 268 for their life partners and RON 257 for their mothers. At the same time, almost a third (32%) of men mentioned daughters, especially those aged over 55 (40%), while only 19% intend to give gifts to co-workers, more than those aged 35-55 (24%). Most men anticipate that they will allocate a similar budget (60%) or even higher (30%) compared with the previous year. "58% of Romanians say that brands tempting customers with different promotions and offers for women's month determine them to purchase the advertised product or service. On the other hand, 37% say that such promotions would not influence their purchasing decision, an attitude found especially among men (40% vs. 34% women). Also, March 8 campaigns and promotions have a positive impact on the image of brands, with 70% of respondents mentioning as a result some improvement of brand image, to a greater extent in the case of women (76% vs. 65% men) and young people aged 18-24 years (85%)," the survey also mentions. The survey was conducted online, between February 23 and 28, 2024, on a sample of 1,004 respondents. JEFFERSON CITY A St. Charles County lawmaker has introduced legislation that would make the politically connected lender to Paul McKees NorthSide Regeneration whole if the city of St. Louis uses new eminent domain powers to acquire the developers land. Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance, filed legislation last week that would force redevelopment agencies to also pay any unpaid debt on certain properties acquired through eminent domain. City of St. Louis officials recently approved new powers that allow it to use eminent domain on many properties surrounding the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency site, many of which have been owned for over 15 years by NorthSide. NorthSides lender for much of those land purchases was Franklin County-based Bank of Washington. Its unclear how much debt is outstanding now, but in 2015 the bank told the city that both it and McKee had invested well in excess of $50 million to establish site control of the NorthSide area. Including debt on the property in the area north of downtown, an acre should sell for about $261,000, Bank of Washington CEO L.B. Eckelkamp Jr. told the city then. Bank of Washington had been under an FDIC consent order from 2012 until 2016, in part due to risky loans. Schroers bill is written so any land clearance for redevelopment authority that uses eminent domain to acquire large swaths of property in a low-income area must also reimburse any lenders holding debt on the land. But Schroer on Thursday said the bill was inspired by St. Louis recent actions to allow for the acquisition of NorthSides land surrounding the new NGA and did not dispute it was related to Bank of Washingtons unpaid loans there. What are they going to do with it? Are they just going to sell it? I dont think eminent domain should be used in that manner, Schroer said. When you are taking somebodys property when they dont have the physical property to sell and compensate them for whatever is left on that loan, I think we need to address that. The maneuver in the Missouri Capitol comes after the St. Louis Board of Aldermen approved a new redevelopment area surrounding the NGA. While the bill protects homeowners in the area from eminent domain, it leaves the option for the city to acquire unoccupied land and properties with code violations. Mayor Tishaura O. Jones signed the legislation Tuesday. Though city leaders say the measure does not target any one developer or land speculator, NorthSide is by far the largest private landholder there and the bill is written such that its properties would clearly be subject to condemnation. McKees lawyers begged aldermen a month ago to quash the ordinance, with one pleading, dont do this to Mr. McKee. But city officials have worried the debt on the land makes redevelopment in the near northside uneconomical, turning off prospective investors. Meanwhile, NorthSides properties continue to deteriorate and drag down neighborhoods. Bank of Washington stands to lose out on repayment if the city uses its LCRA to acquire the property and an eminent domain commission values the land at less than the bank is owed. Bank of Washington, represented by the same lawyers who represent McKee, has already been in litigation with the city since 2018 over its decision to cancel NorthSides redevelopment agreement. A trial is scheduled for Sept. 30. And the banks leaders, the Eckelkamp family, are major players in the Missouri Republican Party, which dominates state politics. Eckelkamp, the banks CEO and chairman, did not immediately return a request for comment left with his assistant. He and his family members routinely donate thousands to statewide GOP officials, and his sister, Susan Eckelkamp, has held multiple roles within the state GOP, including serving as Missouris committeewoman to the Republican National Committee. Schroer is a member of the Missouri Freedom Caucus, a recently launched group of hard-line conservative lawmakers. Hes not the first member of that faction to propose legislation benefiting those tied to NorthSide. In January, Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, filed a bill to resurrect a land assemblage tax credit NorthSide tapped for $43 million to buy thousands of north St. Louis properties. The provision in Schroers bill requiring payment of the remaining mortgage on land is triggered if an LCRA is acquiring more than 20% of the encumbered land or properties worth 20% of the real estates value. It is also triggered if the largest contiguous assemblage of land is acquired a provision that appears aimed at a potential city acquisition of the Pruitt-Igoe site, directly across from the NGA. St. Louiss top development official has said much of the site east of where NorthSide recently opened a medical clinic, is underutilized. Aisha Sultan Columnist and features writer Follow Aisha Sultan Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today I overheard a young woman having brunch with her girlfriends next to us on the patio of a St. Petersburg, Florida, restaurant. She was detailing the cosmetic procedures she planned to have on an upcoming trip to Mexico, where the cost would be significantly cheaper than in Florida. Anyone who saw her in her current state would find her attractive, and yet she listed multiple surgeries and procedures. None of her friends even nominally mentioned that she didnt need all this work done. They all looked to be in their 30s. Why would someone so young and conventionally pretty subject herself to the risks involved with getting multiple surgeries in Mexico, and why werent any of her friends trying to talk some sense into her? Dr. Deniz Sarhaddi, a plastic surgeon with St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery, explained that the trends around cosmetic surgery are changing dramatically. Patients are getting facial rejuvenation surgeries earlier than ever before. Most of her facelift patients are in their 40s. Women start preventative Botox in their 20s, and the term Sephora kids refers to tween girls buying skincare designed for aging skin. There are multiple reasons for this accelerated war on aging. The popularity and accessibility of minimally invasive procedures such as Botox and fillers have skyrocketed. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released a report in 2022 that showed a 70 percent increase in the number of procedures for fillers since 2019 and a 73 percent increase in neuromodulator injections like Botox. Cosmetic surgeries also rose during this time, although not as dramatically. The facial cosmetic surgery that grew the most was cheek implants. Sarhaddi pointed out that surgical techniques have also changed to create more natural-looking outcomes. She has seen a rise in patients who have rapidly lost weight due to drugs like Ozempic, which cause volume loss in the face, as well. We now live in a culture that chronically documents our images on social media, increasing our own scrutiny and expectations. With ubiquitous filters on our phones, you might only see facetuned images of a person. Celebrities hire people to scrub any undoctored or unfiltered photo of them from the internet. It used to be that magazines photoshopped celebrities faces to create an altered reality. Now, their very faces are an altered reality. Their duplicity feeds others insecurity. The irony is that the lies about their own surgeries and procedures also come from this same place of insecurity and fear of how fans will perceive them. Many celebrities, who hawk their own skin care and beauty lines, have a financial incentive in convincing the masses that buying their overpriced products will lead to similar results. In truth, only a needle and knife in the hands of a skilled surgeon will lead to those kinds of results. Theres still a lingering stigma over surgery to the point where many stars lie about the obvious or subtle work theyve had done on their faces. If someone is ageless, they are having something done, Sarhaddi said. In her practice, about 95 percent of the patients are women. Theres more tolerance for male aging, she said. Plus, men are more tolerant of their own aging. Women will bring in a photo and criticize some aspect of how they look in it. Sarhaddi explains that a phone camera uses a fisheye lens, distorting how one actually looks in real life. She laughs when she hears celebrities denying that they have had cosmetic procedures and surgeries. She can see evidence of all types of surgeries on their faces. No, its not just contouring, she said. And, its certainly not just olive oil like some have claimed, she laughed. It makes me sad because people are looking at these women who are filtered and operated on and have endless money and they are thinking that thats attainable naturally, she said. In fact, numerous celebrities have admitted to lying about nose jobs and fillers for years before finally fessing up. Sarhaddi wishes they would just be honest upfront. It would be less hypocritical and far less damaging to young girls and women who dont realize how duplicitous the industry is about aging. Sometimes people need honest feedback more than they need a surgical procedure. Sarhaddi reminded me that how we age is largely a function of genetics and how diligently weve worn sunscreen. She has told 20-somethings who come into her office to stop being hypercritical of their appearance. I hope you know how beautiful you are, she says to them. She likes to say that if your parents are paying for your plastic surgery, then youre too young to have it. She also redirects women looking to have surgery to prevent aging. You cant operate on a perceived problem that doesnt yet exist. Doing facial surgery before you show signs of aging makes no sense, she said. Getting plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures from an unscrupulous or unskilled provider will only create far more problems. Keep this in mind while watching the stars walk the red carpet and accept those shiny awards. The best performers are pretending its all natural beauty. Joe Holleman Political correspondent/columnist Follow Joe Holleman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Maplewood residents wont see an official debate between incumbent mayor Nikylan Knapper and challenger Barry Greenberg before the April 2 election. But if they go to the Missouri Ethics Commission website, they can finally see Knappers campaign report which was filed two weeks late. Knappers fundraising and spending report finally was filed late Thursday. Shevaun McNaughton, Knappers campaign treasurer, said she was to blame for not having the report filed on time. Knapper could not be reached for comment. Greenberg, running as a write-in candidate this time around, filed his report on Feb. 21. The report shows Greenberg has raised $4,153 for his campaign and has spent $1,285. Aside from the $1,000 Greenberg contributed to his own campaign, his biggest financial supporter thus far is Dan Lessig, a Richmond Heights lawyer who also gave $1,000. Greenberg served 14 years as a Maplewood councilman. He was elected mayor in 2017 and then lost in 2021 to Knapper, who got 58.3% of the vote. Knapper's report showed she has raised only $150 this reporting period and has spent $2,441. That leaves her campaign with 5,404 cash on hand. The next campaign reports are due on March 25, eight days before the election. As to Knapper and Greenberg hashing it out in a debate, community news site 40 South News has reported that Knapper did not respond to requests to participate in a debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters. The site reported that Knapper didnt commit to participating ... by March 1, the leagues deadline, so there will be no forum. Doug Miner, editor and publisher of 40 South News, said the league uses outside entities to help organize debates, adding that he has helped set up debates in the past, including several in Brentwood. Miner said that in 2021, Knapper declined to participate in a debate with Greenberg. This time, Knapper never responded to his requests, he said. Greenberg said Thursday that he had agreed to participate in the debate. Knapper, the first African American elected as Maplewoods mayor, has been at the center of some controversy and criticism over the last six months. Municipal grumbling became more public in September when city manager Michael Reese abruptly quit his job. Several sources have said that the working relationship between Reese and Knapper had become contentious. Shortly after Reese stepped down, the city paid Reese about $166,000 as part of a separation agreement. According to city records, about $130,000 of that total was for damages allegedly suffered by Reese; and the remaining $36,000 was to cover expenses and lost wages. After the Reese departure, Knapper came under fire again when she and all but one member of the City Council quickly supported the hiring of Amber Withycombe as Reeses replacement. A friend and political ally of Knapper, Withycombe who had no experience in city management or college degree in public administration took over the job in January and is being paid $137,000 a year. Until being replaced three months ago by McNaughton, Withycombes husband, Joshua Kryah, had been Knappers campaign treasurer. Tony Messenger Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Last week, the Missouri Court of Appeals lifted its metaphorical middle finger to government transparency. In a 2-1 opinion, judges Janet Sutton and Mark Pfeiffer allowed the Missouri House to keep secret information about who is sending its members emails to influence public policy. The ruling was badly timed. Starting Sunday, the nation celebrates Sunshine Week, dedicated to shining a light on government transparency laws and the importance of citizens keeping an eye on elected officials. Thats what Clayton attorney Mark Pedroli was doing back in April 2019, when he emailed certain House members, asking for correspondence from them. Several lawmakers responded to his requests, but they redacted the names and addresses of the constituents who emailed them. The House had passed a rule that allowed them to do so. Pedroli sued and argued that the rule was unconstitutional. Thats because Missouri voters in 2018 had amended the state constitution to make clear that lawmakers are subject to the Sunshine Law. None of that matters, two of the appeals court judges ruled, using technical reasons and questionable logic to decide Pedroli didnt have standing to bring the lawsuit. It was as if the court was doing everything in its power to avoid enforcing the constitution. Horrible majority opinion, attorney David Roland wrote on the social media site X. Roland, like Pedroli, has successfully fought for citizens to have access to government meetings and records. Roland noted that the dissent in the case, written by appeals court Judge Alok Ahuja, says Pedroli, like any other citizen of the state, does have standing to sue for Sunshine Law violations, and that the underlying House rule is clearly a violation of the constitution. Horrible majority opinion out of the Mo. Ct. App, W.D. today regarding standing to challenge Sunshine Law violations. On the plus side, Judge Ahuja brings an absolute banger of a dissent. https://t.co/iakWocMFTx David Roland (@dave_roland) March 5, 2024 Pedroli will appeal, and perhaps the Missouri Supreme Court will intervene. In the meantime, its helpful to understand why this lawsuit and its result is so important. In 2018, several lawmakers received emails that supposedly came from constituents lobbying to make it harder for out-of-state residents to file civil class-action lawsuits in Missouri. The letters referenced a large verdict in one of the Johnson & Johnson talc powder cases. The letters appeared to be copied verbatim from a petition posted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on a website called StandUnited.org. The site pitches itself as a source of grassroots activism for conservative causes. But as I reported at the time, many of the letters didnt come from the people whose names were on them. Somewhere along the line, letters were generated by somebody lobbying for the legislation, and real Missourians were caught in the middle. Some letters came from vacant addresses; others came from people who said they didnt send them. Some names and addresses couldnt be verified. These are fake emails driven by out-of-state defendants desperate to avoid responsibility for cancers and deaths that jurors in Missouri and elsewhere have found they caused after weighing the actual evidence, state Rep. Jay Barnes, a Republican from Jefferson City, told me at the time. The House rule that allowed lawmakers to redact constituent names and addresses was passed in part as a result of my reporting. It wasnt meant to protect Missouri citizens, but instead protect big donors who are often behind such fake grassroots campaigns. After my columns on the topic ran, and the rule was passed, Pedroli got involved on behalf of the Sunshine and Government Accountability Project, an unincorporated organization he created to protect access to records. If the appeals court decision tossing his lawsuit stands, citizens will lose. Secrecy will reign. Bad actors will be allowed to manipulate the levers of government with no accountability. I would hold that the House was not entitled to rely on House Rule 127 to withhold constituent records from Pedroli, Ahuja wrote in his dissent, which took his fellow judges to task for trying to find hyper-technical reasons to avoid ruling on the cases merits. The House Rule cannot exempt records from disclosure, where those records are otherwise subject to disclosure under Missouris generally applicable public-access laws. Five Sunshine Weeks have come and gone since Missouri voters added transparency provisions for lawmakers into the state constitution. As a sixth one begins, it seems a good time for the Missouri Supreme Court to take up Ahujas call to lift the dark cloud hanging over the Missouri Capitol. JEFFERSON CITY Attorneys for the family of a man who died in a Missouri prison last year said they are encouraged by the firing of four guards who were involved in the incident. But, lawyers for the late Othel Moore said they are not satisfied with the progress of obtaining evidence that may show how the 38-year-old was treated before he was moved into a holding cell at the Jefferson City Correctional Center where he died. Attorney Andrew Stroth, in a video news conference Thursday, said the family still doesnt know the name of the officers involved in pepper-spraying and restraining Moore and moving him into the room. He said witnesses said Moore was bleeding from his mouth. This extraction team, this terror squad, pepper-sprayed Othel, put him in restraints, Stroth said. So many issues remain outstanding, attorney Steven Hart told reporters Thursday. The comments came after the Missouri Department of Corrections announced Wednesday that it had fired four prison guards in the wake of the December death of Moore. The family said Moore should have been monitored after he was placed in the cell. Instead, they say he was struggling to breathe for several hours. An autopsy was conducted by the Cole County Medical Examiner, but a report has not been completed, and a cause of death has not been determined, Karen Pojmann, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections, told media outlets on Wednesday. In addition, the Cole County Sheriffs Office is investigating Moores death. Moore had been incarcerated for more than 18 years and was serving a 30-year sentence for second-degree domestic assault, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and possession of a controlled substance. The family continues to ask for more information from corrections officials, including surveillance videos showing what transpired. Stroth said they had not yet received evidence showing what happened from the Department of Corrections. The Missouri Department of Corrections is a dangerous place, he said. They left Othel Moore to die. Moore grew up in St. Louis. In December, his sister, Oriel Moore, 37, said she had spoken to her older brother earlier in 2023. She told reporters he was fearful of prison employees and wasnt eating well. In a statement read by Stroth, Oriel Moore said, We didnt lose an inmate. I lost my best friend since birth. Little O was my protector. They are heartbroken, Stroth said of the family. Luxembourg has announced its participation in the Czech initiative aimed at purchasing artillery ammunition outside the European Union for Ukraine, and also announced the recent shipment of 155 mm shells to Kyiv, according to the Ministry of Defense of Luxembourg. Luxembourg joins the Czech artillery ammunition initiative in support of defense of Ukraine. This will be part of our overall effort to provide much needed capabilities to Ukraine in their fight against the Russian aggressor, the ministry said on X. The Ministry of Defense also reported that Luxembourg Defense Minister Yuriko Backes, while participating in a joint meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, held in a videoconference format at the initiative of the French government on March 7, also announced the recent supply of 6,000 155-mm shells to Ukraine by Luxembourg Defense. Earlier it was reported that the Czech Republic is looking for ammunition and weapons for the speedy delivery of Ukraine around the world, in particular, there is a possibility of supplying 500,000 of 155 mm shells and 300,000 of 122 mm shells from third countries within weeks if the necessary funding is received. ST. LOUIS A judge on Thursday set a date to consider overturning the 1991 murder conviction of Christopher Dunn, a St. Louis man who said he is innocent. The hearing is set to take place on May 20. The court will hear evidence from Dunn's original trial and other court proceedings from the time. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore filed a motion in February to vacate Dunn's conviction. Dunn was accused of fatally shooting 15-year-old Ricco Rogers on May 18, 1990, in the Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. He was 18 years old at the time. After a trial that lasted a day and a half the following year, Dunn was convicted of first-degree murder, first-degree assault and armed criminal action the following year. The conviction relied on testimony from two children who later recanted. The jury deliberated for just 42 minutes, according to Gore's motion. Gore said his office found experts who could debunk the eyewitness testimony, as well as evidence about Dunn's alibi for the night of the killing. The Missouri Attorney General's Office has the authority to oppose the motion. The office did oppose the ultimately successful effort to free Lamar Johnson, who spent nearly three decades in prison for a murder he did not commit. Lawyers with the attorney general's office were present at Thursday's status hearing but did not say if they would oppose Dunn's freedom. ST. LOUIS Prosecutors on Friday charged a man with threatening to kill the judge and jurors moments after 22-year-old Daniel Riley was convicted of causing a crash that severed a Tennessee teenagers legs. Erick M. Buntyn, 34, of Madison, was charged with a felony count of tampering with a judicial officer after he abruptly left the courtroom following the verdict of guilty on two felonies and two misdemeanors. While in the hallway, a witness deputy sheriff heard the defendant state: (Expletive) the judge and the jury. They are all racists. If I see any of them outside, Im going to (expletive) kill them, a probable cause statement says. Buntyn sat with a group of Rileys supporters during a four-day trial in which Riley was convicted of driving dangerously and causing a crash that severed Janae Edmondsons legs in February 2023. Tensions and emotions were high throughout the trial, and Judge Michael Noble repeatedly reminded the people seated in the courtroom to keep their reactions to themselves while the jury was present. While the jurys verdict and sentencing recommendation of up to nearly 19 years in prison were read, a line of St. Louis sheriffs deputies separated the Edmondson family from Rileys supporters. Buntyn also has a pending felony case in Madison County for harassment through a communication device. A probable cause statement said Buntyn used CashApp to send another person one dollar, and in an accompanying message he indicated she was going to die soon, according to the Alton Telegraph. He also has a pending warrant in Madison County for failure to appear in a drug case. A St. Louis judge ordered Buntyn held without bond in the new case. He was not listed on the city jails roster as of Friday afternoon. SHREWSBURY Two Catholic parish grade schools will close at the end of the spring semester, the Archdiocese of St. Louis said Friday. St. Roch in the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood of St. Louis and Little Flower in Richmond Heights do not have an adequate number of staff or students to operate in the fall, according to a press release. There are 80 students attending Little Flower school this year, down from 138 four years ago. Only eight students had enrolled for the upcoming school year, and 11 staff members including the principal had planned to leave. St. Roch has 130 students this year, and 74 enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year. The school presents an unsustainable financial investment for the foreseeable future with a projected shortfall of $500,000 this year, the release said. We are profoundly grateful to our principals, teachers, and staff of these two schools, all of whom share their gifts in our diocesan schools, and to parents raising their children in our Catholic faith, including those who have made a commitment to Catholic schools, the archdiocese said in a statement. There are now about 19,000 students down from 40,000 in 2000 in kindergarten through eighth grade across the archdiocese, which covers St. Louis and 10 counties in eastern Missouri. Pastors of the 30 smallest grade schools submitted three-year feasibility plans last month to the archdiocese as part of the All Things New downsizing plan. The plans included goals for increasing enrollment and funding for the schools while still supporting other parish ministries. Original blueprints called for nearly half of the 82 grade schools to close or merge. Enrollment across all schools has fallen below 65% capacity, straining the ability of parishes to subsidize an average operating deficit of $600,000 each year. The school decisions were postponed until after Archbishop Mitchell Rozanskis decision last May to close 34 parishes and merge 15 others. St. Roch was one of a few schools connected to closed parishes. A parishioners appeal to the Vatican to save St. Roch parish is still pending. St. Roch parish was subsumed by Christ the King in University City, which also has a school of 180 students. It is not clear how many St. Roch students will be able to transfer to Christ the King. Little Flower is the smallest parochial school in St. Louis city or county. Under All Things New, the Richmond Heights parish now shares a pastor with St. Mary Magdalen in Brentwood. Parish leaders met with archdiocesan officials last fall to discuss their schools enrollment and demographic trends, finances and proximity to other parish schools. Pastors were given three choices: close the school, merge with another Catholic school, or stay open and produce a long-term plan to raise funds and attract more students. None of the pastors initially agreed to close their schools. Catholic schools face the same headwinds as public and other private schools, mainly rising operating costs and a longstanding decline in birth rates. Three archdiocesan schools closed last year because of low enrollment: Good Shepherd in Hillsboro, St. Mark in south St. Louis County and St. Rose in Florissant. Another two grade schools in the Diocese of Belleville will close this year Notre Dame Academy in Belleville and St. Ann in Nashville. ST. LOUIS U.S. Rep. Cori Bush called on President Joe Biden to endorse an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza, hours ahead of Bidens annual State of the Union address before Congress Thursday. Bush, D-St. Louis, was joined by Intimaa Salama, a St. Louis University student with 35 family members killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza in recent weeks. Bush invited Salama to the address Thursday night to emphasize an urgent need for a cease-fire, criticizing Biden for funding, weapons supplies and political support for Israel she said was enabling a soaring death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. What we are witnessing is mass human suffering and death funded and enabled by the United States of America, Bush said during a press conference. Every day without a cease-fire is a catastrophe. Salama, a public health graduate student who came to St. Louis in 2022 on an exchange program, said her grandmother, two brothers, three uncles and the mens families were killed in airstrikes on Gazas southernmost city of Rafah, where the families where sheltering in tents after fleeing the destruction of their homes further north. My message to Congress: Youre complicit in the murder of my family, Salama said. You have the power and responsibility to save the lives of those are still alive. We demand you to call for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Gaza. Bush said Bidens stances toward the Israel-Hamas conflict would impact her support for the president ahead of the Democratic primary in Missouri later this month. Condemnation of Biden has led to an uncommitted movement to push protest votes in Democratic primaries across the U.S. More than 30,000 people in Gaza have been killed in Israeli airstrikes or ground attacks since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people, according to reports. More than 1.5 million people in Gaza were forced to flee to the south border under an intense Israeli bombing campaign and ground invasion that destroyed entire neighborhoods, while Israels blockade on the strip has led to starvation and warnings from international aid groups of a dire humanitarian crisis. The Israel-Hamas conflict has become a major issue in the Democratic primary, as Bush and a progressive cohort of Democrats have faced pushback for vocal opposition to Israels intense bombardment of Gaza and calling for an end to U.S. aid to Israel. St. Louis Jewish leaders and others have criticized Bush for her rhetoric, including a social media post Bush made accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing that they said was fanning the flames of antisemitism. Bush and other progressives have faced well-funded campaigns by pro-Israel groups, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, to unseat them from Congress, while progressive, Arab American and Muslim groups have organized to keep their voices on Capitol Hill. In the 1st Congressional District, Bush faces challenges from St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell and former state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal. The winner is expected to secure election in November in the heavily Democratic district, which includes St. Louis and much of St. Louis County. The Associated Press contributed to this report. JEFFERSON CITY U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley scored a big victory Thursday when the U.S. Senate signed off on legislation that would compensate St. Louisans exposed to radioactive contamination. But U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Town and Country, appeared to dump cold water on the win, telling the Kansas City Star that expansion of the 1990 Radiation Exposure Compensation Act needed to have a legit pay-for. Were not looking to raise our debts and deficits any further than they already are, Wagner said. Hawley then took to X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, posting a screenshot of Wagners quote. Shameful for Ann Wagner to turn her back on her constituents after doing nothing on this issue for years. St. Louis deserves better than this, Hawley posted. RECA passes the Senate with a massive bipartisan vote and Ann Wagner immediately attacks it? Whose side is she on? Not Missouris, Hawley said. Hawley continued to vent later Thursday, reposting a picture of Wagner and Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky. Wagner expressed support for Ukrainians in Russias absolutely unjust war. Now do Missouri, Hawley said. Wagner responded in a statement Thursday night. For my first ten years in Congress when I represented West Lake (the landfill in Bridgeton), I worked tirelessly with Senator (Roy) Blunt and advocates like Dawn Chapman to fight for West Lake residents, she said. It was a team effort from Just Moms STL, Senator Blunt, Donald Trumps EPA and myself that we finally got the Record of Decision from the EPA, a final decision that had been in the works for decades and that President Trump got across the finish line. In the 118th Congress, I am proud to be working with advocates once again to ensure those affected by our nations World War II nuclear program have the support they need. I am extremely supportive of the RECA program and I am confident the House Judiciary Committee will work through this legislation in regular order once it is sent over from the Senate. But Chapman, co-founder of Just Moms STL, said Friday afternoon that if the measure goes through committee, instead of directly to a vote on the House floor, proponents do not believe there will be enough time to renew the RECA program before its June expiration. We still think that if she were to talk to the speaker and ask him to put it for a floor vote ... I actually think she could save this program, Chapman said. Earlier Friday, Chapman responded on X to Wagners quote in the Star: The Moms woke up PISSED this morning! St. Louis and St. Charles doesnt have time for stalls! The process we want used was just used to fund BILLIONS of dollars for foreign aid without a pay-for or hearings! We have fought for 11 years and we are not letting RECA die! Hawley and Wagner have a history. Wagner in July 2017 said she wouldnt run against then-Sen. Claire McCaskill in 2018. The GOP field was then free of a major contender, and Hawley filled the void. Many believed Wagner passed on the race after she acknowledged Hawley as the party favorite, Politico reported. Politicos May 2018 article went on to say Wagner had received two voicemails from Hawley since July 2017, but that they hadnt spoken, according to two people familiar with the matter. St. Louis political consultant John Hancock told the Star in a February 2018 article that Wagner had been approached about running for Senate. Hawleys statement that St. Louis deserves better than this was highlighted by at least one other Republican. Whats more important to the people of Missouri: protecting us from nuclear waste the federal government put in our backyard OR wining and dining with the president of Ukraine? state Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance, posted on X Thursday night. The health and welfare of Missourians must be a priority for our congressional delegation. Schroer had been considering a run for the 3rd Congressional District. But Defiance is located in Wagners 2nd, which she has represented since 2013. Rep. Tricia Brynes, R-Wentzville, also was critical Friday of Wagners statement. Us cancer moms should NOT have been asked to prove nuclear bomb waste kills people. NOW this nonsense! Moms shouldnt have to host bake sales to pay the DOEs bill for death caused by their NUCLEAR BOMBS! PS come get your bomb-grade Uranium out of our MO creeks and lakes. Updated at 1:19 p.m. The Missouri Democratic Party has announced in-person voting sites for the party-run presidential primary election scheduled for Saturday, March 23. The party designated a total of 13 sites for counties in the metro St. Louis area, including four each in St. Louis and St. Louis County: Franklin County: Scenic Regional Public Library, 251 Union Plaza Dr., Union. Jefferson County: Jefferson County Administration Building, 729 Maple Street, Hillsboro. Lincoln County: Lincoln County Health Department Community Room, 5 Health Department Drive, Troy. St. Charles County: Fort Zumwalt South High School, 8050 Mexico Road, St. Peters. St. Louis County: Cliff Cave Branch Library, 5430 Telegraph Road, Oakville; UFCW Local 655, 300 Weidman Road, Ballwin; Florissant Municipal Courts, 4575 Washington Street, Florissant; and Shalom Church, 5491 N. Highway 67, Florissant. St. Louis City: Carondelet Public Library, 6800 Michigan Ave.; Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow Blvd.; Schlafly Library, 225 Euclid Ave.; Julia Davis Library, 4415 Natural Bridge Ave. Warren County: Warren County Administration Building, 101 Mockingbird Lane, Warrenton. Democrats will hold presidential preference elections statewide from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 23. Mail-in ballots may be requested on the partys website, www.missouridemocrats.org, by Tuesday, March 12, and must be returned by March 23. Voters who had registered by Feb. 21 with the Missouri secretary of state's office are eligible to vote in the Missouri Democratic presidential preference primary election, so long the voter is not registered as a Republican. Votes will be counted, and the announcement will be made March 28. Missouri Republicans held their caucus last weekend. Former President Donald Trump won. Editors note: One of the St. Louis County voting sites, the St. Louis County Administration Building, was replaced by Shalom Church in Florissant after the initial release of this list. Updated on March 11. I agree with columnist Jackie Calmes that Republican Party leaders who continue to genuflect at Donald Trump's altar are apt examples of what Winston Churchill described as "boneless wonders." ("Why don't GOP leaders stay quiet instead of backing Trump?" March 3 print edition). But I believe that term applies equally to President Joe Biden in his apparent unwillingness or inability to soften Israel's approach to the war in Gaza. His admonitions to Israel's leaders remind me of a teacher on a playground telling the bully he'd better stop, or else! And then doing nothing as the bullying continues. Thank you so much for Aisha Sultan's column "Girl Scouts of the USA apologize to St. Louis troop raising money for Gaza" (Feb. 27). As an auntie to one of the girl scouts in the troop, I can attest that the girls have poured their hearts and souls and worked really hard to make the bracelets they're selling for their fundraiser to support children in Gaza. The girls want to help other children who are suffering and to make the world a better place. My heart broke for the girls when I became aware of the regional Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri's response to their fundraiser. Instead of constructively educating and assisting them in filing the necessary paperwork required by the Girl Scouts organization to hold such a fundraiser and encouraging their efforts, their response was to aggressively threaten them with legal action and punish the girls for their efforts. The Girl Scouts organization's assertion that it is "partisan politics" to fund-raise for children who have been unhoused, starved of food and potable water, denied health care (including a thousand children who have undergone amputations without anesthesia), and been psychologically traumatized and all this often without the support of their loving parents because they have been orphaned is just too disgusting for words. What kind of world do we live in where providing humanitarian support to children who are suffering, regardless of their race, religion, nationality, etc., is construed as a partisan political issue? I am grateful to Sultan and the Post-Dispatch for publicizing this story, which in great part led to the apology from the Girl Scouts of the USA, and may hopefully lead to a kinder and better future. Shaheen Umar Richmond Heights March 7, 2024: The F-35 is a 31-ton single engine, single-seat aircraft that entered service in different versions between 2015 and 2019. The first F-35s were built in 2006 for development purposes. The aircraft has stealth characteristics and is equipped with all the most modern avionics (aircraft electronics), sensors and capabilities. The F-35 has a max range of 2,800 kilometers for repositioning missions to a different country. For destinations more than 2,500 kilometers distant, the F-35 must land for refueling along the way. Combat range for ground attack missions is 1,2oo kilometers while carrying eight tons of missiles and bombs. Combat range for combat with other aircraft is 1,400 kilometers. The F-35 can carry 2,600 kg of weapons internally and 6,800 kg externally. Max speed is Mach 1.6 and max altitude is 15,000 meters. The F-35B is a STOVAL (short takeoff and landing) version that carries a third less fuel because of the STOVAL modifications. There is an F-35C aircraft carrier version that is like the F-35A but equipped with a tail hook and more rugged landing gear. The wings have larger control surfaces, and the outer portions of the wing can be folded so the aircraft takes up less space on the hanger deck. Missiles and bombs that the F-35 is equipped to carry include air-to-air missiles like the AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, AIM-260 JATM, and MBDA Meteor. Air-to-surface missiles include AGM-88G AARGM-ER, AGM-158 JASSM, AGM-179 JAGM, SPEAR 3, and the hypervelocity Stand-In Attack Weapon. Anti-ship missiles include the AGM-158C LRASM and Joint Strike Missile. Bombs include the Joint Direct Attack Munition, Paveway Precision-guided glide bomb, AGM-154 JSOW, GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, GBU-53/B Stormbreaker and the B61 mod 12 nuclear bomb. Pilots benefit from several features that make their job easier and much more effective. The cockpit where the pilot sits features a bubble canopy providing excellent views of what is outside the aircraft. Cockpit controls have been reduced and made easier to see and use. This is done by using a 50 by 20 cm (20 by 8 inch) touch display that shows flight instruments, stores management, CNI information, and integrated caution and warnings. Pilots can customize the arrangement of the information. Below the main display is a smaller stand-by display. Pilots also have a helmet mounted on the visor, a display that enables the pilot to look at an enemy aircraft and fire a missile at it. This point and shoot capability is an enormous advantage in air-to-air combat. The F-35 electronics also provide a better view of ground targets and the ability to quickly select the most suitable ground attack weapon carried and use it. The cockpit has a speech-recognition system but does not have a heads-up display. Instead, flight and combat information is displayed on the visor of the pilot's helmet using a helmet-mounted display system. The one-piece tinted canopy is hinged at the front and has an internal frame for structural strength. The Martin-Baker ejection seat is launched by a twin-catapult system housed on side rails. There is a right-hand side stick and throttle hands-on throttle-and-stick system. For life support, an OBOGS, or onboard oxygen-generation system is fitted and powered by the Integrated Power Package, with an auxiliary oxygen bottle and backup oxygen system for emergencies. The radars and electronic countermeasures provide the pilot with an integrated view of the surrounding air space. This degree of situational awareness gives the pilot an enormous advantage in combat because the F-35 pilot can see, either with his eyes or via his sensors, more about what is in the area and in much greater detail than any enemy pilot. About a thousand F-35s have been built so far and eventually, by 2044, at least 2,456 will be built. Production numbers will increase as more export customers order aircraft. So far F-35s have been exported to Britain, Australia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, and the Netherlands. In 2023 Israel ordered another 25 F-35s. Israel already has fifty, organized into two squadrons. With the new aircraft there will be three squadrons. Israel was the first export customer to receive F-35s because it was the only export customer that was regularly involved in combat, including air-strikes. Israel was also the only export customer allowed to modify and upgrade their F-35s. For this reason, the Israeli aircraft is known as the F-35I. The United States initially opposed Israeli requests to carry out modifications and upgrades, but the Israelis had a record of doing this with F-16s and F-15s obtained from the United States, so F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin agreed to cooperate by making some modifications to the F-35Is before Israel received them. These included changes in command, control, and communications systems, including computers, and the thorough integration of intelligence collection, electronic warfare, and weapons systems. Israel agreed to not change anything inside the aircraft but was free to add capabilities on top of the existing infrastructure. Israel Aerospace Industries, for example, was already working on such systems for the F-35I. The F-35I was designed to allow software updates to electronic warfare and weapons systems. F-35I power and cooling systems were modified to allow incorporation of Israeli developed weapons. Israel has developed its own air-to-air missiles and GPS guided bombs. Since 2021 there have been a lot more joint exercises involving Israeli and foreign F-35s. Details of these exercises have not been publicized but it apparently involves testing current and new F-35 capabilities and sharing that knowledge with other F-35 users. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 a lot of European nations sought to obtain F-35s while canceling plans to buy older models of American and European combat aircraft. F-35s are meant to eventually replace all F-16, F-15, and F-18 aircraft. Ukraines ability to defeat the larger Russian air force, using Ukraines own Russian-designed aircraft, made it clear that the Ukrainian tactics carried out with F-35s would provide an enormous edge over air forces equipped with older aircraft. Even China has not yet produced a stealth aircraft as capable as the F-35, and now NATO nations with F-35s realize they have a substantial edge and have shared that knowledge with other NATO countries. Israel demonstrated what the F-35 was capable of in 2019 when Israel had only 14 F-35I fighters and some had been operational for over a year. These F-35Is flew training missions near the Syrian border and then operational missions over Lebanon and Syria. This came after years of overcoming opposition from the United States to allowing Israel to modify the F-35A to use Israeli electronic warfare equipment and software, and also to handle Israeli-made missiles and smart bombs as well as a smart helmet, which was something Israel pioneered. This led to the Israeli aircraft being designated the F-35I, which have been in the air since 2018, often armed and within range of hostile radars and anti-aircraft missiles as well as the latest Russian electronic warfare equipment. Israeli engineers also confirmed fears that the F-35 is eminently hackable. Other foreign users who have received their first F-35s agree that the heart of the F-35's superior capabilities are its software and digital communications with other aircraft and troops on the ground. Users are pointing out all manner of potential network vulnerabilities, and all are actively seeking which of these vulnerabilities are actual and fixable rather than potential and unlikely. F-35 software was designed over a decade ago when much less was known about how combat aircraft software could be hacked and already some basic changes in F-35 software architecture are underway to deal with that. This brings up another major problem. The F-35 software is more complex and omnipresent throughout the aircraft than in any previous warplane. Its a major effort to carry out and test any changes. Some major upgrades are needed in how F-35 software changes are made and how quickly. In wartime this would be essential, as otherwise vulnerable aircraft would be grounded when needed most. Foreign users have also provided useful advice on penetration or red team testing and this has become another major effort that was not anticipated. The U.S. and other foreign users of the F-35 noted Israels F-35I experience, and the Israelis have increasingly been sharing it with allies. Israel got priority on deliveries because they are literally a combat zone. Initial reactions of Israeli F-35I pilots and air force commanders were positive. What the Israeli pilots and all others who have flown the F-35 agree on is that its software and degree of automation is spectacular, easy to use and very effective. The F-35 has a large number of sensors, as in receivers for electronic signals, as well as six cameras and a very capable radar. The fusion of all that data and presentation to the pilot based on the current situation is impressive and makes the F-35 much easier to fly than any other fighter, despite all the additional capabilities it has. Israel has become something of an unofficial member of NATO and is sharing a lot of its F-35I knowledge with NATO nations. Israel not only has to deal with Russian aircraft and electronic systems in Syria, but an even more dangerous threat from Iran. Israel has established diplomatic and defense relationships with Arab countries who are also threatened by Iran. That made it possible for Israel to establish diplomatic relations with some Arab Gulf States and that led to Americans' willingness to sell F-35s to the UAE (United Arab Emirates). March 8, 2024: This year the U.S. Navy decided to reverse its plan to quickly discard its remaining LCS (Littoral Combat Ships) and instead upgrade many of them. In late 2023 it came as no surprise when the navy recently made it official that its ambitious but poorly implemented Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program will be eliminated. That came after more than a decade of effort to build at least fifty of them to replace 51 very successful Perry-Class frigates and 26 smaller mine warfare ships. Only 35 LCS ships were built and now they are being rapidly retired, often after only a few years of service. The main reason for this is that the LCS never performed adequately, and cost much more than they were supposed to. The navy saves a lot of money by eliminating the LCS ships and can use the savings to maintain or expand construction of ships that work. Currently there are only 21 LCS ships in service, but many are not operational. In early 2022 only seventeen LCS ships were in service with only eleven fully capable. Six had operational limitations because of engine problems and were unable to go overseas or do much more than act as patrol ships in the Caribbean, interdicting illegal drug smuggling. By early 2022 six of the older LCS ships were retired early, four of them of the type that have debilitating combining gear engine problems. The Navy never came close to obtaining the 55 LCS ships originally planned. The failure of the LCS was not unusual because the U.S. Navy has, since the 1980s, had an impressive and disastrous number of new ship designs that failed. The LCS failure was not sudden, but the result of a growing number of construction defects and design flaws that have caused the planned number to be produced or kept in service revised downward five times. The latest reductions may be the last because a replacement ship has already been selected and ordered. The problems began to appear when the navy was unable to decide which of the two competing LCS designs to select. One was the Lockheed-Martin monohull Freedom-class, and the other was the General Dynamics trimaran Independence-class. The first LCS built, the traditional monohull USS Freedom, completed its sea trials and acceptance inspections in 2009. The ship did very well, with about 90 percent fewer problems, usually material deficiencies, than is usual with the first warship in a class. USS Independence (LCS-2) was laid down by General Dynamics in late 2005 and commissioned in January 2010. There were problems. The corrosion and hull cracks were expected eventually but appeared much earlier than anticipated. Eventually the navy decided to halt construction of any more of the conventional monohull Freedom class LCS ships and rapidly retire those still in service. The fatal flaw in the monohull Freedom-class was not confirmed until 2020 when two Freedom-class ships had engine failures at sea and had to return to port at slow speed. The problem was with the ball-bearings in the combining gear, which was needed to achieve top speed by combining the power of both the diesel and gas-turbine engines. By 2022 the Freedom type LCS ships could only use their diesel engines. The navy believed it had a fix, but implementing it took several months and involved removing a lot of equipment from the engine space to reach the combining gear for ball-bearing replacement and other adjustments. This turned out to be a temporary fix. Because of the uncertainty four Freedom class ships that were under construction or launched and ready for sea-trials were indefinitely delayed until the full extent of the combining-gear problem could be determined. In the end, the Freedom class ships were declared a failure. Note that warships use diesel engines for economical slow cruising. Gas turbine engines are used for rapid acceleration and have been around for decades. The problems with the diesel and gas turbine engines should not have happened. Both types of LCS had their own problems as well as problems common to the overall LCS concept. The Navy surprised everyone in 2010 by choosing both monohull and trimaran designs and requesting that the fifty or so LCS ships be split between the two designs. While both ships look quite different, they both share many common elements. One of the most important of these is the highly automated design and smaller crew. Both ships have accommodations for only 75 personnel. Normally, a ship of this size would have a crew of 150-200. The basic LCS crew is 40, with the other 35 berths occupied by operators of special equipment. That was eventually changed to 73 crew as standard, with another 20 if the ship was equipped with a helicopter and UAVs or another type of mission module. Even with nearly a hundred crew the workload was heavy and the LCS had two crews for each ship, each one serving at sea four to five months before they were replaced by the other crew. The current crew size meant revising the berthing arrangements to provide berths for up to a hundred crew. The inadequate crew size problem was one of several defects that doomed the LCS. The much smaller crew required some changes to how the crew ran a ship and how many sailors and civilians were required back on land to support a LCS at sea. It was also found that the interchangeable mission modules took far longer, two or three days instead of two or three hours, to replace. The LCS has still not seen combat and the Navy wants the first violent encounter to be successful, or at least not disastrous. It is expected that there will be surprises, which is about all that can be guaranteed at this point. It turned out that the mission modules were a flawed concept that never worked. Both LCS designs were supposed to be for ships displacing 2,500 tons, with a full load draft of under 3.3 meters (ten feet), permitting access to very shallow green and even brown coastal and riverine waters where most naval operations have taken place in the past generation. Top speed was expected to be over 80 kilometers per hour with a range of 2,700 kilometers and basic endurance of 21 days. In reality, the monohull Freedom class was a 3,500-ton ship with a max speed of 83 kilometers an hour and max endurance of 21 days. It could travel up to 6,500 kilometers at a cruising speed of 33 kilometers an hour before requiring refueling. The multihull Independence class was a 3,100-ton ship with a max speed of 87 kilometers an hour and max endurance of 21 days. It could travel up to 8,000 kilometers at 37 kilometers an hour before requiring refueling. Basic LCS armament is a 57mm gun, four 12.7mm machine-guns and an eleven cell SeaRam system for aircraft and missile defense. This system uses RAM, as in RIM-116 "Rolling AirFrame" missiles to replace the older 20mm Phalanx autocannon. SeaRAM has a longer range of 7.5 kilometers than the two kilometers of the Phalanx. An LCS can also carry two MH-60 helicopters or two slightly smaller MQ-8C helicopter UAVs or one of each. In addition to basic armament and electronics such as sea and air search radars, the LCS crew was to contain specialized teams who are swapped in to operate specific mission package modules. About 40 percent of the ship is empty, with a large cargo hold into which the mission package gear is inserted and then removed, along with the package crew, when it is no longer assigned to that ship. An LCS has two crews when underway: the ship crew and the mission package crew. The captain of the ship crew is in charge and the officer commanding the mission package is simply the officer in charge of the largest equipment system on board. Initially, there were to be quite a few mission modules including mine warfare, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, special operations, and surface warfare. These modules would allow the ships to be quickly reconfigured for various specialized missions. Crews for each module were also to be modularized so that specialized teams could be swapped in to operate specific modules. The design and crew requirements for most modules were not ready when the initial LCS models entered service Emphasis had been placed on getting the mine warfare and anti-submarine warfare modules ready as soon as possible. The mine warfare module had problems and was never ready for use. The anti-submarine warfare module had even more problems. From the beginning, many naval construction experts doubted that these modules would ever be ready for use. Both of these modules used a lot of equipment already available for use on helicopters as well as the ship. The LCS received helicopters and UAVs that were only used for naval patrol. Ships like destroyers have long used their helicopters equipped with submarine detection equipment and lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes. By 2020 the Navy had and selected and ordered a replacement for the LSC in the form of frigates from an Italian firm that won the competition to build two FREMM type frigates for the U.S. Navy, with an option for eight more and eventually twenty, to replace the failed LCS design. At least twenty of these FREMM ships will be built in the United States as the 7,200-ton Constellation-class FFG guided missile frigate, which is optimized for ASW/anti-submarine warfare. The first FFG is to enter service in 2026. Each will cost about $800 million, which is what each of the less capable and reliable LCS vessels ended up costing. If FREMM is as successful as expected, that will be the end of the LCS. The first FREMM entered service in 2012 for France while a year later the second one entered service for Italy. Eventually about a hundred FREMM type ships will be in use, mainly by France, Italy, and the United States. Several other countries have expressed interest in being export customers for FREMMs. Experience so far in the Red Sea Houthi conflict has shown that every warship of the FREMM size or larger must carry its own self-defense anti-ballistic missile systems. The FREMM class frigates lack such systems and might be useless in conflicts even with lesser enemies such as the Houthi. The LCS demonstrated it could not replace the old Perry class frigates or be of much use at all. Without the mission modules, the LCS could only be used as a coastal patrol ship that was only able to detect surface ships. The LCS has actually been quite effective at the patrol work, which is all it has been able to do so far. Smaller and cheaper patrol ships are available for that sort of thing. New designs, especially for a new type of ship, are inherently risky. Project managers know that the media is always looking for bad news. That sort of thing can also be leveraged into accusations that project managers are trying to deceive Congress and perpetuate fraud on the taxpayer. These accusations rarely pan out, but they are much desired by editors as they can get exciting stories going and keep them going for a while. The rather less exciting reality is that the LCS is just another new warship design that ship builders thought would work and bring them a lot of business. The real story is the growing inability of American shipbuilders to construct warships competently. That story gets kicked around from time to time but never seems to gain any traction to be used long enough to find some answers. In this case the LCS was a very flawed design with a growing list of problems. The first LCS, the monohull USS Freedom, entered service in 2008 and over the next five years suffered major problems. In addition to a computer network hacking vulnerability, there was a leak in a propeller shaft seal which caused some minor flooding and cracks in the hull as long as 17 cm were discovered. The water-jet propulsion system broke down as well and in a separate incident one of the gas turbine engines broke down. That turned out to be a prelude to the combining-gear flaw, which took several years to reveal itself. The first serious problem was found in the USS Independence, the radical trimaran design. It seems that a dissimilar metals situation arose when salt water, the aluminum hull, and some other metals got into close proximity with each other, and extensive corrosion resulted. Aluminum hulls tend to corrode more than steel, but the problem became so bad with the USS Independence that, 18 months after entering service, it was sent into dry dock for corrosion repairs and design changes to eliminate the problem. It is unclear if those fixes will hold or if the Independence design will not develop more serious flaws. Cracks, corrosion, and equipment breakdowns are common in new warship designs, particularly designs that are radically different. Usually, these problems can be fixed, but there's always the risk that the new design will be seriously flawed, requiring extensive rework and a halt in building more ships of that class. That is what happened with LCS. There is some nervousness about all this. The U.S. Navy has not introduced a radical new design for nearly a century. The last such new design was the aircraft carrier, which required two decades of experimentation and a major war to nail down what worked. Even the nuclear submarines of the late 1950s and early 60s were evolutionary compared to what the LCS is trying to do. The LCS failed and the navy turned to a proven European frigate design that could enter production quickly and with confidence that the new ships would work. Since the 1990s the navy has had to deal with unworkable or too expensive ship designs like the Seawolf nuclear subs, the Zumwalt class destroyers, the LCS and even the new Ford class carriers, which had problems becoming ready for service because a radical new EMALS catapult design that was rushed into production without sufficient development and debugging. This is a track record of disasters that the U.S. Navy seems incapable of ending. Swiss lawmakers on Thursday backed steps aimed at allowing the use of frozen Russian state assets to finance war reparations to Ukraine, France 24 reports. "The upper house of parliament voted by 21-19 in favor of a series of government-backed motions, with three abstentions. The lower house passed them last year. They pave the way for the government to work on an international legal basis for using frozen aggressor-state assets to pay for reparations in attacked countries. More than $8 billion in Russian central bank reserves and assets are held in Switzerland," the report says. "The facts are very clear indeed. Russia has seriously violated international law. It must therefore repair the damage caused. International discussions are under way regarding compensation mechanisms and Switzerland is participating with its knowledge, its skills and all its history in this area," Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told parliament's upper house. "Bern will now seek to establish the international legal basis needed for a reparations mechanism to be developed at the global level. It would be aimed at allowing frozen funds from an aggressor's central bank, or assets of its state-owned companies, to be legally transferred to an attacked state," the report reads. "Thursday's vote followed a lively debate in the upper chamber. There was concern about whether Switzerland's image on neutrality might be harmed, and whether Switzerland was doing enough when there was war in Europe. Cassis argued that since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Switzerland had supported the affected populations with around three billion Swiss francs ($3.4 billion). The government also aims to spend around 1.5 billion Swiss francs on Ukraine and the region between 2025 and 2028. Switzerland also plans to host a peace conference later this year," according to the publication. "We don't have to blush when we talk about Ukraine on the international stage," Cassis said, whether it was on the financial, diplomatic or humanitarian front. "The economic affairs ministry said in May last year that 7.4 billion Swiss francs of Russian central bank reserves and assets were being held in Switzerland. Switzerland has also frozen 7.5 billion Swiss francs in Russian funds and assets owned or controlled by sanctioned persons, companies or entities, the ministry said at the time. The Swiss Bankers Association estimated that in March 2022, Russian clients held approximately 150 billion Swiss francs in banks in Switzerland," the report says. by Austin Bay March 7, 2024 As March 2024 began, every major U.S. national poll I scanned rated border security -- meaning lawless insecurity along the continental 48 states' southern and northern borders -- as the No. 1 national issue for American voters. This tells me Americans have realized protecting America's land borders is a critical national defense issue. Inconvenient truth: Protecting America's land borders has always been a critical national defense issue. It was in 1812 and is today, no matter how major liberal media outlets try to ignore border security and depict citizens concerned with border defense as assault rifle racists or 19th-century fossils. Close scrutiny of the polls revealed some respondents said their biggest concern was massive "illegal immigration." Though not border security precisely, fair bet those respondents engaged in what scholar types call synecdoche -- a poetic figure of speech in which the name of a part represents the whole. Example: A sail stands for a ship. Lax border security encourages massive illegal immigration. Yes, complaining about illegal immigration in public and especially in media offends the political Left. Tsk. Illegal immigration -- criminal immigration -- is so massive, left-wing hate speakers can no longer silence American citizens suffering from criminal immigration's consequences. Criminal is the apt word, for illegally entering the U.S. is a statutory crime. At least 8 million illegal immigrants (10 million by some estimates) have entered the U.S. since January 2021, the month President Joe Biden rescinded Trump administration executive orders that had dramatically curbed criminal immigration. The Trump administration used executive authority to defend American borders. Alas, another inconvenient truth for media leftists: The president doesn't need congressional legislation to defend the border. As commander in chief, he/she has the executive muscle to order strict enforcement of U.S. immigration, anti-smuggling, anti-drug, anti-terror laws, etc. Or a lawbreaking president, like Biden, can tell the Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection and even the Drug Enforcement Administration to look the other way. Another inconvenient reality: Look away and criminals and terrorists penetrate U.S. borders and commit murder -- like the Venezuelan criminal who murdered Laken Riley in Athens, Georgia. Hence another inconvenient fact: Any president who permits criminal and terrorist penetration is guilty of dereliction of duty, perhaps even treason. Why treason, a constitutional-rattling charge? Because the president has made America vulnerable to invasion. In 2022, "invasion" was not a rhetorical exaggeration if you lived in overrun Eagle Pass, Texas. Tens of thousands of illegals crossed the border sector every day. Then Texas Gov. Greg Abbot began busing criminal immigrants to northern sanctuary cities. To be accurate, the Biden administration has been secretly flying illegals to airports throughout the country, but only Fox News and a few brave internet sites covered the lawless president's surreptitious penetration. But deep penetration has had consequences. In the last seven to eight months, politically liberal northern and western cities have begun to battle the criminal chaos, economic and social damage and medical risks spawned by mass illegal immigration. Now even smug New York City screams about the billions of dollars it must spend to house, feed and care for even 100,000 immigrants -- though Biden administration language monitors insist on calling them newcomers. Ukraine is fighting a war for national survival against a dangerous invader, Vladimir Putin's Russia. Russia's invasion is classic "kinetic" warfare -- bombs, bullets and soldiers destroying Ukrainian cities and killing Ukrainian civilians. Putin's Russia is a definite culprit. He intends to make Ukraine a province of Imperial Russia. On its borders the U.S. confronts a 21st-century hybrid war -- one that is also a war for national survival. The hybrid war's weapons: deadly drugs (fentanyl), human trafficking (to include child sex and work slavery), migrants sapping social welfare dollars budgeted for deprived American citizens and noncitizens voting illegally. Illegal votes equal hijacked U.S. elections. Other inconvenient truths: Enemies evading border controls spread infectious diseases. Terrorists masked as illegal aliens can enter the U.S. and embed as "sleeper agents" for future enemy action. It's time to defend the borders and win the hybrid war. March 7, 2024: Syria remains in a state of turmoil. There were some changes in 2024, starting with the discovery that the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia had secretly maintained operations in neighboring Syria. This was exposed when Israeli forces attacked Hezbollah in late 2023 and continued attacking into 2024. Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria over the last few years to make sure the civil war in Syria does not spread. Israeli air strikes are a quick reaction to any threats from Hezbollah, which is based in southern Lebanon but recently revealed some expansion into Syria. Syrian leader Bashar Assad defended Hamas during an interview a reporter for Russian media. Assad also praised the work of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile in eastern Syria, the Kurdish SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) militia, consisting of Syrian Kurds, Syrian Sunni Arabs, and some other Syrian minorities, are leading the fight against the remaining Islamic terrorists belonging to al Qaeda and the more militant ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). ISIL continues to murder locals in order to obtain cooperation and compel civilians to refuse to cooperate with Syrian soldiers who are seeking to find and capture or kill ISIL members. The ruling Assad clan of Syria choose peace over religion in 2021 by quietly abandoning long-time ally Iran for new deals with Russia and the Arab League, as well as Israel. Thats how the Assads, who belong to the Shia minority of Syria, have survived. They change allegiances when necessary. This most recent shift began after the 2011 rebellion of the Sunni majority against the Shia minority. The Assads almost lost but by late 2018 it was clear they had won. The fighting persisted into 2024 because the main participants, like Russia, Turkey, Iran, the Assad government, and several remaining rebel factions, cannot agree on how to deal with the loose ends. Although initially considered likely to win, the rebels lost because of factionalism. So far over 500,000 have died and a third of the population has fled, mainly to Turkey and Lebanon. Meanwhile the Assads received over $16 billion worth of Iranian aid since 2012. That was joined by assistance from Russia after 2015 and Turkey since 2016. The civil war also morphed into a proxy war between Iran and the Sunni Arab states and their Western allies. The major factor in the rebel defeat was ISIL, which began as one of many Sunni Arab Islamic terror groups, but mainly al Qaeda and ISIL, who wanted to turn Syria into a religious dictatorship. Most Syrians just wanted peace and prosperity. The Islamic terror groups, as was their custom, put a priority on determining which of them was the true savior of Islam. ISIL was definitely the most ruthless and best organized and many groups submitted to ISIL, if only temporarily. That weakened the rebel effort sufficiently for the Assads to hang on and become accepted as part of a larger anti-ISIL coalition. One thing everyone could agree on was that ISIL had to be destroyed first and by late 2017 that was accomplished. With ISIL reduced to small groups carrying out terror attacks, the remaining rebels were still not united. At the time ISIL was crushed the rebels controlled about a third of the country but were outnumbered by the Assad forces and most Syrians were increasingly war weary. Most of the deaths occurred after 2013. The killing diminished a bit in 2015 because of sheer exhaustion and picked up again in 2016 because of the Russian air, and other support. The stubborn Assad dictatorship had a chance to win after 2015, something some Western nations saw as preferable to Islamic terrorists taking over and requiring a Western invasion to remove such a threat. The Islamic extremists still in revolt have been confined to Adib Province in northeastern Syria containing roughly two million people, almost entirely the rebels and their families. They had been being squeezed by Russian mercenaries, airpower and some Syrian ground forces until the Russians withdrew their forces after the Ukraine War started. At this point not much actual fighting is occurring save by Turkish forces attacking Kurdish areas. In August 2016 Turkish ground forces entered northern Syria to seal the border from ISIL and Turkish separatist PKK Kurds as well as to weaken the Syrian Kurds. The Turks were basically helping the Assads and hurting ISIL and all that made an Assad victory more likely. Before the Assads could resume control of the country they had to deal with the fact that Israel, Jordan, and the Sunni Arab oil states are opposed to the Iranian effort to establish a permanent military presence in Syria. The Assads were not happy with Iranian domination but had to keep quiet about that. Turkey was opposed to any autonomous Syrian Kurdish area in the northeast as well as a permanent Iranian presence. Turkey and Russia are technically allies of Iran in Syria, but the reality is that no one trusts Iran. The Russians have quietly made it clear they would side with Israel if it came down to that. The Turks are NATO members and traditional foes of Russia and Iran. The current Turkish government is unstable and increasingly unpopular with Turks as well as the neighbors. The unrest in Iran and growing financial problems have reduced Iranian efforts in Syria. The Assads quietly patched things up with the Arab League, with help from Russia and, unexpectedly, Israel. At this point Iranian leaders were aware of what the Assads were going but were unsure of how to deal with it. Iran could probably kill the Assads, but that would be difficult because the key Assads tend to avoid joint meetings, the better to keep the clan alive, even if some key members get killed. This is how Middle Eastern politics has been conducted for thousands of years. WBA leaders, team members, partners and suppliers came together in a shared commitment to people and the planet. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / At Walgreens Boots Alliance's first-ever Healthy Communities Day, held in Chicago this week, participants celebrated the progress of WBA's health-centered Environmental, Social & Governance strategy and crafted future ambitions for healthier communities around the world. Marking the launch of its ESG Report for 2023, the event brought together stakeholders active at the forefront of global impact issues, from climate change to healthcare access, for candid discussions of what's next. Representatives ranging from global enterprise leaders to small business owners to nonprofit founders gathered in the National Museum of Mexican Art for the day, itself a testament to Walgreens' community involvement as a museum sponsor and just a short distance from the first Walgreens store opened in 1901. Here are six takeaways from the event. None of us can do it alone. One theme throughout the day was that significant change comes when we work together and multiply our impact. WBA CEO Tim Wentworth set the tone for open partnership: "The most important part of our relationship is that we can share and define goals that we couldn't achieve individually, but together we can exceed." Ornella Barra, WBA COO international and ESG committee chair, agreed, saying, "We understand the need to keep up at this work and will continue to make investments that improve the prospects and environment for our people and our consumers. We cannot achieve this alone." A heartfelt example of what we've already accomplished together, with partner Vitamin Angels and the support of our customers, team members and their incredible network, is the over 400 million parents and children around the world supplied with life-changing vitamins and supplements in the past 10 years. Watch Michaela's story above to see the real-life change we're making. Climate change is closer than you think-and it's personal. In a discussion moderated by Una Kent, WBA's VP of ESG and DEI, International, panelists discussed the inextricable link between climate change and human health. David Croft, Global Head of Sustainability at Reckitt, acknowledged a misconception that many people hear climate change and think of distant polar ice caps and not the impact right at their doorstep. "Does that feel personal to you? Do you want to change something about something that's so remote?" he asked. "One of the biggest things we've done together is start to change some of the conversation so that climate change becomes personal." In one such example, Sarah McDonald, VP, Sustainability at Haleon, talked about a study that put trackers on children's backpacks to see how much air pollution they ingested while walking to school. An alternate route on a less congested road meant less polluted air and better health outcomes in the long term. So, what are we doing about it? We're joining forces, for starters. WBA and each company represented on the panel are part of the Climate and Health Coalition, which formed in 2022 to help the private sector accelerate the transformation of our health and climate systems to improve outcomes for both people and planet. Read more about WBA's commitment to a Healthy Planet. Together we can localize healthcare. In a panel moderated by Alethia Jackson, WBA's SVP of ESG and Chief DEI Officer, panelists discussed how 60% of health outcomes are driven by social determinants of health, such as your zip code. What this tells us is that healthcare is local and must be tailored to fit the unique needs of a community. Each panelist represented a different point in the patient's healthcare journey, such as vaccinating people in under-resourced countries, helping mothers through pregnancy, developing medicines and vaccines that can help with chronic disease, decentralizing and diversifying clinical trials, and making the LGBTQ+ community feel seen, heard and supported with their health needs. At the center of it all are pharmacists, embedded in their communities and empowered to provide education, access and care. "Approximately 50% of our stores are located in medically underserved areas. Knowing our patients and customers in these communities has allowed us to work in tandem with partners who are also trying to help different segments of the population with the most need," said Jackson. Read more about WBA's commitment to Healthy Communities. Sustainability works when we bring consumers along for the journey. Rajnish Kapur, SVP of Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain, WBA, led a discussion on the influence retailers like WBA can have on creating a better environment through choices on supplier partners, transportation, packaging and more. "We need to meet consumers where they are and bring them along with us. We can't expect them to leap the Grand Canyon to come to where we are and our point of view as corporations," said Jennifer Duran, global VP of Product Resiliency and Sustainability at Kenvue, maker of iconic brands like Band-Aid and Tylenol. This includes changing the narrative on sustainability from an add-on or afterthought to an integrated and expected feature of the products. Small business owner Theresa Ging, CEO of Sugar Bliss, notes that in addition to sustainable packaging, it further supports the environment through a partnership with Plastic Bank, which removes plastic from the ocean and supports disadvantaged communities. "I realized the consumer I'm targeting understands that recyclable packaging probably costs more. They understand there's a social mission and we're giving back." Panelists agreed that making more inroads for small businesses to learn how to make sustainable choices would go a long way, and true to theme, working together between industry organizations, retailers and suppliers big and small was the way to do it. Read more about WBA's commitment to Sustainable Marketplace. Forging connections are critical to fighting cancer. Angela Bower, Senior Director of Health Services Diversity and Inclusion, brought together some of the most prominent players in cancer care, awareness and prevention to discuss what patients need now. When you learn that 1 in 2 people will get cancer in their lifetime, and most of our panelists were cancer survivors or family of cancer survivors, you begin to understand the magnitude. The emotional needs of cancer patients came through clearly, as Stephanie Lieber, Executive Director of Imerman's Angels said, "Like many folks on this panel, we do this so that no one faces cancer alone." Pharmacists in our stores can be an important lifeline for cancer patients, offering counseling on emotional, physical and financial needs. Through a partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, Boots pharmacists have been trained and had more than 150,000 supportive conversations with people with cancer. Addressing inequities in cancer diagnosis and treatment was also a charged topic, with discussion on solutions as varied as educational materials for awareness starting at younger ages, culturally competent outreach in the Black and Hispanic communities, and increased diversity in clinical trials. Working together was also reinforced as the goal, as Paula Schneider, Chief Executive of Susan G. Komen said, "Be open to any partnership or one-plus-one-equals three situations. If we can figure out how to partner better together, the world will be a better place." Team members are the foundation of how we deliver on community health. Every person working at WBA, from customer service associates to pharmacists to supply chain and corporate support, has a role in our vision to be the leading partner in reimagining local healthcare and wellbeing for all. Sal Venegas, interim chief HR officer, said, "Our team members, our people, are the heart of the company and the key to our success." For the more than 331,000 team members at WBA, creating a safe, healthy and inclusive workplace is our goal. Mary Stutts, CEO at the Healthcare Businesswoman's Association and event panelist, shared that "the majority of employees really want to be active in their community and to be proud of working for a company that is active in their community." Listen to two of our team members talk about how this comes to life for them above. Read more about WBA's commitment to a Healthy and Inclusive Workplace. Tim Wentworth, WBA CEO; Ornella Barra, WBA COO international and ESG committee chair View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Walgreens Boots Alliance on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Walgreens Boots Alliance Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/walgreens-boots-alliance Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Walgreens Boots Alliance View the original press release on accesswire.com TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund VCC (TSX:FAP) (UEN: T21VC0235H) (the "Company"), a closed-end investment company trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, announced today the results of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting"), held on March 8, 2024 in Singapore. Four directors and the auditors were elected as described below. Whereas six directors were nominated for election as directors in the management information circular dated January 18, 2024 (the "Circular"), the Company also announced that prior to the Meeting, Mr. P. Gerald Malone and Mr. Warren C. Smith resigned as directors from the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") effective March 7, 2024 and withdrew their names as nominees for election as directors of the Company. After giving effect to the withdrawal of Mr. Malone and Mr. Smith as nominees for directors, Radhika Ajmera, William J. Braithwaite, Pruksa Iamthongthong and Henny Muliany were nominated as directors for the ensuing year until the next annual meeting of shareholders, as described in the Circular. Mr. William Braithwaite, chairman of the Board, thanked Mr. Malone and Mr. Smith for their years of service and contribution to the Company and wished them well in all their future endeavors. Having received a greater number of votes "withheld" from their election than votes "for", under the Company's Majority Voting Policy Ms. Iamthongthong and Ms. Muliany are required to tender their resignations. However, the Board determined, in accordance with the Majority Voting Policy, that it would not accept their resignations in order to ensure the Company's continued compliance with Singapore law. The Board expects that Ms. Iamthongthong and Ms. Muliany will continue as directors until the next annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company. The Board has the discretion to appoint a fifth director to the Board. The description of the Meeting proposals and the shareholders' votes cast for and against each proposal at the Meeting are as follows: 1. Election of Directors The number of directors was set at four (4) and the four (4) nominees listed in the Circular that stood for election, were elected as directors of the Company by an ordinary resolution passed at the Meeting as follows: Director Votes For Votes Withheld Radhika Ajmera 12,979,183 (96.39%) 486,437 (3.61%) William J. Braithwaite 13,006,407 (96.59%) 459,213 (3.41%) Henny Muliany 6,561,150 (48.73%) 6,904,470 (51.27%) Pruska Iamthongthong 6,583,950 (48.89%) 6,881,670 (51.11%) 2. Election of Auditor The firm KPMG LLP, Singapore was appointed as the auditor of the Company and KPMG LLP, Toronto was appointed as the principal independent registered public accountant of the Company for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2024 by an ordinary resolution passed by 13,450,186 (99.64%) votes for and 48,910 (0.36%) votes withheld. Final voting results on all matters voted on at the Meeting will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. abrdn is the registered marketing name in Canada for the following entities: abrdn Canada Limited, abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Luxembourg S.A., abrdn Private Equity (Europe) Limited, abrdn Capital Partners LLP, and abrdn Alternative Funds Limited. abrdn Canada Limited is registered as a Portfolio Manager and Exempt Market Dealer in all provinces and territories of Canada as well as an Investment Fund Manager in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Company's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the Company. There is no assurance that the Company will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. https://www.abrdn.com/en-ca/canadaclosedend For More Information Contact: abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund VCC Investor Relations 1-800-992-6341 [email protected] SOURCE: abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund VCC View the original press release on accesswire.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today unveiled a new solar park at its Amber Cove Cruise Center in the Dominican Republic. The park's 1,800-plus solar panels will supply 80 percent of the port's energy demand. Carnival Corporation, Carnival Cruise Line and Amber Cove Cruise Center celebrated with a ribbon cutting that was attended by government, industry and community leaders, including Joel Santos, minister of the presidency of the Dominican Republic, and Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "As we bring guests to enjoy the beauty and rich culture of the Dominican Republic, we also take our environmental stewardship here and everywhere we visit very seriously," said Duffy. "With this new solar park in Amber Cove, we are furthering our commitment to sustainability at our destinations by focusing on renewable energy sources to power the vast majority of the port's needs." "On behalf of the Government, we celebrate this achievement, which makes Amber Cove the first cruise terminal in the country with a project of this scale," said Joel Santos, minister of the presidency of the Dominican Republic. "This project will undoubtedly contribute to the production of clean energy and environmental sustainability in Puerto Plata, the first tourist destination in the Dominican Republic." The shift to renewable solar energy will replace most of the port's current energy sources and reduce its reliance on fossil fuel-based energy, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be produced. In total, the solar park is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1,000 tons per year - the equivalent to planting more than 30,000 trees. Located in the heart of the Dominican Republic's north coast just outside the historical town of Puerto Plata, Amber Cove Cruise Center is one of eight leading port destinations and exclusive islands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation. The 25-acre port features restaurants, shops, bars, pools, a zipline, waterfront and hilltop cabanas, and many shore excursion opportunities, such as snorkeling and a waterfall adventure. Four of the company's cruise lines - Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises - regularly visit the cruise port, which celebrated one million arriving guests last December - accounting for more than half of all cruise guest visits to the Dominican Republic in 2023. ### About Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company, and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines - AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn. Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.aida.de, www.carnival.com, www.costacruise.com, www.cunard.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.pocruises.com, www.princess.com , and www.seabourn.com. For information on Carnival Corporation's industry-leading sustainability initiatives, visit www.carnivalsustainability.com. Carnival Corporation Media Contacts: Amber Hastings, Carnival Corporation, [email protected] Ellie Beuerman, LDWW, [email protected] About Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S., two Australian homeports and seasonally from Europe, and employs more than 48,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival's fleet of 27 ships reflects an exciting period of growth since 2021. Carnival's next new guest offering will be the all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key, set to debut on Grand Bahama in summer 2025. About DR Cruise Port LTD (Amber Cove) Carnival Corporation & plc and Grupo Rannik developed the port of Amber Cove, representing an $85 million investment. Since beginning operations in 2015, the port has welcomed more than 3.6 million guests. Amber Cove Cruise Center, a 25-acre facility, offers restaurants, shops, a swim-up bar, over-the-water cabanas and a zipline, and employs 120 people directly and more than 800 indirectly. This release includes claims related to our greenhouse gas emissions reductions, goals, initiatives, accomplishments, and progress reports. Supporting data for such greenhouse gas emissions claims, including data verification information, is published in our Sustainability Reports on carnivalcorp.com/sustainability on an annual basis. From the left: Jesus Mendez, Regional Director, Carnival Corp.; Sharon Mei, Amber Cove General Manager; Vicky Rey, VP, Gov. Affairs, Carnival Corp.; Jeff Rannik, Pres., Rannik Group; Alejandro Campos, Pres. of the Board, Dominican Port Authority; Elba Tineo, Municipal Director, Maimon; Joel Santos Echevarra, Minister of the Presidency, Dominican Republic; Christine Duffy, Pres., Carnival Cruise Line; Claritza Rochtte, Governor, Puerto Plata; Juan Fernandez, VP, Strategic Operations, Carnival Corp. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Carnival Corporation & plc on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Carnival Corporation & plc Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/carnival-corporation-plc Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Carnival Corporation & plc View the original press release on accesswire.com NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / In a show of confidence, 1847 Holdings LLC. (NYSE: EFSH) Chief Executive Ellery Roberts recently acquired shares of his company. 1847 is a publicly traded diversified acquisition holding company that invests in small businesses, grows them and either spins them out or folds them into its portfolio of holdings. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing the company disclosed Roberts purchased 154,364 shares on March 4 for $3.30 per share. Roberts had previously acquired 6,251 shares on January 30 at $1.353 per share. Following the share purchase this week, Roberts now owns 169,648 shares in 1847. When insiders - especially CEOs - buy shares of their company it signals executives have confidence in the business and/or believe the stock is undervalued. It's something investors pay close attention to. If insiders were selling shares rather than purchasing them, it could be a red flag that something is amiss. Robert's move to buy shares comes as the company is enjoying success with some of the small businesses it acquires. 1847 targets small businesses with about $5 million of EBITDA and then deploys resources to strengthen the enterprise and improve operations positioning it for a sale or IPO. 1847 looks for U.S. companies that have the potential for breakout returns and are well-positioned within their respective industries. The IPO of 1847 Goedeker's in July 2020 is the type of exit the PE firm looks for with its portfolio companies. After it was purchased in April 2019 for $6 million, it went public with a valuation of just under $60 million. The stock traded at $9 and peaked at $18. All the while 1847 holders were able to sell shares and reap the returns. 1847 is hoping to emulate that success again with 1847 Cabinets Inc., a designer, manufacturer and installer of cabinets, doors and millwork for residential construction. 1847 recently engaged Spartan Capital Securities, LLC. , a U.S. investment bank, to explore a potential spin-off of 1847 Cabinets into a separate publicly traded company or other potential strategic transaction to capitalize on 1847 Cabinet's internal growth and favorable outlook for the business. Learn more about how 1847 selects small businesses to invest in here. Contact: Ellery Roberts [email protected] SOURCE: 1847 Holdings LLC View the original press release on accesswire.com BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF), a leader in smart following technology and subsidiary of the Piaggio Group, announces the launch of PFF kilo", the newest addition to their portfolio of mobile technology solutions for businesses. kilo is a 4-wheeled robotic flatbed with hands-free human following capabilities. With a payload of up to 300 lbs and a maximum speed of 3 mph, kilo is designed to work alongside humans, enabling users to move materials more naturally and without the risk of repetitive motion injuries. kilo marks the first introduction of PFF's proprietary Travel on Known Paths autonomous behavior, allowing users to train robots on paths up to 100 meters in length and store up to 100 trips per fleet for future use. PFF kilo is designed to operate in complex environments both indoors and outdoors, offering customizable mobile solutions for businesses across hospitality, manufacturing, retail, travel, indoor agriculture, construction, and more. kilo can be optionally outfitted with industry or facility specific carts or shelving, ensuring the right platform configuration for any job. It operates out of the box, without the need for costly infrastructure requirements or advanced training for operators. kilo is also equipped with PFF pro" tools web portal and mobile applications, allowing for fleet management and regular software improvements. "Our robotics technology is augmenting workforces around the world and PFF kilo is the newest model offering customizable options with the ability to utilize our latest software tools and data to manage the human-robot relationship," said CEO Greg Lynn. "From manufacturing to any industry that relies on the repetitive movement of goods across campuses and facilities, PFF's autonomous technology allows our robots to safely move with and around workers in complex environments and to help individuals in the workplace, streamlining workflows and increasing productivity." kilo is operated using a single intuitive button which indicates the functionality status and features of the robot through color, brightness, and light patterns. The robot uses proprietary human etiquette algorithms, depth cameras, and 4D radar and is optimized for detecting and predicting human behavior while operating at pedestrian speeds. The hands-free following allows for both indoors and outdoors use for a wide variety of environments and applications. Intuitive, easy to use, and developed with worker safety in mind, kilo is designed to augment workers with valuable efficiency and safety, enhancing rather than replacing workers and jobs. kilo is equipped with PFF pro" tools fleet management software. The cloud-based and proprietary software tool is a next-generation fleet management solution built to optimize and augment the working relationship between humans and their robotic counterparts. PFF's next generation of robots provides integration and orchestration features allowing teams to achieve more while collaborating with their robot partners. PFF will be introducing kilo at the MODEX Show , March 11-14, 2024. For a demo, visit booth #A10907 at MODEX or email [email protected] to schedule an appointment. About Piaggio Fast Forward Smart following technology leader Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF) is a Boston-based company founded in 2015 and funded by the Piaggio Group, the Italian manufacturer and creator of the iconic Vespa scooter. PFF has an extensive knowledge of pedestrian mobility and uses this knowledge to create innovative mobile tech solutions that move the way people move. PFF's vision is to bring intuitive, efficient, and sustainable robotics solutions into the entire human-built environment while supporting the local mobility needs of businesses, communities, and individuals. The gitamini and gitaplus robots are sold directly to consumers as well as to businesses that use them to augment their labor force and delight their customers in select industries including travel, hospitality, real estate, retail, delivery and more. For business inquiries please visit https://piaggiofastforward.com/business. About Piaggio Group Established in 1884, Piaggio Group is the largest scooter and motorcycle manufacturer in Europe and one of the global leaders in the sector. The Piaggio Group has been listed on the Italian stock exchange since 2006 and has three main business lines: 2 and 3 wheelers (scooters and motorcycles), light commercial vehicles and robotics (PFF). The Group's portfolio includes some of the most iconic and famous brands in the light mobility industry, such as: Piaggio, Vespa, Moto Guzzi, Gilera, Derbi, Ape and Piaggio Commercial. Piaggio Group counts more than 6.600 employees, it has a distribution in more than 100 countries and six industrial plants (in Italy, India, China and Vietnam). The Group also has four research and development centers, which employ approximately 1,000 people. SOURCE: Piaggio Fast Forward View the original press release on accesswire.com VANCOUVER, WA / ACCESSWIRE / March 8, 2024 / Sinceri Senior Living, a senior living management company, is pleased to announce the addition of their new community, The Vero at Chesapeake. This community joined Sinceri at the beginning of February and is the management operator's first community in the state of Virginia. The Vero, located in the heart of Chesapeake, offers unique Assisted Living and Memory Care options for their residents. Their prime location in the Great Bridge neighborhood gives residents easy access to the lovely luxuries and activities that active seniors enjoy, including history, fine dining, and eclectic shopping. The area is also rich in natural, historical, and cultural attractions, which the community visits frequently. The Vero offers many personalized amenities and services for their residents, including: Daily activities, fitness programs, transportation services, and events Care coordination, health maintenance, cognitive support, and communication assistance Housekeeping, daily check-ins, and 24-hour caregivers Delicious restaurant-style meals, a coffee bar, and a full-service beauty salon/barber Billiards room, arts and craft studio, and a theater The building finished construction in April of 2023 and welcomed its first resident to the community on May 22, 2023. The Vero accommodates 138 residents and provides a spacious environment across its 120,000 square feet. April Young, Chief Operating Officer of Sinceri Senior Living, stated, "The addition of The Vero at Chesapeake community has truly been a rewarding experience. As with any new community, it brings the exciting prospect of growth and expansion. Not only does it mean welcoming new residents into our midst, but also the chance to welcome new team members into our family. This infusion of new talent brings with it a wealth of potential, allowing us to constantly elevate our knowledge and services through the unique expertise of each new team member." Sinceri could not be happier with the addition of The Vero at Chesapeake. To learn more about the community and all of its services and amenities, check out their website here: https://sinceriseniorliving.com/the-vero-at-chesapeake/ About Sinceri Senior Living: Sinceri Senior Living is a premier senior living management company that provides services to seniors in 74 communities and 20 states, serving approximately 4,800 seniors across the U.S. Sinceri Senior Living manages all levels of care, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing communities. From the legacy of its first dedicated memory care community more than 35 years ago, Sinceri Senior Living has built a reputation for expertly managing senior living properties, including owned and managed facilities, with highly sought-after personalized care and exceptional, unique programming for residents and their families. Contact Information Missy Day Vice President of Marketing and Communication [email protected] (800) 254-9442 SOURCE: Sinceri Senior Living View the original press release on newswire.com. OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best will host a complimentary webinar, titled, Solving the Profitability Puzzle Addressing Auto Insurance Quote Manipulation, sponsored by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, on March 27, 2024. Quote manipulation can indicate higher claims risk as individuals provide incorrect information to appear less risky. Unchecked, widespread quote manipulation can lead to better customers subsidizing riskier ones, inflated premiums that drive away good customers, and greater risks of adverse selection. New research suggests that up to 8% of new shopping events could be subject to auto insurance quote manipulation by individuals misrepresenting their garaging address. In this webinar, a panel of data scientists and insurance experts will examine how carriers can identify garaging address mismatches to better support underwriting and profitability. Register today. Panelists include: Jon Atteberry, director, data science, LexisNexis Risk Solutions; Jennifer Kostyrna, director, product management, LexisNexis Risk Solutions; and Katie Raftelis, senior product manager, driving risk violations product management team, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Attendees can submit questions during registration or by emailing [email protected]. The event will be streamed in video and audio formats, and playback will be available to registered viewers shortly after the event. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2024 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308644746/en/ Lee McDonald Senior Vice President, Publication & News Services +1 908 882 2102 [email protected] Source: AM Best MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ARCO) (Arcos Dorados or the Company), Latin Americas largest restaurant chain and the worlds largest independent McDonalds franchisee, today announced that on March 7, 2024, its Board of Directors set the date for the Company's Annual Shareholders Meeting (AGM). The AGM will be held on April 26, 2024, in Cartagena, Colombia, at 3:00 p.m. (local time), for all shareholders of record as of March 28, 2024. About Arcos Dorados Arcos Dorados is the worlds largest independent McDonalds franchisee, operating the largest quick service restaurant chain in Latin America and the Caribbean. It has the exclusive right to own, operate and grant franchises of McDonalds restaurants in 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries and territories with more than 2,350 restaurants, operated by the Company or by its sub-franchisees, that together employ over 95 thousand people (as of 12/31/2023). The Company is also committed to the development of the communities in which it operates, to providing young people their first formal job opportunities and to utilize its Recipe for the Future to achieve a positive environmental impact. Arcos Dorados is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ARCO). To learn more about the Company, please visit the Investors section of our website: www.arcosdorados.com/ir. Follow us on: LinkedIn Instagram Twitter YouTube View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308135859/en/ Investor Relations Contact Dan Schleiniger VP of Investor Relations Arcos Dorados [email protected] Media Contact David Grinberg VP of Corporate Communications Arcos Dorados [email protected] Source: Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc. Czech PM: We manage to raise money to purchase first batch of 300,000 artillery shells for Ukraine The Czech Republic and its partners managed to raise enough money to purchase the first batch of 300,000 artillery shells for Ukraine, "however, the goal is much more," Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said. Many thanks to all the countries that have joined the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine so far. We have managed to raise enough money to buy the first batch of 300,000 artillery shells. However, our goal is to deliver much more! Our work and our help to Ukraine do not end here, Fiala said on X Friday. The Prime Minister stressed that the Czech Republic continues to look for partners to continue to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian aggressor. At the Munich Security Conference in February, Czech President Petr Pavel assured that Prague has data on the possibility of supplying Kyiv with 500,000 of 155 mm and 300,000 of 122 mm shells, and within a few weeks if the necessary funding is received. Bloomberg later reported that Canada, Denmark, Lithuania and Latvia had previously agreed to participate in the initiative; France and Poland also wanted to join it. Acquisition will expand BlackRocks offerings in personalized separately managed accounts SMAs are one of the fastest growing product segments in the U.S. wealth industry NEW YORK & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) has agreed to acquire the remaining equity interest in SpiderRock Advisors (SRA), a leading provider of customized option overlay strategies in the U.S. wealth market. This transaction expands on BlackRocks minority investment in SRA made in 2021 and reinforces BlackRocks commitment to personalized separately managed accounts (SMAs). By giving BlackRock more SMA capabilities, this acquisition will enable us to meet growing demand from wealth managers for personalized, tax-efficient portfolios. We look forward to fully integrating SRAs team and capabilities into our U.S. Wealth Advisory business and to further expanding our offerings in SMA solutions, said Joe DeVico, Co-Head of BlackRock's U.S. Wealth Advisory business. SMAs are one of the fastest-growing product segments in the U.S. wealth industry. They are expected to grow from $2.7 trillion in AUM as of Q3 2023 to $4 trillion by 2026 according to Cerulli Associates, fueled by a fundamental client need: the desire to customize portfolios for unique tax, values-alignment, or investment outcomes. Advances in technology have made it even easier to access SMAs, and client demand for personalization continues to grow. Each investor has unique circumstances inherent with a concentrated stock position or existing SMA portfolio. SRAs highly complementary solutions can provide advisors with a comprehensive suite of customization capabilities that help solve clients unique challenges, such as income generation, downside protection, and tax-efficiency through the use of options, said, Eve Cout, Head of Portfolio Design & Solutions pillar within BlackRocks U.S. Wealth Advisory business. SRA managed approximately $4.8 billion in client assets as of February 2024. The firms SMA strategies are focused on income and risk management for single securities as well as diversified portfolios using derivative overlay strategies, and are accessible through RIAs, family offices, national broker/dealers and institutional channels. BlackRock is an industry leader in SMAs for U.S. wealth management-focused intermediaries, managing $186 billion in SMAs as of December 2023. The firms SMA franchise specializes in providing customized strategies, including Aperios direct indexing capability, actively managed fixed income, equity and multi-asset strategies to meet the growing demand for personalization in the marketplace. We are thrilled to fully join the BlackRock team, and to broaden access to SpiderRock Advisors options management solutions for both taxable and tax-exempt investors, said Eric Metz, President and Chief Investment Officer of SpiderRock Advisors. Innovative advisors and investors understand the value of options in their portfolios to better manage risk as we navigate a challenging capital markets landscape. We look forward to benefiting from BlackRocks global reach and deep industry relationships as we seek to help more advisors deliver tailored options strategies to empower their clients towards achieving their after-tax investment goals. The transaction, expected to close in Q2 2024, is subject to customary closing conditions. The financial impact of the transaction is not material to BlackRock earnings. Financial terms were not disclosed. Jones Day acted as legal counsel for SpiderRock Advisors, LLC. Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP acted as legal counsel for BlackRock. About BlackRock BlackRocks purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate About SpiderRock Advisors SpiderRock Advisors, LLC is a Chicago-based asset management firm focused on providing customized option overlay strategies to investors. Combining technology with comprehensive derivative management expertise, SpiderRock Advisors is making it easy for financial advisors and institutions to add option overlay strategies to their portfolios. SpiderRock Advisors manages approximately $4.8 billion for firms in the RIAs, family office, national broker/dealers and institutional channels. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308158161/en/ BlackRock Christa Zipf [email protected] 646-231-0013 SpiderRock Advisors Ray Hennessy, Vocatus LLC Mobile 973-527-1797 Email [email protected] Source: BlackRock TYSONS, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cvent, an industry-leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider, announced that Rachel Andrews, Cvents Head of Global Meetings & Events, has been named to the 2024 Smart Women in Meetings list. The ninth-annual list is published by Smart Meetings Magazine, a leading media company catering to meeting professionals, and aims to recognize influential industry leaders. Im incredibly honored to be recognized by Smart Meetings Magazine amongst this group of extraordinary industry leaders, said Andrews. I wholeheartedly believe that the meetings and events industry is a powerful force for bringing people together and driving not only incredible economic impact but also positive, lasting change. This community of remarkable women, the incredible legacy of Smart Meetings CEO Marin Bright, as well as my dedicated colleagues at Cvent, inspire me to continue raising the bar and elevating this industry in a meaningful way. I know were just getting started. According to Smart Meetings, this year, the publication received a record number of nominations. To create the list, applicants submitted answers to a series of questions, ranging from their personal leadership philosophies to their unique approaches putting on events. Smart Meetings evaluated the finalists and then placed winners in one of six awards categories: Visionary, Innovator, Entrepreneur, Industry Leader, Stellar Performer, and Rising Star. Andrews was named a Visionary leader, celebrating her forward-thinking mindset. The full list of awardees can be accessed here. This years winner will also be recognized at the Smart Women Summit and Smart Women in Meetings Gala at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, August 16. About Cvent Cvent is a leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider with 4,800+ employees and ~22,000 customers worldwide as of December 31, 2023. Founded in 1999, the company delivers a comprehensive event marketing and management platform and offers a global marketplace where event professionals collaborate with venues to create engaging, impactful experiences. Cvent is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C., and has additional offices around the world to support its growing global customer base. The comprehensive Cvent event marketing and management platform offers software solutions to event organizers and marketers for online event registration, venue selection, event marketing and management, virtual and onsite solutions, and attendee engagement. Cvents suite of products automate and simplify the event management lifecycle and maximize the impact of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. Hotels and venues use Cvents supplier and venue solutions to win more group and corporate travel business through Cvents sourcing platforms. Cvent solutions optimize the event management value chain and have enabled clients around the world to manage millions of meetings and events. For more information, please visit Cvent.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308880205/en/ Cvent Erica Stoltenberg [email protected] Source: Cvent TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Toronto just got its first unionized Starbucks location. During a vote that occurred between March 6 and 7, Partners at the Pape and Danforth locations said yes to joining the United Steelworkers (USW) union. After successes in Western Canada, the Danforth location becomes the fourth Starbucks location in Ontario to unionize. We started this campaign because we intrinsically know our worth. We know that we are the foundation of our store and the company and we deserve to be valued and respected as such, said Jo Price, a Partner at the Danforth location. As Starbucks locations across North America join and form their unions, its become evident how Starbucks operations undervalue the hard work and dedication Partners put in. In a world that is hostile to workers and increasingly becoming more precarious for us, having protections in place outside of those dictated by the company, as well as a shot at accessing a living wage, is more important than ever, said Price. Workers across industries often look to the Steelworkers to represent them and their interests at work and Starbucks Partners are no different. They want fair compensation, a healthy and safe workplace and a work environment where they are valued, said Myles Sullivan, USW District 6 Director (Ontario and Atlantic Canada). We are more than happy to help them get there. The USW represents Starbucks workers at stores in Calgary, Edmonton and Sherwood Park in Alberta; Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey and Langley in B.C., and in Waterloo, Kitchener and Ajax in Ontario. The USW also represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of our strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation including good wages, benefits and pensions. Ontario workers who want to learn more about forming a union with the USW can contact Darlene Jalbert at [email protected] or 613-362-4414. All contact is confidential. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308427403/en/ For further information: Myles Sullivan, USW District 6 Director, 416-243-8792 Darlene Jalbert, USW Organizing Coordinator, 613-362-4414, [email protected] Lorei Leigh De Los Reyes, USW Communications, 416-544-6009, [email protected] Source: United Steelworkers DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, North American Sales Company, Inc. (NASCO) to industry veteran Sean Kelly which will now operate as North American Sales Company TX LLC, headquartered in Austin, Texas. The transaction closed January 23, 2024. NASCO, currently located in Pacific Palisades, California, is a value-added supplier of critical components to OEMs, end-users, and distributors. The Company differentiates itself in the market by being solution-focused and providing an extensive array of products for use in critical environments. NASCOs product lines include cable glands and accessories, cable cleats, custom and specialty cables, hazardous enclosures, and other complementary products. The Company is an authorized dealer for leading industry manufacturers such as Peppers Cable Glands Limited, Ellis Patents, Dresser NGS, Gleason Reel, and AmerCable/Nexans Cable. NASCO maintains exclusive agreements with key suppliers such as Peppers Cable Glands and Ellis Patents, and functions as the dedicated sales arm in North America and the U.S., respectively. This strategic move marks a new chapter for NASCO, aligning with its mission to better serve its clients and suppliers from a central location in the United States. The transition to Texas signifies the company's dedication to enhancing operational efficiencies, customer service, and access to key markets. Sean Kelly, the new President of NASCO TX, brings a wealth of experience and a successful track record from his tenure as President of American Cable Assemblies, Inc. based in Palmer, Massachusetts. Known for its expertise in custom-manufactured fiber optic assemblies, custom copper assemblies/wire harnesses, and UL/CSA certified injection-molded power cords, American Cable Assemblies has been a distinguished player in the industry. Under Mr. Kelly's leadership, NASCO TX is committed to substantially enhancing revenue within its current product lines, including Peppers Cable Glands, Ellis Cable Cleats, custom cables, enclosures, accessories, and other complementary products. The acquisition is poised to enhance NASCO's existing business relationships, fostering opportunities for mutual growth and collaboration. The Company proudly retains its skilled team of employees, whose average tenure of 18 years underscores a deep commitment and extensive experience in the industry. This continuity ensures that NASCO TX will maintain the high-quality service and expertise that clients have come to expect. Donald Goldberg, the outgoing President of North American Sales Company, Inc., together with Sean Kelly, extend heartfelt thanks to their valued clients and partners for their ongoing trust and support. Both leaders are enthusiastic about this new chapter and remain fully committed to ensuring a smooth transition for all stakeholders. Generational Equity Executive Managing Director of M&A Western Region, Stephen Crisham, and Generational Group Authorized Affiliates, Kris Nielsen and Ron Rosenow, with support from Vice President, M&A, Tony Brock closed the transaction. Senior Managing Director Ashok Tandon established the initial relationship with NASCO. About Generational Equity Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America. With more than 350 professionals located throughout 16 offices in North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. The Generational suite of advisory services includes strategic growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A services, digital services, and wealth management. The M&A Advisor named Generational Equity Investment Banking Firm of the Year three years in a row, Valuation Firm of the Year, and North American Investment Bank of the Year in 2022 as well as Consulting Firm of the Year twice. The Global M&A Network named Generational USA Investment Bank of the Year in 2023. For more information visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308619897/en/ Carl Doerksen 972-342-0968 [email protected] Source: Generational Equity GUANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On March 7, the Guangdong Provincial Delegation convened a session for the Second Meeting of the 14th National People's Congress at the Capital Hotel, attended by 225 journalists from 102 media outlets, both domestic and international. Delegates, including Huang Kunming, Wang Weizhong, Zhang Hu, Qin Weizhong, and Zeng Jinze, shared updates on Guangdong's strategies for sustainable development and modernization. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308497032/en/ Scene of the event (Photo: Business Wire) During the session, Huang Kunming addressed inquiries about the "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" project, aimed at diminishing urban-rural disparities within the province. He noted the challenges in balancing development due to geographical and economic diversities but highlighted the project's early successes in enhancing rural education, industry, and technology, particularly in the Pearl River Delta and other regions. Wang Weizhong discussed the transformation of Guangdong's manufacturing sector, which contributes significantly to the province's GDP and forms an essential part of the national economy. The province is committed to integrating into the global industrial and value chains, with plans to modernize traditional industries, foster emerging sectors, and encourage a balanced growth among enterprises of various sizes. The session, which featured numerous questions from the media, underlines Guangdong's ongoing efforts in economic development and rural modernization. For more details, please visit Guangdong Government Official Website. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308497032/en/ Zhang Yan Phone: 008610-68994660 Email: [email protected] Source: Guangdong Province In booth B6023, company to showcase multiple robotics solutions, including TruckBot, working together to create next-gen automation for warehouse workflows ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mujin, a leader in robotics and automation technology, will showcase its unique robotic solutions for streamlining case flows for warehouses at MODEX 2024 next week. The live demonstrations in booth B6023 include Mujins popular truck/container unloader TruckBot, which will feed into two robotic palletizing cells that sort and palletize the inbound freight. Mujin will also demonstrate its award-winning mixed-case depalletizing solution for any warehouse receiving mixed pallets and unveil a new order fulfillment solution, Robotic Case Picking, that marks a significant leap forward in logistics efficiency for forward fulfillment. Were here to show the big impact the latest innovations in robotics can have on warehouse operations, said Josh Cloer, director of sales, Mujin. Historically in warehouses, deploying robot systems has often been an afterthought to solve a specific manual challenge, which means they often get shoehorned into specific tasks with workflows and constraints originally designed for humans. By taking a new approach that includes robotics from initial concepting, robots, autonomous vehicles, and other material handling automation can now work in concert to further drive overall performance, savings and reduction in ergonomic challenges. Outbound Logistics Automation: Advancements in Order Fulfillment The new Robotic Case Picking solution tackles the case pick workflow within the order fulfillment process, which is typically a highly manual task and has been difficult to automate fully. Mujin is deploying a goods-to-robot system comprised of mixed-case palletizing robots working in concert with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to pick directly from inventory pallets and build order pallets ready for outbound delivery. Planning and orchestration of the overall objectives and individual system tasks are completely managed by MujinController, which communicates to any warehouse management system (WMS) for information and updates concerning order and inventory management. The Robotic Case Picking system brings flexible automation to warehouses looking to fulfill more orders without the back-breaking workload of traditional case picking, additionally shortening delivery windows while reducing picking errors and ergonomic issues for their workforce. Inbound Logistics Automation: Enhanced Truck Unloading, Palletizing, and Depalletizing Solutions The latest advancement to the pioneering container/truck unloading system, TruckBot, introduces the capability to handle larger and heavier boxes and increased performance with its advanced multi-picking capabilities. TruckBot significantly reduces manual labor, improves safety and accelerates warehouse operations, exemplifying Mujin's commitment to driving innovation in logistics. Complementing TruckBot, Mujin's robotic palletizing solutions are engineered for superior efficiency in sorting, stacking and organizing goods for storage or further processing. Mujins mixed-SKU depalletizing solutions are an ideal fit for operations receiving mixed-loads on pallets. Utilizing advanced 3D vision and real-time motion planning, the system is uniquely capable of managing a wide variety of pallet loads with zero prior inputs. On display at MODEX is a multi-channel gripper solution that allows for opportunistic multi-picking to further boost receiving throughput. Real-time decision-making allows the system to tackle challenging scenarios that use data inputs from vacuum and force-torque sensors to re-attempt picks without damaging product. These solutions embody Mujin's comprehensive approach to automating receiving operations, ensuring seamless and efficient handling of inbound goods. "At MODEX, we're merging a wide array of robotics technologies into a single, cohesive automation system, said Ross Diankov, CEO, Mujin, Central to this achievement is the MujinController platform, which contains an extensive assortment of tools and technologies. This integration makes tackling complex challenges not just possible but ridiculously easy. Our showcase of diverse robotic systems and components, all interconnected and operating in unison, stands as a powerful testament to the effectiveness and transformative potential of this technology." Experience Mujins Cutting-Edge Automation at MODEX 2024 Mujin's exhibit at MODEX will feature a comprehensive array of automation technologies aimed at addressing the challenges faced by today's logistics industry. From enhancing inventory management to reducing operational costs, Mujin's intelligent automation solutions are paving the way towards a more efficient, safe, and sustainable supply chain future. Attendees can see Mujins groundbreaking capabilities live at MODEX 2024, booth B6023 and learn how these technologies can transform logistics operations, from enhanced inbound processing to sophisticated outbound fulfillment About Mujin Mujin, a robotics technology company, develops machine intelligent robot controllers that are designed as a common platform for industrial and collaborative robots specializing in logistics and other pick-and-place applications. Launched in Tokyo in 2011 with offices in China and in the U.S., Mujin works with many of the worlds largest companies to make material handling applications easier to deploy, more accurate and less costly. The companys flagship product, the MujinController, uses machine intelligence technology to give robotic systems real-time decision-making ability that enables truly autonomous, reliable, and production-capable robot applications. For more information, visit https://www.mujin-corp.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308353441/en/ Press photos and video: Click for Asset Library Contact Mujin US: [email protected] (404) 963-1117 PR Contact: Kelly Wanlass HCI Marketing & Communications (801) 602-4723 [email protected] Source: Mujin BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Navis Food Partners, a newly formed holding company focused on building a premier independent foodservice distribution platform in the Northeast, announced its official launch today. Navis Food Partners made its inaugural acquisition in August 2023 with the purchase of City Line Distributors, the top independent full-service foodservice distributor based in New England, serving Southern New England and Eastern NY. With City Line Distributors as its foundational acquisition, Navis Food Partners aims to establish an industry-leading foodservice distribution platform serving independent customer channels across the region. We are thrilled to announce the formation of Navis Food Partners as the next stage of our partnership with the team at Frontenac, said Robert Berkowitz the CEO of Navis Food Partners. Our vision is to create a best-in-class foodservice distribution platform that delivers exceptional service and value to our independent restaurant operators throughout the Northeast. Our belief is that the independent operators in the region need a distribution relationship with companies that share their values service, speed to action and value and we believe with City Line Distributors as our foundation, and with Frontenac as our partner, we are well positioned to earn that relationship. Navis Food Partners strategy is centered around acquiring complementary companies with unique capabilities, expanding the platform both geographically and across categories. Navis Food Partners operating model is to maintain the people and brand that built the success of these companies in the communities they serve. Unlike other larger entities seeking to acquire, consolidate and fold in acquisitions, Navis Food Partners model is to enhance the existing brand and co-create a value creation plan in partnership with the local leadership team. Navis Food Partners aims to build a comprehensive distribution network of companies that meet the evolving needs of their customers while delivering operational excellence and superior customer service. The Northeast marketplace is renown for its robust independent food venues and its time for these operators to have greater choice of distribution partners who can meet both their service and value needs, said Sean Griffin, Executive Chairman. We are excited to launch this next stage of our partnership with industry veterans Robert Berkowitz and Sean Griffin on this transformative journey, said Betsy Williamson, Managing Director at Frontenac. Navis Foods commitment to innovation, customer service, and operational excellence aligns closely with Frontenacs investment ethos. Together we aspire to drive growth and build a leading platform in the Northeast foodservice distribution market. Navis Food Partners understands how critical it is to support its companies with experienced foodservice operating executives. Combined, CEO Robert Berkowitz and Executive Chairman Sean Griffin bring over 80 years of operating experience leading foodservice companies in the Northeast marketplace. In addition to Robert and Sean, Paul Green and Steve Humphreys joined the board of directors. Paul Green, retired Chief Supply Chain Officer of UNFI and President of UNFI Fresh, has expertise in supply chain and operational excellence over his 45 years in the industry will be a valuable resource to the companys leadership teams. Steve Humphreys, retired US Foodservice West Region President, also has over 40 years of foodservice distribution experience with a particular expertise in commercial functions including sales, category management and procurement. The partnership between Navis Food Partners and Frontenac brings together deep industry expertise and financial strength to drive strategic growth and value creation in this new regional platform. Combined, the Board of Directors has over 150 years of foodservice distribution experience with over 120 years in the Northeast market. Opportunities Navis Food Partners invites inquiries from interested Northeast-based independent foodservice distributors who may wish to explore joining our mission of creating this dynamic and customer-centric enterprise. For more information about Navis Food Partners, please contact Robert Berkowitz at [email protected] or [email protected] About Frontenac Frontenac is a Chicago-based private equity firm. The firm focuses on investing in lower middle market buyout transactions in the consumer, industrial, and services industries. Frontenac works in partnership with established operating leaders, through an executive-centric approach called CEO1ST, which seeks to identify, acquire, and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and operational excellence. Over the last 50+ years, Frontenac has built a franchise working with over 300 owners of mid-sized businesses as they address complex transition issues of liquidity, management enhancement, and growth planning. For more information, please visit www.frontenac.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308288635/en/ [email protected] or [email protected] Source: Frontenac own.oldglorybank.com Old Glory Bank to remain owned by Main Street not Wall Street. ELMORE CITY, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Old Glory Bank announced today they are again challenging the status quo by directly inviting accredited Americans in all 50 states to become an owner of Old Glory Bank. Old Glory Banks commitment to love of country, faith, freedom, respect of flag, and a deep appreciation for the Military and first responders has struck a chord with hometown America, growing in its first year to over $100 million in deposits and adding tens of thousands of new customers across all 50 states. This novel Public Private-Placement, with a minimum investment of $1776, allows accredited Americans to enjoy an ownership opportunity that is typically reserved for venture capital insiders. Our mission statement is the US Constitution, and in our first year of operation, we restored banking freedom to all of America, said Old Glory Bank President and CEO Mike Ring. Our mission has resonated across America, and we quickly grew to a national footprint with the industrys best mobile banking products and services. Old Glory Bank became the community bank for all of America by offering personal accounts, business accounts, Old Glory Pay (OGBs cancel-proof, closed loop payment solution), debit cards, credit cards, home loans, overdraft protection, charitable round-ups, and Old Glory Cash-IN, where customers can easily deposit cash into their Old Glory Bank account at 85,000 retail locations. Terms and conditions apply to these products and features. To maintain our independence from the cancel-culture that has infected many of Americas financial institutions, weve launched this public private-placement to raise up to $20 million in capital from within the Freedom Economy, continued Ring, whose career includes 25+ years as a corporate and securities lawyer. Normally, getting an ownership opportunity in a fast-growing, early-stage company is only available to Wall Street and Silicon Valley institutions, Ring says, but our offering will harness the growing momentum of patriotic Americans who want to support a bank that actually shares their values. Old Glory Bank was created when its founders purchased an FDIC-insured bank in December 2022, the 120 year old First State Bank in Elmore City, Oklahoma. This legacy bank took 120 years to grow to 229 customers and $12 million in deposits. Old Glory Bank just began offering online accounts in March of 2023, and during their first year have added tens of thousands of new customers across all 50 states, with deposits totaling over $100 million, which is more than 700% growth. Old Glory Bank is 100% owned by our founders, friends, and family, added Mike Ring. Were now raising tier one regulatory capital that will allow for our continued unprecedented growth, and this public private-placement will ensure that Old Glory Bank will remain owned by Main Street not Wall Street. Old Glory Holding Company, the Delaware bank holding company that owns Old Glory Bank, is undertaking this public private-placement in accordance with Rule 506(c) of Regulation D. The minimum purchase amount is only $1776 ($1,776.00). These purchased shares are restricted and may not be resold until registered, unless there is an available exemption to registration. Emphasizes Ring, Old Glory Bank is only for long-term owners who believe that we need a Bank that shares our Pro-America values and protects us from Government overreach. Old Glory Bank has one of the industrys strongest loan-to-asset ratios (about 4%), has no exposure to commercial real estate, and has one of the industrys highest liquidity ratios (about 98%). We are primarily undertaking this public private-placement to satisfy leverage ratios (tier one capital to assets) relating to our fast-growing deposits. Like an insurance company or broker-dealer, banks must maintain certain minimum capital requirements, and we believe the best way to ensure Old Glory Bank continues on its mission, is to raise capital directly from Americans who share our passion for freedom, said Ring. 17 CFR 230.506 provides an exemption from registration for the sale of stock by an issuer, known as a private placement. Paragraph (c) of this Rule 506 allows public solicitation of a private-placement so long as every purchaser is accredited (i.e., a public private-placement). Generally, an accredited investor is an individual who has annual income in excess of $200,000 for the prior 2 years (or joint income with a spouse in excess of $300,000). Regardless of annual income, an individual is also accredited if having a net worth in excess of $1 million (excluding principal residence). There are also rules for trusts and other entities. See 17 CFR 230.501(a). Ring notes that once Old Glory has more than 2,000 stockholders, Old Glory Holding Company will begin typical filings under the Exchange Act of 1934. If someone is accredited and wants to consider becoming a long-term owner of Old Glory Bank, they can start their journey today at own.oldglorybank.com. If someone has not yet opened an account at Old Glory Bank, it takes just 8 minutes at www.oldglorybank.com. To interview Mike Ring, Old Glory Banks President and CEO, contact Ms. Jules Wortman, at [email protected] or Kim Doster, at [email protected]. Purchasing an Ownership Interest in Old Glory Holding Company is not a deposit, is not insured by the FDIC or any government agency, is not guaranteed, and may lose value. About Old Glory Bank Old Glory Bank is an FDIC-insured chartered bank that offers the best mobile banking solutions for consumers and businesses, from sea to shining sea. Old Glory Bank is committed to serving those who feel marginalized for believing in the greatness of America. Old Glory Bank was co-founded by some of the leading voices supporting freedom and love of country, including former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson; Radio and Television Host Larry Elder; country music superstar, TV host, entrepreneur, and songwriter, John Rich; and former two-term Governor of Oklahoma, Mary Fallin-Christensen. Visit www.oldglorybank.com. We Stand with You. No Matter Where You Stand. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308251832/en/ Ms. Jules Wortman [email protected] or Kim Doster [email protected] Source: Old Glory Bank BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) plans to announce its first-quarter 2024 financial results on Friday, April 12, 2024 at approximately 7:30 a.m. ET. The results will be reviewed via webcast and teleconference at 11:00 a.m. ET. The conference call will be accessible via audio webcast on State Streets Investor Relations website, http://investors.statestreet.com, and by telephone at (+1) 888-886-7786 (Conference ID: 14320217). Materials will be available on State Streets Investor Relations website prior to the call. Following the call, a replay will be available via audio webcast on State Streets Investor Relations website, http://investors.statestreet.com, or by telephone, which will be available for approximately one month, at (+1) 877-674-7070 (Conference ID: 14320217, Playback Passcode: 320217 #). About State Street Corporation State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $41.8 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $4.1 trillion* in assets under management as of December 31, 2023, State Street operates globally in more than 100 geographic markets and employs approximately 46,000 worldwide. For more information, visit State Street's website at www.statestreet.com. *Assets under management as of December 31, 2023 includes approximately $64 billion of assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308704830/en/ Investor Contact: Ilene Fiszel Bieler +1 617 664 3477 Media Contact: Carolyn Cichon +1 617 664 8672 Source: State Street Corporation CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tanishq, a revered jewelry brand under the Tata Group, has inaugurated its Chicago store, marking a significant milestone in its international expansion strategy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307547199/en/ Tanishq Chicago store launch event (Photo: Business Wire) Having previously established a presence in New Jersey and Texas, the brand's Chicago store, situated at 4300 E New York Street, Aurora, Illinois 60504, opposite Fox Valley Mall, was formally launched on the 29th of February 2024. The launch event was given credence with the presence of distinguished figures including The Consul General of India, Chicago, Somnath Ghosh; Mayor of Aurora, IL, Richard C. Irvin; Kuruvilla Markose, CEO, Titan International Business; and Michael McCabe, Resident Director, North America, Tata Sons, Chicago. Expressing enthusiasm about the brands North American expansion, Mr. Kuruvilla Markose, CEO of Titan International Business, said, Having already captured the imagination of the discerning consumer in New Jersey and Texas, Tanishq is excited to be entering another iconic American city with a diverse customer base who can now enjoy our unrivalled offering right at their doorstep. Our stunning Chicago store plays a pivotal role in Tanishq's global expansion, aiming to cater not only to the Indian diaspora but also to the broader American and international communities residing in the city, with an unrivalled offering of over 2,000 unique designs. Emphasizing Tanishq's reputation for superior craftsmanship and product quality, he added, Tanishq, known for blending elegance with tradition, operates on the principles of authenticity, innovation, and trust. As a Tata brand, it also upholds values of giving back by preserving and promoting the timeless craftsmanship of Indian jewelry making, and this is beautifully celebrated in-store. The Chicago store will also showcase a specialized and exclusive workwear collection tailored for the diverse needs of women, straddling professional and casual occasions. Additionally, unique collections such as Tales of Mystique and Rhythms of Rain showcase international and contemporary jewelry inspired by the cultural richness of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and Kerala. Mr. Amrit Pal Singh, Business Head for Jewelry North America, Tanishq International Business, spoke about the brand's commitment to understanding and meeting the varied preferences of the diverse American audience. He highlighted Tanishq's superior quality, ethical sourcing, and the personalized retail experience that remains a hallmark of the brand. Customers can visit the physical store at 4300 E New York Street but can also explore and purchase select products through the e-commerce-enabled website, https://www.tanishq.com/. Tanishq, with over 420 stores in India and international expansion in Dubai, the U.A.E., Qatar, Singapore, and the USA, continues its journey as a renowned jewelry brand, blending traditional charm with contemporary appeal. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307547199/en/ Shweta Suratkar - [email protected] Source: Tanishq Two people died and 26 were injured as a result of a Russian missile attack on the city of Sumy on Friday, six of the victims are in medical institutions, according to Sumy Regional Military Administration's Facebook page. "As of March 8, 12.00, rescue operations were completed... The premises of the school, the central city hospital, the regional center for emergency medical care and disaster medicine, and the water utility were damaged. In total, (approximately) 135 windows and ten doors were broken," the administration said. In particular, 28 windows and two doors were damaged in the hospital; the medical facility is open and hospitalization is underway. Some 16 units of equipment and 92 rescuers were involved in the work to eliminate the consequences of the missile strike. As reported, the Russian occupiers launched an air and missile strike on the city of Sumy on Thursday afternoon. In an evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that as a result of the strike there were dead, without specifying their number, and ten injured, four of whom were hospitalized. Later it was reported that information on the victims of the strike and destruction was being clarified. The College invites external manuscript submissions for consideration in a Spring 2024 special issue on artificial intelligence across sectors PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies invites submissions for a special issue on the burgeoning realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in its planned spring edition of Phoenix Scholar academic research periodical. The periodical, launched in 2017, highlights the commitment of University of Phoenix faculty, students and alumni to leading research through evidence-based practice. As AI continues to permeate every facet of our lives, from classrooms to corporate boardrooms, the Phoenix Scholar editorial team seeks to explore the multifaceted impact of AI on education, research, workforce, and beyond. In an era marked by unprecedented technological advancements, AI stands as a transformative force with profound implications across various sectors, including academia, shares Hinrich Eylers, Ph.D., P.E., vice provost, College of Doctoral Studies. We expanded the invitation to submit as an opportunity to explore a broad range of scholarly perspectives delving into the promises and perils of AI in the academic landscape, examining its potential to enhance teaching methodologies, streamline administrative processes, and catalyze groundbreaking research endeavors. Prospective authors are encouraged to submit original articles, conceptual pieces, and grassroots efforts that elucidate the transformative power of AI while navigating the ethical and practical considerations inherent in its adoption. Best practices, ongoing or recently completed research, and reflections on AI's implications for the future of education are welcomed. Submissions are due Friday, March 29, 2024. While the Phoenix Scholar does not publish original research studies, the editorial team invites submissions that celebrate recent publications or upcoming conference presentations related to AI. Manuscripts should adhere to APA style guidelines and be 1,000 to 2,000 words in length. More information and guidance about submitting a manuscript for consideration is available here. The Phoenix Scholar serves as the scholarly platform for communicating the results and outcomes of University of Phoenix research endeavors, and their relationship to the broader scope of learning and scholarship. The periodical has been assigned an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) by the U.S. ISSN Center at the Library of Congress. The assignment for Phoenix Scholar is online format ISSN 2771-6503 and print format ISSN 2771-6422. The College of Doctoral Studies research centers contribute to the publication findings: CLSOR, Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR), Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research (CWDIR), and the University of Phoenix Career Institute. As longtime leaders in online education, the university utilizes research to develop solutions in the core areas of leadership, workplace diversity and instructional technology to enhance student outcomes, improve communities and to help students, faculty and alumni grow in their career aspirations. Read the current issue of Phoenix Scholar here. Learn more about the Phoenix Scholar publication here. About the College of Doctoral Studies University of Phoenixs College of Doctoral Studies focuses on todays challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The Colleges research program is built around the Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model which puts students in the center of the Doctoral Education Ecosystem with experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelors and masters degree programs, and a Career Services for Life commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308442187/en/ Sharla Hooper University of Phoenix [email protected] Source: University of Phoenix SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Unleash live is excited to announce its participation in the Advanced Air Mobility Cooperative Research Centre (AAM CRC), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming Australia's aerospace and aviation sector. Together with over 65 leading partners and universities, we have completed Stage 1 of a 10-year innovation program focused on advancing autonomous air mobility. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307055700/en/ Unleash live + Advanced Air Mobility Cooperative Research Centre Drone In Flight (Graphic: Business Wire) The AAM CRC will serve as a pivotal research platform, leveraging the nation's capabilities to drive the transition towards sustainable air mobility solutions, including vertical take-off and landing aircraft, Vertiports and unmanned aerial systems. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, the CRC aims to propel Australia towards a clean, sustainable and globally competitive aerospace future. Across key research streams - Air Vehicles, Air Operations and Ground Operations - the AAM CRC will empower stakeholders to integrate advanced aerial innovation into the national transportation system, optimising operations and fostering growth in domestic and international markets. This submission marks a potential turning point, poised to become Australia's largest collaborative research platform in aviation and aerospace technology. We are thrilled to be part of this journey and look forward to shaping the future of air travel. A Collaborative Effort for Progress Our participation in the AAM CRC submission underscores the transformative power of collaboration. We extend our gratitude to all partners for their invaluable contributions, laying the groundwork for realising advanced air mobility in Australia and beyond. Looking Ahead As we move into Stage 2, Unleash live remains committed to supporting Australia's leadership in advanced autonomous air mobility. Together, let's propel our nation to the forefront of innovation and shape a future where autonomous air mobility is accessible to all. Commenting on this milestone, Unleash live CEO, Hanno Blankenstein, remarked, "This is a pivotal step towards the future of air mobility in Australia. Unleash live is proud to support this effort and together, let's lead the way in advanced air mobility." Stay tuned for updates as we embark on the next phase of this transformative journey. Together, let's soar towards a future where autonomous air mobility becomes a reality for all. For media inquiries or partnership opportunities, please get in touch. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307055700/en/ For media inquiries: Natalie Lovett Snr Marketing Manager Unleash live Phone: +61 410 332 262 Email: [email protected] Source: Unleash live MONACO, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We see a lot of women apologize and say im not good enough, im not this, im not that and then we see men that get on board and say i can do anything. Women should just try and if you fail you fail, you just get up again or you stop. Just try. Launching the message from the waters of Monaco is the Pink Wave Sailing Team, the only womens sailing team at the Yacht club de Monaco. On the international women's day and while theyre taking part to the 40th Primo Cup in the Principality, one of the most renowned one design gathering in the Mediterranean, their voice comes out loud and clear: We bought the boat for that reason, to prove that its worth to try and if it doesnt work out it, then it doesnt even if it has worked out very well for us till now, says Kathrin Hoyos smiling with the other team members next to their J/70. For the Pink Waves the Primo Cup has a special meaning. Everything started five years ago at the prize ceremony of the race. We started with a team of five girls and were now a platform of 55 sailing women of the Yacht club. We only bought the boat five years ago so were super happy and were very much looking forward to the competition. The team is also looking forward to the Women Leading Sailing Trophy: an all pink J/70 regatta organised by the YCM with the Federation Monegasque de Voile and the Federation Francaise de Voile, as part of the Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting initiative, the Yacht Club de Monaco. There were 8 teams last year and this year there are more than 20 teams. Were looking forward to it and to all our friends coming from overseas. Theres a team coming from Korea and another one from the United States, a lot of international women and a very high sailing level, says Anne Schouten of the Pink Wave team. Times are changing. For more information:Press Office LaPresse - [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3155055f-5003-4c69-b3b1-3f7acb7226e6 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/55a19604-82ba-4c85-b8ef-caf690926e62 At the Yacht Club de Monaco the Pink Wave Sailing Team sends their message for the International Womens Day At the Yacht Club de Monaco the Pink Wave Sailing Team sends their message for the International Womens Day Source: Yacht Club de Monaco Disclosure of total number of voting rights and number of shares forming the capital as of February 29, 2024 CLICHY March 08, 2024 Article L 233-8-II of the French Code de Commerce and Article 223-16 of the General Regulations of the French Autorite des Marches Financiers. As of February 29, 2024, the total number of issued shares of SOCIETE BIC is 42,270,689 shares, representing: 62,741,486 voting rights, 62,288,629 voting rights excluding shares without voting rights ABOUT BIC A world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday Life. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC Kids, BIC FlexTM, BodyMark by BICTM, Cello, Djeep, Lucky Stationary, Rocketbook, Soleil, Tipp-Ex, Us. TM, Wite-Out, Inkbox, and more. In 2023, BIC Net Sales were 2,263 million. The Company is listed on Euronext Paris, is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It has received an A- Leadership score from CDP. For more, visit www.bic.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube. CONTACTS Investor Relations team [email protected] Kimberly Stewart Head of Investor Relations +33 6 37 01 42 68 [email protected] Isabelle de Segonzac Image 7, Press Relations contact + 33 6 89 87 61 39 [email protected] 2024 Agenda All dates to be confirmed 1st Quarter 2024 Results April 23, 2024 (post market close) 2024 Annual General Meeting May 29, 2024 2nd Quarter and 1st Half 2024 Results July 31, 2024 (post market close) 3rd Quarter and 9 Months 2024 Results October 23, 2024 (post market close) Attachment Washington, March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Cannabis Collective (ACC), a think tank dedicated to cannabis free market principles, was disappointed but not surprised that President Joe Biden continues to state broken campaign promises instead of real action to fix federal cannabis policy Its political malpractice to ignore the voters who got him here. Black and brown voters that are most affected by the War on Drugs resuscitated his failing presidential campaign following fourth and fifth place showings in New Hampshire and Iowa four years ago. He promised that he would stop sending people to jail for simple possession, but the arrests continue, and he is keeping the War on Drugs alive and well, said Don Murphy, Co-founder of the American Cannabis Collective. We do not know why he continues to bring up these supposed cannabis pardons, they arent real no matter how much they might believe their own rhetoric. Shame on them and shame on those that give them cover, voters know when they have been lied to even when advocates fail to hold them accountable, said ACC Co-founder, Carl Cameron. In October of 2022, President Biden issued a general pardon for federal offenders with simple possession, but that pardon let no one out of jail. And it has no effect at the state level for the numerous offenders who face drug charges there. Voters deserve better, minorities deserve better, patients deserve better, cannabis businesses deserve better than more failed campaign promises, failed policies and rhetoric that is inconsistent with the truth. This is no longer Nixons Drug War. This is the Biden and Harris Drug War having failed in three plus years to end it, said Gretchen Gailey, Co-founder of the American Cannabis Collective. According to a recent Gallup Poll 70% of Americans believe that cannabis should be legalized. This is an all time high since Gallup began tracking the issue in 1969. The President stands in front of Congress and makes disingenuous comments about how no one should be in jail, but where is the action. He says he wants to review the classification of cannabis, that doesnt legalize cannabis, people will still go to jail. The legal cannabis experiment has been alive and well for over 10 years. Its time to end the empty promises and put the 400,000 workers of the cannabis industry and countless patients first, added Gailey. About The American Cannabis Collective:The American Cannabis Collective (ACC), works for the benefit of the patients, consumers and the industry that supports them. For too long, industry funded advocacy has been focused on policy changes that directly benefit themselves first and only indirectly benefit patients and consumers. The ACC reverses the order of consideration. We put the patients and consumers first, followed indirectly by the industry that serves them. Our work educates lawmakers and policymakers on cannabis free market principles that bring common sense back to drug policy reform. Gretchen Gailey American Cannabis Collective 2024893821 [email protected] Source: American Cannabis Collective POTSDAM, NY, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Members of the Clarkson University Class of 2023 are once again proving how valuable a Clarkson degree is. Survey results show that over 98% of the class of 2023 has been placed in a full-time job in their chosen field of study, entered graduate school, or joined the military within six months of graduation. The Clarkson Career Center said the average starting salary for undergraduate students is $71,735 and $90,474 for grad students. Our graduates are working in 29 states and two foreign countries, Grenada and Australia. Companies like General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Kewit, National Grid, General Dynamics Mission Systems, and GlobalFoundries hire several of our students each year, proving the advantage of a Clarkson education and showing just how valuable of a recruiting tool our career fairs are, said Bill Jeffers, Assistant Director, Professional and Alumni Career Services. Many of our students pursue employment in essential roles in the STEM field, and that keeps employers coming back to recruit our students, even in a tough economy. When you pair that with our reputation for churning out top talent from strong programs, we see success, Jeffers said. Twice a year, Clarkson holds career fairs where students can meet with more than 200 potential employers in-person. The Career Center hosts more than 1,000 one-on-one appointments per year. It also holds group workshops, classes, and events designed to prepare students for their job search. The Center offers interview preparation, resume and cover letter critiques, job search, and exploration assistance, offer and negotiation advice and more. The targeted services model ensures that students across all majors receive the assistance and job opportunities needed to succeed. POTSDAM, NY, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seema Rivera, an Associate Professor of the Institute for STEM Education at Clarkson University has been elected to the New York State Board of Regents by the State Legislature. The Board of Regents is comprised of 17 members elected by the Legislature for five-year terms. One member is elected from each of the states 13 judicial districts and four members serve at-large. Rivera will represent judicial district three, which covers Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. Rivera has served on her local school board for the past nine years, a role she will step down from to accept the Board of Regents position. Rivera said she is honored by the appointment. I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue being a public servant, Rivera said. I want to use my experience in various roles, in both P-12 [pre-kindergarten through grade 12] and higher education, to ask good questions and be responsive to constituents. I plan to focus on high school graduation requirements, reading and math scores, meeting the needs of all students in both P12 and higher education, and continuing to address the impact of COVID-19 on our students. Dr. Riveras election to the New York State Board of Regents is a well-deserved recognition of the quality of her research and experience in STEM education, said Clarkson University President Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E. Dr. Rivera is a vital member of the team doing ground-breaking work in our Institute for STEM Education. We could not be more proud to see her find new ways to make a difference and I have no doubt she will be a valuable contributor to the Board of Regents. Rivera is an associate professor of STEM education at the Institute for STEM Education at Clarkson University, and previously served as a Principal Investigator for Clarkson's National Science Foundation (NSF) Noyce Grant. Her research areas include STEM graduate student education, graduate student self-efficacy and identity, and STEM teaching in secondary schools. Prior to her work in higher education, Dr. Rivera taught chemistry in the Bronx, Germantown and Cairo, N.Y. Clarkson's Institute for STEM Education supports the next generation of problem-solvers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The Institute aims to establish Clarkson as a national leader in student achievement, inclusive practices and workforce preparation. "Seema's expertise and experiences in nationally funded STEM education research make her a real asset to the Board of Regents," said Director of the Institute for STEM Education Kathleen Kavanagh. "This position is unique because the Board of Regents oversees educational activities for K12 and higher education in NYS. This complements the work in the Institute of STEM Ed perfectly, as the Institute focuses on excellence in STEM teaching and learning across the entire continuum--from K12 to undergraduate and graduate education with an eye on workforce preparation." STEM Ed's vision is to integrate signature real-world interdisciplinary teaching and learning experiences for every Clarkson undergraduate student, expanding the University's impact and reputation in the North Country, Capital Region, the Hudson Valley and beyond. STEM Ed acts as a bridge, connecting Clarkson academic units, campuses and regional professional, industrial and P-12 communities, creating a vibrant collaboration hub offering cross-curricular learning experiences. STEM Eds collaborative bridge generates unique, evidence-based opportunities for undergraduate learning and faculty teaching and publication. For more information about the Institute for STEM Education, visit clarkson.edu/academics/research/labs-centers/stem-education. Jake Newman Clarkson University 315-268-6764 [email protected] Source: Clarkson University The Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Siauliu Bankas AB (the head office address: Tilzes str. 149, Siauliai, Lithuania, the company code 112025254) (hereinafter referred to as the Bank) shall be convened on 29 March 2024. Meeting location - at Head office (3 floor, Egliu meeting room), Seimyniskiu str. 1A, Vilnius. Meeting starts at 11:00 (registration starts at 10:00) (Lithuanian time) The Meetings accounting day 22 March 2024 (the persons who are shareholders of the Bank at the end of accounting day of the General Meeting of Shareholders or persons authorized by them, or the persons with whom shareholders concluded the agreements on the disposal of voting right, shall have the right to vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders). The day of accounting of rights 15 April 2024 (shareholders will use the property rights arising from the decisions adopted at the general meeting of shareholders in proportion to the number of shares held at the end of the day of accounting of rights). The Meeting is initiated and convened by the Management Board of the Bank. Agenda of the Meeting Presentation of the consolidated annual report of Siauliu bankas AB for 2023. Presentation of the conclusion of the independent auditor of Siauliu bankas AB. Comments and proposals of the Siauliu bankas AB Supervisory Board. Approval of the set of audited financial statements of Siauliu bankas AB for 2023. Allocation of the Siauliu bankas AB profit for 2023. Determination of the procedure for the acquisition of Siauliu bankas AB own shares. Selection of Siauliu bankas AB audit company and determination of payment conditions for audit services. Approval of the new version of the Articles of Association of Siauliu bankas AB. Approval of the updated Remuneration Policy of Siauliu bankas AB. Election of members of Siauliu bankas AB supervisory board for a new term. Draft resolutions and other information Draft resolutions on the agenda of the meeting, documents to be submitted to the General Meeting of Shareholders and information related to the implementation of shareholders' rights are published on the Bank's website www.sb.lt in the section Bank Investors / Meetings. For the entire period starting no later than 21 days before the meeting the following information and documents will be available there: notice of the convening of the meeting; the total number of the Bank's shares and the number of voting shares on the day of convening the meeting; draft resolutions on agenda issues and other documents to be submitted to the meeting; general ballot paper form (to be filled in .pdf); instructions for filling in and submitting the general ballot paper to the Bank; the form of a power of attorney to represent the shareholder. Proposals to supplement the agenda The shareholders holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes, shall have the right of proposing to supplement the agenda of the Meeting by providing the Meeting draft resolution on each additionally proposed issue or in case no resolution is required - the explanation. Proposals to supplement the agenda and any accompanying information must be submitted in writing. The proposals to supplement the agenda with the additional issues shall be submitted till the 15 March 2024, 17:00 (Lithuanian time). In case the agenda of the Meeting is supplemented the Bank will report on it no later than 10 days before the Meeting in the same ways as on the convening of the Meeting. Proposals of draft resolutions The shareholders holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes shall have the right of proposing new draft resolutions on the issues already included or to be included in the agenda of the Meeting. The proposals shall be submitted in writing. They may be submitted to the Bank by 29 March 2024 8:00 (Lithuanian time). Questions on the agenda The shareholders have the right to submit questions to the Bank in advance related to the agenda of the meeting. Questions may be submitted by shareholders no later than by 27 March 2024 17:00 (Lithuanian time). The Bank will answer the submitted questions to the shareholder prior to the meeting, except for those related to the Bank's commercial secret and confidential information. A power of attorney The shareholders' authorized persons shall submit a power of attorney confirmed by the established order. The power of attorney issued by the natural person shall be notarized. A power of attorney issued in a foreign country must be translated into Lithuanian and legalized in the manner prescribed by law. Representative can be authorized by more than one shareholder and shall have a right to vote differently under the orders of each shareholder. The authorization of a shareholder to vote for another natural or legal person on behalf of the shareholder at the meeting may be granted by electronic means. Such power of attorney is not subject to notarizing. The power of attorney issued through electronic channels must be confirmed by the shareholder with a qualified electronic signature developed by safe signature equipment and approved by a qualified certificate effective in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder shall inform the Bank on the power of attorney issued through electronic communication channels by e-mail [email protected] no later than by 17:00 (Lithuanian time) on the last business day before the meeting. The power of attorney and notification must be in writing. A shareholder holding shares of the Bank acquired in his/her own name but in the interests of other persons must disclose to the Bank the identity of the final customer, the number of shares to be voted with and the content of the voting instructions submitted to him/her or another explanation regarding the participation and voting at the general meeting of shareholders agreed with the customer. Participation and voting Shareholders and authorized persons who will physically attend the meeting will vote with voting cards they would receive at the meeting registration. The Bank recommends shareholders and shareholders' authorized persons to take the opportunity to vote in advance in writing by completing a general ballot paper . The General ballot (fileable .pdf) and instructions will be available on the Bank's website www.sb.lt in the section For Bank Investors / Meetings no later than 21 days before the meeting. The completed general ballot paper must be signed by the shareholder or a person authorized by him. If the general ballot paper is signed by a person authorized by the shareholder, a document confirming the right to vote must be attached to it. Duly completed ballot papers received by 11:00 (Lithuanian time) on the day of the meeting will be considered valid. Document delivery All documents submitted to the Bank by the shareholder or his/her authorized person (general ballot paper with attached documents (if such must be attached), proposals on the agenda, questions) may be submitted to the Bank in the following ways: Paper documents (originals or certified copies) could be presented in writing to the Secretariat on business days or by sending them by mail at the address: Siauliu Bankas AB, Tilzes street 149, LT-76348 Siauliai , Lithuania Physically signed, scanned documents could be transferred via the Bank's internet bank (if the shareholder is its user). When logging in, choose Other Services / Messages / +New message / fill in fields Category: Securities, Subject: GSM, Message: Ballot paper / Upload the scanned document / Submit. Electronic documents signed with a qualified electronic signature are submitted to the Bank (e.g., via Dokobit platform) indicating the Bank as a participant (recipient) according to the e-mail address [email protected] . Scanned documents, submitted via internet bank (method 2) and electronic documents signed with an electronic signature through an electronic signature service provider (method 3) may be submitted only those, which are signed by the person providing it. In this way, for example, an authorized person cannot submit to the Bank a shareholder's power of attorney or other document giving the right to vote for a shareholder. Additional information: Tomas Varenbergas, Head of Investment Management Division [email protected] Vancouver, BC, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CDI College, a leading provider of career-focused education in Canada, has partnered with Corpus Christi College, located on the University of British Columbia University (UBC) campus, to allow students to further their post-secondary education. CDI College students in the Business and Digital Marketing Management program can choose to continue their education at Corpus Christi College to pursue an Associate of Arts degree. The partnership extends to domestic and international students. International students are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit following completion of the Associate of Arts degree. This is the first articulation agreement that Corpus Christi College has signed with CDI College. This partnership highlights the strength of both educational institutions and is the perfect blend of academic programming for future students, says Amanda Cabrera, Associate Vice President, Academics at CDI College. With hands-on career training from CDI College and an academic degree from Corpus Christi College, students will be better equipped for todays competitive job market, Mrs. Cabrera shared. Dr. Emil Canlas, Registrar of Corpus Christi College, emphasized This agreement will assist young people in achieving their academic goals. Both parties celebrated the articulation agreement in a signing ceremony on March 4, 2024, at the Corpus Christi St. Marks College campus. Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President and Principal of Corpus Christi College said that both institutions can be proud for having made this agreement a reality. We have found common ground in our mission to provide excellent education to our students, says Dr. Turcotte. The president of CDI College, a subsidiary of Primacorp Ventures Inc., Yul Kim, reminded the audience during the signing ceremony: This partnership is just the first step on our way to improving students educational experience. Both parties are already working on opening the pathway agreement to more programs to support students in their aspiring journey to extend their education. Students at Corpus Christi College can access many services on the UBC campus, including transit passes, the UBC libraries and the Dr. John Micallef Memorial Library, health and dental plans, and much more. The agreement was signed by Amanda Cabrera and Yul Kim from CDI College, and Dr. Gerry Turcotte and Dr. Emil Canlas from Corpus Christi College. ### CDI College has been a prominent provider of career-focused education in Canada for over 50 years. CDI College has been committed to preparing students for rewarding careers and offers various programs in multiple disciplines. CDI College empowers students to achieve academic and professional goals by fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment. Corpus Christi College is a not-for-profit liberal arts college on the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver, Canada. It is a Jesuit-endorsed institution, sharing in a rich 2000-year-old intellectual tradition with Catholic institutions around the world. The campus offers dedicated staff, faculty, and student support programs to ensure students build connections that benefit them academically, socially, and professionally. Contact: Andre Souza CDI College [email protected] Attachment Andre Souza CDI College 6049157288 [email protected] Source: CDI College Durham, N.C., March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The panel The First CRISPR Foods Have Arrived at this years SXSW Conference included leading agricultural scientists, researchers, and innovation drivers. Dr. Tom Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of pioneering gene editing company Pairwise, was joined by Dr. Vipula Shukla, Senior Program Officer, Agriculture at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Elena Del Pup, PhD candidate and researcher at Wageningen University, for a conversation about CRISPRs potential to revolutionize how the world develops and grows fruits, vegetables, and staple crops that can better withstand climate change, while improving nutrition and taste and accelerating innovation in the global food system. WIREDs biotechnology writer, Emily Mullin, moderated the discussion including the publics growing acceptance of tech-enabled foods, and recent gene editing successes such as Pairwises partnership with Bayer to increase yield in short-stature, climate-friendly corn. We have steadily seen an increase in consumer interest around using technology for produce innovation. We saw this firsthand when we launched the first CRISPR food product in North American marketplace last year, said Tom Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Pairwise. From row crops to consumer food products, we see a general understanding of how powerfully beneficial CRISPR can be, but theres also an expectation of transparency in how the technology is used. We are committed to meeting that expectation in all the work we do. Awareness of CRISPR technology has grown significantly in recent years, with scientists unlocking innovations in human health, medicine, and agriculture. While CRISPR has seen significant developments in the private health and agriculture sector, panel participants also debated key enablers necessary for the technology to achieve widespread adoption. To maximize its impact, it will be important for a breadth of stakeholders to have access the technology, including smallholder farmers around the world, and that research and development efforts consider a variety of global needs beyond first-world countries. CRISPR is a tool that makes plant breeding immensely more efficient and effective, which allows us to innovate faster to solve major agricultural challenges in years, not decades, added Adams. With effective application of the technology, we can use CRISPR to deliver major societal and climate benefits through improvements in the food and agriculture sector. As we see the power of CRISPR in therapeutic applications, were also pioneering whats possible with plants. This is an incredibly exciting time. As CRISPR technology has advanced, it has attracted a new generation of researchers across the world. I am passionate about this work because I want to develop tools and methods to drive impact and a new wave of innovation in plant breeding, said Elena Del Pup, PhD candidate and researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. The work we are doing in the EU is extremely meaningful, however there remain regulatory questions around making the jump from the research stage to the product development stage. For more information about Pairwise and innovations in CRISPR visit www.pairwise.com. ### About Pairwise: Pairwise is pioneering the application of CRISPR technology in food and agriculture. The company brings together leaders in agriculture, technology, and consumer foods to harness the transformative potential of new genomics technologies to create innovative new products. Pairwise is working to develop new varieties of crops, and to partner with organizations that seek to deliver innovation across the plant-based economy. Backed by industry leading investors Deerfield, Aliment Capital, Leaps by Bayer, and Temasek, Pairwise raised $90 million in a successful series B funding round in February 2021, bringing total fundraising to $115 million. The company was founded by Chief Executive Officer Tom Adams and Chief Business Officer Haven Baker, with scientific co-founders J. Keith Joung, Lead Translator at Arena BioWorks; David Liu, Director of the Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, and Vice-Chair of the Faculty at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT; and Feng Zhang, McGovern Investigator and a professor at MIT. For more information, visit Pairwise.com, and learn more about the differentiating Pairwise FulcrumTM platform here. Pairwise Media Contact: Diana Souder [email protected] Attachment Diana Souder Pairwise [email protected] Source: Pairwise Zelenskyy on Russian strike on Odesa during his meeting with Greek PM: Strike is 300-400 meters away, but I don't know what the target is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that on March 6, the Russian army launched a ballistic missile strike at a distance of several hundred meters from the place of his meeting with the Greek Prime Minister in the port of Odesa, but he does not know where the Russian terrorist troops were hitting. "We were with the Prime Minister of Greece. He had an official visit to Odesa. We were at the port. And yes, a few hundred meters away, 300-400 meters, as I understand it, there was a ballistic missile strike. The missile arrived very quickly," the president said in an interview with the Italian TV channel Rai 1. Zelenskyy said: "I don't know who this blow was aimed at, but in any case, to be honest, it's something incredible when we have a prime minister of a foreign state." "I'm not talking about myself, I'm talking about some kind of respect for the leaders of neighboring states, just for the people of foreign countries. You see that Russia, Putin simply does not have it. To strike with a ballistic missile when the prime minister is visiting Minister of Greece. He was very surprised. But I am not, because we understand that he [Putin] does not stop, and kills, and terrorizes society, not only the military," the head of state said. "Therefore, it is difficult to say where the Russian terrorist troops were hitting. In any case, this is beyond the bounds of reason, beyond the bounds of common sense," he said. London, UK, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On the occasion of International Women's Day, DefiQuant, a pioneering force in the crypto trading industry, is proud to announce a series of initiatives aimed at supporting and empowering women traders within the cryptocurrency space. This move underscores DefiQuant's commitment to fostering inclusivity and diversity in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. Bridging the Gender Gap in CryptoDespite the cryptocurrency industry's explosive growth, women remain underrepresented in crypto trading. DefiQuant aims to change this narrative by offering targeted support, education, and resources to encourage and enable more women to participate in and benefit from the crypto economy. Allen Heery, Media Representative at DefiQuant, emphasizes the company's dedication: "As we celebrate International Women's Day, we recognize the significant yet underrepresented role of women in crypto. DefiQuant is committed to changing this by providing women with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to succeed in cryptocurrency trading." Comprehensive Support for Female Crypto EnthusiastsDefiQuant's initiatives include launching mentorship programs, educational workshops, and networking events specifically designed for women. These programs aim to demystify the world of cryptocurrency and provide a supportive community for women to learn, share experiences, and grow their crypto investments. Acknowledging the importance of accessible technology, DefiQuant offers user-friendly automated trading bots that simplify the crypto trading process. These bots, recognized among the best crypto trading bot solutions in the market, are designed to cater to both seasoned traders and those new to the crypto world, ensuring that women at all levels of expertise can take full advantage of the opportunities in crypto trading. DeFiQuant offers a range of investment plans designed to meet the specific needs and goals of individual traders. Free Experience Bot: $5 investment returns $0.15 plus the initial amount in a day. 1-Day Bot: $50 investment for a $0.3 profit, returned in a day. 5-Day Bot: Invest $500 for a $21.25 profit, returned in 5 days. 7-Day Bot: $1050 investment for a $73.5 profit, returned in 7 days. 15-Day Bot: $3000 investment yields a $540 profit in 15 days. 20-Day Bot: $6000 investment for a $1680 profit, returned in 20 days. 30-Day Bot: $10800 investment brings a $5184 profit in 30 days. 45-Day Bot: $18000 investment for a $14580 profit, returned in 45 days. 60-Day Bot: Invest $30000 for a $36000 profit, returned after 60 days. A Step Towards a More Inclusive FutureDefiQuant's efforts to support women in the crypto industry extend beyond just International Women's Day. The company is dedicated to maintaining and expanding its support programs year-round, integrating diversity and inclusivity into the core of its business practices. Heery adds, "Our mission is to not only offer the crypto trading bots and crypto investment solutions but also to build a platform where everyone, regardless of gender, has equal opportunity to thrive. We believe that by empowering women in the crypto space, we are taking an important step towards a more equitable and diverse industry." Joining Forces with Industry LeadersTo maximize the impact of its initiatives, DefiQuant is collaborating with leading organizations and influencers within the crypto industry who share a commitment to promoting gender diversity. Through these partnerships, DefiQuant aims to amplify its message and reach a wider audience, inspiring more women to explore the potential of cryptocurrency. A Call to Action: Empowerment Through Education and TechnologyDefiQuant invites women around the world to join its platform and take the first step towards financial empowerment through cryptocurrency. With its comprehensive support system, innovative technology, and commitment to inclusivity, DefiQuant is poised to be a catalyst for change in the industry. For more information about DefiQuant's initiatives for women in crypto and to explore its automated trading bots, please visit https://www.defiquant.net/ Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency & securities. For media inquiries, please contact: Allen Heery Media Representative Email: AllenHeery-at-defiquant.net Website: www.defiquant.net Source: Defiquant CALGARY, Alberta, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eguana Technologies Inc. (TSXV: EGT) (OTCQB: EGTYF) ("Eguana" or the Company), a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance energy storage systems, announces the completion of short-term financing arrangements, to support near-term liquidity. The Company has entered into short-term loan agreements to increase the Companys short-term working capital and bridge cash flow, to incoming funds from the previously announced inventory return, in the news releases dated February 7, 2024, (the Inventory Return). The Company closed short-term bridge loan financing (the "Bridge Financing") in the principal amount of approximately $220,000, with certain lenders, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and members of the Board of Directors. A portion of the Bridge Financing was received in US dollars and a portion in Canadian dollars and will be repayable in the respective currencies. The principal amount of the Bridge Financing, together with interest accrued thereon, will become due and payable on April 30, 2024 (the "Maturity Date"). Interest shall accrue on the principal amount at a rate of 5% per month. The lenders will not receive any other fees or commissions. The Bridge Financing is unsecured. The proceeds of the Bridge Financing will be used for general working capital. The Bridge Financing is important to allow the Company to continue various operations, while awaiting funds from the Inventory Return anticipated later in March, said Justin Holland, CEO, and we appreciate the participants in the Bridge Financing for their confidence in the Company as we continue executing our VPP roll outs along with objectives in Europe and Australia. The portions of the Bridge Financing obtained from the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair constitute related-party transactions under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). This transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the transaction, nor the consideration paid to the lenders of the Bridge Financing, who are related parties of the Company, would exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. In the February 7, 2024 new release, the Company outlined that it is exploring potential alternatives to improve liquidity and enhance shareholder value, and this remains ongoing, as Eguana manages short-term liquidity. At present, there can be no assurance as to what, if any, further alternatives might be pursued by the Company, nor if this Bridge Financing is adequate to meet all short-term obligations. The Company does not intend to disclose further details with respect to its review or actions taken, unless and until the Board of Directors has approved a transaction or otherwise determines that further disclosure is warranted. About Eguana Technologies Inc. Eguana Technologies Inc. (EGT: TSX.V) (OTCQB: EGTYF) designs and manufactures high performance residential and commercial energy storage systems. The Company also markets and sells a suite of micro inverter products, which are integrated with its energy storage platform providing consumers with full solar + storage system architecture, for residential and commercial applications. Eguana has two decades of experience delivering grid edge power electronics for fuel cell, photovoltaic and battery applications, and delivers proven, durable, high-quality solutions from its high-capacity manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, and Australia. With thousands of its proprietary energy storage inverters deployed in the European and North American markets, Eguana is one of the leading suppliers of power controls for solar self-consumption, grid services and demand charge applications, at the grid edge. Focused on distributed energy storage applications located at the point of energy consumption, Eguana provides cost-effective solutions to modernize the power grid, from the consumer to the electricity retailer, the distribution utility, and the system operator. To learn more, visit www.EguanaTech.com or follow us on Twitter @EguanaTech Company Inquiries Justin Holland, CEOEguana Technologies Inc. +1.416.728.7635 [email protected] Forward Looking Statements The reader is advised that all information herein, other than statements of historical fact, may constitute forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning assigned by National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations and other relevant securities legislation. In particular, forward-looking statements include, among other things, the Companys cash flow needs, the Inventory Return and the use of proceeds of the Bridge Financing. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involves a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or future events or developments, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: failure by the Company to improve cash flow which would have a material adverse impact on the viability of the business to continue operating; timely collection of accounts receivable; general economic, market and business conditions; competitive factors; achieving strategic objectives; unanticipated effects of the reduction to headcount; delays to the Companys receipt of payment associated with the inventory return, if at all; inability to or delays in sourcing materials; failure by the Company to improve liquidity; and other factors set out in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and annual information form dated November 29, 2023, which may be found on its website or at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Source: Eguana Technologies Inc. Toronto, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Women who choose natural health products (NHPs) for their health and wellbeing may soon have increased costs for the products they rely on and fewer options available on store shelves. Health Canadas proposed regulations will decimate the NHP industry, disproportionately impacting women and women-led businesses. This International Womens Day, the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) is calling on the federal government to press pause. NHP businesses, particularly women-led businesses, are vital in addressing women's health needs, but they cannot shoulder the costs of Health Canadas changes, said Jules Gorham, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Policy at CHFA. Many of these businesses will be forced to close. It's a well-known fact that women have been historically neglected in health research, and Health Canadas latest regulatory reform on NHPs is no exception. Typically, when new regulations are considered, a gender-based analysis is conducted. Health Canada skipped this step, an oversight that fails to acknowledge the disproportionate impact on women in Canada. The natural health and wellness sector is predominantly comprised of small-to-medium-sized businesses, over 50% of which are women-led. But because of proposed regulations, 1 in 5 are contemplating shutting down, with many micro, small, and medium-sized businesses already leaving Canada. Instead of empowering women to drive economic growth, these changes will cause closures of businesses across the country. These regulations may also detrimentally affect womens health and wellness. Women are much more likely to purchase NHPs, but Health Canadas changes will take safe, compliant Canadian products off Canadian shelves. What has been falsely promoted as regulations to keep Canadians safe will send more and more Canadians to the Internet where unapproved and unsafe products can be shipped right to their doorstep, stated Gorham. This exposes the many women who depend on NHPs to unnecessary risks. International Womens Day is a critical opportunity to reflect on the ways in which we can better support and empower women, in all facets of their personal and professional lives. Recklessly pushing through these regulations will stifle the presence of women led NHP businesses in the market and put their health and wellness in jeopardy. It is imperative for the federal government to engage in meaningful dialogue with key stakeholders, consider the significant contributions of women in the NHP industry, and ensure the sustainability of this essential sector for the betterment of all Canadians. When we all do well, Canadians live well. Source: Canadian Health Food Association CALGARY, AB, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortinet, a U.S.-based global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, announced plans today to invest $30 million and create new jobs in Albertas tech sector. With support from Invest Alberta and Calgary Economic Development, and a grant from the Government of Alberta, Fortinet will expand into Calgarys downtown, creating a cutting-edge cybersecurity tech hub. The Government of Alberta's Innovation and Growth Fund (IGF) will contribute over $3 million towards Fortinets expansion, that includes a data centre, a training facility for its award-winning cybersecurity training curriculum, and a centre of excellence to enhance resiliency and knowledge in safeguarding critical infrastructure and operational technologies. The Alberta-based training facility marks a pivotal step in addressing the global cybersecurity skills shortage. To address the forecasted shortage of tech talent, Fortinet is providing new career paths to workers needing to re-train or acquire updated expertise. Fortinet offers one of the industry's most extensive and comprehensive training programs, aimed at diversifying available tech talent. Already a partner with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), the University of Alberta, and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Fortinet will work closely with Albertas post-secondary institutions to continue efforts to address the talent gap, while promoting its work to diversify the sector. The facility will actively enhance opportunities for underrepresented communities, including veterans and women in STEM fields, contributing to more inclusivity and advancements in technology-related sectors. With a current annual 20 per cent employee growth rate in Alberta, Fortinet recognizes Calgary as an ideal location to continue its global growth and meet the increasing demand for cybersecurity education and support in safeguarding critical infrastructure and operational technology worldwide. Additionally, the Fortinet data centre in the new Calgary office will be well-positioned to meet the critical digital security challenges and improve cyber resiliency across Alberta. This centre will use emission reducing technology to minimize its environmental footprint. This ensures Fortinet is able to adhere to its mission of promoting responsible business practices across its value chain. Strong partnerships among Alberta agencies ensure that companies considering Alberta get the support they need. Invest Alberta connected Fortinet with available incentives and introductions to the local business community. Committed to ensuring Fortinet is set up for long-term success with their expansion and future growth in Calgary, Calgary Economic Development will continue to provide strategic development support to ensure they have the environment, skilled workforce and connectivity they require. Fortinet is poised to secure space in downtown Calgary, acquire equipment, and start hiring immediately, with the goal of having more than 100 staff by the end of 2025. QUOTES As a global leader in cybersecurity, Fortinet is committed to protecting and empowering communities right here in Alberta, fostering innovation and excellence. Our expansion in Calgary directly contributes to creating valuable employment opportunities and advancing cybersecurity capabilities in the region. Our vision extends beyond providing industry-leading security products and services; we aim to continuously innovate and cultivate cybersecurity talent through comprehensive training and development programs. - Joyce Chow, Vice President of Talent at Fortinet Albertas government has created an investment friendly environment with policies and programs that support companies like Fortinet in choosing to expand in our province. With the lowest corporate tax rate in Canada, a highly skilled workforce and investment incentive programs like the Investment and Growth Fund, businesses can feel confident about investing in Alberta.- Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade There has never been a better time to invest in tech in Alberta and this latest investment shows that Alberta is a major player in the tech industry. - Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation Fortinets expansion in Calgary is evidence that global companies have the ideal environment here to grow and scale. With the citys rapidly growing tech talent workforce, and businesses embracing digital transformation, Fortinets investment continues the momentum were seeing across sectors in Calgary. Brad Parry, President & CEO, Calgary Economic Development Invest Alberta welcomes Fortinet to join the regions thriving tech scene. Fortinets $30 million investment and focus on digital inclusion, green initiatives, and talent development through partnerships with academic institutions make the company the perfect fit for Albertas innovation community. Rick Christiaanse, Invest Alberta CEO About Fortinet Fortinet is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today, we deliver cybersecurity everywhere you need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet's solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinets elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, and FortiGuard Labs. About Invest Alberta Invest Alberta engages the world and provides high-end tailored support to companies, investors, and major new projects. With team members strategically positioned in key markets around the world, Invest Alberta works to break down barriers so businesses can start up, scale up, and succeed without limits. Since 2020, Invest Alberta has supported the commitment of nearly $20 billion in investment that created more than 27,000 new high-value jobs for Albertans. For more information, visit investalberta.ca. Invest Alberta 403-861-9968 [email protected] Paula Fiszman, Regional Director of Corporate Communications, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada Fortinet 954-945-6566 [email protected] Source: Invest Alberta BATAVIA, Ill., March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Wire Networks, Inc. (OTCQB: HWNI), a leading global provider of managed cybersecurity and technology enablement, has been awarded an annual contract renewal to provide technology managed services to a Fortune 500 national environmental solutions provider. Similar to last years renewal, the base contract is valued at $1.6 million with the potential for additional services and projects to be provided at additional cost. Last year, such additional services included fiber installments totaling approximately $1 million in billings, an amount High Wire anticipates will reoccur during the new renewal period or potentially higher. The number of customer locations is also expected to expand over the next year, which would result in a higher level of revenue generation. Now in its third year, the engagement was secured through one of High Wires premier global channel partners that has introduced more than $17.5 million in revenue to High Wire over the last several years. Our continued success in delivering managed services has established a deep trust with our channel partners, and this renewal demonstrates how we have become their go-to provider for multi-site, nationally deployed managed services, stated High Wire CRO Don Schmidt. We anticipate our relationship with this channel partner and their end customer extending and growing long into the future, as we continue to provide best-in-class services and solutions. The managed services for the end-customer includes on-site support, computer equipment installation, relocations and upgrades, WiFi access points, wireless mesh, cabling, and fiber remediation and deployments, as well data network resources. High Wire will also continue to provide 24x7 technical support and customer service through its global command center for the customers more than 1,300 locations across the U.S. and Canada. High Wires global command center provides on-demand logistics management and program coordination for scheduled maintenance at all locations, as well as coordinating emergency services when remediating any network outages. The companys network of 15,000 field technicians will provide hands-on support at customer locations. The renewed engagement builds upon a long-term relationship with the channel partner. In 2020, High Wire and the partner delivered SD-Wan installation services at the end-customers more than 800 locations across North America. In 2022, High Wire worked with the partner to enhance a supermarket chains wireless connectivity at 75 locations nationwide. Also over the last year, High Wire transitioned the channel partner from a time and materials billing model to a more efficient and cost-effective fixed-price managed services model. High Wire helped them to better process and organize their customer data, including information related to incoming tickets and better identifying true break/fix incidents. To learn more about High Wire and its award-winning managed cybersecurity and IT enablement services, visit HighWireNetworks.com or view the companys free video series on YouTube. About High Wire NetworksHigh Wire Networks, Inc. (OTCQB: HWNI) is a fast-growing, award-winning global provider of managed cybersecurity and IT enablement services. Through 625 channel partners, it delivers trusted managed services for more than 1,100 managed security customers and tens of thousands of technology customers. Its end-customers include hundreds of Fortune 500 companies and the nations largest government agencies. High Wire has 80 full-time employees worldwide and four U.S. offices, including a U.S. based 24/7 Network Operations Center and Security Operations Center in Chicago, with additional regional offices in United Kingdom. High Wire was ranked by Frost & Sullivan as a Top 12 Managed Security Service Provider in the Americas for 2023. It was also named to CRNs MSP 500 and Elite 150 lists of the nations top IT managed service providers for 2023 and 2024. Learn more at HighWireNetworks.com. Follow the company on X, view its extensive video series on YouTube or connect on LinkedIn. Forward-Looking StatementsThe above news release contains forward-looking statements. The statements contained in this document that are not statements of historical fact, including but not limited to, statements identified by the use of terms such as "anticipate," "appear," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "hope," "indicate," "intend," "likely," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "project," "seek," "should," "will," "would," and other variations or negative expressions of these terms, including statements related to expected market trends and the Company's performance, are all "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on assumptions that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performances and are subject to a wide range of external factors, uncertainties, business risks, and other risks identified in filings made by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in the company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any statement is based except as required by applicable law and regulations. High Wire ContactSusanna SongChief Marketing OfficerHigh Wire NetworksTel +1 (952) 974-4000 Email contact Media Relations:Tim RandallCMA Media RelationsTel +1 (949) 432-7572Email contact Investor Relations:Ronald Both or Grant StudeCMA Investor RelationsTel +1 (949) 432-7557 Email contact Source: High Wire Networks Inc. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. (PharmAla or the Company) (CSE: MDMA) (OTC: MDXXF), a biotechnology company focused on the research, development, and manufacturing of LaNeo MDMA and novel derivatives of MDMA (MDXX class molecules), is pleased to provide the following corporate updates. Annual General and Special Meeting The Company is pleased to announce the voting results from its annual general and special meeting of the shareholders of the Company (Shareholders) held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 (the Meeting). Shareholders voted in favour of each resolution put forth at the Meeting. At the Meeting, there were 3 Shareholders represented in person or by proxy holding 19,399,197 common shares in the capital of the Company (the Common Shares), representing 22.32% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the record date for the Meeting. Each nominee listed in the Companys management information circular dated January 19, 2024 (the Circular), was elected as a director of the Company. PharmAla continues to make the important choices necessary for the future of both our business, and the Psychedelic Pharmaceuticals sector more broadly, said Jodi Butts, Board Chair, PharmAla Biotech. We are grateful that PharmAlas shareholders have agreed with managements recommendations on a variety of timely corporate governance matters. The Board will continue to diligently perform our fiduciary duties on behalf of our Shareholders and we appreciate their support in this dynamic environment. We look forward to another exceptional year, which should bring a number of developments for the company as we get closer to the U.S. FDAs priority review date for MDMA on August 11th, 2024. In addition, at the Meeting, (i) Shareholders reappointed Clearhouse LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the Companys auditor for the ensuing year and authorized the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company (the Board) to fix their renumeration, (ii) Shareholders authorized a continuance of the Company from the Province of British Columbia to the Province of Ontario (the Continuance), (iii) Shareholders authorized the repeal and replacement of the existing articles of the Company and the adoption of a new general by-law upon completion of the Continuance, (iv) disinterested Shareholders ratified the adoption of the Companys restricted share unit (RSU) plan dated May 11, 2023 (the RSU Plan) and the prior grant of 2,300,000 RSUs made on November 8, 2023 (the Prior Grant), and (v) disinterested Shareholders ratified the repeal and replacement of the Companys stock option plan and RSU plans with the adoption of an equity inceptive plan for the Company (the Equity Incentive Plan), each as more particularly set forth in the Circular. Corporate Update RSU Grants The Company is also pleased to announce the granting of an aggregate of 2,050,000 RSUs to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan. A total of 950,000 RSUs granted vest quarterly over a one-year period with the remaining 1,100,000 RSUs vesting quarterly over a two year period. All of the RSUs (and any Common Shares issuable upon their settlement) are subject to a four month and one day hold period pursuant to the policies of the CSE and applicable securities laws. This is the first issuance of compensation securities to the Board and management since the Companys public listing in January 2022. Provision of Research Services PharmAla has been contracted to provide research services to Red Light Holland (RLH). The Company expects that these services, which will be delivered on an all-cash basis, will generate meaningful short-term revenue for the company. PharmAla has also initiated discussions with Red Light Holland regarding potential sales representation of RLHs products in foreign markets; PharmAla will represent solely products that meet strict GMP guidelines for use as medicines. Sales Update PharmAla has received a material purchase order for MDMA from a Canadian psychedelics company. At this time, PharmAla will not be disclosing the name of the company for business reasons. For more information, please visit www.PharmAla.ca, where you can sign up to receive regular updates. About PharmAla PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. (CSE: MDMA)(OTCQB: MDXXF) is a biotechnology company focused on the research, development, and manufacturing of MDXX class molecules, including MDMA. PharmAla was founded with a dual focus: alleviating the global backlog of generic, clinical-grade MDMA to enable clinical trials as well as commercial sales in selected jurisdictions, and to develop novel drugs in the same class. PharmAla is the only company currently provisioning clinical-grade MDMA for patient treatments outside of clinical trials. PharmAlas research and development unit has completed proof-of-concept research into several IP families, including ALA-002, its lead drug candidate. PharmAla is a regulatory first organization, formed under the principle that true success in the psychedelics industry will only be achieved through excellent relationships with regulators. For more information, please contact:Nicholas KadyshChief Executive OfficerPharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc.Email: [email protected]Phone: 1-855-444-6362Website: www.PharmAla.ca Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words could, intend, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on PharmAlas current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by PharmAla at the date of the information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and PharmAla is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption Risk Factors in PharmAlas managements discussion and analysis which is available on PharmAlas profile at www.sedar.com. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, province, territory or jurisdiction. Source: PharmAla Biotech Basseterre, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Government of St Kitts and Nevis have ushered in a new era of investing through the Investment Gateway Summit, calling for its economic citizens to visit their home. Global investors and high-net-worth individuals (HWNIs) can explore endless opportunities whilst being hosted by the Government. The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, along with his Government, extends a personal invitation to citizens and investors to attend the exclusive inaugural Investment Gateway Summit from 11 to 15 May 2024. This significant event is an opportunity for Kittian and Nevisian citizens around the world to return home to discover how the twin-island federation is utilising economic diversification to advance developments and our citizens. This personal invitation from Honourable Dr. Drew, is an experience not to be missed to learn about the Sustainable Island State Agenda from the Government and key speakers , while connecting and building with visionary leaders, global businesspeople, and economic citizens. During the five-day Summit, economic citizens can engage and interact with national leaders and global experts. They can also explore the natural wonders the islands have to offer, with unique premium experiences to share with the world. Please click here to secure your exclusive spot at the Investment Gateway Summit. What to Expect from the Summit? As an economic citizen, this will be your opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals in various businesses and network with businesspeople. Economic Citizens will have the opportunity to experience firsthand what initiatives St Kitts and Nevis are engaging in and the progress of each development. Learn about St Kitts and Nevis economic outlook for 2024 and beyond in addition to understanding how economic diversification can inspire change. Investment-led projects in the twin-federation and how you can become part of these exciting developments will be presented. Gain insights into the Sustainable Island State Agenda and why it is an essential element in the Investment Gateway Summit in May 2024. The Sustainable Island State Agenda key focus is on seven pillars: 1. Food security 2. Green energy transition 3. Economic diversification 4. Developing the Creative Economy 5. Post-pandemic recovery 6. Attract and support sustainable organisations 7. Extend social protection and safety for vulnerable individuals These seven pillars form part of the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC), which is an exciting new investment option under the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. The SISC is an opportunity to contribute to the development of a new nation. It's a secure and sustainable option for savvy investors looking to make a strategic investment. Collaborative sustainable development initiatives will nurture economic and community development and extend shared values of excellence. Connect, Collaborate and Celebrate with Us If you're interested in promoting your brand, business services, or exploring sponsorship opportunities, feel free to leave a comment here along with your inquiry in the contact form. We'll promptly respond with details on available packages. Tickets are limited - make sure to get your early bird tickets! Attachment Stellantis Continues to Drive Gender Equality Throughout Its Global Business Ranked 33rd on the 2023 FTSE Diversity and Inclusion Index, an improvement of 55 spots year-over-year 30% of leadership positions are held by women, increasing by 13 points in three years Women account for 42% of top management hires and 31% of hires in all categories in 2023 15% year-on-year increase in the number of women in manufacturing leadership Empowering diversity and inclusion through meritocracy is a tenet of the Stellantis Dare Forward 2030 long-term strategic plan AMSTERDAM, March 8, 2024 Since the creation of Stellantis three years ago, the Company has continued to improve the representation of women across the business and to promote diversity and inclusion, achieving the 33rd position in last years FTSE Diversity and Inclusion Index , up 55 spots from the previous year. Over the past three years, the number of women in leadership positions doubled to 30% globally and the Company is well on track to achieve its Dare Forward 2030 commitment. Specifically, while women make up 21% of the global employee base, women make up 24% of the senior vice president and vice president positions globally, with 27% targeted by the end of this year. Additionally, 31% of new hires in 2023 were women, rising to 42% for top management positions, and the number of women in manufacturing top management jumped by 15%, further illustrating the Companys commitment to identifying top female talent to help boost Stellantis growth. Increasing the representation of women in management positions is not only part of our Human Resources strategy, but a cornerstone of our future development, said Xavier Chereau, Stellantis Chief Human Resources & Transformation Officer. It is strengthening the Companys attractiveness for female profiles through career development opportunities, as well as flexible and remote working arrangements offered by the Company. Thirty percent is a start, and we will go further. In a sector that historically has under-represented women, the challenge is to attract and develop female talent at all levels in the Company. Stellantis is driving the agenda through many activities across the globe, including leveraging its Women of Stellantis business resource group to deliver important initiatives worldwide. The strategy of developing female talent within Stellantis complements other global diversity and inclusion initiatives undertaken since the Company was founded. Initiatives include leadership training for women, the signature of the United Nations Womens Empowerment Principles, a training campaign to remove gender bias, and a systematic approach to promote gender balance in recruitment and selection. The FTSE Diversity and Inclusion Index ranks over 12,000 companies globally and identifies the top 100 publicly traded companies with the most diverse and inclusive workplaces, as measured by 24 separate metrics across four key pillars. Ethical responsibility is at the core of Stellantis to ensure a sustainable future of mobility for our customers, our employees and our planet. As part of the CARE pillar in Dare Forward 2030 , Stellantis targets to have over 35% of leadership positions held by women by 2030. # # # About Stellantis Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA / Euronext Milan: STLAM / Euronext Paris: STLAP) is one of the worlds leading automakers aiming to provide clean, safe and affordable freedom of mobility to all. Its best known for its unique portfolio of iconic and innovative brands including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep , Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move and Leasys. Stellantis is executing its Dare Forward 2030, a bold strategic plan that paves the way to achieve the ambitious target of becoming a carbon net zero mobility tech company by 2038, with single-digit percentage compensation of the remaining emissions, while creating added value for all stakeholders. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com @Stellantis Stellantis Stellantis Stellantis For more information, contact: Fernao SILVEIRA +31 6 43 25 43 41 [email protected] Nathalie ROUSSEL +33 6 87 77 41 82 [email protected] [email protected] www.stellantis.com Attachment New York, NY, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM), in collaboration with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), is pleased to announce that the 2024-2026 Jeremiah A. Barondess Fellowship in the Clinical Transaction is awarded to Dr. Emily Murphy, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Murphys educational intervention supported by the Fellowship focuses on teaching residents to integrate social determinants of health (SDoH) into clinical reasoning and developing patient-centered plans. In short, she will teach clinicians at the bedside how they should interpret and apply social determinants of health data in the clinical care of patients to affect meaningful change in patient outcomes. The ACGME will recognize Dr. Murphy at its Annual Educational Conference, to be held in Orlando, Florida, from March 7 to 9, 2024. The Barondess Fellowship is awarded to junior faculty members in internal medicine to enhance medical students and residents training in the clinical transaction, a fundamental element of clinical care. The two-year, $50,000 fellowship aims to improve the patient experience by innovating and strengthening the critical skills that characterize the clinical transaction, including communicating with patients, conducting the physical exam, and applying clinical reasoning. Preparing clinicians to address the social determinants of health for their patients couldnt be more critical toward advancing patient health and health equity, said NYAM President Ann Kurth, PhD, CNM, MPH. Meeting the training needs of residents will help strengthen their understanding of patient needs and providing necessary care. The ACGME is proud to co-present the Barondess Fellowship to Dr. Murphy for her important intervention to integrate social determinants of health into resident training, said ACGME President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas J. Nasca, MD, MACP. Her work in this area is more important than ever in promoting patient-centered care. SDoH Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residents Data suggest that at baseline, internal medicine residents have significant performance gaps in integrating the SDoH into clinical reasoning, indicating a need for formal education. To meet this need, Dr. Murphy will develop a curriculum for internal medicine residents in the Osler Medical Residency Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. This proposed curriculum will include multidisciplinary problem-based learning and supervised clinical experiences, and will assess impact on resident education and patient outcomes. In 2024, we will learn more about the social determinants of health impacting our patients than ever before due to required inpatient SDoH screening. If met with appropriate education, we have the opportunity to effectively incorporate SDoH into clinical reasoning to improve patient outcomes. I am thrilled to have been awarded the Barondess Fellowship to create a curriculum to meet this educational need and am grateful to NYAM and the ACGME for their support, said Emily Murphy, MD. Dr. Murphy is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM). Born in Massachusetts, she completed her medical education at JHUSOM and her residency at the Harvard Brigham & Womens Hospital/Boston Childrens Hospital Medicine Pediatrics Residency. Dr. Murphy practices as an academic Med-Peds hospitalist and is a clinician educator for both undergraduate and graduate medical learners. She is interested in how to teach future and current physicians to address social determinants of health. She is the 2023-2024 recipient of the Society of Bedside Medicine Fellowship, during which she designed and implemented a novel SDoH curriculum for the medicine clerkship. She plans to use the Barondess Fellowship to develop a practical, patient-facing SDoH curriculum for the Osler Medical Residency Training Program at JHUSOM. About The New York Academy of Medicine The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) is a leading voice for innovation in public health. Throughout its 177-year history, NYAM has uniquely championed bold changes to the systems that perpetuate health inequities and keep all communities from achieving good health. Today, this work includes innovative research, programs, and policy initiatives that distinctively value community input for maximum impact. Combined with NYAMs trusted programming and historic Library, and with the support of nearly 2,000 esteemed Fellows and Members, NYAMs impact as a health leader continues. To learn more,visit www.nyam.org and follow @NYAMNYC on social media. About the ACGME The ACGME is a private, nonprofit, professional organization responsible for the accreditation of approximately 11,700 residency and fellowship programs and the approximately 850 institutions that sponsor these programs in the United States. Residency and fellowship programs educate approximately 140,500 resident and fellow physicians in 181 specialties and subspecialties. The ACGMEs mission is to improve health care and population health by assessing and advancing the quality of resident physicians education through accreditation. Attachment Gina Ravosa The New York Academy of Medicine 212-822-8275 [email protected] Susan Holub Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education 312-755-5066 [email protected] Source: The New York Academy of Medicine New York, United States of America, March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To mark International Womens Day, the UN Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, today launched a new report Women at Work: Chinese companies taking action on gender equality. The global publication, available in English and Chinese, provides insights and best practices for advancing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on gender equality in the workplace. "Women at Work" sheds light on the challenges and opportunities that Chinese companies face in promoting gender equality. It presents a series of case studies showcasing how companies across various sectors are implementing the Womens Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and contributing to the SDGs. The report showcases the commitment of business leaders in China and around the world to integrate gender equality into corporate strategies, highlighting the essential role of women in driving sustainable business practices for a better world. The report features: A collection of company case studies and personal stories from diversified industries, highlighting good practices and lessons learned to strengthen gender equality in the workplace. An Overview of global and Chinas progress of gender equality in the workplace through SDG progress review, and aggregated results from Womens Empowerment Principles Gender Gap Analysis Tool. Suggested practical gender roadmaps and key resources for business to contribute to the collective efforts towards SDG 5: Gender Equality. Commenting on the reports release, Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact said: In our ongoing journey toward achieving gender equality, it's inspiring to see the commitment and innovative approaches detailed in Women at Work. During a recent visit to China, I witnessed firsthand the dynamic discussions and unwavering dedication among business leaders to advance this cause. This report is not just a reflection of current practices but a call to action for companies worldwide to amplify their efforts in fostering inclusive and equitable workplaces. This report underscores the urgency and importance of building a more gender-inclusive business landscape. Businesses in China are increasingly recognizing gender equality, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 5, as a top global sustainability challenge and consider it an area where they can have a positive impact through engagement with the UN Global Compact. The launch of the UN Global Compact China Strategy in 2022, which identified reduce inequality and SDG 5 as one of seven priority areas, has been guiding business in China to maximize their collective impact to accelerate the SDGs both in China and globally. Nearly 50 companies have joined the UN Global Compact Target Gender Equality (TGE) Accelerator in China since its launch in 2022. Many have also become signatories of the WEPs and committed to ambitious Gender Equality Targets through the Forward Faster Initiative. Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China noted: Grounded in the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Tool, this guidebook offers a roadmap and showcases exemplary practices that can be replicated and scaled, guiding businesses in assessing their impact in the realm of gender equality. We hope to witness more achievements like this, which can continue to offer guidance and foster accountability and progress in this vital area. Notes to Editors About the UN Global Compact: As a special initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General, the UN Global Compact is a call to companies worldwide to align their operations and strategies with Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Our ambition is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 20,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 62 Local Networks covering 67 countries and 15 Country Managers establishing Networks in 34 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the worlds largest corporate sustainability initiative one Global Compact uniting business for a better world. Zelenskyy is sure Putin's goal is to seize all of Ukraine, not just regions of country Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian president's goal in the war is to capture all of Ukraine, and not separate regions. "I don't think that his goal is any territories. What we see, their actions, those strikes on civilian targets, intimidation of the civilian population of Ukraine with missiles, public statements by Putin's entourage, representatives of their intelligence, representatives of their troops and his himself. All these messages indicate that they have not completed the task and they will continue the mission," the president said in an interview with the Italian TV channel Rai 1. This is how the president answered the question whether it is possible to agree with Putin on ending the war, suggesting that he leave only Crimea and Donbas within Russia. Further, according to Zelenskyy, "they justify, excuse me, Hitler, they give examples with Poland, that it irritated Hitler, so he attacked. And they give the same, it seems, parallel with Ukraine and Russia." "And all these messages, they say that his goal is not individual territories, his goal is the whole of Ukraine. We [with our partners] are sure that Putin will not be interested in just some territory, city, village, or Crimea, or Donbas. He is interested in the complete destruction of Ukraine, the annexation of all these lands of independent Ukraine to Russia," Zelenskyy said. As the president noted, "Putin does such things either by force - with weapons, or politically." "What he did in Belarus - without casualties and without blood. That is for now. That is, they [Russia and Belarus] are allied authorities, where he [Putin] completely controls the power bloc in the territory Belarus, and troops on the territory of Belarus. Proof of this is the attack on the very first night, when there was a full-scale invasion of Russia. This attack was from the territory of Belarus, missile attacks, troops, etc. That is, this is the diplomatic occupation of an independent country and the loss of sovereignty Belarus," he said. In Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, Putin was diplomatically or politically unable to do this. "In parliament there was his party [Opposition Platform For Life] the second largest, and he completely influenced it and looked for opportunities to influence the parliament inside Ukraine. He failed, and after his political plan failed. He began the occupation by army. Therefore, he has no plan for Crimea or Donbas. This is just rhetoric. He has a plan to deprive Ukraine of independence," the president said. HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On March 7, 2024, the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival officially commenced, celebrating ten years of honoring the beauty and spirit of the Vietnamese national costume with the theme "I Love Vietnamese Ao Dai." Connecting traditional values with the present The traditional costume, Ao Dai, has accompanied the Vietnamese throughout history. It is present in every corner of this S-shaped land, regardless of age, gender, and occupation, blending with daily life and appearing in many important events. Over the years, the costume has undergone several changes, yet it has managed to preserve its traditional values. It continues to accentuate Vietnamese women's elegant and graceful beauty, serving as an excellent cultural and tourism ambassador of the country's image worldwide. The opening night of the 2024 Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival celebrated the costume with two main shows, "Ao DaiVietnamese Soul, Vietnamese Culture" and "Ao Dai Goes Global," with exceptional fashion collections. The garments were crafted by renowned designers, ranging from classic designs to modern and contemporary interpretations. Ten years of accompanying the pride of Ho Chi Minh City people Every year, The Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival brings new stories about the Vietnamese Ao Dai. It is a source of inspiration, one of the driving forces that spread the love for this national clothing and the pride of the "national soul, national identity" for the citizens. The 10th Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival is scheduled from March 7 to 17, 2024. The festival will feature a variety of programs celebrating Ao Dai, including the "Charming Ao Dai HCMC" contest and cultural performances. It is expected to become a unique annual cultural and tourism product that will attract more visitors to explore the vibrant city. Media contact: [email protected] https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7c94e4da-1396-4979-8ba5-184ac03b91f4 Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Tourism Opening ceremony of the 10th Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2024 Source: Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Tourism PRESS RELEASE Wood Mackenzie and Lets Share the Sun donate solar PV and energy storage system to womens shelter in Puerto Rico LONDON/HOUSTON/SINGAPORE, 8 March 2024 On International Womens Day, Wood Mackenzie, in partnership with Lets Share the Sun and other third parties, dedicated 51 solar panels and battery storage to a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Puerto Rico. The fully installed 25 kW-DC system will provide a significant portion of the shelters power needs. The shelter is one of the largest shelters in the National Network of Domestic Violence Safe Houses and can provide shelter for more than 100 women. This was a very unique opportunity to provide energy and domestic security to an area that often lacks both, said Luke Lewandowski, VP, global renewables research for Wood Mackenzie. It means a lot to work with this shelter on International Womens Day and support this community through the benefits of sustainable energy. This new solar and storage system will provide financial relief to the shelter and give energy independence to this at-risk population. According to Lewandowski, power in this region of Puerto Rico is frequently out, and, when power has been available, costs have been rapidly increasing, placing burdens on residents and communities. Joining Lewandowski at the dedication were: Bill Jordan co-founder and president of the Lets Share the Sun Foundation, Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of Solar Energy Industry Association, Augustin Carbo, Director of the Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team. Wood Mackenzies continued work and commitment to supporting improved energy security Wood Mackenzie will send nine delegates to Puerto Rico this month, the third consecutive year that Wood Mackenzie has sent a volunteer delegation to Puerto Rico to support the Let's Share the Sun initiatives. Lets Share the Sun is a 501c3 foundation that facilitates the use of solar and energy storage in poor communities throughout the world. Once again, the team will offer fundraising and on-the-ground volunteering in the Adjuntas region of Puerto Rico. In 2023, the team installed 252 solar panels that will help power 39 homes and a domestic violence safe house in the Ponce area. Our continued collaboration with Lets Share the Sun demonstrates our commitment to this important mission of providing renewable energy to impoverished communities, said Lewandowski. This year, we plan on doing more work than we have ever done in our continued mission to help the impoverished gain energy access and transform the way we power the planet. Founded in 2010, Lets Share the Sun has helped install solar power in energy impoverished areas of Haiti, Honduras and Puerto Rico. These solar installation delegation trips have a real personal and economic impact to beneficiaries, delegation participants, and the local solar installation partners; this year Sol de la Montana and ISO Solar, said Bernadette Jordan, Lets Share the Suns Executive Director. Last year, we partnered with Wood Mackenzie to provide services to several homes in Adjuntas and completed work on our first domestic violence safe house. This year, we are inspired to build upon this success and work on our second domestic violence safe house and we will continue our work on residential homes in Adjuntas. Donations to the Lets Share the Sun and Wood Mackenzie solar installation projects in Puerto Rico can be made here. ENDS For further information please contact Wood Mackenzies media relations team: Kevin Baxter +44 330 124 9400 [email protected] Vivien Lebbon +44 330 174 7486 [email protected] Mark Thomton +1 630 881 6885 [email protected] Hla Myat Mon, APAC PR Manager +65 8533 8860 [email protected] The Big Partnership (UK PR agency) [email protected] You have received this news release from Wood Mackenzie because of the details we hold about you. If the information we have is incorrect you can either provide your updated preferences by contacting our media relations team. If you do not wish to receive this type of email in the future, please reply with 'unsubscribe' in the subject header. About Wood Mackenzie Wood Mackenzie is the global insight business for renewables, energy and natural resources. Driven by data. Powered by people. In the middle of an energy revolution, businesses and governments need reliable and actionable insight to lead the transition to a sustainable future. Thats why we cover the entire supply chain with unparalleled breadth and depth, backed by over 50 years experience in natural resources. Today, our team of over 2,000 experts operate across 30 global locations, inspiring customers decisions through real-time analytics, consultancy, events and thought leadership. Together, we deliver the insight they need to separate risk from opportunity and make bold decisions when it matters most. For more information, visit woodmac.com. Attachments Scientists, C-level executives, managers, and directors from the drug discovery pharma and biotech industry verticals across Europe and North America are invited to attend the 19th BioPharma Drug Discovery Nexus Conference at the Basel, Mariott Hotel, Switzerland. A highly respected conference, this is an invite-only event where top industry leaders and executives will explore the advancements and trends in the field of drug discovery. These experts share insights and Read More>> To learn more, please visit https://ibn.fm/j43gD About InvestorWire InvestorWire (IW) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on advanced wire-grade press release syndication for private and public companies and the investment community. It is one of 60+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, IW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in todays market, IW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. IW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge. For more information, please visit https://www.InvestorWire.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorWire website applicable to all content provided by IW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.InvestorWire.com/Disclaimer InvestorWire Los Angeles, CA www.InvestorWire.com 310.299.1717 Office [email protected] InvestorWire is powered by IBN Sekur Private Data (CSE: SKUR) (OTCQB: SWISF) (FSE: GDT0), a leading Swiss-hosted secure and private communications platform, is featured in a recent New to the Street broadcast, slated to air on the Fox Business Network on March 11, 2024, at 10:30 p.m. PT. The episode features five corporate interviews, including the Sekur Privacy & Sekur Security Weekly Hack segment with Sekur Private Data CEO Alain Ghiai, an internet privacy expert. During the segment, Alain and host Ana Berry discuss a recent FBI report about Chinese operatives cyberattacking Americas energy grid and other critical infrastructure. The two note that while the warning is nothing new, the federal election cycle provides an opportunity for foreign entities to attempt to hack governmental and corporate databases as a form of election interference. Alain explains that 91% of hacks are from compromised email accounts and notes that individuals can limit possible cybersecurity problems by reducing social media posts. The security expert also observes that Sekur offers businesses, individuals and governmental entities affordable encrypted solutions, including SekurVPN, SekurMail and SekurMessenger subscription services, to protect against possible email compromises. FMW Medias New to the Street is one of the longest-running U.S. and International sponsored and syndicated Nielsen-rated programming television brands. Since 2009, the program has run biographical interview segment shows across major U.S. television networks. To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/5xwoT About Sekur Private Data Ltd. Sekur Private Data is a cybersecurity and internet privacy provider of Swiss-hosted solutions for secure and private communications. The company distributes a suite of encrypted emails, secure messengers and secure communication tools. Sekur Private Data sells its products through its own website as well as through approved distributors and telecommunications companies around the world. The company serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide. For more information, visit the companys website at www.Sekur.com. NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SWISF are available in the companys newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SWISF About TechMediaWire TechMediaWire (TMW) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on pioneering public and private companies driving the future of technology. It is one of 60+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, TMW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists, and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in todays market, TMW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. TMW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge. To receive SMS alerts from TechMediaWire, text TECH to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only) For more information, please visit https://www.TechMediaWire.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the TechMediaWire website applicable to all content provided by TMW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.TechMediaWire.com/Disclaimer TechMediaWire Los Angeles, CA www.TechMediaWire.com 310.299.1717 Office [email protected] TechMediaWire is powered by IBN Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 8, 2024) - Big Gold Inc. (CSE: BG) (FSE: H7L) (the "Company" or "Big Gold") reports it has mobilized a geophysical crew to gather data in preparation for a 2024 core drilling program on the Tabor Property ("Tabor" or the "Project"), located in the heart of the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt, northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The geophysical crew will focus this phase of fieldwork on the collection of Induced Polarization ("IP") data and resistivity ("Resistivity") data (Figure 1) in areas that include the "East Divide zone" where Big Gold recently reported infill and re-sampling results on historical core of up to 1.5 metres ("m") of 10.9 grams per tonne Gold ("Au"), 34.1 g/t silver ("Ag"), 0.5% copper ("Cu"), and 1.8% Zinc ("Zn"), including 0.8 m of 20.8 g/t Au, 56.9 g/t Ag, 0.7% Cu, and 3.3% Zn. 2024 Geophysical Rationale Gold and base metal mineralization in the Shebandowan area, and more specifically on the Tabor Project and on the neighbouring properties, are most often related to geological units that exhibit higher concentrations of sulphide mineralization and shearing. Figure 1 - Geophysical Grid Locations at the Tabor Property To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9105/200835_4f7c30c72442ea90_001full.jpg The geophysical technique of collecting IP and Resistivity data is perfect for defining target areas that contain more abundant concentrations of sulphide minerals that are often associated with areas with more gold mineralization. Recently announced re-sampling of historic drill core from a 1983 program (mentioned above) confirmed that the highest concentration of gold mineralization in the historic drill core is associated with much more abundant sulphide minerals including pyrite (iron sulphide), sphalerite (zinc sulphide) and chalcopyrite (copper sulphide). Knowing this association makes the collection of IP and Resistivity data a critical tool in the definition of drill targets for the planned summer drill program. "The mobilizing of our geophysical crew to the Tabor Property to gather additional data that will be used in conjunction with all of the other data we have on the property, marks the start of our field work for 2024. Once we have this geophysical data collected and compiled and we have had a chance to ground-truth some of the targets, we will be in a position to create updated models that will help us better define our initial drilling campaign which we expect to launch mid-year," remarked Scott Walters, CEO of Big Gold. He added, "Information from the work being carried out by neighbours like Goldshore and Delta will help us with our modelling and program implementation, and we feel there is a strong likelihood that the host rocks of Goldshore's gold trend continue onto our property." About the Tabor Project Tabor is adjacent to the east, along trend of Goldshore's Moss Lake gold deposit that hosts current inferred or higher category mineral resources of 6.73 million ounces gold, including an Indicated Resource of 1.535 million ounces gold grading 1.23 g/t and an Inferred Resource of 5.198 million ounces gold at a grade of 1.11 g/t* and Tabor is located approximately 20 km to the west of the Delta Resources Delta-1 Project ("Delta-1")*. Gold mineralization on the Project is believed to be associated with quartz veins, shearing and more abundant sulphides. Geological and mineralization characteristics at Tabor are similar to those found on some of the neighbouring properties, including Moss Lake where a recent drill hole intersected 2.17 g/t Au over 50.35 m was reported and at the Delta-1, where Delta Resources Limited recently (March 1, 2024) reported a drill intercept of 15.94 g/t Au over 10 m. Qualified Person Bruce Durham, P.Geo., is a Qualified Person, as that term is defined by Canadian regulatory guidelines under NI 43-101, and has read and approved the technical information contained in this press release. *The Project is at an early stage of exploration, and the Company cautions that the qualified person who has reviewed and approved this news release has not verified scientific or technical information produced by third parties, and proximity to projects containing gold resources offers no assurance that the rock types or gold resources reported by Goldshore and others extend onto the company's project and such proximity is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization reported by third parties with projects in the district. About Big Gold Inc. Big Gold Inc. is a junior mining exploration company. Its initial focus is to conduct Exploration Programs on the Martin Kenty and Tabor projects located in Ontario. Big Gold will also continue to consider other opportunities as they arise, with the objective of acquiring and exploring early-stage base and precious metal projects. Learn more about the Company on its website: https://biggold.ca/. For more information, please contact investor relations at [email protected]. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Scott Walters President and CEO Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/200835 FAI Institute's WAI program now accepting applications for 3rd cohort; short documentary film on Women in AI showcases program's success Tampa, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 8, 2024) - Flapmax, a leading innovator in artificial intelligence solutions, today announced the launch of its Women in AI (WAI) Generative AI Fellowship program as part of its FAI Institute initiative. The program aims to empower women in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and drive innovation in AI research and development, inclusive of underserved communities in emerging markets like Africa. Applicants with interests in generative AI are invited to apply by April 8, 2024 to participate in the program's 3rd cohort, starting May 2024. Women's History Month - WAI short film documentary Our mission is to advance human potential through cutting-edge research, education, and training programs built for the workforce of the future AI talent is in demand as other tech job listings decline. The Wall Street Journal reports in an article published March 5, 2024, that while IT-related job posts are down by 31%, postings for AI-related roles are growing, up 42%, and touting higher pay. Despite this surge, the representation of women in critical roles such as AI Researchers, AI Engineers, and Cloud Specialists remains alarmingly low, accounting for only about 18%. In response to this disparity, a transformative initiative is underway to enhance access to resources and opportunities for aspiring female professionals. "At FAI Institute, our mission is to advance human potential through cutting-edge research, education, and training programs built for the workforce of the future," said Dr. Dave Ojika, founder of FAI Institute. "We recognize the immense potential of women in driving innovation and progress in the AI field. Through concerted efforts to provide access to quality training, mentorship, and opportunities, we are committed to empowering women to thrive in AI careers and contribute meaningfully to the industry." Since its inception, the FAI Institute's WAI initiative has provided training opportunities for more than 800 women from over 24 countries. Supported by Intel and Microsoft, and in collaboration with Wentors, a global community dedicated to the growth of women in technology, the WAI initiative is expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities, especially women, through experiential learning and hands-on projects in real-world contexts. In celebration of International Women's Day, WAI program graduates shared their experiences in a short documentary film released today, titled Breaking Barriers: Women Shaping the Future of AI. "FAI Institute's Women in AI training program is a wonderful initiative that has given women the opportunity to grow in artificial intelligence and data," said Dorathy Simeon, Senior Programs Coordinator at Wentors. "In a world becoming increasingly aware of the possibilities that AI presents, such an effort becomes the more relevant than ever." This year's WAI program, launching in May, includes a 4-week virtual course with hands-on labs, teaching industry tools for practical AI solutions. Participants will analyze large datasets and use machine learning libraries to develop AI models for business. After the course, they are matched with 8-week AI practicum projects, mentored by industry experts. Peer groups and weekly meetings will provide guidance, while participants network with tech professionals to expand their portfolios and showcase achievements. FAI Institute continues its vision of premier university-quality research with industry-scale impact. The initiative is creating partnerships that help ignite technology growth in underrepresented communities. FAI Institute organizes FAI Summit, fostering a community dedicated to responsible AI research, emerging tech, and sustainability, while creating an avenue to collaborate with researchers, governments, entrepreneurs, and top corporations. Working with these partners, FAI Institute is helping connect the next generation of innovators with sustainable technology goals and cutting-edge career skills through programs like WAI. The WAI 2024 program is prioritizing applicants with an interest in generative AI. Applicants may be university/college students or working professionals, have some fundamental knowledge of data science or computer programming, and be available for the full program: May - August 2024. Successful applicants will be shortlisted to cast in a feature film that will leverage AI and creative tech in the filmmaking process. Further details on this opportunity will be announced soon. To learn more about getting involved with the Women in AI program or FAI Institute, please visit www.fai.institute. About FAI Institute FAI Institute by Flapmax is a pioneering research and development initiative dedicated to advancing the field of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies through cutting-edge research, education, collaboration, and exploration. Committed to fostering equity and fairness in AI, the initiative provides a dynamic platform for researchers and industry professionals to engage in innovative AI research. With a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and sustainability, FAI Institute aims to drive transformative progress in AI technology and its impact on society. About Flapmax Flapmax is a data and AI technology company partnering with leading technology providers around the globe to identify and accelerate to market sustainable technology solutions that improve communities worldwide. With a focus on AI-powered solutions that are global and sustainable, Flapmax is improving collaboration across borders and connecting innovators and businesses with digital transformation solutions, advanced AI models, and global partnerships. Contact: [email protected] or visit www.fai.institute To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/200728 San Francisco, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 8, 2024) - Known only as COLEMAN, the author of Misery in Missouri shines a light on injustices in the court system and what it's like to believe in your own innocence even when no one else will listen. COLEMAN hopes that her work will inspire others to live wholly in spite of tragedy, hardship, and blame. Book cover of Misery in Missouri In Misery in Missouri, COLEMAN's life is upended when she's accused of endangering a child in her care after a fatal accident. The prosecution claims she was negligent; COLEMAN insists she lost consciousness from low oxygen, a condition validated by her doctor. But when it's one person's word against the power of the criminal justice system, the courts yell louder. Suddenly, the community isn't sure who to trust, and COLEMAN's otherwise upstanding life as a volunteer, retired veteran, and registered nurse seems to count for nothing. Adult readers who appreciate tell-all memoirs and understand the complexity of criminal cases will connect immediately with COLEMAN's haunting story. Reviewers commend the "great storytelling" in Misery in Missouri, stating, "Innocent until proven guilty does not happen in our justice system-unless you're well connected." Instead of lashing out at those who accused her, COLEMAN focuses on her own personal growth and redemption as she starts a new life. She encourages readers to forgive others, follow their hearts, and keep moving on even in the darkest times. Misery in Missouri is available for purchase on Amazon.com or wherever books are sold. COLEMAN is a retired veteran with 20 years of military service and a former registered nurse. Her final court appearance was on January 5, 2024, when she took an Alford Plea that accepted a guilty judgment with a protest of innocence. She was sentenced to 10 years with 5 years of probation. COLEMAN now lives and writes in South Carolina. Source: Charlotte Simmons [email protected] Dabb Media To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/200814 Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 8, 2024) - Showcase Minerals Inc. (CSE: SHOW) ("Showcase") is pleased to announce that for its upcoming drilling exploration program at the Dixie Flats - North Star Gold Project, the Company has contracted the services of Rangefront Geological ("Rangefront") to design and oversee the program, including drilling management, core logging, and related geological services. Rangefront has assigned Steven McMillin, P.Geo., to manage the Dixie Flats - North Star drill program, and he will also act as the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 to review and approve technical information in future news releases regarding this exploration project. Mr. McMillin will be ably assisted by Patrick Mullinger, a seasoned four-year veteran of Rangefront, who brings a wealth of experience from work with over 20 clients. Mr. Mullinger will log the drill chips on site, manage the drill crew, and supervise sample quality. Mr. McMillin is a highly-experienced and well-respected exploration geologist with over 35 years of practical mineral exploration experience in the United States, and experience with many different exploration projects in Nevada. Mr. McMillin is currently a field operations manager at Rangefront Geological and is primarily responsible for the set-up and management of Rangefront client drill programs. At Rangefront, his responsibilities include liaising with vendors and federal/state regulators, establishing drill safety, supervising drilling and sampling protocols, and overall site reclamation. Previously, Mr. McMillin was chief mine geologist at Jerritt Canyon Gold LLC., where he led underground near-mine exploration and resource development. During his tenure at Jerritt Canyon, 12 new orebodies were discovered, and most were developed. Prior to 2016, Mr. McMillin was chief mine geologist at Fire Creek with Klondex Mines Ltd., senior exploration geologist with Midway Gold Corp. at the Spring Valley and Pan-Goldrock deposits, senior mine geologist at Jerritt Canyon with AngloGold and Queenstake Resources, and project geologist with Newmont Exploration in Nevada. He is an AIPG (American Institute of Professional Geologists) certified professional geologist and a member of the Geological Society of Nevada and the Society of Economic Geologists. About the Dixie Flats- North Star Gold Project: The Dixie Flats-North Star Property (the "Property" or "Dixie Flats") is located on the east side of the Pion Mountains, 21 air-miles south of the City of Elko in northeast Nevada. It is a combination of two claim blocks, the Dixie Flats group of claims and the North Star group of claims. The Property is comprised of a total of 236 total unpatented mineral claims on Federal land administered by the US Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"). The Property lies on the southern margin of the Carlin Trend, a northwest-trending belt of sediment-hosted gold deposits that makes up the greatest geographic concentration of gold deposits in North America, with reported production of more than 92.5 million ounces of gold since 1961 (Muntean, 2019). The Dixie Flats-North Star Property is underlain by rocks known to host gold mineralization on the Carlin Trend, and surface sampling has shown anomalous gold, silver, arsenic, antimony, and mercury levels in rock, soil, and biogeochemical samples from the Property, which is a characteristic geochemical signature of Carlin-Type gold deposits. The Dixie - North Star Gold Project is approximately three miles south of Newmont Mining Company's Emigrant Springs Mine, which finished production in 2018, and approximately 4.5 miles southeast of the past producing Rain Mine. Both deposits are hosted in dissolution breccia zones at the contact between the Webb mudstone, the basal unit of the overlying assemblage, and the underlying Devils Gate limestone. Prior exploration on the Dixie -North Star Property has been focused on delineating this contact at depth and discovering possible extensions to the regional structures controlling mineralization at the Rain and Emigrant Mines and their demonstrated extension to the Dixie - North Star Property. The information on the adjacent projects is taken from publicly available sources and is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization within the Dixie Flats - North Star Property. Additional information on the Dixie -North Star Gold Project can be found in the National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Dixie Flats-Northstar Gold Exploration Property", Elko, Nevada, dated September 21, 2022, which has been filed on SEDAR at www.Sedarplus.ca. Qualified Person: Mr. Steve McMillin, M.Sc., C.P.G. is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. About Showcase Minerals Inc. Showcase is a Canadian mineral exploration company with an exclusive option to acquire a 100% interest in Dixie Flats-Northstar Gold Project and the Woodruff Gold-Vanadium Project (subject to various net smelter returns royalties ranging from 2.25% to 4.25%), which collectively consist of unpatented 254 lode mining claims covering approximately 1,818 hectares located in Elko County, Nevada For further information, please contact: Kirk Reed, President Showcase Minerals Inc. Telephone: 1-800-982-0670 Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in CSE policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/201088 New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 8, 2024) - VLVT DeFi, a leading force in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, is thrilled to announce a significant update to its app store, setting a new standard for innovation and user experience in the rapidly evolving digital asset industry. VLVT DeFi iOS App is now online simultaneously To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10364/200595_vlvt.jpg The latest release from VLVT DeFi's development team introduces a host of cutting-edge features and improvements designed to empower users with enhanced functionality, security, and accessibility within the decentralized financial ecosystem. What is VLVT DeFi? VLVT DeFi As a pioneering financial technology company focusing on quantitative trading, VLVT DeFi will provide global investors with a way to participate in digital assets through its innovative low-threshold strategy, allowing global investors to Participate in digital assets. For the convenience of all users, the Apple Store App is now fully open for download. VLVT DeFi is committed to providing a more flexible, convenient and barrier-free digital asset trading platform, using advanced technology to empower a wider user base. The company believes in democratizing digital asset trading and breaking down the high barriers to entry that have historically hindered ordinary investors in traditional financial markets. Compared to traditional markets that often pose huge barriers to entry due to high initial capital requirements, VLVT DeFi pioneers a simpler way to participate in digital assets. The company goes beyond traditional practices such as high-frequency trend trading and smart trend following systems. Instead, it has expanded its scope to provide services such as flexible storage, withdrawal, and consumption of digital assets, ensuring a user-friendly and worry-free experience. The platform architecture of VLVT DeFi relies on artificial intelligence quantitative investment services to enhance user experience and make digital asset operations more intuitive. The company also aims to popularize digital asset investment knowledge by providing comprehensive educational resources and real-time market analysis to help investors make informed decisions. In the ever-evolving global digital economy, VLVT DeFi promises to lead users into the future of digital finance with innovative thinking and flexible services. The launch of the company's Apple App has greatly facilitated the accessibility and inclusiveness of digital assets and will surely become a highlight in the digital economy era, creating more winning opportunities for users. VLVT DeFi main features: No service or administrative fees Powerful AI intelligence for quantitative trading on over 100 cryptocurrencies 100% uptime guarantee, 24/7 technical support For more information, please visit https://vlvt.finance. Connect to VLVT DeFi: Email: [email protected] Telegram channel: https://t.me/VLVTDefi Business hotline: https://t.me/vlvtAbner1 Registration link: https://defi.vlvt.finance/user/reg2/?inviteCode=M6VNMK To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/200595 Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. AI application services are designed to accelerate and develop AI applications, so as to ensure the use of resources in a cost-effective manner; which contributes to reaching global sustainability through advanced AI technology. Academicians from across the world have discussed the various ways of reducing carbon emissions in cities and communities as nations try to fight the effects of climate change. In a panel discussion titled: "SHAPING THE FUTURE FOR NET ZERO CITIES AND COMMUNITIES" at the Ajman 7th International Environmental Conference, which was held in Ajman on Wednesday, March 6, Professor Wolfram Hardt, professor of Computer Engineering at Chemnitz University of technology, called for the importance of investigating AI-based services to adopt a realistic application. AI application services are designed to accelerate and develop AI applications, so as to ensure the use of resources in a cost-effective manner; which contributes to reaching global sustainability through advanced AI technology, said Hardt. Professor Ahmed Sobaihi, vice president of the Afro-Asian University and professor at Horizon University in Sharjah University City, presented the efforts made by the emirate of Ajman towards achieving environmental sustainability, while touching upon the tireless efforts being made by the UAE towards becoming a green future. Professor Myles Allen, professor of Geosystems science at the University of Oxford, stressed that the COP28 Conference of the parties laid the foundation stone and charted the way forward, within the framework of the global quest to mitigate and adapt to climate change to reach net zero emissions, consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. For his part, Tomas Prokop, Head Account Manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at "Palas GmbH", spoke about the importance of monitoring fine and ultrafine particles in urban areas in order to achieve improved air quality in cities. Dr. Shadi Saleh, founding director of the Global Health Institute, said that reaching clear skies in the future calls for reaching net zero emissions, stressing the importance of harnessing high-quality data to monitor the environment and air quality. Technology and innovation in climate action In another session, titled: " ACCELERATING CLIMATE ACTION WITH TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION & TRANSITION TO LOW-CARBON & INFRASTRUCTURE & WASTE CIRCULAR ECONOMY SYSTEMS ", Dr. Ahlam Khaldoune, from the College of Engineering at the American University of Sharjah, presented a study entitled: "Three-dimensional printed concrete bridge segments reinforced with hybrid smart reinforcement under constant load". He explained that the three-dimensional concrete printing (3dcp) has great potential to revolutionize the construction industry by enhancing productivity and reducing environmental impact through the efficient production of improved structures. Suhail Alghefeli, assistant professor of Environmental Engineering at Zayed University, spoke about the examination of green initiatives in university work, highlighting the importance of the role of youth in the sustainability process Dr. Rami Issa Al-Ruzouq, associate professor of geomatics engineering at the Department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Sharjah, spoke about the need to develop a spatial and temporal framework for sustainable planning of buildings based on carbon emissions at the city level. A number of workshops were also held on the sidelines of the conference, during which OMA Krishnan, an expert at the world green economy organization, reviewed the opportunities available to cities within the framework of their commitments to reach net zero emissions, the most important pillars on which the article is based, as well as the most prominent environmental challenges and providing sustainable solutions to them within the framework of this article. Contact Info: Name: Media Team Email: Send Email Organization: Municipality & Planning Department - Govt of Ajman Website: https://www.ajman.ae Release ID: 89123336 In case of detection of errors, concerns, or irregularities in the content provided in this press release, or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we strongly encourage you to reach out promptly by contacting [email protected]. Our efficient team will be at your disposal for immediate assistance within 8 hours resolving identified issues diligently or guiding you through the removal process. We take great pride in delivering reliable and precise information to our valued readers. China News Service: Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced at the press conference on the margins of the two sessions visa exemption on a pilot basis to six countries including Switzerland, which attracted great attention. Could you share with us what China has achieved in visa policies so far? What efforts have the Ministry made in making the outbound trips of Chinese citizens easier? Mao Ning: Over the past year, we have unveiled new measures to facilitate visits to and from China to advance high-quality development and high-standard opening up. China makes Chinese passports more valuable. As of now, China has signed mutual visa exemption agreements with 157 countries, covering different types of passports, reached agreements or arrangements to simplify visa procedures with 44 countries, and enjoyed comprehensive mutual visa exemption with 23 countries. In addition, over 60 countries and regions offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival policy to Chinese citizens. This makes it more convenient for Chinese citizens to travel abroad. During the recent Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon, there was a salient increase in the number of Chinese outbound trips and foreigners inbound trips for tourism and family-visiting purposes thanks to the resumption of flights and mutual visa-free policies. Take Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand who have ushered in a visa-free era with China as an example, the number of Chinese tourists to these three countries generally resumed to the level reached during the Spring Festival in 2019. The number of tourists from these three countries to China has risen by 15 percent compared with that during the Spring Festival in 2019. This is a great boost to friendship, exchanges and people-to-people bond between China and other countries. As Foreign Minister Wang Yi said when he met the press on the margins of the two sessions, China hopes to work with more countries to build fast-track networks for cross-border travels, make it more convenient for Chinese citizens to travel abroad, and make foreign friends feel at home in China. AFP: It was reported that a US army intelligence analyst was arrested on Thursday for suspicion of providing US national defense information to China. Previously on Wednesday, a Chinese national living in the US was arrested for suspicion of stealing Googles AI technology. What is the Foreign Ministrys response to these two cases? Mao Ning: I do not have information on either of the two cases you mentioned. Id like to stress, as a principle, on the so-called arrest of a Chinese national for suspicion of stealing Googles technology, that China attaches great importance to and has made active efforts in protecting intellectual property rights. We protect the lawful rights and interests of all domestic and overseas IP owners in a fair and just manner. At the same time, we oppose the US abusing state power to go after Chinese businesses and nationals. We will do what is necessary to safeguard the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses and nationals. CCTV: Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda recently said that small island nations face serious consequences from climate change and he hopes to see content related to climate response during Chinas two sessions. Whats your response? Mao Ning: I noted that during this years NPC and CPPCC sessions, deputies and members pay great attention to climate change. CPPCC member made a proposal on enhancing cooperation with small island developing states to together actively respond to climate change. Climate change is a global challenge and calls for a global response. China is committed to actively responding to climate change and has all along undertaken due international responsibilities commensurate with its national conditions. Under the framework of South-South cooperation on climate change, China provided support and assistance to African countries, small island nations and fellow developing countries to the best of our capabilities. China is an advocate and doer in global environment and climate governance. Premier Li Qiang in the Report on the Work of the Government stressed that it is important to enhance ecological conservation and take comprehensive steps to improve the environment. China will boost the green and low-carbon economy and actively and prudently work toward peaking carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality so as to build a beautiful China featuring harmony between humanity and nature. China will continue to take an active part in and advance global climate governance, expand cooperation space for green development, work with all countries in responding to climate challenges and together protect this blue planet that we all call home. Reuters: According to a statement released yesterday, some US lawmakers are planning to ask the State Department to raise the risk level of travel advisory on Xinjiang. They also made accusations against forced labor targeting Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. What is Chinas comment on the statement of the US lawmakers? Mao Ning: China has stated its position multiple times on the so-called forced labor in Xinjiang, which is an out-and-out lie. Certain US lawmakers need to view China in an objective and just manner, and recognize that Xinjiang now enjoys social stability, economic prosperity and harmony among all ethnic groups, rather than stick to ideological bias and mislead the US people. AFP: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday that China sees adverse reactions to its risemilitarily and economicallyrepresent nothing less than an attempt to deny its legitimate place in history. He also said that Southeast Asian countries should uphold the sanctity of international law. His remarks are quite different from recent remarks made by the Philippines, the US and other countries on China. Whats your response? Mao Ning: Chinas development strengthens the global force for peace and enhances stability in the international community. Chinas development relies on independence and our own efforts. China is always committed to working with countries in the region and around the world to uphold peaceful development and win-win cooperation, and advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. China remains a staunch force for peace, stability and progress in this region and the world. Bloomberg: Its been reported that India has stationed 10,000 new troops along the border with China. Can you respond to that? Mao Ning: Indias move of strengthening military deployment along the border with China is counterproductive to the two countries effort to ease the situation at the border and not conducive to safeguarding peace and tranquility of the border areas. TV Tokyo: The famous Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama passed away due to illness. His masterpiece Dragon Ball draws on the story of Chinas Journey to the West as its background. Do you have any comment about his death? Mao Ning: We express deep condolences over the passing of Mr. Akira Toriyama and sincere sympathies to his families. Mr. Toriyama is a renowned manga artist, whose works are popular in China. I noted that many Chinese have expressed condolences over his passing online. We hope and believe that more people with vision in Japan will make active contribution to the cultural exchange and friendship between China and Japan. Global Times: Weve learned that another Chinese student when entering the US border at the San Francisco International Airport was taken to a dark room for interrogation and detained for over 20 hours by US border control staff. Several law enforcement personnel interrogated the student in turn for 12 hours. The students visa was revoked and the student was banned from entering the US and repatriated back to China. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: For some time, the US out of political purpose has been frequently harassing, interrogating, and deporting Chinese students without just cause. Recent incidents time and again show that the acts by the US far exceed the scope of normal law enforcement with strong ideological bias. The US moves seriously infringe on legitimate and lawful rights and interests of persons concerned, disturb normal cross-border travel between China and the US and go against the common understandings reached by the two presidents on enhancing and facilitating China-US cultural and people-to-people exchanges. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this and has made solemn demarches to the US. The US always portrays itself as open and a place for freedom and claims to be emphasizing US-China cultural and people-to-people exchanges and welcoming Chinese students to study in the US. In fact, the US keeps overstretching the concept of national security and takes selective, discriminatory and politically motivated law enforcement actions against Chinese students. It is essentially driven by the Cold War mentality held by certain people in the US. China urges the US to stop harassing Chinese students traveling to the US under the pretext of national security, stop poisoning the environment of public support for China-US relations, and stop obstructing friendly interactions between the two peoples. China will take resolute measures to safeguard legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens. Kyodo News: Since 2014, 17 Japanese nationals suspected of espionage have been arrested. The Chinese government has not yet released what illegal activities they have committed. Japan believes that its nationals should abide by Chinese laws and regulations. However, the lack of judicial transparency triggers concerns among Japanese investors. Economic experts in Japan said that Japan needs a safe investment environment in China. Whats your view on this? Mao Ning: I want to stress that China is a law-based country. All law enforcement and judicial activities in China are carried out based on facts and law. Those who abide by laws and regulations and companies that conduct lawful operation have nothing to worry about. China will stay committed to high-standard opening up, including providing a world-class, market-oriented business environment governed by a sound legal framework for companies from all countries, including Japanese companies. Bloomberg: I would like to follow up on my question before. Can you tell me whether or not the fact that India is stationing 10,000 more troops is dangerous? And is the Chinese military considering retaliatory measures? Mao Ning: China is always committed to upholding peace and tranquility in the border areas. Indias moves are not conducive to peace and tranquility at the border and do not conform with common understandings reached by China and India on deescalating tensions in the border areas. CCTV: The 161st ordinary session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the ministerial level adopted the Arab-China resolution. The resolution stressed that the Arab states attached importance to their relations with China, reaffirmed their support to the one-China principle and stood ready to advance their cooperation with China across the board under the guidance of the Belt and Road cooperation. They welcomed China to hold the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and appreciated Chinas diplomatic efforts to support the cause of the Arab states, achieve a peaceful resolution of the regional crisis and advance international and regional peace and security. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: The Council of the League of Arab States at the ministerial level specially adopted the China-friendly resolution for the 44th time straight. We highly appreciate it. The resolution demonstrates the profound and longstanding China-Arab friendship and the resolute determination of the Arab states to grow their relations with China. The first China-Arab Summit was held successfully in December 2022, at which the two sides agreed to strive for a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era and steer the China-Arab relations toward the new era of further development. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. By taking the 10th ministerial conference as an opportunity, China stands ready to work with the Arab states to have a systemic view of the Forums good experience, deliver on the results of the first China-Arab Summit, deepen practical cooperation across the board, and jointly speak up on major regional and international issues for the building of China-Arab community with a shared future. TV Asahi: During past years two sessions, Japanese media outlets always had the opportunity to raise questions at the Foreign Ministers press conference. However, why didnt we get the opportunity to ask questions at yesterdays press conference? Mao Ning: I believe that you noted over 900 Chinese and foreign journalists participated in the Foreign Ministers press conference. Foreign Minister Wang Yi answered dozens of questions but could not take every question due to the time limit. We appreciate your understanding. Beijing Daily: Venezuelas National Electoral Council set the presidential election for July 28, the birthday of the countrys former President Hugo Chavez. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: China wishes Venezuela smooth and successful elections. Shenzhen TV: Recently Bloomberg published a report, alleging that Hong Kong says Telegram and Signal should be prohibited in Article 23 proposal and that Hong Kong security law public consultation lists Facebook, YouTube ban. The Hong Kong SAR government issued a statement, expressing strong disapproval and condemnation over Bloombergs false report, which generated misunderstanding and panic. Bloomberg withdrew the false report afterwards, updated it and made a clarification. What is your comment on this? Mao Ning: Completing the legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law is the constitutional responsibility of the government of the Hong Kong SAR and what must be done for the lasting stability and security in Hong Kong and the sound implementation of One Country, Two systems in the long run. It has got extensive support from the Hong Kong society. The draft bill gazetted today fully shows that this legislation strikes a balance between safeguarding national security and protecting rights, freedoms and economic growth. It will provide safeguards for the high-quality development and high-standard opening up in Hong Kong, as well as the sound and steady implementation of One Country, Two systems. Boombergs false report triggered misunderstanding and panic in the public and affected the relevant legislation. It is a severe mistake. The Hong Kong SAR government made solemn statements and the Commissioners Office of Chinas Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR made serious demarches to Bloomberg. Bloomberg retracted the previous report and made corrections. In the new report, it acknowledged that the previous one misreported the story, expressed sincere apologies and said that it will be more careful and thorough in the future coverage to prevent similar issues from happening again. We hope all media outlets will draw lessons from this incident and cover Hong Kong and China in an objective and fair way to maintain their own credibility. Reuters: We learned this week that US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Podesta, John Kerry and Chinas newly appointed Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin had the first negotiation. What topics did they touch upon? Could you share more information with us? Mao Ning: Id refer you to Chinas competent authorities on the specifics. Broadly speaking, China and the US reached important common understandings on the joint response to climate crisis at the summit meeting between the two Presidents in San Francisco. China stands ready to work with the US and other countries to continue responding to the global climate change with concrete actions. Reuters: The chief of Lithuanias counter-intelligence said yesterday that Chinese interference in Lithuanias elections cannot be ruled out due to Lithuanian support for Taiwan. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: China always stays committed to the principle of non-interference in other countries internal affairs. Were not interested to and will not interfere in Lithuanias internal affairs and elections. We hope that relevant people in Lithuania will stop making irresponsible comments on China and creating trouble and difficulties for the bilateral relations. Otherwise, Lithuania will end up hurting its own interests. Reuters: The Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui held talks with the Ukrainian officials in Ukraine yesterday. Could you share more information about these talks? Mao Ning: Weve released the readout on Special Representative Li Huis visit to Ukraine. I have no additional information to offer. Foreign Minister Wang Yi elaborated on Chinas position on the Ukraine crisis when he met the press yesterday on the margins of the two sessions. You may refer to it. AFP: President Joe Biden delivered the State of the Union Address today and said that for all his tough talk on China, it never occurred to his predecessor to do that. Who do you think has the toughest talk on China, President Biden or President Trump? Mao Ning: No matter who becomes the US president, Chinas position on China-US relations is consistent. China always handles China-US relations in accordance with the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation proposed by President Xi Jinping. We are happy to see a confident and open US enjoying prosperity and believe that the US should also welcome a prosperous China enjoying peace and stability. China and the US can help each other succeed and achieve development together. China has always believed that China-US relations should not be a zero-sum game where one side out-competes or thrives at the expense of the other. We are opposed to defining the entire China-US relations by competition, and attacking or smearing China. We object to the US using competition as a pretext to restrain our legitimate right to development. The US needs to work with China in the same direction, find a right way for major countries to get along well with each other, and advance the steady, sound and sustainable growth of the bilateral relations. Today is the International Womens Day. Id like to take this opportunity to wish all the female friends a happy International Womens Day. *********************************************** The following question was raised after the press conference: The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States launched their regular Freedom Shield joint military drills in the ROK from March 4 to 14. This time, the number of field training exercises doubles compared with last year, and the US military may deploy a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and a strategic bomber to the Korean Peninsula. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: China noted the latest developments of the Korean Peninsula. China believes that under the current circumstances, the provocative military drills jointly held by the US and the ROK and targeted at the certain party cannot help resolve the conflict or enhance mutual trust. The drills will only intensify tensions and deepen the rift. China hopes that relevant parties will face squarely the crux of the Korean Peninsula issues, advance a political settlement of the issues with concrete actions and keep the Korean Peninsula peaceful and stable. With the support of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS), the first mobile shelter was installed in Odesa's Arcadia. "The first mobile shelter has been installed in Arcadia, in which up to 15 people can be simultaneously... during an air raid," the URCS said on Facebook on Friday. The URCS said in the near future it is planned to install four more such shelters in Odesa. They will be located at the final stops of public transport. The area of one shelter is ten square metres. Shelters protect against blast waves and shrapnel wounds. Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Greg Satterfield secured three financing deals at Crux Commercial Partners within 60 days of joining, highlighting his impact in commercial real estate finance. These transactions in Kansas City, Auburn, and Seattle demonstrate the firm's strength and Satterfield's quick contribution to its growth and client achievements. Greg Satterfield, a seasoned professional in commercial real estate finance, recently joined Crux Commercial Partners and swiftly closed three significant financing deals within his first two months after having spent 26 years in Commercial Real Estate banking leadership. These transactions, located in Kansas City, Missouri; Auburn, Washington; and Seattle, Washington, highlight Satterfield's deep expertise, innovative approach, and versatility in the commercial real estate finance industry. His ability to masterfully navigate diverse financing landscapes underlines his acumen and significant impact on Crux Commercial Partners' growth and client success. The Closed Deals: Retail Center Acquisition in Kansas City, Missouri: A strategic $6.8 million loan facilitated the acquisition of a retail center, featuring a 15-year term with 30-year amortization, and an anchor tenant with three years left on the lease. Multifamily Refinance in Auburn, Washington: Satterfield secured a loan for the refinance of a multifamily property, demonstrating his ability to support residential growth and stability. Religious Institution Acquisition in Seattle, Washington: A $2,125,000 loan enabled the acquisition of a religious institution, highlighting Satterfield's versatility in handling diverse commercial real estate transactions. Jacob Wilson, Partner at Crux Commercial Partners, commended Satterfield's seamless transition and immediate contribution. "Greg chose Crux Commercial Partners for our culture, comprehensive support, and tools, which allowed him to start closing loans quickly. His move from a banker with 26 years of experience to a mortgage broker has surpassed expectations, proving his ability to efficiently transition and the value of Crux Commercial Partners tools, resources, and support process," Wilson stated. These transactions not only demonstrate Crux Commercial Partners' ability to manage significant deals but also the importance of specialized guidance in today's dynamic commercial real estate market. With Satterfield on the leadership team, Crux anticipates further expansion, drawing on a rich foundation of experience, expertise, and operational efficiency. About the company: Crux Commercial Partners is a boutique commercial real estate finance firm renowned for its execution, integrity, and efficiency. Specializing in comprehensive lending solutions across various sectors, the firm excels in closing challenging deals. For more information, visit https://www.cruxcre.com/. Contact Info: Name: Greg Satterfield Email: Send Email Organization: Crux Commercial Partners Address: 732 Broadway Suite #301, Tacoma, WA 98402 Phone: 253.677.9252 Website: http://www.cruxcre.com/ Release ID: 89123621 In case of encountering any inaccuracies, problems, or queries arising from the content shared in this press release that necessitate action, or if you require assistance with a press release takedown, we urge you to notify us at [email protected]. Our responsive team will be readily available to promptly address your concerns within 8 hours, resolving any identified issues diligently or guiding you through the necessary steps for removal. The provision of accurate and dependable information is our primary focus. Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Known for its best-in-class local rank tracking, Local Falcon launched the first-ever AI assistant to help businesses with local SEO, Google Business Profile, competitor analysis, and more. It's like having an SEO professional on your team to craft winning strategies for any brand's local presence. The launch of Falcon Assist is the latest in a string of AI-driven feature launches by Local Falcon, providing users with even more resources to help them improve their local search rankings, particularly for anyone using Google Business Profile and Apple Business Connect. Falcon Assist is similar to other conversational AI tools, like ChatGPT or Gemini, but its the first tool of its kind dedicated to assisting businesses, agencies and enterprise brands to improve local SEO. We designed Falcon Assist to function as a strategic partner for optimizing your local search presence, says Local Falcon CEO, David Hunter. "This new feature offers a solution that puts enterprise-level local SEO insights within reach of every business, regardless of size or budget." Falcon Assist is powered by a leading LLM with retrieval augmented generation combined with expert models for precise, user-specific local SEO strategies backed with Local Falcon scan data. This sophisticated integration produces actionable, data-driven insights for optimal local search visibility. Drawing on Local Falcons vast database of more than 20 million locations, Falcon Assist leverages data from historical Local Falcon scans, providing users with valuable data and insights related to their businesses and competitors. As Local Falcon continues to add features and functionality, and as new trends arise in local SEO, Falcon Assists AI training corpus will be among the first to know about them, helping Local Falcon users stay on top of developments and get the most out of both Local Falcon and their overall local SEO strategy. Falcon Assist is available to all Local Falcon users, with unlimited access for users with annual and enterprise subscriptions. About the company: Local Falcon is the premier local rank tracking platform, providing businesses with an unparalleled view of their local search ranking positions on Google and Apple. With its intuitive, fully customizable geo-grid map format, Local Falcon offers a highly visual overview of local ranking data, coupled with AI-powered analysis and optimization recommendations. Contact Info: Name: LF Media Team Email: Send Email Organization: Local Falcon Address: 903 French St. Erie, PA 16501 Phone: 814-746-4707 Website: https://www.localfalcon.com Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-w7EnA-u68 Release ID: 89123637 In case of identifying any problems, concerns, or inaccuracies in the content shared in this press release, or if a press release needs to be taken down, we urge you to notify us immediately by contacting [email protected]. Our dedicated team will be readily accessible to address your concerns and take swift action within 8 hours to rectify any issues identified or assist with the removal process. We are committed to delivering high-quality content and ensuring accuracy for our valued readers. Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Key members of the FutureBitX team include senior financial analysts, cryptocurrency experts, software engineers, and compliance and legal advisors. In the wave of digitization, cryptocurrency exchanges have become a crucial part of the fintech industry. They are not just platforms for asset trading but also the forefront of innovation and technological development. FutureBitX, located at the forefront of this transformation, recently released the latest version of its Secure & Compliant User Agreement to maximize user rights protection. About FutureBitX FutureBitX is a digital currency exchange based in the United States, holding a Money Services Business (MSB) license. It not only meets strict compliance requirements to ensure the legality and security of transactions but also benefits from its registered status in theUnited States, providing solid legal and regulatory support. FutureBitX's mission is to provide a secure, reliable, and efficient trading platform that enables users to easily engage in cryptocurrency transactions while enjoying the convenience brought by innovative fintech. FutureBitX's services cover buying, selling, and exchanging cryptocurrencies, as well as potential future financial derivatives trading. It caters to not only professional investors but also ordinary consumers interested in cryptocurrencies. By offering diverse trading pairs, competitive transaction fees, and a user-friendly trading experience, FutureBitX aims to become a leading exchange in the cryptocurrency market. Global Vision of FutureBitX One of the reasons why FutureBitX stands out in the competitive cryptocurrency trading market is its internationally-minded team. Comprised of professionals from around the world, the team possesses not only a deep understanding of financial technology but also diverse cultural perspectives and innovative thinking. This diversity ensures that FutureBitX has a unique advantage in formulating global strategies, understanding market demands in various regions, and innovating its services. Key members of the FutureBitX team include senior financial analysts, cryptocurrency experts, software engineers, and compliance and legal advisors. Together, they ensure that the exchange operates in compliance with the highest standards and remains at the forefront of technology and services. The global vision of the FutureBitX team enables it to consistently monitor dynamic international markets and adapt to market changes in a flexible and innovative manner. Technology and Innovation of FutureBitX In terms of technological innovation, FutureBitX is committed to utilizing the latest financial technology to provide users with a secure, efficient, and convenient trading experience. By employing advanced encryption techniques, high-performance matching systems, and user-friendly interface design, FutureBitX ensures the security and smoothness of transactions. Furthermore, the exchange continually explores the application of emerging technologies such as blockchain technology and smart contracts to further enhance transaction efficiency and reduce costs. FutureBitX places great emphasis on the security of user assets by employing multiple layers of security mechanisms, including cold storage and multi-signature strategies, significantly reducing potential security risks. At the same time, it optimizes the user trading experience by providing multilingual support, customer service, and rich educational resources, ensuring that users can trade in a supportive and secure environment. Market Impact and Future Prospects As a compliant exchange holding a US MSB license, FutureBitX plays an important role in promoting the compliance and security of cryptocurrency trading. It not only provides users with a reliable trading platform but also contributes to the healthy development of the entire industry through active communication and cooperation with regulatory bodies. In the future, FutureBitX plans to expand its service offerings, not only deepening its presence in the existing digital currency trading field but also venturing into additional fintech service areas such as asset management and financial derivatives. Simultaneously, it will continue to invest in technological research and development and market expansion to meet the demands of the global market and further solidify its position as a leader in the fintech industry. Through its strict compliance measures, diverse international team, continuous technological innovation, and deep understanding of market demands, FutureBitX has emerged as a prominent player in the cryptocurrency trading field. As the company progresses, it aims to broaden its range of services and further enhance its technological advancements. This ongoing growth is expected to lead to transformative changes within the fintech industry, fostering greater acceptance and usage of digital currencies. The future holds great anticipation as FutureBitX strives to play an even more substantial role in the global fintech arena, generating enhanced value for users, the industry, and the overall economy. Contact Info: Name: Jessy Email: Send Email Organization: FutureBitX Ltd Website: https://trade.futurebitx.com Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only. Information verification has been done to the best of our ability. Still, due to the speculative nature of the blockchain (cryptocurrency, NFT, mining, etc.) sector as a whole, complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. You are advised to conduct your own research and exercise caution. Investments in these fields are inherently risky and should be approached with due diligence. Release ID: 89123638 If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release, or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we urge you to notify us without delay at [email protected]. Our expert team will be available to promptly respond within 8 hours ensuring swift resolution of identified issues or offering guidance on removal procedures. Delivering accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission. Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Mountain City Church celebrated the opening of Redemptive Ministries Center, a haven for healing and recovery. Offering tailored small group sessions, the center provides support for addiction and life challenges. Guided by faith, it symbolizes hope for the Anchorage community. Anchorage, Alaska - March 5, 2024 - Mountain City Church witnessed a significant milestone on Tuesday, March 5th, as the Anchorage community celebrated the grand opening of the Redemptive Ministries Center at 6505 Debarr Road. This center, an extension of Mountain City Church, marks a significant step towards providing support and resources for individuals facing various life challenges within the community. The Redemptive Ministries Center is dedicated to fostering fellowship and providing assistance for individuals navigating through difficult circumstances. Offering a safe and supportive environment, the center provides small groups tailored to address a range of challenges including addiction recovery, grief support, anger management, and assistance for women affected by infertility. Formerly housed within the Mountain City Church building, the new Redemptive Ministries Center now stands as an independent facility, offering increased accessibility and anonymity for those seeking support and assistance. With its own dedicated space, the center aims to expand its offerings to better serve the diverse needs of the community, including additional support for veterans, individuals experiencing PTSD, and young people facing challenges. The journey to the opening of the Redemptive Ministries Center was marked by the transition of the building from its previous role as the home of Little Mountain Movers Academy (LMMA), a preschool that served the community for 37 years. As LMMA decided to consolidate its operations at the Mountain City Church building, the opportunity arose for the inception of the Redemptive Ministries Center, symbolizing a new chapter of support and assistance for the community. The dedication night of the Redemptive Ministries Center was filled with heartfelt moments of celebration and fellowship. Tony Smith, the Director of Redemptive Ministries, expressed his gratitude and excitement for the community, highlighting the anticipation of witnessing the positive impact of the center on individuals and families. Mayor Bronson was also in attendance, offering encouraging words about building good habits and having hope for the future. For those seeking more information about the services offered by the Redemptive Ministries Center, including regular support meetings held every Tuesday from 7-9pm, please visit https://recoveryalaska.com. As the doors of Debarr's Little Mountain Movers Academy close, the doors of the Redemptive Ministries Center open, heralding a new era of support and assistance for individuals and families within the Anchorage community. Through fellowship and community support, the center aims to be a beacon of hope for those facing challenges in their lives. Media Contact: Tony Smith, Director of Redemptive Ministries [email protected] About Redemptive Ministries Center: The Redemptive Ministries Center is a community resource center dedicated to providing support and assistance for individuals and families facing various life challenges. Through a range of programs and services, the center aims to foster fellowship, resilience, and positive transformation within the Anchorage community. For more information, visit https://recoveryalaska.com. About the company: https://recoveryalaska.com/ Contact Info: Name: Tony Smith Email: Send Email Organization: Recovery Alaska Address: 6505 Debarr Road Website: https://recoveryalaska.com/ Release ID: 89123524 If there are any errors, inconsistencies, or queries arising from the content contained within this press release that require attention or if you need assistance with a press release takedown, we kindly request that you inform us immediately by contacting [email protected]. Our reliable team will be available to promptly respond within 8 hours, taking proactive measures to rectify any identified issues or providing guidance on the removal process. Ensuring accurate and dependable information is our top priority. Authentic salsa brand celebrates partnership by giving fans opportunity to win tickets and merchandise ORANGE , Calif. , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The HERDEZ brand, the No. 1 selling brand in Mexico and the leading authentic Mexican salsa in homes across the United States , proudly announces its official partnership with the NBA's LA Clippers for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. To commemorate this collaboration, the makers of the HERDEZ brand are offering fans the chance to win four tickets to an upcoming LA Clippers game along with $400 to spend on https://shop.clippers.com. "We are thrilled to partner with the LA Clippers," said Giselle Olson , brand manager for HERDEZ Salsa. "Clippers fans are incredibly passionate about their team, like we are about enjoying authentic Mexican salsa and guacamole. Together the HERDEZ brand and the Clippers truly form a winning combination." Grand prize winners of the sweepstakes will receive four seats to the Clippers home game on Friday, April 12 . For complete sweepstakes rules and to enter, starting March 9 April 3 , fans simply need to visit www. clippers.com/herdez and provide their email address.* Winners will be selected through a random drawing on or about April 4, 2024 . In addition, the first 500 fans that stop by the HERDEZ brand table in Star Plaza at the Somos Clipper Nation Game on Saturday, March 9 at 1:00 p.m. will receive a free Herdez Clippers t-shirt. To explore HERDEZ salsa and guacamole products, visit HerdezTraditions.com and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. *No Purchase Necessary. See Official Rules for complete details. Transportation to the event is not included in the grand prize. About the HERDEZ Brand The HERDEZ brand allows consumers to experience the real flavor and culture of Mexico at home with authentic salsas and cooking sauce. The HERDEZ brand is the No. 1 selling brand in Mexico and the leading authentic Mexican salsa brand in homes across the US. Best known for products such as Herdez Salsa Verde, Salsa Casera and the original Guacamole Salsa, the Herdez brand is founded on authenticity in flavor and quality you can trust. Innovation authentic flavor experiences is at the forefront of their success. The Herdez brand is part of MegaMex Foods, a joint venture founded by Herdez del Fuerte and Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) and one of the fastest growing Mexican food companies in the U.S. focused on reimagining Mexican flavor. For more information and recipe ideas, visit www.salsas.com/herdez, and follow the Herdez brand on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. About MegaMex Foods, LLC MegaMex Foods, one of the fastest growing Mexican food companies in the U.S. , is focused on reimagining Mexican flavor in restaurants and home kitchens across the country. MegaMex Foods is proudly committed to authentic ingredients and providing a real solution for achieving true Mexican flavors with trusted products, including Wholly, La Victoria , Herdez, Embasa, Dona Maria, Bufalo and Don Miguel brands. A joint venture founded by Herdez del Fuerte and Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), MegaMex Foods is headquartered in Orange, Calif. , with facilities in Texas and Mexico . MegaMex Foods has two operating plants, numerous manufacturing partners and over 4,000 employees. For more information, visit www.megamexfoods.com and www.mmxfoodservice.com. Contact: Media Relations Hormel Foods [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-delicious-slam-dunk-combination-herdez-brand-named-official-salsa-and-guacamole-of-the-nbas-la-clippers-302084430.html SOURCE MegaMex Foods In honour of International Women's Day, Sustainability Magazine, a BizClik brand, is proud to launch the Top 100 Women in Sustainability - celebrating the most inspiring women in sustainability and the ESG sector. LONDON , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The list showcases 100 inspirational women in the sustainability sector, in executive positions or equivalent roles, who are leading the charge when it comes to investment, innovation, capitalising on strategic opportunities, and supporting other underrepresented groups. These women are propelling the sustainability movement forward and paving the way for future generations, creating the space at the table for new faces, growth and innovations. For further details on the Top 100 Women supplement, and to explore the incredible sustainability journeys of these global pioneers click HERE . Glen White , Founder and CEO of BizClik says: "This year's Top 100 Women in Sustainability' highlights the leaders who are dedicated to making a positive impact. BizClik and Sustainability Magazine continue to be proud to celebrate the successful women driving leadership and advocacy across their industries and organisations." You can read the latest news in Sustainability Magazine by clicking HERE . You can now sign up for the Sustainability LIVE London conference at the Business Design Centre, London from 10-11 September 2024 . Click HERE . About BizClik BizClik is one of the fastest-growing digital media companies in the UK , host to a growing portfolio of industry-leading global brands and communities. BizClik's expanding portfolio includes Technology, AI, FinTech, InsurTech, Supply Chain, Procurement, Energy, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Mobile, Data Centre, Cyber, and Sustainability. For more information, please visit https://www.bizclikmedia.com/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bizclik-brand-sustainability-magazine-launches-the-top-100-women-in-sustainability-302084328.html SOURCE BizClik MIAMI , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Underscoring its commitment to sustainability, Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today unveiled a new solar park at its Amber Cove Cruise Center in the Dominican Republic . The park's 1,800-plus solar panels will supply 80 percent of the port's energy demand. Carnival Corporation, Carnival Cruise Line and Amber Cove Cruise Center celebrated with a ribbon cutting that was attended by government, industry and community leaders, including Joel Santos , minister of the presidency of the Dominican Republic , and Christine Duffy , president of Carnival Cruise Line. "As we bring guests to enjoy the beauty and rich culture of the Dominican Republic , we also take our environmental stewardship here and everywhere we visit very seriously," said Duffy. "With this new solar park in Amber Cove , we are furthering our commitment to sustainability at our destinations by focusing on renewable energy sources to power the vast majority of the port's needs." "On behalf of the Government, we celebrate this achievement, which makes Amber Cove the first cruise terminal in the country with a project of this scale," said Joel Santos , minister of the presidency of the Dominican Republic. "This project will undoubtedly contribute to the production of clean energy and environmental sustainability in Puerto Plata , the first tourist destination in the Dominican Republic ." The shift to renewable solar energy will replace most of the port's current energy sources and reduce its reliance on fossil fuel-based energy, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be produced. In total, the solar park is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1,000 tons per year the equivalent to planting more than 30,000 trees. Located in the heart of the Dominican Republic's north coast just outside the historical town of Puerto Plata , Amber Cove Cruise Center is one of eight leading port destinations and exclusive islands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation. The 25-acre port features restaurants, shops, bars, pools, a zipline, waterfront and hilltop cabanas, and many shore excursion opportunities, such as snorkeling and a waterfall adventure. Four of the company's cruise lines Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises regularly visit the cruise port, which celebrated one million arriving guests last December accounting for more than half of all cruise guest visits to the Dominican Republic in 2023. About Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company, and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises ( Australia ), P&O Cruises ( UK ), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn. Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com , www.aida.de , www.carnival.com , www.costacruise.com , www.cunard.com , www.hollandamerica.com , www.pocruises.com.au , www.pocruises.com , www.princess.com, and www.seabourn.com . For information on Carnival Corporation's industry-leading sustainability initiatives, visit www.carnivalsustainability.com . About Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S., two Australian homeports and seasonally from Europe , and employs more than 48,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival's fleet of 27 ships reflects an exciting period of growth since 2021. Carnival's next new guest offering will be the all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key, set to debut on Grand Bahama in summer 2025. About DR Cruise Port LTD ( Amber Cove ) Carnival Corporation & plc and Grupo Rannik developed the port of Amber Cove , representing an $85 million investment. Since beginning operations in 2015, the port has welcomed more than 3.6 million guests. Amber Cove Cruise Center, a 25-acre facility, offers restaurants, shops, a swim-up bar, over-the-water cabanas and a zipline, and employs 120 people directly and more than 800 indirectly. This release includes claims related to our greenhouse gas emissions reductions, goals, initiatives, accomplishments, and progress reports. Supporting data for such greenhouse gas emissions claims, including data verification information, is published in our Sustainability Reports on carnivalcorp.com/sustainability on an annual basis. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carnival-corporation-unveils-new-solar-park-at-amber-cove-port-in-dominican-republic-302084523.html SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc BEIJING , March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China.org.cn on the foreign investment in China : At China's "Two Sessions" in 2024, the country set a GDP target of "around 5 percent," and underscored the development of "new quality productive forces" as well as the pursuit of higher-standard opening up, a gesture that sends out positive signals. Tim Cook , CEO of Apple Inc., said that he "remains optimistic about China over the long term." There are statistics that back up Cook's attitude: In January 2024 , 4,588 new foreign-invested companies were set up in China , a year-on-year increase of 74.4%. The amount of foreign investment in actual use increased by 20.4% month to month. Such figures proved that despite all the uncertainties in the global economy, China remains an attractive destination for foreign investment. Besides the considerable amount, the structure of foreign investment in China has also been optimized. The ratio of foreign investment in high-tech fields is being enhanced, and more projects featuring industry-leading technologies and innovation have appeared. In recent years, a number of multinational corporations, including BASF, ExxonMobil, and Siemens, have established sci-tech innovation and development centers in Guangdong province, China . In Jiangsu province, many foreign-invested companies have reinvested their undistributed profits (unrepatriated) in China , laying an eye on high-tech industries like photovoltaic products, special purpose ships, automobile manufacturing, and electronic components manufacturing. The considerable amount of foreign investment with an improved structure in China is a result of constant and effective policies adopted by the country. In August 2023 , China issued a 24-point guideline containing 59 specific measures, which were designed to improve the climate for foreign investment. Over six months into its launch, more than 60% of the measures have been implemented or are on their way. Jens Eskelund , president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China , believed that the "24-point guideline" has brought benefits to EU-invested companies in tax incentives, helped solve visa-related problems for EU personnel coming to China , facilitated cross-border data flow and secured an equal playing field for the companies to participate in government procurement. AmCham China (American Chamber of Commerce in China ) recently released the "China Business Climate Survey Report," in which many American companies expressed their acknowledgment of China's economic performance and the ameliorated business environment, in a way consolidating multinational companies' confidence in investing in China not only for now but also in the long run. Not long into 2024, many foreign-invested projects have closed deals or officially started construction, embodying foreign companies' passion for keeping their investment up in China . This year's report on the work of the government clearly stated that "we will intensify efforts to attract foreign investment", and that market access restrictions are to be further lifted, and services are to be strengthened for foreign investors, to make China a favored destination for foreign investment. New policies for keeping foreign investment stable are in the works, which for sure will unleash more impetus for China to become a magnet for foreign investment. There are indeed downsides in China's economic performance at present, like a slowdown in its GDP growth rate, and changes in its total volume of foreign investment. Various factors have induced these problems, including the complexity of the global economic landscape, the cyclical development of China's economic structure adjustment, and the competition between major countries. The so-called " China's economy is peaking" is not an objective description of China's development. If misled by such noises, one would only miss opportunities. The year 2024 is a year of action. Policies to keep stable foreign investment, foreign trade, and the economy as a whole will be implemented. The reliable and vibrant business environment in China will bring more opportunities for foreign investors. China Mosaic http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm China is attracting foreign investment, in stable amount under an optimized structure http://www.china.org.cn/video/2024-03/07/content_117046076.htm View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/china-is-attracting-foreign-investment-in-stable-amount-under-an-optimized-structure-302083650.html SOURCE China.org.cn Honoring the inspirational founder of Girls Who Code who will partner with Cle de Peau Beaute to Launch the 20 Under 20 Campaign TOKYO , March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cle de Peau Beaute, the luxury skincare and makeup brand, is proud to announce the recipient of the Power of Radiance Awards 2024: Reshma Saujani, based in New York , US. The Power of Radiance Awards recognize women who are taking action in their communities by advocating for girls' education, especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. Reshma Saujani has dedicated herself to empowering girls in computer science through the founding of Girls Who Code, an international non-profit organization working to close the gender gap in technology. Since its founding in 2012, Girls Who Code has built the largest pipeline of female and non-binary computer scientists in the world. A decade later, the non-profit had served more than 500,000 students through their innovative programs, with their alumni having a seven-fold higher likelihood of earning computer science and related degrees than the national average in the US.[1] Cle de Peau Beaute believes that the key to a better world lies in unlocking the potential of girls through STEM education. Through this belief, the annual Power of Radiance Awards were born. This same belief is behind the brand's multi-year partnership with UNICEF, addressing gender inequality with a focus on STEM in education, employment, and empowerment programs for girls. The STEM fields are critical to developing solutions to the many challenges that face the world. Empowering half the world's population of girls and women in these fields will ensure a radiant, inclusive future shaped by innovation and progress unbounded by gender. Reshma Saujani and Girls Who Code are on a mission to close the gender gap in new entry-level tech jobs by 2030. An ambitious goal noting this gap has widened by 13% compared to almost 30 years ago[2]. A lawyer, politician and civil servant, it was during Reshma Saujani's run for US Congress in visits to local schools that she saw computer science classes filled with boys, with few, if any, girls. This instilled in her a need for a cultural shift to address the gender gap a fight she continues today in her role as the Founder and CEO of Moms First. As the recipient of the Power of Radiance Awards 2024, Reshma Saujani will be awarded a grant that will go towards building momentum and widening the reach of her mission. Reshma Saujani will also be spearheading the 20 Under 20 campaign with Cle de Peau Beaute. With the biggest drop off of girls in computer science occurring in middle school and high school,[3] this campaign seeks to intervene and encourage girls to stay on the path towards higher education and careers in STEM. The campaign will provide 20 girls under the age of 20 in the US with exclusive experiences, including access to Cle de Peau Beaute's advanced research facilities, scientists, mentorships and grants to support their STEM pursuits. Reshma Saujani commented: "Showing these girls the beauty of STEM and connecting them with role models is of utmost importance as they make plans for their futures it is what Girls Who Code is all about. After all, you can't be what you can't see. Today, only 28% of computing jobs are held by women. We all have a role to play in ensuring that we don't leave women and girls behind as we fill the jobs of the future, and Cle de Peau Beaute's Power of Radiance Awards is building momentum behind the cultural shift that's needed to close the gender gap in STEM." Ms. Mizuki Hashimoto , Chief Brand Officer of Cle de Peau Beaute commented: " Ms. Saujani's unwavering commitment to empowering girls and women through Girls Who Code perfectly aligns with our mission. We are dedicated to realizing gender equality in STEM and beyond. Collaborating with Girls Who Code and Ms. Saujani on the 20 Under 20 campaign is an opportunity for us to do more towards advancing gender equality and leveling the playing field for girls in STEM." The power to unleash an inner radiance that can accomplish positive change is within every individual, and through the Power of Radiance Awards, Cle de Peau Beaute is standing with girls and women globally as they transform the world for themselves and their communities. Cle de Peau Beaute's journey as advocates for education began with a dream for a better world. This is why the brand has pledged a percentage of sales of one of their most iconic first-step products, The Serum, towards this mission. About Reshma Saujani Reshma Saujani is a leading activist and the founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First, formerly Marshall Plan for Moms. A mom herself, she has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls' economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and most recently advocating for policies to support moms impacted by the pandemic. Reshma is also the author of the international bestseller Brave, Not Perfect, and her influential TED talk, "Teach girls bravery, not perfection," has more than five million views globally. Reshma began her career as an attorney and Democratic organizer. In 2010, she surged onto the political scene as the first Indian American woman to run for US Congress. During the race, Reshma visited local schools and saw the gender gap in computing classes firsthand, which led her to start Girls Who Code. About Cle de Peau Beaute Cle de Peau Beaute, the global luxury brand from Shiseido Co Ltd, was founded in 1982 as the ultimate expression of elegance and science. Cle de Peau Beaute means the key to skin's beauty. The philosophy of the brand is to unlock the power of a woman's radiance by harnessing makeup technologies and advanced skincare from around the world. Forever guided by an exquisite aesthetic sensibility and intelligence, Cle de Peau Beaute has instilled its products with modernity, enchantment, and dynamism to emerge as an industry leader in delivering radiance so remarkable, it emanates from within. Available in 26 countries and regions worldwide. Cle de Peau Beaute Official Website: https://www.cledepeau-beaute.com/int/powerofradiance-2024.html Cle de Peau Beaute Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cledepeaubeaute/ [1][2][3] Source: Girls Who Code. https://girlswhocode.com/about-us View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cle-de-peau-beaute-announces-reshma-saujani-as-recipient-of-the-power-of-radiance-awards-2024-302082637.html SOURCE Cle de Peau Beaute CHICAGO , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the world celebrates International Women's Day on March 8th, 2024 , CTEK proudly joins the global community in recognizing the invaluable contributions and remarkable achievements of women worldwide. On this occasion, we take immense pride in celebrating the outstanding female talent within our own organization. CTEK is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we firmly believe that our collective strength lies in embracing the unique perspectives and talents of individuals from all backgrounds. Today, as we honor International Women's Day, we shine a spotlight on the extraordinary accomplishments of our female leaders across various departments. From engineering and research to marketing and operations, our female employees play pivotal roles in driving innovation, shaping strategies, and achieving excellence in their respective fields. Their dedication, resilience, and leadership serve as a beacon of inspiration for us all, and CTEK is immensely proud to celebrate their achievements. "While the automotive and technology sectors have traditionally been male dominated, we're witnessing an ongoing change as more women choose to work and excel in these industries. CTEK is no exception," said Bobbie DuMelle , President, CTEK North America, CTEK. "We have many amazing women who are setting the tone for future generations." Victoria Ellerstad, Digital Marketing Manager at CTEK, shares her journey, stating, "I've never seen myself as an automotive girl, and it doesn't feel like I'm working in the automotive industry. I mean, I work with marketing; I just do what I've always done." As part of our commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the automotive sector, CTEK is dedicated to encouraging young women to pursue careers in this dynamic industry. Through outreach initiatives and inclusive hiring practices, we strive to create pathways for aspiring female professionals to thrive and succeed in the automotive sector. CTEK brand ambassador, Vanessa Ruck , also known as "The Girl on a Bike", is working to change the narrative for females in the industry. She says, "I'm on a mission to help show the future minds that anything is possible irrelevant of gender. So often we have to see others doing things to believe it's possible for us too. International Women's Day fills me with so much energy as there are trail blazing women in so many realms of life, showing the world the incredible capabilities of women." Ruck continues "CTEK have never doubted my abilities and have supported me going into some of the most extreme and toughest endurance desert races in the world where competitors are 98% male. They're a band that clearly values and sees the balance were all fighting towards, and their products mean my bikes always powered and ready for me!" CTEK is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, and believes that by celebrating the achievements of women, we can inspire positive change and empower future generations. "I'm proud to work at CTEK and am grateful for the opportunities the company offers to women," continued DuMelle. "If we can educate women on the exciting opportunities in the industry and the new emerging technologies, we can inspire the next generation to be a part of the journey." About CTEK Established in Dalarna, Sweden , CTEK is the leading global brand in vehicle charging solutions. CTEK offers products ranging from 12V and 24V battery chargers to charging solutions for electrical vehicles. CTEK's E-mobility solutions range from individual EV chargers to larger corporate and commercial installations with multiple charging stations, that require load balancing and integrate seamlessly with monitoring and payment equipment. CTEK's products are sold via a carefully selected network of global distributors and retailers: as original equipment; supplied to more than 50 of the world's leading vehicle manufacturers; and through charge point operators, property owners and other organizations/individuals providing EV charging infrastructure. CTEK takes pride in its unique culture based on a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to supporting the transition to a greener mobility, by adhering to industry leading ESG standards. Press Contact: Michelle Suzuki 310-444-7115 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ctek-celebrates-international-womens-day-recognizing-female-leaders-302083966.html SOURCE CTEK Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Moldova, the Baltic countries and Kazakhstan are in danger due to possible Russian aggression. "They already had this plan," he said in an interview with Rai published on Friday, answering a question about possible aggression towards Moldova. "I would like to remind everyone that from our intelligence we passed on the Russian plan to Moldova. And thus, we shared with our other partners. Moldova was prepared for the actions of the DRG of the Russian Federation. They wanted to seize power in Moldova, they wanted to do it very quickly. Thank God, and I am grateful to our intelligence, that they did a good job," he said. "As for the military attack on Moldova, I believe that this may be one of the goals of Russia. I think that Moldova, the Baltic countries, as well as Kazakhstan are in danger," Zelenskyy said. David Jeremiah Presented with Two Awards by the National Religious Broadcasters Association SAN DIEGO , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, Dr. David Jeremiah , the founder and host of Turning Point with Dr. Jeremiah , was awarded a Milestone award and a digital media award at the National Religious Broadcasters Association Annual Convention. The awards were presented at two different gatherings during the 2024 Convention held in Nashville, TN , where broadcasters and Christian communicators gathered from around the world for a four-day conference. On Tuesday, NRB held their annual Media Awards Luncheon where Dr. Jeremiah's Why The Nativity? won the Best Digital Campaign Award. The Best Digital Campaign Award is presented to an organization engaging people through a digital campaign initiative, and nominees must demonstrate how they used multichannel online measures to reach measurable organizational and campaign goals. At the end of the original Why The Nativity? campaign, Turning Point had accumulated 140 Television Broadcasts 17 Million YouTube Views 150,300 Spanish Streams 4,280 Church Outreach Kits Requested 6 Different Countries Reached with a Church Kit 103,655 New People Reached out to Turning Point 91,000 New Believer Requests On Friday night at the Closing Gala, Dr. Jeremiah was awarded the Milestone Award for his commitment and excellence in Christian broadcasting. The Milestone Award is presented to an individual or organization that maintains longevity and exemplary service in Christian broadcasting for 50 years- or more. NRB desires to honor the industry pioneers who brought Christian communications to the place of respect and achievement it enjoys today. In accepting this honor, Dr. Jeremiah said, "Almighty God married my love of the Bible and radio over 50 years ago, and we could not have possibly envisioned where that would lead. Daily radio and television can be unforgiving, and there are no days off, but what wonderful experiences we've had along the way. With God's help and guidance, we take it one day at a time, trying to do everything better than the day before. I see all that God has done and continues to do, and I am so grateful. How blessed we are to be in this wonderful ministry." NRB is a nonpartisan, international association of Christian communicators whose member organizations represent millions of listeners, viewers, and readers. The NRB Convention is the world's the largest gathering of Christian communicators and is an excellent opportunity to network, learn, and reach new audiences across the broadcast and publishing industries. Dr. David Jeremiah is a renowned Bible teacher, New York Times bestselling author and founder/host of Turning Point Broadcast Ministry. With more than 40 years of ministry and "just getting started," his teaching has led to the creation of the Prophecy Academy, OVERCOMER, AirshipGenesis , PassagesTV, Why the Nativity? , and PerhapsToday , to name a few. About Turning Point Turning Point Ministries was founded in 1982 as the broadcast ministry of Dr. David Jeremiah to deliver the unchanging Word of God to an ever-changing world. More than three decades later, with a multimedia network featuring radio, television, online programming, magazines, and books, Turning Point reaches people around the globe with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ . Turning Point is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization wholly supported by patrons and not underwritten by any church or organization. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/david-jeremiah-honored-at-80th-nrb-convention-302083276.html SOURCE Turning Point Ministries Targeting to bring over 1,000 jobs to help transform the local economy. CAUAYAN CITY, Philippines , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Everise, a leading customer experience company, today announced the opening of its newest Philippines site in Isabela, Cauayan City, marking the first time a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services provider has established operations in the province. The new office is part of Everise's plans to expand its global operational footprint through the strategic establishment of microsites, bringing workspaces closer to the rich talent pool residing in the local and provincial communities. Located at Plaza Isabelle Building, Everise's newest microsite is designed to bring high-value customer service work in an award-winning culture and workplace to Isabela. With dynamic training facilities and collaborative meeting spaces, the microsite currently supports over 300 agents, with plans to grow and scale to over 1,000. "Being pioneers in Isabela isn't just about expansion for us; it's about our unwavering dedication to bringing superior jobs, a stellar workplace, and a positive impact to the local community. This new microsite marks the latest addition to our right-shoring growth strategy, matching strong talent and geolocation benefits to deliver outstanding service experiences. Everise is here to transform lives, forge partnerships, and redefine customer experience, one interaction at a time," shared Sudhir Agarwal , Founder & CEO of Everise. Everise brings its innovative hybrid Work-At-Home model to its Isabela site, increasing career opportunities for local talent. The new microsite offers a perfect blend of an award-winning workplace experience with the flexibility of a hybrid model. This blended approach is designed to enable Everise's employees to thrive in a workplace that promotes healthy work-life integration and a positive culture. Since joining the community, Everise has had a positive community impact locally, establishing key partnerships with local government agencies and institutions, universities, and partners, as well as conducting community giving and support programs through its CSR initiative Everise Cares. These include the most recent activity of sponsoring solar power and audio/visual equipment to the Agta community and schools in Palanan. "I would like to extend my appreciation to the local Cauayan City government for supporting us in becoming the first BPO to enter Isabela. We are excited to realize a vision that will benefit the city for years to come, by providing members of minority communities, such as Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and LGBTQIA+, with meaningful and gainful employment opportunities that are close to their homes," shared Kristine Bondoc , Senior Vice President, Operations, Everise Philippines. Over the years, Everise continues to redefine the standards for great customer experience. The company enjoys industry-leading ratings by both its employees, as well as external customers. Everise has high Glassdoor ratings in the outsourcing industry 4.8 out of 5 stars on Glassdoor Philippines. It has also attained a high Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 70%. Everise has also won multiple awards over the years for its employee-centric culture and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the HR Asia's Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2023 for the fifth consecutive year, and a winner in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards 2023. Prospective applicants are welcome to visit the Everise Careers Page for more information on available positions and to apply online. About Everise Founded in 2016, Everise is a global leader transforming customer service for healthcare, transport, logistics, insurance, financial services, and tech businesses. The Company solves problems for the millions of customers of some of the world's leading brands, by combining the best technology with compassionate service. With 19,000 champion agents operating across eight strategic markets globally, Everise seeks to deliver happiness to customers of some of the world's best loved brands. Our customer service solutions are high-performing, secure, and agile, with fluent proficiency in 32 languages, enabling businesses to scale globally while achieving top customer satisfaction. Learn more at www.weareeverise.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/everise-expands-footprint-in-the-philippines-with-newest-microsite-in-isabela-cauayan-city-302083919.html SOURCE Everise BEIJING , March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from eguiyang.com.cn: " Guiyang City and Gui'an New Area in Southwest China's Guizhou province are making every effort to build an internationally-competitive smart computing base," said Ma Ningyu, mayor of Guiyang the provincial capital and deputy to the National People's Congress, during the open group meeting of the Guizhou delegation to the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, which took place on March 6 . At the meeting, Ma highlighted that Guiyang and Gui'an are striving to focus on the "three key areas" of computing power, empowerment, and industry. They are working on artificial intelligence, and seizing the "three strategic heights" of smart computing, cultivating large industry models, and data training, to build an internationally-competitive smart computing base. He introduced the new breakthroughs that have been made in computing power by Guiyang and Gui'an. By implementing channeling computing resources from the east to the west, accelerating the construction of smart computing centers including Huawei Cloud and China Telecom, and putting over 80,000 smart computing chips into use, Gui'an has become home to one of the most concentrated super-large data centers in the world, making Guiyang and Gui'an among China's regions with the strongest smart computing capability. He stated that in terms of seizing the opportunities brought about by smart computing, Guiyang and Gui'an will continuously enhance computing power, implement a series of key smart computing projects, and reach a scale of over 200,000 smart computing chips this year, thereby solidifying the leading position of the national smart computing base. In the realm of data training, efforts will be made by Guiyang and Gui'an to establish national data training and annotation bases, standardize basic training datasets and construct large-scale model training corporate "data warehouses". Additionally, this year, Guiyang and Gui'an will focus on tourism, electricity, government affairs, meteorology and other fields to create a series of national and provincial datasets. He also explained that Guiyang and Gui'an have been using large industrial models to enhance the industrial internet, vigorously promoting the digital transformation and upgrading of industries. So far, the number of companies in the province that have used cloud services has hit 30,000. As a result, the integration and transformation of big data now covers nearly all enterprises above a designated size and online enterprises, and the in-depth integration of big data with the real economy is progressing smoothly. In a bid to cultivate large industrial models, Guiyang and Gui'an will focus this year on opening up more than 20 applications in industry, rural vitalization, healthcare, and tourism. By providing enterprises with high-performance computing power and high-quality datasets, Guiyang and Gui'an aim to attract more large model applications. In regard to achievements in the industry, Ma detailed that over 600 growing enterprises were introduced and cultivated in Guiyang and Gui'an in the past year. The total output value of the big data electronic information industry doubled over the past five years, with the growth rate of the software and information technology service industry ranking among the top in the country, and being five times larger than five years ago, forming a strong digital industry cluster. The plan for Guiyang and Gui'an is to vigorously develop the computing power industry and strive to provide the most convenient, economical, secure, and abundant computational products and services. Efforts will be made to develop industries with heavy computational demands such as artificial intelligence, Beidou, the metaverse, and animation. There will be a strong focus on developing the digital product manufacturing industry and promoting the aggregation of industries such as servers and intelligent terminals. Efforts will be made to ensure that this year sees the emergence of over 1,000 growing enterprises in the emerging digital industry and that the scale of the software service industry exceeds 100 billion yuan ( $13.89 billion ). View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guiyang-and-guian-strive-to-build-internationally-competitive-smart-computing-base-302083743.html SOURCE eguiyang.com.cn Teamsters Call on Lawmakers to Protect Workers' Free Speech and Pass SB 3649 WASHINGTON , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters testified before the Illinois General Assembly in favor of Senate Bill 3649 (SB 3649). The bill, authored by Sen. Robert Peters , would ban mandatory attendance at captive audience meetings. These mandatory meetings are employer-sponsored presentations filled with anti-union propaganda designed to discourage organizing efforts. Employers use captive audience meetings to convince workers not to join a union, usually through intimidation, false promises, and outright lies. "We urge our friends in the state legislature to pass SB 3649 to protect workers' rights and preserve free speech," said Thomas W. Stiede , President of Teamsters Joint Council 25. " Illinois is a pro-worker state, and other states have already adopted similar legislation across the country. We must join them because no employers should be allowed to utilize mandatory meetings as a way of intimidating and threatening workers who seek union representation." "This bill is of paramount importance to the labor movement," said Pasquale D. Gianni , Political Director for Teamsters Joint Council 25. "Mandatory captive audience meetings are a tactic employers use to abuse workers and discourage union organizing. SB 3649 protects working people by preserving their dignity and enhancing their ability to decide freely whether they want to form a union." The bill was approved by the Senate Labor Committee on March 6 . Nationwide, Teamsters are pushing for state legislatures to address the issue of mandatory captive audience meetings. Connecticut , Oregon , Maine , Minnesota , and New York have already adopted legislation banning these types of mandatory anti-union meetings. Similar legislation is currently making its way through legislatures in Maryland , Colorado , and Washington . Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S. , Canada , and Puerto Rico . Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Matt McQuaid , (202) 624-6877 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/illinois-teamsters-urge-general-assembly-to-ban-mandatory-attendance-at-anti-union-meetings-302084465.html SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters 12 month contract focused on the development of new antiviral drugs Novel candidates to be produced using Kimer Med's broad-spectrum antiviral platform 95% of viral diseases lack an approved antiviral treatment Download high resolution images here: www.kimermed.co.nz/media NELSON, New Zealand , March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimer Med, a New Zealand -based biotech start-up, today announced it has signed a contract valued at up to USD$750,000 (NZD$1.3 million) with Battelle, the world's largest independent, nonprofit research and development organisation. The 12 month contract is funded by the United States government through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and will fall into Battelle's Accelerated Therapeutics for Combating Acute Viral Epidemics programme. The contract is focused on the discovery and development of new antiviral drug candidates for the treatment of alphaviruses. Spread mostly by infected ticks and mosquitoes, alphaviruses cause significant human and animal disease. Infections that result in encephalitis - inflammation and swelling of the brain - are often fatal and can cause ongoing neurological problems. There is currently no effective antiviral treatment for alphavirus infection. "Approved antiviral drugs are currently available for only 11 out of more than 200 viruses that cause widespread sickness, suffering and death in humans," said Kimer Med's CEO, Rick Kiessig . "Our mission is to change that. We're developing a family of broad-spectrum antivirals capable of treating many of these infections." "This contract is an important milestone for Kimer Med, as it provides another opportunity to prove the capability of our platform for rapid, broad-spectrum antiviral development," said Kiessig. Since the company's launch in 2020, Kimer Med has developed antivirals that have shown in vitro efficacy against 11 different viruses, including the priority viruses Dengue (all four serotypes) and Zika. Their technology holds significant promise to deliver vital broad-spectrum antiviral treatments with a range of applications, including: Infectious diseases: Half the world's population is at risk from mosquito-borne viral infections for which there are no antiviral treatments available. Half the world's population is at risk from mosquito-borne viral infections for which there are no antiviral treatments available. Pandemic protection: Vaccines will not be ready and waiting when the next pandemic occurs, but broad-spectrum antivirals can be stockpiled for early protection. Vaccines will not be ready and waiting when the next pandemic occurs, but broad-spectrum antivirals can be stockpiled for early protection. Military use: Broad-spectrum medical countermeasures to protect military personnel against a range of existing and emerging viral threats. Broad-spectrum medical countermeasures to protect military personnel against a range of existing and emerging viral threats. Healthcare and First Responders: Vital protection for frontline health workers and other first responders in the event of viral outbreaks, especially when the pathogen is unknown. "With broad-spectrum antivirals, we have within our grasp the potential to revolutionise the treatment and prevention of viral infections in the way that penicillin did for bacterial infections. We're looking forward to working with such a highly-regarded and well-resourced organisation as Battelle to advance antiviral drug candidates that will be able to treat these alphaviruses, and hopefully a range of other viruses as well," said Kiessig. About Battelle Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org. About Kimer Med Founded by Rick Kiessig and Phil Oliver in 2020, Kimer Med is a biotech start-up, based in Nelson, New Zealand . Backed by a multi-million dollar seed funding round, the company has designed a platform for the rapid development of novel, broad-spectrum antivirals. Kimer Med launched a Series A capital raise in September 2023 to progress development of their lead antiviral candidate through to Phase 1 clinical trials. For more information, visit www.kimermed.co.nz. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kimer-med-innovative-new-zealand-biotech-start-up-signs-contract-with-battelle-memorial-institute-to-pioneer-antiviral-drug-advances-302083553.html SOURCE KIMER MED LIMITED NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- An internationally renowned Immigration Law Firm, is making headlines once again. Attorney Marjan Kasra , a key member of the LAWMAKS team, has been honored as one of the Top 25 winners at the prestigious 2024 EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo. This recognition highlights the exceptional expertise and dedication that LAWMAKS brings to the field of U.S. Immigration Law. The 2024 EB-5 & Global Immigration Expo, a highly anticipated event that brings together industry leaders and professionals in investment immigration and wealth management, recognized Attorney Marjan Kasra as one of the top achievers in the field. This accolade is a testament to her outstanding contributions and achievements in the EB-5 industry. With over 20 years of experience in U.S. Immigration Law, Attorney Marjan Kasra has become a trusted name in the industry. She is a member of the prestigious American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the American Bar Association, further solidifying her reputation as a highly skilled and knowledgeable attorney. LAWMAKS, under the guidance of Attorney Marjan Kasra , has established itself as a leading authority in the field of U.S. Immigration Law. The firm's commitment to excellence and client satisfaction has earned them a remarkable reputation, both domestically and internationally. Their dedication to providing personalized and comprehensive solutions to their clients' immigration needs sets them apart from their competitors. As a testament to their expertise, the attorneys at LAWMAKS are frequently invited to speak at Immigration Law events worldwide. Their insights and knowledge have been recognized and valued by industry professionals and peers. Additionally, the firm's attorneys have published numerous articles as U.S. Immigration experts, further solidifying their position as thought leaders in the field. LAWMAKS prides itself on its team of highly skilled and experienced professionals who offer a wide range of immigration services. Their areas of expertise include Investment Visas such as the EB-5 Investor, L-1 Intracompany, and E-2 Treaty Investors. They also specialize in Work/Employment Visas, Family Green Cards, Non-Immigrant Visas, and more. To learn more about LAWMAKS and their team of immigration experts, visit their official website at www.lawmaks.com . The website provides detailed information about the firm's services, the qualifications and expertise of their attorneys, and testimonials from satisfied clients. For inquiries, please contact: LAWMAKS (Law Offices of Marjan Kasra) Phone number: + 1 212 500 0905 US WhatsApp Office: +1 (203) 400-7060 Email address: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lawmaks-a-leading-immigration-law-firm-making-a-difference-in-the-industry-302084574.html SOURCE Lawmaks Responsible repositioning generates urban renewal and healthy ROI. WASHINGTON , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To help close the glaring gap in emissions reductions, integrated design firm LEO A DALY is joining forces with experts across America to strategically preserve and repurpose buildings. By converting outdated office buildings into mixed-use magnets, high-performance hospitals and research hubs, cities like Washington and Tulsa are navigating next use and new life while prioritizing people and planet. Learn about LEO A DALY's successful designs that convert outdated offices into high-performance hospitals and more. Adaptive reuse of buildings is a viable solution for climate and communities . 20 Massachusetts Avenue builds upon an existing structure saving 6905 metric tons of CO2e. This 1970's office conversion to prominent mixed-used destination also adds high-performance glazing and a green roof to reduce energy and water consumption by 20 to 40 percent. The vibrancy of its public spaces, the mix of guests and local community at the street level restaurant, and the 3-year wait list for the conference space and Grand Ballroom rental are proof that responsible placemaking solutions can restitch and enrich the urban fabric across America. The Veteran's Hospital in Tulsa converts and combines two outdated office buildings to create a high-performance hospital that serves as a gateway to a newly planned Medical District at the edge of downtown. This integrated and adaptive reuse highlights one innovative solution for several design, structural and seismic challenges while also solving social and economic issues. Local project partners, GH2 Architects, are instrumental to this success. New York, Maryland , Washington and Oregon are pushing forward with policy change in 2024. These new state requirements challenge owners to meet building performance standards by improving energy and water use. Along with helping owners meet new requirements, adaptive reuse and repurposing buildings provides intrinsic value, attracts people and connects new businesses to a city's authenticity. LEO A DALY is ready to help guide stakeholders and explore design strategies that transform the human experience. About LEO A DALY Founded in 1915, LEO A DALY is a global leader in architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design. With a portfolio spanning more than 91 countries, all 50 US states, and the District of Columbia , the firm employs over 400 design and engineering professionals in 9 studios worldwide. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leo-a-daly-delivers-unique-adaptive-reuse-designs-with-local-impact-302084453.html SOURCE LEO A DALY BEIJING , March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn: Liaoning province aims to develop itself into a hub of Northeast Asian cooperation, deeply integrating with the Belt and Road Initiative and playing a greater role in connecting domestic and international markets, Hao Peng , Party secretary of Liaoning , told China Daily. Hao, who is also a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, said Liaoning has made great efforts to implement the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important speeches on promoting the full revitalization of Northeast China in the new era. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, emphasized the need to improve the level of opening-up and cooperation domestically and internationally during a visit to Heilongjiang province in September. Northeast China is an important gateway for the country's northward opening-up, and its strategic position and role in strengthening regional cooperation in Northeast Asia and the interplay between domestic and international markets are increasingly prominent, Xi said. Hao noted that Liaoning has made progress in deepening economic and trade cooperation with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, with three achievements being included in the list of outcomes for the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Commodities made in Liaoning have been exported to more than 200 countries and regions. The province has handled the largest volume of China - Europe freight train services in Northeast China . Breakthroughs have been made in attracting investment, Hao said, with major foreign-funded projects such as the BMW Brilliance manufacturing unit having made important progress. He added that the province's foreign investment in actual use amounted to $3.38 billion in 2023. Located in the core region of the Northeast Asian Economic Circle , Liaoning has the geographical advantage of being connected by both land and sea, and it stands as a key gateway linking the Eurasian land bridge. The province will continuously deepen exchanges and cooperation with Japan , South Korea , Russia and Mongolia , and strengthen economic ties with Europe , the United States and Southeast Asia , as well as Central and West Asia , Hao said, adding that it will enhance its participation and influence in the opening-up process and formulate a series of " Liaoning models" in areas such as trade investment and industrial cooperation. Liaoning will attract and utilize foreign capital with greater intensity, and facilitate the establishment of iconic foreign-funded projects, he said. The province will upgrade major platforms with international influence, including the China (Liaoning) Pilot Free Trade Zone , and support Shenyang , the provincial capital, in creating a national airport economy demonstration zone, he said. It is also supporting Shenyang in building a national China - Europe freight train assembly center and promoting the construction of the Northeast Asia International Shipping Center in Dalian , he added. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/liaoning-set-to-play-bigger-role-as-key-trade-hub-302083669.html SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn President and CEO Ellie Hollander Invited by Senators Sanders and Cassidy to Testify Before Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) ARLINGTON, Va. , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than 50 years, the Older Americans Act (OAA) has supported the network of state, regional and community-based organizations that deliver on the promise to nourish lives and help seniors age with dignity and independence. This week, Meals on Wheels America kicked off efforts on Capitol Hill advocating for this crucial legislation and how it can be improved to better meet the evolving needs of millions of seniors struggling with hunger and social isolation. Testifying yesterday at "The Older Americans Act: Supporting Efforts to Meet the Needs of Seniors" hearing hosted by Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Ranking Member Bill Cassidy , M.D. (R-LA), Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander underscored the significant impact of the OAA and irreplicable work of local programs serving as a direct lifeline to seniors. With intense federal funding negotiations ongoing, this hearing comes at a crucial time to highlight the growing crises of senior hunger, malnutrition, isolation and loneliness. The OAA sets the gold standard for successful public-private partnerships, garnering an impressive $3-$4 from additional state, local and private sources for every $1 from the OAA. However, current federal funding levels are not keeping up with demand, and millions more seniors could benefit if Meals on Wheels had the resources to reach them. During her testimony, Hollander said, "We are at a precipice that warrants action and there is no time to waste. Senior lives hang in the balance. That's because the gap between increasing need and our ability to provide services continues to widen at an unprecedented rate ... Congressional support through this reauthorization is an investment in the seniors of today that will improve health, save lives and reduce costs in the future." At a time when 12 million seniors struggle with hunger, one in three feel lonely and a third of Meals on Wheels programs have a waitlist with seniors waiting on average three months for vital meals, Meals on Wheels programs are facing uncertainty and potentially devastating cuts as Congress finalizes federal funding decisions for the year ahead. The upcoming March 22 deadline for the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations bill that will determine funding levels for programs like Meals on Wheels for the remainder of FY 2024 coincides with the 52nd anniversary of the OAA Nutrition Program. Across the country this month, Meals on Wheels programs are advancing a nationwide movement to #SaveLunch for America's seniors, asking everyone to send a message to their Members of Congress urging them to protect and increase funding for lifesaving Meals on Wheels services. Chairman Sanders said it best: "Anyone who understands the Meals on Wheels program knows it's not just the actual meals delivered. It's somebody knocking on the door, saying hello, asking how you're doing, breaking through the isolation. That's what Meals on Wheels' programs do." To learn more about how Meals on Wheels opens the door to addressing nutrition, social connection, safety and so much more, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org. ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a dedicated volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meals-on-wheels-america-urges-congress-to-fund-and-reauthorize-the-older-americans-act-amid-growing-senior-hunger-and-social-isolation-302084271.html SOURCE Meals on Wheels America VANCOUVER. BC , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NAQI Logix, a Canadian technology company that has created a new human-machine interface that does not require brain implants, is proud to have been prequalified by Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) as one of the country's most promising digital innovations for its NAQI Earbuds. NAQI Logix, Breakthrough in Human-Machine Interface Without Brain Implants, Accepted to Innovative Solutions Canada NAQI's technology platform, which can be integrated into earbuds and other wearables such as glasses and headsets, allows users to control their digital world without the need for voice, touch, screen, or cameras. Recently selected by TIME as one of the best inventions of 2023, NAQI turns facial gestures and movements into powerful digital commands. The technology is already being used to control wheelchairs, computers, robots, and even 737 flight simulators with the blink of an eye and other tiny facial gestures and movements. This sophisticated control over the digital world, including AR/VR and Metaverse, is possible without brain implants because NAQI's patented technology uses a non-invasive sensor that gently touches the ear and transforms micro-gestures and movements into digital commands. "We thank the Canadian government for their help in the development and commercialization of our technology," said Dave Segal , NAQI's inventor and Chief Innovation Officer, of Vancouver -based NAQI Logix. "Innovative Solutions Canada is a program that assists companies like ours to bring exciting new technologies to the world. We think NAQI is everyone's digital superpower, and Canada's support will help us bring this to millions of people whose lives will be improved." Former Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan , who is on the company's board, was the first quadriplegic to use NAQI to control his wheelchair. He said: "I have been waiting for a technology like this my whole life." Naqi Logix, under the ISC program, will receive up to $1.1 million to test and validate their neural earbuds and support early development for commercialization. ISC has matched NAQI Logix with Shared Services Canada (SSC) to evaluate the technology's compatibility with federal government IT services, including accessibility features for employees. This initiative aligns with SSC's commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, demonstrated through its Accessibility Plan (2022-2025). The plan outlines actions to create a more inclusive workplace culture and addresses priority areas such as program design, ICT usability, procurement, and employment practices. SSC consolidates and enhances IT services across government departments to improve efficiency and accessibility. SSC's role extends to providing accessible digital services and tools government-wide, supporting initiatives like the Accessibility, Accommodation and Adaptive Computer Technology program (AAACT) for employees with disabilities. The Accessible Canada Act, enacted by the Government of Canada, aims to achieve a barrier-free Canada by 2040. It focuses on proactive identification and removal of accessibility barriers in priority areas like employment, ICT, and transportation, with a principle of consultation with persons with disabilities, making SSC the ideal matching department to test NAQI Logix's technology. The Company believes NAQI is a gamechanger for people with accessibility and mobility issues and aligns with the Government of Canada's commitment to achieving a barrier-free Canada . NAQI can contribute to seven priority areas, including employment, the built environment, information and communication technologies, and transportation, making it a critical asset for over six million Canadians living with disabilities. The company is also in the process of a small manufacturing run to supply commercial partners with test earbud units for product development. Although NAQI Logix is not an earbud manufacturer, they plan to license their technology to a wide range of partners and leading wearable manufacturers. In addition to their ease of use, NAQI Earbuds offer benefits in the healthcare sector, particularly for individuals with quadriplegia, offering an alternative to sip-puff straws and head-arrays for controlling wheelchairs. The NAQI Earbud's technical specifications are user-friendly, making it accessible to individuals familiar with common operating systems like Windows, iOS, and Android. NAQI Logix holds 26 patents worldwide, further solidifying its position as a pioneering force in the tech industry. For more information, please visit [ https://www.naqilogix.com/ ]. ### About NAQI Logix: NAQI Logix is a Canadian technology company dedicated to developing groundbreaking innovations that enhance accessibility and control in the digital age. Our flagship product, the NAQI Earbud, empowers users to interact with information systems and devices hands-free, voice-free, and look-free, ushering in a new era of accessibility and control. We are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of Canadians and the global population through cutting-edge technology. About Innovative Solutions Canada: Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) stands as a pivotal federal initiative, spearheaded by Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED), with a resolute mission to propel the research, development, testing, and commercialization of Canadian technological innovations. ISC's Challenge Stream and Testing Stream play a pivotal role in empowering startups and small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to surmount the obstacles of technology testing and development, enabling them to bring globally sought-after products and services to the market. Simultaneously, these efforts enhance government operations, fostering a win-win scenario for both entrepreneurs and the public sector. About Shared Services Canada: Shared Services Canada (SSC) is a pivotal agency within the Government of Canada, using a government-wide approach, SSC delivers reliable and secure IT Operations, IT infrastructure, and communication and workplace technology services that support and enable government-wide programs and digital services for the Public Service. Accessibility is a core goal for SSC, as evidenced by its commitment to creating an inclusive and barrier-free environment for all Canadians, including those with disabilities. This commitment is reflected in initiatives such as the Accessibility, Accommodation, and Adaptive Computer Technology (AAACT) program, which supports employees with disabilities, injuries, and ergonomic requirements in their workplace. SSC's role extends beyond internal operations to include the provision of accessible digital services and tools to the entire government, ensuring that accessibility considerations are integrated into the technology and services used across federal departments. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/naqi-logix--a-breakthrough-in-human-machine-interface-without-brain-implants--is-accepted-into-the-innovative-solutions-canada-program-302084484.html SOURCE NAQI Logix The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) is launching mobile rehabilitation teams in long-distance communities. "The Ukrainian Red Cross, as part of piloting rehabilitation services in communities, will provide support to people in need of additional services after undergoing treatment and the acute phase of rehabilitation. These are war veterans, elderly people or persons with disabilities, as well as people of other vulnerable categories living in long-distance areas without easy access to rehabilitation services," the society said on Friday on Facebook. The first team has already started daily trips to Lutsk district of Volyn region. According to Head of the Department of Rehabilitation and Support of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society Hanna Didenko, over time, such a service will be available in Rivne region, and in the future in other regions of Ukraine. "For now, the project is being implemented with the support of the German Red Cross, in cooperation with regional health departments," Didenko said. The number of departures and routes will be adjusted depending on the needs of the local population. The team includes rehabilitation specialists who have received clinical training, psychological first aid training, and specialized training from the World Health Organization and other organizations. The service itself involves not only accompanying the person, but also teaching him and his family members, caretakers, guardians how to use auxiliary means of rehabilitation, what communication and care should be like for a person with a disability so that he feels like a full-fledged member of society. WASHINGTON , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will preview the agency's Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission to the International Space Station by hosting media tours Thursday, March 21 , and with news conferences Friday, March 22 , at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston . NASA and Boeing officials will discuss flight test readiness, objectives, and priorities at 10 a.m. EDT March 22 , and mission managers will discuss the flight plan, timeline, and details at 11:30 a.m. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will answer questions at 2 p.m. and will be available for individual interviews. All three news conferences will air live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media. Media will have opportunities the afternoon of March 21 to learn more about the flight test, while visiting the Boeing Starliner mockup, experience training in the Starliner simulator, and meet members of the flight control teams who will support the spacecraft's first crewed flight. The flight test, currently scheduled to launch early May due to space station scheduling, will transport Wilmore and Williams to the orbiting laboratory for a planned stay of up to two weeks. A United Launch Alliance rocket and the Boeing Starliner spacecraft will launch from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida . This will be the final media opportunity to speak to the astronauts before they travel to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for launch. International media wishing to participate in person or seeking a remote interview with the astronauts must request credentials by 5 p.m. Monday, March 11 , by contacting the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 or [email protected]. U.S. media interested in attending must request credentials by 6 p.m. Monday, March 18 , from the Johnson newsroom. NASA's media accreditation policy is online. All media interested in participating in the news conference by phone must contact the Johnson newsroom by 9:45 a.m. March 22 . Those wishing to submit questions on social media may do so using #AskNASA. Thursday, March 21 : 11:30 CDT ( 12:30 p.m. EDT ) Media arrival at Johnson Space Center Briefing participants include (all times Eastern and subject to change based on operations): Friday, March 22 : 10 a.m. Program Overview News Conference NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Administrator Steve Stich , manager, Commercial Crew Program, NASA , manager, Commercial Crew Program, Dana Weigel , deputy manager, International Space Station Program, NASA , deputy manager, International Space Station Program, Mark Nappi , vice president and program manager, Boeing Starliner Program 11:30 a.m. Mission Overview News Conference Mike Lammers , flight director, Starliner ascent, NASA , flight director, Starliner ascent, Vincent LaCourt , flight director, International Space Station Program, NASA , flight director, International Space Station Program, Ed Van Cise , flight director, Starliner rendezvous, NASA 2 p.m. Crew News Conference Butch Wilmore , NASA astronaut, mission commander , astronaut, mission commander Suni Williams , NASA astronaut, mission pilot Wilmore, a U.S. Navy captain, is a veteran of two spaceflights and has accumulated 178 days in space. Selected as an astronaut in 2000, he served as a flight engineer for Expedition 41 from September to November 2014 , then assumed command of Expedition 42 until his return to Earth in March 2015 . During this mission, he logged 167 days in space and performed four spacewalks. In 2009, Wilmore served as a pilot aboard space shuttle Atlantis for STS-129. From Mt. Juliet, Tennessee , Wilmore earned degrees from Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville , and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . Williams, a retired Navy captain, is a veteran of two space station missions, Expedition 14/15 and 32/33, and served as commander of Expedition 33. Selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998, she has logged 322 days in space, first launching on the space shuttle Discovery with the crew of STS-116, then on a Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft. Williams has completed seven spacewalks, totaling 50 hours and 40 minutes. Williams considers Needham, Massachusetts , to be her hometown and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1987 and Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne , in 1995. Learn more about how NASA innovates for the benefit of humanity through NASA's Commercial Crew Program at: https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-to-host-boeing-crew-flight-test-preview-news-conferences-302084567.html SOURCE NASA WASHINGTON , March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Emily Wilkins , president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein , president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on the President's State of the Union Address tonight. "We understand that the President may speak about detained U.S. hostages tonight in his State of the Union Address. We are pleased to hear this on behalf of all hostage families. This is a significant issue for American diplomacy that must be addressed in a more effective manner going forward. Our hearts are with all hostage families tonight and we hope their loved ones return home safely and soon. "As for journalist and Marine veteran Austin Tice, he has been held nearly 12 years. He has become a hostage of the U.S. Syria policy. It is within the power of the U.S. government to free him. We urge them to act to do so. May it be soon." Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With nearly 3,000 members representing nearly every major journalism organization, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom worldwide. The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged, global citizenry through a free and independent press. The NPCJI is the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club. Contact: Bill McCarren for the National Press Club, 202-662-7534 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-press-club-statement-on-state-of-the-union-302083594.html SOURCE National Press Club CENTER VALLEY, Pa. , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus, a leading global medtech company providing innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures, announced today multiple activities in celebration of International Women's Day on March 8 . Additionally, the company was recognized by Mogul as one of their 2024 Top 100 Workplaces for Diverse Professionals. Olympus' global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy was created to further the company's journey of achieving its purpose of "Making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling." DEI is an indispensable strategy to ensure increased organizational capability and sustainability for attracting top talent and informing the diverse needs of our medtech customers and their patients. A key goal of the global DEI strategy is to promote the advancement of women in managerial roles throughout the organization. International Women's Day is about empowerment, collaboration, and progress. By participating in these events, Olympus women are demonstrating, to internal and external audiences, a commitment to fostering an inclusive culture where women have equal opportunities to excel and creating the employee resources needed for women to develop and further their careers within the company. "Having women in leadership roles and throughout the workforce helps provide different perspectives contributing to our ability to bring innovation and solutions to market," said Stacey Morey , Vice President of Human Resources, Olympus Corporation of the Americas. "Whether that means ergonomic advancements in our latest endoscopy system and surgical energy instruments to better meet the needs of physicians, or wellness programs that address issues like balancing work and life, women in our company are creating solutions that help strengthen Olympus as a leading MedTech company and as a valuable community resource." Olympus learned in early March that it was receiving the prestigious 2024 Top 100 Workplaces for Diverse Professionals from Mogul, a global mobile app and online social platform. Mogul has issued DEI-oriented lists since 2018. Mogul created the Diverse Professionals list based on factors including: 1) commitment to DEI in hiring practices; 2) significant strides in creating inclusive environments, 3) impact of the DEI efforts on internal and external communities. Olympus is proud to be recognized for its DEI efforts on the Mogul website. Across the U.S. during the month of March, Olympus women are celebrating each other and being celebrated. Some examples of Olympus activities connected to International Women's Day include: Participation in the United Way sponsored celebration of International Women's Day (IWD), held at Air Products corporate headquarters on March 7 in Trexlertown, Pa. Stacey Morey , VP of Human Resources for Olympus Corporation of the Americas , participated as a panelist speaker. The dynamic event also featured Marci Lesko from United Way , leading voices from Air Products, PPL and Victaulic. Attendees explored insights and action steps to build an even more inclusive workplace where everyone thrives, with a focus on employee experience, fostering innovation and fostering creativity and productivity. held at Air Products corporate headquarters on in , VP of Human Resources for , participated as a panelist speaker. The dynamic event also featured from , leading voices from Air Products, PPL and Victaulic. Attendees explored insights and action steps to build an even more inclusive workplace where everyone thrives, with a focus on employee experience, fostering innovation and fostering creativity and productivity. In the Twin Cities region, where Olympus employs hundreds at its Brooklyn Park facility, Jordan Golomb , Patient Agent for the Olympus legal department, was selected to participate in a panel discussion at an upcoming CHiPs member event , also on March 7 . ChIPs (Chiefs in Intellectual Property) is a nonprofit professional organization that advances and connects women in technology, law and policy. CHiPs accelerates innovation through diversity of thought, participation and engagement. region, where Olympus employs hundreds at its facility, , for the Olympus legal department, was selected to participate in a , also on ChIPs (Chiefs in Intellectual Property) is a nonprofit professional organization that advances and connects women in technology, law and policy. CHiPs accelerates innovation through diversity of thought, participation and engagement. IWD Virtual Panel Event for Olympus employees . The Olympus Women's Employee Resource Group (ERG) will celebrate International Women's Day on March 13 with a virtual panel event featuring four Olympus leaders sharing their career journeys, how they've navigated growth opportunities and challenges and how the power of a support network helped them advance to where they are today. Olympus employees are encouraged to attend this event, featuring: Aasha Wanless , Director, Trade Compliance & Governance Elizabeth Blackburn , Executive Director of R&D, Single-Use Endoscopy Jacqueline Woodward , Executive Director of Marketing, ENT Swarna Alcorn , Business Unit Vice President, Respiratory . (ERG) will celebrate International Women's Day on with a virtual panel event featuring four Olympus leaders sharing their career journeys, how they've navigated growth opportunities and challenges and how the power of a support network helped them advance to where they are today. Olympus employees are encouraged to attend this event, featuring: The virtual event is followed by a Women's ERG-hosted in-person networking hour in both the Westborough and Center Valley locations, featuring lite bites developed in partnership with Brooke Williamson , winner of Top Chef Season 14. Elena Mack , Vice President of Manufacturing Quality for Olympus' Quality and Regulatory Assurance Department , will be a speaker at the 12th Advancing Women's Leadership in Pharma & Healthcare event March 25-27 in Tampa, Fla. Mack will participate in the session, "Network with Impact in a Digital Era." This conference is designed to be a high-level meeting of the minds as well as a celebration of women in pharma and healthcare. Registration spots are still open. About Olympus At Olympus, we are committed to Our Purpose of making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with healthcare professionals to provide best-in-class solutions and services for early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states. For more than 100 years, Olympus has pursued a goal of contributing to society by producing products designed with the purpose of delivering optimal outcomes for its customers around the world. For more information, visit medical.olympusamerica.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/olympus-celebrates-international-womens-day-recognized-as-a-top-100-workplace-for-diverse-professionals-by-mogul-302083492.html SOURCE Olympus Corporation of the Americas PALATINE, Ill. , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is written by Avis Proctor , Ed.D., President, Harper College. Our nation finds itself facing a modern-day Sputnik moment. Americans were shocked in 1957 with the news the Soviet Union had launched the first artificial satellite into the Earth's orbit. It was a disheartening defeat that intensified ideological and political tension between the world's two superpowers and proved a critical wake-up call for the United States . Today, the U.S. risks losing the race in global competitiveness, innovation and national security if we fail to double down in our commitment to accelerating technological innovation for a strong future. One of the key vehicles to ensuring a more secure and prosperous future is the $250 billion CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which researchers and technology leaders regard as one of the nation's most significant innovation bills in decades, according to the nonprofit Brookings Institution. This historic investment seeks to strengthen U.S. competitiveness in areas including artificial intelligence (AI), smart manufacturing, semiconductors, quantum computing and clean energy while diversifying the STEM workforce. It's also a once-in-a-generation workforce development opportunity for the nation's advanced industries to address their glaring needs for STEM and technician talent. Consider this workforce gap: The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and Oxford Economics estimate that of the 3.8 million additional STEM or technical jobs that could be created in the U.S. by 2030, 1.4 million risk going unfilled. Of unfilled new positions, a sizeable portion are skilled technicians with two-year degrees and additional on-the-job "earn and learn" training such as apprenticeships. If we don't leverage this landmark opportunity, we will lose the race for the 21st century. Harper College is working to meet this pivotal moment in a variety of ways. The Biden-Harris administration recently designated 31 innovation and technology hubs across the country to catalyze investment in innovative technologies. For the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area, Harper has partnered with City Colleges of Chicago to jointly develop a proposal, "From Community to Quantum," which would bring together partners to develop the education and training pathways leading to a skilled quantum workforce. If you don't understand what quantum technology is or means, you're certainly not alone. What's most important is to understand quantum's transformational implications on economic growth, national security, job creation and any number of real-world applications. Another way Harper is working to meet regional employer demands for today's and tomorrow's skilled workforce is through its Innovation Accelerator, which we launched in 2022 to streamline and accelerate the development of programs, particularly in emerging technologies. To begin, we are developing accelerated career pathways in cybersecurity, AI and cloud infrastructure. The Innovation Accelerator analyzes labor market data and adopts the National Science Foundation-recognized Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) advisory council model to ensure new programs meet the needs of both students and employers. Members represent employers such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. As a recipient of National Science Foundation funding via the Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity grant (EPIIC), Harper serves as the lead institution of a consortium that's working to build external partnerships for nimble development of programs in emerging technologies. Of course, Harper and other community colleges must ensure broad access to emerging technologies' many opportunities. Of all college undergraduates, community colleges enroll 36% of first-time freshmen, more than half of Native American students, 48% of Hispanic students and 39% of Black students (Source: American Association of Community Colleges). And while STEM fields continue to gradually diversify, women and historically underrepresented racial groups working in these industries remain woefully underrepresented when compared to their share of the total population, and they have lower median earnings. To help remove barriers that contribute to racial and gender inequities, Harper is committed to providing a variety of wraparound services to include subsidized childcare services for Pell Grant-eligible student-parents, supported through the U.S. Department of Education's Childcare Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program. Across the country, community colleges like Harper are at the heart of our country's efforts to develop and grow innovative industries. We are nimble solution providers that open doors to economic and social mobility and create generational impact. Ask yourself, are you part of this national imperative? If not, start by evaluating the 33 CHIPS and Science Act programs and determine fit for your institutional and regional priorities. Also, confirm if you're located within one of the country's 31 new Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs. If you are, you can compete for grants which require strategic collaboration with private industry, state and local governments, education, labor unions, nonprofit organizations and others. The funding is provided for transformative investments in innovation and family-sustaining job creation. As the U.S. faces an economy-wide shortage of skilled workers, we know community colleges play a critical role in developing the talent for our regional economies, particularly for the career opportunities that do not require a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, in some states, we are already delivering on bachelor's degree attainment to meet the accelerated demand in various fields. Recent community college transfer and bachelor's degree attainment reports revealed that only 16% of community college students who transferred earned bachelor degrees; lower bachelor degree attainment rates were also reported for low-income students (11%) and students of color (9% and 13% for Black and Hispanic community college transfers, respectively). We must think differently about access and success for place-bound students who need additional skills, but are unable to leave their homes or workplaces to attend a university. We have decades of empirical data that show community college bachelor's degree attainment contributes to the social and economic mobility of individuals, their families and their communities. Every state should consider how to use community colleges as an economic development arm to expand success at the bachelor level for learners from all walks of life. And lastly, understand what's at stake for our national security, for global competitiveness, for our future workforce, and for our country's obligation to lift up nearly 40 million Americans out of poverty. This is our modern-day Sputnik moment. It is a race for our future. We cannot squander it. Uniquely American, community colleges serve more than 10 million students annually providing critical access to higher education in both academic and workforce development. As the voice of the nation's community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC's member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C. , AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all. https://www.aacc.nche.edu/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/our-nation-must-advance-industries-of-the-future-or-risk-losing-the-race-for-the-21st-century-302084260.html SOURCE American Association Of Community Colleges CARLSBAD, Calif. , March 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Air Charter, a leading provider of luxury air travel services, is thrilled to announce that it has been granted approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to commence private air charter service to the Hawaiian Islands. This significant milestone opens up new horizons for discerning travelers seeking unparalleled comfort and convenience in air travel. With the FAA's stamp of approval, Premier Air Charter is poised to offer exclusive access to the breathtaking beauty and allure of the Hawaiian Islands. Whether for leisure or business, clients can now enjoy seamless and personalized travel experiences to this tropical paradise. One of the standout aircraft in Premier Air Charter's fleet is the Challenger 601, renowned for its exceptional performance, spacious cabin, and luxurious amenities. With its long-range capabilities, the Challenger 601 ensures a smooth and comfortable journey for passengers, making it the ideal choice for travel to the Hawaiian Islands. "We are delighted to announce our FAA approval to commence private air charter service to the Hawaiian Islands," said Ross Gourdie , CEO at Premier Air Charter. "This achievement underscores our commitment to providing our clients with unparalleled luxury, convenience, and safety in air travel. With our fleet of top-of-the-line aircraft, including the Challenger 601, we look forward to offering unforgettable experiences as travelers embark on their journeys to Hawaii ." Premier Air Charter's dedication to excellence extends beyond its aircraft, encompassing personalized service, attention to detail, and uncompromising safety standards. As travelers embark on their Hawaiian adventures, they can trust Premier Air Charter to deliver a seamless and unforgettable journey from start to finish. For more information about Premier Air Charter and its private air charter services to the Hawaiian Islands, visit www.premieraircharter.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/premier-air-charter-granted-faa-approval-to-initiate-private-air-charter-service-to-the-hawaiian-islands-302084266.html SOURCE Premier Air Charter Providence leverages Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare as a standard platform for developing and delivering AI-powered applications to improve interoperability, generate clinical and research insights, and improve care delivery, costs, and outcomes BURLINGTON, Mass. , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuance Communications, Inc., a Microsoft Company, and Providence, a not-for-profit health system serving the Western U.S. , have announced that the organizations are working to accelerate AI innovation at scale, propel in-house solutions development, advance clinical research and spur further collaborations between health systems and healthcare IT vendors. Through its long-standing collaboration with Nuance and Microsoft, Providence achieved success in migrating solutions to the cloud at scale and accelerating development and adoption of generative AI-powered applications to help improve care quality and access and reduce physicians' administrative workloads. Providence also has widely deployed Nuance's conversational, ambient, and generative AI solutions including the Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX) and Dragon Medical One, and the largest implementation of the Nuance PowerScribe radiology reporting solution in the United States . "Microsoft and Nuance's unparalleled expertise, depth of AI applications, and scale enables us to uplevel our innovation, with each organization bringing tremendous value to the partnership," said BJ Moore, Executive Vice President and CIO at Providence. "Our expanded collaboration enables us to rapidly scale and increase the capabilities of many of our existing solutions while creating more personalized and satisfied experiences for patients and providers alike." Through its continued collaboration with Nuance and Microsoft, Providence will focus on five key areas: Improve operational efficiency: Use Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare to simplify interoperability and improve operational efficiency and clinical decision-making with AI-generated insights from multimodal data. The Azure-based cloud platform also helps expand secure, privacy-protected data access to accelerate the development and adoption of AI solutions at scale across the industry. Use Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare to simplify interoperability and improve operational efficiency and clinical decision-making with AI-generated insights from multimodal data. The Azure-based cloud platform also helps expand secure, privacy-protected data access to accelerate the development and adoption of AI solutions at scale across the industry. Accelerate in-house solutions development : Create and enhance purpose-built AI-powered applications such as Providence MedPearl, which assists primary care physicians with appropriate referral guidelines for greater patient access to specialized care. Additional in-house solutions include ProvidenceChat a secure alternative to other general-purpose chatbots that enable caregivers to experiment with generative AI as well as Grace and ProvARIA. Grace focuses on answering patient questions before they send a message to their provider, while ProvARIA classifies patient messages, reducing providers' workloads and response times. : Create and enhance purpose-built AI-powered applications such as Providence MedPearl, which assists primary care physicians with appropriate referral guidelines for greater patient access to specialized care. Additional in-house solutions include ProvidenceChat a secure alternative to other general-purpose chatbots that enable caregivers to experiment with generative AI as well as Grace and ProvARIA. Grace focuses on answering patient questions before they send a message to their provider, while ProvARIA classifies patient messages, reducing providers' workloads and response times. Advance clinical research : Collaborate on clinical research solutions using generative AI, including clinical trial matching and participation. : Collaborate on clinical research solutions using generative AI, including clinical trial matching and participation. Improve physician and patient experiences : Expand deployment of solutions such as Nuance DAX Copilot. DAX Copilot automates the creation of clinical documentation during patient exams so physicians can spend more time delivering personalized care. In addition, Nuance's Patient Support Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) is being piloted at Providence's Patient Engagement Center (PEC) to ease the way of patients using MyChart. : Expand deployment of solutions such as Nuance DAX Copilot. DAX Copilot automates the creation of clinical documentation during patient exams so physicians can spend more time delivering personalized care. In addition, Nuance's Patient Support Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) is being piloted at Patient Engagement Center (PEC) to ease the way of patients using MyChart. Expand industry collaboration : Leverage expanded data access, complementary technologies and subject matter expertise between organizations to accelerate development of solutions that address healthcare's priority challenges and improve patient outcomes. Providence has been piloting Copilot for Microsoft 365, providing employees with real-time intelligent assistance to enhance productivity and creativity across key Microsoft 365 apps. "This highly productive collaboration between Microsoft, Nuance, and Providence exemplifies how new, innovative AI applications paired with deep healthcare expertise and the scale of the Azure cloud are transforming healthcare delivery," Robert Dahdah , CVP, Global Health and Life Sciences, Microsoft. "We are accelerating the development and adoption of AI solutions in healthcare by leveraging the security, scale, and reliability of the Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare and incorporating previously siloed data streams into state-of-the-art large language models and generative AI that can offer vital insights and recommendations to improve operational efficiency and care outcomes." The Nuance and Microsoft healthcare solutions are built on a foundation of trust and Microsoft's Responsible AI principles. These innovations are making it easier for healthcare organizations to create connected experiences at every point of care, provide tools that foster collaboration, empower the healthcare workforce, and unlock the value from clinical and operational data using data standards that are important to the healthcare industry. For more information about Microsoft, visit us during HIMSS 2024 in Orlando, FL at booth #3161. About Providence Providence is a not-for-profit Catholic health system and one of the nation's largest health systems, comprising a diverse family of organizations and driven by a belief that health is a human right. With 51 hospitals, over 1,000 physician clinics, senior services, supportive housing, and many other health and educational services, the health system and its partners employ more than 120,000 caregivers serving communities across seven states Alaska , California , Montana , New Mexico , Oregon , Texas , and Washington , with system offices in Renton, Wash. , and Irvine, Calif. Learn about our vision of health for a better world at Providence.org. About Nuance Communications Nuance Communications is a technology pioneer with market leadership in conversational, ambient, and generative AI. A full-service partner trusted by 77 percent of U.S. hospitals and more than 75 percent of the Fortune 100 companies worldwide, Nuance creates intuitive solutions that amplify people's ability to help others. Nuance is a Microsoft company. Trademark reference: Nuance and the Nuance logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Media Contacts: Providence Bryan Kawasaki Tel : 760-684-0822 Email : [email protected] Nuance Communications Caitlyn Treanor Tel: +1.781.565.8926 Email: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/providence-and-microsoft-enable-ai-innovation-at-scale-to-improve-the-future-of-care-302084162.html SOURCE Nuance Communications, Inc. SAN RAMON, Calif. , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SummerHill Apartment Communities announced today that it has sold Prado Apartments , a 251-unit transit-oriented multifamily community located in Santa Clara, CA for $125 million . The site was sold to PCCP of San Francisco, CA and Alliance Residential Company of Scottsdale, AZ. The sale recorded on February 27, 2024 and the new owner received the property fully stabilized. Located at 3560 Rambla Place , Prado is a seven-story building comprised of 251 residential units that include both one and two-bedroom apartments that was completed in 2021 and is part of the Nuevo master-planned community which SummerHill also developed. "PCCP and Alliance are world-class real estate operators, and we are excited to see what's next in store at Prado within this fantastic transit-oriented development," said Doug McDonald , President of SummerHill Apartment Communities. With 600+ additional units under construction in Santa Clara , SummerHill is continuing to provide much needed housing in the area. "We love Prado and believe Santa Clara will continue to be a very strong apartment rental market and we are thrilled to continue working with the City of Santa Clara to provide new housing," added McDonald. Located adjacent to Lawrence Expressway , Prado is minutes from the Caltrain Lawrence Station and easily accessible to San Jose Mineta Airport . Current and future residents have unrivaled access to Silicon Valley's technology hub, home to Apple, Nvidia, Google, and many of the largest technology companies in the world. Situated within the Nuevo master planned community, Prado is surrounded by multiple parks and recreation as well as a community center. KTGY Group, who SummerHill has partnered with on previous projects in the Bay Area , is the architect of record. About SummerHill Apartment Communities SummerHill Apartment Communities (SHAC) is a leading multifamily developer on the West Coast . As a subsidiary of The Marcus and Millichap Company, SHAC draws upon experience gathered throughout the years while developing over 5,000 units in a wide range of West Coast markets focusing primarily on the San Francisco Bay Area , Southern California , and the Pacific Northwest . SHAC's expertise and focus on acquisitions, entitlements, design, and construction is the guiding force behind each one of our successful projects. Our team adapts to the diversity of our markets with creative instincts, an enterprising vision, and a commitment to the core values that guide our decision-making and define our culture. We believe that by encouraging personal and professional growth, our team exceeds expectations. The developments created by SummerHill are an integral part of our communities. It is important for us to improve urban settings, preserve the environment, and cultivate the beauty of our surroundings. Smart housing growth offers more than just shelter, it enhances neighborhoods and lifestyles. Contact: Alvaro Leiva SVP (925) 244-7514 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/summerhill-sells-251-unit-community-in-santa-clara-ca-for-125m-302084029.html SOURCE SummerHill Apartment Communities Federal Legislation Levels Playing Field for Rail Workers WASHINGTON , March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters are commending the Senate Budget Committee for unanimously voting to pass the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act. "The economy would grind to a halt without these men and women, so Congress needs to make sure their unemployment and sickness benefits are protected," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien . "We're demanding the Senate pass this bill as quickly as possible." Railroad workers receive unemployment insurance and sickness benefits from a federally overseen fund, the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Account (RUIA). Unlike other unemployment, disability, or sickness benefits, these payments are unjustly subjected to congressional budget sequestration. In practice, that means a percentage of these earned benefits that should be going to railroaders is instead sent back to the federal government. "The RUIA is employer funded, just like state-level funds for unemployment insurance," said Eddie Hall , President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. "There is absolutely no reason that Congress should continue to permit the unfair diversion of these benefits from our members. Congress needs to pass the REEF Act immediately." "We'd like to thank Senators Deb Fischer , Sherrod Brown , Amy Klobuchar and a bipartisan coalition of co-sponsors for their leadership on this issue," said Tony Cardwell , President of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes. "This legislation is about fairness and equity for railroaders, and we urge its swift passage into law." Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S. , Canada , and Puerto Rico . Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Matt McQuaid, (202) 624-6877 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teamsters-support-the-reef-act-302083611.html SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters BEIJING , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The following article was published today by China Daily. Chinese courts will continue efforts to fight cyberbullying by further optimizing judicial rules and providing more legal education for the public, so that people's sense of security can be ensured and social order can be maintained, said the head of China's top court. "Judges are duty-bound to severely punish those bullying others through the internet, to better protect people's rights to privacy, their reputation, life and health," Zhang Jun , president of the Supreme People's Court, said in an exclusive interview with China Daily during the ongoing annual two sessions. He revealed that the top court is accelerating the formulation of judicial interpretations related to the ban on infringing upon personality rights, and is ready to release some influential cases involving cyberbullying. "We hope the improved rules and the guidance of cases, as well as the accurate application of laws, can help enhance our capability to curb cyberbullying and better support victims," he added. While benefiting from the internet, many people have in recent years been frequently troubled by cyberbullying, which includes behavior such as abuse, insults, slander, or damaging others' privacy or reputation, he said, noting that insults, defamation and personal information infringement are the main crimes related to online bullying. For example, a man surnamed Yang was found to have disclosed chat records with his ex-girlfriend online after they broke up, resulting in the woman being insulted by netizens and eventually committing suicide. Another man surnamed Zhan was discovered to have posted a photo online of a student scanning the QR code on a teacher's mobile phone, falsely claiming that the teacher was collecting after-school fees, causing a flood of abuse and comments against the teacher. "Yang infringed upon the woman's privacy, and Zhan damaged the teacher's reputation," Zhang said when talking about the two cases handled by lower courts. Zhang added, "This increasingly serious cyberbullying makes people worry about being victimized, whether online or offline, polluting the online environment and disrupting social order." However, he cited data from the past five years showing that criminal cases related to cyberbullying accounted for a low proportion about two in a thousand of all cybercrimes. He said that a major reason for this phenomenon is that, under the Criminal Law, it is generally up to victims to decide whether to initiate a lawsuit, meaning that if they do not come to court with sufficient evidence, the judicial authorities will not intervene, let alone identify the related alleged behavior. "It's difficult for individuals to collect evidence and defend their rights on their own, which, to some extent, encourages perpetrators to bully others online," he added. To solve the problem, the top court, along with the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security issued a guideline in September. It clarifies that when individuals make accusations of online insults or defamation, but courts find it hard for the victims to offer evidence after a review, judges can ask police to assist in the collection of evidence. In addition, the guideline also specifies when prosecutors can take action, such as allowing them to initiate public-interest litigation if they discover internet service providers do not take measures or perform their duties when cyberbullying happens on their platforms, causing improper or even illegal content to be spread online. Such specific rules will help prosecutors play a bigger role in combating cyberbullying, giving stronger support to victims, Zhang said. After the guideline was released, the number of online defamation cases handled in prosecution procedures in 2023 increased by 10.3 percent year-on-year, and the number of convictions increased by 102.4 percent compared with 2022, he added. Furthermore, the guideline states that heavier punishments will be given to those who bully the disabled or juveniles, and stipulates that someone who organizes cyber manhunts should also be harshly penalized. "These provisions aim to help create a safer online environment to guarantee the public sense of security," Zhang said. While urging judges nationwide to focus more on dealing with cyberbullying-related cases, he also encouraged them to offer more legal education to guide the public to use the internet in a civilized manner. As a global issue, cyberbullying has frequently made headlines in recent years. Tragedies caused by online misconduct have caused public outrage and prompted cyberspace agencies and internet platforms to take action, in addition to courts. For instance, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country's top internet regulator, has also stepped up its fight against cyberbullying, requiring online platforms and websites to set up express channels for netizens to report bullies and help them block unfriendly comments. By Cao Yin | China Daily View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/top-court-no-letup-in-anti-cyberbullying-battle-302083805.html SOURCE China Daily Senior UAE and US officials highlight shared achievements, including astronaut training, missions aboard the ISS and development of the "Gateway" Lunar Space Station WASHINGTON , March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Senior officials from the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) and the United States (US) today reaffirmed their shared commitment to expand cooperation and advance scientific and technical collaboration in the fields of human space exploration and aeronautics research. The officials spoke at a briefing in Washington, D.C. that included representatives from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) the UAE Space Agency and the National Space Council. The event was hosted by UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba . Building on the recent announcement that the UAE and US will work together to support NASA's Gateway, humanity's first lunar space station, NASA administrator Bill Nelson praised the deepening relationship, noting that "[t]he partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates is strong and growing stronger. Together, we are taking giant leaps in science and technology that will further the Artemis campaign, and the future of human space exploration." "The UAE is proud to work with partners across the US to build upon humanity's collective understanding of the cosmos," said UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba . "From the Gateway program to exploring Mars' atmosphere, our two nations' partnership continues to go from strength to strength. Not even the sky is the limit for our shared ambitions." Through cooperation with NASA, US research institutions and the wider aeronautics industry, the UAE has developed a space program that has achieved notable accomplishments in a relatively short timeframe. In 2021, the UAE's Emirates Mars Mission "Hope Probe" successfully began orbiting the Red Planet, providing the most detailed look ever of the Martian atmosphere. The MBRSC and NASA have also collaborated on human spaceflight endeavors. In 2019, astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori became the first Emirati to fly to space during a short mission to the International Space Station (ISS), during which time he collaborated with NASA to perform experiments and educational outreach. A second Emirati astronaut, H.E. Dr. Sultan Saif Al Neyadi , who was recently appointed the UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, launched to the ISS in 2023 as part of NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 Mission, leading scientific research to advance human knowledge and improve life on Earth. His six-month tenure aboard the ISS marked the Arab world's first long-duration space mission; he also conducted the first spacewalk by an Arab astronaut. Two first-time astronaut candidates from the UAE , Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammad AlMulla also recently completed their training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and received their NASA astronaut pins. "Our partnership with the US, particularly in space exploration, stands as a testament to humanity's potential when united in a common purpose," said Dr. Al Neyadi . "Together, we have embarked on a transformative journey that transcends boundaries, driving forward a new era of discovery and innovation." "A testament to this thriving collaboration is our partnership with NASA in developing the Emirates Airlock for the Gateway Lunar Space Station ," said MBRSC Director General Salem Humaid Al Marri . "As we look to the future, we are reminded that it is through unity and shared vision that we can push the boundaries of what is possible, creating a legacy of innovation and discovery for future generations." In 2020, the UAE and US were among the original signers of the Artemis Accords, which are a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA's 21st-century lunar exploration program. UAE Space Agency's Director General, H.E. Salem Butti Al Qubaisi , said: "International cooperation in space, including through the US- UAE partnership, is fundamental for scientific achievement and advancement. Our partnerships with NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration and several US research institutions strengthen cooperation in support of our shared vision and strategy to improve safety and security in space, expand the scope of international scientific research, and develop new technologies that contribute to improving human lives." "The growing US- UAE partnership goes beyond human spaceflight and the Gateway airlock, to Earth observation, climate resiliency, and the exploration of Mars and the Asteroid Belt, among many other areas," said National Space Council Executive Secretary Chirag Parikh . "The US is also proud that our partnership with the Emirates extends into the safe and responsible use of space via the Artemis Accords. There are infinite possibilities for US- UAE cooperation in space, and we're very proud to call our Emirati partners friends and collaborators along the way." The event comprised a series of discussions featuring senior government officials from the US and UAE space sectors. Participants included Emirati astronauts and experts from both countries. The event was attended by diplomats, current and former US government officials, scientists and business executives. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE UAE -US SPACE PARTNERSHIP, VISIT HERE. Media Contacts: UAE Embassy : Hessa Al Shuwaihi [email protected] MBRSC: Aisha AlZaabi [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uae-embassy-mohammed-bin-rashid-space-centre-uae-space-agency-and-nasa-celebrate-growing-collaboration-to-expand-human-space-exploration-302084506.html During his working visit to Istanbul, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited shipyards where the construction of multi-purpose military sea ships (corvettes) for the Ukrainian Navy is underway. "Visit to Turkey. Istanbul. Shipyards where corvettes are built for our Naval Forces. I got acquainted with the level of readiness and equipment of the corvette 'Ivan Mazepa.' I talked with the Ukrainian Navy servicemen. Thank you for your service. We add strength to our state," the president said in the Telegram channel. The head of state also got familiar with the progress of construction of the second Ukrainian Ada-class corvette, which earlier on Friday was named after Hetman Ivan Vygovsky. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic of Turkey and all defense companies of Turkey and Ukraine that work together. As Zelenskyy's press service reported, on the Ivan Mazepa ship presented two Ukrainian military personnel who are taking courses in the operation and maintenance of the corvette with "Defender of the Homeland" medals. "Thank you for your service, for the fact that Ukraine is very respected here. You know that we are waiting for you in Ukraine. To make our Security and Defense Forces even more powerful," he said. Construction of the Ivan Mazepa corvette started in April 2021. In September 2023, a ceremony to lay the keel of the ship took place. It was planned that in 2022 the corvette would be transported to Ukraine, and already in 2024 it was supposed to become part of the Ukrainian Navy. Due to the war launched by Russia against Ukraine, the dispatch of the corvette was delayed. The Ada-class corvettes are modern littoral ships that have anti-submarine warfare and offshore patrol capabilities. The concept of the design and combat use of the Ada-class corvette is similar to the concept of the Freedom-class littoral ships developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy. Ada-class corvettes have more powerful weapons and powerful radar and sonar systems. SHANGHAI , March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VISEN Pharmaceuticals (VISEN), an innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine diseases, today announced that the Biologics License Application (BLA) for Lonapegsomatropin (TransCon hGH) was accepted by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Lonapegsomatropin is the first once-weekly administrated growth hormone approved by both the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (PGHD). Mr. Pony LU, CEO of VISEN Pharmaceuticals, said, "As the first upcoming commercial product of VISEN Pharmaceuticals, lonapegsomatropin has demonstrated statistically significantly greater efficacy than the daily hGH in the Chinese Phase 3 clinical results. The BLA acceptance represents a significant step towards the product commercialization. We believe that by continuously focusing on providing first-in-class or best-in-class products and treatments, we could provide Chinese endocrine patients with innovative therapies and achieving better treatment processes and outcomes." Lonapegsomatropin is a prodrug of somatropin administered once weekly. By leveraging the innovative technology platform TransConTM (transient conjugation), it is designed to provide sustained release of active, unmodified somatropin, the same growth hormone used in daily pediatric GHD treatments. The unmodified, unbound somatropin released from lonapegsomatropin has the identical 191 amino-acid sequence and size (22 kDa) as endogenous growth hormone. Lonapegsomatropin and TransCon technology are owned and developed by Ascendis Pharma A/S. VISEN Pharmaceuticals holds exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize lonapegsomatropin in the Greater China . Approval No.: COMU2024029/EN/PR About VISEN Pharmaceuticals VISEN is an innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine diseases. We are dedicated to providing innovative therapies and compassionate, patient-centric care, because we believe that achieving better treatment processes and outcomes results in living better lives. Putting patients' need first, VISEN is committed to providing first-in-class or best-in-class products and treatments for endocrine diseases. Our therapeutic areas cover endocrine diseases in adults and children, and rare endocrine diseases. VISEN comprises seasoned professionals with multinational pharmaceutical experiences and leverages cutting-edge technologies and leading resources across the world. We are focused on the Chinese market, and have established offices in Shanghai , Beijing , Hong Kong and Taipei . Our goal is to enable Chinese endocrine patients to benefit from the world's most advanced and reliable treatment solutions earlier. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.visenpharma.com/ Contact us: [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/visen-announces-acceptance-of-a-biologics-license-application-for-lonapegsomatropin-in-china-302082740.html SOURCE VISEN Pharmaceuticals (VISEN) FILE PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden answers a question as President Donald Trump listens during the second and final presidential debate at the Curb Event Center at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Friday appeared open to debating Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump after Trump challenged the Democrat to debates "anytime, anywhere, anyplace." "It depends on his behavior," Biden said. The comment, made to reporters as he departed Washington for Philadelphia, meant that he did not rule out debating Trump before the presidential election on Nov. 5. In presidential election years the Commission on Presidential Debates usually organizes and stages three debates. In the 2020 contest between Biden and Trump, the two men debated twice but a third encounter was canceled. Two years ago the Republican National Committee voted to pull out of the commission's debates, following complaints from Trump about the timing of the events, debate formats and the selection of moderators.But on Wednesday Trump posted a challenge to Biden on his Truth Social media platform. "It is important for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate issues that are so vital to American, and the American people," Trump wrote. "Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!" Trump refused to participate in any debates when he had challenges to the Republican presidential nomination. (Reporting by Nandita Bose and Steve Holland; Editing by Alistair Bell) FILE PHOTO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, flanked by Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, left, and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Alfred Nganga Mutua, right, addresses diplomats and media during a meeting on the security WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry on Thursday and urged him to support a political transition proposal for the country, the State Department said on Friday. Blinken expressed U.S. support for the proposal - developed in partnership with the Caribbean Community and Haitian stakeholders - to expedite a "transition to steer the country toward the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission and free and fair elections," it said in a statement. "The Secretary urged Henry to support this proposal in the interest of restoring peace and stability to Haiti so the Haitian people can resume their daily lives free from violence and despair," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. Miller also said Washington has been encouraging Henry and other key stakeholders in Haiti for more than a year to reach a compromise that will end the ongoing political stalemate. Haiti's government on Thursday said it would extend a state of emergency around the capital Port-au-Prince for another month as gang violence that has threatened to bring down the government and led thousands to flee their homes appeared to show no sign of abating. The U.N. humanitarian affairs agency warned that the country's health system was "nearing collapse," with shortages of staff, equipment, beds, drugs and blood to treat patients with gunshot wounds. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Katharine Jackson in Washington; Writing by Ismail Shakil, editing by David Ljunggren and Jonathan Oatis) FILE PHOTO: U.S. flag and TikTok logo are seen in this illustration taken, June 2, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. government would be in a stronger legal position if lawmakers ordered China's ByteDance to divest TikTok, rather than simply banning the short video app used by 170 million Americans, the Justice Department told Congress in a document seen by Reuters. Lawmakers and the Biden administration say TikTok poses enormous national security risks because the Chinese government could gain access to data from millions of American users. The Justice Department gave a classified briefing to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday before the panel voted 50-0 on a bill to give ByteDance six months to divest short video app TikTok or face a U.S. ban. The briefing included the one-page unclassified document seen by Reuters, which also said TikTok poses "key national security concerns" because it "collects tremendous amounts of sensitive data" and added Chinese ownership puts "TikTok's American users at risk." The Justice Department document, titled "Threat Posed by TikTok," said any bill needs to separate the company from Beijing and its Chinese-based parent and that a divestment has key advantages over a ban. Existing laws "have limits that make it challenging to effectuate that separation and fully address the national security risks," the Justice Department document said. A prior attempt to ban TikTok by then President Donald Trump in late 2020 was blocked by the courts. "An orderly divestment of TikTok from (China) would give Americans secure ownership of their data, including posts, photos and videos while minimizing the disruption to the over 100 million TikTok accounts in the United States," the document said. "Working through ByteDance, the PRC (People's Republic of China) could use TikTok to access data on millions of U.S. users and control the software on millions of U.S. devices," it added. House Energy and Commerce Committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers cited the briefing as a key reason members supported the divestment bill. Rodgers said the FBI, Justice Department and other agencies worked with the committee for months to provide assistance on a "targeted specific approach" to addressing concerns. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco was directly involved in discussions with lawmakers, a source said. TikTok, which says it has not and would not share U.S. user data with the Chinese government, said on Thursday the "legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States." (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington;Editing by Chris Reese and Nia Williams) FILE PHOTO: The Tim logo is seen at its headquarters in Rome, Italy November 22, 2021. REUTERS/Yara Nardi/File Photo ROME (Reuters) - Canada Pension Plan Investments (CPP) will acquire a 17.5% stake in the fixed-line network of Telecom Italia (TIM) for up to 2 billion euros ($2.19 billion), the group said on Friday. The investment values the business at an enterprise value of about 18.8 billion euros ($20.55 billion) and will be made through the Optics Bid Co group, which also includes U.S. fund KKR, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADIA, Italy's infrastructure fund F2i and Italy's Economy Ministry. The sale of the TIM network was approved by the former phone monopoly's board in December and cleared by Italy's government in January and establishes a wholesale-only player which will provide broadband capacity to TIM and other telecoms operators. "Our investment will help deliver high-quality digital infrastructure across Italy as well as generating long-term risk-adjusted returns for the fund," James Bryce, Managing Director, Global Head of Infrastructure, of CPP Investments, said in the statement. He added that the deal "can represent the first of several infrastructure investments in Italy for CPP Investments". The investors will support the completion of an extensive upgrade to the existing network, to deliver high quality and high capacity fiber-based services in urban and rural areas, the statement said. ($1 = 0.9150 euros) (Reporting by Giulia Segreti, Editing by Louise Heavens) By Keith Coffman and Steve Gorman DENVER (Reuters) - A retired DNA scientist for Colorado's state crime laboratory is under investigation over suspicion she manipulated genetic test results in several hundred cases dating back at least 15 years, state officials said on Friday. The scientist, Yvonne "Missy" Woods, is accused of tampering with DNA lab data in 652 cases between 2008 and 2023, and a review of her work from 1994 to 2008 is also under way, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. The CBI statement did not specify the precise nature of the data manipulation, or say whether it tended to make the results more incriminating or exculpatory. But the agency said Woods posted incomplete test results in some cases, deleted and altered data in an attempt to conceal the alleged tampering, and failed to provide thorough documentation of tests that were performed. "The review did not find that Woods falsified DNA matches or otherwise fabricated DNA profiles," CBI's statement said. "She instead deviated from standard testing protocols and cut corners, calling into question the reliability of the testing she conducted." It added: "According to CBI's policies and procedures, Woods should have conducted additional testing to ensure the reliability of her results in these affected cases." The agency also said the manipulations it found "appear to have been the result of intentional conduct" on Woods' part. The types of cases involved were not disclosed, but DNA evidence is typically used in the investigation of homicides and sex crimes. Woods, a 29-year veteran of the CBI crime lab, was placed on administrative leave in October 2023, a month after the agency became aware that DNA sample testing she performed "may have deviated from standard operating procedures," the CBI said. She performed no additional work for the lab and retired in November, according to the CBI. In addition to the ongoing internal review of Woods' casework, with assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the CBI has opened a criminal investigation into the matter. The probe also led to suspicions that an analyst employed by the Weld County Sheriff's Office at the Northern Colorado Forensic Laboratory may have manipulated DNA test data, and CBI has referred those findings to local authorities for further investigation, the agency said. Reuters was not immediately able to determine whether Woods has retained legal representation in the matter. The CBI's announcement could set off a frenzy of appellate action from criminal defense lawyers in Colorado whose clients were convicted on the basis of DNA testing performed by Woods. The agency said it was examining procedural changes that "will enhance the integrity of its testing processes and their results." (Reporting by Keith Coffman in Denver; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) DAKAR (Reuters) - A prosecutor in the Democratic Republic of Congo has asked a court in the capital Kinshasa to sentence journalist Stanis Bujakera to 20 years in prison, one of his lawyers said on Friday. Bujakera, a Congolese national who works for international media outlets including Reuters, was detained on Sept. 8 and later charged with spreading false information about the death of a prominent opposition politician. He denies the charges. "The prosecutor has requested that our client be sentenced for the sum of all offences to a cumulative penalty of 20 years, and the payment of one million Congolese francs ($364)," Bujakera's lawyer, Jean-Marie Kabengela, told reporters outside the court. "We are waiting for the court to rule." The court is likely to issue a verdict next week. The case stems from an article published by French news magazine Jeune Afrique about the circumstances of the death of Cherubin Okende, a former transport minister whose body was found in Kinshasa on July 13. Jeune Afrique said last September it stood by its Aug. 31 story, which said that an internal report by the National Intelligence Agency had accused military intelligence agents of possible involvement in Okende's killing. The magazine has demanded Bujakera's release, adding that he was not the author of the article and his name was not on it. Congolese authorities have disputed the authenticity of the article. They said last month that Okende took his own life. Local and international rights groups including Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International condemned Bujakera's detention, calling it an attack on press freedom. Reuters has also called for his release. ($1 = 2,745.0000 Congolese francs) (Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Silvia Aloisi and Frances Kerry) By Clara Denina, Sarah McFarlane and Maha El Dahan LONDON/DUBAI (Reuters) -Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates' national oil companies plan to extract lithium from brine in their oilfields, in line with efforts to diversify their economies and profit from the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), three sources told Reuters. Other oil companies, including Exxon Mobil and Occidental Petroleum, plan to take advantage of emerging technologies to filter lithium from brine, as the world seeks to move away from fossil fuels. Saudi Arabia, whose economy for decades has relied on oil, has spent billions on trying to turn itself into a hub for EVs as part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's attempts to find alternative sources of wealth. Three people familiar with the matter said Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) were in the very early stages of work to extract lithium, regarded as a critical mineral by many major economies because of its use in battery manufacture. They declined to give detail on the type of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology that would be used. Aramco did not respond to a request for comment, Adnoc declined to comment. The three sources declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly. DLE technology is in its infancy and its economics are far less certain than those of oil. But Saudi Arabia and the UAE can draw on expertise in handling oil brine and wastewater at oil production sites. An advantage of filtering the ultralight battery metal from salt water is that it avoids the need for costly and environmentally challenging open pit mines or large evaporation ponds, as employed in the world's leading producers Australia and Chile. China is the biggest processor and consumer of lithium, needed for electric and hybrid vehicles. CONCENTRATION AND PRICE COLLAPSE For now, global economic weakness has depressed buying of new vehicles and led lithium prices to dive. Lithium prices have fallen by about 80% since touching a peak in November 2022 as a slowdown in EV sales exacerbated a supply glut. Leading carmakers, however, are among those looking for new lithium supplies in anticipation of future demand. Analysts have said the EV industry will depend on lithium for years to come, even though cheaper battery technology alternatives using less or no lithium are being studied. An issue with extracting lithium from brine is that concentration levels can be very low, making already uncertain economics less favourable. One of the people said Aramco was working on using new filtration technology that seeks to solve the issue of concentration, while another person said Adnoc was also addressing that. Saudi Arabia's oil wealth means it can afford to take a financial risk and its diversification plans include establishing itself as a hub for EVs to make use of whatever lithium it produces. The kingdom has established its own EV brand Ceer, and built an EV metals plant. Its sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has a goal to produce 500,000 EVs annually by 2030. Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden), the Gulf's largest miner, is working to extract lithium from seawater. "There is good research in the kingdom with Ma'aden ...and Aramco because the discharge of the oilfields have good salinity and good traces of minerals," Saudi vice minister of industry and mineral resources Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer told Reuters on the sidelines of a press conference in Riyadh in December. "They have done good work, they have done good extractions of sodium, magnesium, and traces of lithium. The technologies are in the early stage, but there is good work and good investment," Al-Mudaifer added. (Reporting by Clara Denina and Sarah McFarlane in London, Maha El Dahan in Dubai; additional reporting by Pesha Magid, Ernest Scheyder and Eric Onstad; Editing by Veronica Brown and Barbara Lewis) By Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some families of Americans detained abroad said on Friday that the U.S. government can be an obstacle as they battle to secure the release of loved ones, despite a series of prisoner swaps for detained U.S. citizens agreed by the Biden administration. A group of families said they would stage a sit-in in front of the White House later on Friday, saying their appeals to meet President Joe Biden had gone unanswered. In an event at the State Department, Harrison Li, son of American-Chinese citizen Kai Li, held by China since 2016 on espionage charges that he denies, said he has asked to see Biden dozens and dozens of times. "Honestly one of the biggest obstacles we see in our fight to free our loved ones is our own government," Li said. Li said meeting with Biden would at least signal that the case was a major priority for the administration. The State Department was hosting Li and other family members -- including Maryam Kamalmaz, daughter of Majd Kamalmaz, who has been detained in Syria since 2017 -- ahead of National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day on Saturday, and raised a flag for detainees. "I want you to know the United States government is with you and we will work tirelessly until you're reunited with your loved ones," Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In Thursday's State of the Union address, Biden promised to "work around the clock" to bring home Americans unjustly detained abroad, but only named Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, both held by Russia. Biden has conducted prisoner swaps for two other Americans detained by Russia including WNBA star Brittney Griner, in September secured the released of five Americans imprisoned in Iran, and in December won the release in a swap of 10 Americans held in Venezuela. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis; Editing by Kevin Liffey) FILE PHOTO: A general view shows the Swiss Federal Criminal Court (Bundesstrafgericht) in Bellinzona, Switzerland June 8, 2022. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -Switzerland's first full trial of crimes against humanity concluded this week, with the defendant, a former Gambian minister accused of rape and murder, giving a defiant closing speech in which he claimed to be a victim of racism and lies. Ousman Sonko, a former interior minister of Gambia under ousted dictator Yahya Jammeh, is the highest-ranking official ever to be tried in Europe using universal jurisdiction which allows the most serious crimes to be prosecuted anywhere. During the trial in Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, the court heard details of the charges of rape, torture and murder allegedly committed between 2000-2016 either by Sonko or under his watch. "I regret that they (the plaintiffs) discredited themselves in this way by lying, with the sole aim of supporting the accusation against me, in defiance of the truth," Sonko, 55, said in closing remarks before the court late on Thursday. He also denounced his seven-year pre-trial detention - a period which he said was partly spent in solitary confinement and affected his health. Sonko told the court it was "part of a history of colonialism and racism". "My country does not need expiatory victims immolated before foreign judges," he said. The Attorney General's office said it could not comment on a statement provided by the accused person. A U.N.-mandated report said in 2022 that while landlocked Switzerland had never had an empire, its banks and authorities benefited from colonialism and systemic racism persists in the country. Benoit Meystre, a legal adviser at campaign group TRIAL international, which filed the complaint against Sonko, said he found the ex-minister's closing speech "disturbing". "He was pretty disrespectful towards Gambians as he was positioning himself as the victim," he said. TEARS AND HEAVY SILENCES Sonko fell out with Jammeh in the final months of his 22-year repressive rule before the latter was forced to flee in January 2017 after an election defeat. That same month, Sonko was arrested in Switzerland while seeking asylum. Switzerland's public prosecutor is seeking the maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Witnesses described the trial as emotional, with testimony punctuated by heavy silences and occasional tears. One of the plaintiffs, Binta Jamba, told the court she was raped multiple times by Sonko after he murdered her husband. The court removed the defendant to a side room during her testimony. Sonko said he was abroad when the alleged rapes occurred. Her lawyer Annina Mullis, who is acting for several plaintiffs, voiced confidence they had built a strong case. "The defence still could not explain many of the contradictions between the defendant's declarations and the facts established," she told Reuters. No date for a verdict has yet been given. (Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Nick Macfie) Another ten Ukrainian children were returned from temporarily occupied territories, Executive Director of the Save Ukraine charity Mykola Kuleba said. "Ten Ukrainian children, who found themselves under occupation after February 24, were rescued and returned to Ukraine by the Save Ukraine team. After a long separation, the children were finally able to hug their families, and now all families are safe," he said in his Telegram channel on Friday. In total, the Save Ukraine organization managed to return 261 children from Russia and occupied territories to Ukraine. A security member stands outside the building of Tesla's production plant in Gruenheide, outside Berlin, Germany, March 5, 2024, after the site lost power following a suspected arson attack on a nearby pylon. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's federal prosecutors office has taken over the investigation into an arson attack that has cut power supplies to Tesla's German plant near Berlin, looking into charges of terrorism. Tesla's plant in Gruenheide has been down since March 5 after far-left extremists carried out an arson attack on a near-by power pylon that caused the factory's power supply to be disrupted until at least the end of next week. The prosecutors office, whose remit includes terrorism, espionage and international law, said in a statement it was acting "on initial suspicion of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, anti-constitutional sabotage as well as conspiracy to commit arson". The attack has left the site's 12,500 employees in limbo and is costing the U.S. carmaker around 1,000 vehicles a week it cannot produce, resulting in losses that are expected to be at least several hundreds of millions of euros. (Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Christoph Steitz, Editing by Louise Heavens) Masaya Shibasaki, 26, an employee of EXEO Group Inc., reacts as he tries the Osaka Heart Cool developed VR electrical device 'Perionoid' which releases electrical stimulation that feels like experiencing women's menstrual pain during a workshop ahead of t By Akiko Okamoto and Irene Wang TOKYO (Reuters) - Male office workers at a telecoms firm in Tokyo have experienced simulated menstrual pain to help them become more sympathetic toward female colleagues ahead of International Women's Day on Friday. EXEO Group workers winced at a company event on Thursday as a "perionoid" device sent electric signals via pads placed below the navel to stimulate the lower stomach muscle and induce a cramping sensation. "I couldn't move. It hurt to the point where I couldn't stand," said 26-year-old Masaya Shibasaki after using the device jointly developed by researchers at Nara Women's University and startup Osaka Heat Cool. "I now understand women have to work while fighting this pain every month. It's actually amazing how women can do that. I really respect them," Shibasaki said. EXEO said it wants to create an environment where its more than 90% male workforce can be more supportive of female peers, including when it comes to taking menstrual leave. Companies in Japan are legally required to allow women to take menstrual leave. However, there is no requirement for the time off to be paid and surveys showed around half of female workers never take it. "We hope those who experienced (menstrual pain) today go back to their workplace and speak about how they felt, and spread their understanding," said EXEO public relations officer Maki Ogura. (Reporting by Akiko Okamoto and Irene Wang; Editing by John Geddie and Christopher Cushing) By Garba Muhammad and Bosan Yakusak KADUNA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Seven-year-old Safiya Kuriga complained she was feeling feverish but her mother still made her attend class on Thursday. Within two hours, gunmen entered her school and kidnapped Safiya and some 300 other students in Nigeria's northern Kaduna state. "I forced her to go to school that morning despite her complaining to me of a fever," a sobbing Khadiya Kuriga told Reuters by phone from Kuriga town. "We have been crying since yesterday. Our children are hungry." Gunmen seized more than 300 primary and secondary school children between the ages of seven and 15, school authorities and parents said on Friday. Some students were later released while a few others escaped, leaving at least 286 missing, said Salisu Abubakar, a teacher at the Local Government Education Authority School. No one has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, the first mass school abduction in Nigeria since July 2021, when gunmen seized some 150 children. President Bola Tinubu said he had directed security and intelligence agencies to rescue the children "and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators." Kidnappings at schools in Nigeria were first carried out by jihadist group Boko Haram, who seized more than 200 students from a girls' school in Chibok in Borno state a decade ago. But the tactic has since been adopted by criminal gangs without any ideological affiliation seeking ransom payments, according to authorities. 'WEARING MILITARY UNIFORM' Thirteen-year-old Aminu Abdullahi said the armed men numbered about 50 and were shooting in the air when they entered the school. He was lucky as he ran into the bush to hide until the gunmen left with many of his schoolmates. "They came on motorcycles carrying guns, with some of them wearing military uniforms standing and shouting 'All of you should stop' while shooting in the air," Aminu said, adding that he managed to outrun his pursuer and returned home. Sani Muazu's eight-year-old son Ali also managed to escape, but not after he was taken deep into the bush by the kidnappers. The young boy was in class when armed men stormed in and ordered everyone to follow them. Before he knew what was happening, Ali was walking barefoot in the bush with dozens of others, followed by the gunmen, his father said. "My son did not know how many they were but he said they were many. They were crying of hunger, exhaustion and dehydration," Muazu said. When darkness fell, the children were made to sleep in a large clearing in the forest and Ali saw an opportunity to escape. "That was how my son managed to escape and walked back home throughout the night. We just saw him arrive early this morning and we are grateful to God," Muazu said. (Additional reporting by Hamza Ibrahim in Kano, Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe, Editing by Ros Russell) People who fled from Myanmar collect donated clothes at a temporary distribution centre at Farkawn village near the India-Myanmar border, in the northeastern state of Mizoram, India, November 20, 2021. Picture taken November 20, 2021. REUTERS/Rupak De Cho By Tora Agarwala GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) -India on Friday began deporting the first group of Myanmar refugees who sought shelter there after a military coup in 2021 and plans to send back more in the coming days, weeks after saying it would end a visa-free border policy with Myanmar. Thousands of civilians and hundreds of troops from Myanmar have fled to Indian states, where communities between the two countries share ethnic and familial ties, which has worried New Delhi because of the risk of communal tensions spreading to India. "First batch of Myanmar nationals who entered India illegally deported today," N. Biren Singh, the chief minister of northeastern Manipur state that borders Myanmar, said in a post on messaging platform X. Manipur planned to send back at least 77 refugees starting from Friday, according to a state government document seen by Reuters. The state has been roiled by sporadic violence that has killed nearly 200 people so far since ethnic clashes broke out in May last year. The first group of refugees arrived in the Indian border town of Moreh and would likely be handed over on Saturday, an Indian security official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. Singh shared a video clip on X showing some women refugees being brought out of security vans and taken into an airport. The U.S. State Department is "concerned by reports that recent deportations from India to Burma included refugees and asylum seekers," a spokesperson said on Saturday. The State Department reiterated calls by U.N. human rights organizations "urging Burma's neighbors to offer refuge and protection to all those fleeing violence and persecution." New Delhi has not signed the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention, which spells out refugees' rights and states' responsibilities to protect them, nor does it have its own laws protecting refugees. Singh wrote in his post that the country gave "shelter & aid to those fleeing the crisis in Myanmar on humanitarian grounds with a systematic approach". India last month said it would end a decades-old visa-free movement policy with Myanmar for their border citizens for reasons including national security, days after the interior minister announced fencing of the 1,643-km (1,020 mile) border with Myanmar. (Writing by Shivam Patel; additional reporting by David Brunnstrom and Timothy Gardner in Washington; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise, Alex Richardson and Diane Craft) FILE PHOTO: People attend a massive rally organised by India's main opposition Congress party against inflation, at Ramlila Ground, in New Delhi, India, September 4, 2022. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File Photo By Shivam Patel NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's main opposition Congress party suffered a setback on Friday as a tax tribunal dismissed its appeal to pause recovery of 1.35 billion rupees ($16.32 million) in income tax from its bank accounts, weeks before national elections. A part of the Congress' bank accounts had been frozen last month pending the tax recovery that dates back to 2018-19, with the party describing the action as "a deep assault on India's democracy". Vivek Tankha, a Congress lawmaker who is the main advocate in the case, told the Indian Express newspaper last month that the dispute stemmed from what tax authorities said was late filing of income tax returns for financial year 2018-19. He rejected the claim that the party filed its returns late and said the penalty of 1.35 billion rupees was "disproportionate". The tribunal on Friday rejected Tankha's argument that the action against Congress was initiated in haste close to the general elections, and said the tax demand was first raised in 2021. There was no immediate reaction to the ruling from Congress but a lawyer for the party said it will appeal in the Delhi High Court. The lawyer said that the income tax department had already recovered 650 million rupees and the rest could also be withdrawn soon. The Congress has said that the frozen accounts had funds including those collected by the party through crowd-funding and membership drives. Congress, which has ruled India for 54 of its 76 years since independence from Britain, has sunk to record lows after Prime Minister Narendra Modi swept to power in 2014 and is struggling to revive support. Modi is widely expected to win a rare third straight term in elections expected to be announced in the coming days. ($1 = 82.7110 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Shivam Patel; Editing by YP Rajesh and David Evans) FILE PHOTO: Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attends the guard of honor with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a welcoming ceremony prior to the Japan-Italy Summit meeting at the prime minister office in Tokyo on February 5, 2024. David M ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday replaced the country's sherpa for the Group of Seven (G7) with the head of the secret service, according to a statement, in an unexpected move just three months ahead of the leaders' summit in Italy. Luca Ferrari will be appointed ambassador to Israel at a cabinet meeting expected for Monday, interrupting his preparations for the June summit, which is the highlight of Italy's G7 presidency. Elisabetta Belloni will replace him while retaining her job at the secret service, the government statement said. The G7 sherpa is in charge of all the preparatory work leading to the annual summit of major Western leaders and for coordinating negotiations of the final statements. Ferrari was with Meloni during her trip to Kyiv last month, where she chaired her first G7 video conference since Italy took over the rotating presidency at the start of the year. Belloni is one of Italy's top career diplomats. Prior to becoming head of the secret services in 2021, she served as the foreign ministry's secretary general. Meloni's office and the foreign ministry did not say why Ferrari had been moved from such a sensitive position with the G7 presidency in full flow. It is not the first time Meloni has abruptly replaced a top diplomat since taking office in late 2022. Her former chief adviser, Francesco Talo, resigned in November after the prime minister fell victim to Russian pranksters in a joke call. The G7 leaders' summit will take place on June 13-15 in Borgo Egnazia, a resort in the southeastern Puglia region. (Reporting by Angelo Amante; editing by Crispian Balmer and Bill Berkrot) By Satoshi Sugiyama TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese consumer spending in January fell by the most in 35 months, data showed on Friday, although a government official blamed one-off factors and played down the impact on broader consumption trends. Household spending in January decreased by 6.3% from a year earlier and was down for the 11th straight month, the internal affairs ministry data showed. That was worse than the median market forecast for a 4.3% decline and marked the biggest drop since February 2021. On a seasonally adjusted, month-on-month basis, spending fell 2.1%, versus an estimated 0.4% increase. The fall was due to decreases in new car purchases amid factory suspensions, lower energy bills due to warm weather and the backdrop of higher spending in the same month last year from post-pandemic travel subsidies, the interior affairs ministry official said. The numbers came amid growing market expectations that the Bank of Japan could exit negative interest rates as early as this month, despite some pockets of weakness in economy. Although inflation put downward pressure on food and travel spending, it did not contribute to the further drop in January household spending from the previous month, the official added. Some economists are hopeful that consumer spending will gradually recover. "The downward pressure on consumption will ease in the future, with the extent of drop in real wages gradually narrowing as price inflation settles down and wage increases continue," said Masato Koike, an economist at Sompo Institute Plus. Separate data released on Thursday showed Japanese real wages in January shrank for the 22nd month in a row, but at the slowest pace in more than a year on weakening price pressures. Japan's economy stumbled into a recession in the October-December quarter last year on weak domestic demand, preliminary estimates showed. Economists, however, forecast gross domestic product figures to swing to growth in revised readings that will be announced on Monday, thanks to solid capital expenditure. Investors are also closely watching this year's annual springtime wage negotiations, which could deliver more hefty pay hikes. Rising wages are a prerequisite for BOJ to ditch negative interest rates and dismantle its ultra-loose monetary policy settings. (Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Jamie Freed) By Tala Ramadan and Nayera Abdallah DUBAI (Reuters) -A vessel travelling 50 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's city of Aden reported on Friday two explosions in the sea ahead of it, but the ship was not struck or damaged and the crew is safe, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group has launched drone and missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November. They say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians over the war in Gaza. Citing the vessel master, UKMTO said the ship targeted in the attack was proceeding to its next port of call. (Reporting by Tala Ramadan, Nayera Abdallah, Yomna Ehab and Lisa Baertlein; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Hugh Lawson and Chris Reese) By Essi Lehto HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland's prime minister said on Friday he had failed to persuade trade unions to call off planned strike action triggered by the government's labour market reforms, extending an ongoing conflict. The standoff began last year when the newly elected right-wing government announced plans to favour local work agreements over centralised bargains, limit political strikes, cut social welfare and make it easier to terminate work contracts. Industrial, logistics and electrical workers will on Monday begin a two-week strike targeting exports, imports and cargo transportation, the latest in a series of trade union actions in protest at the government's plans. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Friday he had urged union bosses to call off the strike because of its cost to companies. "It will have a negative impact on the already struggling Finnish economy and employment," he said, adding that the strikes would not sway government opinion. Companies like refiner Neste, steel maker SSAB and paper producer UPM have said they expect significant impact on their business from the planned strike. The unions have said they are most upset by the fact the government no longer wants to include them in negotiations over labour market reforms, and are ready for a long fight if needed. The government and business lobbies say Finland needs to boost productivity and cut its fiscal deficit to fight an ongoing recession and maintain the country's public welfare system for the longer term. (Reporting by Essi Lehto, editing by Terje Solsvik and Christina Fincher) Pope Francis waves, on the day he presides over the '24 Hours for the Lord' Lenten initiative at the Roman parish of San Pio V, in Rome, Italy, March 8, 2024. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis' health appeared to have improved on Friday as he presided at a ritual at a Rome parish without the signs of fatigue from a bout of bronchitis that forced him to limit activities over the past two weeks. Francis seemed more or less back to normal during a visit of several hours to the Rome church of St. Pius V, not far from the Vatican. He read his homily on the theme of forgiveness - instead of delegating an aide to speak for him as he has mostly done since late February - and improvised much of it. Francis urged priests not to be severe when hearing confessions of the faithful and not to pry too much into a person's private life. Francis heard the confessions of about 10 people during the service and at the end stopped to chat from his wheelchair with dozens of participants, showing no signs of discomfort. The 87-year-old Francis' recent bout with flu and bronchitis began on Feb. 24 when he was forced to cancel meetings for several days. For much of the past two weeks aides read his addresses for him after he made brief introductions explaining that he was tired. On Feb. 28 Francis went to a hospital near the Vatican for checks that medical sources said included a CT scan. As a young man in his native Argentina, Francis had part of a lung removed. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Ros Russell) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy started a meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The head of the Ukrainian state wrote about this on X on Friday. "I am grateful to Turkey for its reliable support for Ukraine. Both of our countries, the entire region, and global food security require unconditional security of navigation in the Black Sea. We can accomplish this by working together," Zelenskyy said. He also said Ukraine is interested in strengthening bilateral cooperation and co-production with Turkish defense companies. "We also require Turkey's assistance in releasing our prisoners of war and all of our people, including Crimean Tatars, held captive by Russia," the president said. By Francois Murphy VIENNA (Reuters) - Safety at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine is worsening daily, Ukraine's energy minister said on Friday, pledging to keep pressuring Russia at the U.N. nuclear watchdog to withdraw from the site. The International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution late on Thursday condemning Russia's occupation of Europe's biggest nuclear power plant and expressing "grave concern" at lack of staffing and maintenance two years after its capture. "The general situation is moving to (a) nuclear accident and it's very important to stop immediately this (Russian) presence," Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko told a news conference. "The number of problems (has) only increased each day, each day. And (in) one more month, we would have another problem. Another month, we will have some additional problems," he said, adding that Ukraine would keep pushing for more resolutions. The IAEA, which has a small presence at the plant, says the situation at Zaporizhzhia remains precarious. The plant has lost all external power eight times in the last 18 months, forcing it to rely on diesel generators to cool the fuel in its reactors and avoid a potentially catastrophic meltdown. Russia and Ukraine, at war for more than two years, have blamed each other for shelling that has downed power lines. Ukrainian staff who previously worked for Ukrainian state-owned power-generating company Energoatom continue to operate the plant alongside newer Russian arrivals, although some of the Ukrainians have been denied access since February for refusing to sign Russian contracts. "The staff working at the ZNPP now consists exclusively of former Energoatom employees who have adopted Russian citizenship and signed employment contracts with the Russian operating entity, and staff who have been sent to the ZNPP from the Russian Federation," a confidential IAEA report sent to member states last week and seen by Reuters said. "The ZNPP staff reportedly were continuing to be under strong psychological stress of various kinds," it added. Before the war there were around 11,500 staff at the plant, the report said. Now IAEA staff at the plant have been told that number is around 4,500, while the number of staff present each day was around 2,000 in the past quarter. Russia says the plant has enough staff to operate the six reactors, which are currently in shutdown. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has put the number of holdouts refusing to sign Russian contracts at around 100. Galushchenko said that was "another Russian lie" and the real number was 380. "The problem is not even in the quantity of people. The problem is that these people are top-level personnel. That's not ... average personnel which you could easily substitute." Grossi discussed Zaporizhzhia at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that was "professional and frank", the IAEA said in a statement. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Ros Russell) By Elizabeth Howcroft and Emma Pinedo LONDON (Reuters) - Sam Altman's Worldcoin has filed a lawsuit against the Spanish data protection regulator in response to being banned from operating in Spain, a spokesperson for Worldcoin said on Friday. Worldcoin aims to create a global identity system, and involves people getting their irises scanned in exchange for free cryptocurrency and a digital ID. Spain's data protection regulator, the AEPD, said on Wednesday that it had told Worldcoin to stop collecting personal information and stop using data it had already gathered. Worldcoin said in response to the ban that the AEPD was "circumventing EU law" and "spreading inaccurate and misleading claims about our technology". The AEPD did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Worldcoin said in a statement on its website that the company behind the project, Tools for Humanity, had filed a lawsuit against the AEPD's order. The statement said that the AEPD had circumvented the "accepted EU process and rules" and "established procedures under GDPR" (the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation), without giving details. A spokesperson for Worldcoin said that the lawsuit was a motion to suspend the AEPD's order, and that it was submitted to the Administrative Chamber of Spain's High Court. The company also said it had paused all of its "World ID verification services" in Spain, referring to sign-up sites at which people can get their eyeballs scanned by Worldcoin's "orb" devices. More than 4 million people in 120 countries have signed up to have their irises scanned by Worldcoin, according to its website. But the project has drawn criticism from privacy campaigners from Argentina to Germany over the collection, storage and use of personal data. The AEPD said on Wednesday its action against Worldcoin came following complaints regarding insufficient information, the collection of data from minors or not allowing for the withdrawal of consent. (Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft and Emma Pinedeo; Editing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes and David Evans) FILE PHOTO: South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit attends the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) 42nd Extraordinary Session, at the State House in Entebbe, Uganda January 18, 2024. REUTERS/Abubaker Lubowa/File Photo By Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Elections set to be held in South Sudan in December are not on a path for a credible process without urgent action, a senior U.S. State Department official warned on Friday, as the government lags in its preparations. The official, asked in an interview with Reuters whether the election was on the path to be a sham process, said yes, barring any urgent action. South Sudan is planning national elections later this year to choose leaders to succeed the current transitional government, which includes President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, whose respective forces battled each other during the 2013-2018 civil war. In 2022, Kiir said the transitional government would remain in power for another two years, delaying scheduled elections. On the likelihood the elections proceed in December as planned, the U.S. official said: "I give it 50/50." The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that the U.S. would look to options including sanctions and adjusting its diplomatic platform in the country if elections were to be delayed or violence breaks out. "If there's either a delay or violence, I think we would look at the whole suite of options, including sanctions," the official said. Other options could include looking at Washington's development assistance and other forms of engagement, the official said. A spokesperson for the government of South Sudan did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Africa, Sudan and South Sudan Peter Lord traveled to the country last week, during which he called on South Sudan's leaders to take steps required to hold credible and peaceful elections in December, according to the embassy. South Sudan has been formally at peace since a 2018 deal that ended a five-year conflict responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths, but localized violence between rival communities flares frequently. But the U.S. official on Friday warned that South Sudan had not followed through on commitments from two years ago, including doing a census, drafting a constitution and setting up all necessary democratic institutions for the elections to take place. The official added that electoral institutions were just established and there has not been a thorough or considered process. The senior official believes that Kiir wants the elections to take place for the legitimacy they would provide, but said that there are those around him - including Machar - who do not want them as they risk losing in a political contest. Machar and others have taken a position that everything committed to in the extended peace agreement needs to be completed, the official said, adding it could not all be done in time for the elections. Kiir and others are using Machar's position - as well as other obstructionist actions he has taken, such as not providing a list of names for unified forces - as an excuse for not taking additional action, the official said. Civil society in South Sudan also recognizes that not enough has been done, the official added. "There is a lot of concern that there will be bad violence. So there's a high appetite for elections, but they also know that the ... government hasn't done what it needs to do." (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Don Durfee and Jonathan Oatis) FILE PHOTO: A view shows the logo of Stellantis at the entrance of the company's factory in Hordain, France, July 7, 2021. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo MILAN (Reuters) - Stellantis' Alfa Romeo will launch its new Stelvio sport utility vehicle (SUV) in the second half of next year, followed by the new Giulia sport sedan in 2026, the Italian premium brand said on Friday. Under Stellantis, formed at the beginning of 2021 through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot maker PSA, Alfa Romeo has undergone a turnaround process and started a reshuffle of its range, with an aim to have a 100% electric vehicle (EV) offer by 2027. After starting range renewal in 2022 with the Tonale compact SUV, Alfa Romeo will launch next month the Milano sport compact model, the brand's first EV. "Giulia and Stelvio will be two authentic Italian jewels, exported all over the world, affirming Alfa Romeo as the global premium brand of Stellantis," Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato said. Both the new Stelvio and the new Giulia will be designed in Italy and assembled in the Cassino plant, located between Rome and Naples, and underpinned by Stellantis' new 'STLA' platform for large vehicles, Alfa Romeo said in a statement. They will be offered both in EV and hybrid versions. The new Stelvio will be the first car, among all Stellantis European brands, to be based on Stellantis' 'STLA Large' platform. It will also be Stellantis' first car to be fitted with the group's 'STLA Brain' electronic and software architecture and with STLA SmartCockpit platform, focusing on digitally integrating vehicles and drivers. Alfa Romeo will continue to produce current internal combustion engine versions of Stelvio and Giulia, until the new cars are launched on the market. Last year Alfa Romeo sold over 50,000 cars in Europe, its largest market, up 52% from 2022, supported by its Tonale model, which was also introduced in a plug-in hybrid version during 2023. (This story has been corrected to change the plant name to Cassino, not Pomigliano, in paragraph 5) (Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Stonepeak, a New York-headquartered alternative investment firm, on Friday said it has raised $3.3 billion for its Stonepeak Asia Infrastructure Fund, its first fund dedicated to Asia. The firm said it exceeded its $3 billion target after receiving "robust demand from new investors and existing investors in other Stonepeak funds." Stonepeak focuses on infrastructure and real estate and has $61.1 billion worth of assets under management as of September. "The strong demand for this fund underscores Asia's compelling long-term economic and demographic tailwinds," Hajir Naghdy, Stonepeak senior managing director and head of Asia and the Middle East, said in a statement. Stonepeak said the new fund targets a diversified portfolio of infrastructure assets mainly in communications, energy, transport and logistics across the Asia-Pacific region. The fund has made six investments spanning each of its target sectors so far, Stonepeak said. The new fund adds to a flurry of activity in Asia-Pacific infrastructure and energy in recent years. In February, KKR & Co said it raised $6.4 billion for a fund focused on Asia-Pacific infrastructure and energy-related assets in what it said was the largest pan-regional infrastructure fund raised for the region. (Reporting by Yantoultra Ngui; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Switzerland's national flag flies beside the one of the European Union in Zurich, Switzerland May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo ZURICH (Reuters) -The Swiss government on Friday approved a new negotiating mandate for talks with Brussels to modernize the country's relationship with the European Union after a previous bid unraveled in 2021. Switzerland has said unrestricted access to the EU marketplace is the cornerstone of the plan, which aims to update existing accords with the single market, and seal new sectoral agreements in areas including electricity and food safety. "The negotiations on the package aim to stabilize and further develop bilateral relations between Switzerland and the European Union," the government said in a statement. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told a press conference he hoped talks could begin this month, and that his government wanted an "equitable" outcome. The quality of an accord would not be sacrificed in the interests of speed, he said. Both sides had previously spent years thrashing out a new bilateral deal, but critics argued it excessively infringed Swiss sovereignty, leading to the collapse of the plan in 2021. Wealthy, neutral Switzerland has long had powerful internal resistance to closer integration with the EU, even as supporters of closer ties warn that the country cannot expect to benefit from the bloc without making concessions. Before agreeing the negotiating mandate, Switzerland undertook a consultation process with powerful interest groups, including its cantons, and any accord with Brussels could still face a severe test in a traditional Swiss referendum. Cassis said a "clear majority" of stakeholders backed the talks with Brussels but noted that most proposals submitted to "tighten" or "clarify" the mandate related to electricity, international rail travel, immigration and wage protection. "The more we get to our goals with the EU, the less we will have to alter on the domestic political front," he said. (Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Richard Chang) FILE PHOTO: A resident carries a mattress while walking by a car burnt by gang members, as the government said it would extend a state of emergency for another month after an escalation in violence from gangs seeking to oust the Prime Minister Ariel Henry By Sarah Morland (Reuters) - Nearly 3,000 pregnant women in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, risk being cut off from essential healthcare if the current gang war-driven paralysis of the city continues, the United Nations said on Friday. Haiti's government extended a state of emergency on Thursday amid mass lootings and attacks on police stations. Armed gangs are calling for the overthrow of the government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who is in Puerto Rico, apparently unable to return to the country and struggling to rally international support. The U.N.'s Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said if the situation continues some 450 women out of those 3,000 are at risk of potentially fatal obstetric complications, while more than 500 sexual violence survivors could be left without medical care by late March. "Sexual violence against women and girls is used as a weapon of war, intimidation, territorial control and domination," BINUH said in a statement, adding that partner organizations working to prevent gender violence in camps for internally displaced people had cut or halted most services for safety reasons. There are widespread reports of gangs carrying out mass rapes in the country as they expand their control. Many victims do not report the attacks for fear of retaliation and support is largely left to cash-strapped local associations. Abortion in Haiti remains illegal, and hospitals have warned of staff, bed and blood shortages while many aid organizations have suspended services due to the violence. BINUH chief Maria Isabel Salvador said it was "imperative" to promote the participation of women in leadership across Haiti including at the political levels. The comments come as the U.S. pushes Henry to "expedite" a long-awaited political transition and as regional leaders meet with representatives from Haiti's government and opposition, though they have still not reached consensus on how to move forward. In neighboring Dominican Republic, U.N. experts have warned of pregnant or post-partum Haitians being allegedly arrested during medical check-ups and deported. Infants born there to Haitian parents do not receive Dominican citizenship. (Reporting by Sarah Morland in Mexico City; Editing by Nia Williams) ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said local elections scheduled for March 31 would be his last vote, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Friday. Erdogan, modern Turkey's most successful politician, has led the country for more than two decades. A winner of more than a dozen elections since 2002, Erdogan was re-elected for a five-year term during hotly contested elections in May 2023. "This is a final for me, under the mandate given by the law this is my last election," Erdogan said. "The result that will come out will be the transferring of a legacy to my siblings who will come after me," he was cited as saying by Anadolu. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay; Editing by Chris Reese) (Reuters) -Russian drones killed three people in Ukraine's south and north on Friday, while a missile strike a day earlier killed two and wounded dozens more, local authorities said. The missile strike on Thursday damaged a hospital, an emergency medical care centre, and a water utility in the northern city of Sumy, bordering Russia, the regional military administration said on Friday. Two people were killed and 26 wounded, of whom six remained in hospitals, it added. On Friday afternoon, a civilian car was hit by a kamikaze drone in Kharkiv region, killing a man and a woman, the regional governor said on the Telegram messenger app. Another drone hit a village in the southern Kherson region, its governor added. A woman was killed. All three regions frequently come under Russian drone and missile attacks. Moscow has denied deliberately targeting civilians, though many have been killed in frequent air strikes across Ukraine in the course of the two-year-old war. (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Toby Chopra and Alex Richardson) A tank maneuvers near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, March 6, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber GENEVA (Reuters) -The United Nations expert on torture said on Friday she was investigating allegations of torture and mistreatment of Palestinian detainees in Israel, and was in talks to visit the country. Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, Dr Alice Jill Edwards said she had recently received allegations of torture and ill-treatment of Palestinians being detained in the Israeli-occupied West Bank or as a result of the conflict in Gaza, where Israel is fighting the ruling Palestinian Hamas movement. "I'm looking into that as we speak and carrying out a fact-finding investigation," said Edwards, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. "I'm calling on ... Hamas, the state of Palestine, Israel to put their torture tools down, to really have a focus on peace and a prospect of living side-by-side as neighbours in the future." The Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva confirmed that it had received Edwards' request to visit Israel, which was passed on to Jerusalem for further consideration. The U.N. human rights office says it has received numerous reports of mass detention, ill-treatment and enforced disappearance of Palestinians in northern Gaza by the Israeli military, and has recorded the arrests of thousands in the West Bank. The Israeli military has said its operation in Gaza is designed to "dismantle Hamas' military capabilities" and rescue hostages captured by Hamas in the attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 that triggered the conflict. "Israel denies general and unsubstantiated claims regarding abuse of detainees in the IDF's detention facilities. The mistreatment of detainees during their time in detention or whilst under interrogation violates IDF values and contravenes IDF orders and is therefore absolutely prohibited," the Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva said in a statement to Reuters. Edwards said she had also raised allegations of mass murders and mutilations of hostages and sexual violence against them with Palestinian authorities through the Palestinian Permanent Mission in Geneva. She said she had, however, received "a disappointing reply" that "showed no empathy for those individuals who were subject to terrible atrocities on the 7th of October". The mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel says Palestinian militants killed around 1,200 Israelis and abducted 253 on Oct. 7. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says Israel has killed almost 31,000 Palestinians in its retaliatory offensive. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Ros Russell) The State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine will block the broadcast of Russian television and radio channels in border areas. For these purposes, the government allocated UAH 152 million from the state budget reserve fund. "On March 5, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated UAH 152 million from the state budget reserve fund to the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine to build a system for blocking the broadcast of programs of enemy television and radio channels in border areas," the press service of the State Special Communications Service said in a statement on Thursday. The system will operate in nine regions: Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia and Odesa. "The implementation of the project will make it possible to oust the "Russian world" from Ukraine's information space. The influence of Russian propaganda on the Ukrainian population will be reduced, and the level of information security of Ukraine will increase," the State Committee for Special Communications said. Government Order No. 193-r dated March 5 "On the allocation of funds from the state budget reserve fund" will help implement the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) dated March 18, 2022 "On neutralizing threats to the information security of the state." One of the tasks of the NSDC solution is to ensure the sustainable functioning of digital broadcasting facilities and uninterrupted broadcasting of television channels in the multiplexes MX-1, MX-2, MX-3, and MX-5. FILE PHOTO: Over 38,000 Meals Ready to Eat and water destined for an airdrop over Gaza are loaded aboard a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, March 1, 2024. U.S. Air Force/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military carried out its fourth airdrop of aid into Gaza on Friday, a U.S. official told Reuters, amid an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in the crowded coastal enclave. The Israeli offensive in Gaza, which is supported by the United States, has displaced most of the enclave's 2.3 million people and led to critical shortages of food, water and medicine. The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not offer more details on the airdrop, including its location or number of meals delivered. U.S. President Joe Biden, who first announced the airdrop campaign last week, announced on Thursday that the U.S. military will also build a temporary port in the coming weeks on Gaza's Mediterranean coast to enable delivery of humanitarian aid by sea. (Reporting by Phil Stewart) FILE PHOTO: U.S. Air Force members work on the preparation of a humanitarian aid drop for Gaza residents, in this picture released on March 5, 2024. US Central Command via X/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo By Phil Stewart and Michelle Nichols WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's plan to build a floating U.S. military port to speed up aid to Gaza could take up to 60 days to become a reality and involve more than 1,000 American troops, the Pentagon said on Friday. The Pentagon offered the timeline a day after Biden announced the initiative in his State of the Union speech, as he seeks to cool anger in his Democratic Party over his staunch support for Israel's offensive in Gaza since Oct. 7. The United Nations has warned that widespread famine in the Gaza Strip is "almost inevitable" without urgent action. A formal conclusion that famine has arrived in the coastal enclave of 2.3 million people could come next week. The U.N. has said that once famine is declared, it is too late to help many people. "Children in Gaza cannot wait to eat. They are already dying from malnutrition and saving their lives is a matter of hours or days - not weeks," said Jason Lee at Save the Children. Some U.S. lawmakers and aid organizations said the floating pier system masked the bigger issue: the failure to get Israel's government to allow more aid to enter Gaza by land, which is the fastest, most efficient option. "This is not a logistics problem; it is a political problem," said Avril Benoit, executive director for Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) in the United States. "Rather than look to the US military to build a work-around, the US should insist on immediate humanitarian access using the roads and entry points that already exist." PLANNING STILL IN EARLY STAGES Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon's chief spokesperson, described the planning for the port system as still in its early stages, with deployment orders just starting to go out to those troops who will head to the Middle East. The Pentagon said it had also not yet determined exactly how the landing site for the floating port system would be secured against any threats and said it was in discussions with partners including Israel. Asked whether the Pentagon anticipated the port system would be targeted by Palestinian militant group Hamas, which the U.S. calls a terrorist organization, Ryder said: "That's certainly a risk." "But if Hamas truly does care about the Palestinian people, then, again, one would hope that this international mission to deliver aid to people who need it would be able to happen unhindered," Ryder said. Still, in a sign that security was a concern, Ryder said no U.S. troops would enter Gaza, even temporarily, to complete port construction. The U.S. port system being envisioned for Gaza involves two separate components, the first being construction of a floating, offshore barge that would be able to accept aid deliveries. The U.S. military would then move aid from there to a floating, 1,800 foot-long (550 meter) causeway anchored to the shore. Once operational, the port system would allow delivery about 2 million meals to Gazans daily, Ryder said. By comparison, the U.S. military has delivered a total of about 124,000 meals during four airdrops in the past week. The latest airdrop on Friday delivered about 11,500 meals, the U.S. military said. CRITICISM FROM REPUBLICANS Asked about social media reports on Thursday that some airdropped U.S. aid had killed people as it landed, Ryder said the U.S. was confident no U.S. airdropped aid resulted in casualties. He noted that reports of fatalities on Thursday emerged five minutes before Thursday's airdrop occurred. While many of Biden's Democratic allies applaud the aid push, some Republican lawmakers criticized it. "Building a port in Gaza is building a port for Hamas," Republican Senator Marco Rubio wrote on X. U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths on Friday described the United Nations role in the U.S. plan as "limited at present." He said he was contacted by the U.S. mission to the U.N. on Thursday to say Washington would work with the U.N. and that U.N. officials in the region had on Friday been speaking with the United States, including the U.S. military's Central Command. "It's the beginning of a conversation ... it's going to be hard to get this to work quickly," Griffiths told reporters on Friday. "But we need help from wherever we can get it." "What we need for Gaza is of course an immediate ceasefire, but we also need land routes. Land access is our primary one, that's where you get scale," Griffiths said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart, Kanishka Singh, Michelle Nichols, Patricia Zengerle and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler, Daniel Wallis, Don Durfee and Diane Craft) By Matt Spetalnick and Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday accused the Venezuelan government of failing to deliver on some of its key commitments that resulted in U.S. sanctions relief last year, despite this weeks announcement of a July 28 date for a presidential election. Speaking to a think tank in Washington, Brian Nichols, U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs, said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had taken a number of steps in the wrong direction. These measures, he said, include maintaining an election ban on Maria Corina Machado, the leading opposition candidate, and arresting dozens of opposition activists. Washington has vowed to reimpose sanctions on the OPEC member-states vital energy sector by mid-April unless Machado is allowed to run and Maduro follows through on other promises made in a deal with the opposition in Barbados in October. The timelines are tight and we don't want to pre-judge how things will turn out, but the direction of travel (by Maduros government) is deeply worrisome, Nichols said. We look to working with democratic actors in Venezuela and our partners around the region to determine how do we respond," he added. Machado, a 56-year-old industrial engineer who overwhelmingly won an October opposition primary, has rejected the possibility of a substitute candidate, saying her ban is contrived by Maduro's government to protect him from a viable challenger. The ban has been upheld at a time when Maduro has faced declining support among his socialist party's traditional base. Tuesdays announcement of an election date marked partial fulfillment of Maduros pledge to hold elections in the second half of 2024, but he also promised the ballot would be competitive and internationally monitored and that political prisoners would be released. Its very clear that the Maduro side is failing to deliver on the commitments that it made in the Barbados agreement, Nichols told the conference sponsored by the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. We have to be very clear that the incentives that we and I think others in the international community have put on the table to move toward a competitive election in Venezuela have not been sufficient to motivate reforms and openness that the Maduro side believes would put their government or their governance, their administration, at risk. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis) By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Friday said Zimbabwean officials last month "abruptly detained and deported" U.S. Agency for International Development officials who had been in the country on an assessment mission. The U.S. State Department said Zimbabwe's actions undermined its claims of wanting to pursue international reengagement following human rights concerns in the African country. Representatives for Zimbabwe's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch in recent years have alleged democratic backsliding, rights abuses including torture by state security forces and government corruption in Zimbabwe. The U.S. has also expressed concerns, with Washington imposing sanctions on the country's president earlier this week. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa won a second term in August in a disputed vote that the opposition described as a "gigantic fraud" and election observers said failed to meet regional and international standards. KEY QUOTES "Members of the assessment team were subject to aggressive handling, prolonged interrogation and intimidation, unsafe and forced nighttime transportation, overnight detention and confinement, and forced removal from the country," the State Department said in Friday's statement. "The Government of Zimbabwe has said it wants to pursue international reengagement and democratic reforms. Its actions undermine those claims," it added. In a separate statement, USAID administrator Samantha Power described Zimbabwe's actions as a "grave development." She said the USAID mission had been "assessing the development and governance context in Zimbabwe" to help the agency's efforts to support human rights. CONTEXT Power noted that U.S. government officials and U.S. citizens have experienced harassment and improper treatment from the Zimbabwean authorities in recent years. Last year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced visa restrictions against Zimbabwean officials, citing steps that he said undermined democracy and repressed civil society advocates. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and David Ljunggren; editing by Rami Ayyub and Susan Heavey) SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 6-K REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 March 8, 2024 Commission File Number: 001-32827 MACRO BANK INC. (Translation of registrants name into English) Av. Eduardo Madero 1182 Buenos Aires C1106ACY Tel: 54 11 5222 6500 (Address of registrants principal executive offices) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F x Form 40-F o Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): Yes o No x Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): Yes o No x BANCO MACRO S.A. NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDERS MEETING The Board of Directors of Banco Macro S.A. calls for a General and Special Shareholders Meeting to be held in person on April 12th 2024, at 11:0 0 AM (Buenos Aires Time), at the offices located at Avenida Eduardo Madero 1172, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, this not being the Company's principal pla ce of business, to discuss the following Agenda: AGENDA 1) Appoint three shareholders to sign the Minutes of the Shareholders Meeting. 2) Evaluate the documentation provided for in section 234, subsection 1 of Law No. 19550, for the fiscal year ended December 31st 2023. 3) Evaluate the management of the Board and the Supervisory Committee. 4) Application of the retained earnings as of December 31st 2023. Total Retained Earnings expressed in constant currency as of December 31st 2023, are AR$ 587,913,904,870 which are to be applied as follows: a) AR$ 117,460,820,732 to the Legal Reserve fund; b) AR$ 1,737,775,623 to the Personal Asset Tax on Business Companies (Impuesto a los Bienes Personales Sociedades y Participaciones); and c) AR$ 468,715,308,515 to the Optional Reserve Fund for Future Distribution of Profits, pursuant to Communique A 6464 and supplementary provisions of Banco Central de la Republica Argentina (Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina). 5) Separate a portion of the Optional Reserve Fund for Future Distribution of Profits, in order to allow the application of AR$ 294,130,167,680 to the payment of a cash dividend or dividend in kind, in this case valued at market price, or in any combination of both alternatives, subject to prior authorization by the Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina. Please be advised that the dividend shall be subject to a 7% withholding established under section 97 of the Argentine Income Tax Law, as revised in 2019. Delegation to the Board of Directors of the powers to release of the Reserve and establish the date, currency and other applicable payment terms and conditions in accordance with the delegation provided for by the Shareholders Meeting. Amount expressed in constant currency as of December 31st 2023. 6) Evaluate the remunerations of the members of the Board of Directors for the fiscal year ended December 31st 2023 within the limits as to profits, pursuant to section 261 of Law 19550 and the Rules of the Comision Nacional de Valores (Argentine Securities Exchange Commission). 7) Evaluate the remunerations of the members of the Supervisory Committee for the fiscal year ended December 31st 2023. 8) Evaluate the remuneration of the independent auditor for the fiscal year ended December 31st 2023. 9) Appoint five regular directors who shall hold office for three fiscal years to fill the vacancies existing due to the expiration of the relevant terms of office. 10) Appoint one regular director who shall hold office for one fiscal year to fill the vacancy generated by the resignation of Mr. Guillermo Merediz and one alternate director who shall hold office for one fiscal year to fill the vacancy generated by the resignation of Mr. Delfin Jorge Ezequiel Carballo and complete the terms of their offices. 11) Establish the number and designate the regular and alternate members of the Supervisory Committee who shall hold office for one fiscal year. 12) Appoint the independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31st 2024. 13) Determine the auditing committees budget. 14) Authorize any acts, proceedings and filings aimed at obtaining the administrative approval and registration of the resolutions adopted at the Shareholders Meeting. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOTES: Be advised that: (i) when considering item 5 of the Agenda, the Shareholders Meeting shall be held as a Special Meeting; (ii) in order to be able to participate in the Meeting, by April 8th 2024, the shareholders must submit by email addressed to a [email protected] the following: (a) proof of the book-entry share account issued by Caja de Valores S.A. and prove their identity and legal capacity, as the case may be; (b) name and surname or corporate name, document type and number of the individuals or registration data of the legal entities or companies, expressly indicating the registry in which they are registered and the jurisdiction, and domicile and capacity. The same information must be provided by anyone who intends to attend the Meeting as representative of the owner of the shares; and (c) when applicable, Shareholders shall comply with the provisions under Title II, Chapter II, Sections 25 and 26 of the Rules of the Argentine Securities Exchange Commission. In addition, Shareholders that are companies or other legal entities, either local or foreign, shall inform the name and surname, nationality, real domicile, date of birth, ID or passport number, CUIT, CUIL or other taxpayer ID number or professional registration number of their end beneficiaries. Be advised that no person declared incompetent under section 10 of the Financial Entities Law No. 21526 and/or under the Revised Text Financial Entity Authorities issued by the Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina may be nominated as candidate to hold office as member of the Board or the Supervisory Committee. Jorge Pablo Brito Chairman SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized. Date: March 8, 2024 U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Henry C. Leventis, left, speaks during a news conference on March 7, 2024, announcing the arrest and indictment of U.S. Army Intelligence Analyst Korbein Schultz for conspiracy to obtain and disclose defense information. (George Walker IV/AP) NASHVILLE, Tenn. An Army soldier has been arrested on accusations of selling sensitive information related to U.S. military capabilities, Justice Department officials said Thursday. Sgt. Korbein Schultz, who is also an intelligence analyst, was accused in a six-count indictment of charges including conspiring to obtain and disclose military defense information and bribery of a public official. The 24-year-old was arrested at Fort Campbell, which straddles the Tennessee-Kentucky border, shortly after the indictment was released Thursday. The men and women of the United States Armed Forces dedicate their lives to maintain our national security, Henry C. Leventis, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, told reporters. Our laws protecting national defense information are critical to that mission, and they must be enforced. Illegal dissemination of national defense information puts our country, our fellow citizens, members of our military and our allies at risk. According to the indictment, Schultz who had a top-secret security clearance allegedly conspired with an individual identified only as Conspirator A to disclose various documents, photographs and other national defense materials since June 2022. The indictment claims that Schultz was recruited by the individual not only due to his security clearance but also because he was tasked with gathering sensitive U.S. military information. Some of the information that Schultz supposedly gave to the individual included information related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, hypersonic equipment, studies on future developments of U.S. military forces and studies on military drills and operations in major countries like China. The indictment outlines that Schultz was initially asked to provide documents detailing lessons that could be learned from Russias war with Ukraine and how those lessons could be applied to the U.S. helping Taiwan in the event of an attack. Schultz was paid $200 for that information, which then prompted Conspirator A, to ask for a long-term partnership. Conspirator A, who was described in the indictment as a foreign national purporting to reside in Hong Kong, later suggested that Schultz could earn more money if he handed over internal only material rather than unclassified documents. In total, Shultz received at least 14 payments totaling $42,000. The defendant and his co-conspirator also discussed recruiting another member of the U.S. military to join their conspiracy and to provide additional national defense information in order to conceal their illegal conduct, Leventis said. Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ruth Castro said in a statement that Schultz has been in the Army since November 2018 and his hometown is Wills Point, Texas. Schultz was previously assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, and was deployed once to Eastern Europe, according to Lt. Col. Tony Hoefler, a spokesperson for Fort Campbell. The case is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions of current or former military members accused of illegally disclosing sensitive government secrets. For instance in April 2023, Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was charged with leaking highly classified military documents about Russias war in Ukraine on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. He pleaded guilty on Monday in a deal with prosecutors that calls for him to serve at least 11 years in prison. In August, two U.S. Navy sailors were charged with providing sensitive military information to China including details on wartime exercises, naval operations and critical technical material. And more recently, the Justice Department announced charges this week against a civilian Air Force employee and retired Army lieutenant colonel for allegedly sharing classified information about the war in with Ukraine on a foreign dating site. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. A Japanese ambulance drives through Yokohama, Japan, May 8, 2020. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) A U.S. Marine assigned to Camp Foster died Thursday evening when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle on an Okinawa roadway, according to Japanese police. The 24-year-old Marine was southbound on Route 58 in the Oyama section of Ginowan city around 6:50 p.m. when he struck a vehicle turning right at a T-junction, a spokesman for Okinawa Prefectural Police told Stars and Stripes by phone Friday. The Marine suffered a head injury and was confirmed dead at a local hospital at 7:29 p.m., the spokesman said. The vehicles driver was not injured, he said. A III Marine Expeditionary Force spokesman, Capt. Alejandro Arteaga, said the collision happened while the Marine was off duty. We are cooperating with local authorities in their investigation of the accident, Arteaga said by email Friday. Pending official notification of the Marines next of kin, no further details will be released at this time. We extend our heartfelt condolences to those impacted by this tragedy. A witness reported the accident to police, the police spokesman said. The crashs cause is in under investigation. Some government officials in Japan may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. U.S. Marines pass a soccer ball with children at a day care in Pattaya, Thailand, March 6, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) PATTAYA, Thailand Children clad in bright pink polo shirts laughed, danced and cheered during a visit from U.S. Marines taking a community-relations break from two weeks of Cobra Gold military drills. Around a dozen members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary unit joined more than 40 kids at the Martin Brands Childcare center in Pattaya for local games and a dance competition in the courtyard. Upstairs, Marines did arts and crafts with the younger children. I love doing stuff like this I try to get out and help or interact with the communities wherever I go. I did a lot of this when I was in Japan, Staff Sgt. Jimmy Sannon, a maintenance chief, told Stars and Stripes during Wednesdays visit. I love seeing the smile on their faces; thats what it is. The day care visit was one of several community relations projects the Marines took on as part of Cobra Gold, the largest military exercise in mainland Asia, which drew to a close on Friday. The day care students, many of them the children of migrant workers, come predominantly from neighboring Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia and are unable to enroll in Thai schools, said Peter Thorand, president of the Navy League of the United States Siam Council. At the Martin Brand center, the children are supervised and given Thai and English language lessons while their parents are away during the day, he said. I think when you see the result, the kids love it and its a good experience for your people, Thorand said. U.S. troops rarely interact with people from those three countries, he added. Members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit enjoy a dance routine at the Martin Brands Childcare center in Pattaya, Thailand, March 6, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) A U.S. Marine works on an art project with a student at Martin Brands Childcare center in Pattaya, Thailand, March 6, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) U.S. Marines help serve lunch to children at the Martin Brands Childcare center in Pattaya, Thailand, March 6, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) Thailand, a comparatively prosperous country in the region, is a key destination for migrants, displaced persons and asylum seekers, according to a United Nations report from 2019, the most recent on the countrys migration trends. Before the pandemic, migrants, especially from neighboring countries, were coming to Thailand in increasing numbers and constituted about 10% of the nations labor force, the report states. Thorand, a retired maintenance engineer from Vancouver, Canada, said he and the Siam Council have been involved in Cobra Gold community projects for decades. He said the projects not only benefit the community, they provide an opportunity for Cobra Gold participants to see the real country. These community relations projects are maybe one of the most important things you guys can do, he said. Many students have never interacted with Americans. You leave a lasting impression on the people, Thorand said. The students also get a chance to practice their English, said Staff Sgt. Kyle Peterson, a utilities specialist with the 15th MEU. Some tried the teach Marines phrases in Thai during the arts-and-craft session, he said. Honestly, its just really humbling how much theyre willing to learn and how much effort theyre actually putting into it here, he said. I think its just as simple as it is; its about being where you can be somebodys hero, Peterson said. Its not just painting butterflies, but just something as simple as going to play with them downstairs or painting pictures with them up here. The USNS Carson City, an expeditionary fast transport ship, in 2016. (Haley Nace/U.S. Navy) The U.S. government has asked a New Jersey federal court to pause a lawsuit that alleges the Navys negligence led to a civilian engineers rape aboard a transport ship so the woman can instead file a claim for a work-related injury with the Labor Department, according to court documents. The arguments demonstrate a shocking lack of concern for the circumstances in which Elsie Dominguez claims she was raped by the captain of the Navy transport ship on which she worked, said Christine Dunn, an attorney representing Dominguez in the lawsuit filed in November. Dominguez, a 2014 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, was working as the first assistant engineer aboard the USNS Carson City, an expeditionary fast transport vessel, in December 2021 when she said the ships captain used a master key code to access her private room overnight and rape her in her bed. The Navy failed to care for and protect her when she reported the attack the next morning using the proper reporting procedures, according to the suit. The Navy also failed to have appropriate security measures in place to prevent the assault from occurring, according to the suit, which does not name the civilian captain. The ship, part of the Navys Military Sealift Command, lacked oversight of the captains use of a master key code that gave him complete access to the vessel, as well as working security cameras and complete logs of crew members coming and going from the ship. The Labor Department manages claims under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, the federal law that pays medical expenses and compensation benefits to workers for injuries obtained while performing their duties. Elsie Dominguez filed a lawsuit against the United States alleging the Navy failed to protect her from sexual assault while she worked as an engineer aboard transport vessel in the services Military Sealift Command. (Photo provided by Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP) In court documents, attorneys for the Justice Department argued Dominguez was aboard the ship because her job required it, and that makes it a workers compensation issue. The ship was deployed, and as a practical matter she had no other place to live. The alleged assault occurred in her stateroom, a government premises. On these facts, a substantial likelihood of [workers compensation] coverage exists, according to the document. She was living on that ship for years, and it really cant be the case that absolutely everything that happens to her on that ship would be workers comp. That doesnt make sense certainly not for something like being raped in her sleep in her bed, Dunn said. If the court were to agree with the government, Dominguez would be able to return to the lawsuit if the Labor Department denied the claim, according to court documents. If the court disagrees, the case will continue forward. The court is expected to rule on the governments motion March 18. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has an ongoing investigation into the allegations, according to court documents. The Navys Military Sealift Command operates 130 civilian-crewed ships that replenish Navy ships, conduct special missions and strategically move and preposition cargo at sea around the world, Tom Van Leunen, command spokesman, said last year. At that time, the workforce was comprised of 5,547 civilian mariners working aboard ships, 1,434 civilians in shore jobs, 347 active-duty service members and 956 reservists. The Carson City, the ship on which Dominguez worked, is a catamaran with a flight deck for helicopter operations and a loading ramp to enable vehicles to drive on and off the ship quickly. On the night that Dominguez said she was raped, she believes someone drugged her while at a bar in Brindisi, Italy, where the ship was docked. After one beer and one shot, she felt overly intoxicated and required two people to bring her back on the ship to her room, where she was left alone and unconscious, according to court documents. During the night, the captain of the ship entered her room using a master key code and raped her, she claims. She attempted to report the assault the next day but was given false information that discouraged her from making the report, according to court documents. After the assault, Dominguez still lived in the room where the rape occurred for nearly two years, though she was able to have a deadbolt lock installed on the door. She filed a criminal report in June and took leave in October, her attorney said. U.S. Army Pvt. James B. McCartney, 22, was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 222nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division in early 1945. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) (Tribune News Service) A missing World War II soldier from Ridgway, Colo., was accounted for on Sept. 21, 2023, 78 years after his death in France. U.S. Army Pvt. James B. McCartney, 22, was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 222nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division in early 1945, according to a Thursday release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. On March 1 of that year, McCartney was killed in action while his unit patrolled near Wildenguth, France. His remains were not immediately recovered and the Germans did not report McCartney as a prisoner of war. The American Graves Registration Command, the organization that searched for and recovered fallen American personnel in the European Theater, searched the area beginning in 1947 and did not locate McCartneys remains. He was declared nonrecoverable on Oct. 8, 1951. DPAA historians who are conducting research into soldiers missing from combat near Wildenguth found that X-6492, a body buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in St. Avold, France, could be connected to McCartney. In August 2022, the DPAA disinterred and transferred X-6492 to a laboratory for analysis. Scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as mitochondrial DNA and autosomal DNA analysis, to identify McCartneys remains. McCartneys name is on the Walls of the Missing at Epinal American Cemetry in Dinoze, France. To indicate he has been accounted for, a rosette will be placed next to his name. McCartney will be buried March 30, 2024, in Bakersfield, Calif. 2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at denverpost.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The strategy of filtering aid to Ukraine drop by drop no longer works, we need timely supplies of weapons, strong decisions the end of the war, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. "One thing is clear today, and we must openly admit it with bitterness and sobriety. I want all our partners to know that we are extremely grateful to you for what you have done for Ukraine, but the strategy of trickling aid into Ukraine drop by drop is no longer working. It's over. And if everything continues as it is now, it will not end well for all of us. Unhindered and timely supplies of all types of weapons and ammunition are necessary so that Ukraine defeats Russia, and the war in Europe does not spread directly to it," Kuleba said at a press conference in Lithuania with his Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian and French counterparts. Kuleba said it is necessary to accept as a new reality that the era of peace in Europe is over. "And this, in my opinion, is the message that Paris came to when it convened the summit a week ago: those who do not believe that a war can happen outside of Ukraine, crossing into territory that is currently NATO territory, please wake up, read history books, listen to what Putin is saying now, and find ten differences. You won't find it," the minister said. According to him, at one time the occupation of the Baltic countries could have been avoided if strong decisions had been made. "Why or how long will we continue to stumble over weak decisions in 2024? Weak decisions mean more war. Strong decisions mean the end of war. Everything is very simple. And the discussion started in Paris is the path to strong decisions," Kuleba believes. Gen. Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command, during a Feb. 20-21, 2024 visit to Morocco. Langley said in March 7 testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia and China have made inroads in a number of African countries. (U.S. Africa Command) STUTTGART, Germany Russia is making aggressive moves in Africa in a bid to dominate regions spanning from NATOs southern doorstep in Libya to resource-rich parts of central Africa, a top U.S. general told Congress. Russia and China both have long-term plans for Africa but Russia is moving at an accelerated pace, U.S. Africa Commands Gen. Michael Langley said during the Senate Armed Services Committee testimony Thursday. A number of countries are at the tipping point of actually being captured by the Russian Federation, Langley said. Like China, Russia has made inroads in Africa on multiple fronts. Langley said Russian operatives have taken advantage of unrest in western Africa, where there have been a series of coups in recent years. American involvement in places such as Niger and Mali has been curtailed because of government overthrows. But that also has opened the door to a larger Russian presence. This undated photo handed out by the French military shows Russian mercenaries in northern Mali. Gen. Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command said during March 7, 2024 testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia and China have long-term plans for Africa and both have made inroads on multiple fronts. (French army ) Langley said Russian security forces, both private contractors and state actors, have upped their presence in the coup-wracked countries, as well as Libya and the Central African Republic. They want power projection capabilities, Langley said, adding that gaining access to natural resources, including rare-earth minerals, are part of the attraction. I think at an accelerated pace, the Russian Federation is really trying to take over Central Africa as well as the Sahel, Langley said. Central and southern African countries in particular have little trust in China and Russia but need infrastructure investments, inexpensive equipment and financial support, which can take the form of predatory loans that leave them vulnerable to domination, Langley said. These countries are in a dilemma. They must balance their development needs against risks to national sovereignty, Langley said. The U.S. offers a different approach, one that is centered on development of civilian and defense institutions and doesnt hold its partners natural resources hostage, Langley said. Instead of demanding financial and political concessions, we demand accountability on the fundamentals: respect for human rights and the rule of law, Langley said. While its unclear which approach will win out, the stakes are high, given global military reliance on minerals such as chromium, cobalt, manganese and tantalum that are vital for various industries. If we dont support host nations in securing these resources, the implications for Americas defense edge will be grim, Langley said. These are critical minerals for our adversaries too. People board a truck as they leave Khartoum, Sudan, on June 19, 2023. The U.N. human rights office said in a new report Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, that scores of people, including children, have been subjected to rape and other forms of sexual violence in the ongoinng conflict in Sudan, assaults that may amount to war crimes. (AP) UNITED NATIONS The U.N. Security Council urged Sudans warring parties on Friday to immediately halt hostilities during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and allow aid to get to 25 million people in desperate need of food and other assistance. Ramadan is expected to begin on or around Monday, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon. The 15-member council voted overwhelmingly in favor of the British-drafted resolution, with 14 countries in support and only Russia abstaining. Sudan plunged into chaos in April, when long-simmering tensions between its military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary commanded by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo broke out into street battles in the capital, Khartoum. Fighting spread to other parts of the country, especially urban areas, but in Sudans western Darfur region it took on a different form, with brutal attacks by the Arab-dominated Rapid Support Forces on ethnic African civilians. Thousands of people have been killed. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides on Thursday to support a Ramadan cease-fire, warning that the nearly year-long conflict threatens the countrys unity and could ignite regional instability of dramatic proportions. The African Union also backed a halt to fighting during Ramadan. Burhan welcomed the U.N. chiefs appeal, but the Sudanese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday listing a number of conditions for a cease-fire to be effective. The Rapid Support Forces have not responded. The resolution expresses grave concern over the spreading violence and the catastrophic and deteriorating humanitarian situation, including crisis levels, or worse, of acute food insecurity, particularly in Darfur. Britains deputy U.N. ambassador James Kariuki urged the Sudanese armed forces and Rapid Support Forces to act on this united international call for peace and to silence the guns. The Security Council urged the warring parties to seek a sustainable resolution to the conflict through dialogue, and Kariuki called on the two sides to build trust and work to restore peace. According to the U.N. humanitarian office, 8.3 million people have been forcibly displaced by fighting between government and paramilitary forces, half of the countrys 51 million people need aid, and 70% to 80% of health facilities arent functioning. Elizabeth MacHardy and Gordon Strachan hold a plaque commemorating Canadians killed in the Korean War. Their brother, Pvt. William Leslie Strachan, was one of the six who died on Hill 467 in the battle for Chail-li Village. (Guy Black) OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea A Canadian man who walked nearly 200 miles at home and in South Korea last year to commemorate a battle his countrymen fought in the Korean War has created a more lasting remembrance. Guy Black walked 186 miles in April, starting in British Columbia, Canada, then completing the trek in South Korea to the battlefield at Kapyong, east of Seoul. His journey coincided with the 72nd anniversary of the fight, in which a brigade of Canadian and Australian troops held off three larger Chinese regiments. Now Black is planning to erect two plaques at the sites of Kapyong and another battle fought a month later by the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment at Chail-li, a village near Pocheon city. During his trek to Hill 677 at Kapyong, Black noticed memorials everywhere commemorating the battle but no honor roll with the names of those who died at Chail-li, he told Stars and Stripes in a Feb. 22 video call. The idea for my next project began to grow, he said. I realized I had found something important I wanted to bring to life. The Canadian army regards Kapyong as its greatest victory of the war, but Chail-li was a defeat, according to a July 2021 article on the Canadian government website. The 2nd Battalion launched its attack on May 30, 1951, to capture Chail-li Village, Hills 162 and 269 and the larger Hill 467. They encountered stiff resistance from the Chinese; dark skies and heavy rain precluded air or artillery support. The Canadians fell back from Hill 467. A plaque honors six Canadians killed in a Korean War battle to capture Chail-li Village on May 30, 1951. (Guy Black) Withdrawal, usually a difficult feat, was successful; Canadas six casualties and fifty-four wounded soldiers were recovered and rescued from the scene, leaving no soldier behind, said the account on Canadas website. Once Black arrived home in June, he started working on two plaques one of Pocheon and another for Kapyong listing the names of each Canadian soldier killed in those battles. The most time-consuming part is writing the text for each plaque and making sure there are no errors. It is especially complicated because the text is written in English and Korean, he said. For help with translations, Black contacted Sgt. Jonghyeon Jeon of the South Korean army, and David Suh, the international relations officer in Gapyeong county. A friend, Elizabeth MacHardy, and her family also inspired the project, Black said. MacHardys brother, Pvt. William Leslie Strachan, was one of the six who died on Hill 467 in the battle for Chail-li village. The death of their beloved brother has haunted them ever since he was killed, Black said. I have tried to do as much as I can to help them heal and receive recognition for how much they lost and have suffered due to the Korean War. The Pocheon plaque is with the South Korean Customs Service and will be sent to Jeon to install at the Pocheon battle site. The Kapyong plaque will be sent around April, Black said. I believe in service above oneself, and I feel privileged I am actually able to contribute to something so important, he said. A U.S. Marine and a Thai soldier exchange contact information ahead of a Cobra Gold amphibious assault on Hat Yao Beach, Thailand, March 1, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) RAYONG, Thailand Thousands of troops from 30 nations started for home Friday as the largest military exercise in mainland Asia officially came to a close. More than 9,000 service members from 30 countries including 4,500 troops from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps gathered throughout Thailand beginning Feb. 27 for Cobra Gold, the worlds longest-running annual exercise of its kind. Over nearly two weeks, those troops made amphibious assaults and airborne drops, fired live artillery rounds, trained for jungle survival and took part in community relations projects and other activities. Lt. Col. Lindsay Mathwick, commander Combat Logistics Battalion 15 and Marines aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset, said she visited each training area where members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit were engaged. We learned so much as a force, she told Stars and Stripes by email Friday. Some of our Marines also had the opportunity to participate in community relations events with locals a truly memorable experience, Mathwick wrote. But what truly moved me and showed me the impact we have coming to participate in these exercises, was seeing the Marines laughing, eating, and sharing stories with each other during their breaks. U.S. Marines and Thai soldiers adjust one another's protective gear during a Cobra Gold evacuation drill in Rayong, Thailand, March 3, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) Thai and U.S. soldiers check on each other after parachuting from an Air Force C-17 during the Cobra Gold exercise in central Thailand, March 5, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) U.S., Thai and South Korean troops mingle following a Cobra Gold amphibious assault on Hat Yao Beach, Thailand, March 1, 2024. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) Marines also exchanged photos, uniform patches and information that makes us a more powerful team, she said. This years exercise served as a reminder that the United States and its allies share common goals, said Army Maj. General Matthew McFarlane, deputy commander of I Corps, the overall joint force command for Cobra Gold. Everyone is interested in participating here to build relationships with regional partners that are interested in a stable and secure, free and open Indo-Pacific, he said on a conference call Thursday. Thats a key message that we got from everybody. Thailand, the host nation, is a key partner in the region for building those relationships and maintaining readiness, McFarlane said. The nation has maintained official diplomatic ties with the United States since 1833, nearly 200 years. Cobra Gold is a positive example of multilateral cooperation, as is demonstrated by the continued increase in participating nations; everyone walks away from this better and able to solve problems together, he said. A key takeaway this year is the growing importance of cybersecurity and cyberwarfare, McFarlane said. Other lessons included the importance and utility of equipment and technology, such as those used to communicate between nations. This was McFarlanes fourth Cobra Gold; his first was in 1996. Since then, the exercise has grown from primarily combat operations between U.S. and Thai forces to vast, multinational training with many more scenarios and drills. So, its certainly a wider variety and a larger contingent working at multiple echelons, he said. Planning for next years Cobra Gold is already underway, though its too early to provide details, McFarlane said. Were building upon the progress to date, but that doesnt mean well do the exact same thing and just do it bigger, he told Stars and Stripes. Sometimes well add different things. You know, the senior Thai military leadership are going to be specific about different aspects that they want to train or be better at. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, center, attends the opening session of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. (Ng Han Guan/AP) HONG KONG Hong Kong unveiled a proposed law that threatens life imprisonment for residents who endanger national security on Friday, deepening worries about erosion of the citys freedoms four years after Beijing imposed a similar law that all but wiped out public dissent. Its widely seen as the latest step in a crackdown on political opposition that began after the semi-autonomous Chinese city was rocked by violent pro-democracy protests in 2019. Since then, the authorities have crushed the citys once-vibrant political culture. Many of the citys leading pro-democracy activists have been arrested and others fled abroad. Dozens of civil society groups have been disbanded, and outspoken media outlets like Apple Daily and Stand News have been shut down. Hong Kong leader John Lee has urged legislators to push the Safeguarding National Security Bill through at full speed, and lawmakers began debate hours after the bill was released publicly. Its expected to pass easily, possibly in weeks, in a legislature packed with Beijing loyalists following an electoral overhaul. The proposed law will expand the governments power to stamp challenges to its rule, targeting espionage, disclosing state secrets, and colluding with external forces to commit illegal acts among others. It includes tougher penalties for people convicted of working with foreign governments or organizations to break some of its provisions. The law would jail people who damage public infrastructure with the intent to endanger national security for 20 years or life, if they collude with an external force to do so. In 2019, protesters occupied the airport and vandalized railway stations. Similarly, those who commit sedition face a jail term of seven years but colluding with an external force to carry out such acts increase that penalty to 10 years. On Thursday, an appeals court upheld a conviction for sedition against a pro-democracy activist for chanting slogans and criticizing the Beijing-imposed 2020 National Security Law during a political campaign. Its expansive definition of external forces includes foreign governments and political parties, international organizations, and any other organization in an external place that pursues political ends as well as companies that are influenced by such forces. Beijing said the 2019 unrest was supported by external forces and the city government has been condemned what it called external interference during the protests. The bill allows prosecutions for acts committed anywhere in the world for most of its offenses. Critics say that the proposed law would make Hong Kong even more like mainland China. The European Union said the bill covers an even wider range of offenses than previously disclosed, including sweeping bans on external interference and significantly hardened provisions on sentencing. The legislation risks exacerbating the erosion of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong brought about, in particular, by the 2020 National Security Law, it said. However, Beijing insisted that the bill balances maintaining security with safeguarding rights and freedoms. The city government said it was necessary to prevent a recurrence of the massive anti-government protests that rocked the city in 2019, insisting it would only affect an extremely small minority of disloyal residents. It defined national security as a status in which the states political regime and sovereignty are relatively free from danger and threats, so are the welfare of the people and the states economic and social development among other major interests. The legislatures president, Andrew Leung, told reporters that the process was accelerated because the bill was necessary to safeguard national security. If you look at other countries, they enacted it within a day, two weeks, three weeks ... So why cant Hong Kong do it in a speedy manner? You tell me, the pro-Beijing politician said. But the British consulate in Hong Kong urged authorities to allow time for proper legislative scrutiny. The city was a British colony until it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Hong Kongs mini-constitution, the Basic Law, requires the city to enact a national security law, but a previous attempt sparked a massive street protest that drew half a million people, and the legislation was shelved. Such against the current bill are unlikely, due to the chilling effect of the 2020 law after it was enacted to quell the 2019 protests. During a one-month public comment period that ended last week, 98.6% of the views received by officials showed support, and only 0.72% opposed the proposals, the government said. The rest contained questions or opinions that did not reflect a stance on the law, it added. But business people and journalists have expressed fear that a broadly framed law could criminalize their day-to-day work, especially because the proposed definition of state secrets includes matters linked to economic, social and technological developments. The government has sought to allay concerns by adding a public interest defense under specific conditions in the proposal. John Burns, an honorary professor of politics and public administration at the University of Hong Kong, said it remains to be seen how courts will interpret the provision that allows a public interest defense to charges of disclosing state secrets. The bill, if passed as tabled, is likely to have chilling effect on local civil society, Burns said, especially political and public policy lobby groups that have benefited from connections to overseas counterparts. At least initially, I expect them to be especially cautious about expanding links with similar groups overseas, he said. Eric Lai, a research fellow at Georgetown Center for Asian Law, said fears about the are now materialized. He called it overbroad and vague, particularly for offenses involving state secrets and external forces, and said it would undermine due process by allowing extended detention without charges, and by limiting the right to a lawyer. People arrested on suspicion of national security offenses and released on bail could face movement restriction orders which limit the places they can go and where they can live, as well as prevent them from communicating with certain people. Police can also apply to the court to extend detentions and prohibit suspects from consulting certain lawyers. Authorities would also be empowered to use financial sanctions to punish people who have fled abroad, such as preventing other people from hiring them, leasing them property, starting businesses with them, or providing economic support to them. Last year, police offered bounties of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,000) on more than a dozen activists living abroad, including former lawmakers Nathan Law and Ted Hui, whom they accuse of colluding with external forces to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. Prisoners convicted of national security offenses will not be eligible for sentences reductions until authorities are confident early release would not risk national security. This would apply to all national security prisoners, even those whose sentences were imposed prior to the bill. From left, Frances Senate President Gerard Larcher, National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal Deputy Minister for Gender Equality Aurore Berge, Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti attend the seal of the abortion right article 34 into the constitution at the Palace of Versailles, Monday, March 4, 2024 in Versailles, France, west of Paris. Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the bill to enshrine abortion rights in its constitution, making it the only country to explicitly guarantee a womans right to voluntarily terminate a pregnancy. (Emmanuel Dunand/Pool Photo via AP) PARIS France inscribed the guaranteed right to abortion in its constitution Friday, a powerful message of support for womens rights on International Womens Day. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti used a 19th-century printing press to seal the amendment in Frances Constitution at a special public ceremony. Applause filled the cobblestoned Place Vendome as France became the first country to explicitly guarantee abortion rights in its national charter. The measure was overwhelmingly approved by French lawmakers earlier this week, and Fridays ceremony means it can now enter into force. While abortion is a deeply divisive issue in the United States, its legal in nearly all of Europe and overwhelmingly supported in France, where its seen more as a question of public health rather than politics. French legislators approved the constitutional amendment on Monday in a 780-72 vote that was backed by many far-right lawmakers. Fridays ceremony in Paris, attended by around 1,000 people, was a key event on a day focused on advancing womens rights globally. Marches, protests and conferences are being held from Jakarta, Indonesia, to Mexico City and beyond. The French constitutional amendment has been hailed by womens rights advocates around the world, including places where women struggle to access birth control or maternal health care. French President Emmanuel Macron called it a direct result of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2022 rescinding long-held abortion rights. Macron called for other countries to follow suit and proposed including the right to abortion in the European Unions charter, drawing cheers from the crowd in Paris. However, such a move would likely meet stiff resistance from EU members that have tight abortion restrictions, such as Poland. Macrons critics questioned why he pursued the measure in a country with no obvious threat to abortion rights but where women face a multitude of other problems. While some French women saw the step as a major win, others said that in reality not every French woman has access to abortion. Its a smokescreen, Arya Meroni, 32, said of the event. The government is destroying our health care system, many family planning clinics have closed, she said at an annual Feminist Night March in Paris on the eve of International Womens Day. Still, for people like 44-year-old public relations director Lunise Marquis, it was a major milestone for womens rights. We are sending a message to the world, she said. France has a persistently high rate of women killed by their partners and challenges remain in prosecuting sexual abuse against women by powerful celebrities and other men. French women also see lower pay and pensions especially women who are not white. Macrons government said the abortion amendment was important to avoid a U.S.-like scenario for women in France, as hard-right groups are gaining ground and seeking to turn back the clock on freedoms around Europe. Macron presided over the constitutional ceremony. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti used a 100-kilogram (220-pound) press from 1810 to imprint the amendment in Frances 1958 Constitution. It included the phrase, the freedom of women to have recourse to an abortion, which is guaranteed. The ceremony was held outdoors with the public invited, in another first. France follows in the footsteps of the former Yugoslavia, whose 1974 constitution included the phrase: A person is free to decide on having children. Yugoslavias successor states retained similar language in their constitutions, though they did not spell out guaranteed abortion rights. Not everyone saw the day as a cause for celebration, as angry protest marches were held in numerous countries. The head of the Danish Trade Union Confederation, which has 1.3 million members, chafed at how differently women and men are treated in some areas. Unfortunately, we still see sky-high pay differences, professions dominated by one sex, a gender-segregated labor market, harassment cases that primarily affect women and a wide range of other equality problems, Morten Skov Christensen said. In other events Friday: In Ireland, voters will decide whether to change the constitution to remove passages referring to womens domestic duties and broadening the definition of the family. In Italy, where the countrys first female premier is in power, thousands of people marched in Rome to protest gender-based violence. The issue grabbed public attention after the particularly gruesome murder of a young woman last November, which Italian President Sergio Mattarella said Friday consumed all of Italy in horror and pain. Data show more than half of the 120 women murdered in Italy last year were killed by their current or former partners. At street rallies in Seoul, participants had an eye on next months parliamentary elections in South Korea and expressed hope that parties would prioritize gender equality. In Russia, where the United Nations says human rights have deteriorated since the militarys full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin saluted Russian women fighting in the war and those waiting at home for their loved ones who had been deployed. Women in Afghanistan staged rare protests against harsh Taliban restrictions. The countrys rulers have banned girls and women from education above grade six and from most jobs. Females are also barred from public spaces like parks. A group of women gathered indoors in Kabul, holding up signs to hide their faces, and chanted, No to gender apartheid and Afghanistan is hell for women. Protesters in Turkey plan to call attention to violence against women, and rallies are expected in many cities. Protests in the country are often political and, at times, violent, rooted in womens efforts to improve their rights as workers. This years global theme is Inspire Inclusion. Indonesian demonstrators demanded adoption of the International Labor Organizations conventions concerning gender equality and eliminating workplace violence and harassment. Labor rights groups in Thailand marched to the Government House to petition for better work conditions, and activists marching against violence in the Philippine capital were stopped by police near the presidential palace, sparking a brief scuffle. Indias government cut the price of cooking gas cylinders by 100 rupees ($1.20) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi posting on social media that the move was in line with our commitment to empowering women. The United Nations childrens agency said in a report released on International Womens Day that more than 230 million women and girls around the world have undergone female genital mutilation. The number has increased by 30 million in the past eight years, it said. Were also seeing a worrying trend that more girls are subjected to the practice at younger ages, many before their fifth birthday. That further reduces the window to intervene, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. Officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, International Womens Day is a national holiday in about 20 countries, including Russia, Ukraine and Afghanistan. Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report. Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on Oct. 29, 2022. (Carl Court, Getty Images/TNS) The United Nations atomic watchdog reiterated demands for Russia to return Europes largest nuclear power plant to Ukrainian control amid concern that deteriorating safety could lead to a meltdown. A majority of the International Atomic Energy Agencys 35-member board of governors passed a formal resolution of censure against Russia late Thursday. That came a day after Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi lauded the country for being the No. 1 vendor of nuclear technology in the world and held talks with President Vladimir Putin in Russias Sochi. While the IAEA resolution is largely symbolic, it underscores official concern that Russias occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant could threaten a broader revival of atomic power as part of a shift away from carbon energy sources. Even a small nuclear accident at Zaporizhzhia could destroy development of the nuclear industry in the world, Ukraine Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in an interview before the vote. It is not in anybodys interest. Support for nuclear power has only slowly recovered 13 years after a tsunami triggered the triple meltdown at Japans Fukushima Dai-Ichi atomic plant, which is still laden with tens of billions of dollars in cleanup costs. Ukraine is home to historys biggest nuclear-power disaster, the 1986 meltdown at Chernobyl under the Soviet Union that rendered more than 1,000 square miles uninhabitable. Russia has repeatedly failed to take the necessary and prudent steps to minimize nuclear safety and security risks, US Ambassador Laura Holgate said. We reiterate our longstanding call on Russia to withdraw its military and civilian personnel from the plant and from all of Ukraine. Russias state-owned Rosatom Corp. took control over Zaporizhzhia home to six reactors built to supply a fifth of Ukraines electricity in September 2022, after Russian forces occupied the area during the early stages of the invasion Putin ordered. Ukraines military is fighting to push back Russian forces and regain control over its territory, though its counteroffensive has stalled in recent months. Building a new plant with Zaporizhzhias capacity would cost at least $40 billion. Even after two years of war in Ukraine that have triggered unprecedented international sanctions on other parts of Russias economy, the Kremlin continues to dominate key nuclear markets. Rosatom is the biggest exporter of reactors, supplying new projects in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Iran and Turkey. Russia is also the top producer of uranium fuel, which it transports to Europe and the US. During his trip to meet with Putin, which came a month after visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, the IAEAs Grossi said the nuclear energy industry was at a very important moment. Amid worldwide military conflict and political fragmentation, theres international consensus that nuclear power needs to grow, he said. I must talk to both sides to help reduce the danger of a potentially severe nuclear accident that would recognize no borders, Grossi said Friday in a statement. No one stands to gain from a nuclear disaster, and we must do everything possible to prevent it. This was also my message to President Putin. A range of safety issues including frequent cuts to critical external power supplies and low water levels continue to plague Zaporizhzhia. Even as all six reactors are in a state of shutdown, Ukrainian engineers have warned that critical components need to be serviced and fuel must be replaced. European Union envoys warned Russia against any attempt to restart the plant. Zaporizhzhia must remain in a shut down state, the EU said in a statement. Russias attempts to illegally take ownership of Ukraines ZNPP have no validity under international law. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. In this handout photo released by Turkish Presidency, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their meeting at Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, March 8, 2024. (Turkish Presidency via AP) ISTANBUL Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose NATO-member country has sought to balance its close relations with both Ukraine and Russia, offered during a visit Friday from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to host a peace summit between the two countries. Erdogan, who has repeatedly discussed brokering a peace deal, said at a news conference in Istanbul following his meeting with Zelenskyy that he hoped Russia would be on board with Turkeys offer. Since the beginning, we have contributed as much as we could toward ending the war through negotiations, Erdogan said. We are also ready to host a peace summit in which Russia will also be included. Ukraine remains firm on not engaging directly with Russia on peace talks, and Zelenskyy has said multiple times the initiative in peace negotiations must belong to the country which has been invaded. Zelenskyy said any peace negotiations must align with a 10-point plan he has previously suggested, which includes food security, restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, release of all prisoners, a tribunal for those responsible for the aggression, and security guarantees for Ukraine. Any proposals for settling this war must start with the formula proposed by the state defending its land and its people, he said. We want a fair peace. The Ukrainian leader expressed hope that at the inaugural peace summit expected to be held this year in Switzerland, the possibility of reopening all Ukrainian ports, not only in Odesa but also in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, will be considered. Zelenskyy, who visited shipyards where corvettes for the Ukrainian navy are being built, said on X that agreements were reached on joint defense projects with the Turkish government and corporations. He said on Telegram that they also agreed to simplify trade and remove barriers to business. Erdogan said the two discussed stability in the Black Sea shipping corridor and he reiterated Turkeys support for Ukraines territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. The visit comes as Zelenskyy and other officials continue to press other nations for more munitions and weaponry to halt the advance of Russian troops trying to make deeper gains into the Ukraine-held western part of the Donetsk region and also penetrating into the Kharkiv region north of it in the third year of war. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he was attending a meeting of the foreign ministers of France, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, that drop by drop aid to Ukraine no longer works. If things continue as they currently happen, its not going to end well for all of us, Kuleba said. What is required is an unrestricted and timely supply of all types of weapons and ammunition to ensure that Ukraine beats Russia and the war in Europe does not spill over. An envoy from China, which has frustrated Ukraine and its Western allies by boosting trade with Russia and portraying the conflict and its causes largely from Moscows point of view, was in Kyiv on Thursday during a European visit for talks on settling what it calls the Ukraine crisis. Li Hui, the special representative for Eurasian affairs, met with officials from Russia, the EU, Switzerland and Poland before his stop in Ukraine and was scheduled to go on to Germany and France. Shortly after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Turkey hosted a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers as well as unsuccessful talks between negotiators from the two countries aimed at ending the hostilities. Later in 2022, Turkey, along with the United Nations, also brokered a deal between Russia and Ukraine that allowed the shipment of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. Russia, however, pulled out of the deal last year, citing obstacles to its export of food and fertilizers. During Lis visit to Kyiv, Ukrainian officials described the horrors of the war. It is very important that you hear firsthand about the situation on the front line, what is happening and where we are, Andriy Yermak, the head of the presidential office, said, according to a Ukrainian statement. It wasnt clear how Li reacted to the presentation. China released a terse statement Friday saying only that Li arrived in Kyiv by train at noon, held candid and friendly talks, and departed by train the same evening. The war has created a sharp division between China and the West. The Chinese government avoids using the words war or invasion to describe Russias attack and cites NATO expansion as a root cause of the conflict. The Ukraine statement said the two sides discussed the possibility of Chinas assistance in prisoner exchanges, the return of Ukrainian children in Russia and the return of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia took control of during fighting in 2022. Ukraine Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko on Friday urged Russia to immediately comply with an International Atomic Energy Agency resolution calling for the complete withdrawal its troops from the Zaporizhzhia plant and return of the station to Ukrainian control. Every day that Russians stay at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant increases the number of the existing problems and increases the threat of a nuclear incident, Halushchenko said on national television. In other developments: Zelenskyy signed an order Thursday allowing the first demobilization of soldiers who were conscripted into the army before Russias full-scale invasion. The order takes effect in April or May. The soldiers, who had been required to continue their service after martial law was declared, can return home and remain in the army reserves, according to the order. It was not known how many troops are eligible because that information is classified. Indian authorities said Friday that they are in talks with Russia about returning Indian citizens duped into working for the Russian army, a day after a federal investigation agency said it broke up a human trafficking network that lured people to Russia under the pretext of giving them jobs. Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press writers Hanna Arhirova and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, Liudas Dapkus in Vilnius, Ken Moritsugu in Beijing and Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report. Parachutes drop supplies into the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, March 8, 2024. (Leo Correa/AP) LARNACA, Cyprus A ship bearing humanitarian aid was making preparations to leave Cyprus and head for Gaza, the European Commission president said Friday as international donors launched a sea corridor to supply the besieged territory that is facing widespread hunger after five months of war. The opening of the corridor, along with the recent inauguration of airdrops of aid, showed increasing frustration with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a new international willingness to work around Israeli restrictions. The vessel belonging to Spains Open Arms aid group will make a pilot voyage to test the corridor in the coming days, Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Cyprus, where shes inspecting preparations for it. The ship has been waiting at Cypruss port of Larnaca for permission to deliver food aid from World Central Kitchen, a U.S. charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres. Israel said Friday it welcomed the maritime corridor, but cautioned it would also need security checks. The Cypriot initiative will allow the increase of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, after a security check according to Israeli standards, Lior Haiat, spokesperson for Israels foreign ministry, said on X, formerly Twitter. The European Union, together with the United States, the United Arab Emirates and other involved countries were launching the sea route in response to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, Von der Leyen said at a news conference with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with innocent Palestinian families and children desperate for basic needs, she said. Open Arms founder Oscar Camps told The Associated Press the ship is scheduled to depart Saturday and would take two to three days to arrive at an undisclosed location where the group World Central Kitchen is constructing a pier to receive it. The group has 60 food kitchens throughout Gaza to distribute aid, he said. The ship will pull a barge loaded with 200 tons of rice and flour close to the Gaza shore, he said. Pontoon boats will then be used for the complicated final leg to tow the barge up to the pier. Camps said his group has been planning the delivery for two months, long before the EU Commission chief declared the launch of the safe corridor. He said hes not as concerned about the security of the ship as about the security and lives of the people who are in Gaza. I dont know if nations plan to do something bigger, but we are doing everything we can with the groups 3 million euros budget from private donations, Camps said. In Brussels, commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said the Open Arms ships direct route to Gaza raises a number of logistical problems which are still being worked out. He said United Nations agencies and the Red Cross will also play a role. Efforts to set up a sea route for aid deliveries come amid mounting alarm over the spread of hunger among Gazas 2.3 million people. Hunger is most acute in northern Gaza, which has been isolated by Israeli forces for months and suffered long cutoffs of food supply deliveries. On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced a plan to build a temporary pier in Gaza to help deliver aid, underscoring how the U.S. has to go around Israel, its main Mideast ally and the top recipient of U.S. military aid, to deliver aid to Gaza, including through airdrops that started last week. Israel accuses Hamas of commandeering some aid deliveries. Aid officials have said that deliveries by sea and by air are far more costly and inefficient than sending trucks by land in getting the massive amounts of aid needed to people. Five people in Gaza were killed and several others were injured when airdrops malfunctioned Friday and hit people and landed on homes, Palestinian officials said. After months of warnings over the risk of famine in Gaza under Israels bombardment, offensives and siege, hospital doctors have reported 20 malnutrition-related deaths at two northern Gaza hospitals. While reiterating his support for Israel, Biden used his State of the Union speech to reiterate demands that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allow in more aid to Gaza. To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Biden declared before Congress. He also repeated calls for Israel to do more to protect civilians in the fighting, and to work toward Palestinian statehood as the only long-term solution to Israeli-Palestinian violence. United States officials said it will likely be weeks before the Gaza pier is operational. Aid groups have said their efforts to deliver desperately needed supplies to Gaza have been hampered because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of public order. It is even more difficult to get aid to the isolated north. Sigrid Kaag, the U.N. senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, told reporters late Thursday that air and sea deliveries cannot make up for a shortage of supply routes on land. Von der Leyen said the EU would continue exploring different ways of getting aid to Gaza. She said the bloc would consider all other options, including airdrops, if our humanitarian partners on the ground consider this effective. Meanwhile, efforts to reach a cease-fire before Ramadan appeared stalled. Hamas said Thursday that its delegation had left Cairo, where talks were being held, until next week. International mediators had hoped to alleviate some of the immediate crisis with a six-week cease-fire, which would have seen Hamas release some of the Israeli hostages it is holding, Israel release some Palestinian prisoners and aid groups be given access to get a major influx of assistance into Gaza. Palestinian militants are believed to be holding around 100 hostages and the remains of 30 others captured during Hamas Oct. 7 attack, in which militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took some 250 hostages. Several dozen hostages were freed in a weeklong November truce, and about 30 are believed to be dead. Gazas Health Ministry says at least 30,878 Palestinians have been killed. It does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tallies but says women and children make up two-thirds of those killed. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, maintains detailed records and its casualty figures from previous wars have largely matched those of the U.N. and independent experts. Egyptian officials said Hamas has agreed to the main terms of such an agreement as a first stage but wants commitments that it will lead to an eventual more permanent cease-fire, while Israel wants to confine the negotiations to the more limited agreement. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations with media. Both officials said mediators are still pressing the two parties to soften their positions. U.S. Army Vessel General Frank S. Besson (LSV-1) from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, prepares to depart Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Saturday, March 9, 2024. (U.S. Central Command) The Pentagon will soon deploy about 1,000 American troops to build a temporary seaport just off the coast of war-torn Gaza to provide its inhabitants some 2 million meals per day, a Defense Department spokesman said Friday. The American troops will deploy a floating pier and a roughly 1,800-foot causeway in the Mediterranean Sea off Gazas coast, where commercial vessels can dock and offload aid to be transported by smaller vessels and vehicles into Gaza, said Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagons top spokesman. The operation will use a makeshift dock known as a Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, and include Navy and Army personnel, Ryder said. None of the American forces will enter Gaza at any time, including to deliver aid or build the temporary pier, he said at the Pentagon. Ryder said the pier should be operational within about 60 days. Were working to set this up as quickly as possible, but we expect that it will take several weeks to plan and execute, he said. Once operational the actual amount of aid delivered will depend on many variables and will likely scale over time. However, we expect that deliveries via JLOTS could provide more than 2 million meals to the citizens of Gaza per day. Not all the forces to be used in the operation had been selected as of Friday, Ryder said. However, the Armys 7th Transportation Brigade based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia had already been notified it would be deployed, he said. That unit is described by the Army as its JLOTS experts. President Joe Biden announced Thursday during his State of the Union speech that he ordered the Pentagon to conduct the new aid mission. He also called on Israel to do more to protect civilians and ensure they receive humanitarian aid as the Israelis fight Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave. The U.N. said the roughly 2.3 million people in Gaza now face near-famine conditions amid the fighting launched in the wake of Hamas militants surprise assault on Israelis on Oct. 7. Army mariners work to construct a causeway off the coast of Bowen, Australia, on July 28, 2023. The causeway forms a floating pier enabling the discharge of equipment to shore showing the capability of Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS. (David Resnick/U.S. Army) Humanitarian aid has been slow getting into Gaza for reasons including blockades at land crossings and tight controls of aid trucks by Israel, which has accused Hamas of stealing humanitarian goods. The United States in recent days has begun airdropping some humanitarian aid into Gaza via Air Force C-130s. The U.S. and Jordanian militaries airdropped about 11,500 meals into northern Gaza on Friday, according to U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East. To date, the United States has airdropped about 124,000 meals to Gazans, Ryder said. He also said the U.S. would continue to press Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza via land crossings, but it would continue to work to find creative ways to get meals to the enclaves civilians. This is part of a full-court press by the United States to not only focus on working on opening up and expanding routes via land which of course are the optimal way to get aid into Gaza but also by conducting air drops, and now, as the president has said, not enough aid is getting in, and so this is a capability that we have [and] its a capability that we are going to execute, the general said. It was not clear Friday how much the new aid operations would cost U.S. taxpayers, Ryder said. The Navy will deploy the floating pier and causeway toward Gaza via ships, and soldiers and sailors will prepare them for use, Ryder said. Commercial vessels will be able to dock at the floating pier, where their cargo can be offloaded and reloaded onto smaller Navy logistics support vessels, he said. Those Navy ships will then deliver the aid onto the causeway, where it will be loaded onto trucks that will drive it onto the beach in Gaza for delivery, Ryder said. The aid will be driven into Gaza by vetted U.S. partners and not American troops, he said. The U.S. was in talks with partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and Israel about who would conduct those operations. The concept that is being planned involves the presence of U.S. military personnel on military vessels offshore but does not require U.S. military personnel to go ashore, Ryder said. He said the U.S. military would work to ensure proper security measures were in place on the ground and would take precautions to protect its troops offshore. He declined to provide specifics about such plans to protect American forces. Ryder also said the United States would take measures aimed at ensuring Hamas does not commandeer aid coming into Gaza via the temporary seaport. Its a combat zone right and youve got active combat operations going on with Hamas in the area, he said. Thats certainly a risk. But, if Hamas truly does care about the Palestinian people, then one would hope that this international mission to deliver aid to people who need it would be able to happen unhindered. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the current situation with the European Peace Facility (EPF) is a disgrace, and called on all countries and partners on behalf of every Ukrainian soldier to resolve differences. "I have to admit that what is happening with the European Peace Fund is a shame. And I once again urge all countries, all friends, all partners, on behalf of every Ukrainian soldier who is fighting today, to finally resolve your differences and come to a decision which will allow you to help us stop the war in Ukraine and avoid a situation where you will have to make decisions on a completely different scale to protect our villages, cities and territories," he said at a press conference with Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian and French colleagues in Lithuania on Friday. Separately, Kuleba welcomed the adoption of the European defense and industrial strategy and expressed hope that the strategy will be implemented on time and in full. In addition, Kuleba noted the importance of the fact that the meeting in Paris made it possible to form a coalition of long-range weapons and raise money for the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine. "It is crucial. We appreciate the efforts of the Czech government and all countries that contributed financially. We are grateful to you. Some 800,000 rounds of ammunition is a large number, but very soon it will be exhausted. We can't make a decision and sit down and say: finally we've done it," he said. Kuleba said Ukraine is in a state of war, which means that "we must make decisions every day." "And if other countries have proposals similar to the Czech one, then we must start collecting money for this right now, today, and help them implement it," he said. A woman holds a placard with a picture of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini during a protest against her death, in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 28, 2022. Iran is responsible for the physical violence that led to the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022 and sparked nationwide protests against the countrys mandatory headscarf, or hijab, laws and its ruling theocracy, a U.N. fact-finding mission said Friday, March 8, 2024. (Markus Schreiber/AP) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran is responsible for the physical violence that led to the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022 and sparked nationwide protests against the countrys mandatory headscarf, or hijab, laws and its ruling theocracy, a U.N. fact-finding mission said Friday. The stark pronouncement came in a wide-ranging initial report submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council by the Fact-Finding Mission on Iran that concluded Tehran has committed crimes against humanity through its actions. It also found that the Islamic Republic employed unnecessary and disproportionate use of lethal force to put down the demonstrations that erupted following Aminis death, and that Iranian security forces sexually assaulted detainees. The monthslong security crackdown killed more than 500 people and saw over 22,000 detained. Iranian officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Associated Press on the missions findings. The release of the report is unlikely to change the trajectory of Irans government, now more firmly in the hands of hard-liners after a low-turnout vote last week put them back in charge of the countrys parliament. However, it provides further international pressure on Tehran amid wider Western concerns about its advancing nuclear program, Irans arming of Russia in Moscows war on Ukraine and the continued harassment and imprisonment of activists, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. The protests were unprecedented because of the leadership of women and youth, in their reach and longevity and, ultimately, the states violent response, the report says. Amini, 22, died on Sept. 16, 2022, in a hospital after her arrest by the countrys morality police over allegedly not wearing her hijab to the liking of the authorities. She was brought to Irans Vozara detention facility to undergo a re-education class, but collapsed after 26 minutes and was taken to a hospital 30 minutes later, according to the report. Iran has denied being responsible for her death or that she had been beaten. At times, authorities have pointed to a medical condition Amini had from childhood after a surgery. The U.N. report dismissed that as a cause of her death. The panel has established the existence of evidence of trauma to Ms. Aminis body, inflicted while in the custody of the morality police, the report says. Based on the evidence and patterns of violence by the morality police in the enforcement of the mandatory hijab on women, the mission is satisfied that Ms. Amini was subjected to physical violence that led to her death, it said. The report stops short, however, of blaming anyone specifically for harming Amini. The protests that followed Aminis death started first with the chant Women, Life, Freedom. However, the protesters chanting and cries soon grew into open calls of revolt against Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The U.N. report found Iranian security forces used shotguns, assault rifles and submachine guns against demonstrators in situations where there was no imminent threat of death or serious injury to them, thereby committing unlawful and extrajudicial killings. It also found a pattern of protesters being shot intentionally in the eye. The mission notes the deterrent and chilling effect of such injuries, as they permanently marked the victims, essentially branding them as protesters, the report says. Some of those detained faced sexual violence, including rape, the threat of rape, forced nudity, groping and electrocution of their genitals, according to the report. The security forces played on social and cultural stigma connected to sexual and gender-based violence to spread fear and humiliate and punish women, men and children, the report says. The panel also acknowledged it continued to investigate the 2023 death of teenager Armita Garavand, who died after falling on the Tehran Metro in what activists allege was an attack over her not wearing a hijab. Geravands parents appeared in a state media video at the time saying a blood pressure issue, a fall or perhaps both contributed to their daughters death. In actions reminiscent of Ms. Aminis case, the state authorities took measures to obfuscate the circumstances leading to Ms. Garavands death, the report says. It also noted a suspected spate of poisonings targeting Iranian schoolgirls, without drawing conclusions on what transpired in the incidents. Activists welcomed the reports release. The Islamic Republics violent repression of peaceful dissent and severe discrimination against women and girls in Iran has been confirmed as constituting nothing short of crimes against humanity, said Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran. A demonstrator holds a photo of a victim of Honduran drug traffickers outside Federal court, Friday, March 8, 2024, in New York. Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been convicted in New York of conspiring with drug traffickers, his military and police to enable tons of cocaine to reach the United States. (Mary Altaffer/AP) NEW YORK Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted Friday in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tons of cocaine to make it unhindered into the United States. The jury returned its verdict at a federal court after a two-week trial, which has been closely followed in his home country. Hernandez was convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the U.S. and two weapons counts. The charges carry a mandatory minimum of 40 years in prison and a potential maximum of life. Sentencing was set for June 26. Hernandez, 55, who served two terms as the leader of the Central American nation of roughly 10 million people, patted a defense attorney, Renato Stabile, on the back as they stood along with everyone else in the courtroom while the jurors filed out after the reading of the verdict. When the news reached nearly 100 opponents of Hernandez on the street outside the courthouse, they applauded and began jumping into the air to celebrate the outcome. The scene in the courtroom was subdued and Hernandez seemed relaxed as the verdict on three counts was announced by the jury foreperson. At times, Hernandez had his hands folded before him or one leg crossed over the other as each juror was asked to affirm the verdict. They all did. In remarks to the jury before they left the courtroom, Judge P. Kevin Castel praised jurors for reaching a unanimous verdict, which was necessary for a conviction. We live in a country where 12 people cant agree on a pizza topping, the judge told them, saying his message would have been the same regardless of their verdict. Thats why Im in awe of you. Defense attorney Sabrina Shroff said Hernandez will appeal the conviction. In a release, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said he hopes the conviction sends a message to all corrupt politicians who would consider a similar path: choose differently. He added that Hernandez had every opportunity to be a force for good in his native Honduras. Instead, he chose to abuse his office and country for his own personal gain and partnered with some of the largest and most violent drug trafficking organizations in the world to transport tons of cocaine to the United States. Hernandez was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the U.S. in April of that year. U.S. prosecutors accused Hernandez of working with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, saying he took millions of dollars in bribes as he rose from rural congressman to president of the National Congress and then to the countrys highest office. Hernandez acknowledged in trial testimony that drug money was paid to virtually all political parties in Honduras, but he denied accepting bribes himself. He noted that he had visited the White House and met U.S. presidents as he cast himself as a champion in the war on drugs who worked with the U.S. to curb the flow of drugs to the U.S. In one instance, he said, he was warned by the FBI that a drug cartel wanted to assassinate him. He said his accusers fabricated their claims about him in bids for leniency for their crimes. They all have motivation to lie, and they are professional liars, Hernandez said. But the prosecution mocked Hernandez for seemingly claiming to be the only honest politician in Honduras. During closing arguments Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gutwillig told the jury that a corrupt Hernandez paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States. Stabile said his client has been wrongfully charged as he urged an acquittal. Trial witnesses included traffickers who admitted responsibility for dozens of murders and said Hernandez was an enthusiastic protector of some of the worlds most powerful cocaine dealers, including notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who is serving a life prison term in the U.S. Hernandez, wearing a suit throughout the trial, was mostly dispassionate as he testified through an interpreter, repeatedly saying no sir as he was asked if he ever paid bribes or promised to protect traffickers from extradition to the U.S. His brother, Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in 2021 in Manhattan federal court for his own conviction on drug charges. President Arif Alvi was given a farewell guard of honour on Friday, ahead of presidential elections in the country. Alvi, a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, was sworn into office on September 9, 2018 after defeating Maulana Fazal ur Rehman and Aitzaz Ahsan. Although he completed his term last September, Alvi continued to serve in office as elections were delayed in the country. The Sunni Ittehad Council has nominated Mahmood Achakzai as its candidate for the presidential candidate this time. He will be competing against Asif Ali Zardari who has been nominated by the governing coalition. The election for president will take place in the National and Provincial Assemblies simultaneously. Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja will serve as the returning officer for the election. On March 7 and 8, some 59 Ukrainian citizens, including 15 children, were evacuated from the Gaza Strip to Egypt, the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel said. "On March 7 and 8, the next stage of evacuation of Ukrainian citizens from the Gaza Strip took place. Some 59 of our citizens and members of their families [15 children, 37 women, eight men] were evacuated through the Rafah checkpoint to the territory of Egypt," the embassy said on Facebook on Friday evening. It is noted that the evacuation was successful thanks to the efforts of representatives of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense and diplomatic staff of the Ukrainian embassies in Israel and Egypt. Now the evacuated Ukrainians are housed in a hotel in Egypt, and will soon be transported to Ukraine. Judge David McHugh ordered him to complete 200 hours of community service. The judge also put Connell off the roads for 15 years, fined him 500 and imposed a five-month sentence suspended for two years. A motorist who reached speeds of 120kmh in 50kmh south Dublin suburbs was banned from the roads, a court heard. John Connell (39) was battling a very serious alcohol addiction at the time, a court heard. Judge David McHugh ordered him to complete 200 hours of community service. The judge also put Connell off the roads for 15 years, fined him 500 and imposed a five-month sentence suspended for two years. The defendant, of Ballynakelly Edge, Newcastle, Co Dublin, admitted dangerous and uninsured driving. Garda Michael Guiney told Blanchardstown District Court how gardai were on mobile patrol at Kiltipper Road in Tallaght around 4.30am on October 22, 2020, when a black Audi A4 drove past at speed. Gda Guiney said gardai tried to stop the vehicle, which made off at high speed towards Newcastle. The vehicle was doing speeds of 120kmh in a 50kmh zone, the court heard, and drove at high speed into Ballynakelly Edge before the driver tried to walk into one of the houses. Gda Guiney said Connell was driving while disqualified and was taken to Tallaght garda station where he provided a specimen, giving a reading of 182mg of blood per 100ml of blood. The court heard Connell had 78 previous convictions, including eight for uninsured driving. Mark McMahon, defending, said Connell was battling a serious addiction to alcohol at the time, but was now sober and taking anti-booze medication. A former truck driver, Connell lost his career due to his alcohol addiction, the court heard. Mr McMahon said Connell cared for his four children during the week and worked as a parking attendant at weekends. The lawyer asked the judge to give Connell a chance and not jail him. Johnson accepted ownership of the luggage and said a friend had asked her to transport it A British woman who was caught at Dublin Airport transporting over 500,000 of cannabis herb has been jailed. Yejeida Johnson (27) was detained at Dublin Airport on September 2 last year by customs officials. She had arrived from New York's JFK airport and was due to take a connecting flight to Manchester. She had boarded this flight, but was flagged as a suspect through profiling and taken off the plane before it left. A large quantity of cannabis herb was found in her luggage, the court heard. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today that it was initially suspected that Johnson's luggage contained 37kg of cannabis herb, however, analysis confirmed the weight of the drug was actually 26kg, with a value of 520,340. She was arrested and made limited admissions during interview. Johnson accepted ownership of the luggage and said a friend had asked her to transport it. She also told gardai that she thought the luggage contained high-end handbags and luxury goods. Johnson, with no fixed address in Ireland, was sent forward from the District Court on signed pleas to counts of possessing and importing a controlled drug for sale or supply. She has no previous convictions in Ireland, but one minor unrelated conviction in the United Kingdom from 2018. An investigating garda agreed with defence counsel that his client told them she was asked to transport the luggage. It was also accepted that she provided an address in Tottenham, London to gardai. A letter of apology and a reference were handed to the court by defence counsel. He said his client has had no visitors while in custody, but two members of her family had travelled to support her in court. Counsel said Johnson was at the disposable end of the scale and difficulties in her life made her more open to be taken advantage of by third parties. He said his instructions are that Johnson knew she was doing wrong but had no idea of the amount of drugs involved. He also asked the court to take into account her signed pleas of guilty and her work history. Judge Martin Nolan said the court accepted Johnson was imposed upon to transport the drugs into this jurisdiction. He continued by noting that it's not clear if the drugs were to remain here or continue to the UK. He said Johnson seems to be a well-meaning lady and that he had taken into consideration the mitigating features of the case. The judge expressed the view that it is unlikely Johnson will re-offend in future by virtue of her previous good behaviour. However, he said she has to suffer imprisonment as she transported a large amount of drugs into this jurisdiction. He imposed a sentence of four and a half years, backdated to September 4 last year. Judge Duffy said 33,000 worth of stock and 15,000 worth of criminal damage was carried out A man who was involved in the stealing of 33,000 worth of stock from a Dundrum phone shop has been jailed. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Constantin Leonard Magadau (23) of Glenbourne Avenue, Leopardstown Valley, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty to burglary, dangerous driving and failing to stop a vehicle on Main Street, Dundrum, Dublin 14, on June 6, 2023. He has 12 previous convictions, including theft, road traffic matters, and failure to appear. Passing sentence today, Judge Elva Duffy said Magadau caused a very significant amount of damage by ransacking the premises. Judge Duffy said 33,000 worth of stock and 15,000 worth of criminal damage was carried out. While driving the getaway car, this man mounted a cycle lane and accelerated dramatically, and a detective garda had to jump out of the way. The judge said the aggravating factors in this case were that there was an element of planning involved, the premises were systematically destroyed, the shop's owner suffered a significant loss, and significant monetary value items were taken. Judge Duffy considered the following mitigating factors: his early guilty plea and his admission of wrongdoing. The judge sentenced him to three and a half years in prison, backdated to when he went into custody on this matter. She further disqualified him from driving for five years. Luigi Rea BL, defending, asked Judge Duffy if she would consider suspending part of the substantial prison sentence, which she declined saying, This was a serious matter where very serious damage was caused. Detective Garda Donal Tully told Emmet Nolan BL, prosecuting, that on June 6, 2023, a security alarm was activated when three men, one of whom was Magadau, used a crowbar to gain entry to Murray Mobile in Dundrum. Magadau climbed into the shop via a broken window, smashed display cases, and put stock into a hold-all bag, which he passed to a second man. The court heard that Magadau and a second man brought stock from the shop to a nearby parked car while a third man acted as a lookout. 33,000 worth of stock was taken from the shop, and 15,000 worth of criminal damage was carried out. The shops alarm company alerted the gardai, and they arrived at the scene and saw the getaway car being driven from the scene with no lights on. Det Gda Tully said the gardai signalled for the car to stop, but instead it mounted a cycle lane and drove directly towards him, and he had to jump out of the way. Det Gda Tully struck the car windscreen with his baton and shattered it. The getaway car was found abandoned a short distance away. The court heard that a mobile phone with a screen saver of Magadau was found in the abandoned car. A shop loyalty tag linked to Magadau was also found in the car. Gardai obtained a large amount of CCTV footage from the shop and other nearby premises, and Magadau was identified. He was arrested and co-operated fully with the gardai and admitted that he was the driver of the car. A victim impact statement from the shop owner was read to the court. In it he said, I went to the store, and all my display cases were smashed, and my stock was gone. He also said: I didnt sleep at night, and my staff were worried too. He said that after the burglary he had to refurbish the entire store and get new cameras, sensor lights and shutters. This impacted me more than if my home had been broken into, he said. My entire business nearly closed because of this. People like this ruin lives. Det Gda Tully agreed with Mr Rea that his client has no problems with alcohol or drugs and was originally from Romania and came to Ireland in 2021. The garda agreed with counsel that during an interview when asked why he carried out this offending, he said: I had a childish mind, and I am aware that these people had to work hard for their goods, and I took it from them in a second. Mr Rea said his client had family domestic difficulties when he came to Ireland. Counsel said Magadau worked in construction in Romania and Ireland and has the potential to improve his life. Eoghan Peavoy (53) of Brackenwood Avenue, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment of the woman A Dublin man who sent a barrister a series of sexual and threatening messages has been told by a judge he will be shown no sympathy by the court if he breaches the conditions of a suspended prison sentence. Eoghan Peavoy (53) of Brackenwood Avenue, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment of the woman on dates between February 8, 2019, and August 23, 2022. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Peavoys harassment took the form of text messages, emails, voicemails and WhatsApps that became increasingly more aggressive, threatening, vulgar and sinister. Peavoys threats to the woman included voicemails saying he had fantasies about killing you and all your children and other messages of a sexually abusive nature. The court heard that he also made unsolicited contact with the womans father, several of her colleagues, and other family members. Counsel for Peavoy said he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and harboured psychotic grievances against people. In a ruling today, Judge Martin Nolan said Peavoy had committed a serious crime, subjecting the woman to a long period of harassment, which was very distressing and traumatic. He said Peavoy was a highly intelligent and resourceful man who had a psychiatric condition, and unfortunately for everyone, he went off his medication. The judge noted that Peavoy would require the intervention of medication for the rest of his life. He added that in the court's experience, a lot of people with conditions like Peavoy's feel at certain points they can go off medication and live a normal life...unfortunately for Mr Peavoy, society and the injured party, that is not the case. Judge Nolan said Peavoy is a danger to himself and society when he departs from his medication regime, adding that while his culpability is lessened to his condition, Peavoy's culpable behaviour was departing from his regime. He imposed a five-year prison sentence and suspended it on strict conditions. Judge Nolan directed Peavoy to take all prescribed medications and not to leave in-patient care unless he is discharged by an appropriately qualified medical professional. He further ordered Peavoy to have no contact with the victim, her family, or friends for the five-year period of the suspended sentence and in perpetuity afterwards. Judge Nolan told Peavoy that if he broke any of these conditions, he would be brought back before this court and then going to a different place. I take this to be very serious. You have destroyed the peace of mind of [the injured party] ....and made her life miserable. He told Peavoy he was getting a chance but added, There will be no sympathy shown to you by this court if you breach your undertakings. Detective Garda David Chapman told prosecuting counsel at a previous hearing that Peavoy went to college in the early 1990s with a sister of the injured party. He began to harass this sister and went to her home address but was dealt with by a caution from the gardai. The womans sister then moved to the UK, and Peavoy began contacting the injured party from 2005 to 2009 before stopping for a significant period of no contact. When Peavoy again began harassing the woman, she went to gardai in February 2019 and asked for him to stop contacting her. Gardai contacted the accuseds father, Diarmuid Peavoy, who said his son was mentally unwell. Gardai visited Peavoy at his home and arrested him involuntarily under the Mental Health Act, the first of four times that he would be sectioned between 2019 and 2021. On February 13, 2019, Peavoy texted the woman, telling her he had delivered a package to her address at the Law Library. He also contacted a number of her colleagues. On February 22, Peavoy texted the woman, asking her to engage in sexual intercourse and saying he wanted to try and have a baby with her. He also sent emails from four different email addresses, each bearing variations of his name. Gda Chapman said the emails were threatening, sexually suggestive, vulgar, abusive and belittling. The woman got over 50 emails in a two-week period in March 2021 and was then advised by gardai to send a single response requesting him to stop contacting her. On April 4, 2021, Peavoy sent the woman over 70 texts and six voicemail messages in which he used foul and abusive language of a vulgar, sexual nature. Peavoy was arrested in November 2021 and admitted that he knew the contact was not wanted and that he was unable to stop contacting her without the intervention of the courts. On February 3, 2022, Peavoy again left six messages on the womans phone in which he appeared to be intoxicated. Gda Chapman said the messages became increasingly more aggressive, vulgar and sinister. In a victim impact statement, which the woman read aloud in court, she said Peavoy had interfered in her life and caused her an enormous amount of distress. I lived in fear of this man. I lived in fear that he would do something to me or worse, to my husband, my father or my children, she said. The woman said a significant amount of the messages were sexual in nature and would make her skin crawl and send shivers down her spine. They were like an assault, she said. I lived in fear that he was watching me, she said, adding that although she tried in vain to block his emails and to stop him from contacting her, He never stopped. She had to get professional advice on how to block him and had to eventually remove herself from her work website, which was professionally detrimental. The court heard Peavoy would send letters to her work address, which her staff would open, and she would have to explain what was happening, which was completely demeaning. I put on a professional approach but inside I was screaming how dare this man interfere in my life like this? The woman said it would bring her to tears on so many occasions, and she was ashamed and embarrassed and worried that people would think she had invited this upon herself. The woman said her fear and anxiety took on a whole new level when she realised Peavoy was also obsessing over her husband, her father, her father-in-law and her very young children. She said she was so frightened that Peavoy would show up at her fathers door that it was almost too much to bear and that the only time her fear would dissipate was when the courts would manage to get Peavoy sectioned. She said herself and her husband had to print out photos of Peavoy for their childminder and instruct her what steps to take should he show up at their door. Ronan Munro SC, defending Peavoy, said his client wanted to make it one hundred per cent clear that this contact was unwanted and to apologise to the victim for the unwanted high volume of texts, calls, emails and voicemails. Gda Chapman agreed with Mr Munro that when Peavoy was interviewed, he came across as if he had multiple personalities. Peavoys father, Diarmuid Peavoy, took the stand and told the court that his son had huge potential and degrees from four universities in three countries. He said in the year 2000, his son became a different person and became convinced of a wide range of conspiracies against him. Mr Peavoy said his son became extremely paranoid and thought several people, including his former girlfriend in Geneva and the former Attorney General Peter Sutherland, were out to ruin his life. He said his son Eoghan was diagnosed with severe mental illness and began taking medication, leading to a period of relative stability between 2011 and 2018 when he got an internship in the Department of Foreign Affairs. However, the court heard that Peavoy then met an American campaigner against anti-psychotic drugs who persuaded him to come off his medication. Thereafter, Mr Peavoy said, it was a rollercoaster with his son in and out of hospital in a revolving door nightmare. Eoghan needs to be in hospital and on medication. He needs some psychotherapy. The Health Service have let him down, said Mr Peavoy Sr. He said Eoghans life spiralled downwards when he came off medication in 2018. I really want to say how sorry I am, said Mr Peavoy, addressing the woman. Mr Munro said the persistent nature of the offending was an aggravating factor, but pointed out that there was no physical harassment. Counsel said that since August 2022, there has been a period of peace and that Peavoy has been involuntarily detained in the Aisling Centre of Beaumont Hospital, a secure psychiatric unit, since January 2023. It has now emerged the PSNI are close to also charging the gang member with blackmail a move which is expected to delay the civil case. A suspected member of The Firm crime gang is to be charged with blackmailing a businessman out of 30,000. The Sunday World revealed last month the alleged criminal is being sued by the man he tried to extort the money from. It has now emerged the PSNI are close to also charging the gang member with blackmail a move which is expected to delay the civil case. The Firm has been involved in drug-dealing and other criminal activity in the Co Armagh area in recent years. The gang is said to be made up of criminals from loyalist and republican backgrounds who have joined forces in their pursuit of money and power. However, the activities of The Firm have recently come to a wider prominence in the wake of several murders. In an unusual case, it emerged last month that a businessman approached by the gang and ordered to hand over money is not prepared to give in. The man has launched a civil case against one of the men alleged to have been involved in the extortion attempt. A solicitor for the complainant outlined some of the background to the matter. He said two hooded men arrived at his clients home late at night and demanded that he hand over 30,000. The solicitor said the alleged extortion involved members of The Firm. The legal representative told the court the defendant in the civil case was arrested by police on December 21 last year. No details were given at last months court hearing in relation to why the man was arrested. He has not been charged with any offence but investigations are continuing and he has been released on bail, the solicitor added. He said police had indicated the investigations would take some time and will include an examination of the defendants phone. In relation to the civil case being taken by his client, the solicitor said they had been unable to serve legal papers on the defendant. He said the services of a private investigator had been employed, but that the man had not yet been traced. The solicitor said police had been asked to provide the mans address, but did not do so due to data protection concerns. A judge said police had previously passed on such details on a voluntary basis but that practice had now stopped. The judged added he was unaware of any legal power which would force police to hand over the mans address. The case was adjourned for a month and the plaintiffs solicitor said they would continue to try to locate the defendant in the meantime. There was an update about the case at a short hearing in Laganside court in Belfast this week. A solicitor for the businessman said it was his understanding the defendant in the civil case was going to be charged by police in relation to a number of matters, including blackmail in connection with the alleged extortion of his client. A solicitor for the defendant confirmed he had been arrested and questioned in relation to the alleged extortion, but said it was her understanding there had been no formal charges yet. The defendants solicitor said they would not be seeking to put in an affidavit until any criminal proceedings had been dealt with. An affidavit is a sworn written statement that sets out the evidence that a witness wants to give in court. The civil case was adjourned until next month for a further update. According to sources, extortion is just one aspect of The Firms criminal operations. The gang is said to be made of around 40 to 50 members and is based mainly in the north Armagh area. The Firm flooded the area with drugs in recent years and they take a tough line with people who cross them. A man shot dead in Lurgan in January 2023 was executed over his suspected drug debt to The Firm, a court has been told. Shane Whitla was gunned down at a pre-arranged meeting in the Co Armagh town. Mr Whitla, a 39-year-old father of four, was shot on January 12 last year in an alleyway off Woodville Street but made his way to Lord Lurgan Park where he collapsed and died. Three men have been charged with his murder. Opposing bail for one of the accused, a barrister told the High Court last February: Police believe the murder of Shane Whitla was motivated by Mr Whitla owing The Firm a drug debt. One of the men charged in connection with Mr Whitlas murder was Kevin Conway, who was shot dead at his bail address in Belfast on January 9 this year. The 26-year-old, who was gunned down in a hail of bullets at a flat at Rossnareen Park in the Greenan area of west Belfast, was alleged to have phoned Mr Whitla and told him where to meet the men who killed him. At a court hearing last year in connection with Mr Whitlas murder, it was claimed that Conway was under threat and feared for his life. Patrick Dandy, of Shancastle Lawns, Clondalkin, Dublin, alleged in an Equity Civil Bill that he had been identified to his work colleagues because the photograph included his highly-distinctive wedding ring. Patrick Dandy claimed he had been identified to his work colleagues because the photograph included his highly-distinctive wedding ring A worker, who claimed his data rights had been breached as a result of his boss publishing a photo of his left hand in a safety notice circulated to staff, has lost a Circuit Court claim for damages which can currently be as high as 75,000. Patrick Dandy, of Shancastle Lawns, Clondalkin, Dublin, alleged in an Equity Civil Bill that he had been identified to his work colleagues because the photograph included his highly-distinctive wedding ring. Dandy (51) claimed he had been victimized and ridiculed by offensive comments made by some of his colleagues in Rentokil, one of the countrys leading pest controllers, when they identified him through his wedding ring. In dismissing Dandys claim Judge John OConnors said it all arose out of the fact that he had suffered two needle stick injuries to his left hand in January and again in April of 2020. Judge OConnor said that as a result of his injuries Mr Dandy had been required to upload a photograph of his wound in a report of the incident to his employer. Rentokil Initial Limited had then used and distributed the photograph in a safety, health and environment notice intended to alert employees of a particular danger and how best to mitigate against its occurrence. Dandy had told the court that he became aware of the notice in February 2021 when he received an e-mail containing the notice from his employer who had circulated it to other employees. The plaintiff states he wore a distinctive wedding ring which identified him to his colleagues and resulted in him being subjected to ridicule from them, Judge OConnor said. He also states he was singled out in relation to the safety notice and he perceived it was aimed at him. Judge OConnor said it was Mr Dandy who had taken the photograph and it had been accepted by Rentokil Initial Limited that the photograph did relate to his hand although the company denied his hand was recognizable from his wedding ring. The company claimed it had been acting upon a legitimate interest in seeking to promote the health and safety of its employees and denied there had been a breach of his data protection rights. The judge said it was Mr Dandys position that he had not consented to the use of the photograph of his hand by his employer for the purposes of the safety alert and that he had been victimized by the use of it. I do not accept that the plaintiffs wedding ring is so distinct as to make him identifiableor that the ridicule he received at the hands of his colleagues was due to the fault of his employer, Judge OConnor said. He said the court was satisfied that the comments made by his colleagues were as a result of the accidents and not of the photograph being published. These comments were offensive but it is not the fault of the employer, the judge added. Judge OConnor said Rentokil did have a training record and an adequate data protection policy in place and he was satisfied the safety alert was not aimed at Mr Dandy but was put in place for the general safety of employees. I am also satisfied that the defendant was acting upon a legitimate interest and the court takes cognizance of the fact the employer did report the incident to the Data Protection Commission, Judge OConnor said. He granted an application by Mr Dandys barrister, Noel Cosgrave, not to make an order for payment of Rentokils legal costs on the basis the company should have advised him that they were using the photograph. Currently there are an estimated 2,000 cases regarding alleged breaches of data protection rights before the Circuit Civil Court but future claims must be taken before the District Court which has a jurisdiction limit of 15,000 and significantly lower legal costs issues. Self-professed loyalist killer turned witness, Gary Haggarty, was told he is unreliable and a deeply flawed individual. The families of innocent victims Eamon Fox and Gary Convie, two innocent catholic workmen murdered almost 30 years ago are left devastated. A self-professed loyalist killer turned witness, Gary Haggarty, is told he is unreliable and a deeply flawed individual. And Jimmy Shades Smyth, the accused who has already been convicted of murder and proved he was happy to murder catholics for being catholics walks free. Nicola speaks to crime correspondent Allison Morris about the justice fiasco in a Belfast courtroom which will mark the end of the catastrophic supergrass trials. MORE EPISODES Europol say that kids as young as 12 are being brainwashed to carry out serious crimes on behalf of older mob bosses Eight years after the murder of Real IRA man Vinny Ryan on a Dublin street his comrades have taken to social media to honour him as a republican hero. But who was Vinny Ryan and why did he follow his brother Alans footsteps to a life in a terror outfit and ultimately to an early grave? Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about the murder of the Ryan brothers and those who still remember them as martyrs. MORE EPISODES The Sinaloa Cartel has expanded to more than 100 countries with thousands of people working in a wide international network, according to the DEA. Herding cattle on the streets of Killorglin (Photo by Patrick Ward/Popperfoto via Getty Images) THIS exclusive photograph shows Co Kerry Sinaloa Cartel boss Morris OSheas uncle bagging up white powder on a clear table before being busted by Chilean cops. In images obtained by the Sunday World, cartel chief Ricardo Salazar is captured bagging up powder in the back of a car on orders of his nephew. Ricardo is currently serving 15 years in a Chilean prison for his role in flooding Europe and Ireland with coke. He was convicted along with Morris OSheas mother, Yolanda, last year for their role in moving cocaine into Chile from Bolivia. In other images, Ricardo can also be seen strolling around in the sunshine whilst under surveillance by South American police. A similar operation was being carried out at the same time on the other side of the pond by Spanish cops tailing his nephew, Killlorglin man and former FAS applicant Morris OShea and his Irish Sinaloa gangster pals. Surveillance of Sinaloa Cartel boss, Ricardo Salazar Ricardo Salazar and his sister Yolanda, relatives of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, former boss of the Sinaloa Cartel, are currently in prison for a combined total of 23 years. Chilean authorities believe they had specific roles in the South American drugs ring. However, the overall operation was controlled by ex-Kerryman Morris OShea who issued orders to his mother and uncle in Chile. According to Chilean officials, Ricardo Salazar had dual responsibilities of building logistical networks and maintaining transport links. After secretly entering Chile in early 2019, he recruited several people to transport Bolivian cocaine into the country while also building contacts in the local port and airport. Drug trafficker Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is escorted to a helicopter Today, the Sunday World can reveal how Morris OSheas relatives were busted after a year-long undercover operation by Chilean police. The secret investigation to nail the Sinaloans in Chile involved undercover agents who worked with the Salazars for months. The police operation was first put in place following an alert sent by the United States anti-drug agency, the DEA, who warned Chilean cops about the secret entry of a senior cartel member. Chilean officials were said to have been in a state of disbelief when Morriss uncle Ricardo arrived in the country and set up business. Iquique waterfront A luxury apartment on the Iquique waterfront, one of the most exclusive areas of the city, was waiting for Ricardo Salazar when he arrived in 2019. He then began to travel under security escort, through every corner of the region. Nightclubs, commercial areas and the port area of Iquique and Valparaiso were of particular interest. However, every movement by Ricardo was recorded in secret police files. A series of measures to infiltrate the Sinaloan operation was put in place. Chilean sources indicate the group set up routes for their drugs; from Bolivia to Iquique and on to ports in Valparaiso. The first route involved sending shipments of drugs to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. The containers containing the cocaine were then be transported to the city of Antwerp, Belgium, where they would be delivered to European cartel members for marketing. This is understood to mean Morris OShea and his Irish and European colleagues. Herding cattle on the streets of Killorglin (Photo by Patrick Ward/Popperfoto via Getty Images) "There was information that came from abroad, because otherwise we would not have had this opportunity," Tarapaca regional prosecutor Raul Arancibia said, indicating co-operation with Spanish authorities. Morriss mother, Yolanda Salazar, joined the international operation after her brother suffered heart problems. The first shipment of drugs was 54 kilos of cocaine of high purity, according to prosecutors. The Sinaloan crew then began working to establish logistics to transport larger volumes and Morriss mum undertook the search for drug collection zones in surrounding Iquique. The presence of the Sinaloa cartel in Peru is also mentioned by prosecutors as another delegation of Sinaloans was arrested there in March 2020. That crew stashed 887 kilos of high-purity cocaine in the city of Callao, ready for export. March 3, 2020 was a key date in the investigation. That day Morriss mother and uncle, Yolanda and Ricardo, travelled to Santiago unexpectedly for a business meeting. Ricardo Salazar They bought tickets to Mexico on March 10. This helped the prosecutor's office to plan arrests as the pair were preparing to leave the country. The boarding area of the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport became the focal point of the 400 day long investigation. Urgent protection from the Sinaloa Cartel was given to the undercover officers who had used false identities to capture hundreds of images, videos and wiretaps over 12 months. Cops pounced in broad daylight in front of hundreds of passengers in the International Airport. Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport In 28C heat, cops nabbed former Killorglin resident Yolanda and her brother as they stood in line. The arrest occurred without incident as Morris OSheas relatives were handcuffed by police officers. The arrest barely lasted a minute. There was no resistance, no shots fired, or injuries, according to witnesses. The Drug Unit of the Tarapaca Prosecutor's Office concluded the siblings ran the operational arm of the lethal Sinaloa Cartel founded in 1989 by Joaquin El Chapo Guzman and Hector Palma Salazar. Today, Ricardo and Yolanda Salazar are serving time in a high security prison in Santiago, while Killorglin man Morris OShea is believed to be hiding out in a Sinaloa controlled region of Mexico. In a further Sunday World investigation into the European and Irish end of the operation, we can reveal that the Sinaloan gangsters were using two methods of shipment known as the blind hook, (gancho ciego) and business to business (empresa a empresa) to ship their illicit loads. The blind hook method is where traffickers smuggle drugs onto containers without the knowledge of either the sender or the recipient of drugs. The business to business method relies on using trusted firms to hide drugs shipments, rather than so-called front companies. Kerry man Morris O'Shea in his youth Chilean officials have stated Ricardo Salazar was part of a macro structure that could resort to violence and corruption, that knew various ways of trafficking drugs to Europe and that managed various illegal ways of sending money. "Mirror mode smuggling used encrypted communication systems not known in our country at that time, they added. A recent report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) provides further details of how legitimate firms are using to smuggle drugs. This modality is carried out in the country of origin or at the trans shipment port before the container arrives in the destination country. The success of this method is due in all cases to the existence of a conspiracy both in the country of origin or at the trans shipment port, as well as in the country of destination. The cartels have tremendous infiltration power at an economic level, they are capable of buying anyone, said Ainhoa Vasquez, a Chilean journalist. According to the DEA, the Sinaloa Cartel has expanded to more than 100 countries throughout the world and has thousands of people working in a wide international network. Imagine all the money and power of coercion that comes with their motto: 'silver or lead', says crime writer and academic, Ainhoa Vasquez. Chile is a very strategic country for any cartel, especially for Mexican cartels. A great lesson has to learn from what happened with Mexico. The violence came from there. The cartels became much more violent. "Violence comes when you fight for territory. Either I buy you with millions of dollars or kill you and your family, the expert added. Judge James McCourt said there has to be deterrence as people cant be running around with unlicensed pitbulls A woman and man, charged in connection with a dog attack which left a then nine-year-old boy with catastrophic facial injuries, have been jailed. Karen Miller (38), formerly with an address in Forgelands, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, and her former partner Niall Byrne (26), also with a previous address in Forgelands, appeared before Wexford Circuit Court. Miller had pleaded guilty to two charges of endangerment in relation to the pitbull attack on Alejandro Mizsan (now aged 11) on November 27, 2022, and a separate attack on another child, Daniel Whelan, in the Forgelands estate four days earlier. She also pleaded guilty to obstruction under the Animal Health and Welfare Act after failing to inform gardai where the dog was while it was being inhumanely destroyed. Judge James McCourt sentenced her to three years in prison with the final 12 months suspended. Alejandro Mizsan. Photo: Jim Campbell Byrne had pleaded guilty to the inhumane destruction of an animal and was also charged with two offences of making threats to kill or cause serious harm to his former partners father, Francis Miller, and his former neighbour, Caroline OBrien. Judge James McCourt said there has to be deterrence as people cant be running around with unlicensed pitbulls. He sentenced Mr Byrne to three years imprisonment, taking into account that he had already served time in jail of 12 months, meaning he will serve a further two years. Alejandro Mizsans family told the court in a victim impact statement that he no longer wants to play with his friends or go to school because he is afraid he will be bullied because of how he looks. His mother Otilia said his childhood was taken from him on the day his face was mauled and he has been in a depression ever since. He is not the same kid he was before, she said. He does not sleep alone any more or like to be alone. He finds it very hard to sleep and to go to school as he thinks nobody likes him because of the way he looks. He is worried he will look like this forever. Alejandro and all members of his family are in a shocked trauma and it is very hard to live with a child who has to go through a bad pain. The owners of the dog will have to pay all costs for everything. Alejandros father lost his job and Alejandro lost his childhood. Alejandros little sister, 6, is in depression after seeing her brother change, Otilla added. We would be eternally grateful if we could have back all we lost as every cost would help with his operation in Turkey, she said. The mutual interests of China and Europe far exceed the differences between the two sides, Azernews reports, citing Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi telling at a press conference on the sidelines of the 2nd session of the National People's Congress (Parliament) of the 14th convocation. "There is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and the EU, as well as no geostrategic contradictions. The common interests of the two sides are much greater than their differences," he said. "Partnership should be the right positioning of Sino-European relations, cooperation should be the main motive, independence should be the key value, development prospects should be mutually beneficial," the foreign minister said. He also expressed the hope that "the green light will be on" throughout the entire path of Sino-European relations. "A strong Europe is in line with China's long-term interests, just as a strong China is in line with Europe's fundamental interests," Wang Yi continued. He noted that China and Europe should work together to practice multilateralism, and open development, and promote civilized dialogue. According to him, as long as China and Europe cooperate for mutual benefit, there will be no block confrontation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is ready to host a peace summit with the participation of Russia. "From the very beginning, we have contributed to a negotiated end to the war. We are ready to host a peace summit, in which Russia will also be involved," he said on Friday in Istanbul after negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Erdogan said "we support the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of our strategic partner Ukraine." "Unfortunately, the war is having a growing negative impact regionally and globally and, above all, on Ukraine. No diplomatic steps have been taken to use the sentencing table that we built in Istanbul in March 2022 to establish peace," he said. The Turkish President also expressed his readiness to provide support for new agreements on grain exports. According to him, "the entry into force of the free trade agreement as soon as possible will, without a doubt, give impetus to the development of our relations." Erdogan said "the existence of Crimean Tatars in Ukraine is one of the most important factors in strengthening friendship between the two countries. The Crimean Tatars, who are an integral part of Ukraine, are selflessly fighting to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine." "In the future, on the one hand, we will be in solidarity with Ukraine, and on the other, we will continue our work to end the war with a just, negotiated peace," he said. It comes just weeks after the group made headlines across Northern Ireland after videos of their performance at The Devenish Hotel in Belfast went viral. Controversial adult dance performers the UK Pleasure Boys are set to return to Northern Ireland later this year. The dance group, who perform a Magic Mike-style strip tease show, are set to take to the stage at Banbridges The Bannville Hotel in May. It comes just weeks after the group made headlines across Northern Ireland after videos of their performance at The Devenish Hotel in Belfast went viral. In a post on social media, the Bannville wrote: The Ultimate Girls night out at the Bannville! "Tickets are now available to experience the UK Pleasure Boys on Saturday May 11th. Prices for the event range from 17.50 to 22.50. The hotel also warned for potential show goers to book early as this is a popular event. On Saturday, February 17, the Pleasure Boys played one of their XXL Tour dates at The Devenish complex in Belfast. Advertised by the bar as a Valentines Weekend Special, footage from the performance quickly circulated on social media, which shows nude male dancers and female patrons mimicking sexual acts. Shortly after the videos went viral, the group told the Belfast Telegraph they have been contacted by other venues across Northern Ireland hoping to book their performance. Weve had five enquiries in the past hour to [come] back in Belfast. There are club owners contacting me constantly from all around the city, said John Woodward, the man behind the UK Pleasure Boys. Watch: UK Pleasure Boys bid farewell to Belfast and promise to return Whitney Hughes is facing around five years behind bars when shes sentenced soon for taking over the drugs empire left to her by her murdered father who was known as The Chicken. A notorious drug-dealing killer known as The Hyena has vowed to gobble up Chicken Little the soon-to-be-caged crime boss daughter of Mark Lovell. Whitney Hughes is facing around five years behind bars when shes sentenced soon for taking over the drugs empire left to her by her murdered father who was known as The Chicken. The 31-year-old, dubbed Chicken Little by rivals, has been heading up her fathers organised crime gang in Newry for the last couple of years, but as shes going to jail, the empire is under threat. And one soon-to-be released predator is hoping to pick over the crime empires carcass. We can reveal Gary The Hyena Magee has vowed to take over their patch when hes released next year for killing a man in a house fire. Jimmy Thompson (62) died in his home in May 2021 after three deliberate fires were started in different rooms by Magee. The judge told the court that Magee acted in a highly reckless manner and knew that the victim, who suffered from multiple conditions, was vulnerable. Despite a 30-year career of crime, Magee was only sentenced to seven years behind bars for the manslaughter of his drinking pal, and a judge ordered he only has to serve half of that in prison with the remainder on licence. He is expected to be set free in early 2025 and could even be released earlier on parole. While the family of Mr Thompson publicly stated that the sentence was a disgrace, the Sunday World can reveal Magee has wasted no time while inside Maghaberry and is making plans to take a chunk of the lucrative Newry drug markets when he is out. Mark Lovell was shot a number of times at close range Magee earned the name The Hyena because hes found himself close to so many dead bodies, including his former drug boss Brendan Speedy Fegan. Fegan was gunned down in 1999 in the Hermitage Bar in Newry and sources say Magee hid under a pool table as the two gunmen fired 14 shots. The Hyena has been calling Whitney Hughes Chicken Little in jail and has been boasting about hes going to make a fortune from taking over her drug rackets while shes behind bars, said a prison source. Hes also been boasting about how he played the police and the courts like a fiddle. Hes a nasty piece of work and he even told one prisoner not to turn over his programme as the last person who did that had their house lit up. Hes planning to move into the heroin and cocaine trade when he gets out and he views Whitney as weak. Hes made contacts with loyalists inside the jail who say they can supply him with an endless supply of deadly drugs. Two weeks ago, Whitney Hughes appeared at Newry Crown Court and entered guilty pleas to 10 of the 16 charges against her covering between April 27 and July 4, 2022. Eboney Hughes Originally from Ardcarn Park in Newry but now with a different Co Down bail address, she admitted seven drug offences relating to possessing and supplying cocaine, MDMA and steroids, two counts of trading in counterfeit goods and one of possessing criminal property. The charges disclose that Hughes had 13,391 of criminal property and that she was trading in fake Liverpool FC and Man United merchandise. Her dad Mark (58) was gunned down at Ardcarn Park in the Carnagatt area of Newry in December 2022. The attack followed a failed murder bid on his son Ebony Hughes. Ebony went into hiding but reappeared at his fathers funeral in Dundalk while Whitney, who was on remand at the time, was granted compassionate bail. Its understood Ebony has since fled the country and is believed to be in Australia. Last November, when Whitney made an application to vary her bail to allow her and her boyfriend to go to Dublin for a weekend, a detective told the court: She has quite a network in that area and is the head of an organised crime group in Newry. Magee used to head-up a feared crime gang called the Hoods Reaction Force and was aided by notorious killer David Kennaway who acted as an enforcer for Magee. Kennaway is set to be released soon for stabbing to death 18-year-old Paul Owens in 2011. Last year we revealed that Magee has more than 115 convictions including 12 for drugs, though only one for supplying drugs in 2007. That supplying charge relates to him being caught in a police sting in a Banbridge pub doing a cocaine deal with another drug gang. Sources have claimed that Magee was also accused of suppling drugs to a Warrenpoint teenager who died almost 10 years ago. Magee is said to have supplied him the drugs despite being warned that they were from the same bad batch that had killed a number of people in Dundalk. Convicted killer James Smyth was acquitted of the double murder of Eamon Fox and Gary Convie, in north Belfast 30 years ago. The families of two innocent Catholics gunned down by the UVF told of their devastation after their alleged killer walked free. Convicted killer James Smyth was acquitted of the double murder of Eamon Fox and Gary Convie, Catholic workmen shot as they ate their lunch on a building site in north Belfast 30 years ago. In the process, UVF supergrass Gary Haggarty on whose word Smyth was being tried sails into the sunset with a new identity, a new life and no prospect of him ever answering for the 500 paramilitary crimes to which he confessed. Kieran Fox, who was 18 when his father was shot, said he will be haunted for the rest of his life, while Joe Convie whose son Gary was killed feels Smyths acquittal was like having muck thrown in my face. Two decent, law-abiding families sentenced to a 30-year fight for justice now condemned to a lifetime of what-ifs and regret. Do I think about my son every day? Every hour would be more accurate, Joe Convie told the Sunday World yesterday. I have wasted 30 years of my life running up and down to Belfast in the hope of winning justice for him. Thirty years of my life to arrive in 2024 and have muck thrown in my face. Im left no choice I have to go on. Its hard. Gary Haggarty Smyth was acquitted of the double murders, but it emerged that he is a convicted sectarian killer. Four months before the murders of Gary and Eamon, innocent Catholic father-of-one Cormac McDermott (31) was shot dead at his Ballymena home by Smyth and another UVF gunman. Smyth was freed in early 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Kieran, who has struggled to come to terms with his fathers death, said the last three decades have been a battle that has, at times, cost him his sanity. Speaking to the Sunday World two days after Smyth walked free, he described his life as empty. Im haunted, my fathers murder will haunt me the rest of my days its like having a ghost on my shoulder all the time, he said. The moment Mr Justice OHara handed down his not guilty verdict on sectarian killer James Jimmy Shades Smyth on Thursday, it marked the end of the road for these families. Thats it, its over, said Joe, and thats a hard thing to accept. After 30 years we have nowhere to go, we have run out of road. From the moment Gary was shot our family has been torn apart, were wrecked. The system has let us down. I never had any faith in Gary Haggarty how and why would I? This is the man who was involved in setting Gary up, he watched it happen. I couldnt sit in court and listen to him, that was a step too far for me. None of our family went to court, not a single day. It was a farce. The now-defunct Historical Enquiries Team (HET) told the families they would put 22 people in the dock for the murders of their loved ones, possibly including the police handlers who controlled the UVF killers who put a gun to Eamon and Garys heads. Joe Convie said: If the state and courts were serious about solving this, why did they not put Haggartys handlers in the witness box? They could have put Smyth away, but they chose not to do that. Supergrass Haggarty, a former UVF brigadier, spilled the beans on his former paramilitary pals over the course of 1,000 police interviews and an estimated 20,000 documents detailing his involvement in more than 500 paramilitary crimes. Haggarty put his hand up to involvement in five murders and directing terrorism, all while working as an RUC agent, but his statements and confessions resulted in just one criminal charge. Despite Haggartys guilty plea, he now walks away a free man, with a new identity and life away from Northern Ireland. Haggarty and his then-terror boss and RUC agent Mark Haddock sat in a car eating ice lollies as they watched Gary and Eamon being shot. The killer ran away shouting up the UVF. Haggarty sourced the gun. During Smyths last day in court last week, he was supported by a horde of masked man and women. But legal sources say it was a case that was flawed from start. Historically, supergrass trials have failed, and even in the case of conviction they have been overturned on appeal. The last major supergrass trial in 2014 involved the Stewart brothers into the murder of UDA boss Tommy English, and cost the taxpayer more than 11.5m. Smyths trial is another high-cost failure which leaves the taxpayer with a hefty bill for the new life of a confessed terrorist. His statements to the police are useless, worthless, Joe Convie said of Haggarty. Hes a free man, beyond the reach of the law. We are left with the heartache, he has got away with murder. My family continues to struggle with this every day of every year since the moment Garys life was ended. How is that fair? Haggarty was part of the notorious Mount Vernon unit of the UVF in north Belfast and was a paid RUC informer. He turned his back on his former comrades in return for the chance of a new life, with his murderous slate wiped clean. Haggarty and Smyth are now beyond prosecution and that hits the Convie and Fox families hard. Devastated son Kieran Fox said: I was confident we would get a conviction. I dont know, we had such hope. To have it taken away is very hard to take. Like Joe Convie, he is convinced that in a week when the contentious Legacy Bill was dismissed as being in contravention of human rights legislation, the rights of the two families have been thrown off a cliff by the state. I walked out of court this week and someone said to me theres more chance of going to jail for not paying your TV licence than for murder, Kieran added. We have to get over it and try and get on with life because theyve (the state) left us no choice. In handing down his verdict, Mr Justice OHara said it was not proven beyond doubt that Smyth killed Eamon and Gary, but added that Smyth had a lot to answer for. The frustrations of the legal system and the reliance on a self-confessed killer and terror chief have left two families bereft. I know who murdered Gary, said Joe. They laughed when they killed him. The state has laughed in my face. Some licensed companies have been doing such a poor job of removing asbestos in schools, the Ministry of Education is looking at tighter controls. The ministry says it's considering a national panel of approved asbestos removal companies, which schools will have to use. Exposure to asbestos - a known carcinogen - is the country's number one workplace killer, claiming about 220 lives a year. Many state schools were built at a time when asbestos was commonly used in construction - and most had an asbestos management plan. Despite a clampdown on the loosely regulated industry six years ago, some removal jobs at schools have had to be done twice. "The ministry is aware of some instances where poor asbestos-removal practice has occurred in a school and where follow-up work to address inadequacies has been required," its head of property Sam Fowler told RNZ on Thursday. "In such cases, the duly licensed suppliers engaged were able to demonstrate observance of proper asbestos removal management in their tender documents, however, fell short in conducting their work to the high standards expected by the Ministry and asbestos industry in general." Rural schools suffer from a lack of choice over contractors, so the ministry is closely checking asbestos removal on those sites, he says. "The ministry is looking at the option of a national panel of asbestos suppliers who can demonstrate their ability to meet industry and health and safety standards, which, if progressed, would apply to all asbestos projects in schools." The ministry did not name the schools where such "inadequacies" had been identified, nor specify the number of poor jobs done. The asbestos industry association warned the government 18 months ago that licensing of asbestos supervisors was far too loose, and WorkSafe's enforcement, such as suspending bad operators, had been too lax. Association president Helina Stil says the ministry's revelations about the poor jobs are "concerning", though it has not raised any issues with the association - and should have. "Certainly, if any of the contractors had been a member, we would have liked to have known about it because then we could work with the ministry, industry and WorkSafe to resolve these," Stil says. The main problem raised with WorkSafe is that supervisors are linked to multiple companies. "Also the fact of the licensing regime does appear to be more of a desktop audit ... it's more of a checking paperwork sort of a thing, rather [than] going on to site and seeing how their jobs run," she says. The association had korero with WorkSafe, but still did not know the outcome of their many recommendations or when a new code would come out. "We sit with bated breath like the rest of everybody, I suppose, until WorkSafe contacts us." WorkSafe says entities responsible under health and safety law, like boards and principals, are required to manage their obligations. "A national level panel to assist the Ministry of Education is not something WorkSafe would be involved with, to maintain regulatory separation," it says in a statement. It's still working on a code of practice for the industry and gave the sector an update last month. As for asbestos surveys, that precede removal, this is not a regulated activity. "Where WorkSafe can influence this is to set best practice criteria for training" in its guidelines for surveyors. But the asbestos association in its 2022 report said the WorkSafe guide was "quite vague on surveyor competence". Fowler says projects led by schools - "where the ministry has less oversight on the selection of contractors" - often face more problems. A panel of suppliers will be a cost-effective way to improve confidence in the work, he says. "A panel will also allow the ministry to manage instances of poor performance, including removing suppliers from the panel." School trustees and principals - as well as the ministry - are legally answerable if anyone is exposed to asbestos, but they do not make the regulations or set standards around its removal. The School Trustees Association said in a statement that dealing with asbestos had been "extremely onerous" for some schools, "many of whom are at the pointy end of the historic underinvestment in education, with classrooms becoming increasingly unfit for learning and other buildings on school grounds deteriorating. "Perhaps it is time for the government to take back full responsibility of what essentially is a Crown asset." -Phil Pennington/RNZ. Two surgeons are calling for more airgun restrictions after research that saw them use air rifles to shoot pig carcasses. In a paper published today in the New Zealand Medical Journal, surgeons Ben Black and Kevin Peek say they are shocked at how easily the shots deeply penetrated the chest walls of the pigs. The study was prompted by treating people who had almost died from shots to the chest from air rifles, which can be sold to anyone aged over 18 without any background checks or license. In the experiment, they fired a .22-callibre spring-loaded airgun into the left-hand chest walls of the "porcine cadavers", which had been ethically obtained from the University of Auckland. They then performed an autopsy. Out of 10 shots, six would have been lethal or potentially lethal, with nine of them penetrating the chest wall to an average of 10.6cm. Ben says the extent of the damage is surprising. "We were the same as most people in thinking, 'Air rifles - they're the kind of weapon that kids use to clink cans in the back yard.' "But these contemporary weapons [are] very much able to cause a lethal injury at five or 10 metres," he says. Many airguns are more like small-bore rifles, the researchers say. They hope the medical journal paper can help argue the case for tighter restrictions on their sale. Ben says both the surgeons have encountered dangerous and deliberate air rifle injuries at work. In one instance, heart surgery was needed in the emergency department; in another, a pellet had entered the chest and passed through a patient's lung. "These are patients that very nearly died or would have died without urgent medical intervention," he says. In separate research, not yet published, the surgeons examined 10 years of gun trauma at Auckland Hospital. A third of the injuries were caused by air rifles - many of which had been fired deliberately, says Ben. In the 1980s and 1990s nearly all such injuries were accidental. Two very high-powered types of airgun required a license in New Zealand, but not the spring-loaded variety used by the researchers. Ben says many similar countries restrict the sale of air rifles based on how fast the pellets went, but in New Zealand it's based on the type of mechanism. This means although the rifles have become more powerful, they still did not require a license. In their paper, the pair say the voice of medical workers is often absent in rules to prevent trauma and harm. "Our study adds some medical validity to the opinion that these higher-velocity air weapons should be considered more like a small-bore rifle in terms of the lethality," they say. -Rowan Quinn/RNZ. Four adult learners have won Acorn Foundation scholarships, twelve students were granted TECT First-in-Family awards, and nine students were awarded TECT Returning Student scholarships. The students from the University of Waikato Tauranga campus celebrated their awards with their friends and family on Monday evening. These scholarships are provided by Acorn Foundation donors and by the trustees of TECT to help students afford the expenses of tertiary education. The first scholarship from Acorn was the Acorn Foundation Beverly Perszyk Scholarship. This award is intended for a student who is the first in their family to go on to tertiary study and has completed at least one year at university. This years winner is Charlotte Ward, who is in her third year of a Bachelor of Social Science. Her future aspirations are to pursue advanced studies in the field of Forensic Psychology. It is of great personal significance to me that I am able to attend university. It has felt at times very much out of my reach, and I thought as I entered my thirties that I would never make it. Now I am here and being the first in my family to do so brings me an immense sense of accomplishment and pride, says Charlotte. The next scholarship was the Acorn Foundation Kenneth Perszyk Senior Adult Learner Scholarship. This award is for the financial assistance of adult learners (40 years and over) during any stage of their study at the undergraduate or postgraduate level at the University of Waikato Tauranga campus. This years winner is Social Sciences student Rachel Lees. The scholarship will help Rachel to pick up more papers per trimester and enable her to complete her degree sooner. The Acorn Foundation Adult Learner Scholarship was established by an anonymous donor in 2019 who is passionate about the benefits of higher education. This years winner is well-respected Te Puke local Louisa Westerlund. She is a valued volunteer at Bay Financial Mentors and many other non-profit organisations. Louisa is currently studying for a Diploma in Law. In 2007, the Acorn Foundation Eva Trowbridge Scholarship was launched, and it has up to now assisted 17 adult students, 25 years and older, to undertake studies through the University of Waikato Tauranga campus. The foundation is pleased to announce that disability advocate Melody Steyn is this years recipient. Melody has decided to study Social Sciences with a focus on Social Policy. She hopes to influence policy and practice that will continue to increase participation in work and society for those who have disabilities. These are incredibly deserving recipients, whose lived experiences have compelled them to undertake studies that will allow them to help others. It is a real pleasure to be able to provide a hand-up to these students. This is not possible without the generosity of Acorn donors who want to see students succeed and achieve their goals, says Acorn Foundation CEO Lori Luke. TECT trustees support two types of scholarships at the University of Waikato Tauranga campus. The First-in-Family awards are designed to help students who have no family members who have previously enrolled in tertiary study to afford university expenses. Returning Student scholarships are intended to provide support for second or third-year students to continue with their studies. TECT CEO Wayne Werder says that TECT are proud to support local students continuing or beginning their studies at the University of Waikatos Tauranga campus. With the ever-increasing cost of living, being able to support our local tertiary students with their university fees is an honour and an important way to take some pressure off them, so they can focus on their studies. Twelve students were selected for the First-in-Family Scholarships: Mauriora Rangiawha; Maiya-Jane Holliday; Blessing Pasi; Sapphire Green; Jack Lepper; Hayley Boyer; Navleen Kaur; Aliana Wills; Aria Gibson; Jahlia Waikawa-Nepe; Kade Smit; Ryan Bulcraig. Ryan Bulcraig shares why he has chosen to attend university. My dad is the only person with a career in my family. And he worked hard to get where he did but never had the opportunity for formal training. He always said if he could do it again, hed go back and be a teacher and that was my motivation to pursue higher education. Nine winners of the Returning Student scholarship received their certificates on Tuesday. These top-performing students are: Annabelle Stewart; Erin Murphy; Monique Turner; Olivia Manninen; Charlotte Ward; Keanu De Cleene; Tayla-Paige Fisher; Lesley Juliette Varon Alvarez; Jasmine Tawa. Tauranga Campus Development and Operations director Joseph Macfarlane says for many students, the scholarship is the difference between being able to achieve your aspiration of attending university or not. Im very proud of the students, and grateful to TECT and the Acorn Foundation. Congratulations to all of the Acorn Foundation and TECT University of Waikato Tauranga Campus scholarship winners! LINCOLN -- Alexah Fort of Sidney, a junior majoring in emerging media arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, recently won third place in the Center for Entrepreneurship's 48-Hour Challenge. The event allows student teams of three to six to develop and pitch business ideas for the chance to win cash prizes. Fort helped develop the business BitVoyage, an interest-based travel booking website equipped with artificial intelligence. "The 48-Hour Challenge is a unique opportunity for students to stretch themselves and find out how far they can go with a business idea in just a few days," said Samantha Fairclough, associate director of the center and associate professor of practice in management. "Teams naturally form around compelling concepts, and students are pushed beyond their comfort zones to find data and potential customers to validate their product idea. Feedback from community mentors is a key part of the process, helping them refine their business models and fostering connections that extend beyond the event." The competition is open to students of any major at the university. Competitors could leverage the expertise of entrepreneurs in person or via Zoom. Among the mentors was Emily Kist, a 2022 Husker alumna who works for Nelnet in St. Paul, Minnesota. "Participating in new business startup competitions is so important for students because it teaches them how to navigate the framework of starting a new venture," she said. "They get to practice things like customer discovery, market research, storytelling, building a pitch deck and more, which are the most essential steps to starting a company." Kist said that even if an idea isn't going to be a billion-dollar startup, it teaches students essential skills for their next venture. "I love mentoring these students, because I can really help them build those fundamental skills and help narrow down their ideas," she said. "Additionally, they are so fun to work with and bring so much passion and really creative ideas to the table." The 48-Hour Challenge helps students prepare for the next competition in the Center for Entrepreneurship's signature series: the 37th Annual New Venture Competition, April 16 and 18. Open to all undergraduate and graduate students at the university, the contest allows students to pitch their business ideas for the chance to win a share of $47,500 and an additional $25,000 from the Husker Venture Fund, which provides early-stage capital to Nebraskan startups. For the full list of 48-Hour Challenge competitors, visit https://go.unl.edu/nwxb. On Friday, March 1, the High Plains Chapter No. 278 celebrated an impressive 34 years of activity with its annual banquet at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds. This chapter is the only one in Nebraska that offers a hunt to say thank you to our Veterans, and they work closely with American Heroes in Action which provides Vets an opportunity to come out and have a relaxing weekend of camaraderie and hunting. The chapter served approximately 420 meals that were provided by Outlaws Catering. Despite a longer than normal wait time in line due to a new check-in system and the internet signal, this year's silent auction was hugely successful. Sandra Bybee commented, "We would like to apologize to everyone for the problems with the new system. We will be going back to the old system next year. Thanks to all our great sponsors and volunteers because without them the banquet couldn't be what it is." The proceeds from the night's events go directly into its conservation programs that keep the High Plains Chapter busy throughout the year, such as the Pheasants Forever "Milkweed in the Classroom" program which is a turn-key habitat education program for local classrooms. Program support includes all the materials to grow native plants in the classroom (seed, soil, planting containers, grow light), online training on how to grow native plants in the classroom, and a curriculum that meets all national science standards. The results of this program not only benefit pollinators by providing quality foraging and nesting habitat but also provide opportunities for youth to get outside and gain an appreciation for wildlife and conservation. The High Plains Chapter No. 278 also hosts an annual Youth Pheasant Hunt every fall, offering up to 20 boys and girls ages 12-15 who have passed their hunter safety course the opportunity to get outdoors for a day of fun. They offer students safety, biology, and habitat classes, and the kids get to reload shells and shoot some trap before going out in the field for a chance to harvest a pheasant or two. For some of these youth, it is their first time harvesting a pheasant. This event encourages them to get outdoors and enjoy. This event is offered with absolutely no cost to the youth, being solely funded by proceeds from the annual Banquet. The High Plains Chapter No. 278 is a highly recognized and awarded chapter that works tirelessly every year to bring awareness and education to as many as they can. This chapter's success can be attributed to two groups of people: the people who generously donate funding and attend the annual banquet, and those who selflessly give their time in volunteering at this year's or any one of their events. LINCOLN, NEB. The Nebraska Farm Bureau is excited to announce the establishment of the Nebraska Ag Legal Professionals Group, a dedicated initiative aimed at assisting farmers and ranchers in estate and succession planning. This innovative group will focus on providing specialized legal counsel to farm and ranch families, ensuring a smooth transition of assets and securing a sustainable future for agricultural legacies. One of the most discussed topics of conversation with our members has been about farm/ranch estate and succession planning. We are providing a list of attorneys that Nebraska Farm Bureau recommends, that have experience in estate and succession planning, and that is agriculture-focused and agriculture friendly in the legal profession, said Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue. This list recognizes attorneys who specialize in the unique legal needs of the agricultural industry. With a commitment to the unique challenges faced by the farming community, the Nebraska Ag Legal Professionals Group will bring together legal experts well-versed in the complexities of estate/succession planning. The group is committed to the unique challenges faced by farm and ranch communities across Nebraska. These selected attorneys will provide guidance that will empower local farmers and ranchers to make informed decisions for the continuity of their operations. "We recognize the significance of effective estate and succession planning for farm and ranch families. The Nebraska Ag Legal Professionals Group is a testament to our dedication to supporting agricultural communities, ensuring they have the resources and expertise needed for long-term success," McHargue said. The group's services will encompass a range of legal aspects: wills, trusts, tax planning, and business structure, and is categorized by region to easily connect farmers and ranchers with legal professionals in their communities. By addressing these crucial elements, the Nebraska Ag Legal Professionals Group aims to contribute to the resilience and prosperity of Nebraska's farm and ranch families. You must be a member of the Nebraska Farm Bureau to access the Nebraska Ag Legal Professionals Group. To join and learn more go to http://www.nefb.org. The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit http://www.nefb.org. The 2024 Nebraska Young Artist Awards have selected 3 area students as this year's recipients. The annual award is an honor bestowed to High School Juniors who are skilled in the areas of visual art, music, dance, theatre or film, and emerging media. Students are picked based on quality of work and rewarded with a private ceremony April 3rd honoring them on the UNL campus. Deanna Horst and Dru Weimer both of Sidney High School were chosen based on their talents in music, Monique Trejo a student of Potter High School was selected for her skill in visual art. These students are 3 of 1,800 recipients in the past 27 years of the program. Not pictured: Monique Trejo, Potter Dix High School Junior On April 12, UkraineInvest, in partnership with the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration, will hold the ninth in the series of FIT for Ukraine Forums: Fruit and Vegetable Processing in Chernivtsi. The event will present analytical materials on the state of the sector in the region, investment opportunities, and government incentives for investment projects. The event will be held offline, but everyone will be able to join the live broadcast. Key topics include: attracting investment in fruit and vegetable processing Investment policy, analytics and prospects for the region's development creation of a cluster of fruit and vegetable producers experience of investors working in Chernivtsi region. The forum will also include an EXPO zone where companies will have the opportunity to present their products and services, which will also become an effective tool for promoting goods and services to foreign markets and a platform for establishing mutually beneficial contacts between potential business partners. Currently, about 200 companies with foreign capital from 28 countries operate in Chernivtsi region. Bukovyna ranks 1st in terms of fruit and berry production and yield in Ukraine. To support small producers and the industry as a whole, there is a need to establish fruit and berry harvesting and processing facilities in the agglomeration. This will make it possible to form large batches of products, process them and sell them, expanding the market, including to EU countries. Program: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fnsHWARGP4c05aSdypo7Mux3QoTeznDzzWGGs8vARZA/edit?fbclid=IwAR1alkoHnuHknaLglR-zJPq6rQSek6oPISUx3j2g8Y8Av0pHA814aflzWd4 Registration for online viewing: https://forms.gle/ggfKX4DSije5h2ueA Media accreditation is required and runs until 18:00 on April 11. Contact person: Nazariy Volyansky, tel. +380630231193, e-mail: nazarii.[email protected] For reference: UkraineInvest is a government office for attracting and supporting investment in Ukraine, which has been a state institution since 2018. The main priorities of the team are to attract and support investment in Ukraine. FIT for Ukraine is a series of sectoral analytical events for investors interested in rebuilding Ukraine. The platform promotes investment opportunities for Ukraine's economic transformation. Nebraskas new voter ID law, which takes effect in the May 14, 2024, statewide primary, requires Nebraska voters to present a photo ID before voting. In an effort to ensure all Nebraskans are prepared, the Nebraska Secretary of States office is sending out letters to voters who may not have an acceptable form of photo ID to vote. About 97% of registered voters in Nebraska already have a drivers license or state ID, according to information from county election offices and the Nebraska DMV. The letters are a proactive measure on behalf of the Secretary of States office to reach and inform voters in the 3% margin who might not have a Nebraska drivers license or DMV-issued state ID. The office is sending out approximately 35,000 letters. Many Nebraskans are already prepared for voter ID. For example, if you have a drivers license or state ID, youre ready to go, Nebraska Secretary Bob Evnen said. Were trying to reach voters who may not be aware of the new voter ID law and may not be prepared. Our office wants to ensure every voter is informed and ready. The Secretary of States Elections Division is working with county election offices to ensure theyre prepared for an influx of inquiries from voters. Since the voter ID law passed, weve been working with our county election offices every step of the way, Secretary Evnen said. We want the implementation of the new voter ID law to be successful. County election offices are reporting a smooth process with voter ID in the early voting application process. Most Nebraskans are using their drivers license or state ID number to comply with the new voter ID law. The new early voting applications, which have an area to provide voter ID information, can be downloaded from the Secretary of States website. Voters should make sure they arent using an old early voting application form. What to do if you do not have an acceptable form of photo ID: If a voter does not have an acceptable form of ID to vote, they can get a free state ID from the Nebraska DMV. Nebraskans can use the temporary photo ID receipts from the DMV to vote if they dont receive their ID in the mail before the primary. To get a free Nebraska state ID at the DMV, individuals must present certain documents one option is providing their birth certificate. If an individual was born in Nebraska and does not have their birth certificate, they can get a free certified copy of their Nebraska birth certificate from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Voters utilizing this service should do so as soon as possible. Acceptable forms of ID: (IDs must have voters name and photo.) Nebraska drivers license Nebraska state ID U.S. passport Military ID Tribal ID Hospital, assisted-living facility or nursing home record Nebraska political subdivision ID (state, county, city, public school, etc.) Nebraska college or university ID (public or private); IDs that will NOT be accepted: Birth certificate Medicare/Medicaid card Out-of-state drivers license Out-of-state college ID Social security card Store membership card Utility bill Bank statement Voter acknowledgement card The Secretary of States office urges voters to learn about the new law and prepare ahead of the May 14, 2024, statewide primary. More information and education resources are available at voterID.nebraska.gov. Myrto Kaltsidou Gibraltar Friday, 8 March 2024, 12:22 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Gibraltar's Ministry of Equality organised several events to mark International Women's Day this week. One of these is a performance of the play La Maleta (The Suitcase), put on by the Gibraltar Academy of Music and Performing Arts (GAMPA). This interactive show explores the identity of Gibraltarian women and pays particular tribute to the generation who lived through the evacuation in the Second World War. One performance was held on Thursday and two more will take place at 6.30pm and 8.30pm this Friday at the GEMA gallery (www.buytickets.gi). There was also a panel discussion event that took place on Monday with the theme Inspire Inclusion, in collaboration with the Gibraltar Garrison Library. Minister for Equality Christian Santos encouraged "boys and men to be part of these celebratory events and most importantly to be part of the conversation around gender equality and women's rights". Jennie Rhodes Malaga Friday, 8 March 2024, 16:02 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The English-speaking community were given the opportunity to learn about the wide variety of local products that come under the Sabor a Malaga brand, in English, at last weekend's taste of Malaga food fair in Torremolinos . It was the first time a presentation has been given in English at a Sabor a Malaga fair. The initiative, organised by the Diputacion de Malaga provincial authority and hosted by Hanni Martini through her company The Food Experience Malaga, is designed to "bring the flavours of Malaga to various foreign audiences, such as British, Americans, Dutch and Swedes". The audience was introduced to the "qualities and flavours that characterise Malaga products", through tastings and cooking demonstrations using local produce and products. Participants were shown how to make ajoblanco - a traditional cold soup made with almonds, garlic and olive oil - and learned about the processes of producing local wines and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Hanni, who has been running her food tours in Malaga city since 2018, told SUR in English that the Diputacion approached her with a view to "connecting people who aren't Spanish with local producers through accessible activities and events" allowing them to get to know each other. Hanni and her team will be running events in English at the Sabor a Malaga fairs in Benalmadena and Velez-Malaga in April and in Nerja and Mijas in May. For further information and exact dates (when announced) visit: www.saboramalaga.es or Facebook: Sabor a Malaga; Instagram: atasteofmalaga. Tony Bryant Seville Friday, 8 March 2024, 15:49 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The Hay Festival Forum returns to Seville between Thursday 14 and Saturday 16 March, with an international gathering of experts and leaders in the field of ideas, architecture, literature, film and culture. The event, now in its second year in the Andalusian city, will be staged in two locations: the Cajasol Foundation headquarters, the venue for literature, film and flamenco events, and the Valentin de Madariaga y Oya Foundation in the former United States pavilion of the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, which will house sessions on architecture, urban planning and art. Organised by the Hay Festival Foundation Ltd (www.hayfestival.com) , the forum has been organised in the lead-up to the centenary celebration of the 1929 world fair, a landmark in the contemporary history of Seville, and one which shaped the city's modern image on the world stage. Its work in Spain has included events in Castilla y Leon (Segovia) for over 19 successive years, along with celebrating two successful festivals in Andalucia. The charity was awarded the 2020 Princess of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities. Guest appearances The three-day festival in Seville will offer 15 events, and more than 30 visiting guests, which will include celebrated Spanish author Luis Mateo Diez, world-renowned British filmmaker Stephen Frears, Irish architect and academic Yvonne Farrell and South Korean economist Ha-Joon Chang, together with other leading names in literature, art and journalism. Cinema plays a leading role in the forum, and, along with the chance to listen to Frears talking about his long career in the film industry, visitors will have the chance to see three of his most celebrated films - My Beautiful Laundrette, Dangerous Liaisons and The Queen. Other highlights will include a talk by prestigious British journalist Helena de Bertodano, noted for her interviews with major international personalities, from the Dalai Lama to Al Pacino and Prince Albert of Monaco, among others. Festival director Sheila Cremaschi said, "Since the 1929 fair, Seville has exemplified the role of culture in transforming a city, and we are excited to continue this journey." Antonio M. Romero Malaga Friday, 8 March 2024, 11:53 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram August 1976. Spain was taking its first steps towards democracy during the transition period following Franco's death. Adolfo Suarez had been president of the Spanish government for just a few weeks after replacing Carlos Arias Navarro. It was after dark on 13 August when 19-year-old Javier Verdejo Lucas was shot dead by a Guardia Civil officer. He was killed for painting graffiti on a wall near El Zapillo beach in Almeria. His accomplices managed to get away. This political activist and member of the Guardia Roja (Red Guard, the youth wing of the Partido del Trabajo de Espana, PTE, the Labour Party of Spain) and son of a pharmacist who was a Franco supporter and former mayor of Almeria, had been writing the slogan 'Bread, Work and Freedom' when shot. He didn't get past the fourth letter. Indignation "A one point a man put his hand on my arm and said: 'I'm a police officer, you're under arrest'," the councillor recalls His death caused indignation among his fellow communist activists across many parts of Andalucia. In Malaga a service was organised in the parish church of Santo Domingo. Party members made a call to the people of Malaga to attend the service, travelling to different parts of the city to distribute leaflets. In the Capuchinos district the person in charge of leaflet distribution was a young woman from a left-wing family, Maria del Carmen Sanchez Aranda. She herself was only 19, still regarded as a minor under the laws at that time. She was also a member of the Guardia Roja, having enrolled during her time as a senior pupil at the Santa Rosa de Lima secondary school. Today, of course, she is known as one of the Socialist (PSOE) opposition councillors at Malaga city hall. Arrest It was while she was delivering those leaflets that she was arrested. "Although we were being careful, at one point a man put his hand on my arm and said: 'I'm a police officer, you're under arrest.' He was dressed in civilian clothes because he was from the secret police [undercover police monitoring political subversion]. He called for reinforcements, a police van showed up and they put me into it. My only moment of fear was when I stepped into the van because I was reminded of other colleagues who had been mistreated by the police but, in all honesty, they treated me fairly at all times," says Sanchez Aranda in conversation with our newspaper. The final destination of that police van was the provincial police station for the then Policia Armada force, located in the Aduana customs building that is now the Malaga museum. More recollections: "When I arrived at the police station they put me straight into a cell. My mother's cousin was a police officer and was on duty. When he spotted me, he spoke to me and asked me if my parents knew anything of this and I told him no, and so he took me out of the cell to another room, where I sat and waited for someone to take me before the commissioner to take my statement. Sanchez Aranda during her time as an activist for the Labour Party of Spain (PTE). PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COUNCILLOR "Once before the commissioner I acknowledged the facts as they stood as I had been carrying a bag full of leaflets and I could not refute the evidence. He treated me properly at all times, except for his parting comment that, given that I looked younger than I was, had I been his daughter, he would have given me a beating and slammed me against the wall," she says. After questioning, and once her relative in the police had notified her parents, "who were very upset, especially my mother", as she recalls, Maria del Carmen Sanchez Aranda was transferred to the courthouse at Muelle de Heredia, where her hearing barely lasted "a quarter of an hour". Prison pending trial The judge decreed that she be detained, pending trial, at the provincial prison located at that time in Cruz de Humilladero. The charges were for crimes of public order nuisance and distribution of subversive propaganda. "There, I met another girl I knew, Encarni, who was a member of Bandera Roja [Red Flag - the Communist Organisation of Spain, a Maoist party] and had been detained by the Guardia Civil. She had been beaten and threatened." Sanchez Aranda spent around one month in the women's section of this Malaga prison. "I was fortunate that prison staff were polite and fair and the other inmates also treated me well because they had great respect for political prisoners. In the three days that I was in isolation (part of prison procedure), I had a lot of time for reflection and I realised that I had taken a very important step in my commitment to politics. Although it pained me to see my family upset by these events, I was acutely aware that democracy was just around the corner and so I gathered the courage to spend that time in prison in the best possible way, no dramas," she says. Still, she does add that the worst thing about it was the prison food, which was "disgusting". It was her mother, living nearby in the district of Carranque, who brought her lunch and dinner every day as well as toiletries and bedding. All goods were handed over to the prison officers to give to her daughter, whom she got to see on a couple of occasions. Meanwhile, the family had also hired the services of a lawyer to organise her defence. That same lawyer filed an appeal against her continued detention, requesting her release on licence while the trial was ongoing on the grounds that an amnesty law was being negotiated at national level that would likely favour political prisoners. The court heeded the defence counsel's request and, less than a month after her arrest, Maria del Carmen Sanchez Aranda left the prison to await a trial that was never held. The amnesty law came into force in October 1977, which pardoned her for the alleged crimes for which she had gone to prison. Political commitment Once she had regained her freedom, Sanchez Aranda continued her commitment to the youth organisation, the Joven Guardia Roja (where she met her husband, Antonio Utrera), and the main PTE party. She would still encounter some highly risky moments such as when leaflets calling for freedom flew off the motorcycle she was riding, landing in front of the Guardia Civil barracks in Capuchinos. A patrol gave chase, but she managed to elude them. As the years went by she joined the regional Labour Party, led by Isidoro Moreno, and she became involved in several political movements such as the one for Peace, Disarmament and Freedom and the founding of Los Verdes (a green movement). In 1992, encouraged by the former Socialist councillor Amparo Bilbao, whom she knew from the PTE, she joined PSOE, the party for which she stood as councillor from 1999 to 2011 and again from 2019 to the present day. "I have no regrets. I came from a left-wing family that had been through very tough circumstances. In those final years of the dictatorship and then the transition to a democratic government, I fought for what I believed in, which was democracy. I was aware that I was involved in a political set-up that carried risks with it, that I could be arrested, or even something worse like what happened to my colleague in Almeria, but I believed that it was what I had to do and I did it," she concludes. Jennie Rhodes Alfarnate Friday, 8 March 2024, 15:31 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Alfarnate is situated 900 metres above sea level in the Sierra Alhama, Tejeda and Almijara mountains to the north of the Axarquia. It is the highest village in the area and is known as 'the Alps of the Axarquia'. Thanks to the cooler climes, Alfarnate is well-known for its excellent cherries. In spring the village celebrates its annual 'Sakura' festival which means cherry blossom in Japanese - a nod to the country famed for its stunning trees. However, the name of the village has nothing to do with its cherries and instead comes from the Arabic word Al-farnat, meaning 'flour mill'. The first written reference to 'Los Alfarnates' (Alfarnate and neighbouring Alfarnatejo) dates back to the tenth century, when the area is described as a "farmstead with a large flour production", hence its name. The area didn't really grow into a village as such until after the Reconquista in 1487 and people started to settle there from around 1489. At that point the two villages were in fact just one and until the eighteenth century when they split into two. The old Venta de Alfarnate (today a restaurant-museum) was frequented by personalities such as King Alfonso XIII, Miguel de Cervantes and the infamous nineteenth century bandits, Jose Maria el Tempranillo and Luis Candelas. As well as cherries, the village is home to olive groves, almond trees, wheat and chickpeas which are said to be of the highest quality, so much so that even the Spanish author Juan Valera spoke of them in his book Juanita la Larga, although in the book he claims to have found ones even better than those of Alfarnate: "The land was very generous and produced the most buttery, fat and tender chickpeas that were eaten in the whole province, and in comparison the famous chickpeas of Alfarnate were like bullets." Pepita: the 10,000-year-old star of the new Nerja cave audio guide The audio story was directed by Benito Zambrano who was on the Costa to present his latest film, El Salto, at the Festival de Malaga Reconstruction of Pepita's face with artificial intelligence, based on the remains found in the Nerja Cave. Francisco Grinan Nerja Friday, 8 March 2024 | Updated 09/03/2024 13:13h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram A new audio story about Pepita, the 10,000-year-old woman discovered in the Nerja cave in the 20th century, was released on Monday at the cave itself. The dramatised guide was directed by filmmaker Benito Zambrano, who was also in Malaga to present his new film, El Salto, at the city's festival. Pepita's remains date back to the Epipalaeolithic period and are the best preserved in Europe. An AI reconstruction of her face made last year revealed what she may have looked like. "Instead of the narrator's voice you always find in audio guides, the project uses Pepita as the guide, telling her story and that of the Cueva de Nerja," Zambrano explained to SUR. Reconstruction of Pepita's face with artificial intelligence, based on the remains found in the Nerja Cave. SUR The new narrated audio provides updated information about the popular tourist attraction, where scientists are still discovering areas beyond those open to visitors. The latest studies on Pepita reveal that she is around 9,900 years old and that she was about 19 when she died. The cause of death cannot be determined exactly, although statistically it was most likely due to childbirth or postpartum complications. Pepita was 1.5 metres tall, meaning she was shorter than the average woman at the time, she was left-handed and suffered from a severe infection in her left ear, which left a scar on her skull. Analysis of her skeleton has also revealed similarities to those of some present-day African populations and that Pepita would have been black. Zambrano's film El Salto (The Jump) shows the harsh reality of people from Africa as they wait on Mount Gurugu for an opportunity to cross the fence in Melilla to get to Europe. The director compared the story of modern migrants to that of Pepita. "She was an African woman who arrived here along with the rest of our ancestors ten thousand years ago. If they had come across a fence, Pepita wouldn't exist," reflected the director. The new audio story is available in Spanish with an English version coming at the end of the month. Juan Cano Malaga Friday, 8 March 2024, 15:18 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Part of a human skeleton has been found on a popular hiking track in the Malaga mountains. A man who was taking the 6.9km Picapedreros-El Boticario route in Los Montes de Malaga made the grisly discovery on Tuesday 5 March about 1.30pm. The hiker phoned emergency services to report his dog had gone off into the woods and returned with a bone in its mouth, which he suspected to be of human remains. National Police attended the scene and located the exact spot where the dog had found the bone. Officers then found three more skeletal remains. The bones were sent off to the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) in Malaga to be examined by forensic experts. According to SUR, the remains were indeed part of a human skeleton. The same area was inspected again on Wednesday 6 March where, sources close to the case, said a rucksack with personal belongings inside had been found. Police are now working to identify the victim. Given the skeleton's characteristics, it is thought to be that of a man. The vehicle in Martiricos on Wednesday before passing its ITV. However the ladder hydraulics "leak oil", according to a fire union representative. Chus Heredia Malaga Friday, 8 March 2024, 19:01 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram After last months horrific fire in Valencia that claimed many lives, the minds of Malaga city residents are once again focused on building safety and the readiness of the fire brigade in the event of such a blaze as happened in April 2017 when an inferno led to a death in a 15-storey block of flats in Ciudad Jardin. Then, like now, the fire brigade's essential high-reach turntable ladders were out of service. The umpteenth breakdown of the city's 42-metre-long ladder was revealed by city council for Safety, Avelino Barrionuevo, during an interview on the 101 TV La Alameda programme, hosted by the editor-in-chief of SUR, Manolo Castillo. The council department in question told SUR that the serious problem has not been resolved and, furthermore, there is no temporary replacement for this vital, life-saving piece of equipment. The vehicle that carries the 42-metre-long ladder was purchased 19 years ago and has been hit with a series of technical problems for three consecutive years. Its extendable turntable ladder allows firefighters to reach a height of up to 13 storeys. Spokesperson for the Andalusian firefighters union (Sindicato Andaluz de Bomberos), Pedro Pacheco, told SUR that the situation "is a matter of cost. We are considering taking the matter to court. The acquisition and maintenance of vehicles and equipment has plummeted". The union also pointed out that maintenance of the vehicles are carried out by the fire service and not by specialised technicians. "We have a clear reliability problem when working on high-altitude rescues," said the union representative who explained that the vehicle had recently passed its ITV, and it is the mechanical arm that is the problem: "It is leaking oil again." The firefighters should have a fleet of five vehicles at their disposal for high-altitude operations in Malaga city, as well as the out-of-action 42-metre ladder. The three others have ladders 32-metres long (but one is damaged), and another with a range of 20 metres. Regarding the latter, Pacheco said that this vehicle is ideal for operations in the heart of the city centre yet, that too, is not currently available. The concern for firefighters is not only the tall tower blocks that are springing up throughout the city (Martiricos, Termica, Teatinos, Flex, Princesa, Torre del Rio, Siemens, Repsol, Camino de San Rafael, Bulto, Nereo...), but also the older tall buildings. And what happens in other cities? Pacheco explained that Madrid has a turntable ladder that can reach up to 70 metres and they have others 56-metres long. "A big city like Malaga must invest in one that is taller. Response times are essential. Any life we can save by having better equipment justifies the investment," he added. On March 6, Kyiv hosted the fifth anniversary award ceremony of the annual Women in Arts award. The Resistance award, which UN Women in Ukraine and the Ukrainian Institute recognize the achievements of women in the field of culture and art, and from 2023, their contribution to bringing Ukraine's victory over the aggressor country Russia closer. The event was supported by the Governments of Sweden and Japan, as well as the United Nations Women's Fund for Peace and Humanitarian Assistance. The names of the winners of the Women in Arts. The Resistance 2024: Women in the Visual Arts - Kateryna Buchatska Women in Music - Jamala Women in the Performing Arts - Oksana Dmitrieva Women in Cinema - Alisa Kovalenko Women in literature - Yaryna Chornohuz Women in cultural management - Olga Gonchar Women in Cultural Journalism, Criticism and Research - Kateryna Yakovlenko Special mention - Kateryna Pryimak "The theme of this year's award is Resistance, the resistance that Ukrainian women are putting up to Russian aggression, amplifying women's voices and calling for a change in the world's perception of Ukraine. I am grateful to each and every one of them, who through their tireless work encourages the international community to act. Ukrainian artists are using all their talent and all available means of art to call on the world to act and support Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression," commented Dmytro Kuleba, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Prize. The winners of the Prize are determined by an expert council and jury consisting of experts in the field of culture and art, representatives of the public sector and independent institutions. The board and jury consist of 42 members. More information about the experts who selected the winners this year can be found on the award's website. "In times of the most difficult challenges, Ukrainian women are proving themselves with exceptional resilience, dignity and determination in every sphere of public life. Their leadership, creativity, and unwavering spirit help to overcome the difficulties of war, and they are the embodiment of true resilience and hope for recovery. Today, we not only admire the unwavering spirit of Ukrainian women in the arts, but also honor the talented women who have died as a result of Russian aggression. This is a moment of great pride, deep sorrow and solidarity with the Ukrainian people," said Sabine Fraser Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine. Special guests of the ceremony were the multimedia performance project Liniya by Christina Kirik, which combines the worlds of music and theater to create immersive experiences through live performances and sensory installations. The ceremony was hosted by journalist, presenter, poet and screenwriter Oleksandra Hontar and stand-up comedian and volunteer Vasyl Baidak. Media partners of the fifth Women in Arts Award ceremony: Starlight Media, Radio Culture and Public Culture and Harper's BAZAAR. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the award has acquired a new meaning - recognizing and honoring the resistance and resilience of Ukrainian women artists and the entire Ukrainian people. This idea is reflected both in the name, to which the prefix "The Resistance" was added, and in the symbolic slogan "Until the Storm is Over" chosen for this year's ceremony. A minute of silence was observed at the event in memory of the artists who died as a result of Russian aggression. The winners of the award were presented with the traditional statuettes by sculptor Maria Kulikovska in the form of intertwined female hands. According to the artist, women's hands symbolize support and protection, as well as women's labor. This year, the color of the statuettes is a delicate sky blue, symbolizing the light that remains with us in these turbulent times and the hope for a clear and peaceful sky after the war. Women in Arts is an independent award founded in 2019 by the Ukrainian Institute and UN Women in Ukraine as part of the HeForShe movement for gender equality. The purpose of the award is to draw attention to the achievements of women artists and to popularize Ukrainian culture in the country and around the world. The winners of previous years include Oksana Zabuzhko, Sofia Andrukhovych, Irma Vitovska-Vantsa, Alevtina Kakhidze, Iryna Tsilyk and others. For reference: The Ukrainian Institute is a state institution under the management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The mission of the Ukrainian Institute is to strengthen Ukraine's international and domestic subjectivity through cultural diplomacy. We establish international cultural ties between people and institutions and create opportunities for Ukrainians to interact with the world. UN Women is a United Nations entity that focuses on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women. HeForShe is a global solidarity movement for gender equality, founded by UN Women, that puts men and boys at the center of change. Since its launch in 2014, the campaign has been joined by heads of state, leading scientists, CEOs of global corporations, athletes, artists, and opinion leaders who share the philosophy of gender equality. The movement was launched in Ukraine in 2018. Support is provided by the Government of Sweden. Juan Cano / Irene Quirante Malaga Friday, 8 March 2024, 16:25 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram National Police officers on the Costa del Sol have arrested five men in connection with an alleged group sexual assault on a 26-year-old woman, possibly with the use of a chemical agent to force her submission. The incident happened on Tuesday 5 March in a Marbella hotel, where those involved are claimed to have taken the young woman to abuse her, according to sources consulted by SUR. Following a police complaint, the victim was taken to the Costa del Sol hospital in Marbella a pioneer in activating a protocol to detect this type of case for tests and a medical examination. Those detained are aged between 19 and 32; three of them are German and the other two are Serbian. All of them were taken to Marbella police station for questioning. The investigation is now focussing on identifying the alleged degree of participation of each of the suspects. The National Police are awaiting tests to confirm if a chemical agent was used to force the victim into against her will. The five detainees have been handed over today, Friday 8 March, to a Marbella court. Tony Bryant Mijas Friday, 8 March 2024, 08:03 | Updated 10:52h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The Mayor of Mijas, Ana Mata, has announced that British resident Anne Bowles is among six women that will be honoured during the towns 16th women in Mijas gala night, an event that will be held in the Manuel Espana theatre tonight (Friday 8 March). The ceremony is part of the towns activities to mark International Womens Day, a global event celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Anne Bowles, who founded the La Cala de Mijas Lions' diabetes support group, is being recognised for more than 20 years of dedicated service to the local community and her continued efforts to raise awareness of the disease. Anne formed the group with her husband, Frank, in 2003 with the aim of creating a forum where diabetics and their families could meet with others with the same issues. The monthly meetings offer access to advice from specialist medical professionals and free glucose testing. Anne also organises various activities to raise awareness of a condition that millions of people around the world live with every day, one of which is a sponsored walk to mark World Diabetes Day (14 November). File image of participants in one of the World Diabetes Day sponsored walks organised by Anne Bowles. SUR "Honoured" I feel really honoured to receive this award from our mayor and give many thanks to her and the town hall for choosing me. However, I am a member of La Cala de Mijas Lions and this could not be achieved without incredible teamwork from them and my nurses and volunteers in the diabetic support group, not forgetting the help from Katja in the foreign residents department. I hope we can continue our programme of diabetic awareness, Anne told SUR in English. The other women who will be recognised are Marta Ortega, the captain of Club de Baloncesto Unicaja Mijas; the UP professors, Remedios Fernandez, Bernardi Gabriel and Rafi Cuevas, who will be honoured for their educational work and for their promotion of culture and traditions through dance; and Celia Salguero, for her dedicated volunteer work caring for the elderly. These are indispensable women for Mijas as they do outstanding social work, carrying out tasks that help the promotion of culture, sport, traditions, and helping people who are in need, Mata said. Paula de las Heras / SUR Madrid Friday, 8 March 2024, 13:51 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Spain's PSOE Socialist party announced a new deal with Catalan separatist parties Junts and ERC for its proposed amnesty law this week. On Thursday, parliament's justice committee approved a revised text for the law and this will now probably be voted on in Congreso next week before going to the Senate upper house. Here it could be delayed up to two months by the conservative-controlled chamber. It is reported that Junts President Carles Puigdemont is expecting to be able to return to Spain in July free of charges for offences. He fled and self-exiled to Belgium in 2017 to avoid trial over the illegal Catalan independence process and related accusations. Junts torpedoed the draft law's first trip to parliament in January, demanding the government do more to protect those involved from prosecution. The fragile support of Junts' MPs is needed to shore up the PSOE-led government. Despite the PSOE saying it would not touch the proposed law further, in the end, the party of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has given in to Junts' demands. Changes include adapting the definition of terrorism offences to EU norms instead of Spanish ones and omitting embezzlement of public funds if the person being investigated did not benefit personally. Justice minister Felix Bolanos, of the PSOE, justified the deal to journalists on Thursday "This agreement is a definitive step," he said. Cuca Gamarra of the opposition PP criticised the pact. "They want an amnesty for the most serious crimes in democracy in order to keep them in power," she said. Jordi Turull of Junts said, "We have an amnesty, now we are going for self-determination." Tony Bryant Estepona Friday, 8 March 2024, 10:26 | Updated 12:08h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The Supersuckers, one of America's most brazen rock and roll bands, will stop off at the Louie Louie live music venue in Estepona tonight (Friday) to perform one of just two dates the band will perform in Spain during their current tour of Europe and North America. Formed in 1988, the band's music ranges from alternative rock to metal, country and cowpunk, and they have gained a reputation for their outsized personalities and for pledging allegiance to sex, cannabis and Satan. Originating from Arizona, the trio began performing punk rock stylised by thrashy guitar riffs and controversial lyrics, cutting their teeth in the clubs and venues of Seattle, where they headed in 1989. The band have since released more than a dozen albums, including The Evil Powers of Rock and Roll and Motherfuckers be Trippin, as well as touring all over America and Europe. Their current tour will include Barcelona (10 March), before heading off to Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Canada and America. Their gig in Estepona is sure to attract a large crowd, as the band are no strangers to Spain, so ticket reservations are advised. Tickets for the concert, which will start around 11pm, cost 18 euros in advance (www.woutick.es), or 24 euros at the door. If the world is to succeed in addressing what the UN is calling a triple planetary crisis accelerating climate change, the global loss of species diversity and ecosystem services and the accelerating spread of harmful pollutants then greater resource efficiency is key. If we are to do this at the same time as increasing prosperity, we need tools that can combine economic growth and resource efficiency. A market-driven development of the circular economy enables just that. Managing limited resources is the basis for economics and business, while resource efficiency is by no means a new concept. It is embedded in the DNA of the entrepreneur to use resources as efficiently as possible. Thus, circular business models and the efficient management of materials and resources need not be advanced or new; where circular models and management have proved profitable, they have been in use for a long time. However, our global financial system is built on the principles of the linear economy, and it has long-been more profitable to discard resources rather than to reuse, repair, upgrade and recycle. A circular economy extends the life cycle of materials, substances and products. This is not the result of a single solution; rather, it requires adaptations at all stages of the life cycle of a substance, material or product. Developing a circular economy involves everything from a novel approach to designing products to new ways of producing, consuming and using them. It is not a panacea circular management does not in itself guarantee increased resource efficiency or reduced emissions but it is a valuable tool, and one that is yet to realise its full potential. Swedish companies are currently in the vanguard of developing resource-efficient, renewable and circular materials and products. As a country, Sweden also has abundant natural resources and sustainable primary production of several essential materials for enabling a circular and fossil-free economy. These are value chains that need to be further developed and that are capable of retaining their value for much longer periods through a transition to a circular economy. The solutions to this triple crisis are to be found in business, but the conditions to encourage them are created by policy. A profitable circular economy must be based on market economy principles that allow companies and circular solutions to build strength and compete globally. Dismantling barriers, creating favourable and longterm market conditions and providing the right kind of incentives to develop the market-driven circular economy can accelerate the efforts of Swedish companies and promote and create sustainable growth in Sweden. Sweden is not alone in developing of the circular economy, and the countrys leadership position is not a foregone conclusion, with competition in many parts of the world. Within the EU, the pace of legislation is high, a positive development provided that it also leads to common rules, competitive companies and a reinforced internal market. However, much remains to be done here in Sweden in order to continue to develop the circular economy and eventually improve the competitiveness of Swedish companies. This is why the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise has produced this report. It is not a comprehensive picture of everything that required in order to realise the full potential of the circular economy there is no quick fix for transforming an economic system and mindset from linear to circular. However, were the action list provided at the end of this report were to be implemented, we will have come a long way in Sweden. We will also have laid a foundation for our Swedish companies to lead the transition to a circular and fossil-free future to the benefit of Swedish society as a whole. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. Political and international steps are necessary to eliminate Islamophobia, chairman of the board of the Center for Analysis of International Relations Farid Shafiyev said during the international scientific conference Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 in Baku, Trend reports. "Azerbaijan is always criticized when hosting such major international events, especially in the international media, which is controlled by the West. Essentially, we need representatives of the academic circle to fight Islamophobia together. Unfortunately, the geopolitical problems we see in the world have revealed several problems, and here we see manifestations of Islamophobia. We all have to struggle against it," Shafiyev added. To note, an international scientific conference Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 dedicated to the 2nd anniversary of the International Day Against Islamophobia is being held in Baku under the joint organization of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC), the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), the G20 Interfaith Forum, and the Baku Initiative Group. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Marcellus, NY - In a last-minute turn of events, the village of Marcellus is considering an exception that could pave the way for Rich Nojaim to sell his supermarket to Stewarts Shops after all. Last month, the three-person village board passed a moratorium on development in the villages center, a move that essentially blocked the sale of Nojaim Brothers to the well-known chain of convenience stores. Canastota, N.Y. A village police officer in Madison County has been charged with stalking and harassing a woman who tried to break up with him, county officials said Thursday. Robert McCormick, 59, of Oneida, was arrested Feb. 9 after a domestic dispute on Jan. 29, Samantha Field, a county spokesperson, said in a news release. He was also found with cocaine at the time of his arrest, officials said. McCormick is a Canastota village police officer and is assigned as a school resource officer at Canastota High School. The village police department removed McCormick from his post and placed him on unpaid leave pending the outcome of his criminal case, according to a village spokesperson. A woman who was in a relationship with McCormick said he stalked her after she tried breaking up with him, sending her hundreds of text messages, repeatedly calling her phone and continually driving past her home, Field said. The woman provided several messages and videos that showed McCormick used his position to intimidate her during domestic disputes, officials said. McCormick was charged with: Official misconduct, misdemeanor Second-degree aggravated harassment, misdemeanor Fourth-degree stalking, misdemeanor Second-degree harassment, violation Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor McCormick was released ahead of his next court appearance after his arraignment in Lenox town court. 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. Utica, N.Y. A former Utica mayor and the citys school superintendent have taken guilty pleas for charges that they used taxpayer money to support school board election campaigns. Former Utica schools Superintendent Bruce Karam pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony charge of public corruption. He agreed to pay $12,000 in restitution, serve five years of probation and complete 250 hours of community service, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a news release. He also agreed to reduce his pension benefits. His sentencing is scheduled for April 19. Former Mayor Louis LaPolla pleaded guilty in February to petit larceny. LaPolla is expected to be sentenced to 60 days of house arrest and five years probation on April 10. LaPolla also previously served as the citys school board president. In November, Karam was accused of using school supplies and postage during work hours to send election mailers to support certain school board candidates. He also used school resources to send invitations for a non-school fundraiser for a charity run by LaPolla, prosecutors said. Fundraiser flyers for the charity were inserted by school district employees during working hours in envelopes the district paid for and were mailed using the districts stamps. LaPolla was aware that school resources were being used on his behalf, according to authorities. Almost $15,000 worth of public supplies and work time was stolen, according to DiNapoli. LaPolla was also indicted in September after he spent thousands of dollars donated to a scholarship fund in memory of his wife on himself. That federal case is still pending. Karam served as Uticas schools superintendent from 2011 until he was put on leave on Oct. 18, 2022 and later fired. LaPolla was mayor from 1984 until 1995. He was also a member of the Utica City School Board for 21 years. He served as the boards president from 2018 to 2022. 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. Skaneateles, N.Y. A project that is redeveloping the former Cedar House bowling center and Hilltop restaurant in Skaneateles into a hospitality destination has landed a big anchor tenant. 42 North Brewing Co., a nine-year-old craft brewer based in the Buffalo suburb of East Aurora, plans to open a taproom in the development at 813 W. Genesee St. (Route 20) just west of the village. The project also includes a restaurant, boutique hotel and a family-centered game arcade and recreation area with bowling lanes. The development is owned by the Syracuse-based Woodbine Hospitality Group, which also owns such properties as the boutique Hotel Skyler and Parkview Hotel in Syracuse and the Tailwater Lodge in Pulaski. The project on Route 20 is expected to open this fall, said Woodbine president Tom Fernandez. Woodbine is still working out some details, including the name. Right now were still calling it the former Hilltop, but we should have the branding and other things settled pretty soon, Fernandez said. Woodbine officials are meeting next week with 42 North owner John Cimperman to discuss plans for the brewery taproom. We always envisioned having a beer or brewery component to this, maybe even doing it ourselves, Fernandez said. And then he (Cimperman) reached out, and it was like kismet. What he wanted and what we were hoping for matched up perfectly. Cimperman agrees, saying he found the 42 North brand and culture have a lot in common with Woodbine and its project. It began with a cold call, then it grew into a really strong relationship, Cimperman said. Among other things, he said he and the Woodbine team share a love of fishing, the outdoors and similar pursuits. 42 North, meanwhile, is also opening a taproom in downtown Buffalo this week, which will make the Skaneateles taproom its third location. Cimperman had been thinking of expanding the 42 North brand east, somewhere along or near the 42nd parallel of latitude, which gives the brewery its name. He looked at such places as Ithaca and Watkins Glen. He said he discovered that Skaneateles, a bit outside of Syracuse, had a similarity with East Aurora, about the same distance from Buffalo. The location in Skaneateles will be a taproom without brewing equipment, serving beer made in East Aurora as well as other New York beverages. Fernandez said food will likely be served via the adjoining restaurant. The flagship beer at 42 North is Borderland IPA, a light-bodied West Coast style, but the brewery makes many styles, from pilsners to porters and Belgians. It also has an active barrel-aging program in East Aurora. The Skaneateles taproom will probably host some barrels for aging. I think the demographic, the vibe of Skaneateles lends itself to some barrel-aged beers, and some sours, so I think well be doing some of that in there, Cimperman said. News that 42 North plans to expand to Skaneateles was first reported in the Cleveland Prost, a substack publication created by beer writer Will Cleveland to cover western and central New York beer news. See also: Once home to crispy fried turkey, a Cayuga County location reopens as a modern diner New owners spend $500,000 to improve a 57-year-old Central NY ice cream and food landmark Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. A stellar, once-in-a-lifetime event is soon coming to an Upstate New York community near you. One month from today, a total solar eclipse will appear over the Empire State for the first time in 99 years. Half of Upstate is lucky enough to be in the path of totality the magnificent moment when the moon will completely shadow the sun, darkening the afternoon sky to eerie dusk. Experts are betting on Upstate, particularly Western New York, as one of the best places to catch the skyward show: NASA astronauts are planning on watching the eclipse at Niagara Falls. National Geographic has named watching the eclipse at the famous falls one of the coolest adventures of 2024. And officials are preparing for up to 1 million tourists to pour into Erie County. Heres everything you need to know to prepare for the 2024 solar eclipse: What day and time will the eclipse appear in Upstate New York? The total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday, April 8 starting in Mexico before moving over the United States and Canada. In New York, totality will appear first in Jamestown in Western New York at 3:17 p.m. and last in Plattsburgh in the Adirondacks at 3:25 p.m. Within 13 minutes, it will all be over: Totality will end in Jamestown at 3:20 p.m. and in Plattsburgh at 3:29 p.m. But while totality is the main event, it isnt the whole show. During the partial eclipse, which will precede and follow totality, viewers will have a chance to watch the moon gradually cover and uncover the sun. Youll see the moon gradually cross in front of the sun, making it look like larger and larger bites are being taken out of the suns disk until the eclipse reaches its maximum point, according to the Planetary Society. The partial eclipse greatly extends the show. In Jamestown, the moons journey will begin at 2:03 p.m. and end at 4:31 p.m. In Plattsburgh, the partial eclipse will start at 2:14 p.m. and finish at 4:37 p.m. This map from Great American Eclipse shows the path the total solar eclipse will take over New York state in April 2024. Image courtesy of Michael Zeiler, GreatAmericanEclipse.com Which communities are in the path of totality? The eclipse will cross over Western New York; parts of the Finger Lakes and Central New York; the North Country; and the Adirondacks a path that will stretch about 124 miles wide. The communities slated to have a view of the celestial show include Alexandria Bay and Chautauqua; Geneva and Oswego; Sterling and Tupper Lake; Watertown and beyond. (Check out a long list of communities in the path and totality start times here.) That includes three of Upstates biggest cities: Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. At 3 minutes and 45 seconds, Buffalos totality will be the longest. Romulus, in the Finger Lakes, is set to experience just 50 seconds. Where should I watch the eclipse? Is there an event near me? New York has fully embraced its status as one of the states in the path of the historic eclipse. Communities and businesses across Upstate are organizing eclipse-themed events ranging from free watch parties in open fields to an all-inclusive package that includes skydiving over a waterfall during the eclipse. To help you find the best way to celebrate, we compiled a list of over 80 ways to watch the eclipse across Upstate. Plan now: Many organizers are requiring registration, even for free events. What kind of glasses do I need to watch the eclipse? When do I need to wear them? When can I take them off? This warning is worth repeating: Looking at the sun without solar eclipse glasses during the partial eclipse could permanently hurt your eyes. Experts urge eclipse watchers to don certified eclipse glasses during the partial eclipse, which will precede and follow totality. Even with the glasses on, NASA warns viewers not to look through a camera, binoculars or a telescope during the partial eclipse: That could melt the glasses filter and lead to eye damage. Most importantly: Ensure the glasses you are buying are from a reputable vendor vouched for by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and meet the worldwide standard known as ISO 12312-2. (Read our full eclipse eye safety primer here.) When the brief moment of totality arrives, you can take off your glasses and safely drink in the moon-covered sight. But as soon as the moon begins to unshadow the sun, glasses must be put back on. This photo combo shows the sequence of a total solar eclipse seen from Piedra del Aguila, Argentina, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. The total solar eclipse was visible from the northern Patagonia region of Argentina and from Araucania in Chile, and as a partial eclipse from the lower two-thirds of South America. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)AP How is the eclipse going to impact traffic? A big influx of tourists is set to bring big traffic jams to Upstate New York. Expect heavy traffic before, during, & after the eclipse, the state Department of Transportation wrote Monday on Facebook. Dont be part of the congestion - get to your viewing spot early and leave late. Charles Fulco, a solar system ambassador for NASA and an avid eclipse chaser, has encouraged travelers to extend their hotel stays for a couple days after the eclipse to avoid getting stuck on impossibly snarled highways. There is plenty to see in Upstate New York. Stay for a while! What are our chances of clear skies in Upstate New York on the day of the eclipse? Could cloudy skies ruin the historic party? The chances arent much better in other Upstate communities. Most cities in the path tend to have overcast or mostly cloudy skies on April 8, data shows. Even if clouds blot out the eclipse, it will still get dark. And theres always a chance the clouds will part at just the right moment giving a glimpse of the last eclipse to visit Upstate for 379 years. New York Several New York City employees were arrested Thursday for their alleged role in a scheme to steal the identities of homeless shelter residents and defraud a pandemic-era relief program. Manhattan prosecutors brought charges against 18 people, including five employees of the citys homeless services agency, an NYPD officer, an MTA worker, and two letter carriers for the U.S. Postal Service. Beginning in April 2020, prosecutors allege the defendants worked together to obtain approximately $1.2 million in fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits by filing bogus claims on behalf of 170 people most of whom live in city-run homeless shelters. Stealing the identity of New Yorkers, many of them homeless, and defrauding a critical social safety net program in one of the most challenging times in our citys history is downright shameful, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at a press conference. This type of conduct by our public servants is unacceptable. Each of the defendants who were arraigned on Thursday afternoon pleaded not guilty to charges that included grand larceny, conspiracy, and burglary. Prosecutors said they uncovered the benefits fraud while pursuing a separate case against two Department of Homeless Services employees for their alleged involvement in manufacturing ghost guns. In the course of that investigation, they learned that several DHS employees were using their positions to steal the personal information of unwitting homeless residents, according to the criminal indictment. They also enlisted a U.S. postal worker, instructing the Department of Labor to send the bank cards to addresses they knew were on his route so he could intercept them, prosecutors said. As the scheme progressed, some of the participants turned against each other. At least two defendants are accused of stealing $30,000 from the home of a co-conspirator, who they believed was hoarding the proceeds. One of the individuals allegedly involved in the burglary left her DHS job for a position at the NYPD, prosecutors said, before rejoining the homeless services agency after she was fired by the police department in 2022. A second individual involved in the conspiracy worked as a school safety agent at the NYPD. She was terminated on Thursday, the police department said. A spokesperson for DHS did not respond to a request for comment. A Chick-fil-A franchise owner has been arrested after allegedly driving more than 400 miles to sexually abuse a teenager, according to police in North Carolina. The Rowan County Sheriffs Office said they were called to a home in Rowan County, N.C., after receiving reports of a breaking or entering incident. WSB-TV reports the homes owner said they found Stacy Lee Austin, 49, of Belmont, Ohio, performing sexual activities with their 15-year-old child. According to WBNS, Austin allegedly drove from Ohio to the teens house after communicating on social media. Detectives said Austin arranged to pick up the teen and allegedly performed sexual activities while inside the house; Deputies said they found Austins underwear in a bathroom trash can along with some of the alleged victims clothing. According to the police report, Austin admitted to the sexual acts when questioned. He also told deputies he was worried about losing his job as owner of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Ohio. In a statement, a Chick-fil-A spokesperson responded to the allegations against Austin. We have zero tolerance for the type of serious conduct alleged. Stacy Austin currently is an independent franchise owner, but as the investigation and legal process continues, he will not be present in the restaurant, the spokesperson said. Austin was charged with statutory sex offense with a child, WSB-TV reports. He is currently being held in the Rowan County Detention Center with no bond. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. Islamophobia is a global issue of concern, Ambassador of Sudan to Azerbaijan Mustafa Abdel Halim told Trend. He made the remark on the sidelines of an international conference themed Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 in Baku. I'm very pleased to take part in an international scientific conference dedicated to the fight against Islamophobia. I also participated in the first conference in Baku on this topic, Halim said. The ambassador noted that holding this conference is an important initiative and thanked the Azerbaijani government in this regard. The problem associated with Islamophobia worries all Muslim countries. Azerbaijan provides excellent opportunities for discussions in this direction. This year there are even more participants in the conference. I congratulate Azerbaijan on its successful holding, he added. To note, an international scientific conference Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 dedicated to the 2nd anniversary of the International Day Against Islamophobia is being held in Baku under the joint organization of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC), the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), the G20 Interfaith Forum, and the Baku Initiative Group. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. The world witnesses tragic consequences of Islamophobia, ex-ambassador of South Africa to the US, founder of the World for All Foundation Ebrahim Rasool told Trend. He made the remark on the sidelines of an international conference themed Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 in Baku. The discussions on Islamophobia that take place here are important. This is an extremely important issue for the whole world. The world is witnessing the tragic consequences of Islamophobia and people are dying," Rasool said. "Therefore, it's important for us to come together to discuss the tragic consequences of Islamophobia and prevent it. We must work together to fight Islamophobia. Azerbaijan provides a very good platform for discussing these issues, he added. To note, an international scientific conference Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 dedicated to the 2nd anniversary of the International Day Against Islamophobia is being held in Baku under the joint organization of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC), the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), the G20 Interfaith Forum, and the Baku Initiative Group. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TusharK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Pune Posts: 6,148 Thanked: 54,806 Times Re: Hyundai Creta N Line spied during TVC shoot in Pune Rumour: Hyundai Creta N Line to cost around Rs 20 lakh Hyundai is all set to launch the Creta N Line in India in a few days, but there are already rumours about its expected price. According to a media report, the Creta N Line is likely to be priced at about Rs 60,000 more than the standard Creta. The top-spec 'N10' variant is expected to cost around Rs 20.50 lakh and will go up against models like the Kia Seltos X-Line and Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo. In terms of features, the Creta N Line will be based on the SX (O) variant. The SUV will be equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a digital instrument cluster. It will also get ventilated front seats, a powered drivers seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, a wireless charger and ADAS. The Creta N Line will be powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. This unit produces 158 BHP and 253 Nm and will be paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The N Line version also gets a stiffer suspension setup, tweaked steering and a tuned exhaust. Source: Link to Team-BHP News Hyundai is all set to launch the Creta N Line in India in a few days, but there are already rumours about its expected price.According to a media report, the Creta N Line is likely to be priced at about Rs 60,000 more than the standard Creta. The top-spec 'N10' variant is expected to cost around Rs 20.50 lakh and will go up against models like the Kia Seltos X-Line and Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo.In terms of features, the Creta N Line will be based on the SX (O) variant. The SUV will be equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a digital instrument cluster. It will also get ventilated front seats, a powered drivers seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, a wireless charger and ADAS.The Creta N Line will be powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. This unit produces 158 BHP and 253 Nm and will be paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The N Line version also gets a stiffer suspension setup, tweaked steering and a tuned exhaust.Source: Autocar India In a nutshell: As Apple iOS 17.4 launches and Europe's Digital Markets Act becomes law, European users can now use software outside the Apple App Store. The Cupertino giant has released new information explaining the range and limits of the changes. Meanwhile, the EU will interrogate the company over its recent decision to ban Epic Games. The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which forces large platform holders like Apple and Google to maintain interoperability and openness standards, is now in effect. This week, Apple released iOS 17.4, implementing some critical iOS restrictions in an effort to comply. It issued a primer that fully details the new and upcoming policy changes. One noteworthy section concerns how the company determines which devices are eligible for the new EU rules. Apple stresses that it doesn't collect location data. However, to comply with the DMA, users must sign in to their devices with an Apple ID to set it to a country and physically verify it is in the EU. An on-device process determines eligibility status and transmits it to Apple. If a device leaves the EU for over 30 days, it will stop receiving updates for non-ecosystem software and can no longer install new apps from third-party storefronts. However, users can still boot and manage previously installed European apps. Another significant detail is that the option to delete Safari from iOS will arrive in a future update. Apple previously confirmed that it would comply with the DMA by allowing developers to introduce browser engines other than WebKit, such as Chromium or Quantum. It hasn't nailed down a date, but it must come sometime this year to remain DMA compliant. Migration between browsers and operating systems will also be more straightforward. Apple's tool for importing or exporting important data between browsers will be available by late 2024 or early 2025. Cupertino developers also plan to release a software bridge to help competing mobile OS operators (mainly just Google) smoothly transfer user data from iOS by fall 2025. Despite these new freedoms, Apple retains sole control over signing apps and determining who can establish an app marketplace. The company recently demonstrated this power by banning Epic Games Sweden from releasing iOS software from within the App Store or an external market. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney was furious, calling the move illegal. Meanwhile, Bloomberg notes that EU regulators plan to question Apple over why it terminated Epic's account. The ban could violate not only the DMA but also older EU rules. It remains unclear if the situation could lead to another major legal battle between Cupertino, Epic, and the EU. What just happened? A left-wing extremist group has claimed it was responsible for an arson attack on a power station outside of Berlin that took Tesla's Gigafactory offline. The incident took place on March 5, but the factory remains without electricity and could stay that way for another week. Vulkangruppe Tesla Abschalten, aka Vulcan Group or Volcano Group, said in a statement that it wanted to inflict the largest possible blackout on the Gigafactory. The activists said the attack was carried out because of the environmental impact Tesla has on the planet and its reputation for extreme workplace conditions. "The complete destruction of the gigafactory and the lopping off of technofascists like 'Elend' Musk are a step on the path towards liberation from the patriarchy," the group wrote. Elend is a German word that means misery. A high-voltage mast near the Gigafactory in Grunheide was set on fire, impacting not only the factory but also more than 60,000 residents in Brandenburg and parts of Berlin. AAAAAABREAKING: TESLA'S BERLIN GIGAFACTORY TARGETED BY ECO ARSONISTS Eco protesters set fire to a nearby transformer, causing the plant to lose power and bringing production to a standstill. Police found a bomb warning attached to a protester's tent next to the burning pic.twitter.com/OOrE17Dds0 Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 5, 2024 E.DIS, the utility company that owns the equipment that was destroyed, said on Wednesday that it had cleared the area, allowing repair operations to begin. It added that "all affected communities have now been able to be supplied again." For Tesla, however, the news isn't as good. E.DIS told Reuters that the Gigafactory was expected to remain without electricity until March 17 a week on Sunday. Tesla said the arson could cost the company one billion euros, or just over $1 billion. That figure was based on the assumption that the factory would be fully operational by Monday, March 11, so the actual losses will likely be a lot higher. "These are either the dumbest eco-terrorists on Earth or they're puppets of those who don't have good environmental goals," said Tesla CEO Elon Musk. "Stopping production of electric vehicles, rather than fossil fuel vehicles, ist extrem dumm." With the plant producing 1,000 vehicles per day, the attack could leave its output 13,000 short. Brokerage Baird Equity Research has lowered its estimates for Tesla deliveries for the first quarter to 421,000, about 67,900 fewer than what Wall Street expects. Tesla production was interrupted earlier this year as a result of Houthi piracy in the Red Sea. The environmental impact of the Berlin Gigafactory has long been a contentious issue. There have been concerns over its impact on the water supply, local wildlife, and correct wastewater disposal. In 2020, a German court ordered Tesla to stop cutting down trees for the construction of the factory. Facepalm: Have you ever had to work in an office with spotty Wi-Fi? It does happen, but one wouldn't expect to find such a thing within the walls of tech behemoth Google. According to a new report, the awful Wi-Fi is something that the company's AI designers at its new San Francisco office have been dealing with for months. The Bay View campus in Mountain View has been promoted by Google as featuring the latest in cutting-edge tech and design, boasting "an environment where everyone has the tools they need to be successful," writes Reuters. But it appears those tools don't include good Wi-Fi. According to six people familiar with the matter, employees have had to plug their laptops into ethernet cables at their desks, or use their phones as Wi-Fi hotspots. Some were even told by managers to go and work from an attached cafe or take a walk outside to try to find better connectivity. Google has also tried issuing some staff new laptops with more powerful Wi-Fi chips. The Bay View campus is the first to be entirely designed and built by Google. The company is using it to house some of those working on its highest-priority AI projects. One AI engineer assigned to the building complained that the unreliable Wi-Fi didn't help Google's push to get its workers back in the office for three days per week. "You'd think the world's leading internet company would have worked this out," he said. Google has confirmed there have been Wi-Fi "connectivity issues" in Bay View, and several improvements have been made to address the issue. The company hopes to have a fix in the coming weeks. Although Google has not publicly said what is causing the Wi-Fi problems, workers claim it is due to the 600,000-square-foot building's unique, wave-style rooftop covered with "dragonscale solar skin" interfering with the Wi-Fi signal. In June last year, Google started clamping down on those failing to adhere to its RTO mandate. It started tracking hybrid employees' office badges to ensure workers are coming in on the days they're supposed to. Office attendance records are recorded for performance reviews, and those workers who are consistently absent from the office are sent reminders. There was also an internal memo stating that those working remotely full-time near a Google office should "consider" switching to hybrid. Bay View has a slew of amenities, including two kitchens that serve seven cafes, toxin-free materials, and more, all designed to make the transition from full-time remote work to office work less painful for employees, but it seems reliable Wi-Fi was something Google overlooked. A hot potato: Joe Biden's State of the Union address last night covered several tech-related subjects, including AI voice cloning. The President called for a "ban on AI voice impersonation," which isn't too surprising given that someone used his voice to try to influence an election earlier this year. "Here at home, I have signed over 400 bipartisan bills. There's more to pass my unity agenda," President Biden said during the State of the Union. He then named some of the proposals he aims to address should he be voted in for a second term in office: "Strengthen penalties on fentanyl trafficking, pass bipartisan privacy legislation to protect our children online, harness the promise of AI to protect us from peril, ban AI voice impersonation, and more." Biden has a good reason to call for a ban on AI voice cloning. In January, a 39-second robocall went out to voters in New Hampshire telling them not to vote in the Democratic primary election, but to "save their votes" for the November presidential election. The voice handing out this advice sounded almost exactly like Joe Biden. Voice-fraud detection company Pindrop later analyzed the call, concluding that it was created using a text-to-speech engine made by ElevenLabs, which the company confirmed. The incident led to the FCC making the use of AI-generated voices in robocalls illegal under the 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The agency cited concerns that technology was being used to confuse and deceive consumers by imitating the voices of "celebrities, political candidates, and close family members." The extent of Biden's proposed ban is unclear. It could be limited to certain areas, such as imitating politicians, but the President does sound like he is talking about a blanket ban on AI voice impersonations, which would have far-reaching effects. Beyond politics, the use of AI to recreate actors' voices and likenesses was one of the issues behind the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike. It ended after an agreement that ensured actors give consent and are fairly compensated when their AI replications are used, though not everyone was happy with the deal. After encountering persistent technical and financial hurdles, NASA has pulled the plug on a satellite-servicing demonstration mission. NASA Scraps the OSAM-1 Mission The ambitious project, known as the On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (OSAM)-1, aims to revolutionize satellite maintenance by deploying advanced robotic technology to refuel and manipulate spacecraft in orbit. However, NASA's decision to abandon the mission followed a comprehensive review highlighting ongoing challenges in meeting technical requirements, budget constraints, and scheduling deadlines. At the heart of the OSAM-1 mission was the vision of using a sophisticated robotic arm and other specialized tools to perform intricate maneuvers in space, including grappling the Landsat 7 Earth-observation satellite and refueling it. Additionally, the mission intended to showcase the capabilities of the Space Infrastructure Dexterous Robot (SPIDER) payload, which featured a lightweight robotic arm designed to assemble large structures and antennas in orbit. The decision to scrap the project also reflects a broader shift within the space community away from the concept of refueling unprepared spacecraft, further complicating the mission's viability. NASA outlined the rationale behind terminating the OSAM-1 project, citing the initiative's ongoing technical complexities, cost overruns, and scheduling constraints. The space agency emphasized the need for a committed partner to sustain the project, which was lacking due to evolving priorities within the space industry. Despite canceling the OSAM-1 mission, NASA said it remains committed to exploring alternative avenues for advancing satellite servicing and on-orbit technology. The agency added that it is seeking partnerships and exploring new opportunities to leverage emerging technologies and capabilities in space exploration. Read Also: Voyager 1 Communication Anomalies 15 Billion Miles Away Puzzle NASA Experts What the OSAM-1 Mission Could Have Been The OSAM-1 mission was envisioned as a crucial step towards revolutionizing satellite servicing and assembly, offering potential benefits such as extended satellite lifespan, improved fleet management, and reduced operational costs. However, the challenges encountered during the project's development highlighted the complexities and uncertainties inherent in space exploration and technology development. "Following an in-depth, independent project review, NASA has decided to discontinue the On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing 1 (OSAM-1) project due to continued technical, cost, and schedule challenges, and a broader community evolution away from refueling unprepared spacecraft, which has led to a lack of a committed partner," NASA said in a statement. "Following Congressional notification processes, project management plans to complete an orderly shutdown, including the disposition of sensitive hardware, pursuing potential partnerships or alternative hardware uses, and licensing of applicable technological developments. NASA leadership also is reviewing how to mitigate the impact of the cancellation on the workforce at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland," it added. Related Article:NASA's Picture of the Day Offers Stunning View of a Disc Galaxy Seen From Its Edge 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The resilience of Chornobyl worms to chronic nuclear radiation has been revealed through analysis of their DNA, showing no signs of damage despite prolonged exposure to radiation. Chornobyl Worms A recent study conducted by New York University sheds light on the resilience of worms in the aftermath of the Chornobyl disaster, revealing surprising findings about their ability to withstand chronic nuclear radiation. Despite the catastrophic event on April 26, 1986, which rendered the area around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and Pripyat city uninhabitable due to radiation, the study indicates that the worms in the region have shown remarkable resilience. Sophia Tintori, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biology at NYU and the lead author of the study, emphasized the significance of understanding the long-term effects of the disaster on local populations. The study highlights that despite continuous exposure to radiation, the DNA of the worms remains undamaged, presenting intriguing insights into their adaptation to the challenging environment of the exclusion zone. Also read: Chernobyl Wildfires are Now Only Two Miles From the Nuclear Power Plant While humans have vacated the area, plants and animals persist in what remains one of the most radioactive environments on the planet. Equipped with Geiger counters and protective gear, a team of researchers ventured into the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone in 2019. Their mission is to investigate whether certain species have developed resistance to ionizing radiation over time. Among their findings were microscopic worms, known as nematodes, collected from within the exclusion zone. With their simple genomes and rapid reproductive cycles, these worms offer valuable insights into the mechanisms behind adaptation to prolonged radiation exposure. Comparing Genomes In their study, scientists delved into the nematode species Oscheius tipulae. They conducted genome culturing and sequencing, reserving some specimens for later analysis. Surprisingly, contrasting the genomes of Chornobyl worms with those from different locales revealed unforeseen outcomes. Scientists compared the genomes of Chornobyl worms with those of O. tipulae from various global regions, revealing unexpected results. Contrary to their expectations, the team did not find any evidence of radiation damage in the worms' genomes, surprising the researchers. Although this outcome doesn't imply Chornobyl's safety, it suggests that nematodes possess remarkable resilience, capable of enduring extreme conditions. Additionally, uncertainties remain regarding the duration of each worm's exposure in the Zone, making it challenging to determine the exact level of radiation exposure for each worm and its ancestors over the past four decades. The study underscores the importance of understanding how DNA repair mechanisms may vary among individuals and offers potential insights into human cancer. Related Article: Nuclear Energy Finds Renewed Interest in the Face of Ever-Growing Climate Change Concerns 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Be careful with the networks you are connecting to, as researchers unveiled a new Tesla hack that uses the Flipper Zero to steal a user's credentials that could grant them access to a car and drive away. Through the Flipper Zero device, users may fool Tesla EV owners by giving them access to the app and creating a phone key from their smartphones, and from there, anything could be possible. The discovery gives Tesla owners an alert to be more vigilant in the networks they connect to and what website they give their credentials to regarding their accounts. Tesla Flipper Zero Hack: New Tactic Revealed by Researchers Mysk, a renowned security research company, shared a new video that details their latest discovery of a new Tesla vulnerability using a Flipper Zero device. While not exactly a hack, this new tactic targets unknowing Tesla EV owners to share their credentials with the bad actors, calling this a social engineering attack. The first step said Mysk was for threat actors to set up fake networks in charging stations or other places where a Tesla owner would connect to a duplicate Tesla website. Bad actors may name the network "Tesla Guest" and it is the same name the company uses for guest networks. After connecting to the fake WiFi, users would then be asked to enter their credentials to the website, followed by asking for a two-factor authentication code, which would then give the bad actors everything they need to their hacking device, which in Mysk's case, the Flipper Zero. Read Also: Flipper Zero: Canada Banning Device, Law Enforcement Considers it a Threat Hackers May Steal Phone Keys and Drive Tesla EVs After obtaining the information for the specific EV, hackers may then use it to register their device as a Phone Key for the victim's Tesla, granting them access to the car once it is left unattended. By adding it to their smartphone, they may gain access to many of the EV's functions like locking and unlocking doors which thieves may take items from, or go as far as driving away with the Tesla car. Flipper Zero Phone Keys and Tesla EVs Flipper Zero is best known as a pen-testing device, but several bad actors have exploited the cheap and tiny device for various crimes that target unknowing users. From spoofing the iPhones and other smartphone devices' Bluetooth vulnerability that sends them multiple notifications to replicating the car's key fobs that help unlock them, it already gained a notoriety in the tech industry. It is known that Tesla was among the many car companies who are already supporting "Phone Keys" with the many uses for their EVs, including that of unlocking and locking the vehicle, down to starting them. Before, it used Bluetooth connections to make this possible, but the company recently upgraded to ultrawideband (UWB) to make the wireless signals better with longer range. The hack recently revealed by Mysk is more of a new victimizing tactic that would target unaware Tesla owners in sharing their credentials, enough to create a phone key for the threat actors. There are ways to protect against this and one would be to avoid connecting to unknown networks, with the other opting out of providing authentication codes to a website. Related Article: Tesla App on Apple Watch Coming? Elon Musk Welcomes the Idea 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan and Turkish Baykar have signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of joint research, improvement and production, Trend reports, referring to the X post of Baykar. It was highlighted that this agreement will be advantageous for both countries. Baykar is a Turkish defense company specializing in UAVs, C4I, and artificial intelligence. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Switzerland's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has officially disclosed the aftermath of a ransomware attack against a major government IT provider, claiming that roughly 65,000 sensitive government data files were breached because of the incident. As per the report, following the hacking attack on Xplain, a significant supplier of IT services to federal and cantonal authorities, the NCSC assumed oversight of incident management inside the Federal Administration and has released a report to determine its aftermath comprehensively. (Photo: ROB ENGELAAR/ANP/AFP via Getty Images) Sweden has grappled with disruptions in their online services following a ransomware attack attributed to a Russian hacker group. Over 1.3 million files in the data package were made available on the darknet. Following the data download, all papers pertinent to the Federal Administration were methodically categorized and prioritized by the NCSC. The findings indicated that about 65,000 documents, or 5% of the entire released data collection, contained data that was pertinent to the Federal Administration. About 14% (9,040) of these files belonged to the Federal Administration, whereas Xplain owned the majority of these files (47,413), accounting for almost 70% of the total. Read Also: LoanDepot's Recent Cyberattack Victims Soar to 17 Million Customers Having Their Data Stolen Leaked Government Files About half of the Federal Administration's files contained sensitive material, including passwords, technical data, personal information, and classified information (5,182). 4,779 of these files contained personal information such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, and postal addresses. Furthermore, 278 files had technical data, including software requirements, architectural specifications, and documentation on IT systems; 121 objects were categorized in compliance with the Information Protection Ordinance; and 4 objects included passcodes that could be read. The Federal Office of Justice, Federal Office of Police, State Secretariat for Migration, and the internal IT service center ISC-FDJP accounted for around 95% of the Federal Administration's files. These units are the administrative branches of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP). The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) is minimally affected in terms of volume, with just over 3% of the data, while the other departments are just slightly affected. Year-Old Ransomware Attack The ransomware group "Play" reportedly carried out the cyberattack on May 23, 2023, during which the gang was assumed to have grabbed the complete package of stolen data. DDoS assaults were reportedly launched against the online portal of the Swiss Federal Railways and the websites of the Swiss federal government in June 2023, rendering several websites inaccessible. On June 12, 2023, the finance ministry announced that no data was lost in the hack and that "NoName," a pro-Russian group, was the source of the attack on its Telegram channel. On June 14, 2023, however, the ransomware gang "Play" posted the private government document on the darknet. This includes private and sensitive Federal Administration data as well as classified material. After that, the NCSC oversaw the incident response, established a plan to restore system security, and thoroughly reviewed the material that had been made public. According to Hackread, from June 2022 to October 2023, the "Play" ransomware group is thought to have its headquarters in Russia in charge of almost 300 successful attacks on companies and vital infrastructure across North America, South America, and Europe. The organization employs a two-pronged extortion strategy, starting with illegal access to third-party services like RDP and VPN. Related Article: Cactus Ransomware Gang Is Extorting Schneider Electric After Stealing 1.5 TB of Data 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Spotify has announced its decision to increase subscription prices for users in France, citing the implementation of a new tax by the French government aimed at bolstering the country's music industry. (Photo : TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images) Spotify has expanded its subscription offerings by introducing a new plan focused solely on audiobooks. Raising Subscription Prices Spotify expressed its opposition to the tax, highlighting concerns over its potential impact on consumers. While the exact extent of the price hike has not been disclosed, Spotify hinted that French users could expect to pay the highest subscription fees across the European Union as a result. The new tax, known as the Centre National de la Musique (CNM) tax, targets music services earning over 20 million euros in France, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer. Although Apple Music and Deezer have voiced their opposition to the tax, they have not announced plans for similar price adjustments. Under the tax scheme, Euro News reported that the affected companies are required to pay a 1.2 percent levy on all streaming revenue generated within the country. Additionally, social media platforms licensing music, such as TikTok and Facebook, are also subject to the tax, with proceeds allocated to the CNM, a public institution supporting and promoting the French music industry. Also Read: Apple vs. Spotify: Coordinating with EU for Complaint Against Cupertino, In Response to $2B Fine In December, Spotify responded by withdrawing financial support from French music festivals Francofolies de la Rochelle and Printemps de Bourges. While the streaming giant previously threatened to cease its services in Uruguay due to a similar tax, it reversed course after the Uruguayan government exempted streaming services from covering any costs. Criticizing the Tax However, Spotify has refrained from making similar threats in France, recognizing its significant presence in the country's market. Instead, it has initiated a public pressure campaign, portraying the tax as an unnecessary government imposition that inadequately supports the music industry. In a public letter, Spotify criticized the tax, highlighting discrepancies between the tax revenue and the budget allocation for the CNM. Despite generating approximately 15 million euros, the CNM's administrative budget exceeds 20.2 million euros, raising concerns about the efficiency of the tax in supporting the music industry. Apart from detailing the Centre National de la Musique's administrative budget, Spotify did not offer any substantiation that the imposed fees would effectively contribute to supporting the music industry. In Q4 2023, Spotify experienced a 16 percent year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching 3.7 billion ($4.05 billion), a period characterized as a "very strong quarter." Notably, the CEO divested $57.5 million in stock in February, following a $64 million stock sale in October 2023. Spotify asserted its position, emphasizing the challenge of absorbing additional taxes and the adverse impact on operations in France. Despite difficult decisions to reduce artist marketing budgets and support for French music festivals, essential for Spotify's contribution to the music industry, the tax continues to pose obstacles. Consequently, Spotify intends to implement changes to its pricing plan in France in the forthcoming weeks. French subscribers can anticipate further details regarding the impending price adjustments in the coming weeks, according to Spotify. Related Article: Spotify Faces Backlash Amidst Shifting Focus on Artist Compensation, Efficiency 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Amazon's data center receives a 100% nuclear power upgrade, marking a significant shift towards sustainable energy sourcing. Opting for a direct energy supply from the nearby nuclear power plant, Amazon takes a pioneering step in enhancing its environmental footprint. (Photo : PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images) Amazon Web Services (AWS) has introduced a new offering, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) Capacity Blocks for machine learning. Receiving Nuclear Power Upgrade Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing division of the tech giant has reached an agreement to acquire the Cumulus data center in Pennsylvania for a staggering $650 million. The data center, constructed by Talen Energy, is strategically positioned adjacent to the Susquehanna nuclear power plant, boasting a capacity of 2.5 gigawatts and operated by the utility company. AWS stands at the forefront of providing cloud solutions to a diverse range of clients, including corporations, startups, and governmental bodies worldwide. Its remarkable performance in the last quarter of 2023 alone generated a revenue of $24 billion for AWS. By transitioning to cloud services, Interesting Engineering reported that customers gain access to cutting-edge technologies without the need for individual investment. Surge in Cloud-Based Services The surge in cloud-based services has led to a significant rise in energy consumption by data centers, now accounting for one percent of global electricity usage. Unfortunately, a large portion of this energy is sourced from fossil fuels, contributing to heightened carbon emissions from major providers like AWS, Google, and Microsoft. Consequently, businesses are actively seeking renewable alternatives to mitigate the environmental impact of their operations. Amidst the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence models across the tech sector, major players are intensifying their efforts to enhance their AI capabilities. However, these advancements heavily rely on graphic processing units (GPUs) from Nvidia, which are notably more energy-intensive compared to traditional CPUs. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the surge in AI adoption is expected to drive a 50 percent increase in energy demand within data centers over the next three years. To address concerns about environmental sustainability, tech giants have been collaborating with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power plants to transition towards greener energy solutions. Amidst projections of a substantial increase in energy demand, corporations are actively seeking carbon-free energy alternatives, with nuclear power emerging as a prominent contender. Also Read: Amazon Researchers Find 'Shocking Amount' of Faulty Machine Translations in the Web Notably, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has made significant investments in a next-generation nuclear power firm to advance this technology. Amazon, aiming to power all its operations with renewable energy by 2025, has solidified its position as a major procurer of renewables. Recharge News reported that the tech giant acquired 8.8 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy in the previous year, positioning itself as a leader in sustainable energy procurement. Now, Amazon is exploring the integration of nuclear energy to fuel its data center operations. The newly acquired AWS facility will directly procure power from the adjacent nuclear plant, bypassing reliance on the traditional grid. Amazon retains the potential to scale its power demand up to 960 megawatts in the future, although specifics regarding the company's intentions with the facility remain undisclosed. Amazon is initiating the acquisition with an upfront payment of $350 million, with additional payments contingent on the achievement of specified milestones throughout the year. Related Article: Amazon's AWS Set to Invest $15.24 Billion for Cloud Computing Expansion in Japan 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google has marked International Women's Day 2024 with a specially designed Google Doodle, commemorating the ongoing fight for gender equality and celebrating the achievements of women around the world. Google said in a blog post that the doodle reflects the progress made toward gender equality while acknowledging the challenges that women had faced over the years. "This Doodle celebrates International Women's Day and all the progress that has been made towards gender equality. On this day in 1975, the United Nations celebrated International Women's Day (IWD) for the first time," Google noted. Google Doodle Celebrates International Women's Day International Women's Day has a rich history dating back to 1975 when the United Nations first celebrated it. The date, March 8, honors the memory of two significant events in women's history: demonstrations in Saint Petersburg and New York City advocating for fair employment, voting rights, and an end to gender-based discrimination. These rallies laid the groundwork for the ongoing struggle for gender equality. Today, International Women's Day marches address a range of issues, including gender and racial wage disparities, reproductive rights, and combating violence against women. The day serves as a tribute to women who have shaped society, championed equality, and served as inspirational figures for generations to come. The Google Doodle, created by artist Sophie Diao, captures the essence of International Women's Day, symbolizing the collective efforts to achieve gender equality. Diao's artwork pays homage to the women who have paved the way for progress and acknowledges those who continue to carry the torch forward. Read Also: Google Doodle Honors Casimir Funk, the Man Behind Vitamins International Women's Day 2024 Theme The International Women's Day 2024 campaign theme, "Inspire Inclusion," emphasizes the importance of fostering an inclusive world where women are valued, respected, and empowered. The theme encourages individuals and organizations to promote diversity and equality in all aspects of society. Gloria Steinem, a prominent feminist, journalist, and activist, once remarked that the struggle for women's equality belongs to everyone committed to human rights. International Women's Day serves as a reminder of the collective effort required to advance gender equality and create a more inclusive world. The campaign invites people worldwide to participate in activities and events that promote women's inclusion and empowerment. From economic empowerment to leadership opportunities, there are numerous ways for individuals and organizations to support and advance women's rights. Whether it's advocating for equal pay, supporting women in leadership roles, or promoting access to education and healthcare, International Women's Day encourages everyone to take action in the fight for gender equality. "The campaign theme for International Women's Day 2024 is Inspire Inclusion. When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world," according to the IWD's website. "And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. Collectively, let's forge a more inclusive world for women," it added. Related Article: Google at 25: New Doodle Brings a Look on All its Logos to Commemorate Silver Anniversary 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA and Boeing have provided a glimpse of what the X-66 aircraft will look like. The X-66 is an experimental aircraft designed to help the United States achieve net-zero aviation emissions by 2050. The aircraft, part of NASA's Sustainable Flight Demonstrator program, is designed to pioneer new advancements in sustainable aviation technology. Boeing's Latest Rendering of the X-66 Boeing's latest rendering of the X-66 showcases its distinctive features, including its extra-long and thin wings stabilized by diagonal struts, a design known as the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing concept. According to NASA, this innovative configuration, coupled with advancements in propulsion systems and materials, could potentially reduce fuel consumption by up to 30% and lower emissions compared to current aircraft models. Under the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project, Boeing and NASA will collaborate to construct, test, and fly the X-66 demonstrator aircraft. This initiative aims to inform the development of a new generation of more sustainable single-aisle aircraft widely used by passenger airlines worldwide. Boeing has already transported the MD-90 aircraft, which will serve as the basis for the X-66, to its facility in Palmdale, California, where modifications are underway. The X-66 project is part of NASA's broader Sustainable Flight National Partnership, which aims to promote environmental conservation, stimulate economic growth, and drive innovation in air travel. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and research, NASA and Boeing hope to address the aviation industry's environmental challenges while advancing the capabilities of future aircraft. Boeing, NASA, and various research institutions collaborated on developing the X-66. Extensive wind tunnel testing conducted at NASA's Ames Research Center informed the design of the aircraft's truss-braced wings, allowing for improved aerodynamic performance at higher speeds. Read Also: NASA's Ambitious Plan to Get Pristine Samples of Mars to Earth Faces Setbacks, New Report Reveals The X-66A of NASA and Boeing In collaboration with Boeing, NASA introduced its X-plane, the X-66A, in 2023. The US Air Force designated the aircraft as the X-66A. The X-66A features a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing concept, characterized by extra-long, thin wings stabilized by diagonal struts. This innovative design seeks to revolutionize the workhorse of passenger airlines worldwide, the single-aisle aircraft, by making it greener, cleaner, and quieter. Earlier, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed the agency's commitment to advancing aviation and addressing climate concerns. He said the X-66A "will help shape the future of aviation, a new era where aircraft are greener, cleaner, and quieter, and create new possibilities for the flying public and American industry alike." The primary objective of the X-66A is to support the US in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in aviation, aligning with the goals outlined in the US Aviation Climate Action Plan. The aircraft represents a significant step toward reducing aviation emissions, intending to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. By integrating the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing configuration with advancements in propulsion systems, materials, and systems architecture, the X-66A aims to achieve a remarkable 30% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared to existing leading aircraft models. Related Article: NASA's CUTE Mission Discovers Thousands of Extreme Exoplanets Despite Spacecraft's Compact Size 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Despite being banned over 40 years ago, PCB chemicals, known to cause cancer and various health problems, continue to pose a significant threat due to their presence in modern industrial processes. A recent study from the UK has revealed that the production of these harmful chemicals may be higher now than ever before, surpassing levels seen during their peak commercial production in the 1970s (via The Guardian). Alarming Resurgence of Harmful PCB Chemicals The study, led by environmental forensic scientist Dr. Dave Megson from Manchester Metropolitan University, sheds light on the alarming resurgence of PCBs in today's industries. Despite efforts to eliminate them under the Stockholm Convention, PCBs are being produced as by-products in chemical reactions, leading to their presence in various products used daily. Chlorinated solvents used in chemical manufacturing are identified as a major source of these unintentionally produced PCBs. Surprisingly, these by-product PCBs are not being detected in many existing monitoring programs, raising concerns about their unmonitored environmental and human health risks. The implications of this study are far-reaching, extending beyond industrial processes to impact marine ecosystems. High levels of PCBs have been found in marine mammals, such as killer whales, posing a severe threat to their health and survival. Read Also: Japan's Food Safety Watchdog Sets 'Forever Chemicals' Daily Limit Due to Health Concerns Deadly Effects on the UK Killer Whale Population According to a study, PCBs weaken orcas' immune systems, making them more vulnerable to various diseases and stressors in the marine environment. Second, their ability to reproduce is impacted. Dr. Francesca Ginley from the Marine Conservation Society warns that PCBs, with their persistent nature, could collapse the UK killer whale population and threaten other marine species. "A killer whale from the west coast of Scotland was found dead in 2016 after being tangled up in fishing nets, and a postmortem examination revealed levels of PCBs in her tissues were 100 times higher than the levels known to impact the health of marine mammals," Ginley told the Guardian. While regulatory efforts have been made to address legacy PCB pollution, including the ban on PCB production in the US and UK, challenges remain in eliminating stockpiles and controlling unintentional PCB contamination. Urgent Call to Action In response to these findings, calls for urgent action are growing. The study suggests classifying by-product PCBs as a "pollutant of emerging concern" and addressing them with the same urgency as legacy PCBs. However, regulatory bodies such as Defra and the US Environmental Protection Agency face challenges in enforcing regulations and monitoring unintentional PCB production. Despite these challenges, there are signs of progress. Efforts are underway to eliminate the use of PCBs, with commitments to phase them out by 2025 in the UK. Additionally, petitions to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), such as the one from the Washington State Department of Ecology, highlight the need for stricter regulations on unintentionally generated PCBs in consumer products. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: UK Launches New mRNA Cancer Therapy Trial for Melanoma, Lung Cancer Treatment 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. China is gearing up its semiconductor industry with a massive $27 billion chip fund, the largest of its kind to date, as the United States and its allies continue to amp up restrictions. The move aims to accelerate cutting-edge technology development, countering the US campaign to stifle China's move to expand chip technology. China Prepares a 'Big Fund' for Chip Technology As first reported by Bloomberg, the fund, managed by the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, dubbed the "Big Fund," is gathering capital from local governments and state enterprises. This initiative, expected to exceed its previous fund's 200 billion yuan mark, highlights China's determination to bolster its semiconductor capabilities despite external pressures. Amid escalating US tech curbs targeting China's chip and artificial intelligence sectors, the Big Fund's expansion signifies a strategic maneuver by China's tech ministry to assert its dominance in the global semiconductor market. A significant portion of the funding for the third-phase vehicle of the Big Fund is anticipated to come from local governments and state-owned enterprises, aligning with President Xi Jinping's vision of consolidating national resources for major technological endeavors. Key investors in the fund include the governments of Shanghai and other cities, China Chengtong Holdings Group, and State Development and Investment Corp., each committing billions of yuan to fuel China's semiconductor ambitions. The Big Fund's structure will encompass multiple pools of capital managed by various general partners. It aims to diversify investment strategies and ensure the viability of local chipmakers. Additionally, the fund will directly support local firms, providing them with the financial backing to compete globally. Read Also: AI Secrets Stolen by Former Google Engineer, Allegedly Working in China China's Push for Self-Reliance China's renewed push for self-reliance in semiconductor technology comes amidst mounting pressure from the US and its allies, who seek to tighten restrictions on China's access to advanced semiconductor technology. Established in 2014, the Big Fund has played a pivotal role in supporting domestic chipmakers, including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. With approximately $45 billion in capital, the fund has facilitated technological advancements in China's semiconductor industry, enhancing its global competitiveness. Entities receiving capital from the Big Fund enjoy formal endorsement from Beijing, granting them access to additional investment opportunities and policy support, thereby accelerating their growth trajectory. Although the fund faced setbacks due to an anti-graft probe in 2022, it has since regained momentum, signaling China's unwavering commitment to achieving technological independence. China's push for self-sufficiency in semiconductor manufacturing underscores its determination to reduce reliance on foreign technologies, particularly amid intensifying geopolitical tensions. Despite these efforts, recent reports indicate that leading Chinese tech companies such as Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. still rely on US-origin technology for certain advanced chip productions, highlighting the challenges faced by China's semiconductor industry. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Huawei's Controversial China-Made Chip Uses US Gear from Applied Materials, Lam Research: Reveals Insider Report 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. The escalating Islamophobia in the West poses a significant threat as speeches against Muslims and Islam intensify, fostering a growing sense of hatred, said a member of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan Tural Ganjaliyev during the international scientific conference Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 in Baku, Trend reports. He highlighted the presence of Islamophobia in the scientific community and higher education institutions in the West. "Muslim scientists face challenges in publishing articles in scientific journals in Western countries. They encounter refusals, citing alleged non-compliance with internal procedures," he said. Ganjaliyev said that in Western countries, one can see many anti-Islamic articles in university and school textbooks. "Europeans have employed the church for manipulative ends, leveraging it against Turkiye and Islam. Examination of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) reveals promotions for those who speak against Azerbaijan. False claims were made during the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, asserting that Azerbaijan was "destroying Christian Armenia." This is entirely untrue. It is imperative that we steadfastly combat Islamophobia," the MP said. To note, an international scientific conference Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 dedicated to the 2nd anniversary of the International Day Against Islamophobia is being held in Baku under the joint organization of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC), the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), the G20 Interfaith Forum, and the Baku Initiative Group. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel They simply had nowhere to evolve: a Russian paleontologist on the progress of scientific ideas about dinosaurs A business manager suspected of having ordered the attack on an elected official from Saint-Denis Tigrane Seydoux, the Frenchman behind the fashionable Italians in Madrid in which you always have to visit the bathroom Energy transition: The experts say so, the Court of Auditors says so Scientists invent a pill to avoid having to go to the gym Japan warns of increasing cases of serious streptococcal infection that can cause toxic shock syndrome and death Shanghai police cracked down on a series of burglaries: the suspect "switched his face" by buying film and television silicone masks online Device to produce hydrogen and oxygen on the moon unveiled Planned to launch this winter Second trial of residents who evacuated from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident also does not accept national responsibility Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant First detection of object that may contain nuclear fuel debris on water Founded in the Meiji era, 119 years of history, Endurance, First appearance in Koshien, Locals are in an uproar Darvish: ``I want to fight without putting personal feelings in the way'' in his first match with Otani "Watch me overcome difficulties step by step and fight back." This Chinese golden flower keeps his word. A Blaugrana nightmare and the bogeyman Joao Felix: "It was a game for him, he made a difference" NBA: Victor Wembanyama and Gregg Popovich confirm the Spurs will come to Paris next season Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview I have no nerves for you Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview I have no nerves for you Does the end of the thermal engine in 2035 have any problems? The world's first driverless "air taxi" goes on sale for the first time The world's first driverless "air taxi" goes on sale for the first time China Cuisine Association: Catering consumption was booming from January to February, and companies in the ready-made beverage category were active Real estate crisis: Number of building permits also fell significantly at the beginning of the year The "egg-smashing" trend is blowing into a small town in Zhejiang, how to play the cards in your hand? Analyst: the drivers of rising oil prices were signs of high demand in the United States The first batch of imported exhibits of the 135th Canton Fair entered the country smoothly Yen exchange rate: The yen depreciates to the low 149 yen level to the dollar, due to speculation regarding monetary policy. Daihatsu's name announced by the FTC: ``We were waiting, but we will set up a forum for discussions.'' A case of sabotage was opened in Transnistria after a helicopter was blown up in a military unit A woman in very serious condition after setting herself on fire in front of the Palace of Justice of Huelva Two people died and four were injured after an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Belgorod region What are the most important economic files awaiting the new Palestinian Prime Minister? Political funding issue: Prime Minister In addition to sanctions against members of Congress, concrete measures to prevent recurrence will be accelerated Ski areas in the world are in danger.. What threatens them? Nine soldiers hospitalized for frostbite and hypothermia after maneuvers in the Aragonese Pyrenees Peskov: Russia will not listen to US assessments of the past elections Pascal Praud and you - A police station under siege: the spokesperson for a police union recounts the scene of chaos in La Courneuve Germany said it would not congratulate Putin on his election victory Blocking the way of those who are fasting...a Ramadan custom in Sudan The occupation commits 8 new massacres in Gaza and announces its intention to carry out a massive activity in Rafah Peskov: Putin spoke about the idea of exchanging Navalny, but not about the fact of negotiations Civil servants will have the salary increase after Easter and before the Budgets are approved Niger: what follow-up after the denunciation of the military agreement between Niamey and Washington? TikTok is at the heart of the US election season Putin: all traitors fighting against Russia will be identified by name and they will not be given peace Urgent | Al Jazeera obtains exclusive photos showing the Qassam tracking the movements of officer in the Shaldag unit, Yitzhar Hoffman, before he was killed by a snipers bullet. The Japanese Cabinet of Ministers refrained from commenting on the results of the elections in Russia Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. They simply had nowhere to evolve: a Russian paleontologist on the progress of scientific ideas about dinosaurs A business manager suspected of having ordered the attack on an elected official from Saint-Denis Tigrane Seydoux, the Frenchman behind the fashionable Italians in Madrid in which you always have to visit the bathroom Energy transition: The experts say so, the Court of Auditors says so Scientists invent a pill to avoid having to go to the gym Japan warns of increasing cases of serious streptococcal infection that can cause toxic shock syndrome and death Shanghai police cracked down on a series of burglaries: the suspect "switched his face" by buying film and television silicone masks online Device to produce hydrogen and oxygen on the moon unveiled Planned to launch this winter Second trial of residents who evacuated from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident also does not accept national responsibility Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant First detection of object that may contain nuclear fuel debris on water Love and family are more important than money: what is the comedy series Inheritance about? Founded in the Meiji era, 119 years of history, Endurance, First appearance in Koshien, Locals are in an uproar Darvish: ``I want to fight without putting personal feelings in the way'' in his first match with Otani "Watch me overcome difficulties step by step and fight back." This Chinese golden flower keeps his word. A Blaugrana nightmare and the bogeyman Joao Felix: "It was a game for him, he made a difference" NBA: Victor Wembanyama and Gregg Popovich confirm the Spurs will come to Paris next season Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview I have no nerves for you Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview I have no nerves for you Does the end of the thermal engine in 2035 have any problems? The world's first driverless "air taxi" goes on sale for the first time The world's first driverless "air taxi" goes on sale for the first time China Cuisine Association: Catering consumption was booming from January to February, and companies in the ready-made beverage category were active Real estate crisis: Number of building permits also fell significantly at the beginning of the year The "egg-smashing" trend is blowing into a small town in Zhejiang, how to play the cards in your hand? Analyst: the drivers of rising oil prices were signs of high demand in the United States The first batch of imported exhibits of the 135th Canton Fair entered the country smoothly Yen exchange rate: The yen depreciates to the low 149 yen level to the dollar, due to speculation regarding monetary policy. Daihatsu's name announced by the FTC: ``We were waiting, but we will set up a forum for discussions.'' What are the most important economic files awaiting the new Palestinian Prime Minister? Political funding issue: Prime Minister In addition to sanctions against members of Congress, concrete measures to prevent recurrence will be accelerated Ski areas in the world are in danger.. What threatens them? Nine soldiers hospitalized for frostbite and hypothermia after maneuvers in the Aragonese Pyrenees Peskov: Russia will not listen to US assessments of the past elections Pascal Praud and you - A police station under siege: the spokesperson for a police union recounts the scene of chaos in La Courneuve Germany said it would not congratulate Putin on his election victory Blocking the way of those who are fasting...a Ramadan custom in Sudan The occupation commits 8 new massacres in Gaza and announces its intention to carry out a massive activity in Rafah Peskov: Putin spoke about the idea of exchanging Navalny, but not about the fact of negotiations Martyrs, dozens of detainees, and the killing of a soldier when the occupation stormed the Shifa complex in Gaza Moscow Region: a strike was struck at the meeting place of representatives of the command staff of the SBU and the Armed Forces of Ukraine Civil servants will have the salary increase after Easter and before the Budgets are approved Niger: what follow-up after the denunciation of the military agreement between Niamey and Washington? TikTok is at the heart of the US election season Putin: all traitors fighting against Russia will be identified by name and they will not be given peace Urgent | Al Jazeera obtains exclusive photos showing the Qassam tracking the movements of officer in the Shaldag unit, Yitzhar Hoffman, before he was killed by a snipers bullet. Faced with the risks of war with Russia, Latvia restores its military service for men The Japanese Cabinet of Ministers refrained from commenting on the results of the elections in Russia Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. Baku has hosted regular consular consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye, Trend reports. Initial consultations took place with delegations led by Emil Safarov, the Head of the Consular Department of the Azerbaijani Ministry, and Hayriye Nurdan Erpulat Altuntas, the Head of the General Directorate for Consular Affairs of the Turkish Ministry. During the primary phase of consultations, with the involvement of Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Rzayev representing Azerbaijan and Deputy Foreign Minister Yasin Ekrem Serim representing Turkiye, discussions centered on advancing cooperation in consular, migration, legal, and various other domains. Both sides exchanged perspectives on the present state of bilateral cooperation in the consular sphere and explored avenues for further development, including enhancements to the legal framework. At the same time, during the meeting within the consultation framework, with the presence of Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Yalchin Rafiyev and Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkiye Yasin Ekrem Serim, discussions revolved around the potential collaboration between the countries in the realms of transport and trade. Both parties emphasized the significance of sustaining cooperation within international organizations. Rafiyev informed about the work done in preparation for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). Representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the General Directorate of Migration of Turkiye also participated in the meetings. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. France has no moral right to raise allegations against Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports. "We firmly reject the statement of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs dated March 8, on alleged targeting of freedom of expression and press, and on arbitrary arrests in Azerbaijan. We consider such unfounded and biased statements as an interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, the investigation process and the independence of the judiciary. France, where the human rights are grossly violated, protesters during the riots are killed, bribery and corruption in the legislative structures, Islamophobia and attacks on Muslims are widely spread, and where no measures are taken to prevent a number of other human rights violations, has no moral right to raise allegations against Azerbaijan. Fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as media freedom, are fully guaranteed in Azerbaijan. We once again demand from France not to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan," the statement said. 'Irreplaceable' Colombian bird collection at risk Bogota, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 Under a cracked and leaky ceiling, Andres Cuervo works on a colorful, dead hummingbird for the ornithological collection of the National University of Colombia, the country with more bird species than any other. Condors, eagles and even extinct birds receive a "second life" at the table of the biologist, who preserves them for science and posterity. But rather than a pristine setting with regulated temperature and moisture levels, the valuable collection of some 44,000 stuffed birds is housed in metal pull-out drawers in a dilapidated public building. And in January, a heavy downpour over Bogota put Cuervo's collection at risk. The water "fell in cascades on these cabinets," he recalled, pointing, clearly still distressed at nearly losing his "irreplaceable" avian stockpile. One drawer contains hundreds of blue and green hummingbirds each no larger than a bumblebee. From another, Cuervo pulls a huge harpy eagle with a wingspan of over two meters (6.5 feet). There are also several specimens of a bird that went extinct in the 1970s. "We got out the buckets, the plastic (sheets), anything to protect the collection," recounted his colleague Gary Stiles, a preeminent American ornithologist who has worked in Colombia since 1990 and discovered several new species. Fortunately, the damage could be limited to the tails of a handful of birds and the labels that identified them. This time. - 'Ironic' - "It is ironic that with the most diverse avifauna (on the planet) we have one of the most endangered collections," said Stiles of conditions at the Institute of Natural Sciences, where the ornithological collection is held. With about 2,000 different species -- a fifth of the global total and 82 of them endemic -- Colombia is known as "the country of birds," according to green group WWF. "It is partly due to the topography. Only in Colombia do the Andes divide into three distinct high mountain ranges, separated by deep valleys that form natural barriers," explained Stiles. "This facilitates the isolation of populations and the formation of diverse species." But this natural wealth contrasts with the economic difficulties faced by public universities in Latin America's fourth biggest economy. Successive rectors of the National University have decried a lack of financing. According to research by the institution itself, the country's 33 public universities have a shortfall of about 18 billion pesos or some $4.8 million. State funding has been cut almost by half from 1994. The shortfall is evident in the corridors of the institute. In August 2023, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake shook the capital and "magnified some cracks" in the walls, recalled Cuervo. A classroom had to be shuttered due to a risk of collapse. "I go home every day thinking about this collection... the accumulation of small incidents can lead to something quite serious," the biologist said. - 'Unique and irreplaceable' - The birds at the institute are not on display. They leave the metal cabinets only to be studied. "They are unique and irreplaceable because they were collected in different places and at different times. They represent the geographical history of the country," said Cuervo of his life's work. Each specimen has a label with its place and date of collection. The oldest dates from 1914, its colors still intact. Thanks to the collection, researchers have been able to study how warm weather species have colonized new territories as global temperatures rise due to climate change. They can also see how savanna and grassland birds have thrived even as forest species have declined as their habitat has been destroyed for farming or construction. "As a society we can use (the information gathered) to solve problems that have to do with biodiversity," added Cuervo before starting work on a new hummingbird. He makes an incision in the tiny chest to separate the bird's skin from the flesh. He then stuffs the skin with cotton and places it in a small cardboard oven that works only with lightbulbs to prevent any degradation. Humidity and light are the main threats to his stuffed birds. "Colors, proportions and plumage are preserved over time. It's almost like immortalizing an individual," Cuervo said proudly of his work. Austria fishermen fume over protected fish fried on public TV Vienna, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 Austrian public broadcaster ORF was forced to issue an apology for frying an endangered fish species during a cooking show after a wave of criticism spearheaded by fuming fishermen. In the show broadcast last week, a chef shared his Lent-friendly recipe, featuring fish fritters and a roux-based potato salad on the side. But fishermen were left gasping for air when they discovered that the Frauennerfling fish -- a red-listed endangered species in Austria since 2002 on the brink of extinction -- had ended up in the frying pan. Several fishermen then alerted an Austrian fishery association. "We filed a complaint against an unknown individual earlier this week" for fishing an endangered species native to the Danube river and nearby watercourses, Gregor Gravogl, director of Lower Austria's fishery association, told AFP on Friday. The fish -- which goes by the scientific name of rutilus pigus -- has been driven to the brink of extinction in the wild due to rising water temperatures and construction alongside the Danube river, Gravogl said. "This is an extremely sad incident I have not come across in my career yet," he added. Earlier this week, Austria's public broadcaster apologised for "cooking a fish which is protected all year round", adding that "different information" was available to them. The chef of an upscale restaurant said he was "terribly sorry" for what had happened, adding that he had "asked a friend to get him some fish" after being asked to make a last-minute appearance on the show. "It was a chain of unfortunate events, because I trusted my friend who had a licence to fish a related species and thought that also includes this fish," he told AFP by telephone. Both have since had sleepless nights, with the chef worrying that his restaurant situated in a national park could suffer severe losses. The recipe can still be accessed online, but merely specifies that the piece of fish fillet to be used should be "from a fisherman you trust". Expert says 'no immediate danger' from sunken ship off Yemen Brest, France, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2024 The sinking of a bulk carrier carrying thousands of tonnes of fertiliser off Yemen after a Huthi missile attack poses "no immediate danger", an expert said Friday. The Belize-flagged, Lebanese-operated Rubymar sank in the Red Sea on March 2 with 21,000 metric tonnes of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertiliser on board, according to US Central Command. It had been taking in water since Yemen's Huthi rebels hit it in a missile strike on February 18, damaging its hull and causing an oil slick from leaking fuel. Concern has grown over the Rubymar now posing a new set of environmental threats under water. But Christophe Logette, the director of the France-based accidental water pollution management centre Cedre, said there was no cause for instant alarm. "At this stage there is no immediate danger," said Logette, who is part of a team mandated by the United Nations to assess the effects of the sinking. "The ship is on the seabed, the hull is in relatively good shape," he said. The Rubymar went underwater south of the Hanish Islands, a Yemeni archipelago in the southern Red Sea. The main concern is the fate of the thousands of tonnes of fertiliser, Logette said. But so far they are "in their storage compartment and there is no trace at the moment of this product being released into the sea". There had been "no leak" from the holds containing around 200 tonnes of propulsion fuel and 80 tonnes of diesel either, Logette added. The fear, he explained, is that if any of the fertiliser were to seep out, it would dump a huge amount of nitrate into the water, causing massive algae blooms "which would choke marine life". But "water has probably filtered into the hull and the cargo. The fertiliser will be wet and so will dissolve very slowly in very low concentrations, with a restricted effect on the marine environment." The Iran-backed Huthis have repeatedly carried out attacks on shipping since November, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians during the latest war in Gaza. Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in about 1,160 deaths, most of them civilians, according to Israeli official figures. Militants took about 250 hostages, some of whom were released during a week-long truce in November. Israel believes 99 hostages remain alive in Gaza and that 31 have died. Israel has responded with a relentless offensive that the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says has killed at least 30,878 people, mostly women and children. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) has appointed Mohamed Abdelbary as acting Group CEO of the bank following the resignation of Nasser Al Awadhi from his position as Group CEO of ADIB for personal reasons. Abdelbary joined ADIB in May 2020 as the Group CFO from Standard Chartered Bank Middle East, where he held several positions, including that of Regional CFO in Africa and the Middle East, Head of Business Finance in the UAE and the Middle East, and Head of Finance Department. He has extensive experience spanning over 27 years, where he worked at international banks including Citibank and Barclays Bank. His appointment comes during a period when the bank is exploring new avenues to expand and to achieve ambitious goals to fulfill its long-term strategy and vision. As Group CFO, Abdelbary has been instrumental in leading significant improvement in the banks financial position, the bank said. ADIB is one of the leading banks in the UAE, established in 1997 and has witnessed, over the past 10 years a record growth, with total assets reaching AED193 billion. ADIB provides its services to more than 1,200,000 customers within a network of 60 branches and more than 500 ATMs and a world-class digital infrastructure which allow customers to access their banking services conveniently round the clock. ADIB offers a wide range of retail, corporate and business banking products, and services, in addition to private banking and wealth management services. TradeArabia News Service BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) thanks Azerbaijan for hosting the conference, OIC Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Yousef Aldobeay said during the international scientific conference Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 in Baku, Trend reports. He noted that Azerbaijan has taken significant steps against Islamophobia since last year, holding high-level events. Azerbaijan constantly reminds us that Islamophobia is unacceptable. Religious intolerance threatens global peace. The international community must take steps against this phenomenon. Today, outstanding personalities and religious texts are insulted. We must take measures to prevent discrimination against Muslims, the OIC representative added. To note, an international scientific conference Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 dedicated to the 2nd anniversary of the International Day Against Islamophobia is being held in Baku under the joint organization of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC), the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), the G20 Interfaith Forum, and the Baku Initiative Group. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Workers contracted by BMC Roofing build a roof to FORTIFIED standards in Foley, Al., Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune) In Shooting an Elephant (1936) the English essayist and novelist George Orwell described working as a sub-divisional imperial police officer in Moulmein, lower Burma (Myanmar): I was hated by large numbers of people and I had already made up my mind that imperialism was an evil thing. In the same essay, Orwell remembered a moral quandary he faced after his superiors in the police told him an elephant was running wild in the local bazaar. Should he shoot the animal? Orwell shot the elephant to prove that he was a good colonialist, Paul Theroux explains from his home in Hawaii. The 82-year-old American novelist and travel writer has just published Burma Sahib. The colourful and well-crafted historical novel begins in 1922. Eric Blair (as he was then known, before taking the pseudonym, George Orwell) was 19 years old and had just completed his education at Eton College. In the novels opening scene, we meet Blair on board the ship to Burma. Paul Theroux sets out to humanise George Orwell in his latest novel. Credit: New York Times Therouxs fictional account follows Blair over the next five years, as police work takes him to various locations across Burma. For research, Theroux read seven biographies of Orwell and drew from his work. Burmese Days (1934) was helpful to read, but the novel is actually not really about Orwells own experience about living and working in Burma, says Theroux. The main character, John Flory, is much older than Blair was at that time. In partnership with Melbourne International Comedy Festival, we are giving subscribers the opportunity to experience everything you love about your city: food, culture and fun. Win tickets to see Annabel Crabb - 50 Odd Years of Annabel Crabb on April 21 as part of our exclusive Comedy Festival weekend. Credit: Melbourne International Comedy Festival Exclusive to subscribers of The Age, one lucky winner will have the chance to enjoy a comedy-filled city-break for two on Sunday, April 21, including tickets to a hand-picked Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, accommodation at luxury hotel The Westin and dinner at the modern Asian restaurant Lucy Liu Kitchen & Bar. Enter for your chance to win On International Womens Day, as we reckon with the mountains, ridges, gates and fences women have clambered over for centuries in our fight for equal rights, its important to remind ourselves that the suffragettes called for Bread, and Roses too. The origin of this slogan is important. In 1910, a campaigner for women called Helen Todd went on an automobile tour around southern Illinois, in an attempt to convince rural dwellers that women should be given the vote. As recounted by Rebecca Solnit in her splendid book Orwells Roses, Todd stayed on a farm where a young hired girl, Maggie, went to a womens rights rally one night. The next morning Maggie reported: What I liked best of all in the whole meetin was the women votin sos everybody would have bread and flowers too. Illustration: Simon Letch Credit: Todd wrote a report for The American Magazine in which she argued that womens votes would lead to a time when lifes Bread, which is home, shelter and security, and the Roses of life, music, education, nature and books, shall be the heritage of every child that is born in the country, in the government of which she has a voice there shall be Bread for all, and Roses too. In 1911, poet James Oppenheim picked up this theme, writing: Yes, it is Bread we fight for but we fight for Roses, too. The phrase gathered momentum, and trickled into more and more speeches and campaigns, in the womens and labour movements, which frequently overlapped. In 1912, Polish-born American labour union leader Rose Schneiderman argued: What the woman who labours wants is the right to live, not simply exist the right to life as the rich woman has the right to life, and the sun and music and art. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. Measures are being taken at the legislative level against Islamophobia, the representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dodik Ariyanto said during the international scientific conference Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 in Baku, Trend reports. "The UN resolutions addressing Islamophobia represent crucial measures in the battle against discrimination and violence. Recognizing Islamophobia as an undeniable reality within the realm of global challenges, efforts to combat this phenomenon should be waged on multiple fronts," he added. To note, an international scientific conference Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024 dedicated to the 2nd anniversary of the International Day Against Islamophobia is being held in Baku under the joint organization of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC), the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), the G20 Interfaith Forum, and the Baku Initiative Group. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Loading On the one hand, the Australian government is trying for Julian Assange to be released by convincing the US government to drop the case against him and it is not working. On the other, it can stop David McBride [March 2] from going to jail with a stroke of a pen, but for whatever reason, thus far hasnt. If anything, McBrides information assisted in exposing the SASs unlawful conduct. The government will look foolish if McBride is sent to prison. Mukul Desai Hunters Hill, NSW Im not convinced that the growing trend across the Western world for people living alone is a great thing [March 2]. Despite all the positive spin thats put on it (independence, freedom from the ties that bind and so on), it can be a recipe for loneliness, particularly as you get older and your friendship circles shrink. Studies both here and overseas have repeatedly shown that living alone, particularly as we get older, is associated with poorer health. Men seem to do even worse than women in this regard. Weve all read those stories of elderly people in Japan dying in their tiny one-bedroom apartments in high-rises, their bodies not found until weeks after their deaths. Some people enjoy their own company and are better placed than others to live alone, but the majority of human beings are social creatures, who need the company of others, even if its at a reasonable distance. The model of independent living in apartment blocks with shared facilities and communal lounge and entertaining spaces, as shown in Fenella Souters article, may be the way to go. A young woman was killed by an out-of-control council bus which mounted a busy footpath in Brisbanes CBD just moments after she walked out of a beauty salon on Friday evening. The woman, identified as 18-year-old Tia Cameron, was pinned against the wall of the Anzac Square Arcade building by the Brisbane City Council bus that careened across the footpath on Edward Street about 5pm. She was unable to be saved by paramedics and died at the scene. Moments before she was killed, Tia Cameron, 18, had left a beauty salon. The brakes of the bus were tested last month and its driver had a strong performance record over a decades-long career, authorities said. ... and the rules are? Thank you to your correspondents (Letters, 7/3) for reminding us of the rules. Any derogatory comments directed towards a male, a white person or a heterosexual are just innocent banter and anyone who takes offence should be ridiculed for being precious. The same derogatory comments directed towards a woman, a person of colour or a homosexual are completely inexcusable and the perpetrator must be punished, publicly apologise and undergo re-education. Robert Box, Chelsea Media reporting Notoriety by name association has become endemic in all branches of media reporting. It should not be of interest, except in exceptional cases such as reporting on crime families, if the person of interest is the cousin or great uncle of .... The person is an individual in their own right and owns what they have achieved or the actions that have prompted the report, irrespective of associations with others. Meg Paul, Camberwell Womens inequality The UN designated International Womens Day is March 8, but what has actually been achieved over these past 48 years? In Australia, domestic violence is increasing each year, the pay difference between men and women is still significant, more women are finding themselves living below the poverty line, many with children to care for, and many are having to sleep rough. Internationally, in the Middle East, women have lost basic human rights, are being killed in the Israel-Hamas war, and in many countries women are being forced to leave the country with their families by dangerous passage because of internal fighting. It makes you wonder whether lip service is the main action in advancing the lot of women. Phil Mackenzie, Eaglemont The struggle continues On International Womens Day, I thank all the women who have fought for our rights for over a century and upon whose shoulders we stand today. While we have come a very long way and there is much to be celebrated, there is so much further to go in addressing deeply ingrained societal attitudes that lead to disturbingly high rates of domestic violence, sexism in our workplaces, increasing homelessness among older women, poor pay outcomes compared to men, and the list goes on. Our struggle is real and continues. Elaine Carbines AM, Belmont Men are the enemy In the wake of Samantha Murphys killing, the radio waves have been filled with talkback about the vulnerability of women, again. Yesterday, I heard a man say women were living under martial law and a woman said men were the enemy. Both statements are true, but especially the second men are the enemy, all men. It is not just the men who attack, abuse, control, rape and/or murder women; all other men are complicit in keeping women unsafe. They fail to educate their sons to treat women as people with rights, not as sex toys or meat, they dont modify their language to eliminate misogynistic expressions such as run like a girl or be a man, they remain silent each time a woman is murdered. So far this year, 12 women have been murdered nationally in gendered violence. Until all men talk to other men and boys about respect for women and appropriate behaviour, women will continue to live in danger, and die, under unofficial martial law with men as the enemy. Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights The man at the centre of a mammoth rape trial, accused of sexually assaulting and raping eight women over a 4-year period in Perth, has spoken for the first time since the hearing began in February, strenuously denying all allegations. Alberto Nicoletti, owner of Lago Di Como in Como, is on trial with his friend, who is alleged to have taken part in two of the alleged assaults, one in which they allegedly tricked a woman into entering a Scarborough bathroom and raped her. On Friday, Nicoletti took to the witness stand as his defence team opened their case, with Tom Percy KC putting all the allegations to the 32-year-old. Alberto Nicoletti, owner of Lago Di Como in Como (left). How did you ascertain you had her consent? the barrister put to his client in relation to the allegation he raped a married woman in the foyer of his South Perth apartment block while her husband was upstairs looking for her. Bank records and previously secret emails obtained by this masthead and published online for the first time reveal details of how Adeang has been enriched by $850,000 or more in illicit payments from Gupta and his relatives. Adeang and Waqa could not be contacted for comment, but have previously denied bribery allegations. Adeang said in 2015 they were baseless claims all of which have been consistently disproven, and to be honest, are of no interest to Australia as they are Nauruan domestic matters. Adeang is also implicated in a separate alleged bribery plot, involving allegations he received illicit payments sourced from Australian businesses involved in asylum seeker offshore processing on Nauru. An Australian law enforcement intelligence report from early 2021, sighted by this masthead, shows at least $300,000 was paid into Adeangs bank accounts in 2020. Those payments have been traced by Australian Federal Police as part of an investigation into allegations Australias offshore processing subcontracts were rorted enriching Nauruan officials. The intelligence report referred to rapid movement of large volume of funds by David Adeang, forming a suspicion of corruption and money laundering. When the $300,000 moved through Adeangs accounts in 2020, he was Naurus justice minister and responsible for negotiating with Australia on offshore processing. Pacific Island Forum chief and former Nauruan president Baron Waqa. Credit: Michelle Smith Both sides of politics The leaked documents also reveal Gupta made payments between 2008 and 2013 to Adeangs political opponent, the ex-president turned speaker of the island nations parliament, Marcus Stephen. Stephen received payments totalling $170,000 while president between 2007 and late 2011. He also did not respond to attempts to contact him. Multiple payments from Gupta to Adeang and Stephen, along with at least eight other senior Nauruan officials, are referred to in coded emails as candy and messages. Other emails are more explicit, with reference to payments for Adeangs school fees and to buy a car to help people politick. In one leaked email from 2010, Adeang described his intention of working together in partnership for the longer term with Gupta. Around the same time, Gupta emailed Adeang instructions about an apparent cash drop off in Brisbane. Please advise person concerned to meet at 12-12:30 pm tomorrow (Sunday) at Hungry Jacks Shop at Queen Street Mall. There will be one person who will call her mobile and meet and give her a packet. The documents show that, in 2010, Gupta paid $585,000 to at least 10 Nauruan politicians aligned to Adeang to secure their vote to topple the then government of Marcus Stephen in return for ongoing and favourable access to phosphate. The plot failed, and it wasnt until 2013 that Adeang succeeded in his long-term plan to install Waqa as president. Political power Despite wide knowledge and evidence of the bribery allegations in Canberra and across the south pacific, Adeang and Waqa continue to wield political power in the region, and over Australia, due in part to Naurus role as the sole remaining asylum seeker offshore processing site. Adeang was elected Naurus president last October, but prior to that he controlled Naurus offshore processing negotiations with Australia as a senior minister. Thirty-nine people seeking asylum were sent to Nauru last week after arriving on a boat in Western Australia. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong with Pacific leaders in 2022. Credit: Joe Armao Successive Australian governments have remained quiet about evidence of Adeangs corruption. After Chalmers meeting with Adeang, who is also Naurus finance minister, the Nauruan president posted on Facebook that their discussions had centred on finance and economy including banking, setting the pace and direction as Nauru shifts banking services. Chalmers was approached for comment and declined to confirm if he had been briefed on the bribery investigation. The Nauruan politicians also wield regional power. Waqa was recently appointed, with Australias support, to the top role at the Pacific Islands Forum, which plays a key role in regional affairs and managing Chinas rise. Earlier this year, Adeang switched Naurus allegiance from Taiwan to China, with Taiwanese officials stating he had done so because Beijing was willing to fill a funding shortfall caused by Canberra reducing the money for offshore processing. A spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong refused to answer questions about what the Australian government knew of bribery allegations against Waqa, and why it supported him. Former president of Nauru Marcus Stephen. Credit: Glen McCurtayne Well funded, well lubricated The emails published by this masthead today show how explicit the politicians were when asking phosphate magnate Gupta for money. One and last request, if candy can be organised so that I can use on my trip to Copenhagen, Stephen emailed Gupta in December 2009. Some of the payments to Stephen were made in cash in Queensland and recorded in Guptas companys files as: cash given to Amit for Nauru president. Adeang though was the biggest recipient of suspect payments. The payments from Gupta, along with the funds sent to Adeangs account in 2020 and linked to offshore processing contractors, total at least $1 million. More than $850,000 was paid to Adeang by Gupta and his relatives as they sought control over Naurus phosphate industry between 2008, when he was an opposition MP, and 2013. The leaked emails reveal a series of messages sent between Gupta and Adeang between 2009 and 2010, including as Adeang embarked on an ambitious plot to replace then-president Stephen with Waqa in a move that would result in a government favouring Guptas business interests. On August 21, 2009, Adeang reminded Gupta to pay him his monthly message because Adeang had school fees and associated expenses to meet. A few months later Adeang wrote another reminder saying: Can i take this opportunity to pls remind you of the November message most grateful for your continued assistance. David. Corresponding bank records show that on November 13, one of Guptas companies transferred $9400 to Adeangs Australian account. Then in December, Adeang wrote again to his Gold Coast benefactor: Dear Amit, just a friendly reminder pls for the December message. The email was followed by another bank transfer, with $13,700 wired to Adeangs Australian bank account by a Gupta-linked firm. Adeang also sought a modest amount of funds to help a large group of other opposition politicians, whom Adeang was working with to oust Stephen. In an email dated November 2009, Adeang requested $7000 to buy a car the politicians would use for group activities in the political arena and for meals that were well funded, well lubricated. The group would have of course have no knowledge of the source of funding but i would mention that it is externally sourced from a friend to the group who wishes to assist our groups efforts, Adeang wrote to Gupta. At one point Adeang complained that, instead of using the money Gupta had sent to run political campaigns, his group of plotters had instead spent most of their time shopping and even more time horse betting at the TAB. Phosphate mining in Nauru has left an arid landscape. Credit: Angela Wylie A phosphate monopoly The requests for funds escalated during 2010 as Gupta pressed Adeang to wrest control of Naurus government, which would in turn hand Gupta control of the countrys phosphate industry. Please mobilize all resources to turn the table and whatever is required from our end please let us know, Gupta wrote to Adeang. Adeang advised him that the Nauruan politicians he needed onside would have their own demands. It is inevitable that they will have foremost in their considerations, their personal outcome after the change [in government] that is, whats in it for me? I am counting on you to assure them of your support to them to convince them of the merits of change, Adeang told Gupta via email. Loading In May 2010, Adeang demanded the biggest suspected bribe yet: a payment totalling $585,000 to be divided among several politicians. One of those Adeang singled out for a kickback of $30,000 was Waqa, who was then an opposition MP. On May 8, Adeang sent Waqas Westpac account details to Gupta, asking for money to be wired to BW. Banking records show that two days later, Waqas account was wired $30,000 by a Gupta-controlled company in the UAE called Pan Ventures Limited. We are confident that with the resources above, we can further consolidate the votes that are already poised to topple government, Adeang wrote to Gupta on May 8, 2010. Days later, Gupta emailed Adeang to tell him the suspected bribes had been paid. All transfers have been done make 100% sure that they win. One charge laid Eight years after beginning its investigation into these matters, the AFP laid a charge of bribery against one of Guptas companies, Getax. However, the firms lawyers are seeking to have the charges permanently stayed arguing evidence had been lost due to unjustified and inexplicable delays in investigating and prosecuting the case. This masthead is not suggesting Getax is guilty of any offence, simply that charges have been brought and are being contested. Sources close to the Australian corruption investigation in its early stages say the police were acutely aware of the extra sensitivity of the investigation given the involvement of high ranking Nauruan officials and the offshore processing regime. Loading Guptas business empire has continued to grow and sources close to him estimate his personal wealth is $800 million. He runs multinational fertiliser firm Agrifields DMCC, which still buys phosphate from Nauru. His wife, who it is not suggested is involved in wrongdoing, has a significant stake in listed Australian fertiliser company Avenira. The AFPs years-long investigation into Gupta is one of several corporate bribery probes that have faced lengthy delays or collapsed. This masthead can reveal that the AFPs foreign bribery case against two ex-executives from engineering giant SMEC was quietly withdrawn by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions last year. 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 Australias climate wars are cranking back up to full power, as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton mounts a challenge to Labors ambitious renewable energy agenda by declaring a Coalition government would replace coal-fired power stations with nuclear plants. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said following his 2022 election win that his government would massively boost renewable energy and end the climate wars that have gripped politics since former Coalition leader Tony Abbott helped bring down the Gillard government with a scare campaign over a carbon tax. But Dutton has reignited the fight, offering voters a stark alternative to the governments plan, which has wind and solar at the heart of a rapid transition to clean energy. Credit: John Shakespeare The oppositions proposal would slow down the renewables rollout, creating time to replace ageing coal plants with nuclear technology. But many questions remain. Which communities would host a nuclear plant? How much would they cost? Where will the high-grade nuclear waste generated by the power plants be stored? And crucially, do Australians support an end to the Howard governments 1999 ban on nuclear power? Advertisement Election risks Climate policy was a hurdle for the Coalition at the 2022 election, where voters backed the Albanese governments more ambitious policies over the Morrison governments pledge to cut emissions by 26 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 and reach net zero in 2050. Dutton must now convince voters that nuclear plants can be built cheaply, safely and in time for Australias legislated climate target of cutting emissions by 43 per cent by the end of the decade. That appears almost impossible. Australias former chief scientist, Alan Finkel, said in August it was highly unlikely that Australia could open a nuclear power plant before the early 2040s, pointing out the autocratic United Arab Emirates took more than 15 years to complete its first nuclear plant using established technology. Loading There are a lot of very attractive things about nuclear energy for our clean energy transition. The problem is timing and cost, Finkel said at the time. If we did large-scale [nuclear power], I would imagine something approaching 20 years in Australia. With little prospect of nuclear power in the short term, Dutton must make the argument that Australia should halt its commitment to the Paris Agreement, miss its 2030 goal and keep coal plants running until nuclear plants are built in time to replace them. Advertisement Lobby group Solutions for Climate Australia said the Coalitions nuclear plans were a dangerous distraction that cannot reduce climate pollution this decade. They have declared they plan to keep burning coal and gas until an unknown time in the future when nuclear reactors may come online. But international examples show huge delays and cost blowouts on large reactors, Solutions for Climate director Barry Traill said. To give just one example the latest British large-scale nuclear reactor is 17 billion ($33 billion) over budget and now six years beyond its planned finish date. If its ever completed, it will be the most expensive power station in the world. Grattan Institute climate and energy director Tony Wood said it was extremely unlikely that Australia would find political support to overturn its nuclear ban and source enough investment to build power plants. Its like saying were going to build an enclosure at the Taronga Park Zoo for Tasmanian tigers but theres no such thing as a Tasmanian tiger any more. The idea of doing that in Australia just seems too incredible and until they turn it into a real policy, you cant have much of a conversation about it. Advertisement Clean energy debate To date, the Coalitions nuclear push has been hypothetical and limited to the emerging technology of small modular reactors that experts say may be decades away from deployment. But the Coalition declared this week that traditional, large-scale plants are also firmly in the mix. It slams what it has dubbed the governments reckless race to renewables, claiming regional communities will disproportionately bear the brunt of new wind and solar farms needed to decarbonise the grid, as well as the extensive network of transmission lines to hook the clean energy into the city. Dutton stresses that he wants nuclear power to bolster electricity supply to the grid and support renewables when the wind isnt blowing and the sun isnt shining. Loading He warns the government risks blackouts by forcing too much renewable energy into the grid without enough continuous baseload supply from either coal or nuclear plants to back them up, that taxpayers will be on the hook for a massive bill for expanding the network, and that pristine farmland and natural habitat will be damaged by the infrastructure. Advertisement Dutton has promised to release detailed nuclear plans before the May budget, which is when the Coalition will face the same questions it has been asking the government about renewables. Experts warn Australias nuclear regulation currently equipped only to oversee radioisotopes used in medicine would need to be dramatically beefed up, sites selected for construction of a reactor and for waste disposal, and a fund set up for decommissioning. A typical large nuclear reactor produces 25 to 30 tonnes of spent fuel a year and the high level of radioactive waste contained in it can remain toxic to humans for tens of thousands of years. Its like saying were going to build an enclosure at the Taronga Park Zoo for Tasmanian tigers. Grattan Institute climate and energy director Tony Wood Defence Minister Richard Marles has said the nuclear waste from nuclear-powered submarines that Australia will acquire under the AUKUS pact will be housed on Defence land. This could potentially also store high-level nuclear waste from power plants, but the controversy surrounding the selection of the first site to permanently house Australias low-level radioactive waste shows the political risks involved. The Albanese government last year abandoned plans for a facility to take medical waste at Kimba, in rural South Australia, due to community opposition. Advertisement A people smuggler and a man who doused his former partners room in petrol and sexually assaulted her are the latest people to be freed from immigration detention as a result of last years landmark High Court decision. Their release brings the number of people freed after indefinite detention was outlawed last year to 151, but the pair could be locked up again if the government wins a separate High Court case next month over whether detainees who dont co-operate with deportation can be freed. The number of former detainees in the community is now 151. Credit: Wolter Peeters The two Iranian men were released following separate Family Circuit Court decisions by Judge Amanda Mansini last Wednesday. According to court documents, one of the men given the pseudonym David spent five years in immigration detention after 30 days in prison for breaching a family violence order by entering the locked home of his former partner, dousing the bedroom with petrol and then physically and sexually assaulting her. Both agree that state governments decisions to vacate the disability field when the NDIS came along have overburdened the scheme and made it the only option for struggling families, particularly children who need less intense supports. But Hughes, who is also deputy chair of the joint standing committee on the NDIS, wants to take Shorten to task over how he plans to change that. I dont disagree with him that there needs to be a stepping back up by the states, but there needs to be transparency in what that looks like, she said. National cabinet last year agreed to limit the NDIS growth to 8 per cent a year from 2026 significantly below the 23 per cent rate at which it grew between 202122 and 202223. But the federal government has refused to provide documents detailing how those savings will be achieved. Instead of being open and honest with participants and their families, theyre refusing to provide documents, but theyre baking $69 billion worth of savings into the budget, Hughes said. Loading Its a demand-driven scheme. So that either means cutting the participants or cutting the size of the plans. But Shorten wont be honest with the Australian people and tell us how hes going to achieve any of this. One of the schemes biggest pressure points is children: more than 9 per cent of five- to seven-year-olds were participants as of December 31, with 12.4 per cent of boys and 5.5 per cent of girls that age accessing support. There is no way 9 per cent of all children [in that age bracket] in Australia have a permanent and lifelong disability, Hughes said. But the only way that children with developmental delays can get speech or occupational therapy is through private providers, which are increasingly expensive and hard to access. Weve got a cost-of-living crisis and theres a lot of families [for whom] thats a bridge too far, something they cant afford. So theyre looking for the NDIS to help support them, Hughes said. Because of the inability of parents to access any form of support or therapy via the state government, people are being pushed towards the NDIS. There needs to be a fundamental shift. Hughes does think there are too many children on the NDIS, and that parents should not expect the government to pay for all of their kids expenses. Before the NDIS, parents put their hands in their own pockets, she told parliament last year. Loading I know theres a cost-of-living crisis and everyones finding it tough, but there are parental responsibilities sometimes that if your kid needs a swimming lesson, you pay for it. If your kid needs a couple of speech therapy sessions, it shouldnt always have to be at the expense of the taxpayer. That comes with being a parent, sometimes. In an interview with this masthead, Hughes said she believed there had been miscommunication about what should be a taxpayers expense versus a parents responsibility. I think theres a lack of understanding of what is an appropriately funded support. You might need supports to go to the movies, but the NDIS doesnt buy the movie tickets, she said. NDIS price guides which price allied health services in NSW and Victoria at $194 an hour were also a problem. Loading Hughes said they distorted the market and led a stretched workforce working finite hours to prioritise NDIS clients whom they could charge higher fees. If you go to a physiotherapist or a speechie or an OT or a psychologist, any of those allied health professionals, the NDIS price guide is higher than if its a veteran, its higher than some of the other pensions and the other schemes, she said. I actually dont believe its a lot of businesses deliberately rorting it [but] its removed any competition in the market because a lot of businesses just charge at the top level. It makes it harder for patients who arent on the scheme to get in. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 8. Turkmenistan's Turkmennebit State Concern is stepping up exploration of deep wells in order to increase the volume of hydrocarbon production in the country, Deputy Chairman of the Government of Turkmenistan Batyr Amanov said at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held the previous day, Trend reports. According to deputy chairman, the structures of the fuel and energy complex are implementing comprehensive measures for the search and production of oil and natural gas. Amanov noted that, in particular, the Turkmennebit State Concern, using international best practices, conducts exploration of productive formations in deep wells that differ from traditional ones. Furthermore, he added that in order to increase the productivity of wells and drill new deep wells in oil and gas fields, conditions are being created to equip them with modern specialized equipment and technical installations. Meanwhile, with the goal of expanding the economy and strengthening its position in the global energy market, Turkmenistan is prioritizing the development of its oil and gas sector. This effort includes the updating and expansion of infrastructure, attracting foreign investment to improve the extraction and shipment of oil and gas, along with the active exploration of new technologies and production methods. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel 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 In the early hours of June 19, 2013, a panic-wracked Australian businessman boarded an international flight and held his breath. Hours earlier, Amit Guptas Gold Coast home had been raided by the federal police. Investigators had spent weeks tapping Guptas phone, probing sensational allegations he had backed a political coup on the small Pacific Island of Nauru by bribing multiple politicians who had plotted to topple the government. The new government, Gupta hoped, would give him complete control over the island nations lucrative mining rights, but an arrest now could mean years in jail. If these moments of apprehension, with the Australian police snapping at his heels, were Guptas low point, they were fleeting. As his plane soared into the morning sky, his future stretched out brightly ahead. Amit Gupta who is accused of making payments to Nauru politicians. In the decade since, this alleged corporate crime kingpin and fugitive from justice has built a global business worth an estimated $800 million. This masthead has tracked Gupta to Dubai where, late last year, he got more good news: Australian efforts to extradite him had collapsed, rebuffed by the Dubai authorities over a legal technicality. Advertisement Guptas good fortune is not just the product of corporate acumen and cunning. As a key target of the longest-running bribery probe in Australian Federal Police history, Guptas ability to shake off his police pursuers and build his empire abroad starkly illustrates the weakness of Australias struggling anti-corporate crime regime. For years, business bribery investigations by the AFP and corporate watchdog the Australian Securities and Investments Commission have been beset by delays, resourcing shortfalls and legislative challenges. These add to the already significant challenge facing authorities when probing cases involving foreign, sometimes corrupt, regimes which are entwined with Australias foreign relations. The shadow of asylum seeker offshore processing recently reinvigorated on Nauru with the interception of two groups of boat arrivals in Western Australia has hung over the AFPs pursuit of Gupta, as has the fear China will exploit any damage caused to international relations by a full-blown corruption scandal. And while the Albanese, Morrison and Turnbull governments have all backed proposed laws making it easier to charge uber-wealthy allegedly corrupt businessmen like Gupta, the Combatting Foreign Bribery Bill was stuck for years in the parliament before finally passing last week. In December, the OECD urged Australia to implement the new regime without delay, while also warning the new law, as drafted, didnt go far enough. Allegations like those levelled against Naurus politicians suggest that Australian companies have sought unfair advantage by paying politicians at the cost of the ordinary people in the poverty-stricken country. For the cops who have spent years on Guptas trail, though, their quarry has gone. And hes taken his millions with him. Advertisement Just like Gandhi In February last year, Amit Gupta was interviewed by a podcaster who asked about the secret to his success. Well-dressed, slim and urbane, with a slight Indian accent, Gupta slipped smoothly into a quote from Mahatma Gandhi about patience and persistence. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win, he said. It has been a very powerful lesson for me. If Gupta was hinting at his struggle with Australian authorities, he didnt say it outright. But he had good reason to be looking relaxed. That same month, hed won a secret legal battle in Dubai to thwart a years-long effort by the federal police to hold him to account for suspected corruption. Gupta had defeated the AFPs extradition attempt using a legal technicality. Australian police alleged he had engaged in a conspiracy to bribe Nauruan politicians over a decade earlier, but Gupta argued that given no such crime existed in the United Arab Emirates at the time of his alleged offending, he could not be extradited. The UAE authorities agreed and threw out the extradition request. That was in February 2023, but the development has not been reported until now. The Nauru bribery scandal first erupted in 2010, when a report in The Australian alleged Australian police and intelligence agencies were scrutinising a plot by the then Gold Coast-based Gupta and his relatives to use bribery to effectively transform Nauru into a puppet state, with its only industry phosphate mining entirely controlled by Guptas business interests. Advertisement It took the AFP two years, in October 2012, to tap Guptas phone. Eight months later, they raided his Gold Coast home. In 2015, this masthead and the ABC reported on allegations that charges might be imminent. By then Gupta was two years on the lam. In 2017, the Australian government renewed his Australian passport. Four years after that, the AFP brought a single charge not against Gupta, but against his former company, Getax for allegedly bribing Nauruan officials. The firms lawyers are seeking to have the trial of the company abandoned, arguing unjustified and inexplicable delays in investigating and prosecuting the case by commonwealth agencies has caused critical evidence to be lost. Gupta declined a request to comment, but sources close to the investigation who asked to remain anonymous to discuss confidential information, say he denies any wrongdoing. Refugees and bird droppings AFP investigators and senior officials involved in the inquiry in its early years privately acknowledged how sensitive the criminal investigation into Gupta was because the alleged recipients of largesse were Nauruan politicians on whom Australia relied to help implement its pivotal asylum seeker offshore processing regime. Gupta and his family had by then already made vast sums of money by selling phosphate, which is most commonly used to make fertiliser. This substance, formed by the accumulation of generations of droppings by sea birds, had generated incredible wealth for the tiny island over the decades in a boom that decimated the countrys environment. The windfalls were frequently wasted on bad investments and corruption. Advertisement By 2010, phosphate supplies had dwindled but it was still a lucrative commodity for those who could secure it at a bargain price. Documents obtained by this masthead show while Gupta was making significant payments to a number of Nauruan politicians, Getax paid as little as $43 per metric tonne for shipments of the material, allowing it to make huge profits on the global market. Guptas emails expose a systemic alleged bribery operation targeting Naurus most powerful politicians with the aim of winning preference for his and his familys business, and particularly exclusive rights to phosphate and long, ongoing contracts. In doing so, his dealings threatened the political stability of the island nation of 13,000 people and stood to poison its democracy. Emails from 2009 and 2010 reveal Guptas attention and financial largesse was being courted by both sides of Naurus convoluted political system: Naurus then president Marcus Stephen who is currently speaker in the countrys parliament and the man who, back then, was trying to topple him, veteran politician and kingmaker David Adeang, now Naurus president. Adeang was this week with Australian politicians at the ASEAN summit in Melbourne and has previously strongly denied receiving bribes from Gupta. Nauru President David Adeang (right) met Treasurer Jim Chalmers in Melbourne. Credit: Nauru Government In December 2009, Stephen emailed Gupta to warn him about Adeangs plotting. If David Adeang comes back in [power], I suggest you pack your bags, Stephen wrote. But the email had a second purpose to ask for allegedly illicit payments using a code-word. One and last request: if candy can be organised, Stephen wrote, flagging a trip to Europe for a climate summit. Banking records of firms linked to Gupta shed further light on the meaning of candy. Stephens Australian bank accounts received $110,000 in payments from Gupta between 2006 and 2010. Advertisement A driver in a hurry in an Isuzu D-MAX can get the wildly popular ute from zero to 100km/h in less than 10 seconds by flooring the diesel turbo and shifting quickly into sixth gear. That is exactly what Peter Dutton is up to in this years political drag race over emission standards, car prices and climate change. Foot down. Top speed. No stopping. The opposition leader is hoping to destroy Labor with a scare campaign about what he calls a ute tax that adds $25,000 to the cost of a new vehicle. And he will run a red light if he needs. Illustration: Simon Letch Credit: But the emission standards are not a tax. And the $25,000 claim is an exaggerated piece of modelling that is based on a worst-case scenario about a policy that is yet to be decided. The changes could, in fact, save households money on fuel. So the country is in for a long argument that echoes the carbon price dispute of more than a decade ago, complete with a tax claim borrowed from Tony Abbott and a war of attrition over competing spreadsheets and the fear of change. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. A meeting has been held between UAE Minister of Community Development, COP28 Youth Climate Champion Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrouei and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani ministry. The meeting focused on arrangements for Azerbaijan to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) and involved discussions on potential cooperation prospects. Youth Climate Champion for COP29 Azerbaijan Leyla Hasanova also took part in the meeting. The decision to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023, enabling Azerbaijan to host the event in November. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. One-off whisky label auctioned by the Glenturret The Glenturret, which claims the title of the oldest working distillery in Scotland, is auctioning a one-off whisky label in celebration of International Womens Day. The brand has worked with graphic designer Amy Jacobs to create a bespoke label featuring the names of its 33 current female employees. With the design, the Glenturret aims to celebrate the women who have been part of the brands team in the past and present. The label will be displayed on a bottle of the Glenturret 12 Years Old and will be sold in Whisky Auctioneers April auction. Proceeds will be donated to the Princes Trust Women Supporting Women initiative. The initiative provides support and empowerment to young women facing disadvantage. 8 March 2024 - Lucy Schofield India sees Japan as a natural partner TOKYO, INDIA sees Japan as a natural partner in its journey, development and transformation, and in its quest for peace, prosperity and stability in the strategic Indo-Pacific region, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday as he held very productive talks with his Japanese counterpart Kamikawa Yoko. In his opening remarks at the 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue in Tokyo, Jaishankar also said that 2023 was a landmark year in the bilateral relationship. We see Japan as a natural partner in Indias journey, development and transformation, and in its quest for peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific, said Jaishankar, who is here for the second leg of his four-day visit to South Korea and Japan. India and Japan are members of QUAD - a four-member strategic security dialogue that also includes the US and Australia. In a joint press statement along with Japanese counterpart Yoko, Jaishankar said their talks provided strategic guidance to their teams to realise the vision of the India-Japan Special Strategic Global Partnership and the expectations that the top leaders of the two countries have of this partnership. Stating that this round of the dialogue has been very productive, Jaishankar said the two sides have made good progress in their defence and security relations. Today, just as were meeting here in Tokyo, the Indian Army is conducting joint exercises with the Japanese Self-Defence Forces in Rajasthan. The three branches of our military and Coast Guard are productively engaged with the Japanese counterparts, he said. Jaishankar said the two major Indo-Pacific nations have an abiding stake in the peace, security and prosperity of the region and are ready to play a responsible role. Whether it is the development aspirations for the Global South, or the reform of institutions and mechanisms of global Government, fighting transnational crimes, or defending against the disruptions to supply chains, cooperation between India and Japan has a world of possibilities, he added. He said that there have been exchanges about cooperation possibilities in areas of jointness and new domains like cyber and space. We also took stock of progress in our defence equipment and technology cooperation framework. In economic cooperation, we see a lot of potential for the quantum jump of Japanese investment into India, especially from Small and Medium Enterprises as we enter a decade of growth, he said. He said the two sides are seeking to realise their shared target of 5 trillion yen in terms of overall investment. India remains committed to the continuous improvement in our infrastructure environment and I underlined the importance we attach to the timely execution of flagship projects like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed railway, he said. He welcomed Japans development role in Indias Northeast, saying it will be crucial in transforming the connectivity and industrial landscape of that region. It will benefit not only two countries but also other countries in the neighbourhood, he added. We also concurred on the need to work together to enhance each others economic security and supply chain resilience by taking a strategic view of trade and technology. In this context, we discuss possibilities in the semiconductor ecosystem, green technologies and digital payments by leveraging our complementary strengths, he said. The two sides also spoke about ways to enhance people-to-people engagement through education, tourism and culture. Jaishankar said that he also spoke about the need for a more facilitative visa regime for Indian tourists and other citizens to travel to Japan. We also discussed the shared interest we had in providing greater mobility for Indian talent and for Indian skills to Japan, expanding the scope of the existing arrangements and helping promote the Japanese language... he said. He said he was looking forward to receiving his Japanese counterpart in India for the next 2+2 ministerial dialogue. Surprised that I came out of jail alive Staff Reporter Former Delhi University (DU) Professor G N Saibaba, on Thursday, after his release from Nagpur Central Jail, said it is a miracle that he could come out alive from the jail despite facing the brutal jail life. The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday, acquitted Saibaba in an alleged Maoist links case, noting that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against Saibaba. I was targeted and imprisoned for my human rights work by the then government in the state, said Saibaba while interacting with mediapersons after his release from the jail here on Thursday. Saibaba recalled, during the press conference, the struggle he faced all these years in prison. I entered the prison as a healthy man except my polio and wheel chair bound condition. But, now I am facing such severe health conditions, heart condition, liver problem etc. Even after doctors declaration of severe health condition, I was not given active medical treatment, said Saibaba. Saibaba questioned why such huge kind of suffering was given to him and others? Today, you can see, not once but twice, that the higher judiciary confirmed that this case is without facts and evidence. Why it took so long? Who will bring my life back? The DU professor also expressed sadness over death of his Anda Cell companion accused Pandu Narote who was a tribal from Gadchiroli. Saibaba said that Narote was a young man who died during the course of injustice and incarceration, wherein he was also falsely implicated. This haunted him all these years since he died. How, he died of a simple fever, is it possible to die for a person in this modern times because of simple fever? questioned Saibaba. CBI searches 67 Mah, Raj locations NEW DELHI, THE CBI has conducted searches at 67 locations in seven cities of Rajasthan and Maharashtra in connection with the Rs 820-crore Immediate Payment System (IMPS) scam in UCO bank, officials said Thursday. The searches that started on Wednesday and continued till Thursday pertain to the mammoth scam in UCO Bank that transpired in three days - November 10-13, 2023 - through 8,53,049 transactions spread across 2,874 branches in 41,296 accounts across 35 states and Union territories. IMPS inward transactions initiated from around 14,600 account holders of seven private banks were wrongfully posted in the accounts of over 41,000 UCO Bank account holders. This resulted in Rs. 820 crore being credited to UCO Bank accounts without actual debiting from originating banks, CBI Spokesperson said. The transactions were initiated from IDFC First Bank, Jana Small Finance Bank, Suryoday Small Finance Bank, Fincare Small Finance Bank, Capital Small Finance Bank, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank and ESAF Small Finance Bank, the FIR registered on the basis of UCO banks complaint and made public on Thursday alleged. The CBI has filed the FIR against Avishek Srivastava and Supriya Mallick, Support Engineers in the Mangaluru-based LCode Technologies, it said. The company was hired to develop and maintain mobile banking applications for the bank, including the IMPS channel, the FIR said. It is suspected that both were present during the incident and log reports indicate that either of the two changed the port number of IMPS transactions without authorisation from the bank on November 8 at 7 PM, it alleged. The core banking software credited beneficiarys account but sent a failed message to remitter bank. Mysterious allures of Lord Shiva BY AISHWARYA MORONEY Shiva! The God of Gods, destroyer of evil, fierce warrior, consummate dancer and charismatic leader, quoted author Amish Tripathi, describing Lord Shiva in his fantastic work, The Immortals of Meluha. The Mahadev, the originator of the cosmos, is revered in India and across multiple parts of the world. The physical image of Lord Shiva has a Trishul in His hand, a serpent hugging His neck, a deep blue throat, the brilliant fire burning on the surface of His forehead, and the crescent moon adorning His head as a jewel. The robust figure dons an appealing smile on His face, exhibiting fondness towards devotees. The creator of the universe has various enigmatic aspects to His life. Ancient records interpret a fascinating story behind Lord Shivas blue throat. According to Bhagvat Puran, a hazardous poison called Kaalkut oozed out of the sea during sea churning. This venom was a threat, enough to demolish humanity. To find a way out of this grave situation, Gods and Goddesses worshipped The Mahadev. To an utter surprise, He took the entire deadly poison and ingested it! As a consequence of this event, His neck accumulated bluish hues. He then came to be known as the Neelkanth. Apart from what mythology says, there are also inexplicable scientific and geographical pieces of evidence indicating the presence of Lord Shiva and His might. In 2016, NASA captured a picture of Mount Kailash, Mahadevs heavenly abode, with a satellite. In that image, a depicted figure showed the face of Mahadev on the surface of Kailash. Mount Kailash is known as the spiritual centre of the world. The North Pole is 6,666m km away from here. Upon doubling this, we get the exact distance between Kailash and the South Pole, which is 13,332 km. This fact appears to transcend mere coincidence. We refer to Kailashs central axis as the spiritual axis. Moreover, the precise location of this axis finds its mention in the Ramayana. There is a belief that travelling one round of Mount Kailash equals living one life cycle. Every year, 20,000 pilgrims voyage to Kailash Manasarovar to attain tranquillity and spiritual wisdom. They circumnavigate Kailash in a clockwise path, desiring to gain liberation from the cycle of life and death. Kailash is a pyramid of advanced construction, a marvel built 20 million years ago. To add to the astonishing theories surrounding Lord Shivas home, the travellers claim the sightings of aliens and unidentified flying objects hovering over the mountains glaciers. Acknowledging such distinctive approaches, I am at liberty to assert that humans are tiny drops in the gigantic sea of the universe. Our society functions under these mighty forces, capable of altering our lives instantaneously. As I conclude this article, I pay homage to The Mahadev, the omnipresent Deity. PMs Rs 5,000crorebooster dose to J&K SRINAGAR : JAMMU and Kashmir is touching new heights of development and breathing freely after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Thursday. Addressing a public rally, Modi also accused the Congress of misguiding not only the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but the entire nation on Article 370 for a long time. The Prime Minister extended his advance wishes for the upcoming holy month of Ramzan and Maha Shivratri, which falls on Friday. Jammu and Kashmir is touching new heights of development after the abrogation of Article 370. Jammu and Kashmir is touching new heights of development today because it is breathing freely. Jammu and Kashmir has broken the shackles after abrogation of Article 370, he said at the rally named asViksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir at the Bakshi stadium here. This was Modis first visit to Kashmir since the Centre abrogated the special status given to the erstwhile state and bifurcated it into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmirand Ladakh on August 5, 2019. After inaugurating development projects worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore for boosting the agri-economy in the Union territory, Modi said he was elated to be among the wonderful people of Srinagar. The development projectsbeingdedicated today will boost the development of Jammu and Kashmir. A developed Jammu and Kashmir is the priority for a developed India, he said. Describing J&K as thecrown of thecountry, the Prime Minister said the path to building a developed Jammu and Kashmir will emerge from tourism possibilities and empowerment of farmers. Jammu and Kashmiris not just aregion but Indias head. A head held high is the symbol of development and honour. Thatis why a developed Jammu andKashmiris the priority of a developed India, he said. Modi saidthe power of development, tourism possibilities, empowerment of farmers and the leadershipoftheyouthof Jammu and Kashmir will lay the foundation in buildingadeveloped Jammu and Kashmir. He also asked non-resident Indianstosendatleastfive family members to tour the country underChalo India programme. With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, there was renewed political interests among Opposition parties about the possibility of an announcement on Assembly polls in Jammu & Kashmir by the Election Commission. However, the Prime Minister did not mention anything about polls. Among the projects the PrimeMinisterlaunched include tourism sector worth more than Rs 1,400 croreundertheSwadesh Darshan and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) schemes andaproject for the integrated development ofthe Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar. Resignation of RGPV VC accepted; Rupam Gupta Acting Vice Chancellor Staff Reporter Governor Mangubhai Patel has accepted the resignation submitted by Professor Sunil Kumar, Vice Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (RGPV), Bhopal. He has nominated Dr Rupam Gupta, Chairperson of the Faculty of Computer and Information Technology of the University, to fulfill the duties of the Vice Chancellor. Dr Guptas nomination will remain in effect until the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor for RGPV. This was the second working tenure of Sunil Kumar Gupta as VC of the only technical university of State. Second working tenure of VC Sunil Kumar was to end in June 2025. An FIR has already been lodged at Gandhi Nagar Police Station against five, including the former VC. After the FIR, former registrar R S Rajput and finance controller Rishikesh Verma are absconding. Even their houses are locked. All the bank accounts of RGPV have been already freezed by the administration in a wake of alleged scam. Especially, Axis Bank and Union Bank accounts were freezed to check the allegations. The university is not allowed to do any kind of transaction from these account without previous consent of the administration. Only salary account is being run for monthly payment of staff. The university is under scanner for around Rs 200 to 250 crore of transactions. Rs 20 crore have been allegedly deposited to a private bank account. A three-member committee comprising Director, Skill Development, Somesh Mishra, Rajesh Verma, Vice Chancellor of Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur, and Pushpalata Shekhar, Financial Advisor of Directorate of Technical Education, was already formed to probe into the matter. In its report, committee has reported suspected of scam. Resignationnot accepted Asked to stay on, continue working: Governor Purohit CHANDIGARH : PUNJAB Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit on Thursday said the ground for his resignation last month was purely personal, and added that he was, however, told to stay and continue his work. In an interaction with mediapersons here, Purohit also talked about various initiatives taken during his tenure so far as the Union Territory (UT) Chandigarh Administrator. Asked about the real reason behind his resignation, he said, I have sent it (resignation), but they are not leaving (me) and telling me (to) stay and work. They said nahi karenge (wont accept resignation), he said. He said the ground he gave for his resignation was purely his family, personal reasons and nothingelse. My wife came herefrom Nagpur but went back after 10 days. Myfamily, they are missing me there... I amalso international vicepresident of BharatiyaVidya Bhavan and I started theNagpur centre in 1984, he said. Purohit had last month submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, citing personal reasons. Due to my personal reasons and certainothercommitments, I tender my resignation fromthepostofGovernor of Punjab and administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh. Please accept the same and oblige, Purohit wrote in his resignation letter. Purohit was appointed as Punjab Governor and Chandigarh administrator in August 2021. Earlier, he had also servedastheGovernorof Assam from 2016 to 2017 and the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 2017 to 2021. Purohit had also been a three-time Lok Sabha member from Nagpurin1984,1989and 1996. Asked about his address to the Punjab Assemblyontheopening day of its budget session on March 1, when it was disrupted by the opposition Congress legislators who raised the issues of the protesting farmers, the governor said, I am of the view that time of the House should be properly utilised. I had told them (Congress members) that they listen to my address first and then they may speak and have a healthy debate (onGovernorsAddress). Meanwhile, referring to his tenure as Chandigarh administrator so far, Purohit said, We have done lot of work in past two-and-a-half years. He said that he has utilised his vast public life experience for public good. He also mentioned that he has in the past also remained a three-termMP,Governor of Assam, holding additional charge as Meghalaya Governor for 18 months, Governor of Tamil Nadu for four years before he was made Punjab Governor. ButI cansay the team of Chandigarh UT officers with whom I am working is one of the best teams. I have public life experience of five decades and in UT Chandigarh,I got the best team, he said. He said Chandigarh has made rapid strides in many fields during past few years. In the Swachh Sarvekshan, Chandigarh now ranks 11th from 66 th rankonce. I promise that in coming two years, we will be among first five, we will achieve that target, he said. We are best urban localbody in water management in the country. We are amongst the best in smart cities and best project in mobility. Chandigarh is the best UT in energy efficiency index. These are just a few achievements, he said, and added that in e-governance initiatives too,Chandigarh is ahead. Chandigarh has got the first rank in the country in school education. It is also the bestUT in crime and criminal network tracking systems,hesaid. Chandigarh is second among all states in interoperable criminal justice system, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision is that UTs should be the role model of development and good governance, and we are fully workinginthisdirection, he said. He said green cover of Chandigarh is increasing. From 41 per cent in 2017, it has increased to 50 per cent, he added. The Governor said 80 electric buses have already been introduced in public transport and 100 more will be introduced within a couple of months. Severalin centives were offered under the electric vehicle (EV) policy notified in September 2022. Chandigarh is likely to become a model solar city before 2030, he said. Lots of funds have been pumped in on school,college and urban infrastructure for housing, sports, roadnetwork and cycle tracks, he said. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 8. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov has signed a decree approving the State Program of Kyrgyzstan c to support women's leadership until 2030, Trend reports. The program, aimed at creating conditions for active participation of women in the political, economic, and social life of the country, also seeks to promote their role in decision-making processes, according to the press service of the Kyrgyz president. The initiative aims to set priorities in state policy regarding gender equality and to contribute to the socio-economic development of Kyrgyzstan. Key components of the state program include conducting information campaigns to raise awareness and support public opinion on the role of women in society and the necessity of their active participation in decision-making. A crucial aspect of such measures will be encouraging the inclusion of women in reserve of personnel. Furthermore, the program entails providing training and professional development opportunities for women aspiring to leadership positions. This includes educational programs and training sessions aimed at enhancing their leadership skills and competencies. Additionally, it involves developing a system to prepare female candidates for leadership positions and enhancing their qualifications post-appointment. This state program is intended to be a key factor in achieving the country's development goals and creating a more just and equitable society. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. lowered its position in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE Free Report) by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 1,069,036 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 7,100 shares during the quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C.s holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise were worth $18,569,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE bought a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise in the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. First Manhattan Co. increased its holdings 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 buying an additional 1,139 shares in the last quarter. Glassman Wealth Services raised its position 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 buying an additional 1,023 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pacific Center for Financial Services bought a new position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 1st quarter valued at about $44,000. 81.15% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Hewlett Packard Enterprise alerts: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Stock Performance Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock opened at $18.18 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $15.86 and its 200-day moving average price is $16.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The company has a market cap of $23.63 billion, a PE ratio of 12.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.19. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a twelve month low of $13.65 and a twelve month high of $20.07. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Dividend Announcement Hewlett Packard Enterprise ( NYSE:HPE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 29th. The technology company reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) 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 return on equity of 9.12% and a net margin of 6.81%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 13.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.38 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Hewlett Packard Enterprise will post 1.86 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.86%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Hewlett Packard Enterprises payout ratio is 35.86%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts recently weighed in on HPE shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 1st. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded Hewlett Packard Enterprise from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and cut their price target for the company from $20.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $17.00 price objective (down previously from $21.00) on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Nine equities 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.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $17.25. Read Our Latest Analysis on HPE Insider Buying and Selling at Hewlett Packard Enterprise In related news, SVP Kirt P. Karros sold 26,127 shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.07, for a total transaction of $419,860.89. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 26,130 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $419,909.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, EVP John F. Schultz sold 209,748 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.40, for a total transaction of $3,439,867.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 278,118 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,561,135.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Kirt P. Karros sold 26,127 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.07, for a total value of $419,860.89. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 26,130 shares in the company, valued at approximately $419,909.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 303,575 shares of company stock worth $4,989,141 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock. 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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HPE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Advisors Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE:UTZ Free Report) by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 837,521 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 29,432 shares during the period. Advisors Capital Management LLCs holdings in Utz Brands were worth $11,248,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UTZ. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its stake in shares of Utz Brands by 696.3% during the 1st quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 1,047,313 shares of the companys stock worth $17,248,000 after buying an additional 915,784 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Utz Brands by 14.3% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,868,901 shares of the companys stock worth $79,655,000 after buying an additional 610,455 shares during the last quarter. Gratus Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Utz Brands during the 3rd quarter worth $6,468,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of Utz Brands by 597.5% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 549,300 shares of the companys stock worth $7,591,000 after buying an additional 470,551 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Utz Brands by 687.3% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 476,075 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,841,000 after purchasing an additional 415,606 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.01% of the companys stock. Get Utz Brands alerts: Utz Brands Price Performance NYSE UTZ traded up $0.21 on Friday, reaching $17.78. The company had a trading volume of 46,837 shares, compared to its average volume of 849,201. Utz Brands, Inc. has a 1 year low of $11.17 and a 1 year high of $19.21. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $17.62 and a 200-day moving average of $14.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. Analysts Set New Price Targets Utz Brands ( NYSE:UTZ Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.17 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $352.10 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $354.63 million. Utz Brands had a positive return on equity of 6.08% and a negative net margin of 1.73%. The firms revenue was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.15 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Utz Brands, Inc. will post 0.69 EPS for the current year. Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Needham & Company LLC boosted their target price on shares of Utz Brands from $20.00 to $20.50 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on shares of Utz Brands from $18.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Utz Brands from $17.00 to $19.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Mizuho assumed coverage on Utz Brands in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. They set a buy rating and a $19.00 target price for the company. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their target price on Utz Brands from $13.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Monday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $17.73. Check Out Our Latest Report on Utz Brands Insiders Place Their Bets In other Utz Brands news, major shareholder Series U. Of Um Partners, Llc sold 446,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.40, for a total value of $7,764,750.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 397,885 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,923,199. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Utz Brands news, major shareholder Series U. Of Um Partners, Llc sold 446,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.40, for a total value of $7,764,750.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 397,885 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,923,199. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Roger K. Deromedi sold 32,052 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.10, for a total value of $612,193.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,516,652 shares in the company, valued at $67,168,053.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 516,955 shares of company stock worth $9,113,302 in the last 90 days. 17.32% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Utz Brands Profile (Free Report) Utz Brands, Inc operates as a snack food manufacturing company. It offers a range of salty snacks, including potato chips, kettle chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, cheese snacks, pork skins, pub/party mixes, salsa and queso, ready-to-eat popcorn, veggies, and other snacks under the Utz, Zapp's, ON THE BORDER, Golden Flake, Good Health, Boulder Canyon, Hawaiian, TGI Fridays, TORTIYAHS!, and other brand names. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UTZ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE:UTZ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Utz Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Utz Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. lifted its position in Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ Free Report) (TSE:CNQ) by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 421,856 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after buying an additional 20,254 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Canadian Natural Resources were worth $27,281,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in CNQ. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 30.3% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 13,128 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $814,000 after acquiring an additional 3,055 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Canadian Natural Resources in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $403,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 26.0% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 16,727 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $1,036,000 after acquiring an additional 3,448 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 31.5% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 896,093 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $55,540,000 after acquiring an additional 214,665 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. lifted its position in shares of Canadian Natural Resources by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 8,432 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $523,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.88% of the companys stock. Get Canadian Natural Resources alerts: Canadian Natural Resources Stock Performance NYSE CNQ opened at $72.12 on Friday. Canadian Natural Resources Limited has a 52-week low of $48.81 and a 52-week high of $73.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $77.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.02 and a beta of 1.53. The companys fifty day moving average is $64.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $64.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.69. Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a $0.774 dividend. This represents a $3.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.29%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This is a boost from Canadian Natural Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 53.25%. Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from $101.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $94.00. Read Our Latest Research Report on Canadian Natural Resources Canadian Natural Resources Profile (Free Report) Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO). Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CNQ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ Free Report) (TSE:CNQ). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Natural Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Natural Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ) Senior Officer Calvin John Bast sold 3,750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$97.62, for a total value of C$366,058.88. Canadian Natural Resources Trading Up 0.5 % Shares of TSE:CNQ opened at C$97.52 on Friday. Canadian Natural Resources Limited has a 52-week low of C$67.13 and a 52-week high of C$98.69. The company has a market capitalization of C$106.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.98. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of C$87.03 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$87.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 31.01, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.96. Get Canadian Natural Resources alerts: Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $1.05 dividend. This is an increase from Canadian Natural Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.31%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 59.51%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently commented on CNQ. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Canadian Natural Resources from C$94.00 to C$100.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Desjardins lowered their target price on Canadian Natural Resources from C$105.00 to C$97.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Canadian Natural Resources from C$95.00 to C$86.00 in a report on Thursday, December 14th. National Bankshares increased their target price on Canadian Natural Resources from C$90.00 to C$94.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Canadian Natural Resources from C$98.00 to C$96.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 18th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian Natural Resources has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$98.65. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Canadian Natural Resources About Canadian Natural Resources (Get Free Report) Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO). Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Natural Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Natural Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 123.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,411 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 1,333 shares during the quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $1,216,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Keebeck Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 11.6% during the second quarter. Keebeck Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,788 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $5,185,000 after buying an additional 1,122 shares during the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 24.0% in the second quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 42,045 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $20,209,000 after purchasing an additional 8,144 shares in the last quarter. Ascension Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter worth approximately $216,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the third quarter worth $207,000. Finally, Bartlett & Co. LLC lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 5.7% during the third quarter. Bartlett & Co. LLC now owns 164,353 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $82,865,000 after buying an additional 8,873 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 85.69% of the companys stock. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 1.3 % Shares of UNH opened at $478.57 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $445.68 and a one year high of $554.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $441.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.07, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.54. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $515.23 and a 200 day moving average price of $518.02. UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.16 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.98 by $0.18. The firm had revenue of $94.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $92.13 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.39% and a net margin of 6.02%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $5.34 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 11th will be issued a dividend of $1.88 per share. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 8th. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 31.54%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth UNH has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $596.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $565.00 to $503.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 20th. Bank of America reiterated a buy rating and set a $675.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday. Barclays assumed coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday. They set an overweight rating and a $551.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Piper Sandler cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $584.00 to $581.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $579.33. Read Our Latest Analysis on UNH Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group In related news, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $525.79, for a total transaction of $451,127.82. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 32,289 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,977,233.31. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock. UnitedHealth Group Company Profile (Free Report) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC raised its stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Free Report) by 12.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 763 shares during the quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $1,237,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 113,180.6% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 334,806,395 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $58,376,843,000 after purchasing an additional 334,510,840 shares during the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 11.1% during the 3rd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 11,206,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,980,548,000 after purchasing an additional 1,115,400 shares during the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC now owns 7,445,800 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,315,971,000 after purchasing an additional 33,773 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 7,106,992 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,256,090,000 after purchasing an additional 164,788 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 43.5% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 4,484,931 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $792,666,000 after purchasing an additional 1,360,520 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Russell 2000 ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Up 0.8 % Shares of NYSEARCA IWM opened at $206.96 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $197.69 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $186.43. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a fifty-two week low of $161.67 and a fifty-two week high of $208.10. About iShares Russell 2000 ETF iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC acquired a new stake in Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 5,186 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $724,000. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Dover by 15.6% in the 3rd quarter. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC now owns 6,733 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $939,000 after acquiring an additional 907 shares during the last quarter. Payden & Rygel boosted its holdings in Dover by 15.3% during the second quarter. Payden & Rygel now owns 137,680 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $20,329,000 after buying an additional 18,300 shares in the last quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. boosted its holdings in Dover by 4.5% during the third quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 2,925 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $408,000 after buying an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its holdings in Dover by 53.1% during the third quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 528,857 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $74,415,000 after buying an additional 183,529 shares in the last quarter. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Dover during the third quarter worth $3,775,000. 83.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Dover alerts: Dover Price Performance Dover stock opened at $171.89 on Friday. Dover Co. has a 12-month low of $127.25 and a 12-month high of $172.30. The stock has a market cap of $24.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.86, a PEG ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $156.21 and a 200 day moving average price of $146.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Dover Announces Dividend Dover ( NYSE:DOV Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.44 by $0.01. Dover had a net margin of 12.52% and a return on equity of 25.95%. The firm had revenue of $2.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.16 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.16 earnings per share. Dovers revenue was down 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Dover Co. will post 9.07 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 28th. Dovers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.13%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Seaport Res Ptn raised shares of Dover from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Dover from $140.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Dover from $150.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Dover from $146.00 to $153.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Dover from $167.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $168.18. View Our Latest Research Report on Dover Insiders Place Their Bets In other Dover news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 18,410 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $163.01, for a total transaction of $3,001,014.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 23,909 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,897,406.09. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About Dover (Free Report) Dover Corporation provides equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services worldwide. The company's Engineered Products segment provides various equipment, component, software, solution, and services that are used in vehicle aftermarket, waste handling, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, industrial winch and hoist, and fluid dispensing end-market. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DOV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Dover Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dover and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Free Report) by 64.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 7,336 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 2,872 shares during the period. Dana Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in Extra Space Storage were worth $892,000 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. Capital World Investors boosted its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 29.7% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 17,876,089 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,660,805,000 after purchasing an additional 4,096,408 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 9,421,581 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,402,402,000 after purchasing an additional 23,698 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 22.1% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 6,505,834 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $790,975,000 after purchasing an additional 1,178,760 shares in the last quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. boosted its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 23.2% during the 2nd quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 5,599,950 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $833,528,000 after purchasing an additional 1,054,442 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital International Investors boosted its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 98.7% during the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 4,216,200 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $627,581,000 after purchasing an additional 2,094,409 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 66.40% of the companys stock. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. TheStreet upgraded Extra Space Storage from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Scotiabank assumed coverage on Extra Space Storage in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. They issued a sector underperform rating and a $131.00 price target on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Extra Space Storage from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Truist Financial increased their price target on Extra Space Storage from $138.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, December 28th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Extra Space Storage from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, March 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $149.33. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Extra Space Storage news, CMO Samrat Sondhi sold 2,048 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.46, for a total value of $299,950.08. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 94,126 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,785,693.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Joseph Saffire sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.10, for a total value of $3,852,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 42,344 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,525,210.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CMO Samrat Sondhi sold 2,048 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.46, for a total value of $299,950.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 94,126 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,785,693.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 37,182 shares of company stock valued at $5,564,769 over the last ninety days. 1.55% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Extra Space Storage Stock Up 1.7 % EXR stock opened at $146.46 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.99 billion, a PE ratio of 29.65, a P/E/G ratio of 3.65 and a beta of 0.74. The stocks 50 day moving average is $147.06 and its 200-day moving average is $133.85. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a twelve month low of $101.19 and a twelve month high of $166.28. Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.03 by ($1.01). Extra Space Storage had a net margin of 31.81% and a return on equity of 8.34%. The business had revenue of $797.77 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $778.05 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.09 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 57.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Extra Space Storage Inc. will post 8.13 EPS for the current fiscal year. Extra Space Storage Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a $1.62 dividend. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.42%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio is currently 131.17%. Extra Space Storage Company Profile (Free Report) Extra Space Storage Inc, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of September 30, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 3,651 self-storage stores in 42 states and Washington, DC The Company's stores comprise approximately 2.5 million units and approximately 279.0 million square feet of rentable space operating under the Extra Space, Life Storage and Storage Express brands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR Free Report) Stock analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Avantor in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, March 6th. Zacks Research analyst D. Dey now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $0.23 for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $0.25. The consensus estimate for Avantors current full-year earnings is $1.01 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Avantors Q2 2025 earnings at $0.29 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $1.40 EPS. Get Avantor alerts: A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on AVTR. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on Avantor from $23.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Avantor from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Avantor from $24.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Avantor in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. They issued a peer perform rating for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Avantor from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. 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 stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $26.14. Avantor Stock Performance NYSE:AVTR opened at $25.61 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.05. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $23.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.62. Avantor has a 1 year low of $16.63 and a 1 year high of $25.73. The company has a market capitalization of $17.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.37. Avantor (NYSE:AVTR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The company reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $1.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.70 billion. Avantor had a return on equity of 14.11% and a net margin of 4.61%. Avantors quarterly revenue was down 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.32 earnings per share. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Avantor news, EVP James Bramwell sold 6,203 shares of Avantor stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.49, for a total transaction of $151,911.47. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 101,143 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,476,992.07. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Avantor Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dodge & Cox lifted its stake in shares of Avantor by 360.4% in the 4th quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 61,196,331 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,397,112,000 after acquiring an additional 47,904,427 shares during the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Avantor by 32.5% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 76,325,881 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,609,713,000 after acquiring an additional 18,711,696 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Avantor in the 4th quarter valued at about $156,455,000. Boston Partners lifted its stake in shares of Avantor by 41.1% in the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 23,128,075 shares of the companys stock valued at $475,175,000 after acquiring an additional 6,736,666 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Meritage Group LP lifted its stake in shares of Avantor by 119.1% in the 2nd quarter. Meritage Group LP now owns 11,265,674 shares of the companys stock valued at $231,397,000 after acquiring an additional 6,123,250 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.04% of the companys stock. About Avantor (Get Free Report) Avantor, Inc engages in the provision of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education and government, advanced technologies, and applied materials industries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The company offers materials and consumables, such as purity chemicals and reagents, lab products and supplies, formulated silicone materials, customized excipients, customized single-use assemblies, process chromatography resins and columns, analytical sample prep kits, education and microbiology products, clinical trial kits, peristaltic pumps, and fluid handling tips. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Avantor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avantor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM Free Report) by 7.6% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 6,622 shares of the semiconductor producers stock after purchasing an additional 466 shares during the quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLCs holdings in STMicroelectronics were worth $286,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in STM. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc. boosted its position in STMicroelectronics by 548.4% in the 3rd quarter. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc. now owns 590 shares of the semiconductor producers stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 499 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in shares of STMicroelectronics by 112.7% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 689 shares of the semiconductor producers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 365 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in STMicroelectronics in the third quarter valued at $30,000. Spire Wealth Management boosted its holdings in STMicroelectronics by 125.0% in the third quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 720 shares of the semiconductor producers stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the period. Finally, Point72 Middle East FZE acquired a new position in STMicroelectronics during the 2nd quarter worth $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.62% of the companys stock. Get STMicroelectronics alerts: STMicroelectronics Stock Performance Shares of STMicroelectronics stock opened at $48.57 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.44, a current ratio of 3.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. STMicroelectronics has a 52 week low of $37.21 and a 52 week high of $55.85. The firms 50 day moving average is $45.34 and its two-hundred day moving average is $44.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.89, a P/E/G ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 1.69. Analysts Set New Price Targets STMicroelectronics ( NYSE:STM Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The semiconductor producer reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.95 by $0.19. STMicroelectronics had a net margin of 24.36% and a return on equity of 27.70%. The business had revenue of $4.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.32 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that STMicroelectronics will post 3.06 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several brokerages have recently issued reports on STM. Craig Hallum decreased their price objective on STMicroelectronics from $50.00 to $48.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. UBS Group raised shares of STMicroelectronics from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of STMicroelectronics in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of STMicroelectronics from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $50.75. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on STMicroelectronics STMicroelectronics Company Profile (Free Report) STMicroelectronics N.V., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells semiconductor products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through Automotive and Discrete Group; Analog, MEMS and Sensors Group; and Microcontrollers and Digital ICs Group segments. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding STM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for STMicroelectronics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for STMicroelectronics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP grew its position in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH Free Report) by 18.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 87,265 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 13,532 shares during the quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLPs holdings in Norwegian Cruise Line were worth $1,438,000 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. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 5,020.8% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,229 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 1,205 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its holdings in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 272.7% during the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,856 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 1,358 shares during the last quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 46.2% during the second quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,900 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line during the third quarter valued at $42,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 38.0% during the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 3,574 shares of the companys stock valued at $59,000 after buying an additional 984 shares during the last quarter. 60.49% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Norwegian Cruise Line alerts: Norwegian Cruise Line Stock Performance Shares of Norwegian Cruise Line stock opened at $19.63 on Friday. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has a 52 week low of $12.15 and a 52 week high of $22.75. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $17.62 and its 200-day simple moving average is $16.71. The firm has a market cap of $8.36 billion, a PE ratio of 70.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.48 and a beta of 2.59. The company has a quick ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 0.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 40.94. Analysts Set New Price Targets Norwegian Cruise Line ( NYSE:NCLH Get Free Report ) last posted 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 firm had revenue of $1.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations 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 prior year, the firm posted ($1.10) EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. will post 0.87 earnings per share for the current year. NCLH has been the subject of a number of research reports. Susquehanna boosted their target price on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an equal weight rating and set a $18.00 target price on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in a research report on Friday, January 5th. Tigress Financial reissued a strong-buy rating and set a $32.00 target price on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Norwegian Cruise Line from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Tuesday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $21.08. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on NCLH Norwegian Cruise Line 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. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Norwegian Cruise Line Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Norwegian Cruise Line and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP boosted its holdings in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited (NYSE:TNP Free Report) by 25.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 69,056 shares of the shipping companys stock after buying an additional 13,858 shares during the quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP owned approximately 0.23% of Tsakos Energy Navigation worth $1,435,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Stifel Financial Corp increased its position in Tsakos Energy Navigation by 18.4% during the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 88,479 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $1,839,000 after buying an additional 13,778 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its position in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 7.5% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 74,244 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $1,543,000 after purchasing an additional 5,206 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 50.4% in the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 58,107 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $1,207,000 after purchasing an additional 19,467 shares during the last quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. grew its position in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 15.9% in the third quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. now owns 31,193 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $648,000 after purchasing an additional 4,280 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG grew its position in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 165.7% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 14,708 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $306,000 after purchasing an additional 9,172 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 21.18% of the companys stock. Get Tsakos Energy Navigation alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TNP has been the topic of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $28.00 target price on shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. StockNews.com downgraded Tsakos Energy Navigation from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, January 13th. Tsakos Energy Navigation Stock Up 1.3 % NYSE TNP opened at $23.94 on Friday. Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited has a fifty-two week low of $15.50 and a fifty-two week high of $25.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $706.47 million, a PE ratio of 2.11 and a beta of -0.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.49. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $23.96 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $21.98. About Tsakos Energy Navigation (Free Report) Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited provides seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services worldwide. The company offers marine transportation services for national, major, and other independent oil companies and refiners under long, medium, and short-term charters. It also operates a fleet of double-hull vessels, comprising of conventional tankers, LNG carriers, and suezmax DP2 shuttle tankers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TNP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited (NYSE:TNP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Tsakos Energy Navigation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tsakos Energy Navigation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 21,378 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,612,000. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 23.6% during the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,952,712 shares of the companys stock valued at $147,273,000 after purchasing an additional 373,457 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. grew its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 6.1% during the third quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 284,261 shares of the companys stock worth $21,446,000 after acquiring an additional 16,377 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Group grew its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 3.1% during the third quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 73,722 shares of the companys stock worth $5,560,000 after acquiring an additional 2,190 shares during the period. JT Stratford LLC grew its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 31.0% during the third quarter. JT Stratford LLC now owns 12,769 shares of the companys stock worth $963,000 after acquiring an additional 3,025 shares during the period. Finally, Lido Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 185.3% during the third quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 41,202 shares of the companys stock worth $3,107,000 after acquiring an additional 26,762 shares during the period. 77.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Archer-Daniels-Midland Price Performance Shares of ADM stock opened at $54.24 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $58.96 and its 200 day simple moving average is $69.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.69 and a quick ratio of 1.07. The firm has a market cap of $28.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.55 and a beta of 0.75. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a one year low of $50.72 and a one year high of $87.30. Archer-Daniels-Midland Increases Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 8th were paid a $0.50 dividend. This is a positive change from Archer-Daniels-Midlands previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 7th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.69%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands payout ratio is currently 27.86%. A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup assumed coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. They issued a neutral rating and a $57.00 price target on the stock. Barclays cut Archer-Daniels-Midland from an overweight rating to an underweight rating and set a $60.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus cut Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $116.00 to $56.00 in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $80.00 to $66.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Roth Mkm lowered Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $98.00 to $66.00 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. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $67.08. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Archer-Daniels-Midland Archer-Daniels-Midland Profile (Free Report) Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ADM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 8. Turkmenistan is interested in establishing a strategic advisory council with the UN, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the state Rashid Meredov said at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held the previous day, Trend reports. According to him, the creation of the council is proposed in order to bring Turkmenistan's national programs and international initiatives in line with the requirements of the time, to establish a systemic partnership within the framework of projects implemented jointly with the UN and its relevant structures. He noted that the activities of this council will be focused on solving such tasks as coordinating steps for the preparation, selection and approval of projects together with specialized UN agencies and developing proposals for the Government of Turkmenistan in this regard. Furthermore, Meredov stressed that it is also envisaged to study international initiatives put forward in the format of the Community of Nations and, based on expediency, prepare proposals for the Turkmen side to join them and support them. At the same time, it is proposed to monitor the implementation of tasks arising from the program 'Revival of a New Era of a Powerful State: The National Program of Socio-Economic Development of Turkmenistan in 2022-2052' and the adopted national action plans, as well as discussion of ways to implement them in practice, the minister added. Meanwhile, Turkmenistan continues to actively cooperate with the UN, strengthening its role in the international community through participation in numerous programmatic and humanitarian initiatives. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC cut its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Free Report) by 7.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 60,802 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 4,754 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLCs holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $9,477,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. RB Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.1% in the first quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 2,689 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $577,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Parcel Service in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,162,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 10.0% in the first quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 1,233 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $264,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. First Western Trust Bank acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the first quarter worth approximately $515,000. Finally, Stevens Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in United Parcel Service during the first quarter worth approximately $701,000. 58.45% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get United Parcel Service alerts: United Parcel Service Stock Performance Shares of NYSE UPS traded up $1.23 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $154.64. The companys stock had a trading volume of 355,649 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,999,251. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $133.68 and a 1-year high of $197.80. The firms fifty day moving average price is $151.96 and its 200-day moving average price is $153.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market cap of $131.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.05. United Parcel Service Increases Dividend United Parcel Service ( NYSE:UPS Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.47 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.46 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $24.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.40 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 7.37% and a return on equity of 39.46%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.62 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.31 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th will be given a dividend of $1.63 per share. This represents a $6.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.22%. This is an increase from United Parcel Services previous quarterly dividend of $1.62. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 16th. United Parcel Services payout ratio is 83.70%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Eva C. Boratto purchased 1,400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were bought at an average cost of $142.30 per share, for a total transaction of $199,220.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 1,400 shares of the companys stock, valued at $199,220. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.12% of the stock is owned by insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and raised their target price for the stock from $165.00 to $170.00 in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Argus downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $160.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $175.00 to $147.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $155.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, December 26th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $176.95. Get Our Latest Research Report on UPS United Parcel Service Company Profile (Free Report) United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UPS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for United Parcel Service Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Parcel Service and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC lessened its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report) by 26.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 80,687 shares of the companys stock after selling 29,486 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $7,588,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AGG. Avalon Trust Co acquired a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 191.1% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 294 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 193 shares during the period. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. First Manhattan Co. grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 697.9% in the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 375 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 328 shares during the period. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.21% of the companys stock. Get iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Price Performance Shares of AGG stock traded up $0.16 on Friday, hitting $98.34. The stock had a trading volume of 699,860 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,945,954. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $91.58 and a twelve month high of $100.98. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $98.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $96.21. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Profile IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AGG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc grew its stake in shares of CGI Inc. (NYSE:GIB Free Report) (TSE:GIB.A) by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,446,664 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 77,497 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc owned about 0.61% of CGI worth $143,247,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank of Nova Scotia raised its stake in CGI by 100.0% in the third quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 1,404,616 shares of the technology companys stock worth $138,450,000 after buying an additional 702,339 shares in the last quarter. MQS Management LLC grew its holdings in CGI by 26.3% in the third quarter. MQS Management LLC now owns 3,859 shares of the technology companys stock worth $380,000 after purchasing an additional 804 shares during the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank grew its holdings in CGI by 1.3% in the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 1,004,910 shares of the technology companys stock worth $98,974,000 after purchasing an additional 12,697 shares during the last quarter. Fiera Capital Corp grew its holdings in CGI by 3.4% in the third quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 3,813,033 shares of the technology companys stock worth $376,884,000 after purchasing an additional 125,604 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its holdings in CGI by 24.0% in the second quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 270,424 shares of the technology companys stock worth $28,650,000 after purchasing an additional 52,286 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 49.02% of the companys stock. Get CGI alerts: CGI Price Performance Shares of GIB opened at $118.27 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.48 billion, a PE ratio of 23.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.86. CGI Inc. has a 1-year low of $88.74 and a 1-year high of $118.64. The companys fifty day moving average price is $110.80 and its 200-day moving average price is $104.76. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CGI ( NYSE:GIB Get Free Report ) (TSE:GIB.A) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The technology company reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.31 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $2.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.59 billion. CGI had a net margin of 11.34% and a return on equity of 20.65%. On average, equities research analysts predict that CGI Inc. will post 5.71 EPS for the current year. Separately, StockNews.com raised shares of CGI from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. View Our Latest Analysis on GIB About CGI (Free Report) CGI Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides information technology (IT) and business process services. Its services include the business and strategic IT consulting, systems integration, and software solutions. The company also provides application development, modernization and maintenance, holistic enterprise digitization, automation, hybrid and cloud management, and business process services; intellectual property-based solutions; business consulting; managed IT services; and IT infrastructure services. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GIB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CGI Inc. (NYSE:GIB Free Report) (TSE:GIB.A). Receive News & Ratings for CGI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CGI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc decreased its position in shares of Fortive Co. (NYSE:FTV Free Report) by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,365,398 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 56,633 shares during the quarter. Legal & General Group Plc owned approximately 0.67% of Fortive worth $175,418,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. abrdn plc lifted its holdings in Fortive by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. abrdn plc now owns 165,769 shares of the technology companys stock worth $12,293,000 after buying an additional 4,660 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Fortive by 8.4% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 159,045 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $11,795,000 after purchasing an additional 12,342 shares during the period. Pathstone Family Office LLC lifted its stake in shares of Fortive by 87.2% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 31,436 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,367,000 after purchasing an additional 14,639 shares during the period. Aviva PLC lifted its stake in shares of Fortive by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 106,279 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $7,882,000 after purchasing an additional 350 shares during the period. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Fortive by 45.3% in the 2nd quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 271,388 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $20,292,000 after purchasing an additional 84,629 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.95% of the companys stock. Get Fortive alerts: Fortive Price Performance FTV stock opened at $85.01 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $29.87 billion, a PE ratio of 34.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.13. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $78.69 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $74.35. The company has a current ratio of 2.05, a quick ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Fortive Co. has a 1 year low of $62.70 and a 1 year high of $86.61. Fortive Dividend Announcement Fortive ( NYSE:FTV Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The technology company reported $0.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.93 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $1.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.56 billion. Fortive had a return on equity of 12.12% and a net margin of 14.27%. Fortives revenue for the quarter was up 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.88 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Fortive Co. will post 3.78 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be issued a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.38%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. Fortives payout ratio is 13.11%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently weighed in on FTV. StockNews.com raised Fortive from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Mizuho increased their price target on Fortive from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Fortive from $79.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Fortive from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Vertical Research downgraded Fortive from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $81.92. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Fortive Insider Activity In related news, CAO Christopher M. Mulhall sold 8,994 shares of Fortive stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.17, for a total transaction of $739,036.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 20,564 shares in the company, valued at $1,689,743.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Fortive news, CEO Tamara S. Newcombe sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.00, for a total transaction of $425,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 55,017 shares in the company, valued at $4,676,445. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO Christopher M. Mulhall sold 8,994 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.17, for a total transaction of $739,036.98. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 20,564 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,689,743.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 63,937 shares of company stock worth $5,475,122 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.95% of the companys stock. About Fortive (Free Report) Fortive Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and services professional and engineered products, software, and services in the United States, China, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Intelligent Operating Solutions, Precision Technologies, and Advanced Healthcare Solutions. The Intelligent Operating Solutions segment provides advanced instrumentation, software, and services, including electrical test and measurement, facility and asset lifecycle software applications, and connected worker safety and compliance solutions for manufacturing, process industries, healthcare, utilities and power, communications and electronics, and other industries. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fortive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. decreased its position in McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC Free Report) by 0.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 249,630 shares of the companys stock after selling 300 shares during the period. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C.s holdings in McCormick & Company, Incorporated were worth $18,882,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Union Savings Bank acquired a new position in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in McCormick & Company, Incorporated during the third quarter worth about $29,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated during the first quarter valued at about $44,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $46,000. Finally, Milestone Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $47,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.15% of the companys stock. Get McCormick & Company Incorporated alerts: Insider Transactions at McCormick & Company, Incorporated In related news, Director Michael D. Mangan sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.20, for a total value of $326,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 39,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,554,601.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 22.90% of the companys stock. McCormick & Company, Incorporated Stock Up 0.1 % McCormick & Company, Incorporated stock opened at $68.40 on Friday. McCormick & Company, Incorporated has a 1-year low of $59.13 and a 1-year high of $94.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.28. The stock has a market cap of $18.35 billion, a PE ratio of 27.14, a P/E/G ratio of 3.66 and a beta of 0.73. The stocks fifty day moving average is $67.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $68.92. McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The company reported $0.85 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $1.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.78 billion. McCormick & Company, Incorporated had a return on equity of 14.55% and a net margin of 10.22%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.73 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that McCormick & Company, Incorporated will post 2.82 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades MKC has been the subject of several research reports. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated in a report on Thursday, February 1st. They issued a sell rating and a $60.00 target price for the company. Consumer Edge lowered McCormick & Company, Incorporated from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Barclays dropped their target price on McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $74.00 to $71.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $59.00 to $57.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $73.50. Read Our Latest Research Report on McCormick & Company, Incorporated McCormick & Company, Incorporated Profile (Free Report) McCormick & Company, Incorporated manufactures, markets, and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments, and other flavorful products to the food industry. It operates in two segments, Consumer and Flavor Solutions. The Consumer segment offers spices, herbs, and seasonings, as well as condiments and sauces, and desserts. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MKC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for McCormick & Company Incorporated Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McCormick & Company Incorporated and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Metallus Inc. (NYSE:MTUS Get Free Report) CEO Michael S. Williams sold 17,354 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.37, for a total transaction of $353,500.98. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 740,300 shares in the company, valued at $15,079,911. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Metallus Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:MTUS opened at $20.43 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $896.67 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.52. Metallus Inc. has a 1 year low of $15.59 and a 1 year high of $24.30. Get Metallus alerts: About Metallus (Get Free Report) See Also TimkenSteel Corporation engages in manufacture and sale of alloy steel, and carbon and micro-alloy steel products in the United States and internationally. It offers carbon, micro-alloy, and alloy steel ingots, bars, tubes, and billets. Its products are used in gears; hubs; axles; crankshafts and connecting rods; oil country drill pipes; bits and collars; bearing races and rolling elements; bushings; fuel injectors; wind energy shafts; anti-friction bearings; and other applications. Receive News & Ratings for Metallus Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Metallus and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DA Davidson restated their neutral rating on shares of Polaris (NYSE:PII Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $80.00 price objective on the stock. PII has been the topic of several other research reports. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Polaris from $100.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Polaris from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the company from $103.00 to $113.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Polaris from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Truist Financial cut their price objective on shares of Polaris from $100.00 to $96.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, KeyCorp cut their price objective on shares of Polaris from $115.00 to $105.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 12th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $102.44. Get Polaris alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Polaris Polaris Stock Performance Shares of Polaris stock opened at $92.80 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $5.23 billion, a PE ratio of 10.67 and a beta of 1.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 1.39. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $91.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $94.98. Polaris has a one year low of $82.00 and a one year high of $138.49. Polaris (NYSE:PII Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The company reported $1.98 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.67 by ($0.69). The firm had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.25 billion. Polaris had a return on equity of 40.98% and a net margin of 5.63%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.46 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Polaris will post 7.98 EPS for the current fiscal year. Polaris Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. This is an increase from Polariss previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. Polariss dividend payout ratio is 30.34%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Polaris Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Polaris by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 113,100 shares of the companys stock worth $10,719,000 after purchasing an additional 737 shares in the last quarter. Creekmur Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Polaris in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Sierra Summit Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Polaris in the 4th quarter worth approximately $279,000. Quarry LP boosted its position in Polaris by 150.8% in the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 321 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 193 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its position in Polaris by 4.3% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 30,523 shares of the companys stock worth $2,893,000 after purchasing an additional 1,266 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.36% of the companys stock. Polaris Company Profile (Get Free Report) Polaris Inc designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets powersports vehicles in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Off-Road, On-Road, and Marine. The company offers off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles and side-by-side vehicles; military and commercial ORVs; snowmobiles; motorcycles; and moto-roadsters, quadricycles, and boats. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Polaris Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Polaris and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Power Co. of Canada (TSE:POW Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the six research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$40.67. A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Cfra lifted their price target on shares of Power Co. of Canada from C$36.00 to C$39.00 in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. Desjardins boosted their target price on shares of Power Co. of Canada from C$39.00 to C$40.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. National Bankshares reduced their target price on shares of Power Co. of Canada from C$42.00 to C$39.00 in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of Power Co. of Canada from C$44.00 to C$45.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Power Co. of Canada from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the stock from C$41.00 to C$45.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Get Power Co. of Canada alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on POW Power Co. of Canada Price Performance About Power Co. of Canada Power Co. of Canada stock opened at C$40.25 on Friday. Power Co. of Canada has a 1 year low of C$32.33 and a 1 year high of C$40.30. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of C$38.65 and a 200 day moving average price of C$37.02. The company has a market cap of C$24.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.97, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.89, a quick ratio of 107.64 and a current ratio of 45.83. (Get Free Report Power Corporation of Canada, an international management and holding company, offers financial services in North America, Europe, and Asia. It operates through Lifeco, IGM Financial, and GBL segments. The company offers life, disability, critical illness, accidental death, dismemberment, health and dental protection, and creditor insurance; retirement and investment management; fund and asset management; reinsurance and retrocession; investment advisory, financial planning, and related services; fund products; and protection and wealth management services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Power Co. of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Power Co. of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 2,058 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $163,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in BC. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Brunswick by 0.7% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 6,426,552 shares of the companys stock worth $519,843,000 after buying an additional 46,519 shares during the period. Cantillon Capital Management LLC increased its position in Brunswick by 6.4% during the second quarter. Cantillon Capital Management LLC now owns 4,409,435 shares of the companys stock worth $382,033,000 after buying an additional 263,477 shares during the period. FMR LLC increased its position in Brunswick by 140.4% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,435,357 shares of the companys stock worth $271,393,000 after buying an additional 2,006,578 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its position in Brunswick by 2.6% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,121,553 shares of the companys stock worth $171,612,000 after buying an additional 53,083 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Brunswick by 6.4% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,629,572 shares of the companys stock worth $141,180,000 after buying an additional 97,385 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.44% of the companys stock. Get Brunswick alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Brunswick news, CEO David M. Foulkes sold 35,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.11, for a total transaction of $3,048,850.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 272,626 shares in the company, valued at $23,748,450.86. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CEO David M. Foulkes sold 35,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on 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 directly owns 272,626 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,748,450.86. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP John G. Buelow sold 2,426 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.12, for a total value of $211,353.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 14,199 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,237,016.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 52,696 shares of company stock worth $4,574,199. 0.58% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BC has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Truist Financial cut their price target on Brunswick from $115.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Brunswick from $88.00 to $97.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. B. Riley upgraded Brunswick from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $100.00 to $108.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Roth Mkm lifted their target price on Brunswick from $85.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Raymond James downgraded Brunswick from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $95.09. Read Our Latest Stock Report on BC Brunswick Stock Up 1.6 % Brunswick stock opened at $90.94 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 0.59. Brunswick Co. has a 1-year low of $66.47 and a 1-year high of $99.68. The company has a market cap of $6.26 billion, a PE ratio of 15.05 and a beta of 1.55. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $87.16 and its 200 day moving average price is $81.98. Brunswick (NYSE:BC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.66 by ($0.21). The business had revenue of $1.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.44 billion. Brunswick had a net margin of 6.57% and a return on equity of 29.78%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 14.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.99 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Brunswick Co. will post 7.44 EPS for the current fiscal year. Brunswick Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be given a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.85%. This is an increase from Brunswicks previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 23rd. Brunswicks payout ratio is presently 28.24%. Brunswick Company Profile (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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Brunswick Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brunswick and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. increased its holdings in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report) by 4.8% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 245,208 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after buying an additional 11,173 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in EOG Resources were worth $31,096,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 2.8% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 36,299,584 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $4,161,014,000 after purchasing an additional 1,005,328 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its stake in EOG Resources by 11.0% in the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 33,923,655 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $3,882,219,000 after acquiring an additional 3,348,650 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in EOG Resources by 1.1% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 12,937,070 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,639,903,000 after acquiring an additional 145,691 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in EOG Resources by 3.1% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,183,166 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,391,507,000 after acquiring an additional 368,745 shares during the period. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its stake in EOG Resources by 8.4% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 11,532,527 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,462,966,000 after acquiring an additional 892,951 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 89.21% of the companys stock. Get EOG Resources alerts: EOG Resources Stock Up 1.2 % NYSE EOG opened at $117.86 on Friday. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 52 week low of $98.52 and a 52 week high of $136.79. 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 businesss fifty day simple moving average is $114.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $122.07. The firm has a market cap of $68.36 billion, a PE ratio of 9.06, a P/E/G ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.39. 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 analysts consensus estimates of $3.14 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $6.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.18 billion. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 25.38% and a net margin of 31.40%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.30 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.48 earnings per share 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 dividend of $0.91 per share. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 15th. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is 27.98%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have commented on the stock. TD Securities decreased their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $135.00 to $130.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of EOG Resources from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price objective for the company from $150.00 to $130.00 in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Truist Financial cut their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $172.00 to $165.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 26th. Bank of America downgraded shares of EOG Resources from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $147.00 to $140.00 in a report on Friday, January 5th. Finally, Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $150.00 to $138.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $141.80. Get Our Latest Stock 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EOG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sobha Realty, a leading real estate developer in the region, has closed FY 2023 with record-breaking sales of AED15.5 billion ($4.2 billion), up 51% over the previous year across its diverse portfolio of residential and commercial developments in Dubai. The company handed over 1,819 units in the last year across two of its completed projects, before their due date. In view of this sales growth, the company has attained a market share of 10% by value in Dubai during the year. After attaining this sales target in 2023, Sobha is now aspiring to achieve AED20 billion this year, ity stated. Sobha Realtys steadfast commitment to ensure utmost excellence in design, craftsmanship, quality, and customer satisfaction, as well as timely delivery of its projects have been key factors for the rising demand for its properties. Last year, the company also made significant strides in establishing a robust global presence through its marketing efforts and set out the aspiration to expand its footprint in some key global markets. Sobha Realtys consistency in setting new industry standards with each of its projects, including the newly launched Sobha Hartland-2 and Sobha Seahaven Sky Edition, has resulted in a strong demand from the consumers. Last year the company took a strategic initiative to introduce their first corporate brand campaign The Art Of The Detail which showcases the DNA of the organization, said the statement. As a result, Sobha realty rose up to become the second most recalled brand in Dubai real estate in the year, reported in a brand heath research conducted amongst real estate intenders, it added.-TradeArabia News Service ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 9. Turkmenistan discussed prospects for the development of interparliamentary cooperation with Austria, Trend reports. These issues were discussed during a meeting between Speaker of the Mejlis (Parliament) of Turkmenistan Dunyagozel Gulmanova and Member of the Austrian Parliament, head of the 'AustriaTurkmenistan' Interparliamentary Friendship Group Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic. During the meeting, the parties discussed issues of activating the activities of interparliamentary friendship groups established on a bilateral basis, relations between the relevant committees, and the organization of mutual visits of delegations. They emphasized that the parliamentary dialogue has become an important part of the expansion of relations between the two countries, and the creation of interparliamentary friendship groups on a bilateral basis facilitates the exchange of experience in the legislative field. After discussing the state of Turkmen-Austrian relations and prospects for their development, the parties stressed that there are great opportunities for increasing cooperation in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields. Meanwhile, the Parliament of Turkmenistan hosted a regular meeting of members of the Turkmen-Austrian friendship group, which discussed the exchange of experience in lawmaking, new approaches to environmental protection, ensuring gender equality, as well as ongoing activities to improve the political status of youth and women parliamentarians. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. raised its stake in Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Free Report) by 6.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 63,397 shares of the insurance providers stock after acquiring an additional 3,728 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Humana were worth $30,853,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Humana in the first quarter worth $28,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Humana in the second quarter worth $29,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Humana in the third quarter worth $39,000. Baystate Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Humana by 84.1% during the second quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 81 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nvwm LLC boosted its position in shares of Humana by 41.0% during the third quarter. Nvwm LLC now owns 86 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. 91.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Humana alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Jorge S. Mesquita bought 545 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $367.09 per share, for a total transaction of $200,064.05. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,578 shares in the company, valued at $946,358.02. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.32% of the companys stock. Humana Stock Up 0.5 % Shares of HUM opened at $340.72 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $392.64 and its 200 day moving average is $455.20. The company has a market capitalization of $41.11 billion, a PE ratio of 17.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.45. Humana Inc. has a 12-month low of $334.54 and a 12-month high of $541.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. Humana (NYSE:HUM Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The insurance provider reported ($0.11) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.76 by ($0.87). The business had revenue of $26.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.47 billion. Humana had a net margin of 2.34% and a return on equity of 19.44%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 17.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.62 EPS. Research analysts expect that Humana Inc. will post 16.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Humana Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a $0.885 dividend. This represents a $3.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.04%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. Humanas payout ratio is 17.86%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently commented on HUM. Stephens dropped their price objective on Humana from $550.00 to $430.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on Humana from $515.00 to $450.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 26th. UBS Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $370.00 price objective (down from $530.00) on shares of Humana in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Truist Financial reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $550.00 price objective on shares of Humana in a research report on Friday, January 19th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald cut Humana from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $597.00 to $391.00 in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $494.00. Read Our Latest Report on Humana Humana Company Profile (Free Report) Humana Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Insurance and CenterWell. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HUM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Humana Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Humana and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET Free Report) by 8.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 135,911 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 10,068 shares during the quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Arista Networks were worth $25,005,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of ANET. Capital World Investors grew its stake in Arista Networks by 68.8% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 9,819,327 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,591,320,000 after purchasing an additional 4,002,359 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in Arista Networks by 162.2% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,549,335 shares of the technology companys stock worth $673,412,000 after purchasing an additional 3,432,952 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its holdings in Arista Networks by 391.5% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 3,848,311 shares of the technology companys stock worth $623,657,000 after purchasing an additional 3,065,313 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Arista Networks during the 4th quarter worth about $308,885,000. Finally, FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Arista Networks by 32.2% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,318,633 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,897,906,000 after acquiring an additional 2,515,864 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.13% of the companys stock. Get Arista Networks alerts: Arista Networks Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of ANET opened at $286.57 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $262.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $223.49. The stock has a market cap of $89.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.62, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.10. Arista Networks, Inc. has a 52 week low of $131.68 and a 52 week high of $292.66. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Arista Networks ( NYSE:ANET Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 12th. The technology company reported $2.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.38. Arista Networks had a return on equity of 31.44% and a net margin of 35.62%. The firm had revenue of $1.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.53 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.25 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 20.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Arista Networks, Inc. will post 6.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on ANET shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Arista Networks from $274.00 to $313.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. KeyCorp raised their target price on Arista Networks from $232.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Arista Networks from $220.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Rosenblatt Securities boosted their target price on Arista Networks from $230.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Finally, Melius raised Arista Networks from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Arista Networks presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $271.38. Read Our Latest Research Report on Arista Networks Insider Activity In other Arista Networks news, CEO Jayshree Ullal sold 23,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $237.17, for a total transaction of $5,454,910.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,705,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $404,493,435. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Charles H. Giancarlo sold 2,000 shares of Arista Networks stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $230.28, for a total value of $460,560.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 64,946 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,955,764.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Jayshree Ullal sold 23,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $237.17, for a total value of $5,454,910.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,705,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $404,493,435. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 163,436 shares of company stock valued at $41,103,744 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 18.99% of the companys stock. Arista Networks Company Profile (Free Report) Arista Networks, Inc engages in the development, marketing, and sale of data-driven, client to cloud networking solutions for data center, campus, and routing environments in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. Its cloud networking solutions consist of Extensible Operating System (EOS), a publish-subscribe state-sharing networking operating system offered in combination with a set of network applications. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ANET? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Arista Networks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arista Networks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. raised its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report) by 6.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 14,297 shares of the restaurant operators stock after acquiring an additional 832 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. owned approximately 0.05% of Chipotle Mexican Grill worth $26,202,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of CMG. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 79.5% during the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 948 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,500,000 after acquiring an additional 420 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 15.5% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 171 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $271,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 7.3% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 3,032 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $4,796,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 777 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,229,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 38.9% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 218 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $345,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the period. 91.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,450.00 to $2,550.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Barclays boosted their target price 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 report on Wednesday, February 7th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,700.00 to $2,920.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,100.00 to $2,400.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,185.00 to $2,425.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Chipotle Mexican Grill presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $2,469.88. Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Performance CMG opened at $2,691.79 on Friday. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $1,502.25 and a fifty-two week high of $2,733.74. The company has a fifty day moving average of $2,463.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2,177.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $73.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 60.69, a PEG ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.29. 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, beating analysts consensus estimates of $9.73 by $0.63. The company had revenue of $2.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.49 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 12.45% and a return on equity of 44.41%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 15.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $8.29 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 53.07 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at Chipotle Mexican Grill In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, insider Roger E. Theodoredis sold 898 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,529 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,009,420.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Roger E. Theodoredis sold 898 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,622.25, for a total transaction of $2,354,780.50. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,009,420.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,996 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,399.91, for a total transaction of $4,790,220.36. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 22,447 shares in the company, valued at $53,870,779.77. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 4,744 shares of company stock worth $11,607,678 in the last ninety days. 0.96% of the stock is owned by insiders. Chipotle Mexican Grill Profile (Free Report) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. The company offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group lowered its position in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 6.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 453,208 shares of the companys stock after selling 32,706 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Groups holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $41,958,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 607,999 shares of the companys stock worth $56,289,000 after acquiring an additional 26,234 shares in the last quarter. Kelly Lawrence W & Associates Inc. CA acquired a new stake in Philip Morris International in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $126,000. London Co. of Virginia raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 52.2% in the third quarter. London Co. of Virginia now owns 3,110,353 shares of the companys stock valued at $287,956,000 after buying an additional 1,066,871 shares during the last quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Philip Morris International by 59.7% during the third quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 27,839 shares of the companys stock worth $2,577,000 after buying an additional 10,407 shares during the period. Finally, Truist Financial Corp increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 5.7% in the third 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 in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently commented on PM shares. Argus reiterated a hold rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday. Societe Generale upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 price target on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. They set a neutral rating and a $95.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, UBS Group downgraded Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and lowered their target price for the company from $105.00 to $86.50 in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Philip Morris International has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $105.40. Philip Morris International Stock Up 0.5 % Shares of PM stock opened at $91.51 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $92.01 and a 200-day moving average of $92.64. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 12-month low of $87.23 and a 12-month high of $101.92. The company has a market capitalization of $142.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.61. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.36 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.44 by ($0.08). Philip Morris International had a net margin of 8.53% and a negative return on equity of 116.29%. The company had revenue of $9.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.99 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.39 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 EPS for the current year. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 21st will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.68%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 20th. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is currently 103.59%. Philip Morris International Profile (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group reduced its position in shares of Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX Free Report) by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,226,935 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 22,089 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group owned about 0.62% of Ternium worth $48,955,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Ternium by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 25,570 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,020,000 after acquiring an additional 1,186 shares in the last quarter. PointState Capital LP acquired a new stake in shares of Ternium in the 3rd quarter worth $4,952,000. Caxton Associates LP boosted its position in shares of Ternium by 102.9% in the 3rd quarter. Caxton Associates LP now owns 41,406 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,652,000 after purchasing an additional 20,998 shares in the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Ternium by 430.7% in the 3rd quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 195,610 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $7,805,000 after purchasing an additional 158,751 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Trexquant Investment LP boosted its position in shares of Ternium by 148.4% in the 3rd quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 18,870 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $753,000 after purchasing an additional 11,274 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 12.07% of the companys stock. Get Ternium alerts: Ternium Trading Down 0.2 % TX opened at $39.27 on Friday. Ternium S.A. has a one year low of $35.22 and a one year high of $45.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.71 billion, a PE ratio of 11.42, a P/E/G ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.69. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $39.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $39.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 1.86 and a current ratio of 3.16. Ternium Increases Dividend Ternium ( NYSE:TX Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The basic materials company reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.79. The company had revenue of $4.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.94 billion. Ternium had a return on equity of 10.84% and a net margin of 3.84%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 39.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.20 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Ternium S.A. will post 8.1 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 3rd will be given a dividend of $2.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 2nd. This is a positive change from Terniums previous Semi-Annual dividend of $1.10. Terniums dividend payout ratio is currently 63.95%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages recently issued reports on TX. TheStreet upgraded Ternium from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, January 12th. Bank of America upgraded Ternium from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $47.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, November 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $49.83. Get Our Latest Analysis on Ternium About Ternium (Free Report) Ternium SA, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, processes, and sells various steel products in Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, the United States, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. It operates through two segments, Steel and Mining. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ternium Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ternium and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scotia Capital Inc. lowered its stake in Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY Free Report) by 4.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 58,726 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after selling 2,908 shares during the quarter. Scotia Capital Inc.s holdings in Occidental Petroleum were worth $3,810,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Occidental Petroleum during the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Financial Freedom LLC bought a new position in Occidental Petroleum during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in Occidental Petroleum during the 2nd quarter valued at about $44,000. Finally, First Pacific Financial bought a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the 3rd quarter worth about $45,000. 77.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Occidental Petroleum alerts: Insider Transactions at Occidental Petroleum In other Occidental Petroleum news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc purchased 1,743,124 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 21st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $60.26 per share, with a total value of $105,040,652.24. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 243,715,804 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,686,314,349.04. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Over the last three months, insiders have acquired 8,720,708 shares of company stock valued at $505,766,000. Corporate insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes OXY has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $59.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Wolfe Research cut shares of Occidental Petroleum from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Friday, November 10th. StockNews.com cut shares of Occidental Petroleum from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Raymond James lowered their price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $70.00 to $68.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of Occidental Petroleum from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $68.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, December 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Occidental Petroleum has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $70.06. Read Our Latest Research Report on Occidental Petroleum Occidental Petroleum Stock Up 0.3 % OXY stock opened at $61.04 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $53.68 billion, a PE ratio of 15.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.92. The firms fifty day moving average is $58.70 and its 200 day moving average is $60.89. Occidental Petroleum Co. has a one year low of $55.12 and a one year high of $67.67. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 15th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.74. The business had revenue of $7.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.93 billion. Occidental Petroleum had a net margin of 16.24% and a return on equity of 20.63%. The companys revenue was down 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.61 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Occidental Petroleum Co. will post 3.67 EPS for the current year. Occidental Petroleum Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a $0.22 dividend. This is an increase from Occidental Petroleums previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. Occidental Petroleums dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.41%. Occidental Petroleum Profile (Free Report) Occidental Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. It operates through three segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OXY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Occidental Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Occidental Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scotia Capital Inc. boosted its position in shares of Otis Worldwide Co. (NYSE:OTIS Free Report) by 1.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 49,863 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 488 shares during the period. Scotia Capital Inc.s holdings in Otis Worldwide were worth $4,005,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in OTIS. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Otis Worldwide by 141.1% in the 3rd quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 381 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares during the period. NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Otis Worldwide in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Otis Worldwide in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. CNB Bank raised its stake in shares of Otis Worldwide by 81.0% in the 3rd quarter. CNB Bank now owns 429 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 192 shares during the period. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO purchased a new stake in shares of Otis Worldwide in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. 85.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Otis Worldwide alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes OTIS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Otis Worldwide from $87.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Argus raised shares of Otis Worldwide from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $102.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Otis Worldwide in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Vertical Research downgraded shares of Otis Worldwide from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Otis Worldwide from $97.00 to $95.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $92.29. Otis Worldwide Stock Up 1.8 % NYSE OTIS opened at $96.91 on Friday. Otis Worldwide Co. has a 52 week low of $73.32 and a 52 week high of $97.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.29 billion, a PE ratio of 28.59 and a beta of 1.01. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $90.30 and a two-hundred day moving average of $85.56. Otis Worldwide (NYSE:OTIS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.02. Otis Worldwide had a net margin of 9.90% and a negative return on equity of 30.75%. The company had revenue of $3.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.57 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.75 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Otis Worldwide Co. will post 3.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Otis Worldwide Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 16th will be issued a $0.34 dividend. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 15th. Otis Worldwides payout ratio is 40.12%. Insider Activity In other news, insider Montlivault Stephane De sold 18,393 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.10, for a total value of $1,675,602.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 67,274 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,128,661.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, CEO Judith Fran Marks sold 37,312 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.83, for a total transaction of $3,426,360.96. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 192,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,660,653.77. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Montlivault Stephane De sold 18,393 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.10, for a total transaction of $1,675,602.30. Following the sale, the insider now owns 67,274 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,128,661.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock. Otis Worldwide Profile (Free Report) Otis Worldwide Corporation engages in manufacturing, installation, and servicing of elevators and escalators in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, New Equipment and Service. The New Equipment segment designs, manufactures, sells, and installs a range of passenger and freight elevators, as well as escalators and moving walkways for residential and commercial buildings, and infrastructure projects. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OTIS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Otis Worldwide Co. (NYSE:OTIS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Otis Worldwide Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Otis Worldwide and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scotia Capital Inc. lowered its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 85,534 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,560 shares during the quarter. Scotia Capital Inc.s holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,597,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Nemes Rush Group LLC boosted its position in Altria Group by 103.2% during the third quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 636 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 323 shares during the period. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the third quarter valued at about $31,000. Institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock. Get Altria Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have issued reports on MO. UBS Group restated a sell rating and set a $36.10 price target on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $47.22. Altria Group Stock Performance MO stock opened at $41.55 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $39.06 and a 52-week high of $48.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $73.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.09, a PEG ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.65. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $40.73 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.57. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 33.21% and a negative return on equity of 244.55%. The company had revenue of $5.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.06 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.18 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Altria Group Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Monday, March 25th will be issued a $0.98 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.43%. Altria Groups payout ratio is currently 85.78%. Altria Group announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Thursday, February 1st that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to purchase up to 1.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often an indication that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. About Altria Group (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB Free Report) by 3.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 262,981 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 8,391 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. owned about 0.19% of AvalonBay Communities worth $45,165,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. bought a new position in shares of AvalonBay Communities in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $3,058,000. Glenmede Trust Co. NA boosted its stake in AvalonBay Communities by 55.5% during the 3rd quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 2,890 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $496,000 after purchasing an additional 1,031 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in AvalonBay Communities by 77.9% during the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 6,274 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,076,000 after purchasing an additional 2,748 shares during the last quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC boosted its stake in AvalonBay Communities by 32.7% during the 3rd quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 33,114 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,687,000 after purchasing an additional 8,168 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gotham Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in AvalonBay Communities by 67.8% during the 3rd quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC now owns 11,959 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,054,000 after purchasing an additional 4,831 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.71% of the companys stock. Get AvalonBay Communities alerts: AvalonBay Communities Trading Up 0.4 % AVB opened at $185.03 on Friday. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a 12 month low of $153.07 and a 12 month high of $198.65. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $178.96 and a 200 day moving average of $177.13. The firm has a market cap of $26.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.25, a P/E/G ratio of 3.43 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. AvalonBay Communities Increases Dividend AvalonBay Communities ( NYSE:AVB Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($1.03). AvalonBay Communities had a net margin of 33.56% and a return on equity of 7.98%. The business had revenue of $704.71 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $701.67 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.59 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. will post 10.84 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 28th will be issued a $1.70 dividend. This is a positive change from AvalonBay Communitiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $6.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.68%. AvalonBay Communitiess payout ratio is presently 100.76%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have commented on AVB. KeyCorp reiterated a sector weight rating on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research note on Friday, January 5th. Barclays upgraded AvalonBay Communities from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the stock from $194.00 to $204.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $191.00 price target on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Wolfe Research downgraded AvalonBay Communities from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial downgraded AvalonBay Communities from a buy rating to a hold rating and raised their price target for the stock from $202.00 to $203.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $196.34. Get Our Latest Report on AvalonBay Communities AvalonBay Communities 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AVB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AvalonBay Communities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AvalonBay Communities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Seven Eight Capital LP acquired a new position in shares of BJs Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ Free Report) during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor acquired 14,216 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,015,000. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in BJs Wholesale Club during the first quarter worth $268,000. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in BJs Wholesale Club by 44.3% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 7,180 shares of the companys stock worth $487,000 after buying an additional 2,203 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its holdings in BJs Wholesale Club by 104.7% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 10,961 shares of the companys stock worth $741,000 after buying an additional 5,607 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in BJs Wholesale Club by 7.4% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 12,440 shares of the companys stock worth $843,000 after buying an additional 862 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can boosted its holdings in BJs Wholesale Club by 7.7% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 74,006 shares of the companys stock worth $5,143,000 after buying an additional 5,272 shares in the last quarter. 98.60% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get BJ's Wholesale Club alerts: BJs Wholesale Club Price Performance BJs Wholesale Club stock opened at $78.88 on Friday. BJs Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. has a 12-month low of $60.33 and a 12-month high of $78.97. The stock has a market cap of $10.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.09, a PEG ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $67.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $67.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Insider Buying and Selling Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth In other BJs Wholesale Club news, SVP Joseph Mcgrail sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.87, for a total transaction of $65,870.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 10,464 shares of the companys stock, valued at $689,263.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link . 2.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders. A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of BJs Wholesale Club from $74.00 to $72.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 20th. Gordon Haskett downgraded shares of BJs Wholesale Club from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $70.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $70.00 price objective (down from $73.00) on shares of BJs Wholesale Club in a report on Thursday, January 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of BJs Wholesale Club from $58.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on shares of BJs Wholesale Club from $68.00 to $64.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $73.63. View Our Latest Research Report on BJs Wholesale Club 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BJs Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BJ's Wholesale Club Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BJ's Wholesale Club and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 8. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev familiarized with the presentation of investment projects planned for implementation in the Khorezm region on February 29, Trend reports referring to the press service of the head of state. Dozens of projects in such sectors as machine building, urban development, chemistry, textile production, construction materials, medicine, food industry are being formed for the region together with foreign investors. At the presentation, information was presented on 18 projects with a total value of more than $660 million; in general, a package of investment projects worth $1.5 billion was formed for the region. In particular, projects are being developed to produce electric trucks, nickel sulfate for batteries, architectural glass, glass containers, construction materials, paint and fabrics. The head of state talked to the initiators of these projects - foreign investors and local entrepreneurs. The economic efficiency of the projects was discussed, instructions were given to speed them up and create additional conditions for entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan plans to build a gas chemical complex in Khorezm region. Implementation of this project will give a new impetus to the development of the gas chemical industry and will become one of the important industrial facilities within the strategy of New Uzbekistan. Sibanye Stillwater Limited (NYSE:SBSW Get Free Report) shares saw an uptick in trading volume on Wednesday . 2,691,146 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 43% from the previous sessions volume of 4,691,297 shares.The stock last traded at $4.21 and had previously closed at $3.93. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on SBSW. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Sibanye Stillwater from $6.00 to $5.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 1st. BMO Capital Markets downgraded Sibanye Stillwater from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $11.00 to $6.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 5th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Sibanye Stillwater presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $6.00. Get Sibanye Stillwater alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on SBSW Sibanye Stillwater Stock Performance Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sibanye Stillwater The companys fifty day moving average is $4.66 and its 200 day moving average is $5.23. The company has a current ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 1.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SBSW. QRG Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Sibanye Stillwater during the 3rd quarter valued at about $110,000. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Sibanye Stillwater by 14.8% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,240,509 shares of the companys stock worth $26,164,000 after acquiring an additional 547,117 shares during the period. Trexquant Investment LP raised its position in shares of Sibanye Stillwater by 2,332.6% in the 3rd quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 505,369 shares of the companys stock worth $3,118,000 after acquiring an additional 484,594 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Sibanye Stillwater by 32.9% in the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 5,031,600 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,045,000 after purchasing an additional 1,244,715 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James & Associates boosted its position in shares of Sibanye Stillwater by 19.4% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 1,943,550 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,992,000 after purchasing an additional 315,299 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 7.99% of the companys stock. About Sibanye Stillwater (Get Free Report) Sibanye Stillwater Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a precious metals mining company in South Africa, the United States, Europe, and Australia. The company produces gold; platinum group metals (PGMs), including palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium, and ruthenium; chrome; nickel; and silver, cobalt, and copper. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sibanye Stillwater Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sibanye Stillwater and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SPR Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Friday . The stock traded as high as $36.17 and last traded at $36.12, with a volume of 270130 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $35.70. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have recently weighed in on SPR. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Spirit AeroSystems from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their target price for the company from $27.00 to $35.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Robert W. Baird raised shares of Spirit AeroSystems from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and upped their price target for the company from $30.00 to $36.00 in a report on Thursday, November 30th. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Spirit AeroSystems in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. They issued a buy rating and a $39.00 price target on the stock. Wolfe Research raised shares of Spirit AeroSystems from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $34.00 price target on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Spirit AeroSystems from $26.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $30.72. Get Spirit AeroSystems alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on SPR Spirit AeroSystems Price Performance The stocks fifty day moving average is $29.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.93. Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE:SPR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The aerospace company reported $0.48 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by ($0.84). The company had revenue of $1.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.74 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted ($1.46) earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 37.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. will post 0.48 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Trading of Spirit AeroSystems Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Aigen Investment Management LP bought a new position in Spirit AeroSystems in the 3rd quarter valued at about $294,000. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. grew its position in Spirit AeroSystems by 83.4% in the 3rd quarter. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. now owns 70,589 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,139,000 after buying an additional 32,110 shares in the last quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC grew its position in Spirit AeroSystems by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC now owns 33,740 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $545,000 after buying an additional 2,043 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Spirit AeroSystems by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 762,637 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $12,309,000 after buying an additional 20,317 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. bought a new position in Spirit AeroSystems in the 3rd quarter valued at about $22,186,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.05% of the companys stock. Spirit AeroSystems Company Profile (Get Free Report) Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc engages in the design, engineering, manufacture, and marketing of commercial aerostructures worldwide. It operates through three segments: Commercial, Defense & Space, and Aftermarket. The Commercial segment offers forward, mid, and rear fuselage sections and systems, floor beams, nacelles, struts/pylons, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, flaps and slats flight control surfaces, wing structures, and wing systems. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Spirit AeroSystems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Spirit AeroSystems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:BYLD Free Report) by 103.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,250 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 5,200 shares during the quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF were worth $219,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 10,386 shares of the companys stock worth $229,000 after purchasing an additional 612 shares in the last quarter. Asset Management Group Inc. grew its position in iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Asset Management Group Inc. now owns 61,543 shares of the companys stock worth $1,350,000 after purchasing an additional 631 shares during the last quarter. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC now owns 40,116 shares of the companys stock valued at $857,000 after purchasing an additional 747 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its stake in shares of iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF by 3.4% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 47,138 shares of the companys stock worth $1,039,000 after buying an additional 1,564 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Group AG raised its stake in iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF by 269.1% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,901 shares of the companys stock worth $68,000 after acquiring an additional 2,115 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF alerts: iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF Stock Performance BYLD traded up $0.06 on Friday, reaching $22.39. 8,471 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 71,651. The companys 50-day moving average price is $22.27 and its 200 day moving average price is $21.85. iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF has a fifty-two week low of $20.90 and a fifty-two week high of $22.57. About iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF The iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF (BYLD) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund is a fund-of-funds that tracks a broad index of debt securities optimized for yield and mean variance. BYLD was launched on Apr 22, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BYLD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:BYLD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. trimmed its position in shares of The Allstate Co. (NYSE:ALL Free Report) by 31.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 180,019 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 81,900 shares during the period. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. owned approximately 0.07% of Allstate worth $20,056,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Apollon Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Allstate by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,214 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $436,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Carmel Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in Allstate by 19.2% during the 3rd quarter. Carmel Capital Partners LLC now owns 516 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $57,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC lifted its position in Allstate by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 11,320 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,261,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Busey Trust CO lifted its position in Allstate by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Busey Trust CO now owns 2,633 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $293,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ziegler Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Allstate by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Ziegler Capital Management LLC now owns 24,761 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,759,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the last quarter. 77.23% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Allstate alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Allstate news, CAO John C. Pintozzi sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.47, for a total value of $637,880.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 10,736 shares in the company, valued at $1,712,069.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.70% of the companys stock. Allstate Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of NYSE ALL opened at $156.69 on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $155.33 and its 200 day simple moving average is $134.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.37 and a quick ratio of 0.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $41.22 billion, a P/E ratio of -126.36, a P/E/G ratio of 0.42 and a beta of 0.51. The Allstate Co. has a fifty-two week low of $100.57 and a fifty-two week high of $168.05. Allstate (NYSE:ALL Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The insurance provider reported $5.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.87 by $1.95. The company had revenue of $14.83 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.69 billion. Allstate had a negative net margin of 0.33% and a positive return on equity of 2.67%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted ($1.36) earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that The Allstate Co. will post 12.97 EPS for the current year. Allstate Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be issued a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 1st. This is a positive change from Allstates previous quarterly dividend of $0.89. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.35%. Allstates dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -296.77%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Allstate from $112.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on shares of Allstate from $171.00 to $181.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. TheStreet raised shares of Allstate from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Allstate from $141.00 to $164.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Allstate from $164.00 to $172.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $159.12. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Allstate Allstate Company Profile (Free Report) The Allstate Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides property and casualty, and other insurance products in the United States and Canada. The company operates through Allstate Protection; Protection Services; Allstate Health and Benefits; and Run-off Property-Liability segments. The Allstate Protection segment offers private passenger auto and homeowners insurance; other personal lines products; and commercial lines products under the Allstate and Encompass brand names. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Allstate Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Allstate and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $97.06 and last traded at $96.93, with a volume of 395576 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $95.84. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have weighed in on HIG shares. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $100.00 to $107.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. TD Cowen started coverage on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued an outperform rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $77.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $97.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $90.60. Get The Hartford Financial Services Group alerts: Read Our Latest Report on HIG The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Down 0.4 % The firm has a market cap of $28.86 billion, a PE ratio of 12.15, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.88. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $88.55 and its 200 day moving average price is $79.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The insurance provider reported $3.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.44 by $0.62. The firm had revenue of $6.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.84 billion. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a net margin of 10.21% and a return on equity of 19.82%. The Hartford Financial Services Groups quarterly revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.31 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 9.94 earnings per share for the current year. The Hartford Financial Services Group Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be issued a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 1st. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.94%. The Hartford Financial Services Groups payout ratio is 23.53%. Insider Buying and Selling at The Hartford Financial Services Group In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 8,206 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.60, for a total value of $784,493.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 25,820 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,468,392. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Christopher Swift sold 53,596 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 170,180 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,653,541.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 8,206 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.60, for a total transaction of $784,493.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 25,820 shares in the company, valued at $2,468,392. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 332,967 shares of company stock worth $28,667,758 in the last ninety days. 1.80% of the stock is owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On The Hartford Financial Services Group Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Richardson Financial Services Inc. purchased a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $177,000. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. increased its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 128,145 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $10,300,000 after buying an additional 4,574 shares during the period. Syon Capital LLC purchased a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $209,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 77.1% during the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,050 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $84,000 after buying an additional 457 shares during the period. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC increased its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 24.9% during the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 6,971 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $560,000 after buying an additional 1,388 shares during the period. 90.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company cut its stake in shares of Fortis Inc. (NYSE:FTS Free Report) by 40.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,131,323 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 1,476,482 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company owned about 0.44% of Fortis worth $81,532,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in FTS. IFP Advisors Inc raised its stake in Fortis by 78.7% during the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 888 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 391 shares during the last quarter. Power Corp of Canada purchased a new stake in Fortis during the 1st quarter valued at $31,000. Rational Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Fortis during the 3rd quarter valued at $41,000. Macquarie Group Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Fortis during the 4th quarter valued at $61,000. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Fortis during the 3rd quarter valued at $96,000. 50.18% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Fortis alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Fortis from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Fortis presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $55.13. Fortis Trading Up 2.1 % Shares of Fortis stock opened at $40.27 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $19.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.67. The company has a fifty day moving average of $39.97 and a 200 day moving average of $40.06. Fortis Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $36.30 and a fifty-two week high of $46.28. Fortis (NYSE:FTS Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.52 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $2.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.39 billion. Fortis had a net margin of 13.22% and a return on equity of 7.00%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.53 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Fortis Inc. will post 2.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Fortis Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 17th will be issued a $0.4382 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 16th. This represents a $1.75 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.35%. This is an increase from Fortiss previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. Fortiss dividend payout ratio is currently 76.09%. About Fortis (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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Fortis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Townsquare Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA Free Report) by 0.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 25,439 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the quarter. Townsquare Capital LLCs holdings in Snap-on were worth $6,488,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Snap-on by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. now owns 1,131 shares of the companys stock worth $288,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Phoenix Wealth Advisors boosted its stake in shares of Snap-on by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Phoenix Wealth Advisors now owns 1,309 shares of the companys stock worth $334,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Snap-on by 16.6% during the 2nd quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 288 shares of the companys stock worth $20,236,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Balentine LLC boosted its stake in shares of Snap-on by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Balentine LLC now owns 1,004 shares of the companys stock worth $289,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Snap-on by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,586 shares of the companys stock worth $392,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.90% of the companys stock. Get Snap-on alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Snap-on In other Snap-on news, CFO Aldo John Pagliari sold 6,769 shares of Snap-on stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.68, for a total value of $1,899,922.92. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 90,119 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,294,600.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Anup R. Banerjee sold 12,397 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $283.13, for a total value of $3,509,962.61. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 11,420 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,233,344.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Aldo John Pagliari sold 6,769 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.68, for a total transaction of $1,899,922.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 90,119 shares in the company, valued at $25,294,600.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 74,055 shares of company stock worth $21,106,638. Insiders own 4.20% of the companys stock. Snap-on Stock Performance Shares of NYSE SNA opened at $296.02 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 2.81 and a current ratio of 3.88. The company has a market cap of $15.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.98. The firms fifty day moving average is $281.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $272.12. Snap-on Incorporated has a 52-week low of $226.68 and a 52-week high of $297.26. Snap-on (NYSE:SNA Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $4.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.66 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $1.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.20 billion. Snap-on had a net margin of 21.38% and a return on equity of 20.89%. Snap-ons revenue for the quarter was up 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.42 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Snap-on Incorporated will post 19.16 EPS for the current fiscal year. Snap-on Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be issued a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 23rd. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.51%. Snap-ons dividend payout ratio is currently 39.68%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently weighed in on SNA. Tigress Financial restated a buy rating and set a $336.00 target price on shares of Snap-on in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Barrington Research restated an outperform rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of Snap-on in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Snap-on has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $306.00. Read Our Latest Report on Snap-on Snap-on Company Profile (Free Report) Snap-on Incorporated manufactures and markets tools, equipment, diagnostics, and repair information and systems solutions for professional users worldwide. It operates through Commercial & Industrial Group, Snap-on Tools Group, Repair Systems & Information Group, and Financial Services segments. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SNA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Snap-on Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Snap-on and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE:UNFI Get Free Report) dropped 7.5% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $13.72 and last traded at $13.76. Approximately 193,841 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 65% from the average daily volume of 551,649 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.87. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently commented on UNFI. UBS Group boosted their price target on United Natural Foods from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Roth Mkm reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $13.00 target price (down from $15.00) on shares of United Natural Foods in a report on Thursday. StockNews.com raised shares of United Natural Foods from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of United Natural Foods from $15.00 to $13.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of United Natural Foods from $15.00 to $12.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Natural Foods presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $17.00. Get United Natural Foods alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on UNFI United Natural Foods Stock Performance The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. The companys fifty day moving average price is $15.46 and its 200-day moving average price is $15.98. United Natural Foods (NYSE:UNFI Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, March 6th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by $0.09. The company had revenue of $7.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.87 billion. United Natural Foods had a negative net margin of 0.38% and a positive return on equity of 1.20%. United Natural Foodss revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.78 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that United Natural Foods, Inc. will post -0.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Natural Foods A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNFI. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of United Natural Foods by 1.1% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 9,866,409 shares of the companys stock worth $259,980,000 after acquiring an additional 108,806 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in United Natural Foods by 3.9% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,434,767 shares of the companys stock worth $105,128,000 after purchasing an additional 277,636 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of United Natural Foods by 2.6% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,320,414 shares of the companys stock worth $61,143,000 after buying an additional 58,583 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of United Natural Foods by 10.9% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,040,105 shares of the companys stock worth $28,847,000 after buying an additional 199,757 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC grew its holdings in United Natural Foods by 11.7% during the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,757,314 shares of the companys stock worth $46,305,000 after acquiring an additional 183,534 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.85% of the companys stock. About United Natural Foods (Get Free Report) United Natural Foods, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce, and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. It operates in two segments, Wholesale and Retail. The company offers grocery and general merchandise, produce, perishables and frozen foods, wellness and personal care items, and bulk and foodservice products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for United Natural Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Natural Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE Get Free Report) have earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the eleven brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $16.98. A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on VALE shares. StockNews.com upgraded Vale from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $19.00 target price on shares of Vale in a report on Monday, February 12th. Bank of America upgraded Vale from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $20.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, November 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Vale from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $18.00 to $17.00 in a report on Thursday, November 16th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on Vale from $16.00 to $15.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Get Vale alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on Vale Institutional Trading of Vale Vale Stock Up 0.1 % Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD boosted its position in Vale by 1.7% during the third quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD now owns 9,254,277 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $124,007,000 after purchasing an additional 150,918 shares during the last quarter. Hartree Partners LP acquired a new stake in shares of Vale in the second quarter worth about $9,770,000. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its position in shares of Vale by 4.5% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 6,724,828 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $90,112,000 after buying an additional 289,495 shares during the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. lifted its position in shares of Vale by 11.5% in the third quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 1,187,208 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $15,909,000 after buying an additional 122,217 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D lifted its position in shares of Vale by 6.0% in the third quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 857,900 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $11,496,000 after buying an additional 48,878 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.90% of the companys stock. VALE opened at $13.49 on Friday. Vale has a one year low of $12.22 and a one year high of $16.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.28. The stocks fifty day moving average is $13.98 and its 200-day moving average is $14.04. The company has a market capitalization of $60.45 billion, a PE ratio of 7.37 and a beta of 0.98. Vale (NYSE:VALE Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The basic materials company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.04 by ($0.48). Vale had a return on equity of 20.00% and a net margin of 19.10%. The firm had revenue of $13.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.95 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.82 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Vale will post 2.6 EPS for the current fiscal year. Vale Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 13th will be given a dividend of $0.3182 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 12th. This represents a yield of 9.7%. Vales payout ratio is 54.10%. About Vale (Get Free Report Vale SA, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells iron ore and iron ore pellets for use as raw materials in steelmaking in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through Iron Solutions and Energy Transition Materials segments. The Iron Solutions segment produces and extracts iron ore and pellets, manganese, and other ferrous products; and provides related logistic services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Vale Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vale and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL Free Report) by 99.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 255 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 220,824 shares during the quarter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLCs holdings in Markel Group were worth $375,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV boosted its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 5,374 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $7,913,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. Toroso Investments LLC boosted its position in Markel Group by 187.3% during the third quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 497 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $732,000 after buying an additional 324 shares during the period. iA Global Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the third quarter valued at about $125,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its position in Markel Group by 0.4% during the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 14,592 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $21,487,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the third quarter valued at about $268,000. 76.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Markel Group alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $1,475.00 price target on shares of Markel Group in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Markel Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price target for the company from $1,680.00 to $1,500.00 in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Markel Group in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. They set a sell rating and a $1,275.00 price target for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Markel Group currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $1,412.50. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $1,414.74 per share, for a total transaction of $141,474.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 45,039 shares of the companys stock, valued at $63,718,474.86. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $1,414.74 per share, for a total transaction of $141,474.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 45,039 shares of the companys stock, valued at $63,718,474.86. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director A. Lynne Puckett acquired 72 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were bought at an average price of $1,409.28 per share, with a total value of $101,468.16. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 960 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,352,908.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 1.75% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Markel Group Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of MKL opened at $1,500.27 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.21 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,450.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $1,445.23. Markel Group Inc. has a twelve month low of $1,186.56 and a twelve month high of $1,560.00. Markel Group (NYSE:MKL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The insurance provider reported $56.48 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $23.58 by $32.90. Markel Group had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 12.63%. The company had revenue of $3.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.75 billion. On average, research analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 82.95 EPS for the current year. About Markel Group (Free Report) Markel Group Inc, a diverse holding company, engages in marketing and underwriting specialty insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The company offers general and professional liability, personal lines, marine and energy, specialty programs, and workers' compensation insurance products; and property coverages that include fire, allied lines, and other specialized property coverages, including catastrophe-exposed property risks, such as earthquake and wind. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Markel Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Markel Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XTWO 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 7,874 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $385,000. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.42% of BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of XTWO. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 189.5% during the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 579 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $68,000. Richard P Slaughter Associates Inc acquired a new stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $242,000. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $301,000. Finally, Citadel Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $414,000. Get BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF alerts: BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of XTWO stock opened at $49.08 on Friday. BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF has a one year low of $48.61 and a one year high of $50.28. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $49.25 and its 200 day simple moving average is $49.08. About BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF The Bondbloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XTWO) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is passively managed to invest in a portfolio of US Treasury securities with a target duration of two years. XTWO was launched on Sep 13, 2022 and is managed by BondBloxx. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg Two Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group reduced its holdings in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM Free Report) by 13.7% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 369,812 shares of the restaurant operators stock after selling 58,537 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Groups holdings in Yum! Brands were worth $46,204,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Yum! Brands by 16.8% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 24,692,484 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $3,421,144,000 after buying an additional 3,549,709 shares during the period. Capital International Investors raised its holdings in Yum! Brands by 20.1% during the second quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 13,169,962 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,824,305,000 after purchasing an additional 2,207,942 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors raised its holdings in Yum! Brands by 3.7% during the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 13,112,434 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,816,672,000 after purchasing an additional 468,081 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Yum! Brands by 4.6% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 11,490,727 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,592,040,000 after purchasing an additional 507,054 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Yum! Brands by 3.2% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,136,277 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $848,921,000 after purchasing an additional 188,878 shares during the last quarter. 80.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Yum! Brands alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have weighed in on YUM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Yum! Brands from $130.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. TD Cowen raised their price target on Yum! Brands from $144.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $135.00 price objective on shares of Yum! Brands in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Yum! Brands from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $150.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Guggenheim lifted their price objective on Yum! Brands from $145.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Yum! Brands presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $144.94. Yum! Brands Stock Performance Shares of YUM stock opened at $140.38 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $39.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.10. The companys 50 day moving average price is $132.19 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $127.98. Yum! Brands, Inc. has a 52 week low of $115.53 and a 52 week high of $143.24. Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The restaurant operator reported $1.26 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.39 by ($0.13). Yum! Brands had a net margin of 22.57% and a negative return on equity of 17.76%. The firm had revenue of $2.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.31 earnings per share. Yum! Brandss quarterly revenue was up .8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Yum! Brands, Inc. will post 5.73 earnings per share for the current year. Yum! Brands Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 21st will be paid a $0.67 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 20th. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.91%. This is an increase from Yum! Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. Yum! Brandss dividend payout ratio is currently 47.94%. Insider Activity In other Yum! Brands news, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total transaction of $1,285,799.97. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 18,661 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,419,025.43. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,756 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.21, for a total transaction of $485,312.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 57,325 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,406,963.25. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total value of $1,285,799.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 18,661 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,419,025.43. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 17,467 shares of company stock valued at $2,264,717 over the last quarter. 0.31% of the stock is owned by company insiders. 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding YUM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Yum! Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Yum! Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. If this isnt a tale for International Womens Day, we dont know what is! Today, Breguet is revealing a brand-new Reine de Naples 8918 timepiece in a delicate shade of mint green to celebrate International Womens Day 2024 and to share the story of one of Breguets most famous female collectors Caroline Murat, The Queen of Naples. Reine de Naples 8918 Breguet From the pocket to the wrist This model first made an appearance on the wrist of the Queen, who was also Napoleon Bonapartes youngest sister, in the year 1812. Apart from the fact that she was part of the nobility of her day, this snippet of history could easily be overlooked, only for one fact, no one was wearing watches on their wrist in 1812. It was either pocket watches for the gentlemen or timepieces worn on a chain around the waist or neck for the ladies. The worlds first wristwatch The Queen of Naples, was an avid collector, especially of Breguet timepieces, and according to the brands archives, she acquired no less than 34 clocks and watches from Abraham-Louis Breguet from 1808 to 1814. In 1810, while the rest of high society was wearing timepieces on a chain, she put in an order for an ultra-thin repeating watch, oblong in shape, equipped with a thermometer, and mounted on a wristlet of hair entwined with gold thread (the handwritten entry still exists in Breguets archives in Paris). A woman with numerous passions She would go on to order a further dozen watches for herself and others over her lifetime, attesting to her love for horology. In addition to her passion for watches, she was a woman of great intelligence and literary and artistic culture. She also knew how to use her position and wealth to help others, becoming interested in economic, social, and educational issues, creating schools for young girls, and reforming coral factories. She is also credited with encouraging archaeological digs at Pompeii, showing her interest in the past as well as the future. The brand-new Reine de Naples 8918 To celebrate the woman behind the name of the Reine de Naples collection, this new 18-karat white gold Reine de Naples 8918 is an ode to femininity and the women who have marked Breguets history. After models in pink, grey, and white, this is the first time that an edition has been made in mint green. This delicate hue, which is often referred to as the colour of hope, adorns the large Arabic numerals in two superimposed shades that perfectly match the colour of the alligator bracelet. Reine de Naples 8918 Breguet All the details The dial comes in white mother-of-pearl and is adorned with a snow setting of 121 diamonds in the centre, 117 brilliant-cut diamonds on the inner and outer bezel, 28 brilliant-cut diamonds on the buckle, and a large briolette-shaped diamond in the crown at four oclock. For the movement, Breguet has called upon its automatic Calibre 537/3, equipped with a silicium hairspring and escapement that are both resistant to wear and tear and remain unaffected by magnetism. The movement is fitted with a beautifully decorated platinum rotor that can be admired via the open case back. Giving her name to this iconic Breguet model, the legend of the Queen of Naples lives on in this elegant timepiece and on this very special day that celebrates women of all eras. 1 held with IEDs, Moreh tragedy averted | OSR/Correspondent IMP/Moreh, Mar 8 : A major tragedy was averted at Moreh today with the arrest of one person along with two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from his possession.The person arrested has been identified as Sholen Haokip alias Lelin, s/o Helmang Haokip and he is a resident of Mission Veng, Moreh.He was found carrying two battery-fitted IEDs in his backpack by a combined team of 5 Assam Rifles and Moreh police from along Moreh bypass road near Chikim village at around 8 am.It is reported that Sholen Haokip was arrested by the security forces during the follow up actions of the case pertaining to the assault of the two Muslim men by Kuki militants at Moreh yesterdaySholen Haokip has been handed over to Moreh police station along with the seized explosives.Meanwhile, the Tata tipper truck captured by Kuki militants yesterday from the two Muslim men at Moreh was found set on fire at a particular place along the bypass road of the border town. Moreh has been witnessing fierce attacks on security forces and civilians alike since the violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 last year and one of the high profile cases which took place at the border town was the killing of Moreh SDPO and the gunning down of two IRB personnel.While Moreh SDPO Chingtham Anand Singh was shot dead at Moreh on October 31, 2023, two other State security personnel were gunned down at the border town on January 17, 2024. Today Sunny with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 68F. WNW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Tonight Clear skies. Low near 35F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow Plentiful sunshine. High 64F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Ukrainian TV presenter and actress Stasia Rovinska has relatives who live in the temporarily occupied Nova Kakhovka and are waiting for liberation. Talking about them brings tears to the star, who lives in the United States. ADVERTISIMENT It is noteworthy that Rovinska's mother, the traitorous host Snizhana Yegorova, knows about the plight of her family, but does not help them in any way. Her daughter let her emotions flow in an interview with Anna Olytska on YouTube. "I would really like to see my family. With my dad, with my grandmother. She's old, she calls me every time and cries... We miss our family very much. By the way, it is interesting that most of my relatives on my mother's side are under occupation in Kakhovka," Stasia Rovinska admitted with tears in her eyes. It was in a Ukrainian resort town that the star's grandmother and Yegorova herself was born. Ukrainians condemn the Russian invasion and are having a hard time with the occupation while their relative supports the terrorist war. ADVERTISIMENT "It's all very complicated. They are old. We rarely have contact with them. They don't support Russian aggression, no one wants to be Russia that's propaganda. These are my grandmother's sisters, my cousins, my sisters," the host said. She also denied that Snizhana Yegorova's rhetoric on the war had become "calmer." The artist called her mother's loyalty to Russia "sur". As you know, Stasia Rovinska cut ties with the Putinist, who did not even support her family during the bombing of Ukraine. The presenter also tearfully recalled that her mother used to beat her as a child. Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that before the full-scale invasion, Snizhana Yegorova publicly stated that she supported Vladimir Putin. After February 24, 2022, things only got worse. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! 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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 According to Chinese astrology, March is supposed to be a lucky month. The Year of the Dragon has fully come into its own and brought with it an active energy of development. ADVERTISIMENT It will bring the most luck to representatives of the five eastern zodiac signs, and astrologers have already listed them all. Find out if you are the lucky one this month. Ox You will make significant progress at work. What has been moving so slowly lately will finally bear tangible fruit. First of all, you can count on a decent financial reward for your efforts. Your family will show you support and you will find the best vacation in the circle of your relatives. Serenity and tranquility will reign at home all month long. Tiger You'll be winning the competition at work all year long, but the second half of March will be a particularly successful period. You will get the results you want and your financial situation will improve significantly. Take advantage of this moment to better understand the importance of saving money. You are advised to stay away from negative people as they can have a bad influence on your work. ADVERTISIMENT Goat March will be a calm month you'll be able to maintain your balance even in rather difficult circumstances. And your attitude will change everything for the better. Seek a promotion or a raise in salary now is the time to do it. Spend quiet evenings with your family, it will energize not only you but also your loved ones. Treat yourself to flowers or other small gifts, because you fully deserve them. Rooster Your innate courage this month will push you to try new creative things. Your energy level will be high and you will want to make changes start implementing them. It will also be a good time in terms of finances. You will get good job opportunities or career advancement. But don't risk investing now. Instead, invest in your relationships. You will be able to significantly strengthen them or meet your soul mate. ADVERTISIMENT Dog A deep spiritual transformation awaits you. It can happen through a trip to some impressive place, so don't turn down travel offers, even small ones. Patience and loyalty are the qualities that will help them succeed in March. Financial success can come this month along with relationship success. But try to avoid disputes with your loved ones, instead, be honest and frank with them. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. After getting custody of Sheikh Shahjahan, the CBI sleuths are now mulling legal options on how to transfer the suspended Trinamul Congress leader to New Delhi. Sources said the central agency is planning to adopt the same strategy that was adopted in the case of TMC leader Anubrata Mondal, currently in judicial custody in Tihar Jail, in connection with the cattle smuggling case. At that time, all the cases against Mondal were first transferred from a special CBI court at Asansol in West Bengal to the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi. Advertisement Thereafter, Mondal was transferred from the correctional home at Asansol to Tihar Jail in New Delhi. Sources said that with the same strategy in mind, the CBI has given the charge of investigation in the cases against Sheikh Shahjahan to its deputy superintendent Susanta Bhattacharya. He was the man who successfully carried out the investigation against Mondal in the school job case. Meanwhile, Sheikh Shahjahan spent a sleepless night in CBI custody, constantly sitting on a bench in the room, where he has been housed at the agencys Nizam Palace office in central Kolkata. After being handed over to the CBI by the CID on Wednesday evening, he was first taken to a central government-run ESI Hospital for a medical check-up and then to the Nizam Palace. Sources said he was questioned by the CBI for over an hour and then was given dinner. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has submitted two FIRs filed against Trinamul Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan at the Basirhat Sub-Divisional Court in West Bengals North 24-Parganas district in connection with the 5 January attack on ED and CAPF personnel in Sandeshkhali. A CBI team today conducted raids at the former residence at Sarberia and also visited Basirhat police station to take custody of the documents related to the 5 January case, allegedly filed by the officers of the said police station suo-motu. Meanwhile, ED deputy director, who was assaulted on 5 January during raids at Sarberia, Sandeshkhali, today visited Nizam Palace, the CBI office in Kolkata and was huddled with officers of the CBI and exchanged information related to its raids on the fateful day and the alleged seizures that the ED had made aftermath following raids after the alleged fiasco. Advertisement A source in the know claimed that sleuths were examining closely the call detail records (CDR) of Shahjahans phone to see how many calls and to whom he had made that day. The ED officers had claimed that calls made to Shahjahan on the day of the raid had indicated his alleged location at his home. The development on Thursday is important because after a high-drama the CBI sleuths ultimately got the physical custody of Shahjahan from the CID-West Bengal on Wednesday evening. The prompt submission of the FIRs at the district court, sources said, is a clear indication that the CBI sleuths want to act very fast in its investigation in the matter without wasting a single day. At the same time, since Shahjahan has to be presented at the same district court at the end of his current custody, the CBI sleuths followed the protocol of submitting the copies of the FIRs registered by them in the matter to the same court. The CBI has filed a total of three FIRs in the two cases of attacks on ED and CAPF officials. Out of the three FIRs, one is against Shahjahan. The other FIRs are against another Trinamul Congress leader from Bongaon, Shankar Adhya, who is already in judicial custody in connection with the ration distribution case. On the night of 5 January, while the ED sleuths were taking away Adhya from his residence at Bangaon after arresting him, the latters followers attacked the ED sleuths and also made an attempt to prevent them from taking him. Both Adhya and Shahjahan are known to be close associates of former food & supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who is also in judicial custody in the ration distribution case. In a move that reverberates across the geopolitical chessboard, India has inaugurated a new naval base on Minicoy Island in Lakshwadeep, near the Maldives. Tensions with Male and a growing rivalry with Beijing for regional influence have undoubtedly shaped this strategic decision, reflecting the power dynamics in the Indian Ocean. The opening of INS Jatayu on Minicoy Island, the furthest western base for India, sends a clear signal about the countrys commitment to safeguarding its maritime interests. The Maldives, traditionally aligned with India, finds itself at the heart of this strategic chess game. The proximity of the new base, just 125 km from the Maldives, underscores Indias intent to secure the vital passage of maritime traffic in the Indian Ocean. The timing of this move is particularly sensitive, coinciding with the Maldives call for the withdrawal of Indian troops stationed in the country. New Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, elected in October, has signalled a shift in the Maldives foreign policy, away from New Delhi and towards Beijing. The recent military assistance agreement with China has raised eyebrows, marking a departure from the traditional pro-India stance. Indias response to this geopolitical realignment has been twofold. First, the opening of the naval base on Minicoy Island bolsters its presence in the Lakshadweep archipelago, providing a strategic vantage point for surveillance and operational reach in the region. This move aligns with Indias overarching strategy of securing its maritime interests and ensuring free navigation through the Indian Ocean. Secondly, the decision to replace Indian military personnel in the Maldives with civilians reflects a diplomatic compromise. President Muizzus concern over the Indian troop presence has been acknowledged by New Delhi, and the process of transitioning control to Indian civilians is underway. This move signifies a delicate attempt to maintain cordial relations with Male while safeguarding Indias strategic interests in the region. The commissioning of a new squadron of American MH-60R Seahawk choppers in Kochi adds another layer to Indias maritime capabilities. This squadron is expected to enhance maritime surveillance and antisubmarine warfare capabilities, further solidifying Indias position as a key player in the Indian Ocean. As the global power play unfolds, it is crucial to recognise the delicate balance India must maintain. The shifting alliances and the strategic manoeuvring in the Indian Ocean underscore the complexity of geopolitical dynamics. Advertisement The opening of the naval base is not merely a show of strength but a calculated response to safeguard Indias interests amidst changing geopolitical currents. In navigating these turbulent waters, India must tread carefully, balancing diplomatic finesse with strategic assertiveness. The evolving situation in the Maldives underscores the need for flexible and nuanced foreign policy, acknowledging the realities of a multipolar world. As the news of Indias new naval base echoes across international headlines, it serves as a stark reminder that the geopolitics of the Indian Ocean are undergoing a profound transformation, with India at the helm of strategic recalibration. Former judge of the Calcutta High Court, Abhijit Gangopadhyay after officially joining the BJP on Thursday, said that his prime aim was to fight against the corrupt West Bengal government. I have joined a national party, which is headed by personalities like PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. I just want to work as a disciplined soldier of that party, he said. My only aim is to oust a thoroughly corrupt political force from the position of power in West Bengal. I want to ensure that the same force cannot return to power in West Bengal in 2026. I have joined the BJP to fight tooth and nail against the thoroughly corrupt current state government. I will make all possible attempts to sincerely accomplish the assignments given to me by the party, Abhijit Gangopadhyay said. Advertisement On Thursday, he was welcomed to the party by the BJP state president, Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and the BJPs central observer for West Bengal, Mangal Pandey, who handed over the party flag to him. All I can say is that a person like Abhijit Gangopadhyay is extremely essential in the current political situation in the state. He was attacked again and again when as a judge he was working sincerely to end corruption. In the days to come, the BJP will utilise him for electoral and other related areas, LoP Adhikari said. MCommenting on the development, state minister, Dr Shashi Panja, said that politicians frequented Abhijit Gangopadhyays residence even when he was a judge. Today it became clear that he was in touch with the BJP leadership while he was sitting on the chair of a judge. He insulted the position of a judge, Panja said. The Delhi Police have arrested a father for killing his 29-year-son, just a day prior to his marriage, the police said on Friday. In the shocking incident, Gaurav Singhal was murdered using a pair of scissors, iron rod and a knife, who succumbed to multiple injuries inflicted on his body by the attackers. It was revealed during the probe and interrogation that the father was unhappy with his sons lifestyle and extravagance, while the accused also told police that he was frustrated with his sons disobedience. Advertisement The father was also enraged due to the support given to the son by his mother, and further confessed that he had been planning to kill his son for the past three months, with three of his associates, whom he paid Rs 75000, while the total amount fixed for the crime was Rs 1,50,000. He carried out the plan with three accomplices just a day before Gauravs marriage, which was reportedly to take place on Thursday. During the investigation, it was found that the accomplices were from the same locality and were young men, around 22-25 years of age. It was on the intervening night of Wednesday- Thursday that around 12.30 am, a PCR Call regarding a murder at Raju Park, Devli Extension was received. On reaching the spot, the police found that Gaurav Singhal was attacked with a sharp edged weapon and he was taken to Max Hospital for treatment, where he was declared brought dead, with multiple stab injuries on head, face, back and other parts of the body, as per the MLC report. The body was later shifted to AIIMS mortuary for Post Mortem, and a case was registered. Meanwhile, the police team visited the crime spot and gathered CCTV footage of the area. During inquiry, it was learnt that the father of the deceased was absconding and his mobile phone was switched off. Technical surveillance was mounted and based on the facts gathered by the teams, it was suspected that the father of the deceased had committed the murder. Finally, Rang Lal, the father was traced at Jaipur, Rajasthan and the local police was contacted, while a team from Delhi was sent to apprehend the accused. Subsequently, the suspect was nabbed with over Rs 15 lakh in cash and 886 grams of gold. According to police, further investigation is underway and efforts were on to nab the absconding accomplices. Kristen Stewart isnt just a talented actress; shes also pushing boundaries in the film industry. In a recent interview with NBC News, Stewart opened up about her dissatisfaction with the way intimate scenes are typically portrayed on screen. She expressed a desire for more realism and authenticity in these moments, emphasizing the importance of capturing the genuine physical and emotional experience rather than resorting to cliches. According to Stewart, the standard approach to intimate scenes often feels artificial and formulaic. She lamented the tendency for actors to simply go through the motions without truly connecting with each other or conveying the complexity of real-life intimacy. Instead, Stewart advocates for a more immersive and organic approach, where actors are encouraged to explore the nuances of their characters relationships in a way that feels authentic and true to life. For Stewart, its not just about what the audience sees on screen, but also about the process of creating those moments. She emphasized the importance of dialogue and communication between actors, as well as a willingness to experiment and explore different dynamics. By prioritizing authenticity and honesty in their performances, Stewart believes that actors can create a more meaningful and impactful experience for viewers. Advertisement Stewarts commitment to authenticity extends beyond her critique of intimate scenes; its also evident in her choice of roles. Her upcoming film promises to delve into the complexities of queer relationships while delivering a gripping thriller narrative. The story follows a gym manager who becomes romantically involved with a bodybuilder, all while navigating family secrets and personal challenges. In essence, Kristen Stewart is challenging the status quo and pushing for greater diversity and authenticity in film. By speaking out against the cliches and conventions that often dominate Hollywood, shes paving the way for a new generation of storytellers who are unafraid to embrace complexity and nuance. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of the state to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing a Rs 100 reduction in the prices of LPG cylinders on the occasion of International Womens Day. The Chief Minister posted on X, Today, on the occasion of Womens Day, the decision to give a discount of Rs 100 on the prices of LPG cylinders will bring financial relief to millions of families and ensure a healthier, happier life for matri shakti by freeing them from smoke and pollution. On behalf of the people of the state, I sincerely thank you, Prime Minister, for this public welfare initiative that honours the matri shakti and safeguards the environment. Advertisement Canada has effectively equated Russia to the countries on the blacklist of the International Group on Combating Money Laundering (FATF) without waiting for a decision from the FATF itself. Now, any financial transactions related to Russia will be considered as high-risk transactions in Canada. Iran and the DPRK are officially on the FATF blacklist. ADVERTISIMENT The relevant requirement was introduced by a directive issued by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Canada Chrystia Freeland, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine reported on March 8. The Ministry of Finance notes that the directive came into force on February 24, 2024, two years after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "The directive requires that every financial transaction related to Russia, regardless of its size, be considered a high-risk transaction and establishes corresponding enhanced obligations for due diligence, monitoring, and record-keeping of such financial transactions. In other words, Canada, without waiting for the completion of the search for consensus within the FATF, has equated Russia with the countries on the FATF blacklist," the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance said. ADVERTISIMENT The Financial Intelligence Unit in Canada (FINTRAC) has also published official instructions explaining the requirements of the directive. Thus, financial transactions originating from or destined for Russia may include but are not limited to: electronic funds transfers, money orders, or other transfers that include a Russian origin or destination address ; ; activities of representatives of the Russian government (e.g., transactions on the bank account of the Russian Embassy in Canada); receiving Russian rubles as a deposit to an account or for a virtual currency transaction; as a deposit to an account or for a virtual currency transaction; conducting a foreign currency or virtual currency exchange transaction involving Russian rubles. "We welcome Canada's strengthening of controls over financial transactions related to Russia. To date, the directives of the Minister of Finance of Canada under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Act apply to transactions with three countries North Korea, Iran, and, since February 24 this year, Russia. That is, Canada, without waiting for the completion of the search for consensus within the FATF on the issue of sanctioning Russia, has equated Russia with the countries on the FATF blacklist," said Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, in late February 2014, the FATF plenary meeting confirmed the potential risks of the Russian Federation to the international financial system. The suspension of Russia's membership in the organization was extended, but the aggressor country has not yet been blacklisted by the FATF, despite Russia's growing ties with North Korea and Iran. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The Union Government has declared Mohammad Qasim Gujjar alias Salman alias Suleman as a designated terrorist. According to a government notification, Qasim has been involved in several terror attacks, as a mastermind behind them, and was associated with the terror outfit Lashker- e Taiba. Taking to social media platform X on Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shahs office has said, The Modi government has declared the dreaded mastermind of several terror attacks Mohammad Qasim Gujjar alias Salman alias Suleman as a designated terrorist. An operative of the Lashkar-e Taiba (LeT) Mohammad Qasim Gujjar has caused numerous deaths and injuries with terror attacks and is involved in planning war against Bharat. Advertisement The government has made it clear that whoever found involved in acts of terror and activities against the unity and integrity of the nation will be dealt ruthlessly. The government has a zero tolerance stance against acts of terror, and has recently extended bans on outfits found involved in acts against the nation and acts of terror. A junior commissioned officer (JCO) serving in the Indian Army was reportedly abducted from his residence in Manipurs Thoubal district by anti-social elements, according to officials. The abducted JCO, identified as Konsam Kheda Singh, is a resident of the area. Though the motive behind the abduction remains unclear, initial reports suggest it may be related to extortion, given previous threats received by his family. Upon receiving this information, authorities have initiated a coordinated search operation to locate the missing JCO. However, further details regarding the abduction are still awaited. Advertisement This incident marks the fourth occurrence since the onset of the conflict in Manipur, wherein soldiers or their relatives have been targeted for malicious intent. In a similar incident in September 2023, a former Assam Regiment soldier named Serto Thangthang Kom was kidnapped and subsequently killed by an unidentified armed group from the region. Prolonged exposure to android phones and television sets, especially during the Covid-19 lockdown days had left negative impact on the eye health of the children, which has started resulting psychological effects on the kids, too, suggested the eye experts after a cornea transplant of a patient in Durgapur town today. Dr Priyansha Chatterjee, chairperson of Dvita hospital here said: Weve observed the irreversible cylindrical eye power of the kids has increased substantially due to the exorbitant exposure. Dr Amit Das, cornea surgeon of the hospital said, Cases of retinoblastoma commonly called eye cancer have also been recorded in the South Bengal hospitals in recent days, which needs further studies. Dr Sanjoy Chatterjee, head of Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Kolkata said, What weve observed, its a case mostly of pediatric ophthalmology as its congenital. Such cases are mostly found in the north Bengal districts of the sub-Himalayan region. Advertisement In India, 0.24 million cases of blindness among the children are recorded against 4.95 million total blind cases. Dr Amit claimed: There are currently 1,20,000 corneal blind persons in India. He and his team managed cornea transplant of Chaina Mukherjee, a 67-year-old woman from Andal near here, the pioneering work at the state of the art hospital and the surgery expense was borne by the chairman of another hospital, Dr Satyajit Bose, incidentally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of International Womens Day announced a discount of Rs 100 on the prices of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders to make the lives of women easier. The Opposition attacked the Centre, questioning the timing of the announcement. Taking to the social media platform X(formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Modi said, Today, on Womens Day, our Government has decided to reduce LPG cylinder prices by Rs 100. This will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting our Nari Shakti. By making cooking gas more affordable, we also aim to support the well-being of families and ensure a healthier environment. This is in line with our commitment to empowering women and ensuring Ease of Living for them, he added. Advertisement The step will also boost efforts towards environmental protection and consequently improve the health of families, the PM further said. The development comes a day after the Union Cabinet approved the continuation of Rs 300 targeted subsidy to PM Ujjwala Yojana Consumers for 2024-25. Talking to reporters after a meeting of the union cabinet, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the beneficiaries will get the subsidy directly in their accounts. In October last year also, the government had increased the subsidy on the scheme by Rs 100 to Rs 300 from Rs 200 per 14.2-kg cylinders for, upto 12 refills per year. PM Modi also extended greetings to women and lauded their courage. Greetings on International Womens Day! We salute the strength, courage, and resilience of our Nari Shakti and laud their accomplishments across various fields. Our government is committed to empowering women through initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, agriculture, technology and more. This is also reflected in our accomplishments in the last decade. PM Modis move on the LPG price was questioned by the opposition over its timing as the Lok Sabha elections will be announced next week. NCP ( Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule said, I am not surprised at all. Look at the timing. They have been in power for the last 9 years. Why didnt they think of this earlier? yeh aur ek jumla haiIn our government, the cylinder was Rs 430. Why dont they match it ? Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said: The BJP is a very clever party. They sell (LPG) cylinders of Rs 395 at Rs 1000 and then PM Modi makes an announcement of reducing it by Rs 100. West Bengals TMC leader Sagarika Ghose also questioned the timing of the decision. Taking it to X, she said, Just a few days before general election 2024, the Modi government cuts LPG prices. Why could this have not been done earlier when women consumers were labouring under high LPG prices even when global prices were low? Now when elections are around the corner, down come LPG prices. Height of political cynicism! India needs a Pradhan Mantri not an election Mantri. Samajwadi Party Mahila Sabha national president Juhie Singh said PM Modis Ujjwala Yojana is a fraud. Mahadev is watching how people are being deceived (by the BJP government). Cylinder prices are increasing. I think PM Modi should visit not only the sponsored part of the villages but actually go and see how Ujjwala Yojana is a fraud. Women are a huge part of the population and a big chunk of our society. So, unless you wont make them economically strong, there would be no development in the society, she said. Mahashivratri, the last bathing festival of Magh Mela, the biggest annual gathering of faith held on the banks of Sangam in Prayagraj, concluded successfully on Friday. On Mahashivratri, lakhs of devotees took a holy dip. The Yogi government made many innovations to give a divine, grand, and new look to the Magh Mela this year. According to Magh Mela officer Dayanand Prasad, the flow of devotees continued to arrive at Sangam since morning on Mahashivratri. More than 10 lakh devotees took a holy dip in Triveni on Friday. Prasad said that over 3.27 crore devotees have taken a dip of faith in the 6 major bathing festivals of this Magh Mela which lasted for 54 days. Advertisement This year, the Magh Mela was organised by the Yogi government keeping in mind the arrangements for the upcoming Maha Kumbh. That is why this Magh Mela also became a laboratory of innovation for the Maha Kumbh. Prasad said that many new innovations were made in this years Magh Mela. For the first time in Magh Mela, more than 165 LED solar hybrid street lights were installed for continuous lighting and saving electricity. Keeping in view the cleanliness and convenience of the devotees, 21,000 toilets have been built in the fair area. Around 10 water ATMs were installed in the Magh Mela area to provide pure drinking water to devotees and tourists. Thematic and spiral lights were used on the major routes of the fair area. Apart from this, delineator lights have been used for the first time in the pontoon bridge of the fair area. It was used in two pontoon bridges in the fair area. For the first time, the irrigation department used geo bags to prevent erosion caused by the flow of river water in the fair area. Artificial Intelligence was also used effectively for the first time to control lakhs of devotees and tourists coming to Magh Mela. Innovative experiments were also made by the tourism department for the tourists and devotees coming to Magh Mela. The first floating restaurant of Uttar Pradesh was also started in the boat club in the waves of the Yamuna River during this Magh Mela. UP CM Yogi Adityanath himself inaugurated it. Along with starting the floating restaurant, a mini cruise boating service has also been started in the Yamuna river. Prayagrajs regional tourism officer Aparajita Singh said that a mini cruise boating service has been started in the Yamuna River from Triveni Club to Sujavan Dev Temple. For this, two mini cruises were prepared at a cost of Rs 240 lakh which provide water tourism facilities in the Yamuna River to tourists. NRIs got a chance to take a heritage walk in Magh Mela. According to Nilesh Narayan, director of tour company Holy Waters India Journeys, this time, the 50-member NRI and foreign tourists who came to Magh Mela were taken on a heritage walk of the religious and historical places of the city after the Sangam bath. This also includes visiting religious ashrams and akharas. These innovations can be useful for the upcoming Maha Kumbh next year. Following a mammoth daily footfall at Sealdah station, the authorities of the Sealdah division are now considering developing an alternate terminal station in the city at Kolkata station. Handling a massive footfall of around 12 lakh passengers daily, the Sealdah station takes an enormous crowd load. Being the one of the busiest stations of the state, it is also one of the major railway terminals of the country serving the city of Kolkata. Given the load of passengers and the pressure of numerous train services, both local and long distance ones, the authorities of the division are now considering plans of decongesting the station where the footfall in the near future is anticipated to shoot up with the addition of Esplanade-Sealdah stretch of the East-West Metro corridor. According to official sources, the division is in talks with a consultancy that is preparing a master plan or the detailed project report. While 17 stations of the division have been identified for improvement under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, Kolkata station being of them is being planned for a major revamp under the programme. Advertisement In addition to increased train operations, the station is also being planned for developing it as a huge economic hub in the vicinity. Actually, we need to develop Kolkata station as Sealdah is getting landlocked. We need to have one more terminal which would be world-class. We have offered a consultancy to a firm. They have come up with some plans. A lot of work is to take place at the stations including several commercial spaces. The investment here will be a big one and not limited to a few crores, informed an official. As elaborated by official sources, the division is discussing the master plan with the consultant. Once we are satisfied with it, we will have some discussions with the local authorities and then send the proposal to the railway ministry. Although the exact expenditure on the redevelopment is yet to be finalized, the estimated cost is anticipated to be around Rs 300 to 500 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to commence his two-day visit to Assam this afternoon. Hectic preparations are on to welcome the Prime Minister at UNESCO World Heritage Site Kaziranga National Park. The Prime Minister is set to arrive at Tezpur Airport in Sonitpur district at around 4 pm. Advertisement His first destination will be the UNESCO World Heritage site Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. Modi will spend the night at the Assam Police Guest House in the Kohora Range of the National Park. Early tomorrow morning, he will embark on a safari inside the park before heading to Arunachal Pradesh. During his visit, he will inaugurate, dedicate, and lay foundation stones of various projects totaling Rs 18,000 crore at Jorhat tomorrow. He will proceed to Jorhat around 1:30 pm, where he will inaugurate an 84-foot high statue of the legendary Ahom warrior Lachit Borphukan at Hollonga Pathar. Subsequently, Modi will address a public meeting at Meleng Meteli Pothar in Jorhat and virtually inaugurate, dedicate, and lay the foundation stones of several projects. These include the Tinsukia Medical College and Hospital, a Child Care Unit at B Baruah Cancer Institute in Guwahati, Barauni to Guwahati natural gas pipeline, and two crude oil pumping stations of Oil India Limited. Furthermore, the Prime Minister will virtually lay the foundation stone of the Sivasagar Medical College and Hospital, the Guwahati and Digboi Refinery expansion projects, including IOCLs Bethkuchi Terminal in Guwahati. Additionally, Modi will dedicate to the nation the doubling of railway lines from Dhupdhara to Chaygaon and New Bongaigaon to Sarbhog. Moreover, the PM will virtually perform the Griha Pravesh ceremony for over 5.5 lakh homes constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the first-ever National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital on Friday. The award has witnessed immense public engagement, more than 1.5 lakh nominations and around 10 lakh votes were cast. Prime Minister will also address the gathering on the occasion. The National Creators Award is an effort to recognize excellence and impact across domains, including storytelling, social change advocacy, environmental sustainability, education, and gaming among others. The award is envisioned as a launchpad for using creativity to drive positive change. The National Creator Award has witnessed exemplary public engagement. In the first round, more than 1.5 lakh nominations across 20 different categories were received. Subsequently, in the voting round, about 10 lakh votes were cast for digital creators in various award categories. Following this, 23 winners, including three international creators, were decided. Advertisement The award will be provided across twenty categories including the Best Storyteller Award; The Disruptor of the Year; Celebrity Creator of the Year; Green Champion Award; Best Creator For Social Change; Most Impactful Agri Creator; Cultural Ambassador of The Year; International Creator award. The categories also include the Best Travel Creator Award; Swachhta Ambassador Award; The New India Champion Award; Tech Creator Award; Heritage Fashion Icon Award; Most Creative Creator (Male and Female); Best Creator in Food Category; Best Creator in Education Category; Best Creator in Gaming Category; Best Micro Creator; Best Nano Creator; Best Health and Fitness Creator. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit his parliamentary constituency on Saturday and participate in a road show after becoming the candidate from Varanasi for the third consecutive time. BJP officials said here on Friday that flowers would be showered on PM Modi along the 28 km-long route from Babatpur to Bareka. What is special about the road show is that during the event the prime minister will come out from the rooftop of his car to greet the people. The BJP has assigned 16 points for the public to greet Modi on the route to ensure a grand welcome. The PM, who is coming to Varanasi for the second time in a fortnight, also went to Bareka from the airport by road on February 22. Advertisement Modi is expected to reach Varanasi from West Bengal on Saturday night and head straight to Bareka from Babatpur Airport at around 9.30 pm. The BJP said for the grand welcome of Modi, a large number of people would gather at the airport, Harhua Square, Shivpur Square, Ardali Bazaar, Kachari Square, ahead of Lahartara Square, Manduwadih Square, BLW Gate to welcome him. Along with this, Batuk, Damru Dal, and artists will be present at these places by chanting mantras. After an overnight stay in Bereka, the PM, along with his cavalcade, will leave the next morning for Azamgarh from Bereka helipad for a public meeting. The First Citizen of India summed up her sentiments on International Womens Day in her greetings on Friday with a call to celebrate achievements. She said one day is not enough; every day should be celebrated as Womens Day in the spirit of yes, we can and we will. Penning her thoughts on womens equality, Draupadi Murmu, the first person from a tribal community to hold the office the President, wrote: we have come a long way from the days when our grandmothers first stepped out to join the freedom movement, and our daughters will carry the torch forward into the second century of independence. In his heartfelt gratitude to every woman, whose care, compassion, and unique sense of responsibility has been an eternal source of inspiration for everyone, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar stated, This is a day to recognise invaluable contributions and to celebrate the unmatched achievements of our mothers and sisters, in all walks of life. Advertisement In a big announcement on International Womens Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the LPG cylinder prices will be slashed by Rs 100. Extending his greetings to the women of the country, Prime Minister Modi wrote on X, We salute the strength, courage, and resilience of our Nari Shakti and laud their accomplishments across various fields. Our government is committed to empowering women through initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, agriculture, technology, and more. This is also reflected in our accomplishments in the last decade. He announced that on Womens Day, the government has decided to reduce LPG cylinder prices by Rs 100. This will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting our Nari Shakti, he added. In a year where almost half of the population lives in a country undergoing an election, this International Womens Day on March 8 is a crucial opportunity to define the future people want. As conflict, climate change, and polarising societies are eroding decades of progress in gender equality, UN Women called on Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress to realise the gender equality dividend for all. This IWD, the United Nations is celebrating under the theme Invest in women: Accelerate progress. The world is facing many crises, ranging from geopolitical conflicts to soaring poverty levels and the escalating impacts of climate change. These challenges can only be addressed by solutions that empower women. By investing in women, we can spark change and speed the transition towards a healthier, safer, and more equal world for all, the UN body said. According to UN Women, an additional USD 360 billion is needed per year to achieve gender equality. Closing gender gaps in employment could boost GDP per capita by 20 per cent, it informed. Closing gaps in care and expanding services with decent jobs could spark almost 300 million jobs by 2035, the global organisation said. The UN organisation dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women said if current trends continue, more than 342 million women and girls could be living in extreme poverty by 2030. To ensure womens needs and priorities are considered, governments must prioritise gender-responsive financing and increase public spending on essential services and social protection. Policymakers must also value, recognise, and account for the vital contribution women make to economies worldwide through paid and unpaid care work. Women spend around three times more time on unpaid care work than men and if these activities were assigned a monetary value they would account for more than 40 per cent of GDP. Back in India, as part of Womens Day celebrations, the Northern Railway declared Delhis Safdarjung Metro Station as a pink railway station. A train with all-women staff, including a loco pilot, two assistant loco pilots, and two guards, departed from the metro station at 10 am. The step has been taken to highlight the significant role played by women in various branches of the Indian Railways. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in a post on X wrote, Empowering every journey, celebrating every milestone. DMRC honors the spirit of womanhood this International Womens Day, recognising their invaluable contributions in shaping our world. The GMR-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) announced an all-women shift on the occasion at the Delhi Airport to advance inclusiveness, equity, and diversity in the aviation sector. Aptly called the Pink Shift, the initiative is being implemented in all of Delhi Airports three terminals, allowing women employees to work a full eight-hour shift, according to a press release. From Terminal Managers to Customer Services Officers, or Customer Services Executives all are women handling an eight-hour shift. Recognising women as symbols of love, care, strength, and eternity, the Railway Protection Force currently boasts the largest share of women personnel (9 per cent) among Central Paramilitary Forces in India. Specially trained to ensure safety and provide assistance to female passengers in distress, they create a secure environment for travelers. On a lighter note, according to the MSME Insights report released by Kinara Capital, women entrepreneurs perform better than men in terms of loan repayment. Only 3.4 per cent of the women entrepreneurs defaulted on loan repayment, the rate among men was as high as 4.6 per cent, and this behavioral pattern was consistent across all states. What has every Ukrainian heard about this city? Perhaps that it is industrial, gray, sometimes uninteresting, and recently quite dangerous due to frequent air raid alerts. Therefore, most travelers do not consider it a tourist destination. But after getting to know it better, people immediately change their minds. ADVERTISIMENT In fact, Kryvyi Rih is fantastic, mysterious, and a bit like an alien homeworld. After all, there are deep Martian craters here. Of course, they are man-made, but that doesn't make them any less beautiful. Read below to find out which attractions are worth visiting. The observation deck of the Southern Mining and Processing Plant (GOK) A huge quarry was formed not far from the city. Its shape and red spots resemble the fourth planet of the solar system. The size of the gorge is impressive. Locals say that it can accommodate several small principalities. The idea to open an observation deck on the territory of the industrial facility arose when there were so many people who wanted to see this miracle that no security guards could scare them away. So now you can come here at any time, even in winter. There are trailers, BELAZ trucks, and cranes on different levels below. From above, they seem very tiny, almost toy-like. ADVERTISIMENT Kryvyi Rih high-speed tram This city has the only metro tram in Ukraine. Transport moves not only through the streets but also through underground passages. Four stations of the route are located deep underground. You take a seat "on the surface" and after a while you will find yourself in the Kyiv or Kharkiv subway. Hvardiiska mine This is a kind of exclusion zone where you can see how ore is mined. Only a few people in Ukraine know about this beauty, but thousands of people abroad do. It is the largest and most powerful mine in Europe. ADVERTISIMENT You can get here as part of an excursion group. The lecture lasts about three hours. Before the underground walk, you have to undergo a medical examination and, of course, a briefing. Every visitor must behave properly in the mine because it works around the clock, not stopping for a minute. The maximum depth to which guests can go is 1430 meters. During the trip, the guide demonstrates the drilling process and how trolleys are unloaded, as well as shows places where workers can hide in case of emergency, etc. Museum of the Southern Mining and Processing Plant This exhibition hall was opened quite recently in 2015. Today, there are more than 1,500 exhibits. They include not only minerals but also models of enterprises, factories, machinery, and samples of outdated and modern equipment. ADVERTISIMENT There is also a 3D projection. It was made to show visitors the specifics of mining operations: from blasting to mining. The museum's doors are open on weekdays from 8:00 to 17:00. Individual tours are held every Tuesday and Thursday. The location can be reached by tram #5 or bus #210. Man-made Red Lake The pond was artificially created in the 60s of the last century. It was dug not for beauty but to drain the water used in iron ore mining. The color of the pond has an unusually crimson hue. It does not change throughout the year. This color is caused by bromine, iodine, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Locals and visitors are crazy about this location. However, environmentalists are sounding the alarm. Most of them are convinced that the lake threatens the ecosystem of the Dnipro. The water here is overly mineralized and is gradually destroying the flora and fauna of our country's main river. ADVERTISIMENT ArcelorMittal Museum Another modern exhibition hall worth visiting. More than 5000 unique exhibits are collected here. The premises are divided into 3 halls. The first is dedicated to the period of the plant's construction, its launch and destruction by the Nazis. The second one tells about the achievements of the modern times, and the third one shows the production processes. The museum is located at 10 Domnobydivelnykiv Street. Kochubeivskyi mine This is the oldest adit in Kryvyi Rih, which for a long time was not even mentioned by the locals. They started talking about the location during the filming of the Ukrainian movie Red, and since then, tourists have been coming here all the time. Many passages have been dug in the rocks, some of them stretching for 200 meters. By the way, there are many decorations left here, such as wooden stairs and a lift. ADVERTISIMENT You can get to the mine on your own, just bring a flashlight. The mine is not located in the city itself but near the village of Hannivka in the Petrivskyi district of the Kropyvnytskyi region. For those who want to go beyond the usual travel, we recommend going to Kryvyi Rih. You should definitely see and appreciate the beauty of this region. Important: It is better to go here after the victory. The city regularly suffers from shelling. Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The Congress on Friday released the first list of 39 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, including former party president Rahul Gandhi, who has been fielded from Keralas Wayanad, the constituency he currently represents. The release of the list came a day after the partys Central Election Committee (CEC) finalised the names of candidates for the first list during a meeting chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at the party headquarters. Addressing a press conference, along with other party leaders, Congress general secretary in charge of Organisation KC Venugopal said, Yesterday, the Congress CEC had met. The CEC has selected the first list of 39 candidates which included the name of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. Advertisement Of the 39 candidates, he said 15 are from general category while 24 others are from SC, ST, OBC and minorities. The senior party leader said Baghel would contest from Rajnandgaon parliamentary constituency in Chhattisgarh. Among the candidates from Kerala, besides Gandhi, are other heavyweights, Venugopal and Shashi Tharoor. Venugopal will contest from Alappuzha and Tharoor from his home turf Thiruvananthapuram. Meghalaya Congress President Vincent H Pala will be the Congress nominee from the Shillong constituency. He was elected a parliamentarian from the said seat in the last general elections. As per the list, the party fielded its Tripura unit chief and former MLA Ashish Kumar Saha from Tripura West parliamentary seat. The candidates announced for Telangana in the first list are Suresh Kumar Shetkar from Zahirabad, Raghuveer Knuduru from Nalgonda, C V Chand Reddy from Mahbubnagar and BN Porika from Mahabubabad seats. Our priority is to win maximum number of the Lok Sabha seats to defeat (Narendra) Modi in this election. The top priority is to win the maximum Lok Sabha seats, said Venugopal. In an apparent reference to the partys guarantees, including 30 lakh jobs made by Kharge to fulfill if voted to power, he said, Whenever we are promising, we are fulfilling. We did it in Karnataka and Telangana. Notably, the partys National Alliance Committee (NAC), which is being headed by Mukul Wasnik, has been holding meetings with top leaders of parties of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc on seat-sharing for the general elections. The party has announced a seat-sharing arrangement with the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Haryana, and Goa. It may be mentioned here that the ruling BJP last week released the first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest from Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi parliamentary seat. Rebellion in Himachal Pradesh Congress government became a talking point in Uttarakhand as the news of six ruling party rebel legislators suddenly landed in Uttarakhand with three independent legislators. Four more MLAs are likely to join them, said Uttarakhand BJP leaders. Well-placed sources, including senior BJP leaders in Uttarakhand, informed that the six rebel MLAs suddenly reached Rishikesh from Panchkula, Chandigarh with two Opposition legislators. Uttarakhand BJP leaders informed that the Himachal Congress MLAs entered Uttarakhand from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Advertisement They travelled directly from Panchkula to Saharanpur avoiding entry into Himachal Pradesh for being identified by the ruling dispensation. These MLAs accompanied by three independent legislators, who supported the Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu Government, cross-voted in the recently-concluded Rajya Sabha elections leading to the defeat of Congress partys official candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi. They had left Shimla immediately after Rajya Sabha polls but went back for a couple of before returning to Panchkula again, said the BJP leaders in Uttarakhand. Its learnt that 11 Himachal Pradesh MLAs are staying at a resort at Kaudiala in Rishikesh. The legislators group staying at the resort includes six Congress MLAs, three independents and two BJP MLAs. They came to Uttarakhand through different routes on their own. We hope four more will join them soon, informed a senior BJP leader and state organisation office bearer in Dehradun. However, when contacted, party spokesperson and state media in-charge Manvir Chauhan said, We dont have much idea as to Himachal Congress MLAs coming to Uttarakhand but if happened its their internal matter. This was bound to happen as Himachal government ill treated its own MLAs. Rebellion was expected after cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections, their expulsion and unruly conduct of the ruling party hooligans with their families. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated on Friday that Dakshinanchal of Gorakhpur, including Dhuriyapar, has ushered in the era of industrialization. This development defies earlier perceptions that deemed this area incapable of progress. The inauguration of the first CBG plant in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Gorakhpur, located at Usar in Dhuriapar, marks a significant milestone for our industrial landscape. This plant will not only generate employment opportunities for the youth but also enhance the income of our farmers, said the Chief Minister. CM Yogi was addressing the gathering after inaugurating Indian Oils CBG (Compressed Bio Gas) plant built at Dhuriapar along with Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Advertisement On this occasion, the Chief Minister also gifted development projects worth more than Rs 222 crore to Bansgaon Lok Sabha constituency. This includes the inauguration of 20 development projects valued at more than Rs 68 crore and the laying of the foundation stone for 17 projects worth over Rs 154 crore. CM Yogi expressed that the CBG plant exemplifies the transformation of waste into wealth, ultimately augmenting the income of farmers. He emphasized: This endeavor will actualize the proverb aam ke aam, guthliyon ke daam.' Reflecting on the past, CM Yogi recalled how decades ago, the sugar mill in Dhuriapar struggled to operate due to the scarcity of sugarcane, leading many to believe that progress was unattainable. But, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision, the industry is flourishing here now. Highlighting the unprecedented development in Dhuriapar, CM Yogi remarked, Previously, the notion of Dhuriapars development seemed inconceivable. Yet, today, industries thrive, roads expand, flood protection measures are in place, and farmers benefit from various schemes such as Kisan Samman Nidhi. Furthermore, 1.75 crore Ujjwala Yojana gas connections have been provided in UP, with free gas cylinders distributed during Holi and Diwali, benefiting the underprivileged. The Chief Minister mentioned that Dakshinanchal is being linked to GIDA through the Gorakhpur Link Expressway of the Purvanchal Expressway. Its work is in the final stage. Simultaneously, the construction of Ramjanaki Marg is progressing rapidly. With the expansion of GIDA, Dakshinanchal is poised to enter a new era. This development will enable local youth to find employment opportunities within the region, eliminating the need to seek jobs elsewhere. Moreover, it is anticipated that individuals from across the nation and the globe will flock to Dakshinanchal for employment. He highlighted that among the 120 individuals employed at the CBG plant, some hail from Gorakhpur, while others come from Lucknow, Jhansi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Bengal. Skill development initiatives will further enhance opportunities for local youth. Additionally, farmers stand to increase their income by supplying stubble, while cattle herders can benefit from supplying cow dung. CM said that PM Modis intention is also to increase the income of Annadata farmers. He said that when the annadata is content, the nation will prosper. The Chief Minister emphasized that the CBG plant will play a crucial role in conserving nature and the environment. The stubble, which was previously burnt, will now be utilized here, providing additional income to farmers, he stated. Moreover, the organic fertilizer produced will contribute to the health of Mother Earth. Embracing organic fertilizers will ensure the sustained fertility of our fields, CM Yogi added. Asserting that under PM Modis leadership, the world witnesses a new India characterized by progress, faith, security, and abundant livelihood opportunities for the youth, Yogi Adityanath urged citizens to re-elect the Modi government. He emphasized that this would accelerate the pace of development and help realize the vision of a prosperous India. In addition to inaugurating the CBG plant, CM Yogi, accompanied by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, inspected the plant premises and examined the model showcased at the venue. Meanwhile, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that in the coming time, there will be 100 CBG plants in UP. Describing the CBG plant as a significant step towards environmental conservation, increasing farmers income, and achieving energy self-reliance, Puri noted that Indian Oil has invested Rs 165 crore in setting up one such plant. In this plant, 200 metric tons of agricultural residue (paddy straw), 20 metric tons of press mud and 10 metric tons of cattle dung will be used daily. Puri highlighted that the plant is expected to produce approximately 20 metric tons of biogas and 125 metric tons of organic fertilizer per day, contributing to agricultural productivity enhancement. Expressing satisfaction with the Green Hydrogen policy introduced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for environmental preservation, he said that there will be a rapid investment in this sector. Puri also announced plans to build a green hydrogen plant in his adopted district, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. Commending Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths leadership, Puri stated that under his guidance, Uttar Pradesh is progressing towards becoming a trillion-dollar economy. He emphasized that Uttar Pradeshs progress will significantly contribute to achieving the nations goal of becoming a five-trillion-dollar economy. Puri also praised the rapid implementation of central government schemes in Uttar Pradesh under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths leadership. When renowned Sanskrit scholar Pandit Gangadhara Shastri saw Annie Besant welcoming guests at her home Santi Kunj in Benares in 1901, he exclaimed (in Sanskrit), The all-White Saraswati, one of the designations of our Goddess of Culture and Learning. The athome meeting was ostensibly to renovate an old temple but it was an occasion for Mrs Besant to Indianise herself, to get in touch with the hearts of the Indian people; living, looking and speaking just like them. As our globalized world commemorates International Womens Day, it is an opportunity to delve into to the life, times and works of Annie Besant who travelled from England to land in Kandy, (Ceylon) on 16 November 1883, where she inaugurated her tour with lectures. Subsequently she spoke at Tuticorin, Bangalore, and Bezwada; and there was a great convention held at Adyar, later the chief headquarters of the Theosophical Society, at which she spoke on The Building of the Cosmos. During 1894, Mrs Besant lectured successively at Benares, Agra, Lahore, and Bombay, When at Adyar, she threw herself into the work of founding a school for backward communities called Olcott Panchama School and she began her campaign of national education. Even before she landed in 1893, Annie Besant was referring to India as her Motherland in letters to associates. She soon became one of the prime movers of the Womens Indian Association and its first President. The Association was influential across the country, and its focus was on furthering upliftment of women in education, industry and politics. Having brought urban, educated and politically aware women under one umbrella, the Association made its presence felt when the Southborough Commission visited India. Mrs Besant and Sarojini Naidu, along with other members, presented a memorandum to Lord Montagu, Secretary of State for India, stating Indian women should be made eligible for franchise on the same terms as men. The all-White Saraswati was committed to establishing the Central Hindu College at Benares in 1898 with the cooperation of Indian colleagues, only some of whom were theosophists. Advertisement She was convinced education in India had to be in hands of Indians, completely controlling the academic, financial, and administrative responsibilities. Moreover, the guiding spirit of Indian education would be patriotic in outlook, dovetailed with spiritual and religious legacies of the land, and with the ability to take utmost advantage of Western science and technology. For students, fees would be minimal; for their intellectual, physical, and emotional growth, she spoke up for Brahmacharya or celibacy for young adults. Religion was made an important plank of education and, in addition, the youth were to be trained for social work. Sure enough her vision for the Central Hindu College got morphed into an even bigger one, when Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya, a great patriot and Congress leader, proposed the formation of the Benares Hindu University (BHU). The Central Hindu College became the seed from which grew the enormous tree of knowledge and learning, blessed by the sweat and toil of Mrs Besant. When BHU was established in 1916, it marked the culmination of Pt Malaviyas dream project of bringing together heads of Princely States, wealthy businessmen, landowners, and common people of India to contribute towards the Kashi Hindu Vishwavidyalaya. Kashi Naresh Prabhu Narayan Singh, Raja Rameshwar Singh, several Maharajas, including the Nizam of Hyderabad and Maharana of Mewar, Udaipur, contributed handsomely to the cause of education, nationalism, and national pride which Pt. Malviya had roused. Today, if BHU remains one of the largest and most influential universities of the world, the all-White Saraswati had a critical role to play. The figure of Goddess Saraswati adorns the crest of BHU. In 1921 the University honoured itself by conferring a doctorate on Annie Besant. Her institution-building aside, Mrs Besants writings and lectures covered a spectrum of subjects with religion, philosophy and sacred books engaging her encyclopaedic mind. In December 1905, she delivered four lectures titled Hints on the Study of the Bhagavad-Gita at the Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras. The BhagavadGita or The Lords Song was an English translation, with the original text. It was published in 1907, and over 80,000 copies were sold in merely four years. . Hints on the Study of the Bhagavad-Gita is a slim, 140- page book with her explanations. To speak of the Gita is to speak of the history of the world, of its complexity, of the web of desires, thoughts and actions which makes up the evolution of humanity; for the book is not simply the story of the teaching of Arjuna by Shri Krishna it far more than that. And all that one can pray in taking up a task so far beyond ones power is that flute, whose music compelled melody even from the very stones that heard it, may breathe the same all-compelling music in the heart of speak and hearers alike; so that out of that music some note may echo in the hearts that are gathered here, to breathe over the lives that spring from those hearts something of the spirit embodied in the Gita words. The four lectures were designed to make messages from the Gita easier to understand. She said, He who can understand the complexity of the Gita can understand likewise the complexity of the world in which the Author of the Gita is the upholding and the sustaining life, and complex as the world is the Gita, both worthy of the profoundest study. But in these modern days the study is a difficult one, for the way of the Divine Teacher is not the way of the human pedagogue. God does not teach as man teaches, in textbooks written for a boy to learn, exercising his memory rather than unfolding his life. Nature, which is the outer reflection of Deity, does not teach us precept by precept, by spoken words easy to understand; so, you notice that in the Gita, where the method of teaching is that of the Divine Teacher and not that of the pedagogue, there is much confusion, much difficulty; and almost vexation shows itself, from time to time, in the heart and even on the lips of the learner. Mrs. Besant guided the audience through the maze of confusion: You must recall shloka after shloka in which the confusion of Arjuna shows itself, sometimes in pleading, sometimes in almost petulant words: I ask Thee which may be the better that tell me decisively. I am Thy disciple, suppliant to Thee; teach me. And the answer? A long discourse, eloquent, beautiful, full of profoundest wisdom, but after the discourse, what is the result on the mind of the listened? With these perplexing words Thou has only confused my understanding; therefore, tell me with certainty the one way by which I may reach bliss. Sharing one of the key lessons, Mrs. Besant declared, It is not the Master who refuses the light; it is the disciple who is not able to see by it, to understand. For the pupil is needed as well as the teacher, the receptive mind as well as the wisdom that flows from divine lips. Of what avail the white splendour of the sun, if it falls on eyes that are blind to its radiance? The difficulty, my brothers, lies with us and not with Those who teach. Now this is the first great lesson of the Gita. That the pupil must make himself. You can learn all the outer things that man can teacher by outer teaching, though even there the power of the pupil must condition the illumination the mind receives, and the instruction to him consists only of that which he assimilates. In her second lecture, she enumerated: The nature of the Gita is in its essence, as a Yoga Shastra, a Scripture of Yoga, adding, Under this will come the question of activity, the nature of activity, its binding force, the method of escape from its bonds by yoga; that will lead us to a consideration of what is meant by yoga; what is meant by the yogi; and, later on, we shall have to ask what means are there within our reach by which yoga may be attained? The whole object of everything said and done, as recounted within the covers of the Gita, has but one motive: to give Arjuna heart and courage, to drive him into action, to force him, if need be, into battling; and the argument is continually interspersed with the constant refrain: Therefore fight. During the height of the Free Thought movement an English poet Gerald Massey, a contemporary of Mrs Besant, penned the tribute: You for others sow the grain; / Yours the tears of ripening rain; / Theirs the smiling harvest gain. / You have soul enough for seven; / Life enough the earth to leaven; Love enough to create Heaven. / One of Gods own faithful few; Whilst unknowing it are you; Annie Besant, bravely true. (The writer is an authorresearcher on history and heritage issues, and former deputy curator of Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya) In a bold leap towards the future of space exploration, Russia and China have announced plans to consider deploying a nuclear power plant on the moon by the mid-2030s. This collaborative effort, as revealed by Mr Yuri Borisov, head of Russias space agency Roscosmos, aims to lay the groundwork for potential lunar settlements. The proposed nuclear power solution, Mr Borisov argues, is essential due to the limitations of solar panels in meeting the energy demands of future lunar habitats. The idea of establishing a nuclear-powered outpost on the moon raises both awe and concern. While the ambition is commendable, the challenges and potential risks associated with nuclear technology in space cannot be ignored. Mr Borisov envisions the project to be executed autonomously, eliminating the need for human presence during installation. This decision underscores the seriousness of the endeavour, as well as the recognition of potential hazards. The proposed lunar power plant is not the only ambitious project on Russias cosmic horizon. Mr Borisov also shed light on plans for a nuclear-powered cargo spaceship, designed to transport large payloads and tackle space debris. This cyclopean space tugboat, fuelled by a nuclear reactor and high-power turbines, represents Russias commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and utilisation. However, the unresolved challenge of effectively cooling the nuclear reactor introduces a note of caution. The intricacies of managing a nuclear-powered spacecraft necessitate meticulous planning to avert potential disasters. The spectre of space becoming littered with nuclear debris poses environmental and safety concerns that must be thoroughly addressed before such projects can proceed. Russias recent setbacks in lunar exploration, highlighted by the failure of the Luna-25 spacecraft, raise questions about the feasibility and timeline of these ambitious projects. While setbacks are inherent in the pursuit of pioneering endeavours, they underline the importance of rigorous testing and troubleshooting to ensure the success of future missions. Russias commitment to further lunar exploration, including the possibility of joint missions with China and the establishment of a lunar base, indicates a resilient determination to overcome challenges and continue pushing the boundaries of space exploration. Amidst these ambitious plans, it is essential to recognise the geopolitical context surrounding space activities. Advertisement With China aiming to land its first astronaut on the moon before 2030 and the United States expressing concerns about the militarisation of space, the collaborative efforts between Russia and China in lunar exploration become not only scientific but also strategic endeavours. As these developments unfold, the world watches with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. The vision of a nuclear-powered moon outpost opens new frontiers in space exploration but demands meticulous planning, international cooperation, and a commitment to environmental responsibility. The collaborative efforts between Russia and China may well be a giant leap towards humanitys destiny beyond Earth, but only time will reveal the true extent of the risks and rewards embedded in this cosmic endeavour. A United Nations (UN) expert has condemned Israels destruction of the food system in Gaza and urged an end to the starvation campaign there. At a meeting of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food Michael Fakhri said that nearly 75 per cent of Gazas fishing sector had been devastated by Israeli bombardment, Xinhua news agency reported. Israel has mounted a starvation campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza by targeting small-scale fishers, the independent rights expert said. Advertisement Since October 7, 2023, Israel has denied all access to the sea, he said. Israeli forces decimated the Port of Gaza, destroying every single fishing boat and shack, he said. In Rafah, only two out of 40 boats are left. In Khan Younis, Israel destroyed approximately 75 small-scale fishing vessels. The destruction of fishing livelihoods in the enclave had undermined the right to food for people in Gaza and pushed them into hunger and starvation, Fakhri said. On Tuesday, UN experts condemned the violence of Israeli troops that fired on crowds of Palestinians gathered to collect flour in the southwest of Gaza on February 29. At least 112 people died and some 760 were injured, according to a UN press release. Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Snow showers early will give way to a mixture of rain and snow showers for the afternoon. High around 40F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Rain and snow showers this evening. Overcast overnight. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 50%. The latest technologies are developing at an impressive pace. Recently, scientists have created a killer drone in just a few hours that can recognize a victim's face using artificial intelligence. ADVERTISIMENT The small drone can not only target people using facial recognition but also pursue the victim at high speed. Scientists emphasize that there are currently no means of defense against such weapons. The details were reported by Livescience. Luis Venus, an entrepreneur and engineer, has connected an artificial intelligence (AI) system to a small drone to chase people. The scientist warned that it takes only a few hours to set up a small commercially available drone and hunt a target on its own. Working with another engineer, Robert Lukoszko, Venus customized the drone's functionality to detect objects. The facial recognition function works at a distance of up to 10 meters, meaning that an armed version of the drone can be used to attack a specific person. Venus expressed alarm at how easy it was to make such a weapon. ADVERTISIMENT "It only took us a few hours. I realized how scary it is. You can easily attach a small amount of explosives to a drone. Currently, there are no systems in place to protect public spaces from such drones," Venus said. The engineer emphasized that he would not publish any code related to this experiment. He also warned that it is possible that a terrorist attack could be organized using this technology soon. Deep technical knowledge is required to develop the system, but it will become easier and easier to write software over time, partly due to the progress of AI as a code assistant. The point of the experiment is that there is an urgent need to create anti-drone defense systems, for example, for important facilities or civilian premises where large crowds can gather. According to Robin Radar, society can create several countermeasures, including cameras, acoustic sensors, and radars to detect drones. Technologies such as radio frequency jammers, GPS spoofers, network guns, and high-energy lasers may be needed. ADVERTISIMENT Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest developments. 6 dead after mass stabbing at Ottawa home, student who lived with family arrested Canadian police say a 19-year-old student from Sri Lanka is accused of stabbing and killing six people he lived with, including four children from a Sri Lankan family FILE - Students walk past the "Great Dome" atop Building 10 on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus in Cambridge, Mass, April 3, 2017. Two Jewish students on Thursday, March 7, 2024, filed a federal lawsuit against MIT accusing the university of allowing antisemitism on campus that has resulted in them being intimidated, harassed and assaulted. Donald Trump would like whomever holds the presidency to be able to purge any bureaucrat who doesnt agree with the office. Its a scary thought for a democracy indeed. Since March 2024, Russian and Ukrainian citizens have been denied free visas to Sri Lanka. Locals, media, and emigrants from the Russian Federation are convinced that the reason is the "white party " that Russian tourists announced in late February. Propagandists contacted witnesses to the scandal and learned new details. ADVERTISIMENT As it turned out, the indigenous people of Sri Lanka are indeed extremely outraged by the racism of the guests, so they support the decision to cancel the "visa-free" campaign. A comment from one such family was published by Russian media. The Sarayka Lounge club, where the party was supposed to be held for whites only, was quite popular among residents of Unawatuna and its environs. However, according to one of the former visitors, the club is now going through difficult times. "I let my daughter go there if she is with her older brothers, and my sons are 25 and 28 years old. Then I'm not worried about her. My daughter told me that almost all the people in this club are Europeans. On February 22, she was also going there, choosing a dress. And then my son saw what was written at the bottom of the announcement: "Entrance for whites only". We hadn't seen anything like that since the days of the British colonizers! They threw us back a few centuries!" said the local resident's father. ADVERTISIMENT After the club, the Russian ambassador, and the organizer were forced to apologize, the scandal seemed to die down, but a week later the authorities categorically stated that they would not issue free visas to guests from Russia and Ukraine. It is noteworthy that Ukrainians were not involved in the showdown at all, nor was the Ukrainian embassy. According to residents, the parties at the club were organized by Russians and the British. Whatever the case, the consequences mostly affected Russian tourists and expats, who came to the resort country over 288,000 times in two years. For comparison, about 20 thousand Ukrainians arrived on the island. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA wrote, one of the other versions of why Sri Lanka drove Russians out of the country with a broom was their impudent way of doing business. Not only is it illegal, but it often selects employees on racial grounds. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Inequality at home is what bothers Advocate Manasi Chaudhari the most. Chaudhari, the founder of Pink Legal feels that, while, mostly, women are brought up with love and care by their parents, things change once they get married-- the responsibility of the house, caring for children and elders of the house, falls on the woman. And a lot of times, this prevents women from furthering their career, putting in more time at work. Chaudhari started Pink Legal in 2020 to help women become more aware of their rights and make the right decisions for themselves. 31-year-old Chaudhari, the granddaughter of a high court judge (Bombay), knew she wanted to be a lawyer since the time she was in school. The Jindal Law School graduate was moved to start Pink Legal after an incident, which took place when she was returning from work one day. I got into an accident. My car crashed into another car. This was night-time, I was alone and there was no one around. These boys got out of their vehicle, started banging on my car and were being very aggressive. Chaudhari said she was afraid and wasn't sure of what had to be done. But, she did take a picture of the number plate of their vehicle. Usually in India, we tend to let these things go because we tend to worry about repercussions-- what if they retaliate? My parents were worried too. Being a lawyer, however, I thought I could not let it slide-- if I don't take a stand, there's no hope for someone who has no connection with the law. Also, if I let it slide, those guys would think it is okay to do these kinds of things and there won't be any consequences. So I filed a police complaint-- this was my first time to a police station, that too, alone. I was apprehensive as you hear stories of how the police tend not to take your complaint seriously. And even if a complaint is filed, nothing happens. But, because I know my rights and know what to do, I could get the police to take my complaint, register an FIR, could then track the complaint and follow it up. This experience made me realise that women don't know their rights, and so they aren't able to take any action, and therefore suffer in silence. I wanted to change that, and that's how Pink Legal came into being. The organisation, which has a database of lawyers across the country, match callers or women who approach them, as per their needs. And if the woman doesn't have enough means to pay the lawyer, they also have lawyers who consult for a lower fee or no fees. Pink Legal is also tied up with Project Naveli, which is run by Navya Nanda to run Project Nyayri, which makes legal awareness and mental health support accessible for women, pro bono. Several women have come ahead and filed cases, and their divorces have gone through too, Chaudhari says. According to Chaudhari, they mostly get inquiries from women over domestic abuse at the hands of the husband or in-laws. Then there are also cases of financial abuse, where women are forced to give their salary or a part of it to the in-laws, or she is asked to give her jewellery to the mother-in-law for 'safe-keeping'; or when her own family tries to oust her from the will or deny her inheritance. The team have many times, also found themselves fighting child custody lawsuits. Mostly, Chaudhari says, Women aren't aware of their rights when it comes to instances of domestic violence, mental abuse or financial abuse. It is a husband's duty to give the wife a monthly allowance for her monthly maintenance, something women are often not aware of. Pink Legal, she says, is in the process of reaching out at the grassroots level. Currently, there are about 25-30 Pink Legal clubs across India-- these clubs conduct legal awareness workshops and awareness drives, distribute sanitary pads and make women aware of the importance of menstrual hygiene. While Pink Legal mainly operates online, they have also partnered with NGOs to reach underprivileged women. According to her, a major reason women in India are still hesitant to get a divorce is because they aren't financially independent. There is no emotional support either. Parents often don't say that she can come home, but ask her to adjust and carry on, whatever the problem might be. Also, when a woman is financially dependent, she has nowhere to go-- how will she support herself and her child? The lower you go on the economic rung, the lesser the chances of a woman opting for a divorce, she adds. There is the fear of being ostracised. Before signing off she says, It is great that we are celebrating Women's Day, and having conversations about women's rights, but it is important to have such conversations every day and think about change to be made as a society to be a constant process. In its petition before the Supreme Court seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the State Bank of India over the electoral bonds scheme case, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) claimed that the bonds are completely traceable, and easily so since the bank maintains a secret number-based record of donors who buy the bonds, and the political parties they donate to. The ADR, in the petition filed on Thursday, said as per experts, the software that the bank is using to keep a record of the bonds can generate the required information on the basis of a simple query. ...since each electoral bond has a unique number, a simple query on the database can generate a report in a particular format which does not require any manual verification, it was stated in the petition. It was also contended by ADR that while the sealed envelopes are only physical instruments like a cheque, the actual transaction of the cheque being deposited is in the database that can be easily extracted by generating a software query. As per SBI's own website, SBI has 2,60,000 employees, 22,500 worldwide branches administered by a headquarters, 17 local head offices, 101 zonal offices and 208 foreign offices in 36 countries. It is hard to believe that SBI is not able to gather information which SBI has itself recorded, the petition said. It was further stated by the petitioner that as per information procured by Commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd) from an RTI application, the SBI has spent Rs 60,43,005 on IT system development, and the operational cost was Rs 89,72,338 with regard to the management of electoral bonds. The net cost for floating the bonds was Rs 1,50,15,338. The ADR filed a petition seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the SBI for wilfully and deliberately disobeying the order of the Supreme Court passed on February 15 in the electoral bonds scheme case. The SBI was asked by the court to submit details of the bonds purchased since the court's interim order on April 12, 2019, till date, to the Election Commission. The details have to include the date of purchase of each electoral bond, the name of the purchaser of the bond, and the denomination of the electoral bond purchased. The bank was also asked to submit the details of political parties which have received contributions through the bonds since April 12, 2019, till date to the EC. It has to disclose details of each bond encashed by the political parties which shall include the date of encashment and the denomination of the bond. It had to submit the details to the EC by March 6. The bank told the court that the donor details were kept in a sealed cover at the designated branches and all such sealed covers were deposited in the main branch of the applicant branch, which is located in Mumbai. Meanwhile, as per the bank's submission before the court, each political party was required to maintain a designated account in any of the 29 authorised branches. It was only in this account that the bonds received by that party could be deposited and redeemed. At the time of redemption, the original bond, the pay-in slip, would be stored in a sealed cover and sent to the SBI Mumbai main branch. As per the bank, it can thus be noted that both sets of information were being stored independently of each other and to re-match them would be a task requiring a significant amount of effort. It sought an extension of time for providing the details till the end of June. Fourteen children participating in 'Shiv Barat' on the occasion of Mahashivratri here sustained burn injuries on Friday late morning after getting electrocuted. The children, aged 10-16 years, were electrocuted from a high-tension power line passing overhead in the Sakatoura area under the Kunhari police station. Two of the children sustained 100 and 50 per cent burn injuries, respectively, while the rest 12 sustained less than 50 per cent injuries, a senior police official said. All the injured were rushed to the MBS hospital in Kota. The mishap occurred around 11.30 am-12 pm on Friday when a procession of 'Shiv Barat' was marching through Kalibasti, where one of the boys in the procession, holding a flag atop a 22-foot-high iron rod touched the high-tension line passing overhead, Kota city SP Amrita Duhan told PTI. The boy holding the flag sustained 100 per cent burn injury. The other boys who attempted to rescue him also sustained burn injuries, she said adding that one of the boys sustained 50 per cent burn injury while the rest 12 boys sustained less than 50 per cent injuries, she added. Rajasthan Minister Heeralal Nagar said an investigation has been ordered into the incident. "It's a very sad incident. Two children are seriously injured with one having 100% burns. A special team has been formed to provide all possible treatment. Officials are directed to investigate if there has been any kind of negligence," he added. The suspense over former Congress president Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Wayanad for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections ended on Friday with the party declaring its first list of candidates for the Parliamentary polls. The Congress announced its first list comprising 39 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, 17 of whom are sitting MPs. There had been speculation over Gandhi's candidature from Wayanad in the wake of the Left parties suggesting that he should not contest from the seat since it would give out a wrong message to the people about the INDIA alliance's fight against the RSS-BJP. The Left Front has put up Annie Raja, a senior leader of the CPI, as its candidate for the seat. Meanwhile, there is a growing buzz about Gandhi contesting from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, too in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Party leaders talk about Gandhi having received an enthusiastic welcome from the people of Amethi, which has been a Gandhi family stronghold, when his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra passed through the constituency recently. The Congress leader had contested from Amethi and Wayanad in the 2019 elections, losing to BJP's Smriti Irani from the UP seat. The list comprises 16 seats in Kerala, with K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary (Organisation), fielded from Alappuzha, which was the lone seat the Congress had lost in the state in the previous Lok Sabha elections. The Kerala unit leaders were assertive in their demand that Venugopal should return to the constituency and reclaim it. Vadakara MP K. Muralidharan has been shifted to Thrissur, replacing T.N. Prathapan, the only sitting MP to be dropped from the Kerala list. Prathapan is learnt to be keen to return to state politics. Shafi Parambil is the party's candidate from Vadakara. Shashi Tharoor will yet again contest from Thiruvananthapuram. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has been fielded from Rajnandgaon seat in his home state and his party colleague from the state Tamradhwaj Sahu will contest from Mahasamund. The candidatures of Baghel and Sahu are an indication that the Congress would want senior leaders to enter the fray in what the party believes is a do-or-die battle. There is, meanwhile, speculation over whether Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will contest from Gulbarga in Karnataka. The buzz gains significance in the backdrop of the thinking in the party that senior leaders should contest in the Lok Sabha elections to maximise the number of seats it can win. A day after India busted the human trafficking network, which lured several youngsters to Russia promising jobs, the Ministry of External Affairs said the nation is committed to bringing back those who became a scapegoat of the scam. During the media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, said several Indian nationals have been duped to work in the Russian army. We have strongly taken up the matter for the early discharge of such Indian nationals. Strong action has been initiated against agents who recruited them on false pretexts...We remain committed to the early release of our nationals serving as support staff with the Russian army and then eventually return home, said Jaiswal. Meanwhile, MEA also said that President Droupadi Murmu will be travelling to Mauritius for a state visit to attend the national day celebration from March 11-13. She will be attending the National Day celebrations of Mauritius on March 12. President Murmu will hold bilateral meetings with the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Prithvirajsing Roopun, and the Prime Minister of Mauritius Praveen Kumar Jagannath," he added. According to CBI officials, two Russia-based agents involved in the trafficking network were under the CBI scanner. The agents confiscated the passports of Indians arriving in Russia and forced them to fight with the armed forces, said officials. The central probe agency's FIR has listed 17 other Visa consultancy companies, their owners and agents spread across India, they said. The agency has booked them under Indian Penal Code Sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating and human trafficking. CBI alleged that even students were duped by providing them admission to dubious private universities in Russia instead of government or public universities. "They were being trained in combat roles and provided with Russian Army uniforms and batches. Thereafter, these Indian Nationals are being deployed at front bases in the Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes and put their lives in grave danger," the CBI FIR said. After busting the trafficking network, CBI conducted nationwide searches at around 13 locations in Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai. The central probe agency has booked 24x7 RAS Overseas Foundation in Delhi and its director Suyash Mukut, O S D Bros Travels and Visa Services Pvt Ltd in Mumbai and its director Rakesh Pandey, Adventure Visa Services Pvt Ltd in Chandigarh and its director Manjeet Singh, and Baba Vlogs Overseas Recruitment Solutions Pvt Ltd in Dubai and its director Faisal Abdul Mutalib Khan alias Baba among others. (With PTI inputs) Hours after National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah said that there would be no alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti responded by placing the decision in the hands of the Congress, which is part of the INDIA bloc. Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, Mufti expressed her disappointment with the National Conference's decision. She expressed her hurt feelings, saying that the NC has done what the BJP couldnt accomplish against the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a five-party alliance that seeks the restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. PAGD, also called Gupkar Alliance, was formed under the presidency of Farooq Abdullah of the NC and Mufti as vice president for the restoration of the special status and statehood for J&K. Mufti said she would talk to Congress on the matter and arrive at a decision soon. "I am a fighter. We will talk to Congress in this regard and will make our decision public soon," she said. Earlier, Omar said that his party would not concede the Anantnag-Rajouri seat to the PDP as it stood third in the last Lok Sabha polls. Speaking at a news conference in Srinagar, he said they are ready to surrender the south Kashmir-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat to the Congress but not to the PDP. He expressed readiness to unveil the chosen candidates at their convenience. "We have already finalised our candidates for all three seats of Kashmir and will extend support to Congress on both seats of Jammu as well as on the seat of Ladakh. I am ready with my candidates and will announce them at our convenience," he said. Lintec & Linnhoff, a global leader in asphalt and concrete batching plants, has signed up Middle East Development Company (Medco) a leading company dealing in premium industrial and construction equipment, as its exclusive distributor for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Medco distributor agreement will cover the full range of Lintec & Linnhoffs asphalt mixing and concrete batching plants, including but not limited to the Lintec CSD (Containerised asphalt mixing plant) and Lintec UCP (Ultra concrete batching plants). The agreement was signed by Christabel Chan, Global Business Director and Tony Chakra, Regional Sales Manager, Middle East and Africa at Lintec & Linnhoff with Mohammed Khashoggi, the Vice President at Medco on the sidelines of the recent Big 5 Construct Saudi 2024 event. The deal is aimed at reinforcing the companys firm commitment to the Saudi market. This latest announcement comes just a few weeks after Lintec & Linnhoff announced a distributor agreement with Tutt Bryant in Australia. On the key partnership, Chakra said: "Medco has represented Lintec & Linnhoff in the Middle East region over the last two years and sold several Lintec CSD Containerised Asphalt Mixing Plants and Lintec UCP Ultra Concrete Batching Plants." It will now be responsible for the sales of Lintec and Linnhoff asphalt mixing and concrete batching plants, he stated. "We are therefore confident that this partnership will help the company better serve our customers thanks to their unwavering commitment to the efficient delivery of equipment, support services and spare parts. We look forward to a highly fruitful relationship, as we continue to build our business presence in the region," he added. Medco General Manager Emad Mukhalalaty said: "We are excited to add Lintec and Linnhoff Asphalt Mixing and Concrete Batching Plants to our companys portfolio of equipment brands." "Given Lintec & Linnhoffs renowned reputation in the construction equipment market and the solid existing relationship between the two organisations, we have great confidence that this agreement will provide new and exciting opportunities for our customers across the Kingdom," he added. On March 11, the American Film Academy will name the films, actors and directors that impressed it the most last year, and for now, moviegoers can only guess which of the nominees will take home the statuettes. It is logical that films that have been recognized in many nominations have more chances, so it is likely that some will win more than one award. ADVERTISIMENT For example, the sensational Oppenheimer can claim victory in as many as 13 different categories. OBOZ.UA will tell you about the films that have many nominations this year. As we have already noted, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer impressed the Academy not only with the plot but also with cinematography, acting, direction, and more. "Best Picture", "Best Director", "Best Actor", "Best Supporting Actor", "Best Supporting Actress" are just a few of the awards that the team that worked on the film can win. The second most nominated film is Poor Things by Yorgos Lanthimos, which may receive as many as 11 awards. The director has created something extremely atypical for Hollywood, and for this he has received well-deserved recognition. ADVERTISIMENT The movie Killers of the Flower Moon rounds out the top three, having been nominated in 10 different categories. Although Leonardo DiCaprio, the main character, did not get into the Best Actor category, the film can claim awards for Best Director, Best Actress and the main statuette for Best Picture. The movie Barbie with Margot Robbie can get 8 nominations if it wins in each of them. Although it was more grossing than Oppenheimer, critics greeted the movie more coolly. ADVERTISIMENT Maestro about the life of the composer Leonard Bernstein has 7 nominations. Other works inlcude: Anatomy of a Fall - 5 nominations The Zone of Interest - 5 nominations Napoleon - 3 nominations Nyad - 2 nominations Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One - 2 nominations Society of the Snow - 2 nominations The Creator - 2 nominations Past Lives - 2 nominations Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Congress's first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is likely to see Rahul Gandhi contesting from Wayanad in Kerala again despite opposition from INDIA bloc ally CPI(M), and Amethi, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may contest from Rae Bareli, reports said. The party's Central Election Committee (CEC) met late on Thursday, and has, reportedly, finalised the names of 40 candidates. A total of 60 Lok Sabha seats from 11 states and Union Territories were discussed at the CEC meeting, which was chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Former party chief Sonia Gandhi and general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, were present at the meeting, along with other senior leaders. Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Jaipur, was supposed to join the meeting virtually but eventually decided against it. He was previously an MP from Amethi, but lost the seat in 2019. However, he won from Wayanad. Sonia Gandhi had vacated the Rae Bareli seat to contest Rajya Sabha polls. It will be the political debut for Priyanka if she decides to contest from Rae Bareli. Discussions were held on Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Lakshwadeep. In Kerala, V.D. Satheesan said the Congress will contest 16 seats in Kerala and four will be contested by its allies in the state. Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, is likely to contest from the seat again. While former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel would be fielded from Rajnandgaon, former minister Tamradhwaj Sahu is set to fight the elections from the state's Mahasamund seat. Venugopal is also among the finalised candidates, reports said. Former Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister T.S. Singhdeo would not be contesting the polls, it is learnt. AICC in-charge Delhi Deepak Babaria said a preliminary discussion took place for Delhi candidates, where the party is contesting three seats while its INDIA bloc ally AAP is contesting the remaining four. He said a discussion on Delhi seats will be held again on March 11. In Karnataka, where Congress is the ruling party, the party is unlikely to field most of the ministers. It remains to be seen whether Kharge's son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani will contest from Gulbarga, which is a Congress stronghold. The committee will meet again on Monday. Congress is yet to resolve the seat-sharing issue in Maharashtra and West Bengal, which together account for 90 seats. Last week, the BJP came out with its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. (With PTI inputs) The Enforcement Directorate on Friday attached assets worth more than Rs 50 crore of a sugar mill owned by NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar's grandnephew Rohit Pawar. The action relates to the federal agencys money laundering investigation into the alleged Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB) scam. The ED in a statement said that a total of 161.130 acres of land, plant, machinery and building of the Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (Kannad SSK) located in Kannad village of Aurangabad district has been provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The total value of these assets is Rs 50.20 crore, it said. The "acquisition" of Kannad SSK by Baramati Agro Ltd was illegal and therefore the assets are "proceeds of crime" under the PMLA, ED claimed. The agency said the MSCB, to recover an outstanding loan of Rs 80.56 crore of Kannad SSK Limited, took possession of all its assets on July 13, 2009, under the SARFAESI Act. The MSCB conducted an auction on August 30, 2012, of Kannad SSK by fixing a "very low" reserve price based on a questionable valuation report, the ED alleged. "Apart from Baramati Agro Ltd., two other parties entered into the bidding process. The bidder with the highest bid was technically disqualified on flimsy ground, whereas the other bidder was already a close business associate of Baramati Agro Ltd. with no financial capacity or experience of running a sugar unit," it said. The MSCB money laundering case stems from an August 2019 FIR of the Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Connected to the case, the ED has filed three charge sheets till now and has attached assets worth Rs 121.47 crore. A US analyst has been apprehended and accused of conspiracy and the unauthorized sale of classified information to China, sparking concerns over espionage. Sgt. Korbein Schultz was arrested at Fort Campbell in Kentucky on Thursday after investigations conducted by the FBI and US Army counterintelligence. According to reports, he was paid $42,000 in exchange for dozens of sensitive security records. The criminal conspiracy began in June 2022, according to the officials. Along with conspiracy and disclosing national defence information, Schultz is also charged with exporting technical data related to defence articles without a license, conspiracy to export defence articles without a license, and bribery of a public official. "The conduct alleged in today's indictment represents a grave betrayal of the oath sworn to defend our country," Larissa Knapp of the FBI's National Security Branch was quoted by BBC. "Instead of safeguarding national defence information, the defendant conspired with a foreign national to sell it, potentially endangering our national security, she added. According to the officials, the classified documents were provided to a contact in Hong Kong. The documents included China's military preparedness, the US's future military advancements, US plans regarding Taiwan and so on. Schultz's duties included training members of his unit on how to properly handle, store and disseminate classified and sensitive government information. According to the indictment, Schultz held a "top secret security clearance" providing him access to most sensitive secrets. Also, Schultz told Conspirator A that he wanted to turn their relationship into a long-term partnership. Earlier this week, a retired US Army colonel in Nebraska was arrested for sending alleged classified information to a person through a foreign dating website. US President Joe Biden delivered the final State of the Union of his first term on Thursday, which saw him fiercely take on former President and Republican front-runner Donald Trump, criticise Israel and vow to stand up to China and its unfair economic practise. The fiery speech that came during the pivotal election year set the stage for Biden's campaign launch and rematch with Trump later this year. The President, in a 68-minute speech that sought to allay fears and concerns over his physical and mental health, went after Trump for the January 6 insurrection, criticising his recent comments about Russia and NATO, though he never mentioned him by name. "Now my predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin, quote, Do whatever you want," Biden said. "I think its outrageous, its dangerous and its unacceptable." "My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6," said Biden, as he mentioned that "democracy is threatened like no time since the Civil War." He also homed in on abortion rights, stating those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade had no clue about the power of women in America. "If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again." Hes the reason it was overturned and brags about it," Biden said of Trump, who appointed the conservative majority to the high court that overturned Roe. The Supreme Court struck down Roe vs Wade in 2022 and three of the six conservative judges on the nine-member court were appointed by Trump. Biden also had a message for Russian President Vladimir Putin, when he said he "would not walk away" from supporting. Biden has been pushing Congress to provide additional funding to Ukraine for its war with Russia. About Israel's invasion of Gaza, Biden said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was "intolerable" and said Israel has a responsibility to protect Palestinian civilians. He also used the opportunity to announce plans for the U.S. military to help establish a temporary pier on the coast of Gaza, to boost the flow of aid into the besieged territory. He also called on the Israelis to do more to alleviate the suffering even as they try to eliminate Hamas. "To Israel, I say this humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip," Biden said. Biden also highlighted the post-Covid economic recovery and laid out the administrations plans to revamp the tax code, expand housing supply and reduce the federal budget deficit. He also mentioned India in his speech, stating that the US will revitalise partnerships with nations like India amidst China's rise. Stating that the US wants competition with China, but not conflict, Biden said the US was in a stronger position to win the competition for the 21st Century against Beijing. "We are standing up against China's unfair economic practice, standing up for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait but revitalising our partnership with allies and the Pacific, India. Australia, Japan, South and Korea," he said. "For years, all I've heard from my Republican friends and so many others is that China's on the rise and America is falling behind. They've got it backwards. America is rising," he said. "Since I've come to office, our GDP is up. And our trade deficit with China is down to the lowest point in over a decade," he said "I've made sure that the most advanced American technologies can't be used in China's weapons. Frankly, for all his tough talk on China, it never occurred to my predecessor to do that," Biden said. FILE - A Facebook employee takes a photo in front of the new Meta Platforms Inc. sign outside the company headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg promises that the virtual-reality metaverse hes planning to build will let you do almost anything. That might not be such a great idea. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File) The Jackson Zoning Board on Wednesday evening voted 5-2 to approve variances and site plans for an application to construct a nearly 6,000-square-foot mikvah along with a 1,600-square-foot Hatzolah garage on East Veterans near the Royal Grove neighborhood, Lakewood Alerts reported. The Hatzolah garage and mikvah are located on the property adjacent to Khal Lev Simchas new shul on E. Veterans, which is currently under construction. Among those testifying in support of the application was Hatzolah CEO and paramedic Elimelech Esterzohn. Hatzolah of Central Jersey, which serves Lakewood and the surrounding municipalities, released the following statement on Thursday afternoon: In an unprecedented acknowledgment of the important role Hatzolah of Central Jersey plays in the lives of all Jackson residents, the Jackson zoning board has approved HCJ application for a variance to allow for the construction of the first Hatzolah garage in Jackson right outside Royal Grove. Hatzolah of Central Jersey continues its enormous growth across the entire Central Jersey areas with new garage facilities currently in the planning stages in South and North Lakewood as well as Jackson. Hatzolah will be building three garages plus an additional headquarters that will house training and garage facilities in the coming year. Hatzolah would like to thank the residents and town officials of Jackson for their overwhelming support as we continue our lifesaving work. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) In the third session of Agudath Israel of Americas 2024 Albany Days, Agudath Israel brought together a group of yeshiva leaders and community advocates to share the communitys concerns with New York State elected officials. Following the October 7 Hamas massacre, antisemitism has risen at an alarming rate. New York State, the home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, has unfortunately borne the brunt of such attacks, with several attacks targeting Jews reported weekly. Many Jews feel unsafe to simply walk the streets of New York City with any visible signs of Jewishness and several Albany Day participants relayed incidents where they had been verbally accosted in New York City. At the forefront of Agudath Israels agenda is the doubling of the Nonpublic School Safety Equpment (NPSE) grant, which provides much needed security funding for schools. A highlight of the day was meeting with Deputy Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-12) who is leading the effort in the Senate to double the NPSE allocation. Delegates also met with New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-35), who expressed her support for New Yorks Orthodox Jewish community. At a meeting with members of Governor Kathy Hochuls staff, Agudath Israel expressed appreciation to the governor for allocating $239 million for Mandated Services Aid (MSA) in the 2024 budget. The largest source of nonpublic school funding in New York, MSA reimburses nonpublic schools for services mandated by the state, such as attendance and immunization recordkeeping. Close to 40 Senators and Assemblymembers joined the delegation for lunch, hosted by Assemblymember David Weprin (D-24). Many of the legislators addressed the delegates, committing to support New Yorks Jewish community during this difficult time. Mr. Chaskel Bennett, Agudath Israel board member, introduced Assemblymember Helene Weinstein (D-41), who just announced her intention to retire after representing the 41st district for over 40 years: I have had the honor of working closely with Assemblywoman Weinstein on behalf of our growing community for well over twenty-five years. Few, if any, have served their constituents with more respect and effectiveness. Assemblywomen Weinstein has been and continues to be the benchmark for what an elected official should have; integrity, sensitivity, honesty, and humility. The delegates also met with Assemblymembers Michael Benedetto (D-82), Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (D-42), Alec Brook-Krasny (R-46), Lester Chang (R-49), Sarah Clark (D-136), William Colton (D-47), Brian Cunningham (D-43), Emily Gallagher (D-50), Alicia Hyndman (D-29), Nikki Lucas (D-60), Michael Novakhov (R-45), and Jo Anne Simon (D-52); Senators Samra Brouk (D-55), Iwen Chu (D-17), Simcha Felder (D-22), Brian Kavanagh (D-27), John Mannion (D-50), Kevin Parker (D-21), Roxanne Persaud (D-19), and Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-23); and staff of Senators Jamaal Bailey (D-36), Nathalia Fernandez (D-34), Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-47), Andrew Lanza (R-24), and Zellnor Myrie (D-20). In todays world, our parents are particularly concerned about the safety and security of their children during their school hours. Agudath Israel is leading the charge in Albany to press our elected officials to increase funding for private school security needs, said Rabbi Pinchas Avruch, Executive Director, RJJ of Staten Island. It was my privilege to accompany the Agudah to Albany, to personally make the case to our elected officials that this funding is a top priority of their constituents. Meeting with our dedicated legislators is an integral part of making sure our communitys voice is heard, and bringing constituents straight to the legislators makes every issue the table more relatable, humanized, and crucial, said Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, director of New York government affairs. We thank all our legislators for their time spent with us and we look forward to working with them further on issues facing the community. Pirchei Agudas Yisroel of America wishes mazel tov and a tremendous yasher koach to the many boys across America who completed learning all of shishah sidrei mishnah in honor of their bar mitzvahs. Pircheis Mishnayos program encourages boys to learn mishnayos on their own during their out-of-school or vacation time. These boys took the initiative and ran with it, finishing all of shishah sidrei mishnah before their bar mitzvahs. Some boys spent nearly four years learning to reach this milestone, with some even reviewing all their learning multiple times. In honor of this momentous achievement, the mesaymim together with their families were invited to an exclusive deluxe siyum held on Sunday in The Boutique Event Space in Passaic, NJ, where the boys were treated with all the honor fitting of such hasmadah and hard work. Rabbi Yehuda Kohn, national director of Pirchei Agudas Yisroel, opened the evening with remarks and stories of the importance of limud mishnayos, and was followed by Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudas Yisroel of America. Rabbi Zwiebel praised the mesaymim, explaining the significance of their accomplishments specifically in the current difficult time. A number of the mesaymim were called up to read the last mishnah and to recite the hadran and Mr. Abe Eisner led the kaddish, followed by spirited dancing in honor of the siyum. Rabbi Labish Becker, executive director of Agudas Yisroel of America, was mechazek the boys with the knowledge that all of Klal Yisroel reaps tremendous benefits from the learning of just one individual. Rabbi Bentzion Klatzko, founder, Shabbat.com, senior manager at Olami, and father of mesayim Meyer Klatzko, then emotionally described his own experiences as a boy in Pirchei, and the lifelong impact Pirchei had on him. The simchah and kavod haTorah was palpable as each boy then received a certificate of recognition and beautiful set of Shas in honor of his achievement. Pircheis new mishnayos initiative, Mishna Rishona, has been recognized worldwide, with boys across the world being mesayim on masechtos they truly understand and have been koneh. What these boys have accomplished is nothing short of incredible. One father told me that his son knows most of mishnayos- baal peh, that is something remarkable! said Rabbi Kohn. Pirchei is extraordinarily proud of Sundays mesaymim, and we wish them much hatzlachah in their continued hasmadah. To learn more about Pircheis Mishna Rishona program please visit agudah.org/pirchei or email [email protected]. By Rabbi Yair Hoffman The question addressed in this article is whether or not that newly written Sefer Torah is actually kosher or not even though it may even have gone through a computer check. This article will also try to present the psakim issued thus far by the Gedolei HaPoskim. And thirdly, this article will give the three places to look for to see if your sefer Torah is from the problematic ones. The three problems actually turn to five problems (there were more earlier) because two of the problems cannot be seen by themselves (more on this later). But lets start at the beginning. TIKUNS THE TWO TYPES When a child or grandchild turns 12, people go to the local Seforim store and purchase a $30 tikun so that the young child will have a text without nekudos vowels from which to study for his Bar Mitzvah. Sofrim, on the other hand, purchase highly scrutinized tikuns or have copies of very special ones. This is actually a halacha (see Keses HaSofer 4:5 and SA YD 274:2). These tikuns also recommend the best spacings in order to minimize stretched out letters and tightly written ones. They also tell the sofer which sections end with blank space for the rest of the line (called a pesucha); which sections have nine spaces and then another word (called a stumah). All other sections are just written straight. The tikuns also tell the sofer which are the names of Hashem that need to be sanctified when they are written. THE H. TIKUN Six years ago, a high-tech, highly researched tikun for sofrim was released (by a reliable sofer) which we will call the H. Tikun. The H.Tikun was sold to Sofrim for roughly $250. The problem is that the H. Tikun was error-ridden because it was written and corrected on a computer and as type-setters often experience, a correction in one place can yield problems in another place. The H. Tikun was a veritable best-seller in the Safrus market. It became so, however, only in the past three years. The first three years, not so many Sofrim had used it. The H. Tikun underwent a series of updates and tweaks for different formats. Each new edition, unfortunately, caused problems elsewhere. There were numerous editions of the H. Tikun released and each different edition has its own set of issues. It must be realized and stressed that the sofer who wrote the H. Tikkun is an erlicha Jew who wished to help klal Yisroel. Unfortunately, it has created a number of problems. THE FOUR ERRORS THAT INDICATE THE USE OF THE H. TIKUN One can determine whether the sofer used the H. Tikun or not by looking in three areas. Each one of these errors would render that Torah pasul, until it is fixed, but also one must be concerned about two other errors as well (found in Parshas Mishpatim). These are the three areas of discovery but there were a multitude of issues these are three of the most common issues that can help identify them. There are many other issues depending upon which version of teh H. Tikkun was used: In Parshas Noach, (Bereishis 8:11) there should be a Pesucha there, and there is no Parsha there at all. It was written straight. Standard Torah 245 (some people have 3 extra and the Yemenite has 280) with the vov on top of every amud amudim Amud 10 42 nd line line In Parshas Vayelech (Dvarim 31:13) there should be a psucha there, but in the H. Tikun there is a stumah. Vayomer hashem is at the end of the line it should have been a pesucha and then hashem starts the next line which makes it, erroneously into a stumah. VeZos Habracha 33:12 normally should have uvain ksaifov shachain. The next line should But in the H. Tikun it was bain ksaifov space, and then on the next line it states, shachain uleyosef amar. This creates an incorrect parsha. Under Az Yashir there is a minhag cited in the Keses Hasofer (Siman 16:1) that in the fifth line under the shira the full lines the fifth line should start with vayavou. In the H. Tikun it is found as the lat word on the fourth line. This is not a psul that renders it invalid, but it is a means to identify it. THE TWO OTHER AREAS If the Torah in question was written with an H. Tikun, then there are at leat two other very pressing issues in Parshas Mishpatim. There is a Name of Hashem called Elokim (spelled, of course, with a Hay instead of a Kuf). This spelling also has another meaning which is secular or chol. When a sofer writes the Shaim Hashem he must be mekadaish it sanctify it by reciting a special formula. The H. Tikun erroneously identified two places where the word actually referred to judges or leaders and identified it as the Name of Hashem. These were in Shmos 21:6 where it states, his master shall bring him to the judges (NOT TO HASHEM), and he shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost.. and also in the words, (Shmos 23:13) other gods. The These two errors are not detectable, but if the H. Tikun was used, then there is a serious question as to how to rectify these errors. The TaZ in YD 246:2 rules that although the Ramah seems to be lenient, the implication is that it is only in that specific case, but in all others the Torah would require Genizah. At this point each shul that has such a Torah should ask their own Rav as to how to remediate the problem. There are two choices. A] Rewrite that yeriah B] Bring it to a reputable Sefardic sofer who can perform an intact peeling (if the parchment could maintain it). HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM? The author of the H. Tikun reports that he has sold only some 3000 copies of it. However, it is possible that there are both bootleg copies of the H. Tikun as well as photocopies. Since an average sofer writes a sefer in six months, the number can range from 6000 to 12000 or more. THE RULINGS Rav Moshe Shaul Klein shlita has written six rulings thus far. For the time being, Sofrim should stop using the H. Tikkun and only use the previously used Tshingel Tikun. A Sefer Torah that was known to be written with an H. Tikkun, it should still be re-checked with a Duk 5.0 computer program (version Shvat 5781 or higher) for Psuchos and Stumos. If, however, it is not known to have been written with an H. Tikkun, then there is no need to check it further. Regarding a Torah that underwent a computer check for missing or extra letters or words only once they should also undergo a second check. [YH: It seems that this is because even the Duk 5.0 computer program employs 1990s OCR technology and will often miss the extra or missing letters.] Tefillin or Mezuzos that were written with the H. Tikun, and were checked again with a different tikun and underwent correct halachic fixes are fine and do not need to be re-checked. In terms of the Holy Names we are only been aware thus far of two such errors. [YH: It could be that because of the use of Print on Demand technology there may be more to come]. If a Magiah corrected [a different sofers Torah] using an H. Tikun, there is a concern that he fixed it up erroneously. Stay tuned for part II which discusses the flaws of the current computer checking system. The author can be reached at [email protected] The South African government, which opened a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for genocide, was disgruntled that the court refused to order Israel to end the war so on Wednesday they filed another case with the ICJ, urging the court to order Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israels Foreign Ministry responded by accusing South Africa of being Hamass legal arm. South Africa continues to act as the legal arm of Hamas in an attempt to undermine Israels inherent right to defend itself and its citizens, and to release all of the hostages, a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Thursday said. The repeated requests for provisional measures made by South Africa in order to assist Hamas are yet another cynical exploitation of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which has already twice rejected the baseless attempts to deny Israel its right and obligation of self-defense. Israel acts and will continue to act in accordance with international law, including by facilitating humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, regardless of any legal proceedings. We call on the ICJ to reject outright the new request of the representatives of Hamas. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) When the classic routes of the city of Lviv are explored, tourists head for unusual attractions. Read below to find out which ones are worth visiting. ADVERTISIMENT Plasticine house The location is not far from Lychakivskyi Park. This is an ordinary residential building that the owner turned into a real work of art. The building is somewhat reminiscent of the works of Antoni Gaudi. The owner claims that the idea for the transformation came to him in a dream. The idea was realized by Lviv architect Mykola Senyk. The house looks like a scene from a cartoon. You can get there by tram #2. Get off at the Bohdan Kotyk stop. Lost toys yard The next atypical location is located on Kniazia Leva Street. It is a self-made museum of old dolls, teddy bears, broken cars, etc. It all started with a small collection of a local. Later, the man's neighbors took up the initiative. ADVERTISIMENT By the way, anyone can join the street exhibition hall. All you have to do is bring an unwanted toy. Jam factory A new art space in Lviv. It is planned to host cultural collaborations, art projects, theater performances, concerts, and festivals. In the past, the building served as an industrial facility. Then it stood empty for a long time. In 2015, it was noticed and bought by Harald Binder, a patron of science. By the way, the man studies the history of Eastern Europe and Ukraine. Last November, Jam Factory Art Center finally opened. The renovated premises are currently hosting the first exhibition dedicated to art during the war. The art space is located at 124 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street. ADVERTISIMENT Lviv Citadel The building is an example of nineteenth-century fortification art. The bastion has four round towers and a three-story barracks. All the adjacent buildings are located on the hills. In 1918, the citadel defended the capital of the Ukrainian People's Republic. During World War II, the Germans turned it into a concentration camp. In the 1950s, the Bolsheviks housed chemical weapons warehouses and the Electron production association in the towers. There were also units of the Border Military District. Unfortunately, not all the towers are well preserved to this day. The best looking is the main one, which has been turned into a hotel. The second one is just a ruin. The third one is still standing, its condition is satisfactory. The location is in the Halytskyi district of the city at 11 Hrabovskoho Street. ADVERTISIMENT Street gallery In 2015, an open-air art space was launched in Lviv. Before the war, graffiti artists were constantly updating their works here. Each exhibition was dedicated to a specific topic. The last one was the Independently/Exit project. The drawings were painted in 2021 and have not been changed since. By the way, the walls where the illustrations are placed belong to Lvivvodokanal. The company doesn't mind that they are decorated with modern masterpieces. Every year, the company prepares a "white sheet" at its own expense. The location is at 29 Zamarstynivska Street. Wooden church in Sykhiv The Church of the Holy Trinity has been standing since 1654. It managed to survive wars and revolutions. The building is truly unique because the mural has been preserved inside. There are only five examples of such structures left in Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT The church was built by order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi. It is interesting that the wooden frame was built on a stone foundation. The chapel itself is made of pine logs. The room is illuminated by an open lantern from the eighteenth century. Please note: the shrine is open only on Sundays from 7:30 to 19:30. The location is at 1-A Sadybna Street. Retro garage There are four expositions from the past on the territory of 500 square meters. Here you can see cars, bicycles, scooters, a collection of license plates, a wooden carriage, a pre-war taxi, and a police car. By the way, this is the oldest hangar and depot in Ukraine. Look for the garage at 57A Dmytro Vitovskoho Street. The location is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. ADVERTISIMENT Crossword house On Academician Andrii Sakharov Street, you can see a unique high-rise building. Its walls are painted with familiar squares. The charade used to be accompanied by booklets with questions. Those who could not solve the riddle would come to the house at night. In the dark, the building was illuminated. Then the letters applied with special paint would appear. The house is among the top 10 strangest modern buildings in Europe. Lviv knows how to surprise, and it does it every time in a new way. If you haven't visited these locations yet, be sure to visit them when you have a chance. Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Nadav Argaman, the former head of Israels domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, revealed at the INSS conference in Tel Aviv that his organization had been pushing for a surprise attack on Hamas top echelon for years, but the political leadership repeatedly rejected the idea. Argaman stated that the plan was proposed by both his predecessor and the current head of the Shin Bet, and that he himself had brought it up multiple times during his tenure under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from 2016 to 2021. If we had launched a surprise attack on Hamas, we would be in a completely different situation, Argaman said, criticizing the governments policy of viewing Hamas as a rational adversary rather than seeking to destroy it. Argaman joins a chorus of critics who argue that Israels tacit policy of buying calm has come at a high price, and that the country has become addicted to calm. He called for the resignation of Netanyahus disastrous government and blamed it for preventing the creation of an American-led coalition of Sunni Arab countries. Touching on the issue of draft exemptions for Charedim and Arab citizens, Argaman said that citizenship in Israel should be conditioned on military or national service. It should be noted that in his address, Argaman also claimed that the Palestinian Authority, which pays money to murderers of Jews in pay to slay payments is not a body that encourages terrorism. So take what he says with a grain of salt. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) An investigation by the IDF into a deadly incident in Gaza City last month has found that Israeli troops did not open fire on a humanitarian aid convoy, contrary to claims by Hamas. According to the military probe, shots were fired at several Gazans who moved towards soldiers and a tank at an IDF checkpoint, endangering troops. The investigation found that most of the casualties were caused by a stampede and being run over by the supply vehicles, while gunmen also opened fire in the area as they looted the supplies. Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of IDF Southern Command, presented the report to IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi on Tuesday, the IDF statement says. The military says it will continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident and has reiterated its commitment to enabling the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and improving existing systems. The incident, in which dozens of Palestinians were killed as they swarmed humanitarian aid trucks in Gaza City, sparked global condemnation of Israel, with countries once again taking Hamas at its word and not waiting for facts to emerge. The IDF says it will continue to work to improve the systems in place to enable the transfer of aid to those in need in the Gaza Strip. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) In your recent This is Money podcast episode 'Will the Budget cut taxes' you talked about how to avoid scams and stressed the importance of only downloading apps from trusted sources like Google Play. I just want to bring it to your attention that scams also exist on these platforms. I own a drone made by DJI, and recently I have travelled to Malta. Before my trip I wanted to make sure that the drone is up to date, and then I saw that the app I was using to control the drone needed an update. I searched on Google Play and found an app called 'Go Fly for D.J.I Drone models'. It looked like a genuine DJI app. Expensive hobby: Due to the high cost of drones, the software needed to fly them is often free for users After installing it asked for a subscription-based payment or a lifetime app purchase. It seemed so genuine that I almost paid, but wanted to double-check it with a friend who also owns the same drone. He told me to go to the official website and download it from there, and it was completely free. But it looks like their scam doesn't stop here unfortunately, as I went back to Google play and I read all the one-star reviews. People who paid for this app allegedly received random attempts from unknown companies which charged or wanted to charge debit and credit cards linked to Google Play. Adam Batki via email Harvey Dorset of This is Money replies: Given the mass of warnings from one-star reviews that you may see unknown charges on your card, it seems it is fortunate that Adam chose to check with a friend before committing to a lifetime subscription. The wealth of reviews slamming the app in question indicates that many drone owners have not been so lucky. One user, Jason Roan, commented: 'This is most certainly a scam app and I can't believe I even fell for it! No way for you to cancel a subscription and the email they tell you to send inquiries to isn't even a real email. 'Save your money, don't use this app and go to the DJI site itself for a link to the real one. Hope this scam app burns to the ground.' While another, Alec Keane, warned: 'This is a scam app. Won't let you do anything other than buy a subscription that I assume is just a ploy to get your bank info. Shady: Some reviewers of the 'Go Fly' app say it doesn't allow you to cancel your subscription 'The actual DJI Fly app is on their website so download that, it's free and no subscription is needed. Wish I realised that sooner.' Indeed, Batki, a personal trainer and swimming instructor from London, told This is Money: 'Because I had extra time to think about this dodgy app on Google play (most of the people think that everything on these app stores is legitimate, when it isn't) I didn't pay for it, and took my time to double and triple check.' 'But let's say if I wasn't this organised and I've flown all the way to Malta, and wanted to fly the drone I wouldn't be able to until I had updated it etc... Most likely I would just pay to the scammers because I would just want my drone up in the sky as soon as possible.' App stores are nothing if not unwieldy beasts. Every month, thousands of apps are added to the Google Play Store, with 62,000 apps added to the platform in November 2023 alone. Likewise, the Apple App Store saw 38,000 apps added during the same month. Unsurprisingly, with such high volumes of content, apps masquerading as legitimate can, and do, slip through the net. While the best advice is to stick to official app stores it appears that this is by no means a foolproof method. In fact, remaining diligent when using these app stores could stop you from giving up both your money and your data unwittingly. When approached by This is Money, a Google spokesperson said: 'Go Fly for D.J.I Drone models has been removed from the Play Store.' 'All Android apps undergo rigorous security testing before appearing in Google Play and Google Play Protect scans 125 billion apps daily to make sure that everything remains spot on.' Just days later, however, the app was back up and running on the Google Play Store. The developer of the app, Smart Widget Labs Co Ltd, which is based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, did not respond to a request for comment on Batki's experience with the app. This is Money also spoke to Laura Kankaala, threat intelligence lead at F-Secure, who explained how you can spot the signs of a fraudulent app. Misleading reviews: Laura Kankaala warns that malicious apps can buy bulk reviews to boost their rating How can you spot scam or misleading apps on app stores? First things first, Kankaala said, is to check whether the developer of the app is who you expected it to be. 'On legitimate App stores you can check who is the developer of the app,' she said, 'For instance, if you're downloading the Facebook app on your phone, the developer should be Meta Platforms, Inc. Check the developer details and what kind of other apps they have uploaded.' If you are suspicious of an app, Kankaala suggests looking for the app via a company's website. 'If you want to download a specific app, visit the official website of the app, service or company using your browser. Typically, they have linked the official versions of the app on their site,' she said. On Android devices, you will also have the option of running a mobile security or antivirus scan, if you think that you may have installed a malicious app. If you have downloaded an app, Kankaala also warned that you should go over the permissions that the app has been granted on your device, and ensure that these aren't excessive. She added: 'These permissions could be access to your contact lists, text messages, images, location - you can disable any suspicious app permissions and re-enable if the app ceases to function without them. There are some very dangerous permissions on Android devices such as Device Admin, or Notification Listener, which are not needed, unless the app needs these to function. 'Accessibility features should be used to assist people with disabilities to use apps on their phone, but unfortunately these permissions are routinely misused to steal dataAccessibility features can also generate taps on behalf of the users, to carry out potentially risky and unwanted operations, such as install additional apps.' Best advice: In general, it is recommended that you avoid using non-official app stores to download software Even though Google and Apple try to remove fraudulent apps from their platforms, it is wise to always be vigilant, and don't take for granted the safety of these app stores. Kankaala said: 'There's constant monitoring for malicious apps, but unfortunately, it's a cat and mouse game.' 'The actual malware, malicious apps, are constantly looking for ways how to bypass security mechanisms and protections set in place. And sometimes the apps are not "malicious" per se - but are involved in shady practices, hoping that people for instance enable a weekly subscription and forget about it.' Should I check out the reviews? Leaving a bad review is an easy way to let others know that you have a had a poor experience with an app. However, more often than not, dodgy apps have plenty of five-star reviews to counteract the negatives. Kankaala said: 'Fake reviews and stars are used to boost the app and make it appear closer to the top of the search results when people are searching for apps. It's more likely that people will download the app if it seemingly has a lot of reviews and stars. 'This same tactic can be used by malicious or misleading apps - they want to boost them so that people would end up downloading them, instead of legitimate apps.' For scammers, amassing a horde of good reviews to outweigh the bad is as simple as making a quick purchase, making it harder than ever for consumers to get a real picture of the app they are downloading. 'It's very easy and inexpensive to purchase reviews and stars for an app. There are many different websites and platforms that claim to write reviews in multiple languages, and their pricing varies from app conversion rates (or how many installs the reviews are generating) to bulk prices,' she said. 'My rule of thumb is to look at the negative reviews and take those more seriously than the positive ones, because they could expose some scammy or misleading behaviour of the apps.' What risks can these apps pose? The chief risk is allowing an app to gather your data, which can then be sold or used for marketing. Apps that install malware onto your device can be used to steal sensitive data that they cannot legally collect. Kankaala said: 'Data that criminals behind malware want to steal are credentials, credit card information, multi-factor authentication tokens and so on. Malware can lead to actual financial consequences for the victim. 'Finally, the unwanted subscriptions are [a popular method used by scammers] and can lead to financial losses if they are not tackled early on.' If you think you are being charged for a subscription you don't think you signed up for, then it might not be too late to get your money back. Kankaala added: 'Check your subscriptions and cancel those that you're not actively using. If you've been scammed, or for instance your child accidentally subscribed in an app, you can try to get a refund from the app store. 'It should be noted that if you just delete the app, the subscription may still remain active and billing will continue. The creators of these misleading apps are relying on the fact that people forget to unsubscribe.' The boss of Aviva has shrugged off talk that the insurance group is now a takeover target as foreign predators circle British companies. Announcing a share buyback and a higher dividend on the back of rising profits, chief executive Amanda Blanc hailed a significant improvement since she took over three years ago. And with takeover speculation swirling, she said: The best defence of any organisation is to have a strong performance. And that is what you have seen from Aviva. So am I worried about it? No, I am not. Our prospects have never been better. Profits boost: Aviva boss Amanda Blanc hailed a 'significant improvement' since she took over three years ago Her comments come amid a frenzy of takeover activity with haulier Wincanton and telecoms testing group Spirent set to fall into US hands, while Currys and Direct Line are also attracting attention from overseas. Fund managers at JO Hambro Capital Management, a top ten investor in Currys, this week attacked the low-ball approaches by international predators. Clive Beagles and James Lowen, senior managers at the fund, said the interest in Currys clearly shows the absurdity of UK stock-market valuations. Richard Bernstein, boss of activist investor Crystal Amber, has also raised alarm bells, saying US buyers in particular understand that theyre acquiring bargains. Aviva is said to be in the sights of Italian insurer Generali. Blanc, who became Avivas first female chief in 2020 and saw her pay rise from 5.4million to 6.6million last year, described the speculation as largely market chatter. It came as Aviva outlined plans to hand 300million back to investors through a share buyback and has improved its dividend after a jump in profits. The FTSE 100 firm told shareholders group operating profits rose 9 per cent to 1.47billion in 2023 compared with the previous year. The increase was aided by strong rises in its general insurance, health and retirement divisions. General insurance premiums increased by 16 per cent to 6.64billion for the year, with a 24 per cent increase in personal lines premiums. The protection and health business saw sales were up by 16 per cent amid an improved uptake in health insurance. Retirement sales soared by 14 per cent to 7.1billion, which was driven by increased bulk purchase annuity transactions. As a result of the improved financial performance, Aviva announced a share buyback programme to purchase 300million in shares from investors. It also confirmed a total dividend per share of 33.4p for the year. The firm said it plans to reach operating profits of 2billion by 2026. Blanc said: Sales are up, costs are down, and operating profit is 9 per cent higher. Our position as the UKs leading diversified insurer, with major businesses in Canada and Ireland, is clearly delivering. Shares rose 1.6 per cent, or 7.3p, to 462,2p, valuing Aviva at 12.7billion. Nationwide and Virgin Money have agreed to join forces to create the second biggest savings and loans group in the UK. The building society will pay 220p a share, or 2.9billion, for Virgin Money, which was set up by Richard Branson in 1995 and pays the tycoon to use the Virgin name. The proposed deal will create a business with 366billion of assets and almost 700 branches as Nationwide steps up its battle with the big High Street banks. Nationwide will continue to use the Virgin Money brand until at least 2030 but eventually the name will vanish from the High Street. The plan will see yet another FTSE 250 firm leave the London stock market following a wave of mergers and acquisitions. Nationwide, led by chief exec Debbie Crosbie (pictured), will pay 2.9bn, for Virgin Money, which was set up by Richard Branson in 1995 After being founded by Branson, Virgin Money expanded with the purchase of Northern Rock from the Government after the 2008 financial crisis. Virgin Money was later bought by Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank for 1.7billion in 2018. In the medium-term, Virgin Money will be a separate legal entity within the Nationwide group, with a separate board and banking licence. There will be no changes to Virgin Moneys 7,300 employees in the near-term, the announcement said. Nationwides offer of 220p per Virgin Money share was a 38 per cent premium to the banks closing price on Wednesday. Virgin Money shares rose 35 per cent, or 55.65p, to 214.7p yesterday. The building societys mutual members do not need to approve the deal for it to go ahead. But it does need the green light from Virgin Money shareholders. The board has said it is minded to recommend the offer to investors. Nationwide chief executive Debbie Crosbie said: Nationwide will remain a building society and a combined group would bring the benefits of fairer banking and mutual ownership to more people in the UK, including our continuing commitment to retain existing branches. AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said: Nationwide is effectively pouncing on Virgin Money at a time when prospects are improving for its industry. This is slightly unusual as companies often buy rivals at precisely the wrong time namely acquiring at the top of the market when everything looks good and then overpaying for deals, rather than taking bold steps and acquiring when everything looks bad and valuations are weak. He added: We might get interest from other parties now that Nationwide has thrown its hat into the ring, or shareholders might push for a better price. Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: A mutual taking over a listed bank is a rare move, but Nationwide clearly does not want to be stuck in the past and wants the knowhow and access to scoop up future customers. Barclays said last month it would buy Tescos banking operations and it is thought Nationwides swoop on Virgin Money could spark further merger and acquisition activity. With the outlook for the UK economy stabilising, we wouldnt be surprised to see more deals like this, said RBC Capital Markets analyst Benjamin Toms. Pay rise: BAE boss Charles Woodburn earned 13.5m in 2023, up from 12m the year before The boss of Britains biggest defence company scooped his biggest pay cheque last year taking his total earnings to almost 50million since becoming chief executive in 2017. BAE Systems chief executive Charles Woodburn was handed 13.5million in 2023, up from 12million the year before. That took his total earnings to 46million putting him among the highest-paid Footsie bosses. AstraZeneca chief Pascal Soriot received 16.9million last year, while Erik Engstrom, of data analytics Relx, took home 13.6million and GSK boss Dame Emma Walmsley landed 12.7million. Fat cat pay has been high on the Citys agenda, with David Schwimmer, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), saying that UK companies should reward executives more to compete with US businesses. LSEG is canvassing shareholders to approve a new 11million pay deal for Schwimmer double his 6.25million in 2023. Since Woodburn has been in charge, BAE shares have risen to 1272p, from 631.5p in 2017. It has cashed in on geopolitical tensions and, this year, it donated its M777 howitzers to Ukraine. Nato members are being urged to honour their commitments, with Woodburn backing the USs calls for European nations to increase defence spending to at least the 2 per cent target. He said Natos leadership had made it clear that the target was a minimum and not a maximum. The departing boss of Marks and Spencer has been tipped to run John Lewis. Katie Bickerstaffe, who was the first woman to lead M&S when she was made co-chief executive two years ago, is leaving the company in July. She has helped oversee a revival at the High Street giant but much of the credit has gone to chairman Archie Norman and her fellow boss Stuart Machin. Machin was appointed alongside Bickerstaffe in March 2022 but was handed the more senior job title of chief executive without the co. He will now take sole control of the company. Analysts at BNP Paribas said: The title co-CEO always seemed generous. Stepping down: M&S boss Katie Bickerstaffe is leaving the company in July Industry experts said Bickerstaffes departure could pave the way for her to become chairman of the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) when Sharon White leaves next year. Retail analyst Nick Bubb, who described her appointment as co-chief of M&S when Machin appeared to be handed a more senior role as not just any fudge but an M&S fudge, said it was no real surprise she wants to leave. He added: Could she be the answer to JLPs problems? I think she would be a terrific replacement for Sharon White. Bickerstaffe said: I took on the co-CEO role to support Stuart as he succeeded to chief executive officer and because of my love for the brand and my determination to see the transformation of M&S through to the next stage. We have built a strong team, made great progress, and it is now right that the business and function heads report directly to Stuart. I will leave with great memories and a strong sense of achievement. She is reportedly going to take a non-executive director role at Kingfisher, but the B&Q owner declined to comment. Bickerstaffe has helped M&S back into fashion after years in the doldrums, including a triumphant return to the FTSE 100 last year. But Machin has been more in the limelight. AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said: The co-CEO structure is always a difficult one to maintain as it presents the risk of a power struggle. It looked as if Machin had the upper hand from the day their co-leadership was announced. He was always referred to as chief executive without any co in his title. She was often attributed as supporting Machin, which implied being a deputy. Penserra Capital Management LLC grew its position in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 2.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 1,041,332 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 28,166 shares during the period. Procter & Gamble comprises approximately 3.1% of Penserra Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position. Penserra Capital Management LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $151,888,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Wunderlich Capital Managemnt acquired a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble during the 2nd quarter worth about $40,000. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in Procter & Gamble during the 2nd quarter valued at about $50,000. CGC Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in Procter & Gamble during the 2nd quarter valued at about $55,000. VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Procter & Gamble during the 2nd quarter valued at about $60,000. Finally, RVW Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $77,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.43% of the companys stock. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research report on Monday, November 13th. They set a buy rating and a $177.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $156.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. StockNews.com cut shares of Procter & Gamble from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Procter & Gamble in a report on Friday, March 1st. They set a neutral rating and a $168.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $167.53. Procter & Gamble Stock Performance Procter & Gamble stock traded up $1.03 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $160.60. 1,620,827 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,086,152. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 12-month low of $136.10 and a 12-month high of $161.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.64. The stock has a market cap of $377.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 0.44. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $154.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $151.31. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $21.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.48 billion. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 17.60% and a return on equity of 34.04%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.59 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.45 EPS for the current year. Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Investors of record on Friday, January 19th were paid a $0.9407 dividend. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 18th. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.98%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Procter & Gamble news, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 74,443 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.30, for a total transaction of $11,412,111.90. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 973 shares in the company, valued at $149,160.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 74,443 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.30, for a total transaction of $11,412,111.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 973 shares in the company, valued at $149,160.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 776 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.11, for a total transaction of $122,693.36. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 4,859 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $768,256.49. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 279,063 shares of company stock worth $43,187,745. Insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble Company Profile (Free Report) The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Procter & Gamble Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procter & Gamble and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of America reaffirmed their underperform rating on shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate (NYSE:ACRE Free Report) in a report released on Monday morning, MarketBeat reports. They currently have a $7.00 price objective on the real estate investment trusts stock, down from their prior price objective of $11.00. A number of other analysts have also issued reports on ACRE. JMP Securities lowered shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate from $10.25 to $8.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 26th. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. They issued a neutral rating and a $10.50 price objective for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Ares Commercial Real Estate from $9.50 to $8.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have issued a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $9.36. Get Ares Commercial Real Estate alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on ACRE Ares Commercial Real Estate Price Performance Ares Commercial Real Estate Cuts Dividend NYSE:ACRE opened at $7.44 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $404.61 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.33 and a beta of 1.41. Ares Commercial Real Estate has a 12-month low of $7.15 and a 12-month high of $11.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.42. The companys 50-day moving average is $9.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is $9.66. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 13.45%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. Ares Commercial Real Estates dividend payout ratio is currently -183.33%. Insider Activity at Ares Commercial Real Estate In other Ares Commercial Real Estate news, VP Anton Feingold sold 5,890 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.37, for a total value of $61,079.30. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 68,975 shares in the company, valued at $715,270.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Ares Commercial Real Estate news, VP Anton Feingold sold 5,890 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.37, for a total value of $61,079.30. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 68,975 shares in the company, valued at $715,270.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Bryan Patrick Donohoe sold 18,868 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.32, for a total transaction of $194,717.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 197,414 shares in the company, valued at $2,037,312.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.95% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ares Commercial Real Estate Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Millennium Management LLC purchased a new position in Ares Commercial Real Estate during the 2nd quarter valued at about $8,022,000. MGO One Seven LLC grew its stake in Ares Commercial Real Estate by 2,609.3% during the 4th quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 570,331 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,909,000 after acquiring an additional 549,280 shares in the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Ares Commercial Real Estate by 605.8% during the 3rd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management LLC now owns 619,937 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $6,478,000 after acquiring an additional 532,103 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in Ares Commercial Real Estate by 62.3% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,145,612 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $10,414,000 after acquiring an additional 439,585 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in Ares Commercial Real Estate by 8.6% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,294,662 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $44,879,000 after acquiring an additional 339,231 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 38.37% of the companys stock. About Ares Commercial Real Estate (Get Free Report) Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, a specialty finance company, originates and invests in commercial real estate (CRE) loans and related investments in the United States. It provides a range of financing solutions for the owners, operators, and sponsors of CRE properties. The company originates senior mortgage loans, subordinate debt and preferred equity products, mezzanine loans, and other CRE investments, including commercial mortgage-backed securities. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Ares Commercial Real Estate Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ares Commercial Real Estate and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. On March 7, China's Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui visited Ukraine during a "diplomatic tour" and met with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities. The Chinese delegation also arrived in Kyiv along with the special representative. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported on the website of the Office of the President. The Chinese spoke with the head of the Presidential Office Andrii Yermak, his deputies, representatives of the Ministry of Defense, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. In Kyiv, the Chinese delegation was briefed on the situation on the battlefield and the work of the grain corridor. The Chinese were also told about the return of prisoners of war, the protection of civilian hostages, and the return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia. Among other things, Li Hui and members of the Chinese delegation were shown the wreckage of a downed North Korean missile and told how Russia uses components from third countries to produce weapons (as you know, many Chinese-made parts have been found in downed Russian drones). ADVERTISIMENT They familiarized the Chinese representatives with nuclear and radiation safety in times of war and described the situation at ZNPP. The Ukrainian authorities also discussed the Ukraine's Peace Formula and raised the issue of how China can help stop the forced deportation of Ukrainian children, facilitate the exchange of prisoners, as well as the demilitarization and de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. It should be noted that Li Hui has already visited Moscow and Brussels as part of his "tour". Russia used the visit of the Chinese special representative to promote the topic of the talks. The European Union called on China to control the flow of dual-use goods to Russia. ADVERTISIMENT As reported, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China said the purpose of Li Hui's "tour " is to "promote a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis". As part of the trip, the high-ranking diplomat was to visit Brussels, Poland, Germany, France, as well as Russia and Ukraine. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Barclays cut shares of Ambev (NYSE:ABEV Free Report) from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report released on Monday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has $3.00 target price on the stock, down from their previous target price of $3.50. A number of other brokerages have also commented on ABEV. TheStreet raised Ambev from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Morgan Stanley raised Ambev from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, December 8th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Ambev in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. They set a hold rating and a $2.86 price objective for the company. Citigroup began coverage on Ambev in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a neutral rating on shares of Ambev in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Ambev presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $3.20. Get Ambev alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on ABEV Ambev Stock Performance Ambev Cuts Dividend Shares of ABEV stock opened at $2.55 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $2.65 and a 200 day moving average of $2.69. Ambev has a 52 week low of $2.42 and a 52 week high of $3.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.14, a PEG ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The company also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 26th were paid a $0.1443 dividend. This represents a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 22nd. Ambevs payout ratio is 138.89%. Institutional Trading of Ambev A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABEV. Perennial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Ambev during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Ambev during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new position in shares of Ambev during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Ieq Capital LLC bought a new position in Ambev in the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its position in Ambev by 117.5% in the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 8,233 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 4,448 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 8.37% of the companys stock. Ambev Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ambev SA, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of beer, draft beer, carbonated soft drinks, other non-alcoholic beverages, malt, and food products. It offers beer primarily under the Skol, Brahma, Antarctica, Brahva, Budweiser, Bud Light, Beck, Leffe and Hoegaarden, Bucanero, Cristal, Mayabe, Presidente, Presidente Light, Brahma Light, Bohemia, The One, Corona, Modelo Especial, Stella Artois, Quilmes Clasica, Pacena, Taquina, Huari, Becker, Cusquena, Michelob Ultra, Busch, Pilsen, Ouro Fino, Banks, Deputy, Patricia, Labatt Blue, Alexander Keith's, and Kokanee brands. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ambev Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ambev and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CHPT Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 89,650,000 shares, a growth of 5.3% from the January 31st total of 85,100,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 17,070,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 5.3 days. Currently, 24.9% of the companys shares are short sold. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts recently commented on the company. Needham & Company LLC reduced their target price on ChargePoint from $4.00 to $3.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. UBS Group cut ChargePoint from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their target price for the company from $9.00 to $2.25 in a report on Tuesday, November 28th. Roth Mkm cut ChargePoint from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their target price for the company from $11.00 to $2.00 in a report on Friday, November 17th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $3.00 target price (down from $3.50) on shares of ChargePoint in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Citigroup cut their price target on ChargePoint from $8.25 to $2.40 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 8th. Fourteen 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, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $6.17. Get ChargePoint alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on CHPT Insider Activity Institutional Investors Weigh In On ChargePoint In other news, insider Michael D. Hughes sold 13,995 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.42, for a total value of $33,867.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 855,947 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,071,391.74. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Insiders sold 38,375 shares of company stock valued at $92,868 over the last quarter. 12.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. bought a new stake in ChargePoint in the 3rd quarter valued at about $43,000. First Manhattan Co. raised its stake in ChargePoint by 65.4% in the 1st quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 3,085 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 1,220 shares during the period. American International Group Inc. raised its stake in ChargePoint by 30.0% in the 2nd quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 3,101 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 716 shares during the period. Hollencrest Capital Management raised its stake in ChargePoint by 162.2% in the 1st quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 3,395 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 2,100 shares during the period. Finally, Trium Capital LLP bought a new stake in ChargePoint in the 1st quarter valued at about $37,000. 45.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. ChargePoint Trading Up 0.8 % Shares of ChargePoint stock opened at $1.95 on Friday. ChargePoint has a 1 year low of $1.56 and a 1 year high of $10.72. The firm has a market cap of $813.07 million, a PE ratio of -1.57 and a beta of 1.63. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $2.03 and a 200-day moving average price of $3.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 2.34 and a quick ratio of 1.77. ChargePoint (NYSE:CHPT Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, December 6th. The company reported ($0.43) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.31) by ($0.12). ChargePoint had a negative net margin of 90.32% and a negative return on equity of 124.81%. The business had revenue of $110.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $124.92 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($0.24) earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that ChargePoint will post -0.65 EPS for the current year. ChargePoint Company Profile (Get Free Report) ChargePoint Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides electric vehicle (EV) charging networks and charging solutions in the United States and internationally. It offers a portfolio of hardware, software, and services for commercial, fleet, and residential customers. ChargePoint Holdings, Inc was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Campbell, California. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for ChargePoint Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ChargePoint and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (TSE:INE Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$13.36. A number of analysts recently issued reports on INE shares. Desjardins decreased their target price on shares of Innergex Renewable Energy from C$14.50 to C$14.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. Raymond James decreased their price target on shares of Innergex Renewable Energy from C$15.00 to C$13.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. TD Securities decreased their price target on shares of Innergex Renewable Energy from C$12.00 to C$10.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Innergex Renewable Energy from C$13.00 to C$11.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 12th. Finally, CIBC lifted their price target on shares of Innergex Renewable Energy from C$9.00 to C$9.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Get Innergex Renewable Energy alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Innergex Renewable Energy Insiders Place Their Bets Innergex Renewable Energy Stock Up 3.0 % In other news, Director Richard Gagnon acquired 3,125 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were purchased at an average price of C$8.13 per share, for a total transaction of C$25,408.75. In related news, Director Richard Gagnon bought 3,125 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$8.13 per share, for a total transaction of C$25,408.75. Also, Senior Officer Jean Trudel bought 13,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 26th. The stock was bought at an average price of C$7.68 per share, for a total transaction of C$99,840.00. 24.02% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Shares of TSE INE opened at C$8.69 on Friday. Innergex Renewable Energy has a 1 year low of C$7.05 and a 1 year high of C$15.23. The firms 50 day moving average price is C$8.57 and its 200 day moving average price is C$9.68. The firm has a market cap of C$1.78 billion, a P/E ratio of -17.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 20.61 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 544.43, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.92. Innergex Renewable Energy Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be issued a $0.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.14%. Innergex Renewable Energys dividend payout ratio is currently -70.59%. About Innergex Renewable Energy (Get Free Report Innergex Renewable Energy Inc operates as an independent renewable power producer in Canada, the United States, France, and Chile. It acquires, owns, develops, and operates renewable power-generating and energy storage facilities primarily in hydroelectric, wind, and solar power sectors. The company operates through three segments: Hydroelectric Power Generation, Wind Power Generation, and Solar Power Generation. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Innergex Renewable Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Innergex Renewable Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. William Blair reiterated their outperform rating on shares of Similarweb (NYSE:SMWB Free Report) in a report issued on Tuesday morning, RTT News reports. Other research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Similarweb from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a buy rating and set a $10.00 target price on shares of Similarweb in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of Similarweb from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $6.00 to $10.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $9.75. Get Similarweb alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Similarweb Similarweb Stock Performance Shares of NYSE SMWB opened at $9.28 on Tuesday. Similarweb has a 52-week low of $4.58 and a 52-week high of $9.48. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $6.78 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $5.98. Similarweb (NYSE:SMWB Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported ($0.04) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.05) by $0.01. Similarweb had a negative net margin of 13.47% and a negative return on equity of 203.38%. The firm had revenue of $56.76 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $55.90 million. On average, equities analysts forecast that Similarweb will post -0.2 earnings per share for the current year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Similarweb Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Y.D. More Investments Ltd bought a new position in shares of Similarweb in the third quarter valued at approximately $8,960,000. Pathstone Family Office LLC bought a new position in shares of Similarweb in the third quarter valued at approximately $227,000. Swiss National Bank bought a new position in shares of Similarweb in the third quarter valued at approximately $391,000. Barclays PLC boosted its position in shares of Similarweb by 737.4% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 4,966 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 4,373 shares during the period. Finally, Ulysses Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Similarweb by 0.7% in the second quarter. Ulysses Management LLC now owns 2,283,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,978,000 after acquiring an additional 15,961 shares during the period. Similarweb Company Profile (Get Free Report) Similarweb Ltd. provides a platform for digital intelligence in the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, the United Kingdom, Israel, and internationally. It offers digital research intelligence solutions that allow senior leaders, strategy, business intelligence, and consumer insights teams to benchmark performance against competitors and market leaders, analyze trends in the market, conduct deeper research into specific companies, and analyze audience behavior; and digital marketing intelligence solutions, which enable marketing leaders, search engine optimization, and content managers, pay-per-click, performance marketers, affiliate marketers, and media buyers to understand their competitors' online acquisition strategies in each marketing channel. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Similarweb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Similarweb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT Free Report) Research analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q4 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Textron in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, March 5th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the aerospace company will earn $2.05 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $1.97. The consensus estimate for Textrons current full-year earnings is $6.27 per share. Get Textron alerts: TXT has been the subject of a number of other reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $98.00 price target on shares of Textron in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Textron from $84.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. StockNews.com raised Textron from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Citigroup increased their target price on Textron from $102.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on Textron from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, four 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 target price of $87.50. Textron Stock Performance NYSE TXT opened at $90.33 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $17.42 billion, a PE ratio of 19.77, a P/E/G ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.92, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. Textron has a twelve month low of $61.27 and a twelve month high of $91.28. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $83.93 and a 200-day simple moving average of $79.61. Textron (NYSE:TXT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The aerospace company reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $3.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.97 billion. Textron had a return on equity of 16.05% and a net margin of 6.73%. The companys revenue was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.07 EPS. Textron Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a $0.02 dividend. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.09%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Textrons dividend payout ratio is currently 1.75%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Textron Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. CVA Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in Textron in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp raised its position in Textron by 109.0% in the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 443 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont acquired a new stake in Textron in the 3rd quarter valued at about $37,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its position in Textron by 393.9% in the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 489 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morton Brown Family Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Textron in the 4th quarter valued at about $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.92% of the companys stock. Textron Company Profile (Get Free Report) Textron Inc operates in the aircraft, defense, industrial, and finance businesses worldwide. It operates through six segments: Textron Aviation, Bell, Textron Systems, Industrial, Textron eAviation, and Finance. The Textron Aviation segment manufactures, sells, and services business jets, turboprop and piston engine aircraft, and military trainer and defense aircraft; and offers maintenance, inspection, and repair services, as well as sells commercial parts. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Textron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Textron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY Free Report) Investment analysts at William Blair upped their FY2024 earnings estimates for Korn Ferry in a report released on Thursday, March 7th. William Blair analyst T. Romeo now forecasts that the business services provider will post earnings of $4.17 per share for the year, up from their prior forecast of $3.98. William Blair currently has a Outperform rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Korn Ferrys current full-year earnings is $4.00 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for Korn Ferrys Q4 2024 earnings at $1.13 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $1.19 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $1.23 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $4.64 EPS. Get Korn Ferry alerts: Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on KFY. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Korn Ferry from $62.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Korn Ferry from $64.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday. StockNews.com raised shares of Korn Ferry from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Korn Ferry from $55.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.75. Korn Ferry Stock Up 0.2 % KFY stock opened at $65.03 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.86. Korn Ferry has a 1-year low of $44.45 and a 1-year high of $69.69. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $58.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $53.43. The firm has a market cap of $3.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.50 and a beta of 1.47. Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 6th. The business services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.08. Korn Ferry had a net margin of 5.34% and a return on equity of 12.59%. The firm had revenue of $676.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $657.91 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.01 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. Korn Ferry Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.33 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 26th. This represents a $1.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.03%. Korn Ferrys dividend payout ratio is currently 45.67%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Korn Ferry Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in KFY. Citigroup Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Korn Ferry by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 51,547 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $3,347,000 after purchasing an additional 2,163 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in shares of Korn Ferry by 1.5% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 16,129 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,073,000 after buying an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Korn Ferry by 55.4% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 28,741 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,866,000 after buying an additional 10,248 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its holdings in shares of Korn Ferry by 1.4% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 151,154 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $9,816,000 after buying an additional 2,031 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Korn Ferry by 0.3% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,381,765 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $544,312,000 after buying an additional 28,155 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.15% of the companys stock. Korn Ferry Company Profile (Get Free Report) Korn Ferry, together with its subsidiaries, provides organizational consulting services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consulting, Digital, Executive Search, and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) & Professional Search. The company provides executive search services to recruit board level, chief executive, other senior executive, and general management talent of organizations. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Korn Ferry Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Korn Ferry and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sei Investments Co. increased its position in iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWN Free Report) by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 311,841 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 11,270 shares during the quarter. Sei Investments Co.s holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF were worth $42,271,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF in the third quarter worth about $686,000. Summit Financial LLC raised its position in iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 6.1% during the third quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 9,696 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,323,000 after purchasing an additional 555 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC raised its position in iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 8.6% during the second quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 3,108 shares of the companys stock valued at $463,000 after purchasing an additional 245 shares during the period. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. raised its position in iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 2.4% during the second quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 128,287 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,063,000 after purchasing an additional 3,060 shares during the period. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC raised its position in 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 purchasing an additional 778 shares during the period. Get iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF Price Performance Shares of IWN stock opened at $154.53 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $12.40 billion, a PE ratio of 9.40 and a beta of 1.15. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $150.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $143.15. iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF has a 1 year low of $124.97 and a 1 year 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH Free Report) by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,338,715 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 13,534 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. owned approximately 0.37% of American Homes 4 Rent worth $45,101,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of American Homes 4 Rent during the 4th quarter valued at about $619,235,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 31.4% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 21,539,167 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $763,564,000 after purchasing an additional 5,152,089 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 5,494.4% during the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,876,063 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $172,808,000 after purchasing an additional 4,788,904 shares during the last quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 725.9% during the 1st quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC now owns 4,816,638 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $192,810,000 after purchasing an additional 4,233,435 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 8.9% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 43,405,083 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,737,505,000 after purchasing an additional 3,533,157 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.97% of the companys stock. Get American Homes 4 Rent alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on American Homes 4 Rent in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a buy rating and a $40.00 price target on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded American Homes 4 Rent from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the stock from $34.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. StockNews.com lowered American Homes 4 Rent from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $39.00 price target on shares of American Homes 4 Rent in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Finally, BNP Paribas started coverage on American Homes 4 Rent in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. They set an outperform rating and a $42.00 price target on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, American Homes 4 Rent has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $38.46. American Homes 4 Rent Trading Down 0.1 % American Homes 4 Rent stock opened at $36.51 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $35.48 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $35.22. American Homes 4 Rent has a 12 month low of $28.78 and a 12 month high of $37.97. The company has a market capitalization of $13.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.70. American Homes 4 Rent Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a $0.26 dividend. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.85%. This is an increase from American Homes 4 Rents previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. American Homes 4 Rents payout ratio is 88.00%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other American Homes 4 Rent news, Director Matthew J. Hart sold 7,263 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.76, for a total value of $266,987.88. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 41,336 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,519,511.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Matthew J. Hart sold 7,263 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.76, for a total value of $266,987.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 41,336 shares in the company, valued at $1,519,511.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Brian Reitz sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.53, for a total value of $106,590.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 35,343 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,255,736.79. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 6.32% of the companys stock. American Homes 4 Rent Company Profile (Free Report) American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH), which does business as AMH, is a leading owner, operator and developer of single-family rental homes. We're an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing and managing homes as rental properties. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for American Homes 4 Rent Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Homes 4 Rent and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Seven Eight Capital LP decreased its stake in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report) by 50.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 315 shares of the companys stock after selling 320 shares during the period. Seven Eight Capital LPs holdings in AutoZone were worth $800,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. State Street Corp boosted its stake in AutoZone by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 809,113 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,017,410,000 after purchasing an additional 11,438 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in AutoZone by 107,977.3% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 699,260 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,724,500,000 after purchasing an additional 698,613 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in AutoZone by 368.0% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 411,450 shares of the companys stock valued at $841,242,000 after purchasing an additional 323,536 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in AutoZone during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $658,788,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in AutoZone by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 263,346 shares of the companys stock valued at $649,460,000 after purchasing an additional 4,838 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.34% of the companys stock. Get AutoZone alerts: AutoZone Price Performance AZO stock opened at $3,124.01 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $2,754.27 and a 200 day moving average price of $2,637.40. AutoZone, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $2,277.88 and a fifty-two week high of $3,152.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.00, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.70. Insider Activity at AutoZone AutoZone ( NYSE:AZO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The company reported $28.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $26.08 by $2.81. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 56.06% and a net margin of 14.70%. The firm had revenue of $3.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.32 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $24.64 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that AutoZone, Inc. will post 150.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other news, COO Thomas B. Newbern sold 7,800 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction on Friday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,551.62, for a total value of $19,902,636.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,519 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,427,530.78. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, COO Thomas B. Newbern sold 7,800 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction on Friday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,551.62, for a total value of $19,902,636.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,519 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,427,530.78. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Grant E. Mcgee sold 693 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,654.14, for a total value of $1,839,319.02. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 251 shares of the companys stock, valued at $666,189.14. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 14,807 shares of company stock valued at $39,669,061 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 2.50% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades AZO has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Wedbush increased their target price on AutoZone from $2,950.00 to $3,400.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Stephens increased their target price on AutoZone from $3,000.00 to $3,070.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Raymond James upgraded AutoZone from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $2,850.00 to $3,100.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. Barclays raised their price objective on AutoZone from $2,779.00 to $3,100.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price objective on AutoZone from $3,027.00 to $3,363.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AutoZone currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $3,020.76. View Our Latest Research Report on AutoZone AutoZone Company Profile (Free Report) AutoZone, Inc retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. The company provides various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AZO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AutoZone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AutoZone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada restated their outperform rating on shares of Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ Free Report) in a report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a $295.00 price target on the stock. Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on STZ. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Constellation Brands from $309.00 to $301.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Constellation Brands in a research note on Monday, November 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $292.00 price objective for the company. Argus cut Constellation Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, TheStreet cut Constellation Brands from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Friday, January 5th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $289.24. Get Constellation Brands alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on Constellation Brands Constellation Brands Stock Performance NYSE STZ opened at $255.31 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $46.68 billion, a PE ratio of 30.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.96. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $248.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is $245.81. Constellation Brands has a 1-year low of $210.15 and a 1-year high of $273.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.46. Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 5th. The company reported $3.19 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.03 by $0.16. Constellation Brands had a return on equity of 23.35% and a net margin of 14.76%. The firm had revenue of $2.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.54 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.83 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Constellation Brands will post 11.9 EPS for the current fiscal year. Constellation Brands Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 22nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 8th were issued a $0.89 dividend. This represents a $3.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 7th. Constellation Brandss payout ratio is currently 42.13%. Insider Activity In other news, major shareholder Family Foundation Sands sold 354,616 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.26, for a total value of $88,746,200.16. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 54,461 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,629,409.86. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 16.19% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Constellation Brands Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC increased its position in Constellation Brands by 17.2% in the 3rd quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 17,218 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,327,000 after acquiring an additional 2,526 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its position in Constellation Brands by 15.3% during the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 32,433 shares of the companys stock worth $8,151,000 after purchasing an additional 4,311 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in Constellation Brands by 5.0% during the 2nd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 137,790 shares of the companys stock worth $33,914,000 after purchasing an additional 6,535 shares during the period. Teza Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Constellation Brands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $7,768,000. Finally, River Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Constellation Brands by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. River Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 17,954 shares of the companys stock worth $4,512,000 after purchasing an additional 322 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.99% of the companys stock. Constellation Brands Company Profile (Get Free Report) Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Premier, Corona Familiar, Corona Light, Corona Refresca, Corona Hard Seltzer, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Constellation Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Constellation Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Ukrainian women on International Women's Day, the day of struggle for women's rights, which is celebrated on March 8. In the context of the military events that Ukraine is experiencing, he honored their feat in the fight against the aggressor. ADVERTISIMENT This was published on the President's official social media. It was accompanied by photos of Ukrainian women who bring our Victory closer and inspire the world. Zelenskyy emphasized that during the war, Ukrainian women treat, teach, volunteer, rescue, and heroically defend their families and the entire state. They are professional, selfless, determined people with great inner strength. "Our women love and educate, protect and care. Everything you do for Ukraine inspires the world. Thank you for everything! Thank you for multiplying our common strength!" the President said. ADVERTISIMENT Photos used in the publication: Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kyiv, Olena Tita, Serhii Korovainyi, Dmytro Smolienko, Medical Volunteer Battalion Hospitallers, State Emergency Service of Ukraine, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of Zakarpattia, 66th Mechanized Brigade, Alex Babenko. ADVERTISIMENT ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. purchased a new stake in Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 200,000 shares of the auto parts companys stock, valued at approximately $19,296,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Autoliv by 188.9% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,468,058 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $510,498,000 after acquiring an additional 3,575,146 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Autoliv by 185.3% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,455,700 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $135,904,000 after acquiring an additional 945,517 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Autoliv during the 4th quarter worth $67,916,000. Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in Autoliv by 292.3% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,146,435 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $87,794,000 after acquiring an additional 854,212 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC grew its holdings in Autoliv by 9.6% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,264,937 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $507,961,000 after acquiring an additional 459,147 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 56.70% of the companys stock. Get Autoliv alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Autoliv In other Autoliv news, CEO Mikael Bratt sold 4,226 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.72, for a total value of $463,676.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 17,547 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,925,256.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Fredrik Westin sold 1,318 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.93, for a total transaction of $144,887.74. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 5,458 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $599,997.94. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Mikael Bratt sold 4,226 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.72, for a total transaction of $463,676.72. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 17,547 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,925,256.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 8,388 shares of company stock valued at $921,757 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. Autoliv Stock Up 0.8 % Autoliv stock opened at $118.93 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.83 billion, a PE ratio of 20.68, a P/E/G ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.71. The companys 50-day moving average is $109.00 and its 200-day moving average is $102.22. Autoliv, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $79.66 and a fifty-two week high of $120.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.73. Autoliv (NYSE:ALV Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The auto parts company reported $3.74 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.37 by $0.37. Autoliv had a net margin of 4.66% and a return on equity of 27.13%. The business had revenue of $2.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.75 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.83 EPS. Autolivs quarterly revenue was up 17.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Autoliv, Inc. will post 9.74 earnings per share for the current year. Autoliv Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 12th will be issued a $0.68 dividend. This represents a $2.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 11th. Autolivs dividend payout ratio is currently 47.30%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Autoliv from $101.00 to $107.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Autoliv from $105.00 to $107.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Wolfe Research cut shares of Autoliv from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Autoliv from $106.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 5th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Autoliv from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, January 20th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Autoliv presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $112.18. Get Our Latest Stock Report on ALV Autoliv Company Profile (Free Report) Autoliv, Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and supplies passive safety systems to the automotive industry in Europe, the Americas, China, Japan, and rest of Asia. It offers passive safety systems, including modules and components for frontal-impact airbag protection systems, side-impact airbag protection systems, seatbelts, steering wheels, and inflator technologies. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ALV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Autoliv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Autoliv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Bradesco S.A. (NYSE:BBD Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, March 6th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 3rd will be given a dividend of 0.0038 per share by the bank on Thursday, May 9th. This represents a $0.05 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.64%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 2nd. Banco Bradesco has increased its dividend payment by an average of 7.9% annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend annually for the last 1 consecutive years. Get Banco Bradesco alerts: Banco Bradesco Trading Down 0.5 % Shares of NYSE:BBD opened at $2.81 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $3.04 and a two-hundred day moving average of $3.07. Banco Bradesco has a 12-month low of $2.34 and a 12-month high of $3.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.97. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on BBD shares. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Banco Bradesco from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. HSBC lowered shares of Banco Bradesco from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Banco Bradesco from a sell rating to a neutral rating and set a $2.80 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Get Our Latest Research Report on BBD Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its holdings in Banco Bradesco by 373.1% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 16,891 shares of the banks stock worth $78,000 after acquiring an additional 13,321 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Banco Bradesco by 36.4% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 16,506 shares of the banks stock worth $77,000 after purchasing an additional 4,407 shares during the period. Freedom Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Banco Bradesco by 37.7% during the 4th quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. now owns 21,719 shares of the banks stock worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 5,950 shares during the period. Balentine LLC increased its holdings in shares of Banco Bradesco by 31.2% during the 2nd quarter. Balentine LLC now owns 21,919 shares of the banks stock worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 5,209 shares during the period. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Banco Bradesco by 26.6% during the 1st quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 23,944 shares of the banks stock worth $63,000 after purchasing an additional 5,032 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 1.84% of the companys stock. Banco Bradesco Company Profile (Get Free Report) Banco Bradesco SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, corporates, and businesses in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Banking and Insurance. It provides current, savings, click, and salary accounts; real estate credit, vehicle financing, payroll loans, mortgage loans, microcredit, leasing, and personal and installment credit; overdraft and agribusiness loans; debit and business cards; financial and security services; consortium products; car, personal accident, dental, travel, and life insurance; investment products; pension products; foreign currency exchange services; capitalization bonds; and internet banking services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bradesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bradesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Redcastle Resources Limited (ASX:RC1 Get Free Report) insider Ronald Miller acquired 941,259 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were purchased at an average price of A$0.01 ($0.01) per share, for a total transaction of A$10,353.85 ($6,723.28). Ronald Miller also recently made the following trade(s): Get Redcastle Resources alerts: On Thursday, December 14th, Ronald Miller acquired 558,741 shares of Redcastle Resources stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of A$0.01 ($0.01) per share, with a total value of A$7,263.63 ($4,716.64). Redcastle Resources Stock Performance About Redcastle Resources (Get Free Report) See Also Redcastle Resources Limited, through its subsidiary, a gold and mineral resources exploration company in Australia. It holds 100% interest in the Redcastle Gold Project that covers an area of 1,088 hectares, as well as holds 8 licenses located in the Mt Margaret Mineral Field of Western Australia. The company was formerly known as Transcendence Technologies Limited and changed its name to Redcastle Resources Limited in December 2021. Receive News & Ratings for Redcastle Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Redcastle Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA Get Free Report) Senior Officer Julie Levesque sold 100 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$107.79, for a total value of C$10,778.50. National Bank of Canada Trading Down 0.0 % Shares of NA opened at C$107.92 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$102.64 and a 200 day moving average of C$95.85. National Bank of Canada has a 12 month low of C$84.27 and a 12 month high of C$108.96. The company has a market capitalization of C$36.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.27, a PEG ratio of 17.04 and a beta of 1.11. Get National Bank of Canada alerts: National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 28th. The financial services provider reported C$2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$2.38 by C$0.21. National Bank of Canada had a return on equity of 14.73% and a net margin of 34.22%. The business had revenue of C$2.71 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$2.72 billion. As a group, equities research analysts predict that National Bank of Canada will post 9.8970588 earnings per share for the current year. National Bank of Canada Dividend Announcement Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $1.06 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 22nd. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.93%. National Bank of Canadas payout ratio is 44.26%. NA has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Veritas Investment Research reissued a reduce rating on shares of National Bank of Canada in a report on Thursday, February 29th. TD Securities upped their price target on National Bank of Canada from C$100.00 to C$110.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$109.00 to C$113.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$103.00 to C$109.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on National Bank of Canada from C$101.00 to C$97.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, National Bank of Canada presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of C$107.08. Read Our Latest Report on NA About National Bank of Canada (Get Free Report) National Bank of Canada provides financial services to individuals, businesses, institutional clients, and governments in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, and savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services, such as credit, and deposit, investment solutions, international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for National Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Hess Midstream LP (NYSE:HESM Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the six brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $35.50. A number of research analysts have recently commented on HESM shares. UBS Group upped their price target on Hess Midstream from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Hess Midstream from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $37.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Friday. Get Hess Midstream alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on HESM Insider Buying and Selling at Hess Midstream Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other Hess Midstream news, Director Infrastructure Investor Global sold 11,500,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.83, for a total value of $377,545,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its position in Hess Midstream by 43.0% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 8,053 shares of the companys stock valued at $241,000 after purchasing an additional 2,423 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Hess Midstream in the 1st quarter valued at about $244,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC bought a new position in shares of Hess Midstream in the 1st quarter valued at about $445,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS bought a new stake in shares of Hess Midstream during the first quarter worth approximately $1,556,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Hess Midstream by 220.0% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 391,128 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,733,000 after buying an additional 268,914 shares during the period. 86.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Hess Midstream Price Performance Shares of Hess Midstream stock opened at $34.89 on Friday. Hess Midstream has a 1-year low of $25.63 and a 1-year high of $35.63. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $33.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $31.27. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.69 and a beta of 1.50. Hess Midstream (NYSE:HESM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.60 by ($0.05). Hess Midstream had a net margin of 8.79% and a return on equity of 28.21%. The business had revenue of $356.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $358.86 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.49 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Hess Midstream will post 2.52 earnings per share for the current year. Hess Midstream Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 8th were given a $0.6343 dividend. This represents a $2.54 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.27%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 7th. This is a positive change from Hess Midstreams previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. Hess Midstreams dividend payout ratio is 121.53%. Hess Midstream Company Profile (Get Free Report Hess Midstream LP owns, develops, operates, and acquires midstream assets. The company operates through three segments: Gathering; Processing and Storage; and Terminaling and Export. The Gathering segment owns natural gas gathering and compression systems; crude oil gathering systems; and produced water gathering and disposal facilities. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hess Midstream Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hess Midstream and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 2,305 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock, valued at approximately $596,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 12,762,618 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $3,369,459,000 after purchasing an additional 76,244 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 11.0% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,192,832 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,342,503,000 after purchasing an additional 512,566 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,134,645 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,351,490,000 after purchasing an additional 113,425 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 95,813.8% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,045,643 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,028,807,000 after buying an additional 4,041,425 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 10.9% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 4,034,523 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,043,045,000 after buying an additional 395,657 shares during the period. 86.72% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Becton Dickinson and Company alerts: Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Down 0.4 % Shares of NYSE:BDX opened at $236.76 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12 month low of $228.62 and a 12 month high of $287.32. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $239.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $248.74. The company has a market cap of $68.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 56.31, a PEG ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.42. Becton, Dickinson and Company Announces Dividend 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 for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $4.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.73 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.98 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.94 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a $0.95 dividend. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. Becton, Dickinson and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 90.05%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts recently weighed in on BDX shares. Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $269.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $310.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 4th. TheStreet downgraded shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $301.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Two 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 company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $279.17. Get Our Latest Stock Report on BDX Becton, Dickinson and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Hexcel Co. (NYSE:HXL Free Report) during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund acquired 8,008 shares of the aerospace companys stock, valued at approximately $522,000. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Hexcel by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 9,171,181 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $625,933,000 after purchasing an additional 112,122 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its position in Hexcel by 838.6% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 6,810,199 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $400,780,000 after purchasing an additional 6,084,592 shares during the period. Earnest Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Hexcel by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 4,344,230 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $282,983,000 after buying an additional 47,591 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Hexcel by 11.2% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,409,631 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $202,771,000 after buying an additional 344,711 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eaton Vance Management boosted its holdings in shares of Hexcel by 4.4% during the 1st quarter. Eaton Vance Management now owns 2,476,907 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $147,301,000 after buying an additional 103,891 shares in the last quarter. 94.71% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Hexcel alerts: Insider Transactions at Hexcel In other news, insider Gina Fitzsimons sold 864 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total value of $62,294.40. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,375 shares in the company, valued at approximately $243,337.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider Gina Fitzsimons sold 864 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total value of $62,294.40. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,375 shares in the company, valued at approximately $243,337.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Thierry Merlot sold 4,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.63, for a total transaction of $322,335.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 50,371 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,608,074.73. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.39% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Hexcel from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and dropped their target price for the company from $70.00 to $66.00 in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Northcoast Research assumed coverage on shares of Hexcel in a report on Tuesday, November 28th. They set a buy rating and a $80.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group cut shares of Hexcel from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their target price for the company from $87.00 to $72.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Truist Financial upgraded shares of Hexcel from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $62.00 to $96.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $80.00 target price on shares of Hexcel in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $77.46. Read Our Latest Stock Report on HXL Hexcel Stock Performance Shares of NYSE HXL opened at $77.02 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $71.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $69.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 2.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market cap of $6.50 billion, a PE ratio of 62.11, a PEG ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.23. Hexcel Co. has a 52-week low of $58.81 and a 52-week high of $79.08. Hexcel (NYSE:HXL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The aerospace company reported $0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $457.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $474.01 million. Hexcel had a net margin of 5.91% and a return on equity of 9.31%. The businesss revenue was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.40 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Hexcel Co. will post 2.25 EPS for the current year. Hexcel Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th were paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. This is a boost from Hexcels previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. Hexcels dividend payout ratio is 48.39%. About Hexcel (Free Report) Hexcel Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers, structural reinforcements, honeycomb structures, resins, and composite materials and parts for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. It operates through two segments, Composite Materials and Engineered Products. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HXL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hexcel Co. (NYSE:HXL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Hexcel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hexcel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 26,282 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 641 shares during the quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $14,117,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Thompson Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Retirement Group LLC raised its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 159.1% during the 2nd quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 57 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the period. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Optiver Holding B.V. acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 14,388 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $630.28, for a total transaction of $9,068,468.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 99,754,422 shares of the companys stock, valued at $62,873,217,098.16. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 195,055 shares of company stock valued at $125,254,657. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Eli Lilly and Company Trading Down 1.8 % Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $766.28 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $690.43 and a 200-day moving average of $616.32. The stock has a market cap of $728.09 billion, a PE ratio of 132.83, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 0.34. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52-week low of $312.31 and a 52-week high of $800.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.94. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $9.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.95 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 51.22%. Eli Lilly and Companys quarterly revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.09 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.44 EPS for the current year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have commented on LLY. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, November 9th. They set a hold rating and a $535.00 target price on the stock. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $710.00 to $865.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $650.00 to $850.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $815.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $677.62. View Our Latest Stock Report on LLY Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC lifted its position in iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (BATS:IFRA Free Report) by 54.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 306,130 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 108,164 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC owned about 0.57% of iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF worth $11,201,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its position in shares of iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 22,884 shares of the companys stock valued at $830,000 after buying an additional 271 shares in the last quarter. Brookstone Capital Management boosted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF by 1.1% in the third quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 27,677 shares of the companys stock worth $980,000 after acquiring an additional 307 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in shares of iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF by 3.1% during the third quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 10,983 shares of the companys stock worth $402,000 after purchasing an additional 333 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its stake in iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF by 28.7% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,512 shares of the companys stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 337 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 11,786 shares of the companys stock valued at $461,000 after purchasing an additional 361 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF alerts: iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF Stock Performance Shares of IFRA opened at $41.80 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $2.23 billion, a PE ratio of 15.08 and a beta of 1.03. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $39.55 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $38.23. iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF Profile The iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the NYSE FactSet U.S. Infrastructure index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed infrastructure companies that derive a significant portion of their revenue from within the US. IFRA was launched on Apr 3, 2018 and is managed by BlackRock. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IFRA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (BATS:IFRA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc cut its holdings in CMS Energy Co. (NYSE:CMS Free Report) by 1.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 3,333,406 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 45,405 shares during the quarter. Legal & General Group Plc owned about 1.14% of CMS Energy worth $177,037,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CMS. Blair William & Co. IL raised its stake in shares of CMS Energy by 2.6% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 6,561 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $459,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares during the last quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of CMS Energy by 2.3% in the first quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC now owns 7,756 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $542,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Walleye Trading LLC raised its stake in shares of CMS Energy by 2.9% in the second quarter. Walleye Trading LLC now owns 6,414 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $377,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. CI Investments Inc. grew its holdings in CMS Energy by 3.0% during the third quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 6,415 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $341,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares during the period. Finally, Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in CMS Energy by 2.4% during the third quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,187 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $435,000 after acquiring an additional 192 shares during the period. 95.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get CMS Energy alerts: Insider Activity In other news, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 3,500 shares of CMS Energy stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.78, for a total value of $202,230.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 68,971 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,985,144.38. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts recently commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on CMS Energy from $65.00 to $63.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Barclays dropped their price objective on CMS Energy from $59.00 to $57.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Wolfe Research raised CMS Energy from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $62.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on CMS Energy from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, KeyCorp raised their price objective on CMS Energy from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CMS Energy currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $62.25. View Our Latest Report on CMS Energy CMS Energy Price Performance NYSE:CMS opened at $60.08 on Friday. CMS Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $49.87 and a 52 week high of $63.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.84. The company has a market capitalization of $17.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.37. The stocks fifty day moving average is $57.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $56.49. CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.04 by $0.01. CMS Energy had a return on equity of 12.09% and a net margin of 11.89%. The business had revenue of $1.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.62 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.60 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that CMS Energy Co. will post 3.34 EPS for the current year. CMS Energy Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 12th were paid a $0.515 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 9th. This is a boost from CMS Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.43%. CMS Energys payout ratio is presently 64.78%. CMS Energy Profile (Free Report) CMS Energy Corporation operates as an energy company primarily in Michigan. The company operates through three segments: Electric Utility; Gas Utility; and Enterprises. The Electric Utility segment is involved in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. This segment generates electricity through coal, wind, gas, renewable energy, oil, and nuclear sources. Read More Receive News & Ratings for CMS Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CMS Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Recent political events and scandals in the United States of America are becoming more and more alarming. This is true for millions of Ukrainians and Americans alike. ADVERTISIMENT In my years of active work and communication with American politicians, I have never seen such serious contradictions between the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress. The destructive influence of Donald Trump is having its effect: fewer and fewer Republican congressmen are ready to support Ukraine and, most importantly, to vote for the allocation of more than $60 billion in financial assistance to your country. Unfortunately, today I can say clearly that Trump is turning into a puppet of Vladimir Putin. He is not acting in the interests of the United States or our allies (including Ukraine and Israel). Any pro-American politician who cares and wants the good of the United States will tell you that we simply have to support democratic forces and fight authoritarianism. Trump's decisions show that the most important thing for him is not the interests of the United States but his own ego. He is playing along with Putin. He has become a fellow traveler of an authoritarian president who wants to divide this world with blood. ADVERTISIMENT Some Republicans and Trump himself are confident that they will be able to reach an agreement with both Putin and Xi Jinping. That is, to sign a "deal" that can solve all political, economic, social, and military problems in an instant. But this is not the case. Obviously, the world is more complicated than 2+2, and the US President, as well as the legislative bodies (Senate and House of Representatives), should take their responsibilities as seriously as possible. This thesis applies not only to Trump but also to the Biden's administration. What is happening now, for example, in the US information space, has not been prepared for 1 week or 1 month. These are all the consequences of Russian propaganda, which has been spreading like a cancer in the minds of Americans for years. Now, the fakes and manipulations regularly spread by people like Tucker Carlsen, Jackson Hinkle, or Elon Musk are not just Russian propaganda, they are simply propaganda. Through their daily statements, they spread the narratives Moscow needs perhaps without even realizing it. ADVERTISIMENT If we are talking about Ukraine, I really want the Biden's dministration to treat this issue with full responsibility. Let's be honest: as of today, the probability of a positive vote to allocate money to Ukraine is still over 50%, but it is getting smaller as the issue is delayed. Nevertheless, I hope and ultimately expect that the White House will be able to provide us with financial assistance before the US presidential election in November 2024. I have just recently spoken with some members of the US Department of Defense who told me directly that our country is ready to supply Ukraine with weapons and military equipment at any time. Everything is ready: everything is loaded on airplanes and is waiting for the House of Representatives. When the decision to allocate aid to Ukraine is made (I hope so it will), it is important for the Biden's administration to give us everything at once. It is important that the aid is not delayed over months and years but is delivered in the full amount of money and weapons as soon as possible so that if Trump wins, he will not be able to block what Congress has allocated. ADVERTISIMENT I really hope that the White House will have enough foresight in this matter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of PagerDuty, Inc. (NYSE:PD Free Report) by 31.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 288,664 shares of the companys stock after selling 132,144 shares during the quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.31% of PagerDuty worth $6,492,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PD. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA purchased a new stake in PagerDuty during the 3rd quarter worth about $32,209,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in PagerDuty by 176.3% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,620,300 shares of the companys stock worth $36,424,000 after purchasing an additional 1,033,900 shares in the last quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC purchased a new stake in PagerDuty during the 1st quarter worth about $33,686,000. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in PagerDuty during the 4th quarter worth about $22,062,000. Finally, RGM Capital LLC boosted its stake in PagerDuty by 12.7% in the 2nd quarter. RGM Capital LLC now owns 4,206,905 shares of the companys stock worth $94,571,000 after buying an additional 473,611 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.94% of the companys stock. Get PagerDuty alerts: PagerDuty Price Performance NYSE PD opened at $24.34 on Friday. PagerDuty, Inc. has a 1-year low of $19.18 and a 1-year high of $35.33. The company has a quick ratio of 2.75, a current ratio of 2.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.65. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $24.09 and its 200-day simple moving average is $22.92. Insider Activity Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades In related news, SVP Shelley Webb sold 5,519 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.40, for a total transaction of $118,106.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 177,087 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,789,661.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In other PagerDuty news, SVP Shelley Webb sold 5,519 shares of PagerDuty stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.40, for a total transaction of $118,106.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 177,087 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,789,661.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, CFO Howard Wilson sold 5,000 shares of PagerDuty stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.27, for a total value of $131,350.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 511,565 shares in the company, valued at $13,438,812.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 54,298 shares of company stock valued at $1,364,392 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 7.90% of the companys stock. A number of brokerages have issued reports on PD. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on PagerDuty from $32.00 to $31.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 1st. TD Cowen lowered PagerDuty from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $29.00 to $23.00 in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Bank of America began coverage on PagerDuty in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. They issued a buy rating and a $30.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an equal weight rating and issued a $30.00 price target on shares of PagerDuty in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $27.00. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on PD PagerDuty Company Profile (Free Report) PagerDuty, Inc engages in the operation of a digital operations management platform in the United States, EMEA, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. The company's digital operations management platform collects data and digital signals from virtually any software-enabled system or device and leverage powerful machine learning to correlate, process, and predict opportunities and issues. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for PagerDuty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PagerDuty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Free Report) by 0.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 121,730 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 606 shares during the period. Kennedy Capital Management LLCs holdings in Black Hills were worth $6,158,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. State of Wyoming purchased a new position in shares of Black Hills during the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Black Hills by 87.3% during the third quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 562 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 262 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Black Hills during the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Lindbrook Capital LLC grew its position in Black Hills by 678.4% in the third quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 685 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 597 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Belpointe Asset Management LLC grew its position in Black Hills by 60.6% in the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 652 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.64% of the companys stock. Get Black Hills alerts: Black Hills Stock Up 1.4 % Shares of NYSE:BKH opened at $53.05 on Friday. Black Hills Co. has a 1 year low of $46.43 and a 1 year high of $66.85. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $52.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $52.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.62 billion, a PE ratio of 13.53 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.56. Black Hills Increases Dividend Black Hills ( NYSE:BKH Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.11. Black Hills had a return on equity of 8.09% and a net margin of 11.25%. The business had revenue of $591.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $863.67 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.11 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Black Hills Co. will post 3.9 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 16th were paid a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.90%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 15th. This is an increase from Black Hillss previous quarterly dividend of $0.63. Black Hillss payout ratio is currently 66.33%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently commented on BKH. Scotiabank lifted their price target on Black Hills from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Bank of America dropped their price target on Black Hills from $60.00 to $49.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 20th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Black Hills from $61.00 to $57.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Mizuho upgraded Black Hills from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $53.00 price target for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $55.80. Get Our Latest Analysis on BKH Black Hills Company Profile (Free Report) Black Hills Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in the United States. The company operates in two segments: Electric Utilities and Gas Utilities. The Electric Utilities segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 222,000 electric utility customers in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming; and owns and operates 1,394 megawatts of generation capacity and 9,106 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BKH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Black Hills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Black Hills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $14.11 and last traded at $14.04, with a volume of 848688 shares. The stock had previously closed at $13.94. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup lowered Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. StockNews.com raised Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, March 2nd. Get Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on DB Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Stock Performance The stocks 50-day moving average price is $13.24 and its 200-day moving average price is $12.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.76. The company has a market capitalization of $29.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.37, a P/E/G ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.30. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (NYSE:DB Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The bank reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.37 by $0.35. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft had a net margin of 6.86% and a return on equity of 5.43%. The company had revenue of $5.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.46 billion. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft will post 2.21 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Trading of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 31.6% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 563,387 shares of the banks stock valued at $7,695,000 after buying an additional 135,371 shares during the period. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main grew its stake in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 30.8% during the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 13,559,579 shares of the banks stock valued at $185,233,000 after buying an additional 3,196,091 shares during the period. DRW Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft during the 4th quarter valued at $161,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its stake in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 13.7% during the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 189,433 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,567,000 after buying an additional 22,868 shares during the period. Finally, Employees Retirement System of Texas lifted its holdings in shares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft by 264.6% during the 4th quarter. Employees Retirement System of Texas now owns 134,737 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,826,000 after acquiring an additional 97,781 shares in the last quarter. 21.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (Get Free Report) Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, operates as a stock corporation, engages in the provision of corporate and investment banking, and asset management products and services to private clients, corporate entities, and institutional clients worldwide. Its Corporate Bank segment provides cash management, trade finance and lending, trust and agency, foreign exchange, and securities services, as well as risk management solutions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sei Investments Co. reduced its stake in shares of Kimco Realty Corp (NYSE:KIM Free Report) by 11.4% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 2,329,762 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 299,221 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co.s holdings in Kimco Realty were worth $40,981,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in KIM. Advisor Partners II LLC increased its position in Kimco Realty by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Partners II LLC now owns 26,152 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $554,000 after buying an additional 495 shares in the last quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC increased its position in Kimco Realty by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 16,648 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $328,000 after buying an additional 507 shares in the last quarter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. increased its position in Kimco Realty by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. now owns 24,383 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $481,000 after buying an additional 647 shares in the last quarter. Ethic Inc. increased its position in Kimco Realty by 10.0% during the 1st quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 8,955 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $221,000 after buying an additional 817 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP increased its position in Kimco Realty by 46.6% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 2,600 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 827 shares in the last quarter. 90.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Kimco Realty alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Frank Lourenso sold 8,890 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.42, for a total value of $172,643.80. Following the transaction, the director now owns 203,534 shares in the company, valued at $3,952,630.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Kimco Realty Stock Performance Kimco Realty Announces Dividend Shares of KIM stock opened at $19.36 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $13.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.98, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.45. The businesss 50 day moving average is $20.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $19.24. The company has a current ratio of 5.05, a quick ratio of 5.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. Kimco Realty Corp has a 12-month low of $16.34 and a 12-month high of $22.83. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 21st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 7th will be given a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 6th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.96%. Kimco Realtys dividend payout ratio is currently 94.12%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Kimco Realty in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a hold rating and a $23.00 target price on the stock. Mizuho cut their price objective on Kimco Realty from $22.00 to $21.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Kimco Realty from $20.50 to $21.75 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on Kimco Realty from $24.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, TheStreet raised Kimco Realty from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $22.08. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Kimco Realty Kimco Realty Profile (Free Report) Kimco Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in New Hyde Park, N.Y., that is one of North Americas largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers. As of December 31, 2018, the company owned interests in 437 U.S. shopping centers comprising 76 million square feet of leasable space primarily concentrated in the top major metropolitan markets. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KIM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Kimco Realty Corp (NYSE:KIM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Kimco Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimco Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 7.8% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 5,693,331 shares of the investment management companys stock after buying an additional 412,383 shares during the period. Morgan Stanleys holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $1,842,192,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of GS. State Street Corp lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 0.4% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 19,822,469 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $6,393,539,000 after purchasing an additional 76,641 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 2.9% in the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 5,193,033 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,674,961,000 after purchasing an additional 148,425 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 1.1% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 4,764,509 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,396,236,000 after purchasing an additional 52,016 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 3.2% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,339,851 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,080,676,000 after purchasing an additional 104,424 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 6.1% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,792,239 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $903,485,000 after acquiring an additional 159,512 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.06% of the companys stock. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on GS shares. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $382.00 to $440.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $437.00 to $493.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Morgan Stanley raised shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the company from $333.00 to $449.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $357.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $398.00 to $421.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, The Goldman Sachs Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $409.93. The Goldman Sachs Group Trading Up 1.0 % Shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock traded up $4.03 during trading on Friday, reaching $392.46. 364,877 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,301,367. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29. The stocks fifty day moving average is $384.82 and its 200 day moving average is $350.33. The firm has a market cap of $127.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.42. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $289.36 and a 1 year high of $397.49. The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 16th. The investment management company reported $5.48 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.62 by $1.86. The company had revenue of $11.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.80 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 7.85% and a return on equity of 8.03%. The Goldman Sachs Groups revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.32 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 32.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th will be paid a $2.75 dividend. This represents a $11.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.80%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Groups payout ratio is currently 48.20%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 12,680 shares of the 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 completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 29,417 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,602,947.31. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, Treasurer Philip R. Berlinski sold 11,650 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $390.64, for a total transaction of $4,550,956.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the treasurer now owns 18,408 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,190,901.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 12,680 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $394.43, for a total transaction of $5,001,372.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 29,417 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,602,947.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 39,064 shares of company stock valued at $15,082,153 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock. 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. increased its position in shares of The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT Free Report) by 0.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 669,268 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,106 shares during the quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. owned 0.41% of New York Times worth $27,577,000 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. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of New York Times in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale acquired a new position in shares of New York Times during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Pinebridge Investments L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of New York Times during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in shares of New York Times during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $56,000. Finally, Belpointe Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of New York Times by 31.9% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 1,510 shares of the companys stock worth $59,000 after acquiring an additional 365 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.37% of the companys stock. Get New York Times alerts: Insider Transactions at New York Times In other news, Director David S. Perpich sold 3,014 shares of New York Times stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.03, for a total transaction of $132,706.42. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 20,813 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $916,396.39. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Director David S. Perpich sold 3,014 shares of New York Times stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.03, for a total value of $132,706.42. Following the sale, the director now owns 20,813 shares of the companys stock, valued at $916,396.39. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Levien Meredith A. Kopit sold 13,543 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.11, for a total transaction of $597,381.73. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 90,759 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,003,379.49. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 23,557 shares of company stock worth $1,029,968 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of New York Times from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Argus raised shares of New York Times from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $51.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of New York Times from $42.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, New York Times currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $44.40. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on NYT New York Times Trading Up 0.8 % NYSE NYT opened at $43.34 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $46.26 and its 200-day moving average price is $44.58. The stock has a market cap of $7.11 billion, a PE ratio of 31.18 and a beta of 1.02. The New York Times Company has a 12 month low of $35.06 and a 12 month high of $49.87. New York Times (NYSE:NYT Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $676.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $680.02 million. New York Times had a net margin of 9.58% and a return on equity of 16.48%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.65 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that The New York Times Company will post 1.64 earnings per share for the current year. New York Times Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 18th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 2nd will be issued a $0.13 dividend. This is an increase from New York Timess previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 1st. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.20%. New York Timess dividend payout ratio is presently 31.65%. About New York Times (Free Report) The New York Times Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides news and information for readers and viewers across various platforms worldwide. It offers The New York Times (The Times), a daily and Sunday newspaper in the United States, as well as international edition of The Times; and operates the NYTimes.com website. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for New York Times Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New York Times and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Granite Ridge Resources (NYSE:GRNT Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $0.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.01, Zacks reports. Granite Ridge Resources had a net margin of 29.78% and a return on equity of 20.45%. The firm had revenue of $106.80 million during the quarter. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.38 earnings per share. Granite Ridge Resources Stock Down 2.6 % Shares of GRNT traded down $0.16 on Friday, hitting $5.91. 126,888 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 416,241. The company has a market capitalization of $786.03 million, a PE ratio of 6.71 and a beta of 0.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a current ratio of 1.47. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $5.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $6.14. Granite Ridge Resources has a one year low of $4.82 and a one year high of $8.14. Get Granite Ridge Resources alerts: Granite Ridge Resources Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st will be given a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. Granite Ridge Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.35%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Granite Ridge Resources Granite Ridge Resources Company Profile A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GRNT. Barclays PLC increased its stake in shares of Granite Ridge Resources by 507.6% in the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 5,225 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 4,365 shares in the last quarter. Virtus Fund Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Granite Ridge Resources during the 4th quarter valued at about $40,000. Citigroup Inc. bought a new position in shares of Granite Ridge Resources during the 2nd quarter valued at about $51,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in shares of Granite Ridge Resources by 26.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 8,494 shares of the companys stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 1,760 shares during the last quarter. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System bought a new position in shares of Granite Ridge Resources during the 2nd quarter valued at about $57,000. 7.56% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. (Get Free Report) Granite Ridge Resources, Inc operates as a non-operated oil and gas exploration and production company. It owns a portfolio of wells and acreage across the Permian and other unconventional basins in the United States. The company is based in Dallas, Texas. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Granite Ridge Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Granite Ridge Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC Free Report) by 50.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 206,998 shares of the railroad operators stock after buying an additional 69,749 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. owned about 0.09% of Norfolk Southern worth $40,763,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of NSC. Seven Eight Capital LP bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $405,000. KPP Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the third quarter worth $237,000. Kiwi Wealth Investments Limited Partnership purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the third quarter worth $4,032,000. London Co. of Virginia grew its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 41.2% in the third quarter. London Co. of Virginia now owns 1,976,871 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $389,305,000 after acquiring an additional 577,171 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Element Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the third quarter worth $319,000. 72.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Norfolk Southern alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded Norfolk Southern from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their price target for the company from $250.00 to $233.00 in a report on Monday, January 29th. TheStreet raised Norfolk Southern from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Citigroup upped their price target on Norfolk Southern from $253.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Norfolk Southern from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $272.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, TD Cowen cut Norfolk Southern from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and upped their price target for the stock from $233.00 to $236.00 in a research report on Monday, January 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $246.31. Norfolk Southern Price Performance Shares of NSC stock opened at $255.44 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.24. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $244.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $220.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.85, a P/E/G ratio of 3.40 and a beta of 1.30. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 52-week low of $183.09 and a 52-week high of $261.37. Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The railroad operator reported $2.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.87 by ($0.04). Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 15.03% and a return on equity of 21.06%. The company had revenue of $3.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.42 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 12.17 earnings per share for the current year. Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 2nd were given a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 1st. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.11%. Norfolk Southerns dividend payout ratio is currently 67.33%. About Norfolk Southern (Free Report) Norfolk Southern Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States. The company transports agriculture, forest, and consumer products comprising soybeans, wheat, corn, fertilizers, livestock and poultry feed, food products, food oils, flour, sweeteners, ethanol, lumber and wood products, pulp board and paper products, wood fibers, wood pulp, beverages, and canned goods; chemicals consist of sulfur and related chemicals, petroleum products comprising crude oil, chlorine and bleaching compounds, plastics, rubber, industrial chemicals, chemical wastes, sand, and natural gas liquids; metals and construction materials, such as steel, aluminum products, machinery, scrap metals, cement, aggregates, minerals, clay, transportation equipment, and military-related products; and automotive, including finished motor vehicles and automotive parts, as well as coal. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NSC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Norfolk Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Norfolk Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP boosted its position in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE:ARI Free Report) by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 66,325 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 5,853 shares during the quarter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LPs holdings in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance were worth $672,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of ARI. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its stake in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 15,016 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $209,000 after purchasing an additional 857 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 6.0% during the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 15,230 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $126,000 after purchasing an additional 861 shares in the last quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY boosted its stake in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 11.7% during the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 8,666 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $93,000 after purchasing an additional 907 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 84.8% during the 2nd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,230 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,023 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NFJ Investment Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. NFJ Investment Group LLC now owns 314,951 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,389,000 after acquiring an additional 1,049 shares in the last quarter. 53.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance In other Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance news, CEO Stuart Rothstein sold 40,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.45, for a total transaction of $458,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 541,675 shares in the company, valued at $6,202,178.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Price Performance Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Dividend Announcement Shares of NYSE:ARI opened at $10.98 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 67.74, a quick ratio of 67.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. has a 1 year low of $8.58 and a 1 year high of $12.74. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $11.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $10.88. The firm has a market cap of $1.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.58 and a beta of 1.67. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 29th were issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 28th. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 12.76%. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finances dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 466.67%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently issued reports on ARI shares. UBS Group started coverage on Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. They issued a neutral rating and a $10.50 target price for the company. Bank of America lowered Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $10.50 target price for the company. in a report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $10.38. Read Our Latest Research Report on ARI About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (Free Report) 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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ARI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE:ARI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP increased its holdings in Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE:VPG Free Report) by 41.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 42,573 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock after purchasing an additional 12,548 shares during the quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP owned approximately 0.31% of Vishay Precision Group worth $1,430,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Vishay Precision Group by 7.6% in the 1st quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 29,800 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $958,000 after purchasing an additional 2,100 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Vishay Precision Group by 54.8% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 8,155 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $262,000 after acquiring an additional 2,888 shares during the period. LSV Asset Management lifted its stake in shares of Vishay Precision Group by 11.7% in the 1st quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 327,807 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $10,539,000 after purchasing an additional 34,345 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Vishay Precision Group by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 604,989 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $19,451,000 after purchasing an additional 4,189 shares during the period. Finally, Gamco Investors INC. ET AL grew its stake in Vishay Precision Group by 6.9% during the first quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 18,584 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $597,000 after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares during the period. 85.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Vishay Precision Group alerts: Vishay Precision Group Price Performance Shares of Vishay Precision Group stock opened at $34.96 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $473.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.60 and a beta of 1.26. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $32.83 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.48. Vishay Precision Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $27.93 and a 52 week high of $44.38. The company has a quick ratio of 2.84, a current ratio of 3.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Vishay Precision Group ( NYSE:VPG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 14th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.61 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.25. The company had revenue of $89.53 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $79.69 million. Vishay Precision Group had a return on equity of 9.19% and a net margin of 7.24%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.76 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Vishay Precision Group, Inc. will post 1.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Vishay Precision Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 10th. TheStreet raised Vishay Precision Group from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on VPG About Vishay Precision Group (Free Report) Vishay Precision Group, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets specialized sensors, weighing solutions, and measurement systems in the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Asia, and Canada. It operates through three segments: Sensors, Weighing Solutions, and Measurement Systems. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Vishay Precision Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vishay Precision Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Freezing the war in Ukraine would be a serious challenge and a major problem for our country. After all, the cessation of active hostilities would not mean a pause in the war, but an opportunity for respite for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his troops. ADVERTISIMENT Having amassed weapons and trained new soldiers, he would again launch aggression against Ukraine, as he did after the occupation of Crimea and part of Donbas in 2014. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with Bruno Vesta, a well-known journalist and host of the Porta a Porta talk show. In a conversation with the President of Ukraine, the TV host emphasized that the Ukrainian people have been "heroically standing for more than two years" defending themselves against Russia's full-scale aggression. However, the journalist believes that "there is no prospect of victory now," so he asked Zelenskyy if Ukraine is considering a "break" in active hostilities in such circumstances. In response, the President reminded his interlocutor that Ukraine had agreed to such a "pause" at one point, and thus gave Putin the opportunity to prepare for a full-scale invasion. ADVERTISIMENT "I think that a break in the war is a very serious challenge for us and a big problem for Ukraine, for its preservation, for its future. And a frozen conflict will be a big problem for the whole of Europe. We had such an experience after the occupation of Crimea and after the occupation of part of Donbas. It was probably similar to what is now being said in some media and by some leaders. They say that we need a pause. And this means a frozen conflict... But we have been through this," Zelenskyy said. The President added that the notion that a temporary ceasefire would mean a "pause" in the war is wrong. Instead, Russia will get a much-needed break to restore its strength. "This pause is not a pause in the war. This is a pause for Putin. He needs a pause and this is a fact to build up his forces. We see a big deficit in missiles. They are trying to buy them from Iran and have already taken them from North Korea. They have a shortage of artillery shells, and they take them from North Korea. Similarly, drones are also manufactured and purchased in Iran," the head of state emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT Zelenskyy also emphasized that over the two years of the full-scale war against Ukraine, Russia has lost a huge number of trained military personnel. Now the enemy is sending unprepared occupiers into battle. And in the event of a temporary "truce," Russia would have the opportunity to train thousands of new invaders. "They need this pause because they have a lack of people who are experienced military. They lost them on our territory. These people died. And now we can see from the contingent that comes to us, to our land and fights with us, that those who are captured are people who have not been trained for even a month. We understand that they lack people, officers, and privates, who have undergone a normal period of training. So this pause will play into Putin's hands," the President of Ukraine emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT At one time, Russia pretended to be ready to end its aggression against Ukraine by participating in the Normandy format meetings and signing the Minsk agreements. The world saw exactly how the aggressor state sought peace and how it fulfilled its obligations on the morning of February 24, 2022, and continues to observe to this day. "We believe it will be the same as it was after 2014, when the frozen conflict gave them the opportunity to build up weapons, accumulate forces, and then invade Ukraine. He can do the same. Because the guarantees, as you remember, that were in the Normandy format, as well as at the level of the Minsk process, have not been fulfilled. And no one is responsible for Russia's fulfillment of its commitments. At least as long as Putin remains the President of the Russian Federation," the Head of State summarized. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, Zelensky spoke about Russia's attack on Odesa during the Greek prime minister's visit to the city. "We were in the port... And yes, a few hundred meters away 300-400, I think there was a ballistic missile strike... The missile came very quickly... The teams failed to react," the president said, adding that he did not know where the Russian military was aiming. It was also reported that on March 8, Zelenskyy arrived on a visit to Turkey: he is scheduled to hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in Sempra (NYSE:SRE Free Report) by 109.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 469,848 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 245,038 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Sempra were worth $31,968,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. WFA of San Diego LLC grew its position in shares of Sempra by 29.9% during the 3rd quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC now owns 2,439 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $166,000 after purchasing an additional 561 shares in the last quarter. Meyer Handelman Co. grew its position in shares of Sempra by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Meyer Handelman Co. now owns 68,696 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,673,000 after purchasing an additional 34,348 shares in the last quarter. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC grew its position in shares of Sempra by 93.7% during the 3rd quarter. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC now owns 2,195 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $149,000 after purchasing an additional 1,062 shares in the last quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board grew its position in shares of Sempra by 114.4% during the 3rd quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 32,782 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,230,000 after purchasing an additional 17,491 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI grew its position in shares of Sempra by 94.2% during the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 186,952 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $12,264,000 after purchasing an additional 90,701 shares in the last quarter. 84.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Sempra alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently issued reports on SRE. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $82.00 target price on shares of Sempra in a research report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Sempra from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $78.00 to $86.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Sempra from $75.00 to $73.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH assumed coverage on shares of Sempra in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. They issued a buy rating and a $81.50 price target for the company. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Sempra from $83.00 to $79.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Sempra currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $81.83. Insider Activity at Sempra In related news, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 50,703 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.92, for a total transaction of $3,595,856.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 2 shares of the companys stock, valued at $141.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Sempra news, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 34,190 shares of Sempra stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.83, for a total value of $2,421,677.70. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 2 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $141.66. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 50,703 shares of Sempra stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.92, for a total transaction of $3,595,856.76. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 2 shares in the company, valued at approximately $141.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 142,464 shares of company stock valued at $10,081,471 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock. Sempra Price Performance Shares of NYSE SRE opened at $70.60 on Friday. Sempra has a 1 year low of $63.75 and a 1 year high of $79.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.54 and a quick ratio of 0.49. The companys 50-day moving average is $72.17 and its 200 day moving average is $71.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.71. Sempra (NYSE:SRE Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.11 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $3.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.01 billion. Sempra had a net margin of 18.26% and a return on equity of 9.45%. Sempras quarterly revenue was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.17 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Sempra will post 4.83 earnings per share for the current year. Sempra Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.62 per share. This is an increase from Sempras previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.51%. Sempras dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.69%. Sempra Profile (Free Report) Sempra operates as an energy infrastructure company in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Gas Company, Sempra Texas Utilities, and Sempra Infrastructure. The San Diego Gas & Electric Company segment provides to San Diego and southern Orange counties; and natural gas service to San Diego County. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SRE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Sempra (NYSE:SRE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Sempra Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sempra and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. increased its position in shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX Free Report) by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 572,962 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after purchasing an additional 33,133 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $30,258,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new position in Boston Scientific in the first quarter valued at about $32,000. Motco increased its holdings in Boston Scientific by 136.3% in the third quarter. Motco now owns 645 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 372 shares in the last quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Boston Scientific in the second quarter valued at about $34,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Boston Scientific in the first quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC increased its holdings in Boston Scientific by 2,174.2% in the second quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 705 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 674 shares in the last quarter. 89.11% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Boston Scientific alerts: Boston Scientific Price Performance Shares of Boston Scientific stock opened at $67.82 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Boston Scientific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $46.20 and a fifty-two week high of $68.00. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $63.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $56.67. The company has a market cap of $101.73 billion, a PE ratio of 63.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.78. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Boston Scientific ( NYSE:BSX Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The medical equipment provider reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $3.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.59 billion. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 11.19% and a return on equity of 15.99%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.45 EPS. Analysts expect that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.25 EPS for the current year. A number of research analysts have issued reports on BSX shares. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $58.00 to $61.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $59.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $65.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Raymond James raised their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $67.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Needham & Company LLC raised their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $60.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $66.62. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Boston Scientific Insider Transactions at Boston Scientific In other news, EVP Jeffrey B. Mirviss sold 15,172 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.25, for a total transaction of $898,941.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 56,588 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,352,839. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Jeffrey B. Mirviss sold 15,172 shares of Boston Scientific stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.25, for a total transaction of $898,941.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 56,588 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,352,839. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 6,983 shares of Boston Scientific stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.35, for a total transaction of $463,322.05. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 53,788 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,568,833.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 76,460 shares of company stock valued at $4,759,945. Company insiders own 0.71% of the companys stock. Boston Scientific Company Profile (Free Report) Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions; devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions; implantable cardioverter and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators; pacemakers and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers; and remote patient management systems. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Boston Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC increased its holdings in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 5.6% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 3,589 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 189 shares during the period. Crestwood Advisors Group LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $827,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. V Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 3.3% in the second quarter. V Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,347 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $337,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the period. City Holding Co. grew its position in Illinois Tool Works by 0.5% during the third quarter. City Holding Co. now owns 8,057 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,856,000 after buying an additional 44 shares during the period. Lokken Investment Group LLC grew its position in Illinois Tool Works by 5.0% during the second quarter. Lokken Investment Group LLC now owns 944 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $236,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC grew its position in Illinois Tool Works by 4.5% during the third quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,066 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $247,000 after buying an additional 46 shares during the period. Finally, Mcdonald Partners LLC grew its position in Illinois Tool Works by 1.0% during the third quarter. Mcdonald Partners LLC now owns 4,796 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,104,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.56% of the companys stock. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Illinois Tool Works Price Performance ITW stock opened at $261.48 on Friday. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a one year low of $217.06 and a one year high of $267.12. The companys fifty day moving average price is $257.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $245.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.33. The company has a market capitalization of $78.13 billion, a PE ratio of 26.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 1.13. Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.41 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $3.98 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 18.36% and a return on equity of 96.60%. Illinois Tool Workss revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.34 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Investors of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.40 per share. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.14%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is 57.49%. Insider Activity at Illinois Tool Works In related news, EVP Sharon Szafranski sold 801 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on 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 owns 5,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,505,185.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Illinois Tool Works news, EVP Sharon Szafranski sold 801 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $256.42, for a total transaction of $205,392.42. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,870 shares in the company, valued at $1,505,185.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,827 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $256.29, for a total transaction of $1,493,401.83. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 8,870 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,273,292.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 152,304 shares of company stock valued at $38,860,831 over the last 90 days. 0.88% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Illinois Tool Works from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and cut their target price for the company from $277.00 to $240.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted 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. Citigroup lifted 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. Barclays lifted 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. Finally, Bank of America downgraded shares of Illinois Tool Works from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and lowered their price target for the company from $260.00 to $235.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $239.33. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on ITW 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. boosted its stake in Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD Free Report) by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 23,173 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after purchasing an additional 916 shares during the quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. owned approximately 0.11% of Mettler-Toledo International worth $25,688,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gladius Capital Management LP bought a new position in Mettler-Toledo International in the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Ancora Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of 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 last quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International during the 1st quarter valued at about $37,000. Operose Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International during the 3rd quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank boosted its position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 34.6% during the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 35 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 9 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.11% of the companys stock. Get Mettler-Toledo International alerts: Mettler-Toledo International Price Performance Shares of Mettler-Toledo International stock opened at $1,353.00 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $1,205.98 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $1,139.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 1.15. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. has a one year low of $928.49 and a one year high of $1,615.97. Insider Activity Mettler-Toledo International ( NYSE:MTD Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The medical instruments supplier reported $9.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $10.32 by ($0.92). Mettler-Toledo International had a net margin of 20.82% and a negative return on equity of 904.59%. The business had revenue of $934.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $959.45 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $12.10 earnings per share. Mettler-Toledo Internationals quarterly revenue was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Mettler-Toledo International Inc. will post 39.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In related news, insider Christian Magloth sold 400 shares of Mettler-Toledo International stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,278.73, for a total transaction of $511,492.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 734 shares in the company, valued at $938,587.82. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Christian Magloth sold 400 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,278.73, for a total value of $511,492.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 734 shares of the companys stock, valued at $938,587.82. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Elisha W. Finney sold 251 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 316 shares in the company, valued at $372,042.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 951 shares of company stock valued at $1,170,256. Company insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,425.00 to $1,270.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 13th. StockNews.com cut Mettler-Toledo International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, February 19th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,520.00 to $1,300.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 13th. Citigroup reissued a sell rating and set a $975.00 price objective (down from $1,050.00) on shares of Mettler-Toledo International in a report on Monday, December 11th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,185.00 to $1,030.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $1,223.71. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Mettler-Toledo International Mettler-Toledo International 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Mettler-Toledo International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mettler-Toledo International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its position in Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GOOS Free Report) by 19.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,967,875 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 812,174 shares during the quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company owned about 4.83% of Canada Goose worth $72,905,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of GOOS. Raymond James & Associates purchased a new stake in Canada Goose during the first quarter valued at about $1,061,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Canada Goose in the 1st quarter worth about $286,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Canada Goose by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 465,058 shares of the companys stock worth $12,244,000 after purchasing an additional 2,086 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Canada Goose by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,626,615 shares of the companys stock worth $42,828,000 after purchasing an additional 20,326 shares in the last quarter. Finally, USS Investment Management Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Canada Goose in the 1st quarter worth about $949,000. 50.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Canada Goose alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently issued reports on GOOS. Barclays upped their price objective on Canada Goose from $11.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Evercore upped their price objective on Canada Goose from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $14.60. Canada Goose Trading Down 1.6 % NYSE GOOS opened at $12.66 on Friday. Canada Goose Holdings Inc. has a 1-year low of $9.80 and a 1-year high of $22.65. The company has a current ratio of 1.87, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $12.42 and a 200-day moving average of $12.75. The firm has a market cap of $1.24 billion, a PE ratio of 40.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.49. Canada Goose (NYSE:GOOS Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.01 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $448.03 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $455.25 million. Canada Goose had a net margin of 3.86% and a return on equity of 23.30%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Canada Goose Holdings Inc. will post 0.66 EPS for the current year. Canada Goose Company Profile (Free Report) Canada Goose Holdings Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells performance luxury apparel for men, women, youth, children, and babies in Canada, the United States, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company operates through three segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Wholesale, and Other. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GOOS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GOOS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Canada Goose Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canada Goose and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. decreased its holdings in IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE:IDA Free Report) by 15.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 223,060 shares of the energy companys stock after selling 41,663 shares during the quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. owned 0.44% of IDACORP worth $20,891,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IDA. American Trust grew its position in IDACORP by 38,530.9% in the second quarter. American Trust now owns 728,192 shares of the energy companys stock worth $728,000 after buying an additional 726,307 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its position in IDACORP by 5,338.0% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 602,962 shares of the energy companys stock worth $65,029,000 after purchasing an additional 591,874 shares in the last quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of IDACORP by 335.2% during the 3rd quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 632,457 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $59,230,000 after acquiring an additional 487,134 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of IDACORP by 5.6% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,874,121 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $677,639,000 after acquiring an additional 313,956 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of IDACORP by 15.2% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,674,867 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $193,213,000 after acquiring an additional 221,072 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.00% of the companys stock. Get IDACORP alerts: IDACORP Stock Up 0.8 % Shares of IDA opened at $88.98 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $92.11 and a 200-day simple moving average of $94.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.31, a P/E/G ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a current ratio of 1.58. IDACORP, Inc. has a 52 week low of $86.43 and a 52 week high of $112.96. IDACORP Dividend Announcement IDACORP ( NYSE:IDA Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The energy company reported $0.61 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $411.95 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $429.84 million. IDACORP had a net margin of 14.79% and a return on equity of 9.06%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.83 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that IDACORP, Inc. will post 5.35 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 5th were paid a dividend of $0.83 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 2nd. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.73%. IDACORPs dividend payout ratio is 64.59%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of IDACORP from $100.00 to $94.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 16th. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of IDACORP from $99.00 to $88.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. TheStreet lowered shares of IDACORP from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. StockNews.com raised shares of IDACORP to a sell rating in a research note on Monday, November 20th. Finally, Guggenheim lowered shares of IDACORP from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $93.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $93.50. Get Our Latest Analysis on IDA IDACORP Company Profile (Free Report) IDACORP, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, purchase, and sale of electric energy in the United States. The company operates 17 hydropower generating plants located in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon; three natural gas-fired plants in southern Idaho; and interests in two coal-fired steam electric generating plants located in Wyoming and Nevada. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for IDACORP Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IDACORP and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Townsquare Capital LLC cut its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Free Report) by 9.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 49,900 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 5,101 shares during the quarter. Townsquare Capital LLCs holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $12,901,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 2nd quarter worth $36,000. Finally, CGC Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 2nd quarter worth $37,000. 86.72% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Becton Dickinson and Company alerts: Becton, Dickinson and Company Price Performance Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock opened at $236.83 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a twelve month low of $228.62 and a twelve month high of $287.32. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $239.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $248.74. The firm has a market cap of $68.42 billion, a PE ratio of 56.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.42. Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement Becton, Dickinson and Company ( NYSE:BDX Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.39 by $0.29. The company had revenue of $4.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.73 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 13.57% and a net margin of 6.44%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.98 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. Becton, Dickinson and Companys payout ratio is 90.05%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In BDX has been the subject of a number of research reports. Barclays lifted their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $301.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Raymond James lifted their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $269.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $310.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 4th. Finally, TheStreet cut Becton, Dickinson and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Becton, Dickinson and Company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $279.17. Check Out Our Latest Report on BDX Becton, Dickinson and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP trimmed its stake in shares of Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT Free Report) by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 346,624 shares of the shipping companys stock after selling 20,583 shares during the quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLPs holdings in Nordic American Tankers were worth $1,428,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC purchased a new position in Nordic American Tankers during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Nordic American Tankers during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Nordic American Tankers in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Franklin Resources Inc. acquired a new position in Nordic American Tankers in the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Clear Street Markets LLC acquired a new position in Nordic American Tankers in the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. 42.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Nordic American Tankers alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth NAT has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. TheStreet cut shares of Nordic American Tankers from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a buy rating and set a $5.50 target price on shares of Nordic American Tankers in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on shares of Nordic American Tankers from $5.00 to $4.50 and set an in-line rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $5.33. Nordic American Tankers Price Performance Shares of Nordic American Tankers stock opened at $4.08 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The companys 50-day moving average price is $4.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4.20. Nordic American Tankers Limited has a 52 week low of $3.26 and a 52 week high of $4.83. The stock has a market cap of $850.86 million, a PE ratio of 8.67 and a beta of -0.10. Nordic American Tankers (NYSE:NAT Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, March 1st. The shipping company reported $0.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.14 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $59.25 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $68.90 million. Nordic American Tankers had a net margin of 37.65% and a return on equity of 18.12%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.17 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Nordic American Tankers Limited will post 0.55 EPS for the current fiscal year. Nordic American Tankers Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 20th will be given a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 19th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.78%. This is a boost from Nordic American Tankerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.06. Nordic American Tankerss dividend payout ratio is presently 51.06%. About Nordic American Tankers (Free Report) Nordic American Tankers Limited, a tanker company, acquires and charters double-hull tankers in Bermuda and internationally. It operates a fleet of 19 Suezmax crude oil tankers. The company was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NAT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Nordic American Tankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nordic American Tankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP lowered its stake in Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Free Report) by 10.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 23,284 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,709 shares during the quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLPs holdings in Molson Coors Beverage were worth $1,481,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of TAP. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position 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 worth $1,242,000 after acquiring an additional 4,792 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 17.1% during 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 period. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 45.7% during 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 period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 16,654 shares of the companys stock worth $889,000 after acquiring an additional 720 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 26.3% during the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 14,411 shares of the companys stock valued at $769,000 after buying an additional 3,001 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.95% of the companys stock. Get Molson Coors Beverage alerts: Insider Activity at Molson Coors Beverage In related news, CFO Tracey Joubert sold 2,771 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.37, for a total value of $167,285.27. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 60,538 shares in the company, valued at $3,654,679.06. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets TAP has been the subject of several research reports. TheStreet upgraded Molson Coors Beverage from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Monday, November 13th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 price target 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. HSBC initiated coverage on Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. They set a hold rating and a $68.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Molson Coors Beverage has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $67.57. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on TAP Molson Coors Beverage Trading Up 2.0 % Shares of TAP opened at $64.01 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. Molson Coors Beverage has a 12-month low of $49.32 and a 12-month high of $70.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.81 billion, a PE ratio of 14.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.83. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $62.29 and its 200-day simple moving average is $61.52. Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $2.79 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.78 billion. Molson Coors Beverage had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 6.83%. The firms revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.30 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Molson Coors Beverage will post 5.66 earnings per share for the current year. Molson Coors Beverage Increases Dividend 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 issued a $0.44 dividend. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. This is an increase from Molson Coors Beverages previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is currently 40.37%. Molson Coors Beverage Profile (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 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TAP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Molson Coors Beverage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molson Coors Beverage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new position in shares of Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE:TPH Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 60,361 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $1,651,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP owned 0.06% of Tri Pointe Homes at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in TPH. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new position in Tri Pointe Homes in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in shares of Tri Pointe Homes by 168.1% in the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,016 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 637 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Tri Pointe Homes during the 2nd quarter valued at about $45,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Tri Pointe Homes during the 1st quarter valued at about $45,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in shares of Tri Pointe Homes by 30.4% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,275 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 531 shares in the last quarter. 97.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Tri Pointe Homes alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TPH has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Tri Pointe Homes from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Wedbush reissued a neutral rating and set a $32.00 price objective on shares of Tri Pointe Homes in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, Oppenheimer reissued an outperform rating and set a $41.00 price objective (up from $36.00) on shares of Tri Pointe Homes in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $38.20. Tri Pointe Homes Stock Performance Tri Pointe Homes stock opened at $34.80 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $3.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.09, a PEG ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.53. Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. has a twelve month low of $23.00 and a twelve month high of $36.43. The company has a quick ratio of 2.11, a current ratio of 2.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The stocks 50 day moving average is $34.86 and its 200 day moving average is $31.11. Tri Pointe Homes (NYSE:TPH Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The construction company reported $1.36 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.12 by $0.24. The firm had revenue of $1.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.20 billion. Tri Pointe Homes had a return on equity of 11.75% and a net margin of 9.37%. The companys revenue was down 17.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.98 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. will post 3.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Tri Pointe Homes Profile (Free Report) Tri Pointe Homes, Inc engages in the design, construction, and sale of single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. The company operates through a portfolio of six regional home building brands comprising Maracay in Arizona; Pardee Homes in California and Nevada; Quadrant Homes in Washington; Trendmaker Homes in Texas; TRI Pointe Homes in California, Colorado, and the Carolinas; and Winchester Homes in Maryland and Northern Virginia. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TPH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE:TPH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Tri Pointe Homes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tri Pointe Homes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi met with British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps and Chief of the British Defense Staff Tony Radakin in Kyiv. The main topic of their talks was the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. ADVERTISIMENT Umerov wrote about this on his Facebook page. The meeting took place on Thursday, March 7. According to the minister, he and his colleagues discussed the priority needs of the Armed Forces, which have been fighting the Russian occupiers at the front for more than two years. Umerov noted that the Storm Shadow missiles Ukraine received from the UK changed the situation on the battlefield. "I am extremely grateful to the UK for its comprehensive support, including the supply of Storm Shadow missiles, which really change the situation on the battlefield. The UK is constantly convincing the free world to do the right thing. Together, we are proving that democracy can defeat autocracy," he said. ADVERTISIMENT Syrskyi, for his part, said he had briefed his colleagues on the situation at the frontline in Ukraine and the latest actions of the enemy. "We discussed the priority needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. I informed about the situation at the front and the latest enemy actions. I am grateful to the United Kingdom for the comprehensive support of our state and the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine noted. ADVERTISIMENT As reported, the UK has announced that it will provide Ukraine with 325 million pounds (about $416 million) in aid to provide the Armed Forces with drones through 2024. The funding will provide our country with more than 10 thousand UAVs, most of which are FPV drones, as well as 1000 UAVs that have been researched and developed in the UK, and reconnaissance and maritime drones. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! iA Global Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (BATS:GOVT Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm purchased 242,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,334,000. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 8.2% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 24,695 shares of the companys stock valued at $642,000 after acquiring an additional 1,879 shares during the period. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,071,000. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 3.2% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 338,812 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,440,000 after acquiring an additional 10,375 shares in the last quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 10.4% during the 1st quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 406,752 shares of the companys stock worth $10,132,000 after purchasing an additional 38,476 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. raised its holdings in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 34.3% in the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 558,798 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,920,000 after acquiring an additional 142,658 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF alerts: iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Trading Up 0.1 % BATS:GOVT opened at $22.82 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $22.77 and its 200 day moving average is $22.45. iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Profile The iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE U.S. Treasury Core Bond index. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of fixed-rate nonconvertible U.S. Treasury securities with a remaining maturity of one year or more. GOVT was launched on Feb 14, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GOVT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (BATS:GOVT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC lifted its position in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:JHMM Free Report) by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 178,931 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 7,439 shares during the quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC owned 0.28% of John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF worth $8,467,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. KPP Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $13,839,000. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC lifted its stake in John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 7.6% in the 3rd quarter. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC now owns 15,404 shares of the companys stock worth $729,000 after purchasing an additional 1,086 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its stake in John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 4,045,254 shares of the companys stock worth $191,480,000 after purchasing an additional 151,397 shares in the last quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management lifted its stake in John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 8.2% in the 3rd quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management now owns 7,168 shares of the companys stock worth $339,000 after purchasing an additional 546 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Nova Scotia lifted its stake in John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 32,340 shares of the companys stock worth $1,530,000 after purchasing an additional 675 shares in the last quarter. Get John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF alerts: John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF Stock Up 0.6 % JHMM traded up $0.31 during trading on Friday, reaching $56.23. The companys stock had a trading volume of 12,841 shares, compared to its average volume of 268,883. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $52.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $49.96. The company has a market cap of $3.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.93 and a beta of 1.08. John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF has a 1 year low of $44.07 and a 1 year high of $56.33. John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF Profile The John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF (JHMM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the John Hancock Dimensional Mid Cap index. The fund tracks an index of US firms ranked 200-950 by size, weighted by multiple factors relative to their sector peers. JHMM was launched on Sep 28, 2015 and is managed by John Hancock. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lessened its holdings in Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR Free Report) by 10.2% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,160,798 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 131,529 shares during the quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Companys holdings in Ingersoll Rand were worth $73,966,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IR. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new position in Ingersoll Rand in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Pacifica Partners Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 1,566.7% during the 2nd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 450 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 423 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 348.2% during the 3rd quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 493 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 383 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.54% of the companys stock. Get Ingersoll Rand alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades IR has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $79.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Cfra lifted their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $68.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Evercore ISI downgraded Ingersoll Rand from an outperform rating to an in-line rating and upped their price objective for the company from $81.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Ingersoll Rand from $83.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Ingersoll Rand from $87.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ingersoll Rand currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $81.64. Ingersoll Rand Stock Performance Shares of IR stock opened at $91.19 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $83.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $73.22. The stock has a market cap of $36.79 billion, a PE ratio of 47.99, a P/E/G ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 1.44. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a 1 year low of $51.84 and a 1 year high of $92.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a current ratio of 2.22. Ingersoll Rand Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 7th will be given a dividend of $0.02 per share. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.09%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 6th. Ingersoll Rands payout ratio is 4.21%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Ingersoll Rand news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 240,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.16, for a total transaction of $21,638,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 91,957 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,290,843.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Ingersoll Rand news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 240,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.16, for a total transaction of $21,638,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 91,957 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,290,843.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CAO Michael J. Scheske sold 7,590 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.00, for a total value of $667,920.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 9,715 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $854,920. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 258,011 shares of company stock valued at $23,243,689. Corporate insiders own 0.83% of the companys stock. Ingersoll Rand Profile (Free Report) Ingersoll Rand Inc provides various mission-critical air, gas, liquid, and solid flow creation technologies services and solutions worldwide. It operates through two segments, Industrial Technologies and Services, and Precision and Science Technologies. The Industrial Technologies and Services segment designs, manufactures, markets, and services air and gas compression, vacuum, and blower products; fluid transfer equipment and loading systems; and power tools and lifting equipment, including associated aftermarket parts, consumables, air treatment equipment, controls, other accessories, and services under the under the Ingersoll Rand, Gardner Denver, Nash, CompAir, Elmo Rietschle brands, etc. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ingersoll Rand Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ingersoll Rand and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP lifted its stake in shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (NYSE:RYAM Free Report) by 54.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 472,579 shares of the basic materials companys stock after acquiring an additional 166,722 shares during the period. GSA Capital Partners LLPs holdings in Rayonier Advanced Materials were worth $1,673,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of RYAM. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in Rayonier Advanced Materials by 23.6% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 10,285 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $99,000 after buying an additional 1,965 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc grew its position in Rayonier Advanced Materials by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 135,658 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,302,000 after acquiring an additional 2,290 shares in the last quarter. Advisor Partners II LLC grew its position in Rayonier Advanced Materials by 16.8% in the 4th quarter. Advisor Partners II LLC now owns 17,612 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $169,000 after acquiring an additional 2,534 shares in the last quarter. HRT Financial LP grew its position in Rayonier Advanced Materials by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. HRT Financial LP now owns 121,408 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $761,000 after acquiring an additional 2,640 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in Rayonier Advanced Materials in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.68% of the companys stock. Get Rayonier Advanced Materials alerts: Rayonier Advanced Materials Stock Performance Rayonier Advanced Materials stock opened at $3.80 on Friday. Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. has a 12 month low of $2.66 and a 12 month high of $8.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 1.53. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $4.24 and a 200-day simple moving average of $3.61. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, StockNews.com downgraded Rayonier Advanced Materials from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday. View Our Latest Analysis on RYAM Rayonier Advanced Materials Profile (Free Report) Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc manufactures and sells cellulose specialty products in the United States, China, Canada, Japan, Europe, Latin America, other Asian countries, and internationally. The company operates through High Purity Cellulose, Paperboard, and High-Yield Pulp segments. Its products include cellulose specialties, which are natural polymers that are used as raw materials to manufacture a range of consumer-oriented products, such as liquid crystal displays, impact-resistant plastics, thickeners for food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cigarette filters, high-tenacity rayon yarn for tires and industrial hoses, food casings, paints, and lacquers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RYAM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (NYSE:RYAM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Rayonier Advanced Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rayonier Advanced Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 5,266 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $481,000. Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Ambassador Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 198.0% in the 1st quarter. Ambassador Advisors LLC now owns 441 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 293 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Price Performance Shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF stock opened at $113.22 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $106.60 and a 200 day moving average of $98.70. The firm has a market cap of $15.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.03 and a beta of 1.10. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF has a 1 year low of $85.00 and a 1 year high of $113.47. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Profile iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF, formerly iShares Russell Midcap Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell Midcap Growth Index (the Growth Index). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 15,151 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,378,000. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of NVO. Copeland Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the third quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 282 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the period. Bell Investment Advisors Inc increased its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 79.9% during the third quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 286 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the period. Citizens National Bank Trust Department increased its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the third quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 300 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the period. Tyler Stone Wealth Management increased its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the third quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management now owns 292 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 146 shares during the period. Finally, Centerpoint Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Novo Nordisk A/S during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. 6.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently issued reports on NVO. UBS Group began coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $140.00 target price on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Novo Nordisk A/S currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $121.25. Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Up 8.9 % NYSE:NVO opened at $135.87 on Friday. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 12 month low of $67.66 and a 12 month high of $138.28. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $114.62 and a 200-day simple moving average of $95.80. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The company has a market capitalization of $609.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.23, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.41. Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $9.51 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.14 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a net margin of 36.03% and a return on equity of 90.36%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.35 earnings per share for the current year. Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, March 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.664 per share. This represents a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 22nd. This is a boost from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.22. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio is currently 22.92%. Novo Nordisk A/S Profile (Free Report) Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC bought a new position in The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm bought 19,933 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $571,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 14.5% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 23,035 shares of the business services providers stock worth $817,000 after purchasing an additional 2,915 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies during the 1st quarter worth about $243,000. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund acquired a new stake in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies during the 1st quarter worth about $133,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its position in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 52,667 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,867,000 after purchasing an additional 3,244 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its position in Interpublic Group of Companies by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 63,184 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,240,000 after acquiring an additional 595 shares in the last quarter. 98.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Interpublic Group of Companies alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Interpublic Group of Companies In other Interpublic Group of Companies news, CAO Christopher F. Carroll sold 18,382 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.20, for a total transaction of $591,900.40. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 42,390 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,364,958. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, CAO Christopher F. Carroll sold 18,382 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.20, for a total value of $591,900.40. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 42,390 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,364,958. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrew Bonzani sold 40,468 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.20, for a total value of $1,303,069.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,431 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,267,878.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 249,646 shares of company stock worth $8,038,601 in the last 90 days. 0.35% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. UBS Group assumed coverage on Interpublic Group of Companies in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. They issued a neutral rating and a $36.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Interpublic Group of Companies from $31.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Interpublic Group of Companies from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Interpublic Group of Companies from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $35.78. View Our Latest Analysis on IPG Interpublic Group of Companies Price Performance IPG stock opened at $33.00 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.06. The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $27.20 and a 1 year high of $40.95. The firm has a market cap of $12.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.13. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $32.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $31.10. Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The business services provider reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.02. Interpublic Group of Companies had a return on equity of 30.52% and a net margin of 10.09%. The business had revenue of $2.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.57 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.02 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. will post 2.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Interpublic Group of Companies Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.33 per share. This represents a $1.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.00%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. This is a positive change from Interpublic Group of Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. Interpublic Group of Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.32%. Interpublic Group of Companies Profile (Free Report) The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc provides advertising and marketing services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Media, Data & Engagement Solutions, Integrated Advertising & Creativity Led Solutions, and Specialized Communications & Experiential Solutions. The Media, Data & Engagement Solutions segment provides media and communications services, digital services and products, advertising and marketing technology, e-commerce services, data management and analytics, strategic consulting, and digital brand experience under the IPG Mediabrands, UM, Initiative, Kinesso, Acxiom, Huge, MRM, and R/GA brand names. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IPG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Interpublic Group of Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Interpublic Group of Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Townsquare Capital LLC lessened its stake in Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT Free Report) by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,679 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 262 shares during the quarter. Townsquare Capital LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $6,412,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LMT. Lee Financial Co grew its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 367.6% during the first quarter. Lee Financial Co now owns 477 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $210,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 240.0% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 4,124 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,821,000 after purchasing an additional 2,911 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 56.8% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 23,153 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $9,995,000 after purchasing an additional 8,389 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 18.4% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 28,807 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $12,716,000 after purchasing an additional 4,472 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its holdings in Lockheed Martin by 20.4% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 107,366 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $47,391,000 after purchasing an additional 18,201 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.26% of the companys stock. Get Lockheed Martin alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, COO John Frank A. St sold 6,648 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $425.35, for a total transaction of $2,827,726.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Lockheed Martin news, COO John Frank A. St sold 6,648 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $425.35, for a total value of $2,827,726.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Maryanne Lavan sold 4,022 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $434.39, for a total transaction of $1,747,116.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 16,874 shares of company stock worth $7,249,946. Insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Susquehanna cut their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $550.00 to $540.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $488.00 to $475.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $475.00 to $470.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $540.00 to $508.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of Lockheed Martin from $438.00 to $472.00 in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $491.92. Read Our Latest Stock Report on LMT Lockheed Martin Price Performance Shares of LMT opened at $429.99 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $103.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.61, a PEG ratio of 3.96 and a beta of 0.48. Lockheed Martin Co. has a 1-year low of $393.77 and a 1-year high of $508.10. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $438.31 and its 200 day simple moving average is $439.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The aerospace company reported $7.90 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.26 by $0.64. The business had revenue of $18.87 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.96 billion. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 10.24% and a return on equity of 79.91%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $7.79 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Lockheed Martin Co. will post 26.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a dividend of $3.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $12.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.93%. Lockheed Martins payout ratio is 45.74%. Lockheed Martin Company Profile (Free Report) Lockheed Martin Corporation, a security and aerospace company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide. The company operates through Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space segments. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Lockheed Martin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lockheed Martin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 21,378 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,612,000. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp boosted its stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 31,364,445 shares of the companys stock worth $2,369,897,000 after purchasing an additional 1,314,810 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp raised its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 13,303,791 shares of the companys stock worth $1,003,372,000 after buying an additional 252,486 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 9,956,183 shares of the companys stock worth $749,998,000 after buying an additional 105,943 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 9.2% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 6,744,254 shares of the companys stock worth $626,204,000 after buying an additional 570,811 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new position in Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 4th quarter worth $525,111,000. 77.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $80.00 to $66.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $90.00 to $67.00 in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Roth Capital lowered shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $116.00 to $56.00 in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $67.08. Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland stock opened at $54.24 on Friday. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a 1 year low of $50.72 and a 1 year high of $87.30. The business has a 50-day moving average of $58.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $69.49. The company has a market capitalization of $28.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.55 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.69 and a quick ratio of 1.07. Archer-Daniels-Midland Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 8th were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 7th. 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%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio is 27.86%. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company Profile (Free Report) Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ADM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada lessened its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 0.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,805,679 shares of the companys stock after selling 32,119 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada owned about 0.44% of Altria Group worth $328,227,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Altria Group by 108,222.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 18,590,308 shares of the companys stock valued at $849,763,000 after buying an additional 18,573,146 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 8.5% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 96,401,945 shares of the companys stock worth $4,367,008,000 after purchasing an additional 7,546,851 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 84.1% during the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 5,426,522 shares of the companys stock worth $245,823,000 after purchasing an additional 2,478,576 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 6.4% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 36,302,349 shares of the companys stock worth $1,896,798,000 after purchasing an additional 2,178,596 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 54.1% during the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 4,710,670 shares of the companys stock worth $198,084,000 after purchasing an additional 1,653,455 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.94% of the companys stock. Get Altria Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently weighed in on MO. StockNews.com lowered Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. UBS Group reissued a sell rating and issued a $36.10 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $47.22. Altria Group Stock Up 0.2 % MO stock opened at $41.55 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $73.27 billion, a PE ratio of 9.09, a PEG ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.65. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $39.06 and a twelve month high of $48.04. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $40.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $41.57. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $5.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.06 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 33.21% and a negative return on equity of 244.55%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.18 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. Altria Group declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback program on Thursday, February 1st that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to reacquire up to 1.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. Altria Group Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd. Altria Groups payout ratio is 85.78%. Altria Group Company Profile (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Ukrainian Defense Forces have captured Anton Kozmin, a Russian occupation prisoner from the Storm Z unit. The Ministry of Defense of the aggressor country persuaded him to sign a contract with its occupation army, claiming that he would dig trenches in the war in Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT However, in reality, the Russian military command sent the former prisoner to the assault group. The video of Kozmin's interrogation was obtained by OBOZ.UA. The Russian lived in the city of Irkutsk and was imprisoned for drug trafficking. In November 2023, he signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry. The occupier told us how it happened. "Representatives of the Ministry of Defense came and offered to sign a contract for a year. They said that we would dig trenches (in the war in Ukraine - Ed.) and stand on the defense line. At the end of October, I signed the contract, and in November, they took me away. I was at the training ground for two weeks, then they sent me to Marinka, where I was wounded. I was in the hospital for a month, then they sent me to storm Krasnohorivka. There we were surrounded and surrendered," the Russian occupier said. ADVERTISIMENT Kozmin said that the commander sent him and four other people to assault, which ended in failure. The occupants were under the gun of UAVs and mortars of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. "We ran (to assault - Ed.) and the UAVs started working. Then a mortar started firing, killing one guy and hitting me a little. I ran into the dugout, there were two dead and one wounded. We were sitting in the dugout with him. An hour later, they dropped the radio (Ukrainian military - Ed.) from the drone, came to us and offered to surrender... We talked on the radio and they promised that no one would touch us and we would just go for an exchange. They organized the exit and that was it," he said. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! French President Emmanuel Macron is allegedly considering the scenario of sending troops to Ukraine if the Russian occupiers manage to break through the front towards Odesa or Kyiv. The president spoke about this with the leaders of the country's main political parties at a meeting organized on March 7. ADVERTISIMENT Macron convened politicians to discuss the line of support for Ukraine. This was reported by L'Independant. National Secretary of the Communist Party of France Fabien Roussel noted that Macron mentioned a scenario that "could initiate an intervention." It is about the advancement of the occupiers "towards Odesa or Kyiv." A representative of the French opposition, Manuel Bompard, leader of the left-wing party La France Insoumise, said that he came to the meeting concerned and that he "left it even more concerned." As a reminder, at the meeting with representatives of political parties, Macron claimed that Paris had no "red lines" in supporting Kyiv. In response, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "Mr. Macron is convinced of his policy aimed at inflicting a strategic defeat on our country, and he continues to increase the level of direct French involvement." ADVERTISIMENT As reported, European countries have not reached a consensus on the idea of sending troops to Ukraine. Macron explained that at a meeting with representatives of partner countries on February 26, he only admitted such a possibility. "This does not mean that we are considering sending French troops to Ukraine in the near future... We are opening debates and thinking about everything we can do to support Ukraine, especially on Ukrainian territory," the French leader said. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called on the German government to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles. He emphasized that this would greatly help Ukraine in repelling Russia's full-scale armed aggression. ADVERTISIMENT Cameron also rejected the arguments voiced by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that the transfer of Taurus to Kyiv could lead to an escalation of the war. He said this during a visit to Germany on March 7, DW reports. The publication notes that the head of British diplomacy in Berlin "urged" the German government to transfer long-range missiles to Ukraine. "As for long-range weapons, I can tell you from the UK experience how effectively such weapons have helped Ukraine repel illegal aggression," Cameron said after meeting with his German counterpart, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The British foreign secretary also disagreed with Scholz, who argued that the refusal to hand over the Taurus could lead to an escalation of the war. "We have had this debate many times since the Russian invasion two years ago. For example, they said that If we supply Ukraine with anti-tank weapons, there will be an escalation. In the end, it did not happen. They said that if you give Ukraine tanks, there will be an escalation. It did not happen. If you give Ukraine long-range artillery or long-range missiles, there will be an escalation. No, nothing will happen again," Cameron reminded. ADVERTISIMENT In his opinion, Western partners should do everything possible to help Ukraine defend itself. With the exception of sending NATO troops to Ukraine, there should be no restrictions on such assistance. "When it comes to helping the country defend itself against illegal and completely unjustified aggression, there should be no obstacles. As long as we do not get into a situation where a NATO soldier kills a Russian soldier, we are not contributing to escalation but helping Ukraine to defend itself," the British official emphasized. As reported, in early March, Scholz gave a new excuse for why Germany is not giving Ukraine Taurus. He noted that in case of "misuse", the missile with a range of 500 km could hit targets, for example, in Moscow. In addition, if Germany were to supply the missiles, it would have to be directly involved in their launch, and Berlin is not ready to send its military to Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT The polls have opened in twin referenda on proposed changes to the Constitution in Ireland. The referenda propose changing the wording of the Constitution relating to the areas of family and care. The family amendment proposes extending the meaning of family beyond one defined by marriage and to include those based on durable relationships. The care amendment proposes deleting references to a womans roles and duties in the home, and replacing it with a new article that acknowledges family carers. The Constitution is the fundamental legal document for the country and can only be changed with the approval of Irish citizens through a national vote. The campaigns have led to national debates over the role of women in the home, what responsibility the State has for care and the meaning of family. The Irish Government is campaigning for a yes vote in both amendments. It says the changes will remove sexist language, recognise family care and extend protection to families not based on marriage. All Irish citizens that are at least 18 years old are eligible if they have registered to vote. Registered voters are given polling information cards directing them to their nearest polling station. The family amendment will be on a white-coloured ballot paper while the care amendment will be on a green-coloured ballot paper. The polls are open between 7am and 10pm. The result of the referenda, which are decided by majority, are expected on Saturday. Counting of the ballots happens at a constituency basis at various centres around the country. However, the overall national result will be declared at Dublin Castle. The family amendment will be counted and declared first. The results for the care amendment will not be processed until the family count is finished. USE ARROWS OR NEXT BUTTON TO SEE MORE PICTURES Over 1,000,000 LEGO bricks have just been erected in Ireland, marking the launch of the upcoming European debut tour. The LEGO sculptures are in the forms of a diverse range of models, from fashion to the animal kingdom, to fantasy. After a hugely successful worldwide tour in Australia, Asia and The United States, Irish LEGO fans will be the first lucky Europeans to have the opportunity to be wowed by this interactive experience. Bricktionary: The Interactive LEGO Brick Exhibition makes its European opening debut in Dublin this Sunday, March 10. Newstalk's Kieran Cuddihy and The Late late Toy Show Legend, Finn Ryan, were the first to get into the Dublin experience this Friday, March 8. Among the first to get into the Dublin experience for an exclusive sneak peek, Newstalks Kieran Cuddihy, a huge LEGO fan himself, confirms how this is not just an experience for children. Kieran said: As a huge LEGO fan myself, I was simply in my element throughout that experience. I love the creativity and challenge LEGO brick building presents, so to see models of that incredible detail, creativity, size, and scale was just so inspiring and amazing to see. Any adults, like myself, who are LEGO fans will be amazed by whats on show here, but this will really be just the best day out for any Irish kids who love Lego. The play, build and challenge areas included for them are brilliant. Finn Ryan, who stole the hearts of the nation on The Late Late Toy Show in 2021 when he told us that his love for LEGO began while in hospital battling cancer, spoke today about being the first child to be invited in. It is amazing, I was so excited to come here because I really love Lego. I cant believe I was the first to get in, Finn said. There is so much to see and its just so cool. Ive never seen so many amazing LEGO creations in one place. From life-size trees to Willy Wonka recreations, I cant wait to try and recreate some of these myself. Bricktionary: The Interactive LEGO Brick Exhibition will open in the Theatre of Light, Point Square, Dublin 1, this Sunday (Mothers Day) March 10. Tickets are on sale here now. Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) has signed an agreement with ATS Technic to launch its new facility at Dubai South. ATS Technic is the leading provider of line maintenance and logistics services for a wide range of aircraft types and models and the first independent EASA maintenance organisation in the UAE. The agreement, which took place during MRO Middle East, was signed by Tahnoon Saif, CEO of MBRAH, and Mahdi Altahaineh, CEO of ATS Technic, in the presence of executives from both entities. Operational by 2025 The new facility will be built across a 12,000 sq m plot. It will provide maintenance services approved by EASA Part 145, upgrades to the cabin, and high-quality refurbishment work on VIP aircrafts. The hangar, which can also handle multiple narrow-body family aircraft types simultaneously, will be fully operational by 2025. Saif said: This partnership underlines our position in attracting the top players in the aviation sector to establish their presence at Dubai South and operate in an integrated economic environment where they can connect with international markets. We will spare no effort in supporting ATS expansion endeavours, in line with our mandate to solidify and cement Dubais position on the world aviation map. Altahaineh said: The UAEs independent MRO infrastructure benefits the regions growing aviation sector, especially since over 3,000 new commercial aircraft are expected to be delivered to the Middle East by 2042, according to recently released data from Boeing CMO, and that the UAE, home to 27 EASA foreign maintenance organisations, is regarded as the largest aviation hub in the Arab world. The region is a potential market that aligns with our expansion strategy, and we thank MBRAHs team for their support in realising our growth plans.--TradeArabia News Service Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said that Ottawa "must and will" increase spending on its military. The main reason for this is the war in Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT Blair made this statement at the annual Ottawa Security and Defense Conference on Thursday, March 7, Reuters reports. The journalists noted that Canada is a NATO member and has not reached the target of allocating 2% of GDP to defense for decades. Currently, the country spends less than 1.4% of its GDP on defense. The head of the department noted that the war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, and climate change are factors that make investment in the army more relevant. "Canada must and will spend more on defense. We know we need to do a lot more," Blair said, adding that the Arctic "is becoming more accessible and geography no longer provides the security it used to." Blair also said that both Russia and China have Arctic ambitions, and they have serious implications for Canada's security. ADVERTISIMENT As reported, Canada is still studying the possibility of transferring decommissioned CRV7 air-to-ground missiles to Ukraine. The country's Defense Ministry is studying how useful these missiles are for the Armed Forces and how to transport them safely. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! U.S. President Joe Biden said that Ukraine could stop the aggressor Russia if Washington stood with Kyiv and provided it with the necessary weapons. He called the current situation an unprecedented moment and unusual times as democracy is being attacked around the world. ADVERTISIMENT The American leader spoke about this during an address to the US Congress, The Guardian reports. He also condemned the recent criticism of NATO by Donald Trump, who wants to return to power. Support for Ukraine Biden began his speech with a strong defense of US allies abroad, calling on the country's federal legislature to approve increased funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Earlier, Republicans noted that the House of Representatives could submit an alternative bill to help Kyiv after March 22. "Putin has invaded Ukraine and he will not stop there. But Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with it and give it the weapons it needs. And that's all Ukraine is asking for. It is not asking for our soldiers. Not a single soldier is in Ukraine, and I will make sure that it stays that way. But now the assistance to Ukraine is being blocked by those who want to move away from world leadership," the President emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT According to him, the United States cannot withdraw from aid and "put Ukraine at risk," as well as Europe and the world with it, "by allowing dictators to do evil." Trump Biden compared the current moment to 1941 when the United States was on the verge of entering World War II, and repeatedly reminded Americans that "history is watching" how the nation will respond to crises unfolding around the world. "Never since President Lincoln and the Civil War have our freedom and democracy been under attack at home like they are today. What makes this moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and abroad at the same time," he explained. ADVERTISIMENT The American leader referred to recent comments by Republican Donald Trump that he would allow Russia to "do whatever it wants" with NATO countries that do not make sufficient financial contributions to the Alliance. "In fact, the former president said this while bowing to the Russian leader. I think this is outrageous, dangerous and unacceptable. My message to Putin, whom I have known for a long time, is simple: we will not go away, we will not bow, I will not bow," Biden said. The media noted that his address on the US position came on the same day that Sweden officially joined NATO. The prime minister of this country was a guest at the White House to witness Biden's speech, who, for his part, welcomed Sweden to "the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen." ADVERTISIMENT As reported, the White House continues to work with Congress to ensure that the national security bill, which includes additional funding for Ukraine, is passed. However, the US presidential administration is forced to look for other options to help the Armed Forces, which have been fighting a full-scale Russian invasion for more than two years. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! We watched most of his speech last night and it wasn't so bad . . . In fact, the protesters and naysayers came off a little pout-y and not very confident. Here's an upbeat assessment of the event but we're more interested in what TKC readers have to say about the display . . . Check-it: "His list of objectives was long: Tout his accomplishments in office, look ahead to a second-term agenda, allay concerns about his age and fitness and provide a contrast with Republicans, including his rival Donald Trump. "The result was a fiery speech that bore little resemblance to his States of the Union past. Intent on displaying his energy and eager to engage with Republicans, Biden delivered a starkly political speech that his aides hope can ease Democratic jitters about his political prospects. " Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Takeaways from Joe Biden's State of the Union address | CNN Politics President Joe Biden is delivering his third State of the Union address, one that could be among the most important speeches he gives during his presidency as he turns toward reelection. Did Biden pass or fail? Former presidential speechwriters grade the State of the Union address Grading President Biden: Former presidential speech writers weigh in on the State of the Union address and whether the attacks on Trump were too political Biden gets in testy exchange over murder of Georgia college student Laken Riley President Joe Biden addressed the murder of a Georgia nursing student that Republicans have cited during criticism of his border policies. Biden Reacts to Being Interrupted by Marjorie Taylor Greene Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene interrupted President Joe Biden's State of the Union speech. Watch the moment, here. State of the Union guest charged for disrupting Biden's speech Steven Nikoui was shouting about his son, a Marine killed in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing. Britt goes after 'dithering, diminished' Biden in State of the Union rebuttal Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) on Thursday argued President Biden is a "dithering and diminished" leader who is taking the U.S. down a worrisome path. Delivering the GOP response to Biden's State of the Union from her own kitchen table, the freshman senator laid into the president for the border, crime, the economy and his work... 5 Takeaways from President Biden's State of the Union address President Biden used the high-profile speech to draw a contrast with his 2024 likely opponent, former President Donald Trump. He hit on the economy, abortion, the Mideast and the border. You decide . . . On the topic of demographics and changing times . . . Right now here's a passage that drills down into the deets of this program . . . Of course this might spark debate about "the great replacement theory" which MIGHT be a viable complaint if not for the fact that: These folks are only "replacing" tumbleweeds as even our conservative friends are forced to confront the cruel reality of population loss for the Sunflower State. Accordingly . . . We notice an effort to push back with the trend as the complexion of Kansas begins to change. Check-it: The Choose Topeka program that launched in 2019 offers up to $15,000 to each applicant who finds a job and moves to the Topeka area. It's an economic development effort by Go Topeka, a local public-private partnership. Hispanic and Latino populations are growing rapidly in the state, and Topeka has one of the larger communities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 16.5% of Topekas population is Hispanic or Latino, which is roughly 20,000 people. Bob Ross, a spokesperson for Go Topeka said that community has been established in Topeka for more than 100 years and is a unique feature for the city. The city has leaned into that. For instance, the Topeka school district offers dual language education where students learn in both Spanish and English in their classes. If you're a first-generation immigrant and you speak Spanish, Ross said, Topeka can be a very welcoming community for you. The Latino population in Kansas is expected to continue growing rapidly in the decades to come. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . There's a lot to cover in this blast on all manner of ALLEGED local misdeeds, court cases and prison updates. Check TKC news gathering . . . Court records: Ray County sheriff allowed inmates to leave jail, work on his property An investigation has been opened into the Ray County, Mo., Sheriff after claims that Childers allowed detainees to leave jail and bring in illegal contraband were made to the Attorney General's Office. Ray County Sheriff Childers stripped from office duties amid investigation from Missouri Attorney General The Missouri State Highway Patrol is working with the Missouri Attorney General's Office in an investigation of Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers. Kansas City man accused of stabbing man to death with screwdriver A Kansas City man is now facing charges, accused of stabbing another man to death with a screwdriver near 24th Street and Elmwood Avenue. Kansas City man accused of attempted jail escape through ceiling A Kansas City, Missouri, man is charged with trying to escape from the Jackson County jail after court documents accused him of crawling into a vent and then dropping down into offices. Man who killed 19-year-old in 100 mph Merriam crash pleads guilty Uconn Xavier Coleman, charged in a deadly crash on Shawnee Mission Parkway, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Johnson County court. Overland Park man sentenced for insurance fraud An Overland Park man has been sentenced to a year of probation for insurance fraud. Police: Suspect in custody after possible burglary at estate sale at Overland Park home The Overland Park Police Department is investigating a possible burglar inside a home in the 9100 block of W. 131st Terrace that is scheduled for an estate sale today. Residents upset after gas station-robbery turns into shooting A disturbing robbery turned shooting in one East neighborhood has residents fed up. Jewish Community Center prepares for KC SuperStar, reflects 10 years after deadly shooting It's the Jewish Community Center's American Idol-style fundraiser and singing competition that gives over $22,000 in scholarships to the ten high school students who are finalists. Blue Springs woman charged with abandoning former boyfriend's corpse Jackson County prosecutors charged Nena Nix, of Blue Springs, with abandoning the corpse of her former boyfriend in a ditch near Grain Valley. Metro groups help families, first responders impacted mentally, financially by critical incidents When a police officer is killed, caregivers make sure the victim's families are taken care of and other officers get the support they need. Chiefs parade shooting: Long recovery ahead for metro woman trampled after gunfire Alexandrea Springfield says the quick help of a police officer stopping other people from trampling on her may have saved her life. Flags will be flown at half-staff in Missouri Friday to honor slain officer Cody Allen Flags in Missouri will be flown at half-staff on Friday to honor fallen Independence Officer Cody Allen. Developing . . . In retrospect . . . This tragic playoff party aftermath might've been a precursor that fans of the team were flirting with tragedy even amid their road to glory. Sadly, here isn't much to update and now a lot of the reporting contradicts what we already know: Forensic Medical in Kansas City where the men had their postmortem exams conducted, confirmed the results remained sealed under Missouri law on Thursday. "It's a death investigation and, as part of any death investigation, police and prosecutors want to rule out any potential criminal conduct," Platte County District Attorney Eric Zahnd told USA TODAY. The prosecutor said the autopsy records remained closed as the investigation remains "active and ongoing." However . . . Here's a quote from the New York Post published weeks ago . . . "Initial toxicology reports on the three Kansas City Chiefs fans found frozen and dead in a friend's yard found cocaine, THC -- and three times the amount of fentanyl that is enough to kill, according to reports." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Health Canada is warning shoppers at Winners, HomeSense and Marshalls about certain kids clothing that are being recalled over choking hazards. The recall involves 2-piece Tommy Bahama Set (Smiley Crew Neck Long Sleeve with Twill Pant), sizes 2T to 5T, Health Canada said. There are two affected styles: style number 237234, Boys Green 2-piece Smiley crew neck with twill pant and style number 240727, Boys Blue 2-piece Smiley crew neck with twill pant. The plastic pieces on the end of the drawstrings at the pant waist can detach, posing a "choking hazard," Health Canada said in its recall warning. As of Feb. 29, the company has received no reports of incidents or injuries in Canada or the United States. "Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled product (2-piece Tommy Bahama Set, Smiley Crew Neck Long Sleeve with Twill Pant) and return it to a Winners, Marshalls or HomeSense location for a refund," the warning states. The company reported that 661 units of the affected products were sold in Canada and 1,071 were sold in the United States from December 2023 to January. For more information, consumers can contact TJX Canada by telephone toll-free at 1-800-646-9466 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday or by visiting the Winners, HomeSense or Marshalls websites. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (US CPSC) is also recalling the clothing. "Consumers should immediately take the recalled pants away from children and cut off the faux drawstrings to eliminate the hazard," their recall warning states. "Consumers can also contact TJX for instructions on how to destroy the pants and obtain a full refund. Consumers can also return the pants to any Marshalls store for a full refund." Its been a banner few years for Canadians and the Booker Prize, not because of wins or even nominations, but because both the 2023 Booker Prize for fiction and the 2024 International Booker Prize have had Canadians as their jury chairs. The jury for regular prize, which was awarded in November to Irish writer Paul Lynch for Prophet Song, was chaired by B.C. writer Esi Edugyan (who was herself a finalist for the prize twice, in 2018 for Washington Black and in 2011 for Half-Blood Blues). The long list for the international prize comes out on Monday and its jury is chaired by Eleanor Wachtel, who recently retired from hosting the CBC radio show Writers & Company for 33 years, although shes putting together a podcast and continues to broadcast Writers & Company From the Archives. The Star chatted with her on WhatsApp from London about life after radio, the importance of translation and what shes looking forward to reading these days after she and the four other jurors finish reading and judging the 149 entries before choosing a five-title short list and a winner. That's a lot of entries what stood out to you? One of the interesting aspects of this prize and the crop of books we get is that they werent all written this year. They were published in English (in the U.K. and Ireland this year), but they may have been produced over a range of time. Even so, they engage with whats happening in the world today in many ways. Some seem to be prescient, anticipating current global violence or ecological disaster. And some seem altogether timeless: about love and heartbreak, about racism and oppression. But the thing about great writing is that its implicitly optimistic. The power of words to make connections and inhabit other sensibilities. Are there any other common themes or ideas or styles? Its hard to generalize, but I did notice three things: theres a lot of autofiction, novels that seem very much inspired by the authors own experiences. Many books revolve around violence, especially violence against women. And to a surprising degree, how much politics intersect with the personal, the ways in which whats going on in the outside world impinges on the emotional life of the characters. What's the process with the other jury members been like so far? Everyone on the jury considers all the books; its not like there's any pre-screening. And we all come at the books from different perspectives and different tastes, so I feel we cover quite a wide range. We received the books in batches, starting last August, and we met online, approximately monthly. But (this week) were our first in-person meetings here in London. The best part, really, is the discussion (which) was very respectful. Im told there's blood on the floor when it gets to the short list and the winner, but at the moment its been a very nice process. You said that you all come with your own perspectives and tastes. What are yours? I come from 33 years of interviewing international writers. And so I think that has certainly affected my appreciation for the power of translators to open borders of the imagination to create a worldwide community of readers. And thats something that I think was invisible to me beforehand. When I was growing up or was in university, I would be reading books in translation Kafka or Dostoevsky or whomever and youre not even aware that youre reading a translation. I think my experience of interviewing international authors has helped expand my appreciation of the talent of translators. All of these books are translations. What makes a good translation? Although it celebrates books in translation, its not a translation prize, per se we dont have people on the jury who speak the other languages; (we dont) consult an expert in the other language and show them pages and say, What do you think? There are all different theories of what translation should be like and what it should do. But its the invisible underappreciated toil of these very talented people so you almost dont notice the translation unless it goes clunk. We didnt really have formal criteria, but it has to be a good book in the sense that it reads well, that it takes us to another world and into someone elses skin in a way that we inhabit and enjoy, and forget that its a translation. Translators are really a bridge between readers and writers, and ideas and countries, arent they? Exactly. They are totally that and the only way we even know about these other countries or have a sense of what its like to inhabit their worlds is through the work of translators. The American translator Edith Grossman (who translated Latin American and Spanish authors, including Gabriel Garcia Marquez, said that Fidelity is surely our highest aim, but a translation is not made with tracing paper. It is an act of critical interpretation. No two languages, with all their accretions of tradition and culture, ever dovetail perfectly. Do you think translators get enough appreciation? Its been quite an underappreciated art. Theyve had to fight to even get their names on the cover or on the front page of a book. Its another reason that its good that there is a translation prize because it draws attention to them and acknowledges their work. And the 50,000 prize is split equally between the author and the translator. Weve all put phrases into Google and its AI bots to translate. As it gets more sophisticated, do you think AI could replace a human translator? Thats a subject that thats come up a lot lately with the broader trends of AI and machine-led alternatives. My answer, in some ways, is the wish that the bots stick to more mundane preoccupations and leave imaginative writing to writers with imagination. For 34 years (your CBC show and now the International Booker), your reading has been very proscribed. What are you looking forward to reading now? Theres a stack beside my bed (so big) that I have to crawl out on the other side now. Ive been saving up. The other occupational shortcoming is that Im actually quite a slow reader lifes too short and whatever I read has some value or (is something) that Im interested in. The worlds been my oyster so Ive been reading really good, interesting stuff. And I think it will continue. One arena I can read up on is dead authors; I only used to be able to read them in the summer. This interview has been edited and condensed. The long list for the International Booker Prize comes out Monday, March 11, with the short list being announced on April 9 and the winner on May 21. TravelBash has just launched "Curated Trips," a collection of exclusive journeys meticulously designed to transcend ordinary travel experiences. (TRAVPR.COM) CHRISTIANSBURG, VA., UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - March 7th, 2024 - TravelBash, a boutique travel company specializing in destination weddings and luxury group travel, has just launched "Curated Trips," a collection of exclusive journeys meticulously designed to transcend ordinary travel experiences. These tailor-made adventures, limited to a maximum of 12 travelers per itinerary, promise discerning individuals a personalized and unique escape focused on unparalleled luxury. Each of TravelBash's Curated Trips focuses on enhancing the life and lifestyle of its travelers by focusing on a particular area of interest. Whether its wellness, food and wine, art and culture, and global exploration these trips will set a new benchmark in luxury travel, combining expertise, exclusivity, and education. TravelBash proudly announced its inaugural Curated Trip: NOURISH by TravelBash. This luxury escape is specially designed for women ready to set clear intentions, define healthy living goals, and connect with like-minded individuals. Hosted by CEO Courtnie Nichols, NOURISH by TravelBash promises a rejuvenating and self-discovery journey. My goal for this trip is to just be present and take in all of the nature and everything surrounding the resort has to offer. I am avid self-care snob so this itinerary is right down my alley and I am just so excited to share this unique experience with other amazing women. I think as women, we sometimes put others first and neglect ourselves. I am working on not being so familiar with blessings and really in a heart posture of gratitude and thankfulness this year so this trip is going to be the perfect way to end Q3 said Courtnie Nichols, CEO & Founder of TravelBash. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Costa Rica's lush jungles, NOURISH by TravelBash is not just a trip; it's a modern-luxury adventure crafted for those seeking high-end wellness, soulful experiences, and unforgettable moments. Travelers can expect: Luxury Beyond Limits: Immerse yourself in the serenity of Hacienda AltaGracia, a sanctuary nestled in the untamed tropical jungle of Costa Rica. Wellness Unleashed: Daily activities include restorative yoga, mat pilates, a total body circuit, an aura river bath, meditation sound bath, and spa treatments. Culinary Delights: Indulge in Tico Tasting, visit a coffee plantation, enjoy private dinners, and participate in a cooking class, all curated to delight your senses. Itinerary Highlights include: Round Trip Charter Flights to/from San Jose Arrival VIP Service Costa Rican Clay Ritual Private Cocktails + Conversations Rise + Shine Restorative Yoga Piloxing Booty Workout Gratitude Circle Evening Pool Party Release Burning Ceremony ... and much more! With only 10 spaces available, NOURISH by TravelBash will be an opportunity to redefine the perceptions of group travel within the wellness industry. Additional trips are set to be launched throughout the year and all information can be found on their website - https://www.travel-bash.com/curated-trips. About the Founder Courtnie Nichols is the founder of TravelBash & CEO of TRvLB, a luxury membership-based travel club. After years as a top fundraiser, her love for travel led her to take this passion full-time. Since her first solo flight at age 10, Courtnie has lived in Europe and explored all over the world. As a certified travel advisor, destination wedding expert and natural connector, she makes destination-hopping and dream weddings an everyday reality. Shes been featured in WeddingLovely, Destination I Do, and RoadTrips, and is a past contributor for Home Magazine: Living in Greater Gainesville. She has been quoted in various articles for publications including Southern Living, Travel & Leisure, and Discover Credit Card. When she isnt boarding a plane, speaking at various travel conferences, or soaking up some sun in the Caribbean, you can find her inspiring others to boldly take on the world from innovative road trips to luxurious five-star destinations. About TravelBash TravelBash aspires to be the go-to-celebration travel boutique in the US that mixes a unique cocktail of exceptional service, expertise, and purposeful passion. Their team of travel rebels, and clients are go-getters, explorers, and affluent travelers that never compromise on a good time. Created to inspire people to travel more and travel better, TravelBash alleviates the stress of travel planning with white glove concierge service to provide a worry-free and memorable celebration aboard, so all you have to do is grab your passport and show up to the airport. For more information, please visit www.travel-bash.com. ### ### Those people are our people too. The words of UNC Senator David Nakhid, following the deadly By Janice Phelan, March 7, 2024 The growing cannibas industry is in need of individuals who are trained in cultivation, retail, extraction and product development. The University of Central Missouri announces educational programs in collaboration with Green Flower to help prepare people to work in this industry. (Green Flower photo) The University of Central Missouri is now offering several new online certificate training programs designed to prepare adult learners for careers in Missouris rapidly growing cannabis industry. In collaboration with Green Flower, a national leader in cannabis education, UCMs three certificate courses will start in April. The programs, which can be completed in nine weeks, cover advanced dispensary associate skills training, cannabis manufacturing and cultivation. Courses are currently open for enrollment, and students can register online for classes starting April 15. Fee for each course is $750, and adult learners registering for an April course will receive a $150 discount by using the code UCMFIRST. Many Missourians are using CBD and THC products as holistic solutions for addressing challenges like insomnia, depression and pain management, said Clarinda Dir, UCM Center for Workforce and Professional Education program manager. It is essential that these products are of the highest quality and that the professionals assisting these individuals offer accurate guidance on both products and their usage. Our three comprehensive certificate programs, available online and self-paced, allow individuals to enhance their expertise in the cannabis field at their own pace, offering flexibility in learning and application. Since Missouri initiated adult-use cannabis sales on Feb. 3, 2023, more than $1.4 million worth of marijuana has been sold through dispensaries, according to Greenway magazine, with new opportunities emerging in fields such as cultivation, retail, extraction and product. Daniel Kalef, Green Flowers chief growth officer, said his company is excited to work with UCM to offer the cannabis courses to the public. "Green Flower is thrilled to be partnering with the University of Central Missouri to offer our three cannabis industry training certificate programs, he said. As stated in their mission, UCM 'disseminates knowledge that transforms students into leaders who possess the aptitudes, skills and confidence to succeed.' We believe with such a mission and focus on student success, the university is uniquely positioned to help people enter and grow in the ever-expanding and rapidly growing cannabis industry. Upon completion of each course, graduates earn a certificate from UCM and a digital badge from Credly as well as receiving access to Green Flowers employer network. Like other highly regulated industries, the need to have expertise in material handling, quality control, patient care, security, transportation, horticulture and more is vital to the success of all aspects of the industry and all things people will learn in these programs, Kalef added. These new online courses are each priced at $750 and include: - Cannabis Cultivation Specialist, which prepares students to work in indoor or outdoor grow operations or to launch their own cultivation business. - Cannabis Retail Specialist, designed to help students acquire the credibility and knowledge required to work in a cannabis dispensary or to start their own dispensary. - Cannabis Extraction and Product Development, a program focusing on the development and manufacture of various cannabis products including edibles, tinctures and topicals. To learn more about UCMs new cannabis certificate programs, visit this webpage. About the University of Central Missouris Center for Workforce and Professional Education: UCM offers a number of certificate programs in high-demand areas such as healthcare, information technology, business and manufacturing/warehouse. Many programs can be completed in as little as six weeks with scholarship funding available for qualifying individuals. UCMs industry-recognized courses are designed with busy adults in mind and are offered in-person, online and hybrid. About Green Flower: Founded in 2014, Green Flower has empowered thousands of consumers, regulators and professionals with the knowledge they need to succeed in the cannabis industry. Green Flowers content and technology platform powers the cannabis programs of top universities and colleges across the country, providing customized learning and compliance solutions for cannabis businesses and equipping individuals with skills and credentials. President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Kazakhstan, Moldova and the Baltic states are under the threat of a Russian military offensive. He said this in an interview for the Cinque minuti program of the Italian TV channel Rai1, Ukrinform reported. "As for a military offensive against Moldova, I believe that this may be one of the goals of the Russian Federation. I think that Moldova, the Baltic countries, and Kazakhstan are in danger," Zelensky said. He noted that Russia already had a plan to attack and change the government in Moldova, but it was disrupted. Read also: President of Moldova reacts to Russian attack on Odesa "I would like to remind everyone that we passed on the Russian plan from our intelligence, and passed it on to Moldova. And in this way, we shared it with our other partners. Moldova was prepared for the actions of the Russian Federation's sabotage group. They wanted to seize power in Moldova, they wanted to do it very quickly. Thank God, and I am grateful to our intelligence that they did a good job," the President said. According to him, Moldova prepared and prevented the Russians from carrying out a quick rebellion against the government. As reported, last spring, during a meeting of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) of Moldova, representatives of Chisinau reported violations of the security regime by the Russian military in unrecognized Transnistria. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on partners to return training missions to Ukraine, as the entire range of training missions operated in our country in 2014-2022. The head of Ukrainian diplomacy said this at a joint press conference with the foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and France following the talks in Vilnius, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. "I sincerely don't understand why the issue of training missions in Ukraine is causing so much difficulty and discussion. Between 2014 and 2022, the entire spectrum of training missions worked very effectively in Ukraine. I see no reason why this cannot continue. Bring back your training missions, put your air defense to protect the training centers," Kuleba said. He emphasized that in a war of this magnitude, logistics matter. If the Ukrainian military can train faster and repair equipment more quickly, they will have an advantage, the minister said. "To work effectively is to act not only abroad but also in Ukraine," he emphasized. As reported earlier, Dmytro Kuleba is on a working visit to Lithuania to meet with the foreign ministers of the Baltic states and France. The key topic of the talks is the rapid increase in allied military assistance to Ukraine and the production capacity of defense industries. Canadas Minister of National Defence Bill Blair and Latvias Defence Minister Andris Spruds discussed further support for Ukraine in countering Russian aggression. According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Department of National Defence of Canada following the meeting between the two ministers. The Ministers condemned Russias illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. Minister Blair commended Latvias military support to Ukraine and the Ministers reaffirmed that both Canada and Latvia will continue to provide Ukraine with comprehensive military assistance, the statement says. It is noted that the interlocutors also discussed current efforts to scale up the multinational NATO Battle Group in Latvia. Minister Blair thanked Minister Spruds for Latvias hospitality to the approximately 1,000 Canadian troops currently deployed in Latvia, the ministry said. As reported, Canada announced on Thursday it would join the Ukraine Defense Contact Groups Drone Capability Coalition, co-led by Latvia and the United Kingdom. Photo: Bill Blair / X The European Union should extend sanctions to companies and individuals supplying raw material (nitrocellulose) to Russia for ammunition production. Thats according to Viola von Kramon-Taubadel, a Member of the European Parliament (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance), who spoke in a comment to Guildhall, Ukrinform reports. We need to do more to prevent sanctions evasion and to combat the supply of critical materials to the Russian military complex. Unfortunately, Russia is learning how to diversify its supplies and evade sanctions - nitrocellulose is a case in point. For this reason, the EU and G7 partners are developing additional sanctions that target Russian individuals and companies, as well as those of third countries, the lawmaker said. Read also: Bundestag lawmaker calls for embargo on exports of ammunition components to Russia As an example, she noted that in the recent 13th package of sanctions, the EU designated individuals and entities from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China. We need to go further and impose the same measures on nitrocellulose. China is by far the largest supplier of this material, and Chinese companies have to choose between the Russian and Western markets, MEP said. At the same time, she called on EU governments and companies to take more responsibility for supply chains when exporting abroad. As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Center for Defense Reforms think tank published a report stating that a significant part of the raw materials (nitrocellulose) used by Russia for the production of ammunition is supplied from NATO member states and partner countries. The main suppliers are Taiwan, Germany and Turkiye. Also, the report notes that China, which until 2022 had not supplied nitrocellulose to Russia, became its largest supplier as of late 2023. In recent times, both China and the United States have been working together to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state at the San Francisco meeting. They have engaged in dialogues and exchanges in various fields and at different levels, which has helped stabilize the China-U.S. relationship from deterioration and sent a positive signal to the world. The international community has positively evaluated the constructive interaction between China and the United States. It is believed that both countries are taking concrete actions to effectively implement the "San Francisco vision," which is beneficial for the well-being of their respective peoples and also contributes to global peace, stability, and prosperity. Last November, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden held a summit meeting in San Francisco. The two heads of state had in-depth exchange of views on strategic and overarching issues critical to the direction of China-U.S. relations. The two sides reached more than 20 deliverables in such areas as political affairs and foreign policy, trade and finance, people-to-people exchange, global governance, and military and security, and embraced a future-oriented San Francisco vision. These efforts have pointed the way forward and drawn a blueprint for the development of China-U.S. relations. These important deliverables are further proof of the broad common interests of China and the United States and the mutually beneficial nature of China-U.S. relations. They demonstrate that dialogue and cooperation is the only right choice for the two countries. The most important task for both China and the United States at present is to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state and make the San Francisco vision a reality, so as to promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of the bilateral relationship. The two sides decided to resume military-to-military communication, and launched working groups on economy, finance, trade, climate actions, and counternarcotics cooperation. The Chinese side also invited young Americans to China on exchange and study programs, and government talks on artificial intelligence have been initiated. The dialogues and exchanges between China and the United States have received wide attention. To turn the San Francisco vision into reality, the right approach for the two sides is to respect each other, coexist in peace and pursue win-win cooperation. The two sides should jointly develop a right perception, manage disagreements effectively and advance mutually beneficial cooperation. In the past 45 years since establishing diplomatic relations, China and the United States have experienced ups and downs in their relationship, which has maintained a positive momentum in general. The two sides have achieved fruitful results in their cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries. China and the United States have engaged in beneficial cooperation on various regional hotspots and global issues, promoting world peace, stability, and prosperity. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. The two sides should take this opportunity to sum up experience and draw lessons, treat each other as equals instead of in a condescending way, build common ground and shelving instead of highlighting differences, and respect instead of undermining each other's core interests. Both sides should work together toward mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, finding the right way for China and the United States to get along with each other. This is a natural requirement of historical evolution and a universal expectation of the international community. David Lampton, professor emeritus of China studies at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, believes that currently, the relationship between the United States and China is in a state of dynamic evolution. Both countries need to steer this evolution towards a better rather than worse direction and strive to find common ground. Joining NATO will provide Ukraine with long-term security guarantees and ensure economic stability. According to Ukrinform, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Rostyslav Shurma said this in an interview with CNN. He noted that Sweden's recent accession to NATO after many years of negotiations is a good example of the path that Ukraine should take. Shurma emphasized that Ukraine's accession to the Alliance is "an absolutely vital decision." "I think that this [Swedens accession to NATO] is a very good example of the path we have to go through, because Ukraine's accession to NATO is an absolutely vital decision. Russia will exist for decades, hundreds of years, and we have to be able to defend ourselves and pay for this defense," Shurma said. In his opinion, to achieve these goals, Ukraine must have a stable economy. Currently, the key factor that hinders the development of the Ukrainian economy is the physical protection of cities, companies, enterprises and seaports from attacks by Russia, Shurma added. "For the most part, these are military risks that prevent investors from investing in Ukraine. And perhaps the only solution to this problem will be to obtain security guarantees. Not just bilateral agreements, but security guarantees that business will trust, and business will trust NATO," the deputy chief of staff explained. As Ukrinform reported, on March 7, Sweden officially became the new 32nd NATO member. Motorists pass by a burning barricade during a protest as the government said it would extend a state of emergency for another month, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 7, 2024. Haitis government said Thursday that it was extending a state of emergency and nighttime curfew to try and curb violent gang attacks that have paralyzed the capital of Port-au-Prince in a fierce battle for political power. An initial three-day curfew was announced over the weekend, but gangs have continued to attack police stations and other state institutions at night as Haitis National Police struggles to contain the violence with limited staff and resources. The people with the guns are essentially the current arbiter of Haitian politics, said Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia. The gangs have won the battle so far. The attacks began a week ago, shortly after embattled Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to hold general elections in mid-2025 while attending a meeting of Caribbean leaders in Guyana. Gangs have burned police stations, shot up the main international airport, which remains closed, and raided Haitis two biggest prisons, freeing more than 4,000 inmates. During that time, Henry had traveled to Kenya to push for the deployment of a U.N.-backed police force from the East African country to help fight gangs in Haiti. But a court in January ruled that the deployment was unconstitutional, and it wasnt clear if the force would deploy given the worsening violence in Haiti. Henry is currently in Puerto Rico, where he was forced to land on Tuesday after the armed groups laid siege to the international airport, preventing him from returning. Scores of people have died in Haitis recent gang attacks, including several police officers. The violence also has left more than 15,000 people homeless, in addition to some 300,000 Haitians who lost their homes to gang wars in recent years. In addition, there were reports that gangs on Thursday looted shipping containers filled with food at the main port in Port-au-Prince, raising concerns that provisions in the capital and elsewhere would dwindle quickly. If we cannot access those containers, Haiti will go hungry soon, said Laurent Uwumuremyi, Haiti director for Mercy Corps. Meanwhile, a U.S. Defense official said a Marine Corps Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team, or FAST team, was to be deployed to Haiti to protect the U.S. Embassy. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the deployment. A final decision on the deployment has not yet been made. The country is falling apart, and everyone is watching, said Fatton, who criticized the U.S. government for not taking action more than two years ago and lamented the current state of Haiti. I am dumbfounded. I thought I had seen everything. Gunfire still echoed in parts of Port-au-Prince on Thursday, with blazing tires blocking some areas as people demanded new leaders for the battered country. Schools and businesses remained closed, but calm returned to a handful of neighborhoods that saw some stores and banks open under a limited schedule. Germain Andre, a 40-year-old shop owner who sells rice, oil, beans, milk and other basic goods, said he is having trouble finding provisions given dwindling food supplies across Port-au-Prince as people move around in fear. Traveling is very scary, he said, noting that armed groups have stopped cars. No one is secure. Everyone is scared of each other now. We dont know if theyre gang members. Haitis worsening crisis prompted the Royal Bahamas Police Force to announce Thursday that it had set up a blockade in the southeast part of the archipelago given the two jail breaks and the mass displacement of Haitians due to the ongoing violence. The Bahamas, about 850 kilometers (530 miles) to the north, is a popular destination for Haitians fleeing their country. On Wednesday, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said the U.S. has asked Henry to move forward on a political process that will lead to the establishment of a presidential transitional council that will lead to elections. Shortly afterward, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller echoed her remarks, saying Henry needs to expedite the transition to empowered and inclusive governance. Henry has not made any public comments since the gang attacks began last week. On Thursday, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said Caribbean leaders have been working around-the-clock to help find a political consensus to alleviate Haitis crisis as they continue to talk to local stakeholders. It is indeed a distressing situation for the region, but we have a responsibility to do everything we can do to enable the Haitian people to find a consensus and to find a path that is Haitian-led and Haitian-owned in bringing together a level of stability and normalcy that the Haitian people so richly deserve, he said. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Israels halt in renewing visas for international aid workers in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli occupied West Bank is kneecapping aid work just when its needed the most, a coalition of humanitarian and nongovernmental groups says. Israels welfare ministry has paused the visa renewal process since early February, saying it doesnt have the bandwidth to investigate aid workers potential affiliations to militant groups. At least 99 humanitarian workers have seen their visas expire or have visas that will expire in the coming six months, according to Faris Arouri, the director of the coalition. Those facing impending deportation orders have left while others remain in Israel without proper documentation, he said Wednesday. The halt in visas comes as Israel this week ramped up criticism of the embattled U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, saying that 450 of its employees were members of militant groups in the Gaza Strip. Israel provided no evidence to back up its accusation. Major international funders have withheld hundreds of millions of dollars from the agency, known as UNRWA, since Israel accused 12 of its employees of participating in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people and left about 250 others held hostage in Gaza, according to Israeli authorities. The coalition, called the Association of International Development Agencies, or AIDA, says its members have played a critical role and are desperately needed more than five months into the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. People are dying of hunger in northern part of the Gaza Strip while more than a million have fled south. Tens of thousands now cram into makeshift tents along the border with Egypt. Besieged hospitals across Gaza confront a daily flow of wounded with insufficient medical supplies. The Hamas Oct. 7 attack prompted an Israeli offensive that has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians so far in Gaza, according to health officials in the Hamas-run enclave, displaced most of the territorys population and led to a humanitarian disaster. The situation in the West Bank where many of the organizations also work has reached a boiling point, aid workers say. The Palestinian health ministry says that Israeli forces have killed 424 Palestinians and injured over 4,000 in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war. At least 1,208 Palestinians have been displaced, as settler violence surges in the territory. Against this backdrop, AIDA has called on the Israeli government to immediately resume processing the visas. The coalition represents 80 aid organizations, including Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Save the Children. We ask for your urgent intervention in preventing the removal of the international workers in these organizations, and in preventing further damage to the organizations, which is occurring precisely in this period of the worst humanitarian crisis the region has ever known, lawyers said on behalf of AIDA in a letter to Israels attorney general. Israels Ministry of Welfare was traditionally in charge of facilitating the issuing of the visas but stopped doing that amid heightened concerns following the Oct. 7 attack. The welfare ministry does not have the right tools to examine the applications, said spokesperson Gil Horev. On what grounds can a worker in the social ministry examine if a person has to do with a terrorist organization or is a humanitarian worker? Horev said the task will likely be handled by another government agency but did not say when the process could move forward. Arouri, AIDAs director, said there is no legitimate concern that in-country aid workers could be caught up in militant groups. These are people who are known to Israel, who have been screened before, he said. We see this visa ban as part of the collective punishment that the Palestinians have been facing since October 7, Arouri said. This is part and parcel of Israels attempt to block the world from really seeing whats happening on the ground and to block aid from entering. The visa troubles also extend to U.N. employees working in the Palestinian territories, said a U.N. official with knowledge of the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity because of fears of repercussions over the issue. Typically, U.N. workers get yearlong visas from Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but since Oct. 7, workers for specialized U.N. agencies have only been able to get two-month visas while their spouses and families received only one-month visas. At least 67 visa requests across the U.N. agencies have received no response from Israel, said the U.N. official. The holdup threatens to hinder UN aid to Gaza. Israels foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The U.S. Department of Education's recent decision to initiate investigations into allegations of shared-ancestry discrimination at five colleges and universities has sparked renewed attention to issues of equity and inclusion in higher education. These investigations, conducted under the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, underscore the federal government's commitment to safeguarding students from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. New Additions to the Investigation List The addition of the University of California, Berkeley, Illinois Wesleyan University, Middlebury College, Swarthmore College, and Rockland Community College in New York to the list of institutions under investigation marks a significant expansion of the ongoing efforts to address instances of discrimination in educational settings. These schools join a growing number of entities that have come under scrutiny for their handling of issues related to shared ancestry amidst the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict. READ ALSO: Harvard University Faces Dual Investigations into Ancestry Discrimination Incident at UC Berkeley Sparks Investigation The catalyst for the investigation into UC Berkeley was a disturbance that occurred on February 26, during which protesters disrupted a scheduled lecture by Ran Bar-Yoshafat, deputy director of the Kohelet Policy Forum, an Israeli libertarian think tank. The subsequent cancellation and evacuation of the event prompted swift action from the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, highlighting the urgency of addressing allegations of discrimination on campus. Allegations at Middlebury College StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice, an organization dedicated to combating antisemitism, revealed that an investigation into Middlebury College was initiated following a formal complaint. The organization alleges that Jewish students at Middlebury have faced a persistently hostile campus climate, prompting concerns about the institution's commitment to fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect for all students. Significance and Implications The decision to investigate these institutions underscores the importance of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the higher education sector. By holding colleges and universities accountable for their compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws, the Department of Education seeks to ensure that all students have equal access to educational opportunities, regardless of their ancestry or background. Furthermore, the outcomes of these investigations could have far-reaching implications for the policies and practices of the institutions involved. Depending on the findings, colleges and universities may be required to implement corrective measures to address any violations of civil rights and to foster a more inclusive and welcoming campus environment. Overall, the initiation of these investigations signals a renewed commitment to upholding civil rights and promoting social justice within the realm of higher education. By addressing allegations of discrimination head-on, the Department of Education seeks to create a more equitable and inclusive educational landscape for all students. RELATED ARTICLE: US Education Department Expands Investigations into Alleged Discrimination at University of Virginia and San Diego State University (@FahadShabbir) The National Assembly celebrated International Womens Day by acknowledging the remarkable contributions of Pakistani women, especially highlighting the legacy of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, in a majority vote resolution while members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) were in opposition to the resolution ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Mar, 2024) The National Assembly celebrated International Womens Day by acknowledging the remarkable contributions of Pakistani women, especially highlighting the legacy of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, in a majority vote resolution while members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) were in opposition to the resolution. Ms. Sehar Kamran, moved the resolution in the Lower House of Parliament, while Ms. Sharmila Faruqui, and Shaza Fatima Khwaja, also submitted similar resolutions. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq put the resolution, which garnered majority support despite objections from members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq expressed disappointment that the opposition chose to oppose the resolution without considering its contents, emphasizing the importance of transcending politics for such significant matters. He also observed that the opposition had not submitted its own resolution and instead resorted to block a tribute to the legendary daughters of the nation. He advised the opposition to realise importance of the matter and instead of opposing for the sake of opposition, should add its voice for the promotion, protection and well-being of the women of Pakistan. APP/szm-zah-sra The African Union on Friday joined the United States and European Union in welcoming Senegal's decision to hold a presidential election on March 24 after weeks of turmoil triggered by the vote's delay Dakar, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Mar, 2024) The African Union on Friday joined the United States and European Union in welcoming Senegal's decision to hold a presidential election on March 24 after weeks of turmoil triggered by the vote's delay. President Macky Sall plunged Senegal into crisis with a last-minute postponement of the presidential poll, originally scheduled for February 25. After a month of uncertainty which sparked outcry at home and abroad, the country's top constitutional body on Thursday agreed with the presidency for the vote to take place on March 24, before the end of Sall's mandate. African Union Commission chairman, Moussa Faki Mahamat, saluted "the peaceful resolution of the institutional crisis in Senegal". He said the decision to hold an election before Sall leaves office on April 2 "reflects the deep-rootedness and resilience of democracy in Senegal, of which Africa has always been proud". The statement said the African Union would deploy an observation mission. The decision demonstrated the "great resilience" of democracy and the rule of law in Senegal, European Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said Thursday. The EU called for a "peaceful electoral campaign and... the holding of credible and transparent elections". The United States reacted on a message on X, formerly Twitter, posted by the State Department's Bureau of African Affairs on Thursday. "We stand with the Senegalese people and their unwavering support for democracy and free and fair elections," the post said. France praised the role of the Constitutional Council and Sall in calling the March 24 election, saying it "testifies the strength of democratic institutions," according to a foreign ministry spokeswoman. The German foreign ministry said that the conditions for a free and democratic election had finally been created. The traditionally stable West African nation is embarking on potentially its most open presidential vote, with 19 candidates in the first round. The date of the second round has not been announced. The campaign begins on Saturday and ends on Friday March 22, running through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. fal/amt/acc/spb/tw (@FahadShabbir) Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Mar, 2024) US President Joe Biden vowed Thursday he will not "bow down" to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, fiercely criticizing rival Donald Trump in his State of the Union address. From the very first moments of his annual address, Biden lashed out at his predecessor and presumed Republican rival in November elections and urged the divided Congress to approve stalled military aid to Ukraine. "Putin of Russia is on the march, invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond," Biden said. "If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you he will not." "It wasn't long ago when a Republican president named Ronald Reagan thundered, 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall," Biden said, invoking the famous 1987 Berlin speech in the waning days of the Cold War. "My predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin, 'Do whatever the hell you want,' That's a quote," Biden told the joint session. "I think it's outrageous, it's dangerous and it's unacceptable," Biden said. "My message to President Putin, who I've known for a long time, is simple -- We will not walk away," Biden said. "I will not bow down," Biden said. "In a literal sense, history is watching." Biden welcomed in the gallery Sweden's prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, hours after the Nordic country formally entered NATO, the Western alliance disparaged by Trump as unfairly burdening the United States. Sweden had been officially nonaligned for two centuries but, alongside Finland, applied to join NATO after Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Mar, 2024) Many expected -- or feared -- Joe Biden would stumble as he addressed Congress in his final State of the Union address before the November election. Instead, the oldest-ever US president came out swinging. With jokes, retorts to hecklers, soaring rhetoric and a minimum of his customary mangled phrases, Biden defied critics. Each stammer, slip of the tongue or confused look by Biden tends to be intensely scrutinized in the United States as he runs for reelection -- with Republicans painting each error as evidence that he cannot govern. On Thursday, Biden got cheers from his Democratic party members. "Four more years!" they chanted as Biden hammered his Republican rivals and laid out the case for a second term with a pugnacious energy that seemed to bely his 81 years. To the great relief of lawmakers in his party, acutely aware of how heavily his age is weighing in the presidential race, Biden was in rare form, showing stamina in an hour-plus speech, speaking in a clear tone and quick clip, taking jabs at Republicans, and offering sprinkles of humor. "I know it may not look like it, but I've been around a while," he grinned. His Democrats, many of them dressed in white in honor of women's rights, lapped it up. They rose to their feet as Biden spoke, with the president even getting compared later to a fiery Baptist preacher. (@ChaudhryMAli88) SYDNEY, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Mar, 2024) The health authority in the Australian state of Victoria issued a public warning on Friday after five cases of measles were identified in the state capital Melbourne. Between Feb. 19 and March 1, the five patients attended several public venues while infectious, including Melbourne Airport, Craigieburn Post Office, and Monash University. One of the newly confirmed cases also traveled to New South Wales and visited Sydney's central business area during a one-day stay, triggering another health alert for local communities. "Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can lead to uncommon but serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation," the Victorian Department of Health warned in a statement. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore or red eyes, runny nose, and a red maculopapular rash. They may appear between seven and 18 days after an exposure. People who had been exposed to the listed sites during the specified dates and times were urged to monitor for any related symptoms. The health authority also noted that overseas travels could lead to exposure to measles at the current time, as outbreaks of the highly infectious disease have been recently reported in Asia, Africa, Europe, the middle East, and the United States. Yangon, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Mar, 2024) Student activist Lin Lin led protests against Myanmar's junta, defying the generals for months before being hunted down and caught. Now serving a 15-year sentence, she regrets nothing. "I wanted to do that more than anything else," she told AFP during her trial. "And if you ask what I will do if I am released, I will do it again." The 25-year-old psychology student grew up during a rare semi-democratic interlude in Myanmar. When the military staged a coup in February 2021 citing unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud, she joined millions of others demonstrating in the streets. Soldiers fired live bullets into the crowds, arrested thousands and carried out nighttime raids on suspected dissidents. The demonstrations gradually fizzled out, but Lin Lin was determined to find a way to keep defiance against the junta at the top of people's minds. Inspired by democracy flashmobs in Hong Kong and elsewhere, she began organising protests around Yangon. She used messaging apps to summon dozens of young protesters, who would converge under colonial-era tenements, outside shopping malls, or at parks and markets. They would light flares and unfurl banners, a thicket of hands raised in the Hunger Games-inspired three finger salute that has become popular among pro-democracy protesters. Others criticised the junta through megaphones as passers-by looked on. Seconds later, the protesters would break apart, scattering down side streets or into waiting vehicles before security forces could arrive. Each event was filmed and the footage uploaded to social media or sent to journalists abroad. AFP interviewed Lin Lin during that time in late 2021, when she was living one step ahead of the police and security forces. "During the protests, I have so much adrenalin," she said from a dim, bare room that would be home for a couple of days. "It's like my heart is trying to come out of my mouth." United Nations, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Mar, 2024) The number of female genital mutilation survivors tops 230 million worldwide, UNICEF said in a new report Thursday, an increase of 15 percent since 2016 despite progress against the practice in some countries. "It is indeed bad news. This is a huge number, a number that is bigger than ever before," said Claudia Coppa, lead author of the report released to coincide with International Women's Day. Female genital mutilation, known as FGM, can include partial or total removal of the clitoris as well as the labia minora, and suturing of the vaginal opening to narrow it. FGM, which can cause fatal bleeding or infections, can also have long-term consequences such as fertility problems, childbirth complications, stillbirth and painful sexual intercourse. Africa is home to the most number of FGM survivors with more than 144 million, ahead of Asia (80 million) and the middle East (six million), according to the survey of 31 countries where the practice is common. The overall increase is largely due to population growth in certain countries but the report highlighted progress in reducing its prevalence in other places. In Sierra Leone, the percentage of girls aged 15 to 19 who have undergone genital mutilation has fallen in 30 years from 95 percent to 61 percent. Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Kenya also recorded strong declines. But in Somalia, 99 percent of women between 15 and 49 have undergone genital mutilation, as well as 95 percent in Guinea, 90 percent in Djibouti and 89 percent in Mali. "We're also seeing a worrying trend that more girls are subjected to the practice at younger ages, many before their fifth birthday," UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said in a statement. "That further reduces the window to intervene. We need to strengthen the efforts of ending this harmful practice." - 'Remember the pain' - Progress needs to increase to 27 times the current level to eradicate the practice by 2030, as called for in the UN's Agenda for Sustainable Development. But even if perceptions are evolving, FGM "has been in existence for centuries. So changing social norms and practices that are related to this norm takes time," Coppa said. "In some societies, for example, it is considered a necessary rite of passage, in other contexts it is a way of preserving, for example, the chastity of girls. It's a way of controlling girls' sexuality," she said. Mothers may personally oppose the procedure and "remember the pain... but sometimes the pain is less than the shame, is less than the consequences that they will have to witness, them and their daughters, if they do not conform to expectations." "These are not cruel mothers," Coppa said. "They're trying to do what they think is expected of them and their daughters." Girls who have not undergone FGM, for example, might face "repercussions" such as not being considered for marriage. UNICEF, the UN children's agency, continues to push for laws prohibiting FGM, but also the importance of girls' education in its eradication. As for the role of men and boys, while in some countries they favor the continuation of FGM, in others women and girls are the ones reluctant to abandon the age-old practice. But the men and boys "remain silent.... And this silence gives the impression that there is active acceptance of the practice. So everybody needs to take a stand," Coppa said. Security and paramilitary forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran killed hundreds of people on the orders of the authorities. They also detained, imprisoned, tortured, or subjected to enforced disappearance, among other inhumane acts, numerous Iranian citizens during the crackdown on anti-regime protests that began on September 16, 2022, when Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died in police custody three days after being arrested in Tehran for wearing the veil in an inappropriate manner. These are the conclusions reached by the United Nations-appointed Independent Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran in a report released Friday, coinciding with International Womens Day. The text is a summary of the final document that the mission will present to the U.N. Human Rights Council before March 18. It states that the serious human rights violations committed during the repression of the demonstrations by the Iranian regime amount to crimes against humanity, some of which could fall within the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations. Among these crimes, that of gender-based violence against the Iranian women who led the protests, whose slogan was Women, Life, Freedom, stands out. These crimes were not random, the report states. They were part of series of extensive, sustained and continuing acts that individually constitute human rights violations, directed against women, girls and persons expressing support for gender equality and the rights of women and girls. Such extensive violence and the fact that it was carried out with encouragement and endorsement by high-level state authorities and senior members of state institutions lead the authors of the report to conclude that the perpetrators were acting on instructions from the regime. Thousands of women, men and children were detained throughout the country without any public data being provided on their numbers, the document stresses, citing a figure provided by NGOs: 60,000 detainees. The average age of those arrested was 15. The mission reveals that hundreds of children, some as young as 10, were detained, imprisoned with adults, or sent to mental health institutions or reformatories. Iran did not allow the members of the mission, jurists Sara Hossain, Shaheen Sardar Ali and Viviana Krsticevic, to travel to the country. The three investigators qualify the reports data on the basis of official and private documents, medical records, remote interviews with victims and witnesses the latter double-checked and satellite images. Their findings, the document warns, are not exhaustive, so the repression in Iran could have been worse than the report lays out. The first of the deaths investigated was that of Mahsa Amini, which triggered the protests. The report states that shortly after her arrest by the morality police, she was admitted to Tehrans Kasra hospital already brain-dead with trauma to Ms. Aminis body, inflicted while in the custody of the morality police. The mission is therefore satisfied that Amini was subjected to physical violence that led to her death. Following the outbreak of the mostly peaceful protests, the document states, several hundred demonstrators or bystanders perished in the repression. As of September 2023, a credible figure was of 551 people killed, among them as many as 49 women and 68 children. Women and men were injured in similar numbers. Deaths were recorded in at least 26 of the 31 provinces, with the highest number of victims in regions with minority populations, in particular in Sistan and Baluchestan province, the Kurdish regions of the country (Kurdistan and Kermanshah) and parts of Western Azerbaijan. Motorized Iranian police officers disperse protesters in Tehran in September 2022. - (AFP) Extrajudicial executions The report notes that policemen, members of the Revolutionary Guards and Basij [paramilitary] militiamen were firing at protesters in situations where there was no risk to themselves. Protesting in front of a government building or a security base, chanting slogans, helping others or driving a car nearby are inherently peaceful acts. Victims killed and injured by lethal force while they or others engaged in such activities did not pose an imminent threat. The report concludes that targeted killings of protesters constituted extrajudicial executions. On other occasions, less lethal weapons such as rubber bullets were used, but served, for example, to blind one or both eyes of numerous protesters, including children. Those injured in the demonstrations often had no access to medical care, as the Ministry of Health instructed medical professionals to report anyone seeking treatment. Another pattern identified by the U.N. fact-finding mission was arbitrary arrests for dancing, chanting or writing slogans on walls and honking car horns. Also arrested were family members of protesters, health workers, journalists, students, teachers, activists, artists, and athletes who showed solidarity with the protests. Detainees, including children underwent long and repeated interrogation sessions, during which they were blindfolded or hooded and subjected to various forms of physical and psychological abuse amounting to torture. That included physical assault, such as punching, kicking, beating, flogging and burning, the use of electric shocks, suspension and stress positions. Numerous detainees, including children, were forcibly administered, or injected with, unknown substances, says the independent U.N. mission, which reports several cases of deaths in custody as a result of torture. When the detainees finally appeared in court, they did so without a lawyer of their choice and without being allowed access to their files to see what evidence there was against them. Under these conditions of deprivation of due process, the nine demonstrators executed for their involvement in the protests were sentenced to hanging. Another 19 people are on death row, the document denounces. The U.N. fact-finding mission concludes its report by encouraging member states that include the concept of universal justice in their legislation to open investigations into the repression in Iran. It also urges them to grant asylum and visas to the women, men, and children of the Women, Life, Freedom movement, whose courage and resilience it highlights. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. During his State of the Union address on Thursday night, U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to secure the release of Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist jailed in Russia for nearly one year on espionage charges that are widely viewed as politically motivated and baseless. We will also work around the clock to bring home Evan and Paul, Americans being unjustly detained by the Russians, Biden said. Paul Whelan is a former U.S. Marine who is also jailed in Russia on spying charges that are viewed as groundless. Gershkovichs parents attended the State of the Union address as guests of the speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson. A Russian correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, Gershkovich was detained in March 2023 and has been held in pretrial detention since then on espionage charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government vehemently deny. If convicted, he faces 20 years in prison. Evan is an American, and he was doing his job as a journalist. He is most importantly a beloved son and brother, and we want him home, Gershkovichs parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, recently said, according to the Journal. Gershkovich will mark one year behind bars on March 29. With the grim anniversary approaching, Paul Beckett, an assistant editor at the Journal who is charged with leading the newspapers campaign to secure Gershkovichs release, said he hopes this will be the last milestone that his colleague spends jailed. Weve been trying all year to do everything we can to highlight Evans case. And its just another reminder that we can never do enough, Beckett told VOA. Beckett said he hopes that Gershkovichs parents attending the address as guests of Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, sends the message that press freedom is a bipartisan issue. Were very grateful to Speaker Johnson and to President Biden for what theyre doing to highlight Evans case and freedom of the press more broadly. Its a very bipartisan issue, Beckett said. And it just shows, I think, that across both parties, freedom of the press is a high priority. Russias embassy in Washington did not immediately reply to VOAs email requesting comment. By hosting Evans parents, Congress will shine a spotlight on the unjust detention of their son, Johnson said, according to the Journal. The United States must always stand for freedom of the press around the world, especially in places like Russia, where it is under assault. The administration must bring Evan home. The State Department has also declared Gershkovich wrongfully detained. To date, the Russian government has failed to publish any evidence supporting its claims about the 32-year-old reporter. Gershkovich was accredited with Russias Foreign Ministry. In a February interview with former television talk show host Tucker Carlson, Russian President Vladimir Putin doubled down on the false spy claims about Gershkovich and indicated that the Russian government would trade him for a Russian assassin currently jailed in Germany. But absent from Bidens address was a mention of the second American journalist currently jailed in Russia: Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor at the Tatar-Bashkir service of VOAs sister outlet, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, or RFE/RL. Kurmasheva, a Prague-based dual U.S.-Russian national, traveled to Russia in May 2023 for a family emergency. When she tried to leave the country in June, her passports were confiscated. She was waiting for her passports to be returned when she was detained in October 2023 on charges of failing to register as a so-called foreign agent. Authorities later added extra charges of spreading false information about the Russian army. Kurmasheva and her employer deny the charges against her. If convicted, she faces a combined sentence of 15 years in prison. At an event on Thursday in Washington, Kurmashevas husband, Pavel Butorin, emphasized that his wife is being held in poor conditions while in pretrial detention in the southern Russian city of Kazan. Her children have been without their mother for more than nine months. Its been an incredibly difficult time for our family, Butorin said at the event via video call from Prague. We understand what kind of regime were dealing with here. But we remain hopeful. And we have no other choice. We want Alsu back, Butorin added. A U.N. report released Friday about the prevalence of female genital mutilation around the globe is drawing attention to the practice among the Dawoodi Bohra community, a Muslim minority sect based in India. India is not on the UNICEF list of 31 countries released Friday. But the extent of FGM in India, although small relative to its population and long shrouded in secrecy, is coming into the open. The ritual is mostly practiced by the Dawoodi Bohras, a subsect of the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam with an estimated 1 to 2 million followers around the globe. Recent surveys show that as many as 80% of Bohra girls undergo genital mutilation as a religious right of passage. We are still significant, even if our numbers are few, said Aarefa Johari, a Dawoodi Bohra activist and co-founder of Sahiyo, an anti-FGM advocacy group. Injustices and harmful practices must be opposed because they are wrong, not because of the number of people they affect. Affluent and politically influential, most Dawoodi Bohras live in Indias Gujarat province, with smaller communities thriving in Pakistan, Yemen, East Africa, the Middle East, Australia and North America. The World Health Organization defines FGM, also known as female genital cutting, as procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. The organization says the practice has no health benefits and classifies it as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. The UNICEF report, released on International Womens Day, shows that more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, an increase of 30 million compared with data released eight years ago. Africa accounts for over 144 million of the total, followed by Asia with over 80 million, and the Middle East with 6 million. Shelby Quast, an international human rights lawyer, said India should have been absolutely included in the UNICEF report. Noting that FGM is practiced in at least 92 countries, she said the report captures just the tip of the iceberg. We cant eliminate FGM by 2030 if were not looking at it in all the countries where it exists, Quast said in an interview. The method practiced in the Dawoodi Bohra community involves the cutting of a part of the clitoral hood. The Bohras deny its a form of genital mutilation. They prefer the term khatna, or female circumcision, and say it is safe. Although not endorsed by most Muslim scholars, the Dawoodi Bohras see it as a religious duty. Until recent years, the practice was little-known outside the close-knit community. The issue came to light after a 2011 online campaign launched by survivors. Others came forward with harrowing stories of trauma. Court cases in Australia and the United States exposed its prevalence among diaspora communities. In 2016, three Dawoodi Bohras in Australia were sentenced to 15 months in prison for violating the countrys FGM ban. In 2017, four members of the community in the U.S., including two doctors, were charged with performing FGM on at least six minor girls. A federal judge later dismissed the charges as unconstitutional, but the case put the spotlight on the Dawoodi Bohra communitys practice of FGM. Spurred by the publicity, community activists and human rights advocates sprang into action to shed light on the problem. Research by Joharis group revealed that FGM was also practiced by small communities in Indias Kerala state. Female genital mutilation was long associated with Africa. But the recent discovery of FGM in India and other Asian communities has shown that its a global problem, Johari said. I believe it has important implications for the global movement to end it, said Johari, herself a survivor. Like many Dawoodi Bohra girls, Johari was cut at the age of 7. The physical effects of the ritual sometimes extend into adulthood. But Johari considers herself among the fortunate; she was spared the complications. What impacted me at a later age, however, was the realization and the understanding of what had been done to me, Johari said via email from Mumbai. When you are cut as a young child, you have no way of knowing what your original anatomy was like, how much was cut, and how it will affect your sexual experiences later. [FGM] supporters in the community like to claim that our type of mild cut makes no difference to sexual life; some even claim it enhances sexual pleasure, Johari said. But none of them have a frame of reference, and the uncertainty, the not knowing, leaves me feeling frustrated, helpless and angry. The discord has divided the community. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the groups spiritual leader, has defied calls for a ban. Whatever the world says, we should be strong and firm. It must be done, he said during a religious sermon in Mumbai in 2016. Meanwhile, Indian government officials have wavered on the issue, and a push to criminalize FGM has stalled in Indias Supreme Court, according to Lakshmi Anantnarayan, a human rights activist and researcher. Some officials initially backed a prohibition only to change their position and deny FGMs existence, Anantnarayan said. A petition filed in 2017 with Indias Supreme Court demanding an FGM ban has triggered strong pushback from the powerful Bohra community. The petition calls FGM a discriminatory practice and a gross violation of the rights of women and girls. But Bohra leaders, joined by a group of Bohra women, have defended it as an essential religious ritual protected under Indias Constitution. The Supreme Court has tasked two panels with examining the constitutionality of female genital cutting. A decision in the case is still pending. The delay clearly demonstrates the lack of political will amongst legal authorities, policymakers and law enforcement to prioritize protecting girls from FGM in India, Anantnarayan said in an email. Like so many other issues of violence against women in India, FGM/C too continues to be practiced with impunity as the country just turns a blind eye to the plight of women and girls. The Indian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. India is not the only Asian country without an FGM ban. The ritual persists in at least 10 countries on the continent, all without legal prohibition. In the face of opposition from the powerful Bohra community, many activists view a ban as unlikely. But they dont see changing laws as a panacea. Instead, they find hope in shifting mindsets. Mariya Taher, another co-founder of Sahiyo and herself a survivor, noted that the same survey that revealed an 80% prevalence rate of FGM among the Bohras also found that 81% opposed continuing the tradition. The assumption was that everyone thought it was important to continue, she said in an interview. She said she learned from talking to fellow Dawoodi Bohras in the U.S. that some mosque leaders have been quietly urging mothers to spare their daughters, despite the groups official stance. I think social change takes a long time, but it's heartening to see that as this issue gets more attention, we are seeing that attitudes towards it are shifting, she said. A referendum is always carried by the devil, no matter how angelic its purpose may be. The Irish government has expressed its fear that a high abstention rate will cause the no vote to prosper in Fridays consultation to eliminate two articles from the constitution that carry chauvinistic and conservative tones not at all in accordance with the spirit of the current republic. The apathy of the traditional parties when it comes to campaigning, the confusion in the proposed changes, and the lack of interest among many voters on an issue that they consider dated could end up causing an unpleasant surprise in the eventual result. I think a no vote would be a setback for the country, quite frankly. It would say to a lot of people, hundreds of thousands of people and children, that theyre not in a family as far as our constitution is concerned. And that would be a step backwards, I think. It would also mean in relation to care that the very old-fashioned language about women in the home and mothers duties in the home would be maintained, said Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in Bucharest, where he was attending the European Peoples Party summit on Thursday. The two proposed constitutional reforms affect three paragraphs of a specific article. The so-called Care Amendment, undoubtedly the most offensive to feminist groups, aims to change the current text to remove the reference to the exclusive role of women at home, as the fundamental provider of that care. The current text reads: Article 41.2.1 In particular, the State recognizes that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved. Article 41.2.2 The State shall, therefore, endeavor to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labor to the neglect of their duties in the home. The referendum proposes eliminating Article 41.2.1 and replacing with a new text, Article 42B, which reads: The State recognizes that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to Society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision. The accommodation to the new social reality of Ireland intended in the proposed constitutional reform also requires the construction of a new legal definition of family that is not circumscribed to that of mere marriage. To give an idea of the anachronism of the Magna Carta, it is sufficient to recall that Ireland approved same-sex marriage in 2015. The so-called Family Amendment seeks to amplify this concept. The current text reads: Article 41.1.1 The State recognizes the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law. The referendum proposes modifying that text slightly, and in doing so notably alters the spirit of the article: Article 41.1.1 The State recognizes the Family, whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships, as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law. The long arm of the Vatican The current constitutional text was supervised, and practically written, in 1937 by Eamon de Valera, the most relevant nationalist politician in the history of the Republic of Ireland. It replaced the previous text of 1922, that of the Constitution of the Irish Free State, to remove any recognition of the Anglo-Irish treaty that granted independence to part of Ireland and allowed Northern Ireland to exercise its right not to form part of it and to include the aspiration for a single and united Ireland. John Charles McQuaid, who became the Archbishop of Dublin three years later, played an important role in the drafting of the text. De Valera allowed constant interference by the Catholic Church in state affairs and social life, and the constitutional draft was twice sent to the Vatican for suggestions or corrections. An overwhelming majority of the Irish parliament backed the reform proposal to be voted on this Friday, and it is to be assumed that a vast majority of society embraces some of the advances that have already been incorporated into the mentality and customs of the country over the course of a decade. But there are always extremist minorities and even left-wing factions or those who supposedly defend the rights of women have issued confusing messages, such as the fact the new text will erase the sacrifices made for many years by women who, they claim, wanted to be housewives. Or the idea of granting family status to temporary relationships of little stability. None of these objections would have any practical legal consequence, and they are more than debatable in their logic, but they have served to complicate the debate and keep the government in suspense. It is expected the result of the referendum will be announced early Saturday afternoon, when it will become known if Ireland has taken a step forward in defense of women or suffered an unnecessary legal setback. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday criticized Chinas "unfair economic practices" and insisted he has done a better job standing up to Beijing than did former President Donald Trump, his rival in this years presidential election. In his State of the Union address, Biden also touted other aspects of his China policy, including "standing up for peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits" and revitalizing "our partnerships and alliances in the Pacific." "Ive made sure that the most advanced American technologies cant be used in China ... frankly for all his tough talk on China, it never occurred to my predecessor to do any of that," Biden added. Bidens China comments, which made up only a brief part of his nationally televised speech, come a day after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi escalated his countrys verbal attacks on the United States. On the sidelines of an annual meeting of Chinas National Peoples Congress, Wang accused the United States of trying to contain China through sanctions, and insisted that Washington has "wrong perceptions" about Beijing. "The means to suppress China are constantly updated, the list of unilateral sanctions is constantly extended, and the desire to inflict punishment on China has reached an unimaginable level," said Wang during what appeared to be a tightly scripted interaction with local and foreign media. Wangs comments were a contrast from September, when Biden met Chinese President Xi Jinping in California. At that meeting, both sides agreed to restart dialogue and cooperate on several initiatives, including to counter the flow of fentanyl, a highly addictive synthetic opioid, into the United States. While Wang acknowledged that "some progress" was made at what he called the "historic meeting," he accused the United States of breaking some of its promises. "If the United States always says one thing and does another, where will its credibility be as a major country? If the United States is nervous and anxious whenever it hears the word 'China,' where is the self-confidence of a major country?" Wang said. Even as high-level talks resumed, the United States has expanded sanctions against China on a range of issues, from human rights abuses to its relations with Russia. U.S.-China ties are also strained over a wide range of other issues, including Chinas behavior in disputed areas of the South China Sea, its military intimidation of Taiwan, and a growing U.S.-China technological competition. Political cudgel In his speech Thursday, Biden reiterated that he wants "competition with China, but not conflict," while noting that the United States is "in a stronger position to win the competition for the 21st century against China or anyone else for that matter." "For years, Ive heard many of my Republican and Democratic friends say that China is on the rise and America is falling behind. Theyve got it backwards ... America is rising," Biden said. "We have the best economy in the world. And since Ive come to office, our GDP is up. Our trade deficit with China is down to the lowest point in over a decade," he added. China is expected to get more public attention as the U.S. presidential election campaign intensifies. On Thursday, both Biden, a Democrat, and U.S. Senator Katie Britt, who delivered the Republican response, used China to attack their political opponents. "The Chinese Communist Party is undercutting Americas workers. China is buying up our farmland, spying on our military installations, and spreading propaganda through the likes of TikTok," Britt said, referring to the popular video-sharing social media app owned by a Chinese company. "The CCP knows that if it conquers the minds of our next generation, it conquers America," Britt said. "And what does President Biden do? He bans TikTok for government employees, but creates an account for his own campaign." U.S. lawmakers are making a renewed push to pass legislation that would effectively force Beijing-based ByteDance to sell TikTok within six months or face a U.S. ban. Some U.S. lawmakers warn ByteDance could pass private information about U.S. users to Chinas Communist Party an allegation rejected by the companys CEO. Previous attempts to ban TikTok have been unsuccessful. But despite recent developments, U.S.-China relations remain more stable than in past years, said Wang Huiyao, the founder and president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization. "We don't want to see a downward spiral like we used to have. Because if that happens, that could be very dangerous for not only the U.S. and China, but for the world," Wang told VOA during an interview at his office. "Im still cautiously optimistic," Wang said. "Because people realize that [after] the last six, seven years, if the U.S. and China really get into a very ugly situation, then the whole world is finished." U.S. President Joe Biden concluded his State of the Union address Thursday night as he began it: highlighting the importance of defending democracy at home and around the world. I see a future where we defend democracy, not diminish it. I see a future where we restore the right to choose and protect other freedoms, not take them away, Biden said as he wrapped up his speech. Earlier in the night, Biden began by emphasizing what he said are threats facing democracy around the world and calling on Congress to approve additional aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia. I say this to Congress: We have to stand up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. Send me a bipartisan national security bill, he said. House Republicans are blocking a Senate-approved $95 billion foreign aid package that includes $61 billion to help Kyiv in its fight against Russia. My message to [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin, who Ive known for a long time, is simple: We will not walk away. We will not bow down, Biden said. More broadly, Biden said that democracy and freedom are under threat around the world. What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time, he said. The president also lauded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, which he called the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen. He pointed out Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who attended the address as a guest of first lady Jill Biden. Sweden officially joined NATO on Thursday. Biden took his time walking down the chamber aisle as he stopped to greet, talk and take photos with various lawmakers and other individuals. A collection of attendees began clapping and chanting, Four more years, as Biden walked toward the lectern. The presidents entrance into the chamber was preceded by that of his Cabinet, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, who entered and shook hands with lawmakers as they walked to their seats. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona was the designated survivor, which refers to the single member of the presidents Cabinet who does not attend the State of the Union address to ensure that someone in line for presidential succession is safe in the potential event of a catastrophic incident during the address. Bidens speech comes as lawmakers work to fund the government and avoid a shutdown, and the Biden administration urges Congress to pass security aid for Ukraine and Israel. He addressed the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas near the end of his speech. He called on Hamas to release all of the Israeli hostages still being held by the group. I pledge to all the families that we will not rest until we bring their loved ones home, Biden said. But Biden also emphasized that Israel has a responsibility to protect civilians in Gaza. Its heartbreaking, Biden said about the civilian crisis, which has seen more than 30,000 Palestinians killed. Biden announced that the U.S. military will establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean Sea on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters for civilians in the beleaguered Gaza Strip. Elsewhere in his speech, Biden drew attention to the Supreme Courts 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the right to abortion. Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024, Biden said. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again, he continued. Several Democratic women are dressed in suffragette white, part of a tradition that began in opposition to former President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, some Republicans are wearing buttons and T-shirts that reference Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student in Georgia who was killed in February. Authorities charged a Venezuelan migrant who entered the United States illegally and was later released on parole in the case. Some conservative lawmakers have blamed Rileys killing on White House immigration policies. During his address, Biden urged Congress to pass the border security fund bill. I will not demonize immigrants saying they are poisoning the blood of our country, Biden said. I will not separate families. Earlier in his address, Biden took credit for improving the countrys economy and guiding it out of the pandemic-caused slump. I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nations history. And we have. It doesnt make the news but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told, he said. He went on to cite 15 million new jobs in three years, unemployment at a 50-year low, and a record 16 million Americans starting small businesses. Biden also committed to protecting the Affordable Care Act. Also in his sights: halting tax breaks for major corporations and billionaires. No billionaire should pay a lower tax rate than a teacher, a sanitation worker, a nurse, he said, before going on to say he has proposed a minimum 25% tax for billionaires. Whereas the wars in Ukraine and Gaza featured significantly in Bidens address, the president only briefly discussed China, which some lawmakers view as an existential adversary to the United States. But Biden projected confidence. For years, all Ive heard from my Republican friends and so many others is Chinas on the rise, and America is falling behind. Theyve got it backward. America is rising, he said. We want competition with China, but not conflict, he added. Following Bidens address, Alabama Senator Katie Britt is due to give the Republican response. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that it is up to Hamas whether a cease-fire takes place in Gaza in the near future. Speaking ahead of talks in Washington with a delegation from Turkey, Blinken said the U.S. is continuing to work toward a cease-fire in Gaza, despite reports Thursday that Hamas negotiators had left talks in Cairo. "In this moment, in this hour, we're also intensely focused on seeing if we can get a cease-fire," Blinken told reporters, "And there, the issue is Hamas. The issue is whether Hamas will decide or not to have a cease fire that would benefit everyone. The ball is in their court. We're working intensely on it." Blinken also referenced a plan to transport aid to Gaza by sea announced by U.S. President Joe Biden during his State of the Union speech late Thursday. The plan a joint project that includes the European Union, Cyprus, Britain, and the United Arab Emirates, among others would use a temporary pier on Gaza's Mediterranean coast, through which aid would be brought into the enclave. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking Friday in Cyprus, said she expects the corridor will be operational Sunday if not sooner, with an initial pilot operation launched Friday. Senior United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag told reporters Friday the U.N. welcomes the plan. But she noted that sea corridors and air drops of aid are not a substitute for the delivery of life-saving aid via trucks over land. She said the maritime plan, nevertheless, will provide very important help. Meanwhile, medical personnel and eyewitnesses reported Friday a humanitarian aid drop killed five people at the Al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza after the parachute malfunctioned and the parcel hit a residential area. The head of emergency care at Gaza City's Al Shifa Medical Complex, Muhammad Al-Sheikh, confirmed the deaths. The United States, Jordan, Egypt and several other nations conducted humanitarian airdrops over Gaza on Friday, and it was unclear who was responsible for the malfunctioning parcel. A U.S. defense official told CBS News an initial review indicated the U.S. airdrop was not responsible for the fatalities on the ground but said that further investigation was required. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Ongoing plenary sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) offer an annual refresher course in how democracy is practiced under the guidance of the Chinese Communist Party. Known as the "Two Sessions," the meetings of representatives chosen through what Beijing calls democratic elections started in Beijing this week with nearly 3,000 NPC delegates gathering in the Great Hall of the People. The NPC is the largest legislature in the world and nominally the highest authority in China. But its delegates are chosen not through direct elections but by provincial people's congresses or electoral colleges in 35 provinces or special jurisdictions. The only direct elections are at the county and township level. By law, potential delegates to the people's congresses can be nominated and recommended by voters and groups, but they must be approved by the CCP. Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th NPC, said at a press conference on March 4 that the work of the NPC must follow "six important principles" that were proposed in 2021 by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CCP. The first one is, "We must adhere to the leadership of the CCP" and "make the NPC a political organ that consciously adheres to the leadership of the CCP." Despite the partys tight control over the selection of delegates, rare independents with dissenting views have managed to slip through at local levels. Several of them spoke to VOA about their experiences. Huang Songhai, a former independent delegate in 2007 to the People's Congress in from Poyang County, Jiangxi Province, told VOA that efforts to reform the process have been mostly frustrated. "Our election is fake. Of course, we are making a little bit of progress. But basically, it is still fake," Huang said. Yao Lifa, a former delegate to the People's Congress of from Qianjiang City, Hubei Province, ran as an independent candidate and was elected at the county level in 1998. He told VOA that in recent years, public enthusiasm for participation has declined. "We have had elections so many times, but what is the outcome? What is the impact? What is the impact on society, our class, or me personally? I am not so satisfied, or even dissatisfied," he said. Yao said the space for independent electioneering, campaigning and volunteering for candidates is shrinking. Wang Xiuzhen, who ran as an independent delegate for local People's Congresses in 2011 and 2021, told VOA that authorities quash candidates who seek office without party nomination. "After I ran, I was completely suppressed," she said. "They took me from our community, from my home, to the countryside, to the suburbs. It's like putting me under surveillance and house arrest. And then, I wasn't allowed to come back from there until after the election." Wang said she has been placed under surveillance during the current Two Sessions "as if I'm a dangerous person, and always being watched. Now, they are watching me again. There are always people stationed in front of my house, and they follow me whenever I come out." Xi, who in 2022 became Chinas most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, proposed in 2019 what he called a "whole-process people's democracy." The state-run People's Daily said this process integrated "law-based democratic elections, consultations, decision-making, management, and oversight through a series of laws and institutional arrangements." Ye Jinghuan, who ran as an independent delegate in Beijing in 2021, told VOA that China's whole-process people's democracy needs great improvements, including in judicial independence, and that NPC delegates should have their own powers. Now, "they exercise very little real power. The authorities set the tone first, and then everyone raises their hands [to vote on it] and that's it," she said. Despite the lack of democracy, Ye is not giving up. She said elections are all about participation, and everyone must be willing to contribute to whatever progress can be made. An amendment enshrining abortion rights was officially sealed into the French constitution Friday, during a public ceremony on International Women's Day. France is the first nation to guarantee the right to an abortion in its national charter. During the ceremony, which allowed the amendment to officially take effect, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the crowd, saying that "France today becomes the only country worldwide whose constitution explicitly protects the right to abortion in all circumstances." According to Macron, this decision was spurred by the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision to rescind long-held abortion protections. Last year, Macron pledged to protect the right to abortions in France following the U.S. decision. During the ceremony, he called for the European Union to enshrine the same right in its charter. Although abortion in most of Europe is legal, some European Union countries, like Poland and Malta, with laws restricting abortions, would likely oppose a similar measure. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti used a 19th century press Friday to seal the amendment, which was approved with overwhelming support earlier this week. The amendment passed in a joint session of parliament Monday. The move to protect abortion rights in the French constitution was met with overwhelming support among lawmakers and the public. The action was also praised by women's rights advocates, particularly as abortion rights have come under fire in the world in recent years. The action has also been met with criticism by some who view it as ceremonial, because abortion rights have been legal in France since 1975 and haven't been under direct threat. Others also point out that not all French women have abortion access and that women face a variety of other barriers to equality, such as wage gaps and a high rate of domestic violence, often turning fatal. Conferences are being held throughout the world on abortion rights, as well as marches and demonstrations, according to The Associated Press. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. Haiti's main port was closed on Thursday after an attack by armed gangs, said the port operator, Caribbean Port Services. CPS said "malicious acts of sabotage and vandalism" led to the decision after armed men broke into the port and looted containers, Reuters reported, citing local media. The United Nations said the port "is currently the only means of transporting food and medical supplies for humanitarian and development organizations from Port-au-Prince to other parts of the country." Earlier Thursday, the government extended a state of emergency and nighttime curfew, as gang violence continued to escalate in the capital, Port-au-Prince. The government says it is taking the actions to "reestablish order and take appropriate measures to retake control of the situation," as scores of people died this week as allied gangs seek to take power. The curfew has been extended until March 11 and the state of emergency has been extended until April 3, according to Haiti's official gazette. The state of emergency was initially announced by authorities on Sunday, when armed gangs helped thousands of prisoners to break out of prison and tens of thousands of people fled the capital violence. The state of emergency bans public protests and allows security forces to use "all legal means" to enforce the curfew. Among those excluded from the curfew are some journalists, security forces and emergency services. The U.S. has sent a security team to protect the U.S. Embassy. Despite the curfew imposed over the weekend, gangs continued to attack police stations, setting at least 10 on fire, the police union said. The situation in Haiti took this violent turn after Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced last week at a meeting with Caribbean leaders that general elections would be held in 2025. After the meeting, he went to Kenya and met with President William Ruto. During the meeting he urged the president to provide support from a U.N.-backed Kenyan police force, which a Kenyan court has ruled is unconstitutional. While he was traveling, gangs attacked and effectively shut down Haiti's international airport to prevent him from returning to the country. Many of them are frustrated with Haiti's lack of an election in nearly a decade and the fact that Henry was never elected. Henry landed in Puerto Rico on Tuesday after being denied entry into the Dominican Republic and is now seeking another way into the country. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Henry on Thursday, urging him to speed up a transition to a new government. According to prominent gang leader Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier on Tuesday, "If Ariel Henry doesn't step down, they will lead us directly into a civil war that will end in genocide." Violence in Haiti killed about 4,700 people last year, according to United Nations estimates. In Cite Soleil, a part of the capital hit particularly hard by violence, 2,300 people were killed in 2023, Doctors Without Borders said on Thursday. The death rates in Cite Soleil alone are similar to those in Syrian war zones and among Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, it added. With Henry away, police forces are struggling to contain violence because of limited resources. On Wednesday, the Caribbean Community issued a statement saying that leaders had met many times but still have not reached a consensus on how to handle the conflict. The statement said Haitian stakeholders are being urged to reach a consensus, given the importance of a "Haitian led and Haitian owned" solution. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Hong Kong unveiled a proposed law that threatens life imprisonment for residents who "endanger national security" on Friday, deepening worries about erosion of the city's freedoms four years after Beijing imposed a similar law that all but wiped out public dissent. It's widely seen as the latest step in a crackdown on political opposition that began after the semi-autonomous Chinese city was rocked by violent pro-democracy protests in 2019. Since then, the authorities have crushed the city's once-vibrant political culture. Many of the city's leading pro-democracy activists have been arrested and others fled abroad. Dozens of civil society groups have been disbanded, and outspoken media outlets like Apple Daily and Stand News have been shut down. Hong Kong leader John Lee has urged legislators to push the Safeguarding National Security Bill through "at full speed," and lawmakers began debate hours after the bill was released publicly. It's expected to pass easily, possibly in weeks, in a legislature packed with Beijing loyalists following an electoral overhaul. The proposed law will expand the government's power to stamp challenges to its rule, targeting espionage, disclosing state secrets, and "colluding with external forces" to commit illegal acts among others. It includes tougher penalties for people convicted of working with foreign governments or organizations to break some of its provisions. The law would jail people who damage public infrastructure with the intent to endanger national security for 20 years or life, if they collude with an external force to do so. In 2019, protesters occupied the airport and vandalized railway stations. Similarly, those who commit sedition face a jail term of seven years but colluding with an external force to carry out such acts increases that penalty to 10 years. On Thursday, an appeals court upheld a conviction for sedition against a pro-democracy activist for chanting slogans and criticizing the Beijing-imposed 2020 National Security Law during a political campaign. Its expansive definition of external forces includes foreign governments and political parties, international organizations, and "any other organization in an external place that pursues political ends" as well as companies that are influenced by such forces. Beijing said the 2019 unrest was implemented with the support of external forces and the city government has been critical against what they called external interference during the movement. The bill proposed to allow the prosecution of illegal acts committed outside of Hong Kong for most of its offenses. Critics say that the proposed law would make Hong Kong even more like mainland China. However, the government said it was necessary to prevent a recurrence of the massive anti-government protests that rocked the city in 2019, insisting it would only affect "an extremely small minority" of disloyal residents. It defined national security as a status in which the state's political regime and sovereignty are relatively free from danger and threats, so are the welfare of the people and the state's economic and social development among other "major interests." The legislature's president, Andrew Leung, told reporters that the process was accelerated because the bill was necessary to safeguard national security. "If you look at other countries, they enacted it within a day, two weeks, three weeks ... So why can't Hong Kong do it in a speedy manner? You tell me," the pro-Beijing politician said. But the British Consulate in Hong Kong urged authorities to "allow time for proper legislative scrutiny." The city was a British colony until it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, requires the city to enact a national security law, but a previous attempt sparked a massive street protest that drew half a million people, and the legislation was shelved. Such demonstrations against the current bill are unlikely, due to the chilling effect of the 2020 law after it was enacted to quell the 2019 protests. During a one-month public comment period that ended last week, 98.6% of the views received by officials showed support, and only 0.72% opposed the proposals, the government said. The rest contained questions or opinions that did not reflect a stance on the law, it added. But business people and journalists have expressed fear that a broadly framed law could criminalize their day-to-day work, especially because the proposed definition of state secrets includes matters linked to economic, social and technological developments. The government has sought to allay concerns by adding a public interest defense under specific conditions in the proposal. John Burns, an honorary professor of politics and public administration at the University of Hong Kong, said it remains to be seen how courts will interpret the provision that allows a public interest defense to charges of disclosing state secrets. The bill, if passed as tabled, is likely to have chilling effect on local civil society, Burns said, especially political and public policy lobby groups that have benefited from connections to overseas counterparts. "At least initially, I expect them to be especially cautious about expanding links with similar groups overseas," he said. The law also authorizes stiffer measures against suspects in national security cases. Those who are arrested but released on bail could face a "movement restriction order" which limits the places they can live and enter, as well as prevent them from communicating with certain people. Authorities would be empowered to hit absconders with financial sanctions, such as preventing other people from hiring them, leasing them property, starting businesses with them, or providing economic support to them. Last year, police offered bounties of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,000) on more than a dozen activists living abroad, including former lawmakers Nathan Law and Ted Hui, whom they accuse of colluding with external forces to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. Prisoners convicted of national security offenses will not be eligible for sentences reductions until authorities are confident early release would not risk national security. This would apply to all national security prisoners, even those whose sentences were imposed prior to the bill. Two independent bloggers were detained late last month in Vietnam, including one who is a contributor to VOAs sister outlet, Radio Free Asia. On February 29, police arrested Nguyen Vu Binh, who regularly contributes to RFAs Vietnamese Service, and Nguyen Chi Tuyen at their homes in the capital of Hanoi, according to the press freedom group the Committee to Protect Journalists. Binh was arrested on unclear charges after being summoned to meet with the police the previous day, media reports said. This is far from the first time that Vietnamese authorities have targeted Binh. In 2002, after providing written testimony to the U.S. Congress about human rights issues in Vietnam, he was arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison, according to RFA. He was later released in 2007. Then in 2015, he was among 12 bloggers and activists who were beaten by police in Hanoi, according to RFA. In a statement Thursday, RFA and the free expression group PEN International called for Binhs immediate release. Binh was an honorary member of several PEN Centers. "His case warrants swift attention, and we call upon the international community to join us in condemning his arrest," RFA President and CEO Bay Fang and PEN International President Burhan Sonmez said in the statement. Binhs arrest "is yet another example of Vietnams unjust targeting and brazen intimidation of independent journalists," their statement also said. Meanwhile, Tuyen, the second blogger, is facing charges of "propagandizing against the state" and will be detained for four months pending investigations, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ. "Vietnam must free bloggers Nguyen Chi Tuyen and Nguyen Vu Binh and cease its unremitting harassment of independent reporters," Shawn Crispin, CPJs senior Southeast Asia representative, said in a statement. "Its high time Vietnam stopped equating journalism with criminal behavior." In late 2023, CPJ ranked Vietnam as the fifth-worst jailer of journalists in the world, with at least 19 reporters imprisoned. Vietnams embassy in Washington did not immediately reply to VOAs email requesting comment. When Mohammed Asfan, 30, left his home in Hyderabad last November, he told his family that he was going to Russia to work as an army helper and earn many times more than what he made as a salesman at a garment shop in the south Indian city. Lured by a YouTube video posted by a Dubai-based recruiting agency that promised a high salary and permanent residency in Russia after six months, Asfan thought he had found a way to secure his familys future. He was assured by the recruiting agency that he would not be sent to the front lines of the war against Ukraine. But in late December, he told his family by telephone from the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don that he had been forced to undergo weeks of military training and was being sent to the front lines. This past Wednesday, Asfans family was notified that he was dead. When he spoke to us in December, he said that his passport had been taken away and he had been forcibly deployed to the front lines in Ukraine. Since then, for over two months we did not receive any call or news from him, Mohammed Imran, Asfans brother, told reporters in Hyderabad this week. Another Indian youth who joined the Russian army but later managed to escape informed us a few weeks ago that Asfan had been wounded by a bullet. Then suddenly we got the devastating news. Mohammed Imran said his brother would never have gone to Russia if he had known he would be required to fight. Baba Vlogs, the recruiting agency, duped my brother. It is responsible for my brothers death, he said. Asfan was the second Indian citizen to be confirmed dead while serving with the Russian army. Hamil Mangukiya, 23, from the western Indian state of Gujarat, was killed on February 21 in the embattled Donetsk region of Ukraine, his family confirmed. Mangukiya traveled to Russia after being offered a security guards job, but he was taken to the front line and forced to take part in the war, his family reported. Relatives have appealed to the government of India in the past two weeks on behalf of some of the dozens of Indian men who have been tricked into fighting for the Russian army and want to return home. Estimates of the number of Indians caught up in the war against their will range as high as 100. Aazad Yusuf Kumar, 31, traveled to Dubai in December 2023 from his hometown in the state of Jammu and Kashmir after being promised a hotel housekeeping job in the United Arab Emirates. A new father who had grown up impoverished and worked as a manual laborer, Kumar readily took up the offer from an independent employment agent in hopes of providing a better life for his newborn son. Kumars family says that after paying the agent about $3,600, he was taken to an unknown place in Russia to do kitchen work. He was then forced to receive military training for two weeks alongside other Indians. Sajad Ahmad Kumar, Aazad Kumars elder brother, told VOA that Aazad was hospitalized for three weeks after being hit by a bullet during training. "After he recovered from the injury, he was sent to the battlefield. When I spoke to him on January 14, he said that he would be sent to the front line within a day or two. That day he was crying badly over the phone. He said that he wanted to get out of his job, which he said was very risky. He also asked me to do our best to help him get discharged from the job and return home, Sajad Kumar said. It has been almost eight weeks that we have not heard from him. We are very anxious. The Indian government issued a statement Friday saying that it was aware of some Indians who have been duped into joining the Russian army and sent to the front lines of the war, and that it had taken up the matter with Moscow seeking their early discharge. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said that strong action has been initiated against the agents who recruited the men on false pretext and promises. A case of human trafficking has been registered against several agents. We once again appeal to Indian nationals to not be swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian army. This is fraught with danger and risk to life, Jaiswal said. Jaiswal added that the families of about 20 men have sought help from the Indian government, which is doing its best to locate them and bring them home. Like several others, Aazad Kumar had been lured into leaving his country by Dubai-based agent Faisal Khan, his family said. Khan, the face behind the Baba Vlogs YouTube channel that has over 305,000 subscribers, contends in an introductory video on his channel that he is committed to not being fake with his claims. Some of the videos uploaded to the channel in the last few months promise jobs as waiters in Dubai and food delivery and army helper opportunities in Russia asserting that those who take up the offer will not be asked to fight in the war. Khan did not respond to VOAs email request for a comment. This week Azeri authorities detained several journalists at an independent media outlet and raided its office and the homes of some of its staff. Police raided Toplum TV Wednesday in the capital, Baku, and the homes of some of its staff, and detained several people, according to its Editor-in-Chief Khadija Ismayilova. On Friday, police made additional arrests, including Toplum TVs co-founder Alasgar Mammadli. As well as Mammadli, three of Toplum TVs journalists video editor Mushfiq Jabbar, reporter Farid Ismayilov and social media manager Elmir Abbasov remain in custody, on charges of smuggling. Authorities also detained four people associated with the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, including the nonprofits chair, Akif Gurbanov. The Azerbaijani organization carries out training with Toplum TV. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs told VOA that police conducted the searches based on information received about the activities of a group of people. Additional information will be provided later, the spokesperson said. Founded in 2016, Toplum TV covers a range of political, economic and social issues. Its Editor-in-Chief Ismayilova told VOA, the media outlet will keep working despite the raid. Right now, the doors of our office have been sealed by the investigative body. But, despite their will, we will continue the work of Toplum TV, she said. We are now working on a transition plan. Of course, we intend to ensure continuity of our work, because what we do is very important. Authorities also appeared to have gained access to the Toplum TV YouTube page, which had 90,000 followers. The page was renamed, and the content deleted. This in itself is an indicator that, although it may not be their only goal, part of their goal is to silence the media, Ismayilova told VOA. A lawyer for one of the detained journalists said she is concerned for the journalists health. Farid Ismayilov underwent surgery on his nose in November, and three times on his lungs in December. He was still under medical supervision. We are very worried about that, the lawyer, Zibeyda Sadygova told reporters outside of the Baku City Police Department. Sadygova said that police tried to make Ismayilov sign documents, which he refused to do. Farid did not sign anything. We noted this in the protocol. We will file a complaint with the relevant bodies, Sadygova said. Shahla Humbatova, a lawyer for Gurbanov, said she was not allowed to be present during the search of his house. Gurbanov said that some documents were taken from his house during the search. He said that the police raided the office, planted 30,000 euros there and then took it. Akif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzateli were put in separate a room and they [officers] performed the search without any supervision, Humbatova said. She noted that Gurbanov said that the money taken during the search does not belong to him or the organization. Khadija Ismayilova said the police operation comes amid a wave of repression in the country. They are trying to silence all critical opinions. They try not to leave any platform for criticism. They are trying to blacken the country. They will probably continue the wave of repression until all the places of light in the country are closed, Ismayilova told VOA. The Toplum arrests are the latest case of journalists being detained. At least 10 other journalists who work for independent media outlets have been arrested since late 2023 and accused of smuggling foreign currency. The journalists in those cases deny the accusations and say they believe they are being targeted in relation to their investigations into suspected corruption among high-ranking officials in Azerbaijan. Freedom House described the raid on Toplum TV as the latest unacceptable attack on critical, independent voices in the country. We will continue to closely monitor the Aliyev regime's campaign against civil society, activists and independent media, Freedom House wrote on X, formerly Twitter. A spokesperson for the European Commission foreign affairs and security policy, Peter Stano told VOA that the EU is following the situation around the detention of journalists and civil society activists. The EU calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure freedom of expression, including free and unhindered space for independent journalism, in line with its international commitments, he said. The U.S. State Department also commented on the raid. We must express our strong objections to continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish journalists, civil society voices, and opposition figures. We call on Azerbaijan to end the harassment of those exercising their fundamental freedoms and urge the release of all individuals being unjustly held in politically motivated cases, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a briefing. He said that no one should face incarceration or other retribution for exercising freedom of expression. This story originated in VOAs Azeri service. Tapdiq Farhadoglu, Emil Baghirov, Turkan Bashir, Parvana Bayramova and Ulviyya Guliyeva contributed to this story. Xochitl Galvez the presidential candidate for the opposition coalition formed by three major Mexican political parties (the PAN, PRI and PRD) began her campaign last Friday with a rally in Fresnillo, a city in the state of Zacatecas. The act was loaded with symbolism, since Fresnillo is the most unsafe city in Mexico, according to a study by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. The state is also governed by MORENA, the ruling party. There, Galvez said if she is elected president one of her goals is to build a very high-security prison with cutting-edge technology, so that criminals are afraid of ending up in there. Subsequently, the media began to talk about a mega-prison, with analysts comparing it to the Terrorist Confinement Center built by the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele. Slightly further south in the state of Guanajuato the standard-bearer of the ruling party, Claudia Sheinbaum, responded with a rally. The state has historically been governed by the right-wing National Action Party (PAN) and has one of the highest murder rates in Mexico. There, Sheinbaum the former head of the government of Mexico City criticized the prison proposal put forward by Galvez: They (the opposition parties) propose mega-prisons for young people; we propose universities and public education, paying attention to the causes [of crime], she affirmed. Insecurity has become the main issue in the 2024 Mexican presidential campaign. And no one seems to take responsibility for the causes of the crime wave. The opposition claims that the lack of public safety is the fault of the government which is about to finish its term: the administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (2018-2024). Meanwhile, the ruling party alleges that the crime rate is due to past administrations, when the PRI or the PAN ruled Mexico. The incumbent president of Mexico got fully involved in the campaign this past Wednesday, despite the restrictions imposed by the electoral authorities. He criticized the opposition, claiming that insecurity is being exploited for political purposes. Its evident that [the opposition] is using violence magnifying it, making what happens bigger for political or political purposes, for this campaign season, he said, during his daily televised conference. While Lopez Obrador made accusations of politicking from the National Palace, outside the official residence, a group of students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Normal School organized a spectacular demonstration against their government. They protested the obstacles in the investigation looking into the disappearance of 43 students, which took place nearly 10 years ago. The families of the disappeared have criticized the Mexican Armys refusal to open hundreds of files, which are crucial to knowing the truth about the case. The claims are a direct repudiation of the presidents discourse, as well as a practical representation of the open wound caused by the high number of murders and disappearances in Mexico. The daily average at the end of last year was more than 80 homicides each day, a slight decrease from earlier in 2023. Despite everything, however, this past six-year presidential term will end as the most violent in the countrys recent history. Sheinbaum poised to succeed Lopez Obrador declared hours later: What happened today doesnt seem right to me. The National Palace has opened its doors [to the public], particularly for the fathers and mothers of Ayotzinapa. The president of the Republic has received them on various occasions. The presidential candidate for the ruling party suggests that this was a provocation, which could have culminated in a confrontation. Protesters break down a door of the National Palace, in protest of the Ayotzinapa case, on March 6, 2024. Stringer (REUTERS) The relatives of the victims are staging a sit-in in the capitals main plaza the Zocalo just a few steps from the National Palace. Theyre demanding a personal conversation with Lopez Obrador, sans intermediaries. But the government hasnt addressed this demand. The sit-in remained in Mexicos main square even at the start of Sheinbaums campaign, confronting the celebratory spirit of the ruling party. At one point, the group of teachers-in-training got impatient: while protesting outside the Palace, they seized an official vehicle and used it to break down a door. They tried to enter the premises, but were stopped with tear gas and shields. Politics is politics. The Mexican peoples biggest fear Insecurity which is the issue that is front-of-mind for voters offers a picture of the countrys reality. The latest Enkoll survey for EL PAIS showed that 53% of Mexican voters consider insecurity to be the countrys biggest pending problem and the issue that presidential candidates must urgently address. Following this is the issue of corruption (32% mentioned it) and then the economy (15%). All of them are pressing issues some more abstract than others but the citizens have made it clear that living in peace is the priority. They want to have the certainty of being able to walk down the street, knowing that theyll arrive safely at their destination and that their loved ones will be ok. The problem is so prevalent within Mexican democracy that the candidates have begun their battle for the presidency by offering remedies. And, in the heat of the debate given the urgency and size of the monster that is crime some proposals have bordered on the spectacular. Galvez has been harshly questioned about her idea to build a mega-prison: she has already had to clarify that shes not envisioning massive raids, like what President Bukele has done in El Salvador against the gangs. In the Salvadoran case, the state of emergency has filled the prisons with over 70,000 people many of them innocent in just a few months. Were going to build a special prison for the worst criminals. Enough of prisons being the place where extortion takes place, where people have privileges, where criminals arent afraid [to be jailed], because inside, they live almost like they did on the street, the candidate said. She then specified: Were not talking about sending young people who we catch tagging walls to prison, but rather hardened criminals, like someone who raped and murdered a girl. Galvez has insisted that she will put an end to Lopez Obradors policy of having the National Guard and the Army limit themselves as much as possible from patrolling the streets and avoiding confrontations with organized crime. She is deeply opposed to the policy, which the president summarizes with his famous slogan: hugs, not bullets. It hasnt been able to prevent massacres. You dont even have to send the Army to shoot criminals: you have to apply the law and that doesnt mean shooting them, it doesnt mean killing them. I dont know why they think that applying the law means extermination, Galvez shrugged. However, she has been forced to distance herself from former president Felipe Calderon, of the PAN, who governed from 2006 until 2012. His strategy of direct confrontation with the drug cartels the centerpiece of the so-called War on Drugs saw overwhelming figures of violent deaths and disappearances. Based on the latest count released in December 2023, around 113,000 Mexicans are estimated to have disappeared. A member of the National Guard supervises the site where the body of a woman was found abandoned, in Tijuana, on December 26, 2023 Omar Martinez Noyola (Cuartoscuro) Look at the difference between the strategies. In one case, the war against drugs is proposed. We (the ruling party) dont propose war, but rather the construction of peace, Sheinbaum contrasts. She has followed Lopez Obradors line of attributing the problem of violence to social causes, to the neoliberal economic model and to the breakdown of the social fabric. The candidate has proposed reinforcing social programs for young people, opening more universities and creating more sources of employment. She has also proposed giving the National Guard its own investigative powers, while improving coordination with prosecutors and state police forces. According to her plan, she says that local governments will be able to increase their number of troops and their weapons, while improving their capabilities for rapid-response. Her proposed strategy to reduce crime also involves reforming the judiciary, so that there are more controls over the actions of judges. In the past, Sheinbaum was reserved about Lopez Obradors plan for the National Guard a civilian institution to be placed in the hands of the Army. But this past Monday, during a press conference, the candidate said that she will seek the consolidation of that security body under the control of the Ministry of Defense. The opposition standard-bearer, meanwhile, wants to gradually send the military back to their barracks, with a view to converting the National Guard into a completely civilian institution. She wants to remove certain powers from the Armed Forces such as the ability to oversee certain businesses and administer projects which were given to them during the Lopez Obrador administration. She has also proposed opening a National University for Security in order to train specialized officials and create a rapid-response team in each state, to act against the cartels. The dance of campaign proposals and promises has begun, just like in every election year. The two leading candidates are offering solutions to the most worrying issue for Mexicans, in order to carve out support. So far, the recipes tested havent managed to get the country out of the bloody stage of the drug war, almost two decades after it began. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Imprisonment based on political dissent is especially difficult for women, says Nadya Tolokonnikova, a creator of Pussy Riot, and someone who spent 16 months in a Russian prison. The Russian diaspora in Los Angeles gathered to write letters of support to women incarcerated on political grounds in their homeland. VOA News reports from Los Angeles, California; Steve Baragona narrates. Nigeria's constitution is getting a revamp, and this time a committee tasked with the responsibility says women's inclusion in political offices is a priority. Women hold a tiny fraction of the seats in Nigerias National Assembly. Three of the 109 senators and 15 of the 360 members in the House of Representatives are female. The chair of the House constitution review committee, Benjamin Kalu, spoke this week during a dialogue with women-centered and pro-democracy groups ahead of International Women's Day on Friday. Kalu said the ongoing review of the constitution will address gender imbalance in Nigeria's politics. He also said the 10th National Assembly will revisit gender bills that failed to progress during the previous administration. In 2022, Nigerian women advocated for five bills to promote inclusion and womens representation in parliament including one bill that would reserve 35% of political seats for women. None of bills received enough support to win passage in the male-dominated parliament, leading to protests. Cynthia Mbamalu, a program director at YIAGA Africa, one of the groups advocating for gender bills, said structural challenges, patriarchal norms and biased systems put limits on women who want to run for office. The numbers are still poor, she said. We still have 11 or so state assemblies where there are no women, and some of those states have not had a female legislator since 1999, when we [transitioned] to democracy. As long as we don't have [a] constitutional mandate that opens up the space to increase women representation, well constantly struggle with a male dominated National Assembly." Despite Africa recording an increase in female political participation in recent years, womens representation in Nigerian politics is among the lowest in the world, at about 4%. In last year's general elections, fewer women won seats in office despite an increased number of candidates from various political parties. Mbamalu said lawmakers need to take the new constitutional review seriously for equity and democracy to succeed. "One of the indicators to assess our development and the presence of democracy is about how inclusive your government is, she said. I want to believe that the 10th Assembly will act differently will put its name in history." The recommendations of the constitution review committee will be subject to votes in parliament. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his election-year State of the Union address. VOAs Scott Walterman speaks with White House Correspondent Anita Powell and VOA National Correspondent Steve Herman about his remarks and the Republican Response devlivered by Alabama Senator Katie Britt. Plus, Chinas top diplomat on Thursday scolded the United States and touted his countrys closer ties with Russia. The comments came on the sidelines of a meeting of Chinas parliament. More from VOAs Bill Gallo, who is in the Chinese capital. And, many ranchers in Panama are making the transition from breeding livestock to much smaller animals -- butterflies. Nigel Inkster is the senior adviser for China at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and boasts a three-decade career at the British Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6. VOAs Natalie Liu recently spoke with him about the turmoil among Chinas political elite over the past year, most notably the removal of both Defense Minister Li Shangfu and Foreign Minister Qin Gang. As speculation continues to swirl about the fate of both former officials, Inkster shares his views on the Chinese foreign minister who some reports have suggested was involved in espionage, the potential of coup attempts from within to remove powerful leader Xi Jinping, and the Communist Partys control of Chinas foreign ministry. The interview is edited for brevity and clarity. VOA: What makes you think [Foreign Minister] Qin Gang wasnt involved in espionage? Inkster: I find it hard to imagine how an intelligence agency would be able to maintain covert contact with somebody not only in such a high-profile position, but also a position where effectively his activities are always subject to oversight by others. If youre ambassador in the United States, you dont really have any real latitude to do anything on your own. Its very difficult, but not impossible. Internal plot? VOA: Could the unexplained removal of Defense Minister Li Shangfu, Foreign Minister Qin Gang, among others, have anything to do with plots to remove Xi Jinping? Inkster: I cant remember whether its [Russian Vladimir] Lenin or [Russian Leon] Trotsky who said: When an autocrat is in power, his overthrow seems inconceivable, once hes overthrown, his overthrow seems inevitable. Theres something to that, of course. Its obvious there is, particularly within elements of Chinas political elite, unhappiness and pushback with some of Xi Jinpings policies. There have been intimations that there were plots against the top leadership orchestrated from within elements of the Ministry of Public Security; these things have come up periodically. But my sense is, at the moment I could be completely wrong about this but dissatisfaction and opposition to Xis policies is fragmented. General Office of CCP Central Committee Inkster: And we have to bear in mind that the CCP Central Committee General Office runs a pervasive surveillance operation on Chinas top leaders; this office is responsible for organizing the affairs of the top leadership, it also doubles as in effect an intelligence organization that monitors the activities of the top leadership. This is the entity Xi relies upon to be sure he knows what fellow top leaders are doing and thinking. It monitors all their communications, all their movements, so the scope for engaging in this kind of plotting, as I see it, is quite limited. VOA: If we go back to the Hua Guofeng [who took power after Mao Zedong died in 1976] time, the head of the General Office, Wang Dongxing, led the charge to overthrow the Gang of Four [led by Maos widow Jiang Qing], no? Inkster: Yes, he did. And of course, its not impossible [that something like that could happen again], but bear in mind that when that happened, technology was at a far more primitive state than it is now. Im not saying it cant happen. Theres precious little that cant happen. What Im saying is it is a great deal more difficult than it previously would have been. The most powerful man inside Chinas Foreign Ministry VOA: The top official listed on the Chinese Foreign Ministrys website is the chairman of the ministrys Communist Party committee, a gentleman by the name of Qi Yu who also heads the Party School within the Foreign Ministry. Some Chinese commentators have Qi Yu linked with Xi Jinping, including as a potential relative [on his mothers side]. Inkster: Under Xi Jinping, we have seen what I would term the partyfication of the Foreign Ministry; you just read his address to Chinas ambassadors at the end of last year; he made it abundantly clear that their first loyalty was to be to the party. This is simply a feature of the way things are in China now. The party is in control of everything, why would it not be in control of the Foreign Ministry? I dont know if that is the case or not [that Xi has dispatched one of his relatives to watch over the Foreign Ministry], but the simple fact is, obviously, it is in [Xis] interest to do everything possible to ensure that the Foreign Ministry does get with the program and enact policy in the way that he wants it to. I dont find anything at all surprising about that, if its indeed what has happened. Republicans chose one of their youngest senators, Katie Britt of Alabama, to deliver the partys scathing response to President Joe Bidens State of the Union address and deliver she did, using her 15 minutes on the national stage to energetically call Biden a dithering and diminished leader while stoking fears about his policies on immigration and criticizing his handling of the economy, justice and foreign affairs. He is making us a punchline on the world stage, said Britt, who delivered her pre-recorded address from what looked like a home kitchen. The country we know and love seems to be slipping away, the 42-year-old mother of two said. It feels like the next generation will have fewer opportunities and less freedom than we did. I worry my own children may not even get a shot at living their American Dreams. In an unusual move, three prominent Republicans issued what some called pre-buttals ahead of Bidens address. In just three years, President Bidens policies have rapidly accelerated American decline on every issue from the economy to national security and foreign policy, said House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday morning. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke from the Senate floor and criticized Bidens foreign policy, economic decisions, and left-wing positions. Ill be glad for the nation to hear directly from the youngest Republican woman ever elected to the Senate and one of our conferences brightest stars, he said. And Bidens top challenger, Donald Trump, described his opponent as feeble and said Its time to tell Crooked Joe Biden, YOURE FIRED. Foreign policy Britt slammed Bidens foreign policy record, citing actions like the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and the administrations failed attempt to resurrect a nuclear arms control agreement with Iran. This president has demonstrated that Americas word doesnt mean what it used to, she said. She was among the 29 senators who voted against Bidens supplemental request for more aid for Ukraine and Israel, although she has previously expressed strong support for Israel. On immigration, Britt blamed Biden for the challenges posed by the current numbers of migrants at the southern U.S. border, calling the situation despicable and almost entirely preventable. She cited the recent killing of a 22-year-old Georgia woman, Laken Riley. A Venezuelan national who entered the U.S. illegally and then released on parole is charged with her killing. Mr. President, enough is enough, Britt said. Innocent Americans are dying and you only have yourself to blame. Economy She was also scathing on Bidens economic record. Hardworking families are struggling to make ends meet today. And with soaring mortgage rates and sky-high child care costs, theyre also struggling to plan for tomorrow. The American people are scraping by while the president proudly proclaims Bidenomics is working! Goodness, yall, she said, before uttering three words, that, in the American South, mean precisely the opposite sentiment: Bless his heart. Reproductive rights Britts address comes shortly after Alabamas top court ruled that frozen embryos are children. The ruling raised concerns over the legality of treatments like in vitro fertilization in the state. She did not address the wider issue of abortion access but spoke against the Alabama court ruling. We want families to grow, she said. Its why we strongly support continued nationwide access to in vitro fertilization. Dithering and diminished And Britt whose 2022 campaign slogan was Alabama First also took aim at Bidens age. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader, she said. The reaction to Britts response on social media mostly centered on criticisms of her spirited delivery, with many on X, formally known as Twitter, suggesting that her performance was over-the-top. Michael Steele, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee who has since been critical of the party, tweeted: Well, that Katie Britt experience was experiential. President Joe Biden addressed his nation and the world Thursday night in the State of the Union: VOA has reaction from Washington, Kyiv and Jerusalem. The US Military will build a temporary pier to deliver aid to Gaza and Hindu Nationalists are growing more popular in Nepal Thousands of Cameroonian women were out on the streets Friday International Womens Day to press for more access to education and economic opportunity, as well as an end to harmful prejudices and practices. The Central African nations Ministry of Women's Empowerment said about 30,000 women came out to mark this year's International Women's Day, many wearing special green and yellow gowns bearing the slogan Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress. The women sang about longing to be free and achieving true equality with men. Rights activist Muma Bih Yvonne said women want to end the perception that they should be limited to child rearing, domestic chores and farm work. "Women just want a level playing ground, she said. Women want equal opportunities; women want that the gender gap that has been delaying for so long should be bridged. If you have a female and a male child, give them the same responsibilities, level the playing ground." Muma said illiteracy among women remains high because many families still prefer to send only boys to school. Protesters said the practice blocks women from positions in public offices in which literacy is a requirement. They also criticize that men own more than 85% of land in Cameroon and will sell it only to other men or hand it over only to their sons. In hopes of changing long-established practices, organizers of Fridays rally invited several hundred men, including traditional rulers who impose what the women describe as inhumane treatment on widows. Some of the practices include forcing women to sleep with the corpses of their late husbands and drink water used in bathing the bodies as a sign they did not kill their spouse. Ernest Akuofou, an adviser to the traditional rulers of Ndop in Cameroons North-West region, said after listening to the demonstrators that he is convinced women should be given the same opportunities as men. "In my village community it is just recently that women have been admitted to the level of notability. Why is it only now? Even as they are admitted at that level, the treatment given to them is not commensurate, Akuofou said. That is why men are using the stereotypes on them: 'Why do you go to talk politics [when] you are supposed to be in my kitchen?' he said. Those are the stereotypes; those are the things which push women to the background." Marie-Therese Abena Ondoa, Cameroonian minister of Womens Empowerment and Family, said President Paul Biya is committed to improving the conditions of women. She said the appointment of more women as managers of state corporations and directors of administrative offices shows there is a political will to end prejudices and involve women in decision making. "Many of them [women] do not know their rights, Ondoa said. If they want to progress, they must have the will, and I think the government is doing a lot to allow women to really emerge. Women have proven that they can be in all domains, but we still need to do more to see that all those who enter primary education are not dropped out. Ondoa noted that Cameroon currently has over 60 women in the country's 180-member National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, and about 50 women who are mayors of towns and cities. Somalia and Turkey have announced the signing of a deal to explore for oil and gas that further strengthens cooperation between the two countries, according to officials from both countries. Under the agreement signed Thursday in Turkey, the deal is to promote the development of bilateral, scientific, technical and commercial cooperation between Turkey and Somalia in developing the oil and gas of Somalia, according to Somali Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Abdirizak Mohamed. Mohamed said Turkey will explore for oil and gas in Somalia, both onshore and offshore. "The Turkish will do the exploration, appraisal and development and production of petroleum from onshore and offshore blocks of the Federal Republic of Somalia as well as distribution, and maybe a refinery sale of petroleum and its product and service operations related to these projects," Mohamed told VOA Somali. "So, it's very comprehensive though we haven't signed the PSA [production-sharing agreement] yet." Mohamed said the deal is one of the protocols of the Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement reached by the two countries last month. Under that agreement, which will last for 10 years, Turkey will build, train and equip the Somali navy, according to Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre. Mohamed said a follow-up agreement will contain details of the production-sharing agreement, as well as the timeline for the deal. Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar also welcomed the agreement. "We signed an intergovernmental agreement and memorandum of understanding with Mr. Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Somalia, to enhance our cooperation in the field of oil and natural gas in Somalia's onshore and offshore blocks," he posted on X. formerly known as Twitter. "With this agreement, we will carry out joint activities to bring the resources of Somalia to the Somali people. We aim to strengthen Turkey's presence in the Horn of Africa with new collaborations in the field of energy." Turkey has been a major partner of Somalia since 2011 when then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Somalia at the height of a deadly famine. Since then, Turkey has been helping Somalia with humanitarian assistance and budgetary support. In September 2017, Turkey opened a large military facility to train Somali security forces. The newest group graduated from the facility Thursday. "Turkey is one of our allies, it's one of our friends, they have been in Somalia at a time when every other country has neglected and has not given any support," Mohamed said. "So this agreement only deepens and enhances the deep relationship between the two countries." The United Nations warned Afghanistans Taliban authorities Friday that their bans on womens education and work risk pushing the country further into deeper poverty and international isolation. The head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, called again on the fundamentalist regime to reverse the restrictions as the world marked International Womens Day to highlight the need to invest in women. It is heartbreaking that we are seeing precisely the opposite unfolding in Afghanistan: a catastrophic and deliberate disinvestment that is causing immense harm to women and girls, creating only barriers to sustainable peace and prosperity, said Roza Otunbayeva. Since reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban have blocked girls from accessing secondary school education and beyond. They have limited womens freedom of movement outside the home and prohibited most from public and private sector workplaces, including the United Nations and other aid groups. The U.N. Development Program, or UNDP, reported Thursday that nearly 70% of Afghans do not have enough basic resources, and restrictions on women continue to thwart basic rights and economic progress. It said the Afghan economy had contracted by 27%, and unemployment doubled since the Taliban takoever. The biggest challenge is the continued edict that bans girls education. Not being able to move forward after the sixth grade is a major stumbling block, said Kanni Wignaraja, UNDPs director for Asia and the Pacific, told reporters in New York. Last year, no girl graduated the twelfth grade so how are they going to jump from sixth grade to moving into technical colleges or universities need for the medical field? said Wignaraja, who recently returned from a visit to Afghanistan. The ban on female aid workers has undermined relief activities in a country where the U.N. estimates more than 12 million women will need humanitarian assistance this year. In a statement Friday, UNAMA said it also fears a recent crackdown by the de facto authorities because of alleged non-compliance with the Islamic dress code is pushing women into even greater isolation due to fear of arbitrary arrest. The U.N. refers to the Taliban as de facto authorities because no foreign government has formally recognized their government in Kabul. However, the euphemism has upset human rights groups and many women in Afghanistan, who are vehemently opposed to granting legitimacy to the Taliban government until it lifts all bans on women. Heather Barr, the associate director at Human Rights Watch, urged diplomats, the UN, and aid workers on Friday to stop referring to the Taliban as the de facto authorities to show solidarity with Afghan women. This euphemism kowtows to Taliban demands for normalization, Barr said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Rights groups oppose any recognition of the Taliban and accuse it of implementing gender apartheid policies. Every step toward normalizing the Talibanevery time they walk a red carpet, or send a new ambassador, or host a meeting w/smiling foreignerssends a message to the Taliban that what theyre doing to women & girls is fine and they are free to carry on, she wrote in a subsequent X post. The U.N. acknowledged in a quarterly report Wednesday that the Taliban had consolidated political, security, and economic gains since taking power. However, it noted that Afghan de facto authorities appear to be facing growing internal disagreements over key governance issues, including the enforcement of the drug ban. The report did not elaborate further, but Otunbayeva suggested after briefing a U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday that curbs on Afghan women were among the issues causing internal Taliban disagreements. There is a part of the [Taliban] government who understand that they should overcome [these restrictions]. But someone else ... decided that no, women and girls should be behind the scene, she said, without naming anyone. Most of the religious edicts or decrees the reclusive Taliban supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has issued over the past 2 years have targeted women directly, banning their rights to education, work, to visit public places, including parks and gyms, as well as preventing them from taking road trips without a male chaperone. Akhundzada, who directs the government from the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, defends his policies and dismisses international calls to reverse them as interference in Afghanistans internal matters. The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution Friday calling for a Ramadan cease-fire in Sudan, where the U.N. secretary-general warned this week that the humanitarian crisis has reached "colossal proportions." "With the adoption of this resolution, the council has sent a strong and clear message to Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to agree an immediate cessation of hostilities during the month of Ramadan," said British Deputy Ambassador James Kariuki, whose delegation drafted the text. The Muslim holy month starts early next week and lasts about 30 days. "This follows the call of the secretary-general and the African Union," Kariuki said. "We urge the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to act on this united international call for peace and to silence the guns." The U.S. envoy Robert Wood condemned atrocities committed by both sides in the nearly year-old war. "This tragedy has gone on too long," he said. "We must unite to prevent and stop the flow of weapons that is fueling this conflict." The resolution, adopted by a vote of 14 council members in favor, none against and Russia abstaining, calls for "an immediate cessation of hostilities during the month of Ramadan, and for all parties to the conflict to seek a sustainable resolution to the conflict through dialogue." It also calls on them to remove any obstructions to the distribution of humanitarian aid. It was not immediately clear whether the parties to the conflict would heed the cease-fire call. A day earlier, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for a Ramadan cease-fire, saying it is time for rival generals there to lay down their weapons. "This cessation of hostilities must lead to a definitive silencing of the guns across the country and set out a firm path towards lasting peace for the Sudanese people," Guterres said. Fighting erupted in April of last year between the forces of Sudan's army chief, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The two generals were once allies in Sudan's transitional government after a 2021 coup but became rivals for power. The ensuing power struggle has led to thousands of deaths, a massive displacement crisis and large-scale atrocities, particularly against non-Arab communities in the country's Darfur region. Hunger is also reaching catastrophic levels, and the U.N. has received reports of children dying from malnutrition. Humanitarian catastrophe Humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told reporters Friday that a pause in fighting would be welcome. "If that goes through and if it is observed by both sides, I can assure you we will be piling in the aid pre-positioning [aid], repairing institutions, getting children out to safety, and so forth." The humanitarian operation is woefully underfunded. The U.N. has appealed for $2.7 billion for Sudan this year, and Griffiths said it is only 4% funded. The U.N. says about 25 million people half of Sudan's population need some form of humanitarian assistance. Of them, 18 million face acute food insecurity 10 million more than a year ago. "Ten million Sudanese have become food insecure because of this conflict that should never have started," Griffiths said. Sudan is now home to the world's largest internal displacement crisis, with 6.3 million people forced from their homes in search of safety. Another 1.7 million have fled to neighboring countries. More than 70% of health facilities in areas where there is fighting have stopped functioning. Omantel, a leading provider of integrated telecommunications services in the Sultanate of Oman, has signed a strategic agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to create sovereign cloud capabilities for Oman, a report said. The goal of the strategic relationship is to address data residency and security requirements, especially for government entities and regulated industries in Oman, Times Of Oman said. Omantel will collaborate with AWS to build a Cloud Center of Excellence (CCoE) to provide training, enablement, and support to help Omani organisations successfully migrate to the cloud. Additionally, AWS will be a preferred cloud provider for Omantel as it pursues its digital transformation ambitions. The strategic agreement will empower Omantel to implement sovereign cloud capabilities such as access controls, guardrails and encryption that can help meet Oman's digital sovereignty requirements. Omantel will leverage the power of AWS to securely store data in the cloud, manage access controls and implement security best practices. The first outcome of the agreement is the ongoing collaboration to build Omantel's Digital Marketplace and Super App, and in developing generative artificial intelligence (AI) use cases to deliver enhanced customer experience and improved telecom operations. "At Omantel, we are committed to leading Oman's digital transformation journey and empowering organisations to unlock innovation," said Talal Al Mamari, CEO at Omantel. "Our work with AWS is a step towards achieving digital sovereignty and implementing cloud solutions tailored to Oman's specific requirements. We look forward to our continued collaboration, leveraging AWS to deliver the most innovative and secure services for our customers." Bernard Najm, Vice President, Telco MEA at AWS, said: "Together, we will support Omantel's cloud-first approach and equip Omani organisations with advanced cloud technologies that accelerate innovation and address data security, privacy, and regulatory requirements." The establishment of the CCoEand sovereign cloud capabilities will accelerate Omans strategic vision for digital transformation, and enable both public and private sector organisations to innovate faster and serve customers more effectively using cloud-enabled services, a statement said. The United States is planning an emergency military mission in cooperation with other allies to establish a temporary port on the Mediterranean coast of Gaza for the entry of humanitarian aid by sea, according to senior government officials, who said Thursday that Washington has worked very closely with Israel in the development of the initiative. The formal announcement came during President Joe Bidens State of the Union address to both houses of Congress. Israel fully supports the U.S. initiative, according to a senior official quoted by Reuters. The port will be able to accommodate large ships with cargoes of water, food, and medicine and structures to provide shelter for Gazans displaced by the war. The main facility will be a temporary dock that will unload the equivalent of hundreds of additional truckloads of aid per day. Initially, the shipments will come from the port of Larnaca on the island of Cyprus, the European Union country closest to Gaza at around 210 nautical miles (about 380 kilometers). The senior officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not provide details on how the ports pier will be constructed. They did say that U.S. soldiers will not need to be deployed on Gazan soil, in keeping with one of Bidens strongest pledges since the conflict began. It will consist of structures built over the sea. One of the senior officials clarified that the U.S. has unique capabilities that allow it to erect this type of platform. The planning and execution of the project will require several weeks, between 45 and 60 days approximately. In past conflicts in which U.S. forces have needed to build a bridgehead, they have erected such a structure further out to sea, from their ships, and then brought it close to shore. Official Israeli sources quoted by the public television channel Kan confirmed that the measure had been coordinated with the countrys authorities, but also admitted that it was partly due to Washingtons dissatisfaction with the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza and mistrust of Israels willingness to allow for increased flows. Senior officials in Washington have pointed out that they have been working with Israel for months to establish this mechanism. The challenges are huge. Not only is there the logistical problems of building the port itself and getting the aid in. There is also the question of how to distribute it in a narrow strip of land where transport is complicated and the needs of the population are extreme. The European Commissioner for Crisis Management and Humanitarian Aid, Janez Lenarcic, admitted Wednesday at a press conference in Jerusalem that, in addition to a port in Gaza, a structure would be needed to ensure the orderly reception and distribution of aid on arrival. The scenes that we have seen, of crowds of hungry people running towards the parachutes coming ashore, is not the right way to handle, receive and distribute it, he said. Biden made the announcement a day after the EU said it is considering setting up a maritime humanitarian corridor to bring aid to Gaza, where some 500,000 people are on the brink of starvation and malnutrition rates among children have risen to almost 16% since the war broke out, according to the UN World Health Organization, which denounced Tuesday that the deteriorating nutritional status of the Strips population after five months of war is unprecedented globally. The maritime option is the only means left in the face of the problems affecting land and air delivery. Israeli obstacles, the lack of means of distribution and the chaos prevailing around convoys have reduced deliveries by road to half of what they were in December and January, when they were already insufficient to tackle the humanitarian crisis. Both hungry citizens and black marketeers are raiding convoys. Israeli ultranationalist groups are also trying to prevent aid from entering, in a stance approved by the majority of the population, who believe that it benefits Hamas or should be used to force the hostages to be handed over, according to polls. Airdrops as several countries, such as Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, France, and the United States have been carrying out in recent weeks are a meager stopgap solution as the quantities parachuted in are small. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will travel to Cyprus Friday to study the maritime project, which has gained momentum following the deaths of more than 100 Gazans last week some of whom were shot by Israeli soldiers when they chased an aid convoy. The images of the wounded, the desperation and the bloodstained food have heightened international concern about the humanitarian crisis, caused mainly by Israels decision to use famine as a weapon of war. The U.S. maintains that it continues to press Israel to increase the inflow of aid by land. The president has instructed that we look at all options and not wait for the Israelis. We are looking for every possible channel to send assistance to Gaza. We will do it by air, by sea, by land, however we can, to get as much aid in as possible, one of the sources said. Senior officials have indicated that Israel is preparing to open a new access point, directly to the north of Gaza (the most malnourished area), which will allow aid to flow directly to the people in the north who are in desperate need of assistance. It was at our request, they note. Commissioner Lenarcic reported that he had detected openness in his Israeli interlocutors to the idea of providing a new access route for aid. The new port would form a key piece of the Gaza scenario that the United States is preparing with Qatar and Egypt for temporary ceasefire of at least six weeks between Israel and Hamas. A fresh truce would allow for increased and improved distribution of humanitarian assistance, and even the return to the north of displaced Gazans, despite most of their homes having been damaged or destroyed, as Hamas indicated during negotiations in Cairo that reached an impasse Thursday and will not resume until Sunday. Everything we are doing, including this new mission, is important to establish the conditions in Gaza so that people can eventually return to their places of residence, said one of the U.S. representatives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Thursday that whether or not the truce goes ahead, the army will invade Rafah, where over a million displaced Palestinians are concentrated. The IDF will continue to operate against all of Hamass battalions throughout the Strip and this includes Rafah, Hamass last stronghold. Whoever tells us not to operate in Rafah, is telling us to lose the war and that will not happen, he said at a military graduation ceremony. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition An Army soldier has been arrested on accusations of selling sensitive information related to U.S. military capabilities, Justice Department officials said Thursday. Sgt. Korbein Schultz, who is also an intelligence analyst, was accused in a six-count indictment of charges including conspiring to obtain and disclose military defense information and bribery of a public official. The 24-year-old was arrested at Fort Campbell, which straddles the Tennessee-Kentucky border, shortly after the indictment was released Thursday. "The men and women of the United States Armed Forces dedicate their lives to maintain our national security," Henry C. Leventis, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, told reporters. "Our laws protecting national defense information are critical to that mission, and they must be enforced. Illegal dissemination of national defense information puts our country, our fellow citizens, members of our military and our allies at risk." According to the indictment, Schultz who had a top-secret security clearance allegedly had conspired with an individual identified only as "Conspirator A" to disclose various documents, photographs and other national defense materials since June 2022. The indictment said Schultz was recruited by the individual not only because of his security clearance but also because he was tasked with gathering sensitive U.S. military information. Some of the information that Schultz is alleged to have given to the individual included information related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, hypersonic equipment, studies on future developments of U.S. military forces, and studies on military drills and operations in major countries like China. Lessons from Ukraine war The indictment outlines that Schultz was initially asked to provide documents detailing lessons that could be learned from Russia's war with Ukraine and how those lessons could be applied to the U.S. helping Taiwan in the event of an attack. Schultz was paid $200 for that information, which then prompted Conspirator A, to ask for a "long-term partnership." Conspirator A, who was described in the indictment as a foreign national purporting to reside in Hong Kong, later suggested that Schultz could earn more money if he handed over "internal only" material rather than unclassified documents. In total, Schultz received at least 14 payments totaling $42,000. "The defendant and his co-conspirator also discussed recruiting another member of the U.S. military to join their conspiracy and to provide additional national defense information in order to conceal their illegal conduct," Leventis said. Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ruth Castro said in a statement that Schultz has been in the Army since November 2018 and his hometown is Wills Point, Texas. Schultz was previously assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, and was deployed once to Eastern Europe, according to Lt. Col. Tony Hoefler, a spokesperson for Fort Campbell. The case is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions of current or former military members accused of illegally disclosing sensitive government secrets. In April 2023, Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was charged with leaking highly classified military documents about Russia's war in Ukraine on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. He pleaded guilty on Monday in a deal with prosecutors that calls for him to serve at least 11 years in prison. In August, two U.S. Navy sailors were charged with providing sensitive military information to China including details on wartime exercises, naval operations and critical technical material. And more recently, the Justice Department announced charges this week against a civilian Air Force employee and retired Army lieutenant colonel for allegedly sharing classified information about the war in with Ukraine on a foreign dating site. The United States and China have agreed to extend a science and technology agreement for another six months, the U.S. State Department said Thursday. The Department of State on behalf of the U.S. government is negotiating to amend, extend and strengthen protections within the U.S.-PRC Science and Technology Agreement (STA). In February 2024, the United States and PRC agreed to an additional short-term six-month extension of the U.S.-PRC STA, a spokesperson told VOA. The short-term six-month extension keeps the agreement in force while we continue negotiations, the spokesperson added. U.S. officials have said the STA provides consistent standards for government-to-government scientific cooperation between the U.S. and China. While the agreement supports scientific collaboration in areas that benefit the United States, U.S. officials acknowledge the challenges posed by China's national science and technology strategies and its domestic legal framework. Critics, including U.S. lawmakers, point out Chinas restrictions on data and a lack of transparency in sharing scientific findings. Washington is also concerned about Beijing's potential military application of shared research. The STA was originally signed in 1979 by then-U.S. President Jimmy Carter and then-PRC leader Deng Xiaoping. The agreement has been renewed about every five years since its inception, with the most recent 5-year extension occurring in 2018. Last August, it received a 6-month extension as officials from the two countries undertook negotiations to amend and strengthen the terms. Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted on Friday in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tons of cocaine to make it unhindered into the United States. The jury returned its verdict at a federal court after a two-week trial that has been closely followed in his home country. Hernandez, 55, served two terms as the leader of the Central American nation of roughly 10 million people. He was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the U.S. in April of that year. U.S. prosecutors accused Hernandez of working with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, saying he took millions of dollars in bribes as he rose from rural congressman to president of the National Congress and then to the country's highest office. Hernandez acknowledged in trial testimony that drug money was paid to virtually all political parties in Honduras, but he denied accepting bribes himself. He noted that he had visited the White House and met U.S. presidents as he cast himself as a champion in the war on drugs who worked with the U.S. to curb the flow of drugs to the U.S. In one instance, he said, he was warned by the FBI that a drug cartel wanted to assassinate him. He said his accusers fabricated their claims about him in bids for leniency for their crimes. "They all have motivation to lie, and they are professional liars," Hernandez said. But the prosecution mocked Hernandez for seemingly claiming to be the only honest politician in Honduras. During closing arguments Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gutwillig told the jury that the corrupt Hernandez "paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States." Defense attorney Renato Stabile said his client "has been wrongfully charged" as he urged an acquittal. Trial witnesses included traffickers who admitted responsibility for dozens of murders and said Hernandez was an enthusiastic protector of some of the world's most powerful cocaine dealers, including notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who is serving a life prison term in the U.S. Hernandez, wearing a suit throughout the trial, was mostly dispassionate as he testified through an interpreter, repeatedly saying "no sir" as he was asked if he ever paid bribes or promised to protect traffickers from extradition to the U.S. His brother Juan Antonio "Tony" Hernandez, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in 2021 in Manhattan federal court for his own conviction on drug charges. The United States is looking to Korean and Japanese shipbuilders to help revive its dormant naval shipyards and boost maritime competitiveness in the face of China's accelerated naval buildup. U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro toured shipyards in South Korea operated by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan and Hanwha Ocean on Geoje Island last week. He encouraged top executives of the companies to establish subsidiaries and "invest" resources in integrating commercial and naval shipbuilding facilities in the U.S., said a statement by the Navy. During a speech at Harvard University in September, Del Toro called for "new maritime statecraft" to prevail in an era of intense strategic competition. South Korean shipbuilding is "an asset" to the U.S. "as China continues to aggressively pursue worldwide shipbuilding dominance," said the Navy statement issued during Del Toro's East Asia visit. "In addition to our currently active shipyards," it added, "there are numerous former shipyard sites around the country which are largely intact and dormant." Del Toro said during the tour that these are ready to be redeveloped to produce military and commercial ships. Yokohama shipyard Following his visit to South Korea last week, Del Toro traveled to Japan, where he toured Mitsubishi's shipyard in Yokohama and discussed efforts to revive the U.S. maritime industry with leading shipbuilding executives, said the Navy in a separate statement. Matthew Funaiole, senior fellow for the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said these meetings "underscore a strategic effort by the U.S. to bolster alliance and enhance technological and industrial cooperation" with its allies. "China may be the world's largest shipbuilder, but South Korea and Japan are number two and three, respectively," continued Funaiole via email on Tuesday. China has the largest number of naval vessels in the world, having overtaken the U.S. Navy in 2014. According to a Pentagon report published in October, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China has more than 370 battle force ships compared with the U.S. Navy's 292. The Pentagon report also said that China's navy is expected to have 395 ships by 2025 and 435 by 2030. According to the U.S. Naval Institute, China commands almost 50% of the global shipbuilding market, with South Korea and Japan following at nearly 30% and 17%, respectively. US capacity is only 0.13 percent. "It is clear that the United States is having trouble producing ships both surface ships and submarines at numbers and costs that can keep up with China's naval modernization," said Zack Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a former Defense Department official during the George W. Bush administration. "One way to address this shortfall is to work more closely with allies and partners to try and field more vessels or to offload some of the maintenance responsibilities to other players," he told VOA via email on Wednesday. Protection against competition But, Cooper said, the opportunities for collaboration "have to be balanced" against the opposition by U.S. shipbuilders that are protected from foreign competitors by the Jones Act. That act, passed in 1920 in response to German U-boat attacks during World War I that crippled the U.S. Merchant Marine, requires that any vessel carrying goods between two U.S. points be built, owned and crewed by Americans and registered in the U.S. Terence Roehrig, a professor of national security at the Naval War College, said the U.S. faces a lack of "shipbuilding capacity that can crank out the needed number of vessels at a cost that can be sustained." He continued via email on Tuesday: "It will be difficult for the U.S. to match the size of the PLAN but the United States retains advantages in technology and weapons systems along with certain classes of ships including aircraft carriers and submarines." Roehrig added that South Korean and Japanese investment could help the U.S. increase its capacity to keep up with China. The U.S. Navy currently operates public shipyards in Norfolk, Virginia; Portsmouth, Maine; Puget Sound, Washington; and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Seven public shipyards closed from the 1960s to 1990s. Seven shipyards owned by four contractors in the U.S. build warships for the Navy while China operates more than 20 shipyards to support naval shipbuilding, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. Funaiole said: "The gap in shipbuilding capabilities can be attributed to several factors, including China's focused efforts on accelerating military modernization through dual-use applications, strategic prioritization of naval expansion to assert its maritime interests, and effective utilization of its commercial industrial capacity." He continued that the U.S. should warn its international partners about engaging with Chinese commercial shipbuilders. "These entities often bolster China's military through its Military-Civil Fusion strategy," which aims to eliminate barriers among commercial, scientific and military sectors to enhance its defense. As attacks by Iran-backed Houthis continue in the Red Sea, the commander in charge of U.S. military operations in the Middle East says the U.S. needs to stop Iran from providing the militants with weapons. "The most important thing is to deny their ability to resupply from Iran. The Houthis are not building. They're putting it all together and assembling, but they don't create inertial navigation systems. They don't create medium-range ballistic missile engines," Gen. Erik Kurilla, the chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. The U.S. and British militaries have launched multiple combined operations against weapons facilities, radars and launch sites in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The U.S. has also continued near-daily strikes to take out weapons that were prepared to launch and shoot down incoming Houthi weapons, including strikes late Wednesday against two Houthi drones. An anti-ship ballistic missile launched earlier Wednesday from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen killed three crew members of the Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden, CENTCOM said in a statement. It was the first fatal strike by Iran-backed Houthi militants since the onslaught on international shipping lanes began in mid-November. More than a dozen commercial ships have been impacted by Houthi drones or missiles during that time. Those vessels have included an aid ship with grain bound for Yemen and at least one ship with cargo bound for Iran. One vessel carrying fertilizer, the MV Rubymar, sank over the weekend after is was damaged in a Houthi attack last month. On Tuesday, the Houthis targeted the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Carney, which shot down bomb-carrying drones and one anti-ship ballistic missile, according to CENTCOM. Some senators on Wednesday expressed a desire for more forceful action against Iran, the Houthis supplier of weapons, funding and intelligence needed to attack vessels. "Why are we not sinking those Iranian ships if theres an Iranian spy ship providing targeting information," asked Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska. Gen. Kurilla said that deterring Iran requires a "whole of government" effort. Last month, the United States carried out a cyberattack against two Iranian military ships. A U.S. official who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity to discuss covert operations said the Iranian spy ship MV Behshad was one of the targeted ships. It had been collecting intelligence on vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis have said their attacks against international shipping lanes are carried out in solidarity with Hamas. Hamas terrorists launched a brutal attack that killed hundreds of Israelis on October 7. Israel responded with an operation to root out Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an ongoing operation that has killed thousands. Close calls Shortly after the attack, Iranian proxies in Iraq and Syria began a series of attacks against U.S. forces in the region. After more than 170 attacks that left dozens of service members injured, the militants flew a drone into Tower 22 air base in Jordan, killing three American service members and injuring dozens more. Kurilla revealed on Thursday that U.S. forces had "several" close calls before the deadly Tower 22 attack, and that he had balanced the U.S. response options that he provided to the president against escalating the conflict. Asked by Senator Roger Wicker, the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, whether the militias in Iraq and Syria could have killed U.S. troops prior to the deaths in Jordan with "a little bit of extra luck," Kurilla replied, "That is correct." "There were several incidents where UAVs (unidentified aerial vehicles) coming into a base hit another object, got caught up in netting, or other incidents where had they hit the appropriate target that they were targeting, it would have injured or killed service members," he said. VOA previously reported on one of these incidents that occurred in late October. A drone crashed into a barracks housing U.S. services members but failed to detonate, likely saving several lives, according to defense officials. Threat from Afghanistan As a result of the attacks on U.S. service members in the region and international shipping lanes, Kurilla said that the U.S. has had to divert intelligence and reconnaissance assets from Afghanistan to Iraq, Syria and Yemen. He warned that the risk of an attack by violent extremists in Afghanistan on American and Western interests abroad is increasing, saying that Islamic State-Khorasan Province affiliates in Afghanistan and Syria "retain the capability and will to attack U.S. and Western interests abroad in as little as six months and with little to no warning." The general said such an attack would be more likely in Europe, as it would take "substantially more resources" to hit the U.S. at home. U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. A pair of American aviators are helping Ukrainian fighter jet and helicopter pilots get some vital equipment. The gear is being donated by American and European pilots. Mariia Prus has the story. Turkey is ready to host a peace summit on the war in Ukraine that both Ukraine and Russia would attend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Friday after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul. "We are giving our utmost contribution for the war to end on the basis of negotiations, Erdogan said, adding he reiterated Ankara's support for Ukraine's sovereignty. Throughout the two-year war between Russia and Ukraine, Turkey, a NATO member, has sought to maintain good diplomatic relations with both countries and is expected to urge peace negotiations between the two foes. Ankara "will once again emphasize that our strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, including Crimea, continues," a Turkish diplomatic source told Agence France-Presse. Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged Ukraine and Russia to begin cease-fire talks after meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and added that such talks must not mean the recognition of Russia's occupation. As part of its balancing act between Ukraine and Russia, Ankara has offered to host peace talks while keeping up its defense industry ties with Ukraine and deepening its energy cooperation with Russia. Additionally, it has inked an accord to take part in the postwar reconstruction of Ukraine. Swiss summit After talks with Erdogan in Istanbul, Zelenskyy said a Russian representative could be invited to future negotiations after a road map toward peace is agreed upon with Ukrainian allies at a meeting in Switzerland. He said Russia would not be invited to the summit in Switzerland, due to be held in the coming months. We don't see how you can invite people who block, destroy and kill everything, he said. Zelenskyy and Erdogan discussed developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, shipping security in the Black Sea, the defense industry cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey, and the expired Black Sea grain deal. Ankara which shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea has sought to persuade Russia to return to the grain deal that allowed Ukraine to safely export grain from its Black Sea ports. Russia has said it is not interested in reviving it. Last July, Russia exited the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by the U.N. and Turkey, saying its demands for better terms for its own food and fertilizer exports were being ignored. Zelenskyy called the talks with his Turkish counterpart sincere and fruitful. Today we have reached agreements on joint defense projects both at the government level and between companies, he wrote on the social media platform X. He also expressed his gratitude for Erdogans diplomatic mediation to release Ukrainian citizens from Russian captivity, including Crimean Tatars, who have been repressed by Russia in Ukraine's occupied territories and are being held in Russian prisons and camps under extremely harsh and inhumane conditions. Zelenskyys visit to Turkey came as Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced Friday at a government meeting that Kyiv expected to receive about $4.5 billion in March and another $1.5 billion in April from the European Union. Kyiv continues to press allies for more munitions and weaponry to stem the advance of Russian troops into the Ukraine-held western part of the Donetsk region and also to keep Russia from penetrating the Kharkiv region north of it. Zelenskyys trip to Turkey came before a planned visit there by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which the Kremlin has said will take place after Russian elections on March 15-17. Charges of torture Russian armed forces and associated groups systematically use torture in occupied areas of Ukraine, a U.N. expert said Friday, according to Agence France-Presse. Alice Jill Edwards, the U.N. special rapporteur on torture, said she had come to that conclusion after a visit to Ukraine in September. She said her findings pointed to "a deliberate policy" on the part of the Russians. "The volume of credible allegations of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or humiliating treatment or punishment [indicate that] torture is an element of Russia's war policy," she told the U.N. Human Rights Council. "These grievous crimes appear to be neither random nor incidental. Speaking to reporters, Edwards said Ukrainian prosecutors had told her there were about 103,000 open cases related to war crimes and crimes against humanity, 90% of which were registered as torture cases. Addressing conditions faced by Russian prisoners of war in Ukrainian custody, she said "sincere efforts were being made by the Ukrainian authorities to treat POWs respectfully." Her report raised concerns about conditions in one penal facility in Lviv, however, where Ukrainian nationals charged with collaborating with the Russians were being held, saying she had received "several allegations of abusive treatment by Ukrainian officials," mainly in connection with the capture, arrest and transit of prisoners. "I call on the Ukrainian authorities to investigate such allegations promptly, to reinforce training and disciplinary and other preventive measures, and to guarantee the protection of all legal rights of all complainants and detainees," she said. Some information for this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. By Anita Powell Republicans chose one of their youngest senators, Katie Britt of Alabama, to deliver the partys scathing response to President Joe Bidens State of the Union address and deliver she did, using her 15 minutes on the national stage to energetically call Biden a dithering and diminished leader while stoking fears about his policies on immigration and criticizing his handling of the economy, justice and foreign affairs. He is making us a punchline on the world stage, said Britt, who delivered her pre-recorded address from what looked like a home kitchen. The country we know and love seems to be slipping away, the 42-year-old mother of two said. It feels like the next generation will have fewer opportunities and less freedom than we did. I worry my own children may not even get a shot at living their American Dreams. In an unusual move, three prominent Republicans issued what some called pre-buttals ahead of Bidens address. In just three years, President Bidens policies have rapidly accelerated American decline on every issue from the economy to national security and foreign policy, said House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday morning. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke from the Senate floor and criticized Bidens foreign policy, economic decisions, and left-wing positions. Ill be glad for the nation to hear directly from the youngest Republican woman ever elected to the Senate and one of our conferences brightest stars, he said. And Bidens top challenger, Donald Trump, described his opponent as feeble and said Its time to tell Crooked Joe Biden, YOURE FIRED. Foreign policy Britt slammed Bidens foreign policy record, citing actions like the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and the administrations failed attempt to resurrect a nuclear arms control agreement with Iran. This president has demonstrated that Americas word doesnt mean what it used to, she said. She was among the 29 senators who voted against Bidens supplemental request for more aid for Ukraine and Israel, although she has previously expressed strong support for Israel. On immigration, Britt blamed Biden for the challenges posed by the current numbers of migrants at the southern U.S. border, calling the situation despicable and almost entirely preventable. She cited the recent killing of a 22-year-old Georgia woman, Laken Riley. A Venezuelan national who entered the U.S. illegally and then released on parole is charged with her killing. Mr. President, enough is enough, Britt said. Innocent Americans are dying and you only have yourself to blame. Economy She was also scathing on Bidens economic record. Hardworking families are struggling to make ends meet today. And with soaring mortgage rates and sky-high child care costs, theyre also struggling to plan for tomorrow. The American people are scraping by while the president proudly proclaims Bidenomics is working! Goodness, yall, she said, before uttering three words, that, in the American South, mean precisely the opposite sentiment: Bless his heart. Reproductive rights Britts address comes shortly after Alabamas top court ruled that frozen embryos are children. The ruling raised concerns over the legality of treatments like in vitro fertilization in the state. She did not address the wider issue of abortion access but spoke against the Alabama court ruling. We want families to grow, she said. Its why we strongly support continued nationwide access to in vitro fertilization. Dithering and diminished And Britt whose 2022 campaign slogan was Alabama First also took aim at Bidens age. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader, she said. The reaction to Britts response on social media mostly centered on criticisms of her spirited delivery, with many on X, formally known as Twitter, suggesting that her performance was over-the-top. Michael Steele, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee who has since been critical of the party, tweeted: Well, that Katie Britt experience was experiential. Mqondisi Dube GABORONE, BOTSWANA Botswana, which supported calls for the removal of targeted sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, has described the United States' move to partially lift the restrictions as encouraging. Botswanas President Mokgweetsi Masisi, addressing the media in Gaborone Wednesday, said there is need for further dialogue between Zimbabwe and the United States to enable the complete removal of the sanctions. "It's very, very encouraging that finally some of our calls have been responded to in ways that will help Botswana when those are done and to promote dialogue on aspects the Americans deem offensive with Zimbabwe," said Masisi. "We want to encourage both parties to meet over what else remains to be resolved in order for a country not to be sanctioned. But Zimbabwe-based political analyst Reason Ngwenya says dialogue over the complete removal of the restrictions can only be possible if Harare meets Washingtons conditions. If there is to be unconditional lifting of sanctions, it means there has to be unconditional governance in this country," Ngwenya said. "We dont want corruption, we dont want the opposition to be harassed, we want a free media. Until all these things have been removed, I dont think it is possible that the Americans will want to sit down and negotiate anything. We should all be fair. We are unhappy with this situation, but our government should do its part. The United States placed sanctions on certain Zimbabwean officials and companies starting in 2003 for alleged election rigging and human rights violations by the government of then-President Robert Mugabe. Although the U.S. lifted many of the restrictions this week, current President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his wife and some senior government officials remain sanctioned. Washington cites human rights abuses and corruption for extending the restrictions. Moeti Mohwasa, spokesperson for Botswanas main opposition coalition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change, or UDC, says removal of the sanctions is only fair. We believe this is a welcome development because the biggest victims were the ordinary citizens who had to endure economic hardships arising from sanctions and grapple with atrocities and abuses visited upon them by the regime," Mohwasa aid. "We all know the people behind political and economic abuse in Zimbabwe. The U.S. should not have skirted around the Zimbabwean situation. It was very unfair to have the Zimbabwean ordinary people suffer double jeopardy. The Zimbabwean government says the sanctions were baseless, maligned the country and left its leaders without due process. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says remaining restrictions imposed on President Mnangagwa and other officials are part of a stronger and more narrowly targeted sanctions policy. Columbus Mavhunga HARARE, ZIMBABWE Zimbabwes government criticized the modification of U.S. sanctions this week that renew measures against President Emmerson Mnangagwa and some senior leaders while removing others from the list. U.S. Embassy officials said the new sanctions aim to improve Zimbabwes human rights record and reduce corruption. Zimbabwe Information Minister Jenfan Muswere on Wednesday condemned the United States and called for an immediate and unconditional removal of what he called illegal sanctions. Government of Zimbabwe would like to dismiss any suggestions that this is a new development between Harare and Washington, he said, noting that Mnangagwa has long been under U.S. sanctions. To this end, the government of Zimbabwe condemns the perpetuation of the heinous sanctions against Zimbabwe and their intended effect to decimate our economy, Muswere said. Consequently, we do not celebrate the current delisting of other key players. ... Zimbabwe was never supposed to be under any form of sanctions from another nation in the first place. U.S. Embassy Charge dAffaires Laurence Socha on Wednesday said the Biden administration was committed to ensuring the sanctions are relevant, timely and targeting those closely connected to corruption and serious human rights abuses, including Mnangagwa. In Zimbabwe we continue to witness gross abuses of political, economic and human rights, Socha said. The targeting of civil society and severe restrictions on political activity have stifled fundamental freedoms, while key actors, including government leaders, have siphoned off government resources for personal gains. U. S. sanctions are not on the country of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwes government blames sanctions for the countrys economic struggles since the early 2000s. Critics attribute the decline to corruption and bad policies by Harare. Marvellous Kumalo, spokesperson for the rights group Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe, said, We have never invited sanctions or celebrated their existence. We are happy now because the Harare administration has always blamed sanctions whenever they failed to deliver in terms of social-economic goods. So now we will keep them in check and see whether they will deliver. He continued, We urge Zimbabwes government to revise their human rights record, their public corruption, issues to do with reforms. We will be happier if they institute reforms that make Zimbabwe a better country. Obert Masaraure, president of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, said he hopes the new measures announced by Washington will do more than improve the economic picture. Zimbabwe keeps sliding back with respect to issues of human rights, democracy, holding credible elections, he said. We have also seen massive looting of our mineral wealth. All this has led to serious poverty among our people. Teachers are also affected; earning below the poverty datum line. That is why at least 4,000 are leaving the country annually to seek greener pastures. So, we hope that this [new] sanction regime can apply pressure on Harare so that it reforms and creates a governance architecture that carries the hopes and aspirations of our people, he said. Thats democracy. In announcing the modified sanctions, U.S. President Joe Biden also terminated the official U.S. state of emergency regarding actions and policies of the Zimbabwe government, which was first imposed in 2003 following reports of election rigging and human rights abuses. Lash Fary, founder of the business Distinctive Assets, with some of the gifts from the bags hell have delivered to 25 Oscar nominees, during an interview. Maria Porcel Estepa (M. P.) Hollywood tallies its traditions, in not just years, but dollars. For a city as expensive and complex as Los Angeles, money moves careers and mountains alike. And over the last two decades, a new classic tradition has taken hold: the famous gift bags given to the Academy Awards nominees. Every year, the total value of the bag (really, a gigantic sack) is made public. This year, its worth tops out at nearly $180,000. The 2024 bags feature dozens and dozens of products: hydrating creams valued at nearly $500, soft drinks, purses, cookies, facial cleansers, kitchen accessories, aprons, pet food, tequila, pillowcases, chocolates, personalized 3D figurines, undershirts, books, mouthwash, a portable infrared grill worth $1,300 (to be placed in ones backyard), and all kinds of gadgets. The most valuable of its items are trips. This year they include three: a getaway to Switzerland for 10 people, a week-long wellness retreat in Southern California and three nights in St. Barts, one of the Caribbeans most luxurious settings. But, who is behind all this largesse, and why have they spent 22 years producing the bags, one round of deliveries after another, without even so much as an official affiliation with the Academy? That would be Lash Fary, founder of the company Distinctive Assets, who has mastered one of LAs most daunting areas of expertise: contacts. In this case, the doling out of brand visibility via the beautiful people, the optimization of the delicate art of word of mouth. 52-year-old Fary, who was born in Virginia and began his project around the same time he moved to Los Angeles some 25 years ago, started out on a much smaller scale, but brands quickly warmed to the concept. Their deal is straightforward: for months, Fary searches out the chocolates and facial toners; their companies donate about 26 of their products (a drop in the bucket for most of them), and also pay him a fee. Then, he is in charge of getting the products to the most famous celebrities in the world in advance of the famous gala in the world. In the end, everyone finds out the stars have and use the products and the sales of the products reflect that boost in their status. Everybody wins. When Fary joins our videocall, it appears as though we have inadvertently tuned into the Home Shopping Network. He is surrounded by dozens of products on a gigantic table, which he proceeds to display and describe. After all, it is he who is responsible for this famous sack (pardon, bag) that will be sent to the 25 most famous nominees at this years Oscars, in addition to presenters of the prizes for Best Actress and Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Actor and Best Director. What if they dont want the bag? He smiles. Almost always, almost everyone wants it. If someone declines (never more than one or two people, he says), he has a plan B: he sends it to an Oscar snub, or to a deserving acquaintance, as he sees fit. They began to deliver this years bags last Wednesday, and his team has yet to receive a single no. If there are any left over, hell pass one along to Greta Gerwig, the director of Barbie. Some of the items distributed by Distinctive Assets to the 2024 Oscar nominees. Disctintive Assets This all began 25 years ago with the Grammys. Fary set up a pop-up shop for the music awards where they sold clothing and jewelry for television shows here in Los Angeles, he recalls. But the idea for another business model occurred to him: he would offer up items that had been donated by the brands, which would in term pay him a quota for his work getting the items into the right hands. They get quite a bit of value out of it, and then the talent gets all this free stuff. And lets face it, youre never too famous to enjoy getting free stuff. Its a win-win, he says. They still give out gifts to 150 Grammy artists, but those have a lower value $36,000 this year. When it comes to the Oscars, Distinctive Assets is more selective, and its gift bags value reflects that exclusivity. This one is $178,000. But thats mainly because of the trips. You know, folks cant give out 150 $50,000 ski chalet trips, theyll go bankrupt, and they wouldnt have enough space on their calendar for paying guests. Its because the quantity is so low for this one that we get those super-expensive items that pop up the value, explains Fary. This isnt even the most expensive year; in other moments, the gift bags have been valued at $225,000. No one would know the difference. The difference among these special trips make the difference in the value. All the products are pretty much consistent from year to year, usually about 50 physical products and then a handful of gift certificates, he says in reference to, for example, donations that can be made in the names of the celebrities (this year, animal advocacy organization PETA will donate 10,000 meals for dogs through the gift bags) or in the name of someone else they designate. Fary does it all with a handful of collaborators, without mentioning exactly how many people are on his team, who are hired on contract for Oscar season. At times, hes the one putting the bags together, calling the brands, making connections. He has a team dedicated to deliveries We literally just walked out the door to deliver Jodie Fosters gift bag, it was the first one and to keeping track of where each nominee prefers to receive their gifts. For example, Sandra Huller, who is nominated for Anatomy of a Fall, asked them to send her bag to Germany, since shell only be in Los Angeles to attend the gala. No problem, they do international deliveries. Basically, my company, Distinctive Assets, connects brands with celebrities and high-profile events. Sometimes its independent of the Oscars, he says. Sometimes, its being backstage at the Grammy Awards, or at a celebritys birthday party and were bringing in a liquor sponsor. Anything that will help these brands have an international spotlight shine on them. To have this stardust sprinkle on them, that is what my company does, Fary smiles. In choosing his collaborating brands, Fary has a simple, very American policy: First come, first served. If they are working with a shoe brand, thats the only one that will be included in the bag. If a thermos company wants in, the bag doesnt have one yet and the brand rises to Distinctive Assets, its welcome. This means companies have to be quick, or diversify. Also, the entrepreneur likes working with companies run by women or underrepresented communities. For example, theres a little company called Hot Tea Coffee House, they make luxury bath products. Shes a Deaf single mom and she participated last year. Shes here again this year. Last year, with one mention in the press, just one, she sold out of her entire stock. She basically texted me saying, Im in tears right now. I cant thank you enough for this opportunity. The last couple of days, thanks to Farys coordination with stars assistants, many of whom hes known for years A lot of the folks have been nominated before. We already have their delivery information. So, its just coordinating the timing. Like, Bradley Cooper weve been delivering to for years. I just go to his home address, which we already have, its just about coordinating with his assistant the gift bags have begun to arrive; every one identical, with no difference between those sent to male and female recipients, although the color and fit of certain products can vary (each one gets shoes in their size, for example). Some will be sent back, of course. I never know the reason. Sometimes theyre traveling, or they dont want them. They can be annoyed by them. They have sponsorship conflicts. They dont understand it, Fary says, listing possible motives. Later, the stars will contact the hotels and make their reservations which, of course, have to be for them. Fary does have a handful of anecdotes about exceptions to the rule, like the year that actress Jennifer Lawrence asked to send her mother to an Italian resort. She did make the call herself: Hey, this is Jennifer Lawrence. My mom would like to come. Will you let her come? And because she actually contacted them, they honored that. Theyll sometimes work with them, because sometimes a celebritys mom is even better than the celebrity. Theyll come back saying, Oh my God, this place is amazing, Fary says. Director Ron Howard went to a resort in Connecticut and liked it so much that he held his sons wedding there and posted it on social media, remembers Fary. For him, this is all part of the magic of the awards. The whole world likes the Oscars, I think its because actors from every part of the planet attend. Its a universal, impressive moment. After years of working in the business, Fary doesnt have too many famous friends. With a project so intrinsically linked to the awards, will he be at the ceremony? I do not ever go. I went to the red carpet one year, many years ago, and it was one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life. I hope I never have to go back, he laughs. In fact, Sunday will be his moment to rest before the wheels start turning again: he has events scheduled for Mothers Day, hell take a break for the summer, and then its back to work. What I love about the Oscars is watching them on TV in the living room, he says. On Sunday, we really finish. I take a deep breath and enjoy the event and watch the people weve supported win. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Gangs led by leader of the G9 group Jimmy Cherizier aka "Barbecue" attacked Haitis two main prisons, the national penitentiary in Port-au-Prince and the civil prison of Croix des Bouquets. About 3,700 prisoners escaped. Then they also attacked police stations and the Police Academy. The coalition gangs have tried to kidnap the police chief and are demanding the resignation of the head of state, President Ariel Henry. The latter traveled to Kenya to try to convince the government to take part in a project of "Multinational Security Support Mission" in Haiti, in accordance with what the United States had elaborated before the UN Security Council. But the Nairobi High Court ruled that dying in Haiti was not part of the constitutional mission of the Kenyan police. At most, President Henry was able to sign an agreement specifying the functions of this mission if it were to be deployed. The U.S. has denied asking its protege, President Ariel Henry, to resign. However, he seems to have gone into exile in the USA. His legitimacy has been contested from the beginning. Indeed, he was imposed by Western powers after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. He has never been confirmed by elections. Daniel Foote, special envoy of U.S. President Joe Biden, denounced this interference: "I believe that Haiti will never know stability until its citizens are deemed worthy to choose their leaders fairly and honestly... We can only be appalled by this illusion of omnipotence that persuades us that it would be up to us, once again, to designate the winner." From 1957 to 2005, the U.S. constantly intervened in Haiti, overthrowing all democratic power. The latest operation to date was the overthrow of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide [1], with the help of France and more particularly Regis Debray [2], in 2004. Photo: Mattel and Netflix This aint your mothers Dreamhouse. Or yours, most likely. In fact, until Greta Gerwig came along to escort Barbie to Oscar territory, Im not sure they ever made a Dreamhouse like this one. Created at the zenith of the Obama era, the animated web series Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse anticipated the fourth-wall-breaking, consumerism-lampooning, Ken-mocking comedy of 2023s Barbie by over a decade. Its smart, its funny, it has a 12-episode run on Netflix right now, and if youre looking for more of the movies cheerfully subversive magic, its all right here. Written primarily by David Wiebe and Robin J. Stein and produced by Mattel as a series of web and YouTube shorts collected by theme into the 12 Netflix episodes from 201215, Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse has little in common with the glut of other CGI Barbie animated shows littering the big red streaming service. This isnt a straightforward comedy-adventure kids cartoon, though its certainly kid-friendly (no jokes about Kens flesh-colored bulge in this one). Much like the movie, its an admittedly gentle but extremely sharp satire of the doll its supposed to be marketing. Im not sure what Barbie creator Ruth Handler would think of it, but Don Draper would be pleased. Wiebe, Stein, and their crew of talented writers, animators, and voice actors (led by Kate Higgins as Barbie herself) mined decades of Barbie iconography and stereotypes to get adult-size gags out of the childrens toy. In the process, they wrote a partial playbook for the approach the film would take years later. At this point, you may be looking at the shocking pink plasticity of the series and thinking I sound crazy. Trust me, ever since my kids found the series ten years ago, Ive been getting that on a regular basis. Until people watch, that is. Life in the Dreamhouse, like the Matrix, is something you have to experience for yourself. If you liked the movie, youll see the two have a lot in common. Hi, Barbie! Set in a sort of utopian Malibu built on top of ancient glitter aqueducts, Life in the Dreamhouse stars fashionista and Renaissance woman Barbie Roberts and her fawningly devoted counterpart, Ken. Various friends, family members, frenemies, pets, and a sentient closet round out the cast, including besties Nikki and Teresa, hypercompetitive Summer, old-fashioned Midge, scheming twins Raquelle and Ryan, and kid sisters Skipper, Stacie, and Chelsea. Photo: Mattel and Netflix As the gang get in various comedic misadventures a beach trip ruined by rain, a bath day for Barbies pets, a dozen Barbie-bots running amok, the usual reality-show tropes like confessional cutaways, a reunion show, and an extended parody of The Amazing Race regularly break the fourth wall to provide running commentary on the shenanigans. Shes Every Barbie It takes a nation of Barbies to hold these jobs. At least, thats how Barbie the movie explains how its leading lady has had what the show refers to as 135 careers and counting! Without a different Barbie for every gig, how does Life in the Dreamhouse reconcile all this? It doesnt, and thats the gag. This Barbie is every Barbie. Shes been a flight attendant (that was career No. 37), a model, a rock star, you name it. Photo: Mattel and Netflix The fact that this causes juuuuust a few continuity problems is a constant source of comedy. In an episode where Barbies getting her drivers license, multiple characters ask, Werent you a race-car driver? People try to calculate her age based on her many jobs: I know she was a doctor, and youve got to go to school for at least 11 years for that , Well, she ran for president, and youve gotta be at least 35 Hes Just Ken Unlike in the movie, the Barbie and Ken of Life in the Dreamhouse are unambiguously girlfriend and boyfriend. But Dreamhouse Ken isnt the barely repressed macho dope of the movie. This Ken is the kind of boyfriend who takes you out on a date for the 43rd anniversary of the first time you held hands. In a Superman parody, hes the one doing the Lois Lane Can you read my mind? bit. Photo: Mattel and Netflix Simply put, Ken is in his simp era. In much the same way movie Ken withers beyond Barbies gaze, cartoon Ken lives only to serve his special lady. Theres an episode where he cant hold down a job because he runs to the Dreamhouse to open pickle jars (that shes already opened) or kill spiders (that are just sweater fuzz) whenever his Barbie sense tingles. He routinely displays superhuman strength and speed if Barbie or her sisters needs him for any reason. At one point, he abandons launching a space shuttle to bring her (human-scaled) snacks so they can watch her favorite movie, Sad and Romantic: The Sequel, together. Photo: Mattel and Netflix Kens constantly working to improve Barbies life with semi-successful inventions like CLOSET, the sentient fashion AI program that safeguards her extensive wardrobe. (With its single glowing red eye, CLOSET is a clear parody of HAL 9000 from 2001, beating Gerwig to the Kubrick-homage punch.) Even when he does build a Mojo Dojo Casa Houseesque Ken Den, its just a nice waiting room for the guy dolls to hang out in while the girl dolls go shopping. He means well, thats the main thing. Life in Plastic Life in the Dreamhouse doesnt pretend Barbie, Ken, and company are real people any more than the movie does. Both the show and the characters themselves are constantly peeling back the plastic curtain, making jokes based on the idea that yeah, were dolls, we know it, it is what it is, complete with those same close-ups on Barbies perpetually pointed feet as she gets out of bed in the morning we saw in the movie. Photo: Mattel and Netflix Some of these references are subtle enough. Barbies very first look in the shows very first fashion show? The same classic black-and-white striped swimsuit that launched the original doll and a monolithic Margot Robbie in the movie. But over time, the references get ramped up to the point of absurdity. Midge, the oldest of Barbies friends, envies her pals points of articulation. Cars come with foldout assembly instructions. And fans of Weird Barbie, rejoice: There are multiple gags about unmanageable doll hair. Photo: Mattel and Netflix The highlight is a game show hosted by Barbies sister Skipper to determine which of her friends truly knows Barbie best. Barked out by her BFFs in rapid succession, the answers include 1959, Millicent, Barbie & the Rockers, the moon, Mermaid Fairy Princess, George and Martha Roberts, and Sugar, spice, and polyvinyl chloride. Its a font of Barbie bar trivia. Size Matters Remember the bit in the movie where Barbie simply floats down from the second story of her house to the ground, since, as Helen Mirren helpfully informs us, girls just pick up their Barbies and move them instead of making them take the stairs? Or where the Mattel execs try to get life-size extradimensional-visitor Barbie back inside her own gigantic packaging? Sight gags like that are Life in the Dreamhouses bread and butter. When Barbie gets her drivers license, she has to hold it up with both hands, since its the size of an actual human drivers license. When Barbie is forced to pack up some of her apparently billions of belongings, her friends wrap them up in a cardboard box the size of the Dreamhouse, with a comically large roll of packing tape operated like a hamster wheel. Photo: Mattel and Netflix Its the giant heads that really get me, though. When Barbie shows her friend the makeup room, with a colossal bust like the styling heads made for practicing hair and makeup as the centerpiece? Reader, I lost it. Theres also a brief Indiana Jones parody where, instead of a boulder, Barbie unleashes a gigantic unstoppable bald Barbie head with all the hair torn out and those icky little scalp holes showing. Still disturbing, even when animated! Photo: Mattel and Netflix Were Actually Doing Patriarchy Very Well Life in the Dreamhouse doesnt get as serious as the movie does about feminism, patriarchy, or consumerism, words youll never hear in the show. But the themes are all there. Constantly scheming to pry Barbie and Ken away from each other, fraternal twins Ryan and Raquelle represent all thats crass about living dolls. Photo: Mattel and Netflix A constant thorn in Kens side, Ryan is a vain, macho moron who fancies himself Gods gift to doll-kind. At one point, he threatens to sing a seven-act rock opera about Barbie at Barbie sound familiar? Meanwhile, Raquelles obsession with being the coolest, prettiest, best-dressed, most popular doll in Malibu would destroy her like Gollum if she ever got anywhere near having something like Barbies walk-in closet. (A day or twos walk, tops.) Photo: Mattel and Netflix If Ryans tomcat vapidity represents a stereotypical male weakness, Raquelles backstabbing materialism plays with its female equivalent. Its not America Ferreras Oscar reel, but America Ferreras character never hit on a He-Man action figure. Only in the Dreamhouse, kids. Photo: ABC/Getty Diane Warren is the most important songwriter of her generation and the greatest Oscar loser of all time. (Yet another Oscar race Bradley Cooper cannot win.) The songwriter first emerged in the mid-1980s for her work on DeBarges iconic single Rhythm of the Night. Warren has made a career from churning out dramatic power ballads. Her theatricality, emotionality, romanticism, and understanding of the human condition led her to writing original songs for motion pictures. Warrens iconic love ballads, played against the end credits, defined the 90s. In 1998, Alanna Nash called Warren the Emily Dickinson of pop, which is fitting: Although their mediums put the two on different sides of the same coin, their writing shares an all-encompassing theatrical theme. Warren received her first Oscar nomination and her first loss in 1987. Since then, shes been nominated 13 more times, all with no wins. Unfortunately, Warren is most likely up for another loss at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, for her work writing a song for the Flamin Hot Cheetos movie, a capitalist feature that stands no chance against the original songs from the capitalist feature Barbie. Even Warrens worst songs are exemplary feats of songwriting. Here, I ranked all of Warrens songs nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars, from worst (which is still great) to best. 15. Year: 1999 Performed by: Gloria Estefan, N Sync For: Music of the Heart Lost to: Youll Be in My Heart, for Tarzan Warren was sleeping for this one, which, to be fair, is still top-level quality. Gloria Estefan featuring N Sync does not sound real, and it doesnt sound great either. Has anyone ever said that Justin Timberlake kind of sounds like Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks? I hope Im the first. 14. Year: 2022 Performed by: Sofia Carson For: Tell It Like a Woman Lost to: Naatu Naatu, for RRR Applause, an expected empowering song that contains the lyrics give yourself some applause, you deserve it and Believe it, youre the queen, you wear the crown feels like Diane Warren wanted Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey to sing it, which would have absolutely gotten her the win. Carsons voice doesnt exude enough confidence to fully sell the lyrics, which arent exactly Warrens North Star. 13. Year: 2019 Performed by: Chrissy Metz For: Breakthrough Lost to: (Im Gonna) Love Me Again, for Rocketman Diane Warren returned to her hopeless-romantic roots with Im Standing With You, a song about someone who will support you against all odds. Its not her best, but its a welcome throwback. If there is one thing movies need these days, its a return to the 90s trend of original love songs played over credits that have little to nothing to do with the film itself. Although Warren is a legend, she is a losing legend, not a winning one, and therefore stood no chance against EGOT-er Elton John. 12. Year: 2018 Performed by: Jennifer Hudson For: RBG Lost to: Shallow, for A Star Is Born Jennifer Hudson elevates Diane Warrens answer to Fight Song and an era of bubblegum-feminist anthems with her voice that can carry galaxies. Warren, who wrote the powerful, uplifting ballad for a documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsburg (this is all soooo 2018), had to know she had absolutely no chance against Shallow. 11. Year: 2020 Performed by: Laura Pausini Shared with: Laura Pausini For: The Life Ahead Lost to: Fight for You, for Judas and the Black Messiah I took French and Latin in my previous career as a student, so I do not know Italian. Io si (Seen) demonstrates Warrens command of songwriting over her decades-long career. She knows how to write songs that translate, literally, from English to Italian (Pausini translated Warrens English version into the nominated Italian version). This power ballad communicates a message about prejudice that melds Warrens romanticism with activism. 10. Year: 2014 Performed by: Rita Ora For: Beyond the Lights Lost to: Glory, for Selma This song is fun and fine, but not quite good enough to match the film, which is a knockout. Most significantly, this moment marks the first time I ever voluntarily, knowingly, listened to a Rita Ora song. If this is what paid for her charming Victorian-era sanctuary featured in Architectural Digest, it is more deserved than an Oscar for Best Original Song. 9. Year: 1987 Performed by: Starship Shared with: Albert Hammond For: Mannequin Lost to: (Ive Had) The Time of My Life, for Dirty Dancing If youve seen the moving picture Mannequin, you know that Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now co-written by Warren and the Strokes daddy Albert Hammond has nothing and everything to do with it. In the film, Kim Cattrall is a cursed Egyptian princess (yes, thats right) turned department-store mannequin who comes to life for Andrew McCarthy. This song is a dramatic, emotional, annoying, definitively 80s earworm, and was therefore a shoo-in for the Best Original Song category. Thankfully, it lost. 8. Year: 2023 Performed by: Becky G For: Flamin Hot Will Lose to: What Was I Made For, for Barbie If anything, The Fire Inside is proof that Diane Warren is fully in her lose Oscars for songs written for movies that sound fake era. If it werent for Barbie, Warren would absolutely deserve to win for writing a song inspired by a crunchy and spicy corn-puff snack made by the profitable Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. Late-stage capitalism is coming for us all 7. Year: 1997 Performed by: Trisha Yearwood For: Con Air Lost to: My Heart Will Go On, for Titanic In a way, How Do I Live, which launched the career of teen country star and the future enemy of Brandi Glanville, LeAnn Rimes, is simply a worse but still pretty good version of Because You Loved Me. If Because You Loved Me is the best eyebrow, How Do I Live (which was featured on the Con Air soundtrack as performed by country legend Trisha Yearwood) is the other one. Ironically, Warren would justifiably lose this race to a song performed by her former collaborator Celine Dion. I have never seen Con Air, so cannot say whether or not How Do I Live makes sense for the movie, but I am confident that it does not, even if there is kissing in it. 6. Year: 2021 Performed by: Reba McEntire For: Four Good Days Lost to: No Time to Die, for No Time to Die My favorite thing about the Original Song category is that it introduces me to movies that might as well be a 30 Rock bit. Four Good Days is a movie I had never heard about and will never see starring Glenn Close and Mila Kunis. But Somehow You Do is not a joke. It is serious and seriously good. Reba McEntires soft edge complements Warrens uplifting songwriting, which unfortunately lost to a song that could only be described as a whisper. 5. Year: 2017 Performed by: Common, Andra Day Shared with: Common For: Marshall Lost to: Remember Me, for Coco Common brings out a new layer to Warrens songwriting, stretching it beyond the limitations of romantic heterosexual love to activism. Stand Up for Something is a natural follow-up to It Happens to You (more on that shortly, dont close the tab!), and as such proved once again that her striking, sensational lyricism can communicate a powerful message. Had the song not been up against a tear-jerking earworm from a Pixar movie that saturated the culture for months on end, this would have been a welcome win for Warren. 4. Year: 1996 Performed by: Celine Dion For: Up Close and Personal Lost to: You Must Love Me, for Evita I am mostly grateful that I have not experienced love in the same way as Ms. Warren, but Because You Loved Me one of her best ever makes me wish I had her cinematic perspective. Dion is a match made in heaven for Warrens theatrics, as her powerhouse voice makes even the most absurd lyrics natural, believable, and relatable. While it is a shame that this song lost to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Up Close and Personal is truly one of the worst, most deeply unsettling films ever made despite starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer. Does anything about Because You Loved Me scream broadcast journalists who fall in love by way of mild to blatant sexual harassment and then (spoiler alert) the man dies in the end? I dont think so, so Ill give the Academy voters a pass. 3. Year: 2001 Performed by: Faith Hill For: Pearl Harbor Lost to: If I Didnt Have You, for Monsters, Inc. Apologies to Mr. Randy Newman, but the thing about Faith Hill is if you give her a lemon, she will turn it into an eight-course meal, including caviar. It would be a betrayal to my younger self whose bedroom door was covered in magazine cutouts of Josh Hartnett if I did not give this song a top slot in this ranking. I tried to put my love for Hartnett and my soft spot for this nightmare of a movie aside. I thought about this a lot, and I still think its a great song that deserved a win for Warren. The rousing orchestra, Hills dynamic voice, still with a little bit of country to remind you this is patriotic, and the classic Warren theatrics: In my dreams Ill always see you soar above the sky? This is absolutely brilliant, as Pearl Harbor is a movie about two hot airplane guys in love with Kate Beckinsale. I genuinely think about the music video which looks like it was shot for less than one thousand dollars every single day of my life and long for the days when I would flip between VH1 and MTV hoping to catch it. 2. Year: 2015 Performed by: Lady Gaga Shared with: Lady Gaga For: The Hunting Ground Lost to: Writings on the Wall, for Spectre If there is anyone on this planet more theatrical than Diane Warren, it is Ms. Stefani Germanotta, a.k.a. Lady There Could Be 100 People in the Room Gaga. The lyrics in Til It Happens to You, which the music legends co-wrote together, is surprisingly minimalistic and pared down given precedent. Its also more poignant than Warrens other nominated work, which is most often limited to love things. But here, Gagas activism meets Warrens emotionality in a touching song about trauma that applies to the subject of The Hunting Ground, a documentary about sexual assault on college campus, but its lyrics could span an array of relatable experiences. While the muscular lyrics arent necessarily characteristic of either diva, Gaga cleverly takes advantage of her bold voice here, unafraid to use its idiosyncrasies to communicate feeling. This is demonstrated by her live performance at the Oscars, which, along with her Sound of Music medley in 2015, cemented her favorable relationship with the Academy, eventually leading to her win for Shallow. How unfortunate that this lost to a middling-to-below-average Bond song. 1. Year: 1998 Performed by: Aerosmith For: Armageddon Lost to: When You Believe, for The Prince of Egypt I dont often think about the Best Original Song category, but working on this assignment has given me something new to be mad about, and it is this. As one of the biggest fans of The Prince of Egypt, a film that forced my Catholic school to break its G-rated movies rule so we could watch it on a TV on wheels when it rained, I still think I Dont Want to Miss a Thing was robbed. This is Diane Warren at Diane Warrens best: the drama, the theatrics, the colossal, all-consuming experience of love, and Steven Tylers high-pitched equally theatric voice is a perfect match. Importantly, I Dont Want to Miss a Thing permeated culture at the time (in 2001, it was performed at the E*Trade Super Bowl halftime show!), and, while it does not necessarily define Michael Bays Armageddon, it could make sense from the perspective of a deep-core driller played by Ben Affleck who misses nepo baby Liv Tyler when he goes to space. Emma Morans clever comedy about a girl with no superpowers in a world full of them is the British cousin of The Good Place. Photo: Olly Courtney/Hulu The first season of Extraordinary took a provocative premise what if everyone got a superpower when they turned 18, except for you? and spun it into eight episodes of shrewd comedy that put a refreshing twist on the superheros journey. The second season, now streaming in its entirety on Hulu, leaps into a new creative stratosphere. Creator and writer Emma Moran builds out a rich world where the fact that most of the population possesses a singular, idiosyncratic ability teleportation, fixing bad haircuts with the touch of a hand is only one fantastical element in this bizarro version of contemporary East London. Season one was very good television. Season two is flat-out great. Theres no easy way to explain this so Ill just come out and say it upfront: Extraordinarys protagonist Jen (Mairead Tyers) is dating a guy who used to be her cat. Technically, he was a stray she took in during season one and named Jizzlord, only to discover that he was actually a man (Luke Rollason, his eyes as wide as the saucers his alter ego licks from) with the capacity to shape-shift and, also, no memory of his pre-feline form. At the end of the first season, their romance is just beginning when a little boy spots him at the grocery store and calls him daddy. The second season takes us right back to that moment, revealing more about Jizzs previous life and inserting new obstacles into his relationship with Jen, including a rivalry with Nora (Rosa Robson), a woman from his past. Both literally and figuratively, this new enemy knows exactly how to get inside Jens head. Thats only one of Jens problems. At 25, shes finally scrounged up the cash to pay for treatment at the Discovery Clinic, a facility that helps the superpowerless unlock whatevers blocking the emergence of their unique skill. There she enters a physical manifestation of her subconscious where she must sort through her psychological issues: an extremely cluttered used-book store overflowing with tomes inspired by all of Jens thoughts, feelings, and personal history. Titles include: Weird Things Youve Thought About While Masturbating and The Compiled Lies of Jennifer Regan, a series of audio cassettes read by distinguished British actor Derek Jacobi. This is my mind? Jen asks, taking in her surroundings. Its a shithole. True, but its a clever shithole, a quality that applies to many of the details and plot twists that make this new season such a delight. In the East London of Extraordinary, citizens can toss old things they want to get rid of into the Void, an actual black hole accessed for the cost of a few quid. How did this black hole show up in London in the first place? The show never explains, instead treating a visit to this inter-dimensional portal with all the sense of wonder that accompanies a trip to the local dump. When Jen and Jizz decide to eat at a restaurant called Little Italy, they discover that its literally a miniature eatery. How do we get in? Jen asks the Italian guy who seems to run the place. I boop, he explains casually, then boops each of them on the nose, shrinking them temporarily so they can fit inside, where everything is tiny except for one thing: the food. Its normal size but looks gigantic in this diminutive setting, the bucatini resembling giant pool noodles more than actual pasta. While Extraordinary has its moments of whimsy, its underlying sardonic sensibilities never let it get too twee. Jen is sincerely attempting to become a more considerate version of herself, but shes also the first to tell you shes a terrible person. Vulgar, petty, and self-involved, she can inject a backhanded compliment with so much liquid poison you practically taste its toxicity. It helps that Tyers, a winning presence in her first major role, is Irish and delivers many of her best lines with the blase brogue of someone who looks at life through black-tinted glasses Can you imagine a world where everyone loved who they are on the inside? she asks her best friend and roommate, Carrie (Sofia Oxenham) superpower: channeling the dead after she chastises Jen for being shallow. We would all look like shit. Its the kind of observation Larry David might make on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Actually, perhaps its more apt to compare Jen Regan to Eleanor Shellstrop, the similarly flawed hero of NBCs sorely missed The Good Place. The more Extraordinary evolves, the more it feels like a British cousin to Mike Schurs sitcom about the moral calculations that come with the territory of being human. Both focus on four friends (in addition to Jen, Carrie and Jizz, Carries ex Kash can rewind and, as of this season, fast-forward time) attempting to overcome their hang-ups while clumsily swimming their way toward self-improvement. Both are based in recognizable yet freaky versions of reality. Both are comedies that also deal with some of lifes most delicate questions about grief, death, and learning how to let go. Both also love a cliffhanger. The second season of Extraordinary ends on a doozy that suggests a potentially whole new direction for season three. If I had a superpower at this moment, it would be the capacity to immediately watch a finished third season. And just like that, were back on track. Not that The Gentlemen took a severe dip in quality in its third and fourth installments, which were good for plenty of fun crime high jinks. Its just that once you introduce Hitlers testicle into the equation, things may have gotten a bit too fanciful, even for a show thats like a Narcos parody set in Downton Abbey. But with episodes five and six, The Gentlemen comes down to earth, and resumes the breakneck pace of its first two installments. They introduce major new players who look to stay involved for the duration rather than villain-of-the-week types. They feature a startling revelation that completely upends the relationship between Eddie and Susie wed known. They get surprisingly serious about the human consequences of their telegenic gangsterism. And they remain a ton of fun. Episode five is a simple problem in search of a solution and the solution presents itself as a problem, too, at first. Eddie and Susie are running into problems with their distributor on the continent, an arrogant Belgian named Florian de Groot (Kristofer Tormund Giantsbane Hivju), whos demanding more money to deal with tighter import regulations post-Brexit. At least thats his cover story hes working with, or for, the same mystery man as the honeypot operator who stung Jimmy (with whom Jimmy remains secretly in contact). Susies lightly incarcerated father, Bobby, is beginning to suspect a hand behind all their recent problems, in fact. Nearer to home, a group of Irish Travellers led by the gangsterish JP Ward (Laurence OFuarain) nicks a pair of generators from the weed farm, but not for nefarious reasons. Their last gennies have been confiscated by the authorities, as is custom for this much-persecuted minority, and theyre just trying to keep their caravans warm for the kids. Of course, the fact that Eddie and Susie are operating a weed farm with said generators did cross JPs mind at one point or another. And given his familys experience smuggling people and things across borders (Thats just a tired fucking cliche! complains one of the Wards, though in their case it happens to be true), Susie and the Duke partner with them as the farms new distributors. Everybody wins. Until 4 million pounds go missing, and Eddie cant restrain his posh prejudices against Travellers. He wrongfully accuses JP, who takes offense and leaves, shutting down distribution once again. But with Susies help, cooler heads prevail, and they quickly deduce its a frame job by de Groot, using someone as an inside man. That someone is, unfortunately, Keith (Mason Antonio Fardowe), one of Susies two most devoted henchmen, alongside his partner Blanket (Logan Dean). Keith gets the Tessio treatment and is marched into the woods and shot by JP with Eddie as a witness. But before he dies, Keith reveals the truth about Jethro, the poor kid Eddie tried to save after he witnessed the murder in the first episode: Susie had him killed. The Glass family never lets anyone go, he says, a statement backed up by Bobbys own words elsewhere in the episode. With their trust shattered (unbeknownst to Susie, that is), episode five sees Eddie taking extreme measures to extricate his family from their business relationship with the Glasses. If this means selling the estate to Stanley Johnston with a T, an even bigger gangster well, consider it insurance. Eddies former flame, Princess Roseanne (Gaia Weiss), brokers the sit-down. Eddie and Susie are beginning to find themselves at direct odds, too. In an attempt to stall, Susie says she doesnt consider Eddies end of the deal fulfilled until the extra money they agreed to is not just earned but laundered. Unfortunately, her brother Jack goes and fucks the wife of their bombastic, Korean corn dog-loving money launderer Chucky (Guz Khan), threatening the operation. Eddie seeks other arrangements on his own, in the form of Henry Collins (Max Beesley), the debonair fight promoter handling Jacks next match-up. Collins can clean the cash and quickly, though he wants to be the sole launderer for the entire Glass operation, not just the one farm at one time. Eddies frayed nerves take care of the rest. When he shows up to give the money to Chucky after all the mercurial guy feels bad about making a big deal of the Jack thing and agrees to clean the cash for free to make up for it the launderer unknowingly reveals that Susie has been lying to Eddie about the speed with which the job can be done. Outraged and sick of hearing about Korean corn dogs to boot, he beats the crap out of Chuckys henchman and takes the money to Collins. Which would appear to be a mistake. Its true that Eddie no longer likes or trusts Susie, a murderer who, in the end, comes out and admits she intends to keep the Halstead family under the Glass boot forever. But I cant imagine him being that happy to find out that Collins is an out-and-out gangster who fixed Jacks fight, sending him unprepared into the lions den of a real killer just to send his sister and father a message. If they dont surrender their operation now, in toto, its war. Jack is hospitalized, and Eddie and Susie sit and fume. There are a couple of important developments in the wider Halstead family to note as well. We learn that Eddies mom and their groundskeeper, Jeff, once had an affair youd been picking up the vibe between them, too, right? and Eddie and Freddys kid sister is secretly the result. Freddy, meanwhile, has developed some kind of magical marijuana-cocaine hybrid with Jimmy. Addicted to both drugs and the action, hes frustrated when Eddie refuses to arrange a meeting with the Glasses to discuss the product, doubly so when Eddie continues to insist on getting out of the weed business completely. Freddy goes so far as to corner Susie at the fight and not so subtly hint that she should kill Eddie and leave himself, a more amenable business partner, in charge. Susie may not like Eddie anymore, but to her credit, she likes the idea of a guy willing to murder his own brother even less and tells Freddy so. Just going through the plot of the two episodes again, Im struck by the frankly lovely balance between serious business and gangster shenanigans. In the latter category, you have all the new crooks introduced in this pair of episodes: decent but rightfully defensive JP and his powerful home-brewed poitin; garrulous Chucky, whos so emotional about his work Susie describes him as an artistic type; and the bespectacled Henry Collins, who flips from smooth to sinister with complete believability. You can buy that the Glass family somehow never saw this guy coming until it was too late. Which leads to the serious stuff. We see Jacks brutal beating largely through the lambent, teary eyes of Susie. Were shown the crestfallen reactions of both Eddie and Blanket to the killing of Keith, a guy they knew and liked. Best of all, the cruel and needless murder of Jethro, rather than a throwaway bit of shading for Susie, turns out to be the fulcrum on which the whole thing pivots. I always appreciate when crime shows remember to pay their moral debts. Because the plots been so engrossing and the characters so entertaining, Ive been giving short shrift to the formal elements of the show, which help it immeasurably. Handwritten text frequently appears atop the action to explain complicated schemes or enumerate competing proposals; in episode five, text reading incomprehensible Traveller mumbling and incomprehensible posh mumbling during the sitdown between JP and Eddie made me laugh out loud. Big scene transitions, typically ones that move along a given episodes caper storyline, are innovatively handled. Rather than one clean cut, perhaps with some overlying dialogue or sound to smooth the switchover, cuts are made back and forth between then and now, past and present, for a minute or so on each side of a given location switch. (Imagine a much more fluid version of what Dennis Hopper tried to do with his scene transitions in Easy Rider, and youre almost there.) Its a neat trick, one that really makes you feel the pull of the events unfolding. Director Eran Creevy and writer Stuart Carolan really killed it on this pair, further cementing The Gentlemans status as a crime show worthy of the years bumper crop of similar series. Lets hope this season closes just as strongly. Want more TV and movie picks? Subscribe to our weekly Streamliner newsletter here. Clockwise from top: Love Lies Bleeding, the Oscars(!), Blown Away, and The Gentlemen. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: A24, Netflix, Getty Is love in the air? Probably more so at North Carolinas Lost & Found than down the aisle for most of Love Is Blinds couples, but youll find out for sure in the finale of Netflixs slightly deranged and overly addicting reality show. Then theres Kristen Stewart and Katy OBrians bloody and sexy affair in Rose Glasss new Love Lies Bleeding, a new season of Extraordinary that has a lover named Jizzlord, and confirmation that Ryan Gosling will be performing Im Just Ken at the Oscars (swoon!). Heres everything to watch on TV and at the movies this weekend. Savannah Salazar Sign up for Streamliner A weekly newsletter with the latest TV and movie recommendations, curated by Vulture writers. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Featured Presentations . The Oscars broadcast generally needs to give out movie-related awards, be entertaining, and end at a reasonable hour. That last task should be easier to achieve this year since the ceremony will begin an hour earlier than usual (7 p.m. ET). But theres one more thing these awards need to do: make sure Ryan Gosling performs Im Just Ken on live television. Jen Chaney Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET on ABC We have final predictions, by the way plus tips on how to stream the Oscar-nominated movies. . Following up Saint Maud, director Rose Glass may not be doing another explicit horror film with Love Lies Bleeding, but this visceral little thriller still delivers shock and some gruesome violence thatll make your tummy turn. Entangled in the thrilling mess at the center of this film is Kristen Stewart as Lou, a gym worker and the daughter of a local criminal lord (Ed Harris), who crosses paths with a bright-eyed and aspiring bodybuilder (Katy OBrian) in a small town in New Mexico. S.S. In theaters now . Millie Bobby Brown is going through it on these Netflix projects. Coming off fighting the terrifying Vecna and Demogorgons on Stranger Things, she stars in Damsel, a movie about a woman literally thrown in the dragon pit by her new in-laws. Yeesh. S.S. Streaming on Netflix It makes Jane Fonda in Monster-in-Law look tame, huh. . This very charming, offbeat British series about a woman trying to find her superpower in a society where everyone has one returns, and, yes, the protagonist (Mairead Tyers) is still dating a guy named Jizzlord who technically used to be her cat. Look, I said it was offbeat. J.C. Streaming on Hulu . Guy Ritchie is sort of returning to his 2020 film with a brand-new take in this new Netflix series. Theo James leads as a cast-off Duke, who inherits a drug operation with criminal Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone) and his daughter (Kaya Scodelario). Dads everywhere can clear their schedules this weekend. S.S. Streaming on Netflix Reality Bites Blown Away season 4 Im four episodes in, and the new season of Blown Away is its best yet. In the past, Netflixs glassblowing-competition show felt like a mixed bag: a clearly hot premise that suffered from a barely lukewarm host and glassblowers who often grew tiresome and felt mismatched skills-wise. So far, the fourth season feels like a highly intentional upgrade, racing out the gate with a less annoying host, challenges that focus on specific feats of scale and texture, and a class of glassblowers who showcase lots of talent from the jump. Eric Vilas-Boas Streaming on Netflix Animation Station Kung Fu Panda 4 The Jack Blackvoiced pandas back to punch manta rays and eat rice balls. E.V.B. In theaters now Plus: More fighting. (With more animated punches thrown in.) Grand Finale Love Is Blind season 6 North Carolina has had no shortage of drama, most of which weve recapped here. Now its time for weddings! How many of the hopeful couples will make it past the altar? More importantly, we get to see Clays infamous dad in the Love Is Blind finale. S.S. Streaming on Netflix Finally Streaming Poor Things Heres to sucking! And to Poor Things landing on streaming ahead of the Oscars. Once you watch it, read our interview with Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos, where they touch on the idea of perfection. E.V.B. Streaming on Hulu Want more? Read our recommendations from the weekend of March 1. On February 1, 2024, a proposal to declare the start of the Anthropocene was voted upon. A panel of approximately two dozen international experts were asked to decide whether the planet had officially entered a new geological epoch in the middle of last century, characterized by severe human pollution that will be evident in future excavations, including radioactive isotopes from atomic bombs, microplastics, pesticides and industrial ash from coal and oil combustion. The Anthropocene concept has already been established in popular culture and is even being used as a warning flag by environmental organizations, but 12 experts voted against making the new epoch official and only four voted in favor, with two abstentions and three neither voting nor abstaining. EL PAIS has spoken to a dozen of the specialists involved and has had access to documents regarding a vote that has sent shockwaves around the world of geology. In 1839, the British geologist Charles Lyell proposed the word Pleistocene to define the last prehistoric epoch, which included the last ice ages and began about 2.58 million years ago. In 1867, the French paleontologist Paul Gervais suggested calling the current chapter of the planets history the Holocene, which began over 10,000 years ago. In 2000, the Dutch chemist Paul Crutzen, winner of the Nobel Prize, declared that in his opinion the planet had already entered a new geological epoch, marked indelibly by the polluting impact of human beings: the Anthropocene. Even the Royal Spanish Academy declared the Holocene to be over and inaugurated the Anthropocene in its 2021 dictionary. The current situation is unheard of. Jan Zalasiewicz, former head of the Anthropocene Working Group and current chair of the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy, has demanded the result of the vote be disregarded due to serious violations of the statutes. An Emeritus professor at the University of Leicester, UK, Zalasiewicz claims that he opposed the vote being held as the 12-year term of 11 of the 16 participating specialists had expired, losing them their right to vote, according to a report he signed that was seen by EL PAIS. The fierce battle over whether or not to relabel geological epochs is taking place within four groups of experts, one group working inside the other, like Russian dolls. The Anthropocene Working Group began investigating the idea back in 2009 and last October presented a 200-page proposal to declare the new epoch. This group is part of the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy, whose members are the ones who have now rejected the proposal by 12 votes to 4. This Subcommission, in turn, belongs to the International Commission on Stratigraphy, which could also reject the proposal while the final word will be had by the executive of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), which will meet on August 25 at a congress in Busan, South Korea. Geologist Jan Zalasiewicz, from the University of Leicester, UK. Universidad de Leicester Jan Zalasiewicz is one of the strongest proponents of recognizing the Anthropocene as a geological epoch. Last year, he won the Ig Nobel Prize, a humorous parody of the Swedish awards, for explaining geologists fascination for licking rocks. Zalasiewicz chaired the Anthropocene Working Group from its founding in 2009 until 2020, when he became head of the senior expert committee, the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy. The geologist alleges that the committees first vice-chair, Chinese scientist Liping Zhou, and secretary, Italian scientist Adele Bertini, organized the vote behind his back. Advocates of the Anthropocene as a geological epoch claim that they learned about the result in the press. Other members of the Subcommittee leaked the results on March 5 to The New York Times, which published them on its front page with the headline, Are We in the Anthropocene, the Human Age? Nope, Scientists Say. The general secretary of the IUGS, Stan Finney, who is from California but lives six months of the year in Aranjuez, in Spains Madrid region, with his Spanish wife, denies there were any serious violations of the statutes, as reported by Zalasiewicz and his second vice-president, the Canadian Martin Head. Finney suggests that the allegation is simply a ruse to avoid accepting the result. Head himself has been there for more than 12 years and was therefore unable to vote, Finney insists. The time to address this issue was in 2020, when Zalasiewicz began his term as chair of the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy, not three years later and after losing a vote, he adds. If there has been negligence, it is his responsibility. But Zalasiewicz and his colleagues are not about to give up. A couple of months ago, they reported the alleged malpractices of their rivals to the IUGS Commission on Geoethics, which issued a report on January 19. Zalasiewicz claims that the commission ruled that the Anthropocene Working Group had been treated unfairly, subjected to illogical requests with not enough time to rebut objections. [The Geoethics Commission] recommended the urgent suspension of any voting procedure, Zalasiewicz states in his report. However, the IUGS executive, headed by Britains John Ludden, decided to go ahead with the vote, according to sources consulted by EL PAIS. The only Spanish member of the Anthropocene Working Group, the geologist Alejandro Cearreta, makes no attempt to hide his disappointment with the result. The criticisms and attacks on the concept of the Anthropocene and the activity of the group have been numerous and have been changing over time, in a process similar to what has been happening with climate change and the IPCC [the group of experts of the United Nations]: denial and dragging their feet, says Cearreta, a professor of paleontology at the University of the Basque Country. Cearreta bemoans the lack of time given to present the proposal, given the unforeseen circumstances of the Covid pandemic. For years, however, the IUGS has been criticizing the alleged slowness of the Anthropocene Working Group and its alleged strategy of publishing a multitude of press releases instead of a scientific proposal. The Secretary General of the International Union of Geological Sciences, Stan Finney. UICG Stan Finney believes that the proposal to declare the Anthropocene as the new geological epoch has helped to raise awareness of the immense and growing impact of humans, on the planet with a message that has resonated not only with scientists, but also with artists and the general public. However, the creation of a new geological epoch is required to meet rigorous criteria and would have to be defined in a particular way to meet the needs of geologists. Finney and other colleagues proposed in 2022 a practical solution: not to consider the Anthropocene as an epoch, but as a geological event, like other great transformations of our planet, such as the Great Oxidation when microbes began emitting oxygen 2.4 billion years ago and changed the face of the Earth. According to Finney, The community, not just geologists, already sees the Anthropocene this way, but the Anthropocene Working Group is stuck in their outdated dogma. And, as they have done in their 15 years of existence, they attack everyone who does not accept the dogma. On June 1, 2023, Jan Zalasiewicz, Alejandro Cearreta and other colleagues published their scientific arguments for declaring the Anthropocene a geological epoch rather than an event. Committee member and geologist Jan Piotrowski from Copenhagens Aarhus University was among those who voted against the proposal. It was a legal vote, carried out by a group of people representing the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy, he says. The voting process, including the census of voting members, had not previously been challenged. In my opinion, the result is binding. Piotrowski stresses that the 12 experts who voted down the proposal do not question the validity of the Anthropocene as a geological term. We all agree that there is an overwhelming impact of humans on the planet, he says. What we are suggesting is that it is a geological event. Piotrowski does add, however, that this is not the definitive denouement of the Anthropocene as an epochal candidate. With the nomenclatures of geologic time, nothing is written in stone, he says. It may be that, in time, new ideas emerge that cause the Anthropocene to be reconsidered. The issue is open-ended. People reflected in a window of a hotel at the Davos Promenade with a slogan about AI alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. The Justice Department is stepping up its focus on artificial intelligence, with officials set to warn on Thursday that companies and people who deliberately misuse the technology to advance a white-collar crime like price fixing and market manipulation will be at risk for a harsher sentence. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco will also say that the Justice Department will take into account how well a company is managing the risks of AI technology each time it assesses a corporate compliance program. Such a program is a set of policies and procedures designed to detect misconduct and to ensure that executives and employees are following the law. The comments from the Justice Departments No. 2 leader underscore the extent to which law enforcement officials are concerned about how the rapidly developing technology could be exploited, by foreign adversaries or by domestic entities, to harm the U.S. Monaco disclosed the policy moves one day after the Justice Department announced charges against a former Google software engineer accused of stealing AI trade secrets from the Mountain View, California-based company while secretly working with two China-based companies. All new technologies are a double-edged sword but AI may be the sharpest blade yet. It holds great promise to improve our lives but great peril when criminals use it to supercharge their illegal activities, including corporate crime, Monaco will tell an American Bar Association conference of white-collar lawyers in San Francisco, according to a copy of her prepared remarks. The Justice Department, Monaco says, has long used increased sentences for criminals whose behavior is seen as posing an especially serious risk to victims and the public. The same The principle applies to AI, she says. Where AI is deliberately misused to make a white-collar crime significantly more serious, she says, our prosecutors will be seeking stiffer sentences for individuals and corporate defendants alike. And, she adds, compliance officers should take note. When our prosecutors assess a companys compliance program as they do in all corporate resolutions they consider how well the program mitigates the companys most significant risks. And for a growing number of businesses, that now includes the risk of misusing AI. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New luxury rail journey from Paris to Portofino. A new luxury train route from Paris to Portofino on Italy's Ligurian coast will become a reality this summer courtesy of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. The three-night experience includes one night on board the iconic train followed by a two-night stay at the five-star Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio in Portofino. Passengers will travel in the height of luxury, with fine dining provided by Michelin-starred French chef Jean Imbert who will also curate a tasting menu at the Terrazza restaurant in the Splendido. Guests will be treated to champagne before making their way to the dining car - black tie is encouraged for dinner - followed by cocktails and live music at the bar. Photo Venice Simplon-Orient-Express In addition to "comfortable cabins with plush upholstery, gleaming marquetry and soft lighting", guests are promised "mesmerising views", a 24-hour steward service and wines chosen by a sommelier. The new route, launching on 20 June, will pass through the French countryside taking in Dijon, Lyon and Avignon, Cannes, Nice and Monaco, before continuing its journey into Italy through Ventimiglia, Savona and Genoa. On the afternoon of the second day, the train will arrive at Santa Margherita Ligure, just north of Portofino on the Italian Riviera, where guests will stay at the luxurious Splendido hotel. And the cost of this exclusive one-way trip? Prices start at approximately 3,450 per person for a Twin Cabin, and 9,800 per person for a Grand Suite. Photos Venice Simplon-Orient-Express The American University of Rome welcomes Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy Initiative for an international student summit: Not a Migration Crisis, A Migration Reality. The American University of Rome (AUR), in collaboration with the Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy Initiative (HUFPI), is proud to announce the landmark summit "Not a Migration Crisis. A Migration Reality", taking place in Rome from 12 March to 14 March, 2024. This event marks a significant collaboration, bringing together students across different countries and cultures to discuss and debate migration, aiming to reshape the narrative surrounding it. The summit emerges against the backdrop of increasing global mobility and the complex challenges and opportunities it brings. With over 108.4 million individuals displaced by extreme weather, conflict, and persecution and predictions of up to 1.2 billion people potentially displaced by 2050, the imperative for a comprehensive, informed dialogue has never been greater. This event seeks to address the multifaceted aspects of migration, from historical trends and cultural contexts to legal frameworks and policy implications. Professor Irene Caratelli, Director of AUR's International Relations and Global Politics Department, and the AUR International Relations and Global Politics Club (IRGP Club) have spearheaded this joint initiative with HUFPI, focusing on the urgent need for an informed, empathetic conversation on migration. The summit's mission is to dismantle misconceptions, explore migration's complexities beyond media narratives, and contribute constructively to public discourse. Professor Caratelli stated, This generation of students is both engaged and inspiring; I believe in their power to work collectively for solutions based on human security and fundamental human rights. This is the only way to increase the welfare of the greatest number of people, regardless of their nationality. The summit will unfold over three days and feature a roster of distinguished speakers, including journalists, academics, experts, and policymakers. Highlights will include a keynote speech by AUR alumnus Bashir Abd Ella Elyas on his personal migration experience and a series of visits to organizations in Rome that are working directly on issues around migration including Amnesty International (Italy), the European Commission Representation in Italy, the International Organization for Migration, Istituto Affari Internazionali, and Comunita di SantEgidio. This collaborative effort between AUR, the IRGP Club, and HUFPI signifies a commitment to fostering global dialogue on a pressing issue. It underscores the role of academic institutions in leading change while supporting students in developing the leadership skills necessary to set the agenda for the most pressing challenges ahead. The American University of Rome International Relations and Global Politics Club (IRGP Club) The IRGP Club represents a space for activism, awareness, and practical application of studies. They are a passionate community of students dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of international relations, promoting human rights, and advocating for human dignity. Instagram The Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy Initiative (HUFPI) HUFPI exists to inspire, train, and prepare future generations of leaders in foreign policy, national security, intelligence, diplomacy, and defense. Website MELBOURNE, Australia Malaysias prime minister said Thursday that the United States has become more transactional, using rewards and punishments to achieve aims with other countries, and should be encouraged to enhance cooperation with China in the Asia-Pacific region. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim advocated against taking sides in U.S.-led Western rivalries against China for strategic influence in the region. He also rejected Western criticism that Malaysia is too accommodating of China as it becomes increasingly assertive in the South China Sea. Anwar, in a speech at Australian National University on Thursday, promoted empathy toward China, which he said regarded negative reactions to its rise as an attempt to deny their legitimate place in history. I believe that Malaysia and Australia have a duty to try the utmost to encourage the United States, China and other major players in the Asia-Pacific to conduct themselves in a manner that is conducive to the enhancement of regional cooperation and economic integration, Anwar said. Advertisement Without Southeast Asian nations intervention, the region would be principally dictated by the calculations and designs of the major powers. Share this article Share Anwar outlined globally significant societal and political shifts in the U.S. over the past three decades such as globalization that benefited the Asian working class and reduced the U.S. industrial base. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had also impacted Americans psyche. The upshot is a preference for leaders who are more transactional with the rest of the world, said Anwar, referring to U.S. politicians. The Washington consensus is gradually eroding, if not altogether disappeared, he added. Western perspectives on the future of global order should not be expected to be embraced universally, Anwar said. ROME A new trial opened Friday for two American men in the slaying of an Italian plainclothes police officer during a botched sting operation after Italys highest court threw out their convictions. Italys highest Cassation Court ordered a new trial last year, saying it hadnt been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants, with limited Italian language skills, had understood that they were dealing with Italian police officers when they went to meet an alleged drug dealer in Rome. Finnegan Lee Elder, 24, and Gabriel Natale-Hjort, 23, who were teenagers at the time of the July 26, 2019 slaying, sat side by side as an appeals court judge made opening remarks in the new trial. The two are being held in separate prisons near the Italian capital. The friends from California were found guilty in the killing of Carabinieri Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega and on four other counts and sentenced to life in prison, Italys harshest punishment. The sentences were reduced to 24 years for Elder and 22 years for Natale-Hjorth on appeal. Advertisement Prosecutors alleged Elder stabbed Cerciello Rega 11 times with a knife that he brought with him on his trip to Europe, and that Natale-Hjorth, then 18, helped him hide the knife in their hotel room. Natale-Hjorth testified that he grappled with Cerciello Regas partner and was unaware of the stabbing when he ran back to the hotel. The two friends had arranged to meet a small-time drug dealer, who turned out to be a police informant, to recover money lost in a bad deal and return a backpack they had snatched in retaliation, when they were confronted by the officers. According to the defendants lawyers, the Cassations decision changed the evaluation of the incident, suggesting that the two Americans didnt know they were facing Carabinieri police officers when the attack happened. Share this article Share Our strategy remains the same, Elders lawyer Roberto Capra told The Associated Press. We always said that Elder didnt know he was confronting a police officer ... This changes the whole reconstruction of the incident and we believe it will have an impact on the punishment. Advertisement Elder and Natale-Hjorth were school friends from northern California who were meeting up for a few days in Rome, where Natale-Hjorth had family. The two young men have both studied Italian during detention and are now enrolled at university, their lawyers said during the hearing, The killing of 35-year-old newlywed Cerciello Rega shocked Italians, who mourned him as a national hero. What we care about is that (the defendants) responsibilities are clarified, Cerciello Rega familys lawyer Franco Coppi told AP. We said since the beginning that there are no vengeful intentions or desire to punish at all costs. ABUJA, Nigeria The kidnapping of 287 grade school students by gunmen in northwestern Nigeria this week was only the latest in a slew of such raids since the infamous Chibok schoolgirls abduction by the Islamic militant group Boko Haram a decade ago. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Around 1500 students have been kidnapped in raids since 2014. The kidnappings take place in the countrys troubled northern region, where relentless violence by insurgent Islamic militant organizations and by bandit groups with no particular ideology have crumbled communities and killed thousands of people. While some of the Chibok school victims were believed to have been forced into marriage with militants, most of the kidnappings since then have been for ransom. Bandits also attack communities to force adults into labor on seized farmlands and mining sites. Advertisement Some of the raids have targeted colleges, such as a 2021 attack on Greenfield University in Kaduna State in which at least five students were killed when parents failed to meet ransom demands. But most victims have been schools for younger students. Here is a closer look at the crisis in Africas most populous nation: WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NORTHERN NIGERIA? The impoverished and educationally disadvantaged northern region of Nigeria has been worst hit by a wave of crime and insecurity. The government claims progress against Boko Haram and its splinter Islamic State in West African Province, but the groups remain active and have established bases, including in Niger State near Abuja, outside of their original northeastern birthplace. But an even worse and seemingly intractable problem has arisen in the northwest where large numbers of armed gangs, called bandits, have taken control of swaths of territory, invading schools and communities to conduct mass killings and abductions. Advertisement They have seized mining sites and farmlands and forced rural people to labor for them. The Nigerian armed forces, fatigued from fighting endless internal conflicts for more than 10 years, have done little to stop the gangs. The gangs threaten the countrys food security because they control parts of Nigeria where much of the countrys homegrown food is produced. WHO ARE THE BANDITS CONDUCTING MASS ABDUCTIONS? There has been no claim of responsibility in the latest attack, but it happened in an area where bandits are active and have attacked communities in the past. The bandits generally are of the nomadic Fulani community, who initially took up arms to fight the ethnic Hausa communities in Zamfara State over access to land and water resources. But they have now developed into organized armed groups specializing in abduction for ransom and forcibly taking over farmlands and gold mines. Advertisement There are believed to be hundreds of gangs, each with scores of armed fighters. Share this article Share WHY ARE THE ABDUCTIONS HAPPENING? The abductions generally are aimed at obtaining ransom and have become a lucrative business, according to Shehu Sani, a former federal lawmaker from Kaduna, where the attack occurred on Thursday. Schoolchildren are targeted because the bandits know that it will evoke public sympathy for the pupils, and pressure will be mounted on the government to bow to their demands, Sani said in a post on X. The government does not admit it, but sources close to the negotiations say ransom payments are made by both families and state governments, Sani said. Ransom payments and other illicit incomes, such as proceeds from seized farms and mines, have helped the gangs amass a massive arsenal of weapons strong enough to even down military planes. Advertisement Nnamdi Obasi, an advisor at Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said the willingness of desperate families, embattled communities and even the state governments to pay ransoms has turned mass kidnapping into arguably the most lucrative criminal enterprise in the northwest zone. Affected communities often are in remote rural locations where the government is largely absent, making them vulnerable to attacks from bandits based in nearby forests. HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT BEEN RESPONDING? While the federal government has taken an official position of armed response, some state governments such as those in Zamfara and Katsina have tried softer measures, such as negotiations and amnesty deals with the bandits. Obasi said the failure of state and federal governments to apprehend kidnappers has added to a climate of impunity that only enables more heinous atrocities. Advertisement Some gang leaders have been killed over the years, including one recently in Kaduna, but that has only put a small dent in the problem. Enticing gang members to leave behind the lucrative business of kidnapping has proven difficult. ARE THERE THREATS TO EDUCATION? The states in northern Nigeria already have the countrys lowest rates of literacy, and high rates of children staying out of school. The spate of abductions in recent years could affect the efforts of the government and development partners to encourage parents to send their children to school. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe heatwave warnings for much of Victoria this long weekend with temperatures forecast to push into the 40s in some parts of the state. The temperature is set to reach 39 degrees in Melbourne on Saturday and the hot weather will continue with both Sunday and Monday forecast to reach 38 degrees in the city. In parts of northern Victoria, the temperatures are expected to surpass 40 degrees. The heat wave rating of severe applies to much of Victoria over the weekend and into the Labour Day public holiday on Monday. The weather is expected to cool on Tuesday with the forecast arrival of a trough from the south. Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Stephanie Miles expected Saturday night would be particularly warm with the temperature unlikely to drop below the mid-20s. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a Super Tuesday election night party Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay a six-figure legal bill to a company founded by a former British spy that he unsuccessfully sued for making what his lawyer called shocking and scandalous false claims that harmed his reputation. A London judge, who threw out the case against Orbis Business Intelligence last month saying it was bound to fail, ordered Trump to pay legal fees of 300,000 pounds ($382,000), according to court documents released Thursday. Orbis was founded by Christopher Steele, who once ran the Russia desk for Britains Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6. The British court case was one of few in which Trump, who is almost sure to win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, was not a defendant as he faces massive legal problems back home. Trump is charged in four criminal cases and faces a civil complaint in U.S. courts. He lost a subsequent defamation case in which a jury found him liable for sexual abuse, and has been ordered to pay $355 million after a fraud verdict against his businesses. In England, he had gone on the offensive and sued Orbis. Steele was paid by Democrats for research that included salacious allegations Russians could potentially use to blackmail Trump. The so-called Steele dossier assembled in 2016 created a political storm just before Trumps inauguration with rumors and uncorroborated allegations that have since been largely discredited. Trump sued the company, saying the the dossier was phony and Orbis had violated British data protection laws. Attorney Hugh Tomlinson said at an October hearing that the former president suffered personal and reputational damage and distress over claims in the dossier that hed taken part in sex parties in St. Petersburg and consorted with sex workers in Moscow. Tomlinson said the dossier contained shocking and scandalous claims about the personal conduct of President Trump and included allegations he paid bribes to Russian officials to further his business interests. Orbis said the lawsuit should be thrown out because the report was never meant to be made public and was published by BuzzFeed without the permission of Steele or Orbis. It also said the claim was filed too late. Judge Karen Steyn, who sided with Orbis in her Feb. 1 ruling, issued an order several days later on the legal costs. She cut the amount of legal bills Orbis said it incurred 634,000 pounds ($809,000) by more than 50% because she said it was high considering there had only been a one-day hearing. In 2022, a U.S. federal judge in Florida dismissed a Trump lawsuit against Steele, 2016 Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and former top FBI officials, rejecting his claims that they helped concoct the Russia investigation that overshadowed much of his administration. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Optus networks boss Lambo Kanagaratnam has quit the telco, four months after a 16-hour outage that affected some 10 million customers and crippled the nations small businesses, rail networks and hospital communications systems. Kanagaratnam served at Optus for nine years and as managing director of networks since July 2023. His departure was announced by interim CEO Michael Venter on Friday in an internal memo to staff obtained by this masthead. Lambo Kanagaratnam and then Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin during a Senate hearing. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen After nearly nine years of service, Lambo Kanagaratnam has made the decision that the time is right for him to leave Optus. Lambo joined Optus in 2015 after an international career bringing a wealth of experience from working internationally in a number of countries around the world, the memo reads. Lambo has helped our teams navigate through some uniquely challenging major natural disasters ranging from cyclones, floods and fires as well as responding to the complexities that COVID and the recent outage presented for our customers and Network teams. The news that pet owners will soon be allowed to bring their cats and dogs onboard Virgin Australias aircraft has prompted fierce debate among travellers. Is it a good thing that fur parents will be able to travel within a whisker of their fur kids? Or has the world gone barking mad? Small dogs and cats will be permitted to travel underneath the seat in front, secured in a carrier. Credit: iStock Speaking on 3AW Melbourne radio, Jayne Hrdlicka, the outgoing Virgin Australia chief executive, made clear her intention the airline will be the first in Australia to allow pets in the cabin. Its a comment that will have been met with dread, or at least uneasiness, by people with allergies to animal hair, cynophobia or religious beliefs that frown upon close contact with dogs. These are not the only arguments that run counter to the pro-pet position. London: That Matildas star Sam Kerr could face a criminal conviction, significant financial penalty or even time in jail for allegedly saying something that so many Australians would find inoffensive if not humorous wont come as a surprise to the many whove warned against the creep of illiberalism in Britain. Kerr, who has pleaded not guilty to committing a racially aggravated offence towards a police officer by allegedly referring to them as stupid and white in a dispute after throwing up in a taxi and arguing over the fare, has fallen foul of such laws. Sam Kerr on the pitch last year. Credit: Getty Unless her legal team can have the case thrown out next month on a process argument, the case will go to trial. The police will allege a crime has been committed motivated by hostility. A jury will decide not only if a crime has been committed, but whether the actions of Kerr, who is of Indian heritage, were fuelled by a forbidden motive. So-called hate incidents in the UK refer to episodes the victim, or anyone else, thinks is based on someones prejudice towards them because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or because they are transgender. And they are taken increasingly seriously. London: Denmark will spend millions of dollars to correct a totally crazy imbalance that means Copenhagen has more statues of mythical beasts than women. Only 31 of 321 statues in Danish cities are of women, with the rest being of men, horses or fantastical creatures, such as mermaids. The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, Denmark. Credit: Shutterstock Of those, only five named statues are of women, 70 are dedicated to men, while 26 are of animals. There are four sculptures dedicated to Merfolk, including the famous Little Mermaid sculpture depicting the fictional half-female-half-fishs transformation into a woman. Foreign policy bookended President Joe Bidens State of the Union address. In two blocks separated by domestic issues, the Democratic leader made an energetic defense of aid to Kyiv and, to close his speech, of the U.S. contribution to humanitarian aid to remedy the catastrophic situation in Gaza, with nods to both parties in the conflict, especially, for the first time, to Israel. The Ukrainian chapter and that of the Middle East, together with a coda on the U.S. rivalry with China, were Bidens references to a convulsive world of global instability, which is also causing him headaches at home: the Republicans by blocking aid to Ukraine in Congress, and the Democrats by asking him for concrete actions to alleviate the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The flood of punitive votes in the Super Tuesday primaries in protest against his support for Israel also did not go unanswered, given Bidens fate in November will be partly linked to his Middle East policy. Biden spoke of turbulent times, in which freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time. Overseas, Putin of Russia is on the march, invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond. If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not. But Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself. That is all Ukraine is asking. They are not asking for American soldiers. In fact, there are no American soldiers at war in Ukraine. And I am determined to keep it that way. Barely four minutes into his speech, Biden took advantage of the war in Europe to throw the first barb at his Republican rival, Donald Trump. Without naming him, the president lamented Trumps recent statements inviting Moscow to do whatever the hell they want with NATO allies who do not contribute fully to the Alliances budget. Biden compared him to a predecessor and co-religionist of his: It wasnt that long ago when a Republican President, Ronald Reagan, thundered, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. Now, my predecessor, a former Republican President, tells Putin, Do whatever the hell you want. A former American President actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader. Its outrageous. Its dangerous. Its unacceptable. Addressing Congress, Biden asked: We must stand up to Putin. Send me the Bipartisan National Security Bill [passed by the Senate, blocked in the House by Republicans]. History is watching. If the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe at risk. The free world at risk, emboldening others who wish to do us harm. He also had a direct message for his Russian counterpart: My message to President Putin is simple. We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down. History is watching, just like history watched three years ago on January 6th, the day a horde of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021. The equivalence between freedom and democracy, between the U.S. and the world, ran through his message. Without making an excessive profession of Atlanticist faith, Biden celebrated the recent additions of Finland and Sweden to the NATO alliance. After the bulk of the speech, devoted to domestic issues, Biden closed with the Middle East and the rivalry with China. The first issue was the most anticipated, after it was announced earlier Thursday that the U.S. will establish a humanitarian aid point on the Gaza coast. But his words on the war between Israel and Hamas were particularly long overdue. The pressure on the White House from Democratic voters who reject support for Israel is increasingly pressing, as the primaries in Michigan and Minnesota, among others, have shown. Biden used his speech to officially announce a plan by which the U.S. army will help establish a temporary port on the coast of the Strip: it is not only Democratic voters who are pressuring him, but also many lawmakers within the party. As we manage challenges at home, were also managing crises abroad including in the Middle East, he said after reviewing health care, immigration, and reproductive rights. I know the last five months have been gut-wrenching for so many people, for the Israeli people, the Palestinian people, and so many here in America, Biden conceded, referring to the victims on both sides, some of whose families were present in the room. Biden recapped what has happened since October 7, the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Israel has the right to pursue Hamas, he said, although it has an added burden because the Islamist group hides and operates among the civilian population. But, he stressed in line with the strongest comments in recent days from Vice-President Kamala Harris, Israel also has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed. Most of whom are not Hamas. Thousands and thousands are innocent women and children. Girls and boys also orphaned. Nearly 2 million more Palestinians under bombardment or displaced. Homes destroyed, neighborhoods in rubble, cities in ruin. Families without food, water, medicine. Its heartbreaking. Joe Biden delivers the annual State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress in Washington, DC. Shawn Thew (Getty Images) Defense of the two-state solution Biden, who demanded the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas, explained that his administration has been working to establish an immediate cease-fire that would last for at least six weeks. Despite the presence in the room of his ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, he did not mention the three vetoes with which his country has blocked humanitarian ceasefire initiatives in the Security Council. He did though emphasize U.S. leadership in the international communitys efforts to get more aid into Gaza, citing the announced plan for a temporary dock on its coast as an example. Tonight, Im directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters. No U.S. boots will be on the ground. This temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day. But Israel must also do its part, by allowing more aid into the Strip and ensuring that humanitarian workers arent caught in the cross fire. To the leadership of Israel I say this. Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution is a two-state solution. I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel and the only American president to visit Israel in wartime. There is no other path that guarantees Israels security and democracy. Biden also addressed the risk of regional conflict, the need to contain the threat posed by Iran as a prerequisite for stability in the Middle East, and that of maritime security in the Red Sea, with strikes to degrade Houthi capabilities and defend U.S. Forces in the region which, he warned, would be repeated if necessary. China and the commercial and geostrategic competition between the two superpowers capped off the speech. For years, all Ive heard from my Republican friends and so many others is Chinas on the rise and America is falling behind. Theyve got it backward. America is rising. We have the best economy in the world. Since Ive come to office, our GDP is up. And our trade deficit with China is down to the lowest point in over a decade. Were standing up against Chinas unfair economic practices. And standing up for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he said. He also accused Trump of not having thought of betting on partnerships and alliances in the Pacific as the Democrat has done during his mandate, with novel initiatives such as Aukus, an alliance created to confront Beijing, and noted he had made sure that the most advanced American technologies cant be used in Chinas weapons. Frankly for all his tough talk on China, it never occurred to my predecessor to do that., As such, Biden concluded with the same optimistic tone that defined the other chapters of his message: We want competition with China, but not conflict. And were in a stronger position to win the competition for the 21st Century against China or anyone else for that matter. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Under the framework of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the Regional Training Center (RTC) Kenya and the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA), held a national training workshop on rules of origin for South Sudan Customs. The workshop was held in Juba, South Sudan, from 4 to 8 March 2024 with the objective to assist South Sudan in enhancing its knowledge and application of preferential rules of origin. The training is part of a workplan established with the RTC for competency development for several countries in the ESA region. In their opening remarks, Mr. Albino Dak Othow, Deputy Commissioner General, Ms. Zizi Maksudi Lila, Head of Modernisation, Ms. Mary Guo Amule, Acting Commissioner for Customs Division, and Mr. Daniel Kon, Commissioner for Corporate Services, thanked the WCO, the EU and the RTC for their support in capacitating staff to operationalize rules of origin and stressed that well equipped human resources is crucial for the well-functioning of the administration. SSRA Management encouraged participants to share the knowledge obtained through the workshop with colleagues and make sure it is implemented in order to improve the administration as well as to facilitate trade for compliant traders. During the workshop, participants worked on key concepts for proper origin determination, related operational and procedural issues, including origin certification and origin irregularities, as well as the establishment of efficient origin management. In addition, participants discussed specific areas of concern, including the low level of knowledge and use of the FTAs and challenges linked to verification of origin including trough administrative cooperation. They actively participated in discussions, showed great interest in building the capacity of the Administration and drafted recommendations for better management and implementation of rules of origin on a national and regional level. The EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme will continue its work with the RTC and South Sudan Customs to equip Customs officials and relevant stakeholders with extended knowledge for efficient implementation and application of rules or origin. For further information please contact EU-WCORoOAfrica.Program@wcoomd.org On 8 March, the World Customs Organization (WCO) joins the international community in celebrating International Womens Day 2024 by highlighting the roles women play in Customs operations worldwide. In line with the United Nations theme Invest in women: Accelerate progress, and the WCO theme 2024 Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose, the WCO has launched an initiative to amplify the contributions of women in Customs, underscoring the ongoing need for gender equality and diversity in Customs. Starting on 4 March, the campaign, launched by WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders, brings to the forefront the remarkable and sometimes untold stories of women in Customs from every corner of the world. These narratives delve into the challenging environment in which these women perform their duties be it airports, seaports, land borders, or even at fragile borders. The initiative aims to shed light on the resilience, determination, and contributions of these women, whose efforts in such demanding contexts remain largely unrecognized. Launching the campaign, Secretary General Saunders shared an idea told to him by a colleague in the context of gender equality and diversity: You cannot be what you cannot see. He emphasized the importance of showcasing the stories of strong and capable women to inspire the next generation. He further stressed that gender equality is not a one-time goal but a continuous journey requiring persistent advocacy and action. In this regard, the WCO will highlight every month the story of a successful female Customs official. The first story in the series is that of Ms. Gael Grooby, the acting Director of the Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate of the WCO. In a video message to the Customs community, Secretary General Saunders stated that Gender equality and diversity are first and foremost questions of rights and prerequisites for sustainable development. And, in the Customs environment, these are contributors to operational effectiveness because confronting the most complex challenges requires that we bring the widest array of perspectives and expertise. He added that, To succeed in implementing gender responsive and inclusive measures, engaging with partners is critical. Customs should actively collaborate with other government agencies and the private sector, particularly with associations representing the interests of women traders. As customs, it is vital that we continuously engage with a broad range of partners on these topics to ensure that our services effectively serve all segments of the population. The WCO's commitment to gender equality and diversity goes well beyond this campaign. Efforts include the introduction of the Gender Equality Organizational Assessment Tool, launched in December 2023, designed to help Member administrations assess and improve their gender equality practices. Members are encouraged to engage with this tool and provide feedback, furthering the collective endeavor to create a more inclusive and equitable Customs environment. For more information and to access resources such as the Gender Equality and Diversity in Customs Compendiums and the Declaration of the Customs Co-operation Council on Gender Equality and Diversity, click here. From 3 to 7 March 2024, the World Customs Organization (WCO) organized a regional workshop for the WCO North of Africa, Near and Middle East (MENA) region on border enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) in Doha, Qatar, with the financial support of the Qatar Customs Authority. The workshop, held at the WCO Regional Training Centre (RTC), brought together frontline supervisors and officers with experience in IPR enforcement and risk management from the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. During the five-day workshop, participants learned about the global IPR infringement landscape over the past year, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), the theoretical and practical concepts surrounding IPR risk management, the WCO IPR CENcomm secure communication tool, and how to conduct an online investigation. The workshop was led by an IPR Expert from the WCO Secretariat, with the assistance of two pre-accredited IPR Technical and Operational Advisers. At the official opening of the workshop, the Assistant Chairman of the Qatar Customs Authority for Support Services Affairs Mr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Maadeed, welcomed the initiative and thanked the WCO Secretariat for its support in organizing this event with a view to protecting IPR in the MENA region. He went on to say that Qatar Customs, the host of a WCO RTC, wished to reiterate its support for capacity-building activities, especially in the fight against counterfeit and pirated goods which undermined national economies and threatened the health and safety of citizens. He concluded by urging participants to participate actively in the workshop and share their experiences, so as to develop greater regional synergy in the protection of IPR. The second day of the workshop was given over to presentations by the private sector. Some 16 rights holders, representing a variety of brands, delivered presentations on the essential characteristics of products bearing their trademarks and demonstrated the techniques that can be used by Customs officers to detect counterfeit goods. In addition, a closed session solely for Customs officers focused on risk management and targeting techniques used to combat IPR infringements. This session provided an opportunity to promote a new tool developed by the WCO, namely "Case studies and risk indicators to identify IPR, health and safety infringing goods related to e-commerce, aimed at raising Customs officers awareness of counterfeit goods sold through e-commerce. The participants also visited the Port of Hamad, where they were able to put their newly acquired skills in counterfeit product detection and their theoretical knowledge of targeting and risk management into practice through a range of practical exercises. This workshop forms part of the implementation of the WCO IPR Strategy, which was approved by the Enforcement Committee at its 41st Session. Indeed, capacity-building activities remain one of the core components of the Strategy. For further details of the activities carried out in the area of IPR protection, please contact us at: IPRteam@wcoomd.org. Charlotta Bass has no tombstone to mark her burial place. She has gone so unnoticed by history that there is not a single street, square, or park in the United States officially named for her. But she came before so many others; before almost all the others. Charlotta Amanda Spears, born in rural South Carolina in the late 19th century, was an inconceivable figure. Female and Black, the sixth of 11 children and educated in public schools, she became the owner and publisher of an influential newspaper for nearly four decades, founded political parties, ran twice for Congress and once for the Los Angeles City Council and was the first African-American woman to appear on the vice-presidential ballot, in 1952, almost 70 years before Kamala Harris or the current mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, who is no relation to her namesake, were elected. Charlotta Basss story is enough for a movie or a few seasons of a television show. Her date of birth is known, but not the exact year: she was born on February 14, sometime between 1874 and 1888. And although everything seems to indicate that she was born in Sumter, South Carolina, she may have been born in Rhode Island. When she was very young, she moved there to live with a brother who owned two restaurants. In Rhode Island, a quieter area than the turbulent South, she studied for a semester at Pembroke College, now part of Brown University. But the arthritis and asthma she suffered from called for warmer climes and she moved to an emerging Los Angeles. In the early 1900s, the California city was ablaze with the birth of motion pictures, streetcars, and mass media. And an unstoppable Bass (then still Charlotta Spears) was eager to work. In Rhode Island she had sold advertising and newspaper subscriptions, and when she arrived in Los Angeles she managed to place herself similarly at The California Eagle, which was aimed at a Black readership and located in the heart of community in Los Angeles, among churches and jazz clubs. The Eagle illuminated Black life in a way that was not illuminated in other papers, Angeleno journalist Erin Aubry Kaplan, whose uncle wrote for the publication in the 1950s, told The New York Times. The papers white founder saw Basss talent and she grew in the organization. So much so that when he became ill, he offered to let her keep the paper...if she would become his girlfriend. She refused, and when he died, she borrowed $50 and bought the paper at auction in 1912. As owner she decided to hire a prominent Kansas publisher, Joseph Bass, whom she married in 1914. At the helm, they made big editorial bets that saw the Eagle become the largest African-American-focused media outlet in the West, growing from four to 20 pages and selling 60,000 copies. They unabashedly attacked the Ku Klux Klan; in fact, several members showed up one night at Charlotta Basss office. She was alone and did not hesitate to pull out the pistol she kept in her drawer to encourage them to leave the way they had come. They criticized the racism of The Birth of a Nation, and even wanted to stop the filming of the movie, which brought them national fame. They launched a campaign to shop only in stores where they were allowed to work. They advocated the creation of Black jobs in hospitals, railroads, and telephone companies. They expanded their city and thus their world and the way their community was present in it, and they performed their activism from their milieu, but also by their own management. When Joseph died in 1934, Charlotta remained at the helm for almost 20 more years, until 1951, when she sold the Eagle. Then she got the political bug and began to run as a possible candidate. Although she declared herself a Republican, she had once voted for the Democrats and did not care for either party. A pacifist, she was opposed to the atomic bomb and placed under surveillance due to her suspected Communist sympathies. She founded the socialist-leaning Progressive Party of California, which was quite radical for that era. She teamed up with a well-known white San Francisco lawyer, Vincent Hallinan, in the presidential election of 1952. Although they only garnered 0.2% of the vote, for the first time, a Black woman descended from slaves had placed herself on the ballot and had been able to run for the White House, at a time when the end of racial segregation was still a distant dream; the Civil Rights Act would eventually come in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965. At a rally she gave in Chicago in 1952, she declared: This is a historic moment in American political life. Historic for myself, for my people, for all women. For the first time in the history of this nation a political party has chosen a Negro woman for the second highest office in the land. Bass retired to a quiet area of Los Angeles and remained interested in politics and social rights until the end of her days. In 1960, she wrote an autobiography, Forty Years: Memoirs From the Pages of a Newspaper, of which barely a handful of copies exist. She suffered a heart attack in 1966 and died in 1969. She was buried in a small plot next to her husband, under a headstone that bears only his name, in a cemetery near downtown. She may never have had a grave, but she did have a day: the University of Southern California inaugurated the Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice Lab in 2022 and lobbied district representatives and the mayor to set a date to honor her. In 2023, Karen Bass proclaimed February 14 as Charlotta Bass Day, a holiday in the city of Los Angeles. Even if they are not related, the circle can now be closed. The State of the Union address, in which the president outlines his priorities, is always the big event of the American legislative year. It is also a great political spectacle, a representation with its tragic moments the tears of the congresswoman of Palestinian descent Rashida Tlaib in the remarks about Gaza almost comical characters the former congressman George Santos put in an appearance after being expelled for lying a few months ago and more or less memorable phrases. A performance where it is certain that no matter what happens, half of the audience will applaud with dedication after each paragraph. And the other half, at best, will maintain a cold silence. That is, if it doesnt let out a few boos. The tragedy in this years performance was, without a doubt, Gaza. A war in which more than 30,000 people have died and to which Joe Biden dedicated the bulk of the foreign policy segment of his speech, to demand more humanitarian aid from Israel. On the benches, a group of congresswomen from the progressive Democratic wing, including Tlaib, were dressed in black and wore the kufiya, the Palestinian scarf, to demand a permanent ceasefire. Outside the Capitol, a group of protesters had tried to approach the caravan in which the president arrived. Each member played their role. Behind Biden, like the masks of Greek tragedies, Vice President Kamala Harris smiled and made approving gestures after each phrase; meanwhile House Speaker Mike Johnson shook his head at every moment. The Democratic group applauded enthusiastically, sometimes with cries of four more years, four more years! In the half of the chamber where Democrats traditionally sit, the majority of the deputies had chosen to dress in white, the color they have worn in each of these speeches since 2019 as a gesture of support for womens rights white was the color of the suffragettes who demanded womens right to vote at the beginning of the 20th century and reproductive rights. On the Republican side, Johnson had asked for decorum from his people, following recent State of the Union addresses remembered for the exchange of insults and boos. Some lawmakers from the most radical party wing had already signaled that they had no plans to obey Johnson, and they kept their word. Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene, an ardent Trump supporter, wearing the red cap that identifies the former presidents supporters, interrupted on several occasions. But the main character, of course, was Biden. The president showed up for his last State of the Union address of this term and possibly of his life, if he is not re-elected in November like veteran actors do, bathed in the ovations of his party and stopping to savor each applause, to greet each friendly face, on his slow path to the stage. Once there, he played a very different role than he did last year. In his 2023 speech, he had tried to reiterate the message with which he arrived at the White House, presenting himself as a conciliatory politician, willing to build bridges and collaborate with the opposition to heal the divisions that were opened or aggravated under his predecessor, Donald Trump. This time, the tone was very different. In an election year, with polls placing him behind his opponent on almost every issue from immigration to the economy, Biden gave up reaching out to Republicans. His was a combative campaign speech, his first major rally after Super Tuesday made it clear that in November his confrontation against Trump from four years ago will be repeated. Having turned down previous opportunities to address a large audience of voters he did not accept the traditional televised interview with the president that is broadcast during the Super Bowl, the most watched sporting event in the world this was a golden opportunity to present his campaign program directly to tens of thousands of voters. What he said, and how he said it, could affect the decision of many independent voters, a fundamental group to tip the electoral balance eight months from now. Biden made an effort to target the younger audience with proposals on the cost of housing, student loans and climate change. He recalled the events of January 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to try to prevent Congress from certifying Bidens victory in the 2020 elections, and presented the November election as a choice between the defense of democracy and dictatorial chaos. If his main problem among voters is his advanced age, Biden made an effort to joke about his years. The issue facing our nation isnt how old we are, its how old our ideas are, he noted. He also sought to project an image of vigor, of a leader with full powers of command. He had a few lapses, coughed several times, but maintained a strong tone of voice and responded firmly to the criticism that came from the Republican side. Right at that moment he made a remark that has unleashed the fury of progressive groups and organizations and that may haunt him in his campaign. He was talking about immigration, and recalled that the Republican Party last month rejected the bipartisan bill agreed upon after four months of delicate negotiations. Taylor-Greene yelled out from her seat: Its about Laken Riley!, alluding to a student allegedly murdered by an irregular immigrant. Biden, in an off-script comment, referred to the suspect as an illegal immigrant. There was little left ahead. Biden concluded with an upbeat message: I believe in you, the American people. Youre the reason Ive never been more optimistic about our future! So lets build that future together! And the president left as he had come, surrounded by applause, lingering along the way, greeting people as the lights went out. Savoring his moment of glory, like the actors of old. KYODO NEWS - Mar 8, 2024 - 22:46 | All, World, Japan The U.S. forces on Friday lifted a worldwide flight ban on its Osprey military aircraft, which had been grounded after a deadly crash off a southwestern Japan island in November, but stopped short of giving details on the cause of the accident. The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command said in a press release that it is "issuing a flight clearance" for the tilt-rotor aircraft, saying the decision was based on "a meticulous and data-driven approach prioritizing the safety of our aircrews." Tokyo and Washington are coordinating the exact schedule for the resumption of flights by Ospreys deployed in Japan, including those of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, the Japanese Defense Ministry and the U.S. Forces Japan said in a separate joint press release. Maintenance and procedural changes were made to address a "materiel failure" that allow for a safe return to flight, the U.S. command said. Ministry officials told reporters in Tokyo that while the cause of the accident has been "identified," it cannot be made public as the investigation by U.S. forces is ongoing. No structural defect was found and there is no need to change the aircraft's design, they added. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara issued a statement, saying that Japan has received "extremely detailed information from the U.S. side about the accident and its cause and safety measures." Kihara also said that his ministry has confirmed that Ospreys in Japan are now "able to resume their operations safely" and pledged to explain beforehand to local governments about the resumption of flights. The crash of a U.S. Air Force CV-22 transport plane into the sea near Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture on Nov. 29 during a drill, killing all eight crew members on board, was the deadliest involving Ospreys since their combat debut in 2007, renewing concerns over their safety in Japan. Kihara said in January that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had instructed U.S. forces and relevant departments not to operate Ospreys in Japan without coordinating with the Japanese government in advance. In Japan, a close U.S. security ally, the U.S. military has stationed MV-22s, used by the U.S. Marine Corps, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, and CV-22s, used by the U.S. Air Force, at Yokota Air Base in the western suburbs of Tokyo. Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force also has a fleet of 14 V-22 Ospreys that has been grounded since the November incident. The ministry aims to relocate the fleet from its current temporary deployment site in Kisarazu, near Tokyo, to Saga in southwestern Japan by 2025. Ospreys are capable of taking off and landing like a helicopter but cruising like a plane. Related coverage: U.S. to resume Osprey flights months after deadly crash off Japan U.S. says analysis of Osprey crash off Japan coast to take weeks U.S. forces ship carrying Osprey wreckage arrives western Japan base A money mule who gardai believe was targeted by criminals as part of a money laundering operation, has been ordered to engage with the Probation Services. Ethan OHora, of 7 Rath Glas, Rehins Fort, Ballina, pleaded guilty to money laundering at Ballina District Court last week. Sgt John OReilly said that on Sunday, March 22, 2022, Joseph Salitzer received a text message which he wrongly believed was from Bank of Ireland. The text said his account was about to be blocked and Mr Salitzer followed the link and entered his 365 online details. Sgt OReilly said Mr Salitzer subsequently noticed money had been withdrawn from his account and reported the matter to Sgt Chawke on April 1, 2022. The court heard that on March 28, 2022, four cash amounts from four different parties and Bank of Ireland customers, equating to a total of 3,600, was lodged into OHoras Bank of Ireland account. Sgt OReilly said the next day OHora transferred 1,000 from his account into his Revolut account. The court heard that Bank of Ireland managed to seize 2,600 from the defendants account and on April 12, 2022, the financial institution closed his bank account. Judge Fiona Lydon heard all four injured parties were reimbursed by Bank of Ireland. Sgt OReilly said OHora made a caution statement on January 1, 2023, at Ballina Garda Station and he made admissions. The court presenter described how an account belonging to the defendant had been used as a holding bank account. Criminals do that, they pick bank accounts and lodge money in to be held. Money mules is the term, said Sgt OReilly, adding that OHora had made admissions in relation to the transfer of 1,000 from his bank account to his Revolut account for his sole purpose and for himself and that is the charge before the court. OHora has no previous convictions. Judge Lydon said OHora was clearly the direct beneficiary of 1,000, however, solicitor Peter Loftus stated there was no suggestion his client had any involvement other than being the receiving party. There is no evidence he set up the arrangement or he had any part in the sending of the email or the text message to the party whose account the money was withdrawn from, Mr Loftus added. Judge Lydon also queried what the relationship was between OHora and the person who set up the link and scam. Mr Loftus replied that his client was working in Sweden when the money entered his account and he did not know where it was from, and the court heard it stayed for a short period of about two hours. When it was not moving, he took the 1,000 and put it into his Revolut account, the legal representative added. OHora, an apprentice electrician, told Judge Lydon he realises he should have reported it (noticing the money) at the time but he was not thinking straight. Mr Loftus stated that his client lost his job because of his involvement in this matter and that OHoras family are currently not speaking to him, and he has moved to Letterkenny. OHora told Judge Lydon he is suffering from anxiety, depression and mental illness since the incident and the issues with his family have not helped. The court heard the defendant has not yet paid back the money but he is willing to do so if he is given time. Judge Lydon requested a Probation Report on the defendant and adjourned the case until June 14. BERN TWP., Pa. For a little girl with big dreams, few things can be more exciting than a flight on a private jet. "She is such a sweet love," said Islia Stewart's grandmother, Patricia Cirotti. "She is always happy, always dancing, always singing. Just a ball full of energy." With that energy and her family in tow, holding on tightly to her stuffed bunny named "Heart," the 3-year-old girl was ready for take-off to sunny California on Thursday, and her grandparents were on hand to say goodbye. "It is emotional," said grandfather Daniel Cirotti. "It's a long journey." To the casual observer, it might look like a family trip to Disneyland, but this is not your normal trip. "I would love to be able to give them a hug goodbye, wish them luck, but it's all in God's hands now," Patricia said, holding back tears. "They know that I love them." It's actually a flight to save her precious life. "Really the only safe way for her to get out to California for her lifesaving heart surgery is on a private jet," said Mark Pestal, founder of AeroAngel, an aviation charity that uses private jets flown by a crew of volunteer, professional pilots for lifesaving missions. "She went out on a commercial airline before and got sick." This special young girl isn't always dancing, singing and smiling like any other girl her age. "There are times when, if she lays down flat on her back, her lips will fill up with blue, because her heart's not working right," Patricia explained. Now, thanks to AeroAngel and jet company flyExclusive, Islia and her family headed to a Palo Alto hospital with surgery set for next week. "Oh, so many different emotions will be happening," Daniel said. "Without this surgery, she's just gonna get worse and worse with her heart and her lungs." "She doesn't know the difference, so it doesn't bother her, but she can't go on this way," said Patricia. Her family said it's the joy and positivity that this little girl brings into their lives that's helping them through this difficult time. "We have some amazing videos of her singing and dancing," Patricia said. "Her favorite song is 'I love you,' which she made up, and she's just so adorable when she sings it." And so Islia set off on her journey with lots of love, hope and "Heart," with the rest of her family behind already anxiously awaiting her return. "Just getting the surgery is gonna be a blessing, that she'll be able to grow up and live life to her fullest." If you would like to donate to help Islia, her family and assist other kids like her in need of lifesaving flights, you can visit Islia's Surgery Support Fund and AeroAngel's website. KYODO NEWS - Mar 8, 2024 - 14:16 | All, Japan The Japanese government on Friday approved a bill to allow joint custody after divorce amid calls for recognizing diversity in family relationships. Current child custody rules allow only sole custody by one parent, but the bill would permit either sole custody or joint custody. A family court will intervene if there is a dispute. If there is suspicion of child abuse or domestic violence by one of the parents, a family court will require the other parent to have sole custody under the bill. Tokyo has faced criticism for its sole custody system, which poses challenges for foreign citizens seeking to maintain relationships with their children if their divorced partners return to Japan with them. In many other nations, joint custody of children in the event of divorce is common practice, according to legal experts. The Japanese government plans to secure the passage of the bill by the end of the ongoing parliamentary session through June. The rules are set to take effect within two years following promulgation but would allow fathers and mothers who divorced before it comes into force to switch to joint custody. Under joint custody, family courts will be able to intervene in disputes between parents on important matters such as education and long-term medical treatment, but in an urgent situation where a consensus cannot be reached in time, one of the parents can decide on their own, the bill says. Consensus between parents is unnecessary to make decisions on some day-to-day matters. Looking ahead to the system's introduction, legal experts called for the government to enhance the role of family courts across the nation in identifying cases of abuse and domestic violence, which are often difficult for outsiders to detect. The sole custody system has been criticized by some for severing parent-child interactions and leading to nonpayment of child support after divorce. In cases of sole custody, the bill also obliges provision of a minimum level of child support to the child-rearing parent by the other, while launching a system to help separated parents maintain contact with their children. Related coverage: Japan gov't plans to require firms to set paternity leave targets 87% of Japan firms say paternity leave averages less than 3 months KUTZTOWN, Pa. - A Berks County teacher will be in the audience during the State of the Union address Thursday night. Benjamin Hoffman is trading in the art apron for a bow tie. "I was invited by Madeleine Dean as her State of the Union guest," said Hoffman. "When we reached out, one name came flying to the top, which was Benjamin Hoffman," said U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04). Even though the high school teacher said a bow tie is part of his everyday look, this outfit will be one to remember. "It's a moment in history. And to be a part of that is really exciting. It's just to be able to represent educators and to be here as an art teacher is really powerful," said Hoffman. Hoffman said that the invite came as a pleasant surprise. He says his excitement for the night really stems from the opportunity to represent a small-town community like Kutztown at such a historical event. The Kutztown High School teacher and finalist for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year is returning to Washington, D.C. "Two years ago, and for the same two years now, we've had ornaments on the National Christmas Tree representing Pennsylvania. So like, there's this ongoing story where Kutztown is just on the map for the arts," said Rep. Dean. Dean said Hoffman's passion for teaching, art and learning makes him a role model for all teachers and students. "He is also a volunteer firefighter. It's so often the case when somebody really believes in community and really believes in trying to lift up young people in our community, they also have other areas of service," said Dean. "It's a privilege in so many ways. I mean, I can't even begin to like... I'm just walking through the halls of these corridors, seeing these beautiful columns. And I'm just in awe," said Hoffman. Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan's guest is Matrie Johnson, who helps combat homelessness in Chester County. We're told Congressman Dan Meuser invited a former staff member. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Police in Allentown are investigating after two people were stabbed Thursday night. Officers were called to the 300 block of North 2nd Street around 7:15 p.m., according to the Allentown Police Department. The two people are expected to survive, police said. Police said the investigation is still active, and they would release more information when they are able. EASTON, Pa. ArtsQuest's 2023 programs generated an economic impact of $132.7 million on the region in 2023, up 8% over 2022, CEO Kassie Hilgert said Thursday. Hilgert told a Northampton County Council committee that Musikfest led the way with $84.4 million in economic activity, followed by programs at SteelStacks, $23.7 million, and Christkindlmarkt, $7.6 million. ArtsQuest based its projection on a formula provided by Americans for the Arts, a lobbying organization based in Washington, D.C. The equation takes into account the local population, attendance and expenses. "We do 12 festivals a year," Hilgert, who is also ArtsQuest's president, said at council's Economic Development Committee meeting. ArtsQuest makes annual presentations to Northampton County, which has supported the organization financially. Musikfest remains the big event. It drew 1.33 million people, a record, in 2023, Hilgert said. Attendance at Oktoberfest fell 4% to 38,500 in 2023, when two Saturdays were rained out. Christkindlmarkt attracted a record 117,518 people last year, Hilgert said. "We can't make that festival big enough," she said. Hilgert said ArtsQuest's operating budget is about $30 million, and the Bethlehem-based organization employs about 80 full-time staff. Still, free labor is what makes ArtsQuest go, she said. "At the heart of all this is our volunteers," she said. Some people have been with the organization since the first Musikfest in 1984. She ran down some other numbers: ArtsQuest has 350 corporate sponsors, and it works with 17 school districts and 190 nonprofit groups. Hilgert said ArtsQuest programs make the area more attractive to businesses and creates jobs at hotels and restaurants. The impact goes beyond traditional "hospitality industry" jobs, Hilgert said. "When you're recruiting new businesses to an area, they want to know there's innovation" in a region, she said. ArtsQuest is providing that, by expanding and adding new programs. The group's goals include raising a reserve fund and a capital campaign. ArtsQuest will open a new cultural center in South Bethlehem and convert the former Bethlehem Steel Corp. "Turn & Grind" shop into a venue for weddings and other events. The new cultural center may be ready by Musikfest of 2026, Hilgert said. The Turn & Grind renovation is complicated because work will have to stop at times as events are held at ArtsQuest's campus. Beyond the numbers, Hilgert said ArtsQuest and its year-round programming have put Bethlehem on the cultural map. The SteelStacks campus has won the Urban Land Institute Global Award for Excellence and the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence. That puts Bethlehem on the same footing as San Francisco and Boston, the only other cities to have won both awards. ALLENTOWN, Pa. With its school board's blessing, the Allentown School District's administration plans to adapt its Newcomer Academy to create a dual-language immersion program to meet the current needs of students in the district. Superintendent Carol Birks presented on the program during a special board meeting Thursday. She said the program allows elementary-aged students to become immersed in a foreign language. "We're just updating (the academy) to match the needs of the current population," Birks said. According to the district's website, the academy's programs are "designed to support students who are new arrivals to the United States with minimal English language skills, as well as those who may have limited formal schooling in their native country." The academy is intended as a "transitional program for students to obtain adequate skills and tools to be successful in courses and integrated into their home school." The district operates two such academies: the Newcomer Academy at Lincoln for grades K-6 and the Secondary Newcomer Academy at Midway Manor for grades 7-12. As part of the program's update, the Newcomer Academy at Lincoln would host grades 7-12, while Dual Language Immersion Academy students would be at the Midway Manor site. The Secondary Newcomer Academy would continue to serve students who are new arrivals and have experienced interruptions to their education due to war and disasters, among others. The new academy's student population will be split between native English speakers and Spanish speakers. The restructuring of the district's K-12 world language program allows the district to increase courses and opportunities "for all students of the Allentown School District to engage in the study of world languages by beginning the world languages at the elementary level rather than waiting until middle school," according to the administration's presentation. The academy will also offer German, French and Arabic languages, as well as American Sign Language. The expectation is that children will eventually be able to read and think in more than one language, allowing for more abstract thought. According to Birks' presentation, the process is easier for younger children who want to acquire a new language. The goals of the academy include bilingualism, biliteracy, global citizenship (increased global awareness), and increased academic success. The implementation schedule for the first year will include two pre-k classes, two kindergarten classes and two first grade classes. Approximately 120 students will be enrolled in the first year, officials said. At the end of five years, they expect to have two classes for each grade, from pre-K to fifth grade, and an enrollment of 280 students. Classes will be taught in both English and Spanish, said Birks. "The goal is for both student groups to master both languages," she explained. According to Melissa Smith, the district's executive director of learning and teaching, students come from 76 countries and speak 42 languages. The board thanked Birks and her team for creating and designing a program to meet the needs of the district's families. Smith said families will apply for the program and complete a registration process. According to Birks, the Office for Civil Rights has cited the district for not offering enough for non-English-speaking students. The dual-language immersion program was created to provide a way to meet student needs better. "We have to provide and do better for our students," said board member Lisa Conover. Smith said the next step in the process is to issue a request for proposals for instructional materials in English and Spanish. It was important for one board member to note that a dual-language program is nothing new to the district. She referred to the district's early days when German and English were the predominant languages. Board member Phoebe Harris noted a common expression at the time, "If you ain't Dutch, you ain't much." Budget In other news, the board's finance committee heard a presentation on the district's 2024-25 budget. The $430.6 million budget reflects no increase for district taxpayers, said Jeffrey Cuff, interim chief financial officer for the district. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - There is an urgent need in Pennsylvania for caring people to become foster parents. A "Care and Share" event was held Thursday in Allentown for interested participants to learn about the responsibilities that come with providing a home for children in need. "If you love one of these kids, it just changes you forever," said Heidi Kester who isn't just speaking as a member of the Salvation Army team, but as a foster mom and adoptive parent. "It's a population that people don't know about and some people don't want to know about," Heidi continued to say. Heidi is part of the team hoping to inspire loving individuals and families in the Lehigh and Berks communities to open their hearts and their homes to children in need of a safe environment. "It's such an incredible joy to see a child that comes into your home broken and in need and just to see them blossom and flourish," she continued to describe of being a foster parent. "We are really struggling to find enough families to take care of those children that are getting referred to us." says Florence Rhue, Director of Children services for the Salvation Army. Rhue helped to educate prospective foster parents during a care and share event in Allentown. Rhue says there are over 3,000 children in the state waiting for placement. "Single, married, widow. It can be anyone who just really has the heart for caring for children and also enough room in your own to care for another child," she continued to say. Foster parents do need to be over 21. Anyone with the ability to take multiple children and siblings are encouraged to get involved. If you don't have the space to foster, there are other ways to make a difference in the lives of these children. "Maybe you can support a foster family, maybe you can bring them a meal or be on a Care Community, or volunteer to help with their kids," Heidi described of the other ways to help the Salvation Army in this time of need. "We're just hoping that even if one family comes forward it's going to help change a child's life," Rhue says. Learn more about volunteering for the Salvation Army or being a foster parent by visiting, Care4Kids.net. L. MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. A conditional use hearing for a proposed apartment complex before the Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners was continued Thursday night at the administration building. The continuation occurred due to the township's intention to retain Eastburn and Gray as special counsel in its opposition to the proposed apartment complex's application, submitted by Jason Danweber. During the meeting, legal counsel for Danweber protested Eastburn and Gray's hiring, alleging "a conflict of interest." Solicitor David Brooman asked Danweber to grant the township a 30-day continuance on the matter. After consultation with his client, Danweber's legal counsel agreed to the continuance. The proposal, known as Mill Creek Pointe Apartments, calls for 180 units in six, 30-unit residential apartment buildings at 6300 Lower Macungie Road. The project's main driveway access would come from Lower Macungie Road with secondary driveway access utilizing Spring Creek Road. If approved, the project's construction would be done in two phases. In the first, 10 apartment buildings, a community center and a detention pond would be built. The second phase would find 20 apartment buildings, a second detention pond and a floodplain under construction. Each unit will have a garage. A total of 552 parking spaces are required. A traffic study submitted by the applicant raised questions from township officials about the proposed project's impact on Lower Macungie Middle School, East Texas intersections and Mill Creek Road. The township is stipulating a buffer should be provided along Lower Macungie Road to maintain quality of life for residents abutting the street. In addition, the applicant would be required to install trails on all lot frontage and a trail to Mill Creek Road. This will provide access to the Lower Macungie Township Greenway. The conditional hearing is scheduled for April 4. Liquor license transfer request New restaurant on Hamilton Boulevard requests liquor license The license is for a "casual neighborhood bar and restaurant" offered for 6776 Hamilton Blvd., next to the ABE Doors & Windows and Red Robin headquarters. Commissioners also held an intermunicipal liquor license transfer hearing for a proposed "casual neighborhood bar and restaurant" offered for 6776 Hamilton Blvd., unit one. The license was held previously by Kelly Smith Enterprises LLC for a premises located at 723 S. Eighth St. A verdict on the liquor license transfer request is likely for the legislative body's next meeting, Brooman said. EASTON, Pa. Lower Saucon Township escaped a potential disaster after a double train crash, Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure said Thursday. "About 50 gallons of diesel fuel leaked into the Lehigh River, which is unacceptable to us," McClure said. Still, the engines can carry 5,500 gallons of diesel fuel, and "the spill could have been much worse." An early report on the accident said an eastbound Norfolk Southern train was stopped at a signal and struck from behind by another train. Three cars were derailed onto an adjacent track. Within a minute, a westbound train hit the derailed cars, and two locomotives wound up in the river. There were no injuries or evacuations. Since the crash, rail safety has been raised in Washington, D.C., and an investor group has attacked Norfolk Southern's safety record. The railroad disputed the investor comments. McClure thanked the county's Director of Emergency Services Todd Weaver, Lower Saucon first responders and all who showed up to help on Saturday. Local lawmakers were reacting Thursday night to President Joe Biden's third State of the Union Address. The president's speech was a call to action to keep building in the U.S. and to protect our allies overseas. He also tried to preach confidence in the American economy along with the infrastructure act. He asked Congress to pass Sen. Bob Casey's bill regarding shrinkflation. "Despite strong economic data, we've got more work to do," Casey (D-PA) said in a statement following the address. "We need to keep bringing down costs for working families in Pennsylvania and across the Nation, and I'm glad the President shares my concerns about greedflation, shrinkflation, and other ways that big corporations are squeezing hardworking Americans." The president announced a new channel to deliver aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Biden says the military will make a temporary port on the Gaza coast to send food and supplies by sea. He also asked Congress to provide more military aid to Ukraine, saying he won't back down against Vladimir Putin and Russia. The president spoke about protecting reproductive rights while calling out the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade. And he asked Congress focusing on Republicans to protect democracy and speak honestly about what happened on Jan. 6, 2021. "Remember your oath of office is to defend against all threats foreign and domestic, respect, respect free and fair elections, restore trust in our institutions, and make clear political violence has no place, no place in our democracy," Biden said. Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama delivered the Republican response. She said Biden hasn't gotten the job done for regular Americans. "The true, unvarnished state of our union, begins with this: Our families are hurting," Britt said. "Our country can do better." Rep. Tom Kean Jr., who represents New Jersey's 7th District, expressed a similar sentiment. "With the absence of leadership that we saw tonight, it is important that Congress step up and deliver," Kean said in a statement after the address. "We need to come together for solutions that will make life more affordable for every family, that will support safe communities, and that stand up to the emerging threats to peace and security around the world." Rep. Dan Meuser, who represents Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district, criticized Biden's speech as "partisan" and "divisive." In a statement, Meuser said in part: "I had hoped to hear President Biden offer a course correction tonight that would get our country moving in the right direction again. Instead, he offered no solutions to the issues most concerning to the American people and blamed Republicans and businesses for the failures of his Administration." Fresh off his State of the Union address, President Biden will make his way to Pennsylvania on Friday afternoon for a campaign event. Sources tell The Philadelphia Inquirer that the president will hold a rally at Strath Haven Middle School in Wallingford, Delaware County. The visit will mark Biden's fourth visit to Eastern Pennsylvania this year, including his stop in the Allentown area in January. Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) has welcomed two new direct routes from the UK, offering four weekly flights from London Stansted that started March 3, and three weekly flights from Manchester that commenced March 6, operated by Royal Jordanian. This step highlights Airport International Groups commitment to expanding QAIAs destination network by incorporating additional direct routes to sought-after international cities, stimulating inbound tourism to Jordan and catering to the needs of both leisure and business travellers. Were excited to announce the latest routes to London Stansted and Manchester, enhancing our destination network and offering our passengers an even wider array of travel options especially in light of the new electronic visa scheme, which has made traveling to the UK more accessible and affordable for Jordanians, said Airport International Group CEO, Nicolas Deviller. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our Airport International Group team and our valuable partnerships, were actively promoting the Kingdom as a premier tourist destination and connecting Amman to major global hubs via QAIA Jordans prime gateway to the world where every passenger can enjoy a welcoming experience that feels like home. TradeArabia News Service KYODO NEWS - Mar 8, 2024 - 11:39 | World, All North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has guided an artillery firing drill involving units near the border with South Korea, state-run media said Friday, in an apparent response to an ongoing joint military exercise conducted by Seoul and Washington. The units "put the enemy's capital in their striking range and fulfilled important military missions for war deterrence" in Thursday's drill, the official Korean Central News Agency said, referring to Seoul. Kim "expressed his great satisfaction" as all the artillery units involved in the drill were fully ready for constant mobilization for battle, KCNA said. The leader sought preparations for regular combat mobilization so that all the artillery units can "take the initiative with merciless and rapid strikes at the moment of their entry into an actual war," the report added. North Korea's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, also ran photos Friday that showed many self-propelled artillery pieces lined up at a beach as well as vehicle-mounted multiple-rocket launchers. On Wednesday, Kim visited a major operational training base of the country's army in the western part of the nation and guided units on maneuvers, according to KCNA. South Korea and the United States began their joint military exercise on Monday to prepare for an emergency on the Korean Peninsula. In the 11-day drill through next Thursday, the two countries will double the number of field drills compared with last year, given North Korea's rapidly advancing nuclear and missile technology, according to the South Korean military. Related coverage: North Korea's Kim visits major army base amid U.S.-South Korea exercise South Korea, U.S. begin military drill amid North Korea missile threat EAST GREENVILLE, Pa. - The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced a joint investigation into a fatal shooting. Authorities say 42-year-old Derek Sherer was found dead outside a home in the 200 block of Jefferson Street, East Greenville, Friday morning. Just after 8 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched to the home for a report of a domestic incident. Upon arrival, authorities say they found Sherer in front of the residence deceased from a gunshot wound. East Greenville Borough Police and Montgomery County Detectives, with assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police, have launched a joint homicide investigation. Authorities say the shooter remained on scene and is cooperating with law enforcement. The initial investigation found that the incident is domestic in nature, and officials say there is no danger to the public at this time. The investigation is ongoing. KYODO NEWS - Mar 8, 2024 - 09:41 | All, World Sweden on Thursday formally joined NATO as the transatlantic alliance's 32nd member, departing from more than 200 years of neutrality and military nonalignment, at a time of heightened fears over Russia as its invasion of Ukraine enters a third year. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson deposited the final documentation at the U.S. State Department in Washington after Hungary's parliament approved late last month the Nordic country's long-delayed bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. "Today is a truly historic day," Kristersson said at the department alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken, adding that Sweden will make utmost efforts to provide improved security to all other NATO allies. "We will defend freedom together with the countries closest to us, both in terms of geography, culture and values," the prime minister said. "The security situation in our region has not been this serious since the Second World War. Russia will stay a serious threat to the Euro-Atlantic security for the foreseeable future." U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed Sweden's accession and made the case that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been proved wrong. "When Putin launched his brutal war of aggression against the people of Ukraine, he thought he could weaken Europe and divide NATO," Biden said in a statement. "With the addition of Sweden today, NATO stands more united, determined and dynamic than ever." Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, shifting away from the military nonalignment policies they upheld through the decades of the Cold War, to seek collective security against Russia, which began invading Ukraine in February that year. Finland's NATO accession was greenlit in April last year. But Sweden's membership had been delayed mainly due to objections from Turkey and Hungary, members of the alliance which have cordial ties with Russia. Applications for NATO have to be endorsed by all its members. Turkey had accused Sweden of being too soft on Kurdish groups that Ankara regards as threats to its national security, and refused to ratify the Nordic country's membership in the alliance. But it officially approved Sweden's application in January. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, seen as having the closest ties with Putin among leaders of the EU member countries, has not been on the same page about NATO's commitment to supporting Ukraine. Still, he finally relented as the last holdout in Sweden's accession bid in February. "This has been a little bit of a road, but I think we've known from day one, that we would be here today, and now we are," Blinken said Thursday, when Sweden's instrument of accession was deposited. "This is a historic moment for Sweden. It's historic for our alliance. It's historic for the transatlantic relationship," he said. "Our NATO alliance, our defensive alliance, is now stronger and larger than it's ever been." Related coverage: Russian military revival could "test" NATO: Estonia minister Hungary approval clears way for Sweden to join NATO as 32nd member Finnish foreign minister says Russia "remains significant threat" Ramirez Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Free Report) in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund purchased 2,305 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock, valued at approximately $596,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the third quarter valued at $25,000. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the third quarter valued at $25,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the third quarter valued at $27,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the second quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, CGC Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the second quarter valued at $37,000. Institutional investors own 86.72% of the companys stock. Get Becton Dickinson and Company alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have weighed in on BDX shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $310.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Raymond James boosted their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $269.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. TheStreet downgraded shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $301.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 10th. Two investment analysts have 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 an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $279.17. Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance BDX stock opened at $236.76 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $68.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 56.31, a PEG ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $239.11 and a 200 day simple moving average of $248.74. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a fifty-two week low of $228.62 and a fifty-two week high of $287.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. 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 for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.39 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $4.71 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.73 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 6.44% and a return on equity of 13.57%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.98 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a $0.95 dividend. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. Becton, Dickinson and Companys payout ratio is currently 90.05%. Becton, Dickinson and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Berenberg Bank reiterated their hold rating on shares of Admiral Group (LON:ADM Free Report) in a report issued on Monday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has a GBX 2,961 ($37.58) price target on the stock. ADM has been the topic of several other reports. Citigroup upgraded shares of Admiral Group to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Admiral Group from GBX 2,130 ($27.03) to GBX 2,280 ($28.94) and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 2,240.20 ($28.43). Get Admiral Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on ADM Admiral Group Stock Performance Admiral Group Increases Dividend Shares of ADM stock opened at GBX 2,612 ($33.15) on Monday. Admiral Group has a 12 month low of GBX 1,813.78 ($23.02) and a 12 month high of GBX 2,811 ($35.68). The company has a current ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 136.82. The stock has a market capitalization of 8.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,158.68, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.19. The firms 50 day moving average is GBX 2,581 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 2,539.31. The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 9th will be issued a dividend of GBX 52 ($0.66) per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 9th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.95%. This is a positive change from Admiral Groups previous dividend of $51.00. Admiral Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6,280.99%. Admiral Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Admiral Group plc, a financial services company, provides motor, household, travel, and pet insurance, as well as personal lending products worldwide. It operates through UK Insurance, International Insurance, Admiral Money, and Other segments. The company provides underwriting services, which includes motor, household, pet, and travel insurance, as well as car and home insurance; and provides unsecured personal loans and car finance products primarily in the United Kingdom. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Admiral Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Admiral Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Advisors Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW Free Report) by 29.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,039,890 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 461,185 shares during the period. Advisors Capital Management LLC owned 0.34% of Medical Properties Trust worth $11,117,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MPW. Advisors Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Medical Properties Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Riverview Trust Co lifted its holdings in Medical Properties Trust by 313.8% during the 3rd quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 9,128 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 6,922 shares during the last quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its holdings in Medical Properties Trust by 1,247.4% during the 4th quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 4,608 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 4,266 shares during the last quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Medical Properties Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $56,000. Finally, Gratus Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Medical Properties Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $57,000. 76.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Medical Properties Trust alerts: Medical Properties Trust Price Performance Shares of MPW traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $4.45. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,656,144 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,355,479. Medical Properties Trust, Inc. has a one year low of $2.92 and a one year high of $10.74. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $3.72 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4.81. The company has a quick ratio of 2.26, a current ratio of 2.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.19. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts recently weighed in on MPW shares. Mizuho dropped their price target on Medical Properties Trust from $9.00 to $7.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus cut Medical Properties Trust from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $12.00 to $4.50 in a report on Friday, November 10th. KeyCorp restated a sector weight rating on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research note on Friday, January 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Medical Properties Trust in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a sell rating and a $2.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded Medical Properties Trust from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $6.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Medical Properties Trust has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $6.59. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on MPW About Medical Properties Trust (Free Report) Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed in 2003 to acquire and develop net-leased hospital facilities. From its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest owners of hospital real estate with 441 facilities and approximately 44,000 licensed beds as of September 30, 2023. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MPW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Medical Properties Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Medical Properties Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC increased its stake in American Express (NYSE:AXP Free Report) by 7.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 5,257 shares of the payment services companys stock after acquiring an additional 386 shares during the period. Crestwood Advisors Group LLCs holdings in American Express were worth $784,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Bison Wealth LLC lifted its position in American Express by 2.1% during the second quarter. Bison Wealth LLC now owns 20,444 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $3,561,000 after buying an additional 416 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its position in American Express by 25.0% during the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 499,340 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $74,584,000 after buying an additional 99,813 shares in the last quarter. Beutel Goodman & Co Ltd. lifted its position in American Express by 7.6% during the second quarter. Beutel Goodman & Co Ltd. now owns 1,785,141 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $310,971,000 after buying an additional 125,990 shares in the last quarter. GYL Financial Synergies LLC lifted its position in American Express by 1.0% during the third quarter. GYL Financial Synergies LLC now owns 23,987 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $3,579,000 after buying an additional 242 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its position in American Express by 14.3% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 777 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $135,000 after buying an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. 83.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get American Express alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently issued reports on AXP. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of American Express from $216.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Morgan Stanley lowered shares of American Express from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $212.00 to $222.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of American Express from $220.00 to $226.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of American Express in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. They set a buy rating and a $235.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of American Express from $188.00 to $206.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $189.00. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, CEO Stephen J. Squeri sold 69,356 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $213.02, for a total transaction of $14,774,215.12. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 122,158 shares in the company, valued at $26,022,097.16. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Stephen J. Squeri sold 69,356 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $213.02, for a total transaction of $14,774,215.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 122,158 shares of the companys stock, valued at $26,022,097.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Laureen Seeger sold 84,420 shares of American Express stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.98, for a total value of $17,979,771.60. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 57,512 shares in the company, valued at $12,248,905.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 172,047 shares of company stock worth $36,528,388. 0.12% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. American Express Stock Performance Shares of AXP opened at $223.41 on Friday. American Express has a 1 year low of $140.91 and a 1 year high of $224.69. The company has a market cap of $161.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a current ratio of 1.63. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $201.17 and a 200-day moving average of $174.20. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The payment services company reported $2.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.64 by ($0.02). American Express had a net margin of 13.84% and a return on equity of 30.99%. The firm had revenue of $15.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.07 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that American Express will post 12.82 earnings per share for the current year. American Express Cuts Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 4th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.18%. American Expresss payout ratio is 21.41%. About American Express (Free Report) American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Banco Santander-Chile (NYSE:BSAC Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report published on Tuesday morning. Separately, HSBC downgraded shares of Banco Santander-Chile from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Banco Santander-Chile currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $19.97. Get Banco Santander-Chile alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on BSAC Banco Santander-Chile Stock Performance BSAC opened at $18.80 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $8.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.80, a PEG ratio of 0.39 and a beta of 0.82. Banco Santander-Chile has a 1-year low of $16.24 and a 1-year high of $21.81. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $18.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $18.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.44, a current ratio of 1.80 and a quick ratio of 1.80. Banco Santander-Chile (NYSE:BSAC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The bank reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.42 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $621.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $609.98 million. Banco Santander-Chile had a net margin of 9.99% and a return on equity of 10.73%. Equities analysts forecast that Banco Santander-Chile will post 1.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Banco Santander-Chile Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BSAC. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Banco Santander-Chile by 19.7% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 32,084 shares of the banks stock worth $725,000 after buying an additional 5,280 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. purchased a new stake in Banco Santander-Chile during the first quarter valued at $423,000. APG Asset Management N.V. purchased a new stake in Banco Santander-Chile during the first quarter valued at $936,000. Thomas White International Ltd. raised its stake in Banco Santander-Chile by 14.9% during the first quarter. Thomas White International Ltd. now owns 150,003 shares of the banks stock valued at $3,389,000 after purchasing an additional 19,423 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership purchased a new stake in Banco Santander-Chile during the first quarter valued at $7,510,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.74% of the companys stock. About Banco Santander-Chile (Get Free Report) Banco Santander-Chile, together with its subsidiaries, provides commercial and retail banking products and services in Chile. It operates through Retail Banking, Middle-Market, Corporate Investment Banking, and Corporate Activities segments. The company offers debit and credit cards, checking accounts, and savings products; consumer, automobile, commercial, mortgage, and government-guaranteed loans; and Chilean peso and foreign currency-denominated loans to finance various commercial transactions, trade, foreign currency forward contracts, and credit lines, as well as mortgage financing services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Banco Santander-Chile Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Santander-Chile and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 5.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,589 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 189 shares during the period. Crestwood Advisors Group LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $827,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in ITW. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 106,553.0% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,185,211 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,582,902,000 after purchasing an additional 7,178,474 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter worth approximately $708,259,000. Morgan Stanley grew its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 59.2% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,591,278 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,011,459,000 after purchasing an additional 1,707,780 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 12.1% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,611,731 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,363,875,000 after acquiring an additional 607,321 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 4,162.0% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 496,656 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $120,911,000 after acquiring an additional 485,003 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.56% of the companys stock. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Chairman Ernest Scott Santi sold 50,000 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 221,015 shares of the companys stock, valued at $56,235,056.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other Illinois Tool Works news, Chairman Ernest Scott Santi sold 50,000 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $254.44, for a total value of $12,722,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 221,015 shares of the companys stock, valued at $56,235,056.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Sharon Szafranski sold 801 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $256.42, for a total transaction of $205,392.42. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,505,185.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 152,304 shares of company stock valued at $38,860,831 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock. Illinois Tool Works Price Performance ITW stock opened at $261.48 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $257.68 and a 200-day moving average price of $245.71. The company has a market capitalization of $78.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.85, 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 company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.33. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.41 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $3.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 18.36% and a return on equity of 96.60%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.34 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.12 EPS for the current year. Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Investors of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.40 per share. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.14%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is presently 57.49%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In ITW has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Illinois Tool Works from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $277.00 to $240.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Bank of America lowered shares of Illinois Tool Works from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $260.00 to $235.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $238.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $244.00 to $256.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $215.00 to $224.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Illinois Tool Works has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $239.33. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on ITW Illinois Tool Works Profile (Free Report) Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United states and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC acquired a new position in Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA Free Report) in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund acquired 4,200 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,071,000. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in SNA. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Snap-on during the 4th quarter valued at $112,490,000. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in shares of Snap-on by 7,194.3% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 241,149 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,551,000 after buying an additional 237,843 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Snap-on by 25.1% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 738,473 shares of the companys stock valued at $188,355,000 after buying an additional 147,997 shares in the last quarter. Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL purchased a new stake in shares of Snap-on during the 2nd quarter valued at $34,262,000. Finally, FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of Snap-on by 229.8% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 154,401 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,381,000 after purchasing an additional 107,582 shares during the last quarter. 83.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Snap-on alerts: Insider Transactions at Snap-on In related news, CFO Aldo John Pagliari sold 3,231 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $270.58, for a total transaction of $874,243.98. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 93,183 shares in the company, valued at $25,213,456.14. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, SVP Anup R. Banerjee sold 12,397 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $283.13, for a total transaction of $3,509,962.61. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 11,420 shares in the company, valued at $3,233,344.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Aldo John Pagliari sold 3,231 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $270.58, for a total transaction of $874,243.98. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 93,183 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,213,456.14. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 74,055 shares of company stock worth $21,106,638. Corporate insiders own 4.20% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Barrington Research reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of Snap-on in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Tigress Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $336.00 target price on shares of Snap-on in a report on Friday, February 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $306.00. View Our Latest Analysis on Snap-on Snap-on Price Performance Shares of Snap-on stock opened at $294.64 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $15.53 billion, a PE ratio of 15.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.98. Snap-on Incorporated has a 12-month low of $226.68 and a 12-month high of $297.26. The company has a quick ratio of 2.81, a current ratio of 3.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $281.15 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $272.12. Snap-on (NYSE:SNA Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $4.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $1.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.20 billion. Snap-on had a net margin of 21.38% and a return on equity of 20.89%. The businesss revenue was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $4.42 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Snap-on Incorporated will post 19.16 EPS for the current year. Snap-on Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be paid a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 23rd. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.53%. Snap-ons dividend payout ratio is presently 39.68%. About Snap-on (Free Report) Snap-on Incorporated manufactures and markets tools, equipment, diagnostics, and repair information and systems solutions for professional users worldwide. It operates through Commercial & Industrial Group, Snap-on Tools Group, Repair Systems & Information Group, and Financial Services segments. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SNA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Snap-on Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Snap-on and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. reduced its stake in shares of Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Free Report) by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 29,397 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 1,240 shares during the quarter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in Newmont were worth $1,086,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its position in shares of Newmont by 22.3% during the 3rd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 145,639 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $5,382,000 after buying an additional 26,599 shares during the period. Wintrust Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Newmont by 5.9% during the 2nd quarter. Wintrust Investments LLC now owns 31,297 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,335,000 after buying an additional 1,738 shares during the period. Monaco Asset Management SAM acquired a new position in shares of Newmont during the 3rd quarter worth about $2,845,000. abrdn plc lifted its holdings in shares of Newmont by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. abrdn plc now owns 1,150,986 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $42,529,000 after purchasing an additional 44,574 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Newmont by 20.4% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 592,087 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $21,878,000 after purchasing an additional 100,401 shares in the last quarter. 79.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Newmont alerts: Newmont Stock Up 0.8 % NEM stock opened at $33.90 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.94 billion, a PE ratio of -14.24, a PEG ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.49. Newmont Co. has a 1-year low of $29.42 and a 1-year high of $52.76. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $34.83 and its 200 day simple moving average is $37.41. Newmont Cuts Dividend Newmont ( NYSE:NEM Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The basic materials company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.44 billion. Newmont had a positive return on equity of 6.21% and a negative net margin of 20.95%. The firms revenue was up 23.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.44 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Newmont Co. will post 2.02 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 4th. Newmonts payout ratio is presently -42.02%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Newmont news, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 5,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total value of $226,930.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 54,251 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,238,396.26. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.07% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have recently weighed in on NEM. TD Securities cut their price objective on Newmont from $40.00 to $36.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 23rd. UBS Group cut their price objective on Newmont from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on Newmont from $45.00 to $40.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 8th. National Bank Financial restated an outperform overweight rating on shares of Newmont in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Macquarie began coverage on Newmont in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. They issued an outperform rating and a $45.00 target price on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Newmont has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $53.09. Get Our Latest Stock Report on NEM About Newmont (Free Report) Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and Ghana. As of December 31, 2022, it had proven and probable gold reserves of 96.1 million ounces and land position of 61,500 square kilometers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund acquired 15,151 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,378,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC acquired a new position in Novo Nordisk A/S during the third quarter valued at approximately $215,000. KB Financial Partners LLC grew its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 99.9% during the third quarter. KB Financial Partners LLC now owns 11,230 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,021,000 after purchasing an additional 5,613 shares during the last quarter. Geo Capital Gestora de Recursos Ltd grew its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 113.9% during the third quarter. Geo Capital Gestora de Recursos Ltd now owns 26,707 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,429,000 after purchasing an additional 14,221 shares during the last quarter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP grew its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the third quarter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP now owns 738 shares of the companys stock valued at $67,000 after purchasing an additional 369 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cito Capital Group LLC grew its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the third quarter. Cito Capital Group LLC now owns 2,206 shares of the companys stock valued at $201,000 after purchasing an additional 1,103 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 6.41% of the companys stock. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have commented on NVO shares. UBS Group started coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $140.00 price objective on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $120.00 price objective on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $121.25. Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Up 8.9 % NVO opened at $135.87 on Friday. Novo Nordisk A/S has a fifty-two week low of $67.66 and a fifty-two week high of $138.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The firms fifty day moving average price is $114.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $95.80. The company has a market capitalization of $609.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.41. 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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $9.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.14 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 90.36% and a net margin of 36.03%. On average, analysts anticipate that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.35 EPS for the current year. Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.664 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd. This is a boost from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.22. This represents a dividend yield of 0.9%. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.92%. Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile (Free Report) Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Essex Financial Services Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report) by 47.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 26,274 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 8,480 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc.s holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $1,074,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Studio Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the first quarter worth $28,000. Baystate Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 53.0% during the third quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 803 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 278 shares during the last quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the third quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Central Bank & Trust Co. lifted its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 444.8% during the third quarter. Central Bank & Trust Co. now owns 899 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 734 shares during the last quarter. 72.47% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wells Fargo & Company Price Performance WFC traded up $0.29 on Friday, hitting $57.29. 2,980,883 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 18,899,094. Wells Fargo & Company has a fifty-two week low of $35.25 and a fifty-two week high of $57.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $50.57 and a 200-day moving average price of $45.43. The stock has a market cap of $204.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.19. Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.30). The business had revenue of $20.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.30 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.40% and a net margin of 16.60%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.67 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.72 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 2nd were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 1st. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.44%. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is 29.05%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have recently weighed in on WFC. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $51.00 to $50.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Robert W. Baird restated a neutral rating and set a $55.00 price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $51.43. View Our Latest Report on Wells Fargo & Company Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (Free Report) Wells Fargo & Company, a financial services company, provides diversified banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KYODO NEWS - Mar 8, 2024 - 22:31 | Arts, All, Japan, World Akira Toriyama, who died on March 1 at age 68, mesmerized the world with his "Dragon Ball" series that not only boosted the popularity of Japanese manga and anime internationally but also introduced a host of unique and adorable manga and game characters born from his imagination. Initially gaining popularity with "Dr. Slump," which featured a super-powerful girl robot, Arale-chan, a series that started in 1980 in a weekly comic magazine, Toriyama's work also garnered success in anime adaption, spawning a range of merchandise. Masato Hara, a translator bringing French bande dessinee comics to Japan, said that Dragon Ball -- an adventure story following protagonist Goku on his quest for seven dragon balls that make any wish come true -- was a major catalyst in making Japanese manga and anime a global phenomenon. "Its stylish pop sensibility was striking. The bold and clear outlines of the drawings, reminiscent of bande dessinee and American comics, likely made it easily accepted as an attractive, good art by people in Europe and the United States," said Hara. Toriyama also worked on the character designs for the iconic "Dragon Quest" video game series, giving some cuteness even to enemy monsters. The tear-drop-shaped "Slime" monsters were a "typical" example of Toriyama's work, said Sukezane Watanabe, a game creator involved in the development of the series at Square Enix Holdings Co. "It left a big impression with their big eyes that meet the player's gaze," Watanabe said. The smiling-face slime monsters were so endearing that overseas players complained they could not consider them an enemy. Even after Dragon Ball's serialization ended in 1995, new animations and games have been released, pioneering a trend of actively monetizing intellectual property, as seen now with "Naruto" and "Attack on Titan." Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. said sales of merchandise related to Dragon Ball, including video games and toys, totaled 144.5 billion yen ($980 million) for the fiscal year that ended March 2023, up 16.9 billion yen from the previous year. The company expressed shock and deep sadness at Toriyama's death, which came to light on Friday ahead of the release in April of a game based on his manga series "Sand Land." Toriyama's characters have also continued to inspire the next generation of creators. Eiichiro Oda, creator of the popular manga "One Piece," said Dragon Ball is like a "great tree" to manga artists and other creatives, who "have the excitement and inspiration from the time Dragon Ball was serialized rooted into their childhood." Oda, who has also successfully expanded One Piece to movies and live-action adaptations, called himself a "child of Toriyama" -- those who "love Master Toriyama down to our very blood." Related coverage: Akira Toriyama, creator of "Dragon Ball" manga series, dies at 68 Evergreen Capital Management LLC raised its position in Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT Free Report) by 4.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,054 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 95 shares during the quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLCs holdings in Applied Industrial Technologies were worth $318,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in AIT. Fox Run Management L.L.C. bought a new position in Applied Industrial Technologies in the third quarter valued at approximately $336,000. Ellevest Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 62.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 1,494 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $216,000 after buying an additional 572 shares in the last quarter. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC now owns 4,707 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $728,000 after buying an additional 307 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 39,547 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $6,114,000 after buying an additional 364 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund boosted its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 494.2% in the third quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 26,013 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $4,022,000 after buying an additional 21,635 shares in the last quarter. 92.49% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Applied Industrial Technologies alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Applied Industrial Technologies In other news, VP Warren E. Hoffner III sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.34, for a total transaction of $364,680.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 57,155 shares in the company, valued at $10,421,642.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, KeyCorp boosted their target price on Applied Industrial Technologies from $182.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on AIT Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Performance Shares of AIT stock opened at $185.15 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $179.29 and its 200-day moving average price is $166.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.43 and a beta of 1.08. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $122.24 and a 12 month high of $194.28. The company has a current ratio of 3.74, a quick ratio of 2.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The industrial products company reported $2.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.11 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.06 billion. Applied Industrial Technologies had a net margin of 8.39% and a return on equity of 24.59%. The companys revenue was up 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.05 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. will post 9.42 EPS for the current year. Applied Industrial Technologies Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th were issued a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 14th. This is an increase from Applied Industrial Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.80%. Applied Industrial Technologiess payout ratio is presently 15.53%. Applied Industrial Technologies Company Profile (Free Report) Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc distributes industrial motion, power, control, and automation technology solutions in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It operates in two segments, Service Center Based Distribution, and Engineered Solutions. The company distributes bearings, power transmission products, engineered fluid power components and systems, specialty flow control solutions, advanced automation products, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, automation solutions, tools, safety products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial and maintenance supplies; and motors, belting, drives, couplings, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic components, filtration supplies, valves, fittings, process instrumentation, actuators, and hoses, filtration supplies, as well as other related supplies for general operational needs of customers' machinery and equipment. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AIT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD Free Report) (TSE:TD) by 49.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,466 shares of the banks stock after selling 5,405 shares during the period. Evergreen Capital Management LLCs holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank were worth $329,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 13.0% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 105,119 shares of the banks stock valued at $6,334,000 after purchasing an additional 12,082 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 19.7% in the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 8,944 shares of the banks stock valued at $539,000 after buying an additional 1,475 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association raised its position in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 24.8% in the 3rd quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 61,926 shares of the banks stock valued at $3,731,000 after buying an additional 12,292 shares in the last quarter. Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank raised its position in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank now owns 16,780 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,011,000 after buying an additional 8,390 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co. raised its position in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co. now owns 902,665 shares of the banks stock valued at $54,395,000 after buying an additional 53,217 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 51.52% of the companys stock. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: Toronto-Dominion Bank Trading Up 0.7 % NYSE:TD opened at $60.80 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average is $60.65 and its 200-day moving average is $60.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 0.99. The Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 52 week low of $54.69 and a 52 week high of $66.15. The firm has a market cap of $107.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.86. Toronto-Dominion Bank Increases Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 9th will be paid a $0.7519 dividend. This is a positive change from Toronto-Dominion Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.01 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 8th. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio is currently 45.73%. Several equities analysts have recently commented on TD shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. CIBC cut shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. They set a hold rating for the company. Scotiabank cut shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, Bank of America cut shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $89.33. View Our Latest Stock Report on TD About Toronto-Dominion Bank (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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP cut its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Free Report) by 10.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 23,284 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,709 shares during the period. GSA Capital Partners LLPs holdings in Molson Coors Beverage were worth $1,481,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage during the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage during the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Stone House Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Molson Coors Beverage in the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage by 85.7% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 650 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the period. Finally, First Capital Advisors Group LLC. bought a new position in Molson Coors Beverage in the 2nd quarter worth $44,000. Institutional investors own 73.95% of the companys stock. Get Molson Coors Beverage alerts: Molson Coors Beverage Price Performance Shares of TAP stock opened at $64.01 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.50. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $62.29 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $61.52. Molson Coors Beverage has a one year low of $49.32 and a one year high of $70.90. The company has a market capitalization of $13.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.68, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.83. Molson Coors Beverage Increases Dividend Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $1.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.07. Molson Coors Beverage had a net margin of 6.83% and a return on equity of 8.89%. The firm had revenue of $2.79 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.78 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.30 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Molson Coors Beverage will post 5.66 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.44 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. This is an increase 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 2.75%. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 40.37%. Insider Buying and Selling at Molson Coors Beverage In other Molson Coors Beverage news, CFO Tracey Joubert sold 2,771 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.37, for a total value of $167,285.27. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 60,538 shares in the company, valued at $3,654,679.06. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 2.30% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts recently weighed in on TAP shares. TheStreet raised shares of Molson Coors Beverage from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a report on Monday, November 13th. They set a hold rating and a $62.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Molson Coors Beverage from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. They set a hold rating and a $68.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $67.57. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Molson Coors Beverage 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 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TAP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Molson Coors Beverage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molson Coors Beverage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSA Capital Partners LLP lowered its position in shares of Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CNK Free Report) by 47.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 86,330 shares of the companys stock after selling 77,012 shares during the period. GSA Capital Partners LLP owned about 0.07% of Cinemark worth $1,584,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Cinemark by 61.1% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 50,486 shares of the companys stock worth $872,000 after acquiring an additional 19,144 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in Cinemark by 1.0% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,133,373 shares of the companys stock valued at $19,584,000 after purchasing an additional 11,733 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. bought a new stake in Cinemark during the first quarter valued at about $247,000. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in Cinemark by 63.4% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 52,765 shares of the companys stock valued at $923,000 after acquiring an additional 20,477 shares during the period. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Cinemark by 55.6% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 58,176 shares of the companys stock worth $1,005,000 after purchasing an additional 20,792 shares during the last quarter. Get Cinemark alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Cinemark In other news, insider Wanda Marie Gierhart sold 19,593 shares of Cinemark stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.75, for a total value of $328,182.75. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 179,591 shares in the company, valued at $3,008,149.25. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 10.00% of the companys stock. Cinemark Stock Performance Shares of CNK stock opened at $17.65 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $14.98 and a 200 day simple moving average of $15.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.73, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 1.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 2.27. Cinemark Holdings, Inc. has a 12-month low of $12.07 and a 12-month high of $19.85. Cinemark (NYSE:CNK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 16th. The company reported ($0.15) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.07) by ($0.08). Cinemark had a net margin of 6.14% and a return on equity of 72.91%. The firm had revenue of $638.90 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $619.67 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.82) EPS. Cinemarks revenue for the quarter was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Cinemark Holdings, Inc. will post 0.77 EPS for the current year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CNK has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. B. Riley lowered Cinemark from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their target price for the company from $23.00 to $15.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Roth Mkm reduced their price target on Cinemark from $20.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Cinemark from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and lowered their price target for the company from $16.00 to $13.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Cinemark from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Cinemark from $16.00 to $12.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.40. Check Out Our Latest Report on Cinemark Cinemark Company Profile (Free Report) Cinemark Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the motion picture exhibition business. As of February 24, 20223 it operated 518 theatres with 5,847 screens in the United States, and South and Central America. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Plano, Texas. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CNK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CNK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Cinemark Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cinemark and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group boosted its holdings in John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE:WLY Free Report) by 66.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,099,511 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 439,837 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Groups holdings in John Wiley & Sons were worth $40,869,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of John Wiley & Sons in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $660,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in John Wiley & Sons in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,958,000. Royal Bank of Canada bought a new position in shares of John Wiley & Sons during the 3rd quarter valued at $615,000. Citadel Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in John Wiley & Sons in the 3rd quarter worth $2,989,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of John Wiley & Sons during the 3rd quarter valued at about $187,724,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.57% of the companys stock. Get John Wiley & Sons alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, EVP Todd Zipper sold 3,935 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.12, for a total transaction of $122,457.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 16,787 shares in the company, valued at $522,411.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.79% of the companys stock. John Wiley & Sons Trading Up 12.7 % Shares of NYSE WLY opened at $37.31 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The company has a market cap of $2.05 billion, a PE ratio of -17.85 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a 50-day moving average of $33.16 and a two-hundred day moving average of $33.04. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has a 1-year low of $28.83 and a 1-year high of $43.83. John Wiley & Sons (NYSE:WLY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, December 6th. The company reported $0.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.56 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $492.81 million for the quarter. John Wiley & Sons had a negative net margin of 5.85% and a positive return on equity of 18.98%. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.20 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that John Wiley & Sons, Inc. will post 2.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. John Wiley & Sons Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 27th were paid a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 26th. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.75%. John Wiley & Sonss dividend payout ratio is currently -66.99%. John Wiley & Sons Profile (Free Report) John Wiley & Sons, Inc operates as a research and education company worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Research, Academic, and Talent. The company offers scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, as well as related content and services to learned societies, individual researchers, other professionals, and academic, corporate, and government libraries. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE:WLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for John Wiley & Sons Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Wiley & Sons and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Free Report) by 0.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 121,730 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 606 shares during the period. Kennedy Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.18% of Black Hills worth $6,158,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. State of Wyoming acquired a new stake in shares of Black Hills in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Black Hills by 87.3% in the third quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 562 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 262 shares during the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. bought a new position in Black Hills in the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Lindbrook Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Black Hills by 678.4% in the third quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 685 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 597 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Belpointe Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Black Hills by 60.6% in the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 652 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares during the last quarter. 86.64% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Black Hills alerts: Black Hills Stock Performance Shares of NYSE BKH opened at $53.05 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. Black Hills Co. has a 12 month low of $46.43 and a 12 month high of $66.85. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $52.31 and a 200-day moving average of $52.28. The company has a market capitalization of $3.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.53 and a beta of 0.64. Black Hills Increases Dividend Black Hills ( NYSE:BKH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $591.70 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $863.67 million. Black Hills had a return on equity of 8.09% and a net margin of 11.25%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.11 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Black Hills Co. will post 3.9 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 16th were given a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.90%. This is an increase from Black Hillss previous quarterly dividend of $0.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 15th. Black Hillss dividend payout ratio is presently 66.33%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have issued reports on BKH. Bank of America reduced their target price on Black Hills from $60.00 to $49.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 20th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Black Hills from $61.00 to $57.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 9th. Scotiabank raised their price target on Black Hills from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Mizuho raised Black Hills from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $53.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $55.80. Get Our Latest Research Report on BKH Black Hills Profile (Free Report) Black Hills Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in the United States. The company operates in two segments: Electric Utilities and Gas Utilities. The Electric Utilities segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 222,000 electric utility customers in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming; and owns and operates 1,394 megawatts of generation capacity and 9,106 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BKH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Black Hills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Black Hills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the twelve brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $229.00. A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $222.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $238.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of L3Harris Technologies from $220.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of L3Harris Technologies from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $240.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded L3Harris Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Get L3Harris Technologies alerts: Read Our Latest Report on LHX L3Harris Technologies Trading Down 0.7 % Shares of L3Harris Technologies stock opened at $213.02 on Friday. L3Harris Technologies has a 52-week low of $160.25 and a 52-week high of $218.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $209.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $192.38. The firm has a market cap of $40.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.65. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The company reported $3.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.31 by $0.04. L3Harris Technologies had a net margin of 6.32% and a return on equity of 12.68%. The business had revenue of $5.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.28 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.27 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 16.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that L3Harris Technologies will post 12.73 earnings per share for the current year. L3Harris Technologies Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a dividend of $1.16 per share. This is a boost from L3Harris Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.14. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $4.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. L3Harris Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 72.05%. Insider Transactions at L3Harris Technologies In other news, insider Edward J. Zoiss sold 3,707 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $211.47, for a total transaction of $783,919.29. Following the sale, the insider now owns 28,644 shares in the company, valued at $6,057,346.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.82% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of L3Harris Technologies Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in LHX. American International Group Inc. increased its stake in L3Harris Technologies by 0.4% during the second quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 50,168 shares of the companys stock worth $9,821,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares during the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems acquired a new stake in L3Harris Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,642,000. GDS Wealth Management increased its position in L3Harris Technologies by 184.5% during the 3rd quarter. GDS Wealth Management now owns 90,123 shares of the companys stock worth $15,692,000 after purchasing an additional 58,441 shares in the last quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC increased its position in L3Harris Technologies by 14.1% during the 3rd quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC now owns 673,757 shares of the companys stock worth $117,315,000 after purchasing an additional 83,319 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strong Tower Advisory Services increased its position in L3Harris Technologies by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Strong Tower Advisory Services now owns 5,314 shares of the companys stock worth $925,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. 81.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About L3Harris Technologies (Get Free Report L3Harris Technologies, Inc provides mission-critical solutions for government and commercial customers worldwide. The company's Integrated Mission Systems segment provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, passive sensing and targeting, electronic attack, autonomy, power and communications, and networks and sensors, as well as advanced combat systems for air, land, and sea sectors. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for L3Harris Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for L3Harris Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legal & General Group Plc decreased its holdings in shares of The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX Free Report) by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,182,632 shares of the companys stock after selling 15,528 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc owned approximately 0.95% of Clorox worth $154,996,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CLX. Schroder Investment Management Group lifted its stake in shares of Clorox by 384.0% during the 2nd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 64,175 shares of the companys stock worth $10,206,000 after purchasing an additional 50,917 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas raised its position in shares of Clorox by 742.8% in the 3rd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 78,713 shares of the companys stock worth $10,316,000 after buying an additional 69,373 shares during the period. Korea Investment CORP raised its position in Clorox by 279.4% in the third quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 164,209 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,521,000 after purchasing an additional 120,926 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its position in Clorox by 39.6% in the third quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,467,713 shares of the companys stock valued at $192,319,000 after purchasing an additional 415,999 shares during the period. Finally, HB Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Clorox by 10.9% in the third quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,953 shares of the companys stock valued at $649,000 after purchasing an additional 488 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.98% of the companys stock. Get Clorox alerts: Clorox Stock Performance CLX opened at $153.77 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $19.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 244.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.37, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.57. The Clorox Company has a 1-year low of $114.68 and a 1-year high of $178.21. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $148.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $141.23. Clorox Announces Dividend Clorox ( NYSE:CLX Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $2.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $1.08. Clorox had a net margin of 1.09% and a return on equity of 319.41%. The company had revenue of $1.99 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.80 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.98 EPS. The companys revenue was up 16.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that The Clorox Company will post 5.58 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 24th will be issued a $1.20 dividend. This represents a $4.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 23rd. Cloroxs dividend payout ratio is presently 761.92%. Analyst Ratings Changes CLX has been the topic of several research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Clorox from $145.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Bank of America upgraded Clorox from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and raised their target price for the company from $120.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Friday, December 15th. StockNews.com upgraded Clorox from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Clorox in a research note on Monday, November 13th. They set an underperform rating and a $117.00 target price for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Clorox in a research note on Friday, March 1st. They issued a sell rating and a $140.00 price target for the company. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $144.33. View Our Latest Stock Report on Clorox About Clorox (Free Report) The Clorox Company manufactures and markets consumer and professional products worldwide. It operates through four segments: Health and Wellness, Household, Lifestyle, and International. The Health and Wellness segment offers cleaning products, such as laundry additives and home care products primarily under the Clorox, Clorox2, Scentiva, Pine-Sol, Liquid-Plumr, Tilex, and Formula 409 brands; professional cleaning and disinfecting products under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brands; professional food service products under the Hidden Valley brand; and vitamins, minerals and supplement products under the RenewLife, Natural Vitality, NeoCell, and Rainbow Light brands in the United States. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CLX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Clorox Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clorox and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mister Car Wash, Inc. (NYSE:MCW Get Free Report) COO Mayra Idali Chimienti sold 1,734 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.69, for a total transaction of $13,334.46. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 270,523 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,080,321.87. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Mister Car Wash Price Performance NYSE:MCW traded up $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $7.76. 105,836 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,409,367. Mister Car Wash, Inc. has a 12 month low of $4.80 and a 12 month high of $10.07. The company has a fifty day moving average of $8.48 and a 200 day moving average of $7.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. The stock has a market cap of $2.44 billion, a PE ratio of 32.08, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.67. Get Mister Car Wash alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of Mister Car Wash in a report on Friday, February 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $9.50 target price on the stock. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on shares of Mister Car Wash from $10.00 to $12.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Mister Car Wash in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued an overweight rating and a $11.00 target price on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mister Car Wash currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $9.83. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Swiss National Bank lifted its position in Mister Car Wash by 22.2% during the 2nd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 201,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,942,000 after purchasing an additional 36,600 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its position in shares of Mister Car Wash by 186.5% in the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 137,907 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,331,000 after acquiring an additional 89,764 shares during the period. Mariner LLC raised its position in shares of Mister Car Wash by 7.3% in the 3rd quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 1,300,638 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,167,000 after acquiring an additional 88,830 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Mister Car Wash in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $755,000. Finally, Simplicity Solutions LLC raised its position in shares of Mister Car Wash by 168.7% in the 3rd quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 323,254 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,781,000 after acquiring an additional 202,930 shares during the period. Mister Car Wash Company Profile (Get Free Report) Mister Car Wash, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides conveyorized car wash services in the United States. It offers express exterior and interior cleaning services. The company was formerly known as Hotshine Holdings, Inc and changed its name to Mister Car Wash, Inc in March 2021. Mister Car Wash, Inc was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mister Car Wash Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mister Car Wash and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the eight analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $385.91. Several analysts have recently weighed in on MOH shares. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Molina Healthcare from $435.00 to $460.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Barclays initiated coverage on Molina Healthcare in a research report on Wednesday. They issued an equal weight rating and a $437.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Molina Healthcare from $367.00 to $392.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $350.00 to $380.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald increased their target price on shares of Molina Healthcare from $374.00 to $406.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Get Molina Healthcare alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on MOH Insider Activity at Molina Healthcare Institutional Inflows and Outflows In other Molina Healthcare news, CFO Mark Lowell Keim sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $386.56, for a total transaction of $5,798,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 36,531 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,121,423.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link . In other news, Director Richard M. Schapiro sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $401.05, for a total value of $401,050.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 11,207 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,494,567.35. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, CFO Mark Lowell Keim sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $386.56, for a total transaction of $5,798,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 36,531 shares in the company, valued at $14,121,423.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders sold 16,711 shares of company stock worth $6,472,517. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. McIlrath & Eck LLC purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare in the 2nd quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC grew its position in shares of Molina Healthcare by 105.6% in the 3rd quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC now owns 111 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the last quarter. 98.11% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Molina Healthcare Trading Up 0.8 % Shares of Molina Healthcare stock opened at $391.85 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.54. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $379.78 and its 200-day simple moving average is $356.09. The stock has a market cap of $22.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.47. Molina Healthcare has a 1-year low of $256.19 and a 1-year high of $410.00. Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $4.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.31 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $9.05 billion during 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 firms quarterly revenue was up 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.10 EPS. Analysts predict that Molina Healthcare will post 23.62 EPS for the current fiscal year. Molina Healthcare Company Profile (Get 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Molina Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molina Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NEW DELHI, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified persons abducted an Indian army officer in India's northeastern state Manipur on Friday, local media reported. The incident took place in Thoubal district of Manipur, from the house of Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) Konsam Kheda Singh, according to an online report published by India Today. The officer was on leave from duty when he was abducted from his home, added the report. A search operation has been launched to rescue the officer. Morgan Stanley cut its position in shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP Free Report) by 0.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 13,001,142 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 56,880 shares during the quarter. Morgan Stanley owned 1.78% of American Express worth $1,939,641,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Townsquare Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of American Express by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 21,927 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $3,271,000 after purchasing an additional 1,275 shares during the last quarter. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in American Express during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $836,000. Jag Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in American Express by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Jag Capital Management LLC now owns 27,022 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $4,031,000 after purchasing an additional 602 shares in the last quarter. Hamilton Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 3.6% in the third quarter. Hamilton Capital LLC now owns 3,102 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $463,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Toroso Investments LLC grew its holdings in American Express by 10.7% during the third quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 16,745 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $2,498,000 after purchasing an additional 1,614 shares during the period. 83.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get American Express alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on AXP. Robert W. Baird cut American Express from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $190.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Monness Crespi & Hardt initiated coverage on shares of American Express in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of American Express from $157.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of American Express from $220.00 to $226.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on American Express from $216.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $189.00. American Express Stock Performance NYSE AXP traded up $0.65 on Friday, reaching $224.07. 371,264 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,297,806. The firm has a market cap of $162.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 1.23. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $201.17 and a 200-day moving average price of $174.20. American Express has a fifty-two week low of $140.91 and a fifty-two week high of $224.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a current ratio of 1.63. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The payment services company reported $2.62 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.64 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $15.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 30.99% and a net margin of 13.84%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.07 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that American Express will post 12.82 EPS for the current fiscal year. American Express Cuts Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 5th will be issued a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 4th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.18%. American Expresss payout ratio is 21.41%. Insider Buying and Selling at American Express In other American Express news, CEO Stephen J. Squeri sold 69,356 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $213.02, for a total transaction of $14,774,215.12. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 122,158 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,022,097.16. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other American Express news, insider Monique Herena sold 11,242 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $208.41, for a total transaction of $2,342,945.22. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 13,874 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,891,480.34. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Stephen J. Squeri sold 69,356 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $213.02, for a total transaction of $14,774,215.12. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 122,158 shares in the company, valued at $26,022,097.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 172,047 shares of company stock worth $36,528,388 in the last ninety days. 0.12% of the stock is owned by insiders. American Express Profile (Free Report) American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morgan Stanley increased its stake in shares of The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI Free Report) by 4.7% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 4,973,106 shares of the health services providers stock after buying an additional 225,115 shares during the period. Morgan Stanleys holdings in The Cigna Group were worth $1,422,657,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Cigna Group by 13.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 15,967,363 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $4,567,783,000 after acquiring an additional 1,939,554 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of The Cigna Group by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 13,881,798 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $3,895,233,000 after acquiring an additional 137,812 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Cigna Group by 154,255.6% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,954,841 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $3,961,117,000 after acquiring an additional 11,947,096 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in shares of The Cigna Group by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 11,833,753 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $3,385,282,000 after buying an additional 345,605 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Cigna Group by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,410,133 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $1,513,593,000 after buying an additional 40,100 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.32% of the companys stock. Get The Cigna Group alerts: Insider Activity at The Cigna Group In related news, SVP Hoeltzel Mary T. Agoglia sold 4,867 shares of The Cigna Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $330.48, for a total transaction of $1,608,446.16. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 2,102 shares in the company, valued at $694,668.96. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other The Cigna Group news, insider Eric P. Palmer sold 1,017 shares of The Cigna Group stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.26, for a total transaction of $340,959.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 45,564 shares in the company, valued at $15,275,786.64. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Hoeltzel Mary T. Agoglia sold 4,867 shares of The Cigna Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $330.48, for a total value of $1,608,446.16. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 2,102 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $694,668.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 60,424 shares of company stock worth $20,347,634 over the last ninety days. 0.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. The Cigna Group Trading Up 0.3 % Shares of CI stock traded up $1.11 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $343.85. The companys stock had a trading volume of 366,610 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,691,521. The stock has a market capitalization of $100.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.55. The Cigna Group has a one year low of $240.50 and a one year high of $347.99. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $320.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $300.33. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The health services provider reported $6.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.25. The Cigna Group had a return on equity of 13.59% and a net margin of 2.64%. The company had revenue of $51.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48.91 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $4.96 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that The Cigna Group will post 28.36 EPS for the current 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 given a dividend of $1.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 5th. This is a positive change from The Cigna Groups previous quarterly dividend of $1.23. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.63%. The Cigna Groups payout ratio is currently 32.20%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages recently weighed in on CI. Barclays began coverage on The Cigna Group in a report on Wednesday. They set an overweight rating and a $393.00 price objective on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein raised The Cigna Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the company from $330.00 to $372.00 in a report on Thursday, January 4th. StockNews.com cut The Cigna Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada raised The Cigna Group from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the company from $327.00 to $354.00 in a report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $372.00 price objective on shares of The Cigna Group in a report on Monday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued 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 price target of $361.87. View Our Latest Analysis on CI The Cigna Group Company Profile (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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Cigna Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Cigna Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Penserra Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund, Inc. (NYSE:RQI Free Report) by 128.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 468,753 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 263,200 shares during the period. Penserra Capital Management LLCs holdings in Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund were worth $4,743,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. AlphaMark Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund by 77.3% during the third quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC now owns 2,793 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 1,218 shares in the last quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund by 30,000.0% during the first quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,010 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 3,000 shares in the last quarter. Halpern Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund during the second quarter worth about $36,000. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC increased its position in shares of Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund by 29.2% during the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 3,746 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 846 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harbour Investments Inc. increased its position in shares of Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund by 20.2% during the first quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 6,943 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $83,000 after acquiring an additional 1,166 shares in the last quarter. Get Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund alerts: Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund Trading Up 1.0 % RQI stock traded up $0.12 during trading on Friday, reaching $12.08. The stock had a trading volume of 44,935 shares, compared to its average volume of 447,404. Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund, Inc. has a one year low of $9.17 and a one year high of $12.64. The companys 50 day moving average is $11.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.15. Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund Dividend Announcement Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund Company Profile The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 13th will be given a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.95%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 12th. (Free Report) Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund, Inc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by Cohen & Steers, Inc The fund is managed by Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc It invests in the public equity markets of the United States. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating in the real estate sector, including real estate investment trusts. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RQI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund, Inc. (NYSE:RQI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Primo Water Co. (TSE:PRMW Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as C$22.22 and last traded at C$21.90, with a volume of 27204 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$22.04. Primo Water Stock Performance The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$20.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$19.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 99.54, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 2.03. The company has a market capitalization of C$3.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.19. Primo Water Company Profile (Get Free Report) Primo Water Corporation provides pure-play water solutions for residential and commercial customers. It offers bottled water, water dispensers, purified bottled water, self-service refill drinking water, premium spring, mineral water, sparkling and flavored water, filtration equipment, and coffee. The company offers its products under the Primo, Alhambra, Crystal Rock, Mountain Valley, Deep Rock, Hinckley Springs, Crystal Springs, Kentwood Springs, Mount Olympus, Pureflo, Sierra Springs, Sparkletts, and Renu brands in the United States; Canadian Springs, Labrador Source, and Amazon Springs brands in Canada; and Decantae, Eden, Eden Springs, Chateaud'eau, and Mey Eden brands in Europe and Israel. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Primo Water Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Primo Water and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 1,338 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $271,000. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in TT. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Trane Technologies by 5.4% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 20,337,700 shares of the companys stock worth $3,889,789,000 after acquiring an additional 1,048,924 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Trane Technologies by 0.4% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,133,851 shares of the companys stock worth $2,769,040,000 after acquiring an additional 77,924 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in Trane Technologies by 5.4% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 17,085,662 shares of the companys stock worth $3,466,852,000 after acquiring an additional 880,583 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in Trane Technologies by 2.2% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 9,832,534 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,880,570,000 after buying an additional 210,171 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC boosted its position in Trane Technologies by 12.4% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,743,154 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,165,343,000 after buying an additional 632,598 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.66% of the companys stock. Get Trane Technologies alerts: Trane Technologies Price Performance TT stock opened at $287.55 on Friday. Trane Technologies plc has a 1 year low of $162.04 and a 1 year high of $289.79. The company has a market cap of $65.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.71, a PEG ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.05. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $263.01 and a 200 day moving average of $230.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.78. Trane Technologies Increases Dividend Trane Technologies ( NYSE:TT Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results 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. Trane Technologies had a net margin of 11.45% and a return on equity of 32.01%. The business had revenue of $4.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.43 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.82 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Trane Technologies plc will post 10.18 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.84 per share. This is an increase from Trane Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.17%. 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 businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.31, for a total value of $742,413.77. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 54,788 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,700,168.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CFO Christopher J. Kuehn sold 2,767 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.31, for a total value of $742,413.77. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 54,788 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,700,168.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Paul A. Camuti sold 508 shares of Trane Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $273.34, for a total transaction of $138,856.72. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 89,447 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,449,442.98. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 29,874 shares of company stock valued at $8,462,825 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets TT has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Trane Technologies from $200.00 to $246.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Stephens upped their price target on shares of Trane Technologies from $235.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Trane Technologies from $246.00 to $269.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Trane Technologies from $231.00 to $246.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Trane Technologies from $253.00 to $287.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Trane Technologies presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $232.31. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Trane Technologies About Trane Technologies (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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Trane Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Trane Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada decreased its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG Free Report) by 2.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,597,710 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 71,943 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada owned about 1.20% of The Hartford Financial Services Group worth $255,114,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. grew its position 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 worth $1,867,005,000 after buying an additional 1,183,946 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its position 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 worth $526,242,000 after buying an additional 91,911 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position 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 worth $454,234,000 after buying an additional 74,997 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position 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 worth $403,036,000 after buying an additional 307,231 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its position 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 worth $364,631,000 after buying an additional 1,083,420 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.81% of the companys stock. Get The Hartford Financial Services Group alerts: The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of NYSE:HIG opened at $97.06 on Friday. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $64.25 and a 52-week high of $98.22. The stock has a market cap of $28.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.15, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $88.55 and a 200-day moving average price of $79.27. The Hartford Financial Services Group Dividend Announcement The Hartford Financial Services Group ( NYSE:HIG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The insurance provider reported $3.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.44 by $0.62. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 19.82% and a net margin of 10.21%. The firm had revenue of $6.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.84 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.31 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 9.94 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be paid a $0.47 dividend. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 1st. The Hartford Financial Services Groups payout ratio is 23.53%. Insider Transactions at The Hartford Financial Services Group In related news, CEO Christopher Swift sold 53,596 shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 170,180 shares in the company, valued at $13,653,541.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 8,206 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.60, for a total value of $784,493.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 25,820 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,468,392. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Christopher Swift sold 53,596 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of 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. Insiders sold a total of 332,967 shares of company stock worth $28,667,758 over the last three months. 1.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes HIG has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Raymond James increased their price target on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. They set an outperform rating on the stock. Roth Mkm raised their price objective on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. UBS Group raised their price objective on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $100.00 to $107.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Oppenheimer initiated coverage on The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. They set a market perform rating on the stock. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $90.60. Get Our Latest Stock Report on HIG The Hartford Financial Services Group Company 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HIG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD Free Report) by 3.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 103,117 shares of the aerospace companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,160 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in General Dynamics were worth $22,795,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Scotia Capital Inc. boosted its holdings in General Dynamics by 4.5% in the third quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 7,104 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,570,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in shares of General Dynamics by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 263,635 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $58,255,000 after purchasing an additional 17,797 shares during the period. Earnest Partners LLC raised its position in shares of General Dynamics by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 170,546 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $37,686,000 after purchasing an additional 5,300 shares during the period. Evergreen Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of General Dynamics by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 1,513 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $334,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares during the period. Finally, Alps Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in General Dynamics by 42.0% in the 3rd quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 12,418 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $2,744,000 after acquiring an additional 3,670 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.08% of the companys stock. Get General Dynamics alerts: Insider Activity In related news, EVP Mark C. Roualet sold 73,330 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.75, for a total transaction of $19,414,117.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 149,205 shares in the company, valued at $39,502,023.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other General Dynamics news, EVP Mark C. Roualet sold 73,330 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.75, for a total transaction of $19,414,117.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 149,205 shares of the companys stock, valued at $39,502,023.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Phebe N. Novakovic sold 32,355 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $264.31, for a total transaction of $8,551,750.05. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 773,977 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $204,569,860.87. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.52% of the companys stock. General Dynamics Stock Performance NYSE:GD opened at $273.00 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 1.44. The company has a fifty day moving average of $263.75 and a two-hundred day moving average of $246.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $74.80 billion, a PE ratio of 22.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.68. General Dynamics Co. has a fifty-two week low of $202.35 and a fifty-two week high of $277.43. General Dynamics (NYSE:GD Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The aerospace company reported $3.64 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.68 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $11.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.39 billion. General Dynamics had a return on equity of 16.61% and a net margin of 7.84%. The businesss revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.58 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. General Dynamics Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 12th will be given a $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.08%. This is a boost from General Dynamicss previous quarterly dividend of $1.32. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 11th. General Dynamicss dividend payout ratio is 43.93%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have commented on GD. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $300.00 price objective on shares of General Dynamics in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $283.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of General Dynamics from $286.00 to $296.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Alembic Global Advisors lowered shares of General Dynamics from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $296.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of General Dynamics from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, February 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, General Dynamics has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $271.69. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on General Dynamics General Dynamics Company Profile (Free Report) General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support and completion, charter, staffing, and fixed-base operator services. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Dynamics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Dynamics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. grew its holdings in Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE:APO Free Report) by 20.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 286,352 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 47,776 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. owned about 0.05% of Apollo Global Management worth $25,709,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in shares of Apollo Global Management by 7,183.3% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 437 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 431 shares during the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Apollo Global Management in the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. purchased a new position in shares of Apollo Global Management in the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Apollo Global Management in the 1st quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC purchased a new position in Apollo Global Management during the first quarter valued at $37,000. 60.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Apollo Global Management alerts: Apollo Global Management Stock Up 2.0 % Shares of NYSE:APO opened at $110.94 on Friday. Apollo Global Management, Inc. has a 1 year low of $55.16 and a 1 year high of $115.03. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $103.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $93.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $62.96 billion, a PE ratio of 13.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.54. Apollo Global Management Dividend Announcement Apollo Global Management ( NYSE:APO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $795.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $823.27 million. Apollo Global Management had a return on equity of 20.33% and a net margin of 15.86%. On average, equities analysts predict that Apollo Global Management, Inc. will post 7.48 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 16th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.55%. Apollo Global Managements payout ratio is 20.45%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Apollo Global Management news, insider Leon D. Black sold 300,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Saturday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.51, for a total transaction of $33,453,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 43,054,773 shares in the company, valued at $4,801,037,737.23. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, insider Leon D. Black sold 300,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Saturday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.51, for a total transaction of $33,453,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 43,054,773 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,801,037,737.23. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider James C. Zelter sold 150,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.16, for a total value of $16,374,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,454,588 shares in the company, valued at $158,782,826.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 976,000 shares of company stock worth $108,407,460 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 8.70% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets APO has been the topic of several analyst reports. Citigroup lifted their target price on Apollo Global Management from $111.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. Barclays lifted their target price on Apollo Global Management from $118.00 to $122.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 12th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Apollo Global Management in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. They set an outperform rating and a $115.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Apollo Global Management from $110.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Apollo Global Management from $94.00 to $99.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Apollo Global Management presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $107.92. Get Our Latest Analysis on APO About Apollo Global Management (Free Report) Apollo Global Management, Inc is a private equity firm specializing in investments in credit, private equity and real estate markets. The firm's private equity investments include traditional buyouts, recapitalization, distressed buyouts and debt investments in real estate, corporate partner buyouts, distressed asset, corporate carve-outs, middle market, growth capital, turnaround, bridge, corporate restructuring, special situation, acquisition, and industry consolidation transactions. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding APO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE:APO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Apollo Global Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apollo Global Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. grew its position in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report) by 3.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 759,302 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 24,494 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Citigroup were worth $31,234,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in C. Meridian Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 130.4% during the 3rd quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC now owns 175,576 shares of the companys stock worth $7,221,000 after acquiring an additional 99,371 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management bought a new stake in Citigroup in the third quarter worth $209,000. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its stake in Citigroup by 47.0% in the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 12,473,605 shares of the companys stock worth $574,285,000 after purchasing an additional 3,986,558 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC lifted its stake in Citigroup by 17.1% in the second quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 60,384 shares of the companys stock worth $2,780,000 after purchasing an additional 8,821 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp lifted its stake in Citigroup by 4.5% in the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 943,832 shares of the companys stock worth $38,820,000 after purchasing an additional 40,630 shares during the last quarter. 69.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Citigroup alerts: Citigroup Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:C opened at $57.72 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $110.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.47, a PEG ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 1.50. Citigroup Inc. has a 12 month low of $38.17 and a 12 month high of $58.12. The firms 50-day moving average is $54.23 and its 200 day moving average is $47.15. The company has a current ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52. Citigroup Dividend Announcement Citigroup ( NYSE:C Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The company reported ($1.16) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.73 by ($1.89). The company had revenue of $17.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.71 billion. Citigroup had a return on equity of 6.49% and a net margin of 5.88%. Citigroups revenue was down 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.10 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Citigroup Inc. will post 5.94 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 5th were paid a dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 2nd. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.67%. Citigroups dividend payout ratio is presently 53.13%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have weighed in on C shares. BMO Capital Markets downgraded shares of Citigroup from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $57.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Citigroup from an underweight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the company from $46.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Societe Generale lowered shares of Citigroup from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Monday, January 8th. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Citigroup from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $58.00 target price for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Citigroup currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $57.03. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Citigroup Citigroup Profile (Free Report) Citigroup Inc, a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions, which provides cash management, trade, and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations; and Securities Services, such as cross-border support for clients, local market expertise, post-trade technologies, data solutions, and various securities services solutions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Citigroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citigroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. An injured person is transferred to a hospital in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, on March 8, 2024. The death toll of Palestinians from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,878, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Friday. (Xinhua) GAZA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of Palestinians from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,878, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Friday. During the past 24 hours, the Israeli military killed 78 people and wounded about 104 others, the ministry said in a press statement, adding that out of the over 30,000 casualties, about 72 percent were women and children. Five months ago, Israel waged a large-scale military campaign against Gaza in response to a surprise Hamas attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the strip, in which Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and took more than 200 others as hostages. An injured man is transferred to a hospital in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, on March 8, 2024. The death toll of Palestinians from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,878, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Friday. (Xinhua) The body of a victim is transferred to a hospital in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah, on March 8, 2024. The death toll of Palestinians from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,878, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Friday. (Xinhua) Royal London Asset Management Ltd. raised its stake in Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD Free Report) by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 23,173 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after purchasing an additional 916 shares during the quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. owned about 0.11% of Mettler-Toledo International worth $25,688,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 22.9% in the third quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 23,755 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $26,327,000 after purchasing an additional 4,431 shares during the period. Seven Eight Capital LP acquired a new position in Mettler-Toledo International in the third quarter worth about $236,000. AXQ Capital LP grew its stake in Mettler-Toledo International by 242.0% in the third quarter. AXQ Capital LP now owns 684 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $758,000 after purchasing an additional 484 shares in the last quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Mettler-Toledo International by 84.6% in the third quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,250 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $1,385,000 after purchasing an additional 573 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Glenmede Trust Co. NA grew its stake in Mettler-Toledo International by 4.5% in the third quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 2,003 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $2,219,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. 93.11% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Mettler-Toledo International alerts: Insider Activity at Mettler-Toledo International In related news, insider Christian Magloth sold 400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,278.73, for a total value of $511,492.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 734 shares of the companys stock, valued at $938,587.82. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Mettler-Toledo International news, insider Christian Magloth sold 400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,278.73, for a total value of $511,492.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 734 shares in the company, valued at $938,587.82. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Elisha W. Finney sold 251 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,177.35, for a total transaction of $295,514.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 316 shares in the company, valued at $372,042.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 951 shares of company stock valued at $1,170,256 over the last quarter. 2.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets MTD has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,185.00 to $1,030.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 13th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Mettler-Toledo International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 19th. Citigroup reiterated a sell rating and set 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. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,520.00 to $1,300.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,425.00 to $1,270.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $1,223.71. Get Our Latest Report on MTD Mettler-Toledo International Stock Performance NYSE:MTD opened at $1,353.00 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $1,205.98 and its 200-day moving average is $1,139.95. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. has a 52-week low of $928.49 and a 52-week high of $1,615.97. The company has a market cap of $29.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.70, a PEG ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 1.15. Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 9th. The medical instruments supplier reported $9.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $10.32 by ($0.92). Mettler-Toledo International had a negative return on equity of 904.59% and a net margin of 20.82%. The company had revenue of $934.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $959.45 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $12.10 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Mettler-Toledo International Inc. will post 39.91 EPS for the current year. Mettler-Toledo International 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Mettler-Toledo International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mettler-Toledo International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. increased its position in Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD Free Report) by 4.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 106,373 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock after buying an additional 4,326 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.s holdings in Pioneer Natural Resources were worth $24,425,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BluePath Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Pioneer Natural Resources during the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Carmel Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources in the third quarter worth $34,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its stake in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources by 85.0% in the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 148 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources by 77.4% in the first quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 149 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Finally, DecisionPoint Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources in the second quarter worth $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.72% of the companys stock. Get Pioneer Natural Resources alerts: Insider Activity In other news, EVP Mark H. Kleinman sold 3,500 shares of Pioneer Natural Resources stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.35, for a total transaction of $820,225.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 49,856 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,683,753.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Pioneer Natural Resources news, EVP Mark H. Kleinman sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.35, for a total value of $820,225.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 49,856 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,683,753.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Scott D. Sheffield sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $235.25, for a total value of $2,352,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 462,112 shares in the company, valued at approximately $108,711,848. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 24,132 shares of company stock worth $5,582,149 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.57% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on PXD shares. Susquehanna raised their price objective on shares of Pioneer Natural Resources from $237.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday. StockNews.com started coverage on Pioneer Natural Resources in a research report on Monday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $243.00 to $224.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. UBS Group reduced their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $269.00 to $250.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $255.00 to $238.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Pioneer Natural Resources currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $255.14. Read Our Latest Research Report on Pioneer Natural Resources Pioneer Natural Resources Price Performance Shares of PXD stock opened at $241.36 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $228.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $232.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The firm has a market cap of $56.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.92 and a beta of 1.30. Pioneer Natural Resources has a 12 month low of $177.26 and a 12 month high of $257.76. Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The oil and gas development company reported $5.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.41 by ($0.13). The company had revenue of $5.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.28 billion. Pioneer Natural Resources had a return on equity of 22.42% and a net margin of 25.28%. Pioneer Natural Resourcess quarterly revenue was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $5.91 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Pioneer Natural Resources will post 20.74 EPS for the current year. Pioneer Natural Resources Cuts Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be issued a dividend of $2.56 per share. This represents a $10.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 1st. Pioneer Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.70%. Pioneer Natural Resources Company Profile (Free Report) Pioneer Natural Resources Company operates as an independent oil and gas exploration and production company in the United States. The company explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and gas. It has operations in the Midland Basin in West Texas. Pioneer Natural Resources Company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PXD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pioneer Natural Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pioneer Natural Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of SCB X Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS:SMUUY Get Free Report) dropped 24.3% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $1.72 and last traded at $1.75. Approximately 3,500 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 73% from the average daily volume of 2,022 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.31. SCB X Public Stock Performance The company has a fifty day moving average price of $1.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $1.75. SCB X Public Company Profile (Get Free Report) SCB X Public Company Limited operates as a holding company for The Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited that provides various financial products and services. The company offers various personal banking products and services, including savings, current, fixed deposit, and long term deposit accounts; payroll solutions; home, car, and personal loans; accident, savings, health expense, and other insurance services; debit, credit, prepaid, and gift cards; mutual funds, bonds, debentures, and other investment products; and payment, digital banking, and other services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for SCB X Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SCB X Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group raised its holdings in Stem, Inc. (NYSE:STEM Free Report) by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,071,088 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 438,834 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group owned approximately 7.10% of Stem worth $46,941,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Stem in the 1st quarter worth $67,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank purchased a new stake in shares of Stem during the 2nd quarter worth $53,000. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Stem during the 3rd quarter worth $113,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Stem during the 3rd quarter worth $43,000. Finally, State of Wisconsin Investment Board purchased a new stake in shares of Stem during the 2nd quarter worth $66,000. Institutional investors own 64.45% of the companys stock. Get Stem alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth STEM has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Stem from $4.00 to $3.25 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. TD Cowen decreased their price target on Stem from $7.00 to $5.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on Stem from $7.00 to $6.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Stem from $7.00 to $4.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price target on Stem from $5.50 to $4.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Stem currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $6.64. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO John Eugene Carrington sold 13,863 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.70, for a total transaction of $37,430.10. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 138,562 shares of the companys stock, valued at $374,117.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Stem news, CEO John Eugene Carrington sold 13,863 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.70, for a total value of $37,430.10. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 138,562 shares of the companys stock, valued at $374,117.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Saul R. Laureles sold 10,959 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.17, for a total value of $34,740.03. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 80,003 shares in the company, valued at $253,609.51. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 123,552 shares of company stock valued at $378,195 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 9.12% of the companys stock. Stem Stock Down 5.8 % Stem stock opened at $2.10 on Friday. Stem, Inc. has a 52 week low of $2.07 and a 52 week high of $8.63. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $3.08 and its 200 day moving average price is $3.60. The company has a quick ratio of 1.78, a current ratio of 1.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23. Stem Company Profile (Free Report) Stem, Inc operates as a digitally connected and intelligent energy storage network provider in the United States and internationally. The company offers energy storage systems sourced from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). It also provides Athena, an artificial intelligence platform, which offers battery hardware and software-enabled services to operate the energy storage systems. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding STEM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Stem, Inc. (NYSE:STEM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Stem Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stem and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group trimmed its holdings in shares of Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD Free Report) by 16.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 32,132 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 6,194 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Group owned 0.15% of Mettler-Toledo International worth $35,605,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MTD. Ancora Advisors LLC boosted its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 20 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International during the first quarter worth about $37,000. Gladius Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International during the third quarter worth about $27,000. Huntington National Bank lifted its position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 34.6% during the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 35 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 9 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Operose Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International during the third quarter worth about $43,000. 93.11% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Mettler-Toledo International alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth MTD has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Citigroup reaffirmed a sell rating and set a $975.00 price target (down previously from $1,050.00) on shares of Mettler-Toledo International in a research report on Monday, December 11th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Mettler-Toledo International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 19th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,425.00 to $1,270.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,185.00 to $1,030.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,520.00 to $1,300.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $1,223.71. Mettler-Toledo International Stock Performance NYSE MTD opened at $1,353.00 on Friday. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. has a twelve month low of $928.49 and a twelve month high of $1,615.97. The stock has a market cap of $29.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.70, a PEG ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 1.15. The firms 50 day moving average price is $1,205.98 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1,139.95. Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 9th. The medical instruments supplier reported $9.40 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $10.32 by ($0.92). Mettler-Toledo International had a negative return on equity of 904.59% and a net margin of 20.82%. The firm had revenue of $934.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $959.45 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $12.10 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Mettler-Toledo International Inc. will post 39.91 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity In other news, insider Christian Magloth sold 400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,278.73, for a total transaction of $511,492.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 734 shares in the company, valued at approximately $938,587.82. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider Christian Magloth sold 400 shares of Mettler-Toledo International stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,278.73, for a total value of $511,492.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 734 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $938,587.82. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Elisha W. Finney sold 251 shares of Mettler-Toledo International stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,177.35, for a total transaction of $295,514.85. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 316 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $372,042.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 951 shares of company stock worth $1,170,256 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. Mettler-Toledo International 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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Mettler-Toledo International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mettler-Toledo International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schroder Investment Management Group reduced its holdings in Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX Free Report) by 16.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 561,940 shares of the shipping companys stock after selling 112,147 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Group owned about 0.95% of Kirby worth $46,529,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. 1832 Asset Management L.P. lifted its stake in Kirby by 87.0% in the 2nd quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 404 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Kirby by 293.9% during the 2nd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 646 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 482 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Kirby during the 1st quarter worth about $47,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. purchased a new stake in shares of Kirby during the 4th quarter worth about $45,000. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Kirby during the 3rd quarter worth about $59,000. 94.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Kirby alerts: Kirby Stock Performance KEX opened at $89.14 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.20. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $82.15 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $80.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Kirby Co. has a 12-month low of $64.92 and a 12-month high of $90.21. Insider Transactions at Kirby Kirby ( NYSE:KEX Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The shipping company reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.01. Kirby had a return on equity of 7.12% and a net margin of 7.21%. The firm had revenue of $799.18 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $778.70 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.67 EPS. The companys revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Kirby Co. will post 4.94 earnings per share for the current year. In other news, VP Ronald A. Dragg sold 1,413 shares of Kirby stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.68, for a total transaction of $119,652.84. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 10,651 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $901,926.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, VP Ronald A. Dragg sold 1,413 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.68, for a total transaction of $119,652.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 10,651 shares in the company, valued at approximately $901,926.68. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Raj Kumar sold 1,670 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.00, for a total value of $146,960.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 5,617 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $494,296. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 54,312 shares of company stock valued at $4,567,147. 1.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $105.00 price target on shares of Kirby in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Read Our Latest Research Report on Kirby Kirby Profile (Free Report) Kirby Corporation operates domestic tank barges in the United States. Its Marine Transportation segment provides marine transportation service and towing vessel transporting bulk liquid product, as well as operates tank barge throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, coastwise along three United States coasts, and in Alaska and Hawaii. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Kirby Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kirby and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Scotia Capital Inc. reduced its stake in CAE Inc. (NYSE:CAE Free Report) (TSE:CAE) by 27.1% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 163,727 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 60,900 shares during the period. Scotia Capital Inc.s holdings in CAE were worth $3,812,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Stonehage Fleming Financial Services Holdings Ltd purchased a new position in CAE in the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Allworth Financial LP increased its stake in CAE by 678.3% in the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,541 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 1,343 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of CAE by 85.5% during the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,029 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 935 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of CAE during the second quarter worth approximately $55,000. Finally, Natixis purchased a new position in shares of CAE during the second quarter worth approximately $73,000. 64.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get CAE alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Scotiabank lowered shares of CAE from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. StockNews.com raised CAE from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on CAE from $37.00 to $34.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. Finally, Bank of America downgraded CAE from a neutral rating to an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $35.00. CAE Price Performance CAE stock opened at $19.63 on Friday. CAE Inc. has a one year low of $18.26 and a one year high of $25.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 0.90. The business has a fifty day moving average of $20.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $21.44. The company has a market cap of $6.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.58. CAE (NYSE:CAE Get Free Report) (TSE:CAE) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The aerospace company reported $0.18 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.18. CAE had a return on equity of 7.52% and a net margin of 6.20%. The business had revenue of $804.01 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $807.13 million. As a group, analysts predict that CAE Inc. will post 0.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. CAE Company Profile (Free Report) CAE Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides simulation training and critical operations support solutions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa, and Rest of Americas. It operates through three segments: Civil Aviation, Defense and Security, and Healthcare. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CAE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CAE Inc. (NYSE:CAE Free Report) (TSE:CAE). Receive News & Ratings for CAE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CAE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report) by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 349,281 shares of the conglomerates stock after buying an additional 10,322 shares during the quarter. Sei Investments Co.s holdings in General Electric were worth $38,611,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of GE. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of General Electric by 10.9% during the third quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 109,332 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $12,087,000 after purchasing an additional 10,722 shares during the period. D1 Capital Partners L.P. increased its stake in General Electric by 159.8% during the 2nd quarter. D1 Capital Partners L.P. now owns 1,455,000 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $159,832,000 after acquiring an additional 895,000 shares during the period. Hoey Investments Inc. increased its stake in General Electric by 51,152.3% during the 3rd quarter. Hoey Investments Inc. now owns 22,551 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $2,493,000 after acquiring an additional 22,507 shares during the period. Qsemble Capital Management LP bought a new position in General Electric during the 3rd quarter worth $1,846,000. Finally, Cambridge Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in General Electric during the 3rd quarter worth $6,285,000. 74.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get General Electric alerts: Insider Transactions at General Electric In related news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.87, for a total value of $3,195,107.85. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 56,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,153,863.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other General Electric news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.87, for a total transaction of $3,195,107.85. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 56,284 shares in the company, valued at $8,153,863.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 13,601 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.55, for a total transaction of $1,843,615.55. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 48,339 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,552,351.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have commented on GE shares. Barclays raised their price objective on General Electric from $153.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Citigroup raised 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. Oppenheimer reaffirmed a market perform rating on shares of General Electric in a report on Tuesday. StockNews.com raised General Electric from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, TheStreet raised General Electric from a c+ rating to a b+ rating in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $137.71. Read Our Latest Research Report on General Electric General Electric Stock Performance Shares of General Electric stock opened at $166.50 on Friday. General Electric has a one year low of $86.07 and a one year high of $166.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $181.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.89, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.28. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $139.24 and a 200 day simple moving average of $123.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 0.85. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.13. General Electric had a return on equity of 10.88% and a net margin of 13.95%. The firm had revenue of $19.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.27 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.24 EPS. The companys revenue was up 15.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that General Electric will post 4.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. General Electric Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared 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 was Wednesday, December 27th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.19%. General Electrics payout ratio is currently 3.82%. General Electric Profile (Free Report) General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ensign Energy Services (TSE:ESI Free Report) had its price objective lifted by Stifel Nicolaus from C$2.50 to C$2.75 in a report published on Monday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a hold rating on the stock. ESI has been the topic of several other research reports. ATB Capital cut their target price on shares of Ensign Energy Services from C$7.00 to C$5.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Ensign Energy Services from C$3.75 to C$4.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday. CIBC cut their target price on shares of Ensign Energy Services from C$4.00 to C$3.25 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Ensign Energy Services from C$3.00 to C$3.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$4.06. Get Ensign Energy Services alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Ensign Energy Services Ensign Energy Services Stock Up 5.0 % About Ensign Energy Services Shares of TSE ESI opened at C$2.54 on Monday. Ensign Energy Services has a one year low of C$1.77 and a one year high of C$3.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 101.15, a current ratio of 0.27 and a quick ratio of 1.30. The firms 50 day simple moving average is C$2.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$2.52. The stock has a market capitalization of C$466.22 million, a P/E ratio of 21.17, a PEG ratio of 202.94 and a beta of 3.07. (Get Free Report) Ensign Energy Services Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides oilfield services to the crude oil and natural gas industries in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers shallow, intermediate, and deep well drilling, as well as specialized drilling services, including horizontal, underbalanced, horizontal re-entry, and slant drilling for steam assisted gravity drainage applications; and equipment and services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Ensign Energy Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ensign Energy Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. decreased its stake in Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:SNV Free Report) by 14.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 38,735 shares of the banks stock after selling 6,366 shares during the period. Dana Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in Synovus Financial were worth $1,077,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Synovus Financial by 10.4% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 14,877 shares of the banks stock valued at $729,000 after acquiring an additional 1,401 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new stake in Synovus Financial during the 1st quarter valued at $419,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in Synovus Financial by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 11,420 shares of the banks stock valued at $561,000 after acquiring an additional 1,109 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its stake in Synovus Financial by 10.3% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 82,348 shares of the banks stock valued at $4,147,000 after acquiring an additional 7,682 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new stake in Synovus Financial during the 1st quarter valued at $74,000. Institutional investors own 79.92% of the companys stock. Get Synovus Financial alerts: Synovus Financial Stock Performance SNV opened at $39.72 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $5.82 billion, a PE ratio of 11.48 and a beta of 1.39. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $37.16 and a 200-day moving average of $32.69. Synovus Financial Corp. has a 52-week low of $24.40 and a 52-week high of $40.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 0.89. Synovus Financial Announces Dividend Synovus Financial ( NYSE:SNV Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 17th. The bank reported $0.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.94 by ($0.14). The company had revenue of $488.68 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $527.60 million. Synovus Financial had a return on equity of 14.95% and a net margin of 15.74%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Synovus Financial Corp. will post 4.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.83%. Synovus Financials payout ratio is 43.93%. Insider Activity at Synovus Financial In related news, EVP Thomas T. Dierdorff sold 2,045 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.23, for a total transaction of $78,180.35. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 11,086 shares in the company, valued at approximately $423,817.78. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Thomas T. Dierdorff sold 2,045 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.23, for a total transaction of $78,180.35. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 11,086 shares in the company, valued at approximately $423,817.78. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Tim E. Bentsen sold 4,671 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.62, for a total value of $180,394.02. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 33,144 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,280,021.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $42.00 price objective on shares of Synovus Financial in a report on Friday, January 19th. StockNews.com lowered Synovus Financial from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Synovus Financial from $29.00 to $37.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Evercore ISI restated an inline rating and issued a $40.00 price objective on shares of Synovus Financial in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, DA Davidson reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Synovus Financial in a research report on Monday, January 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $39.00. Read Our Latest Analysis on SNV About Synovus Financial (Free Report) Synovus Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Synovus Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking products and services. It operates through four segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, Consumer Banking, and Financial Management Services. The company's commercial banking services include treasury and asset management, capital market, and institutional trust services, as well as commercial, financial, and real estate lending services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SNV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:SNV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Synovus Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Synovus Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Economists have foreseen a steady overnight policy rate (OPR) and improving economic growth prospects to support the ringgit recovery in Malaysia. UOB Global Economics and Markets Research said in a note that the continuation of steady OPR in Malaysia at 3 percent will help to narrow the negative gap with United States rates and in turn support a further recovery in ringgit in the second half amid persistent coordinated measures by authorities to improve foreign exchange conversion as the year progresses. According to the research house, other key drivers of ringgit appreciation include an anticipated broad U.S. dollar weakness starting in the second quarter that likely comes ahead of the first Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut in June. Meanwhile, Maybank Investment Bank said in a note that its foreign exchange research maintained the view of ringgit ending this year firmer versus the U.S. dollar at 4.40. Within the next six to nine months, ringgit-positive factors include the signs of improving economic growth prospects, as per the exports rebound in January 2024 of 8.2 percent year on year after 10 straight months of decline, said the research house. RHB Investment Bank Research also said in a note that the ringgit will be partly supported by the improvement in Malaysia's fiscal and current account balances in 2024. According to the research house, domestic confidence is expected to improve following greater clarity in fiscal consolidation measures and improvement in the fiscal position. "We expect the current account balance to be underpinned by the continued recovery in export and inbound tourism activities," it said. MIDF Research also said in a note that in 2024, it believes that ringgit stands to gain from the supportive global commodity prices and sustained trade surplus. Most importantly, the Fed and other major central banks have shifted its monetary stance from hawkish towards dovish, and thus interest differentials would narrow in 2024, according to the research house. "We expect USD/MYR to average at RM4.38 and reach RM4.20 by year end 2024," it said. Ringgit has stabilized recently against the U.S. dollar, improving to 4.6865 at the point of writing, versus the recent low of 4.80 on Feb 20. This follows Central Bank of Malaysia's moves to step up engagements to boost inflow to foreign exchange market and hold its OPR. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company decreased its position in shares of ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW Free Report) by 16.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 197,539 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 38,076 shares during the quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company owned about 0.10% of ServiceNow worth $110,394,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. First Foundation Advisors increased its holdings in shares of ServiceNow by 2.1% during the second quarter. First Foundation Advisors now owns 5,292 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $2,974,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. First Hawaiian Bank grew its holdings in ServiceNow by 2.2% during the third quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 7,514 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $4,200,000 after buying an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in ServiceNow during the second quarter worth $144,098,000. Guggenheim Capital LLC grew its holdings in ServiceNow by 7.3% during the second quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 64,245 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $36,104,000 after buying an additional 4,352 shares in the last quarter. Finally, F M Investments LLC bought a new stake in ServiceNow during the third quarter worth $1,624,000. Institutional investors own 87.14% of the companys stock. Get ServiceNow alerts: ServiceNow Stock Performance Shares of NOW opened at $768.35 on Friday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $752.23 and its 200 day simple moving average is $661.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $157.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 91.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.72 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.06. ServiceNow, Inc. has a 52-week low of $405.37 and a 52-week high of $815.32. Analyst Ratings Changes ServiceNow ( NYSE:NOW Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The information technology services provider reported $3.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.77 by $0.34. The business had revenue of $2.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.40 billion. ServiceNow had a return on equity of 11.85% and a net margin of 19.30%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 25.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.88 EPS. Research analysts forecast that ServiceNow, Inc. will post 6.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial upped their price target on ServiceNow from $700.00 to $750.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Mizuho boosted their price objective on ServiceNow from $750.00 to $820.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on ServiceNow from $840.00 to $850.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. JMP Securities boosted their price objective on ServiceNow from $665.00 to $825.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on ServiceNow from $740.00 to $820.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $750.93. Read Our Latest Stock Report on ServiceNow Insiders Place Their Bets In other ServiceNow news, insider Paul John Smith sold 5,159 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $745.32, for a total value of $3,845,105.88. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,453 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,064,229.96. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Paul John Smith sold 5,159 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $745.32, for a total transaction of $3,845,105.88. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,453 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,064,229.96. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO William R. Mcdermott sold 5,030 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $753.08, for a total value of $3,787,992.40. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 17,177 shares in the company, valued at $12,935,655.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 13,164 shares of company stock worth $9,940,303 in the last ninety days. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. ServiceNow Profile (Free Report) ServiceNow, Inc provides end to-end intelligent workflow automation platform solutions for digital businesses in the North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates the Now platform for end-to-end digital transformation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation, process mining, performance analytics, and collaboration and development tools. Read More Receive News & Ratings for ServiceNow Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ServiceNow and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Townsquare Capital LLC raised its stake in Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY Free Report) by 16.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 177,659 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after buying an additional 25,502 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLCs holdings in Occidental Petroleum were worth $11,527,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Berkshire Hathaway Inc lifted its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc now owns 224,129,192 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $13,178,796,000 after purchasing an additional 12,422,073 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Occidental Petroleum during the 4th quarter worth approximately $267,173,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 24.1% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 12,021,929 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $779,983,000 after acquiring an additional 2,334,651 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 87.9% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,276,078 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $185,885,000 after acquiring an additional 1,532,100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clean Energy Transition LLP bought a new position in shares of Occidental Petroleum during the 1st quarter worth approximately $46,838,000. 77.54% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Occidental Petroleum alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Occidental Petroleum In related news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought 3,200,799 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 13th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $56.55 per share, for a total transaction of $181,005,183.45. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 238,533,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,489,051,837.95. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In the last three months, insiders have bought 8,720,708 shares of company stock valued at $505,766,000. 0.31% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Occidental Petroleum Stock Performance OXY opened at $60.91 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The company has a market cap of $53.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.61, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.63. Occidental Petroleum Co. has a 52-week low of $55.12 and a 52-week high of $67.67. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $58.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $60.89. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.74 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.74. Occidental Petroleum had a net margin of 16.24% and a return on equity of 20.63%. The business had revenue of $7.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.93 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.61 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Occidental Petroleum Co. will post 3.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Occidental Petroleum Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.44%. This is a boost from Occidental Petroleums previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. Occidental Petroleums payout ratio is presently 18.41%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades OXY has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $78.00 to $73.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Occidental Petroleum from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $68.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Raymond James cut their price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $70.00 to $68.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $59.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Finally, Stephens restated an overweight rating and set a $74.00 price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $70.06. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Occidental Petroleum About Occidental Petroleum (Free Report) Occidental Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. It operates through three segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Occidental Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Occidental Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Townsquare Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET Free Report) by 12.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 783,964 shares of the pipeline companys stock after purchasing an additional 89,635 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLCs holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $10,999,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. VitalStone Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 3,000 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 1,500 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in shares of Energy Transfer in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 477.3% in the 2nd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 2,309 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 1,909 shares during the last quarter. Tsfg LLC boosted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 86.8% in the 3rd quarter. Tsfg LLC now owns 2,152 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IMA Wealth Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 100.0% in the 2nd quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 2,400 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 1,200 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 33.79% of the companys stock. Get Energy Transfer alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on ET. Citigroup boosted their target price on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $23.00 to $22.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $17.57. Energy Transfer Stock Performance Shares of ET stock opened at $15.19 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $14.27 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $13.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.88. Energy Transfer LP has a 1 year low of $11.45 and a 1 year high of $15.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $51.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.93 and a beta of 1.64. Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The pipeline company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $20.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.46 billion. Energy Transfer had a net margin of 4.85% and a return on equity of 12.17%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.34 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.44 earnings per share for the current year. Energy Transfer Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 7th were given a dividend of $0.315 per share. This is a positive change from Energy Transfers previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. This represents a $1.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.29%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 6th. Energy Transfers payout ratio is 115.60%. Energy Transfer Company Profile (Free Report) Energy Transfer LP provides energy-related services. The company owns and operates natural gas transportation pipeline, and natural gas storage facilities in Texas and Oklahoma; and approximately 20,090 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline. It also sells natural gas to electric utilities, independent power plants, local distribution and other marketing companies, and industrial end-users. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Energy Transfer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Energy Transfer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 161.4% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 6,720 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 4,149 shares during the quarter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $390,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of BMY. Brown Shipley& Co Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Brown Shipley& Co Ltd now owns 9,161 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. Riversedge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Riversedge Advisors LLC now owns 5,691 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $330,000 after buying an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Vicus Capital increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Vicus Capital now owns 4,824 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $280,000 after buying an additional 179 shares during the last quarter. Front Row Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 17.5% in the 4th quarter. Front Row Advisors LLC now owns 1,222 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $88,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cassia Capital Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cassia Capital Partners LLC now owns 7,931 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $460,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance Shares of BMY stock opened at $53.28 on Friday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $50.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $53.36. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a one year low of $47.58 and a one year high of $71.07. The company has a market capitalization of $107.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.31. Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.15. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 17.83% and a return on equity of 50.95%. The firm had revenue of $11.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.19 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.82 EPS. The companys revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 EPS for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that its board has approved a share buyback plan on Thursday, December 7th that permits the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the biopharmaceutical company to reacquire up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 5th will be given a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 4th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.50%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is presently 62.18%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have recently weighed in on BMY. Redburn Atlantic downgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $77.00 to $54.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. Bank of America downgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $68.00 to $60.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, November 9th. They set a hold rating and a $55.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $68.00 to $55.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $61.12. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KIEV, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian authorities will start a mandatory evacuation from 57 settlements in the eastern Kharkiv region, regional governor Oleg Synegubov announced on Thursday. "We decided to carry out mandatory evacuation of residents of 57 settlements," Synegubov wrote on his Telegram channel after a meeting of the regional defense council. Besides, children along with their parents or legal guardians will be forcibly evacuated from 18 settlements in the Veliky Burluk and Olkhovatsky districts, Synegubov said. The regional authorities will cooperate with the National Police and volunteers to carry out the evacuation, he added. Weather Alert ...Elevated Fire Danger Today and Tuesday... ...Hard Freeze Expected Tonight... The combination of very dry air and northwest winds gusting up to 20 mph will create an elevated risk of uncontrolled fire spread this afternoon. Relative humidity values will fall to 20 to 35%, with the lowest humidity levels over the Ozark Foothills of southeast Missouri. A more substantial fire danger is expected Tuesday, as southwest winds increase significantly, with gusts of 25 to 40 mph forecast Tuesday afternoon. Relative humidity values Tuesday afternoon will fall to 25 to 35%. If you are planning outdoor burning today and Tuesday, use extra caution and have fire suppression equipment ready. Tonight, very cold and dry surface high pressure will allow temperatures to drop into the middle and upper 20s throughout the region. Although the growing season has not officially started, tender vegetation could be impacted by these cold temperatures. Please take necessary actions to protect any tender vegetation tonight. 5% pay rise for senior doctors at limits of available finances says health minister as further strikes announced A five per cent pay rise for senior doctors across Wales is at the limits of the finances available to us, the health minister has said. The comments come after BMA Cymru Wales announced this week that senior doctors had voted to stage a 48-hour strike from 7am, Tuesday 16 April to 7am, Thursday 18 April. The ongoing dispute over pay centres around claims of pay cuts by almost a third in real terms since the 2008/09 financial year, Consultants and SAS speciality doctors make up over half of the hospital-based medical workforce combined, with 3,137 Consultants and 1,088 SAS doctors working in hospitals across Wales. The BMA is now calling on all consultants and SAS doctors in Wales to join the a 48 hour strike, except for those providing Christmas day cover. This level of cover will ensure doctors can provide emergency care, but all elective or non-emergency work will be postponed during this period. Dr Stephen Kelly, chair of the BMAs consultants committee in Wales, said: This has been an incredibly difficult decision. No doctor wants to strike, but the conditions now faced in the workplace caused by the extreme pressures on the service and unsafe staffing levels have left doctors with no choice. Fewer doctors now want to develop their careers in Wales with some health boards reporting vacancy rates of over third for senior doctor posts. Colleagues are now choosing to retire early, reduce their hours or move out of Wales where pay is competitive, and wards better staffed. Unless doctors are better valued for the work they do, more and more doctors will leave an NHS already under severe pressure in Wales. In the Senedd this week Russell George MS, Shadow Health Minister, questioned Health Minister Eluned Morgan MS on the strike action and the Welsh Governments priorities. The question was asked the same day as members debated plans to reform the Senedd. Russell George MS said: The cost of meeting the additional 1 per cent payment for consultants and SAS doctors, recommended by the independent review body, would cost 6.5 million, according to a response to a written question from us as Welsh Conservatives. I know, Minister, you will say that there is no more money, but, later today, well be spending a considerable amount of time talking about Senedd reform, and we know that cost. We know that cost is 17.8 million per year for the additional politicians that some Members would like to see. This is about priorities, and this is about decisions that are made here. However Eluned Morgan stated that the five per cent uplift in pay was at the limits of the finances available to us, and reflects the agreement reached with the other health unions for this year. She argued that the 168 million funding announced by the Chancellor for Wales is already planned for and known by the Welsh Government and accounted for in our spending plans. Ms Morgan said: We, of course, remain committed to working in social partnership with the British Medical Association, and are available for further talks at any stage. We will work with the NHS and unions and partners to ensure that lifesaving and life-maintaining care is provided during the industrial action, and patient safety is maintained. I am pleased to see that there is additional funding for the NHS by the Chancellor, but, as I say, that was additional funding that we had assumed would be coming for us and is already written into our budgetary plans. But I think boasting, like he did today, about the 13 per cent increase over the term of the Parliamentfive yearsis not that impressive, when, under the last Labour Government, spending on health increased by 4 per cent in real terms every year. The 48-hour strike by consultants and SAS doctors will take place from Tuesday 16 April. Junior doctors in Wales wil also l begin their third round of strike action a 96-hour full walkout from 7am Monday 25 March in pursuit of a fairer deal. [email protected] Top illustrators new role helping to brighten lives of Wrexham care home residents An award winning international illustrator has taken on a new role to brighten the lives of care home residents through the magic of art. Jason Bennion has moved in a completely new direction from corporate design to leading artistic workshops at Pendine Park in Wrexham as their new creative arts consultant. Since launching his career in 1998 he has produced highly sought after designs for an array of top flight commercial companies and editorial magazines at home and abroad. His past work included being a lead illustrator on a major lighting campaign for Dutch multinational conglomerate Philips. That ad campaign won him a prestigious industry award which was presented at a glittering ceremony in Birmingham. Jason also worked over a period of 10 years on editorial illustrations for MEED, a trailblazing English language Middle East business intelligence magazine. He said his latest move to Pendine Park is his most satisfying yet. There is no reward more generous or deeply felt than seeing the smiles on residents faces as I assist them with an artwork of their own making, explained Jason. My admiration for people who work in the care sector is second to none and I feel honoured to be given the chance to lead this new series of arts workshops at Pendine Parks care homes. Jason was only recently recruited to join the social care organisations enrichment activities team to strengthen its already widely acclaimed arts and creativity provision. He is the partner of Pendine Park groups long-standing Artist in Residence Sarah Edwards. Sarah also studied art at Cardiff University and graduated with a first class degree. In the past Jason has often volunteered to help her when an extra pair of hands was needed for some of her arts and crafts projects run by Pendine Park. So, when Pendine Park director Gill Kreft asked if he would be prepared to join the companys enrichment team on a more formal basis as their creative arts consultant Jason leapt at the chance. He said: It is such a wonderful place here. Having visited many times I have always been impressed with the way that proprietors, Gill and her husband Mario Kreft, invest so much time and energy in bringing the pleasure of the arts, crafts and music to all the residents. The activities included in the enrichment programme are, exactly as its name suggests, extremely enriching for all who take part and I am now so excited to be a part of the team which makes that happen. Jasons arrival has inspired a one-time watercolour painting enthusiast to pick up her paintbrushes again. Like Jason, Marion Billington is also an award winner, albeit as an amateur painter. She once scooped top prize for best beginner at a local art competition in Ellesmere, near Wrexham. Marion only recently moved to Pendine Parks Cae Bryn care home in Summerhill and she says she is overjoyed that her move there has coincided with the start of Jasons new series of art classes. She said it was a great chance to pick up her art hobby again after a couple of decades consigning her palette and brushes to the store cupboard. She said: I took up art when I was quite a bit younger, maybe aged 40 to 45, I forget. But I did it for about five years, taking classes led by a retired art teacher who was extremely helpful to me. I so enjoyed it at the time and took great pleasure in learning all the different artistic techniques needed to paint with watercolours. But she said circumstances changed and she became busy in other areas of her life and so her art hobby got put to one side. Marion, who worked as a secretarial assistant with an architects business, said she is thrilled to be rekindling her love of watercolour painting, thanks to the help of Jason. Even though he was only recruited a few weeks ago Jason has already developed an easy repartee with Marion and other residents, who are all keen to learn new skills from him. Sarah Edwards explained: Even after just a few sessions we are finding that the classes are hugely popular. A number of our residents who have attended at Highfield have really taken to him. They have even been asking Is Jason coming in today? on the days when hes not here. Sarah has since supported the development of award-winning enrichment programmes at Pendine Parks eight care homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon where she has also masterminded their interior design. She said: I will still be running my regular arts workshops with our residents but Jasons input will now give me extra time to focus on some other activities including further initiatives focused around enrichment training. [email protected] Warning after reports of doors being tried in Llay and Gwersyllt Police have today issued a warning to residents after reports of a man behaving suspiciously and trying front doors in the Gwersyllt and Llay areas. The incidents caught on doorbell footage have taken place in recent days. Sergeant Nathan Harvey said: If you notice anything suspicious in your area, please bring it to our attention as soon as possible. Always ensure your doors and windows are locked, and never leave valuables on show. Id also advise not to advertise that nobody is in. If an offender thinks someone is home, theyre less likely to target that house, including any outbuildings. Anyone who is targeted or notices anything suspicious, call us on 101 or get in touch via the live web chat here. [email protected] BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Friday held online talks with French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Bruno Le Maire, following an invitation from the latter. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on the concerns of both parties, as well as views on the China-France High Level Economic and Financial Dialogue. He, the Chinese lead of the dialogue, said that China is willing to work with France to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' heads of state. Taking the opportunity presented by the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, China is willing to strengthen economic and financial dialogue, deepen and expand cooperation in the automotive, aviation and telecommunication sectors, and push bilateral economic and trade relations to a new level, He said. As the French lead of the dialogue, Le Maire said that France is willing to strengthen communication with China to inject new momentum into France-China economic and trade cooperation. A series of massive industrial explosions at a smoking and vaping industry supply warehouse rocked the Detroit suburb of Clinton Township, Michigan, on Monday night. A fire at the facility triggered chemical explosions and sent projectiles into the night sky that traveled for hundreds of yards. Nineteen-year-old Turner Lee Salter, who was reportedly observing the fire a quarter-mile distant from the warehouse, was hit by one of the projectiles and killed. The young man was struck on the head by a burning gas canister. A firefighter from the first response team sent to the site, Matt Myers, was also injured when he was clipped on the side of his face by glass debris resulting from another flying gas canister smashing into his vehicles windshield at high speed. Local Fire Chief Tim Duncan said the firefighter was treated at a hospital and released with minor injuries. Clinton Township is a densely populated, largely working class area situated some seven miles from Detroits city borders. Its population is just over 100,000, and its population density is roughly 3,500 residents per square mile, higher than that of the city of Detroit. The neighborhood where the blast took place is home to mostly low-income residents of a diverse background, including many immigrants. The facility that exploded belongs to a company called Goo and an affiliated company, Select Distributors Wholesale. Goo bills itself as a smoke shop that sells tobacco and smoking paraphernalia. Select Distributors provides marijuana-related equipment and merchandise to the local cannabis industry. One local resident said that the largely destroyed building used to be about the size of a Costco facility. Hank and Patty, residents of a nearby community, told the World Socialist Web Site that the explosion could be felt at their daughters house some five miles from the blast site. You could see the night sky turn sort of orange, Patty said. Hank related, We heard a noise, and we thought that it mightve been a truck collision on the freeway or something. But then we felt a rocking, like from a blast, so we couldnt figure it out. Then we turned on the news and saw the live footage of the fire a little later. We were horrified. A local resident, describing the massive fire and round after round of explosions, told the WSWS, We didnt know if it was bombs going off, a war, or what. Joleen Vultaggio told the Detroit News that she heard the explosions at her home in Sterling Heights, which is eight miles from the site of the disaster. It just freaked me out because it wasnt like one boom. It was continuous and very intense, she said. Jeffrey Korby, who lives near the blast, told local television station WXYZ that There was nothing but fireballs throughout the night. Firefighters and police officers who arrived at the scene were under fire from shrapnel careening from the building. Police Captain Anthony Coppola said there were exploding canisters raining down all around us and subjecting multiple staff members to potential peril. Clinton Township officials said on Tuesday that butane and nitrous oxide, lighter fluid, vape pens and canisters measuring 12-18 inches and weighing 10-15 pounds exploded during the blaze. Employees at an industrial facility next door estimated that 3,000 to 4,000 heavy canisters at the warehouse exploded. Fire Chief Tim Duncan told news crews that a truckload of butane canisters had arrived at the building over the previous week, and more than half of that stock was still on-site when the fire began. More than 100,000 vape pens were also stored at the facility. Speaking to the reporting team from the WSWS, the workers warned that some of the bulky canisters were live and could still explode if exposed to flames. Sharp debris from the explosions had damaged the neighboring facilitys central power fuse box. Socialist Equality Party vice presidential candidate Jerry White visited the blast site on Wednesday. Pointing to a dead canister from a nearby Walgreens parking lot, he observed that these things are like artillery shells. White placed the criminal negligence and profiteering that led to the Clinton Township disaster within the broader context of a social and political system, capitalism, that is entirely beholden to the corporate-financial elite, which wages class war at home and imperialist war internationally. The debris field stretched for hundreds of feet beyond the building. Fire Chief Duncan said the combination retail tobacco store and cannabis warehouse had items with blades and knives, and such things were flying through the air also in the early morning hours of Tuesday. Residents have been notified via Facebook to look for debris from the explosions on their roofs, where it could potentially cause more damage to homes. Paul Brouwer, the townships emergency management coordinator, said that social workers had been deployed to many neighborhoods to pick up debris from sidewalks, front yards and streets. Twenty-five gas canisters were found in residential yards during the day on Tuesday. Countless smaller and lighter canisters with the Goo company logo plastered across the front were scattered across Clinton Township following the explosion. The deadly blaze ignited at night, when there were no workers on-site or in any of the adjacent businesses. The toll in human life from the disaster could have been far worse. The blast site sits near the corner of two busy multi-lane streets, directly behind a Walgreens pharmacy and a Burger King, and across the street from a tool & die shop, a plastics manufacturing building, and a Wendys. Howard C. Richards Middle School is located just over a mile away. As of this writing, the fire was still live in parts of the building due to an ongoing chemical reaction. Firefighters were putting out flames more than 36 hours after the explosion. On the morning of March 6, Firefighters continue to extinguish a disastrous fire that broke out the night before at a smoke and vape supply warehouse in Clinton Township, Michigan. The fire ignited numerous explosions, killing a 19-year-old youth who was a half mile away with flying shrapnel. The local police department is conducting an investigation into the circumstances behind the explosion. Police Chief Dina Caringi stressed that it was not a criminal investigation, although township officials have stated that the company was illegally storing hazardous materials in a back room. Township Supervisor Bob Cannon said on Tuesday that the two companies had applied for permits in 2022 for the site to do something that we thought they were going to do, which was legal, but they ended up doing something that is clearly not only illegal but immoral and dangerous. The permits issued to Goo and Select Distributors Wholesale were for retail commercial use of the shared property. The area where the businesses are located is not zoned for industrial warehousing. Cannon remarked that had township officials known that containers of butane and nitrous oxide were being stored at the facility, We would have issued violations immediately and worked to get them out of there. He then added, evidently to justify the townships failure to enforce zoning and safety rules on the owners of the operation, We cant just walk into somebodys back room. According to the townships fire marshal, the last inspection of the businesss back room, where the explosive canisters were being stored, took place in May 2022. Contrary to the township supervisors claims, the delivery and storage of these dangerous canisters were apparently known to casual observers visiting and working in the area. The two business owners were reportedly taken to police headquarters on Monday night and interviewed by the fire prevention division, as well as agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). Regarding the investigation, Cannon said, There are going to be repercussions. People have done things wrong. Very wrong. We dont like it, and were not gonna accept it. However, no charges have been filed against the company owners as of this writing. A protest in Mexico City by teaching students from rural Ayotzinapa and parents of the 43 students from there who were killed in 2014 has thrown a wrench in the 2024 presidential elections in Mexico. Wednesdays protest came only a few days after the main candidates launched their campaigns focusing on calls to strengthen the repressive state apparatus. With the approach of the tenth anniversary on September 26 of the disappearance of the teaching students at the hands of gangs and government forces, there is growing anger among both their relatives and fellow students over the continuing cover-up under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, known as AMLO. Mass protest for Ayotzinapa students in Mexico City, 2019 [Photo by Wotancito/ / CC BY-SA 4.0 Demanding to speak to Lopez Obrador about the lack of progress in the case, several dozen protesters pushed a parked vehicle into one of the doors of the presidential building. They were then blocked from entering with tear gas. The parents of the victims, who have set up an encampment outside of the National Palace, have denounced the presidents protection of the military, which refuses to cooperate. Specifically, they have demanded for months the release of 800 files of the regional military intelligence agency that was active during the events, as well as phone transcripts and other documents. Both Lopez Obrador and his hand-picked presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum denounced the protest as a provocation, alleging that the parents and teaching students are being manipulated by right-wing opposition groups financed by foreign governments. Outrageously, Lopez Obrador described the protest as a dirty war against his government, equating it with the campaign of state killings against leftists during the second half of the 20th century. While AMLO said that there would be no investigation or arrests related to the protest on Wednesday, which would be extremely unpopular, his statements and those of Sheinbaum set the stage for such repression. For her part, the main opposition candidate Xochitl Galvez, who leads a coalition of the former rival capitalist parties PRI-PAN-PRD, denounced the protest as truly worrisome. She added: I do not like this scene of violence, it is a historical place, it is the heritage of the nation. Asked specifically on Wednesday by the newspaper La Jornada whether she would be willing to sanction elements of the Army if their participation is proven?, Galvez said she lamented the recent drowning of seven national guardsmen and stressed her respect for the Army. While Galvez, who lags at least 30 points behind Sheinbaum in the polls, will use anything to damage the image of the ruling Morena party of AMLO and Sheinbaum, the killing of the Ayotzinapa teaching students in 2014, as they were traveling to a protest, has remained an explosive charge ready to blow up under the entire political establishment. In 2018, the ruling class allowed Lopez Obrador himself to take power after denying him the presidency by means of electoral fraud in 2006 and 2012. Their aim was to deactivate the explosive intensification of the class struggle, which at the time was being driven by a mass movement protesting both the military and the state as responsible for the Ayotzinapa killings. Having promised to bring the perpetrators to justice and send the repressive military to the barracks, AMLO instead enshrined domestic military operations in the Constitution and became the head of the Ayotzinapa cover-up operation, consistently protecting top officials under his predecessor Enrique Pena Nieto of the Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI). Lopez Obrador has continued the war launched in 2006 by President Felipe Calderon (PAN; National Action Party) ostensibly against gangs, even after the security chief under the PAN and PRI administrations, Genaro Garcia Luna, was sentenced in New York for receiving millions from the Sinaloa Cartel. Far from reducing violence, AMLO oversaw a record 171,085 homicides in his first five years in office. Sheinbaum and Galvez promise to expand the military Since the official launch of their campaigns on March 1, Sheinbaum and Galvez have focused their speeches on promises to build up the military, especially the National Guard created under AMLO. Sheinbaum has highlighted her security strategy as mayor of Mexico City, promising to expand it to the rest of the country. She claims to have cut crime in the capital using a zero impunity approach involving coordination with the National Guard, with the Ministry of Defense, with the Navy. On Monday, her security chief in Mexico City and now key member of her future cabinet, Omar Garcia Harfuch, presented as the First Axis of Government, a security plan that will consolidate the National Guard with increased resources and create a National Intelligence System, bringing together all security, judicial and financial institutions under a plan for combat. Harfuch was chief of the Federal Police department in the state of Guerrero at the center of the Ayotzinapa events and was tracked by GPS to the meeting where federal officials concocted the initial cover-up. However, he has never had to answer for his participation given his protection by AMLO and Sheinbaum. While employing many of the same terms, Galvez began her campaign with promises to double the troop strength of the National Guard from 150,000 to 300,000 members, to double the ranks of state and municipal police departments with higher crime rates, and to build a maximum security mega-prison. Both candidates have also placed front and center their supposed commitment to fight corruption, pointing to the well-established records of their opponents when it comes to protecting cartels and corrupt officials. Such security and anti-corruption sloganeering has long been a testament to the fact that no faction of the ruling elite offers anything to workers except a further shift toward police state repression and subordination to US imperialism. Sheinbaum has combined her promises of building up the security apparatus with rhetoric vowing to defend both democratic rights and Mexican sovereignty. Last Saturday at a rally near the US-Mexico border in Ciudad Juarez, she called on the US presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump not to use migration as the central issue in the US elections. The previous day in Mexico City she insisted that she would pursue economic development to resolve the migration issue. She vowed never to bow our heads before the United States. She added: Coordination yes, subordination no. One only needs to look at the record of Lopez Obrador, who made the same promises, to understand the emptiness of this nationalist posturing. Lopez Obrador has consistently increased the number of members of the National Guard, Army and Navy assigned to harassing migrants, reaching 46,916 soldiers last year. A record 782,176 migrants were detained by Mexico last year at the behest of the United States, while Mexican soldiers are frequently denounced by survivors for handing them over to cartels to terrorize them through kidnappings, extortion, torture and rape. Most of those detained are cruelly sent to southern Mexico. Meanwhile, Mexicans continue to top the list of US Border Patrol encounters, representing 34 percent of migrants crossing the border in January 2024the same percentage of the total since October 2019. More than 2.74 million Mexicans have been stopped at the border in this period, and many more have left Mexico under AMLO. Nonetheless, as the Ayotzinapa teaching students were breaking into the presidential palace on Wednesday, Lopez Obrador was explaining to reporters inside: The people of Mexico are happy, happy... We are taking the first steps towards true democracy. A Fourth Transformation toward Dictatorship and War According to Lopez Obrador, Mexico is undergoing its Fourth Transformation, which the president uses to elevate the historical significance of his policies to that of the war of independence against Spain, the Liberal reform movement and war against France, and the 1910-1920 Mexican Revolution. AMLO is far to the right of any of the Mexican national bourgeois leaders of the previous transformations, but it must be stressed that he does represent a continuity. The entire history of Mexico has been characterized by the inability of the bourgeoisie to fulfill the main tasks of the democratic revolution: eliminating all landed estates, destroying the landed aristocracy, and securing independence from imperialism. Independence from Spain was ultimately secured by conservative forces and former Royalists who opposed the deposition a year earlier of King Ferdinand and the declaration of a liberalizing constitution in Spain. The leadership of the independence army rallied around the Plan of Iguala, calling for a new monarchy government by Ferdinand or another European prince, while retaining the privileges of the Catholic Church. In 1846-48 the United States invaded Mexico and took over half of Mexicos territory. Only a decade later, the Reform War broke out between Liberal sectors of the bourgeoisie against the monarchists, which was followed by the invasion of the French Empire of Napoleon the Third to secure the rule of the Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico. In 1867, after defeating the conservatives and ousting the French forces, Liberal leader Benito Juarez was elected president and oversaw the implementation of the 1857 Constitution, which proclaimed numerous individual rights while encouraging the development of capitalism. In addition to the constitutional emphasis on private property, an earlier Lerdo Law was also part of the Liberal Reform, and together led to the active expropriation of property owned by the Catholic Church, along with communal indigenous land. These lands were cheaply taken over by private owners, ultimately benefiting the landed aristocracy and foreign capitalists. The Mexican Revolution began in 1910 with an armed revolt to overthrow Porfirio Diaz, a puppet of the landed oligarchy and US imperialism, who had had ruled for 31 years. Between his overthrow in May 1911 and 1915, power switched between five factions of the ruling capitalist class, which had essentially merged with the landed oligarchy, and none could solve the democratic questions of imperialism or land. The radical peasant armies of Emiliano Zapata and Francisco Villa failed to develop an independent political strategy to the liberal bourgeoisie. Even the 1917 Mexican Constitution, which would include some of the most progressive social clauses in the world, including rights for workers and peasants, could only pose the questions. The left nationalist president Lazaro Cardenas (1934-1940), who is also celebrated by AMLO and who founded the PRI, advanced the most significant democratic reforms since the revolution, including the nationalization of railroads and oil, an expansion of land reform, and creation of communal ejido properties. However, these measures have been mostly dismantled since, beginning under his successor and ex-minister, Manuel Avila Camacho. The history of Mexican capitalism, moreover, has been characterized by a growing integration and subordination to the United States. This process has accelerated since the development of technologies that globalized production since the 1970s, allowing a greater exploitation of cheap labor in Mexico. This integration has been accompanied by an abandonment of any form of social reformism, as the Mexican oligarchy has tied its fortunes to attracting investments from Wall Street, and meeting the geopolitical interests of US imperialism. Lopez Obrador has taken this process of economic and military subordination to a new stage, at a time when US imperialism drags the world into a nuclear third world war, and embraces genocide and fascism. In the short term, Mexico has seen a massive industrialization and economic growth, along with a limited increase in wage levels, but the underlying contradictions and deepening crisis of US imperialism herald massive attacks on living standards, and jobs across the entire North American region and beyond. Everywhere, capitalism is unable to satisfy any basic demands that arise from the conditions it creates. The ongoing protests over the Ayotzinapa case, the significant mass protests in Mexico City against the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza, and major strikes recently among Audi workers and teachers are signs of a political radicalization of broader sections of youth and workers and of the explosive class battles to come. Neither the Morena party nor the opposition parties offer an alternative. The only way forward for the working class to defend its social and democratic rights is to fight for the international unity of their struggles against all forms of bourgeois nationalism, anti-immigrant chauvinism and capitalism itself. This is the perspective being advanced by the Socialist Equality Party campaign for the US presidency in 2024, which should be seen by Mexican workers as their own. The SEP has selected Joseph Kishore for president and Jerry White for Vice President. Last week, in response to the visits by Biden and Trump to the US-Mexico border to agitate against migrants, White recalled that in 2019, tens of thousands of maquiladora workers carried out wildcat strikes in Matamoros, across the border from where Biden was speaking in Brownsville Texas. White explained in a tweet: During those mass strikes, conducted in defiance of the stooge corporate-controlled unions, workers marched to the border in Brownsville and called on their US counterparts to join in the strike, shouting, Americans, wake up! This powerful appeal, based on the international unity of the working class against their capitalist governments, is the progressive answer to the anti-immigrant chauvinism of Trump, Biden and the nationalist trade unions, which pit workers against each other in a race to the bottom. When the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) was founded, the World Socialist Web Site explained that the new outfit advocated a right-wing, pro-capitalist programme. This has since been confirmed in no uncertain terms. In an extensive interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the mouthpiece of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Wagenknecht not only declares her willingness to form a coalition with the Christian Democrats (CDU), but also shows she is open to working with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Sahra Wagenknecht [Photo by Raimond Spekking (via Wikimedia Commons) / CC BY-SA 4.0 When asked whom she could imagine forming a government with after the state elections in East Germany in the autumn, Wagenknecht replied, That is a question of negotiation once the election results are available. Then there will be talks, certainly also with the CDU. Wagenknechts willingness to form a coalition with the CDU debunks all claims by the BSW to represent an alternative to the establishment parties. In fact, Wagenknecht herself is building a right-wing nationalist party that does not differ from the other capitalist parties in its central orientation. In eastern Germany in particular, the CDU is playing an important role as a stooge for the AfD. In 2020, together with the Free Democratic Party (FDP), it ensured that a state premier was elected with the votes of fascists for the first time in Thuringia. In September 2023, with votes from the FDP and AfD, the CDU lowered the real estate transfer tax to five percent. In various urban and rural districts in Brandenburg and Saxony, it has tabled motions together with the AfD to cut benefits for asylum seekers. Just recently, Thuringias CDU leader Mario Voigt called for the complete cancellation of citizens allowance payments for refugees from Ukraine. In the Saale-Orla district of Thuringia, the new CDU district administrator Christian Herrgottwith the support of Voigt and Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (Social Democrats, SPD)announced plans to oblige asylum seekers to work four hours a day for a pittance of 80 cents an hour. When asked about the fact that the CDU in Thuringia in particular has pushed through several motions with AfD support, Wagenknecht explicitly defended this cooperation with the fascists: The CDU has tabled motions that the AfD has agreed to. That is a normal democratic process. And she makes clear that she would also work with the AfD to implement right-wing and anti-refugee policies. Should a government, for example, not introduce the payment card for refugees just because the AfD might agree to it? What kind of understanding of politics is that! She continues in the same right-wing jargon: For years, all parties except the AfD have denied that uncontrolled immigration is a problem. But people are experiencing a lack of housing, teachers are overworked, children cant speak German and there are cultural conflicts. In order to justify her orientation towards the AfD, Wagenknecht claims that, unlike the AfDs Thuringia state leader Bjorn Hocke, AfD co-chair Alice Weidel did not represent extreme right-wing positions, but conservative and economic liberal ones. She may make aggressive speeches, but I cannot recognise a volkisch ideology, i.e. the assumption that nations are not constituted by culture, but by genes and blood. In other words: Wagenknecht favours culturally racist positions over volkisch-nationalist ones. Her differentiation from Hocke is pure window dressing. In fact, Weidel works very closely with Hocke and his Flugel (Wing) and advocates far-right positions herself. Her aggressive speeches in the Bundestag (federal parliament) are fascist tirades in which, among other things, she castigates the birth rate among Muslim immigrants, agitates against headscarf girls and insults refugees as subsidised knifemen and good-for-nothings. Weidels personal advisor at the time, Roland Hartwig, took part in the infamous Potsdam secret meeting that planned the mass deportation of millions of people. Moreover, it is precisely the Thuringia AfD led by Hocke that Wagenknecht can imagine using to push through proposals. Wagenknechts statements in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung are not a slip of the tongue, but result directly from her political orientation. When it was founded, the BSW declared it was not a left-wing party. It did not concern itself with developing resistance to the genocide in Gaza, opposition to the NATO war offensive against Russia and anger at the coalition government, but in channelling this into right-wing channels and suppressing it. To this end, it is prepared to make common cause not only with the government parties (SPD, FDP and Greens), but also with the CDU and AfD. This policy stands in continuity with the right-wing policies of the Left Party, from which the BSW has split. This is particularly evident in Thuringia. Headed by Left Party state Premier Bodo Ramelow, Thuringia has one of the highest deportation rates in Germany. Cooperation with the AfD and CDU is also particularly well developed there. At the beginning of 2020, Ramelow used his vote to make the AfDs Michael Kaufmann Vice President of the Thuringia state assembly. And the Left Party-SPD-Green minority government he leads relies on the toleration of the CDU. Wagenknechts interview illustrates the gulf that exists between the mood of the general population and all the capitalist parties, including the BSW. While millions are disgusted by the AfD and the extreme right-wing policies of all the Bundestag parties and are taking to the streets en masse, Wagenknecht embraces the AfD and offers herself as its stooge. Workers and young people who want to fight against fascism, militarism and war must draw the necessary conclusions from this. As Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP) chairman and leading candidate for the European elections, Christoph Vandreier, wrote in his commentary on the founding of the BSW: Workers must confront Wagenknechts third rehash of the stale attempt to save capitalism with open hostility. The BSW does not oppose the governments policy of war and social cuts, but underpins it. The only way to oppose militarism, prevent a third world war and defend social rights is through the international mobilisation of the working class against capitalism. No problem can be solved without breaking the power of the banks and corporations and bringing them under democratic control. Such a movement requires the unification of workers across all national, ethnic and religious boundaries. The universal response to the Chinese governments economic agenda announced at the opening session of the National Peoples Congress in Beijing on Tuesday is that it will do next to nothing to overcome growing problems. Chinese President Xi Jinping, front centre, walks past delegates as he arrives at opening session of the National People's Congress in Beijing, China, March 5, 2024 [AP Photo/Ng Han Guan] Comments by Alicia Garcia Herrero, the chief Asia-Pacific economist at the investment management firm Natixis, to Bloomberg summed up the general sentiment when she said it was a target without a plan. In his work report premier Li Qiang set a target for growth of around 5 percent this yearthe same as 2023. But this will be harder to achieve because growth measurements last year were coming off the lower base of 2022 due to COVID. Li said support for the economy was needed on all fronts, but few concrete measures were announced and certainly nothing resembling a stimulus package. It shows theyre not understanding the seriousness of the situation. How are you going to support consumption? Wages have been falling. Theres deflation. What are you going to do? Herrero said. It is not so much that the government does not understand the problems confronting the economy but that it has a different agenda from that advocated by those who want to see a turn to stimulus measures, particularly aimed at lifting consumption spending. In his report Li announced a budget deficit in line with last years figure indicating there would be no major spending boost. However, he did point, albeit in a limited fashion, to economic difficulties. The foundation for the continuous recovery and improvement of our countrys economy is still not solid, with insufficient demand, overcapacity in some industries, weak societal expectations and many lingering risks, he said. The Xi Jinping regime, however, is opposed to countering those problems and risks by a return to the stimulus policiesexpansion of government spending and creditof the past. This is because it fears that such policies will only exacerbate the countrys debt problems posing even greater risks. Noting the shift in orientation, the consultancy firm Gavekal Dragonomics, which focuses on China, pointed out that the objective to expand domestic demand was demoted from its top priority in last years report to third place. The two top goals were to modernise the industrial system and develop new quality productive forces. This reflects the agenda of the regime that the new economic path must be based on the development of high-tech industries with an orientation to what Xi calls the new productive forces. The state news agency Xinhua reported: Developing new quality productive forces does not mean neglecting or abandoning traditional industries, Xi said. It is necessary to prevent a headlong rush into projects and the formation of industry bubbles, and avoid adopting just a single model of development, he noted. There are a number of problems associated with the new turn. The long-term issue is whether high-tech production can overcome the dependence on real estate and property development which for the past decade and more has accounted for around 25 percent of Chinas gross domestic product. One immediate question if China expands production in high-tech such as electric vehicles, battery storage and solar panels, is where will these products be sold under conditions of weak domestic demand? It can only be on international markets at lower prices which is already threatening to bring retaliatory action both from the US and the European Union on the grounds that China is dumping its products and using state subsidies to undercut competitors. In addition, there is the escalating economic war being waged by the US, imposing an ever-increasing list of bans and sanctions on chips and other products required for high-tech development out of fear that Chinas growth on this path will further undermine its dominance of the global economy. The US is determined to retain its hegemony not only through economic warfare but also by military means for which it is actively preparing. The rapid expansion of the Chinese economy over the past three decades has been fuelled in no small measure by the influx of foreign investment as major corporations have used China as their cheap labour base for manufacturing processes. However, there are now very clear indications this flow is drying up both because of the sanctions imposed by the US and the fact that there are other more lucrative opportunities elsewhere, including in countries in Southeast Asia. This shift is starting to show up in the economic data. According to figures released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange last month, the inflow of foreign capital into the country in 2023 was $33 billion, an 82 percent decline on the year before and the lowest annual figure since 1993. The main area of increased spending outlined in Lis report was the issuing of $139 billion worth of special Treasury bonds to finance security capacity in key areas and the expansion of the military budget by 7.2 percent, higher than the official growth target. These measures are hardly surprising given the expansion of the US war front in the Ukraine and the Middle East and the recognition in Chinese ruling and military circles that, whatever might be said to the contrary, the US is out to provoke a war. Summing up its assessment of the report, the Financial Times commented: There are real risks for China in prioritising security, technology and self-reliance over GDP growth. The countrys vulnerabilitiesa faltering property market, hefty local government debts, deepening deflation, high youth unemployment and othersall require growth to avoid further slumps. Yet there is little evidence that Beijing has the policies to achieve the growth target it has declared. The Xi regime is well aware of those risks and that its political legitimacy rests primarily on its capacity to provide economic growth and rising living standards. It used to say that 8 percent growth was needed to provide social stability. That target has long gone, and growth is now on a downward path. It knows such a situation can produce cracks at the top which may lead to the eruption of social discontent from below. In that context it is significant that the work report reflected a certain circling of the wagons around the Bonapartist president Xi. In his report Li said the achievements of 2023 were thanks to Xi who is at the helm, charting the course, to the sound guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The tightening of control around Xi was also exemplified in the decision that Li would not hold a press conference on his reportthe first time this has happened in 30 years. Members of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard, patrol the subway system in Penn Station as police officers check commuters' bags in New York on Thursday, March 7, 2024. [AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey] The mobilization of 2,000 city and state police and National Guard troops in New York City, on the pretext of fighting crime in the vast subway system, is a demonstration of the reactionary character of the Democratic Party and its embrace of the same attacks on democratic rights and the working class as those spearheaded by Trump and the Republicans. Last month, New York Citys Democratic Mayor Eric Adams announced he would deploy 1,000 NYPD cops in the subway system, after a law-and-order campaign by the citys tabloids, sensationalizing a handful of violent attacks against subway riders and transit workers. On Wednesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, announced she was redeploying 750 National Guard troops already in New York City, as well as 250 state troopers and police of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the state agency that runs the subways, to increase the number of uniformed personnel patrolling subway stations and riding trains. The troops are currently operating out of Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn as part of Joint Task Force Empire Shield, set up nearly a quarter-century ago, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. They regularly patrol in Grand Central Station, the Port Authority and a few other transportation hubs, wearing camouflage uniforms and equipped with automatic rifles, but not engaging with the population. Now the soldiers will take on the role of supplementing the NYPD, helping with random searches of bags and backpacks and other police activity. They will also move deeper into the subway system, appearing at more of its 472 stations and riding trains. Hochul announced other repressive measures, including the installation of cameras in every subway car and in the cabs used by drivers and conductors. The Democrats in the state legislature will introduce a bill to bar anyone convicted of a crime of violence on the subways from using the transit system for three yearseffectively barring them from living and working in the city, where only the wealthy and the upper-middle class can go about their daily lives without riding the subway. Statistics collected in recent years show that the campaign to whip up fears of violence on the subways has no basis in fact. NYPD figures showed a 2.6 percent decrease in subway crime in 2023, compared to 2022, although there was a jump in January 2024 compared to the same month last year. According to separate analyses by the MTA and the New York Times, violent crimes occur at a rate of between one and two per million subway rides. But a few violent incidentsthe knifing of a subway driver, the shooting of a passenger in Brooklynhave been sensationalized by the media and capitalist politicians of both parties. Mayor Adams has sought to follow Donald Trumps lead by asserting a connection between immigration and crime. Last month he proposed to weaken New York Citys declared status as a sanctuary city and resume turning over migrants arrested for violent crimesbut not tried or convictedto Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which would detain and deport them. Hochul did not conceal the right-wing political motives behind her announcement of the troop redeployment. Im also going to demonstrate that Democrats fight crime as well, she told MSNBC on Thursday. This narrative that Republicans have said and hijacked the story that were soft on crime, that we defund the police. No. Those who objected to a random bag check had a choice, she said. They can refuse. We can refuse them. They can walk. Civil liberties and civil rights groups have warned that the new policy announcements by Adams and Hochul threaten the revival of the hated stop and frisk policy of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, now one of Trumps most fervent supporters and a co-defendant on felony charges related to Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The New York Civil Liberties Union said Hochul was ripping a page straight out of the Giuliani playbook. It continued: Todays announcement fails to address longstanding problems of homelessness, poverty, or access to mental health care. Instead, a sweeping surveillance state was being established. The Democrats in New York are following the example of President Biden, who last month traveled to the US-Mexico border to show his agreement with the Republicans that desperate migrants represent a major threat to the United States and that more repressive measures are needed at the border, directed against people fleeing to escape poverty and oppression, many of them entire families, including children. Since then, Biden has regularly denounced congressional Republicans for blocking legislation that would crack down savagely on migrants, including hiring thousands more Border Patrol officers as well as immigration court judges, restricting asylum claims and authorizing swifter deportations, regardless of what fate the migrants would suffer if forcibly returned to the countries they have fled. Biden has attacked Trump from the right, blaming him for making the border crisis worse, since the ex-president called on House Republicans to block the bipartisan immigration bill after it had passed the Senate. The New York Times, mouthpiece of the Democratic Party, backed the decision to bring the National Guard into a law enforcement role on the subways. In a commentary on the newspapers website, Mara Gay, a member of its editorial board, wrote that Hochuls action is the right one. She added, If Hochuls deployment of state officers can provide even some psychological comfort, nudging additional riders back to the subways, it could help the system become safer. The trade union bureaucracy is on board as well. Transport Workers Union Local 100, with more than 30,000 members working for the MTA, has long opposed cameras in drivers cabs because they would be used by management to spy on drivers and conductors. But in response to Hochuls plan to put cameras in every cab, the union reportedly said that it would support the installation so long as the cameras are solely for safety purposes and are not used to support disciplinary cases against union members. Drivers and conductors will pay the price for this cynical cave-in. The example of New York refutes Bidens claim that he and the Democrats are fighting against the threat to American democracy represented by Donald Trump. While the likely Republican presidential nominee represents the most obvious and blatant threat of dictatorship, the Democratic Party is no alternative. One of the key episodes in Trumps preparation of his attempted political coup of January 6, 2021 was his threat to invoke the Insurrection Act during the summer of 2020 and send the military into major American cities to suppress popular demonstrations against police violence sparked by the murder of George Floyd. Now a Democratic governor is deploying troops in the largest American city on an equally bogus pretext. As Biden made clear in his State of the Union address (to which the WSWS will respond tomorrow) the Democratic Party program centers on war, pouring in weapons to fight Russia in Ukraine, backing Israeli genocide in Gaza in preparation for war with Iran, and pursuing a massive military build-up in the Asia-Pacific region directed against China. This aggressive and militaristic enterprise is aimed at maintaining the global domination of American imperialism. The cost will be imposed on the working class, through the destruction of social benefits, jobs and living standards. It is impossible for the US ruling elite to carry out this policy democratically. It requires a frontal assault on the democratic rights of the working class and the build-up of the repressive forces of the capitalist state. What is happening now in New York City is evidence that Trump and Biden merely represent different routes to the same anti-democratic destination. The defense of jobs, living standards and democratic rights requires the independent political, social and industrial struggle by the working class. The awarding of the top prize, the Golden Bear, at this years Berlin Film Festival to the documentary Dahomey by French-Senegalese director Mati Diop (Atlantics, 2019) is an indication that the dominant influence of identity politics in the cultural sector is losing ground. Endless discussions about structural racism and the priority of gender politics evade the roots of social problems and are designed to distract from the essential, burning class questions in society. Dahomey Dahomey, running less than 70 minutes, deals with the legacy of colonialism. In connection with the renowned Benin bronze sculptures, there has been increased discussion in recent years about the return of cultural artefacts expropriated during the scramble for Africa by the colonial powers. Countries such as France and Germany have recently signed agreements and returned some of the artefacts to their countries of origin. In November 2021, 26 art works made the return journey from Paris to Benin (which includes the former Kingdom of Dahomey, in existence from approximately 1600 to 1900). The works were looted by French colonial officials at the end of the 19th century. A film team is present and the director brings the 26th art object, a statue of King Ghezo, who ruled from 1818 to 1859, to life. In a dark, ghostly voice, the figure relates its mixed feelings about returning home after 130 years in captivity. They fluctuate between the fear of not being recognised and the fear of not recognising anything. The reception of the repatriated works in Benin is a major state affair. Fireworks go off, but everything is alien to No. 26. There is the modern government palacegigantic by the standards of the old kingdom of Dahomeywhere an imposing female Amazonian figure is supposed to symbolise the fight for independence. No. 26 is not yet familiar with cars and modern roads. Todays rulers stride down the stairs in contemporary dress with heavy gold jewellery and adorned with traditional patterns, providing a hint of the splendour of past days. A young, helmeted construction worker approaches the precious cargo from Paris with curiosity. The arrival of the statues does not trigger general euphoria in Benin. Students discuss it. One of them feels no connection to the stuff, which he never learnt about at school, he explains. Another young student declares the historical artefacts fill him with patriotic pride. A third says contemptuously that its just a political campaign by French president Emmanuel Macron and Patrice Talon, president of Benin, to polish up their poor image with the population. Others are also suspicious. One student calls for the promotion of local languages. She only speaks French, but is not French herself. Another declares: if it were really about promoting culture, then everyone should have access to the art works, but for poor people from remote villages the costs of travel make that impossible. Also, why, after 130 years, have only 26 of the more than 7,000 looted cultural artefacts been returned? How long will the entire process take? One student is convinced that only a pan-African revolution can lead to real self-determination, but then the question is, who can be trusted to carry this out? No. 26 also asks this. Dahomey does not provide ready-made answers, but director Diop is obviously concerned with such issues and the questions raised by those in her film. The massive size of the independence statue cannot hide the fact that the countrys formal freedom in 1960 has neither overcome the effects of colonial oppression nor enabled Benins own culture to flourish. In fact, Benin is one of the poorest countries in Africa and the world. In 2019, the official poverty rate stood at 39 percent, while underemployment was 72 percent and the informal employment rate, 90 percent. The political and legal system in the country is notorious for its pervasive corruption. The students discussion is inevitably influenced by notions of black identity and a pan-African path. But alongside a distrust of the former colonial powers and anger about their neo-colonialist crimes, there is a healthy mistrust of the venal, grasping elites ruling in their own country, who clearly show no interestto say the leastin the general population rediscovering their own history and culture. Like other international film artists, Mati Diop demonstrated her solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, and called for a ceasefire at the festivals closing award ceremony, declaring: To rebuild we must first restore, and to restitute we must do justice. We are among those who refuse to forget I stand with Palestine. Which Way Africa? (A quand l'Afrique?) Which Way Africa? (A quand l'Afrique?), a 90-minute documentary by French-Congolese filmmaker David-Pierre Fila, recalls the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 and its consequences for Africa, especially the Congo. Under the leadership of France, Germany, Great Britain and Portugal, 14 countriesthe various large and small imperialist powersmet in Berlin to divide up Africa between them, exploiting the continents riches and raw materials at the expense of the African population. Not a single African representative was invited to or involved in the Berlin meeting. David-Pierre Fila (Berlinale) The film uses old photographs to show the extreme forms of exploitation employed by the colonial powers (in the case of the Congo, Belgian imperialism) to build infrastructure in the process of robbing Africa of its valuable resources. These photos are contrasted with images of how Africans today construct buildings, clearly with an obvious new sense of self-confidence and independence, but still with quite simple means and materials. As is true in the case of Dahomey, the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has not begun to solve the problems of poverty (widespread and unchecked across the entire country, says the World Bank) and social backwardness. It too is one of the poorest nations on earth, with some 62 percent of the population subsisting on less than $2.15 a day. Which Way Africa? makes the point that the nationalist leaders who emerged across Africa in the postwar period failed to deliver on their promises (many of them, in fact, accompanied by anti-imperialist rhetoric). Interspersed with political commentary in the film are poetic observations on the scenic beauty of Africa. Like the Beninese in Dahomey, the population of the Congo is struggling to learn and understand its history. How can the future be shaped? Both films refrain from openly advocating black nationalism or Pan-Africanism. However, a much sharper understanding of the national and international social dynamics is needed, provided only by the Theory of Permanent Revolution, fought for by the Trotskyist movement. Formal independence in Africa at the beginning of the 1960s did not and could not solve the tasks of democracy and genuine independence because the native ruling elites remained tied by a thousand threads to the imperialist powers and were deeply hostile to their own labouring and peasant masses. The latter only fill them with fear and loathing. The Cold War enabled the local bourgeois layers for a time to manoeuvre between the great powers and the Soviet Union andas in Benineven cloak themselves with a socialist mantle, while doing nothing to genuinely touch the privileges of local elites and capitalist private property. In the intervening decades, however, these societies have been transformed by global economic processes, which have produced powerful battalions of the working class. This is one of the reasons why art object No. 26 feels so out of its depth. Just under 14 million people live in Benin, a very small country; by 2050, according to UN calculations, there will be 24 million. Neighbouring Nigeria has 220 million inhabitants, with 16 million living in the largest city of Lagos alone. Overcoming economic misery, backwardness and neo-colonialism requires the mobilisation of this enormous social force as part of the global working class. This in turn is inextricably linked to the overthrow of capitalism and the construction of a socialist society on a global scale. This is the only road out of poverty and social desperation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, with commanders and soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip, on December 25, 2023. Netanyahu has said Israel will continue with the offensive until a "final victory" achieves all of its goals. [AP Photo/Avi Ohayon/GPO] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu restated Thursday the intention of his fascistic government to unleash a bloody onslaught of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where some 1.5 million Palestinians are enduring horrendous conditions. As Israels genocide against the Palestinians enters its sixth month, the impending ground invasion will further deepen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation for the enclaves 2.3 million inhabitants, with widespread starvation and deaths from preventable diseases a daily reality. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) will operate against all of Hamas battalions throughout the Strip, Netanyahu told a graduation ceremony for army cadets. Whoever tells us not to operate in Rafah is telling us to lose the warand that will not happen, he added ominously. Threatening to instigate a wider regional conflict, he continued, At the same time, we will take vigorous action in the other sectors, against whoever seeks to destroy us, including on the northern front. Whoever has not yet been convinced by our strength would do well to look at what is happening to the enemy strongholds in Gaza. Underscoring his threats, Netanyahus remarks came the same day as several Israeli air strikes hit targets in southern Lebanon and Syria. Meanwhile, the grinding slaughter continued in Gaza, with the Health Ministry reporting another 83 deaths from IDF attacks in the previous 24 hours. Netanyahus aggressive remarks came on the heels of a visit by War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz to Washington, where he held consultations with Vice President Kamala Harris, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this week. While media coverage of his trip was dominated by Netanyahus opposition to it, above all due to their domestic political rivalry, readouts of the meetings make clear that discussions focused on Israels planned onslaught. Just over two weeks ago, Gantz warned that a ground invasion would be launched at the beginning of Ramadan on 10 March if the remaining hostages under Hamas control were not released. The White House stated after a meeting between Harris and Gantz Monday that the Vice President reiterated US support for Israels right to defend itself in the face of ongoing Hamas terrorist threats and underscored our unwavering commitment to Israels security. The following day, Politico reported, based on the comments of three US officials, The Biden administration is not planning to punish Israel if it launches a military campaign in Rafah without ensuring civilian safety. No doubt emboldened by these unconditional assurances of support, Netanyahus government confirmed the approval Wednesday of 3,500 illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians have been terrorised by IDF raids and vigilante violence by far-right settlers. Reports Thursday indicated that negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar to secure a six-week ceasefire in exchange for the release by Hamas of 40 hostages have broken down. The Hamas delegation left Cairo and declared in a statement that they would resume talks next week after consulting with their organisations leadership. Washington has claimed publicly that it believes an agreement in the coming days remains possible. CIA Director William Burns is travelling to the region, where he will visit Cairo and Israel for consultations with the Netanyahu government, according to Israels Channel 12. His visit is ostensibly aimed at finalizing the agreement, but the preparations for the IDFs assault on Rafah will undoubtedly be discussed. The Biden administration has been deeply implicated in every stage of Israels genocide against the Palestinians. Netanyahu, Ganz and the IDF leadership have felt able to proceed so ruthlessly and in flagrant violation of international law because they know that they enjoy the unrestrained support of Washington and its European allies. The imperialists have seized on the Gaza genocide as an opportunity to put long-standing plans for the restructuring of the entire Middle East into practice by targeting Iran and its allies throughout the region. American imperialism is determined to consolidate its dominance over the energy-rich Middle East against its rivals, above all, China and Russia. All methods, genocide included, are considered legitimate by the ruling class in pursuit of this agenda. The prospect of a further intensification of Israels genocide against the Palestinians looms as the humanitarian disaster across the enclave deepens. Over a quarter of Gazas population is one step away from famine, according to the United Nations. Just six out of 24 planned aid convoys for the northern Gaza Strip in February were approved by Israel. UNICEF reports that one in six children in the north of the Strip is acutely malnourished, which poses both an imminent risk of death and long-term health issues for those who survive. As Omar Abdel-Mannon, co-founder of the Health Workers for Palestine organisation, told al-Jazeera, periods of starvation for young children in particular can result in permanent and irreversible damage to organs, including the heart, liver and kidneys. Israels systematic and deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war is well documented. Netanyahus far-right government has massively restricted the flow of aid into Gaza to a fraction of what it was prior to 7 October. Less than 100 trucks have reached Gaza on a daily basis, compared to 500 prior to Israels onslaught. Israeli officials have openly discussed the benefits of restricting food aid and allowing disease to spread to facilitate Israels ultimate goal of ethnically cleansing Gaza to set the stage for Israeli settlements. UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Paula Gaviria Betancur, issued Wednesday a searing critique of Israels total disregard of the rights of civilians since the bombardment began, noting, Israels evacuation orders have not made the people of Gaza safer; on the contrary, they have been used to forcibly transfer and confine the civilian population in unliveable conditions Although Rafah has already come under periodic attack by Israeli forces, a full-scale ground assault would lead to unimaginable suffering. Any evacuation order imposed on Rafah under the current conditions, with the rest of Gaza lying in ruins, would be in flagrant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, forcing people to flee to conditions of certain deathdeprived of food, water, healthcare and shelter. Citing the flour massacre in Gaza City, in which at least 115 Palestinians died after IDF soldiers opened fire on a crowd waiting for aid, she concluded, I am horrified by the depravity of killing civilians while they are at their most vulnerable and seeking basic assistance. These constitute atrocity crimes of the highest order. The aid organisation Refugees International reported that Israel has consistently and groundlessly blocked aid into Gaza, while conducting persistent attacks on Gazas humanitarian, health, food, power, and other critical infrastructure. Jean-Pierre Delomier, deputy director of Handicap InternationalHumanity & Inclusion, criticised the hypocrisy of the much publicised air drops of tiny amounts of aid into northern Gaza by US aircraft, which carried out the second drop in a week Thursday. I saw kilometres of trucks queueing on four lanes, all waiting to get into Gaza, he commented after an eight-day mission to the enclave. Planes fly over to drop a few pallets, whereas just behind [the border fence] there are kilometres of pallets waiting that could just be let in. In a widely reported development Thursday, US President Joe Biden announced in his State of the Union address that the US will construct a temporary port on the Gaza coast to allow ships with humanitarian aid to dock. Compared to the numerous shiploads and planeloads of high-powered weaponry that have made their way from Washington to Israel since October, this gesture amounts to nothing more than a slap in the face for Gazas desperate population. Moreover, reports indicate that it will take several weeks to make the facility operational, by which time many more preventible deaths will have occurred and Israel will likely have launched its onslaught on Rafah. One of the ways Israel has sought to cover up its brutal massacre and starvation of the Palestinians in Gaza has been through the targeted killing of journalists and media workers, well over 100 of whom have been slaughtered since October. In a report released Thursday into Israels 13 October killing of a Reuters journalist on the Israel-Lebanon border, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research observed, It is considered a likely scenario that a Merkava tank, after firing two tank rounds, also used its machine gun against the location of the journalists. AFPs Global News Director Phil Chetwynd stated in response, If reports of sustained machine gun fire are confirmed, this would add more weight to the theory this was a targeted and deliberate attack. A special summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia, marking fifty years of formal relations between the two, concluded in Melbourne on Wednesday with the issuing of two fairly bland statements calling for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. The documents were clearly a compromise, under conditions of sharp divisions, above all between some of the ASEAN states and the Australian Labor government, which hosted the gathering. Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne, Australia, March 5, 2024 [AP Photo/Hamish Blair] The summit again underscored the extent to which Labor is functioning as an attack dog of an aggressive US-led confrontation against China. A key component is to line up states throughout the region behind Washingtons war drive, under conditions of fears in the southeast Asian capitals over the consequences. That was on display in the keynote address to the summit delivered by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Her remarks combined banalities about a shared region and shared future, with a nod to concerns among some ASEAN states over the implications of escalating US-China tensions. But the sting was in the tail, with the latter part of Wongs speech a repetition of various US-inspired denunciations of Beijing, clearly aimed at ramping up the tensions, not lessening them. The presentation mirrored the rhetoric of the Biden administration itself. While deepening a web of aggressive alliances in the region against China, and continuing a major military build-up, Biden officials have paid lip service to the need for guardrails and dialogue with Beijing. Having referenced the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Wong ominously declared that the Indo-Pacific regions peaceful, stable and prosperous character was also under challenge. She cited the remarks of Philippine President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr to the Australian parliament last week. He had stated: Geopolitical polarities and strategic competitions threaten our hard-won peace, even as we remain beset by unresolved inequities and inequalities within and amongst nations. Wong expanded on the point, leaving no doubt that her comments were directed against China. We see claims and actions that are inconsistent with international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); the legal order for the seas and oceans, Wong declared. We face destabilising, provocative and coercive actions, including unsafe conduct at sea and in the air and militarisation of disputed features. Those comments were straight from the US playbook. Since 2011, when it began a pivot to Asia, entailing a major build-up against China, Washington has inflamed a series of territorial disputes in the South China Sea between Beijing and regional states, including the Philippines and Vietnam. It has transformed what had been differences simmering for decades into a potential flashpoint of war. A key element is the inflammatory accusation that Chinese development of reefs and other features in the Sea constitutes their militarisation. Wongs remark about unsafe conduct was not elaborated on, but appeared to reference murky incidents between US allies and Chinese forces in the region. That has included unexplained close encounters between Australian and other allied naval vessels with Chinese ships. While Washington and Canberra have used such incidents to condemn China as reckless, Beijing has repeatedly branded them as Western provocations. That fits with a broader pattern of US-led freedom of navigation operations going back nearly a decade, in and near Chinese-claimed waters in the South China Sea. Wongs citing of UNCLOS underscores the bogus and hypocritical character of such operations, given that the US has never signed the convention governing the laws of the sea. Wongs speech underscored the way in which the US and its allies are using the Philippines as an attack dog for provocations against China and pressure on other ASEAN states to toe the line. Wong not only cited Marcos. She also took the unusual step of personally acknowledging him at the outset of her remarks, a courtesy she did not extend to any other leader. Wongs remarks and those of Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo echoed each other. Manalo declared on Monday: The shared stewardship of the seas and oceans in the region behooves us to unite in preserving the primacy of international law so we can ensure equitable and sustainable outcomes for all. It also calls for us to stand firmly together in opposing actions that contradict or are inconsistent with international law. Marcos attended the summit and on Monday also gave an address to the Lowy Institute think tank in Melbourne that was even more explicit in its anti-China bent. It is unfortunate that despite the clarity provided by international law, provocative, unilateral and illegal actions continue to infringe upon our sovereignty, our sovereign rights and jurisdictions, Marcos said. Speaking the language of war, he proclaimed We simply have no choice. We must defend the territory of the republic. That is a primordial duty of a leader. The territorial integrity of the Philippines cannot be threatened, and if threats are made, then we must defend against those threats. Early last year, shortly into his tenure as president, Marcos announced with Biden officials a resumption of vast US basing arrangements in the Philippines, together with joint military exercises in the South China Sea. His administration has since carried out various provocations, presenting Chinese civilian fishing vessels as a military threat and stationing a growing number of troops in and near the disputed waters. Wong referenced a Strategic Partnership between Australia and the Philippines. Signed last year, it provides for expanded military exercises and collaboration. She hailed a similar partnership between the Philippines and Vietnam. The day after the summit, on Thursday, Australia unveiled its own enhanced strategic partnership with Vietnam, which has also been locked in disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea, and has a history of military conflict with China. The cultivation of the Philippines and Vietnam is ironic, given that the US push in the region is justified on the basis of bogus claims of a rules-based order and democratic norms to be defended against autocratic China. Vietnam is a one-party Stalinist state, which presides over brutal sweatshop conditions for many workers. In the Philippines, Marcos openly declares his presidency to be a continuation of the rule of his father, who imposed martial law in 1971 and oversaw a dictatorship until it was overthrown in the popular rebellion of 1986. Marcos is continuing the war on drugs launched by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, which has included thousands of extrajudicial killings. Some of the obstacles to the US drive were also displayed at the summit. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held a meeting with Prime Minister Albanese, and the two issued a statement. But during their press conference, Anwar warned the Western powers that if they have problems with China, they should not impose it upon us. He referenced Chinese trade as the most rapidly expanding of Malaysias economic ties, and declared: We do not want to be dictated by any force. So, once we remain to be an important friend to the United States or Europe and here in Australia, they should not preclude us from being friendly to one of our important neighbours, precisely China. In a speech to the Australian National University in Canberra, Anwar went further, accusing the US and its allies of having placed obstacles against Chinas economic and technological advancement that will only further accentuate such grievances. In Beijings eyes, Anwar said, the aggressive US actions were an attempt to deny their legitimate place in history. Anwar also took aim at the hypocrisy of the US and its allies. Unfortunately, the gut-wrenching tragedy that continues to unfold in the Gaza Strip has laid bare the self-serving nature of the much vaunted rules-based order, he said. The differing responses by the West to human suffering defy reasoning. Why, for example, has the West been so vociferous, vehement and unequivocal in the condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine while remaining utterly silent on the relentless bloodletting inflicted on innocent men, women and children of Gaza? Australia had pushed for the ASEAN summit to adopt a statement that denounced Beijings actions in the South China Sea, but was stymied, leading to a bland call for peace and security in the region. The section on Gaza was also clearly a compromise, with a condemnation of attacks on civilians, but no explicit denunciation of the Israeli genocide. Anwar and other bourgeois leaders in the region, beset by economic instability, social tensions and geopolitical competition, are attempting a desperate balancing act. But under conditions of a US-led war policy in every corner of the world, the room for such maneuvering is narrowing by the day. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, delivers a work report of the NPC Standing Committee at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China's national lawmakers on Friday started deliberating a work report of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered the report at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th NPC. At least ten people were seriously injured on Saturday, March 2, after falling from the 30-foot-high US-Mexico border wall in San Diego, California. Due to the severity and volume of injuries, San Diego Fire-Rescue officials determined the incident was a mass casualty event. An incomplete secondary wall stands alongside the previous version near where the border separating Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego meets the Pacific Ocean Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Tijuana, Mexico. [AP Photo/Gregory Bull] At least six ambulances were dispatched to the scene, along with several fire trucks. Emergency officials said there were multiple types of injuries, including fractures, and that some of those injured were children. Local officials estimate 130 people were attempting to scale the border wall, which separates San Diego from Tijuana, Mexico. On Monday, US Customs and Border Protection released a statement confirming that individuals complained of various injuries sustained during their illegal entry into the United States. As of this writing it does not appear any of the injured migrants have died, although it is unclear how severe or life-altering their injuries may be. In an interview with the local San Diego CBS affiliate, Dr. Alexander Tenorio, a resident neurosurgeon at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), said that after falling from the border wall, A lot of them cant walk afterwards, even after we treat them. Once their spinal cord is damaged, for a lot of them, they have very minimal recovery or no recovery at all. So that leaves them not being able to walk. Dr. Tenorio told CBS that injuries suffered from scaling the border wall have become more serious since sections of the wall were raised to 30 feet in 2019 under President Donald Trump. An August 2023 report from UCSD Healths trauma center, titled Falling from new heights: Traumatic fracture burden and resource utilization after border wall height increase found that injuries from scaling the border wall have increased by 5-fold since roughly 400 feet of the border wall was increased in height to 30 feet in 2019. Between 2016-2019, when the wall topped out at 22 feet, the study documented 67 trauma-related incidents from falls. Between 2019 and 2021, this figure increased to 375. The same study found that at least 28 people died trying to get over or around the border wall in 2023. The year before there were 22 deaths. In 2019, there were none. In 2023 UCSD Health recorded 455 trauma-related incidents from falls. Dr. Tenorio said, however, that the real number is actually higher. He also clarified that this figure only takes into account severe injuries, such as broken limbs, orbital bones, or spinal fractures. The figure also does not include injuries suffered by children. In an interview with the Guardian, Dr. Tenorio said many of the patients he sees suffering from these injuries come with fractures all over their body, unfortunately, and thats what you would expect if someone falls 30 feet. Its like a three-story building. In 2023, for the first time, Tenorio said more women than men were admitted to the hospital with injuries sustained from scaling the wall. Tenorio told CBS8 that prior to the raising of the wall to 30 feet, which encompasses a nearly four-year stretch of time, the hospital saw 12 spinal fractures suffered by immigrants. After the raising of the wall, these types of injuries increased to over 100 in less than two years. In addition to spinal and other types of fractures, since the height of the wall has been raised Tenorio has recorded an increase in injuries to the blood vessels in the brain, which leaves patients unable to speak or walk. We didnt see any of those before the border wall was raised to 30 feet, he told CBS. The drastic increase in the number of serious injuries from falls has forced the hospital to open a separate unit dedicated to treating these injuries, which are not only life-threatening or life-altering, for the victims, but can also extract a heavy toll from doctors, nurses, and first responders treating them. Last week, NBC News reported on the immense psychological toll first responders in Eagle Pass, Texas, are suffering, after witnessing years of mass death and egregious injuries suffered by immigrants and their children while trying to cross the Rio Grande into the border town. Fascist Gov. Greg Abbotts introduction of saw-blade death buoys and concertina wire has not deterred crossings, but it has increased the number of deaths and injuries. Eagle Pass Fire Chief Manuel Mello told NBC his EMTs and firefighters are seeing decomposing bodies, they see children that have drowned. Babies two months old, with their eyes half-open, their mouths full of mud. I know that when I signed up, they told me that I would see all of that, but not in the number that these guys are seeing now. A woman carries her child after she and other migrants crossed the Rio Grande and entered the U.S. from Mexico to be processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. [AP Photo/Eric Gay] Marcos Kypuros, an Eagle Pass firefighter and EMT for two decades, told NBC that there are times where we recover four or five, six, up to seven bodies a dayit was just rough. I try and leave all this at work, not take it home with me, but its so hard, he told the network. Sometimes its hard to cope. After Abbott installed concertina wire, Kypuros said firefighters have been treating more lacerations and open wounds, which have overwhelmed local hospitals. Kypuros and Harish Garcia, another firefighter EMT in Eagle Pass, told the network they had lost count of the number of bodies they have recovered, either from the Rio Grande, or decomposing in the desert brush. Deaths and serious injuries are a daily occurrence along the US-Mexico border. Last year, the United Nations reported that the US-Mexico border was the deadliest land crossing in the world, with 683 confirmed deaths. In just the El Paso sector, located in Texas, US Customs and Border Protection reported 148 deaths in fiscal year 2023, more than double the 71 deaths recorded in 2022. After pledging in 2020 to enact more humane border policies compared to his far-right predecessor, President Joe Biden has not only continued virtually all of Trumps border policies, including building the deadly border wall, but he has also called on Trump to join me in supporting draconian anti-immigrant legislation, in order to secure military funding for war in Ukraine and genocide in Gaza. The right-wing border legislation has been endorsed by the Wall Street Journal, the US Chamber of Commerce and the Border Patrol union because it would drastically increase the size of the border police apparatus, virtually eliminate the right to claim asylum in the US and provide the president new executive powers to shut down ports of entry across the United States. UNITED NATIONS, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN representative for Haiti is encouraging an immediate deployment of a non-UN international police contingent in the face of unprecedented gang violence, a UN spokesman said on Thursday. "On the humanitarian situation, I can tell you that despite limited access because of the obvious insecurity, we and our partners are using every window of opportunity to deliver aid," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Additionally, the healthcare system is near collapse. Gang violence has raged in the capital of Port-au-Prince since the weekend with demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who had left the country for Nairobi to sign an accord paving the way for the dispatch of 1,000 Kenya police officers for Haiti. The Kenya force is the keystone of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which is authorized by the world body but not a UN mission. Henry is in Puerto Rico because the Port-au-Prince airport came under gang attack and has been closed, and a curfew has been imposed over the country. Dujarric said the head of the UN mission in Haiti, Maria Salvador, told a private Security Council session on Wednesday that she underscored the need for urgent action, particularly in supporting the immediate deployment of the MSS mission, to address the insecurity facing the Haitian people and to prevent the country from plunging even further into chaos, as gang violence in Haiti has reached unprecedented levels. "Salvador remains in close contact with the Prime Minister of Haiti, the government and other stakeholders from across the political spectrum to encourage a peaceful and constructive inter-Haitian dialogue to promote a nationally owned political solution to this crisis," the spokesman said. While he said the world body had yet to receive an official notification from Kenya, as required by the enabling Security Council resolution, he recalled President William Ruto of Kenya publicly said his country is ready to deploy police officers for the MSS in Haiti. "Last Friday, following the signing of a reciprocal agreement between Kenya and Haiti that paved the way for a deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti, President Ruto announced that his country was 'ready for this deployment,'" Dujarric said. The spokesman said that since March 3, the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners have delivered more than 7,600 hot meals to displaced men, women, and children living in displacement sites. The International Organization for Migration has distributed shelter material to more than 650 displaced families. Dujarric said humanitarian partners also provide psychosocial support to children and their families through telephone hotlines. "Many health facilities have closed or have drastically reduced their operations due to a worrying shortage of medicine and the ability of staff to get to the hospitals where they are most needed," he said. "There is also a reported shortage of medical equipment, along with blood, beds and staff to treat patients with gunshot wounds from areas around Port-au-Prince." The spokesman said the ambulatory emergency center of Doctors Without Borders in the Turgeau neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, which had been closed since December of last year, reopened on Wednesday. "The insecurity has also forced our colleagues from the WFP to suspend their maritime transport service, which is currently the only means of transporting food and medical supplies for humanitarian and development organizations from Port-au-Prince to the other parts of the country," Dujarric said. The spokesman said 24 trucks with equipment, medical supplies, and other food were stuck at the capital city's port, adding that the WFP's humanitarian air service was also grounded due to the activities at the airport. Many schools remain closed in Port-au-Prince, Delmas, Petionville, Croix-des-Bouquets and Carrefour. "The humanitarian community continues to call on all parties to stop the violence and to allow safe, unimpeded access of humanitarian assistance to everyone who needs it and there are a lot of people who need it urgently," Dujarric said. In a pitch for more aid funds, he said the country's 674 million U.S. dollar Humanitarian Response Plan has received only 17 million toward the goal. ATHENS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in Athens was evacuated on Friday following a bomb threat, reliable sources confirmed to Xinhua. The evacuation was prompted by a warning telephone call indicating an imminent bomb explosion. Police units swiftly mobilized to the scene, launching an investigation into the threat. Sources reported that Minister Vassilis Kikilias was present in his office at the time of the incident. 90 Day Fiance star Jasmine Pineda admitted she may have reached her breaking point with husband Gino Palazzolo after it was revealed he previously dated a stripper. One week after Jasmine, 36, saw unreleased footage of Gino, 53, hugging a topless dancer during the season 10 tell-all, the Panama native spoke about the situation while backstage with costar Nikki Exotika. This is it, Nikki, Jasmine said in a teaser clip for the Sunday, March 10, episode shared by People. This is the last straw. This is it. Im done. I cant forgive, and you know me Im traumatized. As Gino remained on the stage, he explained that Jasmine was likely hurt because his most recent relationship before her was with a stripper. After learning the new information, many of their costars said they understood why Jasmine was upset. Gino, you're also not sleeping with her, Ashley Michelle pointed out. And I understand why, you know, how she speaks to you you two need to figure that out. However, Gino admitted he wasnt confident they could work through their lack of intimacy with a conversation. That's a very difficult thing because all the hurtful things that have been said to me, and that's not just once this happens over and over, he explained. Its a cycle. After confirming that hes attracted to Jasmine, he insisted that wasnt the problem. Instead, he explained that the hurtful things that she says are hard for him to overcome. Before the couple tied the knot in June 2023, Jasmine and Gino got into a major fight when she learned there were strippers at his secret bachelor party. During a November 2023 episode, Ginos sister, Michelle, told Jasmine about his bachelor party while suggesting that they have a girls night. Jasmine quickly became upset when she shared that Gino claimed he wouldnt have a bachelor party until she was around to help plan it, while she also worried that the dancers touched him. Here I am, feeling guilty for getting mad at Gino, being very hard on myself, blaming everything on me, like, yes, maybe, you know, Im too jealous, she said in a confessional. I have trust issues after finding all these things from his exes. But I should have trusted my instinct because I was right. 90 Day Fiance's Jasmine Says Ginos Interaction With a Stripper in Deleted Clip Is Her Last Straw The pair made their reality TV debut during season 5 of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days in 2021. After Gino and Jasmine connected online in 2019, they met in person for the first time in December 2020 when he visited Panama. Despite initially hitting it off, Gino and Jasmine have faced many obstacles due to her jealousy issues and their disagreements over money. They seemingly worked through their problems when they got married during a small ceremony in Michigan, which was featured during a February 2024 episode. It was my dream wedding come true," Gino told People about their special day. "A super amazing day that I will not forget!" 20th Television must face a religious discrimination trial for firing Rockmond Dunbar, an original castmember on 911, after he refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine, marking the second ruling to clear the way for trial a lawsuit against a studio over terminations triggered by vaccine mandates amid the pandemic. U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee found on Friday that 20th may have discriminated against Dunbar for declining to provide him a religious exemption to the vaccine as a follower of the Church of Universal Wisdom. The trial will assess whether he had a sincerely held religious belief within the meaning of civil rights laws that conflicted with the vaccine mandate and if reasonable accommodations could have been offered, allowing him to continue acting on the series without endangering others or causing undue hardship to the studio. More from The Hollywood Reporter If 20th is found to have engaged in religious discrimination in the trial, the decision could threaten how studios approach exemptions to vaccine mandates if they are reimplemented in the future. Dunbar claimed that his request for an exemption was denied after Disney determined that he was not a true believer in the Church of Universal Wisdom. An exemption request from General Hospitals Ingo Rademacher, who was fired from the series after refusing the vaccine, was similarly rejected after Disney, which owns ABC, questioned the sincerity of his belief in a book called The Revelation of Ramala. It appears that Disney vetted exemption applications on a case-by-case basis, investigating whether the religions constituted true religious institutions and whether applicants actually followed the beliefs. Fridays ruling comes on the heels of a Los Angeles judge concluding in February that ABC may have engaged in religious discrimination against two former General Hospital crewmembers, who sued the network after they were fired for refusing the vaccine. In that case, the court will similarly evaluate whether James and Timothy Wahl had religious beliefs that ABC should have accommodated by affording them exemptions and offering them certain workarounds to mandatory vaccination policies. In 2022, Dunbar sued 20th and Disney, which owns the TV production arm of 20th Century Studios and has been dismissed from the case, after he was fired for refusing to comply with vaccine mandates. The return-to-work protocols, which were agreed upon by Hollywoods guilds and studios, stated that vaccines could be required for those working in Zone A of a production typically a projects main actors, as well as key crewmembers who work closely with them in the highest-risk areas of the set. In response to an alleged violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination on the basis of race, religion and sex, among other things, 20th contested the sincerity of Dunbars beliefs. It stressed that he had repeatedly taken actions contradicting tenets of the Church of Universal Wisdom by undergoing certain medical procedures less than a year before refusing the vaccine. Dunbar answered by claiming that he communed with God, who allegedly made exceptions and permitted [him] to act differently, he attested to the court. According to the actor, he was also told that the COVID-19 vaccine was made from evil and that it will compromise [his] spirit and that it was not for [him]. The court expressed skepticism at the assertions, explaining that communing with God is not a blanket privilege that undermines our system of ordered liberty. She also noted that Dunbars original request for an exemption only mentioned unspecified medical issues, not any sort of religious objection. In a similar lawsuit against the San Diego Unified School District that went up to a federal appeals court, it was found that a request for an exemption could be denied on the grounds that the employees belief is not sincerely held or that such an exemption would pose an undue hardship by burdening the employer through the increased risk of spreading COVID-19 to others. Still, Gee stressed that the Supreme Court has observed that the determination of what is a religious belief is more often than not a difficult and delicate task. And so it is here, the judge wrote. Defendants identify evidence that seems to undermine the sincerity of Dunbars religious beliefs, but Dunbar has also presented evidence that suggests under a lower than preponderance burden that his beliefs are strongly held and genuine nonetheless. Under Title VII, employers must provide a reasonable accommodation as long as it does not cause undue hardship, which federal courts have found to include the increased risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission. In the trial, jurors will determine whether 20th could have provided Dunbar a workaround to getting the vaccine without endangering others. On this issue, the court emphasized that the return-to-work agreement barred unvaccinated actors from being on set with minors under the age of 12 and others for whom the vaccine was not yet available. In September 2021, the 911 cast included three minors, one of whom played Dunbars child on the series. The remainder of Dunbars claims for race discrimination, retaliation and breach of contract, among others, were dismissed. There is no credible dispute that Defendants offered a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for finding Dunbar in breach of the Agreement and terminating him his non-compliance with the mandatory vaccine policy is a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason, the order stated about the race discrimination claim. Dunbar, who had over $1.3 million in his contract left to be paid out, will also not be able to pursue punitive damages in the absence of evidence that anyone acted with malice or recklessness in denying him a religious exemption. 20th and Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Last month, a Los Angeles judge ruled against ABC on summary judgment and allowed a religious discrimination claim under the Fair Employment and Housing Act to go to trial against the network. The court suggested that accommodations could have been provided to General Hospital crewmembers, who sought and were denied religious exemptions, by allowing them to follow safety protocols that were in effect from July 2020 to the fall of 2021, before vaccine mandates were instituted. During this time, the production did not have an outbreak of the virus, lawyers for the crewmembers claimed. The ruling was issued on the heels of ABC defeating a similar lawsuit from Ingo Rademacher over his dismissal from General Hospital for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Unlike with crewmembers who were not in close, unmasked contact with others, the court found in that case that it was impossible for unvaccinated actors to safely work on set during the pandemic due to the nature of their work. This embedded content is not available in your region. Best of The Hollywood Reporter You are reading an exclusive WrapPRO article for free. Want to level up your entertainment career? Go here for more information. It was a heartbreaking scene, no matter how you sided: Burly deputies whisking 26-year-old Hannah Gutierrez-Reed off to the adjoining New Mexico jail after a jury declared the Rust armorer guilty of involuntary manslaughter. She barely flinched. Her mother, sitting directly over her right shoulder, shuddered and sobbed; at the back of the room, her father, a global trick-shooting legend who trained her from childhood to wrangle Hollywoods guns, threw his famously fast hands into the air. Before anyone could even begin to process the judges order for immediate remand, Gutierrez-Reed was removing her gold chain necklace, standing up and disappearing behind a heavy self-closing door. The sequel, set for this summer, will star Alec Baldwin. He is hoping to rewrite the ending. The Rust producer and star, who drew the replica Colt .45 and accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, faces his own criminal manslaughter trial, likely to begin in July. Baldwin has been out walking free for the long two-plus years since, just as Gutierrez-Reed did until late Wednesday afternoon. She now awaits sentencing that could keep her behind bars for the next 18 months. And her conviction holds both advantages and disadvantages for Baldwins top-flight defense team to navigate, legal experts tell TheWrap. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed hears her fate as her mother, Kelly Gutierrez (left) looks on. On the one hand, with the armorer in jail and assistant director David Halls pleaded out on a misdemeanor negligence charge, theres less pressure on a jury to hold someone anyone accountable for Hutchins excruciatingly preventable death. New Mexico prosecutors rallying cry has been justice for the Ukrainian mom, who was 42 when she was laid to rest at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. And by degrees, that mission has been fulfilled. Alec Baldwin has an advantage in the empty-chair defense, a tactic shift of blame to a non-present third party, Neama Rahmani, a trial lawyer, former federal prosecutor and president of West Coast Trial Lawyers told TheWrap. Shes totally responsible! Its a ready-made defense there. That includes the emotional testimony of Halls. The assistant director, who declared cold gun when he handed the weapon to Baldwin, finished his unsupervised release in October but paid part of the plea deals outstanding debt last week when he testified for the prosecution, quavering through the most stirring line from the Gutierrez-Reed trial: I was negligent in checking the gun. [Baldwin] is going to point the finger and say, The buck stopped with her. Maybe there were other people who should have taken a look at that weapon, but the person in charge of the safety of that weapon and making sure theres no live ammo on set is her,' Josh Ritter, a Los Angeles defense attorney who spent a decade in the DAs office, told TheWrap. Rahmani also noted that much of the prosecutors case against Baldwin was laid bare during the Gutierrez-Reed trial, giving his team an edge. He has a preview of all the evidence thats going to come out, Rahmani said, and theyll be able to tailor his defense. Hes got great attorneys and great resources they can really attack the prosecutors case in the way that Hannah Gutierrez-Reeds team could not. Of course, none of that evidence was itself materially helpful to Baldwins defense: Jurors saw extensive behind-the-scenes footage of Baldwin in the days before the tragic accident, barking at Gutierrez-Reed to reload his revolver faster, later using it as a pointing stick to show cast and crew where to stand. That kind of casual, cavalier use of the weapon is really going to be hurtful to him, Ritter said of the previously unseen footage. You could see where his defense could say, Listen, Im an actor. Im not involved in what goes into the gun. I show up, you show me my mark and I say my lines. I have done this hundreds of times and always expected it not to be loaded.' Gutierrez-Reed never took the stand in her own defense. And despite the outcome, that was probably the right call, as legal experts generally agree that its never a good idea: They really have to do a remarkable job of knocking it out of the park, Ritter said. If even one thing seems evasive, or not forthcoming, or [prosecutors] catch them up in one little lie were done for. Jurors will hang their hat on that. But this is Baldwin, a polished actor and expert improviser, who has already spilled much of his defense publicly, including an interview with ABC News George Stephanopoulos just a couple of months after the shooting. Besides, in the end, jurors love celebrities, Rahmani, who expects Baldwin to take the stand, said. Ritter who does not share that expectation, and believes the ABC interview was a strategic error said only one person can really make that call: Baldwin himself. It ultimately lies with him, Ritter said. His attorneys are advising him, but its the one thing where a client can go over their heads. One person who will almost certainly not testify will be Gutierrez-Reed, who has no further advantage to gain in any sort of deal with prosecutors. Its off the board, Ritter said. They could still offer her something in the way of what theyll recommend at sentencing But you also have to wonder, what could she testify to them that they dont have already? Theyre going to say her actions were independent from his. He shouldve run a tighter ship. Baldwin is not in a great bargaining position for a last-minute plea deal, either a guilty or no-contest plea to criminal involuntary manslaughter could still trigger automatic jail time, and the actor has shown no tendency toward surrender. The difficulty with [convicting] him is that you are trying to hold someone responsible where theres zero evidence that they intended for this to happen, and they are really the last piece a lot of disastrous things needed to take place before it gets to him, Ritter said. Yes, he was holding the gun, but think of all the errors that had to happen before that. At the end of the day, anyone sees this as a horrible accident. [Prosecutors] will have a more difficult hill to climb when it comes to proving his criminal mindset. _ A timeline of TheWraps trial coverage: Verdict: Wednesday, 3/6: Hannah Gutierrez-Reed found guilty of manslaughter Day 9: Wednesday, 3/6: Closing arguments, case goes to jury Day 8: Monday, 3/4: Ammo dealer Seth Kenney denies supplying live rounds Day 6, Thursday 2/29: Assistant director David Halls gets emotional Day 6, Thursdsay 2/29: Gun expert shreds blatant safety violation videos Day 5, Wednesday, 2/28: Gutierrez-Reed interview intros sabotage theory Day 4, Tuesday 2/27: Gun expert says Baldwins Colt .45 working perfectly Day 3, Monday, 2/26: Grip testifies about out of the ordinary gun handling Day 2, Friday, 2/23: Production testifies about camera crew walk-off Day 1, Thursday, 2/22: Opening statements The post Alec Baldwin, Youre Up: What the Rust Producer Gains as Armorer Is Convicted | Analysis appeared first on TheWrap. Amanda Knox is ready to tell her story on screen, with the help of friend and mentor Monica Lewinsky. Knox took to X on Thursday to share a multi-post thread about the news that shes producing an eight-episode Hulu series about her run-in with the law as a study abroad student in Italy, where she was tried and acquitted for murdering her roommate Meredith Kercher and spent four years in prison. She also spilled that Drive Away Dolls and Maid actress Margaret Qualley will be playing her in the series. In the since-deleted posts, Knox explained that none of the previous retellings of her story in the media have felt true to her lived experience, and she wants to tell her story in a way thats artful and unexpected. When I first came home from prison, I was approached by big players in Hollywood who wanted to tell my story, she wrote. I turned them down. It didnt feel like MY story. It felt like the story of a bunch of other peoples mistakes and the consequences that I and others suffered as a result. It felt like a story I was trapped in. She added that shed revisited Italy to confront her trauma, and that it took her another decade to really understand what had gone wrong in Italy, and for me to respond to that trauma with a sense of agency and empathy for everyone involved. Amanda Knox Media Circus Hits Peak Weird on 15th Anniversary of Murder There have been several film and TV projects about Knoxs story in the past, including the 2011 Lifetime drama Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial and the 2016 Netflix documentary Amanda Knox, but the upcoming Hulu series will be the first major scripted project. Knox said on X that she is producing the series with her husband, Christopher Robinson, under their KnoxRobinson banner. According to Deadline, Qualley and Lewinsky will both executive produce, along with Warren Littlefield, Lisa Harrison, Ann Johnson, and Graham Littlefield of The Littlefield Company. According to Knox, Lewinskywho knows a thing or two about navigating a tabloid frenzywas instrumental in the seriess pickup by Hulu. [Lewinsky] deeply understood the stakes, and had a keen talent for storytelling herself. She connected us with 20th Television and Hulu, and we were off to the races! As for Qualley, Knox said the actress was her first choice for the role. Margaret Qualley, who is magical in everything shes starred in, from Maid, to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, to the new Drive Away Dolls. I still cant quite believe she said yes. 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. GAYLORD Books about gangsters, a 1980s murder in Gaylord and some of the top hiking spots in the Lower Peninsula head the list of tomes that have intrigued the readers who frequent one Northern Michigan bookstore. Lindsay Kline of Plot Bound Books at 131 W. Main St. in Gaylord has come up with a list of books that are popular with her readers. "Anything about birds, trees and mushrooms seems to be popular," Kline said recently. When asked to narrow down the most popular books with a Northern Michigan connection, Kline came up with this list: "Gangsters Up North" by Robert Knapp "Wicked Takes the Witness Stand" by Mardi Link "Tom Lake" by Ann Patchett "50 Hikes in Michigan" by Jim DuFresne "Finn has Anxiety" by Kiera Raymond Here are some of the books that Lindsay Kline, owner of Plot Bound Books in Gaylord, said are favorites of Northern Michigan readers. "Gangsters Up North" Northern Michigan remains a popular four-season tourist destination and Robert Knapp's book helps readers discover the bootleggers, gamblers and gangsters who traveled north for pleasure and profit. Knapp, a professor emeritus at the University of California-Berkley, told the News Review in 2020 that gangsters came north for the same reasons many others visit. They were interested fundamentally in two things; investment in gambling and recreation, he said. There was also some interest in bootlegging during Prohibition. He says these lawbreakers however, were not interested in murder and mayhem in the north. A story that does prove authentic is John Dillinger visiting Sault Ste. Marie in the company of one of his associates, John Hamilton, a native of the Soo. Dillinger and Hamilton traveled north in April 1934 looking to avoid detection, enjoying a brief reunion with Hamiltons sister Anna Steve and her family. Soon after, a local jury found Steve guilty of harboring the criminals, sentencing her to four months in prison. Hamilton died a short time later from wounds sustained in a gunfight with the FBI, though Dillinger remained at large until federal agents gunned him down in Chicago in July 1934. "Wicked Takes the Witness Stand" In a guest column for the News Review in 2015, former Herald Times reporter Vicki Naegele, who wrote extensively on this case for the newspaper, examines Mardi Link's book on the murder of Jerry Tobias, an oilfield worker whose body was found in the back of his pickup truck in 1986 behind the Gaylord Fire Hall. "From that moment, the case would grab headlines for 10 years until the men imprisoned for the crime were cleared," wrote Naegele. "Tom Lake," by Ann Patchett. "Tom Lake" Ann Patchett is the author of nine novels, including Tom Lake, a meditation on youthful love, married love and the lives parents have led before their children were born. In the spring of 2020, Laras three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew, according to goodreads.com. "50 Hikes in Michigan" Author Jim DuFresne said he has a deep rooted passion for two things: sunsets and shoreline. "No doubt the result of living my entire life in the two states that have more coastline than any other, Alaska and Michigan," he said. Each chapter begins with an overview of each hike the type of hike, total distance, time, difficulty, highlights, maps and trailhead GPS coordinates. Readers will learn the best way to access the trail, tips and suggestions, and key features to look out for along the way, such as scenic views, drinking water, rest stops, waterfalls and old growth trees. DuFresne is scheduled to appear at 6 p.m. on March 19 at the Otsego County Library, 700 S. Otsego Ave. in Gaylord. "Finn has Anxiety" This is a children's book about a curious and adventurous cat named Finn who suddenly starts to experience feelings of anxiety. As Finn's world becomes filled with worry and fear, he struggles to understand what's happening to him, according to goodreads.com. Subscribe Check out our latest offers and read the local news that matters to you Thankfully, Finn's loving parents are there to guide him through this difficult time. Together, they help Finn learn how to recognize and control his anxious thoughts and feelings. From deep breathing exercises to positive self-talk, Finn discovers a range of tools that he can use to manage his anxiety and regain control of his life. With colorful illustrations and relatable characters, "Finn Has Anxiety" is a good read for any child who's struggling with anxiety or other difficult emotions. Author Kiera Raymond lives in Northern Michigan. Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Books about gangsters, hiking intrigue Northern Michigan readers by Xinhua writer Yuan Quan BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- "Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always." This renowned quote in the medical field has been embraced as a standard for practice by countless healthcare professionals worldwide for decades. However, Tan Xianjie, a Chinese doctor with over 30 years of experience, has added a new phrase: "educate forever." A male gynecologist at the prestigious Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Tan usually sees patients and performs surgical procedures during the day. However, in his free time, he dedicates himself to sharing with the public scientific knowledge related to women's health conditions. He explains medical processes in books, offers advice on social media, and tells doctor-patient stories on TV programs. Words related to women's health such as "menstruation," "uterus," and "vagina" are frequently spoken by him, which may occasionally cause slight embarrassment in public, but Tan remains unfazed. The gray-haired doctor said that he aspires to provide more women with knowledge about their health and assist them in disease prevention. "A doctor, regardless of his or her level of expertise, can only attend to a limited number of patients and perform a restricted quantity of operations. But a popular science book, an engaging lecture, or an informative video can spread health information to a much wider audience," said Tan. He first resolved to become a doctor because of his mother. Born in a big rural family in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, he suffered the tragic loss of his mother when he was 12 years old. He was attending a county boarding school, and visits back home were infrequent. "My family, concerned about my studies, didn't tell me of my mother's passing until I went back during winter vacation," Tan recalled. "Upon hearing the devastating news, tears streamed down my face and I even lost consciousness. When I woke up, grief overwhelmed me and I continued to weep for my mother until I was overcome by exhaustion." Since then, Tan made up his mind to pursue a career in medicine. He dedicated himself to academic excellence, attending the best local high school and university, and securing a position at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China's premier medical institution. He chose to be a gynecologist as his mother had passed away from endometrial cancer, a type of gynecological cancer. He said his career choice was a promise he had made to his beloved mother. Tan has provided treatment to nearly 200,000 patients over the past 30 years. What left a lasting impression on him was a patient who unfortunately remained uncured. In 2013, Tan admitted a patient with recurrent rectal cancer that had spread to the reproductive organs. Several hospitals had declined to perform surgical treatment due to the great risks involved. The patient's condition was critical, and it was uncertain if she would survive for more than a week. Initially hesitant about surgery, Tan changed his mind after learning that the patient had a 10-year-old child and wished to live longer to bid farewell. Eventually, he operated. Unfortunately, three months later, the patient passed away. "Although I couldn't cure her completely," said Tan, "I managed to extend her life by 96 days, so she could spend time with her child." Tan specializes in cancer treatment partly because his mother died of endometrial cancer, a disease that is curable if detected early. He said that if his mother or other family members had had some medical knowledge, she would have sought medical attention when the initial symptoms showed and would not have passed away so early. After finishing a program of study at Harvard University in 2012, Tan dedicated himself to sharing scientific information on women's health while simultaneously completing his clinical work in Beijing. Tan has a winning formula for popularizing science, combining content in different formats. He has written a series of books, styled after martial arts novels, to introduce medical knowledge related to the uterus. He has also skillfully edited hospital anecdotes into a talk show that not only entertained the audience with laughter but also emphasized the importance of timely medical examinations. In addition, he has frequently mentioned the story of himself and his mother in public lectures, stressing that behind every patient there is a family. In March of last year, Tan shared on social media his successful case of removing over 1,000 uterine fibroids for a single patient, which gained widespread coverage from major media outlets. His efforts have garnered a substantial online following, with his articles being hailed as trustworthy and reader-friendly, as well as resulting in numerous outpatient visits. Tan has always been the last doctor to leave the consulting rooms. When he started engaging in science popularization, it was not common for Chinese doctors to participate in such activities. In the hospital's evaluation system, science popularization was not considered as important as surgical quality and patient numbers, and so it could not significantly contribute to a doctor's professional reputation. However, Tan remained determined to continue and his perseverance has paid off with recognition from the public. He said he once received a thank-you pennant from a woman at the hospital who was not his patient. After watching Tan's lecture on cervical cancer, she decided to go for an examination and discovered that she had an early stage of the disease. Thanks to timely surgery, her life continued as usual thereafter. As a result, she expressed her immense gratitude towards the doctor. This experience has once again reminded Tan of the significance of science popularization, which is "both a professional duty and a social responsibility for doctors." Tan feels pleased that in recent years the country has increasingly emphasized the importance of science popularization, placing it on a par with sci-tech innovation. Furthermore, an increasing number of medical professionals have also started engaging in promoting health science. He proposed the idea of medical colleges offering courses that teach students how to effectively convey complex medical knowledge to the general public and how to engage with patients in a warm and genuine manner. Every year around Women's Day, Tan is particularly busy. The male gynecologist will be invited to travel around and spread knowledge on women's health. In his eyes, women's physical and mental well-being not only affects their own lives but also contributes to family harmony, human reproduction and social progress. "It is women who should take the lead in taking responsibility for their health," Tan said. Cleo the Cockapoo's owner, Luisa, kept the missing dog's microchip information updated, which helped with their reunion Humane Society of Tampa Bay Missing dog Cleo reuniting with her owner Luisa A recent reunion between a Florida dog owner and their missing Cockapoo, who had been missing for 10 years, demonstrates the importance of keeping a pet's microchip up to date. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay (HSTB) shared photos of the emotional reunion and Cleo the Cockapoo's story in an Instagram post on Wednesday, The HSTB said the dog recently arrived at the shelter as a stray. When the dog came in, staff at the rescue scanned Cleo for a microchip and found one loaded with contact information. The information led to Cleo's owner, Luisa, who "was in disbelief when we called because Cleo (as we learned was her name) had run away TEN YEARS AGO!" the HSTB shared. The shelter continued: "They never lost hope and continued to update her microchip in the small hope that they would be reunited, even after they moved to Miami!" On Saturday, Luisa drove five hours from their new Miami home to Tampa Bay to reunite with Cleo. "We were hoping for a happy ending and for her to be reunited with her owners but we did not foresee the joy that her story brought!" the HSTB's Instagram post added. "This shows the power and importance of the microchip and never losing hope," the caption concluded. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In late February, an Ohio-based dog owner named Hannah also reunited with her long-lost pup, a dog named Will. Hannah's keen eye and instinctual love for Will helped her recognize her dog when Clear the Clermont County Animal Shelter an animal welfare nonprofit that helps find homes for animals in the Clermont County Animal Shelter posted about him on Facebook. Related: Missing Dog Belonging to Cancer Survivor Found After Week Lost in Extreme Cold in Canada Hannah contacted the organization and included details about when Will renamed Rome by the shelter went missing in 2019. Clear the Clermont County Animal Shelter suggested Hannah meet up with the pup at a Valentine's Day adoption event. When the dog owner arrived at the event, it was clear that the dog she spotted online was her pooch, who had gone missing five years before. The organization wrote on social media that "the reunion was nothing short of magical, a testament to the unwavering loyalty and love that exists between humans and their four-legged friends." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. "He loved life," Jon Harrington tells PEOPLE of his son David David Harrington (center) with his grandfather, Rodney Harrington, and dad Jon Harrington As families continue to wait for answers after three Kansas City Chiefs fans were mysteriously found dead in their friends backyard in January, one father says they're already planning to take legal action. Jon Harrington's son, David Harrington, and friends Clayton McGeeney and Ricky Johnson visited Jordan Williss home on Jan. 7 to watch the Chiefs play against the Los Angeles Chargers. The three men were found dead outside their friend's house two days later. Harrington says his sons death was a big surprise. He loved life, Harrington says of his son. I am incredibly sure that the outcome of this was not intended." Related: Mom of Deceased Chiefs Fan Wants Victims Families to Stop with 'Angry, Speculating Statements,' Lawyer Says Harrington says Kansas City Police read him the results of a toxicology report saying cocaine and fentanyl were found in his sons body. (The autopsy and official toxicology reports have not been made public.) Harrington doesnt argue with the test results, but he wants to know how the drugs got into his sons system, because he doesnt believe his son knowingly or willingly took the drugs. Im not buying it, says Harrington, 57, who lives in Dearborn, Missouri, north of Kansas City. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. To date, there have been no arrests or charges and the Kansas City Police Department has said "no foul play" has been "observed or suspected." The Kansas City Police Department Public Information Officers Alayna Gonzalez tells PEOPLE there have not been any additional updates released to the public. Detectives remain in contact with Platte County Prosecutors and the victims family as the death investigation continues," Gonzalez says, noting that the case remains a death investigation. John Picerno, who represents Willis, previously told PEOPLE in a statement that his client is unaware of how his friends died" and is anxiously awaiting the results of the autopsy and toxicology report. Related: Family of Chiefs Fan Found Dead in Yard Says Early Toxicology Reports Show 'Theres More to the Story' Harrington last spoke to his son on Christmas Day. They had a long conversation and made plans to go out to dinner together in mid-January. He was a lot like me, Harrington says. When I would meet his friends, theyd say to me, You look like David. Id reply, No, David looks like me. I was here first. He remembers his son as a stellar salesman who loved the Texas Longhorns and the Chiefs. He was physically strong, too. Im not a little man by any means, and David used to pick me up and twirl me around like a sack of potatoes, his father says. Courtesy of Jon Harrington Jon and David Harrington On Sunday, Jan. 21, when the Chiefs who went on to win the Super Bowl played the Buffalo Bills, a celebration of life was held for David. I couldnt have imagined a better way to send him off than that. Theres parts of that day that I will remember til the day I die, Harrington says. The Chiefs game was on at the memorial and when the Chiefs scored at one point, The entire crowd started chanting Davids name," Harrington says. That spelled sincerity to me. Related: Police Say Mysterious Deaths of 3 Chiefs Fans Remains 'Ongoing Death Investigation' After Toxicology Reports Despite talking with detectives and attending the meeting of victims' families with the Platte County Prosecutor, Harrington says he still does not know what happened to his son and that the toxicology report only raised more questions. I believe he intended to get drunk," he says. "And particularly at his age, I couldnt blame him. Couldnt stop him. Theres none of that. But the [drugs] Im not buying that. Im not arguing that that was what they found in his system, but how it got into the system, we still dont know. Ricky Johnson/Facebook David Harrington, Clayton McGeeney and Ricky Johnson As they wait for answers, the Harringtons have launched a T-shirt campaign, selling shirts to help keep the mens names in peoples minds and their memories alive. A GoFundMe was also created to help David's father. Someday, Harrington says he would like to take legal action of his own. "There will be a wrongful death lawsuit and a private investigator will more than likely be part of that," he says. In the meantime, he and other families have to wait until the criminal investigation is complete. They cant step on evidence or take evidence away from the criminal investigation, he adds. "At this point, I don't really know what to expect." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Paris-based Cat&Docs has acquired world sales rights for Grand Me by Iranian filmmaker Atiye Zare Arandi. The documentary, about an Iranian girl in the middle of a custody battle, is set to world premiere in the NEXT:WAVE strand at CPH:DOX on March 18. Set in Esfahan, Iran, Grand Me follows Melina, who has lived with her grandparents since her parents divorce. She wants to live with her mother, but this is not possible because both her father and new stepfather are against it. Besides that, Melinas mother struggles to strike a balance between her relationship with her new spouse and maintaining a positive relationship with her daughter. More from Variety Celebrating her 9th birthday, Melina is finally old enough to bring her custody case to court. With the law on her side, she hopes to choose her own custodian. Unfortunately, Melina is not aware of how the adult world is organized and how things will probably play out. The idea for the film originated when Melina told me she wanted just like me to become a film director, using her phone to make videos, Zare Arandi, who is Melinas aunt, explains. I came to realize how confident this ego-filming makes Melina, and it also underscored that filmmaking is something that gives her confidence. Melina is continuously looking for ways to empower herself and free herself of the cruel home situation she is in. Filming herself and allowing me to film her and her family has been an important step in this process. She adds: My access and proximity to the characters, being the aunt of the main film character, has contributed to a dynamic, unaffected, and realistic atmosphere in the narrative. Over the two years of filming and exclusive in-depth access, the presence of the camera in the house has become invisible, and my family members show honest and authentic behavior. Zare Arandi says that the focus is on Melina and the emotional process she is going through. This process is intrinsically linked to peoples specific cultural and social background. I feel I need to tell Melinas story, not only because she is so close to me, but also because its recognizable for so many people around the world. Telling this story through the eyes of a child brings a new perspective. Zare Arandi hopes that the film will have a constructive influence on parents who are in the middle of a separation and that it will contribute to a better awareness of the well-being of their children. We believe strongly in stories which are not solely told about their protagonists, but are able to capture their own version of events and perspective. Grand Me proves that young voices matter and strive to be heard, Maelle Guenegues from Cat&Docs says. Through trust, warmth and an insiders privilege we not only learn about a young girl being emotionally torn apart by her parents divorce, but also the impact their choices have on a whole family. At the same time and without being the core of the film the film is an intimate observation of family dynamics within the framework of larger patriarchal forces. The film is produced by Bram Crols at Belgiums Associate Directors. The co-producers are ATAM Film in Iran, VRT in Belgium and Al Jazeera Documentary Channel in Qatar. It is supported by Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF) and Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD), with additional support from DMZ Docs Industry, Documentary and Experimental Film Center (DEFC) and the Tax Shelter System of the Belgian Federal Government via Flanders Tax Shelter. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Sheldon Johnson, 48, was charged with murder and pleaded not guilty Theodore Parisienne for NY Daily News via Getty Images Sheldon Johnson A criminal justice reform advocate who once served 25 years in prison for attempted murder was charged with murder Thursday in New York City after authorities found a headless torso in a Bronx apartment. The New York Times, NBC New York and ABC 7 reported that the New York City Police Department made the discovery Tuesday. Two days later, police arrested Sheldon Johnson, 48, the outlets reported. The victim was identifed as Collin Small, 44, reported NBC. The outlet also reported that police said neighbors in Smalls building heard gunshots coming from his apartment and allegedly saw a man coming and going from the building with cleaning supplies. ABC reported that after searching the apartment, police allege that they found the victims head and legs in a freezer. Johnson, a former Bloods gang member, has spoken publicly about turning his life around in prison and has since worked as a counselor for Queens Defenders, a public defenders office, according to the Times. In February, Johnson appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience, talking about his journey. 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. Johnson is now charged with manslaughter, weapon possession, concealment of a human corpse and criminal contempt, in addition to murder, the outlets reported. NBC reported that my Johnson was arraigned Thursday and pleaded not guilty. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Joabe Barbosa was "not prepared for the hike," New Hampshire Fish and Game officials said Getty Images A snow and ice covered sign marks the summit of Mount Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Joabe Barbosa, 23, was "not prepared" for his hike when he fell and went into a ravine while hiking on Mount Washington on Thursday, officials said The Kentucky man called 911 and asked for help, and rescuers found him hours later His condition remains unknown as of Friday morning A hypothermic Kentucky man was rescued hours after he fell, hit his head and lost a shoe while hiking on Mount Washington in New Hampshire on Thursday, authorities said. The 23-year-old hiker, identified as Joabe Barbosa, was hiking Mount Washington around 6:45 p.m. local time when he went off the trail and into the Ammonoosuc Ravine, New Hampshire Fish and Game officials said. "While descending into the ravine, Barbosa fell and hit his head and face, lost one of his sneakers, and eventually became hypothermic," the agency said in their release. Officials said Barbosa managed to call 911 and ask for help. That call was sent to a conservation officer along with the GPS coordinates of his location. Related: Hiker Trapped Under Boulder Weighing at Least 6,000 Lbs. Rescued After 7 Hours "The coordinates showed Barbosa well off trail in a drainage ravine alongside one of the tributaries of the Ammonoosuc River, north of the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail at approximately 3,600 feet in elevation," authorities added. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. He was found by conservation officers and a volunteer EMT from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue around 10:30 p.m. Related: Solo Mount Baldy Hiker Still Missing, 3 Others Rescued After Spending a Night amid Severe Weather Barbosa was given a headlamp, boots, food, a warm drink and proper winter gear, NHFG officials said. Officials said Barbosa was "not prepared for the hike." He was escorted back to the trail and then to the Cog Railway parking lot. Just over three hours later, the rescue crew arrived at the Cog Railway base station around 1:40 a.m. Friday. Related: Missing Hiker Found Dead After 1,000-Foot Fall from Mt. Whitney in California's Sequoia National Park Barbosa was taken to Littleton Regional Health Care in Littleton by Twin Mountain Ambulance for treatment. His condition remains unknown at this time. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. April 14, 1865, is inarguably one of the most fateful dates in U.S. history. Thats the day President Abraham Lincoln attended a performance of Our American Cousin with his wife, Mary. Midway through the show, John Wilkes Booth fatally shot the President, hopped on stage, yelled the infamous line Sic semper tyrannis! (Thus always to tyrants), and hobbled out of the theater. Apple TV+s miniseries Manhunt, which premieres March 15, traces the fallout of Lincolns assassination, all the while wanting to give viewers a comprehensive portrait of the political unrest that teed up Booths actionsand that of those who were left to pick up the pieces of a Union in mourning and in tatters. The first episode of Manhunt rightly focuses on the events at Fords Theater in D.C. For anyone whos ever wanted to see Booth (Anthony Boyle) pick up his mail at the theater, fret over the last seconds before he fired a shot into Lincolns head, and even how he fled on horseback soon thereafter, this TV adaptation of James L. Swansons Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase For Lincolns Killer delivers. Only, the miniseries refuses to merely tell that taleor to tell it in any kind of chronological order. The show haphazardly scrambles its timeline so much that increasingly necessary title cards like 30 minutes before the assassination begin littering the screen at the start of every scene. Similarly, helpful ones like Booths hotel room and Pennsylvania, a free state eventually also end up suggesting that, narratively at least, Manhunt will require quite intrusive handholdingwhich becomes all the more distracting when no title card arrives and youre left wondering why this one setting, why this one timeframe needs no geographic or chronological marker. Manhunt C C Manhunt season 1 The shuffling back and forth is designed so that we follow Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies) in his attempts to wrangle Booth to justice. We also get a broader picture of the political turmoil that had immediately (and not so immediately) preceded Lincolns assassination. It offers Manhunt a chance to stage many a strategic meeting with Lincoln (Hamish Linklater) about slavery, the Union, Reconstruction, and the likeall in the months leading up to that fateful evening at the theater. The Union was at a precarious moment when Lincoln was killed (a night when two of his cabinet members were targeted as well). And Manhunt aims to show how Stantons search for Booth cant be disentangled from the political maneuvering that took place in Washington (and the South). This results in the show feeling intentionally fragmented. When it focuses on Boyles Booth, Manhunt is quite captivating. Here is a portrait of vanity and glory, of self-aggrandizement and self-pity. In this telling, Booth cannot see beyond the infamy hes searching for in wanting to become a symbol of a resistance that may have been more splintered than he first imagined. His delusions of grandeur are neatly juxtaposed with the political chaos he unleashed. Boyle does a careful job giving textured complexity to a pathetic grandstander, a man who was too high on Shakespeare and Poe to see himself as anything but a hero of a country betrayed by Lincoln and his ilk. Similarly, Menzies handles himself well enough as a Lincoln supporter who takes it upon himself to carry on his legacy as best he canespecially once his successor begins undoing much of what the president had hoped to accomplish to better usher in Reconstruction. All but unable to delegate anything to anyone working for him (including his own son), Stantons doggedness ends up feeling like an earmarked character trait constantly flagged by the show to better explain why hes the focus of so much of this story. Such zeal is what eventually leads him to track down George Sanders, a self-described titan of U.S. industry who may have had some involvement in the Lincoln plot and yet who wears such suspicions with impunity. In one of the shows most laughably jaw-dropping scenes, Stanton witnesses Sanders waving a gun at him: I could fire this in Manhattan in broad daylight and nothing would happen to me, he says, a line of dialogue that all too bluntly yanks us out of the late 19th century and forces us to have flashbacks to the 2016 electionand the 2020 one as well. But if there is one element of Manhunt that best encapsulates why this handsomely mounted and often thrilling miniseries falters, it is Linklaters portrayal of Lincoln. This was always going to be a tricky performance, especially as it is his absence which is supposed to drive the very plot of the show: In history and in specific moments in the show, it is the vacuum he created which fuels the many plots of Manhunt. But in insisting on peppering all too convenient flashbacks on any given episode, Manhunt makes Linklaters Abe a continued presence throughout. And in many ways, the actors committed take on this oft-impersonated president is quite spot on. The makeup (and that beard) may be a tad distracting but you cant deny that Linklater is trying to give you LINCOLN in bold capital letters, with all the oratory affectations youd expect. Its an interpretation more fitting for a taped PBS Great Performances broadcast than for a prestige take on Reconstruction-era America. That leaves the actor in a bit of an island given that no one else around him is doing anything remotely similar. Not Lili Taylor, who plays Mary, his wife. Not Brandon Flynn, who plays Stantons son. And not even the likes of Patton Oswalt and Matt Walsh, who both leave their comedic beats behind here to better ground their respective characters (investigator Lafayette Baker, who helped Stanton in his search, and Samuel Mudd, the doctor who aided and harbored Booth). Menzies and Boyle similarly anchor their characters in a naturalistic tenor, with no fanciful accents or affectations. And so, even as hes being historically accurate to what we know of the 16th president, its outright jarring when Linklater is onscreen. Such lack of modulation across performances belies the very fractured sensibility that runs all through Manhunt. At once wanting to be a light-footed conspiracy thriller about the titular search for Booth and a story of political intrigue contemporary audiences are encouraged to see as all too timely in a post-January 6th world, Manhunt fails to cohesively bring its many thematic and narrative strands together. This is historical fiction at its most facile, too self-righteous to be persuasive about the historical parallels its trying to illustrate and too listless to make watching it feel like little more than required AP History homework. Manhunt premieres March 15 on AppleTV+ Morgan Wallen is crossing the pond to perform at London's Hyde Park on July 4. - Credit: Matt Paskert Nearly 250 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the British have pulled off a stunning coup against the United States: Theyve booked Morgan Wallen to play Londons Hyde Park on Independence Day. The country superstar will headline the one-night-only gig on July 4, with additional supporting acts to be announced soon. Tickets for the concert will go on sale March 13. More from Rolling Stone Since the late Sixties, Hyde Park has hosted an array of massive and fabled concerts: Pink Floyd were the first rock band ever to perform there in 1968, and the Rolling Stones played there just two days after the death of former member Brian Jones in 1969 (it was also the Stones first live show in two years at the time). In more recent decades, Hyde Park has hosted a regular summer concert series, with everyone from Bruce Springsteen and the Cure to Blackpink and Adele taking the stage. Wallen acknowledged all this history in a statement saying, To play where legendary artists like Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones have played is a huge honor for me and my band, and we cant wait to be back. The news of the Hyde Park concert fittingly comes on the heels of Wallens recent surprise release, the Abbey Road Sessions. Wallen and his band cut the project at the legendary Studio Two at Abbey Road Studio on Dec. 5, 2023. The release features five songs from Wallens smash 2023 album One Thing at a Time, a previously unreleased track Lies Lies Lies, and a cover of Nothing But Thieves Graveyard Whistling. Wallen will spend much of 2024 touring North America in support of One Thing at a Time. Hell return to the road April 4 in Indianapolis, Indiana, with dates scheduled through Aug. 9 in Las Vegas. Best of Rolling Stone After months of speculation about Natalie Portmans marriage to Benjamin Millepied, her spokesperson confirmed to People what fans had suspected their union was over. The couple not only split, but they are already divorced. They managed to navigate a super private breakup under the radar, and we are now just learning the true timeline of the divorce. The French outlet, Voici, was the first to report Millepieds alleged affair with 25-year-old climate activist Camille Etienne in June 2023. At the time a People insider noted, He is doing all he can to get Natalie to forgive him and keep their family together. Natalie is incredibly private and has no intention of playing this out in the media. Her biggest priority is protecting her children and their privacy. While fans thought they were seeking therapy, Portman was already done with the marriage. More from SheKnows Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman. The May December star filed for divorce last July in France which is likely why she was able to keep the personal details so private for so long there was no worry that a tabloid was waiting at the courthouse to publish the documents. Portman and Millepieds divorce was finalized last month, per People, and the 42-year-old actress has been leaning on her friends who have rallied around her and helped get her through the worst of it, according to an insider close to the star. Natalie is coming out of a really tough and painful year but shes come out the other side of it stronger and is finding joy in her family, friends and work, they added. Portman had hinted that things were not great between her and Millepied when she told The Wall Street Journal that she lives in Paris with her two children, Aleph, 12, and Amalia, 6 there was no mention of her husband. In a recent Vanity Fair profile, she noted that she had no desire to contribute to the cheating rumors surrounding Millepied. Portman described it as terrible and that was her official statement on the story. Portman will continue to live in France and navigate her new co-parenting chapter with Millepied, but the pain of the split still lingers. Natalie hoped her marriage would be forever, the source concluded to People. But she is at peace with where they are and now focused on their new normal as a family. Before you go, click here to see all the celebrity couples who have stayed together after cheating scandals. Kate Middleton, Prince William Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. That movie was the Presidents idea, not mine, but it was a demand, not a suggestion. The speaker was Jack Warner in a 1947 foreshadowing of his Donald Trumpian style. I recalled his remarks this week as I drove onto the Warner Bros lot, the fabled arena where Warner long reigned. More from Deadline In his heyday, Warner was a Trump pre-clone in terms of temperament and rhetoric a man who boasted about his mental acuity yet, to Hollywoods power players, seemed occasionally unhinged. I was visiting Warner Bros this week to spend some time with David Zaslav, a figure who, in temperament and politics, is the mirror opposite of Warner but whose empire is nonetheless a product of Warners erratic vision. Some believe that Zaslavs studio Hollywood in general might still glean some insight from its founders idiosyncrasies. A career maverick, Warner promoted gangster movies like Public Enemy or Little Caesar to his Depression-era ticket audience and fostered Casablanca in 1942 when moviegoers wanted to forget war. He bought the rights to My Fair Lady in 1964 when movie musicals were dying (it worked) and, early on, built Rin Tin Tin into a blockbuster though he hated dogs. He might even have voted for Oppenheimer (see below). A stalwart Republican, Jack Warner often quarreled with President Franklin Roosevelt, called Winston Churchill foolish and cheerfully put up $40,000 in lawyers fees to rescue Errol Flynn (star of Captain Blood) of rape charges. Warners frequent speeches at banquets inspired his friend Jack Benny to observe: He must be ad libbing because no professional writer would ever create that sh*t. On at least two occasions Warner delivered acceptances for awards he hadnt won. Jack Warner never met Zaslav but would have admired his decision to celebrate the studios hundredth anniversary. Warners own 1975 autobiography was optimistically titled My First Hundred Years in Hollywood (he died three years after its publication). Warner fought bitterly with rival studio chiefs, yet now and then supported their aberrant decisions, as when Columbias Harry Cohn paid gangsters to suppress a strike that the union never intended to launch. He also congratulated Louis B. Mayer for regularly lecturing his young contract players on the virtues of hard right conservative politics. Rival studio czars turned on Warner, however, when he cowered before the red-baiters at the 1947 House Un-American Activities hearings. The studio chiefs initially tried stonewalling the congressmen until Warner panicked and started naming supposed Communists whom he had identified and fired a distinguished list of directors and writers. One reason for his panic was an imminent Warner Bros release titled Mission to Moscow, which took a friendly attitude toward Russian leaders who were struggling to create a democracy. Fearing heat from Congress, Warner argued that hed released Mission to Moscow only because the White House had demanded it a claim President Roosevelt angrily refuted. (L-R) Walter Huston and Manart Kippen in 1943s Mission to Moscow Given his Trumpian instincts, Jack Warner would never have understood Zaslav on a personal level, but would have admired his style and financial sophistication. A youthful Warner had welcomed innovations like talkies, but later was mystified by the publics embrace of television in the 50s and 60s. He rejected offers from rising young conglomerators like Steve Ross or Charles Bluhdorn who proposed linking Warner Bros with diversified media companies or video purveyors. He ultimately sold control of the studio in 1966 to a relatively minor entity called Seven Arts, formally retiring not long thereafter. Though suspicious of journalists, Warner would call me when I was a young reporter at the New York Times and cheerfully chat about Hollywoods surrender. Studios had lost their sense of acuity, he argued; they were making churlish message movies like Midnight Cowboy instead of trying to find a new Public Enemy. Or at least training a new Rin Tin Tin. Warner would have loved attending this years Oscars, provided hed been invited to give a speech. He might even have voted for Oppenheimer, admiring its narrative but criticizing its running time. I believe in tight cuts, he told me. I often threw directors out of the editing room. Even Orson Welles. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The historic blaze which has killed at least two people was 87% contained as of Friday morning, according to fire officials Greenville Firefighter Association/ Handout /Anadolu via Getty A fast-moving wildfire burning through the Texas Panhandle region in Texas, United States on February 29, 2024. The US state of Texas issued a disaster declaration as massive wildfires continued to burn out of control, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. The Texas A&M Forest Service said power lines are believed to have ignited the Smokehouse Creek wildfire in Texas on Feb. 26 Xcel Energy said Thursday that it has been cooperating with the investigations into the wildfires and has been conducting its own review" The Smokehouse Creek fire was 87% contained as of Friday morning, fire officials said Power lines are believed to have sparked the massive Smokehouse Creek wildfire in the Texas Panhandle, the largest blaze in state history, following an investigation by the Texas A&M Forest Service. According to Juan Rodriguez, a public information officer with the service, investigators have completed their investigation into the cause of the Smokehouse Creek fire and the Windy Deuce fire, Texas Standard reported. In this case, we saw winds that were over 60 and 70 miles an hour. And so when the winds are doing that, driving down the roadways, you can just see power lines just bouncing up and down, Rodriguez said. Its bound to cause one of these power lines to fail or something like that. So, you know, one of them or some of them may have fallen or just got out just due to the sheer wind. In a statement shared Thursday, Xcel Energy acknowledged that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire. PEOPLE has reached out to the energy company and Rodriguez for comments. Related: Texas Fire Chief Dies Battling House Fire After Days of Fighting Panhandle Wildfires: 'It Did Have a Role' According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the fire has burned more than one million acres of land since it began on Feb. 26. As of Friday morning, the blaze was 87% contained, according to fire officials. At least two people have died from the fire, according to CNN and the Associated Press. Xcel Energy said it has been cooperating with the investigations into the wildfires and has been conducting its own review. The people in this region are our friends, neighbors and relatives, said Bob Frenzel, Chairman, President and CEO of Xcel Energy. We are deeply saddened by the losses incurred in this community, and we are committed to supporting its renewal and recovery. Forty-seven homes in Hemphill County and upwards of 17 homes in Roberts County were lost in the Smokehouse Creek fire, Xcel Energy said. A number of homes in Hutchinson County were also lost in the Smokehouse Creek fire, as well as the Windy Deuce fire, which is burning simultaneously. Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg via Getty A utility crew repairs damaged power lines following the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Fritch, Texas, US, on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Texas emergency crews are battling the worst wildfire in state history amid forecasts for several more days of dry, windy weather that will make their task more difficult. Xcel Energy does not believe that its facilities caused the ignition of the Windy Deuce fire. A Stinnett homeowner has filed a lawsuit against Xcel Energy, in which she claimed a fallen power pole ignited the blaze, CNN and the AP reported. The woman accused the companies of failing to properly inspect, maintain, and replace the pole, which she claimed snapped off at its base the day the fire began. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Mikal Watts, the womans attorney, told CNN that fire patterns were used to track the pole back to Xcel Energy and a subcontractor. During an inspection on Wednesday, the pole was found to be heavily degraded and should have been removed from service long ago, Watts said, per the AP. The attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Related: 83-Year-Old Grandmother Dies as Largest Wildfire in Texas History Scorches More Than 1M Acres Xcel Energy which has operated in the Texas Panhandle for more than 100 years, according to Frenzel pushed back against claims that it acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure. In the meantime, Xcel Energy is encouraging those who lost property or livestock in the Smokehouse Creek wildfire to submit a claim, which the company said will be reviewed and responded to in an expeditious manner. The company also promised to continue working with regulators and policymakers to evaluate the evolving nature of the wildfire risk and advance effective wildfire mitigation strategies to help protect the public. As longstanding members of the west Texas community, we will continue to support our neighbors in this recovery, Xcel Energy said. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), delivers a work report of the SPC at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China's national lawmakers on Friday started deliberating a work report of the Supreme People's Court (SPC). SPC President Zhang Jun delivered the report at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress. Changing tactics. Rachel Leviss went on the offensive this past week. She filed a revenge porn lawsuit against her former lover, Tom Sandoval, and his ex-girlfriend, Ariana Madix. It was a shocking turn of events that no one saw coming. And given her change in lawyer, and a look at the legalities behind the action, its clear the former Vanderpump Rules star is done laying low. The lawsuit suggests the network sanitized the story The revenge porn lawsuit, which was filed by her current legal team, Bryan Freedman and Marck Geragos, does not include Bravo, NBC Universal, or Evolution. However, Rachels attorneys are making an argument as part of their case that the network, sanitized the story to ensure Leviss would be seen as the arch-villian. The lawsuit claimed that Sandoval insisted elements of his final scene with Rachel at her apartment on March 4, 2023 were edited out. Namely that, Leviss confronted Sandoval for secretly recording pornographic videos of her and storing them unprotected on his phone. According to media reports cited in the lawsuit, the Schwartz & Sandys co-owner was, granted editing rights over the scene. Shockingly, Bravo and Evolution obliged his demand. The scene was selectively edited to omit any mention of Sandovals illicit recording or Leviss lack of consent. This was part of a pattern and practice of Bravo and Evolution throwing Leviss under the bus in favor of Sandoval, the statement continued. Recording someone engaged in sex acts without their consent is a crime, and Sandoval appears to have admitted it on camera. Portraying the confrontation as it actually occurred instead of protecting sleazy Sandoval would not only have been truthful, it would have also been good television. But Bravo and Evolution apparently decided that Leviss would be their sacrificial lamb. Rachels former attorney said discussion would be inappropriate A year ago, and under different legal counsel, Rachel asked MGM, Evolutions parent company not to air any discussion about the intimate recording that Sandoval took of her without her knowledge or consent. In a letter reviewed by Variety from March 6, 2023, Lawrence M Kopeikin, the VPR alums former attorney called it the right thing to do. Giving life to a recording that was illegally obtained by allowing discussion of it on-air would be tantamount to rewarding someone for robbing a bank or shooting someone, he wrote. We would hope that Evolution and Bravo have sufficient character and restraint to not air any discussion of this illegally obtained recording. Sandoval was named in the letter as having illegally recorded an intimate Facetime exchange, with one or more cast members having shared this recording among themselves, which is a violation of several California statutes, including without limitation, California Penal Code Section 647(J)(4) (the so-called revenge porn law). While Rachels former attorney knew that Bravo would not air any part of this recording (whether blurred or pixelated or otherwise obscured) since that could subject Evolution/MGM and Bravo to possible civil and criminal liability, he added it would be, inappropriate for Evolution and Bravo to put on air any discussion among the cast of this illegally obtained recording. We would hope that Evolution and Bravo have sufficient character and restraint to not air any discussion of this illegally obtained recording, Kopeikin continued. This is especially important given the nature of this illegally obtained recording. Once youve had an opportunity to discuss this with Evolution and Bravo we would appreciate your confirming that discussion of this illegally obtained recording will not be aired on the show. The new legal team responds So its a contradiction in strategy between one legal team and another. When asked to comment on why they are naming the network in the lawsuit, Rachels current lawyer, Freddman responded, Clearly, you do not understand what this case is about. They continued: If you did understand the actual legal claim, you would not be asking questions about a letter sent to a production company that is not even named as a defendant in the complaint. This case is about revenge porn arising from illegally recording and disseminating a sexual video without the knowledge or consent of our client. It is not only a civil wrong but likely a crime. TELL US WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE LETTER RACHELS FORMER LAWYER WROTE? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HER NEW LEGAL TEAM AND THE LAWSUIT? WHAT ROLE OR RESPONSIBILITY DO YOU THINK BRAVO PLAYED IN THIS ISSUE, IF AT ALL? The post Rachel Leviss Lawyer Asked Bravo Not to Air Intimate Recording Discussion appeared first on Reality Tea. Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch is engaged to Elena Zhukova, more than 20 years his junior, marking the moguls sixth fiancee. If they make it down the aisle, she will become his fifth wife this summer. The 92-year-old ex-chairman of Fox News and News Corp is set to say I do in June to the 67-year-old former molecular biologist, The New York Times reports. The billionaire and Zhukova, originally from Moscow, began dating last summer after reportedly meeting through his third wife, Wendi Deng. Murdoch filed for divorce from Deng in 2013, after 14 years of marriage and two daughters together. Murdoch and Zhukova started dating shortly after he called off his two-week engagement to Ann Lesley Smith last year. The engagement news comes just months after Murdoch announced in September that he would step down from his role as Fox News and News Corp chair, with eldest son Lachlan replacing him at both companies. This isnt the first billionaire to whom Zhukova has been engaged, who was previously married to energy investor Alexander Zhukov. They share a daughter, Dasha Zhukova, 42, who was formerly married to Russian oligarch and billionaire Roman Abramovich. Murdochs first trip to the altar was in 1956 when he wed fellow Australian Patricia Brooker. Murdoch and the flight attendant, who also worked as a part-time department store model, welcomed daughter Prudence two years later before divorcing in 1967. Later that year, he moved on with Scottish native Anna Maria Torv, to whom he was married for 32 years. Through Torv, Murdoch fathered Elisabeth, 55; Lachlan, 52; and James, 51. Murdoch was 68 when he and then-30-year-old Deng, who is Chinese, secretly exchanged vows aboard his yacht in New York Harbour in 1999. Following their 2013 divorce, Murdoch married Jerry Hall married in 2016. Hall, 67, was with Mick Jagger for over two decades nine years of which were spent unofficially married. The 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' alum marked her husband Freddie Prinze Jr.'s 46th birthday with a light-hearted Instagram post referencing the popular internet meme Jesse Grant/Getty Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. attend the "Wolf Pack" Premiere on January 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Sarah Michelle Gellar is celebrating her very own birthday bae Freddie Prinze Jr. On Friday, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum, 46, marked her husbands 48th birthday with a light-hearted Instagram post referencing the popular internet meme based on a well-known Turkish chef Nurset Gokce. #saltbae has nothing on my birthday bae @realfreddieprinze #happybirthday, she wrote alongside photo of her cookbook author husband salting a piece of meat. Related: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.'s Relationship Timeline The birthday celebration comes six months after the pair marked their 21st wedding anniversary in September. In honor of the occasion, the actress shared a sweet throwback wedding photo on Instagram and joked about a typical anniversary gift for 21 years of marriage. @realfreddieprinze whats customary for 21 years?, Gellar captioned the post. I believe its @celine or is it @loewe ?!? Claire Greenway/Getty Freddie Prinze Jnr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar arrive at the UK premiere of "Hairspray" at Odeon West End on July 5, 2007 in London, England. Related: Sarah Michelle Gellar Says It's 'Not Easy' to Get Husband Freddie Prinze Jr. in Photos During Family Vacation The Scooby-Doo costars who first met on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer tied the knot in 2002 at the El Careyes resort in Mexico. "We are each other's best friend," Gellar shared at the time. "He is my first love." The couple went to welcome two children: daughter Charlotte Grace, in 2009 and son Rocky James, in 2012. Jamie McCarthy/WireImage Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar at the The Plumm in New York City, New York Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Gellar shared that the pair being mindful and present during their time together is one of the secrets to their long-lasting marriage. "Take the 10 minutes put the phone down. Have a cup of coffee together. Walk the dog at the end of the night. Read a story with your kids," she told PEOPLE in 2020. "Make the most of the time that you have. We are all pulled in so many directions, so make sure that, whichever one you are focusing on, you're present." Prinze also joked about why Gellar has stuck around, saying on Australia's The Kyle & Jackie O Show in 2022, "I hate a mess. If something is dirty, I clean it. I do the dishes while I'm cooking so there's less s--- to look at." He added, "I can't stand a mess: my room is spotless, my car is spotless. I'm one day late for a haircut and I'm going crazy." The actor also does the laundry and cooks all the meals in the couple's household. "My mom was a chef and I learned how to cook, and I married someone who couldn't cook," he said. "So I'm necessary. She needs me to live and sustain herself." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised. Oxygens true crime series Sin City Murders is going to examine the gruesome murder case of budding hip-hop artist Michael Portaro. The slaying took place in March 2011. The episode, titled All Bets Are Off, will provide an in-depth analysis of the killing and unravel all the secrets around it, including the arrest of Brandon Hill. The upcoming episode will air on the network on Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m. ET. As per Oxygen, someone called 911 from Las Vegas Tenaya Creek Brewery after seeing a man covered in blood. Authorities reached the venue and identified the victim as Michael Portaro, an aspiring hip-hop artist. The outlet also mentioned that the killer shot Portaro several times, including in the head. While searching the crime scene, investigators found a cigarette butt at the crime scene. As per the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the evidence helped the authorities crack the case. Police sent the cigarette butt for analysis. On the other hand, an anonymous tip helped the investigators link Brandon Hill to the slaying. Subsequently, cops arrested Hill and took his DNA. According to the publication, Hills DNA matched with the DNA that the authorities found on the cigarette butt. Moreover, Hills shoes had Portaros blood. As a result, the police charged him for fatally shooting Michael Portaro. On February 2015, the jury delivered a guilty verdict in the case and sentenced Brandon Hill to 28 years to life in prison, per Las Vegas Review-Journal. Currently, Hill is serving his sentence at the Southern Desert Correctional Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Michael Portaros murder case explored After cigarette butt turned out to be crucial in solving Michael Portaros murder, authorities acquired additional evidence that helped in procuring a guilty verdict. As per the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the prosecution showed the surveillance video in the court where a man in a hoodie could be seen smoking a cigarette. They also presented the actual cigarette butt that police discovered near the crime scene. During the trial, Michaels mother, Cynthia Portaro, opened up about losing her family. For the uninitiated, Cynthia lost her daughter in a tragic accident in 2011. Meanwhile, her husband died on Thanksgiving in 2014, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. While speaking during the proceedings, Cynthia said, I am sentenced to live without my family. I didnt cause any of this to happen, but I am sentenced to a life of grief. Court sentenced Hill to prison in Portaros murder case The jury found Brandon Hill guilty of the killing of Michael Portaro. Before his sentencing, Portaro apologized to Cynthia and said, My words cant give them their loved one back. But if it was possible Id give my own life. Initially, he faced the death penalty. However, Oxygen reported that Michaels mother asked the prosecution team to take away the death penalty. Cynthia told Oxygen, When I first went in the courtroom, I wanted justice. I wanted (Hill) to rot in hell. I said, Frank, I need you to take away the death penalty. He said, Are you crazy? Meanwhile, members of the Hill family also apologized to Cynthia for Hills actions. Hills sister said, Theres nothing I could say to her to apologize. I get to go see him. Shes got her baby in a grave. As mentioned earlier, Brandon Hill is currently serving his sentence at a prison in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Hill would definitely get a chance to be out on parole. The post Sin City Murders on Oxygen: Where Is Michael Portaros Killer Brandon Hill Now? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Sister Wives stars Kody and Robyn Brown's home was reportedly visited by a Flagstaff, Arizona, CARE team on the night of Thursday, March 7, two days after his son Robert Garrison Brown was found dead at his home from an apparent suicide. Without a Crystal Ball's Katie Paulson reported that a neighbor of the couple contacted her saying that three cars "whizzed through their neighborhood" around 7:30 p.m. local time, arriving at Kody, 54, and Robyn's Flagstaff home. Without a Crystal Ball provided photos taken by a neighbor of the apparent units parked in front of the house. Nearly all of the lights on the second floor of the home were on. Each of Flagstaff's CARE units include a trained behavioral health specialist and a Flagstaff Fire Department firefighter/EMT. It was created in 2022 to deal with 911 and non-emergency calls in cases that don't pose a threat to public safety, replacing the need for sending police officers. Contrary to reports, the Flagstaff Police Department tells In Touch, "We have had a very heavy call volume regarding a supposed incident at the address you have provided. After speaking with the dispatch and confirming in our system with names and DOB there have been no calls dispatched to the address. No incidents have occurred with the Coconino County Sherrif or Flagstaff Police Department." Three days after the reports circulated online, In Touch exclusively revealed that a dispatch was never sent to the home. Kody and Robyn Browns home was not visited by a CARE Unit or another service affiliated with Terros Health, an official exclusively told In Touch on Monday, March 11. After news of Garrison's death broke on Tuesday, March 5, his parents Kody and Janelle Brown shared a joint statement about their grief on their respective Instagram pages. "Janelle and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown. He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him," they began. "Our loss will leave such a big hole in our lives, that it takes our breath away. We ask that you please respect our privacy and join us in honoring his memory," the duo added. Garrison was 25 years old at the time of his death. Janelle, 54, said in a Flagstaff Police Department report obtained by In Touch that Garrison and his father were not on speaking terms when he died. Sister Wives viewers had watched during season 18 how Garrison and his younger brother Gabe were still estranged from their father following his strict rules during the COVID-19 lockdown. Garrison's body was found by Gabe, 22, who had gone to check on him at Janelle's insistence after she had been made aware of worrisome texts he shared on Monday, March 4. Following the discovery, Gabe tried to bring Kody back to Garrison's house but returned alone, according to authorities. After speaking with Janelle, Gabe left the scene to pick up his father and return with him to the apartment, the police report read. However, another family member went to assist, and Gabe returned a while later on his own, the report continued. Officers who spoke to Gabe as well as Garrison's roommates included in the report that the TLC star had been battling issues with alcohol and had been depressed. Janelle told officers she should have gotten her son help." During season 18 of Sister Wives, she expressed concern about how Gabe and Garrison's estrangement from their father was affecting her sons emotionally. I have worried about my boys mental health, she revealed in a confessional. Gabriel feels everything very, very deeply. But hes also the kid who doesnt say anything. She added that Garrison just seems angry or sadder, like, hes not as happy-go-lucky as he used to be. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The April 2024 total solar eclipse will be the last one visible from the contiguous United States until 2044. Here's how to prepare for it George Frey/Getty Solar eclipse glasses. It's time to add another pair of sunglasses to your collection! However, this particular pair isn't for fashion purposes rather, it's for protection when viewing the upcoming total solar eclipse that's expected to take place in April 2024. Think back to the last time a total solar eclipse was visible from the United States in April 2017, when NASA advised onlookers to watch the astronomical phenomenon with specialized eye protection. This year is no different! The space agency recommends protective eye gear for those hoping to catch a glimpse of this highly-anticipated event, particularly for the phases before and after totality (which is when the moon completely blocks the sun's bright face). Related: Here's What Leap Day Could Mean for You, According to Your Zodiac Sign Even without an astronomical event that causes people to gaze directly at the sun, doctors advise people wear a good pair of shades in bright weather; that's because, as NASA warns, viewing "any part" of the sun "without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics" will "instantly cause severe eye injury." It's important to note, however, that the protective eyewear the agency suggests using to watch the solar eclipse is not the same as regular sunglasses. Plus, they shouldn't be used when viewing through cameras, binoculars or telescopes. Read on for what you need to know about the NASA-recommended glasses to watch the 2024 solar eclipse, including when and where to buy them. What is a solar eclipse? STR/AFP via Getty Solar eclipse viewed from China in January 2010. A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, according to NASA. The moon enters different phases during an eclipse. At just the right moment, a total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes over the sun and blocks out its bright light completely. Other times a partial solar eclipse takes place, when the moon only covers part of the sun's glow. A total solar eclipse is quite a spectacle to experience if the astronomical phenomenon is visible from your location on Earth. The April 2024 solar eclipse, which will be visible in the U.S., is expected to take place midday, causing daytime darkness for a few minutes as a result. "If you want to experience total darkness during an eclipse, you have to be in the path of totality," reports NASA. "If you dont know whats happening, it can be confusing. Animals can get confused too!" Related: All About October's Solar Eclipse and What It Means For Your Zodiac When is the solar eclipse in 2024? The upcoming solar eclipse is Monday, April 8, 2024. Exact timing depends on where viewers are located in North America, where the phenomenon will pass after it begins over the South Pacific ocean. "Weather permitting, the first location in continental North America that will experience totality is Mexicos Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT," per NASA. Next, it will enter the U.S. in Texas. Then, it travels through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as small parts of Michigan and Tennessee. (Those interested in experiencing the complete solar eclipse should look up exactly where in their state is within the path of totality; many well-situated towns are hosting events to celebrate!) After it makes its way over the U.S., the eclipse will enter Canada. It will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT. What are solar eclipse glasses? George Frey/Getty A couple with solar eclipse glasses view the solar eclipse from Utah in October 2023. Solar eclipse glasses are specialized eyewear recommended by NASA to watch the solar eclipse, and are specifically made out of materials that enable safe sun viewing. "Solar eclipse glasses use lenses that are made of black polymer, a flexible resin infused with carbon particles," according to the Planetary Society's website. "They are about 100,000 times darker than ordinary sunglasses and block nearly all visible light as well as all infrared and ultraviolet light." Eclipse glasses aren't the only form of protective eyewear onlookers are suggested to use. Handheld solar viewers are another option if you can't snag a pair of glasses. NASA states that it "does not approve any particular brand of solar viewers." (The American Astronomy Society does have a list of reputable vendors on their own site.) However, NASA emphasizes that people hoping to look right at the sun must be wearing a pair, as regular shades "are not safe for viewing the sun" during the eclipse. Do solar eclipse glasses have to be worn? Solar eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers are strongly recommended by NASA to watch the phenomenon in its partial phases as a way to prevent eye damage from the sun. There are other ways to watch, though, if you don't want to purchase and wear this gear. NASA offers an indirect viewing method, which does not involve looking directly at the sun. Using a pinhole projector, for example, is one way onlookers can experience the eclipse. A pinhole projector has a tiny opening (like a hole punched in an index card) and projects an image of the sun onto a nearby surface. While facing away from the sun, the space agency says that viewers "can then safely view the projected image." (Do not look at the sun through the pinhole!) There is also a brief window of totality (when the moon completely covers the sun) when NASA notes the eclipse is viewable "without proper eye protection." The only safe time is when you can "no longer see any part of the sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer." Related: Fly in the Path of Totality During April's Total Solar Eclipse on This Delta Flight Where and when to buy solar eclipse glasses? APHOTOGRAFIA/Getty A couple watches the solar eclipse with protective eyewear from El Salvador in October 2023. So what exactly are you looking for to ensure you are buying the correct type of glasses? "Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and ought to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard," according to NASA. The space agency links to a resource page with vetted companies that manufacture and sell safe solar viewers and filters for binoculars and telescopes; according to NASA, these sellers have "demonstrated" that the products they're selling "meet the safety requirements" of the above standard. The resource page does not recommend searching for eclipse glasses on Amazon, eBay, Temu or any other online marketplace and buying from whichever vendor offers the lowest price. Before making an online purchase, make sure the seller is "identified on the [NASA] site." As for when you should buy your solar eclipse glasses, Forbes suggests purchasing them now. This is because demand for the product will only increase as April 8 draws closer, which will likely increase prices as a result. "According to the e-commerce accelerator Pattern, the prices of solar eclipse glasses have increased by 27% online since the last solar eclipse in North America on October 16," the outlet reported on March 7 and based on supply-and-demand, prices will likely only increase from here. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Tan France, one of the Fab Five cast members of Netflixs Queer Eye, took to Instagram on Friday to address the recent controversy surrounding his co-star Bobby Berks exit from the show. Earlier this week, a Rolling Stone expose alleged that France had campaigned to replace Berk with his personal friend Jeremiah Brent. Netflix announced last week that Brent would be replacing Berk as the shows resident interior designer, following Berks shocking announcement that he wouldnt be returning for Queer Eyes ninth season. Good morning. Yes, Ive heard whats going on, and I just want to address one point, real quick, France began his video. My former colleague getting fired had nothing to do with me trying to get my friend hired, the stylist said. Netflix [and] the production companies did a full-on casting. I didnt put my friend up for the job. They ended up getting it because they were the best person for the job. Am I so happy they have the job? Uh-huh, I really am. I think theyre gonna be incredible on the show. But I didnt get them hired by getting rid of somebody else. He continued: And this all started because of a comment on a gossip blog that just got reposted and reposted and then its almost become gospel. So, from the horses mouth, Im telling you thats not at all how it went down and thats all Ill say on the matter. If you need to dig deeper, if you still dont believe me, so be it, but thats it. Back in January, Berk told Vanity Fair that hed made the decision to leave Queer Eye in the fall of 2023, amid the WGA and SAG strikes. He also alluded to some conflict with France, saying they had a moment, but adding, Tan and Iwe will be fine. There was a situation, and thats between Tan and I, and it has nothing to do with the show, Berk told Vanity Fair. It was something personal that had been brewingand nothing romantic, just to clarify that. ... Should I have unfollowed Tan [on Instagram]? No. Maybe I should have just muted him. But that day, I was angry, and thats the end of it. While France was happy to set the record straight on Friday about what happened with Berk, he remained noticeably mum on the rumors surrounding another one of his Queer Eye co-stars, Jonathan Van Ness. The hairdresser, known for his positive and progressive public image, was described as a monster with rage issues by sources who spoke to Rolling Stone. There were times when we couldnt even shoot scenes with certain members of the Fab Five together because it got so bad, one production member told the magazine. Van Ness has yet to publicly respond to the report. 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. United Flight 35 departed from San Francisco and was diverted to Los Angeles shortly after takeoff Robert Alexander/Getty Images United Airlines Boeing 777 passenger aircraft photographed in Colorado in June 2019 A tire fell off a plane shortly after it left San Francisco International Airport on Thursday, damaging vehicles parked below. United Airlines Flight 35 which was headed to Osaka, Japan diverted to Los Angeles shortly after takeoff when a tire fell off the Boeing 777-200 aircraft, a United Airlines spokesperson tells PEOPLE. Footage from the fall, shared by NBC Bay Area, showed the moment the wheel dropped from the plane, ultimately landing on two vehicles in the airport's employee parking lot. As images obtained by the outlet show, the wheel broke one vehicle's rear windshield, damaged a Tesla, bent part of a fence and eventually landed in a nearby lot. The flight left the airport at 11:35 a.m. before the incident, a spokesperson for the San Francisco International Airport told PEOPLE. "There were no injuries," public information officer Doug Yakel shared. "The runway was briefly closed to clear debris, but has since reopened. No further impact to airport operations." Related: United Passenger Films Wing Coming Apart on Boeing Plane, Alerts Crew Leading to 'Emergency Landing' Damage from plane wheel at San Francisco International Airport on March 7, 2024 The plane diverted to Los Angeles International Airport and United arranged for its 235 customers to board a "new aircraft" to take them to Osaka on Thursday evening, the airline shared. The plane, which was "designed to land safely with missing or damaged tires," according to United, had 12 tires on both of its main landing gear struts. "Were grateful to our pilots and flight attendants for their professionalism in managing this situation," the airline said in a statement. There were 10 flight attendants and 4 pilots on board at the time. "Were also grateful to our teams on the ground who were waiting with a tug to move the aircraft soon after it landed and to our teams in the airport who assisted customers upon their arrival. We will work with customers as well as with the owners of the damaged vehicles in SFO to ensure their needs are addressed." NBC Bay Area has since reported that a federal investigation into the flight is now underway. The recent incident comes less than two months after a Delta Airlines Boeing 757 aircraft lost a tire of its own just before takeoff in Atlanta. A preliminary report by the Federal Aviation Administration noted in late January that no injuries were reported when a plane leaving Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport lost its nose wheel. The tire issues are just the latest in a series of recent incidents on Boeing jets, including a damaged wing on another San Francisco flight, a plug door blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight in January and a softball-size hole in the fuselage of a 747 in Miami that same month which have lead to scrutiny over the plane maker's manufacturing and safety processes. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Vince McMahon, the WWE founder who stepped down from the TKO Group board amid sexual assault allegations earlier this year, has sold $411.95 million worth of TKO stock, as per a recent regulatory filing. McMahons sale involved 5.35 million shares of TKO, disclosed in an SEC filing. This follows his sale of 8.4 million shares of Class A common stock in TKO last November, totaling $670.3 million. At the end of 2023, McMahon held 20.35 million shares of TKO Groups Class A shares, leaving him with approximately 15 million shares. McMahon led WWE until its merger with Endeavor-owned UFC in September 2023. In January, former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against McMahon, WWE, and former WWE executive John Laurinaitis, alleging abuse and sexual exploitation. McMahon vehemently denied the allegations, stating the lawsuit was full of lies and fabrications. Following the lawsuit, McMahon resigned from the TKO board. Despite the resignation, he vowed to vigorously defend himself against the accusations and clear his name. Vince McMahon Selling $412 Million Worth Of TKO SharesThe WWE Founders Latest Stock Sell-Offhttps://t.co/1hzPhJV6SY pic.twitter.com/e24Hdr1fr3 Forbes (@Forbes) March 5, 2024 Additionally, TKO disclosed in a recent SEC filing that McMahon forfeited 86,918 shares of unvested stock units upon his resignation from the board under pressure. These were valued at $7.5 million. Vince McMahon parts ways with WWE for good On March 4, Vince McMahon sold 5.35 million shares of his TKO stock. Furthermore, TKO President Mark Shapiro confirmed that TKO did not participate in McMahons recent stock sale. He stated that McMahons stock sale was his second, reducing his shares from 28 million to 15 million. Additionally, he emphasized that TKO is not in communication with McMahon and is unaware of his motives or plans. During the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, & Telecom Conference, TKO President Mark Shapiro was asked if TKO participated in the sale. Shapiro stated, We did not participate in the recent sale on Vince McMahons load that he dropped off. This is now his second time. Hes gone from 28 million shares to 15 million shares. He now roughly has 8.5%. Were not in conversation with him. We dont talk to him, we dont know his motive, his plan, his timeline, what if any, he doesnt consult with us. He doesnt work for the company. He doesnt work at the company. He doesnt come into the offices. Hes not coming back to the company. TKO COO Mark Shapiro reiterated that Vince McMahon has nothing to do w/the company & is not coming back. We don't talk to him, we don't know his motives, his plans, his timelines. He doesn't work for the company, doesn't come into the offices. He's not coming back. (Morgan pic.twitter.com/L5TH5O4C9V Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) March 6, 2024 Even after McMahon denied the allegations, he resigned as TKO Executive Chairman after Slim Jim paused its promotional partnership with WWE due to the allegations. The post Vince McMahon Sells WWE Parent Company TKO Stock appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised. Slain rapper XXXTentacions real name was Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, and he hailed from Lauderhill, Florida, reported The Vogue. The rapper, whose hit songs include SAD! and Moonlight, among other tracks, rose to prominence after releasing his debut album 17 in 2017. Despite his fame, XXXTentacion was deemed controversial because of his frequent run-ins with authorities for robbery, assault, and weapon possession. The musician also gained notoriety for facing criminal charges, including domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, and aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, per The Miami New Times. Vogue reported that the rappers all-time hit song Look at Me was originally released in 2016. The track was re-released in 2017 when it peaked at number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In July 2017, he announced his debut studio album, 17, and released it in August. The album featured 11 tracks. Sadly, the rising star died in a tragic robbery-shooting incident the following June. His killers have now been convicted and sentenced to prison. Hulus Look At Me: XXXTENTACION explores the late rappers story and tragic death. Other similar documentaries include In His Own Words, Long Live X: The Life and Death of XXXTentacion, and more. XXXTentacion: What was the rappers cause of death? On June 18, 2018, XXXTentacion, then 20, was leaving Riva Motorsports in Deerfield Beach, Florida, when two armed robbers fatally shot him. The men approached the rapper, sitting inside his BMW, that afternoon and demanded his gold chain. When he put up a fight, they opened fire at him, stole a Louis Vuitton bag from his car, and drove away. Medical Examiner Iouri Boiko confirmed that the victim was struck three times in the neck, each wound just centimeters apart, reported NBC Miami. Boiko later testified at the 2023 trial. Moreover, firearms expert William Ruiz Fontanez, who also testified at the trial, stated that all three bullets came from the same weapon. Fontanez said, The three bullets were fired by the same unknown 22-long rifle caliber firearm. Police arrested four men in connection with XXXTentacions death using surveillance footage, among other key evidence. Surveillance footage captured all four suspects: Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, Trayvon Newsome, and Robert Allen. The video showed an SUV swerving in front of the victims BMW. Two men, Boatwright and Newsome, jumped out of the SUV and shot the rapper. Boatwright was eventually identified as the primary shooter, and Williams was the driver of the SUV. Allen was reportedly sitting in the backseat of the said SUV. Were XXXTentacions killers convicted? According to BBC, in 2023, a Florida jury convicted three out of four men involved in XXXTentacions killing nearly five years after the murder. The jury found Boatwright, Williams, and Newsome guilty of first-degree murder. During the trial, prosecutors used surveillance footage and cellphone and Bluetooth data to link the men to the crime. They also showed videos of the defendants dancing and posing with cash hours after the killing. The men were reportedly flashing handfuls of $100 notes. The fourth defendant, Robert Allen, had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for a reduced sentence. He also agreed to testify at his co-defendants trial. He stated that they set out to commit robberies and went to the motorcycle shop to buy a mask. They then spotted XXXTentatcion, waited for him to exit the dealership, and ambushed him. Variety reported that Judge Michael Usan handed the three convicts mandatory life sentences for XXXTentacions murder. AP News further stated that Allen received a reduced sentence of seven years as part of the plea deal. He got credit for five years already served, with only two years in prison. Additionally, Allen will then serve 20 years on probation. The post What Was XXXTentacions Real Name? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. BEIRUT, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Three Hezbollah fighters were killed and three civilians were injured on Friday in Israeli airstrikes targeting towns and villages in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. The sources, who spoke anonymously, said that one of the Israeli raids targeted a house in the village of Blida, killing three Hezbollah members, while another raid targeted the town of Baraachit, wounding three civilians. The military sources said that Israeli forces carried out six airstrikes on four towns and villages in the border region of southern Lebanon and fired 35 shells at eight towns and villages in the south, destroying five houses and damaging over 15 others. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said its fighters attacked several Israeli sites, including al-Radar, Ruwaisat Al-Alam and Avivim. The Lebanon-Israel border has been witnessing increased tension since Oct. 8, 2023, after Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attack on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 345 people on the Lebanese side, including 231 Hezbollah members and 66 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources. Yuya Uemura lost his hair after Yota Tsuji beat him in a Hair vs. Hair match at NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo. However, he made the most of the situation, as he donated his hair to charity. In an interview with NJPWs website, Uemura noted that he donated his hair to a center that makes wigs for chemotherapy patients. I actually gave the hair to a hair donation place, to make wigs for chemotherapy patients, things like that, Yuya Uemura said. Hopefully some use can come from it. Uemura also made it clear that losing his hair was humiliating, and he was sad to lose it. However, he stated that he had to accept it. To have it cut by Tsuji was humiliating. The rules were the loser has to lose their hair, but I wanted to have a samurai mindset- if anyone was going to cut my hair it should be me. It was a matter of accepting what had happened to me. As much as I can talk about winning the next one, I have to accept the fact that I lost this one. RELATED: NJPW New Japan Cup 2024 Results: Day 3 March 8, 2023 The post Yuya Uemura Donated His Hair To Charity After Losing Hair vs. Hair Match appeared first on Wrestlezone. President Joe Biden headed to battleground Pennsylvania on Friday to build on momentum from his State of the Union, kicking off a major ramping up of his reelection campaign. Biden was joined by the first lady at an event on the outskirts of Philadelphia -- the first test as to whether he can keep up the energy and forceful rhetoric that he showed in Thursday night's high-stakes speech. "So, did you all see Joe last night? Wasn't he on fire?" Jill Biden asked the crowd as she introduced her husband. "I was so proud of him, you know, he gave such a strong speech and set out a clear vision of where we've been and where we're going." PHOTO: President Joe Biden listens as First Lady Jill Biden speaks during a campaign event in Philadelphia, on March 8, 2024. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) When Biden took the microphone next to rousing applause, he played off Thursday night's speech as well, showing some of the same energy. "If you're tired, you probably watched my address last night. I got my usual warm reception from Congress and Marjorie Taylor Greene," he said to laughs. Fired up, he stressed some of the same themes, but this time mentioned Donald Trump's name at least seven times -- after referring to him repeatedly only as his "predecessor" Thursday night. PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event in Philadelphia, on March 8, 2024. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) "In my address I spoke about how far we've come since we took office. I talked about how much is at stake," he said. "Folks, our freedoms really are on the ballot this November. Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans are trying to take away our freedoms. That's not an exaggeration. Well, guess what, we will not let him. We will not let him!." Thursday night, Biden used the national stage -- one of his biggest before the November election -- to confront Republicans and his 2024 rival while laying out his own accomplishments and what else he wants to get done while in office (and if given another four years). MORE: Biden confronts Trump and age questions in speech-turned-rally State of the Union address: ANALYSIS While the president didn't say "Donald Trump," he mentioned his "predecessor" more than a dozen times. He accused Trump of bowing to Russian President Vladimir Putin, trying to bury the truth of what happened on Jan. 6 and tanking a bipartisan immigration bill. PHOTO: President Joe Biden walks to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 8, 2024. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) The Biden campaign told ABC News they chose Pennsylvania's Delaware County for Friday's event to reach suburban voters in a critical swing state. Trump has underperformed in the suburbs, and Biden's team is hoping they can pick up supporters there that backed Nikki Haley in the Republican primary over the former president. This is just one of several visits the President will be making to battleground states in the coming weeks. Over the weekend Biden will hold an event in Georgia, and next week he'll campaign in Wisconsin and Michigan. The travel is part of a significant build-up in campaign operations. The campaign also announced a $30 million advertising blitz and the scaling up of state-level operations, hiring hundreds of news staff, and increasing volunteer opportunities. Jen O'Malley Dillon, the campaign's chair, said this new phase will prepare them for a Trump rematch. The former president is all but certain to be the Republican nominee after cruising through Super Tuesday, prompting the last major GOP rival to exit the race. "I think that really just showcases the strength that we are really positioned for this perfect moment in time, this inflection point, headed into the general election versus Trump," O'Malley Dillion said of the new initiatives. "Trump's bleeding cash, he's really behind in building the infrastructure that you'd expect to be seeing of a former president." PHOTO: President Joe Biden looks on with Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Mike Johnson, before delivering the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, on March 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Shawn Thew, Pool via AP) MORE: Harris noncommittal on whether Biden will debate Trump; is 'ready' to serve if necessary Biden's fiery performance on Thursday night quelled anxieties among Democrats about his stamina and fitness, but he'll have to keep it up over these next eight months. Polling has consistently shown his age (81) is a top concern for voters. Addressing his age in Thursday's address, Biden sought to flip the script by attacking Trump, who is 77, as having outdated ideas that will move the country in the wrong direction -- a line he'll likely repeat on the campaign trail. "My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isn't how old we are, it's how old our ideas are," he said. "Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas. But you can't lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back." Yet, some voters ABC News spoke with in the swing state of Pennsylvania said they were unimpressed by Biden's fiery speech. For many of them, the border and economy are top of mind -- issues they believe the president hasn't delivered on. "He sounded very angry", Jayne Kovich, a registered Democrat said. "I don't think he's really in touch. Like he doesn't go to the grocery store. He doesn't go and buy the burgers that, you know, at McDonald's and that and it's like crazy -- prices are crazy. "He didn't bring up anything about the border//until like almost 40 minutes into it." For Kovich, even though she's a registered Democrat, she said her choice for president will be a game time decision in November. "I don't know if I really want to go with Trump either// the day of I'll decide," she said. Kovich added that during the Trump years, "everybody seemed like they had more money in their pockets. And it just seemed like -- everything seemed safer." Eugene Lopez, who supports Trump, said the president "put up an act" in his speech Thursday night. The border is also a key issue for Lopez, who says he doesn't buy the president blaming the crisis on Republicans. "The economy, the border the lying about the border? People see it," Lopez said The Biden supporters ABC News spoke with, meanwhile, felt reassured by his performance. "I think he just nailed it," Renee Gentzel said. "He showed up last night and he looked raring to go." Gentzel said she's not concerned about his age."I felt like he was with it. He knew what was going on." ABC News' Alexandra Hutzler contributed to this report. Biden takes his State of the Union message to 2024 battlegrounds, starting in Philly originally appeared on abcnews.go.com MIT is being formally investigated by the House Education and the Workforce Committee, the group of legislators announced Friday morning. Now, following the testimonies from the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and MIT, each school from the education committees Dec. 5 hearing is currently being investigated by the committee. The committee is looking into reports of antisemitism on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, one day after -- as reported by the AP -- two Jewish students filed a lawsuit against the university over claims of antisemitism. "We have grave concerns regarding the inadequacy of MIT's response to antisemitism on its campus," Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, said in a letter to the school. The committee, which counts GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik among its members, was already investigating MIT's policies and disciplinary measures following the December hearing, but it hadnt formally requested documents from the university. The committees investigation into MIT follows probes into other schools, including Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University. Those schools have been sent requests for documents that outline antisemitic incidents or acts on campus. PHOTO: In this June 30, 2015, file photo, pedestrians walk near a sign in front of the William Barton Rogers Building at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE) MORE: Mother of 2 dies mysteriously while on flight back from Dominican Republic So far, Harvard has already been subpoenaed for what the committee called a "woefully inadequate" response to its investigation. MIT President Sally Kornbluth, who testified before the committee in the December hearing, and MIT Corporation Chair Mark P. Gorenberg will receive the letter requesting documents in response to alleged antisemitism. Rep. Foxx told ABC News her committee is not quite ready to have another hearing on this issue. But, in her letter, she said the university has exhibited "deeply troubling" antisemitism, including a Hillel intruder who is alleged to have verbally harassed Jewish students and urinated on a window of the building and the MIT Coalition Against Apartheid (CAA) harassing Jewish students and promoting violence. The letter also states CAA members physically prevented students from attending classes one day last fall during a blockade of the universitys main entrance. The education committee is giving MIT a deadline of March 22 at 5:00 p.m. to submit documents related to all antisemitic acts or incidents since Jan. 1, 2021 -- the committee requests documents that date back far enough for it to conduct a thorough investigation of the schools handling of antisemitism. MORE: Uvalde parents outraged after independent report finds police officers didn't violate policy As previously reported by ABC News, GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik pressed the presidents of MIT, Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania on whether calling for the genocide of Jews violated the schools rules during a hearing last year. Harvard's then-president, Claudine Gay, answered by saying the university gives "a wide berth to free expression," while Penn's then-president, Elizabeth Magill, said it was a context-dependent answer. In the days following the hearing, Liz Magill stepped down. Weeks later, Claudine Gay also resigned. Mounting a full pressure campaign on X earlier this year, Rep. Stefanik wrote Two down. One to go, which is in reference to MIT President Kornbluth, who testified alongside Magill and Gay. However, Kornbluth has remained president at MIT and received full support from the school after the public backlash from the hearing.Talia Khan, a Ph.D. student at MIT who attended the hearing and has been a vocal opponent of her universitys policies, celebrated the committees investigation. The climate on campus has only gotten worse and worse, so they [MIT] need to acknowledge that there is a problem and they need to expose these documents publicly, Khan told ABC News. The world needs to see what they've been trying to cover up for the past five months [since the conflict between Hamas and Israel began]. ABC News has reached out to MIT for comment but hasnt heard back from the school. House Education launches formal investigation into MIT over antisemitism reports originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel gaveled in the party's meeting for the final time on Friday in Houston, shortly before she resigned from the role, clearing a path for a vote on the new, Donald Trump-approved slate of leadership. "I'm stepping aside today because I have long promised to put the nominee and their plans for the RNC first. Winning the White House back is just too important for me to do otherwise," McDaniel said at the party's spring training meeting. "President Trump deserves to have the team he wants in place at the RNC." Hand-picked by Trump to serve as chair shortly after his 2016 election, McDaniel is reported to have arranged her departure with the former president. McDaniel announced her resignation last month. MORE: Ronna McDaniel to resign as Republican National Committee chair days after Super Tuesday PHOTO: Ronna McDaniel, the outgoing Republican National Committee chairwoman, gives her last speech in the position at the general session of the RNC Spring Meeting, on March 8, 2024, in Houston. (Michael Wyke/AP) Michael Whatley -- an ardent supporter of Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election -- was elected to replace McDaniel. Trump endorsed Whatley for the job, lauding his commitment to "election integrity." "We will work relentlessly in every state to ensure that it is easy to vote and hard to cheat. Over the next eight months, the RNC will work hand in glove with President Trump's campaign to deliver on these core missions," Whatley said in his acceptance speech. PHOTO: Michael Whatley, the newly-elected Republican National Committee Chairman, gives an address during the general session of the RNC Spring Meeting, on March 8, 2024, in Houston. (Michael Wyke/AP) Trump also endorsed his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to take over the co-chair position from Drew McKissick of South Carolina. McKissick resigned and Lara Trump was elected to fill his role on Friday. "We have one goal. The goal on Nov. 5 is to win and, as my father-in-law says, 'bigly,'" said Lara Trump when she accepted the position. PHOTO: Lara Trump, the newly-elected co-chair of the Republican National Committee, speaks during the general session of the RNC Spring Meeting, on March 8, 2024, in Houston. (Michael Wyke/AP) MORE: Trump endorses daughter-in-law Lara Trump for RNC co-chair McDaniel's last order of business, however, was calling the party into a nearly unanimous vote on recognizing Trump as "our nominee and the next president of the United States." "We recognize [Trump] today for the overwhelming success he has already achieved earning the support of over 90% of Republican delegates and acknowledge that he is not only our presumptive nominee, [but] that he will be the next President of the United States," McDaniel said ahead of the vote. McDaniel resigns as RNC chair; new Trump-approved leaders voted in originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The smuggling of wild animals is one of the largest black markets in the world. Animals are smuggled for various reasons, including for their fur, to be sold as meat, or to be sold in the exotic pet trade. On Monday six people were reportedly arrested in Thailand after trying to smuggle 87 animals, including an endangered red panda, in their luggage by Thailand's Customs Department. Five men and one woman were arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday for "trying to smuggle animals" internationally. The party was reportedly heading to Mumbai, India. According to Thai Enquirer, the animals seized comprised 29 lizards, such as black-throated monitors; 21 snakes, including corn snakes and red bamboo rat snakes; 15 birds, such as the bird of paradise and parrots; 7 monitors; 4 chameleons; 2 squirrels; 2 bats; 2 cotton-top tamarins; 1 tigerfish; 1 red panda; 1 Sulawesi bear cuscus; 1 frog; and 1 rat. Six Indian nationals were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport for attempting to smuggle 87 animals to Mumbai, which included snakes and a red panda, Thai Customs reported. Five males and one female were apprehended while attempting to load luggage full of animals. The animals pic.twitter.com/9bjyYLtaH7 Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) March 6, 2024 Why the Exotic Pet Smuggling Trade is a Big Issue CNN received a statement from director of TRAFFICs Southeast Asia office Kanitha Krishnasamy that stated that the organization had seen a , "very active and persistent level of trafficking of live animals between Southeast Asia and South Asia. Krishnasamy said that this includes a string of cases of live wild animal smuggling via air between Thailand and India in recent years, with busts taking place in both countries since early 2022. Krishnasamy suggested that the increase in attempted wildlife trafficking into India is due to a growing fad of exotic pets, including kangaroos, cuscus and red pandas. Smuggled animals are often subjected to inhumane treatment, cramped living conditions, and long journeys without access to food, water, or proper veterinary care, like the animals that were shoved in suitcases and wicker baskets in this case. Young animals are often snatched from their mothers in the wild when they are far too young to be weaned. Not only that, but the smuggling of wild animals contributes to the decline of endangered species by removing these animals from their natural habitats. Couple that with the fact that wild animals can be dangerous, and most veterinarians aren't equipped to deal with animals that are found in the wild, and there's absolutely no reason for these creatures to be sold as pets. National Geographic explains that "The exotic pet business also affects humans and animals not involved in the trade. Wild animals have the potential to attack their owners or spread disease, such as ebola and SARS. An outbreak of exotic Newcastle disease (END), which resulted in the deaths of 12 million birds in the U.S. in the 1970s, was traced to parrots smuggled from South America." Thank goodness customs seized these animals before they were sold as pets. I can't even imagine how frightened they were being transported in such inhumane conditions. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. For years, retailers have had the ability to collect data from customers with the idea that they would use it to offer consumers more personalized products and experiences. But too often, there was so much data collected retailers didnt know what to do with it. Slogging through it became a project to be avoided, like cleaning out the garage. But tech companies say artificial intelligence (AI) has the ability to analyze data quickly, freeing up retail time, bringing change to stores faster than ever before all while putting more of an emphasis on sustainability. Oracles Antony Wildey, vice president of retail consulting, explained how AI newness can bring more efficiency and sustainability to fashion retailers and brands in an interview with the Lifestyle Monitor at Januarys National Retail Federation (NRF) Big Show 2024 in New York. More from Sourcing Journal AI has helped retailers become more efficient and carry less inventory, because it costs money, Wildey said. Theyve got to be more accurate about what they do buy and where they put it to still give a great customer experience. Its a balancing act and AI is starting to help us make that balancing act a bit better. And its not just about margin, its sustainability. Clothing in the landfill from overproduction is not great news for anyone at all. Consumers appreciate brands and retailers that not only make the effort to be eco-conscious, but also understand the types of products they want. For example, nearly six in 10 consumers (57 percent) say they are likely to look for apparel that is made by a brand/company known for being environmentally friendly or sustainable, according to Cotton Incorporateds 2023 Global Sustainability Survey. At the same time, consumers also appreciate technologys role in their shopping experience. More than half of all apparel shoppers (51 percent) say retail technology adds to their convenience, 46 percent say it makes it easier to find clothing they like and 36 percent say it helps them save money, according to Cotton Incorporateds 2023 Digital Innovations and Willingness to Pay Survey. Wildey explained how generative AI can perform fast and accurate summarizations of data. He pointed to product reviews and explained how generative AI can turn them into a benefit for brands and retailers. For example, Wildey said, on an item like a jacket, gen AI will quickly find words like warm, or fit was as expected. The data can be summarized even further, he said, to pick up more key attributes that the jacket has, such as slim fit. The more attributes a retailer has for an item, the better they can plan it and put into assortments. If an item has negative reviews, stores can decide if they should take a markdown earlier to try to clear it. Buying the right stuff in the right quantities becomes really important, Wildey continued. If you can order the right amount, put it in the right place, which is close to where you expect the customer to buy it, then youre being more sustainable and more efficient. I think there were some leading brands before that were really focused on sustainability as part of their proposition. But now the mainstream is realizing that its the right thing to do from a business point of view as well as from an environmental stance. And being eco-conscious also resonates with consumers. Over half of consumers (53 percent) say they are likely to pay more for sustainable clothing, according to the 2023 Global Sustainability Survey. But again, consumers care about the shopping experience, too. And IBMs Nancy Greco, principal client engagement, global technology: distribution sector, explained in an interview with the Lifestyle Monitor at the NRF Show how gen AI can quickly handle customer service interactions, which can ultimately improve the customer experience. Lets say a customer has a complaint, Greco said. She explained how data sets are used to train a model to search for certain words and language. Generative AI is immediately going to figure out what is wrong and will prompt the sales associate or chatbot to use words or phrases to calm the customer. Then it will propose a solution. Based on what the customer has said, well offer something that matters maybe money back, maybe a coupon, maybe something added to loyalties. Sentiment analysis allows the situation to be defused quickly and associates can move on to the next issue. IBM also sees gen AI as a tool that can help brick and mortar store associates stay informed about products in real time. You want to look good in front of a customer, but its hard when they ask about something being in stock and you say, I dont know, Greco said. Or they ask, Do you have my size? and you say, I dont know. Imagine if you could enable your generative AI to immediately assess, No, we dont have it in stock but its in a store nearby and we can get it to you by Tuesday. Or we can set it aside at that location for you to pick up today. Do you want it? Consumers would likely embrace tech that would further ease their shopping journey. Already, 51 percent of consumers regard digital checkout as appealing, according to the 2023 Digital Innovations and Willingness to Pay Survey. Further, 43 percent of consumers say using an app on their smartphone while shopping in-store is appealing, and 40 percent of consumers say in-store virtual reality is appealing. Greco added that with the emphasis on sustainability and new regulations coming from the European Union, generative AIs visual analytics can be used in blockchain technology to check on all aspects of a garments supply chainwhich will benefit brands, retailers and consumers. While generative AI is all about technology, Greco says it will leave room for the human element and expression, as well. I think were going to go through a transition of adoption, Greco said. But to me, gen AI will unleash a period of creativity weve never seen before in the human race. The Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor Survey is an ongoing research program that measures consumer attitudes and behaviors relating to apparel, shopping, fashion, sustainability, and more. For more information about the Lifestyle Monitor Survey, please visit https://lifestylemonitor.cottoninc.com Mens Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. It's easy to hold a lightweight walking sneaker and experience sticker shockhow is it that something so unsubstantial could cost more than $50? Brands like Nike and Allbirds can especially render this feeling, with prices sometimes exceeding $100. But there's one brand on Amazon making comfortable walking shoes at ultra-affordable prices, and some shoppers are saying they're just as good as their brand-name competitors. Right now, Vamjam's walking shoes are on sale on Amazon for just $35a 24% discount on the typical $45 price. These affordable sneakers are currently the No. 5 bestselling men's walking shoes on Amazon after having earned more than 4,600 five-star ratings from shoppers who say they're the real deal. They're available in 22 colorways and come in sizes 6.5 to 13. Vamjam Ultra-Light Breathable Walking Shoes in Black/White, $35 (was $45) on Amazon Get It This minimalist men's walking shoe features a full mesh upper that's breathable, lightweight, and flexible. It sits on a single-piece rubbery foam sole that has flexible cuts throughout to increase traction. Shoppers say the innersole is pretty thin, but it's removable for those who wish to swap it with an orthotic. It doesn't seem like there's much to this sneaker, the design is pretty basic, but that also lends itself to how utile they are. Like a pair of Nike Free Runs, an Allbirds Tree Runner, or even a pair of Yeezys, Vamjam's walking shoes are soft, stylish, and travel-friendly. Because they're minimal and unstructured, they're able to compress to about the height of a club sandwich and, given the materials, weigh practically nothing. They could easily fit at the bottom of a backpack or pack flush inside a carry-on suitcase and can provide that "just in case" comfort shoe option when your feet disapprove of all other options. Vamjam Ultra-Light Breathable Walking Shoes in Off White, $35 (was $45) on Amazon Get It Shoppers have been resoundingly happy with these lightweight walking shoes, with many agreeing that they're comfortable, nice looking in all colors, and an incredible bang for the buck. Some shoppers openly say they prefer these to big brands. "Great price, comfortable, and lightweight," one shopper stated. "Comparable to a Puma and Reebok, better than some Nikes, and way less expensive. Ill probably buy all the colorways at some point." Some shoppers compare them to Allbirds, which is a popular walking shoe for travel and touring, but prefer these now that they've tried them. "My husband loves these! They are like Allbirds but at a fraction of the cost," a shopper said. "They are very lightweight and breathable with good cushion. They do not hurt his feet at all. We walked all over Italy and he never complained once about his feet hurting." They might not come with the prestige of their brand-name competitors, but shoppers have said they get the job done and do it well. So, for just $35, it's worth taking a chance on Vamjam's lightweight walking shoes and saving some money in the process. The following contains spoilers for "Past Lives." In the Academy Award-nominated film Past Lives, the Korean concept of inyeon is used to lead viewers into believing that Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae-sung (Teo Yoo) are destined to be together if not in this lifetime, then in the future. Or perhaps they were together in a distant past that neither can recall. The introduction of the word leaves moviegoers hoping that these two can have a happily-ever-after ending, despite his living in Seoul, 7,000 miles from her apartment in New York City. Theres also the fact that Nora is married to Arthur (John Magaro), a sweetheart of a man who is not as handsome or enticing as Noras first love. In another kind of movie, Nora would jettison Arthur for her childhood friend, and the audience wouldn't be distraught over it. They might even write it off as inyeon in action. But in her award-winning directorial debut, Celine Song who also wrote the screenplay didnt craft an ordinary film about a couple that meets cute, breaks up and reconnects. Hers is an extraordinarily beautiful story set in two different countries (three if you count a brief shot of 12-year-old Nora waiting outside her Canadian school) over 24 years and ends with one of the most viscerally gut-wrenching scenes that may make some viewers wish for a typical Hollywood ending. Past Lives was released in June of last year, winning a slew of awards leading up to the Oscars. And while some praised what they perceived as a bittersweet love story, the film's strength is in how it layers in a complex loss that is far more central to Nora's identity. As someone who, like Nora, navigated two cultures for most of my life, I appreciate the nuanced references in Songs work that may elude moviegoers unaccustomed to Korean culture. Its these finely tuned touches that elevate this uniquely poignant film. Inyeon is mentioned throughout Past Lives, but another valid descriptor that runs throughout the films core is "melancholy." Its a word that co-star Teo Yoo understands all too well. Born in Germany, he moved to New York and then London for university, before relocating to Seoul to pursue the kind of acting career that was elusive to Asian actors in western countries. His diasporic background fueled his real-life melancholy and its a core memory he said he tapped into while portraying Hae-sung. I wouldn't say that I'm a sad person, but I always felt a little bit of somewhat an outsider, he told Salon in an interview last year. And there was always an undercurrent of melancholy in my life. And it's really hard to explain because I don't know how to define melancholy, but it's an emotion that you all understand when we feel it or when we see it in music or movies or art. This melancholy starts early in Past Lives. Not long after their first and only date, arranged by their moms, Nora and her family emigrate from South Korea to Canada. The tweens say a perfunctory goodbye to each other, but both are too young and stubborn to give each other any sense of closure. They dont promise to write each other long letters. She doesnt make any cursory attempts to pretend she will ever come back. When he offers a cold, Have a nice life, she is fine with that. Past Lives Unlike some films centering Korean immigrants not that there are that many there are no shots of Noras family seeking to immerse themselves into a Korean church to find community. Nor are there any subplots revolving around how difficult it may have been for Nora to blend in as a visible minority. Instead, the film fast-forwards to show Nora as an adult Korean American. When Nora and Hae-sung first reunite virtually via Skype, they are 24. He has just finished his mandatory military duty required of all able-bodied South Korean men, and she is now living in New York City. Their initial interactions are awkward, as would be expected of anyone who hasnt seen their friend in a dozen years. But the chemistry is there as they fill each other in on their lives. But over time, due to their 13- or 14-hour time difference (South Korea doesnt follow daylight savings) and his reticence to accept her hint to come visit her in New York he wants to go to China to hone his language skills first she asks for a break. That break lasts another dozen years, when Hae-sung fresh from splitting with his girlfriend finally comes to New York. Now in their mid-30s, Nora sits between him and Arthur, who politely listens as Nora and Hae-sung speak in a language he doesnt understand. Making small talk in English, Hae-sung is profoundly aware of how nice Arthur is, a trait that makes him sad. But Arthur isnt what stands (or stood) between the two; its their history and inability to acknowledge that they meant more to each other as children than they let on. But now theyre together for a couple days of sightseeing anyhow. And showing the patience of a man who truly loves and trusts his wife, but whos also jealous of the past life she shares with this Korean man, Arthur stays home playing video games by himself as Nora shows Hae-sung around New York. On a ferry ride circling the Statue of Liberty, there is a tender but funny moment that highlights what it means to be a Korean woman. Though Nora has now lived two-thirds of her life outside of Korea, she cant shake her upbringing. As he prepares to take a selfie of them as a memento, she asks, Why are you taking this so close?! He laughs and apologizes right away, understanding her concern. He moves up, asks her to take a step back and retakes the photo. Every Korean woman has been conditioned since childhood that it's not attractive to have our faces appear too large in pictures. It's such a weird construct by western standards, but its also a fact that Koreans in general are obsessed with small faces. (A common compliment on variety shows is for hosts to comment on how a guests face has gotten smaller.) And Koreans know that its the mans job to position himself in a way that the woman will appear more attractive. Past Lives This small, but masculine gesture is never explained. But it is Songs way of articulating that while Nora might speak Korean with a childs inflection and walk in a bold manner that would instantly identify her in Korea as a gyopo or an ethnic Korean living overseas she is still Korean. That heart-wrenching ending that I alluded to earlier takes place as Nora waits with Hae-sung for his Uber to take him to the airport. After saying goodbye and watching his car drive away, Nora breaks down sobbing. Some viewers have interpreted this as Nora regretting the choices she made. But from a diasporic point of view, its more likely that Nora is inherently upset about a life she can barely remember due to choices her parents made on her behalf. At one point earlier in the film, Nora asks Hae-sung why he looked her up in their 20s. Do you really want to know? he says. I just wanted to see you one more time because you left so suddenly, he said. I was pissed off. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Maybe that is the reason. Or maybe it is the concept of jeong, a word thats never uttered in the film, that draws Nora and Hae-sung together after all those years. Jeong refers to an emotional connection between Koreans due to proximity (family, friends, neighbors) or lack thereof (two Koreans running into each other in a foreign country). The jeong that Nora and Hae-sung share align with their inyeon. For Nora, proximity to Hae-sung reminds her of her younger days living in Korea. But it also reminds her of the 12-year-old girl she left behind to become who she is today. In order to become Nora Moon, she had to leave behind Moon Na-young. While she gained a new identity one that shes happy with and accustomed to the loss of her younger self is profound. "Past Lives" is available to stream for free on Kanopy, for digital rental or with a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription. An Oklahoma angler on his first paddlefish outing snagged a rare, black-colored specimen weighing 28 pounds, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) announced last week in a Facebook post. A vintage cover of field & Stream magazine with a dog on it. Aidan Miller caught the unusual spoonbill at Kaw Lake in northcentral Oklahoma on Feb. 24. One member of the party, Steven, was an experienced paddlefish angler who was showing the others how snagging works. Apparently, Steven is a good teacher: Both Aidan and another friend, Chance, snagged paddlefish at the exact same time, according to the ODWC. While Oklahoma regulations allow anglers to keep one paddlefish per day and two per year, both Aidan and Chancewhose paddlefish weighed 30 poundsreleased their catches. https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOkWildlifeDept%2Fposts%2F797969619036475&show_text=true&width=500 The dark coloring of Millers fish is unusual but not unheard of. All paddlefish have the ability to be pitch black in coloration, but we rarely see this in the wild, ODWC wrote on Facebook . When adult paddlefish spend extended time in shallower tailwater habitats where water clarity may be greater, they will take on a darker coloration. Effectively, these fish are getting a dark suntan. This could be a combination of melanistic traits and the effects of shallow and clear water habitats. Paddlefish are native to Oklahoma, where they are found mainly in the Arkansas and Red River systems, and throughout much of the greater Mississippi/Missouri river watershed. They can live 50 to 60 years and top 100 pounds. The Oklahoma state record spoonbill, caught by Grant Rader in 2021 at Keystone Lake, was also announced as a world record at the time. It weighed 164 pounds, stretched 81 inches long, and boasted a girth of 43 inches. The 428,000-acre Kaw Lake near Ponca City is one of a handful of lakes that received stocked paddlefish as part of a partnership between the ODWC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to re-introduce the species to Oklahoma waters where they had become locally eradicated. Beginning in 1992, biologists raised young paddlefish in hatcheries and released them in Kaw, Oologah, Texoma, and Eufala lakes. Read Next: Oklahoma Anglers Catch 100-Pound Paddlefish on Grand Lake O The Cherokees State fisheries biologists continue to gather significant data on paddlefish each year, including information reported by anglers who catch one of the thousands of paddlefish fitted with a jaw band. Data gathered from yet another world-record paddlefish caught in Oklahoma in 2020 showed that 25-year-old, 151-pound fish had been banded in 1997, when it was about 2 years old and weighed 7.7 pounds. IHOP and Applebees are considering bringing a joint restaurant concept to the U.S. after seeing success with the model overseas. In an increasingly challenging restaurant environment, the two brands have been teaming up to entice more customers to dine in by creating co-branded IHOP-Applebees restaurants that feature a shared space. Dine Brands, the parent company of the two chain restaurants, discussed the plans during a recent earnings call on Feb. 28. Dine Brands IHOP/Applebees dual-branded prototype continues to perform well in our international markets, and we opened our 8th dual-branded restaurant in January 2024 in Leon, Mexico, which presents a compelling opportunity for further growth since Mexico is one of our largest international markets, Dine Brands CEO John Peyton said in a statement to TODAY.com. The CEO noted that the company will continue to monitor the success of this test concept and consider options for further expansion in the U.S. in select locations if and when it makes sense to do so. What are co-branded IHOP/Applebee's restaurants? While talking to Nations Restaurant News, Peyton explained that co-branded IHOP/Applebees restaurants share a back-of-house space and discrete entrances on the exterior. Inside, customers can opt to visit either IHOP and Applebees. During peak hours, the restaurants can borrow space from each other. At breakfast, when there are more IHOP customers, customers can be seated in the Applebees area and vice versa at dinner, Peyton told the publication. The CEO explained that the co-branded restaurants are the same size as a standalone IHOP or Applebees and are generating double the revenue. Which you would expect. They continue to perform well in their markets because they address all four dayparts, Peyton said. Its a fantastic opportunity because the two brands are complementary. When will co-branded IHOP/Applebees restaurants be open in the U.S.? Per Nations Restaurant News, Dine Brands hopes to open the co-branded restaurants in the U.S. in the next 12 to 24 months. Standalone IHOP and Applebees locations will continue to play an important role in the companys growth strategy. Per NBC News, Dine Brands will be opening 25 new restaurants with enhanced features like robotic beer dispensers. This article was originally published on TODAY.com JAKARTA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese telecom giant Huawei, in collaboration with Indonesia's state-owned telecommunication provider Telkomsel, has launched a 5G smart warehouse, the first of its kind in Indonesia, aiming to support the country's digital transformation. Located at Bekasi regency, West Java province, the warehouse is equipped with large bandwidth and low latency. The warehouse staff can give instructions to automated guided robotic vehicles to transport goods quickly to designated spots. Warehouse managers can also use digital twins and real-time data analysis to optimize inventory management and prevent stockouts. This technology is considered time-effective and can help improve order processing efficiency by 25 percent. Huawei Indonesia CEO Guo Hailong said 5G technology can be a new push that will enable Indonesia to achieve sustainable digital development, and the warehouse is a testament to the value that 5G technology can bring to traditional industries in Indonesia. Director of Network at Telkomsel Indra Mardiatna said that the innovation of 5G warehouse is expected to be utilized by all logistics industries in Indonesia, so that Indonesia can drive industrial revolution. Heres what you need to know about the classic Mexican dish. Robert Patrick Briggs/Getty Images Birria is bold and bodacious. In recent years, this meat served in your favorite Mexican foods across the United States has eclipsed the most famous menu items, like carnitas, barbacoa, and al pastor. But what is birria? And why is it so good? Below, youll find out why we cant get enough of it, the history of it, and how to make it at home. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios What Is Birria? Birria is a type of flavorful meat stew from Mexico, traditionally made with goat but also made with beef, lamb, mutton, or chicken. The consome, the chile pepper broth that the goat or beef is braised and stewed in, is the central component of this dish. Birria would not be birria without it. This Mexican meal is famous for coming in taco form, and birria de res is one of the original ways this dish is served. The tacos are charged red, thanks to the consome, the chile pepper broth the meat is stewed in. Quesabirria is a version of birria de res that comes with cheese, and Birria en caldo is a version served as a soup or stew. Usually, the tortilla is dunked in the consome, the meat is stuffed into the tortilla (sometimes with cheese) and pan-fried until the final result is a crispy yet chewy taco. Served similar to a French dip sandwich with au jus sauce, these tacos are presented with more consome as a dipping liquid. What Does Birria Taste Like? Birria is moderately spicy and complex. Since it is traditionally made from goat, the meat can be a little more gamey than beef or lamb, but because it is stewed, it will also be super tender. Since beef is more accessible to most people, this is the meat thats often used. Loads of spices and seasonings are used in this dish as well, and they can vary depending on whose recipe youre trying. Anything from marjoram, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, and cumin to cinnamon, cloves, and more can pop up in a recipe. Several types of chiles are also used, but generally speaking, dried red chiles are a must. If served in taco form rather than as a stew, the meat is normally sopping in consome, and the tacos are messybut they are unparalleled in their flavor Allrecipes Video Birria vs. Barbacoa These two meats are similar in that they can be made with goat, lamb, or beef. Sometimes you'll see barbacoa made with pork or birria made with chicken. However, their cooking methods are the clearest difference between these two items. Barbacoa is traditionally made in a steam pit underground, but its cooking methods have evolved over the years. Barbacoa can be made on an open fire, on the stove, or in a slow cooker. However, the traditional method mimics an oven made from the earth, banana leaves, and agave plants, heated with hot coals. Birria, on the other hand, sits very much in the vein of a stew. Chiles and peppers are blended into a smooth broth, called consome, and combined with your seasoned, seared meat to cook low and slow in an oven for about 3 to 4 hours in a covered pot, until the meat can shred easily. How birria is cooked has also evolved as more chefs and home cooks take a stab at the recipe, but the traditional method is still the best. The History of Birria While this dish rose to stardom over the past five years in the United States, birria dates back for centuries in Mexico, specifically the region of Jalisco. According to Le Sends del Cabrito (The Path of the Goat) by Cardenas Juan Ramon, when the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico, they brought goats with them, among other animals. In time, these goats were used in cooking by native populations, and the Spanish looked down on the meat for its tougher texture. The meat made by indigenous Mexicans was called birria by the Spanish, meaning of no value or worthless. This name feels wrong considering how great this dish is, so its safe to say the Mexican cooks pioneering this meat got the last laugh. Outside of Mexico, birria got its start in southern California. According to Bill Esparzas Eater article, The Great Birria Boom, birria took off thanks to key players like Teddy Vasquez, the creator of Teddys Red Tacos, and brothers Omar Gonzalez and Oscar Gonzalez, the owners of Birrieria Gonzalez. By way of Mexico, they all took LA birria culture, as did many others, to a new place. Now though, birria can be found throughout America, for good reason. How To Make Birria Tacos Want to make your own birria at home? This top-rated Birria de Res recipe is a great place to start. Follow the link for a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions on how to make this traditional meal, but heres a brief overview of what you can expect: "Mexican birria tacos, Jalisco-style, made with braised beef that's slow-cooked in a fragrant 3-chile sauce with a delicious spice mix. Crispy tacos, and tender, mouth-watering beef team up with melted Mexican cheese in this impressive meal, says recipe creator gem." Boil the guajillo, arbol, and ancho chile peppers for 5 minutes, then cut the heat and soak the peppers in the pot until the water is cool. Reserve cup water before draining the liquid. Season the beef and sear on all sides in oil in a Dutch oven until brown, about 10 minutes. Blacken tomatoes on a grill or on a cast iron griddle or skillet lined with aluminum foil. Blend peppers along with blackened tomatoes, vinegar, reserved chili water, garlic, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, thyme, marjoram, oregano, and salt until smooth. Strain the sauce and pour over browned beef. Cover the dutch oven and cook in a preheated oven for about 3 to 4 hours, basting the meat about every 45 minutes. Cook tortillas and assemble into tacos when meat is shredded and dressed with chili broth. Reserve some broth for dipping. Serve with white onions, cilantro, and cheese. More Birria Recipes: Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Read the original article on All Recipes. Bumble has lost a third of its Texas workforce in the months since the state passed the controversial abortion SB 8 (Senate Bill 8), also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act, over a year ago. This new data point was shared by Bumble's Interim General Counsel, Elizabeth Monteleone, speaking on a panel this afternoon at the SXSW conference in Austin, Texas. The panel focused on the "healthcare crisis in Post-Roe America" and featured women who had both sued and spoken out about the need to have doctors, not politicians, involved in their healthcare decisions. What's more, Monteleone noted that Bumble is no longer requiring employees to join the business in its Austin location, even though the dating app maker is headquartered there. "We are a remote-first company. We've supported employees who've chosen to move out of state," Monteleone added. "We -- since SB 8 -- have seen a reduction in our Texas workforce by about a third. Those employees are choosing to move elsewhere," she told the audience at the event. "There are a variety of laws in Texas that I think many people find incompatible with living a healthy life and being their authentic self," added Monteleone, suggesting that not all the departures may be tied directly to this specific piece of legislation, but possibly to several other Texas laws or proposed laws that don't sit well with Bumble's employees. The dating app maker became the first business to join an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit against the Texas abortion law, Zurawski v. State of Texas, filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights. The suit claims that the law puts the lives of pregnant women in jeopardy because doctors are afraid to offer abortion care for fear of losing their licenses, facing hefty fines, or even prison terms. Women involved in the case are suing the state for being forced to carry out their pregnancies because of the state's abortion law, despite risks to their health. Some women had to travel out of state to get health care, increasing their health risks. Others sued because they had to carry non-viable pregnancies to term. Several Texas doctors signed onto the lawsuit, as well, saying they could no longer properly practice medicine. While the SXSW panel largely focused on the political aspects of this and other laws, including those that now seek to restrict access to IVF, as well as their personal and emotional toll on women, Bumble's lawyer additionally pointed to the business impact these sorts of laws have. "We know that abortion has an impact on individuals, but there's a profound negative impact on society as a whole and particularly for businesses," Monteleone said. "We were looking at the lens and what we are putting forth in the brief was talking about the increased cost to us to attract and retain talent in Texas, the increased costs for us to provide healthcare benefits to our employees...We found that because of our position, having been founded with women at the forefront, from the beginning, and having that voice and that legitimacy, to begin with, we could combine that with this very business-centric argument and help support the case," she said. Since Bumble's signing, businesses from across Texas have also signed onto the amicus brief, including rival Match Group and SXSW, some saying they fear they will have similar challenges in attracting and retaining talent, as well. "These are considerations of [prospective employees] when they're thinking about if they're going to accept a job, if they're going to stay at a job. That consideration about location is a very real factor," noted Monteleone. Since the law's passing, Bumble has introduced enhanced healthcare benefits that include covering the costs for individuals who "seek the full spectrum of reproductive rights," she said, including abortion, IVF, surrogacy, egg freezing and also gender-affirming care. Other companies have offered similar benefits, at their own expense. These issues are even more pressing for a company like Bumble which is currently struggling with growth and appealing to a younger audience that seems less interested in dating apps than their older counterparts. The dating app maker posted a weak Q4, with a $32 million net loss and $273.6 million in revenue. It also announced it was letting go of 350 employees after other organizational shifts that saw founder Whitney Wolfe Herd stepping down as CEO and a shake-up in the C-suite, which included the appointment of former Slack CEO Lidiane Jones as its new CEO. Byte-Sized AI is a bi-weekly column that covers all things artificial intelligencefrom startup funding, to newly inked partnerships, to just-launched, AI-powered capabilities from major retailers, software providers and supply chain players. ThredUp on AI in Earnings Announcement Artificial intelligence has long shown up in technology-focused companies earnings reports. But its now begun to creep into the retail, apparel and footwear markets, too. More from Sourcing Journal ThredUp announced on an earnings call on Monday that it has implemented an AI-powered search tool that allows users to more easily peruse the secondhand purveyors enormous stock. Like other technologies with similar functionality, users have the ability to search for garments and accessories by occasion, vibe and attribute. This new search functionality significantly enhances the secondhand shopping experience in our marketplace by combining visual language with personal style, [and] by enabling buyers to curate style inspirations effortlessly, Reinhart said on the call. Whether its by searching for a popular item like a satin cocktail dress or a descriptive trend or look like Sunday brunch dress or a phrase that evokes emotion like Academy Award chic, ThredUp can help shoppers find exactly what they want. But the resale marketplace wont stop there, the CEO noted. Though he did not share a timeline for the tool, Reinhart announced ThredUp would soon deploy a generative AI function allowing its users to build entire outfits based on a prompt. He noted that if a user wanted an outfit to wear for a trip to Hawaii, the tool would be able to compose an entire outfit for the traveler to select from, including items like a floral crop top, a maxi skirt and embellished sandals. I want to emphasize that AI is an enormous leap forward for us in bringing emotion and storytelling to the millions of unique shopping journeys that regularly happen on ThredUp, Reinhart told investors. Raspberry AI bags $4.5 million AI-powered design assistant software Raspberry AI scored $4.5 million in seed funding led by Greycroft Partners and Khosla Ventures. Additional participants included MVP Ventures, Correlation Ventures, Fernbrook Capital and several angel investors, including the co-founder and co-CEO of Revolve and the founder of Reformation. The product allows users like H&M Group, Revolve and Coppel several different capabilities for designing products. Users can create a technical drawing or sketch, upload it to Raspberry and receive a rendering. Alternatively, they can use a reference image and a prompt to create brand-new designs. Once the designswhether previously sketched or natively generatedhave been rendered, Raspberry offers users the chance to edit colors and fit-based attributes, like sleeve length or button placement, by hand. To finish out the process, Raspberry will generate lifestyle images for a user. The companys site claims designers can save three to five hours on each design, culminating in a total of three months worth of time back each year. Virtual try-on for menswear Virtual try-on has long been a way retailers and brands have used technology to harness the ever-present issue of returns with their consumers. But many of the solutions to date have been targeted toward women. But Anthropics, which created virtual try-on technology Zyler, has changed that game, launching Zyler for menswear. To use the technology, consumers upload a headshot of themselves, then add in measurement information. The AI system renders an image of the way that the garments will fit on that users personal body double. The company noted that its retail customers have seen browsing time and engagement increase as a result of integrating its technology. Alexander Berend, CEO of Anthropics said the company expects that the technology will create more comprehensive shopping experiences for men purchasing items of clothing online. We believe that Zyler will transform the way men shop for clothes online. By combining advanced artificial intelligence technology with a user-friendly interface, we aim to provide an unparalleled virtual try-on experience, Berend said in a statement. Photo courtesy of Zyler. Dexory and DB Schenker bring warehouse robots to the U.S. United Kingdom-based robotics company Dexory announced Thursday it would partner with major logistics player DB Schenker to bring its proprietary warehouse robots to the United States. The two will test the technology in the German logistics providers Utah-based warehouse. The supply chain and logistics company will use Dexorys technology for real-time stock visibility in its warehouse. It will also employ occupancy tracking capabilities. The overall hope for the partnership is to bolster efficiency. Dexorys robots use computer vision and AI to give insights for every warehouse shelf at any level, which in turn reduces the tedious human task of manually seeking out discrepancies. The tools also give warehouse leaders a one-stop-shop for the collected data. Dexory noted in a statement that upon deployment, DB Schenker immediately received insights into warehouse operations and inefficiencies. Oana Jinga, Dexorys chief commercial and product officer, said the partnership will enable further expansion into the North American market, a sweeping aspiration the company announced in February. This live deployment signifies a major step forward in Dexorys mission to revolutionize how businesses approach logistics and operational efficiency. The progress achieved with DB Schenker serves as a testament to the power of innovative technology in transforming traditional practices, ushering in a new era of precision, speed and insight in the world of logistics, Jinga said in a statement. Lily AI integrates with Shopify Lily AI announced Feb. 26 it had directly integrated with e-commerce giant Shopify. The startups technology enables brands to think like their customers, using artificial intelligence to enable stronger product discovery. The technology works by ensuring product attributeslike color, style, knit and moreare identifiable in a way that a customer would search for a product. For instance, if a customer wants a purple graphic T-shirt, their inquiry into a search bar might be different than how a company codes its product on the backend. Lily AI helps to bridge that gap. The startup, which boasts customers like Gap, Macys, Bloomingdales and J. Crew, said integrating its marquis product into Shopify made sense for the two companies goals. When our customers speak, we listen. In recent months, weve heard massive demand from our customers and would-be customers that they want to easily and automatically integrate Lilys industry-leading attributes into their entire retail technology infrastructure, with Shopify frequently at the top of the list. Our Shopify integration is an exciting example of our commitment to cultivating new and deeper technology partnerships to better serve our retailer and brand customers, Ahmed Naiem, president and chief revenue officer of Lily AI, said in a statement. PhotoRoom grabs $43 million in funding, enhances product suite PhotoRoom, an AI tool that creates stronger product photos for strengthened SEO and smoother images, announced on Feb. 27 that it had raised $43 million in Series B funding. Balderton Capital and Aglae led the round, with participation from Y Combinator. As part of the announcement, the company shared that it had released six new tools in its product suite. The tools include improved-quality, AI-generated backgrounds for product photos, the ability to generate an expanded scene around an image with AI, camera angle correction, resolution enhancement and more. The company will use the funding to further build out and train its from-scratch model and to double its employee headcount. It already has partnerships with a number of small businesses and with more major enterprises like Bulgari. Matthieu Rouif, the startups co-founder and CEO, said the fashion and apparel industries stand to gain a lot from technologys genesis in the imaging space. In an industry where visual representation is everything, Photoroom stands out by providing fashion brands a scalable solution to manage and enhance their product images, ensuring that even the largest inventories can be presented beautifully and efficiently, Rouif told Sourcing Journal. By automating and refining the image editing process, Photoroom offers fashion retailers the ability to rapidly adapt their online storefronts with high-quality imagery, reflecting the latest trends and collections without the traditional time and cost penalties. Over the past few years, the public has gotten annual scares about benzene in beauty products. Elevated levels of the known carcinogen have popped up in products ranging from dry shampoos to sunscreen. The latest occurrence is in acne products containing benzoyl peroxide. The compound wasn't intentionally added to these products it appeared as a byproduct during production or degradation. "While benzene is not intentionally being added to skin-care products, it can end up in them in the form of a contaminant or as in the case of benzoyl peroxide, as a result of the breakdown of the ingredient," says dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick. "While we havent seen benzene connected to benzoyl peroxide in the past, there have been prior concerns with benzene when it was found as a contaminant in certain sunscreens through testing performed by the same lab." Meet Our Expert Marisa Garshick, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and New Jersey. "Benzene is a compound that is known to be a carcinogen," says Dr. Garshick. "It is used as a solvent and can be found in gasoline and is a natural component of crude oil." Inhalation accounts for 95 to 99 percent of benzene exposure. According to the American Cancer Society, rates of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been found higher in those who work in industries chemical, shoemaking, and oil refining where they are exposed to high levels of benzene. Some studies have also suggested a link to other forms of leukemia and blood-related cancers, but the evidence is not as strong as that for AML. Lab studies in animals like rats and mice have shown that benzene can cause different types of tumors when inhaled or swallowed. It can also cause chromosome changes in bone marrow cells in the lab a change that is often seen in human leukemia cells. Evidence linking benzene to other forms of cancers is scant. Many of the past benzene scares were linked to aerosol products, where benzene was found in the propellant that allows the product to be sprayed on. In the case of acne products, benzene was created by the degradation of benzoyl peroxide (the main ingredient in these products) when the samples were incubated at extreme temperatures by researchers at Valisure, a third-party testing agency. Valisue is also behind many of the other benzene-in-beauty product studies. "It is important to note that these findings were released from an independent laboratory and the methods used still need to be further investigated and validated," says Dr. Garshick. "Overall, more data is needed to verify how to translate these findings into real life." Getty Images What Is Benzene Used For? Benzene has many industrial uses, including the production of chemicals used to make plastics, resins, nylons, detergents, and drugs. It's also part of gasoline. Benzene in Acne Products Valisure discovered elevated levels of benzene in benzoyl peroxide products from brands like CeraVe, Clinique, La Roche-Posay, and Proactiv. These levels were discovered after the products were incubated at 122F for 18 days. Valisure detected over 10 parts per million (ppm) of benzene in 42 products, over 100 ppm in 17 products, and over 1,500 ppm of benzene produced in two products. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that humans be exposed to no more than 2 pmm of benzene per day. "While it is difficult to interpret these findings and how they would apply to real-world scenarios, it is important to remember that some people may keep their benzoyl peroxide products in the bathroom, in their gym bag outside, or in the car, where even though the temperatures may not reach 100F, temperatures may be higher and potentially contribute to some product breakdown," says Dr. Garshick. Products may also be exposed to extreme temperatures during transport on hot days. However, it is still unknown how much topical benzene exposure can cause. "More information would be needed to better understand how much benzene gets absorbed by the skin and how this impacts overall health," says Dr. Garshick. Benzene in Spray-On Products Over the years, Valisure has found benzene in products like sunscreens and dry shampoos, leading to recalls from brands like Johnson & Johnson and Proctor & Gamble. Following a 2021 J&J recall, a team of dermatologists examined data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2003 to 2006 and 2009 to 2018 and found that sunscreen use is not associated with increased blood concentrations of benzene among adults in the United States. Other Forms of Benzene Exposure Most benzene exposure comes from the world around us. "Exposures can occur in the environment as a result of forest fires, volcanoes, cigarette smoke, and motor vehicle exhaust," says Dr. Garshick. Low levels of benzene also occur in contaminated drinking water and some foods. So, What Should I Do Now? If you have been using any products found to contain benzene, there's no need to panic. "It is normal to feel concerned about these findings," says Dr. Garshick. "And while there is no formal statement by the FDA at this time, it is reasonable to hold off on the use of products listed until we have more information. It also is reasonable, until we get more information, to store your benzoyl products in cool temperatures and avoid excessive heat exposure. That said, it is also important to remember that benzene is present in our natural environment and while additional exposure should be avoided, it is important to remember that we are already getting exposed to benzene." For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on InStyle. Whether you have a glass of wine with dinner to unwind after a long day or you indulge in the bottomless mimosa deal at your favorite brunch spot, drinking is very much a part of adult social culture in America. But surprisingly, alcohol consumption habits in the United States don't even come close to the highest reported average. In 2019, the World Health Organization calculated the "liters of pure alcohol [consumed] per person of 15 years of age or older," to determine which country drinks the most worldwide. Sidebar: You're not seeing things, we really did say ages 15 and up. The legal drinking age in certain countries is much younger than the 21 years that Americans are expected to abide by. Burkina Faso, a country in Africa, actually allows 13-year-olds to celebrate entering their teenage years with a drink, while the Central African Republic makes them wait until age 15 before their first sip of alcohol. Although these places have widened their alcohol-consuming audience by allowing drinking at an early age, they are still not even close to consuming the most alcohol worldwide. To find the countries with the highest recorded consumption, you'll need to travel to Europe. Per World Population Review, data collected by WHO reported that the top six countries with the highest drinking average all reside in Europe, with the number one spot going to a small country just west of Russia: Latvia. Read more: 10 Of The Healthiest Beers You Can Drink Looking To Get Tipsy On Vacation? Book A Trip To Latvia Women clinking glasses of mixed drinks - Nicolas Micolani/Getty Images To compare just how much alcohol each country consumes, WHO calculated the number of liters each individual of legal drinking age consumed per year, taking into consideration all types of "pure alcohol," including the alcoholic content in beer, wine, mixed drinks, and other spirits. The worldwide average number of alcohol consumption was found to be 5.5 liters per person. The highest recorded average was reported in Latvia, averaging at 13.19 liters of alcohol per capita. In this Baltic country, the legal drinking age is 18 years old, and drinking is heavily steeped in the culture. With a lively nightclub scene and pubs on just about every corner, having a drink or two is an extremely common practice in Latvia. According to Taste Atlas, Latvia's most popular drinks include a Baltic porter, farmhouse ale, and Riga black balsam liquor. However, Latvia recently instituted a ban on drinking in public, unlike their neighboring European countries that allow residents and visitors alike to enjoy open containers while taking in the sights. Following just behind Latvia in alcohol consumption per capita are Moldova (12.85), Germany (12.79), Lithuania (12.78), Ireland (12.75), and Spain (12.67). For comparison, the United States ranked 38th overall with an average consumption of 9.97 liters per capita, while the lowest-ranked countries reported zero due to preventative alcohol laws. These Countries Have Reported The Least Amount Of Alcohol Consumption Man says no to a drink - shisu_ka/Shutterstock If you're looking for a nice cold pint or a fun mixed drink while on vacation, you may want to think twice before booking a trip to one of these countries (or, consider visiting during Dry January). Certain countries have actually made alcohol illegal, mostly on the basis of religious beliefs. According to WHO's 2019 data, the five countries that reported no alcohol consumption were Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Mauritania, and Kuwait. Outlawing alcohol is not as foreign of a topic as it may seem. In fact, 14 countries have either partial bans or total bans on the purchasing and selling of alcohol due to factors such as government laws, religious affiliations, and even economic hardships. Even the United States has experimented with alcohol bans in the past: The prohibition era of the 1920s forbade U.S. citizens from selling and drinking liquor, although they found it difficult to implement the change. These days, most countries allow alcohol consumption on a regulated basis in order to discourage overconsumption and alcohol dependency. Read the original article on Daily Meal. Exploring the new Design Holding flagship on the northeast corner of Madison Avenue and 31st Street means taking in a lot, but its not too much. With its prominent location, embellished original exterior frame and nine-foot tall windows, the Design Holding flagship for interior design and decor is a standout in the Rose Hill section of Manhattan, distinguished by its high concentration of home stores. More from WWD Spread over the flagships two floors and 25,000 square feet is a rich mix of furniture, kitchen and indoor and outdoor lighting an array of new and innovative pieces as well as iconic pieces that have lived on for decades. For example, theres the classic Artichoke pendant lamp designed in 1958 by the legendary Poul Henningsen from Copenhagen and manufactured in Denmark by Louis Poulsen. Its glass-leafed design creates a diffused glare-free lighting effect said to flatter peoples skin tones. Perhaps for Gen Z, theres the recently introduced Bilboquet table lamp designed by Philippe Malouin and manufactured by Flos. Its composed of two cylinders, one topped by a shiny magnetic sphere that acts as a joint and allows the upper cylinder containing the light to be adjusted to direct the beam any which way. Its clever and practical, and named after a very old French game involving a ball tied to a stick and a concave plate. The Louis Poulsen and Flos lighting collections are on the second floor, along with the Arclinea kitchen brand. The well-known B&B Italia furniture brand occupies the bulk of the main floor. B&B Italia has been on the site for years with its own store, and the floor has not been redesigned for the flagship, with the exception of creating the staircase and including the Maxalto furniture to the main floor, toward the rear. Maxalto has a separate entrance. But to create the multibrand flagship, Design Holdings had to take over some other space in the building, in addition to preserving the B&B Italia area. The exterior is also the same as it was, though there is new signage. A third furniture brand, the understated Azucena, is spread around the flagship. All six brands are all part of the Milan-based Design Holdings portfolio of luxury home collections. The flagship setting feels industrial, with the nine-foot windows affording wide views into the interior and lots of light, exposed ductwork, charcoal-colored columns and walls and stone tiling on the first floor. B&B Italia on the first floor of the new Design Holding flagship. Upstairs, its Design Holdings world of lighting. The setting has a brighter, taupey palette, and a concrete resin floor throughout lending a unifying effect to the lighting and kitchen brands. Overall, level two evokes a more avant garde and muted feel than whats below. The floors custom-designed metallic mesh screens gracefully separate the brands, and the outdoor lighting products are smartly showcased amid tall grass installations and planters. The flagship also houses a sophisticated B&B Italia lounge set between natural outdoor lighting displays from Flos and Louis Poulsen, and a private space for architects, developers and interior designers to meet with clients, draw up contracts and customize products, in addition to the flagships other function to attract the general public for shopping. Louis Poulsen lighting on the second floor of the Design Holding flagship. We wanted to share the melting pot attitude of New York City where everyone and everything can blend together holistically so we went to the essence of the iconic brands, highlighting their DNA and proposing a common ground that could host and enhance the design codes of each identity, said Piero Lissoni, the architect and designer of the second floor of the flagship. Designing this store required making a big commitment to the client. It wasnt the easiest experience, acknowledged Stefano Giussani, chief executive officer and partner at Lissoni New York. The challenge, he explained while attending a media preview of the store Thursday, was creating an environment that reflected the Design Holding aesthetic in a large space while also enabling the individual brands to project their own style and personalities. We really studied the identities of each brand, he said. While the space enables the brands to project, there is also an impression of easily blending together under the one roof, rather than interfering with each other, he suggested. Part of creating the second level space, he added, involved combining European details into a very New York space, and bringing a brighter atmosphere for the lighting compared to the moodier darker ambience of the first floor. This location is amazing and very unique. Each brand has its own space. Its a very selective approach, but theyve done a very good job creating a harmony, said Alberto Da Passano, CEO of Fendi Casa, a joint venture with Design Holding. Fendi Casa isnt among the brands represented in the new store but is looking for its own location in Manhattan, Da Passano said. The Artichoke lamp is unbelievable. I bought two. They make the room. When you first come into this store, you see the Louis Poulsen at the entrance. Its a big wow. The first thing you recognize is this icon. The Artichoke lamp. All of the brands that you see here are quite different. Even though they all have different voices, you dont get a headache, said Oivind Slaatto, a designer for Louis Poulsen, the 150-year-old Danish brand. Louis Poulsen is widely represented in the U.S., including at Bergdorf Goodman, but by occupying approximately 5,400 square feet within the Design Holding flagship, its the brands first major New York statement. Design Holdings New York flagship on Madison Avenue incorporates the original B&B Italia space. There is nothing like this in New York City, exclaimed Gianni Fortuna, CEO of Arclinea, standing by the brands Thea extended kitchen island in a composite material resembling marble thats highly durable and stain resistant. Hanging above from the ceiling is an extended stainless steel double-shelf hood. Its about the location and the mix of products. Here you can find the best of Italian and Danish design. The Arclinea kitchen at the Design Holding flagship. I find that everything presented in this space is done in a very balanced and respectful way, said Roberta Silva, CEO of Flos, which occupies about 6,000 square feet, or 50 percent of the second floor. Initially, Flos was seeking space for an office/showroom, but opted for the Design Holding flagship. Flos created a cutting-edge lighting design room for clients to test and experience lighting effects. Silva was showing Flos Snoopy table lamp designed by brothers Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in the 60s, with a marble base and lacquered metal diffuser bowl, which is considered an iconic piece, and was inspired by the beloved comic book and cartoon character. Theres also the Castiglionis industrial-style, playful Toio floor lamp, which resembles a fishing rod topped with what looks like a car headlight. Every brand can show its identity and character. Its Italian on one side and Scandinavian on the other. Its different but complimentary, Silva said. Flos is not a particular style. Its a mix of different styles. Its a playground for great designers to push the boundaries. This flagship has more of a selection of Flos than the Milan store, added Malouin, designer at Flos, as he demonstrated the Bilboquet table light. The Maxalto presentation at the Design Holding flagship. Design is our core competence. We beautify your life, said Daniel Lalonde, CEO of Design Holding, as he greeted those at the flagship preview. We talk to the same consumer that buys Cartier watch, a Birkin bag from Hermes, or a Ferrari. He believes those likely to purchase from an LVMH luxury brand share similarities with someone that would buy a B&B Italia Camaleonda sofa, the tufty seating system by Patricia Urquiola on display at the flagship. Daniel Lalonde at the Design Holding flagship. He said that aside from consumers purchasing products from the Design Holding brands, the company does business curating upscale hotels, luxury retailers, residential and corporate offices. We manufacture. We dont outsource, Lalonde said. At the Design Holding factory located outside of Milan, We have craftsmen making our products.Our secret sauce is that we enable designers to develop beautiful products. Maxalto furniture inside the Design Holding flagship in New York. A United Airlines plane lost a tire during take-off from San Francisco International Airport on Thursday. The Boeing 777s tire plunged back down to earth and smashed straight into a car in an airport employee parking lot. It then bounced into a nearby fence. Incredibly, nobody was injured. What the fuck? one stunned airport worker identified only as William, whose own vehicle was parked close to the struck car, told KPIX. Watch the video here: Flight 35 was bound for Japan with 235 passengers and 14 crew on board. The aircraft landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport and the passengers were transferred to another aircraft to continue their journey. The landing gears on Boeing 777s are designed in such a way for the jet to be able to land safely in the rare event that a tire falls off. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the latest incident involving a Boeing aircraft. In 2024 alone, a plug door blew out of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 and a nose wheel detached from a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757. The aftermath of the incident at San Francisco International Airport. via Associated Press Related... Travis Kelce is back in his Eras Tour, uh, era, and was just spotted at Taylor Swift's show in Singapore! The Chiefs tight end showed up with friends and was seen in the stands watching the singer perform all of her iconic hits. Pics, you ask? Here ya go: | Travis is attending Taylor's show tonight in Singapore pic.twitter.com/tJYGpv4g7B Taylor Swift Updates (@swifferupdates) March 8, 2024 Also, here's Trav vibing to "...Ready for It?" On top of this cuteness, Travis was seen waiting for Taylor at the end of the showand she fully ran into his arms for a kiss. A Quick Refresher on Taylor Swifts Complete Dating History and Exes Photo credit: David Krieger/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images Does the Tom Hiddleston era really count at this point??? Help. A Handy-Dandy Timeline of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Relationship for Ya Photo credit: Patrick Smith - Getty Images Alexa, play ...Ready for It? Just Calculated Taylor Swifts Net Worth and Now Im Crying Photo credit: Hector Vivas/TAS23 - Getty Images Correction: screaming! The footballer previously flew to see Taylor in Sydney and spoke about their time chilling at the zoo together on his podcast, New Heights. "Lotta false media being tossed out there, but I'll tell you what wasn't false: when I landed in Australia and seeing all the cameras," he said. "There were full-on helicopters just flying around. They helicoptered us. Well, not us, Taylor. This is all because Taylor is the biggest and the best thing possible." This is all because Taylors the biggest and the best thing possible - Travis Kelce. Always celebrating Taylor Swift pic.twitter.com/WQqgVZ8xC7 Mollie . With an IELDN N1 + N5 (@swiftarmy1989) March 6, 2024 After a quick stop in Sydney, Travis then flew back to the States to watch Jason Kelce's retirement conferencebut he kept Tay close the entire time. Like, not only was Travis seen wearing a "T <3 T" friendship bracelet... Tim Nwachukwu - Getty Images ...But fans *also* realized that his entire outfit was a giant Easter egg for Taylor Swift's upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department. I mean, his shirt is legit the exact same color palette of the album's (many!) editions! Twitter Genuinely obsessed with the fact that she's dating someone who's down to get on board with the Easter egg lifestyle, unlike some people (ahem: "The Bolter"). In other news (we're all gathered here, so why not!), a source recently told the Daily Mail that, "Taylors family and everyone who knows her is so relieved by her relationship with Travisnot only because she is madly in love but also because he makes her security personnel job much easier." "Travis is a big dude and no one would mess with him because, when it comes to Taylor, he would not play if someone tried to come near her. She has a built-in bodyguard at all times," they added. Love to hear it! Jack Antonoff Reveals Taylor Swift Wrote "You're Losing Me" 1 Year Before Breaking Up With Joe Alwyn Photo credit: Kevin Mazur - Getty Images Joe Alwyn Thinks Its Shady That Taylor Swift Potentially Wrote a Dis Album About Him Photo credit: Mike Marsland - Getty Images A Messy Timeline of Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn's Breakup and All the Drama That's Happened Since Photo credit: Jackson Lee - Getty Images You Might Also Like "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Somsack Sikhounmuong, creative director of Alex Mill and this weeks subject, is a true example of climbing the fashion ladder to the top. Born in Toronto, he later found himself in New York to attend Parsons. After graduating in 1999, he took his first job at Diane Von Furstenberg before spending a large chunk of his career at J.Crew. I started as an assistant accessories designer and by the time I left, I was director of men's and women's design says Sikhounmuong. Alex Mill was founded by Alex Drexler, son of Mickey Drexler, the menswear legend and former CEO of Gap and J.Crew, who currently serves as the brands CEO. Five years ago, Mickey and I were both out of a job and he suggested we have a call with Alex, and the rest is history recalls Somsack. When he started working for Alex Mill, the brand only made mens clothing, but after a year, with his help, it rebranded and relaunched with womens alongside a fully rounded offering for guys. I purchased an Alex Mill work jacket a few years ago and received an email from Alex and Somsack thanking me. While I knew the email was automated, it came from their real emails, so I sent a note back saying that I wanted to work with them. Luckily for me, they went for it; I had the pleasure of meeting Somsack not long after. I was taken with his style, sure, but I also had a really great time talking with him. Read on for his thoughts building a uniform, finding outfit inspiration one item at a time, and plenty more. Fit One Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore There are so many clothing brands out there. Describe Alex Mill and what sets it apart from other brands. What I love about Alex Mill is the edit. You don't walk into an Alex Mill store overwhelmed by the choices. It's not a lot of choices, but hopefully they're the right choices. We don't do 100 shirts. We do 10 perfect shirts. We do three perfect pairs of pants. That goes across men's and women's. Good quality, stylish clothes. Hopefully it helps you every day because it's just a uniform of sorts. The older I've gotten, I just know what I like and what I look good in, and hopefully Im able to extend that to the stuff we design. It's just not complicated clothing. You wake up, you get dressed, and you're just out the door. It was a men's brand first, and then you guys decided to do women's as well. What are the differences and similarities between designing for men and women? Why did you guys choose to expand to women's? When Alex launched the brand in 2012, he was getting a lot of women coming into the store asking if there was womens and there wasnt. That didn't matter because they would just buy the men's stuff. Obviously, men dress very differently than women, but there's something about the way men dressand I don't want to say it's like a boring uniformbut there's an ease to what they do and how they put stuff together that I think makes just as much sense for women. Why wouldn't a woman want to get up and not have to fuss too much with what she's wearing and walk out the door and know that she looks great? Those are two huge similarities with how we design each collection. It's not about themes as much as about pieces here. Every season we look at the perfect pant, the perfect jacket, the best T-shirt, and then we make sure that each piece works well together as a collection and as a wardrobe. Fit Two Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore Can you remember how you first became interested in clothing and style? My grandma and my mom sewed at home. We would get our birthday gifts and we would go to the fabric store and pick a fabric, and then they would make us stuff. At school, we had fashion magazines in the back of the classroom to cut and paste with. My sister and I would take them. We would rescue them and take them home. We knew that we didn't want these chopped up. That was my first time seeing fashion and what it could do and how it made people feel and how it made me feel seeing these really beautiful images of people dressed up. Has your personal style changed much since you started working at Alex Mill? How have you honed yours over the years? Not so much at Alex Mill, but through getting older. I just have a lot less time and I want to spend less time getting dressed. I still like getting dressed, but I don't want to have to complicate stuff too much. Like I was saying before, I know what I like. I know what looks good on me. I know comfort has been a much bigger deal day to day. I joke because I wear my Stan Smiths so much because they're the only shoe that I can just slip on. I don't even want to bend down and lace up shoes anymore. I think it's gotten to that level. Just uncomplicated but comfortable stuff thats still stylish and looks good. Fit Three Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore Do you think that being a creative director has changed that for you? I feel like you're giving so much of your mental energy to figure out clothes for other people. I think we'll probably have to do a deeper dive into that. But I think there's something there. The fewer decisions I have to make in my life, the better. If someone can help me decide, even better. Hopefully, at Alex Mill, that's what we help people do. We've decided for you that these are the outfits. These are the pieces that you need. And I feel the same. I always joke with my trainer, too. It's like the one hour in a day where I don't have to decide anything. Someone's telling me what to do and I love it. Any tips for Esquire readers in wanting to simplify their wardrobe or reassess stagnant style? A great, roomy shirt is always importanta shirt that looks great washed, that you don't have to iron. That feels really cool. If you have one of those, it's a good starter to any outfit. You can wear it with jeans. You can wear it with dress pants, or with chinos and sneakers. The fact that it's a little rumbled, I always love. So, start with an item. Yeah, always start with an item. That's how I shop too, and that's how I get dressed in the morning. Fit Four Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore You've been in the business for a long time. In what ways has the industry changed? Are any of the changes fleeting versus timeless? The way we access info, the way we access trends... they're even more short-lived now, just because everyone is on the phone looking at these trends and attention spans are much shorter. So it's constantly just trying to figure out what the next thing is. And that's exhausting. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I definitely know it's a new thing. It seems people can produce clothing faster, too. It's not a good thing. Obviously from a manufacturing point of view, but also from a closet point of view. Then you're just consuming to consume all the time. Do you actually even look good in this or do you actually really like what you just bought? Or is it just because you saw it on the internet or on Instagram? Do you have any favorite brands outside of Alex Mill? I love 45RPMtried and true. Casey Casey, Margaret Howell. Vintage I always love, just always, always. The wear and the patina that each thing comes with, it's just pre-broken in, which is a win for me. Yeah, they make up probably most of my closet between Alex Mill and all those brands. Fit Five Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore Christopher Fenimore I know you love food. Can you share three favorite spots in New York and in Toronto? In New York, Rosella, which is a new sushi place in the East Village I love. I always love Il Buco for a tried-and-true classic Italian place. The atmosphere is just as good as the food. And there is a Thai place out in Astoria. It's a boat noodle place called Pye Boat Noodle, and it's just very reminiscent of the meals that we would get in Thailand when I visit. In Toronto, there's one Chinese place that Ive been going to since I was a kid. It's called Swatow Chinese Restaurant. We've been going there forever and they just make good stuff. Then, Terroni and Azhar. When you're not working, what are you doing with your down time? The gym and ceramics are probably what take up most of my time. I go to a ceramics studio out in Long Island City and play around for three or four hours a weekend. And during that time, I'm not on my phone, which is kind of strange these days. It's a great change. If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it consist of? A pair of jeans, a gray T-shirt, a hoodie, and sneakers. You Might Also Like Interest in the city manager form of government sputtered out in 1949 because of nostalgia about the old Henderson City Council. It wouldnt be resurrected until 1963. The idea of a city manager apparently had been brewing for some time, but The Gleaner first took notice of it in the issue of March 5, 1949, when Assistant Attorney General Walter C. Herdman responded to a request by local attorney John Palmore. Palmore, who would later become chief justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, had written to Herdman on behalf of a group of local citizens interested in changing Henderson to the city manager form of government. Herdmans opinion said, in essence, that a mayor and two commissioners would continue to be elected, but their duties would change if a city manager were hired. The commission would continue to adopt ordinances, set policy, and levy tax rates, while the city manager would be the city administrator charged with navigating the roadmap laid out by the commission. Under the commission form in use at that time each of the three members had administrative powers over certain segments of city government. A full-time city manager, in taking the grand overview, theoretically could be more efficient than three part-time members of the city commission. Herdmans opinion said all non-elected city employees would still be under civil service protection when the city manager took control, but they would be without specific jobs. This would not mean a wholesale firing of city employees. Rather, it would give the city manager a free hand in deciding what jobs and offices are necessary for the most efficient operation of the city. This cartoon ran alongside The Gleaner's editorial of Nov. 3, 1963, which strongly advocated switching to the city manager form of government. Henderson voters agreed two days later, approving the change 1,995 to 952. The change became effective at the beginning of 1966. Kentucky cities that already had managers at that point were Lexington, Newport, Covington, Paducah, Hazard, Nicholasville, and Corbin. Hecht Lackey, owner of WSON radio, was one of the community leaders heading the push for a city manager. The Gleaner of March 9 reported he had talked to the Foremans Club about it; the same issue carried a story about the Paducah city manager coming to speak to the Henderson Rotary Club in a couple of days. Victor A. Hobday was the Paducah city manager and his appearance at the Rotary club was covered in the March 11 Gleaner. He drew a comparison to a large corporation, where the stockholders elect a board of directors who, in turn, appoint a general manager. The voter is not asked to pass on the administrative ability of the mayor and commissioner, he said, but rather on where each candidate stood on matters of general policy. An important advantage of the system, he said, is that it gave the mayor and commissioners a chance to truthfully say they have no authority to hire or fire. A manager will consider ability and intelligence, while members of the city commission are more likely to let political considerations hold sway when hiring employees. Andrew P. Sights was the sole commission member to attend Hobdays talk, but other city officials who attended included the city prosecutor, the light plant superintendent, the city assessor, the city clerk, and the fire chief. The Committee for Henderson and Henderson County had for several years been seeking ways to improve the community and the March 27 Gleaner noted it had appointed a subcommittee to investigate the pros and cons of a city manager. Lackey was the chairman. Francele Armstrong, in her Gleaner column of March 27, considered formation of the subcommittee a good start. We do not feel that the public in general knows enough about the question, for or against, to be qualified to express an opinion at this time. W.G. Schoepflin, another Gleaner columnist, provided some pushback in The Gleaner of April 3. He was beginning his journalistic career when Henderson adopted the city commission form of government in 1920. A city council composed of a mayor and 12 council members -- three from each of the four wards -- had made for some interesting times, he noted. Those were rip-snorting days, and they still stand as some of the best history of Henderson. But Henderson of 1949 had many problems and he wondered whether we might have moved along too fast. A good mayor and 12 good councilmen can bring this city back and it is the only way it can be brought back. You can check manager plans around the world and you will find that 95 percent of them are not successful in that there is more wrangling going on there than in places with other types of government. Schoepflin came back in his April 13 column to note he had received plenty of favorable comments on the idea of going back to the councilmanic form of government. I am sure that if the people who are sponsoring the idea of a city manager would put their efforts behind the councilmanic form that it would go over easy. I am just as sure that the city manager form of government would not carry in Henderson. Little more was published in The Gleaner about a city manager through the end of 1949. But there was a little bit of talk about reverting to the city council form of government. A mass meeting on the subject was held at the courthouse Sept. 5 Petitions to place the matter on the ballot were circulating, according to The Gleaner of Sept. 8 Marvin Adcock was quoted in that story saying the group would not be opposed to a city manager if the position were combined with the councilmanic form of government. Earlier in the summer a group met and discussed the matter of circulating a petition for a manager form of government, the story said, but this proposal never got beyond the planning stage. The effort to place the councilmanic question on the Nov. 5, 1949, ballot was unsuccessful. But the issue did not die. Between 1953 and 1958 there were four separate attempts to revert to the city council form of government. In 1953 the effort was defeated at the polls by just under 500 votes. The question came back in 1954, when it lost by an even closer margin -- 192 votes. In 1956 it lost by 577 votes. And in 1958, the last time it was on the ballot, it was defeated by 584 votes. On Nov. 8, 1962, Gleaner reporter Harry Williams wrote that city government "has drifted into government by crony," noting that the city treasurer was reading his own gas meter, and the cemetery supervisor was allowing an employee to reap crops planted on city land. The Henderson Chamber of Commerce did a study, which concluded the city would be better served by the city manager form of government, which was adopted by the voters more than two to one Nov. 5, 1963 and went into effect at the beginning of 1966. That vote also approved adding two more seats to the Henderson City Commission. The Gleaners last mention about the 1949 foreshadowing of a city manager was eight words; it appeared in the editorial of Sept. 21. Running a sizable city like the new Henderson is a 24-hour-a-day job. If we keep on growing, we might have to have a night mayor. And wasnt something said about a city manager? 100 YEARS AGO At 12:25 a.m. an exhausted Blanche Gibson burst through the door of the Gleaner-Journal and excitedly told the staff that Roosevelt Peters had shot her husband, Strother Gibson, for absolutely no reason, according to The Gleaner of March 11, 1924. She had run to the Gleaner office all the way from Fishtown a distance of about seven blocks. Strother had been standing in the door when he jokingly said, I will take you home but you must not shoot me like you did your brother in law. Peters shot him. Strother spent about four weeks in the hospital and lost 30 pounds. Peters pleaded self-defense when he was indicted in mid-May for malicious shooting at and wounding another with intent to kill. On Sept. 8 the charge was reduced to shooting in sudden heat and passion. He pleaded guilty and was fined $100. 50 YEARS AGO A proposal by City Manager John Hefner that would have increased the wheel tax by $1 each year for five years was unanimously rejected by the Henderson City Commission, according to The Gleaner of March 13, 1974. The wheel tax had been instituted as a 10-year temporary measure in 1964 but in 1973 it was extended a year. The 1974 action extended it another two years. In 1984 it was doubled from $10 annually to $20, and in 2000 it was phased out. 25 YEARS AGO Gov. Paul Patton came to town to help celebrate the opening of the renovated Soaper Hotel, according to The Gleaner of March 11, 1999. With the work were going to be doing on the riverfront with you all, youre beginning to make downtown Henderson a great place, he said. Owners of the 1924 building at that time were attorney Ron Sheffer and contractor Bruce Peters. Readers of The Gleaner can reach Frank Boyett at YesNews42@yahoo.com. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Henderson history: Foreshadowing of 1949 anticipated city manager by 17 years Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the second meeting of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The presidium of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, held its second meeting Friday. Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium, presided over the meeting. The meeting decided to submit multiple documents to lawmakers for deliberation. The documents include draft resolutions on the government work report, on the national economic and social development plan report and the plan for 2024, and on the central and local budgets report and the budgets for 2024. The documents also include a draft revision to the Organic Law of the State Council. The presidium's executive chairpersons met before the meeting to prepare the documents. The executive chairpersons meeting was presided over by Zhao, who is also chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presides over the first meeting of executive chairpersons of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) The dam is set for complete removal later this year. The largest dam removal project in U.S. history has a problem: Dead salmon. As dam destruction continues on the Klamath River on the Oregon-California border, Oregon Public Broadcasting reports mass die off of salmon downstream. A vintage cover of field & Stream magazine with a dog on it. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the fish kill happened last week after workers released a load of young fall-run Chinook salmon from the newly established Fall Creek Fish hatchery. All 830,000 individual fish died after passing through a tunnel inside the Iron Gate Dam, according CDFW. Gas bubble disease results from environmental or physical trauma often associated with severe pressure change, the agency states in a recent press release. "There is no indication the mortality is associated with other Klamath River water quality conditions such as turbidity and dissolved oxygen, which were reading at suitable levels on Feb. 26 and the days prior to release." Gas bubble disease can be fatal, especially in small, developing fish called fry. In a sprawling watershedthe Klamath flows from southern Oregon into northern Californiathe diseased fish become disoriented, lingering on the the surface. They also develop abnormally dark skin that has a tendency to hemorrhage. Younger fish usually die before exhibiting extreme symptoms. The Klamath flows through southern Oregon and northern California before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The recently built $35 million hatchery in Siskiyou County, California is part of the regions salmon recovery efforts. In a bold effort to clear passage for migrating fish, the state is removing four dams on the Klamath Riverincluding the Iron Gate Dam, where the hundreds of thousands of diseased hatchery salmon recently died. In its press release, CDFW called the incident "a sad reminder of how the Klamath River dams have harmed salmon runs for generations." Read Next: Feds Approve Largest Dam Removal Project in the U.S. History Future fish releases will happen below Iron Gate Dam, until the dam is fully removed in late 2024. According reporting from KRCR , the hatchery has an additional 3 million salmon set for release in late March. Whats most striking when first meeting Philippe Lazzarini is that he is completely alone. Sat in the dated lobby of Hotel Cornavin, a stones throw from Genevas central train station, the 60-year-old is fiddling on his phone, head down, glasses on, anonymous. I look around for a press officer, the scourge of any good interview, but there seems to be none. His staff, Lazzarini soon says, are thousands of miles away in Jordan, Gaza, and Madrid, his next destination after a whistle-stop trip to southern Switzerland. This means unfettered access to the man leading the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) an agency which, depending on your worldview, is a Hamas front riddled with terrorists, or an administrative organisation essential for the livelihoods of six million Palestinians within and beyond Gaza. Nothing is off the table: the allegations that a dozen of Lazzarinis staff were complicit in the October 7 attacks; the subsequent investigation that has been launched; the Hamas tunnels allegedly constructed under an UN facility; neutrality breaches; and much more. But it is in Lazzarinis interests to confront controversies head on. His organisation, he said this week, is at breaking point after 16 donor countries, including the UK, suspended $450 millions worth of funding over UNRWAs alleged Hamas links. Come April, the agency will be in deep, deep red. Displaced Palestinians wait to receive UNRWA aid - Mohammed Salem/REUTERS Getting the taps turned back on has therefore become an existential matter, not just for UNRWA, but the people in Gaza and the wider Middle East who are reliant on it for everything that a state would otherwise provide from education and healthcare to municipal services. Faced with this threat, Lazzarini and his colleagues are doing what they can to assure donors of UNRWAs neutrality and worth. There have been one-on-one meetings with government officials. Late-night phone calls. Media interviews. Endless hotel rooms. Just 24 hours before our own conversation, Lazzarini was in New York at the UN General Assembly to further plead his case. The fate of the agency, and the millions of people who depend on it, hang in the balance, he told delegates. Israel sees it differently. In its eyes, UNRWA is an organisation that has sheltered Hamas fighters and sympathisers, promoted antisemitic rhetoric in its schools, and obstructed the delivery of a meaningful and lasting peace in the region. UNRWA is not the solution many of its employees are Hamas affiliates with murderous ideologies, aiding in terror activities and preserving its authority, said Israel Katz, the Israeli Foreign Affairs minister. The people of Gaza rely on UNRWA for everything that a state would otherwise provide - MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images Although Israels criticism of the agency has bordered on hysterical at times, legitimate questions have been raised: Can UNRWA really claim to be neutral and independent of Hamas? What did it know of the vast tunnel network built beneath its facilities? And should the organisation be a part of the day after? It all makes for exceptionally hostile terrain for Lazzarini, a humanitarian veteran from Switzerland whose experience of conflict and crisis covers everything from genocide in Rwanda to famine in East Africa. Yet what he is seeing in Gaza continues to take his breath away. Each visit to the territory brings with it new tragedies, of the like he has never before encountered in his 30 years in the aid sector. I believe that many expected a very harsh response after October 7, an unprecedented massacre, but I dont think we expected that we would reach such levels of inhumanity, he says. Children killed, health workers killed, the scope of the displacement, the scope of destruction, plus a man-made, artificial looming famine What I didnt expect is how the unbearable has become bearable. We see it on a daily basis under our watch. One of the worlds oldest temporary organisations UNRWA was created in 1949 to provide aid, including food, healthcare, and education, to people initially both Palestinian and Jewish forcibly displaced from their homes during the war and violence that accompanied the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. In 1952, Israel took over responsibility for providing support to around 17,000 Jews who had been forcibly displaced, but more than 700,000 displaced Palestinians remained under UNRWAs mandate. Their descendants now number more than six million across Gaza, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and the West Bank. The agency was never meant to last for this long its one of the oldest temporary organisations in the world, says Lazzirini. As a result, it has become a lightning rod for controversy and a symbol of the unresolved plight of the Palestinian people. Over the decades, UNRWA has morphed into an institution that bears closer resemblance to a state than it does a relief agency: it runs hundreds of schools and educates children up to 14; it operates municipal services, including garbage collection, in refugee camps; primary health care services are provided, too. Theres no other agency with this scope, says Lazzarini. We run government-like services to the Palestinian refugees in the absence of a functioning Palestinian state. Lazzarini says the agency is at 'breaking point' and will be in 'deep, deep red' by April - Siggi Bucher Of the 30,000 people providing such services, the vast majority some 99 per cent are drawn from the very same communities that UNRWA supports. This means the teachers in its schools are Palestinian, as are the agencys doctors, psychologists, security personnel, and the rest. It is both a blessing and a curse: on the one hand, these workers are part of the unique and vibrant social fabric that defines the Palestinian people; they understand their acute demands and needs, their ways of life, and are trusted by those they serve. On the other hand, UNRWAs staff also carry the same trauma and psychological burden as the wider Palestinian population. These employees may not publicise it, but many will share the same anger, resentment and sense of oppression as their neighbours. Its when such sentiment seeps through into a workers professional life that the potential for trouble arises. Sometimes identity can be conflicted, especially in a time of war or tension, Lazzarini says. We are aware of the risk that neutrality can be breached. Its not the first time that an UNRWA commissioner-general has acknowledged this threat. In 2004 Peter Hansen, one of Lazzarinis predecessors, said he was sure that Hamas members were on the agencys payroll though, unwisely, went further in saying that he did not see that as an issue. It was a comment that effectively ended his UNRWA career. A different era and different geopolitical context, yet Lazzarinis own reflection on the matter is telling: he knows that transparency and openness, not obfuscation or prevarication, is the best policy in this time of intense public scrutiny. The damaged Gaza City headquarters of UNRWA - AFP via Getty Images For the record, Lazzarini is insistent that UNRWA has invested significant resources into ensuring the neutrality of its staff. This includes: social media training programmes; the development of a neutrality framework, which is more robust than anything alike in the rest of the UN system; and in-person training for teachers and school supervisors, with regular refreshers. We have invested a lot in awareness, in policies, in prevention because our staff have a dual identity, says Lazzini. But, even then, he accepts there is only as much as you can do, adding that the agency cannot screen what you think at night in your private circle. More thorough vetting of the roughly 1,000 new recruits who join the agency each year would be one potential solution. Currently, UNRWA has just one international officer, alongside a team of local staff in Gaza, dedicated to screening new hires. As such, there is an acknowledgement among former and current employees that there is no real capacity for spotting the bad apples. To strengthen neutrality further, the agency would need half a dozen international staff to do systematic screening of prospective candidates for agency employment, said one source. This could involve deep dives into prospective employees social media pages, often a helpful indicator of whether they harbour pro-Hamas sentiments. Starving Palestinians rely on food aid provided by UNRWA - Mohammed Salem/REUTERS Lazzarini is open to the idea of hiring more foreign employees for this and other HR-related purposes. Currently, it employs roughly 230 international staff. However, this will require more money, he added a matter controlled not by him but the UN member states who fund the agency. He suspects it could be a recommendation delivered by one of the two probes launched into UNRWA. Maybe the conclusion of the report might go in this direction, he says, referring to the review run by Catherine Colonna, the former French minister of Foreign Affairs. Separate from the UN, it has been commissioned to review the agencys mechanisms for dealing with neutrality breaches and investigating serious staff allegations. The second probe, launched by the UNs Office of Internal Oversight, has been charged with determining whether Israels claims that 12 UNRWA staff aided the October 7 attacks can be substantiated and this alone. Its preliminary findings are due to be released later this month. Yet, as of March 7, Israel had not shared any evidence with the investigators, a UN spokesperson told the Telegraph. How the review can reach a meaningful conclusion without reviewing this information, which is said to include geolocation data and phone call recordings, remains to be seen. However, at Israels invitation, the UN team is expected in Jerusalem next week and will be speaking directly with officials to advance the investigation, which will depend on effective cooperation on the ground there, the UN spokesperson added. Lazzarini has similarly been kept in the dark since he was first informed on January 18 of the horrifying allegations. I have not been given any evidence, he says. We have no more than what is shared with the media themselves. He gives a similar response when asked about a further 450 staff said to be linked to Hamas, or the tunnel network allegedly discovered under UNRWAs Gaza headquarters. He says he had no knowledge of its existence. Whatever the findings of both investigations, Lazzarini has pledged to carry out their recommendations, but said it will be a terrible betrayal if his staff are found guilty. Donors, meanwhile, are watching closely. There appears to be growing eagerness among some to restore funding, with Canada already announcing it will resume payments to UNRWA. The West is slowly realising that there is no immediate alternative to UNRWA as suffering in the Strip intensifies - AFP via Getty Images Here in the UK, Foreign Secretary David Cameron is understood to have lost patience at the lack of aid making its way into Gaza. One source close to the former PM said he believes the government may have jumped the gun in withdrawing funding. Lazzarni says Britain and its allies acted out of domestic considerations, pressure and perceptions in other words, politics. There is a realisation sinking in among the West that, at least for the immediate future, there is no alternative to UNRWA as suffering in the Strip intensifies. If we want aid delivered, Lord Cameron said on Tuesday, UNRWA is the only body with a distribution network. Israel argues otherwise. It has repeatedly accused the agency of failing to distribute the abundance of aid it claims to be delivering to the enclave, saying more food trucks are now entering into the Gaza Strip than before the war. Lazzarni dismisses such claims. He says truck numbers are down by roughly 500 a day from before the war and aid convoys are facing extraordinary bureaucratic inspections, which can delay delivery by an average of six to seven days. That the US has pledged to construct a port in Gaza to get more aid into the territory, circumventing the Israelis in the process, is indicative of the dire and desperate situation, as evidenced by the recent shootings of dozens of civilians as they attempted to intercept an aid convoy in the north. Lazzarni adds that humanitarian agencies are also facing tight restrictions on so-called dual use items any item which the Israelis believe could serve a different purpose. According to a recent CNN investigation, everything from oxygen cylinders, anaesthetics and crutches have been denied entry into the Strip. Despite such claims and counter-claims, denials, and mud-slinging, its becoming increasingly hard to ignore the horrors unfolding in Gaza: more than 30,000 are dead; 70 per cent of housing stock has been destroyed; and disease, starvation and dehydration are rife. That children are now dying from malnutrition, as confirmed on Wednesday by the UN, is especially hard to fathom. This week, footage circulated of an emaciated 12-year-old boy with cerebral palsy at a Gazan hospital. His eyes were sunken deep into his skull, the skin stretched thin and taut across his face. His fingers were nothing but bone, frail and paper-like. Its the normalisation of these types of scenes which truly terrifies Lazzarini. It is shocking I did not expect the level of dehumanisation, how easily we have equated Gaza to Hamas, Gazans to Hamas, children to Hamas, he says. And because this was equated, you start to justify the unjustifiable. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. TikToks future is looking increasingly uncertain as support grows for a new bill that would force the company to sell itself or face a ban in the United States. Now, President Joe Biden has come out in support of the measure, one day after it cleared its first legislative hurdle in the House. "If they pass it, I'll sign it, he said, in remarks reported by CBS News. The bill, called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which was introduced earlier this week, would give TikTok a six-month window to divest itself from parent company ByteDance or face an app store-level ban in the US. Meanwhile, Republicans in the House of Representatives could bring the bill to a floor vote as early as Wednesday, Semafor reported . TikTok has said the bill is a thinly-veiled effort to force a total ban of its app. "This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States," the company said in a statement earlier this week. "The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country. The company has also encouraged its millions of users to oppose the measure. On Thursday, ahead of the committee vote on the bill, the app sent push notifications prompting users to call their representatives and ask them to oppose the legislation. The notifications reportedly led to a flood of calls in many Congressional offices as staffers fielded hundreds of calls from teens. Notably, the bill has another prominent opponent: former President Donald Trump. Though Trump also sought to force a sale of TikTok to a US company during his time in office, the former president said he no longer believes the app should be banned. If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business, he wrote in a post on Truth Social. Photo: Alain Jocard / AFP / Getty Images Karl Lagerfelds Paris apartment will hit the auction block on March 26 at the citys Chamber of Commerce and Industry, per Mansion Global. Citing a release by Paris Notaires Services, the publication says that bidding on the dwelling, which served as Lagerfelds home and studio, will begin at $5.77 million (5.3 million). In 2012, seven years before his death, Lagerfeld told AD France that it took two years to transform the 2,800-square-foot aerie into a custom avant-garde spread. While in the middle of the gut renovation, the former Chanel designer said that living in the space would be like floating in your own spaceship over a very civilized past and it seems as if thats what he was able to achieve. The abode is located on Quai Voltaire, a historic street bordering the Seine on the citys Left Bank. FRANCE-FASHION-AUCTION-HERITAGE-CELEBRITIES Photo: Alain Jocard / AFP/ Getty Images Per the latest images, floors throughout the apartment still shine with a mixture of polished cement and silicone. Sunlight floods through several windows, bouncing off the sleek surfaces and the frosted-white glass panes that make up the wall-to-wall shelves and other partitions. During Lagerfelds residency in the home, the futuristic features lent an intense space-age feel to the extra long living area, which was a combination of eight rooms. I wanted an apartment with glass and transparency everywhere, lit to death, because I live in over-lit conditions, he told AD. I need an exact recreation of daylight when I draw. See the video. In the kitchen, Lagerfeld chose stainless steel for cabinets and appliances, and stored linens and household products in two giant storage cylinders purchased from Colette, the beloved former French boutique. FRANCE-FASHION-AUCTION-HERITAGE-CELEBRITIES Photo: Alain Jocard / AFP/ Getty Images FRANCE-FASHION-AUCTION-HERITAGE-CELEBRITIES Photo: Alain Jocard / AFP/ Getty Images Lagerfeld placed his bed in a small nook-like space to create a cozy bedroom and left a large room at the end of a narrow corridor for his dressing room, which was outfitted with custom boutique-like cabinetry and black and gray furniture. FRANCE-FASHION-AUCTION-HERITAGE-CELEBRITIES Photo: Alain Jocard / AFP/ Getty Images Disney+ will release a biopic of the legendary designers life later this year. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest More Great Celebrity Style Stories From AD Tourists who enter private alleys will be fined. Getty Images The Japanese city of Kyoto is banning tourists from some private alleys in its geisha district. The city will place signs in both English and Japanese around the area, called Gion, warning tourists to stay clear as well as fine anyone who doesnt listen, The Associated Press reported. The fine will amount to 10,000 yen ($67.97). The public streets in Gion will remain open. We are going to put up signs in April that tell tourists to stay out of our private streets, local district official Isokazu Ota told the wire service. The decision to ban visitors from these blocks comes as the city has dealt with overcrowding and misbehaving tourists, the AP noted. This isnt the first time Kyoto has tried to protect geisha, the women who dress up in traditional kimonos and makeup and perform for customers while they dine. In 2015, the city handed out pamphlets warning against nuisance activities, which included taking photos of geisha, CNN reported. And in 2019, Gion again put up signs prohibiting photography and warning of potential fines. The people taking pictures of the streets of Gion on the main street and the tourists taking pictures of [apprentice geisha] from afar are probably unaware of the rule against photography, Ota told CNN. But I think the foreign tourists waiting for [apprentice geisha] to come out in the alleys of Gions photography-prohibited areas know the rules but are ignoring them. Even if we warn tourists, it is difficult to get through to them at this point. Kyoto isnt the only area in Japan cracking down on tourists. The local government for Mount Fuji has also voted to impose limits on daily climbers and charge them a fee as well as place new guides on the mountain to manage safety and enforce etiquette. However, while certain areas in Japan impose rules to deal with overtourism, the country as a whole is courting visitors. To that end, the country is launching a digital nomad program, which will allow foreigners to travel to Japan and work in an effort to expand tourism. The visa will be offered to visitors from dozens of countries and territories, including the United States. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Lindsay lohan in a white dress next to a picture of a coastal blue pillow and boucle white chair on a blue background. Lindsay Lohan has returned to Hollywood with new releases like Netflix's Irish Wish (and the forthcoming Freaky Friday 2) but the star's base is along Kite Beach in Dubai, where she embraces coastal luxury to the fullest. The actor and new mom relocated to the United Arab Emirates roughly 10 years ago, but every so often, we catch a glimpse of her elegant yet relaxed four-bedroom villa on social media and can't help but fall for the actor's style. If you're attracted to coastal decor but want to take the look in a modern direction, you can make it happen a la Lindsay Lohan courtesy of help from our expert designer. Lindsay Lohan at home A post shared by Nestig (@nestigbaby) A photo posted by on Whether you're toying around with small living room ideas or perhaps nursery ideas, Lilo's breezy sanctuary, which comes from the mastermind Kate Instone of Blush International, will inspire you to venture seaside. According to our expert designer Nina Lichtenstein, there are some basics to cover if you want to nail this look. "Embrace a neutral color palette, incorporating shades of whites, creams, and beiges as the base," she says. "Introduce pops of serene blue tones inspired by the coastal waters. This creates a calming and sophisticated ambiance." Ruggable's Celestine Soft Blue Rug is a baby blue floral find with foggy-colored undertones and could be a great place to start, as is Mistana's Abby Geometric Hand Knotted Wool Rug on Wayfair. From there, bring in the neutrals with the furniture and sprinkle your home with wood and other natural elements to accent the aesthetic. Above all, keep your space decluttered and embrace the natural light with some of our favorite small living room curtain ideas, the way Lindsay Lohan does in her (slightly larger) space. "An open area layout that maximizes natural light and sheer window treatment can foster a bright and breezy atmosphere," Nina adds. But if you take a look at Lilo's living room and neighboring dining room chairs below, which have all made their way to Instagram, you'll notice a modern touch elevates the space, but it still feels homey, something she mentions during her house tour in The National News. It's "coastal calm," but with a hint of luxe. If you're going to go the small modern living room route, even with a coastal influence, you have to be mindful of shape and textures of the pieces you're working with. "Think about curved sofas, round coffee tables, irregular shaped accent chairs they mimic the fluidity of a coastal landscape," Nina notes. "You can balance structured pieces with soft flowing lines to make a coastal and dynamic inspired space." And perhaps what Lindsay Lohan's space does best is add unexpected accents, like her mix media wall art. A post shared by Lindsay Lohan (@lindsaylohan) A photo posted by on A post shared by Lindsay Lohan (@lindsaylohan) A photo posted by on What to shop Willa Arlo Oswalt Upholstered Armchair Highly rated Willa Arlo Oswalt Upholstered Armchair Price: Was $309.99 , now $279.99 Dimensions (in.): H25.7 x W28.5 x D27 Keep comfy and make a statement in the process the boucle Oswalt Armchair can gladly assist. Round marble coffee table with wooden legs Three colors George Oliver Ints Genuine Marble Coffee Table Price: Was $285.99 , now $253.99 Dimensions (in.): H17.5 x L35.4 x W35.4 Airy and elegant, this marble coffee table infuses wood with a little luxe for a sleek, sophisticated feel. Ninola Design Stone Dark Texture Oblong Throw Pillow Two sizes Ninola Design Stone Dark Texture Oblong Throw Pillow Price: $41.65 Dimensions (in.): 23 x 14 This white woven polyester lumbar pillow reminds us of the sea while keeping us comfy. Keep in mind, it's online only. Want to take the coastal look in a different direction? We've rounded up our favorite coastal cowgirl buys to help inspire you. Yeehaw! A pair of men from the U.K. say that they have made a "friend for life" after being inadvertently seated next to each other on an 11-hour flight from London to Bangkok, Thailand. After a mix-up at the gate, the two so-called doppelgangers learned that they shared the same name, and that was just the start of the coincidences. When Mark Garland, 58, a bus driver from Trowbridge, Wiltshire tried to check into his flight at Heathrow on March 2, he was told by perplexed staff that he was already accounted for. After 40 minutes of initial confusion, it was revealed that there were actually two men by the same name on the flight, and that the check-in clerk hadn't cross referenced the booking number. As a result, the other Mark Garland, a 62-year-old builder from Warmley, Bristol, had accidentally been checked in to his place on the EVA Air flight. And if that wasn't confusing enough, the two men looked eerily alike, both with similar features and a matching bald heads. British doppelgangers sit next to each other on Heathrow flight and discover they are BOTH called Mark Garland, have four kids... and even have a mutual pal https://t.co/MYbb7rqMLZ pic.twitter.com/aJnIK2nNlg Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) March 5, 2024 Once they finally boarded, both Mark Garlands found themselves seated next to one another. Over the course of the next 11-and-a-half hours, they discovered other coincidences, such as that they shared the same hobbies, had a friend in common, and both had four children. They also learned that they lived just 15 miles apart, and that the older Garland would sometimes ride on the younger one's bus. "One of my colleagues knows him and goes for drinks in the pub with him," the younger Garland told the U.K.'s South West News Service, via the Daily Mail. What's more, the pair bonded over their share love for Thailand, with the 62-year-old having visited 13 times and the 58-year-old a whopping 83 times. Both currently single, they were going on holiday for three and four weeks, respectively. "We were so shocked by how strange it was. We both kept laughing and smiling about it, it made me happy," the bus driver later remarked. "I said, 'You have caused me so much problems,' and he said, 'You have caused me so much problems.'" "It was crazyI have never known anything like it," said the builder. "They said there was another Mark Garland. They came to the bar, and asked to see my passport. I was thinking 'What is going on!'" "My name was coming out of the antenna, and my phone was going. I thought someone was winding me up," he continued. "I go to the desk and there's a bloke who looks just like me, but he's a bit bigger than me. I'm better looking and older." "He's like me, I've got a character and I love winding people upwe're the same," the 62-year-old commented on their similar personalities. "He's actually a nice bloke, I've got to say. I'm a bit taller but people have said we could be brothers." By the time they landed at their destination, the pair were fast friends, with the younger admitting that he even "had a little nap" on the shoulder of his seat mate. While in Thailand, they plan to meet up for a beer, but it seems just the start of what will undoubtedly be a beautiful friendship. "I've made a friend for life," confessed the 62-year-old. An amateur paleontology enthusiast living in France made a life-changing discovery while walking his dog two years ago, when he stumbled upon the bones of what would turn out to be a nearly intact, 70 million-year-old dinosaur skeleton. Damien Boschetto, now 25, had been walking his dog Muffin in a wooded area of Montouliers in southern France in 2022 when he noticed the bones protruding from a partially eroded cliff, according to CBS News. As a member of the Association of Culture, Archeology and Paleontology (ACAP) with the nearby Cruzy Museum, Boschetto alerted local experts to his finding. It turned out that the bones were part of a roughly 30-foot-long, 70 percent complete skeleton of a long-necked titanosaur. Titanosaurs were the last surviving group of long-necked sauropods that roamed the Earth during the Cretaceous Period approximately 145 million to 163 million years ago, and were still believed to have been thriving at the time of the extinction event. The species were the largest land animals ever known to have existed, with some growing as large as current day whales. With help from fellow ACAP members and the museum, the skeleton took two years to dig out, with the team working across several 10-day periods. During that time, they kept the excavation under wraps to prevent thieves and onlookers from compromising the site. "It happened one morning like any other, during an ordinary walk," Boschetto explained to FranceBleu back in February. "While walking the dog, a landslide on the edge of the cliff exposed the bones of various skeletons. They were fallen bones, therefore isolated. We realized after a few days of excavations that they were connected bones." "The territory around Cruzy is rich in fossils of dinosaurs and other species living at the same time," he likewise told ABC News. "For 28 years, Cruzy has been supplying and building one of the largest collections of dinosaur fossils from the Upper Cretaceous period in France." Now that the excavation is complete, the skeleton will be on display at the Cruzy Museum. The museum's founder, Francis Fage, said that Boschetto's discovery proves he has an "eye" for dinosaur research. "It is very rare to find this, he had to have the eye," he told FranceBleu. "There are some who have passed for 30 years and they have not seen this site." And for Boschetto, the fateful discovery was also serendipitous. After happening across the skeleton two years ago, he quit his job in the energy sector and is now planning to pursue a masters degree in paleontology so he can continue his work with the museum. In the meantime, he's just excited at the prospect of people visiting the Cruzy Museum to view the relic. "It is a flagship piece for the general public, to be able to admire a dinosaur in anatomical connection like that," Boschetto added. Is your carpet showing signs of wear and tear? Find out how often you should replace your carpet and learn about the factors that affect its lifespan. Getty Images / Tamilisa Miner In most homes, carpets put up with a lot. There are toddlers leaving crumbs and fingerpaint stains that require regular spot cleaning. Book club visitors have spilled wine and coffee more times than you can count. If youve housebroken a puppy, well, your carpet probably got the worst of it. While spot treatments and professional cleaning can help at some point the carpet may have to be replaced. How often should homeowners expect to replace the entire carpet? To find out, we spoke to experts across the South. Meet The Experts Linda Robinson is owner of Swannanoa Carpet City in North Carolina. Justin Higginbotham is the co-owner of Design Studio Nashville. Jason O'Krent is Director of Sales at O'Krent Floors in San Antonio, Texas. As a general guide, a carpet has a 5- to 15-year lifespan, depending on how much care and usage it gets, says Linda Robinson of Swannanoa Carpet City in North Carolina. However, she continues, This can massively vary from household to household. Factors Affecting Carpet Lifespan Other experts we spoke to agreed that its difficult to give a hard and fast timeline for carpet replacement. There really isn't a good answer to that question because of all the variables, says Justin Higginbotham of Design Studio Nashville. There are several factors in determining how long a carpet will last in a home. As one might expect, carpet longevity depends a lot on the amount of foot traffic trekking over the carpet each day. A carpet in a back hallway will last much longer than one in a well-used living room. Folks who have teenagers and find themselves hosting the entire JV squad for movie night, may need to replace the carpet in the den more regularly than a two-person family. Another factor to consider, according to Higginbotham, is the presence of furry friends who may have occasional accidents. If your pet is prone to indoor mishaps, invest in a carpet pre-stain treatment designed specifically for pet stains. Katie Karll of floor-cleaning and vacuum company, BISSELL, recommended that pet owners who are eager to keep their carpets looking new pick up PET PRO OXY Stain Destroyer for Carpet and Upholstery for pet spots, stains and odors, followed by the PET PRO OXY Urine Eliminator. While those products can keep a carpet looking and feeling fresh, repeat accidents may shorten a carpets lifespan. If you see stubborn spots or lingering odors that even professional cleaning cant dent, it may be time to replace the rug. The type and quality of the carpet can impact longevity as well, as some cheaper carpets may not last as long. Choosing the right carpet is the first step, as certain fibers and construction yield different results, explains Jason O'Krent of O'Krent Floors in San Antonio, Texas, which has been in the business for five generations. Most consumers dont realize that the same fibers can be used to make the same look, but the density, twist, and even backing can quickly turn what looks like another apple to an orange or lemon! Signs Its Time To Replace Your Carpet If your carpet is showing wear and tear, there are visible signs of damage, or stains or odors won't come out, even with professional cleaning, it is probably time to replace the carpet. To ensure that youre buying a quality carpet, do some research online and then head to a locally-owned carpet store and speak with a knowledgeable salesperson who can direct you to a type of fiber, construction, and cushion that will help your carpet last those 5 to 15 years. Selecting a high-quality floor covering is just the first step in ensuring your carpet lasts as long as possible, though. Its also important to have it installed correctly. Proper installation is also important for the longevity of the carpet and not needing to re-stretch as often, if at all, explains OKrent. Maintenance Tips To Extend Carpet Lifespan To get the most out of your carpet, OKrent explained that its important to keep it maintained and clean. That includes regular vacuuming and cleaning (dont worry we have a handy guide). An analogy we like to use at O'Krent Floors is treat your floors like your favorite sweater, says OKrent. Cleaning and care will help make the sweater look newer, longer, just like a carpet, which has its own kind of fibers. Plus, Higginbotham notes that many manufacturers require that carpets be professionally cleaned yearly to maintain a warranty. While that sounds like a lot of work, heres the good news: According to Higginbotham, With proper maintenance, carpets can last decades. By that point, you may be ready for a change anyway. For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. A British spy infiltrating the IRA during the Northern Ireland Troubles probably cost more lives than the operation saved, a major independent investigation has found. The interim findings of Operation Kenova were published on Friday following an examination of 101 murders and abductions linked to the Provisional IRAs so-called nutting squad, which was responsible for interrogating, torturing and murdering people suspected of passing information to the security forces. The report, which follows a seven-year investigation, found that the agent, known as Stakeknife, saved between high single figures and low double figures of lives but nowhere near hundreds [as] sometimes claimed. Freddie Scappaticci, from west Belfast, who is alleged to have worked as a British Army agent in Northern Ireland under the codename StakeKnife (Rex) The families of victims have said the report proves both state and the IRA were co-conspirators in the murder of its citizens. The report scrutinised the role of a prized agent of the British army who was embedded in the heart of the IRAs Internal Security Unit (ISU) throughout the conflict. The agent was widely believed to be west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who was 77 when he died last year. He had denied the claims. The report stops short of confirming Scappaticci as Stakeknife, noting that the governments Neither Confirm Nor Deny (NCND) policy prevents the identification of agents. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher at Stormont Hotel in Belfast for the publication of the Operation Kenova report (PA Wire) However, it says that the Kenova team had passed strong evidence of very serious criminality by Scappaticci to prosecutors in Northern Ireland prior to his death. The investigation, which was undertaken by Bedfordshire Police and ran for seven years at a cost of approximately 40m, reviewed around 90 per cent of intelligence reports attributed to Stakeknife, finding he was involved in very serious and wholly unjustifiable criminality, including murder. Former Bedfordshire Police chief constable Jon Boutcher, who originally headed up the Kenova investigation, estimated the number of lives saved as a result of intelligence provided by Stakeknife was in the high single figures or low double figures and nowhere near the hundreds that have been claimed. A copy of the Operation Kenova interim report into Stakeknife (PA Wire) The police chief added: Crucially this is not a net estimate because it does not take account of the lives lost as a consequence of Stakeknifes continued operation as an agent. And, from what I have seen, I think it probable that this resulted in more lives being lost than saved. Among 10 recommendations in the 208-page report is a call for the UK authorities to review the application of NCND, linking the dogmatic policy with a failure to secure prosecutions in some Troubles cases. It said a review was needed to ensure the totemic status of the policy is not allowed to obscure wrongdoing by the security forces or serious criminality by agents. The report also calls on the UK and the IRA to apologise to bereaved families and victims of the ISU the security forces for failings amid a maverick culture for handling agents and intelligence; and the IRA for the abduction, murder and torture of people it suspected of being agents, and linked campaigns of intimidation against their families. Solicitor Kevin Winters, who represents a number of families of victims, said victims were left with the conclusion from the investigation that the state and the IRA were co-conspirators in the murder of citizens. He said: The staggering takeaway message is that the state could have and should have intervened to save lives. That this didnt happen is legally and morally reprehensible. Solicitor Kevin Winters speaking to the media on behalf of his clients (Liam McBurney/PA Wire) Mr Winters said there are now demands for a public inquiry into state penetration of the IRA during the Troubles. He added that many victims are calling for Scappaticci to be named officially as the agent Stakeknife. Last week, the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland (PPSNI) announced that no prosecutions would be pursued after it found there was insufficient evidence to pursue cases following consideration of the last batch of files from the investigation. Some 32 people, including former police, former military personnel and people linked with the IRA, were considered for prosecution on a range of charges from murder and abduction to misconduct in public office and perjury. Scappaticci died before any decision was made on the evidence files related to him. The report dismisses rumours that he might still be alive. Northern Irelands Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Herron said on Friday he cannot confirm whether a prosecution would have been brought against Scappaticci had he not died. First Minister Michelle O'Neill at a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, following the publication of the Operation Kenova Interim Report (Liam McBurney/PA Wire) Presenting the findings as the reports author on Friday, Mr Boutcher expressed surprise at the length of time it took the PPSNI to make prosecutorial decisions in the case. Mr Boutcher who is no longer part of the Kenova team, having left the role last year to become chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) also said the Kenova investigation had encountered difficulties accessing information from state agencies and spoke of attempts to undermine its work. Speaking at a press conference, he told affected families: You are not mad, this was happening and this should not have happened. Murders that should and could have been prevented were allowed to take place. In the report, Mr Boutcher said various myths and erroneous stories have built up around Stakeknife, whose identity he expects the government will allow Kenova to reveal in its final report. Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern (left), US Senator George Mitchell (centre) and British prime minister Tony Blair pose together after signing the Good Friday Agreement in Belfast in April 1998 (AP1998) It branded as wild nonsense claims that Stakeknife met Margaret Thatcher and other cabinet ministers and had visited Chequers. Mr Boutcher said those within the security forces are defensive about the agent, viewing him through rose-tinted spectacles and claiming Stakeknife potentially saved hundreds of lives while people outside the establishment overestimate the number of crimes the agent was responsible for. Describing Stakeknife as undoubtedly a valuable asset who provided high-quality intelligence about PIRA at considerable risk to himself, Mr Boutcher said the suggestion the agent saved countless lives, being likened to the goose that laid the golden eggs, was not grounded in fact. He added: Furthermore, there were undoubtedly occasions when Stakeknife ignored his handlers, acted outside his tasking and did things he should not have done and when very serious risks were run. Mr Boutcher said: Fundamentally, even if it were possible accurately and reliably to say that a particular agent within a terrorist group did more good than harm, the morality and legality of agents doing any harm with the knowledge of, or on behalf of, the state is something that we would never, ever allow today. The PSNI chief said the use of agents undoubtedly saved lives during the Troubles. However, he said there were occasions when preventable crimes were allowed to happen and went unsolved as a result of efforts to protect agents. He identified several cases of murder where the security forces had advance intelligence but did not intervene in order to protect sources. He acknowledged the exceptionally stressful operating climate the security forces worked in, and said handlers often faced dilemmas where there was no right answer. The report said mistakes and questionable decisions were inevitable and understandable. But it said a lack of legal framework to govern the use of agents during the Troubles created a maverick culture where agent handling was considered a high stakes dark art that was practised off the books. The report said: State agents do need to be protected through anonymity and secrecy, but that protection cannot confer de facto immunity or a right to act with impunity as that would be wholly incompatible with the rule of law and human rights. Reacting to the interim findings, Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill said she is sorry for all lives lost during the Troubles and apologised to the families of alleged informers who were killed by the IRA. Sinn Feins Stormont leader said the hurt of political violence cannot be disowned by republicans. I am wholeheartedly committed to healing the wounds of the past, she said, adding that she believes an apology from the British government should be forthcoming. Downing Street said it extended its sympathies to all those impacted by the Troubles but said No 10 would not comment on the report until the inquiry had completed its work. Stormont justice minister Naomi Long welcomed the publication of the report. This has been a long and difficult journey for those families seeking the truth about what happened to their loved ones, she said. I sincerely hope that today brings some measure of comfort for them. BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States to stop harassing Chinese students traveling to the country under the pretext of national security, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday. For some time, the United States, out of political purposes, has been frequently harassing, interrogating, and deporting Chinese students without just cause, spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily news briefing. According to reports, another Chinese student when entering the U.S. border at the San Francisco International Airport was taken to a dark room for interrogation and detained for over 20 hours by U.S. border control staff. Several law enforcement personnel interrogated the student in turn for 12 hours. The student's visa was revoked and the student was banned from entering the United States and repatriated back to China. Recent incidents time and again show that the acts by the United States far exceed the scope of normal law enforcement with strong ideological bias, Mao said. The United States moves seriously infringe on legitimate and lawful rights and interests of persons concerned, disturb normal cross-border travel between China and the United States and go against the common understandings reached by the two presidents on enhancing and facilitating China-U.S. cultural and people-to-people exchanges, Mao said. "China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this and has made solemn demarches to the United States," she said. The United States always portrays itself as open and a place for freedom and claims to be emphasizing U.S.-China cultural and people-to-people exchanges and welcoming Chinese students to study in the United States, Mao said, adding that in fact, the United States keeps overstretching the concept of national security and takes selective, discriminatory and politically motivated law enforcement actions against Chinese students. "It is essentially driven by the Cold War mentality held by certain people in the United States," she added. Mao urged the United States to stop harassing Chinese students traveling to the United States under the pretext of national security, stop poisoning the environment of public support for China-U.S. relations, and stop obstructing friendly interactions between the two peoples. "China will take resolute measures to safeguard legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens," said Mao. A 62-year-old puppy farm owner in Johnson County, Iowa, is facing multiple animal neglect charges after 131 neglected dogs were seized from his farm. Authorities arrested Loren Yoder, a commercial breeder, and charged him with animal neglect. Moreover, they revoked his breeding license. Puppy farm owner Loren Yoder arrested on 41 counts of animal neglect On Aug. 24, 2023, inspectors with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship made a surprise visit to Yoders puppy farm and found the canines in a horrible state. According to The Gazette, inspectors found the 131 dogs in hot, dirty conditions and many of them were in a state of distress. Unfortunately, the animals suffered from various health problems resulting from lack of proper care. Veterinarians who examined the canines noted most had severely matted fur, fleas, eye discharge, and dental diseases. Reports say one dog had developed an ear yeast infection. Additionally, some of the animals exhibited extreme nervousness and seemed frozen in fear while undergoing medical examination. An earlier news report by The Gazette revealed that nine out of the 131 dogs rescued passed away. According to the news outlet, eight canines succumbed to different health problems, among them canine Parvovirus and heat stroke. Vets had to euthanize the ninth dog since they developed severe temperament issues arising from the ongoing pain and neglect they endured. The Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center took in some of the rescued dogs. Others were transported to different shelters across Iowa. This was not the first time Yoder has had a run-in with animal welfare inspectors. In Feb. 2022, he received citations for various violations, including failure to maintain the dogs housing facilities and keeping inaccurate records. During the February visit to Yoders puppy farm, inspectors found two severely emaciated Old English Sheepdogs. Furthermore, inspectors discovered contaminated, moldy dog food in six outdoor kennels. The post Puppy Farm Owner Arrested After Neglecting 131 Dogs in Iowa appeared first on DogTime. It can feel impossible to dine in New York City without a reservation. Well, not impossible. There are over 20,000 restaurants in the Big Apple, and there are plenty you could walk into on any given night and get a great table, have a delicious meal, and leave satisfied. But New Yorkers want their dining experiences to feel a little more special. They want to breathe the rarefied air of the buzziest restaurants while sitting at the most unattainable table possible. Getting into these spaces may require luck, impeccable timing, patience, persistence, or finding a loopholebut that makes the prize of a coveted table that much more gratifying and well-earned. Surely, the reservation game has gotten more competitive in recent years, though, and it can feel exhausting to keep up with the ever-evolving list of New York's hottest restaurants. (We can thank TikTok for that.) Luckily, most of these places have methods to their madness, so if you time it right, there's hope for an openingeven if it's a seat at the bar at 5 p.m. that you booked a month in advance. Or a spontaneous, quiet walk-in lunch on a Sunday. Hey, beggars can't be choosers, right? Here's a rundown of the hottest and hardest New York City reservations worth getting right now and exactly how and when to do it. And we promise every spot on this list is worth it. The Polo Bar This Ralph Lauren-owned restaurant in Midtown has been a celebrity hotspot for about 10 years now, and it's still one of the hardest tables to score. (When it's good, it's good.) To get one, call (212) 207-8562 when phone lines open at 10 a.m. exactly 30 days in advance. While you still might only get a table at, say, 5 p.m. or 10 p.m., it's worth it to soak up The Polo Bar's unmatched ambianceand to potentially see a celeb while sipping on a crisp martini and taking a bite of a classic burger. There are unfortunately no walk-ins hereyou can only grab a drink at the bar if you have a dinner reservation. 1 East 55th Street Cristina Corvino Carbone When you think of celebrity hotspots, restaurants that are difficult to get into, and dishes you're dying to taste, chances are you think of Carbone and its internet-famous spicy rigatoni. And who can blame you? The Greenwich Village staple has reached new levels of popularity in recent years, thanks to a combination of TikTok attention and its celebrity clientele. To get in, try Resy at 10 a.m. exactly 30 days ahead. They don't take walk-ins, sorry! Otherwise, might we suggest flying to Las Vegas, Dallas, or Miami to eat at one of their other locations? 181 Thompson Street Cristina Corvino Torrisi Bar & Restaurant Torrisi is one of the newer restaurants on this list, so you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who's not clamoring for a table here and a chance to try the star item: tortellini pomodoro. The sizable spaceseparated into the bar room and the dining room (shown here)offers a unique take on Italian food that lives up to the hype. Reservations open up on Resy at 10 a.m. 30 days in advance, but if you don't have any luck, the bar, where the full menu is served, is reserved for walk-ins. While you're there in person, you can add your name to the waitlist for a table in the bar room. 275 Mulberry Street Torrisi/Scott Frances Don Angie Dreaming of trying this famous lasagna for two or stuffed garlic bread? You'll have to act quickly. Reservations for Don Angie open on Resy at 9 a.m. one week in advance. The fairly small bar is available for walk-ins, so if you're not having any luck booking online, show up to the West Village spot on the early side and put your name down for a bar stool. 103 Greenwich Avenue Cristina Corvino The Nines Chances are, you've seen this all-red NoHo piano bar known for its killer drinks and caviar service on social media. Reservations here, where you're encouraged to dressyou guessed itto "the nines," open on Resy a month in advance, with weekend spots going most quickly. While spots in the dining room are difficult to come by, the front parlor room and bar are held for walk-ins, so try your luckespecially on a weeknight. As general manager Sophie Deverell tells us, "If you're looking to get into the main dining room, all I can say is book early and good luckand it doesn't hurt to come dressed to the nines." 9 Great Jones Street The Nines/Liz Clayman I Sodi The good news? This Italian gem recently relocated to a larger location. The catch? The few tables still fill up quickly. But don't worry, there are ways to do itand you'll be glad you did. Reservations drop on Resy two weeks in advance at midnight, but if you blink, you'll miss them. You'll have a better chance of snagging a spot at the bar if you put your name down right when the doors open for dinner at 4:30 p.m. (or, honestly, earlier, to get in line). We've also had luck walking in for lunch around 12 p.m. on a sleepy Sunday with no wait. Once you're in, get the lasagna and the pasta al limone. 314 Bleecker Street Cristina Corvino Semma This coastal South Indian hotspot in the West Village has never been more popularand it's thoroughly worth it to try to snag a seat here. Reservations drop on Resy 15 days in advance, but if you miss out, the restaurant accepts walk-ins for seats at the bar. (While there, you can check to see if they have any last-minute cancellations or no-shows.) Like we said, you'll want to try this one from every angle. 60 Greenwich Avenue Semma Roscioli This import from Rome should be very high on your list right now. While reservations for the tasting menu experience open on Resy 30 days in advance at 10 a.m., reservations for Roscioli's just-as-good a la carte menu open on Resy 14 days in advance at 10 a.m. Both are solid options. The restaurant also accepts walk-ins, but expect a lengthy wait. It's a small space with high demandyou do the math. 43 MacDougal Street Courtesy of Roscioli/Gary He Jean's Jean's started as an event-only underground club, but the vibey NoHo locale recently opened its street-level restaurant space and has quickly proven to be one of the hottest tables in town. It's the kind of place where you never know who you're going to see, which is part of the appeal. Though many prime seats are reserved for neighbors and weekly regulars, submit a request via SevenRooms here to secure a table of your own. And here's a sweet tip: Shared exclusively with us by co-owner Max Chodorow, Jean's reserves one prime 8 p.m. four-top each night for dinners with parents and grandparents, so email folks@jeans.nyc if you're hoping to dine in with your folks. 415 Lafayette Street MAEGAN GINDI Via Carota Via Carotafrom the same restaurateurs behind I Sodiis another well-documented celebrity favorite (surely, you've seen Taylor Swift drop by with friends), and it's not just for the atmosphere or privacy. One taste of the food, and you'll understand why. While the West Village restaurant does release limited reservations via Resy 30 days in advance, your best bet is to line up outside the restaurant around 4 or 5 p.m., put your name down, and expect a fairly hefty waitor be fine with seats at the bar. (Be fine with seats at the bar!) FYI: It's also just as delicious for lunch. 51 Grove Street Cristina Corvino COTE Korean Steakhouse This famous Korean BBQ restaurant in Flatiron opens its reservations exactly 30 days in advance at 10 a.m. via both Resy and by phone (212-401-7986). Word on the street is that you might have better luck if you go the phone route first, which we know is scary for phone-call-averse millennialsbut it's absolutely worth it to try the Butcher's Feast. FYI: We're told reservations are easiest to secure with groups of four or six, and prime time is 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., so maybe shoot for an earlier or later meal. You can also walk in and try to snag a spot at the standing-only bar, where the full a la carte menu is servedbut plan to return for the full sit-down experience that makes Cote so special. 16 West 22nd Street Gary He Lilia Opened by Missy Robbins in 2016, Lilia has been the hottest (and hardest to get into) restaurant in Brooklyn ever since. Diners hoping to try one of the incredible pastas should first try calling the restaurant directly at 10 a.m. exactly 30 days in advance. If unsuccessful over the phone, try Resy, where remaining reservations are offered at midnight that same night. If that approach also doesn't work, there is walk-in space available at both the bar and the restaurant's outdoor tablesso try putting your name down when doors open at 4 p.m. It can feel like a lot of effort, but getting into Lilia is worth your while for the pink peppercorn malfaldine alone, we promise. 567 Union Avenue, Brooklyn Cristina Corvino Libertine Tables at this new, authentic French bistro in the West Village open up on Resy 30 days in advance at 7 a.m., and while the notify list can run up to 1500 people per night, owner Cody Pruitt has said that it is very possible to get off the list and nab a table. Resy is the only way to get a reservation here, but the bar stools are available for walk-ins on a first come, first served basis. 684 Greenwich Street Libertine/Evan Sung L'Artusi This West Village staple opened in 2008, but it's still a tough table to get. Reservations open on Resy on a rolling basis starting at 9 a.m. two weeks in advance. No luck? Try their sister restaurant, B'artusi, for a more casual dining experience down the street that's just as delicious. 228 West 10th Street Tucker Johns Raf's This NoHo locale has a neighborhood feel and focuses on fare from Italy and France. Reservations tend to go on Resy quickly, but you still have hope as a walk-in. As co-owner Nicole Vitagliano tells us, "A large focus of our business is engaging with our community. We always welcome and encourage drop-in guests. The front room and bar are left open to accommodate those wishing to drop in. We also offer a waitlist and are happy to contact you via text as soon as we can accommodate. If you're kind and respectful to our staff, we'll be happy to welcome you back any time!" 290 Elizabeth Street Gentl & Hyers Bangkok Supper Club The fare at this scene-y Meatpacking District haunt is inspired by late-night Thai food, and it's all the rage right now. Reservations open on Resy at midnight 30 days in advance, but you also might have some luck just walking in: The restaurant reserves a quarter of the tables, as well as the entire bar, for walk-ins. If you're going to just show up, the restaurant tells us it's busiest around 7 p.m., so try your luck either on the earlier or later side. 641 Hudson Street Courtesy of Bangkok Supper Club/Evan Sung Rao's We're ending with an absolute classic, which has been nearly impossible to get into for decades. Yesdecades. And for good reason. The iconic East Harlem Italian restaurant has been open for over 100 years, and for the past 50 or so years, about 60 percent of the tables have been reserved for locals and regulars that the restaurant was opened to serve in the first place. That doesnt sound like a huge deal until you realize that Rao's only has 10 tables, meaning that there are just four tables per night open to be reserved in the first place. To shoot your shot, call the restaurant directly at (212) 722-6709. Or you can walk in, wait at the bar for hours, and hope to replicate this success story. Your move! Oh, and if all else fails, there are locations in Los Angeles or Miami too. 455 East 114th Street Michael M. Santiago - Getty Images You Might Also Like One of the longest-reigning kings in Europe, King Harald, and one of the newest, King Charles, are simultaneously dealing with health issues that are keeping them from public duties. However, the approach of the Norwegian Royal House and Buckingham Palace have significantly diverged in how to handle updating the public on royal health. In January, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles would undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate, a remarkable display of transparency around the king's health. It is understood that King Charles wanted to share the details of his diagnosis to encourage others to get checked. Soon after that treatment, the Palace announced, "during The Kings recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer." They did not disclose the type of cancer, and while Charles has been photographed in the weeks sensereading get well cards, attending church at Sandringham, and meeting with the Prime Ministerthe Palace has not shared any updates about his treatment or any other specifics regarding his health. In stark contrast, at the end of February, King Harald of Norway was hospitalized in Malaysia while vacationing in the country with his wife, Queen Sonja, for his 87th birthday. Since the initial news broke that he was hospitalized with an infection, there has been a near-constant feed of updates from the Norwegian royal house. It was announced when Harald received a temporary pacemaker; that he was medically transported from Langkawi, Malaysia back to Oslo, Norway; that he arrived in Norway; that he has a low heart rate; and on and on. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, has also spoken to the press at length about his father's health, and even answered questions about why his elderly father traveled to Malaysia in the first place. There could be a few reasons for the difference in transparency around health: For one, King Harald is 11 years older than King Charles, and has had numerous health issues in recent years, including just this past January, when he was on sick leave for a respiratory infection. Secondly, Harald's hospitalization and medical transport has been changing day by day, especially since he was out of the country when he first fell ill. Perhaps if there were more updates or news to share about Charles, Buckingham Palace would be sharing them. Another key difference is that in Norway, when the monarch is unable to perform duties, or is out of the country, a regent is appointed. In this case, King Harald's son and heir, Crown Prince Haakon, has been serving as regent. However, when King Charles is unable to perform his public duties, there are no regents appointedi.e., his heir, Prince William, is not stepping in for him. Thus, since Charles is still undertaking "State business and official paperwork as usual," per the Palace, Harald can fully focus on his health while his son serves as regent. Max Mumby/Indigo There's one thing both kings have in common, though (in addition to being relatives, that is): Despite their health, neither Harald nor Charles have any plans to abdicate any time soon. King Harald was explicitly asked if he would consider stepping down permanently, following Queen Margrehte of Denmark's shocking abdication. "I stick by what I've always said, that I swore an oath to the Storting [parliament] and it is for life," Harald said. And while Charles has not commented, it's widely thought he is following in the footsteps of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, who viewed the job as a "job for life." Abdication, Charles's biographer Robert Hardman told T&C, is "not in the British tradition." You Might Also Like Step Afrika! is one of the largest Black dance companies in the U.S and with its colorful, high energy fusion of many cultures, it is one of a kind. The company is the brainchild of C. Brian Williams, who grew up in Houston and attended Howard University, called the Mecca by its students and alumni. As a freshman in 1986, the Texan went over to check out the Black fraternities and discovered a dance he had never seen before: stepping. Not step dancing, not tap dancing, not clogging. Stepping. Stepping's long history started at the turn of the 20th century when African Americans admitted to universities were allowed to attend classes but not participate in social activities such as dances. Step Afrika! is coming to Wharton Center on Saturday, March 9, 2024. In response, Black student fraternities (Alpha Phi Alpha at Cornell was the first in 1906) created stepping, a dance the students performed on the lawns of their fraternity houses. They stomped their feet, which made a percussive sound. They also slapped their feet and knees and sang songs of confidence and pride. The songs had a lot of bravado and ego and also trash talked opposing fraternities." Williams said. "It was a bonding opportunity. Now there are stepping teams and competitions from fraternities and high schools throughout the US. Williams was a young man who loved ballet and theater and was captivated by this new-to-him form of dance and self-expression. When he graduated from Howard, Williams traveled to live and study in South Africa. There he discovered gumboot dancing. This is similar, yet distinctly different, from stepping. Gumboot dancing comes out of the diamond mines in South Africa and the men danced in large rubber Wellington boots. The dancing told stories, especially making fun of their bosses in the mines who led their workers in a military style. When Williams returned to the US, he began to combine gumboot dancing and stepping, which produced a dynamic, cross-cultural, historic and entertaining mix of dancing. Step Afrika! will be at Wharton Center on Saturday as part of a 60-city tour to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The group has performed all over the world including the White House and the Metropolitan Opera. Step Afrika! is coming to Wharton Center on Saturday, March 9, 2024. As Step Afrika! has grown and evolved, its dances now tell powerful stories of Black history in America. Migration tells the story of the Stono Rebellion, a slave rebellion in 1739 in South Carolina that resulted in Black people not being able to have drums because the drums were used to communicate with other slaves. To honor that story, Step Afrika! uses their bodies as drums, through the use of ham boning. We have no taps on our shoes," Williams said. "We have special microphones on the floor to enhance the sound, but we have no music tracks or recorded music. Its all live. Step Afrika! tours with 10-12 dancers, men and women, and most of them have been members of Black fraternities and sororities. Step Afrika! Wharton Center Cobb Great Hall 7:30pm Saturday, March 9 Tickets from $25 at whartoncenter.com, 517 432-2000 or 1 800 WHARTON. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Step Afrika! brings high-energy, cultural dance performance to Wharton Sydney Sweeney has teamed up with Bai to debut a new flavor of the fruity beverage: raspberry lemon lime. On Thursday, the Euphoria star attended a launch event in New York, channeling the drinks deep pink hue in a pleated Alaia maxidress. Amid a faux grove of lemon and lime trees, Sweeney discussed the creative process behind her new Bai flavor, which was about a year in the making. More from WWD While I was filming Immaculate, Bai sent a bunch of different combinations of the flavors that I picked out, Sweeney told WWD. Her latest film, out March 22, follows a nuns journey to a mysterious convent. We did a taste-testing experiment with my grandmas and my mom and my aunt, who were in Italy with me because I flew them out to be extras. We tallied which ones they liked, and everyone agreed on this flavor. Raspberry lemon lime also takes inspiration from one of the actress favorite childhood pastimes: berry-picking. Sweeney grew up in the lush mountains of Tacoma, Washington, where she frequently spent time outdoors. Sydney Sweeneys new Bai campaign. My mom would take my little brother and I to this waterfall next to a huge huckleberry patch, and we would take garbage bags, cut them up, put ourselves inside them and slide down the waterfall, Sweeney reminisced. It isnt a far cry from the remote setting of Immaculate, which takes place in the Italian countryside. Sweeney was drawn to the project after auditioning for the film a decade ago. It never got made, and I couldnt stop thinking about it, Sweeney said. I kept dreaming up how Id want to film it, the cinematography, everything. I would call my agent almost every year being like, Whatever happened to this? And then I thought, Maybe I should take this into my own hands and see if I can make it myself.' After acquiring rights to the script under her production banner, Fifty-Fifty Films, Sweeney assisted in casting her fellow White Lotus alum, Simona Tabasco. One of the shows executive producers, David Bernard, also produced Immaculate. While Sweeney was raised Catholic, the actress didnt take any inspiration from her upbringing to play Cecilia, whose devout beliefs drive her to become a nun. I grew up in a family that supported and believed in whatever their children wanted to support and believe, Sweeney explained. [Catholicism] wasnt something was forced or pushed onto me or my brother. Sydney Sweeney at Bais raspberry lemon lime launch event on March 7 in New York. Between busy filming schedules, becoming a first-time Saturday Night Live host and traveling to Paris for Miu Mius fall 2024 show, Sweeney still finds time to prioritize wellness. Its really important to take time for yourself. I like to take my dog Tank on walks and hikes, she said. She credits Bais added benefits, which include antioxidants and electrolytes, for helping her stay hydrated, though shes also a stickler for skincare. The actress serves as a global ambassador for Laneige, a beauty brand best known for their viral lip masks. Sweeney doesnt shy away from indulging, however in fact, some of her favorite snacks on set include sweets. I love Sour Patch Kids, Reeses cups, Twix bars, barbecue chips. Im not the healthiest eater, she laughed. Sweeneys raspberry lemon lime Bai flavor is available to shop now at major retailers including Amazon, Kroger and Publix. Best of WWD National security concerns at U.S. ports are picking up even more steam as Congress investigates potential espionage and disruption risks presented by Chinese-built cargo cranes. An eight-month probe into the deployment of the cranes at the ports found communications equipment including cellular modems that could be remotely accessed, says the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). More from Sourcing Journal More than a dozen cellular modems were found on crane components in use at one U.S. port, and another modem was found inside another ports server room that houses cranes firewall and networking equipment., according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. An unnamed aide of the House Homeland Security Committee told the WSJ some of the modems had active connections to operational components to the cranes. Cranes can often be controlled remotely, meaning hackers with access to the cranes networks could collect intelligence from ports or, in theory, even cause disruptions of equipment. In a partially redacted December letter to the committee viewed by the WSJ, an unidentified U.S. port operator said that the modems werent part of an existing contract, but that the port had been aware of their installations on the cranes and that they were intended for a mobile diagnostic and monitoring service the port didnt enroll in. We are unsure who installed the modems as they were on the cranes when we first saw them in China, the letter to the committee said. The modems, according to the letter, were believed to have been installed around June 2017, when the cranes were manufactured and assembled, and removed in October 2023. It is unknown what prompted the port to take action on the modems or who did so. Amid the probe, one Homeland Security trade official said during a subcommittee hearing on Feb. 29 that U.S. ports are relying too heavily on the China-built cranes. Concerns about the cranes across some officials at the Pentagon and the Biden Administration have persisted throughout 2023, with the Wall Street Journal first reporting on the apprehensions in March last year. The WSJ said at the time that officials compared the cranes, manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), to a Trojan horse, giving Beijing a possible spying tool hiding in plain sight. To address the potential threats, the congressional committees formally launched the joint investigation last June. At the center of the probe are the more than 200 Chinese-made cranes installed at U.S. ports and related facilities. In total, 80 percent of the ship-to-shore cranes at the ports were manufactured by ZPMC, U.S. officials say. Last month, the White House earmarked $20 billion to bolster cybersecurity initiatives across the ports, with President Biden signing an executive order directing the U.S. Coast Guard to mandate certain digital security requirements for China-built cranes deployed at strategic ports. Additionally, the Coast Guard will now have the authority to control the movement of vessels that present a known or suspected cyber threat to U.S. maritime infrastructure, and be able to inspect those vessels and facilities that pose a threat to cybersecurity. In a letter dated Feb. 29, House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.), Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Chairman Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), and House Select Committee on the CCP Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.) demanded ZPMC answer to some of the findings in the joint investigation into the cranes. The letter said that lawmakers found that many cranes at U.S. ports were built at the ZPMCs Changxing base, adjacent to a shipyard on Shanghai Island where the Chinese navy builds advanced warships. It also said lawmakers had learned from briefings with ports and U.S. law-enforcement agencies that ZPMC had repeatedly made requests for remote access to U.S.-based cranes and other maritime infrastructure. The Committees have serious concerns that this proximity to the [Chinese navys] main shipyard provides malicious CCP entities, including its intelligence agencies and security services, with ample opportunity to modify U.S.-bound maritime equipment, exploit it to malfunction, or otherwise facilitate cyber espionage thereby compromising U.S. maritime critical infrastructure, the letter said. One trade association has cautioned against pointing any fingers at the Chinese government or any state-owned companies just yet. The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has said there have been no known security breaches due to the presence of Chinese cranes at U.S. ports. The committees acknowledge the AAPAs March 2023 comments of calling media reports on the cranes alarmist in their letter, but retorted that the committees have found otherwise with regards to the potential security threat. Additionally, the committees shared concern that ZPMC has benefited from extensive subsidies which from the Chinese government have facilitated its dominant market position. ZPMCs 2022 Annual Report reveals that the company is the recipient of large PRC government subsidies, amounting to tens of millions of dollars, the letter said. As a result of the PRCs economic support, ZPMC can submit unusually low bids for U.S. port contracts, furthering the CCPs economic influence within the U.S. maritime sector. Our nations dependence on PRC state-owned enterprises, including ZPMCs port equipment, for international trade, and the lack of sufficient domestic industrial alternatives, introduces significant risk of future exploitation by the CCP, putting the American people in potential danger in future national emergencies. The Pentagon released details Friday of its plans to construct a temporary pier off the Gaza Strips coast to help flow more than 2 million meals a day into the territory, using an established military capability that officials say can build and deploy the structure without having any American troops on the ground. Over the next 60 days, roughly 1,000 troops will deploy to the Mediterranean Sea to build a floating platform where cargo ships can offload aid onto smaller military vessels, which will transfer them to a causeway attached to the beach, where trucks can pick it up and distribute it within Gaza, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters. The concept that is being planned involves the presence of U.S. military personnel on military vessels offshore, but does not require U.S. military personnel to go ashore, Ryder said. President Joe Biden first announced the effort on Thursday night during the State of the Union Address. The capability, dubbed Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore, has most recently been used during Exercise Talisman Sabre, Ryder said, an annual event based in Australia. The modular causeway will be assembled offshore and driven to the beach, where it will be anchored ashore. Biden outlines military plans to build port in Gaza for aid The Pentagon is identifying units to deploy to the Mediterranean to start construction, he added, which will include soldiers from the 7th Transportation Brigade at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. What remains to be hammered out is how U.S. Central Command will be able to protect both the offshore pier and the causeway itself from attacks by Hamas, though Ryder said Israel is part of the planning process and could provide security through its own forces. If Hamas truly does care about the Palestinian people, then again, one would hope that this international mission to deliver aid to people who need it would be able to happen and unhindered, Ryder said. The causeway has the potential to increase the amount of aid flowing into Gaza by several orders of magnitude, supplementing trucks arriving daily through the border with Israel, as well as ongoing air drops by the U.S. military. The U.S. carried out its fourth drop of aid via C-130 Hercules on Friday, Ryder said. Each plane carries about the same amount of aid as a truck does over land. Though at points during the Israel-Hamas war, up to 200 aid trucks drove into Gaza daily, the Pentagon said Monday that the pace has dropped to 100 or fewer trucks a day. The fight in Gaza will be hell, military experts in urban combat say The temporary port has the potential to pick up some of the slack, Jonathan Lord, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Military Times on Friday, but with the same distribution concerns as aid arriving over land. How do you get aid not just onshore, but then securely distributed, such that it goes to everyone who needs it, and isnt otherwise blocked in by Hamas insurgents, criminal gangs, vigilantes or others that might be taking advantage of emerging security vacuums? he said. Non-government organizations, the United Nations and other regional partners could be tapped to accept and distribute the aid ashore, Ryder said, though those details arent finalized. Another issue is the inspection process for aid, which has slowed down the flow in land shipments. If you ask, the Israelis would argue that they, in fact, are not the bottleneck. They are inspecting more trucks than are actually going in on a day-to-day basis, Lord said. And when you ask them to what do they attribute that delta, they would say that the groups operating in Gaza dont have enough drivers. Others, including two U.S senators, say Israels cumbersome and arbitrary inspection process is holding things up, comments the lawmakers made after a trip to Egypt to observe the Rafah border crossing in January. So that poses a question: Is, in fact, the problem one of a deficit of aid or deficit of aid distribution? Lord said. Likely, were going to find out, because if you can bring containerships worth of aid up to Gaza, youre going to find out very quickly what your logistical supply line and your interior lines look like, and whether you have the capacity to effectively distribute it, in pretty short order. In any case, Lord said, the U.S. will continue to pressure the Israeli government to ease restrictions on incoming aid, as well as open up more land crossings, as Biden mentioned in his speech Thursday night. A Pasco County familys 15-year effort to collect financial relief for their sons injuries in a 2006 school bus crash fell apart in the waning days of the Florida legislative session. A bill to waive the states sovereign immunity protections, which prevented the school district from paying more than $200,000 to the crash victims, appeared to be moving toward approval after several failed attempts. The movement prompted the Pasco school board in February to agree to a $1.2 million settlement with the family of Marcus Button, now 33, who suffered brain damage, partial blindness and several other life-altering ailments in a crash while on the way to Wesley Chapel High School, where he was a student. A jury in 2009 found the bus driver to be at fault and awarded the family $1.6 million far less than the expected amount to cover medical expenses and care for the rest of Buttons life. The Buttons have tried to get the bulk of the award ever since. After reaching the agreement, lawyers for the family and district sent letters advising state lawmakers of the deal. That should have paved the way for the claim bill, said Lance Block, who represented the Buttons. But the Senate committee to which the bill was assigned had no more meetings scheduled by that point, and so the measure languished there. By early Thursday, House sponsor Rep. Alex Andrade said the item had no chance of passing to the governors desk this year. Without the bill, the district does not have the authority to pay the agreed amount despite the signed settlement, said Paul Meeker, the school boards lawyer. The settlement remains in effect for future attempts at a claim bill, Block said. He said the Button family is disappointed but grateful to Andrade and state Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, for helping shepherd the bill. Well try again next session, Block said. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) A male has been shot at an apartment complex and faces non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Mobile Police Department. Teen allegedly stabbed and set 70-year-old relative on fire, unprovoked: MCSO Police officers responded to the Linx Plaza Apartments, 6964 Airport Blvd., around 9:36 a.m. after receiving a report of a gunshot, according to an MPD news release. INCIDENT LOCATION: This embedded content is not available in your region. The victim was taken to the hospital, according to the release, which did not include the males age. Mobile Police chief says mishandling of a gun led to 13-year-olds death This is a developing story. News 5 will update this article as more information becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. The Save Ukraine team has brought back 10 more children who had been under occupation following Russias full-scale invasion. Source: Mykola Kuleba, founder and head of the Save Ukraine charity organisation, on Telegram Quote: "The Save Ukraine team has saved and brought back 10 Ukrainian children who had been under occupation after 24 February. After a long time apart, the children were finally able to hug their loved ones, and now all the families are safe." Details: Kuleba also told the stories of the children forced to attend Russian schools under occupation. They were forced to write letters to Russian soldiers and study using Russian textbooks. The organisation was also successful in transporting a girl born under Russian occupation. Quote: "Every time they come to us for help, we are aware of all the risks and dangers that children face. Our children are denied any rights or a normal happy childhood under the occupier's rule. Therefore, there is no time for delay. We begin to act immediately. Our organisation has rescued 261 children taken to Russia and trapped in occupied territories." Support UP or become our patron! ISTANBUL, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky here on Friday to discuss the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the Turkish presidency said. The two leaders will address the latest developments about resuming the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has been suspended since last July, the office said on its website. "The latest status of contacts on the continuation of the initiative and the search for lasting peace in the region" will top the agenda of their meeting, according to the office. The United Nations and Turkiye brokered the initiative between Russia and Ukraine, establishing a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships transporting food and fertilizer exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports in July 2022. According to the presidency, the two leaders will convene at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul at 7 p.m. local time (1600 GMT) and are expected to hold a press conference afterward. The landscapes of film and television look far different now than they did when they were introduced to us as children. At this point, its virtually impossible to keep up with the new content landing on the multitude of must-have streaming services weekly. Most of which allow you to binge a full season in a day before moving on to your next mindless, passive watch. The constant flow of media makes watching new releases feel almost like a chore so that you can get through small talk in the office or scroll on social media without coming across spoilers you havent had time to catch up on yet. Because of this, many are craving the nostalgia of their favorite childhood shows. Before Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video and all the other platforms that took over the world, we had to wait a full week to watch an episode in real-time. There was no opportunity to rewind or pause what was playing out on the screen. Though they were far less necessary back then as cell phones werent distracting us from one form of media with another. On the bright side, the invention of streaming platforms now makes it easier than ever to revisit old classics without breaking the bank. Read on to find out which childhood shows weve been wanting to watch lately and tell us what you would add to our list in the comments. Kenan & Kel (1996-2000) IMDb: 7.8/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 75% After winning over audiences with their comedic antics on Nickelodeons All That, Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell had the privilege of starring in their own series beginning in 1996. The sketch comedy series was set in Chicago and ran for four seasons until 2000. Fans were sad to see it end, but thankfully, Thompson and Mitchells friendship continued long past the expiry date of Kenan & Kel. Just last year the actors reunited for Good Burger 2, now streaming on Paramount+. IMDb: 6.5/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 40% Theres something undeniably relatable about teenage Penny Proud, her overbearing father, Oscar, and her oddball group of friends. The Disney series (and its more recent reboot) has faced some criticism for their portrayal of dark-skinned characters. Particularly Dijonay Jones, who isnt always the most loyal pal to Penny on more than one occasion. The Proud Family creators gave viewers 54 comedic and heartwarming episodes during the animated sitcoms original run, and that was followed by a 2005 film. Since then, a third season of the Louder and Prouder edition has also been confirmed. Moesha (1996-2001) IMDb: 5.9/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A 45-year-old Brandy Norwood is an icon for so many more reasons than just being our vocal Bible throughout the 90s. Beginning in 1996 she took on the lead role in Moesha which follows the songstress as a teenager trying to find a balance between her education, friends and cute boys. In addition to all of this, Brandys on-screen persona was building a bond with her fathers new wife amid a major period of change, doing her best to be the glue holding her loved ones together throughout it all. The PJs (1999-2001) IMDb: 6.8/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A Animation work isnt what Eddie Murphy is best known for, but he certainly has contributed some memorable characters to the world of pop culture throughout his career. Disneys Mulan and Dreamworks Shrek quickly come to mind, but we cant forget The PJs, a short-lived comedy series that takes us to the Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs housing project, where Thurgood Stubbs acts as superintendent. He and his wife Muriel (voiced by Loretta Devine) were the main characters, showing audiences the realities of living in the big city projects. A Different World (1987-1993) IMDb: 7/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A After The Cosby Show came A Different World, starring Lisa Bonet, Dawnn Lewis, Kadeem Hardison and Darryl M. Bell through the late 80s to the early 90s. The spinoff followed Bonet, who plays Denise Huxtable, as she heads off to Hillman College, a primarily Black school where she rooms with a divorced freshman named Jaleesa (Lewis) and naive Maggie (Marisa Tomei), one of the schools few White students. Midway through the show, the lead actress left after announcing a pregnancy, though Bonet did briefly return to The Cosby Show before ultimately being fired in 1991 for tardiness and lack of professionalism. Fillmore! (2002-2004) IMDb: 7.6/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A Fillmore! didnt last as long as other Disney animated shows, but it certainly did leave us laughing from 2002 to 2004. Cornelius C. Fillmore was voiced by childhood favourite Orlando Brown, who appeared in so many feel-good releases throughout the early years of his career. At X Middle School he was a member of the Safety Patrol squad, helping to solve crimes alongside his classmates sort of like a male Kim Possible. The Jamie Foxx Show (1996-2001) IMDb: 6.8/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A Jamie Foxxs 2023 health scare certainly caused the actor to slow down and focus on his well-being, but even that cant erase his epic past, which includes his five-season run as the star of his self-titled sitcom. The Project Power actor is talented in all of his roles, but this one hardly required any acting as he played an aspiring entertainer from Texas who heads to Hollywood on the hunt for fame and fortune. While seeking out his big break, Foxx takes a job at his uncles hotel, the Kings Towers, where he spends more time flirting with the front desk attendant than focusing on his duties. Thats So Raven (2003-2007) IMDb: 6.7/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A Thanks to the existence of Disney+, its now easier than ever to revisit nostalgic favorites from our younger days, such as Thats So Raven. The popular show followed teenage psychic Raven Baxter and her two best friends, Eddie (Orlando Brown) and Chelsea (Anneliese van der Pol) while dealing with high school bullies, prophetic visions, and Ravens scheming younger brother, Cory. Speaking of the Kyle Massey-played role, he eventually got a spin-off series, Cory in the House. Meanwhile, todays kids are being introduced to our favorite clairvoyant via Ravens Home, where Miss Baxter raises her two children on her own. Living Single (1993-1998) IMDb: 7.7/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A The lack of diversity throughout the New York-based series Friends makes it hard for Black people to fully relate, which is why many grew up watching Living Single instead. As it turns out, the Queen Latifah-led project was a source of inspiration for its White counterpart, which follows six Black 20-somethings, many of whom live together in a Brooklyn brownstone. It ran on the Fox network from 1993 to 1998, with Kim Coles, John Henton, Erica Alexander, Kim Fields and Terrence C. Carson appearing alongside Latifah. Sister, Sister (1994-1999) IMDb: 6.3/10 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A Tia and Tamera Mowry dont take on acting gigs like they did throughout their childhood, but back in the day, the twins were booked and busy. Sister, Sister was a favorite for young people all across the country throughout the latter half of the 90s. This was largely due to the compelling story of the two young girls being separated at birth and then reuniting only by chance years later, changing their lives forever. CHICAGO A drive-by shooting in broad daylight on the citys Southwest Side left two men with critical injuries, Chicago police said Thursday. SkyCam9 flew above the scene in the 3800 block of S. Archer Avenue where police say a 31-year-old man and a 43-year-old man were traveling southbound inside a vehicle just before 4:30 p.m. SEE ALSO: Mayday declared as Chicago firefighters battle house fire in Belmont Cragin According to police, someone inside a tan-colored SUV fired multiple gunshots into the victims vehicle before fleeing the scene. Both men were rushed to local hospitals in critical condition. No one is in custody. Anyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com. Area One Detectives Are Investigating. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. YANGON, March 8 (Xinhua) -- With the help of China, the Myanmar National Center of Disease Control (CDC) and Medical Training Center in Nay Pyi Taw will be completed by the last week of April and will be opened soon, health ministry official Than Naing Soe told Xinhua on Friday. The China-aided CDC and medical training center meet international standards and include biosafety level 2 and 3 laboratories, international standard laboratories, disease prevention and control systems, and a facility that can accommodate about 200 trainees. This center will benefit not only Myanmar but also other Southeast Asian countries in terms of disease control and prevention, such as that of re-emerging and emerging infectious diseases, Than Naing Soe said. The groundbreaking ceremony of the project was held in Nay Pyi Taw on Jan. 10, 2021. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Prosecutors formally requested a delay Thursday in the trial of Robert Telles, the ex-Las Vegas-area politician accused of killing an investigative reporter, adding two people left the journalist death threats before his murder. The trial for Robert Telles, 47, the disgraced former Clark County public administrator, was scheduled to begin March 18. Telles was charged with murder in the stabbing death of Jeff German, a Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter, in September 2022. Telles, prosecutors, attorneys for the newspaper and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department argued for months over who should be entitled to review the contents of several electronic devices in Germans possession. Ultimately, the parties agreed to let attorneys for the newspaper handle the review. In court earlier this week, prosecutors said 5,000 electronic files contained on Germans phone were potentially privileged. Former Clark County Administrator Robert Telles, who is accused of murdering Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, talks to his attorneys during a break in court while waiting for a hearing at the Regional Justice Center, Feb. 28, 2023, in Las Vegas. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, File) Prosecutors said they are aware of not one, but two audio recordings on Germans phone from unknown individuals making death threats to him, documents filed Thursday said. The Review-Journal reports that these recordings were in Germans phone, prosecutors wrote. Because the state does not have the device, only a limited follow-up investigation can be done regarding these alleged threats. The investigation on these alleged death threats alone will take weeks, particularly given that Metro does not have access to the device. In February, defense attorney Robert Draskovich, who represents Telles, told a Clark County judge that the Review-Journals review of Germans phone found one angry voicemail from a man with a distinct high-pitched voice not belonging to Telles. Draskovich said the voicemail, which he called potentially exculpatory, was about a February 2022 story German wrote about U.S. extremism. The message was around 45 seconds long and full of expletives and the caller threatened to kill German, Draskovich said. German was found stabbed to death outside his home on Sept. 3, 2022. Detectives said Telles DNA was found under Germans fingernails and believe Telles targeted German because of articles he wrote about problems in the Clark County Public Administrators office, which Telles oversaw. In rescheduling the trial, prosecutors asked the judge to in turn ask the Review-Journal how long their search of Germans devices will take. The state is not seeking a year-long delay, prosecutors wrote Thursday. The state asks the court to inquire of the Review-Journal the amount of time the seven designated individuals are devoting to searching the devices each day and for an estimate of completion of the search of all of the devices. Once the State has the devices and has had time to review and potentially challenge the privilege assertions, it will be ready for trial. Leavitt will issue her ruling on the potential delay on Tuesday, March 12. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) Police arrested two men in Brooklyn who are accused of having 13 fake license plates and a knife in their possession on Wednesday, according to the NYPD. Officers stopped a 2008 Honda driven by Bonezlee Nimmons, 65, near Batchelder Street and Avenue Y for a broken headlight around midnight. Police found that Nimmons did not have a valid drivers license and he had cocaine in his pants pocket, so he was placed into custody. Teen girl attacked by 2 suspects on Brooklyn train: NYPD William Seyfried, 34, who was also in the car and not wearing a seatbelt, was also taken into custody. Police later found that Seyfried had an active bench warrant. Police said that after they searched the car, they found 12 fake license plates from Texas and one from California and a knife. Nimmons is being charged with possession of a forged instrument, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance and aggravated unlicensed operator, according to police. Seyfried is being charged with possession of a forged instrument, bail jumping, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to police. Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in the New York City and Washington D.C. areas. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Two men have been indicted on murder charges related to a deadly west Las Vegas valley shooting that took place last April. David Lynn Coulson, Sr., 57, and Jimmy Johnson, 45, were indicted on open murder following a shooting on April 30, 2023, near Evergreen Avenue and Upland Boulevard. Metro police trying to determine who shot man in west valley At the time of the shooting in April, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers responded at about 12:30 a.m. to reports of a shooting at Evergreen Avenue and Upland Boulevard, east of South Jones and north of West Charleston boulevards, and found the man in the roadway with an apparent gunshot wound. The man was later pronounced dead. According to Las Vegas Metro police, Coulson, Sr., and Johnson were previously taken into custody in California and are pending extradition to Las Vegas for an additional murder that happened on Jan. 17 in the 1400 block of Helen Belle Drive in east Las Vegas. Fight leads to deadly shooting in east Las Vegas valley In that case, Coulson Sr., and Johnson both face open murder charges for their involvement in the deadly beating of a man, according to police documents. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. As President Joe Biden delivered a fiery State of the Union address Thursday night, two people with Indiana roots were invited guests of First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. One of those Hoosiers is an Indiana Woman of the Year honoree from Indianapolis and the other a Kokomo native and President of the United Auto Workers union. Also in attendance was Indianapolis physician Dr. Caitlin Bernard, a national figure in the abortion debate, and guest of Congresswoman Judy Chu (D), who represents Los Angeles County. "Each of these individuals were invited by the White House because they personify issues or themes to be addressed by the President in his speech, or they embody the Biden-Harris Administrations policies at work for the American people," according to a statement from The White House. About 20 people from around the country were invited to sit in the viewing box as guests of Jill Biden and Emhoff during the State of the Union address. Here's what we know about the two people with ties to Indiana. Why Justin Phillips from Indianapolis was at the State of the Union address Justin Phillips, founder of Overdose Lifeline, stands Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, inside the non-profit's office in Indianapolis. Phillips started Overdose Lifeline in 2014 after the death of her youngest son Aaron's heroin overdose in 2013. "When Aaron lost his life, we knew very little about heroin overdose, the connection to prescription pain medication," Phillips said. "And I felt like a fairly well-educated person. And if I didn't understand, then what did the rest of us not understand?" Phillips then started Overdose Lifeline which offers a variety of tools to help families and those suffering with substance abuse issues. Justin Phillips is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Overdose Lifeline, a non-profit dedicated to reducing the stigma of substance use disorder and preventing deaths resulting from opioid and fentanyl overdose. Phillips, a guest of Emhoff at the State of the Union address, worked to pass Aarons Law in Indiana, allowing individuals access to Narcan without a prescription and is credited with saving lives. The Second Gentleman met Phillips and her daughter in 2023 at an event commemorating International Overdose Awareness Day, according to the White House, where the administration officials announced more federal funds would be dedicated to combating accidental overdoses. Others are reading: Justin Phillips is supporting those coping with addiction. Meet Indiana's Women of the Year honoree Why Shawn Fain, a Kokomo native, was at the State of the Union address Shawn Fain (center in blue hoodie), president of the UAW, speaks workers and members of Chattanoogans in Action for Love, Equality and Benevolence, a community and faith coalition advocating for economic justice, at the VW plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Dec. 18, 2023. Shawn Fain, the current President of the United Auto Workers, got his start with UAW Local Union 1166 as an electrician for Chrysler at the Kokomo Casting Plant in his hometown of Kokomo, Indiana, according to a statement from The White House. In September 2023, President Biden joined Fain and UAW workers on the picket line in Belleville, Michigan, making him the first sitting President to join a picket line in the middle of a labor dispute. A deal between autoworkers and Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Stellantis led to pay increases, more paid leave, and non-union automakers to announce double digit pay raises for their U.S. workers. Others are reading: These 10 Indiana cities will pay people thousands of dollars to live there John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Justin Phillips, Shawn Fain attend Biden's State of the Union address Two South Carolina cities are struggling with sexually transmitted diseases in 2024, but not as badly as last year, a new study shows. The city of Columbia ranked 21st on the list of the top 100 U.S. cities with the highest rates of STDs. Charleston followed at 52nd on the list. The cities were ranked through a recent study from research company Innerbody Research, which used the latest data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. The seventh annual study notes that while Columbia and Charleston are still in the top 100 for high STD rates, their rankings improved considerably over last year. Columbia ranked a startling third highest in the U.S. just a year ago, while Charleston was 14th on the list. Also, Greenville was ranked 25th highest a year ago, but completely dropped out of the top 100 for 2024, the study shows. The studys CDC data also shows that while South Carolina cities saw improvements in STD rates, the South overall is struggling more than ever. Last year, 14 of the 25 U.S. cities with the highest STD infection rates were in the South meaning a region with roughly 39% of the the U.S. population contributed over half of the 25 cities with the worst STD infection rates. But this year, the number of southern cities has risen to 17 of that top 25, or just over two-thirds. This overrepresentation in our study is disturbing, Innerbody states. South Carolina cities STD breakdowns Columbia STD cases/100K population: 1,166 HIV cases: 134 Chlamydia cases: 7,172 Gonorrhea cases: 3,007 Syphilis cases: 128 Charleston STD cases/100K population: 856 HIV cases: 13496 Chlamydia cases: 5,468 Gonorrhea cases: 2,098 Syphilis cases: 135 Other study findings The latest data shows there were were more than 710,000 new cases of gonorrhea in the U.S. There were also more than 1.6 million new cases of chlamydia, meaning the disease has risen back to pre-2020 levels. Gonorrhea rates continue to increase in U.S. cities and never slowed in 2020, the study states. Meanwhile, syphilis rates have risen 28.6% since the last study. But the rise in the congenital syphilis rate nationally is even more staggering at 30.5%, constituting a tenfold increase in newborn syphilis cases over the span of a decade, the study shows. As such, since 2001, syphilis cases in the U.S. have increased 781%, while cases of congenital syphilis during that 20-year span rose by 464%. A woman walks along the Lake Michigan shoreline in February in Whiting, Indiana; the Great Lakes shorelines have historically been ice-covered this time of year (SCOTT OLSON) This winter was the warmest ever recorded in the mainland United States, data showed Friday -- the latest sign the world is moving towards an unprecedented era as a result of the climate crisis. The average temperature in the so-called lower 48 US states from December 2023 to February 2024 was 37.6 degrees Fahrenheit (3.1 Celsius), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said, the highest in a record that goes back to the 1890s. It was 5.4F (3.0C) above the 20th-century average for the world's second biggest greenhouse gas emitter behind China. The second-warmest winter came in 2016, which averaged 36.8F, while the coldest on record came in 1979, a frigid 26.6F. Eight states across the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast saw their warmest winters on record, boosted in part by the El Nino weather pattern. On Thursday, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota announced the state had unlocked federal funding for businesses impacted by reduced snow, "from skiing and snowshoeing to winter festivals." The heat continued through February. Data showed average temperature for the contiguous United States, which excludes Hawaii, Alaska and offshore territories, was 41.1F for the month -- 7.2F above average and the third-warmest on record. - Wildfires, drought and floods - The Smokehouse Creek wildfire, which began on February 26 and became the largest blaze in Texas' history, burned more than a million acres (400,000 hectares) in the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma, the agency added. Persistent warmth led to a steady decrease in ice coverage across the Great Lakes, reaching a historic low of 2.7 percent coverage on February 11, when ice coverage normally peaks. "We've crossed a threshold in which we are at a historic low for ice cover for the Great Lakes as a whole," Bryan Mroczka, a scientist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) said in a recent statement. Absence of ice impacts everything from businesses that rely on outdoor sports to fish that use ice to protect themselves from predators during spawning season. It also makes the shoreline more susceptible to erosion, increasing potential damage to coastal infrastructure. February also ranked as the third-driest month in the historical record but, while some regions experienced drought, unusual atmospheric patterns brought heavy rain and snow to parts of the West, causing powerful winds, flooding, landslides and power outages in parts of California. - 1.5C limit breached - President Joe Biden referred to global warming as a "climate crisis" in his State of the Union speech on Thursday night, moving away from the phrase "climate change," and hailed his signature climate infrastructure law. Last month was the warmest February on record globally, the ninth straight month of historic high temperatures across the planet, Europe's climate monitor said earlier this week. Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) last month said the period from February 2023 to January 2024 marked the first time Earth had endured 12 consecutive months of temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius hotter than the pre-industrial era. The UN's IPCC climate panel has warned that the world will likely crash through the 1.5C target for warming in the early 2030s. Holding warming to below 1.5C has been deemed crucial to averting a long-term planetary climate disaster. Planet-heating emissions, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, continue to rise when scientists say they need to fall by almost half this decade. Countries at UN climate negotiations in Dubai last year agreed to triple global renewables capacity this decade and "transition away" from fossil fuels -- but the deal lacked details and time commitments. The United States is the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, but is responsible for about a fifth of global historic emissions going back to 1850, with China a relatively distant second. The World Meteorological Organization says there is a chance that La Nina -- which, unlike El Nino, lowers global temperatures - will develop later this year, and an 80 percent probability of neutral conditions (neither El Nino nor La Nina) from April to June. ia/caw With control of City Hall again hanging in the balance, Mayor John Dailey and City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow announced dueling endorsements of two candidates challenging their colleagues for city seats in 2024. Matlow seized upon a chaotic Blueprint meeting to announce on social media his endorsement of Dot Inman-Johnson, whos running for Seat 2 against City Commissioner Curtis Richardson. Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey is recognized in the House chamber of the Historic Capitol during a celebration of Tallahassee's bicentennial. The Florida House of Representatives honored the capitol city's 200th anniversary Tuesday morning, Jan. 11, 2024. Dailey, meanwhile, announced his endorsement of Rudy Ferguson, whos running for seat 1 against City Commissioner Jack Porter, before a crowd at the Mayors Bicentennial Ball. The endorsements are a sign that two slates of candidates that have marked Tallahassee elections in recent years are starting to come together, each one tethered to one of the two factions on the divided 3-2 City Commission. City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow listens to public comment during the Blueprint meeting at City Hall on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. Dailey, who serves with the majority along with Richardson and Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, is hoping to expand the voting block to 4-1, further cementing the status quo at City Hall. Matlow, who serves in the minority with Porter, is hoping to take a third seat something that would immediately hand power to the commissions progressive wing, which has long wanted a change in management on South Adams Street. Dailey gave Ferguson a public nod of approval after the pastor and longtime Griffin Heights neighborhood advocate delivered the opening prayer at the ball. Dailey, who is also supporting Richardson's re-election campaign, said he told Ferguson before the attendees that he thinks hes great and that he loves and supports him. Rudys a great friend, Dailey said in an interview, and I think he will make a fine commissioner. And if hes elected, I look forward to serving with him. Ferguson, who ran for an at-large Leon County Commission seat in 2022, said he and Dailey are longtime friends and that the mayor has long supported his community efforts. Rev. Rudy Ferguson, chair of the Tallahassee Police Department's Citizens Advisory Committee, speaks during a press conference held by the city of Tallahassee and TPD to introduce the Tallahassee Bystander app at TPD Headquarters Tuesday, August 24, 2021. I was very happy to receive his support once again for my City Commission campaign last Saturday, Ferguson said. I look forward to the opportunity to serve our community together. Matlow not only endorsed Inman-Johnson on X, formerly known as Twitter, but linked to an Act Blue fundraising site for both her and Porter. His post came the day after a lengthy Blueprint board meeting that ended after Dailey, followed later by Williams-Cox and Richardson, quietly left the dais, leaving the body without a quorum and prompting it to adjourn. Enough is enough, Matlow wrote above photos of Porter and Inman-Johnson. If youre ready to bring common sense and decency back to City Hall, join us. Richardson said after the meeting he was "tired" and it just felt it was time for me to leave. Dailey, meanwhile, told the Democrat on Wednesday the meeting was scheduled to last from 3 to 6 p.m. and that he stayed well after. "By nine o'clock, I had already missed two other events and I had family obligations," he said. Dot Inman-Johnson, who is running for a seat on the City Commission, speaks during a press conference at the Florida Education building where she and other community members called upon Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz to reverse the decision made on the AP African studies Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. Inman-Johnson, the citys first Black woman to serve as a city commissioner, said she was honored to have Matlows support. Because the only way this community is going to get the kind of leadership it needs, that is not bowing down to development interests and corporate interests at the expense of all the other taxpayers who are not having their needs met, will be by changing the makeup of that City Commission, she said. Matlow says he was 'offended' by Dailey endorsement at ball; Dailey criticizes Matlow for missing city's 200th birthday party During Wednesdays City Commission meeting, Matlow criticized Dailey over his endorsement, though he didnt mention Ferguson by name. I was ... disappointed or offended to see political endorsements made at a city sponsored event, Matlow said. I find that to be inappropriate, and I trust in the future well make sure were not co-mingling events that bear the citys logo and the citys funding with direct political endorsements. Dailey later retorted that he was disappointed Matlow didnt participate in another event, the citys 200th birthday celebration Monday outside City Hall. He called the Bicentennial Ball a private event. Let me be very clear, whether my wife and I are throwing a party in our backyard or were throwing a private party in a ballroom here in Tallahassee, if you dont care for what I have to say, you do not have to come to a private event, Dailey said. Matlow on Thursday said he missed the Monday event because he and his wife were dealing with a sick child and Internet repairs. "While it's none of the mayor's business, my son had to go to the doctor for an illness, which happened to overlap with an Internet repair window at our house," Matlow said in a text. The black-tie ball, held Saturday at the FSU Student Union ballroom, attracted a crowd of 750 people, including an array of elected officials. Dailey and his wife, Virginia Dailey, hosted the ball to raise money for the nonprofit TEMPO Foundation, which supports the citys TEMPO program. TEMPO helps disconnected youth who are most vulnerable to becoming a victim or perpetrator of crime. Dailey told the Democrat on Wednesday that about 750 people attended the event. No city funds were used, Dailey said. It was a private event and privately fundraised. He added, however, that the city bought a number of tickets to the ball, though he couldnt immediately say how many. Tickets were purchased for the commissioners and their aides, he added. The city and county were each listed as "gold" sponsors, who received two tables and 16 seats for a $5,000 contribution. Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee elections: City Commissioners work to oust colleagues One of South Floridas most prominent philanthropic couples will receive a prestigious recognition for their service to the community. Philanthropists Trish and Dan Bell, whose gifts have spread millions among cultural arts and religious institutions, to Miamis underserved and to educational and medical organizations, will be the 2024 Sand in My Shoes Award honorees, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday. They will be honored at a ceremony at Jungle Island on Oct. 9. The Chambers Sand in My Shoes Award, first awarded to businessman Lester Freeman in 1981, is one of Miamis most distinguished accolades given to individuals who are deemed to have demonstrated exceptional public service in the metro Miami-Dade area. In a joint statement, Trish and Dan Bell said: We are honored to receive the Sand in My Shoes award and proud that the Miami business community embraces our efforts to make a meaningful impact on our community. We are truly grateful for this honor and motivated to continue serving and embracing the Greater Miami area for the betterment of its residents. We are proud to be part of that journey and excited to continue our work together. The Bells philanthropy Debbie Benitez, philanthropists Trish and Dan Bell with FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell, attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Trish and Dan Bell Chapel at Florida International University on its main campus near Sweetwater on April 19, 2023. Among the recipients of the Bells gifts since the couple moved to Miami in 1977 from Michigan where Dan Bell was an executive with Ford Motor Company are the United Methodist Church, Chapman Partnership, Branches, the Frost Museum of Science and Baptist and Jackson hospitals. The Bells, fellows of the FIU Foundation, also contributed $14 million toward the funding of a multi-faith, 17,000-square-foot Trish and Dan Bell Chapel that started construction in April 2023. The chapel will include seating for 250 people on the Modesto Maidique Campus of Florida International University near Sweetwater. The better you get to know people of different opinions, cultures and backgrounds, and understand them, the better you can live together and be more productive as a society, Trish Bell told the Herald last year when construction began. Of the Bells, 2021 Sand in My Shoes recipient, David Lawrence Jr., called the couple two of the finest people I know. Absolute great examples for all of us, and theyve been exactly that for many decades. The Bells, along with gifts from local Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups and individuals, also contributed to funding for a reporter to provide regular news coverage at the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald on religion and communities of faith in South Florida. Community impact Trish and Dan Bells dedication to philanthropy has had a profound impact on our community, inspiring others to give back, and making a lasting difference in the lives of those in need, said Alfred Sanchez, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. Their generosity and compassion serve as shining examples for us all, and we are thrilled to recognize their contributions with this prestigious award. In addition to Lawrence and Freeman, previous honorees include Alberto Ibarguen, Manuel Manny Medina, Penny Shaffer and Antonio Tony Argiz. Philanthropists Trish and Dan Bell will be honored with the 2024 Sand in My Shoes Award at a ceremony at Jungle Island on Oct. 9, 2024. SALISBURY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) More than two years following a deadly Salisbury shooting, authorities have made an arrest in the case. Dequan Quinshaun Hairston, 21, has been arrested and charged with murder, police said. The homicide occurred on March 3, 2022, along Freeland Drive in Salisbury. Authorities said Michael Dwayne Connor Jr. passed away from a gunshot wound. MORE FROM QUEEN CITY NEWS Crime & Public Safety Salisbury Police, the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation, the Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office, and the Kannapolis Police Department all worked together on this case. Hairston is being held in the Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office Detention Center without bond. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Homeland Security Investigations arrested 25 undocumented migrants and two alleged smugglers in a stash house on Monday, March 4 in El Pasos Lower Valley, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE). HSI El Paso and USBP arrest 25 undocumented noncitizens, 2 alleged smugglers; seize nearly $3,000. Photo: ICE ICE says Cesar Daniel Hernandez-Ortiz, 23, and Angel Gabriel Lopez-Alvarado, 18, were charged with human smuggling and are currently in federal custody. Both men and 25 undocumented noncitizens were discovered in a stash house on the 200 block of Sofia Place. Agents also seized $2,890 from the alleged smugglers. Miguel Paredes/KTSM 9 News ICE says 16 were from Mexico, four from Honduras, two from Guatemala, two from El Salvador, and one from Bolivia. ICE says Hernandez-Ortiz and Lopez-Alvarado are both Mexican nationals who were unlawfully present in the U.S. On Tuesday, March 5, a U.S. district judge ordered Hernandez-Ortiz and Lopez-Alvarado to be detained without bond. A detention and preliminary hearing is set for Friday, March 8 in federal court. U.S. Border Patrol agents collaborated with HSI special agents in this investigation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. This photo provided by Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Padang Pariaman on March 8, 2024 shows rescuers searching the bodies of victims after flood and landslides hit Padang Pariaman Regency in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Three people were found dead and 10 others went missing amid floods and landslides striking Indonesia's West Sumatra province, a senior official of the local disaster management agency said on Friday. (BPBD Padang Pariaman/Handout via Xinhua) JAKARTA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Three people were found dead and 10 others went missing amid floods and landslides striking Indonesia's West Sumatra province, a senior official of the local disaster management agency said on Friday. Head of the Emergency Unit of the Provincial Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency Fajar Sukma said that heavy downpours on Thursday triggered the floods and landslides in 10 regencies and towns of the province, causing bridges to collapse and sweeping away houses. The floods submerged roads, paralyzing transportation, and affected tens of thousands of houses, leading to evacuations, he said. "In Pesisir Selatan regency one person was dead and nine others went missing, and in Pariaman regency two people were killed and another was missing," he told Xinhua via phone. "The floods began yesterday (Thursday), but now the waters have started receding," Sukma added. Aid and emergency relief efforts were undertaken not only by the agency but also by other government departments, according to him. Food, blankets, medicine and other supplies have been flowing to the disaster-affected areas, he said. "We have also set up centers for logistics or distributing food and health centers to help the affected people," Sukma added. This photo provided by Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Padang Pariaman on March 8, 2024 shows rescuers transferring the body of a victim after flood and landslides hit Padang Pariaman Regency in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Three people were found dead and 10 others went missing amid floods and landslides striking Indonesia's West Sumatra province, a senior official of the local disaster management agency said on Friday. (BPBD Padang Pariaman/Handout via Xinhua) The full range of emotions involved with motherhood is on display in Mother's Day movies. From joy and love to frustration and confusion, ring in Mother's Day 2024 with a movie that shows it all. This year, the occasion falls on Sunday, May 12. Take a beat to curl up with a movie celebrating the complexities of motherhood, from "Bad Moms" to "Yes Day." TODAY.com picked this batch of 35 movies with every mother in mind: the empty nester, the stepmom, the overworked mom, the mom parenting rebellious teenagers and the fun mom who's taking a temporary break from her little lads for one night. 'The Sound Of Music' (1965) Set in Salzburg, Austria, in the 1930s, Maria moves in with the von Trapp family to care for seven children of a widowed naval officer, Captain von Trapp, as she considers whether to be a nun. This Julie Andrews-Christopher Plummer musical won five Oscars, including for best picture. 'Little Women' (2019) "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig helmed this adaptation of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel. The cast includes Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan and Meryl Streep. 'Julie & Julia' (2009) Based on two true stories, "Julie & Julia" shows what doors the power of cooking can open for two women making career pivots. Julie is looking for a more fulfilling job like her friends have, so she decides to blog her experience of cooking all of the recipes in Julia Child's cookbook for a year. Meanwhile, viewers see Child's ascension to becoming one of the most respected chefs in flashbacks of her in cooking school. Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci and Jane Lynch star. 'Cheaper By The Dozen' (2003) With 12 kids, there are a dozen different personalities for parents Tom and Kate to manage in the Baker house. Coupled with Tom getting a promotion and Kate going on a book tour, all of the Bakers' various priorities rise to Olympic levels of competition in this fun family comedy. Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt and Hilary Duff star. A new version of this classic was released in 2022 starring Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff. This is 40 (2012) As Debbie and Pete both turn 40, she's constantly reminded of how she's entering a new life stage, how much her kids have grown up and how much she and her husband should be living a life that's more than running damage control for their failing marriage and both of their businesses. Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann star in this comedy. 'Book Club: The Next Chapter' (2023) Empty nesters may see themselves in "Book Club: The Next Chapter." The film is a sequel to the 2018 movie and also stars Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen reprising their roles from the original, this time in Italy. "A Thousand And One" (2023) Mothers may not always get it right, but they at least try and that's certainly the case in the film "A Thousand And One," in which a mother is recently released from incarceration and resumes taking care of her son, who'd been in foster care. 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' (2022) Award-winning film "Everything Everywhere All At Once" shows an estranged mother and daughter slowly finding their way back to each other as they try to deal with dispiriting experiences. 'Lady Bird' (2017) Directed and written by Greta Gerwig, "Lady Bird" shows a widower tasked with finishing what she and her husband started, raising their teenage daughter, who repeatedly pulls away from her mother. The push and pull are the backdrop to the daughter's coming of age story and how the mother still supports her when ... well, life happens. 'Mom's Day Away' (2014) It's Mother's Day weekend in "Mom's Day Away" and no one remembered, except for the mother in the house, of course. Already overworked and underappreciated, Laura Miller, played by Bonnie Somerville, decides to pack up and leave for the weekend in a last-minute trip with her best friend. She has a great time, and suddenly her family is more grateful for her when she returns. '20th Century Women' (2017) It's 1979 in Santa Barbara, and Dorothea (Annette Bening) is a single mom who enlists the help of two younger women, played by Greta Gerwig and Elle Fanning, to give her son (Lucas Jade Zuman) an education in life. Director and screenwriter Mike Mills based the movie off of his own childhood and relationship with his mom. Prepare for one-liners that will stay with you: Having your heart broken is a tremendous way to learn about the world. 'Miss Virginia' (2019) Uzo Aduba plays real-life figure Virginia Walden Ford, an education activist who fought to create a federally funded scholarship program for low-income students. In the biopic, Ford is inspired to take on the fight for her own son, a 15-year-old on the verge of dropping out of school. 'Mothers Day' (2016) "Mother's Day" sees four mothers celebrate the day their own way. This movie is perfect for moms who have foregone traditional ways of celebrating Mothers Day and instead have made their own traditions with the simplest things. 'Yes Day' (2021) It's so easy to say "no" when kids, filled with energy, ask for yet another thing. Jennifer Garner plays a mom in "Yes Day" who is in that exact position. But she decides to just once only say "yes" to her three kids for 24 hours. After making that decision, she and her husband (Edgar Ramirez) set forth on a day they'll always remember. 'Tully' (2018) Not feeling bright and cheery? For a dark Mother's Day pick, look no further than the intense depiction of the postpartum experience seen in "Tully." Marlo (Charlize Theron), an already overworked mom, gives birth to her third child with a husband who remains clueless about the demands motherhood puts on her work and life. For some much-needed additional help, Marlo begrudgingly agrees to hire a nighttime nanny, Tully (Mackenzie Davis), and their close relationship causes Marlo to make some unexpected revelations about herself. 'Freaky Friday' (2003) In this remake of the 1976 film, Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis play a mother and daughter who simply cannot understand each other until a sci-fi twist allows them to. After an argument, they switch bodies and literally have to walk in each other's shoes. 'The Guilt Trip' (2012) Written by "This Is Is" creator Dan Fogelman, Barbara Streisand and Seth Rogen play a helicopter mom and a son who would like a bit more space. He gets the opposite when sitting next to his mom on a cross-country road trip to Las Vegas. Bonding, unsurprisingly, ensues. 'Miss Juneteenth' (2020) In this 2020 drama, a former beauty pageant winner and single mom prepares her rebellious daughter for her first pageant. "Miss Juneteenth" shows the joys and sorrows of Black motherhood and girlhood in a new and refreshing way. 'Brave' (2012) This Scotland-set animated film tells the story of Merida, a teenager content on defying a patriarchal tradition her village follows, and Queen Elinor, her mother who tries at all cost to prevent Merida from achieving her goal. Even though it's a kids movie, the mother and daughter's rocky relationship is likely to resonate with adults, too. 'Stepmom' (1998) Watch "Stepmom" with a box of tissues. After a divorced man (Ed Harrison) remarries a significantly younger woman (Julia Roberts), his ex-wife (Susan Sarandon) and kids adjust to the change. But there's something about the situation none of them know. 'Mothers and Daughters' (2016) Peer into multiple mother-daughter relationships with this 2016 drama, about a pregnant photographer capturing different scenes of motherhood while working through her own relationship with her mom. The movie's many layers are portrayed by Selma Blair, Sharon Stone, Susan Sarandon and more. 'Otherhood' (2019) "Otherhood" was written with empty nesters in mind. Angela Bassett, Felicity Huffman and Patricia Arquette play women whose adult children are too busy living their lives to call, visit or plan gifts for special occasions. In response, they fly across the country to make their sons who are best friends spend time with them. But the mothers end up enjoying a vacation of their own. 'Dumplin'' (2018) Pageant stereotypes are challenged in "Dumplin'" when Willowdean (Danielle Macdonald), a plus-sized teenager, enters the pageant her former beauty queen mom (Jennifer Aniston) is spearheading in protest of the unrealistic standards pageants set. Others follow suit and together they revolutionize what pageantry means in their small town. 'The Joy Luck Club' (1993) "The Joy Luck Club" is an exercise in empathy, as four Chinese American women learn about their mothers, born in China, by learning about their pasts. The movie may prompt you to have your own conversations. 'Real Women Have Curves' (2002) Starring America Ferrera in her feature film debut, "Real Women Have Curves" is the story of Ana, a young Mexican American woman who's up against the family norms that say she can't go to college like she wants to. As a summer job, she ends up working with her mother (Lupe Ontiveros), where they clash over Ana's future and her present. 'Bird Box' (2018) This horror movie shows the lengths a guardian is willing to go to protect those she must. The Netflix hit is set in a world invaded by mysterious creatures that kill people on sight. In search of better circumstances, a mother (Sandra Bullock) and her children blindfold themselves to avoid seeing the deadly forces and make the long, difficult journey through woods to a promised sanctuary. 'Because I Said So' (2007) Daphne Wilder (Diane Keaton) is tired of her youngest daughter's (Mandy Moore) poor dating decisions so she decides to pick someone for her. 'Serial Mom' (1994) This black comedy, written and directed by John Waters, puts a twist on suburban life. When the movie starts, Beverly Sutphin (Kathleen Turner) is a married homemaker with two teenage boys. Her life is as normal as can be until she runs a teacher over with her car for speaking poorly about one of her sons. The jolt of adrenaline awakens something in her, and she begins to seek out more violent acts. 'Stella Dallas' (1937) And now, for a classic. Premiering in 1937, "Stella Dallas" explores topics that remain relevant: divorce and single motherhood. Barbara Stanwyck's character, Stella Dallas, is a working-class woman who marries a wealthy socialite. But after having a child, the couple's value differences become too big to ignore. Following her divorce, Stella's daughter becomes the center of her life and the focus of her decisions. 'Baby Boom' (1987) One day, J.C. Wiatt (Diane Keaton) is a high-profile executive. The next day, she's saddled with the child of a relative following an accident. The baby's arrival upends her life and her expectations, causing her to lose her job and her boyfriend. She decides to start over in a ramshackle house in Vermont. 'Terms of Endearment' (1983) "Terms of Endearment" characterizes the mother-daughter relationship as a long-term relationship. Playing a mother and daughter, Deborah Winger and Shirley MacLaine deal with divorces, cancer diagnoses, and everything else life throws at them. This makes for a good double feature with "Postcards From the Edge," as MacLaine plays the mom in both. 'Bad Moms' (2016) Starring Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Bell, "Bad Moms" is an ode to moms not being perfect but doing the very best they can. So instead of striving to be "good moms," they settle for being "bad moms," and decide to commit to the part. 'Postcards From The Edge' (1990) Starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine, "Postcards from the Edge" is adapted from Carrie Fisher's autobiographical novel of the same name. In the film, Streep plays an actress who moves in with her mom after getting back from rehab. It's a journey through the complexities of addiction and mother-daughter relationships. 'Troop Beverly Hills' (1989) In this classic comedy, a pampered housewife (Shelley Long) becomes a Wilderness Girls troop leader to boost her confidence amid a rocky marriage that's falling apart. Phyllis' bougie mothering style helps her bond with the girls in the troop. Their bond is tested when the group is at risk of being disbanded. 'Fun Mom Dinner' (2017) Four moms bond in their kids' preschool class. During a night out, though, things quickly go from PG to R-rated. The women played by Katie Aselton, Toni Collette, Bridget Everett and Molly Shannon have way more in common than motherhood. This article was originally published on TODAY.com A Mississippi Coast man whose motorcycle collided with an SUV on Thursday afternoon in Biloxi died at a hospital that evening, Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer said. Jeffrey Taylor Jr., 25, of Biloxi died just before 5 p.m. at a local hospital, Switzer said. The cause of death was blunt force trauma, Switzer said. Authorities responded after 3 p.m. Thursday to Pass Road and Big Lake Road for a crash involving the motorcycle and a Toyota SUV, Biloxi Police said in a news release. One person had significant injuries, the release said. Police said the second driver involved was unharmed. Authorities rushed Taylor to the hospital, the release said. Police closed one westbound lane of Pass Road on Thursday. It is unclear if police will charge the SUV driver. Biloxi Police said Thursday that Biloxi Motor Officers were investigating the crash and would provide an update once additional details become available. Consequences of the shelling of Chuhuiv on the night of March 8 Seven civilians were injured in a Russian missile strike on Chuhuiv overnight on March 8, Kharkiv Regional Military Administration head, Oleh Synehubov, reported on Telegram. Four men, a 41-year-old woman, a 16-year-old boy, and a 3-year-old girl were injured when Russia used S-300 missiles to strike the city. The strike damaged the main water pipeline that supplies water to the entire city. Read also: Russians dropped guided bomb on private sector of Toretsk, at least three people are wounded /Telegram /Telegram The shelling shattered the windows of a nine-story building and damaged the facade of a shopping mall, bank, shops, and a hotel. The citys main water pipeline, supplying water to the entire city, suffered a direct hit, Chuhuiv Mayor Halyna Minaieva wrote on Facebook. City authorities and municipal services are working urgently to minimize the impact of this enemy strike. Read also: Explosion hits Sumy during air raid alert; Russian army launches reported air missile strike /Facebook It was earlier reported that two people were injured in the strike. Read also: Russian strike on Odesa proves Putin is ready to escalate Borrell 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 Zoo Atlanta is mourning the loss of one of their red pandas, Ruby. Officials say Ruby was found dead in her habitat on Friday. She was three years old. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] While her cause of death is not yet official, preliminary findings from a necropsy point to a mesenteric torsion, which occurs when the intestines twist. This is a devastating loss for Zoo Atlanta. Our thoughts are with Rubys care team who, like all of the Animal Care Teams at Zoo Atlanta, are deeply committed to the animals and devote each day to their superior care and well-being, said Sam Rivera, DVM, Vice President of Animal Health. While it is too early for us to presume on any specific cause, we are hopeful that pathology report results will tell us more about Rubys condition. TRENDING STORIES: Ruby and her sister, Rose, arrived to Zoo Atlanta in February 2023 from Zoo Knoxville in Tennessee. Ruby and Rose are part of the Himalayan subspecies, which is native to Nepal, Bhutan and parts of India. The World Wildlife Fund lists red pandas as an endangered species. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Three Grenadian prisoners have been charged with murder in the presumed deaths of an American couple who authorities said went missing after their catamaran was hijacked in the Caribbean following a jailbreak. Ron Mitchell, 30, Atiba Stanisclaus, 25, and Trevon Robertson, 23, face two counts of capital murder in Grenada over the deaths of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel, the Royal Grenada Police Force announced Thursday. The couple were presumed to have been thrown overboard after the three men took over the moored boat on Feb. 19, one day after the jailbreak. The men were recaptured after sailing the catamaran to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, police have said. Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel's catamaran is seen docked in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Feb. 23. via Associated Press The men face additional charges of escaping lawful custody, housebreaking and robbery, as well as two counts of kidnapping. Stanisclaus was also charged with one count of rape. Authorities did not offer more detail on those charges, including when and where the alleged incidents occurred or the person Stanisclaus is accused of raping. Police did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment Friday. While little is known about what happened to the couple, authorities have said that the two are presumed dead after their boat was found with apparent signs of violence. Several items were strewn on the deck and in the cabin, and a red substance that resembled blood was seen on board, St. Vincent and the Grenadines police Superintendent Junior Simmons said last week. There was no discovery of bodies on board the yacht. The three prisoners made their first court appearance in the case Thursday and are due back in court March 27. The men had been in custody over charges of robbery with violence when they made their escape from a police holding cell in February. Mitchell was also facing a count of rape, three counts of attempted rape, and two counts of indecent assault and causing harm, police have said. Related... Anna Apostol says theres only one thing she doesnt love about being a co-founder of the Kyiv-based online programming school Mate Academy: that people sometimes think her husband and co-founder, Roman Apostol, is the one who did everything and hired me because Im his wife. I dont care, actually. For me, the main thing is what people inside the company think of me, Apostal told the Kyiv Independent. Given the paucity of women in high-level tech positions both in Ukraine and globally, the confusion about Apostol isnt very surprising. The bright side is that for more than a decade, the number of women in the tech industry in Ukraine has been steadily rising. In 2011, women made up 7% of employees in tech companies. As of August 2023, 33% of the countrys 307,000 tech workers are women, according to the Lviv IT Cluster, a tech association. Nonetheless, women currently hold less than a third of C-level positions in IT companies. Creating more pathways for women within organizations to move up the ladder is necessary to encourage more women to enter the industry at lower levels, said Nataliya Mykolska, executive director at Diya.City United, another tech association. Fewer opportunities to climb the career ladder can also mean fewer opportunities for higher compensation. The gender pay gap in Ukraine is currently at 18.6%, according to the Economy Ministry. Founders of Mate Academy (L-R): Max, Anna, Roman. (Mate Academy's press service) The full-scale invasion may also be a catalyst for change. While Apostol says that there are no noticeably sweeping trends at the moment, the difficulties of war have made women she knows more decisive and independent. That, and fears men could be mobilized means companies are more likely than ever to hire women first. (The war) will definitely be an opportunity for more women to step in. It's really sad that opportunity presents itself under these circumstances, but it's typical of war, Yelyzaveta Cherednychenko, acting CEO at digital media company Tonti Laguna Group, said. Ukraine is facing a labor shortage. To grow and have more opportunities, companies have to attract more women, Mykolska said. Equality in this industry wont happen overnight. But there are already women in Ukraines tech industry who serve as real-life examples for would-be female tech professionals. Among them are Apostol, Cherednychenko, and Eugenia Zhovnach, administrative director at Zagraya Games. The three women youll read about here have also stayed in Ukraine despite opportunities abroad and the war, and are invested in the countrys economic growth. While they all feel that their country is moving in the right direction in terms of gender equality, they have no illusions about the work still left ahead. Anna Apostol co-founder of Mate Academy Anna Apostols first client for what would become Mate Academy was quite literally a mate. He was a friend of a friend who didnt have a job at the time it was 2014, Russia had just invaded Ukraine for the first time, and the countrys currency and economy had taken a hit. Apostol had just moved to the U.S. where her husband had gotten a job at Google and was thinking about how she could make tech education more affordable for Ukrainians and create career paths for people who didnt have formal degrees in computer science. She had gone through a two-month online Quality Assurance (QA) course in a company where she was hired immediately after. She started to teach her friend QA, which she says she wasnt good at. Her idea was that shed share her knowledge with him and help him look for a job. They agreed hed pay her back once he did. The two met every day over Skype. After 30 job interviews, moving back in with his parents, and holding a night job as a car washer, her friend finally found a job in IT. I was happy. I learned the market, and I realized that this model works. Anna Apostol (Mate Academy's press service) And thus Mate Academy was born. Apostol and her husband and co-founder, Roman Apostol, moved back to Kyiv full-time in 2017. It wasnt an easy decision. I already had my green card, Google had gotten everything ready, and my husband had a good salary. But they had told each other that after successfully finding jobs for 100 students, they would move back to Kyiv to grow the company. The business was offline at first, but they quickly realized that if they wanted to scale and raise money, theyd have to move to an online model. Apostol says that they had no examples of what scaling would even look like. It was scary, we failed at first because our platform wasnt ready at all. Founders of Mate Academy (L-R): Max, Roman, Anna. (Mate Academy's press service) That was in 2018. Since then, the companys classes have been fully online. Students go through a five-month course, only paying once they find employment. Mate Academy says it has a 90% placement rate among alumni. Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, the company has grown two-fold to the current size of more than 140 employees. Most of that growth comes from opening a location in Poland that offers classes in Polish for the local market and ensures another source of revenue in an uncertain wartime environment. As of August 2023, Mate also has a Brazil location. The company has a lot of female employees, a reflection of its management but also its location, Kyiv. Women make up 54% of all employees, and women hold 52% of 34 leadership positions at Mate Academy in Ukraine. Between 30-40 of Mates developers are women, higher than in many companies, and 90% of their designers are women, which isnt unusual. Still, Apostol says, even though Mate Academy employs lots of women, in her experience women ask for lower salaries than men do and are at times less confident in their performance reviews. Some societal changes have to happen in Ukraine to make it more comfortable for women to feel more confident in themselves. But I think it's happening. Yelyzaveta Cherednychenko acting CEO at Tonti Laguna Group In late 2022, the management team at the Tonti Laguna Group, an Odesa-born digital media company, was looking for a new CEO. After interviewing several different qualified candidates, they were struggling to find a perfect match. The group has around 85 employees split across five very different companies. The challenge was in finding someone who could manage all of them at once. Thats when the groups founder Oleksiy Borsch and parent company Netpeak founder Artem Borodatiuk turned inward to their COO Yelyzaveta Cherednychenko, realizing she was the only one for the job. After all, Cherednychenko had spent seven years with the company, first as a part-time copywriter before leaving her doctoral studies in fermentation and winemaking to build a content department from scratch in 2018. She also wore the hat of SEO project manager at the company at one point. She was made COO in early 2022 just before the start of the full-scale invasion. At the end of 2023, she was offered the position of acting CEO. About her new role, Cherednychenko says, Its exciting to have the opportunity to be part of decision-making, but Im still adjusting I also have very, very strong imposter syndrome. So I'm battling that as well. Yelyzaveta Cherednychenko (Tonti Lagunas press service) As both COO and acting CEO, Cherednychenko was part of transforming Tonti Laguna formally into a group of companies in 2022. Part of her work has been building the workflow for opening up new companies. Further down the road, Tonti Laguna wants to open at least one new business per year. I'm really proud of the process that we built, she told the Kyiv Independent, adding that the teams hope this year is to slow down a little bit and take stock of everything currently going on before expanding further. Since Tonti Lagunas products are mainly B2C and target the U.S. and U.K., it was less affected by Russias full-scale invasion than other companies, Cherednychenko said. It was even able to take on employees who were temporarily let go from other companies struggling during the war. One of them stayed within Tonti and I'm really happy about that. He started as a specialist and now he's a team leader. He developed his career further at our company. Netpeak, Tonti Lagunas parent company, stands out among tech companies around 52% of its more than 1,000 employees are women. Cherednychenko is so used to it, that shes surprised every time someone asks her why that is. It all comes from our leadership. Our values are really focused on soft skills, Cherednychenko said, adding that the portrait of skills the company looks for in candidates means that gender doesnt matter that much. But we all have our biases, of course, she said. Working meeting at Tonti Lagunas office. (Tonti Lagunas press service) Overall, Ukrainian society has a long way to go to create diverse and inclusive workspaces Cherednychenko said. She was a part of the search for a new CEO before being offered the position herself and remembers how few women applied. Its critical to keep encouraging women and supporting programs that do more to balance the scales in society, she said. At Netpeak we have this mission to go from the third world to the first. With that comes human rights. Eugenia Zhovnach administrative director Zagrava Games Eugenia Zhovnach, administrative director at Rivne-based mobile game developer Zagrava, says that she is a little surprised shes a woman in tech given her accountant background. Her career in the IT industry started 14 years ago, randomly, when an old friend of hers asked if she knew any good accountants for a job with an American company that had an office in Rivne. Zhovnach wasnt very satisfied with her job at the time and proposed she take up the offer herself. After the original company closed a couple of years after Zhovnach joined, the core team decided to stay together and start Zagrava Games. Four years ago, the Dublin-based mobile games developer Playrix made the company an offer to merge. The two companies combined have over 200 employees. Zhovnach went from accountant to founder, to her current position as administrative director. She and the companys CEO Oleksiy Mykhasyuk split the management responsibilities Mykhasyuk is on the product side, while Zhovnach oversees administration. She says that the team at Zagrava has built a socially responsible business, one that reflects on the ways it can have a positive influence on the development of the region and local community. This may be one of the reasons the companys employees asked to open the office back up just a few days after the start of the full-scale invasion saying they felt safer and cared for there. Entire families with their children were coming to the office in those days It was really a time of support for one another, she said. Ninety percent of the companys employees who fled after the start of the war have returned, including Zhovnach and her son, who she felt should be with his father. I also felt responsible for my colleagues. I didnt want to appear like a manager betraying her team, sitting in a warm, safe place, while they are here struggling every day with the challenges of the war. Eugenia Zhovnach (Zagrava Games press service) While she lauds the qualities that she says make Ukrainian IT workers unique, such as their ability to go above and beyond and to think outside the box, she laments the fact that men are still very much the drivers of business in Ukraine and that there are so few women in tech. In 14 years, weve only had one female programmer, she said, adding that while the team is split 48% women to 52% men, there are no women in purely technical positions currently. The war could change things, she thinks. As men cannot travel abroad to meet with potential investors or partners, that job is now being passed on to women. But for Zhovnach, the biggest sore spot working in IT is the lack of Ukrainian-made tech products. Even if a product is fully developed in Ukraine, the company belongs to other jurisdictions out of the country, a sign that theres a lack of trust in starting companies here. In the meantime, Ukrainian women who are trying to balance work and family also have it particularly rough. Sometimes it's very hard because you give yourself completely to your work and then every day you go home and have to do housework and take care of your children instead of resting. But this is the superpower of our strong women. Read also: She needs armor. Female Ukrainian soldiers call for equality Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. TechCrunch The Supreme Court is considering the fate of two state laws that limit how social media companies can moderate the content on their platforms. In oral arguments on Monday, the justices grappled with a thorny set of questions that could reshape the internet, from social networks like Facebook and TikTok to apps like Yelp and Etsy. In October, the Supreme Court decided to hear the two parallel cases, one in Florida (Moody v. NetChoice, LLC) and one in Texas (NetChoice, LLC v. Paxton). The state of California is looking for workers for multiple high-paying positions from correctional health care to legal work at the California Department of Justice and other agencies. State jobs are known for offering competitive benefits and enrollment in the nations largest public pension plan. Many of the following jobs have specific requirements, which are linked. Sift through some of the states highest paid positions available on the CalCareers website, posted between Feb. 29 and March 7: Chief psychiatrist | Permanent, full-time (hybrid) Location: Madera County Department : California Correctional Health Care Services Salary: $26,961 to $33,417 per month The chief psychiatrist oversees treatment services for inmates at the Central California Womens Facility in Madera County. A hybrid work schedule is available, Calcareers stated. The application period closes on April 2. $25,000 a month in Sacramento County? These 5 new California state jobs pay the most Principal engineer water resources | Permanent, full-time Location: Sacramento County Department: California Department of Water Resources Salary: $14,527 to $16,501 per month The principal engineer oversees the departments structural engineering branch including its program, projects and employees. A hybrid work schedule is available, Calcareers states. The application period closes on March 18. Pharmacist | Permanent, full-time Location: Riverside County Department : Correctional Health Care Services Salary: $14,263 to $15,428 per month The pharmacist oversees pharmaceutical work and services at Ironwood State Prison in Riverside County. The application period closes on March 15. Special agent in charge | Permanent, full-time Location: Riverside County Department : California Department of Justice Salary: $11,947 to $14,902 per month The special agent in charge oversees operations at the state Justice Departments Bureau of Firearms offices in Riverside, Los Angeles and San Diego. The application period closes on March 20. Similar positions are open in Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Attorney | Permanent, full-time Location: Yolo County Department : California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Salary: $11,644 to $14,954 per month The attorney is the departments point person on sensitive and complex legal matters. The application period closes on March 19. A similar position is open in Los Angeles. There are also countrywide telework options. Want to stand out when applying for California state jobs? Your guide to these departments What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) A Falkville man was arrested and charged with murder after authorities say he provided another man that was found on the side of the road with a deadly dose of fentanyl. Talmadge Anthony Townson II, 39. of Falkville, was charged with felony murder and distribution of a controlled substance in connection to the death of 43-year-old Gregory Parks of Montgomery. Madison County Sheriffs Office: One charged with murder after body found in Harvest The Limestone County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) said on March 7 around midnight, deputies and officers with Athens Police responded to Athens-Limestone Hospital where an unknown dead man, later identified as Parks was delivered. The person who transported him to the hospital had none of his identifying info and advised hospital staff that they found him on the side of the road, according to LCSO. Investigators identified a suspect vehicle and later located the vehicle at a known drug house on Huntsville Brownsferry Road. At the house, LCSO said they detained ten individuals, and Townson was identified as a person of interest for Parkss death. Man convicted for capital murder of Jemison star athlete in 2021 Investigators discovered Townson had given Parks a deadly does of fentanyl and had taken action to cover up the crime. Upon the victim overdosing and becoming comatose, Townson used a knife to cut the pockets of the victim open to take his property. Investigators searched Townsons vehicle and found the victims wallet and other property, LCSO said. Townson is being held without bond in the Limestone County Jail without bond pending an Aniahs Law hearing. More charges may be filed, LCSO added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Argenis Ibarra, the 24-year-old brother of Laken Riley murder suspect Jose Antonio Ibarra, is in federal custody, according to new information shared with Channel 2 Action News. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman confirmed that ICE had taken Argenis Ibarra into custody the same weekend that Jose and Diego Ibarra were arrested in Athens. ICE has confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that Argenis Ibarra is in custody at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Ga. According to ICE, Argenis Ibarra entered the United States for the first time on April 3, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas. ICE said he had entered the country unlawfully and was returned to Mexico by U.S. Border patrol the same day, per the requirements of Title 42 expulsion procedures. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] RELATED STORIES: A few weeks later, Argenis Ibarra again unlawfully entered the United States, this time near El Paso, Texas, according to ICE. He was released from USBP custody after his April 30, 2023 detention with a notice to appear in court on May 4, 2023. The Executive Office for Immigration Review scheduled Argenis Ibarras immigration hearing in Philadelphia, Penn., for some time in 2024. On Feb. 23, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Atlanta encountered Argenis Ibarra in Athens, Ga. while assisting the University of Georgia Police Department in their investigation of Rileys murder. ICE took Argenis Ibarra into custody the same day, pending further investigation of his immigration case, according to officials. In the wake of Rileys murder, the Clarke County Sheriffs Office said they were going to strengthen their detainee policies. Channel 2 Action News is working to learn where Argenis Ibarra is in custody and has reached out to ICE for more information. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: NKHOTAKOTA, Malawi, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday visited the lakeshore district of Nkhotakota where flash floods triggered by heavy rains left seven people dead and 14,800 more affected, including 10,000 residents completely displaced, according to authorities. The president assured the affected people, some of whom are being sheltered in camps, that his government, together with development partners and non-governmental organizations will provide all the necessary humanitarian support to them during such hard times, said the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) in a report released Thursday. The dead were five adults and two children under the age of five, said the report. A total of 12 camps have been established to accommodate displaced people, including more than 1,600 children under the age of five, 287 pregnant women, and 82 elderly persons. The search and rescue team led by the Malawian Defense Force continues to undertake operations, including ferrying humanitarian workers and relief items by boat to and from areas inaccessible by roads. Accessibility to affected areas remains a challenge hindering the delivery of essential services, as the main road has been cut off on five points, according to the DoDMA. The non-governmental organizations that are providing humanitarian support to the flood victims include the Malawi Red Cross Society, the United Nations Children's Fund Malawi, the World Health Organization, and Feed the Children, according to the DoDMA. When a burglary crew cased a wealthy Pacific Palisades enclave off Sunset Boulevard last week, LAPD detectives were watching covertly. They weren't going to let this crew get far. But the three men and teenage boy had already traveled quite far. They were in the U.S. as tourists from Chile. Three of the "burglary tourists" were apprehended without incident. But the 17-year-old took off running, tossing his cellphone and even changing his clothing during a foot pursuit that had him dodging midafternoon traffic. The trend of Chilean crime groups visiting Southern California for thefts and robberies emerged about five years ago. The thieves, authorities say, arrive on easily obtainable tourism visas. Police have dubbed the phenomenon "burglary tourism," and it has spurred political outrage and questions over visa tourism from the South American nation. Although it's not uncommon for burglars to prey on tony pockets of Los Angeles, investigators say Chilean crews are behind hundreds of break-ins in Orange, Ventura and San Diego counties. Read more: Beverly Hills school district expels 8th graders involved in fake nude scandal The three men and teenager arrested Feb. 29 are suspected of carrying out a rash of burglaries of homes across East Hollywood earlier in the month. Inside the suspects' vehicle, L.A. Police Department investigators said, they found various burglary tools and evidence tying the four to the burglaries on Feb. 17. On Feb. 29, LAPD Officer Ismael Peinado tracked the suspects across Los Angeles, from the San Fernando Valley to West Los Angeles. In the area of Castellammare Drive and Sunset Boulevard, officers pounced. That's when investigators discovered the Chilean connection. Patricio Lian, 20; Carlos Antonio Gonzalez-Ravest, 20; Joaquin Elias Munoz, 19; and a 17-year-old juvenile arrived from Chile on tourist visas in the last few years, police said. The teenager's parents, according to investigators, left him in the U.S. with an unidentified friend. Lian is being held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center after the Los Angeles County district attorney filed a felony burglary and felony parole violation. He was described as unhoused and living in various L.A. hotels after allegedly overstaying his tourist visa from Chile by two years, according to authorities. Gonzalez-Ravest was arrested on suspicion of burglary, and on outstanding felony warrants burglary and grand theft. Prosecutors declined to file the charge of conspiracy to commit burglary, but he is being held on two felony warrants. Like Lian, he has been living in L.A.-area hotels after overstaying his tourism visa, according to authorities. Read more: LAPD warns homeowners about a simple trick burglars use to disable home security systems Elias Munoz, also on a tourist visa, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and posted $50,000 bail. The teenager told investigators he arrived four months ago on a tourist visa. He was booked on conspiracy to commit burglary and turned over to the Department of Children and Family Services pending a filing decision by the district attorney. But while in the care of family services, the teenager said he was going for a walk and never returned. He was reported missing in Lakewood and his whereabouts remain unknown, according to investigators. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A group of 41 state attorneys general are demanding that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, provide support for users because there has been a dramatic increase in accounts on its platforms being locked and taken over. The letter, addressed to Metas chief legal officer, Jennifer Newstead, requested immediate action to address the increase in users who are experiencing takeovers and lockouts on Facebook and Instagram. The group said its offices have experienced a spike in complaints concerning takeovers in recent years that is alarming for our constituents but also a substantial drain on our office resources. Account takeovers are not a new phenomenon. This issue affects all social media platforms and other online accounts as well, it acknowledged. However, the frequency and persistence of account takeovers on Meta-owned platforms puts it in a league of its own. In the event of an account takeover, threat actors will compromise a users account and change the passwords so the owner cant access it. Once the account has been breached, personal information and private messages can be accessed, and the actors can post publicly and scam the users contacts, the letter said. Customers are reporting their utter panic when they first realize they have been effectively locked out of their accounts. Users spend years building their personal and professional lives on your platforms, posting intimate thoughts, and sharing personal details, locations, and photos of family and friends, the attorneys general wrote. To have it taken away from them through no fault of their own can be traumatizing. The group argued there is an alarming and significant risk of financial harm for the account owner and other users on the platform because many people use Facebook as a business hub or use Facebook Marketplace for transactions. Constituents have complained that the threat actors have charged thousands of dollars to credit cards that are stored within the platform, according to the letter. The attorneys general added that they have received reports that actors buy advertisements on Metas platforms that violate terms and lead to the accounts being banned. The letter noted that the New York Attorney Generals office received 73 complaints on the issue in 2019, which rose more than tenfold to 783 complaints by the end of 2023. Such statistics are extremely troubling. The substantial increase in complaints tells us that threat actors are winning the war and running rampant on Meta, the group wrote. They requested that the company increase its investment in account takeover mitigation tactics and respond to affected users. The Hill has reached out to Meta for comment on the letter. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Five Quad City residents face felony charges after Davenport Police stopped a stolen truck Wednesday in the parking lot of NorthPark Mall, 320 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, according to court records. About 3:35 p.m. Wednesday, members of the Tactical Operations Bureau were conducting surveillance on a stolen tan Chevrolet Silverado and conducted a vehicle block on it. Zachary Aldeman, 42, of Davenport, faces felony charges of first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree theft, along with an aggravated-misdemeanor charge of driving while barred, court records show. Davenport Police conducted a vehicle block in the mall parking lot. Aldeman was seen driving the truck, police allege in affidavits. Zachary Aldeman (Scott County Jail) Eric Bearbower, 44, of Davenport, faces a felony charge of second-degree theft, court records show. He was in the truck, police allege. Eric Bearbower (Scott County Jail) Tabitha McKinley, 37, of Davenport, faces a felony charge of second-degree theft, court records show. She was in the truck, police allege. Tabitha McKinley (Scott County Jail) Trevor Schaffter, 33, of Davenport, faces a felony charge of second-degree theft and a serious misdemeanor charge of interference with official acts bodily injury, court records show. Schaffter ran from the truck and toward the mall past marked squads, and didnt obey officers commands to stop, police allege in affidavits. Detectives and patrol officers tried to take Schaffter into custody and he resisted, according to affidavits. Once on the ground, Schaffter tucked his arms into his chest, making it so Detectives and Officers could not grab them, police allege in affidavits. Schaffter was handcuffed shortly afterward. Trevor Schaffter (Scott County Jail) While taking the defendant into custody, a detective suffered minor injuries to their left hand and both of their legs, affidavits said. Jack Sodeman-Dickey, 25, of Moline, faces a charge of second-degree theft, court records show. Police allege he was a passenger in the truck. Jack Sodeman-Dickey (Scott County Jail) The vehicle was occupied 5 times, police say in affidavits. A check through NCIC (National Crime Information Center) confirmed the vehicle was reported stolen, according to affidavits. All five suspects are set for preliminary hearings on March 15 in Scott County Court. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. US President Joe Biden, during a State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, March 7, 2024. BREAKING DOWN SOTU 5 key highlights from President Biden's SOTU speech. 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Continue reading Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Fox News First Fox News Opinion Fox News Lifestyle Fox News Entertainment (FOX411) Fox News Fox Business Fox Weather Fox Sports Tubi Fox News Go Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! Have a great weekend, stay safe and well see you in your inbox first thing Monday. Original article source: 5 key highlights of SOTU address, Trump's feisty reaction to Biden's speech and more top headlines President Biden delivered a fiery State of the Union address to a bitterly divided Congress and nation Thursday night, one that many viewed as unusually political as the president prepares to take on former President Trump in the general election. The hour-plus speech touched on a host of issues dominating the 2024 cycle such as immigration and abortion and featured some heckling from conservatives and progressives alike, including a spontaneous exchange between the president and one of his foremost GOP critics. Facial expressions from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also drew headlines, as the Louisiana Republican became the third Speaker to sit behind Biden as he delivered a State of the Union address. Here are five memorable moments from the presidents address. Biden, Greene get into unusual back-and-forth Among the most buzzworthy moments of the address was an unusual back-and-forth between the president and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) one of his fiercest critics on Capitol Hill about Laken Riley, the Georgia college student who, according to police, was killed by a man who had crossed the border illegally. Greene handed Biden a pin when he entered the chamber for his speech that read say her name Laken Riley. Greene had distributed the pins to lawmakers ahead of Thursday nights address. Then, while Biden was discussing the situation at the southern border during his speech, Greene yelled out, Its about Laken Riley, and other Republicans shouted, Say her name. Biden held up the pin Greene gave him and responded to the congresswoman from the dais. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, he said. To her parents I say my heart goes out to you having lost children myself. I understand. The exchange drew some criticism from Democrats. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told reporters after the speech that I wish he hadnt engaged with Marjorie Taylor Greene and used the word illegal. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), meanwhile, when asked about the exchange, said Republicans became very emotional during the address because it was an overly partisan speech. Johnson on Wednesday had urged his members to maintain decorum during Bidens remarks. People got very emotional tonight because it was an overly partisan speech and it was filled, full of information that is just objectively not true. And so you saw the visceral reaction, I think, from people in the chamber and I suspect that a lot of people at home were feeling that same frustration, he said. Progressives hold up signs saying stop sending bombs Several progressive lawmakers criticized the Biden administrations approach to Israel, holding up signs reading stop sending bombs as Biden discussed the conflict with Hamas. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the only Palestinian member of Congress, as well as Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) were seen holding the paddle signs. The quiet protest nods to the division Biden is facing within his own party, with many frustrated by his military support for Israel amid mounting deaths of Palestinian civilians. Biden spoke at length about the war during his address, saying both that Israel has a right to go after Hamas and noting that many of the 30,000 Palestinian casualties have no ties to the terror group. The Biden administration said Thursday it would launch a temporary pier intended to help direct aid to Gaza. Biden also offered some of his most pointed comments about Israels need to protect civilians. To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority, he said. Trump infiltrates House chamber Former President Trump may not have been in the Capitol for Thursday nights speech, but his presence was felt throughout the House chamber. Greene, a close ally of the ex-president, wore a bright red MAGA hat during Bidens remarks. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas), meanwhile, donned a shirt that featured Trumps mug shot with the words never surrender! in addition to a patriotic bow tie. The Texas Republican stood in the back of the chamber with his blazer wide open, displaying the Trump shirt. But it was not just the attire that screamed Trump. Bidens speech which Republicans criticized as being unusually political for a State of the Union address did not mention Trump but referred to my predecessor 13 times, according to prepared remarks provided by the White House. Biden slammed Trump for his comments about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, blamed the former president for tanking the bipartisan immigration bill crafted by a group of senators, and condemned his efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade by stacking the Supreme Court with conservative justices. The lines drew applause from Democrats but got an expectedly icy reception from Republicans. The speech was angry, it was divisive, it was out of touch with reality, Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) said, criticizing portions that called on Republicans to support a bipartisan immigration package drafted in the Senate. I think that he was insinuating that we are the ones that are causing [the border] to not be secure. And so its just, wheres the inspiration for our country? Wheres the leader that is not so angry, yelling at us. I honestly felt like it was just an angry speech, he added. Johnson shakes head throughout remarks Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) facial reactions to Bidens speech drew attention of their own, with the nods and even occasional eye rolls a running feature behind the president. Ahead of the address, Johnsons first as Speaker, he encouraged his party to carry themselves with decorum during the speech. But the mild-mannered Speakers disagreement with the speech came through all the same, including shaking his head no and offering a slight eye roll when Biden criticized Trump for fail[ing] the most basic duty to care for the American people during the COVID-19 pandemic. People are saying that I made funny facial expressions. I tried to keep a poker face, but it was very difficult. I disagreed so vehemently with so much of what he said, and I think the people back home did as well, Johnson told reporters after the speech. Theres a lot of memes, I guess, going around tonight about my facial expressions. I did not like the speech, I dont think the American people liked it, and there wasnt much I could do about that. I guess I didnt hide that very well, he told Fox Newss Sean Hannity. Johnson rolled his eyes and shook his head when Biden discussed his administrations policy on the federal deficit. Johnson also shook his head a couple of times when Biden criticized the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that Trump signed into law in 2017. It continued when Biden slammed Trump for the increase in the national debt during his presidency. And Johnson sneered and shook his head no when Biden accused Republicans of wanting to put Social Security on the chopping block and granting tax cuts for wealthy individuals. Lankford nods yes as Biden praises stalled immigration package Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) gave a solemn nod and mouthed its true when Biden ran down a list of immigration priorities that would have been addressed by a bipartisan package negotiated by the Oklahoma Republican. As soon as Biden mentioned the stalled reform bill, cameras immediately panned to Lankford, who was swiftly abandoned by his party after the months-long effort caved with the loss of support from key Senate Republicans. A stone-faced Lankford initially starred straight ahead as Biden both praised the bill as the toughest set of border security reforms weve ever seen and took Republicans to task for failing to support it. Oh, you dont like that bill, huh? Biden said amid Republican boos. That conservatives got together and said was a good bill? Ill be darned. Thats amazing. But as Biden ran down the list of priorities in the bill 1,500 border agents, as well as funding the hiring of 100 more immigration judges and 4,300 more asylum officers Lankford began to nod in agreement. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 5 times Biden went off script during his State of the Union President Bidens State of the Union on Thursday was fiery, political and, at times, unscripted. The president diverged from his prepared remarks several notable times with off-the-cuff comments and responses to members of Congress, possibly in an attempt to demonstrate his mental acuity and ability to think on his feet. Biden, 81, went into the address with age as his most serious vulnerability in the election and aimed to ease some of the concerns Americans have about his stamina. Here are five times he went off script: Adding Laken Riley into the speech Biden made an unplanned mention of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who allegedly was killed by a migrant from Venezuela, in a notable back-and-forth with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), an ally of former President Trump. He began giving his prepared remarks on immigration, saying his predecessor, referring to Trump, personally called Republicans to tell them to block the bipartisan border deal because it would be a political winner for me. Greene then yelled out, what about Laken Riley? and, Say her name! Biden held up a pin that was given to him and which many Republicans in the crowd were wearing that read, Say her name, Laken Riley. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, he said, going off script. Thats right. But how many of thousands of people are being killed by legals? To her parents, I say: My heart goes out to you. Having lost children myself, I understand, he added. He has since received backlash from fellow Democrats over his use of the word illegal. Avoiding saying abortion Bidens prepared remarks included the word abortion, but in his delivered remarks, he cut it. The presidents planned text said, Because Texas law banned abortion, Kate and her husband had to leave the state to get the care she needed, referring to Texas mother Katie Cox, who was a guest of the White House at the address. In his actual delivery, he said, because Texas law banned her ability to act, Kate and her husband had to leave the state to get what she needed. The president has had a longtime discomfort with the word abortion and only started saying it in the aftermath of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. He hadnt said the word out loud publicly during his presidency until May 2022, and he still will say that as a Catholic hes not big on abortion but thinks Roe got it right, a stance that angers some advocates. Throwing the justices words back at them Biden was discussing in his address the power of women voters after Roe was overturned and Democrats experienced better-than-expected results in the 2022 midterms. He went slightly off script while citing the Dobbs decision from the Supreme Court and opted to directly address the justices. In his prepared remarks, Biden was scripted to say, In its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade the Supreme Court majority wrote, Women are not without electoral or political power. No kidding. In his delivery, the president said, look, its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court majority wrote the following and with all due respect, justices Women are not without electoral electoral power excuse me electoral or political power. Youre about to realize just how much you were right about that, he added, with the justices sitting in front of the podium on the floor of the House chamber. Calling out Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) Biden was wrapping up his remarks, which lasted more than an hour, and said his typical phrase that he uses to conclude speeches: Let me close with this. Republicans in the audience applauded, and the president yelled, Yay! I know you dont want to hear anymore, Lindsey, but I got to say a few more things, he added. The president was referring to his old Senate colleague, Graham. The two had a strong working relationship and friendship that has since frayed; Graham said in November 2021 that Bidens controversial Afghanistan withdrawal marked the breaking point of their friendship. Snickers add-in The president also at one point ad-libbed a reference to a candy bar. He was touting Sen. Bob Caseys (D-Pa.) legislation, which aims to end so-called shrinkflation by targeting companies that scale down their products without also reducing prices. In his prepared remarks, Biden was scripted to say, In fact, snack companies think you wont notice when they charge you just as much for the same size bag but with fewer chips in it. Pass Senator Bob Caseys bill to put a stop to shrinkflation! He added in a hell and a specific hit on Snickers. In fact, the snack companies think you wont notice if they change the size of the bag and put a hell of a lot fewer same size bag put fewer chips in it. No, Im not joking. Its called shrinkflation, Biden said. Pass Bobby Caseys bill and stop this. I really mean it. You probably all saw that commercial on Snickers bars. And you get charged the same amount, and you got about, I dont know, 10 percent fewer Snickers in it, he added. Biden has previously brought up the size of a Snickers bar and the idea of shrinkflation. He said during a campaign event in Las Vegas last month: They havent raised the price of a Snickers bars. They just took 10 percent of it out its a lot smaller. So thats how theyre making more money. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. One of the almost 60 dogs rescued from a Jacksonville property gets some attention at city-run Animal Care and Protective Services. After a raid by police and animal welfare officers Thursday, 56 dogs living in poor conditions at two Jacksonville properties were seized and their repeat-offender owner and another person arrested. The mixed-breed dogs were a variety of sizes and ages, including puppies, and apparently being used for breeding, according to Michael Bricker, division director of Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services. The seized dogs were in "dirty" kennels that were covered in feces and urine and did not have access to "proper food and water," he said. Some of them were taken to the city shelter's veterinary hospital for treatment. During an animal welfare officer and police raid at a Jacksonville property, some of the almost 60 dogs in residence look up at their rescuers. Two people were arrested. Such animal cruelty calls can be "sad and depressing" for the officers who respond, but they focus on the improved quality of life for the rescued animals, Bricker said. They are in "such a better place now," he said. Authorities develop strong cases in advance of such raids to ensure "charges stick," he said. "We were super deliberate with what we did and how we did it We have to be strategic," Bricker said. "You remember the outliers. This is a case I will remember for some time." The people arrested were a 59-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, both of whom listed a Dobson Street home in North Jacksonville as their home address. Some of the dogs were seized at that location, others at a Pickettville Road property, Bricker said. One shelter mentoring others: How can 21 Florida shelters avoid killing animals? Ask the Jacksonville Humane Society The woman was charged with cruelty to animals, as well as resisting an officer without violence, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. As of Friday afternoon, she remained in the city jail on $3,000 bail without an attorney listed. Lisa Paquette Varon, who was her lawyer in a 2023 animal cruelty case, said she is not representing her in the new arrest. A spokeswoman for the Public Defender's Office said she did not know if one of its attorneys was on the case. After a contingent from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the city shelter converged on the Dobson Street address, officers had to breach the front door when the woman refused to exit, according to the arrest report. City Animal Care and Protective Services representatives interact with one of about 60 dogs seized from a Jacksonville property. After the woman was in custody, she complained of a shoulder injury and was taken to UF Health Jacksonville. While in the police vehicle, she "continued to squirm in her handcuffs and caused cuts to her wrists," according to the arrest report. The man also was charged with animal cruelty. He remained in custody Friday on a $5,000 bond, according to the Sheriff's Office. Whether he has an attorney was uncertain Friday. The Times-Union is not naming them because they have not been convicted and the charges are not violent offenses against a person. Four other people who also owned dogs kept at the two properties were detained for questioning. They were released after authorities determined their dogs were well-cared for and some even competed in dog shows, Bricker said. Prior animal cruelty arrest The woman was previously charged in December with animal cruelty when 74 dogs were found living in "deplorable conditions" at the same Dobson Street and Pickettville Road addresses, according to those arrest reports. One dog was found dead and multiple others were clearly ill or suffering from injuries "consistent with dog fighting." In that case, which remains open, she pleaded not guilty and as a condition of her bond was ordered to "comply with ACPS," according to court records. A look at the outside quarters of about 60 dogs seized from a Jacksonville property. Two people were arrested and charged with animal cruelty. Since then, Bricker and his staff have been monitoring the locations. Some of the 74 dogs from the December raid are still at the shelter, he said. That case was prompted by a neighbor calling about barking dogs. Many such complaints end up as just that barking dogs but others reveal animal cruelty, Bricker said. Anyone with such concerns should call (904) 630-CITY. "You're not only helping those dogs but helping others in the future," he said. What happens next to the dogs? As word spread about the raid and the number of dogs seized, the community responded. When Bricker arrived at the shelter Friday morning, "there was a line of people outside wanting to help," he said. As the dogs are being treated, they're also being evaluated for possible adoption. Meanwhile, the shelter is seeking people to foster or adopt other shelter animals to free up space for the new arrivals kennels were doubled up to accommodate them, Bricker said. In addition to fostering and adoption, the public can volunteer and donate. Among the shelter's needs are dog crates, since so many of them were given to foster families. Anyone who is uncertain about how best to help should visit the shelter and take a tour, he said. The Ark: Foxes rescued from fur farm have new home at Nassau County wildlife sanctuary People convicted of violating animal cruelty laws face a minimum mandatory fine of $2,500 and undergo psychological counseling or complete an anger management treatment program. If they are convicted of a second or subsequent violation, they must pay a minimum mandatory fine of $5,000 and serve at least six months in prison, according to Florida statutes. Also, the person "shall be released only upon expiration of sentence, is not eligible for parole, control release or any form of early release, and must serve 100 percent of the court-imposed sentence," according to the statutes. bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109 This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Two arrested in Jacksonville animal welfare case, 56 dogs seized Six people including a mother, her four young children and a family acquaintance were killed inside a townhouse in the south Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven late Wednesday night. During a media briefing Thursday afternoon, Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs said there were initially two calls to 911 around 10:52 p.m. Wednesday. He said first responders arrived within minutes to the home on Berrigan Drive near Palmadeo Drive, a residential area close to two schools. Police have identified five of the victims as a family of newcomers to Canada from Sri Lanka. They are: 35-year-old Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanayake. Seven-year-old Inuka Wickramasinghe. Four-year-old daughter Ashwini Wickramasinghe. Two-year-old daughter Rinyana Wickramasinghe. Two-month-old daughter Kelly Wickramasinghe. Police said Ekanayake's husband was injured and is currently in hospital in stable condition. He's since been identified as Dhanushka Wickramasinghe. Another man, 40-year-old Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, was also killed. Febrio De-Zoysa, 19, is charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Police said he is a Sri Lankan national who is believed to be in Canada as a student. On Thursday evening, Algonquin College president Claude Brule released a statement confirming De-Zoysa was a student at the college and that "it appears his last semester of attendance was Winter 2023." A court sketch of 19-year-old Febrio De-Zoysa, who has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. (Lauren Foster-MacLeod) He made his first court appearance late Thursday afternoon. De-Zoysa spoke little, stating his name and birthdate before sitting down. He was ordered not to contact five people, one of whom is Dhanushka Wickramasinghe. De-Zoysa's next court appearance is scheduled for March 14. Police said De-Zoysa is also an acquaintance of the family and was living in the home at the time of the killings. He was arrested at the scene about 15 kilometres south of Ottawa's downtown core. Stubbs said the family's youngest daughter was born in Canada, and suggested the family members had arrived at different times. He said Ottawa police had never dealt with either the suspect or the family, and had never been called to that address before Wednesday night. This embedded content is not available in your region. 'Unimaginable loss' During Thursday's update, Stubbs called the killings "a senseless act of violence perpetrated on purely innocent people." He offered his condolences to the victims' loved ones "for this unimaginable loss." "This [homicide] will undoubtedly weigh on the hearts of everyone for a very long time," he said. A memorial has been set up at nearby Palmadeo Park as police continue to ask people to avoid the scene of the crime. Ottawa police said there is no ongoing risk to public safety. Flowers sit at the scene of a homicide where six people were found dead in the Barrhaven suburb of Ottawa on Thursday, March 7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick In a letter to parents sent out Thursday afternoon, the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) confirmed the two eldest children were students in Grade 2 and junior kindergarten at Monsignor Paul Baxter School. "Our deepest sympathies and sincerest condolences go to the families and loved ones of the victims during this incredibly challenging time. We cannot imagine the pain and sorrow they must be experiencing," wrote the school's principal Vincenza Nicoletti. The school said grief counselling and crisis support would be available for both students and staff, but said they weren't providing much more information to students "given the sensitivity surrounding the event." Ottawa Police Service officers surround a home after four children and two adults were found dead inside a neighbouring house in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven, Ontario, Canada March 7, 2024. REUTERS/Blair Gable Shanti Ramesh, who lives across the street from the scene, told CBC she was watching TV late Wednesday night when she saw the flashing lights of emergency vehicles. When she went outside, she saw a man screaming. "I saw a guy was sitting on the driveway and yelling, so the police came and then they took him away," she said. Police later identified the man as the father of the family. Ramesh said she didn't realize until the following morning that a "major tragedy" had occurred, and said she's been feeling numb ever since. "It's horrible," she told CBC. Police confirmed Wednesday's homicides are considered the worst mass killing in the city's recent history. 'Knife-like' edged weapon used Stubbs told reporters on Thursday afternoon that a edged "knife-like" edged weapon was used in the homicides. In an earlier interview on CBC News Network, he had initially called the incident a "mass shooting," but it was not. While police did not speculate on a motive for the killings, Stubbs earlier told CBC investigators do not believe it to be a case of intimate partner violence. "This is a tragic file and it will greatly impact the city of Ottawa, let alone the immediate neighbourhood in Barrhaven. So obviously we encourage everybody to reach out and get help to help manage themselves through this traumatic event," he said. 'I can't believe it' After hearing the news early Thursday, Barrhaven resident David Brose came to the scene. "I'm obviously in shock ... it's tough," he said, his voice breaking. "I'm just in awe. I can't believe it." This embedded content is not available in your region. Asked about the incident Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his sadness. "Obviously our first reactions are all one of shock and horror at this terrible violence," he said. "We are expecting that the community reaches out to support family and friends, as Canadians always do." On social media, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe called it "one of the most shocking incidents of violence in our city's history." In a later interview on CBC News Network, he said people in the community have been "stunned" by the news. "In particular I know people are just devastated to hear that children are involved," Sutcliffe said. "I think that's what's most heartbreaking to me and to my family and to all Ottawa residents, is to hear of violence on this scale and to know that children were victims ... it's just really incomprehensible and unimaginable and absolutely devastating." This embedded content is not available in your region. Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod, whose riding includes this part of Barrhaven, said the community woke up to shock and grief. "There are no words for the heartbreak me and my neighbours feel for the surviving family, friends [and] playmates of the deceased," she said. My community has woken up to shock, grief and tragedy today as 6 people, including four children, have been murdered. There are no words for the heartbreak me and my neighbours feel for the surviving family, friends & playmates of the deceased. Ive spoken already this morning Lisa MacLeod (@MacLeodLisa) March 7, 2024 Coun. Wilson Lo, who represents the area, said on social media that he was "saddened to learn of the tragic loss of six Barrhaven neighbours," and that his thoughts are with their loved ones and people close by. CBC In this image obtained from the US Central Command, military personnel load humanitarian aid into US Air Force C-130 planes on March 5, 2024 (Handout) The US plan to establish a temporary port for aid deliveries to Gaza will take up to 60 days to carry out and will likely involve more than 1,000 American personnel, the Pentagon said Friday. US President Joe Biden announced the plan the previous night during his State of the Union address, in which he pleaded with Israel to let more assistance into the blockaded territory even as he defended its military operation against Hamas. Israel's delay of deliveries of aid by ground has also led United States to join other countries in airdropping assistance, with Washington conducting its fourth drop of the month on Friday. The United States will "establish a temporary offshore maritime pier that allows for shipping vessels to transfer cargo to smaller vessels to transport and offload cargo to a temporary causeway for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza," Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder told journalists. "We anticipate that it'll take over 1,000 US forces to participate in building this capability" and "up to 60 days in order to deploy the forces and construct the causeway and the pier," Ryder said. Once established, the new facility "could provide more than two million meals to the citizens of Gaza per day," he said, adding that "there will be no US forces on the ground in Gaza" as part of the effort, in which Washington will be "working with regional partners." - Fourth US airdrop - Earlier on Friday, the US Central Command announced that "A US C-130 dropped over 11,500 meal equivalents, providing life-saving humanitarian assistance in northern Gaza" in a joint operation with Jordan. But highlighting the danger of delivering aid by air, a medic at Gaza's largest hospital said Friday that a drop had killed five people and wounded 10. A US defense official told AFP that "the US did not cause the fatalities during our airdrop in Gaza," while a Jordanian military source said none of the kingdom's four aircraft that took part in the operation were involved in the fatalities. Gaza has faced relentless bombardment by Israel since Hamas launched a cross-border attack on October 7 that resulted in about 1,160 deaths, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel's retaliatory operations in Hamas-controlled Gaza have killed more than 30,800 people, mostly women and children, according to the territory's health ministry. The amount of aid brought into Gaza by truck has plummeted during five months of war, and Gazans are facing dire shortages of food, water and medicine. The United States launched its first airdrop of food into Gaza on March 2, providing more than 38,000 meals, then dropped more than 36,000 on Tuesday and more than 38,000 on Thursday. But the number of people in need of aid in Gaza is much greater than can be fed by drops alone. wd/tjj GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (KREX) Eastbound I-70 reopened on Thursday following a rockslide in Glenwood Canyon. Colorado Department of Transportation officials closed I-70 on Thursday after several large rocks rolled into the westbound lane in Glenwood Canyon. The rockslide happened between the Grizzly Creek and Hanging Lake exits at around 10 a.m. CDOT crews moved the rocks using prepositioned equipment. Click here for the most up-to-date road conditions in Colorado. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. WINDHOEK, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba on Friday emphasized the importance of recognizing women's achievements and advocating for their rights in honor of International Women's Day, which is celebrated worldwide on March 8. "To demonstrate our commitment to gender equality, the positions of vice-president and prime minister of the Republic of Namibia are occupied by women," Mbumba said in a statement, highlighting Namibia's commitment to increasing women's participation in decision-making roles and closing the gender gap. Since 1990, Namibia has made significant progress in gender representation, with women now making up 49 percent of the parliament. Despite this progress, Mbumba acknowledged the ongoing challenges, particularly regarding gender-based violence. He expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act in reducing such cases and urged continued efforts to create an inclusive society that empowers women and ensures their safety and dignity. "Let us continue to strive for an inclusive Namibian house that is committed to investing in the empowerment of women and creating a future of shared prosperity where women are empowered to lead lives with dignity and without violence," he said. A Border Patrol agent in the process of arresting a group of asylum seekers from Mali, Senegal, and Guinea on Dec. 12, 2023. That day, hundreds of asylum seekers from at least 10 different countries turned themselves in to Border Patrol agents. Photo by John Washington | Arizona Luminaria More people crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 2023 than in any other year on record. In fiscal year 2023, an estimated 2.5 million people were apprehended or expelled by U.S. Border Patrol agents at the U.S.-Mexico border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection data for the agencys Southwest region from California to Texas shows that the U.S.- Mexico border accounts for the bulk of apprehensions and expulsions. Nationwide, border patrol agents encountered a total of 3.2 million people in 2023 at regions that include airports and the Northern and Southwest borders. The numbers at the U.S.-Mexico border were up from 2.3 million the fiscal year before and 1.7 million in 2021, according to monthly statistics released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This is part of a series of stories about people seeking asylum or refuge in Southern Arizona and the complex, chaotic U.S. immigration system at the center of a humanitarian crisis. Read them all here. From 2021 to 2022, the last year for which there are official government records, the total number of asylum claims filed in the United States went from about 150,000 to over 492,000 more than tripling. The increases have led to fervent calls to shut the border down, begin mass deportations or raise the standards for asylum. It also has prompted an outpouring of support and mutual aid, with community volunteers, humanitarian organizations and local governments working to help welcome and orient people seeking asylum. A Senate bill released in February and sponsored by Arizonas independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema would have revamped the asylum system, speeding up the process and also raising the threshold, which would require more evidence of past or potential persecution for someone to obtain asylum. While the bill has failed to pass, it was followed by a similarly restrictive legislative proposal from the House. Neither bill has received enough support, and many are left wondering whats next besides political bickering. An estimated 80% of Americans say the government is doing a bad job handling the arrival of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a February 2024 report from Pew Research. Woven throughout the divisive rhetoric are spools of misunderstanding and misinformation. To clarify what asylum is, how it works, and what it looks like in Arizona, were publishing this short explainer to go along with our series of articles on the current state of asylum in our region of the Southwest. What is asylum? Asylum is legal protection from being deported back to a country where a person faces danger. Asylum was first written into international law as part of the 1951 Refugee Convention, in response to the massive increase in refugees and many countries refusal to welcome them during the Holocaust. The United States was slow to sign on, and only did so after the treaty was updated in 1967. The reason the U.S. didnt initially sign is disputed, but domestic pressure to maintain sovereignty and not enter into other binding international agreements was a key factor. Asylum protections officially became part of domestic U.S. law in 1980 with The Refugee Act. Following language used in the international convention, the law directs the attorney general not to deport someone seeking asylum if their life or freedom would be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The broad list of reasons especially the particular social group category has led to decades of legal controversy about who should be granted asylum. People fleeing because of the effects of climate change, for example, do not officially qualify for asylum. There are other forms of protection that are similar to asylum but dont come with pathways to citizenship. Some of them also require meeting a higher threshold of proof before being granted protection. People can be at least temporarily safe from deportation through the Convention Against Torture and withholding of removal, a legal term for protection from deportations without additional benefits of a path to citizenship. Despite the codification of asylum protocol, the practice of asylum, or offering refuge to those in need, goes back millennia and, according to scholars and experts in asylum, is a core principle in many societies and religions. Is asylum legal? Yes. Both U.S. and international law protect the right to ask for asylum. But there is a stark difference between the right to ask for asylum and obtaining asylum. According to U.S. law, it doesnt matter how or where you ask for asylum. People who cross the border by getting over or through gaps in the wall or fording the river are still legally permitted to ask for asylum. An illegal asylum seeker is a contradiction in terms, writes immigration expert Hein de Haas, who authored How Migration Really Works and is a professor of migration and development at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. However, in March 2020, the Trump administration leveraged Title 42 as an emergency health order touted as a means to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to turn away migrants who came to the U.S.-Mexico border. That paved the way for officials to start restricting people seeking asylum outside of ports of entry. Before the implementation of Title 42, people could cross, ask for asylum, were screened and then were either detained or released to await their immigration cases. The Biden administration continued using Title 42 to expel people over the border and restrict their right to seek asylum for more than two years. After rescinding the policy last May, the administration put in place other measures restricting asylum. Now, most of the people crossing the Rio Grande into Texas or crossing the desert into Arizona and turning themselves into Border Patrol to seek protection cannot access asylum. Exemptions include exceptions for children traveling alone and exceptionally compelling circumstances, such as medical emergencies or imminent threats to life. Yael Schacher, the Director of Americas and Europe for Refugees International said the government argues that it has legal authority to limit eligibility for asylum. Under the asylum ban, people still have access to protection screenings against refoulement, Schacher said. Non-refoulement, also commonly known as non-return, is the core principle of the Refugee Convention, which prohibits people from being returned to a country where they face serious threats or danger. Schacher said the Biden administration is justifying offering less protection by arguing they are offering at least some protection. How does someone apply for asylum? The first step to applying for asylum is simply asking for it. Until last year, the best way for someone crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to ask for asylum was by telling a Border Patrol agent. If someone was already in the United States, they could go to a U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office and file for asylum there. But asking for asylum does not mean it will be granted. Currently, for asylum-seekers in Mexico, the U.S. government is encouraging them to apply for an appointment to take the initial steps of their asylum claim via the CBP One Mobile App, a smartphone application through which 1,450 people a day are allowed to enter into the United States via ports of entry. Along the Arizona-Sonora border, the only port of entry where people can get an appointment through CBP One is Nogales, which takes a maximum of 100 appointments a day, according to immigration experts and local and national aid workers. Across the U.S.-Mexico border, a maximum of 1,450 appointments are available a day, according to an Aug. 2023 press release from the Department of Homeland Security. The government does not specify the number of appointments per border city. The CBP One appointment process has been plagued with delays and glitches, and some wait for months to score an appointment. If they are able to get an appointment, most people are screened, processed, and allowed into the United States and given a future court date to continue their case. Unlike those who cross outside of ports of entry, people who enter via CBP One can quickly receive work permits. To ultimately win an asylum case after you cross the U.S.-Mexico border, you must first show that you have a credible fear of persecution or torture if you were to return to your country of origin. If you pass your credible fear interview, you proceed to an asylum hearing where you must demonstrate and provide evidence that you were persecuted in the past or that you have a well-founded fear that you will be harmed in the future if you go back to your country. A well-founded fear can mean that there is at least a 10% chance that you will be harmed in your home country. Either an asylum officer working for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or an immigration judge employed by the Department of Justice, will weigh an asylum claim. Who is asking for asylum? While Mexicans are still crossing the border into Arizona and other Southwestern states more than any other nationality, demographics have changed in recent years. In fiscal year 2023, just more than 700,000 Mexicans were apprehended after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. After Mexicans, its been mostly people from Venezuela (about 200,000 apprehended in fiscal year 2023) and Guatemala (220,000 apprehended). Asylum-seekers from Haiti, Honduras, Ecuador, various countries from Africa, as well as India, Russia, and China are crossing the border into Arizona as well. Those demographics are a significant change from 10 years ago, when people seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border were overwhelmingly from Mexico or Central America. Despite fears stoked by some pundits and politicians, no migrant who has crossed the U.S.-Mexico border has ever committed a terrorist act in the United States. Some people who have crossed the border are on the terrorist watch list. Last fiscal year, Border Patrol counted an estimated 249 people who crossed the Southwest border and were on the watch list. That accounts for a fraction of the 2.4 million people who crossed the Southwest border. Many people are placed on the list mistakenly or for activities that are not threatening nor constitute terrorism, according to government studies. While some politicians and others target immigrants by claiming their presence leads to increased crime rates, experts say that such fears are unfounded. Various studies have found that first-generation immigrants have much lower incarceration rates than native-born residents. Data going back 143 years shows that the likelihood of an immigrant being incarcerated is 60 percent lower than for someone born in the United States, according to a 2023 study from Stanford Universitys Institute for Economic Policy Research. Relative to undocumented immigrants, U.S.-born citizens are over 2 times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes, 2.5 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes, according to a 2020 study focusing on Texas over a six-year period from 20122018. Are asylum-seekers gaming the system? In fiscal year 2023, 99.5 percent of all people whose asylum cases were decided by immigration judges showed up to court for their hearings, according to data compiled by Human Rights First. Unlike citizens, people seeking asylum are not entitled to attorneys at government expense. That means that people either pay out of pocket, find willing attorneys to help them pro-bono, or represent themselves in court. According to a January report, only 30% of people in removal proceedings which means the government is trying to deport them are represented by attorneys. A 2023 study from Migration Policy Institute shows that having representation improves efficiency, lowers the costs of public resources expended and, for the migrants in court, decreases their chances of being deported. The immigration system has been pretty broken backlogged and needing reform for 20 years, Schacher said. Though there are major delays, the overwhelming majority of asylum-seekers follow the system as it is currently functioning, Schacher said. In Arizona, the average wait time, as of early 2024, for a recently arrived migrant to have an asylum hearing in immigration court is 984 days, according to Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Compared to other states, thats actually on the fast side. The average wait time for an asylum hearing in Nebraska is more than 2,000 days. Ultimately, people will be either granted or denied protection. If denied, they have the right to appeal, though many are ultimately deported. Historically, most people who have applied for asylum have been denied. In fiscal year 2023, Mexicans were granted asylum only 4% of the time, according to statistics kept by the Department of Justice. Though grant rates initially went up during the Biden administration, overall and for all nationalities they remain below 50%. While people are awaiting a final decision, they may apply for work permits 150 days after they submit their application. A migrant at the Casa Alitas Welcome Center talks on the phone on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Photo by Michael McKisson | Arizona Luminaria Do Arizona counties give money to asylum seekers? The short answer is no. Yuma, Pima, Maricopa, Mesa and Cochise have received federal funding to receive, orient, and sometimes lodge typically for just one or two nights recently arrived asylum-seekers. Occasionally and in emergency situations, Pima County will use some of its own funding to briefly support a family or someone with an urgent medical problem. Pima County Deputy County Administrator Francisco Garcia says that those situations are exceedingly rare. Despite claims to the contrary, migrants who cross the border asylum-seekers or not do not receive gift cards or free phones. The sole exception is some Haitian and Cuban asylum-seekers who may receive some federal benefits. Pima County has a website explaining the work they do with asylum-seekers, as well as the guiding principles about why they do it. The federal funds supporting Pima Countys work are expected to dry up soon and county officials have been clear that they will not use county revenues to continue the work. Are there more asylum seekers coming to the U.S. today than ever before? Last year, yes. Experts such as Schacher say that part of the reason is that other pathways to legally migrate have been narrowed. In January 2024, the U.S. Border Patrol recorded 124,220 encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border, a decrease of 50% from December 2023, and the slowest month since Biden took office. Despite the overall drop, in January of 2024, the Tucson sector remained by far the busiest along the border, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The same month, the Tucson sector saw twice as many encounters between Border Patrol agents and migrants than any other sector along the U.S.-Mexico border. Since May 2023 through the end of January 2024, DHS has deported or returned more than 520,000 individuals, the vast majority of whom crossed the Southwest border, including more than 87,000 individual family members. The majority of all people encountered at the Southwest border over the past three years have been removed, returned, or expelled. Meanwhile, the total backlog of cases in immigration court is more than three million. Those numbers may be slightly misleading, however, as not everyone who intends to apply for asylum does so right away, some people are blocked from applying for asylum and can only seek different forms of protection from deportation. Austin Kocher is an assistant professor with Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, also known as TRAC, which collects and analyzes data about immigration detention and enforcement, among other issues. My professional guesstimate is theres a total of about two million pending asylum cases, Kocher said a lot of those have been filed in the past year or so. I think it would be in the interest of the federal agencies and in the publics interest to provide much more up-to-date data on the number of people filing asylum and the outcome of those claims, Kocher said. Instead, Kocher explained, researchers and politicians have to deal in guesstimates. What happens to asylum seekers when they come to the United States? It depends. Currently, about 1,450 asylum seekers a day are allowed into the country through appointments scheduled on the CBP One mobile app. Those people are vetted, given background checks, and typically entered into immigration proceedings given a future court date for the beginning of their asylum case. Most of them are released into the United States. Many people seeking asylum who cross the border outside of ports of entry meaning through the desert or across the river are not seeking to evade Border Patrol agents, but willingly submit themselves to agents to request asylum. Because of new regulations issued by the Biden administration in May of 2023, however, many of those people will not be eligible for asylum. They may seek another form of protection from deportation, such as withholding of removal, but they will likely never be able to become citizens. Some of those people are released into the United States and given future court dates. Others are transferred into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and sent to detention centers. As of late January, there were almost 40,000 people locked up in immigration detention. People with prior criminal records or deportations will likely be detained, Schacher said, as will anybody who raises national security concerns. A parent with a minor child or children will not be detained as there is no family detention right now, Schacher explained. But if there are two parents with children, the father might be detained and the mother and children released. Many of the people who cross the border at or near Nogales, Sasabe, Lukeville, or Douglas pass through Pima Countys welcome centers, where they may spend a night or two, have a few meals, and are typically on their way to elsewhere in the country. Should people seeking asylum be detained? According to international law, no. But countries across the world, including the United States, detain people seeking asylum. During a sit-down interview with Arizona Luminaria Tucson, John Modlin, Chief Patrol Agent of the Tucson Sector of Border Patrol, said that agents have begun busing some adult migrants to Border Patrol stations in either Yuma or El Paso. Its a strategy that was rarely used before numbers of people seeking asylum spiked over the past year, Modlin said. In the Yuma or El Paso stations, the people are held for about 10 to 14 days where they have the initial screening that begins their asylum process technically called a credible fear interview. The duration of the stay Modlin described is far longer than CBPs own detention standards, which state, Detainees should generally not be held for longer than 72 hours in CBP hold rooms or holding facilities. Modlin told Luminaria that holding people for an extended time was part of their efforts to respond to unprecedented numbers of asylum-seekers arriving to the U.S.-Mexico border. In a perfect world every person would be held until there was a hearing barring any really extreme sort of humanitarian cause, Modlin said. International human rights standards, however, state that asylum-seekers should not be detained, and that detention should not be used as a punishment or as a means of deterring other migrants. Theres nothing humane about ambiguity in someones life, Modlin said. When someone is released into the United States, he said, it could take years or more before they know if they are granted asylum or some other form of relief. A much more humane thing is to put that person into the process and get it done as quickly and as obviously judiciously as possible, giving them all their due processes, he said. Immigration experts, however, point out that processing asylum claims while people are held in detention, especially in what can be trying and sometimes inhumane conditions, of short term Border Patrol custody, does not make for fair hearings. How can I follow this issue? Despite months of recent efforts to pass new legislation, Congress remains deadlocked. Nobody knows if they will find a way forward, but experts agree that immigration and asylum policy will remain a key issue in this years election. Arizona independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinemas seat will be on the ballot in the fall, and while she announced March 5 that she would not seek reelection, whoever represents Arizona next year could play a key role in ongoing discussions around immigration. Republicans Kari Lake and Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb and Democrat Congressman Ruben Gallego have all announced they are running. Arizona House members could also be vital voices in shaping future legislation. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., has long been an advocate for migrant rights. First-term Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., has pushed for stricter border policies. Both are up for reelection in November. A number of local organizations work with people seeking asylum including Kino Border Initiative and No More Deaths. Other organizations with local chapters include Human Rights First, the International Rescue Committee, American Civil Liberties of Arizona, Catholic Charities through Casa Alitas and Lutheran Refugee Services. This article first appeared on AZ Luminaria and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. The post 8 things to know about people seeking asylum in Arizona appeared first on Arizona Mirror. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden did what he had to do in his State of the Union address on Thursday night. And then, it was party time. Just seconds after stepping down from the dais in the House chamber, as most news networks pulled their cameras away, Biden was playfully saluting people in the audience and shouting out jokes. Hey Bobby! I didnt embarrass you, did I? he said to laughs from someone nearby. It was possibly Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who Biden mentioned in his national address. The House chamber was packed with so many of his old friends, former colleagues, his judicial and executive appointments, and even critics who wanted to talk to him. And Biden, all smiles, was here for it. He spent the next half an hour talking to anyone in earshot, taking selfies, telling stories and weighing in on climate change, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, border security, reproductive rights and whatever other policy topics people threw his way. HuffPost caught most of these details by watching bits of livestreams that were still going and hearing him on hot mics. Thank you for mentioning climate change, said Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), the first person to get to Biden when he stepped into the crowd. Thats why Im working so hard, Biden replied, referencing Democrats taking back the House. Im going to do whatever I can. You were the Baptist preacher tonight! chimed in Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.). Biden leaned in and started telling a story about someone in Del-a-WARRR, or Delaware, who offered to campaign for him but only in certain places, because in some places youll help, in some places youll hurt. Meeks and others laughed at the end. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was near the front, eager to shake his hand. So was Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), an actual Baptist preacher. That was a sermon tonight! he told the president. Thank you, man, said Biden, before shaking someone elses hand and pointing at him. You know theres no T in Scranton. Its Scran-un! Cheeeeese. via Associated Press Some moments were more serious. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) asked about the Ukrainian war effort. By the way, Ive been in constant contact with them, Biden said, leaning in. Heres what I worry about with Ukraine, if we pull away. His next comments were inaudible. But then it was back to joking around. You were on fire! said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). No ones even talking about cognitive impairment now! said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). I kind of wish sometimes I was cognitively impaired, the president said with a grin. Jerry Nadler: No one's gonna call you cognitively impaired now Biden: I kinda wish sometimes I was cognitively impaired pic.twitter.com/W8izB1m9ao Noah Mitchell (@noahmtweets) March 8, 2024 Hey Pat! Biden shouted to former Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who he has known for decades. He told a story to Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) about how he and Leahy had been young senators together, and how disgruntled Leahy had once seemed about a newspaper article about Biden. A headline: Biden: Coolest Man in Congress, said Biden. I felt like I was cheatin on him! The people just kept coming. One attendee thanked Biden for his comments on Israel. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) gave him a hug, as another member of the audience said he couldnt wait to see him in Texas for a debate. Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) urged him to come back to visit her district. Mr. President, you brought the Irish fire tonight, gushed one House member. Ill tell you what, Biden replied, clearing his throat before launching into another story. The chamber had mostly emptied out at that point. The rows and rows of seats that lawmakers usually occupy sat empty. But there was Biden, standing just feet away from where he had given his national address. Still talking. The House chamber is nearly empty after the State of the Union address ended. But President Joe Biden is still there, talking to literally anyone and everyone. CSPAN Im getting texts from everybody at home watching, saying, Wow, said one woman, giving the president a hug. My mom [was] jumping up and down. Wheres your mom? Biden asked. When she said Houston, the president immediately looked around for an aide and asked to get the moms phone number so he could call her. Really? Okay, said the woman, pulling out her phone. That would be amazing. It was now almost 11 p.m. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who was still standing up there on the dais, made eye contact with Biden and tapped his watch. Time to go, man. Nope! I am holdin up everyone here. Im so sorry to keep you guys waiting, Biden said to top military leaders standing nearby. Thanks for accepting the appointment. Its about time we had someone strong running the military, the president told one military official. He went up to another military leader and lightly bumped him on his chest with a fist. I keep telling him, hes got to work on his pecs! President Joe Biden lightly taps his fist on a top military leader at the State of the Union address. "I keep telling him, hes got to work on his pecs! CSPAN The exit doors were in sight. Bidens team appeared to finally be getting him to wrap things up. But then intercepted! The amount. Of carbon. Used in steel and cement. Is gigantic! Biden told one man with great emphasis, putting his hands on his shoulders. Somehow that turned into a story about how his great grandfather was the first Catholic elected to the state senate in Pennsylvania. An aide finally had to interrupt. Most people cant leave until we leave and we need to go this way, the aide said to the president. Well, are they Democrats or Republicans? Biden asked. Im joking. Im joking.... Ill get the hell out of here. Was he joking, though? He stopped again, this time to chat with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. I told him, Bibi and dont repeat this but you and I are going to have a come to Jesus meeting, Biden said, using a nickname for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. An aide stepped in: Sir, just, just Im on a hot mic here, Biden reported back to the group. Good. That was good. President Biden: "I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, but you and I are going to have a come to Jesus meeting." Im on a hot mic here. Good. Thats good. pic.twitter.com/KCgpbx4awf Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) March 8, 2024 Biden was talking to Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) when Johnson gaveled out the House, loudly declaring the joint session of Congress (and thus, SOTU) was over. Biden didnt seem to notice. He didnt seem to notice when the House adjourned, either. Or when the lights dimmed. He was too busy posing for selfies, complimenting peoples glasses and talking to Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) for several minutes about wildfires in California. The president stopped again to talk to Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), who thanked him for mentioning the PACT Act, a 2022 law that expanded health benefits for veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. Takano talked about a veteran he knew whod directly benefited. I didnt do it because of my son, Biden said, suddenly solemn. He was referring to his late son, Beau Biden, a National Guard vet who died from brain cancer in 2015, after previously serving in the Iraq War. Beau died, being a quarter mile from a burn pit for a year in Iraq, Biden said. It was sad for a moment. But then, the president was back to glad-handing, saying hello to someones niece who was viewing the scene from a Zoom call on a tablet. Hi Marissa, how are you! Biden said to the person on the tablet, delighted. You got your Irish shirt on? Alright! Before a 96-year-old widow was killed in a murder-for-hire plot, she was preparing to bake cookies for her upcoming birthday, California deputies say. Violet Evelyn Albertss caretaker found her dead inside her Montecito home on May 27, 2022, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said in a March 7 news conference. Pauline Macareno was arrested in June 2022 in relation to fraud in Albertss case, deputies said in a March 7 news release. Now, three men have been arrested in relation to Albertss death, a murder for hire scheme, according to deputies. Vibrant 96-year-old Without any immediate family nearby, Violet relied on her friendships and connections within the neighborhood, through which she achieved a sense of belonging with a tight-knit community, Brown said. The widow, a vibrant and a cherished figure in the community, was active and engaged despite her age, Brown said. She was known for her warm demeanor and social nature, Brown said. Though she started having challenges with memory and cognition, Brown said her spirit remained undaunted. This was evident in her plans to celebrate her upcoming birthday by baking fresh cookies, Brown said. Heinous case of murder When deputies responded to Albertss home, Brown said they found her dead in her bed with ingredients for baking cookies on a table. Alberts died by asphyxiation, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to Brown. Brown called Albertss death a particularly heinous case of murder. As the investigation went on, Brown said the case was revealed to be a tangled evil web of financial exploitation against the victim. In 2020, Brown said Macareno capitalized on Albertss vulnerability. Macareno is accused of orchestrating a series of transactions, including forging documents and establishing fraudulent entities to gain control over Alberts assets unlawfully, Brown said. Further, detectives found evidence that Alberts was targeted in a murder-for-hire scheme, Brown said. Two of the suspects, Ricardo MartinDelCampo and Henry Rostomyan, are accused of scouting Albertss home three days before she was killed, Brown said. The discovery of this trip established the deliberate intent between the events leading up to Albertss untimely death, Brown said. After her arrest, Macareno was given a six-year prison sentence, Brown said. Harry Basmadjian, 58, of Van Nuys, was arrested on Jan. 2; Rostomyan, 33, of Tujunga, was arrested on Feb. 27; and MartinDelCampo, 41, of Los Angeles, was arrested on March 5, according to deputies. Rostomyan and MartinDelCampo are being held without bail on charges of murder and conspiracy to murder in relation to Albertss death, deputies said. While in federal custody for an unrelated charge, Basmadjian had a life-threatening medical emergency that left him totally incapacitated with a grim prognosis, deputies said. Additional charges against Macareno are pending, Brown said. Principal used school money to hire hitman to kill teacher he impregnated, feds say Boyfriend tries hiring hitman to kill girlfriends mom, feds say. Want her gone now Husband found dead in charred vehicle in TN ravine, cops say. Wife accused of murder Abbott says nothing Biden can say at SOTU will undo damage done by border policy Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said there is nothing President Biden can say in his State of the Union speech Thursday to undo the damage done by his border policies. [T]he fact of the matter is, when Biden became president, and today, there are three laws passed by Congress already, that empower the president to deny illegal entry, which hes not doing, hes aiding [and] abetting illegal entry, Abbott said in an interview on Fox Newss Special Report with anchor Bret Baier. Second, to detain anybody who crosses the border illegally, which hes not doing. And third, requires the president to build border barriers, including border walls, including the razor wire fence that Texas has built that Biden is trying to tear down. So, what Joe Biden is doing, hes refusing to enforce laws already passed by Congress, and actually is acting contrary to those laws, Abbott continued. Again, theres no word that could be articulated by the president tonight, that will overcome the facts, of the way that he has unilaterally destroyed the United States of America. Bidens handling of the southern border has become a point of contention among Republicans, who blame him for the countrys current migrant crisis. Both Biden and former President Trump recently visited the southern border in dueling trips to the Lone Star State. Abbott joined Trump in the city of Eagle Pass, while Biden went to Brownsville with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Mayorkas went after Abbott on Sunday for comments the week before in which he said Biden doesnt require new legislation for the enforcement of new border policies. Couldnt be more wrong, couldnt be more wrong. And 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 on CNNs State of the Union. 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. That is not a model of governance, and he couldnt be more wrong, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) In 1999, McMurry professor Cole Thompson saw the publishing of his book Chocolate Lizards, a tale loosely based on his time as a West Texas oil drilling roughneck in Abilene. Now, a film by the name Accidental Texan is debuting, and he will get to see his love letter to the Big Country released on a national scale. The film is set to debut in more than 30 states on Friday, March 8. Thompson told KTAB/KRBC this is not his success alone, but that of a large group of dedicated creatives. Author Cole Thompson reading from his book I mean, yes, I wrote the original story Theres been many people [who] have a hand in what we see now, Thompson said. When you watch a movie, you see all those credits rolling and all those names, theres a reason for that. Chocolate Lizards premieres at Paramount theater with Lone Star Studded Debut One of the first to join in on his vision was the films now screenwriter and producer Julie Denny. She and Thompson met in the early 90s, and she was reportedly taken with the story he had to tell. To know that miracles can happen and people can come into your life and it can change your life Cole called me and told me he was getting it published, and I was like, congratulations, let me turn it into a movie. I know exactly how I want to do it,' Denny recalled. Screenwriter/Producer Julie Denny The script has gone through more than a few changes since then, but the same West Texas tale prevails. Academy Award nominees Thomas Haden Church (Heaven is For Real, Easy A, George of the Jungle) plays Merle, and Bruce Dern (The Great Gatsby, The Burbs, The Hateful Eight) stars as Scheermeyer. The two big-name actors signed on to star alongside Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix, Memento), who plays Faye, and up-and-coming actor Rudy Pankow (The Outer Banks) playing Erwin Vandeveer. Denny and Thompson told KTAB/KRBC it was a humbling experience to see the characters theyd grown to love so much portrayed by such talented actors. Cast and Crew at May 2023 Paramount theater screening in Abilene I identify with Erwin, and you know, what a joy for Rudy Pankow to kind of play me. I get to have hair again, just magnificent hair. Its fantastic, Thompson joked. The titular Chocolate Lizards are a style of boots given from Merle to Erwin to symbolize his newfound identity, as well as Merles acceptance of the past and willingness to grow. Thompson said the story is very dear to him, though he had no problem giving it over to Denny to bring it to the screen. She really added something from her own life I cried when I saw it. We were driving back home and I texted her, and I said, now its our story,' shared Thompson. Author Thompson wearing his Chocolate Lizard boots One major change came just this year. Where the book was set in Abilene and partially Fort Worth, young Erwin now finds himself in Buffalo Gap, with Abilene taking the place of Fort Worth in the narrative. Although the film was actually shot in Bartlett, Texas just outside of Austin, many Key City locations are featured throughout. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. On any given day at the Ada County Jail, inmates on kitchen duty are on the hook to prepare thousands of meals: three squares for their fellow inmates, along with bagged lunches for those at the Ada County Courthouse. They work, in shifts, from 2 a.m. until after 9 at night. The problem? Theyre working in a kitchen that hasnt been upgraded since 1995 when the jail had about half as many inmates. Gutting and overhauling the jails kitchen has been one of Sheriff Matt Cliffords priorities for years and was one of the drivers of a plan last fall to upgrade the entire jail. That plan would have included a kitchen replacement, a new road connecting the jail campus to Allumbaugh Street, and a new dorm building with almost 300 beds. But in November, a proposal on the ballot to raise property taxes and fund the upgrade failed narrowly. Since then, Clifford and Republican county commissioners have been at odds over how to tackle the repairs which both sides agree are urgently needed. Clifford wanted to try again for the bond, but the commissioners disagreed. They thought they should spend already available funds to upgrade the jails kitchen and make other urgent improvements before asking voters for another possibly smaller bond. At a meeting Wednesday, Clifford conceded the commissioners approach was the best way forward. Its not ideal, because it will cost more, and it will take longer the bond allows us to shorten that timeline if nothing else but (the bond) is just not on the horizon this year, Clifford told the Idaho Statesman after the meeting. So, OK, lets take the money we have and start. Ada County Sheriffs Office Lt. Shem McCulloch points out that their Inmate intake area is also being used for storage at the Ada County Jail, Oct. 17, 2023. A $49 million bond to expand and upgrade the jails infrastructure failed in November. During the meeting, he and the commissioners expressed a shared sense of urgency to get the ball rolling amid rapidly increasing construction costs in the Treasure Valley. I think theres a lot to be said for, if we wait and try for the bond again, and we get all the money at once but by then, how much has the cost gone up? Clifford said at the meeting. Versus taking the cost of this right now do we just start this now and try to combat some of that cost? Chairman Rod Beck also argued that starting such a visible project may project seriousness to voters and increase their likelihood of supporting a future bond to finish the job. Bob Carney, the countys director of operations, predicted at the meeting that the first phase of renovations would take about two years, and could begin within 2024. That first phase will likely include: Installing temporary kitchen buildings and redoing the existing kitchen. Building a secure corridor from the existing jail to the temporary kitchen area. Laying down infrastructure east of the jail to prepare that land for the future expansion of the dorms and a new warehouse, according to a blog post by the sheriffs office. Commissioners requested additional details and cost estimates before they formally sign off on this approach, which would use about $13.3 million in existing county funds. Clifford had previously argued that the phased approach would wind up being more complicated and expensive for taxpayers. He raised concerns that doing construction in phases would require duplication of effort. The dominoes dont fall correctly, and (it) causes a lot of security issues and delays and money, he said in December. Inmates sleep in a cell in the medium custody section of the Ada County Jail, Oct. 17, 2023. The jails infrastructure is from 1995, even as the number of its inmates has doubled. The Ada County Sheriffs Office has argued for years that it needs more room at the jail to allow people to spread out and to improve services in its kitchen, storage area and booking center, according to previous Statesman reporting. The jail has felt the Boise areas rapid population growth. The number of people incarcerated is now often higher than the maximum capacity the jails dormitories are built for, forcing some incarcerated people to sleep on cots on the floor. The more people, the more tensions, the more risk for individuals to fight, to create other issues in our facility, Shem McCulloch, a lieutenant with the Sheriffs Offices Jail Services Bureau, told the Statesman before the November election. To run the jail safely and effectively, the Sheriffs Office previously told the Statesman, the maximum number of people in custody should be 949, but the population surpasses that most days. Over the last year, the jail had an average of about 995 residents, according to statistics from the sheriffs office. The county uses several diversion programs, such as a Community Transition Center, pretrial release, alternative sentencing and misdemeanor probation programs, to keep people out of jail, the Statesman previously reported. In November, county officials reported that 2,000 people participate in these programs, which is almost twice the current jail population. The expected cost of the original project was $69.9 million, with the county drawing $17.1 million from its construction fund, according to previous Statesman reporting. The county has already spent $3.5 million to buy the land for the expansion. But bond or no bond, an overhaul is urgent, Clifford said. Just because we lost the bond does not take away the need, Clifford said. Were just going to do what we can with what we have. Sheriff wanted to put jail bond to voters again. Ada commissioners have a different idea After jail bond fails, Ada County leaders ask for help from the Idaho Legislature Most Ada voters backed the jail bond, but it needed 2/3 majority to pass. What happened? Should Ada County voters raise their taxes to expand the jail? Heres our take | Opinion A view of oil and gas development on Bureau of Land Management lands in Colorado, on Jan. 3, 2015. (Bob Wick/BLM/Public domain) Adam Frisch candidate for Colorados sweeping 3rd Congressional District is wrong. Despite all evidence showing otherwise, his position seems to be that fracking more of Colorados public lands to export more U.S. gas abroad is good for addressing climate change and the environment. Its not. Fracked methane gas is rapidly heating our region and planet, which is at or breaching tipping points, and its continued development is contributing to other deep ecological harms like the biodiversity crisis. This puts economic, other social, and many vital natural systems in peril. For the first time since record-keeping began, the Earth has surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius of heating above pre-industrial levels, a threshold almost all the worlds nations pledged, just a decade ago, to avoid. The Colorado River Basin is already in crisis, facing persistent, long-term drought with western Colorado irrigators wondering if their water is next. The willingness to allow this, and even to embrace it as a political choice, discounts our own time and puts our childrens future on the rack for fire-sale prices. More fossil fuel development in western Colorado means fracking places that communities care about and that we rely on for other needs. There is no place to develop fossil fuels that removes these impacts or eliminates this harm. Continued oil and gas development jeopardizes our shrinking water supply directly from contamination, through further depletion for industrial use, and by heating our region more quickly than even our rapidly warming planet. There are many other qualities that public lands offer to boost our well-being and economies. New industrial operations and a sprawling infrastructure of roads and pipelines, compressor stations and processing plants, could instead occupy these places and degrade other values. Pollution and impacts to climate, air, water, wildlife and humans spread much further. Colorados fracked gas is primarily not for Colorado. But Democratic candidate Frisch sounds eager to export more, especially overseas, despite U.S. exports already being at or near all time highs. What I hear, and maybe others like me, is someone arguing that we should drill Colorados prized public and wildlife lands to ship more climate-harming methane and U.S. energy abroad. For western Colorado, this likely also means new pipelines and the government using eminent domain to force right-of-way across farms and ranches. Many experts claim that more exports raise U.S. consumer prices even if it is a boon to frackers and exporters. As the Fifth National Assessment on the climate crisis and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change synthesis report, both from 2023, make clear that the path to a livable climate lies beyond fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency also recently published its updated guide to net-zero with the same conclusion: The development of additional oil and gas is rapidly foreclosing on our ability to take meaningful climate action. Democratic candidate for Colorados 3rd Congressional District seat, Adam Frisch, speaks during a series of debates at Colorado State University Pueblo on Sept. 28, 2022. (Mike Sweeney/Special to Colorado Newsline) The bottom line is that each moment of delay and every political hedge is costing lives and fortunes. To be the leader western Colorado needs, a candidate should speak to taking the Western Slope to where we have to get to, not be a bulwark to what we must leave behind. Frisch could start by more clearly articulating his vision for Colorados public lands and how he will help address the climate crisis head on. How will we work together to ensure a more resilient Southwest? What actions can we take to secure our watersheds and future? As a voter I need to know how my member of Congress will protect the environmental, habitat and human benefits that intact, non-industrialized public lands provide. I choose to live in western Colorado and that is a top reason that I am a climate- and conservation-informed voter. This is also true of very many voters across the district and state. And like the majority of voters in the 3rd District, I am among the unaffiliated. I need reasons to support a candidate beyond which jersey they wear. Perhaps I am old-fashioned, conservative even, in that regard. But it is a republic. I want to keep it by being represented in it. Despite the severe climate jeopardy that western Colorado is in, where I live, with threats from drought, wildfire and infrastructure damage now a clear and ever-present danger, I worry that Frisch has not shown himself to be a climate-focused or a strong conservation candidate. I hope that I am the one who is wrong. I am eager to hear a case otherwise. So far I have not. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Adam Frisch is wrong on fossil fuels appeared first on Colorado Newsline. ALGIERS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Algerian energy giant Sonatrach and Italian firm Tecnimont Spa on Thursday inked a 1.05 billion U.S. dollars contract here for the construction of a petrochemical complex in the eastern province of Skikda, Sonatrach said in a statement. The complex's primary focus will be the production of linear alkyl benzene (LAB), a crucial raw material essential for the manufacturing of industrial detergents and cleaners. This strategic project is intended to domestically generate 100,000 tons of LAB, with a view to reducing Algeria's reliance on imports and meeting the national demand for this essential ingredient in the detergent industry. TONTITOWN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality filed a complaint against the Tontitown mayor after reports of trash being burned in her yard during an air quality test in February. The complaint, dated Feb. 6, said smoke was coming from Mayor Angela Russells residence at around 8 a.m., the second day of the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environments (ADEE) five-day air test. Inspectors with the Office of Air Quality went to Russells residence near the Eco-Vista Waste Management Landfill on Arbor Acres Avenue. The inspectors spoke with Russells housekeeper who told them that Russells husband conducted the burning. 032252-72-00000-Russell-Open-Burning-Letter-2-6-2024-1_1709841681Download Timeline: Tontitowns landfill controversy She said he burned interior wood house trim, vegetative waste and a dog food bag. ADEQ says in the complaint the burning of the dog food bag and wood trim is a violation of Rule 18.602 which says: No person shall cause or permit the open burning of refuse, garbage, trade waste, or other waste material, or shall conduct a salvage operation by open burning. The operations manager at the landfill told inspectors he saw black smoke and flames coming from the residence and thought the house was on fire. He also said that Russells husband was in the backyard at the time of the burning. 032252-72-00000-Robert-and-Angela-Russell-Complaint-Report-2-6-2024-1_1709841679Download Harmful chemicals found in Tontitown air at landfill, officials say In a letter to the mayor dated Feb. 16, ADEQ said: to consider alternatives for the disposal of waste for the prevention of fire hazards, the protection of air quality in your community as well as consideration for those who live in the immediate surroundings. The letter goes on to say further incidents of open burning could result in up to a $10,000 fine per incident. When asked if the mayor was notified that air quality testing would be happening that day, ADEQ said, No one was notified that testing would begin to ensure all daily activities would resume as normal in the area. Russell says she and her husband did not know about the air testing, but when they did find out about it, he did not burn the other days that he had scheduled. We have been fighting for this air quality testing for over two years. I would never do anything to disrupt that because I want to know what Im breathing and what my citizens are breathing, she said. And I would never try to change anything or disrupt any test of any kind. The couple received permission from the local fire department to burn items for three days. Russell says her husband was not burning interior wood house trim or a dog food bag. What they thought was wood trim, Im assuming, was the cornstalks, she said. The dog food bag was being used to carry the leaves, rubbish, and debris over to the burn pile, according to Russell. Open burning is allowed in Tontitown according to Code 93.02 which states: Outdoor and open burning may be allowed upon the approval of the Fire Department. Russell hopes that other testing will be done. Some Tontitown residents believe she shouldnt have received a violation. People burn that kind of waste all the time. And I believe she was targeted, said Dennis Boyer, Tontitown resident. Boyer says this situation is unsettling. Now that the pollution in the air has been proven and there have been hearings and things are heating up, its clear that the government is coming after our mayor, who is heroically leading the charge to get this mess straightened out, Boyer said. Jami Morgan, who also lives in Tontitown, says she is not surprised that this happened to the mayor. Im super, super thankful for the mayor and for her actions and her taking this issue seriously and getting the city in a position where they can help the citizens more, Morgan said. And its really frustrating to hear that the state is sort of going, you know, taking this as a personal vendetta sort of situation. She says now that some state officials are listening to the citizens, it seems like this is sort of their deflection and retaliation to shift the narrative and the focus off of the landfill. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Cooper-Jones established the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation in her sons honor in 2021, aiming to teach Black males ages 10 to 18 the importance of physical and mental health and provide them secure places to run freely. Its been four years since a white father-and-son duo killed Ahmaud Arbery while he was jogging in Glynn County, Georgia and his mother continues keeping his memory alive. In 2021, Wanda Cooper-Jones established the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation in remembrance of her son with the goal of providing secure locations for Black boys and teens, aged 10 to 18, to run freely. Adidas spotlighted the efforts and impact of Cooper-Jones and eight other revolutionary Black women in its four-part Create with Purpose documentary series, the organization shared in a release. Wanda Cooper-Jones displays a T-shirt as she attends the Adidas Create With Purpose premiere on Feb. 29 at the Roxy Hotel in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Adidas) Ahmaud had some mental challenges that he was facing, and he used running as a sense of therapy, Cooper-Jones said in the documentary. My first idea was to be a resource for Black boys in the areas of physical and mental well-being. In 2022, the foundation established a scholarship fund and awarded $5,000 to six students who, like Arbery, graduated from Brunswick High School. The foundation handed out three more scholarships in the same amount this year. The foundation also raises money through the Run with Maud 5K in downtown Atlanta, which usually takes place days before Arberys birthday, in collaboration with the Atlanta Track Club. I had some very, very dark days, Cooper-Jones said. Prayer was all I had. I had come to terms that Ahmaud wasnt going to come back, which was very, very hard. I knew deep down in my heart that Ahmaud hadnt did anything wrong, and it was my job as a mom to fight for justice for him. But I had to come up with something that would also make a difference in the community, where people would still call his name. Produced under Adidas Honoring Black Excellence program which celebrates Black culture and individuals for their accomplishments Create with Purpose serves as a means for HBE to provide honorees with their flowers while they are still here. Cooper-Jones shared that she continues speaking with her therapist every two weeks as she fights and pushes through everything shes been through in the past few years. She also emphasized the importance of self-care as a means of maintaining a connection to her deceased son. Ahmaud used to tell me all the time that I was pretty. Its very important for me to continue to be pretty for Ahmaud. I do take time to go to a spa, said Cooper-Jones. I still get my nails done, my hair done. I only do those things for me because I know thats what Ahmaud would like me to continue doing. Adidas released a shoe in Arberys honor in addition to featuring Cooper-Jones in the documentary. In an Instagram post, Cooper-Jones expressed her gratitude to Adidas for the incredible collaboration, stating that the brand represents support and solidarity. The determined mother said the collaboration demonstrates the strength of unity in bringing about constructive change in our neighborhoods. By wearing the Ahmaud Arberys by Adidas, we carry Ahmauds legacy with us, standing in solidarity for justice and equality, Cooper-Jones wrote. Its a powerful reminder that we are not alone in this fight and that change is possible when we work together. Cooper-Jones and the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation will be able to support and deliver programming for future Black athletes and leaders with HBE. Lets continue to shed light on the importance of supporting causes that matter and using our platforms to create a brighter future for all, Cooper-Jones added via Instagram. Together, we can make a difference. Never miss a beat: Get our daily stories straight to your inbox with theGrios newsletter. The post Adidas spotlights Wanda Cooper-Jones efforts to keep son Ahmaud Arberys name alive in powerful documentary appeared first on TheGrio. London has become a "no-go zone for Jews" during weekend pro-Palestinian marches, the government's counter-extremism commissioner has said. Robin Simcox also urged ministers to "be willing to accept higher legal risk" when tackling extremism. Rishi Sunak's spokesman said the PM took concerns of extremism "extremely seriously" and noted a rise in both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred. March organisers said Jewish people did not need to be scared of the events. Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Simcox said Mr Sunak had been right to point to an increase in extremist disruption. He said he now needed the "policies to meet the scale of the challenge". Mr Simcox said the creation of a new definition of extremism, which the BBC understands will be set out next week, had a "clear purpose" and would be used "to guide future decisions over who the government does and does not engage with and fund". He also said the government already had "more power to tackle extremism than it sometimes thinks". "We have not betrayed democracy if extremists are no longer able to operate television channels," he said. "And we will not have become an authoritarian state if London is no longer permitted to be turned into a no-go zone for Jews every weekend." "All these things and more have become normalised in the UK," Mr Simcox added. A spokeswoman for Mr Sunak said that Mr Simcox was "referring to intimidation by a minority at protests in London at weekends". "We have sadly seen an increase in anti-Muslim hatred as well as antisemitism," she said. "The PM would continue to urge those taking part to be mindful of the upset and distress it can cause. Peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy." Last month, the Community Security Trust charity, which aims to provide security to the UK's Jewish community, published figures suggesting reports of antisemitic incidents in the UK had reached a record high last year. A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism told BBC News its own recent polling "corroborates Mr Simcox's warning, finding that 90% of British Jews say that they would avoid travelling to a city centre if a major anti-Israel demonstration was taking place there". Jonathan Wittenberg, senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism UK, said that he felt the demonstrations were "partly" pro-Palestinian but had "very minute, more radical elements at heart", which are "very intimidating for Jews". He told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "When they are taking place, and in the aftermath, it is very frightening and disturbing for... the Jewish citizens of London and that is not at all as it should be. "On the other hand, that doesn't make the whole of London, all the time, a no-go zone for Jews." Rabbi Wittenberg said he felt many demonstrators were not protesting against Jews but do want to express concern for Palestinian people and backing for "a political, two-state solution" - which he also supports. But he said Israel was "really the only country in the world where people protest against its very existence" and it was "very difficult to cope with that as a Jew because its our only country in the world". The issue of extremism has risen on the political agenda in the aftermath of claims by Lee Anderson, a former Tory deputy chairman, that the mayor of London Sadiq Khan was controlled by "Islamists". Mr Sunak said the comments were "wrong", suspended him from the party and gave a speech in which he warned of forces "trying to tear the country apart". 'Irresponsible' John Rees, a Stop the War Coalition national officer, insisted there was "absolutely no need" for Jewish people to be frightened by the demonstrations. He said he understood why some might feel scared, but blamed Mr Sunak for frightening the Jewish community, saying the prime minister had been "irresponsible". "Of course, if the government decides to whip up that kind of fear, then people are going to feel that, of course they are," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Brendan Cox, whose Labour MP wife Jo Cox was murdered by neo-Nazi extremist Thomas Mair a week before the Brexit referendum in 2016, said Mr Simcox and the government were using extremism as a political tool. "The government has a responsibility not to play politics with extremism," he said on X, formerly Twitter. "Today its 'advisor on extremism' manages to write an entire article... which focuses on just one type of extremism and refuses to even mention anti-Muslim hate - despite an explosion in its prevalence. "If the government looks like it is using extremism as a political tool in the run-up to an election it will set back what should be a shared national goal. Please don't do this. It's too important." Mr Simcox was appointed to his advisory role by then-Home Secretary Priti Patel in July 2022, having served in an interim capacity since March 2021. He is a former Margaret Thatcher Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, an ultra-conservative US-based think tank. Since the start of the conflict in Gaza, regular pro-Palestinian marches have taken place in London. Last month, Home Secretary James Cleverly urged the groups to end their protests saying "you've made your point". In an interview with the Times, he questioned whether the demonstrations added "value" to their call for an end to fighting in Gaza. The groups have argued that anti-Muslim "hysteria" from some MPs and pressure from the government have provoked the Metropolitan Police into heavy-handed and "discriminatory" policing of "peaceful mass protests". Attorneys, advocates and lawmakers stood inside the Florida Capitol to express their disappointment in the Legislature for failing to prioritize the state prison system this session. Michael Planes, a Florida prison inmate, used to walk and talk. Now, he can't do either after a brutal beatdown inside the system that promises to "meet the needs of those entrusted to our care." The 30-year-old Planes, who was incarcerated at Gulf Correctional Institution, was beaten into a coma that lasted 60 days, according to his mother Rhonda Planes. He'd been serving a 12-year sentence on grand theft and other charges. "He did deserve to go to prison," she said, choking back tears at a Thursday press conference. "But my son did not deserve the treatment that he got in prison." The distraught mother, family members of other imprisoned Floridians, as well as attorneys, advocates and lawmakers stood inside the Florida Capitol to express their disappointment in the Legislature for failing to prioritize the state prison system this session, which ends Friday. A request for comment with a Department of Corrections spokesperson is pending. Representatives Angie Nixon, right, and Katherine Waldron during the opening day of the 2024 Legislative Session on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Dozens of bills aiming to improve prison conditions, bolster programs and boost inmates' quality of life were filed in both the Florida House of Representatives and state Senate. Most didn't even get a hearing. Instead, the GOP-led Legislature created more criminal penalties instead of addressing the root causes of crime, said Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville. "The state of our criminal justice system and prison system is in complete and utter disarray," Nixon said. Rep. Dianne Hart, a Tampa Democrat who dedicated much of her time as a lawmaker to improving prisoners' lives, said 424 people died last year while in the hands of the Florida Department of Corrections. Many are reported as natural deaths when they should actually be considered homicides, she added. "We must do better here as a state," she said. "Far too long we've allowed unexplained deaths to go unreported and without any accountability." Rep. Dianne Hart (file photo) A few bills did make it out this session. For example, one filed by Rep. Vicki Lopez, R-Coral Gables (HB 83), which reestablishes the State-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund passed and awaits Gov. Ron DeSantis' approval. The fund holds up to $32 million that the DOC is to use for things like educational programs, inmate substance abuse programs, inmate chapels and the purchase, rental and maintenance of recreation and wellness equipment, according to Florida law already in place. But bills like the one Rep. Melony Bell, R-Fort Meade, sponsored (HB 959), which would have improved the health care system for inmates, didn't make it past first reading. Other bills that didn't make the cut: Florida lawmakers won't hear bills to improve state prison conditions this session Some who shared their loved ones' horror stories from behind bars particularly criticized the prison medical system for turning family members into a shell of who they once were. Planes, for instance, entered the state prison system healthy at 23 in 2017 for aggravated child abuse, grand theft of a motor vehicle and grand theft of a firearm, according to Department of Corrections records. After what his mother called extreme neglect and lack of proper care, he's now curled in a fetal position in a complete vegetative state. The entrance to Florida State Prison in Starke, Fla. is shown Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. She said his feeding tube was infected from not being properly cleaned and changed, and his right ear is falling off because he's been laying on one side "for God knows how long." This isn't about politics, she said. It's about life. Keith Harris, a Florida parole specialist, agreed. "There are people that go to parole hearings ... and say to the offender, 'I want you to rot in prison,'" he said. Referring to Michael, Harris said, "he did." Breaking & trending news reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Advocates call for change in Florida prisons after legislation dies PROVIDENCE Environmental advocates came out in force this week urging lawmakers to devote funding to open space and farmland preservation in the green-economy bond that would go before voters in November. We have a responsibility to future generations to continue to fund these conservation efforts, state Rep. Megan Cotter, a Hopkinton Democrat, said at a House Finance Committee hearing. Over the last four decades, nearly every environmental bond on the ballot included money for open space or farmland acquisition. The last time funding was omitted for either program was 2008. But the $50-million green bond proposed as part of Gov. Dan McKees spending plan includes no money for land-preservation programs. Rolling hills and a spring cleanup pile on The Meadows, a waterfront farm near Goddard State Park in Warwick that is protected as open space. While there are funds left over from previous bond approvals, including $2.6 million for land acquisition by cities and towns, $400,000 for farmland preservation and $2.1 million for the state open-space program, much of the money is already spoken for, according to DEM director Terry Gray. So Cotter introduced legislation that would put an additional $16 million in the bond proposal to purchase undeveloped land, acquire conservation easements for farmland and manage existing state open space. Its the same amount of money the DEM asked the governor for when the administration was putting together the spending plan last summer. Cotters bill is supported by a broad coalition that includes conservation groups, farming organizations, land trusts, advocates of local food and hunters. When were investing in open space and access to open space, were investing in the people of this state, said Jeanine Silversmith, executive director of the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association. McKee administration concerned open space conflicts with housing McKees office has previously said that the budget proposal omitted funding for open space and farmland acquisition because the administration wanted to limit the total amount of borrowing across a number of bond questions. At the hearing and under questioning by Rep. Teresa Tanzi, Brian Daniels, director of the Office of Management and Budget, gave another explanation. He told the committee that the administration wanted to rethink how open space is protected so that preservation efforts dont interfere with the states acute need for more housing. We are the smallest state, which means the competition for scarce land is intense between conservation and housing, renewable energy and economic development, he said. Unfortunately, one of the ways that weve done open space in the past is its really an either/or proposition. When Tanzi asked why the largest amount of money $20 million was going to the Quonset Business Park in support of offshore wind development, Daniels said its because renewable-energy investments are key to reaching the states decarbonization goals. Cotter said protecting forests and other undeveloped areas is also important to meet the mandates set by the states landmark climate law because they store carbon. The $16 million will help us get to the goals set by the Act on Climate, she said. More: Cultivating success: RI's new farmers help the state buck national trends Land preservation key to farming Advocates say the funding for farmland protection is of particular importance. The state lost nearly 10% of its farmland between 2017 and 2022, the most recent year accounted for in the federal Census of Agriculture. While there have been positive signs for the industry in Rhode Island growth in the overall value of products sold and an influx of beginning farmers theres strong incentive for farm owners to sell. At $17,500 an acre, Rhode Island has the most expensive farmland in the nation. Since 1985, the state program to acquire development rights to agricultural land has protected 129 farms, covering 8,200 acres. Andrew Morley said that when he and his wife were looking to set up a small dairy farm 13 years ago, the biggest challenge was finding land. They eventually signed a long-term lease for a property in Little Compton that had been protected by the farmland preservation program in 1990 and created Sweet and Salty Farm. So we were given the opportunity to start a farm in a place because of land conservation in the past, Morley said. And if the land hadnt been protected? It would probably be very large mansions, empty most of the year except for summer, like a lot of Little Compton is, he said. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Conservation vs. housing clash in push to get open space funding in green bond Pravin Gordhan is sworn in as Minister of Public Enterprises in Cape Town CAPE TOWN (Reuters) -South Africa's Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, will retire after this year's general elections on May 29, he told Reuters on Friday. Gordhan oversees state entities including struggling power utility Eskom and logistics firm Transnet, whose poor performances have dragged down economic growth in Africa's most industrialised economy. An anti-apartheid veteran, he has been in politics since the beginning of South Africa's democracy and previously served as finance minister. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Mark Potter) Student activist Lin Lin holds up a sign as she takes part in a 2021 demonstration against the military coup in Yangon (-) Student activist Lin Lin led protests against Myanmar's junta, defying the generals for months before being hunted down and caught. Now serving a 15-year sentence, she regrets nothing. "I wanted to do that more than anything else," she told AFP during her trial. "And if you ask what I will do if I am released, I will do it again." The 25-year-old psychology student grew up during a rare semi-democratic interlude in Myanmar. When the military staged a coup in February 2021 citing unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud, she joined millions of others demonstrating in the streets. Soldiers fired live bullets into the crowds, arrested thousands and carried out nighttime raids on suspected dissidents. The demonstrations gradually fizzled out, but Lin Lin was determined to find a way to keep defiance against the junta at the top of people's minds. Inspired by democracy flashmobs in Hong Kong and elsewhere, she began organising protests around Yangon. She used messaging apps to summon dozens of young protesters, who would converge under colonial-era tenements, outside shopping malls, or at parks and markets. They would light flares and unfurl banners, a thicket of hands raised in the Hunger Games-inspired three finger salute that has become popular among pro-democracy protesters. Others criticised the junta through megaphones as passers-by looked on. Seconds later, the protesters would break apart, scattering down side streets or into waiting vehicles before security forces could arrive. Each event was filmed and the footage uploaded to social media or sent to journalists abroad. AFP interviewed Lin Lin during that time in late 2021, when she was living one step ahead of the police and security forces. "During the protests, I have so much adrenalin," she said from a dim, bare room that would be home for a couple of days. "It's like my heart is trying to come out of my mouth." - 'Can't sleep' - With the military tightening its grip on life in Yangon, the rush of each protest was followed by fear. Lin Lin said goodbye to her family and went underground in the commercial hub of around eight million people, changing safehouses every few days and always dreading a knock at the door. "I can't sleep the whole night," she told AFP at the time. "When I see the sun's rays in the morning, I feel like I'm safe. After that, I can sleep well." Security forces have used torture and sexual violence in their crackdown on dissent, rights groups say, and in 2022, the United Nations rights office said at least 290 people had died in custody. A flash protest in December 2021 organised by another student group in Yangon was rammed by a passing military vehicle, leaving at least three wounded. Lin Lin's luck ran out that same month. As she made her way to a protest rendezvous, she was arrested by plainclothes police. "I had prepared for the worst... but when I was suddenly faced by it, my mouth opened and I just said 'Huh?'" she said from prison. "I was also thinking to run at first, but the road was very open and they had guns." In March 2022 a junta-controlled court jailed her for three years under a law that outlaws any action deemed to undermine the military. The junta has exploited this law -- authored during the British colonial era -- as a catch-all weapon against dissent, using it to jail protesters, actors, and journalists. Lin Lin was later jailed for another two years for possessing a fake ID. More than 26,000 political prisoners have been arrested by the junta since the start of the coup, according to a local monitoring group. - Letters to friends - The monotony of life in prison is broken occasionally by food parcels from home. Only when she meets family members at court hearings is Lin Lin able to hear news of the turmoil that continues to rock Myanmar more than three years since the coup. "I avoid depression by thinking of what I did before I was arrested," she said. She also writes letters to the friends she protested alongside. "She never mentions her feelings," said Helen, who helped Lin Lin organise flashmob protests and also spent time in jail. "She doesn't want us to be depressed," she said, requesting a pseudonym for security reasons. With the military monitoring letters to inmates, political topics are off-limits. Instead, they write of hotpot and plan trips they will take together in the future. But last month, a court sentenced Lin Lin to another 10 years for contact with a "terrorist" organisation. "I'm worried that she can't make it if she has to stay in prison for too long," Helen said. Lin Lin has stopped counting down the days to her release date. "I don't want to ask myself how long it is before I can come home," she said. "I just accept I can come back home after the revolution (against the junta) has won." lpk-rma/pdw/dhw/cwl VENICE Agape Flights, a faith-based nonprofit that provides supplies for visiting mission groups in the Bahamas, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba, canceled its planned March 7 flight to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. An increased wave of gang violence has shut down Port au Prince Airport and jeopardized Agape Flights ability to safely deliver needed supplies and medicine to mission partners in six locations in the country. The canceled flight was a scheduled two-day trip that would have landed in the Dominican Republic Thursday and Haiti Friday providing supplies for five different locations before returning to Venice. But with the borders closed between the two countries that share the island of Hispaniola, that flight would have been impossible to complete. Allen Speer, CEO of Agape Flights, decided Wednesday to suspend mission supply flights to Haiti. Even if that was not the case, Agape Flights CEO Allen Speer said he did not want to put their mission partners in harms way. Were taking this on a day-by-day basis, Speer said. Speer said he worked with a sister nonprofit, Fort Pierce based Missionary Flights International, to deliver the supplies bound for the Dominican Republic. He has also talked with a Puerto Rico-based sea ministry about delivering supplies to Haiti by an undisclosed port in the south of the country but added, I wouldnt want to put any false hope out there. A coordinated gang effort Speer pointed to a coordinated effort by several gangs especially while Ariel Henry, Haiti's U.S.-backed prime minister, has been in Kenya, attempting to push through a stalled plan for 1,000 Kenyan police officers to travel to Haiti to help stabilize the nation. They have coalesced, they have begun to collaborate together and in some ways are uniting to really get him out of office and out of power, Speer said. Hundreds of armed gangs have gained an increased level of power in the country since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. On March 29, 2022, one of Agape Flights' two airplanes a twin-engine Piper Navajo Chieftain was set on fire during protests at Les Cayes airport. Those protests coincided with the 35th anniversary of Haitis 1987 Constitution. That temporarily stranded seven members of an Agape Flights work team. They eventually arrived home on April 2, 2022, while a fundraising effort gave the ministry money to buy a larger replacement aircraft. Conditions this year are far worse, Speer said. Now were at a different place of decline; we're at the bottom, he said. Haiti is at the very, very bottom and I just fear that there will be a lot more bloodshed. Several of their mission partners have left Haiti for safety reasons, Speer said. Though those who remain are resourceful, a long break in service of a month or longer will have a severe impact, especially those people who we carry in much needed medicine they will be in dire straits to receive medicine. A plea for help from the U.S. Speer said he has reached out to the offices of both U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, as well as U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, and has not heard a reply. He recognized the severity of ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East but fears that Haiti is being overlooked. We are the Haitian peoples hope, said Speer, who would like to see the U.S. develop a coalition to help solve the crisis in Haiti. Speer was talking with a high ranking Haitian official Wednesday, and he said, 'Will you pray with me right now because these gang members are steps away from my door.' Speer tried to call the official Thursday, to no avail. The gangs have to be stopped, Speer said. The Haitian people, that's where my heart really lies theyre good people, they're lovely people and they deserve hope, he added. All they desire is what all of us have in this country: safety and security. Safety and security and freedom, that is what we hold dearest in this country that would be our message to all of our elected officials. Information from USA Today was used in this report. Agape Flights bought this 1985 Reims F406 Cessna Caravan II to replace a plane that was destroyed in a March, 2022 protest at the airport in Les Cayes, Haiti. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Agape Flights suspends aid from Venice because of Haiti gang violence Ukraines Air Force. Stock photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine The Russians attacked Ukraines south and east on the night of 7-8 March, using one S-300 anti-aircraft guided missile, two Kh-59 guided air missiles and 37 Shahed attack drones. Ukraines air defence has managed to down 33 Russian drones. Source: Ukraines Air Force on Telegram Quote: "As a result of air defence efforts, 33 Shahed drones were downed within Kirovohrad, Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Kharkiv oblasts." Details: The Russians launched the drones from temporarily occupied Crimea (Balaklava). Anti-aircraft units and mobile fire groups from the Air Force and the rest of the Defence Forces as well as electronic warfare equipment were involved in repelling the air attack. Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian military attacked Russian planes at a distance of over 150 kilometers, reported Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk, Air Force commander, saying that results are still being clarified. Previous reports indicate that 13 Russian warplanes were downed in February and two more in March. This list includes 12 fighter bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets, and a rare A-50 military spy plane. Another A-50 aircraft was reportedly downed in January. Yuri Ihnat, the Air Force's spokesperson, attributed this success to air defense systems supplied by Ukraine's allies. According to Oleshchuk, the loss of the aircraft led to a "significant" reduction in the number of Russias guided bomb strikes, the weapons that Ukraine is not yet able to counter. "The enemy continues to attack our positions with guided aerial bombs, but they don't dare to fly too close anymore," the commander noted. Also, there are still no A-50s over the Azov Sea and in other areas since the second one was downed on Feb. 23, "which decreases the ability to conduct radar reconnaissance," according to Oleshchuk. Air Force commander claims that the Russian pilots began discussing the decisions of Russia's military leadership, following a recent uptick of downed planes. Such talks, and possibly sabotage, during the occupiers' missions, will only increase when the Air Force receives more tools from its Western partners to protect our skies from air attacks, Oleshchuk wrote on the Telegram. Russia's total losses during the all-out war amount to about 672 aircraft 347 planes and 325 helicopters, according to Ukraine's General Staff. The General Staff's figure could not be independently verified. 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. WINDHOEK, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Namibian government has strongly condemned the United States' recent announcement of new sanctions against Zimbabwe, calling for the immediate and unconditional lifting of all illegal economic sanctions imposed on the country. In a statement issued Thursday evening by Peya Mushelenga, minister of international relations and cooperation, Namibia emphasized its commitment to the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign nations, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The statement stressed that Namibia does not recognize unilateral coercive measures imposed without the authorization of the UN Security Council. "The economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries are unilateral, and Namibia urges constructive engagement that promotes dialogue and cooperation to address issues of mutual interest and concern between and among sovereign states," he said. Mushelenga said the government highlighted Zimbabwe's efforts toward economic reform and development, emphasizing the need for collective support from the international community. "The Namibian government, therefore, views the continued imposition of economic sanctions, in whatever form or guise, as counterproductive and hindering the Republic of Zimbabwe from realizing its immense economic potential. The prevailing sanctions further continue to compound spillover effects across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region," he said, emphasizing Namibia's full support for Zimbabwe's reintegration into the global financial system Meanwhile, reaffirming its longstanding call, Namibia joined with the SADC region and the African Union in demanding the immediate lifting of all unilateral, illegal economic and financial sanctions imposed by certain Western countries against Zimbabwe. Air-dropped aid packages struck and killed five Palestinians in Gaza after their parachutes failed to open properly, according to reports. Footage circulating on social media appears to show several packages plummeting to the ground from a transport aircraft. A US military cargo plane airdropped more than 11,500 meals to Gaza Friday in Washingtons fourth joint operation with Jordan this month to deliver urgently needed aid to the coastal territory. But the US denied it had caused the deaths. The US did not cause the fatalities during our airdrop in Gaza, a US defence official said. Seperately, a Jordanian military source said none of the kingdoms four aircraft that took part in the operation were involved in the fatalities. More than 70,000 meals have been delivered to Gaza over the past week by the US military in coordination with Jordan, Egypt and France. Earlier, Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, said Britain would work alongside the United States to open a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to the enclave by sea. Aid officials have warned for months of looming famine in Gaza amid food shortages caused by border closures. 03:56 PM GMT Todays live coverage has ended Todays live coverage has ended. 03:44 PM GMT Eleven-year-old Palestinian girl recounts being pulled from rubble Eleven-year-old Jamila Khelah speaks to reporters as she recovers at home after being pulled from rubble after an airstrike. She was badly injured and was taken to hospital. Three of her siblings died in the strike. 03:35 PM GMT Israeli officials mull arming some Gaza civilians Israeli officials have discussed arming some civilians in Gaza to provide security protection for aid convoys into the besieged enclave, as part of wider planning for humanitarian supplies after fighting ends, the Israel Hayom daily said on Friday. With civil order increasingly strained in Hamas-run Gaza and municipal police refusing to provide security to convoys because of the risk of being targeted by Israeli forces, the issue of secure distribution of supplies has become a major problem. The civilians would not be linked to militant groups including Hamas but it remained unclear who they might be, the newspaper said. It said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had postponed a decision on the issue. The Prime Ministers office declined to comment on the report, which came a week after dozens of Palestinians were killed in an incident in which crowds surrounded a convoy of aid trucks entering northern Gaza and troops opened fire. 03:14 PM GMT At least three people starved to death in last 24 hours, rights group says In the last 24 hours, at least three people have starved to death in Gaza as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Three-year-old Ahmed Wael Ahl and another 15-year-old died from died of hunger and dehydration in Al-Shifa Medical Complex, the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said. They added that in Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, a 72-year-old man died from malnutrition and dehydration. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor warned of a notable increase in deaths among children and elderly. 02:40 PM GMT Cameron says temporary Gaza harbour will take time Lord David Cameron said on Friday the US-led plan to build a temporary harbour in Gaza to bring aid into the enclave would take time, reiterating his call for Israel to open the port of Ashdod in the meantime. Its going to take time to build, the foreign secretary said. So the crucial thing is today the Israelis must confirm that theyll open the port at Ashdod. 02:23 PM GMT Judgement on Israels compliance with international law expected in coming days Lord David Cameron said a judgment would be made on whether Israel remains compliant with international humanitarian law in the coming days. Asked whether the UK could pressure Israel on Gaza aid by withholding arms sales, the Foreign Secretary told the World At One: In terms of export licensing, that depends on the judgment that we make about international humanitarian law and that judgment is undergoing at the moment. I dont want to give a running commentary on it but Ive set out very clearly in Parliament and elsewhere the processes we have to go through and were going through them now. Pressed on when an answer could be expected, he said: In the coming days definitely. 01:54 PM GMT The latest pictures Here is a roundup of the latest photos from Gaza. Smoke rises to the sky following an explosion in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel - AP Photo/Leo Correa Palestinians inpect the rubble of a building in Deir el-Balah following Israeli bombardment - AFP via Getty Images A Palestinian boy plays - Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Palestinian Samah al-Najar leaves a clinic set up by Doctors Without Border (MSF) inside the Rafah Indonesian Field Hospital in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, after being treated for injuries sustained during Israeli bombardment - MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images 01:28 PM GMT 9,000 women killed in Gaza since Oct 7 At least 9,000 women have been killed since the fighting began on Oct 7, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said in a statement Friday. The statement said: About 60,000 pregnant women in the Gaza Strip suffer from malnutrition, dehydration, and lack of appropriate health care About 5,000 pregnant women in the Gaza Strip give birth every month in harsh, unsafe, and unhealthy conditions 01:16 PM GMT Britain involved in planning Gaza aid corridor, says Downing Street Downing Street has released a statement about the planned marine aid corridor to Gaza, saying that British involvement included planning and surveying. A Number 10 spokesperson said: We will and have been supporting it. We have supported the US in planning for the pontoon, including by sending marine surveyors and will now be working with partners to operationalise our maritime aid corridor from Cyprus. We continue to be very clear that we need to go much further, not enough aid is getting into Gaza, and we continue to push them to take further action, to do more to protect civilians, to abide by international humanitarian law and allow more aid in and to protect foreign aid workers and to facilitate humanitarian operations. We continue to impress the importance of this in our conversations and as youve seen today we are also taking action with our allies to get more vital aid in. 12:43 PM GMT Aid ship preparing to leave for Gaza A ship is preparing Friday to leave Cyprus and head for Gaza with humanitarian aid, the European Commission president has said. It comes as international donors launch a sea corridor to supply the besieged territory facing widespread hunger and shortages of essential supplies after five months of war. The vessel, belonging to Spains Open Arms, will make a pilot voyage to test the corridor, Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Cyprus, where shes inspecting preparations for the sea corridor. The ship has been waiting at Cypruss port of Larnaca for permission to deliver food aid from World Central Kitchen, a US charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres. 12:19 PM GMT Israel welcomes planned opening of Gaza maritime aid route Israel said on Friday it welcomes a humanitarian aid corridor from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip, an initiative backed by the countrys key ally Washington and which the EU hopes can open Sunday. The Cypriot initiative will allow the increase of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, after a security check according to Israeli standards, foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat said on X. 11:54 AM GMT Joint statement on aid to Gaza released A joint Statement from the European Commission, the Republic of Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States Endorsing the Activation of a Maritime Corridor to Deliver Humanitarian Assistance to Gaza has been released. It calls the humanitarian situation in Gaza dire with innocent Palestinian families and children desperate for basic necessities, pledging that the countries will cooperate to supply aid. A humanitarian corridor via sea is vital, it adds, and must be part of a sustained effort to increase the flow of humanitarian aid and commercial commodities into Gaza. We will continue to work with Israel to expand deliveries by land, insisting that it facilitate more routes and open additional crossings to get more aid to more people, it says. We affirm that protecting civilian lives is a key element of international humanitarian law that must be respected. And together, we must all do more to ensure aid gets to people who desperately need it. 11:32 AM GMT Israeli offensive in Gazas Rafah must not be allowed to happen The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that an Israeli offensive in Gazas border town of Rafah could not be allowed to happen because it would cause massive loss of Palestinian lives. Should Israel launch its threatened military offensive into Rafah, where 1.5 million people have been displaced in deplorable, subhuman conditions, any ground assault on Rafah would incur massive loss of life and would heighten the risk of further atrocity crimes, said Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office. This must not be allowed to happen. 11:03 AM GMT Israeli troops fired precisely at Palestinians getting aid Israeli troops fired precisely at Palestinians rushing to get aid in an incident that left 115 people dead, according to the countrys military. The Israeli military said that a review found that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) aimed at those who posed a threat. The command review found that IDF troops did not fire at the humanitarian convoy, but did fire at a number of suspects who approached the nearby forces and posed a threat to them, it said of the incident. Israeli troops opened fire late last month on a crowd of Palestinians trying to get aid from trucks in northern Gaza. More than 100 people were killed in the incident. Israel said most of those were trampled or driven over by aid trucks in the chaos. The Hamas-run health ministry said most of the deaths were due to gunshots. 10:40 AM GMT Listen: Battle Lines The new episode of the Telegraphs Battle Lines podcast is now live. On this episode, we talk to our US editor Tony Diver about Super Tuesday and why it could mean unrest in America and abroad. Then we hear from Nataliya Vasilyeva, our Middle Correspondent, who has been revisiting the south of Israel to reflect on what has changed since those dark days following the October 7 attack by Hamas. Finally, South America correspondent Simeon Tegel gives us the lowdown on whats happening in Haiti and why the man at the centre of the violence is known as Barbecue. 10:18 AM GMT UK to join US in delivering aid to Gaza by sea The UK will join the US and other allies to create a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to Gaza, the Foreign Secretary has said. US President Joe Biden used his State of the Union address on Thursday to announce that American troops would establish a temporary port on the Gaza coast aimed at increasing the flow of aid into the territory. The move follows mounting concern about the level of aid getting into Gaza over land, with international bodies warning of an impending famine if current restrictions continue. On Friday, Lord David Cameron said the UK would be working with the US to provide aid by sea. He tweeted: People in Gaza are in desperate humanitarian need. Alongside the US, the UK and partners have announced we will open a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to Gaza. We continue to urge Israel to allow more trucks into Gaza as the fastest way to get aid to those who need it. 10:10 AM GMT Aid lands in Gaza Parachute carrying aid have been seen landing in Gaza amid warnings of food shortages and famine risk in the enclave. Parachutes drop supplies into the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel - AP Photo/Leo Correa 09:50 AM GMT US hits Houthi targets in series of strikes The US has hit Houthi targets in Yemen with a series of self-defence strikes. The targets included four mobile Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and one unmanned aerial vehicle, according to the US Central Command (CENTOM) Three missiles launched towards the Gulf of Aden from areas controlled by Houthis were also shot down. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US navy and merchant vessels, CENTCOM said. Attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea have grown since the war in Gaza erupted. Earlier this week three sailors were killed during the militants first deadly attack on shipping. 09:27 AM GMT Israeli settlements grow by record amount A record-level expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories is in the works, potentially eliminating the change of a Palestinian state, the UN human rights chief said on Friday. Volker Turk said that the new settlements amounted to a war crime. Settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian State, Mr Turk said in a statement that accompanied a 16-page report. The report documented 24,300 new Israeli housing units in the occupied West Bank during a one-year period, the highest on record since monitoring was launched in 2017. It added that there has also been an increase in the severity and regularity of both Israeli settler and state violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. 09:03 AM GMT Biden warns Israel not to use Gaza aid as bargaining chip US President Joe Biden warned Israel on Thursday that it cannot use aid as a bargaining chip in its fight against Hamas and called for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Gaza. Using his annual State of the Union address to deliver some of his strongest comments yet, Mr Biden also ordered the US military to lead an emergency mission to build a temporary pier off Gaza to facilitate more aid deliveries. His address was delivered to Congress as hopes dimmed for a new truce before the start of Ramadan after Hamas negotiators left talks with mediators in Egypt to consult with the movements leadership in Qatar. To the leadership of Israel I say this - humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Mr Biden said. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. 08:43 AM GMT Gaza health ministry says war death toll at 30,878 The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Friday at least 30,878 people have been killed in the territory during more than five months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants. The latest toll includes 78 fatalities over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, while 72,402 people have been wounded in Gaza since the war broke out on October 7. 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. AUSTIN (KXAN) Priority registration is an important time for parents and students in Austin Independent School District. It is a time when parents can register their kids and sign them up for a different AISD schools or programs that might not be offered in their area. We have lots of great programs, said Gabe Reyes, Director of Student Enrollment and Attendance Services with AISD. Some parents are concerned that their kids wont get into those programs, though there can be very long waitlists if students arent zoned for a specific school. Depending on which school we are talking about some schools get flooded with requests, said John Green-Otero, Director of Early Learning with AISD. This year, AISD moved to a new system known as Enroll Austin which combines all online registration, pre-K applications and transfer requests. It does create waitlists, but as students accept or decline their offers as they go through this process it does open up seats, Reyes said. For Pre-K students there are eligibility requirements for students who are applying to transfer or join a specific program. The Texas Education Agency requires economically disadvantaged students, emergent bilingual students, students experiencing homelessness or those in the foster system be given higher priority when applying. Austin ISD launches new enrollment system Because it is designed by the state to ensure first and foremost that we are ensuring students who fall into those categories get placed, we have to by law ensure that, Green-Otero said. It creates challenges, because depending on which school we are talking about, some schools just get flooded with requests. Some parents of transfer students we spoke with tell KXAN that they are looking at options outside of AISD because of the waitlist. KXAN asked AISD if there are any considerations they look at for students on the waitlist. AISD tells KXAN they do offer guidance to campuses on certain things to look for when considering students. Consider if you have a sibling on the campus, consider if they are a staff member, what are the various circumstances that the family is experiencing, Green-Otero said. With this system we are trying to offer to as many families as we can across the district, said Reyes. Priority registration does allow people to transfer/apply to programs, but even if youre going to your home school, it helps if families register early. This is so if AISD does get transfer requests, the district will know how many seats there are. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, stands on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on Feb. 8, 2024. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama House Thursday approved a bill that would ban the public funding of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and leave teachers or employees who use divisive concepts subject to potential termination. SB 129, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, passed the House on a 75-28 party-line vote, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence or a conference committee after the House amended the bill. The legislation would ban teachers and state employees from compelling others to accept or conform to divisive concepts. The bill includes examples of such concepts, like the notion that individuals are inherently accountable for past actions based on their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin. The bill comes after conservative groups and politicians have attacked DEI programs across the country. Floridas version of the bill, the Stop Woke Act, is currently on hold after a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Appeals Court referred to the legislation as the greatest First Amendment sin, as reported by the Guardian Tuesday. A version of the legislation had been sponsored in the two previous years by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, but it never received a Senate vote. Oliver said earlier in the session that he wanted the Senate to pass it first so the House would not kill three days through filibustering. When we look at K-12, the Legislature has complete authority because its compulsory we make kids go to school, Oliver said. So its our responsibility to make sure that that is a level playing field, and that there are guardrails for my kids, your kids or anybody elses. Democratic House members said the bill rolls back progress made in providing access to opportunities for minorities. Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmignham, said on the House floor that this is Alabamas version of attempting to further kill affirmative action in the state of Alabama. It is allowing our racial ethnicity, and the significance of our skin color, to be slowly stripped away, in every shape, form or fashion, Givan said. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said in a press conference after the bills passage that the bill is another example that we are trying to continue to divide our state at a time the state is trying to attract people to live, work and play. A man in a blue suit and green tie House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, speaks during the session of the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector) What does this say for our children and grandchildren? This is saying that we are not embracing diversity, equity and inclusion. We dont pay attention to differences. We are not for differences. Were trying to limit speech and opportunity for certain communities, he said. Daniels said he hopes legal action will follow as it did in Florida. Rep. Prince Chestnut, D-Selma, added an amendment to the bill that Chestnut said would protect the First Amendment and academic freedom in higher education. The text before the House on Thursday originally stated that nothing in the legislation may be construed to inhibit or violate the First Amendment rights of any student or employee, or to undermine the duty of a public institution of higher education to protect, to the greatest degree, academic freedom, intellectual diversity, and free expression, provided that none of these protected tenets conflict with this act. The amendment struck provided that none of these protected tenets conflict with this act. Daniels said that he is hopeful that organizations are preparing to file lawsuits. Even if we have to file lawsuit about this particular issue, we will, he said. House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said in a press conference after the House adjourned that the bill put everyone, regardless of background, on the same level playing field, but that with any piece of legislation, he suggested it could be challenged in court. Everything we do has a chance to be challenged in courts. They were set in law for the state, so anytime you do that theres a possibility. Some probably more than others, he said. Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, said that DEI is not an attempt to exclude you but an attempt to address our history head on accepting the truth and work toward a more perfect union that includes all of us. Rafferty said that DEI doesnt seek to divide but to bring people together regardless of our myriad differences to the bounty, to experience the freedom our Constitution guarantees us. We cannot celebrate and honor triumph without first reckoning with the tragic consequences of our history. Like I said, that is going to be uncomfortable, and it should be. But at the end of the day, we cannot experience the light of truth without reckoning with the dark of our past, he said. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Alabama House passes bill restricting DEI initiatives, stirs debate on free speech appeared first on Alabama Reflector. Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the House has passed SB1, but the Senate will have to concur on amendments before it is sent to the Governor's desk. The Alabama House gave approval to a bill Thursday that allows people to be charged with, in some cases, felonies for helping others with absentee voting. Representatives voted 75 to 28 to pass the bill. The Alabama Senate previously passed the bill Feb. 13 with a vote of 27 to 8. "Ballot harvesting is a practice in which groups or individuals seek to profit off of the absentee voting process by knowingly ordering, requesting, collecting, pre-filing, obtaining or delivering an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot other than his or her own absentee ballot application or absentee ballot," Sen. Garlan Gudger said in a statement. "SB1 will help strengthen Alabama's absentee voting process while protecting voters who are disabled and protecting our overseas military voters. SB1 will make it illegal to pay or receive payment to assist voters in completing an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot." Gudger is one of the bill's sponsors. SB 1 is a prime example of MAGA voter suppression at work. Preventing older voters, voters with disabilities, and other voters who might need additional support from getting assistance with the threat of a potential criminal charge is cruel and anti-democratic," Stand Up America Communications Manager Tracy Adair said in a statement. Sen. Garlan Gudger during debate on transgender bills during the legislative session in the senate chamber at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., on Thursday April 7, 2022. "This discriminatory legislation has no business in the land of the free. Its time for Governor Kay Ivey to step up and reject this assault on Alabamians freedom to vote by vetoing this dangerous anti-voter legislation. The American Civil Liberties Union also issued a statement opposing the bill. Samuel Duff, who wrote the statement for the ACLU, called the bill a voter-suppression tactic. "This is an egregious piece of legislation and if it becomes law, would damage the fabric of the democratic process by limiting a fundamental right that is guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution," Duff wrote Feb. 7, prior to the bill's passage. Although the bill must be concurred by the Senate before it can receive Gov. Kay Ivey's signature and become law, Ivey has already voiced support for the bill. More: School Choice Bill Alabama legislature passes Iveys school choice bill, creating education savings accounts Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex. Victor Hagan is the Alabama Election Reporting Fellow for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at vhagan@gannett.com or on X @TheVictorHagan. To support his work, subscribe to Advertiser. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama House passes bill limiting absentee voting The Alabama Senate approved two bills Thursday to allow gambling in the state after adding several amendments, another step toward allowing voters to weigh in on the issue. HB151 passed by a vote of 22-11, while HB152 passed 23-10 after nearly nine hours of debating. HB151 would amend the 2022 Constitution of the State of Alabama to allow for gaming in the state. If Alabamians vote to pass the amendment, it would create an education lottery, establish legal gambling and build up to 10 casinos in the state. HB152, if signed by Gov. Kay Ivey, would establish the Alabama Gaming Commission and Alabama Lottery Corp, government entities to regulate the gaming in the state. "I'm excited. Lots of people in my district are excited about this opportunity, from Conecuh to Monroe. They really are. See this as a turning point for our state to make real, true investment," said Sen. Robert Stewart, D-Selma. Sen. Robert Stewart chats with Sen. Kirk Hatcher in the house chamber at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday March 6, 2024. Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, introduced an amendment to HB151 to establish the Lottery Prize Fund, an account within the State Treasury, with unused funds being appropriated for capital or other non-reoccurring expenses. It passed with a vote of 30-1. Another introduced by Sen. Smitherman, D- Birmingham, added a rate of between 20 and 28 percent of the net gambling to the bill, which passed 27-6. Other amendments included mild rewordings of certain lines and establishing timelines within the bill. Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Autauga County, introduced and passed an amendment 31-1 stating those appointed to the gambling commission must be confirmed by the Legislature, and another granting law enforcement power to police any violations relating to illegal gambling activity in the area. "The Alabama state Senate just minimized gaming our state. I am proud of the work we have done the last three weeks," said Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, saying that the bills "eliminated campaign contributions to elected officials from gaming operators and entities." Sen. Rodger Smitherman speaks in the senate chamber at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday March 6, 2024. Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, thanked Sen. Greg Albritton for his cooperation after both bills passed. "I just want to thank you very much for your willingness to work, you know, and to get to that point," Smitherman said. "I mean that, and I see why you are a good attorney." If concurred by the House, HB151 would be on the ballot for the general election as a constitutional amendment, while HB152 would go to Gov. Ivey's desk. This would be the first time Alabamians would vote on legal gambling in the state since 1999. Victor Hagan is the Alabama Election Reporting Fellow for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at vhagan@gannett.com or on X @TheVictorHagan. To support his work, subscribe to the Advertiser. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama Senate approves gambling bills An Albanian armed robber has won a court appeal to remain in the UK despite lying about his nationality to win UK citizenship and failing to reveal his conviction. Arsimi Murati, 46, successfully appealed an attempt by the Home Secretary to strip him of his citizenship after he falsely claimed to be Kosovan to stay in the UK and failed to disclose he had served a long jail sentence for armed robbery in Albania. An upper tribunal immigration judge said the Home Secretary had failed to prove that Murati knew about the conviction when he applied for leave to remain in the UK as he had been tried for the crime in his absence. Murati also claimed that his deportation would be a breach of his right to a family life under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights. The decision means Murati will be allowed to remain permanently in the UK. Deport dangerous criminals However, the ruling provoked a backlash. This demonstrates why we need urgent reform of the asylum system and human rights laws to allow the rapid and effective deportation of dangerous criminals, said a senior Tory MP. Murati arrived in the UK in November 1999 to claim asylum as a Kosovan fleeing the civil war in his country. He was accepted as a national of the then federal republic of Yugoslavia and granted indefinite leave to remain before being naturalised as a British citizen in November 2006. In 2007, the Albanian government issued extradition proceedings against him because, the year before his arrival in the UK, he had been convicted of armed robbery and sentenced, in absentia, to 11-and-a-half years in prison. He was extradited to Albania in 2009 to serve the jail term. By then, he had married and had three children but his wife died of cancer in October 2012, and his children were placed in local authority care. After his release from prison in 2015, he came back to live in the UK and in September 2019 his children were returned to him. Concealed his conviction However, the following year, the then home secretary Priti Patel moved to strip him of his citizenship because he had obtained it through fraud, false representation and concealing his conviction. Priti Patel moved to strip Murtati of his citizenship because he had obtained it through fraud, false representation and concealing his conviction - Carl Court/Getty Images Europe In his appeal, Murati agreed that he had lied about being Kosovan but maintained he had not gained British citizenship as a result of the false claim. He also claimed he had been unaware of his trial for armed robbery in Albania and that the first he knew about his conviction was when extradition proceedings began. He further submitted that as the sole carer for his children it would be a disproportionate interference with his Article 8 family life [rights] to deprive him of his British nationality, court documents state. The court accepted his claims and rejected the Home Offices arguments on the basis that it could not prove he knew about the conviction and should, therefore, have declared it. 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. Nearly 5,000 miles off the coast of California, residents on a tropical island stunned the country on Tuesday when they didn't exclusively support President Joe Biden in their 2024 caucus. Jason Palmer, a Baltimore entrepreneur running a longshot campaign against the president, appeared to win the territory of American Samoa by just 11 votes, 51-40. However, the men technically tied in terms of the delegates they received in the presidential race, each taking home three. For Biden, the moment was a small blip on an election night otherwise marked by resounding victories. But for organizers of the caucus, it highlighted how little attention most politicians pay to the people living on the 80-square-mile stretch of the South Pacific. Im not shocked at all, Patrick Ti'a Reid, chair of the territorys Democratic Party, said of the result. The rest of the country might be, but Im not. People in American Samoa, a U.S. territory, feel removed from the nation's political system because they cant vote in general elections, Reid explained. Just 91 of the territorys 50,000 residents participated in Tuesdays caucus. A sailing ship is seen in the harbor at Pago Pago, American Samoa, in July 2002. Jason Palmer, an unknown candidate, won the Democratic primary in American Samoa on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Out of 91 ballots cast, Palmer won 51 and President Joe Biden won 40, according to the local party. And many of those who backed Palmer did so simply because of his campaigns presence there. While Palmer never stepped foot on the islands, he held four virtual town halls for residents leading up to the race. He also promoted his campaign through social media ads and had volunteers phone bank for him. He gave American Samoa the attention that it deserved, said Miracle Sene, an 8th grade science teacher who helped run the campaign in the territory. Even though we're a small island. We had someone running for president that actually reached out and conversated with the people. Palmer's presence Avauski Leatigaga, a 19-year-old studying criminal justice at American Samoa Community College, was among the group of 51 people who gathered to support Palmer on Tuesday. He's a former student of Senes and initially heard about Palmers campaign after visiting her. When he attended Palmers virtual meet-and-greet on Friday, Leatigaga was struck by the businessmans education proposals. Leatigaga admitted that he didnt know much about Biden, other than that he was the current U.S. president. It didnt matter. Palmer was a small-scale candidate, but he was interacting with people living in American Samoa. It meant a lot, he said of the choice Palmer gave residents on the island. We don't usually have these types of things here. To actually be able to vote in a primary election, it made me feel honored. Visitors can enjoy snorkeling and diving in National Park of American Samoa's 4,000 marine acres. Other caucus attendees learned about their right to participate in the Democratic election because of Palmers campaign. Leatigagas best friend, Dora Amber Malila, 19, originally thought the caucus was about Palmer. She didnt realize Biden was running until the vote. When they had the results, I was surprised that there were people voting for Biden, said Malilia, an accounting major at the community college Biden visited American Samoa in 2016, while he was vice president, for 90 minutes as his plane was refueling on a journey from Hawaii to Australia. He hasnt been back to the territory since, and his campaign had a minimal presence there this election season. Even with the lack of campaigning, the vote was close. After all, only a few dozen Americans participated. It sounds like a huge like blow up, but it was a small turnout, Reid said, noting that the loss doesnt necessarily have broader implications for Biden Palmer actually organized and had a presence here. Biden got those folks just based on being Biden. Palmers path to victory in American Samoa was similar to Michael Bloombergs 2020 effort. The former New York City mayor scored an unlikely victory over Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during that years Democratic presidential caucus after campaigning in the territory. Reid and Sene both worked for Bloomberg in the 2020 election, and they said it was among the first times a presidential candidate devoted any attention to the American Samoa. The billionaire's campaign focused on voter registration efforts, and more than 300 people participated in the caucus that year. But in 2024, Palmers campaign has given Reid hope about the future of Democratic activism on the island. When candidates actually organized, even in small territories like ours, it's a benefit not just for the campaign, but it's also a benefit for the party, as a whole, Reid said. We should be celebrating democracy in action." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These American Samoa voters didn't support Joe Biden. Here's why. The U.S. State Department's embassy in Moscow told American citizens to avoid large gatherings in Russia's capital city amid reports of "imminent plans" of attack by extremists. In a security alert on Thursday, the State Department said that they are monitoring reports that extremists may target large gatherings, including concerts, in the next 48 hours. "The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours," the agency said in the alert. The embassy told residents to avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates and to be aware of their surroundings amid the heightened threat. NATO WELCOMES 32ND MEMBER, EXPERT WARNS BIGGER BLOC EXACERBATES PUTIN'S FEARS The U.S. seal is seen in front of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow has routinely advised Americans living in Russia to take safety precautions. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP In February 2023, the State Department ordered all U.S. citizens in Russia to leave immediately. POMPEO BLASTS BIDEN ADMIN FOR MAKING SAME MISTAKES AS OBAMA IN SETTLEMENTS IN JEWISH BIBLICAL REGION "U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately," the U.S. embassy in Moscow warned. "Exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions." In a stark message, the department also said, "Do not travel to Russia." All Americans have been warned to find a way out of the country immediately and reminded that U.S. debit or credit cards do not work in Russia, and the electronic transfer of funds has become increasingly difficult due to sanctions. "Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on spurious charges, singled out U.S. citizens in Russia for detention and harassment, denied them fair and transparent treatment, and convicted them in secret trials or without presenting credible evidence," the embassy added. Original article source: Americans told to 'avoid' gatherings in Moscow, Russia amid reports of extremists' 'imminent plans' to attack Editor's note: A version of this story ran on Friday, March 8 without comment from the Ames Community School District. The district responded to a request for comment on Saturday, March 9. An Ames woman has been charged after police were told she was encouraging her high school-aged student to "hit" a minor during a fight at the Ames Middle School. Ames Police were dispatched to the middle school shortly after 8:45 a.m. Monday, Feb. 26 to assist with a fight, which led to juvenile referrals being issued to a 15-year-old. The Ames Police Department announced Thursday, March 7 that they have also charged 34-year-old Shontell Jenkins of Ames with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The fight was allegedly between Jenkins' child and a middle school student, according to court documents. Jenkins allegedly brought her high school-aged child to fight a student at the middle school located off Mortensen Drive. Jenkins is accused of encouraging her minor child to engage in a fight. "According to the victim of the assault and two teachers, the defendant was encouraging her (child) to commit an assault by telling her to hit the (student)," authorities said in a criminal complaint. The altercation also allegedly included adults in the school's cafeteria, according to an initial press release from the Ames Police Department. The police restrained one student who was "acting violently" after officers arrived and separated the individuals involved, the press release said. A 15-year-old was issued juvenile referrals for disorderly conduct and interference with official acts. The police were on the scene for more than an hour, leaving the middle school at 9:57 a.m. Jenkins had not been arrested as of Friday morning, March 8. More: Large Ames Middle School fight draws heavy police presence, school 'hold' initiated Ames Middle School. The Picture was taken on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 Middle school put on temporary 'hold' A school-wide "hold" was implemented immediately after last week's fight so "the matter could be addressed appropriately," Ames Middle School Principal Boston Freilinger said in an email to parents. According to the Ames Community School District's website, a "hold" is issued "when a non-imminent threat is occurring within the building. (It) may be issued when there is a need to isolate movement in a specific portion of the building." The hold was lifted at 9:25 a.m. on Feb. 26. Freilinger assured parents that all necessary measures were taken to ensure the safety of the students and staff. "I want every school community member to understand the gravity of this situation," Freilinger said. "Engaging in fights not only endangers the physical well-being of those involved but also undermines the respectful and conducive learning environment we strive to maintain. It tarnishes our school's reputation and disrespects the hard work of those dedicated to providing a positive educational experience." Freilinger said the middle school took the necessary steps to ensure school could continue as usual last week and asked parents to "open a dialogue" with their students about violence. "We encourage you to have an open dialogue with your students about the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully and seeking help from a trusted adult when needed," the email said. "Please reassure them that their safety is our top priority." More: Former Zearing Health Care employee is accused of stealing nearly $30K from residents Security concerns arise at AMS A mother of a middle school student reached out to the Tribune after the fight on Feb. 26, saying she was concerned for her child's safety. She expressed concern about potential harm to middle schoolers if adults and non-middle school students are allowed to enter the building. She said she'd like to see an increase in security measures at the front office, particularly "more staff monitoring potential visitors." Currently, visitors have to be "buzzed in" to enter the school. The mother accused the middle school of "buzzing" Jenkins and her child into the building on Feb. 26. "I believe they need more security measures, they need more people up there to make sure this doesnt happen," the mother said. According to Ames CSD Director of Communications Amy DeLashmutt, the individuals charged by the Ames Police Department were provided access to the main office during a visit to the Middle School at the start of the school day. She said they gained entry into another area through an office door as the fight broke out without authorization. She added staff were monitoring the situation and responded to deescalate it immediately. "As false rumors circulate our community and media sources surrounding the incident, we would like to continue to encourage our families to rely on official communication from the school district for factual and up to date information," DeLashmutt said. "The safety of our students and staff is paramount, and we are committed to strengthening our practices, partnering with local law enforcement agencies and holding individuals accountable who jeopardize the well-being of our school community." EDITOR'S NOTE: The Ames Tribune chose not to reveal the name of the mother quoted to protect the identity of her child. More: Ames superintendent search is in "full swing:" School board defines desired attributes Middle school substitute concerned with staff shortages Former Ames Middle School teacher and current substitute Missy Springsteen-Haupt asked the Ames school board for additional staffing at a Nov. 20 school board meeting, suggesting the faculty was overwhelmed. The teacher did not reference any specific incident but was worried about how the teacher shortage could worsen if the district didn't address it soon. She asked the board to consider adding an associate principal at the middle school. "Its very clear if you spend even five minutes in the middle school that people are drowning," Springsteen-Haupt said at the November board meeting. "I think an immediate action that could be taken is if this board could look at things like referrals and incident reports, teachers and EAs who have been injured or harmed while working at the middle school. We need another AP (assistant principal) back." Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ames woman accused of encouraging her child to fight at Ames Middle School West Texas oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks entered the 2024 primary election cycle wounded. Their political network was in the middle of a scandal over its ties to white supremacists. Republicans were calling on each other to reject the billionaires campaign money. And their enemies believed they were vulnerable one bad election day from losing their grip on the state. Instead, Dunn and Wilks emerged from Tuesday perhaps stronger than ever vanquishing old political foes, positioning their allies for a November takeover of the state Legislature, and leaving little doubt as to who is winning a vicious civil war to control the state party. In race after race, more moderate conservative incumbents were trounced by candidates backed by Dunn and Wilks. Their political network made good on its vows for vengeance against House Republicans who voted to impeach their key state ally, Attorney General Ken Paxton, advancing more firebrands who campaigned against bipartisanship and backed anti-LGBTQ+ policies. Tuesdays election also paved the way for the likely passage of legislation that would allow taxpayer money to fund private and religious schools a key policy goal for a movement that seeks to infuse more Christianity into public life. All told, 11 of the 28 House candidates supported by the two billionaires won their primaries outright, and another eight are headed to runoffs this May. And, in a sign of how much the state party has moved rightward, five of their candidates beat incumbents in rematches from 2022 or 2020 with some House districts swinging by double-digits in their favor. Of the candidates they backed, they donated $75,000 or more to 11 of them six who won, and four who went to runoffs. Tuesday was a stark contrast from just two years ago, when Dunn and Wilks top political fundraising group poured $5.2 million into a host of longshot candidates much more than what they spent in the current election cycle. They lost badly that year 18 of the 19 challengers to Texas House members they backed were defeated. Their only successful House candidate that year was Stan Kitzman of Pattison, who toppled former Rep. Phil Stephenson of Wharton in a runoff. Among the triumphant on Tuesday was Mitch Little, aided by at least $153,000 in Dunn and Wilks cash, who defeated Rep. Kronda Thimesch in a campaign that focused on Littles defense of Paxton from impeachment charges in the Senate trial last summer. Three days before he won, Little appeared at an event in Denton County with Paxton and, among others, Steve Bannon, the political operative who helped rally the far right behind then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016. And another Dunn and Wilks candidate, David Covey, stunned the state by winning more votes than House Speaker Dade Phelan the No. 1 target of the states far-right in part because of his role in the Paxton impeachment and refusal to ban Democrats from House leadership positions. Phelan now faces a runoff from Covey and the prospect of being the first Texas Speaker since 1972 to lose his primary. Certainly, Tuesdays dark-red wave cant be attributed solely to Dunn and Wilks. Texas GOP primaries have historically been decided by small shares of voters, many of them further to the right of even the partys mainstream. This election cycle, the billionaires targets also overlapped with an unlikely ally, Gov. Greg Abbott, who poured more than $6 million into his quest to rid the Texas House of Republicans who defied his calls for school voucher legislation last year. (Dunn and Wilks political groups supported Abbotts opponent in his 2022 gubernatorial primary.) Meanwhile, Paxton barnstormed the state as he sought retribution against incumbents who supported his impeachment. And, perhaps most importantly, former President Donald Trump was active in many contests following the lead of Paxton and his other ally, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and offering late endorsements that bolstered right-wing candidates. Even so, the billionaires fingerprints appear all over the outcomes. Since January, they spent more than $3 million to support candidates through a new political action committee, Texans United For a Conservative Majority. That PAC is a rebrand of Defend Texas Liberty PAC, which has been at the center of a political maelstrom since early October. That controversy started barely two weeks after the state Senate acquitted Paxton in his impeachment trial and as Defend Texas Liberty was gearing up for retribution in the primaries. Jonathan Stickland, then the president of Defend Texas Liberty, was caught hosting Nick Fuentes, a prominent antisemite and white supremacist, prompting Dunn to issue a rare public statement through the lieutenant governor. Stickland was quietly removed from his position with the PAC. Subsequent reporting by The Texas Tribune revealed other ties between white supremacists and groups funded by Dunn and Wilks, prompting outcry from some Republicans and calls for the Texas GOP to distance itself from Sticklands groups. As votes continued to tally in the far rights favor this week, Stickland returned from a post-scandal social media sabbatical to gloat. We warned them, Stickland wrote Wednesday on X, one of the handful of posts hes made since shrinking from the public eye after the Fuentes meeting. They chose not to listen. Now many are gone. Dunn and Wilks both made their fortunes in West Texas oil and, in the last 15 years, have poured more than $100 million into a constellation of political action committees, dark money groups, nonprofits and media websites that they have used to push the state GOP further to the right. Their strategy has been to incrementally move the party toward their hardline views by painting fellow conservatives as weak and ineffectual as RINOs, or Republicans in name only and promising well-funded primary challengers to lawmakers who defy their network and its aims. With almost endless wealth, they have poured millions of dollars into inexperienced candidates who often lose but advance the far rights long-term goals by slowly normalizing once-fringe positions, bruising incumbents, depleting their campaign coffers and making them more vulnerable in the next election cycle. For years, many Republicans have denounced the strategy, noting that the state Legislature is routinely ranked as the most conservative in the country and warning that Dunn and Wilks no-enemies-to-our-right approach to politics would eventually cost the party elections and open the doors to outright extremists. This years elections show just how successful the billionaires have been in pulling the party toward their hardline views. In House District 62, Shelley Luther, a former hair salon owner who rose to fame after being jailed for defying COVID-19 lockdown measures, beat Republican Rep. Reggie Smith by 7 percentage points a stunning, 24-point swing from the 2022 primary. Luther has run for office twice and lost. In her last run, she said that she was not comfortable with transgender children and complained that students shouldnt be punished for making fun of them. She received more than $183,000 in support from Texans United For a Conservative Majority this cycle. Rep. Lynn Stucky, R-Denton, is headed to a May runoff against Andy Hopper, who received at least $280,000 in support from Dunn and Wilks this year. Its the second time theyve squared off Stucky narrowly defeated Hopper in 2022. Hopper and his family have close ties to Dunn and Wilks: One of his sons, Sam, works for a consulting firm that is owned by Stickland and rebranded after the Fuentes scandal. Meanwhile, Brent Money prevailed in his rematch against Rep. Jill Dutton after losing to her in a January special election to replace Bryan Slaton, a former state representative whose career was bankrolled by Dunn and Wilks until he was unanimously expelled from the House last year for having sex with a drunk, 19-year-old aide. (Another Dunn and Wilks-backed candidate, Kyle Biedermann, lost on Tuesday to Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Austin, after defending Slaton last month but still received 43% of votes). In House District 53, the Dunn and Wilks-backed Wesley Virdell, a gun rights lobbyist, won 60% of votes in his race to replace Rep. Andew Murr, a Junction Republican who retired last year after leading the Houses failed impeachment of Paxton and as Dunn and Wilks groups promised revenge. Two years prior, Murr trounced Virdell in the GOP primary. Virdell and Covey, the challenger to Phelan, have both signed a pledge to support a referendum on Texas secession. Rep. Jacey Jetton, R-Richmond, was soundly defeated by Matt Morgan, who was backed by Paxton and received more than $75,000 in support from Texans United For A Conservative Majority this cycle. Morgan won by 15 points a reversal from 2020, when he lost by 5 points to Jetton. And in House District 60, Rep. Glenn Rogers lost Tuesday by more than 27 points in another rematch. His opponent, Mike Olcott, lost to Rogers by 1 point in a 2022 runoff despite support from Wilks and Dunn. Backed this time by the billionaires and Abbott, Olcott walloped Rogers an outspoken enemy of the states far right. Rogers made no secret of who he blamed for his loss, accusing Abbott of telling blatant lies as part of his $6 million spending spree against House members who broke with him on school voucher legislation last year. But the bulk of Rogers ire was reserved for Dunn and Wilks the two billionaire, Christian nationalist power brokers that run this state. History will prove that our current state government is the most corrupt ever and is bought by a few radical dominionist billionaires seeking to destroy public education, privatize our public schools and create a Theocracy that is both un-American and un-Texan, Rogers wrote in a Wednesday op-ed in the Weatherford Democrat. May God save Texas! 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. by Xinhua Writer He Leijing BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China's 2024 growth target of around 5 percent clearly indicates that its economic trajectory will continue to rise steadily. The target is realistic and attainable amid the country's pivot towards a pursuit of long-term prosperity featuring quality over sheer speed. It attests to the long-term uptrend of the Chinese economy. Over the past decade, when faced with adversities like natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, China's economy has persistently ascended to achieve its development goals, showing remarkable tenacity. This resilience is underpinned by impressive figures. The country's gross domestic product (GDP) has more than doubled from 60 trillion yuan (about 8.45 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2014 to 126 trillion yuan last year, countering the gloomy forecasts of a downturn or collapse. Those who bemoan China's moderated pace of growth evidently miss the broader context: a fundamental shift from high speed to medium-high growth, and the significant role the country continues to play in the global economic expansion. To realize its 2024 growth target means the world's second-largest economy will contribute about 30 percent to global growth, reaffirming its position as a major engine of the global economy, experts say. Early indicators for 2024 paint an optimistic picture. Robust capital expenditure, improved social financing, and a spike in consumer spending during the Spring Festival point to a promising start to the year, instilling confidence in the future. China has a well-stocked monetary toolbox and there is still ample policy headroom to promote sound economic flows. It is unnecessary to whine that China has yet to roll out one-off bazooka-style stimuli packages, as the country prefers more sustained, quality-driven economic growth buoyed by a multitude of inherent drivers. This year, the country will continue to implement a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy. The agenda also includes planning new reforms for its fiscal and tax systems, an increase in the share of loans to private businesses, and the earmarking of 700 billion yuan from the central government budget for investment. These measures not only aim to tackle current cyclical and structural issues but also underline a clear vision and design for long-term growth. A standout example is China's emphasis on modernizing the industrial system and developing new quality productive forces. The country will step up the development of hydrogen power, new materials, innovative drugs and other cutting-edge sectors. Fostering future-oriented industries such as quantum technology and life sciences requires dedication and patience. They are unlikely to yield immediate results but hold the promise of being substantial drivers of long-term development. The country's commitment to technological advancement is also evident in its spending on research and development, which reached 3.3 trillion yuan last year, up 8.1 percent from 2022, advancing its position on the global high-tech ladder and ascending the value chain. China also relies on domestic consumption to fuel future growth. This has been supported by policies aimed at boosting household incomes and enhancing social welfare systems, thereby increasing the purchasing power of residents. The focus on domestic consumption is a strategic move that not only taps into the vast potential of the Chinese market but also reduces vulnerability to external shocks. To further attract foreign investors, China will fully lift the restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector this year. China's foreign trade shows an encouraging sign. The total imports and exports of goods expanded 8.7 percent year on year in the first two months of 2024, with the volume hitting a record high over the same periods in history and the exports returning to double-digit growth. As China advances its modernization drive through high-quality development, it stands ready to overcome obstacles and challenges by giving full play to its strengths in industry, institutions, talent and vast market potential. With a continued focus on converting development potential into quality growth, China is confidently striding up, with its peak still beyond the horizon. Despite a longstanding pledge to avoid donations from corporate political action committees, Rep. Andy Kim has taken more than $300,000 from similar groups since first running for Congress in 2018. Kim declares on his campaign website that he will refuse all money from corporate PACs and he has kept this promise to not accept corporate PAC money. During his Senate run, Kim has received 71 donations totaling $150,356 from groups that are considered PACs. Of that, $84,500 has come from labor and business groups. Congressman Andy Kim congratulates First Lady Tammy Murphy after the ballot count of the Bergen County Democratic Convention, at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Hall, Local 164, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Paramus. Murphy won with more than 60% of the vote. These groups are not necessarily the same thing as a corporate PAC, though both are considered traditional PACs, or groups controlled by corporate interests, said Brendan Quinn of the Campaign Legal Center. These PACs can take up to $5,000 from individual donors per cycle and give up to $5,000 directly to candidates and have been around since the 1940s, Quinn said. A PAC typically represents business, labor or ideological interests and has to be registered with the federal government. Affiliated PACs are treated as one donor when it comes to contribution limits. Among the groups that have given to Kim are the American Crystal Sugar Company PAC and National Association of Realtors PAC. First lady Tammy Murphy, meanwhile, has received fewer than 10 donations from PACs, for about $15,000 in all. Murphy has been in politics for about four months, and Kim has served in Washington for seven years. Understanding 'business PACs' Sarah Bryner of OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that analyzes Federal Election Commission filings, said her organization uses the designation "business PAC" for entities that represent business, which is a broad category, whereas the FEC designation is self-reported and not policed. One big difference that we encounter is that OpenSecrets classifies something like a trade association as a business interest while the FEC classifies that as a trade association, Bryner said. It would not be showing up in kind of corporate PAC lists even though its interests are very aligned with corporate interests. She said almost anything can be classified as special interest, but the difference that some politicians try to articulate revolves around business interests having a bottom line and an interest in getting policy passed, which is different from somebody who is aligned with an ideological group. I'm somewhat skeptical of these kinds of pledges there that people make. I think it's good to draw awareness to the power of special interest writ large, and the potential posed by corruption, but this is a political statement that people make, Bryner said. It is not a legalistic one and it's not one that always makes it clear that they are devoid from a potential to be influenced by one donor over the other. But groups such as trade associations, like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is made up of businesses, also see financial implications based on the decisions made in Washington, which is why Bryner said her organization considers them business PACs. She said candidates see PACs as very reliable donors that tend to be early to donate and tend to give in large amounts but that they also tend to come knocking after an election. How did Kim respond? What did Murphy say? The Kim campaign referred a request for comment to End Citizens United. That organization is focused on changing the way money is involved in the political system and has spearheaded the "no corporate PAC" movement. Jonas Edwards-Jenks, the organization's communications director, said Kim is "one of the founding members of the no-corporate-PAC pledge movement. "He knows that to make government work for the people, we need to end the stranglehold corporate special interests hold in Washington," he said. "Our government should work for the people, not corporate bottom lines, and members who refuse corporate PAC money should be applauded for their leadership." Alex Altman, a spokesperson for the Murphy campaign, said Kim is being dishonest about campaign finance. Kim has said he wont be funded by corporations, while he has taken over $300,000 from trade groups like the American Hospital Association which are funded by you guessed it massive corporations, Altman said. This is yet another example of Kims pattern of hypocritical behavior as a typical D.C. politician who tells voters what he thinks they want to hear. Bryner noted that the key difference with corporate PAC money is that they also tend to employ lobbyists and have a financial stake in policy outcomes. Lobbyists work as advocates to influence political decisions for the individuals or groups that hire them. Both Kim and Murphy have accepted money from lobbyists during this cycle as well more than $7,000 for the former compared with more than $16,000 for the latter. Kim has taken more than $38,000 during his six years in the House. Neither candidate is running what would be considered a small-donor campaign, Bryner said. Kim gets about 81% of his funding or $3.1 million of the $3.8 million hes raised from large donors, and Murphy gets almost 100% of hers or $3.14 million of the $3.19 million she has, which Bryner noted is a lot. A large donor is anyone who gives a candidate a donation worth more than $200. Monmouth poll: Andy Kim tops Tammy Murphy on favorability among Democrats Heated primary for Democratic Senate nomination Kim and Murphy are vying for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Bob Menendez. Though the primary is still three months away, the campaign season has been heated as Kim and Murphy battle for the coveted county-line ballot placement at party conventions throughout the state. Congressman Andy Kim speaks to the press after he lost the Bergen County Democratic Convention, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Paramus. First Lady Tammy Murphy (not shown) won with more than 60% of the vote. Kim has won the line in Monmouth, Hunterdon and Warren counties, where an open convention with a secret ballot was used to determine ballot position. He also won the endorsement of the county party in Sussex, though the county has a block design format on the ballots. Murphy has garnered the line in Passaic and Union counties, where the former allows for a private screening committee vote and the latter has the partys screening committee of the municipal and county chairs vote publicly. She won at the open convention in Bergen County as well. Tammy Murphy speaks with supporters outside the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Hall, Local 164, where the Bergen County Democratic Party Convention is being held, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Paramus Kim filed a lawsuit last month calling the ballot design in New Jersey unconstitutional and saying the design used in the other 49 states a block style should be used here. The hearing for that case will be held March 18. The system provides preferential ballot position for such candidates and displays them in a manner that nudges voters to select them, even when they otherwise might not, Kim's filing says. By contrast, their opponents are often excluded from a chance at preferential ballot placement, displayed in a column by themselves or in a manner that is less appealing to or harder to find for voters, separated by one or more blank ballot spaces from their opponents, stacked in a column with candidates for other offices with whom they do not want to be associated, and/or otherwise strewn about haphazardly on the ballot. Kim, alongside the two other candidates in the primary, Patricia Campos-Medina and Lawrence Hamm, has already called for the line system to be dismantled and the block system, which is used by two New Jersey counties, to be implemented statewide. In response to the suit, a spokesperson for Murphy said that "Andy Kim doesn't have a problem with the county line system, he has a problem with the idea of losing county lines as he is perfectly happy to participate in the process when he wins, and he has benefited from the lines in every other election he's run." Staff Writer Ashley Balcerzak contributed to this article. Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Senate primary: Do Andy Kim and Tammy Murphy take money from PACs A bizarre instance of pickled pork being used as a weapon landed a woman in jail after she went on a grocery-tossing rampage in a Florida home, investigators say. Products were still flying when a Lee County sheriffs deputy drove up and witnessed the victim taking a 2-liter bottle of Sprite to the head, video shows. It happened around 10:15 p.m. on Friday, March 1, in Lehigh Acres, and involved an outraged woman who broke into her ex-boyfriends home, the Lee County Sheriffs Office reported. Lehigh Acres is about a 140-mile drive southeast from Tampa. When deputies arrived on scene, the victim was waiting in the road with the suspect ... hot on his tail, the sheriffs office said in a video. Deputies learned (the suspect) had used a hidden spare key to break into the home. She proceeded to throw and break items around the house, and at one point (she) takes a bottle of pickled pork and dumps it all over the victims couch. Cell phone video recorded by the victim shows the suspect removed the lid from the jar of pickled pork sausages and tossed it like a softball. The contents missed the victim and landed on a sectional couch, the video shows. The woman was arrested and charged with battery, burglary and criminal mischief, the sheriffs office said. Investigators did not report the man suffered injuries. 73-year-old on date with woman half his age was set up to be robbed, Florida cops say Topless bar employee slaps and spits on customer for not tipping, Florida cops say Family feud over pizza for breakfast ends with assault using grits, Florida cops say A gorilla family is observed by people visiting the Fort Worth Zoo in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Researchers will be standing by to observe how animals routines at the zoo are disrupted when skies dim on April 8. They previously detected other strange animal behaviors in 2017 at a South Carolina zoo that was in the path of total darkness. (AP Photo/LM Otero) WASHINGTON (AP) When a total solar eclipse transforms day into night, will tortoises start acting romantic? Will giraffes gallop? Will apes sing odd notes? Researchers will be standing by to observe how animals routines at the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas are disrupted when skies dim on April 8. They previously detected other strange animal behaviors in 2017 at a South Carolina zoo that was in the path of total darkness. To our astonishment, most of the animals did surprising things, said Adam Hartstone-Rose, a North Carolina State University researcher who led the observations published in the journal Animals. While there are many individual sightings of critters behaving bizarrely during historic eclipses, only in recent years have scientists started to rigorously study the altered behaviors of wild, domestic and zoo animals. Seven years ago, Galapagos tortoises at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina, that generally do absolutely nothing all day during the peak of the eclipse, they all started breeding, said Hartstone-Rose. The cause of the behavior is still unclear. A mated pair of Siamangs, gibbons that usually call to each other in the morning, sang unusual tunes during the afternoon eclipse. A few male giraffes began to gallop in apparent anxiety. The flamingos huddled around their juveniles. Researchers say that many animals display behaviors connected with an early dusk. In April, Hartstone-Roses team plans to study similar species in Texas to see if the behaviors they witnessed before in South Carolina point to larger patterns. Several other zoos along the path are also inviting visitors to help track animals, including zoos in Little Rock, Arkansas; Toledo, Ohio; and Indianapolis. This years full solar eclipse in North America crisscrosses a different route than in 2017 and occurs in a different season, giving researchers and citizen scientists opportunities to observe new habits. Its really high stakes. We have a really short period to observe them and we cant repeat the experiment," said Jennifer Tsuruda, a University of Tennessee entomologist who observed honeybee colonies during the 2017 eclipse. The honeybees that Tsuruda studied decreased foraging during the eclipse, as they usually would at night, except for those from the hungriest hives. During a solar eclipse, theres a conflict between their internal rhythms and external environment, said University of Alberta's Olav Rueppell, adding that bees rely on polarized light from the sun to navigate. Nate Bickford, an animal researcher at Oregon Institute of Technology, said that solar eclipses actually mimic short, fast-moving storms, when skies darken and many animals take shelter. After the 2017 eclipse, he analyzed data from tracking devices previously placed on wild species to study habitat use. Flying bald eagles change the speed and direction theyre moving during an eclipse, he said. So do feral horses, probably taking cover, responding to the possibility of a storm out on the open plains. The last full U.S. solar eclipse to span coast to coast happened in late summer, in August. The upcoming eclipse in April gives researchers an opportunity to ask new questions including about potential impacts on spring migration. Most songbird species migrate at night. When there are night-like conditions during the eclipse, will birds think its time to migrate and take flight? said Andrew Farnsworth of Cornell University. His team plans to test this by analyzing weather radar data which also detects the presence of flying birds, bats and insects to see if more birds take wing during the eclipse. As for indoor pets, they may react as much to what their owners are doing whether theyre excited or nonchalant about the eclipse as to any changes in the sky, said University of Arkansas animal researcher Raffaela Lesch. Dogs and cats pay a lot of attention to us, in addition to their internal clocks, she said. ___ 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. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating yet another Boeing aircraft, after a Feb. 6 incident in which a United Airlines plane landed with stuck rudder pedals. Last month, Flight 1539 from the Bahamas, to Newark, New Jersey, experienced stuck rudder pedals during the landing rollout, according to a preliminary report from NTSB. The plane, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was still able to land safely, without injury to crew members or the 155 flyers onboard. The captain used the nosewheel steering tiller to keep the airplane near the runway centerline while slowing to a safe taxi speed before exiting the runway onto a high-speed turn-off, the report read. Following the incident, the plane was removed from service for maintenance and troubleshooting, the report continued. United Airlines tested the plane for issues on Feb. 9, three days after the initial incident. We worked closely with United Airlines to diagnose the rudder response issue observed during two 737-8 flights in early February. With coordination with United, the issue was successfully resolved with the replacement of three parts and the airplane returned to service last month, Boeing told NBC News Thursday. United Airlines also told the outlet Thursday that it will continue to work with Boeing, the NTSB and the FAA on next steps for these aircraft. The Feb. 6 incident marked the first time this rudder issue had been reported in the Max 8, but older 737 models have also experienced it, CNN reported. Its the latest in a serious of troubling safety incidents for the jet manufacturer. On Jan. 5, the plug door blew out of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9. As a result, the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily grounded hundreds of United and Alaska flights to inspect the planes. Earlier this week, the FAA said it found multiple quality control issues with Boeing. The agency gave Boeing as well as the company that builds the aviation companys fuselage, Spirit AeroSystems 90 days to come up with a plan of action to address the issues. On Thursday, another Boeing plane, a 777-200, lost at least one tire during takeoff from San Francisco, CBS News reported. No injuries were reported. #BREAKING United Airlines Flight UAL35 lost a tire during takeoff from SFO. UAL35 is currently in the air, diverting to LAX. One or two tires are missing from the aircraft. Landing gear has damaged multiple cars at SFO (in video from @Julian61865944) pic.twitter.com/2GiRanJQZK CNW (@CANews_Watch) March 7, 2024 Related... Jaguar has come under pressure to recall its flagship electric cars after two drivers claimed they had brake failures while driving. Craig Phillips, the first winner of Big Brother, yesterday claimed the brakes on his electric I-Pace failed as he was driving with his young children. He said his 76,000 vehicle malfunctioned as he approached a red light near his home in Merseyside on New Years Eve. The 52-year-old said the brake pedal of his EV appeared to jam while taking his wife Laura Sherriff, 37, and their children, aged three and five, to a meal in December. It came after another I-Pace owner, Nathan Owen, was forced by police to come to a stop on the M62 when his car went rogue on Wednesday. Greg Smith, Conservative MP for Buckingham and a senior member of the Transport Select Committee, said it was imperative for Jaguar Land Rover to recall affected cars if there were fears of widespread problems. If there is a safety concern with the I-Pace it is imperative that Jaguar recall to fix them, Mr Smith said. There is no acceptable scenario where a car with risk of brake failure remains on the road. There was no way of stopping Phillips, who won the first series of Channel 4s Big Brother in 2000, told MailOnline: I cant describe to you what a terrifying feeling that was when the two children are in the back. The more I pushed down, the more it forced up, and the car carried on rolling. He said he was lucky that the lights changed from red to green and the two cars in front of him pulled away. Otherwise I would have collided with them, he added. There was no way of stopping. I had no options, I either mount the kerb, run into the back of them or go into the lane coming towards me. Describing the brake pedal forces, he said: I forced my whole body weight on it. And it was pushing me up. Ive driven for 30-odd years, and Ive driven many old vans where the brakes have gone. Now normally, if a brake fails in a car or a van, its the hydraulics that have seized or the hydraulic pipe burst and you can still physically push down on the brake very hard, which would slow it down and stop it. Ive experienced that four or five times in the past with old builders vans, but this was the complete opposite. This was like the hydraulic pushing my foot up. Nathan Owen's Jaguar I-Pace eventually came to a stop after its battery ran out In 2019, Jaguar issued a recall notice for some models of I-Pace over a brake system problem that could have led to extended stopping distances. A potential fault with the electrical regenerative braking system meant affected vehicles do not meet the regulated standard for the time to transition brake force to the friction brake system, the British carmaker said. Car checked and returned Mr Phillips said Jaguar checked his car after the incident in December last year but handed it back to him a day later, saying it was fine to drive. A Jaguar Land Rover spokesman said: Following the incident involving a Jaguar I-Pace on the M62 on the afternoon of March 6, we are looking into this matter with urgency. A full review is under way to determine the cause of this incident, which is still yet to be established. The safety of our clients and vehicles is JLRs highest priority. Jaguar has previously said it was investigating Mr Owens incident, when his vehicle reached speeds of almost 100mph as eight police cars escorted it down the M62 near Liverpool, waiting for the battery to run down. Speaking about the incident, Mr Owen said: It came up on the dashboard saying there was a battery malfunction in my car. I kept trying to press the brakes but nothing was happening. So the next thing I thought I should do was call 999 and tell them what was happening. 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. This combination of photos taken in Columbia, S.C. shows former President Donald Trump, left, on Feb. 24, 2024, and President Joe Biden on Jan. 27, 2024. Biden and Trump each won the White House by razor-thin margins in key states. Now, with a rematch of their bitter 2020 campaign all but officially set after Super Tuesday, the two campaigns are unveiling their strategies for an unprecedented matchup between a president and his immediate predecessor. (AP Photo) WASHINGTON (AP) Emerging from their near-clean sweeps of Super Tuesday contests, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump head to Georgia, where theyll campaign for votes in Tuesdays presidential primary in a state that will play a pivotal role in deciding their fates in November. For Trump, the day will likely have additional significance, as voters in Georgia and three other states may award him enough delegates to clinch the Republican nomination for president. Bidens first possible date to clinch has also moved up to March 12. Aside from that, Georgias presidential primary will be largely anti-climactic. Trumps main rival for the GOP nomination, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, suspended her campaign this week after a rout on Super Tuesday, when she won the Vermont primary but lost 14 other contests. Biden also will face fewer challengers in the primary after U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota ended his campaign, although neither Phillips nor self-help author Marianne Williamson has had much of an impact on primary and caucus vote totals so far this campaign. On Saturday, Biden will hold a campaign event in Atlanta, while about 70 miles (112 kilometers) away, Trump will hold a rally in Rome in northwest Georgia. Its the second time in a little over a week the two will hold dueling events in a state about to hold a primary while eyeing the general election campaign to come. Biden and Trump were in Texas on Feb. 29 ahead of its presidential primary to hold immigration-themed events along the U.S.-Mexico border. Georgia is likely again to play a key role in the general election as it did in 2020, when Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since Bill Clinton in 1992. Biden narrowly defeated Trump in Georgia by less than a quarter of a percentage point, a margin of 11,779 votes. Trumps efforts to overturn those results are at the heart of an ongoing criminal case in Fulton County, although the judge is considering a motion to have District Attorney Fani Willis removed from the case. Trumps actions in Georgia and other swing states also play a role in a federal prosecution of his attempt to stay in power after losing the 2020 election, but that case is on hold as the Supreme Court prepares to consider the Trump defense teams argument that the former president is immune from prosecution. Georgia is the biggest delegate prize and the only swing state among the contests taking place on Tuesday. Super Tuesday put both Biden and Trump on the brink of having enough delegates to clinch their parties presidential nominations. Tuesday is the earliest either could reach that milestone. The Associated Press allocated delegates from Delaware and Florida to Biden on Friday, as both states have canceled their Democratic presidential primaries, with all their delegates going to the sitting president. With that allocation, Bidens first possible date to clinch moves up to March 12, when he needs to win just 40% of the available delegates to do so. Heres a look at what to expect on election night: PRIMARY DAY The Georgia presidential primary will be held Tuesday. Polls close at 7 p.m. ET. WHATS ON THE BALLOT The Associated Press will provide coverage for the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries. The candidates listed on the Democratic ballot are Biden, Phillips and Williamson. Besides Trump and Haley, the Republican ballot will list Florida businessman David Stuckenberg and former candidates Ryan Binkley, Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Asa Hutchinson, Perry Johnson, Vivek Ramaswamy and Tim Scott. WHO CAN VOTE Any registered voter may participate in either primary. Voters in Georgia do not register by party. DELEGATE ALLOCATION RULES There are 108 pledged Democratic delegates at stake in Georgia, and theyre awarded according to the national partys standard rules. Twenty-three at-large delegates are allocated in proportion to the statewide vote, as are 14 PLEO delegates, or party leaders and elected officials. The states 14 congressional districts have a combined 71 delegates at stake, which are allocated in proportion to the vote results in each district. Candidates must receive at least 15% of the statewide vote to qualify for any statewide delegates, and 15% of the vote in a congressional district to qualify for delegates in that district. Georgia has 59 Republican delegates at stake in the primary. The 14 at-large delegates are awarded in proportion to the statewide vote to candidates who receive at least 20%. A combined 42 delegates are at stake in the 14 congressional districts, with three delegates per district. The candidate who wins a majority of the vote in a district wins that districts three delegates. If no candidate wins a vote majority in a district, the top vote-getter wins two delegates and the second-place finisher wins one. The states three Republican National Committee members, the state chair and the Republican National Committeeman and Committeewoman, are bound to the statewide winner. DECISION NOTES Unlike the general election, Tuesdays primaries in Georgia are not likely to be competitive, as Biden and Trump face no major opposition in their campaigns for renomination. In both races, the first indications that Biden and Trump are winning statewide on a level consistent with the overwhelming margins seen in most other contests held so far this year may be sufficient to determine the statewide winners. The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why. WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE Turnout in 2022 was about 11% of registered voters in the Democratic primaries for U.S. Senate and governor. It was 17% in the GOP U.S. Senate primary and 18% in the gubernatorial primary. There were nearly 8 million registered voters in Georgia as of Feb. 13. As of Thursday, nearly 359,000 ballots had been cast before Election Day, about 66% in the Republican primary and about 34% in the Democratic primary. In 2022, pre-Election Day voting made up about 51% of the total vote in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary and about 41% in the GOP gubernatorial primary. HOW LONG DOES VOTE-COUNTING USUALLY TAKE? In the 2022 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, the AP first reported results at 7:22 p.m. ET, or 22 minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 3:25 a.m. ET with about 98% of total votes counted. ARE WE THERE YET? As of Tuesday, there will be 125 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, 160 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and 238 until the November general election. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024. FILE - A patriotic voter sits at a voting kiosk and selects his choices in a party primary in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Super Tuesday put former President Donald Trump within reach of clinching his third consecutive Republican presidential nomination. But it may be Republican voters in Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and Washington who put him over the top. President Joe Biden is also competing in presidential contests that day, but the earliest he can clinch his party's nomination is a week later on March 19. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File) WASHINGTON (AP) Super Tuesday put former President Donald Trump within reach of clinching his third consecutive Republican presidential nomination, but it may be Republican voters in Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and Washington who put him over the top. The four states have a combined 161 delegates at stake on Tuesday, and Trump will need to win the lions share of them in order to become the presumptive nominee. But with his main rival for the nomination, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, no longer in the race, there are no remaining obstacles in his way. President Joe Biden also won hundreds of delegates on Super Tuesday and could officially clinch the nomination on Tuesday. The Associated Press allocated delegates from Delaware and Florida to Biden on Friday, as both states have canceled their Democratic presidential primaries, with all their delegates going to the sitting president. With that allocation, Bidens first possible date to clinch moves up to March 12, when he needs to win just 40% of the available delegates to do so. Biden will be on the primary ballots in three states on Tuesday, Georgia, Mississippi and Washington. The date will also mark the conclusion of party-run contests in the Northern Mariana Islands and Democrats Abroad, an organization of Democratic U.S. citizens who live in other countries. Democrats Abroad functions like a state for the purposes of the presidential nomination process. Biden will face self-help author Marianne Williamson in four contests. He will also face a rematch with Democrat Jason Palmer in the Northern Marianas primary. Palmer unexpectedly won a 91-person vote in American Samoa on Super Tuesday, picking up three delegates along the way. Uncommitted has also won delegates in Michigan, Minnesota and Hawaii and will be on the ballot Tuesday in Washington. Mississippi is the only state on Tuesday that will hold primaries for state offices. U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker is the front-runner in his Republican primary for another term. Republican primaries are also on the ballot in the second and fourth congressional districts, while a Democratic primary is on the ballot in the first congressional district. Here are the March 12 contests at a glance: DECISION NOTES Tuesdays presidential primaries are unlikely to be competitive, as Biden and Trump face no major opposition in their campaigns for renomination. In Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and Washington, the first indications that Biden and Trump are winning statewide on a level consistent with the overwhelming margins seen in most other contests held so far this year may be sufficient to determine the statewide winners. In the Democrats Abroad and Northern Mariana Islands party-run Democratic primaries, the party organizations are expected to provide complete results and delegate allocations. The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why. DELEGATES AT STAKE ON MARCH 12 Democrats: 254 Republicans: 161 STATES WITH PRESIDENTIAL CONTESTS (4) Georgia, Hawaii (Republican only), Mississippi, Washington OTHER PRESIDENTIAL CONTESTS (2) Northern Mariana Islands (Democrats only), Democrats Abroad (Democrats only) STATES WITH PRIMARIES FOR STATE & LOCAL OFFICES (1) Mississippi DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CONTESTS (5) STATE-RUN PRIMARIES (3): Georgia, Mississippi, Washington PARTY-RUN PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE VOTES AND CAUCUSES (2): Northern Mariana Islands, Democrats Abroad REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CONTESTS (4) STATE-RUN PRIMARIES (3): Georgia, Mississippi, Washington PARTY-RUN PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE VOTES AND CAUCUSES (1): Hawaii TUESDAY TIMELINE 4 a.m. EDT: Last polls close in Northern Mariana Islands 8 a.m. EDT: Last polls close in Democrats Abroad primary 7 p.m. EDT: Polls close in Georgia 8 p.m. EDT: Polls close in Mississippi 11 p.m. EDT: Polls close in Washington 2 a.m. EDT: Caucus ends in Hawaii GEORGIA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (D): Biden, Phillips, Williamson. 108 delegates at stake PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (R): Trump, Haley, Stuckenberg, Binkley, Burgum, Christie, DeSantis, Hutchinson, Johnson, Ramaswamy, Scott. 59 delegates at stake WHO CAN VOTE: Any registered voter. Voters in Georgia do not register by party FIRST VOTES REPORTED (2022 Primaries): 7:22 p.m. ET LAST ELECTION NIGHT UPDATE: 3:25 a.m. ET with about 98% of total vote counted HAWAII PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (R): Trump, Haley, Stuckenberg, Binkley, Burgum, Christie, DeSantis, Ramaswamy. 19 delegates at stake WHO CAN VOTE: Registered voters and Hawaii Republican Party members. Same-day registration available. RESULTS EXPECTED: State party expects to release first votes at around 2:30 a.m. EDT MISSISSIPPI PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (D): Biden. 35 delegates at stake PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (R): Trump, Haley, DeSantis, Ramaswamy. 40 delegates at stake STATE PRIMARES: U.S. Senate (R); U.S. House District 1 (D), U.S. House District 2 (R), U.S. House District 4 (R) WHO CAN VOTE: Any registered voter. Voters in Mississippi do not register by party FIRST VOTES REPORTED (2022 Primaries): 8:21 p.m. ET LAST ELECTION NIGHT UPDATE: 1:30 a.m. ET with about 96% of total votes counted WASHINGTON PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (D): Biden, Phillips, Williamson, Uncommitted. 92 delegates at stake PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (R): Trump, Haley, Christie, DeSantis, Ramaswamy. 43 delegates at stake WHO CAN VOTE: Registered voters may participate in either primary but may not vote in both primaries FIRST VOTES REPORTED (2022 Primaries): 11:08 p.m. ET LAST ELECTION NIGHT UPDATE: 1:17 a.m. ET with about 54% of total votes counted NOTES: All registered voters are sent a ballot by mail after Feb. 23. Voters in Washington do not register by party, but for the presidential primary only, they must mark and sign a party declaration statement on the return envelope. The party marked on the envelope must match the party of the candidate the voter selected on the ballot; otherwise, the vote will be invalidated. DEMOCRATS ABROAD PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (D): Biden, Williamson. 13 delegates at stake WHO CAN VOTE: Registered voters who are members of Democrats Abroad. Same-day registration available. Voters casting in-person ballots must do so at a voting center in the country where they reside. RESULTS EXPECTED: Although the last in-person polls close in the global primary at 8 a.m. EDT in Bangkok, Thailand, the Democrats Abroad organization has until March 17 to tabulate all votes received by mail. The organization expects to release results no later than March 25. NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (D): Biden, Palmer, Phillips, Williamson. 6 delegates at stake WHO CAN VOTE: Democrats who are registered to vote in the Northern Mariana Islands. RESULTS EXPECTED: Voting ends at 4 a.m. EDT in Saipan. The party says results will be available no later than 5 a.m. EDT. UNCOMMITTED ON THE BALLOT DEMOCRATS: Washington ARE WE THERE YET? As of Tuesday, there will be 125 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, 160 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and 238 days until the November general election. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024. Students march during an International Women's Day protest in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, March 8, 2024. Spanish women are marking International Women's Day with a full day strike and dozens of protests across the country against wage gap and gender violence.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) LONDON (AP) A day of their own. Women around the globe marked International Womens Day on Friday, taking part in strikes, marches and demonstrations that underscored efforts to combat discrimination and accelerate the drive for gender parity. The event, first celebrated in 1911, traces its roots to the early struggles for equal pay and votes for women. In Paris, supporters attended a ceremony formally enshrining a womans right to abortion in the French constitution. The initiative was overwhelmingly approved by lawmakers earlier this week, even as the U.S. and other countries restrict access to abortion. In Lebanon, one demonstrator brandished a handmade sign linking the struggle for equal rights to the war in Gaza, where Palestinian health officials say an estimated 9,000 women have been killed in five months of fighting. And in Brazil, protesters highlighted the increasing number of women who are being killed because of their gender, a crime known as femicide. The story of progress and continued struggle was summed up by a banner unfurled on the streets of Pamplona, in northern Spain. So much has been achieved, it said. There is so much to achieve. ____ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews AP Images on X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images Barbecue, the leader of the "G9 and Family" gang, stands with his fellow gang members after speaking to journalists in the Delmas 6 neighborhood of Port-au-Prince in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Haiti's latest violence began with a direct challenge from the former elite police officer Jimmy Cherizier, known as Barbecue, who said he would target government ministers to prevent the prime minister's return and force his resignation. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph) March 1-7, 2024 Haiti's former elite police officer Jimmy Cherizier, now the leader of the G9 and Family gang, said he would target government ministers to prevent the prime ministers return to Haiti and force his resignation. Protesters demonstrated against reforms announced by the government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, and Argentina's President Javier Milei said he would shut down the state-owned Telam news agency. Mexico kicked off its election campaign season with presidential candidates holding rallies ahead of the June 2 contest. This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in Latin America and the Caribbean. The selection was curated by Senior Photo Editor for Latin America Leslie Mazoch in Mexico City. ____ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews Six people have been indicted in the death of a 16-year-old Arizona boy who died after being beaten in a gang-style attack during a Halloween party last year in a Phoenix suburb, authorities said. On Wednesday, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced charges against four people Dominic Turner, 20, William Hines, 18, Talan Renner, and Talyn Vigil, both 17, in the death of 16-year-old Preston Lord. All four are charged with felony first-degree murder and kidnapping. "These four indictments are just the start," Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice said at a news conference. 'APPARENT ASSAULT AND ABDUCTION' CAUGHT ON CAMERA AT ARIZONA GAS STATION: POLICE Preston Lord, 16, died after being the victim of a gang-style attack at a Halloween party in a Phoenix suburb last year, authorities said. On Thursday, Mitchell's office subsequently announced indictments against Taylor Sherman, 19, and a 17-year-old Jacob Meisner. Both are also charged with first-degree murder and various other charges. All six suspects are in custody. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Hines was already in custody for unrelated assault cases, authorities said. The three juveniles, Meisner, Renner and Vigil, are being charged as adults, Mitchell's office told Fox News Digital. Lord's parents, Nick Lord and Autumn Curiel, said the arrests "represent a step towards accountability and justice for our son Preston," according to a statement issued by their lawyer. Lord was beaten following a party in Queen Creek on Oct. 28, 2023. He was found by first responders on a roadway just before 9:50 p.m. and taken to a hospital where he died two days later. The attack shocked the community and prompted calls for more police action to combat teen violence. ARIZONA GOP SEEKS TO BAN CITIES FROM ESTABLISHING UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME PROGRAMS "While there is still work to be done - and nothing will bring Preston back - the arrests in the Preston Lord homicide investigation are an essential step in the process," Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley said in a statement. "The Lord family is in my thoughts and prayers daily and I am so thankful that we can continue to move forward in our pursuit of justice for Preston." A medical examiner ruled Lord's manner of death a homicide but has not released a cause of death. From left: William Hines, Dominic Turner and Taylor Sherman. Mitchell said her office reviewed 600 videos and a 2,000-page police report, among other evidence, to develop the case against the first four suspects. An investigative grand jury began hearing the case on Feb. 7. A December report by The Arizona Republic said investigators suspect Lord was killed by a gang called the "Gilbert Goons," who recorded blitz-style attacks in parks, parking garages, outside fast-food restaurants and at house parties and posted the videos on social media. Many of the attacks happened in the nearby city of Gilbert and ran unchecked by police for more than a year, the report said. Original article source: Arizona teen beating death: 6 suspects charged with murder for alleged Halloween party attack JAKARTA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- A small cargo plane lost contact while flying above North Kalimantan province in central Indonesia on Friday, and a search and rescue operation was underway, rescuer at the provincial search and rescue office Yohan Budi told Xinhua over phone. A team of rescuers has been deployed with a helicopter from Tarakan town, heading to the area where the last communication was made, Budi said. The plane departed from the airport in Tarakan town of the province, and headed to Nunukan regency in the province, the rescuer said. The plane should have already arrived at its destination Friday morning, but until now, it had not arrived, according to the rescuer. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. In a press conference Thursday, members of the Arkansas Republican Caucus announced their joint effort to get Board of Corrections member Alonza Jiles to step down amid accusations of him covering up child sexual abuse while working at the Lords Ranch. Jiles is named in a handful of lawsuits where alleged victims claim he turned a blind eye to sexual abuse they reported at the youth treatment center. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders calls on Arkansas Board of Corrections member to resign amid Lords Ranch lawsuit KARK 4 News spoke with several lawmakers over the last few weeks about the personal letters theyve sent to Jiles, or phone calls theyve made to try and hear his side, but got no response. Lawmakers said had they ever known about these allegations, Jiles wouldve never been appointed to begin with by former governor Mike Huckabee or Asa Hutchinson. He needs to go take care of his personal issues and then let the courts play out as they may, but you have 52 individuals saying theres a serious issue here, Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R-Elm Springs) said. KARK 4 News reached out to Jiles several times asking for comments and has not heard back. However, in his statement last week, he adamantly denied the allegations and said the push for him to resign goes against the state constitution. Arkansas Senate president pro tem calls for resignation of board of corrections member accused in Lords Ranch suits Arkansas Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness released a statement Thursday following the news conference, saying that Jiles is entitled to his day in court while adding that the board has no authority to initiate the removal of a board member. When allegations of wrong doing are made, every American is entitled to their day in court. Alonza Jiles is entitled to his day in court. Some are working overtime to deprive him of that right by trying to force him to resign from the Board of Corrections. The board has no authority to initiate the removal of a board member, nor should it. That process is set forth in the Arkansas Constitution. Mr. Jiles has not had his day in court. When he does, if he is determined to be at fault, there should be consequences. If he is found not to be at fault, he should be able to move past it. Pastor Jiles has asserted that the allegations against him are false. Unless proven otherwise, he should not be punished as some are demanding. Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness On Thursday, Arkansas Senate Majority Leader Blake Johnson sent a letter to Jiles asking that he step down. In light of those numerous allegations, it is the stance of the majority of the Senate Republican Caucus that you should immediately resign from your position as a member of the Board of Corrections, the letter read in part. Although you are presumed innocent until proven guilty, we feel that the severity and volume of the accusations leveled against you demand an immediate response. Lawsuit filed against The Lords Ranch youth facility in central Arkansas, claiming staff member sexually abused its children Rep. Howard Beaty Jr. (R-Crossett) also sent a letter to Jiles asking for his resignation. It is imperative that the public has trust and confidence in the individuals serving on the Arkansas Board of Corrections, and your continued presence undermines that trust, the letter read in part. To uphold the integrity of the Board and demonstrate accountability for your actions, I urge you to resign immediately. A potential vote by the state legislature to remove Jiles from the board could happen as soon as the fiscal session next month. It would require a 2/3 vote to remove him. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Attorney General Tim Griffin (left) and Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness (right). (Arkansas Advocate) Arkansas highest court has rejected the attorney generals request that it speed the appeal of his unsuccessful lawsuit against the state prison board. The Arkansas Supreme Court in a Thursday order denied AG Tim Griffins motion for expedited consideration of his Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Board of Corrections, which was dismissed by a lower court in January. The court did not take up Griffins motion that it disqualify the private law firm the prison board hired as special counsel to represent it in litigation against Griffin and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. On Thursday afternoon, Griffin said: I look forward to defending our case before the Arkansas Supreme Court. The case is one of many facets in the ongoing dispute between the Board of Correction and Sanders, Griffin and other state officials, and a group of lawmakers Thursday afternoon reiterated calls for board member Alonza Jiles to resign over allegations in a civil lawsuit that he covered up child sexual abuse at a youth camp. Griffins case Griffin sued the Board of Corrections over alleged FOIA violations shortly after it filed a lawsuit of its own against Sanders and former Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri over control of the state prison system. The FOIA suit accused the Board of Corrections of violating the states open meetings law when it entered executive session during a pair of December meetings. The suit also challenged the boards legal authority to retain attorney Abtin Mehdizadegan and Hall Booth Smith law firm. Griffin also said the board failed to properly respond to a public records request from his office earlier in December, and he has continued to take issue with the boards use of private sessions. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox gave Griffin and his staff 30 days to work with the Board of Corrections on an agreement with an outside attorney. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Fox tossed the suit last month, ruling Griffins office failed to make material or good faith efforts to initiate the statutory procedure that allows special counsel to represent state officials and entities. While a majority of the Supreme Court declined to expedite the appeal or take up the motion to disqualify the outside law firm, Associate Justice Shawn Womack would have granted the motion to expedite and taken the motion to disqualify counsel. Associate Justice Barbara Webb agreed that expedited consideration should be denied, but she wouldve taken the motion to disqualify. Thursdays ruling doesnt affect a second appeal in the Board of Corrections snafu. In that separate case, Griffin is appealing a lower courts ruling that the prison board has constitutional authority over the state correctional system and the secretary of corrections. Jiles controversy Also Thursday, a group of Republican legislators held a press conference to repeat calls that Jiles resign from the board. Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester said multiple federal lawsuits and allegations against Jiles have created too great of a distraction for him to continue on the board. Alonza Jiles (Arkansas Department of Corrections) Were asking him, due to the loss in public trust, to do the right thing and step down, Hester said. Several lawmakers expressed frustration that Jiles has not responded to their repeated calls and letters. Jiles last week denied the allegations in the suits and said he didnt plan to step down, categorizing calls for his ouster from the governor, attorney general and legislators as political shots at the board. Board Chairman Benny Magness on Thursday said Jiles and all Americans are entitled to their day in court. Mr. Jiles has not had his day in court. When he does, if he is determined to be at fault, there should be consequences, Magness said. If he is found not to be at fault, he should be able to move past it. Pastor Jiles has asserted that the allegations against him are false. Unless proven otherwise, he should not be punished as some are demanding. The Arkansas Constitution contains a provision that allows the governor to initiate a process to remove a member of an independent state board, but that process would require support from a majority of the Board of Corrections. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Arkansas Supreme Court wont fast-track case against Board of Corrections appeared first on Arkansas Advocate. Fat City is gone. Wagyu city has taken its place. Armenian American steakhouse Vs Paradise will host its grand opening Friday at 1001 Front St., the longtime home of Fat City Bar & Cafe in Old Sacramento. A soft opening began Feb. 29, and while the menu has yet to be fully set, general manager Richard Kazanjian said the kitchen would source local meat and vegetables to prepare steaks as well as lesser-seen options. There are $69 rib-eyes, Wagyu short ribs ($47) and confit chicken wings ($19) with blue cheese from Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. But diners can also enjoy beef tartare ($28) held together by yogurt, lamb khorovats skewers ($26) or a Caesar salad ($16) dressed with the Armenian spice mix chaimen. A golden tree stands in the center of the Paradise Room of Vs Paradise in Old Sacramento on Thursday. Veteran local chefs Tyler Bond and Joe Pruner are getting the kitchen started as culinary consultants. Both will stay on at Vs Paradise for three or four months, developing the menu while training staff members to replace them, Bond said. Bond formerly co-owned the venerable Lemon Grass Restaurant in Loehmanns Plaza shopping center and will open Chinese-Vietnamese concept Chu Mai with Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine founder Billy Ngo later this year. Pruner was most recently The Banks chef de cuisine, and previously the executive chef at Allora in East Sacramento and chef de cuisine at Mother during the all-vegetarian spots downtown era. Bonds inclination toward Asian cooking shows up in a few Vs Paradise dishes, including a kabocha squash bisque ($25) with poached lobster and prawns and a miso-glazed black cod ($36). Housemade desserts include a seasonal pavlova ($13), ricotta zeppole ($14) and a chocolate ganache cake ($15). Vs Paradise, located at 1001 Front St. in Old Sacramento, is ready to greet customers on Thursday, the day before the Armenian American steakhouses grand opening. I want it to be international, so were bringing some Armenian flair, of course some California-style steakhouse and vegetable dishes, and also some inspiration from Japan because of my background, Bond said. Owner Vardan Sargsyan wants to add some theatrical elements to the food presentation such as creating smoke with dry ice, similar to steakhouses in Chicago or Las Vegas, Bond said. But like many restaurants in downtown or Old Sacramento, Vs Paradise will have to find customers outside of one-off occasions. Kazanjian hopes people come for upscale dinners, but also for post-work drinks or a nightcap after Golden 1 Center events. Were really trying to make this a high-quality premier destination, not only for the district but for the city and state, Kazanjian said. The hope is that this is the kind of place where not only someone can come annually for their dinner for their birthday or anniversary, but someplace they can bring (people) to entertain their guests or family. Richard Kazanjian, the general manager of Vs Paradise in Old Sacramento, stands at the restaurants bar on Thursday. The dark, sleek restaurant and cocktail bar with brick walls and modern finishes will source wines from Amador, Napa and Sonoma counties as well as Europe and Armenia. Itll eventually encompasses about 8,500 square feet once a dance hall is built out, Bond said. Fat City was the Old Sacramento sister concept to elegant downtown Chinese American restaurant Frank Fats, and leaned more into the American side, with tri-colored nachos, turkey avocado BLTs and bacon cheeseburgers on its final menu. It closed in late 2019 after 43 years in business. Vs Paradise is open from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and closed Sunday-Tuesday. An Army intelligence analyst who wanted to be like 'Jason Bourne' has been accused of selling military secrets for $42,000 A US Army soldier was accused of selling military secrets to a contact in China on Thursday. The DOJ said Sergeant Korbein Schultz received around $42,000 for his work. Schultz told his contact that he wished he could be like Jason Bourne, a fictional CIA assassin. A 24-year-old US Army sergeant and intelligence analyst has been charged with selling military secrets to a contact in China on Thursday. The Department of Justice said in a press release on Thursday that Sergeant Korbein Schultz has been accused of taking around $42,000 from a contact who lived in Hong Kong. The contact told Schultz that he worked for a geopolitical consulting firm based overseas, per the DOJ, "As part of the conspiracy, the defendant provided sensitive government information to his coconspirator in exchange for thousands of dollars, placing personal profit above the security of the American people," Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said in the press release. Schultz has corresponded with this person since June 2022, per court documents. The contact initially asked Schultz what the US had learned from the Ukraine war and how Russia's invasion might affect US plans to defend Taiwan during an attack. Schultz provided his contact with information on US weapons like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, studies on major countries like China, and summaries of military operations, per the documents. "I will just keep sending you an abundance of information," Schultz told the conspirator in August 2022, per the DOJ. Schultz told the conspirator in the same month that he wished he could be like Jason Bourne, a fictional CIA assassin created by author Robert Ludlum. The character was popularized by a series of films starring Matt Damon as the titular character. Schultz has been charged with six counts, including bribery and conspiracy. This isn't the first time US military personnel have been charged for handing over military secrets to foreigners. In January, a US Navy sailor was fined $5,500 and sentenced to 27 months in prison for leaking confidential military plans to Chinese intelligence. Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, had received just under $15,000 in bribes for providing the information. Read the original article on Business Insider U.S. Army reservists who worked with Maine gunman Robert Card deflected blame Thursday when an independent commission investigating the states worst mass shooting questioned whether the military should have tried harder to restrict Cards access to firearms. The commission, established by Gov. Janet Mills, has been holding a series of hearings in Augusta to investigate the shooting that left 18 people dead at a bowling alley and then a bar in Lewiston last October. The testimony follows scrutiny about whether enough was done to prevent the massacre. Card, 40, suffered severe mental health issues that were known to law enforcement and were well documented by the Army for months before the shooting, authorities and his family said. On Thursday, members of the Army Reserve testified about the two weeks Card spent in a psychiatric hospital in New York last July as well as Cards later threats to shoot up the Saco armory where his unit was headquartered. When the commission asked whether the Army thought to do something about Cards access to weapons, Staff Sgt. Matthew Noyes said that responsibility fell on the local law enforcement. Noyes praised the steps his unit took to handle Cards crisis that summer. He was one of the soldiers who took Card into protective custody in West Point, New York, and drove him to the hospital after their command ordered Card, who was acting erratic, to get evaluated. Such an order was rare within the Reserve, Noyes said. Leaving West Point, I actually felt really good about what we did and felt like wed done more than most Reserve units would, he testified. And thats not to pat ourselves on the back one bit. Its just to say that, in my experience, I havent seen anything like that before. During that roughly hourlong drive to the hospital, Card was silent except for a brief period when he cried, Noyes said. There was nothing I could do Kelvin Mote, another reservist, testified that he still believed Card was a threat to himself and others later that September. But the military, he said, had no authority to trigger Maines yellow flag law, which outlines several steps that must be taken before a weapon can be removed from an individual who poses a danger to himself or others. A person who is concerned that a family member may be a threat to himself or others must first alert law enforcement, which would then take the family member into protective custody. From there, the family member would need to be evaluated and deemed a threat by a medical professional. Only after a medical diagnosis could a judge approve an order to temporarily remove the firearm. The Army reservists faced several questions about the yellow flag law, which was criticized as weak after the shooting when questions emerged about why it was not implemented in Cards case. Mote said he asked the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office to conduct a welfare check, but the agency did not make contact with Card during two attempts. There was nothing I could do, Mote said. I had no authority over him. A member of the commission countered, saying Mote could have contacted the Army Reserves psychological program a resource made available to service members and their families for exactly these sorts of situations. You could have contacted them, she said. Could you not? Yes, I could have, Mote responded. When the panelist asked Mote if he felt he had handled the situation by passing it off to the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office, he said yes. She asked Mote if he felt sad for Card after the shooting. Mote, who moved his family out of harms way after he found out Card was the shooter on the lam, said he did not. Those people were innocent, he said. Army reservist Jeremy Reamer, the companys commander, testified that the Army believed Cards family would remove his weapons from the home. He said he did not follow up with the family to see if that had been done. Another Army reservist, Sgt. Jordan Jandreau, said he had learned about the yellow flag law during his training as a Rockland police officer but that the topic of yellow flag laws had not come up in my experience in the military until this incident. Noyes, who is a deputy with the Androscoggin County Sheriffs Office, called the requirements very cumbersome and said the law would really need to change to be effective. Noyes, who joined the manhunt for Card immediately after the shooting, he outlined several missteps that he believes Maine law enforcement made. Noyes said he went to the command post and told a state police officer that he knew Card and had pertinent information about Cards history. The officer spoke to him for less than two minutes, he said, adding that law enforcement also had not spoken to Cards mother. The lines of communication were poor and unacceptable, Noyes said. When asked by the commission whether Noyes told the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office that Card had spent two weeks in a psychiatric hospital and that he had guns, Noyes said he had not. That agency was contacted by Cards family on May 3, 2023, warning that his mental health began declining in January and that he owned firearms. A Sagadahoc County sergeant also went to Cards home on Sept. 15 and 16 that year, but he was not there. That triggered an attempt to locate alert, warning that Card was known to be armed and dangerous. Cards traumatic brain injury Card enlisted in the Army Reserve in December 2002 and had no combat deployments, officials said. He was a senior instructor who was involved with hand-grenade trainings. Card died by suicide during the massive manhunt. On Wednesday, his family released the findings of a post-mortem study of his brain that found Card had traumatic brain injuries that likely played a role in his behavioral changes in the final months of his life. The study was requested by the Maine chief medical examiners office and carried out by Boston University CTE Center. Cards family said they believed he was exposed to thousands of low-level blasts at the Army hand grenade training range. They said that the studys finding does not excuse the horrific suffering he caused but that they hope it raises awareness of traumatic brain injury among service members. While we cannot go back, we are releasing the findings of Roberts brain study with the goal of supporting ongoing efforts to learn from this tragedy to ensure it never happens again, the family said in a statement. The commission issued subpoenas for Thursdays testimony. It will issue a formal public report when its investigation is over. Other people who have testified before the commission this year include family members of the shooting victims, survivors and members of local and state law enforcement agencies. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Exactly 4 months after Kissimmee Police arrested a man for allegedly setting the Salvation Armys Kissimmee building on fire, the organization hasnt found a new Kissimmee location. The organization said as a result theyve had to temporarily limit some of their services including showers and laundry for the homeless there. As leaders work to find a new temporary space, the organization is now working towards a $10 million long term solution. In February, Osceola County commissioners agreed to a matching grant of up to $5 million for the Salvation Army to build a central receiving facility for those experiencing homelessness. Osceola County Commissioner Peggy Choudhry sees this as part of the countys larger plan to address a homeless crisis. Read: Banging on the door: Missing Cocoa woman found locked in shipping container This is another step forward in the right direction, said Choudhry, We need to do things that are a little different, that are going to still assist and help. Data from the Homeless Service Network shows since 2019, Osceola Countys homeless population has skyrocketed 67 percent, far outpacing the increases seen in both Seminole and Orange Counties. The Salvation Armys central receiving facility is intended to help address the alarming spike by centralizing all services for those experiencing homelessness. It would include day services such as food, showers, and laundry, as well as social service components including mental health, case management, and financial literacy support. Read: Aldi completes deal to buy Winn Dixie, Harveys Supermarkets You can go one place and get everything you need? All the referrals you need, well be right there, said Captain Ken Chapman, the area commander for the Salvation Army of Orange and Osceola Counties. The new facility will tentatively be placed on county land off of Yates road near Shingle Creek and U.S. 192. Though, those agreements still must be finalized. As of now, $5 million county matching grants are not a guarantee either. Before any plans get underway, the Salvation Army must first fundraise about $5 million in the next two years. Read: Human remains found in Ormond Beach positively identified as those of girl reported missing in 2004 Chapman said the organization has set the ambitious goal of meeting that benchmark in the next 6 months. In the meantime, they are still accepting donations for both the central receiving facility and a temporary 2-year home. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) Ascension Borgess in Kalamazoo says that after an adjustment to allow for logistical improvements, an emergency behavioral health annex is again being used to treat only mental health patients in crisis. The nurses union had voiced concerns about a temporary change that put saw those patients receiving treatment in the same area as medical patients. We were notified by the hospital that they want to put our behavioral health patients back out into the main ER and utilize the annex for other medical patients, Cindy Evans, an emergency department behavioral health nurse, said. She said she first noticed the hospital wasnt using the area for behavioral health patients around the start of the year. The Michigan Nurses Association requested a meeting and met with hospital administrators on March 1. Evans said the hospital told the nurses that the change was temporary. Unhappy with the response, the union filed a written complaint. In a Thursday statement to News 8, Ascension Borgess acknowledged the change, which it said had been in place for about a week. It said it was made to allow for logistical improvements. It also said that the improvements wrapped up Thursday, at which point everything returned to normal. Due to logistical improvements being made, for approximately the last week, behavioral health patients were being treated in a separate designated area of the emergency department, with the same care services and resources available to them as in the annex. As of today, those improvements have been completed, and behavioral health patients are once again receiving care in the behavioral health annex. Ascension Borgess Opened in 2017, the annex has space for eight patients. Its been wonderful, Evans said. We have had patients sometimes in the emergency department for weeks on end waiting for placement and the annex provides them a safe area where they can leave their rooms, they can walk around, they can shower. They can have some dignity while theyre spending some time in the emergency department. Evans said in a statement that she is grateful the union was able to raise the concerns publicly and have the administration reconsider its previous position. Mental health is not going away, she told News 8. Theres a big push for mental health availability resources in the United States all over and so to have this (dedicated annex) available to the community in Kalamazoo is groundbreaking and a really positive step forward. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Worn road markings and a rotated road sign could have played a factor in the crash, a coroner said A mother is campaigning for rural road safety after her 18-year-old pregnant daughter was killed in a car crash. Jessica Poole and Josh Alexander, 21, were travelling on country roads near Ashford, Kent on 5 June 2023. A coroner said they would be writing to Kent County Council (KCC) after worn road markings and a rotated road sign could have played a factor in the crash. KCC said it was working with police to investigate the cause of the crash. The couple's car crashed into a lorry on the junction between Plurenden Road and Bethersden Road in Woodchurch. The two were both pronounced dead at the scene. Aimee Poole, who lives in Battle, East Sussex, has started a petition to improve rural road safety, calling for additional signs to be put in place. She claimed a warning sign "at a wrong angle" and "extremely worn" road markings contributed to the junction not being safe enough. Ms Poole said the road was big and fast, with a speed limit of 60mph (97kph). She said: "All it would take is another sign [saying] reduce speed now or approaching a junction just to prevent future accidents." Jessica was expecting a son at the time of the crash When speaking of her daughter's death, Ms Poole said: "It has just ruined my life." She said Jessica was "really funny" with a "good sense of humour". "She was kind, caring and she loved animals from a young age." Ms Poole said she was advised against seeing Jessica's body due to the severity of the crash. "Sometimes I kind of think it hasn't really happened, because I haven't seen her," she said. A KCC spokesperson said: "Whenever there is a serious or fatal crash on one of our roads we work with Kent Police, expert engineers and coroners to investigate any causation factors that are identified. "Once these are known we carry out any work deemed to be needed to help mitigate a similar incident from happening again. "One death on our roads is one too many and we will continue to make sure we keep our roads safe." Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Australias Great Barrier Reef is experiencing yet another mass coral bleaching event due to heat, the countrys government confirmed Friday. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which oversees efforts to preserve and protect the reef, said a widespread bleaching event is unfolding that is consistent with patterns of heat stress that has built up over summer. Scientists with the Australian Institute of Marine Science said this is the fifth mass bleaching event to hit the Great Barrier Reef since 2016. Bleaching events are a major threat to the health of coral reefs around the world. Coral bleaching occurs as a result of abnormal conditions, such as when ocean temperatures are unusually warm or cold, or when ocean water is more acidic than normal. In response, corals expel tiny photosynthetic algae that live in their tissues, causing the normally colorful marine invertebrates to turn white. Bleaching does not necessarily kill corals, but the process causes reefs to become more susceptible to disease. Corals can recover from widespread bleaching events, but when they occur frequently, scientists have said it is harder for reefs to bounce back. Studies have shown that climate change is elevating ocean temperatures around the world, making coral bleaching events more frequent. Last year, global sea surface temperatures shattered records, spiking as multiple bodies of water experienced unprecedented and long-lasting marine heat waves. El Nino conditions were also a factor in 2023, compounding background warming from climate change. El Nino, a natural climate cycle characterized by warmer-than-usual waters in the Pacific Ocean, typically increases average air and sea temperatures and can have a significant effect on rainfall, hurricanes and other severe weather. Researchers observe a mass coral bleaching event at a site in the Southern Great Barrier Reef on March 5. (Renata Ferrari / Australian Institute of Marine Science) The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said the current mass bleaching event is consistent with similar reports of bleaching across Northern Hemisphere reefs as a result of El Nino conditions in the Pacific Ocean and elevated ocean temperatures exacerbated by climate change. Together with scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the agency conducted aerial surveys that covered nearly two-thirds of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. These observations included more than 300 inshore, midshelf and offshore reefs, in the southern and central regions, according to the scientists. While the groups were able to confirm that a mass bleaching event is underway, further study and in-water assessments are required to understand its severity and potential impacts. Researchers are expected to conduct further aerial surveys over other parts of the reef when weather conditions are suitable. So far, the researchers noted that heat stress does not appear even across the reef. As the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem is so large, the size of Italy, the heat stress across it isnt uniform, Neal Cantin, a senior research scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, said in a statement. As a result, we are seeing differences between reefs with respect to the number of corals that are completely white. Coral bleaching affects a coral, left, at Arlington Reef, Central Barrier Reef, on Feb. 27. (Grace Frank / Australian Institute of Marine Science) The first recorded bleaching event at the Great Barrier Reef occurred in 1998, and a second was observed in 2002. After a 14-year gap, four others occurred in close succession: in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2022. Prior to these events, there was no other evidence of widespread bleaching events in the Great Barrier Reefs 500-year coral record-keeping history, according to the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Officials said the results of aerial surveys and in-water observations will help government agencies understand conditions across the reef and how best to manage restoration efforts. But David Wachenfeld, a research program director at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, said that protecting the Great Barrier Reef will require addressing its biggest threat: climate change. [T]o protect coral reefs like the Great Barrier Reef from climate change, we need strong global emissions reduction to stabilise temperatures, best practice management of local issues, and the research and development of interventions to help boost climate tolerance and resilience for coral reefs, he said in a statement. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The so-called forced labor in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was debunked by deputies of the Xinjiang delegation during an open panel discussion at the ongoing second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). "The alleged forced labor is sheer nonsense. I can use my own experience to explain it," Akram Memtimin, an official of Saymahalla Village in Xinjiang's Luntai County, said Thursday when responding to a related media question. In recent years, certain foreign media outlets have been promoting the fallacy of "forced labor" in Xinjiang's cotton industry, and the United States has imposed sanctions on Xinjiang cotton products. Akram Memtimin said such media reports are incomprehensible. "Cotton is the main crop in our village. And last year, we planted over 506 hectares of cotton," he said, noting that cotton farming has become more convenient as a result of technological advancements, such as the use of drones to spray pesticides and the installation of satellite navigation systems in cotton seeders. "Picking 1 kilogram of cotton manually costs 2 yuan (about 28 U.S. cents), and for a 1-hectare field with a yield of 4,500 kilograms, that would be 9,000 yuan. In comparison, mechanized cotton picking costs only 2,250 yuan per hectare," he said. With figures like these, Akram Memtimin feels he is reasonable in questioning the need for coercion. "This snow-white cotton is our source of income. We make a good living. We purchase cars and move into modern houses by growing cotton. Do we need to be forced to do so?" he asked. Jin Zhizhen, a local official, said that Xinjiang's cotton output exceeded 5 million tonnes in 2023, accounting for over 90 percent of the national total, and its mechanized harvest rate surpassed 85 percent. Jin noted that the cotton industry is one of Xinjiang's pillar industries and an important source of income for people of all ethnic groups in the region. All companies involved in the industrial chain sign contracts with their employees in accordance with China's Labor Law and Labor Contract Law to guarantee their legal incomes and social security benefits, he said. "The U.S. sanctions on Xinjiang cotton are essentially an attempt to use 'forced labor' as a pretext to create forced unemployment and poverty in Xinjiang, undermining prosperity, stability and development in Xinjiang and curbing China's development," Jin said. The U.S. attempts to suppress Xinjiang's cotton industry are unlikely to succeed, and Xinjiang cotton will continue to be popular around the world for its high quality, he added. A diver moves in the southern area of the Great Barrier Reef. Due to significantly increased water temperatures, the fifth mass bleaching of corals in just eight years has been confirmed in this natural wonder. This was announced by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) on 8 March 2024. -/Theundertow Ocean & Divers for Climate/AAP/dpa Australia's Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its fifth mass bleaching in just eight years, according to the authority which monitors the health of the world's largest coral reef. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) announced on Friday that rising ocean temperatures were causing a marine heatwave that was causing massive damage to a 1,100-kilometre-long stretch of reef. Aerial photographs show that the affected area stretches from the Keppel Islands, about 500 kilometres north of Brisbane, to Lizard Island, north of Cairns. However, further investigations are necessary to accurately assess the severity of the mass bleaching, the GBRMPA wrote. The reef, a living organism, stretches some 2,300 kilometres off the north-east coast of Australia and is considered one of the most species-rich habitats on earth. It is home to hundreds of coral species, 1,500 fish species and 4,000 different mollusc species. "The Great Barrier Reef is suffering massively from heat stress," warned Laura Puk, an expert on corals and mangroves from WWF Germany. "Severe coral bleaching leads to the death of corals, and if this occurs at short intervals, a reef has no chance of recovering." Puk explained that when coral polyps are stressed by prolonged heatwaves, they reject the colourful algae that provide them with food and with which they otherwise live together in a symbiotic community. "Without their symbiotic partners, the corals starve and die," explained Puk. The result is white calcareous skeletons that are soon overgrown by green-brown algae. Marine conservationists say that only a rapid change in the weather and a rapid cooling of the water can save the Great Barrier Reef. Turtles swim in the southern area of the Great Barrier Reef. Due to significantly increased water temperatures, the fifth mass bleaching of corals in just eight years has been confirmed in this natural wonder. This was announced by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) on 8 March 2024. -/Theundertow Ocean & Divers for Climate/AAP/dpa FILE PHOTO: Assorted reef fish swim above a finger coral colony as it grows on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns, Australia By Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Great Barrier Reef has been hit by a major coral bleaching event, with the results consistent with patterns of heat stress that have built up over summer at the biologically diverse site, a government agency said on Friday. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), the agency tasked with monitoring the reef's health, confirmed that "a widespread, often called mass, coral bleaching event is unfolding" across the reef. "While the area's aerial surveys are showing that the coral bleaching is extensive in the shallow water areas, we will need in-water surveys to confirm the severity of the coral bleaching and also what the depth range is," Roger Beeden, Chief Scientist at GBRMPA, said in a video message. Beeden said the bleaching follows on from similar reports on reefs around the world due to elevated sea surface temperatures primarily driven by climate change but amplified by the impacts from the El Nino phenomenon, which usually results in warmer ocean waters. The news comes after the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration earlier this week said the world was on the verge of a fourth mass coral bleaching event which could see wide swathes of tropical reefs die, including parts of the Great Barrier Reef. The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia said the fifth mass bleaching event in eight years showed climate change was putting "tremendous pressure" on the reef. "WWF is very concerned that this bleaching event is unfolding in an area where corals have not been previously exposed to these extreme temperatures. Unless we see a significant drop off in temperatures in the next few weeks, the risk of significant coral mortality is high," Richard Leck, WWF-Australia's Head of Oceans, said in a statement. Bleaching causes corals to expel the colourful algae living in their tissues and turn white. Coral can survive a bleaching event but it can stunt growth and affect reproduction. Australia has been lobbying for years to keep the reef - which contributes about A$6 billion ($4 billion) to the economy and supports 64,000 jobs - off UNESCO's endangered list as it could lead to losing the heritage status, taking some shine off its attraction for tourists. ($1 = 1.5103 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Michael Perry) Hillary Clinton meeting Margaret Hedley in South Shields in June 2022 An author said she was "absolutely gobsmacked" when former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton agreed to write the foreword of her latest book. Margaret Hedley, a genealogist, has chronicled the lives of female ancestors who lived and worked in the County Durham coalfields. She met Mrs Clinton, whose own family has roots in the area, during a visit to South Shields, at which the former presidential candidate agreed to be involved. Mrs Clinton said she hoped Mrs Hedley's books will inspire historians to document the daily lives "not just of men... but of the women living quieter but just as important lives alongside them." Mrs Hedley, from Wheatley Hill, County Durham, said she wrote the books because when she was trying to research the lives of women married to coal miners in the 1800s she could not find any published information. "I realised that the only way I was going to be able to document their story was if I told it myself, using my great-great grandmother Hannah Hall as a case study," she told BBC Radio Newcastle. Mrs Hedley carried out detailed research using census returns, parish records and family documents to put together Hannah's story, weaving in details from newspapers about people's lives at the time. Margaret Hedley's third book features an introduction by the former US presidential candidate, who has family links to County Durham Mrs Hedley met Mrs Clinton when she came to the North East to deliver a lecture at a South Shields school in June 2022. The former US first lady's family emigrated to Pennsylvania from the village of Oxhill, Stanley, in 1882. "We met up to discuss her family story and what was going on here to make people want to emigrate at that time," she said. "That was what she was interested in. "She was absolutely lovely. "I asked her to write the foreword never expecting for her to agree...but she did!" Hannah Hall and her daughters, 1862 In the foreword, Mrs Clinton wrote: I grew up hearing stories from my family members who emigrated to the United States from a County Durham mining community in the 19th Century. "Thats what drew me to Margaret Hedleys remarkable trilogy of books. "None of the women she details lived their lives thinking theyd be recorded in history, but their stories of resilience and survival are essential. Margaret Hedley discusses life in 1800's County Durham with Hillary Clinton and former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband Mrs Hedley, who wrote the series entitled Women of the Durham Coalfield after taking a writing course in her sixties, said the experience of documenting her family's story in later life had been full of surprises. "This started off as a college project," she added. "I was amazed the publishers were interested so quickly and then that there was demand for another two books... and now this. "Someone so important writing the foreword for a book about Wheatley Hill!" Follow BBC North East on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Related internet links Authorities arrested a 21-year-old man Thursday who is accused of a 2022 homicide that happened at a Salisbury shopping center. Police ask for assistance identifying person of interest in Salisbury shooting Detectives were called to the scene on March 3, 2022, on Freeland Drive and found Michael Dwayne Connor Jr., 35, who died from a shooting. The Salisbury Police Department, and state police, with the assistance of the Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office and the Kannapolis Police Department, arrested Dequan Quinshaun Hairston. We are looking for your assistance in identifying this person of interest. We believe this person may have valuable... Posted by Salisbury Police Department on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 He was charged with murder and is in the Cabarrus County Detention Center under no bond. VIDEO: 1 killed in shooting in parking lot near Salisbury Walmart, police chief says (Bloomberg) -- Banks and financial firms should be banned from using nondisclosure agreements in workplace sexual harassment disputes because they risk silencing victims while protecting perpetrators, British lawmakers have warned. Most Read from Bloomberg Senior leaders and board members at companies should take responsibility for addressing these issues and changing the culture, a parliamentary report concluded, while also urging men to take a more active role in challenging and reporting sexual harassment by other men. Lawmakers began their so-called Sexism in the City investigation after allegations of sexual misconduct against hedge fund titan Crispin Odey forced him out of his firm last year. They also found that not much had changed in boosting gender diversity and improving poor workplace cultures in the industry since 2018, when there was last an inquiry on the role of women in finance. It is shocking to hear how prevalent sexual harassment and bullying, up to and including serious sexual assault and rape, still are in financial services, and how poorly firms handle allegations of such behaviors, according to a report published Friday by the UK Parliaments Treasury committee. Systemic Risk NDAs, which prohibits signatories from sharing information with a third party, were widely used to cover up allegations of abuse, the report said, and their use should be made illegal in sexual harassment cases. The lawmakers urged the government to introduce legislation to ban their use in harassment cases. Its the second group of lawmakers this year to call on the government to end the use of NDAs in sexual misconduct cases after a separate inquiry into misogyny in the music industry. Since the inquiry launched in July, members of parliament have heard evidence from women facing behavior ranging from inappropriate comments to assault, and the subsequent failure of systems meant to ensure accountability. For firms that dont get this right, you know, it can actually cause businesses to unravel and actually, potentially be a systemic risk, Harriett Baldwin, chair of the committee, said in an interview on Bloomberg Radio, reiterating concerns over company failures to tackle sexual misconduct. There have been some high profile cases where you could see that that might be the case, she said. The committee urged the financial regulator to collect data on the use of NDAs by regulated firms in cases of non-financial misconduct to get a clear picture of the extent of their use in financial services in harassment cases, which could provide valuable evidence to support further action. The committee also recommended: All firms be required to equalize their offer of parental leave for men and women, and advertise jobs on a flexible and part-time basis. Introduction of new legislation on pay transparency, including advertising salary bands for jobs and a ban on employers asking about previous pay. Companies with pay gaps above a certain threshold be made to explain why and detail a plan to address it. Financial firms with as few as 50 employees be made to report their gender pay gap, compared with 250 currently. The financial regulator launch an awareness campaign for its hotline to report sexual harassment. Too costly However, lawmakers said a plan by financial regulators to require firms to collect and report workplace demographic data and implement strategies to address diversity problems would be costly for companies and could become a box ticking exercise, rather than driving real change. Instead, they said firms should sign up to the voluntary Women in Finance charter, signatories of which must show intent to link senior executive pay to the gender diversity of a company. The move is likely to be seen as a win by financial firms, after the industry body had baulked at some of the proposals for more transparency because of the cost burden. Such suggestions are slightly inconsistent with the rest of the tone of the report, said Alesha De-Freitas, director of policy for gender equality charity the Fawcett Society. There are some businesses which are not making change on their own and I think thats really clear to see from the data. Sign up for the Equality newsletter for weekly reporting from Claire Suddath on how gender, race and class are shaping capitalism in America and beyond. --With assistance from Caroline Hepker. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Arizona for about a year stood out politically because of the prospect of an unprecedented three-way U.S. Senate race. But after Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., announced this week that she would not seek a second term, the promise of a new senator transforms the race into a more familiar scrum. Arizona will have a Senate race for the fifth straight election cycle, with Democrats and Republicans both clamoring to hold their political bases while reaching for the stray independent. A race that for months had centered on the question of whether Sinema would run and where her votes would come from if she did, now seems headed to a stark partisan choice. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is the only prominent member of his party running. He will face former TV news anchor Kari Lake, the Republican front-runner, or Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who is trailing in money and attention. Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema greets attendees during the public ceremonial inauguration ceremony for newly elected Arizona officials at the Arizona state Capitol on Jan. 5, 2023, in Phoenix. Im not changing the rating, said Jessica Taylor, Senate editor for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which tracks races nationally. I still see it as a toss-up and I think thats because the state itself is a toss-up state in the presidential and when you look at the last few Senate races. Jacob Rubashkin, a deputy editor with the nonpartisan Inside Elections, said the race has more clarity than it has in months. Moving forward, what this looks like is something weve seen over the last three election cycles, which is a highly competitive, very expensive Senate race in Arizona, he said. The state is no stranger to this game now. Its going to be a barn-burner. Theres no other way about it. To political observers, the new dynamics sharpen the big questions that will settle the race. U.S. Senate candidate Ruben Gallego (center) holds a press conference before submitting signatures to the Secretary of State's office, on March 4, 2024, at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix. Without Sinema in the race, Rubashkin said Gallego figures to benefit from a party that is fully united in a way it couldnt be with Sinema still in the race. To me, the most important difference between a race that included Sinema and one that didnt is there was a tremendous amount of trepidation among national Democrats over how much they could involve themselves in a three-person race because shes still a sitting senator, he said. Republicans felt no need to go easy on Gallego or Sinema, Rubashkin said. Taylor said Sinemas departure clears the way for Senate Democrats to openly embrace his candidacy, which can translate into better fundraising moving forward. With Sinema, they had to do a delicate dance because they relied on her vote, too, she said. The fundraising battle is already heating up with Sinema out of the picture. Lake's campaign said it raised $330,000 at a Republican fundraiser in Washington, D.C., that included 20 sitting GOP senators. Gallego's campaign said it raised more than $1 million from nearly 24,000 donors in the first 24 hours after Sinema's retirement announcement. Both Lake and Gallego continued to praise Sinema for her work in the Senate in a sign that both want the voters closer to the political middle that Sinema might have won. I would argue Sinema was never in a position to actually win. It was clear she had 10 to 15% of the vote that was in her corner. Those voters are now up for grabs. I think theres going to be a ton of research and focus on who they are and how to win them over. For Lake, my main question is can she stay disciplined? Taylor said. Kari Lake speaks during a television interview before Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a primary election night party in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Jan. 23, 2024. While there are suggestions that Lake is running a more professional campaign focused on taking down Gallego, on Wednesday Lake posted an insulting social media message noting Nikki Haleys departure from the Republican presidential race. Taylor said it invited the kind of distracting chatter that could undermine Lakes effort to win over Arizona voters. I feel its sort of two steps forward, one step back, Taylor said. Rubashkin said Lake is well-known in the state and closely identified with the kind of election denialism that voters havent rewarded. Paradoxically, some Republican voters have looked past Trumps denialism in a way they didnt in 2022 with Lake in her gubernatorial loss. Similarly, he said, Arizona Republicans who still admire the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., may be more supportive of Trump than of Lake, even though both have memorably insulted McCain for years after his 2018 death. It points to the possibility that Lake could underperform in Arizona compared to Trump, Rubashkin said. Gallego, meanwhile, is a lesser-known quantity at the moment, which means he could fare better than President Joe Biden, who is consistently trailing Trump in polls in Arizona. For Gallego, the question, Taylor said, is whether Arizona voters will embrace a Democrat more to the left than either Sinema or Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., both of whom played up their independence from partisan politics. Hes more progressive, and this is the battle for independents and who can win them over, Taylor said. Perhaps an even bigger concern is whether Lakes political operating costs will leave her with too few resources when the campaign reaches peak interest months from now. Her burn rate is an issue. It does seem like more of official Washington getting behind her, but what I keep coming back to is Republicans wanted to avoid the types of candidates like Kari Lake," Taylor said. "And you have Kari Lake now. It still seems to me more of a marriage of convenience in many ways. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kari Lake vs. Ruben Gallego: How the Arizona Senate race is shaping up The Senate race in the US state of California will see Democrat Adam Schiff "#BREAKING: AGAIN??? The video shows Adam Schiff taking votes from the opponent," a March 6, 2024 post on X claims, sharing a recording of live vote tallies from the California Senate primary as published on the New York Times (NYT) website (archived here). In the clip, a live update showed the vote total for Garvey decreased sharply as Schiff gained votes. Similar claims circulated elsewhere on X, including here, here and here. Screenshot of a post on X taken on March 8, 2024 Schiff and Garvey triumphed in the March 5 nonpartisan primary race in California (archived here) -- a system in which candidates compete for the top two spots regardless of their political affiliation. But claims of fraud in the California Primary are baseless, and the sudden change in the vote tally was attributed to a data entry error subsequently corrected. Human error A New York Times representative said the screen recording seen in the social media posts showed data gathered by the AP, which compiles vote return data and provides it to other news organizations. Every election, a network of local AP stringers collect vote tallies at a local level from county clerks. "The vote count reporters call in results to a vote entry clerk, who keys in the results to AP's election system. Those clerks also enter results from official sources online and monitor automated feeds provided by election officials," the AP describes on its website (archived here). Lauren Easton, AP corporate communications vice president, said on March 7 that a "typo led to an extra digit being added to California Senate candidate Steve Garvey's vote totals, errantly increasing them by about 900,000 votes for about 30 minutes early Wednesday morning before it was fixed." The AP website also says: "Voters are human -- and so are the people who collect and count their ballots. They make mistakes on occasion. Those mistakes are almost always caught within a few minutes. Sometimes within a few seconds. It's rare that an error lingers for hours." A California Secretary of State spokesperson also told AFP on March 7, 2024 that the posts misrepresented the election counting process. "Vote tallies change as election results are reported. There are still ballots coming in from overseas, from people who mailed them by the required postmark day, etc.," the official said in an email. "There is nothing about vote tallies changing prior to certification of election results that constitutes fraud," they added. Susan Hyde, a political science professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said she has observed ballot counting in parts of California and has "a high degree of confidence" in the process. "The election is not yet certified, counting is still happening, and reporting news outlets sometimes grab data and aggregate it in ways that produce mistakes," she said. Porter concedes Shortly after the race was called, Democratic candidate and third-place finisher Katie Porter posted on X (archived here) and complained that special interest money was used to "rig" the election -- a characterization she later said was not a reference to the vote count and called the election process "beyond reproach" (archived here). Super Tuesday primaries further cemented the likelihood of a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the 2024 race for the White House despite concerns over the incumbent president's age, anger over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war and substantial anti-Trump resistance among moderate suburban voters. AFP has recently fact-checked other baseless claims of fraud from the 2024 primaries here and here. Warsaw calls for EU sanctions on Belarusian and Russian agricultural imports following Ukrainian investigation revealing multimillion-dollar trade between Poland and authoritarian neighbors. Belarus hits rock bottom in the annual Freedom in the World report, ranking it as the least free country in Europe and the 14th least free state in the world. Parliamentary elections are over, but the crackdown on dissent continues as Belarusian KGB detains 12 lawyers, Viasna human rights organization reports. Belarus opens criminal case on alleged "denial of Belarusian genocide." Critics decry the propagandization of history as the regime of Alexander Lukashenko clamps down on dissent. Belarus launches in absentia proceedings against Viasna human rights activist and ex-political prisoner Leanid Sudalenka, accusing him of aiding extremist activities. Polish PM calls for EU sanctions on Belarusian, Russian farm produce after press sheds light on countrys trade with authoritarian neighbors As Polish farmers protested against Ukrainian agricultural imports and continued to block Polands border with Ukraine, Poland was conducting discrete trade with Belarus and Russia, importing millions worth of agricultural produce. Following the revelation, Poland is seeking to ban Belarusian and Russian agricultural imports into the country, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Speaking during his visit to neighboring Lithuania, which is considering similar restrictions, Tusk said EU member states should adopt a joint decision on sanctioning Belarusian and Russian agricultural imports. Read also: Tusk: Poland in talks with Ukraine on temporarily closing border for trade Quoted by news website Euractiv, Tusk said the measure would ensure the effective protection of the European and Polish agricultural and food markets. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte agreed that the proposal could help reduce Russian and Belarus opportunities to benefit from the European market, and noted that joint EU sanctions would ensure that the restrictions would not be circumvented. A proposal to temporarily ban the import and transit of Belarusian and Russian agricultural products was submitted to the Lithuanian parliament earlier on March 4. If approved, the ban will take effect on April 15. Earlier, Latvia became the first EU member to ban grain imports and other foodstuffs from Russia and Belarus. The ban comes into force in March. According to an investigation by Ukrainska Pravda published on Feb. 29, Polish trucks ship Russian agricultural goods to Poland from Belarus, with the volume of these shipments increasing. The story comes amid widespread protests in Poland against agricultural imports from Ukraine, a country currently facing a full-scale Russian invasion with Belarus' support. "The border blockade by Polish farmers is senseless," Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on March 4. According to Warsaw, the influx of cheaper Ukrainian products threatens the domestic production and livelihoods of Polish farmers, which Kyiv denies. Poland has already instituted a ban on several Ukrainian products, such as grain. A ban on Russian agricultural exports to the EU was proposed as part of the Ukrainian governments five-step plan, published on Feb. 23, to resolve the blockade problem. Read also: Shmyhal: Polands border disputes with Ukraine influenced by pre-election struggle, no blocking of critical cargo recorded Belarus ranks among least free countries Belarus is not only the least-free European country, but is among the worlds 14 least free countries, along with Myanmar, Somalia, and Saudi Arabia, the annual Freedom in the World report reveals. Belarus scored only eight points out of 100 on a set of political and civil rights indicators derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Myanmar under a military junta, Somalia entrenched in a civil war, and the absolute monarchy of Saudi Arabia received the same score. After short-live improvement between 2015 and 2020, Belarus dropped dramatically in the freedom rankings when Belarusian dictator Lukashenko cracked down on any dissent sparked by his reelection in a fraudulent presidential poll. The researchers describe elections in Belarus as being openly rigged and civil liberties as severely restricted. And after Belarus supported the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, its rating plummeted further. Belarusian activists and their supporters from neighboring countries protest in Parliament Square against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko and his brutal crackdown on the opposition, journalists, and activists on the first anniversary of the fraudulent presidential elections in London, United Kingdom, on Aug. 8, 2021. (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Belarus lags behind all its neighbors. Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland enjoy the status of Free Countries, scoring from 89 to 80 points. Ukraines rating dropped in 2022 due to the start of Russias full-scale war, which restricted certain freedoms. The country is considered partially free, scoring 49 points out of 100. Authoritarian Russia, designated Not Free in the rating with 13 points, still scored five points above Belarus. The new Freedom in the World report concludes that overall global freedom declined for the 18th consecutive year in 2023, succumbing to flawed elections and armed conflict. The U.S. non-profit organization Freedom House has been preparing the Freedom in the World report annually for over 50 years. The report covers 195 countries and 15 territories, providing numerical ratings and supporting texts. It reports on the state of electoral processes, political pluralism and participation, the functioning of the government, freedom of expression and of belief, associational and organizational rights, the rule of law, and personal autonomy and individual rights. Read also: In Lukashenkos Belarus, Belarusian culture is not welcome Viasna: KGB detains 12 attorneys in Belarus The Belarusian security agency the KGB conducted raids on at least 12 acting attorneys in Belarus, detaining some of them, Human Rights Center Viasna reported on Feb. 29. The president of the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Advocates, Maria Kolesava-Hudzilina, confirmed the detentions, adding that some detainees had been released while others remained detained. The reasons for the detentions remain unknown. Since the start of the domestic political crisis in Belarus, which was sparked by fraudulent presidential elections in 2020, the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has been continuously cracking down on civil society and undermining the right to a defense in court. Six attorneys defending high-profile activists, media representatives, and Lukashenkos competitors in the 2020 presidential election are behind bars, and 134 lawyers have lost their licenses, according to The Right to Defense a project monitoring repression of lawyers in Belarus. Read also: New Belarusian poetry collection explores revolution, exile, war Belarus opens criminal case on denying genocide of Belarusians Belarusian law enforcers have opened a criminal case against a citizen based on a charge of denial of the genocide of the Belarusian people which critics have decried as a politically motivated charge weaponizing Belarusian history for propaganda purposes. The Belarusian Investigative Committee reported on March 3 that it had opened a criminal case against a 54-year-old Belarusian on charges of denial of the genocide of the Belarusian people, as well as insulting Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko and gross misconduct. According to the investigators, the accused administered a group on the Russian social media platform Odnoklassniki, where he repeatedly posted protest materials and information discrediting the republic and rehabilitating fascists. Belarusian media managed to identify the accused as Andrei Savitskiy, who lives in Minsk and was active on social media, amassing 3,500 followers online. The case of denial of genocide is based on a blog post Savitskiy made on the victims of Khatyn, a village near Minsk that was burnt along with its inhabitants by invading Nazi forces in 1943 in response to a sabotage attack. Prosecutors allege that Savitskiy had blamed Belarusian partisans for causing the tragedy. Belarus suffered severe losses during the Second World War, amounting to up to 2.2 million people or nearly a quarter of its population at the time. However, the Lukashenko regime has been accused of weaponizing this period of history, using it as a tool of propaganda to build an East-West divide narrative, and justify the dictators clinging to power. Challenging the states interpretation of history is now punishable in Belarus by five years of imprisonment. The sentence can be doubled if the crime is repeated. Human rights organization Human Constanta said that the law consolidates the monopoly of the authoritarian (Lukashenko regime) on the interpretation of history, and gives the state an additional punitive instrument in the form of criminal punishment for expressing opinions different from the only true state interpretation of history. The repressive law has already been used against exiled independent Belarusian media outlets Flagshtok and Zerkalo. On Jan. 23, 2024, similar charges were brought against RFE/RL journalist Siarhei Dubaviets. However, Andrei Savitskiys case is likely to be the first to result in the courts handing down an actual prison term. Viasna activist, ex-political prisoner faces new in absentia charges The Belarusian Investigative Committee has launched in absentia proceedings against Leanid Sudalenka, a human rights activist working with the Viasna human rights organization. He is a former political prisoner who fled Belarus after serving a prison term. The Investigative Committee announced the initiated proceedings on March 4. The committee accused the activist of assisting extremist activities an offense punishable by up to six years of imprisonment. The committee demanded that Sudalenka return to Belarus to participate in the proceedings, which he has refused to do, saying he fears more political repression. I am sure that Belarusian special services are trying to silence me this way because, after my release, I didnt give up and didnt keep silent. I spoke publicly at the European Parliament as a witness of torture in Belarusian prisons, Sudalenka said in comment to Viasna. The Viasna Human Rights Center also officially links the prosecution with Sudalenkas human rights activism. Sudalenka, a human rights activist for 20 years, headed Viasnas Homiel branch. Belarusian law enforcers detained him on Jan. 18, 2021, on charges of organizing actions that grossly violate public order a charge frequently used against opponents of the regime. Internationally recognized as a political prisoner, Sudalenka served his term in full, was released on July 21, 2023, and then left the country. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Belarusian opposition leader and civil rights activist, speaks at the 75th Germany Day of the Junge Union. Moritz Frankenberg/dpa Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the international community on Friday to do more to help political prisoners in her country. "We have to take measures to prevent further tragedies. The torture of people in prison must stop," she said in Vilnius, the Baltic News Service (BNS) reported. Her remarks followed the death in custody of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny last month. According to Tsikhanouskaya, who lives in exile, five political prisoners have died in Belarusian jails in recent years. She predicted the figure would rise. "People in prisons are being killed slowly," she said. The activist and her associates earlier mounted a protest in front of the Belarusian embassy in the Lithuanian capital to draw attention to their fellow activists in prison. The Belarusian opposition estimates that the country is holding around 1,500 political prisoners, including Sergei Tikhanovsky, Tsikhanouskaya's husband. "It has been a year since I last heard from my husband. Since then it has been silent," she said. Nothing had been heard from other well-known opposition figures like Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kolesnikova for the past year. Tikhanovsky planned to contest the August 2020 presidential elections but was arrested months before the vote. His wife took his place and is thought by many to have been the true winner in the elections, which were seen as fraudulent. Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko was instead confirmed in office. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock vowed not to let Russian dictator Vladimir Putin drive a wedge between the allies at a joint news conference in Berlin on March 7, Bloomberg reported. If we have different views, we will discuss that behind closed doors, Baerbock told reporters. Because we wont let ourselves be divided by Putin, no matter what other means and methods he will use. Read also: Russian espionage activities surge, echoing cold war levels FT I dont want to play into the hands of some Russian narrative about divisions between allies, Cameron said for his part, praising the incredible unity between allies and in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Their comments follow a recent Russian hack of German intelligence that exposed a disagreement over military assistance to Ukraine and the supply of long-range Taurus cruise missiles. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly ruled out such a move, arguing that it could make Germany an active participant in the Kremlins war on Ukraine. The UK government has privately urged Berlin to rethink, arguing that Kyiv badly needs the weapons. Asked about supplying Taurus, Baerbock acknowledged that Kyiv needs ammunition and long-range missiles, though she added that there were many different types. Read also: German FM calls on government to consider supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine Although Cameron said the decision ultimately lies with Germany, he said several times that long-range weapons have helped Ukraine in its fight to repel Russia. The UK has offered solutions to Berlins resistance, including a swap deal that would see Britain supply more of its own Storm Shadow missiles, and Germany then restock Britain with replacements. Leaked conversation between German officers: What is known A leaked conversation between German generals has surfaced, revealing discussions about supplying long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine and targeting the Crimean bridge. Read also: UK Foreign Secretary Cameron calls Germany to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles Russian propagandists released the recording on March 1, which the German Ministry of Defense confirmed as authentic on March 2. Germany announced on March 3 that it would investigate the leak, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz describing it as a very serious matter. In response, on March 4, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to Moscow. White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby has suggested that Russian propagandists aim to create a false narrative of Western division over support for Ukraine, portraying Russia as opposed not by the Ukrainian Armed Forces but by the collective NATO bloc. 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 OTTAWA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A 19-year-old student is charged with killing six people including four children, with the youngest less than three months old, inside a townhouse in the suburb of Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, local media reported Thursday. Febrio De-Zoysa is charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Police said he is a Sri Lankan national who is believed to be in Canada as a student, CBC News reported. The victims, a mother, her four children and a family acquaintance, are newcomers to Canada and are originally from Sri Lanka, the report said. Police confirmed that the homicides late Wednesday night are considered the worst mass killing in the city's recent history, CBC News reported. In an earlier interview on CBC News, the police had initially called the incident a "mass shooting," but it was not. An "edged weapon" was used by the killer, the report said. Police said De-Zoysa is also an acquaintance of the family and was living in the home at the time of the killings. He was arrested about 15 kilometres south of Ottawa's downtown core, the report said. According to CTV News, the Sri Lankan High Commission has been told by Ottawa police that the six victims are of Sri Lankan decent and are assisting the police notifying the next of kin in Sri Lanka. Dont get your hackles up when you hear this news, but Southern Living says Henrys Smokehouse in Greenville has the best barbecue in South Carolina. Pretty heady company the 30-plus-year old restaurant is in, what with hundreds of barbecue places in one of the states that invented smoking pork for hours and slathering it with sauce first vinegar and pepper along the coastal plains and then the more distinct South Carolina sauce, mustard. The South Carolina Barbecue Association says there are two other types of sauce in the state, light and heavy tomato and Henrys has them all and then some. Southern Living acknowledges Henrys outlier status, saying, In a state filled with acclaimed barbecue joints, this years choice for South Carolinas best is something of a sleeper, but its a very worthy pick. The magazine described Henrys sandwiches as splendid. Henrys cooks pork butts for 12 hours over hickory coals and fine chops. Henrys proclaims they have the leanest butts in town. Ribs are slow cooked for eight hours. The hand-cut fries are perhaps the best to be found in any Southern barbecue joint, and the meaty slabs of smoke-kissed ribs and a thick, rich version of South Carolinas signature hash and rice round an impressive offering, Southern Living said. On its website, Henrys says, If you have ever had meat cooked long and hickory logs in the BBQ pit and experienced the fall-off-the-bone tenderness and the distinctive hickory flavor, you begin to understand why Henrys Barbeque is becoming legendary. Hand pulled, of course. Heres what 10 Best says about Henrys: Henrys is Greenvilles great equalizer, seating business and government types alongside guys in jeans and work boots. Such a response isnt surprising when you sample the tender, succulent meat (and your choice of sauce) served with sides like baked beans, mac and cheese, fries, coleslaw, sweet potato casserole or hash and rice. Henrys was also named one of the top four barbecue restaurants in South Carolina by Food Network Magazine along with Rodney Scotts Whole Hog BBQ in Charleston, Swig & Swine in Mount Pleasant and Roys Grille in Irmo. One more thing. Henrys will come to you. They offer catering on site with their food truck, aptly named Hog Hauler. The Colorado River Aqueduct begins at the Whitsett Pumping Plant on Lake Havasu, one of seven basins whose levels would factor into future water-use reductions under one proposal. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) With climate change compounding the strains on the Colorado River, seven Western states are starting to consider long-term plans for reducing water use to prevent the rivers reservoirs from reaching critically low levels in the years to come. But negotiations among representatives of the states have so far failed to resolve disagreements. And now, two groups of states are proposing competing plans for addressing the rivers chronic gap between supply and demand. In one camp, the three states in the rivers lower basin California, Arizona and Nevada say their approach would share the largest-ever water reductions throughout the Colorado River Basin to ensure long-term sustainability. In the other camp, the four upper basin states Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico argue their proposal would help rebuild reservoir levels and enable the West to adapt to the limits of diminished river flows. Rules governing management of the Colorado River, seen flowing along the California-Arizona border last spring, are set to expire after 2026 amid the increasing challenges of climate change. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) The two sides disagree on how triggers for mandatory cutbacks should be determined, and how the reductions should be apportioned between the lower basin and the upper basin. Representatives of California, Arizona and Nevada say the upper states proposal is unworkable because it would require the lower states to shoulder the burden of the cuts, while the lower basins proposal would spread the cuts throughout the region when reservoirs reach low levels. Our proposal requires adaptation and sacrifice by water users across the region, said J.B. Hamby, Californias Colorado River commissioner. It is all of our collective responsibility. Putting the entire burden of climate change on one basin or another will result in conflict. And we can do better than that. The states submitted their proposals on Wednesday to the federal Bureau of Reclamation, which plans to analyze alternatives for new rules to govern river management starting after 2026, when the current rules expire. Hamby, who spoke at a briefing with counterparts from Arizona and Nevada, says the three states proposal would respond to the effects of climate change, resolve the structural deficit in water supplies, and manage the entire river system as a whole. He said California and Arizona, which have been at odds in the past, have agreed to cooperatively manage massive reductions, and share in the pain, because it's necessary. Implementing our alternative will be extraordinarily difficult. It will represent billions of dollars in investments to manage the reductions, Hamby said. We're proposing it anyway. Because that's what we must do if we want a sustainable Colorado River Basin for future generations. Under their proposal, California, Arizona and Nevada would agree to mandatory reductions in water use of up to 1.5 million acre-feet per year in response to a broad range of reservoir levels. The plan is for Mexico to share in these reductions a proposal that would need to be negotiated separately but the initial phases of cuts would not apply to the upper basin states. If the levels of seven reservoirs were to fall below a critical threshold of 38% full, the cuts would increase to as much as 3.9 million acre-feet per year, with the upper basin states sharing in the reductions. A chart of past Colorado River basin levels shows how proposed water-use cuts would apply in stages as basin levels drop. The proposed framework for scaling back water usage would add to ongoing cuts under existing agreements, and would translate into forgoing a large share of the 15 million acre-feet that was originally divided among the states under the 1922 Colorado River Compact. (For comparison, U.S. states used more than 11 million acre-feet of Colorado River water in 2020, while Mexico used about 1.5 million acre-feet.) Leaders of the four upper states are calling for a different approach, saying their proposal would address imbalances in the water supply and boost water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the rivers largest reservoirs, to ensure sustainable supplies. We can no longer accept the status quo of Colorado River operations, said Becky Mitchell, who represents the state of Colorado on the Upper Colorado River Commission. If we want to protect the system and ensure certainty for the 40 million people who rely on this water source, then we need to address the existing imbalance between supply and demand. The upper states proposal would base water usage reductions on the levels of Lake Powell and Lake Mead, without factoring in the levels of five smaller reservoirs, as the lower states are proposing. Under the upper basin proposal, California, Arizona and Nevada, the lower basin states, would face mandatory annual cuts of 1.5 million acre-feet under most scenarios, or about 20% of their full allotment. If the two largest reservoirs were to drop below a critical threshold, the lower states would face gradually increasing cuts of as much as 3.9 million acre-feet per year. The upper states say in their proposal that because water users in their region largely depend on snowmelt rather than water releases from reservoirs, they already regularly face serious shortages. We are on the front lines of climate change without the protection of massive reservoirs, Mitchell said in an email. This means that when water is not available, we cannot use it, so a cut has already occurred. This is a much different reality than that of Lower Basin water users, who have been provided a level of certainty in water deliveries by drawing down Lake Mead, she said. She added that the lower states have been shielded from the impacts of climate change as they've relied on large releases of water and drawing down Lake Mead for years. Lake Powell, on the Utah-Arizona border, would be one of two reservoirs whose levels could trigger water-use reductions under a proposal by states in the Colorado River's upper basin. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) She pointed out that in 2000, the reservoirs were nearly full. We must account for the fact that our countrys two largest reservoirs are now depleted to critically low levels, Mitchell said. The focus must be on living within the means of the river. The water level behind Hoover Dam in Lake Mead, the countrys largest reservoir, is now at 37% of capacity. Upstream on the Utah-Arizona border, Lake Powell stands at 34% full. The rivers average flow has declined dramatically since 2000, and research has shown that global warming is intensifying drought years and contributing to reduced flows. Read more: The Colorado River is overused and shrinking. Inside the crisis transforming the Southwest Scientists have found that roughly half of the decline in the rivers flow this century has been caused by rising temperatures, and that for each additional 1.8 degrees of warming, the rivers average flow is likely to decrease by about 9%. The four upper states proposal is designed to substantially boost reservoir levels, avoid large variations in water releases, and provide greater certainty to the system, Mitchell said. Those representing California, Arizona and Nevada say they're concerned that the upper states proposal would make them shoulder the entire burden of water cuts. What I need to see out of the upper basin is a proposal in which they help contribute to the protection of the river system, and in a way that has certainty, said Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources. I think that's the first step: ... a recognition that we share the burden of protecting this system, and that there is some equity in the upper basin coming together with us and contributing. Water managers representing Arizona, California and Nevada say their proposed framework aims to address the loss of water caused by evaporation from reservoirs and seepage from the river in the lower basin, which a federal report recently estimated amounted to 1.3 million acre-feet annually. Read more: Risks ease for Colorado River reservoirs after wet winter, but long-term challenges loom John Entsminger, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, says the three states did modeling of their proposal based on projections into the 2060s. We want a long-term, durable operating regime that addresses the impacts of drought and climate change, but also provides certainty and predictability for all of the water users on the Colorado River, Entsminger said. It is a basin-wide problem and it requires a basin-wide solution. Not represented in the states proposals were the 30 tribes of the Colorado River Basin, who have rights to use nearly one-fourth of the rivers average supply, and who have sought greater involvement in talks on future water management. Representatives of tribes said they were reviewing the states proposals. Buschatke says he and other state officials consider the tribes crucial partners in developing plans for reductions in water use. Jordan Joaquin, president of the Quechan Tribal Council, praised the lower basin states proposal, calling it a thoughtful plan for addressing the structural deficit. He said its essential that the post-2026 management framework provides for the needs of people and ecosystems, protects tribal water rights and preserves the river. The states released their plans a day after the Biden administration announced that ongoing conservation efforts supported by federal funding, together with ample snow and rain over the last year, have substantially reduced the risks of reservoirs declining to critically low levels between now and 2026. Some environmentalists say that while a wet year and short-term conservation efforts have temporarily eased risks of a damaging crash on the river, long-term concerns remain. Read more: Colorado River in Crisis: A Los Angeles Times documentary Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, said last years above-average snowpack in the Rocky Mountains was a blessing and a curse. It undoubtedly gave negotiators breathing room, which deflated some of the urgency, he said. But the saving grace is the 2026 deadline. No one can outrun that. The Bureau of Reclamation plans to complete a draft environmental review of alternatives to the long-term rules by the end of this year. And federal officials have said they will continue to participate in talks through the spring and summer to try to achieve as much consensus as possible. The states proposals represent a start towards meaningful negotiations to get the basin to long-term sustainable management, said Mark Gold, director of water scarcity solutions for the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council. Gold said the cutbacks ultimately will need to be much larger than 1.5 million acre-feet per year, but to actually put that out there is positive. He said while the lower states use the most water and will need to shoulder much of the cuts, the upper states participation is also vital. The solution for the Colorado River Basin needs to include everyone within the basin, Gold said. We're talking about long-term sustainable management. That can only happen if everybody does their part. And there's a lot more that needs to be done on everything from water reuse to conservation to eliminating wasteful uses within the Colorado River Basin that everybody could do better. Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California said the lower basin states proposal provides for sustainable management of the river that meets the scale and urgency that the climate crisis demands. He urged the upper and lower basin states to work together to reach consensus. Officials on both sides of the debate say they plan to continue talks to try to reach a seven-state consensus. Mitchell, of Colorado, said that in the past, the seven states have always been most successful through collaboration. Hamby, California's commissioner, said the states will continue working toward a consensus, though for now a "chasm" remains to be bridged. "Arguing legal interpretations until we're all blue in the face doesn't do anything to proactively respond to climate change," he said. "Protecting the basin is a joint responsibility." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Five Beverly Hills eighth-graders have been expelled for their involvement in the creation and sharing of fake nude pictures of their classmates. The Beverly Hills Unified School District board of education voted at a special meeting Wednesday evening to approve stipulated agreements of expulsion with five students. According to a source close to the investigation, the expelled students were attending Beverly Vista Middle School. Under a stipulated agreement, the students and their parents do not contest the punishment and no hearing was held. The names of the students were not released, and the agreements are confidential. Typically, however, such agreements specify how long a student is expelled and what the terms are for their return to the district. According to Supt. Michael Bregy, the five students who were the focus of its investigation were the "most egregiously involved" in the creation and sharing of the images, which superimposed pictures of real students' faces onto simulated nude bodies generated by artificial intelligence. The victims, the district said, were 16 eighth-grade students. Shared through messaging apps, the images outraged parents and school officials, prompting Bregy to tell parents in a message last month that he was prepared to impose "the most severe disciplinary actions allowed by state law." The students involved were identified and disciplined in less than 24 hours, but the district did not move to expel them until it completed its investigation. Read more: LAUSD candidate under district investigation, removed from school counseling job during probe The Beverly Hills Police Department and the Los Angeles County district attorney's office are still investigating the incident, but no arrests have been made or charges brought. California's laws against possessing child pornography and sharing nonconsensual nude pictures do not specifically apply to AI-generated images, which legal experts say would pose a problem for prosecutors. The fake nudes circulated briefly among Beverly Vista students in late February, school officials say. They haven't specified how the images were made, other than to say it involved generative A.I. Dozens of A.I.-powered apps are available online to undress someone in a photo, simulating what a person would look like if theyd been nude when the shot was taken. Other A.I.-based tools allow you to face swap a targeted persons face onto another persons nude body. Read more: Scandal over AI-generated nudes at Beverly Hills middle school exposes gaps in law Versions of these programs have been available for years, but the earlier ones were expensive, harder to use and less realistic. Today, AI tools can clone lifelike images and quickly create fakes; even using a smartphone, it can be accomplished in a matter of seconds. In a message to parents Thursday evening, Bregy said, "This incident has spurred crucial discussions on the ethical use of technology, including AI, underscoring the importance of vigilant and informed engagement within digital environments. In response, our district is steadfast in its commitment to enhancing education around digital citizenship, privacy, and safety for our students, staff, and parents which was immediately reemphasized at all schools following the incident." No specific policy change has been announced in response to the incident, but the district had already prohibited students from using cell phones on campus. Bregy said that the nude images, which were reported to school officials Feb. 21, were contained within 24 hours. "We recognize that kids are still learning and growing, and mistakes are part of this process," he said in the message. "However, accountability is essential, and appropriate measures have been taken." 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. (KRON) A major injury collision involving a motorcycle and a bicyclist in the area of Hamilton Avenue and Latimer Avenue in San Jose occurred Thursday night. Petaluma police arrest man who allegedly harassed girl at shopping center The San Jose Police Department said the bicyclist was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The bicyclist was stabilized in the hospital and remains in critical condition, police said. Eastbound and westbound traffic on Hamilton Avenue was closed off from Latimer Avenue to Parkview Avenue. At 7:57 a.m. Friday, SJPD announced that the roads were open from police activity. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. President Joe Biden took aim at any Republicans seeking to roll back social services, including Medicare and the protections under the Affordable Care Act, during a fervent State of the Union address on Thursday evening. In an impassioned moment of his speech, Biden vowed to protect Social Security and health care benefits for seniors, adding that the White House would vehemently oppose any efforts to raise the retirement age to qualify for Social Security payments. Republicans have regularly threatened to cut such programs in an effort to rein in the national debt. And the retirement age was a key question on the GOP debate stage. Biden said he wouldnt stand for any changes to such programs. Working people who built this country pay more into Social Security than millionaires and billionaires do. Its not fair, Biden said. We have two ways to go on Social Security: Republicans will cut Social Security and give more tax cuts to the wealthy. I will protect and strengthen Social Security and make the wealthy pay their fair share. Many of my Republican friends want to put Social Security on the chopping block, he said. If anyone here tries to cut Social Security or Medicare, or raise the retirement age, I will stop you. If Republicans try to cut Social Security or Medicare, I will stop them. pic.twitter.com/bgecv7C90E Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 8, 2024 The president devoted a large portion of his address to his efforts to limit the escalating cost of living, pointing to work his administration has done to lower drug prices and alleviate the burden of student loan debt. He also urged a change in the tax code that would make billionaires pay much more in federal taxes. For folks at home, does anybody really think the tax code is fair? he said Thursday. Do you really think the wealthy and big corporations need another $2 trillion in tax breaks? I sure dont. Im going to keep fighting like hell to make it fair! Related... WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union speech on Thursday evening aimed to remind Americans how the economy has recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic, and draw a sharp contrast between himself and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Biden, 81, did not mention Trump, 77, by name, but he made clear jabs at Trump and Republicans who have blocked a bill with aid for Ukraine and restricted abortion rights around the country: UKRAINE "I say this to Congress: We have to stand up to [Vladimir] Putin. Send me a bipartisan national security bill. History is literally watching." ABORTION RIGHTS "With all due respect, Justices, women are not without electoral ... or political power. You are about to realize how much you're wrong about that." "Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America ... If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again." ECONOMIC COMEBACK "Americas comeback is building a future of American possibilities, building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up." AGE "In my career, I've been told I was too young ... and I've been told I'm too old. Whether young or old, I've always known what endures." OTHER PEOPLE HIS AGE "My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy ... To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That's not me." The phrase "revenge and retribution" echoes a Biden speech marking the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol by Trump loyalists. VLADIMIR PUTIN "It wasn't that long ago when a Republican president, Ronald Reagan, thundered 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.' Now my predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin: 'Do whatever the hell you want.'""My message to President Putin, who I've known for a long time, is simple: We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down." (Reporting by Idrees Ali, Nandita Bose; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Heather Timmons, and Stephen Coates) A general view over the Gaza Strip as seen from the Israeli side of the border on January 8, 2024 in Southern Israel. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden is expected to use his State of the Union address Thursday night to announce that the U.S. military will build port infrastructure on the Gaza Strip coast to allow humanitarian aid to arrive by sea. Senior White House officials briefed reporters earlier in the day on the plan that they say will require no American boots on the ground in Gaza, where starvation after five months of the Israel-Hamas war has reached disastrous levels, nongovernmental agencies warn. Rather, an unspecified number of U.S. troops will construct what officials described as a pier or causeway from an offshore military vessel. The U.S. military has unique capabilities, and they can do things from just offshore that are extraordinary, a senior White House official said on the call. And so that is the concept of operations that the president has been briefed on that he is going to authorize and then we will work here over the coming days to get this underway. The plan will be done in partnership with allies, including with the Israelis who will provide security on the ground and the United Nations and other nongovernmental organizations that will coordinate distribution of shipments, Biden administration officials said. The U.S. construction will enable delivery of shipments from Cyprus, the Mediterranean island nation that initially proposed the plan last year. This new significant capability will take a number of weeks to plan and execute, a senior official said, without providing a specific timeline. The forces that will be required to complete this mission are either already in the region or will begin to move there soon. We look forward to working with our close partners and allies in Europe, the Middle East and beyond to build a coalition of countries that will contribute capabilities and funding for this initiative, the official said. Bidens announcement comes a week after more than 100 Palestinians died and hundreds were injured in a rush to aid trucks along a coastal road just southwest of Gaza City. Palestinian health authorities maintain many died from bullets fired by Israeli forces, which Israel denies. Other witnesses have said most killed were run over by trucks. The United Nations warned this week that hunger in the Gaza Strip has reached catastrophic levels. The agency is pushing for a plan to transport aid into the Gaza Strips northern area via a military access road. White House officials told reporters that the U.N. confirmed Thursday that a first delivery using the northern route will occur this week. Pressures on administration Biden continues to face pressure as negotiations over a temporary cease-fire and releases of Israeli hostages have stalled. Voters in numerous primary states cast uncommitted ballots as recently as the Democratic 2024 Super Tuesday presidential nominating contests, apparently as a protest of Bidens continued support of Israels bombardment in the Gaza Strip. While just a tiny fraction of the delegate count, Biden lost 11 delegates to uncommitted in Minnesota on Tuesday, seven in Hawaii on Wednesday and two in Michigan last month. White House officials said Thursday the onus is on Hamas. The Gaza-based militant group has so far refused to agree to a deal during ongoing negotiations in Cairo, Egypt. It is essential that we see a temporary cease-fire in Gaza. The path to a cease-fire is straightforward, a senior White House official said. There could be at least a six-week cease-fire today if Hamas would agree to release a defined category of vulnerable hostages, including women, elderly, sick and the wounded. That deal is on the table now and has been for more than the past week. Thursday marks five months of fighting in the Gaza Strip after Hamas militants stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 in Israel and initially taking roughly 200 hostages into the Hamas-controlled territory. The Gaza health ministry estimates the death toll in the small strip of land bordered by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea has surpassed 30,000. The post Biden to announce U.S. will construct a port on Gaza coast to deliver humanitarian aid appeared first on Daily Montanan. Congress was flooded with phone calls this week from angry teens opposing a bill that could potentially ban TikTok. President Joe Biden isnt worried about the controversy. On Friday, he told reporters he plans to sign the legislation if it passes. The statement comes as Bidens likely 2024 opponent Donald Trump has started backing away from his past efforts to ban TikTok, and is now publicly defending the popular platform a decision that some observers speculate could be related to a Republican megadonors financial interests in TikToks parent company. Biden said Friday he would sign the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, should it pass through Congress. The bill would require TikToks parent company ByteDance to sell the viral video app within six months, or be blocked from being accessed in the United States. If they pass it, Ill sign it, Biden stated, according to CBS News. The legislation will move to the House floor for a vote next week, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) revealed on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday. The bill swiftly made it through the House Energy and Commerce Committee with unanimous support this week after being introduced on Tuesday. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party introduced the bill, which sets a goal to protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications, such as TikTok and any successor application or service and any other application or service developed or provided by ByteDance Ltd. or an entity under the control of ByteDance Ltd. Should the bill be passed and signed into law, ByteDance which is based in China would have 165 days to dump TikTok. The app has already started to push back against the threat, prompting users to contact their representatives to urge them to vote against the bill and prevent the app from shutting down. As Rolling Stone reported Thursday, congressional offices received a nonstop barrage of calls this week from shrieking teens (as well as some adults) who oppose the legislation. Around this time last year, according to TikTok, 150 million Americans were active users the app. Every national security official in the Biden administration has warned about the national security threat posed by TikTok under its current ownership structure, Gallagher said. Thats what were trying to get at. Not a ban, but a separation. Think of it as a surgery designed to remove the tumor from the patient and allow the patient to survive. Scalise has called the legislation a critical national security bill, but some representatives have concerns about the passing of the pursuit. I must express my disappointment in how rushed this process has been, Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. stated earlier this week. This committee has worked together on a bipartisan basis on numerous occasions to advance legislation that furthers our national security interest. Committee Democrats would have appreciated more notice and time to digest the legislation before us before it advances to a markup this afternoon. He added: There are very complex constitutional concerns implicated by this bill, and I think we all would have benefitted from a more thorough process that results from regular order. In late February, the Biden Administration gave government agencies 30 days to remove TikTok from all federal devices and systems. Bidens Office of Management and Budget called the guidance a critical step forward in addressing the risks presented by the app to sensitive government data. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone President Joe Biden said he wanted to use his State of the Union to wake up" Congress, but he was the one who seemed suddenly energized as he sparred with Republican hecklers and repeatedly criticized former President Donald Trump. Shaking off lackluster approval ratings and his own party's anxiety about his political and physical health, the 81-year-old delivered on Thursday one of the feistiest and most political presidential addresses to Congress in recent memory. He referenced "my predecessor" 13 times, not saying Trump's name once but making him a clear focus of his speech, shouted back at firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and sarcastically mocked Republican lawmakers. "I know you know how to read," he said as he criticized the GOP over their refusal to pass the bipartisan border bill, responding to those who heckled him from the House chamber. While Biden was unlikely to ever sway Republicans with a speech, it may help coalesce Democrats for a moment at least who are alternatingly panicky and dismissive of polls showing Trump leading Biden in key swing states. Democrats in the chamber seemed thrilled. The president lingered on the floor for another 33 minutes after the speech a record, according to NBC News soaking up praise, even as lights began to be turned off and the House officially adjourned, aware this could be his last chance Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, an up-and-coming 42-year-old, delivered the Republican response. Speaking from her kitchen, Britt accused Biden of making the country more dangerous, saying the America we know and love may be slipping away, and said Biden is not fit for the job. "Right now, our commander in chief is not in command. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader," she said. In his own remarks, Biden targeted Trump, accusing "my predecessor" of supporting threats to democracy at home and abroad. They will not bow down. We will not bow down. I will not bow down, Biden said of Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion. "History is watching. Just like history watched three years ago on Jan. 6 Biden didnt unveil new executive action on immigration or the southern border. The Biden administration has been considering unilateral action for weeks that would make it harder for migrants to pass the initial screening for asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, as NBC News has reported. But that didnt mean the speech wasnt without a moment about the contentious issue of immigration. In response to Greene heckling him, he picked up a button with the name of a University of Georgia student Laken Riley whose murder has been attributed by police to an undocumented immigrant. But he appeared to suggest that Greene and Republicans are right about crime by "illegals" repeating a term that many on the left consider offensive. Lincoln, Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, thats right, but how many thousands of people have been killed by legals? Biden said, confusing her first name. Biden framed his speech around the theme of freedom including homing in on abortion rights after the landmark Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, which Democrats think will be a potent issue with voters. Hes the reason it was overturned and brags about it," Biden said of Trump, who appointed the conservative majority to the high court that overturned Roe. Then he noted that some of the Republicans he was speaking to in the chamber wanted to pass a national abortion ban: "My God, what other freedom would you take away?" "Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024," Biden said. "If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again. Biden made a lengthy entrance to the House Chamber for the joint address, leisurely shaking hands and posing for selfies with members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, and the joint chiefs of staff. If I were smart, I'd go home now, Biden joked as he took the stage, starting off light. The route a presidential motorcade normally takes down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the Capitol was lined with protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Instead, Biden took a longer route to the Capitol that avoided the demonstrations but delayed his speech. The protests have become a familiar distraction for Biden at recent public appearances, reminding him that the issue has divided parts of his base. He announced plans to add a port in Gaza that will be used by the U.S. and partners to deliver aid. The operation will not involve U.S. boots on the ground, he said. He called the humanitarian crisis in Gaza "intolerable" and said Israel has a responsibility to protect Palestinian civilians. "Israel must do its part," he said, reasserting his goal for a two-state solution in the region. With the economy the top issue on many voters minds, Biden highlighted the post-Covid economic recovery and laid out the administrations plans to revamp the tax code, expand housing supply and reduce the federal budget deficit. Follow live updates on the State of the Union address The speech was also a chance for Biden to make a positive case for what he would do with another four years in the White House since Democratic rhetoric around the election so far has focused instead on stopping Trump. In modern politics, State of the Union addresses carry less agenda-setting power than they have in the past. But with millions expected to watch, they are nonetheless a rare opportunity for Biden to speak to some Americans who dont follow politics closely but tune in for big moments. "In my career, Ive been told Im too young," said Biden, who was first elected to the Senate at 30, "And I've been told that Im too old." "Whether young or old, Ive always known what endures," Biden continued. "The very idea of America: That we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives." CORRECTION (March 7, 2024, 8:25 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. It was in 2022, not last year. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com President Joe Biden called Belvidere, Illinois, the Boone County seat of just more than 25,000 residents, a "great comeback story" during his State of the Union address Thursday night. The president highlighted Belvidere as he discussed the landmark deal reached by the United Auto Workers and Stellantis back in November that not only reopens the idled Belvidere Assembly Plant but expands on it. All told, the $19 billion contract sets aside nearly $5 billion for the Belvidere plant and looks to add 2,500 jobs hiring 1,200 employees to build pickup trucks and another 1,300 more workers for an electric vehicle battery factory. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 7, 2024. "Folks at Belvidere, I say instead of your town being left behind, your community is moving forward again," Biden said during his address. In attendance was UAW Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen at the bequest of U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville. Frantzen and UAW President Shawn Fain joined Biden on the stage in Belvidere in November to celebrate the reopening of the Stellantis plant. @POTUS said it himself tonight: The great comeback story is Belvidere, Illinois. I could not be prouder that Matt Frantzen, President of @UAW Local 1268 in Belvidere, was at the speech with me tonight to hear the President Biden talk about his hometown. pic.twitter.com/J8Kgbu6JEF Congressman Bill Foster (@RepBillFoster) March 8, 2024 Biden, who carried Illinois by more than 15 points over former President Donald Trump in 2020, has solid backing in the state ahead this year's election. Democrats have won every presidential election in the state dating back to President George H.W. Bush in 1988. More: Biden to Belvidere UAW: 'You changed the face of the country' Gov. JB Pritzker, along with U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, applauded the president's speech, the governor calling Biden's accomplishments in his first term "nothing short of remarkable." Meanwhile, the Illinois Republican Party said Biden's agenda has led to inflated food prices and a migrant crisis stretching out state and city of Chicago resources. The presumptive Democratic nominee, Biden is expected to be selected as the party's candidate during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this August. At stake in Illinois are 147 Democratic delegates that could move Biden plus the 1,968 delegate-threshold to secure the nomination if he doesn't do so next week. Illinois voters head to the polls on March 19 for the primary election. Contact Patrick M. Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: 'Comeback city,' Biden applauds Belvidere during SOTU Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) Procurator-general Ying Yong delivers a work report of the SPP at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China's national lawmakers on Friday started deliberating a work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate. Procurator-general Ying Yong delivered the report at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress. In his State of the Union address Thursday evening, President Biden lambasted the rise in legislation making it harder to vote. A transformational moment in our history happened 59 years ago today in Selma, Alabama, Biden said. Hundreds of foot soldiers for justice marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, named after a grand dragon of the KKK, to claim their fundamental right to vote. They were beaten bloodied and left for dead. That day, March 7, 1965, became known as Bloody Sunday. Biden went on to speak of the late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a Freedom Rider and founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, who led the protesters over the bridge that day. He was beaten on national television. Our late friend and former colleague John Lewis was at the march, Biden said. We miss him. His comments were met with applause, including a standing ovation from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) the first time the Speaker stood during the presidents speech. Biden drew attention to one of the marchers Bettie May Fikes, who became known as the Voice of Selma who was in the audience for Bidens address. She, and the other nonviolent protesters in 1965, helped shake the nations conscience to see the Voting Rights Act passed later that year. But 59 years later, there are forces taking us back in time. Voter suppression. Election subversion. Unlimited dark money. Extreme gerrymandering, Biden said. Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, at least 14 states enacted 17 restrictive voting laws, though at least 356 restrictive bills were considered by lawmakers in 47 states, according to an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice. Many of these laws disproportionately affect Black voters, a majority of whom lean Democratic. Organizations including the Congressional Black Caucus have repeatedly called for the passage of the Freedom to Vote Act, a bill that would require all 50 states to offer early voting periods for at least two weeks before Election Day, including on nights and weekends, for at least 10 hours per day. The caucus has also been a staunch supporter of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would expand the governments ability to respond to voter discrimination. John Lewis was a great friend to many of us here, Biden said Thursday. But if you truly want to honor him and all the heroes who marched with him, then its time for more than just talk. Pass and send me the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and stop denying another core value of America! Bidens comments follow a push from Black leaders around the nation this week urging the president to address Bloody Sundays legacy. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), chair of the caucus, could be seen giving Biden a standing ovation as he spoke. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden mentioned the death of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley during his State of the Union address on Thursday and referred to the Venezuelan man accused of killing her as an illegal. Bidens unscripted remarks, prompted by an exchange with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., provided one of the nights most tense moments. By calling the suspect an illegal, Biden was using outdated language often preferred by Republicans but long abandoned by Democrats and social justice advocates when referring to people who have entered the country illegally. The exchange came during a portion of Biden's remarks when he was urging Congress to pass a bipartisan border security bill that House Republicans killed at the urging of former President Donald Trump. Greene, who was wearing a T-shirt that read Say Her Name, shouted out Rileys name, prompting Biden to go off script. He stopped briefly and then held up a button bearing the victims name. More: What does it mean to be a 'sanctuary city'? Athens area officials offer differing views In response to Laken Riley's death, rally and vigil precede Athens commission meeting Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) yells as President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 7, 2024. Lincoln Riley, Biden said, appearing to mispronounce the victims first name, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal thats right. But how many thousands of people being killed by illegals?" Biden then directed his remarks to the victim's parents, saying, "My heart goes out to you, having lost children myself. I understand. Federal authorities say Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was killed on Feb. 22 in Athens, Georgia, by a man who entered the country without authorization. In invoking Riley's death, Biden called on Republicans to pass the border security bill. "We can fight about fixing the border or we can fix it," he said. "I'm ready to fix it." President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. He is holding a button remembering the killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley, a nursing student whose body was found in a wooded area on the University of Georgia's main campus in Athens, Ga. Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @mcollinsNEWS. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Laken Riley: Biden calls alleged killer Ibarra an 'illegal' at SOTU Biden-Harris 2024 campaign co-chair Mitch Landrieu said Friday that President Biden should not have used the word illegal to refer to a person, calling the presidents use of the term a small mistake that should be understood in the context of his broader message. Biden used the term to refer to Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan national charged with the murder of college student Laken Riley. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. Thats right, Biden said. Ibarra has been widely reported to be undocumented, though he is technically a parolee. He probably should have used a different word, and I think he would know that, Landrieu said on CNN Friday morning. But what you should notice about that is not that he made a small mistake. The big thing that he did right and this is what this president always does is express empathy to people, he added. He expressed kindnesses to people. He understands, because as you know, he lost a number of children in his life. Republicans have taken Rileys murder as a banner, generalizing the individual crime to make a broader claim of immigrant-borne criminality. Biden used the term illegal to describe Ibarra in response to heckling from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who was wearing a shirt with the phrase say her name in reference to Riley and the campaign to publicize her murder as a statement on immigration. Multiple studies have shown that immigrants are less likely to commit murder and other crimes than natural-born U.S. citizens. Biden made reference to that fact in his response to Greene, before turning to Rileys parents. But how many thousands of people being killed by legals? To her parents I say, my heart goes out to you having lost children myself, he said. Yet Bidens words were ill-received by many in the immigrant advocacy world, including some Democrats who were in the audience like Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), who live-posted no human being is illegal on X, formerly Twitter. Landrieu pivoted Friday from Bidens small mistake to the presidents attempts to pass immigration reform, highlighting the administrations early comprehensive reform proposal and support for the bipartisan Senate border policy bill. On top of that the more important issue is as the president when he first got in office, one of the first things he did was send an immigration bill to Congress and they did nothing, said Landrieu, adding that do-nothing right-wing members of Congress shut [the bipartisan deal] down because Donald Trump told them to. Others in the Biden campaign sprung to the presidents defense Friday. In a call with reporters, campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez the first Latina to run a presidential reelection effort defended Bidens relationship with the immigrant community. You know, our community knows Joe. They know who is fighting for our community, they know whos fighting for us. They know the incredible track record that he has in investing and so many, you know, areas that are benefiting our community and they also know his values, his values of faith, of family of hard work, all of those are so consistent with what our community stands for, Chavez Rodriguez said. Alex Gangitano contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Bidens fiery State of the Union remarks continued off the podium on Friday night after a hot mic caught him speaking about Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu. I told him, Bibi and dont repeat this but you and I are going to have a come to Jesus meeting, Mr Biden said while shaking hands after his address, in footage caught on C-SPAN. His words came after a top Israeli minister and political rival of Mr Netanyahu visited Washington DC last week for a series of meetings with the president and Vice President Kamala Harris that drew criticism from the Israeli prime minister. During his high-stakes address, Mr Biden announced the US military would establish a temporary pier on the Gaza coast for aid. Moments later, he also criticised Israels actions in Gaza, calling for the Israeli government to allow more aid to flow to Palestinians. To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, he said. Mr Biden has faced increasing criticism for his response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Most notably, more than 100,000 voters in the Michigan Democratic presidential primary cast their ballots as uncommitted last week in a protest vote against Mr Biden for giving political and financial support to Israels war in Gaza. Meanwhile, just hours before the State of the Union, former Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy told The Independent that, given the number of civilians killed in Gaza, the Biden administration has broken US foreign aid laws by providing Israel with aid. Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address on Thursday (Getty Images) The United Nations warned last month that some 576,000 people, or one-quarter of Gazas population, are one step away from famine. It has also accused Israel of systematically blocking aid deliveries into Gaza and of opening fire on convoys that do make it through. Since 7 October when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing at least 1,200 people and taking around 200 hostages at least 30,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israels attacks on Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Intimaa Salama, a woman born and raised in Gaza, attended the State of the Union as the guest of Representative Cori Bush. In the three months since the campaign on Gaza began, 35 members of Ms Salamas family have been killed and she learned of yet another friends death as she walked through the US Capitol on Thursday night, HuffPost reports. I feel like I need to do this. I need to be here, Ms Salama told the outlet. Im doing it for my family and for my people, who need an immediate and permanent cease-fire. Mr Biden, for his part, did not call for a permanent cease-fire during his address instead, he told the American public about his work calling for an immediate ceasefire that would last for at least six weeks. Joe Biden delivers a speech to the US Congress, March 7, 2024 President Joe Biden devoted special attention to Ukraine in his third annual State of the Union address, but it was his comments about Russian dictator Vladimir Putin that had people talking. Calling a spade a spade, Biden drew parallels between Russias war on Ukraine and the early 1940s when Germanys Adolf Hitler was attempting to conquer Europe. Biden began his hour-long speech with a historical comparison, invoking Franklin Roosevelts address to the nation in January 1941 amid Hitlers aggression in Europe. Read also: White House blasts Trumps intimidation tactics Mr. Speaker. Madam Vice President. Members of Congress. My Fellow Americans, Biden began. In January 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation. He said, I address you at a moment unprecedented in the history of the Union. Hitler was on the march. War was raging in Europe. President Roosevelts purpose was to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary moment, Biden continued. Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world. Tonight, I come to the same chamber to address the nation. Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union. Read also: Allies pressure Biden to secure Ukraine aid in State of the Union speech to Congress Politico And yes, my purpose tonight is to both wake up this Congress, and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either. Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault here at home as they are today. What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time. Overseas, Putin of Russia is on the march, invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond. If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not. But Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself. That is all Ukraine is asking. They are not asking for American soldiers. In fact, there are no American soldiers at war in Ukraine. And I am determined to keep it that way. But now assistance for Ukraine is being blocked by those who want us to walk away from our leadership in the world. It wasnt that long ago when a Republican President, Ronald Reagan, thundered, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. Now, my predecessor, a former Republican President, tells Putin, Do whatever the hell you want. A former American President actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader. Its outrageous. Its dangerous. Its unacceptable. America is a founding member of NATO, the military alliance of democratic nations created after World War II to prevent war and keep the peace. Today, weve made NATO stronger than ever. Read also: Biden to meet with Congressional Leadership in bid to unblock U.S. aid to Ukraine We welcomed Finland to the Alliance last year, and just this morning, Sweden officially joined NATO, and their Prime Minister is here tonight. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to NATO, the strongest military alliance the world has ever known. I say this to Congress: we must stand up to Putin. Send me the Bipartisan National Security Bill. History is watching. If the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe at risk. The free world at risk, emboldening others who wish to do us harm. My message to President Putin is simple. We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down. Biden's current address to the nation was his final speech before the presidential elections in November 2024, noted by The Guardian for its "strikingly combative" tone, as Biden repeatedly criticized Trump from his foreign policy views to immigration reform. 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 President Joe Biden delivered the annual State of the Union address on March 7, 2024, casting a wide net on a range of major themes the economy, abortion rights, threats to democracy, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine that are preoccupying many Americans heading into the November presidential election. The president also addressed massive increases in immigration at the southern border and the political battle in Congress over how to manage it. We can fight about the border, or we can fix it. Im ready to fix it, Biden said. But while Biden stressed that he wants to overcome political division and take action on immigration and the border, he cautioned that he will not demonize immigrants, as he said his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, does. I will not separate families. I will not ban people from America because of their faith, Biden said. Bidens speech comes as a rising number of American voters say that immigration is the countrys biggest problem. Immigration law scholar Jean Lantz Reisz answers four questions about why immigration has become a top issue for Americans, and the limits of presidential power when it comes to immigration and border security. President Joe Biden arrives to deliver the State of the Union address at the US Capitol on March 7, 2024. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images 1. What is driving all of the attention and concern immigration is receiving? The unprecedented number of undocumented migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border right now has drawn national concern to the U.S. immigration system and the presidents enforcement policies at the border. Border security has always been part of the immigration debate about how to stop unlawful immigration. But in this election, the immigration debate is also fueled by images of large groups of migrants crossing a river and crawling through barbed wire fences. There is also news of standoffs between Texas law enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol agents and cities like New York and Chicago struggling to handle the influx of arriving migrants. Republicans blame Biden for not taking action on what they say is an invasion at the U.S. border. Democrats blame Republicans for refusing to pass laws that would give the president the power to stop the flow of migration at the border. 2. Are Bidens immigration policies effective? Confusion about immigration laws may be the reason people believe that Biden is not implementing effective policies at the border. The U.S. passed a law in 1952 that gives any person arriving at the border or inside the U.S. the right to apply for asylum and the right to legally stay in the country, even if that person crossed the border illegally. That law has not changed. Courts struck down many of former President Donald Trumps policies that tried to limit immigration. Trump was able to lawfully deport migrants at the border without processing their asylum claims during the COVID-19 pandemic under a public health law called Title 42. Biden continued that policy until the legal justification for Title 42 meaning the public health emergency ended in 2023. Republicans falsely attribute the surge in undocumented migration to the U.S. over the past three years to something they call Bidens open border policy. There is no such policy. Multiple factors are driving increased migration to the U.S. More people are leaving dangerous or difficult situations in their countries, and some people have waited to migrate until after the COVID-19 pandemic ended. People who smuggle migrants are also spreading misinformation to migrants about the ability to enter and stay in the U.S. President Joe Biden walks with Jason Owens, the chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, as he visits the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas, on Feb. 29, 2024. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images 3. How much power does the president have over immigration? The presidents power regarding immigration is limited to enforcing existing immigration laws. But the president has broad authority over how to enforce those laws. For example, the president can place every single immigrant unlawfully present in the U.S. in deportation proceedings. Because there is not enough money or employees at federal agencies and courts to accomplish that, the president will usually choose to prioritize the deportation of certain immigrants, like those who have committed serious and violent crimes in the U.S. The federal agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported more than 142,000 immigrants from October 2022 through September 2023, double the number of people it deported the previous fiscal year. But under current law, the president does not have the power to summarily expel migrants who say they are afraid of returning to their country. The law requires the president to process their claims for asylum. Bidens ability to enforce immigration law also depends on a budget approved by Congress. Without congressional approval, the president cannot spend money to build a wall, increase immigration detention facilities capacity or send more Border Patrol agents to process undocumented migrants entering the country. Migrants arrive at the border between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to surrender to American Border Patrol agents on March 5, 2024. Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images 4. How could Biden address the current immigration problems in this country? In early 2024, Republicans in the Senate refused to pass a bill developed by a bipartisan team of legislators that would have made it harder to get asylum and given Biden the power to stop taking asylum applications when migrant crossings reached a certain number. During his speech, Biden called this bill the toughest set of border security reforms weve ever seen in this country. That bill would have also provided more federal money to help immigration agencies and courts quickly review more asylum claims and expedite the asylum process, which remains backlogged with millions of cases, Biden said. Biden said the bipartisan deal would also hire 1,500 more border security agents and officers, as well as 4,300 more asylum officers. Removing this backlog in immigration courts could mean that some undocumented migrants, who now might wait six to eight years for an asylum hearing, would instead only wait six weeks, Biden said. That means it would be highly unlikely migrants would pay a large amount to be smuggled into the country, only to be kicked out quickly, Biden said. My Republican friends, you owe it to the American people to get this bill done. We need to act, Biden said. Bidens remarks calling for Congress to pass the bill drew jeers from some in the audience. Biden quickly responded, saying that it was a bipartisan effort: What are you against? he asked. Biden is now considering using section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to get more control over immigration. This sweeping law allows the president to temporarily suspend or restrict the entry of all foreigners if their arrival is detrimental to the U.S. This obscure law gained attention when Trump used it in January 2017 to implement a travel ban on foreigners from mainly Muslim countries. The Supreme Court upheld the travel ban in 2018. Trump again also signed an executive order in April 2020 that blocked foreigners who were seeking lawful permanent residency from entering the country for 60 days, citing this same section of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Biden did not mention any possible use of section 212(f) during his State of the Union speech. If the president uses this, it would likely be challenged in court. It is not clear that 212(f) would apply to people already in the U.S., and it conflicts with existing asylum law that gives people within the U.S. the right to seek asylum. 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: Jean Lantz Reisz, University of Southern California Read more: Jean Lantz Reisz 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. Gimme four more years, America! An energized President Joe Biden used his State of the Union address Thursday to launch his reelection bid by delivering an optimistic vision of the nation, stark warnings about former President Donald Trump, and a pledge to restore abortion across the country. The state of the union is strong and getting stronger, Biden declared as Democrats chanted four more years. I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nations history. And we have, Biden told the joint session of Congress. It doesnt make the news, but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told, Biden said. Biden, who is 81 and the oldest president in history, also came out swinging to energetically defend his record and rebut widely held concerns about his advanced age. He highlighted Democratic support for abortion rights, an issue that has hurt Republicans since the conservative-dominated Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. They will find out again in 2024, Biden said. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again. Biden even rebuked the black-robed justices who sat in the front row: What freedoms would they take away next? Biden launched his speech with an impassioned attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine more than two years ago. We will not bow down, Biden said angrily. He quickly moved on to denounce Trump for kow-towing to the strongman. My predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin: Do whatever the hell you want,' he said, his voice dripping with disdain. Its outrageous. Its dangerous. Its unacceptable. Republican lawmakers led by House Speaker Mike Johnson sat in stony silence as Biden trashed Trump and his GOP allies for whitewashing the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth of January 6th, he said. I will not do that. This is a moment to speak the truth and bury the lies. Among other planned highlights, Biden proposed: Construction of a new port in Gaza to facilitate much-expanded aid to Palestinians bearing the brunt of Israels war against Hamas. A $5,000 tax credit to help first-time homebuyers. Raising corporate tax rates to 28% and imposing a minimum 25% tax on those with wealth of more than $100 million. Restoring the child tax credit. The president used the speech to showcase his accomplishments on infrastructure, jobs and manufacturing, as well as push for desperately needed defense aid to Ukraine, tougher migration rules and lower prescription drug prices. The White House and Bidens reelection campaign has been frustrated that relatively few Americans seem to be aware of his achievements, especially on the economy. The Biden campaign sees it as a huge advantage that the much-watched speech comes after he and Trump effectively wrapped up their parties nomination fights with big wins on Super Tuesday. That sets up a contrast between Biden and Trump, which Democrats hope will help lift the presidents moribund poll numbers as voters focus on the possibility the twice-impeached, four-times-indicted Trump could win a return to the White House. Just about 40% of Americans approve of how Biden is handling his job as president, polls say. Unlike Biden, Republicans say the country is in crisis and facing near collapse, grim warnings that echo Trumps dark campaign speeches. Trump said he would respond in real time to Bidens remarks on his social media site. But halfway through the speech, he had only criticized Biden for showing up late. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), the youngest Republican member in the chamber, was expected to deliver the GOP response to Biden. Its not known if she will touch on the controversy over IVF in the state, which was caused by anti-abortion constitutional amendment declaring that life begins at conception. One of First Lady Jill Bidens guests for the speech was a Texas woman forced to flee the state, where almost all abortions are banned, to get an emergency abortion after her unborn baby was diagnosed with a fatal anomaly. Biden faced some grumbling among his base of supporters over his staunch backing for Israels war against Hamas in Gaza and protesters demonstrated on streets outside. The Palestinian port plan is designed to assuage some of those concerns, which have sparked protest votes for uncommitted in recent Democratic primary votes. Kate Cox (2nd L) and Latorya Beasley (2nd R), two women who were denied reproductive abortion care that they needed or sought, sit next to US First Lady Jill Biden (R) during President Joe Biden's State of the Union address (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS) US President Joe Biden fiercely defended reproductive rights Thursday in his annual address to Congress, warning Republican antiabortion lawmakers of the "power of women" and insisting the issue will be at the fore in November's election. Biden is making reproductive freedoms a defining theme of the campaign. The White House has highlighted the erosion of such rights since the conservative-dominated US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling which had protected abortion access nationwide, nearly two years ago. His fellow Democrats have been keen to spotlight reproductive rights during Biden's State of the Union speech, given how the issue has mobilized the party's base, with several women whose lives have been upended by the politics of reproduction-care restrictions attending the speech as guests. "Like most Americans I believe Roe v. Wade got it right," Biden said in his televised address. "Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women," he added. "But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot -- we won in 2022 and 2023 -- and we'll win again in 2024!" he said to a standing ovation from the Democratic side. "If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again." Biden is a devout Catholic, but as president he has stood firm in his support for abortion access. Such protections have prevailed on every state ballot initiative related to the issue since Roe was overturned -- as in conservative-leaning Ohio where voters approved a constitutional amendment ensuring access to abortion. - 'Look at the chaos' - Of the people sitting in First Lady Jill Biden's guest box, at least two are key figures in the reproductive rights fight. The president spotlighted them both. One is Kate Cox, a Texas mother who sued last year for the right to an abortion, but was forced to travel out of state for the emergency termination of her nonviable pregnancy. Texas prohibits all abortions except in rare cases, and fearful of prosecution, Cox's doctors told her their hands were tied. Her case -- a judge ruled in her favor, but the Texas Supreme Court reversed the decision -- illustrates the quandary facing patients and doctors since the end of Roe. Biden brought up the former president and likely 2024 campaign rival Donald Trump, saying: "He's the reason (Roe) was overturned -- and he brags about it. Look at the chaos that has resulted." "Many of you in this chamber, and my predecessor, are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom," he said. "My god, what (other) freedom would you take away?" Also present was Latorya Beasley of Alabama, whose in-vitro fertilization process was interrupted when the state's Supreme Court ruled last month that frozen embryos should be considered children. Following the ruling, several Alabama clinics suspended their IVF programs for fear of lawsuits. Helping showcase the IVF issue, the first person in the United States born via in-vitro fertilization (IVF), Elizabeth Carr in 1981, was at Thursday's speech, a guest of Senator Tim Kaine. IVF has proven a minefield for the Republican opposition, which defines itself as "pro-life" but finds itself largely at odds with the Alabama ruling. After seeing a harsh response to the decision's impacts -- including from Trump -- Alabama's governor on Wednesday swiftly passed a bill protecting fertilization patients and clinics from prosecution. iba-mlm/tjj President Biden is not ruling out debating former President Trump, as the pair prepare for a likely head-to-head match-up in Novembers presidential election. It depends on his behavior, Biden said when asked Friday whether hed commit to a debate with the former president. Trump, who skipped every Republican presidential primary debate held this cycle, even as the race winnowed to just two top GOP contenders, renewed calls this week for Biden to debate him ahead of Election Day. It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People, Trump wrote Wednesday evening on Truth Social. Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE! The Biden campaign dismissed Trumps call for debates as thirsty for attention just before the president took the podium to deliver the high-profile State of the Union address Thursday evening. During the speech, Biden took several shots at his predecessor, painting his administration as a stark contrast to the possibility of another Trump term. Vice President Harris in a recent interview sidestepped questions about whether Biden will or should debate the former president as the race revs up. Will President Biden commit to debating Donald Trump? NBC Newss Peter Alexander asked Harris in an interview set to air Friday evening on NBC Nightly News. The vice president said she hadnt yet talked to the president about it, and sidestepped the question to argue that Biden and Trumps differences are so stark that the choice is clear. Should President Biden debate him, in your view? Alexander pressed. Thats a choice that is gonna be decided upon soon, and well keep you posted, Harris said. Biden swept the states that held Democratic contests on Super Tuesday earlier this week and Trump won all but one on the Republican side. Following the results, the former presidents only primary rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, suspended her bid shortly after. With winning streaks for both party front-runners, the general race is all but set as they both climb toward the delegates they need to score their respective party nods. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Immigrants rights groups and Democratic officials have criticised President Joe Bidens off-script description of an undocumented immigrant as an illegal, drawing comparisons to Donald Trumps dehumanising language and warning that the administration is bending to Republican pressure on immigration. Responding to jeers from far-right US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene in the middle of his State of the Union address on Thursday, the president echoed Ms Greene by calling the Venezuelan immigrant who allegedly killed Laken Riley an illegal. An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. Thats right, Mr Biden said. But how many thousands of people, being killed by legals? To her parents I say, and my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself, I understand. Though he appeared to be referencing Ms Greenes remarks, Latino members of Congress and members from immigrant backgrounds reminded the president that no human being is illegal. Mr Bidens own campaign chair Mitch Landrieu agreed that he probably shouldve used a different word, and I think he would know that. But what you should notice about that is not that he made a small mistake, he told CNN on Friday. The big thing that he didnt write, and this is what this president always does, is express empathy to people, he expressed kindness to people. He understands because, as you know, he lost a number of children in his life. Democratic US Rep Chuy Garcia, among Latino members of Congress who criticised Mr Bidens remarks, said he was beyond disappointed to hear the presidents use of the word illegal as a noun. Beyond this, the president missed an opportunity to unite our country on immigration. He did not lay out a plan that addresses the root causes of what brings people to our border or ensures immigrants are treated with dignity and respect in our communities, he added. Progressive members of Congress have urged the White House to step back from Republican pressure to militarise the US-Mexico border as immigration becomes the GOPs election-year wedge issue, championed by likely nominee Donald Trump. Republicans will never be satisfied with this rightward march on immigration, and that should not be our goal, Mr Garcia said. They have no interest in serious reform. President Joe Biden holds a pin with the name of Laken Riley, a Georgia woman who was allegedly killed by a Venezuelan man. Republicans have used her her death to push for plans to militarize the US-Mexico border (AP) US Rep Joaquin Castro of Texas said Mr Bidens rhetoric is dangerous and suggests he is getting bad advice from his advisers and speech writers. I just dont get why the president will go down that road, he told The Texas Tribune. I dont think its helpful to him or to the Democratic Party. A three-sentence response from the National Immigration Law Center to the presidents State of the Union address said Mr Biden missed an opportunity to truly distinguish himself from his predecessor on immigration. Rather than embracing the policies he articulated on his first day in office, the President instead doubled down on the Senates failed border bill and parroted dehumanizing Republican rhetoric about immigrants, Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, said in a statement. We urge the president to do better. On CNN after the presidents remarks, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Mr Biden should have said undocumented, but its not a big thing. House Republicans, under Mr Trumps urging, have largely rejected bipartisan border legislation that largely catered to GOP demands for increased security funding. I know you know how to read, Mr Biden said during his address. Im told my predecessor called Republicans in Congress and demanded they block the bill. He feels it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him. Its not about him, its not about me. Republicans owe it to the American people to get this bill done, he said. And if my predecessor is watching: instead of playing politics and pressuring members of Congress to block the bill, join me in telling Congress to pass it, he added. BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature, top court and top procuratorate on Friday pledged high-quality work in 2024 to facilitate the country's modernization drive. The message was sent at a plenary meeting held during the national legislature's annual session, when lawmakers heard the work reports of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the Supreme People's Court (SPC) and the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP). The meeting was attended by Chinese leaders Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Han Zheng. Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered the work report of the top legislature to the meeting. Reviewing the year 2023, Zhao said the NPC Standing Committee has focused on improving the quality of legislation. It deliberated on 34 items of legislation and adopted 21 of them, including six new laws, eight revised laws, and seven decisions on legal issues and major matters. For 2024, Zhao said the legislature will pursue high-quality work to provide legal guarantees for building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. The legislature will strengthen the implementation of the Constitution and the oversight of constitutional compliance, improve the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, and take solid steps to exercise effective oversight, he said. It will also give full play to the roles of NPC deputies, expand international exchanges, and strengthen self-improvement, he added. Delivering the work report of the top court, SPC President Zhang Jun said Chinese courts at all levels accepted 45.57 million cases and concluded 45.27 million cases in 2023, up 15.6 percent and 13.4 percent from the previous year respectively. Over the past year, the top court focused on the theme of impartiality and efficiency in advancing its work, Zhang said. He said in 2024, courts across the nation will focus their work on advancing Chinese modernization, stepping up modernizing adjudicatory work, and refining the supervision system. While delivering the SPP work report, SPP Procurator-general Ying Yong said the top procuratorate has achieved high quality and great efficiency in handling every case in 2023. Procuratorates across the country handled 4.25 million cases in 2023, marking a year-on-year increase of 28.9 percent, according to Ying. He called on procuratorates nationwide to support Chinese modernization through the modernization of procuratorial work, resolutely safeguard national security, social stability and the well-being of the people, and provide lawful services for high-quality development. President Biden drew a sharp contrast with former President Trump and Republican lawmakers in Thursdays State of the Union address, using the bully pulpit to harp on issues that will shape the general election campaign and sell voters on his first three years in office. Bidens remarks, which lasted just more than an hour, could at times be mistaken for a campaign address. The president did not refer to Trump by name at any point, but he said my predecessor 13 times throughout his speech, according to prepared remarks provided by the White House. Just minutes into the speech, he referred to Trumps suggestion that he would let Russian President Vladimir Putin do whatever the hell he wants if NATO allies had not spent enough on defense, calling those remarks dangerous and unacceptable. In short order, Biden spoke about threats to democracy, the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, which drew eye rolls from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and threats to abortion access and reproductive health care, all of which are key pillars of his reelection bid. My purpose tonight is to wake up the Congress and alert the American people this is no ordinary moment, Biden said. Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today. What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time. Biden again blamed Trump for tanking a bipartisan border security bill in the Senate for political reasons and called on congressional Republicans to pass the legislation. He touted provisions in the bill, which was negotiated by senators and endorsed by the White House, with lead GOP negotiator Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who sat in the chamber, nodding his head and saying, thats true. Some GOP lawmakers wore pins to raise awareness for Laken Riley, a University of Georgia student who was killed last month by a Venezuelan migrant, according to police. When Biden was entering the chamber, he came across Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) who showed him her pin and told the president say her name. During his address when Biden spoke about the border, Greene yelled out from her seat in the audience: Its about Laken Riley. Others shouted, say her name. Biden, in response, held up a Laken Riley pin he was given and said her name. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, he said, speaking off the cuff. To her parents I say my heart goes out to you having lost children myself. I understand, he said looking up at the gallery in the chamber. The president also introduced the sister of a student killed in the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting and contrasted his focus on gun violence with Trumps connections to the National Rifle Association. Biden touted the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, saying its still a pretty big deal, harkening back to when he was famously caught on a hot mic in 2010 telling then-President Obama that the landmark health care legislation was a big f deal. Over 100 million of you can no longer be denied health insurance because of preexisting conditions, he said. But my predecessor and many in this chamber want to take that protection away by repealing the Affordable Care Act. Im not going to let that happen. Thursdays speech offered Biden a critical opportunity as he seeks reelection to quell some of the concerns voters have and remind them of his achievements of the past three years. Polls show him trailing Trump in key swing states in a likely general election match-up, and a New York Times/Siena College poll found 73 percent of registered voters said they either strongly or somewhat agree that Biden is too old to be an effective president. Millions of Americans watch the speech each year, and the Biden campaign is expected to use the address as a springboard into ramped up travel and messaging as it gears up for a lengthy general election campaign against Trump. You cant lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back, Biden said. To lead America, the land of possibilities, you need a vision for the future of what America can and should be. Tonight youve heard mine. While Biden periodically stumbled over his words, he had no major hiccups during the speech and appeared energized as he mingled with lawmakers on the aisle going in and out of the chamber. He stopped and took selfies with members of Congress. The presidents speech was sprinkled with off the cuff moments, including when he sparred with Greene, chided Republicans for pushing a tax cut for the wealthy, and quipped once he arrived at the rostrum: If I were smart, Id go home now. Biden, 81, referenced his age, which polling has indicated is a major concern for voters, to close his remarks and as a final poke at Trump. I know it may not look like it, but Ive been around a while. When you get to my age certain things become clearer than ever, he said. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America. Honesty. Decency. Dignity. Equality. Now some other people my age see a different story. An American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me, he added. In addressing the Israel-Hamas war, Biden called for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza, saying the country must also do its part amid increasing backlash from progressives and activists toward Biden because of his pro-Israel stance and handling of the war. Protesters flocked to Washington, D.C., on Thursday and held a large demonstration near the Capitol ahead of and during his speech. The president also addressed the remaining hostages taken by Hamas, saying he will not rest until they are brought home. It was one of the few times Johnson stood up to applaud. In keeping with campaign themes Democrats believe will help them secure victory in 2024, Biden laid out plans to codify Roe v. Wade, at one point directly referencing the Supreme Court justices who were in the chamber. Look, [in] its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court majority wrote the following and with all due respect, justices: Women are not without electoral electoral power, excuse me: electoral or political power. Youre about to realize just how much you were right about that. The speech also laid out proposals for the future, such as raising the corporate minimum tax to at least 21 percent, restoring the child tax credit, and banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. He vowed again to stop any proposals that cut Social Security or raise the retirement age. He offered a nod back to his 2023 address, when he spared back-and-forth with Republicans over Social Security cuts. When he received shouts of liar and lies from the crowd when he accused the GOP of trying to cut Social Security, he replied, thats good to hear. Updated March 8 at 11:44 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. US President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Jim WATSON) US President Joe Biden stepped up his attacks on Donald Trump Friday as he took his election message to crucial battleground states on the back of a combative, well-received State of the Union address. Speaking to supporters in the swing state of Pennsylvania, 81-year-old Biden finally attacked Trump by name, a day after he had referred to him only as "my predecessor" multiple times. "Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans are trying to take away our freedoms, and that's not an exaggeration," Biden said, referring to Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan. "Well guess what? We will not let him." The Democrat slammed Trump for backing abortion bans and for inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade NATO members that don't pay their bills. He also criticized Trump for meeting Friday with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who he said "is looking for dictatorship." Orban has also angered EU allies by maintaining ties with Putin after the invasion of Ukraine. Biden's wife Jill Biden gave a lively introduction at the campaign event in Philadelphia in which she also laid into Trump. "Donald Trump is dangerous to women and to families and to our country and we can't let him win" in November's election, she said. A smiling First Lady also hailed her husband's performance in the set-piece State of the Union speech, saying: "Did you all see Joe last night? Wasn't he on fire?" Dozens of demonstrators however rallied outside the venue to protest against Biden's support for Israel's offensive in Gaza after the Hamas attacks on October 7. - 'Grand slam ' - Pennsylvania is Biden's first stop of a tour of all the key battleground states in March as the race to stop a White House comeback by Trump starts in earnest. Biden travels on Saturday to Atlanta, Georgia -- the same state where Trump is giving a rally on the same day. He then heads to New Hampshire on Monday, Wisconsin on Wednesday and Michigan on Thursday. Along the way, the president will look to ride a wave of momentum from the State of the Union speech, which ratings firm Nielsen estimated was seen by 32 million people, up from last year's viewership of 27 million. A pumped-up Biden on Thursday launched one of the most scorching addresses ever seen from the podium of the House of Representatives, transforming what used to be a somber set-piece occasion into a raucous political rally. He repeatedly attacked Trump for "bowing down" to Putin and being a threat to US democracy, while assailing Republican lawmakers in the chamber as the former president's stooges. The aim was also to ease concerns of skeptical voters about his age, with America's oldest president bringing the fight in an energetic performance that saw him spar with Republicans in exchanges sprinkled with jokes. "President Biden hit a grand slam," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters flying with him to Philadelphia. Trump, 77, hit back at Biden on Friday, saying Biden was a "psycho" and saying his speech was "getting 'panned' all over the world," without offering any examples. Trump has said that he will debate Biden on television "anytime" but Biden told reporters on Friday that it "depends on his behavior." Biden has branded Trump a threat to democracy. The former president faces multiple criminal cases, including for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, and a $355 million civil fraud fine. But he currently holds a narrow lead over Biden in the polls. dk/caw He will govern from the centre. He will protect the Constitution. And he will be a safe pair of hands that will keep the economy on track. This was the message from President Biden at his State of the Union address this week. With Donald Trump now the inevitable Republican candidate in the US elections later this year, most sensible people may be hoping it is Biden who wins a second term in the White House. But hold on. The current president on Thursday laid out a dangerously populist set of economic policies that had more in common with the Argentina of Juan Peron than anything we have seen before in the US. In reality, the huge tax rises Biden is proposing would be a hammer blow to Western economies and at precisely the moment when they need to strengthen their competitiveness to keep pace with China. If anyone expected a Biden second term to be as lethargic as the 81-year-old president himself can appear to be, his speech this week will have come as a shock. His plans for defence and his attacks on Trump may have captured most of the headlines. But he also started setting out what the second round of Bidenomics might look like. Now its my goal to cut the federal deficit by $3 trillion more by making big corporations and the very wealthy finally pay their fair share, the president boomed. On closer examination, that plan has two main elements. First, he wants the corporate tax rate to be raised from 15pc to 21pc, so every big corporation finally begins to pay their fair share. Biden has long championed common rules on the taxation of multinational companies, though when this was initially agreed by G7 members the floor was set at 15pc. Next, he wants a billionaires tax, imposing a minimum tax of 25pc on the richest Americans, ignoring the fact that most of the wealth of the billionaires he is targeting is tied up in equity in the companies they founded (the ones which would be slapped with this corporate tax rate) and not in the form of salaries. And as part of his re-election campaign, he wants to tighten up on tax exemptions for business, so that salaries above $1 million, hardly a fortune for an S&P 500 CEO, are no longer deductible, along with many other standard business expenses. Add it up and one point is clear. An extra $3 trillion will be squeezed out of companies and entrepreneurs, and used to cut the federal deficit or perhaps expand welfare payments and increase the endless subsidies on offer to green businesses funded by the taxpayer. Sure, some of it may be campaign hyperbole. And yet, keep this in mind. During his first term, Biden has turned out to be far more radical, and far more Left-wing, in his economic policies than anyone expected when he was elected. He has driven through the most far-reaching expansion of state subsidies and put in place the most comprehensive industrial strategy since the New Deal of the 1930s. There is no reason to expect Biden, or those who advise him, to change course now. The trouble is, that will be a recipe for disaster. Biden will push forward a creeping system of global taxation that will lack accountability, damage the competitiveness of the countries involved, and become a bureaucratic nightmare. It will increase the cost of compliance and restrict the free movement of capital around the world. Spendthrift governments may like the idea of global rates to stop a few countries from gaming the system, but they ignore the fact that competition between nations is one of the few ways that tax-hungry, big-spending politicians can be kept in check. From 21pc, the global minimum rate could soon be 25pc and continue to rise until the levy makes profitability or even investment impossible. Next, the billionaires tax is economically illiterate. In effect, it will be a wealth tax, forcing entrepreneurs to sell vast amounts of stock in their companies every year just to pay their tax bills. If it were to be passed, it would inevitably mean that some of the most innovative companies in the world the likes of Amazon, Meta and Nvidia may have to loosen ties with their founders, while the scale of the sell-offs risks crashing the market. The vast majority of countries which have imposed wealth taxes in the past have had to subsequently lift them, after finding they were impossible to administer, or finding that wealthy individuals simply moved to other jurisdictions. Bidens experiment wont be any different. Whats extraordinary is that the president is proselytising these plans when Bidenomics is already hugely unpopular. Polls have shown that 57pc of Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy. Which raises the question: will Donald Trump be any better? His planned 10pc tariff on all imports into the US is worrying, in particular for a country such as Britain given that America is our single largest trade partner. But unlike Biden, Trump wont trap the US in a system of high-tax, big spending, subsidy-dependent state capitalism that will fatally undermine its competitiveness. The global economy depends on Americas prosperity: without it we will all suffer. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. President Joe Biden, briefly responding from the podium to jeering from Republicans during his State of the Union speech called a migrant an illegal, prompting criticism from his partys progressive wing. No human being is illegal, said Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) in a social media post soon afterward. In the section of his speech Thursday dealing with immigration policy and the recent failure of a bipartisan bill aiming to secure the border, Bidens criticism of Republicans for killing the bill drew sharp jeers and boos from the GOP side of the chamber. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) shouted, Its about Laken Riley! loudly enough to be heard throughout the chamber including, apparently, from the podium. Riley was a Georgia college student found dead near the University of Georgia campus in late February. A Venezuelan migrant who had previously been picked up and released by authorities has been charged with murder in connection with her death, which has become a cause celebre for Republican immigration hawks. Lincoln Riley, Biden said, deviating from his prepared remarks and mispronouncing the dead womans name. An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. Thats right. But how many thousands of people, being killed by legals? Biden went on, before saying the dynamic of the border needed to be changed and that his heart went out to her parents. The tone change was abrupt, and Bidens use of illegal to describe migrants who cross borders without formal permission grated on some Democrats. While Democrats and progressives often use undocumented to describe such migrants, Republicans, including former president Donald Trump, often use illegal instead. Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.) posted, As a proud immigrant, Im extremely disappointed to hear President Biden use the word illegal. And Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) also posted her disapproval, saying, Let me be clear: No human being is illegal. Immigrant advocacy organizations many of whom were critical of the bipartisan border deal Biden endorsed because of its restrictions on the ability of migrants to claim asylum also took issue with Bidens language. President Biden missed an opportunity to truly distinguish himself from his predecessor on immigration. Rather than embracing the policies he articulated on his first day in office, the President instead doubled down on the Senates failed border bill and parroted dehumanizing Republican rhetoric about immigrants, said Kica Matos, the president of the National Immigration Law Center. We urge the President to do better. But former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) hit a more conciliatory tone. He should have said undocumented, but its not a big thing, OK? Pelosi said in an interview after the speech on CNN. She said Bidens focus in the moment was on sympathy for the family. Given two opportunities Friday morning to express an opinion on Bidens word choice, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) sidestepped twice. President Biden laid out a comprehensive vision for fixing our broken immigration system and addressing the challenges at the border, Jeffries said when asked if he had issues with the phrasing. He also acknowledged the horrific nature of the murder and of course emphasized the need more generally to keep our community safe. Asked about criticism from his caucus members about the term illegal, Jeffries said simply, Joe Biden delivered an incredible speech that was very well received by the American people beginning, middle and end. A White House spokesperson declined to comment on Bidens use of the term. Rileys case is not the first time Republicans have tried to use a young womans death to stoke anti-immigrant sentiment. In 2017, a Mexican citizen was acquitted in the shooting death of a woman named Kate Steinle in San Francisco. As in the Riley case, the man suspected of Steinles killing had been deported before, and Republicans pointed to the case as proof of the need to build a border wall. While prosecutors argued he had shot Steinle intentionally, the defense argued it was accidental and the bullet had ricocheted before hitting her. Related... (L-R) Activist and author Maria Shriver, Kate Cox, who was denied emergency abortion care by the Texas Supreme Court Latorya Beasley who recently had an IVF embryo transfer cancelled following the result of a recent Alabama Supreme Court decision and First Lady Jill Biden during President Joe BidenOs State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 7, 2024. President Joe Biden made Kate Cox, a Dallas mother of two who traveled outside of Texas to terminate an unviable pregnancy, a central part of his State of the Union address Thursday night, once again drawing the nation's attention to the state's near-total abortion ban one of the strictest in the country. After the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 reversed the landmark Roe v. Wade case, which guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion for nearly 50 years, Cox in December 2023 became the first woman in the country to seek a court-approved abortion after her physician said that her fetus had a severe genetic condition, trisomy 18, and "virtually no chance" of survival. Cox's doctors had also advised her that carrying the pregnancy to term would increase her risk of fertility loss and other health issues, potentially hurting her chances of eventually delivering the third child Cox and her husband desperately wanted. She had visited emergency rooms three times in one month for severe cramping and fluid leaks before filing her request before a Travis County state district court. Cox ultimately left the state during her 21st week of pregnancy to seek an abortion hours before the Texas Supreme Court ruled that her baby's fatal diagnosis and the risks to Cox's health associated with carrying the pregnancy to term did not qualify her for an exception. Texas law only permits abortion in cases in which a doctor uses "reasonable medical judgement" to determine that the mother's life is at risk, as the Court affirmed. "Texas law banned her ability to act, so Kate and her husband had to leave the state to get what she needed," Biden said. "What her family went through should never have happened, but it's happening with too many others." He also criticized Texas' lack of rape exceptions, saying, "The state law criminalizes doctors, forcing survivors of rape and incest to leave their states to get the treatment they need." More: New poll shows broad support for rape, fetal anomaly exceptions to Texas abortion bans Kate Cox left Texas to obtain an abortion after challenging Texas' near-total ban on the procedure. (Photo provided by Kate Cox) As Biden spoke, Maria Shriver, a journalist who helped the White House announce an initiative to close gaps in women's health care research, squeezed Cox's hand in support. Both sat to the right of First Lady Jill Biden, who invited Cox to the address in January. On Cox's left was LaTorya Beasley, a mother from Birmingham, Ala. whose in-vitro fertilization embryo transfer was cancelled following the decision of the Alabama Supreme Court to endow embryos with the legal status of human children. Ahead of the address, the anti-abortion group Texas Alliance for Life slammed Biden for "advanc(ing) a narrative that undermines the sanctity of life and disregards the laws of Texas." The press release also referenced the fact that Cox's doctor did not assert with "reasonable medical judgment" that Cox's life was at risk, though the doctor did attest to that danger in "good faith." "This is a direct snub of the majority of voters in our state who elected pro-life legislators who supported the passage of our protective, pro-life laws," Amy O'Donnell, communications director for the group, was quoted as saying in the statement. The press release included the testimonies of two Texas women who chose to carry babies with fatal diagnoses to term. One, a Texas Alliance for Life policy analyst, prepared for the funeral of her son Bosco while she was pregnant with him; he died during birth. Another, anti-abortion activist Jacquelyn Smith, carried a fetus with full trisomy 18 to term. He died shortly after birth, the release said. Former President Donald Trump has taken credit for facilitating the passage of abortion bans in states like Texas, Biden noted. Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices, creating the conservative majority that toppled abortion protections established in the landmark 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade. After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming even close, I was able to kill Roe v. Wade, much to the shock of everyone, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social in May. "Without me the pro Life movement would have just kept losing (sic)." Biden described Cox's situation as part of the "chaos that has resulted" from the decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization. While anti-abortion Republican and Evangelical Christian voters across the country have praised Trump for helping them accomplish a decades-old goal to outlaw elective abortion, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have staked a large part of their hopes for reelection on the fact that most Americans do not support near-total abortion bans. Also present at the State of the Union were three of 22 women suing Texas in a major abortion case before the state Supreme Court. One was lead plaintiff and Austin resident Amanda Zurawski, who has advocated for the state to provide clearer guidance to doctors around medical exceptions after a lack of intervention following a premature water break that led her to nearly die of septic shock. Zurawski was the guest of Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the Democratic whip. U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, invited Dr. Austin Dennard, a Texas OB-GYN who left the state to terminate her pregnancy after learning her baby had a fatal condition and whose patient was forced to flee to obtain an abortion of a fetus whose failing health endangered its healthy twin. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, invited Houston OB-GYN Dr. Damla Kharsan, who testified that narrow medical exceptions make it impossible for her to provide comprehensive healthcare to her patients, per Zurawski filings. Biden, a Roman Catholic who once opposed a federal right to abortion as a senator, also reinforced his administration's support for abortion rights during the speech. He renewed his vow to "restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land" if "you, the American people, send me and Congress the support for the right to choose" asking voters to send a Democratic majority to the House and Senate in November. "Clearly, those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women, but they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot," he said. "We won in 2022, 2023, and we will win again in 2024." Also acknowledged in Biden's speech was Jazmine Cazares, sister of Jackie Cazares, who was in attendance in the chamber. Jackie was one of the 21 students and teachers murdered at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. Biden encouraged lawmakers to do something about gun violence and noted that he established the White House's Office of Gun Violence Prevention led by Harris. More: 'Emotional torture': Austin woman's story of a doomed pregnancy amid abortion ban This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Biden denounces Texas abortion ban in State of the Union Editor's Note: This story has been updated to clarify a quote from President Joe Biden during the State of the Union. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden mentioned the death of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley during his State of the Union address on Thursday and referred to the Venezuelan man accused of killing her as an illegal. Bidens unscripted remarks, prompted by an exchange with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., provided one of the nights most tense moments. By calling the suspect an illegal, Biden was using outdated language often preferred by Republicans but long abandoned by Democrats and social justice advocates when referring to people who have entered the country illegally. The exchange came during a portion of Biden's remarks when he was urging Congress to pass a bipartisan border security bill that House Republicans killed at the urging of former President Donald Trump. More: Joe Biden, Donald Trump clashing visits thrust border fight further into spotlight Greene, who was wearing a T-shirt that read Say Her Name, shouted out Rileys name, prompting Biden to go off script. He stopped briefly and then held up a button bearing the victims name. Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) yells as President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 7, 2024. Lincoln Riley, Biden said, appearing to mispronounce the victims first name, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal thats right. But how many of thousands of people are being killed by legals?" Biden then directed his remarks to the victim's parents, saying, "My heart goes out to you. Having lost children myself, I understand. More: Defining day for immigration? Border cities await real answers in rare visits by Biden, Trump Federal authorities say Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was killed on Feb. 22 in Athens, Georgia, by a man who entered the country without authorization. In invoking Riley's death, Biden called on Republicans to pass the border security bill. "We can fight about fixing the border or we can fix it," he said. "I'm ready to fix it." Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @mcollinsNEWS. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Laken Riley came up in SOTU. Biden called alleged killer an 'illegal' President Joe Biden mistakenly invited people to fly to Moscow on board Air Force One during his State of the Union speech as he bashed the high costs of prescription drugs. I want to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American, Mr Biden said on Thursday night. Every four years people have talked about it but finally we got it done gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs just like the VA is able to do for veterans, he added. That's not just saving seniors money, [its] saving taxpayers money. We cut the federal deficit by $160bn because Medicare will no longer have to pay those exorbitant prices to Big Pharma. This year Medicare's negotiating lower prices [on] some of the costliest drugs on the market that treat everything from heart disease [to] arthritis. It's now time to go further and give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for 500 different drugs over the next decade, Mr Biden argued. Mr Biden said the effort will not only save lives, it will save taxpayers another $200bn. The president announced that starting next year, he hopes to cap total prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 a year ... I want to cap prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year for everyone. At this moment, the president mistakenly referred to flying to Moscow before recognising his minor gaffe and correcting himself. US President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2024 (AFP via Getty Images) If you want to get into Air Force One and fly to Toronto, Berlin, Moscow, I mean ... even Moscow, Mr Biden said, adding that he would be able to get prescription drugs for 40 per cent the cost youre paying now. Same company, same drug. The Affordable Care Act, Obamacare is still a very big deal, he continued, a reference to when he called it a big f***** deal when he was President Barack Obamas vice president. Over 100 million of you can no longer be denied health insurance because of pre-existing conditions, the president added. Well, my predecessor [and] many in this chamber, want to take those prescription drugs away by repealing the Affordable Care Act. Elsewhere in the speech, Mr Biden also mistakenly referred to murdered student Laken Riley as Lincoln Riley. Nursing student Riley was killed when she went for a morning jog on the campus of University of Georgia last month. Her death has been seized upon by Republicans to attack the president over immigration, as the suspect charged in her murder is an undocumented immigrant. When he entered the House, Marjorie Taylor Greene handed him a pin with Rileys name on. Mr Biden held the pin aloft as he spoke about the issue around the US-Mexico border and called out Republicans for blocking a border security bill and Donald Trump for pressuring his party to derail it. I will not demonise immigrants saying they are poisoned in the blood of our country, he said, in reference to Mr Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric which has been likened to Nazi propaganda. Mr Bidens propensity for gaffes is well-known, and is often seized upon by the man he beat in the 2020 presidential election and will soon face again this November Mr Trump. Mr Trump even recently posted a rather cruel spoof commercial for White House Senior Living on social media, an outrageous attack given that he is just four years his rivals junior. Mr Biden has fought back, however, producing his own gaffe reel of bizarre remarks that Mr Trump has made at recent campaign rallies, such as claiming Ms Haley had been in charge of Capitol security on 6 January 2021. Congress needs to stand up to Vladimir Putin, President Joe Biden said during the annual State of the Union address on March 7. "I say this to Congress," Biden announced. "We have to stand up to Putin. Send me a bipartisan national security bill. History is watching. If the United States walks away, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe will be at risk. The free world will be at risk...My message to President Putin: We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down. And in the literal sense, history is watching." The U.S. Senate passed a foreign aid bill, which includes $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to put it to a vote in the House. Holdups in U.S. assistance have put a significant strain on Ukraine's efforts to resist Russian aggression, causing ammunition shortages and contributing to the loss of a key front-line city of Avdiivka. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned during his visit to Lviv in February that Ukraine is at risk of losing the war without American aid, urging the House Speaker to put the bill to a vote. President Biden stated that the purpose of his address was to remind members of Congress that Putin will not stop at Ukraine and that the United States cannot abandon Ukraine in its fight against Russia. "Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons and the means to defend itself. That is all Ukraine is asking. They're not asking for American soldiers. In fact, there are no American soldiers in the war in Ukraine, and I'm determined to keep it that way. But now, assistance is being blocked by those who want to walk away from our world leadership." Earlier this week, CNN reported that the Pentagon was considering tapping into the remaining Ukraine funds in the presidential drawdown authority (PDA), even though it remains uncertain whether Congress approves funding to replenish them. There are roughly $4 billion remaining in the PDA, a tool that allows the Pentagon to send aid to Ukraine from U.S. military stockpiles. President Biden also criticized former President Donald Trump's attitude towards Russia in the past as the U.S. election continues to ramp up. Trump previously raised concerns among NATO allies when he said he would encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell it wants" to members who do not meet the 2% defense spending mark. "Bowing down to a Russian leader I think it's outrageous, dangerous, and it's unacceptable. America is a founding member of NATO, the military alliance of democratic nations to prevent war." Read also: Opinion: As an American in Avdiivka, what is Congress doing? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The U.S. military will establish a temporary port in the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid to starving Palestinians, while continuing to send weapons to Israel, President Joe Biden confirmed in his State of the Union address Thursday. No U.S. boots will be on the ground, Biden said. A temporary pier will enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day. And Israel must also do its part. Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers arent caught in the cross fire. To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Senior administration officials told reporters earlier Thursday the mission would route humanitarian aid through Cyprus to the temporary port in Gaza. The White House is also pushing Israel and Egypt to allow more aid through the land crossings at Rafah and Kerem Shalom. The announcement, which drew bipartisan applause from lawmakers gathered, came amid calls from Biden for Congress to pass his long-stalled foreign aid bill to arm Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The Senate passed the $95 billion foreign aid plan by a 70-29 vote in February. It includes $14 billion in Israel military aid, $48 billion in security assistance for Ukraine and $4 billion to arm Taiwan. Israel receives an annual $3.8 billion in U.S. military aid, but the White House has said the Defense Department lacks the replenishment funds needed to continue arming Ukraine from U.S. stockpiles. Theres also $2.4 billion in the bill for U.S. Central Command to respond to the uptick in attacks on American forces since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023; as well as $542 million for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in response to its fiscal 2024 unfunded priorities list. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has so far refused to put the bill on the floor amid growing resistance to additional Ukraine aid from Republican lawmakers as well as opposition from former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner in the GOP presidential primary race. Now assistance to Ukraine is being blocked by those who want to walk away from our world leadership, said Biden, invoking former Republican President Ronald Reagan. Now my predecessor tells Putin do whatever the hell you want. The reference to Trumps remarks at a campaign rally last month in which the former president voiced frustration with some NATO allies underspending on defense drew boos from Republicans in the crowd. Send me the bipartisan National Security Bill. History is watching, Biden said, staring down Republican members of Congress who have opposed the measure. If the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk, Europe at risk, the free world at risk, emboldening others who wish to do us harm. Biden also promised a strong response to other national security threats, including strikes to degrade Houthi capabilities in the Red Sea. As commander in chief, I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and military personnel. Despite limited details about the plan for a humanitarian port, the idea drew immediate praise from Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., and fellow panel member Angus King, I-Maine, who last week urged the administration to deploy a Navy hospital ship to the region. The civilian suffering in Gaza must be alleviated, and a maritime aid route will enable large quantities of food, shelter, and medical supplies to be delivered to those who need it most, the pair said in a statement. This temporary port, along with the ongoing airdrop campaign, will help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. WINDHOEK, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Namibia is facing a worsening water shortage crisis as reservoir levels reach critical lows, prompting the country's water utility and municipalities to implement emergency measures to prevent a potential disaster. "The expected rainfall and inflow into the dams for the current rainy season did not materialize as expected. It is well below average," said Andries Kok, a spokesperson from NamWater, the national water utility, in an interview with Xinhua on Friday. Three crucial dams responsible for supplying water to Windhoek, Namibia's capital, and surrounding areas are currently at a mere 20.4 percent capacity, down from 42.5 percent a year ago, Kok said. Vonbach Dam, the primary water source for Windhoek, is particularly alarming, with levels plummeting to just 11.4 percent, compared to 30.1 percent during the same period last year, he added. Furthermore, the Omatako dam, which is also a source of water for Windhoek where water from this dam is transferred to Vonbach, is already empty. Worsening the crisis is the limited capacity for water transfer from other sources. While water is transferred from Swakopoort to Vonbach, there are constraints on the volume that can be transported. "Namwater can transfer 10 million cubic meters a year, which is not sufficient. To supply the whole of the central areas, we need about 24 million cubic meters per annum," he said. The country's geographical and climatic characteristics, characterized by arid conditions and erratic rainfall patterns, make it highly vulnerable to water scarcity, leaving water as an exceedingly scarce resource. President Joe Biden reasserted his support for expanding abortion access in his State of the Union address on Thursday, in an effort to contrast himself with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump, and emphasize what has recently been a winning issue for Democrats. In his speech, Biden pledged to restore Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that established the right to an abortion, and which was overturned by the court in 2022. In his speech, Biden said that he believed Roe got it right. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again, Biden said to cheers and applause from the Democratic side of the chamber, where many of the Democratic women representatives were wearing white in support of reproductive rights,and pins calling for the protection of in vitro fertilization. But some advocates believe that merely reinstating access as it existed under Roe is insufficient for truly protecting abortion rights. Bidens remarks on Thursday, and the larger messaging by Democrats ahead of a difficult election season, reflect an ongoing struggle within the movement to determine how to truly ensure everyone who wants an abortion can obtain one. To go back to a Roe framework means that we would be going back to a normalization of criminalizing pregnant people, surveilling pregnant people, forced medical treatment, and bans and restrictions that amount to bans for people across states, said Bonyen Lee-Gilmore, vice president of communications at the National Institute for Reproductive Health. Even when Roe was the law of the land, Lee-Gilmore noted, many states approved laws limiting abortion access; according to the Guttmacher Institute, nearly 1,400 restrictions were enacted in states between 1973 and the first half of 2022. Roe established the right to an abortion up to the point when a fetus can survive outside of the uterus, commonly referred to as viability. At the time Roe was decided, fetal viability was considered to occur at 28 weeks of pregnancy. A subsequent Supreme Court decision in 1992, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, determined that fetal viability instead occurred at around 24 weeks of pregnancy, but also ruled that states could not implement restrictions that created an undue burden on the patient seeking an abortion. The idea of restoring Roe thus lacks sufficient clarity. Part of the problem is that people mean different things when they say Roe, and part of the problem is thatunder any understanding of Roeit was considered never to be enough by a lot of people, said Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis, who has written several books on the history of abortion rights and access. Depending on interpretation, Biden could be referring to the 1973 version of Roe, which required any abortion restriction to be subject to the judicial doctrine of strict scrutiny; or he could be calling for a return to 2021 Roe, in which several states had already created new hurdles to accessing the procedure. Because Roe had built-in restrictions to abortion access based on viability, some reproductive rights activists say that it paved the way for its own demise. Writing the majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health, which overturned Roe, Justice Samuel Alito argued that the arbitrary nature of a viability rule is a terrible flaw in a judicially announced rule of constitutional law. In the years since the Dobbs decision was handed down, the abortion rights movement has been divided on whether Roe should be reinstated in some form. Still, doing so would allow for greater abortion access than is currently available in nearly half of all states. We have to get federal protection back in place, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at Reproductive Freedom for All, formerly known as NARAL Pro-Choice America. But while its an important first step, Stitzlein continued, it is not the last. We dont view the restoration of the protections of Roe as, you know, the end of the fight here. This is just essentially building back the floor where we were two years ago, he said. Since the fall of Roe, multiple states have considered constitutional amendments to protect abortion rights. This year, measures allowing for abortions up until fetal viability may make it onto the ballot in several red and swing states, including Arizona, Montana, Nebraska, Arkansas, Missouri, South Dakota, and Florida. However, critics say these amendments could still result in a penalization of miscarriages. In 2023, voters in Ohio approved a state constitutional amendment that protected access to abortion, fertility treatment, and reproductive care; it also allowed the state to prohibit abortion after fetal viability except when necessary to protect the pregnant patients life or health. Shortly before the vote on the amendment, Ohio woman Brittany Watts was charged with abuse of a corpse after miscarrying and disposing of the remains of a nonviable fetus after 22 weeksat the time, the point at which abortion was no longer legal in the state. A judge referred the case to a grand jury in early November, saying that the amendment under considerationknown as Issue One revolved around at what point something becomes viable. A grand jury declined to indict Wattswho attended the State of the Union as a guest of Representative Joyce Beattyearlier this year. We can absolutely lose by winning, and I think thats an important concept to remember when were talking about constitutional amendments that will permanently enshrine the states interest in pregnancy decisions, said Lee-Gilmore. The language of reinstating Roe has largely been adopted among congressional Democrats. What we all know ultimately needs to be done is restore Roe to the law of the land, said Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat, in a press conference before the State of the Union address on Thursday. There are some bills in Congress that would largely reinstate Roe. The Womens Health Protection Act would guarantee the right to access an abortion before a fetus is viable, as well as functionally reestablish the undue burden standard. A bipartisan group of senators have also introduced the Reproductive Freedom for All Act, which is largely similar, but would also explicitly preserve so-called conscience protections for religiously affiliated medical institutions that would not perform abortions. In a divided Congress, neither measure is likely to pass. However, even when Democrats controlled both the Senate and the House when Biden first took office, efforts to codify Roe were blocked by Republicans using the filibuster. As such, Biden may have more leeway to offer a vision for abortion rights beyond Roe. But extending his ambitions beyond Roe could be politically risky. Polling shows that a majority of Americans believe abortion should be legal only under certain circumstances, and voters often signal support for some abortion restrictions. Still, the percentage that believes it should be legal under any circumstances has grown in recent years. According to Gallup, 34 percent of Americans believed abortion should be legal under any circumstances in 2023a slight decrease from 35 percent in 2022, but a steady rise from previous years. That subsection of Americans that believes abortion should be accessible without any restrictions will be an important demographic for Democrats to win over come November. A 2023 survey by nonpartisan research firm PerryUndem found that 55 percent of women ages 18 to 44 would support a hypothetical ballot measure that would create that right to an abortion without restrictions. According to recent polling by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the voters most motivated by abortion tend to be younger, Democratic-leaning, and want abortion to be legal in all cases. While only 12 percent of voters overall say abortion is the most important issue in their 2024 vote, according to the KFF poll, that percentage rises for women, Black women, and women of reproductive age in particular. Democrats have historically relied on women and Black voters to propel them to victory, and have worked to increase their turnout among young voters. These segments of the electorate were particularly significant to Bidens win in 2020. That year, Biden won 55 percent of women overall, including 95 percent of Black women, and Millennial and Generation Z voters supported him by 20 percentage points, according to Pew Research Center. The call to restore Roe, even with Roes inherent restrictions, could appeal to those voters who are not deeply entrenched in the politics of the abortion rights movement, and merely associate it with access to the procedure. Losing a constitutional right is a big deal even if the right that was taken away was imperfect, said Ziegler. For regular Americans, restoring Roe might have emotional resonance. By Steve Holland and Nandita Bose WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden said he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the two of them were headed for a "come to Jesus" meeting over the issue of getting humanitarian aid into Gaza, according to a video clip posted on Friday. Biden was recorded making the comment on Thursday night while on Capitol Hill for his State of the Union speech in what appeared to be a further sign of his frustration at dealing with Netanyahu over the issue of Gaza. In the clip, posted on social media by Democratic consultant Sawyer Hackett, Biden can be seen talking to Colorado Democratic Senator Michael Bennett, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Bennett can be heard telling Biden that there was a need to keep pushing Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. The United States has been air dropping crates of aid into Gaza and is organizing construction of a temporary pier to allow for maritime deliveries since Israel has slowed truck deliveries. "I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, but you and I are going to have a 'come to Jesus' meeting," Biden said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. "I'm on a hot mic here. Good. That's good." "Come to Jesus" is an American expression for having a blunt conversation. Reporters asked Biden about the episode as he departed on Air Force One to Philadelphia. "I didn't say that," he said initially, apparently referring to the fact that the comment was not in the Gaza section of his State of the Union speech. But when pressed about what he said after the speech, he said: "You guys eavesdropped on me." (Reporting By Steve Holland; additional reporting by Nandita Bose; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Diane Craft) When President Joe Biden wasnt making his case for a second term, he was sending a message to Israel: Change your strategy in Gaza. With the eyes of the world on Biden Thursday night, the President capitalized on his annual State of the Union address to pressure the Israeli government to allow increased humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip and to pursue a two-state solution once the war is over. Read More: The Biggest Moments From Joe Bidens 2024 State of the Union Address That wont be easy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has prosecuted an aggressive campaign against Hamas, the terrorist group that on Oct. 7 carried out the worst slaughter of Jewish civilians since the Holocaust. The Israeli offensive has produced a humanitarian catastrophe and killed and injured tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians. At the same time, Netanyahu has adamantly resisted entreaties from the Biden Administration and international community to embrace a post-war sovereign Palestinian state. The only real solution, Biden said, "is a two-state solution", as Democrats rose for a standing ovation. In the short term, the President pressed for a ceasefire and for Israel to provide immediate relief for Palestinians trapped in war-ravaged Gaza. To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Biden said. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. To that end, Biden said the U.S. military would construct a floating pier off the Gaza Strip to deliver tons of food and other aid desperately needed in the beleaguered coastal enclave. A temporary pier will enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day, he said. No U.S. boots will be on the ground. The announcement comes as the Israeli offensive continues to inflict a grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza: More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, Biden said; an estimated 1.7 million people have been displaced; and there are severe shortages of food, water, and medicine, with at least 15 children dying over the last week of malnutrition and dehydration. Amid those scenes of suffering, the President has paid a political price. Facing a rebellion from progressives over his support for Israels war, Bidens approval ratings have hit an all-time low. A recent New York Times/Siena poll, found that just 23% of Democratic primary voters said they were excited about him. Over the last five months, since Israel began its bombardment, hes rarely been able to go anywhere in public without protestors calling for a ceasefire. Voters have found other ways to express their dissatisfaction. In Michigan, home to the nations largest Arab American community, more than 100,000 Democrats cast protest votes for uncommitted in last weeks presidential primary. Pundits saw that as a potentially dire warning sign. Biden clinched the critical swing state in 2020 by roughly 150,000 votes. Some of those disaffected Democrats were in the House chamber Thursday night. Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, and Summer Lee were each wearing a kaffiyeh, the scarf donned by the late Yasser Araffat that has morphed into a symbol of Palestinian nationalism. While Biden was addressing the Israel-Hamas war, Tlaib and Bush held up signs that read Lasting Ceasefire Now and Stop Sending Bombs. While Biden has struggled to convince Netanyahu to scale back Israels war effort, he has ramped up delivery of humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. In some cases, that has entailed circumventing Israel and Egypt, who maintain security control over Gazas borders. Last week, the U.S. began air dropping aid into the Strip. On Thursday, hours before Bidens address, the United States dropped 38,000 more military meals into Gaza. To Israels critics in Washington, thats far from enough. They want America to exert its leverage over Israel by threatening to cut off military assistance unless the country halts its hostilities. The U.S. currently allocates $3.8 billion a year to the Jewish state based on a 2016 agreement between the Obama Administration and the Netanyahu government, and the White House recently asked Congress to approve a $14 billion aid package to help its ally defeat Hamas. Its time we stop asking Israel to do the right thing and start telling Israel what must happen if they want the support of the United States, says Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. To Israel and its allies, that would amount to a grievous betrayal. Israel launched the war after Hamas infiltrated the country on Oct 7, killing 1,200 people, including children and the elderly, taking hundreds of hostages, and committing atrocities including rape. The group has since vowed to repeat the attack. For that reason, Israel says, it needs to dismantle Hamass military infrastructure and remove the group from power or its only a matter of time until the next massacre. But as the Israel Defense Forces have waged a sustained war against Hamas, the civilian casualties have mounted. Israel has suffered an accelerating loss of global public support, and anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise worldwide. Even some of Israels fiercest defenders worry that the death and destruction caused by the Israeli campaign will turn the nation into an international pariah, posing an even deeper threat to its long-term security. The quagmire has dominated Bidens Presidency for the last five months. After the Oct. 7 attack, he expressed unequivocal support for Israels war effort but warned the allied nation against repeating the same mistakes that the U.S. made after Sept. 11. In November, the Biden Administration collaborated with the Qataris to broker a partial hostage release deal. More recently, Biden has since adopted a more critical tone against Netanyahu and has worked behind the scenes to secure a ceasefire agreement. Ive been working non-stop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last for six weeks to get all the prisoners released, Biden said Thursday. Addressing the gut-wrenching Middle East conflict, Biden recognized the families of Americans held captive by Hamas. And while he used his bully pulpit to push Israel toward winding down the war, he defended its legitimacy. Israel has a right to go after Hamas, he said. Hamas could end the conflict "by releasing the hostages, laying down arms, and surrendering those responsible for Oct. 7. Bidens posture only underscored the challenges as the war marked its fifth month. As Biden sees it, the longer it goes on the more likely it proves self-destructive for Israel. For now, the U.S. president is left upping the rhetorical pressure and trying to limit the humanitarian costs. Contact us at letters@time.com. In a sharp and combative speech, President Joe Biden used his annual State of the Union address to Congress to effectively kick-start the general election and go on the attack against his presumptive opponent, former President Donald Trump. Biden threw intense partisan elbows at Republicans throughout his speech, sparring with GOP lawmakers from the podium when they jeered him. But Biden aimed most directly at Trump who he referred to only as my predecessor criticizing the policies hed enacted as president and his inflammatory statements on the campaign trail. Facing skepticism from voters concerned about his age that has even spooked some loyal Democrats, President Joe Biden delivered a rollicking, aggressive speech. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Presidents have historically shied away from such political displays during past State of the Union addresses, but this moment is different. No president has faced his predecessor in a re-election match since 1892, before the State of the Union was delivered in person. Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault here at home as they are today, Biden said Thursday. What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time. Biden went on to deliver what sounded more like a convention acceptance speech than a State of the Union. There was the usual laundry list of policy proposals and shout-outs to visitors emblematic of an important administration policy or party faction. But what stood out in this speech was how it laid out the stakes for the election how, to Biden, Trump is as much a foe of the United States of America as any foreign adversary. Republicans Put On The Defensive From the jump, Biden put Republicans on the defensive. He launched into a call for Congress to pass legislation providing more military funding for Ukraine something that splits Republicans before attacking Trump for deserting the legacy of GOP standard-bearer Ronald Reagan. It wasnt that long ago when a Republican President, Ronald Reagan, thundered, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall, Biden said. Now, my predecessor, a former Republican president, tells [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, Do whatever the hell you want. He then pivoted to calling out Republicans conduct after the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. The majority of the House Republican caucus voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Arizona and Pennsylvania, and many, including some in House GOP leadership, now refer to insurrectionists sentenced to prison as hostages. This is a moment to speak the truth and bury the lies, Biden said. And heres the simplest truth: You cant love your country only when you win. And Biden continued. He called for Congress to pass protections for in vitro fertilization, after the conservative Alabama Supreme Court declared embryos to be legally equivalent to children last month a ruling that was made possible by the Supreme Courts overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022. He touted his policies to cut prescription drug prices, which Trump had failed to do as president, and called for slashing prices on hundreds more drugs. He referenced the roads, bridges and other infrastructure now being built thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law passed earlier in his term. And he ribbed Republicans who largely voted against that bill for cheering for the spending in their districts. If any of you dont want that money in your district, just let me know, he said, looking at the GOP side of the room. Biden even took time to trash talk the conservatives on the Supreme Court for their decision overturning the right to an abortion. In its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court majority wrote and with all due, respect justices women are not without electoral or political power, Biden said while staring down the justices in attendance, as Democrats cheered. Youre about to realize how right youve been about that. Former President Donald Trump, 77, speaks at a Super Tuesday election night party on March 5. His mockery of Biden's age likely helped Biden, 81, exceed expectations. Evan Vucci/Associated Press Trump Set A Low Bar For Bidens Speech And He Cleared It With Ease Leading up to the State of the Union, a Trump-affiliated super PAC released a new ad suggesting that Biden, who is 81, would die in office if re-elected. This, along with the Republican Partys continued efforts to cast Biden as suffering from dementia, set the bar pretty low for Bidens performance during Thursdays speech. All he had to do was not die (or disintegrate into dust, as The Onion joked). Biden clearly exceeded those expectations. The president has faced increasing attacks from Republicans and concerns from Democrats over his age as the 2024 campaign ramps up. A report from special prosecutor Robert Hur exonerating Biden for holding onto classified documents cast a spotlight on the age issue in January by describing the president as an elderly man with a poor memory. Unable to attack Biden as a demented senior citizen following a lively speech, Republicans went after him for being too energetic. Everyone is going to remember how weirdly amped up he is and how bizarrely fast hes speaking, Fox News contributor and former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer posted on social media. This is the loudest State of the Union speech I can remember, GOP pollster Frank Luntz posted. Lets see whether undecided voters like being yelled at. After the speech concluded, Biden remained in the chamber, glad-handing Democratic lawmakers long after the lights had been dimmed. U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a humanitarian assistance airdrop to Northern Gaza on March 5. The U.S. military will now build a temporary port to get Gazans more aid. U.S Central Command/Anadolu/Getty Images Bidens Pitch To Young Voters Although the youth vote tends to skew Democratic, polls show soft support for the president among voters under 35 and in some cases, even have him trailing Trump with this key demographic. Biden spoke directly to those voters when he touted policies that will impact younger generations, including the executive actions he has taken to forgive some student loans, despite court ruling preventing him from enacting more sweeping debt relief. I fixed two student loan programs that already existed to reduce the burden of student debt for nearly 4 million Americans, he said. More importantly, Biden outlined plans to address other top concerns of younger voters. He announced that he was laying the groundwork to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana a change, he said, would result in the expungement of thousands of convictions for the mere possession [of marijuana], because no one should be jailed for simply using or have it on their record. Young people are also struggling to afford rent, let alone save enough to buy a home. On that front, Biden promoted accomplishments that he said will have the effect of reducing home costs, and called on Republicans to pass his bill to build more homes. Weve cut red tape so builders can get federal financing, which is already helping build a record 1.7 million new housing units nationwide, he said. Now pass my plan to build and renovate 2 million affordable homes and bring those rents down! To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration, or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority.President Joe Biden No issue has proved more vexing for Biden among young voters and especially young progressives than U.S.-Israel policy since Israels invasion of Gaza. The Biden administration has largely supported Israels military campaign, which has so far killed some 30,000 Palestinians, with few limitations. In his remarks, Biden reiterated his view that Israel has a right to defend itself against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which attacked Israel and killed 1,200 people on Oct. 7, and Israels efforts to hunt down Hamas fighters have been made more difficult by Hamas operation in civilian areas. Still, he insisted that Israel has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. Without saying so explicitly, he implied that Israel has not taken that job seriously, describing in vivid detail the heartbreaking humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. Biden then laid out his plan for the United States military to establish a makeshift port off the coast of Gaza to deliver emergency aid to the regions besieged residents. To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority, he said. As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time. Progressive skeptics will note Biden has said similar things before, and Israel has promptly ignored him. They want Biden to use American leverage over Israel, such as by restricting military aid or weapons sales. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) shouts about Laken Riley during Biden's State of the Union on Thursday. He responded to her in off-the-cuff remarks. Shawn Thew/Getty Images Biden Ad-Libbed A Response To Marjorie Taylor Greene And Things Got Weird In the middle of Bidens riff taunting Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan immigration deal that wouldve beefed up border enforcement, a major GOP priority, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) yelled at the podium. She called out the name of Laken Riley, a University of Georgia student found dead last month. Jose Antonio Ibarra, a migrant from Venezuela who crossed the border illegally in 2022, has been arrested on suspicion of her murder. Rileys death has become a rallying cry for Republicans furious about the influx of unauthorized migrants, and an example of conservative fears regarding violence involving migrants. House Republicans passed the Laken Riley Act on Thursday, with the support of some Democrats, that would require the Department of Homeland Security to take into custody any unlawful migrant charged with theft or burglary. And earlier on Thursday evening, Greene handed Biden a pin with Rileys name on it as he entered the House chamber to deliver his speech. Biden responded to Greenes interjection by holding up the pin and acknowledging the tragedy of Rileys murder with a choice of words that raised some eyebrows on the left, not least because he called her Lincoln Riley. The substance of his message, however, was to downplay the link between undocumented immigrants and violent crime. Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, thats right, he said while holding up the pin. But how many thousands of people, being killed by illegals? To her parents, I say: My heart goes out to you, having lost children myself. I understand. Biden then proceeded to make his case for a bill that would pair tougher enforcement with an expedited asylum screening process, which he said would reduce demand for illegal smuggling. People pay these smugglers 8,000 bucks to get across the border, because they know if they get by, if they get by and let into the country, its six to eight years before they have a hearing, and its worth taking the chance with the $8,000, he said. But if its only six months six weeks, the idea is, its highly unlikely that people pay that money and go all that way, knowing that theyll be able to be kicked out quickly. Biden is sworn in for his first term in the Senate in 1972. Elected at age 29, and sworn in at age 30, he was the youngest member of the Senate when he took office. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Biden Made Age An Asset With Mix Of Sincerity And Jokes Rather than ignore doubts about his age and fitness, Biden addressed the issue head on. When you get to be my age, certain things become clearer than ever. I know the American story, he said towards the end of the speech. Again and again, Ive seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our nation, between those who want to pull America back to the past and those who want to move America to the future. Biden born during World War II, and a young adult when Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated said those events shaped his vision of a country whose values are honesty, decency, dignity, equality, to respect everyone, to give everyone a fair shot [and] to give hate no safe harbor. Then he took a shot at Trump, noting that the 77-year-old former president is close to Biden in age but radically different in worldview. Other people my age see it differently: The American story of resentment, revenge and retribution, Biden said. Thats not me. Biden also recounted his long journey to the presidency, which included his election to the Senate at age 29. In my career, Ive been told I was too young, Biden said. By the way, they didnt let me on the Senate elevators for votes sometimes not a joke. Ive been told Im too old, he continued. Whether young or old, Ive always known what endures. Ive known our North Star: The very idea of America is that were all created equal, and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. Weve never fully lived up to that idea. But weve never walked away from it, either. And I wont walk away from it now. Related... FILE - Fans sit under a TikTok ad at a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, April 14, 2023, in New York. A bill that could lead to the popular video-sharing app TikTok being unavailable in the United States is quickly gaining traction in the House. Lawmakers advanced legislation against TikTok Thursday as they voiced concerns about the potential for the platform to surveil and manipulate Americans. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File) WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Friday endorsed legislation that could lead to the popular video-sharing app TikTok being banned in the United States, a move that comes amid growing concern in Washington about keeping Americans' data out of China's hands. The legislation that passed through the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously on Thursday calls on Chinas ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok or effectively face a U.S. ban. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also supports the bill and has indicated it would soon come up for a full vote in the House. If they pass it, I'll sign it, Biden said when asked by reporters about the legislation. The White House had provided technical support in the drafting of the bill, though White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier this week the TikTok legislation still needs some work to get to a place where Biden would endorse it. Former President Donald Trump, the likely Republican nominee, came out in a Truth Social post on Thursday saying he opposed a ban because it would help rival social media platform Facebook. Trump's opposition to the legislation comes after he issued and then rescinded an executive action late in his presidency intended to ban TikTok and another popular app, WeChat. Trump's pushback puts him on the opposite side of the debate of powerful Republicans, including Johnson and Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who has called the legislation a critical national security bill. Both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have warned that TikTok owner ByteDance could share user data such as browsing history, location and biometric identifiers with Chinas authoritarian government. TikTok said it has never done that and wouldnt do so if asked. The U.S. government also hasnt provided evidence of that happening. In a separate move, Biden recently signed an executive order allowing the Department of Justice and other federal agencies to take steps to prevent the large-scale transfer of Americans personal data to what the White House calls countries of concern," including China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. Biden, in 2022, banned the use of TikTok by the federal governments nearly 4 million employees on devices owned by its agencies, with limited exceptions for law enforcement, national security and security research purposes. While his administration has raised national security concerns about TikTok, Bidens reelection campaign last month joined the platform. If enacted, the bill would effectively ban TikTok and other ByteDance apps from being available in Apple or Google app stores or on web hosting services in the U.S. The bill takes a two-pronged approach. First, it requires ByteDance Ltd., which is based in Beijing, to divest TikTok and other applications it controls within 180 days of enactment of the bill or those applications will be prohibited in the United States. Second, it creates a narrow process to let the executive branch prohibit access to an app owned by a foreign adversary if it poses a threat to national security. The company also has promised to wall off U.S. user data from its parent company through a separate entity run independently from ByteDance and monitored by outside observers. A poll published last month by The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found Americans are deeply divided on the issue of banning the app. Thirty-one percent of U.S. adults said they would favor a nationwide ban on TikTok use, while 35% said they would oppose that type of action. An additional 31% of adults said they neither favor nor oppose a ban on the social media platform, The AP-NORC poll shows TikTok users about 170 million in the U.S., most of whom skew younger are less likely to be worried about the app sharing American users data, reflecting a previously felt generational divide. About a quarter of daily users say they are extremely or very concerned about the idea of the Chinese government obtaining the personal information of users, compared to about half of U.S. adults overall. AP writers Josh Boak, Kevin Freking and Haleluya Hadero contributed reporting. (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden brushed off criticism after referring to the alleged killer of a Georgia woman as an illegal during his State of the Union address. Most Read from Bloomberg Biden, asked about the incident Friday by reporters before traveling to a campaign event in Philadelphia, said the murder suspect was technically not supposed to be there. The president came under fire from fellow Democrats and immigrant-rights activists following the unscripted moment Thursday night, which occurred when Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene heckled Biden mid-speech. Greene shouted at Biden to say the name of Laken Riley, a nursing student who police say was killed by a Venezuelan migrant who entered the country illegally but was released on parole. Biden appeared prepared for the possible interjection, and held up a button with Rileys name on it. An innocent young woman who was killed, Biden said, holding up a pin bearing Rileys name. Greene was seen handing Biden a pin as he walked down the aisle of the House chamber ahead of his speech. By an illegal, Greene shouted back. By an illegal. Thats right, Biden said, adding that if Republicans were concerned, they should pass the bipartisan border security bill they rejected. Read More: Biden Outlines Vision, Hits Trump: State of the Union Takeaways I would respectfully suggest my Republican friends owe it to the American people, he continued. Get this bill done. We need to act now. Some Democratic members of Congress after the speech criticized Biden for using the word illegal as a noun, which activist groups say demonizes and dehumanizes migrants. As a proud immigrant, Im extremely disappointed to hear President Biden use the word illegal, Representative Chuy Garcia, an Illinois Democrat, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Let me be clear: No human being is illegal, Ilhan Omar, a Democratic representative from Minnesota, posted. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Biden was responding to what was being hurled at him, as you all cover, and he was responding to that moment and that exchange. She rejected the notion Biden had denigrated immigrants. The president spoke to the nation obviously last night very clearly about not demonizing immigrants. He talked about the story of our country and families seeking safety and opportunity in a place of possibilities, Jean-Pierre said. (Adds details involving pin in fifth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. In the first season of what was then NBCs Saturday Night and later became Saturday Night Live, comedian Chevy Chase did this running joke about how the media hammers some stories until theyre pulverized, and even then wont stop. That was 1975, the year the Spanish dictator Franco died, after weeks of regular news reports that he was still barely alive. And in tonights top story, SNLs original Weekend Update anchor would say, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead! Thats how Ive felt for a while about the maddeningly one-note, Page One coverage of our president: Joseph R. Biden is still old! The man has done a truly Rooseveltian job in his first term, amid multiple five-alarm blazes: Hes walked our economy from hell back to health and pushed through a massive infrastructure program while also dealing with multiple wars, an increasingly isolationist Congress and a shocking percentage of the public tempted by fascism. In so many ways, we have been here before. Yet conservative media has never stopped trying to make the man look like he can no longer dress himself. Then the rest of us, in trying to show how evenhanded we are, began doing muted versions of the same story, only posed as a question: Can Joe Biden still dress himself? Why yes, it turns out. At Thursday nights State of the Union, he came out breathing fire, seemed to enjoy giving it right back to his hecklers and may still be hanging out in the Capitol for all I know, shaking hands with the midnight janitorial crew. I may not look like it, but Ive been around awhile, he told the Congress and the country. When you get to be my age, youve seen a few things, and know what matters freedom and democracy most of all and core values like honesty, decency and dignity. Other people my age see it differently, he said, smiling. Since being elected to the U.S. Senate at only 29, he said, hes been called both too young and too old, but whether young or old, Ive always known what endures. The very idea of America, that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. Weve never fully lived up to that idea, but weve never walked away from it, either, and I wont walk away from it now. The issue facing our nation isnt how old we are, its how old our ideas are. Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest. With House Speaker Mike Johnson smirking over his shoulder at one point, Vice President Kamala Harris had to arch an eyebrow in Johnsons direction even to get him to his feet to acknowledge the late civil rights icon John Lewis Biden owned the room and made those yelling who knows what look small. Echoed FDRs call to wake up the Congress Ive written before about how unworried I am about Bidens strength of purpose, and have compared him to his undemocratic rival I dont know how many times. But on the night of his SOTU, I wanted to say why I think this president has accomplished what no one else could have in his first term, and why Im not wishing anyone else were the 24 nominee, either, even if others do walk and talk faster and look better. He is a survivor in so many ways the last, it seems, of a certain kind of American politician, with deep experience in both foreign and domestic policy and deep faith in our better angels. He righted a capsized federal government, and achieved what others have only talked about for decades just in making insulin affordable and capping credit card fees. A voice of reason in an unreasonable time, he has actually managed to govern in an age of intentional chaos; who else could have done that? At the same time, his Joey from Scranton regular-guyness sets him apart, and his heart-on-his-sleeve humanity is what we need so much more of in public life. Whether hes talking about his own family or yours, dont you get the feeling he actually likes them? Hes working his elderly rear end off for you, no matter who you are or what you think of him. He began his address by citing FDRs 1941 State of the Union, intended to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary moment, just as this one is not. Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault here at home as they are today. What makes this moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time. If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not. Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself. He at least attempted to shame the smirking speaker and other cowards who in keeping that from happening have already cost some of our Ukrainian allies their lives: But now assistance for Ukraine is being blocked by those who want us to walk away from our leadership in the world. It wasnt that long ago when a Republican president, Ronald Reagan, thundered, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. Now my predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin, Do whatever the hell you want. Bidens message to Putin is a little different, he said: We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down. Of the threat to democracy here, he spoke about Jan. 6, and how we all saw with our own eyes these insurrectionists were not patriots My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth of January 6th. I will not do that. This is a moment to speak the truth and bury the lies. And heres the simple truth: You cant love your country only when you win. He laid out our choices, and I am not at all torn about mine. President Joe Biden stunned Republicans during his State of the Union speech by going on the attack over the border and addressing Laken Rileys parents directly. Mr Biden was heckled during the speech by Georgia Republican Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, who called on him to say the name of Ms Riley, a student murdered in Georgia, allegedly by an undocumented migrant. Ms Greene was handing out Laken Riley pins ahead of the State of the Union even after the murdered students parents turned down an invitation to attend. They declined an invitation from Rep Mike Collins, Republican of Georgia. Ms Riley, 22, a nursing student, was allegedly murdered while jogging on the campus of the University of Georgia. A 26-year-old man from Venezuela was later detained. Police have referred to it as a crime of opportunity and the man, Jose Ibarra, has been charged with felony murder, kidnapping, and false imprisonment. President Joe Biden holds up a pin referring to murdered Georgia student Laken Riley while delivering his State of the Union address (EPA) Republicans have been using Ms Rileys death to lambast the Biden administrations border policies. The president used part of his speech on Thursday night to criticise Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan border security bill after former President Donald Trump came out against it. That bipartisan bill would hire 1,500 more security agents and officers, 100 more immigration judges, help tackle the backlog of two million cases, Mr Biden said in a forceful address. 4,300 more asylum officers and new policy so they can resolve cases in six months instead of six years now. A more high-tech drug detection machine to significantly increase the ability to screen and stop vehicles smuggling fentanyl into America ... killing thousands of children, he added. I believe that given the opportunity for a majority in the House and Senate would endorse the bill ... But unfortunately, politics [has] derailed this bill so far. I'm told my predecessor called members of Congress in the Senate to demand they block the bill, he said of Mr Trump. On Thursday afternoon, the House passed the Laken Riley Act following its introduction by Mr Collins. The legislation requires the detention of any migrant committing burglary or theft. Police have said that the suspect in Ms Rileys death crossed the border illegally. Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson has said that Ms Riley died from blunt force trauma to the head. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, Mr Biden said in an unscripted moment as he picked up the pin handed to him by Ms Greene, at one point mispronouncing her first name as Lincoln. To her parents. I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself I understand, Mr Biden told Ms Rileys parents. But look if we change the dynamic at the border ... people pay the smugglers 8,000 bucks to get across the border because they know if they get ... into the country It's six to eight years before they have a hearing. And it's worth taking the chance ... But if it's only six months, six weeks. The idea is it's highly unlikely that people will pay that money and [go] all that way knowing that they'll be able to be kicked out quickly. I would respectfully suggest to my Republican friends ... to the American people get this bill done. We need to act now, he added. While handing out the pins, Ms Greene told Fox News that My district was fine with me calling him a liar last year, adding that Ill decide in the moment if shell make a similar outburst this year. She later decided Mr Biden was due for a heckling. President Joe Biden attempted to put concerns about him being too old to run for reelection to rest during the State of the Union on Thursday. In my career, Ive been told Im too young and Im too old ... My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isnt how old we are, its how old our ideas are, he said. Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas. But you cant lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back. To lead America, the land of possibilities, you need a vision for the future of what America can and should be, he added. Biden, who at 81 is the oldest president to hold office, has been subjected to skepticism and doubt about his age from voters as well as some lawmakers, especially in recent months ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Last month, the scrutiny surrounding his age and mental acuity was amplified with the release of a report from special counsel Robert Hur, in which he cited Bidens significantly limited memory as one of the reasons he decided not to indict Biden for retaining classified documents when he was vice president. The report arrived the same week that Biden mistakenly mixed up the names of former German Chancellors Angela Merkel and Helmut Kohl during a speech at a New York reception. A recent poll from The New York Times and Siena College found that 70% of voters were concerned about Bidens age, while less than half of voters shared that concern about his opponent, former President Donald Trump, 77. In Bidens physical exam for this year, his physician said the results showed no new concernsand that hes fit for duty. A cognitive test was not included in the exam because both Bidens physician and a neurologist determined that it wasnt necessary. Both Biden and Trump dominated the Super Tuesday races, inching their way closer to a likely rematch in the 2024 presidential election in November. Related... In our Reality Check stories, Star-Telegram journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? RealityCheck@star-telegram.com. Democrats probably think they had a good political moment at the State of the Union address Thursday night when they chanted fix it after President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass border-security legislation. The thing is, the chant should have been aimed directly at Biden. When it comes to the illegal immigration crisis roiling the country, theres so much he could do to fix it, or at least vastly improve it. At a minimum, he could reverse the very actions he took early in his presidency and revise the attitude he and his party bring to the issue. Biden campaigned on overturning most of President Donald Trumps actions that helped slow illegal immigration. Early in his term, he ended Trumps Remain in Mexico policy. That alone opened the door to new border crossers: officials recorded nearly 250,000 encounters with migrants attempting to cross in December, a record high. The merits of the bipartisan legislation are debatable. Sometimes, something is in fact better than nothing. More resources are needed for the border. But the bill falls far short of whats needed for asylum reform in particular. And simply processing more migrants isnt the answer; more have to be turned back faster, and the criteria for asylum must be significantly tighter. More significant steps that in the past might have seemed over the top now seem necessary. Given the huge numbers of people arriving, we must consider ending the practice of allowing people to stay in the U.S. while awaiting adjudication of their asylum cases, except for perhaps the most dire few. Adding more asylum officers is great, but not if they arent given new, strict criteria to evaluate applications. And yes, well need more walls and fences. Dont discount how much the rhetoric and actions from Biden and other Democrats helped get us to this crisis. Biden tacitly admitted this in his speech, when he noted that people would take the risk to pay a smuggler to come here because they know if they get by its six to eight years until they have a court hearing. Well, how did that happen, Mr. President? The Biden administration has used parole policy to release more than 1 million people into the country. As a candidate, Biden promised to halt deportations and release more asylum seekers into the U.S. The word went out. Whats changed? Democratic governors and mayors are feeling the consequences of sanctuary policies they were able to espouse under the false name of compassion. So many migrants are showing up in places such as New York, Chicago and Denver many due to Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts politically brilliant policy of offering them bus rides to those areas that Bidens fellow Democrats are begging him to reverse course. The president and his party spent years encouraging immigration. Biden, to his credit, was not a full-blown open borders advocate, as so many in his party were. Its partly why he won the Democratic nomination in 2020 being just a little less progressive than his competitors. But he immediately governed like they would have. So, when he asks someone else to fix it, he should at least meet them halfway and reverse the very policies that broke it so badly. Do you have an opinion on this topic? Tell us! We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news and to publish those views in the Opinion section. Letters should be no more than 150 words. Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days. Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions. You can submit a letter to the editor two ways: Email letters@star-telegram.com (preferred). Fill out this online form. Please note: Letters will be edited for style and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed. The best letters are focused on one topic. Visitors learn Chinese Peking Opera with an actress during the Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 7, 2024. More than 20 embassies competed in this year's Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge held at the Union Station in Washington, D.C. Thursday night, which captivated the audiences with unique flavors from across the world. (Xinhua) WASHINGTON, March 8 (Xinhua) -- More than 20 embassies competed in this year's Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge held at the Union Station in Washington, D.C. Thursday night, which captivated the audiences with unique flavors from across the world. This year the first place for the Judges' Choice Award went to Chef Jovana Urriola from the Embassy of the Republic of Panama, with the authentic "Panamanian Style Afro Caribbean Chicken Tamale Dumplings" securing her the top spot. Panamanian dishes' fusion of African, Caribbean, and Asian cuisines reflects the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the country's culinary landscape, according to a leaflet at the scene. The second place went to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China. Chefs Lin Song, Lu Tao, Li XiaoFeng, Jia Wenhui, and Zhu Xianglin were able to secure high placement in the Judges' Choice Award voting with their "Sichuan Spicy Fish, Kung Pao Shrimp Balls, Sichuan Cold Spicy Noodles and Snowy Mooncakes." "The mooncakes are fantastic," John Schneider, a guest at the scene told Xinhua. "I typically don't think like desserts from Asia are the greatest because I'm used to French desserts. But these are fantastic. I don't know what they are but I love them." Schneider also took a sip of the Chinese baijiu. "This alcohol. Not that I love it, but it's just the most interesting thing I've had. It is very unique. There's all these weird flavors going on," he said. "It makes me want to visit China because I'm like, wow, what else is waiting for me?" In third place for the Judges' Choice Award was the Embassy of the Dominican Republic. Chefs Aris and Raymond Compres served a "Traditional Dominican Roasted Pork with casabe and yucca." Guests who attended this year's Embassy Chef Challenge and voted for their favorite embassies selected collectively gave the first place for the People's Choice Award to Chefs Damain Leach and Ann Marie Leach of the Embassy of Barbados, for their "Curry Lamb, Breadfruit Coucou, and Bajan Sweet Bread." To accompany the delicious food and drink, performances from different countries were presented on the stage, including Beijing Opera, Panamanian folk dance and Bolivian folk dance. Chefs from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China are seen during the Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 7, 2024. More than 20 embassies competed in this year's Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge held at the Union Station in Washington, D.C. Thursday night, which captivated the audiences with unique flavors from across the world. (Xinhua) President Joe Biden came into office promising to get American troops out of "forever wars." Tonight, in his State of the Union address, he offered a vision of indefinite U.S. involvement in conflicts around the world. In April 2021, speaking about the war in Afghanistan, the president railed against those who believe that "withdrawal would damage America's credibility and weaken America's influence in the world. I believe the exact opposite is true." Tonight, Biden attacked skeptics who "want us to walk away from our leadership in the world." He began his speech with a plea for more U.S. military aid to Ukraine, arguing that "the free world is at risk, emboldening others who would do us harm to do what they wish." Later, Biden announced sweeping plans for U.S. involvement in Gaza. While the U.S. military will build a new port in Gaza to deliver food to Palestiniansand, the president promised, "no U.S. boots will be on the ground"the Biden administration will continue to arm the Israeli military campaign that Biden said "has taken a greater toll on innocent civilians than all previous wars in Gaza combined." The Biden administration has transferred weapons to Israel at the American taxpayer's expense, and is providing targeting intelligence to the Israeli military. "Creating stability in the Middle East also means containing the threat posed by Iran," Biden added, touting his airstrikes on Yemen. That air campaign has thrown a wrench into Yemen's peace talkswhich, ironically, the Biden administration brokered a couple years before. Biden positioned himself as a peace dove during the 2020 presidential debates, and one of his first major decisions in office was to go through with a long-planned U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. "It's time to end the forever war," the president announced in an April 2021 speech, rejecting an "approach where U.S. exit is tied to conditions on the ground." "We have to have clear answers to the following questions: Just what conditions require tobe required to allow us to depart?" he asked in that speech. "By what means and how long would it take to achieve them, if they could be achieved at all? And at what additional cost in lives and treasure?" Today, Biden answered those questions: The wars will continue for the foreseeable future. The post Biden Touts More Forever Wars, Breaking His 2021 Promises appeared first on Reason.com. While President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump emerged victorious from Super Tuesday, winning nearly all of their respective primaries, both faced substantial pockets of discontent within their parties. In a potentially worrying sign for Biden, significant minorities of Democratic voters in multiple states cast their ballots for uncommitted or similar options. Similarly concerning for Trump, sizable numbers of GOP voters in a string of states signaled their hesitancy to vote for him in the general election. These wary voters could spell trouble for the candidates come November, particularly since the race is forecast to come down to such a small number of voters in less than a dozen swing states, elections experts told McClatchy News. The results are comparably concerning for both candidates, who both are viewed comparably unfavorably, Robert Shapiro, a political science professor at Columbia University, told McClatchy News. Biden and the uncommitted While Biden easily won every Super Tuesday Democratic primary with the exception of American Samoa, he was met with small, but consistent, clusters of disapproval. He faced his strongest opposition in Minnesota, where nearly one in five (19%) Democratic primary voters voted for the uncommitted option. Similarly, 12.7% of Democratic voters in North Carolina opted for no preference, while 9% of Massachusetts Democratic voters did the same. Eight percent of Colorados Democratic primary voters cast their ballots for noncommitted delegate, and 7.9% of Tennessees Democratic voters chose uncommitted. The results come on the heels of Michigans Democratic primary in which a brief but organized protest effort resulted in over 100,000 voters, making up 13% of the total vote, selecting uncommitted. Such pockets of discontent should be worrying for the Biden campaign, even at this very early point in the general election campaign, Paul Beck, an emeritus professor of political science at the Ohio State University, told McClatchy News. The votes against Biden can be seen as manifestations of policy disagreements, many of them over Americas support of Israel in its war in Gaza, which has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and led South Africa to file a genocide charge at the International Criminal Court, Beck said. While these dissatisfied Democratic voters may be unlikely to vote for Trump, they might sit out the election or choose to vote for a third-party candidate, Shapiro said. These non-Biden votes could be detrimental to the presidents re-election effort, particularly in highly contested states like Michigan and North Carolina. Trump and hesitant GOP voters The former president romped to victory in every Super Tuesday Republican primary with the exception of Vermont, which went for Nikki Haley. However, recent polls reveal he faces an uphill battle in convincing large minorities of GOP voters to move back into his camp. More than three-quarters of Haley voters in North Carolina, 78%, told exit pollsters they were unwilling to support the partys nominee, whoever it may be, according to ABC News. Sixty-nine percent of Haley voters in California and 68% in Virginia said the same. Large minorities of GOP voters in these states including 37% in Virginia and 31% in North Carolina also said they would not consider Trump fit to be president if he ends up being convicted of a crime, per Politico. Additionally, in New Hampshire, over one-third of Republican voters, 34%, said they were so dissatisfied with Trump that they would not vote for him in November, according to a March Associated Press poll. A quarter of South Carolina GOP voters and 20% of Iowa Republican voters said the same. These are danger signs for Trump that could affect the outcome in contested states against Biden, Shapiro said. He lost the 2020 election by not more than 40,000 votes in 3 states, so these defections from normally Republican supporting voters, could hurt him. I think Trump has more to worry about with (roughly) 20-30% voting for Haley and not him, Beck said. In the face of Trumps sure nomination, these voters are likely saying they will not vote for Trump in the general. Will non-committed voters come around? Despite the brewing discontent with Biden and Trump in their respective parties, its likely that many uncommitted voters will come home to the pair who are all but assured to face a rematch by November, experts said. In past years, dissenters usually end up returning to their partys candidate in the general election, Beck said. For Democratic voters concerned about Israels military campaign in Gaza, more forceful rhetoric opposing Israels actions from the White House could motivate them to return to Biden, he said. However, Beck said, We need to be reminded that it is very early in the general election campaign. Lots can happen between now and the fall. With Trump in his late 70s and Biden in his early 80s, its possible that changes in their health could affect the races dynamics, Beck said. Already, majorities of voters have said that both men are too old to serve as president again, according to a February Ipsos poll. Similarly, its possible that Trump may be convicted in one or more of the four federal cases against him before the election, which, polls have shown, could move a significant number of voters against him. Who do voters want as Trumps vice president? Poll reveals some surprising choices Can musicians force Trump to stop using their songs? Its complicated, legal experts say Bidens doctor calls him fit for duty. But are exams reliable? What historians say US President Joe Biden mentioned the necessity of assistance to Ukraine in the opening minutes of his State of the Union address. Source: Bidens address Quote: "Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself." "But now assistance for Ukraine is being blocked by those who want us to walk away from our leadership in the world." "If the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe at risk." "My message to President Putin is simple. We will not walk away." "History is watching, just like history watched three years ago on January 6th." Details: Biden stepped up calls for the US to continue providing assistance to Ukraine, saying that freedom and democracy are under threat "both at home and overseas". He said the purpose of his speech was to "wake up the Congress and alert the American people" that democracy is under threat. Quote: "If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not." "We must stand up to Putin." Details: The president once again noted that Ukraine is asking for military assistance and weapons to fight back against Russia, but not for American personnel. Quote: "They are not asking for American soldiers. In fact, there are no American soldiers at war in Ukraine. And I am determined to keep it that way." Details: Biden also criticised the previous comments of former President Donald Trump [without naming him], who told Putin to "do whatever the hell you want". Background: It was reported that US President Joe Bidens administration is considering using about US$200 million of US military funding to provide operational assistance to Ukraine. Republican Mike Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives of the US, stated after meeting with other Congress leaders and President Joe Biden in the White House on 27 February that he considers US border security to be a priority. Support UP or become our patron! President Biden called on Congress to send him a border bill, faulting former President Trump for tanking a bipartisan Senate deal that would have marked one of the most significant immigration packages in decades. Im told my predecessor called Republicans in Congress and demanded they block the bill. He feels it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him. Its not about him or me. Itd be a winner for America, Biden said. We can fight about the border, or we can fix it. Im ready to fix it. Send me the border bill now! Bidens remarks about the border in his prime-time State of the Union address offered a significant spotlight on a vulnerable issue for the administration that it has often been hesitant to talk about. But it also spurred some of the most vocal pushback from Republicans during his speech, with Republicans pointing to a Georgia college student whom police say was recently killed by a Venezuelan man who entered the country illegally. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) yelled out, Its about Laken Riley, and others shouted say her name. The president nodded to her death, saying Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. To her parents I say my heart goes out to you having lost children myself. I understand. But Biden mainly stuck to the legislation, offering a strong defense of a bill that was swiftly rejected by Senate Republican leaders after their initial backing. And House GOP leaders have likewise refused to give the bill any consideration. And one point Republican boos on the topic sparked a joke from Biden. Oh you dont like that bill? he quipped. Ill be darned. Biden cast the legislation as a bipartisan bill with the toughest set of border security reforms weve ever seen in this country. He highlighted a boost of 1,500 border agents, as well as funding the hiring of 100 more immigration judges and 4,300 more asylum officers to speed review of immigration cases that have piled into a years-long backlog. It would also give him new authorities to restrict entry into the country during high levels of border encounters. This bill would save lives and bring order to the border, Biden said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on March 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C. This was Bidens last State of the Union address before the general election this coming November. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on March 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C. This was Bidens last State of the Union address before the general election this coming November. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) WASHINGTON In remarks pivotal to his reelection this fall, President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address Thursday night portrayed himself as the defender of democracy, touted the bipartisan deals hes brokered during his first term in office and appealed to Congress to support Ukraine in its battle against the Russian invasion. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, Biden said. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a differently: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me. Without ever uttering his name, Biden rebuked likely Republican opponent Donald Trump by calling him a former president and said that Trumps recent comments at a rally in South Carolina about allowing Russias military to attack NATO allies were outrageous, dangerous and unacceptable. History is literally watching, Biden said. If the United States walks away, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe is at risk. The free world will be at risk, emboldening others to do what they wish, to do us harm. Biden said that what makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time. The president promised to seek the restoration of reproductive rights speaking to a chamber full of Democratic women dressed in white, intended to show their support for such rights and with a heavy emphasis on an economic agenda he vowed to reduce health care costs, impose higher taxes on the wealthy and bring back an expanded child tax credit. Back-and forth over immigration Trump has made immigration a main theme of his campaign, and the Republican-led House earlier Thursday passed legislation named for a murdered college student from Georgia, Laken Riley, whose death has been tied by conservatives to White House immigration policies. As Biden walked down the House aisle before the speech, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who was wearing a t-shirt bearing Rileys name, attempted to hand Biden a button with Rileys name on it. And when Biden mentioned immigration during his remarks, Greene continued to interrupt the president. Bidens address to the joint session of Congress was part campaign speech, part legislative agenda and part victory lap on the laws enacted during his first term. But it was also significant because it was the largest audience he is likely to have to himself all year, both in person and watching on television. The speech marked an especially important moment for Bidens reelection bid after dozens of Republicans questioned his mental faculties following Special Counsel Robert Hurs report on classified documents, which said the president would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Biden will have dozens of opportunities to take the message in his State of the Union speech directly to voters in the months ahead, beginning with a visit to the Philadelphia area on Friday and a trip to Atlanta on Saturday. On foreign policy, Biden used the address to call for the protection of civilians in Gaza and for Hamas to release the hostages that militants have held since attacking Israel in October. He pressed Congress to approve aid for Ukraine and Israel as well as the bipartisan border security and immigration bill that senators negotiated earlier this year and that Republicans then dropped under pressure from Trump. FDR reference Biden began his speech referencing one that President Franklin Roosevelt gave in January 1941. President Roosevelts purpose was to wake up Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary time. Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world, Biden said. Tonight I come to the same chamber to address the nation. Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union, Biden added. And yes, my purpose tonight is to wake up this Congress, and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either. Biden assured lawmakers who think that Russian President Vladimir Putin will stop if he successfully overtakes Ukraine that he will not end his military campaign there. Biden criticized Trump and Republican lawmakers in statehouses throughout the country for restricting or banning access to abortion in the last two years after the Supreme Courts conservative justices overturned the constitutional right to end a pregnancy that had stood for nearly 50 years. My predecessor came into office determined to see Roe v. Wade overturned, Biden said. Hes the reason it was overturned and he brags about it. Look at the chaos that has resulted. Biden then called on voters to flip the U.S. House back to Democratic control while keeping the Senate blue during Novembers elections. Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America, Biden said. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again, Biden added. Popular policy issues Bidens address touched on many of the policy issues that Americans view as important areas for lawmakers to address, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. About 73% of Americans view the economy as a top policy priority for the Biden administration, followed by defending against terrorism at 63% and reducing the influence of money in politics at 62%. Reducing health care costs, improving education and making Social Security financially sound all tied at 60% in the poll. Dealing with immigration received 57% while reducing the availability of illegal drugs got 55% in the survey. Biden also called on Congress to pass a so-called Unity Agenda that includes issues he believes Republicans and Democrats can agree on. Those bills, he said, should increase penalties for people who traffic fentanyl, provide protections for children online, bolster artificial intelligence while protecting people from its peril and find new ways of treating cancer. Israel-Hamas war Biden also discussed the war in Gaza, saying that Hamas attack on Israel was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Biden added that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of whom are not Hamas. Israel has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population, like cowards under hospitals, daycare centers and all the like, Biden said. But Israel also has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. Biden said the United States would lead an effort to get more humanitarian assistance through a temporary pier installed off the coast, but he called on Israel to do its part and allow more aid into Gaza. To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Biden said. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time, Biden said. Democratic Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan held up small posters that called for an immediate ceasefire. Hours before the presidents address, pro-Palestinian activists blocked roads leading to the U.S. Capitol, according to media reports. Many activists have pushed for Biden to call for a permanent ceasefire, as Israels assault on Gaza since October. Voters across numerous primary states in this weeks Democratic 2024 Super Tuesday cast uncommitted ballots as a protest of Bidens continued support of Israels bombardment in Gaza. GOP response Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama delivered the traditional Republican response to Biden after he spoke, blasting his handling of immigration, the economy, crime and foreign policy, while questioning if the 81-year-old is up to the challenge of leading the country. The American people are scraping by while the President proudly proclaims Bidenomics is working, she said, seated at a kitchen table. Goodness, yall. Bless his heart. We know better. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Biden warns freedom and democracy are under attack in fierce State of the Union address appeared first on Alaska Beacon. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on March 7, 2024 in Washington, D.C. This is Bidens last State of the Union address before the general election this coming November. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) WASHINGTON In remarks pivotal to his reelection this fall, President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address Thursday night portrayed himself as the defender of democracy, touted the bipartisan deals hes brokered during his first term in office and appealed to Congress to support Ukraine in its battle against the Russian invasion. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, Biden said. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a differently: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me. Without ever uttering his name, Biden rebuked likely Republican opponent Donald Trump by calling him a former president and said that Trumps recent comments at a rally in South Carolina about allowing Russias military to attack NATO allies were outrageous, dangerous and unacceptable. History is literally watching, Biden said. If the United States walks away, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe is at risk. The free world will be at risk, emboldening others to do what they wish, to do us harm. Biden said that what makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, invited Marina Dubrova, president of Ukrainians of Colorado, to join him at the speech. Tonight, President Biden began his speech by calling on the House of Representatives to pass Ukraine aid. Ukraine is out of bullets, and they have earned our support, Bennet said in a statement after the speech. We must not walk away from Ukraine. The president promised to seek the restoration of reproductive rights speaking to a chamber full of Democratic women dressed in white, intended to show their support for such rights and with a heavy emphasis on an economic agenda he vowed to reduce health care costs, impose higher taxes on the wealthy and bring back an expanded child tax credit. Back-and forth over immigration Trump has made immigration a main theme of his campaign, and the Republican-led House earlier Thursday passed legislation named for a murdered college student from Georgia, Laken Riley, whose death has been tied by conservatives to White House immigration policies. As Biden walked down the House aisle before the speech, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who was wearing a t-shirt bearing Rileys name, attempted to hand Biden a button with Rileys name on it. And when Biden mentioned immigration during his remarks, Greene continued to interrupt the president. Bidens address to the joint session of Congress was part campaign speech, part legislative agenda and part victory lap on the laws enacted during his first term. But it was also significant because it was the largest audience he is likely to have to himself all year, both in person and watching on television. The speech marked an especially important moment for Bidens reelection bid after dozens of Republicans questioned his mental faculties following Special Counsel Robert Hurs report on classified documents, which said the president would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Biden will have dozens of opportunities to take the message in his State of the Union speech directly to voters in the months ahead, beginning with a visit to the Philadelphia area on Friday and a trip to Atlanta on Saturday. On foreign policy, Biden used the address to call for the protection of civilians in Gaza and for Hamas to release the hostages that militants have held since attacking Israel in October. He pressed Congress to approve aid for Ukraine and Israel as well as the bipartisan border security and immigration bill that senators negotiated earlier this year and that Republicans then dropped under pressure from Trump. FDR reference Biden began his speech referencing one that President Franklin Roosevelt gave in January 1941. President Roosevelts purpose was to wake up Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary time. Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world, Biden said. Tonight I come to the same chamber to address the nation. Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union, Biden added. And yes, my purpose tonight is to wake up this Congress, and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either. Biden assured lawmakers who think that Russian President Vladimir Putin will stop if he successfully overtakes Ukraine that he will not end his military campaign there. Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America ... But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024. President Joe Biden Biden criticized Trump and Republican lawmakers in statehouses throughout the country for restricting or banning access to abortion in the last two years after the Supreme Courts conservative justices overturned the constitutional right to end a pregnancy that had stood for nearly 50 years. My predecessor came into office determined to see Roe v. Wade overturned, Biden said. Hes the reason it was overturned and he brags about it. Look at the chaos that has resulted. Biden then called on voters to flip the U.S. House back to Democratic control while keeping the Senate blue during Novembers elections. Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America, Biden said. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again, Biden added. In a statement after the speech, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, said about Biden, His commitment to protecting reproductive rights could not be more timely, especially with the extreme policies House Republicans continue to push for, including a nationwide abortion ban and stripping IVF access. Popular policy issues Bidens address touched on many of the policy issues that Americans view as important areas for lawmakers to address, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. About 73% of Americans view the economy as a top policy priority for the Biden administration, followed by defending against terrorism at 63% and reducing the influence of money in politics at 62%. Reducing health care costs, improving education and making Social Security financially sound all tied at 60% in the poll. Dealing with immigration received 57% while reducing the availability of illegal drugs got 55% in the survey. Biden also called on Congress to pass a so-called Unity Agenda that includes issues he believes Republicans and Democrats can agree on. Those bills, he said, should increase penalties for people who traffic fentanyl, provide protections for children online, bolster artificial intelligence while protecting people from its peril and find new ways of treating cancer. Israel-Hamas war Biden also discussed the war in Gaza, saying that Hamas attack on Israel was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Biden added that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of whom are not Hamas. Israel has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population, like cowards under hospitals, daycare centers and all the like, Biden said. But Israel also has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. Biden said the United States would lead an effort to get more humanitarian assistance through a temporary pier installed off the coast, but he called on Israel to do its part and allow more aid into Gaza. To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Biden said. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time, Biden said. Democratic Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan held up small posters that called for an immediate ceasefire. Hours before the presidents address, pro-Palestinian activists blocked roads leading to the U.S. Capitol, according to media reports. Many activists have pushed for Biden to call for a permanent ceasefire, as Israels assault on Gaza since October. Voters across numerous primary states in this weeks Democratic 2024 Super Tuesday cast uncommitted ballots as a protest of Bidens continued support of Israels bombardment in Gaza. GOP blowback Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama delivered the traditional Republican response to Biden after he spoke, blasting his handling of immigration, the economy, crime and foreign policy, while questioning if the 81-year-old is up to the challenge of leading the country. The American people are scraping by while the President proudly proclaims Bidenomics is working, she said, seated at a kitchen table. Goodness, yall. Bless his heart. We know better. Other Republicans, such as Greene, yelled at Biden to say her name during his speech, referring to Riley. Greene and Troy Nehls of Texas wore pins with Rileys name on their clothes. Greene also wore a shirt that read: Say Her Name, followed by Rileys name. The Say Her Name is a social movement spurred by intersectional feminist Kimberle Crenshaw that specifically raises awareness for Black women who are victims of police brutality and gender based violence. Biden expressed his condolences to Rileys family, saying he knew how it felt to lose a child, talking about his son, Beau, who died of cancer. After the outburst from Greene, Biden took another swipe at Trump. He called out how the former president has used dehumanizing language to describe migrants claiming asylum at the southern border. I will not demonize immigrants saying they are poisoning the blood of our country, Biden said. I will not separate families. I will not ban people because of their faith. House Republicans have repeatedly clashed with the Biden administration on its policies at the southern border, as the White House deals with the largest number of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in 20 years. That disagreement has continued to escalate, first with the walking back of a bipartisan border security deal that would have resulted in the overhaul of U.S. immigration law. It reached a crux with the recent impeachment of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in February. Since Republicans walked away from that immigration deal, Biden has pressed for them to reconsider it, so his administration can adequately address migration at the southern border. Unfortunately, politics has derailed this bill so far, Biden said. Im told my predecessor called members of Congress in the Senate to demand they block the bill. Republicans have argued that Biden can take executive action to address the border however, immigration law is set by Congress. So far, the Biden administration has taken 535 executive actions related to immigration compared to the 472 executive actions under the Trump administration, according to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute. Democrats celebrate Following the speech, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pumped his fists up and down and shouted, We are exhilarated. Sen. Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, said that the whole world is watching what the U.S. does. He also dismissed worries about Bidens age. Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia said he was pleased to hear Bidens support for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza, and wants to see humanitarian aid delivered quickly to the region. Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan said she felt optimistic after Bidens speech, especially how he touched upon conservation and climate initiatives. She said she believes hell be supportive of the Senates work on the delayed farm bill. Our farmers need it, our families need it and our rural communities need it, Stabenow, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, said. Louisianas GOP Rep. Garret Graves said he felt Bidens speech was more of a campaign speech rather than a sincere sort of message to the American people. This administration thought it was a good idea to double and triple down on stupid, Graves said, talking about some tax proposals Biden mentioned. The very policies that got us into this quandary that were in right now. Editors note: This story was updated at 7:59 a.m., March 8, 2024, to include more information about reactions to the speech. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Biden warns freedom and democracy are under attack in fierce State of the Union address appeared first on Colorado Newsline. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on March 07, 2024 in Washington, D.C. This is Bidens last State of the Union address before the general election this coming November. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Quality Journalism for Critical Times WASHINGTON In remarks pivotal to his reelection this fall, President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address Thursday night portrayed himself as the defender of democracy, touted the bipartisan deals hes brokered during his first term in office and appealed to Congress to support Ukraine in its battle against the Russian invasion. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, Biden said. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a differently: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me. Without ever uttering his name, Biden rebuked likely Republican opponent Donald Trump by calling him a former president and said that Trumps recent comments at a rally in South Carolina about allowing Russias military to attack NATO allies were outrageous, dangerous and unacceptable. History is literally watching, Biden said. If the United States walks away, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe is at risk. The free world will be at risk, emboldening others to do what they wish, to do us harm. Biden said that what makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time. The president promised to seek the restoration of reproductive rights speaking to a chamber full of Democratic women dressed in white, intended to show their support for such rights and with a heavy emphasis on an economic agenda he vowed to reduce health care costs, impose higher taxes on the wealthy and bring back an expanded child tax credit. Back-and forth over immigration Trump has made immigration a main theme of his campaign, and the Republican-led House earlier Thursday passed legislation named for a murdered college student from Georgia, Laken Riley, whose death has been tied by conservatives to White House immigration policies. As Biden walked down the House aisle before the speech, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who was wearing a t-shirt bearing Rileys name, attempted to hand Biden a button with Rileys name on it. And when Biden mentioned immigration during his remarks, Greene continued to interrupt the president. Bidens address to the joint session of Congress was part campaign speech, part legislative agenda and part victory lap on the laws enacted during his first term. But it was also significant because it was the largest audience he is likely to have to himself all year, both in person and watching on television. The speech marked an especially important moment for Bidens reelection bid after dozens of Republicans questioned his mental faculties following Special Counsel Robert Hurs report on classified documents, which said the president would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Biden will have dozens of opportunities to take the message in his State of the Union speech directly to voters in the months ahead, beginning with a visit to the Philadelphia area on Friday and a trip to Atlanta on Saturday. On foreign policy, Biden used the address to call for the protection of civilians in Gaza and for Hamas to release the hostages that militants have held since attacking Israel in October. He pressed Congress to approve aid for Ukraine and Israel as well as the bipartisan border security and immigration bill that senators negotiated earlier this year and that Republicans then dropped under pressure from Trump. FDR reference Biden began his speech referencing one that President Franklin Roosevelt gave in January 1941. President Roosevelts purpose was to wake up Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary time. Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world, Biden said. Tonight I come to the same chamber to address the nation. Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union, Biden added. And yes, my purpose tonight is to wake up this Congress, and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either. Biden assured lawmakers who think that Russian President Vladimir Putin will stop if he successfully overtakes Ukraine that he will not end his military campaign there. Biden criticized Trump and Republican lawmakers in statehouses throughout the country for restricting or banning access to abortion in the last two years after the Supreme Courts conservative justices overturned the constitutional right to end a pregnancy that had stood for nearly 50 years. My predecessor came into office determined to see Roe v. Wade overturned, Biden said. Hes the reason it was overturned and he brags about it. Look at the chaos that has resulted. Biden then called on voters to flip the U.S. House back to Democratic control while keeping the Senate blue during Novembers elections. Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America, Biden said. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again, Biden added. Popular policy issues Bidens address touched on many of the policy issues that Americans view as important areas for lawmakers to address, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. About 73% of Americans view the economy as a top policy priority for the Biden administration, followed by defending against terrorism at 63% and reducing the influence of money in politics at 62%. Reducing health care costs, improving education and making Social Security financially sound all tied at 60% in the poll. Dealing with immigration received 57% while reducing the availability of illegal drugs got 55% in the survey. Biden also called on Congress to pass a so-called Unity Agenda that includes issues he believes Republicans and Democrats can agree on. Those bills, he said, should increase penalties for people who traffic fentanyl, provide protections for children online, bolster artificial intelligence while protecting people from its peril and find new ways of treating cancer. Israel-Hamas war Biden also discussed the war in Gaza, saying that Hamas attack on Israel was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Biden added that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of whom are not Hamas. Israel has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population, like cowards under hospitals, daycare centers and all the like, Biden said. But Israel also has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. Biden said the United States would lead an effort to get more humanitarian assistance through a temporary pier installed off the coast, but he called on Israel to do its part and allow more aid into Gaza. To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Biden said. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time, Biden said. Democratic Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan held up small posters that called for an immediate ceasefire. Hours before the presidents address, pro-Palestinian activists blocked roads leading to the U.S. Capitol, according to media reports. Many activists have pushed for Biden to call for a permanent ceasefire, as Israels assault on Gaza since October. Voters across numerous primary states in this weeks Democratic 2024 Super Tuesday cast uncommitted ballots as a protest of Bidens continued support of Israels bombardment in Gaza. GOP response Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama delivered the traditional Republican response to Biden after he spoke, blasting his handling of immigration, the economy, crime and foreign policy, while questioning if the 81-year-old is up to the challenge of leading the country. The American people are scraping by while the President proudly proclaims Bidenomics is working, she said, seated at a kitchen table. Goodness, yall. Bless his heart. We know better. The post Biden warns freedom and democracy are under attack in fierce State of the Union address appeared first on Florida Phoenix. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on March 07, 2024 in Washington, D.C. This is Bidens last State of the Union address before the general election this coming November. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) WASHINGTON In remarks pivotal to his reelection this fall, President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address Thursday night portrayed himself as the defender of democracy, touted the bipartisan deals hes brokered during his first term in office and appealed to Congress to support Ukraine in its battle against the Russian invasion. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, Biden said. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a differently: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me. Without ever uttering his name, Biden rebuked likely Republican opponent Donald Trump by calling him a former president and said that Trumps recent comments at a rally in South Carolina about allowing Russias military to attack NATO allies were outrageous, dangerous and unacceptable. History is literally watching, Biden said. If the United States walks away, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe is at risk. The free world will be at risk, emboldening others to do what they wish, to do us harm. Biden said that what makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time. The president promised to seek the restoration of reproductive rights speaking to a chamber full of Democratic women dressed in white, intended to show their support for such rights and with a heavy emphasis on an economic agenda he vowed to reduce health care costs, impose higher taxes on the wealthy and bring back an expanded child tax credit. Back-and forth over immigration Trump has made immigration a main theme of his campaign, and the Republican-led House earlier Thursday passed legislation named for a murdered college student from Georgia, Laken Riley, whose death has been tied by conservatives to White House immigration policies. As Biden walked down the House aisle before the speech, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who was wearing a t-shirt bearing Rileys name, attempted to hand Biden a button with Rileys name on it. And when Biden mentioned immigration during his remarks, Greene continued to interrupt the president. Bidens address to the joint session of Congress was part campaign speech, part legislative agenda and part victory lap on the laws enacted during his first term. But it was also significant because it was the largest audience he is likely to have to himself all year, both in person and watching on television. The speech marked an especially important moment for Bidens reelection bid after dozens of Republicans questioned his mental faculties following Special Counsel Robert Hurs report on classified documents, which said the president would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Biden will have dozens of opportunities to take the message in his State of the Union speech directly to voters in the months ahead, beginning with a visit to the Philadelphia area on Friday and a trip to Atlanta on Saturday. On foreign policy, Biden used the address to call for the protection of civilians in Gaza and for Hamas to release the hostages that militants have held since attacking Israel in October. He pressed Congress to approve aid for Ukraine and Israel as well as the bipartisan border security and immigration bill that senators negotiated earlier this year and that Republicans then dropped under pressure from Trump. FDR reference Biden began his speech referencing one that President Franklin Roosevelt gave in January 1941. President Roosevelts purpose was to wake up Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary time. Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world, Biden said. Tonight I come to the same chamber to address the nation. Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union, Biden added. And yes, my purpose tonight is to wake up this Congress, and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either. Biden assured lawmakers who think that Russian President Vladimir Putin will stop if he successfully overtakes Ukraine that he will not end his military campaign there. Biden criticized Trump and Republican lawmakers in statehouses throughout the country for restricting or banning access to abortion in the last two years after the Supreme Courts conservative justices overturned the constitutional right to end a pregnancy that had stood for nearly 50 years. My predecessor came into office determined to see Roe v. Wade overturned, Biden said. Hes the reason it was overturned and he brags about it. Look at the chaos that has resulted. Biden then called on voters to flip the U.S. House back to Democratic control while keeping the Senate blue during Novembers elections. Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America, Biden said. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again, Biden added. Popular policy issues Bidens address touched on many of the policy issues that Americans view as important areas for lawmakers to address, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. About 73% of Americans view the economy as a top policy priority for the Biden administration, followed by defending against terrorism at 63% and reducing the influence of money in politics at 62%. Reducing health care costs, improving education and making Social Security financially sound all tied at 60% in the poll. Dealing with immigration received 57% while reducing the availability of illegal drugs got 55% in the survey. Biden also called on Congress to pass a so-called Unity Agenda that includes issues he believes Republicans and Democrats can agree on. Those bills, he said, should increase penalties for people who traffic fentanyl, provide protections for children online, bolster artificial intelligence while protecting people from its peril and find new ways of treating cancer. Israel-Hamas war Biden also discussed the war in Gaza, saying that Hamas attack on Israel was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Biden added that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of whom are not Hamas. Israel has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population, like cowards under hospitals, daycare centers and all the like, Biden said. But Israel also has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. Biden said the United States would lead an effort to get more humanitarian assistance through a temporary pier installed off the coast, but he called on Israel to do its part and allow more aid into Gaza. To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Biden said. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time, Biden said. Democratic Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan held up small posters that called for an immediate ceasefire. Hours before the presidents address, pro-Palestinian activists blocked roads leading to the U.S. Capitol, according to media reports. Many activists have pushed for Biden to call for a permanent ceasefire, as Israels assault on Gaza since October. Voters across numerous primary states in this weeks Democratic 2024 Super Tuesday cast uncommitted ballots as a protest of Bidens continued support of Israels bombardment in Gaza. GOP blowback Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama delivered the traditional Republican response to Biden after he spoke, blasting his handling of immigration, the economy, crime and foreign policy, while questioning if the 81-year-old is up to the challenge of leading the country. The American people are scraping by while the President proudly proclaims Bidenomics is working, she said, seated at a kitchen table. Goodness, yall. Bless his heart. We know better. Other Republicans, such as Greene, yelled at Biden to say her name during his speech, referring to Riley. Greene and Troy Nehls of Texas wore pins with Rileys name on their clothes. Greene also wore a shirt that read: Say Her Name, followed by Rileys name. The Say Her Name is a social movement spurred by intersectional feminist Kimberle Crenshaw that specifically raises awareness for Black women who are victims of police brutality and gender based violence. Biden expressed his condolences to Rileys family, saying he knew how it felt to lose a child, talking about his son, Beau, who died of cancer. After the outburst from Greene, Biden took another swipe at Trump. He called out how the former president has used dehumanizing language to describe migrants claiming asylum at the southern border. I will not demonize immigrants saying they are poisoning the blood of our country, Biden said. I will not separate families. I will not ban people because of their faith. House Republicans have repeatedly clashed with the Biden administration on its policies at the southern border, as the White House deals with the largest number of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in 20 years. That disagreement has continued to escalate, first with the walking back of a bipartisan border security deal that would have resulted in the overhaul of U.S. immigration law. It reached a crux with the recent impeachment of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in February. Since Republicans walked away from that immigration deal, Biden has pressed for them to reconsider it, so his administration can adequately address migration at the southern border. Unfortunately, politics has derailed this bill so far, Biden said. Im told my predecessor called members of Congress in the Senate to demand they block the bill. Republicans have argued that Biden can take executive action to address the border however, immigration law is set by Congress. So far, the Biden administration has taken 535 executive actions related to immigration compared to the 472 executive actions under the Trump administration, according to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute. Democrats celebrate Following the speech, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pumped his fists up and down and shouted, We are exhilarated. Sen. Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, said that the whole world is watching what the U.S. does. He also dismissed worries about Bidens age. Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia said he was pleased to hear Bidens support for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza, and wants to see humanitarian aid delivered quickly to the region. Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan said she felt optimistic after Bidens speech, especially how he touched upon conservation and climate initiatives. She said she believes hell be supportive of the Senates work on the delayed farm bill. Our farmers need it, our families need it and our rural communities need it, Stabenow, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, said. Louisianas GOP Rep. Garret Graves said he felt Bidens speech was more of a campaign speech rather than a sincere sort of message to the American people. This administration thought it was a good idea to double and triple down on stupid, Graves said, talking about some tax proposals Biden mentioned. The very policies that got us into this quandary that were in right now. The post UPDATED: Dems exhilarated by Bidens State of the Union, GOP skeptical, we know better appeared first on Daily Montanan. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Rome calls out as U.S. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on March 07, 2024 in Washington, DC. This is Bidens last State of the Union address before the general election this coming November. Win McNamee/Getty Images WASHINGTON In remarks pivotal to his reelection this fall, President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address Thursday night portrayed himself as the defender of democracy, touted the bipartisan deals hes brokered during his first term in office and appealed to Congress to support Ukraine in its battle against the Russian invasion. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, Biden said. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a differently: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me. Without ever uttering his name, Biden rebuked likely Republican opponent Donald Trump by calling him a former president and said that Trumps recent comments at a rally in South Carolina about allowing Russias military to attack NATO allies were outrageous, dangerous and unacceptable. History is literally watching, Biden said. If the United States walks away, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe is at risk. The free world will be at risk, emboldening others to do what they wish, to do us harm. Biden said that what makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time. The president promised to seek the restoration of reproductive rights speaking to a chamber full of Democratic women dressed in white, intended to show their support for such rights and with a heavy emphasis on an economic agenda he vowed to reduce health care costs, impose higher taxes on the wealthy and bring back an expanded child tax credit. Back-and forth over immigration Trump has made immigration a main theme of his campaign, and the Republican-led House earlier Thursday passed legislation named for a college student killed on the campus of the University of Georgia, Laken Riley, whose death has been tied by conservatives to White House immigration policies. As Biden walked down the House aisle before the speech, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Rome, Georgia, who was wearing a t-shirt bearing Rileys name, attempted to hand Biden a button with Rileys name on it. And when Biden mentioned immigration during his remarks, Greene continued to interrupt the president. Georgia Congressman Mike Collins said on social media that he had invited the parents of Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed while jogging on the University of Georgias campus. A man who entered the country illegally in 2022 has been charged with murder. Her parents declined, so Collins said the seat reserved for his guest will remain vacant to honor Laken and all American victims of illegal alien crime. Bidens address to the joint session of Congress was part campaign speech, part legislative agenda and part victory lap on the laws enacted during his first term. But it was also significant because it was the largest audience he is likely to have to himself all year, both in person and watching on television. The speech marked an especially important moment for Bidens reelection bid after dozens of Republicans questioned his mental faculties following Special Counsel Robert Hurs report on classified documents, which said the president would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Biden will have dozens of opportunities to take the message in his State of the Union speech directly to voters in the months ahead, beginning with a visit to the Philadelphia area on Friday and a trip to Atlanta on Saturday. On foreign policy, Biden used the address to call for the protection of civilians in Gaza and for Hamas to release the hostages that militants have held since attacking Israel in October. He pressed Congress to approve aid for Ukraine and Israel as well as the bipartisan border security and immigration bill that senators negotiated earlier this year and that Republicans then dropped under pressure from Trump. FDR reference Biden began his speech referencing one that President Franklin Roosevelt gave in January 1941. President Roosevelts purpose was to wake up Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary time. Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world, Biden said. Tonight I come to the same chamber to address the nation. Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union, Biden added. And yes, my purpose tonight is to wake up this Congress, and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either. Biden assured lawmakers who think that Russian President Vladimir Putin will stop if he successfully overtakes Ukraine that he will not end his military campaign there. Biden criticized Trump and Republican lawmakers in statehouses throughout the country for restricting or banning access to abortion in the last two years after the Supreme Courts conservative justices overturned the constitutional right to end a pregnancy that had stood for nearly 50 years. My predecessor came into office determined to see Roe v. Wade overturned, Biden said. Hes the reason it was overturned and he brags about it. Look at the chaos that has resulted. Biden then called on voters to flip the U.S. House back to Democratic control while keeping the Senate blue during Novembers elections. Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America, Biden said. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again, Biden added. Popular policy issues Bidens address touched on many of the policy issues that Americans view as important areas for lawmakers to address, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. About 73% of Americans view the economy as a top policy priority for the Biden administration, followed by defending against terrorism at 63% and reducing the influence of money in politics at 62%. Reducing health care costs, improving education and making Social Security financially sound all tied at 60% in the poll. Dealing with immigration received 57% while reducing the availability of illegal drugs got 55% in the survey. Biden also called on Congress to pass a so-called Unity Agenda that includes issues he believes Republicans and Democrats can agree on. Those bills, he said, should increase penalties for people who traffic fentanyl, provide protections for children online, bolster artificial intelligence while protecting people from its peril and find new ways of treating cancer. Israel-Hamas war Biden also discussed the war in Gaza, saying that Hamas attack on Israel was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Biden added that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of whom are not Hamas. Israel has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population, like cowards under hospitals, daycare centers and all the like, Biden said. But Israel also has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. Biden said the United States would lead an effort to get more humanitarian assistance through a temporary pier installed off the coast, but he called on Israel to do its part and allow more aid into Gaza. To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Biden said. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time, Biden said. Democratic Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan held up small posters that called for an immediate ceasefire. Hours before the presidents address, pro-Palestinian activists blocked roads leading to the U.S. Capitol, according to media reports. Many activists have pushed for Biden to call for a permanent ceasefire, as Israels assault on Gaza since October. Voters across numerous primary states in this weeks Democratic 2024 Super Tuesday cast uncommitted ballots as a protest of Bidens continued support of Israels bombardment in Gaza. GOP blowback Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama delivered the traditional Republican response to Biden after he spoke, blasting his handling of immigration, the economy, crime and foreign policy, while questioning if the 81-year-old is up to the challenge of leading the country. The American people are scraping by while the President proudly proclaims Bidenomics is working, she said, seated at a kitchen table. Goodness, yall. Bless his heart. We know better. Other Republicans, such as Greene, yelled at Biden to say her name during his speech, referring to Riley. Greene and Troy Nehls of Texas wore pins with Rileys name on their clothes. Greene also wore a shirt that read: Say Her Name, followed by Rileys name. The Say Her Name is a social movement spurred by intersectional feminist Kimberle Crenshaw that specifically raises awareness for Black women who are victims of police brutality and gender based violence. Biden expressed his condolences to Rileys family, saying he knew how it felt to lose a child, talking about his son, Beau, who died of cancer. After the outburst from Greene, Biden took another swipe at Trump. He called out how the former president has used dehumanizing language to describe migrants claiming asylum at the southern border. I will not demonize immigrants saying they are poisoning the blood of our country, Biden said. I will not separate families. I will not ban people because of their faith. House Republicans have repeatedly clashed with the Biden administration on its policies at the southern border, as the White House deals with the largest number of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in 20 years. That disagreement has continued to escalate, first with the walking back of a bipartisan border security deal that would have resulted in the overhaul of U.S. immigration law. It reached a crux with the recent impeachment of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in February. Since Republicans walked away from that immigration deal, Biden has pressed for them to reconsider it, so his administration can adequately address migration at the southern border. Unfortunately, politics has derailed this bill so far, Biden said. Im told my predecessor called members of Congress in the Senate to demand they block the bill. Republicans have argued that Biden can take executive action to address the border however, immigration law is set by Congress. So far, the Biden administration has taken 535 executive actions related to immigration compared to the 472 executive actions under the Trump administration, according to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute. Democrats celebrate Following the speech, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pumped his fists up and down and shouted, We are exhilarated. Sen. Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, said that the whole world is watching what the U.S. does. He also dismissed worries about Bidens age. Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia said he was pleased to hear Bidens support for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza, and wants to see humanitarian aid delivered quickly to the region. Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan said she felt optimistic after Bidens speech, especially how he touched upon conservation and climate initiatives. She said she believes hell be supportive of the Senates work on the delayed farm bill. Our farmers need it, our families need it and our rural communities need it, Stabenow, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, said. Louisianas GOP Rep. Garret Graves said he felt Bidens speech was more of a campaign speech rather than a sincere sort of message to the American people. This administration thought it was a good idea to double and triple down on stupid, Graves said, talking about some tax proposals Biden mentioned. The very policies that got us into this quandary that were in right now. Deputy Editor Jill Nolin contributed to this report. The post Biden warns freedom and democracy are under attack in fierce State of the Union address appeared first on Georgia Recorder. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on March 7, 2024 in Washington, D.C. This is Bidens last State of the Union address before the general election this coming November. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) WASHINGTON In remarks pivotal to his reelection this fall, President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address Thursday night portrayed himself as the defender of democracy, touted the bipartisan deals hes brokered during his first term in office and appealed to Congress to support Ukraine in its battle against the Russian invasion. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, Biden said. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a differently: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me. Without ever uttering his name, Biden rebuked likely Republican opponent Donald Trump by calling him a former president and said that Trumps recent comments at a rally in South Carolina about allowing Russias military to attack NATO allies were outrageous, dangerous and unacceptable. History is literally watching, Biden said. If the United States walks away, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe is at risk. The free world will be at risk, emboldening others to do what they wish, to do us harm. Biden said that what makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time. The president promised to seek the restoration of reproductive rights speaking to a chamber full of Democratic women dressed in white, intended to show their support for such rights and with a heavy emphasis on an economic agenda he vowed to reduce health care costs, impose higher taxes on the wealthy and bring back an expanded child tax credit. Back-and forth over immigration Trump has made immigration a main theme of his campaign, and the Republican-led House earlier Thursday passed legislation named for a murdered college student from Georgia, Laken Riley, whose death has been tied by conservatives to White House immigration policies. As Biden walked down the House aisle before the speech, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who was wearing a t-shirt bearing Rileys name, attempted to hand Biden a button with Rileys name on it. And when Biden mentioned immigration during his remarks, Greene continued to interrupt the president. Bidens address to the joint session of Congress was part campaign speech, part legislative agenda and part victory lap on the laws enacted during his first term. But it was also significant because it was the largest audience he is likely to have to himself all year, both in person and watching on television. The speech marked an especially important moment for Bidens reelection bid after dozens of Republicans questioned his mental faculties following Special Counsel Robert Hurs report on classified documents, which said the president would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Biden will have dozens of opportunities to take the message in his State of the Union speech directly to voters in the months ahead, beginning with a visit to the Philadelphia area on Friday and a trip to Atlanta on Saturday. On foreign policy, Biden used the address to call for the protection of civilians in Gaza and for Hamas to release the hostages that militants have held since attacking Israel in October. He pressed Congress to approve aid for Ukraine and Israel as well as the bipartisan border security and immigration bill that senators negotiated earlier this year and that Republicans then dropped under pressure from Trump. FDR reference Biden began his speech referencing one that President Franklin Roosevelt gave in January 1941. President Roosevelts purpose was to wake up Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary time. Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world, Biden said. Tonight I come to the same chamber to address the nation. Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union, Biden added. And yes, my purpose tonight is to wake up this Congress, and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either. Biden assured lawmakers who think that Russian President Vladimir Putin will stop if he successfully overtakes Ukraine that he will not end his military campaign there. Biden criticized Trump and Republican lawmakers in statehouses throughout the country for restricting or banning access to abortion in the last two years after the Supreme Courts conservative justices overturned the constitutional right to end a pregnancy that had stood for nearly 50 years. My predecessor came into office determined to see Roe v. Wade overturned, Biden said. Hes the reason it was overturned and he brags about it. Look at the chaos that has resulted. Biden then called on voters to flip the U.S. House back to Democratic control while keeping the Senate blue during Novembers elections. Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America, Biden said. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again, Biden added. Popular policy issues Bidens address touched on many of the policy issues that Americans view as important areas for lawmakers to address, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. About 73% of Americans view the economy as a top policy priority for the Biden administration, followed by defending against terrorism at 63% and reducing the influence of money in politics at 62%. Reducing health care costs, improving education and making Social Security financially sound all tied at 60% in the poll. Dealing with immigration received 57% while reducing the availability of illegal drugs got 55% in the survey. Biden also called on Congress to pass a so-called Unity Agenda that includes issues he believes Republicans and Democrats can agree on. Those bills, he said, should increase penalties for people who traffic fentanyl, provide protections for children online, bolster artificial intelligence while protecting people from its peril and find new ways of treating cancer. Israel-Hamas war Biden also discussed the war in Gaza, saying that Hamas attack on Israel was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Biden added that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of whom are not Hamas. Israel has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population, like cowards under hospitals, daycare centers and all the like, Biden said. But Israel also has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. Biden said the United States would lead an effort to get more humanitarian assistance through a temporary pier installed off the coast, but he called on Israel to do its part and allow more aid into Gaza. To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Biden said. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time, Biden said. Democratic Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan held up small posters that called for an immediate ceasefire. Hours before the presidents address, pro-Palestinian activists blocked roads leading to the U.S. Capitol, according to media reports. Many activists have pushed for Biden to call for a permanent ceasefire, as Israels assault on Gaza since October. Voters across numerous primary states in this weeks Democratic 2024 Super Tuesday cast uncommitted ballots as a protest of Bidens continued support of Israels bombardment in Gaza. GOP response Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama delivered the traditional Republican response to Biden after he spoke, blasting his handling of immigration, the economy, crime and foreign policy, while questioning if the 81-year-old is up to the challenge of leading the country. The American people are scraping by while the President proudly proclaims Bidenomics is working, she said, seated at a kitchen table. Goodness, yall. Bless his heart. We know better. The post Biden warns freedom and democracy are under attack in fierce State of the Union address appeared first on Arkansas Advocate. CAIRO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Hend Al-Shalqani, manager of the Researches and Studies Department at the Arab Women Organization affiliated with the Arab League, expressed concerns about the dire situation faced by women in the war-torn Gaza Strip on Friday, the International Women's Day. "Women in Gaza experience extreme tragic conditions. Sounds of armed conflicts and their gloomy impacts on women and children are heard in the Arab region," she said during an interview in the Egyptian capital Cairo. Al-Shalqani emphasized the plight of women in the Gaza Strip, who have been living in horrors of killings, displacement, and starvation since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in October last year. She also highlighted the shortages of necessities such as food, water, and medicine, saying that women in Gaza now face an increasing threat of death. In a press release issued on March 1, UN Women estimates that 9,000 women have been reportedly killed by Israeli forces since the conflict erupted five months ago. However, the figure is likely to be higher, as many more women are believed to be dead under the rubble. Al-Shalqani added that the dire conditions faced by women are not confined to Gaza but are also expanding to encompass the West Bank and Jerusalem, where instances of abuse and raids are reported. According to her, the Arab Women Organization was among the first bodies to promptly communicate with international agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations Human Rights Council, and other UN agencies to urge a halt to the Israeli "aggression", facilitate the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid and prevent the collective punishment, killings, and forced displacement of Palestinians. The official underscored the importance of collective efforts by the international community to address the current challenges faced by women affected by armed conflicts. Al-Shalqani also highlighted the disastrous conditions in Sudan, where nearly eight million people are internally and externally displaced, and a similar situation in unstable Yemen, where women are also enduring significant hardships. She cautioned that women are among the most affected groups by conflicts and displacement, noting that they often face egregious violations during these crises and the rise of negative phenomena such as early marriages and the lack of education. President Joe Biden had barely started giving his State of the Union address from the House of Representatives rostrum when he laid into his predecessor and likely 2024 election opponent, former president Donald Trump, for threatening to allow Russia to run roughshod over the democracies of the West while simultaneously castigating the Republican-led Congress for failing to authorise more defence aid to Ukraine. Invoking Franklin Delano Roosevelts speech in 1941 warning of Hitlers armies being on the march in Europe, Mr Biden said hed come to the same chamber to tell the nation that it is facing an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union and to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment. What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time overseas, Putin of Russia is on the march, invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond, he said. If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not. But Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself. Mr Bidens denunciation of Mr Trump and the GOP for refusing to support Ukraines fight against Russia was just an opening salvo in what became a full-throated defence of his administrations policies and repeated exhortations to the assembled legislators to take up bipartisan legislation that has been blocked at Mr Trumps behest. In a fiery address he challenged his opponents over the border, womens health and Republicans efforts to rewrite history over the January 6 riot. The president stressed that Ukraine isnt asking for Americans to give their lives overseas, and said he is working to keep American soldiers from having to fight there. But he warned that funding for Ukraine is being blocked by those who want us to walk away from our leadership in the world, referring to Republicans who oppose aid to Kyiv because it would be a political win for the president. Preisdent Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden arrive ahead of his State of the Union address (REUTERS) Recalling how the late Republican president Ronald Reagan had told then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall in a moment of global leadership, Mr Biden called out Mr Trump without saying his name, referring to the disgraced ex-presidents recent promise to allow Russia to attack any Nato member that doesnt, in his view, spend enough on defence. Now, my predecessor, a former Republican President, tells Putin, Do whatever the hell you want a former American President actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader, he said, Its outrageous. Its dangerous. Its unacceptable, he added. The presidents condemnation of Mr Trump came on the same day that Sweden ended centuries of neutrality by joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance. Biden gestures as he leaves the White House (AFP via Getty Images) With Swedens prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, looking on, Mr Biden recalled how America was one of the alliances founding members when it was formed after the Second World War to prevent war and keep the peace. Mr Prime Minister, welcome to Nato, the strongest military alliance the world has ever known, he said. Turning back to the House and Senate members looking on, he called on them to pass the bipartisan national security supplemental funding bill that would provide defence aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and needed humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip. History is watching if the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk, Europe at risk, the free world at risk, emboldening others who wish to do us harm, he said. Over and over again, the president called out Mr Trump calling him my predecessor and laid out the stark contrasts between his own policies and those favoured by the Republicans. After calling them out over Mr Trumps coziness with Mr Putin and calling the Russian leader a threat to the US from abroad, he immediately pivoted to describing threats to American democracy from within. He said history is watching what Congress does on the foreign aid supplemental, and noted that the eyes of history were similarly watching during the January 6 attack on the Capitol, describing the attack as one committed by insurrectionists whod stormed this very Capitol and placed a dagger at the throat of American democracy. Continuing, the president warned that the January 6 attack, continued lies about the conduct of the 2020 election, and the attempt by Mr Trump and his allies to block the transfer of power nearly four years ago had posed the gravest threat to our democracy since the Civil War. As Republicans booed, he said the insurrectionists had failed while America had stood strong as democracy had prevailed. Yet Mr Biden also cautioned that Americans must still be honest about the continuing threat to democracy, and again called out Mr Trump. My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth of January 6th. I will not do that, he said. This is a moment to speak the truth and bury the lies. And heres the simplest truth. You cant love your country only when you win, he said. He called on the Republicans there to remember their oaths of office, to defend against all threats foreign and domestic. Respect free and fair elections! Restore trust in our institutions! And make clear political violence has absolutely no place in America, he said. Mr Bidens State of the Union speech, his third address to a joint session of Congress, started after he made his way through the House chamber while being greeted by throngs of members from both parties, including Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who handed him a button bearing the name of Laiken Riley, the University of Georgia student who was murdered, allegedly by an undocumented immigrant. Marjorie Taylor Greene tries to hand a button bearing the name of Laiken Riley to Biden (AFP via Getty Images) When he finally reached the House rostrum, Speaker Mike Johnson did not tell the members he had the traditional high honour and distinct privilege of presenting the president to them before Mr Biden started his speech. And Mr Biden appeared to dispense with the detachment with which his predecessors have delivered their annual remarks to Congress, instead taking a more aggressive tone as he sometimes addressed people who were present in the chamber. At one point, as he vowed to sign legislation codifying federal abortion rights into law after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, Mr Biden spoke directly to the Supreme Court justices when speaking of the electoral power of American women. As three of the justices whod signed on to the opinion stripping women of their right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy looked on, Mr Biden said: With all due respect justices, women are not without electoral or political power. He then reminded viewers that Mr Trump, who appointed three of the justices whod overturned Roe to the high court, continues to boast about his role in the decision, and said anyone who would brag about such a thing had no clue about the power of women. If you, the American people, send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you I will restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land again, he said. Contrasting his view with Mr Trump and Republicans, he reminded them that they have promised to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom. He asked: My God, what freedoms will you take away next? Over and over again, the 46th president invoked the 45th as Republicans booed, hissed, and in some cases blatantly interrupted him, giving him a chance to react in real time. When the topic turned to immigration, the president pointed out that a majority of House members and Senators support the bipartisan immigration reform and border security bill fashioned by Senate negotiators but rejected by GOP senators on orders from Mr Trump. The Border Patrol Union endorsed the bill. The Chamber of Commerce endorsed the bill. I believe that given the opportunity a majority of the House and Senate would endorse it as well, but unfortunately, politics have derailed it so far, he said. Im told my predecessor called Republicans in Congress and demanded they block the bill. He feels it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him, he added. At that point, Ms Greene, the Georgia congresswoman with a history of outbursts during Mr Bidens annual speeches, began screaming about the slain Georgia student, Laiken Riley. Biden speaks in front of Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (AFP via Getty Images) Mr Biden paused, removed the button shed given him and held it up for the cameras as he described Riley as an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. To her parents, I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself. I understand, he said. He then called out Republicans once more for blocking the bipartisan bill, and for the second time in as many weeks, he invited Mr Trump to work with him by telling his allies in Congress to pass it. All told, Mr Biden invoked Mr Trump as my predecessor a full 12 times during his speech, the first time any president has spoken of his re-election opponent since then-president Bill Clinton addressed his future opponent, then-Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole of Kansas, during his 1996 State of the Union speech. At the time, Mr Clinton brought up Doles service in the Second World War, drawing attention to the Kansan veterans age. Mr Biden, the oldest president ever to serve, did the same towards the end of his remarks when he obliquely referred to Mr Trump as some other people my age and contrasted the ex-presidents view of Americas story as one of resentment, revenge, and retribution. with his view of a future based on the core values that have defined America: Honesty, decency, dignity, equality. Bidens speech was his last State of the Union address before the 5 November 2024 presidential election (AP) He quipped that in his long career, hed been told he was both too young and too old at times, with the latter categorisation being a nod to those critics who say he is now too old to serve effectively. Mr Trump and his allies have sought to portray the 46th president as an elderly, declining and bumbling figure who is too cognitively impaired to function. But as Mr Biden left the House chamber to thunderous applause, one Democratic member New York Representative Jerry Nadler said that strategy may no longer work for the ex-president. As Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar told Mr Biden hed been on fire, Mr Nadler interjected. No one will be talking about cognitive impairment now, he said. WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 7: U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) shouts at President Joe Biden as he delivers the State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the Capital building on March 7, 2024 in Washington, DC. This is Biden's final address before the November general election. (Photo by Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images) Speaker Mike Johnson urged his raucous conference to stay well-behaved during Thursdays State of the Union. But President Joe Biden didnt even make it to the dais before his first tense run-in with a House conservative. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), sporting a red Make America Great Again hat and a red blazer, approached the president as he walked into the chamber for the address seeking to hand him a button paying homage to Laken Riley, a 22-year-old college student who was allegedly murdered by an undocumented immigrant in Georgia last month. Republicans have used the killing as a cudgel against the presidents immigration policies, with several donning buttons bearing her name. Greene held up her phone to record their exchange on the House floor. She told Biden: Laken Riley. He brushed off the encounter, telling the firebrand Georgian that I know how to say the name, in a video she later posted on X. She might not have expected that the president, in an unscripted departure from his remarks, would hold up that Laken Riley button in the middle of his speech. As Greene heckled him from the floor, Biden said that Riley was killed by an illegal, a politically charged term particularly when used as a noun without the word "immigrant." "I was just shocked at how insincere he was, and he didn't even pronounce Laken Riley's name correct," Greene said after the speech. "He said 'Lincoln.' And he just didn't care." Some progressives who have chafed at Bidens pivot to the center on immigration, including Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), also made their disappointment with the moment clear: That was wrong. No human being is illegal, and even if we get flustered we should just never use those words, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) told POLITICO. Though he did say Riley's name, Bidens remarks on the border Thursday night drew the most sustained heckling and a rain of boos from a broad swath of Republicans. Beyond Greene, several GOP lawmakers told Biden to say her name or yelling H.R. 2, the identifier of their sweeping proposal for stricter border policies. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) briefly stood holding a sign that read Rileys name. Earlier in the speech, when Biden criticized his predecessor Donald Trumps record, one House Republican in the back corner of the chamber shouted: "Lies." Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) said later that he had interrupted the speech by yelling about lies: What he said there in the State of the Union a tremendous amount of it was just flat-out fabrication, Van Orden told reporters. Greene added a heckle of her own as Biden discussed tax policy, referring to the president's son as she yelled: Tell Hunter to pay his taxes. As Greene ramped up her outburst during the speechs second half, her fellow Republicans were overheard trying to shush her. Then there was the silent pushback of Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas), who stood in the back of the chamber throughout Bidens speech, towering above his seated colleagues, wearing a shirt with Trumps face on it alongside the words: Never surrender. Some Republicans decided to cut out of the speech altogether. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) said he quietly left early, telling POLITICO he didnt want to listen to the president get up there and spout lies. Thanks to the House GOPs leadership chaos last year and Democrats' loss of the majority in 2022, Biden has spoken alongside a different speaker during each of his past three State of the Unions. Throughout the remarks, Johnson oscillated between silent smirking or nodding and pointed decisions about whether to applaud in reaction to Biden. When Biden slammed the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, the speaker declined to clap with Democrats. Despite the bitter blowback during the border portion of Biden's remarks, his speech didn't entirely lack for bipartisan moments. The president's remarks on Ukraine earned a bipartisan standing ovation from Republicans, even as proposals to give new money to Kyiv have sharply divided House Republicans. While no lawmakers on the left jeered Biden, some still used the speech to telegraph their discontent with his Israel policy. Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), all outspoken critics of Israels war in Gaza, wore keffiyehs, the traditional Palestinian scarf. Reps. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) and Greg Casar (D-Texas) were among progressive lawmakers wearing a ceasefire pin calling for a cessation of hostilities in the Israel-Hamas war. Tlaib noticeably did not stand and applaud along with other Democrats when Biden said Hamas could end the conflict. And she and Bush held up signs saying lasting ceasefire now as the president spoke. Ursula Perano contributed. Artist's illustration of a silver and gold spacecraft in earth orbit, with the blackness of space in the background. There is some interesting residual fallout from the recent nosedive to Earth of the European Remote Sensing satellite, or ERS-2. Following its launch in April 1995, ERS-2 studied our planet for nearly 16 years. Then, in 2011, the European Space Agency (ESA) decided to bring the radar-toting spacecraft's mission to an end. The agency commanded a series of deorbit maneuvers, which lowered the satellite's average altitude and mitigated the risk of collision with other satellites or space debris . The spacecraft was also "passivated" to reduce the risk of fragmentation. Passivation involves getting rid of internally stored energy, like venting unused propellant and de-charging batteries (which, if left charged, could cause a detonation). "No intervention can be made from the ground, so ERS-2 will return entirely naturally now a common occurrence as on average one spacecraft reenters Earth's atmosphere per month," an ESA pre-fall statement explained. The term "return entirely naturally," however, is arguably a user-friendly substitute for "uncontrolled." Related: The biggest spacecraft to fall uncontrolled from space Following the fall ESA's Space Debris Office predicted that the reentry of ERS-2 would take place on Feb. 21 at 10:41 a.m. EST (1541 GMT). In reality, the craft made its plunge some two hours later, reentering the atmosphere over the North Pacific Ocean. The European Space Operations Center (ESOC), home for engineering teams that control spacecraft in orbit, did note that the earlier prediction came with a plus or minus value of 1.44 hours. Still, in the uncontrolled space debris business, minutes indeed, even seconds count. They can be the difference between a hunk of space junk falling into isolated ocean waters or crashing down within a populated area. In fact, it's likely that parts of the 2.5-ton ERS-2 did survive the fiery reentry. On average, between 10% and 20% of larger objects' mass makes it through the atmosphere and hits the ground or water, said Simona-Elena Nichiteanu, an ESOC media relations officer. Before the fall of ERS-2, Nichiteanu told Space.com that the biggest and heaviest scraps that might survive relatively intact are four spacecraft tanks, a trio of internal panels supporting spacecraft instruments and the antenna structure for the satellite's Synthetic Aperture Radar antenna, potentially the largest piece, assuming that it did not break apart. But we'll likely never know how much of the bus-sized ERS-2 survived, given the reentry locale. "No damage to property has been reported," an ESA statement explained following the fall of ERS-2. Related: Big, doomed satellite seen from space as it tumbled toward a fiery reentry on Feb. 21 (photos) diagram showing maneuvers of a satellite above earth to lower its altitude and hasten its descent. Willy-nilly satellite falls But the willy-nilly nature of an out-of-control satellite fall is cause for the willies. That's the view of Ewan Wright, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of British Columbia and junior fellow of the Outer Space Institute. He is actively focused on the sustainability of the outer space environment. In the future, Wright told Space.com, all large satellites should do controlled reentries. "Operators should control them to reenter over the oceans, away from people, aircraft and ships," said Wright. "ERS-2 reentered in the North Pacific. If it had reentered half an hour earlier, it could have hit Europe or Africa," he said. And the North Pacific sees air traffic traveling between Asia and North America, and to Hawaii, Wright pointed out. "Luckily, aircraft weren't impacted this time," he said. "Even if aircraft aren't hit by space debris, the uncertainty can cause airspace closures and route diversions, costing airlines and passengers money." There's ship traffic to worry about, too and not just in the final reentry zone, given how fast orbiting objects move. Pieces of broken-apart satellites can conceivably come down over a wide stretch of the objects' reentry trajectory. Indeed, there was a reported ERS-2 debris-related warning to a Princess Cruises ship carrying 2,200 passengers, according to cruiseradio.net. The ship, Island Princess, was notified by a coordinated message from ESA and the National Hydrographic Office that ERS-2 odds and ends might fall into the area the pleasure boat was set to cross, en route to Port Luis, Mauritius. The Island Princess steered clear of the area, taking a different course. For Wright, the bottom line is this: "We shouldn't be relying on luck to mitigate casualty risks. Instead of rolling the dice, operators should use controlled reentries, directing satellites to reenter away from people and aircraft." Global standard Darren McKnight is a senior technical fellow for LeoLabs, a commercial provider of space domain awareness services and low Earth orbit mapping based in Menlo Park, California. McKnight said that the probability of casualties on the ground from a single reentry is small. However, the aggregate risk grows over time. "It is not a question of 'if' but rather 'when' a derelict object will survive to Earth's surface and result in significant damage, a fatality or injury," McKnight told Space.com. And when that fateful day arrives, there will be an uproar regarding uncontrolled satellite reentries, McKnight said. The "global standard" is the 25-year rule that is, get each satellite out of orbit within 25 years of the end of its mission, he added. "But the U.S. is the only one that requires operators to minimize the casualty risk to people on the ground from reentry," said McKnight. "This will evolve just as the 25-year rule is evolving to a five-year rule, one that is only required by the Federal Communications Commission at this point." diagram showing pieces of a reentering satellite falling to earth in different places. Old rules On the other hand, we will have decades of reentries based upon the old rules, McKnight said. Further, most of the derelict mass in orbit right now, he said, consists of objects that launched in the 1980s and 1990s, when there were no mitigation rules at all. The slower that regulations evolve, the more complicated it will be to determine their benefits, since there is a mix of hardware in orbit, McKnight said. "I also think that it is interesting that, as regulation has been leaning to push operators to design the spacecraft for demise and insure they disintegrate upon reentry, some folks are now getting concerned about the contamination of the atmosphere from space launch effluents and disintegrating spacecraft reentering," McKnight noted. That situation is getting more and more complicated as the amount of material grows and grows, according to McKnight. "Nobody is going to be happy!" he said. Hot topic RELATED STORIES: 2 big pieces of space junk nearly collide in orbital 'bad neighborhood' European satellite falls to Earth in landmark 'assisted reentry' The Kessler Syndrome and the space debris problem Dead-satellite falls like that of ERS-2 happen quite regularly, said Leonard Schulz, a researcher at the Technische Universitat Braunschweig's Institute of Geophysics and Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany. Such reentries will only increase in the future, Schulz told Space.com, due to the growing number of objects brought into low Earth orbit. Furthermore, there's a need to consider the effects on the atmosphere from spacecraft reentry , a hot topic that ESA is also evaluating. "Today, we are lacking information on many aspects when it comes to materials released and subsequent effects on the atmosphere," said Schulz. Satellite reentries are a good opportunity to gather data with measurement campaigns, Schulz advised. However, uncontrolled reentries like that of ERS-2 are extremely difficult to observe, he said, as the uncertainty level of where the satellite actually reenters is so high. "But controlled reentries provide great measurement opportunities," Schulz concluded, "which should be a focus in the future!" After formidable primary challenges took down two long-serving legislative Democrats this week, party activists backing the challenges touted the results and said other moderate Democrats should take note and listen to their dissatisfied constituents. But two House Democrats, both of whom faced primary opponents as well, said the defeats of Rep. Michael Wray and Sen. Mike Woodard were nothing to celebrate, and could become something Democrats come to regret in the future. Rep. Cecil Brockman, who appeared to narrowly survive a tough primary challenge, and Rep. Shelly Willingham, who handily won against an opponent who posed less of a threat, told The News & Observer that Democrats were losing valuable members in Wray and Woodard who had proven records of delivering for their districts during Republican control of the legislature. Brockman said he believed Wrays defeat was meant to send a message to himself and other Democrats who have drawn scrutiny within the party for voting with Republicans on certain bills. But he said he wasnt fazed by the warning to fall in line, and would continue to vote for legislation that he thinks is best for his district, as his constituents expect him to. Willingham said his approach would remain the same as well: district first. It boils down to the fact that people just cannot live with the fact that theres disagreements (between) us, Brockman said in an interview. But Im sorry, youre going to have to live with the fact that you may have disagreements with me, youre not going to scare me; Im not scared over these results. Dozens of votes the difference in two key races With all precincts reporting, Brockman appears to have defeated James Adams, a former president of the High Point NAACP, by just 83 votes. Wray appears to have lost to social studies teacher Rodney Pierce by an even narrower margin of 42 votes. These are unofficial results, and wont be certified until any eligible provisional ballots that were cast are counted. Pierce, who is also the plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging a new GOP-drawn electoral map, said in an interview that he had the edge in his race because his campaign focused on highlighting Wrays voting record and showing his constituents that it wasnt beneficial to them. The whole campaign was about facts, evidence, data, just letting the people decide who they felt would be their best representative, Pierce said. One of the things that we said was that the rhetoric, his rhetoric didnt match his record, you cannot vote with Republicans 85% of the time in some sessions and continue to call yourself and campaign as a Democrat, he said. As for whether he would ever consider working with the majority, Pierce said: Im not going to compromise for a short-term gain for a long-term loss. Wray did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The News & Observer. Adams, meanwhile, said in a statement on Tuesday night that Brockmans constituents had sent a clear message that they were unhappy with his performance. Brockman said he was proud to have won by running a 100% positive campaign in the face of several attacks, including the unfounded claim he said he heard while on the campaign trail, that he would switch parties after the election. Brockman said he vowed to his constituents that while I represent you I will always remain a Democrat. Why would I switch parties, I represent more Democrats than those who came after me, Brockman said in a statement. The extreme left will have to learn that Democrats only win in NC being a big tent. They are not the only people in this party, they are not the majority of this party. And they are going to have to learn to deal with that. Last year, amid speculation that other Democrats could follow Rep. Tricia Cothams decision to switch parties and join the GOP, Brockman told The N&O he was a lifelong Democrat and was committed to staying in the party and helping Democrats win more elections. North Carolina state Reps. Garland Pierce, left, and Cecil Brockman, right, listen to debate as lawmakers prepare to hold the first of several votes on the budget at the General Assembly in Raleigh, N.C. on Sept. 21, 2023. Purity tests will be the death of my party Defending Wray on social media this week, Brockman said that the 10-term Democrat from Northampton County had given more money to the House Democratic Caucus to help elect other Democrats than anyone else, and that Tuesdays results were no victory. Mark my words, purity tests will be the death of my party, Brockman wrote. House Minority Leader Robert Reives told The N&O other Democrats over the years had given more to the caucus than Wray had, but said he appreciated Wrays contributions. Campaign finance records show that Wray has donated tens of thousands of dollars to House Democrats in recent election cycles. In the third quarter of 2020 alone, Wray gave the caucus $50,000 from his campaign committee. These races arent won off of hopes and dreams, Reives said, adding that giving back to the caucus is what is expected of every member, and that other Democrats in heavily blue districts often make six-figure contributions to help candidates in tougher races. Brockman also said he believed the more serious primary challenges he and Wray faced, which were supported by the Young Democrats of North Carolina and other party-affiliated groups, wouldnt have happened without the blessing of top party leaders. They dont do this without direction directly from the top, that doesnt happen, Brockman said. They were too scared to try and put their fingers on it, and they tried to let the Young Democrats take the lead. But anybody who knows anything about politics knows that this came 100% from the top. Reives said the House Democratic Caucus had nothing to do with any primary challenges, and noted that lawmakers face primary opponents every cycle. The caucus never gets involved, he said. In a statement, the Young Democrats said they challenged party defectors like Brockman and Wray because it was abundantly clear that they were out of step with their communitys values and their community sought a change. We made a commitment to hold them accountable. Representative Brockman is free to speculate about how wide-spanning the disapproval of him is within our party, spokesperson Garrett Readling said. We look forward to going all in for all of our Democrats in November Rep. Brockman included. We hope to see the same from him. Rep. Shelly Willingham and his granddaughter Chandler Hinton, 11, look over forms before the opening session of the N.C. House of Representatives Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. Willingham, who has represented Rocky Mount in the House since 2015, said in an interview that it is unfortunate that the party sees some of these members as ones who are not supporting the whole idea of the party platform because of their work across party lines. Brockman, Wray, Willingham, and two other House Democrats, Reps. Garland Pierce and Carla Cunningham, drew the ire of the Young Democrats last year after they joined Republicans in voting for the GOP budget. Willingham also joined House Speaker Tim Moore and two other Republicans in co-sponsoring an anti-rioting bill that Gov. Roy Cooper didnt veto, allowing it to become law without his signature. The $30 billion budget included a slew of Republican policies that most Democrats strongly opposed, like the approval of universal school choice and accelerated tax cuts, as well as anti-transparency provisions that drew alarm from open government advocates. But Democrats who voted for it said the budget included tens of millions of dollars needed to improve infrastructure and fund services in their poor, rural districts. I think the party should really be supporting us because nothing would happen in many cases if we dont have people who are willing to talk to folks on the other side of the line, Willingham said. He said that he would continue to work with anyone who is doing something or proposing things that will benefit my district. My district comes first. And thats first even before the party label, he said. Working with Republicans, bringing money home Other Democrats who have worked with the GOP who faced challengers on Tuesday included Cunningham, who has served in the House since 2013; Woodard, who has served in the Senate since 2013; and Sen. Paul Lowe of Winston-Salem, who has served in the Senate since 2015. Cunningham and Lowe beat their challengers by comfortable margins, but Woodard lost by 15 percentage points to Sophia Chitlik, a former organizer for the Obama campaign. It was the first time in a decade that Woodard had faced a challenger. He faced criticism for voting to override Coopers veto three times last year for relatively noncontroversial bills about sales tax and changes to the Consumer Finance Act, as previously reported by The N&O. Woodard previously told The N&O that in a GOP-controlled legislature, minority party members need to work with the majority. The N&O could not reach Woodard for comment on this article. For Willingham, the people went after Mike. He had a lot of organized groups working against him, he said, and I think that they are going to regret what they did because he did a lot for that district in bringing resources. And of course, the person going in new, theyre (a) freshman, they will have no influence at all. Willingham said he and Woodard did not support a whole lot of Republican things but there were certain things that were beneficial to our districts. He said that through the state budget, they were able to negotiate for their constituents. Senator Mike Woodard speaks on the Senate floor on Thursday, August 26, 2021 in Raleigh, N.C. In 2023, he faced his first primary challenger since being elected to represent Durham over a decade ago. Under the budget, Durham County will receive over $62 million for the next two years in special projects and programs, The N&O previously reported. The more powerful a lawmaker is in a district, the more money they are generally able to pull in for their constituents. Brockmans district, which covers High Point, is expected to receive $29 million, while the counties Wray represents, Halifax, Warren, and Northampton, will get a combined $66 million. Willinghams district encompasses Bertie, Edgecombe and Martin counties. Cumulatively, these three will receive just over $50 million for the next two years. I hope our party, the Democratic Party, considering its in the minority, can start looking at how we can work with the other side to get things done. Because if we dont, then were gonna get further and further behind at what were trying to accomplish, he said. Chitlik said Woodard has a long track record of service in our community and he has many people in our community who love and respect him and including many of the people who voted for me. Instead of focusing on whether Woodard lost due to working with the GOP, Chitlik said she thinks voters were ready for new energy and new vision. I think Durham is an incredibly vibrant and progressive community that stands with Gov. Cooper and his progressive agenda for our state. She said was excited to make our state Senate more representative of our community and our population here in North Carolina at large. We have very few women, and very, very few women with young children serving in our state Senate and its absolutely critical to the future of the policies that matter to caregivers to have more working parents in office. Lowe said his situation is different from some of the other Democrats who faced challengers because while he has supported some GOP legislation, he never voted to override the Democratic governors veto. As for Democratic incumbents being challenged, Lowe said: Thats a part of democracy. Thats democracy in action. Everyone has the right to run. As the clock ticks down toward Sundays official closing day of the 83rd Annual Bike Week in Daytona Beach, theres still time to experience some of the events must-do activities: One of Bike Weeks most popular rituals will unfold on Friday when the annual Burning Bike ceremony returns to the Fastlane Campground at the Volusia County Fairgrounds in DeLand. The event revolves around a 75-foot handmade wooden motorcycle adorned with messages to departed loved ones to be sent skyward when the bike is ceremoniously burned. This year's burn party is slated for 5 p.m., Friday. A rider rolls past the palms that line the twisting High Bridge Road along the scenic Ormond Loop on Thursday as Bike Week rolls toward its closing weekend in Daytona Beach. Its free for campground residents, $10 at the gate for others. At Daytona International Speedway, the Daytona 200, hosted by MotoAmerica, will unfold starting at 1:10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It features the high-powered machines on both the Speedways famed high banks as well as the infield road course. For ticket information, visit daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Of course, theres also time for more people-watching on Main Street or a relaxing trek along the scenic Ormond Loop. Whats the weather for closing weekend? Heres the latest daily extended forecast, updated on Friday, from the National Weather Service in Melbourne. Whats the Bike Week weather forecast for Daytona Beach? Its going to get hot, but then its going to cool down a bit. Near record high temperatures are forecast Saturday with highs reaching the mid to upper 80s and heat indices in the lower 90s, according to a hazardous weather advisory issued on Friday by the NWS for East Central Florida, including Daytona Beach. In case you missed it: How big are Daytona Bike Week crowds compared to other U.S. motorcycle rallies? More: Women bikers at Daytona Bike Week talk about what riding means to them More: Inked up for Bike Week: A sea of tattoos greet visitors along Daytona's Main Street A stronger cold front is expected to move through the area on Sunday, accompanied by a slight chance for thunderstorms. Heres the daily extended forecast: Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77 and nighttime low around 67. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85 and nighttime low around 65. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms at night, mainly after 1 a.m. Sunday: A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 75 and nighttime low around 52. West wind around 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Daytona Beach weather radar This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Bike Week weather forecast for closing weekend in Daytona Beach This article was originally published in West Virginia Watch. Public schools and universities would be required to display In God We Trust in every classroom, according to a bill that is advancing in the House of Delegates. While the legislation, Senate Bill 152, permits the motto plaques to be donated, it doesnt come with any funding meaning that, should it pass, cash-strapped schools and universities could be on the hook for paying for the signage. Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, said on Thursday during a House Judiciary Committee meeting that there could be potentially thousands or tens of thousands of classrooms in the state where the national motto must be shown. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter It brings into question whos going to pay for it and how much is it going to cost? he questioned. Potential cost for implementing the bill wasnt shared with committee members. According to the measure, In God We Trust would have to be displayed on a poster or in a frame along with the United States flag. It would have to be displayed in a conspicuous place. The Senates version of the legislation passed in January had required a motto plaque in every classroom, but the House Education Committee amended the bill so that it would just require the signage in a main building of the school. On Thursday, Del. Geoff Foster, R-Putnam, put forth an amendment in the House Judiciary Committee to change the bill back to the Senates intent requiring the signage in every classroom. Travis Mollahan, associate vice president of government relations at West Virginia University, told lawmakers that it would require the signage in more than 700 rooms on the universitys campuses. The university, which has faced a multi-million dollar budget shortfall, cut hundreds of faculty positions and must also pay to implement a campus carry bill passed last year by state lawmakers. Foster said WVU should be able to dip into its states appropriations to purchase the signage. I dont think its too much to ask without the [sign] size limitation that we have this posted in every classroom, he said. Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, raised concerns that requiring the signage in every classroom could violate the First Amendment. The bill has gone from the state mandating an area to the state mandating it into a physical classroom that students cant avoid, Fluharty said. Maybe we can have an amendment where members of this body can read the Constitution a lot more often because it just made this bill null in its effect. Foster pushed back on that, saying the countrys motto was already circulated through schools while kids learned about currency. The committee passed the bill onto the House floor for consideration. This is the second time the Senate has attempted to pass the bill through the House didnt take it up for a vote last year. Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, is lead sponsor of the measure. Del. David Kelly, R-Tyler, who approved the bill, cautioned lawmakers to be careful how far down this road we go in regards to pushing patriotism onto students. Its not what we have on our wall about God thats going to make a difference in anyones lives. Its how we live before them thats going to make a difference in their lives, he said. West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com. Follow West Virginia Watch on Facebook and Twitter. Real estate billionaire Jeff Greene sat in his oceanside mansion in Palm Beach on Thursday as President Biden unveiled a proposal to raise taxes on the ultra-richa central element of his State of the Union address. The plan would impose a 25 percent minimum income on anyone worth at least $100 million. Greene, with an estimated $7.5 billion net worth, would easily make the cut. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the real estate tycoon doesnt support Bidens proposal. I dont agree with the idea of just singling out people because of how much they have or dont have, he fumed to The Daily Beast. The progressive income tax, I understand, he continued, though he argued that tax rates in some parts of the country have already grown out of control. You have to leave incentives for people who are the ones who are going to create the jobs for all those people trying to climb the ladder. Greene also contended that wealth can be difficult to measure. Some billionaires, like Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos, have net worths composed mostly of publicly traded stock, which is easy to value. In his worldreal estatethat kind of analysis is often subjective. People speculate about my net worth. I dont think I can tell you what my net worth is. I have a bunch of assets that are artwork and real estate, he said. I mean, do I know every day what its worth? Biden Brutally Goes After Trump During State of the UnionJust Not by Name Grocery billionaire John Catsimatidis also raged against Bidens plan when contacted by The Daily Beast for an interview on Thursday. I think it sounds like President Biden doesnt want a capitalist government. He wants a government for socialism. And socialism doesnt work. Ask the people in Russia, ask the people in Cuba, ask the people in Venezuela, Catsimatidis said, invoking one of his frequent talking points. (The billionaire hosts his own radio show; recent guests include right-wing Senate candidate Kari Lake, former Trump attorney Alan Dershowitz, and Bill OReilly.) Youre trying to take away the incentives for people to work hard, he said. Catsimatidis added he doesnt like how the American government doles out taxpayers money, particularly on foreign affairs. I dont mind supporting the United States poor, but you can't support the whole world, he said. Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman, meanwhile, said Bidens proposals amount to a version of tax and spend where they dont tackle the real problem. According to Cooperman, The real problem is excess spending. Biden claimed in his State of the Union address that the 25 percent minimum tax on the ultra-rich will raise $500 billion over 10 years. Imagine what that could do for America, he said. He asserted that, on average, the countrys 1,000 billionaires pay just over 8 percent in income tax per year. (The math behind this claim is subject to dispute.) I grew up in a home where trickle-down economics didnt put much on my dads kitchen table, the president also recounted in his speech. Thats why Im determined to turn things around so the middle class does well. When they do wellthe wealthy still do very well. We all do well. Biden, reveling in his allies chants of four more years, proposed other tax increases as well, including increasing the corporate minimum tax from 15 percent to 21 percent, reducing tax benefits for corporate private jet use, and quadrupling taxes on stock buybacks for companies. Bidens SOTU Easily Cleared the Very Low Bar Set for Him by the GOP Greene, despite his opposition to Bidens plan, acknowledged that taxes generally need to increase. At some point, if youre not making enough money to pay your bills, either you get less bills or work more hours. Well, same with the government. A former Democratic candidate for Senate and governor of Florida, Greene offered other potential ways to generate revenues, such as raising the age of social security eligibility over time. My kids, who are 10, 12 and 14, you could tell them, You know what, when you retire youre gonna get money at 70, not 65. he said. Do you think theyre gonna care? Not all billionaires were equally rattled by the tax-hike talk. Reached by The Daily Beast early on Thursday, Cost Plus Drugs cofounder Mark Cuban said he had no plans to tune in to the State of the Union and would instead watch his Dallas Mavericks take on the Miami Heat. Cuban needs no more convincing on who hell vote for come November. Speaking to Bloomberg this month, he shrugged off concerns about Bidens advanced age: If they were having his last wake, and it was him versus Trump, and he was being given last rites, I would still vote for Joe Biden. 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. Whatcom County Superior Court appears set to get additional judges. Two bills, House Bill 1992 and Senate Bill 5828, passed by the Washington State Legislature just prior to adjournment of the 2024 legislative session would increase the number of Superior Court judges and commissioners in Whatcom County. The bills are now headed to Gov. Jay Inslees desk to await his signature. Because the bills are being delivered to the governor just prior to Thursday, which marks the end of this years short, 60-day legislative session, Inslee will have 20 days to sign them into law. HB 1992, which was delivered to Inslee on March 5, will increase the number of Superior Court judges in Whatcom County from four to five. It passed the House on Feb. 9 with only one no vote, and passed the Senate unanimously Feb. 29. If Inslee signs the bill, he will then appoint a fifth Whatcom County Superior Court judge. Whatcom County Superior Court currently has four judges and four commissioners. It serves as the countys highest court. It handles various matters, such as felony, civil, divorce, child custody, guardianship, paternity, adoption, juvenile and mental illness cases, among others. SB 5828, which was signed by the House speaker March 7 and is expected to be sent to Inslee soon, will allow Whatcom Countys Superior Court judges to appoint water rights commissioners and referees to help handle the expected caseload increase stemming from the upcoming Nooksack River water rights adjudication. The bill passed both legislative chambers unanimously Feb. 27 and March 6. If Inslee signs the bill, Whatcom Countys Superior Court judges will appoint the water rights commissioner and referees. When appointing a water rights commissioner, the judges are to consider a potential commissioners experience with water law and water use. If a person is appointed as a water rights commissioner, the bill requires them to receive training from the states administrative office of the courts on water law; Indigenous law, including executive orders and treaties; on the subjects of water science, including groundwater hydrology, hydrogeology and irrigation management; and cultural awareness, including state and tribal history, among other topics. The judges can authorize the water rights commissioners to be able to perform the necessary duties required to handle water rights adjudication. All acts and proceedings of a water rights commissioner are subject to revision by the Superior Court, according to the bill. The adjudication process will see a judge, or now a water rights commissioner, decide whose water rights have seniority for fishing, farming, agricultural, residential and commercial uses in Water Resource Inventory Area 1, which is the Nooksack River Basin and includes lakes, groundwater or aquifers, the river and its tributaries. The Washington State Department of Ecology is in the process of identifying water users within the Nooksack River Basin. Ecology is expected to begin the adjudication process in the spring. We need to make sure that the water adjudication process runs as quickly and smoothly as possible. To do that, our court needs another judge. Whatcom County Superior Court expects that water adjudication may quadruple their caseload. This extra judge is an indispensable resource for the court to ensure people get resolution on their water rights in a timely fashion, Sen. Sharon Shewmake, D-Bellingham, said in a Feb. 29 prepared press release statement. Both bills were born out of a need for additional resources for the countys court system. The pandemic exacerbated the backlog of civil and criminal cases that the Whatcom County Superior Court handles and it was evident that we need another judge on this court to work through cases more efficiently and to process the Department of Ecologys impending water rights adjudication, Rep. Joe Timmons, D-Bellingham, said in the press release. The criminal trial of Biloxi councilman and attorney Robert L. Deming III has been delayed after his attorney asked the judge to do so to give the lawyer time to meet with federal prosecutors about how to resolve the case and review evidence prosecutors provided in pre-trial action. Attorney W. Fred Dub Hornsby filed the request with no objection from federal prosecutors. Demings trial, previously set to begin next week in federal court in Gulfport, is now set to start on the criminal calendar beginning April 1 in federal court in Gulfport. Such delays in a case are usually approved if the defense attorney needs more time to review the evidence to get ready for the trial or wants to work with prosecutors on any potential plea deal. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and other law enforcement officers search two cars as a part of raids conducted on the home of Biloxi Councilman Robert Deming III on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. Agents would not say specifically what they were looking for or what they found, but agents also conducted raids on several locations of The Candy Shop & Kratom, a kratom store chain owned by Deming. Deming has denied any criminal wrongdoing. In January 2023, Drug Enforcement Administration Agents raided Demings home and nine CBD and kratom shops called The Candy Shop in in Mississippi and North Carolina, seizing over $1.8 million in cash from Demings home, truck and office, and $70,000 in cash from The Candy Shop stores. In addition, DEA agents seized various logs, receipts and financial records from the business, along with alleged synthetic cannabinoids and other suspected additives. DEA agents started a criminal investigation into The Candy Shop and its owners, identified as Deming and Damion Fletcher, and employees, suppliers and alleged co-conspirators in late 2021, DEA Agent Alexander Smith said. The stores in Mississippi, one each in Biloxi, Hattiesburg, and Ocean Springs, as well as those in North Carolina, remain open. About two weeks after the raid, DEA Agent Alexander Smith said, Deming closed his business and personal accounts at Cadence Bank, formally known as Bancorp South, withdrawing over $280,000. Five days later, the agent said, Deming opened new accounts at Wells Fargo and deposited around the same amount of cash into those accounts and an existing account at WoodForest National Bank. One of the Candy Shop kratom stores owned by Biloxi Councilman Robert Deming III on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. The shop was raided by the DEA due to an ongoing investigation. DEA Agent Smith did a financial analysis of transactions in Demings accounts over three years and said he believes the funds withdrawn from Demings ... multiple accounts are co-mingled with proceeds derived from the sale of illicit substances. In other words, Smith said, the financial review showed Deming consistently and repeatedly co-mingled funds between accounts for The Candy Shop and his personal law and law firm accounts. A cooperating witness in the criminal investigation also told agents that Deming was concerned about his assets after the Jan. 26, 2023, raid. Authorities waited until September 2023 to arrest Deming on federal charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and destruction, alteration or falsification of records in a federal investigation. A judge has since appointed independent receiver, identified as Poplarville attorney Colette A. Oldmixon, to oversee Demings attorney trust account to determine the identity and amount owed to any of his clients. Oldmixon was granted subpoena power to review account information and to obtain other information she may need before filing a recommendation for any payouts based on her findings. A judge will ultimately sign off on any the recommended payments after a review of the reports by the judge, Deming and his attorney, and prosecutors. Deming is out of jail under house arrest pending trial. He has a daily curfew and other restrictions but continues to serve as Ward 4 councilman in Biloxi. The federal government has filed a forfeiture request to seize Demings home in Biloxi and his CBD and kratom stores, arguing the cash and other property are subject to forfeiture because they are derived from an alleged drug trafficking network involved in money laundering and racketeering through the businesses. Feds want to seize Biloxi councilmans home and millions found in DEA raids of his CBD stores Biloxi councilman indicted on drug conspiracy, records destruction charges after raids Bond granted for Biloxi councilman accused of drug trafficking after raids of CBD stores Days after his drug arrest, a Biloxi councilman started moving money around, feds say BLANCO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) A Blanco Independent School District School Resource Officer is under investigation for allegedly making inappropriate comments to a student. The city confirmed a student made the complaint against the SRO that worked at Blanco High School. Former Blanco County detention officer faces sexual assault charge Maria Mathis-Kruser said she found out about what allegedly happened from the parent of the teen. I have a very, very close family friend that I work with, Mathis-Kruser said. He was telling me about this incident with the resource officer and his daughter. When he was speaking to me about it, it was very concerning. The city said the SRO is accused of making inappropriate comments to a female student at the school. Very much like, Oh, when are you turning 18? So you can come over. In no world, is that OK, Mathis-Kruser said. The city told KXAN the SRO has since been reassigned to duty that is not related to any of the schools. KXAN tried reaching out to the accused officer on social media. This story will be updated if we receive additional information. The City of Blanco treats all concerns of residents with the highest priority and is continuing to look into this matter. The safety of the children at Blanco schools and safety of all residents is of the utmost importance, the City said in a statement. Ultimately, Mathis-Kruser wanted more to be done. He needs to be put on administrative leave while this is thoroughly and properly investigated. Maria Mathis-Kruser Mathis-Kruser said shes grateful the teen spoke up. Im incredibly proud, just that our young women are finally finding their voice, she said. KXAN reached out to the district and the police chief but has not heard back yet. We will update this article if a statement is received. Special city council meeting The situation prompted a special city council meeting on Monday. The agenda item was listed as Consideration, Discussion and Take Possible Action Regarding Legal Matter. STAR Flight will soon take off in Blanco County, improving emergency services The city released a statement about the meeting. The City is aware of allegations concerning the conduct of a City employee who was working in the local high school. The City has treated these allegations seriously from the outset and has taken steps needed to address the safety and wellbeing of all concerned. The City also commenced a thorough review and investigation of the facts and related legal and other issues. The Citys review of the matter is ongoing. Further updates will be made as they are available. The City of Blanco For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. ATHENS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in Athens was falsely alarmed about the possibility of a bomb attack on Friday, according to reliable sources. Earlier on Friday, Greek police special forces were dispatched to the ministry to investigate the threat that had been signaled to the authorities by an anonymous caller. However, after a thorough inspection, no explosive device was found on the premises. Sources revealed that Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias was among those evacuated from the building. The incident follows a recent explosion outside Greece's Ministry of Labor in central Athens on Feb. 3, which resulted in extensive damage but no injuries. Prior to the explosion, anonymous warning calls were made to local media by an individual claiming responsibility on behalf of a purported new urban guerrilla group. Republican Alabama Sen. Katie Britt pulled no punches as she delivered her party's rebuttal to President Biden's State of the Union address Thursday night, ripping him for his "despicable" job handling the border crisis, as well as his promotion of "Bidenomics" amid the rising consumer costs plaguing American families. A rising star within the GOP, the 42-year-old Britt's selection to deliver the rebuttal last week was met with widespread praise even from some Democrats as she continues to build a national profile despite never holding elected office prior to her election in the 2022 midterms. Britt began her remarks with a reference to Biden's age and his decades as a career politician, blasting his speech as "the performance of a permanent politician who has actually been in office for longer than I've been alive." WHO IS KATIE BRITT? ALABAMA SENATOR GIVING STATE OF THE UNION GOP RESPONSE Republican Alabama Sen. Katie Britt delivers the GOP rebuttal to President Biden's State of the Union address on March 7, 2024 in Montgomery, Alabama. "The country we know and love seems to be slipping away, and it feels like the next generation will have fewer opportunities and less freedoms than we did. I worry my own children may not even get a shot at living their American Dreams," Britt said. "The American Dream has turned into a nightmare for so many families. The true, unvarnished State of our Union begins and ends with this: Our families are hurting. Our country can do better," she said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Britt then sought to pick apart Biden's policies, starting with the ongoing crisis at the southern border that's seen a historic number of migrants cross into the U.S. She specifically called out his diversion from former President Donald Trump's border policies. "President Biden inherited the most secure border of all-time. But minutes after taking office, he suspended all deportations, halted construction of the border wall, and announced a plan to give amnesty to millions. We know that President Biden didnt just create this border crisis. He invited it with 94 executive actions in his first 100 days," she said. UNCOMMITTED DEMOCRATIC VOTERS CREATING NEGATIVE PRESS FOR BIDEN AS PROGRESSIVES PROTEST SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL She went on to describe the brutalities inflicted upon migrants by cartel members at the border, as well as the recent tragic death of Georgia college student Laken Riley, who was allegedly at the hands of an illegal immigrant. President Joe Biden speaks during a State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, March 7, 2024. "President Bidens border crisis is a disgrace. Its despicable. And its almost entirely preventable," she said, referencing Riley. "President Biden finally said her name, but he refused to take responsibility for his own actions but enough is enough." Britt said Biden's failures "didn't stop" at the border and turned to rising costs and the economy, arguing "the American people are scraping by." "Hardworking families are struggling to make ends meet today. And with soaring mortgage rates and sky-high childcare costs, theyre also struggling to plan for tomorrow. The American people are scraping by while the President proudly proclaims Bidenomics is working! Bless his heart. We know better," she said. Britt then decried Democrats' crime policies and calls from progressives to defund the police, before fuming over what she described as Biden "making us a punchline on the world state," citing rising chaos around the world. WHO IS JASON PALMER, THE OBSCURE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO DELIVERED BIDEN'S FIRST 2024 LOSS? "Where Im from, your word is your bond. But for three years, this President has demonstrated that Americas word doesnt mean what it used to. From abandoning allies in his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan to desperately pushing another dangerous deal with Iran, President Biden has failed. Weve become a nation in retreat. And the enemies of freedom see an opportunity," she said. "Right now, our Commander in Chief is not in command. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defense are the cornerstones of a great nation," she added. Britt closed by arguing the nation was at "a crossroads," but that it didn't have to be that way. "We all feel it. But heres the good news: we people are still in the drivers seat. We get to decide whether our future will grow brighter, or whether we settle for an America in decline," she said. "Well, I know which choice our children deserve and I know the choice the Republican Party is fighting for." Britt, who previously served as chief of staff to now-retired GOP Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, and later as president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, was born and raised in Enterprise, Alabama. She defeated then-Republican Rep. Mo Brooks in Alabama's Senate primary in 2022 before going on to win the general election that November. Britt endorsed former President Donald Trump in December, writing in a Yellowhammer News op-ed that the "results of his strong leadership as the 45th President of the United States are clear for all to see" after living under the Biden administration's policies. Fox News' Kyle Morris contributed to this report. Original article source: 'BLESS YOUR HEART': Rising Republican star Katie Britt shreds Biden on border, rising costs in SOTU rebuttal U.S. Secretary of State Blinken meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Washington WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday it was up to Hamas to agree to a ceasefire that would allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and pave the way for talks on an "enduring resolution" to the conflict. The Palestinian militant group left talks in Cairo aimed at reaching an agreement to pause fighting ahead of Ramadan, amid fears violence could escalate during the Muslim fasting month. Israel and Hamas blamed each other for the lack of agreement on a deal that would require Hamas to free some of the hostages it still holds in exchange for a 40-day truce. Palestinian prisoners held in Israel would also be released. Blinken, ahead of a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, said Washington was still pushing for a ceasefire. "The issue is Hamas. The issue is whether Hamas will decide or not to have a ceasefire that would benefit everyone," Blinken said. "The ball is in their court. We're working intensely on it, and we'll see what they do." Gaza health authorities say more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military campaign in response to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, in which Israel said 1,200 people were killed and 253 abducted. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis) Seeking relief from South Floridas soaring heat, outdoor workers in South Florida appealed to politicians in Miami-Dade and Tallahassee for help. They got none. A Miami-Dade measure intended to ensure basic protections like water and breaks wound up derailed by construction and agriculture lobbyists. Florida lawmakers are poised to double down on the denial, this week approving a bill to block not just Miami-Dade but any county in the state from drawing up their own health standards for extreme heat. Now, a coalition of farmworkers from South-Dade and Immokalee intend to take their campaign directly to the powerful fast food and grocery industries that buy the produce they harvest. Theyre gathering this weekend for the Farmworker Freedom Festival in Palm Beach County to rally support for the effort an event that includes a plan to place a giant farmworker puppet in front of the mansion owned by the chairman of the board of Wendys. They call the two-story effigy Esperanza. Her name is Esperanza, or hope, because we hope for a better world, said Lupe Gonzalo, a leader of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. A world where we arell treated with dignity and respect as human beings. Its not the first time South Florida farmworkers have tried the tactic of pressuring powerful corporations and they have a track record of success. They have won contracts for workplace improvements with some of the largest tomatoes buyers in the world, from McDonalds to Walmart. Their fight to get businesses to agree to what they call the Fair Food agreement doesnt always come easy. In the best-known effort, billed as Boycott the Bell, the coalition spent four years working with college students, who are Taco Bells biggest market, to remove the fast food outlets from 20 campuses. Even former U.S. President Jimmy Carter voiced his support of the boycott before Taco Bell signed on in 2005. Since then, the four largest fast-food companies Burger King, McDonalds, Subway and Yum Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell) have signed onto the Fair Food agreement. So have the three largest food service providers, Compass Group, Aramark and Sodexo. Now, they are focusing on the supermarket industry, including Florida-based Publix and additional fast food chains, including Wendys. Bon Appetit, a company that runs more than 1,000 cafes in colleges and corporations, including Google, signed on to the Fair Food program in 2009. Theresa Chester, the companys vice president of purchasing, said signing on was a matter of principle. Through our purchasing powers and our purchasing orders that go to the program, the issue of workers rights is brought to that same level of food safety, Chester said. Respect for workers is just as important as the food safety we bring to the table. It brings us peace of mind that our supply chain is free of those typical abuses. Auditor interviews Shane D in 2017 and gives him a hotline card. Fair Food Program Standards beyond OSHA Critics of such programs call them redundant with expensive red tape adding costs to businesses that will be passed onto the consumers already struggling with rising food bills They argue that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration already hands out fines for unsafe working conditions, including for violations related to heat. We take great pride in training our employees, providing the safest work environment, Nelson Stabile, president of the Builders Association of South Florida told the Herald in November. We just want to make sure that we can continue raising awareness without having a situation where its overly punitive and theres duplicative regulatory government in place. A spokeswoman for Wendys also told the Miami Herald they are not participants in the Fair Food Program because they buy their tomatoes from indoor greenhouse growers not field workers in South Florida. There is no nexus between the program and our supply chain, Wendys wrote in a statement on Tuesday. But farm workers say federal monitoring of work in the fields is sporadic at best and the industrys own standards are minimal. The coalition argues that other workers, including ones in greenhouses, also deserve similar health and heat protections. Under the Fair Food program, the code of conduct that farms have to follow is extensive, covering sexual misconduct and wage theft and other common labor issues. In 2021, the code of conduct was revised to include protections from the rising temperatures a problem that climate change is only making worse. For 46 sweltering days this summer, Miami sizzled under heat index temperatures that topped 100 degrees every afternoon. That shattered the previous record, set in 2020, of 32 days in a row above 100 degrees. Under the program, workers are educated on heat stress signs and encouraged to take breaks any time they need to. Between April to November the hottest months the rules stiffen. Growers must provide 10-minute breaks every two hours where every single worker has to stop what they are doing. Workers also are required to get electrolyte drinks during those hotter months too. Thats largely what workers were initially seeking in the Miami-Dade ordinance that is now in limbo. Farm operators have a financial incentive to follow the rules continued access to the biggest buyers of produce in America, said Laura Safer Espinoza, who directed the Fair Food Standards Council for a decade. The Fair Foods Council is a third-party group that enforces the agreements between the workers, growers and buyers. The reason we can protect them from retaliation is because the grower would be suspended from the program and unable to sell, said Safer Espinoza, who served as a New York State Supreme Court Justice for 20 years. That kind of market-based enforcement has led to a situation where workers do raise their voices. The program includes several layers of oversight. Once a year and sometimes more, investigators perform in-depth audits at the farms and interview at least half the workforce. They check the workers time logs, pay slips and housing conditions. But the audit is only a snapshot in time, Safer Espinoza said. Which is why theres a need for a 24/7 anonymous tip line that leads directly to Fair Food Program investigators available to talk in English, Spanish and Creole. Since the program started in 2011, there have been nearly 4,000 hot line complaints with 82% of them resolved by the partnership of the standards council and growers within a month. I saw the change happen before my eyes, said Gonzalo of the Immokalee Workers. The crew leaders and supervisors that for many years harassed women were fired from the industry. Others who engaged in harassing comments in the field changed the way they treated us as workers and women. Farmworkers in a Fair Food Program education session. Fair Food Program For one grower, a magical change By contrast, since 2020, OSHA has fined five Florida employers after their employees died from heat illness; deaths that the agency said could have been prevented if their employers had followed established safety practices regarding heat-related hazards. And while OSHA is working on a heat protection standard for outdoor workers nationwide, it could be years before the draft rule is introduced. Even if OSHA does somewhere down the line ultimately come up with guidelines, what will the enforcement mechanism actually be? Safer Espinoza said. And its very hard to beat market-based enforcement where everyone is motivated to comply. Miguel Rios, who was a regional agricultural enforcement coordinator at the U.S. Department of Labor for 27 years before stepping into a role on the Fair Food Standards Council, said all agencies struggle with solving problems quickly. Despite the best efforts of a lot of good people in the agency, there is simply not the resources or bandwidth to do so many things that FFP does, Rios said. Jon Esformes, the CEO of the Sunripe Certified Brands tomato fields in Immokalee and Central Florida, said he cant see and monitor every corner of the field, so having a reporting system that workers feel comfortable using is the main reason he joined forces with the coalition 14 years ago. While the company previously had a similar code, he said he soon realized workers were scared to complain to the boss and the audits and tipline became an important outlet. It was a 180-degree transformation in the relationship between the company and the people who do the work, he said. For lack of a better word, it was magical. A model for heat protection But hundreds of thousands of other outdoor workers in South Florida, including many working in the nurseries and fields of the Redland, arent covered by the program. Oscar Londono, the executive director of WeCount, a group that led the stalled grassroots campaign for the first heat protections in Miami-Dade, said the Fair Food Program shows there are avenues other than government legislation to protect workers. Groups of South Miami-Dade outdoor workers will attending the event in Palm Beach County. Their model shows us that the industry who have been actively lobbying against Que Calor are acting in bad faith because we know there are already companies that can afford to protect their workers from extreme heat, Londono said. Ashley Miznazi is a climate change reporter for the Miami Herald funded by the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The destruction of north Gaza slides into view as the rear doors of the Jordanian C-130 aircraft yawn open. Towns that have been flattened into grey dust edge what was once farmlands, now chewed up by a chaotic snarl of tank tracks. Whole neighbourhoods have been obliterated to the point they look like the ashy bottom of a fire hearth. The level of devastation is chilling. From this height you cannot see the estimated 300,000 Palestinians who still live in this hellish moonscape, with little to no supplies. Hundreds of thousands of people who the United Nations believe are one step away from if not already gripped by famine. A place where families are reduced to eating animal feed and drinking toilet water. A place where according to the United Nations, children are not just dying from bombing but also from hunger. Against that backdrop, the 16 wooden pallets loaded with boxes of food and topped by parachutes that line the bottom of this military transport plane seem woefully insufficient. Israel has launched a ferocious bombardment and a crippling siege of Gaza in its war to eliminate Hamas in the wake of the deadly 7 October attacks. That has led to the north of the enclave - that needs the most aid - becoming almost completely inaccessible to supply deliveries by land. Dropping food from the skies over north Gaza right now is one of the very few ways to get to desperate civilians, although there are concerns it can be risky, expensive, inefficient and potentially even dangerous. One minute to drop, a Jordanian soldier shouts, as the rest of the troops on board ready themselves. Deafened by the roar of the engines, they finish the countdown with their fingers. The pallets which have solidarity messages and pictures drawn by Jordanian schoolchildren taped to their sides are released from their straps. They roll with a kind of fury into the brilliant blue of the sky. In a flurry, the parachutes unfurl and they float to the ground. This is one of nine airdrops over northern Gaza that the Jordanian Armed Forces said they have conducted on Thursday with Egypt, the US, France, Netherlands and Belgium. The Jordanian Air Force (JAF) said they have led 29 in total and continue to deliver aid to Gaza through flight missions to Egypt and truck convoys via land borders. It is impossible to accurately guide these kinds of mass airdrops. Some aid agencies told The Independent that boxes of aid have landed on the sea, on the tops of buildings and some have even blown into Israel. They can also be dangerous on Friday, five Palestinians were killed and several were wounded when boxes of aid from a different aid drop fell on them in northwest Gaza, said Mahmoud Basal, spokesman of the Civil Emergency Service in Gaza. It was not clear which nation had carried out the aid drop. Video shared online purportedly showed the pallets landing from the sky over the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City terrifying civilians below. The parachute of one does not appear to be fully furled. Jordanian Air Force prepares to drop food aid into Gaza (Bel Trew) Aid drops are a final resort not a full solution, says Dr Hussein Al Shebli, head of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO), as he walks The Independent through the gruelling task of navigating a maze of Israeli restrictions and other logistical difficulties when attempting to deliver aid to millions in need in Gaza. The JHCO an non-governmental organisation coordinates with the JAF, and helps the delivery of aid from foreign governments, international aid agencies and local charities via all routes including truck convoys by land and airdrops. So far he says they have delivered more than 7,160 tonnes of aid from Jordan since 7 October via nearly 500 trucks and dozens of airdrops. We hope to return to the land route to north Gaza and to find real solutions to at least get past these difficulties we are talking about, Dr Shebli says. But if there is no way to get to the north of Gaza we will continue the airdrops. Right now, the JHCO still has 10 packed warehouses of medical, food and shelter supplies that could be delivered immediately if they could get unfettered access to Gaza. The only true way to meet this unprecedented need on the ground is a ceasefire, Dr Shebli adds. Israel has launched its heaviest ever bombardment of Gaza and imposed a crippling siege in retaliation for Hamass bloody October attack, in which around 1,200 people were killed and another 250 taken hostage. At least 136 hostages are still believed to be inside Gaza. The UN said this week that it has seen credible evidence that hostages have been subjected to sexual violence and ill treatment in captivity. Aid drops are a final resort not a solution. We hope to return to the land route Dr Hussein Al Shebli, head Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) In Gaza, since October, Israels ferocious air, sea and ground assaults have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, the vast majority of them women and children, according to Palestinian healthcare officials. More than 60 per cent of Gazas homes and buildings have been destroyed or damaged, and around three-quarters of the 2.3 million-strong population are displaced. At least 25 per cent of the population is just one step from famine, and the UNs humanitarian coordinator in the region has reported that children have started to starve to death. Gaza is only 26 miles (42km) long and in some places just six miles wide. The terrain is flat, which should make access simple, and there are at least half a dozen land crossing points to the Strip along its borders with Israel and Egypt. And yet north Gaza is experiencing one of the most acute humanitarian catastrophes in the world. Some of the worlds biggest aid agencies and charities, say it is very hard to take supplies into Gaza, and almost impossible to get them to the north of the strip. Some countries and aid organisations have, therefore, undertaken last resort airdrops there. The Jordanian military has launched dozens of airdrops due to blocks on land routes to north Gaza (Bel Trew) According to multiple UN agencies, Palestinian, international and Israeli charities, as well as British MPs who have submitted requests for information, Israel is denying entry of a slew of aid goods from anaesthesia medicines to water filters to, somewhat incongruously, dates with stones in them. This is because they are apparently labelled at risk of dual use by the militants. Multiple organisations, including the JHCO and UN agencies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) told The Independent shipments are frequently turned back or held at the only crossing points at great cost and at Israeli military checkpoints inside Gaza when they approach the north. The strangulation of supplies and the reported targeting of Palestinian police inside Gaza has led to a breakdown in law and order, sparking concerns about safety for convoys in the north as the population has become increasingly desperate. The WFP, that has had to suspend convoys, said they were are overwhelmed by starving people and even gangs in the hardest hit areas. Aid convoys have also come under Israeli fire: on 5 February the UNs Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA reported that one of its convoys was hit by an Israel tank shell. The Israeli military has yet to publicly comment but said it is looking into the incident. When approached by The Independent for comment the Israeli military said: The IDF [Israeli Defence Forces] carries out humanitarian operations and will continue to do so. The decisions on the locations and timings of them are based on assessments of the situation. Destroyed neighbourhoods and what appear to be tank tracks in Gaza (Bel Trew) The Independent reached out to the COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry unit tasked with coordinating with the Palestinians, but they have yet to reply. On Thursday, COGAT wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: There are no limits to the amount of humanitarian aid that can enter Gaza, adding that more than 4,900 metric tonnes of aid entered that day. Despite overwhelming evidence and international pressure over the situation in Gaza, COGAT publicly denies there is a humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory. The US has leverage as Israels staunchest ally and supplier of military aid, but has apparently been unable to secure access to north Gaza, leaving them and other nations to take to the skies. Washington reported that it has dropped 36,800 meal equivalents into north Gaza in recent days. But rights groups warn airdrops are the least effective way to get aid in. It is simply not possible to airdrop in aid to the scale of whats really needed to keep people alive, says Bushra Khalidi from Oxfam, adding that the capacity of a plane is less than a truck. Its also the most expensive and the most dangerous and chaotic way for desperate people to receive aid. Parachuting in aid by air is always the last resort the final measure you reluctantly turn to when everything else has been tried and failed, and where all the normal, better routes are utterly impossible to find, she adds. Shaina Low from the Norwegian Refugee Council tells The Independent that the most vulnerable will find it hard to access aid delivered by airdrops, that are not coordinated by aid officials on the ground and fairly distributed. Jordan says it has warehouses packed with aid it wants to send to Gaza (Bel Trew) Women-led households, elderly people, people with disabilities, are not able to participate in the kind of scramble to get whatever is falling from the sky, she says. What weve seen of the images of people receiving aid, its not a dignified way. Its not a safe way for aid to be distributed. She adds that it is shocking Israels closest allies like the US have had to resort to them. It shows either that Israel is immovable or that these allies are unwilling to make demands or ask for the things that need to be done in order for aid to flow more freely into Gaza, she says. Facing mounting pressure, US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday the creation of a temporary port on Gazas Mediterranean coast to receive humanitarian aid by sea. US officials hope it will scale up the humanitarian response but admitted it too could take weeks to plan and execute. The aid would still be subject to Israeli checks in Cyprus before coming to Gaza raising concerns about delays and restrictions from the dual use list. Sigrid Kaag, the UN humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, says she welcomes Washingtons initiatives but that air and sea is not a substitute for land and nobody says otherwise. The Jordanian military said it has conducted 29 airdrops (Bel Trew) Mr Biden also said on Thursday that Israel agreed to reopen one of its land borders to north Gaza to allow aid in something that the UN said it had been working on for weeks and is a key demand from aid organisations. However, UN officials who The Independent has been speaking to say they do not know when or if it would fully open. COGAT did not reply to a request for comment from The Independent about timings either. Much is pinned on an immediate temporary ceasefire and hostage exchange deal that would allow the unobstructed delivery of aid. But hopes have been dimmed by recent talks in Cairo ending with no breakthrough. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has blamed Hamas for the stalled talks vowed in a fiery Thursday speech that his army would continue its ground assault. We must stand together against the attempts to stop the war, he said. In Jordan, workers in packed JHCO warehouses hope that they can find a way to deliver the aid including medical supplies, blankets, tents, food cans, hygiene items and baby milk. They are preparing for another aid drop and also trucks, they hope will be allowed in Gaza soon. Dr Shebli says people in Gaza are now afraid not only to die in the fighting but because of a lack of food, water and medicines. All supplies that they could provide. We are talking about starvation of children, the most difficult things you see when you see children die from starvation," he says, as the calls come in with requests for help. We have warehouses packed full of food, we need to help these people. More than four decades after a body was found partially buried in a Florida park, the man has been identified as a U.S. Marine, a Vietnam War veteran and a father. In December 1980, a body was found in a partially dug hole in Pomona Park, Putnam County Sheriff H.D. Gator Deloach III said in a March 8 news conference. The body, determined to be a white man with brown hair by a medical examiner, had blunt force trauma to his chest and there was a gunshot wound to his neck, the sheriff said. The case was ruled a homicide, Deloach said, but the identity of the man was unknown. He was wearing a shirt with Dallas on it, which a man who worked as a driver for a labor camp had seen before, the sheriff said. The man told investigators he had picked up a white man wearing that shirt, along with three other men, from a Daily Bread in Orlando as transient workers and had brought them to his labor camp, according to the sheriff. The man had worked at the camp for three days before disappearing, Deloach said. With nothing else to go on, the case went cold, and the man was buried under the name John Doe 36, according to the sheriff. Last year, Capt. Chris Stallings took on the cold case and sent the remains to Othram Labs, a Texas-based genetic sequencing company, in hopes of finding any living relatives, he said at the news conference. The remains were in poor shape, the sheriff said, and investigators were not optimistic when the remains arrived in Texas in June. But by September, the laboratory had started to create a genetic profile for the unidentified man and realized he had living relatives, Stallings said. One of the suspected relatives provided a DNA sample that was used to confirm what the investigators believed the man was his missing brother. William Irving Monroe III was a former U.S. Marine, a veteran of the Vietnam War and the father of two who was last seen in 1979, the sheriff said. His family had traveled around the country and moved around a lot, Stallings said, so members of the family had lost contact with each other over time. This included Monroe, who was divorced from his wife and living on his own, the captain said. He and his former wife had lived off and on in Pomona Park, Stallings said, and he was not a migrant worker like they previously thought. For years, (the Monroe family) was working on the assumption that their brother and father had been missing and perhaps had been murdered down in the (U.S.) Virgin Islands, Deloach said. We now know unequivocally that that is not the case, and while this might just be another piece of the puzzle, it now gives them the peace to know that we have identified their brother. The sheriff said the family had hired a private investigator when Monroe first went missing, but since he moved around, nothing was ever found on his whereabouts. Monroe was never formally reported as a missing person, the sheriff said. Due to his veteran status, the sheriffs office is working with veteran services to obtain a military headstone at Monroes grave, Deloach said. Now, Monroes death will continue to be investigated as a homicide, the sheriff said. Pomona Park is about a 75-mile drive southwest from Jacksonville. Woman found dead under carpet in Virginia woods in 1986. Accused killer now arrested Tooth of woman found dead 10 years ago helps create new image of her, CA cops say Surveyor found remains near California canyon in 2000, officials say. Now theyre IDd 20-year search for missing high school student leads to hidden grave, Florida cops say Boeing is set to start contract negotiations with its largest union. Reuters is reporting that workers in the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers want better pay and retirement benefits. The union represents about 30,000 employees in the Puget Sound area, including those who build the MAX line of jets in Renton. The negotiations will start Friday. The union is pushing for 40% pay increases over three to four years. While its too early to tell if labor action could be on the horizon, workers have set up a strike authorization vote for this summer if a deal is not reached. They theoretically could go on strike before the current contract expires on Sept. 12. KIRO 7 reporter Ranji Sinha recently spoke to an aviation analyst who said Boeings past conflicts with the union may be one of the causes for the quality control issues on the Renton assembly line. Investigations came after a door plug blew off in mid-air on an Alaska Airlines flight near Portland in January. There have been several reports that workers were scared to speak up about issues, fearing backlash from management. The union will also ask Boeing for a commitment to build its next new airplane in the Puget Sound area, which would ensure jobs and manufacturing here. The union also believes that the contract negotiation is a chance for the company to refocus on the people who design and build the jets and create a new culture of quality control and safety. In a statement on Friday, the company said it was confident it could reach a contract agreement. We look forward to reviewing the IAMs proposal and continuing our discussions in good faith. Were confident theres a path to a deal that addresses the needs of our employees while allowing us to compete in a very competitive global market. A United Airlines Boeing 737 plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Texas after its engine exploded and burst into flames mid-air. The flight, which was bound for Fort Myers, Florida had just set off from Houston on Monday when it was forced to make an emergency landing just minutes into the journey. Video footage shows bright orange sparks shooting several feet out from beneath the left wing of the aircraft, just inches away from the passenger windows. In the video, a crewmember could be heard alerting passengers to the issue. Hey ladies and gentlemen, we realised something happened outside, they said over the intercom. Minutes later, United Airlines Flight 1118 returned to George Bush Intercontinental Airport where it made an emergency landing at around 7pm on Monday. No injuries were reported. Orange sparks could be seen shooting several feet out from beneath the left wing of the Boeing 737 aircraft (Dorian D Cerda via Storyful) Passenger Dorian D Cerda told Storyful that the plane was approximately 15 minutes into the two-hour journey to Florida when it was forced to divert. United Airlines said the flight landed safely and the passengers deplaned normally, adding that they arranged for a new aircraft to take our customers to their destination. The cause of the engine blaze is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The United Airlines flight had only been in the air for 15 minutes when the fire broke out. (Dorian D Cerda via Storyful) Boeing has been under scrutiny since a door panel on a different kind of aircraft, a 737 Max 9, blew off during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. Several passengers on board were injured in the incident, which grounded all Boeing 737 Max 9s and prompted investigations by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board, into the aircraft manufacturer and Spirit AeroSystems, which made the door plug. Reports released since have suggested the plane did not have the critical bolts it needed to keep the doorplug in place when it left the factory. Following the incident, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, which operate 79 of the planes, said they, too, found loose bolts on some of their aircraft. Last month, the FAA said it was giving Boeing 90 days to come up with a plan to fix quality problems and meet safety standards. A damaged car is seen at an on-airport employee parking lot after tyre debris from a Boeing 777 landed on it (AP) Boeing must commit to real and profound improvements, said FAA administrator Mike Whitaker. Making foundational change will require a sustained effort from Boeings leadership, and we are going to hold them accountable every step of the way. Boeing CEO David Calhoun has said that the company will develop the comprehensive action plan with measurable criteria that demonstrates the profound change that Administrator Whitaker and the FAA demand. On Thursday, another United Airlines Boeing 777 plane was forced to make an emergency landing in California after a tyre fell off midflight and damaged several cars in a parking lot in San Francisco. No one was injured, airport spokesperson Doug Yakel said in a statement. A bomb threat again disrupts Maine, where lawmakers have considered bills protecting care for transgender youth. Extremist rhetoric is front and center in the governor's race in North Carolina. As Trump secures the GOP presidential nomination, he is increasingly embracing Christian nationalism, which has experts on extremism and religion concerned. Its the week in extremism. Bomb threats in Maine after pro-LGBTQ+ legislation The Maine State House building, in a file photo. A series of bomb threats made against the Maine state capitol and at least two state lawmakers early Friday morning became at least the second round of threats to disrupt the legislature this year, as it has taken up bills related to health care for transgender children. The Maine State House was evacuated Friday morning because of the threats, Derek Grant, secretary of the Maine Senate, confirmed to USA TODAY. Annina Breen, communications director for the Maine Democratic Party, told USA TODAY the partys offices were also evacuated and searched for an explosive device this morning. Nothing was found, Breen said. Those bills, and the legislators targeted by the threats, have also been publicized by the right-wing social media account Libs of TikTok. That influencer as USA TODAY first reported has tweeted about schools, hospitals and other public institutions that quickly became targets of bomb and death threats dozens of times in recent months. USA TODAY was provided copies of the emailed threats, which were also sent to Alejandra Caraballo, a clinical instructor at the Harvard Law School Cyberlaw Clinic who writes frequently about the issues. One emailed threat was apparently sent to Anne Perry, a state representative. Perry, a Democrat who represents a small district in far-northeastern Maine, is the main sponsor of LD227, a bill introduced this week that would protect doctors in the state who provide gender affirming care to patients from states that have laws hostile to such treatment. The threat also apparently named Sen. Donna Bailey, Perrys co-sponsor on the bill. Earlier this week, Perry and Bailey were targeted in a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Libs of TikTok. The tweets listed both lawmakers email addresses. In January, the Maine State House was evacuated for a bomb threat on the first day of the legislative session. At the time, the legislature was considering another bill on transgender care. That bill died in committee later the same month. Calls and emails to Perry, the Maine State Police, Maine Capitol Police and FBI were not immediately returned. According to the Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group that tracks anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, one in three transgender youths lives in a state that has passed a ban on gender-affirming care. Investigation: When Libs of TikTok tweets, threats increasingly follow Christian nationalism, Trump and worries about extremism The scene at a Take Our Border Back Convoy gathering near the Mexico-U.S. border in San Ysidro, California, on Feb. 3, 2024. Experts say longstanding ideas about Christian nationalism have evolved into a new kind of political fervor. The recent rise in Christian nationalism, and the movements embrace by presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, are examined in a USA TODAY story this week. While Christian nationalism has historical roots, experts say a once-fringe belief system is having a moment in 2024. Last month, a trio of convoys calling themselves Gods Army converged on the U.S.-Mexico border to protest what they called a flood of immigrants into the country. Christian nationalists believe broadly in Christianity, but many believe in erasing the boundaries between church and state. That can range from thinking religion should play a larger role in government to believing a president is a literal messiah sent by God. The former president has increasingly embraced Christian nationalist imagery and language, experts said. Trump rallies now feel more like megachurch services than political events, they said, and the presumptive GOP nominee recently shared a video on social media stating that he was chosen by God. The new movement feels like the start of a new religion, said Brian Kaylor, a Baptist minister and author who writes about Christian nationalism. Its the MAGA church, Kaylor said. If Trump loses in November, experts in domestic extremism worry about Jan. 6-style violence and unrest from followers of the movement. Special report: As Trump support merges with Christian nationalism, experts warn of extremist risks Nominee for governor uses extremist rhetoric North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson speaks during a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on March 2, 2024. Robinson won the party's nomination for North Carolina Governor on Super Tuesday. North Carolinas Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson became the GOPs nominee for governor on Tuesday. He has made headlines not just for his quick rise in politics he was a factory worker until 2018 but for his criticisms of LGBTQ+ people, Jewish people and a range of other elements of American society. Some of those remarks echo extremist rhetoric that has been used to attack the same groups. Robinson easily won his partys nomination for governor. He will face Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein in November, in a state that has already drawn national attention for a raft of new restrictions it has placed on voting since 2020. Statistic of the week: 15,387,162 Thats how many total views there were for more than 135 posts on social media platforms denying that Hamas committed sexual violence during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, according to CyberWell, a nonprofit focused on monitoring for and combatting antisemitism online. This week, a United Nations team found "reasonable grounds to believe" sexual violence, including gang rape, took place during the Hamas attack. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maine bomb threats; anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in N.C. Kingsburgh House is on the Buildings at Risk register due to its dilapidated state A house where Bonnie Prince Charlie was given refuge while being hunted by government soldiers after the Battle of Culloden has been put up for sale. The prince spent a night at Kingsburgh House after landing in Skye from Benbecula with the help of Flora MacDonald. The sea crossing from Benbecula is recalled in the lyrics of The Skye Boat Song. Kingsburgh House, today almost a ruin, is on the market for offers over 275,000. A 1925 illustration portraying Flora MacDonald's first meeting with Bonnie Prince Charlie Selling agents Savills said the property was in a dilapidated state and on the Buildings at Risk register. The sale includes almost 14 acres of land and a private bay and beach. The property on a shore of Loch Snizort dates back to the 1700s. An aerial image of the property Culloden on 16 April 1746 saw forces loyal to Bonnie Prince Charlie defeated by the Duke of Cumberland's government army. Fought near Inverness, it involved the deaths of about 1,600 men - 1,500 of them Jacobites. After the battle the prince and a number of his supporters went on the run across the Highlands and Hebrides. MacDonald, who was living in Benbecula, was among those who helped the prince evade capture by government redcoat soldiers. She suggested he be disguised as her serving maid for the crossing to Skye, where he was given shelter at Kingsburgh House before continuing his escape to France. The house was later a home to MacDonald and her husband. More on this story Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, speaks during a news conference on the U.S. Southern Border at the U.S. Capitol on February 06, 2024 in Washington, DC. Senate Republicans held the news conference to discuss their lack of support for the bipartisan Senate immigration legislation released over the weekend. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Quality Journalism for Critical Times As a father of two daughters, I look at photographs of Laken Riley and her family and I feel grief. I feel anger. Its hard to imagine losing a child like that, the victim in what appears to be a random, brutal murder. It doesnt help any that the man charged in Rileys death, Jose Ibarra, is being used to feed a narrative of rampaging hordes of criminals flooding across our nations southern border, a narrative that is as false as it is dangerous. We do have a serious border issue. With jobs plentiful and unemployment at record low levels, a booming economy is drawing desperate people northward, overwhelming the resources available to stop them. Were also trying to deal with that influx under immigration laws that havent been updated in a generation thanks to the ongoing political stalemate in Washington. Overall, though, violent crime is dropping significantly from COVID-era highs, and study after study has confirmed that immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, commit less crime than natural-born U.S. citizens. In one study published by the National Academy of Sciences, for example, researchers dug into six years of arrest records compiled by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Their conclusion? We find that undocumented immigrants have substantially lower crime rates than native-born citizens and legal immigrants across a range of felony offenses. Relative to undocumented immigrants, U.S.-born citizens are over 2 times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes, 2.5 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes, and over 4 times more likely to be arrested for property crimes. Parents-to-be from Haiti stand at a gap in the U.S.-Mexico border wall after having traveled from South America to the United States on Dec. 10, 2021, in Yuma, Ariz. (John Moore/Getty Images) Again, that isnt meant as an argument against working to bolster our southern border and revamping immigration policy. Its just a reminder that facts matter, and that undocumented immigrants arent poisoning the blood of our nation, as Donald Trump has put it. Based on what we know so far, Ibarra is a migrant from Venezuela who fled that countrys socialist dictatorship, and has been in the United States since 2022 as an applicant for asylum. Under longstanding federal law, people who manage to enter the United States have the right to seek asylum if they claim persecution in their country of origin. However, the system created to judge whether such claims of persecution are valid has been overwhelmed. The backlog of unprocessed asylum cases is roughly three million and growing quickly, and it now takes five to seven years to either grant or deny such claims. Even asylum applicants arrested for minor crimes, as Ibarra had been, are rarely deported because federal authorities lack the resources and manpower to do so. They have more important things to do. Thats the system that allowed Ibarra to remain in the United States. If the murder charges against him are valid, thats the system that failed Laken Riley and her family, with tragic consequences. So, given what we know about Ibarras background in particular and about the immigration system in general, how could we try to address the problem? Well, what if we added 100 immigration-judge teams, to begin to address the backlog of asylum claims and remove migrants with unfounded claims more quickly? We currently have 1,000 asylum officers on staff; what if we hired more than 4,000 additional asylum officers, while significantly increasing their authority to make quick decisions on who goes and who stays? We know that Ibarra was released by immigration officials because they had no place to detain him: What if we also added 10,000 detention beds, which are generally used to house single males, while also tightening restrictions for asylum, meaning far fewer would qualify? We had the chance to find out. The bipartisan Senate immigration bill, killed at birth at Trumps demand, would have done all that and much more. Overall, the goal of such changes negotiated by Republicans and Democrats was to shrink the time needed to process asylum claims from the current five to seven years down to six months. Instead, at Trumps demand, Congress is doing nothing. If youre living in Venezuela, Nicaragua or other chaotic countries, think about what that would have done to your incentive structure. Today, you might be willing to march through jungles and deserts and pay all your savings to the cartels to smuggle you into the United States, because you know you will get to live here for five to seven years before your asylum application is even adjudicated. But if you know youre only going to get six months in the U.S., if you know that you might be detained that entire time and that your application is probably going to be denied in the end and youll be quickly shipped back home, your cost-benefit analysis changes. (The Senate bill would also have appropriated money to greatly increase the number of air flights deporting illegal immigrants back to their home countries.) Those are the kind of changes that can make a difference, that can choke off the flow of migrants northward. They would certainly have been far more effective than showboat photo ops on the border or shipping your states National Guard off to sit in the Texas desert for months at a time, as a costly public-relations gesture. If allowed to come to a vote in the House and Senate, the bipartisan Senate bill would have passed pretty easily. But as long as certain politicians find it useful to pretend that our immigration problems are some Deep State conspiracy intended to steal the country from real Americans, rather than a solvable policy challenge, were going to continue to get nowhere. The post Bookman: Bipartisan immigration bill offers solutions for border security instead of photo ops appeared first on Florida Phoenix. ISTANBUL, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Friday that Turkiye offers to facilitate a peace summit that would include Russia to solve the current Ukraine crisis. Erdogan made the remarks during a joint press conference with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following their discussions at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace. "Turkiye will continue to stand in solidarity with Ukraine while working for a negotiated, peaceful end to the war," Erdogan stated. He also addressed the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was halted in July last year, affirming Turkiye's readiness to support a renewed agreement. The initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkiye in July 2022, created a humanitarian maritime corridor allowing food and fertilizer exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. The Turkish leader pointed out that they also discussed issues such as the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, the security of ports along the maritime route, and prisoner exchanges. Zelensky underlined his country's efforts to bolster security and achieve a fair peace for both Ukraine and the broader Black Sea region. He expressed gratitude to Erdogan for supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence, acknowledging Turkiye's role in achieving significant humanitarian outcomes. The Ukrainian president's visit to Istanbul, which began at approximately 2 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) on Friday, marked his second trip to Turkiye. Prior to the press briefing, the two leaders held a meeting that lasted about 90 minutes. A card with the footprints of the fetus Jennifer Vollstedt lost in 2015 after it was diagnosed with triploidy, a fatal chromosomal condition. Vollstedt chose to terminate the pregnancy. Photo courtesy of Jenn Vollstedt Jennifer Vollstedt and Ariel Cavanaugh-Okhah have never met, but they are connected by fatal chromosomal abnormalities that affected their wanted pregnancies, and the stress and heartbreak that comes with it. Their experiences of needing to terminate their pregnancies were quite different. One took place before the Dobbs ruling overturned Roe and the federal right to abortion while the other occurred just a few months after. The two women are separated by nearly 1,500 miles. Vollstedt lives in Wisconsin. Cavanaugh-Okhah is in southern Florida. In some states, like Wisconsin, abortion restrictions were already in place before Roe fell, but the procedure was still accessible. After June 2022, patients and providers found themselves trying to navigate a patchwork of laws in 14 states that implemented strict or near-total abortion bans, some from any gestational age. Access suddenly became largely dependent on location, with some clinics in bordering states less than an hour away and others more than a 12-hour car ride. Vollstedt got pregnant for the first time at 27 in December 2014, not long after her wedding. She couldnt wait to tell friends and family. She called her grandfather to share the news over FaceTime, just weeks before he died. He was really excited, he loved babies, Vollstedt said. Her doctor ordered standard blood work and other lab tests. But while she was on a family vacation in Florida a few days later, a geneticist called. They said my results from the blood test were actually very concerning, she said. The test indicated her fetus could have a rare condition called triploidy, which means it has 69 chromosomes instead of the normal 46, and causes many developmental issues such as heart, kidney and neural tube defects. In almost all cases, the pregnancy ends in miscarriage or stillbirth. The few babies that make it to delivery die within hours or days. I was just absolutely devastated, because I really wanted this pregnancy, Vollstedt said. To confirm the diagnosis, Vollstedt had to wait until 16 weeks for an amniocentesis because of the position of her placenta. Although Roe was still in effect, that year then-Gov. Scott Walker signed a law scaling back abortion to 20 weeks. The clock was ticking. I had no doubt that I would get an abortion for this pregnancy, that I did not have any interest in carrying it to term, Vollstedt said. I knew this baby, if she survived to term, would experience suffering and then pass away. Now with confirmation of the diagnosis, and the termination appointment scheduled, Vollstedt said she avoided leaving the house. People could see I was pregnant, and would comment on my belly, and that would just send me into instant tears, she said. Everything is going on with your body that you dont want to be going on, and its just really frustrating and disappointing. I wanted to not be pregnant anymore, and I didnt have 100% control of when that happened. For the abortion, she returned to the same hospital where she had already been receiving care for her pregnancy, where she was already familiar with the nurses and doctors. I felt really cared for, and it felt really comfortable to be able to get my abortion in a hospital setting where I knew everybody, she said. It was just treated like regular, normal health care. Diagnosis came after Floridas 15-week cutoff Cavanaugh-Okhah learned she was pregnant in early October 2022, when her son was about 18 months old. That was the age gap she and her husband, Zachary Okhah, had hoped for. We were at that time with my first child when you finally start to sleep, and thought, Okay, we can try again now, she said. Everything went well at her first ultrasound, and she decided to go ahead with genetic testing. Her doctor told her that following the Dobbs ruling, if the test results flagged anything that might cause her to want to terminate the pregnancy, she would have to do it by 15 weeks according to the new Florida abortion law. He wrote the details on a sheet of paper with the name of a clinic and the deadline. I remember thinking, Thank you for the information, but thats not a me problem, and just walking out the door, Cavanaugh-Okhah said. The test results came back with a high risk of Trisomy 21, better known as Down syndrome. It is the most common chromosomal abnormality, affecting about 1 in every 700 pregnancies, and it has a higher survival rate than several other disorders. But it can come with other severe defects that decrease those odds. At first, Cavanaugh-Okhah was in denial that the results were accurate. Her doctor seemed to indicate it was probably wrong, she said, and her husband was convinced they were part of the small percentage of people whose babies end up being perfectly fine. That was a little too painful, to sit in that place of hope for weeks, she said. The doctor ordered an additional diagnostic test just before Cavanaugh-Okhah and her husband left on a trip overseas her dream vacation to Switzerland at Christmas. But they received the phone call not long after arriving confirming the condition. I just fell into my husband, and I was weeping, she said. Zach Okhah is a plastic surgeon, and he called in a favor with a friend in Germany who helped them schedule an appointment with an OB-GYN who was willing to perform another ultrasound. That doctor found fluid present in the fetus brain, a heart defect, and a gastrointestinal tract that was so poorly developed, the doctor said termination was worth discussing for that abnormality alone. At that point, Cavanaugh-Okhah was right around 15 weeks, so she wouldnt be able to get an abortion at home. In Germany, they didnt offer the type of procedure she preferred to have. And if she wanted her husband to be able to come with her, it needed to happen within the next week. So on Dec. 23, 2022, Cavanaugh-Okhah first called an abortion hotline to figure out her options, then called as many clinics as she could back in the states to find an appointment. Massachusetts was one of the options on the list, and since she met her husband in Boston, they still had family there who could offer support. But that meant disclosing the whole story to more people than she wanted to tell. We hadnt told those family members we were pregnant, so (my husband) called them and said, Hey, were pregnant, and we need an abortion, a place to stay, and child care, Cavanaugh-Okhah said. She contacted her doctor to get all of the ultrasound images and medical documents sent to the clinic, she said, because it felt like no one back home in Florida wanted to be involved with it at that point. There was one appointment available. They changed their flights and flew straight from Stuttgart, Germany, to Boston. Its so painful getting on an airplane knowing youre flying to end your pregnancy, she said. I kept on saying, I dont know that I can do this. The hospital was calm and quiet the day of her appointment, and Cavanaugh-Okhah said the doctor who cared for her helped give her the emotional support she needed to make it through the procedure. I wanted someone to tell me how many people go through this, because I couldnt find it anywhere, she said. Ill never forget, she just rolled her little chair closer to me and said, I dont have that number, but I can tell you theres a lot of you. And then I think she placed her hand on me and said, I know what youre doing today is done with absolute love and compassion for your child. We can love that pregnancy and still make that decision By the end of 2016, Vollstedt was pregnant again with her son, who is now 6. To process her grief and start to move forward took more than a year, she said, and shes not sure if she ever would have wanted to get pregnant again if she had been forced to carry that pregnancy to term. (When Roe fell) I just thought so much about where I wouldve been had all this happened after that, what other people who are going to be in my situation or similar situations are going to experience, Vollstedt said. If she had faced the same situation after the Dobbs decision, she would have been forced to look out of state for help, since Wisconsin had a full abortion ban in effect for more than a year. To have to do that many extra steps to get to Illinois or Michigan is so challenging when youre already in this really fragile mental state, she said. Cavanaugh-Okhah knows she was able to get the care she needed because she had the means to book a last-minute overseas flight, but that didnt make the experience any easier or less frightening. Even wealthy people can still lose their lives because care is too far away or otherwise inaccessible. As someone who had an ectopic pregnancy before her abortion and two miscarriages since, Cavanaugh-Okhah is all too familiar with potential complications. The Florida Supreme Court has yet to decide whether the states 15-week ban should become a six-week ban after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law in 2023 to further restrict reproductive care. Were in Miami, and if this thing passes and its a six-week ban, whats going to happen if something goes wrong? she said. I really want for people to see the humanness of us women, and that we can love that pregnancy and have so much compassion and connection, and still make that decision. Both can exist at the same time. Were not heartless monsters. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Both of these women needed to end their pregnancies. Only one got to do it on her terms. appeared first on Arizona Mirror. KANSAS CITY, Mo. In honor of International Womens Day, Boulevard Brewing Company will host a special Flower Power Happy Hour today to debut a new beer brewed on behalf of Pink Boots Society. The Pink Boots Society is a non-profit organization that supports women and non-binary people working in the fermented beverages and allied industries. The beer includes notes of sweet ripe stone fruit along little bit of savory spice. Simone Biles set to bring Gold Over America Tour to Kansas City It will be available on tap and in a custom crowler, designed by one of Boulevards female graphic designers, Kjella Acosta. Brewer Jenna Munoz will be on hand to sample her creation throughout the event. $1 from every full pour sold on March 8, plus $5 from every crowler sold in the month of March, will be donated to Pink Boots Society. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Surveys consistently show that owning a home is one of the keys to overall happiness, which no doubt explains why debates about housing prices are so emotionaland so dominant in the Legislature and at city councils. Thanks to low supply and the resulting price surges, many Californians now struggle to buy homes. The nationwide homeownership rate is nearly 66 percent, but that number is only around 55 percent in California. Obviously, homeownership comes with drawbacks. Replacing a roof or repairing a foundation is expensive. It's harder to take a new job in another city if you've got to first sell your home. But owning a home allows you to design it to your tastes. You're not living in fear the landlord will sell it. You get tax breaks and can build equity over time. You can settle in and become part of the community. The feds have long viewed homeownership as a key to economic stability. A brewing battle in Northern California 60 miles east of San Francisco in exurban Solano County will determine whether our state is serious about building new housing. It will also show whether YIMBYsthe Yes In My Back Yarders who promote housing constructionare true to their own rhetoric, or are just the urban version of NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yarders) who oppose any construction they don't like. People often have the misconception that home prices are so high in the Bay Area because urbanization has limited places to build. In reality, there's seemingly endless open land throughout the eight-county regionbut government growth controls are limiting opportunity for development. For instance, across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County, 84 percent of the land is off limits to development. No wonder the population is only 260,000and home prices are absurd. It's the same story throughout the area. Growth-control measures in Alameda County have assured that one sees nothing but lovely empty hillsides on the drive to Oakland, but they have scuttled development plans and assured million-dollar median home prices. Solano is home to some major suburbs but is dominated by vast tracts of ranchland (and wind farms) as one heads eastward to the Sacramento County line. I love the open spaces, but it's an ideal spot for a new city. That's exactly what savvy venture capitalists from the Bay Area are planning. Beginning in 2017, a group called Flannery Associates has quietly purchased 50,000 acresin a move that echoes the Walt Disney Co.'s secretive purchase of swampland around Orlando in the 1960s as it pursued the construction of Disney World and eventually Epcot Center. Big dreams require bold action, especially if one wants to build an entirely new city in regulation-choked, growth-controlled California. The project has become the biggest thing in Solano County in perhaps forever, which makes the proposal's name, California Forever, apropos. A New York Times article in August turned local buzz into a statewide controversy. It described the idea as follows: "Take an arid patch of brown hills cut by a two-lane highway between suburbs and rural land, and convert it into a community with tens of thousands of residents, clean energy, public transportation, and dense urban life." California Forever representatives have been holding the usual array of public meetings, as they prepare for a November countywide ballot initiative that's necessary to rezone the land from agricultural uses. That's necessary because in 2008 county voters overwhelmingly passed the Orwellian-named Orderly Growth Initiativea common type of NIMBY open-space measure that has paved (actually, not paved) the way for the state's housing crisis. The Press Democrat reports that the initiative campaign is off to a "bumpy start," which isn't surprising for a project of this scale. It's also not surprising that some locals take a burn at the idea of tech moguls from the Bay Area helicoptering into a somewhat rural area and imposing their big ideas on them. Fortune magazine reported that, "The Silicon Valley billionaires' Astroturf city being built from scratch is running headlong into a NIMBY backlash." Ironically, it's not only NIMBYs who are a problem. The San Francisco Chronicle reported the proposal has divided YIMBYs. "It's sprawl with a prettier face and prettier name," one YIMBY activist told the newspaper. I've found many YIMBY critiques on social media, which is odd given the plan is filled with the latest urbanist concepts. "All cities were once 'new' cities," California Forever notes. It's also spot on when it explains that "we will never, ever come close to solving our housing affordability challenges through infill alone." But many YIMBYs aren't so much about building housing, but shoehorning us into tiny apartments along bus lines. The project certainly is shaking up the housing debate across the stateand might determine whether new generations will be able to take part in the American Dream. This column was first published in The Orange County Register. The post A Brand New City in Northern California Will Show if the State Is Serious About Housing Solutions appeared first on Reason.com. Breaking these MTA rules could get you kicked out of subway, buses NEW YORK (PIX11) The New York City subway system is a privilege for New Yorkers and not a right. Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered that stern reminder on Wednesday as part of her five-point plan to protect people on the subways. Hochul will introduce legislation to allow judges to ban people convicted of violent crimes on the subway from riding subways for at least three years, she said. Similar legislation already exists but has only been used three times since 2020, she said. More Transit News Basically, if you assault someone on the subways, you wont be on the subways, Hochul said. But did you know the MTA already has a set of fines and rules of conduct laid out for commuters? The MTA said that if you skip paying the fare for a train or a bus, even if your MetroCard is not working as intended, you will be fined $100. If you are caught littering, you will also receive a $100 fine. According to the MTA, anyone violating any of their rules of conduct can be removed from the subway stations. Any person who is observed by a police officer to be violating any of these rules and who may receive or has received a notice of violation therefore, is subject to ejectment from the facilities, the MTA said. A full list of the MTAs code of conduct and list of fines can be found here: MTA rules of conductDownload Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in the New York City and Washington D.C. areas. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. When Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone in mid-January, the president had no shortage of heavy matters to discuss with his Israeli counterpart. A ceasefire and hostages deal appeared to be stalled. The civilian death toll in Gaza was mounting by the day. And the US was eager to help build a path to an eventual two-state solution. But at one point in the phone call, the two leaders turned to matters of political intrigue. Netanyahu bristled at recent media coverage citing anonymous Biden administration officials who said that the US was actively making plans for a post-Netanyahu government. Biden swatted away the idea. He made clear that the idea was farcical or at the very least, not worth spending precious time discussing. Netanyahu is the current leader of Israel, after all; he was the person that Biden and his top aides had been working with since Hamas October 7 attack on Israel, and he was the person they would continue working with as long as the prime minister was in the job. And both leaders flashed agreement on one thing: Blind quotes from government officials in media stories were an irritant. The brief exchange was described to CNN by multiple sources, who said it was a blip relative to the weighty wartime issues that the pair needed to discuss. The previously unreported back-and-forth offers a window into the two mens tenuous relationship as they each confront crises at home and growing domestic pressures, with Israels war in Gaza poised to play an outsized role in each of their political futures. Biden offered a glimpse into the tensions Thursday after concluding his State of the Union speech, in which he offered a pointed message to the leadership of Israel that humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. After stepping from the rostrum, Biden could be heard revealing to a Democratic senator some tough words for his Israeli counterpart. As Biden was making the remark, one of his aides tried to interrupt, apparently to advise the president his words would be caught by cameras. Im on a hot mic here. Good. That was good, Biden acknowledged. For Netanyahu, the eventual end of the war will force the Israeli leader to answer to the extraordinary events of October 7 that he and his government wholly failed to anticipate and could usher in the end of his already tenuous right-wing coalition. Any suggestion of active US planning for a post-Netanyahu Israeli government would no doubt aggravate the prime minister as he tries to hold off that potential reckoning. For Biden, the end of the war cant come quickly enough. Since October, the president has seen his support erode among key constituency groups like Muslim- and Arab-Americans, progressives and young voters, who are furious with Bidens refusal so far to call for a permanent ceasefire. That political predicament for Biden was clear when he delivered his State of the Union speech Thursday evening. While some administration officials had hoped that the president might have a ceasefire and hostages deal to tout, he instead announced the US military will begin establishing a port to deliver food and medical supplies to Gaza and delivered forceful comments on the humanitarian crisis. Those starkly divergent sets of interests are increasingly testing the already-fraught Biden-Netanyahu relationship. The two men, who have known each other for several decades, have had their share of frank and candid conversations recently with no shortage of sharp words and the airing of grievances. When asked for comment on the exchange, an official in the prime ministers office rejected the characterization of the call. Obviously these are two guys who politically are not aligned and have their differences, a senior administration official said. There have been frustrations, and there continue to be. But that official was emphatic that despite how much the Biden-Netanyahu relationship has been tested and worn down over the course of the war, the two leaders are more aligned on important issues than might be apparent. One senior Biden adviser acknowledged that moments of serious tension and disagreements have erupted between the two leaders since the beginning of the war. We pressured them. They dont always accept that pressure very well, the adviser said. Still, they insisted, the Biden-Netanyahu relationship remains more or less the same precisely because their divergent worldviews were never a secret. I wouldnt say the relationship is any different than probably when Joe Biden as a younger senator met Bibi, the adviser said, using Netanyahus popular nickname. Because they dont agree on a lot. Asked Tuesday about his relationship with Netanyahu, Biden, preparing to board Air Force One, simply said: Like its always been. A National Security Council spokesperson told CNN in a statement that Biden and Netanyahu have a good and productive relationship that goes back decades. This relationship allows President Biden to be honest and direct when needed, the spokesperson said. They continue to speak regularly, and the United States is a strong ally of Israel. That will continue. Even if their relationship remains in many ways consistent, the backdrop is drastically changed and the stakes dramatically higher. Their phone conversations have veered between familiar warmth and heated disputes, including a now-widely reported moment in December when Biden abruptly ended a call by declaring the conversation was over and hanging up. Biden, who has said he believes he understands Netanyahu better than anyone, has been highly attuned to his counterparts political predicament and is sensitive to being seen as aggravating any political vulnerabilities, officials said. Still, Netanyahus political standing was a subtext to the visit to Washington this week of Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet and Netanyahus chief political rival. Gantz is often mentioned as a potential future prime minister, and his meetings with White House, State Department and Pentagon officials were not officially sanctioned by Netanyahus government. While at the White House, Gantz did not meet with Biden, who was at Camp David until midday Tuesday preparing for his State of the Union address. But he did meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan along with a host of other senior officials. The decision to travel to Washington against Netanyahus will underscores the lingering tensions within the Israeli war cabinet and only seemed to advance the impression among some Israeli officials that Bidens White House is looking ahead to a time when Netanyahu is no longer in power. Bidens aides were quick to dismiss the suggestion that Gantzs meetings with Harris and other officials were a sign of looking beyond Netanyahu. No, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said flatly when asked about the dynamic on Tuesday. Privately, many administration officials view many of Netanyahus public statements about the war and comments precluding the formation of an eventual Palestinian state as motivated by his own domestic politics. The Israeli public is still widely supportive of the effort to go after Hamas, and there is not a wide discrepancy between Netanyahu and his political rivals over how to prosecute the war, even amid the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Where Netanyahu has felt pressure is on the remaining hostages. Protests in Israel have called on him to do more to secure the remaining captives release, even as the war in Gaza proceeds. Talks to secure the hostages release in exchange for a six-week pause in fighting remain halting and hopes for a deal before the start of the Ramadan holiday have faded as the back-and-forth continues between Hamas and Israel over the terms of the agreement. Biden on Friday cast doubt on the prospect of striking a deal that includes a temporary ceasefire paired with a release of hostages by Ramadan. Its looking tough, Biden told reporters in Pennsylvania, where he was campaigning. Asked if he was concerned about violence in East Jerusalem if a deal isnt reached, Biden said, I sure am. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Grant Shapps, the UK defence secretary, has urged Western nations to copy Britains example by stepping up their support for Ukraine. In a video posted on social media, Mr Shapps can be seen walking in front of a destroyed tank in Kyiv as he issues a wake up call to the world to ensure Vladimir Putin is defeated. Im in Kyiv to raise the alarm to the democratic world - we must make sure Ukraine wins this war, said Mr Shapps. The UK has stepped up to do more than ever, with our largest military support package to date. Every nation must now do the same and ensure freedom triumphs over tyranny. The defence secretary encouraged Britains allies to reflect on their democratic values, asking: What would it say if we allow a democratic country to be taken over by a dictator? Mr Shapps yesterday met with President Zelensky in Kyiv, where he announced Britains pledge to purchase an additional 10,000 drones for Ukraine, worth 325 million. Follow the latest updates below 03:13 PM GMT Thats all for today Thank you for tuning in to todays live blog. Well be back tomorrow to bring you all the latest from the Russia-Ukraine war. Key moments from today: The UK and US embassies in Russia have warned that a terrorist attack could take place in Moscow within the next 24 hours. Germany has called for end to the debate about sending European ground troops to Ukraine amid a breakdown in relations with France. European allies have banded together to purchase 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine amid acute shortages as the US continues to withhold aid. India has busted a major human trafficking network which lured young men to Russia with the promise of jobs only to force them into military service to fight in Ukraine, its crime agency reported. Ukraine has announced the mandatory evacuation of Kupiansk amid intensified Russian bombardment. France is planning to have some of its arms manufacturers start producing much-needed military equipment directly on Ukrainian soil this summer, Sebastien Lecornu, the defence minister has said. A wave of Russian missile and drone attacks in the past 24 hours have left two people dead and dozens injured. Joe Biden, the US President, said America will not walk away from Ukraine in his State of the Union address. 03:07 PM GMT Pictured: International Womens Day celebrations in Kyiv A Ukrainian servicewoman stands in front of a makeshift memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers at the Independence Square on the International Women's Day in Kyiv - GENYA SAVILOV/Getty Images 03:05 PM GMT Zelensky and Erdogan hold peace talks in Turkey Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Istanbul for talks with Tayyip Erdogan, his Turkish counterpart, to discuss a peace formula with Russia, the Ukrainian presidents office said. Kyivs Ukrinform state news agency confirmed President Zelensky had arrived in Istanbul and would visit a shipyard to see a corvette being built for Ukraine before meeting Erdogan. During the presidential meeting, Turkey is expected to emphasise its continued strong support for Ukraines territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters. It is planned to convey that Turkey is continuing its efforts to end the war as soon as possible on the basis of negotiations, the source said. Also up for discussion are the Black Sea grain deal and the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia, it is reported. 02:26 PM GMT Update: Luxembourg joins Czech-led ammunition initiative for Ukraine. Luxembourg has joined a Czech-led coalition of European nations supplying ammunition to Ukraine, Yuriko Backes, the countrys foreign minister, said. Mr Backes added that Luxembourg has recently delivered 6,000 155mm shells to Ukraine. The announcement comes after the group of countries revealed they purchased 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine. See post at 10.28am for more information. 01:50 PM GMT Ukrainian drone strike kills two, Russia claims A Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian border region of Belgorod has killed two people, the Russian governor said. Three Ukrainian kamikaze drones hit the village of Rozhdestvenska, Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a post on Telegram. As a result of the explosions, two people were killed and a third man was serious wounded, he said, adding that an ambulance crew had been dispatched to the site to treat the victims. Russias defence ministry issued a series of statements this morning claiming that its air defence forces had downed several Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region. Sitting close to the border with Ukraine, Belgorod has come under frequent artillery, rocket and drone attack throughout the two-year conflict. 01:33 PM GMT Ukraine war decimates Black Sea dolphin populations While the war in Ukraine has let to untold human suffering, it has also had a devastating impact on animal populations. Around 50,000 dolphins died in the Black Sea in 2022 owing to the impact of the war, the Economist reported. Ivan Rusev, scientific director of the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park in Bessarabia, told the magazine he is 99 per cent certain this mass slaughter has been caused by Russian naval sonar, which blinds the notoriously intelligent mammals, as well as explosions and birds from white phosphorous bombs. Luckily, since Russias Black Sea fleet was driven back last year, the number of dead dolphins washing up on Ukraines beaches has fallen drastically. In other more optimistic news for animal lovers, fox populations have boomed in Ukraine due to a hunting ban, causing the native population to leap from an estimated 200,000 two years ago to more than 500,000 now, Viktor Chervonyi, the president of Ukraines hunting association, said. Unfortunately, their blossoming numbers have also coincided with a surge in rabies cases, with the number of people seeking post-bite rabies inoculations in the first nine month of last year rising by 40 per cent. Elsewhere, Ukraines much smaller wolf and racoon-dog populations are also soaring. 12:41 PM GMT Terror attack likely in Moscow today, UK and US warn The UK and US embassies in Russia have warned that a terrorist attack could take place in Moscow within the next 24 hours. The security alert, issued by the US embassy and repeated by the UK, urged American citizens to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours. The embassy said it is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, but it did not specify what kind of threats it referred to, or who might be behind them. Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) said on March 7 that its agents had thwarted a potential Islamic State terrorist attack on a Moscow synagogue, with state-owned media reporting the militants behind the plot were killed. It is not known if the incidents are related. The embassy also advised its citizens to monitor local media for updates and be aware of your surroundings. 12:22 PM GMT Stop discussing boots on the ground in Ukraine, says Germany Germany has called for end to the debate about sending European ground troops to Ukraine amid a breakdown in relations with France. Nobody really wants boots on the ground in Ukraine, there is a discussion about it now, so we should stop it at this point, said the Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister during a visit to Helsinki. Antti Hakkanen, his Finnish counterpart, was similarly critical. No one supports the boots on the ground idea now, he said. But everyone supports greater support in the form of weapons, ammunition and money, and that is what we should focus on now concentrate. Mr Pistoriuss comments reflect a growing Franco-German rift over the European powers policy towards Ukraine. Emanuel Macron, the French president, has grown increasingly hawkish in recent weeks, yesterday calling for troops to be sent to Ukraine should Russia advance towards Kyiv or Odessa, French media reported. Meanwhile, Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, has faced criticism for his reluctance to supply Ukraine with long range missiles, yet data shows Germany has pledged 0.6 per cent of its GDP to supporting Kyiv, dwarfing Frances 0.1 per cent figure. 11:43 AM GMT Pictured: Ukrainians ready their military equipment Military training for teenagers at a school in Lviv in which they learn first aid, piloting drones and shooting with military weapons - Getty Images/Adri Salido A member of a Ukrainian reconnaissance drone unit from the 80th Air Assault Brigade poses for a portrait with a drone at a position in Donbas - Alamy Live News 11:15 AM GMT Czech Republic suspends ties with Slovakia over Moscow pandering The Czech government has suspended meetings with Slovakia in the coming months amid concerns Bratislava is shifting away from supporting Ukraine. We consider the meeting between the Slovak foreign minister and the Russian foreign minister to be problematic, the Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, said. The government therefore does not believe it is appropriate to hold intergovernmental consultations with the government of the Slovak Republic at this time. The announcement comes after Slovakias foreign minister, Juraj Blanar, last week met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Turkey, in what has been viewed as an indicator of increasing Kremlin alignment. Slovakias prime minister, Robert Fico, has recently made a string of remarks that have soured ties with Ukraine, questioning its sovereignty and calling for peace with Russia. Mr Blanar respond to the Czech governments decision by saying: We do not believe that different views on various events abroad should undermine these relations, and the same is true in the case of Ukraine, where we agree on many things we just may disagree on how to help, the Guardian reported. 10:52 AM GMT Canada to join UK-led drone coalition for Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, left, shakes hands with Grant Shapps, the British defence secretary, in Kyiv - Ukrainian Presidential Press Office Canada has pledged to join a UK and Latvia-led coalition to provide drones to Ukraine. The announcement comes as Grant Shapps, the UK defence secretary, yesterday pledged to purchase an additional 10,000 cutting edge drones for Kyiv. The new package, worth 325 million, further boosts the 200 million drone package unveiled during Rishi Sunaks visit to Kyiv in January. It mainly contains first-person view (FPV) drones, as well as surveillance and maritime drones and 1,000 one-way attack drone developed in the UK Mr Shapps said that more than 100 million from the assistance will be spent on Ukraines maritime capabilities to help Kyiv continue to turn the tide in the Black Sea. 10:28 AM GMT Allies fundraise to buy 800,000 shells for Ukraine European allies have banded together to purchase 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine amid acute shortages as the US continues to withhold aid. Petr Pavel, the Czech President, said that a 119m boost from Norway had helped the initiative reach its target figure, Czech media reported. Norway was the last member of the coalition to get on board, with the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Latvia, and Canada also contributing. Prague launched its military aid initiative in February, locating 500,000 155mm shells and 300,000 122mm shells outside Europe that could be sent to Ukraine when the funds were raised. Now everything will depend on our companies and the defense ministrys abilities to speed up the whole process Mr Pavel said. 10:02 AM GMT India busts trafficking ring duping citizens into fighting for Russia, says Delhi India has busted a major human trafficking network which lured young men to Russia with the promise of jobs only to force them into military service to fight in Ukraine, its crime agency reported. Around 35 people have been sent to Russia in the scheme so far, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said, almost double the 20-person figure that the Indian foreign ministry previously mentioned. At least two men who went to Russia expecting to work as helpers in the army have died while fighting at the front, their families have said. The Indian Embassy in Russia confirmed one of those deaths. The traffickers, operating across several Indian states, targeted people using social media platforms and through local agents, the CBI said in a statement. Hemil Mangukiya, middle, died in a missile strike in Ukraine after emigrating from Gujurat, India, to Russia last December - REUTERS The trafficked Indian nationals were trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes, the statement said, adding that some of the victims were also grievously injured in the war zone. The CBI said it was conducting searches at several locations, including in the capital New Delhi and financial capital Mumbai, and 50 million rupees (470,000) had already been seized along with documents and electronic records. Certain suspects have also been detained for questioning at various locations, it said. The foreign ministry has said that every case of Indians being duped into fighting in the war had been strongly taken up with Moscow. The Russian foreign ministry has not responded to requests for comment on the issue. 09:30 AM GMT Ukraine orders mandatory evacuation of Kupiansk Ukraine has announced the mandatory evacuation of Kupiansk amid intensified Russian bombardment. All residents, including over 1,000 children, are to be forced to leave 57 settlements in the region owing to the danger from constant shelling, Oleh Syniehubov, Kharkivs regional governor, stated on Telegram. Meanwhile, all children, along with their parents, will be evacuated from 18 villages in the Velykoburlutska and Vilkhuvatska communities, where around 160 minors currently live. Mr Syniehubov said that these residents will be relocated within Kharkiv and other regions of Ukraine, where accommodation is already prepared for them. We must protect families with children from Russian terror of civilians in the Kharkiv region, he said. Every day they risk their lives, because the Russians use the entire arsenal of weapons: artillery, UAVs, mortars, and aircraft. More than 28,000 people have evacuated from Kharkiv since the beginning of this year, Ukrainska Pravda reported. Kupiansk is a crucial strategic city in Kharkiv that has come under heavy attacks in recent months as Russia intensified assault on Ukraines eastern front. Elsewhere, 28 children are to be evacuated from Donetsk, the ministry of reintegration reported. 09:14 AM GMT French defence companies to build military equipment on Ukrainian soil France is planning to have some of its arms manufacturers start producing much-needed military equipment directly on Ukrainian soil this summer, Sebastien Lecornu, the defence minister has said. Three French companies will be setting up partnerships with Ukrainian companies, in particular in the drone and land equipment sectors, to produce spare parts on Ukrainian soil, and perhaps ammunition in the future, Mr Lecornu said. The idea is to have the first production units running this summer. He hinted the companies involved would include tank manufacturer KNDS, the holding structure formed by Frances Nexter and Germanys Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann. His comments come after the French President, Emmanuel Macron, said yesterday that French troops could be sent to Ukraine should Russia advance towards Kyiv or Odesa, the French newspaper lIndependent reported. 08:47 AM GMT Two dead and dozens injured as Russia launches aerial bombardment A wave of Russian missile and drone attacks in the past 24 hours have left two people dead and dozens injured. A man and a woman were killed in in Kupiansk, after the city came under fire from multiple rocket strikes, Oleh Syniehubov, the Kharkiv Governor, reported. Early this morning, at least seven people were injured, including a three-year-old girl, in S-300 missile strikes on Chuchiv, 50 miles to the west. This came on top of strikes later on yesterday that injured two people in the city. In neighbouring Sumy, 10 people were injured, with four of them hospitalised, in missile strikes that also damaged a school and the central city hospital, the local government reported. A woman inside her destroyed house after Russian bombing in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk - Getty Images/Diego Herrera Carcedo Russian forces fired at the Sumy region 32 times yesterday, striking 11 communities and causing over 230 explosions, the regional military administration said. Despite Russias bombardment, Ukraine shot down 33 out of 37 drones launched overnight, with 18 Shahed kamikaze destroyed over Odesa, the military said. Oleh Kiper, Odesas regional governor, said an infrastructure facility in the region was damaged, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Drones were also downed over the central Kropyvnytskyi and the eastern Kharkiv regions, the air force said. 08:32 AM GMT Biden vows America wont turn its back on Ukraine Joe Biden, the US President, said America will not walk away from Ukraine in his State of the Union address. The President used the annual address to urge a divided Congress to approve stalled military aid to Ukraine. Putin of Russia is on the march, invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond, President Biden said. If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you he will not. My message to President Putin, who Ive known for a long time, is simple - We will not walk away. 07:59 AM GMT Macron: West may need to save Ukraine if Russia makes breakthrough Emmanuel Macron warned that the West may have to step in to save Ukraine if Russia makes a breakthrough on the Eastern front, according to reports on Thursday, Henry Samuel writes. The French president produced maps to show opposition leaders, invited to the Elysee Palace, points of potential Russian breakthrough towards Odesa or Kyiv. He told them there should be no more red lines on his countrys involvement in the conflict. These are maps of the Ukrainian front line freely available anywhere, the Elysee told The Telegraph. Speaking after the two and a half-hour meeting, the party chiefs said the talks with Mr Macron had left them concerned, with some accusing him of seeking to exploit the conflict for domestic gain ahead of key European elections in June. Read Henrys full report here. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Migrants line up after being brought to shore in Garaboli by a Libyan coast guard from the Mediterranean Sea - YOUSEF MURAD/AP Britain is to pay Libya to stop migrants crossing the Mediterranean and instead repatriate them to their home countries under a pioneering deal with the North African state. Announcing the agreement in an article for The Telegraph below, Michael Tomlinson, the illegal immigration minister, said the scheme involving the voluntary returns was a fundamental tool in driving down migration numbers. Libya is one of the main embarkation points for migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean. Nearly 40,000 reached Europe last year from the country despite the dangers of the boat journey. They accounted for more than a quarter of the record 150,000 who crossed the Mediterranean in 2023. Under the agreement, Mr Tomlinson said the UK will pay Libya 1 million to help fund the return of migrants from the North African state to their countries of origin. These voluntary returns are one of the most fundamental and important tools at our disposal for driving down migration numbers globally, he said. Tackling the global migration crisis and smashing the evil gangs who drive it are shared challenges that must be met with a shared response. The work I have seen first hand here in Libya and across North Africa is absolutely critical, but we know there is more that must be done. The funding and support we are providing will mean Libya is better equipped to stop people risking their lives to reach Europe. It also demonstrates our commitment to crack down on people smugglers operating not just in the English Channel, but across the whole world. Michael Tomlinson, the illegal immigration minister, said the scheme was a 'fundamental tool' in driving down migration numbers - CHRIS J. RATCLIFFE/BLOOMBERG Britain has signed upstream deals with other countries to target people smugglers. These include Turkey, the source of up to 90 per cent of the small boats that cross the Channel. A new centre, backed by 3 million in UK Government funds, is being set up by Turkish police to help coordinate joint operations to cut off the supply of boats and boost intelligence sharing on the gangs between UK and Turkish border force and police. Last October Rishi Sunak agreed similar bilateral initiatives with Belgium, Bulgaria and Serbia aimed at tackling organised crime linked to illegal migration. It comes on top of returns agreements with countries including Albania, Georgia, India and Pakistan to deport and return illegal nationals from those states. The new deal with Libya was concluded this week by Mr Tomlinson on a visit to the country where he held talks on illegal migration with Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, the prime minister. The minister met with officers from Libyan law enforcement and the National Crime Agency who are working to disrupt and dismantle people smuggling gangs driving illegal migrants towards Europe. Bolstering voluntary returns programmes in countries like Libya will help stop the boats By Michael Tomlinson, the illegal immigration minister The waters off the Libyan coast are alluring but deadly. Thousands died and disappeared last year whilst attempting to cross the Mediterranean. Likewise we have seen again this week loss of life during attempts to cross the English Channel a tragic reminder of just how dangerous these small boat crossings really are. Illegal migration has a human cost. We simply cannot afford to look away. Now faced with the most complex and consequential of challenges, the United Kingdom is playing a leading role not just on the European front, but on the global stage. This is an international problem that requires an international solution. It is in this context that I have this week visited Libya, where I announced up to 1 million to tackle illegal migration at the source. Libya is a crucial launch point for migrants, and the funding and support we are providing will ensure Libya is better equipped to stop people risking their lives to reach Europe. As well as supporting survivors of trafficking, the funding will provide assistance for migrants who choose to return to their countries of origin. These voluntary returns are one of the most fundamental and important tools at our disposal for driving down migration numbers globally. Overcrowded wooden boat packed with 99 migrants is approached by a tender from Doctors Without Borders off the Libya coast - CANDIDA LOBES/MSF Last year we removed almost 20,000 people from the UK by their own choice, nearly double the number in 2022. By bolstering these programmes in countries like Libya, we can have a significant impact on stopping the record numbers of people headed towards our continent. We have already seen evidence that this works. Similar assistance provided to Tunisia allowed them to return thousands of migrants to their home countries last year. The timing for this has never been more critical. We are taking these steps as arrivals into Europe from north Africa are at an all-time high. More than 150,000 migrants arrived in Italy by sea last year having crossed the Mediterranean an increase from 2022 with many of these crossings departing from Libya. During my visit, I discussed the ongoing challenge with the Libyan prime minister and held productive meetings in Tripoli with representatives from the EU, UN, France, Germany and Malta. Of course, everyone understands that these are deep-rooted and difficult issues. But on the visit, and indeed ever since my appointment, I have detected a genuine will on all sides to grapple with this growing global crisis. I was also able to observe close co-operation between Libyan law enforcement and the UKs National Crime Agency. Just as governments must work in tandem, so the services on the front line must collaborate wherever possible to disrupt and dismantle the people smuggling gangs. The new funding I announced is only the latest step in our drive to bolster international efforts, building on our new deal with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and agreements with other countries including Vietnam and Albania. The Prime Minister and Home Secretary have been unequivocal that we will confront this challenge head on. Thanks to their leadership, we are seeing progress, with small boat crossings to the UK down by 36 per cent last year, even as numbers jumped up elsewhere in Europe. There is more to be done. The strain that illegal migration places on taxpayers and on our public services has real-life consequences for British people, and we know they rightly expect us to be relentless in tackling this. This isnt just Libya or North Africa; it isnt just Europe. It is a global challenge. And we are getting on with the job. We will do whatever it takes to secure our borders, reform our immigration system, and stop the boats. 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. Mantas Palionis, left, and Tomas Staukauskas were jailed after stealing 250,000 worth of GPS equipment - CHP/Humberside Police Foreign gang members are travelling to the UK to steal from farming communities in order to help fund international drug smuggling organisations, a new report has found. The research revealed that organised crime groups from Eastern Europe were sending teams of lower ranking recruits on raids to countries across the continent with the sole purpose of victimising rural areas. The groups operated within a rigid hierarchy and primarily targeted high value GPS systems, worth tens of thousands of pounds on the black market. The profits were then fed back into the organisations, which were involved in drug selling across Europe, according to the report, which was carried out on behalf of the National Rural Crime Network (NCRN). Criminals are looking for new opportunities The research said it looked at 22 active organised criminal groups operating in the UK, and claimed that was only a fraction of the total number. While the majority of those were made up of domestic offenders, foreign nationals also played a central role in sustaining part of the UKs rural crime problem, the report concluded. Dr Kate Tudor, a professor of criminology at Durham University and author of the report, said: Essentially, they are entrepreneurs working in the field of illicit business. They are already well grounded in crimes such as drug dealing, but theyre always looking for new and emerging business opportunities. Dr Tudor said that the groups drug-smuggling enterprise meant they had the knowledge and infrastructure in place to transport illicit goods, and people, across borders. The latest figures from NFU Mutual indicate that costs associated with the theft of agricultural machinery and vehicles increased by 29 per cent to 11.7 million in 2023. Those related to the theft of agricultural GPS systems rose by 15 per cent to 1.8 million. The computer equipment is used to guide and monitor machinery during precision processes such as sowing and harvesting. Links to international crime networks In her research, Dr Tudor looked at one organised crime group operating out of Lithuania named in her report as Sycamore. She said: They tended to work in small teams, coming to the UK for short periods of time with the sole purpose of committing rural crime While the group primarily focused on the theft of GPS systems, they also had links to chop shops for stolen vehicles. The way in which Sycamore executed thefts unequivocally evidenced the significant levels of professionalism, organisation and skill which characterises this particular model of criminality. The [criminals] involved in this theft series were highly organised, both in the sense of their modus operandi but also in their links to wider forms of transnational organised crime networks, Dr Tudor said. She said that there was a rigid hierarchy within the group and evidence existed of their use of violence to maintain order among their members. Tip of the iceberg In November last year, two Lithuanian gang members from another organisation were convicted at Hull Crown Court after stealing GPS devices. Tomas Staukauskas, 32 and Mantas Palionis, 31 were jailed for four and three years respectively after using drones to carry out reconnaissance before stealing almost fifty GPS systems worth a total of just under 250,000. Staukauskas also admitted entering the country in breach of a deportation order served on him in December 2017 while he was in prison. He had come back to this country illegally four times. Nigel Clive, mitigating, said that Staukauskas came to the UK to earn easy money. He added: Clearly, there were those more involved than him. The Crown has not cut the head off this snake by his arrest. Alongside the agricultural thefts the gang were simultaneously involved in high-level drug supply. The report concluded: The ongoing decision of Sycamores senior members to incorporate rural serious organised agricultural crime into their broader criminal undertakings, alongside other forms of serious organised crime, is testament to their ability to generate significant profits from this area of business, and of their ability to operate with relative ease in this arena. Rural policing needs to adapt Andy Huddleston, the head of the rural crime unit, said: A lot of these groups have links to organised criminality internationally not locally. Thats what people miss. When you add all these thefts up across the country it has a significant impact. The report also highlighted the scale of domestic gangs whose sophistication constitutes organised criminality. The NCRN said there needed to be a review of the way in which police viewed, and tackled, rural crime gangs. Recommendations on the back of the report included tougher sentences for criminals involved, the recruitment of rural crime specialists, more funding and tougher controls at ports and borders. It also called for more research into the economic impact of agricultural theft, including the subsequent damage and delays to food production. Sarah Lee, director of policy and campaigns for the Countryside Alliance, said: The reports findings make clear that current understandings of and responses to rural crime fall dangerously short of grappling with the severity and complexity of the UKs rural crime problem. We will continue to support rural communities in combating rural crime and voicing their concerns to police forces around the country. 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. Cities like Oxford have seen the proportion of homes on the market go under offer or 'sold subject to contract' grow over the past year - joe daniel price The housing market is rebounding, according to Zoopla, with sales agreed 15pc higher than this time last year. But which markets are bouncing back most decisively? PropCast has identified the five UK cities where the number of properties that are under offer or sold subject to contract has increased the most compared to a year ago. Coventry, Oxford, Chelmsford and Sunderland all appear on the list; so what is driving the upswing in these very different cities? Coventry The number of people moving to Coventry by 21pc in the past five years - Thomas Faull Top of the table is the West Midlands city where 68pc of properties on the market are under offer or sold subject to contract, equal to a rise of 11.5pc since 12 months ago. This is far above the national average of 39pc. New buyer registrations are up 47pc on a year ago, said Mike Cleary of agent Sheldon Bosley Knight, driven by affordability. Coventry has been undervalued for too long but that is finally changing. Among these changes are the 82m upgrade to the railway station (with trains taking an hour to London), the 450m redevelopment including City Centre South, a new mixed-use quarter, and the new West Midlands gigafactory. The number of people moving to Coventry by 21pc in the past five years, according to Knight Frank analysis of data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Investors from Dubai and Hong Kong with links to the citys University of Warwick are among purchasers of new luxury apartments, said Mr Cleary. Popular suburbs in the citys southwest are Earlsdon, Stivichal, Cheylesmore and Finham. A three-bedroom house near Finham Park School, an oversubscribed secondary, costs around 325,000. Buy-to-let investors from the capital are also active, said Jag Chaggar of Tutis Estates. They are buying two-bedroom properties for around 140,000 in CV2 and CV6 postcodes, areas on the outskirts with good transport links. Rental rates of 900 to 950 per month make up for the higher mortgage costs. Lichfield Lichfield's arts scene and its festivals are drawing in newcomers - Nicholas E Jones With 40pc of properties under offer, up 5.3pc in the last year, the compact Staffordshire city has an average sold price of 325,217, according to Rightmove. Lichfield attracts professionals and downsizers for its arts scene, festivals and independent shops: its got Staffordshires first and only Michelin-starred restaurant, Upstairs by Tom Shepherd. Good schools such as King Edwards VI attract families. Demand for three-bedroom semis at 400,000 to 500,000 is driving the market, said Simon Pickering, of Hunters estate agency, with many first-time buyers or second-steppers bypassing two-bedroom properties. He added that Streethay has been gaining popularity, helped by a new primary school, and easy access to Lichfield Trent Valley station. James Kidd from Paul Carr Estate agents is seeing a flow of buyers from nearby Sutton Coldfield. They are attracted by having more to do right on their doorstep. This month a young couple [from there] bought a two-bedroom flat for 200,000 in the centre of Lichfield. Boley Park estate remains popular, he added; here, four-bedroom houses are around 450,000. Chelmsford Chelmsford continues attract young professionals with its offering of shopping and restaurants - Nigel Harris House prices in the Essex city have fallen in the last year, from 421,765 a year ago to now 415,546, according to OnTheMarket. But the proportion of homes for sale that are under offer or sold subject to contract is now 45pc, up 4.7pc in the last year. Its Bond Street shopping and restaurants continue to attract young professionals; last month it was named the best train station for London commuters by On Time Trains, with 88pc of its trains running on time in 2023. The arrival of a second station at Beaulieu Park, in 2025 will help cater for the hundreds of new homeowners in developments in the east and northeast of the city. It was ease of access to London, good schools and the prospect of property price rises that drew Ellyanne and Russell Bradley to Beaulieu on the northeast outskirts of Chelmsford in 2022. The parents of two children bought a four-bedroom house on Cala Homes development within the 604-acre new district, where the new train station is being built. We longed for greener surroundings after feeling cooped up during Covid and wanted to upsize from our old village, 15 minutes from Beaulieu, said Ms Bradley, a procurement manager. We wanted to be rural, and had plans to move to Saffron Walden, but the waiting list for schools was a nightmare. With the children approaching secondary school age, the schools in Beaulieus catchment appealed. Its within easy reach of Chelmsford centre, with lots more outside space. Karl Manning, of Savills, said they continue to see upsizing buyers from south-west Essex and east London looking for space and schooling. Our most recent sale was a 1920s five-bedroom house that went for just under the guide price of 995,000, after numerous viewings. Those looking for a bit more value might look to Chelmer Village, where three-bedroom houses are around 350,000. Mark Lawrinson, of Beresford, reports that there are 38pc more first-time buyer applicants than a year ago. The strongest activity is 250,000 to 300,000 one and two-bed flats. He added that in the centre, studio flats for around 170,000 are still interesting BTL investors too. Sunderland Sunderland is popular with buy-to-let investors as well as families moving to the city - sonny2962 This Tyne & Wear port town, with an average property price of 163,508, according to Rightmove, is attracting a mix of first-time buyers and investors. Here, the proportion of properties under offer is 41pc, 2.5pc higher than last year. In 2023 it was one of the top 15 UK locations for rental returns, according to Hamptons, with an average yield of 9.5pc. Its a no-brainer to invest here right now, its really changing, said local buy-to-let owner Darryl Cullerton. He has bought 70 properties in the city for between 25,000 and 75,000. Even with buy-to-let mortgage rates of 15pc to 16pc the numbers still stack up. One-bedroom flats are good bets for students. Local investors like the Hylton Castle and Castletown areas, said Natalie Banks of Purplebricks. They are looking at three-bedroom semis from around 120,000, while families like the Victorian terraces of Ashbrooke or High Barnes for schools. Family homes in pricier areas are also in demand, said Thom Swalwell of Hunters. Seaburn, Roker, and Fulwell are popular; also further north by the coast SR6 (Whitburn and Cleadon): three-bedroom homes from 250,000, he added. Oxford Oxford's life sciences and education sectors underpin the attractiveness of the city for many new buyers - Alexey_Fedoren The university city doesnt go out of fashion, despite an average property price of 575,029 in the past six weeks, according to OnTheMarket. The number of people moving to Oxford has increased by 17pc over the past five years, according to Knight Frank and ONS data. Here, there are 2.1pc more properties on the market that are under offer or sold subject to contract than last year. Many newly arriving employers and staff are in the life sciences sector. Oxford saw its highest total ever recorded laboratory space in 2023, according to Savills, and this, along with education, underpins demand in the residential market. Oxford North, a new life sciences district, will include laboratories and workspaces for biomedical science, homes, parks, shops and restaurants. The popular suburb of Headington in the east is very popular for buy-to-let buyers and students, and for others priced out of the expensive North Oxford and Summertown areas. You can find a four-bedroom house for 800,000 in Old Headington, through Chancellors. Charles Elsmore-Wickens, of Savills, said: More properties are coming onto the market as buyers and sellers are wanting to get on with things. Last week we had competitive bidding on a property in St Giles, and then a five-bedroom semi at 2.85m sold in excess of the guide price. Their busiest price range is 1m-2.5m. 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. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has advocated for the delivery of long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, asserting that such a move would not escalate the conflict, DW reported on March 7. These discussions have occurred repeatedly since the Russian invasion two years ago, Cameron said. Read also: UK urges Germany to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine Bloomberg For instance, there were claims that supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons would lead to escalation. Yet, no such escalation occurred. Similarly, providing Ukraine with tanks was predicted to escalate the situation, which also did not materialize. The same was said about supplying Ukraine with long-range artillery or missiles, and again, no escalation ensued, Cameron added. In September 2023, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that Berlin had not outright refused to transfer Taurus missiles to Ukraine but was presently not prepared to do so. This hesitation may stem from concerns expressed by Olaf Scholz, who reportedly feared that Kyiv might use the missiles to attack Russian territory. Read also: Taurus missiles no game changer for Ukraine, Pistorius says after Germany rejects their transfer Despite Ukraines assurances that it will not employ Western long-range missiles to strike Russian soil, on Jan. 17, the Bundestag did not support a draft resolution advocating for the supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, with only 178 out of 666 MPs voting 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. On Feb. 29, Scholz said that Germany was not ready to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles because they could be used to strike Moscow. On March 4, Scholz said that he ruled out the possibility of giving Ukraine long-range Taurus missiles if German soldiers were to be involved in their operation. 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 GAZA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said in a statement on Friday that a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza are essential conditions for any prisoner exchange agreement. The Brigades' spokesperson, Abu Ubaydah, emphasized in the statement that there would be no compromise on these demands. Ubaydah accused the Israeli government of "deceit" in the negotiation process, which he described as marked by "confusion and bewilderment." Ubaydah also highlighted the plight of Gaza's residents, particularly children suffering from malnutrition, adding that the hostages taken by Hamas are also affected by the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. "Some of them are suffering from illness due to lack of food and medicine," he said. On Thursday, Hamas announced that its delegation had left Cairo to consult with the movement's leadership on ceasefire negotiations, reaffirming its commitment to negotiations aimed at ending hostilities, assisting displaced individuals, and providing humanitarian aid to Gaza's residents. Talks have been ongoing in Egypt, with representatives from Qatar, the United States, and Hamas aiming to establish a ceasefire in Gaza before Ramadan, which begins around March 10 this year. Britt goes after dithering, diminished Biden in State of the Union rebuttal Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) argued Thursday that President Biden is a dithering and diminished leader who is taking the U.S. down a worrisome path. Delivering the GOP response to Bidens State of the Union from her own kitchen table, the first-term senator laid into the president for the border, crime, the economy and his work on the international stage. President Biden just doesnt get it. Hes out of touch. Under his administration, families are worse off, our communities are less safe and our country is less secure, she said from her home in Montgomery, Ala. I just wish he understood what real families are facing around kitchen tables just like this one. Britt, the youngest woman in the Senate, also took direct aim at Bidens age, which has become a sore spot for Democrats, and said he was not physically or mentally up to leading the country for four more years. Right now, our commander in chief is not in command, Britt said. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defense are the cornerstones of a great nation. There is no doubt were at a crossroads, and it doesnt have to be this way. We all feel it. But heres the good news: We the People are still in the drivers seat, Britt said. We get to decide whether our future will grow brighter, or whether well settle for an America in decline. Well, I know which choice our children deserve and the choice the Republican Party is fighting for. The contrast between the 42-year-old Britt and 81-year-old Biden was one her Republican colleagues hoped would be apparent. The speech marked the grand entrance on the national stage for Britt, who has largely kept out of the spotlight since winning her seat in 2022. The former chief of staff to former Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) was added to McConnells leadership team last year and has a seat on the Appropriations Committee, which her former boss once chaired. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said days earlier that he and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) recommended her to deliver the rebuttal because they believed she would be particularly effective in laying out the case against the president. And she tried to lean into that role Thursday. Tonight, the American family needs to have a tough conversation, because the truth is, were all worried about the future of our nation. The country we know and love seems to be slipping away. It feels like the next generation will have fewer opportunities and less freedom than we did. I worry my own children may not even get a shot at living their American dreams. But her speech got mixed reviews. The State of the Union response is widely considered a thankless task, and many lawmakers before Britt had stumbled. While political-watchers acknowledged she was a rising star in the GOP, some questioned the setting and the delivery. Former Trump White House aide and current CNN pundit Alyssa Farah Griffin called the staging in Britts kitchen bizarre. Women can be both wives and mothers and also stateswomen, she said. So to put her in a kitchen, not in front of a podium or in the Senate chamber where she was elected where she won a very hard-fought race, I felt fell very flat and was confusing to some women watching it. And Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) called it the worst overacting since Ishtar. The White House also heaped criticism on her 17-minute long speech over her opposition to the bipartisan border deal that Republicans rejected last month and pointed to her home states role in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) debate. Last month, Senator Britt sided against President Biden, the Border Patrol Union, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce by opposing the toughest bipartisan border deal in modern history instead voting with fentanyl traffickers, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said. Whats more, because an extreme Supreme Court decision overturned Roe v. Wade and set American women back nearly 50 years with Senator Britts support women across Alabama were just cut off from IVF treatment and dreams of growing their families, Bates added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Fans who follow Brittany Mahomes on social media know she shares a lot there about her personal life, whether its revealing her childrens food allergies or how her hair started thinning after having babies. This week the co-owner of the Kansas City Current womens soccer team became an Instagram crusader for a topic some, perhaps many, women are uncomfortable talking about: gynecological health. Just your daily reminder: Once you have kids please take care of your pelvic floor, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wrote in an Instagram Story. Seriously. From: A girl with a fractured back. When Dr. Gary Sutkin, a urogynecologist with University Health, saw her message my first thought is Im a big fan of Brittany Mahomes, so Im excited that she is talking about this ... so glad that shes spreading the word of how important it is to take care of your pelvic floor. Sutkin specializes in urology and gynecology, diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the pelvic floor the hammock-like set of muscles stretching from the pubic bone to the tailbone that support the uterus, bladder and rectum. When they become weak, stretched out or deteriorate, a whole host of problems can follow. Mahomes also mentioned that she has fractured her back, but didnt elaborate. Without more details, Sutkin was uncertain how her advice about the pelvic floor was connected to a back injury. But you can imagine that the back goes all the way from the neck, all the way down to our bottoms, he said. And so a big part of the spine, a big part of the back, overlaps with the pelvis, so Im wondering if shes talking about that. The other possibility is there are a lot of muscles in the back that connect to the muscles of the pelvis, and so women that have problems with some of their back muscles can have problems with their pelvic floor muscles, too. Pregnancy and childbirth notice Mahomes addressed fellow moms are common causes of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, which the Cleveland Clinic describes as a condition where you cant correctly relax and coordinate the muscles in your pelvic floor to urinate (pee) or have a bowel movement (poop). Pregnancy and childbirth, along with aging, being overweight and surgery can weaken the pelvic floor muscles. These are muscles that sit right there where the baby is sitting. So first of all during pregnancy, the weight of the baby as it grows is sitting on these muscles and ligaments and causing changes to them, said Sutkin. And then all of these muscles and ligaments have to spread and move to the side as the baby comes out, as the baby delivers. And so these muscles can get bent out of shape, they can get stretched, they can get torn, they can hurt just from the weight thats been on them the whole time. Mahomes has given birth twice, to daughter Sterling Skye, on Feb. 20, 2021, and Patrick Bronze Lavon Mahomes III on Nov. 28, 2022. Brittany Mahomes at the Super Bowl last month. Multiple births and delivering bigger babies can also affect the pelvic floor, Sutkin said, but women who have never had children can have problems, too. Genetics plays into it, he said. Some women are more susceptible to this. Some women cannot have babies or have small babies and still have pelvic floor issues. And of course there are some women who have multiple large babies who dont have pelvic floor issues. But either way I think her advice is spot-on, which is just that when youre pregnant, and especially after the pregnancys over, thats a really ideal time to work on your pelvic floor. Work that pelvic floor Sutkin encourages patients to think of strength and coordination exercises for the pelvic floor muscles like working out any other part of the body. Its not that different from going to the gym and working on your biceps or working on your quads, he said And those good, old-fashioned Kegel exercises are wonderful for the pelvic floor. Dr. Gary Sutkin You might benefit from Kegel exercises, the Mayo Clinic says, if you leak a few drops of urine while sneezing, laughing or coughing, or have strong, sudden urges to urinate right before urinating a large amount. They can be done discreetly, anytime. No one has to know that youre contracting and relaxing your pelvic floor muscles during that Zoom meeting, at the movies or while watching TV. Heres a how-to guide from University of Michigan Health. If you cant figure them out, ask your doctor. Sutkin tells his patients its the sensation of youre sitting on the toilet and the phone rings and you have to cut off your urine stream to go answer the phone, he said. Many patients who see him and his partners in Kansas City and Lees Summit are having bladder problems such as urinary incontinence and excessive urination, all of which can be signs that theres something wrong with the pelvic floor, he said. But its also reasonable to go to a urogynecologist or doctor just saying, you know what, I want my pelvic floor assessed. I want to know whats the status of my muscles, how did pregnancy affect my muscles, how strong are they? Pregnancy can sometimes affect the shape of the muscles and thats something we can assess. So its reasonable to ask that question. And dont be afraid to use the word vagina, Sutkin said. Vagina is the most common word I use at the dinner table when I talk about work and I have two teenage boys and it just embarrasses them, he said. But we have to say the word vagina. It is an important word. So yes, I would encourage everybody to talk about vaginas. For every person who gets a little embarrassed about Mahomes talking about this topic, Sutkin said, Theres going to be a lot more women who are going to feel empowered to talk about their own pelvic floor health. What was planned to be a 16-pump gas station on environmentally sensitive land is now on the way to becoming preserved greenspace the size of Tallahassees Tom Brown Park. Thank the Florida Legislature's budget negotiators. The final 2024-25 state budget to be voted on this Friday includes $3.7 million for Conservation Florida to buy 225 acres at the intersection of U.S. 319 and State Road 267, 14 miles south of the Capitol in Wakulla County. Gov. Ron DeSantis would have to sign off on the expenditure. The land is right above an underground cavern known as Chips Hole Cave. Divers for the Woodville Karst Plains Project have documented that the cave opens to an underground river connecting the iconic Wakulla Springs, four miles to the east, to the Floridan Aquifer a giant underground reservoir that provides drinking water for four states. A research team which included two underground underwater divers mapped the route from Turner Sink in Leon County to Chip's Hole in Wakulla County, Jan. 7, 2023 The money is to perpetually protect the karst window to the aquifer and to provide opportunities for public access and limited recreation. (Karst is ground that is largely limestone or other porous rock, creating surface features like sinkholes and caves.) Two years ago, the SunStop Oil Company announced plans to build a gas station at the site four miles west of Wakulla Springs, the worlds largest known freshwater spring, and an international tourist attraction whose jungle-like ambience has been used for background in horror and disaster movies. When the Wakulla County Commission met to approve a zoning ordinance to allow the gas station, car wash and convenience store development, an audience of more than 400 people turned out in 119-degree heat, filling the commission chamber and parking lot behind the courthouse. But the zoning item was pulled from the meeting agenda and the project has remained stalled. In the meantime, commissioners revisited its springs protection ordinances and residents petitioned for help from two local lawmakers: Sen. Corey Simon, R-Quincy, and Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, and the environmental group Conservation Florida. Ralph Thomas is chair of the Wakulla County Commission The effort resulted in a plan where conservation money purchases the property with the intent to prevent possible contamination of Wakulla Springs and relocates the proposed gas station across State Road 267 and away from Chips Hole Cave on property currently owned by the St. Joe Company. "The region will still benefit from a new gas station to support a growing population and tourism industry, but can rest easy knowing the caves protecting America's largest freshwater springs are protected," said Shoaf. He called the agreement a "great example of government and private organizations working together toward a common mission." County commission chair Ralph Thomas said the site could become a smaller version of Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna. Thomas proposes an educational component that explains the regions unique karst foundation and provides a glimpse into the pathway of an underground river that sends more than 400 million gallons of water a day to Wakulla Springs. Residents turn out in force: Fears of gas station near Wakulla Springs on pause after company pulls rezoning request A battle for Wakulla Springs: Sweltering standoff with Wakulla Commission over gas station leads to hope for springs A unique geology: A look at why Wakulla Springs water could be at risk for gas contamination Everyone knows about Mariannas caverns," he said. "This is a smaller version. Chips Hole connects right to the aquifer and opens right there on the surface of the ground. Hopefully this will help us showcase that to folks." And Gil Damon, who had organized the "Clean Water Wakulla" Facebook group for the DownRiver Project to protest at commission meetings about development above Chips Hole, said he was "happy with the leadership weve seen from our legislators." "We're excited to see what the next phase looks like, he said. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @CallTallahassee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida budget means proposed Wakulla Springs gas station will be park Bella Greer had been left upset on the day of her death because of an undisclosed matter with a pupil at Saint Bede's Catholic High School in Lytham - SWNS A jovial 14-year-old girl who was bullied at school killed herself following delays in NHS help from mental health services, an inquest heard. Blackpool Coroners Court heard Bella Greer was found by her mother, Sarah, on October 5 last year. Bella had been left upset on the day of her death because of an undisclosed matter with a pupil at Saint Bedes Catholic High School in Lytham, the court heard. But a friend said she seemed to have shrugged it off as she was known to do and she was also noted as having a jovial and happy personality. Coroner Louise Rae read out statements that painted Bella as a positive young person, who showed no obvious signs of depression. But the coroner said she had been a victim of bullying from a young age and had moved from Lytham High School because of the way the pupils treated her. The court heard that the unpleasant behaviour towards sweet and generous Bella started again at her new school. She had then gone to see her doctor with her mother to get help with her mental health just under a month before her death. The court heard Bella had been referred for an urgent mental health assessment by her GP on September 12, 2023. However, the referral had not been received as it had gone to the wrong email address. On September 14, a member of the Adverse Childhood Experiences team helped Bella to complete a self-referral. This was again marked urgent, meaning it should have triggered a triage review within 48 hours and an assessment within two weeks. However, it wasnt triaged until October 3 because of staff deficits, the court heard. A letter from Bella's mother was read at the inquest in which she said her daughter had enjoyed a 'really happy day' out with her sister and showed no signs that she was planning to end her life the following day - SWNS A letter from Bellas mother sent to police was read at the inquest, where she said her daughter had enjoyed a really happy day with her sister on October 4. They had been out for food and Bella had been dancing around with no signs that she was planning to end her life the following day, it said. Her mother stressed that she did not believe Bellas actions were a deliberate attempt to end her life, but a cry for help. A statement by Det Insp Montgomery, the senior investigating officer who took over the case on October 6, described how Bella had left a note that referred to typical teenage girl problems. The officer said this included an incident with another pupil who had upset her. Det Insp Montgomery added there was no evidence of any pre-planning. But the coroner ruled that as Bella left a note it was evidence that she had intended to end her life. NHS: Bellas death regrettable Ursula Martin, chief strategy and improvement officer at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, called Bellas death regrettable. She said: We fully acknowledge the conclusion reached by HM Coroner into the death of Isabella Greer and I would like to extend our condolences to her family. The safety of those in our care is our utmost priority and the death of any patient while under any of our services will always be regrettable. Following Isabellas death we carried out a detailed investigation into care delivery concerns, which identified triage and communication issues between teams. We take the findings very seriously, they offer us an opportunity to learn lessons so we can endeavour to do everything to try to prevent similar issues occurring. We have addressed the issues highlighted through enhanced training and reviewed communication protocols. Once again, our heartfelt sympathies go to Isabellas loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. Last month a coroner warned that the school which teenager Mia Janin attended had failed to address gender-based bullying at the institution three years on from her suicide. Creative and kind Mia had taken her own life following hostile bullying from boys at the Jewish Free School (JFS) in London school in 2021. Coroner Tony Murphy condemned the school for a lack of systemic changes after the 14-year-olds suicide and warned that more girls at at the school are at risk of suicide as gender-based bullying has continued. While JFS claimed it has implemented a complete overhaul following Mias death, Mr Murphy found the initiatives had not done enough to make female pupils feel safe. 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. Health care workers and particularly female health care workers are burning out at alarming rates. A recent survey from nursing marketplace platform ShiftKey shared with The Hill found that 86 percent of women in the field including nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and technicians reported experiencing burnout, with 64 percent saying they were at risk of burning out right now. The rates were notably lower for men, though still high: 66 percent of male health care workers said they have experienced burnout and 55 percent said they were at risk of burning out right now. Female nurses were also more likely to say they have considered leaving the field, with 53 percent saying so compared to 32 percent of their male counterparts. A variety of health care workers took part in ShiftKeys survey, a company spokesperson told The Hill. Physicians were not included. Other research also shows that women in health care including doctors experience higher rates of burnout than men. The American Medical Association released data last year showing 57 percent of female physician and non-physician health care providers reported experiencing burnout in 2022. Meanwhile, 47 percent of male physicians and non-physician health care providers said the same. Researchers at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Resiliency & Well-Being Center found a similar disparity in an analysis released last month of 71 studies from 26 different countries published between 1979 and 2022 on health care worker well-being. All of the studies reviewed included responses from women between 18 and 74 years old who then worked in different roles in healthncare, including as a physician, nurse, clinical social worker or mental health provider. The analysis found that women working in health care endure a significantly higher level of stress and burnout compared to their male counterparts. Researchers determined that gender inequity and a lack of autonomy in the workplace and poor work-life balance contributed to the higher burnout rates among women. Kate Benoit, a 52-year-old licensed practical nurse (LPN) typically based in Austin, Texas, said that all three of these factors played a role in her almost burning out four years ago. Benoit has worked as a full-time LPN or a nurse who provides basic medical care under the supervision of registered nurses and doctors for decades while also taking care of her three children as a single mother. In 2020, she was routinely being asked to take on more shifts or work extra days, Benoit said, like so many other health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the extra work continued even as the pandemic waned, and Benoit said the hospital she worked for began to give its nursing staff more patients to attend to per shift without increasing pay or vacation time. On top of this, she said her employer did not facilitate much work-life balance. For example, Benoit said, she was scheduled for almost every holiday because her children were older, and she was routinely denied personal days to attend family functions. She said she was also met with pushback if she requested a day off work to deal with issues concerning her disabled son. I just felt like I was being taken advantage of, she said. I did get close to burnout because I was dealing with the stress of raising a family, paying the bills that went up every year, and dealing with an employer who basically froze the pay for their nursing staff while increasing the number of residents per nurse, she said. While this is the experience of many nurses regardless of gender, Benoit told The Hill that she believes there is indeed a difference in the amount of stress male nurses and female nurses tend to endure. And she thinks this gender imbalance is linked to the fact that women tend to take on more household and familial responsibilities than men. A lot of the male nurses Ive met seem to be able to do these long, extended work weeks for a long period of time without getting burnt out, Benoit said adding that women appear to need at least some decompression time after working nonstop for a week or weeks. That seven-day work week is very hard for us to maintain since as far as child care, childrearing and even intervening with adult childrens issues, we seem to be the primary caregiver, she said. Leigh Frame, executive director of the George Washington Universitys Office of Integrative Medicine and Health and associate director of the Resiliency & Well-Being Center, said that women in general are under tremendous pressure to succeed both at home and on the job. And health care workplaces can amplify this stress that is felt by women across the country due to the long hours, multiple shifts and the family responsibilities that fall on them, she added. Human beings are not equipped to handle the combined, intense pressures in health care in part due to the pressure to not take time to care for yourself, Frame said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Vivien Tsang never thought shed experience theft at her Georgetown bodega, let alone see an actual gun. But in early January, thats exactly what happened when an alleged gunman wearing a mask and a hoodie told her to give him her money. Tsang told the man that she didnt keep cash in the store so he took a bottle of red wine. Tsang said she is backing the D.C. City Councils sweeping crime bill called the Secure D.C. Omnibus Amendment Act which aims to tackle various levels of crime including growing retail theft. Other critics of the bill contend that its too punitive and would forever mark juveniles prone to mistakes. DC councilmember introduces comprehensive crime bill to address rising crime I think sending out the perception that crime is not tolerated and that there are punishments is important. Im hoping that it will lead juveniles at least to second guess their choice, she said. I do think this is at least a step in the right direction and at least something is being done that we are trying to protect the community and not tolerate this. Council members and Mayor Muriel Bowser, under tremendous public pressure to solve a 39% spike in violent crime last year that also brought an uptick in carjackings and juvenile crime, found common ground this week in the legislation. Business owners like Tsang said that they are fed up with the thefts and robberies that have cost them money. Its just been happening more and more in safer neighborhoods, she said. Tsang said the man came into her store and grabbed a bottle of wine and then wandered the store while she was working in the back area alone. She met him at the register to check him out, she said. Five portable, free public bathrooms coming to DC Thats when he showed his handgun and demanded cash, she said. I was nervous that it would anger him and he would demand proof that we were cashless or demand for other property that I had. Tsang said she was warned a few weeks earlier that some businesses in the area had been hit and to be on the lookout. Then it happened to her. She said the man was later arrested after a few more crimes were committed in the nearby area. Others like Leonard Smith, of D.C., said that everybody makes mistakes, especially if they are desperate with little hope in life. Smith said he had committed some criminal offenses when he was younger but turned his life around. The Secure D.C. Act as he read it is too harsh and punitive. My concern about it is that youre trying to lock individuals up of color that commit crimes for the rest of their lives, Smith said. You never know whats going on inside of that household. Maybe a person that committed this crime didnt have enough to eat. Am I saying its right? No. But to mess up the rest of their life? Thats crazy. Class action lawsuit filed against DCs OSSE; claims students with disabilities denied equal access to education Smith said hes not making an excuse for those to commit crimes but that there are always reasons behind these bad choices that could be better addressed by the city caring to help disadvantaged youth. Lets get to the root cause of that and help. We need to have more help, he said. Dont just try to lock me in a dungeon and say, oh, you stopped something. Its still out here. Youre never going to get all the crime-makers off the street. Its never going to happen. But lets try to find a solution. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Februarys retail food establishment inspections are in, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of San Angelos dining scene. So, what businesses scored below a 90 this time around? The scoring system According to the City of San Angelo, all food establishments inspected by the City are inspected in accordance with the Texas Food Establishment Rules. The food establishment inspection report checks food establishments to see if theyve violated any of 27 different violations, with each scoring the business from three to five. Below is the demerit system used by the City: 0-10 demerits = excellent 11-20 demerits = good 21-30 demerits = acceptable 31 or more = poor Its important to note that the City only checks for food safety items that are directly responsible for health problems rather than factors a person may traditionally associate with poor food safety, such as dirty floors and unclean walls. Inspection scores are focused on food safety items that directly cause problems. Many items that people may see, such as dirty dining area floors and walls, may appear bad, but they do not actually affect the safety of the food; demerits are not given for these types of items, the City said. Which businesses scored below 90 in January 2024 health inspections? Its also important to note that food establishments are graded based on the processes that are carried out there. For example. convenience stores selling pre-packaged food may have noticeably different scores than those of fully-fledged restaurants. Inspections also only showcase a snapshot in time, with any given food establishment possibly having more or fewer violations at the current moment than the score given in the inspection report or previous reports would indicate. The City Attorney disclaims that reviewing the entire inspection history is crucial in ascertaining a more accurate picture of an establishments food safety and sanitation programs. Finally, food establishments in San Angelo do not receive health inspections simultaneously and, as such, may not have had an inspection at the time of the reports publication. Businesses that have earned the same score across multiple inspection reports may reflect an inspection conducted in a previous report rather than the current time. With clarifications out of the way, here are all the retail food establishments that scored below a 90 in the February 2024 inspection report. Who scored below a 90? 7 Brew Coffee (1480 Knickerbocker Road) 86 Bahama Bucks (5789 Sherwood Way) 71 Bonsai Steakhouse, Restaurant (1801 Knickerbocker Road) 80 Bonsai, Sushi 84 Casa Jalisco (1219 W. Beauregard Ave.) 87 Chang Thai (1527 E. Harris Ave.) 89 Chicken Express (2831 N. Bryant Blvd.) 86 Cielo, Restaurant (4132 Sunset Drive) 89 Cork & Pig Tavern, Restaurant (2201 Knickerbocker Road) 79 Corner Stop #2 (1302 N. Chadbourne St.) 89 Cotton Patch Cafe (4116 Sherwood Way) 88 Craving Crab (4509 Sherwood Way) 70 Diegos Burritos #1 (321 W. Avenue N) 84 Diegos Burritos #2 (301 N. Main St.) 89 En Fu Express (4001 Sunset Drive) 89 Gils Restaurant (837 Knickerbocker Road) 77 Hidalgos North (1315 N. Chadbourne St.) 77 Holiday Inn Express (4613 Houston Harte Expressway) 87 Jacks Convenience Store #7 (2 N. Koenigheim St.) 87 Joes Italian, Restaurant (1601 S. Bryant Blvd.) 84 Julios Burritos #4 (314 N. Bryant Blvd.) 88 King Buffet, Restaurant (3508 Knickerbocker Road) 86 King Buffet, Grill 78 Kung Fu Noodle (3363 Knickerbocker Road) 59 La Historia (3020 N. Chadbourne St.) 89 La Quinta Inn (2307 W. Loop 306) 77 Los Magueyes (711 N. Chadbourne St.) 81 Los Panchitso/Paseo, Restaurant (34 E. Ave. D) 85 Lotus Cafe (3524 Knickerbocker Road) 74 Masa, Restaurant (4545 Sherwood Way) 82 Mathis Field Cafe (CLOSED) (8618 Terminal Circle) 89 Microtel Inn & Suites (4649 W. Houston Harte Expressway) 85 Miss Hatties, Restaurant (26 E. Concho Ave.) 87 Orient 333 Restaurant & Saloon, Restaurant (333 Rio Concho Drive) 89 Pho Saigon (2001 W. Harris Ave.) 70 RJ Catering (1402 N. Bryant Blvd.) 87 Rosas Cafe #4 (1602 Knickerbocker Road) 85 Roxies Diner (4609 S. Jackson St.) 72 Staybridge Suites (1355 Knickerbocker Road) 80 Stripes #5007 (1542 S. Bell St.) 88 Stripes #5007, Deli 86 Taqueria Jalisco (1313 N. Bryant Blvd.) 86 Twisted Root (333 S. Chadbourne St.) 81 Western Sky Steakhouse, Restaurant (2024 N. Chadbourne St.) 83 What Da Pho (3315 Sherwood Way) 82 For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. *The above video shows the 10 most dangerous highways in Ohio, according to state officials* ELYRIA, Ohio (WJW) The City of Elyria is alerting drivers that a busy stretch of Gulf Road will be closed for one to two weeks starting on Monday, March 11. Take note if your trash is picked up on Mondays Traffic will be closed on Gulf Road from Poplar Street to East Bridge/Cleveland Street for one to two weeks. The Engineers Department recommends the following detour routes. For those going to and from Ely Elementary School, you can take Poplar St. to Roosevelt Avenue to Ohio St. For those going southbound (toward downtown), you can take Poplar St. to Abbe Rd. N. For those going northbound (away from downtown), you can take Cleveland St. to Abbe Rd. N. When will mortgage rates fall? This road closure comes as work is being done on Gulf Road for a sewer project that includes putting in new water pipes and sanitation lines. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. As negotiations for the Kirtland Temple advanced to the final stages six weeks ago, historians began to write a script for tours of the temple that will begin on March 25 under the new direction of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Preparing to reopen the doors to the temple required quick action, but church historians say they will go slow when it comes to making changes to the historic building itself because the Community of Christ wisely avoided modernizing it. Were so thrilled that the Kirtland Temple, for example, is in the condition that its in. Its old. We love that, said Elder Kyle S. McKay, Church Historian and Recorder for the Church of Jesus Christ. The fact that they havent changed it, that there isnt an elevator in it its as close to what it was in Josephs day as we would hope and we hope to keep it old, but safe, he said. The Kirtland Temple, dedicated by Joseph Smith in 1836, marked the beginning of temple worship among Latter-day Saints. The temple practices that began there still animate the Church of Jesus Christ and its members today, said Emily Utt, curator of Historic Sites for the church. So do Easter 1836 visitations to the temple of Jesus Christ, Moses, Elias and Elijah, who restored the spiritual power, or keys, that underpin those temple ordinances. The power of a place where Jesus Christ has appeared is huge, she said. The power of a place where ancient prophets have appeared and restored keys the way that I live the gospel today, the ability that I have to go to the temple and make covenants and live a holy life is because of the Kirtland Temple. So it is significant to all of us, but it is significant to me personally, because the way that I live my life is dependent on events that happened in that space. The sun rises on the Kirtland Ohio Temple in Kirtland, Ohio on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Matthew Grow, the managing director of the Church History Department, said the lasting impact of those visitations and temple practices make the Kirtland Temple especially important to the churchs Historic Sites program. Some of those sites talk primarily about pioneer life or talk about the sacrifice of Latter-day Saints, like at Martins Cove in Wyoming, or talk about the migration of the Latter-day Saints across the country, he said. But the most special of our sites, for Latter-day Saints, are where heaven and earth came together in really powerful and tangible and concrete ways. So for us those would be sites like the Sacred Grove (where Heavenly Father and Christ appeared to Joseph Smith), sites like the banks of the Susquehanna River (where Peter, James and John appeared to Joseph Smith and another early church leader), and a site like the Kirtland Temple, where in Latter-day Saint theology, Jesus Christ himself appeared, ancient prophets appeared. Those sites where heaven and earth came together, for us continue to be sacred ground. Will The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints renovate the Kirtland Temple? The historians said that while they will proceed slowly and cautiously, they also will begin immediately to assess the condition of the temple. In the next few months, well be working with many structural engineers and architects and spending a lot of hours in that building, trying to understand its history, the changes over time, the condition that its in, Utt said. We want to work very systematically and thoughtfully to put together those things that will enable us not only to keep the building standing, but to really make it accessible and available for people to see. The work will be done with an eye and an ear to preservation. The power of the Kirtland Temple is being in that sacred place and hearing that little creak in the floor, right, and seeing the contribution of individual workers, Utt said. So were going to be very careful as we approach stabilizing and preserving that building to really celebrate the things that make it such a special place. The temple is briefly closed as church historians prepare it with updated signage reflecting the transfer. It will reopen on March 25, six days before Easter. The historians said any potential long-term closures for historical restoration and preservation work are years away, and would include listening to the building. I think we are too early to even have a timeline of when we would be closing these for renovation, Utt said. We want to do this very carefully and very thoughtfully. Good research and good investigation and analysis takes time. So I could imagine us, you know, for the next several years, really, working first to understand the buildings and then putting together schedules and updates and figure out what the building wants us to do with it, almost. The late President M. Russell Ballard, then the acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, looks around the Kirtland Temple in Kirtland, Ohio, on Friday, June 2, 2023. Grow said preservation work requires answering a lot of questions. Are we taking the building back to what it might have looked like on opening day? Or, what about the rest of the history? What moment are you representing? he said. For example, historical sources indicate the Kirtland Temple originally had more of a bluish or bluish-gray color. It also had a system of pulleys and curtains for partitioning the assembly halls inside. Should those be restored? Theres lots and lots of questions that well be pondering over the next several years, but no decisions on anything immediately, Grow said, adding, I think the white Kirtland Temple is so iconic and beautiful. What did the Community of Christ say about the sale of the Kirtland Temple? The significance of the temples history to Latter-day Saints and the responsibility of maintaining that history in the building weigh heavily on the historians. They repeatedly expressed appreciation that the Community of Christ, which obtained control of the temple between 1860 and 1880, preserved it so well for more than 140 years. I am at this point almost overwhelmed with the enormity of the task ahead, Utt said. This is one of the most sacred sites in the church and has been so beautifully and carefully cared for by some of the people that I admire most in the world. I am excited at the possibility of helping take this building into its next chapter, but just so grateful for those that have made it possible for us to be able to do this and to preserve this building going forward. The transfer also included 16 buildings in Nauvoo, from the Red Brick Store where the international womens organization known as the Relief Society was organized, to the Joseph and Emma Smith Mansion House, the Nauvoo House and the Smith Family Homestead. Were all excited, Grow said. I think we also feel that its a sacred trust, to be some of the individuals who will be involved in the governance of these buildings and these documents and these artifacts, and so I think we feel that sacred trust deeply and also feel excited that well be able to, just as Community of Christ has done over the years, preserve these sites and make them accessible to the world. Lachlan Mackay, the great-great-great grandson of Joseph Smith, has been a leading caretaker for the Community of Christ for these transferred historic sites. Mackay not only is a Community of Christ apostle and the churchs Historic Sites director, he lived in the shadow of the Kirtland Temple for 15 years and has been living the past 17 years in one of the Nauvoo properties that is changing hands. He released a video statement this week about the property transfer. He noted that he met his wife in the Red Brick Store in Nauvoo and was ordained to a priesthood office in the Kirtland Temple. Historians for both churches believe hes given more tours of the Kirtland Temple than any other person, including one last summer with Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder David A. Bednar of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints talks with Community of Christ Apostle Lachlan Mackay near the Kirtland Ohio Temple in Kirtland, Ohio, on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News The Nauvoo House, Homestead and Mansion House are my ancestral homes, Mackay said in the video. For me, the decision to part with these places has been devastating emotionally. There was a time when I thought it might break me. Mackay said that he inherited pragmatism from his great-great grandfather, Joseph Smith III. Intellectually, the path forward is clear, he said. I care deeply about our past, but I care even more about our future. The post-pandemic world has changed. The needs have never been greater and we no longer have the resources, human or financial, to care for these places the way they deserve to be cared for. Elder McKay, the Latter-day Saint Church Historian and Recorder, said he admired what the Community of Christ had done to preserve the Kirtland Temple and other sites. One example of the care taken for the Kirtland Temple by the Community of Christ is the caution used with the temples third floor. The COC rarely took tours to the third floor to keep it from wearing down because the floor joists were placed two feet apart, less stable than the ideal. How will The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints manage tours of the Kirtland Temple? The Church of Jesus Christ will monitor the flooring and adjust tour group sizes. For Latter-day Saints, some of the really sacred things about the Kirtland Temple happened on that top floor, where Joseph Smith sees a vision of the afterlife and sees his brother, Alvin, and his parents, Grow said. So our initial intent is to keep the tour groups small, and we feel good about taking small groups to that third-floor space. Well have a reservation system for tours, but over time, of course, we will assess whether the building needs going forward. Grow said that senior missionaries and young women missionaries will lead most tours. About five years ago, the governance of all of the Church History Sites within the church organization passed from the Missionary Department to the Church History Department, he said. That was part of an intention to focus more on the history of all of the sites. We still use missionaries, both senior missionaries and young sister missionaries, at all of the sites. Those operations are supervised by professional historians and curators and others. The intention with these new sites was that they would maintain that staffing model of young sisters and senior couples. I would just invite anyone who is suspicious that our sites dont focus on history to visit the sites. Grow and Utt said they expect the strong relationship between historians of both churches to continue. Grow also said the transferred sites will note the Community of Christs role. As we have written new tours for the sites in Kirtland and Nauvoo, the historic ownership and preservation of sites by Community of Christ will be acknowledged, as well as some of the later history, Grow said. The core of those tours will focus on what Latter-day Saints see as the sacred significance of those sites, but not to the exclusion of anything else. Latter-day Saint historians are prepared for the reopenings on March 25. Of course, the background discussions have been happening for some while, but it was six weeks ago that we knew that the time had arrived to really plan in a concrete way, to begin to write scripts, he said. We wrote the scripts for three new tours, one tour of the Kirtland Temple, one tour of the (Nauvoo) Red Brick Store, which is tremendously significant for Latter-day Saints as the site of the organization of the Relief Society, site of the first (full) temple endowments, both of which temple endowment and the Relief Society are now worldwide phenomena, and then the third tour takes us through the Smith properties in Nauvoo. So weve done that over the last six-week period, to write new tours, and to prepare new signs, and to make sure we had staffing in place and make sure that we did all of that in a way that our friends in the media did not know prematurely what was going to happen. Were any cemeteries included in the Kirtland Temple and Nauvoo property sale? Some have asked questions about cemeteries in Kirtland and Nauvoo. The cemetery between the Kirtland Temple and the Joseph and Emma Smith Home in Kirtland is owned by the city and was not part of the transfer, the historians said. They also said the Smith Family Cemetery in Nauvoo is owned by the Community of Christ and was not included in the transfer. Cabins to be removed from cliffside due to erosion in Washington national park KALALOCH, Wash. A quickly eroding bluff in Olympic National Park is forcing the removal of seaside cabins starting Monday. Located in Kalaloch, Washington, ten cabins are nearly 16.5 feet from the edge of the bluff and have been deemed unsafe, according to park officials. One of the cabins to be removed. They noted that, while bluff erosion is a natural process, it has accelerated over the last decade. King tides, freeze-thaw events and strong winter storms are to blame, according to the National Park Service. Between December 2023 and January 2024, some areas saw more than 13 feet of bluff wear off. EROSION IMPACTS CALIFORNIA'S PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY The bluff where the cabins currently stand is made of a loose mixture of sand, gravel and stone. Park officials said this composition makes the land vulnerable to erosion, particularly from being pounded by ocean waves made more powerful by strong storms. Erosion at Kalaloch, Washington. Additionally, recent freeze-thaw events caused the expansion of saturated ground to freeze and expand, but then become weaker when it thaws. HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER The NPS noted that the cabins on the bluff have been closed to the public since the start of the year. "We are sorry to say goodbye to these cabins, but visitor safety must come first," said Kevin Killian, deputy superintendent at Olympic National Park. "Even without the cabins, the experience of visiting this wild coastline will endure," he added. Park officials said that the main lodge at Kalaloch is not threatened by the erosion. Original article source: Cabins to be removed from cliffside due to erosion in Washington national park UNITED NATIONS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- A UN spokesperson expressed deep concern on Friday over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Haiti, while noting that police have managed to repel some gang attacks on crucial infrastructure. "We remain deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating security situation amid ongoing gang violence and sporadic confrontations between heavily armed gangs and police forces in some parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Dujarric's colleagues reported from Haiti that national police pushed back coordinated gang attacks on critical infrastructures, including the airport. "We are, however, very worried about reports of gangs having breached and looted Port-au-Prince's seaport," he said. "Port operations have been suspended for some days now." The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it received reports on Thursday that the country's main port, Caribbean Port Services, was looted. Several humanitarian organizations have containers of medicine, food, and other goods at the port. Efforts are being made to protect the humanitarian stocks. "The secretary-general reiterates his calls on the government and all national stakeholders to agree on immediate steps to advance the political process that will lead to elections," the spokesman said. "He also reiterates the need for urgent international action, including immediate financial support for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which is desperately needed to tackle insecurity in Haiti." The Kenya-led MSS force is made up of police contingents from nations volunteering formed units to serve in Haiti to aid Haiti's law enforcement officers in fighting gang violence. While the UN Security Council authorizes it, it is not a UN mission. However, it is financed by a trust fund established by the world body. Dujarric confirmed that the United Nations is attending a Monday meeting organized by CARICOM (Caribbean Community) at the CARICOM headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica. He said the secretary-general's chef de cabinet, Courtenay Rattray, will attend, along with several international partners, to foster support toward restoring democratic institutions in Haiti in the shortest possible time. The spokesman briefed correspondents at the UN headquarters on the humanitarian front in Haiti, saying that despite the violence and limited access, the world body and its partners continue to support civilians. "In a statement issued this morning in Port-au-Prince, the UN team said that gender-based violence protection and services have been reduced or suspended for security and access reasons," Dujarric said. "They say that if violence continues in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, about 3,000 pregnant women could be denied access to essential healthcare." He said that the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners managed to deliver food to over 7,000 people. "Earlier this month, food rations were also provided to 9,000 people in Cite Soleil, including pregnant women and orphans, through local faith-based organizations," the spokesman said. "More aid distributions are planned in the coming days." Dujarric also corrected what he reported earlier, and that is, WFP suspended its maritime transport service on Feb. 23, not on Thursday, due to increasing insecurity. He said while WFP has other means outside of Port-au-Prince to bring in or to purchase food, suspension of the maritime road service presents a challenge for humanitarian and development organizations to deliver food and medical supplies from the capital to the Great North and Great South areas of Haiti. "For example, in Gonaives and Jeremie, the WFP used mobile money to send cash to 14,000 vulnerable people in the first week of March," Dujarric said. "The humanitarian community reiterates the call to all parties to allow for safe, unhindered access to all people in need, in line with humanitarian principles and norms and, frankly, basic decency." Living near Californias beautiful coastline is simply too far out of reach for most homebuyers. The white sand, surf and sunsets often come at a steep cost with home prices soaring well into the seven digits in many communities. According to January 2024 data from the California Association of Realtors, the median single-family home price is over $1 million in the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Barbara County, Santa Cruz County and Orange County, and just shy of a million bucks in San Diego. However, home prices in one of the Golden States most beautiful coastal counties are still surprisingly cheap by comparison. Nestled at the very top of California is the appropriately named Del Norte County, where the median home price is just $295,000: the second lowest in the state behind only Lassen County ($229,000). Tourism officials tout Del Norte Countys towering redwoods, rugged seaside cliffs, picturesque lighthouses and endless adventures in hiking, camping and whitewater rafting. The message on its marketing website is that [This] is a place for spirited independence where we encourage entertaining yourself and getting lost in wonder as part of the journey. The coastal, yet rural lifestyle might not be for everyone. The county has just one incorporated city, Crescent City, where you can find homes just blocks from the ocean in the $200,000 and $300,000 range, according to Zillow. The Living Wage needed to support a family of four in Del Norte County is $39.47 per hour, or $82,097 per year, based on MITs calculations far less than its coastal counterparts to the south. For comparison, in Santa Barbara County, where the median home price is $1.28 million, the living wage for a family of two adults and two children is $54.08 per hour, or $112,486 per year. In Santa Cruz County, its $64.15 per hour ($133,432/year). Also located in the northwestern part of California, Humbolt and Mendocino counties still have median home prices below $500,000, according to the Association of Realtors. If you want to live anywhere in the coastal San Francisco Bay Area, along the Central Coast, or in SoCal, youll have trouble finding homes for less than $800,000. While home prices in Del Norte County might still be affordable, this doesnt mean prices for everything are cheaper. Regular unleaded gasoline, for example, is currently $5.17 per gallon there, 30 cents above the state average, according to AAA. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. SACRAMENTO, California A San Francisco lawmakers proposal to allow more renters to have pets exploded in the media and infuriated California landlords who saw it as another blow from a mandate-happy state government. That was all part of his strategy, but he wasnt prepared for the non-stop calls from reporters that started pouring in after he announced a new bill to stop landlords from denying housing to tenants with pets. We never intended to say that landlords can place no restrictions at all, Assemblymember Matt Haney told POLITICO. Nobody is going to be forced to take dangerous dogs of course theres going to be cases where restrictions make sense. Haney, a Democrat, said his bill whose details are finally in print is far more narrow than the first news cycle made it seem and that it wouldn't make landlords accept all pets. Instead, it would require them to have a good reason for refusing pets and limit how much they could charge tenants who have them. He stressed it doesnt warrant the fire and brimstone response it got from influential apartment and landlord interests, who called it death by a thousand cuts. The dustup was in part a creation of Haneys own making. And it lifts the curtain on how Sacramento lawmakers try to gain leverage by strategically dangling far-reaching mandates only to walk them back during negotiations. The episode is a case study in how legislation goes viral and a lesson in how not all publicity is necessarily good for everyone involved. Theres downsides every single time the Legislature does something, then they blame us because rents are going up, said Debra Carlton, executive vice president of state government affairs for the California Apartment Association. Its hard to get stuff built, and then they just regulate us. In late February, Haneys office announced the idea for the bill, but outside of his release there were no details available. It set off a flurry of news headlines that landlords would now be forced to accept pet-owning tenants. The bill was catnip: an easy-to-understand concept that impacts hundreds of thousands of Californians navigating a tight rental market. It also pits some of the most sympathetic actors pets against landlords, who are often vilified in the progressive, high-cost state. Ultimately, the outcry over forcing landlords to start accepting pets may have been premature, as were calls for a less extreme approach, which was already in the works. Carlton initially just wanted a bill that would allow landlords to collect a one-time deposit of two or 2 months of rent to people with pets, which would have been relatively uncontroversial, she said. To be sure, Carlton still isnt thrilled with all of the provisions of the scaled-back version, either. Not charging monthly for pets means landlords will just raise everyones rent to cover potential damages, especially if they cant hike security deposits without running up against the cap on deposits that a different Haney bill last year instituted. Legislators are famous for doing the hard, hard, furthest thing from what they meant to do so that they force us to negotiate and they give us something we might not have wanted anyway, said Carlton. Sponsors of the bill say sometimes you need this approach to get the ball rolling on an important issue. And Haney himself believes despite all the early chatter theres plenty of room to get something done. I think it really starts a conversation in California about how important pets are to people, said Jenny Berg, the California state director for the Humane Society, the sponsor of Haneys bill. A huge population of renters have pets, and they dont want to leave their pet behind because they cant put a roof over their heads. But the success of a strategy like that depends on who youre up against, and the California Apartment Association knows how to throw its weight around. Haney says he has a good relationship with the powerful interest group. If this were a bill on rent control or reforming the Ellis Act (which lets local governments restrict when landlords can evict tenants on their way out of the rental market) it would have been dead on arrival because those are non-negotiable for landlords, he said. But for something as popular as housing dogs and cats, he isnt expecting huge pushback to a scaled-down measure. People love puppies. There are few things more lovable in America than that, Haney said. The real details of the bill are far less extreme than theyve been portrayed. Landlords will still be able to prohibit pets cats, dogs and other animals kept for companionship, not commerce as long as they provide transparent reasons why. He wants to outlaw monthly pet rent, though said landlords can have reasonable policies or limitations on pets. Tenants would still need to disclose that they have a pet, but not on the first application. Allowing pets into apartments shouldnt be controversial, Haney said. But if hed started from a more moderate place, he would have had no room to work with the opposition on things like allowing some pet bans or requiring renters to have some kind of liability insurance. Haney, who leads the renters caucus in the Assembly, has experienced firsthand the problem of finding a place to live while caring for his two cats, Eddy and Ellis. He noted the lack of affordable housing is even worse for people with pets, who are immediately barred from 30 percent of open units. Theres a shortage of available space in animal shelters as well, and letting pet owners rent apartments would keep them from surrendering their pets to already-crowded shelters. This article was originally published in CalMatters. After years of cash windfalls, California schools are bracing for a stretch of austerity that could jeopardize students already precarious recovery from the pandemic. An end to billions of dollars in federal COVID relief funds, declining enrollment, staff raises, hiring binges and stagnant state funding should combine over the next few months to create steep budget shortfalls, with low-income districts affected the most. The fiscal cliff is going to vary, said Marguerite Roza, director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University. The districts that got the most COVID relief dollars, those that have the most low-income students, are going to face the biggest losses. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter In his budget proposal released in January, Gov. Gavin Newsom largely spared schools, keeping intact popular initiatives like transitional kindergarten, universal school meals, community schools and after-school programs. He proposed dipping into reserves and delaying some expenses to make up a projected multi-billion-dollar shortfall. But the exact numbers are shifting. The Legislative Analysts Office predicted that the shortfall may be much higher than Newsom calculated and cuts will be unavoidable. Newsom will release a revised budget in May, and the Legislature has until June 15 to pass a final budget. Related Gas, Food, Lodging for Homeless Students in Jeopardy as Funding Deadline Looms Meanwhile, federal COVID relief funding for schools will end in September. In a series of grants known as Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, the federal government gave California schools $23.4 billion to pay for everything from air purifiers to after-school tutoring. That funding was distributed based on the number of low-income students districts have. Districts with lots of low-income students got more money, which means theyll lose the most when the funding ends. The districts that got the most COVID relief dollars, those that have the most low-income students, are going to face the biggest losses. MARGUERITE ROZA, DIRECTOR OF THE EDUNOMICS LAB AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY In the beginning of the pandemic, schools tended to spend the money on one-time expenses, like tablets and Wi-Fi hotspots for students attending school remotely. But as schools reopened, they started spending money on ongoing programs intended to help students catch up academically and recover from the mental health hardships of remote learning. That could include tutors, longer school days or summer and after-school programs. San Bernardino City Unified used $8 million of its $230 million in COVID relief funds to beef up its after-school program. Thanks to the extra funding, the district has been able to offer free after-school activities, tutoring, transportation and mental health support at every school. Keeping the sparkle in kids eyes Mia Cooper near her home in Highland on Feb. 26. (Elisa Ferrari/CalMatters) Mia Cooper, a parent with three children in San Bernardino City Unified, said her childrens after-school program has been a life-saver. In fact, its the main reason they want to go to school, she said. They not only benefit from tutoring, but they get to enjoy ballet and acting lessons, field trips to science museums and Disneyland, robotics classes, performances by folklorico dance troupes and other fun activities. During the pandemic, one of Coopers daughters was withdrawn and depressed, but the after-school program helped her reconnect with friends and fall in love with school again. Keeping the program intact should be a priority, Cooper said. The kids were exposed to so many different activities and cultural things, she said. If a program is working for kids and were seeing good outcomes, I think its something we need to keep. We shouldnt lose that sparkle in kids eyes. A budget reckoning for some districts But some districts use of COVID relief funds could worsen their budget prospects, Roza said. Districts that invested one-time funds in ongoing expenses, such as new staff, raises and bonuses, might be headed for a reckoning. Nationwide, school staff increased 2% since the pandemic while enrollment decreased 2%, according to Georgetowns Edunomics Lab. Salaries for existing teachers have risen, too. Districts in San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego and Los Angeles all of which have declining enrollment agreed to hefty teacher raises and bonuses in the past year. Still, the fiscal outlook is not as dire as it was during the 2008 recession, said Julien Lafortune, a research fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California. School funding generally in California has risen dramatically since then, lifting California from the bottom half of states in school funding to above the national average. In addition, the states shift to the Local Control Funding Formula a decade ago has provided more money for students with higher needs, although inequities persist. Its not like the Great Recession, but I think the challenges are greater now. A lot of the academic progress we made was erased by the pandemic. JULIEN LAFORTUNE, RESEARCH FELLOW AT THE PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA But that doesnt mean these cuts wont hurt, Lafortune said, especially for students who were most affected by the pandemic. Low-income, Black and Latino students disproportionately bore the brunt of school closures, research has shown, because they were more likely to suffer economically from the pandemic, less likely to have adequate technology at home, and less likely to have a parent available to help them with distance learning. Its not like the Great Recession, but I think the challenges are greater now, Lafortune said. A lot of the academic progress we made was erased by the pandemic. Roza worries that arguments over potential cuts in the next year will eclipse concern over learning loss. Potential school closures and teacher layoffs will inevitably elicit loud protests, but school boards should stay focused on services that directly help students, such as math tutoring and literacy, she said. Some districts will be focusing on staff retention instead of kids needs, Roza said. These decisions may be so divisive that Roza predicts a high rate of turnover among school administrators and board members unwilling to make unpopular decisions. She also expects to see some districts refuse to make sufficient cuts and risk insolvency or state takeover. Planning pays off in Fresno Fresno Unified is among the districts facing a double whammy of declining enrollment and a large loss of relief funds. The 70,000-student district received more than $787 million in state and federal relief money, one of the largest allotments in California. But the district was careful to build reserves, rely on state grants when possible and not overly invest in ongoing staff salaries. Instead, it used most of its money to train teachers in math and literacy, extend the school day and provide a high-quality summer program. It also brought in social workers, restorative justice counselors, attendance specialists and other staff to boost students mental health. The investments have apparently paid off. The number of students meeting Californias math benchmark rose almost 3 percentage points last year, even as the state average remained unchanged. And chronic absenteeism fell significantly, from 51% in 2022 to 35% last year. Siblings Alec, Samantha and Honey Cooper near their home in Highland on Feb. 26. (Elisa Ferrari/CalMatters) Still, the district expects to make some cuts, probably affecting the district office but not schools directly at least at first, said the districts chief financial officer, Patrick Jensen. Its like were in a boat and we can see a storm coming, Jensen said. Were not going to be dashed against the rocks but we still need to find a safe harbor.. San Bernardino City Unified, among Californias lowest-income districts, also received a high relief funding payout: $230 million for 46,000 students. But the district isnt anticipating a financial disaster once the funding expires. It plans to shift some of its state block grant money to pay for programs funded with relief money, where necessary, and has been conservative with planning. Its also closely monitoring the state budget and economic outlook, said Associate Superintendent Terry Comnick. But theres still likely to be some cuts, and the district will have to look closely at what programs have been effective and which didnt live up to expectations. In addition to the after-school program, a resident guest teacher program had positive results, Comnick said. The district hired substitute teachers to work one-on-one or in small groups with students who were the furthest behind. The $4.5 million program, which was at every school, resulted in higher test scores among the highest-needs students. So far, it looks like the district will be able to keep both programs, at least for the next few years, Comnick said. People call it a (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) cliff because the money just ends, Comnick said. But for us it will hopefully be a gentle slope. This story was originally posted at CalMatters (FOX40.COM) Interstate 80 was recently reopened following the snowstorm that blanketed the Sierra, but since then, Caltrans has continuously dealt with road closures and announced even more closures that could inconvenience residents of the Sacramento area through the weekend. On Thursday, the agency announced various road closures, including a lane, on and off-ramp closure on Interstate 5 between Richards Boulevard and the I-80 interchange from 8 p.m. on Thursday to 5 a.m. on Saturday. Video Above: Donner Pass Road closes due to rock slide (from June 9, 2023) Live Traffic FOX40 Live Traffic Map Weather News Caltrans also said that the Rocklin Road off-ramp along eastbound Interstate 80 will be closed from 9 p.m. on Friday through 5 a.m. on Monday for crew work on a new auxiliary lane. A Fix50 update was also posted on Thursday to X, with Caltrans saying that Highway 50 traffic heading west will be reduced to one lane. Work is expected to begin on Friday at 9 p.m. and finish around 8 a.m. on Saturday. Deadly crash closes multiple lanes on Interstate 80 in Placer County On westbound Highway 50, lanes will no longer be closed between Occidental Drive and 65th Street. Instead, the #1, #2, and #3 lanes will be closed between Watt Avenue and 65th Street, Caltrans added. Finally, Caltrans said that Highway 70 (also known as State Route 70), will be closed from Jarbo Gap to the Greenville Wye in Butte County due to a large rockslide in the area. The closure is expected to extend for an additional two weeks! Caltrans said on X. Highway 70 has dealt with on-and-off closures since late January, initiated by the wet weather that arrived in the Sierra during that same period. John OConnell, a spokesperson for Caltrans, said, Fortunately, [Highway 70] is not a heavily traveled road, but if youre trying to get from Oroville up to Quincy, its your only way. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) When employees with Wolverine Boots asked people in Brooklyn, New York, in a new campaign video to describe the structure that connects their borough to Manhattan, they all used the word man-made, and were surprised to hear that a woman actually led the construction of the bridge. Emily Warren Roebling ended up guiding construction when the chief engineer, her husband, got sick. Olivia Mashak, the senior brand marketing specialist for Wolverine Boots, only recently learned about Roeblings contributions and joined the effort her company started to give everyone the right words to describe structures like the Brooklyn Bridge; woman-made. Mashak led a conversation in a Jenison High School business class this week, explaining the woman-made campaign to students, which is all about instilling confidence in girls and women during Womens History Month. We spent about two years coming up with this campaign.. It all started with this insight that women have significantly less confidence than men until their mid-40s. Were highlighting the contributions of amazing women so we can inspire the next generation of women, she said. Learn about Grand Rapids women legends through walking tour For those who think the word man-made is sufficient, Mashak said had this to say: Theres definitely the Why do we need the woman-made? question. Were totally aware that its one step at a time, so this is our way of saying women can do anything they want, whether thats in the skilled trades, which is obviously Wolverines passion point, but any career, she said. Theyre just as capable as men and it starts here I think if we eventually said human-made, that would be great, but like I said, one step at a time, lets talk about it and start the conversation. Studies show the U.S. is going to have a 6.5 million skilled trades jobs deficit in the next decade, and only 10% of the skilled trades workforce is women. Mashak and her team believe their campaign can help. Words matter, right? Theres a reason why, when you picture a CEO, what do you picture? Theyre probably gonna say a white man. What do you picture for a nurse? Theyre probably gonna say a female. Those stereotypes exist for a reason. It came from somewhere. So trying to level that and say, gender aside, you can do any job you want, she explained. The petition to add woman-made to the dictionary can be found online here. Wolverine created a coloring book, featuring images of women who have contributed to various inventions and projects throughout history, like the fire escape, and will distribute it to schools in the Greater Grand Rapids area. In her grandfathers footsteps: Printer continues family legacy Wolverine will also donate 25% of proceeds from any womens purchase on wolverine.com to Girls Garage. Girls Garage is a nonprofit design and construction school for girls ages 9 to 18 with classes in carpentry, welding, architecture and activist art. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence of Canada, has committed to joining the international Drone Coalition led by Latvia and the United Kingdom during a visit by his Latvian counterpart, Andris Spruds. Source: statement from the Canadian government, quoted by European Pravda It is noted that as a coalition member, Ottawa will continue to explore avenues for enhancing drone capabilities in Ukraine. Quote: "To date, Canada has stepped up significantly to contribute to Ukraines drone capabilities by donating over 100 made-in-Canada, specialised drone cameras to Ukraine from L3 Wescam," the statement reads. Background: On 20 February, Blair announced that Canada plans to transfer hundreds of modern combat drones worth almost CAD$100 million (about US$73 million) to Ukraine in the spring. On 7 March, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced the allocation of 325 million (about 380 million) to purchase over 10,000 drones for Ukraines Armed Forces during his visit to Kyiv. The UK and Latvia lead the international drone coalition, formed within the framework of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meetings. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, during a visit to Kyiv in January, announced that the UK would allocate 200 million to manufacture various drones for the Ukrainian military. Support UP or become our patron! Canada has officially joined the drone coalition for Ukraine, a collaborative effort led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, Canadas Defense Minister Bill Blair said during a meeting with Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds, the Canadian government reported on March 7. Canada, as the coalition member, will actively explore avenues to strengthen Ukraines drone capability, Blair said. Canada has already provided 100 specialized cameras for drones manufactured by L3 Wescam company, the press release said. Read also: No red lines for French support of Ukraine Macron Ukraine and Latvia created the drone coalition, and the decision was made during the Spruds visit to Kyiv in December 2023. Latvia is working to create a coalition to provide Ukraine with drones and it will include about 20 countries, Spruds said. Sweden and the United Kingdom announced that they are joining a drone coalition for Ukraine on Jan 25, 2024. Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced that her country had already started providing Ukraine with drones as part of the coalition on Feb. 19. Read also: UK urges Germany to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine Bloomberg 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 FILE - Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen rises during Question Period, in Ottawa, Ontario, April 28, 2022. Ahmed, who is now Canada's Minister of International Development, said Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, that Canada is working to airdrop humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip as soon as possible. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP) TORONTO (AP) Canada will restore funding to the United Nations relief agency for Palestinians, weeks after the agency, known as UNRWA, lost hundreds of millions of dollars in support following Israeli allegations against some of its staffers in Gaza. Canada was one of 16 countries that temporarily halted future payments. Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, said Canada has been reassured after receiving an interim report from the United Nations investigation of Israels allegations. Canada is resuming its funding to UNRWA so more can be done to respond to the urgent needs of Palestinian civilians. Canada will continue to take the allegations against some of UNRWAs staff extremely seriously and we will remain closely engaged with UNRWA and the UN to pursue accountability and reforms, Hussen said. The Canadian government was set to announce the decision on Wednesday but delayed it until Friday, for reasons that were not immediately clear. The Israel-Hamas war has driven 80% of Gazas population of 2.3 million Palestinians from their homes, and U.N. officials say a quarter of the population is starving as access to the enclave is restricted. UNRWA, which employs roughly 13,000 people in Gaza, is the main supplier of food, water and shelter there, but it is on the brink of financial collapse. Israel accused 12 of its employees of participating in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people and left about 250 others held hostage in Gaza. In response, more than a dozen countries including Canada suspended funding to UNRWA worth about $450 million, almost half its budget for the year. Two U.N. investigations into Israels allegations were already underway when the European Union said last Friday it will give 50 million euros ($54 million) to UNRWA after the agency agreed to allow EU-appointed experts to audit the way it screens staff to identify extremists. Israel now alleges that 450 UNRWA employees were members of militant groups in Gaza, though it has provided no evidence. The Canadian government is due to contribute $25 million Canadian ($19 million) to UNRWA in April and did not miss a payment as a result of the pause. Canada will also send $100,000 Canadian (US$74,000) to the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization for supplies including food and blankets to be delivered to the territory. The Canadian military will also send 300 cargo parachutes to Jordan to help with airdrops of critical supplies. UNRWA in a statement has accused Israel of detaining several of its staffers and using torture and ill treatment to force them to give false confessions about the links between the agency, Hamas and the Oct. 7 attack. The attack sparked an Israeli invasion that Gazas Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas, says has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians. FILE PHOTO: Palestinian children wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen amid shortages of food supplies, in Rafah OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada will resume funding to the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency, International Aid Minister Ahmed Hussen said on Friday, becoming one of the first international donors to announce such a move. Ottawa paused funding on Jan. 26 after Israel alleged some of the staff at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) agency had been involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. "Canada will be lifting its temporary pause on funding to (UNRWA)," Hussen said in a statement, but did not say exactly when this would happen. "UNRWA plays a vital role in Gaza." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that Ottawa was waiting for the results of an internal United Nations probe into the Israeli allegations that 12 UNRWA staff had been involved in the attacks in which around 1,200 people died, according to Israeli tallies. A total of 16 donors, including the United States and Britain, paused their funding to UNRWA. Hussen said Canada had reviewed the interim report of the U.N. investigation and looked forward to the final version. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Daniel Wallis) Cara Delevingne has preemptively hit back at criticism she feels shes likely to receive for her forthcoming role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret. The British model and actor will join the award-winning West End revival from 11 March until 1 June 2024, along with Luke Treadaway who will take over as the Emcee. In a new interview for ES Magazine, the 31-year-old spoke about the prejudice she receives as a celebrity performer. Even if I did the best I possibly could, and even if that was really good, people are still going to be like, She doesnt deserve to be here, she said. You know, I auditioned like anyone else [so] its just annoying, but I have to tune that out. Known for her distinctively think eyebrows, Delevingne rose to fame aged just 16 as she became the face of Burberry, Jimmy Choo and Topshop. Elsewhere in the interview with ES, Delevingne said she moved from London to Los Angeles because the press and journalism can be really rough [here]... Youre either a person that people want to succeed or youre not. And I think once you are one of the latter, you cant really get out of that. So I was like, The only thing I want to do is leave. Cara Delevingne (Getty Images for Academy Museum) Delevingne made her first lead acting appearance in the 2015 teen romance, Paper Towns. Shes gone on to star in films such as Suicide Squad and Kids in Love, and the comedy-mystery series Only Murders in the Building. Her casting in Cabaret was announced last month. In a statement, Delevingne said there were no words that could explain her excitement for her stage debut. I am so inspired by the brilliant actors who have played Sally in past productions around the world and in this one in the West End, her message read. I cannot wait to be a part of this brilliant cast and production. Delevingne has also dabbled in singing and songwriting, and released a single titled I Feel Everything in 2017, which was produced by Pharrell Williams. In 2022, she presented the BBC series Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne, in which she explored the orgasm gap and taboo ideas surrounding female sexual pleasure. Delevingne and Treadaway will begin performances at the Playhouse Theatre, which has been remodelled as Berlins debauched Kit Kat Club, where Cabaret takes place. Treadway said of his forthcoming appearance in Cabaret: I cant wait to become a member of the Kit Kat Club and join this extraordinary production. Its a huge thrill to be asked to take this on and Im very excited to get started. Treadway won the Olivier Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance of Christopher in the National Theatres production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. He has also appeared as Nick in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Karl in Over There at the Royal Court and Albert Narracott in War Horse and Saint Joan, both at the National Theatre. The revised production of Cabaret opened in December 2021 and won seven Olivier Awards the following year. The Broadway production of Cabaret starring Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin will open at the Kit Kat Club at the August Wilston Theatre in April. GENEVA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- In observance of International Women's Day, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stressed on Friday that peace could be built only with women as part of the process. Addressing the Human Rights Council, the UN rights chief said that at the grassroots level, courageous women peacebuilders spurred social transformation, however, at the negotiating table, the voices of women and girls remained marginal. Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), spoke about the importance of investing in women in the new episode of UNCTAD's Weekly Tradecast. Women and girls made up nearly half of humanity but still lacked equal opportunities in societies and economies, which meant that they often got less access to education and healthcare, were paid less than men, and were more likely to leave work to care for families, Grynspan said. This week, the UN released a position paper on women, "Placing Gender Equality at the Heart of the Global Digital Compact," to support the preparation of the Summit of the Future due in September, the UN Information Service said on Friday. The position paper said that progress towards gender equality in technology and innovation continued to be far too slow, across all indicators, and yet, the challenges that underpinned the gender digital divide continued to be treated as a side topic in discussions on digitalization. In 2023, women represented only 20 percent of employees in technical roles in major machine learning companies, 12 percent of AI researchers and 6 percent of professional software developers, the paper said. According to the latest Women in Parliament report of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the global proportion of parliament members who are women has inched up to 26.9 percent, based on elections and appointments that took place in 2023. This represents an increase of 0.4 percentage points year on year, a similar growth rate to 2022. However, the growth is slower than in the preceding years - elections in 2021 and 2020 saw an increase of women parliament members of 0.6 percentage points. Gender issues dominated many of the elections amid a backlash against women's rights in some countries, the report said, adding that several prominent women have recently left politics, blaming burnout and threats. An analysis published by Germany's credit agency Schufa on Friday echoed with the international institutions. Only 27 percent of German companies have at least one woman in top management such as a board member, managing director, or owner, almost unchanged since last year, according to the analysis based on the Schufa database of 4.7 million companies. Matthew Caseby, who was a patient at Birmingham's Priory Hospital Woodbourne, left the hospital by climbing over a fence in the courtyard A care provider has been fined 650,000 for a safety failing after a patient escaped from a mental health unit and was hit by a train. Matthew Caseby, 23, from London, was able to leave Priory Hospital Woodbourne in Birmingham in 2020 by scaling a wall from its courtyard. Priory Healthcare Ltd admitted breaching the 2008 Health and Social Care Act at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Friday, by failing to provide safe care and treatment. Matthews father, Richard, told the court his son died needlessly and the company had tried to evade accountability for its gross failures. An inquest in 2022 found that Mr Caseby was "inappropriately attended" for several minutes, allowing him to leave the hospital. He had been detained at the hospital under the Mental Health Act after being seen running on railway tracks north of Oxford five days before his death. On 7 September 2020 he mentioned to a nurse he was a personal trainer and expressed frustration at not being able to get outside and exercise. He was told by a doctor he could go out into the courtyard to get some fresh air, despite concerns raised by a nurse. Mr Caseby was escorted outside and supervised initially but would then not return inside and his nurse went to get help, the court heard. He climbed over the 2.3m (7ft 6in) fence and a day later was hit by a train near Birmingham's University Railway Station. Mr Caseby escaped from Priory Hospital Woodbourne when he was "inappropriately attended" for several minutes, an inquest in 2022 heard James Marsland, prosecuting for the Care Quality Commission (CQC), told Friday's hearing that the case was being brought for the failings in Mr Caseby's care, rather than that it caused his death. It centred on the firm not adequately assessing the risk, amounting to a failure to provide safe treatment. In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Caseby's father Richard said his ability to grieve was stunted for years by Priory Healthcare's attempts to "hide the facts" about his son's death and "evade accountability for its gross failures". District Judge Shamim Qureshi said Mr Caseby fought tooth and nail for the investigation by the coroner and CQC and here we are today. The attitude and behaviour of the defending company had not been what he expected, he added. He said he understood that dealing with patients under the Mental Health Act was a very difficult area and a balance must be found between prison-like conditions or the free rein given to people in hospitals. However, confirming a fine of 650,000 and prosecution costs of 43,672, Judge Quereshi said the culpability of harm in this case was high. After the inquest in 2022, Priory Healthcare said: "We accept that the care provided at Woodbourne in this instance fell below the high standard patients and their families rightly expect from us and we fully recognise that improvements are needed to the service." If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk More about Matthew Caseby Related internet links MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) The case of a Madison man accused of killing his brother in 2022 is moving forward. According to court records, a Madison County Grand Jury indicted Timmie Dewayne Thomas Jr. in January on his murder charge. Madison County Sheriffs Office: One charged with murder after body found in Harvest Thomas Jr. is accused of killing Darrius King at Madison Pines Apartment on Gillespie Road. Madison Police were called to the apartment complex for a report of a man with a gunshot wound, who was later identified as King. He was found dead by authorities at the scene. Police said the murder stemmed from an argument between the brothers. Thomas was 18 years old at the time of the crime. He is scheduled to appear in court for a status hearing on March 22 ahead of his April 29 trial. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. A south side Milwaukee alderwoman has filed a complaint accusing her challenger in the April 2 election of soliciting contributions above the campaign finance limit for the race. Ryan Antczak, a candidate for Milwaukee Common Council, District 8 The complaint filed with the state Ethics Commission by Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa also accuses challenger Ryan Antczak of failing to include on campaign literature the name of the campaign committee that had paid for the literature and of illegally having two candidate committee accounts. "If you want to run for an office that makes the laws, you need to follow the laws. Clearly, our opponent failed to do that," Michael Maistelman, Zamarripa's attorney, said in a statement. Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa filed a complaint Thursday against her challenger in the April 2 election alleging that Ryan Antczak sought donations in excess of campaign finance limits. The complaint asks that Antczak be fined $500 per violation and that the Ethics Commission forward the complaint to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. Reached by the Journal Sentinel Thursday, Antczak said he had not seen the complaint but intended to abide by campaign finance laws. Milwaukee council candidate accused of soliciting donations in excess of legal limits The complaint accuses Antczak of soliciting contributions in excess of state-imposed limits for seats he is seeking on the Milwaukee Common Council and, as a write-in, on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. "Upon information and belief, Ryan Antczak is currently running for a Wisconsin Assembly seat yet appears to also be using his Assembly campaign committee to raise money for his Aldermanic race and for his Milwaukee County Board race," the complaint states. Cited is a Feb. 4 Facebook invitation to a reception in support of electing him to the Common Council and County Board. He listed the maximum contributions as $1,045 per person or PAC and $2,090 per year. Checks could be made payable to "Antczak for Assembly," the post states. Antczak, though, told the Journal Sentinel that the account is for "Antczak for Alderman" but that he could not edit the Facebook post. "If that was mixed up, then all checks which I haven't barely gotten any is going out to 'Antczak for Alderman,'" he said. The post also stated, "Cash is great & we do Venmo." As for how he came to the maximum contribution limits he posted, he said he "probably copied that from another alderman" and that he would be looking into the figures. "I definitely do not want to go against campaign rules, that's for sure," he said, adding that he did not think it was likely anyone would give him a $1,045 donation or even the smaller sum allowed in the aldermanic race. The contribution limit for the District 8 Common Council race is $792, according to the city Election Commission. The amounts vary by district but none is higher than $834. The contribution limit is $1,055.70 for the District 12 County Board race, according to the county Election Commission. Antczak is running as a write-in after having been removed from the ballot over a paperwork error. He filed notices with the state and city in January saying he hadn't raised or spent enough money to require him to file a detailed campaign finance report. Antczak accused of omitting source of political mailing and illegally having two candidate committee accounts Antczak is also accused in the complaint of using campaign resources to send out campaign materials in recent days urging voters to support him in the council and County Board races without including on the paperwork who was paying for the document. Antczak said he realized the error after at most 50 flyers had been distributed and attached stickers to the remainder that say, "AAPF by Friends of Ryan Antczak." He provided a photo of the stickers to the Journal Sentinel. Antczak said he is currently retired. After the April election, Common Council members' annual pay will rise to $84,205.58. Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com. Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on X at @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice. This embedded content is not available in your region. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee council candidate accused of seeking donations over limit A longtime Kansas City, Kansas, Catholic elementary school will close its doors after this school year ends, as church leadership points to financial strains. In a letter sent to families Wednesday, Rev. John Nicholas Blaha of Christ the King Elementary at 3027 N 54th St., said the decision was made after much consideration, prayer, and extensive consultation with stakeholders inside and outside our community. Generous donations, fundraising and other contributions from the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, were not enough to account for a deficit of financial support needed to continue the schools operations, Blaha said in the written statement, adding that the decision was made in coordination with the Archdiocese. School leaders said they will offer families with enrolled children help to find other Catholic schools. Scholarships were to remain otherwise unaffected. And officials promised assistance to staff and faculty seeking new employment. Christ the King, a 79-year-old institution of the Bethel Welborn neighborhood, enrolls about 200 students in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The closure marks another private Catholic school that has ended its school program in Kansas City, Kansas. For roughly 20 years, Christ the King offered a religious education for parishioners of Our Lady & St. Rose and Blessed Sacrament, which also closed schools. Father Michael Brookes has been told to 'stand down from his priestly ministries' and undergo a 'psychological assessment' A Catholic priest allegedly assaulted a parishioner who spoke out about a family being turned away from a Christmas Eve service after they brought a puppy with them. Father Michael Brookes, 62, was accused of dragging the 77-year-old pensioner into a room and screaming at her after she questioned his decision not to allow the dog in his chapel. The incident led to Fr Brookes cancelling Mass and ordering worshippers to leave the St Thomas More chapel in Harleston, Norfolk. The woman complained about the priests behaviour to the Catholic Diocese of East Anglia. Peter Collins, the Bishop of East Anglia, ruled that he should stand down from his priestly ministries and undergo a psychological assessment. Fr Michael, a former psychiatric nurse, was ordained in 2019 and appointed as priest at Harleston, and at St Edmunds Church in Bungay, Suffolk, in 2021. St Thomas More chapel in Harleston, Norfolk, where Father Michael Brookes was accused of 'screaming' at a pensioner - East Anglia News Service His departure has led to the cancellation of services at Harleston, and some at the St Edmunds Church, as the diocese does not have enough priests to cover them. The row happened shortly before Fr Michael was due to lead a Christmas Eve Mass last year. Dragged me into the room The woman, a parishioner for several years, said: Fr Michael gripped me and shook me, having dragged me into a room which nobody could see into, while shouting in my face. It was all because I said he was wrong to rudely dismiss a family from the door as a small boy had a puppy with him. It was very scary. I tried to leave and he dragged me back into the room and continued shouting in my face. Finally I managed to escape the room before the Father then ordered those in attendance for the ceremony out of the chapel. The woman, who is a widow, added: What was most terrifying wasnt the physical manhandling, it was the way he screamed in my face, spitting as he shouted out of control. She said she gave church leaders an ultimatum to dismiss Fr Michael or she would contact police, having previously raised concerns with the diocese about his behaviour. He lost the plot The woman said: In the preceding weeks, there had been incidents where the man had also lost the plot at people, screaming at them, and it was becoming more and more frequent. The clues for this eventual physical attack were there for a long time, as there had been many reported incidents. The bottom line is that he was abusive [to] the whole parish for over two years and it has resulted in the closure of the Harleston site, which is so sad for so many people. She said she had not received a proper apology from the priest, the Bishop or the diocese. Physical contact A spokesman for the diocese said: We can confirm that an incident took place on Christmas Eve 2023 at St Thomas More, Harleston, between parish priest Fr Michael Brookes and a parishioner. There was an argument and physical contact on a parishioner by Fr Brookes, which did not result in an injury. Fr Brookes immediately reported the incident to the diocesan safeguarding service. The parishioner did not regard it as a police matter. After a thorough investigation by the diocesan safeguarding service, Bishop Peter Collins took the decision that the priest should stand down from his priestly ministries and undergo independent clinical psychological assessment; he will be supported by diocesan authorities through the coming period. In consequence, Fr Brookes is currently out of ministry and is no longer resident in the parish. Bishop Peter has said that he held a series of meetings and conversations with Fr Michael, from last summer onwards, regarding his health and his role. Significant stress He said that the priest had been experiencing the effects of significant stress over recent months, not least as a result of his concern regarding the health of his elderly mother as well as discussions regarding the reorganisation of parishes. The Bishop added in a statement: This is a very sad and upsetting situation for everyone and the safety and well-being of all involved are our primary concern. I wish to express my sadness and regret to the victim for what she experienced. We offer her the assurance of our prayers and support. Please be assured that I will continue to pray for everyone involved and the parishes of Bungay and Beccles. 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. KANSAS CITY, Kan. A Kansas City, Kansas, Catholic school is closing its doors this spring. Christ the King Catholic School announced in a letter to families that it will close for good at the end of the school year. KCK woman has warning after safe deposit box disappears from bank School leaders pointed to funding as the reason for closing, saying they cant afford to fund private Catholic education anymore. Christ the King leaders, Father Nick Blaha and principal Alex Weibel, said they have done fundraising in the community, and the archdiocese has provided extensive financial support over the years. As incredible as this generosity has been, unfortunately, it was not enough to cover our financial needs, the school said. Moreover, Christ the King School has been subsidized by outside donors for many years. This path is no longer sustainable. Blaha and Weibel said the school will spend the next few months helping families transition and find other options for Catholic education. The KCK school will also assist its faculty and staff with finding new employment. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Those who are already enrolled for next school year will receive a full refund of their enrollment fees. We extend our deep gratitude to the committed families who have labored tirelessly to support Christ the King. Thank you for your good example and faithful care of these scholars entrusted to us, school leaders said. Finally, thank you to the boys and girls of Christ the King who have been such eager participants in the beautiful life of our school. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. DENVER (KDVR) The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has completed its internal affairs investigation into a former DNA scientist and found that the scientist had manipulated data in the DNA testing process. CBI released the findings from their investigation on Yvonne Missy Woods on Friday. In November 2023, it was reported that Woods was no longer working with CBI. In September 2023 CBI discovered anomalies in her DNA testing work, and in October 2023, she was placed on administrative leave. Woods had been working with the CBIs Forensic Services division for 29 years. Almost-solved 43-year-old cold case hits another year without answers Investigation finds scientist manipulated data After several months of investigation, CBI said the report revealed that Woods manipulated data in the DNA testing process, posting incomplete test results in some cases. This discovery puts all of her work in question, and CBI is in the process of reviewing all her previous work for data manipulation to ensure the integrity of all CBI laboratory results. The investigation from CBI was dated Feb. 26 and it found Woods had: Omitted material facts in official criminal justice records, Tampered with DNA testing results by omitting some of those results, and Violated CBIs Code of Conduct and CBI laboratory policies ranging from data retention to quality control measures. According to CBI, 652 cases between 2008 and 2023 were identified as being affected by Woods data manipulation. CBI said the data was manipulated in the following ways: Deleted and altered data that concealed Woods tampering with controls Deleted data that concealed Woods failure to troubleshoot issues within the testing process Failed to provide thorough documentation in the case record related to certain tests performed Per the investigation, CBI claims the manipulation was intentional on Woods part. The review did not find that Woods falsified DNA matches or otherwise fabricated DNA profiles. She instead deviated from standard testing protocols and cut corners, calling into question the reliability of the testing she conducted. According to CBIs policies and procedures, Woods should have conducted additional testing to ensure the reliability of her results in these affected cases, said CBI in a release. An attorney for Woods issued a statement Friday afternoon: Ms. Woods had been a loyal and dedicated forensic scientist with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for close to 30 years. Shes worked with and trained generations of prosecutors, scientists and law enforcement agents over those years. While the allegations resulting from the internal investigation alleged that that Ms. Woods deviated from standard protocols and cut corners in her work. The findings of the internal investigation support Ms. Woods earlier statements shes never created or reported any false inculpatory DNA matches or exclusions, nor has she testified falsely in any hearing or trial resulting in a false conviction or unjust imprisonment. To the extent that the findings of the internal investigation calls into questions the rest of her work over 29 years with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Ms. Woods will continue to cooperate with law enforcement to preserve the integrity of her work that resulted in true and just criminal justice findings whether arrests, convictions or exonerations. Ryan W. Brackley CBI scientist worked on high-profile cases Over the years, Woods was connected to some high-profile cases, including the Kobe Bryant sex assault case that was eventually dropped, the Susannah Chase murder case and the Alex Ewing hammer killings case. Child on e-skateboard killed on the way to school in Highlands Ranch CBI said the anomalies were found while reviewing a sampling of cases as part of an internal process. Public trust in our institutions is critical to the fulfillment of our mission, said CBI Director Chris Schaefer. Our actions in rectifying this unprecedented breach of trust will be thorough and transparent. Michael Dougherty, the 20th Judicial District attorney for Boulder County, said his office has 15 open cases and 55 closed cases that included Woods as a witness. We have one filed petition for post-conviction relief based on this issue that is pending, and another one that was previously pending and is now on hold. To be clear, those numbers are for cases in which she was/is endorsed as a witness not cases with anomalies from the State Lab. Whenever information is received from the State Lab, our office immediately provides it to the defense attorneys on these cases in a manner consistent with our ethical obligations and discovery requirements. It is too early, though, to tell what the impacts will be or whether any re-trials will be required, Dougherty said in a statement. Meanwhile, FOX31s Samantha Spitz spoke with another attorney who said hes exploring what to do about three cases he worked on where Woods was involved. When the foundation of the evidence thats created is compromised, the lack of credibility pervades the entire system, said Casey Krizman, owner and CEO of Krizman law. Following these findings, CBI said they are engaging in a comprehensive audit of all their DNA analysts to ensure their catalog is complete and accurate. The Office of the State Public Defender released a statement Friday, saying it cannot comment on specific cases involving Woods but said it is very likely that criminal cases will be reopened because of her actions. The lack of transparency from the CBI about this matter is extremely concerning, the statement reads in part. One of the most pressing questions is whether any person has been wrongfully convicted as a result of misconduct. CBI and other law enforcement should be immediately forthcoming with the public and the people directly impacted by the misconduct and possible crimes committed by the DNA analysts they employed. CBI scientist not the only one who may have manipulated data During the seven-month-long internal investigation, CBI said they discovered indications of a separate employee that may have manipulated data. According to a release from CBI, an analyst employed by the Weld County Sheriffs Office at the Northern Colorado Regional Forensic Laboratory may have also manipulated DNA testing data. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox CBI said this case is separate from Woods and was referred to the Weld County Sheriffs Office for further investigation. According to the sheriffs office, the analyst was fired in early March after an investigation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. MONTOUR FALLS, N.Y. (WETM) Cornell Cooperative Extension Schuyler County is hosting a pheasant breeding workshop for those who are interested in learning about and participating in the Cooperative Day-old Pheasant Chick Program to meet the demand for pheasant hunting opportunities in New York State. The workshop will take place on Monday, March 11, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Schuyler County Human Services Complex in Room 120, located at 323 Owego Street in Montour Falls. The program is free and open to the public. Hornell Water Pollution Control Plant to receive $1.25 million At the workshop, attendees will learn how they can get free day-old pheasant chicks to raise and release into the wild. Staff members from the Richard E. Reynolds Game Farm will explain how the DECs pheasant breeding program works, as well as give tips and ideas on how to successfully raise the chicks. They will also be available to answer questions and provide information on the requirements to make the program work for you. The workshop will also focus on and explain the DECs Cooperative Day-old Pheasant Chick Program, which helps make more game available for hunting and bird watching. The DECs Bureau of Wildlife owns and operates the Richard E. Reynolds Game Farm, located near Ithaca, which is the only pheasant production facility in New York State. New sculpture placed at Mark Twain Riverfront Park after six months of work If youre interested in participating in the program, you must be willing to raise your specified number of chicks and release them on lands that are open for public hunting. Program participants include 4-H youth, sportsmen clubs, landowners, farmers, schools, the NYS Department of Corrections and others. To participate in the workshop, you must register beforehand. You can register online or by calling the CCE Schuyler Office at 315-539-9251. Additional information and accommodation requests may be directed to Environmental/Natural Resources Educator Ryan Staychock at ryan.staychock@cornell.edu. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. A Snow Shoe Township woman pleaded no contest Friday to neglect for what a Centre County prosecutor once described as barbaric treatment of another human being. Loretta P. Stokes-McClusick, 54, pleaded no contest to one felony count each of neglect of a care dependent person and financial exploitation of a care dependent person. The plea meant she accepted the conviction, but did not admit guilt. Centre County Judge Julia Rater is set to decide her sentence, which could include anything from probation to a lengthy period in state prison. Stokes-McClusick said little during the hearing, having only offered perfunctory answers to routine questions from Rater. She also shook her head as Centre County First Assistant District Attorney Sean McGraw read aloud the allegations against her. A then 84-year-old woman Stokes-McClusick was responsible for was treated in May 2022 for what a registered nurse at Mount Nittany Medical Center described as horrific wounds. Her weight was substantially diminished, she was treated for hypothermia, her blood pressure was the lowest the nurse had ever seen, and some wounds that appeared to be caused by maggots exposed bone. The woman survived, but medical professionals at the emergency room feared she would either die or have one of her legs amputated. McGraw said the woman would never walk again. Its nothing short of incredible that she survived this ordeal, McGraw said when Stokes-McClusick was arraigned in February 2023. I think its a tribute to both her resilience, as well as the excellent care that she received at Mount Nittany Medical Center. A court-appointed guardian oversaw the womans finances after her hospitalization, but McGraw said Stokes-McClusick wrote herself a $2,000 check from the womans bank account. No additional charges will be filed as part of the agreement that requires her to repay that money. Stokes-McClusick, who posted $100,000 bail through a bondsman, remains free. No sentencing date was set. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) A new agreement is opening new training opportunities for both Champaign firefighters and police officers. This week, the Champaign City Council unanimously approved a one-year agreement with the nonprofit Public Safety Training Foundation to use their training facility in Decatur. Its a seven-year-old facility that Champaign Police Lieutenant Aaron Lack described as a state-of-the-art, humongous training facility, designed specifically for training firefighters and police officers in Central Illinois. Wed like to use this one, maybe once or up to four times a year, potentially, he said. It has so much potential in it. Taylorville Fire Dept. rehearsing grain bin rescues Lack said training facilities closer to home, like the Police Training Institute, Illinois Fire Service Institute and the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, have been great for first responders to use. But they come at a cost of hundreds of dollars per day of training and compared to the Decatur facility, their training amenities are limited. Whats out in Macon County just makes the rest pale in comparison to the opportunity, Lack said. And they offer it completely free of charge for us. The Decatur facility includes what Lack called an indoor city with 12 fully furnished office buildings, bars and apartments and a two-story school for the police side of training. For firefighters, they get a six-story fire-training tower and a grain bin. Also included: multi-screen interactive virtual police simulators, a life-size Amtrak passenger car, a freight train tanker car, a Greyhound bus, a helicopter and a small plane. There is not another place in town that offers all that in one place, Lack said. Villa Grove Fire Department helping hearing impaired The only cost a two-hour round trip to Decatur and a maximum of $80 worth of travel expenses per commute. The cost at about $80 for that type of opportunity is just something we would like to not have to pass up on, Lack said. Well worth it, in our eyes, for what were getting, for the quality of the training. With a 9-0 vote, the council agreed and gave their approval for the Champaign Fire and Police Departments to make the journey to Macon County for future training. The agreement will automatically renew on a yearly basis unless either the City of Champaign or the Public Safety Training Foundation chooses to terminate. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. A participant attends the 13th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 8, 2024. The forum opened in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam Friday, with participants describing it as a springboard for the continent's economic and industrialization agenda. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) DAR ES SALAAM, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The 13th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum opened in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam Friday, with participants describing it as a springboard for the continent's economic and industrialization agenda. James Mdoe, deputy permanent secretary in the Tanzanian Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, said the forum has fostered a positive atmosphere in academia and society for stronger Africa-China relations. Opening the one-day forum, Mdoe said China and Africa must figure out ways to deepen cooperation and seek to demonstrate the instrumental role that education can play in building strong societies. Nelson Boniface, deputy vice chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, called for increased cooperation between China and Tanzania on academic and research projects in various fields, including science, education, humanities and social sciences, engineering, and technology, to meet the two countries' demands. Chen Mingjian, Chinese ambassador to Tanzania, said China and Africa have a shared desire to explore development paths independently and work together to build a high-quality China-Africa community with a shared future. A participant attends the 13th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 8, 2024. The forum opened in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam Friday, with participants describing it as a springboard for the continent's economic and industrialization agenda. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) A participant attends the 13th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 8, 2024. The forum opened in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam Friday, with participants describing it as a springboard for the continent's economic and industrialization agenda. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) Champaign Countys METCAD agency is sharing new details about an outage that affected their ability to receive emergency and non-emergency calls Thursday evening. The outage, they said, was even more widespread than just Champaign County. METCAD officials said they received at 8 p.m. an automated notification from AT&T, telling them both 911 circuits serving the METCAD center were not working. Staff verified that both 911 and nonemergency lines werent working and immediately initiated their outage plan. Champaign police search for store vandals, owner speaks out That plan includes transferring 911 lines to Vermilion County, but their 911 center was also affected. In fact, the outage affected 911 centers across Central Illinois and Metro East Belleville, Centralia, Fulton County, Peoria and Salem were all affected. Macon Countys 911 facilities were not affected, however, and METCAD was able to transfer their 911 lines over to them at 8:40 p.m. Staff in Macon County relayed details of Champaign Countys 911 calls back to METCAD for local dispatching. AT&T was able to resolve the issue within 90 minutes and at 9:25, Champaign Countys 911 calls were rerouted back to METCAD. Man wanted in Decatur after overnight stabbing AT&T is still investigating the cause of the outage, but METCAD officials said the company indicated it was something in their infrastructure that failed. The Statewide 911 Administrator and the Federal Communications Commission are also looking into the outage. METCAD extended its appreciation to Macon County 911 for their help and to the public for its understanding and patience. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. The former president is facing a slew of legal challenges that could post a threat to his 2024 White House bid Donald Trumps bid for re-election to the White House has been beset by legal difficulties with the former president facing 91 felony charges across four criminal cases and two civil lawsuits. Mr Trump is staring down the barrel of potential jail time if he is found guilty in the criminal cases, while he could be struck with fines of more than $400 million for his civil trials. However, he was cleared by the Supreme Court to appear on the 2024 ballot ahead of Super Tuesday, in a major boost to his campaign. The court unanimously banned states from excluding Mr Trump from the vote over allegations that he incited an insurrection, overturning a previous ruling by Colorados Supreme Court. But Mr Trump has quickly turned his attention to another major case after the Supreme Court said it would consider his claims of presidential immunity from prosecution. The court, which has a 6-3 Republican majority, said it would take up the matter, beginning on the week of April 22, with a decision likely no later than the end of June. As the first former president to face a criminal trial after leaving the White House, he has faced off against a special federal prosecutor appointed solely to bring cases against him. Criminal charges Georgia election January 6 Documents Stormy Daniels Civil charges Fraud E Jean Carroll Mr Trump a property tycoon who is no stranger to the courtroom has used the cases as a campaign tool, telling his followers that they are an attempt to discredit his brand of MAGA Republicanism and block his path to power. The charges against him have raised unprecedented constitutional questions, and prompted fierce debate over whether he could even attempt to govern from jail. In addition to claims that he tried to alter the election result, he faces criminal charges for allegedly paying hush money to a porn star and mishandling White House documents. Here are the key cases, whats going on, and where this could all finish. Georgia election Mr Trump has been charged with 13 counts relating to his alleged bid to overturn the election result in Georgia in 2020. He has been charged with racketeering, violating an oath of office, and other crimes. A total of 19 co-defendants were indicted alongside the former president and four have pleaded guilty in a deal with Fulton County prosecutors. They are former Trump attorneys Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, alongside bail bondsman Scott Hall. Under the plea deals, the former defendants may have to testify against Mr Trump in forthcoming trials. Other high-profile co-defendants include his White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, and lawyer John Eastman. Mr Trump has always denied he acted improperly in Georgia in the aftermath of the election, as he sought to overturn the result in the state after narrowly losing the vote to Mr Biden. In a leaked call with Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state, Mr Trump pleaded with him to find thousands of votes that would allow him to win the crucial state. Theres nothing wrong with saying, you know, um, that youve recalculated, Mr Trump is reported to have said. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state. The former president also had a historic booking photo taken Mr Trumps legal team unsuccessfully argued that Fani Willis, a Georgia district attorney, should be barred from bringing charges against him and that a grand jurys report should be thrown out. The grand jury spent eight months interrogating some 75 witnesses and filed a lengthy report on Mr Trumps conduct last year. Mr Trump surrendered at a Georgia jail in August to be arrested in connection with the charges, after his bail was set at $200,000 with strict conditions attached to it. The judge has not yet set a trial date for Mr Trump, but Ms Willis has proposed courtroom proceedings commence on Aug 5 2024 for the remaining defendants. If successful, this means the trial would begin just months before the US presidential election in November. However, the timetable has been thrown into doubt over allegations that Ms Wallis faced a conflict of interest over her romantic involvement with lawyer Nathan Wade, whom she hired to investigate Mr Trump. If she is removed from the case, Georgia will have to find another prosecution team, which could delay the trial until after Novembers presidential election. Other 2020 election and Jan 6 charges Aside from Georgia, Mr Trump has been charged with four criminal counts over the events that led to the riot at the US Capitol on Jan 6 2021. In a 45-page indictment brought by special counsel Jack Smith, he was accused of trying to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election. He allegedly did so by pressuring officials in swing states where he had lost to assemble fake electors to ignore the popular vote, and pushing the Justice Department to open sham election inquiries. Six co-conspirators are referred to in the indictment but have not been named. However, Mr Giuliani appears to be the individual named as co-conspirator number one. Prosecutors say the former president also tried to convince Mike Pence, the then vice-president, to reject legitimate Electoral College votes. Mr Trump faces two counts of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, having allegedly tried to block Congress from confirming Joe Bidens victory. Mr Trump has been charged with four criminal counts over the events that led to the riot at the US Capitol on Jan 6 2021 - Jose Luis Magana/AP The felony charge was used against numerous rioters who stormed the Capitol. He has also been charged with conspiracy against rights, which criminalises any joint effort to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate others in an effort to stop them exercising their constitutional or federal rights. Mr Trumps campaign said the persecutions were reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. It added: These un-American witch-hunts will fail and President Trump will be re-elected to the White House. Mr Trump pleaded not guilty in a federal courthouse in Washington DC at the start of August. Mr Smith, who the former president has labelled as deranged, said he would seek a speedy trial over the four criminal counts. Even if Mr Trump is convicted, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination has insisted he will continue to run for the presidency. There are no mandatory minimum sentences for any of the crimes Mr Trump is accused of. Conspiracy to defraud the government is the least punitive of the four charges and is punishable by up to five years in prison. Conspiracy against rights carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, while conspiracy to obstruct and obstructing an official proceeding both mean up to 20 years in prison. In October, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan hit Mr Trump with a gagging order that prohibits him from publicly disparaging witnesses, prosecutors and court staff members involved in the case. In response to an appeal from Mr Trump, the gagging order was partially upheld, but restricted, by the judge in a ruling in early December. In January, Mr Trump launched an appeal against the case in Washington, arguing that he should be immune from prosecution because his actions took place while he held the presidency. Prosecutors then asked the court to issue a mandate to limit Mr Trumps efforts to further delay the trial. But the Supreme Court have since agreed to consider Mr Trumps case for absolute immunity, with oral arguments scheduled to begin on April 22. This means the case is unlikely to reach trial before the November election, which could give Mr Trump the chance to pardon himself before a verdict is reached if he secures the presidency. Classified documents Mr Trump faces 40 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The indictment accused him of endangering national security by removing US secrets from the White House and storing them in a ballroom, a bathroom and shower at his Florida club. Some were said to contain information about nuclear programmes, along with the defence and weapons capabilities of the US and foreign powers. Boxes of classified documents in a bathroom at Mar-a-Lago - US Justice Department/AFP via Getty Images In July, three further charges were added after it was claimed that Mr Trump and two employees tried to delete Mar-a-Lago security footage before it could be handed over to the FBI. A Trump spokesman has dismissed the case as a continued desperate and flailing attempt by the Biden administration to harass President Trump and those around him. The trial was originally set to commence on May 20 2024 in Fort Pierce, Florida, but this timeline is likely to be scrapped, with prosecutors suggesting a July 8 start date instead. Mr Trumps lawyers have called for the case to be postponed indefinitely or at least until after the election, citing the challenges of juggling a criminal trial and campaigning. In a move that would favour the former president, the federal judge overseeing the case implied she was also inclined to delay the trial, saying the current deadlines were unrealistic. Only two of the charges that Mr Trump faces carry a possible prison sentence of fewer than ten years the charges for scheming to conceal and making false statements and representations. The 31 charges under the Espionage Act the wilful retention of documents carry a sentence of up to ten years in prison. Prosecutors will have to prove that Mr Trump or his team he is being tried alongside two co-defendants knowingly mishandled materials to impede, obstruct or influence the investigation. The prosecution has also filed notices detailing the FBI agents they intend to call forward as expert witnesses. These agents will be asked to describe evidence found on the phones of Mr Trumps co-defendants. Charges for obstruction of justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record and concealing a document in a federal investigation could all mean a prison sentence of up to 20 years. All charges are listed with a maximum fine of up to $250,000 (198,000). Stormy Daniels hush money In April 2023, Mr Trump was charged in New York with 34 counts of fraud in relation to hush money paid to the porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair. The former president is said to have falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment. According to the 16-page indictment, the payments aimed to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity from American voters before and after the 2016 election. Mr Trump is accused of paying Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair - Ethan Miller/Getty Images Michael Cohen, Mr Trumps former lawyer, was sentenced to three years in prison in 2018 after admitting tax evasion and campaign finance violations in relation to paying off Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to the 34-count indictment, which he called a political witch-hunt, trying to take down the leading candidate, by far, in the Republican Party. The case will be the first of the former presidents criminal cases to go to trial, after a judge turned down Mr Trumps requests to delay. Jury selection will begin as planned on March 25 2024 in New York, in the middle of the Republican primaries. The presidential candidate would normally expect to be travelling around the country on the campaign trail at this time, but a judge warned him not to make any commitments for this month. The multiple counts of falsifying business records carry a maximum four-year jail sentence if Mr Trump is found guilty. Ms Daniels has downplayed the charges, however, arguing the former president does not deserve to be imprisoned. I dont think that his crimes against me are worthy of incarceration, she said on a TalkTV interview in April last year. Civil cases New York fraud case Mr Trump was in September found to have exaggerated his net worth and the value of his properties, including Trump Tower and his Mar-a-Lago resort. In February 2024, Donald Trump was fined almost $355 million and effectively banned from serving as a director of his own company for three years. After pre-trial interest was added, the mammoth fine climbed even further, being formally set at more than $454 million. In his ruling in mid-February, Judge Arthur Engoron also barred the former US presidents adult sons from running the family firm for two years. Eric and Donald Jr were also ordered to pay more than $4 million each. However, he stopped short of a life ban, which was described as a corporate death sentence, although the judgment does present the family with logistical problems in running the former presidents property empire over the next few years. Mr Trump announced he is appealing against the ruling by a crooked New York state judge and accused Laetitia James, the New York Attorney General of being horribly corrupt and election interference. Mr Trump has attacked Judge Engoron as unhinged, deranged and a political hack. The former president had already been hit with a $15,000 fine by Mr Engoron, after he insulted the presiding judges clerk on social media, violating a gag order in the case. An appeals judge denied Mr Trumps request to pay only $100 million of the full $454 million fine but agreed to lift a ban on the former presidents ability to obtain loans from New York banks. E Jean Carroll E Jean Carroll, a former magazine columnist, has been awarded $83 million damages from Mr Trump after he called her a whack job a day after he was found to have sexually abused her in a civil lawsuit. Ms Carroll claimed that Mr Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. The civil jury rejected the rape claim but ordered the former president to pay $5 million in damages for sexual abuse in May 2023. In a televised town hall hosted by CNN the following day, Mr Trump accused her of telling a made-up story. He told the audience at the event: What kind of a woman meets somebody and brings them up and, within minutes, youre playing hanky-panky in a dressing room, OK? Ms Carrolls lawyers claim he persisted in maliciously defaming Carroll yet again. Ms Carroll can proceed with her defamation claim against Mr Trump after the Justice Department ruled his presidency did not shield him from liability. It said it no longer believes Mr Trump could claim his comments about the right were carried out as part of his presidential duties. A US judge ruled that Mr Trump was liable for making defamatory statements against Ms Carroll and her second lawsuit would be for damages only, in a defeat for the former president. The former magazine columnist had already won $5 million from Mr Trump after he was found in May to have sexually abused and defamed her. Mr Trump has since sought a new trial in the defamation case brought by E Jean Carroll, arguing that the judge restricted his testimony and should substantially reduce the $83.3 million judgment against him. Could Trump be banned from the ballot? Mr Trump had previously been the subject of another appeal at the Supreme Court against attempts by several states to ban him from the election ballot over claims that an obscure constitutional amendment would prevent him from running for a second term. However, Mr Trump was cleared to run for president in a unanimous decision by the court on the eve of Super Tuesday, a series of votes that could secure his Republican nomination. In a speech at his resort in Miami, the former president praised the unifying and inspirational ruling after the Supreme Court agreed it would be incongruous to give individual states the power to disqualify candidates for the presidency. In mid-December, the Colorado Supreme Court had ruled that Mr Trump was disqualified under the 14th Amendment, which prevents individuals guilty of insurrection from holding high office. Maine followed suit on Dec 28, with Secretary of State Shenna Bellows disqualifying Mr Trump from the ballot in her state, leading Mr Trump to appeal the decision. The amendment was originally designed to ban confederate generals from running for the presidency, but fell into obscurity until it was revived by legal scholars in 2023. Since then, several states had begun proceedings to see Mr Trump taken off the ballot papers in the 2024 election in both the primary race and the general election. The Supreme Court heard legal arguments in February and appeared sceptical over Colorados arguments before overturning the proceedings. However, they are also considering Mr Trumps claim that he has immunity against all criminal charges. At the beginning of February, a federal appeals court rejected his claim and ruled he should face trial for a criminal indictment accusing him of seeking to overturn his loss to Joe Biden. 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. If you havent checked out LeClaire Community Library lately, there are a number of new features. The library at 323 Wisconsin St. (just off U.S. 67) will celebrate its 20th anniversary this summer, and just in time, its benefitted from a total of $115,000 in renovations over the past five weeks. They include new shelving units, carpeting, new bright paint, chairs and tables (including a totally revamped childrens area). Library director Melita Tunnicliff at the renovated childrens area on Friday, March 8, 2024 (photo by Jonathan Turner). They have moved things around across the library and were still putting furniture into place on Friday. The library did the work (since Feb. 1) without closing areas down, director Melita Tunnicliff said Friday. New furniture was being put into place Friday, March 8, 2024 (photo by Jonathan Turner). There will be new furniture put into the reading room with the fireplace, and historic displays. This July will be the librarys 20th anniversary, and they expect to unveil even more remodeling in the main library area at that time. An adult reading room will soon get new furniture (photo by Jonathan Turner). Built in the 1960s, originally a print shop, the building (just off U.S. 67) became a library in 2004, after a Scott County Library branch served LeClaire. A couple left in their will $500,000 to establish a new library, and matching funds were raised by the community, library director Melita Tunnicliff said Friday. A rendering of the new City Center Plaza (with the library at rear), to be finished by June 2024. The city hall across from the library was dedicated in 2005, and there is a City Center Plaza improvement project underway in between, to be completed by June. It will have grass, seating and a new stage. You can see renderings on the city website HERE. They plan to have concerts and outdoor movies on the plaza, Tunnicliff said. A rendering of the LeClaire City Center Plaza. On Tuesday, March 12, the library will have an open house to show off the renovations and re-launch its 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program (part of a national initiative), including a celebration of the remodeling in the Childrens Library Area. Its been kind of lying dormant for a while its a really great national program, Tunnicliff said of the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, which will offer prizes for kids at each 100 books, starting when they have books read to them. Part of the librarys childrens area, with a promotion for the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program (photo by Jonathan Turner). Were excited about that, she said. Its a motivation to keep up with that. The kids enjoy the prizes, looking ahead to school. They get a folder with a list of recommended books, a reading log and coloring pages. Every local library does it their own way, Tunnicliff said. The free program encourages parents to read 1,000 books with their child before they start school. Thats just 2 or 3 books per night for a year, or one book nightly for three years. The Friends of LeClaire Community Library funded the upgrades to the 1,000 books program, including prizes. When kids finish, they get a new backpack. Our goal is to provide a simple, innovative yet fun approach to establishing strong early literacy skills. We help young children gain the confidence necessary to become strong readers, says the 1000 Books website. On March 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the library will have a storytime with special guest reader Dennis Gerard, the mayor of LeClaire, along with talented staff readers. Clifford the Big Red Dog will be on hand to greet children and pose for pictures, and TJ Regul, balloon artist, will share his fun inflated creations. The city of LeClaire funded the new carpet and re-painting of the space, and the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to pay for new furniture. A puppet show area (they got last summer) has been very popular, Tunnicliff said. A lot of families come here to get their kids out of the house and see other kids, and be away from screens, she said. LeClaire (which has six full-and part-time employees) has access to collections from other Iowa QC libraries. Its hours are Mondays-Thursdays 10 a.m. 8 p.m., Fridays 10 to 5, Saturdays 10 to 2, and closed Sundays. The library mascot is the giraffe Stretch (photo by Jonathan Turner). For more information, visit the library website HERE. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. An Australian TV show featured a chef frying fish during a cooking segment last week but that fish happened to be a near-extinct species. The broadcaster and chef have since issued an apology after fishermen condemned the segment. ORF, a public radio and TV broadcaster in Austria, apologized for cooking a Frauennerfling fish, according to AFP. The chef also said he was sorry and explained that he had "asked a friend to get him some fish" when he was asked to make a Lent-friendly meal on the show. During Lent, practicing Christians usually abstain from eating meat on Fridays, AFP reports. "It was a chain of unfortunate events, because I trusted my friend who had a license to fish a related species and thought that also includes this fish," he told AFP by telephone. According to local publication Die Presse, during a broadcast this week of the show "Niederosterreich Today," moderator Claudia Schubert issued an apology: "Last week we overcooked a fish in 'Deliciously Culinary,' the Frauennerfling. But it is protected all year round. We apologize for that, we had different information about this." A Rutilus pigus, the scientific name for Frauennerfling / Credit: De Agostini via Getty Images/De Agostini via Getty Images The fish has been red-listed in Austria since 2002 and is on the brink of extinction, according to AFP. Also called a "female nerfling" in translations, or a "pigo," hunting of this carp has been closed year-round since 1998 in Germany and since at least 2006 in Bavaria. It has been red-listed meaning it is in danger by the ICUN, an international conservation organization that is part of the United Nations, since 2013. Gregor Gravogl, director of Austria's fishery association said his organization filed a complaint this week about the fishing of the endangered species. "This is an extremely sad incident I have not come across in my career yet," Gravogl said. The recipe from the cooking segment is still available online, urging the fish should be "from a fisherman you trust," according to AFP. CBS News has reached out to ORF and Gravogl for more information and is awaiting a response. Boeing and United Airlines investigate after wheel detaches from plane Sen. Katie Britt delivers Republican rebuttal to State of the Union address A bill that could lead to a TikTok ban is gaining momentum in Congress. Now the app is asking users for help. The honorees include one 5th, 8th, and 12th grader from each of the states eight BESE regions. Rapides Parish represented Region 5 with Ansley Elder being named the finalist. A Cherokee Elementary School 5th grader is the one of 24 finalists for the Louisiana Department of Education's 2024 Louisiana Students of the Year competition, according to a press release issued by the Rapides Parish School Board. The honorees include one 5th, 8th, and 12th grader from each of the states eight BESE regions. Rapides Parish represented Region 5 with Ansley Elder being named the finalist. Ansley attends Cherokee Elementary where she is highly involved on and off campus, says the release. Ansley participates in the Music Club, BETA, 4-H, Student Council, Flag Patrol, Girls on the Run, Cherokee Cheerleading, is a member of the Steps by Stephanie Competitive Dance Team, and Calvary Baptist Church KidzJam. According to Cherokee Elementarys principal, Kim Lord, Ansley's collaborative spirit and strong communication skills make her an effective and respected leader. She approaches challenges with a positive attitude, perseverance, and a genuine desire to learn and grow. Ansley has the energy to light up a room and to make a difference in our community! She is already showing strong leadership qualities in the 5th grade. Her focus is not solely only on grades, but on impacting those around her. Its this perspective and drive that makes her an outstanding representative for Rapides Parish and for Region 5, says Superintendent Jeff Powell. Finalists will convene April 10 at the River Center Branch Library in Baton Rouge for an awards ceremony and the announcement of the Louisiana Students of the Year winners from each grade. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Cherokee Elementary 5th grader among Region 5 State Student of the Year finalists Illegal immigrants are no longer camping out at Chicago's two major airports after the Senate Commerce Committee probed the mayor's office this year about how much in federal resources was being spent to keep them there. A week after the committee's letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson in late January, the migrants were quietly relocated after being camped out at O'Hare International Airport and Midway Airport for months. Johnson's office, the airports nor the Federal Aviation Administration responded to Fox News Digital's repeated requests for comment about where the migrants were transferred. "Mayor Johnson's office is still withholding crucial information from Congress and taxpayers about the housing of illegal aliens at O'Hare airport," Senate Republican Commerce Committee spokesperson Melissa Braid told Fox News Digital in a statement Thursday night. SENATE COMMERCE REPUBLICANS PROBE MIGRANT SHELTERS AT CHICAGO AIRPORTS Recently arrived migrants are shown in a makeshift shelter operated by the city of Chicago at O'Hare International Airport on Aug. 31, 2023. "Lawmakers are actively working on aviation safety and funding legislation. The requested information will help ensure taxpayer airport infrastructure money is being used for valid purposes rather than diverted to pay for sanctuary airports caused by Bidens open border crisis," she said. According to a Chicago Tribune report last month, Johnson's office announced there were no more migrants camped out at the airports. The removal comes as thousands of migrants were also moved from Chicago's police stations in December. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The report noted that Johnsons deputy chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, told reporters the removal was part of an ongoing effort to rapidly place migrants in shelters or housing in other cities. Pacione-Zayas noted that the $150 million Johnson earmarked for the emergency migrant response this year would likely be spent by April. CHICAGO'S O'HARE AIRPORT USED AS MIGRANT SHELTER AS CRISIS OVERWHELMS CITY: LIKE A SCENE FROM MAD MAX Migrants receive food outside the migrant landing zone in Chicago on Jan. 12, 2024. "Every day were in meetings, on calls with the state, with the county, to figure out what the long-term plan is to get through the calendar year together," Pacione-Zayas said. The Republicans, led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote to Johnson about the city's move to house migrants at OHare International Airport since March 2023 and, more recently, at Midway International Airport. Images emerged last year of hundreds of migrants camped out in a section of O'Hare. It came as the city struggled to deal with an influx of tens of thousands of migrants since mid-2022. "Repurposing airport facilities and infrastructure to house illegal aliens not only degrades taxpayers investment in the national airport system but, at least in the case of OHare, as federally-funded airport facilities are withdrawn from public access and use, it violates the requirement that these federally funded facilities be available for public use as an airport," the letter reads. "No rational person would define an airport as a facility that houses illegal aliens," they write. ILLEGAL MIGRANTS ARE SLEEPING IN TERMINALS OF BOSTON AIRPORT ON DAILY BASIS AS CRISIS OVERWHELMS SHELTERS Recently arrived migrants are shown in a makeshift shelter operated by the city of Chicago at O'Hare International Airport on Aug. 31, 2023. The lawmakers sought answers about the number of migrants being housed at the airports, the related costs, the hazards it has created, if it received any federal waivers, and if it consulted with the TSA on matters of aviation safety and security. The committee says it has not received a response from the city. Last year, Johnson boasted about his administrations efforts to provide housing, health care and schooling for the migrants coming to the city, but he has appealed for additional federal help to keep up with the ongoing demand. He's also asked for nearly $5 billion in assistance from the Biden administration. On Wednesday, the committee sent additional letters to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Massachusetts Port Authority for more information about the sheltering of migrants at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport. Fox News' Adam Shaw contributed to this report. Original article source: Chicago quietly moves migrants from airports after Senate committee probe A reunion of childhood friends separated in 1947 by the India-Pakistan border has TikTok users emotional. Suresh Kothari, 89, and AG Shakir, 90, were childhood best friends in Deesa, Gujarat, Kotharis granddaughter, Megan Kothari, told McClatchy News. My grandfather grew up during one of the most brutal times in India, seeing so much loss and sadness. Despite the passage of time and the constraints of old age and travel restrictions, he longed to reconnect with one of his dearest childhood companions, whom he hadnt seen in years, Megan wrote in her Feb. 28 TikTok. While Suresh Kothari was studying in Bombay, Shakirs family fled by boat in the middle of the night to newly-formed Pakistan, Megan said. When Shakir got to his destination, he wrote Kothari and informed him of his new address an address Kothari still remembers. My grandfather has an amazing memory he can remember super specific details of his life, Megan wrote in a March 7 TikTok. The men tried writing to each other over the years, but the tension between the two countries eventually made it impossible, Megan said. The 1947 partition of India and formation of Pakistan created an upsurge of violence, in which approximately 15 million people were displaced and an estimated one million died, the BBC said. The countries have been rivals ever since. The two men had no contact from 1947 to 1982. Then, by chance, a mutual friend in New York led to their first reunion. After my father settled in the states in the early 70s Uncle Babu (Suresh Kothari) was always top of mind for him. Anytime he ran into someone from India he would always inquire if they knew Uncle Babu, AG Shakirs daughter, Saeema Shakir, told McClatchy News in an email. And one day that persistence paid off. Someone did and it led to them (to) rekindling their long lost friendship. AG Shakir, who was living in Connecticut at the time, learned Kothari was coming to New York and made plans to pick him up from the airport, Megan said. The two were together for four days. So much time had passed but it was like no time had passed at all, Kothari told his granddaughter. After that, the two spoke regularly until Shakir moved to Virginia, Megan said. Kothari spends half of his time in New Jersey and the other half in Deesa, Gujarat. Then, in October 2023, the men met again. The two shared stories about moments in Deesa that shaped them, Saeema said. They reminisced about the sights and sounds of their childhood. The two can be seen shaking hands before embracing in a video thats garnered more than 606,000 views as of March 8. Witnessing their profound love and respect for each other, despite the geographical and political barriers that separated them, was a poignant reminder that no government can ever extinguish the power of human connection, Megan wrote on TikTok. Our capacity to love and respect one another transcends borders and prevails against all odds. TikTok users jumped to the comments to share how the reunion left them feeling. Thank you for sharing this dope example of the bond that can form between humans when we see each other as equals, vs as enemies or competition, one user wrote. Oh god, this is so beautiful, another wrote. Im crying, a person commented. As for the next time the childhood friends will see each other, Megan said they plan to meet for Kotharis 90th birthday in April. Friend asked to record proposal missed the whole kneeling part. See who is to blame Horse headbangs to music on TikTok. Meet the girl who likes to rock out Splishy splashes. Watch elephant have a ball in storms aftermath at California zoo Children will be subjected to a mandatory evacuation order due to the deteriorating security situation in four settlements of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine's Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories has reported. Source: Ministry of Reintegration Quote: "Members of the Coordination Headquarters [for mandatory evacuation of the population under martial law ed.] unanimously supported the mandatory evacuation of children accompanied by their parents or other legal representatives from certain settlements of Donetsk Oblast." Details: A total of 28 children are reportedly to be evacuated. The ministry stressed that the evacuated children and their accompanying individuals will be provided with free shelter in safer regions, financial and humanitarian aid, psychological support and so forth. Evacuation is free of charge. "To register [for evacuation], please call the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration's evacuation hotline at 0 800 408 911. You can also contact the hotline of the Ministry of Reintegration 15-48 or by writing to us on WhatsApp/Telegram/Viber at (096) 078-84-33," the ministry noted. Background: On 7 March, Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast State Administration, reported that the Kharkiv Oblast Defence Council had issued an order to mandatorily evacuate families with children from 18 settlements of the Velykyi Burluk and Vilkhuvatka hromadas located on the Kupiansk front [hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.]. Support UP or become our patron! The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that Li Hui, Chinese Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs, held "frank and friendly" talks in Kyiv on 7 March. Source: Chinese Foreign Ministry Quote: "Special Representative Li Hui held candid and friendly talks on China-Ukraine relations and the Ukraine crisis (as the Chinese authorities often call the war) with Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, and Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xianrong, Ukrainian Ambassador to China Pavlo Riabikin, Deputy Minister of Energy Svitlana Hrynchuk and other officials were present." Details: The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that Li Hui ended his visit to Ukraine on the evening of the same day and left Kyiv by train. Background: On the evening of 7 March, the Presidential Office reported that a briefing chaired by Yermak on the security situation in Ukraine and other topical issues was held for the Chinese delegation led by Special Envoy Li Hui. The Presidential Office reported that the Chinese delegation was briefed on the situation on the battlefield, the functioning of the "grain corridor", the return of prisoners of war, the protection of the rights of civilian hostages and the return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia. The Chinese delegation was shown samples of the fragments of a downed North Korean missile. The parties also discussed the possibility of China's assistance in stopping the forced deportation of Ukrainian children, exchanging prisoners, demilitarising and liberating the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, ensuring nuclear safety and other international initiatives of Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the India Edition newsletter by Menaka Doshi an insider's guide to the emerging economic powerhouse, and the billionaires and businesses behind its rise, delivered weekly. Most Read from Bloomberg Beijing said New Delhis move to free up 10,000 more soldiers to station on their disputed frontier wont reduce tensions but added that it is willing to work with its rival to keep the peace. India enhancing military deployments in the India-China border areas does not help ease the situation in the border areas or in safeguarding tranquility and safety, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Friday. But she added that China is committed to working with India to safeguard the tranquility and stability of the border areas. A unit of Indian soldiers previously assigned to the countrys western border has been set aside to protect a stretch of its frontier with China, Bloomberg News reported Thursday, citing senior Indian officials who didnt want to be named because discussions are private. In addition, an existing contingent of 9,000 troops already designated to the Chinese border will be brought under the new fighting command. The combined force will guard a roughly 530 km (330 mile) stretch of border that separates Chinas Tibet region with Indias northern states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Read More: India Frees Up 10,000 More Soldiers to Guard Border With China Indias unprecedented assignment of troops backed by their own artillery and air support to the stretch of the border highlights both the regions strategic importance and its growing sensitivity in the eyes of Indias leaders. Chinas Defense Ministry didnt respond to a faxed request for comment on Friday. Read More: The China-India Border Dispute Bedeviling Ties: QuickTake In 2021, India repositioned an extra 50,000 soldiers to patrol the border after a deadly clash the year before left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead and seriously strained ties. Beijing and New Delhi have since upgraded military-related infrastructure, moved missiles and aircraft to either side of their border and placid more troops in the area. Ties between India and China sank after the confrontation and havent substantially improved. As many as 21 rounds of military-diplomatic talks have made incremental progress. --With assistance from Yujing Liu. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. ROME, March 8 (Xinhua) -- A drop in the prices of grains and cereals in February contributed to a downward trend in global food prices, although sugar, meat and dairy prices continued to increase, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday. Grains and cereals cost 5 percent less than in January and 22.4 percent less year-on-year, with all the major cereal commodities seeing prices slip, FAO said. The trade routes remained stable amid the Ukraine-Russia conflict, which helped stabilize corn prices, while wheat prices fell due to higher exports from Russia. Rice and corn prices also benefited from new corp harvests. The overall FAO Food Price Index was 0.7 percent lower in February despite increases in three of five subcategories. The other subcategory that saw prices fall was vegetable oils, which slipped 1.3 percent due to decreases in the prices of soy, sunflower and rapeseed. This benefited from broadly favorable harvest conditions. Sugar prices climbed 3.2 percent in February due to worries that low rainfall would damage the harvest in Brazil, while meat prices were 1.8 percent higher due to unusually strong global demand and lower beef exports from Australia, reversing the trend of seven months of consecutive price declines. Dairy prices were 1.1 percent above the January level due in part to strong butter and whole milk powder imports to Asia. [Source] A former Google software engineer has been charged with stealing the tech giants trade secrets to benefit two China-based companies seeking to gain advantage in the AI race. Allegations: Linwei Ding, 38, also known as Leon Ding, is accused of stealing more than 500 files containing Google's AI trade secrets, including supercomputing data center components critical for training large AI models. He allegedly stole them between May 21, 2022, and May 2, 2023, using various methods to bypass Googles security systems, including copying files via Apple Notes and converting them into PDFs. Background: Ding is a Chinese national residing in Newark, California. He was employed by Google as a software engineer in 2019 and granted access to sensitive information, including its hardware infrastructure, software platform and AI models. Charging documents say Ding was offered the position of chief technology officer at Beijing Rongshu Lianzhi Technology in June 2022 and that he founded his own startup, Shanghai Zhisuan Technology, in May 2023. He allegedly never disclosed these affiliations while still employed at Google. Trending on NextShark: Indian painter gets brain-dead woman's hands in rare bilateral hand transplant Google resignation: Ding reportedly resigned from Google on Dec. 26, 2023, stating that his last day would be Jan. 5, 2024. On Dec. 29, the company learned that he had presented as CEO of Zhisuan at a Beijing investor conference the previous month. Google subsequently suspended his network access, remotely locked his company laptop, searched his network activity history and reported their findings to the FBI. Charges: Ding has been arrested and is now facing four counts of theft of trade secrets, the Department of Justice announced on Wednesday. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Trending on NextShark: Asian family donates $5 million to Black students in honor of family who helped them Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! A Metropolitan Police firearms officer named for the first time as Martyn Blake has pleaded not guilty to murdering Chris Kaba. Mr Kaba, 24, died from a single gunshot wound in a Met operation in Streatham, south London, in September 2022. Mr Blake, 40, had been known by the codename NX121 after threats were made against him but a judge has decided he can now be named. The officer was given bail ahead of a trial that is set to begin in October. Judge Mark Lucraft lifted the anonymity order after media organisations, including the BBC, challenged the legal application to protect his identity, on the basis that confidence in the criminal justice system requires cases to be held, wherever possible, in public. Appearing at the Old Bailey, Mr Blake spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and to enter his plea. Mr Kaba was driving in Streatham on the night of 5 September 2022 when he was stopped by police in two cars. In the moments that followed, Mr Kaba was shot in the head through the car windscreen. He died in the early hours of the following day. Mr Kaba died in hospital after being shot during a Met Police operation In his judgment on naming Mr Blake, Mr Justice Lucraft said that significant information had emerged about a threat to his safety in the aftermath of the shooting. He examined "raw underlying intelligence" about the threat, to enable him to make the decision about whether the officer should be allowed to remain anonymous. 'Hugely shocked' He said that as the trial approached, attempts might be made to find out more about Mr Blake and he had considered whether there was a "real and immediate" threat to the officer's life or to his family. Mr Justice Lucraft concluded: "In my judgment, the naming of the defendant, or the giving of his date of birth, does not give rise to a real and immediate risk to his life." Restrictions on publishing pictures of the officer or his address will remain in place. Previously, police officers facing serious criminal charges have been named in court and the media has been able to report their names. Rick Prior, the Metropolitan Police Federation secretary, said he was "hugely shocked, saddened and concerned" about the naming of Mr Blake. "Our police officers must have full confidence that they have the protection needed to do this difficult and dangerous job society expects of them," he said. Mr Prior added: "Being a firearms officer in London is one of the world's toughest jobs." After Mr Blake was charged, some Metropolitan Police firearms officers stepped back from their duties in protest. At one point the BBC was told up to 300 armed officers had turned in their firearms permits allowing them to carry weapons, out of a total of about 2,500 armed officers in the Met. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk Only when Christian Horner was asked if he felt any sympathy for his female accuser did he truly display his anger. It seemed a reasonable enough question: after all, the woman who made allegations of controlling conduct against him claims since dismissed had just been suspended by Red Bull without the slightest explanation. In the spirit of looking to the future, the mantra he parroted ad nauseam during his latest awkward press conference, could he not offer a note of conciliation? Think again. Instead, he turned his answer into a soliloquy about how gruelling the experience had been for him. It is at this point you wonder whether Red Bulls handling of this affair could be any more ham-fisted. Horner might cling on, brazening out the ordeal with his usual chutzpah, but the reputational damage for the brand he represents continues to mount. Here are a team who, just as videos were released of Horner appearing to have a screaming row with Jos Verstappen in the Bahrain motorhome, issued the statement: There are no issues here. The team are united and we are focused on racing. No issues? The internecine strife at Red Bull would make the scripts of Succession look tame. And yet the teams default mode is to pretend that everything is normal while a grease fire erupts in the background. Their elucidation of the female complainants suspension, saying only that they could not comment, was typically helpful. There is a school of thought, of course, that they are under no obligation to discuss an internal company grievance. Except this affair has long since moved beyond the boundaries of Red Bulls lairs in Salzburg and Milton Keynes. This is a story that has assumed such dimensions that at 3.30pm on Thursday, Sky News abandoned coverage of the Foreign Secretarys visit to Berlin in favour of a live feed of Horners press appearance in Saudi Arabia. The least the team could provide, in the circumstances, is some transparency. This very point was put to Horner. Did he accept that Red Bulls opaque stance was off-putting to the sports female audience, and that it did not exactly chime with Formula Ones efforts to present itself as a supportive place for women? He swerved any such suggestion, toeing the company line about confidentiality. The closest he came to putting flesh on the bone was when he referred acidly to people who have looked to take advantage of his misfortune. Toto Wolff and Zak Brown, by any chance? Both, after all, have publicly denounced the lack of disclosure. However this ends, there is a sense that Horner cannot wait for his moment of retaliation. But he underestimates the anger at this episode at his peril. Leaving aside what Horner thinks, what do women in F1 think? We gained some idea when Amanda Phillips, a commercial operations coordinator at Alpine, wrote on X: I had better not see a single tweet from Red Bull tomorrow saying they support women in motorsport for International Womens Day. What an utterly abhorrent move from them suspend the woman but let Horner waltz around the paddock like he owns it. Too late, with Red Bulls messaging for International Womens Day already given the greatest prominence. Over at the feeder team, RB, the cars liveries for this weekends grand prix in Jeddah have been emblazoned with the words, Happy International Womens Day to all the incredible women on our team. You make the difference. Every female member of staff is then listed. To call this an uncomfortable juxtaposition with the latest twist in laffaire Horner would be an understatement. You have one team under the Red Bull umbrella spelling out to their female employees how much they are valued. And then you have the other suspending a woman who has raised a grievance against the team principal. At face value, the optics are grim. The image does not, on the surface, inspire women in F1 to feel comfortable about articulating any concerns. If they are not careful, Red Bull risk setting a bleak precedent for how these disputes are dealt with in the sport. Horner is the swaggering embodiment of his teams nothing-to-see-here approach. He called for a line to be drawn under the matter, for attention to switch to the racing good luck with that, after last weekends dismal procession in Sakhir and for scrutiny into his family life to cease. We have got some phenomenal partners, who have been hugely supportive through all this, he said. Really? Try telling your engine suppliers at Honda, Christian. A short, dusty missive from Japan read: We do not have full details on the matter. We look forward to full clarity as soon as possible. By resisting anything approaching clarity, Red Bull are taking not just the viewing public, but their own partners, for fools. 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. Donald Trump posted a $91.6 million bond to cover the $83.3 million a Manhattan jury awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll in January as he appeals the defamation lawsuit's verdict, lawyers for Trump told a court Friday. Attorney Alina Habba filed the papers with a New York judge alongside a notice showing that Trump, the likely GOP presidential nominee, is appealing the verdict. The bond would cover the full judgment plus interest and was necessary to delay payment of the sum until the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, can bring down a decision on the former president's appeal, the Associated Press reports. Trump secured the bond from "Federal Insurance Company, which is a principal of The Chubb Corporation," MSNBC legal correspondent Katie Phang reports. The Chubb Corporation is a global insurer headquartered in New Jersey. "It will be interesting to see if the judge requires clarification be provided (likely solely to the court) regarding what kind of collateral Trump provided to Chubb to get the bond," national security lawyer Bradley Moss wrote on X. "But either way, Chubb is on the hook now." It will be interesting to see if the judge requires clarification be provided (likely solely to the court) regarding what kind of collateral Trump provided to Chubb to get the bond. But either way, Chubb is on the hook now. https://t.co/sNtpjMv5F6 Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) March 8, 2024 Trump's filings came a day after Judge Lewis Kaplan denied the former president's request to delay a Monday deadline for posting a bond, in an effort to make sure Carroll can receive the judgment if it's maintained following appeals. Trump faces intense financial strain in covering both the judgment of the Carroll lawsuit and the larger lawsuit from the New York Attorney General, in which he was found liable for defrauding banks and insurers in financial statements. A New York Judge refused to pause collection on the $454 million fraud penalty ordered in the suit while Trump appeals, leaving the former president until March 25 to either foot the bill or secure a bond covering the amount. Interest on the civil fraud judgment accrues at roughly $112,000 each day. Board President Eve Bolton says she is committed to protecting teachers, counselors and social workers from this year's budget cuts. Transportation, safety and staffing are top of mind as Cincinnati Public Schools' Board of Education considers how to cut another $20 million at least from its 2025 budget. So far this year, the board has voted to cut nearly $60 million in summer programming, full-time substitute teachers, take-home laptop or tablet devices for young learners, contracts and other resources. Why? The federal government provided billions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds to schools for the past several years, and that money runs out in September. The district got more than $200 million in the last round of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, called ESSER, funds. The district needs to adjust for the 2025 fiscal year, when those relief dollars are no more. The board has through April to make necessary cuts, board president Eve Bolton said, so the district can submit its balanced budget to the state on time. One option the board won't consider, Bolton said, is cutting any teachers, counselors or social workers. But that commitment hasn't left all teachers with a sense of security. "This same bloated administration has now spun the district into a demoralizing, disruptive and chaotic situation that will harm student achievement and staff attraction and retention," Michelle Dunn, an organizer for the teachers union, said at Monday's school board meeting. Cincinnati Federation of Teachers representatives say the board's long, drawn-out budget debates have slowed schools' processes for recruiting and hiring new staff because individual buildings don't yet have their personalized budgets which were due in late December. The union has allowed for several extensions since then, but Dunn said schools still don't have their budgets. Union president Julie Sellers said this is the latest timeline for hiring she's seen in 35 years of this work. "Imagine being asked to plan an entire academic year with no budget," Sellers said to the school board. "How are we going to recruit the best talent for our kids when other districts are already hiring?" Superintendent recommends reducing yellow school bus coverage Bolton recognizes the board's delay has kept school budgets from being developed. "I won't say we were stalling, but we were rejecting the choices we had," she said. A $5.5 million cut that would require students in grades 7 and 8 to use Metro got a "no" from the board. Superintendent Iranetta Wright also suggested consolidating elementary schools merging Evanston and Frederick Douglass into one building and South Avondale and Rockdale into one building alongside phasing out Riverview East Academy to save money, and was met with fierce opposition from the community. The board didn't support plans to consolidate, either. Another Wright recommendation, this time to reduce yellow bus coverage, is giving the board pause now. Wright recommended changing the walking radius from 1 mile to 1.5 miles, which would save the district $1.2 million. Wright said it could impact about 2,500 young students none of them in high school, since those kids use Metro. "I think that we all are concerned about balancing the budget, but it's also about safety for me," board member Kareem Moffett said during Monday's meeting. The board tabled its discussion on yellow buses Monday evening, but after the meeting Bolton told The Enquirer she's against increasing the walking radius. "I do not want to do that to our little people," she said. Wright will come back to the board with other options later in March, Bolton said, and it's likely board members themselves will present budget cut proposals in the weeks to come. What's already been cut? The school board has approved several Wright-recommended cuts already this year, totaling nearly $60 million. Estimated vacancies and attrition make up $15 million of the approved cuts, according to district documents. The district is also able to move some expenses to other funding sources in order to balance the budget. Starting next school year, students in preschool through sixth grade will no longer receive tablets or laptops to take home and will instead share devices while at school. This was controversial at Monday's school board meeting board members Moffett, Kendra Mapp and Mike Moroski voted against it. Students in grades 7-12 will still be issued laptops. Other major budget cuts already approved by the board include: Eliminating Summer Scholars ($4 million). Removing full-time substitute teachers and reverting to daily subs only ($4.3 million). Reducing central office expenditures ($5 million). Eliminating contracts ($5.2 million). Bolton said she expects more decisions will be made at the next board business meeting, which is March 18 at 5:30 p.m. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Public Schools has more than $20 million still to cut FILE - Martin Luther King III, right, the son of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., walks with his daughter Yolanda, and Naomi King, left, the wife of Rev. King's brother, A.D., through an exhibition devoted to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to King at the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, in Atlanta. Civil rights activist Naomi Barber King died Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Atlanta, according to family members. She was 92. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) ATLANTA (AP) Naomi Barber King, a civil rights activist who was married to the younger brother of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has died at age 92. She died in Atlanta on Thursday, according to family members who issued a statement through the A.D. King Foundation. Naomi King established the organization in May 2008 with a mission of empowering youth and women and advancing strategies for nonviolent social change. She was a woman of quiet dignity, overcoming strength, and steadfast support to her husband, family, and circles of influence within and beyond Atlanta," the statement said. Naomi King was born in Dothan, Alabama, according to the foundation's website. She and her mother, Bessie Barber, moved to Atlanta to make a better living for themselves. In 1949, King entered Spelman College and spent a year studying French. She later attended the University of Alabama and studied interior design, according to the website. She was married to the Rev. Alfred Daniel Williams King, a Baptist minister and civil rights leader she met after joining Ebenezer Baptist Church. The couple married in 1950 and had five children. A.D. King died in July 1969. The couple supported Martin Luther King Jr., and his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement and were at his side during multiple historic events, including the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, one of the most famous political rallies in U.S. history. Naomi King published a book in 2014 titled, A.D. and ML King: Two Brothers Who Dared to Dream. Known for her love of butterflies and affectionately called the Butterfly Queen, King set an example of courage, resilience and grace in the face of injustice, uncertainty and heartache, which were themes highlighted in a 2022 documentary about her life, according to the foundation. She is survived by her daughter, Alveda King; her son, Derek King; and several grandchildren. Charlotte-based organic juice chain Clean Juice is facing growing turnover with least 16 franchise locations or roughly 18% of its current footprint listed for sale via online channels. Those stores are listed on BizBuySell.com, where prices range from $50,000 to $400,000. Listings run the gamut, from a Colorado location that is one of Clean Juices top three revenue stores to one in Florida that just opened in June. There are seven stores in the Charlotte market. Clean Juice takes franchisees to court I think, big picture, youre going to see about 10% of units transfer in any franchise in any given year, CEO Landon Eckles says. And when things are more volatile, the transfer rates go up, right? Thats just part of the business. However, the band has already seen its store count fall from 112 to about 90, shrinking its footprint by roughly 20%. Eckles recently spoke with the Charlotte Business Journal about the chains next steps, where things stand in an ongoing dispute with franchisees and swirling rumors of a possible sale. Read the full story on CBJs website here. A Cleveland man was sentenced to nine years in prison for conspiring to traffic fentanyl and heroin in Pennsylvania Thursday. The Department of Justice said Albert Cummings, 44, has a lengthy criminal history, with over 25 prior convictions from separate prosecutions in Ohio over the last 25 years. Evidence presented in court says that in 2020 and 2021, Cummings engaged in interstate fentanyl and heroin trafficking from Ohio to Pennsylvania. Previously, Cummings had convictions for cocaine trafficking, domestic violence and gun crimes. He was on bond in 2020 and 2021 for pending charges for gun and fraud crimes in Ohio. Cummings was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Pittsburgh Penguins trade Jake Guentzel to Carolina Hurricanes Butler Township woman released from hospital after bear attack, reunites with beloved dog Man says he was badly injured while riding Mon Incline VIDEO: Jim Roddey, 1st-ever Allegheny County Executive, dies at 91 DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Climate change remains worse for women and girls but it doesnt have to be From local action to global finance, there are ways to ensure that climate adaptation programmes address gender inequalities. Amina is one of tens of thousands of Kenyans displaced by catastrophic floods aggravated by climate change in late 2023. Her home destroyed, she and her child sought temporary shelter along with several other women from her community. Our husbands left to take the livestock to high areas where floods would not hit, she recalls. Only women remained. This led to an increase in rape cases for young girls and women. With the floods preventing access to hospitals, or even medicine, she also witnessed pregnant women giving birth in the camps without appropriate, potentially life-saving care. Now back in her village of Odole in the Tana River County, she works alone to rebuild her house it is the role of women to construct houses in this community, she explains while also planting new crops and ensuring that her child has enough to eat. Amina with her child, January 2024 - Euniah Miruka. Officer MEL, Concern Worldwide Aminas experience is illustrative of the unique challenges faced by women and girls, both during and after floods. In her village and others around the world, we are working with those affected by climate hazards to find practical ways to adapt to the changing conditions and be better prepared for future risks. Yet as we track the impacts of such disasters, the disproportionate impact on women and girls is observed all too often and in myriad ways from an increase in the number of young girls being forced to marry in Bangladesh, to spikes in cases of gender-based violence in Malawi. The evidence is clear: unless significant action is taken, these injustices will only continue. Involve women in decision-making At COP16 in 2010, the Cancun Agreements acknowledged that gender equality and the effective participation of women are important for all aspects of any response to climate change. Yet almost a decade and a half later, widespread underrepresentation of women at all levels of decision-making persists. Not only does this leave some women less informed and therefore more vulnerable to climate impacts but it also misses a chance to draw on their unique knowledge. Women often have first-hand experience of managing flood risks, combined with a wider grasp of the needs of their families and communities. Whilst increasing womens participation in decision-making is integral to reducing the risks posed by climate-induced hazards, it is not enough on its own. Vulnerable countries need adequate climate finance, especially for adaptation in the face of increasing risks. Women leading a discussion on flood resilience in Quang Tri, Vietnam - Phan Thi Thuy Van, Red Cross of Quang Tri Actively engaging women in planning and decision-making can ensure a more comprehensive understanding of local vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities. In places like Quang Tri in Vietnam, involving women in the conversation has positively impacted their resilience to flood events, as well as that of the wider population. Elevating women to leadership positions can also generate additional benefits beyond preparing for climate hazards. In Bangladesh, the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance has trained female Resilience Agents to share flood warning messages and guidance on disaster preparedness and response. Now they use their newfound influence in the local area to improve the lives of women and girls in other ways, such as tackling child marriage and gender-based violence. Climate finance must be gender-responsive Whilst increasing womens participation in decision-making is integral to reducing the risks posed by climate-induced hazards, it is not enough on its own. Vulnerable countries need adequate climate finance, especially for adaptation in the face of increasing risks. Research from the Alliance and ODI shows that far too much adaptation finance does not have gender equality objectives. In 2021, developed countries provided $28.2 billion (25.8bn) in adaptation funding, of which less than half was reported to target gender equality. Even if a new and highly ambitious target is agreed upon, women ... will continue to be put at risk during climate-induced disasters unless the adoption of gender equality objectives in climate finance becomes the norm. A woman salvages belongings from her home damaged by Cyclone Mocha at Saint Martin island in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, May 2023 - AP Photo/Al-emrun Garjon Without ensuring that the distinct needs of women and girls have been considered, climate finance providers are neglecting a vital opportunity to ensure that adaptation programmes support all vulnerable people men, women and children. Significant uncertainty exists around precisely how much adaptation finance targets gender equality. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) requires the use of a gender marker for all climate finance specifically for monitoring this, but our report confirms that it was not used for 40% of the adaptation finance provided in 2021. This is largely the case even among multilateral development banks and climate funds that profess to follow explicit policies and strategies for improving gender equality. Such tracking does not itself improve the quality of funding, yet it is essential to better understand progress, identify gaps and hold underperforming contributors accountable. It is therefore critical for gender equality markers to be consistently and transparently reported. Seize the opportunity in 2024 Climate finance will take centre stage in climate discussions this year, with world leaders meeting at COP29 to agree on a new funding goal for the first time in fifteen years. This represents an unmissable opportunity to support billions of people around the world vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. However, even if a new and highly ambitious target is agreed upon, women like Amina will continue to be put at risk during climate-induced disasters unless the adoption of gender equality objectives in climate finance becomes the norm. This, combined with the delivery of adaptation projects that specifically take gender considerations into account, holds the key to addressing existing inequalities and building safer, more inclusive communities for all. Salome Lehtman is a Project and Advocacy Advisor for the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance, based at Mercy Corps. At Euronews, we believe all views matter. Contact us at view@euronews.com to send pitches or submissions and be part of the conversation. Rep. Steve Cohen speaks at the entrance to the newly renovated Tom Lee Park prior to the ribbon cutting to officially open it to the public in Downtown Memphis on Saturday, September 2, 2023. A bill aimed at increasing public transparency of the Tennessee Valley Authority's Integrated Resource Plan is slated to be introduced by two Tennessee lawmakers on different sides of the volunteer state. Reps. Steve Cohen and Tim Burchett planned to introduce the TVA Increase Rate of Participation Act Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives. "This bill requires the TVA to take into consideration the interests and informed views of affected stakeholders, including ratepayers and subject-matter experts, as is commonplace for other major utilities," Cohen said in a statement. Cohen has long been a critic of TVA, calling for Memphis Light, Gas and Water to opt to buy power from different sources. The call for transparency is also not new; Cohen has spoken out against TVA for its handling of public records regarding employee salaries, renewable energy plans and its disposal of coal ash from the retired Allen Fossil Plant. The bill, if enacted, would set out various ways the federal utility company would "ensure meaningful public participation and the inclusion of third-party expert advice," a release regarding the bill said. More specifically, it would establish an Office of Public Participation to engage the public, require the Integrated Resource Plan to include a standard set of information and require the approval of the board of directors for the IRP. "(The Office of Public Participation) acting as a liaison to members of the public by providing ongoing process information on individual proceedings and responding to requests for technical assistance; making recommendations to improve processes to ensure they are inclusive, fair and easy to navigate; and facilitating a process for meaningful and open public engagement in the IRP process including opportunities for intervention, discovery, filed comments and an evidentiary hearing," according to a press release. TVA said in a statement they are still reviewing the legislation, but pointed out that they believe they already have a "good process," in place but are "open to improvement. "We intentionally seek out, engage, and welcome a diverse set of voices in our Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process. Public input is a critical part of TVAs decision-making process," TVA said in a statement. Under the new bill, the IRP would have to include information about the long-term forecast of sales and peak demand "under various reasonable scenarios." TVA, in a statement, pointed towards their current efforts to include the public in their upcoming IRP as they plan to release a draft plan for additional public comment. "We are also hosting public open houses in every state TVA operates in, as well as two virtual open houses open to anyone. Members of the public will be able to ask questions and provide feedback," TVA said in the statement. "With public stakeholders, TVA is creating a roadmap that will support TVAs mission of making life better for everyone in the region. On the other side of the volunteer state, Burchett has also been a critic of TVA, speaking out against closed meetings the utility company had. TVA is headquartered in Knoxville, which is included in Burchett's district. Congressman Steve Cohen speaks during an announcement for $3 million grant for the Melrose High redevelopment site, on Monday, November, 27, 2023 at the Melrose High at 843 Dallas Street in Memphis, Tenn. Burchett said in a release that the bill would allow even more open dialogue regarding TVA's decision-making. "I appreciate the ways TVA has made an effort to become more transparent in recent years, and this would provide some solid guidelines on how to make that even more of a reality," he said. Memphis has had an over 80-year-long relationship with TVA and is the federal utility's biggest customer. And Cohen introducing bills regarding TVA is nothing new. This will be Cohen's third straight year introducing a bill aimed at increasing transparency. He previously introduced a bill that would lower TVA's "fence" and eliminate its monopoly power in the Southeast. The Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2023, was aimed at making public meetings more accessible. Cohen cosponsored a similar bill in 2022. Memphis accounts for 10% of TVA's business. In 2022, shortly after Cohen's bill was introduced, MLGW board members rejected signing a 20-year, rolling contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority that couldve locked MLGW into a generations-long electricity deal. Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County Government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at brooke.muckerman@commercialappeal.com and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter @BrookeMuckerman. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Steve Cohen, Tim Burchett seeking more transparency from the TVA SAN FRANCISCO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- People in the U.S. city of San Francisco had a rare chance to view Chinese historical and natural treasures at a tourism promotional event on Thursday, in which Shandong Province in east China attracted Americans with breathtaking landscapes, cultural immersion experiences, and the promise of cementing future connections. The event, themed "Welcome to Shandong, A Friendly and Culturally Inclusive Province," was co-organized by the province and the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco with the aim of boosting the province's tourism development. Highlighting Shandong's intangible cultural heritage, the event attracted nearly 200 guests, including community members, local government officials and representatives from the cultural and tourism industry in California. Seven art forms of intangible cultural heritage were displayed at the event, such as paper art, kites, woodblock prints, grain paintings, and burr puzzles. "Shandong is blessed with rich cultural and tourism resources as it is an important birthplace of Chinese civilization and the origin of Confucian culture," said Shandong Province Vice Governor Deng Yunfeng at the event. As a populous province, Shandong has a population of more than 100 million, ranking the second in China. As an economic powerhouse, Shandong generates the highest agricultural output in China, and ranks the second in industrial output in comparison with other provincial regions, according to Deng. Shandong is committed to international exchanges, and strives to expand the scope of visa-upon-arrival and visa-free policies to boost inbound and outbound tourism, he said. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Shandong received more than 5 million inbound tourists a year. "Going forward, Shandong will introduce a number of measures to accelerate the development of inbound tourism, offer incentives for inbound tourism, and welcome friends at home and abroad with open arms," said the vice governor. Deputy Chinese Consul-General in San Francisco Song Guoxuan said, "Shandong is blessed with lofty mountains, vast seas and abundant resources, and all of them resound with the symphony of humanity living in harmony with nature." "I'm confident that this event will help people gain a greater understanding of Shandong and further promote exchanges and cooperation between Shandong and California across a wide range of sectors," he told the audience at the event. Wang Lei, head of the province's Department of Culture and Tourism, gave a passionate presentation on Shandong's cultural and tourism resources. He told the audience that Shandong not only inherits the root and soul of China's 5,000 years of civilization but also exudes a modern atmosphere of fashion, openness, and diversity. During the event, the Shandong Provincial Library and San Francisco Public Library signed an agreement to promote cultural exchanges between the two sides, while the Shandong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association to enhance exchanges. Hundreds of criminal convictions may now be re-examined after investigators in Colorado found that one of their DNA analysts manipulated testing samples. Yvonne "Missy" Woods is accused of manipulating data during her 29-year career for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) crime lab. On Friday, the CBI said they had found 652 cases affected by her recent work. Some 3,000 samples require re-testing. No charges have been filed against Ms Woods, who has retired from the CBI. Officials are now examining all of her work, dating back to 1994. The CBI has set aside $7.5m (5.8m) to conduct new tests, re-try cases and potentially reimburse inmates for wrongful convictions. The statement issued by the CBI on Friday said that Ms Woods' tampering appeared to be "intentional conduct", adding that "this discovery puts all of her work in question". Officials say she deleted, altered and omitted data in official criminal justice records. So far, they have identified problems in 652 cases she worked on between 2008 to 2023. Her work from 1994 to 2008 is still being reviewed. "The review did not find that Woods falsified DNA matches or otherwise fabricated DNA profiles. She instead deviated from standard testing protocols and cut corners, calling into question the reliability of the testing she conducted," the statement says. Her lawyer on Friday told the Denver Post that she is co-operating with the investigation and stands by her work, which he called the result of "true and just criminal justice findings". "While the allegations resulting from the internal investigation point to Ms Woods deviating from standard protocols and cutting corners in her work, she has long maintained that she's never created or falsely reported any inculpatory DNA matches or exclusions, nor has she testified falsely in any hearing or trial resulting in a false conviction or unjust imprisonment," he said in a statement. A criminal probe of Ms Woods activities is still underway. "Public trust in our institutions is critical to the fulfilment of our mission," said CBI Director Chris Schaefer. "Our actions in rectifying this unprecedented breach of trust will be thorough and transparent." The CBI is now performing an audit of all its DNA analysts, leading to the discovery of another scientist alleged to have manipulated data. Chiara Wuensch was fired from the Weld County Sherriff's Office last week after the CBI discovered anomalies in her work. She is also now under a separate investigation. Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann is criticizing the federal governments plan to reduce toxic forever chemicals in the nations drinking water, saying the proposal needs more scientific study to justify upgrading the citys water system. Without more research, Rickenmann says it would be unwise to spend millions of dollars treating city water to remove the chemicals. Columbia, which has found elevated forever chemical levels in city water, estimates it could cost $150 million to upgrade the water system and an extra $20 million annually to operate if tough federal standards on the chemicals take effect. In an opinion piece on the Real Clear Policy website, Rickenmann said the jury is still out on whether tight drinking water limits for the two most common types of forever chemicals are worthwhile. Those chemicals are PFOA and PFOS. The mayors of Rialto, Calif.; Findlay, Ohio; and Huntington, W.Va, co-authored the editorial with Rickenmann. The health benefits of limiting PFOA/PFOS to these levels are still being studied and are widely considered uncertain, Rickenmann and his fellow mayors wrote, urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to slow down its push for the tough drinking water limits. In an interview with The State, Rickenmann said the nearly $4 billion cost nationally for utilities to meet the proposed new drinking water limit has been a concern among the nations mayors. We definitely want to stop this mandate, he said. I dont believe they can justify it based on the data points that are there and the requirements. Thats an undue burden. You think about across the U.S., the effect thats going to have. If the EPA does not stick with the proposed 4 parts per trillion limit but chooses a higher number when it finalizes the limit, the city might avoid having to upgrade its treatment plant. The city of Columbia has registered forever-chemical levels only slightly above the EPAs proposed new standard, at less than 10 parts per trillion. The source of forever chemicals has not been pinpointed, but textile manufacturing plants are known to release the chemicals. One closed textile plant 65 files up the Broad River from Columbias canal drinking water plant has leaked forever chemicals, which are mobile in water. Although the costs of treating water for forever chemicals are hard to dispute, Rickenmanns call for more study drew a sharp response from a local river protection advocate and a scientist who researches the health effects of forever chemicals. Congaree Riverkeeper Bill Stangler said Rickenmann should be trying to find a solution to drinking water pollution from forever chemicals, instead of complaining to the federal government and asking for more study on chemicals with clear health threats. Rarely have I found thats the right answer when you are talking about clean drinking water, Stangler said. Its disappointing. The Congaree Riverkeeper organization filed a notice this week that it would sue a major industrial plant, Shaw Industries, for releasing forever chemicals into the Saluda River, upstream from the Congaree, if Shaw doesnt address the problem. The company, which is upstream from water plants in Cayce and West Columbia, says it no longer uses the chemicals but is working to find any sources in the plant. Forever chemicals are formally known as per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The two most common types of forever chemicals are PFOA and PFOS. Oregon State University scientist Jamie DeWitt said there is ample evidence that certain types of forever chemicals increase peoples risk of cancer, high cholesterol and other ailments. For PFOA and PFOS, we have decades of data, DeWitt said. We have strong epidemiological evidence supported by strong toxicological evidence in experimental animals. Exposure to these chemicals increases specific types of health risks. For PFOA and PFOS, absolutely, positively, we have enough evidence. While Rickenmanns criticism focused on what he said were uncertain health effects of PFAS at low levels, DeWitt said any amount of the most common forever chemicals increases peoples risk of health ailments. The EPA, while proposing a limit of four parts per trillion on PFOA and PFOS, has set a goal of zero for those two chemicals because of their toxicity. The World Health Organizations cancer research agency late last year provided some of the most recent evidence of the hazards of forever chemicals, DeWitt said. A team of researchers classified PFOA as carcinogenic to people and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic to people. The Columbia Canal on the Broad River is a major source of Columbias drinking water. Two years ago, a report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine had similar conclusions, saying kidney cancer, high cholesterol and depressed immune systems are likely caused by exposure over time. The report also indicated that forever chemicals can transfer from nursing mothers during pregnancy. The report said there is sufficient evidence of an association between PFAS exposure and decreased infant and fetal growth. Forever chemicals are compounds widely used during the past 80 years in industrial processes. They have been used to make stain resistant carpets, non-stick frying pans and water resistant clothing. A key use also has been in firefighting foam. They are called forever chemicals because they do not break down easily in the environment. Textile factories, wastewater treatment plants and farm fields fertilized with sewer sludge are among the suspected sources of PFAS water pollution. The State chronicled the threat of PFAS in sludge fertilizer in its Toxic Deals series last year. Nationally, the cost of removing PFOA and PFOS in drinking water systems could exceed $3.8 billion if the restrictive drinking water limit takes effect, according to the American Waterworks Association, an organization representing 4,300 drinking water utilities nationally. The citys concerns focus on costs that could affect the pocketbooks of Columbia residents, officials say. Columbia officials say they would not be able to pay the $150 million to upgrade the drinking water system without substantial increases in rates that would hurt many city residents financially. Rickenmann said raising water rates that high might be unrealistic, so the city might have to raise taxes to pay for the upgrades. Columbias annual general fund budget isnt much higher than the $150 million estimate, he said. His position against the tighter PFAS limit follows a decision by the City Council last November to turn down an estimated $12 million from a legal settlement to cleanse forever chemicals from its drinking water. The settlement resulted from a flood of lawsuits nationally against the main manufacturers and distributors of PFAS, 3M and DuPont. The $13 billion settlement provides money to city drinking water systems. Columbia officials said the settlement money wasnt nearly enough, nor is the $9 billion targeted nationally for PFAS cleanup in the federal infrastructure law. Rickenmann, a Republican, told The State that while he wants the EPA to slow down before setting PFAS limits, the city is considering its own lawsuit against the manufacturers. They are the ones that should be held liable, not cities, he said. He also said that if the EPA is not reasonable, Columbia could sue to stop the drinking water limit from taking effect. Rickenmanns letter was written less than a year after Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson filed two lawsuits against the makers of forever chemicals, seeking damages. The mayors opinion piece in Real Clear Policy, dated March 4, says the EPA is ignoring science and is in a hurry to pass the rules. He said forever chemicals come from many sources, not just drinking water. He said drinking water accounts for only 20 percent of exposure to people, although consumption of water and food is the main route of exposure. Rickenmanns letter also said the hazards of forever chemicals are based on a lifetime of exposure. Real Clear Policy is a website affiliated with Real Clear Politics, a media outlet that aggregates stories from other sources, according to the Media/Bias fact check website. Real Clear Politics is right leaning and carries mostly factual material, Media/Bias said. We must prioritize public health and balance the real costs associated with these regulations, Rickenmann and the other mayors wrote. Our water systems are working hard daily to protect the public. And with our citizens coming out of a pandemic and experiencing a fragile economy, meeting these new standards will cost an arm and a leg and deprive our water systems of resources that could be used for additional maintenance and improvements. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A former Columbus bank employee who scammed multiple people out of nearly $2 million will spend more than eight years in prison. Prince Oduro, 34, was sentenced in federal court Thursday to 8.5 years in prison for money laundering and wire fraud and ordered to pay back $1.8 million to his victims, the U.S. attorneys office for southern Ohio announced Friday. Oduro, of Westerville, admitted to stealing customers bank information and wiring money to PayPal accounts. After pleading guilty, he continued to scam by posing as a romantic interest to people online. According to the federal complaint, Oduro accessed at least five customers bank information while working for JPMorgan Chase Bank in Columbus. He then wired customers money to PayPal accounts and withdrew funds as cash. Sexual assault victim speaks out after $10 million verdict in Lancaster From 2015 through March 2020, Oduro stole more than $1 million, funneling the funds through PayPal accounts he also used to launder proceeds from concurrently-running online romance scams. Oduro posed online as someone needing a medical operation, had been injured while deployed to Afghanistan, or had access to gold and silver, according to the complaint. One victim sent Oduro nearly $400,000, believing her dead husband had stolen valuable artwork while traveling to Atlanta for business, the district attorneys office said. 2023 saw drastically fewer Ohioans getting concealed carry permits, report says When investigators executed a search warrant, they found incriminating messages on Oduros phone. This is the only business in America I can do and make 20k in a month and not get arrestedIm locating money, Im not fraud anyoneIts called money laundering, Oduro wrote in a WhatsApp message. Oduro was arrested in 2022 and pleaded guilty in January 2023, but he continued his online romance scams, the district attorneys office said. He was re-arrested in November 2023 after racking up more than $700,000 from post-plea fraud. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Columbus criminal defense attorney Anthony Johnson is running for district attorney as a Democrat, making it a competitive race to see who replaces Stacey Jackson in the November General Election. Jackson decided not to qualify for the election as he has been on extended medical leave for months. Johnson, 37, is a Columbus native, having graduated in 2005 from Carver High School. He will be competing with acting District Attorney Don Kelly, who is running as a Republican to be the chief prosecutor for the six-county Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Kelly, 58, also is from Columbus, having graduated from Hardaway High School. He has been running the office since Jackson went on medical leave in November. Kelly said Jackson remains district attorney, but he is too ill to seek election. District Attorney Stacey Jackson. 03/29/2023 Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Jackson to the post in 2022. The Harris County native was sworn in that May. Johnson said he wants to focus on gangs and juvenile violence, which he feels uniquely qualified to address, with his experience representing young clients accused of serious crimes. He also would employ the judicial systems accountability courts more often to divert first-time offenders from serving extended jail or prison time, he said. Those courts specialize in cases involving issues such as mental health and drug addiction. Another priority would be speeding up the discovery process in court cases, in which prosecutors share their evidence with defense attorneys prior to trial. The goal would be to avoid delays in resolving cases after criminal investigations are concluded. With neither candidate facing opposition in the May 21 party primaries, the vote will be on Nov. 5. Anthony Johnsons background After high school, Johnson joined the Air Force, where he gained an associates degree before earning a bachelors degree from Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, New Jersey, in 2009. He got his law degree in 2012 from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Auburn Hills, Michigan, he said. He was on active duty in the Air Force from 2005 to 2009, then served in the Air Force Reserves from 2009 to 2016, he said. He has been in the Army Reserves since 2016, he said. He was licensed to practice law in 2012, and has worked as a public defender in addition to his private practice. COLUMBUS (WCMH) A man has been arrested after police accused him of setting fire to his own south Columbus residence twice. On Monday morning, crews from the Columbus Division of Fire responded to the 600 block of Lock Avenue, near State Route 104 and Groveport Avenue. Firefighters on the scene extinguished the fire and requested an investigation. They also observed a man passing through the homes driveway at around 9:40 a.m. During a police examination, the man matching the firefighters description returned to the scene and agreed to an interview. The man, Kenneth Hendricks, reported that he had squatters in the house he had been trying to evict. 2023 saw drastically fewer Ohioans getting concealed carry permits, report says Hendricks told police that there had been ongoing conflicts with the alleged squatters and that he believed they killed his dog the night prior. Police said Hendricks broke down in tears and said, I set the fire, and explained that the blaze began in the living room, then spread to the front porch. Columbus police say a man twice set a house on fire to evict squatters on Lock Ave. in South Columbus, March 7, 2024. (NBC4/Michael King) Columbus police say a man twice set a house on fire to evict squatters on Lock Ave. in South Columbus, March 7, 2024.. (NBC4/Michael King) Police said Hendricks opened all of the doors to let any pets or people escape. No one was home or injured during the fire. A Franklin County Municipal judge released Hendricks on his own recognizance and set a hearing date for March 19 on a charge of aggravated arson. Two days later, however, CFD and CPD were called to the Lock Avenue home again, responding to another structure fire at 4 a.m. When they arrived, authorities observed fire spreading from debris piled up next to the house and into the eaves of the roof. Solar eclipse in Ohio one month from today: what to know Hendricks was again identified at the scene and was observed feeding the flames with debris. Police observed charred lumber and furniture along the side of the house. During an interview, Hendricks again admitted to setting the fire and reportedly said he had hoped to burn down the entire home, which is owned by a bank and used as a rental property by Hendricks. On Friday, Hendricks, charged with a second count of aggravated arson, was issued a $700,000 bond and ordered to stay away from the Lock Ave. property. A new preliminary hearing date was set for March 15. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. California state Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, of San Diego, left, is applauded by state Senate Democrats for her service at a news conference where state Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), right, was named to succeed Atkins as the new Senate Leader at the Capitol in Sacramento on Aug. 28, 2023. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The primaries are over and California has made one decision for certain: For the first time in 30 years, the Golden State will not send a woman to the Senate. Welcome to women's history month 2024, where even in California, progress feels like finding tampons in the public bathroom, then realizing they're the kind with no tube. For those blissfully not following election results, it looks like Adam Schiff or Steve Garvey will be joining Alex Padilla as our representatives in the higher house of Congress. No hate to any of them. Gender obviously shouldn't be the determining factor in who we vote for, despite what the "no balls to scratch" gentleman in a certain MSNBC viral video thinks. But in an era of eroding gender rights, it does give pause. Especially when you add to it that leadership in the state Legislature has gone all Y-chromosome. A few weeks ago, former president pro tem of the Senate Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), who in 2018 became the first woman to ever hold that job, stepped down due to term limits, giving it to the very capable Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg). That leaves McGuire and Assemblyman Robert Rivas in charge. Read more: Column: In 2024, it's an election between authoritarianism and the uncommitted Atkins was the only woman a queer one at that to have held both of the Legislatures top jobs. Her leadership was marked by a bipartisan respect, a strength and wisdom that only a lesbian from the mountains of Appalachia could summon in a place known for rivalries as intense as they are petty. If you don't know Atkins' backstory, it's a lot like Dolly Parton's smart but poor kid in a backwoods cabin, no running water, few prospects, and a lot of heart. California state Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins looks on during a briefing with district representatives Nov. 13, 2023, in San Diego. Atkins stepped down from her leadership post early this year, though she could make history again with a run for governor. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press) She's got grit, as they say and doesn't hoard it for herself. Atkins made sure other women had power, giving them leadership positions on key committees and helping them rise. "Toni has taken more arrows to the chest than we will ever know," recently elected Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward) told me, yet she's "still willing to include you even if you are seen as the other." Now, of course, Atkins is running for governor trying to become the first woman to hold that office in California (as are Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and former Controller Betty Yee). Which brings me to the real point of this column. It's not the number of women in power. It's the quality. Thankfully, California has quality, the kind of women that don't just fight to win, but fight for change. You won't find many Marjorie Taylor Greenes with their Jewish space lasers around the Golden State at least, in office. Instead, you will find Oakland Democrat Buffy Wicks who in 2020 broke motherhood boundaries by, four weeks post-C-section, bringing her newborn daughter to the floor of the Assembly to vote when her colleagues refused to allow her to do so remotely. "What I am going to do, leave her at home?" she quipped recently when I asked her about that. Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, a Democrat from Oakland, addresses lawmakers on a housing bill while holding her 1-month-old daughter Elly in her arms during the final hours of the California legislative session Aug. 31, 2020, in Sacramento. Wicks requested permission from legislative leaders to vote remotely during the coronavirus pandemic because of her newborn but was denied. (Associated Press) You'll find Karen Bass first female Black mayor of Los Angeles, first Black woman to serve as the speaker of any state legislature, not just California's. And, Atkins told me, one of the first to reach out to her when she became speaker herself, telling Atkins she knew what it felt like to be the only woman in the room. "We are still friends today," Atkins said. You'll find women like Wahab, the first Muslim and Afghan American to be elected to the state Senate. She grew up in foster care after losing her parents (her mom died when she was young, her father was murdered in a robbery). California state Sen. Aisha Wahab, center, with Thenmozhi Soundararajan, right, following a news conference where she proposed SB 403, a bill that adds caste as a protected category in the state's antidiscrimination laws, in Sacramento on March 22, 2023. (Jose Luis Villegas / Associated Press) Those early experiences left her acutely aware of the nexus of generational trauma and public policy, and a belief that, "There is no point for me to waste time, power and privilege on fear." You'll find veterans like Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), who in her spare time from reforming the justice system and protecting kids on social media joined with colleagues to change what it meant to be a woman in the Legislature, because, as she puts it, "We have some catching up to do." Read more: Why is it OK for rich guys to steal my work? About a decade ago, the few women under the dome there were less than two dozen at the time decided they wanted to accelerate that catching up and set out to get more females elected, not just ones from their own party or background. So the women's caucus, of which Skinner was one member of a formidable group, began not just recruiting other women to run but vetting candidates to make sure they could win. That didn't mean gate-keeping for a certain type, just making sure they were "viable," Skinner told me. Money, honey. The caucus started helping candidates with mentoring and the backing to raise cash even from skeptical donors who were still more comfortable with cigars than children. Democratic State Sens. Nancy Skinner, of Berkeley, left, and Hannah-Beth Jackson, of Santa Barbara, talk off the floor before the Senate session at the Capitol in Sacramento on Sept. 13, 2019. (Rich Pedroncelli /Associated Press) Because before the vote there is the campaign, and if you can't pay for it, you can't win. And men didn't want to give money to women, because they didn't believe they could win, a circular logic that kept women sidelined. "Whether it was conscious or not, there was that kind of bias that women candidates cant raise the money," Skinner said. But women like Skinner and her caucus see viability differently than the establishment. That has led not only to more women in office, but diverse women. Skip ahead 15 years and the effect of that intentional focus from the women's caucus is clear. There is currently a record number of women in the state Legislature, 50 out of a total of 120 possible spots. That's about 42% women, in a state where half the population is female. Organizations such as Emily's List use the same approach to making sure female candidates have money, and across the country, the almost-equal ascent of women continues. Other states, however, have done better than California. Nevada, believe it or not, is the only state to have had a majority-female legislature. Thirty-two states have elected female governors, sometimes more than once. And nearly everywhere, it's still controversial to show up with a baby, or be a woman with a wife, or in some places, even as Missouri recently suggested show your shoulders. "It's great to see," Atkins says of California's progress, and the progress of women in general. But still, "The room doesn't always act like we belong there." 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. U.S. Representative and U.S. Senate candidate Katie Porter, at her election day watch party at the Bungalow in Long Beach on March 5, 2024. She is not projected to move on to the general election. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Until Katie Porter won her congressional seat in 2018, being a Democrat in Orange County was like rooting for the Angels: Someone has to do it, amirite? Republicans had held a majority of my home countys legislative, congressional and supervisorial seats for decades. They maintained a robust ecosystem of candidates, funneling activists onto school boards and party committees to learn how politics works before moving on to higher offices. The GOP way took Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan to the White House, the latter infamously saying, "Orange County is where the good Republicans go before they die." Democrats did hold power in Santa Ana, Irvine and other smaller cities but otherwise mostly went through elections like the butt of a joke in a Monty Python skit. Their luck began to shift in 2016, when Hillary Clinton won Orange County in the presidential election the first Democrat to do so since FDR during the Great Depression. Read more: In Orange County, land of reinvention, even its conservative politics is changing But there was no firebrand leader to make local liberals dream of a bluer Orange County. The quintessential Democrat remained Loretta Sanchez, a Republican-turned-Democrat who made O.C. history in 1996 as the first Latino to win a congressional race, then went on to squander that moment with an undistinguished 20-year career that ended in embarrassment when Kamala Harris obliterated her in a 2016 U.S. Senate race. The idea that Democrats could rule Orange County was so unlikely that I joked during a speech at the Laguna Woods Democratic Club just before the 2018 midterm elections that I would register with the party for the first time if they were able to get a majority of the congressional seats that year. Things werent looking good for them. Of the Democratic congressmembers whose seats were mostly in O.C., only incumbents Lou Correa and Alan Lowenthal had won their primaries. I was proved wrong and remain a Democrat today. All of O.C.s congressional seats went Democrat in 2018 for the first time ever. Leading this charge was Porter, the type of Dem that O.C. had rarely seen. Katie Porter talks to her son, Paul Hoffman, in the kitchen in their home in 2019. (Mark Boster / For the Times) The Iowa native and UC Irvine law professor was dynamic, funny, knew how to fight and never apologized for her progressive beliefs. Orange County hadnt seen a Democrat like her since Nativo Lopez, a Chicano activist turned Santa Ana Unified school board member who delighted in antagonizing Democrats and Republicans alike in the early 2000s. Porter, who beat incumbent Mimi Walters in an upset, quickly earned a national reputation for her fierce interrogations of bad hombres during congressional hearings, frequently using a whiteboard to explain arcane concepts in a way we plebes could understand. She represented a new, purple Orange County where Democrats were something no one couldve foreseen: They were cool. Democratic party registration surpassed that of Republicans in 2019 a once-unthinkable achievement. That same year, UNITE HERE Local 11 co-president Ada Briceno took over the Democratic Party of Orange County and brought in the people power organizing and radicalism that local party leaders had long shunned. Porter was a loyal soldier she helped local candidates win through endorsements and made progressives in the redder parts of O.C. believe they could run and win. Democratic majorities bloomed where it once seemed impossible: Costa Mesa. Huntington Beach. The Board of Supervisors. Porter was a transformational figure I thought would hold her seat for years and push Orange County even further to the left. Thats why I was disappointed when she announced last year that she would not seek reelection and would instead run for U.S. Senate. Porter figured that deep blue California would embrace her far easier than purple Orange County. It didnt. Read more: Column: An obituary for old Orange County, dead at age 129 Early returns from Super Tuesday show Porter in third place, far behind fellow Democrat Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey. Lefties long fretted that she and her fellow traveler, Rep. Barbara Lee, would cancel each other out, but their combined vote total wouldnt even have put them into the general election. Porter's expected loss comes at a bad time for Democrats in Orange County. Since Porter and her congressional class swept O.C., Republicans have yearned for a comeback. In 2020, Young Kim and Michelle Steel the first Korean American women in Congress along with Washington state's Marilyn Strickland won back two seats for the Republicans. In Huntington Beach, a MAGA-majority city council is showing that conspiratorial, retrograde politics can still win in the county that made it an art form. The grand prize for O.C. conservatives, though, is Porters seat. Former county GOP chair Scott Baugh nearly beat her in 2022, and he's in first place by a wide margin in the race to replace her. Democratic state senator Dave Min stands in second in early returns, and third-place finisher Joanna Weiss has already conceded defeat. If Baugh beats Min in November, Republicans will have clawed back their congressional majority and at least partially deflated the narrative of an ascendant O.C. Democratic Party. If that happens, Porter should bear some of the blame. Rep. Katie Porter talks to media while her son, Luke Hoffman,18, who is a first-time voter, casts his ballot at a voting station at University Hills Community Center in Irvine (Ringo Chiu / For The Times) I get why she ran. A U.S. Senate seat doesnt come onto the electoral market often. She owed it to no one to wait. While she served her constituents well, Porter always struck me as the type of talent who didnt want to spend their entire career in the proverbial minor leagues. But sometimes, the big fish should stay in the small pond to defend the minnows from the sharks. And out of all the years Porter shouldve remained in place, it was 2024. On X this week, she thanked every person who supported us over the past six years," writing, "It's clear Californians are hungry for leaders who break the mold, can't be bought, and push for accountability in government and across our economy. Porter otherwise hasn't made any public announcements about what's next. Her future is bright. She can always run for another office or even go after Baugh if he wins. The Newsom administration would be smart to hire her, or the Biden administration if the president returns to the White House. At the very least, Porter would make a great spokesperson for Toyota, whose Sienna minivan she turned into an unlikely symbol of suburban revolt. Her legacy as a GOP slayer is permanent. Her position in the Orange County history books is secure. I think Porter is awesome. But Ill always remember her as a what-if. What if, when Orange County needed her most, Porter had run for reelection instead of leaving us for the big time? What if. 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. US House Democrats Rashida Tlaib (L) and Cori Bush raise signs reading "Stop sending bombs," in a protest of President Joe Biden's support for Israel during the State of the Union (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS) Many expected -- or feared -- Joe Biden would stumble as he addressed Congress in his final State of the Union address before the November election. Instead, the oldest-ever US president came out swinging. With jokes, retorts to hecklers, soaring rhetoric and a minimum of his customary mangled phrases, Biden defied critics. Each stammer, slip of the tongue or confused look by Biden tends to be intensely scrutinized in the United States as he runs for reelection -- with Republicans painting each error as evidence that he cannot govern. On Thursday, Biden got cheers from his Democratic party members. "Four more years!" they chanted as Biden hammered his Republican rivals and laid out the case for a second term with a pugnacious energy that seemed to bely his 81 years. To the great relief of lawmakers in his party, acutely aware of how heavily his age is weighing in the presidential race, Biden was in rare form, showing stamina in an hour-plus speech, speaking in a clear tone and quick clip, taking jabs at Republicans, and offering sprinkles of humor. "I know it may not look like it, but I've been around a while," he grinned. His Democrats, many of them dressed in white in honor of women's rights, lapped it up. They rose to their feet as Biden spoke, with the president even getting compared later to a fiery Baptist preacher. - MAGA hats - Absent any major Biden blunders, the Republicans -- many of them Donald Trump loyalists -- remained in their seats and mostly held their tongues. After a speech last year marred by repeated shouting, the new Republican speaker of the House, Mike Johnson had implored his members not to stoop to heckling. Still, some did, and Biden punched back with vigor. Some acolytes of Trump, who is almost certain to face the incumbent Biden in November, sought to score points. As soon as Biden entered the crowded House chamber, congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, known for often outrageous antics, donned a red "Make American Great Again" cap as she approached the president. Upon seeing her, Biden took a step back and let out a humorous "Oh!" Greene had already made waves during last year's State of the Union by calling the president a "liar" mid-speech. On Thursday, several Republicans repeated the accusation, but Biden appeared unruffled. Frustration with the president was not limited to the Republican side. A group of progressive women lawmakers, wearing Palestinian keffiyehs, remained rooted to their seats throughout his address, in protest of Biden's support for Israel in the Gaza war. When Biden addressed the Gaza crisis, Palestinian-born congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and others held up paddles with the message "stop sending bombs." Biden soldiered on. And on. After wrapping up his fiery address, he stood in the well of the chamber for more than 25 minutes, shaking hands and clapping backs, taking selfies with congressmen and senators, sharing a word with military generals and generally outlasting Republican rivals. When Speaker Johnson adjourned the session and the lights dimmed, Biden was still on the House floor, holding court with lawmakers. cjc/mlm/sms Only commuters who use pay-as-you-go Oyster and contactless will benefit, and then only if they usually travel during peak times - Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Sadiq Khans ploy to entice workers back into the office will save them as little as 1.20 a week, as a trial of lower fares on Fridays begins today. The two-month pilot, ending on 31 May, will scrap peak fares at the end of the working week in the capital, saving commuters as much as 4 and as little as 1.20 on return journeys. Its part of a push to boost Londons ailing nightlife amid a decline in workers going into the office and comes ahead of Mays Mayoral election. Normal peak fares are in force between the hours of 06.30 to 09.30am and 4.00pm to 7.00pm. To give an example, a commuter travelling from zones one to six would save around 2 each way, while a passenger travelling from zone one to two would save 60p. But savings will only be available to those who use pay-as-you-go on Londons transport network with Oyster and contactless cards, while thousands who rely on weekly, monthly or annual travelcards continue paying the same. Those going out in the capital in the evening are also unlikely to benefit, as they would not have been caught by peak fares ordinarily. There were almost a million fewer journeys made on the Tubes busiest Monday in December last year than on the equivalent day in 2019, when it was used over 4.4 million times, according to official figures. The busiest Friday last year, in late November, was just under 900,000 journeys short of its 2019 peak. Footfall on TfL services is 89pc of pre-pandemic levels. Rob Blackie, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London, said that the 24m scheme was a gimmick that is unlikely to work and that the money should be used to tackle crime. He said: It seems unlikely it is going to make a difference. People like the flexibility of working from home. Childcare is much simpler if you are working from home [so] I doubt it will make a big difference. Obviously there is a massive problem with crime in London, in particular sexual offences, he said. Mr Blackie added: Prosecutions were not getting done as fast as they should be. The money would be better spent on the police. Its an election year gimmick and we should be focusing funds on what matters most to Londoners, which is tackling crime, he added. Violent crime on Londons underground network has risen 75pc in the past two years under Mr Khans mayorship, according to the British Transport Police. Rising crime is just one of the problems blighting Londons reputation as a global city. The rise of working from home has also hit especially hard, as the capital makes a sluggish recovery from the pandemic. Trading data from coffee chain Pret A Manger show that sales at branches in the City of London are down by 7pc since before Covid. London has historically been growing at a slower rate than rival cities, at just 0.2pc every year on average between 2010 and 2019, compared with New Yorks 1.4pc and Pariss 0.9pc in the same period. Business leaders called for more to be done to turn the tide of decline. A small saving on public transit alone may not be enough to bring workers back into the city on a Friday, said Karim Fatehi, chief executive of industry body the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Since the pandemic, flexible working has become an established and widely accepted part of the UKs working practices. There is a balance to be struck between the quality-of-life benefits that flexible working brings for some and the real impact that it has on footfall across London, especially on Fridays, and subsequently the capitals economy. He added that the scheme could still encourage more leisure visitors to travel into the city on a Friday, in turn boosting the hospitality, retail, leisure and tourism sectors which are still recovering even years after the worst effects of the pandemic. We will certainly be taking soundings from our members on the results of the trial. While fares on the Tube, DLR and London Overground have been frozen until 2024, passengers on National Rail operators in the capital have been hit with 4.9pc cap rises for travelcards, after a jump of almost 6pc last year. It means ticket prices have gone up by over 10pc in the last two years. The Mayor has also faced criticism for the decline of Londons night time economy. His dedicated Night Czar, Amy Lame, is paid 117,000 a-year but has presided over more than 1,000 venues closing their doors in the capital over the last three years. Announcing the trial in January, Mr Khan said: Encouraging more people back into the city on Fridays could give a much-needed boost to the hospitality, business and leisure sectors. Im making a call to all Londoners: to help London keep roaring back Lets Do Fridays! Sadiq Khan has previously said it is clear that many people are still not coming into the office on Fridays compared to before the pandemic, which is having a major knock-on effect on our shops, restaurants, pubs and cultural venues. So as well as freezing fares for another year, were introducing this off-peak trial to get more Londoners back to the office on Fridays and to support the hospitality, culture and retail sectors as we continue building a better more prosperous London for everyone. Recommended The cheapest places to live for London commuters after rail fares rise Read more Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The battle to ban TikTok is escalating. A bill that would force TikToks Chinese owner ByteDance to divest the popular social media company passed a crucial vote Thursday, as the company sought to rally users to its defense with a call to action that flooded some congressional offices with phone calls. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted unanimously to pass the bill. On Thursday, TikTok sent push notifications to some of its users to encourage them to call their representatives and ask them to vote against the bill. It displayed text that read "Stop a TikTok shutdown" in big, white letters before urging users to "speak up now." Bill that could ban TikTok in the U.S. gains momentum in Congress. pic.twitter.com/fWDfWWt57i DramaAlert (@DramaAlert) March 7, 2024 In a statement, a TikTok spokesperson confirmed that a push notification was sent to users 18 and older in the U.S. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who was among the authors of the bipartisan bill, said other House members told him that their offices were flooded by calls from constituents issuing their support for TikTok. Ive heard theyre getting a lot of calls in our offices, for sure. Some members live in their office," said Gallagher, who chairs the select committee on the Chinese Communist Party. "I actually live in my office; its really glamorous. And they were saying that, you know, their phones are ringing off the hook last night." The legislation comes roughly a year after TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before Congress about the app and its connection to the Chinese government. TikTok has maintained that data from its U.S. users is stored in the U.S. and that the Chinese government has no access to or control of the app. The bill, which is being called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, would give the president power, through entities like the FBI and other intelligence agencies, to identify certain social media apps as national security threats if they are deemed under the control of foreign adversaries, like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told NBC News that he would bring the legislation to the House floor quickly. He later posted on X that the House will vote on it next week. The @HouseCommerce Committee just voted 50-0 to force TikTok to sever their ties with the Chinese Communist Party. I will bring this critical national security bill to the House floor for a vote next week. Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) March 7, 2024 In response to the bill, a TikTok spokesperson said that the government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., posted a TikTok message Thursday accusing his colleagues of trying to ban TikTok. Bowman, who has 234,000 followers on TikTok, later told NBC News that he wants to see comprehensive social media reform and that hes probably opposed to the legislation at this point. Once again, it just feels like were singling out TikTok, and I dont quite understand why, he said. Gallagher has pushed back against the word ban repeatedly. TikTok is characterizing it as an outright ban, which is, of course, an outright lie, he said. Its not a ban. ... As long as ByteDance no longer owns the company, TikTok can continue to survive. People can continue to do all the dumb dance videos they want on the platform or communicate with their friends and all that stuff. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com ADDIS ABABA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified its priorities for Ethiopia during 2024 and 2025 amid "ever-increasing needs and decreased funding." The WHO, in its Ethiopia Health Cluster Strategy for 2024-2025 published late Thursday, said the East African country has been repeatedly affected by conflict, flooding, drought and disease outbreaks in the past years. According to the WHO, the El Nino phenomenon is expected to cause further havoc up to July 2024, by causing drought in some parts of the country and flooding in others. It said food insecurity due to lost harvest and livestock is aggravating already high malnutrition rates, negatively impacting morbidity and mortality. The WHO said in an environment with "ever-increasing needs and decreased funding," it has identified priorities for 2024 and 2025, which include strengthening advocacy for longer-term development funding to address root causes of recurrent disease outbreaks, while also advocating for increased access to quality health services. As part of its priority of advocating for increased access to quality health services, the WHO said it will focus on sexual and reproductive health services, the inclusion of people with disabilities, older people, and people living with HIV, as well as addressing remote populations through the inclusion of mobile health teams. The WHO said it is closely collaborating with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health to prepare for, prevent, and respond to public health emergencies by mobilizing resources to enable health partners to provide life-saving health services to vulnerable populations. According to the WHO, as of January 2024, the country is actively responding to the longest recorded cholera outbreak, which started in August 2022, recurrent measles outbreaks, which started in August 2021, and the highest number of malaria cases reported since 2017. Some Chinese-made cranes used at US ports contain communications equipment with no clear purpose or record of their installation, according to a new congressional investigation that will heighten US concerns that the cranes could be used for surveillance or sabotage. The investigation by the House Committee on Homeland Security and House select committee on China focused on the more than 200 Chinese-made cranes installed at US ports and related facilities. It comes amid heightened US-China tensions over national security and as the Coast Guard last month ordered the ports to better secure the Chinese-made cranes. House lawmakers found that the equipment installed on the cranes cellular modems that can be used for remote communication were not documented in any contract between US ports and Chinese crane maker ZPMC, a congressional aide familiar with the investigation told CNN. When US port personnel went to China to inspect the cranes, the modems were already installed, the aide said. The modems were found on more than one occasion on the ZPMC cranes, the aide said. Our Committees investigation found vulnerabilities in cranes at U.S. ports that could allow the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] to not only undercut trade competitors through espionage, but disrupt supply chains and the movement of cargo, devastating our nations economy, Rep. Mark Green, the Republican chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement to CNN. Without a swift sea-change, we will continue to gift the CCP with an easy means of infiltrating our critical infrastructure on their quest for global dominance. In a statement on its website, ZPMC said it has always been committed to providing high-quality products and services to clients around the world. ZPMC always strictly complies with the laws and regulations of applicable countries. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, told CNN that claims that Chinese-made cranes pose a security risk are entirely paranoia. We firmly oppose the US overstretching the concept of national security and abusing national power to obstruct normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the US, Liu said. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the congressional probes findings. Ship-to-shore cranes are key to moving goods through US maritime ports, which generate trillions of dollars in economic activity each year, according to experts. Chinese-made cranes account for nearly 80% of the cranes used at US ports, according to the Coast Guard. Cranes can often be controlled remotely, meaning that a hacker with access to the cranes networks could collect intelligence from ports or, in theory, even cause disruptions of equipment. In the Coast Guards inspections of Chinese-made cranes, we have found openings, vulnerabilities that are there by design, Rear Admiral John Vann, head of the Coast Guard Cyber Command, told lawmakers last month. What we have not found is instances of malware or a Trojan-Horse-type software. Cary Davis, the CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities, said in a statement to CNN: Our ports proactively work with the U.S. Coast Guard, other federal law enforcement, and private sector experts to mitigate risks through inspections and defensive measures. The Biden administration last month announced plans to invest $20 billion in new US-made port infrastructure, including US-made cranes that officials say are less of a security risk. A lot of machinery in the maritime and oil and gas sectors has hardware, such as cellular modems, that technicians use for remote maintenance, according to Marco Ayala, an industrial cyber expert with years of experience in the maritime sector. But this hardware is not always well documented by some of those critical facilities, opening up security risks, said Ayala, who is president of the Houston chapter of InfraGard National Members Alliance, a public-private threat-sharing organization. Having modems embedded in cranes operational systems physically bypasses the ports traditional IT security defenses, Ayala told CNN. US government and private maritime experts are trying to change that with more rigorous security assessments, he added. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A bill to avert a partial government shutdown Friday night is running into delays in the Senate amid partisan disputes, but is slowly moving toward a final vote. Absent unanimous consent or an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Republicans, the upper chamber might not be able to vote until final passage before Saturday after the government shutdown deadline but before many effects of a shutdown are felt. The Senate voted 63-35 on Friday to clear a procedural hurdle setting up final passage for the package, but disagreements between the two sides threaten to delay final passage; 34 Republicans voted against advancing the measure. Its gotten a little complicated, unfortunately, Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Republican in the upper chamber, told reporters while discussing the path forward for the funding package on Friday afternoon. Conservatives including GOP Sens. Mike Lee (Utah), Rand Paul (Ky.), Ted Cruz (Texas), Ted Budd (N.C.) and Rick Scott (Fla.) are demanding several amendment votes. Budd detailed an amendment hes pushing for that he said targets undocumented immigrants that committed a crime. That is if you assault a law enforcement officer and youre here illegally, then it clarifies judicial discretion and says that it says that you will be deported, he said. Lee also pointed to another amendment he said was offered by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) that would exclude undocumented immigrants from the official U.S. Census apportionment count. That would simply say that, for purposes of the congressional apportionment count of the census required by Article 1 of the Constitution, that the apportionment count must not include persons here unlawfully; illegal aliens shouldnt be included in the apportionment count, Lee said. None of the amendments were expected to pass the Democratic-led Senate, but come as conservatives have been up in arms over the size of the funding plan, which passed the House in a bipartisan vote earlier this week. The package calls for more than $450 billion in funding for the departments of Veterans Affairs; Agriculture; Interior; Transportation; Housing and Urban Development; Justice; Commerce; and Energy. The combined six annual government funding bills mark the first batch of the dozen in total that lawmakers are working to pass this month for fiscal 2024. Senators are hopeful they can meet the midnight deadline to pass the bill. I dont think anybody wants [a shutdown], Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters Friday when asked about the chances of a funding lapse this weekend, although he also acknowledged voting against advancing the bill in favor of what he called an open amendment process. But he added that the recent vote represents handwriting on the wall with cloture that theres not going to be any amendment votes. So, I assume once the realization sinks in that theres probably not going to be any changes to the bill that hopefully will move up the vote and not delay the inevitable, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A North Carolina man faces an officer impersonation charge after police said they spotted him driving in what appeared to be a patrol car. The man was arrested Feb. 28 after police pulled over his vehicle and discovered it wasnt a real patrol car, despite having a functioning blue-light bar and sirens, according to a March 8 Smithfield Police Department news release. Smithfield police noticed the 64-year-old driving a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria with POLICE K9 written across the side, as well as the patrol lights on top of the vehicle, according to the department. When officers ran the Fords registration, it came back as another vehicle, police said. When police pulled the Dunn resident over, they saw he was wearing clothing that said K9 on them, tactical style boots and a holster, according to the department. Officers also spotted a pistol sitting on the passenger seat next to the man, who they learned is a convicted felon, according to the department. Among the evidence collected by officers was the pistol, nine rounds of 9mm ammo, a North Carolina license plate and a USB flash drive that contained pictures of a police car, according to an arrest report obtained by McClatchy News. While searching the vehicle, police found a white powder substance presumed to be cocaine, according to the report. Police said they did not receive any reports that the man pulled anyone over while driving in the fake patrol car. The man was charged with a narcotics drug offense, possession of a weapon by a felon and impersonating an officer, according to police. All three charges were felonies, the report shows. He was booked at Johnston County Detention Center and was held under a $50,000 bond, police said. Smithfield is about a 30-mile drive southeast of Raleigh. Inmate Mail stamp thwarts man posing as Secret Service to get out of prison, feds say Booty Patrol truck draws warning from deputies but Florida community isnt as worried Woman sends fake cop running when she flags down real Florida sheriffs deputy, cops say Teachers from Kaffie Middle School and Zavala Elementary School were chosen by Corpus Christi ISD as this year's elementary and secondary teachers of the year. The district gathered six finalists from across the district Thursday evening, honoring Kaffie Middle School science teacher Jane Lee-Rhodes and Zavala Elementary School fourth grade bilingual teacher Maria Alvarado as the best in CCISD. Lee-Rhodes and Alvarado will now be considered for regional teacher of the year, competing against teachers from across the Coastal Bend. Zavala Elementary School teacher Maria Alvarado (right, standing) was named Corpus Christi ISD elementary teacher of the year Thursday at the CCISD administrative building with friends and family in attendance. Both winners stressed that they would not be where they are today without their fellow teachers. Alvarado asked supporters from Zavala Elementary School, who stood and cheered with pompoms when her name was called, to stand. "I am here because I have learned so much from every single one of y'all and the others that I've known from the past," Alvarado said. Her teacher of the year win was win for Zavala, Alvarado said. Lee-Rhodes spoke similarly. "Nobody becomes a good teacher in a vacuum," Lee-Rhodes said. "We become good teachers because of who our peers are, because of the people who are willing to take the time to support us and help us and show us how to be good teachers. Everything we achieve is built through our connections with one another." Alvarado strives to ensure her students feel loved and supported and teaches her students to take pride in knowing more than one language, Superintendent Roland Hernandez said when announcing Alvarado as a finalist. Alvarado said the key to her teaching philosophy is love. "Love allows you to see what you need to do and why we're doing the things that we do," Alvarado. Lee-Rhodes said that her driving goal as a teacher has always been making sure that students are ready for the next steps in their life. "You can do a lot of things in your classroom, but if it's not about, 'How does this help my students get to where they need to go?' you're wasting your time," Lee-Rhodes said. Last year's Corpus Christi ISD secondary teacher of the year Cynthia Hopkins (left, standing) cheers as Kaffie Middle School teacher Jane Lee-Rhodes (center) is named this year's secondary teacher of the year Thursday at the CCISD administrative building. Eighth grade, Lee-Rhodes said, is the "absolute best." Students at that age are happy to play along in the classroom, Lee-Rhodes said. "The kids are at a great place to move on," Lee-Rhodes said. "They're excited, but they're a little afraid of their next steps, so they want some reassurance and they also want some support to get there." Last year, Jones Elementary School teacher Christina Carrillo and Kaffie Middle School teacher Cynthia Hopkins won the recognition from CCISD. Teachers from schools across the district are nominated each year. A five-member selection committee including Carrillo and Hopkins, as well as representatives from Corpus Christi ISD, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi chose the finalists and the winners. Here's what to know about the other 2024 CCISD finalists: Lindsey Aguirre teaches third grade at Mireles Elementary School. Aguirre has been teaching for 18 years. Cynthia Arredondo teaches second grade at Luther Jones Elementary School. She has been teaching for 18 years at Luther Jones. Eric Boyd teaches AP and dual credit English at Veterans Memorial High School. Boyd has been teaching for 32 years. Anita Sinjawli teaches social studies at Carroll High School. Sinjawli has been teaching for 22 years. Corpus Christi ISD will honor the district-level winners and finalists, as well as winners from each campus, on April 10 in the Veterans Memorial High School auditorium. Driscoll Children's Hospital fundraising for heart center expansion Coastal Bend students present findings on coastal environmental issues Aransas County volunteer chosen for Texas Historical Commission lifetime achievement award This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Meet Corpus Christi ISD's teacher of the year winners Shooting could help the drive to net zero, new analysis has found - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Game shooting saves the NHS millions every year, a report has found. The personal benefits of exercise plus the public health gains to pollution being removed from the atmosphere by wooded areas are two of the principal ways in which the sport benefits society, according to The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC). The body has conducted its first assessment of the natural capital benefits of shooting. The term is defined as the sum of financial and social benefits from a natural environment and is gaining currency in policy-making organisations. The report comes amid continued attacks on the sport by celebrities including Chris Packham. The analysis found that NHS and local authority budgets would be saved 64.3 million a year in public health costs, 37.6 million of which would come from the health benefits of removed air pollutants by woodland managed by shooting, and 20 million in physical care costs plus 6.7 million in mental health costs, on the basis that the fitness and mental well-being of the average person shooting is higher than the average citizen. The NHS is increasingly embracing the concept of social prescribing, whereby activities often ones outdoors are prescribed to boost health via wellbeing. However, a spokesman did not say whether health bosses would consider prescribing shooting. The NHS has not said if it would consider prescribing shooting to boost wellbeing - Stuart Nicol The removal and storage of atmospheric carbon by land managed for shooting would also assist the drive towards net zero by 382 million. This figure would come from the extra woodland created for shooting and pest control that prevents damage to trees. Ian Danby, BASC head of biodiversity, said: The carbon impact of shooting in woodlands has never been assessed before and reveals the huge role shooting plays in capturing and storing carbon, moving us all towards our net zero carbon targets. Shooting provides the driver for larger woodlands, new plantings and better management, and the control of deer and grey squirrels numbers helps negate the loss of carbon by keeping existing trees healthy and allowing new trees to survive and thrive. The benefits of taking regular exercise, especially outside, on our physical health and our mental health are well understood and shooting or supporting shooting requires you to be active. Mr Danby added: Taking part in shooting, from walking your gundogs, to looking after habitat, game and other wildlife as well as the days when you are actually shooting is saving the NHS millions of pounds in avoided costs. The report was compiled by BASC, Economics for the Environment Consultancy and Strutt and Parker. 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. LANSING The Michigan State Police must pay $475,000 under a judgment issued in a federal lawsuit alleging troopers violated the constitutional rights of six Michiganders with disabilities at an event on the state Capitol lawn in 2015. The event, free and open to the public, was a 25th anniversary celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mount Morris resident Joe Harcz, who is blind, was among several people with disabilities whose entrances were blocked by state troopers when they showed up intending to distribute leaflets and express concerns about certain disability policies and practices in Michigan. Nonprofit organizations that hosted the event tipped off police to keep Harcz and the others away, according to depositions in the case. Joe Harcz, left, and his attorney Brian Kamar during a hearing on Oct. 16, 2015, at Lansing district court. Harcz is a blind activist who was arrested at a Sept. 17, 2015, Americans with Disabilities celebration at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing. Harcz, in his 60s and using a white cane, was arrested and charged with resisting and obstructing police, a two-year felony. But authorities dropped the charge in 2016, minutes before the trial was set to begin. Now, in the seven-year-old civil lawsuit brought by Harcz and other defendants, the Michigan State Police made an infrequently used "offer of judgment" on the eve of trial. The plaintiffs agreed and U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering issued the judgment Wednesday in federal court in Michigan's Western District. The judgment does not specify counts or findings but sets out the financial settlements and says the state waived a government immunity defense for this specific case. "It's a complete victory for our clients," said Julie Porter, a Chicago partner in the law firm that acted for the plaintiffs. "My view is it covers all of the claims in the complaint." But despite the judgment handed down in the case, MSP spokeswoman Shanon Banner said Friday the agency admits no liability. "In entering into this resolution, the Michigan State Police made no admission of liability or constitutional violation in this matter," Banner said. "The MSP and the state of Michigan assert this resolution was entered into for the sole and exclusive purpose of resolving a dispute between the parties in a way to avoid the costs and productivity loss of further litigation." In monetary settlements that don't involve judgments, a defendant's denial of liability is typically made part of the court record. An "offer of judgment" does not require an acceptance of liability, but in this case, no denial of liability was made part of the court record in connection with the judgment. The suit sought a declaration that the MSP had violated the plaintiffs' free speech rights. It also alleged false arrest, among other counts. Harcz said Friday it was important to him to have a judgment against the MSP, rather than a settlement in which defendants typically do not admit wrongdoing. "They put up barriers against us on Barrier Removal Day literally," Harcz said in reference to the day set aside to celebrate the ADA. Eleanor Canter, who has a neurological condition requiring her to use a mobility device and was also excluded from the event, said the judgment sends a strong message that people with disabilities won't be treated as second-class citizens. "September 17, 2015 will go down in history as the day the state of Michigan and their partners tried to strip its disabled citizenry of our constitutional rights in broad daylight at an event celebrating our community's most notable civil rights law," Canter said. The case involved two trips to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. The plaintiffs prevailed both times. Under the offer of judgment set out by the MSP, attorneys in the case will receive $300,000. Harcz will receive $50,000. Canter, Brian Dian, Mark Eagle, David Robinson and Joseph Sontag will receive $25,000 each. One other plaintiff, Terry Eagle, was not a party to the judgment and may proceed to trial. He is no longer represented by the attorneys who handled the case, according to court records. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, @paulegan4. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MSP to pay $475K after barring disabled Michiganders from ADA event SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) Did you catch COVID-19 last year? The virus may still be in your body, two new studies found. The studies conducted by University of California San Francisco infectious disease researchers provide the strongest evidence yet of long-term viral persistence in otherwise healthy people, researchers said. Scientists searched for potential clues to find out why some people develop long COVID, with symptoms lingering for months or years. The COVID-19 virus can persist in the blood and tissue of patients for more than a year after the acute phase of the illness has ended, the studies found. Scientists found pieces of SARS-CoV-2, also referred to as COVID antigens, lingering in the blood up to 14 months after infection, the studies found. In tissue samples, SARS-CoV-2 was found for more than two years after infection. During the pandemic, a growing number of infected people reported long-term symptoms, including brain fog, chronic fatigue, and digestive problems. Long COVID impacted even people who previously had strong health. These two studies provide some of the strongest evidence so far that COVID antigens can persist in some people, even though we think they have normal immune responses, said Michael Peluso, a UCSF School of Medicine infectious disease researcher. Heres what its like to have long COVID Blood samples from 171 people who had been infected with COVID were analyzed. Scientists also analyzed samples that were donated to UCSFs Long COVID Tissue Bank from patients with and without long COVID. Researchers said they detected portions of viral RNA for up to two years after infection although there was no evidence that the person had become reinfected in the connective tissue where immune cells are located. The findings suggest that the viral fragments were causing the immune system to attack. In some of the samples, the researchers found that the virus could be active. Peluso said more research is needed to determine whether the persistence of these fragments drives long COVID and associated risks, such as heart attack and stroke. There is a lot more work to be done, but I feel like we are making progress in really understanding the long-term consequences of this infection, Peluso said. Authors: UCSF co-authors include Michael Peluso, MD, Sarah Goldberg, MAS, Brian H. LaFranchi, Scott Lu, MD, Thomas Dalhuisen, MS, Badri Viswanathan, Ma Somsouk, MD, MAS, J.D. Kelly, MD, Steven Deeks, MD, Zoltan Laszik, MD, PhD, Jeffrey Martin, MD, MPH, and Timothy Henrich, MD. Funding: The studies were supported by funding from the PolyBio Research Foundation to support UCSFs Long-Term Impact of Infection with Novel Coronavirus (LIINC) Clinical Core and a Merck Investigator Studies Program Grant. The National Institute of Healths National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases also provided funding. Additional support came from the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital Department of Medicine and Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. CRAIGSVILLE Last night, Craigsville Major Richard Fox was hoping for the best. Fox is recovering from back surgery and while hes having a hard time, he is working with city staff to get water flowing through the town again. On Monday, a pipe break caused residents and local schools to lose water access. The outage also affected inmates and staff in Augusta Correctional Center. Complications with repairs kept crews busy, and Fox was nervous it could be late Friday or Saturday before water was restored. By Thursday evening, initial break was fixed. Crews turned the system back on. It wouldnt be long before it had to be shut back down. The pressure in the line shattered the pipes and caused two breaks, Fox told The News Leader. Two more leaks, two more fixes. The next time the system was turned on, it was good news. Once we got things flowing the right way around 10 oclock, things moved real easy all night, Fox said. When the boys got back on at 6 [a.m.] this morning, everything was still good. Water is flowing, why the boil water advisory? The Craigsville water system has two 500,00 gallon tanks, one for the town and another for the Augusta County Correctional Center. As of 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Fox said the Craigsville tank has about a foot of water and the Augusta Correctional tank has about 11 feet. The town remains under a boil water notice issued by the Virginia Health Department. Water can be used to shower or wash clothes, but should be boiled before anyone drinks or cooks with it. According to Fox, the tanks need to fill and be tested before the boil water advisory can be lifted. Fox explained, That might be a couple of days, whatever it takes to fill up the tanks. In addition to the sheer size of the tanks, crews are limiting how much water goes into the tank because of the two secondary line breaks. Weve throttled them back so theres not as much pressure going through, Fox explained. Thats the reason its going to take a couple of days to fill them, were doing it slowly. Bottled water is available Bottles of water and five-gallon bags of water are available today between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at town offices, 18 Hidy Street. I appreciate the patience of the people of the community, Fox said. I appreciate all the help theyve given us. They brought food, they brought water, theyve done everything they can do. Although most of the response has been understanding of the situation, Fox also acknowledged frustrated residents who want water restored. A few people got upset, and I understand, Fox said. You turn the spigot on and youre getting water, youre happy. If you turn the spigot on and you dont, youre not happy. Were doing the very best we can, as quick as we could, to get on top of it. Fox also thanked the towns crews for their efforts, calling them a great bunch of people to work with whose number one objective of the town here is to take care of the town residents. Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith called for donations on Facebook, writing, In an effort to assist those without water; we are asking the community to bring bottled water to the Sheriff's Office at 127 Lee Hwy., Verona. The ACSO deputies will transport all donated water to the Town of Craigsville to be distributed to those in need in our community. You can drop off water at any time; we will have pallets in front of the office for the water. If you are handicapped, elderly or unable to drive, please reach out to the Sheriffs Office at 540-245-5333 and we will arrange delivery. Thank you in advance for everyone who is willing to help. Lyra Bordelon (she/her) is the public transparency and justice reporter at The News Leader. Do you have a story tip or feedback? Its welcome through email to lbordelon@gannett.com. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com. More: Staunton PD: Man shot at Howard Johnson in Staunton, suspect in custody More: Augusta County School Board approves new Riverheads Middle School principal This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Craigsville water is flowing again, but boil water advisory is still in effect Junior League of Tallahassee and Second Harvest volunteers pack up produce to be distributed at their 2023 Mighty Meals food distribution event. As spring break nears, many Leon County students eagerly look forward to a long-awaited time off from a semesters worth of academia. But no school also means that some students will have limited access to nutritious meals during the week of March 11-15. On Sunday, the Junior League of Tallahassee will host its fifth annual Mighty Meals food distribution event starting at 7 a.m. in the former Sears parking lot at Governors Square mall. The hope is to help alleviate the child hunger gap in the Big Bend. This is a drive-thru event, where motorists will be guided by cones and volunteers, who will funnel traffic in and out. The closest entrance to the Sears parking lot is off Blair Stone Road. Junior League of Tallahassee spokesperson Amanda Leighty said that while the primary focus has been to serve children and families, this event is open to all ages. Recipients line up and weave their way through the Sears parking lot awaiting their turn to collect their Mighty Meals boxes. Once they reach the distribution point, Junior League of Tallahassee and Second Harvest volunteers place the boxes in their vehicles. We worked with partners, like the Second Harvest Big Bend, because there was no community-wide resource for Spring Break for children to receive free lunch, Leighty said. The Junior League of Tallahassee, an organization that empowers women to become civic leaders through volunteer services that benefit local children and families, is partnering with the Second Harvest of the Big Bend, a local food bank dedicated to feeding the hungry. Another contributing organization is the Leon County Chapter of the Florida Farm Bureau, which will sponsor dairy items. According to U.S. News & World Report, roughly a third of students in the Leon County school district are economically disadvantaged and qualify for free and reduced meals. During holidays and extended breaks, students who rely on the meals provided at school do not have the same food security to eat regularly. In 2018, the idea for a spring break-specific event emerged and preparation for a 2020 debut event began. While there were community-wide programs that bridged the child hunger gap for students in need during winter and summer breaks, there was a need for spring as well. In 2020, just a week before the initial COVID-19 shutdown in March, the first Mighty Meals event launched to relieve the stress of where the next meal would come for families seeking assistance. During this debut event, about 200 families were served. Each year, the distribution number increases. This year, the groups are expecting to serve about 1,200 families, surpassing last years number at 1,000 families and 84,000 meals. For the time being, families seeking to collect a meal box Sunday for spring break can look forward to enough dairy, meat, produce and non-perishable food items that can feed up to a family of four for three meals a day over a seven-day period. Meal boxes will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, free of charge, and the event will end once all the boxes are distributed. Democrat writer Mycah Brown can be reached at MJBrown@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Junior League, Second Harvest distributing free food for spring break As life after incarceration goes, ex-con Sheldon Johnson Jr. seemed to be on the right path. Armed with a degree he earned during his 25 years in prison, Johnson, 48, became the poster child for prison reform, working with the citys Homeless Services Department, counseling at-risk youth at the Queens public defenders office and talking about his remarkable turnaround on a popular podcast. The only question about Johnson Jr.s new direction seemed to be about who would play him in the movie. I was just blown away by the level of accomplishment and mental wherewithal that he possessed to accomplish what he did while incarcerated, lawyer Josh Dubin said last month on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. He called Johnson Jr. a miracle. But cops said this shining example of rehabilitation is the same man who, just weeks after the podcast was recorded, shot a man in the head in a Bronx apartment and stuffed his headless, dismembered torso in a plastic storage bin. Investigators found the victims legs, arms and head in a freezer. Johnson Jr., who shouted Im innocent! to reporters as he was led from the 44th Precinct stationhouse Thursday afternoon, has never shied away from his criminal past. His qualm was with the amount of time he was forced to serve for the crimes he committed, none of which until now, police said included murder. I became this person I feel like I was never meant to be, Johnson Jr. told the podcast host. What I was exposed to made me into someone else. Johnson Jr., sadly, isnt the first in his family accused of killing another man. That distinction went to his son also named Sheldon Johnson who in 2008 attacked a 24-year-old Columbia University graduate student, Mingui Yu, in Morningside Heights, punching his victim repeatedly in the face. Yu stumbled into traffic and was struck and killed by a passing SUV. The younger Johnson was charged with manslaughter for Yus death and would spend 18 months in a juvenile detention boot camp. Crime and incarceration run in the Johnson family. After abandoning his family, Johnsons father Sheldon Johnson Sr. was arrested in 1986 for raping his 7-year-old stepdaughter three times. The elder Johnson, who is deaf, spent time in prison on drug charges during the crack cocaine epidemic. In a Buzzfeed article from 2016, Johnson Sr. lamented his familys legacy. Generation to generation, it all stems from me, Johnson Sr. said through a sign language interpreter. I feel disappointed. I regret a lot of the decisions I made in life. It enters my mind all the time. A big, huge amount of guilt. I ruined everything. Johnson Jr. said his life began a downward spiral at age 10, when he challenged a teachers authority. He said he got teased as a child because of his parents disabilities and got into a lot of fights. Johnson Jr. said his fighting got him in trouble with a teacher who tried to punish him by smacking his hand with a ruler. The boy dashed out of the classroom and when the teacher followed him, he grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed the educator. He said the incident led to an arrest and nearly a year in a juvenile detention center. Instead of sticking with school upon his release, Johnson Jr. said he sold drugs. He served several sentences for drug-related charges. Years later, Johnson Jr. was arrested and convicted for shooting a man who owed him money. The armed robbery and attempted-murder conviction resulted in a 50-year prison sentence with no chance of parole for 41 of those years. When I located this particular individual, he had his girlfriend with him and this guy owed me $5,000 for some drugs I had given him on consignment, Johnson Jr. told Rogan. As far as I was concerned, with his jewelry, we were even. So I robbed him. While incarcerated, Johnson Jr. created programs promoting civic engagement among inmates and identifying dyslexia in prisoners, in addition to pursuing a bachelors degree and obtaining his certification as a paralegal, which he used to offer legal advice to fellow inmates, according to an online bio. I started working in the law library, and I discovered I had a knack for complicated things, Johnson Jr. told Rogan. I was actually helping guys get out of prison. It felt good. Dubin and others helped him get out of prison in 2023, after hed served 25 years behind bars. Dubin credited the states prison system with helping Johnson Jr. turn his life around, but bashed it for providing the ex-con with more opportunities as a prisoner than hed received as a free teen. This insane inhumane sentence actually saved Sheldon, but why werent there those programs in his community to save him as a kid? Dubin said on Rogans podcast. KIGALI, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda joined the world in celebrating International Women's Day Friday, reflecting on the role of Rwandan women in the country's development over the past three decades since the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. The day was marked under the theme "30 Years: Women in the Country's Development." Speaking at the national celebrations in the capital of Kigali, Rwandan President Paul Kagame hailed women's contribution to the country's socioeconomic development over the past 30 years. Describing women as "pillars of the country's development," Kagame said Rwandan women played a key role in the country's liberation war in the 1990s and the reconstruction process. He implored the nation to grant equal rights to women and girls. "She has rights, and her contribution to national development can't be denied," he said, stressing the need to involve women in leadership positions, where decisions are made not because they are women, but as a right. According to the Rwandan Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, women actively participate in the country's leadership positions, where they constitute 61.3 percent in the Chamber of Deputies, 42.4 percent in the Cabinet, and 37.5 percent in the Senate. Bellancille Nyiramajyambere, head of the National Women's Council, said the government has empowered women in all sectors with women and young girls pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) courses, which were previously considered the preserve of men, participating in commercial agriculture, and using technology to boost the country's economic growth. Stella Uwineza, one of the first Rwandan women to be promoted to the rank of colonel in the country's military, urged Rwandan parents to nurture their female children's inspiration and instill confidence in them, adding that "no dream is out of reach" based on one's gender. Czech National Security Advisor Tomas Pojar placed doubt on President Petr Pavels statement about aquiring all the funds needed to purchase 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine, Czech outlet Denik N reported on March 8. Pavel said in February that Prague had identified 500,000 155mm shells and 300,000 122mm shells outside Europe that could be bought and sent to Ukraine after the necessary funds were allocated to the initiative. On March 7, the president announced that once Norway had joined the Czech-led allied initiative, the required funds had been collected. "I assume that Mr. President meant the first batch's coverage, not our entire initiative. In any case, we do not have it covered yet," Pojar told Denik N. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala wrote earlier on X that raised funds would be enough to buy the first batch of 300,000 artillery shells. "Our work and our help to Ukraine do not end here. We keep seeking partners so that we can continue to support Ukraine in its brave fight against the Russian aggressor," Fiala said. The Czech Defense Ministry also published a statement on March 7, saying that Czechia is "working on various forms of artillery ammunition deliveries." "The speed with which we manage to raise the necessary money is great," Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said. "The initiative continues, and we are continuously looking for other ways to get ammunition for Western and Eastern origin. It is necessary to use the potential of this broad coalition," Cernochova added. The Kyiv Independent made a request to the Czech Defense Ministry on the current status of the funds allocation for the initiative but was not provided with the details. According to Pavel, 18 states have already contributed to the initiative, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Latvia, and Canada. As $60 billion in aid for Ukraine from the U.S. remains stalled in Congress, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to face critical ammunition shortages. Ukraine has already withdrawn from Avdiivka, a key front-line city in Donetsk Oblast, on Feb. 17 and from other nearby villages weeks later. Read also: Opinion: 6 obstacles to peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Czechia has raised funds to purchase 300,000 artillery rounds for Ukraine, announced Petr Fiala, the Prime Minister of the country. Source: European Pravda, citing Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, on Twitter (X) Quote: "Many thanks to all the countries that have joined the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine so far. We have managed to raise enough money to buy the first batch of 300,000 artillery shells," Fiala wrote. He added that the goal is to deliver significantly more ammunition to Ukraine. "Our work and our help to Ukraine do not end here. We keep seeking partners so that we can continue to support Ukraine in its brave fight against the Russian aggressor," he said. Background: On 7 March, Petr Pavel, the President of the Czech Republic, stated that Ukraine's allies had transferred the funds necessary to purchase 800,000 artillery rounds. At the Munich Security Conference, Czech President Petr Pavel announced that Czechia had found up to 800,000 NATO standard-calibre shells that could be sent to Ukraine in a few weeks if funding was raised. Support UP or become our patron! Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is already facing a charged legal battle to bar her from prosecuting the election subversion case she brought against former President Donald Trump and more than a dozen allies in Georgia. Now, shes facing at least two new hurdles: Democrat Christian Wise Smith, a former Fulton prosecutor and Atlanta solicitor, on Friday launched a primary campaign challenging Willis. Shortly after Smiths announcement, Republican lawyer Courtney Kramer, an attorney who worked in the Office of the White House Counsel under Trump, joined the race. Willis and Smith will faceoff on May 21 in the Democratic primary. Kramer is expected to advance, as the GOP nominee, to the general election on November 5. A longtime Democratic stronghold and home to the city of Atlanta, Fulton County will present an uphill challenge for Kramer, a vocal Trump supporter. Willis emerged as a national figure shortly after the 2020 election, when she opened an investigation that ultimately led to criminal conspiracy charges against Trump and others accused of trying to steal Georgias electoral votes from their rightful winner, Joe Biden. But Willis has come under increased legal and political scrutiny in recent months after a lawyer for one of the defendants revealed that Willis had a romantic relationship with an attorney she hired to help run the Trump case, Nathan Wade. The court hearing the disqualification effort is expected to rule on Willis status within the next week. Regardless of that outcome, Willis will first have to win the May 21 primary to continue her campaign to keep her seat in the fall. Asked if his decision to run had anything to do with Willis facing disqualification in the Trump racketeering case, Wise Smith told CNN, Ill reserve my comments [about her current situation] until after we know more. Then we will decide if we go full steam ahead with this campaign after the decision. Today was the final day to qualify. Right now, were just dotting our is and crossing our ts. Ive run for this office before. Im very passionate about making sure the citizens of Fulton County feel confident in their DA, he added. Smith previously ran against Willis when she was elected district attorney in 2020. He lost the primary to Willis and former District Attorney Paul Howard, whom he later endorsed in a runoff. Smith also lost a bid for the Democratic nomination for state attorney general in 2022. A spokesperson for Willis did not immediately respond to CNNs request for comment. CNN has also reached out to Kramer for comment. While people close to Willis privately acknowledge her future on the Georgia subversion case is certainly at risk, allies of the Fulton County DA have attempted to rally around her in recent weeks with various demonstrations of public support. Several prominent Georgia Democrats and local political heavyweights were present in the courtroom last month during the first two days of hearings, including when Willis took the stand and testified in her own defense. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, a Democrat, was sitting close to the front row behind the DAs team on the second day of hearings. Dickens felt compelled to walk over to the courthouse in a show of solidarity after seeing coverage of Willis testimony the day before, his press secretary told CNN at the time. We know whos on trial, and its not her. Its Donald Trump for attempting to steal an election, Dickens said at a news conference from City Hall that day. Asked if he believes that Willis has the support of Fulton County after her testimony, Dickens told CNN: Yes. And certainly the City of Atlanta. Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, the first woman to hold the post, and Charlie Bailey, the 2022 Democratic nominee for state lieutenant governor, also have attended the court proceedings. AME Bishop Reginald Jackson, a spiritual adviser of Willis and head of a historic Black church in the Atlanta area, was also been seen in court during the hearings last month, as was Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP. In a statement to CNN at the time, Griggs said: Im dedicated to safeguarding voting rights in Georgia and ensuring that the focus on this case remains on addressing the concerns raised by Georgia citizens in the indictment. Willis was elected in 2020 on a promise to reform her office. She inherited a backlog of more than 16,000 cases from the previous district attorney, a long-time incumbent, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Willis has also brought anti-corruption indictments against Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug and his associates. In that case, like shes attempting to do with Trump and his allies, Willis used the racketeering statute as a tool to build a broad conspiracy case. CORRECTION: This story and headline have been updated to reflect that the party primaries will be held on May 21. Willis and Smith will vie for the Democratic nomination. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The father of a U.S. Marine killed during the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan in 2021 was charged with a misdemeanor after he disrupted President Joe Bidens State of the Union address Thursday. Steve Nikoui, 51, attended the speech as the guest of Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL). He was removed from the chamber and arrested by Capitol Police after he interrupted Biden with shouts of Abbey Gatethe entrance at Kabuls Hamid Karzai International Airport, where a suicide bomber killed 170 civilians and 13 U.S. service members, including Nikouis son, Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui. Dad of Marine Slain in Kabul Vents Anger at Military, Biden Capitol Police told Axios that officers told Nikoui to stop but he persisted, at which point he was taken out of the gallery and arrested. A spokesperson for the agency said he was charged with a local misdemeanor charge of crowding, obstructing or incommoding. Capitol Police separately told The New York Times that the charge is routine on Capitol Hill and that people who who illegally demonstrate/disrupt Congress typically are released after they pay a $50 fine, so the misdemeanor charge is resolved without going to court. Nikoui told The Daily Beast at the time of his sons death that he considered Biden to be responsible. They sent my son over there as a paper pusher and then had the Taliban outside providing security, Nikoui said at the time. I blame my own military leaders Biden turned his back on him. Thats it. He added that he was happy his son joined the Marines when Donald Trump was president. I really believed this guy didnt want to send people into harms way, he said. In a blog post, Mast said he was honored to have Nikoui joining him for Bidens address and said his presence would serve as a reminder to the president of the damage he has done to national security and American families. Lance Cpl. Nikoui was killed in action as a result of President Bidens disastrous decision making, Mast wrote. Since then, Joe Biden has been trying to turn the page on Afghanistan without accountability after his incompetence cost American lives. The Republican lawmaker later expressed outrage at Nikouis treatment after his disruption of the speech. The Sergeant at Arms is holding my State of the Union guest for yelling at@POTUS in protest because his son was killed in action at the Abbey Gate due to Bidens incompetence, Mast posted on X. So much for the right to petition our government for the redress of grievances. He also later claimed that Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate [sic] and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success! Biden released a statement expressing gratitude for the sacrifice of the 13 troops killed in the attack days after it took place. He released another statement on the first anniversary of the bombing saying the U.S. will forever mourn their sacrifice and honor the memory of those 13 precious souls, and a third expressing similar sentiments on the second anniversary in August. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The solar eclipse seen from Glendo, Wyoming, on Aug. 21, 2017. Park districts in Northeast Ohio are anticipating an influx of visitors for the April 8 total solar eclipse. If you plan to view the eclipse from Northeast Ohio, here is your guide to events and programs at major county parks in the line of totality: Summit County Metro Parks Summit Metro Parks does not have any special plans for the day of the big event. But spokesperson Claire Merrick said there are some programs leading up to the eclipse. And for those looking for glasses to view the eclipse, some are available for $2 in the district's Maple Leaf Gifts shop inside of the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, in Akron. For more, visit summitmetroparks.org. The Summit County Metro Parks programs include: Eclipse Exploration Free Open House. Noon to 3 p.m. March 10. Discussions and activities about the science of the eclipse and how to safely view it. There will also be demonstrations and crafts and a campfire. Liberty Park Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. Homeschoolers: Solar Eclipse Program. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. March 21. Program for ages 7 to 12 to discover the science of the eclipse. Registration required. Liberty Park Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, in Akron. Celestial Bodies exhibit opening. 1 to 3 p.m. March 30. Photographer Kathy Neurenburger will discuss her tips for nighttime photography. Kinderealm: Earth and Sun and Moon Oh My! Registration required. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 6, 20 and 27. Program for children ages 3 to 6 and adult companions. Eclipse Exploration free open house. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 5. Discussions and activities about the science of the eclipse and how to safely view it. There will also be demonstrations and crafts and a campfire. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, in Akron. Eclipse Exploration free open house. Noon to 6 p.m. April 6. Discussions and activities about the science of the eclipse and how to safely view it. There will also be demonstrations and crafts and a campfire. Summit Lake Nature Center, 411 Ira Ave., Akron. Pre-Eclipse Solar-Bration. Noon to 3 p.m. April 7. Free open house to discover the science of the eclipse along with tips on how to view it. There will be demonstrations, crafts, music, a campfire and an art exhibit. Summit Lake Nature Center, 411 Ira Ave., Akron. Stark Parks Northwest parts of Stark County will be in the line of totality. Stark Parks is planning one eclipse event on April 8 at St. Helena Heritage Park in Canal Fulton. The Towpath to Totality event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Great Lakes Science Center provided free solar eclipse glasses, which will be available first come, first served, as well as a telescope with solar filters for eclipse observation. The upcoming Towpath to Totality solar eclipse event will take place at St. Helena Park. In Canal Fulton, the partial solar eclipse will begin at 1:58 p.m., and totality will begin at 3:14 p.m. and last about two minutes. There will be activities, educational programs, crafts and games. Parking will be first come, first served in the approximately 200-spot lot. Overflow parking will be available at the Lock 4 Trailhead, a short walk away. All Stark Parks will be open normal hours April 8. Portage Park District Two parks in Portage County will hold eclipse day events. Both Trail Lake Park in Streetsboro and Morgan Park in Ravenna will have an eclipse hike and viewing for limited participants. The events will kick off at 2 p.m., starting with a hike. Participants will receive eclipse glasses. In Streetsboro, the partial solar eclipse will begin at 1:59 p.m. and totality will begin at 3:15 p.m. to last about three minutes. In Ravenna, totality will begin at 3:16 p.m. and last for two and a half minutes. Park officials do not have an attendance estimate for the day of the eclipse. I just hope that everyone gets out and enjoys it, said Jennifer White, education outreach manager at the park district. The park district is also planning an informational session and craft event at 10 a.m. April 6. Participants at the event, which will be held at the Morgan Operations Center, will be instructed on making a pinhole projector for eclipse viewing. Medina County Park District The Medina County Park District says it has no formal programs planned for the day of the eclipse. It recommends all guests at the parks wear proper eye protection when viewing it. There are some rules in place for visitors on the day of the eclipse. For more, visit medinacountyparks.com. They include: There is no parking allowed on the grass. No camping is allowed in county parks. No fires are permitted in the county parks. Visitors must stay on the trails. All dogs must be on a leash. No pets are permitted at the Oenslager Nature Center/Alderfer-Chatfield Wildlife Sanctuary or Granger Wetlands Wildlife Sanctuary. Cleveland Metroparks The Cleveland Metroparks says it expects a large number of out-of-town visitors for the eclipse. In the weeks leading up to big event, it is hosting a free Eclipse Speaker Series. The next talk will be at 6:30 p.m. March 9 at the CanalWay Center. The talk Eclipses in American History by Chris Mentrek of Geauga Park District will take a look at the role that solar eclipses have played in American history. The park district says it is still finalizing its plans for visitors on the day of the eclipse. For more, visit clevelandmetroparks.com. Wayne County Park District The Wayne County Park District is planning one small event to view the eclipse at its Barnes Preserve park in Wooster. The event is anticipated to begin at the Romich Pavillion, where volunteers will give an educational presentation about the eclipse. Participants will then take a short walk to the Barnes Preserve meadow to watch the eclipse. Eclipse glasses will be provided. In Wooster, the partial solar eclipse will begin at 1:58 p.m. and totality will begin at 3:14 p.m. to last about 2 and a half minutes. The park is located at 3396 Sylvan Road. The park district expects a small crowd not exceeding 30 people. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Guide to eclipse programs at Northeast Ohio county parks A blizzard pummeled parts of the US state of California in March 2024, but online claims that a video shows cars buried in the Sierra Nevada mountains are false. The clip was taken in 2023 in Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang, China . "Snowpocalypse in Northern California buries motorists," says a March 3, 2024 post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post includes a video of several cars trapped on a mountain road, locked in by several feet of snow. Screenshot of an X post taken March 7, 2024 The video spread elsewhere on websites and social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Rumble. The Sierra Nevada was hit March 1 by a storm that brought up to 11 feet of snow to some parts of the mountain range. The extreme weather generated conditions with zero visibility for drivers and gusts as high as 145 miles per hour. Although the storm did lead to several road closures, the video shared online does not show them -- it was filmed in China in early 2023. A reverse image search using keyframes from the clip uncovered examples of the video shared as early as January 9, 2023 on social media sites such as Weibo and X (archived here and here). The posts say the footage shows the "Kanas Scenic Area in Altay, Xinjiang." In these older clips, a man speaks in Mandarin Chinese with a Xinjiang accent, complaining that heavy snowfall had completely covered his car. A Xinjiang television and radio station said in a January 10, 2023, post (archived here) that the video was shot near Ka Nasi Lake, or Kanas Lake. Zhejiang Daily and a Hubei television and radio station (archived here) also shared the recording, noting that "the trapped vehicles and people were successfully rescued on January 8." It is not the first time the video has been misused online. A couple of weeks after the incident in 2023, posts falsely claimed it showed an avalanche in Tibet. AFP has fact-checked other misinformation about recent severe weather in California here. Spring break closure dates vary from March 9 to March 23, depending on which of the college or school districts Jacksonville-area residents are trying to plan for. Households across Northeast Florida have been counting down to spring break's sweet, brief respite from classroom grinds or bracing for new needs for daycare for kids suddenly without adult supervision. But dates for missing class, some of which have already started, can vary across half of of March depending on where people live, work or attend classes. For people trying to keep track, heres a list of break dates for Jacksonville-area school systems and colleges. When are school districts closed? Duval County: No classes March 15 for a planning day, then schools and district offices closed for spring break March 18-22. Baker County: No school March 15 for planning day, then spring break March 18-22. Word of warning: Welcome to Florida, spring breakers! Here are driving laws (and penalties) you should know Clay County: Teacher planning day/student holiday on March 8, then spring break March 11-15. Nassau County: March 14 is a teacher planning day, and March 15-22 are holidays, with school district offices closed March 21-22. St. Johns County: March 11-15 spring break, then a teacher planning day March 18. Classes resume March 19. Spring breaks for Florida colleges and universities Edward Waters University: March 11-15, no classes, residence halls closed. Classes resume March 18. Florida State College at Jacksonville: March 18-24, no classes, college closed. Florida State University: Residence halls closed from noon March 9 to noon March 17. No classes March 11-15. In this 2014 photo, University of West Florida student Jennifer Herring plays frisbee during spring break with a group of friends at Pensacola Beach. Jacksonville University: No classes March 11-15 but housing remains open. St. Johns River State College: No classes, college closed March 18-22. University of Central Florida: No classes March 18-23, but campus offices open as normal. University of Florida: Spring break March 9-16. Classes resume March 18. University of North Florida: No classes March 18-23. Campus closed March 21-23, but student housing remains open. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Spring break season: When are Jacksonville-area schools, colleges off? Two parents dropped their toddler off at a Tennessee day care, where an employee brutally beat the boy and caused devastating injuries, including broken bones, organ damage and partial paralysis, the familys lawyers say. Suman and Indrani Kundus son was napping on a cot shortly before the beating in the bathroom of the day care run by The Academy of Future Leaders LLC, which was a state-licensed facility, in Memphis in May 2023, according to a lawsuit filed Feb. 20. Instead of being cared for, their two-year-old was allegedly savagely beaten, and the next time they saw him, he was fighting for his life in the hospital, the Morgan & Morgan attorneys representing the Kundus, John Morgan and William Hackett, said in a statement provided to McClatchy News on March 8. Joe Craig, a day care employee, took the toddler to the bathroom around 12:30 p.m. and subjected (him) to brutal physical abuse, the lawsuit says. By 12:47 p.m., the boy was noted to be resting on his cot until he had an apparent seizure within an hour, according to the lawsuit, which says 911 was called around 1:57 p.m. The lawsuit accuses the Academy of Future Leaders of hiring Craig despite prior domestic violence accusations against him and says it didnt call 911 to report the boys potential seizure soon enough. Now the boy struggles to walk and is permanently injured, according to Morgan and Hackett. He has paralysis on the left side of his body and can no longer see out of his left eye, they said. The Kundus are suing The Academy of Future Leaders for negligence and Craig for battery, seeking $25 million in damages, the lawsuit shows. May 18, 2023, will forever be etched in our memories as the worst day of our lives, Indrani Kundu wrote in a GoFundMe for her son. She said he suffered a traumatic brain injury and extensive damage to his ribs, pancreas, stomach, gallbladder, bile duct, and small intestine. McClatchy News contacted the day care operator for comment on March 8 and didnt receive an immediate response. Information regarding Craigs legal representation wasnt immediately available. Criminal charges In December, Craig was charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse, WMC-TV reports. He was detained in Shelby County Jail on Dec. 13, according to records, which list the charges in connection with a May 18 offense, the day hes accused of beating the toddler. Before he was charged, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told WMC-TV that his office investigated the incident at the day care, the TV station reported June 20. Craig faces a third count of aggravated child abuse stemming from a separate Nov. 28 offense, jail records show McClatchy News contacted the Shelby County District Attorneys Office on March 8 for more information and didnt receive an immediate response. The Academy of Future Leaders was licensed under the Tennessee Department of Human Services Division of Child Care and Community Services at the time the boy was beaten, according to the lawsuit. It is no longer operating as a licensed child care agency, the department told McClatchy News on March 8. The Academy of Future Leaders was located on the grounds of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The university had a previous contract with the organization but terminated it after learning of the child abuse accusations, WMC-TV reported. The Kundus are seeking millions in damages for emotional and mental anguish and their sons past and future medical expenses, the lawsuit shows. Our clients son continues to suffer from debilitating injuries and will for the rest of his life, Morgan and Hackett said. We will hold each and every party to this attack accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Craig is due in court on March 13 for a hearing after he posted a $150,000 bond on Feb. 26, according to jail records. Mom complains about school drop-off line on Facebook and school retaliates, lawsuit says 8-year-old died after flying from school slide 7 feet above frozen ground, Utah suit says Teacher pushed special needs boy on floor, had students hit and drag him, lawsuit says Officer illegally strip-searched 11-year-old, mom in torture warehouse, lawsuit says (WJW) Many federal and state lawmakers think its time to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. But each of congressmembers attempts over the last several years have fizzled out. The Ohio House late last year adopted a resolution urging Congress to enact permanent Daylight Saving Time. Instead of springing forward on the second Sunday of March then falling back on the first Sunday in November, wed just set it and forget it in March. Nationwide recall for Johnsonville sausage State lawmakers have the power to keep their state on standard time which starts in November and ends when we spring forward in March but they dont have the authority to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. That must be a congressional act, since the time change is enforced by the U.S. Department of Transportation. But in Washington, bicameral bills to lock the clock dubbed the Sunshine Protection Act didnt go anywhere in 2021. Or in 2019. Or 2018. The Senates most recent iteration, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023, was referred to the Senates Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in March 2023, but hasnt moved since. The Senates versions were all put forth by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, whos once again calling for action on the bill ahead of the Sunday time change. Were springing forward but should have never fallen back,' Rubio is quoted in a news release this week. My Sunshine Protection Act would end this stupid practice of changing our clocks back and forth. According to Rubios office, permanent Daylight Saving Time would reduce the number of car crashes and accidents involving pedestrians; prevent robberies; cut back the risk for seasonal depression, cardiac problems and stroke; and conserve energy, among other benefits. These 10 scams are most rampant right now The Ohio Houses resolution urging Congress to take action went to the Senates General Government committee before the end of last year, but has yet to have a hearing. Its time to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, sponsoring state Rep. Rodney Creech, R-West Alexandria said last year. The committee process revealed a number of benefits to making this change, such as making Ohio roads safer and supporting mental health. As of this week, Ohio is one of at least 30 states that has enacted some type of legislation or resolution in favor of the change, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Unlike the rest of the country, those living in Arizona and Hawaii didnt spring forward Sunday, according to the NCSL. Lawmakers in both states approved measures to stay on standard time year-round. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, who ended his long-shot Democratic primary challenge to President Joe Biden this week, denied Thursday that his campaign had weakened Biden politically. I think, to the contrary, I think he did so well in the Democratic primaries that I think he looks awfully strong, Phillips told CNNs Jake Tapper on The Lead when asked whether he was worried he had. On the campaign trail, the Minnesota Democrat questioned Bidens ability to win in November and serve out a second term. But on Wednesday, he exited the presidential race and endorsed Biden, who has dominated nearly every Democratic nominating contest so far this year. Phillips told Tapper that his job is to now convince the large portion of Americans who share his concerns about Biden that they need to support his reelection, or else face what he argued was the threat posed by presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. I think 86% of the country, Jake, has said that [Biden is too old], but theres something a whole lot more important, he said, adding that its better to take a chance with Biden because hes a good man, a decent man, a man of principle, experience and wisdom, compared to the alternative. An ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted last month found that 86% of Americans think Biden is too old to serve another term as president. Phillips denied Thursday that he had ever challenged Bidens mental acuity or cognition, though he said he still thinks the president is very compromised electorally, pointing to general election polling that shows Biden trailing Trump. He is not in cognitive decline. Yes, hes an 81-year-old man. Like any of us, hes going to slow down, Phillips said, adding that Biden is still able to make good decisions and thats what matters. On the campaign trail, Phillips took direct aim at the presidents age, expressing several times that he was actuarially in decline. In an interview with a Minnesota radio host Wednesday in which he announced he was ending his campaign, Phillips said Biden was at a stage in life where his capacities are diminished. But he said Wednesday it was his mission to convince Biden skeptics to make the same calculation he did. Im telling the same people in the same place, thinking the same thing that, Look, weve got to get out and vote. Weve got to mobilize. Weve got to energize. Im one of you. And sometimes a campaign actually needs someone like me to represent the mass majority of people who see things a little bit differently, he said. Following Phillips exit from the presidential race, Biden thanked the congressman on social media for his kind words and welcomed him to the team, saying, We need you with us. Looking ahead to Bidens State of the Union address Thursday, Phillips said he hopes to see vigor from the president, as well as policy proposals to deal with the cost issues and chaos issues concerning Americans. If the president can lay out what the problems are, demonstrate that hes listening to people, and most importantly, solutions, he can be very well positioned for the next election, he said. An heir to a Minnesota distilling business and former chairman of Talenti Gelato, Phillips announced last fall that he would not seek a fourth term this year to his Minneapolis-area seat. He told Tapper he was met with hugs and handshakes and high fives Thursday from his Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill, many of whom had been privately and publicly critical of his campaign. At the end of the day, we are on the same team, and every single American watching this right now can see the stark choice we have ahead of us, he said. Pressed by Tapper to respond to some Democrats who had said he was narcissistic for challenging Biden, Phillips responded: If someone thinks this was a selfish endeavor, let me tell you, this is not the way to accomplish an ego trip. He acknowledged that he had burned bridges in Washington but accused those who criticized him of being out of touch with the rest of the country. Everyone I spoke to in this country Democrats, Republicans, independents, Libertarians all said the same thing. How is it possible we find ourselves in this position and why is nobody on my side of the aisle saying what were all thinking? he said. Phillips struggled during his brief campaign to get his message across as he accused Democrats of working to suppress his candidacy. On the trail, besides criticizing Biden over his age, the congressman also shifted left on several policy issues. But he didnt come close to winning a single Democratic nominating contest. Even in his home state of Minnesota on Super Tuesday, an effort to vote uncommitted finished ahead of him. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com N'DJAMENA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Chad marked International Women's Day Friday with a call for women's active participation in politics. Under the theme "Women's participation in the post-transitional electoral processes," commemorative activities were held in the national capital of N'Djamena. Minister of Women and Child Protection Amina Priscille Longoh said Chad has made progress in empowering women politically, but women need to play an active role in shaping the history of the country, which has experienced political and social conflict. "Our fight continues; it is a fight of quality, production, and peace," Longoh said while presiding over the activities. "I would like to warmly salute the contribution of Chadian women in the construction and consolidation of peace, unity, and social cohesion in our dear and beautiful country," Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, Chad's transitional president, said via social media. "We must work together to eliminate the violence they face, but also to promote, to a large extent, the role and place of women in our society and guarantee that each of them can realize their full potential in a united Chad." Women's rights groups in the Central African country have urged women to run for the presidential election, which will take place on May 6. A transgender TikTok star says a creepy cyberstalker subjected her to an unrelenting campaign of doxxing, swatting, and horrifying death threatsincluding a vow to skin her alive and wear her face like a mask. Jae Gottlieb, whose viral livestreams regularly garner millions of views, is now suing her alleged tormentor after tracking him down a continent away. Gottlieb, 27, is best known on TikTok, where she broadcasts her entire life as she lives it, all day, every day. Her fans tune in to watch her hanging around her swanky apartment, lunching at hot Manhattan eateries, and otherwise living fabulously. People think it's interesting seeing a trans person literally do anything, Gottlieb told Paper magazine for an in-depth feature story this past November. The anonymous reign of terror began last April, according to a suit filed Wednesday by Gottliebs attorney. Thats when someone using the pseudonym Miss Flop started posting comments underneath Gottliebs TikToks, saying, I will find Jae, and, She cant hide from me. [B]abe Ive been surveilling u 24/7, the suit says. In May 2023, Flop took to Instagram, posting videos targeting Gottlieb with virulent transphobia, states the lawsuit, which was filed March 6. Flop, who appeared male, said he paid a hitman $20,000 to assassinate Gottlieb at her home in New York City. [I] will never let this go, said Flop, who also used a variety of other online monikers. I really want to make her life suffer. Shes pretty, but I want to make her life suffer. From there, Flop quickly ramped up the menace, the suit states. He continued posting to social media about Gottlieb, according to the suit, saying that he was going to fly to New York and fucking kill her, that he would slit her fucking eyeballs, and that he wanted to go to [her] apartment, in her fucking stinking marble palace, and beat her ass. Im going to choke that bitch, Flop told viewers, adding additional details about stabbing and sexually assaulting Gottlieb. When he eventually located Gottlieb, Flop promised hed fucking put a bullet in her fucking wig, the lawsuit goes on. Im going to chop her into pieces. Im going to hide in her apartment and Im going to kill her slowly while she bleeds to death, screaming. Dont you guys just want to be [Jae], Flop said in one video. I want to fucking skin [Jae] and rip his [sic] fucking face off and put it on mine. Like, I want that fucking Botox. On Friday, Gottlieb told The Daily Beast that the attacks continue to this day. Im still going through it, she said. Its not even close to the end. Ive been dealing with this for a year. Its an absolute nightmare. Sick and tired of living in fear, Gottlieb said, Im trying to take this fucker down, seriously. As spring 2023 turned to summer, Miss Flops threats continued to escalate, asking his followers to help pin down the location of Gottliebs nail salon, according to the lawsuit. I really cant, like, wait to throw, like, acid in [Jaes] face, Flop allegedly said in another Insta livestream. I am going to throw acid in her face. Im going to do an acid attack. Miss Flop posted new threats just about every day, the lawsuit continues. It says Gottlieb reported Flop multiple times to the FBIone time showing up in person to have agents wipe her phone of child porn Flop allegedly sent herbut nothing happened. And Gottliebs complaints to the myriad social media platforms used to stalk her have been similarly ineffective, the suit says. By June 2023, the lawsuit states, Flop had somehow figured out Gottliebs home address and apartment number. He posted both across various social media platforms, while leaving new clues about his own identity, according to the suit. In one post to both Instagram and TikTok, Miss Flop said he was flying from Amsterdam to Gottliebs condo in Manhattans Financial District, the suit says. In the fall, things got even hairier for Gottlieb. Flop was now sending revenge porn to Gottliebs parents, according to the suit. Gottlieb told The Daily Beast that Flop got his hands on her OnlyFans nudes, which he allegedly sent to other relatives of hers. She said Flops pinned post on TikTok contains her address and apartment number, and his bio is a Zillow link showing her apartment, which The Daily Beast confirmed on Friday. There is so much, I dont even know where to begin, Gottlieb said. When November rolled around, following yet another doxxing in a Reddit forum called r/jaegottliebSNARK, Gottlieb started getting swatted nonstop, according to the lawsuit. The swatting went on for a week straight, with as many as 15 calls a day to police, fire, emergency medical, and child protective services, Gottlieb told The Daily Beast. I had stretchers coming to my door, he was telling the police I chased him down the street with a knife, he pretended to be me and said he had been drinking bleach, trying to commit suicide, Gottlieb recalled. Its scary, because you dont know what hes telling the NYPD, and they could be showing up to my door with guns My parents live in the building next door, and they would cringe every time they heard fire trucks or police sirens. When Flop called the citys child welfare agency on Gottlieb, claiming she had abused a 6-year-old child in her apartment, officials inspected her residence even though she has no kids and is rarely around them, according to the lawsuit. Still, the city was compelled to open a 60-day investigation into the accusation, which was later determined to be unfounded, Gottlieb said. At a crossroads, Gottlieb turned to her deep bench of online followers for help, the lawsuit states. As Miss Flop allegedly got more and more brazen, he also got sloppy. Gottlieb said Flop livestreamed himself leaving his building, using the ATM, and generally going about his everyday life, which her subscribers tracked closely. I go live to hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people every day, she said. He started getting really brave, and my viewers were watching, trying to figure out who he was. All of them were Google mapping, recognizing backgrounds, he showed the street he lives on. When Miss Flop one day showed the outside from his window, the lawsuit explains, Gottlieb and her fans were able to determine his exact address. The building was a college dorm in Amsterdams Buitenveldert-Oost-Midden neighborhood, according to the suit. And when Flop went live on Instagram, at one point inadvertently revealing the sign-in screen on his laptop, which showed his full name, Gottlieb says she knew she had him. Miss Flop, according to Gottliebs lawsuit, is in fact a Turkish fashion design student named Mirac Bayram. Finally, Gottlieb told The Daily Beast, I knew their name, I knew their address, I knew their school. I had every single bit of information about this person. Bayram told Gottlieb that he became upset after gifting her a TikTok Universe costing roughly $500, but didnt get a thank you, she said on Friday. This, however, is not true, according to Gottlieb, who said Bayram never sent her anything of the sort. She said she has noticed that as time goes on, and Bayram continues to get away scot-free, he seems to exude a strange sort of self-satisfaction about what hes doing. Literally showing his face online proudly, Gottlieb said. Its almost like hes hiding in plain sight. Now that Gottliebs attorney has filed the suit, Bayram will be served with a summons, after which he will have 21 days to respond. He was unable to be reached for comment on Friday. Gottlieb said being a professional livestreamer is hard, and that broadcasting her precise location at all times can be dangerous. I just have to try my best to be careful, she said. Something like this would probably make someone hide, but this is my job. Its how I pay my bills, and I cant just stop. Over time, Gottliebs perspective on the situation has evolved, she admitted. For a long time, I said I didnt want him arrested, she explained. I just wanted him to leave me alone. But now I want him held responsible by the law, to the highest degree. 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. People wait for news about the kidnapped LEA Primary and Secondary School Kuriga students in Kuriga, Kaduna, Nigeria, Saturday, March 9, 2024. Security forces swept through large forests in Nigeria's northwest region on Friday in search of nearly 300 children who were abducted from their school a day earlier in the West African nation's latest mass kidnap which analysts and activists blamed on the failure of intelligence and slow security response. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) What seemed like an aberration a decade ago when militants kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in Nigeria's Chibok community has become a recurring horror in the country. Since then, the number of students abducted has risen to more than 1,400. The kidnapping of more than 300 students in two incidents this week in northwestern Nigeria were the latest such attacks. Here is a timeline of some prominent school kidnappings in Nigeria since 2014: April 14, 2014 Members of the Islamic militant group Boko Haram abduct 276 female students in a nighttime attack at a government secondary school in the Borno State town of Chibok, prompting international outrage. More than 90 of the students are still missing, Amnesty International says. February 19, 2018 A Boko Haram faction abducts 110 schoolgirls from a girls' science college in the Yobe State town of Dapchi in northeastern Nigeria. Nearly all were later released, but five of the girls were killed. December 11, 2020 Gunmen on motorcycles attack a government science secondary school in the Katsina State town of Kankara and abduct more than 300 boys. The state government announced their release six days later, following negotiations. The mastermind of the attack, Auwwalu Daudawa, accepted a government amnesty deal but later returned to the bush where he was killed by a rival gang. February 17, 2021 Gunmen wearing military fatigues attacked a science college in the Niger State town of Kagara at night and abducted 27 students, three staff members and others. Following what the state government described as negotiations, the abductees were released more than a week later. February 26, 2021 Gunmen abduct more than 300 schoolgirls in a nighttime raid on a government secondary boarding school in the Zamfara State town of Jangebe. In early March of that year, all abductees were released after apparent payment of ransom. March 11, 2021 Gunmen abducted 39 students 23 females and 16 males from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization in the Kaduna State town of Afaka. The students were released in batches between April and May. April 20, 2021 Armed men attacked the private Greenfield University in Kaduna State and abducted at least 20 students. Most were released, but five were killed apparently because ransom negotiations were taking too long. July 5, 2021 Gunmen kidnapped more than 100 students from the Bethel Baptist High School in the Chikun area of Kaduna State. Bandits released the students over the course of several months. March 7, 2024 Gunmen riding motorcycles kidnapped 287 students at the government secondary school in the Kaduna State town of Kuriga. Security forces searched forests in northwestern Nigeria for the latest victims. March 9, 2024 Armed men broke into a boarding school in Gidan Bakuso village in Sokoto State and seized 15 children as they slept. One woman also was abducted from the village, which also is in northwestern Nigeria. "We were not expecting this [delay]," said Anne White, a Lilly executive vice president and president of its neuroscience division, Momoneymoproblemz/Wikimedia Commons March 8 (UPI) -- Instead of approving the new Alzheimer's drug donanemab this month, as was expected, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will now require the experimental medication be scrutinized more closely by an expert panel, drug maker Eli Lilly and Co. said Friday. "The FDA has informed Lilly it wants to further understand topics related to evaluating the safety and efficacy of donanemab, including the safety results in donanemab-treated patients and the efficacy implications of the unique trial design," the company said in a statement. The move surprised the company, which had believed the agency would give its blessing to the drug during the first quarter of this year. "We were not expecting this," Anne White, a Lilly executive vice president and president of its neuroscience division, told The New York Times. While independent FDA advisory committees are often called upon when the agency has questions about drugs, it was unusual to do so "at the end of the review cycle and beyond the action date that the FDA had given us," White noted. While the FDA did not comment on the news, Lilly officials said they expected it would be a few months before the appropriate advisory committee meets to weigh the benefits of the drug, the Times reported. "The FDA did commit to us to move quickly, so we would hope that they would then take action shortly after the advisory committee," White added. For decades, one experimental Alzheimer's drug after another has been disappointing. However, donanemab, which is given by infusion once a month, belongs to a new class of medications that attack amyloid plaques, a hallmark of the disease. Last year, another drug in the class, Leqembi, was approved by the FDA. An infusion given every two weeks, Leqembi can modestly slow cognitive decline in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Still, the new drugs may not slow decline enough to matter to patients or families, experts said. Not only that, they also carry significant side effects, including swelling and bleeding in the brain. Donanemab was expected to win approval because data showed that the drug could modestly slow cognitive decline in people with mild symptoms and the safety risks were similar to Leqembi's side effects. Donanemab's trial had two unique features the FDA will likely ask the advisory committee to evaluate, Dr. John Sims, a medical director with Lilly and the leader of the donanemab clinical trials, told The Times. One feature was that even after patients stopped receiving donanemab (after amyloid plaques were cleared to a certain level), slowdowns in cognitive declines still continued. White noted that among doctors and patients, "there's a lot of enthusiasm for this concept of once you clear the target that you're going after, that you don't need to put patients through additional infusions and visits." The other unusual feature of the trial involved another protein, tau, which forms tangles in the brain after amyloid accumulates. Participants were divided into groups with high tau levels and intermediate tau levels. What did they find? People with intermediate tau levels had more slowing of thinking decline, a finding that suggests that intervening early (when tau levels are still relatively low) is the best way to fight Alzheimer's disease. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on Alzheimer's disease. Copyright 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Many of the underground water stores often critical to life in Texas, where rain is rare and the sun beats out of a pitiless sky, are running dry. Across the state, water gushes out of nearly 300 springs a hidden array of reservoirs that creates creeks, rivers and swimming holes, and that once made agriculture in the western half of the state possible. But 30 percent of these historic springs are now dry nearly three times as many as in the 1970s, according to a report from one of the states leading water research institutes. Texas cities, lead author Robert Mace told The Hill, need to be prepared for the possibility that their water supplies could decline or vanish unexpectedly, like the once-burbling waters of many of the now-desiccated springs. Springs are the canary in coal mine on sustainable development, he said. When springs dry up, thats a troubling sign that maybe groundwater pumping is not sustainable. For more than 70 years, such pumping has been Texass escape hatch from a worsening climate. But Mace warned that in many regions, that hatch is closing. Mace, whose report builds on an iconic study of decline in Texas springs, is the executive director of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University. That has given him a front row seat on some spring failures, he said. He means that literally. The Meadows Center sits atop the icy, crystal waters of the San Marcos River, which flows out of the Edwards Aquifer, an underground system of interconnected limestone cavities deep under the Texas Hill Country feeding habitats for both endangered species and Texas State students who swim and sun on the rivers banks. Last year, however, outflow from the San Marcos Spring reached its lowest recorded level. During the same period, Jacobs Well, an iconic swimming hole and cave-diving site an hour west of Austin, went dry for 222 days its longest dry period in recorded history. The threat of deteriorating and dying springs is not a new concern. In 1999, for instance, Phantom Lake Springs stopped flowing spiking fears that the downstream oasis of San Solomon Springs in Balmorhea, one of the jewels of arid, scrubby West Texas, might be next. But the springs decline hasnt gotten a comprehensive look in half a century until The Meadows Center report. The last major treatment came in 1975, when Texas hydrogeologist Gunnar Brune wrote a report for the state Water Development Board called Springs of Texas an exhaustive survey of the places where water seeps, drips and surges from the states aquifers. Brune wrote that report a generation after the defining change in Texas groundwater: the crushing drought that began in 1949. That drought transformed Texas, dealing the states rural areas a critical blow, driving nearly 30 percent of its farms out of business, and helping to spur its move from a primarily agrarian economy to a primarily industrial one, according to the Austin-American Statesman. The farms that survived those dry years did so by looking down. During that period, Mace said, thousands of Texas farmers would have gone broke if not for a mid-century innovation: the development of cheap, powerful pumps that let agriculture penetrate further into the groundwater than ever before and connected to a new state-wide grid of electric lines and gas pipelines that powered them. The onslaught of the drought combined with this new technology drove groundwater pumping in Texas from about a million acre-feet per year to 10 million acre-feet. (An acre-foot is the amount of water it takes to cover an acre of land in a foot of water.) The drought of the 1950s which is still considered by the states water development board to be the drought of record against which all else is measured ended in 1957. But the states groundwater pumping level has remained remarkably consistent. Even as Texas has shifted away from agriculture and toward industry, and as its population has surged more than fourfold, that number has stayed within 20 percent or so of its high during the 1950s drought. According to The Meadows Center, groundwater pumping in the state currently withdraws about 8 million acre-feet per year. While that water has allowed Texas to develop dryland industries that would otherwise be impossible like the growing dairies of the Panhandle that feed on the Ogallala Aquifer it has come at a distinct cost. In 1975, Brune found that 10 percent of the states historic springs had gone dry a result of the cumulative 250 million acre-feet that fields and cities had pumped out of the groundwater. In the half-century since, that total has soared to 700 million acre-feet about 207 cubic miles. Thats about twice the volume of Lake Erie or more than 300 times the volume of the Highland Lake system that supplies Austin. Mace hypothesized that nearly threefold rise in pumping should be reflected in a parallel collapse in springs. He was right: Over the past 50 years, the levels of decline Brune found tripled. Mace said this was likely driven in part by climate change both cutting rainfall and causing rain to fall more often in sudden, short lived torrents that dont last long enough to seep into the aquifers below. The climate connection is a particular concern because for all its proactive planning, the Texas Water Development Board doesnt factor climate effects into its long-term plans for the state water supply. The board doesnt even account for the possibility that the state could have a drought worse than the one in the 1950s which would be possible even if fossil fuel combustion wasnt forcing up temperatures and drying Texas out, Mace said. But the biggest overall contributor to spring decline is overpumping mostly for agriculture, but also for new suburban and exurban developments springing up on the old cattle leases and farmland that surround Texas cities. In Texas, like in much of the West, the surface water that flows through creeks, lakes and rivers is tightly regulated but underground water is considered to be private property, meaning that a landowner above an aquifer can remove as much as they want. That has driven a pattern of grossly unsustainable withdrawals from the Ogallala Aquifer in the Texas Panhandle, which is currently being drawn down at six times the rate it recharges a pattern that has driven increasing use as new users seek to get their share before the resource is depleted. In that region, Mace said, they are mining the groundwater which means we can put a death date on the aquifer in terms of peoples use going forward. Development has the same effect. Jacobs Well went dry in large measure because local water provider, Aqua Texas, is pumping twice what it is legally permitted by the local groundwater district, then-Texas Monthly senior editor Forrest Wilder reported. David Baker, the founder of the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, offered a warning of the coming decline years earlier, telling Wilder in 2009 that the valley faced an unsustainable paradox. I think weve reached the limit, yet more homes are going in as we speak, Baker told Wilder. And thats the dilemma. In January, Aqua Texas sued the groundwater district in federal court over the $454,000 fine it was issued for overpumping, according to public radio station KUT. The suit alleges that by restricting the company to its allotted amount of groundwater, the district is imposing unlawful and unequal treatment and prohibiting the provision of continuous and adequate water service to its customers. Aqua Texas told The Hill that it has been trying to pump further outside the Jacobs Well watershed, but the attempt to drill new wells has been blocked by the same local regulators publicly expressing concern about the natural springs water levels. The company also argued that it is legally required to supply its customers with water, and that this obligation hasnt gone away even as the population of the valley has boomed. Mace said that dispute cuts to the heart of water governance in Texas and to the dilemmas that underlie the steady depletion of the states springs. It gets at the question, he said, of what are powers of a district can they tell people how much water to use? Federal protections can limit pumping and have, for example, in San Marcos Spring, where theyve kept water flowing year-round even in a period of prolonged drought. In 1991, the Sierra Club sued Texas under the Endangered Species Act, arguing that state water policy was driving five endangered Texas species native only to the San Marcos and Comal Springs toward extinction. While the Texas Water Development Board doesnt consider the needs of wildlife in its state water plan, the Endangered Species Act provides a powerful umbrella of protection, even for small and easily-missed species: in this case, the fountain darter, the San Marcos gambusia, the San Marcos salamander, the Texas blind salamander and Texas wild rice. The Sierra Club won, and that victory stymied moves by farmers north of San Antonio to sink wells that would have dried up the springs, at least for much of the year. At the time, this was brutally controversial: San Antonio Mayor Bill Thornton said that federal Judge Lucius Bunton was jacking us around in order to save a scrawny, underfed lizard. (Salamanders are amphibians.) But following the suit, former San Antonio City Manager Lou Fox told The Austin Chronicle that groundwater is our Achilles heel. We dont understand that this commodity is terribly under-priced and we abuse it by not recognizing that we are literally getting a free ride. For all the initial controversy, the region has adapted to and even flourished from the higher federal protections. The Comal River, which flows from the Comal Spring, is the center of a summer floating and tourism industry in fast-growing New Braunfels, a sector that brings the city $700 million in income per year, an amount that would be drastically reduced if the river stopped flowing. The overall picture of the state is troubling, however, Mace said. The fact that the state water plan doesnt consider climate change that worries me quite a lot. Across Texas, he said, Folks get too cozy about their firm yields and their reliable water supply when its not as reliable as they think it is. It would be good for people to understand that still a risk you could run out of water and to have a plan for what do you do in an emergency: to know what is the decision point at which they say, Boom, its time to look for this interconnect to this system further east. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DEIthe identity-obsessed dogma that goes by diversity, equity, and inclusionhas now trained Googles new AI to refuse to draw white people. Whats even more alarming is that its also infected the supply chain that makes the chips powering everything from AI to missiles, endangering national security. The Biden administration recently promised it will finally loosen the purse strings on $39 billion of CHIPS Act grants to encourage semiconductor fabrication in the United States. But less than a week later, Intel announced its putting the brakes on its Columbus factory. The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) pushed back production at its second Arizona foundry (called a fab). The remaining major chipmaker, Samsung, just delayed its first Texas fab. This is not the way companies typically respond to multi-billion-dollar subsidies. What explains chipmakers ingratitude? In large part, frustration with DEI. Commentators have noted that CHIPS and Science Act money has been sluggish. What they havent noticed is that its because the CHIPS Act is so loaded with DEI pork that it cant move. The Act contains 19 sections aimed at helping minority groups, including one creating a Chief Diversity Officer at the National Science Foundation and several prioritizing scientific cooperation with MSIsminority serving institutions. A section called Opportunity and Inclusion instructs the Department of Commerce to work with minority-owned businesses and make sure chipmakers increase the participation of economically disadvantaged individuals in the semiconductor workforce. The department interprets that as license to diversify. Its factsheet Building a Skilled and Diverse Workforce asserts that diversity is critical to strengthening the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem, adding, Critically, this must include significant investments to create opportunities for Americans from historically underserved communities. The department does not call speed critical, although the impetus for the CHIPS Act is that 90 percent of the worlds advanced microchips are made in Taiwan, which China is preparing to annex by 2027, maybe even 2025. Handouts abound. Theres plenty for the leftrequirements that chipmakers submit detailed plans to educate, employ, and train lots of women and people of color, as well as justice-involved individuals, more commonly known as ex-cons. Theres plenty for the rightveterans and members of rural communities find their way into the typical DEI definition of minorities. Theres even plenty for the planet: Arizona Democrats just bragged theyve won $15 million in CHIPS funding for an ASU project fighting climate change. Thats going better for Arizona than the chips part of the CHIPS Act. Because equity is critical, the makers of humanitys most complex technology must rely on local labor and apprentices from all those underrepresented groups, as TSMC found to its dismay. Tired of delays at its first fab, it flew in 500 employees from Taiwan, angering local workers by claiming they werent skilled enough. With CHIPS grants at risk, TSMC caved in December, agreeing to rely on those workers and invest more in training them. A month later, it postponed its second Arizona fab. Now TSMC has revealed plans to build a second fab in Japan. Its first, which broke ground in 2021, is about to begin production. TSMC has learned that when the Japanese promise money, they give it, and they allow it to use competent workers. Its sampling Germanys chip subsidies too, as is Intel. Intel is also building fabs in Poland and Israel, preferring risking Russian aggression and Hamas rockets to braving Americas DEI regime. Samsung is pivoting toward making its South Korean homeland the semiconductor superpower after Taiwan falls. Uncle Sams not the only one who has money, and the worlds best chipmakers are tired of being pawns in the CHIPS Acts political games. Theyve quietly given up on it. Intel must know the coming grants are election-year stunts to disguise failed legislationtheyre mere statements of intent. Even after due diligence and final agreements, the funds will only be released in stages as recipients prove theyre jumping through the appropriate hoops. For instance, chipmakers have to make sure they hire plenty of female construction workers, even though only a million of the 11 million U.S. construction workers are women. They have to remove degree requirements and set diverse hiring slate policies, which sounds like code for quotas. They must create plans to do all this with close and ongoing coordination with on-the-ground stakeholders. They have to ensure childcare for female construction workers and engineers who dont exist yet. No wonder Intel politely postponed its Columbus fab and started planning one in Ireland. Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was launching a CHIPS-funded training program for historically-black colleges. Now the secretary is calling for a second CHIPS Act. Before that, lets make the one we have usable. Theres an easy fix. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is already trying to pass a bill exempting CHIPS funding from the multiyear environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act. The same need for speed calls for adding in a veto of the Commerce Departments diversity tag-alongs. All Congress has to do is insist it meant what it said in the CHIPS Act and no more: giving poor people opportunities isnt a free pass to enact all of DEIs pet causes, and especially not to make national security wait on them. What Congress didnt give, Congress should be willing to take away. As America pursues national security by building a diverse workforce, China does it by building warships. The CHIPS Acts current identity as a jobs program for favored minorities means companies are forced to recruit heavily from every population except white and Asian men already trained in the field; its like fishing in all the places you arent getting bites. This is the stuff declining empires are made oftoo constrained by special interests to muster a defense as the enemy reaches the gates. And then, instead of solving the problem, the people in charge try to cover it up long enough to win reelection. Dont be fooled by the Biden administrations upcoming weekend-at-Bernies act; the CHIPS Act is dead. Matt Cole is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer for Strive Asset Management, an Ohio-based firm with over $1 billion in assets under management, whose mission is to maximize shareholder value by leading companies to focus on excellence. Chris Nicholson, PhD, is head of research at Strive Asset Management and earned his JD from Yale Law School and PhD from the University of Michigan. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DEL MAR, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) An affordable housing development may be on its way to the Del Mar Fairgrounds. On Monday, the Del Mar City Council voted to approve an exclusive negotiating agreement with the 22nd District Agricultural Association to consider leasing one to two acres of the state-owned fairgrounds to the city for the construction of 61 units of low-income housing. The negotiating agreement has been in the works for more than a year to help the city reach the goals it laid out in its Housing Element, or a blueprint cities are required to submit to the state that outlines how it plans to accommodate its residents housing needs, approved last year. Amtrak service from San Diego through San Clemente partially resumes According to city documents, the deal the two sides reached lays out a two-year framework for identifying and drawing up a potential ground lease between the Del Mar city manager and the 22nd District Agricultural Association, also known as the fair board, beginning on April 15. If the negotiations are successful, the citys lease could last up to 55 years and satisfy half of the 113 affordable housing units it is expected to create in the next six years under its 2021 Housing Element. This is huge and the community is very thankful, Del Mar Mayor Dave Druker said at Mondays city council meeting. This becomes a demonstration of how the state can help. However, the fair boards ad hoc committee on affordable housing appeared to express more of cautious resolve heading into the negotiation period with the city of Del Mar. This doesnt necessarily mean we are going to find a site. But this actually puts us in a position where we can have that discussion and, hopefully, come forward with some recommendations, Kathryn Mead, chair of the committee, said at a Feb. 22 meeting of the fair board. The board will have first and final say over what will come out of the negotiations with the city, she continued. Nonetheless, members of the board expressed some skepticism of a possible affordable housing project on the fairgrounds. Is this a suitable site for affordable housing? That should be our question, board member Lisa Barkett said at the meeting. I just feel like we are getting ahead of ourselves. Im very concerned about the housing crisis in San Diego, said board member Michael Gelfand, adding that he was glad they were negotiating with Del Mar exclusively. I would hate for the fairgrounds to be seen as the place that San Diegos housing crisis is going to be solved. Gymnastics tour to debut at Oceansides new Frontwave Arena The agreement comes amid heightened scrutiny around Del Mars progress towards expanding its portfolio of affordable housing, highlighted in a lawsuit against the city from the developer of a controversial mixed-income housing project for claimed state housing law violations. And SANDAGs efforts to move the areas train tracks away from the Del Mar bluffs could pose an additional barrier to any affordable housing plans at the fairgrounds, as Voice of San Diego reported in November. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) took down a social media post, which he later referred to as inappropriate, shortly after it was posted Friday afternoon. The post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, featured side-by-side pictures of actor Sydney Sweeney wearing a revealing outfit during her recent appearance on NBCs Saturday Night Live, and President Biden as he arrived at his State of the Union address on Thursday night. The Biden photo captured the moment he seemed shocked to see Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), and was posted to make it appear the president was reacting to Sweeney herself. Moskowitz captioned the post with an emoji that depicts a pair of eyes looking to the left. It was inappropriate. I took it down, Moskowitz later responded on X to a post about the earlier post. The Hill has reached out to Moskowitzs office for further comment. On Thursday night, as Biden passed her in the House chamber, Greene was wearing a red Trump Make America Great Again hat and she handed Biden a pin that read say her name Laken Riley. During the speech, the two had an exchange regarding Riley, a college student in Georgia who was killed while she was out jogging. A man who entered the country illegally has been charged in her death. Moskowitz has been known to post jokes jokes and snarky content on his X account, including earlier this year when he responded to a post by Sesame Street character Elmo asking people how they were doing by saying, Not well. I serve in Congress. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ALBANY, N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul is fielding criticism on her left and right flanks while touching off a rift with New York Citys tough-on-crime mayor after deploying the National Guard to fight crime on city subways. Left-leaning Democrats called the plan to increase passenger bag checks an overreach. Republicans accused Hochul of failing to adequately address crime. And a high-ranking NYPD official who reports to Mayor Eric Adams unleashed a barrage of criticism Thursday. Our transit system is not a 'war' zone! Bag checks have been around since 2005??? NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell posted on X. Chell argued driving down transit crime requires toughening bail laws and dispatching more NYPD officers to the subways. Bail laws are determined in Albany, and Chell made a point of attributing additional officers to the mayor a former transit cop himself. NYers want truth and solutions! Lets talk. Transit crime is [down] 12% in the last 5 wks because of extra cops deployed, a planned commitment by@NYPDPC@NYCMayor, Chell wrote. He was not alone in criticizing Hochul, who made national news with her announcement of 750 National Guard troops conducting bag checks in stations. Her plan includes adding cameras on subways, a bill to ban people convicted of subway crimes from riding for up to three years and expanding coordination between district attorneys and transit police. On Wednesday, National Guard and state police were already seen stopping passengers and ordering them to relinquish their bags for inspection. Militarizing the subway with the National Guard and suggesting a wholesale ban on individuals from accessing public transportation are dangerous misuses of resources which could be better spent addressing these issues at their root, city Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said, adding the move would further criminalize the public on public transit. Other Democratic critics of Hochuls plan said subway crime continues to be steadily on the decline, despite recent high-profile cases, including a subway conductor who was slashed in the neck on Wednesday, just hours after her announcement. And they fearedHochuls tough-on-crime measure would be a rehash of the stop-and-frisk policing policies decried by large swaths of the party as unconstitutional and discriminatory against Black and brown New Yorkers. Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican, said the deployment of the National Guard was just a calculated political move. Theyre feeling the heat, theyre feeling of pressure, she said of Democrats like Hochul. New Yorkers know they're responsible for illegal immigration, for supporting criminals and making our streets less safe. Theyre just desperately trying to figure out a way to look like they're doing something. And so Hochul now finds herself in the middle of the maelstrom as she looks to beef up safety measures as her party faces tough races up and down the ballot in November. Crime, border security and the perception of disorder are on the ballot, with GOP candidates seizing on voters unease to discredit Democrats. Hochul, a centrist who is positioning herself as a surrogate for fellow moderates, spent the day defending her plan. I'm going to demonstrate that Democrats fight crime as well, she said Thursday morning on MSNBCs "Morning Joe." This narrative that Republicans have said and hijacked the story that we're soft on crime, that we defund the police no. The first-term governor also said the steps are aimed at being a deterrent against subway crime and to changing perceptions that the city is unsafe The subway's safety announcement is just the latest move by the governor to show her administration is tough on crime. Since winning her 2022 gubernatorial election by just 6 points a historically small margin for New York governor she has been promoting her work to strengthen bail laws and support law enforcement. Her opponent that year, Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin, focused nearly singularly on crime in his campaign. Other Democrats lauded Hochuls move. I applaud the Governor for continuing to lean into the crime issue. She is right, said Long Island Democrat Rep. Tom Suozzi. Though Adams applauded Hochuls efforts, her announcement appeared to be a slight to him a show of force in his city from a higher authority looking to fix a problem he vowed to resolve when he was a candidate. At the center of their disagreement is overtime pay: Adams wants more overtime money from the state for city cops to patrol the subways. Hochuls announcement came about two weeks after the mayor told news outlets he was going to ask for more money from the governor and lawmakers in the state budget this month to restore a now-shuttered subway safety funding program. Adams said he needed the additional funding for NYPD overtime. But when the governor was asked about Adams overtime request, Hochul said she hadnt heard from Adams office directly and instead learned about it from news reports. Instead, Hochul went it alone and announced the new resources to the citys subways. Adams didnt attend the announcement. While the mayors office told POLITICO they appreciate the governors continued commitment to a safe subway system, NYPD brass, who report to the mayor, werent on board with the governors decision as evidenced by Chells post. But Hochul vowed that she and Adams are on the same page to fight crime. And she rebuffed the overarching concerns about officers discriminating against riders, saying, We're not profiling people. None of that's going to happen here. She added on MSNBC, We're going to make sure we take back our subways, make you feel safe again. SUFFOLK COUNTY, Long Island (PIX11) Outcry continues to grow after the four people linked to the body parts found scattered across Long Island were allowed to walk free. It has reignited the debate about bail reform. NYPD offers safe places in NYC to exchange items sold online But defenders of the controversial bail changes are firing back pointing the finger of blame at the Suffolk County District Attorney for his handling of this case. When you can take a dismembered body and conceal it in a place where children play and walk away scot-free, this is not rational, said Lou Civello, with the Suffolk PBA. Law enforcement leaders and Republican lawmakers have been longtime critics of New Yorks 2019 bail reform, which has been tweaked several times since. In this case, prosecutors and the judge agreed bail was not allowed because the only charges were technically non-violent offenses related to desecrating a man and a woman both in their 50s. The District Attorney has yet to charge a violent crime like murder. You have to think perhaps weve gone a little too far with bail reform, said Ed Romaine, (R) Suffolk County Executive. However, defenders of bail reform, including Governor Kathy Hochul, and Senate Democrats said the case has nothing to do with bail reform. Its deeply concerning that these people are not in jail because the DA undercharged them when he clearly could have charged them with bailable offenses. Prior to our bail reforms, these charges rarely resulted in bail being set, said a spokesperson for Senate Democrats. I think youll find were one of the most aggressive district attorneys in the state, and that being said its a smokescreen, responded Ray Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney. Late Thursday, Tierney fired back in a press conference. He said the police are conducting a proper and thorough investigation, and judges should be allowed to consider a quote dangerousness when it comes to bail. They wrote this woefully inadequate law, and they need to fix it, he said. In practical terms, Democrats control the entirety of state government and Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jeffrion Aubry of Queens said more tweaks to bail reform are not on the table at this time. Every time something goes wrong, they think a tweak is required, never mind why it went wrong, he said. From our perspective, bail is to make sure you come back for trial; it does not guarantee you will never commit a crime again. The DA would not comment on specific details of the case. Two defendants are due back in court Friday, the DA would not say if at that point murder charges would be filed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Democrats sound alarm as DHS inspector general claims he is not being investigated, is whistleblower House Democrats are raising the alarm over possible interference with their probe into the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general after he thanked Republican leaders for confirming he is not being investigated by two committees and claimed he is a whistleblower. Democrats on the Houses Homeland Security Committee and Oversight and Accountability Committee focused on a series of correspondence with embattled Inspector General Joseph Cuffari. In August and February letters, Cuffari implied he was not under investigation by the committees Democrats, explicitly thanking Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) over the summer for confirming that I am not under investigation by your respective Committees. But Cuffari is under investigation by the panels Democrats, who are looking into him for failing to notify Congress of missing Secret Service text messages from Jan. 6, 2021, as well as for separately deleting text messages from his own phone that are required to be preserved. And he is also under investigation for his offices agreement to a $1.17 million settlement with a former employee. Inspector General Cuffaris assertionwhich is putatively being used as a shield to obstruct our oversight raises grave concerns about his judgement and respect for the process of congressional oversight, Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, and Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.), the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, wrote to Comer and Green in a letter obtained by The Hill. We certainly hope, and trust, that you have not counseled or advised Inspector General Cuffari on this matter. Imparting any signal or suggestion to Inspector General Cuffari that he is under no obligation to comply with our requests, simply because they are not coming from the Chairs of the Committees, would be an alarming breach of precedent. Its not clear what communications Cuffari had with committee Republicans, but his February letter blasts Democrats for incorrectly assert[ing] that the committees you lead were conducting an investigation into my leadership of DHS OIG. Greens office did not respond to a request for comment, but Comers office called the allegations absurd. The Oversight Committee majority is not currently investigating the DHS Office of the Inspector General and has never told anyone not to comply with the minoritys requests. If Ranking Member Raskin is looking for help with getting documents as part of the Democrats investigation, we can discuss that if he is willing to use his political capital to help us obtain documents about Joe Bidens mental state and involvement in his familys business dealings, his office said in a statement. Raskins office later countered that statement by describing Comers investigation into ties between President Biden and his sons business dealing as debunked. In another puzzling move, Cuffari also appeared to assert he is a whistleblower sending his correspondence with markings reading WHISTLEBLOWING DISCLOSURE FOR COMMITTEE USE ONLY despite being unable to qualify as a whistleblower given his status as the head of a department. In his August letter, he also references his protected whistleblowing communications with Congress about a separate investigation he is facing from the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. Democrats questioned whether in asserting such status Cuffuri may be attempting (in vain) to shield himself from oversight as well as prevent the release of his correspondence, which was also obtained by The Hill. Our staff made numerous attempts to engage with DHS OIG to obtain clarification and explanation on the blanket use of this marking and to determine whether Inspector General Cuffari was attempting in this unusual way to make a whistleblowing disclosure to Congress. However, DHS OIG staff failed to respond to our staffs direct inquiries, Raskin and Thompson wrote. While the Whistleblower Protection Act prohibits retaliation against most executive branch employees for making protected disclosures or engaging in protected activities, Inspector General Cuffari is the head of a federal agency and is thus is not covered by the Whistleblower Protection Act. His suggestion that our exercise of congressional oversight amounts to retaliation and his demand that you intervene are baffling and alarming and, to our knowledge, completely unprecedented. Cuffari in his most recent letter snubbed congressional Democrats, failing to reply directly to Raskin and Thompson and instead addressing his correspondence to Comer and Green. Its something Democrats called a blatant and surprisingly churlish attempt to obstruct our oversight and raises serious concerns about whether he is in any way capable of acting in an independent and nonpartisan way, as is required by law of an inspector general. As Chairmen of our respective Committees, we urge you to repudiate this strange, unprecedented and petulant action by the head of an Office of Inspector General (OIG) and assure us that you do not intend to condone or encourage Inspector General Cuffaris persistent failure to comply with our requests. Cuffaris office did not respond to request for comment. The Hill has not received a response to numerous requests for comment from Cuffaris office since September 2022. Cuffari, a former adviser on military issues for then-Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R), was nominated to his post by former President Trump in 2019, and he has since faced numerous investigations into his leadership. Raskin and Thomspon called on Cuffari to hand over his Jan. 6 oversight to another entity after obtaining emails showing his deputy at one point abandoned efforts to obtain missing Jan. 6 text messages and then minimized the issue in a memo to DHS leadership. And in another eyebrow-raising moment he told lawmakers he regularly deletes his own text messages, despite requirements to preserve them. Its my normal practice to delete text messages, Cuffari said in a June hearing, answering correct when Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) asked if he does this on an ongoing basis. Cuffari had also sued the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency in his personal capacity over its investigation into him, something that was dismissed by the judge who determined he failed to demonstrate how the bodys probe amounted to unlawful harassment. Raskin and Thompson are also probing Cuffaris $1.4 million contract with a law firm to investigate former employees, including the woman who would later get a $1.17 million settlement after Cuffari pushed to transition her to a DHS division that deals with countering weapons of mass destruction. Under Cuffaris leadership, the DHS Office of Inspector General has declined to investigate major events involving the agencies he helps oversee or imposed limits on their reach. That includes declining to investigate after Border Patrol officers on horseback corralled Haitian migrants. Instead, the matter was handed off to its Office of Professional Responsibility. In 2020, he refused to initiate an investigation into the Secret Services involvement and response to the clearing of protesters who had gathered in Lafayette Square just outside the White House that June to protest the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police. And a prior bipartisan letter from the Senate Judiciary Committee asked Cuffari both about an unpublished report detailing widespread employee concerns over sexual harassment at DHS as well as a move by Cuffari to substantially restrict another report evaluating how the agency complied with a law requiring the removal of law enforcement officers with domestic violence convictions. An anonymous letter from DHS Office of Inspector General employees asked President Biden to remove Cuffari from his post. We need help. We can no longer be silent when faced with continuous mismanagement of DHS OIG at its highest levels, they wrote in the letter. IG Cuffari has made clear that he wishes to remain in his position, even in the face of prolonged, deserved criticism in the media, from Congress, from other oversight entities and from his own staff. Updated at 2:27 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MOGADISHU, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on Friday lauded the invaluable contribution of women peacekeepers in the mission and across the globe to peace and security. The African Union Special Representative for Somalia and head of ATMIS, Mohamed El-Amine Souef, recognized the importance of gender equality and has committed to investing in and encouraging female representation at all levels. "I would like to extend my deepest admiration and respect for the courage, dedication, and significant contribution our female peacekeepers make toward peace and security in Somalia," Souef said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, to mark International Women's Day. Souef said this year's campaign theme "Inspire Inclusion" fits well with ATMIS' commitment to gender empowerment. The AU envoy said the commitment to investing in and encouraging female representation at all levels has been demonstrated through recruiting and promoting women within its ranks, establishing gender units and offices to integrate gender perspectives and ensuring the representation of women in all aspects of peace support activities. "Their participation in previously male-dominated fields not only challenges traditional gender norms but also serves as an inspiration for local communities, demonstrating the capabilities and potential of women in contributing to peace and stability," Souef said. ATMIS also lauded the role played by women peacekeepers in the ongoing transition process, emphasizing that their expertise, insight and commitment are invaluable assets in facilitating a seamless and sustainable transfer of security responsibilities to the Somali government. "Let us continue to champion the cause for gender equality and ensure that every woman's potential is recognized, valued, and fully utilized in our collective quest for peace and stability," he added. The former Motel 6 on Union Street Braintree is being torn down to make way for new development on Thursday, March. 6, 2024 BRAINTREE Former Mayor Joseph Sullivan was more than just a casual observer as he watched the demolition of the former Motel 6 on Union Street begin Thursday morning. Sullivan fought to close the motel, which became beset with problems, which included a shooting that left a police officer wounded and a man dead, a murder-suicide in one of the rooms, and a drug overdose death. Seeing the building come down was cathartic, he said. "Our community went through a lot of pain with the place," he said. "We almost lost an officer there. Closing it was a step forward. Demolishing it is closure on a tough chapter." The half-century-old economy motel, which had 92 guest rooms, and an adjacent building that had housed a restaurant, best remembered as Bickford's, are being torn down to make way for the development of a Chick-fil-A restaurant and a bank branch. With the exception of one brief period, the motel has been closed since May 5, 2017, when Braintree police officers were shot at while they attempted to serve a warrant to the occupant of one of the guest rooms. Officer Donald Delaney was wounded and later recovered and returned to duty. The shooter died at the scene. Motel 6 in Braintree has a violent history The former Motel 6 on Union Street Braintree is being torn down to make way for a Chick-fil-A and a bank. Delaney wasn't the first officer who was shot at the motel. In 1976, when it was operating under its original name of Susse Chalet Motor Lodge, Officer Robert Devin was shot in the chest by a Dorchester man attempting to rob the motel. Devin, who fully recovered, returned gunfire and killed the robber. The motel has also been the scene of other violent crimes over the years, as well as prostitution arrests and drug dealing. In 2009, the motel was the scene of a murder-suicide by a boyfriend and girlfriend. Following a drug overdose death there two weeks later, Sullivan was able to get the motel's owners to agree to restrictions, including a nightly police detail and giving police access to the guest list. The town's health board revoked the motel's operating license in July 2017, calling it a public health nuisance. Motel 6 appealed the decision in court, finally dropping the appeal on Sept. 19, 2018. The property has been vacant since. "They kept pushing back at us," Sullivan recalled. "The Motel 6 people were difficult to deal with." Torrington Properties purchased the site in 2022, and the planning board approved the plans for the development in December following a 10-month review. The developer will be making $2.5 million in improvements to the area, including to the nearby intersection of Ivory and Union streets and the construction of a sidewalk along Ivory Street from the MBTA station to the front of Torrington's property. The former Motel 6 on Union Street Braintree is being torn down to make way for new development on Thursday, March. 6, 2024 We look forward to continuing our work with the town to redevelop this long-abandoned, deteriorated property," Torrington Properties Principal and Chief Operating Officer Matt Morgan said in a statement.. "It has been an eyesore for years and we are excited to bring new life and positive energy to this important gateway to Braintree. When will the Braintree Chick-fil-A open? Braintree Mayor Erin Joyce said she is looking forward to converting a long-blighted property into one of the busiest places in town. "The start of demolition is a visible reminder of how hard Braintree is now working to breathe life into old places," Joyce said. The restaurant and bank are expected to open in spring of 2025. The demolition work, which is being done by Coastal Construction, is expected to take six weeks. Was Motel 6 really $6? Founded in 1962 in Santa Barbara, California, Motel 6 says it pioneered the first real economy motel. The original price of a night's stay at Motel 6 was just $6, and thus established the brand name for an American classic. Reach Fred Hanson at fhanson@patriotledger.com. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer. . This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Motel 6 demolition begins in Braintree; Chick-fil-A to replace it DENVER (KDVR) Chef Manny Barella will represent Colorado as he competes on the latest season of Top Chef on Bravo. The reality cooking competition will air its 21st season on March 20 with 15 new chefs known as cheftestants. Barella of Denver will compete for the title of Top Chef America. Barella is the culinary director of up-and-coming restaurants Camp Pickle and Jaguar Bolera. Camp Pickle will merge national parks, camp culture, pickleball and food. According to its website, it is expected to open in Denver in 2025. Popular antique collectible TV show coming to Colorado this spring Meanwhile, Jaguar Bolera will open in 2024 in Raleigh and Atlanta and offer Mexican flavor with the soul of Southern cuisine. The restaurant said its simple ingredients and authentic flavors are brought by Barella. Barella was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He took a different path in life when he decided to leave law school and enroll in a culinary program, according to Top Chef. Previously, Barella worked at the Sea Island Resort in Georgia, the five-star Napa Valley resort Calistoga Ranch and Napas Michelin-rated Solage Resort. Eventually, Barella made it to Boulder where he worked at James Beard award-winning Frasca Food and Wine as chef de partie. Next, he traveled south to Denver and worked as a sous chef at Uchi. Barella eventually became the executive chef and partner at Bellota. FOX31's Denver Guide Events, things to do, FAQs about living in Denver Read more from The Denver Guide He also serves as the president of the Hispanic Chefs Association in Colorado. Barella will travel with the other 14 chefs to Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin to compete for the ultimate cooking title. You can cheer him on beginning March 20. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. GENEVA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) After a neighbor reported seeing two strangers going in and out of a barn in Geneva Township, deputies say two men have been arrested. It happened around noon Thursday on the 59000 block of County Road 380, near 59 1/2 Street, according to a release from the Van Buren County Sheriffs Office. A caller reported seeing two unknown people entering and exiting a barn on the neighboring property, according to the release. But while deputies were on the way, the two people drove away. Deputies say the caller told them what the vehicle looked like and which way it was heading. A deputy found the vehicle, stopped it and interviewed the two people inside, according to the sheriffs office. Property from the barn could be seen inside the car, the office says. Deputies say both people a 45-year-old man and a 46-year-old man, both from Grand Junction admitted they were at the barn and had taken property without permission. This embedded content is not available in your region. The two were arrested and jailed for breaking and entering, according to the sheriffs office. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. A deputy is accused of punching and kicking a handcuffed man during a traffic stop in Alabama, leaving him with a concussion and a broken cheekbone. Now, hes pleaded guilty to accusations that he violated the victims civil rights, the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Middle District of Alabama said in a March 7 news release. He faces up to 10 years in prison. Blake Hicks, 33, is a former deputy with the Elmore County Sheriffs Office. His attorney, Richard Keith, told McClatchy News his client was a commended Deputy Sheriff for saving a life and also getting shot in the line of duty while with the sheriffs office, in addition to serving in Afghanistan until he was wounded. His guilty plea came exactly two years after the incident. On March 5, 2022, Alabama law enforcement pulled over a 26-year-old man during a traffic stop and handcuffed him, federal officials said in a plea agreement. An altercation occurred, and the man is accused of trying to escape. An officer used a stun gun on him, causing him to fall to the ground, officials said. Then, without justification, Hicks began punching and kicking the arrestee while he lay incapacitated on the ground in handcuffs, prosecutors said. Hes accused of giving the man a concussion, a broken cheekbone and lacerations. By physically assaulting a defenseless member of the community, Hicks violated both the victims fundamental constitutional rights and the communitys trust, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in the release. Prosecutors said Hicks violated the mans constitutional rights to be free from use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement agent. He was indicted in October 2023. Per the plea agreement, Hicks agrees not to seek employment as a law enforcement officer in the future. Hes expected to be sentenced June 24. McClatchy News reached out to the Elmore County Sheriffs Office on March 7 but did not immediately receive a response. Elmore County is part of the Montgomery metropolitan area. Handcuffed mom of 4 died in terror in patrol car deputy drove into river, suit says School resource officer rapes student, gives alcohol to minor, Oklahoma cops say Detainee held in jail freezer died of hypothermia, suit says. Death ruled homicide Officer ignored dying inmate he promised to help, feds say. Hes sentenced to prison Most eyes in Capitol Hill will be on Joe Bidens during the presidents State of the Union addressbut one person is guaranteed to miss it. Known as the designated survivor, the role is performed by a member of the presidents office who is required to sit out the State of the Union, which the president gives from the United States Capitol . Most people in the order of presidential succession find themselves in the same place at the same time during the speech. The designated survivorwho must remain in a different locationis a way to ensure the continuity of power should a calamity strike the Capitol. Think of it as the USs version of King Charles and Prince William not being allowed on the same plane. The identity of tonights designated survivor has been revealed as education secretary Miguel Cardona. Last years designated survivor was Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. In 2022, that role was filled by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara has published a list of past designated survivors dating back to 1984, during Ronald Reagans presidency. Sometimes a global pandemic changes things there was no designated survivor in 2021 because those who would usually have attended the address in person joined it remotely. The official presidential order of succession includes 18 people: the vice president, the speaker of the House, the president pro tempore of the Senate, 14 secretaries, and the attorney general. The designated survivor is typically chosen among the secretaries and the attorney general. President Joe Biden (AP) The practice of picking a designated survivor is thought to date back to the Cold War, specifically the late 1950sthough according to the National Constitution Center, the federal government didnt publicly acknowledge it until 1981. Back in 2016, Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for Barack Obama, told The Ringer that who gets picked as designated survivor partly depends on how prominently their department features in the State of the Union speech. Sometimes the designated survivor is chosen based on, Are their programs or policies going to be a highlight of the State of the Union? Favreau told the website. I remember years where education would be a big deal in the speech and therefore Arne Duncan, who was the education secretary at the time, could not be the designated survivor. The concept even inspired an ABC series titled Designated Survivor, which aired on ABC then Netflix for a total of three seasons between 2016 and 2019. Former US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who was the designated survivor during George W Bushs State of the Union address in 2007, discussed the experience with NewsNation on Thursday ahead of Bidens own speech. He recalled that individuals from every major department and agency were on hand with thick, big binders of protocols and procedures to advise him in case he suddenly had to serve as President of the United States. The designated survivor isnt always the person who would become president in the event of a disaster during the State of the Union. Back in 2010, according to the American Presidency Project, Shaun Donovan, the then-Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, was the designated survivor during President Barack Obamas address. But Hilary Clinton, who then served as the Secretary of State, had to miss the State of the Union to attend a conference in London. She ranked higher than Donovan in the order of presidential succession and would have assumed the presidential office if needed. Political junkies have until 9pm ET to place their bets on who this years designated survivor will be. TikTok has few supporters on Capitol Hill - and may have lost some this week US congressional offices have told the BBC they are being deluged with calls from TikTok users about legislation that could see the popular app banned. Callers range from teenagers to the elderly, and most are "really confused and are calling because 'TikTok told me to'", one Republican staffer revealed. A Democratic staffer said the most aggressive and threatening calls their office received came from adult women. So far, TikTok's big mobilization appears to be backfiring. Lawmakers and their staff say that the lobbying campaign has actually worsened the concerns they have about the app and its parent company ByteDance, and strengthened their resolve to pass the legislation. The bill, introduced by a bipartisan group of 20 lawmakers, would mandate that ByteDance sell TikTok within six months, or TikTok would be removed from mobile app stores in the US. The legislation is sailing through Congress, winning rare unanimous approval from a key committee, and the full House is expected to vote on it on Wednesday. President Joe Biden has said that he will sign it into law if it reaches his desk. Its swift advance has drawn a frantic last-minute push by TikTok to mobilise users directly against those responsible for the legislation. TikTok confirmed to the BBC it had sent a notification urging TikTokers to "call your representative now" to urge them to vote against the measure. Users said that the app gave them a direct link for calling the representatives for their districts. Florida Congressman Neal Dunn's office told the BBC it has received more than 900 calls from TikTokers, "many of which were vulnerable school-aged children" and some of whose extreme rhetoric had to be flagged for security reasons. Mr Dunn, a Republican, is an original co-sponsor of the bill. "This effort by ByteDance validated the Congressman's concerns," his office said in a statement. "American phones were geolocated and TikTok users were locked out of the platform until they called their members of Congress. ByteDance weaponized the app against America, and that is exactly why the Congressman supports this measure." When contacted about those allegations by the BBC, TikTok provided the statement: "With regards to users being locked out of the app until they called, that is false. All users had two methods for dismissing the notifications." Lawmakers have long accused ByteDance of having links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and have cast the video-sharing app as a potential threat to Americans' privacy and mental health. TikTok, which says it is now used by more than 170 million people in the US, and ByteDance deny those claims. Carlos Gimenez, who sits alongside Mr Dunn on the House committee behind the bill, said he would not be deterred from voting for it "regardless of TikTok's targeted campaign against members of Congress". A spokesperson for New York Democrat Ritchie Torres - a joint leader of the legislation - confirmed that his office too has received "seemingly endless calls" though none were of a threatening nature. "I am deeply troubled by reports of young people calling Congress, threatening to commit suicide or otherwise harm themselves," Mr Torres said in a statement to the BBC. "The iron grip that TikTok has on the minds of young people is a profound public health hazard." This embedded content is not available in your region. Staffers to other lawmakers on both sides of the aisle also reported hundreds of calls to their offices, from app users young and old, who did not have a clear idea of either who or why they were calling. A spokesperson for Dusty Johnson told the BBC his office had received calls from people who were very upset, as well as "some people who are asking kindly if TikTok is going to be banned, and some have said TikTok wouldn't let them on the app without calling their [representative]". The callers had been of all ages, the spokesperson added. Mr Johnson, a South Dakota Republican, has been outspoken about the national security threat posed by TikTok and is supportive of the proposed bill. 11 March 2024 - This story was updated to clarify comments made by a spokesperson for Dusty Johnson. Hotel Management Firm Harmony Hospitality is requesting to rezone six parcels to build an Embassy Suites in Embassy Suites. Virginia Beach-based hotel management firm Harmony Hospitality is proposing a conditional rezoning request to build an Embassy Suites in Carolina Beach. The firm is requesting the rezoning of 223, 225, 227, 235, 237 and 239 Carolina Beach Ave. It would allow for a multipurpose development, including the hotel, restaurant and parking. Currently, the parcels are zoned as part of the Central Business District. The hotel management company currently owns nine hotels and while its based out of Virginia Beach, has conducted business in New Hanover County before. Harmony Hospitality manages other properties in our marketplace Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar, Steam Restaurant [and Bar], Embassy Suites Wilmington Riverfront Hotel, managing partner Max Deutsch told residents at a community meeting. Three of the parcels -- 235, 237 and 239 Carolina Beach Ave. -- are owned by Carolina Beach Hospitalities LLC. Property records indicate that Page Johnson II, president of Harmony Hospitality, and his wife Amy Johnson purchased the other parcels at 223, 225 and 227 Carolina Beach Ave. earlier this year for $2.6 million. The purchase included the acquisition of Seawitch Cafe & Tiki Bar, the property at 227 Carolina Beach Ave. In the Central Business District, currently whats permitted are garages, arcades, auction sales, automobile service stations, bus terminals, facilities, breweries , said Zachary Brigman, general manager of Embassy Suites on the riverfront. However, what needs conditional zoning are things like swimming pools, hotels, schools and private parking lots. The firm also wants to conduct a town and land trade. Its looking to trade an oceanfront lot that it currently has under contract for a nearby parking lot owned by the town of Carolina Beach. The oceanfront hotel would include a tiki bar, rooftop restaurant and bar, 177 rooms, a meeting and event space, 240 additional parking spaces and two blocks of updated streetscaping and sidewalks. According to Harmony Hospitality, the hotel would create at least 200 jobs and a substantial increase in tax revenue. We believe this hotel would bring in approximately $2.6 million in additional tax revenue, Brigman said. While some community members approve of the proposal, others voiced their concerns regarding traffic, parking, water, sewage and building size. The hotel is proposed to be 90 feet tall, while current zoning allows a maximum building height of 50 feet. "Coming in and asking for this height, personally, I just don't think the size and bulk fits," said Carolina Beach resident Steven Shuttleworth. "And some of the things that could happen [with this project], if they were financially viable, they probably would've by now." Resident Cindy Dunn said: "It's a nice-looking project ... but those roads are narrow now -- how is [the project] going to affect the two-way traffic on both of those streets...?" In response to community concerns over the acquisition of Seawitch Cafe & Tiki Bar, Johnson said that the firm intends to continue the bar feel at the hotel to the best of its ability. "The rooftop bar will be more like what you'd see at Seawitch," Johnson said. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Embassy Suites could replace Seawitch Cafe & Tiki Bar at Carolina Beach Dhanushka Wickramasinghe (far left) with his wife and four young children A Sri Lankan father who survived the mass murder of his family in Canada said he returned home from work on Wednesday to find his wife and four young children had been killed. Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, 34, was also attacked but managed to subdue the suspect. He is now recovering in hospital from a slash to the eye and one of his hands. A 19-year-old Sri Lankan student who was living with the family was charged with the deaths. The new details of the night the Wickramasinghe family was killed emerged from a series of media interviews with Bhante Suneetha, the resident monk at a local Buddhist monastery in Ottawa that the family attended. Mr Suneetha, who visited the father in hospital on Thursday, said he is in "great shock" over what happened. Police in Ottawa discovered the slain family at their townhouse in the Barrhaven suburb after responding to emergency calls placed at around 22:52 local time (03:52 GMT) on Wednesday. Chief Eric Stubbs with the Ottawa Police Service said the calls came after a man, later determined to be Mr Wickramasinghe, yelled for neighbours to call for help. Responding officers then found the bodies of Mr Wickramasinghe's wife, 35-year-old Darshani Dilanthika Ekanayake, and their four young children: seven-year-old Inuka Wickramasinghe, four-year-old Ashwini Wickramasinghe, three-year-old Ranaya Wickramasinghe, and two-month-old Kelly Wickramasinghe. Police also found the body of 40-year-old Amarakoonmudiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, an acquaintance who was living with the family. The Wickramasinghe family were newcomers to Canada. Naradha Kodituwakku, the former president of the Sri Lanka Canada Association in Ottawa, told reporters that they had arrived last year. In an interview with CBC, Mr Suneetha described them as kind people who often lent a helping hand at the local temple. "They are innocent and also very helpful people. It doesn't matter [who would ask] for help from them," he said. Febrio De-Zoysa, an international student from Sri Lanka, was arrested at the home without incident and has been charged in connection to the murders, which police said were carried out using a "knife-like object". Algonquin College in Ottawa released a statement to the media on Thursday confirming that Mr De-Zoysa was enrolled at their college, and that his last semester of attendance was winter 2023. In a statement published on Facebook, the General Consulate of Sri Lanka in Toronto expressed its condolences to the family and friends of the victims. It also alerted parents of those who are studying abroad from Sri Lanka "to pay more attention to their children during their transition and integration" into a foreign country like Canada. Police did not specify a motive for the crime, saying the family were "innocent victims", and that their investigation is ongoing. Mr De-Zoysa made his first court appearance in Ottawa on Thursday, where he was formally charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. A vigil will be held for the family on Saturday, and a GoFundMe launched for Mr Wickramasinghe by the Buddhist Congress of Canada has raised more than C$53,000 ($39,300; 30,500) as of Friday afternoon. SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) During the 2024 lawmaking session, state lawmakers passed more than 70 bills. But for those to become law, the governor had to give her signature of approval. So, which bills didnt receive that approval? Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham did approve of the majority of the bills passed by lawmakers. Many of the bills were pieces of legislation that the governor specifically asked lawmakers to discuss. New Mexico governor approves omnibus tax bill The governor did let the deadline pass for two bills, pocket vetoing them. These are Senate Bill 129 and Senate Bill 175. Senate Bill 129 would have amended the states Cybersecurity Act. The bill was aimed at requiring better implementation and reporting of cybersecurity procedures for government agencies. It was changed several times while being debated by lawmakers. Senate Bill 174 was trying to set up a fund for law enforcement recruitment. Originally, the idea was to put $35 million towards the fund, but that money was cut out after debate in the Senate Finance Committee. Its worth noting that although this bill was pocket vetoed, the governor did approve of putting $25 million towards law enforcement and correctional officer recruitment via the statewide budget. In addition to bills pocket vetoed, the governor also vetoed one additional bill, Senate Bill 217. That bill aimed to transfer more than $80 million from the states severance tax bonding fund to the severance tax permanent fund. In a message to lawmakers, the governor explained that the bill wasnt necessary because a bill last year already put a substantial amount of money into the severance tax permanent fund. New Mexico Governor signs clean fuel bill into law The governor also vetoed certain portions of the state budget. The governor explained that the line-item vetoes tend to focus on wording that she says would have unduly restricted spending. (You can read more about her reasoning at this link.) For example, the governor vetoed a requirement that $1 million sent to the General Services Department be tied to the publication of building use fees. And she cut out wording that limited the states healthcare authoritys ability to expand Medicaid eligibility. The governor also vetoed wording that tried to limit the New Mexico Public Education Departments ability to set a requirement of 180 school days for the state. And on Thursday, March 7, the Public Education Department announced that they would do just that. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. President Joe Biden gave a vigorous State of the Union address on Thursday, working to counter a narrative haunting his re-election bid - that he's too old for the job. US political pundits and analysts called his roughly 60-minute speech "fiery" and "forceful". Mr Biden, 81, is the oldest president to hold office, and opinion polls often show his age is on the minds of American voters. We asked members of our US voter panel, many of who had supported Biden but expressed concerns about his age, if his speech had affected how they see him. Aylon Gipson, Alabama, Democrat A 21-year-old economics student at Morehouse College, an historically black university, Aylon voted for the first time in the last election. I have concerns about his age. He's about the age of my grandmother, and I know how my grandmother is. But I think we saw a fiery speech from him yesterday, and it made me more confident. He showed us that he can still be quick on his feet. He delivered some blows back to Republican hecklers that were excellent. I'll definitely be voting for Joe Biden, even though he has issues and problems with age. Biden followed through on delivering a black woman to the Supreme Court. He has fought against losing protections with the overturning of Roe v Wade. He's done his best to cancel student loan debt. Darlene Buhler, South Dakota, Republican Darlene, 65, voted for Donald Trump in 2020 and hasn't been persuaded to vote differently this time around. "Fiery" is a polite word to say that he was rambling. He just seemed to be mad, and he came off as a grumpy old man. To me, the expectations and the bar were set too low. It was like, "let's just hope he gets through this and not stumble off the stage". He was more coherent than I've heard him in the past. And so the question is, do I think he can handle four more years? I don't think so. It's a shame that we don't have an age limit. If I have to choose between him and Donald Trump, I'll choose Trump, the lesser of two evils. I don't feel like President Biden or the Democratic party have done enough for black people. They expect to automatically receive our vote. They have to earn it. Amy Kalokerinos, New York, Independent Amy, 42, has voted both Democrat and Republican in her lifetime. I think it's the best speech President Biden has ever given in his entire career. Before yesterday, I did have doubts. But I do not question his aptitude after last night's speech. Him pounding on the podium, him speaking more sternly and yelling - that's all the stuff that Trump does that the American population responds to. He's presenting differently, and I think it's resonating. I am an ageist, right or wrong. And I do think both candidates are too old. I voted for Biden in 2020 and will vote for anyone but Trump in November. Overturning Roe v Wade was it for me. Michelle Dunkley, New Jersey, Democrat Michelle, 60, voted Democrat in the last presidential election. She's not thrilled by either candidate's age, but will vote for Biden again. The State of the Union address felt like more of a campaign speech, designed to promote his mental acuity. He diplomatically chided his predecessor for his language and actions that have deepened the political divisions in this country. As much as I like Biden, I believe he is too old to continue to lead the country. But if Trump wins he will be as old during his term. This country needs younger people to lead. Karen Kemp, Connecticut, Democrat Karen, 48, voted for Joe Biden in 2020. She was worried about how he would perform at the podium. I had concerns that Joe Biden would not be able to combat the pervasive perceptions that too often follow the elderly, things like they serve no use to society. I thought he might stutter and lose his train of thought. But he showed energy and experience. His State of the Union speech boiled down the choice Americans will face in November and drew clear distinctions between a party and man who wants good things for this country and a former president who holds a starkly different, largely unfavourable view. I don't need to love my president, but I do need not to feel ashamed of who they are. MANILA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' unemployment rate increased to 4.5 percent in January from 3.1 percent in December last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Friday. PSA head Dennis Mapa told a press conference that there were 2.15 million jobless Filipinos in January. "This was lower than the reported number of unemployed persons in January 2023 of 2.38 million," Mapa said. The jobless rate was 4.8 percent in January 2023. National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the government has sustained its push to attract more job-generating investments by creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment. Balisacan added that the government will strengthen linkages between industry, academe, and the public sector to address skill mismatches in the labor market. Donald Trump may have rage-posted his way through President Joe Bidens State of the Union address on Truth Social, but his social media site crashed for many before Biden even entered the House chamber, with technical issues lingering for at least an hour before and into his remarks. Beginning shortly before 9 p.m. EST Thursday, outages numbered in the thousands, according to Downdetector. The outages peaked an hour later and then began to slowly resume back to normal, according to the monitor. Around the same time, users on X reported not being able to access Trumps feed, with someincluding former Trump White House Press Secretary Alyssa Farah Griffinmocking him for it. Trump said hed be live fact-checking Bidens SOTU but Truth Social appears to be down. Sad! she wrote on X. Judge Rules Trump Has to Come Up With $91 Million for E. Jean Carroll Appeal On Fox News, meanwhile, anchor Bret Baierwho had read out loud some of Trumps postsinvited him to just call in. If the former president wants to call in, Baier said, likely speaking directly to Trump through the screen, were happy to put him [on] instead of just reading Truth Social posts. Those who were able to see what Trump had to say were likely not surprised, as his posts were largely negative reactions to people he saw on the broadcast. Thankfully, we dont have to be looking at RINO Mitt Romney much longer! Trump wrote of the retiring Utah senator who has opposed Trumps 2024 candidacy. Trump, who incited a mob of supporters that broke into the Capitol and House chamber on Jan. 6, 2021, then accused Biden of being very disrespectful to our country because his address in that same chamber didnt begin promptly at 9 p.m. He also predictably took aim at Biden during his speech, insisting the president was angry and crazy and that the words are not flowing smoothly out of his mouth! 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. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has called for an end to discussions about the possible deployment of NATO ground troops in Ukraine, reported FAZ on March 8. No one really wants (NATO) boots on the ground in Ukraine, and this is being discussed, so we must stop it at this stage, Pistorius said. Read also: NATO countries consider sending troops to Ukraine, Slovakia opts out Slovak PM Fico After a conference in support of Ukraine held in Paris on Feb. 26, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraines Western allies would form a coalition to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with long-range weapons, and that sending Western troops to Ukraine in the future should not be excluded from possible scenarios. In response to Macrons statements, a number of NATO countries publicly rejected the idea of sending troops to Ukraine. Among them are Poland, the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Read also: France proposed sending troops to Ukraine to NATO allies weeks before Macrons remarks Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas did not reject the possibility of sending NATO troops, but clarified that they might send them only for training missions. General Onno Eichelsheim, Chief of Staff of the Dutch Army, said that all options should be kept open. The AFP news agency quoted a source as saying that European NATO member states had been studying the possibility of sending NATO troops to Ukraine for weeks. On Feb. 29, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal explained that French troops could participate in the war on the side of Ukraine to protect certain borders, take part in exercises or ground air defense. He stated that there will be no participation of French soldiers in battles directly on the front line. 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 Sheldon Johnson was taken into police custody in New York - Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images A criminal justice activist and ex-convict has been arrested and charged with murder after a human head was discovered in his freezer. Sheldon Johnson, 48, was arrested in the Bronx in New York on Thursday on suspicion of murder and illegal possession of a firearm after the death of Colin Small, 44. Officers discovered Mr Smalls torso in a bin and his head and arms in a freezer, and have accused Mr Johnson of shooting the victim and dismembering his body. Neighbours reported the sound of gunshots in Mr Smalls home, and a man pleading: Please, dont I have a family. Mr Johnson, a former gangster who was released from prison almost a year ago, said last month that he had decided to change his life after being sentenced for a series of armed robberies in 1999. I really said: I have to change my life, he told the Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Feb 1. When I got out, I made a decision that I was going to walk away and I didnt care about what the consequences was. And I said to myself, Ive been doing bad for so long, Im going to try to do something good. If all else fails, I could always go back to doing something bad. Mr Johnson said he was working with young people at Queens Defenders, a criminal justice organisation in New York, and has been pictured with Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney. As he was led away by police on Thursday, he shouted to reporters: Im innocent! A man was captured on CCTV on the night of the murder wearing a variety of disguises and carrying bags and a bin through the hallway The apartment manager in Mr Smalls building reported seeing a suspect at 2am on the night of the killing, wearing a variety of disguises and carrying bags and a bin through the hallway. In one CCTV image, a man is shown wearing a blonde wig under a hooded jacket. The same man appears in different images wearing three different hats. The building manager told the New York Post he had seen a man acting suspiciously after the shots were heard. We tried to see if he took out the bin, he said. He never took out the bin. I told them, Look for a bin. And sure enough, [the body] was there. He added that he had seen the suspect driving away in Mr Smalls blue Audi, wearing the wig. [He was] dressing differently, changing his character, he said. Thats not normal, he is hiding something. Mr Johnson appeared in court on Thursday night and was remanded in custody without bail. 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. At 81 years old, president Joe Biden has attracted significant voter misgivings over his age and mental acuity. But his rival in the upcoming presidential election, Donald Trump, may be dealing with much more acute cognitive issues. Experts are becoming increasingly worried over Trump's condition, Salon reports, with the former president struggling to form coherent sentences and even once again confusing Biden with his predecessor Barack Obama during a rally in North Carolina this month. "Not enough people are sounding the alarm, that based on his behavior, and in my opinion, Donald Trump is dangerously demented," psychologist and former Johns Hopkins Medical School professor John Gartner, who wrote a book about Trump's mental health, told Salon. "This is a tale of two brains," he added. "Biden's brain is aging. Trump's brain is dementing." "In my opinion, Donald Trump is getting worse as his cognitive state continues to degrade," Gartner said. "If Trump were your relative, youd be thinking about assisted care right now." Others agreed. "It is meaningful because the confusion of people, in contrast to the occasional forgetting of names, is a sign of early dementia, as noted by the Dementia Care Society," licensed psychologist and founder and executive director of the Washington Center For Cognitive Therapy Vincent Greenwood told the publication. As for Trump mispronouncing words like "Venezuela" or "migrant crime," experts tend to agree he's exhibiting early signs of "paraphasia," speech disturbances caused by brain damage, and "not just aging," as Greenwood argued. And others, like clinical psychologist and Cornell University senior lecturer Harry Segal, who specializes in mental health disorders, offer a more nuanced assessment though not one that inspires much confidence in Trump. "Since this is an intermittent problem, it suggests that when Trump is especially stressed and exhausted, he suffers cognitive slippage that affects the way he associates words or their meaning," he told Salon. "Note, though, that Trumps pathological lying is itself a form of mental illness, so these cognitive lapses are literally sitting atop what appears to be an already compromised psychological functioning." And at the end of the day, Trump is still contending with dozens of criminal charges. Needless to say, none of this bodes well for the future of the country. More on Trump: Cash-Desperate Donald Trump Meets With Elon Musk Von Salmi has committed 38 years to the art of maple syrup, and neither age nor climate change will stop him from practicing his favorite hobby. In 1987, Salmi built his family's home on 15 acres of land at 41 Bacon St. in Westminster. Right next to the family's brick red home is Salmi's Sugarhouse, and about 8 acres of Sugarbush are used to make the locally known maple syrup. Salmi said he learned to produce maple syrup from his grandfather. He was reintroduced to the practice in the mid-1980s when his children learned about it in Boy Scouts, and since then, he has been making maple syrup. As he got older, Salmi said he couldn't walk through all 8 acres of sugar bush to collect sap, but he also doesn't plan to retire from his Sugarhouse anytime soon. He said he had to install a line system instead of the traditional sap bucket system about seven years ago to collect the sap. Von Salmi, owner of Salmi's Sugarhouse, said every year he produces 40 to 50 gallons of syrup and sells between 20 and 25 gallons of it. He gives away the rest to close friends, family, and home construction clients of Von Salmi and Associates Inc. "I'm getting older, so the usual way of collecting sap that drips from the tap into a bucket wasn't going to be easy for me," he said. "I have about 200 taps and about 8 acres of sugarbush. I don't want to have to retire from it." In the past few years. Salmi said he has noticed the milder winters have pressured him and other local producers to shift their traditional maple syrup methods so they can make syrup every season. Will I be able to get my syrup fix this year? Although Sugarhouse enthusiasts can still get their favorite local maple syrup, both large and small sugar operations must prepare for many environmental factors every year. As it gets colder, trees push all their sap, sugar and nutrients to the branches and lose their leaves. When temperatures get warmer, the sap starts to flow back into the roots so the tree can start its budding process. Sugarhouses tap trees right before the sap flows to the roots, so when it does flow, they can collect some before the tree buds and sap stops flowing. This past winter's lack of snow and below-freezing temperatures have caused producers to shift their tapping and sap-yielding timelines. In the past, sugarhouse producers would start tapping their trees in early March, and the sap would flow from six to seven weeks until mid- to late April. Von Salmi, owner of Salmi's Sugarhouse in Westminster, said proper syrup has to be at least 66.8% sugar with 1.8 sugar density. A maple syrup hydrometer is the tool that producers use to measure the density. Now, producers are tapping their trees during the late winter to keep up with the mild temperatures; some tap trees as early as mid-January, with a shorter sap collection of three to four weeks. Salmi said producers are tapping earlier because they are trying to get sap out before the trees bud and dry out. "You want to get sap out before the tree buds because it gives the maple syrup a budding taste instead of that sweetness," he said. "We noticed maple trees budding sooner because of the warmer winters." This past week of mid-40s and low-50s temperatures is the first sign that the sugar season is coming to an end. Soon trees will start to bud and sap will dry out. More: Farmers' Almanac: How close was the Greater Gardner winter forecast? What about spring? Shift from sugar maple to red maple In the past 20 to 30 years, maple syrup producers and environmental researchers have noticed a decline in sugar maples in southern New England. The sugar maple used to be the most common maple syrup tree. Salmi said research assumes the sugar maple population decline is because of an increase of pollutants in the atmosphere and warmer temperatures. Sugar maples need a cold and moist environment to grow and produce sap to make maple syrup. But as the sugar maple population declines, the red maple population increases. Salmi said red maple trees are more tolerant of warmer climates, so producers and researchers are seeing more of them. "Red maples appear to be the future of sugarhouses," he said. "The red maple sap is not any different than the sugar maple. The quality and taste are the same." What are sugarhouses doing to keep the practice alive? Milder winters does not mean poor-quality maple syrup; it means less time to collect as much maple sap as possible. Like many small sugarhouse operations, Salmi has relied on technological advancements to keep the tradition of maple syrup alive. For example, Salmi said he uses a vacuum system to draw out sap quicker before the tree dries out. Also, several New England and Canadian universities, like the University of Vermont, are conducting ongoing research and studies to keep producers informed on the effects of the warming climate on sap. He said staying informed and aware of one's micro-environment is critical to keeping production going seasonally, especially with the unpredictable weather and warmer winters. This article originally appeared on Gardner News: New England maple syrup season ends early due to mild weather Alec Baldwin speaks to Santa Fe County Sheriff's investigators after the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the "Rust" movie set. ( Associated Press) After winning a conviction in the "Rust" movie armorer's trial, New Mexico prosecutors now will turn their focus to actor Alec Baldwin, hoping to prove he is criminally liable for the accidental death of the film's cinematographer in October 2021. In fact, Special Prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey didn't wait for the 12-person jury in Santa Fe, N.M., to find weapons handler Hannah Gutierrez guilty of involuntary manslaughter before introducing evidence that could be damaging to Baldwin. During closing arguments Wednesday, Morrissey ripped into Baldwin and his gun use on the "Rust" set, particularly when he pointed his prop gun toward director of photography Halyna Hutchins, who was standing mere feet away, while he rehearsed a scene in a rustic church. Hutchins was shot, and died that afternoon. "Alec Baldwin's conduct and his lack of gun safety inside that church on that day is something that he's going to have to answer for," Morrissey vowed to the jury in Gutierrez's case. But legal experts gave mixed opinions over whether Gutierrez's conviction will boost prosecutors' chances of winning a guilty verdict against Baldwin in the "Rust" shooting. The actor-producer was charged in January with involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins' death, hours after she was shot on the remote movie location just south of Santa Fe. If convicted, he faces up to 18 months in prison. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty; his trial is set for July. His attorneys, through a spokesperson, declined to comment Thursday. Read more: Full coverage: The fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the Rust set Legal experts said they've been impressed by the skill and swagger of New Mexico prosecutors, two experienced attorneys from Albuquerque who inherited the case nearly a year ago. A previous set of prosecutors, including the Santa Fe County district attorney, was forced to step down last year from the Gutierrez and Baldwin cases after a series of missteps. Morrissey, in particular, has shown a willingness to take on Baldwin's prosecution. She and her legal partner, Jason J. Lewis, successfully outmaneuvered Gutierrez's defense attorneys, who tried to shift the blame for the tragedy to the film's production managers and producers, including Baldwin. On Wednesday, the 12-person jury deliberated only about two hours before returning the guilty verdict against Gutierrez. "Baldwin's legal team must view this result with trepidation," former federal prosecutor John Fishwick said Thursday. "This conviction is big momentum for the prosecution." Read more: 'Rust' shooting: Hannah Gutierrez found guilty of involuntary manslaughter However, other veteran lawyers pointed to several complications in the case that could make a Baldwin conviction harder to obtain. For example, Baldwin was handed the prop gun that day and told that it was "cold," meaning there was no ammunition inside. In reality, the chamber of the revolver contained six rounds five so-called dummy bullets and an actual lead bullet that killed Hutchins. Baldwin has argued, with support from Hollywood's performers' union SAG-AFTRA, that it wasn't his job to be the gun safety officer on set. He said he was relying on other professionals to do their jobs to ensure a safe production. But that argument might not hold much weight in a court of law. "His defense can't be, 'I'm only an actor,' a special argument that's unique to him," University of New Mexico law professor Joshua Kastenberg said. "The question then becomes, why are actors different than ordinary citizens? Well, they're not." Baldwin's status as a world-famous movie star undoubtedly raises the stakes and scrutiny of his prosecution. Read more: Alec Baldwin has long lived at the center of a storm. Now comes a hurricane Los Angeles-based trial attorney Dave Ring said Baldwin's celebrity status could overtake the case. "The prosecution is going to have a tough, uphill climb to convict Alec Baldwin in the next trial," Ring said. "It's one thing to convict a 26-year-old young lady who no one has ever heard of before, and one who has committed some very reckless acts. But it is quite another thing to convict one of the most popular celebrities in America." Read more: FBI analyst describes damage to Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' gun in armorer criminal trial At Baldwin's trial, the prosecutors will have to prove that the star acted recklessly. Baldwin's conduct on the "Rust" set loomed large during Gutierrez's 10-day trial. Prosecutors played video clips from behind-the-scenes footage captured during the "Rust" filming. In one scene, Baldwin fired his long-barreled Colt .45 as he darted up a chaparral-covered hill. He fired toward the camera and someone yelled, "Cut." Baldwin then fired off another round. Witnesses testified during Gutierrez's trial that the cross-draw maneuver that Baldwin was rehearsing while sitting in a pew in the wooden church which is when the gun went off was not in the script. Gutierrez told sheriff's investigators that she wasn't in the church during the rehearsal because she was unaware that Baldwin would be manipulating the gun. Joel Souza, the director who was injured in the shooting, testified that the plan was for Baldwin to simply start the movement of slowly pulling his pistol from his leather shoulder holster not for Baldwin to point it at the camera. Read more: 'Rust' director Joel Souza describes being injured in Alec Baldwin shooting: 'Nothing made sense' Another key issue will be whether Baldwin actually pulled the trigger; he has consistently maintained that he did not. Prosecutors must contend with questions about the state of his prop gun, which was damaged during testing at the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Va., in 2022 when it was struck by a rawhide mallet, according to testimony from FBI forensic examiner Bryce Ziegler. Baldwin's attorneys have pointed to the gun's fracturing to suggest that the gun was defective when Baldwin was using it in the church. "The gun itself is going to take center stage in Alec Baldwin's case," Ring said. "The defense is going to muddy the waters on whether that gun was somehow defective and maybe fired on its own or fired with a slight depress of the trigger." During an ABC News special two months after the tragedy, Baldwin told anchor George Stephanopoulos: The trigger wasnt pulled. I didnt pull the trigger. ... I would never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger at them. But Morrissey, the prosecutor, appears to be skeptical of Baldwin's statements about the trigger and whether that absolves him of guilt. "Did Mr. Baldwin also contribute [to Hutchins' death] when he pointed the gun at people and pulled the hammer back and regardless of what he said to George Stephanopoulos pulled the trigger?" Morrissey asked the jury. "Yes, he is." Hannah Gutierrez-Reed looks over at her mother as she is taken into custody after the guilty verdict in her trial at district court on March 6, 2024, in Santa Fe, N.M. (Luis Sanchez Saturno / Pool) There will likely be another nuance, said UNM law professor Kastenberg. The prosecutors will have to convince the jury that two people Baldwin and the already convicted Gutierrez are responsible for the same crime. "It makes it harder for the prosecution to deal with the 'shared guilt' aspect of this criminal negligence case," Kastenberg said, noting that since Gutierrez was already convicted of involuntary manslaughter, a felony, in Hutchins' death, jurors might conclude that she was most responsible. Gutierrezs conviction was the second for New Mexico prosecutors. "Rust" assistant director David Halls pleaded no contest to one count of negligent use of a deadly weapon for his role in Hutchins' death, a misdemeanor. Halls testified that he did not adequately check Baldwins gun. Baldwin, Gutierrez and others have said that Halls handed Baldwin the loaded prop pistol that day. But during Gutierrezs trial, Halls denied the accusation, saying it was Gutierrez who provided the revolver to the actor. Read more: Alec Baldwin charged again with involuntary manslaughter in 'Rust' shooting And there's the remaining possibility that Baldwin's case won't go to trial at all. Baldwin's attorneys could strike a plea deal, saving him from enduring the embarrassment of a public airing of accusations and evidence. "That would allow Baldwin to avoid a very high-profile, public messy trial," Ring said. "It would allow the prosecution to save face and get another criminal conviction on the case and avoid a case that they may not win at trial." Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Aliesha Verma walks with the dog, Rocco Junior, that is at the centre of her legal battle with the estate of her late boyfriend. She maintains Rocco was a gift and is needed as a support animal, but an Ontario judge ruled last month the dog belongs to his estate. (Mike Smee/CBC - image credit) A legal tussle over a dog has cost both sides thousands in legal fees and plenty of heartache while highlighting how the law treats pets in estate battles. A Toronto-area court late last month ordered Aliesha Verma to turn over Rocco Junior, an American bull terrier, to her deceased partner's sister by March 15. But this week Verma asked for a stay on that order while she appeals the decision. "He's my family, he's my friend, he's my child," Verma told CBC Toronto. She says the dog was a gift and that she relies on it for emotional and mental support. Verma and Leonard Carvalho had been together for about six years when he died suddenly in November 2022, at age 60. He'd purchased the dog during a trip to Florida with Verma that February and, she claims in court documents, gave it to her. But Leonard didn't mention Verma in his will. Instead, he left everything to his two sisters, Arlete and Helga Carvalho, and a former spouse, court documents show. Zoom Even so, Verma maintains the dog is hers. She also claims that she should be entitled to the dog since she was Leonard's common-law spouse when he died. His sisters argue that the dog was never gifted to Verma, and that, as Carvalho's property at the time of his death, it should be considered part of his estate, of which Arlete is the executor. The case is focusing new attention on how the law views pets. In most provinces, including Ontario, animals are viewed as property. But earlier this year, British Columbia became the first province to redefine how pets are viewed by the courts, amending its Family Law Act so that they are now considered unique entities in separation and divorce cases. Instead of being treated as property, like a table or chair, courts there now decide an animal's ownership based on a person's ability and willingness to care for it, on any relationship between the pet and a child, and risks of animal cruelty. Mike Smee/CBC Victoria Shroff, a Vancouver lawyer who specializes in the law as it relates to animals, says she believes B.C. is setting an example for other jurisdictions. "It wouldn't surprise me at all if we got copycat legislation in other provinces," she said. "Animals are no longer being treated as toasters." The day after Leonard died, Verma went to his Mississauga, Ont., house and brought Rocco home with her, court documents show. But his sisters allege Verma stole the dog and launched a civil case that has so far cost over $200,000, according to court documents. They also claimed their brother had only a "transactional relationship" with Verma, after having met on a "sugar daddy" website. WATCH | The fight over Rocco: 'No evidence' In her Feb. 26 ruling, Ontario Superior Court Justice Laura Stewart said there was "no evidence" the couple were common-law spouses nor that the dog had been left to Verma. But Stewart also said the evidence does not back the sisters' claim that the couple were in a transactional relationship. She also found no proof that Rocco is "a legitimate support animal" and ruled the dog is the property of the estate. She gave Verma until March 15 to return Rocco Junior. The sisters wouldn't speak with CBC Toronto, but said in a statement issued by their lawyer, Tanya Pagliaroli, that they have been "worried sick about their beloved pet" and are "grateful the truth finally prevailed." Pagliaroli praised the decision. "They loved the dog and wanted him back," she said of her clients. Verma has set up a crowdfunding campaign to help cover her legal costs. It's so far gathered just over $28,000 in pledges. She's also launched a Change.org petition, hoping to change Ontario law to ensure that pets are treated with special consideration, not as property, in estate cases. So far that petition has gathered about 28,000 names. She also collected about 200 signatures on a separate, hand-written petition, which she delivered to the office of MPP Christine Hogarth (EtobicokeLakeshore) last fall. Hogarth's office said in a statement she's looking into the issue. On Tuesday, Verma's lawyer, Miranda Desa, filed an appeal with the Ontario Court of Appeal, and applied for a stay of the handover order. "It's our position that [Verma] would suffer irreparable harm if she were required to hand Rocco Junior over while the lawsuit is continuing to be fought," Desa said. One thing both sides agree on? Desa and Pagliaroli say the case highlights the need for people to take into account their pets when writing wills, to avoid misunderstandings. "The law needs to evolve as society's interests change," Desa said. "People don't think of their pets as a table or a chair." Aliesha Verma WASHINGTON The Department of Justice on Friday told Republicans that it would hand over documents from special counsel Robert Hurs report on President Joe Bidens handling of classified material. But the department wont give Republicans the transcript or audio of Hurs interview with Biden, which was what Republicans wanted most after Hur said in his report that Biden came off as an elderly man with a poor memory. Given voter concerns about Bidens age, Hurs characterization was incredibly damaging for the 81-year-old president and valuable to Republicans and former President Donald Trump in his quest to regain the White House. In letters to House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House oversight committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), the DOJ said it was holding back documents because they require review for classification and protection of national defense information. We also have substantial confidentiality interests regarding sensitive law enforcement and intelligence information, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte wrote in the letters. Jordan spokesperson Russell Dye suggested that there was no national security reason to withhold documents. Our staff has all necessary clearances to review the contents of the Presidents interview, which dealt with materials found in unsecured areas like garages, closets and commercial office space, Dye said in a statement. We are evaluating next steps. Next steps for Republicans could include asking a court to enforce the subpoena they used to request the material, but the fact that the Justice Department has cooperated somewhat would likely weaken the case. Uriarte asked the House committees to join us in seeking to avoid conflict when there is, in fact, cooperation. In his report, Hur explained that the DOJ wouldnt charge Biden for breaking the law over keeping classified material from his days as vice president, citing a host of mitigating factors, including that Biden would seem to a jury like a sympathetic, forgetful old man. Republicans demanded the transcript and other documents from Hur as part of their impeachment inquiry into Biden, saying in a February letter to the department that there is concern that President Biden may have retained sensitive documents related to specific countries involving his familys foreign business dealings. Specifically, lawmakers requested two documents related to a December 2015 phone call between Biden, who was vice president at the time, and the prime minister of Ukraine. Hurs report said that one document contains Bidens talking points for the call, while the other is a transcript and that the material probably isnt sensitive national defense information. The two exchanged pleasantries and the Prime Minister heaped praise upon Mr. Biden for his December 9, 2015 speech to Ukraines parliament, the report said. They did not engage in a substantive policy discussion. Uriarte said that the DOJ would let lawmakers look at the documents in a secure room. Despite contrary testimony from multiple State Department employees involved in Ukraine policy, Republicans have claimed that Biden urged Ukraine to fire a prosecutor because his son Hunter Biden was making millions of dollars from a Ukrainian gas company. Their best piece of corroborating evidence had been an FBI informants claim that the companys founder bribed Joe Biden, but that claim evaporated last month when the Justice Department said the informant had lied. The impeachment inquiry can fight on, however, in its quest for the Hur transcript, even if Republicans wind up settling for criminal referrals or legislation rather than articles of impeachment. The mother of the man shot by Miami police outside a home near Liberty City Thursday said she called 911 to keep her son safe because he was high on drugs. Denise Armstrong told NBC 6 South Florida she was trying to protect her son Donald Armstrong when she called the cops Thursday afternoon. Instead, at least one officer shot at him about a dozen times after he would not comply with their commands, according to police and witness cellphone videos. Dont kill my child, Armstrong said she told officers before the near-fatal encounter. Miami crime scene investigators gather evidence after police shot a man near Northwest Seventh Court and 57th Street in Miami, Florida on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Around 2 p.m., police said they got a 911 call about a man possibly high on narcotics causing a disturbance at 5703 NW Seventh Court in the Model City neighborhood of Miami, near Liberty City. When officers arrived, police said they were contending with a man who was armed with a sharp object, and actively refusing to comply with officers commands. READ MORE: Video shows Miami police shooting man repeatedly. Hes in critical condition, police say One of the witness cellphone videos, obtained by the Miami Herald, shows officers confronting a man at gunpoint standing on the front porch of a house. He is holding either a knife or a screwdriver. Shoot! Shoot in the heart, he yells at officers as his mother tries to speak with him, according to the video footage. During the tense moments, officers are heard ordering people to move away from him. One officer is seen grabbing a man by the arm and directing him away from the house. Miami police shot a man near Northwest Seventh Court and 57th Street in Miami, Florida on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Armstrong then lifts his white shirt and an officer shoots him with a stun gun, but he rips the probes from his body. When an officer hits him with a stun gun for a second time, he falls forward, while waving his left arm with the object in his hand. At that point, at least one officer opened fire, shooting at him about a dozen times, including after he hit the ground, according to the video. The shooting took place around 2:45 p.m., about 45 minutes after the 911 call was made. READ MORE: What happens to police after a shooting? Two Miami-area officers under investigation They shot him dead, a witness is heard saying in the video. Officers provided first aid, putting pressure on Armstrongs chest and abdomen, before Miami Fire Rescue paramedics took him in critical condition to Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to police and a neighbor who asked the Herald not to be identified. Armstrongs condition remained critical as of Friday morning, Officer Kiara Delva told the Herald. Miami police commander Freddie Cruz II speaks with reporters after at least one officer shot a man near Northwest Seventh Court and 57th Street in Miami, Florida on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Neighbor witnesses police shooting A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, told the Herald Friday she was coming from her boyfriends home when she saw a man yelling nonsense and holding a large screwdriver about 12 inches long near Northwest Seventh Court and 56th Street. A female officer told her and others to get inside their apartments, saying the police were trying to get the man help, according to the neighbor. She said officers followed the man to the house. Once on the front porch, the man kissed a woman, believed to be his mother, the neighbor said. He was kissing his mom to prove he was not aggressive, the neighbor added. Shortly thereafter, the police deployed stun guns and a female officer appeared to shoot at the man, striking him several times, as the neighbor recorded the incident with her cell phone, the footage shows. The neighbor said the police could have handled things differently, like giving the mans mother more time to calm him down. Your job is to defend people, not to kill them, the neighbor said. Miami police shot a man near Northwest Seventh Court and 57th Street in Miami, Florida on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Nobody was home the next day. About six days prior, the neighbor said she was sitting on her stoop when the same man tried to kiss her forcefully. I got scared, pushed him and went back inside, she said. Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales acknowledged in a statement Friday that the officers could have done more to deescalate the situation. I pledge to ensure that our department does better in addressing calls involving mental and behavioral issues, Morales said in the statement. Police have not confirmed the mans first name or how many times he was shot. Nor has the department released the names of the officer or officers who opened fire nor the audio of the 911 call, citing ongoing investigations. Miami Police Departments Internal Affairs Division and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating. It could take months or a year before the agencies conclude their probes. This embedded content is not available in your region. Miami Herald staff writers Devoun Cetoute, David Goodhue and Grethel Aguila contributed to this report. A restored Bluebird ran on Loch Fad on the Isle of Bute in August 2018 Donald Campbell's restored Bluebird will finally return to the Lake District on Saturday, nearly 60 years after the crash that claimed the record-breaker's life. It follows a painful saga that erupted into anger and bitterness. The phone call, Gina Campbell recollects, came "out of the blue". Introducing himself as an amateur diver, Bill Smith outlined his ambition to locate Bluebird's crumpled wreckage on the dark, unforgiving bed of Coniston Water in England's North West. If successful, he continued, would Miss Campbell "like a piece of it"? "How dare you," she says she replied. "It belongs to my family. It's my father's grave. You can't go taking pieces off it." That conversation in 1996 came almost three decades after the jet-engined craft had somersaulted violently, its pilot paying with his life attempting to push his water-speed world record past 300mph (480km/h). Having previously accepted the lake would be her dad's resting place, the phone call set in motion a chain of events that saw Bluebird - and Mr Campbell's remains - raised from the depths in 2001, followed by an extensive rebuild and a once-unimaginable return to running for the hydroplane. Gina Campbell returns to Coniston each year to pay tribute to her father, Donald, who died in January 1967 But the call's combative nature foreshadowed a hostility that included legal proceedings as Coniston's Ruskin Museum - gifted the wreckage by the Campbell Family Heritage Trust in 2006 - sought to enforce the craft's return from Mr Smith's North Shields workshop. Mr Smith, an engineer by trade and enlisted to lead the reconstruction, vowed to "fight to the death", but last month came news he had relinquished his claim of part-ownership. The craft in which Donald Campbell set a total of seven water-speed world records will now become the star attraction at the Ruskin, a stone's throw from where its skipper is buried. While praising the rebuild by Mr Smith's team of Bluebird Project (BBP) volunteers as "nothing short of a miracle", Miss Campbell describes the years-long row as "a tragedy". She also outlines a catalogue of "derogatory" remarks about her family and Ruskin figures. "Bill could've ridden into Coniston astride Bluebird like Julius Caesar coming into Rome, but somehow it all fell apart. "He has held her up for ransom to the [museum] trustees by refusing to give her back. I will never forgive him for that. I'd like to think he realised the right thing to do was hand her over to her legal owners, but it's more likely he knew he didn't have a case that would stand up in court." Donald Campbell set seven water-speed world records, including four on Coniston Water The relationship between Miss Campbell and Mr Smith faltered in 2013, with acrimonious communications about displaying Bluebird the following year - the 50th anniversary of Donald Campbell breaking both the water and land speed records. "I didn't really see or speak to Bill much after that until we both appeared on The One Show [television programme] in 2018 when he announced Bluebird was going to run at the Isle of Bute," Miss Campbell says from her Southport home. Mr Smith agrees 2013 is "where the trouble started", but disputes being at fault. He alleges Miss Campbell and her cousin Donald Wales tried to void the family trust's deed of gift to the Ruskin and says the museum "broke its promises" over recognising the BBP as part-owners. Miss Campbell rejects the suggestion and the museum asserts discussions over ownership did not progress past a draft stage. Donald Campbell's widow, Tonia (right), looked on as Bluebird was brought ashore in 2001 Bluebird's rebirth on Loch Fad in August 2018 saw tensions ease as Miss Campbell backed its restorer's call for it to be maintained as a working craft. She describes being surprised in March the following year when she was asked by the museum's trustees to mediate with Mr Smith, who harboured ambitions to run the hydroplane across the globe. No breakthrough was forthcoming despite an offer for the BBP to be able to take Bluebird out of the museum for up to 90 days each year. "They offered him the most amazing deal," Miss Campbell says. "But he would not negotiate on those terms. I will never understand why he didn't grasp that opportunity." Mr Smith points to a proposed clause which stated BBP access would be "subject to the approval of the steering committee" set to comprise six members; two each representing the museum, the Campbells and the BBP. That arrangement, he contends, would mean "they easily had power of veto". Bluebird has resided in Bill Smith's workshop for 23 years - longer than it was in Donald Campbell's possession By his own account, Mr Smith had "never been bothered about the Campbell legend". His fascination had "always been about the engineering, not the man". Searching for Bluebird's wreckage was, he said in 2018, an opportunity to get together with "diving buddies... a bunch of lads having a jolly". His initial plan had been to "nick the tail". "It's true... I fully intended to hack it off and add it to my trophies, but I couldn't find the wreck immediately and in the four years it took I fell in love with [Bluebird] K7." Exactly when his position regarding ownership first changed remains unclear despite requests for clarification. In an online post in November 2007, he said there was "no way I want to own a sponson nor do I seek to own any part of K7". However, in late 2018 he explained the wreckage "was only half the boat", adding: "We bought all kinds of bits and pieces and our volunteers made those materials into new components. "That is all our creation and that is all our private tangible property. We own it because we bloody well created it." It was a position he reiterated many times, although today he says the plan was "always" to donate that work to the museum with the "quid pro quo we would operate and maintain the boat". Bill Smith (left) vowed to "fight to the death" over Bluebird's ownership but he has relinquished his claim Mr Smith had scoffed at the Ruskin's legal challenge and public fundraising appeal, but when the museum announced Bluebird's return had been agreed the BBP took to X (formerly Twitter) to say it had "no counter" to "spite, greed and vindictiveness". Despite further, similar remarks, Mr Smith is still calling for his team to be awarded a contract to maintain and run it, claiming the museum should view the ownership row as "water under the bridge". "If Gina is criticising it's only a reflection of her ingratitude," he says. "Call me what you want, it doesn't matter. It's all about the Campbell family pulling the strings and behind the scenes it's ugly. "K7 will always be our work, no matter who says they own it or spends the next few years feasting from it." The museum has yet to comment publicly on Mr Smith's continuing involvement, but the notion is rejected by Miss Campbell. "When you have been so rude and plain nasty to people, why would you think they'd want to work with you? You've got to be living in cloud cuckoo land." Donald Campbell's mascot, Mr Whoppit, floated to the surface following Bluebird's crash in 1967 This weekend the craft will make its latest journey - secured on a flat-bed lorry - to become the centrepiece of the Ruskin's Bluebird wing. A condition check will determine whether it is possible to fire it up on the lake again, possibly in 2026, and Miss Campbell wonders whether there could be visits to the USA and Australia to mark her father's record attempts there. The handover, she believes, heralds a new chapter. "Several people at Coniston were critical of the decision I'd made [to raise it] because they saw it as their piece of history and worried I was going to take it away from them. "I vowed to them this boat will come back. It's the greatest relief I'm going to be able to fulfil that promise with all my heart. "The people of Coniston will have Bluebird, as they deserve, and my dad's remains forever and a day." Follow BBC Cumbria on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. SINGAPORE, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's port operator PSA on Friday launched the expansion of its Jurong Island Terminal to provide resilient and efficient supply chain for energy and chemical enterprises on the island. The expansion will be completed by 2025, enabling the terminal to handle 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers annually, according to a PSA statement. Jurong Island hosts over 100 companies carrying out refining, olefins production, and chemical manufacturing. Barging raw materials and finished products can reduce 30 percent of carbon emissions compared to truck carriage, PSA added. The terminal handled a record-breaking 149,000 TEUs of containers last year, up 13 percent from 2022. The expansion works will support Jurong Island's transformation into a sustainable energy and chemicals hub in line with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, PSA noted. WASHINGTON Former President Donald Trump raised concerns over efforts to ban the social media app TikTok this week, appearing to walk back the position he held in 2020, when he threatened to ban the app himself. If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business, the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee wrote on his social media platform on Thursday, referring to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Trump said he didnt want Facebook to d[o] better, calling the company a true Enemy of the People. The Republican-controlled House is set to vote on a bill next week that would ban the video platform, now used by over 100 million Americans, if its Chinese parent company ByteDance fails to divest its ownership within six months or so. The legislation was approved by a rare 50-0 vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee this week, despite a last-minute lobbying effort by TikTok that urged users to call lawmakers offices in protest. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle worry TikTok poses a threat to U.S. national security because of its ties to Beijing. They also have concerns with its data privacy given its popularity with young users, many of whom are minors. If you value your personal freedom and privacy online, if you care about Americas national security at home, and, yes, even if you want TikTok to stick around in the United States this bill offers the only real step towards each of these goals, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), the chair of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and one of the authors of the legislation, said this week. Its not clear why Trump appeared to reconsider his position on banning TikTok. Some commentators noted he recently hosted GOP megadonor Jeff Yass, who is a billionaire investor in ByteDance, at his Mar-a-Lago club and sought his support in the presidential race. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), an outspoken China critic and supporter of Trump, said he disagreed with the former presidents comments about TikTok. Im not a fan of Facebook, but TikTok is a qualitatively different deal. Its a backdoor for the Communist Chinese party, Hawley said Friday. Meanwhile, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), another populist Trump ally in the Senate, said Congress should also focus on regulating tech media companies broadly as opposed to carving out just one of them. I think we ought to do something about TikTok, but I think we also ought to do something about Google, Vance added. President Joe Biden told reporters on Friday that he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk, but it first must clear both chambers of Congress. In the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said similar legislation should be looked at, though he didnt offer a commitment to bring it to the floor during an ABC News interview last month. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) also criticized a potential ban on TikTok, citing concerns with free speech. If Congress bans TikTok, they will be acting just like the Chinese communists who have also banned TikTok, Paul wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Why not just defend the first amendment? Related... A jury awarded E Jean Carroll, seen here leaving federal court in Manhattan on 26 January 2024, $83.3m in the defamation trial. A jury awarded E Jean Carroll, seen here leaving federal court in Manhattan on 26 January 2024, $83.3m in the defamation trial. Photograph: Andrea Renault/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock Donald Trump has secured a nearly $92m bond to support the New York writer E Jean Carrolls defamation verdict against him while he appeals the civil case, his lawyers said in court papers on Friday. The court filing came one day after the Manhattan federal court judge Lewis Kaplan denied the former US presidents request to delay enforcement of the $83.3m verdict jurors awarded to Carroll on 26 January. Trumps deadline for paying cash or posting a bond while he appeals is 11 March. Related: Donald Trump seeks new trial in E Jean Carroll defamation case Trumps attorney Alina Habba is asking Kaplan to approve the bond, which is more than the verdict demanded, to cover interest. If Kaplan does so, Trump will not have to pay the money to Carroll yet, pending appeal. The securing of this bond, however, does little to alleviate Trumps significant financial woes, as the Manhattan supreme court justice Arthur Engoron on 16 February ordered Trump to pay $355m in New York attorney general Letitia Jamess separate civil fraud suit against him. Jamess office has said that, with interest, Trump owes some $453m. Fridays development came several weeks before Trump will face his first criminal trial in the litany of indictments against him. On 25 March, jury selection is expected to begin in Manhattan state prosecutors hush-money criminal case involving the adult film star Stormy Daniels and the Playboy model Karen McDougal. Meanwhile, Carroll won $18.3m in compensatory damages and $65m in punitive retribution in her second defamation trial against Trump. The jurys decision came less than one year after a Manhattan federal court jury awarded $5m to Carroll in her sexual abuse and defamation case against him. In a June 2019 New York magazine article, which excerpted Carrolls then forthcoming book, What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal, she wrote that Trump had raped her in the changing room of a luxury Manhattan department store. Carroll said that the way Trump denied her claim for example, claiming that she was a lying political operative ruined her reputation and career. She filed suit over these denials in 2019, as the states civil statute of limitations at the time barred her from suing Trump over the sexual assault. A new law in 2022, the Adult Survivors Act, granted adult accusers a one-year window to file suit over incidents outside the civil statute of limitations. Carroll sued Trump again, this time over the incident and defamatory comments Trump made after he was no longer president. Asked for comment on the securing of this bond, Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director, said in a statement: A bond has been filed in the full amount of the baseless judgment in the Democrat-funded Carroll witch-hunt, which is being appealed and litigated. All of the Crooked Joe Biden-directed hoaxes will be crushed and President Trump will Make America great again. Additional NCH supporters have stepped forward with a $5 million gift for the new $200 million heart center next to the Baker Hospital near downtown Naples. The gift is from The Ahuja Foundation and trustees Monte and Usha Ahuja. The heart center gained zoning and other necessary approvals from the city of Naples in early February after nearly three years of debate among nearby residents and application reviews from the city. The project site is 350 Seventh St. N. To date $135 million has been raised toward the $200 million construction cost. The Telford Education center on the south side of the Baker hospital will be demolished to make way for the five-story complex with 187,000 square feet of building space. NCH says the heart center will enable the system to stay competitive in the changing field of heart and stroke care, will keep patients closer to home and help with recruiting top-notch physicians. The couple behind The Ahuja Foundation are healthcare philanthropists who have supported similar projects in Ohio and understand the importance of quality care in Naples where they live. Monte and Usha Ahuju, trustees of The Ahuja Foundation We look forward to continuing to engage with NCH as the project progresses and witnessing the positive impact this facility will have on healthcare in Naples, Monte Ahuja said in a news release. There have been other major gifts The $5 million gift joins the ranks of half a dozen other significant donations, including some of up to $20 million. The heart center is officially named the R.M. Schulze Family Cardiovascular and Stroke Critical Care Center in recognition of $20 million donated by the philanthropic organization behind Best Buy founder Dick Schulze. Former U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney increased a donation from the Rooney Family Foundation earlier this year to $20 million which originally was $8 million. Diana and Don Wingard, well-known philanthropists in Naples, gave $20 million for the stroke center that will be named after them. Dick Schulze speaks to the crowd at NCH Baker Downtown Hospital in Naples on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Schulze and his foundation donated $20 million for the new heart center at the hospital. In addition, NCH received $15 million from the Bill and Julia Van Domelen Foundation; $10 million from Audrey Morean Petersen; $5 million from Tom Golisano; and $5 million from Vincent and Patricia Foglia. The Schulze center will be an incredible addition to the NCH system and to Naples, and The Ahuju Foundation is grateful to be part of this transformational project that will provide crucial heart and stroke care to our community, Ahuja said. Ahuja is the founder of Transtar Industries, a leading U.S. distributor of automotive transmission replacements parts in the aftermarket. Usha Ahuja received her Ph.D in mathematics from Ohio State University and has taught at the University of Maryland and elsewhere. Scott Lutgert, chairman of the NCH board of trustees, thanked The Ahuja Foundation for the gift and the couples support. NCH has benefitted tremendously from the Ahujas business expertise, and they have been highly valued and thoughtful advisers on this initiative, Lutgert said. Paul Hiltz, NCH Healthcare CEO and president, speaks during an event announcing a donation from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation for a new heart center at NCH Baker Downtown Hospital in Naples on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. NCH president and chief executive officer, Paul Hiltz, said: Monte and Usha Ahuja are incredible philanthropists in the Cleveland area and elsewhere, which makes their commitment to Naples and their support of the R.M. Schulze Family Cardiovascular and Stroke Critical Care Center exceedingly meaningful. Whats next for the project The Naples City Council voted Feb. 7 to approve rezoning the site from medical to public services so the heart center can be 87 feet tall, which is in excess of the 42-foot height limit for commercial buildings. NCHs engineers are beginning work on the power grid and stormwater infrastructure that will take place in the northwest corner of the surface parking lot. At the same time, the architectural and design team will finalize the interior floor plans. In early fall, the new parking garage near Sixth Street North and improvements to the surface parking lot should be completed, according to Hiltz. The Telford building will be vacated during this phase and is scheduled for demolition in the first quarter of 2025. Groundbreaking for the new heart center will follow. Construction of the new building is expected to take 12 months with the first patients cared for in spring 2026. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: NCH support for heart project still strong; $5 million gift added to list Dozens of acceptance letters to the prestigious Sumner Academy of Arts & Science in Kansas City, Kansas, were mailed out in error, triggering a broader review of the applications that have been denied and approved for admission, according to the school district. An under-investigation technical problem caused the district to send incorrect letters out to about 40 families, said Edwin Birch, a spokesman for Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. As of Friday, the details of how that happened and how the district would ultimately respond remained unclear. The first order of business, Birch said, was to review what exactly happened and figure out which students are eligible for admission to Sumner and which ones are not. That review was underway to determine accuracy before the district would begin reaching out to those families affected and advise on the process moving forward. Its an issue on our end, and we apologize, Birch said, adding: We apologize for the stress and the angst that this has caused the parents who were impacted by this technical glitch. We will be contacting the families to make it right. The district expects to start calling families next week, as KCKPS students are off for spring break. We have to go back and review to make sure we do the appropriate justice for all involved. And if thats, You didnt make it, and Im sorry, this shouldnt have happened, or, Hey, you made it and you shouldnt have received a denial letter. So, weve got a lot of work to do. And we have to do it fast, Birch said. Birch said a thorough review of how the error occurred would also be important toward ensuring the same mistake does not happen again. This shouldnt have occurred, and we are committed to fixing it. And we apologize. And I want to thank the parents for expressing their feelings and thoughts on the situation. We respect and appreciate it, and we understand, Birch said. Sumner first opened its doors in 1905 as a racially segregated school for African American students and quickly gained a reputation for high academic success. Since 1978 it has operated as a magnet school within KCKPS with high academic standards for enrollment. It has been ranked as the top public high school in the state for several consecutive years. To be considered, students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0, with no failing classes in the preceding three semesters in English, reading, math, science or social studies. Also judged are performance on standardized tests for reading and math, and behavioral and attendance records. About 1,100 of the districts 23,000 students are enrolled at Sumner, according to state data. The Stars Sarah Ritter contributed to this report. New Delhi Dozens of men in India were duped into joining Russia's war against Ukraine, according to India's government. At least two men who were lured into the scheme have died, their families told media outlets. The Indian government said Friday said it has taken up the matter with the Russian government and asked for the Indian nationals caught up in the scheme to be discharged. India's External Affairs Ministry said its federal investigation agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation, busted a "major human trafficking network" on Thursday in connection with the scheme. According to media reports, authorities said around three dozen men were lured into Russian military service on the pretext of jobs as delivery boys and helpers for the Russian army and they were assured that their duties would not be on the front lines. The men were also told that Russia would issue them an official government card that would all but guarantee them permanent residency. Mohammed Asfan, a 30-year-old father of two, was killed on the front lines last month, according to media reports. He had traveled to Russia late last year. Asfan's family said he was told he had to assist the Russian army and wouldn't be deployed to the front lines. Mohammed Imran shows a picture of his brother Mohammed Asfan along the Russian border with Ukraine, at their home in Hyderabad, India, on Feb. 22, 2024. / Credit: Noah Seelam/AFP via Getty Images The Indian Embassy in Moscow confirmed Asfan's death on social media but provided few details about how he died. Officials said they were trying to send his remains back to India. Another Indian national, Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangukiya, 23, was killed in a Ukrainian airstrike while serving as a "security helper" with the Russian army at Donetsk, his family told media outlets. He had traveled to Russia last December. An undated handout photograph shows Hemal Mangukiya. / Credit: Hemal Mangukiya Family/Handout via Reuters The Indian government had urged all Indian nationals to stay away from the conflict. "We once again appeal to Indian nationals to not be swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian Army," India's External Affairs Ministry said in its statement Friday. "This is fraught with danger and risk to life." New York governor deploys National Guard to subways following string of violent attacks Boeing and United Airlines investigate after wheel detaches from plane Sen. Katie Britt delivers Republican rebuttal to State of the Union address TOPEKA (KSNT) USD 501 Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Anderson was on the 27 News morning show to discuss this upcoming spring break, reading across America and a fundraiser for a first grader with cancer. 27 News Morning Anchor David George asked Anderson about Whitson Elementary School and its fundraiser for a first grader with cancer. Whitson Elementary, hats off to them and to our first grader Anderson said. Any time you can support the most vulnerable and celebrate young people and their achievements and their courageous battles they have, its a good thing. USD 501 will be on spring break next week. Anderson said while students arent around, district office staff will be in the office. Anderson said spring break will go through to Monday, March 18, with students back in the classroom on Tuesday; giving teachers time to prepare. Anderson spoke about an upcoming exhibit from the Black Collective that will be around into May at the Topeka & Shawnee County Library. The exhibit talks about education before and after Brown v. Board. If you just want to learn about black history, Anderson said. Just go to this exhibit. Thanks to the Black Collective, the library and all the folks who put that together, Anderson said. And yes, there were Robinson Middle curators under the stewardship of their teacher from Robinson Middle School. Anderson said students were at the capitol advocating with legislators and spoke on arts education. She said it is Theater in our Schools Month and also Fine Arts Month. If youre looking for a great play and you only want to spend $10 or so, Anderson said. Look at any of our high schools and attend one of their plays, they are national award-winning at many of our schools. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. The death of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama has been mourned by fans of the comic book and animated series. But amid the tributes, fans have also been recalling how the series sparked a diplomatic incident between Japan and Mexico almost exactly six years ago. Plans for public screenings in various Mexican cities ran into copyright snarl-ups and the Japanese Embassy was forced to step in. But one event was salvaged after the studio struck a deal with officials. It was 2018, and the first season of the anime series Dragon Ball Super was coming to a close after more than 100 episodes. Various cities across Latin America were organising viewing parties for the last couple of episodes. In Mexico's Ciudad Juarez, in the state of Chihuahua, a group of young people sought the local municipality's support to organised a free, public screening in one of the city's squares. Hundreds of people were expected to attend. But as news of the public events spread, Dragon Ball's studios Toei Animation published a chilling statement: "Toei Animation has not authorised these public showings and does not support or sponsor any of these events, nor do we or any of our titles endorse any institution exhibiting the unauthorised episode." The statement read further: "In an effort to support copyright laws, to protect the work of thousands of persons and many labour sectors, we request that you please enjoy our titles at the official platforms and broadcasters and not support illegal screenings that incite piracy." Then a letter from the Japanese Embassy in Mexico, dated 16 March 2018, to the governor of the state of Coahuila that was widely circulated online echoed the concerns expressed by Toei Animation and requested the cancellation of any illegal screening. Datacard with facts about Dragon Ball, including that the manga series ran from 1984-95, has sold 260m copies and led to seven TV series, 21 anime films and 1 live action film But for Dragon Ball fans in Juarez, there was a happy ending. Mayor Armando Cabada successfully negotiated with the studios to allow the screening of the second-to-last episode of the series. An estimated 15,000 people gathered in the city's Plaza de la Mexicanidad on 17 March 2018 and enjoyed Toriyama's creation. The outpouring of love for the series on that day was also on show on Friday, after Toriyama's studio announced his death at the age of 68. People from Sheffield to Chicago got in contact with the BBC to share what Dragon Ball meant to them growing up. "This anime was absolutely my childhood, and influenced me to get past my struggles and become a better person, and it directly inspired me to improve in life, it's so incredibly sad to hear about his death but, his work will live on forever," said Amin Ibrahim. And he was far from the only one. Northern Ireland-based Alexander Scullion said: "From a young age, I was heavily bullied, I felt very low at times. I started watching Dragon Ball and I was instantly entranced. I fell in love with the art, the story and the action." Beloved in the US, Goku recently appeared at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City Samantha Hauton in Wales shared a similar experience. She was a fan of Dragon Ball Z, one of the anime series that spawned from the manga: "I got through some lonely years in primary and secondary school thanks to Dragon Ball Z." For some readers, Dragon Ball continued to be a part of their adult lives. Joshua Aistrop, from Sheffield, recalls: "Fond memories include watching Dragon Ball Super: Broly in cinemas and actively participating in organising and being a panellist at Saiyacon, the UK's inaugural Dragon Ball convention." The global phenomenon, which made its debut in 1984, is inspired by the 16th Century Chinese novel Journey to the West, about a monk who goes on a pilgrimage to obtain sacred texts. In Dragon Ball, a boy called Son Goku goes on a journey to find seven magical spheres which, when gathered, awake a dragon that grants wishes. But Goku is not the only one seeking the dragon balls, and his many struggles and battles provide an opportunity for him to make friends, enemies, and mature. [Source] Legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama, best known for the Dragon Ball franchise, has died at the age of 68. What happened: Toriyama died from acute subdural hematoma on March 1, the official Dragon Ball website announced on Friday. The condition involves bleeding near the brain after a head injury. His legacy: Toriyama remained actively engaged in numerous projects until his death. Born on April 5, 1955, in Nagoya, he entered the manga industry through a Weekly Shonen Jump competition for aspiring writers. He made his debut in 1978 with Wonder Island. He then created Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball for Weekly Shonen Jump in 1980 and 1984, respectively. "Dragon Ball follows the story of the young protagonist Son Goku as he collects the seven Dragon Balls with the friends he meets along his adventure, including Bulma and Krillin. Dragon Ball Z, the sequel to the 1984 series, became the most popular installment in the franchise. Trending on NextShark: Indian painter gets brain-dead woman's hands in rare bilateral hand transplant The franchise subsequently expanded with Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Kai, and Dragon Ball Super. The manga was also adapted into an anime series by Toei Animation, which began airing on Fuji TV from Feb. 26, 1986, until April 19, 1989. This was followed by Dragon Ball Z, which aired from April 1989 to Jan. 31, 1996. What people are saying: Toriyama's influence has touched many, including fellow manga creators Masashi Kishimoto ("Naruto") and Eiichiro Oda ("One Piece") who expressed their sorrow after the heartbreaking news. I still dont know how to deal with this hole in my heart, wrote Kishimoto, who saw Toriyama as an inspiration. The void left behind is too immense, wrote Oda, who admired Toriyama since his childhood. Not just manga artists, but creators in every industry from our generation are surely influenced by the excitement and inspiration of Dragon Balls serialization. Trending on NextShark: Asian family donates $5 million to Black students in honor of family who helped them China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also expressed condolences, acknowledging Toriyama as a renowned manga artist and recognizing the popularity of his work in China. Meanwhile, fan tributes poured in on social media. One X user noted, If only (or maybe he did) Akira Toriyama knew on how much he TRULY impacted the world and millions upon millions of us within it through his legendary work, would he only then understand on how much this hurts thanking him simply doesnt feel like its enough. Family members reportedly held a private funeral service following his passing. Plans for a public commemorative gathering are yet to be announced. Trending on NextShark: Godzilla Minus One earns historic win at the Oscars Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! The border wall between San Diego and Tijuana, seen here in 2021. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Thirty-three people attempting to cross the US border drowned in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego after the Trump administration nearly doubled the height of the walls along the southern border, a staggering increase from previous years. The number of drownings rose by 3,200% from 2020 to 2023, compared to 2016 to 2019, when just one person drowned, according to a study published this week. By 2019 the Trump administration had elevated the barriers around San Diego from 17ft to 30ft. Related: Trump takes bizarre turn as he ratchets up racist rhetoric against migrants The expansion has had significant impacts and a major human toll in addition to the drowning deaths, a 2022 study found an unprecedented increase in border wall falls and deaths. Donald Trump campaigned on the promise of securing Americas borders (while routinely demonizing immigrants), and work on the border barrier has continued under the Biden administration. Last year, doctors in San Diego saw more than 400 patients who had been seriously injured at the border wall, a significant increase from 2022. Nearly all of the injuries occurred from people falling off the wall onto the US side of the border. The authors of the study published in the Jama journal this week suspected that the increased risks associated with the border barrier may have encouraged people to try to enter the US by water, which resulted in more deaths. They found the significant rise in deaths in San Diego, where the wall stretches across the sand into the water at Imperial Beach, as well as a 30% rise in drowning deaths in canals, and a 133% increase in deaths in all other bodies of water. Drownings along the Rio Grande, where there is largely no wall, remained almost unchanged. The authors, Anna Lussier, a medical student at the University of California at San Diego, and Peter Lindholm, a professor there, began exploring the issue after Lussier noticed a lack of information on drowning deaths of people trying to cross the border. They had been looking at the occupational health of lifeguards and other workers. The lifeguards showed us a presentation on migrant rescues they were performing because of potential human smuggling, Lussier said in a statement from UC San Diego. Their stories werent showing up in the news, and the numbers struck me as odd. Lussier looked for data on the drowning deaths within government datasets, but it was not readily available and missing critical information. She and Lindholm ultimately collected data from the Missing Migrants Project, which included the date and coordinates of drownings as well as the number of people who had died. The authors plan to expand their research to better understand the rise in deaths, but Lindholm said the increase is unlikely due only to an increase in migration. Looking at the numbers, you can see that its about the same in the Rio Grande, and its a little more but not extraordinarily more in the ditches and canals, he said. We dont have absolute data on how many people migrated, but if the number of drownings was related to the rate of migration, you would probably have a similar increase at all places. BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A man was arrested after police say he was found with 29 pills of fentanyl and various other drug items. According to the Bloomsburg Police Department, on November 19 around 1:47 p.m., officers conducted a mere encounter on a driver at the Unity Mart in the 300 block of East Seventh Street. Upon further investigation, police stated the driver, Shawn Spink, had two warrants out of Monroe and Schuylkill counties. PD: Wanted fugitive found sleeping in car at Mohegan Pennsylvania Spink was arrested and found to have 29 blue pills, a bag containing a white powdery substance, and various items of drug paraphernalia. The Wyoming Regional Laboratory said the drugs tested positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine. Charges have been filed on Spink for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. COLOMBO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced on Friday two bills will be introduced to advance gender equality and empower women, which would be submitted to the parliament in May, according to the President's Media Division (PMD). Addressing the marking of International Women's Day on Friday, Wickremesinghe outlined key points of the bills. Under the proposed Women's Empowerment Act, the establishment of a new commission is envisaged, which is intended to facilitate the empowerment of women by implementing mechanisms to protect their rights, according to the PMD. Wickremesinghe said a draft bill focusing on gender equality, aimed at securing women's rights, will also be gazetted in the coming week. The bill seeks to establish principles of gender equality across various sectors, including social, political, economic, cultural and technical policies, while also providing necessary infrastructure to support the principles, the PMD said. The president pledged to establish a council on gender and social equality, vested with ministerial powers, in efforts to address issues related to gender and social equality effectively. He also called for nationwide awareness about women's issues, noting legislative efforts alone are insufficient without the society's engagement. A Houston County judge has deemed a local residence to be a public nuisance because the home has been the site of drug deals and other criminal activity, and is plagued with piles of garbage, broken furniture, human waste and other debris. Edward D. Lukemire, Houston County Superior Court chief judge, found March 1 the home at 103 Todd Road in Perry is a public nuisance. A sign posted in the front yard details what that means. This building is unfit for human habitation, or commercial, industrial, or business use and does not comply with the applicable codes or has been ordered secured to prevent its use in connection with drug crimes or constitutes an endangerment to public health or safety as a result of unsanitary or unsafe conditions, the sign reads. The use or occupation of this building is prohibited and unlawful. The residence, owned by Natalie Sinyard and Allison Pike, has been a persistent source of drug and other criminal activity spanning several years, according to the Houston County District Attorneys office. Officials say more than 200 calls for service associated with the address for various crimes and complaints from the public had been made since 2016. Calls for service included multiple drug overdoses and other drug activity, officials said. In addition to drug issues, officials said the backyard of the residence resembled a trash dump, consisting of piles of garbage, broken furniture, inoperable vehicles, lawn equipment, clothing, human waste and other debris. The condition of the property was found to be injurious to the public health and morals of the community and was ultimately determined to be a public nuisance in accordance with Georgia law. A sign posted in the front yard of a Houston County residence states the use or occupation of the building is prohibited and unlawful. The residence was deemed a public nuisance on March 1. Pike and Sinyard appeared in court in December representing themselves. In court documents, both stated they have not lived at the residence in several months. In response to the allegations, Sinyard said in court documents she felt she was the victim. We have had complaints, she wrote. I consider myself a victim. I have never allowed any illegal activity, nor would I ever corrupt the public. Houston County District Attorney William Kendall said he will continue his efforts to clean up the area. My efforts to clean up Houston County continue. I appreciate the Houston County Sheriffs Office Narcotic Division for putting together the required information over the years to seek an abatement on this residence, without an established record, such an action would not be possible, he said. As a resident of Houston County, I too believe that those who use a dwelling to abuse law enforcement resources, keep a place for drug users and trafficking, and cause a nuisance to neighbors and the public, should not be allowed to continue to run down our neighborhoods. I will continue to assist our law enforcement in these matters and take appropriate, reasonable action in accordance with Georgia law to ensure we have a Houston County for our citizens to enjoy and feel safe in, Kendall said. Boehringer Ingelheim announced that starting on June 1, all its inhaler products will be capped at $35 a month, aiming the decision at patients with employer-sponsored insurance and those who are underinsured and uninsured. This comes about two months after Democratic senators sent a letter to the top inhaler manufacturers for the U.S. AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline and Teva as part of an investigation into the exorbitant price of inhalers. We want to do our part to help patients living with COPD or asthma who struggle to pay for their medications. This new program supports patients with predictable, affordable costs at the pharmacy counter, Jean-Michel Boers, president and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheims U.S. operations, said in a statement. Boehringer Ingelheims primary asthma product is Spiriva Respimat, a long-acting bronchodilator that can be taken with corticosteroids in cases of severe asthma. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) welcomed the announcement, saying, If Boehringer Ingelheim can take action to cap the cost of inhalers at $35 in the United States and lower the list price of some of the inhalers it manufactures, these other companies can do the same. This move echoes the actions taken by insulin manufacturers last year. Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly all launched similar programs capping patient out-of-pocket costs at $35 a month for certain insulin products. Dyngus Day soon: What to expect, where to celebrate *Related video above: Fox 8s Kenny Crumpton enjoys Dyngus Day 2023* CLEVELAND (WJW) Cue the polka music, strike up the band, and get ready to feast on pierogis! Where to find 2024 fish fries in Northeast Ohio While events to celebrate NE Ohios unofficial holiday will take place all around town, promoters are planning for the epicenter of the fun to be in the Gordon Square Arts District. The 14th Annual Cleveland Dyngus Day celebration will take place on April 1 this year, the day after Easter. Dyngus Day is a Polish-American tradition that celebrates the end of fasting during Lent and the joy of Easter. It celebrates Polish-American culture, traditions, and food.lots of delicious food. Pierogis, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage and more are traditional favorites on Dyngus Day. Event organizers said the 14th Annual Cleveland Dyngus Day in Gordon Square will be, packed with authentic ethnic food, merch, beer, and dancing, Dyngus Day will be a city-wide celebration of Polish culture and traditions. These NE Ohio schools will close for the total solar eclipse For schedules, bars, restaurants participating, and ticket information you can click here. Dyngus Day, also called Smigus Dyngus, originated in Poland, but has become very popular in Cleveland, Buffalo and other pockets of the country. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. TRI-CITIES, Tenn./Va. (WJHL) An Easter Market in Johnson City, a Toy and Hobby Show in Gray, a Prom Dress Sale in Bristol and much more are taking place this weekend in the Tri-Cities. Below are events happening throughout the region from Friday, March 8 to Sunday, March 10. Nominate: Tri-Cities Best Gym Kingsport Home Show Hosted by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kingsport. Vendors include roofers, construction companies, lawncare, banks, realtors, pool and spa providers, fencing businesses and more. Admission is $5. Friday, 4 8 p.m. (Senior night $1 off admission) Saturday, 9:30 a.m. 5 p.m. (Kids workshop 10 a.m. 4 p.m.) Sunday, noon 5 p.m. MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center (1901 Meadowview Pkwy, Kingsport) More information YWCA Annual Prom Dress Sale Dresses are $25 each and scholarships are available for those in need of a deeper discount. Friday, 2 7 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. 3 p.m. 106 State Street, Bristol (YWCA Northeast TN and Southwest VA) More information Cruise in Car Show at Michael Waltrip Brewing First Cruise in Car Show of the year. Presented by Motor Mile and Michael Waltrip Brewing. Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. 221 Moore St, Bristol, Virginia More information Johnson City Mall Easter Market Pop-up market inside the Johnson City Mall. Items include Easter basket needs, outfits, permanent jewelry and more. Saturday. 11 a.m. 8 p.m. 2011 N Roan Street, Johnson City (Johnson City Mall) East Tennessean Breakfast Fundraiser Breakfast fundraiser to support the student-run newspaper of East Tennessee State University. Tickets are $5 each. Saturday, 8 10 a.m. Aubreys Johnson City (3029 Hamilton Place) More information Dollywood Season Opening Day Dollywood opens for the 2024 season on Saturday at 10 a.m. Tri-Cities Toy and Hobby Show Various items, collectibles and more will be for sale at the show. Proceeds will go towards benefiting local causes. Saturday, 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Appalachian Fairgrounds (100 Lakeview Street, Gray) More information Breakfast with the Chief hosted by the Hickory Tree Volunteer Fire Department $5 donation for breakfast including pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, gravy and biscuits. Saturday, 8 a.m. noon 2363 Hickory Tree Road (Bluff City) Milligan Highway Cleanup Roadside cleanup will remove litter from Milligan Highway between Highway 321 and Okolona Road. Meet in Happy Valley Elementary School parking lot at 10 a.m. Trash bags, grabbers, safety vests, water and gloves will be provided More information Kingsport Renaissance Art Center Acrylic Pouring Make 10 different paintings of various shapes and sizes. Learn five different pours and more. Materials will be provided Saturday, 10 a.m. 2:30 p.m. 1 200 E. Center St. Kingsport More information South Holston River/Watauga River Cleanup Saturday, 8 a.m. 2 p.m. For Watauga River cleanup, meet at Ingles in Elizabethton For South Holston meet at the Bluff City Boat Ramp Gloves, trash bags, breakfast and a T-shirt will be provided Celebration afterwards at 4 p.m. at the Watauga River Lodge (643 Smalling Road) More information Happy Tails 5K Run and 1K walk All proceeds will go towards the Elizabethton-Carter County Animal Shelter. Sunday starting at 2 p.m. Covered Bridge Park, Elizabethton More information For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. On Sunday, as Hollywoods A-list heads to one of the biggest after parties of the year following the Oscars (or for some, even while the ceremony is still underwaythere are staggered times in which people are instructed to arrive. Its a whole thing.), one of LAs most celebrated chefs, Evan Funke, will be at the ready to feed its masses. What do you feed a crowd composed of movie stars contractually dressed in custom gowns and seven-figure jewels, finicky musicians, fashion people, athletes, and royalty at the 30th Vanity Fair Oscars Party? Forget caviar bumps, wagyu beef, and white alba truffle. Instead, Mr. Funke will fire up $12,000 worth of outdoor pizza ovens to sling Neapolitan-style pies. Frank Lee. Thats right, guests at one of the hottest parties of the year will burn their mouths on fresh-from-the-oven slices eaten from cocktail napkins, like its some kind of middle school sleepover. Of course, the pizza will taste exceptionally good: Funke is a master of Italian cooking. And while he knows the best way to an extra-crispy slice is by letting a pie rest on a metal rack for about 45 seconds before allowing guests to grease up their fingers, if Sundays scene is anything like the preview I attended at the Funke Rooftop in Beverly Hills this week, little slices wont stand a chance at even a 10-second restparty goers will be grabbing diavola rations just as soon as they emerge from the oven. Frank Lee. All to say, the rest of us have a better chance of eating like the stars on Oscar Sunday if we make it a pizza party and follow Funkes pizza playbook. The first rule? Dont sweat the technique. There are no mistakes, Funke says. Even if you mess it up, the worst that can happen is pizza. Ahead, the celebrated chef shares his best advice and favorite tools for making award-winning pizza at home. Gozney Roccbox If you foresee a summer of slinging nothing but pizzas in the backyard, it may be worth investing in an outdoor pizza oven. Some can be had for as little as a few hundred bucks, but Funke likes to work with a pricier version and will be using this option for the Vanity Fair party come Sunday. There are a multitude of propane-powered pizza ovens, but if you have the means, my personal favorite is the Gozney Roccbox or, if you really want to splurge, the Gozney Dome, he says. Buy Gozney Roccbox at Gozney, $500 Outset Pizza Grill Tiles (4-Pack) If youre not ready to invest in a dedicated pizza oven, using your kitchens own can work, Funke says. Though using a conventional oven can be challenging, he offers this hack: The best way to create enough thermal mass in a home oven is to buy two pizza stones, he says. Place one pizza stone on the lowest rack possible next to the heating element and place the other on the topmost portion of the oven. Make sure you preheat the oven for at least 45 minutes to an hour in order to saturate the stones with enough heat. Buy Outset Pizza Grill Tiles (4-Pack) at Target, $35 Fazeek Zigzag Platter in Mint Between charred cheese and oddly-stretched dough shapes, homemade pizzas can come out looking less-than-pretty more often than not. One way to elevate the experience for guests, no matter what your pies look like, is to serve them on unexpected dishware. The saw blade edge on this platter adds style to whatever youre serving, while an almost flat edge makes grabbing a slice easy. Whats more, at 15 inches wide, its the perfect size for homemade pies. Buy Fazeek Zigzag Platter in Mint at Fazeek, $129 Lamson 12-Inch Pizza Rocker If cutting your pizza on a ceramic or stoneware surface, Funke suggests reaching for a classic pizza cutter. But if parsing out slices from a wood surface, he suggests using a mezzaluna, or pizza rocker, which doesnt mash toppings or drag cheese along with it, like a pizza wheel can. This 12-inch pizza rocker isnt just sharp and effective: with American-made stainless steel, brass and walnut, it drips of craftsmanship and classic style. Buy Lamson 12-Inch Pizza Rocker at Amazon, $46 Williams Sonoma Epicurean Pizza Peel Funke says he has absolutely used a clean piece of cardboard to load a pizza into the oven at home. But for those working with a propane pizza oven in the backyard, investing in a pizza peel (the tool used to slide pies in and out of the oven) is a good idea. Try this American-made wood fiber and recycled paper composite option, which boasts multiple sustainability certifications and, with the addition of a little flour, offers a perfectly slick surface from which to launch pies. Buy Williams Sonoma Epicurean Pizza Peel at Williams Sonoma, $55 Afeltra San Marzano Tomatoes Of the 10,000 or so types of tomatoes out there, Funke relies on the concentrated flavor and low acidity of San Marzanos to sauce a pizza. This type of tomato is widely counterfeited, so look for a can that bears a Consorzio San Marzano certification number and DOP seal, which promises the tomatoes inside were grown to standard in Southern Italys Agro Sarnese-Nocerino district. Buy Afeltra San Marzano Tomatoes at Eataly, $10 Antimo Caputo Chefs Flour Dont even ask Funke about using ready-made pizza dough. No one should make pizza on the flyplan for it and make it special, he says. Funke suggests looking for low-yeast, long ferment dough recipes, which keep in the fridge for up to seven days. They are beautiful, he says. Buy Antimo Caputo Chefs Flour at Amazon, $15 Miraval Champagne Fleur de Miraval ER2 in Gift Box If you really want to celebrate on Oscars night like the stars, pair your carbs with this champagne, the bubbly to be poured during the Oscar ceremony (and produced by the Pitt family, who else). It blends a very young pinot with a reserve chardonnay for a flavor thats both fresh and creamy. Buy Miraval Champagne Fleur de Miraval ER2 in Gift Box at Wine.com, $400 MORE FROM SCOUTED: This Is a Pizza Lovers Wet Dream This Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven Cooks Pizzas in Just One Minute Im Opening a Pizzeria in My Backyard Thanks to The Roccbox Pizza Oven 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. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Joe Biden addressed Congress and the nation in his annual State of the Union speech. He talked about many of the issues concerning Americans, from the economy, foreign wars, and the migrant crisis at the southern border. While the State of the Union is an official speech, President Biden touched on many key election year issues. We can proudly say the state of our union is strong and getting stronger, Biden said. During the speech the president touted his achievements. Now our economy is the envy of the world. 15 million new jobs in just three years, a record, he said. He once again called on the House to take up the bipartisan border security bill, but it was met with criticism. Oh, you dont think so? Oh, you dont like that, bill, huh? That conservatives got together and said it was a good bill. Ill be darned, he stated. The president also unveiled plans for a temporary aid port on Gazas coast to deliver more aid. A temporary period will enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting in Gaza every day, he said. Alabama Senator Katie Britt delivered the Republican response. And unfortunately, President Bidens weakness isnt just hurting families here at home. He is making us a punch line on the world stage, said Britt. The Biden campaign is ramping up the travel schedule with stops in Philadelphia Friday, Atlanta Saturday and the Midwest next week. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. California took a big step last fall when lawmakers passed a pair of laws requiring big companies doing business in the state to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related risks, shining a light on their role in fueling the climate crisis. But now that it's time for the experts at the California Air Resources Board to craft the disclosure rules, there are some troubling obstacles that could allow polluters to keep their climate impacts hidden for years longer. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups have sued to block the laws, arguing they go too far and violate 1st Amendment free speech rights by forcing companies to release information on the "politically fraught" topic of climate change. The legal action is no surprise. What is unexpected, however, is the resistance coming from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed the bill in October. In his proposed budget for next year, he called for pausing spending temporarily on most newly signed laws, including the funding to implement the disclosure rules. And his office has asked for cleanup language that could hand big businesses the kind of watered-down requirements theyve been lobbying for all along. Read more: Editorial: Biden doesn't need to weaken EV rules to get reelected California was the first state in the nation to pass laws requiring standardized, public reporting of oil companies, banks and other industries that will hold them accountable for their climate pledges, cut through corporate greenwashing and encourage more sustainable practices. Senate Bill 253 requires companies with revenue of more than $1 billion a year to publicly disclose their annual greenhouse gas emissions. SB 261 requires corporations with revenue over $500 million to disclose their climate-related financial risks. Of course, the oil and gas industry, the banking sector and other business interests dont want the public and investors to know their full carbon footprints and climate risks. Read more: Editorial: California's lawsuit against Big Oil could help end decades of climate lies It seems industry pressure has influenced Newsom. When he announced that he would sign the disclosure bills on stage at a climate event last fall , he added that it was with a modest caveat. We have some cleanup on some little language. Its not unusual for new laws to be cleaned up after passage. However, the concerns raised in Newsoms subsequent signing messages don't seem minor: He said that the implementation deadlines were likely infeasible," the emissions reporting protocol was problematic and he was concerned about the financial impacts on businesses. His office said this week that the administration is working with lawmakers on amendments to address those issues but would not answer questions about what specific changes the governor wants. Read more: Editorial: Solar installations are plummeting and California regulators are to blame State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the author of SB 253, said he has no problem with technical fixes to the law but will not support substantive changes or delays. Even though the legislation does not require companies to change their environmental practices, he said the oil industry, chambers of commerce and banks are squealing like a stuck pig because they do not want the public and investors to know how dirty they are." California has a key role at this moment as a bulwark against a nationwide pressure campaign by fossil fuel companies, financial firms and other business interests to resist transparency about their role in causing climate change. That includes the Republican-led movement to restrict the use of environmental, social and governance criteria in investment decisions and various misinformation operations by the fossil fuel industry to confuse the public about the causes of and solutions to climate change. The Golden State should set an unwavering example for other states, including New York and Illinois, that are considering similar laws. This effort is all the more important now that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has removed ambitious emissions reporting requirements from corporate climate risk disclosure rules it approved Wednesday for publicly traded companies. Read more: Editorial: Biden should protect more of California's mountains and deserts as national monuments Californias legislation goes beyond the SEC proposal by applying to privately held companies and by requiring them to quantify of the full scope of their emissions, from their supply chains to customers' use of their products. Weakening these laws would only benefit big polluters, including the powerful oil companies that Newsom has railed against in recent years and vowed to hold accountable. Corporations such as ExxonMobil and Chevron, which have spread climate denial and disinformation for decades and have the most to lose from the public knowing the true extent of their ongoing damage to the planet. California leaders should recognize that as urgent as it is to pass new laws to fight climate change, its just as important to actually enforce them. They should swiftly allocate the funding to begin implementing these laws and reject any significant changes that would weaken them. 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. LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) The North Alabama Zoological Society (NALZS) is continuing to work toward its mission A zoo for you, North Alabama. NALZS, a non-profit, says for over four years theyve been engaging in extensive research, intentional community discussion, and many fundraising efforts trying to bring a zoo to the region. Local radio host still looking for donations in 15th annual prom dress drive Recently, the society began collaborating with some Limestone County leaders to develop a comprehensive funding proposal for Phase 1 of the zoo project. The proposal is based on research into other successful funding models for family enrichment facilities throughout the country. After completing that research, NALZS said they tailored the project to Limestone Countys location and resources. The county was chosen for the project because of its proximity to tourism corridors and relative land value affordability. NALZS says that research shows public funding is essential to projects like this one. In conducting our research into how other zoos were established, NALZS has been fully aware that public funding would be essential for the large-scale nature of this project. With the aim of minimizing the financial burden on our community, we diligently explored every possible alternative before acknowledging that, indeed, public funding is crucial to achieve our goal. This has been the recipe of how other great zoos in the United States have started and the approach mirrors the successful establishment of other local attractions in recent years, reflecting a broader trend towards public investment in community assets. The North Alabama Zoological Society Hartselle business creates sports equipment program to support families in need The nonprofit hopes to allow the residents of Limestone County to vote on funding for the zoo during the General Election in November. It says it had a number of conversations with members of the Limestone County Commission regarding public funding. We feel it would be unfair to enlist local tax support without ensuring the final decision rests in the hands of Limestone County residents, NALZS said. NALZS did add that some members of the commission are hesitant to allow the county citizens to decide whether the project should advance. In August 2021, NALZS announced that 279 acres of land in Limestone County would be the site of the new zoo. The societys spokesperson at the time said the spot north of Martin Line Road next to Interstate 65, just south of Tanner has been taken off the market. Lansing Companies, a land development company, pledged $1 million to help kick off the project and buy a portion of the land needed for the zoo in January 2022. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. The Sayreville Historical Society has ramped up efforts to preserve the Old Fire House next to the Municipal Building on Main Street. We have been on a five-year mission to save the building, said the organizations President Frank Terzino Sr. "We're not asking the mayor or council for money. We believe we can do this with grant money. Terzino said the first step is to designate the site as a local historic landmark, asking for borough residents to help encourage elected officials to vote in favor of it. The designation would allow for a committee to apply for possible grant opportunities to repair and repurpose this crucial and inspiring staple in our history of Sayreville, according to a post on the Sayreville Historical Society's Facebook page. Sayrevilles first firehouse and first borough hall was built in 1909 and was used as a fire station and by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary until 2018 when a broken pipe caused the shutdown of the building. A resolution for the designation is on the agenda for Monday's Borough Council meeting. The Old Fire House was listed in 2023 among Preservation New Jersey's Top 10 Most Endangered Places. "Although no funds are available for this nomination, Preservation New Jersey is our advocate and is guiding us to success," Terzino said. "Unfortunately, it's been a long and slow-moving process, but we can move ahead after the positive vote on March 11." Priority is to apply for emergency funds to repair the buildings roof and windows, he said. "There needs to be an evaluation of the building to determine what needs to be done and in what order," Terzino said. "Grants need to be applied for and we would need the borough's help. The jail cells are in great shape and the inside needs (tender loving care), but according to Preservation New Jersey, shes in great shape and can be revitalized." Preservation New Jersey estimated that about $1 to $1.5 million would be needed to revitalize the entire building, he said. More: Sayreville mosque closed by judge heading to planning board with major expansion proposal Heather Yannone-Pawski, the Historical Society's corresponding secretary, told the Borough Council last month about the sites history. Sayrevilles first firehouse and first borough hall was built in 1909 and was used as a fire station and by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary until 2018 when a broken pipe caused the shutdown of the building. When the Township of Sayreville was established in 1876, she said, the governing body faced the challenge of finding suitable venues for meetings and as the township grew, it became evident that a dedicated space was needed to serve the needs of the community. In April 1909, the Township Committee decided to build a Township Hall. Upon reviewing records, it discovered that Sayreville residents had already voted to purchase land and construct a municipal building back in 1900, she said. E.A Fisher offered a 50-by-100-foot lot for the construction which faced its share of difficulties, and work came to a halt in 1910. When the initial mason encountered financial issues, Sayre & Fisher, a local business, stepped in and provided bricks and supplies at cost. New contractors were selected, and construction resumed. The building served multiple functions through the years. It was the venue for municipal meetings, housed government offices, served as a police station, a jail, and even a firehouse. In 1913, due to overcrowding in School No. 2, the meeting room was temporarily repurposed as a classroom, and a fire escape was installed to ensure safety. The Borough Council decided in 1941 to construct a new municipal building and the old town hall's role began to transition. On Oct. 21, 1942, the Council moved to the new location. Sayreville Engine Company 1 took over as the sole occupants of the building until it moved to the MacArthur Avenue site in 1971. The building continued to serve the community in various ways. It became a meeting place for organizations such as the Civil Air Patrol, further solidifying its importance as a gathering point for our borough. Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Sayreville efforts to save one of NJ's most endangered historic places Major growing areas in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe received only 80 percent of average rainfall during the mid-November-to-February summer period (Zinyange Auntony) The El Nino weather phenomenon, coupled with widespread drought, is posing an increasing risk to food security in southern Africa, a UN agency warned Friday. Major growing areas in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe received only 80 percent of average rainfall during the mid-November-to-February summer period in the southern hemisphere, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said. In a report, the FAO said "significant rainfall deficits" were recorded in February, a period when water stress has a greater impact on crop yields. Higher than usual temperatures and an "erratic" distribution of precipitation have made the situation worse, the FAO said in the Crop Prospects and Food Situation, which is published three times a year. South Africa, the region's largest cereal producer, also suffered from scant rain and high temperatures in January and February, likely to lead to a drop in the maize harvest compared to last year -- albeit without falling below the average of the last five years. Cereal production in the region is expected to decline overall this year, increasing the need to resort to imports. Access to food could be further affected by a fall in income for residents of rural areas and a possible increase in prices due to supply pressures, according to the FAO. The situation is exacerbated by the weakness of local currencies which helps to push up the cost of living in several countries, the UN agency added. Zambia had already at the end of last month officially described the drought there as a "national disaster," which has devastated agriculture. El Nino is a natural weather phenomenon, corresponding to a warming of a large part of the tropical Pacific. It occurs every two to seven years and lasts between nine and 12 months. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), El Nino reached a peak in December but should still result in above-normal temperatures until May over almost all land areas. Earlier this week the WMO said the latest El Nino was one of the five strongest ever recorded, adding its impact will continue over the coming months by fuelling heat trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases. jum/sb/abb/cw/lth WELLINGTON, March 8 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand agriculture scientists want to plug a major knowledge gap on diseases in pasture, and address biosecurity threats, by reaching out to farmers. The pathogens, or germs, that cause diseases in pasture plants such as crown rust and clover rot can have significant costs for farmers and the New Zealand economy, and in a changing climate the concern is that those losses will escalate, said AgResearch, a government institute studying New Zealand's pastoral, agri-food and agri-technology sectors. "By building our knowledge around pasture diseases, we are helping raise the awareness and preparedness for threats to New Zealand's biosecurity, including the risk of new disease-causing organisms that could invade New Zealand," AgResearch science team leader Kwasi Adusei-Fosu, said on Friday. There is a real gap in awareness and understanding about current diseases and the impact they are having on pastures, as well as potential future impacts, said Adusei-Fosu. "The lag could be because study of the impact of pasture diseases is more speculative in nature, poorly understood or neglected," he said, adding the last time New Zealand's formal research on this topic was reviewed was in 1996, and before then in 1965. AgResearch scientists are working on a survey to find out whether farmers have the ability to identify a disease, or enough support from the likes of the Ministry for Primary Industries and scientists to confirm diseases. With the recent incursion of Fall armyworm and the potential for other biosecurity threats, it is also timely to update knowledge in this space, they said. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The City of El Pasos Animal Services Department, in collaboration with its resource rover team, is hosting a series of free microchip clinics as part of its Straylight Savings time initiative, the City said in a press release. The City says Straylight Savings encourages pet owners to ensure their pets are microchipped and their microchip information is up-to-date, coinciding with El Paso City Animal Ordinances. The free monthly microchipping events are open to everyone and there is no limit on the number of pets, according to the City. The City says for eligibility, pets should be at least six weeks old, dogs must be on a leash, and cats must be securely placed in carriers. The City has provided a list of dates of free microchipping events. Those are the following: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 9 at Clardy Fox Library located on 5515 Robert Alva Ave. 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on March 10 at Dogs on the Run Grooming located on 1852 Trawood Dr. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 12 at Hilos de Plata Senior Center located on 4451 Delta Dr. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 16 at Twin Peaks Sunland located on 955 Sunland Park Dr. 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on March 16 at Mission Valley Adoption Center located on 9068 Socorro Rd. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 22 at PetSmart at the Fountains located on 8889 Gateway Blvd. W 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on March 23 at Gringo Theory Patio Bar located on 11410 Montana Ave. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 30 at Ascarate Park located on 6900 Delta Dr. The City also provided some tips on how to update your pets microchip. Those are the following: First: Check to see if your pet has a Microchip by veterinarian or consider using the chip scanning equipment at any El Paso Fire Department station. Second: Identify the chips manufacturer by entering the number at PetMicrochipLookup.org Third: Once you have the manufacturer you can register or update your contact information with the manufacturer. For added security, consider adding your pets microchip data to the PetcoLoveLost.org database for free. For more information about El Paso Animal Services visit, click here: El Paso Animal Services. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. This article was originally published in El Paso Matters. El Paso Community College has entered into a contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to teach incarcerated students the necessary welding skills to make them legitimate candidates for in-demand, good-paying jobs upon their release. The program should launch this spring. The EPCC Board of Trustees approved the five-year, $520,000 agreement last month. To prepare, EPCC must hire a full-time instructor, while the leaders at the Federal Correctional Institution, La Tuna, need to upgrade its camp facilities in Anthony, Texas. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter La Tuna is a low-security prison for incarcerated males located about 20 miles northwest of El Paso. According to its website, it has about 690 inmates and offers vocational training in welding, automotive and office technology. The prisons satellite camp will house the inmates picked for the welding program. This is the latest effort between the two entities to prepare people who are incarcerated to transition back into society. Blayne J. Primozich, associate vice president for Workforce & Continuing Education at EPCC, said it was part of the colleges mission to assist underserved populations. (Incarcerated students) earn time off their sentences for every course they complete, but the idea is also to make them workforce ready, Primozich said. Thats key to reducing recidivism. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately 600,000 Americans are released from state and federal prisons annually, and they add to the almost 80 million who have been arrested or convicted for a crime. That connection to a criminal past can make it difficult to get a job, let alone one that pays well. El Paso Community College officials said that they need to hire a welding instructor and La Tuna federal prison leaders need to upgrade facilities before the expected launch of its welding program this spring. The prison is in Anthony, Texas. (Courtesy photo) According to a 2022 report published by the Prison Policy Initiative, approximately 60% of people who were incarcerated in a federal prison do not have a job up to four years after their release. To put it in perspective, the U.S. had an unemployment rate of 13% in 2020 during the pandemic. The current unemployment rate is 3.7%. A RAND Corp. analysis showed that incarcerated people who participate in education programs are 43% less likely than others to be incarcerated again, and the government saves $4 to $5 in reimprisonment costs for every dollar spent on prison education. While the college and the prison have collaborated for more than 20 years, this is the colleges first big effort to teach at the prison since the pandemic. Olga L. Valerio, dean of EPCCs Advanced Technology Center on the Valle Verde campus, said prison officials will select the participants for the certification program, which should last from six to eight months. Each cohort could have as many as 14 students. EPCC officials said that the college has collaborated with La Tuna on other similar training programs that teach interior and exterior vehicle renovations, and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Valerio said participants with those skills have become successful workers and, in some cases, business owners, upon their release. This has opened doors for them, Valerio said. EPCC considers the chance to teach welding skills to incarcerated students at La Tuna federal prison part of its mission to help underserved communities. Olga L. Valerio, dean of the colleges Advanced Technology Center, left, and Blayne J. Primozich, EPCCs associate vice president for Workforce & Continuing Education, will direct the colleges part of the project. They recently toured the ATCs welding area at the Valle Verde campus. (Daniel Perez/El Paso Matters) Primozich said that the colleges goal is for the La Tuna students to earn their American Welding Society certifications in Shielded Metal Arc Welding and Gas Metal Arc Welding. The courses would include theory, safety training and hands-on experience with industrial welding equipment. Once certified in those welding processes, those participants will be ready to work in maintenance and manufacturing shops, steel construction sites and oil field operations, according to the abstract presented to the trustees. The size of employers range from big companies to small businesses. According to Salary.com, the average salary for an entry-level welder in El Paso County is $40,843 as of January, but salaries could range from about $36,300 to $46,800. Those who move out of the area could earn more. The welding courses, which are free to the students, are funded in part through the governments First Step Act. Congress passed the legislation in 2018 to promote rehabilitation services such as job training, lower recidivism, and to reduce sentence times. An August 2023 brief in The Sentencing Project included an announcement from the Department of Justice that the recidivism rate of those people who used the First Step Act was lower than those who did not. The report stated that of the nearly 30,000 people who gained an early release because of the program, almost 90% had not been rearrested or reincarcerated. In contrast, a 2021 article in the Harvard Political Review stated that within three years, about 66% of formerly incarcerated people are rearrested, and more than 50% are reincarcerated. Louis Castillo, a Workforce Solutions Borderplex project manager, said up-to-date welding skills help people who formerly were incarcerated, but they need to find an employer willing to give them a chance. (Courtesy photo) College and prison officials said that they will do what they can to help the certified welding students to find a job after they are released. Louis Castillo, industry project manager with Workforce Solutions Borderplex or WSB, said having an up-to-date certification in an in-demand field helps, but people who were incarcerated also need to find a company that will give former felons a chance. People who recently were released from prison often deal with barriers to employment. Among those Castillo listed were homelessness, substance abuse, mental health issues, the stigma of a criminal record, and a lack of reliable transportation. When an employer is looking at two candidates, a lot of times those kinds of biases will have them choose the one who doesnt have the record, Castillo said. The WSB manager said that there are openings for skilled laborers such as welders. However, he said that jobs outside the region could pose a logistical problem for people who must stay in a certain area as a condition of their parole. While La Tuna prisoners come from throughout the country, most are from the southwest. Sandra Quinonez, La Tunas supervisor of education, said the prison is in early discussions with EPCC and the University of Texas at El Paso to offer college courses inside the institution using Pell Grant funds. As of July 1, 2023, the U.S. government made Pell Grants available to qualified people who are incarcerated so they can pursue a college education. Quinonez said that the effort will proceed after the institutions submit the required documentation to the U.S. Department of Education. A UTEP official said the university is in talks to offer some courses at La Tuna, but there is nothing official to report yet. EPCC did not respond to a request to comment. This article first appeared on El Paso Matters and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) An El Paso couple were arrested on Thursday, March 7 for seriously injuring their six-month-old child, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office. The childs injuries included an acute skull fracture, according to court documents obtained by KTSM. The Sheriffs Office says on Tuesday, Feb. 20, detectives assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, Special Victims Unit (SVU) received information of an injury to a 6-month-old child at the 13000 block of Guerrero Dr. in far East El Paso. According to court documents obtained by KTSM, the child suffered an acute skull fracture, rib fractures and a broken wrist that appeared to be non-accidental. Doctors had also told detectives that the child had visible injuries caused by non-accidental trauma, according to court documents. These included a circular bruise on the victims right cheek that appeared to be a bite mark, abrasions on the victims nose and both ears and a large bruise on the victims right buttocks, according to the same court documents. Detectives then obtained arrest warrants for the childs father, Jesse Hernandez, 34, and the childs mother, Jennifer Hernandez, 29. Jesse Hernandez, 34. Jennifer Hernadez, 29. Photo: El Paso County Sheriffs Office Jesse and Jennifer Hernadez were arrested on Wednesday, March 7 at the same address by the SVU, along with the assistance of the Fugitive Apprehension Unit (FAU). The father told detectives that the child was getting an inhaler treatment for the RSV virus when he noticed the child go limp and unconscious, according to court documents. The father also said he then began to rub the childs back and administered CPR. He said he did not call 911 because he was helping the victim, according to court documents. He then told detectives his wife, who had been out getting gas, arrived 5 to 10 minutes later and she then called 911, according to court documents. Court documents also say the wife offered a contradictory story, saying they both were present giving the victim his medication but then later said she went out to get gas. Jesse and Jennifer Hernandez were booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility for injury to a child with intent for serious bodily injury with a total bond of $200,000 each. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Correction Friday 9:45 a.m. ET: This story was corrected on Friday to note that the fleet has not actually deployed to Haiti. The defense official said on Friday he had misunderstood their status and had been discussing what were actually contingency operations. The United States is considering deploying an elite Marine security team to Haiti because of a deteriorating security situation there, according to a defense official. The Marines would be deployed at the request of the State Department, according to the defense official. Marine Corps Times asked the State Department for further details Thursday and didnt receive a response. Deploying a FAST platoon is one option at the DoDs disposal should the DoS request assistance with security at the U.S. Embassy in Port Au Prince, Maj. Mason Englehart, a spokesman for Marine Corps Forces South, wrote in an email to Marine Corps Times on Friday. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry is struggling to stay in power as he tries to return home, where gang attacks have shuttered his countrys main international airport and freed more than 4,000 inmates in recent days. Henry remained in Puerto Rico as of midday Wednesday. He landed in the U.S. territory on Tuesday after he was barred from landing in the neighboring Dominican Republic, where officials closed the airspace to flights to and from Haiti. In 2023, more than 8,400 people in Haiti were reported killed, injured or kidnapped, more than double the number reported in 2022. The U.N. estimates that nearly half of Haitis 11 million people need humanitarian assistance, but the 2024 humanitarian appeal for $674 million has received just $17 million about 2.5% of whats needed. On Wednesday, the U.S. embassy in Haiti urged Americans in the country to depart as soon as possible and said it would be on limited operations Thursday. Embassy operations may be further affected during the week because of gang-related violence and its effects on transportation and infrastructure, the embassy said in the security alert. The Corps fleet antiterrorism security teams, often known as FAST, are deployed around the world for limited periods of time to reinforce or recapture U.S. assets. FAST Marines receive specialized training on noncombatant evacuation operations, close-quarters battle, military operations in urban terrain, convoy operations, shipboard operations and specialized security operations, according to a page on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. The teams are part of the Yorktown, Virginia-based Marine Corps Security Force Regiment. In 2019, fleet antiterrorism security team Marines embarked a U.S. merchant vessel to provide security as it transited the Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran. In 2010, after a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, they were sent to assist the Marine security guards who already had been guarding the U.S. embassy in the capital Port-au-Prince. At a press conference Wednesday, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, denied that the United States was considering sending U.S. forces to Haiti. Jean-Pierre said noted that Kenya had agreed to send police officers on a security mission to Haiti. So, that was recently signed, and thats going to move forward, she said. But there is no plan to bring U.S. forces into Haiti. In 2021, President Joe Biden sent Marines from the Marine Security Guard Security Augmentation Unit to the Port-Au-Prince embassy out of an abundance of caution following the assassination of the Haitian president but insisted sending U.S. forces to stabilize the country was not on the agenda. The Associated Press contributed to this report. WASHINGTON Had Alabama Supreme Court's in vitro fertilization decision come down four decades ago, there's a chance Elizabeth Carr wouldn't be alive. When the news hit last week that embryos created through in vitro fertilization are considered children under state law pausing IVF treatment in Alabama clinics Carr stopped in her tracks. I read aloud to my family what this ruling said and we just could not believe it, Carr, the first baby born via IVF in the United States, told USA TODAY. Carr's birth made newspaper headlines across the country. She even served as the cover photo for a LIFE Magazine issue with the headline test-tube baby boom. On Thursday, as abortion and reproductive rights are spotlighted as top issues ahead of the 2024 election, Carr attended President Joe Biden's State of the Union as a guest of Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, one of many Democrats looking to pass federal legislation to protect IVF. More: State of the Union live updates: What time does Biden speak tonight, where to watch SOTU Alabama legislators Wednesday night overwhelmingly passed legislation that provides civil and criminal immunity to fertility clinics and doctors for an embryo that dies during the IVF process. But Carr says its not enough. Theres a lot more work to do because it doesnt address the question of what to do with these embryos and at what point we define life as beginning, she said. 'Culmination of my worst fears' Mar 7, 2024; Washington D.C.,USA; Elizabeth Carr, the first IVF baby to be born in the U.S., speaks with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in his office the afternoon before the State of the Union, where Carr will be attending as Sen. Kaines guest Thursday, March 7, 2024.. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY ORG XMIT: USAT-873105 [Via MerlinFTP Drop] Carr, now 42, was born in Virginia in 1981 after her parents struggled with getting pregnant. They decided to travel from Massachusetts to Virginia, footing the high costs for the then-groundbreaking procedure. Over 10 million people globally are born via IVF. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 2.3% of all infants conceived yearly used assisted reproductive technology, like IVF. The medical procedure combines eggs and sperm in a lab dish before transferring the fertilized eggs into the uterus. One in six people globally struggle with infertility, according to the World Health Organization. More women are having babies in their 40s, especially in their mid-to-late 40s, according to 2023 data from the CDC, and some experts say it's because of increased access to artificial reproductive technology. As part of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in 2022 that eliminated the constitutional right to abortion, the court returned the issue of abortion to states. But it also opened the door for states to ask questions about other aspects of reproductive care such as guaranteeing access to birth control pills or IVF like the Alabama decision. Carr said the decision was heartbreaking and made her immediately think about the individuals who would be impacted. This really was the culmination of my worst fears when the Dobbs decision came down, Carr said. This is what we all worried about happening. I was devastated, but I wasnt surprised unfortunately. Kaine, who was 23 years old when Carr was born, recounted seeing her as a baby on the cover of LIFE magazine. It seemed like science fiction, he said during remarks on the Senate floor. Kaine told USA TODAY he's heard from constituents following Alabama's decision who face infertility struggles about the difficulty, cost and time spent during the IVF process. He described their stories as heartbreaking. If you say thats what this is like already pain and uncertainty and getting bad news along the way what, were going to let legislators be cruel and make it worse? he said. We should be celebrating this. Theres 12 million Elizabeth Carrs walking around on the planet living their best lives. A need for federal protection Mar 7, 2024; Washington D.C.,USA; Elizabeth Carr, the first IVF baby to be born in the U.S., speaks with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in his office the afternoon before the State of the Union, where Carr will be attending as Sen. Kaines guest Thursday, March 7, 2024.. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY ORG XMIT: USAT-873105 [Via MerlinFTP Drop] Both Kaine and Carr point to the need for federal protection for IVF treatment. Kaine has co-sponsored a bill led by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would provide IVF protections for both individuals and providers across the country. That will give people a sense of certainty both providers and patients a sense of certainty that if this is the way they want to build their family, they can safely do it in the United States, Kaine said of the legislation dubbed the Access to Family Building Act. The bill was brought to the Senate floor but blocked by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss. It needed unanimous consent to pass. The bill is now in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, where Kaine is a member. If it passes out of committee, it would move to the full Senate floor where it would need 60 votes to pass. It already has unanimous support from the upper chambers Democrats. Kaine said he is optimistic about its passage. Following the Alabama decision, Republicans came out in support of IVF but wouldn't commit to supporting nationwide protections. I think the support for IVF among the American public Democrat, Republican, Independent is overwhelming, Kaine said. The Virginia lawmaker and Carr both said they were eager to see Biden encourage lawmakers to vote in favor of the Access to Family Building Act during the State of the Union Speech Thursday. Infertility does not care whether you are a Democrat or Republican, Carr said. Carr: 'Shame to undo progress' Elizabeth Carr, the first IVF baby to be born in the U.S., and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) pose for a portrait Thursday, March 7, 2024. Carr was born in 1981 and is now speaking out against the Alabama Supreme Court which ruled last month that frozen embryos are children and that people can be held legally responsible if they are destroyed. The courts ruling alarmed prospective parents and IVF clinics, and the real-world consequences were immediate. At least three Alabama medical facilities halted in vitro fertilization treatments. Carr said she fears that the Alabama ruling could be a blueprint for other states making similar decisions moving forward. It very well could be which is terrifying for many going through or thinking about going through reproductive technologies to build their families," she said. Legislators across the country have already started to discuss the future of IVF in the wake of the Alabama Supreme Court's decision. Lawmakers in Florida sidelined a bill that would have allowed civil lawsuits from the wrongful death of an "unborn child." In Tennessee, Republicans blocked legislation that would codify legal protections for birth control and in-vitro fertilization treatments, saying it was unnecessary. Carr said she hopes her presence at Thursday's State of the Union shows how far assistive reproductive technology has progressed over the last four decades. It would be a shame to undo all the progress weve made, she said, wearing an orange ribbon to represent the color for infertility awareness. I just hope that this opens the door for many people to learn about these options for building their families." Elizabeth Carr, the first IVF baby to be born in the U.S., during an interview at the Russell Senate Office Building Thursday, March 7, 2024. Carr was born in 1981 and is now speaking out against the Alabama Supreme Court which ruled last month that frozen embryos are children and that people can be held legally responsible if they are destroyed. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elizabeth Carr, first IVF baby in the US attends State of the Union The large Ford logo is seen in the parking lot of the Saarlouis plant, with a "No through traffic" sign in front of it. Oliver Dietze/dpa The German industrial union IG Metall has called the employees of five companies in the supplier park at Ford in the western town of Saarlouis on the French border out on indefinite strike. "This means that within a few hours, production at the Ford plant itself will also come to a standstill, as no cars can be produced without engines/transmissions, axles, body parts, wiring systems and exhaust systems," the union announced. The representatives of the five companies - Magna, Benteler, Tenneco, Rhenus LMS and Lear Corp - had "not made any negotiable offers to IG Metall in negotiations on a social collective agreement since July 2023, but merely offered a cheap fob-off," said Ralf Cavelius, lead negotiator for the local branch of IG Metall. An ultimatum to February 29 and a further two-day moratorium had expired. A total of around 500 employees are affected by the strike: 300 on the early shift and another 200 on the midday shift. A social collective agreement has been in force for employees at the Ford plant itself since the end of February. The agreements include the continued employment of 1,000 of the total of 3,750 Ford employees until the end of 2032, high severance payments and bonuses, the formation of a transfer company and re-qualification programmes. In addition, the end of production of the Ford Focus is to be postponed by six months to November 2025. DENVER (KDVR) Neighbors are sounding off against the city of Denver over the planned sweep of a homeless encampment at West Colfax Avenue and Umatilla Street. The city plans to move some of the unhoused people to a micro-community about 5 miles away, in a different district in the Overland neighborhood. Polis rides a train to show the future of Front Range rail Residents near the micro-community site told FOX31 they fear what that means for their safety. For years, obviously, everyone has been experiencing chaos, but I think the past two years have been deeply impactful for quality of life for everyone, Dawn McNulty said. McNulty is a longtime Baker neighbor and resident of District 7, where the new micro-community will be located. She recently attended a Denver community meeting, where she learned about the cleanup and relocation scheduled to happen next week. We would like the mayor to not sweep another encampment and bring it from another community into our district, McNulty said. A spokesperson from the mayors office sent FOX31 this statement: The City and County of Denvers first encampment resolution effort of 2024 is scheduled to occur March 12, as we provide a move-in day for approximately 95 unhoused residents living at the Colfax and Umatilla encampment. Over the past several days street outreach workers have engaged with residents at this site, offering indoor accommodations, connections to a suite of wraparound services, and a pathway toward permanent housing. Residents will be connected with accommodations at our Overland Park micro-community, as well as at other House1000 sites. Following the move-in day, the encampment site will be permanently closed to any future camping. This encampment resolution is part of All In Mile High, which was announced a couple of weeks ago as part of Mayor Johnstons 2024 goals and is the long-term name for the House1000 initiative. We also sent a media alert yesterday about an upcoming press conference on Monday where Mayor Mike Johnston will be sharing more on the initiative and this encampment. Spokesperson for Denver Mayor Mike Johnstons office The sweep of this site in Denvers District 3 will move homeless individuals to the micro-community in District 7. Were a 98% walking score community, McNulty said. So were not used to feeling unsafe walking day and night. No longer do we feel safe. Not only does she worry about the children in the area, along with those who are disabled or older, but she is also worried about the resources available for people experiencing homelessness especially for people who have lived in the area for years, like Jermaine Blea, whos been there for a decade. Its making it harder to get into housing or getting into any type of shelter, he said. Neighbors document drug use, crime, gunfire We continue to put forth information about things that are happening on a daily basis in our community, McNulty said. She shared that list with FOX31, which includes reports of drug activity and overdoses, arrests, property damage and gunfire. FOX31 crews spoke with McNulty outside the Ross-Broadway Branch Library, which serves as a resource hub for the unsheltered. Our children coming in, its often really scary for them to participate in activities with people who are so acutely mentally ill with substance abuse disorders, McNulty said. Its my children riding this, their safe route to school to get to their school thats 0.8 miles from here and having to safely go past people who are injecting fentanyl. To have to witness people smoking meth and having violent outbursts. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox McNulty said she supports Mayor Mike Johnstons goal to get the unhoused into shelters. She just wants to make sure her community and district are safe. Were on board. Were a really passionate community, and we want to help in every way possible. But I do believe that the vulnerable population of the community, because we are a walking community, is really deeply impacted. Their safety is something I want to support. There will be a press conference on Monday, where Johnston will share more on the initiative and the encampment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Gavin Bathurst-Shaw-Binning deliberately crashed into 'bad drivers' at 130mph while high on drugs - Hampshire Police/Solent News/Hampshire Police/Solent News A motorist who believed he was an enforcer of good driving rammed nine cars on a motorway at speeds of up to 130mph while high on drugs, a court heard. Gavin Bathurst-Shaw-Binning was driving like an absolute lunatic when he erratically crashed into cars on the M3 in Hampshire after taking a cocktail of alcohol, cocaine and cannabis. For up to 30 miles, the 46-year-old driver of a BMW 125 deliberately targeted what he claimed were bad motorists by shunting their vehicles and even tried to rip the wing mirror off one car. After his half-hour spree of destruction on June 16 last year, Bathurst-Shaw-Binning stepped out of his car and punched his fist in the air in a triumphant victory, the hearing was told. He described the reckless ride to police as a once in a lifetime moment. A judge has now condemned him for causing pandemonium because he thought other motorists did not know how to navigate a smart motorway. The incident, which caused tailbacks of up to six miles, started near Junction 2 of the motorway near Chertsey, Surrey. Jane Terry, prosecuting, told Winchester Crown Court that before the episode of driving, Bathurst-Shaw-Binning was at a friends house when he decided he wanted to go out to buy cigarettes. Before getting into the car, he had been drinking beer as well as taking cocaine and vaping cannabis. The court heard at about 5.15pm, a woman was driving a Tesla towards the M3 with her three children in the back seat when she spotted Bathurst-Shaw-Binning. Ms Terry told the court: She felt an impact at the rear side of her car. She described seeing the silver BMW behind her and he was repeatedly, deliberately, ramming the rear of her vehicle. She pulled into the middle lane in an attempt to get away from him but he followed her and rammed her again. The mother pulled on to the hard shoulder and the BMW got away after hitting her up to eight times. One witness later saw him tailgating cars, swerving between lanes, and undertaking other vehicles. Driving like a lunatic Ms Terry said: He described the defendant to be driving like an absolute lunatic and he was shocked that he didnt kill anyone. Bathurst-Shaw-Binning crashed into at least nine cars before he was arrested near Junction 10. Motorists who watched him get out of the BMW near the Winchester Services on the southbound carriageway of the M3 saw him celebrating. Witness Abbie Baker watched him jumping up and down and shouting yeah while looking at the aftermath of the damage he had caused. Ms Baker said Bathurst-Shaw-Binning then proceeded to climb into her vehicle and say: We need to go and see Charlie. She described him as being incoherent and off his face. Following his arrest, Bathurst-Shaw-Binning told officers he enjoyed the experience and wished he had done it years ago. He told them it was a once in a lifetime moment, after years of bad driving of other people through tailgating, lane hogging and driving slow. Bathurst-Shaw-Binning added: I want to open up everyone else to keeping the outside lane clear. Ms Terry said: He was targeting those whose standard of driving did not meet his expectations of driving. He sees himself as some kind of enforcer of good driving and only targeted those who he considered were driving badly. She said not only was Bathurst-Shaw-Binning, a former technician at a defence and aviation company, driving significantly in excess of the speed limit but was also travelling inappropriately for the busy roads. She added: The motorway was closed for an hour which I feel is quite short given the trail that Mr Bathurst-Shaw-Binning left behind him. Bathurst-Shaw-Binning admitted one count of dangerous driving, and four counts of causing criminal damage by driving recklessly. What was going through his mind? Mitigating, Islam Khan, told the court: Ramming like a maniac on that road on June 16 at that busy time ... I dont know what was going through his mind. It sent shivers through my spine. I asked [Bathurst-Shaw-Binning] What do you have to say about your actions? He put his head down in shame and said sincerely, I am sorry as to what I have done. Apologising through his lawyer, he said: I dont know what happened to me that day and I dont know why I was so stupid that my remorse did not appear when interviewed. Judge Angela Morris told the defendant that his actions had caused pandemonium on a busy motorway in rush hour whilst he was under the influence of a cocktail of drugs. She told him: You got into your BMW car in a very angry state fuelled by drugs to return home. You took the view drivers on smart motorways which that part of the M3 was were incompetent and had no idea how to drive. That put you in a rage and as a result, you took it upon yourself to teach them a lesson. This lesson took the form of driving in the most erratic fashion, at speeds which were, on your admission, in excess of 120-130mph. Its a wonder and a mercy no one was killed. Bathurst-Shaw-Binning of Egham, Surrey, was told he must serve at least six years of a nine-year sentence. He will also pay a statutory surcharge of 187 and has been disqualified from driving for 10 years. 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. Thanks to several on-campus efforts, plus a statewide program for non-traditional students, enrollment at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) is increasing at rates faster than its peer institutions. According to data collected by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, the 15 public community colleges in the commonwealth have experienced an increase in enrollment. In fall 2023, there was an 8% increase in community college enrollment statewide, which is an additional 5,000 students. Recent data collected by MWCC shows an overall 24.2% increase in enrollment for the spring 2024 semester. That's an increase of 645 new students for a total of 3,315 students enrolled at MWCC this spring semester. Mount Wachusett Community College Marcia Rosbury Henne, VP of enrollment and retention at MWCC, said the college has seen a 58% increase in new student enrollment and a 17% increase in returning students this spring semester. Last semester, in the fall of 2023, 3,313 students enrolled at MWCC, a 12.1% increase compared to fall 2022, when 2,947 students enrolled. Over the past year, several departments have seen an increase in applications. Rosbury Henne said allied health, business administration, early childhood education, computer science, liberal arts, and STEM majors had increased interest in the past year. MassReconnect program bringing students to campus Besides the community college's efforts to encourage local students to enroll, state-funded programs have made higher education financially accessible to many. Henne said the state has tried to market and publicize information on the MassReconnect program. MassReconnect allows any Massachusetts resident 25 years old or older to get an associate's degree or certification for free at 15 different public community colleges in the state. "We're seeing both over 25 and under 25 enrollment numbers rise because people are seeing the value of community college," she said. "They haven't been to college because there's always been a barrier, but MassReconnect is huge because it takes the financial barrier away." More: Mount Wachusett spent $32.6 million on payroll in 2023 - who are the top earners? Removing barriers for disenfranchised students Besides the state-wide free college program, MWCC has also committed to addressing social and economic oppression and systemic racism by adopting the MA Board of Higher Education Equity Agenda and the Department of Higher Education's Strategic Plan for Equity. Henne said the college is experiencing a 32% increase in enrolled students of color. Starting in the fall semester, there were 363 Black students, 759 Latino students, 89 Asian and Pacific Islanders students, and eight Native American students. She said she has worked in other public and private colleges, but it's impressive how welcoming MWCC can be. The college has an academic success advisor who focuses on supporting MWCC students who identify as LGBTQ+. "We're doing everything we can to bring individuals from our community who may have never stepped on a college campus before and talk to them about access and what that means," she said. "We are always learning more from our students on what we need to do to address those issues of social and economic oppression." There are many variables on why there is a spike in community college enrollment. In addition to MWCC having student support services, Henne said the connection between faculty and students has a lot of influence. She said students and faculty at MWCC have the opportunity to build a relationship because of the small class sizes, with about 15 students per class. "For many students, they don't feel like they're an imposter (here) because they get to know the faculty and their peers," she said. "Our faculty care so much about their students." Upcoming information sessions at MWCC According to Henne, the college has prioritized bringing prospective students to campus by offering more tours and information sessions at both the Gardner and Leominster campuses. She said they have also made it easy for prospective students to talk and meet with them through Zoom and phone calls. Every Friday is FAFSA Friday on the Gardner campus, a day to help new and returning students navigate financial aid and get more information on MASSReconnect. The college also holds bi-weekly MASSReconnect information sessions on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For more information about these sessions, visit the college's website at mwcc.edu/admissions. On Thursday, April 4, between 5 and 7 p.m. at the Gardner campus, MWCC will host an open house. To register, go to https://mwcc.edu/admissions/open-house. This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner enrollment up for spring 'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed faces up to 18 months in prison following her involuntary manslaughter conviction in Halyna Hutchins' 2021 death Gabriela Campos-Pool/Getty Images; Mat Hayward/Getty Images Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and Halyna Hutchins Halyna Hutchins' family is speaking out after Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins' October 2021 death. "Halynas parents and her sister have always wanted everyone who is responsible for Halynas death to be held accountable," a statement issued by Hutchins' family attorneys, Gloria Allred and John Carpenter, obtained by PEOPLE reads. "Today was the first trial and conviction in the criminal justice process. We are satisfied that the jury, based on the evidence, found Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty beyond a reasonable doubt for her part in the taking of Halynas life." "We look forward to the justice system continuing to make sure that everyone else who is responsible for Halyna's death is required to face the legal consequences for their actions," the attorneys added. A jury at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico found Wednesday that Gutierrez-Reed, 26 was liable, in part, for the on-set fatal shooting of Hutchins, who died at 42 years old. Gutierrez-Reed was acquitted of a separate charge of tampering with evidence. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Jim Weber - Pool/Getty Hannah Gutierrez-Reed on March 1, 2024 Related: 'Rust' Armorer Speaks Out About Criminal Charges: 'We Intend to Bring the Full Truth to Light' Gutierrez-Reed was the armorer hired for the indie Western film Rust, which Alec Baldwin starred in and produced. During a rehearsal on the set at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021, Baldwin, 65, held a prop gun that happened to be loaded with live rounds and discharged, shooting director Joel Souza and cinematographer Hutchins. Souza, 50, survived his injuries; Baldwin has maintained he did not pull the trigger. In her closing argument on Wednesday, prosecutor Kari Morrissey said, "The astonishing lack of diligence with regard to gun safety is without question a significant cause of the death of Halyna Hutchins," per ABC News. "This is not a case where Hannah Gutierrez made one mistake, and that one mistake was accidental -- putting a live round into that gun," Morrissey told jurors. "This case is about constant, neverending, safety failures that resulted in the death of a human being and nearly killed another." Defense attorney Jason Bowles said during his closing argument that Gutierrez Reed was a "convenient fall person" and that detectives did not conduct a thorough investigation of the Oct. 2021 shooting. Bowles told PEOPLE following the verdict that the defense will appeal. Rachel Luna/WireImage; Mat Hayward/Getty/AMC Networks Alec Baldwin; Halyna Hutchins Related: Halyna Hutchins' Family Attorney Says SAG-AFTRA's Defense of Alec Baldwin 'Flies in the Face of Common Sense' Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered that Gutierrez-Reed be remanded into custody at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center following the guilty verdict. She faces up to 18 months in prison with the conviction. A sentencing date has not been set. Baldwin was also charged with involuntary manslaughter in January 2023, but the criminal case against the actor was delayed when those charges were dropped three months later. He was indicted for a second time this past January. Baldwin's criminal trial is expected to begin Aug. 6, per New Mexico court documents obtained by PEOPLE. He has pled not guilty to the new charge. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A cargo ship carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip leaves the port of southern Mersin province, Turkiye, on March 7, 2024. Turkiye sent Thursday a ship to the Gaza Strip carrying 2,737 tonnes of humanitarian aid, a collaborative effort of Turkish organizations led by the Turkish Red Crescent. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) ANKARA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye sent Thursday a ship to the Gaza Strip carrying 2,737 tonnes of humanitarian aid, a collaborative effort of Turkish organizations led by the Turkish Red Crescent. The aid will reach Egypt's Al-Arish port, and then be loaded onto trucks for Gaza, Turkish Red Crescent President Fatma Meric Yilmaz told reporters in the port of southern Mersin province. The aid includes food parcels, clothes and hygiene items, as well as shelter materials and medical equipment, among others. Turkiye had previously sent humanitarian supplies in 12 planes and six ships after war erupted between Israel and Hamas in October last year. The country has also received more than 300 wounded and sick from Gaza for treatment since the onset of the conflict. A cargo ship carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip leaves the port of southern Mersin province, Turkiye, on March 7, 2024. Turkiye sent Thursday a ship to the Gaza Strip carrying 2,737 tonnes of humanitarian aid, a collaborative effort of Turkish organizations led by the Turkish Red Crescent. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) Epic Games touted the European Unions (EU) new tech regulations on Friday, after Apple agreed to reinstate the Fortnite makers developer account as it looks to launch a competing app store for iOS devices in Europe. Apple has told us and committed to the European Commission that they will reinstate our developer account, Epic said in an update. This sends a strong signal to developers that the European Commission will act swiftly to enforce the Digital Markets Act and hold gatekeepers accountable. Epic, which announced last month that it had secured a developer account to bring the Epic Games Store to iOS in Europe, said Wednesday that Apple had terminated its account and accused the iPhone maker of violating the EUs Digital Markets Act (DMA). In an email to Epic founder and CEO Tim Sweeney, Apple said it did not believe the video game developer intended to follow its new rules under the DMA, based on Sweeneys recent criticism of Apples DMA compliance plan and Epics previous decision to break its App Store payment rules. Epic intentionally sought to bypass the App Stores payment system in protest of Apples rules in 2020, prompting the iPhone maker to block Fortnite from the App Store and leading to a yearslong legal battle between the two companies. Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Market, said Thursday that regulators were looking into Apples decision to terminate Epics developer account as a matter of priority. Apple ultimately reinstated Epics developer account, saying the Fortnite maker had committed to follow the rules, including our DMA policies. Sweeney described the dispute and resolution between Epic and Apple on Friday as the first major challenge and first major victory for the DMA. A big win for European rule of law, for the European Commision, and for the freedom of developers worldwide to speak up, the Epic CEO added in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Breton also touted Apples decision on Friday, saying that the DMA is already showing very concrete results. The DMA, which took effect this week, targets six of the worlds largest tech companies. Apple is joined by Amazon, Facebooks parent company Meta, Googles parent company Alphabet, Microsoft and TikToks parent company ByteDance in facing the new rules aimed at increasing competition in the tech sector. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) hold a joint press conference at the Dolmabahce Presidental office. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa Turkey has renewed its offer to bring Ukrainian and Russian officials together for peace talks, as opposed to Kiev's proposal to initially exclude Russia from an international summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday in Istanbul. "We are ready to host a peace summit in which Russia will also participate," Erdogan told a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. Ankara is ready to mediate to "end the war with a fair peace based on negotiations," Erdogan said. "We dont see how we can invite people who will block, destroy and kill everything," Zelensky said, citing Kiev's plans for a possible summit in Switzerland, initially without Russia's participation. Russians can only be called after "the civilized countries of the world will prepare a detailed plan," said Zelensky whose plan envisages a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. The two leaders also discussed secure food export corridors, navigational safety in the Black Sea as well prisoner exchange between Kiev and Moscow, Erdogan added. Ankara intends to discuss the continuation of the Black Sea grain deal which the UN and Turkey brokered in July 2022, Erdogan added. Under this agreement, Russia has offered security guarantees for Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea. However, after the agreement expired in July 2023, Kiev secures its own corridor along the coastline through which freighters could safely call at Ukrainian ports. Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for over two years with Western help. Turkey served as a venue for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine after the war started - even as Ankara provided Kiev with arms, most strategically combat drones. Zelensky earlier on Friday visited shipyards in Istanbul where Turkey is building two corvette warships for Ukraine. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) arrive for a joint press conference following their meeting at the Dolmabahce Presidental office. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a joint press conference with with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (not pictured) at the Dolmabahce Presidental office. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa Erdogan has been in power since 2003 (OZAN KOSE) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said that the country's March local elections would be his last, suggesting an end to his more than two decades in power. It was the first time that Erdogan, who has been in power since 2003, has spoken about leaving office. "I am working non-stop. We're running around breathlessly because for me, it's a final," said the president at a meeting of the TUGVA young Turks foundation. "With the authority that the law confers on me, this election is my last election." The 70-year-old leader expressed confidence that his conservative Justice and Development (AKP) party would nonetheless remain in power even after he has left office. He said that the results of the March 31 local elections would be "a blessing for the brothers who come after me. There will be a transfer of confidence". The AKP is hoping to regain the mayorship of Istanbul in the elections later this month, having seen it taken by the opposition in 2019. Erdogan was himself mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998. He was then elected prime minister in 2003 when the premier was the dominant figure in Turkish politics. That changed when Erdogan was elected president in 2014, following three terms as prime minister. A constitutional change in 2017 then turned Turkey from a parliamentary system into an executive presidency, abolishing the position of prime minister and ensuring that Erdogan's grip on power remained unchanged. Further election successes in 2018 and last year have meant that Erdogan's often controversial rule has extended into a third decade. Internet users were quick to pour scorn on Erdogan's claim to be nearing the end of his political hegemony. "Don't believe it," human rights activist Ercan Ozcan wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "We know he tries to modify the constitution to ensure his re-election again and again." Erdogan has built up a reputation as an unbeatable leader since his AKP party came to power in 2002. However, his drawing power has waned a little in recent years. His candidates for the mayorship in Istanbul -- the country's economic hub -- and the capital Ankara were both beaten in 2019. And last May in the presidential election, he was taken to a second-round run-off for the first time. ach/bc/imm Fox News Digital has learned the U.S. State Department is requesting that the Marines deploy a security team to Haiti as gang violence continues to spiral into chaos. "We have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said. "We are constantly monitoring the political and security situation and will take steps as circumstances warrant. "The U.S. Embassy remains open with limited staffing and will continue to provide assistance to U.S. citizens as necessary. We are committed to working toward our objectives in Haiti, which include bringing security, stability, and prosperity to the Haitian people." "U.S. citizens wishing to depart Port-au-Prince should monitor local news and information on security conditions from commercial transportation providers and should arrange to leave Haiti when security conditions and commercial transportation options permit doing so," the spokesperson added. HAITI EXTENDS A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND NIGHTTIME CURFEW TO TRY AND REPEL WIDESPREAD GANG ATTACKS A State Department official told Fox News Digital that individuals seeking information "should continue to use the phone number and email address listed on the Embassy website." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP A U.S. Defense official originally told Marine Corps Times that an antiterrorism security team was deployed to Haiti this week but issued a correction on Friday, admitting that he had misunderstood the status of the mission or what personnel were involved. Questions remain about the status of any such mission, and the Pentagon said it will continue assessing its options. "At this time, we are exploring our contingency options to ensure the security of our personnel at our embassy in Haiti," a Pentagon spokesperson told Fox News Digital, stressing, "No decisions have been made." ROYAL FAMILY OF HAITI GANG THAT KIDNAPPED AMERICAN MISSIONAIRES TAKEN DOWN BY FEDS BEFORE JAILBREAK BATTLE Maj. Mason Englehart, a spokesman for Marine Corps Forces South, told Fox News Digital that the Marines have no plans to deploy a FAST platoon, which conducts "rapid worldwide deployments to provide security to vital national assets," including U.S. embassies. "While no decision has been made, the Department of Defense is working with the State Department on exploring options to ensure the security of our personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti," Englehart said. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry assumed power in 2021 after the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. Henrys predecessor, Claude Joseph, initially took over as acting president, but just months later agreed to step down and take on the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs. The country has failed to hold elections and choose a proper new president, and a meeting of Caribbean leaders in Guyana last week decided on a mid-2025 deadline to try and hold elections again. GANGS IN HAITI TRY TO SEIZE CONTROL OF MAIN AIRPORT IN NEWEST ATTACK ON KEY GOVERNMENT SITES Henry departed Haiti last week to attend the meeting and then travel on to Kenya to make a last-minute bid for the East African countries to resurrect an international coalition of police who would deploy Haiti to help install order. On his return, he found himself effectively locked out of Haiti. Henry planned to fly to the Dominican Republic, but the Dominican government announced it had suspended all air traffic with Haiti, forcing him to travel instead to Puerto Rico as he sought to return to his country. Jimmy Cherizier, a former elite police officer who leads a federation of gangs that have claimed responsibility for the attacks, has repeatedly warned that Henry will not be allowed to return to the country. Armed gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier and his men are seen in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Tuesday. "Our goal is to break the system," Cherizier told reporters at an impromptu conference in a slum in Port-au-Prince. "We are fighting against Ariel with the last drop of our blood." The U.S. Embassy in Haiti has issued a number of security alerts, warning that its office would conduct limited operations and cancel all appointments through March 12. The embassy declared a state of emergency and has strongly urged Americans, "Do not travel to Haiti." Gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier speaks into his phone before a mission, as two of his men watch, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Tuesday. The embassy cited "gang-related violence and its effects on transportation and infrastructure" as the greatest concerns for continued services. "Persons with scheduled appointments should NOT attempt to come to the Embassy until further notice; conditions may not allow the U.S. Embassy to admit persons who arrive through March 12," the embassy wrote. "At this time, the U.S. Embassy is not able to facilitate air travel for private citizens," the embassy warned. "U.S. citizens are advised to regularly monitor our webpage for Alerts which may include updates on options to depart Haiti." "We also recommend consulting with commercial carriers who operate flights into and out of Haiti, and travel agencies," the notice continued. "Private carriers and many travel agencies provide timely information on available options to depart the country." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Escalating Haiti gang violence chaos could trigger deployment of Marine security team Estonia intends to sign an agreement on security cooperation with Ukraine as part of the declaration of the Group of Seven (G7) leaders adopted at the NATO Summit in Vilnius following other countries example. Source: Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna at a press conference after the meeting of foreign ministers of the Baltic states, Ukraine and France in Vilnius on 8 March, European Pravda reports Details: "We are going to sign a bilateral agreement between Estonia and Ukraine for long-term commitments (in military aid ed.)," Tsahkna said. He noted that Estonia has invested 1.4% of its GDP in military support for Ukraine and will continue to do so, including approving a new military aid package for Kyiv next week. "When we sign the bilateral agreement between Estonia and Ukraine, we promise and commit to allocate 0.25% of our GDP per year for military support," the Estonian foreign minister stated. Tsahkna called on other Western countries to make the same commitment, which would allow Ukraine to expect 120 billion euros of military support per year "enough to drive the Russians out" of Ukrainian territory. Earlier, Estonian President Alar Karis stated that Tallinn would provide Ukraine with 1.2 billion in aid until 2027. Reminder: As of today, Ukraine has signed security agreements with the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Canada and the Netherlands. Support UP or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Ethiopia is considering scrapping a plan to recognize the breakaway state of Somaliland, amid international pressure to defuse regional tensions over the proposal, according to people familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg Landlocked Ethiopia signed an initial agreement with Somaliland in January that would make it the first nation to recognize the sovereignty of the semi-autonomous region of Somalia, in return for 50 years of access to the Gulf of Aden. The accord triggered an uproar in neighboring countries, with Somalia saying it would defend its territorial integrity and Egypt and other nations urging caution. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, held talks last week in Nairobi where the matter was discussed. Abiy expressed his willingness to step back from the deals most controversial elements in an effort to restore relations with Somalia, said the people who asked not to be identified as theyre not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Ethiopian officials privately told foreign officials that the country may be willing to drop its recognition of Somaliland, according to five foreign officials who were briefed on Addis Ababas stance. Ruto also raised the matter in a meeting with Somalian President Hassan Sheikh, who was visiting Kenya at the same time as Abiy. Ruto told Bloomberg in an interview in January that his administration was trying to persuade Ethiopia to consider other options beyond its demand for a port, though its unclear what those options are. Ethiopia has yet to officially pull back from the deal with Somaliland, and Abiy remains keen on achieving his objective of attaining direct access to the coast, the people said. Never miss an episode. Follow the Big Take podcast on iHeart, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. Read the transcript. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 after the eruption of a civil war. Since then, its been pushing for international recognition that would allow it to source foreign funding and aid. The deal with Ethiopia long desperate for greater sea access would take it a small step closer to achieving that aim. Read More: Ethiopia Says Lack of Port Access Can Fuel Future Conflict Neighboring countries and some of Ethiopias biggest donors have expressed concern that the deal which Somalia has said is illegal and would represent an annexation of its territory may spark conflict in an already volatile region. Molly Phee, the US assistant secretary of state for African affairs, told reporters on a call last month that Ethiopia should seek a deal providing it with sea access with the federal authorities in Mogadishu and not officials in Somaliland. The US and United Nations have also said the agreement may allow the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab to exploit the situation for its recruitment. The region can ill afford more conflict, Phee said. Ethiopian, Kenyan and Somali government spokespeople didnt respond to questions about the current status of the Somaliland agreement. Mustafa Ahmed, ambassador-at-large for the Somaliland government, said his state and Ethiopia remain committed to advancing the MoU into a final bilateral treaty. Ethiopian access to the sea rests on them making a formal re-recognition of the State of Somaliland based on its 1960s borders and status, he added. Why Ethiopias Red Sea Access Bid Has Region On Edge: QuickTake --With assistance from Mohammed Omar Ahmed. (Updates with comment from Somaliland official in final paragraphs) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Semafor Signals Insights from Al Jazeera, The New Arab, Politico, and El Pais The News European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday said a maritime aid corridor from Cyprus to Gaza could begin operating this weekend, a day after the U.S. announced plans to open a temporary port in the enclave to speed up humanitarian assistance. The United Nations has said that at least a quarter of Gazas population is on the brink of a famine and children are dying of hunger since the enclave has come under attack by Israeli forces following Hamas deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. US port plan criticized as a distraction Source: Al Jazeera The U.S. plan, announced during President Joe Bidens State of the Union address on Thursday, has been panned by some critics as a diversion from the issue at hand. Hundreds of thousands of people are starving in north Gaza now, and Israel is not allowing humanitarian aid to them or the rest of the Gaza Strip, the secretary general of the Palestinian National Initiative told Al Jazeera. The announcement was more theatrical and more public relations than it is a sincere attempt at bringing an end to the suffering in Gaza, said the outlets political analyst, Marwan Bishara. Bidens announcement did however help to relieve some of the pressure he faces among Democrats who have called for more aid to reach the enclave, a Middle East studies professor added but ultimately, the move reaffirmed fundamentally his support for Israel, first. Israel has stalled Cyprus aid for months Source: El Pais A Cypriot ship called the capable of carrying 200 tons of food has been docked for months as its crew awaits permission to travel to and unload its supplies in Gaza. Nicosia announced three months ago that it intended to establish a logistics hub for humanitarian relief, a plan that seemed largely forgotten until von der Leyens announcement. As a result, staff for Open Arms and the World Central Kitchen, with which it has partnered, set out to negotiate with Israel on their own, Spanish outlet El Pais reported. The maritime corridor will be the first to be established since 2007. No one enters and no one leaves without Israeli permission, and that is precisely what is needed to help hundreds of thousands of Palestinians whose lives are already hanging by a thread, El Pais Lola Hierro wrote. Gazas limited infrastructure will hamper shipments Sources: The New Arab, Politico Gaza currently does not have a functioning sea port, creating huge logistical challenges for maritime aid shipments. The port has been damaged by Israeli bombardment, while a U.S. defense department official told Politico that the security situation in the enclave presents its own set of problems. Washington will need to rely on Israel to create a security zone for the shipments, since it has said that it will not deploy American troops in the area. A ship in port is a sitting duck, the official said. You dont want to incur that risk for an asset such as that. You dont get it back. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen expressed hope Friday that a humanitarian aid corridor from Cyprus to Gaza will open this weekend, amid fears of famine in the war-torn Palestinian territory. "We are very close to opening this corridor, hopefully this Sunday," von der Leyen said following a visit to the Cypriot port of Larnaca with Cyprus's President Nikos Christodoulides. Her announcement came after US President Joe Biden, in his State of the Union address on Thursday, said the US military would establish a "temporary pier" off Gaza's coast to bring in aid. Senior US administration officials said the effort announced by Biden builds upon the maritime aid corridor proposed by Cyprus -- the closest European Union member to Gaza. The United Nations has repeatedly warned of looming famine in Gaza, and von der Leyen described the situation as "dire... a humanitarian catastrophe". She said "an initial pilot operation" would be launched on Friday, and the United Arab Emirates had helped activate the corridor "by securing the first of many shipments of goods to the people of Gaza". Von der Leyen said the initial operation would be in partnership with the World Central Kitchen, a US-based non-government organisation that provides meals in the wake of humanitarian crises and national disasters. Officials did not say where in Gaza initial shipments would go, prior to construction of the temporary pier announced by Biden. The European Commission issued a joint statement with Cyprus, the UAE, United States and United Kingdom "endorsing the activation" of the maritime aid corridor to Gaza. "The delivery of humanitarian assistance directly to Gaza by sea will be complex, and our nations will continue to assess and adjust our efforts to ensure we deliver aid as effectively as possible," the statement said. "This maritime corridor can -- and must -- be part of a sustained effort to increase the flow of humanitarian aid and commercial commodities into Gaza through all possible routes." - Israel welcomes opening - The statement added that Cyprus "will soon convene senior officials to discuss how we can accelerate this maritime channel". Britain's Foreign Secretary David Cameron, in a post on social media platform X, said his country, the United States and partners "will open a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to Gaza". But he added: "We continue to urge Israel to allow more trucks into Gaza as the fastest way to get aid to those who need it." Christodoulides said the sea corridor aims at "scaling up" aid by complementing other routes and airdrops. A senior US administration official said the Cyprus initiative "provides a platform at the port of Larnaca for the transloading of assistance and screening by Israeli officials of Gaza-bound goods". The official added that initial shipments to the port and temporary pier built by US military personnel "will come via Cyprus". A ship could take roughly 10 hours to reach Gaza from Larnaca, about 370 kilometres (230 miles) away. Israel welcomed the planned opening of the maritime corridor. "The Cypriot initiative will allow the increase of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, after a security check according to Israeli standards," foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat said on X. Once the seaborne aid reaches Gaza, it will still have to be distributed in a war zone where humanitarians say they have been fired on, their movements have been impeded, and desperate Gazans have stormed aid trucks. "We're going to be, again, working with the UN, working with other humanitarian partners to devise a mechanism for distributing the assistance," said a senior US administration official. "It certainly will be complex to work out, but I think the more avenues we have to get assistance in, the more we will be able to reliably move it around within Gaza as well." cc-burs-it/srm By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Michele Kambas CAIRO/LARNACA, Cyprus (Reuters) -The head of the European Commission said on Friday a maritime aid corridor could start operating between Cyprus and Gaza this weekend, part of accelerating Western efforts to relieve the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave. Ursula von der Leyen's comments came a day after President Joe Biden announced plans for the U.S. military to build a "temporary pier" on Gaza's Mediterranean coast, amid U.N. warnings of famine among the territory's 2.3 million people. Negotiations on a possible ceasefire in Israel's war against Hamas, now in its fifth month, remained deadlocked in Cairo, with time running out to reach a truce in time for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, expected to begin on Sunday. EU Commission President von der Leyen said a pilot test run of food aid collected by a charity group and supported by the United Arab Emirates could be leaving Cyprus as early as Friday. "We are launching this Cyprus maritime corridor together, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States," she said after visiting facilities in Larnaca, Cyprus. "We are now very close to opening this corridor, hopefully this Saturday-Sunday and I'm very glad to see an initial pilot will be launched today." U.S. officials say building the pier described by Biden could take weeks. Meanwhile, hospitals in northern Gaza are already reporting children dying of malnutrition. The U.N. says opening up more land routes should remain the priority. "No U.S. boots will be on the ground," said Biden, who did not indicate where the planned pier might be located. Most of Gaza's coast is beach and larger ships would be unable to approach it without dredging. Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said planning for the temporary port system was still in the early stages and would take "likely up to 60 days" to complete, involving some 1,000 troops, though none would be deployed ashore. "It's going to take time to build," British foreign minister David Cameron told reporters, adding that Israel should open its port at Ashdod north of Gaza for more aid deliveries in the meantime. Some aid agencies say discussions of elaborate air and sea routes to bring aid into Gaza are a distraction when Israel is restricting existing access routes by land. "There's an easier, more efficient way of bringing in assistance and that is via the road crossings that connect Israel with Gaza," said Juliette Touma, spokesperson for UNRWA, the U.N. relief agency for the Palestinians. Michael Fakhri, a U.N. special rapporteur on the right to food, told reporters in Geneva, it was "absurd" that Washington was discussing complicated new routes to reach a territory blockaded by its own ally. "From a humanitarian perspective, from an international perspective, from a human rights perspective, it is absurd in a dark, cynical way," he said. Israel says it is not blocking aid through two checkpoints on the southern edge of Gaza, and blames U.N. and other agencies for failing to transport and deliver enough of it. Humanitarian agencies say that is nearly impossible in a war zone, and Israel is responsible for ensuring safe access. 'STOP THE KILLING' Hassan Maslah, a displaced Palestinian from Khan Younis now sheltering in Rafah, said instead of promising to build a new port, Washington should stop arming Israel. "All these American weapons are killing our kids, and killing us wherever we go. We don't need aid from them, we need them to stop the killing, stop the death," he said, as Gazans sifted through rubble nearby after another Israeli airstrike. The United States and other countries have also been airdropping supplies, though the amounts involved are small. Five Palestinians were killed and several were wounded when boxes of aid dropped by planes fell on them by mistake in northwest Gaza on Friday, said Mahmoud Basal, spokesman of the Civil Emergency Service in Gaza. Some footage showed dozens of people running as the boxes were dropped, shouting to one another to avoid the boxes. Separately, Palestinian health officials said eight people from one family had been killed in an Israeli air strike on their house in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. CEASEFIRE TALKS STALLED Time is rapidly running out for ceasefire talks to reach an agreement on a proposed six-week truce that Washington had hoped would be in place by Ramadan, expected to start on Sunday. Egyptian security sources have said the ceasefire talks, taking place in Cairo without an Israeli delegation, would resume on Sunday, amid fears that violence could escalate across the region during the Muslim holy month. Biden said reaching a deal by the start of Ramadan was "looking tough," though U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken repeated Washington's assertion that an Israeli-approved ceasefire proposal is on the table, and it is now up to Hamas to accept it. "The issue is Hamas. The issue is whether Hamas will decide or not to have a ceasefire that would benefit everyone," Blinken said. "The ball is in their court. We're working intensely on it, and we'll see what they do." Hamas rejects this characterisation of the talks as an attempt by Washington to deflect blame from Israel should the negotiations fail. Israel has said any ceasefire must be temporary and that its goal remains the destruction of Hamas. Hamas says it will release its hostages only as part of a deal that ends the war. The Islamist group precipitated the war by killing 1,200 people and abducted 253 in a rampage into Israel on Oct. 7, according to Israeli tallies. In response, Israel launched a ground offensive and aerial bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip which, as of Friday, had killed at least 30,878 Palestinians and wounded 72,402, according to the Hamas-run enclave's health ministry. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Gareth Jones and Peter Graff; Editing by Alex Richardson, Ros Russell and Diane Craft) EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in Cyprus today, Friday, to observe preparations to send aid to war-ravaged Gaza by sea. This comes just hours after US President Joe Biden announced that the military will set up a temporary port off Gaza's Mediterranean coast to support deliveries. Efforts to dramatically ramp up aid deliveries signaled growing frustration with Israel's conduct in the war in the United States and Europe. Efforts to set up a sea route for aid deliveries come amid mounting alarm over the spread of hunger among Gaza's 2.3 million people. Hunger is most acute in northern Gaza, which has been isolated by Israeli forces for months and suffered long delays in food deliveries. Risk of famine After months of warnings over the risk of famine in Gaza because of Israels bombardment, offensives and siege, hospital doctors have reported 20 malnutrition-related deaths at two northern Gaza hospitals. While reiterating his support for Israel, Biden used his State of the Union speech to reiterate demands that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allow more aid to Gaza. To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Biden declared before Congress. He also repeated calls for Israel to do more to protect civilians in the fighting, and to work toward Palestinian statehood as the only long-term solution to Israeli-Palestinian violence. US officials said it will likely be weeks before the Gaza pier is operational. Officials from the US, Europe, Israel and the Middle East were already deep in discussions and preparations for a maritime aid route. Ramadan (With newswires) Read more on RFI English Read also: Cutting UN funds to Gaza puts 'hundreds of thousands' at risk, says EU Ukraine, Gaza take centre stage at Munich Security Conference EU increases aid, calls for humanitarian pause as war rages in Gaza BRUSSELS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The European Union's (EU) Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into force on Thursday with the aim of making online markets "more open and contestable." Under the DMA, the EU has identified 22 core services, ranging from operating systems to messenger apps and social media platforms. It also designates six companies such as Alphabet, Amazon and Apple that dominate the market as "gatekeepers." They are required to fully comply with a list of dos and don'ts designed to foster competition. "Our new set of rules will now make online markets more open and contestable for small, innovative businesses to also get a fair chance of making it," EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said. For instance, the companies that dominate the market must allow users to uninstall pre-installed apps on devices, refrain from prioritizing their own services over rivals' on platforms, and provide access to app stores outside their own ecosystems. "The Commission will not hesitate to take formal enforcement action, using the entire toolbox at its disposal to fully enforce the DMA," the European Commission said in a press release. EU industry chief Thierry Breton also warned on social media platform X that the designated "gatekeeper" platforms must comply with precise obligations, or face heavy sanctions. The DMA authorizes the EU to impose fines of up to 20 percent of a company's global annual revenue for repeat violations, and even order the breakup of their business for "systematic infringements." As the DMA took effect, tech giants took steps to comply with the new rules, albeit with some resistance. Google has announced that it will provide more choices for mobile phone users to switch search engines and browsers, and enable app developers to use alternative payment systems -- although it will charge fees for doing so. Meta, Microsoft and Amazon have also announced moves to appease regulators, while trying to protect core revenue streams. "A number of the new rules involve difficult trade-offs that will impact the people and businesses who use our products," said Oliver Bethell, head of Competition EMEA at Google. The Computer and Communications Industry Association, whose members include Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta, stressed that there is no one-size-fits-all DMA compliance solution. "The Commission must allow tech companies to still differentiate themselves from others. If not, online services might be forced to become more alike, or forced to abandon features that set them apart from their competitors." Bill Echikson, a senior fellow with the Center for European Policy Analysis, said the DMA is already reverberating beyond Europe, calling it the "Brussels Effect." There are already "copycats" around the world, he said, mentioning countries such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil and India. "Governments around the globe are gearing up to impose their own versions of the DMA." Zach Meyers, assistant director of the Centre for European Reform, pointed out that "If the DMA does not deliver quick and positive results, and especially if large firms look recalcitrant, other countries are likely to decide that their own digital competition laws must be tougher than the DMA." The DMA is just one of several new EU rules aimed at reining in tech behemoths' dominance over digital markets and content, with the EU's Digital Services Act and the AI Act still on the horizon. (Bloomberg) -- The European Union and partners including the US are set to launch a maritime aid corridor to Gaza as soon as this weekend a means to get urgent aid to desperate civilians caught in the Israel-Hamas war. Most Read from Bloomberg European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Cyprus to announce the initiative on Friday. The plan would see ships carry food and medical supplies from the Cypriot town of Larnaca across the Mediterranean Sea to Gaza, where the US plans to set up a temporary port to receive shipments. The efforts including security checks will be co-ordinated with Israel, which controls all but one of Gazas land borders as well as its territorial waters and airspace, according to a statement. The EU and the US will also work with the UK and United Arab Emirates. The move is seen as a way to top up the limited volumes of aid entering Gaza via the land border with Egypt after five months of war, which have seen Israel relentlessly bombard the enclave of 2 million people in pursuit of Hamas militants and infrastructure. The US last week started airdrops of food, though thats not seen as enough to arrest an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis. We are here because Palestinians, and in particular those in Gaza, need all our help, von der Leyen said in a statement. We are facing a humanitarian catastrophe. The EU is increasingly frustrated about the blocking of aid flows to the enclave, though the bloc remains split over its approach to Israel and its military campaign. EU leaders will address the Middle East crisis when they hold a summit in Brussels later this month, but its unclear whether they will be able to agree on a joint statement calling for a humanitarian pause or a cease-fire. US President Joe Biden said Thursday that he has ordered the military to create a temporary port on the Gaza coast, and used his State of the Union speech to call on Israel to let in more aid. However, US officials said it could take weeks to build the facility. The focus on delivering assistance comes as attempts to secure a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas temporary or otherwise have failed with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan fast approaching. Negotiations involving Israel, the US, Egypt and Qatar have led to a proposed six-week halt to fighting and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in return for dozens of Israeli hostages, though Hamas is demanding a full withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza. Read More: Hopes Fade of Gaza Cease-Fire Before Ramadan After Failed Talks Israel says it wont stop its campaign until the Iran-backed militant group is destroyed. Hamas triggered the war with its Oct. 7 invasion of Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 250 more, and Israels retaliatory campaign as left more than 30,000 dead, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. Belgium, which holds the EUs rotating presidency, conducted the first flight this week in an airdrop operation coordinated by Jordan aimed at delivering aid to Gaza. Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said that the suffering of civilians is unbearable. --With assistance from Georgios Georgiou, Thomas Hall, Gwen Ackerman and Paul Tugwell. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, speaks at the European Parliament. The conservative European People's Party (EPP) nominated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as its lead candidate for June's European Parliament elections on Thursday. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa The European Commission launched a new partnership with Mauritania to promote legal migration and combat smuggling and human trafficking, the EU authority said on Thursday. Mauritania is also to be supported in the reception of refugees. The agreement comes amid a steep increase in the number of migrants setting off from the country in north-western Africa, setting out for Spain's Canary Islands. According to official Spanish figures, more than 7,000 people have been counted since the beginning of the year. Most of them travelled from Africa across the open Atlantic to the islands in small, barely seaworthy boats. This was more than in the entire first half of 2023, which also saw a sharp increase in arrivals. In February, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised Mauritania financial support worth 210 million ($229 million), to be used for migration and humanitarian aid for migrants. According to the European Commission, the new migration agreement should also create new employment opportunities in the country and make it easier for companies to raise capital. Young people's qualifications are also to be improved, which should benefit women in particular, the commission said. The European Commission now wants to work together with its Mauritanian partners to implement the joint declaration. Ukraine will receive the first tranche of 4.5 billion under the Ukraine Facility in March, with the second tranche of 1.5 billion coming in April. Source: Interfax-Ukraine news agency, citing Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission "We are finalising the mechanism of support for Ukraine known as the Ukraine Facility," Dombrovskis said at a joint briefing with Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv on Friday, 8 March. Background: On 28 February, the Council of the European Union approved a mid-term budget revision to 2027 that envisaged the establishment of the Ukraine Facility, a four-year 50 billion assistance plan. Support UP or become our patron! The Bachelors former host Chris Harrison is set to make his big return to television with a new reality dating series. He has also signed on to co-host a morning show and contribute to Dr Phil Primetime. Harrison exited the popular Bachelor franchise in 2021 after he made controversial remarks in an Extra interview. During the interview with the first Black Bachelorette star, Rachel Lindsay, Harrison sought to defend Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell against allegations of racist and offensive behaviour by saying that he was not the woke police. He later apologised for wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism. By excusing historical racism, I defended it, he said. Harrison was replaced by former 2004 Bachelor alum Jesse Palmer after nearly 20 years with the franchise. As part of an overall deal inked with Dr Phil McGraws new broadcast network Merit Street Media which will launch on 2 April Harrison will make his return to TV to host a dating show and morning show and will contribute to the companys mainstay show, Dr Phil Primetime. Not many details about the untitled dating show have been revealed yet. However, according to Variety, Dr Phil has promised that it will be so novel, so different. It has dating elements in it, but this is so different and so novel. It is flipping the script in a way that I think people are gonna become addicted to it in a week. It is unbelievable, he said. Meanwhile, the morning chat show is expected to debut sometime in the fall or winter. Harrison will co-host the show with his wife, former Entertainment Tonight host Lauren Zima. It will be filmed at Merit Street Medias studios in Dallas, Texas, where the couple live. Chris Harrison (Getty Images) Our relationship is a big part of the morning show, Zima said to ET. The morning show were pulling together is gonna be a place for us to play, to have fun. What matters the most to both of us has always been our audience, so we want to be able to connect with them. Whats more relatable than talking about our relationship and whats going on in our own lives? Call it divine intervention, karma, kismet, whatever it is, the fact that Dr Phil created this network in my own backyard here in Dallas, it means the world to me to, not only be returning to television, but to be doing it here in a hometown crowd, Harrison added. Harrison has already been contributing to Dr Phil Primetime, where hes done some very penetrating field work having to do with some of these romance scams, these catfish type things. Hes so good on camera, Dr Phil told ET. When he walked out for the first time, the audience went insane. A former deputy jailer at the Kenton County Detention Center was sentenced this week to five years in prison for smuggling contraband inside the facility. A former deputy jailer at the Kenton County Detention Center, who admitted to smuggling contraband into the facility in exchange for online payments, will spend five years in prison. The sentence handed down Tuesday to 27-year-old Curtis Edwards in Kenton County Circuit Court matches a recommendation from prosecutors reached as part of Edwards December guilty plea to promoting contraband. Edwards arrest in April came after the detention center discovered evidence indicating that drugs were being given to inmates by a jail employee, according to the Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. An investigation by the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force revealed Edwards was receiving money from people on the outside in exchange for delivering items to inmates. At least four inmates were involved, according to prosecutors, with the brother of one of them arranging to have items delivered inside the facility through Edwards and handling orders via Cash App. Ryan King, an agent with the strike force, testified during a hearing in April that Edwards Cash App account was referenced in several chirps, or inmate text messages to friends and family members. King said agents received information about Edwards providing meth, Percocet and Suboxone a controlled substance used to treat opioid-use disorder to an inmate at the jail. Court records state that when the inmate was later searched, jail staff discovered Suboxone concealed inside a nicotine pouch container. Authorities apprehended Edwards as he returned to work from his lunch break early in the morning April 7. He was immediately fired upon his arrest, during which he was found to be carrying contraband. Edwards told authorities he'd been approached by inmates and that he'd become "too friendly with them," King said. Edwards admitted to meeting with a woman in Ohio to collect contraband, according to a criminal citation. King said Edwards was paid $505 through Cash App for the transaction. Edwards attorney has yet to respond to an email and voicemail from The Enquirer. As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors reduced the original charge of engaging in organized crime Edwards was facing in exchange for his testimony against the inmates for whom he was smuggling contraband into the jail. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ex-Kenton County jail deputy gets prison for smuggling drugs into jail A court sketch of former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez during his US trial Juan Orlando Hernandez, the ex-president of Honduras, has been found guilty of drug trafficking charges in a federal US court. Hernandez was convicted on Friday of conspiring to import cocaine into the US, and possessing "destructive devices" including machine guns. Prosecutors said the ex-president ran Honduras like a "narco-state", protecting and accepting bribes from drug traffickers. Hernandez now faces life in prison. The 55-year-old former president had denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty in the case. He was convicted by a jury in a Manhattan federal court after about two days of deliberations. Hernandez was president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022, serving for two consecutive terms. He initially ran as a law-and-order candidate who promised to address the issue of drug-related crime in the country. Instead, prosecutors accused him of partnering with "some of the world's most prolific narcotics traffickers to build a corrupt and brutally violent empire based on the illegal trafficking of tonnes of cocaine to the United States". Three months after leaving office, he was extradited to New York and arrested in April 2022 to face federal charges in the US. Hernandez was once seen as a strong US ally. During his leadership of Honduras, the country received more than $50m (39m) in anti-narcotics assistance from the US, as well as additional millions of dollars in security and military aid. In 2019, then-President Donald Trump thanked Hernandez for "working with the United States very closely". Hernandez in turn thanked Mr Trump and the American people "for the support they have given us in the firm fight against drug trafficking". Prosecutors later uncovered that Hernandez was linked with drug traffickers as far back as 2004, long before he became president, and that he had facilitated the smuggling of around 500 tonnes of cocaine to the US. They said drug traffickers paid him millions of dollars in bribes to allow cocaine to be smuggled from Colombia and Venezuela through Honduras on to the US. In one allegation, prosecutors said that Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman had given Tony Hernandez - the ex-president's younger brother - $1m (778,450) as a bribe for Juan Orlando Hernandez. During his trial, several convicted drug traffickers testified that they had bribed Hernandez. Prosecutors also alleged that he had used the drug money to then bribe officials to manipulate Honduras' 2013 and 2017 presidential elections in his favour. In his denial of the allegations, Hernandez claimed that he became a "victim of a vendetta and a conspiracy by organised crime and political enemies". "I had a policy against all those people because I could not stand them," Hernandez said of drug traffickers when testifying at his own trial. "They did a lot of damage in the country." His lawyers argued that those who testified against him were doing so for their own gain. Hernandez has been held at a Brooklyn jail since his extradition. He will be sentenced at a later date. Hernandez is not the first ex-Latin American head of state to be convicted of a drug-related crime in the US. Panama's Manuel Noriega was convicted on drug trafficking charges in a Miami court in 1992, and Guatemala's Alfonso Portillo was convicted on money laundering charges in a New York court in 2014. A former South Carolina church youth volunteer will avoid prison but must register as a sex offender and wear a GPS ankle monitor for life after admitting to illegally touching children in crimes that spanned years, according to York County court records and lawyers in the case. William Pinckney Carpenter III, 64, of Chester, pleaded guilty Wednesday to four felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child in a hearing at the Moss Justice Center in York for crimes that went from 2011 to 2021, documents show. Carpenter pleaded guilty to touching children over their clothes, said prosecutor Misti Shelton, 16th Circuit assistant deputy solicitor. The crimes happened when Carpenter was a church volunteer at two Baptist churches in Rock Hill and York, at a private home, and aboard a bus during a church activity, Shelton said. Judge Dan Hall sentenced Carpenter after agreeing to accept the negotiated plea and sentence deal made between Carpenter and prosecutors, said Shelton and Carpenters lawyer, Montrio Belton of Rock Hill. A 15-year prison concurrent sentence on each of the four convictions was suspended to probation as part of the deal, according to the lawyers and court documents in the case. A conviction can carry up to 15 years prison for each charge under South Carolina law. A plea agreement means the victims will not have to go through a trial where they would have had to publicly testify, and there is always a chance of a not-guilty verdict. Probation, sex registry Shelton, the prosecutor, said after meeting with victims and getting their input, the guilty plea and sentencing deal that mandates lifetime monitoring and Carpenter registering as a sex offender is an appropriate resolution. Probation and the sex registry have strict requirements concerning contact with children, counseling, residency, and other rules Carpenter must adhere to, Shelton said. Carpenter had no prior record and accepted responsibility by pleading guilty, Belton said. Carpenter must pay for the lifetime GPS monitoring and conform with all sex offender registry and probation rules, Belton said. Mr. Carpenter acknowledged in open court his misdeeds, Belton said after court. Hopefully this gives closure to all parties. Three of the convictions were standard guilty pleas where Carpenter admitted the crimes, and the fourth involving the bus case is what is called an Alford guilty plea, Shelton and Belton said. In an Alford plea, a defendant pleads guilty but does not have to admit guilt, yet he accepts that there is a likelihood of conviction if the case went to trial, the lawyers said. Carpenter was first arrested by York County Sheriffs Office detectives in 2022, then the State Law Enforcement Division arrested him on an additional charge last year. Offenders in South Carolina who are on probation or on the sex offender registry are listed on public Websites. The S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services lists offenders. The state sex offender registry is administered by SLED and offenders have to register with the sheriffs office in their county of residence. The public can view sex offender registry offenders by name or location. It was a Caveman, and it was on his ankle. After more than two years of resisting subpoenas to testify about deputy gangs within the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, this week former Undersheriff Tim Murakami admitted under oath that he once sported a tattoo representing the Cavemen, a controversial subgroup affiliated with the East Los Angeles station. When asked whether former Sheriff Alex Villanueva who made Murakami his No. 2 a few months after taking office knew about the ink, Murakami replied: I believe that he did. The admission marks the first time the departments former second-in-command has publicly confirmed long-standing rumors about his tattoo, which he said has since been covered up or removed. Its no longer there, he told the small group of spectators who showed up to watch his testimony at Loyola Law School as part of the Civilian Oversight Commissions 11th special hearing on deputy gangs. Over the course of four hours, Murakami admitted to knowing about at least half a dozen tattooed groups, including the Cavemen, the Indians, the Banditos, the Little Red Devils, the Grim Reapers and the Jump Out Boys some of which he said still exist within the Sheriffs Department. But he could not independently remember the name of a single tattooed deputy, and he bristled at the idea of calling the groups deputy gangs, even after one commissioner pointed out that state penal code uses the term gangs to describe rogue law enforcement groups. Repeatedly, Murakami insisted that the tattoos symbolize hard work and station pride and that there was no nefarious connotation to having deputy subgroups operate inside the department. The intent of the deputies involved is not anything bad, but the way its being perceived now, it is detrimental, he said, speaking about the tattooed groups. And about the ink itself, he said, Thats why, if people have one, I recommend they remove them. To commission Chair Sean Kennedy, the former undersheriff's admissions were both a success for oversight officials and an indication that the department has an "inherent conflict of interest" when it comes to investigating deputy gangs when so many officials have subgroup tattoos themselves. "After dodging the issue for years, Mr. Murakami under oath finally had to admit that he is a tattooed Caveman, and that more recently he altered his ankle tattoo to escape detection," Kennedy told The Times on Thursday evening. "He is the third undersheriff to date to admit having one of these tattoos." Though he showed up late, Murakamis time on the stand was less chaotic and yielded more information than the commissions last deputy gang hearing in January, which featured several hours of combative testimony from Villanueva, who frequently insulted oversight officials and was regularly interrupted by jeers and cheers from the audience. In an emailed response late Thursday, the former sheriff did not directly address the question about whether he knew about Murakami's tattoo. "I was concerned with conduct, not tattoos," he wrote. "The staffing crisis within the LASD is threatening public safety, and chasing phantom deputy gangs is not going to improve recruitment." For five decades, the Sheriffs Department has been plagued by allegations about tattooed groups of deputies running roughshod over certain stations and promoting a culture of violence. The groups are commonly known by names such as the Executioners, the Banditos, the Regulators and the Little Devils, and members typically have matching, sequentially numbered tattoos featuring macabre imagery. During his testimony, Murakami said that he got his ink at a tattoo shop on Whittier Boulevard sometime in the 1980s, when he worked at the East Los Angeles station. It was essentially a caveman carrying a club, he said. It had ELA for East Los Angeles either across the stomach or the chest. The image also featured the number 10, which Murakami said indicated that he was the 10th deputy to get that tattoo. There were six to 10 other deputies at the shop with him the day he got inked, he said, though on Thursday he could not remember any of their names. He was also unable to remember the name of the person who invited him to get the tattoo. At one point, he said hed never actually seen another deputy with the Caveman ink at the station a claim that sparked an angry outburst from one commissioner. During the four years he spent at East Los Angeles, Murakami said, he worked general patrol and on the gang suppression team, which drew a pointed question from Anthony Pacheco, the commissions special counsel. So when you had a Caveman tattoo on your ankle you worked in gang suppression? Pacheco asked. Murakami confirmed that he did. The tattoo symbolized station pride, and being recognized as a hardworking deputy, Murakami added. Read more: Cursory deputy gang probes at Lakewood, Industry stations criticized in watchdog report The former undersheriff also testified about the existence of two other tattooed groups at the East Los Angeles station the Banditos and the Little Red Devils. He said that he was not a member of either, and that of the three East L.A. groups, only the Banditos still had members in the department. After his early years in East Los Angeles, Murakami transferred to the City of Industry sheriffs station, where he spent most of his career. The station is home to a group known as the Industry Indians, whose existence first became public this year after Times reporting showed two suspected members were fired after a violent confrontation with a group of teenagers outside a bowling alley in Montclair called the Bowlium. The teens have since filed suit. Though on Thursday Murakami admitted to knowing about the group, he said that hed never actually seen an Indians tattoo and that, if he had, he would not have done anything about it. He said he believed that there were still some deputies with Indians tattoos at the station but he could not remember their names. He said he did not learn of the Bowlium brawl until after he retired, when he read about it in the news. Though he answered dozens of questions about his tattoo and the East Los Angeles subgroup, at the advice of his attorney, Murakami refused to provide any details about another tattoo that he has. Ill admit that I do have a tattoo, he said when asked about any other ink he might have. Its a private matter and nothing to do with the Sheriffs Department. Thursdays testimony was several years in the making, and it came as part of the commissions long-standing efforts to examine violent, tattooed cliques of deputies allegedly operating as gangs within the Sheriffs Department. Last year, the commissions special counsel issued a 70-page report condemning the cancer of deputy gangs and urging Sheriff Robert Luna to create a stronger policy banning the groups. The reports findings relied heavily on testimony from a series of public hearings, many of which involved witnesses testifying under oath. The commission sought testimony from both Murakami and Villanueva, but until recently both refused to comply with repeated subpoenas. Read more: Villanueva denies existence of deputy gangs as L.A. County officials seek accountability In late 2023, after several years of sparring with the countys lawyers in court, Villanueva finally agreed to testify before the commission under oath. During a four-hour hearing in January , the former sheriff repeatedly denied the existence of deputy gangs. He said hed never systematically investigated them and admitted that he did not question his top leaders about their involvement in the secretive subgroups. For years, Murakami also fought oversight officials subpoenas, at least once citing a scheduling conflict and more frequently citing medical problems. Lawyers for the county accused him of using delay tactics, alleging in a January court filing that Murakami simply does not want to submit to examination by the commission. In February, Superior Court Judge Anne Richardson ordered Murakami to obey the subpoenas. After four decades in the Sheriffs Department, Murakami leaped up the ranks after Villanueva took office in 2018. At the time, Murakami was the captain overseeing the City of Industry sheriffs station. Then, Villanueva promoted him three ranks at once, making him one of the departments assistant sheriffs. In that role, Murakami was one of three department executives Villanueva appointed to his controversial truth and reconciliation panel, which was created to reevaluate disciplinary decisions made under earlier administrations. In early 2019 , the panel sparked an outcry after its reevaluation of a case paved the way for Villanueva to rehire a deputy whod been fired in connection with allegations of domestic abuse and stalking. A few months later, Villanueva abruptly removed his second-in-command, then-Undersheriff Ray Leyva, and installed Murakami in his stead. Read more: Villanueva's top aide allegedly used racial slur to describe Black, Latino employees At one point, it appeared Murakamis position could have been in peril when the County Equity Oversight Panel recommended in 2020 that he be disciplined for allegedly using a Japanese racial slur to refer to employees of color. But Murakami, who is Japanese American, denied the accusation, and ultimately Villanueva rejected the panels recommendation . On Thursday, Murakami was asked questions about those allegations under oath, but he refused to answer after his lawyer argued that records about the matter were not considered public. A lawyer for the county explained that they were, but Murakami still refused to answer questions about them and his lawyer maintained that publishing them would be a violation of law. Afterward, Kennedy told The Times that the commission will now have to decide whether to seek a court order requiring Murakami to answer questions about the equity panel's findings. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A former Wichita police officer has been stripped of his law enforcement certification after he tested positive for marijuana and lied about it during an investigation, according to the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training. The organization, known as KSCPOST, oversees officer certifications. Donielle Watson was employed by WPD from January 12, 2004 until he was fired on Dec. 30, 2022. In an emailed statement from his lawyer, Watson said I know in my heart that I told the truth throughout this matter but, unfortunately, CPOST reached a different conclusion. I can finish this chapter in my life with a clean conscience and with disappointment in the way the system worked. Watson was a well-known officer in the community during his 18-year career. He was named the Willard Garvey Crime Prevention Officer of the Year in 2019. He also often appeared on social media videos on the departments juvenile intervention unit that he helped create in 2020. He also was among officers involved in a text message scandal. Watson sent a photoshopped, racist image of George Floyd to another officer as rioters took to the streets after Floyds death in May 2020. That officer sent the message to other officers, some of whom were on the SWAT team. The 10-page document on the order of revocation gave this account of the marijuana incident: Watson was asked to take a random drug test on July 18, 2022. His test came back positive for marijuana/THC and as a result he was suspended for 160 hours. During an internal department investigation after the positive test result, Watson denied intentionally using THC and said he may have unintentionally ingested THC while he was on vacation from June 4-9, 2022 in Belize. In his testimony at a hearing with the KSCPOST, Watson said that while he was in Belize, he met some people who were smoking marijuana and they offered him some. He declined and instead accepted Garifuna cigarettes. Watson said he smoked two of these cigarettes and later learned that the cigarettes are sometimes dipped in a substance containing THC. Watson said his positive test for THC on July 18, 2022 was the result of smoking the two Garifuna cigarettes in early June in Belize. A Wichita detective working on the case interviewed two forensic toxicology experts who did not believe that it was possible for Watson to produce a positive test for THC metabolites unless he had also ingested THC after, and also possibly before, his Belize vacation. They said he must have used THC closer to the July 18 random testing date. After Watson was fired, WPD notified the KSCPOST of his termination. During a hearing, Watson maintained that he had been honest with the department and the commission. And since the WPD had never previously terminated the employment of anyone who violated the WPD drug and alcohol policy,Watson had no reason to lie about using illegal substances, according to the account in the KSCPOST report. After the hearing, the commission revoked his license on the grounds of unprofessional conduct, contending that Watson had used a controlled substance unlawful to possess and made false statements during official communications. Ex-WWE wrestler was dressed as 'Ken' from 'Barbie' movie during alleged killing at Vegas hotel A former congressional candidate and professional wrestler accused in the death of a man in a Las Vegas Strip hotel was dressed as "Ken" when the alleged deadly incident happened during a Halloween party. Daniel Rodimer, 45, who was endorsed by former President Trump, was reportedly dressed as Ken from the "Barbie" movie when he got in an altercation with Christopher Tapp, 47, during a Halloween party last year at Resorts World. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said medical personnel responded to a call inside a hotel room on Oct. 29 and found Tapp injured. Tapp died at Sunrise Hospital on Nov. 5 and authorities began investigating the death as suspicious. His death was ruled a homicide. LAS VEGAS COURTROOM ATTACK HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST JUDGES: EXPERTS Daniel Rodimer, 45, was reportedly dressed as Ken, played by actor Ryan Gosling, in the "Barbie" movie, during a deadly incident at a Las Vegas hotel. Rodimer surrendered to police on Wednesday after an arrest warrant was issued. His attorneys said he "intends on vigorously contesting the allegations." He posted his $200,000 bail Wednesday night. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP According to court documents obtained by KVVU-TV, Rodmier believed Tapp had offered his stepdaughter cocaine. A guest at the party described seeing "angry Ken" pull off the fur coat that was part of his costume and charge toward a bathroom where lines of cocaine had been laid out. Others claimed Rodimer pushed Tapp to the floor and punched him, the documents state. SUSPECTED TUPAC SHAKUR KILLER DUANE KEFFE D DAVIS TO RETURN TO COURT Daniel Rodimer speaks during a rally for U.S. Vice President Mike Pence at the Boulder City Airport on October 8, 2020 in Boulder City, Nevada. Rodimer was allegedly dressed as "Ken" from the "Barbie" movie during a deadly incident at a hotel on the Vegas Strip. Further evidence against Rodimer includes text exchanges between him and his ex-wife. "I had to take your hands off his neck as he laid there and you ran away," a text message to Rodimer from his ex-wife read. "And I spent the next two hours trying to take care of him. Nobody should have to watch their husband murder somebody." Tapp had previously served 20 years in prison for the 1996 rape and murder of an 18-year-old Idaho woman. He was released in 2017 and exonerated in 2019. Another man pleaded guilty to the crime. Rodimer competed as a professional wrestler in the WWE from 2004 to 2007. He then ran unsuccessfully twice for Congress as a Republican. He lost against Democratic Rep. Susie Lee in 2020 for her seat in Nevada's District 3. Rodimer then moved to Texas, where he ran in a 2021 special election to fill the seat left vacant by GOP Rep. Ron Wright, who died in office after contracting COVID-19. As one of 23 candidates, Rodimer garnered less than 3% of the vote. Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Pritchett and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Ex-WWE wrestler was dressed as 'Ken' from 'Barbie' movie during alleged killing at Vegas hotel HELSINKI, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Finland will deploy soldiers to participate in two operations in the Red Sea, the government announced on Friday. Finland will take part in the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES operation led by the European Union (EU) with a maximum of five soldiers, and in Operation Prosperity Guardian led by the United States with a maximum of two soldiers. The soldiers will carry out staff duties, the government said in a press release. Several European countries have been involved in both operations. EU and the United States said these operations aim to protect the passage of ships in the Red Sea region. The Biden administration is warning senior Republicans in Congress that a multinational force to Haiti cannot deploy unless they lift their longstanding hold on the release of key U.S. funds, a potentially significant hurdle for the White House as it addresses a dire crisis in the Caribbean nation, McClatchy has learned. The quiet, monthslong dispute between the White House and senior GOP leadership over the funding request became heated this week, as the prospect of Haitis government falling to gangs became a palpable fear across Washington. Any delay in the deployment of the force, to be led by Kenyan police, could be fatal to Haitis government, which is now under broad assault by a united front of powerful gangs throughout the nations capital, Port-au-Prince. Biden administration officials are accusing the staffs of the top Republican lawmakers on the foreign affairs committees in the House and Senate of ignoring their urgent requests for meetings in recent days. A senior administration official told McClatchy that they have provided 63 briefings and answered 35 written responses answering questions from the GOP offices. But on Capitol Hill, aides to the two lawmakers, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas and Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, are accusing the administration of stonewalling critical questions on the size of the force. A senior State Department official told McClatchy that the release of roughly $40 million in pledged funds would in fact be needed for deployment, to pay for training equipment, personnel kits and uniforms for the forces. Two other senior administration officials said that a failure by Congress to provide the funds could imperil the commitments of allies, who have also pledged to contribute to the mission. The dispute jeopardizes more than a year-and-a-half of efforts to establish a Multinational Security Support mission, referred to as an MSS, with international partners. After a worldwide search for a country to lead it, Kenya stepped up, offering to deploy 1,000 police officers to the mission. The force will also include security personnel from other nations, five of which have officially notified the United Nations Security Council of their intentions. Only 400 of them have been trained and properly vetted for past human rights violations, a requirement under U.S. law for the force to receive funding. While the nation of Benin has recently offered to contribute 2,000 additional forces, the vetting process for them will also take time. U.S. officials said the initial deployment of 400 Kenyan forces was always part of the international plan to scale up their force posture. Republicans have also expressed concerns about the overall cost of the mission, which was approved for one year in October by the U.N. Security Council. A senior Biden administration official previously told the Miami Herald that the latest estimate from the Office of Management and Budget has put the missions price tag at between $515 million and $600 million for two years. The U.S. has pledged up to $200 million to fund the mission. Of that amount, the administration made an initial request for $50 million from Congress. Lawmakers partially released $10 million, sparking debate over the remaining funds. Congressional Republicans argue that even if they were to release the funds immediately, the logistics arent in place for the mission to actually proceed. I appreciate the urgency of the situation, but even if there was a will to get things underway urgently, I think there are significant doubts that it is even possible, one of the aides said. Four hundred Kenyans are ready, but the base isnt. [The Department of Defense] has to make the base ready. DoD needs 45 days to get it there. READ MORE: Rushing home on a rerouted jet, Haitis prime minister is pressured by U.S. to resign The Defense Department intends to construct a base for the MSS next to the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, where previous United Nations peacekeeping operations have been installed. The senior State Department official said that the Haiti National Police force remains in control of the airport, and that plans for the base are still feasible. But all international flights have been canceled indefinitely due to gunfire around the airport, and gang forces have encircled the facility. A U.S. deportation flight to the airport last Thursday was canceled due to a firefight endangering the airspace. Its not well-planned, and to be asking to all of the sudden airdrop 400 Kenyans onto a base that is at the international airport that is currently being attacked doesnt seem like a wise choice, one congressional aide said. One U.S. official told McClatchy that the Pentagon was reevaluating the security requirements for the base to remain at the airport. The plan remains to keep the airport as the headquarters. But more pointedly, the administration has accused congressional Republicans of using violence at the airport as a recent excuse for a hold they have otherwise put in place for 146 days well before gang violence surged. Secretary of State Antony Blinken technically has the authority to override the congressional hold a move that most secretaries of state in the past have viewed as a nuclear option that could backfire on them, both politically in the short-term and when the balance of power shifts in Washington. The senior State Department official would not speculate what threshold of crisis would have to be met in Haiti for Blinken to turn to that authority. For now, the official added, its not necessary. Another official said that the administration believes it is still possible to reach agreement on an issue that has historically earned bipartisan support. We have been in constant engagement with them on this for quite some time, have tried to be responsive of their concerns, and its something that were continuing to try to work with them on, the State Department official said. The notion that we think this mission is flawed one, there is risk to anything. But two, we believe in this. We legitimately believe in this. And thats why the secretary has spent so much time working on this. Even if the hold were to be lifted or overridden, the U.N. mechanism designed to distribute the funds is not fully set up yet, one of the congressional aides noted. One U.S. official said that the operations of the U.N. Trust Fund were being held up by a U.N. Human Rights Due Diligence Policy review, which is set to be finalized as early as this weekend. READ MORE: Biden rejects U.S. troop deployment as Haiti crisis spirals On Wednesday, McClatchy reported on internal concerns within the U.S. government that the force size of the MSS and the late hour of its potential deployment might be too little and too late to meet the moment. Meanwhile, congressional Republicans remain skeptical about the exact length and contours of the MSS, which the U.N. Security Council authorized in October. Aides said that administration officials have yet to provide a precise timeline for the deployment or guidance on what an effective mission would look like. This right now is authorized for a year. Its up in October and theres no one there yet, one of the congressional aides said. How long is this mission going to be around? Is it always going to be a DoD enabled mission until theres an election in Haiti? They also said the administration has yet to determine the logistics hub of the force, which could be anywhere from Puerto Rico or Miami to Washington, D.C. Youre asking us to do a mission that you dont actually know what its going to look like, the congressional aide added. What are the benchmarks? What is success? Miami Herald Caribbean Correspondent Jacqueline Charles contributed reporting. Breonte Johnson-Davis Weeks after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement concluded an independent investigation, the Bradenton Police Department is still investigating the death of Breonte Johnson-Davis a 36-year-old man from Palmetto who died while under arrest by Palmetto police. Bradenton Police Officer Julian Jackson was among five local law enforcement officers who apprehended Johnson-Davis on Nov. 1. In a report emailed by Jackson to the Palmetto PD, he indicated Johnson-Davis had already been apprehended when he tasered by other responding officers. It was while Johnson was under their control, that Palmetto PD Corporal Matthew Wilson responded and tasered Johnson-Davis "to get compliance from the male," Jackson wrote. Soon after Johnson-Davis was handcuffed and placed into a "recovery position," but he became unresponsive while on the scene. In case you missed it: FDLE investigation finds no wrongdoing in Taser use, death of Breonte Johnson-Davis More: Palmetto Police Chief says agency complies with use of force reporting amid FDLE probe It took roughly 7.5 minutes for officers to subdue Johnson-Davis, and then it took 8 minutes to resuscitate him before he was transported to Manatee Memorial Hospital. He died roughly 36 hours later, records show. The Bradenton PD did not release any records or more information related to the incident and told the Herald-Tribune the case is still under internal investigation. Interviews between BPD and the Palmetto police officers involved are scheduled for next week, other records acquired by the Herald-Tribune show. An independent investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement concluded on Feb. 20, where the state agency concluded that officers did not use excessive force in deploying a taser on Johnson-Davis twice. Johnson-Davis' death has distressed many who knew him. It led to community protests, including at city meetings where his loved ones questioned city officials about the circumstances surrounding the case. What happened to Breonte BPD officer Jackson was traveling down 8th Avenue W. in his marked Bradenton police vehicle when he saw PPD officer Caleb Cottom attempting to apprehend Johnson, who was rolling around and screaming on the hood of his police vehicle. The call to law enforcement had been made by Circle K employees, who said Johnson-Davis was throwing items and acting aggressively inside the store. Jackson indicated Johnson-Davis appeared to be highly intoxicated and experiencing an episode of excited delirium. The assertion was corroborated by a medical examiner report, which indicates traces of Methamphetamine and N, N-Dimethylpentylone were found in Johnson's system during his autopsy. "I activated my emergency lights and attempted to help the officer take the male into custody," Jackson wrote in an email to Palmetto PD recounting his involvement. "Due to the male's actions, I assisted the Palmetto PD officer by taking the male to the ground. I took the male to the ground by wrapping my arms around the shoulders of the male and using his momentum moving forward to take him to the ground." "Once the male was on the ground, I was able to successfully grab his left arm and pin it behind his back," Johnson said. "At this time more Palmetto Police officers arrived on scene and assisted in placing the male in protective custody under the Florida Marchman Act. While assisting Palmetto PD officers, they used a taser to get compliance from the male." Jackson said his involvement in the incident ended soon after EMS arrived. He did not have his body cam turned on, but can be seen in action in body-cam footage captured by the Palmetto PD officers, records show. In his incident report, Cottom wrote Johnson-Davis was running down 8th Avenue. "The subject did not appear to have mental cognizance to comply," Cottom wrote. "I and other officers fought with the subject on the ground attempting to place the subject into handcuffs for restraint," he wrote. "The subject refused to comply and CPL Wilson was forced to deploy his taser to gain compliance." Opioids in Manatee: SRQ families endure lasting effects of opioid addiction More: 'I forgive you': 2 sisters move past grief to help Manatee County man who killed their brother However Cottom indicated Johnson-Davis then continued to roll on the ground afterward, and that is the state in which EMS found him when they arrived. "The subject did continue to roll around on the ground and was not capable of making any intelligible communication," Cottom wrote. "EMS was summoned to the scene to assess the subjects welfare. Upon EMS arrival the subject was still rolling around and grunting, hindering their ability to determine vital signs. A short time later the subject ceased any movement and it was determined the subject no longer had a viable pulse." Palmetto PD Sgt. Vincent Diorio confirmed Cottom and BPD officer Jackson were able to bring Johnson-Davis to the ground when Corporal Michael Wilson arrived, and tasered Johnson-Davis twice after he had been apprehended. According to the medical examiner's office report, there is evidence the first taser deployment was "probably incomplete," and that there were skin blisters consistent with the second deployment of the taser in drive-stun mode. Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler said the incomplete deployment is likely the reason for the second tasering of Johnson-Davis. Johnson-Davis was cuffed after being tasered, medical examiner records indicate. According to his report, upon EMS confirmation Breonte had no pulse, Dorio immediately began to administer CPR while paramedics retrieved their LUCAS-CPR machine. They paused briefly to remove Breonte's handcuffs to free his arms. According to the Medical Examiner's report, it took eight minutes to resuscitate Johnson-Davis at the scene. He was transported to the Manatee Memorial Hospital and a Marchman Act was completed. There were no criminal allegations made by Circle K personnel. Wilson indicated it was EMS that eventually turned Johnson-Davis on his stomach to monitor his vitals, and it was then that Diorio noticed that Johnson-Davis was no longer responding. It took roughly 8 minutes to resuscitate him. Johnson-Davis died after about 36 hours of medical supportive care at Manatee Memorial Hospital on Nov. 2. State Attorney Ed Brodsky's office declined the case. In communication with Palmetto police, Chief Assistant State Attorney Cynthia Evers said the office determined Wilson deployed the taser "to restrain Breonte Johnson-Davis for his protection and protection of others." "Based on the facts and circumstances stated above, the officers' actions in this case were justified and reasonable in their efforts to detain Mr. Johnson-Davis, and their actions did not play a role in Mr. Johnson-Davis's death as determined by the Chief Medical Examiner," Evers wrote. Medical Examiner report Paramedics arrived to find Johnson-Davis lying on the ground, handcuffed with taser barbs attached to his back, according to medical examiner documents. In a case summary, District 12 Medical Examiner investigator Michael Rogers wrote in his case summary that officers said Johnson-Davis had been tasered when he ran into the road. "The officer advised the descendent had been acting erratically, and he ran into the road when they deployed the taser," Rogers wrote in his case summary. Community reaction: Palmetto family rallies, calls for answers from police in death of son last November Medical Examiner Russell Vega opined it was likely the drugs and mild heart disease and not the force used by law enforcement that caused Johnson-Davis to go into cardiac arrest just more than seven minutes after his encounter with police officers. According to the report the presence of methamphetamine and N, N-Dimethylpentylone were found in Johnson-Davis' blood. "It is my opinion that the cause of death is Multiple Organ Failure following Resuscitation from Cardiac Arrest due to Spontaneous Ventricular Arrhythmia (Sudden PEA Cardiac Arrest) due to Acute Intoxication with Methamphetamine and N, N-Dimenthylpentylone," Vega wrote. "While his underlying heart disease was relatively mild, it likely potentiated the effect of the drugs in causing the cardiac arrest; accordingly, Arterisclerotic and Hypertensive Heart disease are in my opinion contributory in causing the death. The manner of death is accident," he wrote. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: The Bradenton PD is still investigating Breonte Johnson's death The Rubymar sank in the Red Sea on March 2, with 21,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser on board (Khaled Ziad) The sinking of a bulk carrier carrying thousands of tonnes of fertiliser off Yemen after a Huthi missile attack poses "no immediate danger", an expert said Friday. The Belize-flagged, Lebanese-operated Rubymar sank in the Red Sea on March 2 with 21,000 metric tonnes of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertiliser on board, according to US Central Command. It had been taking in water since Yemen's Huthi rebels hit it in a missile strike on February 18, damaging its hull and causing an oil slick from leaking fuel. Concern has grown over the Rubymar now posing a new set of environmental threats under water. But Christophe Logette, the director of the France-based accidental water pollution management centre Cedre, said there was no cause for instant alarm. "At this stage there is no immediate danger," said Logette, who is part of a team mandated by the United Nations to assess the effects of the sinking. "The ship is on the seabed, the hull is in relatively good shape," he said. The Rubymar went underwater south of the Hanish Islands, a Yemeni archipelago in the southern Red Sea. The main concern is the fate of the thousands of tonnes of fertiliser, Logette said. But so far they are "in their storage compartment and there is no trace at the moment of this product being released into the sea". There had been "no leak" from the holds containing around 200 tonnes of propulsion fuel and 80 tonnes of diesel either, Logette added. The fear, he explained, is that if any of the fertiliser were to seep out, it would dump a huge amount of nitrate into the water, causing massive algae blooms "which would choke marine life". But "water has probably filtered into the hull and the cargo. The fertiliser will be wet and so will dissolve very slowly in very low concentrations, with a restricted effect on the marine environment." The Iran-backed Huthis have repeatedly carried out attacks on shipping since November, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians during the latest war in Gaza. Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in about 1,160 deaths, most of them civilians, according to Israeli official figures. Militants took about 250 hostages, some of whom were released during a week-long truce in November. Israel believes 99 hostages remain alive in Gaza and that 31 have died. Israel has responded with a relentless offensive that the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says has killed at least 30,878 people, mostly women and children. aag/ah/imm Reflection of a man is seen on the glass, while a pedestrian footbridge in the background is adorned with China's and Hong Kong's flags as decorations for the celebration of National Day, in Hong Kong By Greg Torode and Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's government on Friday unveiled its proposed national security bill, following a month-long public consultation that ended last week. City leaders want it to be swiftly passed, potentially within weeks. WHAT DO THE NEW LAWS INVOLVE? The package, known as Article 23, is designed to update or create new laws to prohibit treason, sabotage, sedition, the theft of state secrets and espionage. It also potentially tightens control over foreign political bodies and organisations operating in the city, through provisions defining "external forces" and outlawing "external interference". Some lawyers analysing the draft said, at first glance, elements of the revised sentences for the offences are similar to Western ones but some provisions, such as those for sedition and state secrets, were broader and potentially tougher. The bill includes sentences of up to life imprisonment for treason, insurrection, sabotage and mutiny, 20 years for espionage and 10 years for crimes linked to state secrets and sedition, while noting Hong Kong's freedom of expression and other rights. The need for those specific laws is briefly stipulated in Article 23 of the Basic Law, the mini-constitutional document that has guided Hong Kong's relations with China since its handover from British colonial rule in 1997. A previous attempt to enact Article 23 in 2003 was shelved after an estimated 500,000 people staged a peaceful protest. WHAT IMPACT COULD THEY HAVE? Businesses including foreign banks, hedge funds, private research operations and media outlets, along with diplomats and academics are watching developments. Some fear the laws could further restrict the city's freedoms while others are concerned the final laws could impact data operations while state secrets provisions could hamper research. The bill creates a new sabotage offence of unlawfully using a computer or electronic system to endanger national security, punishable by 20 years in prison. In the draft, the definition of state secrets appears quite broad, some lawyers said, saying it includes military, security and diplomatic secrets as well as classified social, economic and technological information involving the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, and their relationship. Some analysts and diplomats fear that research into China's politics, economy and military and due diligence investigations into individuals and companies on the Chinese mainland - all traditionally carried out by some Hong Kong firms and academics - could stray into areas of state secrecy. But while the types of information included are wide-ranging, the bill still stipulates that it must be information that is secret and would threaten national security if disclosed. The bill provides for public interest defences, but the threshold appears high: "making the disclosure manifestly outweighs the public interest served by not making the disclosure". Hong Kong's leader John Lee has said that the laws would meet international standards and protect Hong Kong's rights and freedoms. ISN'T HONG KONG ALREADY SUBJECT TO NATIONAL SECURITY LAWS? Yes. It has several old, vague and arcane laws from its days as a British colony that remain on the books. Beijing also imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020, with officials saying it was needed to bring stability to Hong Kong after months of pro-democracy protests in 2019. That law dealt with only some offences, such as collusion with foreign forces, and also allowed mainland national security officers to be based in the city for the first time. It also created a provision where suspects could be sent for trial in the mainland, where the courts are under the control of the ruling Communist Party. The 2020 law highlighted the need for Hong Kong to continue its work on Article 23, creating local legislation. Senior Hong Kong officials say it is needed to fill legal loopholes, particularly those dealing with what they describe as "soft resistance" after the 2019 protests, and internet control. Security chief Chris Tang has repeatedly said the government needs better tools to deal with espionage and the activities of foreign agents in the city. DOESN'T CHINA ALREADY HAVE A STATE SECRETS LAW? Reflecting the priorities of President Xi Jinping, China updated its own state secrets laws in 2023, banning the transfer of any information related to national security and broadening the definition of espionage. Some analysts say it remains vague. Hong Kong's own version has to deal with state secrets but with legislation compatible with the standards of the British-based common law, of which it remains a part. WILL THE NEW LAWS PASS EASILY? Unlike the tensions that surrounded the bill in 2003, the final Article 23 bill is expected to pass relatively swiftly, after formal readings of the bill and some debate in the largely pro-Beijing Legislative Council. Changes to Hong Kong's electoral system after 2019 mean that pro-establishment figures screened as "patriots" control the body. (Reporting By Greg Torode, Jessie Pang and James Pomfret; Editing by Michael Perry and Miral Fahmy) (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden has announced that the military will build a temporary port on Gaza's Mediterranean coast to receive humanitarian aid by sea. It's part of an effort to avert famine in the Palestinian enclave five months into Israel's military campaign against Hamas, which has devastated the tiny Gaza Strip and plunged its 2.3 million people into a humanitarian catastrophe. Here's what you need to know: WHY NOW? The U.N. has warned Gaza faces famine and has complained of "overwhelming obstacles" in getting in aid and distributing it around the enclave. Aid agencies have implored Israel to ease access for relief supplies into Gaza and to give their convoys safe passage inside the territory. Biden has meanwhile come under pressure from his Democratic Party to get close ally Israel to do more to let in relief supplies. Israel has said there is no limit on the amount of humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza and blames slow delivery on U.N. distribution capacity. HOW IS AID GETTING IN NOW? Most aid had been coming by road through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and, since December, via the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel, but the pace has been painfully slow. The U.N. has complained of crossing closures, restrictions on movement and communication, onerous vetting procedures, unrest, damaged roads and unexploded ordnance as problems it faces importing and distributing supplies. Some countries including the United States and Jordan have also started dropping in aid by air, though relief agencies say this is only possible in much smaller volumes than can come in by truck. The European Commission has also said a maritime aid corridor from Cyprus to Gaza will start operating soon with help from the United Arab Emirates, but it has given no details how that will work. HOW WILL THE TEMPORARY PORT WORK? The U.S. military will construct a floating pier and install it in place off Gaza. An official was quoted in U.S. media saying it would be attached to land by a temporary causeway. Aid will be shipped to it from Cyprus where Israeli officials will inspect it, as they currently do at the land borders, to stop anything going into Gaza that they deem to have a possible military use. But with some parts of Gaza facing far worse problems than others, distribution inside the enclave may be the real challenge and there are no details on how that will work. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? Biden didn't say but an official told Reuters it would take "a number of weeks to plan and execute". With hospitals in northern Gaza already reporting children dying of malnutrition, the temporary port plan does not look like an immediate solution for people who are already starving. WHERE WILL IT BE BASED? That's not clear either. Most of Gaza's coast is beach, and there may be limited locations where larger ships can approach without dredging. Under the 1993 Oslo peace accords, European countries promised to build a seaport near Gaza City in the north of the enclave. But the idea fell apart when Palestinians staged an uprising against Israeli occupation in 2000 and there is now only a small fishing harbour there, unsuitable for large ships. Israel militarily cut off north Gaza from the south early in the conflict and it stops people moving between them. Aid convoys have struggled to pass through Israeli checkpoints from the south into the north. There is also a long jetty built into the sea near Khan Younis in the south that is normally used for fishing boats. HOW WOULD SECURITY WORK? Biden has promised that no U.S. boots would touch the ground in Gaza and it is not clear if Israeli or other forces would provide security for the temporary port itself or for aid moving out into the enclave. The issue of security has increasingly dogged all aid distribution in Gaza, with some convoys being surrounded by desperate people who removed the supplies. Palestinian police stopped escorting convoys after what the U.N. described as "a spate of attacks by Israeli forces that led to police casualties". WHAT DOES EACH SIDE SAY ABOUT THE PLAN? Israel says it "fully supports the deployment of a temporary dock" and promised "full cooperation between the two parties". Hamas has not yet responded to requests for comment on the idea. Sigrid Kaag, the U.N. humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza said "aid and sea is not a substitute for land and nobody says otherwise". The biggest U.N. agency operating in Gaza, UNRWA, welcomes the any effort that will "improve and increase the flow of much-needed humanitarian assistance" said its spokesperson Juliette Touma. However, she added "there's an easier, more efficient way of bringing in assistances and that is via the road crossings that connect Israel with Gaza". (Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) President Volodymyr Zelensky announced recently that 31,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed in the war against Russia, the first official release of military personnel losses in over a year. "Every person is a very great loss for us. 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers died in this war," Zelensky said on Feb. 25, speaking in Kyiv at the Ukraine. Year 2024 forum. "It is very painful for us." The figure is significantly lower than some recent estimates published by sources outside the government in the absence of official data. I think we should look at (the announcement) as a sign that Zelensky is trying to be transparent with his people, that he's trying to be transparent with folks who might give him aid, Emily Harding, director of the Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program at the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Kyiv Independent. Releasing sensitive information about troop losses can have benefits and dangers, Harding said. It's a calculated risk for Zelensky, trying to think through what aid they need right now and how urgently they need it. Secrecy and sensitivity Until now, Ukraine has kept the number of troops killed a tight secret. It makes a lot of sense to want to keep some of those numbers kind of quiet, both to not provide any kind of succor or encouragement to the enemy, Harding said. And then also to be sure that the country's morale stays high and that you're able to continue fighting. Since Zelenskys announcement, the Ukrainian government has been reluctant to provide additional details on how the new figure was calculated. Zelensky did not explain how the government defines troops killed, such as whether the number includes later deaths from injuries after evacuation from the battlefield. Depending on which deaths are included, the actual number could be higher. When contacted by the Kyiv Independent, Zelenskys spokesman Sergii Nykyforov referred questions to the General Staff. The General Staffs press service declined to provide any further details on how the number is tallied, citing the need to protect sensitive military information. Medics of the Edelweiss Brigade evacuate a wounded soldier on Jan. 27, 2024 near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images) Military sources told the Kyiv Independent that the figure refers to those killed since Russia began its full-scale invasion in 2022, and doesnt include the Ukrainian soldiers killed between Russia began its war in 2014 and launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. According to an estimation by United Nations, Russias war against Ukraine killed 4,400 Ukrainian soldiers between 2014 and 2022. At the Feb 25. event, Zelensky said, I will not say how many are wounded, because Russia will then know how many people have left the battlefield. Zelensky separately referred to missing Ukrainian troops. Around 7,000 to 8,000 Ukrainian troops are missing in action, Ukraines chair of the parliamentary Defense Committee Roman Kostenko told RFE/RL on Feb. 26. Kostenko said the information was presented to parliament by the General Staff. Ukrainian officials said in December that Russia held at the moment at least 3,500 Ukrainian POWs, although the number was thought to be higher. Ukraines commissioner for missing people has previously stated that about two-thirds of missing troops are likely to be captured. Medics carry a wounded soldier who hit a mine on Jan. 27, 2024 near Kupiansk. While President Volodymyr Zelensky has recently revealed the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed in action, he said that the number of wounded soldiers will remain secret. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images) A shift in communications Zelenskys announcement was in part a response to public speculation that Ukraines troop losses are higher. Zelenskys announcement comes at a pivotal time in the war, with Ukraine facing severe ammunition shortages as military aid funding from the U.S. remains stalled by the countrys Republicans. These shortages contributed to Ukraines forced withdrawal from the key front-line city of Avdiivka on Feb. 17 and several nearby villages, handing Russia its first major territorial gains since May of last year. Recently, there have been voices in the radical part of some of the American audience, the political community, that are not on our side. They said, how many more victims do you want? (They said) Ukraine lost 300,000 dead, Zelensky said. Evacuation of a wounded soldier takes place in darkness in the middle of a damaged forest on Jan. 27, 2024 near Kupiansk. Wounded soldiers are usually evacuated to the nearest stabilization point, from where they can be taken to a hospital. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images) Zelensky noted that Russian sources have also suggested more than 100,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed, adding, All this is completely delusional. The timing of Zelenskys announcement is important not just for international partners, but also for his domestic audience. This year, Ukraine is planning to begin a new mobilization campaign to replenish its ranks, which has caused tensions among Ukrainians. And in February, Zelensky appointed General Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief, replacing the popular General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who had headed Ukraines Armed Forces since 2021. Previous estimates in the absence of official data While no official figures were released until now, other organizations have attempted to fill in the gap with their own estimates. One commonly-cited estimate of Ukraines battlefield losses is 70,000 killed, which was published in the New York Times in August. The Times cited unnamed U.S.officials and a former senior Ukrainian official. The same article noted, however, that estimates within the U.S. vary and other officials said the number could be lower. In November, the civic organization Memory Book collected names of more than 24,000 killed Ukrainian soldiers using publicly available information and concluded that the true number is likely more than 30,000. The organization UALosses has tallied nearly 47,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed since the beginning of the war in 2014, with more than 42,000 since 2022, based on public death announcements. The organization notes that the number is likely higher because deaths are not always publicized. The Kyiv Independent was unable to independently confirm these groups estimates. Comparison with Russian troop losses While Russian losses far surpass Ukraines, Russia has a much larger military and a much larger population to recruit from. Estimates of Russian losses vary depending on the source, and the Russian government has not released its own data. At the same Feb. 25 press event, Zelensky stated that 180,000 Russian fighters have been killed. Ukrainian infantrymen of the Edelweiss Brigade sit on an armored personnel carrier and return to their base in darkness on Jan. 28, 2024 near Kupiansk in eastern Ukraine. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images) Ukraines General Staff publishes regular updates of Russian losses, though these figures include wounded troops. In its update on March 8, the General Staff reported a total of 422,310 losses since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Independent media organizations in Russia have attempted to calculate their own numbers. In late February, Meduza and Mediazona reported that an estimated 83,000 Russian soldiers had died in the past two years. The organizations used obituaries, government mortality statistics, records from the Russian Probate Registry, and a restricted database of inheritance cases. The U.K. Defense Ministry reported on Feb. 24, in one of its regular updates, that according to its estimates, approximately 350,000 Russian fighters have been killed or wounded. The Ukraine government did not indicate whether it plans to continue releasing figures of killed Ukrainian troops. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian troops have carried out two launches of guided aerial bombs on Sumy Oblast, with explosions heard in the city of Sumy. An air-raid warning has been issued in Sumy Oblast. Source: Ukraine's Air Force; Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Quote: "Tactical aircraft have launched guided bombs on Sumy Oblast." Details: Later, the Air Force reported that Russian tactical aircraft had launched bombs once again. Background: Russian troops struck Sumy Oblast 32 times over the past 24 hours, launching missiles and dropping explosive devices from UAVs. Over 230 explosions were recorded. Support UP or become our patron! Video shows the moment when a United Airlines flight headed to Japan lost a tire during takeoff from San Francisco. The debris smashed into cars in an employees airport parking lot. A United spokesperson says the Boeing 777 jetliner was diverted to LAX where the 235 passengers and 14 crew members were transferred to another aircraft. Watch: Flames shoot out of engine during United Airlines flight to Florida The runway in San Francisco was briefly closed to clean up debris. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Watch: New information released regarding accident when door blew off Boeing aircraft midflight The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Claim: NASA has issued a warning about a pending "internet apocalypse" caused by a solar storm. Rating: Rating: False In early March 2024, the claim that NASA had issued a "warning" about an impending "internet apocalypse" the persistent and global loss of the internet caused by a severe solar storm went viral again. In this case, most posts on social media appeared to have followed a March 6, 2024, story published by the U.K. tabloid Daily Express: This was far from the first time this same claim has gone viral. Snopes first fact-checked it in 2023. In that case, a similarly-titled article in the U.K. tabloid The Mirror which is owned by the same company behind the Daily Express pushed the same claims to virality. That story and headline implied that NASA had used the term "internet apocalypse" and done so recently in a warning: NASA Mission to Prevent 'Internet Apocalypse' Which Could Leave People Offline for Months A groundbreaking mission by NASA's Parker Solar Probe (PSP) has successfully ventured through solar wind for the first time aiming to prevent people on earth being unable to get on the internet. Scientists have issued warnings about the potential impact of a solar storm, commonly referred to as an "internet apocalypse," which could strike within the next decade. Two sentences into that article, a reader may be left with the impression that NASA's Parker Solar Probe (PSP) was designed to prevent the total collapse of the internet, and that a new development in that mission has raised fresh alarm about the likelihood of such a disruption. Strictly speaking, neither impression is correct. NASA has reportedly launched mission to prevent potential 'internet apocalypse' that could halt online access for months and or even years. pic.twitter.com/FJ1MCXb5px Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) June 23, 2023 While solar storms can, in theory and in extreme cases, cause widespread disruption to the internet and other communication tools, NASA has not issued a specific warning about such an event, nor has it ever officially referred to such an event as an "internet apocalypse." What Is the Parker Solar Probe? The PSP, named "Space Probe Plus" during its development, has been in the works since 2010. As NBC News reported then, its "overall mission goals" were "to figure out the sun's heating mechanism and determine how it whips up the solar wind the continuous blast of charged particles that permeate the solar system and define its boundaries." While scientists have suspected or known about the existence of solar wind for decades, the mechanisms that create particularly high energy forms of solar wind and any methods that might predict such periods of intensity have long eluded scientists. As NASA explained in 2018, part of the problem is that most of the information scientists had gathered to that date had come from spacecrafts or satellites closer to Earth, given the obvious technical challenges of sending highly technical electronic instrumentation into the metal-heating inferno of the Sun: Parker Solar Probe [...] will fly closer than any spacecraft before and uncover new secrets about our star. [...] Right now, our only measurements of the solar wind happen near Earth, after it has had tens of millions of miles to blur together, cool down and intermix. Parker's measurements of the solar wind, just a few million miles from the Sun's surface, will reveal new details that should help shed light on the processes that send it speeding out into space. Many of these processes are highly technical concepts unique to advanced heliophysics. However, heliophysics research and its funding is often justified, in part, on the basis of protecting Earth's electrical and communication infrastructure in the event of a severe solar storm. For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) latest geostationary weather satellite, GOES-16, is frequently highlighted in public-facing promotional materials as a suite of tools designed to "enable NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center to issue space weather forecasts and provide early warning of possible impacts to Earth's space environment and potentially disruptive events on the ground." The Parker Solar Probe is no different. A 2016 mission summary for the solar probe, published in the scientific journal Space Science Reviews, closed with the importance of the mission's work in terms of protecting against those events: SPP [Solar Probe Plus] is more than a fundamental physics mission. The physics of the corona and inner heliosphere connect the activity of the Sun to the environment and technological infrastructure of the Earth. Events on the Sun drive the fundamental physics of the heliosphere, aurora, and magnetosphere of the Earth and other planets, affecting satellite communications, power grids, pipelines, radiation exposure on airline flights, and astronaut safety. [...] Until we can explain the physical processes occurring close to the Sun, we will not be able to accurately predict space weather effects that can cause havoc at Earth. In order to unlock the mysteries of the corona, but also to protect a society that is increasingly dependent on technology from the threats of space weather, we will send Solar Probe Plus to touch the Sun. So while it is true that data from the PSP has the ability, in theory, to aid in our prediction of events that could disrupt communication systems, including the internet, the mission has a much broader set of goals than this one issue. Further, NASA-funded research has highlighted the risk of an internet failure in response to solar wind heliophysics research for over a decade. The possibility was raised, for example, in a 2009 NASA news release about a study it funded on the risks of solar storms: A NASA-funded study describes how extreme solar eruptions could have severe consequences for communications, power grids and other technology on Earth. The National Academy of Sciences in Washington conducted the study. [...] Besides emitting a continuous stream of plasma called the solar wind, the sun periodically releases billions of tons of matter called coronal mass ejections. These immense clouds of material, when directed toward Earth, can cause large magnetic storms in the magnetosphere and upper atmosphere. Such space weather can affect the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems. Space weather can produce solar storm electromagnetic fields that induce extreme currents in wires, disrupting power lines, causing wide-spread blackouts and affecting communication cables that support the Internet. Why Were We Talking About the Parker Space Probe In 2023? The PSP has been heading toward or circling the sun and collecting data since its launch in 2018. The noteworthy item that brought the mission to the attention of outlets like The Mirror was a June 2023 news release from the Berkeley's Physics Department about a just-released paper based on PSP data published in the high-impact scientific journal Nature. In two introductory paragraphs, the release highlighted the scientific advancement presented in the paper (the detection of high-energy particles that match a theoretical concept hypothesized to create super high energy solar wind bursts), as well as its significance (these bursts, which we don't fully understand, can be directed at Earth): In a paper to be published this week in the journal Nature, a team of scientists led by Stuart D. Bale, a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, and James Drake of the University of Maryland-College Park, report that the Parker Solar Probe has detected streams of high-energy particles that match the supergranulation flows within coronal holes, which suggests that these are the regions where the so-called "fast" solar wind originates. Coronal holes are areas where magnetic field lines emerge from the surface without looping back inward, thus forming open field lines that expand outward and fill most of space around the sun. These holes are usually at the poles during the sun's quiet periods, so the fast solar wind they generate doesn't hit Earth. But when the sun becomes active every 11 years as its magnetic field flips, these holes appear all over the surface, generating bursts of solar wind aimed directly at Earth. One of the major scientific disputes PSP was designed to resolve was the process by which extremely high-energy particles, ejected from the sun between 10 and 100 times faster than average solar wind, are created. There had been two competing theories, the news release explained, and this new data pointed clearly to one magnetic reconnection: "The big conclusion is that it's magnetic reconnection within these funnel structures that's providing the energy source of the fast solar wind," Bale said. "It doesn't just come from everywhere in a coronal hole, it's substructured within coronal holes to these supergranulation cells. It comes from these little bundles of magnetic energy that are associated with the convection flows. Our results, we think, are strong evidence that it's reconnection that's doing that." A hard law in science journalism, sadly, is that many technical advancements, like a broader understanding of the role of supergranulation cells in fast solar wind, are simply not going to attract clicks the way that wholesale societal collapse would. Nowhere in the news release (which was not produced by NASA), did the words "internet apocalypse" appear. The same is true of the study the news release promoted. Where Did the Term 'Internet Apocalypse' Come From? For over a decade, "internet apocalypse" has been used to describe a broad array of things that could allegedly destroy the internet and/or society. A CNET article from 2010, for example, referenced the term "internet apocalypse" to describe the way some people viewed recently proposed net neutrality legislation. The term was referenced in a New Yorker article in 2014 about a training scenario for a total loss of internet caused by things like "extreme weather [or] tyrannical governments." The Verge used "Internet apocalypse" in 2016 in the context of a widespread DDOS attack a form of hacking that could render the internet useless. As The Washington Post reported in June 2023, the term internet apocalypse in reference to a solar storm is a newer invention. The Post reported that this use was popularized in a 2021 paper by University of California, Irvine computer science Professor Sangeetha Abdu Jyothi "Solar Storms: Surviving the Internet Apocalypse." The paper received widespread attention thanks to a Wired article covering its findings. The paper, which did not include or involve data from the PSP and that did not have any connection to NASA, "investigate[d] the impact of solar superstorms that can potentially cause large-scale Internet outages covering the entire globe and lasting several months." In retrospect, she told the Post, she regrets using the term: Jyothi says she has felt bad for using the term "internet apocalypse" in her paper. There's not much ordinary people can do to prepare for such a phenomenon; it falls on governments and companies. And the paper "just got too much attention," she said. "Researchers have been talking for a long time about how this could affect the power grid," she notes, "but that doesn't scare people to the same extent for some reason." Losing power also causes one to lose internet, of course. NASA itself has never issued any warning about an "internet apocalypse," but it has for well over a decade educated the public about the potential risk of a high-intensity solar storm. A NASA Warning? The only connection to NASA in the early June 2023 PSP viral stories was that the data was from a NASA mission and analyzed by researchers funded by NASA. This news cycle was spawned by a new understanding of energy flows from the sun. Nothing presented by these researchers was the discovery of any new risk not already considered by NASA. Several articles using the "internet apocalypse" reference alleged suggestions made by NASA that the sun is about to enter a period of higher solar storm activity. While this is true, this is neither new information nor is it a discovery of the PSP. Science has been aware of these roughly 11-year cycles for centuries. As NASA reported in 2020, the minimum activity point that marked the end of the last cycle occurred in December 2019: The solar minimum between Solar Cycle 24 and 25 - the period when the sun is least active - happened in December 2019, when the 13-month smoothed sunspot number fell to 1.8, according to the Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel, co-chaired by NOAA and NASA. We are now in Solar Cycle 25 with peak sunspot activity expected in 2025, the panel said. "While we are not predicting a particularly active Solar Cycle 25, violent eruptions from the Sun can occur at any time," [NOAA Scientist Doug] Biesecker added in that report. That the maximum of this next cycle would occur in or around 2025 is a fact that has been known for a long time. NASA's acknowledgement of such cycles does not constitute a warning. Snopes can identify only one reference to "internet apocalypse" on an official NASA website in the text caption of an April 2023 archive image from High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center showing a recently decommissioned heliophysics satellite, whose description linked to the aforementioned Wired article when referencing the term: Our interconnected civilization could be brought to its knees by a solar flare, which could do serious harm to our electronically-dependent communications networks, perhaps even causing an "internet apocalypse", lasting days, weeks, or even longer. Keeping an eye on the Sun's erratic, high-energy behavior was the job of the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager, or RHESSI. RHESSI, pictured above [...]. This retrospective look at an old satellite is certainly not an active warning of an internet apocalypse, nor can it possibly be related to a news story about a different mission. Outside of this one example, no evidence exists to suggest that NASA officially uses the term, let alone used it in a recent warning. The Bottom Line The physics underlying claims that a massive solar storm could disrupt internet communications is uncontroversial and if one compares telegraph lines to the internet has historical precedent. Clickbait headlines, however, have cast this alarming but long-known reality about solar storms as a recent discovery of a present NASA mission. That mission did make significant discoveries about our knowledge of solar flares, but it did not provide any data suggesting a new urgency to the potential telecommunication problems caused by them. Because NASA never issued any warning about pending solar storm activity and because it never used the term "internet apocalypse" to describe its danger, we rate this claim as "False." Sources: "10 Things to Know About Parker Solar Probe." NASA Solar System Exploration, https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/522/10-things-to-know-about-parker-solar-probe. Accessed 30 June 2023. A Super Solar Flare | Science Mission Directorate. https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2008/06may_carringtonflare. Accessed 30 June 2023. Ables, Kelsey. "Is the 'Internet Apocalypse' Nigh? Breaking down the Solar-Storm Science." Washington Post, 28 June 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/06/28/solar-storm-internet-apocalypse/. Bale, S. D., et al. "Interchange Reconnection as the Source of the Fast Solar Wind within Coronal Holes." Nature, vol. 618, no. 7964, June 2023, pp. 25256. www.nature.com, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05955-3. Burrington, Ingrid. "The Internet Apocalypse Map Hides the Major Vulnerability That Created It." The Verge, 24 Oct. 2016, https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/24/13380448/ddos-dyn-attack-internet-infrastructure. Debunking the Internet Apocalypse - CNN.Com. http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/web/08/17/cnet.internet.apocalypse/index.html. Accessed 30 June 2023. Fox, N. J., et al. "The Solar Probe Plus Mission: Humanity's First Visit to Our Star." Space Science Reviews, vol. 204, no. 1, Dec. 2016, pp. 748. Springer Link, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-015-0211-6. Kopfstein, Janus. "How to Survive an Internet Apocalypse." The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2014. www.newyorker.com, https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/how-to-survive-an-internet-apocalypse. NASA - NASA-Funded Study Reveals Hazards of Severe Space Weather. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/spaceweather_hazard.html. Accessed 30 June 2023. Newman, Lily Hay. "A Bad Solar Storm Could Cause an 'Internet Apocalypse.'" Wired. www.wired.com, https://www.wired.com/story/solar-storm-internet-apocalypse-undersea-cables/. Accessed 30 June 2023. ---. "A Bad Solar Storm Could Cause an 'Internet Apocalypse.'" Wired. www.wired.com, https://www.wired.com/story/solar-storm-internet-apocalypse-undersea-cables/. Accessed 30 June 2023. Parker Solar Probe Flies into the Fast Solar Wind and Finds Its Source | Physics. https://physics.berkeley.edu/news/parker-solar-probe-flies-fast-solar-wind-and-finds-its-source. Accessed 30 June 2023. "Space Weather Instruments." GOES-R.Gov, https://www.goes-r.gov/education/docs/Spaceweather.pdf. "Spacecraft to Fly into the Sun." NBC News, 6 Sept. 2010, https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39024291. Stacy, Kendra. "NASA Warns of 'Internet Apocalypse' That May Leave People Without Connection for Months; Parker Solar Probe Tries To Prevent This From Happening." Science Times, 25 June 2023, https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/44505/20230625/nasa-warns-internet-apocalypse-leave-people-without-connection-months-parker.htm. US Department of Commerce, NOAA. Hello Solar Cycle 25. https://www.weather.gov/news/201509-solar-cycle. Accessed 30 June 2023. Williamson, Lucy. "NASA Warns of 'internet Apocalypse' Which Could Leave People Offline for Months." Mirror, 7 June 2023, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/nasa-spacecrafts-mission-prevent-internet-30178328. "About Us." Express.Co.Uk, https://www.express.co.uk/about-us. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024. "About Us - Mirror Online." The Mirror, https://www.mirror.co.uk/about-us/. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024. Day, Joel. "NASA Preparing for 'internet Apocalypse' as Solar Storm Could Hit Earth by 2025." Express.Co.Uk, 6 Mar. 2024, https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1874263/nasa-internet-apocalypse-solar-storm-spt. CHICAGO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- More than 20 representatives of U.S. enterprises and business institutions attended here on Thursday an agriculture roadshow from China's eastern coastal Shandong Province. China and the United States are major agricultural countries, and "agriculture is one of the first and the most productive and promising areas for China-U.S. cooperation," Chinese Consul General in Chicago Zhao Jian said at the event. Shandong is one of China's major economically developed provinces, and an important producer of grain, fruits, vegetables and seafood, Zhao said. Zhao hoped that the roadshow would help forge a strong alliance between Shandong and the Midwestern United States in agriculture, bringing greater development opportunities to both. "China and the United States are highly complementary and have broad prospects for cooperation in agriculture," said Cai Xianjin, director of the foreign affairs office of the Shandong provincial government. Shandong's imports from and exports to the United States reached 5.02 billion yuan (about 698 million U.S. dollars) in 2023, according to the Shandong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. U.S. Heartland China Association Executive Director Fan Min announced at the roadshow that the association would co-host the 2024 U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable with Shandong Province in Shandong in June. Shandong Qihe Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and BCFoods Shandong Co., Ltd. made their pitches during the roadshow. Claim: NPR published an article with the headline, "We watched the State of the Union with one undecided voter. She wasn't that impressed." Rating: Rating: True Context: A screenshot of this headline was published by a popular user on X whose bio says the account posts parody content. The post earned thousands of likes. However, the NPR article was real, despite the humorous focus of the X account. On March 8, 2024, a user on X with the display name of New York Times Pitchbot and the handle of @DougJBalloon published a purported screenshot of an NPR article headline that read, "We watched the State of the Union with one undecided voter. She wasn't that impressed." The post showed only an image of the supposed headline. The bio for the New York Times Pitchbot user's account mentions that it focuses on parody content. However, that's not the full story of this rumor. Columbia Journalism Review previously profiled the anonymous user behind the account, whose alias is Doug J. The story described the user as "a Twitter account whose posts satirize New York Times' headlines and articles." In other words, the user's account is not affiliated with The New York Times. It's also not a bot. The truth was that this post from the parody account displayed a genuine news item. NPR did, in fact, publish on its website an article with the headline, "We watched the State of the Union with one undecided voter. She wasn't that impressed." The story was reported on March 8, the day after U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. An audio version of the story also reportedly aired on an NPR radio broadcast. The article focused on the thoughts of Karen Seagraves, who was described in the story as a 52-year-old independent voter living in North Carolina and a nurse by training who now works as a consultant for hospitals and tech companies. Users responding to the New York Times Pitchbot's post on X appeared to mostly have negative criticism to share regarding the NPR headline. Others were unsure if the screenshot of the headline was even real. "oMg this isn't parody!," one user posted. "Is this you Doug, or real??!," another person wrote, referencing the user's alias of Doug J. "Parody becomes reality," noted another user. Users also shared comments that responded to the article in a thread on Reddit's r/politics subreddit and under a post on the official NPR Facebook page. In sum, it was true that NPR published an article with the headline about an undecided voter being unimpressed with Biden's speech. It was then shared by a parody account on X, where it earned thousands of likes and appeared to confuse at least some users who were unsure of whether it was a real news story. Sources: "Karen Seagraves Is the Kind of Independent Voter President Biden's Campaign Hopes to Win over This Election Year. Here's How She Saw Last Night's State of the Union Address." Facebook, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024, https://www.facebook.com/NPR/posts/pfbid0yX9m5PB8euHfst8edz7vqAJQh6n3E2HSC2gMHhyXL4APpC37FCEWji2qd3rwQcoXl. Keith, Tamara. "We Watched the State of the Union with One Undecided Voter. She Wasn't That Impressed." NPR, 8 Mar. 2024. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2024/03/08/1235457301/state-of-the-union-biden-reaction. Pershan, Caleb. "The Bot That Saw the Times." Columbia Journalism Review, 23 May 2022, https://www.cjr.org/the_profile/nyt-pitchbot.php. u/nosotros_road_sodium. "We Watched the State of the Union with One Undecided Voter. She Wasn't That Impressed." r/Politics via Reddit.com, 8 Mar. 2024, https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1b9ozxu/we_watched_the_state_of_the_union_with_one/. Claim: A photograph captured in 1946 shows a father who fainted after he saw his newborn triplets for the first time, as ultrasound technology for fetal monitoring had not yet been developed. Rating: Rating: Mixture Context: The photograph is authentic and was indeed captured in 1946 in New York City. Moreover, posts correctly indicated that obstetric ultrasound, used in pregnancy to monitor fetal growth and position, had not yet been developed. However, both the content of the photo, in which three nurses and a doctor are seen smiling and laughing at the supposedly unconscious man, and the original Associated Press caption, which said the father was "feigning shock," indicate the tableau was staged, not real. In February 2024, a photograph went viral on social media, allegedly showing a father, overwhelmed to the point of fainting, upon meeting his triplets for the very first time in 1946. A Reddit post with the photo claimed that it was captured "as ultrasound technology had not yet been developed, making their birth a surprise." Google reverse image search results showed that the photograph was shared on various social media platforms such as Tumblr, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. One 9GAG post attributed a slightly different story to the photo: 1947, in the days before sonograms, this mans wife gives birth to twins, as a nurse, she convinces her nurse friends to present a third baby born an hour before to her husband to prank him to thinking they had triplets. He fainted. In short, while the photograph is authentic and was captured in 1946 in New York City, we were not able to independently verify the exact circumstances of its creation. The caption of the original Associated Press wire photo stated that the father was "feigning shock," suggesting his reaction wasn't genuine but, rather, staged. However, the caption accompanying the same picture in the Getty Images archive described the subject matter as "Triplets And Their Unconscious Father," which implies that, as multiple social media posts also claim, he really fainted. (Getty Images) Reverse-image search results showed that the most frequently shared version of the image online was black-and-white. The colored versions had a "JSK colorization" watermark, indicating the black-and-white version was the original. We have also found, thanks to another version of the image that circulated online, that it was featured in a number of newspapers in February 1946, including The Port Arthur News (image below), with the caption "Proud Papa Sees Triplets for First Time." The father, Arris Poulos, also was mentioned in a 1951 New York Times article that read "A party that looked as if it were something done with mirrors celebrated yesterday the fifth birthday of the triplet sons of Mr. and Mrs. Arris Poulos." (www.newspaperarchive.com) Lastly, many of the social media posts containing the photograph claimed, correctly, that it was captured at a time when "ultrasound technology had not yet been developed," and therefore the triplets really could have been a surprise for the father. Obstetrical sonography, used in pregnancy to monitor fetal growth and position, has its roots in the late 1950s. Sources: Campbell, S. "A Short History of Sonography in Obstetrics and Gynaecology." Facts, Views & Vision in ObGyn, vol. 5, no. 3, 2013, pp. 21329. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3987368/. "Triplets And Their Unconscious Father At New York In Usa On 1946." Getty Images, 8 Dec. 2010, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/triplets-and-their-unconscious-father-at-new-york-in-usa-on-news-photo/107421348. By Helen Coster (Reuters) -President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both clinched their parties' nomination on Tuesday, kicking off the first U.S. presidential election rematch in nearly 70 years. In the Republican race, 161 delegates were up for grabs across the four states holding contests: Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and Washington. Trump, the sole remaining Republican candidate, netted the 1,215 delegates needed to win his party's nomination. On the Democratic side, Biden faced no serious challenges and clinched his party's nomination after Tuesday's primaries. He has the 1,968 delegates needed for the nomination. Here is a look at the states and delegate counts for Tuesday's nominating contests. Biden also could pick up delegates in Democratic contests being held in the Northern Mariana Islands and for Democrats living abroad. GEORGIA: Race call: Biden wins Democratic primary, Trump wins Republican primary Democratic delegate count: 108 Republican delegate count: 59 Georgia, where both Biden and Trump campaigned over the weekend, is expected to be a presidential battleground state in November's general election. Biden beat Trump there by less than a percentage point in 2020, flipping a Southern state Trump won in 2016. Trump and 14 co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to racketeering and other charges accusing them of illegally pressuring state officials to overturn Trump's 2020 election loss in Georgia. Recent opinion polls from the state show Trump with an edge over Biden in their likely 2024 rematch. MISSISSIPPI: Race call: Biden wins Democratic primary, Trump wins Republican primary Democratic delegate count: 35 Republican delegate count: 40 A September poll from Echelon Insights showed Trump leading Biden by 18 percentage points in the conservative Southern state. Trump won Mississippi by roughly 16 percentage points in 2020. Trump won early primary endorsements from nearly all top Republican officeholders in the state. WASHINGTON: Race call: Biden wins Democratic primary, Trump wins Republican primary Democratic delegate count: 92 Republican delegate count: 43 In January, a judge ruled that Trump could remain on Washington state's Republican presidential primary ballot, rejecting one of several efforts to disqualify the former president from running again based on his efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss. Biden easily beat Trump in the Pacific Northwest state in 2020 and again leads him in polling of their expected 2024 match-up. HAWAII: Race call: Trump wins Republican caucuses Republican delegate count: 19 Biden beat Trump in the 2020 election by almost 30 percentage points in Hawaii. Hawaiians have voted Democratic in every presidential election except for the races in 1972 and 1984. Biden won the island state's March 6 Democratic caucus. (Reporting by Helen Coster in New York; Additional reporting by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Daniel Wallis, Deepa Babington, Himani Sarkar and Jonathan Oatis) (Reuters) -The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 ten years ago with 239 people on board remains one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries. The Boeing 777 went missing on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. Satellite data analysis showed the plane likely crashed somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean, off the coast of western Australia. However, two major searches failed to come up with any significant findings. Here are some details of the search for MH370 and the unresolved mystery of what happened: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED? The last transmission from the Malaysia Airlines plane was about 40 minutes after it took off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing. Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah signed off with "Good night, Malaysian three seven zero", as the plane entered Vietnamese air space. Shortly thereafter, its transponder was turned off, which meant it could not be easily tracked. Military radar showed the plane left its flight path to fly back over northern Malaysia and Penang island, and then out into the Andaman Sea towards the tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It then turned south and all contact was lost. UNDERWATER SEARCHES Malaysia, Australia and China launched an underwater search in a 120,000 sq km (46,332 sq miles) area in the southern Indian Ocean, based on data of automatic connections between an Inmarsat satellite and the plane. The search, which cost about A$200 million ($143 million), was called off after two years in January 2017 with no traces of the plane found. In 2018, Malaysia accepted a "no-cure, no-fee" offer from U.S. exploration firm Ocean Infinity for a three-month search, meaning the company would only get paid if it found the plane. That search covered 112,000 sq km (43,243 square miles) north of the original target area and also proved fruitless, ending in May 2018. WHAT DEBRIS HAS BEEN FOUND? More than 30 pieces of suspected aircraft debris have been collected along the along the coast of Africa and on islands in the Indian Ocean, but only three wing fragments were confirmed to be from MH370. Most of the debris were used in drift pattern analysis in the hopes of narrowing down the aircraft's possible location. INVESTIGATION REPORT A 495-page report into MH370's disappearance, published in July 2018, said the Boeing 777's controls were likely deliberately manipulated to take it off course, but investigators could not determine who was responsible. The report also highlighted mistakes made by the Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City air traffic control centres and issued recommendations to avoid a repeat incident. Investigators stopped short of offering any conclusions about what happened to MH370, saying that depended on finding the plane's wreckage. CONSPIRACY THEORIES The inability to locate MH370's crash site has fuelled numerous conspiracy theories, ranging from mechanical error or a remote-controlled crash, to more bizarre explanations like alien abduction and a Russian plot. In recent years, some aviation experts have said the most likely explanation was that the plane was deliberately taken off course by an experienced pilot. Investigators, however, have said there was nothing suspicious in the background, financial affairs, training and mental health of both the captain and co-pilot. WILL THERE BE A NEW SEARCH? Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said this week the government is willing to re-open an investigation into the disappearance of MH370, if there was a compelling case to do so. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said U.S. seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity had been invited to discuss a new search proposal. Loke said Malaysia would talk to Australia about cooperation in resuming the search once Ocean Infinity's proposal is approved by Malaysia's cabinet. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) A former Falls police detective has withdrawn her attempt to keep a six-figure settlement she reached with the township secret from the public. A Bucks County Common Pleas judge canceled an upcoming hearing on the sealing motion and unsealed the full settlement Tuesday for Catherine Coffman, who sued the department for sex discrimination in 2019. Coffman, a 26-year Falls police veteran, left the department in January 2023, according to the settlement. A Bucks County judge released a settlement for a former Falls police officer after her attorney withdrew a motion to keep it confidential. More on the confidential agreement State says 'confidential' Falls police settlement is public. Why can't we see it yet? The agreement, reached in August, shows that the township agreed to pay Coffman $225,000 to settle her claims and agreed to grant her a service-connected disability pension retroactive to her separation date. A service-connected disability pension has a higher monthly benefit. Coffman received $64,781.38 to settle her claims for alleged emotional distress and all other alleged damages, and another $64,781.37 to settle claims for wage loss, according to the agreement. Her attorney received $95,437.25 in fees and costs, under the agreement. The townships liability insurance will cover the pay out, according to the agreement. The settlement motion and agreement was unsealed one day after the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records sided with this news organization and ordered Falls Township to turn over a copy of the settlement. Coffmans attorney, Erica Domingo, did not provide a reason for withdrawing the motion. The effort to keep the settlement secret is significant as it could have influenced the publics ability to access any future agreements. Five other current and former Falls police officers have sued the township and its department in Bucks County Court over retaliation and discrimination claims. Last December the township denied this news organizations request for a copy of the settlement claiming that it did not possess a copy, or the ability to access it. But supervisors need to authorize a settlement, which must take place at an advertised public meeting, under the states Sunshine Act. There is no mention in Falls supervisor meeting minutes and agendas last year showing the board voted on a settlement for Coffman. According to the docket, Coffman's case was marked as settled and discontinued in August, 2023. First-hand account of a rescue in Falls Rescuers recount what they thought was a car fire, flares on Lincoln Highway. It was much worse This news organization obtained a copy of the motion to seal the settlement late last year. Public access to the document was temporarily restricted after this news organization published a story about the effort to keep the settlement secret. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Falls settlement with ex-cop released after motion to seal dropped A family facing a tricky housing situation made the difficult decision to give up their dog of six years then came good news. Decisions like this are hard, but Buddys family trusted us with finding him another loving home, the Watauga Humane Society in North Carolina wrote March 6 on Facebook. Buddy got a second chance after a man came to the shelter looking for an affectionate and active pet. The two were a perfect fit, and now the dog has a new owner, the animal organization told McClatchy News in an email. Adult dogs do get overlooked so it is always nice when one gets adopted, the Boone-based shelter wrote. Buddy landed in his new home six years after his previous family adopted him. Over time, he learned the joys of cuddling and the luxury of sleeping in the bed under the covers, the animal organization wrote. Buddy, now 7 years old, also became known for his sweet and gentle nature and his love of chasing other pups at the dog park. Although he loved a good walk or spending time outside, he also enjoyed being quite the couch potato; and would sneak under the covers any chance he got, the shelter wrote. But Buddys owners reportedly couldnt keep him when they faced housing issues. The housing issue his family was facing is one we see too often now a days, the shelter wrote in its email. With the shortage of affordable homes for rent or sale, more and more landlords are choosing not to rent to families with pets sometimes forcing them to have to make the very hard decision to surrender their dogs to us. Buddys luck took a turn for the better a few weeks after he was surrendered in January. The day his story was posted on Facebook, he went home with his new owner, who had been looking for a loving and affectionate dog. Boone, a popular mountain town, is roughly an 85-mile drive west of Winston-Salem. Hero college student saves dogs from roadside. Then came a heartwarming NC adoption Dog with ridiculous bark gets a new home again. He was so relieved and happy Shivering dog found crammed in frost-covered crate in NC. Then his luck took a turn Ariana Grande's album, "Eternal Sunshine," marks her first solo project in three years, and her first new music since her divorce from Dalton Gomez. Fans think multiple songs on the album, like Bye and I Wish I Hated You," refer to their breakup. Gomez and Dalton married in May 2021 after 11 months of dating, then separated in July 2023. Grande has since begun dating her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater. Though Grande doesn't name any names on her new album, many believe the songs are biographical. Her first single, Yes, And? appears to clap back at rumors that emerged after she and Slater began dating. In the opening song, Grande, 30, asks a question: "How can I tell if I'm in the right relationship?" The rest of the album explores the contrast between a relationship that is falling apart ("We Can't Be Friends") and one that is thriving ("Imperfect for You"), as a way to answer her question. Need further proof this is a breakup album? Well, Grande said the album's name was inspired by the song "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," which is about characters who wipe their memories rather than deal with the emotional fallout of a split. I think the movie is so beloved because so many people can relate to knowing that something isnt right, but loving so much, and wanting to stay, and wanting to figure it out, and that cycle that can happen in the film. I think thats why the film is so beloved. Its because so many people can relate to it, and I think it kind of fell into place that these songs had little tidbits of that theme. I just felt really inspired by it," she said during a conversation with Apple Music's Zane Lowe. What lyrics from 'Eternal Sunshine' refer to a breakup? 'Bye' lyrics "Bye," the second song on "Eternal Sunshine," is about what the title suggests: A breakup. She sings, "Bye, bye. It's over, it's over / Bye bye, I'm taking what's mine." A spiritual successor to "Thank U, Next," "Bye" is a joyous breakup anthem. The lyrics mention that the situation is "bittersweet," but tonally, the song gives more of a happy Motown song vibe. (More bittersweet tracks follow). 'Eternal Sunshine' lyrics Whereas some songs on the album are about the feelings of a breakup, this one is more about the specifics the why. In short, she got "played like Atari." She seems to share, uh, details about the person she was with, including that he was a liar: "Ive never seen someone lie like you do." Fans believe she may be referring to infidelity with lyrics like, "So now we play our separate scenes / Now, now shes in my bed, laying on your chest/ Now Im in my head / Wondering how it ends." "Hope you feel alright when youre in her," she says later. This person is her "eternal sunshine," or the person she wants to wipe from her memory, like the movie's premise. "So I try to wipe my mind / Just so I feel less insane / Rather feel painless / Id rather forget than know / Know for sure," she said. Grande also sings that she has found a "good boy," and then parallels the lyrics from an earlier verse: "Now hes in your bed, laying on my chest." Though they both have moved on, she's melancholy. 'Don't Wanna Break Up Again' lyrics The third song on "Eternal Sunshine," "Don't Wanna Break Up Again" opens with a description of an unhappy relationship. "I fall asleep cryin / You turn up the TV / You dont wanna hear me / One more sleepless night / big day in the morning, so I take my time to self-soothe," Grande sings. One fan used a meme of Grande crying to react to the song, writing "ariana on 'don't wanna break up again.'" i fall asleep crying, you turn up the tv. you dont wanna hear me. one more sleepless night. big day in the morning, so I take my time to self-soothe ariana on dont wanna break up again pic.twitter.com/4npHOWVu0l Ariana Grande Today (@ArianaToday) March 8, 2024 The chorus refers to the relationship as a "situationship," and indicates the dynamic is on-and-off: "I don't want to break up again." She then describes going to therapy for the relationship. "I made it so easy / Spent so much on therapy / Blamed my own codependency / But you didnt even try / When you finally did, it was at the wrong time," she sings. The song seems to build to the conclusion that she actually will break up: "Wont abandon me again for you," she sings. The bridge signals the conclusion of their relationship: "We both know it's time / So we say goodbye / Just one kiss goodbye / With tears in our eyes / Hope you won't, won't regret me / Hope you'll still think fondly of our little life." 'We Can't Be Friends' lyrics "We Can't Be Friends" is another song about facing a breakup, but not really wanting to break up, much like "Don't Wanna Break Up Again." She sings in the first verse, "Just wanna let this story die and I'll be alright," but in following verses, she describes herself as wanting to wait until things get better. "Id like to just pre-tend / You cling to your papers and pens / Wait until you like me again," she sings. The references to "papers and pens" go back to the idea of a story: They're "pretending" they still have one together. "I wait for your love," she sings. The song is also about how the person she's in a relationship doesn't really know her. "I didnt think youd understand me / How could you ever even try?" it opens, then she sings later, "You got me misunderstood." It appears he's making her into something she's not, yet she still sticks around: "I dont like how you paint me, yet Im still here hangin." After all, she sings, "At least I look good." 'I Wish I Hated You' lyrics "I Wish I Hated You" is about the mechanics of a breakup. Rather than wondering if she should break up sitting with her "truth" but staying in the relationship, like she does in "We Can't Be Friends" she has moved forward. The song opens with imagery of moving items out of a house: "Hung all my clothes in the closet you made / Your shoes still in boxes I send them your way." The bittersweet song is about giving grace to an ex. Hating a person would be easier than this melancholy, she seems to suggest: "And no matter how easy things could be if I did / And no matter how guilty, I still feel saying it / I wish I hated you." Instead of hate, she's left with complicated and nuanced feelings she has to navigate on her own as they go their separate ways: "Our shadows dance on a parallel plane / Just two different endings / You learn to repair and I learn to keep me in one place." Other songs, like "Imperfect for You" and "Ordinary Things," appear to refer to what happened after her breakup: She got into another, happier relationship. "I don't want anything but more time," she sings in "Ordinary Things," a nod seemingly to her new relationship. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Farmworkers and their allies rallied throughout the Midtown area of Palm Beach on Friday afternoon, the first of three days of a planned Farmworker Freedom Festival. The event presented by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to highlight the Fair Food Program is taking place at points throughout Palm Beach, including a daylong music and arts event on Saturday at Bradley Park, organizers said. Past Coverage: Farmworkers bring three-day workers' rights festival to Palm Beach this weekend A 16-foot puppet named Esperanza stands behinds Palm Beach Town Hall Friday during the start of a three-day Farmworker Freedom Festival. On Friday, coalition members and farmworkers carried a 16-foot farmworker puppet named Esperanza through Midtown. As organizers and supporters first gathered at Bradley Park, the mood was jovial, with attendees celebrating changes already made through the program. A 16-foot puppet named Esperanza is taken north along South County Road on Friday. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers set up several art pieces at Bradley Park on Friday, the first of the three-day Farmworker Freedom Festival presented by the coalition to highlight the Fair Food Program in Palm Beach. What is the Fair Food Program? The Fair Food Program, founded in 2011, includes restaurants and retailers such as McDonald's and Whole Foods that pledge to buy only from suppliers who follow a code of conduct designed to protect workers' rights. The program also includes economic premiums paid by the program's participants, with that money making its way down the supply chain to the workers. Why are workers rallying in Palm Beach? Wendy's and Florida-based grocery chain Publix have historically been called out by the annual farmworkers march through Palm Beach, where Wendy's board chair Nelson Peltz has an oceanfront estate. Ileana Roque Gonzalez sings behind Palm Beach Town Hall on Friday. Lupe Gonzalo, a former farmworker who does community outreach for the Fair Food Program, said the difference in working conditions between program-supported sites and non-supported sites is like night and day. "Since the Fair Food Program first started being implemented, it has changed the lives of farmworkers, especially since they now have basic human rights," Gonzalo told the Daily News. "For example, now women workers can report abuse without fear of getting fired or reprimanded." The Coalition of Immokalee Workers set up several art pieces at Bradley Park on Friday, the first of the three-day Farmworker Freedom Festival presented by the coalition to highlight the Fair Food Program in Palm Beach. It's not about fighting with organizations but rather working with and inviting them to join the Fair Food Program, Gonzalo said. "In other farms, they don't give farmworkers water, or shade, or even a quick break during their shift," said former farmworker Leonel Perez, who also does outreach for the Fair Food Program. From Bradley Park, organizers and supporters moved to Memorial and Fountain Park next to Town Hall on South County Road, where two people participating in the rally played Latin folk music on cuatros, Latin American guitars. "J-U-S-T-I-C-E is what we want, justice in Immokalee," attendees cheered in a chorus to a protest song from the guitar players. About 50 people gathered at the small park on South County Road that is known as a hub for prom, Quincenera, engagement and wedding photo shoots. "Esperanza represents the female farmworker that can now work in the field with dignity and respect," Nely Rodriguez with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers said during a speech delivered near the fountain. As some with the rally remained in the park, others walked to nearby intersections, including Brazilian Avenue and South County Road, to hand out flyers for Saturday's activities. A woman wears a sticker on her backpack Friday urging people to boycott Wendy's at the start of a three-day Farmworker Freedom Festival. From Memorial and Fountain Park, the rally moved to the Midtown Beach access at the east end of Brazilian Avenue. Farmworkers and supporters walked onto the beach carrying their signs and continuing to play music and chant. While some beachgoers craned their necks to watch the rally, others were unperturbed, continuing their sunbathing. As attendees chanted, played music, waved signs and danced, some passing drivers honked their horns. Other people walking by danced to the rally's music. From the beach, the rally moved down Worth Avenue to the courtyard at Worth and Hibiscus avenues. As those participating in the event traveled down the sidewalks of one of the most well-known luxury shopping destinations in the world, people inside shops snapped photos and recorded videos. In previous years, the rally consisted of a march through Palm Beach that included a stop outside or near Peltz's North County Road mansion. Marchers in previous years have waved anti-Wendy's signs and carried effigies of Peltz and the Wendy's mascot. This year, signs included a flag that read, "Boycott Wendy's." Other picket signs were shaped like baskets of tomatoes with messages including, "Respect," "Justice" and "Luchando por comida justa" ("fighting for fair food"). "We hope our message reaches Nelson Peltz," Rodriguez said. "This is a celebration, and we are inviting him to be part of it." What did Wendy's say? A Wendy's spokesperson said the company does not participate in the Fair Food Program "because we do not purchase field grown tomatoes and there is no nexus between the program and our supply chain. Since 2019, we have sourced our North American tomato supply exclusively from indoor, hydroponic greenhouse farms, while the Fair Food Program predominantly operates in outdoor, conventional tomato growing environments. Wendys has an established Supplier Code of Conduct that applies to significant suppliers of The Wendys Company and our North America restaurant system, and we also require third-party reviews related to the human rights and labor practices for suppliers of certain hand-harvested, whole, fresh produce." What did Publix say? Publix Media Relations Manager Lindsey Willis said, "We value the relationships along the path from 'farm to fork' and realize it takes a lot of people, each providing a great service. Publix remains the focus of a campaign by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) who seek to pressure us to become involved in the employment relationship between Florida farmers who grow tomatoes and the farmworkers they employ to harvest their product. Since first approached by the CIW in 2009, we have consistently viewed this issue as a labor dispute, and our position remains the same today." While past years' farmworker rights events have caused road closures as marchers walked down Palm Beach streets, demonstrators this year stuck to sidewalks. Police in an alert to residents on Thursday afternoon cautioned that there could be congestion in these areas: Saturday: About 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the area of Bradley Park, just east of the Flagler Memorial Bridge. Sunday: There could be traffic slowdowns from about 8 a.m. to noon around Bradley Park. While any traffic effects from the event should be minor, drivers should choose alternative routes, police said. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Farmworkers rally on Worth Ave in Palm Beach for workers' rights There are now 700 million CCTV cameras in Communist China. Those electronic eyes are attached to the most complete state apparatus of surveillance yet imagined. It has the ability not only to recognise faces at a distance, but gait itself when facial features are hidden or obscured. Such capability can, and soon will, be augmented to the point where the movements of eyes themselves, monitored by intelligent cameras, will be sufficient to identify any active party. The demented, naive engineers who so enthusiastically helped build this system call it SkyNet, after the rogue and all-seeing technology that take such a dreadful wrong turn in the science fiction Terminator series, where artificially-intelligent robot minds hell-bent on protecting themselves end up destroying humanity as a consequence. The name also references a well-known Chinese phrase describing the reach of the divine itself the net of heaven is vast, yet it misses nothing which aptly describes the capabilities of the new state apparatus. This system is integrated with the so-called Chinese Social Credit System which awards its involuntary participants with a score indicating their compliance with the dictates of the Party, allowing for full control over access to everything they possess electronically most ominously their savings and access to travel, including, as more electronic gates appear, walking. If you are Chinese, or even just a visitor, if your Social Credit Score falls beyond an arbitrary minimum your access to the world can be reduced to zero. This allows you to be shut out of all activities that can be virtualised: driving, shopping, working, eating, finding shelter; even fraternising with friends and family (as merely being in the presence of someone with a low Social Credit Score means that your own score can be lowered). This has opened up the opportunity for the government to extract slave-like labour from its citizens. The donation of free work to the state constitutes one means whereby erring men and women citizens can increase their score and remain part of society. This is precisely the payment system most desired by the most tyrannical: not the work for me and benefit thereby that constitutes the contractual arrangement undertaken by free citizens, but the work for me and I will lift the deprivation I imposed that has always been the leit-motif of the slaver. A dystopian world of our own creation Why is any of this relevant to people in the West? Because the technology that the Chinese Communist Party employs is an extension of Western technology. Because we already recently fell prey to the terrible temptation of lockdowns employed by that state in the face of a hypothetical crisis. Because we are walking, step by step, in the same direction partly because of the hypothetical convenience of universal and automatic recognition of identity, partly because any problem whatsoever that now confronts us can easily be used to justify the increasing reach of the security and nanny state. It is said that stone-age people, first confronted with cameras and their resultant photographs by modern anthropologists, objected to having their images captured, as they feared the captivity of their souls. It turns out that such fear was prescient: the images that we leave behind while navigating virtual space are such close duplicates of our actual selves that the capture of our essence is, at this point, all but guaranteed. We all now have our doppelgangers. We all live so much in the virtual world, thanks to our purchasing habits and modes of electronically-mediated communication, that our very selves have become reducible to a frightening degree as mere data, the modern equivalent of our footprint, with that same data making up an image of our identity. This identity can be and is increasingly bought and sold by invisible corporate brokers that use it to sell us what we so desperately and carelessly and conveniently want, but that can also be used to track, monitor and punish everything we do and say. Behavioral scientists facilitate this process with their reprehensible nudging: the practice of pushing people in a given ideologically-determined direction by manipulating invisible incentives behind the scenes. Corporations track purchasing decisions, developing algorithms that with increasing accuracy track our patterns of attention and action, allowing for the prediction of what might next be most enticing, doing so not only to offer us what we want, but to determine and shape what we need. Governments can, and are, colluding with these corporate agents to develop a picture not only of our actions but of our thought and words so that deviation from the desired end can be mapped, rewarded, and punished. The development of such a digital identity and currency is nothing more than the likely end consequence of such inclinations and the combination of both will facilitate the development of a surveillance state the scope of which optimistic pessimists of totalitarianism such as George Orwell could scarcely imagine. The ultimate fascist collusion The rapidly emerging new AI systems do nothing but increase this danger, providing for the possibility of a super-surveillance whose scope exceeds anything that mere unaugmented humans could imagine. They could ensure that our attitudes, conduct and personalities can be manipulated to the degree that we will not even be able to see a reality outside that which has been constructed by the superstate: the ultimate fascist collusion between gigantic self-interested corporations and paranoid security-obsessed anti-human governments. We are already selling our souls to the superstate for the purposes of immediate gratification and convenience, while being enticed to do so by fear-mongering ideologues, guaranteeing to us the security which we so desperately and increasingly crave. This is by no means a partisan matter. In my country, Canada, the most egregious over-reach of the superstate occurred in the aftermath of a working-class protest against ironically state over-reach during the Covid lockdowns, when our increasingly delusional and totalitarian federal government determined that it was appropriate to suspend the access of protestors and their supporters, however minor, to their own assets, in collusion with Canadas big banks. Such an event did, and should, send a chill down the spines of anyone concerned with the maintenance of personal security, privacy and autonomy, signalling the increasingly ability and willingness of state and corporate agents to act in sync with regard to the data they now possess and means of control at their fingertips, and to punish their customers and citizens for their political views, however widespread those views might be. What views are deemed unacceptable will be precisely determined as those that oppose the interests of whomever is currently wielding the baton of power, left or right, corporate or governmental. It was recently determined in Canada that such a move was literally unconstitutional. But that has not stopped the over-reach of the state. New legislation proposed by the same government mandates the generation of a soon-to-be giant bureaucracy to monitor and punish in an extra-judicial manner so-called crimes of hate, soon defined as any speech or act that the bureaucrats and corporations in charge of the definition themselves object to. The same legislation now even defines what might be well regarded as pre-crime: if a court agent now judges that a Canadian citizen might perpetrate a so-called hate crime in the future, that person can be fitted with an electronic surveillance device, restricted in his or her ability to move or communicate, all to monitor their compliance with the dictates of the state. With increasing ability to monitor not only the actual attention patterns and behaviors of its citizens, but to predict those that are most likely, the persecution of such potential crime becomes ever more likely. If you have nothing to hide, you will have nothing to fear, will be the slogan commandeered by those most likely to turn to surveillance to protect and to control. What was the famous Soviet totalitarian joke, attributed to Lavrentiy Beria, head of the secret police? Show me the man, and Ill show you the crime. Those words were true enough in the time of Joseph Stalins terror and the police were secret enough then, as well. But thats nothing compared to what we can and likely will produce now: a police so secret that we will not even be able to detect their comprehensive and subtle activity, monitoring crime so pervasive that everyone under the dictates of the system will have something to hide and much to fear. You can watch The Telegraphs most recent interview with Jordan Peterson via this link. More from Jordan Peterson exclusively for The Telegraph: - This unholy axis of Iranian thugs and Marxist psychopaths is an enemy of Muslims too - Eco-extremists are leading the world towards despair, poverty, and starvation - We are sacrificing our children on the altar of a brutal, far-Left ideology - Trans activism is sexist and delusional - Why I love Great Britain - Twitter is turning us all insane 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. OLIVETTE, Mo The Olivette Police Department responded to a fatal shooting near Indian Meadows Park in Olivette this morning. At around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 7th, 2024, the Olivette Police Department received a report of a shooting on Huron Drive in Olivette, Missouri. They discovered a woman who had a gunshot wound. Olivette paramedics arrived on the scene and attempted to save her life; however, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing, but the Olivette Police Department has stated that there is no active threat to the community. The identity of the victim will be released later once family members have been notified. FOX 2 will provide updates as more information becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. One race in, Formula 1 teams have already rolled out their first flurry of updates, marking the start of the sport's development race. The FIA confirmed that seven outfits have implemented upgrades or modifications in Saudi Arabia, while three teams are competing with unchanged cars. Unsurprisingly, the majority of the changes are circuit specific and cater to the high-speed profile of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Red Bull doubles down on straight-line speed for Jeddah Fresh off their dominant Bahrain showing, Red Bull arrives in Jeddah with a revised RB20 honed for the high-speed nature of the track. Key updates target reduced drag for increased straight-line performance, with a calculated risk on cooling efficiency. The most prominent change is a new, lower-drag engine cover. This sleek design prioritizes minimal aerodynamic resistance over outright downforce. Additionally, a bodywork panel previously serving a dual purpose shaping the suspension aperture and acting as a cooling exit has been shrunk. This reduction is possible due to Jeddah's higher average speeds, allowing for less cooling capacity without exceeding safe Power Unit operating temperatures. The aerodynamic package receives further refinement with a lower camber rear wing. This translates to less overall aerodynamic load at any given speed, again prioritizing reduced drag over maximum downforce generation. Complementing this approach, a smaller beam wing with a similar focus on minimizing drag has also been introduced. Mercedes targets rear-end stability with W15 tweaks For Jeddah, Mercedes has opted for a focused update on their W15, solely modifying the car's rear corners to optimize local aerodynamic load. This modification revolves around a lower deflector rotation. By reducing the load acting on the forward element, Mercedes aims to enhance the overall robustness of the lower deflector across various ride height configurations. Ferrari prioritizes drag reduction with carry-over wing Mirroring Red Bull's approach, Ferrari has opted for a low-drag configuration on their SF-24 for Jeddah. This update centers around a direct carry-over of the lower downforce top rear wing design utilized in their 2023 car. The upper-wing "depowered" profiles are well-suited for high-speed tracks where downforce demands are minimal. Furthering their focus on aerodynamic efficiency, the team has also introduced revisions to the lower beam wing. Two variations are available, including a single-element configuration. These tweaks aim to optimize overall aerodynamic efficiency for the low-drag demands of the Jeddah circuit. McLaren joins the low-drag party with MCL38 tweaks Following the trend, McLaren has equipped their MCL38 with a circuit-specific update targeting reduced drag. This update consists of a new rear wing assembly featuring an offloaded mainplane and flap design. This configuration effectively reduces both downforce and drag simultaneously. Further optimizing the aerodynamic package, the team has introduced a revised beam wing geometry. This revision includes new upper and lower elements that, when working in conjunction with the new rear wing assembly, further enhance the efficient removal of drag and downforce for the high-speed demands of Jeddah. Aston Martin goes beyond low-drag with AMR24 update While Aston Martin joins the pack with a low-downforce rear wing featuring a less aggressive cascade and multiple flap options a standard choice for the high-speed Jeddah circuit they've also introduced a distinct performance-oriented update. This update focuses on a revised scoop design with modifications to both the inlet and exit at the front corners. Additionally, a modified stay for the rear deflector has been implemented. These geometrical changes aim to manipulate airflow around the tyres, strategically reducing the aerodynamic impact further down the car's bodywork. This suggests Aston Martin might be taking a calculated risk, prioritizing potential performance gains beyond just straight-line speed. Williams optimizes FW46 for Jeddah Focusing on circuit-specific adjustments, Williams has equipped their FW46 with a revised beam wing. This update involves a trimmed trailing edge, effectively reducing the overall chord length. This reduction directly translates to lower downforce and drag from the rear wing assembly, bringing the car closer to the optimal drag level for Jeddah's high-speed layout. Furthermore, the team has implemented modifications to the front brake ducts. These changes involve a smaller exit design, aimed at restricting the cooling airflow directed towards the front brakes. This allows for adjustments to the brake temperature range, potentially offering a balance between efficient cooling and aerodynamic gains. AlphaTauri takes the crown for most updates with VCARB 01 The VCARB 01 boasts a comprehensive upgrade package aimed at both performance and cooling efficiency. The most prominent change lies in the revised shape and slope of the engine cover's top deck. This modification optimizes airflow quality as it travels towards the car's rear, offering a clear performance-focused benefit. To address potential cooling demands, the team has introduced optional cooling louvres in the same area. These louvres not only increase the car's overall cooling capacity but also enhance airflow through the radiators. Further options include a front wing balance adjustment. This update involves trimming the flap chord, allowing for a lower front wing load. This, in turn, facilitates tuning the car's balance for lower rear wing configurations. Completing the package, RB has also brought a reduced camber and incidence rear wing, offering a lower drag level as an option for the high-speed Jeddah circuit. Haas, Stake, and Alpine haven't brought any upgrades to their cars for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, sticking with the same specifications they raced with in Bahrain. Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida bill that hemp industry leaders say will cost them their livelihoods is just a step away from becoming law. On Wednesday, the Florida Senate unanimously passed SB-1698, which would ban delta-8 THC products like vapes and edibles. Fiery wrong-way crash shuts down ramp between I-4 and Selmon Expy. in Tampa The cannabis plant contains hundreds of cannabinoids. Delta-9 is a psychoactive compound the thing that makes you feel high and is commonly referred to as just THC. Under Florida law, it can only legally be sold at state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries. Similar cannabinoids like delta-8 and delta-10 mimic the effects of the main psychoactive compound, but are allowed to be sold in Florida through something of a legal loophole. The 2018 farm bill permitted the production of hemp and hemp-derived products, but only if they have less than 0.3% delta-9 THC. It ushered in a booming cannabis industry nationwide, and six years later, delta-8 is sold anywhere from gas stations to online specialty retailers. The bill that would cap THC at two milligrams per serving and 10 milligrams total per container. Its opponents include people who use hemp-derived products for medical reasons, business owners who say the sweeping restrictions would eliminate jobs, and people from across the ideological spectrum who think it was written to whittle down the competition for existing dispensaries if recreational marijuana became legal. Legislatures from the Tampa Bay area sponsored both the House and Senate versions of the bill. Sen. Colleen Burtons district includes the northern half of Polk County and Rep. Tommy Gregory represents part of Manatee County. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The father of a Marine killed in a Kabul airport suicide bombing in the final days of the American military deployment in Afghanistan was thrown out of Thursday nights State of the Union speech after attempting to shout down the president during his national remarks. Steve Nikoui, the invited guest of Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., was escorted out of the House chamber after screaming Abbey Gate and Marines multiple times at President Joe Biden as he spoke about violent crime in America. Biden glanced briefly at Nikoui before Capitol Hill security forced him out of the chamber. The New York Times reported that Nikoui was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for disrupting the speech. Nikouis son, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, was one of 13 service members killed in the August 2021 attack, along with hundreds of Afghan civilians, when a suicide bomber attacked the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport. Defense Department officials blamed the attack on the Islamic State groups Afghanistan affiliate. I am honored to have Steve Nikoui as my guest to #SOTU. He is the father of LCpl. Kareem Nikoui, who was KIA due to Bidens disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.@JoeBiden may try to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but NOT ON MY WATCH. pic.twitter.com/wE3uKrMlEa Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 7, 2024 Republican lawmakers and family members of several of the service members killed have blamed Biden for the deaths, insisting they came as a result of the rushed departure of U.S. military forces from the country. Mast was one of several Republican lawmakers to invite family members of the deceased troops to the speech. The Republican lawmaker backed Nikouis outburst in a series of social media posts after the incident. For the last three SOTU speeches, Joe Biden REFUSED to say the names of the 13 U.S. [service members] who were killed by his disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, he wrote. I couldnt support this effort more. The Sergeant at Arms is holding my State of the Union guest for yelling at @POTUS in protest because his son was killed in action at the Abbey Gate due to Bidens incompetence. So much for the right to petition our government for the redress of grievances. Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 8, 2024 Nikoui has been an outspoken critic of the administration in the past. Several Republican lawmakers also interrupted Biden during his address, though none were removed from the chamber. The misdemeanor charge typically carries a small fine and no jail time. Father of Marine killed in Afghanistan arrested for shouting at Biden Steven Nikoui, the father a Marine killed during the U.S. withdrawal of Afghanistan, was arrested Thursday evening for shouting from a House gallery at President Biden during his State of the Union address. Nikoui, 51, was arrested for disrupting Bidens speech around 10:15 p.m. EST, U.S. Capitol Police confirmed. Our officers warned him to stop and when he did not, the man was removed from the House Galleries, Capitol Police said in a statement. He was arrested for crowding, obstructing or incommoding, Capitol Police said, adding that disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is illegal. Nikoui was invited to attend the annual address by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), who served in the Army for more than 12 years. While deployed in Afghanistan, Mast worked as a bomb disposal expert, where he lost both his legs in an explosion, according to his congressional website. Mast posted online ahead of the address, saying he was honored to have Nikoui as his guest. He is the father of Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, who was KIA due to Joe Bidens disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Mast said online. Joe Biden may try to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but NOT ON MY WATCH. During Bidens speech, Nikoui could be heard yelling Abbey Gate. A bomb at the Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul went off Aug. 26, 2021, killing 13 U.S. service members, including Kareem Nikoui, and at least 170 Afghan civilians. The blast was carried out by a single suicide bomber and claimed by ISIS in Khorasan in the final chaotic days of the United Statess evacuation from Afghanistan. Biden and his administration have received heavy criticism over the withdrawal. Following Nikouis arrest, Mast called out Biden. He was arrested because he cried out to Joe Biden to remember his son, Mast wrote. Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success! Last August, on the second anniversary of the explosion, Biden released a statement to mourn the lives of the service members and civilians who were killed in the horrific terrorist attack. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (The Hill) Steven Nikoui, the father of a Marine killed during the U.S. withdrawal of Afghanistan, was arrested Thursday evening for shouting from a House gallery at President Biden during his State of the Union address. Nikoui, 51, was arrested for disrupting Bidens speech around 10:15 p.m., U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) confirmed. Our officers warned him to stop and when he did not, the man was removed from the House Galleries, USCP said in a statement. He was arrested for crowding, obstructing or incommoding, said USCP, which added that disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is illegal. Nikoui was invited to attend the annual address by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), who served in the Army for more than 12 years. While deployed in Afghanistan, Mast worked as a bomb disposal expert, where he lost both his legs in an explosion, his congressional website said. Mast posted online ahead of the address, saying he was honored to have Nikoui as his guest. He is the father of Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, who was KIA due to Joe Bidens disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Mast said online. Joe Biden may try to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but NOT ON MY WATCH. During Bidens speech, Nikoui could be heard yelling Abbey Gate. 5 takeaways from Bidens State of the Union address A bomb at the Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul went off on Aug. 26, 2021, killing 13 U.S. service members, including Kareem Nikoui, and at least 170 Afghan civilians. The blast was carried out by a single suicide bomber and claimed by ISIS in Khorasan in the final chaotic days of the United States evacuation from Afghanistan. Biden and his administration have received heavy criticism over the withdrawal. Following Nikouis arrest, Mast called out Biden. He was arrested because he cried out to Joe Biden to remember his son, Mast wrote. Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success! Last August, on the two-year anniversary of the explosion, Biden released a statement to mourn the lives of the service members and civilians who were killed in the horrific terrorist attack. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The Gold Star father of a Marine killed during the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was led away and arrested Thursday night for shouting at President Biden during his State of the Union address. Steven Nikoui, who was invited to attend the annual address by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), yelled Abbey Gate, a reference to the bombing in Kabul, after Biden said, America is safer today than when I took office, news website Axios reported. A man identified by Axios as Steven Nikoui shouts in protest from the upper gallery of the audience as U.S. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2024. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) Shana Chappell, right, mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, holds a plaque honoring her fallen son following a vigil on the eve of the first anniversay for the 13 U.S. Marines killed in an attack at the Kabul International Airport Lancei at George A. Ingalls Memorial Plaza in Norco on Thursday Aug. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty Images) The American flag is lowered to half staff during a vigil on the eve of the first anniversary for the 13 U.S. Marines killed in an attack at the Kabul International Airport at George A. Ingalls Memorial Plaza in Norco Thursday Aug. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty Images) Our officers warned him to stop and when he did not, the man was removed from the House Galleries, U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) confirmed in a statement. Nikoui, 51, was arrested and charged with a local misdemeanor charge of crowding, obstructing or incommoding, the Capitol Police spokesperson told Axios news. Mast announced that Nikoui would be his guest on Instagram prior to the State of the Union address. He is the father of Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, who was KIA due to Joe Bidens disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Mast said in the post. Joe Biden may try to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but NOT ON MY WATCH. 5 times Biden went off script during his State of the Union Kareem Nikoui was one of 13 U.S. service members killed by a suicide bomber while helping to evacuate Americans and Afghans ahead of the full U.S. withdrawal from the country. Kareem Nikoui had joined the Marines right out of high school. He was in the ROTC and thats what he wanted. He talked to his counselorhis dream was to be a marine and he fulfilled that dream, a Norco resident told KTLA during a vigil held just weeks after the 20-year-old service members death. Norco community honors fallen Marine Kareem Nikoui Following Steven Nikouis arrest Thursday, Mast again went on Instagram to call out Biden. He was arrested because he cried out to Joe Biden to remember his son, Mast wrote. Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success! Contrary to Masts claim, in August 2021, Biden, joined by members of his cabinet, did indeed meet each of the families of the 13 fallen service members and paid respects as their remains were returned to Dover Air Force Base. Protesting in an area where it is otherwise unlawful to demonstrate is prohibited in the Washington D.C. code. The charge can carry a fine of up to $500 and 90 days in prison. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) The FBI and Rio Rancho Police Department are asking for information on a robbery at the First Financial Credit Union on Rio Rancho Blvd. SE. on Monday around 5:15 p.m. They say the man entered the Credit Union and demanded money from a teller. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Former Albuquerque property manager facing federal lawsuit after sexual harassment allegations The man is described as white, around 5 foot 7 inches tall with a stocky build. He was wearing a black hat, black face mask, black hoodie, and tan pants. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at 505-889-1300. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Federal authorities are seeking a woman they believe kidnapped her biological child and potentially brought him across the border into Mexico. Brigette Benitez, 31, is wanted by the FBI after she allegedly failed to return Miguel Eduardo Zuniga Medina Jr., 16 months, to his foster parent after an unsupervised visit. The visit, which took place in Walnut, was on Feb. 6 and the pair were last seen in a black 2021 Toyota Camry with a California license plate reading 8WAS968. The FBI says Benitez may have taken the child to Aguascalientes, Mexico, where Medinas non-custodial father is believed to live. Brigette Benitez Last year, Medinas father, Miguel Eduardo Medina Zuniga Sr.b was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in Los Angeles County. Following the arrest, Benitez and Medina Sr., who the FBI said has a history of violence in the presence of children, were stripped of custody of Medina Jr. by the Superior Court in Los Angeles County. Investigators have established that Benitez crossed the border into Mexico on Feb. 6 at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego County. Shes been charged with international parental kidnapping in the U.S. District Court in L.A. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Benitez is asked to call their local FBI office or nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Information may also be provided at www.tips.fbi.gov. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Unexplained communications equipment has been found in Chinese-made cranes in US ports that could be used for spying and potentially devastate the American economy, according to a new congressional investigation. The finding, first reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), will stoke American concerns that the cranes are effectively Trojan Horses for Beijing to gain access to, or even sabotage, sensitive logistics. The probe by the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House select committee on China found over a dozen pre-installed cellular modems, that can be remotely accessed, in just one port. Many of the devices did not seem to have a clear function or were not documented in any contract between US ports and crane maker ZPMC, a Chinese state-owned company that accounts for nearly 80 per cent of ship-to-shore cranes in use in America, according to the WSJ. The modems were found on more than one occasion on the ZPMC cranes, a congressional aide said. Our committees investigation found vulnerabilities in cranes at US ports that could allow the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] to not only undercut trade competitors through espionage, but disrupt supply chains and the movement of cargo, devastating our nations economy, Mark Green, the Republican chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, told CNN. The Chinese government is looking for every opportunity to collect valuable intelligence and position themselves to exploit vulnerabilities by systematically burrowing into Americas critical infrastructure, he told the WSJ, adding that the US had overlooked the threat for too long. The Telegraph has contacted ZPMC for comment. The new Huawei A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington DC said claims that Chinese-made cranes pose a security risk are entirely paranoia. The US investigation began last year amid Pentagon fears that sophisticated sensors on large ship-to-shore cranes could register and track containers, offering valuable information to Beijing about the movement of cargo supporting US military operations around the world. At the time, Bill Evanina, a former top US counterintelligence official, said: Cranes can be the new Huawei. Its the perfect combination of legitimate business that can also masquerade as clandestine intelligence collection, he told the WSJ. In recent years, a handful of Chinese crane companies have grown into major players in the global automated ports industry, working with Microsoft and other companies to connect equipment and analyse data in real-time. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Partnerships and community supports were central themes on a U.S. Department of Education visit to Austin district schools Tuesday. Federal officials reviewed programs supported through COVID-19 relief dollars in a visit to Austin as part of a tour of similar projects at schools nationwide. The national leaders were in town to participate in SXSW EDU, an education-focused portion of South by Southwest that ran Monday through Thursday. During a Tuesday roundtable at Govalle Elementary School, 3601 Govalle Ave., district staff members spoke with national leaders about the National Partnership for Student Success, an effort that began in 2022 to recruit more tutors and mentors to aid in pandemic recovery. Matias Segura, superintendent of the Austin school district, is joined by Cindy Marten, deputy secretary of education, on a visit to Govalle Elementary School on Tuesday. National leaders were in town to participate in SXSW EDU. Its important to have a group of people at the school supporting students, said Sharon Vigil, CEO of Communities in Schools of Central Texas. The nonprofit provides mentorship and other supports for students at 103 campuses across the region. Can't make it to SXSW 2024 in Austin? Check out the festival's livestream, VOD schedule. Students feel loved and cared for and are able to talk about whats going on in here so that doesnt block their learning, Vigil said. That support has been especially important post-pandemic, when students experienced serious disruption, she said. Giving people a safe environment to ask for help is key to building the kind of community students need, said Cindy Marten, the U.S. deputy secretary of education. You get real help and real solutions from a loving, caring group of people who just want to help you live your best life, Marten said. Mentor programs that build a sense of safety are critical to improving student learning and reducing chronic absenteeism, which became an issue for schools nationwide during the pandemic, she said. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten participates in a roundtable Tuesday at Govalle Elementary School to discuss partnerships such as Communities in Schools of Central Texas. Bilingual education Federal education officials also toured Widen Elementary Schools bilingual education programs in Dove Springs. A prekindergarten class sang self-introductions and a get well soon rhyme for an absent classmate in Spanish. Fifth graders analyzed a Spanish poem about peace, stanza by stanza. Just over half of Widens student body is emergent bilingual, meaning their families speak a language other than English at home. A slightly higher percentage of students are registered in a dual enrollment program, Principal Benito Faz-Banda Jr. said. The Austin district created a bilingual educators' roundtable and reaches out to parents to advocate for support for formal education in second languages, Superintendent Matias Segura said during the discussion Tuesday. Austin district Superintendent Matias Segura and Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten join a discussion Tuesday at Govalle Elementary School. Federal officials reviewed programs supported through COVID-19 relief dollars in a visit to Austin as part of a tour of similar projects at schools nationwide. Dialogue with immigrant communities is necessary to change generational perspectives on heritage languages, said Montserrat Garibay, assistant deputy secretary over the federal department's Office of English Language Acquisition. Garibay is a product of Austin district schools and former district bilingual pre-K teacher. As a teacher, Garibay heard from parents who saw English as a language taught at school and Spanish as a language taught at home. 'Austin City Limits' at SXSW: Celebrating 50 years, 'ACL' educates in the classroom Shifting parents' views has required an emphasis on the value of formalized Spanish language education and acknowledgement that learning Spanish won't damage a student's English language skills, Garibay said. President Joe Biden's Raise the Bar initiative lists multilingualism as a tenant of social equity and economic global competitiveness. Programs such as the one at Widen were funded through pandemic-era federal investment in education, but as the money runs out, districts will have to decide locally how and whether to continue those efforts, Marten said. "Now you're going to have a sustainability conversation," Marten said. "Let's keep funding the things that we found have worked." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Federal education officials visit Austin schools during SXSW EDU 2024 In the eight years since the Pentagon opened previously closed special operations jobs to women, just four have entered the training pipeline to become a Navy SEAL. Only 17 women have attempted Marine Raider training in that same timeline. None of those applicants went on to secure a position on a SEAL or Raider team. Thats according to new data compiled by the military services at the request of the Pentagon-appointed Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. The information provides a rare snapshot into military efforts to breach what is effectively the last frontier of gender integration: the elite and physically demanding units that operate in secrecy and conduct the most complex and high-stakes missions. Why getting more female troops into Special Operations will take time Data shows some services have had more success than others in attracting female candidates for special operations. In the Air Force, 54 women have entered training to join the special tactics, combat rescue and pararescue, tactical air control party and special reconnaissance career fields since 2016, with a handful successfully completing training and joining units. Today, the Air Force has one female special tactics officer and one officer and two female enlisted tactical air control party airmen. The data also reveals for the first time that the Air Force quietly welcomed its first female enlisted special reconnaissance airman in 2022. The Army has seen 41 women volunteer for Special Forces assessment and selection the first phase of the services Special Forces Qualification Course, also known as the Q Course. Three female soldiers have graduated from the Q Course, earning the coveted Green Beret, and received assignments in Special Forces groups, according to service data. One female soldier, at the time of the data compilation, was currently attempting the course. And in the Navy, a few women have entered special operations via the combatant craft crewman boat teams. Data shows nine women have entered the pipeline for small boats, and two have graduated and are currently serving on teams. For U.S Special Operations Command, which oversees the services but does not conduct recruiting efforts, bringing more women to the table is not a neutral proposition, according to Gen. Bryan Fenton, Special Operations Command commander. Strong teams are diverse, Fenton told Military Times in a statement. Diversity of thought, education, experiences, culture, gender, race, and creed all provide value to special operations. Fenton added that the number of uniformed women serving in special operations including those in operator and support roles has increased significantly in recent years. The overall proportion of women in special operations forces has ramped up from 7.9% in 2016 to 12% in 2023, officials said. To ensure that U.S. Special Operations Command draws upon the widest pool of talent, Fenton said, the SOF Enterprise has continued to progress in supporting womens ability to join, serve, and advance within the SOF community, including among our most elite units. These efforts vary in approach and specificity from service to service. Information provided by Special Operations Command specifically cited the Armys Women in Army Special Operations Forces study, the results of which were first reported by Army Times and pointed to a need for greater cultural acceptance of women as well as practical considerations including better-fitting equipment and accessible child care. Officials also pointed to a 2023 Naval Special Warfare initiative that expanded the number of female instructor billets from four to 11 at Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command and Naval Special Warfare Assessment Command in Coronado, California, to normalize the presence of women in the training pipeline. As the service with the fewest female operator candidates, the Navy has also made a concerted effort in recent social media postings and website material to get the word out about opportunities to potentially qualified candidates, officials said. Naval Special Warfare spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Chelsea Irish further expanded on these efforts. Since 2016, the command has significantly enhanced recruitment, she said. That has included standing up a Naval Special Warfare Assessment Command focused on national outreach in 2022. In 2023, she said, that new command organized 40 events across the country and brought diverse groups, including female athletes, on visits to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California. A Naval Special Warfare Assessment Command digital campaign featured NASCAR driver Hailie Deegan, she said. Its not yet clear how effective these measures are. Between 2022 and 2023, three women attempted combatant craft crewman training and one entered SEAL training, data shows. As (Naval Special Warfare) continues to develop a dynamic and capable force ready to take on the demands of strategic competition, we do so together with inclusive teams that benefit from unique experiences and perspectives, Irish said. The Marine Corps, which unlike the other services draws all its Raider critical skills operators and officers from the population of currently serving Marines, has held steady on its recruiting approach, according to Maj. Timothy Irish, a Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, or MARSOC, spokesman. Irish said the commands recruiting team engages with 100% of eligible enlisted women before holding screening events, and sends awareness cards to all boot camp and Officer Candidate School attendees. We believe our efforts to make 100% contact with the eligible officer and enlisted population of female Marines is the answer, Irish said. MARSOC has made a concerted effort to address existing recruiting ads, videos, and other materials to include images of women. While 17 women have attempted Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command assessment and selection, none have progressed to the commands Individual Training Course, which formally begins the Raider training pipeline. Interest in opportunities at the command may be increasing: Between 2022 and 2023, seven women attempted assessment and selection, more than in the previous three years. The Air Force, which saw a peak of 14 women entering the special operations training pipeline in 2021 and had 10 pipeline entries over the past two years, credits its relative success in recruiting female candidates in part to grassroots efforts including the airman-led Air Force Special Operations Command Womens Initiative Team, which identifies barriers to service and presents solutions. Among efforts spearheaded by this team include policies allowing Bluetooth-enabled breast pumps in secure spaces and on aircraft, and advanced bladder relief devices on Air Force Special Operations Command planes to allow female airmen to urinate in comfort, said spokeswoman Lt. Col. Rebecca Heyse. Heyse acknowledged the women already serving on elite teams, including two officers and three enlisted airmen. One of those officers was the subject of a 2022 controversy after a leaked letter alleged she had quit training and been offered the chance to return, counter to service policy. An Air Force inspector general probe found the candidate did not receive preferential treatment, and the incident resulted in clarifications to training policy. For (operations security) purposes, we do not discuss young operators, male or female, in detail to make sure we preserve all future developmental and assignment possibilities, Heyse said. These women will develop as operators at the units and when the time comes probably in a couple of years well be able to talk about them more. Of all the services, the Army perhaps has been the most aggressive in working to attract women to special operations. While just 41 women have attempted Special Forces assessment and selection, another 916 have attempted assessment and selection for civil affairs and psychological operations, which also fall under Army Special Operations. U.S. Army Special Operations Command spokesman Col. Mike Burns pointed to the commands Women in Army Special Operations Forces Initiative, which identifies opportunities to create equitable policies. During a partnered event with the XVIII Airborne Corps, Burns said, the group collected size measurements from female soldiers to assist with the creation of better-fitting future uniforms. The event, he said, resulted in 50 new leads for women interested in learning more about Army Special Operations Forces opportunities. United States Army Special Operations Command Command Sergeant Major, JoAnn Nauman, also plans to engage with women during an upcoming command visit to West Point during a physical training session, an address to the womens lacrosse team and a leadership panel, Burns said. In 2022 and 2023, 10 female soldiers attempted Army Special Forces assessment and selection. The highest enrollment year was fiscal year 2019, with 19 candidates. The unique talents and attributes allow the command to defend the nation without fear, without fail, without equal, Burns said. Together we will continue to provide the nations premier special operations element by attracting and retaining Americas top soldiers. Excitement is building for Andretti Global's highly anticipated relocation, with the US motorsport outfit sharing the official designs for its new, state-of-the-art headquarters in Fishers, Indiana. The $200 million 575,000 square foot headquarters will house the company's current and future racing programmes, meaning its NTT IndyCar Series, Indy Lights and IMSA, and hopefully its Formula 1 operations. After its F1 entry was given the green light by the FIA, Andrettis plans were rejected recently by Formula 1 itself. However, the team is pressing on with its plans as it hopes to convince the sports commercial right holder that it is worthy of a spot on the grid. As an indication of its commitment to F1, 50% of Andretti Globals new headquarters will reportedly be devoted to the design and manufacturing activities associated with F1. Interestingly, Andretti has entrusted a large part of the design of its new Fishers site to British company Ridge which has worked in the past with several F1 teams on designing new facilities, including most recently Aston Martins new state-of-the-art Silverstone campus. The Fishers project follows a strategic phased approach, with Phase 1 of the covering just under 400,000 square feet. The 2025 move-in date for Phase 1 will focus on bringing Andrettis Indycar and Indy NXT operations under one roof alongside the operations of Wayne Taylor Racing with Andrettis IMSA programs. Subsequent phases include the development of an Andretti Experience building, intended for public access, incorporating a museum and restaurant. Additionally, the site has ample space for potential future expansions. The project places significant emphasis on fostering employee engagement and a culture of wellness, drawing in the Indiana workforce and attracting global talent for the international brand. The upcoming facility is designed to feature cutting-edge amenities such as a state-of-the-art fitness center, walking trails with connectivity to the Nickel Plate Trail and Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve, amphitheaters, employee gathering spaces, and expanded dining options. Since groundbreaking weve taken time to really evaluate and dive deep into every aspect of the project, said chairman and CEO Michael Andretti. Our goal remains to create a healthy workplace and culture for employees and a campus that can be a destination for the community, while focusing on enhanced performance and competition capabilities for our race teams. The updated designs and direction accomplish all those things, and Im so proud of what we are building. Indiana has been home to the Andretti organisation for many years, and the city of Fishers has been very welcoming. We are thrilled to see progress continuing with our campus and cant wait to officially join the community. Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter From the The Morning Dispatch on The Dispatch Happy Friday! Wed like to give a hearty Dispatch welcome to Will Rinehart, who launched a new technology-focused newsletter, Techne, with us yesterday! You can read the first edition here to see what its all aboutand click Subscribe to the newsletter at the top of this page to ensure you never miss an issue going forward. Quick Hits: Todays Top Stories The State of the Union is Angry President Joe Biden delivers the annual State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress in the House chamber on March 7, 2024. (Photo by Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images) The tone of last nights State of the Union address was set perhaps even before President Joe Biden delivered a word of his speech. Protesters, pushing for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza, blocked a portion of Pennsylvania Avenue leading to the Capitol Building. GOP firebrands like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado signaled early on Thursday that they would not heed Speaker Mike Johnsons calls for decorum. And as Biden proceeded to the dais, Greene pulled on a MAGA hatagainst Congressional rulesand handed him a button embossed with the name of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student killed last month in Georgia by an illegal immigrant. The annual speech was delivered with just 243 days until Novembers presidential election, and the specter of the campaign hung over the room as the president and congressional Republicans traded barbs throughout the night. Biden referenced his predecessorand once-again political rivalmore than a dozen times over the course of the night, using the address to make his reelection pitch. In substance, Bidens remarks were about par for the Democrats course; stylistically, however, the direct partisan rancor coming from both sides previewed the long and bruising election cycle that lies ahead. Biden headed into his address with a grim political outlook. According to RealClearPolitics polling averages, his net approval rating is 17 points underwater, and 67 percent of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. A New York Times/Siena poll released last week found that just 18 percent of voters believe the presidents policies have personally helped themcompared to 40 percent who said the same about the policies of former President Donald Trump. That halcyon view of the Trump era undercuts a core Biden campaign theme: that voters are better off now than they were four years ago. Its no wonder, then, that Biden was under pressure last nightespecially from members of his own party. We are all nervous, one House Democrat told Axios, about Bidens ability to speak without blowing things. The 81-year-old presidents mental acuity has been questioned throughout his reelection campaign, and that same Times/Siena poll showed that, on net, 73 percent of voters believe Biden is just too old to be an effective president. But while his delivery was sometimes garbled, the president didnt have any major senior momentsand several times, he parried jabs from Republican audience members off the cuff before returning to prepared remarks. Oh, you dont like that bill, huh? he shot back when some Republicans booed his mention of the recently scuttled bipartisan immigration package. That conservatives got together and said was a good bill? Ill be darned, thats amazing. The partisan tone set in the lead-up to the presidents address was present throughout the speech, as well as the response from the room. While Democrats engaged in the typically partisan calisthenics of rising in support of their guy at every third sentencechants of four more years! broke out at several pointsthe night was short on moments that had the whole room standing. Manythough not allin the room rose when Biden expressed his commitment to bringing home all of the Hamas-held hostages in Gaza. Bidens acknowledgement of Betty May Fikes, an invited guest who fought for civil rights with the late Rep. John Lewis, also drew bipartisan applause. Far more common, though, were hecklersboth from the House floor and the gallery. A Gold Star father, whose son was one of the 13 Marines killed in the 2021 Abbey Gate attack at Kabul airport during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, was asked to leave the gallery after yelling at the president during his address. At one point during the speech, GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin shouted Lies! But it was Bidens comments about his predecessorwhom he never mentioned directly by namethat drew the most Republican ire. He called Trump out no fewer than 13 times, poking at fault lines in the Republican Party and drawing a contrast between himself and the man currently leading him in several national polls. Opening with an appeal to Congress to pass aid to Ukraine, he offered an olive branch to the more hawkish faction of the GOPto which recently vanquished Republican presidential candidate, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, and many of her voters belongby contrasting Trump with a past hero. It wasnt that long ago when a Republican president named Ronald Reagan thundered, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall, Biden said. Now, my predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin, Do whatever the hell you want. Thats a quote. A former American president actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader. Its outrageous. Its dangerous. Its unacceptable. He then sharply pivoted to the events of January 6, 2021, describing a day when insurrectionists stormed this very Capitol and placed a dagger at the throat of American democracy. He accused his predecessor and some of you here of trying to bury the truth of January 6, and condemned political violence. You cant love your country only when you win, Biden said. Remember your oath of office to defend against all threats foreign and domestic. During a section of the speech about abortion policy, Biden also directly went after the Supreme Courts conservative majority, several members of which were seated just feet away. In its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court majority wrote the following, and with all due respect justices, Women are not without electoral, electoral powerexcuse meelectoral or political power, he said. Youre about to realize just how much you got right about that. On immigration, too, Biden had harsh words for Trump, whom he accused of derailing the bipartisan immigration bill. The deal, negotiated by Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, was roundly condemned by GOP senators before many lawmakers even had had time to read the text of the agreement. Republicans booed as Biden recounted the details of the billunlikely to ever again see the light of day, much less come to another vote. Amid the heckling, the cable news feed panned to Lankford, sitting stony-faced. Thats true, Lankford appeared to mouth, confirming the presidents description. Why did Republicans abandon the bill? Because Trump publicly opposed it and privately lobbied against it. Im told my predecessor called members of Congress and the Senate to demand they block the bill, Biden said. He feels that it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him. Its not about him. Its not about me. Then, in one of the shakier ad-libbed moments of the speech, Biden responded to shouts from Rep. Greene demanding that he say [Laken Rileys] name. Biden held up the button Greene handed him as he entered the chambers and said she was an innocent young woman killed by an illegal. The president employing the term illegal drew the ire of multiple Democratic lawmakers after the speech ended. There were other moments last night when Democratic divisions were made plain. Though most of the protestations against Biden last night were shouted, several members of the progressive Squadwho have been vocal critics of the presidents policy toward Israel and Gazasilently held up signs that read lasting ceasefire and stop sending bombs, and withheld their applause. Three of them wore keffiyehsscarves donned by supporters of the Palestinian national movement. Relative to Ukraine, Biden did not spend much of his speech talking about the war in Gazaa weak spot for him with progressive and young votersand mentioned Hamas sponsor Iran only once. Though he reaffirmed his support for Israels campaign against Hamas (going off-script to refer to the terrorist organization as cowards for hiding amongst the Palestinian population), he forcefully pushed for Israel to do more to protect Gazan civilians. Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, he said. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. During the speech, Biden announced that the U.S. would build a temporary port on Gazas Mediterranean shore to accept aid shipments. While Biden spent a fair amount of time discussing threats to democracy both foreign and domestic, he devoted much of his speech to all the administrations kitchen-table appeals to the middle class. Biden ticked through the litany of new government investments in American manufacturing, infrastructure projects, and critical industries like semiconductor chips. He also highlighted his efforts to lower prescription drug costs and expand the Affordable Care Act. But the speech also included new economic proposals with a more populist bent. Tonight I want to talk about the future of possibilities that we can build together, he said. A future where the days of trickle-down economics are over and the wealthy and biggest corporations no longer get all the breaks. Biden advocated for a 25 percent tax rate for billionaires, saying the additional revenue could be spent on child care and paid leave. To address high home prices, he proposed a new $10,000 tax credit (spread over two years) to subsidize mortgages for first-time homebuyers and another $10,000 credit for middle-class households who sell their starter home. He also floated a plan to provide preschool for three- and four-year-olds. And, in perhaps the most comical line of the night, Biden accused corporations of price gouging and deceptive practices. The snack companies think you wont notice if they change the size of the bag, he said. They put a hell of a lot fewersame size bagput fewer chips in it. No, Im not joking. Its called shrinkflation. The Republican response was delivered by freshman Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, speaking from her own kitchen table. She cast herself as an everymom, likening her familys struggles and worries to those of average Americans. Britt criticized the president as out of touch and at fault for leaving American families worse off economically and less safe. She pivotedat times theatricallybetween sheer indignation, hitting Biden for weakening border security and telling the horrific story of a woman sex trafficked by cartels, and eager optimism, defending in vitro fertilization and espousing Republican-led upward economic mobility. We are the party of hardworking parents and families, she said of Republicans, and we want to give you and your children the opportunities to thrive. Britts response, and its mix of smiles and fire and brimstone, was likely a preview of the Republican strategy against Biden in the general election campaign. One ad, launched ahead of the speech, blamed Bidens border policies for the death of Laken Rileyher murderer had entered the country illegally and had been arrested previously, but was released. Polling from Gallup released last month found that respondents ranked immigration ahead of all other issues as the most important problem facing the country for the first time since 2019. Republicans have also repeatedly hit Biden on his age, and a new ad depicts the president struggling to collect his thoughts and asks, If Biden wins, can he even survive till 2029? As Biden closed his speechwhich lasted more than an hourhe gave a nod to his age. I know I may not look like it, he joked, but Ive been around a while. Recapping his long life of public service, he argued that the issue facing our nation isnt how old we are, its how old our ideas are. He laid out his vision for the future, and urged Americans to look forward, not backwardin one final reference to his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, whom hell face again in the 2024 election. The American People Should Demand Better We dont publish many editorials here at The Dispatch, but the fourth one in our companys history went live this morning, arguing the American people should demand better than the decision our two decaying, corrupted partieschanneling the dueling forces of tribalism and inertiaare set to thrust upon them. The entire piece is out from behind the paywall, and we hope youll take a few minutes this morning to read and share it. Heres an excerpt: As we move toward the general election, the pressure from partisan cheerleaders to line up behind one of these two unfit men will only grow louder. Progressive commentator Robert Reich, for example, has spent months encouraging people who actively dislike Biden to vote for him anyway as the lesser of two evils. On Wednesday, prominent right-wing radio host Hugh Hewitt pushed Nikki Haley to offer Trump a full-throated endorsement and promise to campaign hard for him because thats the traditional GOP way. Look where the lesser-of-two-evils mindset and the traditional GOP way have gotten us: a contest between the most unpopular presidential nominees in the history of polling. Politicians respond to incentives. Weve arrived at this point because the disaffected majority of voters who are fed up with todays political climate have consistently held their noses and settled for candidates they dont like who have been imposed upon them by the hyperpartisan fringes. In the United States, a shockingly small percentage of the overall electorate determines the two major parties nominees. The country will never return to the smoke-filled rooms of the past, but the tyranny of the most rabidly partisan doesnt strike us as much of an improvement. We understand and respect that Americans will respond to the dismal choice in front of them in different waysfor different reasonsbut we encourage them to weigh their options carefully, clear-eyed about the potential ramifications of either man securing a second term and on guard against the natural impulse to justify their vote by turning a blind eye to the candidates obvious flaws. No matter who wins, we will desperately need as many people as possible who can still tell the difference between good and evil, right and wrong, truth and lie. In a democracy, such people are the only guardrail against tyranny. Were under no illusion that our words here will meaningfully alter the outcome in November. If we had more sway, the country wouldnt be in this position. And we host a podcast called The Remnant for a reason. But we do know that that remnantAmericans who believe in individual liberty, pluralism, and a U.S.-led global orderis much larger than the leaders of either major political party think. And if enough of these voters break free of their partisan shackles, change may not come immediatelybut it will come. To paraphrase a recent piece from our colleague, Nick Catoggio, all thats to be done is to forge ahead, speak the truth, and trust that doing so will matter somehow. And that is what we will continue to do. Worth Your Time Writing for Law and Liberty, Rachel Lomasky, a data scientist working in artificial intelligence (AI), argued for a longer view on AI development. Recent advances in AI are truly significant, but the hype is overblown, she wrote. [Generative] AI passes the Turing Test, relatively non-controversially, and is also acing tests meant to measure human knowledge, e.g., the LSAT and AP Exams. It obeys Amaras Law, which states, We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run. AI will continue on its current, mostly mundane, somewhat delightful course, but the pace will accelerate. The trajectory of Gen AI is promising, but it would be a big mistake to extrapolate too far. This is not the first time people have worried that artificial human-level intelligence might be within sight. So whats next? Nobody is sure, although everyone seems to have an opinion. The only definite thing is that AI will take us in unexpected directions. Who would have thought thirty years ago that everyone would have a phone in their pocket, and yet nobody would call each other? Presented Without Comment To prepare for last nights State of the Union address, President Joe Biden sought advice from actors who played fictional presidents, including Morgan Freeman (Deep Impact) and Bill Pullman (Independence Day). Also Presented Without Comment Washington Post: TikTok Users Flood Congress with Calls as House Weighs Potential Ban Individual House offices have since received hundreds of calls from TikTok users, at times fielding upward of 20 a minute, according to eight congressional aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the outreach. The volume has been so immense that some offices resorted to temporarily shutting off phones, two aides said, while others struggled to field unrelated calls. The episode began just hours before lawmakers advanced a bill explicitly targeting TikTok and other apps they accuse of being controlled by foreign adversaries, such as China. The proposal could force TikToks China-based parent company to sell off the app or block it entirely in the United States. The legislation sailed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unopposed Thursday afternoon, 50-0, in a sweeping bipartisan rebuke of the app. Toeing the Company Line Sarah, Steve, David, John, and Declan discussed the State of the Union address and took questions from audience members on last nights late-night episode of Dispatch Live (). Members who missed the conversation can catch a rerun, either video or audio-only, by clicking here. Alex fact-checked a recent HuffPost story that stripped context from comments made by North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson about women and voting. In the newsletters: Will Rinehart introduced his new tech-focused newsletter for The Dispatch, Mike and Sarah recapped Mondays Supreme Court ruling and checked in on all the various Biden investigations in The Collision , and Nick previewed () the upcoming post-filibuster age. On the podcasts: Jonah, David, and Adaam review Denis Villeneuves Dune 2 on The Skiff (). Let Us Know If you tuned in, do you think President Biden achieved what he set out to with last nights address? How about Sen. Katie Britt? Correction, March 8, 2024: Laken Riley was a student at Augusta University, not the University of Georgia. 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. Five eighth-grade students have been expelled from their Beverly Hills middle school for spreading AI-generated nude images with their classmates faces on them. On Wednesday, the board of education for the Beverly Hills Unified School District held a vote to expel the students, who attended Beverly Vista Middle School, according to the Los Angeles Times. The parents and students had agreed not to contest the punishment, so no formal hearing was held. The five students were most egregiously involved, according to a letter from Superintendent Michael Bregy, which said that a total of 16 eighth grade students were victimized. When officials at Beverly Vista Middle School became aware that the images were being distributed last month, they were able to identify the students within 24 hours. The identities of the students have not been released. We recognize that kids are still learning and growing, and mistakes are part of this process, Bregy wrote in a message to parents sent on Thursday night. However, accountability is essential, and appropriate measures have been taken. Fake nude scandals have rocked other schools, including a high school in New Jersey, where one student sued another last month for creating and sharing images of her using an AI application. This incident has spurred crucial discussions on the ethical use of technology, including AI, underscoring the importance of vigilant and informed engagement within digital environments, Bregy said in his message. In response, our district is steadfast in its commitment to enhancing education around digital citizenship, privacy, and safety for our students, staff, and parents which was immediately reemphasized at all schools following the incident. 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. Five facts you need to know about International Womens Day Every year on 8 March, International Womens Day is celebrated to commemorate and honour women's accomplishments, raise awareness about gender disparities and discrimination, as well as promote global support for women. But what do you know about IWD? Were here to answer five important questions How long has International Womens Day been celebrated? Clara Zetkin founded International Women's Day in 1910 - CORBIS / HULTON DEUTSCH On 28 February 1909, the then-active Socialist Party of America celebrated the first National Womans Day in commemoration of the 15,000 women who protested in New York against harsh working conditions and lesser wages. In 1910, Clara Zetkin, a women's rights advocate and the leader of Germanys Womens Office for the Social Democratic Party, proposed the idea of a global International Womens Day. On 19 March 1911, the first International Womens Day was held, with more than 1 million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland taking part. It took until 1975 for the United Nations to recognize and begin celebrating International Womens Day (IWD). Since then, the UN has served as the major sponsor of the yearly event, encouraging more countries to recognize acts of courage and resolve by ordinary women who have played an outstanding role in the history of their countries and communities. And for those wondering and feeling left out (get over it), there is an International Men's Day, which is celebrated on 19 November in more than 80 countries worldwide, including the UK. It has only been marked since the 1990s and isn't recognised by the UN. What is the symbol and colour of International Womens Day? International Women's Day is celebrated each year on 8 March - Getty Images The symbol for International Womens Day is a female gender symbol. It is usually accompanied by the colours purple, green and white. According to the International Women's Day website, purple stands for dignity and justice, green for hope, and white for purity. "The colours originated from the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK in 1908." Is it a holiday? "Collectively, let's forge a more inclusive world for women." - IWD - https://www.internationalwomensday.com/ The days purpose varies by country. In some, it's a day of protest, while in others, it's a means to promote gender equality. In some countries, International Women's Day is observed as a national holiday. IWD is recognized as an official national holiday in Armenia, Belarus, Cambodia, Cuba, Georgia, Laos, Mongolia, Montenegro, Russia, Uganda, Ukraine and Vietnam. In certain countries like Albania, Macedonia, Serbia and Uzbekistan, Women's Day has been combined with Mother's Day, a merger to highlight the importance of women as mothers. In China, many women are given a half-day off work, while the Italian Festa della Donna is celebrated by the giving of mimosa blossoms. Why is it a historical celebration in Russia? Female protesters in Petrograd on 8 March 1917 - Getty Images In 1917, the celebration of Women's Day in Russia got them the right to vote. Women in Russia commemorated the day that year by going on strike for 'bread and peace' in order to protest World War I and campaign for gender equality. Tsar Nicholas II was far from happy and authorized General Khabalov of the Petrograd Military District to shoot any woman who refused to stand down. They did not back down and the protests remained and led to the Tsars abdication. The interim government granted women the right to vote as a result of their protest action. Whats the theme this year? The campaign theme for International Women's Day 2024 is Inspire Inclusion. - Canva Ever since 1996, each International Womens Day has an official theme. The first theme adopted by the UN in 1996 was "Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future". Last year, the theme for IWD was #EmbraceEquity, and this year, the UN has designated the theme as Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress with a focus on addressing economic disempowerment. The 2024 campaign theme is Inspire Inclusion. "When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world," states the IDW website. "And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. Collectively, let's forge a more inclusive world for women." Through this campaign, there is an emphasis on recognising the importance of diversity and empowerment in various spheres of society, and underscoring the pivotal role of inclusion in advancing gender equality. "When women aren't present, we must ask: "If not, why not?" When women are discriminated against, we must call out poor practice. When the treatment of women is not equitable, we must take action. And we must do this each time, every time." As per the website, people can inspire others to help forge an inclusive world by seeking out the inclusion of women and sharing knowledge. On a group basis, organizations can recruit, retain and develop diverse talent, as well as support women into leadership positions. Other areas include helping women make informed decisions about their health, providing women and girls with access to quality education and training, as well as promoting sporting, creative and artistic talent. The organization adds that sharing your #InspireInclusion image across social media using #IWD2024 #InspireInclusion" is also part of this year's campaign. Five people were killed by a falling aid package when its parachute failed to deploy on Friday, Gazan health officials and an eyewitness told CBS News. The Gazans struck were reportedly sheltering at the Al-Shati refugee camp on the northern coast of the Gaza Strip. Two boys were among the five killed, and 11 others were injured by the falling package, CBS News reported. Social media video posted on Friday appeared to show one package plummeting faster than the others with what looks like a closed parachute. The Daily Beast has reached out to the U.S. Department of Defense for comment. Emergency packages fell over Gaza on Friday as part of a coordinated effort by the U.S., Jordan, Egypt, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands to address the Gaza Strips dire aid crisis. Despite mounting pressure from the international community, Israel has refused to let aid into the besieged region as it attempts to snuff out Hamas militants. Some experts say the region is perilously close to famine. U.N. officials have repeatedly warned that air drops and a U.S.-proposed temporary port to deliver aid by sea are insufficient to meet the needs of an estimated 2 million people. I cannot but repeat air and sea is not a substitute for land, and nobody says otherwise, Sigrid Kaag, the U.N.s humanitarian and development coordinator for Gaza, said Friday when the U.S. announced its intent to deliver aid by sea. 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. Aid is dropped from a c17 cargo plane, parachutes fail to open and parcels break apart hitting the ground with force. Five people have died after a parachute failed on an aid package dropped by air into Gaza on Friday, reports say. An eyewitness and the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said the five were killed when at least one parachute failed to deploy and a parcel fell on them, the BBC's US partner CBS reports. AFP news agency quoted a Gaza doctor as saying five people were killed. The BBC has not independently verified this. It is unclear which air drop was involved in the incident. The US, Jordan, Egypt, France, the Netherlands and Belgium have been dropping aid into Gaza in recent days as concerns about famine among the population grow. Jordanian state TV quoted a source as denying that a Jordanian aircraft was involved in the incident. CBS News reported the incident happened at about 11:30 local time (09:30 GMT). US Central Command confirmed a joint air drop of aid into Gaza with the Royal Jordanian Air Force happened at about 13:30 local time. US Gen Patrick Ryder said its air drop was not involved in the incident, adding "we've confirmed that all of our aid bundles landed safely on the ground". The UN says a quarter of Gaza's 2.3m population is on the brink of famine and children are starving to death. A video posted to social media on Friday and verified by BBC News shows aid dropping from a C-17 cargo plane over al-Shati, north of Gaza City, in an area largely cut off from assistance in recent months. While most of the large packages of aid fall with parachutes deployed, one fails to open and falls in a more uncontrolled way. It is difficult to say from the video, a screenshot from which is above, what may have gone wrong. We do not know if this footage captures the incident in which people were reportedly killed. Aid organisations have been critical of the air drops, saying they were a last resort and incapable of meeting the soaring need. On Friday the EU, UK, US and others said they planned to open a sea route to Gaza to deliver aid that could begin operating this weekend. The US has said it will construct a temporary harbour to ship aid directly into Gaza, but US officials have said it will take weeks to make. Western countries have pressed Israel to expand delivery of aid by road, facilitating more routes and opening additional crossings. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: "We continue to urge Israel to allow more trucks into Gaza as the fastest way to get aid to those who need it." Israel denies impeding the entry of aid to Gaza and accuses aid organisations of failing to distribute it. Aid lorries have been entering the south of Gaza through the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing and the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing. But the north, which was the focus of the first phase of the Israeli ground offensive, has been largely cut off from assistance in recent months. An estimated 300,000 Palestinians are living there with little food or clean water. Last week more than 100 people were killed trying to reach a ground aid convoy amid the growing desperation. Palestinians said most were shot by Israeli troops. The Israeli military, which was overseeing the private aid deliveries, on Friday said its troops did not fire at Palestinians around an aid convoy but at "suspects" nearby who they deemed a threat. Israel's military launched an air and ground campaign in Gaza after Hamas's attacks on Israel on 7 October, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 253 others were taken hostage. More than 30,800 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the territory's Hamas-run health ministry says. Additional reporting by BBC Verify Vacation rentals. Credit: Julie Hauserman Quality Journalism for Critical Times After coming up short for nearly a decade, the Florida Legislature on Thursday approved a contentious proposal to give the state more power to regulate short-term vacation rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo that have changed the vacation landscape, from the Panhandle to Orlando to South Florida. The measure still needs to be signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, and opponents say they will push to persuade the governor to veto the bill. The measure (SB 280) has been a controversial one for years in Tallahassee, as residents and local government officials from coastal communities in particular have asserted that the cities and counties should be the officials to regulate the advertising platforms and not the state. Its been carried over the past two years in the Senate by Pinellas County Republican Nick DiCeglie, who lives in Indian Rocks Beach, a city that has been dubbed Ground Zero in the yearslong battle to have the state take over more regulations of vacation rentals from local communities. The problem starts in Indian Rocks Beach, because that is where I live, DiCeglie told his colleagues on the Senate floor on Thursday. And it is a problem on multiple levels. Its a problem for my neighbors who are being bad actors who violate local ordinances, okay? Im getting feedback from those who own these vacation rental properties, and theyre getting slapped with $75,000 fines because the city says they violated some FEMA flood code violation. The measure passed in the GOP-controlled Senate, 23-16, with four Republicans joining the 12 Democrats in opposing the measure. The measure narrowly passed in the Florida House on Wednesday, 60-51, one of the closest margins of any measure introduced this session. The vacation-rental saga The saga goes back to 2011, when the Legislature passed a law prohibiting local governments from enacting any restrictions on vacation rentals. After significant pushback from local communities, the Legislature amended the law in 2014 to allow local governments the ability to handle issues like noise, trash and parking, but continued to prevent them from regulating the duration of the frequency of short-term rentals. On the Senate floor Thursday, South Florida Democratic Senator Bobby Powell filed an amendment that would allow any local ordinances that regulate vacation rentals that were adopted before June 1, 2024 to be grandfathered in, but the proposal was rejected. In an amendment added on Wednesday in the House, the bill now says that counties can keep their own local vacation rental ordinances that were introduced before 2016 which was stated to be a carve-out for Broward and Flagler counties only. But during debate on the Senate floor on Thursday, it was revealed that Broward County does not have such an ordinance, and thus only Flagler was getting a break which happens to be the home area of House Speaker Paul Renner. You want to know why the public doesnt have confidence in state government? asked South Florida Democratic Sen. Jason Pizzo. Its because of thatthe House Speaker shouldnt get a special exemption. So whats in the new bill? The measure allows local governments to charge a reasonable fee to a vacation rental owner to register the property. If theres a problem with the registration, the owner could be fined up to $500. A vacation rental registration can be suspended for violations of an ordinance that does not apply solely to vacation rentals but only if there have been five or more violations on five separate days during a 60-day period. It can be suspended for up to 60 days for one or more violations on five separate days during a 30-day period, and up to 90 days for one or more violations after two prior suspensions. Regarding occupancy levels, the bill requires the vacation rental owner or operator to state and comply with a maximum overnight occupancy that doesnt exceed either two persons per bedroom, plus an additional two persons in one common area; or more than two persons per bedroom if there is at least 50 square feet per person, plus an additional two persons in one common area. In addition, the bill says that a responsible party who is capable of responding to complaints or emergencies related to a vacation rental must be available by telephone 24 hours a day and seven days a week. But they dont need to respond until 9 a.m. the following morning. Huge issue for small towns Local officials from around Florida traveled to Tallahassee during the session to testify in opposition to the state taking away more of their powers to regulate vacation rentals. That included Alison Dennington, who was just elected last November as mayor of Melbourne Beach, which is considered the oldest beach community in Brevard County. She said that the controversy over the regulation of short-term vacation rentals is a huge issue for small towns like hers, and the voices of those communities arent respected in Tallahassee. Its an assault on single-family zoning, Dennington told the Phoenix while attending a committee meeting last month. In my area we have Democrats and Republicans and No-Party and independents, and I can tell you the only thing that they agree on and all of them are pissed off about is the fact that we cant regulate short-term rentals. Pizzo, a former prosecutor with the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office, grilled DiCeglie on various aspects of the bill on Thursday. Are you really happy enough with this product to ask your colleagues to preempt all of their cities from control? he asked him. DiCeglie said he absolutely was. Pizzo also said that there was an issue with the Department of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR), based out of Tallahassee, regulating all of the vacation rental units in the state. The bill provides funding for the agency to hire nine agents specifically to oversee such rentals. Unlicensed vacation rentals? According to a legislative bill analysis, the Department of Business and Professional Regulations reported there were 26,733 vacation rental dwellings licensed with the state in 2022. However, according to a Florida TaxWatch report issued earlier this year, those were just the vacation rentals licensed with the state. The Tallahassee-based government watchdog and taxpayer research group said that unlicensed vacation rentals are nearly double that amount, and the total loss of registration fees from unlicensed vacation rentals ranges from $1.8 million to $6.9 million. But DiCeglie said that its inaccurate that the DBPR is solely responsible for overseeing vacation rentals in the state. What were asking them to do is manage a database, he said, adding that local governments also will be maintaining a registry of registrations in their jurisdiction. While a handful of Republicans opposed the bill, the 23 of the 27 voting supported it. Indian and Brevard County Republican Sen. Debbie Mayfield defended the proposal, saying that local governments still possess powers to regulate vacation rentals. The cities are getting more than what they had, she said. They can charge whatever registration fee they want to charge. They can charge whatever renewal fee they want to charge. They can charge whatever inspection fee they want to chargeit may not be as perfect as everybody wants the bill to be, but its still a good bill. The post FL lawmakers pass state regulations on short-term vacation rentals; how will it play out? appeared first on Florida Phoenix. DENVER (KDVR) Gov. Jared Polis has ordered flags to be at half-staff on Sunday in honor of a fallen paramedic. On Sunday, March 10 from sunrise to sunset, flags will be lowered to half-staff in honor of Steve Zuckerman, an Eagle County paramedic who passed away after responding to a backcountry rescue call in Vail on Friday, Feb. 23. Colorado WWII soldiers remains finally identified after nearly 80 years Zuckerman was 61 years old and had worked for Beaver Creek Ski Patrol for more than 25 years. He started with Eagle County Paramedic Services in 2008, first part-time and eventually full-time in 2013, the agency said in a release. A man in paramedic uniform smiles as he stands in front of an ambulance On Feb. 23, an avalanche was triggered near East Vail in an area known as the Birthday Chute. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, two skiers were caught in the avalanche and were suffering from injuries. Vail Mountain Rescue responded alongside Eagle County paramedics, but thats when officials said things took a terrible turn. They entered the backcountry on skis to move toward that avalanche victim, and during the course of their response, Steve suffered we dont know, specifically but lost consciousness, and there was a resuscitation effort from our staff, said Brandon Daruna, CEO of Eagle County Paramedic Services. The medical emergency prompted air medical transport, but tragically, Zuckerman did not survive. Community remembers fallen paramedic The heavy loss sparked an outpouring of support for a man who dedicated his life to public service and safety. He was always willing to step up and contribute, and its a kind of gaping loss for our organization and community. And its going to take a long time to heal, Daruna said. 12-year-old snowboarder ready for the big stage at Winter Dew Tour Zuckerman was also a member of the search and rescue team and a field trainer, and he also was training as a critical care paramedic. Theres going to be a mourning period, and theres always going to be a hole left where Steve used to lie, Daruna said. Polis has chosen flags to be at half-staff on Sunday to honor the day of Zuckermans memorial service. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. A former Florida Senator and Representative from Northeast Florida who died last month will be honored Monday. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a memo ordering American flags and State of Florida flags in Tallahassee and Jacksonville to be flown at half-staff to honor Betty Holzendorf. Holzendorf served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1988-1992 and in the Florida Senate from 1992 to 2002, according to her House and Senate biographies. DeSantis memo includes flags in front of the Duval County Courthouse, Jacksonville City Hall, and the State Capitol in Tallahassee. Read the full text of the memo below: TO: Brian Fienemann, Director of Real Estate Management and Development; Ronald Salem, President of City Council, City of Jacksonville; Donna Deegan, Mayor, City of Jacksonville FROM: Governor Ron DeSantis DATE: Friday, March 8, 2024 RE: Flags at Half-Staff in Honor of Former Representative Betty Holzendorf On February 29, 2024, Former Representative Betty Holzendorf passed away at the age of 84. Holzendorf represented House District 16 from 1988 to 1992 in the Florida House of Representatives. After her tenure in the House, she represented District 2 in the Florida Senate from 1992 to 2002. Following her time as an elected official, Representative Holzendorf continued her dedication to public service and improving her community. As a mark of respect, I hereby direct the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Florida, the City Hall of Jacksonville, Florida, and at the State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, from sunrise to sunset on Monday, March 11, 2024. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida woman is facing child neglect charges after she reportedly left a 4-year-old at a Chuck E. Cheese for hours, according to NBC affiliate WESH. The West Melbourne Police Department said Sheteria Steadman, the childs guardian, brought the boy to a birthday party on March 2 but was seen leaving the restaurant without the child, based on camera footage. A very dangerous person: Sex offender tried to kidnap girl, exposed himself to kids, Polk County sheriff says The employees noticed that the child was wandering around and they were not able to locate the guardian of the child so they notified us, said Lt. Graig Erenstoft with the West Melbourne Police Department. WESH said Steadman claimed she believed the child was asleep in the car when she left the party, based on the police report. When we got there, we were able to review camera footage to determine when the child was dropped off and by who. And then to determine that, when that part left that they did not bring that child with them, Erenstoft said. WESH said she left the Chuck E. Cheese around 7 p.m. and returned to retrieve the child after being contacted by police just after 11 p.m. The child was reportedly taken to the Department of Children and Families that night and, after police conducted interviews, Steadman was arrested on March 4, per WESH. WESH said Steadman is out on bond and its not clear if the child is still in the care of DCF. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Florida woman arrested after stealing 6-week-old puppy, abandoning him in the woods, sheriff says TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida woman was arrested Monday after deputies said she stole a 6-week-old puppy and abandoned him in the woods. The St. Lucie Sheriffs Office said surveillance video showed 44-year-old Onicia Marie Prince abandoning the American Bull Dog puppy, named G-Knight, next to a doctors office parking lot in Port St. Lucie on New Years Eve. Detectives said they found G-Knight in a dog carrier in a wooded area three days after his owner reported the puppy missing. The sheriffs office said G-Knight died six hours after he was returned to his owner. Deputies said the puppy was dehydrated and malnourished. Video shows semi-truck driver shooting at another driver during road rage incident on Florida highway This was a 6-week-old puppy who didnt do anything to anybody and spent the last three days of its life alone by itself with no food, with no water, St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson said. According to the sheriffs office, the owners and Prince knew each other and the theft stemmed from a relationship issue between them. Prince was taken to the St. Lucie County Jail on two counts of torture inflicting pain with serious physical injury or death to an animal, abandoning an animal, theft of an animal and burglary of a conveyance. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Flosi on Friday took charge as the services top enlisted airman, becoming the face of the enlisted force as it pivots toward a new era of war. In a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Flosi pledged to be a steadfast wingman to a force scrambling to respond to crises around the world, from war in Europe to violence in the Middle East, while new threats arise with alarming frequency. Meet David Flosi, the next chief master sergeant of the Air Force Our airmen are busy. Our nation is asking a lot. It can be a challenge to meet the demand, he said. But together, airmen are unstoppable, he said: I am confident in our ability to rise to the occasion. As the 20th chief master sergeant of the Air Force, Flosi is the primary adviser to the services secretary and chief of staff on military readiness and quality of life for more than 665,000 uniformed and civilian employees worldwide. He will be a leading voice in the Pentagons forthcoming review of pay and benefits, the Air Forces efforts to recruit more American youth to military service, its plan to build a new warrant officer corps and more. And hell present the enlisted perspective in top-level discussions as the Air Force nails down the details of two dozen initiatives designed to compete with China for military influence and supremacy around the globe, including revamping how airmen deploy and the jobs theyre asked to handle abroad. We recognize we are serving at a time of consequence. It is imperative we acknowledge the urgency of the challenges we face, Flosi said. We must remain an aligned and focused workforce to continue to meet the demands of our nation. Flosi most recently served as the senior noncommissioned officer at Air Force Materiel Command, which oversees the multibillion-dollar acquisition and sustainment portfolio for aircraft, munitions and other equipment across the service. He has also worked at the Air Force Sustainment Center, with the U.S.-led effort to train the Afghan air force, and as a nuclear weapons technician, among other assignments. The Air Force is launching an era of transformation. Can it work? At Fridays ceremony, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said Flosis selection was an easy choice in a pool of talented and respected chief master sergeants. The services new top enlisted leader is analytical, a good listener and principled without being inflexible, Allvin said. He has the vision to be able to paint you that beautiful island that everybody wants to go to, in great detail, Allvin said. But he also has the rare ability to tell you the steps that you need to get to that island. Thats a rare combination. Under Flosis leadership, Allvin said, the force must ditch practices that worked during the war on terror but are outdated in todays digitally focused, fast-paced security environment. Were going to have to break some china if were going to break some China, Allvin quipped. Flosi replaces JoAnne Bass as chief master sergeant of the Air Force, who is retiring from military service after more than three years in the top enlisted job and 31 years in uniform. When Bass assumed the role in August 2020, she became the first woman to hold the highest senior enlisted rank in any of the military branches, and the Air Forces first Asian American to serve in the job. Bass used her tenure to push for higher pay and expanded benefits for the enlisted corps amid the coronavirus pandemic and a volatile economic landscape in the years that followed. She has urged airmen to think outside the box to work as a team while staying true to standards of military professionalism. In one of her final major speeches to the force as chief, Bass last September cautioned airmen not to underestimate the cyber and the information domains as major drivers and amplifiers of conflict. Every single day, we ought to be asking ourselves, Am I my best? Am I moving the ball? Am I taking care of my fellow wingmen? she said. I tried to do this every day as your chief master sergeant of the Air Force. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on Friday called Bass an unmatched advocate for airmen who is unafraid to speak truth to power. He recalled how, nearly 50 years ago, he attended an educational program with the first female lieutenant to serve in the Armys air defense corps. I think after 50 years, its time to stop having firsts and enjoy retiring the firsts as more and more people serve, he said. Other leadership changes The enlisted change of responsibility is the latest in a series of leadership shuffles around the Air Force and Space Force. Air Combat Command welcomed Gen. Ken Wilsbach as its new boss Feb. 29, bringing the former Pacific Air Forces commander to Virginia to manage the bulk of the services fighter, intelligence and other tactical assets around the world. Wilsbach replaces Gen. Mark Kelly, who is retiring after more than three years at the helm of Air Combat Command. The new commander will be a key stakeholder in the Air Forces effort to bring on a next-generation fighter, drone wingmen, advanced target-tracking aircraft and more. The top job at Pacific Air Forces was filled Feb. 9 by Gen. Kevin Schneider, the former staff director at the Air Forces Pentagon headquarters in Virginia. Schneider will lead airmen from Alaska to Guam in the U.S. militarys top-priority region as the Air Force looks to counter Chinese aggression and bolster its relationships and its footprint in countries around the Pacific. Wilsbach and Schneider are both decorated fighter pilots with more than 4,000 hours in the cockpit. Each held leadership roles around the Pacific and Middle East before being promoted to run Air Force major commands. In a contest of resources, attrition is king. The United States says it will consider various options for helping Ukraine until Congress approves the $60 billion aid bill. Now its about $200 million from Pentagon reserves. I would like to emphasize that every time we deal with numbers, both millions of dollars and hundreds of millions of dollars, we must remember that its not about transferring funds to Ukraine. These are some interbudgetary transfers within the United States. The Pentagon obviously has enormous reserves, so they can review and make corrections from time to time. Of course, this entails bureaucratic procedures, changes to planning. But the fact that there are these reserves, its better that they express it in hundreds of millions of dollars, than in the number of munitions, which could give Russia valuable intelligence. Ukrainian military personnel on the ground have already reported that the situation with ammunition has improved recently. It also happens when some unannounced weapon is delivered to the front. The issue of U.S. aid is still in limbo. Its still unknown when or how it will resolve. We have the prospect of receiving 800,000 artillery rounds [in the coming weeks]. At some point, if there is really not just a commitment, but concrete calculations, when these ammunitions are delivered, we can obviously also use the reserves we have more actively. Because, when its not clear what will happen in the next three months, then, of course, we should try to stretch out what is left for as long as possible. Therefore, we may have different options. I repeat again, if there is certainty about the replenishment in the nearest specified time, we can more freely use those reserves that have been stored for a rainy day. We have the prospect of receiving 800,000 artillery rounds Regarding long-range weapons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently said that the partners should not lack courage in terms of supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons. Its obvious that this concerned, first of all, the leaders of the United States and Germany. From time to time, some journalists and observers say that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is very indecisive on this issue. That is, Germany has made huge progress in revising its policy of military support for Ukraine, but there is still some lingering fear of Russia. Journalists often talk about such a connection, they say that Scholz wants [U.S. President Joe] Biden to be the first to transfer ATACMS missiles. At the same time, unfortunately, Bidens policy has also stalled somewhere at the level of the priorities that he or his administration have set for themselves. Therefore, its difficult to say when this vicious circle will be broken. But this latest controversy with the interception of a conversation between German generals, followed by the reaction of Chancellor Scholz himself, shows Germany is trying to find any excuse to block such decisions for as long as possible. I would like to add a few more words about Scholz. Because its not just about Scholzs personal qualities. He is the leader of a political party, and they listen to public opinion. And I was simply very surprised when the other day I saw the results of a German public opinion poll regarding the supply of Taurus cruise missiles. This is something that shouldnt be in politics. That is, you can conduct polls, but the value of public opinion for politicians is not to blindly follow it. Longer-range weapons will help Ukraine seize the initiative on the battlefield. This is one of the key elements. Because in a war of attrition when the resource race continues, the more Ukraine will be able to destroy the resources for waging war in Russias rear, the more chances it will have to seize the initiative. Any standoff weapons will help, regardless of the exact type. Personnel issues are probably the most acute problem in this war. Now this argument is also used against Ukraine in the West in the camp of opponents of increasing aid. They say: well now spend taxpayers money, will further escalate relations with Russia, and Ukraine is running out of soldiers. At the same time, the Ukrainian parliament is slow in passing mobilization reform, the Ukrainian government is doing nothing to improve the situation with mobilization. Well, actually, if you ask me where the decisions are stalled, I recommend reading Ben Hodges [former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe]. In an interview with NV, he said the diagnosis is very simple. This is not a failure of the army. This is the failure of the government and the Verkhovna Rada [Ukraines parliament] to change the laws to solve this problem, to fix the system. So that male and female recruits are sure that theyll join the army and theyll be equipped, trained, prepared, and their families will be taken care of. Therefore, the problem is obvious and how it should be solved is obvious. Therefore, I emphasize, this is a question for the government, for our politicians. The problem is the irresponsible attitude of our MPs to the war. They are now acting against the people of Ukraine and against Ukraines strategic interests. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A Saudi Arabian farm previously permitted to pump unlimited amounts of groundwater to grow alfalfa for dairy cows overseas has stopped irrigating its crops on state land in Arizonas Butler Valley, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs announced Thursday. Hobbs and the Arizona State Land Department announced after a recent inspection Fondomonte had stopped pumping water in the Butler Valley groundwater basin and has begun to take steps to leave the property. Hobbs took full credit for the outcome, saying it was a result of her move to terminate and decline to renew Fondomontes leases on state land in the area, part of a broader crackdown from Hobbs and her Democratic attorney general Kris Mayes. Today is the start of a new chapter for Arizonas water future, Hobbs said in a statement. Im not afraid to hold people accountable, maximize value for the state land trust, and protect Arizonas water security. Arizonas State Land Department used to lease thousands of acres to Fondomonte Arizona LLC, a farming operation owned by Middle East dairy giant Almarai Company, CNN previously reported. The state land department leased more than 6,000 acres to Fondomonte, it told CNN in 2022, making it the second-largest agricultural lessor of Arizona land. Fondomonte previously held four separate leases on state land in the Butler Valley Basin. In October, Arizona officials notified the company three of its four leases would not be renewed and the fourth had been canceled due to default. Besides the state lands it leased, the farm also owns land in both Arizona and California. The Almarai Company owns about 10,000 acres of farmland in Arizona under its subsidiary, Fondomonte. It also owns about 3,500 acres in agriculture-heavy Southern California, according to public land records, where they use Colorado River water to irrigate crops. Fondomontes lawyer did not immediately return CNNs request for comment. Fondomonte is not the only foreign farm in the state. Al Dahra, a United Arab Emirates-based company farming alfalfa in the Southwest, also has operations in rural parts of the state. And several other corporate farms headquartered in other states have for years taken advantage of what Arizona residents and officials have long described as lax groundwater laws, allowing farms to pump unlimited water as long as they own or lease the property to drill wells into. When Mayes and Hobbs took office, they vowed to crack down on foreign-owned farms leasing land from the state with the benefit of unlimited water pumping. State and federal analyses have found some groundwater basins are being severely overpumped. Amid years of drought and a growing population in the state, Arizona officials have taken a number of steps to protect their water resources, including putting limits on new housing developments. Last year when announcing new restrictions on Fondomontes pumping, Mayes said the Arizona Department of Water Resources had revoked permits Fondomonte sought to drill wells capable of pumping 3,000 gallons of groundwater per minute. Such a rate of pumping is far more than whats used in homes. According to state estimates, 325,000 gallons of water is enough for three average-size homes in Phoenix for a year. In her statement, Hobbs said she would continue taking decisive action to protect Arizonas water so we can thrive for generations to come. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Former British Prime Minister Theresa May announced she will leave politics and not seek re-election in parliament. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI March 8 (UPI) -- Former British Prime Minister Theresa May said Friday that she is quitting politics after almost three decades in parliament. May, who served as Conservative prime minister from 2016 to 2019, in a statement to the local newspaper in her Maidenhead constituency just outside London said she would not stand in the general election due by the end of the year. The 67-year-old said she had taken the "difficult" decision to step away from Westminster politics in order to concentrate on issues about which she cared passionately, in particular a modern slavery and trafficking project that she launched in October with the backing of Britain and Bahrain. "Since stepping down as prime minister I have enjoyed being a backbencher again and having more time to work for my constituents and champion causes close to my heart including most recently launching a Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking," said May. "These causes have been taking an increasing amount of my time. Because of this, after much careful thought and consideration, I have realized that, looking ahead, I would no longer be able to do my job as an MP in the way I believe is right and my constituents deserve." Her decision to quit brings to 64 the number of Conservative MPs and former Conservatives who will not be contesting their seats in an election Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government is expected to lose heavily to Labor. May, who worked at the Bank of England before entering politics, was elected MP for Maidenhead in 1997 and promoted to her first shadow ministerial post of Education Secretary within two years, going on to serve in a series of senior shadow cabinet roles as well as becoming the first woman chair of the Conservative Party. She served as home secretary in former Prime Minister David Cameron's 2010 to 2016 government, backing his doomed effort to keep Britain in the European Union -- which consisted of trying to negotiate a "better membership deal" for Britain and then putting it to a referendum in which he campaigned for remain -- eventually succeeding him as prime minister when he resigned over the Brexit result. She inherited what many believe was a poisoned chalice of trying to negotiate a deal to disentangle Britain from the myriad political, economic, legal, financial and cultural linkages to the EU that had developed over the preceding 44 years since it joined the then-European Economic Community. Three years of bruising disputes -- both with Brussels and internally within a Conservative Party increasingly split between hardline Brexiteers, so-called "Euroskeptics" who wanted a total "no deal" break with Europe, and moderates who wanted to retain a closer political and trade relationship -- eroded May's authority along with her slim parliamentary majority. A gambit to win the mandate she lacked from the electorate in a snap election in June 2017 backfired with her government losing its majority, forcing her to turn to Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist party to cobble together a coalition. Her premiership never recovered from the botched scheme with rebels forcing a vote of confidence in her leadership in December 2018 over the compromise Brexit withdrawal deal she had negotiated. She survived the vote, but only a month later parliament rejected her Brexit deal 430-232, the largest government defeat in history, and she quit as prime minister in June 2019, clearing the way for pro-Brexit former London Mayor Boris Johnson to succeed her the following month. Johnson won a mandate for his "oven-ready" withdrawal deal in an election in December 2019. Britain officially left the EU on Jan. 31, 2020, with a year's grace, although wrangling over its implementation -- primarily surrounding the land border between British Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, which is part of the EU -- rumbles on to this day. Christine Mulcahy told a judge Friday she was overwhelmed with a roller coaster of emotions as she watched video footage of her 75-year-old sister being sexually assaulted in her bed by her aide at a Burnsville assisted living home disbelief, anger, shock, anxiousness and an extreme amount of nausea. Mulcahy said she set up a camera in her sisters room at Regent at Burnsville in December 2022 after her sister told her things that didnt make sense: waking up to find a man in her bed and a man stalking her. Nothing could have prepared me for what I witnessed on that video, Mulcahy told Dakota County District Judge Timothy McManus in her victim impact statement. The judge accepted John Akonkohs guilty plea to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and sentenced him to concurrent 15- and 12-year prison terms for the assaults on the woman, who has dementia and is partially paralyzed from an earlier stroke. In exchange for the Dec. 8 plea, which came three days before a trial was set to begin, prosecutors agreed not to pursue an aggravated sentence of 25 years in prison. A vital part of the plea agreement is a lifetime of conditional release and predatory offender registration, prosecutor Cory Monnens said Friday. Akonkoh, 54, declined to address the court through his interpreter, who was translating the hearing in Twi, a widely spoken language in the West African nation of Ghana. He will receive credit for 21 days served in custody. This case is too sad and too serious for a lecture by the court, the judge told Akonkoh. I will let the sentencing do its talking. Caught on video Within 48 hours of setting up the camera, on Dec. 27, 2022, Akonkoh was caught fondling the womans genitals while she was lying on her back and either fully or partially nude. In both instances, she either tensed up or flinched and made noise or sighed as if she was in pain, the charges say. His demeanor appeared calm and casual, not at all worried about being caught, Mulcahy said Friday. Mulcahy told police she set up the camera because of an incident that had occurred a few months earlier when some employees were helping her sister out of the shower, the charges say. She said the facility gave her permission to install the camera, which was motion activated and recorded in 30-second intervals. Related Articles A nurse who performed a sexual assault examination on Dec. 28 noted abrasions to the womans vagina. Akonkoh, of Bloomington, was arrested that day while working at the facility. In an interview with police, Akonkoh said he applies protective cream to the womans buttocks and lotion to her skin as part of routine diaper change. Officers told Akonkoh that there had been a video camera in the womans bedroom and asked him if he penetrated the woman with his fingers. (Akonkoh) sighed, took a long pause, and looked toward the ceiling, the charges say. Akonkoh then said he did so because (the woman) had asked him to. None of the videos showed the woman saying anything to Akonkoh, and administrative staff at the facility told officers there would be no reason for a health aide to penetrate a patient or apply creams to sensitive areas. Robbed of dignity Monnens told the judge that the video is both good and bad. Good because its extremely powerful evidence, the prosecutor said, and bad because its extremely difficult to watch. Akonkoh, despite the video evidence, has continued to minimize the assaults, Monnens said. She noted how he entered an Alford plea, which means he maintains innocence while acknowledging the state likely has enough evidence to convict him. The assaults were captured during Akonkohs first shift after the cameras were set up, Monnens said, adding it raises questions about how long this had been happening and in what other rooms. Those are answers we will never know, and that the family will have to deal with, she said. Akonkoh had been the womans health aide for approximately seven years, according to a lawsuit Mulcahy filed against the Regent at Burnsville and its three entities alleging negligence by improper supervision of staff. The lawsuit, which sought in excess of $50,000, was dismissed after a settlement was reached, court records show. Akonkoh completed two psychosexual evaluations as part of a presentence investigation, his attorney, Eric Bain, told McManus. Both evaluations consider Akonkoh a below average risk to offend, Bain said. McManus said he disagrees with that determination. Try to explain that to the victim and her family, the judge said. You ask the average person on the street if youre a risk, without certifications for medical training, and I think they would shake their head and say, What is this world coming to? Mulcahy said Akonkoh made her sister become a scared and angry person and robbed any content and dignity that she had in her life. She said her sister is living at a facility with all women caretakers and turning the corner of finally feeling comfortable once again. She said she has no empathy for those who prey on children and vulnerable adults. I will be happy to see my sister get justice, and close the book on this horrific time in our lives, she said. Related Articles Kyrylo Tymoshenko, former head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has started working as an advisor to Rustem Umierov, Minister of Defence of Ukraine. Source: press service of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine to New Voice (NV) Details: NV reports that Tymoshenko has been appointed as advisor to the defence minister of Ukraine on 1 March 2024. Quote: "Tymoshenkos main responsibility is media and communications, coordination of the information policy in the Ministry of Defence and in its subordinate structures, as well as establishing a single information agenda in the Defence Forces of Ukraine during martial law." Details: NVs sources said that Tymoshenko "regularly visits the Defence Ministry and basically works there. He has meetings with Umierov, has an office there and brings his team to the ministry." Previously: In January 2023, Kyrylo Tymoshenko confirmed that he resigned from the Office of the President and posted a photo with his letter of resignation. Read more: Not the "martial law" of Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of Ukraines Office of the President Background: Journalists of BIHUS Info, a Ukrainian independent investigative agency, reported that Kyrylo Tymoshenko drives a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV that the General Motors company sent to Ukraine to help in evacuation of civilians from combat zones and humanitarian missions. Tymoshenko has not denied this himself, but he has explained that he travels to liberated territories of Ukraine in this vehicle, and it is declared on the balance sheet of the State Management of Affairs. Later, Tymoshenko stated that he would no longer use the Chevrolet Tahoe SUV that was supplied to Ukraine for humanitarian missions, and requested to send the vehicle to front line areas. Tymoshenko was criticised in regard to his regional policies. He was dealing with regional policy in a way perceived as self-promotional. In December 2022, Ukrainska Pravda reported that Kyrylo Tymoshenko was driving a Porsche Taycan worth US$100,000 while martial law was in effect in the country. Journalists found out that the car officially belongs to Novem Logistics LTD, which is registered in Kyiv at the address of Parkova Doroha, 16a. This is the address of the Parkovyi Congress and Exhibition Centre, where the Servant of the People party regularly met until 24 February. Businessman Vemir Davitian is the sole owner of the company. Tymoshenko confirmed that the car belongs to Davitian in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda. As he said himself, he used this Porsche three or four times and returned it a few months ago. However, Ukrainska Pravdas sources said that Tymoshenko had used this vehicle at least six times. On 3 October 2023, Tymoshenko announced that he had refuted all the claims made against him by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention in court. Support UP or become our patron! Russian citizen Igor Bezler, a former leader of the DPR militants and an active participant in the Russian occupation of Crimea, involved in the torture of Ukrainians on the peninsula, was sentenced in absentia to 12 years in prison in Ukraine, Ukrainian prosecutors office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol announced on March 8. Although the official announcement did not name Igor Bezler, it mentioned his well-known nickname Bes. The prosecutors office found that he was a participant in the Russian aggression, tortured AutoMaidan activists on the peninsula in 2014 and was involved in war crimes. Read also: Ex-Berkut deputy commander sentenced to 15 years in prison, Prosecutor's Office reports In March 2014, in Simferopol, under the leadership of the convict, his accomplices kidnapped activists, members of the AutoMaidan, and imprisoned them in the military commissariat, the prosecutors office said. All the victims were held in unsuitable premises, blindfolded, without proper food and communication with their relatives. The convict personally used threats, torture, violence and inflicted bodily harm on some of them. The prosecution proved that Ukrainian activists in Crimea were illegally detained and tortured because of their pro-Ukrainian position, resistance to the occupation of the peninsula and obstruction of the illegal referendum. Read also: Investigation into the shooting of Maidan activists nearing completion Back in 2021, it was reported that investigators of the SBU had completed the pre-trial investigation and submitted Igor Bezlers case to the court. What is known about Igor Bezler In 2014, Bezler was one of the leaders of the DPR terrorist group, who committed numerous crimes on the territory of Ukraine. In addition to participating in the occupation of Crimea, Bezlers subversive group in 2014 took part in the seizure of the SBU building in Donetsk Oblast, and later in the seizure of the district department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Horlivka. Bezlers militants also organized kidnappings and attacks on Ukrainian activists, civilians, MPs and military personnel in Donetsk Oblast, in particular in Horlivka and near Volnovakha. Read also: Top Ukrainian leaders celebrate Crimea on Day of Resistance to Russian Occupation In February 2017, the UN published a report on sexual violence during the war in Ukraine. This report also mentions the crimes of Bezlers militant associates, including the following: On Sep. 25, 2014, armed men from Bezlers group abducted a woman and two of her colleagues (a man and a woman) from their workplaces, the statement reads. They brought them to the seized administrative building of a coal mine in Horlivka. The three were told that they were under arrest. They were taken to another room with traces of blood. The man was beaten in front of the women until he lost consciousness. After that, both women were beaten and raped by at least seven people who interrogated them about where they kept money and valuables. One of the victims was tortured with electric shocks, with wires attached to her chest. After the MH17 crash in 2014, the SBU released intercepted telephone conversations in which Igor Bezler participated. In one of the recordings, he reported on the downing of the plane to the FSB. The Malaysian Boeing-777 crash occurred in Donbas on July 17, 2014. The Malaysia Airlines plane was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people on board were killed. The plane was shot down by a Russian Buk air defense system brought to the occupied territory of Ukraine. Read also: Hague Courts decision on MH17 case is first step on path of truth and accountability, says Borrell Bezler led a part of the DPR militants until the fall of 2014, after which he probably left Ukraine. In February 2023, HUR published an interception of a conversation involving Igor Bezler. At that time, Bezler and his interlocutor discussed the explosions during the farewell to the liquidated terrorist Olga Kachura (Korsa) in the area of the drama theater in occupied Donetsk in August 2022. They shared how they were persistently invited to the funeral, which seemed suspicious to them. Bezler suggested that this was a way to eliminate them. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A former Payne County Sheriff's Office worker has been charged with embezzlement. A former Payne County Sheriffs Office worker has been charged with eight felonies, accused of spending thousands of taxpayer dollars on personal expenses. In Payne County District Court, Linda Farley, 61, of Stillwater, faces six counts of embezzlement and two counts of making false entry relating to expenditure of public funds. The amount allegedly embezzled was more than $137,700. A state forensic audit has cost the sheriffs office more than $70,600. This embezzlement was complex and brazen and committed by an employee trusted by the Sheriffs Office, Laura Austin Thomas, district attorney for Payne and Logan counties, alleged in a statement. The employee embezzled county funds while in a position of public trust which can never be tolerated. Farley on Wednesday made her initial court appearance. She pleaded not guilty. As of Thursday afternoon, she remained in the Payne County jail on $100,000 bond. Her next court date is April 1. Reached by phone, her Oklahoma City-based attorney declined to comment for this story. Investigation began over alleged work on worker's personal car, records say In court filings, investigators say the alleged embezzlement started soon after Farley was hired in 2009 to work in the Payne County Sheriff's Office as a full-time employee to handle administrative duties, including purchasing, payroll and management of the sheriff's office credit cards. In November of 2021, Payne County Sheriff Joe Harper and Payne County Clerk Glenna Craig notified Thomas, the district attorney, that an outside vendor had submitted an original purchase order initiated by Farley on behalf of the sheriffs office to the county clerks office. The invoice allegedly established that Farley had used the services of the vendor for work on her personal vehicle while she was documenting it as if work had been done on a county vehicle. Farley was immediately fired. Thomas contacted the state auditor and inspector's office and requested a full forensic audit of the Payne County Sheriffs Office going back to Farleys date of hire. She also requested that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation conduct a criminal investigation. Farley is alleged to have utilized a number of false purchasing records and the sheriffs office credit card to purchase different goods and services for personal use, including hotel stays, home improvement items such as a farmhouse kitchen sink, vinyl flooring, siding and skirting, a double bathroom vanity, a glass storm door, a laptop computer and gasoline. She is also alleged to have submitted claims for overtime that was not authorized. In an arrest affidavit written by an agent with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, from April 2017 through June 2020, 18 purchase orders totaling $54,459.24 were issued in the name of Farleys son, for work not performed or items not purchased. In an interview with Farleys son, the OSBI agent learned that her son had never done any work for the Payne County Sheriffs Office. Farley is alleged to have used a signature stamp to forge signatures on payroll claims and purchase orders, or else her representations on purchase orders were such that the sheriff or undersheriff signed without knowing that the purchase was for personal use. Thomas said she brought a former prosecutor out of retirement to help work on the case. Karen Dixon, who has nearly 40 years of prosecution experience and expertise in embezzlement cases, agreed to a part-time position focused on the Farley case, as well as a handful of other embezzlement cases in both Payne and Logan counties. Embezzlement prosecutions can be difficult and very time consuming focused on determining the precise criminal schemes used and how those schemes evaded detection for so long, Thomas said in a statement. Due to the importance to the citizens served by public officials and their employees, I take investigating and preventing these crimes of corruption very seriously. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Payne County Sheriff's Office former worker charged with embezzlement A former Mercer University professor has accused Mercer of discriminating and retaliating against her, both racially and over work limitations she faced after suffering serious complications from COVID-19, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court last week. Latisha Nixon-Jones, a Black law professor, filed the lawsuit against Mercer on Feb. 26, claiming unlawful employment discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and race discrimination in contractual relationships including employment, according to court documents. A lawsuit represents only one side of a legal argument. Attorneys for the university have not yet filed a response. A spokesperson for Mercer said the university does not comment on pending litigation. Nixon-Jones, who worked at the university from August 2021 to June 2023, claimed problems began after she began suffering from long COVID, a common term for people experiencing long-term health effects from COVID-19, according to the lawsuit. In her lawsuit, Nixon-Jones said she contracted COVID for a second time shortly after starting at the university and experienced complications. I contracted Covid-19 for the second time in 2021 shortly after my arrival at Mercer Law, and experienced a relapse of prolonged symptoms, which is known as long Covid. My specific complications included heart and lung issues, and some mobility challenges, the statement read. Nixon-Jones went on to state that after several months of fighting Mercers School of Law for an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to teach remotely, the request was ultimately denied. She was briefly allowed to teach remotely during her first semester while her accommodation was under review, but was required to return to campus to teach in-person for the second semester, according to the lawsuit. Nixon-Jones said that during her annual review in February 2022, she was told her inability to teach in person was limiting her effectiveness and Mercer Law preferred teachers offer their classes in person, according to the lawsuit. As Nixon-Jones continued to wrestle with COVID-related complications, she decided to take intermittent leave under the Family Medical Leave Act in the fall of 2022, according to her lawsuit. That was the same time she was up for contract renewal with the school. In January 2023, Nixon-Jones alleges she returned to work in-person but became ill shortly after and had to conduct her class remotely which, in turn, resulted in more negative comments from staff. On February 13 in 2023, during my review session with Dean (Karen) Sneddon, she made another pointed threat that even if the faculty voted to renew my contract, which is part of the renewal process at Mercer, that the Dean, Provost, and President all had the authority to exercise discretion to cancel my contract, she said in her lawsuit. Nixon-Jones court-documented statement went on to say she believed she was subjected to various other reprisals after asserting her rights under the ADA. Allegations of racial discrimination in lawsuit Nixon-Jones was also part of a group who raised concerns about the conduct of a tenured professor. She alleges the professor, who is a white man, sent a number of inflammatory emails to faculty and students regarding a fundraising event involving a drag show on campus. He criticized students of color for being allies of LGBTQ persons. The event was co-sponsored by the Black Law Students Association, according to the lawsuit. On a different occasion, the same professor encountered Nixon-Jones in the hallway while she was wearing a therapeutic boot following a foot surgery, according to the lawsuit. He remarked to me that I was likely to recover quickly because of the recuperative powers of people like me, a clear-cut in my view reference to my race, her statement read. Multiple complaints regarding the professors behavior were never addressed or investigated, according to the lawsuit. Despite denying Nixon-Jones request, Mercer allowed two white law professors to work remotely for extended periods of time due to medical conditions that put them at risk of contracting COVID, according to the lawsuit. Nixon-Jones also said in her lawsuit that her pay lagged behind that of a white assistant professor who joined the faculty at Mercer Law at the same time as her but had less experience. Court documents state in 2022, Nixon-Jones learned her annual merit increase would be at the lower end of the pay increase range. When Nixon-Jones questioned the size of the raise, she was told her extended remote period in fall 2021 had adversely affected her student evaluations, which are a component of the evaluation process. Nixon-Jones resigned her position in April 2023 at Mercer Law, believing her contract would not be renewed. But she alleged that the retaliation continued. Nixon-Jones contract with the school went through June 30, meaning none of her campus benefits should have been revoked until that time, she alleged in the lawsuit. She stated that following her resignation in April, her office was reassigned, her work laptop was ordered to be returned, and a stipend for a summer research project was pulled. Nixon-Jones is suing the school for back pay, front pay, lost benefits, compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys fees, costs of litigation, prejudgment and post-judgment interest, and other equitable and monetary relief as the court deems fit. NICHOLAS COUNTY, WV (WVNS) A former Nicholas County Deputy Sheriff pleaded guilty to a child pornography crime. 38-year-old Jarrod Steven Bennett, of Mt. Nebo, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. Bennett was a former Deputy Sheriff in Nicholas County. Three people found guilty of felony drug crimes in Fayette County This was a terrible crime, and that it was committed by someone we considered a brother-in-arms makes it so much worse. We will never turn a blind eye to anyone sworn to uphold the law in this great State or Country. William F. Nunley | Nicholas County Sheriff According to court documents, around March 2, 2023, Bennett, who was a deputy with the Nicholas County Sheriffs Office, recorded two videos on his cell phone of a female minor asleep on a couch. He revealed that he knew the girl was under 12 years old when the videos were taken. The videos show the minor face down on the couch with a blanket over her torso and her bare legs uncovered. One video shows Bennet recording the girl while he zoomed in the camera on her buttocks. He further admitted to getting closer to the minor while recording the second video and recorded his exposed penis and him masturbating near the girl while she slept. Bennett revealed that he saved the videos to his Snapchat account, the process of which put them on the internet. Bennett was also fired from his job as a deputy. Two people arrested in animal cruelty investigation in Raleigh County Bennetts sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2024, and he faces 15 to 30 years in prison, 5 years to life on parole, a $250,000 fine, and he will need to register as a sex offender. The defendant exploited a minor child under his care and betrayed her and the community he swore to serve and protect with his deplorable actions. Will Thompson | United Stated Attorney The announcement was made by United States Attorney Will Thompson, who praised the West Virginia State Police-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), the Beckley Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for their work on the investigation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Imagine yourself on a journey through the ancient streets of Rome, where the stories of gladiators and the majestic Colosseum await you! Feel the awe-inspiring presence of the Egyptian pyramids and marvel at the engineering marvels that have stood the test of time. And what about walking along the Great Wall of China, following in the footsteps of legendary emperors and warriors who defended their realms from afar? In this piece, we will explore the 15 Most Historical Countries to Visit in the World. You can skip our detailed analysis on the heritage tourism market and jump to 5 Most Historical Countries to Visit in the World. If you prefer to skip the detailed analysis of the tourism industry's recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, you can directly navigate to the section that highlights the 5 Most Historical Countries To Visit in the World. The global heritage tourism market has reached an impressive size of US$ 587.1 Billion in 2023. Even more exciting, IMARC Group anticipates that this market is projected to soar to US$ 813.5 Billion by 2032, showcasing a significant growth rate (CAGR) of 3.69% during the period from 2024 to 2032. Numerous factors are driving this growth, including international partnerships and heritage exchange programs, the rise in educational initiatives and workshops focusing on heritage topics, the positive influence of heritage tourism on rural and remote economies, and the proliferation of film and entertainment industries featuring heritage locations. With all these positive forces at play, the future of the heritage tourism market looks incredibly bright! On broader level, the tourism sector has shown remarkable resilience in bouncing back from the challenges posed by the pandemic. It has been nearly four years since the difficulties encountered in 2020, including travel restrictions and waning interest in trips. However, experts are optimistic about a full recovery by 2024. In 2023, international travel saw a substantial increase, reaching about 88% of pre-pandemic levels by the year's end, as reported by the United Nations. The World Travel and Tourism Council also noted that international arrival figures exceeded those of the previous year across all regions. Story continues Looking towards the future, advancements in technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) are poised to revolutionize the travel landscape. Virtual exploration of destinations before booking actual trips may soon become a reality. A global survey revealed that travellers in numerous countries are striking a balance between budget constraints and indulgences. A noticeable shift towards shorter, more luxurious vacations focusing on quality experiences over quantity is witnessed especially in Europe. The rising trend of "micro-cations," emphasizing maximizing enjoyment during brief stays, is also gaining popularity. Now we dont want to jump on to our list of 15 Most Historical Countries To Visit in the World without first shedding light on the integral stakeholders in the travel sector of the world. Namely, we are going to talk about Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE), American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQGS:AAL) and Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQGS:ABNB). Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE) Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) is a big player in the online travel game, offering a whole range of services from booking hotel rooms and airline seats to snagging car rentals and other travel goodies by teaming up with different travel suppliers. They run a bunch of brands you might recognize, like Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Vrbo, Orbitz, ebookers, and CheapTickets. In the twelve months leading up to December 31, 2023, Expedia Group brought in a hefty revenue of $12.84 billion, showing off a solid year-over-year growth of 10.05%. The last quarter of 2023 alone raked in $2.89 billion, boasting a growth rate of 10.28% compared to the previous year. These impressive numbers just go to show how Expedia Group is a major player in the ever-evolving world of online travel services! American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQGS:AAL) American Airlines Group Inc. continues to solidify its position as a key player in the airline industry, offering top-notch services and connecting people around the world with their flights. American Airlines Group Inc. had a fantastic year, bringing in a record-breaking revenue of approximately $53 billion for the period ending on December 31, 2023. During the fourth quarter ending 31 December 2023, they scored $19 million in GAAP net income, and for the entire year, they pocketed a sweet $822 million. If we're talking about earnings per share, they hit $0.03 for the quarter and $1.21 for the full year. Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQGS:ABNB) Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQGS: ABNB) is all about online bookings for short and long homestays and experiences. In the fourth quarter ending 31 December 2023, they reeled in a solid $15.5 billion in bookings, with 98.8 million nights and experiences booked a 12% boost from the previous year. Despite a few bumps like the Israel-Hamas conflict in October, Airbnb kept the momentum going strong, attracting lots of new guests. Their revenue for the same quarter went up by 17% to $1.9 billion, beating analyst expectations. They reported $738 million in adjusted earnings in the quarter, surpassing predictions of $645 million. However, they faced a net loss of $349 million, or 55 cents per share, mainly due to setting aside funds for taxes and one-time expenses totalling around $1 billion. 15 Most Historical Countries To Visit in the World Pixabay/Public Domain Methodology We curated our list of 15 Most Historical Countries To Visit in the World on the basis of carrying out an extensive research and preparing a preliminary list of countries that appeared most frequently across the internet, and then from these shortlisted countries, we finalized our list of Most Historical Countries To Visit in the World, by ranking the countries based on The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) list of World Heritage Sites across the global countries. Based on the number of such sites in respective countries, we bring this list of 15 Most Historical Countries To Visit in the World to you. Also, please note that these heritage sites only include sites that lie solely in the respective country, and dont stretch across the border to nearby countries. 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. 15. Canada Number of World Heritage Sites: 20 Canada is a country with a rich and diverse historical landscape, boasting numerous world heritage sites that showcase its unique heritage. The Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and the Red Bay Basque Whaling Station provide insights into the indigenous cultures and early European presence in the country. The Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks and Nahanni National Park offer breathtaking natural beauty coupled with significant geological and ecological significance. With sites like Old Town Lunenburg and the Historic District of Old Quebec reflecting Canada's colonial past, and the diverse cultural landscapes of landscapes such as Gros Morne National Park or SGang Gwaay, Canada stands as one of the Most Historical Countries to Visit in the World. 14. Turkey Number of World Heritage Sites: 21 Turkey is a treasure trove of history, with a wealth of world heritage sites that highlight its rich cultural heritage. From the ancient ruins of Ephesus to the impressive Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey is home to a diverse range of historical sites. Aizanoi and Aphrodisias showcase the ancient Roman and Greek influences in the region, while the Antalya Museum houses a collection of artifacts that offer insight into Turkey's long and varied history. With its unique blend of Eastern and Western influences, Turkey stands out as one of the most most historical countries to visit in the world. 13. Brazil Number of World Heritage Sites: 22 Brazil is a history lover's paradise! From the vast collection of artifacts at the National Historical Museum to the fascinating prehistoric remains in Serra da Capivara National Park, there's so much to explore and discover. And how can we forget the stunning 18th-century Jesuit church at Sao Miguel das Missoes, a true marvel of architectural and cultural significance? Brazil's historical sites, museums, and monuments are sure to ignite your passion for travel and history. 12. USA Number of World Heritage Sites: 23 The United States of America is a historical powerhouse with a diverse array of world heritage sites that tell the story of its past in vivid detail. From the iconic Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, where Texas independence fighters made their valiant stand, to the hauntingly intriguing Alcatraz Island, filled with tales of daring escapes and rich military history, every corner of the USA is steeped in fascinating historical significance. And who can forget the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, Virginia, offering a comprehensive look at this pivotal period in American history from all angles. 11. Japan Number of World Heritage Sites: 24 Japan's rich history and cultural heritage are truly captivating. From the serene beauty of Mount Fuji to the geothermal wonders of its hot springs and volcanoes, Japan offers a glimpse into centuries of tradition and innovation. It definitely feels fascinating to explore the country's past, from the prehistoric era to the modern day, and to discover the unique historical periods that have shaped Japan's identity. With a blend of natural beauty and ancient wonders, Japan stands as one of the most historical countries to visit in the world. 10. Iran Number of World Heritage Sites: 26 Persepolis, with its ancient ruins steeped in the stories of Persian empires past, is a true marvel of antiquity. Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a vibrant hub of Iranian culture and history, is a sight to behold with its stunning architecture and bustling markets. The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, also known as the Pink Mosque, is a symphony of colors and intricate designs that will take your breath away. And then there's the Tomb of Hafez, a poetic sanctuary honoring one of Iran's most beloved poets. These sites are like doorways to another world, each holding a piece of Iran's rich and diverse history, justifying its reputation as the Most Historical Countries To Visit In The World. 9. Russia Number of World Heritage Sites: 27 Russia, a land steeped in history and mystery, is another country on our list of Most Historical Countries to Visit in the World. Explore the ancient city of Kazan, where the past unfolds in the shadows of the Volga River. Russia presents an opportunity to witness the architectural wonders of Kremlin and Marjani mosque, remnants of a bygone era. Velikiy Novgorod, a city steeped in history dating back to the 9th century, beckons as a cultural hub where tales of the past resonate through its ancient churches and temples. And let's not forget the Golden Ring towns, a treasure trove of architectural marvels dating back centuries! 8. UK Number of World Heritage Sites: 31 The UK boasts a rich tapestry of history, with iconic sites like Stonehenge offering a glimpse into ancient mysteries dating back 5,000 years. The Tower of London stands as a formidable fortress with a storied past, housing the Crown Jewels and a history that echoes through the ages since the Norman Conquest in 1066. Warwick Castle, another Norman stronghold, immerses visitors in a thousand years of captivating history, with tales of powerful earls and medieval intrigue waiting to be explored. 7. Mexico Number of World Heritage Sites: 35 Mexico is a historical wonderland, filled with ancient treasures waiting to be explored. From the grand pyramids and sacred temples of Chichen Itza to the geometric wonders of Teotihuacan and the lush valley ruins of El Tajin, Mexico's rich history shines through its impressive archaeological sites. 6. India Number of World Heritage Sites: 41 India is a land steeped in rich history and vibrant culture, with a tapestry of ancient wonders waiting to be discovered. In India, you would step back in time to the majestic Mughal era at the walled splendor of Agra Fort, a breathtaking marvel crafted from red sandstone. In Delhi, the iconic Red Fort would be standing right in front of you as a symbol of power and prestige, a testament to India's incredible heritage. But the crown jewel of India's historical treasures is none other than the Taj Mahal, a sublime fusion of love and artistry that continues to captivate hearts around the world. Click to continue reading and find out about the 5 Most Historical Countries To Visit in the World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 15 Most Historical Countries To Visit in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey. Elisabeth Borne, the second woman to serve as prime minister of France, on Friday denounced the "insidious sexism" that she said still permeated French politics. Borne stepped down earlier this year in a cabinet reshuffle ordered by President Emmanuel Macron after less than two years in office. "We don't have the unbridled sexism" experienced by Edith Cresson, the first woman to head the French government, from 1991 to 1992, "but there is still a form of sexism that is undoubtedly more insidious", Borne told broadcaster RTL on Friday, International Women's Day. Borne, 62, was the second woman to serve as prime minister after Cresson, steering Macron's government between 2022 and 2024. At Macron's request, she resigned in January, replaced by 34-year-old Gabriel Attal, who became France's youngest head of government. The new cabinet was criticised by some feminists as all of the senior posts -- foreign affairs, interior, finance and defence -- were now occupied by men. Borne said women in politics were "constantly" compared to men. "Men in politics, they all have an interest in imposing masculine codes, it eliminates the competition", she added. She also said that all candidates to succeed her were men. "It's as if commentators were saying to themselves: 'We've just had a woman prime minister for 20 months, that's it, we're back to normal life'," she said. She said more work needed to be done to achieve genuine equality, in politics, business, and science. Even when she handed over office to Attal on January 9, Borne had made clear her resentment over sexism in French politics, saying "I have also been able to see quite often that there is still some way to go for equality between women and men." But she added in that ceremony in a message to women: "Hold on, the future belongs to you." On Friday, Macron is to oversee abortion becoming a constitutional right at a special ceremony in Paris to mark the world first. In a historic vote, a rare congress of both houses of parliament on Monday gave a green light towards making terminating a pregnancy a "guaranteed freedom" in the basic text, sparking celebration among feminists. Borne said she was glad to see the inclusion of abortion rights in the constitution, calling it "a rather unusual moment of unity." gbh-as/sjw/yad FILE - Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, second from right, is taken in handcuffs to a waiting aircraft as he is extradited to the United States, at an Air Force base in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, April 21, 2022. Hernandez has been convicted in New York, Friday, March 8, of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers, his military and police to enable tons of cocaine to make it unhindered into the United States. (AP Photo/Elmer Martinez, File) NEW YORK (AP) Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted Friday in New York of charges that he conspired with drug traffickers and used his military and national police force to enable tons of cocaine to make it unhindered into the United States. The jury returned its verdict at a federal court after a two-week trial, which has been closely followed in his home country. Hernandez was convicted of conspiring to import cocaine into the U.S. and two weapons counts. The charges carry a mandatory minimum of 40 years in prison and a potential maximum of life. Sentencing was set for June 26. Hernandez, 55, who served two terms as the leader of the Central American nation of roughly 10 million people, patted a defense attorney, Renato Stabile, on the back as they stood along with everyone else in the courtroom while the jurors filed out after the reading of the verdict. When the news reached nearly 100 opponents of Hernandez on the street outside the courthouse, they applauded and began jumping into the air to celebrate the outcome. The scene in the courtroom was subdued and Hernandez seemed relaxed as the verdict on three counts was announced by the jury foreperson. At times, Hernandez had his hands folded before him or one leg crossed over the other as each juror was asked to affirm the verdict. They all did. In remarks to the jury before they left the courtroom, Judge P. Kevin Castel praised jurors for reaching a unanimous verdict, which was necessary for a conviction. We live in a country where 12 people cant agree on a pizza topping, the judge told them, saying his message would have been the same regardless of their verdict. Thats why Im in awe of you. Defense attorney Sabrina Shroff said Hernandez will appeal the conviction. In a release, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said he hopes the conviction sends a message to all corrupt politicians who would consider a similar path: choose differently. He added that Hernandez had every opportunity to be a force for good in his native Honduras. Instead, he chose to abuse his office and country for his own personal gain and partnered with some of the largest and most violent drug trafficking organizations in the world to transport tons of cocaine to the United States. Hernandez was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, three months after leaving office in 2022 and was extradited to the U.S. in April of that year. U.S. prosecutors accused Hernandez of working with drug traffickers as long ago as 2004, saying he took millions of dollars in bribes as he rose from rural congressman to president of the National Congress and then to the country's highest office. Hernandez acknowledged in trial testimony that drug money was paid to virtually all political parties in Honduras, but he denied accepting bribes himself. He noted that he had visited the White House and met U.S. presidents as he cast himself as a champion in the war on drugs who worked with the U.S. to curb the flow of drugs to the U.S. In one instance, he said, he was warned by the FBI that a drug cartel wanted to assassinate him. He said his accusers fabricated their claims about him in bids for leniency for their crimes. "They all have motivation to lie, and they are professional liars, Hernandez said. But the prosecution mocked Hernandez for seemingly claiming to be the only honest politician in Honduras. During closing arguments Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gutwillig told the jury that a corrupt Hernandez paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States. Stabile said his client has been wrongfully charged as he urged an acquittal. Trial witnesses included traffickers who admitted responsibility for dozens of murders and said Hernandez was an enthusiastic protector of some of the world's most powerful cocaine dealers, including notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who is serving a life prison term in the U.S. Hernandez, wearing a suit throughout the trial, was mostly dispassionate as he testified through an interpreter, repeatedly saying no sir as he was asked if he ever paid bribes or promised to protect traffickers from extradition to the U.S. His brother, Juan Antonio Tony Hernandez, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in 2021 in Manhattan federal court for his own conviction on drug charges. Former Ohio Sen. Rob Portman about the bipartisan infrastructure law on the banks of the Ohio River in Covington in 2023. Former U.S. Sen. Rob Portman is backing Matt Dolan in Ohio's Republican U.S. Senate primary, a nod that could boost Dolan's profile in the final days of the race. In a letter to Ohioans, Portman and his wife, Jane Portman, cast Dolan as a problem-solver who is best equipped to tackle the economy, border security and other issues in Washington. Dolan, a state senator from Chagrin Falls, is running against businessman Bernie Moreno and Secretary of State Frank LaRose in the March 19 primary. The winner will take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in one of the country's most important U.S. Senate races. The Associated Press first reported Portman's endorsement on Friday. Voter guide: What you need to know to vote in Ohio "In the United States Senate one principled voice can truly make a difference," the Portmans wrote. "America needs more leaders willing to stand by the courage of their convictions." Portman, a Cincinnati Republican, retired from the U.S. Senate in 2022 after a long career defined by his willingness to broker deals and dig into policy. Near the end of his tenure, he helped orchestrate a bipartisan infrastructure law that's provided funding to fix roads and bridges, including the Brent Spence Bridge between Ohio and Kentucky. U.S. Senate candidate Matt Dolan listens to Brian Carnahan during a campaign event at Ten Pin Alley in Hilliard on Jan. 18. After his retirement, Portman joined forces with the University of Cincinnati to launch the Portman Center for Policy Solutions. Rob and Jane Portman have also continued to wield their influence in Ohio politics. Before the formal endorsement, Jane Portman donated to Dolan's campaign and co-hosted a fundraiser for him. In 2022, Portman endorsed former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken to replace him. She lost that primary to Portman's eventual successor, Sen. J.D. Vance. "Sen. Portman showed that a good public servant not only delivers results, but also safeguards the inheritance of future generations," Dolan said in a statement. "His service to Ohio and leadership on behalf of our nation and the cause of freedom continue to live up to that charge." Portman's decision came less than two weeks before the March 19 primary, with early voting already underway. It set him apart from Vance and former President Donald Trump, both of whom endorsed Moreno for the GOP nomination. LaRose's high-profile backers include U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, and Buckeye Firearms. "Bernie is proud to be endorsed by actual conservatives in this primary including President Trump, J.D. Vance, Jim Jordan, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Dave Yost, Vivek Ramaswamy and countless others," Moreno spokeswoman Reagan McCarthy said. "There is a clear contrast in this primary: America-First versus America-Last." LaRose's campaign declined to comment. The nod from Portman could help Dolan make inroads in southwest Ohio something Moreno is also trying to do. Moreno secured support from the family of Carl Lindner III, a wealthy businessman and GOP donor who owns FC Cincinnati. The Lindners raised money for Moreno in late February, and his campaign held a fundraiser in Butler County with Vance and Donald Trump Jr. "The contest for the Republican nomination includes three candidates who are good people, who care deeply about our state," the Portmans said. "After much consideration, we feel that Matt Dolans conservative record of accomplishment and his commitment to continue to focus on achieving results in the U.S. Senate set him apart." Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Sen. Rob Portman endorses Matt Dolan in Ohio Senate race 2024 Former Utica school Superintendent Bruce Karam has pleaded guilty in Oneida County Court to public corruption, a felony, for using school district funds to mail out campaign literature and invitations to a non-school-related fundraiser. The news was announced by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville and the New York State Police. He will serve five years of probation, pay $12,000 in restitution and complete 250 hours of community service as part of a plea agreement. He also agreed to a consent order reducing his pension benefits. Former Utica school Superintendent Bruce Karam appeared in Oneida County Court on Friday morning, Feb. 22, 2024, but left a few minutes later after his case was adjourned until March 7. Karam has been charged with fourth degree grand larceny and public corruption. Karam took vital funds meant to support the education of students and instead used them to serve his own needs, DiNapoli said in a statement. As a consequence of his actions, he is now a convicted felon and has been held accountable for his crimes. Karam will be back in court for sentencing on April 19. Karam had appeared in court on Feb. 22, but the case was adjourned by Judge Michael Dwyer to give the defense and prosecution more time to work out a plea bargain. He was arrested in November and charged with multiple counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, public corruption and third-degree corruption of the government. Heres what investigators initially accused him of doing: Karam had school staff, during their work hours, mail out campaign literature supporting candidates Karam favored in 2021. These candidates, if elected, would have determined Karams terms of employment. He also had district staff send out invitations to a fundraiser dinner organized by former school board President Louis LaPolla for a scholarship fund in memory of his late wife. All of these mailings used stamps, envelopes and other supplies purchased by the school district. The value of school district resources used totaled $14,649, including $9,775 for stamps, $1,015 for other supplies and $3,859 in compensation for employees hours of work. Karam also allegedly tried to cover up these actions by persuading employees to say the resources were used for a legitimate purpose. LaPolla was arrested at the same time as Karam on charges of fourth-degree grand larceny and public corruption. He pleaded guilty to petit larceny as part of a plea bargain on Feb. 21. He is due back in court for sentencing on April 10. But his plea bargain calls for 60 days in domicile restrictions, three years of probation and the payment of $3,100 in restitution. It is imperative that local leaders understand the responsibility and trust that the public has in the work they do, Carville said. Those who chose to abuse that trust are not fit to serve and will be held accountable. LaPolla is also facing federal charges of six counts of mail fraud in connection to his fundraising for the scholarship fund. LaPolla allegedly spent the money he raised without giving out any scholarships, according to federal prosecutors. Karam served as Utica superintendent from 2011 until Nov. 27 when the board fired him. But he spent his last 13 months on paid administrative leave. The board said he was put on leave on Oct. 18, 2022 while an independent investigator looked into complaints filed against Karam by two district administrators. The investigator filed a report in January, 2023, that determined Karam's "bullying" behavior justified discipline, but Karam remained on leave until his firing in November. He has filed two lawsuits against the district. A state lawsuit was dismissed in April. The second suit is pending in the U.S. Court for the Northern District of New York. This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Former Utica Superintendent Bruce Karam takes plea bargain WEST BEND, Wis. (WFRV) A 52-year-old man who fled to Mexico in 2020 after facing serious sexual assault allegations was arrested and transported back to the United States. According to the Washington County Sheriffs Office, former Kewaskum resident Ingmar Adir Chew Moran, who had fled to Mexico in 2020 to avoid prosecution on serious sexual assault of a child charges, is now in custody in the Washington County Jail. Man named Deez-Nuts arrested in Green Bay, charged with battery Tim Kemps from the Washington County Sheriffs Office confirmed that Chew appeared in court on Friday on the outstanding warrant and was given a $1,000,000 cash bond. He faces 140 years in prison on charges of repeated sexual assault of a child and sexual assault of a child under the age of 16. Further charges are anticipated involving a second victim. According to a release, on December 18, 2020, the Kewaskum Police Department requested assistance from the Washington County Sheriffs Office with the sexual assault investigation that they had been working on. Hours later, investigators conducted a search warrant at Chews Timblin Drive apartment. It was quickly learned Chew had fled to Mexico earlier that day. Over the next three years, the Washington County Sheriffs Office worked closely with the FBI, the US Department of Justice International Affairs Criminal Division, the Washington County District Attorneys Office, Mexican Authorities, and many more. Eventually, Chew was arrested in Monterrey, Mexico, in November 2023 and remained in a prison in Mexico City until Wednesday, when he was flown to Chicago by FBI agents. Three Fond du Lac men arrested, deputies find stolen gun during traffic stop At that time, he was turned over to the Chicago Police Department. Chew had waived extradition to Wisconsin on Thursday and was taken into custody by the Washington County Sheriffs Office at the Cook County Jail. Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis issued a lengthy statement regarding the incident. The process to obtain approval for Mexico to extradite one of their citizens is a long, arduous, and often frustrating process but in the end, hard work and tenacity paid off in the interest of justice. I was there the night of the search warrant back in 2020 and cannot describe the emotions we all experienced when we learned that Chew had narrowly avoided capture. Naturally, we all doubted whether we would ever see him again. My heart goes out to these victims and am hopeful that they will experience some level of peace knowing he is now back to answer these charges. Based on the high cash bail given, I am confident he will remain in our jail for the remainder of the justice process. Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis Over 35,000 pounds of Johnsonville sausage produced in Wisconsin recalled nationwide Officials said that at the victims request, no additional details will be released at this time. The Washington County Sheriffs Office says they would like to extend their gratitude to all the partners who assisted in this case. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A U.S. Army soldier and intelligence analyst was arrested Thursday at Fort Campbell after being accused of selling confidential information related to national security to China. In a press conference following his arrest on Thursday, March 7, United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee said a grand jury indicted United States Army Sgt. Korbein Schultz on multiple charges related to the alleged conspiracy. The charges against him include conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, exporting technical data related to defense articles without a license, conspiracy to export defense articles without a license, and bribery of a public official. Do you earn enough to live comfortably in these US cities? As an intelligence analyst, Leventis said Schultz had duties including serving as a custodian for confidential information, and training others on the proper handling, storage and dissemination of confidential information. The 25-page indictment alleges that from June 2022 until his arrest, Schultz took advantage of his Top-Secret security clearance and transported documents, writings, plans, maps, notes, and photographs relating to national defense to a co-conspirator in Hong Kong. (Source: U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command) Leventis said some of those documents had information on U.S. military weapon systems, hypersonic equipment, studies on the future development of U.S. military forces, studies on major countries such as the Peoples Republic of China, and summaries of military drills and operations. Some of the classified information was also related to the United States potential plans in the event that Taiwan came under military attack, officials reported. Three documents sent during that time reportedly violated the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). Those documents included an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for the HH-60W helicopter, an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for the F22-A fighter aircraft, and an Air Force Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for intercontinental ballistic missiles. In exchange for the documents and information, investigators said Schultz received at least 14 payments that totaled around $42,000. In order to conceal his alleged conduct, Leventis said Schultz used multiple internet-based encrypted methods and discussed destroying evidence. Authorities said he also considered recruiting another member of the U.S. military to gain additional national defense information. Protecting national defense information is absolutely critical to our countrys safety and security, Leventis said. The unauthorized sale of such information violates our national security laws, compromises our safety, and cannot be tolerated. Todays indictment should serve as a reminder of the Justice Departments vigilance in protecting the United States against any threat to national security, foreign or domestic. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The FBI arrested the founder of a Washington, D.C., nonprofit that served homeless LGBTQ youth on money laundering and fraud charges after her return to the United States from El Salvador. Ruby Corado allegedly transferred at least $150,000 in emergency relief funds intended for Casa Ruby to private bank accounts in El Salvador and hid it from the IRS, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for D.C. She had received more than $1.3 million in funding from the paycheck protection program and the economic injury disaster loan program Ruby Corado (Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post via Getty Images file) When news Corado was under investigation became public in 2022, she sold her home in Prince Georges County, Maryland, and fled to El Salvador, the U.S. attorneys office said. Casa Ruby stopped operating in July 2022, failing to pay rent and employees and closing its transitional housing, the U.S. attorneys office said. FBI agents arrested Corado at a hotel in Laurel, Maryland, Tuesday. Bank fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Wire fraud carries up to 20 years. The money laundering charges carry up to 20 years. Casa Ruby Founder (Linda Davidson / The Washington Post via Getty Images file) In November 2022, the D.C. Attorney Generals Office filed a complaint stating Corado funneled more than $400,000 from Casa Ruby to her personal accounts between April 2021 and September 2021. Corado denied those allegations when she spoke to NBC Washington from El Salvador, insisting she was targeted for her criticism of Mayor Muriel Bowsers administration and a complaint she filed against the D.C. Department of Human Services. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com FRAMINGHAM A much smaller expected increase in Chapter 70 state aid is complicating Framingham Public Schools' budget plans for fiscal 2025. The state has said Framingham will receive about $85.9 million in Chapter 70 funding for fiscal 2025, which starts July 1. Framingham school officials say that's about a $900,000 increase 1% over the current year, which is far less than the approximately $16 million boost the city received last year. Chapter 70 is the common name used for state aid given to local school districts. Each year, Chapter 70 funding is distributed to districts based on a set formula, with community amounts being dependent on overall state revenue totals. Lincoln Lynch, executive director of operations and finance for Framingham Public Schools, told School Committee members on Wednesday that Chapter 70 state aid will rise only modestly for fiscal 2025. School Building Commitee: Thirteen residents picked to guide creation of new south side school Last year, the Healy administration announced that statewide Chapter 70 aid for fiscal 2024 would be $6.59 billion, up 10% from the previous year. Individual school districts received an average of $60 in additional aid per student. Framingham Public Schools Director of Finance and Operations Lincoln Lynch attended Wednesday's School Committee meeting. He noted during the meeting that Chapter 70 funding from the state for fiscal 2025 would be $85.9 million, up from $84.9 million in the curent year and $68.8 million in fiscal 2023. Last year's big boost in state aid meant that the city contributed up to $10 million less to its school budget than it needed to into the past. But in addition to state revenues being lower than forecast so far this year, Framingham's Chapter 70 funding for fiscal 2025 was also negatively affected by a decline in enrollment. "For the first time in over a decade, we saw a decrease in enrollment from the previous year, after seeing a large increase in enrollment last year, so that is also factored into the Chapter 70 formula," said School Committee member Adam Freudberg. Proposed fiscal 2025 school budget undergoes some tweaks On Wednesday, the School Committee started with a proposed fiscal 2025 school budget of nearly $179.6 million, which according to Lynch is up 9% from the current year. "The increase can been seen throughout our major budget categories," Lynch told committee members. "We are looking at a pretty big increase in expenses I've budgeted in year two of the NRT (bus) contract, which is just over $2.5 million, and for special education we are looking at over $3.25 million in increase, so the majority of increase is in those required expenditures." School Committee member Adam Freudberg said that in addition to lower-than-forecast state revenues, a decrease in enrollment will also negatively affect the amount of Chapter 70 state aid coming Framingham's way in fiscal 2025. The School Committee then voted on several motions to whittle more than $3.4 million from the original budget proposal. This included so-called "turnover savings" vacant positions that are no longer expected to be filled, and planned reductions to budget increase requests for different departments. "Every year we go big, we have this all-in number, what is the wish list, and then we reduce it during the month of March, so what we are doing now is typical," Freudberg told the Daily News. The School Committee's finance subcommittee meets with the City Council's finance subcommittee next week, where revenues will be further discussed. Lynch told the School Committee that he's hopeful to have a better understanding of next year's budget following that meeting. Lynch also said that with state revenues down, it's likely that local revenues will follow a similar trend. If that proves to be the case, the district will look to scale back projected budget increases for fiscal 2025 "We are unclear on what next year is going to look like," Lynch said. "I'm hoping that after the meeting next week we will have a better picture what that is going to look like. State aid is way down, and if local revenues follow that same track, than we are going to be looking to significantly reduce that $14.78 million (budget) increase going into next year." Collective bargaining contracts to be decided next fiscal year Further complicating next year's budget plans is six collective bargaining negotiations scheduled for the upcoming year. A vast majority of the fiscal 2025 projected budget $135 million is pegged to personnel expenses. "We are in full-blown negotiations with all units, a couple that we are only one or two meetings in, but we are making good progress there," Lynch said. Collective bargaining negotiations are with teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, food service, custodians and administrative assistants. Freudberg told the Daily News that it's common to negotiate with all unionized groups in a single year. Framingham bus driver shortage: School Committee member proposes solution "We are able to spend one year doing the negotiations, instead of having a new negotiation with a different group each year," he said. "It can complicate things this year you expect an increase in expenses once the contract negotiations are finalized. Just the cost-of-living adjustments alone will mean the district is paying more than we are right now." An additional expense currently hanging in the balance is the cost of transporting homeless students. Currently, asylum-seeking immigrants who live in Framingham hotels are having their busing costs covered by the state, to the tune of $104 per day, per student. But Lynch said whether that state funding will continue is unknown. "I've raised the projected budget for transporting homeless students from $1 million to $1.5 million," he said. "If the state does cover that, we can reduce this back to $1 million, and that should help our bottom line." This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham fiscal 25 school budget to get modest bump in state aid Ukrainian soldier. Stock photo: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine France intends to expand the training programme for the Ukrainian military, which is one of the aspects of Paris' support for Kyiv, along with the provision of equipment and financial assistance. Source: French Ministry of Defence, cited by European Pravda Details: A press release from the defence ministry says that in 2024, Paris plans to expand training for Ukrainian airmen and sailors. Quote: "Training is one of the components of French support for Kyiv, along with the supply of arms and financial assistance. [...] In total, since the beginning of the war, France has trained almost 10,000 Ukrainian servicemen, including 8,800 in 2023," the Ministry of Defence said. The Ministry notes that the training is conducted in three areas: tactics, use and maintenance of the weapons provided; specialised training, covering such areas as medical care, logistics, mine clearance and reconnaissance with the use of armoured vehicles; tactical training for units focused on urban and trench warfare. Earlier, the French Ministry of Defence published a list of military aid provided to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. The day before, French President Emmanuel Macron told French party leaders that there are no "red lines" in supporting Ukraine. On 17 February, French President Emmanuel Macron instructed the government to "make a statement to parliament" regarding the bilateral security agreement signed with Ukraine on 16 February and the situation in Ukraine in general, after which there will be a "debate and vote". For the second week in a row, Europe has been discussing Macron's statement about the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine, which has caused an uproar. Support UP or become our patron! TOULOUSE In silent orbit around Earth, a potentially hostile satellite approaches an allied communication node, intentions unknown. French Space Command has determined the move is deliberate, and intelligence shows the enemy spacecraft is equipped with a robotic arm that would allow it to de-orbit the friendly asset. The French-led blue team moves a patroller satellite into a protective position a capability France is working on, but now lacks to block any hostile action by the U.S.-led red team. While fictional, the scenario played out March 7 during Europes largest space wargames is credible and based on real capabilities, said Colonel Mathieu Bernabe, who is leading the exercise. During the event called AsterX 2024, some 190 participants from France and 15 partner countries are training for everything from jammed space communications to hostile satellites maneuvering to take out friendly orbiters. This type of exercise is absolutely essential for our operators, but also our processes, training for what we call operational readiness, so were ready to fight a real war, General Philippe Adam, the commander of Frances space command, said during a presentation of the exercise in Toulouse in south-west France. Its as realistic as an exercise scenario can be, obviously inspired by a lot of things youve probably recognized. Adam said unfriendly behavior by Russian satellites, with uncoordinated and unannounced approaches, happens all the time, in all orbits. Space is becoming more dangerous, and militarization is on the rise, Adam said. Earth orbits have become busier, with increased competition between commercial players and states, while satellites are becoming a lot more capable and maneuverable. Space-based systems have become an integral part of military operations, from communication to ballistic-missile detection, navigation, planning and targeting. Meanwhile, the value of the space economy rose 8% to $546 billion in 2022, according to the non-profit Space Foundation. UK space chief flags moon mining as next conflict gray zone French President Emmanuel Macron created a military space command in 2019, with the goal of boosting the countrys awareness of the security situation in space, and to better protect its satellites. France had 91 satellites in orbit in February 2023, the most of any European Union country, according to data published by Statista. AsterX is absolutely essential for ramping up French Space Command, which doesnt have operational status yet, though its performing operations, Adam said. The command is expected to pass an initial stage of operational qualification when it moves into new headquarters in Toulouse next year, and targets full operational capability by 2030. France is organizing the AsterX wargames for the fourth year, pitting the French-led blue team against the fictional country of Mercure, an adversary trying to destabilize the nation of Arnland. Whats new this year is that the red team, with significant space resources, is played by U.S. Space Force personnel, the first time a foreign nation plays the role of adversary. The exercise simulates more than 4,000 objects in orbit, spinning around in simulated space already days before the exercise, and with the blue and red teams not fully aware of the spatial capacities of their adversary. The knowledge gaps create an intellectual challenge, and the red team being played by the U.S. results in a non-deterministic scenario, Bernabe said. AsterX is a laboratory in which youre confronted with situations, where you experiment with solutions, and get feedback, Bernabe said. The challenge is to train how to manage a space situation, but backed up by an inter-army and multi-domain environment, which also means cyber or informational, so this scenario provides for conditions that enable us to play the full spectrum. Americans playing the red team provides an additional element of surprise to the exercise, according to Bernabe. The exercise runs through to March 15 and will include 14 different types of threats and 23 events, within the scenario of a gradually worsening crisis, headed towards high-intensity warfare. Adam said a crisis situation is a useful exercise, as theres a lot of ambiguity to be resolved, while a high-intensity scenario is in some ways simpler because anything goes. Worst-case scenario A worst-case scenario for orbital conflict would be generalized war with a completely uninhibited enemy attacking satellites quite indiscriminately, according to Adam. Then were going to be losing satellites all over the place, were going to lose resources, were going to create debris, and then its a bit of a snowball effect, Adam said. Failure to quickly stop such an adversary would create a problem that will last for decades. Once youve created debris everywhere, some orbits become completely inoperable. So yes, a generalized conflict in space would be very, very bad news. Through the exercise, France also seek to develop a common culture of space operations with its allies and partners, under realistic threat conditions. In addition to the U.S., countries participating in AsterX include the U.K., Japan and South Korea, as well as a number of EU partners. We understand each other better after this exercise, in the nature of the responses we can provide, since weve experimented with things together, Bernabe said. Interoperability challenges between countries space forces are extremely numerous, including distinct vocabulary for the same things and different procedures and policies, according to Adam.French Space Command targets about 500 personnel in 2025, from around 350 now, according to Adam. He said partners such as Japan, Germany and Italy are creating commands similar in size, between 300 and 600 personnel, adding that human resources are a tremendous problem for everyone. Those goals compare to around 13,900 staff for the U.S. Space Force at the end of December. France doesnt have the ambition of creating anything similar, which would require being rich like an American, the general said. In addition to the new Toulouse headquarters, the main priority for France is to get patroller satellites into orbit, according to Adam. He said the country also needs to strengthen the terrestrial part of its space capabilities, and needs more space-surveillance sensors. He said the countrys Yoda agile satellite demonstrator, which has been held up by a lack of launch slots, may become operational in the next few months, with operational space-patrol capacity following within one to two years. These are not very big satellites, theyre not very complicated satellites, Adam said. Whats most complicated is knowing how to use them.And thats what France is preparing for with AsterX. In this article, we list the 40 Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2024. If you would like to skip the complete list and our detailed discussion of the topic, you can go directly to 10 Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2024. According to the World Bank, global land waste is forecasted to increase to 3.4 billion tons by 2050. This alarmingly high number has raised many concerns amongst global leaders and local communities to strictly call for fixing the so-called throwaway culture. The throwaway culture is at large illuminated by industries that produce and dump substantial waste material into the soil, which increases land waste and also causes soil pollution. Similarly, the use of pesticides and nitrogen-based fertilizers in the agriculture industry and urbanization are also significantly contributing to soil pollution. Unfortunately, the efforts of just one country or a group of countries are not enough to fix this issue a global problem requires a global solution. However, waste materials are not efficiently recycled, reused, or properly disposed of in many parts of the world despite the staggering statistics. Waste keeps piling up on the land, especially in low-income countries. Other forms of pollution are also peaking, like air pollution. Each year, around 7 million premature deaths occur due to the effects of ambient and household air pollution, WHO reports. Even worse is the fact that around 2.4 billion people worldwide are already exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. In the United States, according to the American Lung Associations 2023 report, 119.6 million people live in places with unhealthy levels of air quality. As a result, people are prone to multiple health issues, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, and other long-term health issues like cancer. Its important to note that air quality deteriorates as a result of overall pollution, and not just air pollution. Air quality is measured and monitored using sensors that are designed to detect specific pollutants, such as PM2.5, PM10, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide those that impact human and environmental health overall. There are different methods of measuring these pollutants; some use satellite imaging to measure energy reflected or emitted by the Earth, while others use lasers to scan particulate matter density in a cubic meter of air. Story continues The results are recorded on an air quality index (AQI), which is a scale ranging from 0 to 500 to measure the density of pollutants in the air. The higher the AQI score, the lesser the air quality. Air quality is unhealthy when it scores above 100 on the AQI. According to the UN Environment Programme and IQAir, only 38 of 117 countries and regions had AQI readings below 100 in 2021. Pollution Vs. Global Corporations Since pollution is a major environmental concern, many global corporations such as JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU), Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS), and General Motors Co (NYSE: GM) have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprint, which, in turn, will help better the overall air quality. JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU) announced in 2020 to use science-based emission reduction strategies to achieve a net zero carbon footprint by 2040. The strategies include transitioning to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), made from non-petroleum feedstocks, as an alternative fuel to reduce emissions. By 2035, JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU) is committed to reducing jet fuel emissions by 50% per tonne-kilometer. Similarly, Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS) is also aiming to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS) has invested nearly $100 million in over 30 climate change and environmental sustainability projects. Moreover, its subsidiary company, Disney Cruise Line, has integrated its newest fleets with technologies and systems that improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. On the other hand, by 2040, General Motors Co (NYSE: GM) aims to achieve carbon neutrality in global products and operations. In order to achieve this goal, General Motors Co (NYSE: GM) has set milestones and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-approved targets. By 2025, the company plans to scale its annual Electric Vehicles (EV) capacity to 1 million in North America and over 2 million globally. Here, we have listed the 40 most polluted cities in the world in 2024. 40 Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2024 40 Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2024 Our Methodology We have ranked the most polluted cities in the world based on the concentration of particulate matter (with an aerodynamic diameter equal to or less than 2.5 m). We sourced data from IQAirs ranking of the worlds most polluted cities as well as AQIs ranking of the same. Note that according to WHO guidelines, the concentration of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 g/m. In both indexes, higher rankings have represented low levels of pollution, and vice versa. When we say rankings, we do not mean scores. For our list, we have only considered cities that appeared in both these indexes, and to rank the cities, we have averaged their rankings. So, if a country ranked #1 in IQAirs index and ranked #3 in the AQI, it received a score of 2. Cities are listed in this article in ascending order of their average ranking scores. Note that we have considered the top 150 cities (most polluted ones) in both indexes. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that uses a consensus approach to identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The website tracks the movement of corporate insiders and hedge funds. Our top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 stock index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). So, if you are looking for the best stock picks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. 40 Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2024 40. Jabalpur, India AQI Ranking: 131 IQAir Ranking: 149 Jabalpur is a city in India, best known for its tourist attractions like the Dhuandhar Falls. The city is one of the most populous cities in the state of Madhya Pradesh and hosts industries like food processing, sawmilling, and varied manufactures. Jabalpur is also one of the most polluted cities in the world with an AQI ranking of 131 and a PM2.5 concentration of 3.7 times above the WHO's recommended limit. 39. Ujjain, India AQI Ranking: 141 IQAir Ranking: 115 Located in the west-central part of India, Ujjain ranks 39th on the list of cities with the highest pollution. The air quality in Ujjain exceeds the WHOs limit currently 5.1 times, mainly due to vehicles, road repairs, construction sites, slash-and-burn farming, and households burning material such as dried animal dung, firewood, and charcoal. 38. Mumbai, India AQI Ranking: 96 IQAir Ranking: 138 Mumbai, previously known as Bombay, and famously labeled as the New York of India, is the financial capital of India with a population of over 22 million. As of 2024, Mumbai exceeds WHOs air quality index by 3 to 5 times and has 5 times more PM2.5 concentration than the recommended WHO guideline value. 37. Patiala, India AQI Ranking: 149 IQAir Ranking: 78 Located in southeastern Punjab in northwestern India, Patiala is a city with nearly 763,280 people according to the 2020 consensus. The city has a PM2.5 concentration of 27.2 g/m which is 5.4 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value. 36. Igdir, Turkey AQI Ranking: 139 IQAir Ranking: 83 Igdir in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey is the 36th most polluted city in the world as of 2024. With a PM2.5 concentration of 77.7g/m, Igdirs air quality is unhealthy, exceeding the WHO annual air quality guideline value by 15.5 times. 35. Amritsar, India AQI Ranking: 108 IQAir Ranking: 112 With an AQI ranking of 108 and IQAir Ranking of 112, Amritsar is a major cultural, transportation, and economic center of India. Amritsar has an estimated population of 1,480,470 in 2024 according to the World Population Review, and is best known for its temples and shrines. The city has a PM2.5 concentration 5.6 times higher than the WHO guidelines as of writing this article. 34. Turpan, China AQI Ranking: 85 IQAir Ranking: 128 A prefecture-level city in the autonomous region of Xinjiang, China, Turpan is unhealthy for sensitive groups. The main pollutants in the city are PM10, CO, and PM2.5, with a concentration of 317.5g/m, 1100g/m, and 71g/m respectively. The PM2.5 concentration levels in the city are currently 14.2 times higher than the WHO annual air quality guideline value. 33. Ajmer, India AQI Ranking: 127 IQAir Ranking: 86 Surrounded by the Aravali Mountains, Ajmer is a city in the northwest of India with an AQI ranking of 127. The air quality usually varies in Ajmer, with the average yearly PM2.5 reading coming at 39.8 g/m during 2020. The PM2.5 concentrations in the city are currently 4.9 times higher than the WHO guidelines. 32. Pune, India AQI Ranking: 121 IQAir Ranking: 92 Pune, the manufacturing and industrial center of India, ranks 32 on the list with a PM2.5 concentration of 16.2 g/m. As of 2024, it is 3.2 times exceeding the WHO annual air quality guideline value. 31. Jaipur, India AQI Ranking: 130 IQAir Ranking: 76 Best known for its scenic bazaars, forts, temples, palaces, and wildlife sanctuaries, Jaipur is the largest city in Indias state of Rajasthan. It ranks 130 on the AQI ranking and 76 on the IQAir Ranking with a PM2.5 concentration of 41.7g/m 5.1 times higher than the WHO guidelines. Firecrackers, fireworks, vehicular emissions, and frequent burning of the large garbage disposal heaps in the city result in high levels of pollution in the city. 30. Wujiaqu, China AQI Ranking: 87 IQAir Ranking: 80 Ranked 30, Wujiaqu is a city in the northern part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. Wujiaqus pollution levels are high mainly due to CO, PM10, and PM2.5 concentrations. As of March 2024, the citys PM2.5 concentration levels are 15.8 times higher than the WHO guidelines. 29. Sirsa, India AQI Ranking: 73 IQAir Ranking: 89 Situated near the Thar Desert in the westernmost region of Haryana, Sirsa is known as the oldest city in North India. The city currently has a PM2.5 concentration of 24.1 g/m, which is 4.8 times higher than the WHO guidelines. 28. Gwalior, India AQI Ranking: 78 IQAir Ranking: 69 Located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior is best known for its temples and palaces. The city currently has a PM2.5 concentration of 26.7 g/m 5.3 times higher than the levels recommended by WHO guidelines. The average pollution readings for the city come at about 100 g/m and even went as high as 188 g/m in January 2021. 27. Kuwait City, Kuwait AQI Ranking: 62 IQAir Ranking: 66 Kuwait City, the capital and the largest city of the Gulf nation of Kuwait is subject to high levels of pollution. The citys PM2.5 concentration varies significantly throughout the year, with the quality starting to deteriorate noticeably around August till the early months of the following year. Currently, the PM2.5 concentration level in the city is 4.2 times higher than the WHOs recommended guidelines. 26. Jodhpur, India AQI Ranking: 68 IQAir Ranking: 56 Best known for its vibrant and beautiful architecture, Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan, India. It ranks 68 on the AQI ranking and 56 on the IQAir Ranking with a PM2.5 concentration of 25g/m 5 times higher than the WHO guidelines. Dust, biomass burning, industrial pollution, and traffic are the main causes of high pollution levels in the city. 25. Durgapur, India AQI Ranking: 60 IQAir Ranking: 61 Located in the Paschim Bardhaman district, Durgapur is the biggest industrial hub of West Bengal, and also one of the biggest industrial hubs in the whole of India. With PM2.5 being the major pollutant in the city, Durgapurs PM2.5 concentration as of March 2024 is 61.2 g/m. 24. Ambala, India AQI Ranking: 67 IQAir Ranking: 46 Ambala, a city in the Indian state of Haryana, is also one of the most polluted cities in the world as of 2024. Ranked 67 on AQIs index and 46 on IQAirs index, the air quality levels in the city are currently 7.1 times higher than the WHO air quality guidelines. 23. Kanpur, India AQI Ranking: 65 IQAir Ranking: 48 Located in the central-western part of Uttar Pradesh in India, Kanpur is a large industrial city in the country with high levels of pollution. In 2017, the city had an average PM2.5 concentration level of 119.2 g/m. The pollution levels dropped significantly in the years after that, and are currently a lot less than the 2017 record, but are still 4.5 times higher than the WHO guidelines. 22. Aksu, China AQI Ranking: 30 IQAir Ranking: 73 Ranked 22, Aksu is a city in China widely known for its apples. As of writing this article, the city has a PM2.5 concentration of 45g/m, which is 9 times higher than WHOs recommended guidelines according to IQAir. The city also has significant amounts of PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO. 21. Gaya, India AQI Ranking: 72 IQAir Ranking: 26 Gaya is a city beside the Falgu River, in the northeast Indian state of Bihar. It ranks 72 on AQIs index and 26 on IQAirs index, with a PM2.5 concentration of 39.6g/m. The air quality levels and pollution vary throughout the year in Gaya due to various factors, but there havent been any significant drops in pollution levels in recent years. Gaya, alongside Muzaffarpur, is the most polluted city in the whole of Bihar. 20. Lucknow, India AQI Ranking: 35 IQAir Ranking: 54 Situated roughly in the center of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow is the largest city and the capital of UP. It is best known for its rich history in literature and for its cultural diversity. The city is currently experiencing a PM2.5 concentration of 24.3g/m, which is 4.9 times the WHOs air quality baseline according to IQAir. 19. Dhaka, Bangladesh AQI Ranking: 23 IQAir Ranking: 49 With an AQI ranking of 19 and IQAir Ranking of 49, Bangladeshs capital, Dhaka, comes #2 on our list of most polluted cities in the world in 2024. Dhaka has a population of over 20 million and is one of the most crowded cities in the world. In December of 2023, the city saw thick layers of toxic smog. The city faces pollution problems from all aspects, with the overuse of fossil fuels, growing population, industrial waste, and the build-up of large dust concentrations being the primary concerns. 18. Gurugram, India AQI Ranking: 31 IQAir Ranking: 38 Gurugram, one of Indias leading financial centers, is also one of the most polluted cities in the world in 2024. As of writing this article, the PM2.5 concentration in Gurugram is 11.9 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value. 17. Hapur, India AQI Ranking: 21 IQAir Ranking: 44 Hapur is another city in Indias Uttar Pradesh with high pollution levels. The city has a population of 13,28,322 and is the manufacturing hub of Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes. Hapurs air quality levels are very volatile and fluctuate greatly over the course of just one day. However, on average, the citys air quality degrades the most during October and November, during which the pollution readings range between 55.5 and 150.4 g/m. 16. Hisar, India AQI Ranking: 28 IQAir Ranking: 32 Ranked sixteen, Hisar is the sixteenth most polluted city in the world as of 2024. Similar to Hapur, Hisars readings fluctuate as well, but the city mostly sees dangerous levels of pollution due to traffic, stubble burning, dust, use of poor fuels, and construction sites. Hisar sees the worst levels of PM2.5 concentrations during the last months of the year, with readings going as high as 134 g/m. 15. Bhiwani, India AQI Ranking: 27 IQAir Ranking: 29 Bhiwani is located in the Indian state of Haryana and is home to about 300 temples. The city's main pollutants include PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and volatile organic compounds. Moreover, the main causes of pollution in Bhiwani are the numerous combustion sources that are found across the city. 14. Bulandshahr, India AQI Ranking: 16 IQAir Ranking: 36 Known worldwide for its potteries, Bulandshahr is a city in India with numerous pollutive issues. As of writing this article, the PM2.5 concentration (37.7 g/m) of the city is 7.5 times higher than the WHO guidelines. 13. Meerut, India AQI Ranking: 14 IQAir Ranking: 31 Ranked 13, Meerut is yet another city in India with high pollution levels due to vehicle emissions, industrial operations, burning of biomass, and use of fireworks. The air quality in the city is deteriorating fast, and according to IQAir, Meerut is en route to becoming a gas chamber. 12. Peshawar, Pakistan AQI Ranking: 39 IQAir Ranking: 5 Coming 12th on the list, Peshawar is a city located in the northwest of Pakistan. It is the sixth most populous city in the country. Peshawars most recent PM2.5 notable reading was 63.9 g/m according to IQAir, where it ranks 5 on the most polluted cities index. Apart from its geography and meteorological conditions, vehicle emissions, industrial emissions, burning of crops and garbage, poorly maintained roads, construction sites, and burning of materials for heat generation contribute to Peshawars high pollution levels. 11. Baghdad, Iraq AQI Ranking: 25 IQAir Ranking: 13 The capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world, Baghdad is best known for its rich cultural and religious history. Located on the Tigris River, Baghdad is home to about 7,921,134 people according to World Population Review. However, being a heavily populated city, it also has unhealthy air quality. As of writing this article, Baghdad has PM2.5 concentration levels of 52.5g/m, which is 10.5 times higher than WHOs guidelines. Click here to continue reading and see the top 10 Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2024. Suggested articles: Disclosure: None. 40 Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2024 is originally published on Insider Monkey. Sebastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces of France, has stated there is currently "no question of deploying ground forces to engage in combat" in Ukraine. However, he acknowledged the potential deployment of foreign military personnel as "instructors" or bomb disposal experts. Source: European Pravda, citing Lecornu in an interview with BFMTV Quote: "Are there any plans regarding military presence that are deemed infeasible? I'm referring to demining and training Ukrainian soldiers on their own soil." Details: Lecornu emphasised that "we are no longer in the same situation as two years ago." On 7 March, the Kremlin accused Emmanuel Macron of increasing "[the] direct involvement of France" in the war. Responding to questions about this statement, Lecornu underscored that "France's history does not permit showing weakness. Maintaining a balance of power means not being weak and avoiding escalation. We do not want to demonstrate weakness in front of Moscow." Background: President Emmanuel Macron of France told party leaders that there are no "red lines" in supporting Ukraine on the eve of the statement. On 17 February, French President Emmanuel Macron instructed the government to "make a statement to parliament" regarding the bilateral security agreement signed with Ukraine on 16 February and the situation in Ukraine in general, after which there will be "debates and votes". For the second week in a row, Europe has been discussing Macron's resonant statement about the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! France's President Emmanuel Macron is on Friday to oversee abortion becoming a constitutional right at a special ceremony in Paris to mark the world first. The procedure had been legal in France since 1975, but Macron last year pledged to better protect it after the US Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the half-century-old right to the procedure, allowing individual states to ban or curtail it. In a historic vote, a rare congress of both houses of parliament on Monday gave a green light towards making terminating a pregnancy a "guaranteed freedom" in the basic text, sparking celebration among feminists. The ceremony comes on International Women's Day, a year to the day the president promised to constitutionalise the right. The move is backed by most of the French public, even if some conservatives remain against it. The French government has said that it is now going to try to ensure better safeguards under EU law. "France must now take this fight to European level," said its spokeswoman Prisca Thevenot on Wednesday. "In 2022, the president said he wanted to add the right to abortion in the European Union's charter of fundamental rights," she added. No country until now had so far as clearly safeguarded the right to a pregnancy termination in its basic text, according to Leah Hoctor, of the Center for Reproductive Rights. Some countries allude to the right, while others explicitly mention abortion, but only in certain circumstances. - 'Example for progressives' - Neil Datta, of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, said the French move sent a strong signal. It "could give momentum to improving abortion legislation, just as the reversal of Roe v. Wade in the United States gave some to anti-abortion groups worldwide," he said. France "could serve as an example for progressives in all countries of Europe and beyond to define a course," he said. Even without amending the constitution, "they could... improve their legislation." National Assembly speaker Yael Braun-Pivet -- the first woman in the post -- was the one to read out the result of Monday's historic vote, with 780 lawmakers in favour and 72 voting against. More than 20 of her fellow women parliament speakers from around the world were also in Paris on Thursday. Macron on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday evening posted a group picture of himself, Braun-Pivet and the visiting lawmakers. "You are an example for many women, welcome to Paris," he wrote. "This March 8, together we will convey a universal message: the freedom of women to resort to abortion. See you tomorrow." burs-ah/imm FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) Francis Marion Universitys Board of Trustees voted to freeze tuition for the seventh year in a row Thursday at its quarterly meeting, the university announced in a news release. In addition to freezing tuition, a new academic program was approved, and two facilities were named to honor two longtime members on the board, the university said. I am delighted that the Board has chosen to freeze tuition for another year, Francis Marion University President Fred Carter said. Through appropriations support from the General Assembly and the generous gifts of our donors, we can go yet another year without increasing the financial burden on our students and their families, thus ensuring that our students have the opportunity to receive an exceptional education at an affordable cost. The new undergraduate degree program will be in criminal justice. The Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in criminal justice will meet the workforce demand of the state for individuals trained for careers in criminal justice administration, criminal law, and general law enforcement, the university said. The approval of this new program in criminal justice will help to meet the critical demand for better educated law enforcement personnel across the Pee Dee Region and throughout the state, Carter said. Im immensely proud of the collaborative efforts within the faculty to develop this curriculum in such a timely fashion. Two wings within the new school of education/school of business building were named after two long-standing Board of Trustee members, both of whom are also alumni of the university. The Dr. Randall Dozier School of Education wing will honor current board chairman Randall Dozier, the university said. Dozier earned his baccalaureate degree from FMU. Dozier was the superintendent of Georgetown County Schools during his more than 43-year career in education. He has served Francis Marion in numerous capacities and the university said his bold leadership has been instrumental in the continued growth and development of the university. Robert Lee also earned his baccalaureate degree from Francis Marion University. The Robert Lee School of Business Wing will be named in his honor, the university said. For over thirty years, Lee has been an advocate for justice and individual rights for all citizens regardless of their economic or social status, the university said. His unwavering commitment to the university is demonstrated by the faithful dedication with which he has served his alma mater both on the board and in various other capacities. He led the Board of Trustees with bold and intuitive leadership during a critical time in the universitys history. Also, construction of an Engineering Workshop Building was infamously approved. It will be a free-standing applied laboratory facility that will meet the current and future needs of the universitys engineering programs, the university said. * * * Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylors work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. The HAPO Center is in the middle of a renaissance, with Franklin County seeking to turn what was once an agricultural event center into a formidable regional entertainment venue. But the question looming over the head of Franklin County leaders has been how they would find the money to bring that vision to reality. That question has now been answered, thanks to more than $9 million in funding. While HAPO Center is one of the largest event centers in the state, for years only half of its 84,000-square feet has been suitable for events year-round. The half of the facility that was once an arena doesnt have the heating and cooling to accommodate large events like the exposition hall. Right now the arena half is being rented by Clubhouse Sports for athletic training and youth sports, because it largely isnt suitable for events most of the year. A pair of basketball courts for Clubhouse Sports Academy sit in the middle of the arena space inside the HAPO Center at 6600 Burden Blvd in Pasco. Theyre likely to have enough left over to also fix issues with the parking lot and potentially make some aesthetic upgrades, County Administrator Mike Gonzalez told the Herald. We havent done much maintenance to the building over the years, it kind of injects money into that realm where we can take some steps to, Gonzalez said. Its like weve had half a building for decades. This will expand the uses and give us opportunities to have other kinds of events. It opens economic opportunities. Franklin County used $6 million in American Rescue Plan funds to replace the HVAC system in the exposition hall, and they expect the arena side to be comparable. That leaves $3 million for parking lot upgrades, exterior touch ups and more. Gonzalez is also hoping they have a line on another $3 million in federal funding that will allow them to use the center to support the region during emergencies. Interior sign at the HAPO Center at 6600 Burden Blvd. in Pasco. Whered the money come from? Its no secret that Franklin County is in the middle of a budget crunch, ahead of an anticipated shortfall with the end of supplemental pandemic-related funds last year. They had hoped to get the HAPO Center to a point where it was making money for the county, but that was seeming like more and more of a long shot as they looked for ways to shore up their coffers. In fact, Consor, which conducted a budget analysis for the county suggested they consider selling the center or land around it. The county wasnt willing to do that just yet, having only recently brought in a new management team with a vision to bring the former agricultural event and rodeo facility into the 21st century. Gonzalez told the Herald they made an investment in a new county job to advocate for their needs, as well as a partnership with a lobbying firm, Water Street Public Affairs, to bring some money back to Franklin County. Through local partnerships and state lobbying efforts they managed to secure $9.2 million in total. Gonzalez said new Government Affairs Coordinator Jason Valentine worked with Commissioner Stephen Bauman, who joined the three man board in January, to make their case as Tri-Cities lawmakers headed to Olympia for the 2024 legislative session. Tri-Cities lawmakers from the 8th district state representatives Stephanie Barnard and April Connors and state senator Matt Boehnke announced Thursday that among the nearly $50 million in money they had secured for the district in the 2024 supplemental operating budget was $3 million in funds for the HAPO Center. Gonzalez said he was grateful that commissioners Clint Didier and Rocky Mullen recognized the importance of these efforts and supported him in putting together the team. He said he was also grateful for Bauman who hit the ground running and helped make the vision a reality. Commissioner Bauman has come in and just done an incredible job working with our elected officials, Gonzalez said. He and (Valentine) are putting their blood, sweat and tears into lobbying efforts. Gonzalez thanked the 8th district representatives, as well other Eastern Washington lawmakers who threw their weight behind the efforts. First I want to thank Representative April Connors who put the original budget proviso into the mix. She believed in our vision. From there, all of our legislators from the Tri-Cities and Eastern Washington stepped into help, Gonzales said in a news release Friday. Senator Nikki Torres and Senator Mark Schoesler really went to bat for us. Others who played a huge role included Senator Mark Mullet, Rep. Bryan Sandlin and Rep. Peter Abbarno. We are blessed to have some of best legislators in the state that care about their communities. It was truly a bipartisan effort that will help everyone in our community. The atrium area of the HAPO Center at 6600 Burden Blvd. in Pasco. That funding win comes on the heels of an even larger allocation for the center. Gonzalez said Franklin County has been working with their city and port partners to direct an additional $6.2 million to the facility for long overdue upgrades. Franklin County is responsible for allocating the Rural County Capital Fund sent back from the state. Its also known as the .09 Fund because .09 cents of the sales tax collected by the state is sent back to support rural cities and counties. They work with Pasco, the Port of Pasco, Connell, Kahlotus and other rural communities to divide a little over $7 million every year for priority projects. This year the cities and port agreed to send the bulk of the funds back to Franklin County to support the HAPO Center. About $1 million was also allocated to the ports industrial and manufacturing infrastructure projects. Seeking federal funds Gonzalez said theyre not done lobbying yet. Hes working with Valentine and Bauman to coordinate with Congressman Dan Newhouse, as well as Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell to secure an additional $3 million that will help the county turn the center into even more of an asset for the community. These are final mile funding dollars that would put the finishing touches on the facility, Gonzalez said in the news release. Our vision with the HAPO Center is to create a facility that has minimal impact on the environment and maximum use for the community. It will serve as an emergency shelter in hot and cold months, or for disaster relief. These funds will also make the facility the premier event center in the region. Im extremely proud of our efforts. The federal lawmakers secured similar last-mile dollars for infrastructure work at the Port of Pascos Darigold and PIC 395 manufacturing hub. A pair of basketball courts for Clubhouse Sports Academy sit in the middle of the arena space inside the HAPO Center at 6600 Burden Blvd in Pasco. Getting their hands on this funding is part of a larger effort that the county kicked into gear last fall when they brought in the Harris White-Leasure group to take over management of the HAPO Center, formerly called the TRAC center. HWL is master planning a years-long vision for the facility that they hope will bring in year-round, high quality events. The upgrades to the arena side of the center could also serve to open the door for concerts. Gonzalez hopes this commitment to revitalizing the center will help the city of Pasco as it decides whether they want to become a full 50-50 partner in the facility ahead of an April deadline. The city can either become a full partner with half equity in the HAPO Center or the county can buy them out for $1, due to a provision in the contract outlining their original partnership. He said Pascos willingness to support the county with the .09 funds is a great step toward becoming equal partners after years of Franklin County feeling like the city hasnt helped enough with funding and the city feeling like they dont have enough of a voice at the table. As Pascos former economic development manager, Gonzalez has seen the shortcomings in the relationship firsthand and said hes working with City Manager Adam Lincoln to forge a new relationship. Its like a marriage, you want it to be 50-50 and right now our commission doesnt feel like its 50-50, he said. Pasco was supportive of the .09 funds, those are the kind of partnerships Im talking about in the future. We want to keep working together in that capacity. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the notion of sending combat troops to Ukraine is "not on the table" in an interview with the French broadcaster BFMTV on March 8. The comments came after French President Emmanuel Macron recently said that sending Western troops to Ukraine cannot be "ruled out" in the future. The U.S. and many European allies have distanced themselves from Macrons statement. Lecornu said that while the deployment of combat troops is not currently being discussed, there is the possibility that France will send military personnel to Ukraine to train Ukrainian troops or participate in mine-clearing operations. French arms manufacturers are planning to set up partnerships with Ukrainian companies and produce military equipment, potentially including ammunition, on Ukrainian soil, Lecornu added. We are no longer in the same situation as two years ago," he said, emphasizing that "We don't want to show weakness to Moscow." Czech President Petr Pavel also said recently that he is in favor of looking for new ways to support Ukraine, including potentially sending troops for "non-combat engagement." The Czech leader reportedly emphasized that he was not talking about sending combat units. According to Pavel, Kyivs allies could send a training mission to Ukraine. "Ukraine, despite being attacked, is still a sovereign country," he said, adding that such a training mission would not violate any international norms. "It's up to us what form of assistance we choose," Pavel said. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, as well as leaders of Germany, the U.K., Sweden, Poland, and other European NATO member states, ruled out sending Western troops to Ukraine. During a two-hour State of the Nation address on Feb. 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened "tragic consequences" if NATO troops were sent to Ukraine, claiming the West's support for Kyiv "risks a conflict using nuclear weapons." 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. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, as promised, on Friday morning vetoed a pay hike for rideshare drivers approved by the City Council the day before. Uber and Lyft have vowed to leave the city, and perhaps the state, on May 1 when the ordinance would take effect because, the companies say, the pay hikes would make it no longer worthwhile to to do business here. Shortly after issuing the veto, Frey called a special council meeting next week for a swift veto override vote to prepare the public as soon as possible for the potential departure of the companies, the only two licensed rideshare providers in the city. Frey said he believes companies will leave, and he had pleaded with council members to wait for a state study, which came out Friday, or soften their plan by lowering the pay hike to a degree that he said the companies would accept. "I've been telling the council for six months now to wait for the data to come out," Frey told reporters Friday. Supporters on the council characterized the companies' stance as a bluff, and suggested that if the state data due out the next day proved useful, they could amend the ordinance before May 1. "We are all reading and digesting the report. I'm proud of the vote we took yesterday and the work the authors and out professional staff put into it," City Council President Elliot Payne said in a text Friday afternoon. The council's 9-4 vote Thursday would be enough to override the veto, if all those votes hold. In Minneapolis, after any mayoral veto, the council is required to hold an override vote at its next meeting. Frey set the special meeting for 1 p.m. Thursday, a week before their regularly scheduled meeting. If the veto is overridden, the ordinance will take effect May 1, the day the rideshare companies have said they'll cease operating. The council members who most stridently supported the plan said Thursday they were confident they would override the veto. But on Friday, Frey said he was optimistic that at least one council member would change their vote, allowing his veto to stand. He said his arguments were bolstered by a new study released Friday by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry that suggested drivers could earn the minimum wage equivalent the stated goal of supporters of the council's plan. The plan approved Thursday guarantees a floor of $1.40 per mile and 51 cents per minute. The driver of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle would get $1.81 per mile. Frey had pushed for a minimum payment of $1.20 per mile and 35 cents per minute. The state-commissioned study suggested $1.21 per mile and 49 cents per minute for rides across the metro could not only get riders the equivalent of Minneapolis' $15.57 hourly minimum wage, but also a suite of benefits, including paid leave, health insurance and retirement savings. Uber and Lyft criticized the study's analysis. The approved plan includes additional provisions, including a $5 minimum payment for any ride, annual increases for drivers and restrictions on how money can be deducted from drivers' wages. Good evening. Air-dropped US aid packages struck and killed five Palestinians in Gaza, according to reports. Elsewhere, a light therapy treatment that claims to help patients maintain or improve their vision is now available in Britain. Airdropped US aid packages kill five in Gaza Air-dropped US aid packages struck and killed five Palestinians in Gaza after their parachutes failed to open properly, according to reports. Footage circulating on social media appears to show several packages plummeting to the ground from a transport aircraft. First treatment for macular degeneration now available in UK Patients with a degenerative eye condition could keep their sight for longer thanks to the development of the first treatment for the condition. After successful trials in the US, a light therapy treatment that claims to help patients maintain or improve their vision is now available in Britain. I had to escape oppressive and bigoted family, Constance Marten tells court Constance Marten has insisted she had to escape because of her oppressive and bigoted family, a court heard. She and her partner Mark Gordon, 49, are accused of manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of her child, Victoria. Evening Briefing: Todays essential headlines Politics | George Osborne said it would be absolutely nuts for Rishi Sunak to call a general election in May. Royals | Prince Harrys Spare nominated for two prizes Retail | B&M billionaire sells London mansion at 30pc loss Travel | UK is the second-most miserable nation in the world Crime | Enforcer of good driving rammed nine cars on motorway at 130mph The Telegraph | Andrew Neil only opposed UAE takeover after being refused job, claims bidder Watch: United Airlines plane loses wheel during take-off A United Airlines plane lost a wheel mid-air on Thursday while taking off from San Francisco. WATCH HERE Comment and analysis Tom Sharpe | A warship captain explains: How the Ukrainians are defeating Russia at sea Liz Truss | The rights of Hong Kongs women are under siege from the Chinese Communist Party Tom Harris | Good riddance, Theresa May William Sitwell | Forget women. Its men who need respite from the domestic sphere Judith Woods | Leonardo Di Caprio is the new Hugh Hefner? Thats not a good thing World news: Trump accuses Biden of being on drugs as he attacks hate-filled speech Donald Trump accused Joe Biden of being on drugs as he furiously attacked the presidents angry, polarising, and hate-filled State of the Union address. READ MORE Feature of the day Ken Bruce: I had the biggest show on radio the BBC didnt think it was worth a mention After decades as a foot soldier of the Corporation, Bruce has a new home on commercial radio and hes taken his fans with him READ MORE Business news: BP makes Amanda Blanc senior independent director in wake of Looney misconduct scandal Dame Amanda Blanc, the chief executive of Aviva, will step into the position after BPs shareholder meeting next month. She has been a member of the oil giants board since September 2022. Live markets news: Traders ramp up bets on summer rate cuts as US jobs market weakens Editors choice Ariana Grande | Eternal Sunshine, review: pop at its sexiest Katie Morley Investigates | Cyber hacker stole my disabled sons 7k disability benefit International Womens Day | All the health reasons its great to be a woman Sport briefing: Six Nations takeover Oliver Brown | England are the same odds to win this weekend as Italy how did it come to this? Warren Gatland | Clear messaging is key to my Wales rebuild and England could benefit from that England v Ireland | Ireland on verge of immortality here is how England stop them Ben Youngs | Danny Care epitomises the character, talent and graft needed to get to 100 England caps Ireland | Rugby unites Ireland, but Ulsters lack of representation is a growing problem Three things for you Moral Money | A company overpaid me 8k three years ago can I keep it? Health | The hidden calories you dont realise youre eating Culture | English is not a language its just badly spoken French 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. Two friends are celebrating a huge win after buying separate Powerball tickets in Michigan with the same numbers. A friend and I have always said if we won the Lottery, we would share the money, 59-year-old Naomi Cawley told Michigan lottery officials in a March 7 news release. Rather than buying one ticket for the two of them, the pair purchased separate tickets but chose the same numbers. They happened to choose winning numbers for the Feb. 21 drawing in Michigan. Cawley won $100,000 while her friend won $50,000 because she forgot to add the Power Play to her ticket, the Saginaw woman told lottery officials. I went into complete shock when I got a call from my friend late one night telling me wed won on our Powerball numbers, Cawley told officials. Cawley said she plans to take a trip with her family and save the money, she told lottery officials. Saginaw is about a 100-mile drive south to Detroit. Lottery players favorite color lands her win for her birthday. Couldnt believe it Man used $50 lottery prize to buy another ticket. He then won a life-changing jackpot Daughter sees Facebook lottery post and tells mom to check her ticket. It was a winner Three men who broke out of a prison in Grenada have been charged over the presumed deaths of an American couple whose yacht they allegedly hijacked following their escape from custody last month, police said Thursday. U.S. nationals Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel have been presumed dead since their catamaran, Simplicity, was found abandoned in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Feb. 21. The Royal Grenada Police Force says Ron Mitchell, Atiba Stanisclaus, and Trevon Robertson have now all been charged with two counts of capital murder. Missing U.S. Couple Presumed Dead After Caribbean Catamaran Hijacking, Police Say All three were further charged with escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery, and two counts of kidnapping, authorities said, while Stanisclaus faces an additional charge of rape. The police media release announcing the charges did not provide details of the rape allegation, nor did it specify if the bodies of Hendry and Brandel have yet been found. The American couple were sailing in the Caribbean at the time of their disappearance, according to their Salty Dawg Sailing Association. The three escapees were caught on the same day that the couples vessel was found abandoned, with the sailing association saying they had been contacted by someone who had boarded the boat and found evidence of apparent violence. Royal Grenada Police Force Commissioner Don McKenzie later said authorities had reason to believe the suspects disposed of the occupants as they sailed the hijacked boat between Grenada and St. Vincent. A spokesperson for the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force also said a red substance that resembles blood was found on board. A Feb. 27 statement released by the family of Hendry and Brandel said they were incredibly saddened to learn that their loved ones were presumed dead. If we have learned anything from this tragic event, its that we know they left this world in a better place than it was before they were born, the statement read. Ralph and Kathy lived a life that most of us can only dream of, sailing the eastern coast of the United States, living on their home Simplicity, making friends with everyone they encountered, singing, dancing and laughing with friends and familythats who Ralph and Kathy were and thats how they will be remembered in our hearts. Police in Grenada are also investigating how the three men had escaped from custody in the first place, though no update was given about the probe Thursday. The trio are expected to make their next court appearance on March 27. 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. Joe Bidens State of the Union speech descended into a shouting match after Republicans confronted him over the death of Laken Riley, a nursing student who was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant. The US President was heckled during his address by Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican congresswoman who wore a T-shirt and badge with the mantra: Laken Riley. Say her name. A second badge pinned to her red blazer displayed the face of the 22-year-old, whose death last month became a political lightning rod when an illegal migrant from Venezuela was charged with her murder. Other representatives wore badges with Laken Riley printed in block capitals, and one held up a sheet of paper with her name printed on it. Prominent Republicans, including Donald Trump, claim Mr Bidens struggles to secure the US-Mexico border mean he is responsible for her death. As the President exhorted Congress to pass a bill to tighten border security, Ms Taylor Greene shouted: Its about Laken Riley. Her intervention prompted cries of shut up from Democrats as the joint session descended into uproar. Departing from his prepared remarks, Mr Biden argued that her death showed the need to approve the bill, which provides more funding for border control officers and allows him to unilaterally close the border. The president mistakenly referred to the woman as Lincoln further enraging his Republican critics. Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. Thats right, he said, holding up one of the badges Ms Taylor-Greene had handed out earlier in the day. But how many of the thousands of people are being killed by illegals? Joe Biden holds up a badge with Laken Riley's name, given to him by Marjorie Taylor Greene - EPA To her parents, I say my heart goes out to you having lost children myself. I understand, he said, before arguing that the bill could change the dynamic at the border. People pay the smugglers $8,000 to get across the border because they know if they get by, if they get by and let into the country, its six to eight years before they have a hearing, he said. But if its only six months, six weeks, the idea is its highly unlikely that people will pay all that money and come all that way knowing theyll be kicked out quickly. Mr Biden concluded: I would respectfully suggest my Republican friends owe it to the American people, get this bill done. We need to act now. Ms Taylor Greene confronted Mr Biden as he greeted well-wishers before his speech. Laken Riley. Say her name, Mr President, she demanded. Riley, a student at Augusta University in Georgia, was killed on her morning run on Feb 22. Her disfigured body had been dragged into a secluded area, and medical examiners said she died from blunt force trauma. Ms Taylor Greene, an ardent backer of Donald Trump who completed her outfit with a Make America Great Again hat, later claimed Mr Biden had mispronounced Rileys beautiful name. Even when he tries to say it, he cant, she wrote on social media. Absolutely unfit to be President. Delivering the official Republican response to the State of the Union address, Katie Britt, the Alabama senator, claimed Mr Biden failed to take responsibility for Rileys death. She was brutally murdered by one of the millions of illegal border crossers President Biden chose to release into our homeland, Ms Britt said. That couldve been my daughter. It couldve been yours. Tonight, President Biden finally said her name. But he refused to take responsibility for his own actions. 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. Wirestock / iStock.com Miami a bustling metropolis along Floridas Southern coast. Known for its rich culture, trendy food and high-energy nightlife, it is no secret that Miami is an expensive place to live. Check Out: 5 Places in Florida Where Home Prices Are Still Cheap Read Next: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money Home prices in Miami-Dade soared to 53% as of June 2020, that was the first-year people started leaving, said CBS News. Since the coronavirus pandemic, people have been leaving Miami and moving to others places throughout Florida and the South. These days, it seems to be that Miami is only accessible to the top 1%. Between housing and transportation costs, Miami is the single toughest place in all the nation to be a middle-class resident, said the Miami New Times. But for those who may be looking to relocate, where are the cheapest neigborhoods located in Miami? Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity. 1. Bay Harbor Islands Home Price: $312,800 median purchase price Monthly Rent: $1,429 median monthly rent Bay Harbor Islands, located on islands in Biscayne Bay, is one of the safest suburbs in Miami. It is known for its close proximity to Miami Beach and Aventura. The Bay Harbor Islands community is family-friendly and provides a unique change of pace while still allowing residents the luxury of living near the heart of Miami. 2. Coconut Grove Home Price: $592,500 median purchase price Monthly Rent: $1,401 median monthly rent Known as one of Miamis oldest and most historic neigborhoods, Coconut Grove, though still pricey, is known to be more affordable than other neighborhoods in the Downtown Miami area. Coconut Grove is lauded for its lush greenery, an enclave filled with nature in a bustling city. This neighborhood is also well-loved for its Spanish and Mediterranean style houses. Coconut Grove is an ideal community for young families and retirees who want the fast pace of city life. Story continues 3. Coral Way Home Price: $311,115 median purchase price Monthly Rent: $1,310 median monthly rent Named for the street, Coral Way is a community nestled between the banyan trees. With a strong Cuban influence, this neighorhood boasts street art and local flair. Here, residents have the option to live in historic, Art-Deco Style homes, or luxurious modern high-rise apartments. Coral Way is a safe neighborhood within Miami and brings in couples without children and young professionals. Coral Way is also conveniently located near the Miami International Airport, making vacation planning easier. 4. Flagami Home Price: $151,929 median purchase price Monthly Rent: $939 median monthly rent Located just south of the Miami International Airport, Flagami is a charming neighborhood with affordable housing away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Miami. City workers can expect a 30 minute commute to Downtown Miami. This affordable neighborhood with one of the cheapest housing prices on this list, is home to smaller bungalows and single-family townhomes. Located near Flagami is the Blue Lagoon of Miami, perfect for outdoor recreation such as jet-skis or kayaking. 5. Little Havana Home Price: $116,936 median purchase price Monthly Rent: $932 median monthly rent Little Havana, a Cuban enclave in a community known for its rich Cuban culture, is the home of small, colorful bungalows and known for its affordability. Enjoy a Cubano, visit a historic cigar-rolling locale, and visit local restaurants and shops to enjoy and appreciate Cuban culture within the community. Learn More: 7 Safest and Cheapest Cities To Live in Florida Little Havana is certainly one of the more vibrant communities within the city of Miami. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Most Affordable Miami Neighborhoods A man has been arrested in the death of a Georgia veteran who also appeared in a Netflix documentary. John Lowden Jr., 38, was gunned down last week in Augusta. According to WJCL, he was a special forces weapons sergeant in the Army and did six tours in Afghanistan. He held the rank of sergeant first class at the end of his service. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] He also appeared in a short Netflix series about his bodybuilder mother, Sally McNeil, who was accused of killing her second husband. The three-part series, Killer Sally, came out in 2022. On Thursday, 32-year-old Robert Ward was arrested in Lowdens death. Hes been charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. TRENDING STORIES: Ward is homeless and known to visit hotels around the area where Lowden was found, WJCL reports. The family has set up a GoFundMe account to give Lowden a soldiers burial. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] He deserves a Viking funeral. I want to send him off with the full Honors he deserves. Semper Fidelis, Sally McNeil wrote. McNeil was convicted of second-degree murder in 1996 and was released in 2020. Lowden will be buried next weekend at Fort Jackson National Cemetery in South Carolina. In this April 9, 2018 file photo, President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with national security adviser John Bolton in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington at the start of a meeting with military leaders. Bolton recently opined that If Trump is elected, therell be celebrations in the Kremlin. Putin thinks that he is an easy mark. | Susan Walsh Heres a hypothetical. What if you are interviewing someone for a senior position in your company, and they give an entertaining interview, but when you check their references, the overwhelming majority of people from their last workplace say that not only is the person not fit for the job, but theyre a danger to any company, are deeply enmeshed with your companys chief rivals, they exhibit no loyalty, will not be trusted by partner organizations and could bring your whole company crashing down? Everyone knows the person would not be getting a job offer, regardless of whatever skills that person had. Yet thats the position America finds itself in as Donald Trump seeks another term as president. And there are significant negative implications for Americas national security. If you think Im exaggerating, just look at recent statements from the senior leadership in the last Trump administration. Former national security adviser John Bolton, a rock-ribbed Republican who has supported every Republican for president since Barry Goldwater, recently opined that If Trump is elected, therell be celebrations in the Kremlin. Putin thinks that he is an easy mark. Trump supporters often retort that Bolton has always been a controversial character who doesnt play well with others and always wants to go to war. This is a trope that Boltons left-leaning political opponents used against him for decades, even filibustering his attempt to stay on as United Nations ambassador. But it was never true. And until lately, it wasnt anything that Republicans would say. But Bolton is not the only former Trump national security official saying things like this. Its also former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. And former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats. Former Attorney General William Barr has given similar warnings. So have former national security adviser H.R. McMasters and deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger. Some of these men were military men, some were former members of Congress, some cabinet officials in other administrations, some came straight from the private sector. They all say the same thing: Trump is unfit for office. Trumps second secretary of defense, Mark Esper, deemed Trump a security threat. Former Homeland Security Secretary and White House chief of staff John Kelly, puts it most succinctly: God help us if Trump wins again. While most presidents have at least one or two former officials that break with them publicly, the number and the ferocity with which Trumps former top-level national security officials denounce their former boss is unprecedented. (Lets not forget that the last person standing between Trump and the GOP nomination was his former U.N. secretary, Nikki Haley.) The only real retort from the Trump echo chamber is the vague claim that these people are simply the establishment or swamp creatures. Its a demagogues response that by necessity ignores the specifics. Far from a ragtag group of self-seeking lobbyists or special interest hucksters, these are people of character. Career military men, experienced diplomats and high-level law enforcement officials with little to gain and a lot to lose. Each also has a high-level understanding of what Americas foreign and national security policies require, and why it is important. They may be mistaken on this issue or that, but they are serious people with serious concerns. Their concerns cannot be ignored. American foreign policy cannot be remade anew every four years, and experienced, knowledgeable officials are essential. Part of Trumps original sales pitch was that he would hire the best people to handle such things which he plainly did not understand. And it was people like McMasters, Bolton, Mattis and Esper that were able to steer Trump away from wildly impulsive and destructive decisions and make sure that things did not go too far off the rails. That they are now saying he is unfit for office is disturbing. America won the Cold War because there was continuity in its policy. The policy of calculated confrontation and containment, instituted by Harry Truman, a Democrat, survived the transition to Dwight Eisenhower, a Republican, and successive administrations of both parties. Those who seemed to threaten this policy were promptly shown the door. Eisenhowers chief reason for running for president was in order to stop isolationist Republican Sen. Robert Taft, R-Ohio, from reversing Americas post-World War II commitments. And Richard Nixon thrashed Sen. George McGovern, D-S.D., because America rejected McGoverns neo-Isolationist policies. Trumps current stance, encouraging Russia to do whatever the hell they want with fellow NATO countries unless they spend what Trump believes is sufficient on defense (even though NATO countries are massively, rapidly ramping up their defense spending) is such a threat. Bolton recently explained that Trumps goal is to lay the groundwork to get out of NATO, as he nearly did in 2018. This would be a reckless, disastrous policy in the best of times. During a time when an expansionist Russia is almost literally knocking on NATOs door is worse than reckless. It is a betrayal of a trust that has lasted for generations. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, explained starkly in a recent interview, The United States has the reputation of a global leader (it) prescribes the rules of coexistence in the world. He pointed out that America should consider how will it be perceived by the other countries and not just democracies should it abandon its role. Americas character cannot ultimately be separated from its power or interests. More than any other nation, Americas power and influence is built on trust. Power, resources, technology and geography are important, but over time, they will mean little if Americas allies do not believe that America will stand by its friends and steadfastly oppose its foes. It has done so, imperfectly but clearly, for more than 80 years. Some Trump supporters acknowledge his deficiencies in character, but argue his policies are better than his opponents. Even if this were true, it wouldnt solve the foreign-policy problem. People, and especially nations, need to believe these long-standing policies will be carried out, and that our allies and their interests will not be betrayed. If this is ever not so, America will cease to be a world leader. Trumps former national security cabinet officials understand this, if Trump doesnt. It is why so many have overlooked their own political futures and warned America about the coming storm. America should heed their warning. Cliff Smith is a lawyer and a former congressional staffer. He lives in Washington, D.C., where he works on national security related issues. His views are his own. U.S. Capitol Police officers stand guard outside the Capitol prior to the State of the Union address by U.S. President Joe Biden to a joint session of Congress, in Washington By Nandita Bose and Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Thursday sparked pockets of protest across the United States, with activists asking him to push for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and do more to curb Israel's attacks in Gaza. Protesters blocked traffic in Boston and Los Angeles. Over 50 arrests were made in Boston, according to one activist group and a local media report. Ahead of Biden's speech, dozens gathered near the White House, prompting the police to block off a nearby road. "We are here today because enough is enough," said Ahmad Abuznaid, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights. The Council on American-Islamic Relations advocacy group said the speech was Biden's "best and perhaps last chance" to announce steps to reduce Palestinian suffering in Gaza and win back support of Arab, Palestinian and anti-war Americans disappointed with his policy. Senior U.S. administration officials said beforehand that Biden would discuss U.S. plans to build a port in Gaza to ship in humanitarian aid. Hours before the speech, the U.S. Capitol was ringed with a high wire fence as is typical ahead of the annual presidential speech to both houses of Congress. A Palestinian flag hung from the balcony of a congressional office building, and small groups of protesters chanted "Ceasefire now" on street corners, some wearing keffiyehs, the traditional Palestinian scarf. Biden swept the Democratic nominating contests this week on Super Tuesday, however Minnesota and six other states lodged protest votes against his staunch support for Israel. Michigan Democrats staged a similar protest last week. Some Democrats in Congress were expected to wear pins with the word "ceasefire" to the State of the Union address. Centrist Democrats have urged the president to do more to address the suffering in Gaza. Representative Cori Bush, a Democrat of Missouri will bring Palestinian dentist Intimaa Salama, a graduate student from St. Louis University, as her guest. In recent weeks, protests demanding a ceasefire have occurred across the U.S., including at Biden speeches and campaign stops and events attended by other U.S. politicians. (Reporting by Nandita Bose and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Heather Timmons and Howard Goller) Gaza's health minister said 104 people were killed and 760 others were injured in the incident An Israeli military report says troops did not fire at Palestinians around an aid convoy but at "suspects" nearby who they deemed a threat, during a deadly incident in Gaza last month. The findings follow an investigation into the events in which more than 100 Palestinians were killed, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Palestinians accused Israel of shooting dead people at the convoy. Israel has said most were killed being trampled or run over by the convoy. The head of the UN, the EU and several countries have called for an independent investigation into the incident, which happened on 29 February at the Nabulsi roundabout on the south-western edge of Gaza City. In the early hours of that morning, a convoy of lorries transporting aid was surrounded by crowds of Palestinians just after it had passed an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) checkpoint. During chaotic scenes, shots were fired by soldiers and IDF surveillance footage showed lorries, which had briefly stopped, moving forward, apparently running over Palestinians who had gathered around them in large numbers. The health ministry said 118 people were killed and 760 others were injured in the incident. UN officials who visited Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital, one of several hospitals where casualties had been taken, the following day said they had found a large number of people with bullet wounds. On Friday, the IDF said it had presented the findings of a "command review" into the events to its Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi. It said the review "found that IDF troops did not fire at the humanitarian convoy, but did fire at a number of suspects who approached the nearby forces and posed a threat to them". According to the review, about 12,000 Palestinians gathered around the lorries and started looting them. It said that while this was taking place, "significant harm" was caused to civilians there from what it called a "stampede" and from people being run over. It said while that was happening, dozens of people headed towards nearby IDF troops, reaching a distance of several metres from them, "and thereby posed a real threat to the forces". "At this stage, the forces fired cautionary fire in order to distance the suspects. As the suspects continued to advance toward them, the troops fired precisely toward a number of the suspects to remove the threat," it said. The incident is still under investigation by a Fact Finding and Assessment Mechanism - "an independent examination body" - the review said. The events caused outrage around the world, and the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss it. An Algerian-led statement blaming Israel for the deaths was blocked by the US, according to the Palestinian UN ambassador afterwards. Lorries have been transporting aid to assist Gazans suffering from widespread hunger since two weeks after the war began on 7 October, but the UN says deliveries meet only a fraction of the needs. The war was triggered by an unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas gunmen, who killed about 1,200 people - mainly civilians - according to Israeli tallies, and took 253 others back to Gaza as hostages. Gaza's health ministry says nearly 31,000 people - mostly women and children - have been killed by Israel's offensive. Map showing Gaza City, Nabulsi roundabout and al-Shifa Hospital The US Air Force drops pallets of food and water into northern Gaza, during a previous operation on March 2 (Christopher HUBENTHAL) A medic at Gaza's largest hospital said Friday a humanitarian airdrop in the north of the Palestinian territory killed five people and wounded 10. The casualties were taken to Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital, the emergency room's head nurse, Mohammed al-Sheikh, told AFP. Sheikh said the deadly airdrop occurred north of the coastal Al-Shati refugee camp. A witness from the camp told AFP he and his brother followed the parachuted aid in the hope of getting "a bag of flour". "Then, all of a sudden, the parachute didn't open and fell down like a rocket on the roof of one of the houses," said Mohammed al-Ghoul. "Ten minutes later I saw people transferring three martyrs and others injured, who were staying on the roof of the house where the aid packages fell," the 50-year-old told AFP. The United States and Jordan are among the countries to have carried out airdrops in northern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people are facing dire conditions after more than five months of war. A Jordanian military source told AFP that the kingdom was not involved in Friday's fatal drop. "The technical defect that caused some parachutes carrying aid not to open and to fall freely to the ground during the airdrop on Gaza on Friday was not from a Jordanian aircraft," the source said. "The four Jordanian aircraft that carried out the airdrop in partnership with five other countries carried out its mission without any glitches." Referring to the five killed on Friday, the government media office in Hamas-run Gaza said airdrops were "futile" and "not the best way for aid to enter." The United Nations has said airdrops or a proposed maritime aid corridor cannot be a substitute for land deliveries, urging more trucks to be permitted to reach Gaza through more border crossings. az-skl/rsc/rcb/kir As President Joe Biden prepared for his pivotal 2024 State of the Union on Thursday, protestors demanding a ceasefire in Gaza blockaded outside the White House and near the Capitol. The protesters, wearing shirts with the slogan Biden Legacy = Genocide, unfurled a large Palestinian flag across Pennsylvania Avenue, and formed a human barricade by sitting in the road to block traffic. The demonstrations were large enough to force Bidens motorcade to take an alternate route from the White House to the Capitol, CNN reported. The pool traveling with the president said he took the long way to the Capitol, avoiding a large group of demonstrators just blocks away from the building. Activists could be heard outside as reporters loaded up into vans to head to the Capitol. The protests continued as Bidens delayed speech finally began within the Capitol, the area practically surrounded by police vehicles and law enforcement officers who declined to speak to Rolling Stone. Despite the outsized police presence, the only protest related arrest Thursday afternoon was that of an unidentified individual who allegedly menaced protesters near the White House by revving his car engine at them. As the protest dispersed near midnight, smaller clusters of demonstrators marched in various directions into the streets surrounding the Capitol, chanting slogans of Free Palestine, as they went. We forced the president to reroute and arrive late to give his speech to the country, Jay Saper, an organizer with the group Jewish Voice for Peace, told Rolling Stone. We know that right now the majority of Americans want a full, permanent, lasting ceasefire [] Its important for our elected officials to actually answer to the people, as opposed to answering to a [foreign] government thats actively carrying out genocide by continuing to send and pledge money and weapons to them, they added. We are outraged, we are heartbroken, and we are demanding that President Biden stop funding and arming Israels genocide of Palestinians, Elena Stein of Jewish Voice for Peace, which helped organize the protest, told Rolling Stone. The Biden administration has expressed concern over Israels bombardment of Palestinians in Gaza, but has largely maintained its support for the Israel. The White House announced plans on Thursday for a floating military operation designed to provide aid to Palestinians, but it wasnt enough to appease activists. This is a stunt to save his image rather than an actual intent to save lives, Stein said. If Biden wanted to save lives, we would not be on Day 150 of Israel dropping U.S.-made bombs on the people of Gaza. Bidens State of the Union address sparked protests not just in Washington, D.C., but across the country, with demonstrators also blocking traffic in Boston and Los Angeles, according to Reuters. We are here today because enough is enough, Ahmad Abuznaid, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, told the outlet. Sumaya Awad, Director of Strategy at the Adala Justice Project, told Rolling Stone that the protesters in DC and throughout the country want to make clear that the State of the Union right now is that of enabling, aiding, and abetting a genocide. Despite the fact that in the U.S. millions of Americans are living without healthcare, millions more are drowning in student debt, libraries are being shut down, budget cuts left and right and still our government is choosing to use our taxpayer dollars to send weapons to Israel to rain them down on Palestinians, she added. The president is on track to be the Democratic nominee in November but the results in Tuesdays primaries indicate he has a growing political problem on his left. Biden has received harsh criticism from activist Democrats who are calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. This dissent has appeared in election results as a movement of Democratic voters have been casting ballots for uncommitted, as a way to register their disapproval of the presidents refusal to take a stronger stance toward Israel. The uncommitted campaigns should shake Biden and his administration, Awad said. This is not some far off struggle, this is a struggle of the American people as well for what they want their government to represent, she added. Since Hamas Oct. 7 attack against Israel, in which 1,139 were killed and more than 200 were kidnapped, Israel has laid waste to Gaza with the Biden administrations support. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, 2 million have been internally displaced, and hundreds of thousands are at imminent risk of famine, according to the United Nations. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Police and the GBI are investigating after a mother and her teenage daughter were found dead in their Georgia home Friday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to the GBI, Jessica Lynn Hatcher, 41, and Julianna Denise Thompson, 17, were both found dead at an apartment in Smithfield. TRENDING STORIES: Officers were already at the scene responding to a 911 when they found the women dead. The GBI has not released the cause of death for the women, but are calling their deaths a homicide. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Its unclear if the GBI is searching for a suspect or suspects. According to her social media profile, Thompson attended Lee County High School. Lee County is in southwest Georgia. Smithfield has a population of just under 600 people as of 2020. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), report online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or download the See Something, Send Something mobile app. Teaira King never knew anything was wrong, not until she enrolled at Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee. That was when it became obvious. Her inability to comprehend her classroom lectures compounded with her inability to study the material on her own and made learning all but impossible. King had landed at Bethel by way of a full scholarship to join the schools Renaissance choir. Administrators werent too worried about her ACT score of 15. Shed gotten her diploma, graduating in 2005 from Whites Creek High School in Nashville. That was all that mattered. To fill in the gaps, King took remedial courses her first two years at Bethel. She wasnt near the top of her classes, but she was able to get by much as she had during her time in Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). Later, Kings core classes changed everything: I got that big book, and I said, Lord? Then we got to college algebra, and I said, Wait a minute. A few weeks into her third year, King gassed up her car and loaded it up with as much of her belongings as she could. She never went back to Bethel. When her friends called to check on her, asking why shed disappeared so suddenly why she abandoned the Renaissance Choir when she loved to travel and sing and was so, so good at itshe lied. She told them she just didnt like Bethel anymore. She told them she was transferring to another school, that she wanted to be closer to home. Portrait of Teaira King, a parent and volunteer at PROPEL who wants to fix the Metro Nashville Public Schools system in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 12, 2024. She didnt want to tell them that she couldnt read. In the years since she returned to Nashville, King has come to realize that her issues started well before college. She now remembers being passed along, despite getting Ds and Fs as early as middle school. Elementary is when she thinks the problems actually began; that was when she started falling behind grade-level benchmarks and failed to catch back up. Kings mother was killed in a car accident when she was just 6, playing a likely factor in her struggles. But King also notes that her grandfather, with whom shed gone to live, did his part. He stayed on her about her grades, punishing her if she did poorly and using the Hooked on Phonics literacy program to reinforce reading skills at home. It wasnt enough. It was a system failure, King says. MNPS student achievement falls short especially in District 1 I learned about Kings story on Feb. 26, at a forum hosted by the education advocacy group Nashville PROPEL. Nashville PROPEL (Parents Requiring Our Public Education System to Lead) hosted a Nashville School Board District 1 candidates forum at Corinthians Baptist Church in Nashville on Feb. 26, 2024. The acronym stands for Parents Requiring Our Public Education System to Lead, and for PROPEL founder and president Sonya Thomas, that included inviting candidates for the MNPS District 1 school board seat the only contested seat in this years election to share their vision for the future of the district. (In the March 5 primary, Robert Taylor won the Democratic nomination against two opponents and Demytris Savage-Short won the Republican nomination unopposed. They will face off on Aug. 1.) On the whole, MNPS is performing far below reasonable achievement standards. Currently, only 28.5% of students are meeting grade-level benchmarks in both math and English/language arts. That includes data from across the district, from even high-performing schools like Julia Green Elementary, Meigs Middle Magnet School, and Hume Fogg High School. Separate the data of District 1 from all others in MNPS, and the stats are even more dire. (Note: Meigs is located in District 1.) Sonya Thomas It's been said in America that if white folks catch a cold, Black people get pneumonia. We are the proverbial canaries in the coal mine, the group for which the margins of error regarding education, employment, health, education, and virtually any other statistical category are razor thin. The converse of this metaphor is that, if effective solutions are implemented for the most disadvantaged groups, the outcomes of other groups are sure to improve as well. It's the idea of lifting from the bottom, a concept that should certainly apply to District 1, which primarily covers the northwest quadrant of Davidson County. In addition to historically having the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students, the predominantly Black District 1 also has the lowest literacy and math rates in all of MNPS. This school year, MNPS and Director of Schools Dr. Adrienne Battle have been celebrating the districts Level 5 Value-Added Growth Score, its second distinction in as many years. What goes unsaid is that positive growth, though always good, is sometimes not enough. Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Adrienne Battles speaks at an event at Ida B. Wells Elementary School in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. For the 2021-22 school year (the data for which is the most recent available), Whites Creek, Kings alma mater and one of three District 1 high schools, received an individual growth score of 5. Its the highest score given by the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System, which speaks to Battles celebratory stance. But, again, this is a marker of year-over-year improvement, not actual proficiency. Regarding the latter metric, there is far less to applaud: Only 5.4% of Whites Creek students met or exceeded grade-level benchmarks in math and ELA. Parents feel the schools that failed them have failed their children After the forum, which included the school board candidate panel Id been invited to moderate, I met some of the parents in attendance. Nashville PROPEL (Parents Requiring Our Public Education System to Lead) hosted a Nashville School Board District 1 candidates forum at Corinthians Baptist Church in Nashville on Feb. 26, 2024. According to the typical narrative, these are the parents who dont value education. They buy Jordans instead of books. They let their kids watch hours of TV instead of making them do homework. They applaud while their children learn TikTok dances and rap lyrics instead of fundamental reading skills. But these werent the parents I met. Theyd come out on a chilly Monday, taking time away from the myriad responsibilities parents have on a typical weeknight, all to ensure their children were no longer left behind in a system that clearly wasnt built with them in mind. Portrait of Teaira King, a parent and volunteer at PROPEL who wants to fix the Metro Nashville Public Schools system in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Like all parents, District 1 parents want their children to exceed. They want their children to get a high-quality education, to go farther and achieve more than they ever did. Its why King first began working with PROPEL. Her son, the oldest of her two children, was then attending Meigs. Periodically, hed ask King for help with his homework, with understanding certain words or completing assignments. She wanted to help him, but she couldnt. There are other parents like King in District 1, parents who are, themselves, products of Metro Nashville Public Schools. They understand that the same system that failed them is now failing their children, is failing their nieces and nephews, is failing most of their childrens friends. They need only to look at their own lives to know how the rest of that narrative plays out, to see the long-term effects of a substandard education. It's why Thomas decided to host the forum; it's, in fact, why she started PROPEL. As a mother who learned that her sixth grade son was reading at a second-grade leveldespite the time she spent reading with him at night and engaging with his teachers during the dayshe wanted to put some of the power back in the hands of parents whove long felt that they had none. Democratic candidate profile: Meet Robert Taylor, Nashville School Board, District 1 Republican candidate profile: Meet Demytris Savage-Short, Nashville School Board, District 1 'Im going to continue to fight for the other parents' Even Kings testimony is a reclamation of lost control. She remembers crying when she first connected with Thomas and realized not only that she wasnt dumb, but that her struggles were to be expected after generations of neglect in a majority-Black school district. King used to be embarrassed by her story. Today she tells it often because she wants other parents former MNPS kids raising current MNPS kids to know theyre not dumb either. Neither are their kids. Im going to continue to fight for the other parents and empower them to let their voices be heard, King says. But if not, Ill be their voice. Portrait of Teaira King, a parent and volunteer at PROPEL who wants to fix the Metro Nashville Public Schools system in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 12, 2024. More significantly, King wants other parents around the city, the region, and the entire state to understand whats happening in northwest Nashville. She wants them to know that, even if their children currently attend good public schools, the experiences of District 1 MNPS kids are a bellwether for all Tennessee students. And it will take a collective effort from parents and non-parents, both in- and outside the district to ensure an equitable education system. She wants everyone to know that none of our students succeed until all of them do. Andrea Williams is an opinion columnist for The Tennessean and curator of the Black Tennessee Voices initiative. She has an extensive background covering country music, sports, race and society. Email her at adwilliams@tennessean.com or follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @AndreaWillWrite. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MNPS: Nashville District 1 still struggles, it's everyone's problem Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) on Thursday announced he will run for Congress just a few months after being expelled from the House. He is set to challenge Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.). His surprise announcement came during President Bidens State of the Union address. Santos attended the speech, his first time back in the Capitol since his expulsion. Santos was expelled from his Long Island congressional seat in December and faces more than 20 criminal charges connected to allegations that he misled donors, fraudulently received unemployment benefits, and charged his donors credit cards without authorization. He was replaced in Congress last month by Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) after a special election. New York hasnt had a real conservative represent them since I left office arbitrarily, thanks to RINO, empty suits like Nick LaLota, Santos said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. He is a willing to risk the future of our majority and the future of this country for his own political gain. Tonight, I want to announce that I will be returning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick for the battle over NY-1, he continued. I look forward to debating him on the issues and on his weak record as a Republican. The fight for our majority is imperative for the survival of the country. Santos and LaLota have butted heads for months. In November, a day before he was expelled from Congress, Santos called the fellow New York Republican a meathead. I dont like Nick LaLota. And Im not alone, he said. His district has people who dont like him. If it werent for the GOP infrastructure, he wouldnt be a member of Congress, because the people themselves do not like the man. If he faces a true challenger, well funded, one person without a spoiler candidate, he might not win, Santos continued. Hes not well-liked. Hes an arrogant person. Hes not a nice guy. Hes cocky. Hes a traditional meathead, somebody thats not nice to you for no reason. The New York primary election is June 25. LaLota faces no other Republican opposition. To raise the standard in Congress, and to hold a pathological liar who stole an election accountable, I led the charge to expel George Santos, LaLota said in a statement to The Hill. If finishing the job requires beating him in a primary, count me in. Mychael Schnell contributed. Updated at 10:47 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Expelled former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., smiles for a photo as he sits with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., as they wait for President Joe Biden to deliver the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Amid the speech, Santos announced that he was running for Congress again. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI March 8 (UPI) -- Former congressman and noted fabulist George Santos announced Thursday night that he was running for Congress, about three months after he was expelled from the House of Representatives. Santos made the surprise announcement online during President Joe Biden's State of the Union, stating he was challenging Republican Rep. Nick LaLota for New York's 1st congressional district. His campaign, Santos for Congress, supported his announcement by filing documents with the Federal Elections Commission. "Tonight, I want to announce that I will be retuning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick for the battle over #NY1," Santos said in a statement on X. "I look forward to debating him on the issues and on his weak record as a Republican. The fight for our majority is imperative for the survival of the country." Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., and Rep. Lauren Boebert, D-Colo., speak before the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI Lawmakers in the House of Representatives voted to expelled Santos, who represented New York's 3rd congressional district, in early December as he faced nearly two dozen federal charges and after a House ethics committee found "substantial evidence" that he committed fraud. He has pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges of wire fraud, false statements, falsifying records, identity theft and access device fraud as he was accused of participating in a credit card scheme that repeatedly charged the accounts of campaign contributors. Expelled former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., (C) talks to Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, (L) and Rep. Joe Negus, D-Colo., as they wait for President Joe Biden to deliver the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Pool photo by Shawn Thew/UPI LaLota was a lead supporter in the efforts to investigate Santos and of his explosion. In his statement Thursday night, Santos attacked the incumbent. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., (R) hugs expelled former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., as they wait for President Joe Biden to deliver the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Pool photo by Shawn Thew/UPI "New York hasn't had a real conservative represent them since I left office arbitrarily, thanks to RINO, empty suits like @nicklalota. He is a willing to risk the future of our majority and the future of this country for his own political gain," Santo said. RINO is an acronym meaning Republican In Name Only. Expelled former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., (L) talks with Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., (C) and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., as they wait for President Joe Biden to deliver the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Pool photo by Shawn Thew/UPI LaLota responded to the announcement by stating that he "led the charge" to expel Santos in order to raise the stand of Congress "and to hold a pathological liar who stole an election accountable." "If finishing the job requires beating him in a primary, count me in," he said on X. Prior to the announcement and ahead of Biden's speech, Santo was photographed by UPI in the Capitol speaking with former Republican colleagues Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Matt Gaetz of Florida. According to the Congressional Research Service, former House members maintain access to the floor as well as other House facilities. Image source: The Motley Fool/Unsplash There are roughly 128 million Costco members worldwide. And of those 128 million members, it's safe to assume that most have their favorite items -- products they intend to purchase each time they enter a Costco warehouse. But what if they're missing something, a deal so great that buying it anywhere else is a waste of money and a huge personal finance don't? Here, we will look at five products we never imagined buying at Costco. 1. Simparica TRIO Costco price: $23 (1-month supply), $126 (6-month supply), $251 (1-year supply) Chewy price: $35 (1-month supply), $175 (6-month supply), $350 (1-year supply) Properly caring for a pet is expensive, and a big part of that expense is preventive care. Take, for example, a monthly chewable most vets recommend to protect your dog from heartworm disease, fleas, ticks, roundworms, and hookworms. One such preventative chewable is Simparica TRIO. If you were to buy a 1-month supply of Simparica TRIO for an 11- to 22-pound dog, you would pay $35 on Chewy.com. At Costco.com, the same 1-month supply costs $23. If your vet writes a prescription for a 6-month supply, it will run you $175 at Chewy and $126 at Costco. Finally, if you want to get it over with and buy an entire year's worth, you'll pay $350 on Chewy. At Costco, it will cost you $251. Even if you have great pet insurance, it's possible that preventive care is not covered. It pays to take every break available at Costco. 2. Almost Heaven Duet 2-person Outdoor Sauna Costco price: $2,700 Walmart price: $4,236 For most Americans, having a Finnish sauna in their backyard is not a priority. However, a sauna might be the right choice for the person seeking increased blood circulation, pain reduction, stress management, and improved sleep. According to the National Library of Medicine, these are just some of the benefits touted by facilities offering saunas (although medical evidence is incomplete). However, if you've been looking for an outdoor sauna constructed from red cedar with a full glass door and two full-length benches, Costco's price is tough to beat. In fact, making the purchase at Costco as opposed to Walmart will save you more than $1,500. That's $1,500 extra you have to pad an emergency fund or pay down a debt. Story continues 3. Budget Truck rental Costco price: 25% off the regular rental price in your area Have you ever needed a truck to move residences or to pick up a large item you purchased at an estate sale? If so, you know what a hassle it can be to find a vehicle that's priced affordably and available when you need it. Your Costco membership may not be the first thing you think of as you search for a rental truck, but with 25% off everyday prices in your area, it's a nice option to have at your disposal. 4. Kio 32" Round LED Lighted Mirror Costco price: $380 Home Depot price: $680 If you've ever stood at the bathroom mirror shaving and suddenly found yourself humming a tune from Sweeney Todd, or applying makeup, hoping against hope that you don't leave the house looking like a toddler who's gotten into their mother's makeup bag, you'll love this deal. Costco offers the Kio 32" Round LED Lighted Mirror for $380. This frameless mirror is not only great looking, but it's technologically up to date. For example, touch button controls allow you to easily select how bright you want (or need) it to be, and it has an integrated defogger, so you don't have to wait around after jumping out of the shower. While the mirror would make a great addition to the bathroom, it would also work beautifully above a vanity table. It's safe to say that Costco is not the first place most of us head to when working on home improvement projects, but at this price, you may have enough money left over in your bank account to hire an electrician to install it. 5. Aquaterra Spas Montecito 45-jet, 6-person Spa Costco price: $4,300 Shop EZ USA price: $5,059 Whether you're currently snowed under in the Northeast or enjoy nothing more than a dip in the hot tub on a cool desert evening, this 45-jet, six-person spa is the real deal. It comes with multicolor LED lights, an adjustable waterfall, and an ozone water care system. Plus, at 81" x 81", most will have enough space to stretch out. We all know that it's possible to save money on staples -- like bread and milk -- at Costco, but the warehouse store is also a great place to keep in mind when shopping for necessities for your pets or luxury items. 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The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 5 Surprising Finds You Can Snag at Costco Now was originally published by The Motley Fool George Santos is back on Capitol Hill, though not as a congressman this time. The ousted elected official made a surprise appearance at President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. Later that evening he announced plans to run for Congress again and against sitting Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y. "Tonight, I want to announce that I will be returning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick," Santos said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Tonight, I came to the SOTU with an open mind and heart because I believe in the great idea that is the United States of America. I just witnessed a weak, frail president deliver spin and lies to the American people from inside the chambers. I have made several personal George Santos (@MrSantosNY) March 8, 2024 The former New York representative was expelled from the House last year for fabricating his background and his sweeping criminal charges. His attendance at the speech marks his first time in the building since his removal. Former representative George Santos before the State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington March 7, 2024. House member says Santos 'should stay away' One House Republican told USA TODAY that Santos "should stay away." But, the Republican joked, Santos' return is fitting since "hes already delivered a State of the Union address," referencing the embattled for lawmaker's lies. Why was George Santos expelled Former representative George Santos makes an appearance before the State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington March 7, 2024. The 311-114 bipartisan vote to expel Santos from his position came after a House Ethics Committee report found substantial evidence that Santos misused campaign funds for his own personal benefit. The former congressman faced calls to resign from both Democrats and Republicans. While Santos admitted to lying about his background he denied all other wrongdoing related to the federal charges and pleaded not guilty. Santos lies include being Jewish and going to college In December 2022, the New York Times reported that Santos lying about where he went to college and working for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, as well as falsifying records relating to his financial status. Weeks later, Santos told the New York Post that he did fabricate his job experience and college education adding that "my sins are embellishing my resume." He also responded to reports that he lied about being Jewish saying claimed he was "Jew-ish" instead. In February 2023, a former aide accused him of sexual harassment in a complaint to the House Ethics Committee claiming the congressman inappropriately touched him. Santos denied the allegation calling it "comical" on CNN. After his expulsion, Santos said he will not seek reelection for a second term in 2024 so his family can avoid excessive press attention. The day he left he told reporters "to hell with this place." In his post Thursday, Santos said he looks forward to debating Rep. LaLota on issues and "his weak record as a Republican." "The fight for our majority is imperative for the survival of the country," he said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Santos at State of the Union marks first return since expulsion Serial liar and former congressman George Santos never ceases to amaze. The New Yorker was expelled from the House in December following a series of scandals including a damning Ethics Committee report accusing him of committing uncharged and unlawful conduct, 23 criminal counts at the federal level, and a plethora of lies about his past. His latest stunt then came on Thursday night when he turned up to President Joe Bidens State of the Union address and announced he would be running for Congress once again. Even this announcement came with a characteristic series of surprises. The former lawmaker-turned-Cameo star claimed that he left office arbitrarily, adding to his parade of lies that got him into trouble in the first place given an expulsion from Congress is far from arbitrary. Mr Santos also announced that he would be switching districts. He previously represented New Yorks third congressional district for less than one term after flipping his district red. In a February special election, his seat flipped back to blue when the district elected Democrat Tom Suozzi to replace him. Tonight, I came to the SOTU with an open mind and heart because I believe in the great idea that is the United States of America. I just witnessed a weak, frail president deliver spin and lies to the American people from inside the chambers. I have made several personal George Santos (@MrSantosNY) March 8, 2024 Now, the disgraced ex-Congressman says he will be taking on his former Republican colleague Nick LaLota, accusing him of having a weak record as a Republican. Pushing these grand plans aside, one lingering question remains: can the criminally charged, expelled former lawmaker even be re-elected to Congress? Legal battles In May 2023 , the embattled lawmaker was arrested and charged with 13 federal criminal counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. By October, a superseding indictment revealed 10 new federal charges against Mr Santos, increasing the total to 23 counts. He was also charged with making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), falsifying records submitted to obstruct the FEC, aggravated identity theft, and access device fraud. The latter two charges relate to allegations that Mr Santos stole donors credit cards. In the case of one donor, Mr Santos is accused of trying to charge at least $44,800 to his alleged victims credit card without authorisation. Mr Santos has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His criminal trial is scheduled for September 2024. Expulsion from Congress One month after federal officials handed down the superseding indictment, the House Ethics Committee delivered a scathing report following its probe into the embattled congressman. The committee said it had uncovered substantial evidence that Mr Santos broke federal laws, writing that Mr Santos knowingly caused his campaign to file false FEC reports and used campaign funds for personal purposes, including to pay for OnlyFans and Botox. Although Mr Santos dismissed the report as a disgusting politicized smear, he also announced he would not be seeking re-election. On the heels of the report the House voted to expel Mr Santos from Congress on 1 December ousting him in a vote of 311 to 114. He left the Capitol that day saying: To hell with this place. Three months later, he seems to have changed his tune entirely. Flood of falsehoods Even before his slew of charges, Mr Santos reputation was in tatters as he became known for repeatedly spewing lies, with a string of his far-fetched stories being debunked. Among the falsehoods, the disgraced former congressman alleged that he obtained degrees from NYU and Baruch College as well as a prep school in New York City. None of these schools have any record of him attending. His work history also fell under scrutiny. He had claimed that before joining Congress he was employed by Goldman Sachs and Citigroup both claims, he later admitted, were works of fiction. Mr Santos instead offered up that he worked for the banks through a third company, though he has still provided no evidence to support this claim either. Mr Santos personal history is also rife with unsupported allegations. He said he had lost four of his employees at the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, that his grandparents fled the Holocaust, that he is Jewish which he later clarified as meaning Jew-ish and that his mother died in the 9/11 attacks but also on 23 December 2016. So can George Santos be re-elected despite his criminal charges and scandals? The simple answer is yes. The US Constitution states just three requirements for serving as a House Representative: that they must be at least 25 years old, that they have been a US citizen for at least seven years, and that they live in the state they represent. Ticking all those boxes, it seems he can run again. While Mr Santos is only the sixth lawmaker to have ever been expelled from the House of Representatives, he is not the first to refuse to bow out gracefully. Before Mr Santos, the most recent Congress member to be expelled was James Traficant in 2002. Unlike Mr Santos, however, the nine-term congressman was expelled months after he had been convicted for obstruction of justice, defrauding the government, bribery, tax evasion, and other charges. Following his expulsion, Traficant, who served as a Democrat, ran from prison as an independent in the election that November. Ultimately, he lost. After his release from prison in 2009, he launched another congressional bid but was again defeated. Michael J Myers was also expelled in 1980 marking the first House expulsion since the Civil War. Like Traficant, Myers was convicted months before facing the Houses expulsion vote. Still, he ran in the 1980 election and lost to an independent candidate, but he garnered more than a third of the vote. So in terms of Mr Santos, the question appears to be not whether he is able to run for re-election, but whether Americans will vote him in office again. The News George Santos says hes running for Congress again. The recently expelled former House member, who is still fighting a host of federal criminal charges, plans to seek election in New Yorks first district. Hell take on former colleague Rep. Nick LaLota, who led the charge to remove him from office. Santos made the announcement on X during President Bidens State of the Union speech Thursday night while sitting on the House floor among lawmakers who voted to oust him. (Santos still has floor privileges, despite having been removed from office.) Tonight, I want to announce that I will be returning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick [LaLota] for the battle over #NY1, Santos told Semafor in a statement. I look forward to debating him on the issues and on his weak record as a Republican. The fight for our majority is imperative for the survival of the country. Santos told Semafor hell file with the Federal Election Commission Friday and plans to move to the district within the coming weeks. The district encompasses the most eastern parts of Long Island in New York, and has been considered a swing district for three decades. Donald Trump won the area in 2016 and 2020 after voters there backed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. But recent changes to congressional maps have placed more Republican voters in the district. GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A 60-year-old Murrells Inlet man who was reported missing has been found safe, the Georgetown County Sheriffs Office said. Editors note: Because the man has been found safe, all identifying information and photos have been removed from this story. * * * Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylors work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. House Minority Leader James Beverly announced his retirement on March 8, the final day of qualifying for the 2024 election that will include his Macon district among the 236 legislative seats. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder (file) House Minority Leader James Beverly, a steady voice for Democrats at the GOP-controlled state Capitol, has announced that he will retire from the Georgia House of Representatives at the end of the 2024 legislative session. The retirement of the Macon lawmaker after 14 years serving in the Legislature means that there will be new leadership for both chambers Democratic Caucuses, with Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler announcing in February that she will also step down at the end of the year. Beverlys decision to step down was driven by a new business opportunity that he said aligns with his interest in improving the livelihoods of people in impoverished communities. Beverlys first sponsored legislation was designed to provide tax credits to small businesses that hire employees in low-income communities. Later, he led the Macon-Bibb County Community Enhancement Authority, which was formed to reduce blight in a Macon neighborhood while also providing workforce training to locals. In December, Beverly was able to meet the owners of a company that can pre-manufacture materials and build new 1,500-square-foot homes in 15 days. Using his small trucking business, Beverlys company will deliver materials across the country for his new business partners. Beverlys announcement comes on the final day for qualifying ahead of the May 21 primary for the 2024 election campaign for state Legislature. Beverly said he plans to continue fundraising and supporting Democratic candidates in their campaigns heading into the November general election. The House and Senate Democratic Caucuses are slated in November to elect the officers that will lead the party for the next two years. Im still going to raise money. Im still going to guard the seats, Beverly said. Were still gonna put our staff to work. We need people to chip in and do what we need to do because its not about James Beverly. Its about the Democratic value proposition that I think is superior to Republicans and we need to make sure that people know and start picking up more seats. The new Republican-drawn redistricting maps also moved Beverlys Macon district further south into Houston County, which would require him to spend more time on the campaign trail to reach out to new voters. Beverlys decision to retire was a spur of the moment decision, he said. By the end of last year, Beverly had accumulated 80,000 Delta Air Lines flight miles while traveling to represent the caucus. Youve got to go meet different leaders across the country trying to raise money. It was brutal, Beverly said. And so I think about the issue with the presidential election coming in, and the demands on that, thats gonna be one thing, but when you start layering in the other things, somethings going to give. But what I didnt want to give up was my health. The post Georgia House Minority Leader announces he wont stand for reelection appeared first on Georgia Recorder. If you planned on early voting in the presidential primary, you are running out of time. Friday is the last day you can early vote. Keep in mind only those running for president are the only ones on the ballot. Voters will head back to the polls on May 21 for local and state races. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Early voting hours are today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Unlike Election Day, you do not have to vote at an assigned polling location during early voting. You may vote at any early voting location within your county. You will need to show one of seven forms of photo ID to vote in person. You can see what early voting locations are open in your county by checking the Georgia Secretary of States website here. Election Day is on Tuesday, March 12. VOTER GUIDE: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Dona Ana County District Attorney Gerald Byers is seeking a second term. Byers was elected in 2020 and counts navigating the court system amid the pandemic, as well as the implementation of the New Mexico Supreme Court rule LR 3-303 among the significant challenges met during his term, according to a press release announcing his re-election campaign. "Building relationships with community organizations and law-enforcement agencies ensures that the responsibility to public service is done with integrity and fairness. Byers said in the release. "While our systemic challenges have continued to escalate, we have overcome many; I am determined to continue to overcome them, for the sake of our victims, and this community, which I have chosen as my own. Dona Ana County District Attorney Gerald Byers announces charges against the officer who killed Teresa Gomez during a news conference on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at the Dona Ana County Government Center. The implementation of New Mexico Supreme Court rule LR 3-303, or Case Managment Order, led to a number of cases being dismissed. The CMO is meant to decrease the load of criminal cases and stimulate quicker resolutions. It was implemented in the Third Judicial District as a pilot district to study the effects of the CMO. The CMO is a set of rules regarding time limits in the district court. The rule applies to all criminal cases in the district court. In another effort to streamline the flow of cases through his office, the DAs office in February implemented new case management software. New Mexico elections: Add these important dates to your 2024 calendar Throughout his career, Byers has worked across New Mexico and in several Texas counties before landing in Las Cruces in 2013. He was appointed Chief Deputy District Attorney in 2017, where he supervised 16 attorneys and 49 staff members. Byers ran unopposed in 2020, but that will not be the case in 2024 as outgoing Dona Ana County manager Fernando Macias announced his intent to run in February. March 12 is filing day for candidates. Early voting begins on May 7 and June 4 is primary election day. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Gerald Byers seeks second term as District Attorney Cars belonging to employees of the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg parked outside the factory. Production at the Tesla car factory in Gruenheide is at a standstill due to a power outage following an arson attack on a high-voltage pylon. The police are investigating suspected arson following a power failure on 5 March morning. Patrick Pleul/dpa Following the arson attack on the electricity supply to the electric car company Tesla's factory near Berlin, the German Federal Public Prosecutor's Office has taken over the investigation, a spokeswoman said on Friday. The country's top prosecutor is taking charge of the investigation due to an initial suspicion of membership of a terrorist organization, anti-constitutional sabotage and arson committed by more than one person, she said. "No further information will be provided at this time," she added. As yet unknown perpetrators set fire to an electricity pylon in a field on Tuesday which also supplies the Tesla factory. Production was stopped. Tens of thousands of local residents were also affected by the power cut. The left-wing extremist Volcano Group declared that it was responsible for the attack. The police believe that the letter of confession is genuine. They are looking for witnesses who noticed the night-time attack or who can provide information on suspects. The regional public prosecutor's office had previously investigated the offence - for anti-constitutional sabotage, disruption of public businesses and arson. Tesla and an Edeka logistics centre have so far not been able to be supplied with electricity again since the arson attack. The grid operator EDIS spoke of massive damage to the pylon and live infrastructure. According to Tesla, production at plant in Grunheide just outside Berlin is expected to remain interrupted until the end of next week - longer than initially thought. On Thursday, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called for a crackdown on left-wing extremists. "It appears to have been a suspected left-wing extremist action; it was a serious arson attack that has left many, many thousands, especially households, without electricity," the minister told dpa on Thursday. She condemned the fact that the attack led to power cuts in hospitals and doctors' surgeries, which could be life-threatening. Faeser said in the video interview that "left-wing radicalism is becoming tougher, more violent and does not shy away from such actions, and we must have a tough response." She said prosecutors should crack down "and severe penalties must also be imposed." Tesla wants to expand the site and boost production up to one million vehicles annually to feed Europe's demand for electric cars (Patrick Pleul) German federal prosecutors said Friday they had taken over investigations into a suspected arson attack this week that caused a power outage and forced Tesla to halt production at its plant near Berlin. The federal prosecution's office, responsible for investigating politically motivated crimes, will probe "an initial suspicion of membership of a terrorist organisation" as well as acts of sabotage and arson, a spokeswoman told AFP. Production at Tesla's Gruenheide electric car plant has been suspended ever since power lines supplying the factory were set on fire in the early hours of Tuesday. Damage to the lines knocked out power to the plant as well as cutting electricity to surrounding villages. Tesla expects it will take several more day before production can resume. Far-left activists from the "Vulkangruppe" (Volcano Group) have claimed responsibility for the sabotage, saying they aimed to achieve "the biggest possible blackout of the gigafactory", a reference to the Tesla plant. The activists highlighted concerns about the environmental impact of the plant and the local water supply, at a time when Tesla is seeking to expand the site. An outfit going by the same name claimed an arson attack on the power supply of the Tesla plant in 2021, according to a report from domestic intelligence services that same year. Tesla owner Elon Musk called this week's attack "extremely dumb" in a message on X, formerly known as Twitter. The company has said the incident would cost it several hundred million euros in damages. The plant, Tesla's only European production site, started production in 2022 following an arduous two-year approval and construction process dogged by administrative and legal obstacles. Tesla wants to expand the site by 170 hectares (420 acres) and boost production up to one million vehicles annually to feed Europe's demand for electric cars and take on rivals who are shifting away from combustion engine vehicles. But the plans have annoyed local residents, who voted against the project in a non-binding ballot last month. bur-mfp/sr/cw Achim Strauss, Deutsche Bahn (DB) spokesman, speaks during a press statement. In the wage dispute with Deutsche Bahn, the GDL union had called for 35-hour strikes in both passenger and freight transport. Even after the end of the strike, the basic timetable for long-distance services will continue to apply throughout Friday. Hannes P. Albert/dpa German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has offered the train drivers' union GDL a resumption of the stalled wage negotiations, a company spokesman said in Berlin on Friday. The talks would take place on Monday if the union agrees, he said. The GDL says it will only accept the invitation if the railway presents a new and improved wage offer. It has set the railway company a deadline of 6 pm (1700 GMT) on Sunday. According to information from sources close to the negotiations, the company clarifies in its letter to the union that it had not rejected the mediators' proposal to reduce weekly working hours. Rather, on February 26 the company declared its willingness to "go beyond [its] pain threshold and bring the negotiations to a conclusion on the basis of the moderators' overall proposal." The latest 35-hour strike by train drivers ended at lunchtime on Friday. It caused huge disruptions to Deutsche Bahn's long-distance, regional and freight services. The full timetable is not to be resumed until Saturday. With the end of this fifth round of industrial action, however, the uncertainty for Germany's rail customers continues. GDL boss Claus Weselsky wants to announce future strikes with much less advance notice than before. It is therefore questionable whether the railway will be able to put together another basic timetable for the next strike. Weselsky emphasized that the railway would no longer be a reliable means of transport. As for air traffic, the trade union verdi intends to continue the strike by ground staff of the German airline Lufthansa until 7:10 am (0610 GMT) on Saturday morning. Lufthansa is therefore still expecting initial delays and some cancellations on Saturday. Air traffic should then normalize in the course of the morning. The airline said about 1,000 flights will be cancelled on Friday, especially at the Munich and Frankfurt hubs, a company spokesman said, Only 10% to 20% of the normally scheduled flights will take place. he said. In Frankfurt and Hamburg, passengers were able to board flights on Friday after airport security checkpoints had been closed the previous day due to a separate strike by security staff. Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, DS Smith's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions The top 18 shareholders own 50% of the company Using data from analyst forecasts alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company A look at the shareholders of DS Smith Plc (LON:SMDS) can tell us which group is most powerful. With 86% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of DS Smith, beginning with the chart below. View our latest analysis for DS Smith What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About DS Smith? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in DS Smith. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see DS Smith's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in DS Smith. Our data shows that Aviva Investors Global Services Ltd. is the largest shareholder with 5.6% of shares outstanding. BlackRock, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 5.2% of common stock, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. holds about 4.4% of the company stock. Story continues After doing some more digging, we found that the top 18 have the combined ownership of 50% in the company, suggesting that no single shareholder has significant control over the company. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of DS Smith 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. Our information suggests that DS Smith Plc insiders own under 1% of the company. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own UK10m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership With a 13% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over DS Smith. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand DS Smith better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with DS Smith (at least 1 which is significant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. David Cameron and Annalena Baerbock speak to the media in Berlin, Germany on 7 March. Photo: Getty Images Germany and the UK have promised not to let Russian President Vladimir Putin divide allies amid the scandal over the leaked conversation between Bundeswehr officers regarding the supply of Taurus missiles. Source: European Pravda with reference to Bloomberg Quote: "I dont want to play into the hands of some Russian narrative about divisions between allies," UK Foreign Minister David Cameron said at a press conference with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock. Details: He stated that there is "incredible unity between allies", including those within NATO. In turn, Baerbock emphasised that Ukraine's allies would not allow the Russian president to intimidate them and sow discord. "If we have different views, we will discuss that behind closed doors. Because we wont let ourselves be divided by Putin, no matter what other means and methods he uses," she noted. Background: German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that the interception of classified information on the supply of Taurus missiles to Ukraine occurred because one of the Bundeswehr officers joined the conversation via an unprotected line. As reported earlier, the Federal Ministry of Defence of Germany initiated an investigation into whether the conversations of representatives of its air force who, according to Russian propaganda, allegedly discussed blowing up the Crimean bridge with Taurus missiles were intercepted. Subsequently, Germany's Defence Ministry confirmed that an internal conversation between German Air Force officers had been intercepted. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius commented on the scandal, noting that it is a hybrid attack with the aim of misinformation. Support UP or become our patron! SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) In honor of International Womens Day, Girl Scouts San Diego celebrated female leadership Thursday afternoon in an event with community partners and key stakeholders. More than 75 guests attended the event Thursday at the Girl Scouts San Diego Balboa Campus to discuss the organizations new strategic plan for the next three to five years. Girl Scouts were told to stop bracelet-making fundraiser for kids in Gaza. Now they cant keep up Girl Scouts San Diego helps me become a leader by giving me skills to develop as a girl scout with courage, conviction, compassion and character, said Jumana S. of Troop 4988. Key speakers included Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), Inez Gonzalez Perezchica, the executive director of MANA de San Diego, and Carol Dedrich, the CEO of Girl Scouts San Diego. Women are natural leaders so its important that we continue to support and empower young girls and women to play that role, to step into it with intention, State Senator Atkins said. According to Girl Scouts San Diego, its vision is to be viewed and valued as the go-to partner for developing and elevating girl and women leaders in San Diego and Imperial counties. For more information about the organization, visit their website. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A Gold Star father who shouted out criticisms at President Biden during the State of the Union address has been arrested. Steve Nikoui, 51, is the father of a U.S. Marine who was killed during the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Nikoui was escorted out of the House Galleries during Biden's speech Thursday after he stood up and began yelling "Abbey Gate" repeatedly. DID BIDEN PASS OR FAIL? FORMER PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHWRITERS GRADE THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS Gold Star father Steve Nikoui shouts at President Biden from the House Galleries as he delivers his State of the Union address in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. The heckling was a reference to an attack at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan that occurred during the military's withdrawal from the country. The surprise attack killed 13 U.S. service members and injured at least 170 civilians including Nikoui's son, Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP HEROES OF KABUL: LANCE CPL. KAREEM NIKOUI BELIEVED AMERICA WAS WORTH FIGHTING FOR, FALLEN MARINE'S MOM SAYS Nikoui was confronted by security during his outburst, who demanded he stop. He refused and continued shouting. He was removed from the House Galleries and arrested by Capitol Police on the misdemeanor charge of Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding. Vice President Harris and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson watch as President Biden speaks during his State of the Union address at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Nikoui was in attendance as a guest of Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., who released a statement explaining his choice to bring the Gold Star father to the Capitol. "By inviting Steve to join the State of the Union, I am reminding President Biden of the damage he has done to national security and American families," Mast wrote ahead of the State of the Union address. Mast is the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight. Original article source: Gold Star dad Steve Nikoui arrested after heckling Biden at SOTU address Theresa May has many fine qualities. At her core is a belief, no doubt ingrained from childhood as a clergymans daughter, in the value and virtue of public service. But as Britains former prime minister announces her departure from the Commons, she will have to brace herself for a slew of unfavourable notices. Given the tumultuous period through which she led the nation, she will have to steel herself for the verdict that much of the division and acrimony associated with that period is down to her. Her reputation has been resurrected to an extent by the serious and considered approach she has taken to life in politics since she returned to the back benches in July 2019. But what has caused more people to look at her record more favourably is simply that what came afterwards was even more divisive. Not as bad as Boris Johnson is what many on the Left will conclude should be her political epitaph. Not nearly as good as Boris Johnson is how everyone else may see her. May first achieved national prominence when she told the Conservative conference in 2002 that the country still saw the Tories as the nasty party, a gift to the Opposition which keeps giving even today. As the longest serving Home Secretary for 60 years, under David Cameron, May established herself as a safe pair of hands, and despite having campaigned for the Remain cause during the 2016 EU referendum, she became Tory MPs preferred choice to succeed Cameron when he quit following Leaves victory. And thats when it all started to go wrong. Having inherited Camerons slim, though working, majority, she chose to call an early snap election for June 2017, despite the Fixed Term Parliaments Act not mandating one until 2020. She had been lured by the difficulties into which Labour had plunged itself by making the unelectable Jeremy Corbyn leader and chose to believe early polls that suggested she could win a three-figure majority if she chose to take advantage of the situation. But no one warned her that Corbyn, although ineffectual in the Commons, had perfected the art of telling audiences exactly what they wanted to hear. Meanwhile May herself was revealed as a cautious, wooden and uninspiring campaigner. She will go down in history as the politician who almost made Jeremy Corbyn electable. It was a disaster and a self-inflicted humiliation from which her reputation never recovered. And all that was even before her attempts to negotiate an acceptable deal with the EU. Without a majority, and dependent on the Democratic Unionists to provide the government with one, May seemed to pay little heed to the division she was sowing in her party and in the country. Cabinet resignations, including that of her foreign secretary and eventual successor, Boris Johnson, hobbled her administration, and her preferred deal the famous stop gap model that would have kept Britain within the single market for an unspecified period was roundly rejected every time it was presented to MPs. One of historys greatest what ifs stems from this period: had Labour actually meant what it had said about wishing to honour the result of the 2016 referendum, it could have avoided a hard Brexit by voting for Mays deal, thereby splitting the Conservative Party for at least a generation and maintaining the seamless trade its MPs claimed to want to preserve. But the oppositions ideological opposition to Brexit in all its forms led them repeatedly into the No lobby, sealing Mays fate and ensuring the arrival in Number 10 of Johnson (and making Labours epic defeat at the subsequent general election as inevitable as it was deserved). Few could fail to have been moved by Mays tearful goodbye as she stood on the steps of Number 10 on her last day as prime minister. She was a leader whose good intentions were foiled by her party and by parliament. But good intentions arent enough, especially at a time when the nation itself is chronically divided and its elected representatives are making every effort to thwart their will. Every prime minister needs luck, and May had little of that. But more importantly, they need political judgment in order to make their own luck. And May had far too little of that. Her departure from the Commons is to be regretted nonetheless; far too few former prime ministers choose to remain on the green benches. The next parliament wont be short of them, however. 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. If youre going to build a substantial following on social-media, its pretty difficult usually impossible to do so slowly and gradually over a long period of time. It really, really helps to catch a big break in the form of a single post that manages to blow up. After that, so long as your content is actually good, things can (sometimes) start to get easier. We spoke with a variety of people based in and around Charlotte who have found success on social media and asked them to talk about the post that went viral for them; how theyve continued to build their audiences; and what advice they have for people who aspire to find some stardom online of their own. And while youre here, well offer shameless plug for our accounts wed love to connect! For restaurant and food news and the best things to do: @cltfive on Instagram and TikTok. For daily news about Charlotte and its surrounding areas: @charlotteobserver on Instagram and @thecharlotteobserver on TikTok. The Juicy Body Goddess: Summer Lucille Summer Lucille owns the plus-size boutique Juicy Body Goddess at Charlottes Northlake Mall, which sells sizes 12-30, or XL-6XL. She has been in the fashion industry since 2011 and opened Juicy Body Goddess in 2016. Under the social media handle JuicyBodyGoddess, Summer Lucille encourages women to embrace body positivity, no matter what their weight. Where to find her: TikTok: @JuicyBodyGoddess (1.4 million followers); Instagram: @juicybodygoddess2.0 (262,000 followers); YouTube: @juicybodygoddess (114,000 followers); Facebook: @JuicyBodyGoddess (65,000 followers). The post that started it all: A simple video on March 31, 2021 showing two customers entering her Charlotte boutique, Juicy Body Goddess, as Lucille sings out her trademark greeting, Welcome to Juicy Body Goddess where you gotta be two-somethin to do somethin! It was the third video Lucille had ever posted to TikTok. Why it went viral: I think the one thing about TikTok is the algorithm knows if youre sincere or not. Lets just say that, right? So I was just being myself and Ive always been this, my whole life. Getting on TikTok was just able to give me that opportunity to show myself, if that makes sense. And people just gravitated to what Ive been doing for years: Hey, welcome to Juicy Body Goddess where you gotta be two-somethin to do somethin. People loved it. And I think I woke up with 100,000 followers the next day. I was in complete shock. This is somebody whos been in business for over 13 years who never had a news article, whod never been on TV, who never had any kind of viral moment. I just knew that I had to work hard and be consistent and the time will come. What she learned: It may just be my generation, but we were always told if youre over 200 pounds, youre done. Youre not beautiful, that is just way too far. Youre overweight once you hit that 200 mark. And so I wanted people to understand that this place is for plus-size only, and if you are over 200 (pounds), thats OK. Thats why I said that message if youre 200 pounds, if youre two -somethin, we can do something. We can have fun, you are welcome here with open arms. Growing up as overweight most of my life, I understand how traumatizing shopping is for women who are overweight. Just imagine going into stores, never being able to really find the fashion that fits you, and people looking at you and the salesmen not really helping you because theyre discriminating against you because youre plus size. Just imagine doing that all your life and then walking into a space where you are welcomed. I think thats why that had that impact. And thats why that video went viral. Women who are 60 years old, 50 years old, 40 years old tell me all the time, I have never felt welcome in a shopping space. And I think that just thats why it took off like it did. Did you feel pressure to keep producing viral posts? Im a little older, so I just appreciated that moment. Ive talked to a lot of creators and they do want to chase that high of getting more followers and getting that viral moment again. I was just like, be myself and it will come. Ive had this big personality all my life, so I never really worried about people loving me. I just give love and people return it. Advice for growing your following: My advice is to be in the know and really keep trying new things. Make sure that you know whats trending and whats going on around us right now. It may not happen like me, the third TikTok you post, it may be the 100th TikTok you post. But just keep promoting and putting information and being different and being innovative. People love people that give and have a big heart, especially on TikTok. They love that. They love and they see that authenticity in you when you want to give. Jodie Valade The Quarantine Olympics guy: Alex Presley Alex Presley, a 29-year-old graduate of SouthLake Christian Academy in Huntersville and UNC Wilmington, flew Learjets as a pilot for Atlanta-based Phoenix Air until the pandemic grounded many of their flights. During the pause, he returned home to hunker down with his family at his parents house on Lake Norman. It was there, with them in the interest of combating stir-craziness that he launched the Quarantine Olympics, an ongoing series of often-ridiculous and always-ingenious games played using items found around their home. Alex Presley demonstrates a game that hes showcased in his viral videos as his dad, Lee, captures the moment. Where to find him: TikTok: @alexpresley_ (3.1 million followers); Facebook: Alex Presley Official (149,000 followers); Instagram: @alexpresley (133,000 followers); YouTube: @AlexPresleyVideos (25,000 followers). The post that started it all: Presley, his then-girlfriend, his twin brother Zach, his father Lee, and his mom Wendy starred in a video that saw them locked in a competition to see who could drink water through a straw out of a glass being filled by their fridges filtered-water dispenser the longest (without the cup overflowing). Alex says that TikTok post garnered 10 million views overnight. Why it went viral: At the time everyone was just bored and had nothing to do, and I created this game that people were like, Oh, this is pretty funny! I want to do this with my family and friends. That was kind of the whole idea of the Quarantine Olympics: creating games and challenges where everybody could do these at their house during the lockdown. And the other thing was it was such a negative thing, a global pandemic, and this was a positive video where were laughing and having fun. I think people liked that positivity and the good energy. Did he feel pressure to continue producing viral posts? At the beginning, not really. Then as it went on, there was a little more pressure for every video. Especially once the brands started to get involved. Obviously, theyre paying you a good amount of money for a video. You want it to do well. So theres a lot of pressure to make that video good and organic, and to perform well for them. But yeah, my brain just started thinking every night before Id go to bed, like, What kind of game can we play tomorrow? What can I use? How are we gonna film it? And it just kept growing. Advice for growing your following: For one, figure out your niche. Know what niche category youre going into, and focus on that. I think thats especially important when youre starting out, because TikTok will recognize what you are posting, and theyll send it to those people (interested in that niche). I have that problem: If I post something outside of a game or the challenge category, it wont do as well because its not my brand, or in my niche. Two is to do research on that niche. Find out what other people are posting. I think your first five or 10 videos are gonna be your most important. So I wouldnt start throwing out any content until you research it and see what videos are performing well in that niche. Overall? Just keep it simple. It doesnt need to be hard, complicated. Easier sometimes is better. Theoden Janes The Sani Sisters: Ritika and Niki Shamdasani Sisters Rikita and Niki Shamdasani are born and raised in Fayetteville and the founders of Sani, a South Asian-inspired clothing and accessories line. They started Sani when they said they felt disconnected from their culture, and had difficulty finding clothing to wear to Indian weddings. In February 2020 they launched on Rent the Runway, and their clothing line now is sold in Nordstrom. Sisters Ritika and Niki Shamdasani started Sani, an apparel brand inspired by South Asian culture. Born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the sisters saw the popularity of their apparel line explode with their TikTok follower increase. Where to find them: TikTok: @sanisisters (162,400 followers); Instagram: @sani (56,400 followers). The post that started it all: The seventh video they posted in March 2020 used audio that was trending at the time that said, And it went like to show how a lehenga they designed was inspired by Disneys Princess Jasmine. That video got 3 million views. Why it went viral: I think what was different was us actually creating a video native to the platform and spending the time to understand what was already doing well on there and then taking our own twist on it, Rikita says. It was a video that a lot of people could enjoy in the sense of people like seeing the final pretty image, but they dont get to see the behind-the-scenes of that. So I think the (audio) trend helped us bring it together in a cool way. Did they feel pressure to continue producing viral posts? Yeah, Niki says, suddenly it was, We gotta take TikTok seriously. And I think, honestly, TikTok then ended up saving our business. Nobody knew how long the pandemic was going to last. For us at first, it was, OK, this might be a couple of months. Lets just keep up brand awareness. In our mind, it was, Were going to start using this thing so people dont forget us once weddings start again. So, for us, it was like, OK, how do we keep entertaining, providing value and figuring out our place on the platform? What theyve learned: People were giving us feedback on product development, Niki says. They were saying, How can I participate in this brand? Can you make something that I can buy now? Which led to us expanding into loungewear which completely changed our company and was not on our roadmap for that quickly. It led to new partnerships, including our expansion to Nordstrom in 2023. That was a direct result of TikTok. Ever since we released loungewear, Rikita adds, our demographic has opened up like crazy. And in fact, now about 60% of our customers are actually non-South Asian. And weve only really ever had loungewear to cater to them. But in 2024, we have a lot more product expansion down like casual dresses, matching sets, handbags and other accessories. Advice for growing your following: We want to make sure people know us as humans too, Rikita says, so that theres that level of trust from like who youre buying from. And the way we do that is by bringing them in behind the scenes like, take them on a product knowledge session with us to Nordstrom, take them on our trips to India, and be vulnerable about running a business as two women, and how that also has a lot of ups and downs, too. A stat I like to share about this, Niki adds, is starting in 2020 when our TikTok took off, our third-best performing search term on Google for the business is Sani Sisters, which is our handle on TikTok. And that was never otherwise something someone associated with the business. Im not even sure if people knew it was sister-run or anything. So I think showing our personalities has been an important part of our growth. Sani will have an in-person Holi pop-up March 21 at Capitol, 4010 Sharon Road in Charlotte. Jodie Valade The Congressman: Jeff Jackson Jeff Jackson, 41, is the Democratic U.S. representative for North Carolinas 14th congressional district (which includes includes most of Charlotte, as well as Belmont, Gastonia and Mount Holly) and has more TikTok followers than any other member of Congress. On Tuesday night, he won the Democratic primary for attorney general, setting up a November showdown with Republican Dan Bishop to be North Carolinas top law enforcement official. Jeff Jackson spends hours of his personal time creating just one of his homemade but highly polished videos. Where to find him: TikTok: @jeffjacksonnc (2.5 million followers); Instagram: @jeffjacksonnc (660,000 followers); Facebook: Jeff Jackson (152,000 followers); YouTube: @jeffjacksonnc (10,000 followers). A little background about his socials: Hes been active as a politician since becoming the second-youngest senator in the N.C. Senate in 2014, when he says I was young and broke, and the only way I could afford to communicate with my constituents was social media, which back then was really just Facebook and Twitter. Whenever we were in session, I would do a post, and what I learned was my constituents really appreciated that. After a while I decided to just sort of treat that as part of my job, as an extension of what my public service would be. The post that started it all: After winning the congressional seat in November 2022, he decided to post a short-form video in which he would explain the onboarding process he was going through as someone freshly elected to Congress. He says he had fewer than 10,000 followers at that point, and the video helped him to grow by several hundred thousand and to develop a simple formula: to tell his constituents once a week, Heres the most interesting thing that happened to me as a new member of Congress this week. Why he thinks it, and almost all of his videos since, have done so well: I havent had to say anything partisan. I havent had to raise my voice. All Ive done is just give people a window into what its actually like to serve in Congress these days. And as it turns out, theres a lot of demand for that. Did he feel pressure to continue producing viral posts? No. None. If I were on a schedule and had to produce every week, that would be pressure. But I just do this organically, and if I dont have something interesting to say, I just dont speak. Thats a wonderful luxury to have. I know that if Im asking for someones attention, its because I have something worth saying. Advice for growing your following: Using a real camera was a big step forward, honestly. (Jackson shoots with a a Sony Alpha 7 III.) When other members of Congress ask for my advice about social media, thats what I tell them. Its easy. Just stop using your phone and start using a real camera. Huge difference. All of our standards are much higher than they were five years ago when it comes to video quality. Also, think about this as part of your job. Your constituents want to hear from you. And these social-media platforms are the places where they want to hear from you. Tell them the stuff that is so interesting that you would stop and pay attention to it if you were in their shoes. And finally, it helps to enjoy it. I like communicating with people. And I like reading the feedback, and I like incorporating it, and trying to do it better next time. Theoden Janes The perfect angel with the bob: Hailey Polk Hailey Polk was born and raised in Belmont and graduated in 2019 from Stuart W. Cramer High School. She married her longtime boyfriend Devan (who she started dating when she was 14) on Dec. 7, 2020, the week before she turned 20 years old. She had been working as a hair stylist at a local salon, but quit at the end of last year after deciding she could earn enough money to support herself via brand deals as a beauty and fashion influencer and work she gets as a model who is signed with Directions USA of Greensboro. Devan Polk also models for Directions and is a freelance wedding videographer. Hailey Polk of Belmont is a beauty and fashion influencer who also models. Where to find her: Instagram: @haileypolk (191,000 followers); TikTok: @haileydrewpolk (183,000 followers). The post that started it all: Polk had sported longer hair for years but in January 2023 finally decided to get the bob cut shed been considering and she did it without telling her husband her plan. The video of his reaction upon walking through their door featured a wide-eyed Devan telling her: I am shook to my deepest core, you perfect angel. Hailey says her following on TikTok grew from about a hundred to more than 10,000 overnight. Why it went viral: I think, one, people stayed to watch because they love reaction videos. Ive watched a lot of reaction videos myself. Two, you feel like youre not supposed to be included in that conversation. People love that. And then I also think the lack of real relationships in my generation is a lot more uncommon than we think. And when they saw something that looked so genuine I mean, you can just tell how close me and Devan are, and I think that resonated with a lot of people. People were happy for us. ... Of course, some felt like it was fake, too. But it made people feel something, regardless. Did she feel pressure to continue producing viral posts? Oh my gosh. Yeah! I wasnt an influencer before, so I didnt know what to do. And once I amassed that following overnight, it went from zero to a hundred. It was instantly a little community. They were asking questions about our life, so I did a Q&A the next day. Then I started to do get ready with mes and I was just posting because people were watching. I will say, its a lot more fun when you have an audience. Its exhausting to create so much content its not always fun but when you have people that want to see it and ask questions about it, it does make it so much easier to want to post. Advice for growing your following: Try to create content thats a good reflection of you. A good reflection of interests that you like. A good reflection of your actual real life. Not a facade. Not anything thats fake or forced. Literally every other person is taken. Theres no need to pretend that youre somebody else. Theres no need to try to be like her this influencer that you want to act like. Act like you. Try to be you. Because shes already her. People already follow her. Also: You cannot try to go viral. You just have to be consistent about posting, and taking advantage of Reels and TikTok, which are the things that will propel you and put you in front of more people. Opportunities are genuinely endless. They are out there. You just have to put yourself in a position to get them. Theoden Janes The elementary schoolteacher: Nancy Bullard Nancy Bullard is a science lab teacher for kindergarten through fifth grades in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. She started a TikTok account at the beginning of the pandemic to connect with students and show them simple science experiments that could be done with basic items they might have at home things like conditioner, baking soda, vinegar and food coloring. Bullard also began to post about her IVF journey when she was pregnant, and explained the science that went into the procedure that helped provide her now-2-year-old son. Science lab teacher Nancy Bullard started a TikTok account at the beginning of the pandemic to show students science experiments that could be done with items they might have at home. Where to find her: TikTok: @mrs.b.tv (3.3 million followers); Facebook: @mrs.b.tv (417,000 followers); Instagram: @mrs.b.tv (396,000 followers); YouTube: @NancyBullard (175,000 followers). The post that started it all: Bullard cites her first video to get over a million views, which came on July 17, 2020. That video was taken in her upstairs guest room and shows her putting a paper towel in a plastic cup, submerging the whole thing underwater and then removing it to show that the paper towel is completely dry. Bullard explains how properties of gas and air prevent water from soaking the paper towel. The post now has 3.7 million views. Why it went viral: I think the fact that I am just a teacher, just doing my job and just showing people what Im doing with my students is a pretty organic way to deliver content. Im clearly not on here just to make money. I dont even do this full time. I do this with my students. It works with my kids. It keeps my kids engaged. Maybe you can try this with the kids in your life if youre a teacher or a parent or a homeschool or a church youth group leader or a grandparent who keeps the kids on the weekend or a camp counselor. Ive heard from so many people who have kids in their lives in some capacity and said, Oh, Im going to try this with my niece and nephew this weekend when I see them! Or, Im definitely trying this with my camp group over the summer. Why she integrated her IVF journey into her content: I was in the midst of my super-accelerated growth on TikTok and I had no plan to stop making videos, but I also knew that if youre going to be in front of the camera every single day, people are going to start to notice that your body is changing. So I knew that eventually my pregnancy would be out there. When you go through infertility, pregnancy announcements can be super devastating and heartbreaking. I just remember so many times opening up a social media platform, finding out that somebody I knew was pregnant, and becoming super emotional because I could not have that and I was not able to get there. And so when I found out I was pregnant, I knew that I would announce it in a way that was very transparent about how difficult this was to accomplish this goal, how happy and overjoyed we were, but also how scared we were because of how hard it was to finally conceive. And there is so much science that goes into IVF, it blew my mind. So I thought, well what a perfect way to announce this explain some of the science that went into making this baby. Im so glad I shared it because I received hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of messages in my DMs from other people who had experienced infertility, had no idea that I had gone through all of this, were so grateful for me sharing that part of my life and those have remained some of my most dedicated followers to this day. Did you feel pressure to keep producing viral posts? I dont know how other creators feel, but I think from the ones that Ive spoken to, theres definitely this dont know if pressure is the right word, but its almost like a drug. You want that feeling again. Like, oh my gosh, look at all this virality! Look at all these likes! Look at all these comments! And you strive to get that same sort of engagement again. And it just didnt happen (again) for so long. But thats just the nature of social media it ebbs and flows. Youll have a huge, massive video and then you go 20, 30 videos where you just kind of do OK. Its really tricky for every single video to just be great. I kind of chased that feeling and it did eventually happen again and happen again on even bigger scales. I hit that 1 million mark and then suddenly I had a 5 million-view video, 30 million-view videos. At this point, the notifications are constant, the comments are constant. Its something that I just kind of let happen now. I dont pay too much attention to it. All of my notifications are off. I dont really look at social media that often. I have a full-time job as a teacher, so Im doing this all day. Its wonderful, and Im so appreciative. I think its just something that Ive never gotten used to having millions and millions of people from all over the world watching me do silly science experiments in this classroom that I come to every day for my job. Advice for growing your following: Before I ever went viral, I thought that the job influencer was laughable. I did not think that this was a real job. So one thing is, I would caution you it is not just posting little videos and documenting your life every day. There is so much work that goes into this content creation especially if you want to grow to the level of working with these brands that Ive had the chance to work with. When you start getting these brand deals, theres so much that goes on behind the scenes. I had no clue all the negotiating, all the back-and-forth, how much time it would take me to edit a 30 second video. I just had no clue. Its a huge learning curve. Thats one piece of advice: It is so much more work than I expected. I guess my final piece of advice when dealing with comments, Ive had to really practice this because you want to just type something back and just go back and forth I do not respond to negative comments. I only respond to positive comments. I will respond to the negative comments in my head, or I might say it out loud to my husband, and then I will move on with my life. You just cant let those get to you, because they can mean; they can be brutal. Jodie Valade Happy International Womens Day! Google Doodle has created artwork to celebrate this global day on 8 March, celebrating all the progress that has been made towards gender equality. On this day in 1975, the United Nations celebrated International Womens Day for the first time. International Womens Day is celebrated across the globe, commemorating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, as well as calling for an acceleration of gender equality. Todays Google Doodle depicts an elderly woman reading a book to two other women, surrounded by a huge quilt including symbols of womanhood, sport, science, art and the scales of justice in equal balance, among others. Sophie Diao, the illustrator of todays artwork, told Google Doodle that her mothers side of the family is mostly women, so whenever they would visit family in China, she would spend an entire summer in a multi-generational female group. I wanted to capture that cosy, comforting feeling of older generations sharing wisdom and precious quality time with younger folks, she said. Ms Diao hopes that this Doodle will inspire people to spend more time with different generations: Theres so much to learn from the experiences of those who came before us, as well as the wonder of those who are experiencing life for the first time. This years IWD theme is Inspire Inclusion, campaigning for people to strive to inspire others to understand and value womens inclusion. The theme also hopes that women themselves will also be inspired to be included in all aspects of life, bringing a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment. People will commemorate IWD in various ways, including campaigns, events, rallies, lobbying, performances, and even festivals and parties. Marches on this day will focus on issues such as gender equality, racial wage gaps, reproductive rights and the prevention of violence against women, Google Doodle states. The day also celebrates women who have transformed or made an impact on our societies and have made strides in fighting for equality. The first IWD was honoured on 19 March 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. A few years later, following discussions, 8 March was agreed upon for future commemorations. The day was officially recognised by the UN in 1975, and has adopted its own annual themes throughout the years - this year, its Invest in women: Accelerate progress. The UN says that if current trends continue, more than 342 million women and girls could be living in extreme poverty by 2030. $360bn is needed per year to achieve gender equality. If gender gaps were closed, employment could boost GDP per capita by 20 per cent. Kentucky has not executed a person in more than 15 years. Attorney General Russell Coleman wants to change that, potentially opening the door for Kentuckys 20-plus people on death row to be executed. Coleman, a Republican, filed a motion Thursday in Franklin Circuit Court to render moot that courts injunction on executions in the state, which has been in place since 2010. In a press release announcing his motion, Coleman said that the families of victims deserve justice via these executions. For almost 15 years, Kentucky has been bogged down by delays as violent criminals tie up our legal system with costly litigation as they seek to avoid justice, Coleman wrote in a press release. The survivors of the victims of these horrific crimes have suffered in limbo for long enough. They deserve the justice that was lawfully delivered by a jury. In 2010, Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd initially ruled that executions should be prohibited for a range of reasons. In 2019, some of those issues were deemed to have been resolved except one: the lack of an automatic suspension of execution provision for inmates deemed to be intellectually disabled. Coleman, in a motion filed in the case of Ralph Baze argued that a new change to state regulations around executions resolves this issue. Baze killed the Powell County Sheriff and one sheriffs deputy in 1992, and was sentenced to death in 1994. A regulation promulgated by the Beshear administration this week directs the commissioner of the Department of Corrections to suspend an execution if informed that the inmate has an intellectual disability or an IQ test score of seventy-five (75) or less. That satisfies the previously identified issue of not having an automatic suspension of execution for someone deemed intellectually disabled, Coleman argued. In a release touting Colemans motion, the attorney general referenced the case of Benny Lee Hodge, a death row inmate who murdered Tammy Acker in Letcher County in 1986. Tawny Acker, the sister of Tammy, supports Coleman seeking an execution. My family and the families of other Kentuckians will not be safe if he (Hodge) should ever be released, Acker said. Im thankful Attorney General Coleman and his team are continuing the fight for justice so that no other family ever has to go through this pain well after a jury reaches its verdict. According to a January report from Louisville Public Media, inmates spend the longest on death row of any state in the country. One man, Karu Gene White, killed three people in Breathitt County in 1979; hes been on death row 44 years since being sentenced to death by execution. Coleman is also advocating for Whites execution, filing a 76-page brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit this week, according to his office. Marco Allen Chapman was the last person executed by the state. He was executed via lethal injection in 2008 after he murdered two children and raped their mother. In 2022, the GOP-dominated Kentucky state legislature banned the death penalty for those with certain mental disorders. The bill received bipartisan support. This year, two bills have been introduced in the House and Senate by Republican legislators to completely abolish the death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment without parole for inmates presently sentenced to death. The bills would also prohibit life imprisonment without parole for juveniles. Neither of those bills, sponsored by Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, and Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, have received committee hearings more than two-thirds of the way into the legislative session. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) criticized former Rep. George Santos for observing President Bidens State of the Union address Thursday night on the House floor, calling him a moron who left the rest of the New York delegation incensed. The guys a moron. He shouldnt be here, Graves told reporters after the State of the Union. Im guessing that the New York delegation handwrote a new rule in the House where hes not allowed to come, because those guys were irate, Graves added, saying he does not think the former lawmaker should retain his floor privileges. They were very bothered by him being there and just the sensationalism or attention Santos is seeking, Graves added. Santos was drummed out of the House last year after a series of controversies. In a 311-114-2 vote, lawmakers expelled Santos from the House on Dec. 1, making him the sixth lawmaker in history to be booted from the lower chamber. It was the third attempt to remove him. Santoss expulsion was predicated on his charged with 23 criminal counts connected to allegations that he misled donors, fraudulently received unemployment benefits, and charged his donors credit cards without authorization. Santos has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to go to trial in September. Former members retain floor privileges, which the former lawmaker used Thursday night, appearing on the floor with a sparkle-studded collar. Santos has often suggested he planned to remain a presence at his former workplace and has noted his absence in instances where the GOP has lost narrow votes. While at the address Thursday, Santos said he would run for Congress again against Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), one of his former colleagues who led the charge to expel him. Updated at 12:14 a.m. ET For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. After his failed Senate bid lasted just six days, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) said on Feb. 28 that he would run for re-election to the House. Now, Rosendale has reversed himself once again. The conservative Republican announced on Friday that he was dropping out of the House race and retiring at the end of this Congress. Rosendale cited defamatory rumors and a death threat against him as part of his reasoning for dropping out, saying they had taken a serious toll on me, and my family. Rosendale seemed to be referring to rumors from former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), who alleged on a podcast that Rosendale dropped out of the Senate race and was considering resigning from Congress because he impregnated a 20-year-old staff person. GOP Rep. Matt Rosendale Ends Senate Bid One Week After Announcement Rosendales office vehemently denied that claim, saying it was 100% false and defamatory. Rosendale has been threatening legal action against the former senator, with his attorneys filing a litigation hold noticeessentially a notice to preserve documents. Rosendale appeared determined to allay the rumors, with his wife saying the rumors were lies and were 100% false and are political mudslinging at its worst. But nine days after saying he was staying politics, Rosendale appears to be giving it up. To me, public service has truly always been about serving, not titles or positions of power. The current attacks have made it impossible for me to focus on my work to serve you, he said in his statement Friday. So, in the best interest of my family and the community, I am withdrawing from the House race and will not be seeking office, he said in a tweet. Before dropping out of the Senate race, Rosendale had been teasing his bid for almost a year. But with poor fundraising, the National Republican Senatorial Campaign worked to box him out of the primary, with conservative organizations and Trumpworld allies telling Rosendale they wouldnt support his candidacy. Rosendale launched his campaign anyway. The Montana Senate seat is viewed by Republicans as one of their best opportunities to flip a Democrat-held seat. But Senate Republican leadership feared that Rosendale's running could significantly hinder their chances at winning the seat. Rosendale had already lost to Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) once before and the worry was it would happen again. So, the NRSC quickly got behind Tim Sheehy, a Montana businessman and former Navy SEAL. The same day Sheehy launched, Trump endorsed him. But Rosendale announced on X that he would stay in the race despite Trumps decision to back his opponent. Then, not even a week after his launch, he announced he would be dropping out. As everyone knows, I have planned to run for the U.S. Senate and to win both the primary and the general election. However, the day I announced, President Trump then announced he was endorsing a different candidate, he said. By my calculations, with Trump endorsing my opponent and the lack of resources, the hill was just too steep, he said. Apparently, the House campaign was too steep as well. 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. WASHINGTON Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) called President Joe Biden diminished and claimed that he is not in command of the country in the official rebuttal to his State of the Union address on Tuesday. The 42-year-old freshman Republican senator spoke live from her home kitchen in Alabama after Biden delivered his annual address in front of a joint session of Congress in the nations capital. Right now, our commander in chief is not in command, Britt said in the 20-minute speech, which sounded forced at times. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets and a strong defense are actually the cornerstones of a great nation. She called Biden out of touch, adding that she wished he understood what real families are facing around kitchen tables just like this one. Britt, a former Senate aide who was elected in 2022 after GOP Sen. Richard Shelby retired, was tapped by Republican leaders to portray a youthful contrast with the 82-year-old Biden something her party believes will help oust him from office. Polls have found that most voters have concerns about Bidens age, including many who helped make him president in 2020. Bidens speech on Thursday was hardly dithering. The president stumbled over words and coughed occasionally, but he was energetic and feisty, engaging directly with hecklers and calling out Republican lawmakers in the room. And he exhorted the importance of supporting democracy at home and abroad, protecting reproductive rights, expanding health care access, cutting student debt and raising taxes on the wealthy, to name just a few priorities Democrats hope will lead them to victory in November. He also addressed questions about his age head-on. In my career, Ive been told Im too young and Im too old, Biden said. Whether young or old, Ive always known what endures. Our North Star: the very idea of America, that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. Weve never fully lived up to that idea, but weve never walked away from it, either. And I wont walk away from it now. He added that the issue facing our nation isnt how old we are its how old our ideas are. Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas. Britt, meanwhile, sought to reassure voters that Republicans support in-vitro fertility treatments, following a court ruling in Alabama that granted frozen embryos the same rights as children. Alabamas governor hastily signed a new law on Wednesday to give legal immunity to IVF clinics, but that hasnt halted questions about the GOPs contradictory stances on when life begins. We strongly support continued nationwide access to in-vitro fertilization. We want to help loving moms and dads to bring precious life into this world, Britt said Thursday. Dozens of House Democrats many of them women wore white suits during Bidens address in Congress as a way to visually protest and highlight the GOPs attacks on reproductive rights, including IVF. Biden also gave a shoutout to one of his guests, Kate Cox, a mother of two who sued the state of Texas last year for the right to terminate her pregnancy. What her family has gone through should never have happened as well. But it is happening to so many others. There are state laws banning the right to choose, criminalizing doctors and forcing survivors of rape and incest to leave their states as well to get the care they need. Many of you in this chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom, Biden added. My God, what freedoms will you take away next? Related... FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Man walks past a logo of Alibaba Group at its office building in Beijing By Josh Ye HONG KONG (Reuters) - Lingxi Games, Alibaba Group's video games arm, has told staff its leadership team will step down to make way for younger management, according to an internal memo. Since last year, Alibaba has focused on promoting younger people born after 1985 to management teams - a strategy it says will help the tech giant maintain a startup mindset and prevent it from getting stuck in old ways. The policy is part of a sweeping restructuring that has seen it adopt a holding company management model and split its business into six main units. Alibaba's domestic e-commerce, cloud and local services divisions have also seen changes in leadership in the past year. Zhan Zhonghui, the head of the Lingxi Games, said in a company-wide email seen by Reuters that he and two other executives will step down by the end of March. Zhou Bingshu, an experienced game producer, will take over. Zhan is about 50 years of age and Zhou is in his mid-30s, according to a source with knowledge of the matter who was not authorised to speak to media and declined to be identified. Alibaba did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment. Lingxi Games is best known for the mobile game "Three Kingdom Tactics" released in 2019 and produced by Zhou. The strategy game, in which players compete to build empires, made more than $1 billion in revenue in the first two years after its release, according to market research firm SensorTower. Zhan founded Guangzhou Ejoy in 2011 after working at NetEase Inc for more than a decade, where he had served as chief operating officer. Ejoy was acquired by Alibaba in 2017 at a valuation of $1 billion and became Lingxi Games. (Reporting by Josh Ye in Hong Kong; Additional reporting by Casey Hall in Shanghai; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. Careful About Believing Your Own Rhetoric Republicans who have turned Joseph R. Biden into a caricature of falling-down dementia and drooling incontinence have set the bar so low that anything above a flatline EKG from the president knocks them back on their heels. They were left spluttering that Bidens State of the Union was too loud and too campaign-y. They couldnt maintain a basic level of decorum in the chamber, giving Biden the chance to knock them around with ad libs and direct call outs, directly facing the GOP side of the chamber. He turned the call and response of the Black church into whack-a-MTG. The weird media expectations-setting and gamesmanship of American politics set the stage for this kind of performance, a Monty Python-esque Im not dead yet. But Biden still had to pull it off, and he did, in rousing fashion. The stakes of this election are so high and the historic moment so great that Biden has to show a willingness to fight by actually fighting. Otherwise, the content of the message falls flat. If it really is this important, you have to act like it, not just say it. He did that, too. State Of The Union Highlights Our blow-by-blow is here, and the full transcript is here: When Biden appears to see MTG in a MAGA hat on the floor. pic.twitter.com/j8ShJgl7L0 Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) March 8, 2024 President Biden: "My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6. I will not do that. This is the moment to speak the truth Here's the simple truth. You can't love your country only when you win." https://t.co/WLA7muLSML pic.twitter.com/aAG05BIyLJ NBC News (@NBCNews) March 8, 2024 Biden tears apart Trump at the #SOTU "Now, now my predecessor is, a former Republican president tells Putin do whatever the hell you want. That's a quote. The former president said that bowing down to a Russian leader. I think it's outrageous, dangerous, and unacceptable." pic.twitter.com/4HqiI5WRzK Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 8, 2024 President Biden touts the bipartisan border deal as the toughest set of border security reforms weve ever seen, listing off its components. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), the lead Republican negotiator, can be seen mouthing, Thats true. pic.twitter.com/oe9NlYSSYn The Recount (@therecount) March 8, 2024 About 25 minutes after the #SOTU2024 concluded, the House gaveled out and turned off the lights while President Biden was still in the Chamber.https://t.co/CI8oBrmJsT pic.twitter.com/ra5vit8Wkw Jeremy Art (@cspanJeremy) March 8, 2024 My Favorite Moment Jerry Nadler: No one's gonna call you cognitively impaired now Biden: I kinda wish sometimes I was cognitively impaired pic.twitter.com/W8izB1m9ao Noah Mitchell (@noahmtweets) March 8, 2024 State Of The Union Coverage Semafor: President Biden savages my predecessor in State of the Union Punchbowl: A feisty Biden blasts GOP foes Axios: Fired up Biden challenges GOP on immigration and abortion Politico: Biden chooses a hammer over an olive branch State Of The Union Reaction As he had the confidence to dwell on towards the end of the speech, Biden is an old man. Hes over 80 years old. But I think people whove had these doubts, Democrats who have been worried I think they will see this speech and think, Ok, I think we can do this. But with Trump unvanquished, and hook-or-crook desperate to return to office, its essential that the public not forget his disastrous presidency or the danger he poses to freedom in the U.S. and around the world. And to the extent voters have forgotten they need to be reminded. At the top of the speech, when viewership is highest and reporters form first impressions, {Biden] delivered a damning recitation of Trumps record, the Republican agenda, their joint assault on reproductive rights, and their ongoing effort to sabotage the U.S. and the world order. Ive been a pessimist about Joe Bidens chances to get re-elected this November. His tired appearance, his shuffling gait, his gaffesthe intense media attention on all of this was dragging him down and setting the stage for the unthinkable return of Donald Trump. Thursday nights State of the Union address has gone a great distance to cure me of my pessimism. Bidens performance was electrifying. Watching it, you cant help but think: He can win. The Choice To Put Her In A Kitchen Was Interesting Ive watched thousands of hours of political videos in the past 20 years and I have never seen anything like Senator Katie Britts rebuttal to the State of the Union. pic.twitter.com/aMN5Q7hJn8 Yashar Ali (@yashar) March 8, 2024 Your Reading Assignment For Today Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a flurry of responses Thursday to Donald Trumps motions to dismiss the Mar-a-Lago indictment. Ill note once again the high quality of the briefing from Smiths team. This is the best of the best of what DOJ can do. Its not easy when youre audience is both a very inexperienced trial judge whom you need to try to educate and an appeals courts that will inevitably be reviewing core constitutional arguments. On top of that, Trumps arguments are inane and so along with patient education and solid historical/structural arguments, prosecutors have to convey a certain level of incredulousness to let U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon know these are preposterous assertions by Trump. I think Smiths team mostly pulls it off. Immunity: The key Trump motion to dismiss in the case is the immunity one because it could produce an extended delay while he appeals a loss, as it has in the Jan. 6 case. So Smith make a strong argument that seeking immunity for conduct by a former president after leaving office is frivolous and only intended to cause delay and wants Cannon to certify as much so that Trump cannot immediately appeal this issue. This will be key to having any chance of trying the case this year. Presidential Records Act: Trump has comically trotted out the Presidential Records Act as a shield to the Mar-a-Lago charges, an argument no one buys and that turns the PRA on its head. It was a post-Watergate law to ensure that presidential records remain the property of the public. Trump is using it to argue the opposite. Smith swats that argument away cleanly. Selective and Vindictive Prosecution: The Hur report on President Bidens improper retention of classified information gets a lot of attention from Trump and from Smith, but theres a whole list of prominent people Trump claims were treated differently than him, and Smith systematically dismantles the argument for each one: Biden, Mike Pence, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, David Petraeus, Sandy Berger, John Deutch, and Deborah Birx. Will Candidate Trump Get Traditional Intel Briefings? The question of whether the decades-long tradition of providing classified intelligence briefings to the opposition party presidential nominee has come to the fore, with Donald Trump facing criminal charges of mishandling national security information. A new report from Politico suggests that, all things considered, the intel community is leaning toward continuing the tradition, even though that plays into Trumps hands in the Mar-a-Lago case (If what he did is so bad, why is the Biden administration trusting him with classified information now?). Reading between the lines, it sounds like this is as much about the intel community protecting its institutional prerogatives, like protecting its nonpartisan status and hedging its bets about Trump being re-elected, as it is maintaining continuity. Sign Of The Times TPM: Election Officials Prep For An Ugly 2024 With Mental Health And Stress Trainings For Staff The George Santos Comeback Attempt Expelled Rep. George Santos (R-NY), who remains under federal criminal indictment, filed paperwork to run for Congress again this year, switching from the NY-03 seat he previously held to the NY-01 seat currently held by Rep. Nick LaLota (R). FFS Reading this adulatory WSJ profile of Lara Trump Meet the Other Trump Whos About to Lead the GOP: Incoming RNC co-chair Lara Trump is Donald Trumps secret weapon and says she will improve fundraising rekindled my fantasy of shipping American political reporters overseas and replacing them with our cadre of foreign reporters who are accustomed to covering corruption and nepotism with vigor and without euphemism. 2024 Ephemera NJ-Sen : Indicted Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) will not run for re-election this year, a source tells the NY Post. MD-Sen : Larry Hogan (R) wont commit to codifying Roe v. Wade or IVF protections at the federal level. CA-Sen: Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) is facing a fierce Democratic backlash after calling the California Senate primary rigged. O Captain! My Captain! WASHINGTON, DC AUGUST 3: President Donald Trump looks to White House physician Ronny Jackson during a Veterans Affairs Department telehealth event in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC on Thursday, Aug 03, 2017. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Navy quietly demoted Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) from rear admiral to captain in July 2022 after a Pentagon inspector generals report on his misconduct while serving as Trump White House physician, the Washington Post first reported Thursday. Jackson has since continued to refer to himself as a rear admiral despite the reduction in rank. Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know! OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) On Thursday, Governor Kevin Stitt along with Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur; Secretary of Human Services Deb Shropshire; and Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Shelley Zumwalt, filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Gentner Drummond over his recent opinion on dual office-holding. That opinion resulted in the resignation of Tim Gatz from his role as Secretary of Transportation and as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Gatz, actually served three roles, he retained his title of Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Since I took office, Ive worked to find ways to run government efficiently and save the taxpayers money. I have the best people in Oklahoma running my state agencies, and it only makes sense to have them be my advisers, said Gov. Stitt. The most recent AG Opinion concerning Tim Gatz is flat wrong, and in order to continue working to make Oklahoma a top 10 state, a court will need to fix the mess the Opinion created. AGs legal opinion forces OK transportation secretary, OTA director to resign positions Headlines The lawsuit was filed in the District Court of Oklahoma County. The initial filing can be found here. The Office of the Attorney General released the following statement in response to a lawsuit filed against Attorney General Gentner Drummond by Gov. Kevin Stitt and three of his Cabinet secretaries. The Attorney General stands behind his legally binding opinion and welcomes the opportunity to respond to the lawsuit in a future filing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) A San Angelo man was recently indicted after allegedly possessing a zip gun with shotgun shells and attempting to target the Tom Green County Sheriffs Office who was responsible for taking away his family. Records filed within the Tom Green County court system show 31-year-old Jeremy Daniels was indicted on Feb. 15 for a prohibited weapon. Mugshot Jeremy Daniels courtesy Tom Green County Sheriffs Office 12-08-2023 RELATED: Suspect arrested with intent to use handmade firearm against TGCSO On Dec. 8, 2023, a deputy with the TGCSO noticed Daniels standing near storage containers at the officer, attempting to hide, an affidavit stated. Once Daniels was spotted, he attempted to walk eastbound in traffic on West College Street, causing vehicles to leave their lane so they would not hit him. The deputy activated his lights on the patrol vehicle and noticed a pipe and piece of metal in Daniels hand. After ordering Daniels to drop the items and an orange pocket knife was spotted in his pocket, law enforcement told Daniels to place his hands on the bumper of the patrol unit. Records state the deputy placed him in handcuffs and then proceeded to do a pat search. During the search, it was found that Daniels had a cut-down pipe with a rubber grip in his front right pocket and 10 Winchester .20 Gauge Shotgun shells in his left pocket. It is stated that Daniels began to yell, Dont do that stop, stop touching it, when law enforcement conducted their search. Man arrested in Ballinger after wife found dead in own home While Daniels was in custody, records report, he told officials that he intended to use the zip gun on a deputy due to him believing the Tom Green County Sheriffs Office was responsible for taking away his family. Daniels remains incarcerated at the Tom Green County Detention Center. His bond is set at $15,000. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) A grand jury within the 340th District Court in Tom Green County indicted a man after he allegedly harmed a dog. Mugshot: William Carthorne Jr. 3-7-2024 courtesy Tom Green County Sheriffs Office William Carthorne Jr. was indicted for cruelty to a non-livestock animal by killing, poisoning or causing serious bodily injury. Grand jury indicts man for allegedly possessing homemade zip gun, targeting sheriffs office On June 15, 2023, the indictment reports Carthorne had suspended the dog in the air using a leash and collar, and then proceeded to cause the dog to strike the ground. Local man pleads guilty to sexually abusing child Carthorne was arrested and booked in the Tom Green County Detention Center on March 7 for the grand jury indictment. Cruelty to a non-livestock animal by killing, poisoning or causing serious bodily injury is a third-degree felony in the state of Texas. It is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland is appealing a decision by Aberdeenshire Council to block a parade in Stonehaven. It was planned for 16 March to mark the opening of a new orange lodge in the area. But earlier this week a council committee voted to stop the event. An online petition calling for the council to stop the march received thousands of signatures. Some residents they were concerned it would bring public disorder and force local shops and pubs to shut for the day. Around 200 people were expected to take part in the procession, led by the Pride of the Rock flute band from Dumbarton. The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland said it was working with its legal team to organise a hearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. In a statement it said: "Our organisation intends to hold a peaceful and respectful procession which will pass by any given point in under five minutes. "There is no threat whatsoever to public order from the Orange Lodge members within the procession." Aberdeenshire Council confirmed it had received formal notice of an appeal. A spokesperson said: The prohibition order itself is currently being finalised and will be shared with the organisers as soon as possible. The 1927 film "Wings," which was the top honoree at the first Academy Awards ceremony, relied heavily on stunts. (LMPC via Getty Images) Its especially noteworthy that theres still no Oscar category for stunt coordinator because at the first Academy Awards, the movie that earned best picture did so by showcasing breathtaking stunt work. The 1927 film Wings was nominated in only one other category engineering effects when it took home the trophy for what was then called Outstanding Picture. Since then the academy has selected 15 more war movies as the years best, with Oppenheimer expected to make it 17 this weekend. Most of them were undergirded by the brave men and women who put themselves in harms way to make the cinematic experience as lifelike as possible. Thats how Wings, a film about a love triangle set during World War I, could win the nights biggest prize without its actors, director or screenwriters receiving a nomination. Thats not to say they werent snubbed (if you believe in such a thing). But clearly voters were in awe of the coordination of a dozen tanks, hundreds of planes and 5,000 extras soldiers, actually. The film was shot in San Antonio affectionately known as Military City where the War Department was eager to support movies featuring patriotism. In todays numbers, it is estimated the government supplied the Wings filmmakers with more than $250 million in manpower and equipment. Directed by William Wellman, a wartime pilot who had been shot down by Germans in 1918, the film is preserved by the Library of Congress. Read more: Granderson: Your U.S. history class needed a film like 'Rustin' Over the decades, technology has enabled creatives to bring fictional galaxies to Earth and extinct dinosaurs back to life. And the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has come to recognize the storytelling contributions of the special effects industry. Same goes for sound, hair and makeup, and costume design. And yet stunt coordinators are still not honored with a category. The academy clearly loves war movies, and yet the people most responsible for making those films feel real are not celebrated. Not to mention there wouldnt be summer blockbusters or slapstick comedies without stuntmen, because not everyone is made for that Tom Cruise life. The actor is famous for not only doing his own stunts but also breaking his own bones. And not just him. Daniel Craig has done a number of interviews talking mostly about the scores of injuries that came with James Bond stunt work and keep in mind, he didnt do all of the stunts in the films. Read more: Granderson: Tracy Chapman's gray hair represents a lifetime of authenticity Many members of the crew and cast of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever first had to learn to swim before shooting began because half of the film is underwater. Incredibly, that films aquatic stunt team worked with novices and helped turn a comic book film into an Oscar winner. And disappointingly, there wasnt a way to celebrate their critical work at the movie industrys biggest night. After seven films and 30 years of Cruise running on rooftops and jumping out of planes, his Mission Impossible series finally received two Oscar nominations: for best sound and best visual effects. Wouldnt it be nice if by the time the eighth installment is released in 2025, theres a stunt coordinator category waiting for it? Read more: Granderson: It's awards season. Introverts should get a free pass to skip campaigning There could not have been a Braveheart as we know it (which won best picture in 1996) without a stunt coordinator. Same with Platoon (in 1987), Deerhunter (in 1979) and Patton (in 1971). What is Lawrence of Arabia (which won in 1963) without the stunts performed on camelback? In fact Peter OToole, who received an honorary Oscar in 2002, almost died making the film after a gun meant to signal the start of a scene fired prematurely. OTooles camel was startled, and he fell off as a stampede of horses approached. Fortunately, the camel was trained to shield him from harm. The tragedy surrounding the making of Rust and the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is a painful reminder that filmmaking isnt without its dangers. And the people responsible for coordinating the exciting stunts are also the ones minimizing danger. Not only that. Theyre also often the ones guaranteeing the laughs. Earlier this year Conrad Palmisano passed away. Be sure to look for him in the In Memoriam segment of the broadcast. He was the stunt coordinator for Weekend at Bernies, Sleepless in Seattle and sequels of Rush Hour, among other classics. The man was an icon, whose stunt work goes all the way back to "The A-Team." Richard Burton once complained to me, Palmisano recalled in an interview . He said: I do a soliloquy of Shakespeare and I dont get anything out of the crew. You fall down a flight of stairs, everyone applauds. I said: What are you complaining about? Youre married to Elizabeth Taylor. Its a great quip about the chasm between Hollywoods stars and the stunt doubles responsible for some of our most visceral responses in the theater. As a member of the academy, Palmisano lobbied for years to have the Oscars formally recognize his fields contribution to the industry. Going all the way back to the very first award show, in 1929 , its been clear that stunts are essential to great filmmaking. Thats why when it comes to the topic of Oscar snubs, this feels like the biggest one every year. Its also one the academy could easily remedy. @LZGranderson If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A recent photo of the bleaching damage on the Great Barrier Reef Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef is suffering another mass bleaching event, officials have confirmed. Bleaching occurs when heat-stressed corals expel the algae that gives them life and colour. It is the fifth time in eight years widespread damage has been detected at the Unesco World Heritage site. Only two mass bleaching events had been recorded until 2016, and scientists say urgent climate action is needed for the reef to survive. "The frequency and scale at which these mass bleaching events are now occurring is frightening - every summer we're holding our breath," said Greenpeace Australia's David Ritter. "Claims that Australia is taking the health of the Great Barrier Reef seriously ring hollow when we continue to expand and subsidise the coal and gas industry to the tune of billions every year." "It's literally cooking the Reef," the Climate Council's Simon Bradshaw added. Stretching over 2,300km (1,400 miles) off Australia's north-east coast, the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral system and one of its most biodiverse habitats. An aerial survey of 320 reefs - from the tip of Australia to the city of Bundaberg - showed most are experiencing prevalent bleaching, after a summer of heightened sea temperatures. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said in-water examinations are underway to determine the severity and depth of the damage - which likely varies greatly across the reef. The body's Chief Scientist Roger Beeden told the BBC that bleaching in the southern zone though, was the worst in almost 20 years, and could become "unprecedented". "It's too early to say what the full consequences of this event is," he said. "If the conditions cool, we could see a lot of what's bleached recover." Over the past decade the reef has rebuilt itself from other mass bleaching events, severe tropical cyclones, and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, he added. Record-breaking global sea temperatures have recently triggered similar bleaching events in the northern hemisphere, and this week bleaching was also spotted on the world's southern-most reef at Lord Howe Island - which too lies in Australian waters. The Great Barrier Reef has been heritage-listed for over 40 years due to its "enormous" importance, but Unesco says the icon is under "serious threat" from warming seas and pollution. Successive Australian governments have fought to keep the body from declaring the tourist drawcard "in danger", which could see it lose heritage status. The decision will be reviewed again in July. Calling climate change "the biggest threat to coral reefs worldwide", Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said her government has increased funding for reef conservation and introduced stronger emissions-reduction targets. "It's essential we do everything we can to protect this amazing place for our kids and grandkids," she said. The UN's most recent climate change report found the prevalence of future mass bleaching events depends on how quickly the world cuts emissions. LeeBeth is a 14.1-foot, 2,600-pound female great white shark. She first caught the attention of experts and researchers, and now has a large swath of Texas with eyes on her. So where is the celebrity shark now? Here's what we know. LeeBeth pinged near Sabine Pass The great white shark has changed directions, traveling from waters near South Padre Island to those due south of Sabine Pass. Chester Moore is the editor-in-chief of Texas Fish & Game and host of the podcasts "Higher Calling Wildlife" and "Dark Outdoors." He has been working with experts to track LeeBeth's movements. LeeBeth's unusual behavior has caught the attention of shark experts and researchers. In a recent blog post, Moore described LeeBeth as "highly unpredictable." "Since Dec. 26, this shark moved down into Mexican waters, back up toward South Padre and on March 7 was due south of Sabine Pass, TX, approximately 125 miles offshore," Moore wrote. How did LeeBeth make shark science history? According to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC), LeeBeth's travels mark the farthest west into the Gulf of Mexico a white shark has ever been recorded. Yesterday, white shark LeeBeth made shark science history, pinging in off the coast of Matamoros, Mexico. This is the furthest west a white shark has ever been tracked into the Gulf of Mexico. pic.twitter.com/ApptbskGOb Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (@A_WhiteShark) February 29, 2024 More on LeeBeth: Great white shark makes history after being spotted near South Padre Island Her location isn't the only unusual thing about LeeBeth, AWSC researcher Capt. Chip Michalove of Outcast Sport Fishing told Moore. Of the 47 sharks he's tagged for AWSC, this one has pinged the most. Like other tagged sharks, LeeBeth "pings" when her fin breaches the surface and makes satellite contact, Moore explained in his blog. Where is Sabine Pass? Sabine Pass is a neighborhood in Port Arthur, Texas. It sits on the Texas-Louisiana border along a tributary of Sabine Lake, which flows south into the Gulf of Mexico. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Great white shark LeeBeth moves near Sabine Pass, TX, update shows ATHENS (Reuters) -Greek students threw petrol bombs at police who responded with tear gas in central Athens on Friday, hours before parliament was expected to pass legislation that will allow foreign private universities to set up branches in the country. Thousands of students have been protesting peacefully for weeks against the reform that they say will devalue degrees from public universities, but anger boiled over just as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged lawmakers to vote the bill through. "We are scared that ... if we do manage to graduate we'll never be able to get a job anywhere," said Stratos Katselis, 25. "No young person today can make any kind of plan for the future. All we see are dead ends." Mitsotakis, who won a second term in June last year, said the law will help reverse an exodus of tens of thousands of Greek students to universities abroad, a drag on an economy still recovering from a decade-long financial crisis. The bill will also help align Greece with the rest of the European Union and boost competition in higher education, he said. The bill is likely to be approved as the conservative government controls 158 lawmakers in the 300-seat legislature. "Parliament is not only called to vote on a pivotal bill but to approve a radical and courageous education reform for growth and social justice," Mitsotakis said. "It will finally allow non-state, non-profitable institutions to operate in our country." Students, with support from some teachers and university staff, are not convinced. One group broke away from the demonstration and threw petrol bombs at police who dispersed them with tear gas, Reuters witnesses and a police official said. The bill is part of the government's reform agenda that also includes a same sex marriage law that was passed last month. Greece spends 3%-4% of its annual economic output on education, below the EU average. But Mitsotakis said the bill stipulated increased funding for state universities. (Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou and Louisa Gouliamaki; Editing by Susan Fenton, Edward McAllister and Nick Macfie) After witnessing a Russian missile attack on Odesa, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed that Russia will never succeed in intimidating those countries that continue to support Ukraine. Source: European Pravda, citing ERT News Quote from Mitsotakis at the conference of the European People's Party in Bucharest: "We have only one message to the Kremlin: You shall not intimidate us; we will continue to support Ukraine and its great citizens for as long as it takes. And, of course, we will remain completely unified in this decision." Details: The prime minister stressed that the EU is sending a clear message that no violation of international law, territorial integrity or moving of borders by force will ever be accepted by Europe. Background: On 6 March, the Greek prime minister said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was with him in the port area of Odesa at the time of the attack and that the explosion had occurred very close to them. No one from the Greek delegation was injured. Media reports indicated that the missile had exploded just 500 metres away from Zelenskyy and Mitsotakis. Top EU officials responded to the incident promptly. European Council President Charles Michel branded the Russian attack "reprehensible and below even the Kremlins playbook," while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it vile. Support UP or become our patron! APPLETON An Appleton manufacturer is looking to fill 70 new jobs to keep up with an increase in demand from customers. Progressive Converting, Inc. also known as ProCon provides paper converting, coating, sales and supply chain solutions for the North American paper printing and packaging industries. The 70 open positions are based at the company's 2430 E. Glendale Ave. location in Appleton, according to Bob Gresh, ProCon's HR director. People can apply at ProConUSA.com/careers. They can also visit on-site job fairs held at the Glendale address every Wednesday (from noon to 6 p.m., beginning March 13) and the first Saturday of every month (from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning April 6). Progressive Converting, also known as ProCon, on Tuesday March 5, 2024 in Appleton, Wis. The company is hiring for 70 new positions in Appleton. Why is ProCon adding jobs? The company received "several high-volume, long-term order commitments" from customers, Gresh said, requiring ProCon to move from a 24/5 to a 24/7 operating schedule in its sheeting and packaging departments. The company is seeing demand is for commercial printing and writing grades of paper, according to Dan Curtin, ProCon's president and CEO. There have been a lot of mill closures in the area's paper valley over the years, Curtin said. When a paper machine shuts down, "usually, there's converting assets that go along with that," he said. So, paper mills have outsourced more of their converting needs. As other converters also closed, "more of that has shifted to us," Curtin said. ProCon is "proud" to have grown "considerably" since 2006, according to Curtin. More: Wisconsin's paper mills are famous, but its paper converters are just as crucial. Here's why What types of positions are available? The company is looking for qualified supervisors, machine operators, maintenance staff, forklift and roll clamp operators, helpers, CDL licensed shuttle drivers, customer service/account managers and other support roles, according to Gresh. To run 24/7, the company needs four crews to work a four-days-on, four-days-off schedule of fixed 12 hour shifts. Night shift employees will receive a $2 shift differential. Story continues ProCon is hiring now, with hopes to be fully staffed within a few months, Gresh said. More: Wisconsin doesn't make as much printing and writing paper as it used to. Here's why a few local mills still do What else does ProCon make? Founded in Neenah in 1991, ProCon moved its headquarters to Appleton a year later. The company has since expanded to six locations across four states. "Our acquisitions of the former Northwoods Paper Converting in Beaver Dam and Resource One International in Little Chute further cemented our local roots and Wisconsin ties," Gresh said. ProCon works with a range of products, from printing and writing grades to packaging grades. The company's newest division creates sustainable, environmentally-friendly barrier coatings for the packaging industries, used for frozen food, fast food and other similar items, according to Curtin. "That is a big growth area for us right now, as well," he said. Reach Becky Jacobs at bjacobs@gannett.com or 920-993-7117. Follow her on Twitter at @ruthyjacobs. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Progressive Converting, Inc. hires for 70 new jobs in Appleton GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) After its grand reopening in July 2023, The Cannery Test Kitchen in downtown Green Bay will permanently close in March 2024, officials announced on Thursday. According to a release from the Greater Green Bay Chamber, several factors went into the difficult decision to permanently close The Cannery Test Kitchen, including the inability to address all the barriers associated with startup restaurants. Unseasonable Wisconsin winter could have major impact on cherry and apple orchards The Cannery Test Kitchens last day will be Thursday, March 21. We understand that this may bring uncertainties and concerns for the two tenants, and we are committed to transparency and support for the businesses. We genuinely regret when businesses are not able to achieve their goals and become self-sustaining. Still, this outcome is sometimes unavoidable in the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship. Greater Green Bay Chamber In the release, officials thanked the Green Bay community for supporting the concept of the test kitchen. The Greater Green Bay Chambers release went on to say that it will be working closely with each tenant to address concerns and explore options for each business. GB school participates in cereal box domino challenge The two tenants affected by the closure are Colombian Flavors and FiveThumbsUp Desserts. No additional information was provided. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. [Source] The Virginia-based nonprofit accusing Pfizer of discriminating against Asian and white applicants for a coveted fellowship program has lost its appeal in court this week. Catch up: Do No Harm, a group composed of medical professionals, sued Pfizer in September 2022 over the company's Breakthrough Fellowship Program, a nine-year stint that aims to increase the pipeline for Black/African American, Latino/Hispanic and Native Americans in its workforce. The suit alleged that Pfizer had violated federal and state laws against racial discrimination. Decision: U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon in Manhattan tossed the suit in December 2022. In her ruling, she noted that Do No Harm failed to demonstrate a legal standing and that it cannot seek an injunction as it would not identify its plaintiffs. On Wednesday, the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, also in Manhattan, echoed the decision, as per Reuters. What Do No Harm is saying: The nonprofit reportedly aims to seek further appellate review. It said the decision departs from established precedent and makes it unduly hard for organizations to vindicate civil rights. Trending on NextShark: Indian painter gets brain-dead woman's hands in rare bilateral hand transplant What Pfizer is saying: Pfizer, for its part, has repeatedly described itself as an equal opportunity employer. The company has reportedly amended the fellowship programs criteria, allowing everyone to apply. Trending on NextShark: Asian family donates $5 million to Black students in honor of family who helped them Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A Grand Rapids man who opened fire on an older man in a shooting heard in a 911 call was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder. Neftali Hernandez, 22, faces up to life in prison when he returns to Kent County Circuit Court for sentencing next month. Hernandez claimed self-defense, saying he was being choked by 42-year-old Vasant Patel during a confrontation last year on Butterworth Street SW. Murder charge after man shot, killed in Grand Rapids Kent County jurors didnt buy that argument. They returned guilty verdicts for second-degree murder and felony firearm Thursday afternoon. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker, who argued the case, said he was pleased with the verdict. I appreciate the time and effort the jury put in this case. It is always a difficult decision, but they were very attentive and thoughtful and reached the correct verdict in my mind, Becker said. Hopefully the verdict can provide some closure to the family. There was absolutely no reason for this to happen. Grand Rapids police were called to the home on Butterworth Street east of Lane Avenue in February of 2023 on a report of a shooting. This embedded content is not available in your region. Patel was found in an upstairs bedroom. He had been shot multiple times. Patel died at a local hospital. According to court records, dispatchers could hear someone say drop the gun as multiple shots were fired. A dispute between the two men over what was called disrespectful behavior preceded the shooting. Police said after the shooting, a witness stopped Hernandez until officers could arrest him. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Police are investigating after a fight led to gunfire near a school in Chatsworth Thursday morning. The altercation was reported at about 9 a.m., and when officers arrived to the scene in the 9900 block of Lurline Avenue, they found that two men had brawled near Chatsworth High School, though it was not related to the school, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Chatsworth school fight During the fight, one shot was fired, but no one was hit, police confirmed on X, formerly Twitter. Footage from the scene shows one man atop the other in what appears to be a street. Multiple expletives can be heard, and the man on top could be seen striking the other man multiple times. The nearby school was placed on lockdown, a student confirmed to KTLA 5. One person has been taken into custody, and the other person was transported to a local hospital due to injuries sustained in the fight, police said. Nancy Fontan contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Mark Gordon and Constance Marten, who went on the run with their baby daughter - METROPOLITAN POLICE Constance Marten has claimed that she was forced to give birth in secret to avoid her oppressive and bigoted family, who would do anything to erase that child from the family line. Giving evidence at the Old Bailey, where she and Mark Gordon, her 49-year-old partner, are on trial accused of manslaughter by gross negligence of their baby daughter Victoria, Ms Marten claimed her wealthy family would not allow them to have children. Jurors heard that, in 2017, the 36-year-old had given birth to her first child in Wales under a false name, claiming to be a traveller from Leeds. Asked why she had done this, she said: I had to escape my family, as my family are extremely oppressive and bigoted and they would not allow me to have children with my husband and they would do anything to erase that child from the family line. Ms Marten had previously told the court her family treated her differently from her three brothers, who had all had houses bought for them. But Joel Smith KC, prosecuting, put it to her that they had offered to buy her a house in 2017. Mr Smith said she had turned it down shortly before contracts were due to be exchanged, claiming that due to a progression in her career she could no longer live in the capital. Ms Marten said she had wanted to move to the countryside, but added that her family would not have bought her a house while she was in a relationship with Mr Gordon, whom she met in 2014. She was our pride and joy She is accused of giving birth to Victoria in secret before going on the run with Mr Gordon in order to avoid having the baby taken away by social services. The court previously heard how her first four children had all been taken into care or adopted. Victoria died while the couple were staying in a tent on the South Downs last winter. Her body was later discovered in a supermarket bag for life in a disused shed on an allotment near Brighton. Ms Marten described to the court the heartbreaking moment when she awoke on the morning of Jan 9 to discover that her daughter had died in the night. Asked by Francis FitzGibbon KC, her defence barrister, whether she had done anything to cause her daughters death, she replied: No. She was our pride and joy. I have had four kids. I know how to look after children. We were taking great care of her. My primary concern was Victoria and to look after her. But I do feel guilty for falling asleep on her, I do feel responsible, if that is what happened. In cross-examination, Mr Smith repeatedly asked Ms Marten if she thought living in a tent with a newborn baby was a good idea. She replied: We are looking at this from a Western perspective. There are people around the world who live in tents, there are children who live in igloos, as long as you give them warmth and love and food... I would have preferred not to be in a tent. I have worked around the world with children. Just look at France. In Calais, there are refugees who are living in tents and their children do not die. We were in a very unfortunate position Ms Marten claimed the tent was the only option available to her at the time, insisting that Victoria was well cared for and well-loved throughout her short life. Mr Smith asserted that she had options but had gone on the run because she thought she knew better than social services. He asked: Has it occurred to you that they were right? Ms Marten replied: Victoria would be alive if it were not for them. Im not saying they are to blame for her death. Im saying we were in a very unfortunate position. She told the court that, after her daughter died, she did not leave the tent for three days and sat holding on to her. Eventually, driven by hunger, she and Mr Gordon ventured out and were captured on CCTV looking in bins for food. She told the court: Mark was anorexically thin and really unwell. I realised we cannot live like this. Not eating, sharing one piece of bread out of the bin, was not sustainable. On Jan 27, the couple went to a shop to buy food. They were spotted by a member of the public, who alerted the police. Officers arrived and arrested them. Ms Marten admitted not initially telling police where her daughters body was because she was panicked and scared about what would happen. There has been so much media presence the truth would not be accepted and they would want to make us out to be awful people, she explained. She told the jury: If I knew what was going to happen, I would have preferred my child to go to social services. The couple are accused of manslaughter by gross negligence, concealing the birth of a child, cruelty to a person under 16, causing or allowing the death of a child, and perverting the course of justice. They deny all the charges and the trial continues. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Bucks County man will spend at least 35 years in prison after admitting he fatally stabbed his elderly stepfather with a machete in 2022 over what he believed was a stolen inheritance. At a hearing Friday, Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Wallace Bateman, Jr. sentenced to Brian Carey to 35 to 70 years in state prison for the murder of 77-year-old Joseph Jakimowicz, who was stabbed 10 times. He had faced a potential sentence of of 47 to 95 years. "This was an up-close and personal murder," Bateman said. Bateman said Carey, who will be first eligible for parole when he is 78, has expressed remorse for actions that created an "unbearable loss" for his family. They also described feeling terrorized since Carey had a hit list with family members names on it. The judge also noted a recurring theme in victim impact statements and court testimony was the fear that Carey would return to violence if he were released from prison. He ordered Carey have no contact with specific family members, victim friends and witnesses who cooperated with the investigation. The sentence was part of a negotiated agreement, where Carey pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, as well as robbery, theft, stalking and possession of an instrument of crime. In exchange he would serve at least 20 years in prison for the murder, and let Bateman decide how much time he would get for the remaining charges. In a packed courtroom, family and friends of the victim urged the judge to impose the maximum penalty, calling the loss of Jakimowicz, a Bristol Township widower, who everyone called "J," an unimaginable tragedy that has left them fearful and untrusting of people. "Why should he get to live his life in the future, when we can't live ours," Kelly Hopkins said. Authorities allege that Brian James Carey murdered his stepfather Joseph Jakimowicz in 2022. More on the arrest of Brian Carey DA: Man who killed stepfather in Bristol Township home had 'hit list' of family members, grudge over inheritance The murder dismantled the lives of those closest to the victim, who now have the additional burden of worrying if someday Carey will come after them next, if he were released, Kristen Hermann said. Can you imagine how scary that is, she added. Patricia Roldan-Jakimowicz said she watches every person who walks past her windows at home. She answers the door only if her husband is home. She constantly monitors the home surveillance cameras on her cell phone. Please help me protect my family," Roldan-Jakimowicz said. Bristol Township police said that Carey had ongoing issues with Jakimowicz that escalated after the 2019 death of Careys mother. Carey became fixated on his belief that Jakimowicz killed his mother and forged her will to cheat him out of an inheritance, according to police and family. He became angry at family members for not supporting his efforts to have his mother's will overturned in court, and frustrated that authorities would not investigate his fraud and murder allegations, according to police, family and friends. Carey harassed and threatened Jakimowicz for years and after his arrest police found his stepfather name on a "hit list' of family members that Carey wanted to kill. Jakimowicz was found stabbed to death in his Winder Drive home on Feb. 15, 2022. Authorities believe Carey, who was homeless, entered the home through a rear door on Valentine's Day and attacked Jakimowicz while he was seated in a recliner. Jakimowicz's son, also named Joseph, found his father dead when he went to the home after he was unable to contact him. His body was curled up in a fetal position near the front door, which authorities suggest show he was attempting to escape his attacker. The strongest man I know was lying there like a scared child, lifeless, the younger Jakimowicz wrote in a victim impact statement. After fatally stabbing Jakimowicz, Carey ransacked the home stealing a coin collection, $313, a laptop and cell phone, then drove away in the victims 2006 Chevy Trailblazer, which was found abandoned in Philadelphia on Feb. 15. Pennsylvania State Police took Carey into custody on Feb. 16 after he was tracked to a bar in Upper Bucks County. He was still wearing the blood-tinged clothing captured on surveillance video the day of the murder. He also had items stolen from Jakimowicz's home and a half-dozen knives in his possession, including a tactical machete with a 19-inch blade. On Friday, a visibly emotional Carey told Bateman that he accepts that his stepfather's death was the result of his actions, but that he is not the same person as he was on Feb. 14, 2022, and that the passage of time and psychotropic medications have helped him return to his "authentic self." I see things now that I didn't see then," Carey said. "I see myself contributing to society because of how much I took from it." Public defender Michael Lacson called the murder an "absolute tragedy," but that his client has the potential to be fully rehabilitated. By all accounts, Lacson said, Carey, a father of three, and full-time electrician was a "normal human-being" until he experienced a series of life losses starting in 2012. His alcohol use accelerated, resulting in arrests, and eventually progressed to use of methamphetamines. He also showed early signs of unaddressed mental illness, later diagnosed as schizophrenia, Lacson said. But First Assistant District Attorney Edward Louka countered that Carey deserved the maximum prison sentence noting that he had a history of minimizing his mental health issues, and ignoring or refusing treatment before his arrest. Louka added that recorded jail phone calls and a 27-page letter Carey wrote to Bateman has never apologized for his actions, portrays himself as the victim, continues to disparage Jakimowicz over his belief that he was cheated out of an inheritance. He took his life and hes tried to take his character for the last three years," Louka said. "No one knows what is in his head, but evidence shows he has no remorse. He is a danger. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Stepson gets prison in stabbing murder of Joseph Jakimowicz Hagerstown Police recently expanded the hours of its Watch Center, a downtown Hagerstown office in which civilian employees monitor surveillance cameras to assist residents and police officers. The topic of the Watch Center came up during the mayor and City Council's State of the City address on Tuesday at The Maryland Theatre. During the video presentation, it was noted that about 35% of calls for police service are handled by the Watch Center. Hagerstown Police Chief Paul Kifer, in a phone interview, said the Watch Center is one of the ways Hagerstown Police does its job during a time when it's difficult to recruit and retain officers. Center employees help free officers for calls they are needed on the most. Ben Ros, supervisor at Hagerstown Police Department's Watch Center, scans live footage from 36 of the surveillance cameras along city streets on March 5, 2024. Ros, who speaks Spanish, also can translate for patrol officers, speaking to them through their bodycams. The Watch Center, in the Elizabeth Hager Center in downtown Hagerstown, opened in April 2020 with light-duty officers, officers who were on desk duty while recuperating from injury, police officials said. Center employees monitor live surveillance footage and assist on 911 calls that don't necessitate a patrol officer responding in person, they said. The center was staffed with civilians about two years ago and, about two months ago, expanded its hours to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Previously, the center opened at 10 a.m. The types of calls the center handles include lost property and "service to advise" situations, Kifer said. If someone arrives home to find their porch furniture was stolen, that call could go to the Watch Center. But if someone arrives to signs of a burglary in the home, police would respond to clear the house and possibly process the scene. More on HPD adapting: Hagerstown, Washington County police agencies address staffing shortages, adapting Watch Center Supervisor Ben Ros said the civilian staff also assists officers on calls. As a supervisor, Ros said, he can access an officer's body cam footage live so if an officer is respondin,g alone to a call, that officer still has someone watching in case backup is needed. He gave a recent example of an officer and a man ending up in a fight. Ros said he could see what was happening, so he called for backup for the officer. Center employees also can quickly help officers responding to vehicular crashes visible via the camera system. That includes going back in video footage to let the officer know what happened and saving the officer a copy of the incident. HPD hiring part-time officers, exploring crime center concept Staci Arch, a civilian Watch Center officer with Hagerstown Police, keeps an eye on some of the live footage from city surveillance cameras on March 5, 2024. The map on the left identifies where the city has surveillance cameras. Kifer said the police department received approval to hire some part-time officers to handle special assignments. As an example of a potential special assignment, he cited when there were issues last spring with vandalism at the skatepark. Those part-time officers could likely be retired officers who are still certified as sworn officers by the state. Hagerstown Police officials also plan to visit crime centers in the region with an eye toward opening one in the police headquarters off Burhans Boulevard. Kifer said that could involve moving the Watch Center to police headquarters and possibly creating a drone landing platform so drones can be launched from the building to aid with police response. Several officers are trained to operate drones and have them in their patrol vehicles. Drones are used to help find missing people, for surveillance of drug dealing and other incidents such as following four-wheelers and dirt bikes being illegally driven around the city. The Hagerstown Police Department headquarters on Burhans Boulevard. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown Police Watch Center monitors surveillance cameras U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed Haitis prime minister, Ariel Henry, to announce his resignation and a political transition in a series of phone calls that took place Thursday and were described as tense by senior State Department officials. Henrys political future has been in question all week, as a long-simmering crisis between Haitis beleaguered government and powerful gang leaders burst into a full-blown conflict that risks toppling what remains of government control. Henry had been in Kenya, signing a critical political accord with Nairobi that would secure the deployment of reinforcements for the Haiti National Police as part of a multinational force, when a united front of gangs launched coordinated attacks on key institutions throughout the capital of Port-au-Prince. He has been unable to return home since and is currently in Puerto Rico. The prime minister has been pushing a counter-proposal to U.S. and Caribbean officials. But Blinken and his team have remained firm that the plan must include Henrys departure. It is unclear whether Henry will accept the U.S. proposal. For more than a year, the United States has encouraged Prime Minister Henry and other key stakeholders in Haiti to reach a compromise that will end the ongoing political stalemate, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. In the past week, the political crisis in Haiti, combined with escalating violence and civil unrest, has created an untenable situation which threatens the countrys citizens and security. The office of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed to the Miami Herald on Friday that the U.N. has been invited to attend a meeting on Haitis future to be held in Jamaica on Monday. The meeting was called by the 15-member Caribbean Community known as CARICOM. The U.N.s chief of cabinet, Earle Courtenay Rattray, will attend the meeting along with several international partners to foster support toward the restoration of democratic institutions in Haiti in the shortest possible time, spokeswoman Stephanie Tremblay said. Former U.S. diplomats have been dismayed by the Biden administrations handling of the Haitian prime minister. Thomas Shannon, a former undersecretary of state who was involved in the removal of two previous Haitian leaders, said the back-and-forth and lack of certainty over who will replace Henry is not helping to stem the crisis. Its really up to the United States and CARICOM to really identify whos got to run that place and then give them the resources to run it and the political muscle to run it, said Shannon. But what theyve done so far is theyve kind of left Henry to float, do what he can to manage his relationship with other parts of the state, like the police, and theres been no real willingness to back him. The unwillingness of the United States to participate in any direct peacekeeping operation is just shameful. Members of a coalition that support Henrys hold on power met Thursday with members of the Caribbean Community, which has been trying to find agreement among Haitians on who should lead a transition to a new government. Henrys supporters made it clear they still support the prime minister, and believe the U.S. and the Caribbean Community should help facilitate his return to Haiti. There is an urgency for Prime Minister Ariel Henry to return to the country. The international community should assume this responsibility to help Prime Minister Ariel Henry return home as quickly as possible, said Andre Michel, a Haitian political leader. We cannot consecrate this in a gang victory because its the gangs that are passing orders. We cannot accept that the gangs have had a political victory. Michel said he and others told Caribbean leaders they not only remain supportive of Henry, but are also prepared to make the sacrifices to find a political agreement that would lead to elections. We told them we are ready to enter into a political process, to compromise in order to find an agreement so that we can put an end to the transition because the transition has gone on for nearly two years. Its time for it to be done with and we are ready to make the sacrifice to find a consensus to come to an agreement, he said. But their most important message was about bringing help to Haiti to combat the violence. We told them the most important thing for the Haitian people today is for the international community to help Haiti put order in this chaos, he said. Because today the biggest enemy of the Haitian people and of everyone is the gangs. Death penalty Sadly, the failed execution last week diverted media attention away from the groundswell of opposition to executions in Idaho and instead focused attention on the failure. 7,000 people signed a petition opposing the death penalty and delivered it to Gov. Brad Little. About 40 people protested outside the prison or at the Capitol on Wednesday, with more protesting online. Six churches solemnly tolled their bells. The bishops of the local Catholic and Lutheran churches wrote letters to Governor Little expressing opposition to executions. Since 1973, at least 197 people who had been wrongly convicted and sentenced to death in the U.S. have been exonerated, with 20 more people executed where evidence was later found that likely would have exonerated them. A second execution was attempted, and completed successfully, in Texas last Wednesday, even with allegations of false testimony and questions by jurors as to his innocence. This isnt about Thomas Creechs guilt or innocence. Its about proposing an alternative of committing someone to life in prison rather than propagating a culture of killing others who may be innocent. Glenn McGeoch, Meridian Creech Poor Tom Creech deliberate killer, murderer of five or seven or more innocent people. Apparently, murdering innocent citizens violently, ending their lives is just OK, fine with our faith leaders. Maybe they expect that pardoning Creech will bring the victims back to life, end their families suffering, grief. Thats faith? Why not print full newspaper page-sized pictures of all Creechs victims, then the pictures of what the police and medical people had to deal with handle the violent evil mess Creech consciously made, multiple times. Poor boy. And what are the long-term taxpayer and government expenses of handling and preserving a mad killer like Creech? Occasionally, the legal system commits an error not what happened here. Imagine what each of Creechs victims went through, how they suffered as they were viciously killed by him. Also, give some thought to their families and friends, as well. You might give another thought to the cops, medical personnel and people who had to handle what Creech chose to do to human lives. Thank you, Brad Little, and everyone who has tried to prevent evil violence against innocent good people. Frank Juiliano, Boise Execution No matter how depraved the individual may be, that does not give you, me, or the state the right to take a life. Yes, I understand that it costs money to keep someone alive for 50 or 60 years. It costs money to fight death penalty judgments. But cost should not be equated to the value of a human life, no matter how evil that human life may have seemed to be. We, as individuals and as a society, should be better than equating a life to dollars in terms of the cost of incarceration. But more importantly, we should always look for the possibility of redemption. Can all people be redeemed in this life? No. But whether a person is redeemed or not is not for us to say. I am not God. Instead, I am a child of God who believes that each and every one of us may be forgiven no matter our sins. I do not want it on me, as a citizen of this state, to deprive someone of the chance to be forgiven. Kathryn E Baerwald, Meridian Authoritarianism Alarmed at many Americans willing rush toward authoritarianism, I dusted off William Shirers The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich for a re-read. Our situations today rang a bell in my memory of Germanys events of the early 1930s. I am increasingly worried that our country is on the same path as the last days of the Weimar Republicwhich did not end well for the fate of the world. Its not too late to prevent a similar occurrence. We must set aside minor differences and unite against the fascism advocated by Trump and his acolytes. To quote Shirer: No class, group, or party in Germany could escape its share of responsibility for the abandonment of the democratic Republic and the advent of Hitler. The cardinal error of the Germans who opposed Nazism was their failure to unite against it. At the crest of their popular strength in 1932, the Nazis had attained but 37% of the vote. But the 63% of the German people who expressed their opposition to Hitler were much too divided and shortsighted to combine against a common danger which they must have known would overwhelm them unless they united, however temporarily, to stamp it out. John Holbrook, Boise Caucus This reader is disappointed that I was unable to vote in the Republican primary in the State of Idaho. Instead of holding a primary election, the State Republican Party decided to hold a one-day caucus to determine the winner of the Idaho primary. This caucus was supported by only 7% of Idaho Republicans. Thus, the other 93% were not represented in the determination of our Presidential primary. I find this unacceptable and disingenuous to the process. I call for the Idaho Legislature to fix this in future elections in order to ensure everyone in Idaho has a voice in who should win the primary. Matt Sheridan, Boise Faith healing The opinion piece written by Bryan Clark on children still dying because of Idahos faith healing is absolutely correct. The Idaho legislature is spending time on issues to restrict rights for women, teachers, librarians, and the LGTBQ community, while Idaho kids die from treatable diseases. They die not from their own beliefs, many of them are too young to have formed any beliefs. No, they die because of beliefs of their parents and guardians. Everyone should have the right to believe whatever they want, but no one should be able to harm another person because of their beliefs. Denying a child healthcare because you do not believe in medicine definitely harms the child. Some die, but many others suffer. There is a simple solution, change or repeal Idahos religious exemption laws. If not full repeal, at least eliminate the exemptions in cases where the child is in imminent danger of permanent disability or death. The legislature passes anti-abortion laws, to protect the embryo, why not pass laws to protect the kids already born. It is true, kids dont vote and kids dont send in political contributions, but like you and me they are all Gods children and deserve to live. Bruce Wingate, Boise Will convicted child killer Adam Montgomery attend his May 9 sentencing for the murder of his daughter, Harmony? A new bill introduced by New Hampshire lawmakers aims at requiring Montgomery, and other offenders like him, to be in the courtroom for sentencing to face a judge and the victims loved ones. The bill, introduced Thursday in the New Hampshire House of Representatives session by House Speaker Emeritus Stephen Shurtleff, would require people convicted of a Class A felony to attend their sentencing hearings. Evil: Kayla Montgomery takes stand in trial of estranged husband accused of killing young daughter Montgomery, 34, did not attend his trial and wasnt present when jurors returned their verdict. Under current state law, a person charged with a felony does not have to appear at their own trial or at their own sentencing, Shurtleff said. This isnt right, said Shurtleff, a Penacook Democrat who called Montgomerys crimes against his daughter horrendous. He said the bill would also give Granite State victims the right to present their victim impact statement to the court, with the offenders present to hear that statement. Shurtleff asked his fellow lawmakers to suspend House rules to allow in the late bill. I dont believe that it should put off until next year, Shurtleff said. The House voted, 286-67, meeting the two-thirds majority to let in the bill for consideration after deadlines pass for bringing new legislation. If passed, the bill would apply to Class A felonies, which include violent crimes such as murder, rape, armed robbery, sexual assault and arson, and which carry a state prison term of 7 1/2 to 15 years, Shurtleff said. Montgomery was convicted of second-degree murder last month in the death of his 5-year-old daughter, Harmony, who police believe was killed nearly two years before she was reported missing in 2021. Her body has never been found. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Bank auditors urged to embrace change to keep up with evolving landscape KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As financial institutions worldwide are being disrupted on multiple fronts in an era marked by climate action and digitalisation, greater expectations are placed on internal auditors in the banking sector to stay ahead of the curve by upskilling and leveraging technological advancements to meet the changing industry and regulatory demands. Members of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB)s Chief Internal Auditors Networking Group (CIANG), with Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, Auditor-General of Malaysia; Tan Sri Azman Hashim, FCB, Chairman, Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers; Edward Ling, Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers; and Shamsul Bahrom, CB, Chairman of AICBs CIANG. The inaugural Bank Audit Conference 2024 (BAC 2024) themed "Future of Internal Audit Embracing Change, Staying Relevant" held on 67 March 2024 in Kuala Lumpur was jointly organised by the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) and its Chief Internal Auditors Networking Group (CIANG) and officiated by Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, Auditor-General of Malaysia, who delivered the keynote address. The conference provided a platform for local and international internal audit professionals and experts to gather and discuss the megatrends shaping the new audit and risk management landscape, regulatory developments, and how to further elevate the standards of internal audit practices in financial institutions in Malaysia. Tan Sri Azman Hashim, FCB, Chairman, Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers shared, "In times of change, internal auditors continue to play a critical role in ensuring 'checks and balances' for sound corporate governance within banking institutions. The internal auditor of the future must be able to adapt to the sustainable and digital transformation landscape and be prepared to lead in a tech-centric audit landscape. AICB recognises the importance of supporting internal auditors in developing their skills and knowledge to perform their roles efficiently and effectively. Therefore, the continuous professional development of our members is of paramount importance to us. Since introducing AICB's audit certification in 1998, over 1,700 internal bank auditors have been successfully certified to further uphold the highest standards of professional conduct and competence in the Malaysian banking industry." Story continues Mr Shamsul Bahrom, CB, Chairman of AICB's Chief Internal Auditors Networking Group (CIANG) said, "As an internal auditor, I wish to emphasise that we must remain front and centre of the integrity of our institutions and be proactive to effectively prepare for the future. The AICBCIANG is a strong network that brings together bank auditors to discuss current and critical issues that are commonly faced and impacting our profession. The inaugural Bank Audit Conference 2024, which positions the profession at the forefront of the evolving business environment, has exceeded our expectations. This further reinforces the need for greater sharing of knowledge and best practices across the profession to further assist internal audit professionals in their development of systematic approaches and solutions to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of reporting, risk management, fraud detection, internal controls and governance processes in their respective institutions. These efforts will promote stronger compliance within our institutions, meet the highest of international standards, and contribute to the stability of the financial system and the broader economy." At BAC 2024, over 30 leading bankers, regulators and internal audit experts shed light on notable global trends in the industry, including among others digital disruption and cybersecurity, the increasing importance of ESG issues in business considerations, sustainability reporting and disclosures, integration of AI and data analytics in boosting the efficiency of audit functions, the complexity of data privacy, security laws and regulations, further underscoring the importance of the internal audit function in providing robust reporting, enhancing risk management and ensuring sound governance. BAC 2024 drew over 500 delegates from local and international financial institutions and featured a pre-conference workshop that focused on integrating data security and cybersecurity into the internal audit framework. For more information on the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers, please visit www.aicb.org.my. About The Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) The Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) is the sole professional body for Malaysia's banking industry. The Institute is governed by a council of representatives from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM), and the Malaysian Investment Banking Association (MIBA). With over 34,000 members and growing, AICB aims to elevate professional and ethical standards in banking by creating a workforce with the highest standards of professional conduct, knowledge and competence through its professional membership and qualifications. AICB is the only institute in Southeast Asia that is approved by the Chartered Banker Institute, UK, to award the Chartered Banker status. It continues to engage with industry experts to ensure that its suite of qualifications remains relevant and futureproof, equipping bankers with the requisite skills and values to keep pace with the ever-evolving banking environment. The Institute continues to support the growth of its members through innovative learning and by advocating professionalism, advancing thought leadership, and facilitating networking opportunities. For more information on AICB, please visit www.aicb.org.my. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/asian-institute-of-chartered-bankers-aicb-and-chief-internal-auditors-networking-group-ciang-host-successful-bank-audit-conference-2024-302083623.html SOURCE Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) San Franciscos Treasure Island has looked like a maze of construction zones for years. More than 1,000 union workers are transforming the former U.S. Naval Base into the Bay Areas single largest source of new housing. With 8,000 new homes, hundreds of parks, and revamped infrastructure in the construction pipeline, Mayor London Breed dubbed the island, San Franciscos newest neighborhood. Breed and Supervisor Matt Dorsey introduced legislation earlier this week to ensure that Treasure Island, as well as adjacent Yerba Buena Island, stay on track and continue to deliver new homes at all income levels. A view of new construction is seen from this drone view on Treasure Island in San Francisco on Jan. 11, 2024. (Jane Tyska /Digital First Media /East Bay Times via Getty Images) According to state housing officials, San Francisco is required to build more than 80,000 new homes by 2030. Treasure Island, and the thousands of new homes being built there, is key to San Franciscos economic recovery, said Breed, who once lived on the island. The new legislation is designed to ensure the redevelopment of Treasure Island undergoes a smooth transition from Phase 1, which began in 2015, to Phase 2. A drone view of Treasure Island is seen on Jan. 11, 2024. (Jane Tyska/ Digital First Media/ East Bay Times via Getty Images) Over the past three years, nearly 1,000 homes have been built, opened, or are under construction. A new seawall and ferry terminal were built, and regular daily ferry service is ongoing from Downtown San Francisco. New businesses are also opening as the new neighborhood evolves. SF opens mental health, drug program on Treasure Island Treasure Island is the citys largest housing project under way in a moment when there is a tremendous push, not only to build new housing, but to boost economic activity, said Supervisor Matt Dorsey. New construction is seen from this drone view of Treasure Island on Jan. 11, 2024. (Jane Tyska/ Digital First Media/ East Bay Times via Getty Images) The citys private sector partner, master developer Treasure Island Community Development, has already built hundreds of millions of dollars worth of new infrastructure and homes, the mayors office said. There are 24 construction trades currently working on Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island. Treasure Island is a crucial part of San Franciscos post-pandemic recovery, said Rudy Gonzalez of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council. We are proud of the work these skilled and trained craftsmen and craftswomen in bringing housing on-line and rebuilding Treasure Island for the 21st century. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. In less than a week, two Miami-area police officers have been involved in shootings. On Thursday afternoon, at least one Miami police officer shot a man multiple times near Liberty City as he held a knife or a screwdriver and stood by a child. The incident was caught on video before, during and after the shots were fired. The man, whom police have not identified, was in critical condition in the hospital, police said. READ MORE: Video shows Miami police shooting man repeatedly. Hes in critical condition, police say On Saturday, a Miami Beach officer shot another officer after 911 calls came in about a man possibly holding a small handgun while walking on the Venetian Causeway. No gun was found on the man, though the shooting occurred during scuffle with him. READ MORE: Officer isnt facing suspension for shooting fellow cop. Suspect didnt have gun: sources Heres a look at each situation and the procedures in place at both departments when a police officer shoots someone: Miami Officers involved in a shooting get reassigned to administrative duties for a minimum of seven days, according to the departments procedure. They continue to get paid their regular salary during their reassignment. An officer being investigated will not return to their regular job until the following conditions are met, as per the departments manual: They attend an incident stress debriefing; They complete refresher training; The investigating agency finishes a post-shooting briefing; Or the police chief approves the officers return after reviewing available evidence. The Miamis internal affairs division has begun its investigation in Thursdays shooting, though it could take several months. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the lead investigating agency in police-involved shootings. FDLE has said it could take up to a year to investigate. Miami Beach Officer Shenaqua Stringer, the officer involved in the Venetian Causeway shooting of a fellow officer, has not been suspended, according to a police spokesperson. She faces administrative repercussions, such as leave or reassignment. She has been with the department for eight years and is getting paid during her reassignment. Miami Beach police didnt confirm exactly what type of administrative action would be taken, but said changing an officers duties is standard procedure for officers who have fired their weapons. Miami Beach polices Internal Affairs division is investigating the incident. Being on the receiving end of a prostate cancer diagnosis is tough for any man to face, with one of the biggest challenges being life post-treatment. The impact that cancer treatment can have on a mans sex life includes everything from erectile dysfunction, low libido and difficulty achieving orgasm to low sperm count. Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK, with more than 52,000 new cases diagnosed in the UK every year, usually affecting men aged 50 and above, with the risk increasing as men get older. The prostate gland is a small organ thats part of a mans reproductive anatomy and about the size of a walnut. Its found deep in the pelvis, between the penis and the bladder. Its most important job is producing seminal fluid. It also plays a part in hormone production and helps regulate urine flow. The most common surgery for prostate cancer removes the entire prostate gland using a procedure called radical prostatectomy, and you may also have radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Advances in screening and nerve-sparing robotic (minimally invasive) surgery and other techniques can help minimise life-changing side effects. The development of MRI scanning and robotic surgery has meant outcomes are much better than they were 15 years ago, says Giles Hellawell, consultant urological surgeon at Londons Charing Cross Hospital. However, Prostate Cancer UK has revealed that in a survey of men who had received treatment for prostate cancer, 81 per cent reported erectile dysfunction. In fact, many experts agree that most men will experience some side effects either temporarily or permanently. Although, as Hellawell says: The sexual dysfunction impact is also dependent on many factors such as the patients general health, any other medical problems and their level of sexual function and ability before treatment. How prostate cancer treatment affects your sex life Kelly Kusinski, a urology advanced nurse practitioner at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, says: While changes may be temporary and some men will recover over time, some will experience lifelong changes that require medical intervention and help in maintaining sexual intimacy. It is not only physical challenges that cause problems. Mentally, it is incredibly hard to deal with any changes to sexual function, leaving many men with feelings of anger, anxiety, frustration and embarrassment. Theres a shame attached to this issue and we need to get rid of it, as well as the taboo around asking for help, says Lorraine Grover, of The Prostate Centre, London, and one of the UKs leading psychosexual nurses. There are things people can do to help with the recovery of a sex life, she adds. There is hope for all, no matter what kind of treatment theyve had. For some, their sex life can be improved as there may have been issues before diagnosis, but no one to turn to for help and advice. Living with sexual dysfunction After my prostatectomy it took me 15 months to achieve any sort of useful erection, says Andrew Taylor*, 68, who had his prostate removed eight years ago and has been married for 44 years. I take a small daily dose of Cialis and Im able to get an erection but not one suitable for penetrative sex. That doesnt necessarily mean I dont have a close and intimate relationship with my wife. There are other ways of giving your partner an orgasm. Unfortunately, Taylor, a retired bank manager from Surrey, suffered two priapism episodes [a long-lasting and painful erection] on the occasions he tried injections. He adds: Ive spoken to many men and injections are superb for them, but none of my experiences have been good. Im not risking another medical emergency. His marriage remains strong, but many relationships can become strained. It is important to talk to your partner about how you are feeling and keep an open dialogue. There are many ways to be intimate that do not involve full penetration, such as massage, sex toys and rediscovering each others bodies in a playful and non-pressured way. This is an opportunity for men and their partners to reflect and talk about intimacy and their sex lives, says Grover. Some couples may never have done this before. Its about staying positive and not spiralling into negative thoughts. Psychosexual counselling or couples therapy can help people to discuss their feelings, support each other and find new ways to remain intimate. Sex after prostate cancer treatment: what to expect Sex can feel psychologically and physically different after treatment. Nerves and blood vessels that control erectile function run along the sides of the prostate gland, and during treatment these can be damaged or removed. Many treatments can affect a mans ability to gain and maintain an erection, says Kusinski. When a man becomes aroused, the brain sends signals to the nerves in the penis, which then cause blood to flow into it and make it erect. Any treatments that interfere with or cause changes to these nerves and the blood supply can make it difficult to get and sustain an erection, as well as reducing the desire for sexual intimacy. Along with a reduced libido, there is a connection between hormone therapy, which may be administered as part of the treatment, and genital size. Hormone therapy works by either stopping your body from making testosterone, or by stopping testosterone from reaching the prostate cancer cells, which usually need testosterone to grow. A loss of testosterone can mean the penis and testicles may become smaller, and achieving an orgasm may be challenging because low testosterone levels generally reduce libido. What are the treatment options? Whats important is that the man has a plan of action, says Grover. Some call it penile rehabilitation, but I call it recovery and discovery, as its far more than just the penis its a holistic programme looking at the whole patient. If one treatment doesnt work, we move on to another and look at what impact that may be having on their psychological self. Grover warns that the availability of treatments on NHS prescription can be a postcode lottery. However, Kusinski explains that having knowledge of what is available will allow men to try different treatments and discuss outcomes with healthcare practitioners until they find the one that works best. Here, she sets out the options of dealing with erectile dysfunction: Oral medication These drugs are called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitors) and they temporarily increase blood flow to the penis. There are several types, including sildenafil (sold under the brand name Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), tadalafil (Cialis) and avanafil (Spedra). These are not aphrodisiacs and basically enhance the bodys own mechanism to produce an erection. They will not work if sexual desire is absent and they need to be taken prior to sex. Your healthcare practitioner should review what other medication you take to ensure there are no complications from combining them. Vacuum therapy An erection is produced by creating a vacuum around the penis using a pump device. This results in blood being drawn into the penis, and the erection is maintained using a constriction band worn at the base. Most men can achieve an erection well enough for sexual intercourse within a few minutes, but the band shouldnt be worn for longer than 30 minutes. Some practitioners recommend the use of a vacuum device as daily exercise. This can improve blood flow to the penis and help to keep it healthy. If a pump is being used for this purpose, the constriction band should not be used. Proper initial instruction is strongly advised. Pellets and topical treatments Medicated Urethral System for Erection (Muse) is a form of the drug alprostadil thats made into a pellet approximately the size of a grain of rice. This needs to be inserted into the urethra with a small plastic applicator. With massage and foreplay, the pellet dissolves and is absorbed into the penile tissues and an erection can be achieved in around 10 minutes. Topical creams and gels such as Vitaros may also stimulate the nerves in the head of the penis, helping to make the penis erect. Penile injections These are artificial hormones that stimulate blood flow to the penis and are a very effective method of achieving an erection. Prior to using the injections yourself, a nurse or doctor will show you how to mix the medication and self-inject into the side of the penis using a very thin needle. The penis can become rigid within five to 15 minutes and the erection can last up to an hour. However, on rare occasions these injections can cause priapism. This happens when the penis does not become soft again because the blood is unable to flow back out of the penis. If an erection lasts beyond two hours, it is important you inform your GP or go to an A&E department for treatment. Penile implants One kind of implant involves semi-rigid rods that are placed in the penis under general anaesthetic and can be bent upwards when an erection is required and back down afterwards. Because the implants are malleable, they can be set in various positions, as needed. The other type of penile implant is inflatable. It remains in the penis and a pump is inserted in the scrotum. When an erection is required, the pump is activated. Insertion of any penile prosthesis results in the destruction of internal erectile tissue and should only be considered when all other treatment options have been tried. There is a risk of infection, or that the body may reject the implants, which would then require them to be removed. The other treatment options mentioned above cannot be tried afterwards. Not every hospital provides this surgery, so referrals are made to a specialist centre. Which health professionals can help? Initial discussions can start with either your GP, consultant urologist or urology specialist nurse. If you are suitable for tablet treatment, a GP can prescribe it. Other treatment options may be recommended and commenced by your urology team. Your GP will be informed of your treatment option, says Kusinski, and can continue with the prescriptions subsequently. There are other ways to seek help, such as the UKs prostate cancer charities and nationwide support groups. In 2023, Prostate Cancer Research launched The Infopool, a comprehensive website that includes stories and videos of men and their partners talking about their experiences with prostate cancer, including living with sexual dysfunction. People want to find experiences they can relate to, says David James, director of patient projects at Prostate Cancer Research. People can search for stories by age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and so on. Former patient Andrew Taylor regularly attends a support group organised by Tackle, a patient-led, UK-wide prostate cancer charity. I go every month and its immensely useful. Its given me a safe space to have the courage to say things that only other people there can understand. Theres even an online group and a group set up by Tackle just for wives and partners. Will there be infertility issues? Depending on what treatment you have for your cancer, your fertility may be affected and you may not be able to father children naturally. Of course, this may not be an issue for you, but if it is, sperm banking is the best chance for having children after cancer treatment, and sperm can usually be stored for up to 10 years. Men dont become infertile after treatment, they are just not able to naturally conceive, says Prof Hashim Ahmed, chairman of urology and head of speciality surgery at Imperial College London. If men havent saved sperm and later on theyre thinking about having children, we can still retrieve it directly from the testicles. Boosting a low libido Touching, caressing each other and thinking about sexual fantasies are some things that may help, suggests Kusinski. Using sex toys and having physical contact can slowly lead to being aroused and improving the libido. It is also reassuring for men and their partners to realise that sex doesnt have to be about penetration, she explains. Spending quality time together can help couples become more comfortable. She advises setting time aside to enjoy each others bodies without the pressure of thinking about having sex. Grover agrees: It is possible to have a healthy sex life after prostate cancer treatment. It just might take a bit of time. *Name has been changed Recommended The nine things every man should know about prostate cancer Read more Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Cook County states attorney candidate Clayton Harris III made a personal pitch in his bid for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming primary to a sparse City Club crowd Thursday afternoon. As a former assistant states attorney, Harris said he saw the churn of Black men in and out of the system; as a resident of Washington Park, he said his family has to worry about bullets flying and being profiled by the police; and as a father raising young boys, he said he was heartbroken to read about a case prosecuted by his opponent that has become central to his campaign for both safety and justice in the office. Harris opponent in the March 19 primary is retired Appellate Judge Eileen ONeill Burke, the better-funded candidate in the contest to succeed outgoing top prosecutor Kim Foxx. At stake is who will run the second largest prosecutors office in the country while a pandemic-fueled surge in crime has not fully subsided. Harris reiterated his call for a balanced approach to safety and justice, pledging to run the office on behalf of businesses that feel like they need to close up or just shut down because of smash-and-grabs or the crime thats going on downtown as well as drivers whove been pulled over through pretextual traffic stops. Both candidates have said they would reset relationships with local police departments, applauded adoption of SAFE-T Act reforms, and pledged to continue many of Foxxs restorative justice measures. But the campaign has largely devolved into negative attacks in recent weeks as fundraising and attention have picked up. ONeill Burke will make her case at the City Club on Monday. In Harris City Club speech and in a conversation that followed with attorney Duane Deskins, a former federal prosecutor, Harris defended his time away from the courtroom as an asset. ONeill Burke has spent her entire career in and around courtrooms as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and judge. You have rock solid experience in the legal world in terms of government affairs and legislative affairs 20 years of doing that but it would be also equally true that if you are elected you would have the least Cook County prosecutor criminal court experience of any prosecutor in the last 30 years, Deskins said. Do you think youre up to leading this kind of task? Harris said absolutely, adding that no one should sleep on his experience in criminal courts including in criminal appeals and special prosecutions focused on narcotics. But if someone is reliant on strictly the legal experience the time in the office as the bona fide on whether they should be the next Cook County states attorney, then they grossly misunderstand the role of the states attorney, Harris said. The job is not to argue cases directly in court, he said, but to make sure prosecutors have the resources they need, have the training necessary, have the background and backup that they need. You need someone who can lead the office, as well as manage the office. Harris throughout the campaign has pointed to his management experience running government offices in the city and state and lobbying elected officials he worked in government affairs at both Lyft and C2HM Hill as sign of his management strength and ability to work across offices to accomplish change. ONeill Burke has said his time helming a Lyft-funded statewide nonprofit pushing against classifying drivers as employees was an indication of an anti-union streak, which Harris has swatted down by pointing at several endorsements from progressive labor groups. Meanwhile, Harris has pointed to ONeill Burkes 1994 prosecution of A.M. who was 11 when he was convicted of the violent murder of his elderly neighbor as disqualifying. Then a young prosecutor in the office, ONeill Burke has said she presented the best case based on the evidence in defense of the victim, and that the boys confession was compelling evidence. The boys conviction was later overturned. A federal judge found the officer who secured that confession coerced it. ONeill Burke was not accused of wrongdoing and noted the judge said the boys attorney provided insufficient defense. In an interview on WGN-TV this week, she said if she knew that officer was conducting investigations that did not comport with the Constitution and the law, of course I would not have proceeded on that. Even so, Harris blasted ONeill Burke Thursday for not acknowledging now that something was wrong with the cases prosecution, including ignoring a lot of exculpatory evidence. He said he had been in situations where I had to dismiss cases because I wasnt comfortable with what was going forward, and ONeill Burke should have done the same. We all make mistakes and we can own up to it, Harris said. We need to expect more from our elected officials and you all need to expect more from me as your states attorney. He also took issue with what ONeill Burke said when A.M. was sentenced, when she suggested sentencing options were not harsh enough to respond to the violent crime. Our juvenile criminal act was written at a time when kids were knocking over outhouses, not killing people, she said, according to the Sun-Times. Were looking at a whole new breed here. I have two sons. They are 11 and 9, Harris said. This 10-year-old could have been my son. It is extremely personal to me, I thought of them when I read the facts of the case this could have been my son. A whole new breed. A whole new breed? Critics have said that phrase contributed to racist superpredator narratives at the time. ONeill Burke told WGN that whole new breed is a terrible phrase and I shouldnt have used that phrase. Both candidates support state legislation to require anyone under 18 who is questioned by police to have an attorney present as well as additional supports for youth to prevent crime and repeat offenses. aquig@chicagotribune.com Chris Rowleys daughter gently leaned her head on her fathers shoulder in a packed Ada County courtroom Thursday afternoon. Surrounded by family, the father of three hugged his daughter back at times and waited to hear how long the woman who caused his wifes death would spend in prison. Fourth District Judge Lynn Norton sentenced 38-year-old Natalie Hodson to at least two years in prison on a vehicular manslaughter charge in the killing of Kristina Rowley, a 39-year-old teacher and mother. There are another 13 years attached to that sentence that Hodson could spend either in prison, on parole or both. Norton also suspended Hodsons drivers license for 20 years. Hodson who had been drinking was driving a minivan in August 2022 on Idaho 55 north of Eagle when she struck Rowley, who had pulled over to check a trailer she was hauling, the Statesman previously reported. Hodson fled the scene and kept driving north, and later told deputies that she thought she hit a mailbox. Kristina Rowley She was my everything for 20 years, Chris Rowley said in court. She was everything to my children. She was their counselor, cheerleader, teacher, mentor and advocate. Just before the collision, Kristina Rowley was set to start her second year as a K-12 art and yearbook teacher in the Cascade School District, the Statesman previously reported. The school districts superintendent said after the accident that Kristina Rowley was a natural teacher who was engaging, kind, intuitive, intelligent and attuned to her students. She was also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now, Kristina Rowley wont be able to attend her childrens high school graduations, see them go off on mission trips or to college, or attend their weddings and meet her grandchildren, Chris Rowley said. He added that she was the glue that kept their family together. Our children are now forced to do all of these things without their mother to help guide them and celebrate their future paths, Rowley said. There are and will be those around them who will try to help fill the void of losing their mother, but none of these individuals no matter how good their intentions can fill that void. They are not Kristina. Hodson attorney asks for no prison time, community program Hodson, who had developed a big social media following prior to the incident, pleaded guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter in January as part of a plea deal dropping a felony charge for leaving the scene of an accident, according to prior reporting. Hodson could have been sentenced to 15 years in prison without the possibility of parole, under state law. Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Brittany Ford argued that Hodson should spend at least two years in prison before being eligible for parole, and that was what the judge did. Hodsons private attorney, Michael Bartlett, asked the judge to place her in the Ada County Jails community transition program for a year. The Boise mother began blogging about her fitness journey and eventually began teaching online business courses after an online book garnered a lot of attention, according to her website. Hodsons Instagram account is no longer public and she hasnt posted on her Facebook page, which has over 460,000 followers, since the crash. On the day of the crash, Hodson had a doctors appointment for a mammogram over concerns she might have breast cancer, Bartlett said in court Thursday. He added that she had a lot of anxiety around the possible diagnoses and had to wait four months before seeing a doctor. Bartlett said Hodson drank several alcoholic seltzers in the hospital parking lot before her appointment, and then proceeded to drink more after getting back into her car. Then she made the horrible decision to drive, Bartlett said. Hodsons blood alcohol content was 0.085, just slightly over the legal limit of 0.08, Ford said in court. But that reading was taken several hours after the accident, so it was likely higher when she was driving, Ford added. Since the incident Hodson has been enrolled in several treatment programs for alcoholism, including a monthlong inpatient program, Bartlett said. Hodson has attended over 600 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the past year and a half, the attorney said. Bartlett argued that the treatment people receive in prison isnt equivalent to what people can get otherwise. Hodson has been able to become a leader within her treatment community and has a large group of supporters, Bartlett said. The state cannot deny that the defendant has taken a lot of action during the dependency of this case to address her substance abuse, Ford said before sentencing. She has admitted to being an alcoholic, and admitted that that issue started well before this incident. Ford argued that rehabilitation wasnt the only factor Judge Norton should consider when handing down Hodsons sentence, adding that justice requires there be some punishment. Natalie Hodson reads a statement to the judge during her sentencing hearing for the vehicular manslaughter of Kristina Rowley. Hodson was sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison with the possibly of parole after two years. Hodson told the judge that shed willingly accept whatever prison sentence was handed to her and that no punishment would ever be enough. I stand before you today because I committed a terrible crime, Hodson said Thursday. I take full responsibility for the selfish and tragic crime that I committed, and I have only myself to blame for why we are here today. Hodson said she wanted the Rowley family to know the deep sorrow she feels and how often she thinks about their family. She thinks about them when tucking her kids into bed, during the holidays or even doing mundane things like setting the table, Hodson said, adding that she knows the Rowley family will have an empty space no matter what. The deep, deep remorse, and overwhelming guilt and crippling shame that I feel is something that I will live with the rest of my life, Hodson said. The agony and pain in knowing that I killed a woman a mother, a wife, a sister and a daughter. It haunts me. A man who spied on his housemate with surveillance equipment before stabbing her to death has been jailed for life. Sheldon Rodrigues, 30, killed Stephanie Hansen, 39, in Hayes, west London, in December 2022 after she turned down his advances. He was convicted of murder by a jury at the Old Bailey in January. As he was sentenced to a minimum term of 25 years, Ms Hansen's mother Glenda told Rodrigues: "You took her life and you stole her future." During the trial, it was heard Rodrigues had been obsessed with Ms Hansen for at least seven years, and had offered to have surgery to change his appearance. He became angry and jealous after Ms Hansen rejected him and began seeing a work colleague, the court was told. Rodrigues bought spy devices, sent an abusive message via social media under the name of chef Jamie Oliver and complained to the couple's employer, prosecutors said. Before the killing, Rodrigues learned, via the spy devices he had installed, her boyfriend had visited her at the house. He was at work when he was listening in on the couple's "most intimate moments" and when he arrived home at 07:00 GMT he "exploded with rage and brutally attacked" Ms Hansen. Rodrigues stabbed Ms Hansen to death in her bedroom, later blaming her boyfriend for the killing, the court was told. Jurors heard Rodrigues, who had denied murder, stabbed Ms Hansen repeatedly in the neck and battered her over the head and face with a hairdryer and large fan with "severe force". Almost 60 separate injuries were recorded on Ms Hansen's body. Sentencing Rodrigues at the Old Bailey, Judge Judy Khan KC said he had carried out a "campaign of harassment and intimidation". She said the attack was "sustained and ferocious", and was "premeditated" due to his anger at Ms Hansen. 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 HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) The Hays Consolidated Independent School District and Lake Travis ISD announced this week school will be canceled on April 8 for the solar eclipse. Hays CISD said it decided to cancel at the request of county emergency management officials. Hays CISD sent an email to parents, staff and students Thursday alerting them of the decision. Total eclipse traffic drives some Texas schools to cancel class Lake Travis said safety and operational concerns influenced their decision to call off classes for the once-in-a-lifetime event, Lake Travis ISD said in a statement on its website. Local officials and first responders anticipate a significant influx of visitors for this extraordinary event, straining local infrastructure and resources and potentially impacting school operations, LTISD said. Similar factors influenced Hays CISDs decision to cancel classes, the district said. Additionally, Hays CISD said if schools were in session April 8 and an emergency at one of the districts campuses happened, response could be delayed. Plus, school buses and student drop-off and pick-up traffic could contribute to road congestion. We enjoy a very strong partnership with the men and women in law enforcement and first-response professions who keep us safe, Hays CISD said. We are happy to help them in this instance by closing school. Which Texas cities could see nearly 500K tourists during the total eclipse? Hays and Lake Travis said they have enough minutes already built into the calendar so there will not need to be a makeup day. Hays CISD already purchased enough eclipse glasses for every student and staff member, and schools will now send those glasses home with students, along with activities and assignments for eclipse day. It is our sincere hope that staff, students, and families across Lake Travis ISD will safely witness this celestial phenomenon and create lasting memories together, Lake Travis ISD said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Throughout history, women have been viewed as the weaker sex: smaller, less muscular and slower than men. Yet when it comes to health, in many vital respects the female of the species is actually far stronger. Women live longer around seven years on average internationally and survive illness more successfully. Professor Steven Austad of the University of Alabama, who has spent more than two decades studying longevity, describes women as more robust. Here, for International Womens Day, we look at all the health advantages of being a woman. Longevity According to the ONS, life expectancy at birth in the UK between 2020 and 2022 was 78.6 years for men, and for women, it was 82.6 years a gap of four years. The difference in lifespan has remained stable even throughout monumental shifts in society, including both genders work becoming more sedentary. But why? One answer may lie in the sex chromosomes: XY for men, and XX for women. The Y chromosome tends to develop mutations more often than X chromosomes. And if a woman has a disease-producing gene on one of her X chromosomes, it may be counterbalanced by a normal gene on the other X, while men lack the potential protection of this matching gene. Hormones also play a role. Korean research of 81 eunuchs whose testicles were removed before puberty at the Imperial Court of the Chosun Dynasty showed that without testosterone, the men were 130 times more likely to reach their 100th birthday than the average man living in Korea at that time. Meanwhile, one American study suggested testosterone could increase vulnerability to infections, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Another reason could be social, reflecting the difference in mens and womens behaviour. Women notice whats going on in our bodies more, probably because weve had to take notice of our menstrual cycles, and were more likely to go to the doctor, says Leslie Kenny, a longevity expert and the founder of Oxford Healthspan. Our chronic conditions are more frequently addressed, which I think is a major reason why we live longer. Heart health Women in the UK have around half the number of heart attacks as men, according to the British Heart Foundation. The hormone oestrogen is believed to have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, says Dr Mariyam Malik, a GP and womens health specialist at Pall Mall Medical. It contributes to healthier blood vessels and a lower risk of heart disease. Oestrogen has been shown to help control cholesterol levels, raising good cholesterol, and reducing the risk of fat building in the arteries. The risk increases post-menopause, but evidence shows hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, can reduce it. Men also accumulate more belly fat than women, for whom it tends to develop on their bottoms, hips and thighs. Less fat around the midsection is another reason womens risk of heart disease is lower. Immune system Research has repeatedly shown that women have a stronger immune response to infections than men a possible explanation for man flu, or mens tendency to exaggerate the severity of a cold. Womens X chromosomes enable their cells to express more immune-related genes and gene-protein regulators, which generally means a faster clearance of pathogens in women than men. Higher levels of oestrogen and progesterone may also boost womens immunity as an evolutionary feature to protect pregnancy: a womans immune system is more active in the first part of her cycle, the follicular phase, when there is a rise in oestrogen levels. Psychological resilience Its widely known that supportive relationships are central to both our mental and physical health, lowering the risk of depression, strengthening our immune system, and possibly even lengthening our lives. Women tend to maintain larger social support networks than men and are more likely to seek help from friends and family when facing challenges, says Dr Felicity Baker, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Ultimate Resilience. They are more likely to access help from a medical professional when they are struggling. She says women are also more likely to use emotion-focused coping strategies to calm the stress response and help them recover. As a consequence, women may be more likely to recognise signs that they are struggling early and find ways of resolving challenges before they become chronic. Research shows that women report experiencing more positive emotions than men, which are central to resilience and wellbeing, says Baker. They also tend to express these emotions more frequently to others. More benefits from exercise New research shows that women derive significantly greater health benefits from doing the same amount of physical activity as men. The study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology looked at the exercise habits of 412,423 adults between 1997 and 2019. The results showed that both men and women saw the maximum benefits at around 300 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous activity, but that women experienced more benefits in half the time. Men experienced an 18 per cent risk reduction in all-cause mortality for this duration, while women experienced the same gain in just 140 minutes per week. At 300 minutes, women had a 24 per cent lower risk of premature death. Women who were regular exercisers were also 36 per cent less likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to non-exercisers; for men, it was only 14 per cent. Women receive greater benefits from exercise than men - Getty The greatest difference between sexes was seen in vigorous activity, such as running or swimming, with men achieving a 19 per cent lower risk in mortality after 110 minutes per week, while women saw the same gains after only 57 minutes per week. For women, 110 minutes per week were linked to a 24 per cent lower mortality risk. Our study doesnt suggest that women should exercise less, but rather it encourages women who may not be getting enough exercise for various reasons, that even relatively small amounts of exercise can provide significant benefits, said Dr Hongwei Ji, the co-author of the study from the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. Better memory In a study published in the journal Menopause, women aged 45-55 outperformed men in all memory measures, including episodic memory (a form of long-term memory involving recollection of specific events), executive function, semantic processing (recall of words, concepts and numbers) and associative memory (for example, remembering the name of a person weve just met). Like many aspects of womens health, scientists are unsure exactly why this is the case, but clues can be found in other studies. One, published in the journal Child Development, argued the strength of our memory is built on the way were taught to tell stories during our formative years. From a young age, girls are trained to share their emotions and descriptive details when recalling an event these details can serve as retrieval clues to help us remember the past. Higher pain threshold Numerous studies suggest that women have a higher tolerance for pain than men perhaps unsurprisingly, since women have to withstand childbirth. A 2019 study by Canadas McGill University suggested an intriguing explanation: men remember earlier experiences of pain clearly, making them more stressed and hypersensitive when faced with new pain, while women are not as stressed by their earlier experiences of pain. Recommended The world would be a better place if us men possessed a few female brain cells Read more Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A 19-year-old Sri Lankan native living in Ontario has been charged in the stabbing death of six people in the home they lived in together, including a 2 1/2-month-old girl and three other young children, police said. Febrio De-Zoysa, who is believed to be in Canada as a student, was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, Ottawa police said Thursday in a post on X. De-Zoysa is accused of using an "edged weapon" to kill members of the family who are "newcomers to Canada and are originally from Sri Lanka," Chief Eric Stubbs said in a news release. De-Zoysa was identified as a suspect and quickly arrested without incident, he said. De-Zoysa appeared in court briefly on Thursday and "mumbled his assent" as the justice of the peace prohibited him from speaking to the surviving father or the four other witnesses who provided statements to the Ottawa police, the Associated Press reported. His case was adjourned until March 13 to give him time to find a lawyer, according to the AP. Family killed included mom, baby, 3 children The dead include the 2 1/2-month-old girl, a 2-year-old girl, a 4-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy and their 35-year-old mother, named Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake, Stubbs said. Her husband also was injured, and was taken to the hospital and was in stable condition, according to the Ottawa police. A 40-year-old man named Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon was also found dead in the home, according to the chief. Sri Lankas high commission said it is in contact with relatives in the countrys capital of Colombo, the AP reported. "I want to emphasize that this was a senseless act of violence perpetrated on purely innocent people," Stubbs said. "I know our whole community is shocked and mourning this event. I want to offer my condolences to the loved ones of all of the victims for this unimaginable loss." Homicide Investigation on Berrigan Drive: Victims identified and charges laid The Ottawa Police Service Homicide Unit has charged a man in relation to the homicides on Berrigan Dr. that left six people deceased and one person injured. Febrio DE-ZOYSA, 19-years-old, has been Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) March 7, 2024 Mass killing 'so devastating,' Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says Stubbs said a vigil has been established in honor and memory of the family at the Palmadeo Park in Windsor, Ontario. "This will undoubtedly weigh on the hearts of everyone for a very long time," the chief said. While speaking to CTV News and other media, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: "Our first reactions are all ones of shock and horror at this terrible violence." "We are expecting that the community reaches out to support families and friends as Canadians always do," Trudeau said. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe told CTV news the situation is "heartbreaking." "As a father and as a mayor of my hometown, it's just so devastating to hear about the loss of life, including the children who died," Sutcliffe told the TV station. "It's very difficult to process this news and understand what happened and I think everyone is in shock and disbelief." Sutcliffe said the Barrhaven suburb where the killings occurred is known to be "peaceful, quiet and tranquil," which makes the situation even more troubling. King City, California shooting: 4 dead, 3 injured at party - Police This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Family killed in Ottawa, Canada, including baby, 3 kids; teen charged FILE PHOTO: Man wearing a face mask is seen inside the Shanghai Stock Exchange building, as the country is hit by a novel coronavirus outbreak, at the Pudong financial district in Shanghai By Gaurav Dogra (Reuters) - Foreign investors poured substantial money into Asian equities in February amid a rebound in Chinese stocks following Beijing's rollout of reform measures and a surge in technology shares, driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Data from stock exchanges in South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam showed foreigners purchased a net $10.82 billion worth of regional equities last month, after selling shares worth nearly $779 million in January. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index rebounded last month with a 4% increase, offsetting January's decline, as traders shifted focus to upbeat Asian corporate earnings from concerns over delayed rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve. The bulk of the inflows was directed towards South Korea and Taiwan, recognized as the region's tech hubs, which received $6.1 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively. "The artificial Intelligence (AI) hype saw little signs of abating in the month of February, with investors still preferring to lean into semiconductor stocks and being the region's semiconductor hub, that may account for the strong inflows into South Korea and Taiwan equities," said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG. Indonesian, Indian, the Philippine, and Thai equities attracted inflows of $647 million, $186 million, $129 million, and $93 million, respectively. Vietnam's equities, however, experienced a marginal $59 million outflow, contrasting with the $48 million of net purchases in the previous month. Jason Lui, head of equity and derivative strategy for Asia Pacific at BNP Paribas, highlighted the potential impact of major elections in the region and the U.S. on investment decisions. "The combination of rising trade tensions (Donald Trump is considering new rounds of tariff) and the FED potentially staying on hold for longer may result in more conservative allocation into the EM Asia equities," he said. "In the case of India, foreign investors will be focusing on the election results as Indian voters are expected to vote between April and May." (Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) The ritual surrounding the annual State of the Union is never complete until the presidents opposition has presented its rebuttal occasionally in an embarrassing manner. Katie Britt, the junior Republican senator from Alabama, delivered the GOPs rebuttal to President Joe Bidens address on Thursday. Her impassioned, breathless speech delivered at times in an ASMR-esque whisper from what appeared to be her kitchen ended up feeling more like a rejected audition tape for a supporting role on Greys Anatomy than the hard-hitting political sparring favored by Bidens Republican critics. Into the late hours of the night, Rolling Stone was inundated, sometimes completely unprompted, with messages from longtime GOP operatives, right-leaning pollsters, conservative Capitol Hill staff, MAGA lawyers, and even some senior members of Trumps own 2024 campaign absolutely torching Britts absurdly over-dramatic rebuttal. Enough is enough.@JoeBiden: Innocent Americans are dying. And you only have yourself to blame. Reverse your policies. End this crisis. And stop the suffering. pic.twitter.com/iPftbVmhct Katie Britt (@KatieBrittforAL) March 8, 2024 What the hell am I watching right now? a Trump adviser asked, mid-Britt remarks. Creepy, one of the Republican pollsters noted. A lawyer working in the Trump orbit says the performance reminded them of public-access television, and a senior House congressional aide remarks that it was cringe-inducing to watch and likely destined to be turned into a lame [Saturday Night Live] skit this weekend. Ill give Biden this he at least gave a better speech than Katie Britt, one national Republican consultant said bluntly. Ive watched thousands of hours of political videos in the past 20 years and I have never seen anything like Senator Katie Britts rebuttal to the State of the Union. pic.twitter.com/aMN5Q7hJn8 Yashar Ali (@yashar) March 8, 2024 Online, the reaction from conservative commentators was similar. Im sure Katie Britt is a sweet mom and person, but this speech is not what we need, TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Joe Biden just declared war on the American right and Katie Britt is talking like shes hosting a cooking show whispering about how Democrats dont get it. Podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey pleaded never again to her fellow Republicans: I know yall were going for the relatable mom speaking in her kitchen from her heart, but it didnt work. Just a straight, strong speech will do in the future. Thanks. That's just good acting pic.twitter.com/362qW2gwVE Andrew Perez (@andrewperezdc) March 8, 2024 Radio host Jesse Kelly wrote that Britts rebuttal was not what hed prefer out of the GOP response, but theres no question Katie Britt has mastered the ultimate weapon of dimes everywhere; the fake cry. Thats a seasoned pro right there. Across Capitol Hill, the rebuttal was received with widespread mockery. One Republican staffer described it to Business Insider as giving high school freshman speech. She really thinks shes killing it. But its comical, like SNL quality, they added. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone As deadly fighting between Israel and Hamas continues, so too does a dire humanitarian crisis in the area. At least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel and, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, more than 31,000 people have been killed in Gaza after Hamas launched unprecedented attacks on Israel October 7. Subsequent airstrikes have overwhelmed local hospitals and internally displaced an estimated one million people in Gaza, one of the most densely populated areas on Earth. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is calling for the protection of aid workers, civilians, and critical infrastructure. Calling the situation horrific, Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is urging restraint after medical facilities have been destroyed in the fighting. Impact Your World has gathered a list of vetted organizations that are on the ground responding. You can support their work by clicking HERE or using the form below. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A kitten shower will be noon-4 p.m. Saturday at Kings Harvest Pet Rescue, 2504 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport, a news release says. The goal of this event is to generate donations for the upcoming kitten season which refers to the period of time when female cats are often giving birth to litters (although this happens year-round) This means a high level of pregnant cats, cats and their kittens, and even orphaned kittens coming into the shelter. Vendors and a cake walk activity will be among the features, along with plenty of cats and dogs available for adoption. A wish list of items includes; For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Editors Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently weaponized and distorted history throughout his time in power since 2000. In a recent interview with U.S. far-right commentator Tucker Carlson, Putin went back more than 1,000 years to justify Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Dr. Jade McGlynn has dedicated years to researching and analyzing the political manipulation of history in Russia under Putin's rule. She is a research fellow at the Department of War Studies at Kings College London, a linguist, and historian specializing in modern Eastern Europe, particularly Russia. Her books, "Russia's War" and "Memory Makers: The Politics of the Past in Putin's Russia," focus on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, as well as Russian state-society relations, propaganda, and memory politics. The Kyiv Independent sat down for an interview with McGlynn to discuss Russias distortion of history on Feb. 28 in Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) lights a candle unveiling a huge monument to legendary Russian medieval prince Alexander Nevsky in the village of Samolva, outside Pskov on Sept. 11. 2021. (Alexey Druzhinn /SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images) The Kyiv Independent: Vladimir Putins interview with Carlson sparked a lot of emotional reactions and comments. But how does an actual historian feel after watching something like that? Jade McGlynn: For most historians, I would imagine it's an incredibly frustrating exercise. But I think for those of us who specialize in Russia, it was not a particularly surprising one, because you can actually go back to 1999-2000 and see pretty similar things. But of course, this level of detail ever since he (Putin) locked himself away in a bunker during the coronavirus pandemic with the company of (Russian billionaire Yury) Kovalchuk and the state archives, things have taken a much more deleterious turn. The critical thing to remember when watching these videos is that this is a political technology and an act. This is historical politics. Of course, we're talking about history. But in many ways what we're talking about is cultural memory, and particularly in Putin's case, the official state memory. There's a difference between history and memory. History is the exercise of trying to find out what exactly happened. He's not interested in that. He's interested in using the past to build a memory that unites the Russian nation against others in a way that helps legitimize his regime. Historian and Russian researcher Dr. Jade McGlynn speaks with the Kyiv Independent on Feb. 28, 2024, in Kyiv. (The Kyiv Independent) The Kyiv Independent: Putin claims that Russia's history started over 1,000 years ago with Kyivan Rus, a Viking state that covered some of the modern territories of Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. Does Russia actually have a claim on those territories? Jade McGlynn: No, and even if Russia were the successor state to Kyivan Rus that would have absolutely zero bearing it has the right to those territories today because there are inconvenient things like international law, territorial sovereignty, and recognized borders. The idea of Russia as the heir of Kyivan Rus is very important for Putin. It was actually written into the Constitution in 2020, and it's very central to all the ideology at this point that surrounds the Putin regime, not just him personally. The notion that Russia is a country that is inherently a great power, a superior civilization, and this all links back to the idea that Russia is the inheritor of Kyivan Rus, which gives its linkages back to Byzantium. This is such a political issue right now because if Russia is the inheritor of Kyivan Rus, that means in their reading of history, Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Russians are essentially just one people. We can see where some of those ideas have led us, unfortunately. Russian soldiers walk to Red Square by passing through Tverskaya Street during the rehearsal of Victory Day military parade marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, at Red Square in Moscow on May 7, 2022. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Secondly, it leads us to the notion that Russia is distinct and special, an alternative civilization that derives almost a historical essence. What is interesting is that none of this is invented by Putin. We can go back to Ivan Grozny for example, and during his enthronement, he had Mongol caps and elements like this that he claimed to be from Kyivan Rus. And after the Time of Troubles, of course for the Romanov Dynasty, the idea that they were descended from the Rurikovich line was very important to their legitimacy to the throne. So, almost consistently we see Russian leaders (except perhaps during the Soviet period) drawing on Prince Vladimir, or if you ask Danish people, Valdermar, for this legitimacy to rule. The point is, why does Russia need to present itself as the heir of the Kyivan Rus? If Russia just wanted to pretend it was the heir of the Kyivan Rus, that would just be historically inaccurate. The question is, what do they want to do with that? The Kyiv Independent: So when did Russia's history begin? Jade McGlynn: That's a very tricky question. If we're talking about the Russian state in its current formation, of course, you could make an argument for 1991. That would be the easiest one. If you want to talk in a more conceptual sense, we could go back to Muscovy and the rise of Muscovy under the Mongol Empire. I think it would be much easier to trace Russia's historical origins as a current state to Muscovy and the expansion of Muscovy by taking over neighboring principalities. Then, it could be traced back to Kyivan Rus with which Muscovy has faint historical links. Russian President Vladimir Putin and other participants carry portraits of their relatives - World War II soldiers - as they take part in the Immortal Regiment march on Red Square in central Moscow on May 9, 2022. - Russia celebrates the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. (Natalia Kolesnikova /AFP via Getty Images) The idea of Russia as a country with 1,000 years of history brings this idea of constancy and historical essentialism that appeals to many people in Russia. Because Russia has seen, in a century, two arguably free states collapse. And so it provides this idea that there is Russia that endures and that Putin is merely the newest incarnation of the leader of this Russia. The Kyiv Independent: One of Putin's main messages is that Ukraine is a state that was artificially created. Are there any states that arent artificially created? Jade McGlynn: No, all states are artificial. According to Benedict Anderson's very important book in this area, "Imagined Communities," nations are imagined. Still, it doesn't make them less real. People are united by a certain amount of factors, and that's different for each country. In Britain, it might be something like traditions and history, but in America, it'll be something more like ideas. In some countries like Germany traditionally it's ethnicity obviously, that has had some negative effects. And the problem for Russia is that it doesn't have this imagined community. It's never been about "we, the people. It never had nationalism, unlike Ukraine, which went through the pretty standard European experience of nationalism we saw in Central and Eastern Europe during the 19th century. Russia never had that. Russian soldiers in an armored vehicle parade during a Victory Day military parade rehearsal on the Red Square in Moscow on May 3, 2011. (Dmitry Kostyukov /AFP via Getty Images) So instead of "we, the people" or "respublika," you have "he, the ruler, the state." That's a very different conception of the nation if you believe the nation is the state instead of the people. Today, people often ask me: "Oh, but so many people have died. How is this not having any effect on whether people think that Russia is a great state?" Because people think that Russia is a great state, that doesnt necessarily mean that its a great country to live in. Russians presumably are not idiots. They can see it's not a great country to live in. But that's not how power or great power is measured in Russia. The Kyiv Independent: When Putin talks about Ukraine's artificial creation, the Ukrainians' wills or opinions are never really addressed. So, do Ukrainian people or even Russian people have any place in his revision of history? Jade McGlynn: Not much of one, to be honest. Two thousand and twelve was a year of history, and there was a big effort to remake Russian popular culture with state-funded historical propaganda. It's very interesting to watch the depiction of Ukrainians in the sort of World War II films that they started to channel out. The Ukrainians are one of two people: they're either "good" Ukrainians because they're the little brothers who know their place, or the "bad" Ukrainians they wear vyshyvanka, speak Ukrainian, sometimes they have the Cossack hairstyle, and they're almost inevitably Nazi collaborators in their (Russian) characterization. The Ukrainian people have consistently since 2014 been divided into good and bad. A portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on a page of a new schoolbook for high school students on general world history and Russian history, mentioning the country's ongoing military action in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea in 2014, during its presentation in Moscow on Aug. 7, 2023. (Yuri Kadobnov /AFP via Getty Images) What's so fascinating is the extent to which so many Russians within the regime and the security services load themselves to sleep on their own lullabies (to translate the Russian phrase freely). Because they genuinely did believe that they would be greeted as liberators and heroes in Kharkiv, in so many of these places by the good Ukrainians, who were essentially Russian and were suffering from the hands of bad Ukrainians, who are extremists and funded by the West. So, the usage of history is not just a legitimizing factor or a descriptive factor. Its actually a contributing factor. As this propaganda becomes ever more radical and as Russia's position in the world or Russia's position vis-a-vis Europe becomes ever more culturally insecure, the historical superiority-inferiority complex becomes ever more insistent, and people are much more likely to cling to it. The Kyiv Independent: It's a lot easier to believe that you're the great saviors. Jade McGlynn: than that you're violent sadists who are committing genocide against people that you're supposed to think are your brothers. The Kyiv Independent: Do you think Putin himself believes what he's saying? Does he not know Russia's or Ukraine's true history, if there's such a thing as true history? Jade McGlynn: Yes, I think 100% he believes what he's saying. One of the mistakes many policymakers in the West have made is to think that he doesn't mean it. This is just something he says, and instead, what he means is the exact same thing that they would mean (if they said it). People watch a light show on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the end of World War II at The Motherland Calls statue at the Mamayev Kurgan Memorial Complex in Volgograd, on May 8, 2018. (Mladen Antonov /AFP via Getty Images) The Russian political establishment does not work according to the same measures of rationality as the U.S. It does not have the same conceptualization of security. For example, if we look at the Russian national security strategy, we can see that "historical memory" is mentioned 38 times, and "culture" is mentioned 40 times. Let's look at the American equivalent. There's obviously no reference to historical memory, and there's one reference to culture, and it's to agriculture. I think it just shows the chasm in the understanding of security and understanding of how important these historical narratives are almost to Russia's ontology. That doesn't mean we should respect it. But we need to understand it in order to appreciate the regime's motivations in Ukraine. If we look at what Putin has said about Ukraine, even if we only go back to 2014, there's plenty of evidence that this is not going to be solved by just giving him a little bit more of Ukrainian land. This is about a war to reshape the global order and, in Russia's view, it has the right, and also the need to do it. Because Russia is a great state and Ukraine is a colony, it will therefore either be a colony of the West, which Putin doesn't want, or be a colony of Russia, which he does want. Read also: Russias centuries-long quest to conquer Ukraine The Kyiv Independent: Many dictators have distorted and weaponized history. What is unique about Russia's distortion of history? Jade McGlynn: There are two elements. One of them is the intensity of it. It's just simply more intense. In Britain, we often use World War II analogies. Even too much in my view. But the idea that you could send your child to a summer camp, where they could learn how to do historical disinformation blogging over the summer is a step too far. But that's something you can do at the "Strana Geroev" (County of Heroes in Russian) summer camps in Russia. The second difference is the extent of what I call historical framing. It's the consistent use of historical analogies, where you understand the present through the past. Of course, we all use historical analogies. Unfortunately, they anchor quickly, so they're very effective in propaganda. Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on a screen set at Red Square as he addresses a rally and a concert marking the annexation of four regions of Ukraine Russian troops occupy - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, in central Moscow on Sept. 30, 2022. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images) The Kyiv Independent: Do you think that Putin is succeeding in his distortion of history? Jade McGlynn: Yes, unfortunately, some of it does. In different countries, it works in different ways. In America, the idea that Russia has a right to Ukraine because Russia is a great power has a lot more resonance. Whereas in the U.K, its the idea of Crimea and the idea of Kyiv as the first capital of Russia thats a statement that has been said to me a few times by very intelligent people. The Kyiv Independent: I guess most countries use mythologized history to create a national identity. But at what point did Russia move from just historical obsession to violence and aggression? Jade McGlynn: Throughout history, in some ways, it has always started whenever Ukraine wanted to exist. None of this, and by "this," I mean this awful war, gets solved in discussions of who's the heir of Kyivan Rus. It gets solved in Russia's conception of itself and its role in the world, which needs to be drastically different. Until that point, we need to work our way to stop it from acting on its desires. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Pueblo Community College will be hosting three open forums this month, showcasing the three finalists looking to succeed Patty Erjavec as PCC president. Forums will be held on March 12, March 14 and March 15 from 3-3:45 p.m. at the Hoag Theater inside the campus' Mike Davis Academic Building. Each forum will allow a finalist to speak to community members about their experience and aspirations. Community members unable to be on-campus for the forums will be able to attend virtually through Webex. Individuals also will be able to provide feedback for each candidate through an online survey that will be posted prior to each forum. "To ensure transparency, CCCS will release the names of each finalist and publish their biographies and a corresponding survey on the PCC website one day before their respective forum dates," according to a news release from the Colorado Community College System. More information can be found at pueblocc.edu/President. Lyman Bushkovski, Instrumental Music teacher at Pueblo Academy of Arts, plays a violin received from the Bringing Music to Life Instrument Drive. Instrument drive for 'underfunded' Colorado school music programs happening now The Bringing Music to Life Instrument Drive is accepting musical instrument donations from Puebloans through March 16 at Marck Time Music, 2318 Jones Ave. Donations will benefit students in "underfunded" school music programs statewide, according to a news release. Any gently-used band or orchestra instrument may be donated, but there is a specific need for baritone saxophones, cellos, stringed basses, tenor saxophones, tubas and violas. Last year, 52 Colorado schools benefitted from 770 instrument donations through the Bringing Music to Life Instrument Drive. Study after study shows the positive impact that learning music has on children, said Christine Andresen, executive director of the drive. Their listening skills improve, as well as creative thinking, self-discipline and self-esteem. Students learn the value of persevering and how to work with others toward a common goal. Were excited about reaching even more children, schools, and communities this year. CSU Pueblo Foundation names Dacia Shaw director of philanthropy and engagement Dacia Shaw has been named the Colorado State University Pueblo Foundation's director of philanthropy and engagement. Beginning in 2018, Shaw served as the Pueblo development director for Care and Share Food Bank. She also worked as a Merck & Co. senior professional representative between June 2002 and January 2018. With the CSU Pueblo Foundation, Shaw will play a key role in philanthropic relationships, community engagement and advancing student success, according to the CSU Pueblo Foundation. Dental hygiene at PCC: Pueblo Community College completes $6.3 million renovation for dental hygiene program Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo college hosting forums for president candidates, more education news Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who is running for Senate, said Friday that he would sponsor legislation to protect access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), a day after he dodged questions on it. Access to IVF is vital to millions of families and must be protected. I will sponsor legislation in the Senate to do just that, Hogan wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The former governor was asked during an Axios event the day prior whether he would vote to protect IVF. Hogan said he supported IVF but didnt want to speculate about potential legislation. But there is legislation in both the House and Senate that would do just that. A bill from Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) that establishes federal protections for IVF and other assisted reproductive technology has 46 other co-sponsors. Duckworth recently tried to fast-track passage of the bill by unanimous consent, but was blocked when Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) objected. Unanimous consent means any one senator could object and scuttle the effort. A companion House bill from Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) has 135 co-sponsors, all of them Democrats. IVF has been catapulted into the national spotlight after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are children, and those who destroy them can be held liable under a state wrongful death law. Like many Republicans across the country, Hogan has said he supports IVF and has tried to distance himself from the ruling and its fallout. Most Republicans in Congress argue IVF protections should happen at the state level. Hogan said Thursday that IVF is a wonderful thing and should never be limited. But Democrats have blamed the entire Republican Party for the Alabama ruling and are eager to use it as a campaign issue. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Hollywood writer and producer with more than two decades of work under his belt has been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting an aspiring writer in 2022. Laurence Andries, 66, credited on IMDB.com as a co-executive producer of the CBS crime procedural Blue Bloods, was formally charged in Los Angeles County this past September. Andries other credits include Supernatural, Six Feet Under and How to Get Away with Murder. Charging documents obtained by KTLA show Andries faces six charges related to sexual assault, including sodomy, oral copulation and penetration by anesthesia or a controlled substance. The alleged sexual assault took place in Los Angeles County on the evening of June 30, 2022, the documents show. Laurence Andries speaks onstage at the Writers on Writing: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood panel during the 22nd SCAD Savannah Film Festival on November 02, 2019 at Gutstein Gallery in Savannah, Georgia. (Getty Images) On Wednesday, the nonprofit Crime Survivors Resource Center issued a release identifying Andries as the suspect in a sexual assault of an unnamed military veteran and aspiring writer who allegedly met Andries in a writers program and considered him a mentor. The organization said the victim alleges that Andries drugged his drink at a bar and sexually assaulted him while he was unconscious. He eventually gained enough strength to leave and went to a hospital, where staff notified police, the organization said. Arrests made in 96-year-old womans violent murder in Santa Barbara County Andries was ultimately arrested on Aug. 29, 2023, the release states. The felony complaint provided to KTLA reflects the same timeline provided by the Crime Survivors Resource Center, and jail records indicate Andries was in fact arrested on the provided date. Andries has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is free on $150,000 bond, according to the Los Angeles Times. He has yet to appear for a preliminary hearing. The nonprofit said it issued the release on behalf of the victim and to urge other possible victims to come forward. It encouraged anyone with information to contact Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Catherine Mariano at 213-257-2084, or Los Angeles Police Department Detective Correa at 213-473-0447. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez was found guilty on Friday of drug trafficking conspiracy by a U.S. jury, cementing the onetime U.S. ally's fall from grace. Jurors in federal court in Manhattan reached the verdict after about two days, following a two-week trial. Hernandez, 55, faces possible life in prison. U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel will determine his sentence at a later date. Renato Stabile, a lawyer for Hernandez, said his client plans to appeal the verdict. During Hernandez's presidency, which ran from 2014 to 2022, the Central American country received more than $50 million in U.S. anti-narcotics assistance, and tens of millions of dollars in security and military aid. But the Justice Department said Hernandez abused his power by accepting millions of dollars in bribes from traffickers to protect their U.S.-bound cocaine shipments, and to fuel his rise in Honduran politics. Hernandez was convicted on three charges: using machine guns to further a cocaine importation conspiracy, conspiring to use machine guns to further that conspiracy, and conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. "Juan Orlando Hernandez abused his position as President of Honduras to operate the country as a narco-state where violent drug traffickers were allowed to operate with virtual impunity, and the people of Honduras and the United States were forced to suffer the consequences," U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement after the verdict. Hernandez was arrested and extradited to the United States in April 2022, three months after he left office. He had pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and criminal weapons possession charges. At the trial, several convicted traffickers testified they had bribed Hernandez. In Honduras' capital, Tegucigalpa, on Friday, former first lady Ana Garcia de Hernandez said her husband's "unjust" conviction lacked proof and was the "revenge of those criminals" she said he had targeted as president. "Today it was Juan Orlando. Tomorrow it could be anyone," she said in a warning to other Latin American presidents. Prosecutors said Hernandez used drug cash to bribe officials to manipulate voting results in his favor during Honduras' 2013 and 2017 presidential elections. Hernandez's lawyers contended that prosecutors were relying on testimony from criminals who were trying to reduce their own sentences, and get even for Hernandez's crackdown on cartels. Testifying in his own defense on Tuesday, Hernandez denied meeting with or taking bribes from the traffickers, including convicted Mexican kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. "I had a policy against all those people because I could not stand them," Hernandez said, referring to drug traffickers. "They did a lot of damage in the country." Hernandez's brother Tony Hernandez was convicted on U.S. drug-trafficking charges and related weapons charges in October 2019 and sentenced to life in prison in March 2021. Prosecutors had said that Tony Hernandez accepted millions in bribes, including from Guzman, to funnel into his country's ruling National Party coffers for elections in 2009, 2013 and 2017 to benefit his brother. The former president has been jailed at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since his extradition. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel and Orfa Mejia in Tegucigalpa; Editing by Bill Berkrot, Chris Reese and Leslie Adler) By Jessie Pang, James Pomfret and Greg Torode HONG KONG (Reuters) -Hong Kong on Friday published its draft of a new national security law, a document some lawyers said broadened what could be considered sedition and state secrets, with tougher penalties for anyone convicted of those crimes and several others. The draft, which includes new laws encompassing treason, espionage and external interference, is being closely watched by foreign diplomats and businesses who fear it could further dent freedoms in the financial hub, which has already been subjected to a China-led crackdown on dissent that has sent many pro-democracy politicians and activists into jail or exile. The Legislative Council started debating the bill on Friday amid tight security, and several members of the largely pro-Beijing body said they expected it to be passed into law before mid-April. Hong Kong leader John Lee had earlier urged lawmakers to pass the bill "at full speed". "The geopolitics have become increasingly complex, and national security risks remain imminent," a government statement said. Some lawyers analysing the draft said that at first glance, elements of the revised sentences for some listed offences are similar to Western ones but some provisions, such as those for sedition and state secrets, are broader and potentially tougher. The bill includes sentences of up to life imprisonment for treason, insurrection and sabotage, 20 years for espionage and 10 years for crimes linked to state secrets and sedition. The European Union, in a statement to Reuters, said it had made clear in a diplomatic note its "grave concerns" over the far-reaching provisions in the bill on "external interference" and the law's extra-territorial reach. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said the United States is closely monitoring the development of the so-called Article 23 legislation, "and its implications for U.S. citizens and companies operating in Hong Kong." "We have serious concerns that if authorities rush forward with enacting proposed Article 23 legislation without adequate public consultation or incorporating checks and balances, the law will be used to continue suppressing dissent and erode the human rights and fundamental freedoms for people in Hong Kong," the official said. The draft bill noted some rights provisions. "Human rights are to be respected and protected, the rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press and of publication, the freedoms of association ... are to be protected," the bill read. Some investors said the desire to fast-track the bill was concerning. "The fact they are rushing through Article 23 shows concern about public opposition. The business community is going to be unhappy unless there are guardrails protecting individual rights," Andrew Collier, managing director at Hong Kong-based Orient Capital Research, told Reuters. Simon Young, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, also said the broad definitions of crimes, especially those linked to foreign interference and collusion, could prove challenging to firms. "It may well be that businesses or groups that have some connection with foreign governments might fall under the radar as an 'external force'", Young said. CONCERNS OVER FREEDOMS Hong Kong has long been a business, academic and media hub for China and the region, but critics say that in recent years the rule of law and freedom of information have been undermined. Hong Kong and Chinese officials have said the draft is similar to laws in some Western nations and that it was necessary to plug "loopholes" in the national security regime. That regime was bolstered in 2020 by another law imposed directly by China which said it was aimed at restoring stability after pro-democracy protests a year earlier. The debate on the Hong Kong bill coincides with a move by China's top lawmakers to create a slew of new national security laws in order to safeguard the mainland's sovereign interests. The Hong Kong bill proposes extending police detention for those arrested, without charge, for up to 14 days with a magistrate's approval and potentially limited access to lawyers, compared to 48 hours currently. Sentences for sedition, defined as inciting disaffection or hatred towards authorities through acts, words, or publications, have been expanded from two to up to 10 years for offences in collusion with foreign forces. Critics, including media advocacy groups, had called for sedition to be scrapped, noting its potential use to silence freedom of expression and the media. The bill proposes jail terms of up to 3 years, up from one year, for possessing a seditious publication and police have the right to search any premise to seize and destroy such material. The definition of state secrets also appears quite broad, some lawyers said, including military, security and diplomatic secrets, as well as classified social, economic and technological information involving the China and Hong Kong governments, and their relationship. (Additional reporting by Xie Yu, Edward Cho and Dorothy Kam in Hong Kong, Laurie Chen in Beijing; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington; Writing by Greg Torode; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Lincoln Feast, Miral Fahmy and Sandra Maler) Semafor Signals Insights from The Guardian, The New York Times, and Reuters The News The Hong Kong government revealed a full draft of its new security law Friday, which would see tougher punishments including possible life imprisonment for those convicted of crimes including treason and cooperating with external forces. The law, seen as an expansion of Beijings crackdown on political dissent in the semi-autonomous region, also targets offenses such as insurrection, espionage, and the stealing of state secrets which Chinese officials deem as loopholes in Hong Kongs existing national security law. The government last attempted to pass the bill also known as Article 23 more than two decades ago, sparking huge protests that forced the citys leaders to shelve the legislation. Now, with almost all of Hong Kongs opposition lawmakers behind bars or self-exiled, the legislation is expected to easily pass through parliament in the next few weeks. The U.S. State Department said last month that the law undermines the One Country, Two Systems framework a governance formula put in place after the citys handover to Beijing in 1997, which guarantees special rights and freedoms to Hong Kong citizens. We are particularly concerned by Hong Kong authorities proposal to adopt broad and vague definitions of state secrets and external interference that could be used to eliminate dissent through the fear of arrest and detention, the State Department said. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Speedy push to pass law suggests little regard for public opposition Sources: The Guardian, The New York Times Hong Kongs Chief Executive John Lee has encouraged lawmakers to debate the draft legislation with full speed, following a month-long public consultation on the broad details of the law an unusually rapid pace for legislation to be advanced. The government said the public consultation received 98% positive feedback, less than 1% negative feedback, and objections from what they claim to be from fugitives or overseas anti-China organizations, The Guardian reported. The Hong Kong Journalists Association has voiced concerns about the law, while the Bar Association of Hong Kong has recommended amending the language around sedition, narrowing of the scope of the offense, The New York Times reported. But the speed at which the government is attempting to enact the law suggests it did not really plan to seriously engage with public submissions, Thomas Kellogg, the executive director of the Georgetown Center for Asian Law told The New York Times, saying the law will have far-reaching impacts on human rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong. The government was likely going to execute on their planned legislation from the get-go, he added. Lawyers say tougher provisions in the bill will worry foreign firms Source: Reuters Legal experts who reviewed the draft legislation told Reuters that some of the listed offenses were similar to ones in Western countries, though provisions for others including sedition and the sharing of state secrets are broad and possibly harsher. The law may also pose a threat to the citys status as a hub for international firms. The business community is going to be unhappy unless there are guard rails protecting individual rights, Andrew Collier of due diligence firm Orient Capital Research told Reuters. A law professor at the University of Hong Kong told the news agency that the law may be worrying to businesses and groups aligned with foreign governments, who could fear they may fall under the radar as an external force. Women and healthcare providers want education, treatment for bladder leaks NEWTON, Mass., March 08, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Axena Health, Inc. (Axena Health), a medical device company focused on female pelvic health, unveiled the findings from a landmark study to understand the impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on women in sub-Saharan Africa. The first-of-its-kind study revealed a critical need for awareness, education, and access to evidence-based treatment. Available online, the study will inform the future development of treatment options based on the Leva Pelvic Health Systems patented mechanism of action that will resonate with cultural norms and are accessible through local healthcare delivery systems. The study of 175 women and healthcare providers in Kenya and Nigeria, conducted in collaboration with global design thinking and strategy firm, ThinkPlace, showed that UI significantly affects womens health and quality of life: lack of awareness prevents them from seeking treatment. Through conversations, focus groups and quantitative surveys, women and clinicians expressed a strong desire for education and treatment. Clinicians acknowledged the effectiveness of first-line treatment, pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), and highlighted the need to educate healthcare workers about how to evaluate and manage pelvic floor disorders. They called for additional research to understand the prevalence of UI in sub-Saharan Africa and expressed the critical need for effective treatment that would allow them to treat large populations. Axena Health will conduct a second study in Nigeria to test the feasibility of implementing clinic-based treatment that leverages Levas technology. "We believe this is the first large-scale qualitative study to document the significant burden of incontinence among women in Kenya and Nigeria," said Oliver Muchiri, co-author of the report and Practice Lead, Service and Systems Design Unit at ThinkPlace Kenya. "We believe theres tremendous need for education, awareness, and care in Kenya and Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries. We hope the insights will inspire new global, cooperative efforts that respond to these womens voices and clinicians call for accessible, evidence-based treatment thats reliable and scalable." Story continues Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) affect one-third of women globally: UI is the most common. Lack of awareness is pervasive and contributes to low care seeking behaviors among women. UI is associated with a myriad of negative psychosocial, economic, and physical burdens. Symptoms often worsen over time, especially if left untreated. Stigmatization can negatively impact womens participation in the workforce, society, and family. Isolation often follows. "This is a groundbreaking look at the burden of incontinence on women in Kenya and Nigeria that underscores the pervasive lack of awareness, which leads to the vast majority of women enduring its effects without proper treatment or supportive care," said Jessica McKinney, DScPT, MS, co-author of Implementing Physical Rehabilitation Services into Comprehensive Fistula and Maternity Care: A Training Guide for Health Workers, co-author of the report, and Axena Healths VP of Clinical Affairs and Global Health. "We hope it ignites interest and support for addressing the many opportunities for education, awareness-building and care to women in Kenya, Nigeria and beyond. Women and clinicians want education and treatment that can dismantle stigma and help women resolve symptoms." "This research showed that women recognize the importance of pelvic floor muscle exercises and clinicians want to support structured and supervised pelvic floor muscle training and education," said Laura Keyser, DPT, MPH, co-author of the aforementioned training guide and the report, and Axena Healths Director of Clinical Strategy and Global Health. "We hope this report elevates the conversation about pelvic floor disorders for women in Nigeria, Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries." "Female incontinence should be on the radar of all stakeholders with a commitment to global womens health," said Eileen Maus, CEO of Axena Health. "Women's voices are uniquely critical to understanding the challenges of incontinence, particularly in regions where resources may be limited. We gave these voices a megaphone, and we must act. We welcome major funders, ministries of health and others in the global womens health community to join us in delivering education and care to a very deserving population." Interested funding partners and potential collaborators may access the complete study findings here. For additional information or to discuss potential partnerships, please contact jmckinney@axenahealth.com. About the Leva Pelvic Health System The Leva Pelvic Health System, recently named a Medical Breakthrough in womens health by AARP, is a prescription medical device that offers an effective, non-invasive, medication-free way for women to treat urinary incontinence (UI) and chronic fecal incontinence (FI). Combining a small FDA-cleared intra-vaginal probe embedded with multiple motion sensors and integrated software, the Leva System allows women to visualize pelvic floor muscle movement in real-time and guides them to complete their treatment correctly. Available by prescription only, the Leva System gives providers/clinicians the opportunity to treat UI and chronic FI on a broad scale and with continued involvement in patient success. The Leva System has multiple clinical trials with globally recognized medical centers supporting its efficacy in treating UI, including two studies in Obstetrics and Gynecology (The Green Journal), the official publication of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the Leva System Breakthrough Device Designation in 2021 as a treatment for chronic FI. About Axena Health Axena Health, Inc. is a women-led company dedicated to improving the lives of women with pelvic floor disorders. Axena Healths flagship product, the Leva Pelvic Health System, offers a novel, effective, first-line treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) and chronic fecal incontinence (FI), underreported conditions affecting over 78 million and 12 million women in the U.S. alone. Axena Health's technology enables non-invasive, drug-free treatment which they can do at home, in just five minutes a day while also allowing clinicians to monitor usage and progress. For more information, please visit www.axenahealth.com or www.levatherapy.com, follow Axena Health on LinkedIn and follow Leva Pelvic Health System on Instagram and TikTok. Important Indication and Other Information for the Leva Pelvic Health System The Leva Pelvic Health System is intended for (1) strengthening of pelvic floor muscles, (2) rehabilitation and training of weak pelvic floor muscles for the treatment of stress, mixed, and mild to moderate urgency urinary incontinence (including overactive bladder) in women and (3) rehabilitation and training of weak pelvic floor muscles for the first-line treatment of chronic fecal incontinence (>3-month uncontrolled passage of feces) in women. Treatment with the Leva System is by prescription and is not for everyone. Please talk to your prescriber to see if Leva System is right for you. Your prescriber should discuss all potential benefits and risks with you. Do not use the Leva System while pregnant, or if you think you may be pregnant, unless authorized by your doctor. For a complete summary of the risks and instructions for the Leva System, see its Instructions for Use available at www.levatherapy.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308933179/en/ Contacts Media: Shanti Skiffington shanti@samvegapr.com 617-921-0808 [Source] The Hong Kong government has unveiled a draft bill for new national security laws, known as Article 23, raising further concerns about diminishing freedoms in the city. About the bill: The proposed bill, which would be added to Hong Kong's mini-constitution and co-exist with the 2020 Beijing-imposed national security law, includes harsh penalties for offenses such as treason, espionage, external interference and disclosure of state secrets, with the most severe offenses carrying life imprisonment. What leaders are saying: According to China and Hong Kong leaders, the proposed laws are essential to restore stability in the aftermath of pro-democracy protests in 2019, citing similarities with international legislations. The new draft aims to fill perceived gaps in the 2020 national security law, with authorities claiming strong public support (98.6%) during the 28-day consultation period. Critics argument: Critics fear the broad interpretation of national security offenses will encompass political criticism, dissent and non-criminal business activities, further jeopardizing rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. Trending on NextShark: Indian painter gets brain-dead woman's hands in rare bilateral hand transplant I think many Hong Kongers are quite concerned about Article 23, activist Yu Wai-Pan, who is part of the League of Social Democrats, told AFP News Agency. I dont understand why the secretary of justice said he heard no objection or no worry about this legislation. I understand that the channel that we can share our opinion in Hong Kong is quite limited. Even if we are concerned, we will still stay and fight for democracy. Expected enactment: The legislature initiated special sessions for the proposed bill, emphasizing urgency in passing the legislation. The bill is likely to receive prompt approval from Beijing-backed lawmakers and be enacted before mid-April. Trending on NextShark: Godzilla Minus One earns historic win at the Oscars Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! After hours of debate, the Delaware House of Representatives approved a bill requiring training and a permit before purchase of a handgun. House representatives spent nearly four hours debating 11 amendments proposed to the legislation, most of which were brought to the floor for the first time Thursday evening after caucusing for over an hour before debate. Republican representatives attempted to table the bill given the considerable back-and-forth lawmakers had over the proposed changes, but the move was defeated. Handguns for sale are displayed at Shooter's Choice in Dover. House Democrats as recently as December had pledged to approve the bill when the full House reconvened in January, but inclement weather and uncertainty around Gov. John Carneys rescheduled State of the State address forced the public body to remain flexible and keep schedules open, House Democratic spokesperson Jenevieve Worley had said. EARLIER: Why Delaware lawmakers failed to vote on 'permit to purchase' in first weeks of session Because the House revised the bill, it must now go back to the Senate for a vote, which likely will be added to next weeks Senate session agenda. Carney also pledged his support for the bill, speaking confidently during Tuesday's State of the State address that it would be passed: "This year, well take another big step forward and pass the permit to purchase law." The final vote was 23 to 16. Two members were absent. What does the latest bill do? The House made several revisions to the bill that was sent to the legislative body by the Senate last year. Those who supported the legislation argued the measure would cut down on straw purchases of guns as well as homicides and suicides. Lawmakers who opposed the bill argued the regulations violate the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms and warned that constitutional challenges would be brought against the legislation if passed. STRAW PURCHASES: How a pattern of shoplifting ammunition led Delaware to demand Cabela's records The bill's sponsor in the House, Rep. Melissa Minor Brown, encouraged lawmakers seeking revisions to the bill to work across the aisle to develop additional legislation, reminding them that "permit to purchase" has been in the works since 2019. "This legislation has been the product of years of discussions, meetings and collaboration with colleagues in this building, constituents, advocates and stakeholders," she said, adding that 123 people die and 577 people are wounded by guns in Delaware in an average year. "That is the fifth-highest rate of gun violence in the nation." Minor Brown said that Delaware crime data shows that the "vast majority of crime guns" are pistols and revolvers, and 83% of our crime guns are handguns. Plus, she said 70% of these crime guns are purchased in Delaware. "Senate Bill 2 will drastically reduce these statistics by creating a requirement for a handgun qualifier purchase permit," she said. "The bill would require people to undergo a gun safety training course and apply for a permit to qualify for the purchase of handguns." While applicants must shell out money for fingerprinting and the required training, there will be no fee to obtain the permit, according to Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 2. Amendments passed remove the voucher program that would have provided financial assistance to low-income residents to cover the firearms safety training, which the legislations fiscal impact note indicated would cost about $1.7 million annually. The amendments to the bill also make technical changes, including language that empowers law enforcement to ensure the surrender of guns purchased under a revoked permit and reiterates that information collected for the permit would be exempt from the state's Freedom of Information Act Law. People who already hold a valid concealed carry permit, qualified law enforcement officers as well as retired police are not required to obtain or present a handgun purchase permit. Other amendments passed Thursday exempt "certain professionals and individuals" from the training requirement "only if the firearm training they undertake as part of their employment meets the requirements for training set forth" in the bill. The majority of the costs associated with the bill are for the staff and technology needed for the implementation and continued operation of the permit program. The first year of the programs implementation is estimated to cost about $2.7 million, for which Carneys 2025 budget proposal includes nearly $3 million for the implementation. By the second year, costs would climb to about $7.8 million annually a figure that includes the cost of the voucher program. The bills fiscal note suggests that the voucher program wouldnt be rolled out until the second year of its implementation. What if its constitutionally challenged? Delaware Republicans have come out in opposition to the bill, mirroring resistance by gun rights advocates to place restrictions on gun ownership. House Minority Leader Mike Ramone said during a Facebook live recording reacting to Carneys recent State of the State address that other states that have passed similar bills faced legal pushback. If we want to keep creating environments where were making our communities safer, why dont we just make sure the bill is constitutional and not copy a bill thats similar to Maryland or another state where theyve already ruled its not constitutional? Ramone said. A U.S. appeals court last year declared Maryland's licensing requirements for people seeking to buy handguns unconstitutional, citing a U.S. Supreme Court decision that expanded gun rights. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on a 2-1 vote blocked Marylands 2013 law that required people to undergo training and background checks before applying for licenses to buy handguns, arguing it violated the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment, according to Reuters. The lawsuit was backed and paid for by the National Rifle Association. The ruling was cited by several Republican lawmakers during their final remarks before the vote on the legislation was taken, many of them warning that a constitutional challenge would be forthcoming. Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said during the House meeting Thursday that the 4th Circuits ruling will be reheard by the full court because the panel of judges that ruled on the case was not representative of the full 4th Circuit. Two of the judges on the case were former President Donald Trump appointees, and the third dissented, office spokesman Mat Marshall said. Jennings also noted that the First State falls under the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and so whatever happens in the 4th Circuit has no bearing on Delaware. "I am convinced this bill is constitutional and that the appropriate courts will rule that it is constitutional," Jennings testified Thursday evening. "My office is defending all the challenges to gun bills passed by this legislature, and I can tell you that as I stand here tonight, not one of those challenges has been successful." Legal challenges on gun reforms The Delaware State Sportsman Association in 2022 filed a lawsuit challenging state legislation that prohibits most people under the age of 21 from purchasing or owning a firearm, arguing it discriminates against a class of people who have a God-given and constitutionally protected right to defend themselves. Firearms for sale at Firing Distance gun store in Bridgeville, Delaware. A Delaware Chancery Court judge later dismissed that lawsuit. Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock III said the suit raised legal issues that don't fall under the purview of the Chancery Court. Delaware gun rights advocates sought a permanent injunction to prevent the state from enforcing the law. The association, along with other gun rights advocates, also filed similar suits in the U.S. District Court seeking a preliminary injunction to block legislation that banned assault weapons and high-capacity firearm magazines. MORE: Federal judge denies Del. gun groups preliminary injunction in assault weapons ban lawsuit Judge Richard Andrews last March denied the request, writing in his decision that the gun groups failed to meet their burden of proving two necessary factors: The likelihood of success on the merits and irreparable harm in the absence of a preliminary injunction. Meanwhile, a lawsuit over the state's ghost gun ban continues and a suit filed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation challenging Delaware's public nuisance law was dismissed in August. Marshall defended Delawares permit to purchase legislations constitutionality. Permit to purchase laws have been on the books in this country for close to 30 years and, despite the NRAs frantic efforts, none of Delawares gun laws have been overturned in court, he said. The leading cause of death for children in this country is not car accidents, not disease, but guns. This bill will help change that. If the gun lobby challenges it, well be proud to defend it, and well win. Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 'Permit to purchase' handgun bill approved by Delaware House (COLORADO SPRINGS) According to the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD), crews responded to a house fire at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Friday, March 8, on Norwood Avenue in the Stratton Meadows Neighborhood. Smoke and fire were reported as coming from the house. Fire crews were able to get the flames under control by around noon. During the fire attack, CSFD found one person inside the home. They recovered the victim, but the person was later pronounced dead. The Colorado Springs Police Department is working with CSFD Fire Investigators to determine the cause of the events. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A fire created massive flames that engulfed two homes in Salt Lake City early Friday morning, March 8. The fire started before 3:30 a.m. in the area of 900 West and 500 South, a few blocks away from Edison Elementary School in the Poplar Grove neighborhood. Two people were reportedly injured in the fire and treated on scene before they were taken to a local hospital for further care. Their current condition is unknown. Salt Lake City Fire Captain Andrew Wilcox told ABC4 crews responded quickly but not before the fire had already rapidly spread. [It was a] pretty big fire to have two structures fully involved as it was. The nature of the layout of the buildings and how the fire extended into the buildings made it a little bit trickier, initially, said Wilcox. However, we were able to get that under control and work to make sure we had a handle on it. Humane Society of Utah overwhelmed with puppies in desperate need of adoption Firefighters at first had to take a defensive stance against the fire, meaning they worked from the outside of the buildings rather than entering the homes. Wilcox told ABC4 crews have the fire under control, though they are still working on some hot spots that made it up to the attic of one of the homes. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, which will begin in earnest once it is safe enough for investigators to do so. Wilcox said crews are expected to be on the scene for several hours as they work to put out remaining hotspots and further their investigation. It is unclear if the homes are total losses. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Antisemitism was a large part of a House panel discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies Thursday, with Republicans saying DEI perpetuates racism while Democrats said campus antisemitism reflects failures in colleges programs, not diversity efforts as a whole. The House Education higher education subcommittees hearing on the impact of DEI on campuses comes after Republican-led states have advanced efforts to shut down diversity programs, and lawmakers have criticized increased antisemitism at universities. Jay Greene, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, told the subcommittee that DEI practices are inherently flawed and promote inequality. According to this worldview, oppressors deserve to have their privilege taken away, while the oppressed deserve restitution for collective or historic wrongs, Greene said. Justifying unequal treatment based on group identity can yield horrific results. Greene said antisemitism on college campuses is a clear example of this. He cited his research for the Heritage Foundation looking at DEI staff members attitudes toward Israel and China on Twitter. Greene said his research found that staff members were obsessed with Israel and posted more critically of Israel than China. Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) said the study shows that DEI programs have allowed staffers to promote antisemitism, the worlds oldest and most retrograde prejudices. It really goes to show you that these have become Orwellian institutions in the truest sense of that term, Kiley said. And you know, when you think about what it tells us about the broader culture of our universities, I mean, our universities are supposed to be promoting progress not in a partisan sense but to be at the leading edge of new ideas, and here they are investing in these bureaucracies. Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.) agreed with Republicans that antisemitic conspiracy theories hurt Jewish students and said it is often a reflection of a lack of understanding of the diversity of Jewish communities. Antisemitic conspiracy theories promote the idea that all Jews are powerful, that they dont need or deserve protection as the minority, Manning said. Some might not understand that. In fact, most dont understand the origins of antisemitism, or how pervasive it is, or frankly, how unique a form of discrimination it is. But Manning said she disagrees with antisemitism being exploited to denigrate the value of diversity and the value of DEI programs on campuses that are doing the right thing to make minority students feel welcome and included. Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) said the threat of antisemitism should not be used as a political tool. It is disappointing to see the majority today attempt to use the very real pain that is caused by this conflict and the surge of antisemitism as a vehicle to push an extreme political agenda that is determined to erase the mention of the word diversity or equity on campus. The matter is that Black Americans and students of color have historically been denied access to universities despite being just as qualified and willing to learn as their white peers, McBath said. As much as my colleagues would like to say otherwise, this is reality. Greene said discrimination is a part of the worldview of DEI and that issues such as antisemitism are an inherent part of the system. Given that DEI has no legitimate purpose and serves to inflame intergroup tensions, we need to dismantle it, Greene said. At a minimum, we need to starve universities of the funds that they use to build the DEI bureaucracies. James Murphy, director of Career Pathways and Post-Secondary Policy at Education Reform Now, testified that DEI offices have a large variation in scope and mission that make generalized attacks on them nonsensical. Murphy said very few DEI offices provide direct instruction to students, let alone indoctrinate them into any set of beliefs. He referenced a statement by Mitchell Chang, interim chief diversity officer at the University of California, Los Angeles saying if anyone is trying to tell students what to think, it is legislators who want to ban these offices wholesale or write bills to make it illegal for university employees to say phrases like unconscious bias or cultural appropriation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday approved a bill that would ban TikTok from American app stores unless its China-based parent company sells the app.Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., head of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and co-sponsor of the bill, said it would not place a total ban on TikTok. Rather, it puts the onus on parent company ByteDance to either sell the app or face a ban on U.S. devices. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI March 7 (UPI) -- Lawmakers are renewing a challenge to one of the world's most popular social media apps over national security concerns. The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday unanimously approved a bill that would ban TikTok from American app stores unless its China-based parent company ByteDance sells the app. If signed into law, the bill would give ByteDance 165 days to spin off TikTok. The bill also contemplates similar prohibitions on apps "controlled by foreign adversary companies." TikTok is one of the most prolific social media apps in the United States, with more than 150 million monthly users. The app's popularity has led to concerns among lawmakers and national security officials that the Chinese Communist party could use the app to access American users' information. Company CEO Shou Chew testified to a congressional panel last year that the app does not share user information with the Chinese government, but he did say the app had collected data from American users in the past and some data was still on servers that ByteDance could access. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who heads the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, said the new bill would alleviate national security concerns while protecting Americans' free speech rights. "If you value your personal freedom and privacy online, if you care about Americans' national security at home, and, yes, even if you want TikTok to stick around in the United States, this bill offers the only real step toward each of those goals," Gallagher said. The bill has so far advanced with bipartisan support. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern that TikTok could be forced to hand over data collected from American users to the CCP, which in turn could use the information for espionage purposes. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., cited concerns from national security officials during a private hearing Thursday morning. "I take the concerns raised by the intelligence community this morning very seriously," he said. "They have asked Congress to give them more authority to act in these narrowly defined situations, and I believe that this bill will do that." TikTok responded to the bill by issuing a pop-up campaign urging users to call their representatives to stop a "total ban" of the app. Multiple House GOP staffers said their offices have been bombarded by calls in the wake of the campaign. Gallagher, however, said TikTok's characterization of the bill as a "total ban" is false. "If you actually read the bill, it's not a ban. It's a divestiture," he said, arguing the bill puts the decision "squarely in the hands of TikTok to sever their relationship with the Chinese Communist Party." After clearing the House Energy and Commerce Committee Thursday, the bill now must clear the full House. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., gave his support for the bill, saying in a statement to Politico, "It's an important bipartisan measure to take on China, our largest geopolitical foe, which is actively undermining our economy and security." Efforts to ban TikTok began under the Trump administration, which used a series of executive orders to try to compel ByteDance to spin off the app. ByteDance sued the Trump administration in 2020, and efforts prohibiting public access to the app until now have stalled. Congress in 2022 banned TikTok from being downloaded on federal devices, and the U.S. military prohibited personnel from using it years earlier. (The Hill) The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously advanced a bill Thursday that would require TikToks China-based parent company ByteDance to divest the app or face a U.S. ban. The Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, advanced out of committee with overwhelming bipartisan support just two days after it was introduced by Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), the top lawmakers on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Although Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the Energy and Commerce ranking member, raised concerns about how rushed this process has been, he said he was in support of the bill with the aim of it forcing ByteDance to divest TikTok and allow users in the U.S. to continue to use it. House passes immigration bill named after slain Georgia student Laken Riley The aim of the bill is to mitigate national security concerns over whether the Chinese government could access the personal data of Americans who use TikTok through ByteDance. The committee heard from members of the intelligence community at a classified hearing Thursday morning before the vote on the bill. TikTok has pushed back strongly on allegations that it poses national security risks based on its ownership by a Chinese parent company. A TikTok spokesperson said the legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States. The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country, the spokesperson said Ahead of Thursdays vote, TikTok sent messages urging users to call Congress to oppose the bill. The notifications warned users to stop a TikTok shutdown and that Congress is planning a total ban of TikTok. Lawmakers in support of the bill have pushed back on that allegation since the bill allows TikTok to continue to be used in the U.S. if ByteDance divests it. RSV shot for infants 90 percent effective against hospitalizations: CDC Republicans on the committee also said the notification push to users highlighted their concerns about the apps reach. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), chair of the Energy and Commerce panel, accused TikTok of using its influence and powers to force users to contact their representatives. A TikTok spokesperson said that the notification was dismissible, meaning it did not require users to call members in order to use the app. The spokesperson declined to comment further on the push. Although the bill had widespread support in the committee, it is still facing outside opposition from groups that said it could infringe free speech. Groups that have raised First Amendment concerns about previous bills targeting TikTok, including the ACLU and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, have criticized the new bill for posing the same risks. Im just not confident that this will actually side-step the free speech concerns that have been raised with previous attempts to ban TikTok, Sarah Krepps, director of the Tech Policy Institue at Cornell University, told The Hill. Navy demoted Ronny Jackson after damning report on White House conduct ByteDance has said they will not divest TikTok, so I have no reason to think they would exercise that option, she said. So if theyre not going to divest, it leads back down the same road of a ban. Krepps said a ban would likely be viewed as unconstitutional given the outcomes of recent legal challenges to state TikTok bans, such as the one that defeated Montanas law. Although there are looming questions about the bills viability, it appears to be on track for a vote in the House with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) backing it. I support the bill being marked up by the Energy & Commerce committee. Its an important bipartisan measure to take on China, our largest geopolitical foe, which is actively undermining our economy and security, the speaker said in a statement. The White House also called the bill important and welcome, but did not endorse it. Updated at 4:32 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. House Republicans are sharpening their attacks against President Biden ahead of his primetime State of the Union address. House GOP leaders arranged a counter-programming offensive for Bidens big speech on Thursday, lining up rank-and-file lawmakers at a "media row" event where they promoted a message of Republican unity against the Democratic White House. Members wore buttons that said "Stop the Biden border crisis" while speaking to outlets, including Fox News Digital, in a cavernous meeting room dotted with posters that pointed out "over 8.7 million illegal crossings nationwide" occurred since Biden became president. Others accused Biden of not being "mentally fit" to be commander-in-chief. When asked about their expectations for the speech, one phrase escaped lawmakers lips more than the rest "gaslighting." "I think it's going to be Gaslighting of the Union. He's going to tell America how rosy everything is, that the economy is great, the borders secure, as if Americans are idiots. And I find that quite insulting," Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., told Fox News Digital. BIDENS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: BRET BAIER, MARTHA MACCALLUM TO LEAD FOX NEWS CHANNEL'S SPECIAL COVERAGE READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP President Biden is set to deliver his State of the Union address on Thursday night. GOP Conference Vice Chair Blake Moore, R-Utah, said, "I think he'll try to I don't know the best term, I think the kids nowadays are using gaslight he's going to try to make it seem like it's House Republicans fault that the border is not fixed. And we've seen the worst outcomes that we've ever seen at the border under his three years." The ongoing border crisis as well as Americans poor perceptions of the economy were the two main attack lines lawmakers discussed, arguing that Bidens public dedication to fixing both has resulted in few, if any, solutions for Americans. If Biden broaches those issues in his State of the Union address, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told Fox News Digital that he does not believe people watching at home will share his likely optimism. "The good news is people have heard the spin from this president and his administration for three-plus years. Theyre sitting at home watching this saying, Whatever this is going to be, I'm not better off today than I was four years ago. And that's going to play when it comes to November," Emmer said. ALABAMA SEN KATIE BRITT TO DELIVER REPUBLICAN RESPONSE TO BIDEN STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: 'TRULY HONORED' House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said President Biden will deliver "spin" during the State of the Union address. Rep. John James, R-Mich., told Fox News Digital that he expects to hear "gaslighting, gaslighting, and more gaslighting" from the president on Thursday night. "The only thing I think he can do right now to explain the crisis at the border, and the fact that we're paying more for everything, is lie to the American people," James said. "I think it's going to be a lot of empty rhetoric and fabricated lies because we're in an election year, and he knows that this is the beginning of a tough re-election for him. And this is his audition right for re-election," Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., told Fox News Digital. Biden will address a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. ET. House Republican leaders have staged "media row" events before Bidens last State of the Union address as well as ahead of important legislative votes. JIM BANKS CALLS ON BIDEN TO 'PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE' LAKEN RILEY AT SOTU Rep. John James, R-Mich., said he expects to hear "gaslighting, gaslighting, and more gaslighting." GOP lawmakers touted it as a way to unify behind a single message amid a climate of intense political division. "We have to do a better job as conservatives of spreading our message, and so trying to do events like this right before a big State of the Union or messaging, you know, on events that the White House is doing, amplifies the message that we want to share," Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., said. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, who is giving the Spanish-language rebuttal to Bidens address, told Fox News Digital, "What [Americans] see through media row is one message, and that message is, in November, it is important for us to not only take back the White House, but retain control of the House, take back the Senate, so that we can pass meaningful legislation that matters to America." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. Original article source: House Republicans sharpen their knives ahead of Biden's State of the Union, say they expect more gaslighting FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans, ahead of the State of the Union address by President Biden Thursday evening, are zeroing in on the ongoing border crisis in the first of a number of videos they say will highlight the "Faces of Bidens State of the Union in Crisis." The first video released by the House Republican Conference features Brandon Budlong, a Border Patrol agent and president of the National Border Patrol Councils (NBPC) branch in Theresa, New York. Budlong is also a guest of Conference Chair Elise Stefaniks at the address. In the video, Budlong said he wishes people could see the work Border Patrol agents are doing and the increase in their workload. JOHNSON'S STATE OF THE UNION GUESTS INCLUDE MOTHER OF WOMAN ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY MS-13 GANG MEMBER People camp as they wait to cross the border between Mexico and the United States in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Dec. 27, 2023. "Were not doing what were meant to be doing to keep our communities and the public safe. Instead, were streamlining millions of people in the country illegally," Budlong said. He says the crisis at the southern border is leading to redeployment from the northern border, leaving the northern border more open to illegal immigrants and drugs. He mentioned the death of Laken Riley in Georgia and says it was "extremely frustrating" to him and his colleagues. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "It makes you almost feel like youve failed at your job even though you did everything you could with the policies in place," Budlong said. "This administration created this crisis, and they could fix it but refuse to do so." Split image of President Biden, left, and migrants attempting to cross into the U.S. Republicans have hammered the administration on the crisis, which they say is the result of Bidens policies and the reversal of Trump-era policies that secured the border. On Thursday, it will be one of a number of areas where they will attack the president's record. "In his final State of the Union, Joe Biden will desperately attempt to reset his failed far left policies that have hurt hardworking families and cost American lives," Stefanik told Fox News Digital. "House Republicans will not let that happen. Filling the audience tonight will be the faces of Joe Bidens State of the Union in crisis. In Joe Bidens America, it is crystal clear that the American people are struggling. From #Bidenflation and open borders to failed national security and an overwhelming crime crisis, House Republicans are giving a platform to expose the everyday impact of the real America under Joe Biden. LIVE UPDATES: PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DELIVER STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS "We will not allow Joe Biden to brush his failures under the rug; these brave American voices and stories deserve to be heard." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. The administration says it is dealing with a hemisphere-wide crisis and a "broken" immigration system and needs funding and comprehensive immigration reform from Congress to fix it. DUELING BIDEN, TRUMP VISITS TO BESIEGED BORDER COME AMID FRESH SLEW OF VIOLENT CRIMES BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS In his address, Biden is expected to renew calls for Congress to pass a bipartisan Senate bill, which was backed by the NBPC and would include additional staffing for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other DHS agencies. The deal includes $1.4 billion in funding to cities and NGOs receiving migrants, action to tackle fentanyl smuggling and a limit on asylum claims. It would also increase detention beds to 50,000 and provide additional immigration judges. However, conservatives have opposed it, saying it is insufficient and would normalize high levels of illegal immigration. House Republicans have instead called for the passage of the GOP border legislation passed in the House last year. Biden is likely to make similar appeals to those he made last week at the border in Brownsville, Texas. "Folks, the bipartisan border security bill is a win for the American people and a win for the people of Texas, and it's fair for those who legitimately have a right to come here," Biden said. "The U.S. Senate needs to reconsider this bill, and those senators who oppose it need to set politics aside and pass it on the merits, not on whether it's going to benefit one party or another party." Original article source: House Republicans zero in on border chaos with video series on Faces of Bidens State of the Union in Crisis What happened? Iran-backed Houthi militants killed three crew members on a Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned commercial ship carrying steel from China to Saudi Arabia through the Gulf of Aden. Wednesday's missile strike on the MV True Confidence also wounded four members of the international crew, from India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Nepal and Sri Lanka. These were the first fatalities of the Yemeni militant group's months of attacks on ships in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, purportedly in support of embattled Palestinians. How we got here The sailors' deaths are the "sad but inevitable consequence of the Houthis recklessly firing missiles at international shipping," Britain's embassy in Yemen said. "They must stop." The "reckless attacks by the Houthis have disrupted global trade" and supply chains, and now they've killed "international seafarers simply doing their jobs," U.S. Central Command said. The commentary A U.S.-led task force "has been shooting down as many of these missiles and drones as it can," but "the Houthis seem to have an inexhaustible supply of them," the BBC said. Now that these attacks "have turned deadly there are bound to be calls to step up retaliation." The U.S. and U.K. have been hitting Houthi targets for weeks, The Associated Press said, but the Houthis clearly remain "capable of launching significant attacks." What next? "The U.S. obviously is going to continue to take action," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Kerkez / Getty Images/iStockphoto Are you determined to build wealth and feel like youre doing everything right to do so? However, despite your efforts, youre just not getting there. Perhaps youre encumbered by rising living costs or not as smartly aligned with your spending habits as you should be. Whatever the case may be, there are steps you can take to improve your situation. Try This: 12 Key Ways the Rich Multiply Their Wealth Be Aware: 6 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work) GOBankingRates consulted with financial planners to learn the top advice they give clients who are struggling to build wealth. Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity. Put Plans in Place Often, people in the earlier stages of their financial journey need to know what to do to even get started. Heres where you need some deep foundational work. When Im working with these clients, putting a plan in place is very important, said Melissa Shaw, wealth management advisor at TIAA. We want to look at the income coming in and going out each month, create a budget, automate their contributions and increases to their retirement accounts, save additional income in non-retirement accounts for investing, real estate or life insurance (depending on your needs) and ensure their investment risk is appropriate for their goals. Address Mental Barriers Even before embarking on a robust plan that includes budgeting and retirement contributions, its advised that you recognize and overcome any mental barriers or beliefs that may be barring you from building wealth. I encourage my clients to be honest with themselves and with me about what actions they will or wont take, Shaw said. If you arent going to try to live on a budget, why spend time creating one? We should focus on the other areas of building wealth. Its also important to address their beliefs about money. One question that I ask every client is, What is your philosophy on money? Story continues This question provokes a variety of responses and really gives me a glimpse into my clients beliefs and motivations, Shaw said. There are some clients who believe money is the root of all evil or they dont feel deserving of wealth. Many others believe that money is security or independence. As an advisor, I have to know what this money means to my clients so that I can motivate them to take action. Wipe Out Debt Unfortunately, most Americans can relate to this one: debt. Its the biggest roadblock to building wealth. Debt is stealing from your future, said Jay Zigmont, PhD, CFP, founder of Childfree Wealth. Each debt you pay off is increasing your total net worth, and you are effectively getting a risk-free, tax-free return of the interest you would have paid. With credit cards now over 20% interest, paying them off is likely to be a better return than investing. Establish a Fixed Savings Amount That Is Non-Negotiable Hazel Secco, CFP, CDFA, president and founder at Align Financial Solutions LLC, sees many young professionals even those with high incomes struggling to build wealth due to high spending and the rising cost of living. They often wonder how to build wealth while their expenses are so high, Secco said. My advice is to prioritize establishing a fixed savings amount that is non-negotiable. Once spending takes precedence, it becomes challenging to cut back and allocate funds toward saving. This is also a key component of behavioral financial coaching because clients must cultivate the habit of prioritizing saving and allocating funds before spending. This disciplined approach greatly enhances their success rate in achieving their financial goals. Put the Wealth Puzzle Together Even already wealthy folks can be confused or concerned about building it. Shaw finds that those in the later stages of life or with a lot of assets, tend to focus on understanding their wealth and transferring those assets to future generations. Just because a client has a lot of wealth doesnt mean they understand it, know what to do with it or feel secure about their financial future, Shaw said. The questions from these clients are I have all of these assets, now what do I do with them? and How do I get this wealth to my heirs? For many, it is a puzzle that needs to be solved. How do you solve the puzzle? By categorizing your assets into three buckets: Now, Later, and Never. The Now assets are generally non-retirement investment accounts, bank savings and real estate, Shaw said. These assets generally provide income earlier in retirement and are better to leave to individuals beneficiaries. The Later bucket is tax-deferred assets, like IRAs, 401ks or annuities, Shaw said. These assets are fully taxable, provide the majority of retirement income, and are generally better left to charitable organizations (who dont have to worry about taxes). Lastly, the Never bucket consists of investments that grow tax-free, like Roth accounts, 529s and life insurance. These accounts are the best to leave to individual beneficiaries, from a tax perspective, Shaw said. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Financial Planners: Top 5 Tips for Struggling Clients Looking To Build Wealth Humza Yousaf has been accused of a conflict of interest after overriding officials to give 250,000 to a Gaza aid agency while members of his family were trapped in the warzone. The First Minister stepped in after officials recommended a 100,000-200,000 donation to Unicef, the United Nations agency which provides humanitarian aid to children, to fund water programmes in Gaza. He overruled their advice, declaring that 250,000 of taxpayers money should instead be given to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the biggest international aid agency operating in Gaza, which has been criticised over alleged links to Hamas. Mr Yousaf told officials that, since he was about to meet with UNRWA, we should just announce an extra 250k to them. The Scottish Governments 250,000 donation was publicly announced on Nov 2, the same day that Mr Yousaf met a delegation of senior UNRWA officials in Edinburgh. His mother-in-law and father-in-law were given safe passage out of Gaza via the Rafah crossing the following day, Nov 3. On Friday, Mr Yousaf denied that the donation was in any way connected to the release of his family. A spokesman said: UNRWA had no role in the situation regarding the First Ministers extended family, and any suggestion of a conflict of interest in this matter would be completely untrue. Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, Humza Yousaf's parents-in-law, found themselves trapped in Gaza after war broke out - PA However, the First Minister is facing accusations that his interference in the allocation of aid process amounted to a conflict of interest, and questions over whether his actions breached the ministerial code. A senior MSP who sits on Holyroods standards and procedures committee said that if Mr Yousaf was unable to give a satisfactory explanation for his actions, he should face an inquiry. The Telegraph understands that a report has been made to the Metropolitan Polices anti-terror hotline, and a submission is being prepared to send to Audit Scotland, the independent body that oversees how public money is spent in Scotland. Stephen Kerr, a Conservative MSP who sits on Scotlands standards, procedures and public appointments committee, said: The First Minister has some serious explaining to do, starting with why he overrode officials to take money away from the vital Unicef water programme and assign it to UNRWA. It looks as if the money was not budgeted and that the First Minister was prepared to bend the rules and not follow procedure. Humza Yousaf has a clear conflict of interest in the awarding of aid to Gaza. Clearly, the fact that so many members of his family are either living in Gaza or are involved with Palestinian organisations raises significant questions about what his motivation is for using taxpayers money in the area. Parents-in-law stranded Mr Yousafs in-laws travelled to Gaza in early October to visit relatives but became stranded when the war began. Border crossings in and out of Gaza were shut after Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel on Oct 7, murdering some 1,200 people and taking more than 240 hostages. The Scottish Ministerial Code states that ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their public duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise. Mr Kerr went on to say that the First Minister may very well have broken the code by failing to recuse himself when he has family connections to Gaza and Palestinian organisations here in Scotland. He added: If he cannot give a satisfactory answer to questions about the decision-making behind this payment by the Scottish Government, then Parliament must set up an independent investigation into this matter. Towards the end of November last year, reports began to emerge in Israeli media that a hostage had been held captive in the house of an UNRWA employee, where he was locked in the attic. By the end of January, Britain, the United States and several other countries suspended their funding to UNRWA after 12 of its workers were sacked following accusations by Israel that they participated in the Oct 7 attacks. The UN has launched its own inquiry into the claims, which is ongoing. In a statement at the time, the Foreign Office said the UK was appalled by the claims that UNRWA staff were involved in a heinous act of terrorism, adding that it would temporarily pause any future funding while it reviewed the allegations. Last month, Israels defence minister said it had identified dozens more UNRWA workers who took part in the Oct 7 massacre. Yoav Gallant also said more than 1,400 workers from the UNRWA were members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The figure amounts to around 12 per cent of the agencys workforce in Gaza, which numbers 13,000. Hamas has condemned Israels allegations against the UNRWA as blackmail. Prior to the Oct 7 attack, UNRWA had faced criticism that anti-Israel material was taught in its schools in Gaza. During Donald Trumps presidency, the US ended funding for the agency and described it as irredeemably flawed. The agency rejected the criticism, and aid was restored by Joe Biden in 2021. In total, the Scottish Government has given 750,000 to UNRWA since the Oct 7 massacre. The first donation, of 500,000, was announced on Oct 14, following an urgent internal submission, official documents show. Ten days later, a new urgent commission came from Mr Yousaf, this time for funds/supplies for water supplies to a charity or aid organisation in Gaza. Official advice, provided by the minister for culture, Europe and international development, as well as the Cabinet secretary for constitution, external affairs and culture, stated that giving 100,000-200,000 to Unicef was the preferred option. This advice was sent to the First Minister, who was also told that there were no available funds for general humanitarian aid in Gaza. Internal correspondence shows that he was told by officials: We have considered various options to provide humanitarian support for civilians in Gaza, including access to wider SG [Scottish Government] budgets, but this is not currently available to us. In the same email, it was noted that Mr Yousaf had a meeting with UNRWA coming up, but it made it clear that the advice on funding Unicef still stood. However, three days after receiving the advice, on Oct 30, Mr Yousaf wrote in an email: The following day, a new piece of advice was issued in line with the First Ministers suggestion that the donation should be increased to 250,000 and sent to UNRWA instead of Unicef and that this does not cause us any difficulties. On Nov 1, Mr Yousafs private secretary wrote to the minister for culture, Europe & international development: The documents were obtained by Craig Houston, a Glasgow resident, following a Freedom of Information request, who discussed them on his YouTube channel Craig Houston Talks To. It later emerged that the donation came from the International Development Fund, a 10 million fund that is meant to be ring-fenced for projects in four partner countries Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Pakistan. Mr Yousaf has previously faced questions over his handling of foreign policy, which is a reserved power for the Westminster government. He sparked a furious row with ministers after holding face-to-face talks about the Gaza crisis with Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, who has called Israel a terror state and Hamas a liberation group. Mr Yousaf shared photos of the pair shaking hands on social media, declaring that he backed a ceasefire in Gaza which was not UK Government policy. It was one of five times Mr Yousaf flouted the rules during his meetings with foreign leaders during the Cop28 climate change summit in December, according to the Scottish Secretary. Alister Jack disclosed that the First Minister ignored the requirement to have a UK Government official present during discussions with Najib Mikati, the Lebanese prime minister, and Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the acting prime minister of Pakistan. Mr Yousaf also held bilateral meetings with Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, and Charles Michel, the president of the European Council. Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, said Mr Yousaf had questions to answer over why he went against official advice and chose to give public money to UNRWA rather than Unicef. He added: Its important the First Minister is fully transparent, especially given it appears that a Scottish Government fund ring-fenced for other charities was raided for this donation, and the allegations that have since emerged about UNRWA workers. Alex Cole-Hamilton, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: Humza Yousaf seemingly stepping in to direct charity funding in the face of his officials advice seems like an unusual step. He needs to explain why he thought this was appropriate when other charitable options were advised and his decisions required money to be diverted from other purposes. Rigorous process A spokesman for the First Minister said there was a rigorous process to ensure complete transparency and accountability in the allocation of money from the International Development Fund. He said that while the fund primarily supports projects in partner countries, funding has been made available to address urgent humanitarian needs in several other countries in recent years. The spokesman said: UNRWA had no role in the situation regarding the First Ministers extended family, and any suggestion of a conflict of interest in this matter would be completely untrue. The record shows the First Ministers actions were consistent with his obligations towards openness and honesty in the Scottish Ministerial Code. The decision not to restrict funding to water supplies was based on advice from officials, following discussions with UNRWA, Unicef and the British Red Cross, who all stressed the importance of flexibility in providing humanitarian support according to changing needs on the ground. A spokesman for Scotland Yard said they could not comment on cases reported to its anti-terror hotline for security reasons but added: All reports get reviewed by officers and, if it is assessed that further police action is required, then it will get passed to the relevant police force or counter-terrorism unit to carry this out. UNRWA was approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Under the UKs system of devolution, foreign affairs is a reserved matter: it is for the Government in Westminster, accountable to Parliament, to determine how the UK approaches the rest of the world. It would not only be confusing were Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland allowed to conduct their own foreign policies. It would be to the detriment of the whole nation, allowing one part to undermine the whole. This is just one of the reasons why the recent behaviour of Humza Yousaf, the Scottish First Minister, is so concerning. This newspaper reports that he overrode official advice to instruct the Scottish government to pay 250,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), which operates in Gaza. Officials had recommended a donation be made to Unicef, to fund water programmes, but Mr Yousaf disagreed. This happened while members of the First Ministers extended family were trapped in the Palestinian enclave. A spokesman for Mr Yousaf has denied that there was any conflict of interest or that the matter had anything to do with his family. This is hardly the first time that Mr Yousaf has attracted criticism over his forays into international affairs, however. Late last year, Lord Cameron accused him of breaching protocol when he met with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at the Cop28 environmental conference. At the time, the Foreign Secretary threatened to shut the Scottish governments mini-embassies abroad, saying that Mr Yousaf had reneged on an agreement to have a UK official present at diplomatic talks. UNRWA itself is a highly controversial organisation whose local staff have, in the months since the Scottish donation, been accused of deeply troubling links with Hamas. Many Western countries have since cut off donations to the body entirely. At the very least, the First Minister must now be fully transparent about why he went against official advice, and explain whether all the appropriate rules were correctly followed. But a broader debate about how the Scottish government has sought to pursue a quasi-independent foreign and development policy should also follow. The SNP might well wish to put Scotland firmly in the international camp opposed to Israels current military operation against Hamas in Gaza and it has made its desire for a ceasefire between the two sides well known, not least in Parliament. But that is not currently the agreed position of the United Kingdom. Mr Yousaf must be made to understand 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. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) Before you get ready to take off on your Spring Break vacation, Huntsville International Airport, with the help of some Rocket City mascots, want to offer some travel tips to get you through TSA quickly and safely. When packing a carry-on bag, Alabama Federal Security Director Tara Corse suggests that you start fresh. Make sure the bag is completely empty in case there are any illegal or prohibited items that could slow you down at a TSA checkpoint. Efforts to make North Alabama Zoo a reality continue as NALZS looks at funding For Spring Break we want to ensure that we have the safest and easiest experience for our passengers coming through, Corse said. With that said we want them to empty their bags out completely and make sure they understand things can hide underneath. Huntsville Havocs Rukus and Chaos alongside Trash Pandas Sprocket brought a few items of their own that they needed to be checked. While at the airport they learned to remember the 3-1-1 rule for liquids, gels, and aerosols. If a bottle contains more than 3.4 ounces of liquid, it must be checked. Corse said TSA has seen an increase in gun interceptions at the airport. She explains while you can transport a firearm, its important that it is packed correctly. What were trying to do is get the message out that you can transport your weapons most definitely, but we want hem to do it safely and we want them to do it through checked bags. Once you get to the airport, go ahead and get to your airline. Youre going to have your case, its going to be locked appropriately, Corse said. 20 guns were intercepted at Huntsville International Airport in 2023, and three have been intercepted so far this year. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has approved a draft resolution on nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine by a majority vote. Source: Press service of Ukraines Energy Ministry Details: In particular, the document urges Russia to urgently withdraw all unauthorised personnel, including military forces, from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and to immediately return the plant to the full control of the relevant Ukrainian authorities under the existing licence issued by Ukraine's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate. This is essential to ensure ZNPP's safe and sustainable operation. "The Russian Federation has openly expressed hostility to the Agency and deliberately challenged the credibility of the non-proliferation paradigm. By supporting the resolution drafted by Ukraine today, countries will send a clear message to Russia that it must cease its illegal activities. A vote in favour of this resolution demonstrates the IAEA's commitment and the need to restore security to Europe's largest nuclear power plant. After all, even a minor accident at Zaporizhzhia NPP could stop the future development of nuclear power in the world," said Herman Halushchenko, Ukraine's Energy Minister and Head of the Ukrainian delegation. The adopted document also expressed grave concern over the unstable state of nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP, especially the lack of adequately qualified personnel on site, gaps in scheduled preventive maintenance, problems with supply chains, the vulnerable state of the plants water supply, external power supply problems, and the planting of anti-personnel mines in the buffer zone between the inner and outer perimeters of the facility. Background: The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP is staffed by half the required number of personnel, and the plant is nearing the end of its nuclear fuel life. Support UP or become our patron! An iconic landmark in South Florida is being evicted. Miami-Dade County sent a letter to the company that runs the Miami Seaquarium. Officials said they are terminating their lease for the property. Photos: Iconic Florida aquarium being evicted after animal welfare violations Miami Seaquarium Lolita performed two shows daily at the Miami Seaquarium for more than 50 years. Miami Seaquarium Lolita in the 80 long x 35 wide x 20 deep tank in Miami. An iconic landmark in South Florida is being evicted. Miami-Dade County sent a letter to the company that runs the Miami Seaquarium. Officials said they are terminating their lease for the property. Tokitae in 1980. The audience at the Miami Seaquarium watches Lolita the killer whale at its 40th anniversary performance. Tokitae the killer whale, also known as Toki or Lolita, lives at Miami Seaquarium on Key Biscayne. FILE -- In this March 9, 1995 file photo, trainer Marcia Hinton pets Lolita, a captive orca whale, during a performance at the Miami Seaquarium in Miami. NOAA is deciding this month whether Lolita is a member of the small endangered population of killer whales that hang out in Washington state waters. But the decision isnt likely to end fierce debate over what should be done with the whale. (AP Photo/Miami Herald, Nuri Vallbona, File) The Miami Seaquarium was founded in 1955. Many episodes of the television series Flipper were shot at the marine-life park as well as several films. Read: Lolita the killer whale, 57, dies at Miami Seaquarium ahead of her planned return to the wild The company now has until April 21 to vacate the property. The location, near downtown Miami, is home to roughly 500 animals. Read: 3 manatees moved from Miami Seaquarium to SeaWorld, ZooTampa after TikTok video goes viral The mayor says the attraction has received a series of USDA inspection reports of documented animal welfare violations. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Read: See inside Central Floridas newest aquarium Tokitae the killer whale, also known as Toki or Lolita, lives at Miami Seaquarium on Key Biscayne. Lolita performed two shows daily at the Miami Seaquarium for more than 50 years. Lolita in the 80 long x 35 wide x 20 deep tank in Miami. GF Default - VIDEO: Lolita/Tokitae captured in Penn Cove in 1970s Lolita has been performing in Miami. Tokitae the killer whale, also known as Toki or Lolita, lives at Miami Seaquarium on Key Biscayne. A protest for Lolita was held at Alki on Saturday. FILE -- In this March 9, 1995 file photo, trainer Marcia Hinton pets Lolita, a captive orca whale, during a performance at the Miami Seaquarium in Miami. NOAA is deciding this month whether Lolita is a member of the small endangered population of killer whales that hang out in Washington state waters. But the decision isnt likely to end fierce debate over what should be done with the whale. (AP Photo/Miami Herald, Nuri Vallbona, File) Mark Anderson, a music teacher at East Junior High School, has displayed a pride flag in his Boise classroom since 2019 to him, a symbol of a safe space. He said one parent thanked him for the flag, because it meant their child had a welcoming place in the school. Students see me as a safe person to come to, someone that will not judge them for whatever they need to speak to me about, said Anderson, who clarified that he wasnt speaking on behalf of his school district. And I attribute that very much to the pride flag thats up in my room. If a bill proposed in the Idaho Legislature were to become law, hed have to take that flag down. The House Education committee on Friday voted to hold in committee the bill which would restrict the flags and banners that can be displayed in K-12 public schools after concerns from legislators and opposition from teachers and parents who testified. Senate Bill 1362 lists nine types of flags that can be displayed on school property, such as the American flag, but forbids flags or banners that represent a political viewpoint, including but not limited to flags or banners regarding a political party, race, sexual orientation, gender, or a political ideology. Teachers and education stakeholders previously told the Idaho Statesman they feared the bill unfairly targets the LGBTQ+ community and takes away control from teachers. This is virtue signaling on the part of our Republican Legislature, Anderson told the Statesman. By eliminating any pride flags, or flags like that, we are isolating an already marginalized community in this state. Sen. Chris Trakel, R-Caldwell, who sponsored the legislation, told lawmakers that his daughter felt extremely uncomfortable with a pride flag at school because of her religious beliefs. Somebody could take offense to the LGBTQ flag, and they might. Somebody of a religious origin would find that offensive to them and they have to sit in the classroom and be offended the entire time, he told a Senate committee. The whole point of this isnt to discriminate against anybody. The whole place is to make this a neutral environment conducive to education and learning. During the Senate debate, some lawmakers raised concerns that the list of flags isnt exhaustive, and that lawmakers could have to amend it regularly. Others worried the language was vague and questioned whether teachers could bring in flags to show as part of their lesson plans. Trakel said the bill would only restrict displays of the flags and still allow teachers to show them for educational purposes. Mistie DelliCarpini-Tolman, the Idaho state director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, spoke against the bill and said it was a violation of the First Amendment and would harm LGBTQ+ students. She also noted the law doesnt define a flag or banner, and questioned whether the bill would also ban teachers from displaying flags from Washington, D.C., or Puerto Rico. Schools should be places that celebrate diversity and teach students about different identities and perspectives, she said. This bill would hinder those efforts to create an inclusive learning environment, she said. Were concerned that its going to send LGBTQ students a message that theyre not accepted, that theyre not supported, which can have a chilling effect and send fear throughout our LGBTQ student population, she told the Statesman. Theres so many different ways that censoring speech like this constitutes government overreach and is just going to create chaos among other consequences. Trakel said the bill was necessary to create an environment thats comfortable for all students and free from partisan politics. This isnt just an attack on the pride flag, this is a banning of all third-party flags, Trakel said on the Senate floor. Its ridiculous how often people can get upset, and how easy people can get upset, in todays world over the littlest things. So the best thing to do that is just to remove the capability of anybody being threatened. Teacher says bill was step to legalize discrimination In the past few years, some local boards have passed similar policies that would restrict what teachers can display in their classrooms. The West Ada School District passed a policy in 2022 that listed a number of flags teachers could display but maintained that the policy doesnt limit teachers displays to what is on that list. The policy was an attempt to create a content-neutral environment in classrooms. Teachers said they worry this bill would limit autonomy in the classroom and alienate LGBTQ students. They said the bill was an effort to dive further into the culture wars pervasive in education across the country. It is just another step by the Idaho Legislature to legalize discrimination against a particular group of Idahoans, Mary Anne McGrory, a Pocatello teacher, told the Statesman. Zach Borman, the president of the West Ada Education Association, said in an email this bill was another useless culture war distraction and said it would take local control away from Idaho communities. The Idaho Education Association also opposed the bill. Spokesperson Mike Journee said it restricts free speech and could impact lesson plans that use flags or banners to demonstrate parts of history. He also pointed to the portion of the bill that listed sexual orientation as one of many factors representing a political viewpoint. The concept that sexual orientation is a political viewpoint is ridiculous, Journee told the Statesman. If the bill were to pass generally speaking, once a bill is held in committee, it remains there Anderson said that he would find other ways to make sure all students felt safe with him. He would wear a rainbow shirt or have a rainbow lanyard. I will be decked out. If they dont want me having a flag in the building or in my classroom, then I am going to have it on my body in someplace that is visible for everyone, he said. I will go to the ends of the Earth to show that my students have a safe place to go. A Meridian man that shot a rifle at two Idaho Power hydroelectric dams and tried to flee from police has pleaded guilty to a federal charge, the U.S. attorney for the District of Idaho said in a news release Friday. Randy Vail, 59, pleaded guilty to destruction of an energy facility after shooting at Hells Canyon and Brownlee dams, causing nearly $550,000 in damage to the structures. Vail admitted guilt as part of a February plea deal, court records show, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora Grasham dismissed a second count of destruction of an energy facility at the prosecutors request. Vail is scheduled for sentencing on June 5. He could face up to 20 years in prison. According to court records, Vail rode his motorcycle to the top of Hells Canyon Dam late at night last June and fired a rifle at power substations. An hour later, he did the same at Brownlee Dam. According to the Friday news release, Hells Canyon Dam lost power and Brownlee had large plumes of sparks over its switchyard as a result of the attacks. After the shootings, sheriffs deputies in Washington County attempted to stop Vail on his motorcycle. He fled for about 3 miles before pulling over. He was carrying two rifles, live and spent ammunition, bolt cutters and two compressed air tanks filled with gasoline. Initially, Vail was charged with crimes in Washington and Adams counties, including a charge of possessing a bomb or destructive device tied to the gasoline-filled air tanks. Court records showed both counties prosecutors moved to dismiss Vails state charges last fall, and both cases are now closed. The Idaho Statesman has reached out to the county prosecutors for more information on the case dismissals. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released findings on Friday from an investigation into a deadly shooting on Feb. 29 near a humanitarian aid convoy in Gaza. The incident allegedly left more than 100 people dead and over 760 wounded, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures. Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, presented the findings of a review into the shooting's sequence of events to Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. "The command review found that IDF troops did not fire at the humanitarian convoy, but did fire at a number of suspects who approached the nearby forces and posed a threat to them," the IDF said in its release of the findings. STAMPEDE, GUNFIRE AT GAZA HUMANITARIAN AID DELIVERY KILLS OVER 100, REPORTS SAY The IDF released findings from a command review of a deadly incident on Feb. 29 where Israeli troops shot Palestinians who were advancing on them while thousands rushed aid trucks, creating chaos that left more than 100 dead. The review stated that while the trucks were traveling toward distribution centers in the northern Gaza Strip, a crowd of about 12,000 Palestinians surrounded the vehicles and began looting the equipment being transported. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The looting created chaos and caused "incidents of significant harm to civilians," which included people being trampled and run over by the trucks, according to the IDF. While the trucks were being crowded, the IDF said there were dozens of Palestinians advancing toward nearby Israeli troops, which "posed a real threat to the forces." Warning shots were fired in the direction of the suspects a statement the IDF has maintained since the incident but the efforts were unsuccessful. IDF SAYS TROOPS FIRED WARNING SHOTS AS MOB RUSHED AID CONVOY, LEADING TO MORE THAN 100 KILLED "As the suspects continued to advance toward them, the troops fired precisely toward a number of the suspects to remove the threat," the review found, according to the IDF. The findings of the review remain consistent with what the IDF has said about the deadly shooting since the day it took place. The Fact Finding and Assessment Mechanism (FFAM) an independent group responsible for examining what goes on during Israel's war against Hamas is continuing to investigate what happened and will form a conclusion. In addition to releasing the findings of the review, the IDF said it "places great importance to(sic) the humanitarian efforts, and makes many efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and to improve the existing mechanisms." Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that ignited the ongoing war killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in the capture of around 250 hostages some of whom were released during a temporary cease-fire deal in November. Since launching its assault on Gaza following the attack, 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 Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing. Despite international calls to allow in more aid, the number of supply trucks is far less than the 500 that came in daily before the war. Fox News' Yonat Friling and Bradford Betz contributed to this report. Original article source: IDF releases review of deadly shooting near aid convoy in Gaza, says Palestinians fired at 'posed a threat' State lawmakers in Alabama passed a measure to protect doctors and health professionals from legal trouble if embryos are damaged or destroyed during in vitro fertilization. The measure came after that states supreme court ruled frozen embryos are children, raising concerns about the future of the treatment across the country. Now Illinois state lawmakers are addressing it. As Our Quad Cities News Illinois Capitol Bzureau correspondent Theodora Koulouvaris reports, theyre considering legislation to expand access to the treatment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. CHICAGO An Illinois man is charged with breaching a police line during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. and firing a gun into the air, according to federal authorities. John Banuelos, 39, of Summit, is facing multiple felony charges in federal court in D.C., including civil disorder, entering or remaining in restricted grounds with a dangerous weapon and discharging a weapon in or on Capitol grounds. Hes also charged with a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. Banuelos, who is among more than 40 Illinoisans charged in the breach of the Capitol, made an initial appearance Friday at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. Banuelos was identified as in attendance during the Jan. 6, 2021 Stop the Steal rally held by former President Donald Trump after losing the 2020 election, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Northern District of Illinois. Just before 1:30 p.m., he moved toward the front of a mob as police officers were trying to reestablish a police line with metal barricades. Capitol building surveillance footage showed Banuelos pointing at police officers and kicking a barricade twice, according to the release. He walked back and through the crowd at the West Plaza for about half an hour, the document said, then used his body to push against officers to breach the police line, along with other rioters. At one point, he raised his jacket to show a gun in his waistband, the complaint said. He then moved to the south side of the plaza and was part of a crowd that breached the police line, it said. Just after 2:30 p.m., Banuelos is seen on the footage climbing scaffolding on the Inaugural stage, according to the release. The footage allegedly shows him waving to the crowd, pulling out the gun and firing two shots into the air. Banuelos was among some 48 Illinoisans charged so far in the Capitol breach, an ongoing investigation that has been described by prosecutors as the largest criminal probe in the countrys history. In Illinois, those charged have included a Chicago police officer, a real estate broker, a tech company executive and a retired firefighter. Nationwide, more than 1,300 people have been arrested in all 50 states and the District of Columbia on charges stemming from the Capitol breach, according to the U.S. Justice Department. ____ Eric McCandless / ABC Real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran knows exactly what you need to do if you want to sell your home quickly. In an interview with CNBC Make It, the Shark Tank businesswoman said buyers judge homes they walk into within 30 seconds. Those 30 seconds can make or break their decision as to whether they plan to make an offer and sellers cant afford to make a poor first impression. According to Corcoran, sellers need to invest in the following three areas to grab the attention of a buyer and sell their homes fast. Find Out: Im a Real Estate Agent 7 House Features That Buyers Always Overpay For Be Aware: 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. 1. Home Exterior When a buyer comes to tour a home for sale, the first thing theyll notice is its front. This includes, but is not limited to, the front entrance, front door, shrubs and lawn and the sidewalk and driveway. To make a solid first impression, Corcoran recommends tidying everything up and hitting refresh where its needed. If your front door needs a new coat of paint, repaint it. Mow the lawn, trim the bushes and tend to any flowers. Corcoran also said sellers should power wash their sidewalk and the driveway. Josh Stech, co-founder and CEO of Sundae, agreed with Corcorans suggestions. He recommends conducting simple landscaping improvements, like trimming and cleaning up yards. Upgrades like paint and new garage doors or window improvements, Stech said, are great investment decisions for grabbing a buyers attention. Generally speaking, anything that directly impacts the aesthetic appearance or curb appeal of a home is likely to provide a good return, said Stech. Homebuyers remember the most glaring areas of the home, especially the front exterior, from the moment they pull up to the house. Read Next: Barbara Corcoran Says, Forget About Florida, Move Here for Cheap Homes 2. Living Room The next space Corcoran said sellers need to invest in is the living room. According to Corcoran, the entire size of the house is judged by potential buyers based on the living room. Story continues Shes right. Key findings from Opendoors 2024 Home Decor Report indicate that if sellers want to entice buyers to make an offer on their home, they should be paying attention to the floor plan in a living area. Ideally, the right layout creates a natural flow between spaces. What if youre on a budget and cant necessarily spend thousands on a remodel? Corcoran recommends making subtle changes, such as adding fresh slipcovers to furniture and buying a bigger rug. Buyers will judge the size of a room based on the size of the rug, she said. You can also update the lighting in the living room, recommended by both Corcoran and Stech. Good lighting makes a home feel less dated and helps show it better, said Stech, adding that updates to lighting fixtures can be made for a low price relative to the total home value. 3. Kitchen Often described as the heart of the home, all eyes will be on the kitchen. Here, Corcoran said youll need to make key improvements like resurfacing cabinets and repainting the walls. To further entice buyers, Opendoors report recommends investing in surface treatments, like handmade-looking tiles, mixed metals and warm woods, that will be visually interesting to buyers. The one kitchen upgrade sellers must invest in no matter what? A new refrigerator. According to Corcoran, the first thing a prospective buyer does when they walk into the kitchen is open the refrigerator. When they see a new, state of the art refrigerator, Corcoran said they assume the kitchen is in better order because of it. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Barbara Corcoran: Investing In 3 Things Will Help Sell Your Home Fast Kristalina Georgieva has said she would be honored to serve for a second five-year term at the helm of the Washington-based financial institution (OLIVIER DOULIERY) IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said Friday she would be "honored" to helm the Washington-based financial institution for a second five-year term if she is renominated by member states. "I have received words of support for the work of the IMF from many of our members in recent weeks," Georgieva, 70, wrote in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. "If the broader membership agrees, I would be honored to continue to serve as the IMF Managing Director," she added. Speculation has swirled in recent months about whether Georgieva, a Bulgarian economist, might run again once her current term expires on September 30. Since she took office in 2019, the IMF has stepped in on numerous occasions to support countries facing significant financial hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In an interview earlier this year, Georgieva told AFP that 2024 will be "very tough year" for fiscal policy, as countries look to tackle debt burdens accumulated during the pandemic. Inflation is also likely to remain a challenge for many economies, including the United States, with central banks looking to loosen monetary policy without pushing up prices. Under a controversial, decades-old agreement between Europe and the United States, the International Monetary Fund has historically been led by a European, and the World Bank by a US citizen. This unwritten arrangement was reaffirmed last year when the Biden administration nominated Ajay Banga, an Indian-born, naturalized US citizen, to run the World Bank, which sits just across the street from the IMF in Washington. Georgieva has received backing from key European allies in recent weeks, including France's finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, who told reporters on the sidelines of the G20 in Brazil that she was doing a "great job" running the IMF. Earlier Friday, the governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, Dimitar Radev, said in a statement that he had spoken with Georgieva about running for a second term. "I am glad to report that she confirmed that it would be an honor for her to do that, as long as she receives support from IMF members," he said, in words later mirrored by Georgieva. da-md/acb By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said she would be honored to serve a second five-year term at the helm of the global lender, and had been assured there was a strong support for her candidacy among European IMF members and beyond. Georgieva, a Bulgarian economist whose current term ends on Sept. 30, last week won the backing of French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who said she had done a "great job" leading the institution and that France would support her for a second term. Georgieva, 70, told Reuters in an interview that she spoke at length with the Bulgarian central bank governor on Thursday, who asked her if she would serve if nominated. She said he cited strong support for her among European members, other advanced economies, emerging markets and low-income countries. "My answer is, yes, if there is broad support across the membership, I will be honored to continue to serve," Georgieva said. "The fund is this steady ship going through choppy waters, and I would be so grateful to the membership if they elect me for a second time to be a captain on this ship." Georgieva, who was CEO of the World Bank before heading the IMF and had previously served on the European Union's executive body, said she had gotten positive signals all around, with many lauding the fund's swift action when needed and its work to keep members united under the most difficult circumstances. Le Maire's support was critical, given that European countries traditionally nominate a candidate to lead the IMF, although all European Union members must agree. That decision is expected to come at a Eurogroup meeting on Tuesday. The final decision is made by the institution's board of directors. 'ETERNAL OPTIMIST' Georgieva, the IMF's 12th managing director since its founding in 1944, is the second woman to head the IMF and the first person from an emerging market economy. Keeping Georgieva on for a second term would help answer longstanding concerns raised by emerging market and developing countries over the U.S.-European duopoly at the two global financial institutions, the IMF and World Bank. It is not unusual for someone to serve a second term. Georgieva's predecessor, Christine Lagarde, was named to a second term but stepped down early to become the head of the European Central Bank. A self-described "eternal optimist," Georgieva has weathered huge shocks to the global economy ranging from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic just months after she took office to the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. She said her biggest priorities for a second term would be to bolster prospects for medium-term growth, which is lagging historical levels, managing the ongoing sovereign debt challenges, and guiding the IMF through a complicated quota revamp that boosts the process of representation. "The way I see the years ahead, we have to be in a position of more agility in policies and the capacity of countries to withstand these more frequent shocks, keeping them together, keeping them cooperating, and yet recognizing ... that geopolitics plays a big role in economics," she said. Georgieva drew criticism inside and outside the IMF early on for her push to include climate change as a factor in surveillance reports on member countries' economies and her great interest in emerging market and developing economies. She's been instrumental in securing large loans for Ukraine, helping to catalyze additional funds to help its economy weather the strains of the two-year-old war against Russia's invasion, overseen a revamp of Argentina's massive loan program and worked steadily to help China embrace sovereign debt restructurings. She also survived a big personal challenge in 2021 when the IMF's executive board expressed its full confidence in her after reviewing allegations that while working at the World Bank she pressured staff to alter data to favor China. Sources familiar with the process said the selection would be settled quickly once Europe unites around a candidate. While Georgieva's term won't end for months, some say it makes sense to make decisions before the April spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank, so the leadership issue does not overshadow the already full agenda for the meetings. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Leslie Adler) Immigration reform is expected to be a hot topic as President Joe Biden gives his State of the Union address Thursday night. Channel 2 Action News was the only Georgia TV station invited to speak to top Biden administration officials about his plans for the country. Channel 2s Karyn Greer spoke with Republicans and Democrats about what they hope to hear from the president during the speech in what is expected to be a pivotal moment for his reelection campaign. Its a chance for him to sell voters on his accomplishments and prove he is up for 4 more years. Georgia republicans Greer spoke with said they hope the president talks about Laken Rileys killing, the nursing student killed on the UGA campus, and passing immigration reform. American citizens are being victimized by criminal, illegal aliens in, Laken Rileys murder, highlighted that in a huge way. I mean, I live in Athens. Thats my community. So were hurting from that, Rep. Andrew Clyde said. RELATED STORIES: Our hearts go out to them, press secretary Karine John-Pierre said about the Riley family. This is why we need to get that bipartisan proposal done. This is why Republicans need to stand up in Congress for the right thing. Like these extreme Republicans need to not get in the way of doing what American people want us to be doing and not let the politics of Donald Trump get in the way. The State of the Union also falls on the 60th anniversary of whats known as Bloody Sunday, which is when 600 people were attacked on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965 as they tried to register to vote. Later that year, the Voting Rights Act passed, a landmark federal achievement of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement Id expected the president will be talking about the significance of this day, Rep. Hank Johnson told Greer. And how voting rights was under attack then. And I expect him to talk about the need to pass voting rights legislation today, to protect that precious right to vote. Biden has announced they he will be traveling to Atlanta this weekend to help promote the things he will be talking about during his speech. Former President Donald Trump will also be traveling to Georgia on Saturday to hold a campaign rally in Rome. RELATED NEWS: Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold speaks at an Election Day press conference, Nov. 7, 2023, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in Aurora. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Republicans in the Colorado House of Representatives are seeking to impeach the Democratic secretary of state, who they say cant be trusted to run fair elections. Spearheaded by the top Republican in the Democrat-majority chamber, Minority Leader Rose Pugliese of Colorado Springs, and Rep. Ryan Armagost of Berthoud, the effort has the backing of 17 of the 19 House Republicans. Since being elected, the Secretary of State has used her position as a platform for her partisan political ideology and has proven herself unfit for this elected position, the group of Republicans wrote in a letter Wednesday to Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat, about Secretary Jena Griswold. The letter indicates that Pugliese and Armagost submitted an impeachment resolution Feb. 8, and it requests that McCluskie bring the resolution to the House floor for consideration. The Colorado Republican Party continues to focus on conspiracies and political games, Griswold said in an email. I will not be intimidated by this baseless proceeding. While the Republican House Caucus wastes taxpayer dollars to score cheap political points, you can find me working for Colorado voters Republican, Democratic, and Unaffiliated alike to ensure they can make their voices heard in free and fair elections. Armagost and Pugliese started working on the resolution in January after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump, due to his actions in relation to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, should be barred from the Colorado presidential primary ballot. The ruling was part of a lawsuit in which six Colorado voters sued Griswold in an effort to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits a person who engaged in insurrection after taking an oath to support the Constitution from holding office again. The Colorado ruling was reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday. This resolution is an unwarranted waste of time, and I'm disappointed to see House Republicans bow to the most extreme fringes of their party simply because the Secretary of State did her job. Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie As a defendant in the case, Griswold took a neutral position in the proceedings. But she has been a vocal Trump critic, and she expressed approval when the state Supreme Court barred Trump. Donald Trump engaged in insurrection and was disqualified under the Constitution from the Colorado Ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court got it right, Griswold said in a statement after the December ruling. Having the bias and doing what shes doing to remove a candidate from the ballot, based on personal feelings and accusations, is dangerous, Armagost said Thursday in an interview. If she has personal feelings against me, she could do the same to me and say that I did this or that and ask that I get removed from the primary ballot So this is simply just to say, you cant do that with your position. Armagost said he doubts Griswold has ever run free and fair elections since she first took office after being elected in 2018. And I think theres a fair amount of voters that dont think so, based on my constituents that reach out to me, Armagost said. I think this was a perfect example of how she chooses to run elections, and its not free, fair, balanced or transparent at all. The impeachment resolution had yet to be introduced by the time of publication. Armagost said he expected the measure to be introduced Thursday. This resolution is an unwarranted waste of time, and Im disappointed to see House Republicans bow to the most extreme fringes of their party simply because the Secretary of State did her job, McCluskie said in a statement. Donald Trump is the problem, not the secretary. But instead of dealing with MAGA extremists in their ranks, theyre defending Trump, and attacking his opponents. According to the Colorado Constitution, statewide officers can be impeached for high crimes or misdemeanors or malfeasance in office. The state House can impeach by majority vote, and the state Senate has the power to convict with a two-thirds majority. Armagost acknowledged that since Democrats enjoy strong majorities in both chambers, the resolution has little chance of passing. Any debate that we really do here is wildly outnumbered. We get bulldozed, he said. The only thing we can do is make noise as the super minority. Griswold won reelection in 2022, when she defeated her Republican challenger by 12 points. She is chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State and is often said to have overseen a gold standard election system. The letter from Colorado House Republicans follows a Monday letter from U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Windsor and the Colorado Republican Party that threatens a recall effort against Griswold. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Impeachment effort launched by Colorado House Republicans against secretary of state appeared first on Colorado Newsline. Biden administration officials rephrased key parts of Vice President Kamala Harris strongly worded speech in which she blasted Israels continuing war against Hamas and called for an immediate cease-fire to free remaining hostages in Gaza, according to government officials who spoke to NBC News. Officials in Harris camp acknowledged some changes to Harris fiery speech on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 3 but denied that her words were watered down in any way, asserting that the core of her original message remained unchanged. According to the unnamed officials, the National Security Council received a draft copy of the speech before Harris delivered it. At that point, agency officials purportedly toned down key passages that condemned Israel for the worsening humanitarian crisis and that called for more funding to Palestinian civilians. Fans are clowning Vice President Kamala Harris dance moves after throwing a party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop at her house. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images) The first version of the speech directly called on Israel to immediately allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, with the officials noting that Harris wording was forceful but not likely to cause any disagreement. During the actual speech, Harris was still critical of Israel, describing the situation in Gaza as desperate and calling it clearly a humanitarian catastrophe. She confirmed that the Defense Department conducted its first airdrop of humanitarian aid into Gaza last week while emphasizing that the Israeli government needed to do more to safeguard refugees as more than 30,500 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. They must open new borders for aid, Harris declared. 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. Most notably in the speech, Harris called for an immediate six-week cease-fire as part of a deal to release dozens of hostages whove been held captive since the war began Oct. 7. And given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate cease-fire for at least six weeks as is what is currently on the table, Harris said to lengthy applause. 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 the Palestinian people to dignity, freedom and self-determination. A day after the speech, Harris met with Israeli cabinet minister Benny Gantz in Washington as the White House seeks to pressure Israel to accept another cease-fire. Negotiators also sat down in Egypt this week to discuss a potential agreement with Hamas, who sent delegates to Cairo for the talks. The sides were trying to reach an agreement before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins March 10, which would help facilitate the delivery of more humanitarian aid into Gaza. The proposal includes a provision for exchanging the remaining Israeli hostages for several hundred Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel, but first, Israel has demanded to know exactly how many hostages are still being held. Previously, Israeli officials said the militants kidnapped about 240 Israeli civilians, while less than half were released under an earlier cease-fire agreement, leaving about 134 in captivity. Under the newest proposal, Hamas demanded temporary housing in Gaza until reconstruction is finished, as at least 60 percent of homes have been destroyed. The militants are also asking for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and the ability for Palestinians displaced from northern Gaza to come back to their land. Previously, Gantz vowed the fighting will continue everywhere, including Rafah the southernmost city in Gaza where a million displaced Palestinians have been camped out for weeks unless Hamas freed the hostages by the start of Ramadan. Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues to launch attacks in Gaza, including a strike last Saturday that killed 11 people and injured at least 50 others, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. In another Israeli attack in eastern Rafah the same day, 14 members of a single family were killed, and up to 10 others were trapped under debris. Also last week, Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinian civilians as they attempted to access food from an aid convoy in Gaza City, leading to at least 115 deaths. On Sunday, however, the Israeli military claimed that most of the civilians died in a stampede and that soldiers only responded to imminent threats. Israeli hostilities continue to put strain on the White House to oppose its primary ally in the Middle East, while Israel is also facing regular anti-government protests as its public grew more infuriated over the handling of the hostage crisis. At the same time, senators were increasingly urging Biden to take more decisive action to protect Palestinian civilians, and key Biden allies in Congress threatened to cut military aid if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not change his uncompromising approach. Criticism that initially came from Sen. Bernie Sanders and a small group of progressive Democrats has grown significantly in recent weeks due to the increasing death toll in Gaza. Now, even President Bidens closest ally in Congress, Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, of Delaware, believes it is necessary to take a firmer stance against Netanyahus government regarding its conduct in the war. Military support for Israel becomes untenable when Israel demonstrates they are unwilling to listen to us, Coons told reporters following the shootings of innocent civilians during Feb. 29s failed aid convoy. The U.S. air-dropped aid to Gaza for a third time on Thursday ahead of Bidens State of the Union speech, in which he plans to announce the establishment of a port to deliver food, medicine and other aid to civilians. The adjustments to Harris speech, meanwhile, were more about the tone of the address rather than a shift in U.S. policy on Israel. The White House explained that Harris remarks regarding the cease-fire, which received significant media coverage, echoed previous statements by Biden and reaffirmed the administrations stance calling for Israel to scale back its recalcitrant military campaign. When asked whether the vice presidents speech was toned down to mitigate any disagreements between the allies, communications director Kirsten Allen said, That is inaccurate. The Vice President felt it was important to address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, given recent developments, and to reiterate our Administrations call on Hamas to accept the terms of the hostage deal, she said in a separate statement to NBC. It is standard practice for administration officials to have their public remarks about foreign policy reviewed by the National Security Council and the West Wing, and in the case of Harris speech, several changes were made, some even at the last minute. The speech was still widely viewed as powerful and effective, even though Harris mostly reiterated the Biden administrations recent policy position on Israel and didnt call for any new compromises from the hardline government of Netanyahu, who called demands by Hamas in the current negotiations delusional. Still, Harris tenacious delivery on the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday a pivotal moment of the civil rights movement gained widespread attention, with extensive coverage by the national media and thousands of people who shared excerpts from the speech online. She did what she does best, which is to take the policy issues, break them down in a way that people can understand them and then address it with her own passion and her own sense of whats right, said Leah Daughtry, a Democratic political strategist pushing for a permanent cease-fire, according to NBC. It all came together in a way that were still talking about it. Despite pressure from activists and faith leaders, the Biden administration has not yet called for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. The apparent move to soften Harris speech comes as the White House remains cautious about openly criticizing Israel, even as President Joe Biden walks a thin line in trying to sway intransigent Israeli leaders and at the same time negotiate a hostage deal with Hamas militants. Last Friday, Biden spoke to reporters in the Oval Office, where he indicated he would back an immediate six-week cease-fire as part of a hostage deal. Were trying to work out a deal between Israel and Hamas, Biden said. The hostages being returned, and immediate cease-fire in Gaza for at least the next six weeks. And to allow the surge of aid through the entire Gaza Strip, not just the south, but the entire Gaza Strip. Harris toed the line during her rousing speech in Selma two days later. After the address, she was quick to point out that she and Biden were on the same page. The president and I have been aligned and consistent from the very beginning, Harris told reporters. Israel has the right to defend itself. Far too many Palestinian civilians, innocent civilians have been killed. Before the speech, Biden faced growing criticism for his handling of the war, with many believing that Vice President Harris wanted to take a stronger stance against the fighting in Gaza but felt unable to do so, according to a Democrat who worked on Bidens 2020 campaign, who spoke to NBC on condition of anonymity. The source said Harris had made significant efforts to present herself as a more compassionate voice in an effort to connect with Muslim and Arab Americans, as well as other Democrats, who are growing more troubled by the deteriorating situation in Gaza following 22 weeks of war. Her hands are tied, the source told NBC. People are not attacking her because they know that this is not her policy. This is Bidens war. This is Bidens failure. That Is Inaccurate: Kamala Harris Office Denies Claims Speech on Israeli Cease-Fire Was Watered Down By Officials As Criticism of Biden Mounts spending graphic Rishi Sunak is facing calls from three former Tory defence secretaries to promise to increase defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP in his partys election manifesto. The demands, voiced via The Telegraph, came after no new money was allocated to the Ministry of Defence in Wednesdays Budget, despite rising geopolitical tensions. It also followed a new report by MPs, which said there was no realistic plan to fund what they expect the Armed Forces to carry out in the next decade, with the financial black hole estimated to be 29 billion. Sir Michael Fallon, Sir Gavin Williamson and Ben Wallace, who together headed up the MoD for almost a decade, argued that promising 3 per cent spending was essential for the Armed Forces. Currently, the UK spends around 2.2 per cent of GDP a year on defence, above the 2 per cent target for members of the Nato military alliance. Mr Sunak has said the Governments ambition is to raise that to 2.5 per cent, but no specific timeframe has been given on when or how that would be achieved. Tory MPs have frequently pressed for higher defence spending after Russia invaded Ukraine and amid other signs that tensions across the world were escalating. Hitting 3 per cent by the end of the decade would mean around an extra 34 billion in that year, according to Prof Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director-general at the Royal United Services Institute. The estimate is based on official government forecasts for growth. That would be a considerable investment with the public finances already under strain. Think tanks this week warned that no political party was acknowledging how tough it would be to reduce debt, limit public spending rises and lower taxes after the election. Sir Michael, defence secretary between 2014 and 2017, writes in The Telegraph: Raising defence spending should be in every party manifesto this year. Every candidate should be challenged to support at least 2.5 per cent in each year of the next Parliament, and 3 per cent by the end of it. Stronger forces, a bigger navy, more air defence these are not alternatives to spending on welfare, the NHS or overseas aid but the preconditions for it. Security comes before anything else. The lesson from the 1930s is surely that if we dont prepare properly, it will be much more expensive to do so later on. If we dont recapture the political will and build back the defences that enabled us to win the Cold War, our sons and daughters could face conscription for the first time in over sixty years. Sir Gavin, who held the role between 2017 and 2019, told The Telegraph: We need to spend what we need to defend ourselves. The reality of the threats were facing is that this figure is going to be at least 3 per cent of GDP, and most likely more. We should put that promise in the election manifesto. We cant continue to be in a place where we are thinking that we can hopefully get there. This has to be planned; this has to be well thought through. Weve got to be in a situation where we start building the capabilities. We have to look at how in essence we rearm ourselves. British soldiers take part in a Nato training exercise in Poland - Liesa Johannssen/Bloomberg Mr Wallace, who was defence secretary from 2019 to 2023, said: I do support 3 per cent. All the main political parties should have it in their manifesto if were serious. For our Armed Forces to do what theyve been asked to do alone, and for No 10 to put its money where its mouth is on the global stage it needs to spend 3 per cent. For years Britain has boasted capabilities and scale that it hasnt really had. It has fooled no one, least of all other Nato members and our adversaries. In order to simply be a deployable global and full member of Nato, 3 per cent is vital. The Labour leadership, as well as the Tory leadership, has not indicated it could adopt a 3 per cent spending pledge in their manifesto. The general election is widely expected to be held in the autumn. A new Public Accounts Committee report this week sounded the alarm on the huge gap between military spending and Government expectations of the Armed Forces capabilities. The report warned that the MoDs unprecedented deficit, reported to be 16.9 billion, could in fact be almost 29 billion as parts of the Armed Forces report their budgets differently to others. Putin has shown appeasement is futile... we need to stand up for democracy By Michael Fallon Sir Michael Fallon believes that Putin has already shown his disdain for Western leaders - Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP We were wrong. We wanted to believe that Putin was different, that he would lead Russia into the international order. Merkel, Sarkozy and the rest of us courted him at the G8. When he invaded Georgia, we thought a slap on the wrist would be enough: Russian troops are still there today. When he invaded Crimea, we thought limited sanctions excluding oil and gas would deter him. Eight years later he invaded the whole country. Then we assumed that the substantial damage being done to his economy by the war and a fresh round of sanctions might make him rethink. In fact, he has doubled down on us. Hes converted his factories into a military economy. Hes thrown thousands of Russian soldiers into battle, taking minor cities like Avdiivdka. More importantly, hes challenged our political will: are we really prepared to defend democracy and uphold the borders of sovereign states? Putin has nothing to fear David Cameron was right to draw the parallel with the 1930s. Appeasement cost hundreds of thousands of British US and French lives. In the end, Hitler underestimated our will to step in and fight for freedom. Its beginning to look as if Putin wont be making that mistake. This week, the fall of Avdiivdka and the death of Alexei Navalny show one thing very clearly: Putin the autocrat is certain he has nothing to fear from the leaders of our democracies. So here is our challenge. The world has to step up. Sanctions arent really biting: according to the IMF Russias growth this year will be 2.6 per cent, a lot stronger than ours. Too much oil and gas is slipping out, re-labelled and often re-tankered. Russian assets abroad are helping to fuel Putins war economy at home: why arent they being seized? How much longer should we allow Russias middle classes to travel and holiday on Europes beaches whilst young Ukrainians are dying on theirs? Dont blame Trump Nato is only slowly waking up. At the Wales Summit back in 2014 we all agreed to spend at least 2 per cent of our GDP on defence within ten years. The UK reached this on my watch in 2016. But 10 years on, only 18 of 30 Nato members will have done so. Last year half the Alliance didnt even spend 1.5 per cent. In fact, excepting the US and the UK, all the countries that already comply lie east of Berlin, many of them a lot poorer than those in Western Europe. Fretting about a second Trump term misses the point. It wasnt Trump who signed the Wales pledge, it was Obama. Every post-war US President has pressed Europe to do more in its own defence. Cheapskate defence has failed to deter Putin, just as it failed to deter Hitler. The price of spending too little is being paid in Ukrainian lives. Denmark has announced that its giving its entire artillery stocks to Ukraine but where are the rest? The EU promised a 2 billion fund, but two years after the Russian invasion the desperately needed shells still havent arrived. Too many European capitals arent engaged at all, while democracies further away like Japan are committing forces to Nato exercises and the Australian navy is helping to patrol the Red Sea. Ukraine will just be the start Navalnys sudden death has lessons for us here too. Weve seen a British citizen murdered in one of our cathedral cities, and dissidents poisoned in our capital. Putins war in Ukraine is already costing our economy in higher energy and food prices. But if he wins, Putin has the rest of the former Soviet empire in his sights: Georgia, Moldova and the Baltic states. Our continent could be convulsed in fighting from the Baltic down to the Black Sea. In the end this is an issue of political will. Putin has calculated, correctly so far, that the Wests heart isnt really in it. As the Cold war ended, we signed treaty after treaty, from the Helsinki Accords onwards, guaranteeing the sovereignty of democracies and outlawing the use of force: the UK itself was a principal signatory to the Budapest Treaty specifically guaranteeing Ukraines borders. So raising defence spending should be in every party manifesto this year. Every candidate should be challenged to support at least 2.5 per cent in each year of the next Parliament, and 3 per cent by the end of it. Stronger forces, a bigger navy, more air defence these are not alternatives to spending on welfare, the NHS or overseas aid but the preconditions for it. Security comes before anything else. The lesson from the 1930s is surely that if we dont prepare properly, it will be much more expensive to do so later on. If we dont recapture the political will and build back the defences that enabled us to win the Cold War, our sons and daughters could face conscription for the first time in more than sixty years. Sir Michael Fallon was Defence Secretary from 2014 to 2017 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. FILE- Police officials stand guard during a protest outside Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regional office in Bangalore, India, Oct. 26, 2018. India says several of its citizens have been duped to work with the Russian Army, a day after a federal investigation agency said it had busted a human trafficking network which lured young men to Russia. On Thursday, Indias Central Bureau of Investigation said at least 35 Indian nationals were sent to Russia through these agents. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File) NEW DELHI (AP) Indian authorities on Friday said they are in talks with Russia's government about the return of Indian citizens who were duped into working for the Russian army, a day after a federal investigation agency said it broke up a human trafficking network that lured people to Russia under the pretext of giving them jobs. Indias foreign ministry said the government has initiated action against a network of agents who duped the men into traveling to Russia. We remain committed to the early release of our nationals serving as support staff with the Russian army and their eventual return home, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in New Delhi. Jaiswal urged Indian citizens not to be deceived by offers by agents of support jobs with the Russian army. This is fraught with danger and risk to life, he said. On Thursday, Indias Central Bureau of Investigation said at least 35 Indian nationals have been sent to Russia through the agents. It said the men were recruited through social media and local agents. It said the men were being trained in combat roles and deployed at front-line bases in the Russia-Ukraine war against their wishes. Some of the men were grievously injured, it said. Indias embassy in Moscow on Wednesday confirmed the death of an Indian citizen in Russia whose family told local media that he was recruited by the Russian army. The embassy did not describe the circumstances behind the mans death but said it was in touch with his family and Russian authorities. In January, Nepal asked Russia to send back hundreds of Nepali nationals who were recruited to fight against Ukraine. At least 14 Nepali nationals have died in Ukraine, according to Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud. India considers Russia a time-tested ally from the Cold War era with key cooperation in defense, oil, nuclear energy and space exploration. It has so far avoided voting against Russia at the United Nations or criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. India and China hold a meeting at Pangong lake region in Ladakh on the India-China border in 2021 (AP) India is likely to send 10,000 more troops to its disputed border with China in a move that would potentially exacerbate tensions between the two Asian giants amid a years-long border standoff. India and China which share a poorly demarcated 3,440km-long border, the source of a bitter dispute.. Tensions reached a peak in June 2020 when 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese forces were killed following a brutal skirmish on the Himalayan border. Since then, military leaders from the two countries have held many rounds of talks to resolve tensions but have yet to resolve core disagreements on key points of friction. A contingent of 10,000 more soldiers is now being redirected from the countrys western border and deployed to the frontline with China, a senior Indian official told Bloomberg. The deployment will be in addition to the thousands of soldiers who were rushed to the Line of Actual Control, the d facto border with China, after incidents of violent skirmishes with the Peoples Liberation Army in 2020. An additional group of 9,000 soldiers, which was previously assigned to the contested Chinese border, will now operate under the newly established combat command. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday said Indias reported plan to send more soldiers to the border was not conducive to easing tensions. China is committed to working with India to safeguard the peace and stability of the border areas, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said. Indian army vehicles move in a convoy in the cold desert region of Ladakh, where India and China are locked in a military standoff, (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) We believe that Indias practice is not conducive to safeguarding peace and is not conducive to easing tensions. Ms Mao added that Indias increase in military deployments in border areas does not help to calm the situation in the border areas or to safeguard peace and safety in these areas. Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that India was in a position to give a befitting reply to anyone who bats an eyelid at us. Mr Singhs comments came in response to a question over the nearly four-year-long border row with China and concerns over Beijings growing influence in the Indian Ocean region. If you turn the pages of history, you will see that India has never attacked any country of the world or occupied even an inch of land of any country. But if any country bats an eyelid on India then the country is now in a position to give a befitting reply, Mr Singh said during a defence summit hosted by NDTV. The tense border dispute has impacted diplomatic ties between the two countries, with Chinas Xi Jinping snubbing Indias G20 summit. In only known exchange between the leaders of the two countries in the past three years, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and Mr Xi held informal talks on the sidelines of Brics summit in Brazil last year. Both leaders agreed to expeditious disengagement and de-escalation along the disputed border. The two sides held their 21st round of military talks in February this year designed to agree disengagement from the remaining areas of the border standoff, but did not reach a substantial breakthrough. A press release by the Indian foreign ministry said they agreed to maintain peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas in the interim. Jewish students gather at the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. An Indiana bill to address antisemitism on college campuses lost support from some members of the Jewish community after an amendment altered language surrounding criticism of Israel. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana lawmakers came to a compromise Friday to pass a bill defining antisemitism in state education code. The bill meant to address antisemitism on college campuses stalled this month amid persistent disagreement between lawmakers in the legislative sessions final days. The final version accepted by both the House and Senate chambers made concessions in language that was opposed by critics of Israel. Indiana House Republicans passed House Bill 1002 two months ago after listing it among their five priorities for the 2024 session. The legislation would broadly define antisemitism as religious discrimination, claiming it would provide educational opportunities free of religious discrimination. This is the second time the House has tried to pass the legislation, but an identical bill died last year after failing to reach a committee hearing in the state Senate. The legislation rose to new importance this session in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The House bill used the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, and explicitly included contemporary examples of antisemitism provided by the alliance, which make references to Israel. These have been adopted by the U.S. Department of State. State senators, however, passed an amended version of the bill Tuesday that removed language opposed by critics of Israels military campaign in Gaza. The amended version still included the IHRAs broad definition of antisemitism but deleted the alliances name and examples that include explicit references to Israel. Opponents argued that such direct references would stifle criticism of Israel in academic settings and advocacy on campuses for Palestinians in a worsening humanitarian crisis. Support of the bill virtually flipped once the changes were made. Some Jewish organizations called on lawmakers to reverse course and include the entirety of the original House bill. The disagreement between the chambers prompted the bill to go to conference committee. Republican state Rep. Chris Jeter, the House bills author, said in committee Thursday he would prefer for lawmakers to add the IHRA name back to the bill, but keep the clause about its examples out. The conference committee, a body consisting of lawmakers from both chambers, reached an agreement Friday to add the IHRA name back to the bill. The clause about its examples remained cut from the final version. The bill was approved by both chambers of the General Assembly Friday evening with bipartisan support. It now goes to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb for final review. Caryl Auslander, spokesperson for the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council, told reporters the group is behind the final version of the bill. She said the examples are incorporated into the meaning of the bill through the IHRA name even if they are not explicitly cited in the bill's language. We are grateful to the House and Senate in Indiana for listening to our community and for protecting Jewish Hoosier students across the state, Auslander said. We urge Governor Holcomb to sign this critical piece of legislation into law as soon as possible. The bills sponsor, Republican state Sen. Aaron Freeman called it a strong statement against antisemitism. Hopefully its a guide to live by in the future in our state, he said. The Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network, which testified against the original House version over concerns it would stifle criticism of Israel on college campuses, released a statement in support of the final bill. We are thankful to members of the Indiana General Assembly who spent time listening and working with multiple communities to make sure the contemporary examples accompanied by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism, were stricken from the bill, the statement said. Daniel Segal, a coordinating committee member for Jewish Voice for Peace Indiana, said the final version of the bill is an improvement of the original House bill, but not as clear as the Senate version. In the legislative sessions final week, prominent conservative figures in Indiana politics made statements in support of reinstating the IHRA reference, including Attorney General Todd Rokita, Lieutenant Governor and gubernatorial Republican candidate Suzanne Crouch and several U.S. representatives for the state, including GOP U.S. Senate candidate Jim Banks. The push to define antisemitism in numerous states predates the Oct. 7 attacks in which Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, sparking a war that has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians. But the war gave supporters another motivation. This year, governors in Arkansas and Georgia signed measures and a proposal is still awaiting gubernatorial review in Florida. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Wednesday signed a bill defining antisemitism. Three months after former Rep. George Santos colleagues expelled him for a staggering array of alleged crimes and ethical violations, he has apparently decided that man cannot live by Cameo aloneand he wants his job back. At least, Santos is officially running for Congress again, allowing him to raise money from the public and, potentially, spend it on his legal defense. Santosan admitted liar who is currently indicted on 23 federal counts, including unemployment fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, stealing from his own campaign donors, and lying to Congresstimed his announcement for maximum disruption: In the middle of President Joe Bidens State of the Union address. Santos announcement was, remarkably, not without precedent. The other two members who have been expelled since the Civil Warboth Democratswent on to serve prison terms. Former Rep. James Trafficant, however, ran for Congress from his cell as an independent, losing to his former aide, Rep. Tim Ryan. In fact, Santos wouldnt even be tied for this ignominious record, because Trafficant made another stab at his old seat in 2010, losing again to Ryan. The other expelled member, former Rep. Michael Ozzie Myers, recidivated, pleading guilty in 2022 to election fraud for stuffing ballots for Democrats in Pennsylvania between 2014 and 2018. Hes currently serving out the tail end of a 30-month prison sentence. Still, the announcement caught many of Santos former colleagues by surprisethough it was in keeping with his well-established pattern of false statements: He had previously claimed that he would not be running for re-election in his New York House seat. Con Artist Accused of Trying to Scam Alleged Scammer George Santos I will continue on my mission to serve my constituents up until I am allowed, Santos said in a social media statement following the release of the Ethics Committee report last November. I will however NOT be seeking re-election for a second term in 2024 as my family deserves better than to be under the gun from the press all the time. His official paperwork, filed with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday nightminutes after a wave of scam PACs submitted expense reportsshows that the impudent fraudster is also switching districts, going from New Yorks 3rd to New Yorks 1st. He opened a new campaign committeesimply called Santos for Congressrather than repurposing his old campaign, Devolder-Santos for Congress, which is still carrying unpaid debts. The move to New Yorks 1st District will pit him against incumbent GOP Rep. Nick LaLotaone of Santos chief antagonists, who in October filed a motion to expel him. Santos was, of course, eventually dismissed, following the release of a House Ethics Committee report in November detailing a wide range of alleged criminal and unethical behavior. His old seat is now held by Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi, who won a special election last month. For his part, Santos has since embraced a side gig selling personalized videos, generating potentially his first genuine six-figure income in a matter of weeks. But on Thursday night, Santos took advantage of his former member privileges to attend the State of the Union. Sporting a silver-spangled dress collar and shoes to match, he spent much of his time on the floor ahead of the speech attempting to yuk it up with his former colleagues. Santos could be seen chatting with fellow embattled Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), as well as Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Tim Burchett (R-TN). He even appeared to pose for a selfie with Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT). Clownshow, one GOP member said of Santos being at the State of the Union. Him keeping his privileges was an oversight that may soon be corrected. Santos posted a social media statement shortly after his official paperwork was submitted, claiming that he has made several personal sacrifices in the name of serving the American people lifting a phrase from defeated GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. My promise is that I will never back down because of my love for this country, Santos wrote, claiming that he left office arbitrarily due to pressure from his former GOP colleagues in New Yorkchiefly targeting his primary opponent, LaLota. Santos said he came to his decision following a lot of prayer and conversation with my friends and family, and hopes the move will shake things up. One of Santos former New York colleagues, Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY)who helped lead the effort to oust Santoslaughed when asked what he thought of the disgraced former vongressmans appearance at the vaunted address. Then, upon first learning of the news, five New York RepublicansReps. Nick Langworthy, Nick LaLota, Anthony DeEsposito, Mike Lawler, and Molinaroaudibly laughed while the State of the Union was going on. When another GOP member was told Santos was running, they offered a short response: From jail? Santos criminal trial is scheduled for September, meaning that, should he pull off a miracle in the primary, Santos, like Donald Trump, may face the daunting task of convincing voters to cast their ballot for a convicted, and potentially prison-bound, felon. Santos has pleaded not guilty to the charges, denies wrongdoing, and has emitted only narrow expressions of remorse. George Santos Sues Jimmy Kimmel for Pranking Him on Cameo But Santoswho lied repeatedly to his previous constituents, including about basic biographical factsfaces an uphill battle there, though his candidacy might be about something else entirely. If Santos is indeed modeling his bid after Trump, he could theoretically raise money from the public and use it to help offset his legal bills. Of course, his old campaign committee must also pay down its still outstanding legal debt of roughly $70,000, along with obligations to former campaign staffers, an Italian restaurant with sketchy family ties, and a direct mail company currently at the center of a separate congressional ethics scandal involving Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV). His old campaigns year-end report, filed at the end of January, showed roughly $11,400 in donations. A number of contributions rolled in after his expulsion, including from a donor group that The Daily Beast previously tied to the indicted Chinese right-wing financier Guo Wengui. Regardless of how long Santos campaign lasts, his fundraising and spending will draw some of the heaviest scrutiny in the country. His candidacy statement shows that this unenviable job will fall to his most recent treasurer, whose work for Santos was never flagged by federal regulators. Santos former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, entered into a cooperation agreement with federal prosecutors last October, pleading guilty to collaborating with her former client to file false FEC reports in an attempt to inflate his fundraising and cover up fake donations. Last week, Marks asked the court to delay her sentencing until Novemberafter the Santos trial, and after the general election. Reese Gorman contributed to this report. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. FILE - The interior of the I-Soon office, also known as Anxun in Mandarin, is seen after office hours in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan Province on Feb. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dake Kang, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) BEIJING (AP) The hotel was spacious. It was upscale. It had a karaoke bar. The perfect venue, the CEO of the Chinese hacking company thought, to hold a Lunar New Year banquet currying favor with government officials. There was just one drawback, his top deputy said. Who goes there?" the deputy wrote. "The girls are so ugly. So goes the sordid wheeling and dealing that takes place behind the scenes in China's hacking industry, as revealed in a highly unusual leak last month of internal documents from a private contractor linked to China's government and police. Chinas hacking industry, the documents reveal, suffers from shady business practices, disgruntlement over pay and work quality, and poor security protocols. Private hacking contractors are companies that steal data from other countries to sell to the Chinese authorities. Over the past two decades, Chinese state security's demand for overseas intelligence has soared, giving rise to a vast network of these private hackers-for-hire companies that have infiltrated hundreds of systems outside China. Though the existence of these hacking contractors is an open secret in China, little was known about how they operate. But the leaked documents from a firm called I-Soon have pulled back the curtain, revealing a seedy, sprawling industry where corners are cut and rules are murky and poorly enforced in the quest to make money. Leaked chat records show I-Soon executives wooing officials over lavish dinners and late night binge drinking. They collude with competitors to rig bidding for government contracts. They pay thousands of dollars in introduction fees to contacts who bring them lucrative projects. I-Soon has not commented on the documents. Mei Danowski, a cybersecurity analyst who wrote about I-Soon on her blog, Natto Thoughts, said the documents show that China's hackers for hire work much like any other industry in China. It is profit-driven," Danowski said. It is subject to China's business culture who you know, who you dine and wine with, and who you are friends with. Story continues HACKING THAT'S STYLED AS PATRIOTIC Chinas hacking industry rose from the countrys early hacker culture, first appearing in the 1990s as citizens bought computers and went online. I-Soons founder and CEO, Wu Haibo, was among them. Wu was a member of Chinas first hacktivist group, Green Army a group known informally as the Whampoa Academy after a famed Chinese military school. Wu and some other hackers distinguished themselves by declaring themselves red hackers patriots who offered their services to the Chinese Communist Party, in contrast to the freewheeling, anarchist and anti-establishment ethos popular among many coders. In 2010, Wu founded I-Soon in Shanghai. Interviews he gave to Chinese media depict a man determined to bolster his countrys hacking capacity to catch up with rivals. In one 2011 interview, Wu lamented that China still lagged far behind the United States: There are many technology enthusiasts in China, but there are very few enlightened people. With the spread of the internet, Chinas hacking-for-hire industry boomed, emphasizing espionage and intellectual property theft. High-profile hacks by Chinese state agents, including one at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management where personal data on 22 million existing or prospective federal employees was stolen, got so serious that then-President Barack Obama personally complained to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. They agreed in 2015 to cut back on espionage. For a couple of years, the intrusions subsided. But I-Soon and other private hacking outfits soon grew more active than ever, providing Chinese state security forces cover and deniability. I-Soon is part of an ecosystem of contractors that has links to the Chinese patriotic hacking scene, said John Hultquist, chief analyst of Googles Mandiant cybersecurity unit. These days, Chinese hackers are a formidable force. In May 2023, Microsoft disclosed that a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group affiliated with Chinas Peoples Liberation Army called Volt Typhoon was targeting critical infrastructure such as telecommunications and ports in Guam, Hawaii, and elsewhere and could be laying the groundwork for disruption in the event of conflict. Today, hackers such as those at I-Soon outnumber FBI cybersecurity staff by at least 50 to one, FBI director Christopher Wray said January at a conference in Munich. DOCUMENTS REVEAL A SEEDY STATE-LED INDUSTRY Though I-Soon boasted about its hacking prowess in slick marketing PowerPoint presentations, the real business took place at hotpot parties, late night drinking sessions and poaching wars with competitors, leaked records show. A picture emerges of a company enmeshed in a seedy, sprawling industry that relies heavily on connections to get things done. I-Soon leadership discussed buying gifts and which officials liked red wine. They swapped tips on who was a lightweight, and who could handle their liquor. I-Soon executives paid introduction fees for lucrative projects, chat records show, including tens of thousands of RMB (thousands of dollars) to a man who landed them a 285,000 RMB ($40,000) contract with police in Hebei province. To sweeten the deal, I-Soons chief operating officer, Chen Cheng, suggested arranging the man a drinking and karaoke session with women. He likes to touch girls, Chen wrote. It wasn't just officials they courted. Competitors, too, were targets of wooing over late night drinking sessions. Some were partners subcontractors or collaborators on government projects. Others were hated rivals who constantly poached their staff. Often, they were both. One, Chinese cybersecurity giant Qi Anxin, was especially loathed, despite being one of I-Soon's key investors and business partners. Qi Anxins HR is a green tea bitch who seduces our young men everywhere and has no morals, COO Chen wrote to Wu, the CEO, using a Chinese internet slur that refers to innocent-looking but ambitious young women. I-Soon also has a complicated relationship with Chengdu 404, a competitor charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for hacking over 100 targets worldwide. They worked with 404 and drank with their executives but lagged on payments to the company and were eventually sued over a software development contract, Chinese court records show. The source of the I-Soon documents is unclear, and executives and Chinese police are investigating. And though Beijing has repeatedly denied involvement in offensive hacking, the leak illustrates I-Soon and other hacking companies deep ties with the Chinese state. For example, chat records show Chinas Ministry of Public Security gave companies access to proofs of concept of so-called zero days, the industry term for a previously unknown software security hole. Zero days are prized because they can be exploited until detected. I-Soon company executives debated how to obtain them. They are regularly discovered at an annual Chinese state-sponsored hacking competition. In other records, executives discussed sponsoring hacking competitions at Chinese universities to scout for new talent. Many of I-Soons clients were police in cities across China, a leaked contract list showed. I-Soon scouted for databases they thought would sell well with officers, such as Vietnamese traffic data to the southeast province of Yunnan, or data on exiled Tibetans to the Tibetan regional government. At times, I-Soon hacked on demand. One chat shows two parties discussing a potential long-term client interested in data from several government offices related to an unspecified prime minister. A Chinese state body, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, also owns a small stake in I-Soon through a Tibetan investment fund, Chinese corporate records show. I-Soon proclaimed their patriotism to win new business. Top executives discussed participating in China's poverty alleviation scheme one of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's signature initiatives to make connections. I-Soon CEO Wu suggested his COO become a member of Chengdus Peoples Political Consultative Conference, a government advisory body comprised of scientists, entrepreneurs, and other prominent members of society. And in interviews with state media, Wu quoted Mencius, a Chinese philosopher, casting himself as a scholar concerned with China's national interest. But despite Wu's professed patriotism, leaked chat records tell a more complicated story. They depict a competitive man motivated to get rich. You can't be Lei Feng," Wu wrote in private messages, referring to a long-dead Communist worker held up in propaganda for generations as a paragon of selflessness. If you don't make money, being famous is useless." LAX SECURITY, POOR PAY AMONG HACKING WORKERS Chinas booming hackers-for-hire industry has been hit by the country's recent economic downturn, leading to thin profits, low pay and an exodus of talent, the leaked documents show. I-Soon lost money and struggled with cash flow issues, falling behind on payments to subcontractors. In the past few years, the pandemic hit Chinas economy, causing police to pull back on spending that hurt I-Soons bottom line. The government has no money, I-Soon's COO wrote in 2020. Staff are often poorly paid. In a salary document dated 2022, most staff on I-Soons safety evaluation and software development teams were paid just 5,600 yuan ($915) to 9,000 yuan ($1,267) a month, with only a handful receiving more than that. In the documents, I-Soon officials acknowledged the low pay and worried about the company's reputation. Low salaries and pay disparities caused employees to complain, chat records show. Leaked employee lists show most I-Soon staff held a degree from a vocational training school, not an undergraduate degree, suggesting lower levels of education and training. Sales staff reported that clients were dissatisfied with the quality of I-Soon data, making it difficult to collect payments. I-Soon is a fraction of China's hacking ecosystem. The country boasts world-class hackers, many employed by the Chinese military and other state institutions. But the company's troubles reflect broader issues in China's private hacking industry. The country's cratering economy, Beijing's tightening controls and the growing role of the state has led to an exodus of top hacking talent, four cybersecurity analysts and Chinese industry insiders told The Associated Press. China is no longer the country we used to know. A lot of highly skilled people have been leaving, said one industry insider, declining to be named to speak on a sensitive topic. Under Xi, the person added, the growing role of the state in Chinas technology industry has emphasized ideology over competence, impeded pay and made access to officials pivotal. A major issue, people say, is that most Chinese officials lack the technical literacy to verify contractor claims. So hacking companies prioritize currying favor over delivering excellence. In recent years, Beijing has heavily promoted China's tech industry and the use of technology in government, part of a broader strategy to facilitate the country's rise. But much of Chinas data and cybersecurity work has been contracted out to smaller subcontractors with novice programmers, leading to poor digital practices and large leaks of data. Despite the clandestine nature of I-Soons work, the company has surprisingly lax security protocols. I-Soons offices in Chengdu, for example, have minimal security and are open to the public, despite posters on the walls of its offices reminding employees that to keep the country and the partys secrets is every citizens required duty." The leaked files show that top I-Soon executives communicated frequently on WeChat, which lacks end-to-end encryption. The documents do show that staff are screened for political reliability. One metric, for example, shows that I-Soon checks whether staff have any relatives overseas, while another shows that employees are classified according to whether they are members of Chinas ruling Communist Party. Still, Danowski, the cybersecurity analyst, says many standards in China are often just for show." But at the end of the day, she added, it may not matter. Its a little sloppy. The tools are not that impressive. But the Ministry of Public Security sees that you get the job done, she said of I-Soon. They will hire whoever can get the job done." ___ Soo reported from Hong Kong. AP Technology Writer Frank Bajak in Boston contributed to this report. Over the Gaza Strip A fatal airdrop mishap in northern Gaza on Friday overshadowed news of hundreds of other parcels being successfully dropped by several planes that took off from Jordan, just east of Israel. Jordan, Egypt, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and the U.S. have been delivering aid in this way as Israel faces mounting pressure to facilitate a significant increase in ground deliveries. Officials from Gaza's Hamas-run Ministry of Health and an eye witness told CBS News five people were killed when at least one aid parcel's parachute failed to properly deploy and a parcel fell on them. The victims were in the Al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza, and the incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. Eastern). CBS News was on board a U.S. military C-130 cargo plane as it took off from Jordan the last of the day's missions to deliver aid to Gaza, and the first time a U.S. broadcaster has been aboard one of the flights. A U.S. defense official told CBS News Friday that an initial review indicated the American airdrop did not cause the casualties on the ground, but said further investigation was required. After takeoff at around 1:20 p.m. local time, the U.S. C-130 flew due west for about an hour, over Israel, to northern Gaza. It banked out over the Mediterranean and then descended to 3,000 feet over what was long the Palestinian territory's biggest population center, the now-decimated Gaza City. Parcels of food aid are seen in a U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo plane right before being dropped to parachute down near Gaza City, March 8, 2024. / Credit: CBS News The huge plane's rear doors opened, revealing the destruction below and the white crest of waves against Gaza's Mediterranean coastline. The U.S. Air Force crew cut the cords keeping the packages in place, releasing them to slide over the edge with their parachutes promptly deploying. The U.S. C-130 was carrying 16 packages on Friday, each holding 720 ready-to-eat meals, nearly two tons of rice, wheat, powdered milk and dates. It was the fourth U.S. airdrop of the week, all aimed at providing some modicum of relief to starving Palestinians caught up in the war between Israel and Hamas, which is now in its sixth month. On Saturday, a fifth airdrop delivered another 41,400 U.S. meal equivalents and 23,000 bottles of water into Northern Gaza, CENTCOM said on social media. It is the first U.S. drop to provide water. Nobody, from officials in Washington to aid agencies still trying to work in Gaza, has suggested the airdrops are anywhere near enough to meet the desperate need on the ground. The U.S. airdrops began Saturday, a day after President Biden announced the plans. He did so after more than 100 Gazans were killed in a chaotic encounter last week, when Israeli security forces opened fire on throngs of starving people rushing to grab food from a truck convoy that was under Israeli protection. The Israel Defense Forces said most of the victims were killed in a stampede, but doctors in Gaza told CBS News most of those brought in dead or injured had gunshot wounds. The airdrops have been framed as missions of last resort. Planes are more expensive than trucks, need more fuel and more personnel, and deliver far less aid by some estimates as much as 75% less. In tacit acknowledgment of those facts and seemingly frustrated by Israel's slow approval process for more aid via land, President Biden, during his State of the Union address on Thursday, announced an emergency mission to open a new sea route for aid, with the U.S. military set to oversee construction of a temporary pier on Gaza's coast, to get more aid in faster. It's expected to take several weeks to be ready, however. Boeing and United Airlines investigate after wheel detaches from plane Sen. Katie Britt delivers Republican rebuttal to State of the Union address A bill that could lead to a TikTok ban is gaining momentum in Congress. Now the app is asking users for help. An internal Senate Republican war over earmarks in the government funding package is creating a new threat of a government shutdown Saturday, and it threatens to spill over into the race to replace outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.). Conservatives began waging their offensive against the bill Sunday, and on Thursday they pushed a resolution to condemn earmarks and reaffirm the earmark ban that reigned in Congress for 10 years. They also demanded a vote on an amendment sponsored by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to strip all of the earmarks from the bill, which total more than 6,000 and cost more than $12 billion. But the effort divides the conference, pitting conservatives such as Sens. Scott, Mike Lee (Utah) and Rick Braun (Ind.) against their own leadership and other Republican senators. Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.), for example, has requested $116 million worth of earmarks in the six-bill appropriations package pending in the Senate. Sixteen other Republican senators have also requested earmarks in the spending bills. One of the best ways to cut reckless spending is to take a serious look at earmarks, Scott said on the Senate floor, previewing his resolution to condemn congressionally directed spending and to reaffirm a permanent ban on earmarks. American taxpayers should not be used as a political piggy bank. Earmarks have been so badly abused that we cant let it go on like this any longer. The time for forgiveness has passed, he said. The resolution to reaffirm the binding earmark ban is cosponsored by Scott, Braun, Lee, Senate Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso (Wyo.) and GOP Sens. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Ron Johnson (Wis.), Josh Hawley (Mo.), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Steve Daines (Mont.). The Senate Republican Conference already has a rule banning earmarks, but it is nonbinding, allowing GOP senators to request earmarks if they want to. It is still the conference policy of the Senate Republican Conference that we are opposed to earmarks, and yet were returning to it. Were returning to it to our own detriment, but especially to the American people, Lee said at a press conference Wednesday with Scott and Braun. Scotts effort to reaffirm the ban is ruffling the feathers of fellow GOP senators. Hes full of bull, fumed one GOP senator who requested funding for home-state projects. The senator requested anonymity to vent frustration over the effort by Senate conservatives to portray GOP colleagues who request earmarks as not serious about fiscal discipline. Thune has requested funding for a slew of projects in his home state, including $23.6 million for wastewater systems in South Dakota communities and $30 million for the Black Hills Housing Trust Fund. Thunes rival in the race to become next Senate GOP leader, Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), has not requested any earmarks in the six-bill minibus package. But Cornyn has to be careful not to offend his 16 Senate GOP colleagues other than Thune who have requested earmarks for fiscal 2024. Voting to reaffirm an earmark ban is one thing, but voting to strip colleagues earmarks from the spending package could risk alienating potential votes in the leadership race. Barrasso, a co-sponsor of the resolution, declined Thursday to say whether he would vote to strip fellow Republicans funding requests from the bill. I have no earmarks in this package, he said when asked about stripping earmarks. I have no earmarks in this at all. I havent brought forth earmarks, and Im against earmarks. The Wyoming senator is running to become the next Senate GOP whip. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who is endorsing Thune for leader, argued that members of Congress have more expertise about how to spend federal money in their own states than bureaucrats in Washington. I believe that I can do a better job than a bureaucrat in this administration about where the money should go, he said. He noted that he only asks for appropriations dollars for projects that have been properly by Congress or state authorities. Id rather do it than to hope somebody from this administration makes the right choice, he said. Rounds said he would oppose any effort to strip earmarks out of the package, which would fund military construction and the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, Justice, Energy, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. I feel very strongly about that. I think individuals should have the opportunity to request earmarks and then go home and defend what theyve done, Rounds said. Other Senate Republicans who have requested earmarks are Sens. John Boozman (Ark.), Katie Britt (Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Maine), Deb Fischer (Neb.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (Miss.), John Kennedy (La.), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (Okla.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Thom Tillis (N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (Ala.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.). The pushback from Rounds and other Republican colleagues isnt stopping Senate conservatives from rallying against the earmarks in the spending package. They are highlighting $1 million in funding for an environmental justice center in New York City, $3.5 million for a Thanksgiving parade in Michigan, and $1 million for a social justice center in San Francisco to make building improvements. Scott and his colleagues are also pointing out $4 million for a waterfront walkway in New Jersey and theater and opera house renovations in Georgia and Pennsylvania. Senate conservatives advocating for the return of a real earmark ban argue the federal government is now more than $34 trillion in debt and point out that members of the House requested 5,000 earmarks and senators requested more than 19,000 earmarks for fiscal 2024. Since Democrats overturned the earmark ban after taking control of the White House and Senate in 2021, Congress passed 4,970 earmarks totaling $9 billion for fiscal 2022 and 7,234 earmarks totaling $15.3 billion for fiscal 2023. A majority of Senate Republicans are expected to support the resolution to reaffirm the earmark ban if Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) allows it to come up for a vote on the floor. Schumer signaled Thursday that he did not intend to let conservatives vote on the amendment to strip earmarks for the bill. He announced the Senate will vote around noon Friday to end debate and advance the legislation, making no mention of amendments. That would set up a vote on final passage of the minibus spending package later Friday or sometime Saturday. Senate conservatives could attempt to stretch the debate into the weekend to protest the earmarks and force a technical shutdown of some federal departments and agencies. But no senator had yet threatened to do that as of Thursday evening. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ive started this column a dozen times not because I dont have enough content to draw from, but because there is so much content to draw from. Friday, March 8, is International Womens Day and this years theme is Invest in Women: Accelerating Progress. Investing in women just makes sense, doesnt it? And it can be done in so, so many ways. A decade ago, former Utah state Sen. Pat Jones started a new project: the Womens Leadership Institute. The Womens Leadership Institute focused first on getting more women on corporate boards, then on getting more women in elected office, then on nurturing up-and-coming female leaders. The institute began the ElevateHer Challenge, a challenge accepted by over 300 Utah companies including Bonneville International, Deseret News, Intermountain Health, Thread Wallets and Zions Bank and tied with the WLI Career Development training program. Next was the ElectHer initiative, supported by their political development training program. The Rising Leader training is taught by alumna of the career development training and is building tomorrows leaders. The institutes tagline today is The additive value of women. Investing in women can look like having family friendly workplaces, with accessible, affordable child care, returnship opportunities and a variety of flexible work options. We know, for example, that remote work helps women and in turn, helps their families. Why, as Susan Madsen recently wrote, would we want to go backward on that? We could also rightly call women Multipliers, the title of a book by Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown. Multipliers can have a resoundingly positive and profitable effect on organizations getting more done with fewer resources, developing and attracting talent, and cultivating new ideas and energy to drive organizational change and innovation. More than a decade ago, McKinsey published its report, The Business of Empowering Women, which presented a case for why and how the private sector should intensify its engagement in the economic empowerment of women in developing countries and emerging markets. Skilled women who hold jobs and enjoy a meaningful status in their communities and countries are healthier and more productive, the authors wrote, and they make their societies healthier and more productive. Thats the business model, of course. But investing in women who work in the family model is powerful too. I spent more than 30 years in the trenches of motherhood and let me tell you: It was harder than getting a Ph.D., harder than having a full-time paid job and the hours were much, much longer. What would investing in women who are raising the next generation (or the one after that) look like? It might look like a Utah tax credit for families with children under age 4. It could look like investing in doulas to support pregnant and postpartum women, or investing in mental health resources for moms. And wouldnt it be great if there were free parenting classes to help mothers improve their skills? (Hint: There are.) I dont want to downplay financially investing in women in any way, but I do want to note there are other ways to invest in women as well. Be a mentor, lift another women coming up behind you, be part of a circle of friends that celebrates, encourages and even challenges each other, use your voice to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, invest in educating girls and women and yes, invest in yourself. We can invest in telling womens stories. RootsTech 2024 was last week and one of the presentations I was able to catch was the RootsTech Impact Forum with researchers Robyn Fivush and Jody Koenig Kellas on the power of family stories. RootsTeach always offers classes in how to find the silent women in our family tree. Mrs. John Smith did in fact have a name and a history of her own. One of the stories I learned a while back was that my paternal grandmother was a Rosie during World War II in the Bremerton shipyards. My siblings had no idea. We can also invest in women who are contention de-escaltors, stonecatchers and peace builders. In fact, peace demonstrations are what set the stage for International Womens Day. A massive protest in Russia in 1917 led to the countrys eventual withdrawal from the war, reports The Associated Press. On Feb. 23 in Russia, which was March 8 in Western Europe, women went out on the streets and protested for bread and peace, said Kristen Ghodsee, professor and chair of Russian and East European studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Demonstrators included widows, wives and mothers of men who died or were injured during the war. The authorities werent able to stop them, and then, once the men saw that the women were out on the streets, all of the workers started coming and joining the women. Research shows repeatedly that investing in women in a myriad of ways leads to better family stability, increased family economic status, decreased incidences of domestic violence, healthier children, more peaceful communities and yes, even the discovery of the DNA double helix. But it shouldnt take research for you to know that investing in women is the right thing to do. It just makes sense. It doesn't take much to show your support for International Women's Day: just post a selfie making the heart gesture. But to support women year-round, this year's International Women's Day campaign theme of #InspireInclusion "calls for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected," the IWD website reads. "'Inspire Inclusion' encourages everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities," the IWD site says. Participating in International Women's Day can drive that recognition. "When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world," the organizers say on the site. "And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment." Youth #charity #GirlGuiding @gguidinganglia that helps build girls' confidence & leadership skills has put the call out to its community to share their #InspireInclusion photos & messages as #GirlGuides plan to create a fabulous montage for #InternationalWomensDay #IWD pic.twitter.com/5HIkBy1rPr Women's Day (@womensday) March 7, 2024 Women's History Month: USA TODAYs 2024 Women of the Year What is International Womens Day? Observed annually on March 8, International Womens Day celebrates the global social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, according to the event website. The day also calls for action to advance gender equality. International Women's Day: Barbie honors Shania Twain, Viola Davis, other inspiring women with their own dolls International Women's Day: Gender parity gap remains Women still face challenges getting equal pay and leadership positions. For instance, women in the U.S. earned 83 cents for every dollar men earned in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since 2000, women worldwide have made "huge strides forward in higher education, women headship and healthy life expectancy but are still significantly lagging when it comes to disposable income," according to Euromonitor International. But womens average disposable income remains 31% lower than those of men worldwide, the research firm says. Women in North America have seen the largest increase with an uplift of 38% in their disposable incomes, compared to the global average of 23%, over the last five years, said Euromonitor International research consultant Jacques Olivier in a statement. "Income inequality remains one of the most significant obstacles faced by woman in reaching gender equality, Olivier said. International Women's Day should be like "a global pep rally celebrating how far we ladies have come while firing us up to keep that momentum raging," said Erica Cronan, global director of marketing for data management firm Datadobi, in a statement. "You can't help but feel inspired thinking about the bold trailblazers throughout history who broke down barriers against all odds. The unstoppable suffragettes, straight-up heroes like RBG, Amelia Earhart, Serena those unapologetic women heard 'no' and 'you can't' as a challenge to demolish," she said. "IWD means toasting the brave ones before us while channeling that same spirit as we keep forging new paths,' Cronan said. Women in the US workforce: Strides made in five charts When was International Womens Day first celebrated? The idea for an International Womens Day was proposed and approved at the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1910. This came a year after the Socialist Party of America celebrated the first National Woman's Day in the U.S. on February 28, 1909, according to the IWD site. The event was observed on March 19, 1911 in several European countries, with rallies and events calling for womens right to vote and an end to gender discriminations. Since 1914, March 8 has been the fixed date for International Womens Day; it was moved to be in line with Russian women who celebrated the day on February 23 on the Gregorian calendar. The United Nations first recognized International Womens Day in 1975. Participants in an International Women's Day demonstration march in 1977 in New York City. How do we celebrate International Womens Day? Across the globe, demonstrations are planned from Tokyo to Mexico City. But these aren't always celebrations. Last year, women in Turkey protested in Istanbul despite a ban on an IWD march before police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and detain some protesters. Dozens of people were injured as part of an IWD protest in Mexico City in 2021. You can join in many in-person events across the U.S. Just search for events on the International Women's Day website. There are many virtual ones available, too, including: 'Cabrini' tells story of first US saint: What to know about Mother Cabrini What is the theme for International Womens Day 2023? This year's theme of #InspireInclusion "encourages everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities," the IWD website reads. International Women's Day organizers encourage all, not just women, to get involved by striking the #InspireInclusion pose making a heart symbol with your hands and sharing selfies on social media with the hashtags #IWD2024 and #InspireInclusion. International Women's Day is not just about women, the organizers note. "We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion," the website suggests. "Allies are incredibly important for the social, economic, cultural, and political advancement of women." People can also submit their selfies to the International Womens Day website. What colors do you wear on International Womens Day? Purple, green and white are considered the colors of International Womens Day, according to the website. These colors have roots in the United Kingdoms Womens Social and Political Union from the early 1900s. Contributing: Jayme Fraser, Jessica Guynn and Janet Loehrke of the USA TODAY Network and The Associated Press. Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider. What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: International Women's Day 2024: This year's theme, how to participate A woman wearing a purple hat puts purple face paint on her cheeks at march to mark International Women's Day For more than a century, people around the world have marked International Women's Day on 8 March. But what is the day for, and why does it matter? How did International Women's Day start? International Women's Day (IWD) grew out of the labour movement. The seeds were planted in 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote. A year later, the Socialist Party of America declared the first National Woman's Day. Clara Zetkin founded International Women's Day in 1910 The idea to make it an international event came from Clara Zetkin, a communist activist and advocate for women's rights. In 1910, she raised it at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. Her suggestion was unanimously backed by the 100 women from 17 countries who were at the conference. The first International Women's Day was celebrated in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The United Nations (UN) started marking the event in 1975. The first theme adopted by the UN (in 1996) was "Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future". Why is International Women's Day held on 8 March? Ms Zetkin's original idea for an international celebration was not tied to a particular day. The 8 March date was chosen after Russian women demanded "bread and peace" during a war-time strike in 1917. Four days into the strike, the tsar was forced to abdicate, and the provisional government granted women the right to vote. According to the Julian calendar which was then in use in Russia, the women's strike began on 23 February. In the Gregorian calendar used in much of the rest of the world, that date is 8 March. How is International Women's Day celebrated around the world? International Women's Day is a national holiday in many countries. In China, many women are given a half-day off work, as advised by the State Council. Thousands of events take place globally, including marches, talks, concerts, exhibitions and debates. Protestors attend an International Women's day protest rally on 7 March, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia In Italy, IWD is called Festa della Donna, and mimosa blossoms are a popular gift. Flower sales in Russia typically double around International Women's Day. In the US, March is Women's History Month. A presidential proclamation issued every year honours the achievements of American women. In an Instagram post at the beginning of March 2024, US President Joe Biden said the month would "celebrate the legacy of sung and unsung trailblazers, and advocates who have made the world a fairer, more just, and free place". Why do people wear the colour purple for International Women's Day? Purple, green and white are the colours of IWD, according to the International Women's Day website. It says that: "Purple signifies justice and dignity. Green symbolises hope. White represents purity, albeit a controversial concept". These colours were used by the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), a group set up in the UK in 1903 to fight for women's votes. What is the theme of International Women's Day 2024? The UN theme for 2024 is "Invest in women: Accelerate progress", which aims to highlight the importance of gender-equality measures. "Conflicts and rising prices may lead 75% of countries to cut public spending by 2025, negatively impacting women and their essential services," the UN warns. The International Women's Day website has chosen the theme "Inspire Inclusion". It says organisers and events aim to "break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected." Why do campaigners argue that International Women's Day is needed? Organisers say the day provides an opportunity to mark progress made, but also to highlight the erosion of women's rights across the world, as well as the effects of gender violence and abuse. In the past 12 months, women in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran and Ukraine have been fighting for their rights amid war and violence, UN experts say they have received credible allegations of human rights violations against women and girls in Gaza, including cases of rape by Israeli forces. The BBC has also seen evidence of rape, sexual violence and mutilation of Israeli women during the 7 October Hamas attacks. Woman in Kunar province, Afghanistan in Oct 2021 In Afghanistan, girls above primary-school age remain banned from classrooms by the Taliban, hindering women's access to equal education. In Iran, many continue to defy the rules requiring women to cover their hair, while activists like the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi are facing lengthy jail terms. The UN says women and girls in Sudan are being abducted and raped in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), where they are forced to marry and are held for ransom. According to the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index, published every year by the World Economic Forum, no country has yet achieved full gender equality or parity. It warns it is likely to take more than a century before it is reached across the globe. Is there an International Men's Day? International Men's Day has taken place on 19 November since the 1990s. The event isn't recognised by the UN, but is marked it in more than 80 countries worldwide, including the UK. The day focuses on "the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities", according to organisers. It aims to highlight positive role models, raise awareness of men's wellbeing and improve gender relations. For many years, comedian Richard Herring raised tens of thousands of pounds for the domestic violence charity Refuge every International Women's Day, by replying to people on X, formerly Twitter, who were angry about the lack of an International Men's Day. 100 Women logo BBC 100 Women names 100 inspiring and influential women around the world every year. Follow BBC 100 Women on Instagram and Facebook. Join the conversation using #BBC100Women. The Facts One of climate techs biggest investors is speeding up his funding efforts and he isnt worried that a second Donald Trump presidency could derail the energy transition. Tom Steyer a San Francisco billionaire who made his fortune running a hedge fund before becoming a major Democratic fundraiser and a climate-focused 2020 presidential candidate thinks its easier to identify good deals now that climate tech startups valuations have moderated after the ill-fated SPAC craze of 2021. His investment firm, Galvanize Climate Solutions, invests in traditional equities of established companies looking to decarbonize, as well as in startups, and keeps engineering and entrepreneurial experts on staff to spot promising technologies and bring them to commercial scale. Much of what the $1 billion startup division has invested in the last two years was rolled out in just the last two months, he told Semafor, with no plans to slow down. Tims view Steyer is most bullish on a sector that suffered a beating this week: Corporate carbon accounting. When the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday adopted significantly watered-down carbon emission disclosure requirements for large companies, it effectively kneecapped a lucrative business opportunity for companies selling emissions-tracking software. But Steyer remains convinced this data is going to come out sooner or later. When it does, he thinks it will put enormous pressure on companies to decarbonize, and that the software companies handling it therefore have an opportunity to contribute to massive emissions reductions and make a handsome return for their investors. Of the 12 companies in the Galvanize startup portfolio, five have built some form of sustainability data-tracking software. Software startups avoid some of the cost and regulatory pitfalls that plague many of the climate tech companies that want to mass-produce a physical product. Steyer acknowledges that the energy transition will require things EVs, grid infrastructure, wind farms to be built. The challenge, he said, is doing so at a cost low enough to drive mass adoption. The most disruptive tech hes seen recently is a new hybrid sedan from Chinese automaker BYD that sells for just $11,000. Thats not a nice-to-have, thats a have-to-have, he said. The challenge for Galvanize is to find its own have-to-have technologies. Thats the only way, Steyer said, to finally beat out fossil fuels. The View From Tom Steyer Tim McDonnell: What sets Galvanize apart from other climate tech investors? Tom Steyer: Were trying to build a climate-only investment business, at a pivotal time in the execution of the transition. Every single investment, we look at from a returns standpoint financially, [asking] does it have real positive climate impact? If it doesnt, we dont do it. But returns and impact go together. We reject completely this whole idea of a green premium, that youre going to try and change the world with an NGO. That is not the structure that enables you to really scale in the way that we all know we need to scale. We want to build real, defensible domain expertise so that over time, we just have the strongest mousetrap. We have technologists, policy experts, experts in communications, hiring, go-to-market. If you dont have the best people in the world, youre not going to lead, youre not going to be the best partner [for startups], youre not going to get the best returns, youre not going to have the most impact. People at Galvanize have long experience in climate investing. Our goal is to be the best partner for entrepreneurs, and we bring so much more to the table that people go like, Well take them at a 10% discount. Thats honestly happening. Tim: What are you most interested in investing in at the moment? Tom Steyer: Were super focused on measurement and information, and data transparency, because we believe we need that so companies and CEOs can make good decisions. The energy transition is a big physical problem transportation, electricity, manufacturing, the built environment. But really, were going to solve this with a lot of information technology. Where are we emitting? What are the things we can do to change that profile? Thats the part of the business we think is the most interesting. For example, were invested in a business that uses real-time information to reduce cement emissions. So its like, this is a company with a huge physical element to it, but where really the information is going to be the driver. This push for companies to disclose their emissions reminds me of the old Warren Buffett saying: You dont know whos swimming without trunks until the tide goes out. Thats why we think transparency and information systems are incredibly important. How are we going to have a carbon market if we cant measure carbon sequestration? If were gonna get to net zero, that means probably sequestering 10 gigatons of CO2 a year, at $100 a ton. Thats a trillion dollars a year. So you want to be the one to build the system that can support a trillion-dollar market. Tim: Building infrastructure is also just really challenging. Tom Steyer: Thats what people always worry about. Look at how hard it is to get a permit in California. Are we really going to build hundreds of thousands of acres of solar arrays in the desert? We have a seven year window [to get on track for net zero], and getting a permit takes about seven years. But if we can stay within the existing footprint, we can get an awful lot done. Some things will have to be built, but how long that will take is indeterminate, and you have to be building a business that absolutely makes sense from an investment standpoint right now. That was another reason we didnt make a lot of investments from [the Innovation & Expansion Fund] in the first two years. When capital-intensive businesses raise capital, they by definition dilute [their investors], and you dont know if the price is worth it because [by the time they reach commercial scale] the market is going to be different. It could be ebullient, it could be despondent, it may not exist. So if you get into a capital-intensive business you have to be aware of the mitigating factors to actually getting through [the valley of death]. Whereas information businesses, you have infinite replicability, low cap-ex. There are lots of problems with those businesses, too. But if youre an investor you have to ask yourself how youre going to make it to the finish line. To finish first, you must first finish. And if you have infinite profitability, that means you can really impact things. You can get to a global scale really fast, if you have the best product. Tim: Are you worried at all about whether a second Trump presidency could throw a wrench in the momentum behind climate tech? Tom Steyer: The tide is coming in for renewable power and theres not much that can stop it. You dont like renewables? Thats fine, but if dirty energy costs 5 cents and clean energy costs 1 cent consumers will choose the cheaper option every time. Its just business, plain and simple. Do I think we can go back to the 1950s and have Esso stations charging 33 cents a gallon? No. More importantly, why would we want to? There are two very different views at work in the world, but between the industrial logic and competitive dynamics, its like, sorry, the tide has come in. were here the energy transition is underway. Obviously having good policy is important. But at some point, technology wins, and finance wins. There are a bunch of people who are arguing for old technologies that are much more expensive and dont pay for their costs. I liken this to newspapers. In the 90s, with the internet, people in the newspaper business said Its going to ruin our growth prospects. It didnt ruin their growth prospects, it destroyed the industry. When new disruptive technologies come in, its an S curve, and we need these S curves. If the cheapest and the best technology is clean, people are gonna go for it. Capitalism is gonna save us. Were in this race, really, between the deterioration of the natural world and the creativity and innovation of the business world. We built Galvanize to be part of the army pushing our locomotive as fast as possible to get ahead of that other locomotive, and were looking for disruptive change. This photo taken on 22 February 2024 shows a picture printout of Indian national Mohammed Asfan, seen wearing Russian military fatigues who last called family from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don before being deployed amid the conflict in Ukraine, being held by his wife Asma Shireen and their child in Hyderabad (AFP via Getty Images) Indias federal investigation agency says it has busted a major international human trafficking network involved in sending workers to the Russia-Ukraine war under the guise of lucrative job offers. Multiple from Indias Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at 15 places in seven cities including the capital New Delhi on Thursday. The raids came amid growing media reports of Indian nationals being unwittingly recruited to join the Russian army in its invasion of Ukraine after they moved countries in response to adverts for jobs seeking army helpers. At least two Indians have died so far, with the most recent one reported on Wednesday, while about 35 people are believed to be fighting in the war, said a CBI spokesperson. The federal investigations agency has so far recovered 471,500 in their raid, along with incriminating documents, electronic records such laptops, mobiles, desktops and CCTV footage, according to local media reports. Searches are on. Certain suspects have also been detained for questioning at various locations. So far, around 35 instances of victims sent abroad have been established. The identity of more trafficking victims are being established. Investigation is continuing (sic), a CBI spokesperson said. The probe was launched based on a preliminary complaint, locally known as a First Information Report (FIR), filed on 6 March. It named private visa consultancy firms and agents accused of being engaged in trafficking, reported The Times of India. Earlier on Wednesday, the Indian embassy in Russia confirmed the tragic death of Mohammed Asfan, a clothes seller from Hyderabad. He travelled to Russia via Dubai in November seeking work with his family claiming he was duped by a Middle East-based agent and did not know he would be forced to fight on the frontline, where he was killed. In February, the government of India urged its nationals to stay away from the Russia-Ukraine war, while calling on Russian authorities to expedite the release of its citizens. On Friday, the Indian foreign ministry said it had strongly taken up the matter with the Russian government for early discharge of such Indian nationals. We once again appeal to Indian nationals to not be swayed by offers made by agents for support jobs with the Russian Army. This is fraught with danger and risk to life, it said in a statement. James Crumbley, father of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, re-enters the courtroom after a break on the first day of his trial on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of four Oxford High School students who were shot and killed by his son, on March 7, 2024 at Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Michigan. Crumbleys wife Jennifer Crumbley was convicted on the same four counts at her trial last month, the first time in U.S. history that a parent was tried in relation to a mass school shooting that was committed by their child. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) This story originally appeared on Michigan Advance. James Crumbley bought a gun for his 15-year-old son in 2021 that his son used days later to open fire at Oxford High School, killing four students and injuring others at the school. Now, Crumbley is sitting in trial this week as the prosecution argues that he bears part of the responsibility for the four deaths, qualifying four counts of involuntary manslaughter. Crumbleys wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was found guilty in February of the same charges, the first U.S. conviction that assigned a level of responsibility to the parent of a mass shooter. The shooter was sentenced to life without parole in December. On Thursday, Cheryl Matthews, the Oakland County Circuit judge in the case, signed an order revoking Crumbleys ability to communicate freely over the phone and electronically after the Oakland County Sheriffs Office says Crumbley was found to have made threats. The office didnt specify who the threats were directed at. James Crumbleys access to a telephone and electronic messaging while in the Oakland County Jail has been limited due to threatening statements he made while on the phone and in electronic messages, the Oakland County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. His access to a phone or electronic messaging is now limited to communication with his lawyer. In the trial, the prosecution bears the burden of proving that the actions of Crumbley, as the shooters father, made the shooting possible through neglecting his duties as a parent to prevent his child from harming others or failing to take reasonable action to mitigate that harm. During the trial, the prosecution will call attention to details like Crumbley being the one to purchase the gun and how it was stored, Crumbleys lawyer, Mariell Lehman, said in her opening statements Thursday. However, she cautioned jurors to make note of what the prosecution cant and wont say. You wont hear that James Crumbley knew that his son knew where that firearm was. Ladies and gentleman, James probably was not aware that his son had access to that firearm, Lehman said. James Crumbley did not know what his son was going to do. He did not know that his son could potentially harm other people. He did not know what he was planning. He did not purchase that gun with the knowledge that his son may use it against other people. You will not hear that he did that. A woman in a gray sweater weeping Jennifer Crumbley becomes extremely emotional after seeing video of her son walking through Oxford High School during his shooting rampage in November 30, 2021. Crumbley is consoled by her attorney Shannon Smith in the courtroom of Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (Pool Photo Detroit Free Press) In Jennifer Crumbleys trial, a similar defense was given that no one could have foreseen the shooter would go to school on Nov. 30, 2021, and shoot six of his fellow students and a teacher. But just as he said at the start of that trial, Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast said on Thursday the deaths of students Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Julianna, Justin Shilling and Tate Myre were preventable, but James Crumbley ignored every opportunity he had to intervene. You will hear that there was one and only one person who called the police that day to identify their kids as the suspected shooter. It was James Crumbley, Keast said. This nightmare, these murders, were preventable by him, foreseeable by him. And between 15 and 20 witnesses will be called to reiterate that there were signs that the shooter had been in mental distress and Crumbley had multiple opportunities as a parent to intervene, even on the day of the shooting, Keast said. On the day of the shooting, both of the shooters parents were called to the school because he had drawn a gun on his math assignment with other concerning images and statements including Blood everywhere. Crumbley didnt tell the school he had bought a gun for his son, the same one he had drawn on the assignment, Keast said. Crumbley didnt take his son home that day, or check to see where the gun was until after he knew about the shooting. Crumbley, by chance, had been at the local Meijer, where students were scrambling to be reunited with their families after the shooting, Keast said, but Crumbley didnt stay. He went home to look for his gun. About 20 minutes after receiving the alert that there had been a shooting at his sons school, Crumbley called 911, asking for police to be sent to his house. Im at my house; theres an active shooter situation going on at the high school. My son goes to the high school. I have a missing gun at my house, Crumbley said to the operator. I have a missing gun and my son was at the school and we had to go meet with the counselor this morning because of something that he wrote on a test paper. Edward Wagrowski, an Oakland County Sheriffs detective at the time of the shooting, testified Thursday and Friday on other calls, text messages and video surveillance in the school at the time of the shooting. He said all of the sudden he was told it was all hands on deck and that there was a shooting at the high school. As a computer crimes analyst, Wagrowsk said it was out of the ordinary for the nerds to be called to an active shooter situation, but he sprung into action and drove until he found the Meijer he knew kids were running to. Wagrowski remembers looking at the kids and thinking about his own teenage daughter as they arrived. One kid didnt even have a shoe on; he only had one shoe on walking through the snowbank going down to the Meijer and I see these girls dressed like my daughter and it was cold. I had two coats on and I was shaking. I was shivering it was so cold, Wagrowski said. A woman showing a scar caused by a bullet Oxford High School educator Molly Darnell shows the jury her gun shot wound as she is questioned by Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald in the courtroom of Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews on Thursday Jan. 25, 2024 to begin her trial on four counts of involuntary manslaughter. (Pool Photo Detroit Free Press) Molly Darnell, a teacher who was shot in the arm, was the first witness called in the trial Thursday. Darnell testified that the only reason she wasnt dead, as the shooter was aiming to kill, was because she turned away once she saw the shooter standing right in front of her door in the school. She said she remembers being in denial about being shot in the arm, thinking she felt hot water on her skin and not blood. Darnell didnt register that the smell in the air was gunpowder. It wasnt until later when she was in the hospital getting an X-ray to see if there was any debris from the bullet in her chest that she cried, Darnell said. The wound was about six inches from her heart and it became clear to her what the shooters intentions were. He was aiming to kill me, Darnell said. My husband was my nurse at home taking care, cleaning my wound. And at some point I realize thats at heart level. When asked how many videos he had to review to examine exactly what path the shooter took through the school and who he encountered, Wagrowski emotionally recalled too many. The shooter came out of the bathroom, Ill never forget it. He came out of that bathroom with a proud chest, like his shoulders were back, Wagrowski said. And thats when the shooting began, with Oxford High School student Phoebe Arthur being the first person shot right outside the bathroom. Then her boyfriend, Elijah Mueller, was shot. The shooter next started shooting at Hana St. Juliana, Kylie Ossege and Riley Franz. Wagrowski said that they fell on top of each other. During the shooters sentencing, Franz, who was injured, described the pain of what the shooter had done to everyone in the school, saying pieces of her had been shattered by that day. I, Riley Franz, am a survivor of gun violence. I, Riley Franz, am a survivor of a terrible epidemic caused by a broken system. But I refuse to be known as a victim at the hands of an individual with no regard for others. His selfishness will not consume my identity, Franz said. Ossege recalled during the shooters sentencing laying on the floor with St. Juliana, stroking her hair, repeating her moms phone number and doing math problems in her head to make sure her brain was still functioning after she and St. Juliana lay wounded waiting for help. Madisyn Baldwin was crouching in the hallway in a fetal position when the shooter put the gun to her head and fired, Wagrowski said. Baldwins friend, Maddie Johnson, who now is an advocate for ending gun violence, has described Baldwin as the most compassionate person shes met in her life, saying at the shooters sentencing that Baldwin would have been the shooters friend, treating him with nothing but kindness, had he not killed her. Oxford High School.( Anna Gustafson for Michigan Advance) The shooter proceeded to fire down the hallway, just trying to hit anyone who was running away, Wagrowski said. You see a whole bunch of kids; you see a whole bunch of teachers standing at doors just grabbing kids as they ran by and just throwing them into a room, Wagrowski said. Then theres two girls, one you see she runs up to a door and tries to pull it open, but the people inside had already put the safety latch at the bottom of the door, she couldnt get it open. Meanwhile the shooters still walking towards and another girl comes from the right side of the frame and grabs the other one by the arm and just tears off down the hallway. Meanwhile, the shooter is shooting at them. Soon after, the shooter found Tate Myre who didnt know what was going on and shot him multiple times before turning and shooting Darnell through a door, and then firing into another classroom where kids were hiding. The shooting ended with the shooter entering a bathroom, firing and killing Justin Shilling, while another student, Keegan Gregory, was seen by Wagrowski running for his life. Gregory said at the shooters sentencing, I almost feel guilty about being alive, knowing that Justins family is living in grief. Both the prosecution and defense mentioned in opening arguments that the jury will have the task of examining the relationship between Crumbley and his son, the shooter. On Thursday, Wagrowski showed text messages between the shooter and his friend a few months before the shooting where the shooter said he had asked Crumbley to take him to the doctor. According to the shooter, Crumbley said, Suck it up and gave him some pills. One of the avenues the jury can take to confirm an involuntary manslaughter charge is finding that through neglect, Crumbleys actions made the deaths at Oxford High School happen. Lehman pointed out during cross examination on Friday that there isnt a lot of context to this exchange and theres no way to know what kind of pills the shooter was given, or if that is even the case. You know, whats on the page? You dont know anything beyond whats on that page? Lehman asked Wagrowski concerning a Facebook messenger conversation shown between Crumbley and his wife. Wagrowski confirmed that was true and Lehman extended that reasoning to other text messages and exchanges that will be examined during the trial, calling into question the context under which evidence is being brought. The words on the page are the words on the page, Lehman said in her questioning. Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Susan J. Demas for questions: info@michiganadvance.com. Follow Michigan Advance on Facebook and Twitter. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Involuntary manslaughter trial begins for father of Michigan High School shooter appeared first on Alabama Reflector. Prospective car buyers will get a chance to do some one-stop shopping at the All Iowa Auto Show March 15-17 at the Iowa Events Center. The event, held by Local IQ, a division of the Des Moines Registers parent company, Gannett Co., will be in Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center. More than a dozen manufacturers will show off their latest vehicles and offer test drives. Jonas Bottenfield-Biehn, 12, of Des Moines looks into the inside of a Corvette during the Des Moines Register All Iowa Auto Show on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Electric vehicles will be highlighted during the second-annual Electric Vehicle Summit at the auto show. An estimated 1.46 million electric cars and trucks were sold in the United State in 2023, a 50% rise from 2022, and made up 7.6% of all vehicle sales, according to USA Today. As of June 30, 2023 there were 12,805 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids registered in Iowa, a 19.5% increase over the total on Dec. 31, 2022, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. Iowa received $51.4 million from the 2021 federal Bipartisan infrastructure Law to upgrade its electric charging infrastructure. Funds are being distributed through grants and the first chargers are being built along Iowa's interstate highway corridors. The EV Summit starts at 3 p.m. each day and includes presentations from local dealers and groups promoting electric vehicles. On March 16, Polk County leaders will talk about the impacts of gas and electric vehicles on the county's environment. The show is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 15 and 16 and from noon to 6 p.m. March 17. Admission is free. March 17 will be Family Day. Cars load into Hy-Vee Hall for the All Iowa Auto Show on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Des Moines. Philip Joens covers retail, real estate and RAGBRAI for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-284-8184, pjoens@registermedia.com or on Twitter @Philip_Joens. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: All Iowa Auto Show highlight cars from 12 companies Paramida is one of the world's most renowned DJs of Iranian origin Mixed-sex raves are illegal in Iran but they happen anyway - far away from the prying eyes of the morality police - and some of the female DJs getting the crowds dancing are also breaking taboos and pushing cultural boundaries. Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution turned the country's cultural life upside-down. Pop music, deemed non-revolutionary, was banned, so many musicians fled. At the same time it was declared sinful, or haram, for women to sing. A thriving pop and cabaret scene died almost overnight. And yet, behind closed doors, some things continued as before. "Indecent" music cassettes and CD were smuggled into the country from abroad, delivered secretly to people's homes. Then, once dinner was over, lights would be dimmed and living rooms became dance floors. "I was the dancing star at every mehmooni [family party]," says Paramida, now a Berlin-based DJ, producer and record label owner. Paramida's mother had left Iran because she didn't want her daughter to live in a country "where women were treated so badly". The mandatory wearing of the hijab was only one of a number of restrictions she opposed. She settled in Germany, but in 2002 she had to return for family reasons, and for four years Paramida went to school in Tehran. Before long, she wasn't only dancing at home, but attending underground parties. "We all split up in cars, boys in some cars and girls in others. We drove out the city. And then we just set up music and lights and everyone was dancing and that was it," says Paramida. Paramida was born in Germany, after her mum left Tehran to raise her daughter in a country with more freedoms From the late 1990s a new kind of party culture had begun to develop in Iran. With the arrival of illegal satellites came music channels such as MTV, and an underground rave scene soon emerged. "For the first time, I went to a party and a DJ was playing house music," remembers Nesa Azadikhah, a 40-year-old DJ born and raised in Tehran. "I was looking at him all the time and thinking to myself: 'I would like to have that job.'" A few years later, Nesa was one of the first Iranian women to DJ in underground "free parties" - house and techno music gatherings in private venues that were by invitation only. Nesa Azadikhah has been a trailblazer in the Tehran dance scene In the early days, the parties mostly took place in the ski village of Shemshak, nicknamed "Shibiza" after the Spanish island Ibiza and its world-famous club scene. But partying in Iran is a crime. Although it isn't listed in the penal code, people are frequently arrested at underground gatherings, and charged with consuming alcohol or mingling with people of the opposite sex - offences that can be punished with fines, prison sentences or lashes. It's not known how many arrests of this kind occur every year, but 300 partygoers were detained at a single underground event last November, according to local news agencies. And just days ago, on 5 March, it was reported that at least 11 students from a top university were arrested at a mixed gender party and suspended for up to three semesters. "My parents always told me that if the police got me at a party, it would be trouble. This made me very cautious," says Nesa. Neither she nor Paramida have ever been arrested for attending raves. But growing up with a constant sense of danger may have shaped the lives of Iranian music makers. Nesa Azadikhah playing a set It's one reason the two DJs feel connected to the women's movements that for the past 45 years have been part of progressive calls for change in Iran - including after the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, accused of wearing her hijab too loosely. Paramida says she was moved by the thousands of protesters chanting, "Woman, Life, Freedom", as protests swept across Iran in 2022. "That [movement] actually gave me hope that there is a bond between all of us women," she says. Together with fellow Iranian DJ Aida, Nesa has started the Woman, Life, Freedom Project, a compilation of electronic music by female Iranian artists. It's a companion to another initiative she runs called Deep House Tehran, a platform that showcases the work of underground electronic music producers. Paramida playing at a club Both Nesa and Paramida feel that for a woman to go to an electronic underground party is a political statement, in a traditional and religious country such as Iran. "Since most of the things we are interested in are either taboo or prohibited, when we start doing those things we are essentially breaking the rules. Those acts turn into acts of disobedience and protest," Nesa tells BBC 100 Women. "The fact that I am able to do what is forbidden for so many women in Iran actually makes me a living protest," says Paramida. The Deep House Tehran project showcases the work of underground producers in the region The global dance music industry is known to be heavily male-dominated, but it was far worse when Paramida and Nesa started DJ-ing in the 2010s. "The sexism is still there, it's just different," says Nesa, who as the first female DJ to make it in Iran has witnessed how the scene has changed. Currently there are at least another 10 female DJs in the country's underground rave world, she says. "All my life I've been told, 'You can't do this, you can't do that because you are a woman,' and I've been like, 'I can, and I will show you,'" says Paramida. "By the age of 25 I was DJ-ing at the best underground parties and had my own record label," she adds. She is currently a resident DJ in the Panorama Bar in Berghain, an internationally famous techno club in Berlin. Nesa dreams of also playing in Europe. For several years, her visa applications got rejected, as it happens to many other Iranian artists. Nesa has applied for visas to grow her international career - but got rejected many times She eventually got a chance to go international. "It was 2017, I was invited to play in Yerevan, Armenia. The club that was bustling and I received fantastic feedback," she says. She has now got a year-long residency in France through a Global Talent visa scheme. "I feel now I have to work harder and faster, there is more competition here," says Nesa as she prepares for a gig in Liverpool. Paramida now plays in clubs and festivals all over the world Paramida now plays in clubs and festivals from Japan to Brazil - she met with BBC 100 Women in Ibiza, where she was preparing for a gig in one of the island's famous clubs - but she hasn't been back to Iran since 2006. "One of my biggest dreams is to be able to go back and throw a party in Tehran!" she says. "How amazing would that be?" Nesa echoes the sentiment. "Playing outside Iran is liberating, I don't have to worry about being arrested," she says. "But no other place has the vibe of the underground parties of Iran." Watch the full documentary Iranian Women on the Decks: The DJs breaking cultural taboos on BBC World Service YouTube Paramida will make her BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix debut on 9 March - you can listen here 100 Women logo BBC 100 Women names 100 inspiring and influential women around the world every year. Follow BBC 100 Women on Instagram and Facebook. Join the conversation using #BBC100Women. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company's (NYSE:BMY) investors are due to receive a payment of $0.60 per share on 1st of May. This makes the dividend yield 4.5%, which is above the industry average. See our latest analysis for Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings A big dividend yield for a few years doesn't mean much if it can't be sustained. Based on the last payment, Bristol-Myers Squibb was quite comfortably earning enough to cover the dividend. This indicates that quite a large proportion of earnings is being invested back into the business. Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 47.5%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 42% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward. Bristol-Myers Squibb Has A Solid Track Record The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. Since 2014, the annual payment back then was $1.40, compared to the most recent full-year payment of $2.40. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.5% a year over that time. The growth of the dividend has been pretty reliable, so we think this can offer investors some nice additional income in their portfolio. We Could See Bristol-Myers Squibb's Dividend Growing Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. Bristol-Myers Squibb has impressed us by growing EPS at 5.7% per year over the past five years. Earnings are on the uptrend, and it is only paying a small portion of those earnings to shareholders. Bristol-Myers Squibb Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock Overall, we think this could be an attractive income stock, and it is only getting better by paying a higher dividend this year. Distributions are quite easily covered by earnings, which are also being converted to cash flows. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock. Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Bristol-Myers Squibb that you should be aware of before investing. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Irish government has proposed updated references in the constitution to women and the family (PAUL FAITH) Ireland voted in a double referendum on Friday on proposals to modernise constitutional references to the make-up of a family and women's "life within the home". All the major political parties support a "Yes-Yes" vote and until recently polls predicted a smooth passage for both on International Women's Day. Polls opened at 7:00 am (0700 GMT) and were due to close at 10:00 pm, with results in both votes expected by late Saturday. Nearly 3.5 million people are eligible to vote. Irish broadcaster RTE reported that turnout began slowly. Surveys in the run-up to the ballots have also logged rising unease about the vagueness of the two questions -- and the outcome of the votes. This week Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who heads the centre-right-green governing coalition that proposed the questions, admitted that the results were "in the balance". After casting his vote in the capital, Dublin, on Friday, he urged people to vote "yes" to both questions because "all families are equal" and "family carers should be recognised in our constitution". President Michael D. Higgins voted near his official residence in Phoenix Park, a day after he was discharged from a week-long spell in hospital. The two proposals -- called the family amendment and the care amendment -- would make changes to the text of Article 41 in the Irish constitution, written in 1937. The first asks citizens to expand the definition of family from those founded on marriage to also include "durable relationships" such as cohabiting couples and their children. The second proposes replacing old-fashioned language around a mother's "duties in the home" with a clause recognising care provided by family members to one another. The votes are the latest attempt to reflect the changing face of European Union member Ireland, and the waning influence of the once-dominant Catholic Church. Voters in the country of 5.3 million opted to end constitutional limits on same-sex marriage in 2015 and abortion in 2018. - Confusion - In addition to the governing coalition and the main opposition party, Sinn Fein, women's rights and family carer groups have also urged citizens to "vote for equality". "We see these changes as small steps forward and therefore on balance have advocated a 'yes' vote," said leftist-nationalist Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald on Thursday. "It's really important that we change our constitution to reflect the reality of our lives in Ireland and the reality of families," Orla O'Connor, director of the National Women's Council of Ireland, told AFP. But "No" campaigners argue the concept of "durable relationship" is undefined and confuses voters, and that women and mothers are being "cancelled" from the constitution. Disability rights activists also told AFP that the care amendment appears to portray disabled people as a burden on families, with the state abdicating its role in providing care. Meanwhile, ultra-conservative voices have argued the changes could constitutionally protect polygamous relationships and increase immigration via migrant family reunions -- accusations all denied by the government. For Yvonne Galligan, a political scientist, the care amendment is the "more complex" and more likely of the two referendum questions to deliver a "No" vote. "People could vote 'No' for very different reasons -- some to preserve the paternalistic status quo and enhance it, and others because it doesn't recognise disability rights," said Galligan, a professor at the Technological University of Dublin. pmu-jwp/phz/gil The first flight of the new service will take off on 23 April Direct flights between the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are set to return following a successful trial, the airline behind the services has confirmed. Blue Islands has announced flights will run most months until December. The direct link between Jersey and the Isle of Man will also include a connection to and from Guernsey. The route would "enhance connectivity" between the business communities, the airline said. The cost of the return flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays will stay at around 470, the price of a ticket during the previous five-week trial. As the service had been designed to meet business travel demand, the route has not been not scheduled to operate during school holiday periods and the week of Liberation Day in Jersey and Guernsey in May, the airline said. In early June, the Jersey to Isle of Man flight will arrive a day early as it falls during TT race week, it added. Chief executive Rob Veron said the route was an alternative to "time-consuming travel options" and would provide "fast, efficient journeys". The first flight of the new service will take off on 23 April. Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk Related internet links Related internet links When Israels war on Hamas ends, its conflict with Iran-backed militias may rage on. Israeli officials are increasingly concerned with the constant artillery and rocket fire at the northern border with Lebanons Hezbollah militants and have said they will fight to push the group back from bordering territory. While the risk of all-out war is not imminent, the clash with Hezbollah is driving up the long-term stakes in the Middle East. Israel wants to eventually return its residents to the north, and it cant do that with Iran-backed militants posing a constant threat near the border. Hezbollah is unlikely to agree to any hard concessions, setting up an impasse for diplomatic solutions and fertile ground for military provocations. Were inching closer to a war. So far, the two parties have been careful not to do something that would unravel everything and lead to an all-out war, said Asher Kaufman, a professor and Middle East expert at the University of Notre Dame. But at the same time, its very clear that both sides are engaged in cross border exchange that makes it riskier, more dangerous and more prone to an all-out war. Israels defense minister, Yoav Gallant, has been stepping up the rhetoric on Lebanon in the past month, warning that his forces will continue fighting to secure the north even if the war against Palestinian militant group Hamas is resolved. We are committed to the diplomatic process, however Hezbollahs aggression is bringing us closer to a critical point in decision-making regarding military activities in Lebanon, Gallant said in a statement this week. Gallant delivered the statement after he met with Amos Hochstein, a senior Biden administration adviser and U.S. envoy who has worked to little avail to resolve the tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in the north. The U.S. is in a tight spot on the Lebanon conflict as it supports Israel but does not want to see fighting spiral out of control, seeking to contain the war to Gaza. Washington moved naval ships into the eastern Mediterranean to deter any aggression shortly after Hamas launched its terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7. While Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire over the border almost daily since the war began, the U.S. says the war in Gaza is still largely contained to the coastal territory. But efforts from Hochstein to ease the conflict in the north have struggled to achieve results, and the Biden administrations limited ability to restrain Israels military has been highlighted by its actions in Gaza, where more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed. Still, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said other Israeli officials have indicated they prefer a diplomatic solution over war with Hezbollah. We do not want to see either side escalate the conflict in the north, and in fact, we are going to continue to pursue a diplomatic resolution of that conflict, Miller said at a briefing in February. Jonathan Spyer, director of research at the Middle East Forum, said the U.S. has leverage over Israel but described the north as a vexing problem. I would not discount or underestimate the importance from an Israeli point of view of changing [the] arrangement on the border, he said. So the question is whether U.S.-led diplomacy has a chance of achieving that [peacefully], but it does seem to me to be quite problematic. Israel has signaled a war against Hamas could last all year, and ongoing negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage release deal appear to be at an impasse. When the dust settles in Gaza even if that brings a reduction in hostilities with Hezbollah Israel will have to next contend with its northern border, where tens of thousands of residents have evacuated from to escape the gunfire and shelling. For Israel, returning to the status quo before Oct. 7 is unacceptable. Its clear that Israel sees Hezbollah as a serious threat, said Kaufman from the University of Notre Dame. Perhaps even almost an existential threat. Israel has fought in Lebanon before, including a 2006 conflict that damaged Hezbollah, though Israeli troops also failed to achieve a victory. Both Iran and Hezbollah are likely trying to prevent a wider conflict, considering Tehran views its Lebanese militia group as one of its prized proxies and would not want to risk losing it in a war. And Israel likely does not want a full-scale war anytime soon after Gaza, which has led to international condemnation. While analysts dont see a ground war breaking out anytime soon, they anticipate that at some point, a larger conflict is inevitable. Hanin Ghaddar, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said both sides want to breathe and prepare for the next big war. The next big war is not really a war between Israel, the next big war will probably involve all other Iranian proxies in the region, she said. And thats something that Israel needs to prepare for, and they need time [and ] this is not something that Iran wants to start now. Resolving the tensions in the meantime will be tricky. The first step to reach any slowdown in fighting is a cease-fire in Gaza. Israel has forced Hezbollah fighters away from the border with firepower, but it will likely seek a political agreement to ensure they cant return. They want to maintain this border as a tool of pressure on Israel, said Spyer from the Middle East Forum, referring to Iran, who noted thats precisely the opposite of what Israel wants. Israel wants the border to cease to be a tool of pressure on their communities on the border, Spyer added. There is a direct conflict, a direct contradiction of objectives here. Any negotiations could see renewed calls to abide by United Nations security resolution 1701, which calls for a demilitarized zone between a line of withdrawal called the Blue Line and the Litani River, and non-Hezbollah Lebanese security forces deployed in the south. The Israel-Lebanon border conflict has been active since Oct. 8, when Hezbollah entered the fray to support Hamas following its deadly surprise attacks that killed 1,200 people in southern Israel. Since then, Hezbollah has acknowledged the deaths of more than 200 of its fighters and 50 civilians, while Israel says it has lost nine soldiers and 10 civilians. Gallant, the Israeli defense minister, has long pushed for greater action in the north against Hezbollah, but there may not be full support among other officials in Israel. Mike Makovsky, the president of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likely wants to avoid a multi-front conflict. Hed rather work out something temporarily, at least with Hezbollah, Makovsky said. Im not sure theres complete unity in the war cabinet on this issue. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Israeli security forces inspect a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank, on August 19, 2023. Credit - Jaafar AshtiyehAFP/Getty Images Days before Vivian Silver was killed by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attacks, the 74-year-old Israeli-Canadian peace activist was planning to drive six critically ill Palestinian patients to a hospital in Jerusalem. A longtime member of Kibbutz Beeri, Silver often volunteered with Road to Recovery, an Israeli NGO that enlists volunteers to drive buses of Palestinian patients who are unable to access specialized medical care in the West Bank and Gaza to Israeli hospitals. You could see that my mother was doing something very significant for Palestinians in need of those services, says Yonatan Zeigen, Vivian Silvers son. The medical administration of the occupied Palestinian territorydivided into the three regions of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalemfaced limitations in resources and expertise far before the recent outbreak of war. According to Project Rozana, close to 100,000 Palestinian patients seek specialized treatment in Israeli and East Jerusalem hospitals every year, including children who require treatments like chemotherapy or pediatric dialysis. In East Jerusalem, six hospitals administered by the Palestinian Ministry of Health currently provide many advanced medical specialties that the West Bank and Gaza are unable to provide. But an elaborate exit-permit systemadministered by the Israeli government before the end of the 1967 Six-Day War, along with the newly-restricted access of ambulances through security checkpoints since the beginning of the recent warmeans that Palestinian residents are often restricted in their freedom of movement, with the World Health Organization stating that obtaining Israeli permits is a process that is neither transparent nor timely. Since Oct. 7, the situation has only devolved. WHOs latest data estimates that since the war, there have been 804 attacks on patients, healthcare workers, and facilities, resulting in 693 deaths and 970 injuries in the occupied territories. As the need for healthcare increases, volunteers and patients alike see these efforts as crucial acts of humanitynot just to fill the gaps in a collapsed healthcare system, but to cultivate grassroots relationships between Israelis and Palestinians. The volunteers want to build bridges, says Ronit Zimmer, the CEO of international NGO Project Rozana, whose Wheels of Hope initiative manages the volunteers. And they continue to show resilience and belief in the value of cooperation. Wheels of Hope, which was founded five years ago, coordinates buses and other modes of transportation with a network of volunteer drivers that are part of organizations such as Road to Recovery, Humans Without Borders in Jerusalem, the Green Land Society for Health Development in Hebron, and Smile of Hope in Gaza. For my mother, the act of driving felt so simple and straightforward, recalls Zeigen. But she would always come back and say she felt enlightened by the experience. Adam Abu al-Rob, a six-year-old Palestinian eye cancer patient, is carried by his father Mamoun as they meet with Road to Recovery volunteer Yael Noy at the Rehan checkpoint between Israel and the occupied West Bank, driven by her on their way from the Palestinian village of Jalbun to Shiba Hospital Tel Hashomer near Tel Aviv, on May 22, 2023. Jack GuezAFP/Getty Images Driving for humanity Every year, thousands of Palestinians are referred by their doctors to hospitals outside the occupied territories for necessary, often life-saving medical services. The majority of these referrals are for diagnosis and treatment services in five common specialties: cardiovascular diseases, oncology, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and ophthalmology. In just the month of July last year, for example, the Palestinian Ministry of Health issued 9,698 referrals, according to WHO. But the approval rate for patients receiving permits has varied considerably over the past 15 yearsranging from 94% in 2012 to 54% in 2017, according to the U.N. The U.N. further estimates that from 2019 to 2021, only 65% of patient permits were approved in time for the patients to reach their hospital appointments, even in cases where the patients had severe health conditions. There have also been cases where patients were denied exit permits, in what the U.N. has said may amount to collective punishment. As a result, the United Nations has defined those in need of medical referrals as a vulnerable group, particularly when they face delayed or denied access to specialized medical services. To work around these restrictions, Wheels of Hope has continuously transported patients through an elaborate maze: A Palestinian volunteer driver picks up a patient from their village and takes them to the checkpoint on the border of Israel. There, the patient will cross the checkpoint with an Israeli volunteer driver to reach the hospital where they are receiving treatment. What the Wheels of Hope program does is enables a very good facilitation of that process, and the relationships that are built through it between the drivers and the patients are often very beautiful, says Zimmer. Amy Yourman, the director of Humans Without Borders, first became involved in the program as a volunteer in 2019. Within months, Yourman, who is originally from the U.S. but has lived in Israel for 37 years, became a passionate advocate for the patients she was helping transport. For five years Yourman has helped transport a family with a now-12-year-old boy to cancer treatments in East Jerusalem. One day, while waiting at the checkpoint for the Palestinian volunteer driver to pick up the family, Yourman and the patients mother struck up a conversation. The mother recounted their long and arduous three-hour journey before the volunteer program was put in place: a taxi from her village outside of Hebron, then three different buses from Hebron, Bethlehem, and Old City. It became clear how this made a tremendous difference in her lifenot just time and comfort, but also the greater safety for a sick and immunocompromised child, she says. In the Hebron region of the West Bank, physical therapist Mohammad Hammouri has also volunteered with the program through the Green Land Society for years. Hammouri says he became involved after his cousin was diagnosed with cancer. I wanted to do something for patients like him, says Hammouri. Since then, he has formed countless bonds with patients and volunteers he sees regularly. I have a patient named Lena, who leaves her home at 4 a.m. so she can reach the hospital in time for her appointment, he says. But every morning, she insists that we drink a cup of tea together before leaving. In all the time that volunteers and patients have spent together, the impact has been significant. Last year, 84 volunteers at Humans Without Borders made 5,955 trips to help 112 families. From Hebron, the Green Land Societys 41 volunteers made 5,823 trips to help 172 individual patients. The volunteers are amazing people who are willing to give out of the goodness of their hearts, says Diana Shehade Nama, the Director of Programming at Project Rozana, but they are also politically conscious and active peacemakers, who are especially passionate about the disparities of the services and rights for Palestinians. Until Oct. 7, Wheels of Hope also operated buses in Gaza, with their last trip made on Oct. 6. A lot of the patients on that last ride were stranded in Jerusalem and ended up staying at the hospital longer than needed, recalls Nama. Patients who completed their treatments were taken to the West Bank to stay with relatives, while the caretakers of those who passed away were sent back to Gaza. Since then, the NGO has been unable to keep track of those patients, says Nama, highlighting the complete collapse of healthcare in the besieged territory. Adam Abu al-Rob sits in the backseat with his father Mamoun on May 22, 2023. Jack GuezAFP/Getty Images An urgent need for health diplomacy As Israels bombardment of Gaza continues, experts say the dire situation in the West Bank is also likely to deteriorate further. Given the escalating situation, other organizations like the U.K.-based charity Medical Aid for Palestine, or MAP, is working to equip frontline emergency medical services and deliver emergency and lifesaving disposables, fluids, and drugs to Palestine Red Crescent Society emergency teams. Project Rozana is similarly training medical personnel in the occupied territories in emergency medical care for neonatal and pediatric patients, and previously trained Palestinian nurses in Israeli hospitals. The best thing we can do is make these services available where they are, rather than having patients go through all of these hurdles, says Nama. Zaegen says that these initiatives underpin his late mothers mission as he carries her legacy forward by lobbying world leaders to rally for peace with the Alliance for Middle East Peace. These organizations bring something a lot bigger than just two communities meeting, says Zeigen. When people get into your car, or you get into someone elses car, you have to create trust. He continues, The issues may be huge and complex, but the solution for peace is very simple. Write to Astha Rajvanshi at astha.rajvanshi@time.com. The City of Jacksonville dodged a bullet Friday, with the Florida Legislature approving this years tax package without language that could have put the citys pension funding source at risk. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Just before the Florida House took a final vote on the tax package, State Representative Wyman Duggan (R-Jacksonville) asked the bill sponsor if language had been removed that would have required Jacksonville voters reapprove the sales tax that funds the city pension every decade. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] State Representative Stan McClain (R-Ocala) confirmed the language was gone. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Duggan replied. The mayors office thanked legislative leaders for hearing the citys concerns. We are grateful to Speaker Renners office for working with our team and the Florida Senate on a solution that ensures this bill did not negatively impact Jacksonville, said a spokesperson for the mayors office in a statement provided to Action News Jax. If the language hadnt been removed and the half penny sales tax ever failed to get voter approval, the loss of the revenue could have cost the city billions of dollars over the coming decades. Were basically status quo with the pension tax, Council President Ron Salem (R-Group 2 At-Large) told Action News Jax after the vote. RELATED: Going to be a major piece of information to have: Jacksonville mayor provides stadium deal update Salem initially took the tax package language as a warning from state lawmakers. Salem believed they intended to send a message to city leaders after the idea of funding the stadium renovation with the pension fund was floated. Last week, House Speaker Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) claimed that wasnt the case. I can definitively say it was absolutely not written with Jacksonville in mind, said Renner in a press gaggle on February 28th. Following the vote on the tax package the mayors office told Action News Jax a pension-funded stadium deal was, still one of many potential funding sources on the table. Salem said he believes city leaders should think long and hard about the idea before moving forward with the concept, as the legislature could resurrect the threat to the citys pension sales tax in a future session. I have heard from some legislators that do not want the pension touched in this way, said Salem. Earlier this week, the topic of a pension-funded stadium deal came up during a council hearing. RELATED: Devastating to the city budget: Tax package in FL House could put Curry-era pension reform at risk Timothy Johnson, Executive Director of the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund, testified no official stadium funding proposal has been presented to the pension board. But he noted he has already gotten feedback from first responders who have heard the idea floated. The majority of calls that Ive gotten have not been in support of it, said Johnson. Mike Weinstein, the man tasked with negotiating the stadium deal on behalf of the city, provided council members with some insight detailing what a pension-funded stadium deal could look like. He explained both the pension board and the city would be able to pull out at any time if the math stopped making sense for either party in the future. That way it would look more like an investment than a loan, said Weinstein. But Salem argued before any decision on a funding source is reached, a deal needs to be struck with the team. So that I can get it and we can begin the education process of the public because thats a significant component of this, as well as educating all my colleagues, said Salem. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. James Crumbley becomes emotional during the testimony of Oxford High School educator Molly Darnell as he sits with his attorney Mariell Lehman on Thursday, March. 7, 2024 in Pontiac, Mich. James Crumbley, 47, is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one for each teenager killed by Ethan Crumbley at Oxford High School in 2021. (Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press via AP, Pool) PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) The father of a Michigan school shooter told police shortly after the fatal attack that a gun and ammunition used by his son had been hidden at the family's home, according to a video seen by jurors Friday. James and Jennifer Crumbley were interviewed in a small room at a sheriff's office while Ethan Crumbley was kept in another room. Two investigators spoke calmy as they tried to get as much information as possible from the parents. Is it possible for me to have a water? My mouth is super dry, James Crumbley asked before the interview began. James Crumbley, 47, is on trial for involuntary manslaughter in his 15-year-old son's killing of four students at Oxford High School. Hes accused of failing to secure the gun at home and ignoring signs of his son's mental distress. The gun was hidden in our armoire in the case, and the bullets were hidden in a different spot underneath some jeans, James Crumbley declared, not adding anything more about how Ethan might have discovered them. He said he immediately raced home when he learned about the shooting and found the gun missing. I called you guys right away to let you know, James Crumbley said of a 911 call. The gun, a Sig Sauer 9 mm, is a critical issue. Prosecutors said a cable lock given to James Crumbley when he bought the gun with Ethan four days earlier was still in the package. We go to the shooting range all the time. I've been trying to teach him safety, James Crumbley told investigators. The parents said their son had mediocre grades and was failing geometry. They wondered aloud if they should have a lawyer when speaking to police, but continued sharing information. I really wish we would have taken him home, Jennifer Crumbley said. She was referring to a meeting at the school a few hours ahead of the shooting. The Crumbleys had met with staff who gave them a drawing of a gun, blood, and a wounded person on Ethan's math assignment. There were anguished phrases: The thoughts won't stop. Help me. My life is useless." But the Crumbleys didnt take their son home, and the school, concerned that he might be suicidal if alone, didnt demand it. A counselor said Jennifer Crumbley seemed more concerned about returning to her job. No one checked the boys backpack for a gun, however, and the nine-minute shooting happened that afternoon. Why? Why? Jennifer Crumbley asked Ethan when detectives allowed the parents to see him. I love you, James Crumbley said repeatedly. The Crumbleys are the first U.S. parents to be charged with having criminal responsibility for a mass school shooting committed by a child. Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty of the same involuntary manslaughter charges last month. Defense attorney Mariell Lehman has told jurors that James Crumbley was not aware the son had access to the gun or could be a danger to others. She noted during cross-examination of a detective Friday that James Crumbley was incredibly emotional at the sheriff's office. Yes, Det. Sgt. Joe Brian said. Earlier, jurors heard about the purchase of the gun. Shop manager Cammy Back said James Crumbley, accompanied by his son, paid roughly $520 in cash, including tax, for the firearm. The son was standing behind him, Back testified. Mr. Crumbley asked to see the Sig Sauer, said that hed had his eye on it for quite some time. Ethan referred to the gun as my beauty on social media. When he pleaded guilty to murder and terrorism, he said that his money was used to buy the gun. That detail hasnt emerged in his fathers trial because he's not a witness. Ethan, now 17, is serving a life prison sentence for murder and terrorism. James Crumbley has been in jail since his arrest more than two years ago. The sheriff's office said Friday that his use of a phone and tablet would be restricted after he used them to make threatening statements while in custody. Authorities didnt elaborate on the threats. Neither did Judge Cheryl Matthews, who said he can use a phone or tablet only to communicate with his lawyer or clergy. A gag order in the case bars attorneys from speaking to reporters. The trial will resume for a third day on Monday. ___ Follow Ed White on X, formerly Twitter: https://twitter.com/edwritez Prosecutors in the involuntary manslaughter trial of James Crumbley have argued that he failed to do the "smallest of things" that could have saved four children's lives such as taking a break from his DoorDash job after he and his wife were summoned to Oxford High School on the day of the shooting. That's one of the seeds it planted in the jury's mind Friday as it sought to drive home this message: Had James Crumbley taken a work break in the hours before his son shot up Oxford High School, he would have discovered that the gun the teen had long begged for was missing. But he didn't, Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast argued to jurors Friday, noting that James Crumbley drove past his house four times while making DoorDash runs in the hours after he saw a violent drawing that his son had made that morning in geometry class. The drawing included a gun, a bleeding human body and the words, "The thoughts won't stop. Help me." The parents were summoned to the school over the drawing, and went back to their jobs after a brief meeting in the counselor's office, promising to get him help within 48 hours. Their son went back to class. 'Never once did he stop at home?' Two hours later, at the moment his dad received his fourth DoorDash order from Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 12:51 p.m., the teenager emerged from a bathroom and fired his first shot. In rehashing the timeline of Nov. 30, 2021, the day of the massacre, Keast turned the jury's attention to the troubling drawing. "He drove past his house four times from the time he saw this," Keast said, referring to the drawing. "and never once did he stop at home?" "No, he did not," answered the prosecution's witness, former Oakland County Sheriff Detective Edward Wagrowski, who investigated the Crumbley family's actions before and after the shooting. Crumbley is facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter for buying his son the gun the teen used in the mass shooting at Oxford High and not disclosing that detail to school officials when given the opportunity. His trial comes one month after his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was convicted of the same charges and became the first parent in America to be held responsible for a mass school shooting commited by their child. The shooter, Ethan Crumbley, pleaded guilty to all his crimes and is serving life without parole. Slain in the rampage were: Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17. Oxford High School students Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Tate Myre, 16, at top, and Justin Shilling, 17, and Hana St. Juliana, 14, were killed in a school shooting on Nov. 30. The prosecution has portrayed James Crumbley as a careless and neglectful father who bought a troubled son a gun and failed to secure it, while the defense maintained that the father never saw any signs that his son was dangerous or mentally ill, and that he did not know of his son's plans to shoot up his school or that the teen had access to the gun. Friday's testimony opened with Crumbley's attorney Mariell Lehman cross-examining Wagrowski, who also evaluated text messages, phone calls and social media accounts of the Crumbley family. Lehman spent much of her time questioning the detective about what he did not know. Specifically, she got him to concede that he found no evidence that James Crumbley knew about the troubling texts his son was sending his friend late at night in the months before the shooting, when the boy alleged he was asking his parents in vain for help with mental health issues, including hearing voices. For example, Lehman asked him about a text the shooter sent his friend on April 4, 2021, which reads: "I actually asked my dad to take me to the doctor the other day, and he just gave me some pills and said to 'suck it up.' My mom laughed when i told her." On cross-examination, Wagrowski conceded that he does not know whether James Crumbley ever saw or knew about that text, and that he found no evidence that the boy actually did ask to go to the doctor other than him saying so in the text and that he does not know what kinds of pills to which the boy might have been referring. James Crumbley sits as defense attorney Mariell Lehman cross-examines investigator Ed Wagrowski on Friday. Lehman suggested it could be Tylenol, while Wagrowski suggested it could be Xanax, given other communications the parents had. But Lehman countered that a conversation involving Xanax was from a different time period and that the parents actually discussed giving him melatonin. Lehman also asked Wagrowski to explain how much he really knows about a video the shooter sent to his friend in the summer of 2021, in which the boy's hand is seen clicking a gun and loading a magazine into it. 'You don't know; that's my point' "You dont know if James is next to his son, across from his son," or if he was in the room or even heard anything when this happened, Lehman asserted. Wagrowski said he did not have that information, though he opined that in a house as small as the Crumbleys', that a clicking sound could have been heard. Investigator Ed Wagrowski looks over text messages while on the stand in the Oakland County courtroom, Friday, March 8, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. James Crumbley is on trial for involuntary manslaughter. He's accused of contributing to the tragedy at Oxford High School by failing to properly secure a gun used by son Ethan Crumbley. Four students were killed and more were wounded. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, Pool) "You don't know; that's my point," Lehman said. Lehman also asked Wagrowski about an Instagram post that the shooter made on the day his dad purchased the gun that he would use four days later in the massacre. The post reads: "Just got my new beauty." Lehman asked Wagrowski whether there is anything to show that James Crumbley saw this post. No, he answered. She also asked him about social media posts by his wife and son that included pictures of the two at a shooting range. "Theres nothing illegal or improper about taking your child to a shooting range, or posting photos of the target that you use," she said. No, the detective answered. Lehman also questioned him about perhaps the most damning evidence in the case: the troubling drawing the shooter made on his math worksheet on the morning of the shooting, the one that led to his parents being summoned to the school. "James obviously expressed some concern," Lehman said, referring to the text he sent his wife after first seeing that drawing that said: "my god, wtf." Lehman did not question the witness about what happened in the school counselor's meeting that day with the parents, as the detective said he didn't know details about that meeting. But she did address other actions of James Crumbley that day, noting that after an active-shooter alert went out, he drove to a Meijer parking lot, which was the reunification center for parents and kids, and called his son two times. He didn't know the boy was in custody already. James Crumbley also called his wife and then drove home and called 911. "In that 911 call he told the dispatcher that he saw and heard the sirens, he said that he went to the Meijer, that his son was a student, that he heard that there was a shooting, that he discovered that his son was missing, that he didnt know if his son took the gun, and that he was freaking out," Lehman said. "That is correct," Wagrowski said. Assistant principal brings Crumbley to tears 'He was a sweet kid' Jurors also heard from Kristy Gibson-Marshall, the assistant principal at Oxford High School who came into contact with the shooter during his rampage. According to her testimony, after the school went into lockdown, she ventured down a hallway toward the sound of gunfire and came upon the gunman. The shooter was coming close to me. As he got close, I saw that it was Ethan, Gibson-Marshall said, adding she was surprised as she had known him since middle school. He was a sweet kid. I asked if him if he was OK, she recalled. He looked away from me. Kristy Gibson-Marshall, assistant principal at Oxford H.S. testifies before Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald in the Oakland County courtroom Friday, March 8, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. James Crumbley is on trial for involuntary manslaughter. He's accused of contributing to the tragedy at Oxford High School by failing to properly secure a gun used by son Ethan Crumbley. Four students were killed and more were wounded. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, Pool) That also was unlike Ethan Crumbley, she said, adding: He would have talked to me. He kept walking. I walked with him for a couple of steps and then I turned my back on him because I had a student that I needed to check on. That student was Tate Myre, who was lying facedown near a trash can. He had been shot in the head, she said, but still had a pulse. His mom was my PTO president, Gibson-Marshall said while choking up. I began to give him rescue breaths I continued until they took him from me. Myre did not survive. During her testimony, James Crumbley became emotional, wiping tears from his eyes even after she left the stand. Gun store manager tells of Black Friday sale Jurors also heard from Cammy Back, office manager at Acme Shooting Goods in Oxford, where James Crumbley went on a Black Friday shopping trip with his son and bought a 9mm Sig Sauer, the gun that was used in the school massacre. Back testified that James Crumbley was a familiar face at the store and that he had purchased two guns there in June 2021. She said that when he came into the store, he had a young person with him and asked to see the Sig Sauer, telling her he "had had his eye on it. Gun shop office manager Cammy Back looks over the gun case held by Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast, that was sold with a handgun to James Crumbley, in the Oakland County courtroom Friday, March 8, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. Crumbley is on trial for involuntary manslaughter. He's accused of contributing to the tragedy at Oxford High School by failing to properly secure a gun used by son Ethan Crumbley. Four students were killed and more were wounded. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, Pool) Jurors saw a portion of a firearms transaction record, which showed James Crumbley checking the box indicating that he was the actual buyer of the gun. The record included a warning on bold: You are not the actual transferee/buyer if you are acquiring the firearm(s) on behalf of another person. If you are not the actual transferee/buyer, the licensee cannot transfer the firearm(s) to you. Back also testified that the Sig Sauer came in a plastic case that did not have a lock mechanism on it, but a cable lock was provided with the gun purchase. She also said she didnt see any conversations between James Crumbley and his son while they were at the store. On cross-examination, Lehman asked Back whether there is anything illegal about a dad going to a gun shop with his son, or a minor going to the shooting range with a parent. No, she answered. On redirect questioning, Keast asked the gun shop manager if James Crumbley's son had walked into the store that day and said " 'Hey Dad, that's the one I want,' would you have sold it to him?' " No, she answered. James Crumbley gets emotional after watching the video of his son walking through the halls of Oxford H.S. in a video shown in the Oakland County courtroom Friday, March 8, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. Crumbley is on trial for involuntary manslaughter. He's accused of contributing to the tragedy at Oxford High School by failing to properly secure a gun used by son Ethan Crumbley. Four students were killed and more were wounded. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, Pool) James Crumbley has maintained that the gun was not actually a gift and that it came with rules, such as the boy was only allowed to use it at the shooting range with a parent. Jurors also saw a video of James Crumbley explaining this to investigators in the hours after the shooting. "We go to the shooting range all the time," James Crumbley is heard saying in the video. "I try to teach him safety." Jurors see video of Crumbley sobbing The prosecution showed the jury a video of James and Jennifer Crumbley speaking with investigators at a sheriff's substation in the hours after the shooting. Jennifer Crumbley remarked that they had just been at the school that morning and said their son had never done anything bad. As James Crumbley started talking about how their son had been doodling on a test or a practice test, his wife interrupted and asked whether they should get a lawyer. James Crumbley told her: I think we can speak to the cops. They talked about meeting with the school counselor and Jennifer Crumbley said she texted her son that afternoon to see whether he was OK. He texted her back that he had just gotten back from lunch and that he loved her. Asked whether their son had any issues, James Crumbley told the investigators not that we know of, adding that his sons best friend was sent out of state over health concerns, that their dog had recently died and that James' mom had passed away earlier that year. James Crumbley could also be heard saying their son was the perfect kid and didnt get in trouble. He told investigators the gun had been hidden in their armoire, in a case, and the bullets were hidden in a different spot underneath jeans. After he learned there was an active shooter at the school and saw the cops, he said he immediately raced home, found the gun missing and called police. In a frame grab from video, James Crumbley, left, and his wife Jennifer Crumbley meet with their son Ethan Crumbley after the Oxford H.S. school shooting in an interiewed displayed in the Oakland County courtroom Friday, March 8, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. James Crumbley is on trial for involuntary manslaughter. He's accused of contributing to the tragedy at Oxford High School by failing to properly secure a gun used by son Ethan Crumbley. Four students were killed and more were wounded. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, Pool) Video also was shown of the couple being led into a room where their son was handcuffed to a wall. James Crumbley is sobbing, and tells his son repeatedly, "I love you," though the prosecutor suggested that the father was trying to cover up the sounds of his son, who was saying: "I did it." Testimony resumes Monday. Will the father testify? To date, there is no indication that James Crumbley will testify, as his wife did in her trial. In fact, his lawyer asked nearly every prospective juror whether they thought they needed to hear from James Crumbley, and whether they would hold it against him if he didn't take the stand. All said they understand the presumption of innocence and would not hold it against James Crumbley if he exercises his right to remain silent. Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com Contact Gina Kaufman: gkaufman@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @ReporterGina. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How James Crumbley's DoorDash runs haunt him in Oxford shooting trial CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) Students from James Monroe High School traveled to the State Capitol to represent Monroe County at the annual West Virginia Womens and Girls Day. 2024 West Virginia Bridge Design and Build contest finalists includes teams from local schools On March 5, 2024, the James Monroe High School students joined more than 100 other women from the Mountain State on a day that focused on womens issues in West Virginia. The event, with the theme, Girls who dream become women with vision, was sponsored by the West Virginia Womens Commission. The students who traveled to the State Capitol for the event were Katherine Viars, Danni Dunbar, Madison Noonkester, Billie Dicken, and Clara Snedegar. They got to meet Secretary of State Mac Warner and Delegate Roy Cooper, as well as observe debate in the House of Delegates. Later that afternoon, the students got to listen to speakers that included Miss West Virginia USA Neveah Harmon and Miss Black West Virginia Dwedee Kobbah. Afterwards they took part in a discussion seminar about important topics for girls and women. Concord University enters MOU agreement with Level-Up Program for high school students The James Monroe High School students were spokespersons and moderators for three out of four breakout groups, which showed the students leadership abilities. Some of the discussion topics resulted in animated conversation, one of the conversation topics included the pink tax where items aimed towards women are often priced higher than similar but cheaper products that are aimed for men. Other discussions between the groups included issues such as school dress codes, effective communication, women being drafted into the military during war, the small percentage of women being elected officials serving over 100 years after earning the right to vote, and the prices and availability of feminine hygiene products. The participating groups agreed that there were various ways to address these issues, such as getting involved in politics by running for office, organizing, and voting. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Burn 'Em Brewing recently moved to a new home in Michigan City near Blue Chip Casino. The new location will include a restaurant, event space and nearly two dozen taps. Although work is still underway to get the kitchen up and running at the new home of Burn Em Brewing in Michigan City, the business already has shown the ability to pack visitors into its taproom. The new brewpub officially opened Feb. 23 to a packed house after a massive multi-million dollar renovation to a building at 1215 E. Second St. that was most recently being used as warehouse space. Just beyond Blue Chip Casino on what becomes U.S. 12 heading up the Lake Michigan shoreline, the locally owned brewery has visibility that its never enjoyed before, having operated in an out-of-the-way location at 718 Freyer Road, Michigan City, since 2015. Market Basket: Still going strong. UP Mall gets ready to mark 45th anniversary. Founded only in 2013 by a group of high school friends, Burn Em grew slowly by mostly selling its kegs to restaurants and bars in the region before it was able to open its own tiny tap room on Freyer. With continuing success, the group of friends operating partners Steve and Blake Murray, Danny Moser and Howie Wiesjahn, as well as some silent investors took another step forward by opening Bare Bones, a gastropub at 518 Lincolnway Highway in downtown LaPorte, in December 2019. There are plenty of taps at the new Burn 'Em in Michigan City Even with the pandemic just around the corner, Bare Bones managed to thrive, giving the group a chance to start thinking about their next big step a jump to a large new location for Burn Em and in a visible location. Boldly painted in black inside and out, the new Burn Em location has a sleek modern feel with plenty of windows to allow for natural light, even on the gloomiest of winter days. Though not fully completed, there also will be outdoor patio space. The walls of the taproom are decorated with the comical skeletal figures that also are used on Burn Em's beer labels. Theres also a variety of skulls including one real one that was donated by a customer decorating shelves and other horizontal surfaces. Blake Murray shows off the event space at Burn 'Em Brewing, which recently relocated to a more visible location near Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City. Were likely going to be adding some more art down the road, says Blake Murray, executive chef at Bare Bones who will also oversee the kitchen at the new Burn Em location. Story continues Though the taproom is operational, it could be a couple of weeks before the kitchen at Burn Em is completed and likely a few months before brewing operations are moved from the Freyer Road location to the new spot. Equipped with 21 taps, the new location will allow Burn Em to offer customers a greater assortment of its offerings as well as some hard ciders. Wine is also available, and it eventually hopes to get a three-way license to allow for mixed drinks. Burn 'Em Brewing in Michigan City has a sleek modern interior. Were thinking about getting into liquor distillation in the future, Blake says while providing a tour of the space than provides a far bigger palette than Burn Em has ever had before. Still in the process of ramping up hiring for its front-of-house, kitchen and brewing operations, Blake figures the menu at the new Burn Em location will include a host of appetizers, sandwiches and entrees with a Southern-comfort twist. It will be a little more casual than Bare Bones, he says of the menu that hes already been testing as specials at the LaPorte restaurant. Bare Bones Gastropub has been testing menu items that could show up on the menu at Burn 'Em Brewing in Michigan City in the coming weeks. The gastropub is a sister business owned by the Burn 'Em partners. This is an andouille cornbread jalapeno bread pudding with hollandaise and sunny side farm fresh egg. Expect prices to range from $10 to $15 for sandwiches and appetizers and up to about $30 for entrees. Currently, Burn Em is open from noon to 9 p.m. Central on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and from 2 to 9 p.m. Central on Mondays and Thursdays. Of course, those hours will be expanded as the weather improves and Burn Em continues to grow its staff. In all, the business expects to eventually add about 50 because of the expansion, Blake says. Bare Bones Gastropub has been testing menu items that could show up on the menu at Burn 'Em Brewing in Michigan City in the coming weeks. The gastropub is a sister business owned by the Burn 'Em partners. And besides the expansion of hours and the possibility of distillation down the road, Burn Em is also looking for additional growth opportunities through catering and by hosting special events. Our goal has been to seek growth without messing with the vibe that we had at Freyer Road, Blake says of the brewery that always had the feel of a place operated by friends who just-so-happened to make high-demand craft beers. Comical skeletons are used on the labels at Burn 'Em Brewing. With Shoreline Brewing and Zorn Brew Works also occupying Michigan City, expect the new Burn Em brewpub to add to the appeal of the city, which already has Lake Michigan, outlet shopping, a casino and soon-to-come speedier train service to and from Chicago. It was a good time to move to a more visible location. Have you heard Elkhart County Restaurant Weeks will run from March 15 through March 30. More than 20 eateries in Elkhart, Goshen, Nappanee, Middlebury, Wakarusa and other locations will offer special deals and highlight menu favorites. Visit TasteElkhartCounty.com to get menus of each participating restaurant, searchable by location. Diners can also sign up for the Restaurant Weeks mobile passport and check in at each restaurant they visit. Each check-in at a unique restaurant represents an entry for a drawing for a $100 gift card to the participating restaurant of their choice. Nearly two years after approval, the new Saltgrass Steakhouse is scheduled to open later this month at 5126 N. Main St., Mishawaka, between Portillos and Raising Canes. The new restaurant will be the chains first in Indiana. Email Market Basket columnist Ed Semmler at esemmler@sbtinfo.com. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: New Burn 'Em brewpub provides another reason to visit Michigan City WASHINGTON A man arrested on Thursday in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol assaulted law enforcement officers with a Donald Trump flag while holding a "stop the steal" sign, according to an FBI affidavit. The case, along with several more arrests this week, once again underlines the motivation of the violent pro-Trump mob that attacked officers and tried to stop the peaceful transfer of power, even as Trump supporters continue to spread conspiracy theories baselessly blaming left-wing activists and federal agents. Lance Ligocki, who had been nicknamed Full Flag Suit" by online sleuths because of the stars and stripes he wore that day, was arrested in Illinois on Thursday, according to court records. He faces felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers as well as obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, and other misdemeanor charges. NBC News has reached out to a federal public defender who represented Ligocki during his initial appearance in federal court in Illinois. Lance Ligocki, dressed in an outfit depicting the U.S. flag, at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (USDCDC) Ligocki, according to an FBI affidavit, "was observed approaching the Lower West Terrace entryway of the Capitol building and swinging a pole with a 'Trump' flag at law enforcement officers three times while carrying a 'Stop the Steal' sign." The FBI obtained a search warrant for Ligocki's Facebook account and obtained numerous images and a video confirming his "attendance at and participation in protest events at and near the U.S. Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021, as well as his distinctive apparel from that day." Lance Ligocki on Jan. 6. 2021. (USDCDC) One of the images cited by the FBI shows Ligocki posing at Peace Circle, where rioters first breached the restricted grounds of the U.S Capitol, and another features him posing in front of the inauguration platform. In messages, according to the FBI, Ligocki described Jan. 6 as "awesome" and said they "did breech the capital," misspelling both "breach" and "Capitol." He also called Trump "a lone Wolf" and then-Vice President Mike Pence "a snake." Everyone I seen is ready to fight," Ligocki wrote, according to the FBI. "No one wants to talk anymore. I see a civil war of some sort coming." At the time of his arrest on Thursday, Ligocki's Facebook page featured a photo of him wearing a comically oversized "Make America Great Again" hat, wearing a Trump shirt, and standing in front of a truck featuring six large Trump flags as well as a flag expressing, in vulgar terms, his disagreement with President Joe Biden. The FBI affidavit features another image from his Facebook page, in which Ligocki is sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle while holding a miniature Trump statue and wearing a hat with "TRUMP" written in black on the underside of the brim of an American flag hat. Ligocki appears to have worn the same hat to the Capitol on Jan. 6. Lance Ligocki holds a statue while sitting in a car. (USDCDC) Hours after Ligocki's arrest, President Joe Biden said during his State of the Union address that Trump and some of his supporters in Congress wanted to continue to obfuscate what happened on Jan. 6. My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6," Biden said. "I will not do that. This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here's the simple truth: You can't love your country only when you win." More than 1,300 people have been arrested in connection with the Capitol attack, and more than half a dozen arrests took place on Thursday alone. Donald Moss and James Behymer of Indiana were arrested on felony charges, accused of assaulting officers near the lower west terrace on Jan. 6. Indiana resident Annie Vo, whose son Antony Vo was convicted at trial last year and is set to be sentenced on April 10, was arrested on misdemeanor charges. Richard Staples was arrested in Alaska, with authorities saying he climbed through a broken window on Jan. 6. Ivan Todd, a Florida man, was also arrested on Jan. 6 charges. Charges were also unsealed against Jan. 6 defendants Jennifer Mitchell, John Flanagan, Sarah Flanagan and Jason Griffin, the latter of whom allegedly confessed to the FBI that he recalled being hit by pepper balls and tear gas and hearing law enforcement tell the mob to disperse before he and others breached the Capitol. David Kuntz, an Indiana militia member who went by the name "Reaper," was also arrested Thursday and charged with the felony offense of obstruction of an official proceeding, with federal authorities saying Kuntz was wearing a black tactical vest when he called out "f--- the police!" as rioters stormed into the Capitol. Court documents indicated that Kuntz originally planned to make "a big stand" on inauguration day, telling supporters they were "going fully armed" and that they should "be ready to not go home if something goes down." After Trump's infamous "will be wild" tweet on Dec. 19, 2020, inviting people to Washington for the Electoral College count, Kuntz shifted his focus to Jan. 6. Earlier this week, on Wednesday, federal authorities in California arrested Kayla Reifschneider, a 27-year-old California woman who accompanied the rioter who drove a stun gun into Officer Michael Fanone's neck on Jan. 6 on their trip to Washington. Reifschneider was in the "PATRIOTS45 MAGA Gang" group along with that rioter, Daniel "D.J" Rodriguez, as well as Ed Badalian, a Jan. 6 rioter who said at his sentencing that he was "frustrated that officers "did not join us in arresting the traitors" on Jan. 6. Several Jan. 6 defendants pleaded guilty this week, including rioters nicknamed "Shield Grampy" and Conan ORiot." Curtis Tate, a rioter arrested in August, admitted to assaulting officers with a metal baton on Jan. 6, and Marcus Martin admitted to assaulting an officer by pushing his body onto an officer and using his body weight to pin the officer to the ground near his head. Federal prosecutors have secured more than 950 convictions of Jan. 6 defendants, and about 500 defendants have been sentenced to periods of incarceration that have ranged from just a few days to 22 years in federal prison. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A United Airlines jet traveling from San Francisco to Osaka, Japan, made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday after losing a tire during takeoff. UA 35, which was carrying 235 passengers, 10 flight attendants and 4 pilots, departed SFO at 11:23 a.m. KTLA sister station KRON4 obtained footage of the tire coming off the aircrafts left landing gear and falling into a parking lot used by airport employees. Several vehicles were damaged, according to KRON4. Video recorded by Cali Planes shows a tire falling off a United Airlines Boeing 777 during takeoff in San Francisco. March 7, 2024. (Cali Planes) United Flight 35, a Boeing 777, makes an emergency landing at LAX after losing a tire. March 7, 2024. (KTLA) United Flight 35, a Boeing 777, makes an emergency landing at LAX after losing a tire. March 7, 2024. (KTLA) United Flight 35, a Boeing 777, makes an emergency landing at LAX after losing a tire. March 7, 2024. (KTLA) United Flight 35, a Boeing 777, makes an emergency landing at LAX after losing a tire. March 7, 2024. (KTLA) United Flight 35, a Boeing 777, makes an emergency landing at LAX after losing a tire. March 7, 2024. (KTLA) An airport spokesperson said a runway at SFO was briefly closed to remove debris and reopened shortly after. The flight was diverted to LAX, where Sky5 helicopter footage showed the Boeing 777 landing without incident at 1:27 p.m. and being immediately surrounded by emergency crews. We are arranging for a new aircraft to continue this trip for our customers, a United Airlines spokesperson told KRON 4. Plane loses tire Boeing 777s have 14 tires, including 12 on its main landing gear struts, and are designed to land safely with missing or damaged tires, a United Airlines spokesperson said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Under laws in place in Japan since the 19th century, married couples must choose the husband's or the wife's name (Charly TRIBALLEAU) Six couples sued the Japanese government on Friday seeking the right to use different surnames after marriage, filing the case to coincide with International Women's Day. Under laws in place since the 19th century, married couples must choose the husband's or the wife's name, and about 95 percent take the man's, according to the plantiffs' lawyers. Apart from the bureaucratic headache of having to change names on everything from passports to bank accounts, this creates problems for women with established careers, campaigners say. And if couples don't marry this affects a host of rights including those surrounding children, inheritance and tax. One of the plaintiffs, a 50-year-old who declined to be named, said she and her partner have lived together for 17 years and have brought up a teenage daughter, but without marrying. "Both of us hated the idea of changing our surnames but didn't force the other to change name," the woman told reporters. "But the fact that we are not legally a married couple -- even though we've lived together as a family for 17 years -- could cause problems such as being unable to become a legal heir, or being unable to provide consent for a surgery, or tax law-related disadvantages," she said. Other plaintiffs, Yukio Koike, 66, and his partner Yukari Uchiyama, 56, got married every time their three children were born in order to have joint custody rights -- and then divorced. It is "because we want to respect the personality of each other," Koike said. "I've never thought of erasing my name in my life." Five of the couples filed their case at the Tokyo District Court and the sixth in Sapporo in northern Japan. The suit seeks "confirmation of illegality of the government's failure to amend the law" and compensation of 500,000 yen ($3,400) per plaintiff, according to a statement. "In countries outside Japan, surname and marriage... are not in a trade-off relationship. But in Japan, if you choose one you have to give up the other," lead lawyer Makiko Terahara told reporters. Japan's Supreme Court has twice, in 2015 and in 2021, ruled that the current law is constitutional but it also urged lawmakers to discuss a bill addressing growing calls for flexibility. Calls to allow separate surnames have been growing in recent years. Last month, Masakazu Tokura, head of Japan's most influential business lobby Keidanren, said the group supports introduction of the option when getting married. Backers of the current laws say having a single family name is important to promote family ties and that efforts to change the rules are an attack on traditional values. kh/stu/sco Male workers at a Japanese telecommunication firm have been given the rare opportunity to experience simulated menstrual pain. The pain was generated through a perionoid device that sent electric signals via pads placed in the lower abdominal region, to induce the cramping sensation experienced by women during their period. It hurts. Oh my goodness! 26-year-old Exeo employee Masaya Shibasaki exclaims in a video of the experiment, as he winces in pain. I cant stand straight, says another employee, as he laughs nervously, holding his abdomen. The device was jointly developed by researchers at Nara Womens University and start-up Osaka Heat Cool. I couldnt move. It hurt to the point where I couldnt stand, Mr Shibasaki said afterwards. I now understand women have to work while fighting this pain every month. Its actually amazing how women can do that. I really respect them. Exeo said it wants to create an environment where its more than 90 per cent male workforce can be more supportive of female peers, including when it comes to taking menstrual leave. "We hope those who experienced [menstrual pain] today go back to their workplace and speak about how they felt, and spread their understanding," said Exeo public relations officer Maki Ogura. Companies in Japan are legally required to allow women to take menstrual leave. However, there is no requirement for the time off to be paid and surveys showed around half of female workers never take it. About 44 per cent of women in Japan do not take any time off during their period even when they are in serious pain, according to a survey by Tokyo consulting firm Deloitte Tohmatsu Group. At least 5,000 people participated in the survey that was conducted in 10 countries from October 2022 to January 2023. According to the results, 35 per cent of the respondents in Japan with health problems related to menopause stated they continue to work without time off no matter the pain or symptoms. Its not enough for menopausal and period pain leave to just exist as a system. Companies need to improve the workplace environment and culture at the same time as introducing it, Deloittes diversity, equity and inclusion manager Yumi Takahata said. Akira Toriyama, the Japanese manga artist who created the enormously popular and influential Dragon Ball series, died of a brain condition last week at the age of 68, his production studio said Friday. Toriyama was the mind behind the fantasy martial arts franchise featuring Son Goku, a boy from outer space with superhuman strength and a monkey tail who embarks on a quest for the seven dragon balls. The Dragon Ball universe remains one of Japans most successful global hits, captivating the hearts of many manga-loving teens and adults from around the world since its debut in the 1980s. Toriyamas death was announced on Friday by Dragon Balls official website in a shared statement from Bird Studio and Capsule Corporation Tokyo. Its our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm, it said. He would have many more things to achieve. However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world, it added, thanking fans for their support on Toriyamas behalf. The artist died of acute subdural hematoma, a form of brain bleeding, the statement said. Born on April 5, 1955 in Kiyosu City, Aichi prefecture, Toriyama began drawing manga at the age of 23. He made his debut as a cartoonist in 1978 by submitting a short story to manga fans magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. A Dragon Ball Z graphic seen at the NiceOne Barcelona Gaming & Digital Experiences Festival in 2019. - Paco Freire/Sipa/AP His Dragon Ball series went on to be featured in the same magazine in 1984 and was front and center of a creative career that spanned more than four decades. The franchise is based on classic Chinese novel Journey to the West and has since been adapted into into anime and the 2009 Hollywood action movie Dragon Ball Evolution. As Son Goku sets off for his quest in search of the seven dragon balls, he fights off villains along the way and protects the Earth. As he ages, the storyline shifts to his descendants and friends. The dragon balls, when collected, can summon Shen Long, a divine dragon that can grant any wish. Son Goku often ended up spending the wishes on his friends or restoring a heavily destructed Earth in the series centered on courage, friendship and kinship. Prominent Japanese author and game designer Yuji Horii, a longtime friend of Toriyama, said they worked on the popular game Dragon Quest together. I cant believe hes gone, he wrote on social media platform X. Eiichiro Oda, creator of manga series One Piece, said the thought of never seeing his friend Toriyama again fills me with sadness. Toriyama took the baton from the era when reading manga would make you stupid, and created an era where both adults and children read and enjoy manga. He showed us the dream that manga can do things like this and that we can go to the world, Oda said on the Shonen Jump website. Many fans also paid tribute to the manga heavyweight online. Dragon Ball was my textbook for life. It taught me that I could overcome any hardship if I worked on it cheerfully and with enjoyment, one fan wrote on X. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An active duty U.S. Army sergeant was indicted Thursday on allegations he sold sensitive military documents regarding the U.S. defense of Taiwan to someone in Hong Kong, the Department of Justice announced. Korbein Schultz now faces federal charges of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, conspiracy to export technical data related to defense articles without a license, bribery, and more. Schultz, of the 506th Infantry Battalion, is said to have amassed $42,000 in payments from an unnamed person. In return, prosecutors said he sent sensitive documents pertaining to U.S. weapons systems and missile defense systems in Taiwan, among other things. Ex-Army Officer Charged for Sharing Classified Secrets on Dating Site Charging documents said Schultz texted his handler he wished he could be Jason Bourne, referencing the fictional action character. A month later, the indictment alleged Schultz told the unnamed man he was considering moving to Hong Kong and working for you in person. The DOJ never specified China was the receiver of the sensitive information, but said many of the leaked documents pertained to the country. Prosecutors wrote that documents were first leaked by Schultz in June 2022, when he began messaging via encrypted messaging applications with the unidentified person. Schultz was instructed to prioritize passing along original and exclusive documents to his handler. Today, Sgt. Korbein Schultz was arrested for conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, export of technical data related to defense articles without a license, conspiracy to export defense articles without a license, and bribery of a public official. pic.twitter.com/WAPXLLVYeg Army Counterintelligence Command (ACIC) (@Real_ArmyCI) March 7, 2024 In addition to classified information regarding Taiwan and China, charging documents said the unnamed individual requested information related to Russia, Ukraine, and the operability of sensitive U.S. military systems and their capabilities. Henry C. Leventis, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, grilled Schultz on Thursday, saying he placed his own financial benefit over the security of his country. He traded our national defense information for cash, he said in a press conference. Pentagon Leaker Takes 16-Year Prison Sentence in Plea Deal Prosecutors said Schultz was drawn into the scheme, in part, by using his love for racing. On May 20 of last year, a conspirator told Schultz that he would like to meet him at a Formula 1 race overseas and promised him big signing bonus if he kept leaking documents. Schultz allegedly responded, Oh snap! The arrest of Schultz on Thursday comes just days after a civilian U.S. Air Force employee in Nebraska was arrested on accusations he shared classified information on a foreign dating website with someone who claimed to be a Ukrainian woman. Also this week, the infamous Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira struck a plea deal that will send him to a federal prison for 16 years for sharing classified military documents on Discord. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The head of the House Democrats had some choice words Friday for those Republicans accusing President Biden of delivering an overly political State of the Union speech the night before. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) noted that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) attended the speech wearing a red Make America Great Again hat the campaign slogan for former President Trump while heckling Biden midspeech about border security. Jeffries also pointed out the surprise appearance of former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) on the floor during Bidens speech. The Long Island Republican was expelled from Congress in December and faces almost two dozen criminal charges over a long series of ethics and campaign finance allegations, but he announced Thursday night that he intends to run for reelection in another district held by GOP Rep. Nick LaLota (N.Y.). Given those breaches of decorum and House rules, Jeffries said, Republicans have no standing to chide others about flouting etiquette. That was an embarrassment last night. A complete embarrassment, Jeffries said Friday morning during a press briefing in the Capitol. Marjorie Taylor Greene, whos basically running the Republican conference, shows up in campaign paraphernalia, and then these people want to lecture Joe Biden because he delivered a strong and forceful speech that made them uncomfortable because he exposed their lies and shamelessness? Jeffries continued. We have one message for extreme MAGA Republicans who want to lecture us about decorum: Get lost; youre a joke. Exhibit A: Marjorie Taylor Greene. Exhibit B: George Santos. Biden used his 68-minute speech Thursday night to promote the legislative achievements of his first term and make the case to voters that he deserves a second. But he also took numerous shots at his predecessor in the Oval Office, warning that Trumps return to the White House would threaten democracy both at home and abroad. My predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin, Do whatever the hell you want. Thats a quote. A former President actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader, Biden said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. I think its outrageous, its dangerous, and its unacceptable. Republicans quickly accused Biden of abusing the annual tradition to deliver attacks on Trump and Republicans a message they characterized as more stump speech than State of the Union. I was expecting President Biden to use tonights State of the Union address to find common ground and inspire a shared vision for America. Instead, the president delivered a divisive campaign speech, said Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), vice chair of the House GOP conference. Yet some Republicans used the event to send campaign messages of their own. Greene, a conservative firebrand and staunch Trump supporter, was the most obvious figure, sporting a red MAGA hat and pressing Biden to take a stronger stand on border security. Even before the speech began, Greene confronted Biden as he walked toward the House dais, handing him a button advocating for Laken Riley a Georgia nursing student allegedly killed by an undocumented immigrant and urging the president to say her name during the speech. When Biden addressed border security without mentioning Riley, Greene shouted from the audience for the president to do so. Biden responded by holding up Greenes pin and addressing the issue. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, he said. To her parents, I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself. I understand. Greenes outburst, among others throughout the speech, defied a plea from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who had urged the members of his conference beforehand to refrain from any such eruptions. Afterward, however, Johnson defended the GOP hecklers, saying their confrontations were justified given Bidens overly partisan speech. Santoss appearance perhaps was even more extraordinary, given his unpopularity not only in the eyes of Democrats, but also his Republican colleagues particularly those from his home state who had led the effort to expel him. The guys a moron. He shouldnt be here, Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) said after the speech. Jeffries sought to portray Greene and Santos as emblematic of what the broader Republican Party now stands for in the Trump era. Their antics on Thursday, he said, highlight that shift and offer voters a clear choice in Novembers elections. Its kind of an extraordinary thing that this guy wont go away. But its indicative of the reality that theres a clear choice in terms of what the American people face, between Democrats and Republicans, he said. Team normal versus team chaos. Team reasonable versus team dysfunction. And team get-stuff-done versus team extreme. Team Biden versus team Marjorie Taylor Greene and George Santos. And thats a clear choice for the American people. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Joe Biden confirmed a new US mission to deliver aid to Gaza and repeatedly took aim at Donald Trump in his State of the Union address on Thursday, offering a pointed preview of the general election in November. Related: George Santos attends State of the Union and announces another run for Congress Bidens most significant announcement came toward the end of his roughly hour-long speech, when he confirmed that the US military would establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaza capable of receiving large shipments of water, food and medicine. Biden pledged the mission will not involve deploying American troops on the ground and would facilitate a significant infusion of supplies into Gaza. While reiterating his belief in Israels right to defend itself against Hamas, Biden condemned the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. To Israel, I say this: humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be priority, Biden said. As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time. The overall tone of Bidens speech, which marked his last State of the Union address before November, was strikingly combative, while hopeful. Biden repeatedly invoked Trump by derisively referring to my predecessor as he criticized the former presidents views on everything from foreign policy to immigration reform. Opening his remarks with a robust defense of US allies abroad, Biden called on Congress to approve more funding for Ukraine amid its war against Russia and condemned Trumps recent comments about Nato. Biden compared this moment to 1941, when the US stood on the precipice of entering the second world war, and he repeatedly reminded Americans that history is watching how the nation will react to the crises unfolding around the world. As he reflected on the deadly violence seen at the Capitol on January 6, Biden warned that democracy faces a fundamental threat. Not since President Lincoln and the civil war have our freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today, Biden said. What makes our moment rare is freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time. Biden then accused Trump of bowing down to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, after the former president said he would allow Russia to do whatever the hell they want to Nato nations that fail to make sufficient financial contributions to the alliance. Its dangerous and its unacceptable, Biden said. My message to President Putin, who Ive known for a long time, is simple. We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down. Republican members of Congress, who were seated in the House chamber as Biden delivered his remarks, occasionally lashed out against the criticism of Trump. Early in his speech, Biden said: My predecessor failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to the American people: the duty to care. I think thats unforgivable. One unidentified member of Congress responded to the remark by yelling: Lies! Biden later directly engaged with Republican members on the issue of immigration, attacking them over blocking the bipartisan border and national security deal that stalled in the Senate last month. As Biden blamed Trump for impeding the bills passage by instructing members to oppose it, Republicans began yelling at him. In a tense moment, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a hard-right Republican of Georgia, implored Biden to say the name of Laken Riley, a Georgia college student who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant. Greene had handed Biden a button bearing Rileys name as he walked into the chamber, and the president held the button up as he said her name, although he appeared to mispronounce her first name. Biden then expressed his condolences to Rileys parents and emphasized the need to change the dynamic at the border, saying: I would respectfully suggest my Republican friends owe it to the American people [to] get this bill done. We need to act now. Even as he clashed with Republicans, Biden made a point to paint a vision of his potential second term. He noted that one of first lady Jill Bidens guests at the State of the Union address was Kate Cox, a Texas woman who was forced to flee her home state after courts rejected her pleas to access abortion care. If you, the American people, send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you: I will restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land again, Biden said to loud applause from Democratic lawmakers in the chamber. Biden went on to outline other campaign promises including protecting social security and Medicare, banning assault weapons and capping the cost of prescription drugs. Faced with an underwater approval rating and widespread concerns over his age of 81, Biden did not waste the opportunity to contrast his vision for the country with that of Trump. I may not look like it, but Ive been around a while, Biden said, prompting laughter from the audience. My fellow Americans the issue facing our nation isnt how old we are, its how old are our ideas? Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are the oldest of ideas. But you cant lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back. To lead America, the land of possibilities, you need a vision for the future and what can and should be done. Tonight youve heard mine. As America braces for a long general election season that is expected to be bitterly fought and closely contested, Biden has eight months to sell voters on that vision. WASHINGTON He never mentioned Donald Trump by name. But President Joe Biden was quick to go after his predecessor and the last administration Thursday during the State of the Union address, hammering Trump on everything from Russia policy to abortion, taxes and the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol. Bidens trolling of Trump during an address that lasted more than an hour, and the former president's snarky rebuttals on his social media platform Truth Social, gave Americans a preview of what they can expect in the coming months as the two rivals gear up for a bitter, divisive rematch. The split screen served as the opening salvo of the general election after Trump clinched the nomination this week when Nikki Haley dropped out of the race. Brace yourself: Raucous State of the Union launches a brutal Biden-Trump campaign President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Thursday. Both men were eager to go after each other. Trump started jabbing Biden hours before he entered the House chamber, where he delivered his speech. Trump complained about Biden being late when the event didnt start on time and kept up his Play by Play throughout much of the speech. Biden opened his remarks by talking about supporting Ukraines defense from Russias invasion and blasted Trump three minutes into the speech for his recent comments about NATO. Biden mentioned Trump more than a dozen times in his remarks. Trump posted dozens of times on Truth Social throughout the address. My predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin quote do whatever the hell you want... bowing down to a Russian leader, Biden said. I think its outrageous, its dangerous, and its unacceptable. Trump responded minutes later with a trio of Truth Social posts about Putin and NATO. NATO only became strong, because of ME, I got the NATO Nations to pay up, Trump wrote. They were almost all delinquent. The United States was paying for them all! A rematch nobody wanted: Big differences define Biden vs. Trump in 2024 Biden also said his predecessor was trying to bury the truth about Jan. 6 when a mob of Trump supporters tried to stop Congress from certifying the result of the 2020 election in which Biden defeated Trump. That prompted Trump to defend the Jan. 6 participants. The so-called Insurrectionists that he talks about had no guns, they only had a Rigged Election, Trump wrote, repeating his unfounded claims about the election. While Trump responded to many of Bidens policy critiques, he also criticized Biden in more personal terms, talking about his hair, the president sounding angry and his COUGHING - ALWAYS THE COUGHING! TOPSHOT - (COMBO) This combination of pictures created on October 22, 2020 shows US President Donald Trump (L) and Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden during the final presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 22, 2020. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski and JIM WATSON / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIJIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) The State of the Union was being closely watched to see if Biden could answer concerns about his age. I know I may not look like it but Ive been around awhile, Biden joked at one point, addressing the age issue head-on. Biden tried to project energy throughout, in part, by contrasting his approach to the world with Trumps. At one point he talked about getting tough with Putin, saying his message to the Russian president is simple. We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down, Biden said, shouting over applause. With Bidens performance widely seen as energetic, Trump and his allies turned to complaining that it was over the top. A Trump spokeswoman posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Biden was screaming. THIS IS LIKE A SHOUTING MATCH, EVERY LINE IS BEING SHOUTED, Trump wrote in all capital letters, the online version of shouting. Bidens eagerness to criticize Trump and the former presidents steady stream of responses made for one of the more partisan State of the Union speeches in memory. Both men said the stakes are high this election cycle and that democracy is under attack. Trump declared that Biden is A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY!" Jan. 6 and the lies about the 2020 election, and the plots to steal the election, posed the gravest threat to our democracy since the Civil War, Biden said. 2024 election: How New Hampshire exposed Trump's vulnerabilities and Biden's path to beat him This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden, Trump troll each other during State of Union On Thursday evening, President Joe Biden delivered the final State of the Union address of his first term, and he used the occasion to administer what could only be read as a pointed rebuke to the Supreme Court justicesassembled in all their black-robed glory, sitting stone-faced in front of him. Biden said plainly that the upcoming election will see payback for the courts reversal of Roe v. Wade, paraphrasing Dobbs claim that women are not without electoral or political power. (Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote that line, did not attend the speech because hes still all in his sad feelings about another presidential rebuke from years earlier.) Then, looking straight at the justices, the president declared: Youre about to realize just how much you got right about that. On Saturdays episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discuss the remark and the reaction it engendered. Below is a preview of their conversation, which has been condensed and edited for clarity. To read this excerpt, and to listen to the full episode of Amicus on Saturday, join Slate Plus. Dahlia Lithwick: It was hard to see Biden dunking on the justices and not think of President Obama, after Citizens United, dunking on the justices to their facesto which Alito mouthed not true, and after which he stopped attending the State of the Union. Mark Joseph Stern: After that episode, there was a pause in sharp criticism of the Supreme Court, to their faces, at the State of Union address, at least under Democratic presidents. Maybe in part because, you know, the justices are there. They dont have to be. They show up. Chief Justice John Roberts begs four or five of his colleagues to join every year as a show of nonpartisanship, showing that theyre part of a unified American government when all three branches come together. I think theres a temptation among Democratic presidents to use kid gloves or not directly criticize them at all. That was obviously not the approach Joe Biden took. He decided to criticize them to their faces. And I really appreciated when he did that dunk and the camera panned to the justices. It looked like Biden was talking directly to Brett Kavanaugh, and Kavanaughs face was just ashen and pale, like he did not know how to respond. Im sure he was boiling with fury, but he just stayed completely silent like a statue. It was very satisfying for those of us who have seen the horrific consequences of the Supreme Courts work to watch the justices actually be confronted with those consequences, with the reality theyve unleashed, which theyre mostly able to stay completely insulated from. I couldnt take my eyes off Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, who sat there for the presidents slam, which was in effect the embodiment of the dissent in Dobbs: This is the court disgracing itself in the eyes of the public. But they, too, have to sit there and just poker-face their way through it. In some sense, it felt like their concurrence this week in Anderson, right? Where you have justices who are trying not to say I told you so, but theyre just holding their faces completely still. This is the president saying: You told us, Justice Alito, in your majority opinion in Dobbs, that if women dont like this, they should do something about it. And I am looking in your faces and saying, in this body of your elected representatives, that women should probably do something about it. Biden is also saying that women have done something about it. The country has done something about it. We are seeing these extraordinary electoral victories. He said: When reproductive freedom was on the ballot, we won in 2022 and 2023, and we will win against in 2024. And then he promised to restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land if he gets a trifecta in November. Some of that is standard rhetoric coming from him, but it takes on an entirely different hue when it is in front of the justices who overturned Roe, at least a few of them. Alito, who wrote that line about how women are not without electoral or political power, probably did not foresee the absolutely crushing backlash to Dobbs that has led to a historic reaffirmation of abortion rights in ruby-red states like Kansas and red-leaning states like Ohio, that has made abortion more accessible and more legally protected. And in a number of purple states like Minnesota and Michigan, and also blue states like New York and Maryland, which have taken a look at their abortion laws and decided to ensure that they are as robust and progressive as possible. We now have these telemedicine shield laws that are allowing providers in New York to mail medication abortion to patients in red states where its banned. That, of course, is something Donald Trump will prosecute if he is elected in 2024. He will try to put those providers in prison, and possibly the women as well. Biden didnt get into that. He probably didnt have time or space. But it really felt like, maybe for the first time, the first since Dobbs, that Biden fully and completely embraced abortion as the winning issueas the signature issue of his presidency in some ways. It felt like he finally got it. Which is a little ironic because the draft of the speech that was sent to the press used the word abortion. But when it came time for Biden to say that line, he couldnt bring himself to use the word abortion; that word did not appear in the speech. Hes still an 81-year-old devout Catholic. He still cant quite get himself to say that word in front of Congress, but his heart is in the fight, and thats what I think the party needed to see. I think theres something powerful in the symbolism of retired Justice Anthony Kennedy sitting there, also Catholic, also does not like or approve of abortion. And yet, but for his replacement with Brett Kavanaugh, we would not be in this boat. So I actually think theres something pretty powerful about these two menwho have dragged themselves, despite their predilections and preferences and sometimes inability to say the word abortion, to protect it nonetheless, in the interest of dignity and equalityto be sitting in the same room looking eye to eye. Key Insights The projected fair value for Supergenics Berhad is RM0.52 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of RM0.51 suggests Supergenics Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value The average premium for Supergenics Berhad's competitorsis currently 58% Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Supergenics Berhad (KLSE:SGBHD) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. 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 Supergenics Berhad The Method We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. 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. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM1.22m RM1.88m RM2.61m RM3.34m RM4.04m RM4.67m RM5.23m RM5.73m RM6.17m RM6.56m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 75.52% Est @ 53.92% Est @ 38.81% Est @ 28.23% Est @ 20.82% Est @ 15.64% Est @ 12.01% Est @ 9.47% Est @ 7.69% Est @ 6.44% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 10% RM1.1 RM1.5 RM1.9 RM2.3 RM2.5 RM2.6 RM2.6 RM2.6 RM2.6 RM2.5 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM22m Story continues We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.5%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 10%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = RM6.6m (1 + 3.5%) (10% 3.5%) = RM101m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM101m ( 1 + 10%)10= RM38m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM60m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM0.5, the company appears about fair value at a 2.0% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Supergenics 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 1.059. 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 Supergenics Berhad Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Weakness Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine SGBHD's earnings prospects. Threat No apparent threats visible for SGBHD. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Supergenics Berhad, there are three additional factors you should assess: Risks: For example, we've discovered 5 warning signs for Supergenics Berhad (1 is concerning!) that you should be aware of before investing here. 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. The beaches of Gaza, where people have gathered to wait for airdrops, are the focus of the new aid initiative - ASHRAF AMRA/ANADOLU VIA GETTY IMAGES Gazas beaches will soon become the focal point of a major new humanitarian relief operation to get food and supplies to the besieged territory by sea. With Washington increasingly frustrated with Israel over the small amount of aid getting in through Gazas land borders, Joe Biden has said the US military will establish a temporary port on Gazas Mediterranean coast. The objective is simple to enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day. But establishing the infrastructure necessary to achieve such an aim is anything but especially given that it will be done without any American boots on the ground. How will it work? Aid supplies are beginning to pile up in the Cypriot port of Larnaca, about 240 miles across the Eastern Mediterranean from Gaza. Barring Egypt or Lebanon, which both border Israel, Cyprus offers the shortest route from another country to Gaza. Under the plan, aid will reportedly be inspected and loaded on ships in Cyprus before being dispatched for Gaza. The first, largely symbolic shipment, was expected to leave Larnaca on Friday on a small vessel belonging to Open Arms, the Spanish NGO. The maiden voyage will deliver food aid from World Central Kitchen, a charity founded by Jose Andres, a Spanish-American chef and restaurateur. The NGO said it had several tons of food and water on board to deliver. In the absence of a port in Gaza, amphibious craft will be used to ferry the supplies ashore, Axios reported. Neither Mr Biden nor Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, have so far offered precise details of the plan to create a Cyprus-Gaza sea route for aid. But US media have reported that a rapid deployment unit will be in charge of building a floating pier near Gazas shore. Palestinians wading into the sea off Gaza to collect aid dropped there - AA VIDEO/ANADOLU VIA GETTY IMAGES The pier will be installed by the Virginia-based 7th Transportation Brigade, but the ships have not yet left the United States, CBS reported. Unnamed US officials say the plan will take at least 30 to 60 days to implement, involving hundreds or even thousands of US troops operating on ships near the shore. Whats the difficulty with the plan? While building the pier is a significant undertaking, even for a military superpower like the United States, it is only one part of the problem. What comes next after the aid arrives presents an even bigger challenge. Inside Gaza, conditions could hardly be worse. Aid warehouses and lorries have been attacked, and many roads and buildings have been destroyed by IDF bombs and bulldozers. While some details have emerged about the construction of the pier, how the aid will be distributed once it arrives is much less clear. When dealing with deliveries of aid by land, aid groups such as UNRWA or the Norwegian Refugee Council rely on large teams on the ground to get the supplies into the hands of those that need them. But aid groups contacted by The Telegraph were unable to say who would be responsible for unloading, guarding and distributing shipments that arrive by sea. There was no clarity either on who would provide the necessary logistical infrastructure such as lorries and warehouses to make the operation possible. Whos going to be responsible for unloading, and distributing and getting the aid to the people in need in northern Gaza in particular? You need trucks, you need infrastructure and you need deconfliction? I have no answer for that, said Shaina Low, of the Norwegian Refugee Council. Aid groups are also sceptical about a months-long mission to establish a maritime corridor, saying the need for aid is immediate given the severity of the situation in northern Gaza, where at least 15 children are reported to have died of starvation last week. Its going to be complex and costly to get this temporary port up and running and this could take weeks or even longer, and this simply is not time that people in Gaza have, Ms Low added. Riham Jafari, ActionAids co-ordinator for the West Bank and Gaza, said she did not believe the sea corridor was the answer. The sea post and airdrops are not a solution: the solution lies in a ceasefire and safety for land crossing of the border, through which a huge amount of aid can be delivered. Sea and air no substitute for land crossings Sigrid Haag, the UNs senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, praised international efforts to ramp up aid deliveries but said the sea route and airdrops were not a substitute for what we need to see arrive by land. It was up to Israel to allow more aid to come in, she told reporters in New York. (Israel) has made it very clear to me there is little willingness, that there is concern over domestic sensitivities when crossings were to open, Ms Haag added. Far-Right Israelis and settler groups have been rallying outside the Kerem Shalom crossing which links Israel with the south of Gaza, trying to block aid trucks from entering the enclave. The aid groups also raised concerns that new, creative solutions for delivering aid may be taking the pressure off Israel to fulfil its obligations in allowing an uninterrupted flow of aid into the area. The primary party preventing the delivery of aid is Israel. The United States is Israels greatest ally and yet theyre resorting to airdrops rather than using the more cost-efficient means, Ms Low said. In some ways it absolves Israel of its international obligations to either provide or facilitate access to humanitarian aid. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Joe Biden, first elected to Congress in 1972, has attended a great many State of the Union addresses over the course of his career. He knows their rhythms and cadences; has a feel for what presidents tend to do when theyre up and when theyre down. Whatever happens this November, this years address will surely go down as one of the few that probably matteredpresenting, as it did, a critical, prep-heavy, non-debate opportunity for Biden to put to rest anxieties about his age and fitness before a large national audience. He and his aides knew this going in to Thursday nights performance. Interestingly, Americas oldest president, a decorated SOTU veteran, decided to meet that challenge by breaking aggressively from tradition. Last years address offered a preview of what Biden would attempt more seriously this time around. If you recall, after a line criticizing Republican support for cutting Medicare and Social Security drew boos from Republican lawmakers, he taunted them into a promise to keep both programs out of debt ceiling negotiations. So, folks, as we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now, right? he asked. Weve got unanimity. It was an unusual and memorable momentone that went over so well with the press that Biden went out of his way to repeat it this time around with exchanges on taxes (You guys dont want another $2 trillion tax cut? I kind of thought thats what your plan was) and infrastructure spending (If any of you dont want that money in your district, just let me know). This time around, Bidens speech wasnt quite the fire and brimstone address some have described. There were the expected appeals to unity; Trump was referred to throughout, with conspicuous decorum, only as Bidens predecessor. But by comparison to Bidens usual rhetoric, and the kind of pablum Americans have come to expect from presidents not named Trump, it was a refreshingly partisan addressone from a president whos spent much of his term thus far minimizing the severity of Americas partisan divides. It was also refreshingly loud. Biden spoke forcefully, coughing and stumbling over here and there, yes, but never betraying any indications of real frailty or infirmity. That overall impressionof a vigorous president, strong enough to take the fight to his detractorswill linger more deeply in the minds of most who watched than the substance of anything he said. Knowing that, Bidens speechwriters didnt bother crafting a novel message. The speech was heavy on justified but now familiar admonitions about democracy and the threats to it, both foreign and domestic. There were references to January 6 and Vladimir Putin right up top; elsewhere, Biden called for a revival of the democratic reform push that fizzled with the For the People Act. Predictably, the Dobbs decision also took up a good chunk of rhetorical space. In one remarkable moment, Biden addressed the justices of the Supreme Court directly. In the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the majority wrote the followingand with all due respect, JusticesWomen are not without electoral or political power, he said. Youre about to realize just how right you were about that. It was a bold statement, but unfortunately not the nights boldest. That came in another one of his ad-libbed confrontations with Republicans in the chamber. Several came to the speech with buttons bearing the name of Laken Riley, an Augusta University nursing student who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant last month. At one point during the speech, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and others shouted at Biden to say her name. And he did, holding up a button hed obtained. Laken Rileyan innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, thats right, he said. But how many thousands of people are being killed by illegals? Its unclear what Biden meant to say with the second part of his statement, but calling undocumented immigrants illegals hasnt been part of the Democratic script for some time. That line was accompanied by a call to pass the immigration bill Democrats and a cadre of Republicans have been pushing for weeks now, one The Wall Street Journals editorial board tellingly praised for featuring more restrictive border measures than Trump had ever managed to pass or implement himself. In the speech, Biden himself referred to it as a bipartisan bill with the toughest set of border security reforms weve ever seen. After audible moaning and groaning from Republicans in the chamber, Biden scoffed. Oh, you dont think so? he asked. You dont like that bill, huh? That conservatives got together and said was a good bill? Ill be darned. Thats amazing. Its doubtful that this particular bill and performances like this will actually help Democrats on immigration. In fact, raising the salience of the issue for immigration-sensitive voters may well benefit Trump, the candidate theyve come to trust on the matter for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with the fine details of how Trumps asylum policies compare to Bidens. But this rhetoric will definitely continue to anger party progressives who are already deeply angry about the administrations handling of the war in Gaza. One of the new policies in the speech that was previewed for journalists well in advance was the administrations announcement of the creation of an offshore pier that will be constructed by American troops and tasked with sending more humanitarian aid into Gaza. That news was accompanied by an acknowledgment of the wars tollMore than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of whom are not Hamas, Biden said. Nearly two million more Palestinians under bombardment or displaced, homes destroyed, neighborhoods in rubble, cities in ruin, he would addalong with a reiteration of the administrations call for an immediate cease-fire that would last for at least six weeks. Still, Biden didnt so much as mention the possibility of conditioning aid and support for Israel on meeting American demands. All this aside, most who tuned in to the speech probably wanted to hear more about the economy than any other issue, and they heard a good bit about how well its doing (15 million new jobs in just three yearsthats a record! Unemployment at 50-year lows. A record 16 million Americans are starting small businesses, and each one is an act of hope). Its not clear how many Americans will come to agree with this picture by the time November rolls around. Economic sentiment does seem to be picking up; driving it up further will probably be a matter of talking about more than the macrolevel successes of Bidenomics that Biden also spent some of the speech defending. Out of an awareness of that, the administration has been talking up simple and small but understandable policy items, such as getting rid of junk fees, and a new concerted effort to tackle shrinkflation. (You get charged the same amount, but youve got, I dont know, maybe 10 percent fewer Snickers, Biden explained.) Those ideas, along with some modest relief for homebuyers, and the now-standard slate of health care reforms Democrats offer every cycleusing Medicare to lower drug prices, capping the price of insulin, and so onare just about the only concrete parts of Bidens second-term economic agenda at this point. There was a call to pass the PRO Act, as well as references to the paid leave and home care policies jettisoned in Build Back Better. But the administrations overall vision is constrainedperhaps by the likelihood that a reelected Biden may begin his second term without the Democratic trifecta he would need to take another FDR-size swing. But this is looking far ahead. In fairness to the president and his team, the central task of the campaign at the moment is making it clear to voters that Biden is physically capable of making it to and through a second term in the first place. By that measure, the speech was clearly a success. Biden, grinning throughout, seemed to know it. Everyone was expecting a historic train wreck of a State of the Union last night and they got it. But it wasn't the one they thought it would be. President Joe Biden's address was powerful and dynamic and no doubt put a lot of timorous Democrats' worries to rest (at least for a day or so.) It was Donald Trump's highly touted response that failed dramatically. Biden came out swinging and knocked the Republicans so far back on their heels that they had to completely abandon the image of him they've been building since 2020 a man so old and feeble that he can't even feed himself and instead hilariously whimper about his loud macho aggression. They whined mightily that Biden was too "political" apparently forgetting that in his last State of the Union speech, Donald Trump bestowed the Medal of Freedom on far-right, hate radio star Rush Limbaugh calling him "a special man, beloved by millions of Americans." Biden gave a barn burner of a speech that wasn't boring, which is highly unusual for any president but especially unusual for a president many people have been convinced has one foot in the grave. As it turned out, what actually died last night was Trump's Truth Social media platform. Trump had flamboyantly promised to do a "play-by-play" of Biden's address but the site went down for many people all over the country before Biden even reached the podium, leaving us with only these important insights: We were all waiting on tenterhooks for over an hour to read what he had to say about Biden's choice of socks until the site came back up to reveal that Trump had pretty much just been ranting about Biden coughing and warning people not to shake his hand because it has germs. And Trump also lied and lied and lied about his own record, obviously unnerved by Biden's very pointed criticism, especially in the very strong opening section of the speech, when the audience was biggest and most attentive, in which Biden strongly contrasted his record against his predecessor. Starting with foreign policy Biden made a compelling case for support for Ukraine and went after Trump (without ever using his name) for his Putin toadying, particularly the asinine comment that he'd tell him "do whatever the hell you want" to any NATO country that doesn't "pay its bills." He said, "A former American President actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader. Its outrageous. Its dangerous. Its unacceptable. Republicans all sat glumly silent, obviously terrified to cross their Dear Leader, as he railed on Truth Social. "He said I bowed down to the Russian Leader. He gave them everything, including Ukraine. I took away Nord Stream 2, he gave it to them! He was a Puppet for Putin and Xi, and virtually every other Leader!" Trump raged. It appears that criticism hit a nerve, maybe because it's true. The president admonished the Republicans to their faces for Jan. 6, saying, "My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth of January 6. I will not do that. This is a moment to speak the truth and bury the lies. And heres the simplest truth. You cant love your country only when you win." Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sitting behind the president on the podium looked as if someone had just rubbed a grapefruit in his face. And he took on the conservative Supreme Court Justices, some of whom were sitting in front of him as he excoriated the GOP's assault on reproductive rights. He reminded them of the passage in the court's Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade which said Women are not without electoral or political power" and then added: "You're about to find out." He asked the Republicans in the chamber, "My God, what freedoms will you take away next? and he blamed Donald Trump right upfront, pointing out that Trump brags about overturning Roe. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. And much to my happy surprise, he went after Trump for his greatest failure, and one of our country's worst tragedies, which for some reason people have flushed down the memory hole the horrible response to the pandemic and the carnage he left in his wake: Remember the fear. Record job losses. Remember the spike in crime. And the murder rate. A raging virus that would take more than 1 million American lives and leave millions of loved ones behind. A mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness. A president, my predecessor, who failed the most basic duty. Any President owes the American people the duty to care. That is unforgivable. He did not care. He was worried about "his numbers" going up. That opening salvo was impressive and Biden didn't lose any steam for the rest of the speech as he laid out the differences between his agenda and his opponent's, and talked about his accomplishments and plans for the future. He announced a new plan for humanitarian aid to Gaza and while he reiterated his support for Israel he also said, "To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution is a two-state solution." If you want to know the prospects for any Republican president agreeing with that, all you have to do is look at the sour look on every one of their faces as they sat on their hands when he said that. It wasn't all aggressive rhetoric, he also went off script and confidently jousted with the Republicans on various topics (although he, unfortunately, used the ugly term "illegals" in a back-and-forth with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.) He even managed to trap the GOP in the same trap he laid last year on cutting Social Security, this time on corporate tax cuts: This was a great moment https://t.co/4QaBWBMQCd Brad Batt for TN State Sanity (@bradbatt) March 8, 2024 It was one of his best speeches and delivered with a vigor that puts Donald Trump's recent rambling low energy rallies to shame. If you were a person who only saw the headlines of the major papers or watched Fox News over the past year or so, you didn't recognize the president last night, that "elderly man with good intentions and a bad memory" as Special Prosecutor Robert Hur so snidely put it. It was Joe Biden, the same guy that 81 million people voted for three and half years ago. He's fine. Now maybe we can start talking about something other than his age. A Harlem man who became an outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform and rehabilitation after being freed from prison last year was charged with murder on Thursday, according to New York police. Sheldon Johnson Jr., 48, was also charged with manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon after police found a headless torso and arms in his Bronx apartment while conducting a wellness check. Im innocent! Johnson yelled to reporters as he was led out of a stationhouse, according to the New York Daily News. The remains were identified as that of Colin Small, 44. Police said Small was pronounced dead at the scene. His relationship to Johnson was not immediately clear, but law enforcement sources told the New York Post that the two may have had a beef dating back to their time together in Westchester Countys notorious Sing Sing prison. Police said that neighbors in Johnsons building had heard at least two gunshots coming from inside a sixth-floor apartment early Tuesday, followed by a man shouting, Please dontI have a family. Another two gunshots followed, they said. Later on Tuesday morning, the neighbors informed the buildings superintendent later, who called 911. Police who arrived at the apartment that night were met by Johnson, who they took into custody soon after. They obtained a search warrant, and discovered Smalls torso and foot inside a large blue bin. The other foot, as well as his arms, legs, and decapitated head, were found inside the apartments freezer, sources told the Daily News. In 1999, Johnson was convicted of attempted murder, robbery and other charges in a New York court. He was released from an upstate prison last May after spending 25 years behind bars, according to records obtained by The New York Times. He was subsequently hired to work as a counselor for at-risk youth with the Queens Defenders. A spokesperson for the Queens Defenders declined to comment to The Daily Beast. Johnson also appeared on a February episode of The Joe Rogan Experience to discuss his advocacy work and how hed turned his life around while incarcerated. He claimed that hed gone into prison as a high-ranking member of the Bloods, but began to untangle himself from his gang ties around 2005. I really said: I have to change my life. I have to change my life. I just cant do this, he explained. I had a wife, I had kids, I had family still, my son was growing up. He was hearing stories of my so-called notoriety. I just didnt want to be that dad. Civil rights attorney Josh Dubin, appearing alongside Johnson on the podcast, called him a miracle. A representative for Rogan did not immediately return a request for comment on Thursday night. 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. JOPLIN, Mo. A Joplin man will spend more than a decade in prison for robbing a Joplin bank back in 2022. Thursday, a federal judge sentenced Vincent Gepson, 64, to 12 years and 7 months in prison without parole. Gepson pleaded guilty to bank robbery back in June. FOUR STATES CRIME Gepson entered Great Southern Bank at 12th & Range Line on May 9, 2022, told the teller he had a gun and demanded cash. The teller placed $1,000 in a plastic bag and Gepson left the bank. He was arrested on May 20, 2022 by the Acadia Parish, Louisiana Sheriffs Department. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. CHEROKEE COUNTY, Kan. A Joplin man gets four years in prison for charges related to a 2020 burglary in Lowell. Kevin Hanten, 41, of Joplin was sentenced in Cherokee County District Court Friday. It comes after a guilty plea back in January to attempted aggravated burglary, theft, and interference with law enforcement. It all stems from a December 2020 burglary that resulted in Cherokee County Sheriffs Deputies chasing after Hanten on foot as he fled the crime scene. Hanten was returning to the house while authorities were talking with the property owner when he turned and ran into the wooded area nearby. The ensuing manhunt enlisted help from Baxter Springs PD, and the Kansas Highway Patrol. Law enforcement utilized K9 teams and air support to locate and arrest Hanten approximately four hours later. Hanten remains in the Cherokee County Jail pending transfer to the Kansas Department of Corrections. Hanten was prosecuted by the Office of Cherokee County Attorney Kurt Benecke. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. More than 46,000 Russian military servicemen have been identified as victims killed in the war against Ukraine since February 2022, BBC Russian Service reported on March 8, referencing a joint investigation with independent Russian outlet Mediazona. According to the report, 5,565 of the dead were mobilized troops, and 8,599 were convicts who were recruited into the Russian military. In the investigation, which collects data from open sources, journalists note that the largest number of losses in the Russian army are among volunteer fighters, mobilized personnel, and recruited prisoners. On Jan. 12, they wrote about more than 42,000 Russian military personnel killed in the war against Ukraine. The journalists write that many reports of the losses were registered during the battle for Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast. Read also: 31,000 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed since 2022 Zelenskyy They have also found out that since February 2022, 12 female Russian soldiers have been killed in the war, most of them serving as combat medics. As of March 7, the journalists confirmed the deaths of 3,227 Russian officers, 992 of whom were "specialists of the command level of airborne troops, marines, special forces, special forces of the National Guard, and military pilots." Read also: Prigozhins body double reportedly killed in Ukrainian southern front Among the regions of Russia, the highest casualty figures were recorded in Krasnodar Krai (1,799 killed), Sverdlovsk Oblast (1,575 killed), and Bashkortostan (1,509 killed). Finally, the investigation found that up to 23,500 fighters from Russian proxies LPR and DPR were killed in the war by mid-January 2024, along with 520 dead from Moscow and 523 from St. Petersburg. 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 EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Judge Francisco X Dominguez heard arguments and testimony from both counsels during Thursdays, March 7, injunction hearing for Annunciation House. The battle over the release of documents is still ongoing after Dominguez adjourned court without issuing a ruling. Ive been looking at it, but now that Ive heard your argument and your evidence today, the court will look at that and get your ruling as soon as it is practical, said Dominguez. Judge Dominguez labeled the way the Office of the Attorney General demanded the documents as rude and unprofessional. This is the part where youre starting to offend my intelligence. You did not offer to negotiate. You did not offer to act in good faith. Thats the whole reason why I granted why this court granted the temporary restraining order all I heard from day one with the petition and the testimony that I heard today is a willingness to cooperate with you in a meaningful, respectful, professional way that protects all interests. The attorney generals interest and Annunciation Houses interest, said Dominguez. The district court judge continued and said the attorney generals lack of attempts to negotiate concerned the court, giving rise to concern that there are ulterior political motives taking place that go outside of what the law requires, outside of what the law demands. Big picture here. Theres a lot of interest in how NGOs at the border, like Annunciation House are operating. The governor publicly called for an investigation into that issue over a year ago. We have no idea whats going to be found as part of that investigation, but its our duty at the attorney generals office to make the investigation. As part of the investigation, we served narrowly tailored documents and requests for what I would consider to be highly innocuous material, said Ryan Baasch, an attorney representing the Office of the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House and counsel argue that their organization has failed to receive clarification of what type of documents they are legally required to turn over. Garcia testified that providing certain documents of refugees that have stayed under the roof of Annunciation House would be detrimental to the shelters operations. Some of the information that is given to us could be harmful to either the refugee, him or herself, or to the sponsor if that information were to be made known, said Garcia. The aspect of the ability of our houses of hospitality to function given the absolute necessity of trust that develops between the refugees, the guests and the staff, the volunteers. That relationship is a profound relationship that when they share their story with us, they believe that to be done in confidence. Attorney Paxtons counsel argued that the reasons given by the Annunciation House to not comply with the Attorney Generals demands did not qualify to override or supersede the Constitution. Annunciation Houses attorney, Jerome Wesevich, called the two-hour hearing ridiculous. He echoed the judges suggestion that Attorney Generals Paxtons agenda was politically motivated. This entire effort has really not been about wanting to access documents, but more about wanting to close down Annunciation House, said Garcia. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon will hear arguments on two of Donald Trumps motions to dismiss the classified documents case against him in Florida, according to a new order issued Thursday. At a hearing next Thursday, Trumps legal team and prosecutors for the special counsel will have the opportunity to argue their positions on whether some or all of the charges against Trump should be thrown out because of the Presidential Records Act before the case goes to trial. The two sides will also discuss a second motion to dismiss the case on the theory that the main statute used against Trump is unconstitutionally vague as it applies to presidents. Trump has pressed for the judge to dismiss the charges of retaining and mishandling classified government documents after he left office and resisting the government's efforts to retrieve them. classified documents (AP file) The hearing is set for 10 a.m. next Thursday in Fort Pierce, Florida. Special counsel Jack Smith urged Cannon on Thursday to reject Trumps claims that his presidential records can be transformed into personal records upon their being removed from the White House, according to court records. The filing was one of five briefs filed by prosecutors responding to Trumps motions to dismiss the case, including his arguments that he is entitled to retain personal records under the Presidential Records Act, that he should be immune from prosecution for removing documents because he was still president at the time and that he is being selectively prosecuted, as well as because of the vagueness of the statute used in the charges. Responding to Trump's frivolous claim to dismiss the case on presidential immunity grounds, Smith called on Cannon to deny the motion. Smith said adopting Trumps immunity theory could lead to sobering outcomes, warning that under the former presidents position, a president could use the military to murder a political opponent or could sell classified information to an adversaryand as long as he was not impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate, he could act with impunity. Trumps transparent and persistent efforts to delay the case also merit a finding of frivolousness, Smith said. Trump faces multiple criminal charges in the indictment, including willful retention of national defense information, false statements and representations, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record and corruptly concealing a document. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com FILE - E. Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan federal court, May 9, 2023, in New York. Donald Trumps lawyers said Tuesday, March 5, 2024, that the ex-president deserves a new trial and a fresh chance to tell a jury why he berated writer Carroll for her sex abuse claims against him after she revealed them five years ago. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) NEW YORK (AP) The federal judge who oversaw a New York defamation trial that resulted in an $83.3 million award to a longtime magazine columnist who says Donald Trump raped her in the 1990s refused Thursday to relieve the ex-president from the verdicts financial pinch. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan told Trumps attorney in a written order that he wont delay deadlines for posting a bond that would ensure 80-year-old writer E. Jean Carroll can be paid the award if the judgment survives appeals. The judge said any financial harm to the Republican front-runner for the presidency results from his slow response to the late-January verdict in the defamation case resulting from statements Trump made about Carroll while he was president in 2019 after she revealed her claims against him in a memoir. At the time, Trump accused her of making up claims that he raped her in the dressing room of a luxury Manhattan department store in spring 1996. A jury last May at a trial Trump did not attend awarded Carroll $5 million in damages, finding that Trump sexually abused her but did not rape her as rape was defined under New York state law. It also concluded that he defamed her in statements in October 2022. Trump attended the January trial and briefly testified, though his remarks were severely limited by the judge, who had ruled that the jury had to accept the May verdict and was only to decide how much in damages, if any, Carroll was owed for Trump's 2019 statements. In the statements, Trump claimed he didn't know Carroll and accused her of making up lies to sell books and harm him politically. Trump's lawyers have challenged the judgment, which included a $65 million punitive award, saying there was a strong probability it will be reduced or eliminated on appeal. In his order Thursday, Kaplan noted that Trumps lawyers waited 25 days to seek to delay when a bond must be posted. The judgment becomes final Monday. Mr. Trump's current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions, Kaplan wrote. The judge noted that Trump's lawyers seek to delay execution of the jury award until three days after Kaplan rules on their request to suspend the jury award pending consideration of their challenges to the judgment because preparations to post a bond could impose irreparable injury in the form of substantial costs. Kaplan, though, said the expense of ongoing litigation does not constitute irreparable injury. Nor has Mr. Trump made any showing of what expenses he might incur if required to post a bond or other security, on what terms (if any) he could obtain a conventional bond, or post cash or other assets to secure payment of the judgment, or any other circumstances relevant to the situation, the judge said. Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, did not immediately comment. Since the January verdict, a state court judge in New York in a separate case has ordered Trump and his companies to pay $355 million in penalties for a yearslong scheme to dupe banks and others with financial statements that inflated his wealth. With interest, he owes the state nearly $454 million. Key Insights The projected fair value for Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad is RM24.59 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of RM29.50 suggests Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value Analyst price target for MPI is RM27.16, which is 10% above our fair value estimate Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad (KLSE:MPI) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad Crunching The Numbers We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM264.7m RM327.8m RM388.3m RM434.7m RM475.7m RM512.1m RM545.0m RM575.3m RM603.8m RM631.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 11.95% Est @ 9.43% Est @ 7.66% Est @ 6.42% Est @ 5.56% Est @ 4.95% Est @ 4.53% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 12% RM236 RM261 RM276 RM275 RM268 RM258 RM245 RM230 RM216 RM201 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM2.5b After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.5%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 12%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = RM631m (1 + 3.5%) (12% 3.5%) = RM7.6b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM7.6b ( 1 + 12%)10= RM2.4b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM4.9b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM29.5, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 12%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.351. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Semiconductor market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market. Good value based on P/S ratio compared to estimated Fair P/S ratio. Threat Dividends are not covered by earnings. Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad, there are three further elements you should look at: Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does MPI's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Prince Harry revealed he had taken a variety of drugs in his memoir - Reuters A judge has ordered the US government to hand over Prince Harrys visa application as he considers whether it should be made public. Judge Carl Nichols told the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) that its arguments were insufficiently detailed amid a court battle over the release of the documents, stemming from revelations about the Duke of Sussexs use of illegal drugs. He ordered the agency to set out the contents of the Dukes immigration papers and explain the particular harm that would be caused by disclosing them, the Daily Mail reported. The DHS is fighting to prevent the publication of the documents after the Duke revealed he had taken cannabis, cocaine and magic mushrooms in his memoir in apparent violation of US visa rules. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, is seeking the release of his papers as part of a Freedom of Information request it submitted last year. In an order filed to a court in Washington, Judge Nichols stated that the Freedom of Information law authorised him to review declarations and/or contested records in camera meaning in private. Agency affidavits are insufficiently detailed to permit meaningful review of exemption claims when the number of withheld documents is relatively small, and when the dispute turns on the contents of the withheld documents, and not the parties interpretations of those documents, it said. Judge Nichols gave the DHS until March 21 to detail the records it is withholding and the particular harm that would arise from public disclosure of them. He said: The court concludes that in camera review is necessary to determine whether the records in dispute come within the scope of the claimed exemptions. The Duke of Sussex admitted in his memoir, Spare, that he had taken a variety of psychedelic drugs that allowed him to see the truth. Under their influence, he said he was able to see another world where the red mist didnt exist, helping to escape and redefine reality. After taking magic mushrooms, the Duke said he started hallucinating, believing a bin in a bathroom was staring at him before growing a head. The Heritage Foundation has challenged the DHS for months to release his visa documents, claiming that the Dukes drug use should have disqualified him from entering the US under federal law. Questions have been raised over whether the Duke lied about his drug-taking on his visa application or was shown favourable treatment by officials. However, last month a DHS lawyer said the apparent admissions in Spare could have been embellished to sell books. John Bardo told the court that the book isnt sworn testimony or proof that the Duke did in fact take illegal drugs. Saying something in a book doesnt necessarily make it true, he argued. 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. Donald Trump has posted a $91.6m (71m) bond as he appeals against the verdict in E Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit against him. A jury in January found Mr Trump owed the former columnist millions of dollars for defamation when he denied he sexually assaulted her. A judge had rejected the former president's request for more time to secure a bond to cover the penalty. Mr Trump also owes over $400m in a separate fraud case. When posting the bond, Mr Trump asked to pause the verdict while he fights to reverse the decision in a separate court. "Due to the numerous prejudicial errors made at the lower level, we are highly confident that the Second Circuit will overturn this egregious judgment," the former president's lawyer, Alina Habba, said in a statement. A different jury last year found Mr Trump sexually assaulted Ms Carroll, a former Elle Magazine columnist, in a Manhattan Bergdorf Goodman store in the 1990s. The jury found Mr Trump liable of defamation for lying about the assault in 2019, and in January he was ordered to pay her $83.3m. The bond payment is equal to 110% of the amount he was required to provide in order to appeal against the verdict. Mr Trump was also ordered to pay Ms Carroll $5m in a separate defamation case related to the sexual assault last year. He put up the money shortly after. Judge Lewis Kaplan made the verdict official in February and gave Mr Trump 30 days to post a bond or put up the cash. In this year's trial, the jury found Mr Trump liable of defamation for lying about the assault in 2019, and in January he was ordered to pay her $83.3m, much of it in punitive damages. On Thursday, Judge Kaplan said Mr Trump waited too long - 25 days - before seeking to delay the payment. "Mr Trump's current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions," he wrote. Ms Carroll's lawyers opposed the request, writing to Judge Kaplan that Mr Trump "asks the Court to 'trust me' and offers, in a case with an $83.3 million judgment against him, the court filing equivalent of a paper napkin; signed by the least trustworthy of borrowers". A spokesperson for the former president said the decision was "a continuation of a totally lawless witch hunt," a frequent comment from Mr Trump's team throughout his numerous legal trials. But the 77-year-old is facing mounting legal bills and damages this year. In February, Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Mr Trump to pay $355m - which amounts to more than $450m with interest - for fraudulently inflating his assets to secure better loan deals. An appellate judge rejected Mr Trump's request to post a bond for just a fraction of the penalty in that case. The likely Republican presidential nominee claimed this week that he was not worried about securing the funds in his legal cases. "I have a lot of money. I can do what I want to do," he told Fox News on Tuesday. A federal judge on Thursday denied Donald Trumps last-minute plea for extra time to front a massive sum of money to appeal his rape defamation trial, forcing the tycoon to suddenly come up with $91 million. On Thursday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan told the former president that he was in a mess of his own makingafter losing a trial that found him directly responsible for lying about sexually abusing the journalist E. Jean Carroll, ordered to pay an $83 million verdict, and waiting until the very last second to come up with a backup plan. Kaplan is the same judge who watched Trump refuse to get his DNA tested to see if it was on Carrolls dress (then complain about it after it was too late), completely ghost his first rape trial (then claim the trial was unfair), and repeatedly engage in angry outbursts in the courtroom to the point that he had to be ordered to calm down (only to fume even more about it). Mr. Trumps current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions, Kaplan wrote. The judge then noted that Trump had essentially run out the clock all on his own, burning through nearly all of the 30 days he had until the $83 million judgment came dueand not even lining up the higher sum hed need to pay to appeal the judgment. Instead, Trump defense lawyer Alina Habba waited until last weekend to propose an unorthodox alternative: a lowball offer to front a quarter of the money instead. On Thursday, it was clear that Kaplan was out of patienceand Trump is out of time. He has had since January 26 to organize his finances with the knowledge that he might need to bond this judgment, yet waited until 25 days after the jury verdictand only shortly before the expiration of [the] automatic 30-day stay of the judgmentto file his prior motion for an unsecured or partially secured stay, the judge wrote. Trump also failed to convince the judge that hed suffer irreparable injury by finding himself in a financial nightmare and sky high legal costs. Now Trump has mere days to line up a lender willing to front the cash to appeal the casethe very same position he now finds himself in an entirely different $464 million judgment from the New York Attorney General. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A Fresno businessman charged with child pornography and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor has been found guilty by a federal jury. Todd Mumma, 60, former president of Select Business Systems, was accused of hiding digital video recording devices in his home to create sexually explicit images of a minor. Mumma edited the secret recordings on a computer and then transferred the most sexually explicit images onto a cellphone where the images were stored in a passwordprotected application and viewed numerous times, according to court documents. Fresno County Sheriffs detectives arrested Mumma in May 2020 after serving a search warrant at his home in the Copper River Country Club area of northwest Fresno. Detectives said Mumma installed the hidden cameras in bedrooms and bathrooms throughout his house. Mummas former company, Select Business Systems, a technology solutions provider, was also searched and detectives found a device in Mummas office containing a hidden camera. After the verdict Thursday, Mumma was taken into custody and booked into the Fresno County Jail. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 17 by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston and faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison for the count of sexual exploitation. He must also pay a fine of up to $250,000 as well as possible forfeiture of property and mandatory restitution to a victim, according to federal officials. The case was the result of an investigation by the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, including Homeland Security Investigations and the Fresno County Sheriffs Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa of the Eastern District of California and attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscentity Section prosecuted the case. A similar case against Mumma filed by the Fresno Country District Attorneys Office was dismissed in July 2022 in favor of the federal prosecution. Special counsel David Weiss ridiculed efforts by Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, to dismiss tax charges against him as legally baseless and steeped in a conspiracy theory, in court filings Friday. Hunter Bidens attorneys have argued that the tax case against him should be dismissed because, among other things, Weiss was unlawfully appointed as special counsel and that the plea agreement between the presidents son and Weiss which blew up in hearing last summer is still valid. The arguments between Weiss and Hunter Bidens attorneys mirror arguments put forth by Donald Trump in his own special counsel cases. Their similarities underscore how cases brought by a special counsel no matter who the defendant is are often fought through similar, and sometimes political, playbooks. Hunter Biden faces nine tax-related charges in California for allegedly failing to pay over $1 million dollars in taxes from 2016 to 2019 as well as several gun charges in a separate case out of Delaware over allegedly purchasing a pistol while using illicit drugs. He has pleaded not guilty. Like Trump, Hunter Biden has argued the special counsel overseeing his criminal cases was unlawfully appointed. But there were fundamental differences in their arguments while Trump slammed Attorney General Merrick Garland as not having any power to appoint special counsel Jack Smith, Hunter Biden claimed that Garland is required to tap someone from outside the Justice Department and should not have picked Weiss, who previously served as the US attorney for Delaware. Both Weiss and Smith pushed back in the same way, arguing that Garland has the authority to appoint whoever he wants as special counsel. For 150 years, the Attorney General has had plenary authority to empower one of his officers to litigate particular cases in federal court, Weiss wrote in a court filing Friday. Defendant offers no persuasive reason as to why that authority has not been properly exercised here. In another filing in the California case Friday, Weiss also dismissed Hunter Bidens argument that his office decided to renege on their original plea agreement because of political pressure. Trump, in his own cases, has continued to claim he too is the victim of political games. His argument, however, rests on a deep-state conspiracy theory that Smith is directly doing the bidding of the president, and not the more innocuous but also unproven arguments from Hunter Biden. Weiss, in his filing, said that after a federal judge refused in the summer of 2023 to accept the plea deal with Hunter Biden, the parties continued to negotiate over the proposed plea agreement but those negotiations were unsuccessful and the deal was withdrawn. From this fairly unremarkable set of procedural events, Weiss wrote, the defendant concocts a conspiracy theory that the prosecution has upped the ante to appease politicians who have absolutely nothing to do with the prosecution and are not even members of the current Executive Branch. A trial for the California tax case is currently set for June and the judge presiding over the gun-related case in Delaware has set a status conference next week to discuss a trial timeline in the case there. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON Vice President Kamala Harris wouldn't say Friday whether President Joe Biden will participate in general election debates against former President Donald Trump, and she also wouldn't commit to a vice presidential debate herself. In an interview with NBC News chief White House correspondent, Peter Alexander, Harris said she hasn't spoken to the president about the possibility of him debating Trump, but said it would be a stark "split screen." On the one hand, youve got Joe Biden someone who is competent, who is principled, who has accomplished more than many presidents even hoped for ... on infrastructure, on climate, on health care, Harris said. On the other side of that split screen, youve got the former president, who glorifies dictators and has said hell be a dictator on day one. Someone who has said that he will weaponize the Department of Justice against his political enemies. Someone who said hes proud of the fact that he had picked three members of the United States Supreme Court, who took a constitutional right from the women of America to make decisions about their own body. The split screen is clear, she said, adding that the choice of debating Trump will be decided upon soon. Asked if she would commit to participating in a debate this fall against the Republican vice presidential nominee, who has not yet been chosen, Harris said: "We just got through the State of the Union. And Im just so excited about what we accomplished last night and our president." Trump said Wednesday a day after the Super Tuesday primaries that he would debate Biden "anytime, anywhere, anyplace." The former president had also expressed the same thing in early February, saying he wanted to debate Biden "immediately." Immediately?" Biden told reporters at the time when asked whether he would agree to Trumps challenge. "Well, if I were him, Id want to debate me, too. Hes got nothing else to do." In 2022, however, the Republican National Committee decided to withdraw from presidential debates set up by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. The RNC said it would require GOP presidential candidates to instead pledge to only participate in debates sanctioned by the Republican Party. Trump said that the commission was corrupt, claiming someone turned off his microphone during a general election debate in 2016. The organization decided during the 2020 campaign that it would cut off Trumps microphone while Biden was answering a question, and vice versa. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced last year the dates and locations for three 2024 general election debates: Sept. 16 at Texas State University in San Marcos; Oct. 1 at Virginia State University in Petersburg; and Oct. 9 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. During the interview Friday, Harris was asked if Biden addressed Americans questions about his age during his State of the Union address Thursday night. He was absolutely on fire and he answered any question that anyone might have about how passionate he is, how prepared he is, how principled he is, to take on a second term as president and I thought that he did a spectacular job, she said, adding that Biden dispelled any questions and concerns about his age and mental fitness with his vigor and passion last night. On the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Harris reiterated Bidens message from his speech that Israel has a right to defend itself after the Oct. 7 attack, but innocent Palestinians have suffered as well. We need a cease-fire for six weeks so that we can get the hostages out, get aid in, she said. Ive been very clear, as has the president that ultimately not only do we all want this conflict to end, but we have got to be committed to a two-state solution, she said. Asked why the president wont take executive action to address the crisis involving migrants at the southern border, Harris placed the blame on congressional Republicans for not accepting multiple border security proposals since Biden took office. We have a lot of work to be done, but let us not negate the role and responsibility of leaders in Congress who have been elected to be in Washington, D.C. to fix problems. We know there is a broken system...we have an opportunity to fix it and theyre playing political games, and we cannot overlook the significance of that. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Attorney General Kris Kobach is suing the social media company TikTok in Shawnee County District Court for allegedly pushing inappropriate content toward children. The lawsuit says the companys filter for younger users is ineffective, leading minors to see content that contains profanity, sexual content and drug use. It also calls out the sites algorithm as potentially addictive for its younger users. "TikTok deceived parents by saying that the app was safe and age appropriate. In reality, the app has promoted filth, profanity, sexual content, and alcohol and drugs to Kansas kids," Kobach said in a news release. "Even worse, it has used coercive algorithms that spike dopamine, keep kids on the app as long as possible, and facilitate downward mental health spirals. "Kansas parents deserve the truth about the harm the app causes to young users, and Kansas kids should be protected." Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach alleges TikTok misrepresented itself when it listed its app as safe for children ages 12 and older. Kobachs office is seeking penalties of $10,000 per violation of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act over the apps claims that there are only infrequent or mild references to drugs and alcohol, sexual content, mature themes, profanity and crude humor. Kobach is also seeking $20,000 per violation when TikToks practices are used on protected consumers. TikTok is facing similar lawsuits from other states and municipalities. New York City sued the company, along with Snapchat, Google and Meta, Facebooks parent company, over social media companys alleged adverse impacts to the mental health of teenagers. Utahs attorney general sued TikTok over alleged misrepresentation of itself as safe for children. A judge dismissed the state of Indianas lawsuit against TikTok over child safety concerns. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kris Kobach sues TikTok in Shawnee County over inappropriate content KANSAS CITY, Mo. An 18-year-old man is facing charges in connection to the May 29, 2023 deadly shooting of 19-year-old Deion Miles. Jackson County prosecutors this week charged Kadin Hatch with second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree robbery and three counts of armed criminal action. According to court documents, on May 29, 2023, Kansas City police officers were called to a house near 36th and Agnes in regard to a shooting. While in route to the scene, officers saw a Mazda speeding. The driver pulled over at 31st Street and Prospect Avenue where the shooting victim was located in the backseat. He was taken to University Health by EMS where he was pronounced dead. Jackson Mahomes pleads no contest to misdemeanor charge The next day, detectives met with the victims family who said Miles was dropped off at their residence on Monday, May 29, 2023, by a friend after being shot, according to court documents. Court documents say the shooting was in regard to a drug deal. The suspect, who family identified as Hatch, shot Miles and took his gun and cash. Court documents say family was told Hatch was telling people Miles was flashing his cash so he had to take it. Family provided detectives with a screenshot from a social media account that was being utilized by Hatch after the deadly shooting. Ray County sheriff removed from office after court order Court documents say just before 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2023, there was a post with a photo showing a large amount of cash as well as a Glock handgun. The family identified the gun, which had small amounts of blood on it, as being the victims gun. Hatch is being held in the Jackson County jail on a $200,000 bond. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. CHANUTE, Kan. (KSNW) You can find many interesting and unique museums in Kansas. Hutchinson has the Cosmosphere and Strataca Salt Museum. Greensburg, the Big Well Museum, and Hays, the Sternberg Natural History Museum. You can find the newly opened Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison and the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene. However, theres one museum you may not even know about that is one of the most unique in the world: the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum. Sculpture of Kansas natives and nature documentary pioneers Martin and Osa Johnson (courtesy Conrad Froehlich, Director Martin & Osa Johnson Safari Museum.) Sculpture of Kansas natives and nature documentary pioneers Martin and Osa Johnson (courtesy Conrad Froehlich, Director Martin & Osa Johnson Safari Museum.) native masks (courtesy Conrad Froehlich, Director Martin & Osa Johnson Safari Museum.) African tribal outfits (courtesy Conrad Froehlich, Director Martin & Osa Johnson Safari Museum.) African tribal outfits (courtesy Conrad Froehlich, Director Martin & Osa Johnson Safari Museum.) Martin and Osa Johnson were pioneers in filmmaking and nature documentaries. In the early 20th century, the couple were the first to travel to places like Africa and the South Pacific with film equipment to document wildlife and native cultures. Martin Johnson was born in Lincoln, Kansas, in 1884 and raised in Independence. He traveled to the South Pacific as a cook and photographer for author and adventurer Jack London. Though he had met his future wife Osa several years before when he photographed her brother, he was reintroduced to her when he lectured on his travels with London in Osas hometown of Chanute. They married soon after, and after briefly planning to operate a movie theater in Independence, Martin convinced Osa to travel to film in the South Pacific. It was the first of many films for the couple that became highly successful. Tanganyika Wildlife Park announces hatching of African penguins The couple is the first to film many native cultures and animals in their natural habitat. In addition, they also published multiple books and lectured extensively. Martin died in a plane crash in 1937 while the couple were traveling from Salt Lake City to California on a lecture tour. Following his death, Osa continued their work, became a film producer, childrens book author, and womens fashion designer, and released a best-selling memoir with the help of a ghostwriter called I Married Adventure. She died of a heart attack at a hotel in New York City in 1953. The couple had no children. In 1961, Osas surviving family opened a museum to preserve the couples work. The museum houses memorabilia, photographs, native artwork, and items the couple collected from their extensive travels, and also has a 30-seat movie theater where visitors can watch their films. The museum is located at 111 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chanute. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This embedded content is not available in your region. For more about the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum, visit their website. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. The Kansas Supreme Court threw out a marijuana conviction on Friday, finding a sheriffs deputy violated a mans Fourth Amendment rights when he stopped him in a park. The states high court reversed Tyler Brandon McDonalds conviction on charges of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia following a 2019 encounter with a Geary County Sheriffs deputy inside a park near Milford Lake northwest of Junction City. The unanimous decision, authored by Justice Caleb Stegall, found that a warrantless traffic stop for public safety reasons cannot be justified by suspicion of criminal activity. The opinion comes after The Star last fall documented a series of Fourth Amendment violations by Kansas law enforcement over the past decade, ranging from improper vehicle stops to home searches. The police raid of the Marion County Record newspaper in August has led to new scrutiny of law enforcement actions and whether they respect civil liberties. A valid public-safety stop requires an officer to believe such a stop is necessary to protect the individual or the public based on the specific and articulable facts of the particular situation, Stegall wrote. In McDonalds case, Stegall wrote, the facts didnt support a valid public safety stop. On Sept. 16, 2019, Geary County Sheriffs Deputy James Regalado noticed McDonalds car parked inside Milford State Park just after 9 p.m. The park was open, but it was dark, and seeing that there appeared to be only one person inside the vehicle, he activated his emergency lights and approached McDonald. Regaldo smelled pot and eventually searched the vehicle, finding marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a gun. McDonald challenged the search in district court but was convicted. The Kansas Court of Appeals affirmed the decision, noting that the deputy knew the area was a place where individuals had previously gone to harm themselves. But the Supreme Court was unconvinced. Stegall emphasized that the park was still open and that McDonald was parked legally. He noted that we assign no value to the bare fact that McDonald was alone and there were not specific and articulable facts regarding concerns of self-harm in the record to support those concerns in this case. The deputy had not received any calls, reports, or other information that McDonald was in any type of danger. McDonald did not appear to be in an adverse physical state or doing anything which would indicate he was at any risk of self-harm, Stegall wrote. Sitting alone, talking on the phone via Bluetooth, while legally parked in an open public park is simply not enough. Key Insights Thermo Fisher Scientific's estimated fair value is US$662 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Thermo Fisher Scientific's US$598 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate Analyst price target for TMO is US$599 which is 9.5% below our fair value estimate Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) as an investment opportunity by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Thermo Fisher Scientific What's The Estimated Valuation? We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$7.55b US$8.46b US$9.32b US$10.9b US$11.9b US$12.7b US$13.4b US$14.1b US$14.6b US$15.1b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x7 Analyst x7 Analyst x6 Analyst x1 Est @ 9.11% Est @ 7.06% Est @ 5.63% Est @ 4.63% Est @ 3.93% Est @ 3.44% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 6.9% US$7.1k US$7.4k US$7.6k US$8.3k US$8.5k US$8.5k US$8.4k US$8.2k US$8.0k US$7.8k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$80b After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.3%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 6.9%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$15b (1 + 2.3%) (6.9% 2.3%) = US$336b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$336b ( 1 + 6.9%)10= US$173b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$252b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$598, the company appears about fair value at a 9.7% 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 Important Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Thermo Fisher Scientific as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.000. 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific Strength Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Life Sciences market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years. Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market. 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. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Thermo Fisher Scientific, we've compiled three relevant factors you should look at: Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Thermo Fisher Scientific that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does TMO's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) A Kempsville High School freshman was shot and killed on Thursday night in Virginia Beach. It happened around 6:15 p.m. Thursday in the 4900 block of Almandine Avenue, off Bonney Road in the Kempsville area. The victim, who police have not identified, was found with a gunshot wound and died at the scene, police say. Police say the victim and other juveniles were handling a gun at the time when it discharged. A 16-year-old now faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, juvenile possession of a firearm and shooting inside an occupied dwelling. A 15-year-old is charged with obstruction of justice. Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate told WAVY it happened after the teens found an unsecured gun in the residence. Curiosity, mishandling, playing with a firearm and now we have a deceased 14-year-old, Neudigate said. Chief Neudigate added: the level and the amount of firearms and juveniles that we see in the city of Virginia Beach, and that we see in Hampton Roads, is disturbing. He went on to say that a lot of firearms are stolen out of vehicles and residences and end up in the hands of teens. He said in one of every 10 vehicle break-ins in Virginia Beach, thieves get a gun. He said while owning a gun is a Second Amendment right, it also comes with responsibility, and the community needs to do more. To the community, please secure those firearms, he said. Kempsville High sent out a statement to the school community on Friday morning. It reads it is with great sorrow that we report the passing of one of our students. Our hearts and sympathies are with the students family and the Kempsville High School community. The school says additional counselors will be available for those who need support, and parents can reach out to the school about the shooting at 757-648-5450. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. The Kentucky Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill allowing mothers of unborn children to receive child support, further establishing a conservative, anti-abortion movement to institute fledgling rights for fetuses. Senate Bill 110 drew broad support from both sides of the aisle and easily crossed the Republican-majority state Senate chamber with a 36-2 vote. Its expected to pass in the House, where Republicans also hold a supermajority. The measure would allow a parent to seek child support up to a year after giving birth to cover any expenses incurred during pregnancy, The Associated Press reports. Stock image of pregnant woman (Photo: Pexels) Republican state Sen. Whitney Westerfield, a fierce opponent of abortion rights, introduced the bill. I believe that life begins at conception, Westerfield said. But even if you dont, theres no question that there are obligations and costs involved with having a child before that child is born. If the measure becomes law, parents can collect child support funds from the state only up to a year after a childs birth. The bill originally allowed parents to apply for child support at any time after their children are born, but legislators amended the bill to set a time limit. So if theres not a child support order until the childs 8, this isnt going to apply, Westerfield explained when the bill was being reviewed by a Senate committee. Even at a year and a day, this doesnt apply. Its only for orders that are in place within a year of the childs birth. Abortion rights proponents in Kentucky are keeping a watchful eye on the legislation as it moves to the House to look out for any revisions that might establish personhood for fetuses. Similar laws have been enacted in other states. Georgia has already allowed parents to collect child support for their fetuses. Another Georgia law allows parents to claim income tax deductions for dependent children before birth. Utah also established a pregnancy tax break. Measures that resemble these laws are in the works in other states, too. This bills passing comes on the heels of a ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court that decreed that frozen embryos are legally protected extrauterine children as the campaign to offer constitutional protections to embryos and fetuses continues. Since that decision, several of Alabamas in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics have paused or suspended their services. The ruling has also raised questions about the future of reproductive technology. Kentucky Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Moms of Unborn Children to Collect Child Support A Versailles man who went to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital with body armor, guns and explosives in 2021 has been sentenced to prison, according to a press release from the United States Department of Justice. Bryan Carroll, 46, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison on three federal charges, including possessing a gun as a convicted felon, carrying an explosive during the commission of a felony offense and possessing an unregistered firearm, according to court records. Carroll must serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be on probation for three years following release, according to the DOJ. Carroll pleaded guilty in November and faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and six years of supervised release. Still from video provided by the University of Kentucky that shows Bryan Carroll, a man arrested on multiple state and federal weapons charges, going into UK Chandler Hospitals emergency department. The incident at UK Hospital unfolded after the Versailles Police Department alerted UK Police that Carroll was on his way to the hospital and he had an active arrest warrant stemming from a drug case. Law enforcement confronted Carroll outside the emergency department, where he was taken into custody after a brief struggle. During a search of Carroll and his Honda CR-V, officers located a total of eight firearms, including a sawed-off shotgun, four explosive devices, and one improvised explosive bomb, according to previous court testimony from a UK Police detective. One of the explosives was a metal container with firework powder and 99 nails inside. When detonated, it would have released shrapnel up to 600 feet away, according to Carrolls federal plea deal. He cooperated with law enforcement at the scene and told them about more ammunition which he had inside his Versailles residence. When officers searched his home, they found six additional explosives, two firearms and Improvised explosive bomb mixtures. The federal case was separate from state charges that also stemmed from the incident. Those charges which include use of weapons of mass destruction, felon in possession of a handgun, possessing a controlled substance, resisting arrest, fleeing police, possessing drug paraphernalia, and being a persistent felony offender were dismissed in January without prejudice due to Carroll being federally indicted, according to court documents. Herald-Leader reporter Taylor Six contributed to this report. Kevin Hart is in a reflective mood about the lessons he learned after controversy around his past homophobic jokes cost him the 2019 Academy Awards hosting gig. Sometimes its OK to take a step back and to be educated. I got a crash course. It was one that was necessary and needed," the 44-year-old comedian told the Wall Street Journal Magazine. He also called the backlash he experienced "a come-to-Jesus moment." Read on for a brief timeline of Hart's 2019 Oscars controversy. Kevin Hart (Nathan Congleton / TODAY) Dec. 4, 2018: Hart is announced as the 2019 Oscars host, sparking a backlash In December 2018, immediately after Hart was announced as the Oscars host one of the most prestigious emcee gigs in Hollywood he came under fire for jokes he'd made about the LGBTQ community nearly a decade before. The jokes were discovered in old tweets of Hart's, including one in which the comedian said if he ever discovered his son playing with his sister's dollhouse, he'd break the dollhouse over the boy's head. Hart's old tweets prompted discussion about remarks Hart made in his 2010 comedy special "Seriously Funny" about how one of his biggest fears as a father would be having a gay son. Dec. 6, 2018: Hart addresses the controversy without apologizing Two days after the Oscars brouhaha began, Hart addressed the backlash but did not apologize. The comedian explained in a selfie video he posted Dec. 6, 2018, on social media that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences asked him to apologize so that they and he could move forward with him as host. I passed on the apology Ive addressed this several times. This is not the first time this has come up. Ive addressed it. Ive spoken on it. Ive said where the rights and wrongs were, the comedian said in a selfie video he shared on social media. Hart's apparent lack of remorse further divided his fans, many of whom believed he owed the LGBTQ community an apology. Dec. 7, 2018: Hart apologizes as he steps down as the Oscars host The following day, Dec. 7, 2018, Hart announced he was stepping down as the Oscars host, and included an apology for his past homophobic jokes. "I have made the choice to step down from hosting this years Oscars....this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past," Hart said in a statement on what was then known as Twitter. He added, "Im sorry that I hurt people... I am evolving and want to continue to do so. My goal is to bring people together not tear us apart. Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again." Jan. 4, 2019: Ellen DeGeneres urges Hart to reconsider the hosting job In early January 2019, Hart appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," where host Ellen DeGeneres, who is a member of the LGBTQ community, urged him to disregard the "haters" and reconsider the Oscars hosting job. You have grown, you have apologized, youre apologizing again right now, youve done it, she said. Dont let those people win. Host the Oscars. Jan. 8, 2019: Hart apologizes again on his radio show One month later, Hart apologized on his Sirius XM radio show, "Straight to the Hart," explaining that he understood how his jokes made members of the LGBTQ feel. " December 2019: Hart addresses the controversy in his Netflix docuseries In December 2019, Hart released the six-part Netflix docuseries "Dont F**k This Up," which took viewers behind the scenes during his Oscars backlash. The series depicted members of Hart's inner circle, including his manager, urging him to apologize for his old jokes. Later in the series, Hart expressed regret that he didn't listen to those who told him to say he was sorry right away. "I missed an opportunity to say that I dont condone any type of violence, in any way, shape, or form, to anyone, for being who they are," he said, concluding, I f----- up. This article was originally published on TODAY.com North Korea conducted an artillery firing drill, state media reported Friday, including units that have the range to reach the South Korean capital of Seoul. Photo by KCNA/EPA-EFE SEOUL, March 8 (UPI) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw an artillery firing drill that included a demonstration of long-range units that can bombard Seoul, state-run media reported Friday. Kim guided the drill by the North Korean army's large combined units at a training ground on Thursday, Korean Central News Agency reported. "The drill started with the power demonstration firing of the long-range artillery sub-units near the border who have put the enemy's capital in their striking range," the KCNA report said. Seoul, the capital of South Korea with a population of 10 million, is roughly 35 miles from the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas. In November, the North scrapped a 2018 inter-Korean military accord meant to reduce tensions along the border. Kim said the drill was necessary to prepare the artillery units to "take the initiative with merciless and rapid strikes at the moment of their entry into an actual war," according to KCNA. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided the firing drill one day after he visited a training base and called for intensifying war preparations. Photo by KCNA/EPA-EFE The drill came a day after Kim visited an army training base and called for intensifying war preparations. South Korea's military said it detected live-fire artillery drills toward the Yellow Sea on Thursday near the port city of Nampo, involving dozens of multiple rocket launchers and self-propelled howitzers. The North Korean artillery drill comes as the United States and South Korea are holding their 11-day Freedom Shield joint military exercise. On Friday, South Korean fighter jets conducted an "Elephant Walk" drill during Freedom Shield. Photo courtesy of Republic of Korea Air Force "If North Korea commits a provocation, we will retaliate overwhelmingly and resolutely," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message sent to reporters. The artillery drill was held as the United States and South Korea continued their annual Freedom Shield exercise, which kicked off on Monday. The 11-day exercise has a focus on countering threats from the nuclear-armed North and includes 48 joint field drills, almost twice as many as last year. "Our military maintains a solid defense posture and is conducting the ongoing Freedom Shield exercise and joint training while closely watching for signs of North Korea's provocations and military activities," the JCS said. North Korea regularly condemns the allies' joint exercises as rehearsals for an invasion and has used the drills in the past as a pretext for its own missile tests. Earlier this week, North Korea's Defense Ministry condemned the Freedom Shield exercise as part of a "military threat to a sovereign state" and warned that Seoul and Washington will be "made to pay a dear price." The United States and South Korea have increased their military cooperation in response to the North's s provocations, with expanded drills and the deployment of U.S. assets such as aircraft carriers, a B-52 nuclear bomber and a nuclear ballistic missile submarine to the Korean Peninsula. Shootings such as what happened at the Chiefs Super Bowl parade stir up debate about guns, with everyone seeing evidence supporting their own view frankly, some of the opinion columns seemed as if they were prewritten by authors waiting for just this kind of a tragedy. But while policing and public safety are important debates, we need to do a better job of thinking them through. As an example of just such a good job, look no further than the 2022 KCPT documentary The Gun Conundrum. Filmmaker Michael Price reminds us there are no easy answers to Kansas Citys homicide rate as he works to balance the issue of growing homicides with the desire by many to arm themselves. Notable in the film: how quickly confrontations escalate. Young men who sense they are in danger are quick to fire first, and security camera videos show how fast it all happens. Carrying a gun seems completely rational if you might not survive an attempt to de-escalate. For those who advocate that we just get rid of guns, I commend to you a open rant by Charles C. W. Cooke of National Review and urge you to get started you have a great deal of work ahead. The rest of us will find agreement where we can. On Feb. 22, KCMO radio host Pete Mundo had a very good discussion on the matter of guns with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. Starting at about the 10:09 mark, Lucas makes the point that he wants police to have more tools to interdict minors and maybe others carrying guns. Many agree with him, including the police. Mundo pointed out that those tools such as the so-called police stop and frisk policy are hot-button issues now labeled as racial profiling. Of the 182 homicides committed in 2023, 55% of the suspects as well as 65% of the victims were Bmen. If Kansas City wants to be more aggressive in policing, we need to come to terms with the fact that the focus of that policing will not fall on everyone equally just as the benefit will not fall on everyone equally. Prosecutors need support as well. While there will always be anecdotes of light sentences or prosecutions lost, in the aggregate, Jackson County is outperforming the rest of Missouri. The average sentence for homicide in Jackson County was 27.6 years in 2023, up from 23.3 years in 2019. (Its 25.5 years statewide.) Actions by the Missouri legislature change criminal justice as well. After the stand your ground law was adopted in 2016, prosecutors dismiss more cases than they would like because of self-defense claims. Anyone involved in a drug deal-related shooting, for example, has a pretty compelling case that they feared for their life. Lower legal standards give them the chance to get away with it. If conservative Missouri legislators were willing to repeal self-defense standards and modify open carry laws, would progressives or liberals be willing to step up? Hard decisions and hard consequences arent new. Liberals today would never champion the 1994 crime bill signed by President Bill Clinton, even though it was supported by Black leaders at the time. Slate points out that Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel supported the bill that created the crack cocaine sentencing disparity that President Ronald Reagan signed into law in 1986. Now? President Joe Biden cant shuffle away fast enough from his support of those two bills. Progressives nationwide called for defunding the police and actually attempted it in Kansas City. Left-leaning media are eager to treat every police shooting as an unindicted murder. So before we engage in our next gun debate, lets stop demanding others change their views and start wondering which of our own views were willing to compromise. Maybe all of us need to de-escalate. Patrick Tuohey is co-founder of Better Cities Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on municipal policy solutions, and a senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to Missouri state policy work. Malaysia's government has said it may authorize a new hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 a decade after the plane and all 239 passengers and crew on board disappeared on March 8, 2014. What happened to MH370 after it departed Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, en route to Beijing remains one of aviation's biggest mysteries. Texas-based marine robotics company Ocean Infinity, which tried previously to find the plane, has proposed launching a new search, and Malaysia's transport ministry said it would consider the proposal. What details on flight MH370's disappearance have been confirmed? MH370 set off from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia for China's capital city on March 8, 2014. Thirty-nine minutes after taking off, the aircraft vanished from air traffic control radar displays. The pilot sent a normal sounding radio call as the plane left Malaysian airspace, but he never checked in with Vietnamese air traffic controllers upon entering that country's airspace as he should have done. MH370 timeline, from takeoff to final satellite signal About two minutes after the last radio correspondence, MH370's transponder a standard piece of equipment on all commercial aircraft that routinely relays a plane's position to air traffic control authorities turned off, making the jet invisible to civilian radar systems. Military radar and satellites showed that MH370 then turned around to travel over the Andaman Sea back toward Malaysia, flying for hours before it vanished, possibly when it ran out of fuel. Malaysia's prime minister said 17 days after the plane disappeared that, based on the satellite data, his government had concluded that the plane crashed down in a remote corner of the Indian Ocean, and that there were no survivors. Who was on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370? There were 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board flight MH370, including three Americans as well as people from China, Indonesia, Russia and France. Among them was a celebrated group of 24 Chinese calligraphy artists coming from an exhibition of their work. Two young Iranian men on the plane, 18-year-old Pouria Nour Mohammad Mehrdad and 29-year-old Delavar Seyed Mohammadreza, were traveling on stolen passports to seek better lives in Europe. Two of the U.S. citizens on the plane were young children, Nicole Meng, 4, and 2-year-old Yan Zhang. Philip Wood was the only American adult on the flight. The IBM executive had been living in Beijing and was planning to relocate to the Malaysian capital with his girlfriend, Sarah Bajc. Is there still an ongoing search for flight MH370? When MH370 disappeared, an international search effort involving dozens of ships and aircraft was mobilized to scour the South China Sea and southern Indian Ocean. Australia, Malaysia and China then conducted a huge underwater search operation, covering around 46,000 square miles with sonar, submarines and aircraft. In July 2015, an airplane fragment later confirmed to be a flaperon from MH370 was found washed ashore on the western Indian Ocean island of Reunion. It was the first hard evidence that the plane had gone down in the area. More debris was later found washed up on the coast of eastern Africa. But after no more results, all formal search efforts were suspended in 2017. In 2018, Ocean Infinity launched its own hunt for MH370 north of the initial search area, as part of a "no find, no fee" deal with Malaysia, but that search was called off after a few months. What comes next? Ocean Infinity recently suggested it could resume the "no find, no fee" search for MH370, though Malaysia has said it will only do so if there is credible new evidence of where it might be located. Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke said he was open to being briefed on Ocean Infinity's proposal, and if there is credible new evidence to work with, he said he would seek government approval to resume the search. "The government is steadfast in our resolve to locate MH370," Loke said at a memorial event for MH370. "We really hope the search can find the plane and provide truth to the next-of-kin." Visitors write messages at a Day of Remembrance for MH370 memorial service in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, March 3, 2024. / Credit: Supian Ahmad/NurPhoto/Getty Malaysian Prime Minister Anway Ibrahim echoed the sentiment on Monday. "We have taken the position that if there is a compelling case, evidence that it needs to be re-opened, we're certainly happy to re-open," Ibrahim told journalists. "Whatever needs to be done must be done." What are some of the leading theories on what happened to MH370? No conclusive evidence has been found to support a specific cause of the plane's disappearance. However, various theories have been proposed and investigated in the years since. One theory is that the captain or another crew member deliberately crashed the plane in an act of mass murder-suicide. Authorities reviewed the crew's financial records and tracked the pilots' activity leading up to the flight using security camera video and found "no significant" behavioral changes and no evidence of financial trouble, according to a 2015 report from Malaysia. A 2016 report in New York magazine revealed that authorities had found the pilot used his home flight simulator to do a simulated flight that was similar to the path MH370 is believed to have taken before it disappeared. Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysia's acting transport minister in 2014, said there was "nothing sinister from the simulators," according to the BBC. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in 2014 that both the radar transponders and flight data transmission system had been deliberately turned off by someone on the flight in an attempt to hide the plane's location, according to a report in New Scientist. This has led some to speculate the plane may have been hijacked. Several passengers were investigated as possible perpetrators of a hijacking, including the two men who had been traveling using fake passports. No evidence was ever found linking any passengers to the plane's disappearance, and authorities concluded that the two Iranian men had been seeking asylum. New York governor deploys National Guard to subways following string of violent attacks Boeing and United Airlines investigate after wheel detaches from plane Sen. Katie Britt delivers Republican rebuttal to State of the Union address Manatee County commissioners approved plans for more hospital beds in the University Lakes development on Thursday. During a public Manatee County land use meeting on Thursday, commissioners also voted in favor of changes needed for a Buchanan-family-related property in Palmetto and to pursue a candidate for the open county attorney position. University Lakes hospital Commissioners voted 6 to 0 to approve changes for the Development of Regional Impact for the University Lakes development by Schroeder-Manatee Inc. to add 150 additional hospital beds and other minor amendments. The DRI was originally approved in June 1992 encompassing 2,353 acres of land. The DRI has been amended over the years to now include about 4,117 acres on the north side of University Parkway east of Interstate 75. The development includes 1,458.6 acres of land dedicated to about 4,579 residential units, retail, office, and commercial space, a hospital and a hotel. Thursday's increase brings the total amount of hospital beds allowed to 300. County attorney Commissioners voted to allow Chair Mike Rahn to negotiate with Pamela D'Agostino for the open county attorney position. If hired she would replace Bill Clague, who announced plans in December to resign on March 8. D'Augustino previously served as an assistant county attorney for the county between 2015 and 2023 and currently serves as the School District of Manatee County's general counsel. Commissioners appointed Chief Litigator Chris De Carlo as interim county attorney to serve in the role until it can be officially filled permanently. More apartments Commissioners approved a comprehensive plan map amendment, a change in zoning, and a general development plan for about 21 acres in Palmetto owned by the 1099 Management Co., which was represented by Florida Rep. James Buchanan and Jeff Reynolds. The property is located on the north side of 21st Street Ct East, just west of Ellenton Gillette Road. The changes increase the density of residential units allowed on the property from six units per acre to nine. The approvals also change zoning for the property from agricultural to planned development residential. The general development plan calls for the construction of up to 191 residential units. The plan provides flexibility, meaning the units could range from single-family detached residences, attached, multifamily units, or a combination of the various categories of housing. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Things to know in Manatee: More hospital beds at University Lakes Please, wont somebody think of the poor lead pipes? During his spirited, unapologetic State of the Union address Thursday night, President Joe Biden went down the list of the many accomplishments made possible by the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package he shepherded through Congress in 2021. One big win he cited: Removing poisonous lead pipes so every child can drink clean water without risk of getting brain damage. Thats pretty much an unassailable Good Thing. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach apparently heard it and thought, Gotcha! Biden wants to replace lead pipes, he posted on X, formerly Twitter. He failed to mention that the unfunded mandate sets an almost impossible timeline, will cost billions, infringe on the rights of the States and their residents all for benefits that may be entirely speculative. Speculative? Really? First of all, the president wasnt announcing a new project. The Environmental Protection Agency has long put universal lead water line replacement near the top of its wish list, and the infrastructure bill provided money to speed up that initiative, as outlined in the White Houses 2021 Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan. Early last year, the EPA announced it was accelerating efforts to make our water supply system 100% lead free, as soon as possible. Because weve known for a long time that lead is super toxic. Kids are most vulnerable to the hazardous chemical element, which was once thought as benign as aluminum. Exposure, especially during childhood, can lead to a number of problems, including major damage to the brain and nervous system, which can cause behavior and learning impairment, developmental delay and a measurable decrease in intelligence. This is not a bunch of pointy-head liberal finger-wagging. Its well documented, irrefutable science. Theres a reason we banned leaded gasoline in 1996. Lead has a terrible human cost. It used to be an ingredient not just in gas, but in paint, ceramics, glassware, cosmetics, jewelry and even toys. A study in 2022 concluded that coming into regular contact with the metal in so many household items for so long has reduced the IQ of about half the U.S. population an average of about 2.6 points per person. Getting rid of this public heath scourge is hardly beyond our abilities. Havent we always said theres nothing the United States cant accomplish? Potable drinking water for all Americans in 2024 doesnt seem like an impossible dream to me. Back to Kobach. Its not as if theres some wave of pro-lead populism for the AG to ride on. A solid 7 in 10 Americans classify those dangerous pipes as a crisis or serious problem, and 9 in 10 want them gone on a short timetable. For years, internet jokesters have chalked up older folks sometimes bizarre behavior to the too-heavy levels of lead they were exposed to growing up in the mid-20th century. Theory: Boomers are the way they are in large part due to lead poisoning when they were young, reads one typical post on the news and message board website Reddit. Theres actually evidence of more than a little bit of fact there. But Im not going to take a cheap shot at non-boomer Kobach along those lines. Still, I have to ask: When did modern conservative contrarianism devolve to the point where the Republican occupant of one of the most important and influential offices in Kansas questions the wisdom of fighting lead poisoning and thinks thats a winning political message? But he floated that balloon. Guess well see what its made of, and where it lands. Fruit, vegetables and herbs can also be added to kombucha. Christin Klose/dpa Countless health claims swirl around kombucha, a fermented drink made with tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast. Although there is little research backing up the would-be superfood benefits of kombucha, some studies have suggested it can help with gut health in place of probiotic supplements, and also support the body's immune system. There risks of this drink are even clearer, however, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, young children and anyone with a weak immune system. What's more, if it's made at home in unsafe conditions, unwanted bacteria that grows in it can cause allergic reactions, infections and an upset stomach. In many countries there are also unclear rules defining how the drink is made, and depending on the supplier, kombucha can therefore taste different and have different ingredients. Who can drink kombucha? Certain groups of people should be careful or avoid it altogether. Because kombucha contains small amounts of alcohol, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, infants, small children and dry alcoholics should avoid it. Germany's Federal Nutrition Centre (BZfE) also warns people with a weak immune system or pre-existing conditions such as kidney failure to steer clear of it out of precaution, especially with unfamiliar products where production methods are not standardized. Kombucha can also be made at home, but hygiene is a top priority, and it's essential to use sterile containers. It's also best to use a glass container because the acidity of the fermented drink can dissolve the lead from ceramics with a lead-containing glaze and, in the worst case, lead to poisoning if consumed over a long period of time. The basic ingredients are usually black or green tea, sugar and SCOBY - a culture of bacteria and yeast. The abbreviation stands for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts. First, boil water and leave the sweetened tea to infuse for around 10 minutes. If you like, you can also let it infuse with some fruit, herbs or even vegetables. Then to the cooled, filtered liquid, add at least 10% of your starter liquid. This helps to ferment the tea at room temperature, which is converted into carbon dioxide and alcohol and further metabolized by the bacteria. This produces organic acids such as acetic, lactic and gluconic acid. Detailed recipes can be found online and in books. Depending on the mixture and how long it's left to ferment, the finished drink tastes somewhere between sweet and tart or sour. Important: If mould forms or the colour or smell changes, the entire culture must be thrown away, since consuming kombucha made with this could mean negative health effects. By Scott Murdoch SYDNEY (Reuters) - China Evergrande's liquidators have hired three law firms to advise on the troubled property giant's winding-up process, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Global firm Clifford Chance and Hong Kong firms Tanner De Witt and Karas So were mandated recently to provide legal advice on the liquidation, which has been under way for about six weeks, the people added. Alvarez and Marsal (A&M) Managing Directors Tiffany Wong and Eddie Middleton were appointed liquidators by a Hong Kong judge on Jan. 29, bringing an end to more than 18 months of negotiations between the firm and offshore bondholders. The Guangzhou-based firm was considered the world's most indebted developer with more than $300 billion of total liabilities both onshore and offshore. But Evergrande was ordered to be liquidated after it had been unable to offer a concrete restructuring plan more than two years after defaulting on its offshore debt and following several court hearings. The sources could not be identified discussing confidential information. Karas So, which operates in association with London-headquartered firm Mishcon de Reya, declined to comment. Wong and Middleton, A&M, Clifford Chance and Tanner De Witt declined to comment. Evergrande did not respond to a request for comment. Lawyers working on the case will look for, among a number of issues, evidence of wrongdoing and negligence across the company, its management and external advisers that could have led to Evergrande defaulting on its debt, the sources said. Evergrande's liquidation could last for more than a decade, according to some offshore investors, and become a blueprint for future major Chinese corporate winding up processes. The pace of Evergrande's liquidation would rely on whether mainland Chinese courts recognise the Hong Kong judgment. Recognising the ruling would allow creditors to seize unpledged onshore Chinese assets, a process that could take a number of years to complete, according to lawyers. (Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney; Editing by Kim Coghill) The front of Slauson Swap Meet on Jan. 21 2024 in South Los Angeles. (Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times) Moon-ho Kim lounged on a bed in his acupuncture stall with his arms folded behind his head, watching the Korean news on TV. He had worked for years as a construction worker, then an electrician to scrape together the money to open the five-bed stall. But in two hours on this Wednesday afternoon, no customers had arrived. He and other vendors at Slauson Super Mall in South L.A. were keeping a mostly fruitless vigil. Like Kim, many are Korean immigrants who spend seven days a week peddling their wares to a mostly Black clientele. A poster of Tupac Shakur and a cutout of Nipsey Hussle are displayed at Slauson Super Mall. (Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times) "I get by," said Kim, 60, who is of Korean descent and grew up in China. "I eat and live day by day." Name-checked by Nipsey Hussle and other rappers "This is how we ball ... Slauson Mall" the hulking green warehouse-like building is a place to get a suit and tie, 7-inch platform shoes, wigs, bejeweled tooth decorations or a custom R.I.P. shirt to commemorate a deceased loved one. It's often called a swap meet, but the stalls are like small stores, with permanent walls and shelves, where a customer can not only dress and accessorize head to toe but also get a manicure and a tattoo, haggling over prices to get a good deal. The food court sells fried Cajun-style chicken, pupusas and Korean tofu stew. The Korean merchants weathered a boycott in 1990 over allegations that they were rude to Black customers, staved off looters during the 1992 riots and survived the COVID-19 pandemic by setting up in the parking lot. Now, many are approaching retirement, with the swap meet in decline as customers migrate to the internet. The long hours at their stalls paid for their children's college educations by design, the next generation won't be taking over. New vendors, including some Latinos who were employees and then started businesses of their own, are trying their luck. At Timothy Jeong's clothing stall one of the largest and busiest at Slauson Super Mall a customer called out her pant size. "38, 32! 38, 32!" Timothy Jeong discusses the turmoil of working at Slauson Super Mall during the 1992 L.A. riots as he waits for customers on Jan. 23, 2024. (Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times) A measuring tape dangling around his neck, Jeong impatiently sifted through mounds of clothing that seemed as disorderly as a hoarder's home. He says there's a method to the madness. He cursed under his breath in Korean. The customer, Deannette Martin, has been coming to Slauson Super Mall for over a decade and frequents Jeong's shop for its collection of cargo pants. As a security guard at the DMV in Culver City, she needs the large pockets for her radio and keys. She tried on a size 36, but it was too small she needed a 38. My helper, I gave to her, Jeong said over his shoulder as he continued to rummage. Papa! Papa! Martin, 56, who lives in Crenshaw, yelled from the front of the store. Come over here. Look, you probably put it back here. Jeong finally gave up and asked Martin, who had prepaid for the pants, to come back the next day. About 40 minutes later, Vernon Nash entered the stall, ducking under the clothes hanging from the ceiling like a welcome curtain. This one, handmade. Not sewing machine, Jeong said, holding up a black suit jacket. $359. My price, $149. Can you do a little better than half price? asked Nash, 65, a longtime customer who lives in South L.A. Jeong kept on with his sales patter until he clinched the deal. Tight jeans are displayed for customers. Colorful hills and platform stripper shoes are displayed for customers. Acrylic nail designs are displayed for customers at Queens Nail. Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times In South Korea, Jeong imported livestock for Korean Airlines. After he arrived in the U.S. in 1983, his path was shaped by his connections with other immigrants. He got into the swap meet business through a friend. Your life is determined by who picks you up at the airport, who you know, said Jeong, 75. In 1988, he opened a 200-square-foot clothing stall at Slauson Super Mall, gradually expanding to 4,000 square feet. The scale allows him to turn a profit, he said if only a tenth of what he made during the swap meet's heyday despite the challenges of selling retail clothing in an internet economy. Jeong has barely taken a vacation in 37 years, working nine hours a day, seven days a week. He has two sons, one a pharmacist and the other a bioengineer. They won't be taking over the stall when he retires in a few years. To make everything successful, you must sacrifice," he said. "I give [my family] money to travel, but I dont go. Im proud to support them. Slauson Super Mall opened in 1985, with Korean immigrants selling clothing, snacks, ice cream and groceries. In 1992, as people looted and torched businesses in South L.A. after the acquittal of the police officers who beat Rodney King, Christine Na decided to flee the swap meet. As she pulled out of the parking lot, looters came flooding in, banging on her car. More than a dozen Black security guards stood their ground, protecting the Korean-owned stalls for several days, according to Na and other stall owners. The swap meet remained closed for 18 days. "It was mentally such a traumatic time, but we were so lucky because of the security guards," said Na, who opened her first stalls in 1988 and still operates a shoe stall. In a part of the city beset by violence and gangs, robberies and fights spilled into the swap meet in the 1990s and early 2000s, when the homicide rate was several times higher than today. These days, vendors pay $300 to $500 a month for security, on top of about $4,000 for a 400-square-foot stall. About a dozen armed security guards roam the aisles. When entering the swap meet, customers pass through a metal detector and have their bags inspected. Some merchants blame the strict security for driving customers away, while others welcome the safer environment. The manager of Slauson Super Mall denied requests for comment. Anita McCoy, one of the few Black vendors at the swap meet, employs local residents at her makeup and clothing stalls including a man who was released from prison in 2020 and wore an ankle monitor for the next two years. Theyre in a lifestyle that they chose or grew up in, said McCoy, 43. They never learned how to work a [cash register] machine. And whos going to trust a felon with all that money? But I did. McCoy, of Long Beach, sometimes transforms her clothing stall into a soup kitchen, making meals on an electric skillet for homeless people. It's tough for other Black entrepreneurs to establish a foothold at the swap meet, she said. The rent goes up almost every year, and she pays about $13,000 a month for four stalls. But slowly, the demographics are changing. The Korean stall owners have long employed Latino workers, and some have become bosses themselves. A customer smiles while barber Cash Allen cuts his hair at Slauson Super Mall. (Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times) Alma Moreno began working at Jeong's clothing stall in 1997 as an undocumented immigrant raising several children. By 2015, she had her papers and had saved enough to open her own stall selling baby clothes. She now owns three stalls, with her daughter helping at one of them. On this Wednesday, Irma Gomez, who works at Jeong's stall, stopped by to chat in Spanish with Moreno. Youre next, Moreno, 45, said to Gomez with a determined look. Were going to get you a stall of your own next. At Mr. Bling Grillz, Tony McCoy was picking up a 14-karat gold grill. Mr. Bling Grillz seller Jae Choi puts a new grill in the top gums of Keaton Scott at Slauson Super Mall on Jan. 31, 2024. (Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times) Around him, teeth coverings sparkled on the shelves diamond, gold, opal, some featuring designs including a pink fang-shaped outline. "I always wanted one, and sporting grills is just a part of the urban culture here," said McCoy, 29, who grew up next to the swap meet and works at an AT&T call center. McCoy's grill, his first, cost $600. The addition of a single precious stone could have upped the price to $1,600, said Jae Choi, nephew of the owner, a Korean immigrant who goes by Mr. Bling. Celebrity clients include Lizzo and Tyler, the Creator. Lil Nas X spent around $10,000 at Mr. Bling for the custom grill he wore in a Doritos Super Bowl 2020 commercial, according to Choi. Choi, 33, has been running the business since last summer after his uncle returned to South Korea for health reasons. He is the only second-generation Korean he knows of who has taken over a business at the swap meet from an older relative. "I dropped out of college, because I saw room to grow the business," Choi said. "I think a different wave of trend is coming, and I'm more suited for that younger taste and culture." For some South L.A. natives, the swap meet is a family tradition. At Queen Nails, Cereniti Martinez admired her fresh French tips as she waited for her mother, Devon Martinez, to finish a manicure. Growing up in South L.A., Devon Martinez got her nails done with her own mother at the swap meet every couple of weeks. Now, she does the same with her daughter, even though they live in the Wilshire district. Cereniti, 14, often refreshes her wardrobe at the swap meet, noting the "really great price range." Demetrice Dunn has her nails done at Queen Nails. (Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times) For some of the longtime Korean merchants, the swap meet's decline is a depressing end to their careers, even as their toil there has earned them a modest version of the American dream. Na, the shoe stall owner who fled the rioters, recalls the swap meet's peak in the 1990s and early 2000s, when people parked at the church next door because the parking lot was always full. "Now, you could play bowling down this corridor," she said. "Theres not a single person in sight. She started with three stalls, selling men's clothing as well as shoes, paying off her mortgage and putting her kids through college. Now, she works alone in the one shoe stall she still operates nine hours a day, seven days a week, sitting on a cushioned foot stool and watching people walk by without stopping to browse for shoes. Alma Moreno waits for customers. She worked for another seller before opening three stalls herself. (Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times) If I thought I would have to struggle this much just to make a living, I probably would have just stayed in Korea," she said. Will [the Korean vendors] even make it to 10 years? Five years? With the way business is going? 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. KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) One person was flown to a hospital Thursday after a crash in Kingsport. According to the Kingsport Police Department, it happened around 12:15 p.m. at the intersection of Memorial Boulevard and Harbor Chapel Road. Rep. David Hawk calls for resignation of Ballad CEO Alan Levine month after heated exchange Police said a Honda Accord traveling east on Memorial Boulevard failed to stop for a red light and struck the front bumper of a Toyota Sienna minivan that was turning left from Harbor Chapel onto Memorial. The Honda came to rest pinned against a guardrail by the Toyota. The 90-year-old driver of the Honda was transported from the scene by EMS before being flown to a hospital for an abdominal injury, according to police. None of the four people in the Toyota minivan were injured, according to police. The driver of the Honda was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) Both victims of a Wednesday afternoon assault are now in stable condition, according to Kingsport police. The police department said the victims, a man and woman, were treated for severe lacerations to the head and face area consistent with stab wounds. Rep. David Hawk calls for resignation of Ballad CEO Alan Levine month after heated exchange Officers responded to the alleged assault around 2 p.m. Wednesday in the 300 block of Sequoyah Drive where they found the victims bleeding from severe injuries to their heads from possible stab wounds and/or blunt force trauma. Both were taken to a hospital for possible life-threatening injuries and one was in critical condition Wednesday evening, according to police. Investigators identified William Clark, the female victims son and male victims nephew, as the suspect. Police said Clark left the scene before officers arrived in a Chevrolet Impala he took without permission from the male victim. Clark was found and arrested in the 4800 block of Peers Street in Sullivan County. Police charged Clark with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, theft of property over $2,500, and driving on a suspended license. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. The Kremlin extended the ban on publishing statistics on oil and gas production The Russian government has extended the ban on publishing statistics on oil, gas and condensate production until April 1, 2025, Kommersant reported, listing oil-gas-water mixture (production fluid), dehydrated, desalted and stabilized oil, unstable gas condensate to be among the types of products which statistics is not to be shared. Read also: Turkeys Mediterranean oil terminal halts Russian imports amid U.S. sanctions The resolution also contains an additional list of activities, data on which will not be published from 2024. This list includes oil and natural gas production, oil and associated gas production, natural gas and condensate production. The 2024 resolution contains no information on whether the publication of statistics for these parameters has been discontinued. Russia classified data on oil production and sales, as it was reported in April 2022. Russias Energy Ministry explained this decision resulting from statistics could be used to put pressure on companies and the market in general. Russia classified all data on oil, gas, coal production, and their sale in June 2022. The ban was introduced until April 1, 2024 from the very beginning. Read also: Russia funded for two more years of war Lithuanian intelligence 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 anonymous Louisville woman got the thrill of her life this week when she looked at her Kentucky Lottery ticket and discovered shed won $150,000 not $150, as she previously believed. When the woman showed up at Kentucky Lottery headquarters in Louisville Wednesday, she scanned her ticket at the claims window. Thats when the reality of her huge win sunk in. According to a Friday lottery news release, the woman jumped up and down and her celebration echoed throughout the lobby. Ive got happy tears, the woman told the Kentucky Lottery employees who came out to see her. Im so excited, I cant contain it. The night before, the woman bought a scratch-off ticket for the Red Cherry Tripler game, which cost her $10 to play. According to the games official rules, players scratch off a total of 20 spots, 15 of which are marked Your Numbers. The remaining five are winning numbers. If the player matches any of their numbers with any of the winning numbers, they win the corresponding prize amount beside that matching number. Players can double their prize amount by revealing a matching red number, and their prize is tripled if they scratch off a red triple cherry symbol. If the player reveals a double cherry symbol among their numbers, the player wins all 15 prizes shown instantly. A player can win up to 15 times and up to $150,000 on each ticket. The overall odds of any win on the game are 1 in 3.20. The womans winning ticket. The Louisville woman scratched off her ticket to reveal two red triple cherry symbols, which multiplied her two $20,000 prizes by three, bring her to $120,000. She then matched a red number, 39, which doubled the adjacent prize of $15,000 to $30,000, giving her a grand total of $150,000 in winnings. Initially though, the woman thought shed won much less. I was in the car, it was dark, and I thought I only had $150, she said. When I got home in the light, I saw the comma. I couldnt believe. Leaving Kentucky Lottery headquarters the next day with a big check, the woman said she was going to treat herself to a spa day to work out her next move, which is likely a trip to a dealership to buy a new vehicle. The Speedway on Arthur Street in Louisville, which sold the winning ticket, will also get a bonus of $1,500. If you or someone you know has a problem gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700. Do you have a question about the Kentucky Lottery for our service journalism team? Wed like to hear from you. Fill our our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com. A maiko in one of the narrow alleys of Gion, where the world of the geiko is traditionally an exclusive one - JORGE FERNANDEZ/LIGHTROCKET VIA GETTY IMAGES For centuries, tourists have visited Kyoto to see the citys geishas in their bright kimonos, white-painted faces and elaborate hairdos. But from next month, visitors to the historic Gion district will be banned from certain streets after a surge in harassment. The situation is out of control, experts say, with reports of sightseers stubbing out cigarettes on the performers, pestering them for selfies and chasing them down the street. The plan to limit access comes after a Gion district council made up of local residents urged Kyoto City in December to tackle the issue of over-tourism, highlighting that the area was not a theme park. Many of the districts atmospheric narrow lanes, lined with traditional wooden architecture, will be out of bounds for tourists from next month. We dont want to do this but we are desperate The ban will be marked with new signage, although the areas main thoroughfare, Hanamikoji Street, will remain open, according to Isokazu Ota, a member of the council. We will ask tourists to refrain from entering narrow private streets in or after April, he told AFP. We dont want to do this, but were desperate. The picturesque Gion area, one of the busiest spots in Kyoto, has long seduced crowds of tourists with its time-capsule architecture, cultural heritage, and legendary status as home to geisha. Apprentice geishas, known as maikos, distribute beans to drive away evil spirits to the crowds at a festival in Kyoto to celebrate the coming of spring - STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES The volume of crowds that throng Gions lanes is at odds with the culture of exclusivity that traditionally surrounds the rituals-steeped world of geisha, known as geiko in Kyoto. Access to the world of geiko, who are accomplished masters of traditional art forms, from dance to music, often requires introductions via contacts, with select clients permitted at exclusive teahouse events. Plans to limit access to Gions lanes follow several earlier initiatives aimed at preventing tourists from misbehaving in the district, which appear to have had limited effect. Five years ago, Gion district council put up signs saying no photography on private roads, warning of fines of up to 10,000 yen (53) for taking non-consensual pictures. A Gion maiko poses for photographers. But tourists are accused of harassing the performers for selfies and taking photos without their permission - BUDDHIKI WEERASINGHE/GETTY IMAGES The issue has become even more critical since Japan reopened its borders in October 2022 after two and a half years of closure because of Covid, paving the way for a resurgence in tourism. In one incident, a US tourist reportedly threw $10,000 at a geisha along with the key to his hotel room. More commonly, tourists block the paths of the performers, who are sometimes mistaken for sex workers in foreign cultures, demanding selfies. Sometimes they enter private properties to take photos, Peter Macintosh, an expert on geisha culture, told the South China Morning Post. Its out of control, he said. Lack of cultural awareness blamed A lack of cultural awareness is a key factor in causing discord between tourists and locals in Kyoto, according to James Mundy, of InsideJapan Tours, a tour operator. Kyoto was certainly seeing signs of over-tourism pre-pandemic, but it has become a bigger issue post-pandemic, as demand to travel to Japan has grown, he told The Telegraph. However, over-tourism is not just about big crowds, it is about lack of cultural awareness which is a big part of the issue here big tourist groups and DIY travellers keen to get a picture of the iconic geisha in the traditional streets of Kyoto but with a lack of understanding around culture and etiquette. Kyoto is not the only tourism hub in Japan in the spotlight because of concerns with over-tourism. Officials in Yamanashi Prefecture announced this week that from this summer, hikers wishing to climb Mount Fuji, Japans most famous peak, will be charged 2,000 yen each, with numbers limited in order to improve safety and reduce congestion. In the late 1920s there were some 80,000 geishas but today only 1,000 remain. Teenagers are less likely to commit to the lengthy training in music, dance and etiquette required by the 18th-century tradition. The pandemic spurred some geishas to innovate by providing Zoom calls or launching crowd-funding sites. The typical geisha performance furnishes guests with an hours-long party, involving dance and games, alongside a splendid meal. In the 1970s, Liza Dalby, a US anthropologist, became the first Westerner accepted into the geisha community, after studying the form for her phD. Her skill on the shamisen a plucked string instrument was key to her entry to the cloistered community. Dalby was invited to join a group in Kyoto, where she would earn a reputation as the blue-eyed geisha and become a household name in the country. They saw that I was serious in my study and they felt that I would not really be able to understand their lives unless I experienced it myself, she 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. (Bloomberg) -- Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona ruled out a third-party presidential run on the No Labels ticket, the latest prominent centrist to do so. Most Read from Bloomberg Im not running for president, she said Thursday when asked in a Capitol hallway interview if she might reconsider her previous reluctance to run. Sinema, who switched her party affiliation from Democrat to independent in 2022, noted she previously joked that she was overqualified to be president. Im slow to make a decision she said, but added that once doing so, Boom, Im done. Sinema announced Tuesday she wouldnt seek a second term in the Senate. She was trailing behind the likely Democratic and Republican nominees in third place in polls in her home state. No Labels plans a virtual meeting with state delegates on Friday to discuss going forward with a presidential ticket. Earlier Thursday, the group indicated that Sinema wouldnt be their presidential nominee. She has made clear that her time in electoral politics is over, and we thank her for her longstanding friendship to No Labels, the group posted on X. Earlier: Sinema Wont Seek Senate Reelection, Reshaping Arizona Race Former Independent Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, No Labels founding chairman, said in January he would like the party to consider nominating then-Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley. She said she wasnt interested. Lieberman was not available for comment Thursday, according to his office. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, also have been floated as potential presidential candidates for No Labels. Both have rejected the idea, and Hogan is running to replace one of his states senators, Ben Cardin, whos retiring. --With assistance from Billy House. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The B'nai B'rith Lodge on South Union Avenue in Westlake served as a hub for the Jewish community and later as the heart of the labor movement in L.A. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times) The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Friday to allow the demolition of a century-old building in the Westlake neighborhood that served as a Jewish landmark and later as the heart of labor organizing in the city. The vote was a victory for Catholic Charities, which bought the building historically known as the B'nai B'rith Lodge in 2018 but later said it was "seriously dilapidated and structurally unsound" and could threaten the safety of the surrounding neighborhood. Catholic Charities, a nonprofit organization connected to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, filed a lawsuit against the city in 2023, saying it had wrongly been denied permission to tear down the ornate 1924 structure. The group said in court documents that the city would not allow demolition of the property on South Union Avenue because it may be historic, making it subject to further additional review, as well as because any future projects on the lot must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act. Community preservationists and advocates argued that a potential demolition would be a blow to crucial L.A. history. Instead, they urged Catholic Charities to repair the building and put it to use. The Rev. Dylan Littlefield, the chaplain at the Cecil Hotel who has become involved in preservation battles, said the lodges demolition would mean the destruction of a place that stood as a testament to the resiliency and the diversity of the city of Los Angeles. Read more: 'The law that swallowed California': Why the much-derided CEQA is so hard to change Esotouric, a tour company that advocates for historic preservation and public policy, told The Times before the settlement vote was announced that the public should have a chance to comment. The company called the lawsuit and any prospective settlement a potential land-use decision about the right to demolish a cultural resource. The city attorneys office declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. The B'Nai B'rith Lodge was designed by famed Jewish architect Samuel Tilden Norton, who also designed the Wilshire Boulevard Temple. It was built in the early 1920s as the home for an L.A. chapter of the Bnai Brith, a Jewish service organization with New York roots. At the time, members of the Bnai Brith felt a desire to really be accepted by the leaders of the city, according to Steven Luftman, a heritage conservation consultant. They felt that if they only built a grand enough meeting hall, that that would be one step toward being recognized as part of the community, said Luftman, who wrote an application for the lodge to be deemed a historic-cultural monument. After a few years of being a community hub for Jewish L.A., the building was sold in 1930 to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. It then had a brief tenure as clubhouse for the Safeway Employees' Assn. before it became the headquarters of the American Federation of Labor Teamsters Joint Council 42. It became the site for rapid growth of the labor movement, and is where the Teamsters elected their first Black official, John T. Williams, Luftman said. The AFL Teamster building was the heart of the Los Angeles labor movement and ground zero for much of the union organizing that transformed Los Angeles into a metropolitan powerhouse, said Chris Griswold, president of Teamsters Joint Council 42. Bnai Brith International said in a statement that the lodge represents an important part of the history of our organization in Los Angeles. However this is resolved, it would be important to the history of Los Angeles Jewry to note that Bnai Brith met there, the statement said. Catholic Charities and the archdiocese respect the building's history and "have been in communication with both the Jewish community and labor leaders throughout this process, the religious groups said in a joint statement. Our concern has always been the safety of the dilapidated property and well-being of our neighborhood. Read more: Marilyn Monroe look-alike is mistakenly blamed as icon's home faces demolition; Brentwood hopes to save it In the lawsuit, Catholic Charities said it has no projects planned for the lot and stressed that its intention is to simply demolish the lodge. Catholic Charities incurs ongoing costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to maintain and secure the building, which is vacant, deteriorated and unstable, the court document read. These funds are being diverted from critical programs to help disadvantaged communities. The groups said their hope was to work with the community and the council office to eventually find a use for the property consistent with Catholic Charities mission, such as community food service, an emergency shelter, transitional youth housing, before and after school care, and older adult services. Littlefield, the chaplain at the Cecil Hotel, said Catholic Charities rationale was just an excuse to justify their desire to tear the building down. The building itself could be a place of empowerment, Littlefield said. The building itself could be a place where more movements like this takeoff, where more great things happen, where more lives are saved and changed. 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. Los Angeles has secured federal funding thatll increase the citys food composting efforts, Mayor Karen Basss office announced Friday morning. The $400,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture will go to L.A.s Bureau of Sanitation. From there, the money is headed toward operating 26 food waste reduction and composting locations, the news release said. Stations funded by the grant work to turn food waste, including edible items and scraps, into compost rather than going to landfills. Food scrap collection services will go to 20 farmers markets across L.A., where the waste will then turn into compost throughout six city parks. Close Up Of Woman Emptying Food Waste Into Garden Composter At Home The City is making it easier than before to help keep food waste out of landfills. Angelenos can drop off their food scraps at their local farmers markets which will then be composted and used at local community parks, said Mayor Bass. We thank the White House for this funding which helps more Angelenos embrace composting and build toward a greener city that is confronting the climate crisis with all available tools. The announcement comes as Bass and a delegation from L.A. is in Paris to learn about the French capitals preparation efforts ahead of this summers Olympic and Paralympic Games. Bass said Thursday that she hopes to bring over some of Pariss sustainability ideas ahead of L.A.s own Olympic hosting duties in 2028. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. LAFAYETTE, Ind. The United States Postal Service will host a job fair at the Lafayette main office at 3450 South St. on Tuesday, March 12, in hopes of filling up to 20 rural carrier assistant positions. The job fair is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday. Rural carrier assistants are expected to deliver and collect packages along routes in rural areas and provide a variety of services to customers along an assigned route. People who are hired will immediately be eligible to enroll in the USPS Health Benefits Plan with a Postal Service premium contribution. After completing one year without a break in service of more than 5 days, carriers may also be eligible for: health insurance under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB); dental and vision insurance through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP); flexible spending accounts program through FSAFEDS and long-term care insurance through the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP). A postal worker delivers mail in the University Farms neighborhood of West Lafayette, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. The United States Postal Service recently announced that it was planning increase the number of employees in Indiana as part of its Delivering for America campaign. As part of our innovative and bold 10-year plan, Delivering for America, the Postal Service is focused on building a more stable and empowered workforce. Our employees are our greatest asset, and we are investing in our new employees by providing robust training and on-the-job support, the postal service's news release stated. Anyone interested in applying must be 18, able to pass a criminal background investigation and be available to work weekends and holidays. Those unable to attend the job fairs can apply online at www.usps.com/careers. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette Post Office hosting a job fair Tuesday to fill 20 positions China has again sought to portray itself as a responsible world power in its rivalry with the United States, and pledged to champion the Global South. The latest effort came from top diplomat Wang Yi during a carefully choreographed press conference on the sidelines of the National People's Congress on Thursday. He said Beijing's diplomatic priorities this year were to "maintain stable relations with major powers, join hands with its neighbouring countries for progress, and strive for revitalisation with the Global South". 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. "China will strive to provide more Chinese solutions to both regional hotspots and global issues, creating new opportunities for the world with its own development," he said. Wang addressed a wide range of issues, mostly concerning relations with major powers, but observers said a key message was how China sees its future role in a world increasingly dominated by its rivalry with the US. The foreign minister said certain powers should not monopolise international affairs and countries should not be categorised according to their so-called strength. He said China was for an "equal and orderly" multipolar world and inclusive economic globalisation that benefits all. "It is impermissible that those with the bigger fist have the final say, and it is definitely unacceptable that certain countries must be at the table while others can only be on the menu," he said. That appeared to be a direct response to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks last month that "if you're not at the table in the international system, you're going to be on the menu". Despite China's economic woes, Wang also reiterated Beijing's promise to promote "high-quality" belt and road cooperation, which he described as "an engine for the common development of all countries and an accelerator for the modernisation of the whole world". Story continues Wang's remarks echoed the line from the closed-door Central Conference on Foreign Affairs Work late last year that China faced "strategic opportunities" to raise its "international influence, appeal and power" despite "high winds and choppy waters". "In the face of complex turmoil in the international environment, China will persist in being a force for peace, a force for stability and a force for progress in the world," Wang said. George Magnus, a research associate at Oxford University's China Centre, said Wang's remarks during the televised presser drew attention to the rising tension over global governance between China and the US. Beijing's narrative war with Washington also laid bare "the reach that both superpowers have, or lack, in the so-called Global South, which is not the uniform, one-size template for global developing and middle-income nations often portrayed," he said. "For the time being though, China is playing to the one unifying theme among Global South countries, which is that it is not America. And it's clear that many - by no means all - countries are unhappy with or uncertain about the US in the global system, especially ahead of the November elections and in view of the churn in American politics." Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it was "impermissible that those with the bigger fist have the final say". Photo: Kyodo alt=Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it was "impermissible that those with the bigger fist have the final say". Photo: Kyodo> Wang Wen, executive dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, said US-led containment and interference remained the biggest challenge for the country's rise. "Even so, [it is clear that] China still has the confidence to overcome external challenges and contribute diplomatically to the realisation of national rejuvenation," he said. Describing the world as being stuck in the most chaotic stage since World War II, he said it was a fact that "China is a force for peace, stability and development in the world". "No one can deny that in the past 40 years, China has been the only major economy in the world that has not launched or participated in wars," he said. But Pang Zhongying, an expert on international affairs from Sichuan University, said although Wang's messaging was clearly aimed at countering the US-led West, key questions remained unanswered. "We still don't know how China plans to deliver those ambitious diplomatic goals given the economic turmoil at home and how it plans to cope with the possibility of [former US president] Donald Trump's second term," he said. Shen Dingli, a Shanghai-based international relations scholar, said Beijing should be careful when it talks about ambitions to be a leader of the Global South as it could fuel suspicion from other emerging powers. He also said China's efforts to style itself as an alternative to the US would be seen by some - especially the China hawks in the West - as an attempt to challenge or displace Washington in the existing world order. Magnus agreed, noting that despite Beijing's talking points about a multipolar world, it may find it hard to live with other powers that do not share China's national interests and narratives. "An India that was more aligned with the US, for example, could not fit into China's orbit well. Multipolarity for China is a system in which China's governance system was central," he said. 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. The wheel on the deck of the wreck of the Trinidad, photographed during a dive to document the remains. ALGOMA - A 156-year-old shipwreck that its finders say is one of the most important in Wisconsin waters is now officially recognized as a historic place. The wreck of the Trinidad was named by the Wisconsin Historical Society to the State Register of Historic Places. She is 9 miles east of the Algoma Pierhead Lighthouse, partially embedded about 270 feet below the surface of Lake Michigan. What makes the wreck so important, Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association president Brendon Baillod told the Advocate in September, is that its remains are intact, unlike most other wrecks in the Great Lakes. Its deck house still has dishes; the crew's possessions and other artifacts are inside; and her anchors, wheel, bell, other deck gear and even the rigging (which used wire instead of rope and thus didn't rot away) survive and remain in place. "It's one of the most intact shipwrecks ever found in Wisconsin waters," Baillod said in that September interview. "It's a very significant find. It's like a time capsule." A news release from the historical society says the 140-foot-long schooner Trinidad represented a class of vessels called "canal schooners" or "canallers." They were unique to the Great Lakes because they were designed to transit the locks of the Welland Canal in Ontario, bypassing Niagara Falls while carrying the maximum amount of cargo through the locks with only inches to spare. The Trinidad was built at Grand Island, New York, in 1867. Like other canallers, she would carry coal from eastern ports Oswego, New York, in her case to Milwaukee and Chicago, then return to New York with grain, a lucrative commodity at the time. But Baillod wrote on the Shipwreck World website that the Trinidad's owners apparently didn't spend much to maintain the ship, and by 1879, she was no longer fit to haul grain. The cargo schooner Trinidad is seen in this photo during a winter layover in 1873 in Sarnia, Ontario, eight years before she sank off the Algoma coast in Lake Michigan. The Trinidad was bringing coal from Port Huron, Michigan, to Milwaukee when on May 10, 1881, she began leaking more than usual after passing Sturgeon Bay and sank early in the morning of May 11, so quickly that the crew had no time to gather possessions and a Newfoundland that served as her mascot was unable to escape, although Capt. John Higgins and the entire eight-man crew survived. Baillod and fellow Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association maritime historian Robert Jaeck found the wreckage of the Trinidad last July after a two-year search but didn't immediately publicize their discovery. They instead reported it to the Wisconsin Historical Societys Maritime Archeology program so it could be documented and 100% positively identified before shipwreck hunters and divers could disturb the location. They announced the discovery in September but didn't disclose the exact location until the wreck was named to the historic register to make sure it was protected. State and federal laws protect this shipwreck. Divers may not remove artifacts or structure when visiting this site. Removing, defacing, displacing or destroying artifacts or sites is a crime. The Trinidad joins four shipwrecks in the waters off nearby Door County named within the past year to the state register of historic places. The historical society added the Emeline and Peoria, off the Baileys Harbor shore, and the lumber schooners Boaz and Sunshine, both in North Bay off Lake Michigan, to the state register in 2023, giving Door County 30 wrecks on the register. The Emeline, Boaz and Sunshine since have been added to the National Register of Historic Places as well. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org or wisconsinshipwrecks.org. Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com. MORE: Sturgeon Bay gets a new fitness center in a space vacant 22 years. Here's what to know. MORE: Looking for a Friday fish fry in Door County? We have your perch, whitefish, lawyer and more FOR MORE DOOR COUNTY NEWS: Check out our website This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: 'Time capsule' Great Lakes shipwreck joins Wisconsin historic register Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan illegal immigrant charged in connection with Augusta University student Laken Riley's murder, has a second brother who was twice deported from the United States until eventually settling in Georgia, government officials confirmed Thursday. Jose Ibarra, 26; and his brothers, Diego Ibarra, 29; and Argenis Ibarra, 24, lived together in an apartment complex in Athens, Georgia. All three men were questioned and taken into custody after Jose allegedly murdered 22-year-old Riley, a nursing student, while she was jogging around the University of Georgia campus on Feb. 22. "Argenis Ibarra, a 24-year-old citizen of Venezuela, first entered the United States on April 3, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas unlawfully, and he was returned to Mexico the same day by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) pursuant to Title 42 expulsion procedures. He re-entered the U.S. unlawfully on April 30, 2023, near El Paso, Texas, and was arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol and released from their custody with a notice to appear, on May 4, 2023," an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) scheduled an immigration hearing for the younger Ibarra in Philadelphia in 2024. LAKEN RILEY MURDER: GEORGIA SHERIFF SAYS ICE DETAINER POLICY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COULD BE IMPROVED Asylum seekers cross the Rio Grande from Mexico into the United States on September 30, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. On Feb. 23, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Atlanta "encountered Argenis Ibarra in Athens while assisting the University of Georgia Police Department with their investigation into the murder of Laken Riley," the spokesperson said. "ERO Atlanta took Ibarra into custody pending further investigation of his immigration case." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Argenis is currently detained at an ICE facility in Lumpkin, Georgia. ILLEGAL BROTHER OF LAKEN RILEY MURDER SUSPECT LINKED TO VENEZUELAN CRIME GANG Jose is charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another in connection with Riley's killing. Jose Ibarra was arrested on February 23 in connection with Laken Riley's February 22 murder in Athens, Georgia. The murder suspect entered the United States through El Paso, Texas, in 2022 and was freed on border parole. He initially lived in New York City, where he was arrested for endangering a child prior to his move to Athens. FBI FEARS VENEZUELA MIGRANT GANG MEMBERS COULD POTENTIALLY TEAM UP WITH MS-13 KILLERS Diego, like Argenis, "first entered the U.S. on April 3, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas unlawfully, and he was returned to Mexico the same day by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) pursuant to Title 42 expulsion procedures. He re-entered the U.S. unlawfully on April 30, 2023, near El Paso, Texas, and was arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol and enrolled by ERO into Alternatives to Detention (ATD) on May 11, 2023," an ICE spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital. Diego was accused of trying to bite a Border Patrol agent in April 2023 but was still allowed to travel to New York afterward. Like his brother, he moved to Athens, and in September 2023, Athens-Clarke County Police charged him with drunken driving and driving without a license. He and Jose were later cited for shoplifting in Athens. Diego Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, allegedly handed over a fake green card to police on the hunt for his brother Jose, whom they accuse of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. Diego has since been charged with green card fraud after allegedly showing police fake documents when they arrived at his apartment to question his brother in connection with Riley's murder. LAKEN RILEY TRIED TO REACH 911 DURING DEADLY ENCOUNTER, ATHENS POLICE CONFIRM Court documents released Wednesday revealed that Diego Ibarra has ties to the violent Venezuela-based organized crime gang Tren de Aragua. Federal authorities say that the gang, also known as TdA, has become known for its violent turf wars as it has expanded into other countries in South and Central America. The gang is trying to establish itself in the U.S., where police are already linking it to organized crime. Images taken from federal court filings include Diego Ibarra's alleged fake green card as well as photos that prosecutors say are evidence of his suspected ties to the violent Tren de Aragua gang from Venezuela. All three Ibarra brothers lived in an apartment complex near UGA's campus that is about a five-minute walk from the approximate scene where Jose allegedly killed Riley. Diego appeared in court Thursday for his initial appearance related to the green card fraud charge, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Weigle ordered the murder suspect's brother to remain in federal custody while his case is pending prosecution. GEORGIA STUDENT MURDER SUSPECT CONFIRMED TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT Weigle granted the U.S. attorneys motion to detain Diego Ibarra, who will remain in U.S. Marshals' custody while his case is pending prosecution. Diego Ibarra waived his preliminary hearing, so he proceeded straight to the bail hearing Thursday in federal court. Diego Ibarra appears in federal court on immigration charges in Macon, GA, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Ibarra is the brother of Jose Ibarra, who is accused of the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley in Athens, GA, last month. The judge listed several factors that led to his decision, including the fact that Diego had cut off his ankle monitor following his release from U.S. immigration custody and later had been able to obtain or provide false documents. Weigle said he was concerned that Diego would relocate and obtain or create more fraudulent documents again. BROTHER OF UGA MURDER SUSPECT CHARGED WITH GREEN CARD FRAUD He further cited Diego's failure to appear in court for his asylum hearing in New York and a hearing for his DUI charge in Athens. Diego Ibarra appears in federal court on immigration charges in Macon, GA, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Ibarra is the brother of Jose Ibarra, who is accused of the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley in Athens, GA, last month. Federal defender Chauntilia Adaway argued that Diego Ibarra is not a flight risk, because he sought asylum in the United States. She also said the court has not heard any testimony of Diego acting in a violent manner or committing any gang-related acts. Adaway further noted that the suspect had not been prosecuted for his alleged attack against a border patrol agent. "If convicted, Ibarra faces a maximum of ten years in prison. U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Weigle ordered Ibarra to be detained pending trial based on evidence of the defendant being a flight risk," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia said in a statement on Thursday. Fox News' Samantha Daigle and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report. Original article source: Laken Riley murder suspect's second brother was twice deported before settling in Georgia DENVER (KDVR) Denver-area law enforcement agencies have released a mugshot of a man accused of assaulting children in Centennial and Littleton out of concern some additional victims have not been found. The suspect was identified as Christopher Ballard, 26, of Lakewood. He was arrested Thursday by the Parker Police Department with assistance from the Lakewood Police Department and the Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson county sheriffs offices. Ballard was arrested on the following counts: One count of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust Three counts of a pattern of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust Five counts of sexual exploitation of a child Nine counts of unlawful sexual contact Four counts of obscenity Christopher Ballard, born April 31, 1997, was arrested and is facing charges involving sexual assault of children. Ballard was reported to law enforcement on March 2 after a parent spoke with their child. According to law enforcement, Ballard started working at the Journey Academy, at 7691 S. University Blvd. in Centennial, in May 2021. He was also known to go to their secondary location, Journey Life Center, at 6228 South Carr Street in Littleton. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Potential victims have been identified in Parker, Douglas County and Jefferson County, and law enforcement has been in contact. We want to encourage anyone who thinks their child may have been a victim of Mr. Ballards, knows someone who may have been a victim or has information about this case to please contact Parker Detective Bev Wilson or Douglas County Sheriffs Office Detective Randy Allen, the Parker Police Department wrote in its release. Wilson can be contacted at 303-805-6561 or bwilson@parkerco.gov. Allen can be contacted at 303-784-7802 or rallen@dcsheriff.net. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A man was charged Tuesday with animal abuse for allegedly causing severe injuries to a cat he thought was a jaguar, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office. Richard Swangler, 56, told West Hempfield Township Police that he had a jaguar in his bedroom but instead, officers found a severely injured six-month-old black cat in need of emergency care, the DAs Office said. Lancaster County man charged with using tow truck to steal antique farm tractor According to the criminal complaint, police asked Swangler if he consumed any drugs and he admitted to using methamphetamine earlier. Swangler also had fresh claw marks on his right hand and wrist, police noted in the complaint. Police discovered there was a warrant out for his arrest out of Bucks County and took him into custody to be extradited to Bucks County. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Nittany Insiders Police were able to get the cat to pet emergency services for treatment for a severe injury to the lower chin/mandible. 41 people charged with public assistance fraud in Pennsylvania Swangler was charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals causing death or serious bodily injury. Swangler is currently locked up in Lancaster County Prison with bail set at 10% of $15,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. EAST PETERSBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Police in Lancaster County have launched an arson investigation into a fire that occurred in the evening hours of Thursday, March 7. According to the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department, officers responded shortly before 9 p.m. to a report of a suspicious fire at a home in the 2400 block of Franklin Drive in East Petersburg. Police say it was suspected that an adult male resident purposely set the fire and was seen running from the home. According to police, the suspect was located and detained, then taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment of injuries sustained during the fire. Fire crews contained and extinguished the fire and no other injuries were reported. The motive, cause, and outcomes of the fire are still under investigation, but Northern Lancaster County Regional Police and Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal investigators believe it was set deliberately. Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to contact police at (717)-733-0965. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. A woman was forced to block her landlord on her phone after he left her about 175 voicemails in a two-month romantic pursuit, Georgia police say. The landlord, 64, was arrested on a stalking charge after authorities said he repeatedly tried contacting the woman with the intent to harass her, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by McClatchy News. The 33-year-old tenant called police on March 4 and accused her landlord of intentionally locking the meter to her Floyd County home, leaving her without water for a week, per a police incident report. She also accused him of stalking her to the point that she blocked him on Feb. 27, police said. The woman told police he would watch her residence from his property and once followed her best friend who was visiting because he thought it might have been a male, according to the incident report. Police also looked at the womans phone and saw he left her about 175 voicemails between Jan. 1 and Feb. 27, authorities said. On the day she blocked him, he left the woman 21 voicemails, according to police. I listened to some of the voicemails ... and it was apparent that (he) was pursuing a relationship with the tenant, an officer wrote in the report. The woman told police she and the landlord were never romantically involved and that she only loved and cared for him as a friend, authorities said. Police, meanwhile, said the water department told them the water was cut off because the bill hadnt been paid. The tenant told them the lock on the meter belonged to the landlord and not the water company. McClatchy News reached out to police on March 8 for clarification but did not receive a response. A warrant for the mans arrest was issued March 4, though its unclear when he was taken into custody. Rome is about a 70-mile drive northwest from downtown Atlanta. Landlord pressured tenants for sex acts, evicted those who refused, feds say. Now he owes Man taunted college students with stolen nude photos from their Snapchats, feds say Man grabs elderly victim, throws him from mall escalator steps, Texas video shows Actor Jon Hamm is getting his fill of Fort Worths barbecue scene while in town filming Landman, Taylor Sheridans latest television production. Hamm and his wife, Anna Osceola, stopped by Near Southsides Brix Barbecue around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, pitmaster Jeremiah Jemente said. The Mad Men actor got a little bit of everything from the barbecue joint that opened last summer. Jemente recalls Hamm ordering half a pound of lean brisket, half a pound of ribs, a jalapeno cheddar sausage link and coleslaw. The Brix crew also threw in a slice of their fan-favorite porchetta. We were hoping they would come by, Jemente said. Whenever we saw them come up, we were really excited. More trending stories: Texas to 'spring forward': When daylight saving time begins How a six-pack of beer, $100 got rescuers to pull pig out of thorns. Want to make $359K a year working from home? Here's a list of jobs. Hamm has been exploring the Fort Worth culinary scene since the weekend, stopping by Goldees Barbecue on Sunday and Curlys Frozen Custard on Monday. JDs Hamburgers is even selling a Jon Hammburger this week. On a blustery Thursday, Hamm and Osceola arrived at Brix, ordered, then sat and ate in the dining room. After the couple finished their meal, Jemente went over and introduced himself to Hamm, and the two took a photo together. Hamm then gathered up with a few other Brix staffers for a group photo before he and Osceola went on their way. While a Mad Men fan, Jemente said hes an even bigger airplane nerd and particularly enjoyed Hamms performance in Top Gun: Maverick. Hes just a baller in that, Jemente said. When I saw him, it just brought a smile to my face. Brix Barbecue is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or sold out) Thursday-Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at 1012 S. Main St. WHY IS JON HAMM HANGING AROUND FORT WORTH? Hamm is in town filming Landman, the latest series from North Texas native Taylor Sheridan. Landman began production in Fort Worth last month and is expected to film in and around North Texas for the next few months. Hamm joins a previously announced cast that includes Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore and Ali Larter. Hamm is set to portray Monty Miller, a titan of the Texas oil industry who has a long personal and professional relationship with Tommy Norris (Thornton). Landman is co-created and executive produced by Sheridan and Christian Wallace, which is based on Texas Monthlys podcast Boomtown that Wallace wrote and hosted. The shows synopsis reads, Landman is set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas and is a modern day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs.The series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, its reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics. Landman will debut on Paramount+. As of March 1, The Los Angeles Police Department has an Asian American chief for the first time. Assistant Chief Dominic H. Choi was unanimously appointed by the civilian Board of Police Commissioners to serve as interim chief of the LAPD. The appointment follows the surprise retirement of Chief Michel Moore, who served with the department for 40 years. The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce praised the appointment in a statement, saying, Interim Chief Chois appointment marks a significant milestone in the history of the LAPD, as he becomes the 58th chief and the first of Asian descent to hold this esteemed position. About Dominic Choi Born in Los Angeles to Korean immigrants, Choi grew up in Orange County, and has always had ties to the city. Hes a Trojan! In 1995 he decided he wanted to join the force, and went through the academy. He has held almost every rank in the department while serving for the past couple of decades. Before becoming Assistant Chief, he was Director for the Office of Operations. He said during his swearing in ceremony, This isnt about breaking barriers. Its about building bridges. While hes proud of his heritage, he wants to promote communities coming together. Dominic Choi On the graffiti incident Graffiti artists broke into downtown Los Angeles Oceanwide Plaza skyscraper development beginning of February, and tagged over 27 floors. The Oceanwide Plaza was supposed to be a $1 billion real estate project in downtown L.A., but its been empty since 2019. Interim Chief Choi said the LAPD is now policing the perimeter of the towers 24 hours a day. The department are currently working with city officials to contract private security on the property. They are also working on recouping costs used to put up an anti-climb fence and fund security and clean-up. Crime in Los Angeles This time last year we were a little bit lower than we are currently, but if you go back to 2022 we are actually lower now than in 2022. It ebbs and flows. Violent crime down, property crime up in Los Angeles Choi is hoping to lower the numbers by looking at whats causing the increase in crime. Their statistics are showing an increase in gun-related crimes. Because of this, the department is focusing on targeting and apprehending gun-related crimes, and work to get illegal ghost guns off the street. Recruitment and Retention Mayor Karen Bass announced 1,200 applicants to work for the Los Angeles Police Department, which is a two-year high. When asked about how to retain these new officers, Choi said, One of my primary goals is to increase morale. Talk about the good work we do, not just the bad work. Let them know we appreciate and value what theyre doing. There are hero situations every day. LAPD Crime Stoppers partnership Anyone who knows anything about ghost guns being manufactured or trafficked can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously and can now get up to $1,000 reward if it leads to an arrest. You can submit a tip here. Choi will be the interim chief as the mayor and police commission spend the next six to nine months searching for a permanent replacement among the LAPDs ranks and nationwide to head up the department of nearly 9,000 officers during the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Two officers who helped victims during the 2023 shooting on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, were honored Wednesday. As students and faculty ran from the active shooter inside Beam Hall at UNLV, responding officers Jacob Noriega and Ty Vesperas spotted a professor standing nearby, bleeding from a gunshot wound in the left arm. We were able to apply the tourniquet, Noreiga said. Lifted him out of there, put him in the back of Tys car. The two officers heroics were recognized for the first time during a Wednesday press conference at the LVMPD Joint Emergency Training Institute. Your first responders here in the Southern Nevada community did not hesitate, Sheriff Kevin McMahill said. Police, fire and EMS they went to the danger, they took action, they saved lives and eliminated the threat. For two years, the Engelstad Foundation, a medical-based nonprofit organization, and Touro University, the largest medical school in Southern Nevada, have provided emergency medical response kits and training to thousands of police officers. Thanks to the Engelstad Foundation, we have been able to supply and train just about all of the Metro officers. Dr. Andrew Priest, Touro University President and Provost, said. As has been shown in the large event at UNLV, on a daily basis, theyre telling me they go through a handful of these individual first aid kits for a variety of reasons. Sheriff McMahill reminded attendees the 3,500 vehicles and individual first aid kits police have are to render aid as soon as possible before paramedics arrive. We have actually gotten so far into this mindset that after we have shot somebody during an armed encounter between my officers and a suspect, he said. We put the gun away and saved the suspects life. In February 2024 Metro police have used 39 kits to save the lives of victims and suspects. Were not paramedics, were not firefighters, were not EMS but oftentimes we find ourselves there first and we have the opportunity to save a life, McMahill said. Uses of Vehicle and Individual First Aid Kits by LVMPD during February 2024 10 Tourniquets 5 Emergency bandages 4 Wound packing gauze 4 Combat gauze 11 Chest seal 2 Medical tape 3 Medical scissors UNLV strike team Amid the fog, two officers fired their simulated weapons at a would-be shooter during a training exercise for the media inside Metros JETI facility. Standing nearby, Vesperas and Noriega, the two officers who saved the fourth UNLV shooting victims life, recalled their actions during the incident. I just remember Jake saying, Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. Vesperas said. We ended up picking up the victim, and put him in my patrol vehicle and drove him out. The officers credited the opportunity to save the victims life to the other strike team, which was already inside Beam Hall searching for the shooter. Noriega noted another shooting event that required his medical training. During October first our squad was one of the first squads that were showing up down there, he said. This is not something that is brand new for us. With equipment on hand and training committed to memory, the only thing left is the rituals officers do to prepare themselves to serve the community. I try to say a prayer on the way there, Noriega said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Las Vegas police arrested a man they said is a suspect in a homicide in which the victim was found shot to death in a crashed vehicle. According to police, on Saturday, March 2, at around 12:40 a.m., officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department were called to the 4400 block of East Lone Mountain Road near East Craig Road. Police said there was a report of a vehicle that crashed into a building. Arriving officers found a man in the vehicle suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. Through the investigation, police learned the victim was followed by an unknown vehicle before the shooting. Police later identified Tony Archuletta, 42, as a suspect in the case. Officers took him into custody on Thursday, March 7. Tony Archuletta, 42, faces a charge of open murder after a man was found shot to death in a vehicle. (LVMPD) Archuletta faces a charge of open murder with a deadly weapon. He is being held at the Clark County Detention Center without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 9. Anyone with any information is encouraged 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 at 702-385-5555 or on their website. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. FILE - The interior of the I-Soon office, also known as Anxun in Mandarin, is seen after office hours in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan Province on Feb. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dake Kang, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) BEIJING (AP) China's hackers-for-hire take government officials out for lavish banquets, binge drinking and late-night karaoke with young women in a bid to win favor and business, as revealed in a highly unusual leak last month of internal documents from a private contractor linked to Chinese police. Chinas hacking industry is vast in size and scope but also suffers from shady business practices, disgruntlement over pay and work quality, and poor security protocols, the documents show. Private hacking contractors are companies that steal data from other countries to sell to the Chinese authorities. Over the past two decades, Chinese state securitys demand for overseas intelligence has soared, giving rise to a vast network of these private hackers-for-hire companies that have infiltrated hundreds of systems outside China. Though the existence of these hacking contractors is an open secret in China, little was known about how they operate. But the leaked documents from a firm called I-Soon have pulled back the curtain, revealing a seedy, sprawling industry where corners are cut and rules are murky and poorly enforced in the quest to make money. Leaked chat records show I-Soon executives colluding with competitors to rig bidding for government contracts. They pay thousands of dollars in introduction fees to contacts who bring them lucrative projects. I-Soon has not commented on the documents. Mei Danowski, a cybersecurity analyst who wrote about I-Soon on her blog, Natto Thoughts, said the documents show that Chinas hackers for hire work much like any other industry in China. It is profit driven, Danowski said. It is subject to Chinas business culture who you know, who you dine and wine with, and who you are friends with. Though I-Soon boasted about its hacking prowess in slick marketing PowerPoint presentations, the real business took place at hotpot parties, late night drinking sessions and poaching wars with competitors, leaked records show. A picture emerges of a company enmeshed in a seedy, sprawling industry that relies heavily on connections to get things done. Story continues I-Soons founder and CEO, Wu Haibo, is one of China's so-called red hackers patriots who offer their services to the Chinese Communist Party. With the spread of the internet, Chinas hacking-for-hire industry boomed, emphasizing espionage and intellectual property theft. Today, hackers such as those at I-Soon outnumber FBI cybersecurity staff by at least 50 to one, FBI director Christopher Wray said January at a conference in Munich. China boasts world-class hackers, many employed by the Chinese military and other state institutions. But documents reveal that I-Soon and other hackers-for-hire often engage in sketchy business practices. I-Soon leadership discussed buying gifts and which officials liked red wine. They swapped tips on who was a lightweight, and who could handle their liquor. I-Soon executives paid introduction fees for lucrative projects, chat records show, including tens of thousands of RMB (thousands of dollars) to a man who landed them a 285,000 RMB ($40,000) contract with police in Hebei province. To sweeten the deal, I-Soons chief operating officer, Chen Cheng, suggested arranging the man a drinking and karaoke session with women. He likes to touch girls, Chen wrote. The source of the I-Soon documents is unclear, and executives and Chinese police are investigating. And though Beijing has repeatedly denied involvement in offensive hacking, the leak illustrates I-Soon and other hacking companies deep ties with the Chinese state. For example, chat records show Chinas Ministry of Public Security gave companies access to proofs of concept of so-called zero days, the industry term for a previously unknown software security hole. Zero days are prized because they can be exploited until detected. I-Soon company executives debated how to obtain them. They are regularly discovered and surface at an annual Chinese state-sponsored hacking competition. Many of I-Soons clients were police in cities across China, a leaked contract list showed. I-Soon scouted for databases they thought would sell well with officers, such as Vietnamese traffic data to the southeast province of Yunnan, or data on exiled Tibetans to the Tibetan regional government. At times, I-Soon hacked on demand. I-Soon proclaimed their patriotism to win new business. Top executives discussed participating in Chinas poverty alleviation scheme one of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings signature initiatives to make connections. In interviews with state media, I-Soon's CEO Wu quoted Mencius, a Chinese philosopher, casting himself as a scholar concerned with Chinas national interest. Despite Wus professed patriotism, the leaked records depict a competitive man motivated to get rich. If you don't make money, he wrote in a private message, being famous is useless. But I-Soon has been hit by the countrys recent economic downturn, leading to thin profits, low pay and an exodus of talent, the leaked documents show. Low salaries and pay disparities caused employees to complain, chat records show. Leaked employee lists show most I-Soon staff held a degree from a vocational training school, not an undergraduate degree, suggesting lower levels of education and training. Sales staff reported that clients were dissatisfied with the quality of I-Soon data, making it difficult to collect payments. The companys troubles reflect broader issues in Chinas private hacking industry. The countrys cratering economy, Beijings tightening controls and the growing role of the state has led to an exodus of top hacking talent, four cybersecurity analysts and Chinese industry insiders told The Associated Press. China is no longer the country we used to know. A lot of highly skilled people have been leaving, said one industry insider, declining to be named to speak on a sensitive topic. Under Xi, the person added, the growing role of the state in Chinas technology industry has emphasized ideology over competence, impeded pay and made access to officials pivotal. In recent years, Beijing has heavily promoted Chinas tech industry and the use of technology in government, part of a broader strategy to facilitate the countrys rise. But much of Chinas data and cybersecurity work has been contracted out to smaller subcontractors with novice programmers, leading to poor digital practices and large leaks of data. Despite the clandestine nature of I-Soons work, the company has surprisingly lax security protocols. I-Soons offices in Chengdu, for example, have minimal security and are open to the public. The leaked files show that top I-Soon executives communicated frequently on WeChat, which lacks end-to-end encryption. Still, Danowski, the cybersecurity analyst, at the end of the day, she added, it may not matter. Its a little sloppy. The tools are not that impressive. But the Ministry of Public Security sees that you get the job done, she said of I-Soon. They will hire whoever can get the job done. ___ Soo reported from Hong Kong. AP Technology Writer Frank Bajak in Boston contributed to this report. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Las Vegas police said they are investigating after a suspicious item was found in a building near the airport. According to police, the item was found in a building in the 6600 block of Gilespie Street, near Sunset Road. This embedded content is not available in your region. Police said they conducting evacuations of the immediate area. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department ARMOR Section is responding to the scene out of an abundance of precaution, police said. The ARMOR Section is the All-Hazard Regional Multi-agency Operations and Response team for the LVMPD. They investigate chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive incidents. Police ask that the public avoid the area due to a heavy police presence. Road closures are expected near the intersection of Sunset Road and Gilespie Street. This is a developing story. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. NEW YORK (PIX11) Friday marks the last day to order free COVID-19 testing kits from the federal government. The website to order COVID tests states that Orders for free at-home COVID-19 tests will be suspended on Friday, March 8, 2024. All orders placed on or before March 8 will be delivered. More Local News Households interested in ordering tests are allowed up to eight free tests. While the dates on the tests may show its expired, they should work through the end of the year, officials said. The program may be brought back in the future if needed. Charline Charles is a digital journalist from Brooklyn who has covered local news along with culture and arts in the New York City area since 2019. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has compared Russia to an alcoholic whose behaviour cannot be predicted, and noted that neighbouring countries should be aware of this. Source: European Pravda with reference to LSM Quote: "We live next door to a neighbour who is, in a sense, like some sort of alcoholic or drug addict whose actions we cannot predict." Details: She added that Latvia has a clear plan to fortify its borders with Russia and Belarus. "We are strengthening ourselves so that our defence capabilities are unified across the Baltic States. And these improvements are already apparent now, and will become even more visible this year," Silina said. Background: It became known earlier that the Latvian government had approved a plan to strengthen military forces along, and the incursion resistance of, the eastern border with Russia and Belarus, which is expected to cost 303 million. In January, the defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania approved the creation of a joint Baltic defence zone on their eastern borders, where the countries border Russia and Belarus. Support UP or become our patron! Colorado Rep Lauren Boebert has told The Independent that she hopes that President Joe Biden will finally admit that its his disastrous policies that are destroying our country. Ms Boebert, who was seen chatting to ousted former Rep George Santos earlier in the night, made the comment shortly before the State of the Union on Thursday night. This comes after Ms Boebert was reported to be seeking revenge on the state official who supported removing Donald Trump from her states ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled last December that Mr Trump was ineligible to serve as President under the US Constitutions insurrection clause, disqualifying him from the state ballot. The ruling was overturned by a unanimous decision from the US Supreme Court this week. Ms Boebert, a staunch Republican and long-time ally to Mr Trump, called for Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold to be removed from her position following the ruling. You have no business in the Secretary of States office and shouldnt oversee an election in which you have shown a clear bias, Ms Boebert wrote on X. Youre unfit. Time for you to be RECALLED! Ms Boebert was responding to a statement from Ms Griswold expressing her disappointment at the Supreme Courts decision to take away states authority to enforce the US Constitutions insurrection clause for federal candidates. Just hours later, Ms Boebert posted a letter on X addressed to Ms Griswold making her intentions clear. We are actively building a grassroots coalition of Coloradans and Americans to begin the process of holding you accountable for your attack on our elections and the voting rights of millions of Coloradans, the letter reads. All legal options available to us will be considered, including a formal recall effort. The letter was signed by three other prominent state Republicans, including Colorado Republican Party Chair Dave Williams. Almost half 46 per cent of voters in Ms Boebert Boeberts new district dont want to vote for a carpetbagger a candidate with no local connections, something her opponents are capitalising on. The pro-Trump Republican revealed late last year that she would be running for re-election in Colorados fourth congressional district she currently represents the third, an office she has held since 2021. She said that it was the right decision for those who support our conservative movement but it has been perceived by some as an attempt to avoid a loss. She was being challenged in the Republican primary by Jeff Hurd and the Democrat she beat in 2022 by only 546 votes Adam Frisch and who looks set to be the nominee for the Democrats in the district yet again. A Kaplan Strategies poll found last month that 46 per cent of voters in the fourth district dont want a candidate who just moved there. Twenty-two per cent said they would support such a candidate, while 33 per cent were not sure. Rep Ken Buck, who currently represents the fourth district, announced his retirement citing the election denialism in his party. But even with the scepticism against carpetbaggers such as Ms Boebert, she may still win the seat. The Kaplan strategies poll found that she has the backing of 32 per cent of those taking part in the survey, while her challengers were all in the single digits. As of March 2024, Ukrainian law enforcement officers have documented and are investigating 45 cases of prisoners of war being killed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Source: Nadia Maksymets, press secretary of the Prosecutor General's Office, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda; Prosecutor General's Office; Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) Quote: "Instances of the aggressor's troops killing prisoners of war have been recorded since the start of the large-scale invasion. However, there has been a particular increase in such cases since November last year. As of March 2024, Ukrainian law enforcement officers have documented 45 cases of killings of prisoners of war, which are being investigated in 19 criminal proceedings. However, this figure is not final. The proceedings establish not only the direct perpetrators of these crimes, but also those who may have ordered the execution of prisoners of war or did not react to their subordinates committing such actions. The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War and a serious international crime." Details: The press service of the Prosecutor General's Office reported one particular case in which, under the procedural leadership of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Prosecutor's Office, a Russian army serviceman who shot a Ukrainian prisoner of war has been served with a notice of suspicion of violating the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder. The SSU says the perpetrator is Dmitri Kurashov, a rifleman of the Storm-V assault detachment of the 127th Motorised Rifle Division of Russias Eastern Military District, who has multiple convictions. According to the investigation and military counterintelligence of the SSU, on 6 January 2024, Kurashov shot a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine whom the Russians had captured during a Russian "meat-grinder" assault. He fired at least three deliberately aimed shots at the captured Ukrainian. Shortly afterwards, Ukrainian soldiers counterattacked and captured Kurashov and his fellow servicemen. During an interrogation by the SSU, another Russian captive "told" on Kurashov, and the Security Service later collected other irrefutable evidence that the Russian was guilty of killing a captured soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the SSU said in a statement. Support UP or become our patron! Lawmakers met on Capitol Hill with Mia Schem, a French-Israeli hostage freed from Gaza last year, ahead of Schems appearance at Thursdays State of the Union address as a guest of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). While lawmakers have spent months meeting with the families of hostages, watching footage and hearing firsthand accounts of the Hamas attack, the conversation with Schem was a unique opportunity for them to hear firsthand from a freed hostage about the ordeal that she endured. Multiple lawmakers told Jewish Insider they were particularly struck by the details of Schems story she was held by a Gazan family with young children in their home, where she said she underwent constant psychological and emotional torture, and was denied food. I think what was so disheartening was the inhumanity of this large extended family who tormented her mentally, psychologically and taunted her every day, Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC), who co-hosted a meeting with Schem, told JI. To think that there would be no humanity from a family that she was clearly a victim, who was innocent of anything is disheartening and discouraging for the future. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) who co-hosted the meeting with Schem for several lawmakers, likewise described the familys involvement in Schems captivity as particularly searing. Schem, who was shot in the arm before being kidnapped from the Nova music festival, was also denied treatment for her arm which lawmakers said had been nearly severed and will take years to fully heal and assistance with basic tasks. Schem, they said, has not been able to return home from the hospital in the months since she was released. And, they added, she will likely face years of recovery from the psychological trauma she endured. Schem was relocated near the end of her time in Gaza into a Hamas tunnel, where she was able to speak with some of the other hostages, who had been sexually abused. The lawmakers said that Schem found herself unable, emotionally, to recount those stories to them. Wasserman Schultz said that Schems testimony emphasized the need to make sure we keep the attention focused front and center on the absolute necessity to release the hostages and that the world cannot be allowed to move on. These people went through sadistic torture and are still going through that sadistic torture, she said. Manning added that it continues to disappoint me that theres not more outrage among Americans that more than 100 people, including Americans, remain captive. Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH), who also attended the meeting with Schem, praised her enormous amount of courage and strength to share her story. Theres just clearly parts of this that shes not able to talk about, because its so awful. Shes here because she wants all of the hostages to come home, she wants to make sure shes doing everything in her power to get everyone home, Landsman said. He said that its entirely on Hamas to release the hostages and agree to a deal, already approved by the other regional parties, that would allow for a cease-fire. Manning and Wasserman Schultz said they hope President Joe Biden in his address where family members of hostages will also be in the audience will emphasize the need to pressure Hamas to release all of the hostages. Schem also met with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC). The meetings were facilitated by the Orthodox Union. View comments Bible on a school desk in a classroom. (Getty Images) Quality Journalism for Critical Times Despite backlash from dozens of civil rights organizations, the Florida Legislature on Thursday passed a bill to allow volunteer chaplains with limited qualifications to go into public schools and provide unspecified support and services to students. The Senate approved the bill on Thursday along party lines and the House passed it earlier. The legislation now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis desk for his consideration. Floridas volunteer chaplain bill, HB 931, and similar ones in at least a dozen states, has led to controversy and concerns. Groups such as the ACLU, Interfaith Alliance and National Education Association sent a letter to state legislators on Wednesday, calling the chaplain bills unconstitutional on grounds that the program would carve a path for religious indoctrination. Now, the ACLU of Florida is urging DeSantis to veto the bill. Kara Gross, ACLU Allowing chaplains to provide counseling and other support services in public schools would violate students and families religious-freedom rights by exposing all public school students to the risk of chaplains evangelizing them or imposing religion on them throughout their school day, Kara Gross, legislative director and senior policy counsel at the ACLU of Florida, wrote in a statement following the passage of the bill. She wrote that the bill creates a significant risk of liability for school districts that will inevitably be picking and choosing which chaplains from which religions to approve or reject in their schools. The First Amendment protects the right of all students to attend public schools without the risk of religious indoctrination by government-approved chaplains. We urge the governor to veto this bill immediately. The legislation doesnt outline qualifications for the volunteer chaplains other than passing a background check. In the House, the bill received some bipartisan support when it passed on Feb. 22. Five Democrats voted for it and Democratic Rep. Kimberly Daniels of Duval County co-sponsored it. Freedom of religion and separation of church and state If DeSantis signs the bill, school districts could decide whether to establish programs for the volunteer chaplains, how those programs would work and if they would have any additional requirements. Additionally, parents would have to give written consent before their kids meet with chaplains. Erin Grall. Credit: Florida Senate It does surprise me about the controversy because weve had chaplains in our public institutions for centuries. They have existed long before the formation of the United States, said Republican Sen. Erin Grall, who is the Senate sponsor of the bill. Chaplaincy is something that we all have probably had individual and unique experiences with as well. Theres so many different ways in which somebody can train; so many different ways in which somebody can become qualified to be a chaplain. What we didnt want to do in this legislation was be so prescriptive so as to pick the right way to do it. Similarly to the arguments in the civil rights groups letter, some Democratic senators raised concerns about establishing religion in public schools. It seems like every year we keep chipping away at the separation of church and state. And I have to tell you, many of you are quite religious, and you use that to guide your voting and your principles and your bill proposals. Thats fine. But the minute that you try to put your religion upon other people, thats when it becomes a problem, said Democratic Sen. Tina Polsky of Broward and Palm Beach counties. Chaplains in public sectors Lawmakers in favor of the bill said it is legally sound because anyone from any or no religion could be a volunteer chaplain as long as they pass the background check. Imposing any other requirements could potentially be discriminatory, said Grall, who represents Glades, Highlands, Indian River and Okeechobee counties and part of St. Lucie County. In some of these other states that have been prescriptive, they have chosen specific religions; they have chosen specific types of training. We dont do that on purpose, acknowledging the freedom of religion that we have, she said. In the letter, the civil rights groups argued that the instances in which chaplains are allowed such as the military prisons and jails, hospitals and legislatures do not apply to public school students. Public school students have unfettered access to religious services in their communities and through their families. They do not need chaplains, selected and imposed by the government, to practice their faith, the groups wrote. An alternative to mental health services Although the passage of the Florida bill follows the enactment of similar legislation in Texas last year allowing schools to pay for chaplains to work in mental health roles, HB 931 does not explicitly state that chaplains would address mental health problems. However, the Senate sponsor of the bill, Republican Grall, has said chaplains could serve as an alternative for students dealing with mental health problems. I just get frustrated when we talk about you know, we should treat all religions the same by excluding all religion from schools. We provide so many wraparound services to our children in school, she said. We talk about it here every year: The access to mental health services and this is merely adding an option that has the utmost transparency. School districts would have to publish on their websites a list with the names of the volunteer chaplains and their religious affiliations, if they have any. Republican Sen. Danny Burgess of Hillsborough and Pasco counties defended the abilities of chaplains compared to counselors. It seemed that there was just an automatic assumption that the chaplain would be wrong and that a counselor would always be right, and I believe that sometimes the issue is with the soul and not of the mind, he said. Thats why I believe that this is a good option for our students in todays day and age. State Sen. Lori Berman, D-Palm Beach. Allowing chaplains to handle emotional and mental health problems students face could harm kids, said Palm Beach County Democratic Sen. Lori Berman. Im worried that were going to cause real psychological damage to these children because were putting everybody in this kind of situation where they dont know what the qualifications are, she said. I think were kind of doing it because we dont want to take the step that we should be taking, which is to be hiring more guidance counselors, hiring more social workers, hiring more school psychologists. When it comes to student-support roles, the lack of requirements in most bills seeking to bring chaplains to public schools demonstrates a preference for religion, according to the letter from civil rights organizations. The groups say that violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. In specially designating chaplains for critical student-support roles, and exempting them from the training and certification requirements that apply to school counselors, teachers, and other educational professionals, these bills violate the Establishment Clause in another way: They result in an unconstitutional preference for religion over nonreligion, the civil rights letter states. And the danger here goes beyond the constitutional violation. In relying on uncertified, unqualified clergy to perform student-support duties, such as counseling, schools risk students receiving inadequate or inappropriate care and could be held liable for this negligence. The post Lawmakers OK volunteer chaplains in public schools; civil rights groups say its unconstitutional appeared first on Florida Phoenix. The leader of a drug trafficking organization in Fort Myers that distributed cocaine in Fort Myers and other locations for over a decade will spend life in federal prison for the 2013 murder of an FBI informant. The leader of a drug trafficking organization in Fort Myers that distributed cocaine in Fort Myers and other locations for more than a decade will spend life in federal prison for the 2013 murder of an FBI informant. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Robert Lee Ward, 55, of Fort Myers for killing an FBI informant and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. A jury found Ward guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine Feb. 18, 2022. Another jury found Ward guilty of killing an FBI informant Sept. 29, 2023. According to the evidence and testimony presented during the trials, Ward was the leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed cocaine for more than a decade. Ward and his co-conspirators routinely purchased kilograms of cocaine from a supplier in Miami, authorities said. Grand jury indictments: Lee County grand jury returns indictments on fatal overdose; child, pet sex crimes Federal investigators used confidential informants to make multiple purchases of cocaine from Ward's co-conspirators, court documents say. A confidential informant that purchased cocaine from Ward was relocated by investigators after they learned of a threat against the informant's life. In 2012, the FBI obtained the assistance of Kristopher Smith, a member of Ward's organization, who agreed to cooperate in the investigation against Ward. After learning about Smith's cooperation with investigators, Ward solicited James Broomfield to kill Smith. Broomfield agreed to kill Smith for $30,000. Ward provided Broomfield with a loaded firearm and told him where to find Smith. On Jan. 7, 2013, Broomfield and another unnamed individual followed Smith and his girlfriend as they drove to their son's school, authorities said. Smith remained in the car while his girlfriend entered the school. Broomfield and his accomplice parked their vehicle behind the informant's car. Broomfield ran up to the car and shot Smith several times, killing him. Ward is one of at least two co-conspirators sentenced in the case. 24 years in federal prison for murder In November, U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr., sentenced James Franklin Broomfield, Jr., 37, to 24 years in federal prison for tampering with an informant by killing. The court ordered the sentence to run consecutively to a sentence Broomfield is serving for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Fort Myers Police released additional details in the case in 2022 Additional details concerning a report that outlined Fort Myers police's failure to combat a growing gang and drug-related violence problem in the city came to light Sept. 9, 2022, as part of the Freeh report. Some layers of information remained heavily redacted. In 2021, the department stated the U.S. Department of Justice was allowing it to release everything that was not related to an ongoing federal prosecution in releasing appendices A and B. Both appendices were withheld until their release in 2021, four years after the Freeh report published. At the time, Appendix B was heavily redacted. The report showed that Ward was the biggest trafficker in the city. Ward was related by marriage to a Fort Myers Police supervisor, the report shows. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Fort Myers drug trafficker gets life for 2013 murder of informant At least five people were killed and 10 others injured when airdropped aid packages fell on them in the Al Shati camp west of Gaza City, according to a journalist on the scene. Khader Al Zaanoun told CNN he witnessed the aid packages falling from planes over the Al Shati camp on Friday but cannot confirm which nation was behind the air drop. Muhammad Al-Sheikh, Head of Emergency Care Department at Al Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City confirmed five people were killed in the incident. Some of those injured in the incident and transferred to Al Shifa are in serious condition, according to Al-Sheikh. In a video obtained by CNN on Friday, an airdrop goes wrong when the parachute on a pallet malfunctions. The pallet and its contents can be seen falling at a high speed towards a residential building near the Fairoz Towers in western Gaza. As the aid races towards the ground, free-falling bags are also seen coming apart in a shower of debris, and later seen and heard impacting the ground with audible loud thuds. While most of the other parachutes appear to have deployed properly, the pallets are still falling at a potentially dangerous speed, which could have made it difficult for anyone to get out of its way as it touched down on the ground. In a separate incident on Thursday, footage obtained by CNN shows dozens of parachutes carrying parcels descending from a plane conducting an air drop. The video was filmed in an area called Al-Suddaniya, near the northern city of Beit Lahia. People can be heard screaming as the parachutes get closer to the ground. The US and other countries have been air-dropping humanitarian aid into Gaza amid warnings from the United Nations that hundreds of thousands in the besieged enclave are on the brink of famine. The first US drop took place on Saturday, delivering 38,000 meals along the Gaza coastline in a combined operation with Jordan. After the plans were announced by US President Joe Biden last Friday, aid agencies criticized them as ineffective given the scale of the need in Gaza. Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Groups UN director, said: Humanitarian workers always complain that airdrops are good photo opportunities but a lousy way to deliver aid. A journalist based in northern Gaza told CNN that Palestinians in northern Gaza are struggling to make use of aid recently air dropped by the US and Jordan, because it does not include essential food supplies. Abdel Qader Al Sabbah told CNN that the air drops of aid are useless calling for items that can be stored and used over several days rather than single portions to be eaten on the day. You are lucky if you even get a hold of these mealsI dont even bother to go searching for these aid parcels because people are always fighting over them, he said. This is a developing story and will be updated. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Bloomberg) -- Chinas oil demand has entered a low-growth phase as decarbonization starts to eat into consumption of fossil fuels, the countrys biggest energy producer said. Most Read from Bloomberg Greater take-up of electric vehicles, as well as trucks powered by liquefied natural gas, will replace about 20 million tons, or 10% to 12% of the countrys gasoline and diesel consumption this year, said Lu Ruquan, president of China National Petroleum Corp.s Economics & Technology Research Institute. Still, overall demand for crude will continue to grow, aided by the expanding petrochemical sector, Lu said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. China is the worlds largest oil importer, and a slowdown in demand growth this year may act as a brake on international crude prices. Past expectations on timelines and peak demand levels have missed the mark, however, as fossil fuels from oil to coal remain the most accessible across Asias largest economy, despite renewable energy expanding rapidly. Beijing set an annual growth target of about 5% this week, a goal that may add pressure on top leaders to unleash more stimulus as the government tries to boost confidence in an economy thats been hampered by a prolonged property slump and entrenched deflation. Even with just 1% growth in crude demand, other new energy sources will be able to support overall economic growth of 5%, said Lu, whose comments echo the findings in the institutes annual outlook. Chinas dependency on imports more than 70% of its crude oil feedstock and 40% of natural gas is sourced from overseas is a concern for policymakers, he said. That means China is sensitive but not vulnerable, Lu said, citing domestic oil and gas production, as well as diversified import channels as risk-mitigating factors. Story continues The country wants a US-style shale revolution to help it achieve energy security, he said. By 2035, Chinas shale oil production will rise to 10 million tons a year, he added. The nation produced 4 million tons of shale oil in 2023, and achieving the target looks ambitious, given the amount of water it would require. In the global crude market, current geopolitical risks including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East havent had a major impact on prices, Lu said. The energy sector has shifted from being a sellers to a buyers market, given the energy transition and US shale output, he said. Against that backdrop, producers from Russia to Saudi Arabia will rush to sell more oil, Lu said. --With assistance from Stephen Engle and Andrew Janes. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Uh-oh Leo. Times up. I mean really up. Put a ring on it for the love of ash well whichever gorgeous young thing youre stepping out with right this minute. Even DiCaprios most devoted fans say, the ones who watched Critters 3 all the way through would be hard pressed to defend the Wolf of Wall Street star against the latest broadside levelled at his personal life. Namely that his predilection for young women is turning him into the new Hef as in Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner. And given this critique came from none other than his widow Crystal Hefner, 37, who endured rather than enjoyed the last years of the priapic 91-year-olds life, she knows whereof she speaks. She was referencing not Hefner, the sexual libertarian and pioneering publisher who was considered the epitome of cool in the Swinging Sixties but Hefner, the withered, pitiful control freak, who boney hands clutched to youth and beauty as though to stave off his own mortality. Talk about getting the ick. Sure, down the years weve enjoyed the these albums are older than DiCaprios new girlfriend memes and the I honestly feel bad for Leonardo DiCaprio. Imagine being in your 50s and still having to go to prom tweets. It was impossible not to snigger at the graph meticulously charting the ages of his love interests back in 2022, when he was 47 and had apparently never dated a woman over the age of 25. The chart spanned more than 20 years and eight relationships from 1999 to 2022 and revealed the average age of his girlfriends was 22.9. Down the years, hes been linked with models Naomi Campbell and Helena Christensen. He went out with model Gisele Bundchen for five years between 2000 and 2005, splitting up when he was 30 and she was 25. Then he had a relationship with model (natch) Bar Rafaeli for the next five years, splitting up when she too was 25. Fast forward to 2016 and by then aged 41, he briefly dated model and actress Kelly Rohrbach, but not for long because (gah!) she turned 25. From 2017-2022 he was loved up with. yes youve guessed it, another model, Camilla Morrone, but alas she too reached her Best Before Date, and aged 25, they went their separate ways. Meanwhile over and over the world wondered the self-same thing. No, not what attracted all those lithe 20-somethings to one of the worlds most eligible bachelors? What did they talk about once they had coupled up? Not the future, at any rate. According to a Hollywood source quoted in the New York Post, Leo historically prefers younger women because they arent ready to start a family: By the time the girls reach 25, theyre looking for more, theyre looking to get married and settle down. That would certainly account for him typically breaking things off once his girlfriend reached her quarter-century. He probably thinks its the right thing to do, but the optics dont look great. As Gisele Bundchen wrote in her memoir: No longer numbing myself with smoking, drinking and too much work, I was becoming more and more aware of things that Id chosen not to look at. Was I alone in wanting to do some serious soul-searching while he stayed the same? In the end, unfortunately, the answer was yes. Here we are in 2024, and DiCaprio will turn 50 shortly. Hes currently stepping out with model Vittoria Ceretti, whom he reportedly met at the Cannes Film Festival last year. Apparently he is smitten. Even more apparently, she is 25. Could she be the one? Im awaiting the announcement with bated breath but I havent yet bought a hat. 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. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) An open townhall meeting for citizens to discuss the city is set to occur in the coming weeks. Mayor Skip Henderson announced Friday Lets Talk Columbus will be held in the city council chambers at the Red McDaniel City Services Center on March 21. It will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Columbus 65-plus community surveyed on STDs after cases rise Locals will be able to talk about city initiatives and other city- and community-related topics. The townhall will also be accessible through CCG-TV or through Hendersons Facebook page, listed under Mayor Skip Henderson. Citizens who cannot make the meeting are able to submit questions via email at mayorsoffice@columbusga.org. More information about Lets Talk Columbus is available by calling the mayors office at (706) 225-4712. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Intentionally letting go of a balloon could soon become illegal in Florida under new littering laws (AFP via Getty) Intentionally letting go of a balloon could soon become illegal in Florida under new littering laws. Florida House Bill 321, which was filed in November 2023, could make it illegal to intentionally release or organise a release of balloons. Under the law, doing so would be considered a form of littering and dumping, though the offence would still be noncriminal. Offenders will be fined $150, with $50 of that fee deposited in the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund for its grant program. Children aged six and under would be exempt from the law. Balloons that are released on behalf of a governmental agency for scientific or meteorological purposes will also be permitted, as will balloons released indoors and hot air balloons recovered after launching. However, the bill will also remove the previous exemption for balloons that have been determined by FWC rules to be biodegradable or photodegradable. The legislation is now on its way to Florida governor Ron DeSantis after it passed in the states House of Representatives. If he signs it, the bill could come into effect on 1 July. The bill is now on its way to Ron DeSantis (AP) The new law is part of an effort to protect animals such as turtles, dolphins, birds and other wildlife from the danger of eating or becoming entangled in fallen balloons. Arizona, California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia have also placed restrictions on the outdoor release of balloons as part of the same effort. Balloons, especially helium-filled balloons that can float long distances, have long been known to maim and kill wildlife, with many animals mistaking them for food, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. When an animal ingests a balloon, it is unable to digest the material, causing the animals stomach to fill up, making it impossible for them to take in nutrients. This causes the animal to slowly starve to death. Sea turtles are especially vulnerable, as they sometimes mistake balloons for jellyfish, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The strings tied to balloons can also get tangled around birds, asphyxiating them or tying them to one spot until they die of hunger. Oceana, a non-profit dedicated to ocean conservation, applauded lawmakers decision to send the bill to Governor DeSantis but said they must continue tackling the plastic pollution crisis. Florida made the right call today in banning intentional balloon releases. Balloons are one of the deadliest forms of plastic pollution for ocean wildlife, Oceana field campaigns manager Hunter Miller said. Its great to see state legislators from both sides of the aisle come together to support a common sense bill and get it passed. We call on Governor DeSantis to quickly sign this into law. One person was killed in a shooting in Lexington early Friday morning, according to the Lexington Police Department. Around 3:38 a.m. Lexington police received a report that a man had been assaulted by a firearm on the 2400 block of Rockaway Place in the Masterson Station neighborhood. Lexington police Lt. Joe Anderson said he was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. The victim later died at a hospital, police said Friday morning. The Fayette County Coroners Office identified him as 17-year-old Kenlon Johnson. Johnson was pronounced dead at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital at 4:21 a.m., according to the coroners office. No information was provided about a suspect or what led up to the shooting. Police said detectives from the Personal Crimes Section are continuing to investigate. Fayette County Public Schools Success Academy shared a Facebook post in which they said they were mourning the loss of one of our own. Words cannot express the depth of sorrow we feel at the passing of Kenlon, the post stated. His bright spirit touched the lives of many in the short time he was with us. His absence will be deeply felt in our school community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time. Let us come together to support one another as we cherish the memories of Kenlon. Rest in peace, dear friend. One person was shot and killed on the 2400 block of Rockaway Place in the Masterson Station neighborhood of Lexington, Ky. on March 8, 2024. The Fayette County Coroners Office will release the mans identity after immediate family is notified. One person was shot and killed on the 2400 block of Rockaway Place in the Masterson Station neighborhood of Lexington, Ky. on March 8, 2024. Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call Lexington Police at (859) 258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling (859) 253-2020 or visiting their website. Anonymous tips can also be submitted on www.p3tips.com. The Lexington Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred this morning. To learn more, visit https://t.co/BH0F1pt0TT Lexington Police (@lexkypolice) March 8, 2024 This is the third homicide of 2024 in Lexington, the first in just over one month. At this point last year there was one reported homicide, according to police data. In 2023 Lexington reported 24 homicides, fewer than the record-breaking year of 2022, when 44 killings took place. The last time Lexington reported 24 or fewer homicides in a year was in 2018, according to Lexington police data, which dates back to 2008. In the past 10 years, the city has reported 24 or fewer homicides only three times, according to Lexington police records. Herald-Leader staff writer Karla Ward contributed to this report. Lexingtons homicides were nearly cut in half in 2023. Why and what comes next? How Lexington combats youth violence. We cannot save the streets without the streets LIBERAL, Kan. (KSNW) The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the Red Barn Truck Wash in Liberal with 24 violations and a proposed $171,680 in penalties stemming from an investigation into an incident that left one worker dead and two others injured. The incident happened on Sept. 1, 2023. First responders rushed to an EMS call at the Red Barn Truck Wash just before 9 a.m. The Liberal Police Department said three employees were unconscious in a tanker trailer. It appeared one of the workers became unconscious while cleaning inside the tanker, which was dirty after hauling sludge from a hog farm. Two other workers went in to help the man. Rescuers put on protective gear and got the victims out. EMS took them to Southwest Medical Center. Hearing in Carr brothers case Thursday continued One of the men died. One was transported to Wichita. The third was admitted to the hospital in Liberal. Their identities have not been released. A news release says OSHA found the truck wash failed to evaluate the tanker trailers for hazardous conditions including testing the atmosphere and did not train workers on potential hazards before letting them enter the confined spaces. The news release says inspectors found multiple violations of OSHAs confined space regulations and noted Red Barn Truck Wash lacked both respiratory and hearing protection programs and exposed workers to fall hazards of up to nine feet while cleaning the trailers. OSHA said the Red Barn Truck Wash has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Some 130 miles north of Haitis capital of Port-au-Prince, which has been gripped by a wave of gang attacks, a private cruise port is receiving guests at a resort with its own security and controlled access. Royal Caribbean ships are still calling into Labadee the cruise companys day-use property located on a peninsula more than six hours drive from Port-au-Prince. The company is monitoring the situation throughout the area, according to a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean. A US Department of States Level 4 travel advisory (do not travel, the highest warning level) for the Caribbean nation of Haiti was most recently updated on July 27, 2023, citing kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure, among the reasons the US State Department has advised against travel to Haiti for some time. Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, which has a Level 2, exercise increased caution advisory. (Other countries with Level 4 travel advisories include Russia, Syria and Burkina Faso). In recent days, Haiti has made global headlines for gang violence and, on March 3, a mass prison break in Port-au-Prince led the government to declare a state of emergency after thousands of inmates escaped. The US Embassy has advised US citizens to depart Haiti as soon as possible. On the northern coast of the country, 128 miles from Port-au-Prince lies the port of Labadee, a destination accessible only to Royal Caribbean employees and guests. The port is exclusive to Royal Caribbean Group ships, and guests arrive by ship and are required to stay within the resort for the duration of their time on shore. Which ships are calling on Labadee? Royal Caribbean has not canceled any calls or sailings visiting Labadee at this time, according to the companys spokesperson, adding that only guests and employees are permitted on site and the area has private security to limit access. The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. Our global security teams are closely monitoring the situation in the area. At all times, we remind guests to remain aware of their surroundings while ashore and follow all State Department guidelines. Should any changes be required, guests will be notified directly, said a Royal Caribbean spokesperson in a statement sent to media outlets, including CNN. Labadee, Royal Caribbean's day-use resort pictured here in a file photo, is located on a peninsula in northern Haiti. - Don Mennig/Alamy Stock Photo/FILE According to the spokesperson, ships scheduled to call into Labadee during the upcoming weeks include Independence of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas. Oasis is next visiting during a seven-night Caribbean & Perfect Day itinerary that departs from Miami on March 10, 2024. (Perfect Day at CocoCay is a private Royal Caribbean resort in the Bahamas). There are no current plans for Icon of the Seas, currently the worlds largest cruise ship, to call into port in Labadee in 2024, the spokesperson said. No shore excursions in Labadee all of which are held within the private resort area have been cancelled. Celebrity Cruises, which is owned by Royal Caribbean Group, also lists Labadee as a stop aboard several of its ships including Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Ascent for December 2024 itineraries sailing from Florida ports, according to its website. Should cruise passengers be concerned? Cruise ships are still calling on Labadee, confirmed Cruise Critics Editor-in-Chief, Colleen McDaniel, calling it, Royal Caribbeans insulated private destination, located on the northern coast of Haiti. As a cruise line private destination, Labadee is only accessible to cruise ship guests, and the experience is completely owned and run by the cruise line, using the destination to serve as an extension of the onboard experience, McDaniel told CNN. She noted that the cruise lines closely monitor situations in all ports. That said, for any concerned travelers whether traveling by land, air or sea its always recommended to familiarize yourself with any travel alerts from your home country, McDaniel said. She added that guests always have the option to stay onboard the ship if they have concerns about any port of call. Columbus Cove Beach in Labadee in 2018 - Ron Buskirk/UCG/Getty Images/FILE A recent post from Monday, March 4, 2024, on a Cruise Critic forum with the subject line Labadee?, from a user asking whether readers thought the news of the jailbreak would lead Royal Caribbean to skip the port has gotten more than 7,000 views since Monday, according to Cruise Critic. Stewart Chiron, a cruise industry expert known as The Cruise Guy, said he has visited Labadee many times while cruising with Royal Caribbean over the years (although not within the last year) and describes the beach location as completely fenced in with private security. There are still ships visiting Labadee without issues. RCGs private beach area is quite a drive, 6-8 hours north of Port Au Prince, Chiron said, adding that concerns were raised after Haitis devastating earthquake in 2010. RCG ships were first on the scene with relief supplies, he said. In 2016, local protests caused at least one cruise to skip docking in Labadee. Dominique Moussignac, 38, a former journalist who lives in Hinche in Central Haiti, says there are no political tensions there like those in Port-au-Prince, and Labadee, in the North, is also 100% out of danger. Whats it like? Royal Caribbean started leasing the Labadee port in the mid 1980s, investing tens of millions of dollars over the years to transform it into a private resort. Experienced as a day visit while the ship is in port, Labadee is similar to other cruise line private destination offerings elsewhere in the Caribbean. Disneys Castaway Cay, Norwegian Cruise Lines Great Stirrup Cay and Royal Caribbeans CocoCay all located in the Bahamas are exclusive to the cruise lines. Royal Caribbean Groups Labadee has five different stretches of beachfront on a peninsula. In Labadee, guests disembark the ship into an environment controlled by the cruise line where they can kick back in a private bungalow at Nellies Beach with attendant service to keep the refreshments flowing, according to the website. Royal Caribbeans website touts beachside bliss and endless adventure as well as pristine sands, coral reefs and jungle-covered hilltops nestling lagoon-like bays. Moussignac said he tried visiting Labadee in 2022 to learn how it works, and said its a shame that locals cant access the private beaches. The locals just watch the cruises, nothing more, and look for other less attractive areas to indulge themselves. During his visit in December 2022, Moussignac went swimming but on a beach a little far from the paradise sites reserved for Royal Caribbean guests, he said. While its an idyllic spot that earns rave reviews from some guests, its fenced location in struggling Haiti has generated online comments about a weird vibe at the insulated resort. What recent guests have to say about Labadee Some recent guests report great experiences in Labadee. Sailing on a six-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale aboard Odyssey of the Seas, Erica McNamara, 32, from Tampa, Florida, made a February 28, 2024 port of call in Labadee her favorite stop of the entire trip on an itinerary that also visited Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, and a port in the Dominican Republic. My cousins went snorkeling, my parents did a catamaran trip and my three-and-a-half year old thought the tram was the coolest thing ever, said McNamara, who was traveling with 12 family members, including her husband and their two young sons, and spent the day enjoying a beach called Nellies Cove. Erica McNamara and her family visited Labadee in late February. - Erica McNamara McNamara said her mother was the only one in the family who expressed concern about calling into port in Haiti. When I told her I was getting off the ship by myself that morning she said I was crazy and shouldnt do that, McNamara said. I told her it was owned by Royal Caribbean and was a private area. Another recent cruiser, Alexandra Graham, 45, also from Tampa, visited Labadee on Sunday, March 3, 2024, the same day as the prison escape, aboard Royal Caribbeans Adventure of the Seas, and said she felt safe visiting. We didnt specifically notice any heightened security until we got onto the bus, which took us to a higher point on the mountain, which was the highest point for us to get onto the zip line, she said. When we were on the bus on the way to that point, we passed through a security checkpoint gate and at the gate there were armed guards, and again they were taking things very seriously. Labadee was very well run and had lots of things to do, Graham said. Graham said it wasnt until she returned to the ship that evening that she heard about the jailbreak. Frankly, we felt very safe, she said. For McNamara, an avid traveler before having children who has been on many cruises, her familys first international trip together felt like a good way for her to ease back into international travel as a mother to young children. I joke the stops were so fabricated it wasnt a big trip, she said. We had a phenomenal day in Labadee. Florida-based travel writer Terry Ward lives in Tampa and has traveled to Leogane and Port-au-Prince in Haiti but never to Labadee. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Check your fridges and freezersthe sausages could contain rubber pieces. Getty/Allrecipes The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) announced that approximately 35,430 pounds of Johnsonville brand turkey kielbasa sausage have been recalled due to the potential for foreign material contamination. The recall was issued by the manufacturer, Salm Partners, LLC of Denmark, Wis. after the FSIS received complaints from consumers reporting they found pieces of rubber in the ready-to-eat turkey sausages. This comes following another recall by the same manufacturer in January, wherein over 130,000 pounds of turkey kielbasa sausages were recalled after consumers reported finding bone fragments in the products. Which Johnsonville Turkey Kielbasa Were Recalled? The recalled Johnsonville turkey kielbasa sausages were manufactured by Salm Partners, LLC between Oct. 30-31, 2023, and shipped to retail locations nationwide. The packaging contains the following identifying information: Size: 12-ounce vacuum-packed packages containing a single piece of "Johnsonville POLISH KIELBASA TURKEY" Establishment Number: P-32009 Best By Date: The recalled sausages will have the "Best By" dates 05/17/24 and 05/18/24 printed on the side of the packaging. You can view images of the product labels on the FSIS website. To date, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions or injury due to consumption of the recalled products. And while the products have been removed from store shelves, the FSIS is concerned that the recalled turkey kielbasa may still be in consumers refrigerators or freezers. If you have the recalled Johnsonville turkey kielbasa sausage in your fridge or freezer, the FSIS urges you not to consume it. Instead, throw the product(s) away or return it to the original place of purchase for a refund. If you have any further questions regarding the recall, contact Stephanie Schafer, Director of Global Corporate Communications for Johnsonville, at 888-556-2728 or sschafer@johnsonville.com. Read the original article on All Recipes. TALLAHASSEE A measure revamping state ethics laws, allowing that complaints be filed against officials only by those with personal knowledge of the wrongdoing, was passed by the Legislature Thursday and sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The legislation (SB 7014) approved 79-34 by the House had been roundly criticized by ethics officials, who say the change coupled with another limiting the power of city and county ethics panels will likely tilt the table in favor of corruption. The Florida Senate had approved the bill Wednesday. The bill cuts to the heart of both the state Commissions ethics complaint process and that of local commissions ... in an unprecedented attack on the good work that these agencies provide through ethics investigations, said Caroline Klancke, executive director of the nonpartisan Florida Ethics Institute. Senate Ethics and Elections Chair Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, was behind the new limits to ethics complaints. The changes, initially proposed by Senate Ethics and Elections Chair Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, prohibit both state and local ethics commissions from pursuing any investigation unless the complaint came from someone with personal knowledge of wrongdoing and is willing to identify themselves by name and file under oath. Anything short of that would be considered hearsay, prohibiting commissioners from investigating alleged violations. The change eliminates complaints based on investigative reports that appear in the media. I put my former prosecutor hat on and we dont charge people with crimes unless we have something other than inadmissable hearsay, said House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, who once served as an assistant state attorney. A 'profound change' that will shield violators, critic says Klancke, though, called the legislation a profound change in favor of shielding ethics violators from investigatory scrutiny. The bill also bars local ethics panels from self-initiating investigations, forcing them to act only when a complaint arrives. In a recent high-profile case in Miami-Dade County, a self-initiated ethics investigation by that countys panel led to the criminal indictment of ex-Miami City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla. Mike Murawski, executive director of the Naples Commission on Ethics and Governmental Integrity, said the change could "seriously knee-cap" the efforts of local panels to "root out unethical behavior." It was only four short years ago that 62% of voters in Naples voted specifically to create an ethics commission with the ability to self-initiate investigations, Murawski said, adding the measure stands in direct opposition to the will of the people. Election year may have inspired change But 2024 being an election year seems to be a driver of the measure. Burgess, who promoted the rewrite of ethics laws last month, raised alarms at the time about how complaints now can be used to discredit a candidate. Somebody could call a tipline, hotline, pick up the phone and say, 'This person is doing x, y and z,' hang up the phone, then immediately call the media and tip (them) that a complaint was made, then the whole thing spirals out of control, Burgess said. Renner, likewise, said that complaints had become weaponized, especially just before an election. Laura Layden of the Naples Daily News contributed. John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @JKennedyReport. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Bill revamping Florida ethics laws blasted for shielding violators We all know by now that reality TV is a misnomer. Very little of what we see in our favorite modern reality shows is truly real, and what is genuine has been carefully selected by editors and filtered through several producers. So, when Lindsay Lohan agreed to star in her eponymous docuseries in 2014, there was an inherent question over how much of what would air would be the then-embattled stars real life and what would be manufactured by producers at the OWN network to drive ratingsand therefore line Oprah Winfreys pockets. Furthermore, the series began airing seven months after Lohan finished a court-ordered rehab stint, and began filming just four days after the rehab was completed. One had to wonder if the shows mere existence was stomping in the muddy waters of pure exploitation. When Lindsay premiered 10 years ago this week, on March 9, 2014, it was immediately clear that the series would be all of these things and none of them, depending on how its star was feeling at any one moment. The show was painfully real (something you could tell by how uneventful it often was), slightly synthetic, and frequently opportunistic. But given that Lohan has inarguably reclaimed her narrativeand on her own termsover the last decade, Lindsay feels like essential viewing to examine her hard-won comeback. Lohans new film, Irish Wish, premieres March 15, just days after the docuseries anniversary, which seems like an almost cosmically timed coincidence. Looking back at it now, the docuseries is a critical chronicling of the perils of stardom, a portrait of an infectious personality with endless drive, and a darkly funny dying gasp from reality television as it once was: the wild fuckin west. I should preface whats to come with a caveat: Lindsay is not easily accessible. Its not streaming anywhere, nor is it available to purchase or rent on media conglomerates like Prime Video or Apple TV. Whether thats because the powers that be yanked it from public consciousness to erase this historical item from us, or is just owing to the publics waning investment in the project, Im not sure. The series is, however, not too difficult to find online if youve got a bit of internet savvy, and there is a bevy of clips on YouTube and X to convey exactly the kind of chaos that this show was dishing out in hefty, lunch lady ladlefuls. Both Winfrey and Lohan made it known at the top of the docuseries premiere that they were only interested in telling the truth. My intention is to serve as a path for you to be able [to be you], Winfrey says. So if I know that thats what you really want to do, Im going to call you on it when I feel that youre not. Thats a promise Winfrey would make good on in a later episode, featured in one of the clips that has survived the cultural incinerator and lived on to become a meme. Three episodes into the shows eight parts, Winfrey visits Lohan in her childhood home on Long Island to address the shows wonky shoot schedule, which has resulted in production delays and a lack of compelling footage. Sitting on a couch in the Lohan living room, Winfrey inquires, Have you been sober since we last met? Lohan tells Winfrey that she has maintained her sobriety, and begins to cry. Hello, lets celebrate that! Winfrey says, and the two join hands. Its a sincerely tender moment, a glimpse at a self-professed addict admitting how difficult it is to maintain sobriety at all, let alone when theyre world-famous and a camera crew has been enlisted to follow them around. Early on, its evident that Lohan did not realize the immense pressure that would come from striving to maintain sobriety outside of a rehab setting while being filmed as she tries to jumpstart a flailing career. This is where the series starts to veer on becoming predatory. Oddly enough, its also the moment that its significance becomes crystal clear. Lindsay Lohan arriving at the GQ Men of the Year Awards at the Royal Opera House in London Zak Hussein / Getty There are very few authentic, firsthand accounts of what its like to be a celebrity embroiled in a mess of your own making. Sure, there are autobiographies and flashy newsmagazine interviews where stars confess the details of their darkest days. But rarely has there been an eight-hour document of this struggle in real-time. Sure, you can argue that a project like this is unethical to some degree. But this is far from the nadir of Lifetimes recent two-part documentary on Wendy Williams, which aired with little to no visible agency from its subject, who is under a conservatorship. Lohan was an active participant in Lindsay, and the show evolved around her needs as filming continued, making it a capital-C captivating depiction of a 27-year-old who was just trying to figure it out. Lohan said it best herself during the series. Its really hard for people that are producing this, she declares. Its easy for them to just assume that Im doing all these things and not taking the time for [this series], but thats not the case. Im trying to figure out how to be sane and live, how to maintain recovery. Theres all of these factors that someone like a Craig [Piligian, who executive produced the series] doesnt see. The wild thing is that both parties are right. Lohan is correct, and Winfreys production team is correct. No one is winning in the making of Lindsay, and at a certain point, the series becomes downright farcical because of that. J.Lo Is Done Pretending Shes Not Wildly Famous in New Doc During the show, Lohan remains in a smackdown battle of the wits against Matt, her new personal assistant, who is already waging a separate battle against his hairline. Matt inexplicably wears a suit every single day to assist someone who simply does not demand that level of professional demeanor. Their clashing personalities are enrapturing to watch, even if nothing is actually happening. And nothing ever really happens on Lindsay. Ten years ago, that lack of eventfulness made the show feel tedious, when viewers showed up hoping to watch a starlet climbing her way back to the topor worse, hoping to see her fall even farther, be berated by Winfrey, or be caught with illicit substances on-camera. Now, its a fascinating character study of a celebrity who has always been much more naturally interesting than anyone was willing to give her credit for. Who else could make, [Copying keys] takes 10 minutes at Duane Reade! into a mantra I live and die by every time I pass New Yorks signature pharmacy? Watching Lindsay is an exercise in reading between the lines. Here, a viewer must examine every little detail in order to get a read on whats going on. A sequence where Lohan gets hair extensions installed becomes a glimpse at a star trying to reclaim her signature, rosy-cheeked redhead image. Lohan later discusses her childhood with her mother, Dina, and a ghostwriter of Dinas memoir (which would never materialize). Its an attempt to convey her tumultuous upbringing to the audience, as is Lohan reading from her rehab diaries and having an argumentative dinner with her estranged father. There are eight hours of footage in the series, and a lot of them are filled with this kind of darkness. But Lohans candoror, at least as much probity as she was willing to offer at the timeas she navigates a rapidly shifting celebrity culture often gives Lindsay an edgy humor. Ive said to many a friend, family member, and unwitting passerby on the street that the series frequently feels like a modern Christopher Guest mockumentary. At one point, Lohan wants to say hello to Miley Cyrus backstage at the 2013 Jingle Ball concert, but doesnt end up meeting her before the event starts. This is communicated to us via a black screen with text appearing over it, before an inspired cut to Lohan, hunched over her phone, asserting, Well, she should at least respond to my tweets. Just because the series is rather grim doesnt mean that there is no comedy inside of its dense gloom. There is a once-in-a-lifetime sequence, the most Christopher Guest-ian of them all, where Dina Lohan is prepping that aforementioned ghostwriter, Pamela Marin, to interview her daughter. Dina and poor Pamela are a real-life Eugene Levy and Catherine OHara, slyly combative and downright hysterical. Dina shuts Pamela down at every turn, before the two stand side by side, and Dina discusses the potential title of this autobiography. We were going to do A Parent Trapped, but Im not trapped, youve untrapped me, Dina says. Its as if toxic asbestos is lining the walls of Lindsays new apartment, and no one has figured it out yet. this is literally so christopher guest-ian that im shocked its a real conversation and not a script im like choking on my laughter pic.twitter.com/xIbtxffVZW coleman spilde (@colemanjspilde) January 16, 2023 This unintentional drollery colliding with sudden turmoil is what makes Lindsay a must-watch record for anyone interested in the art of fame. Each week was akin to watching someone who had just run their car into a brick wall back the car up, put it in drive, and hit the wall again, thinking that the bricks might give this time. You want to shout at your television screen, to point out that they could simply drive around the barrier. But in this case, it would do no good. The only way out for Lohan was through. Had Lohans career gone a different way, I wouldnt be writing this piece right now. Frankly, I dont revel in the pandemonium of someone elses misfortune. Im not interested in that type of schadenfreude; even when the Real Housewives dives into it, it leaves me feeling sort of sick. But Lohan has just wrapped her third Netflix film, has her second on the way in a matter of days, has garnered the publics goodwill, and seemingly found stability and happiness in her life. I think looking back at what she fought against to get there is not only OK, but necessary. Our mistakes make us whole, and ignoring them leaves a structural deficiency by which our worst impulses can claw their way back in. Netflix By its conclusion, it seemed as if Lohan knew that too. I feel different, just being OK with the wreckage of my past, and letting that go and starting fresh, she said in the series finale, part of which was filmed after the docuseries started airing. I have that adrenaline rush that I get from doing good things and being happy, and feeding my soul again. Lindsay ended with nothing concrete materializing for its star, but maybe that was ultimately for the best. Because the series was so inconsequential, it makes Lohans road to where she is now even more impressive. An Oprah-level opportunity couldnt do that for her. Lohan had to do the work entirely on her own. 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. Lithuania has handed over another batch of 155mm artillery ammunition to Ukraine, Lithuanian Defense Minister, Arvydas Anusauskas, reported on X. The transfer of shells occurred on March 7 and Ukraine has received the aid package. He did not provide any further details. Lithuania plans to modernize the country's army by purchasing Renault D military cargo vehicles, the countrys Defense Ministry announced on March 7. As part of a demining coalition led by Lithuania, some of the newly acquired vehicles will be transferred to Ukraine. Read also: Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Dissecting CLP Holdings Ltd's Upcoming Dividend and Its Historical Performance CLP Holdings Ltd (CLPHY) recently announced a dividend of $0.16 per share, payable on 2024-03-28, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-03-08. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into CLP Holdings Ltd's dividend performance and assess its sustainability. What Does CLP Holdings Ltd Do? Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with CLPHY. High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock? CLP Holdings is the larger of the two electric utility companies in Hong Kong, serving 80% of the city population. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to about 2.6 million customers in Kowloon and the New Territories through its wholly owned network. The business is regulated by the Hong Kong government with a permitted return on net fixed asset of 8.00%. Besides Hong Kong, the company has expanded its reach overseas, with generation and retail assets in Australia and generation assets in China, India, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Its Hong Kong activities made up more than 80% of recurring net profit in 2021. CLP Holdings Ltd's Dividend Analysis A Glimpse at CLP Holdings Ltd's Dividend History CLP Holdings Ltd has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2010. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends. CLP Holdings Ltd's Dividend Analysis Breaking Down CLP Holdings Ltd's Dividend Yield and Growth As of today, CLP Holdings Ltd currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 4.72% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 4.73%. This suggests an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months. Over the past three years, CLP Holdings Ltd's annual dividend growth rate was 0.20%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate increased to 1.50% per year. And over the past decade, CLP Holdings Ltd's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 2.40%. Story continues Based on CLP Holdings Ltd's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of CLP Holdings Ltd stock as of today is approximately 5.08%. CLP Holdings Ltd's Dividend Analysis The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-12-31, CLP Holdings Ltd's dividend payout ratio is 1.52, which may suggest that the company's dividend may not be sustainable. CLP Holdings Ltd's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks CLP Holdings Ltd's profitability 7 out of 10 as of 2023-12-31, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability. Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. CLP Holdings Ltd's growth rank of 7 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors. Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and CLP Holdings Ltd's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. CLP Holdings Ltd's revenue has increased by approximately 5.50% per year on average, a rate that underperforms approximately 63.66% of global competitors. The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, CLP Holdings Ltd's earnings increased by approximately 26.60% per year on average, a rate that underperforms approximately 17.72% of global competitors. Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of -11.80%, which underperforms approximately 84.18% of global competitors, raises concerns about its long-term ability to sustain dividend growth. Concluding Thoughts on CLP Holdings Ltd's Dividend Profile Considering CLP Holdings Ltd's upcoming dividend payment, its historical consistency in dividend distribution, and its forward-looking yield expectations, the stock presents an interesting case for income-focused investors. However, the sustainability of its dividends, as suggested by the payout ratio and mixed growth metrics, indicates that investors should approach with caution and closely monitor the company's financial health. The robust profitability rank does offer some reassurance regarding the company's earnings capacity. Ultimately, value investors must weigh the potential benefits of CLP Holdings Ltd's dividend against the risks associated with its growth and payout ratio to determine if it aligns with their investment strategy. GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) A local architect plans to build three homes on about two-tenths of an acre in east Austin to test out the new HOME Initiative approved by the Austin City Council last year. RELATED COVERAGE: First phase of Austins HOME initiative rolls out Austin-based Dick Clark + Associates, a full-service architecture firm, will develop the site under the new guidelines that allow up to three homes on an existing single-family lot, according to a Feb. 21 announcement. The 7,000-square-foot site at 717 Prospect Ave. will be home to two 1,350-square-foot residences and one 1,600-square-foot residence. The HOME Initiative also allows developers and builders to seek approval for such projects through the citys general residential review process instead of the more expensive and time-consuming site plan review process. The aim is to incentivize creation of more housing in Austin and in turn decrease the average cost of a home. Read more from Austin Business Journal. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) A San Angelo man was sentenced, on March 7, to over two decades after pleading guilty to three charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Mugshot: John Custer 3-7-2024 courtesy Tom Green County Sheriffs Office John Custer was sentenced to 23 years with no probation in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Correctional Institutions Division with the sentence set to run concurrently. Grand jury indicts man for allegedly possessing homemade zip gun, targeting sheriffs office Records filed in Tom Green County share that Custer penetrated the sexual organ of a child under the age of 14 two separate times in May 2021. The first time, on May 1, Custer used his sexual organ for penetration. On May 10, it was reported that Custer used his hand to penetrate the childs sexual organ. Custer caused the childs sexual organ to come into contact with his mouth, on May 15, 2021. Custer was booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center on March 7 for pleading guilty to the three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, which is a first-degree felony. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. Manatee County leaders are set to make a final decision on whether to buy land to expand Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto at Tuesdays commission meeting. State officials have identified the 98-acre property right next door to the existing preserve as a critical area for conservation that could help protect fish, manatees and other wildlife, preserve important mangrove habitat and provide resilience against climate change. The cost of the purchase would be covered by a voter-approved tax fund to buy conservation lands that was created by referendum in 2020. The majority of the purchase would also likely be refunded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which has expressed strong interest in purchasing the property from the county through the Florida Forever program. That would free up those funds for the county to make additional conservation purchases. The Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee a citizen volunteer group that advises the county on conservation land purchases recommended that the county purchase the property in April 2023. That same month, commissioners authorized staff to pursue buying it. Commissioners unhappy with asking price At a board meeting on February 27, several commissioners said they want to buy the land but are concerned about the price that the property owners are asking. Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge claimed the amount was millions and millions above the lands appraised value. If we continue spending large amounts of money over asking price were going to be shooting ourselves in the foot, Commissioner Amanda Ballard said. Commissioner Ray Turner said the lands future conservation value should not factor into whether the purchase is a good business deal for the county right now. The Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee has recommended that Manatee County Government purchase 98 acres next door to Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto. The Manatee Board of County Commissioners is weighing whether to go forward with the purchase and expand the preserve. A boardwalk is shown at the preserve. The property was appraised at a value of $11.1 million in September 2023. The property owners asking price has not been made public, and the county did not immediately respond to a records request Thursday asking the amount. Under Florida law, local governments can choose to exempt offers and counteroffers on land purchases from public record until an option contract is executed or until 30 days before a contract or agreement for purchase is considered for approval by the board of county commissioners. But members of local organizations and residents pushed back on the commissioners concerns, noting that the purchase will still be a good deal for the county with the states support. Commissioner George Kruse spoke in favor of the purchase, noting that it was a better deal than what the county paid for the recently purchased Crooked River Ranch property. The county paid $11.2 million for those 68 acres along the Manatee River in Parrish. Kruse made a motion for county staff to present a best and final offer for the land deal during the boards Tuesday, March 12, public meeting, and the motion passed 5-2. The Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee has recommended that Manatee County Government purchase 98 acres next door to Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is visible through the trees at the preserve. One-time-only opportunity In a call to action on the issue in February, the League of Women Voters of Manatee County called the land purchase a unique and one-time-only opportunity. The purchase of this property which will expand Emerson Preserve will be something we, and future generations, will enjoy and be proud of. Dont let this slip through your fingers, said an email from the League. At a February 27 board meeting, members of the League, Suncoast Waterkeeper, the Manatee Fish & Game Association and ELMAC spoke in support of the purchase. We have the opportunity to buy an incredible piece of property thats been in the works literally for decades, Manatee County resident Ruth Lawler said during public comment. This is our money. Put it toward expanding that preserve. Nick Baden, a board member of the Manatee Fish & Game Association, warned that the land will be snapped up by a developer if the county doesnt act. This is something we really, really want, and weve wanted it for a long time, Baden said. Tampa Bay Estuary Program, state support land buy The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP), part of the National Estuary Program, both penned letters to county officials expressing support for the land buy. I want to take the opportunity to inform you that the Division of State Lands supports Manatee Countys effort in acquiring the 98-acre Emerson Point Preserve addition property... Callie DeHaven, a division director with FDEP, wrote to county staff. The letter said the division is willing to purchase the property from the county at an appraised price that is approved by the state. The Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee has recommended that Manatee County Government purchase 98 acres next door to Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto. The Manatee Board of County Commissioners is weighing whether to go forward with the purchase and expand the preserve. Protection and restoration of key habitats present on the Emerson Expansion property will directly support ongoing recovery efforts and future resilience initiatives within the estuary that the TBEP and its partners are currently pursuing, TBEP executive director Ed Sherwood wrote in a letter to the commission. Scott Tussing, who was chairman of ELMAC when the group recommended the land purchase, said he understands commissioners caution about the price but hopes they can find a reasonable deal. Its the last piece there. There is going to be a premium for the last piece, Tussing said. Maybe its worth the premium if we can get the help from the state. ELMAC recommended the land for purchase based on its potential to protect water quality and wildlife habitat, prevent pollution from runoff and provide recreation opportunities like hiking, biking, fishing and birding. The Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee has recommended that Manatee County Government purchase 98 acres next door to Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto. The Manatee Board of County Commissioners is weighing whether to go forward with the purchase and expand the preserve. Vision for Emerson Point expansion Like the existing preserve, the expansion would likely wind up being owned by the state and managed by Manatee County Government. Theres a lot of great opportunity there for more recreation and also some restoration, Debra Woithe, the countys environmental lands division manager, told the Bradenton Herald earlier this year. Similar to whats been done out at Robinson Preserve, Woithe added. It has everything going for it. What happens next? The Emerson Point Preserve expansion is on the agenda for discussion at Tuesdays public Board of County Commissioners meeting. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. Public comment can be made in person at the meeting or submitted in advance at MyManatee.org/comment by 2 p.m. Friday. Commission meetings are livestreamed on the countys YouTube channel. The Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee has recommended that Manatee County Government purchase 98 acres next door to Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto. The Manatee Board of County Commissioners is weighing whether to go forward with the purchase and expand the preserve. A fisherman tests the waters at Emerson Point on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Two women from Colorado Springs were honored on Thursday, March 7 as the 2024 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year Branch Winners. Kimberly Gold with the U.S. Army and Courtney Barber with the U.S. Space Force were recognized by Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade at the annual Military Spouse Career Coalition (MSCC) meeting on Thursday, March 7. Chosen from a competitive field of more than 400 nominees, Gold and Barber were recognized for their outstanding dedication and contributions to the military community. Colorado Springs boasts a strong military community thats an integral part of our citys identity and plays a significant role in our economy, culture, and national security, said Mayor Mobolade. I am incredibly proud of Kimberly and Courtney for their remarkable leadership and unwavering commitment to supporting military families in the Colorado Springs community. They are both shining examples of the selfless dedication and service that military spouses embody. For Gold, the isolation of having a spouse deployed exemplifies why community involvement is so important. Being a military spouse can be very, very lonely, said Gold. Which is why I think its so important for community to rally around you, for you to become a part of the community. Its certainly challenging when your spouse is deployed because you take on all of the household duties yourself. The support of the community helps military spouses and families feel strengthened and resilient, which Barber said is one of the most important duties of a military spouse. The military does a lot for our nation. I believe in what we do. I believe in the mission that we serve, said Barber. But more so, I believe in what we call the silent members, which are the spouses and children that support those members in doing that mission. From left to right: Courtney Barber, Mayor Yemi Mobolade, Kimberly Gold. Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell As branch-level winners, Gold and Barber will now advance to the national competition, where they will vie for the prestigious title of the 2024 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year. The nationwide voting period is scheduled to start on March 7 and conclude on March 8. A panel will evaluate the finalists based on criteria such as military community involvement, leadership capabilities, community-building skills, communication proficiency, and personal narrative. Recipients of this award are provided with a year-round program designed to nurture leadership skills, expand networks, cultivate essential life skills, and advocate for meaningful change within their communities. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Long-range missiles do not determine the course of war, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said amidst discussions on supplying German Taurus missiles to Ukraine, the Finnish news outlet YLE reported on March 8. Germany will never participate in the war, Pistrous said. NV Read also: Scholzs deep-seated fear of Russia aims to push Kyiv into peace talks, says Politico Berlin has not outright denied Ukraine the Taurus missiles but has not been ready to provide them, possibly due to Chancellor Scholzs hesitations, Pistorius said in September 2023. Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it will not use Western long-range missiles to strike Russian territory. Read also: UK Foreign Secretary Cameron calls Germany to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles The Bundestag did not support a draft resolution calling for the supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine on Jan. 17, with only 178 out of 666 MPs voting in favor. Christian Freuding, head of the Special Staff for Ukraine at the German Defense Ministry, said on Feb. 5 that long-range Taurus missiles could not turn the tide of war in favor of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Pistorius said on March 5 that there was no political decision to provide Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles. 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 Sign for the Cascade County Election Office photographed on March 31, 2023. (Photo by Nicole Girten/Daily Montanan) Plaintiffs in a case against the Cascade County Elections Office over its handling of a May 2023 election alleged the office knowingly went against state statute and fault included ousted Clerk and Recorder Rina Moores former staff. According to a court filing submitted Wednesday, Lynn DeRoche, who worked alongside Moore for 16 years and for current Clerk and Recorder Sandra Merchant for about a month last year, gave Merchant faulty advice around procedures for sending out ballots in an irrigation district election. Merchant, who was inexperienced in elections prior to assuming office, beat out Moore for the job by 36 votes in 2022, and her tenure has been plagued by problems like ballots not fitting in return envelopes and resulted in legal intervention in the Great Falls Librarys mill levy election. In December, county commissioners took a controversial vote to remove election duties from Merchant and make the job a nonpartisan position under the commissions purview. This latest development in the lawsuit alleges Moores former staff, DeRoche, was actually behind the error in the irrigation election. The filing quoted emails showing DeRoche and the irrigation districts clerk, upon realizing the error, chose to stay the course regardless, even though it was against state statute. These details were included in a brief submitted to Cascade County District Court to request summary judgment in a case where plaintiffs argue the county elections department, commissioners, Fort Shaw Irrigation District and district board members failed to administer the districts board election according to statute. They are requesting a re-do. Plaintiffs in the case include Elliot Merja and Riley Denning, who both lost elections to the Fort Shaw Irrigation District board in the May 2023 election. Plaintiffs Timothy and Laurie Miller own property in the West Great Falls Flood and Drainage Control District and allege the county mishandled that board election as well. Attorney for plaintiffs Steven Potts told the Daily Montanan on Thursday he would be requesting summary judgment for the West Great Falls district part of the case in coming weeks. In this weeks court filing, plaintiffs said Merchant did not know what she was doing and was undermined by undependable and malevolent people, pointing at DeRoche. Together, they manipulated information about voting processes, deterred voters from casting ballots, and allowed others to cast ballots based on phony designations of agents, the filing read; agent designation refers to a technical way voting takes place in irrigation districts. Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki was not immediately available for comment Thursday. When reached by phone early Thursday, DeRoche said she had not yet read the document; she did not respond to a request for comment by press time. This isnt the first time in recent memory where an atypical election was fumbled by the Cascade County Elections Office with the county permitting a special election in 2021 in the West Great Falls Flood Control and Drainage District after ballots were distributed incorrectly. The court filing submitted this week starts with a quote from former President Donald Trump comparing U.S. elections to that in third world countries, and claiming the election in Cascade County was a prime example of that assessment. *** Irrigation district elections are run differently than a typical election where one registered voter is allocated one ballot. Property owners in the district are allocated one vote per acre of irrigable land. Basically, the more property you own in the district, the more say you have in the election. Property owners also have a few options for how they can submit their ballots. Co-owners can decide one of them will vote on both of their behalf, they can divide their votes based on an agreed-upon percentage ownership, or can designate an agent to vote for them on their behalf. In order to designate an agent to vote on a property owners behalf, the owner has to submit a document with the secretary of the district indicating the agents authority to vote. Prior to the 2019 legislative session, property owners had to let the irrigation district know who they selected to be their designated agent for each election. But in 2019, Senate Bill 116 changed that requirement, so property owners would only need to tell the district who they selected as their designated agent if it changed. The filing said the county stores these forms on behalf of the district. DeRoche, advising Merchant in a January 2023 email, referenced the rules for Irrigation District designations before they changed in 2019, saying letters needed to be sent out for property owners to designate their voting authority, according to the filing. DeRoche linked the updated statute in her email, and the filing said Merchant did not catch the difference between what DeRoche said and what was in the linked statute. Merchant asked DeRoche for a sample letter to send to the irrigation district theyve used before, and DeRoche said she would send a copy which the filing noted did not include the updated statute. On Jan. 20, 2023, district secretary Charla Merja sent an email to DeRoche saying the statute was confusing. The way Im reading it [Section 85-7-1710], if there has been no change in ownership since the last election, they [the electors] dont have to do anything, the filing quoted Merja writing. DeRoche responded less than 10 minutes later agreeing thats how she also read the law. She said the office didnt have access to the letters designating agents for the district as the records were sealed with the election in 2021. Merja responded shortly after: I wont say anything about changes if you dont have access to the previous forms. Well just have everyone complete them The filing said Merja sent out notices on Feb. 14 to property owners in the district with the outdated and incorrect information, with emphasis, saying property owners MUST complete a new [designation] form and return it to the district to get a ballot. Plaintiffs said DeRoche and Merja did this as a matter of convenience for themselves and these emails marked where they crossed over the line to nefarious conduct which should not be crossed. Ms. Deroche and Ms. Merja simply decided to bury the prior designations, disregard them, and misrepresent to electors that new designations MUST be submitted because this was expedient, the filing read. They did not want to look them up in the prior election records. Charla Merja could not be reached for comment Thursday. (Potts said Charla Merja was married to Elliot Merjas brother before a divorce about a decade ago, but there is no longer a family connection.) The filing also noted a majority of the Fort Shaw Irrigation District Board voted in an April 2023 meeting to require designations for co-owned land and to certify only the designations submitted in 2023, going against the requirements in the updated statute. The filing characterized this as a self-serving motion for Commissioner Kennard Steinke, saying it enabled him to win re-election over plaintiff Riley Denning. Denning alleged he did not receive the correct number of votes he is entitled to for the acres he co-owns. The filing claimed Steinkes designation was defective another way as well, noting his wife and co-owner of his parcel had not signed the designation, but that public officials looked the other way and he received a ballot. Plaintiffs noted this as only a snapshot of the issues with designation forms in 2023. Pointing out all of the issues with respect to the designations certified by FSID would take more pages than are allowed for briefs in this district, the filing read. The filing outlines what plaintiffs see as a total of 13 errors associated with the Fort Shaw Irrigation District Election. Plaintiffs said a new election should be conducted within 85 days after the court enters its findings. The court had previously scheduled a jury trial in the case for July 22. The post Longtime Cascade County election staff accused of maleficence in Irrigation District election appeared first on Daily Montanan. A popular Sacramento County farmers market has undergone some structural changes just in time for spring. Florin Certified Farmers Market was previously operated by Certified Farmers Markets of Sacramento behind a former Sears store. In October, Certified Farmers Markets of Sacramento learned that a new hotel would be built at the property at 6117 Florin Road and the market had to find a new home, according to the organizations CEO, Dan Best. We thanked them for years of hosting us, Best told The Sacramento Bee on Friday morning via phone. We are very appreciative of being able to host our service there. Florin farmers market moves, changes operators On Thursday, the Florin farmers market welcomed patrons to its new permanent location at the Florin Light Rail Station at 3001 Florin Road. Its now being run by Sacramento-based Alchemist CDC. For more than 40 years, the Florin Certified Farmers Market has served south Sacramento residents by providing access to delicious, nutritious and diverse locally-grown foods, Alchemist CDC wrote on its website. Alchemist CDC has offered food assistance access to Florins marketgoers since 2011 and Best said it felt natural that the nonprofit organization would take the lead at a new location where it could continue those efforts. Alchemist CDC representatives were not available for comment Friday morning. The markets mission, products and farmers will remain the same as before, according to Certified Farmers Markets of Sacramento and Alchemist CDC. Thank you for showing your support week after week, Certified Farmers Markets of Sacramento said. It makes a huge difference for our farmers. When is the market open? Florin Certified Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Thursdays. What produce is in season? In-season produce includes citrus, apples, cruciferous and roasting vegetables, and early strawberries from Southern California, according to Certified Farmers Markets of Sacramento. Fruits and vegetables are higher quality and have more nutrients when theyre in season, Adventist Health stated. Heres a list of fruits, veggies, leafy greens and other produce thats in season now: Kale Broccoli Cauliflower Brussel sprouts Greens Cabbage Winter squash Beets Carrots Grapefruit Lemons Oranges Pomelos Apples Asian pears Strawberries What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. CHARLEVOIX One hundred and fifty years ago, Charlevoix Sentinel editor Willard A. Smith proudly announced, on March 7, 1874, that he was about to move into bigger quarters. ANNOUNCEMENT. We announce to our readers and the public that during the coming week we shall remove the Sentinel office building, and the Postoffice wing, to Bridge Street, immediately adjoining the store of Fox, Rose & Buttars where we have leased thirty feet front. (This was not exactly true. The space of a road leading down to the waterfront, now the Beaver Island Boat Company area, separated the two buildings. The Sentinel had been occupying quarters on Clinton Street.) We propose to enlarge our business by securing more help, and adding to our printing material, and shall renew our effort to furnish a paper that shall be a credit to the place. Smith had been granted responsibility for the postal business in 1871, hence the date shown in the photo. Where exactly was this newspaper/print shop/post office combo located? Directly across Bridge Street from todays My Grandmothers Table Park Avenue corner cafe. It is believed the post office occupied the one-story rear add-on, reachable through the Sentinels office and commercial printing area. This photo was taken many years later, showing its sagging condition, probably just before all the aged buildings in the immediate area, where most of Charlevoixs first commercial structures had been located, were removed in 1941 for the anticipated construction of a new bridge. But Pearl Harbor in early December put a hold on that for the next six years while World War II intervened. By that time the post office had been long gone to another location, and it looks like the wooden addition that faced Round Lake was hardly usable for any purpose before its demise. Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you Same issue, a column filler: An editor, who speaks with the air of man who has discovered a new fact by experience, says that the new way to prevent bleeding by the nose is to keep your nose out of other peoples business. Wise words in this era of hair trigger tempers. Also, the correct method for making mustard plasters. These self-remedies were quite popular for the treatment of pain from rheumatism, arthritis, sore muscles and even coughing, said to be able to draw the culprits right out of the body. MUSTARD PLASTERS. Not one person in a hundred knows how to make a decent mustard plaster. You should use no water whatever.Just mix the mustard with the white of an egg, and the result will be a plaster that will draw perfectly, but will not produce a blister even upon the skin of an infant, no matter how long it is allowed to remain upon the part. Any takers willing to experiment? One item grabbed my attention. Smith, downtown merchants Amos Fox and Archibald Buttars, a man named Aldrich, and another man named Gunton from Traverse City had been invited to Petoskey by Hiram Rose, Fox & Buttars business partner who was based in Petoskey. The purpose was to inspect the readily evident impact the recent arrival of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad was having on the embryo city, and what this citys prospects and potentials were. Smith wrote a large, multi-sectioned article on the discovery trip, done by horse-drawn sleigh on a beautiful day. They arrived about 1 p.m., ate at a new hotel, after which we took a circuit of the place. One section was titled Littles Hotel, a building 24 x 40 and three stories high, yet in an unfinished state. Two rooms on the ground floor would be given over to a post office and drugstore. But this is what caught my eye. The proprietor, Dr. Little, is a regular M. D., and has a considerable practice here. This odd phenomenon of medical men branching out into the hotel business is one that happened frequently in Charlevoix, with both physicians and dentists veering off into the commercial sector. They either continued their practice while the hotel was under hired or family management, or actually gave up medicine to devote their time to the hospitality industry. Was this only a local or regional happening? Was it (or is it still maybe perhaps, tongue in cheek) part of the med and dental school curriculum? Just in case you eventually find you dont like treating sick, injured or sore gums people anymore, have we got an alternative for you! Get a second degree at Hotel School! Give a thought to providing them a good nights sleep instead! Does it happen, has it happened, everywhere? Inquiring minds need to know. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Looking Back: A newspaper/print shop/post office combo in Charlevoix Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) issued a disaster declaration for the crawfish industry Wednesday, according to a press release. Louisianas extreme drought conditions have affected our farmers, our economy, and our way of life, Landry said in a statement in the release. All 365,000 crawfish acres in Louisiana have been affected by these conditions. That is why I am issuing a disaster declaration. The crawfish industry needs all the support it can get right now. Landrys declaration follows recent letters from Louisiana Reps. Clay Higgins (R) and Troy Carter (D) asking him for a statewide disaster declaration for the states crawfish industry. Both Carter and Higgins praised Landrys issuing of the declaration in their own statements Wednesday. My office is committed to the mission of assisting our crawfish industry and will continue to work at the federal level to secure much-needed assistance, Higgins said in his statement. Todays executive order by Governor Landry will help to unlock additional relief for the entire industry, and I appreciate his efforts in protecting our way of life. In his statement, Carter thanked Landry for his action and said that crawfish is more than just a product in Louisiana; its a way of life. This is a helping hand for an industry facing an unprecedented economic burden, Carter said. In September, President Biden approved a disaster declaration for the Pelican State related to saltwater intrusion into the states drinking water, partially due to extreme drought. Saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico is usually prevented from getting into the water supply by the flow of the Mississippi River, but it faced at a historic low due to drought and unprecedented heat. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Petroleo Brasileiro SA board members shot down a dividend proposal under pressure from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, surprising investors who had grown complacent about the leftist leaders willingness to interfere with state-controlled companies. Most Read from Bloomberg The move to block a special dividend payment, when the market was expecting more than $3 billion, weakened the Brazilian real and sent Petrobras shares tumbling 12%, erasing $11 billion in market value. The stock had been trading at a 10-year high as recently as last month on optimism over production growth. Lula directly told Petrobras Chief Executive Officer Jean Paul Prates and his team in a recent meeting at the presidential palace that the company should limit investor payouts and reinvest instead, according to people familiar with the matter. All five government-appointed directors voted against the proposed dividend in a meeting Thursday, along with a sixth board member representing workers. The decision heightens the risk perception at Petrobras particularly on the government influence regarding major capital allocation decisions, said Caio Ribeiro, an analyst at Bank of America, in a note. He said the company may direct more investment to less lucrative renewable energy projects or to acquisitions. The proposed payout would have been for hundreds of millions of dollars, according to people familiar with the matter. Lulas office declined to comment. In a statement, Petrobras said all its governance rules were followed in the dividend vote. There are no allegations of external interference in this process, the company said. The decision was viewed as a win for Mines and Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira, who selected many of the Petrobras board members and, like Lula, has been pushing for Petrobras to boost investments. Its a loss for the economic team led by Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, who has sought to reassure markets that the administration is budget-conscious and investor-friendly. Prates who last week warned in an interview with Bloomberg News that the company would be more cautious on issuing big dividends abstained from the vote. He has found himself caught between keeping Lula happy and pressure from other shareholders to keep delivering some of the best returns in the industry. Read More: Petrobras CEO Says Green Energy Shift Means Caution on Dividends Petrobrass reserves will remain in a fund designated for dividends, which can be distributed to investors at any time, Chief Financial Officer Sergio Caetano Leite said on a call with analysts. But Lula has been discussing a plan to push for rule changes that could allow Petrobras to tap those funds for investments, Reuters reported, citing unidentified sources. Read More: Brazil Markets Tumble as Petrobras Dividend Sends Shockwaves Many investors had been betting that Petrobras would continue showering investors with dividends to help the government, its largest shareholder, shore up public finances. Instead, the company is preferring to keep the cash on hand as it looks to boost exploration spending and make acquisitions in renewable energy as well as oil and gas. --With assistance from Vinicius Andrade, Martha Beck and Daniel Carvalho. (Updates with Petrobras comment in sixth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Lake Mead is shrinking, due to a long drought influenced by global warming. The white bands and the islets show where its historical water level has receded. (Christopher Clark / U.S. Bureau of Reclamation) Corporate managements nationwide undoubtedly breathed sighs of relief Wednesday, when the Securities and Exchange Commission approved a rule mandating their disclosures of greenhouse gas emissions and risks from global warming. That's because the rule is much weaker than its original version, which was first published in March 2022. The final version removed provisions requiring disclosure of some emissions produced by a company's entire business chain and expanded exemptions for smaller companies. But if managements think they'll be able to avoid making more complete disclosures than the SEC is requiring, they have another think coming. Far more investors are making investment decisions that are informed by climate risk, and far more companies are making disclosures about climate risk. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler Shareholders are demanding more. So is the European Union, which has enacted rules requiring all companies with EU branches employing more than 250 workers, more than $42 million in European revenues or more than $21 million in capital assets to make the very disclosures that the SEC dropped from its mandate, starting in 2025. More than 3,200 U.S. corporations are expected to become subject to the EU mandate. Then there's California, which last year enacted two laws requiring companies with annual revenues of more than $500 million and business activities in the state to disclose their climate-related economic risks; companies with revenues of more than $1 billion face more stringent requirements to report the full range of their emissions, similar to the EU mandate. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several other business lobbying groups have already filed a federal lawsuit to overturn the California law, in which they estimate that the laws will cover 10,000 companies. (Rule of thumb: If the Chamber of Commerce is on one side of a lawsuit, you can rarely go wrong in assuming the public interest is on the other side.) Story continues In any event, the laws have the support of numerous corporations with headquarters or sizable business interests in California, including Microsoft and Apple. "We know that consistent, comparable, and reliable emissions data at scale is necessary to fully assess the global economys risk exposure and to navigate the path to a net-zero future," Microsoft and 14 other businesses wrote in an Aug. 14 letter to state legislative leaders. The state's legislation, they wrote, "would break new ground on ambitious climate policy and would allow the largest economic actors to fully understand and mitigate their harmful greenhouse gas emissions." Read more: Column: The GOP's war on green investing is bad for the climate and investors Meanwhile, 10 states with Republican political leaderships have signaled that they will sue to invalidate the SEC initiative, on the claim that the rule "exceeds the agencys statutory authority." All this does more than hint at the headwinds the SEC faced in crafting its final disclosure rule. These included objections from many in the business community and conservative politicians pursuing their fatuous campaigns against ESG policies environmental, social and governance of corporations and investment firms. The SEC's Democratic majority, led by its chairman, Gary Gensler, also plainly harbored concerns about how its more expansive rule proposal might fare with a conservative federal judiciary, including a Supreme Court that seems to be searching for grounds to pare back the reach of federal regulatory agencies, if not invalidate their authority altogether. Gensler observed after the commission vote that its goal was to provide for consistency in how companies report information that most are already compiling. "Far more investors are making investment decisions that are informed by climate risk, and far more companies are making disclosures about climate risk," he said. He didn't specifically defend the SEC's weakening of its initial proposal, except to say that the plan was revised "based upon public feedback." Let's take a closer look at the issues and the political context. First, here's what the SEC's rule encompasses. At its core are disclosures about emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide emissions that trap heat within the Earth's atmosphere, driving global temperatures higher. Global warming produces major changes in climatological manifestations more storms of greater severity, droughts, melting ice producing a rise in sea levels, and so on. Emissions fall into three general categories. Scope 1 emissions are those a company produces directly, say from its delivery trucks, boilers, refineries, manufacturing plants. Scope 2 emissions are those it produces indirectly, for example, from the power plants from which it purchases its electricity. Scope 3 emissions are the most contentious. They're produced by a company's vendors when it orders supplies and consumers when they use its products. In general this is the largest category, accounting for 70% of total emissions for many businesses and as much as 90% for some. But they can be hard to define, calculate and manage. Read more: Column: Oil firms and others face unprecedented pressure to come clean on climate change The SEC originally contemplated requiring disclosures of all three categories. The final rule removed the Scope 3 reporting requirement entirely, and mandates reporting of Scope 1 and 2 emissions only when they have or are likely to have "a material impact on the registrants business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition." Those changes gratified some business organizations and their henchpersons in Congress, but disturbed environmental groups. Removing Scope 3 disclosures, said Danielle Fugere, president of the Berkeley-based environmental organization As You Sow, "creates a significant hole in shareholders understanding of climate risk." The fact is that full disclosure of these risks is something that regulators around the world, as well as shareholders and investors, have been demanding for years. Who's against it? Head-in-the-sand Republicans and right-wing culture warriors, that's who. Hester Peirce, one of the two Republicans on the SEC, carried their ball into its meeting room. Weak as the final rule is, she wasn't satisfied. As enacted, she groused in a statement Wednesday, the rule "still promises to spam investors with details about the Commissions pet topic of the day climate." That dismissal of global warming, an elemental threat to life on Earth, as a "pet topic" should tell you how fundamentally unserious GOP policymakers are about their responsibilities. The anti-ESG cabal among state-level Republicans appears determined to undermine the interests of their own constituents, all for the sake of "owning the libs." Consider three states that have been among the leaders in banning investment firms from doing business with their governments because of the firms' support for environmental policies: Texas, Florida and Louisiana. Those are the three states that have led the nation in cumulative damage costs due to climate-related disasters from 1980 through 2022 racking up expenses of $380 billion, $370 billion and $290 billion, respectively. Read more: Column: In landmark vote, Chevron shareholders demand report on its climate lobbying The general approach of disclosure critics has two threads. One is to pretend that the effects of global warming are irrelevant to the operations and the future of most businesses. The other is to assert that they're too nebulous to calculate or, alternatively, that performing the calculations is just too burdensome. Neither argument holds water. I reported in 2021 that shareholders were already asking for more disclosures from managements about how their activities contribute to climate change, and more about how climate change will affect their destinies. Fossil fuel companies weren't the only targets of shareholder resolutions on these topics they also appeared on the agendas of annual meetings of manufacturers, retailers, banks and many others. In 2023, shareholder resolutions demanding climate and environmental disclosures dominated the proxy season with 146 filed, according to the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, which tracks ESG issues. Many won plurality support, but more than half dealing with climate were withdrawn after managements made commitments to their sponsors to meet their disclosure goals. Investment watchdogs are on the case. Fitch Ratings, which analyzes corporate creditworthiness, says that as many as 20% of the 1,650 corporations it studied might face ratings downgrades due to their "climate vulnerabilities if such risks are not mitigated" by 2035. BlackRock, the world's largest asset management firm, has said it's not backing off from pushing corporations to disclose how they address climate-related risks. The U.S. government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identified 28 weather- and climate-related disasters costing $1 billion or more in 2023, including a drought, four floods, 22 severe storms and a wildfire. 2023 brought a record number of weather- and climate-related disasters costing more than $1 billion each to the U.S., with a toll of 492 deaths and damage of more than $90 billion. (NOAA) That was the highest number recorded since NOAA began taking count in 1980 and the ninth consecutive year in which 10 or more billion-dollar weather or climate disasters struck the U.S. NOAA's initial estimate is that the 2023 disasters cost more than $90 billion, but it's certain to rise, since the ultimate price tag of the 18 disasters reported in 2022 came to more than $165 billion. The disasters took 492 lives. To put it another way, any management of a large business in the U.S. that thinks it can evade the costs of global warming is living in a dream world. Global warming deniers in business and politics persist in treating the climate crisis as merely a ginned-up topic of debate. That's the gist of the business lobby's lawsuit over the California laws. The lawsuit treats the laws, bizarrely, as infringements on companies' 1st Amendment rights. The state, the plaintiffs assert, is forcing "thousands of companies to engage in controversial speech that they do not wish to make" speech they say is "political, and thus controversial." Read more: Column: The climate scientist who just won a $1-million judgment against climate change deniers This is absurd on its face tantamount to Donald Trump's claim that by urging his followers to march to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, he was just exercising his right to free speech. This would allow any mandated disclosure to be reduced to a free-speech violation after all, any such disclosure must be expressed as a series of words. The courts, including the Supreme Court, have generally rejected assertions that mandated disclosures violate the 1st Amendment when the disclosures serve a legitimate government interest, such as protecting investors from fraudulent claims, or providing investors with important information for example, the level of emissions by a public corporation or its potential exposure to global warming. In this case, the business lobbies stretch to the breaking point their description of the state's mandated emission disclosures as mere speech. They also assert that the state's purpose is merely to "fuel pressure campaigns against business." They can't make that claim stick with a straight face, so they misrepresent the laws. Here's how they quote a state Senate analysis of one of the statutes: "'For companies, the knowledge' that their compelled statements 'will be publicly available might encourage them to take meaningful steps' to support the policy goals of the state." That's a flagrant misquotation. Here's what the analysis actually said: "For companies, the knowledge that their emissions will be publicly available might encourage them to take meaningful steps to reduce GHG emissions." The words and phrases that the plaintiffs replaced with their own tendentious language are in italics. It's not the "compelled statements" that will be publicly available, but the actual level of their emissions. If the result is "pressure campaigns" aimed at prompting the companies to be cleaner, what's wrong with that? As for the state's "policy goals," the laws aren't aimed at supporting a goal cherished by the liberal legislators of California, as the plaintiffs want you to think, but the national and international goal of reducing greenhouse gases. None of this is to say that the Chamber of Commerce and its fellow lobbies won't prevail in court. But it's proper to note that when the best arguments they muster are based on lies and misrepresentations, they might not have many other arrows in their quiver. Get the latest from Michael Hiltzik Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Luxembourg is joining the Czech-led ammunition initiative to procure hundreds of thousands of sorely needed artillery shells for Ukraine, the country's defense ministry said on March 8. Luxembourg's Defense Minister Yuriko Backes also said that the defense ministry had recently delivered 6,000 155mm shells to Ukraine. As Ukraine faces critical ammunition shortages due to delays in U.S. aid, Czech President Petr Pavel said in February 2024 that Prague identified 800,000 artillery shells abroad that could be sent to Ukraine within weeks if it received enough funds from other allies. After Norway joined the initiative on March 7, the required funds were collected, Pavel said. Pavel said on March 7 that 18 countries participated in the Czech-led allied initiative, and that Ukraine would get the ammunition "within weeks." According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), which tracks international support for Ukraine, Luxembourg has committed 130 million euros ($142 million) as of January 2024. Military support formed the bulk of Luxembourg's commitments, at 110 million euros ($120 million). Read also: Ukrainian soldiers near Kupiansk prepare for potential Russian offensive Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Luxembourg has announced that it will join Czechia's initiative to purchase 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine. Source: Yuriko Backes, Minister of Defence of Luxembourg Details: "This will be part of our overall effort to provide much needed capabilities to Ukraine in their fight against the Russian aggressor." The day before, Czech President Petr Pavel confirmed that Ukraine's allies had transferred the entire amount of money needed to provide the country with 800,000 artillery shells. He predicted that the ammunition should arrive in Ukraine "in the coming weeks". Background: At the Munich Security Conference, Pavel said that Czechia had found up to 800,000 artillery shells in standard NATO calibres that could be sent to Ukraine within a few weeks if their purchase could be funded. Support UP or become our patron! Stop the madness. Lets do something positive to fight gun violence in Missouri. As a retired agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, I know legislation passed by the General Assembly in recent years is a causal factor of the increased gun violence in the major cities of St. Louis and Kansas City. First the legislature revoked the Missouri sheriffs permit law to purchase a handgun. This law required buyers to apply for a handgun purchase permit. The buyer paid a small fee, a background check was conducted, and the handgun to be purchased was identified by make, model, caliber and serial number and registered at the sheriffs office. The buyer presented the permit to the licensed firearms dealer, filled out the federal purchase form and then received the firearm. There were many benefits from this system both for law enforcement and for public safety. Next, the General Assembly passed a law that all Missouri residents without a felony conviction could carry a concealed firearm without a permit. This law does not require a background check, training in a classroom or any firearm range qualification. Also, no mental health checks or emotional stability tests are required This means many more people who are unstable, untrained, addicted to drugs or perpetrators of domestic violence with criminal intent are now carrying handguns on their person or in their vehicles. This poses a greater threat to law enforcement and the general public. Most recently, the legislature passed the notorious Second Amendment Protection Act. This law outlawed Missouri state officers, county sheriffs deputies and local law officers from enforcing federal firearms laws that are not mirrored by similar state laws. Under penalty of arrest and serious fines ($50,000), state and local officers refused to work with federal agencies such as the ATF. These officials also left joint violent crime task forces that involved federal agencies. This law is in the appeals courts now and is likely to be overturned in federal court as unconstitutional. The general rule of law is that federal law supersedes state and local law not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. More than three years ago, I emailed letters to my state Rep. Vic Allred, state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. In these letters, I suggested legislation to allow for stricter gun control laws in the local communities of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Kansas City and Jackson County. I also suggested local ordinances requiring permits for handguns and assault weapons, and to carry or transport loaded weapons of this type in these jurisdictions. Residents of these special jurisdictions, currently carrying concealed weapons (handguns and assault rifles) would be grandfathered in, as long as they did not carry a loaded handgun or assault weapon outside their residence or business property. I also detailed specifics of these permit requirements, including criminal penalties, firearm and vehicle seizures, and a special gun court. I received no feedback or questions from these government leaders. Remember the perpetrators of the Chiefs rally mass shooting at Union Station were carrying and using handguns and an assault rifle. Come on, Missouri. We can do better. We can save lives and protect our children and families from tragedy. Peter W. Lobdell is a retired Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent. He lives in Parkville. French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a ceremony to seal the right to abortion in the French constitution, on International Women's Day, at the Place Vendome, in Paris, Whether it is fair to call Emmanuel Macron a modern-day Cassandra, only time will tell. The original Trojan priestess of that name was doomed to predict disaster but was never to be believed. Will that prove to be the French presidents fate after his warning this week that the West may have to step in to save Ukraine if Russia makes a military breakthrough? Macron is reported to have shown maps of the current battlefield in Ukraine to French opposition party leaders to illustrate to them the points of potential Russian advance. In doing so, he said that there should be no more red lines on Frances involvement, even hinting as a consequence that Western boots might have to go on the ground. Has he overstated his case, perhaps for domestic political reasons? Its certainly a remarkable turnaround from Macrons early position on the war. He seems now to be saying what was once considered inconceivable. Today, even Britain, the cheerleader for Ukraine since February 2022, baulks at anything resembling a more direct intervention, with Lord Cameron earlier in the week urging Europe to rein in the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, to get these crises to the best possible place by the time of the US presidential election. There can be no doubt that supporting Ukraine must remain the top priority for European countries to contain further Russian aggression. Why else would Finland and Sweden have chosen this moment in their histories to join Nato? As matters stand, there is no obvious scope for a negotiated settlement to the Ukrainian war the stated objectives of presidents Putin and Zelensky remain mutually irreconcilable. A year ago, Western countries agonised for too long over whether to send Ukraine F-16 aircraft, main battle tanks, long-range missiles and copious quantities of ammunition. Meanwhile, the Russians were not idle, energetically creating long and deep lines of well-constructed defence. It was unsurprising, therefore, that the much-anticipated counter offensive by Ukraine became the stalemate that existed over this winter. Now as the weather warms, the shortage of ammunition on the Ukrainian side has given Russia an opportunity to push forward. Against this background, Macrons position is understandable. One of the problems during this conflict has been that Nato has been far too clear about what it will not do, instead of what it will do. This has arisen largely out of openly-expressed fears about what the Russian response would be were the West be seen to escalate too far. Macron is right to try to seize back the strategic initiative from the Russians, as part of his theory of strategic ambivalence, even if some will quibble with the precise course of action he has intimated. As eye-catching as his rhetoric may be, however, there is always the danger that it could backfire, in the same way the German airforce leak was a serious gaffe. The mere suggestion of Western troops already being in Ukraine or the possibility that they could be deployed there either for training or combat purposes risks playing into Vladimir Putins agenda. The Russian rulers domestic propaganda asserts that this war is promulgated by Nato, forcing the defence of Mother Russia from Western aggression. In turn, this enables Putin to make nuclear threats that frighten Europeans who are opposed to further intervention. What is certain, regardless, is we must urgently ramp up military support to Ukraine in terms of increased supplies of intelligence, weapons, ammunition and training. There is no time to be lost. The security of Europe, not just Ukraine, is at stake even Nato itself. General The Lord Dannatt is a former Chief of the General Staff 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. French President Emmanuel Macron has once again commented on his statement that "we cannot rule out" the possibility of deployment of Western troops in Ukraine. Source: He was quoted by TF1 channel, European Pravda reports Details: Asked if he "does not rule out" deployment of Western troops to Ukraine, Macron replied: "Not ruling something out does not mean doing it." "Today, the only way to achieve peace is to stop the aggressor. The aggressor must agree to lay down his arms. And if no one tells him that he has to stop..." Macron said. Macron said last week that "we cannot rule out" the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine. He later added that his words had been carefully considered. At the same time, Macron's statements provoked a negative reaction from the governments of the allied countries, whose leaders were quick to assure that they would not send any troops to Ukraine. Moscow reacted angrily to Macron's remarks, warning that the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine would inevitably lead to a conflict between Russia and NATO. Support UP or become our patron! MADERA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A community meeting in Madera was held to give residents a look at the plans for an overcrossing on Road 26 between Club Drive and Avenue 18 1/2. The high-speed authority plans to separate the existing rail line and the future high-speed rain like from traffic in the area. Residents were able to get a look at the plans during Thursdays meeting at Berenda Elementary School. We have existed throughout the county of Madera a lot of at-grade railroad crossings where you have to come and stop. Our project has eliminated all of those along the alignment along BNSF and thats an immediate benefit to the community, said Garth Fernandez with the HSR Central Valley. They say the improvements have already increased travel times and safety for drivers in Madera County. Work on the overcrossing is supposed to begin this month. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. Ballots for the presidential primary election are seen organized in baskets on a shelf at the Denver Elections Division in Denver, March 5, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline) In a conference room tucked away in a downtown Denver office building, a small group of bureaucrats and high-powered lawyers is continuing to hash out a series of proposals that could radically reshape the way Colorado conducts its elections. Backed by centrist megadonor Kent Thiry, former CEO of Denver-based dialysis company DaVita, proponents have set out to abolish the party primary and caucus system for nominating candidates for statewide and legislative offices, replacing it with an open all-candidate primary and a four-candidate general election decided by ranked choice voting. The model is championed by Unite America, the Denver-based nonprofit that Thiry co-chairs. The group backed a similar measure in Alaska, which voters there approved in 2020 and which was used for the first time in 2022. Represented by lawyers from the powerful lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, proponents have filed dozens of different versions of their measure with the states Initiative Title Setting Review Board, where hearings continued this week. While several versions have won initial approval, potential challenges loom, and backers are expected to continue to tinker with their proposal in the coming weeks as they seek to draft a measure or set of measures that passes constitutional muster. Commonly known as the Title Board, the three-member panel consists of representatives designated by the Colorado secretary of state, attorney general and the General Assemblys Office of Legislative Legal Services. The board is tasked with determining whether a proposed initiative meets a constitutional requirement that ballot measures address only a single subject, and with drafting a clear title, a one-sentence description of the measure that could appear on ballots in November. Once approved by the Title Board, initiative backers must gather 124,238 signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot. But the sweeping election overhaul is already drawing criticism from all sides. Far-right Republicans like U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Windsor have decried ranked choice voting as a scheme to rig elections, and GOP lawmakers in some states have even moved to ban the practice. Attorneys representing the proponents of a sweeping election reform ballot measure speak to the Colorado Initiative Title Setting Review Board at the Secretary of States office in Denver on March 6, 2024. (Screenshot) Ranked choice voting, also known as instant-runoff voting, is a system in which voters rank the candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated, and those ballots second-choice votes are tallied. The process is repeated until one candidate receives a majority. Colorado Democrats are also skeptical of the Thiry-backed effort and its all-candidate primary, which would allow candidates to qualify for the primary ballot only through signature-gathering efforts. Eliminating the option to qualify through the party assembly process, critics say, would privilege wealthy candidates who can afford to hire firms that specialize in petition drives. Members of both parties have speculated that a possible motive behind the reforms is to make it easier for Thiry who publicly mulled a run for governor as a Republican in 2017, then formally switched his registration to unaffiliated later that year to mount a gubernatorial bid in 2026. Martha Tierney, a Democratic attorney, has helped lead an effort to oppose the measures at the Title Board, arguing that the proposed elimination of party primaries alongside the introduction of ranked choice voting violates the single-subject requirement. These policies are not interrelated, nor is one an implementing provision of the other, Tierney wrote in a Jan. 25 objection. They are two highly complex policy changes regarding separate types of elections lumped together under the same broad title. Charges of logrolling Though the Title Board had approved several versions of the initiative at its January hearing, it reversed itself weeks later, following Tierneys appeal, and sent proponents back to the drawing board. At issue are charges of logrolling the practice of lumping together multiple policies that wouldnt pass muster with voters on their own. Thirys election overhaul, Tierney wrote, takes the highly contentious issue of eliminating party primaries and combines it with the potentially more voter-friendly change of (ranked choice voting) in the general election. Proponents returned to the Title Board on Wednesday with a version of their proposal that would make statutory changes, rather than amend the state Constitution, and sought to closely mirror existing provisions of the states election code. That once again satisfied the board, which voted unanimously that the measure meets the single-subject requirement for now. Opponents must file a motion for the board to rehear its decision by next week. Frankly, Im sitting here and Ive been on every side of it, said Christy Chase, deputy director of the Office of Legislative Legal Services, said prior to the vote. I hear the arguments of why the whole scheme is interrelated and connected. Ive been on every side, on the fence, underneath it, agreed board chair Theresa Conley, strategic legal and policy manager for the Colorado secretary of states office. Protracted disputes over the single-subject requirement often end up being adjudicated by the Colorado Supreme Court. If proponents are unable to combine the primary and general election changes in a single measure, they said during a continued hearing on Thursday, theyre prepared to run separate measures that would only go into effect if both are approved. We want to see them enacted together, Sarah Mercer, an attorney representing the proponents, told the Title Board. To have one or the other, from our perspective, is not the policy goal. Dozens of versions tested The 2024 measures are the latest in a series of ballot initiatives Thiry has bankrolled to reform Colorados election laws. In 2016, voters approved two measures he sponsored to reestablish presidential primary elections and to allow unaffiliated voters to participate in primary elections. Two years later, he successfully backed a pair of anti-gerrymandering amendments that established independent, nonpartisan commissions to oversee Colorados redistricting processes for Congress and the state Legislature. Alongside the primary and general election changes, Thiry has backed ballot initiatives this year to abolish the use of party vacancy committees to fill vacant seats in the state Legislature, and to require timely reporting of election results on election night. Overall, more than 40 different versions of the election reform measure have been filed with the Title Board, varying on questions like whether or not the new system would apply to federal offices and when the changes would go into effect. Though its common for initiative sponsors to test out several different versions of their proposal at the Title Board as they seek to overcome the single-subject hurdle, the volume of the Thiry camps submissions drew a rebuke from Conley on Wednesday after the group submitted a flurry of late technical changes prior to the hearing. Youre a pretty sophisticated group. Im just asking you to please do better, Conley said. Youre really abusing the patience of the Title Board and of this initiative process, she added. Its just unfair to the other proponents. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Major Colorado election overhaul battles single subject hurdle at Title Board appeared first on Colorado Newsline. An image of Pride flags, buttons and Safe Space stickers provided by PFLAG, an organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people. Springfield school board member Steve Makoski was at Central High School recently as a volunteer judge for a student event. During a break, he walked the hallways and took photos of "safe space" stickers, signs reading "I (rainbow-colored heart) inclusive schools" and posters about the student-run Sexuality & Gender Alliance. Those photos snapped by Makoski were used in a Thursday post on the Facebook page for Christians Uniting for Political Action, which is led by executive director Calvin Morrow. It has 1,700 followers. The post read: "I want to invite the parents of Springfield to take a stroll with me through Central High School. Could there possibly be an agenda here?" In the post, CUPA pointed out only 38% of students were proficient or advanced, meaning at grade level, in math which is accurate based on the 2023 state-mandated tests and alleged "certain SPS administrators and candidates are focused on maintaining the status quo." (For context, 38.6% of SPS students were at grade level last year in math compared to the state average of 40.5% while 44% of SPS students were at grade level in English compared to state average of 43.5%). The post ends with: "Only three candidates that I know of dare to get into the details of how they intend to refocus on improving test scores" and lists Chad Rollins, Landon McCarter and incumbent Maryam Mohammadkhani. Each of the three have advocated for reducing "distractions" in the classroom, in addition to offering other ideas. The 2024 Springfield school board candidates include, clockwise from top left, Susan Provance, Scott Crise, Landon McCarter, Chad Rollins, Danielle Kincaid, Maryam Mohammadkhani, and Kyler Sherman-Wilkins. A total of seven candidates are on the April 2 ballot. The three candidates with the most votes will be sworn in mid-April to serve a three-year term. Morrow is part of three groups that have supported Rollins, McCarter and Mohammadkhani. They include CUPA, the Back on Track America PAC and Concerned Pastors of the Greater Springfield Area. There was nothing in the post to indicate that Rollins, McCarter and Mohammadkhani were involved, in any way, in the taking of the photos or the post by CUPA. In the post, CUPA does not give Makoski credit for the photos. However, Makoski was visible in the reflection of a photo taken outside the classroom of choir director Eric Eichenberger. Asked why he took the photos, Makoski said he wanted "evidence" of what school employees had displayed on the walls and doors. The reflection of Springfield school board member Steve Makoski is visible in a photo he shot during a recent visit to Central High School. "First off, I don't approve of them, No. 1. They have no place or no business in our school so I just took pictures of them because I wanted to utilize them for whatever, if I ever have a presentation," he said. The News-Leader asked Makoski how members of CUPA obtained copies of his photos. "I utilize those and I show people within the community. They just happened to be one of them." A message seeking comment was left for Morrow. It has not yet been returned. Asked if he was comfortable with CUPA using the photos in a campaign-related post, which was supportive of three candidates and critical of others who were not named, Makoski said: "I'm not going to sit and tell you whether somebody should use them in any way, on the campaign or anything. What I will say is that people within the community need to know what is happening in our schools." More: For SPS' Makoski, 'Safe Space' stickers, LGBTQ support are distractions, grooming Makoski added: "This is unacceptable and I will show people that this is what is happening in our schools. I think it's my duty and my responsibility." He said he would also be proud to show the "beautiful photos" of good things happening in the schools. Springfield school board member Steve Makoski spoke during a meeting in October 2023. Makoski was asked if he shared the photos from Central with the superintendent or the rest of the board. He said no. He said his position on LGBTQ-related flags, stickers, posters, and clubs as well as a request for the board to issue a specific statement of support for LGBTQ students and employees, which did not garner enough support to call for a vote are well known. "We had a board meeting where I brought up how this is immoral. I still, to this day, believe it is immoral for us to be in this atmosphere where you've got 'safe space' stickers," he said. More: SPS board rejects LGBTQ support resolution, members seek removal of Safe Space stickers Makoski, director of compliance at Rapid Roberts Inc., has described Pride flags and stickers as a distraction during board meetings and appearances on local radio shows. He has described them as "subliminal messages" to "steer and direct our students in a certain direction" and said employees should not condone, promote or display anything that takes away from "pure academics." In the past, Makoski equated the flags and stickers to "grooming," which is when someone builds a relationship, a level of trust or a connection with a child or young person with the intent to exploit, manipulate or abuse them. "Kids are so vulnerable that we can teach them a lot of things and right now I don't think that a 'safe space' sticker or a Pride flag or anything else is something that we should be teaching them. That should be left up to the parents," he said. More: LGBTQ advocates say youth 'do not feel safe in SPS,' call for support "...It doesn't say in our strategic plan that we're going to teach and educate and lead kids to a way of life that has absolutely nothing to do with education." The question of Pride flags in the classroom came up at the start of the 2022-23 year. The district responded with a reminder of board policy GBCB updated in 2019 which spells out expectations for staff conduct and a lengthy email which provided guidelines but did not include an itemized list of what was appropriate or not. The email stated: "Per this policy, professional standards prohibit any speech or conduct that represents a personal opinion as the opinion of the district, including the use of district property for such a purpose." It also outlined the "restricted political speech" in the school setting including the promotion of diminution of political candidates, electioneering, campaigning, and support or opposition of political and of ballot issues. Stephen Hall, chief communications officer, said in August 2022: "There needs to be a standardized approach that the classroom environment is focused on academics and curricular issues." The district has not expressly outlawed "safe space" stickers or insignia in classrooms or work areas. Aaron Schekorra will begin serving as the GLO Center's full-time executive director on Jan. 2, according to a press release. Aaron Schekorra is the executive director of the GLO Center, said the "safe space" signage is meant to convey that the area is welcoming and inclusive. The center provides support, resources, education, and advocacy for the LGBTQ community in the Ozarks. "That space and the adults in that space are safe and affirming individuals, meaning they understand that different students have different identities, different beliefs, different needs, and that they are willing to not discriminate against those students and individuals in that space," Schekorra said. "It quite literally just means that all students are safe in that classroom." Other candidates running for the board include Danielle Kincaid, Scott Crise, Susan Provance and Kyler Sherman-Wilkins. Sherman-Wilkins serves on the board for the GLO Center. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield school board member's 'safe space' photos used by CUPA A new theory based on the pilot's intent would mean the bulk of the wreckage from Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is almost 3,500 miles north of the search's focus, a former National Transportation Safety Board investigator told Fox News Digital. Alan Diehl, who has over 30 years of experience investigating plane crashes, believes the missing Boeing 777 plummeted into the Andaman Sea, which is northwest of Malaysia. The plane disappeared 10 years ago on Friday, on March 8, 2014. Diehl believes the pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah wanted to make a political statement against the current regime "by commandeering the airplane, flying it clandestinely across Malaysia, taking it to the American military base in Diego Garcia, where he expected to broadcast his manifesto en route, land the plane and release the passengers." There are countless theories with wide-ranging levels of plausibility, but Diehl's new idea if true would completely change the search efforts, which largely focused on the southern part of the Indian Ocean near the southwestern coast of Australia. MALAYSIA ANNOUNCES RENEWED PUSH TO FIND MH370 DECADE AFTER DISAPPEARANCE Malaysia Airlines flight 370's original planned flight, according to Dr. Alan Diehl's book. Ten years later, the only thing the 239 victims' families and friends can cling to are these theories no matter how kooky some might be because the reality is the governments involved have no definitive answers. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP It's still hard to fathom how a routine flight on March 8, 2014, from Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, to Beijing, China, veered off course after a series of bizarre, harsh turns, lost radar contact and then vanished. Diehl, a research psychologist who dedicated his life's work to recreating the pilot and crew's possible actions by analyzing their mental states, believes the turns and the plane's electronics going dark were intentional. RETIRED FISHERMAN CLAIMS HE FOUND PART OF MALAYSIA AIRLINES MH370 IN SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATERS: REPORT "This plane is electronically dark, and he (the pilot) probably turned off the lights too, and it's shooting across Thailand and Malaysia, in and out of the airspace," according to Diehl, who said it would have looked like nothing more than a "little blip" to radar operators, "if they were awake and diligent enough to see it." There was a verbal message at 1:19 a.m. local time by the pilot to Malaysian air traffic: "Good night. Malaysian three-seven-zero." That was the last known communication but the systems were cut off. Then the flight pattern went haywire. While air traffic control lost the plane, the Malaysian military radar was able to follow the aircraft, which showed it made unscheduled, sharp turns. Malaysia Airlines flight 370's sudden turns, according to Dr. Alan Diehl's book. Some believe the pilot was suicidal, and intended to make the plane disappear in one of the world's most remote spots, off Australia's southwest coast, where it's believed to have crashed. This theory involves the pilot locking his first officer Fariq Abdul Hamid out of the flight deck, cutting off all communications and depressurizing the aircraft until the passengers died of hypoxia, before plummeting into the ocean. RETIRED FISHERMAN CLAIMS HE FOUND PART OF MALAYSIA AIRLINES MH370 IN SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATERS: REPORT But information in the public domain doesn't suggest any motive for a suicide mission, Diehl said, and there's a way for the first officer to get back into the cabin by going through the electronics bay. The official report, which was released in 2018, said, "There was no known history of apathy, anxiety, or irritability. There were no significant changes in his lifestyle, interpersonal conflict or family stresses." "So that really doesn't fit," Diehl said, but he didn't dismiss the idea that the first officer was locked out. Grace Nathan, whose mother was on the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, shows a serial number on a piece of debris found in Madagascar that is "most likely" from MH370 at the Ministry of Transport in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. If he wanted to disappear, Diehl believes he would have flown in the opposite direction toward the Mariana Trench, an oceanic trench in the Pacific Ocean that's over a mile farther from sea level than the peak of Mount Everest and about 1,580 miles long and over 40 miles wide. "That tells me he didn't want to disappear," Diehl said. AMELIA EARHART PLANE CRASH: AIR FORCE VET IS CERTAIN IMAGES ARE HISTORYS MOST FASCINATING WRECK' Another theory that garnered a lot of attention was an idea that the pilot, a known activist, wanted to embarrass the country's regime, and was shot down before he could execute a 9/11-style suicide flight into Beijing's Tiananmen Square. That target would have been en route, so he would not have had to make that sharp left turn, Diehl said, "which leads me to my theory that he wanted to make a political statement, nothing more, but something happened to the aircraft." Malaysia Airlines flight 370 as it was tracked by military radar, according to Dr. Alan Diehl's book. There are countless other wild ideas, like the pilot made a "D.B. Cooper" type hijacking and jumped out of a plane to meet a lover. Of course, there are alien and black hole conspiracies. "During all this initial hoopla several of these theories seem credible," Diehl wrote in his book, "Best Laid Plans." "For example, a cargo fire may have occurred, or a passenger or stowaway may have hijacked the jet. "While others seemed bizarre, like the idea that the CIA had it shot down because U.S. computer experts were aboard and might be defecting to China, or that erstwhile KGB agents electronically took control of the aircraft and flew it to an abandoned cosmodrome in the former Soviet Union." Diehl dives deeper into his theory in his new book, "Best Laid Plans," which introduces his theory while using fictional characters and dialogue, except for the pilot and the first officer. AMELIA EARHART'S FAMILY RECEIVES SHOCKING CALL AFTER MOST PROMISING LEAD IN 86-YEAR-OLD MYSTERY He presents a fictional but plausible theory that the first officer was purposely locked out, so he wouldn't be involved in the pilot's conspiracy to make a political statement, Diehl told Fox News Digital. But the first officer knew he could reopen the cockpit by going through a hidden trap door that leads to the E&E (electronics and equipment) bay, an area of "electronic racks and black boxes, with spaghetti-like wire bundles running everywhere," according to Diehl's book. While in the E&E bay, the pilot may have made a sharp turn, which could have created disaster as he tried to brace himself. VIDEO: WHAT HAPPENED TO FLIGHT 370? "With all the high voltage in there, if he bumped something, he could've started a fire accidentally, probably killing himself and causing a major problem," Diehl said. "The plane would've filled with smoke and probably burned a hole in the fuselage and at 35,000 feet that would have caused an explosive decompression. "And the rest, as they say, is history." Diehl looked at the history of the Boeing 777 itself, which he called a "safe aircraft," but there have been high-profile crashes involving fires in the E&E bay. The search for the vanishing plane covered more than 2 million square nautical miles and focused on an area off the coast of Australia. The underwater search was officially called off in January 2017 after the Australian, Malaysia and Chinese governments scoured nearly 50,000 square miles of the Indian Ocean floor, which reportedly cost about $150 million. Malaysia Airlines flight 370's search areas, according to Dr. Alan Diehl's book. In January 2018, the Malaysian government began its partnership with a private contractor called Ocean Infinity, which is still involved. Since the 2014 crash, pieces of debris were found along the coasts of South Africa and on the islands of Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and Rodrigues. If Diehl's theory is right, and the plane was headed for the U.S. military base in Diego Garcia, the search, he said, should be focused in the Andaman Sea near Malaysia. DEBRIS OFF MADAGASCAR 'MOST LIKELY' FROM MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT 370, REPORT SAYS "Right now, I think they're basing the search on the assumption either the pilot was suicidal and wanted to fly as far as he could, seeping into the Indian Ocean by staying high and getting the best fuel economy and the greatest range or that the autopilot was set on high altitude," Diehl told Fox News Digital. "I don't think either theories are correct We know that somebody was alive at 2:25 a.m. (local time) and they took into the Indian Ocean, and when the sun came up at 7 a.m., they would've discovered that they needed to head to the east to get to Indonesia or Australia, but they ran out of fuel." That's why Diehl believes a "far more fertile area" to search would be along the eastern edge of the 2,500-mile "Seventh Arc." The greatest air disaster mystery will likely remain unsolved without the wreckage, Diehl said. "That's the Rosetta Stone that will make this clear. That's the single biggest piece of evidence," he said. "And until they start looking again, and maybe not, maybe but also look at that Eastern end like they've been advocating." Malaysian officials said earlier this week that the government was going to discuss a new search operation after being approached by Ocean Infinity. Malaysian Minister of Transport Anthony Loke (C) looks at the wing flap found on Pemba Island, Tanzania, which has been identified as a missing part of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 through unique part numbers traced to 9M-MRO during a commemoration event to mark the 5th anniversary of the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 flight in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on March 3, 2019. Oliver Plunkett, the chief executive of Ocean Infinity, said in a statement to news outlets that the company has been analyzing data to narrow the search area since the first go around. "This search is arguably the most challenging, and indeed pertinent one out there," he said. "Weve been working with many experts, some outside of Ocean Infinity, to continue analyzing the data in the hope of narrowing the search area down to one in which success becomes potentially achievable." CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Diehl said he hopes by putting out this book with a new theory that it will accomplish two things. "One, I want the Malaysian government to sign the f------ contract. And two, to say, you know, maybe this other theory about the Eastern Arc is something, and maybe get guys out there too." At the end of Diehl's book, he wrote, "What happened after the aircraft disappeared was the largest, most expensive and protracted aviation search effort ever undertaken. One which, unfortunately, has yet to discover the location of the Malaysian jets wreckage." Fox News Digital's Brooke Curto contributed to this report. Original article source: Malaysia Airlines flight mystery: Former NTSB investigator introduces new theory about missing plane Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu came to power after a high-voltage 'India Out' campaign India is set to pull its first batch of military personnel from the Maldives on Sunday as the island nation moves closer to China. The phased withdrawal of about 80 Indian troops must meet a May deadline set by President Mohamed Muizzu, who is widely seen to be pro-China. India has said its military personnel were stationed in the Maldives to maintain and operate two rescue and reconnaissance helicopters and a small aircraft it had donated years ago. Removing Indian troops was an election promise made by Mr Muizzu, who came to power in November. India has long wielded influence over the Maldives, whose strategic location in its backyard allowed it to monitor a crucial part of the Indian Ocean. But the relationship between the countries has soured over the past few months, partly due to Mr Muizzu's strong rhetoric against Delhi. It's a gap China is looking to exploit as the Asian powers jostle for influence in the region. Even then, Delhi and Male (the capital of the Maldives) managed to agree that Indian civilian technical staff would replace military troops to operate the aircraft - the first team has already reached the islands. "The aircraft will remain in the Maldives, and Indian [civilian] personnel will continue to be there to maintain them. So both sides seem to have reached a compromise," says Shyam Saran, a former Indian foreign secretary. Some in the Maldives see the replacement of troops by civilians as a climbdown by Mr Muizzu after his high-voltage 'India Out' campaign. Mr Muizzu's office did not respond to requests for comment. Mr Muizzu went to China on a state visit in January Some analysts warn that the Maldives, a nation of just over half a million people, faces the risk of being caught up in the Asian power rivalry. China has loaned more than a billion dollars to the Maldives over the years, mostly for infrastructure and economic development. Both Beijing and Male elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in January when Mr Muizzu went to China on a state visit - he is yet to visit India, unlike previous Maldivian leaders. Earlier this week, the Maldivian government signed a "military assistance" agreement with China that has caused some concern in Delhi. The Maldivian defence ministry said the agreement was "gratis" (without payment) without providing more details. But addressing a public meeting on Tuesday, Mr Muizzu said China would offer non-lethal weapons for free as well as train the Maldivian security forces (both India and the US have trained the Maldivian military so far). "This is unprecedented. It's the first time the Maldives has signed a defence agreement with Beijing to provide military assistance," Azim Zahir, a Maldivian political analyst, told the BBC. "We knew that Mr Muizzu would forge closer ties with China in terms of investment and capital, but no one expected him to go to this extent," he said. But Beijing denies having any long-term military plans in the Maldives. "It's a normal relationship between two countries. If China wants to have a military presence in the Indian Ocean, maybe it has better choices than the Maldives," says Dr Long Xingchun, president of the Chengdu Institute of World Affairs think-tank. The Maldives depends on India for imports of essential food items, medicines, and construction material Despite Beijing's assurances, many believe that China is moving swiftly to take advantage as the previous government, led by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, had an "India-first" approach. During his election campaign, Mr Muizzu had accused the previous administration of not disclosing the fine print of Male's agreements with Delhi. He now faces similar criticism. "We don't have any details of most of the agreements he signed during his visit to Beijing. Mr Muizzu is no better than the previous government when it comes to disclosing details of such accords," says Mr Zahir. Last month, Mr Muizzu's administration allowed a Chinese research ship, Xiang Yang Hong 3, to dock at Male despite opposition from Delhi. Male argued that it was a port call "for rotation of personnel and replenishment". But that did not convince some Indian experts who feared it may be a mission to collect data which could be used by the Chinese military later in submarine operations. Amid the ongoing irritants in relations, Delhi has commissioned a new naval base in the Indian archipelago Lakshadweep, close to the Maldives. India's naval base at the Minicoy Island close to the Maldives The Indian navy said the INS Jatayu in the Minicoy island would enhance its efforts in "anti-piracy and anti-narcotics operations in the Western Arabian Sea". While some have read it as a message to Male, Indian experts say the move is not a response to the current tensions. "I don't think that is something new. As far as I am aware, this has been in the works for some time," said Mr Saran, the former Indian diplomat. Mr Muizzu's anti-India moves have also worried many in his country. The Maldives depends on India for imports of essential food items, medicines and construction material. Post the Covid pandemic, India was also sending the highest number of tourists to the Maldives. But this has changed after a recent controversy which led to a social media call for Indians to "boycott" the Maldives after some officials made controversial comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The controversy broke while Mr Muizzu was in Beijing, and he asked Chinese authorities to start sending more tourists to regain the top spot the country held before the pandemic. Since then, Chinese tourists have started visiting in sizeable numbers. According to tourism ministry data, of the nearly 400,000 tourists who visited the Maldives in the first two months of the year, 13% were from China. India has slipped to the fifth position. Some also expect Mr Muizzu's rhetoric to intensify as the parliamentary elections on 21 April draw closer and he aims for a majority in the house. Read more India stories from the BBC: Costco (COST) once again bulked up its bottom line on the back of gold bars and warehouse-friendly prices on everyday essentials. The wholesale club posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.92, soundly beating estimates of $3.62. Revenue came in at $58.44 billion, up 5.7% year over year but slightly lower than expectations of $59.04 billion, per Bloomberg data. Same-store sales, excluding gas and foreign exchange, jumped 5.8%. In the US, same-store sales growth came in higher than expected at 4.8%. Canada beat estimates with 9% same-store sales growth, while international stores posted a higher-than-expected increase of 8.2%. Digital sales grew more than 18% compared to a year ago, powered by demand for gold bars, silver, and appliances, Costco CFO Richard Galanti told analysts on a late Thursday conference call. Membership fees, a key revenue stream, came in at $1.11 billion, up from $1.03 billion a year ago. That's also a jump from Q1, which brought in $1.08 billion. Customers check out their purchases inside a Costco store on June 28, 2023, in Teterboro, N.J. Costco is cracking down on membership card sharing at its stores. (Kena Betancur/VIEWpress) (VIEW press via Getty Images) A Costco Gold Star membership costs $60 per year, while an Executive Membership goes for $120. Some on the Street predicted last year that Costco would raise fees this summer. Shares of Costco pulled back 4.6% in premarket trading on Friday as Wall Street took the view the stock is fairly valued at current levels. "The quarter was strong but its hard to see the catalyst for the next leg higher at the current valuation. COST is very well positioned to continue to take share but ... its high multiple (29.0x 2024E EV/EBITDA) and crowded positioning keeps us Neutral on the stock. We view the risk/reward as balanced at current levels," Citi analyst Paul Lejuez said in a note to clients. Costco's shares are still up about 55% over the past year, handily beating the S&P 500's (^GSPC) 29% gain. Joe Feldman of Telsey Advisory Group told Yahoo Finance it only "makes sense it would take a pause" after the "stock has been on fire lately." Story continues He added, "The stock also has a history of taking a breather when it reports financial news. We are not concerned, given the business remains quite solid, as evidence by the comp trend." The earnings rundown: Here's what Costco reported in its fiscal second quarter versus Wall Street estimates, according to Bloomberg data: Net sales: $58.44 billion versus $59.04 billion Adjusted EPS: $3.92 versus $3.62 expected Same-store sales growth: 5.8% versus 4.65% expected US same-store sales growth: 4.8% versus 4.09% expected Canada same-store sales growth: 9% versus 6.31% expected Other international: 8.2% versus 6.17% expected What else caught our attention Costco's US customer traffic rose 4.3% in the quarter. Costco opened its sixth store in China in the quarter, in Shenzhen. One more opening is expected in the country this year as part of a bid to open 30 new locations around the world. Costco is getting into the sushi business. Said Galanti on the earnings call: "We recently opened our first fully operated sushi offering in Issaquah, Washington, across the street from our headquarters, with two more planned to open in the very near future. This operation is what we have successfully done for years for many years and throughout our Asia Costcos and several countries over there. The sushi program has proven to be a category where we can be successful in both quality and price, and we're looking forward to seeing more of that in the future." Brooke DiPalma is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Its been three months since the passing of Anna Chickadee Cardwell, 28, who had been battling stage 4 cancer, and her mother is now giving some insight into when she knew her daughters life was coming to an end. The family decided to take one last trip with Chickadee to Gatlinburg, Tennessee the last week of November. Shes just going through the emotions like anyone would be [with] cancer, Mama June Shannon said at the time. Were going through emotions as a family. Mentally its always on my mind. Mama June looking back on the trip, there were signs her daughters time on this Earth was coming to an end. I kind of knew something was up when we was in and out the last couple of days, but we adored our time, Shannon told People Magazine. When they got back home, Shannon said Chickadee kept saying she was starting to transition. RELATED STORIES: Once she came back here and she [had] seen the nurses and all of that, they was just telling us that she was starting to transition, which I just thought it was because she was out from the trip and stuff like that. But no, it really was she was just transitioning, Shannon said. While Chickadees diagnosis and ultimate death was incredibly hard on the family made famous from Reality TV, Mama June said the experience has made all of them much closer. We did get closer during that. Because thats really what Anna kept repeating, I want to spend more time with family. I want to spend more time together, she said. We came together and made that happen. Shannon said her husband has been a very big support. I tell a lot of people he didnt have to do what he [has] done. But me and him, we took Anna to every treatment. He was mainly the one helping get the kids back and forward to school, stuff like that, Shannon said. He was a great support. My kids call him. IN OTHER NEWS: PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An Oregon man was arrested and charged with a federal hate crime on Thursday after a synagogue in Eugene was defaced several times over the course of five months, according to authorities. Adam Braun was charged by a federal criminal complaint for intentionally defacing Temple Beth Israel synagogue because it was a place of worship for Jewish people, officials said. How much do homebuyers need to earn to buy a typical house in Portland? New Zillow report released The 34-year-old allegedly defaced the synagogue on four separate occasions between August 2023 and January 2024 with graffiti which included antisemitic symbols and phrases, according to the Oregon Department of Justice. Authorities said his pattern of defacing the synagogue culminated in the early hours of Jan. 14 when he arrived at Temple Beth Israel with a hammer and was prepared to swing at the glass doors of the synagogue, but stopped after noticing he was being recorded by a surveillance camera. He then moved to another area of the property and wrote White power, in graffiti on the outside of the building, officials claim. A legitimate hazard: Stores call for bottle return exemption amid fentanyl crisis Later, on Jan. 31, officers from the Eugene Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a search warrant on Brauns home in Eugene and found multiple pieces of evidence connecting him to the attacks on the synagogue including Nazi-themed items. Braun made his first federal court appearance on Thursday and was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. He was previously charged with four counts of second-degree bias crime and taken to Lane County Jail on Jan. 28 and was later released. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A 22-year-old man suspected in a shooting at an Arvin 7-Eleven last December has been arrested by the U.S. Marshals in Santa Paula, authorities said. The Arvin Police Department said Bryan Andrade was arrested on Thursday by the U.S. Marshals for attempted murder, assault with a firearm, and convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Damning grand jury report says California City is in trouble amid multiple crises Andrade is accused in a Dec. 21 shooting at a 7-Eleven on Bear Mountain Boulevard. The shooting severely wounded a man. He was recently released from a hospital, according to Arvin police. Officials allege Andrade fled Kern County after the shooting and was on parole for a prior conviction. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, Manhattan (PIX11) Police are searching for a man accused of trying to burn an American/Israeli flag in Manhattan on Feb. 24, according to the NYPD. The incident happened around 2:50 p.m. in front of 2547 Amsterdam Ave. in Washington Heights, which is across the street from the Yeshiva University High School for Boys. Police said the man attempted to set fire to the flag before fleeing the scene in a black sedan. Two employees of the high school were seen on video approaching the suspect, sources told PIX11 News. Man shot in the head inside Manhattan music studio: NYPD Police describe the man as being between 18 to 25 years old and 56. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and white sneakers. The incident is being investigated by the NYPDs Hate Crime Task Force, according to authorities. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. The News On Wednesday morning, as Nikki Haley ended her presidential campaign, Robert Schwartz was racing the clock. Hed stayed up late calculating how many votes Haley had won on super Tuesday; his super PAC, Primary Pivot, was about to relaunch as Haley Voters for Biden. He barely had time to finish the announcement. It was a much shorter speech than I anticipated, Schwartz told Americana. But he had his new mission instead of convincing Democrats to temporarily become pro-Haley Republicans, hed be urging hundreds of thousands of swing state Haley supporters to vote for the president. This is an edited transcript of the conversation. Q&A Americana: What did you make of Haleys speech, ending her campaign? Was it helpful? Robert Schwartz: Were pleased that she followed this through to Super Tuesday, despite the writing on the wall. She exposed some real fissures in the Republican Party. In our communication with Haley voters, across the political spectrum, there was a deep kind of anger and resentment towards the way Trump and MAGA treated them. Nikki Haley is probably, eventually, going to endorse Trump. But as we saw from the statistics coming out of Iowa, and South Carolina, and even North Carolina, just because Nikki Haley will eventually support Donald Trump, that doesnt mean her supporters will go with her. This is an effort, from people who supported Nikki Haley, to guide as many of them as possible toward the candidate that respects democracy even if they may disagree with him politically. Americana: What makes you think shell eventually endorse Trump? Robert Schwartz: She didnt talk about Biden winning over her voters. She talked about how shes always been a Republican, and how its the job of Donald Trump to win over her voters. I think that indicates where her loyalty lies. She started by talking about the threat of socialism, which sounds like shell eventually attack Joe Biden and the Democrats for being socialists. When she says, weve got a country to save, shes not necessarily talking about saving our democracy. Shes talking about saving our country from the path that its currently on. If she wants to be in the conversation in 2028, ultimately, its good for her to be seen as a loyal Republican. But wed love it if she doesnt endorse him. Americana: What resources are you starting this effort with, in terms of mailing lists, money basic campaign tools? Robert Schwartz: We started Primary Pivot with no money, but of the original $1 million that we raised, we have a significant amount that was set aside for Georgia, if she stayed in. We can spend that elsewhere. Wed reached out to voters in nine different states and sent 2.1 million mailers and text messages to over 1.1 million unique individuals, many in Michigan, North Carolina, and Georgia. Weve already been aggressively reaching out to these people. We bought voter files in all of these states, and we focused on people who had voted in a previous Democratic primary. If they ended up voting in the Republican primary, they almost definitely voted for Nikki Haley. Americana: How do you communicate with them for the next eight months? Robert Schwartz: We really see three groups of voters. The first group is Biden supporters who pulled a Republican ballot. We can reconfirm their support, but they should be Biden supporters in November anyway we dont need to aggressively recruit them. The second group of voters that we targeted was the Biden skeptics, the ones that thought he was too old, the ones in New Hampshire that were considering Dean Phillips. Those are people we and the Biden campaign will have to aggressively court. The third group of voters, which is going to be the most important and the most difficult to reach, is conservative, Republican Haley supporters. We call them the genuine Haley supporters. Many of those people have not previously voted in the Democratic primary. We are going to hyper focus on them, and we have a number of Republicans and former Republicans on our staff that will kind of flip our message away from you may disagree with Nikki Haley on abortion or climate, but at least she respects democracy to you may disagree with Joe Biden on abortion and climate change, but at least he respects democracy. Well emphasize the foreign policy issues that Biden and Haley agree on. Americana: Did Haley herself do enough to win over these anti-Trump, pro-democracy voters? I met some people who were tempted to support her, but stopped themselves, because she said shed pardon Trump. Robert Schwartz: If Nikki Haley had gone the full Chris Christie route, or the full Liz Cheney route, which was where many Democrats wanted her to go, I think the results would have been obvious. We wanted Nikki Haley to win the nomination, not just make a point. So, we felt that she strategically navigated those issues in a way that allowed her to not tank her support among conservative voters, who are now going to be essential in building a broad Biden coalition. I do think there are questions as to whether her campaign would have survived as long as it did without our efforts to bring in independent and left-of-center voters. Americana: What did you make of the Biden campaigns reaction to her leaving the race? Robert Schwartz: It was a great first step. There have been all these outreach efforts by the Biden campaign to reach these uncommitted voters in Michigan. There were about 100,000 uncommitted voters in Michigan but there were 300,000 Haley voters. Those uncommitted voters dont have anywhere else to go, except to stay home and throw the election to somebody they absolutely despise. Haley voters are incredibly important in places like Michigan, and North Carolina, and Georgia and the Biden campaign should be aggressively courting them, and we expect they will be doing the same type of voter outreach that we are, but with a different message. A man who broke into an elderly couples home after crashing his car into a nearby home has learned his sentence. John Schmid was sentenced to an indefinite prison term of 11 to 16.5 years by a Greene County judge. Schmid was found guilty in January of aggravated burglary, felonious assault, two misdemeanor assaults, and attempted trespass into habitation. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man found guilty of breaking into home, assaulting elderly couple after crash in Greene County On Feb. 24, 2023, Schmid lost control of his car and crashed it into a home on Cedarwood Drive in Bath Township, according to a media release. Before his car caught on fire, he got out of his car and attempted to break into a neighboring home. After this was unsuccessful Schmid broke into the home of a nearby elderly couple during which he assaulted both of them, seriously injuring the husband. Schmid tried to argue he was not guilty for reason of insanity during the trial, but a jury rejected this claim and found him guilty. MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) The man charged with murder after the Madison County Sheriffs Office found a body in Harvest Thursday has apparent ties to the Alabama and Madison County GOP including working in Senator Tom Butlers office. Kyle Lewter was charged with the murder of 54-year-old Derek Walls after the Madison County Sheriffs Office found a body at a home on Capshaw Road. Campaign finance records and social media posts show Lewter has ties to the Alabama GOP and was in a paid position for Sen. Butlers campaign office. A social media post by Sen. Butler in May 2022 identifies Kyle Lewter as his campaign chairman and financial records show he was paid for administrative work. Butlers office paid Lewter over $10,500 in both 2022 and 2023, records show. The Madison County Young Republicans Facebook page says Lewter was their vice chairman and in 2021, he was selected to represent the 5th district of Alabama at the bi-annual YRFA state convention of the Young Republican Federation of Alabama. The same Facebook page includes photos of Lewter with several top Republicans in Alabama, including Gov. Kay Ivey, former U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, Rep. Dale Strong and Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon. A Facebook page with Lewters name on it includes a number of photos with Lewter and Butler, and a photo of Lewter and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. His Facebook page lists his current job as Administrator, Clinical Research at ONeal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. News 19 has reached out to Senator Butlers office for comment regarding Lewter. Butler responded to News 19 around noon on Friday. Prayers for him and his family, said Butler. McCutcheon also responded to News 19s request for comment, saying I do not want to comment on an ongoing investigation. I know Mr. Lewter and I am very surprised and shocked at this. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Adrian Whiting, 35, died in hospital 10 days after the alleged attack in Boston A man has denied murder following an alleged assault outside a pub. Adrian Whiting, 35, died in hospital 10 days after the incident at the Carpenters Arms in Witham Street, Boston, on 14 January. Maksim Iliev, 35, was originally charged with grievous bodily harm and wounding with intent, but has now been charged with murdering Mr Whiting on 24 January - the day he died in hospital. Iliev, of Union Street, Boston, pleaded not guilty when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday March 8. Iliev also denied a second charge of manslaughter against Mr Whiting on the same date. The prosecution was represented by Jonathan Cox and Iliev, who followed the hearing through a Bulgarian interpreter, was represented by defence barrister Chris Jeyes. Judge Simon Hirst remanded Iliev back into custody and adjourned the case for trial, beginning on 15 July. It is expected to last seven days. The incident happened outside the Carpenters Arms in Witham Street, Boston A 34-year-old woman, who has been charged with assisting an offender in connection with the investigation into the death of Mr Whiting, also appeared before Judge Hirst. Katya Tsoneva, of Red Lion Street, Boston, was arrested on 15 February and charged the following day. That offence is alleged to have taken place between 13 January and 25 January this year. Tsoneva, who was represented by Tara McCarthy, entered a not-guilty plea and was granted bail by Judge Hirst. A pre-trial hearing will take place at Lincoln Crown Court on 21 June. Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastyorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk Related link Norfolk Police is appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the crash to get in touch A man has died following a crash between a car and a van on the A47 south of Norwich. Police were called to the westbound carriageway near Keswick just before 21:00 GMT on Wednesday. The driver of a Smart car, a man in his 70s, was taken to hospital in Cambridge where he was treated for serious injuries, but he died on Thursday. Norfolk Police is appealing for witnesses of the crash to contact officers. Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830 Rex A. Heuermann, the architect accused of murdering at least three women near Long Islands Gilgo Beach, appears before Judge Timothy P. Mazzei in Suffolk County Court, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Riverhead, N.Y. (James Carbone/Newsday via AP, Pool) When the authorities announced the arrest of Rex Heuermann last summer in four of the Gilgo Beach serial killings, the relieved families of the slain women stood with them. But along that desolate stretch of beach in Long Island, New York, at least 10 bodies were found. And loved ones of the other victims await answers more than a dozen years later. The Gilgo case is still mostly unsolved, said Lorraine Paulino, 54, who said she met one of the six victims, Karen Vergata, shortly before she disappeared. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times To crack the cold case, the task force that formed in early 2022 focused on the so-called Gilgo Four, the most immediately solvable cases, which led to the arrest last summer of Heuermann, 60. When you start a puzzle, you have to start with the most obvious pieces, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said in an interview. The uniform way the bodies were treated bore the hallmarks of a serial killer. Investigators had a strong set of clues including DNA and mobile phone data linking the four bodies to Heuermann, who has pleaded not guilty to killing the women. Tierney, who helped lead the investigative task force, said it would now turn to the cases of the other six victims. But connecting those remains to Heuermann or anyone else will be tougher. They are colder cases with fewer clues and more random characteristics than the Gilgo Four. The six victims were found dispersed along several miles, compared with the comparatively neat grouping of the Gilgo Four along a quarter-mile. Three remain unidentified. Four were dismembered. Clues like DNA, phone records and life details are scant. Still, investigators hope that recent advances in DNA technology that became key in charging Heuermann can help solve these six cases that have stumped investigators for 13 years. Many hundreds of tips to the police have poured in since the arrest of Heuermann, who remains in a Suffolk County jail awaiting his next court date on April 17. And investigators have been interviewing detainees in Suffolk and Nassau county jails who may have worked as escorts. Of 168 interviewed, 15 have yielded information considered relevant enough to pass on to investigators, said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. Relatives and friends hope that the reenergized investigation and the explosion of media interest from Heuermanns arrest may finally help investigators solve the other victims cases. They owe it to the girls and their families, said Paulino, a Long Island nurse. Suffolk County detectives have interviewed her about her account of meeting Vergata at a swingers party at Heuermanns home in 1996 after which Paulino says she saw a distressed Vergata run out of the house naked. To go all those years with no information, Paulino said. You want to see whoever did it pay for it. Tierney seemed to hint at progress. I can say that what we made public is an infinitesimally small fraction of the work weve done on the case overall, he said. Remains of all 10 victims eight women, a man, and a little girl were found around the midpoint of a 15-mile stretch of Ocean Parkway running east from Jones Beach. All eight women had worked as escorts. The Gilgo Four, who were discovered in December 2010 along a desolate oceanfront, seemed to be the prey of a serial killer: four young, petite women dumped within a quarter-mile within three years of being found. Their remains were complete and bound with burlap, belts and tape, which helped to trap human hairs that prosecutors used for DNA evidence to connect the bodies to Heuermann. They were deposited in the same manner, in the same general location, and there were four burner phones used in the same way in all four deaths to contact the victims, among other similarities, Tierney said. But the other six sets of remains, found in early 2011, were disposed of differently. Body parts of two of the dismembered victims were found not only along Gilgo Beach, but in the same wooded area about 45 miles east in Manorville. The other six bodies disappeared as long ago as the mid-1990s, when mobile phones and internet use were rare along with the clues they leave. Their remains were exposed to the elements for more than a decade. Still unidentified are an Asian male found wearing womens clothing, a woman referred to as Peaches because of a tattoo and her toddler daughter left in a blanket, wearing gold jewelry and bearing no signs of trauma. While the Gilgo Four remained in touch with their families up to their disappearance and were identified within weeks of discovery, the three other women whose identities are known had lost touch with theirs for years. During the first decade of the investigation, DNA matches remained scant for the six bodies. Only one was identified, Jessica Taylor, who had disappeared at age 20 in 2003. In recent years, advances in DNA technology helped investigators identify two more victims, Valerie Mack and Vergata. DNA strides also helped connect Heuermann to the Gilgo Four bodies from withered strands of hair found with the four sets of remains, prosecutors say. Were hoping to use the same methodology on the other six, Tierney said. Victims families endured a case stalled by scandal, corruption and political infighting, amplified by a constant media circus. They also complained for years that investigators ignored them, but the families seem to have a closer relationship with the current investigators now. Edwin Mack, a retired engineer from New Jersey, last saw his daughter Valerie in 2000 when she went missing at 24. Two decades later, Suffolk County detectives notified him and his wife, JoAnn, that Valerie had been identified as a Gilgo victim through genetic genealogy. We think theyre doing an excellent job, Mack said, adding that investigators have visited them several times seeking information. The detectives seem to be quite thorough in their digging, and they have gone into detail with us. In 2021, the Macks were able to claim Valeries remains, which are now cremated and kept in a container next to her framed photo. In 2022, they held a memorial on their back deck. She has finally been brought home after all these years, Mack said. The Gilgo investigation started with Shannan Gilbert, 24, who in May 2010 disappeared while working as an escort in Oak Beach several miles east of Gilgo and was later found dead there. Her search led to the discovery of the Gilgo bodies, but Suffolk authorities have never deemed her death a homicide or considered her part of the investigation. Her familys lawyer, John Ray, said the authorities had prioritized the Gilgo Four to arrest Heuermann, but what good is it to the victims whose case not been solved? For every minute they spend on those four, theyre not spending on the other seven cases that need acute attention, he said. He accused Suffolk authorities of riding a wave of good publicity from the Heuermann arrest while neglecting the other six cases because of their difficulty, all while maintaining good relations with families because they dont want the victims families speaking out. Tierney defended prioritizing the four cases as crucial to catching Heuermann, but he would not discuss whether Heuermann was a suspect in the other killings. He said that the grand jury empaneled last year will remain in place. Each body, each crime scene is different, he said. And you look at the evidence as if you have no suspects and work from there. c.2024 The New York Times Company Dubai is one of the most popular locations for those looking to relocate for tax purposes - Umar Shariff Photography/Getty Images Contributor Even before the Chancellor formally announced plans to abolish Britains non-dom tax regime in the Budget, the super-rich were gearing up to leave. I spoke to a client on Wednesday morning and his view was very much that if things didnt go according to plan then he would leave, says Rachel de Souza, partner at RSM. For this individual, the solution was easy he already has a property in the Caribbean, says de Souza, and plans to decamp. It is likely to be just the start of a mass departure. Advisers say lower tax regimes around the world such as Dubai, Italy and Switzerland are about to get an influx of high net worth individuals as Britains non-doms scramble to restructure their finances in the wake of Jeremy Hunts Budget measures. Under Britains current system, people who live in the UK but have a permanent home abroad (known as non-domiciled, or non-doms) get a big tax perk. They can opt to pay tax on overseas earnings on a remittance basis. This means they are only charged UK tax on this income if it is brought (or remitted) into the country. In other words, they save a lot of money. Now this system is about to disappear. In a move that will raise 2.7bn per year in extra taxes by 2028-29, Mr Hunt announced in the Budget that he will scrap the remittance system from April 2025. This means non-doms will have to pay more tax. Without a doubt there will be some that go and my expectation is the ones that go will be at the wealthier end of the spectrum, says de Souza. These people already have homes overseas. For them, its really quite easy. They dont need to go through a process of deciding where to go, buying a house, furnishing a house. It is really just a question of buying a plane ticket. Non-tax residents in Switzerland pay tax only on Swiss sources of income and wealth - Xantana/iStockphoto Switzerland and Dubai are the two places most popular with those looking to relocate for tax purposes, says de Souza. Dubai has no personal taxes whatsoever, while non-tax residents in Switzerland pay tax only on Swiss sources of income and wealth. Story continues When Norway introduced the wealth tax their billionaires, all upped and left and they went to Switzerland, says Christopher Groves, a partner at high-end international law firm Withers. Italy will also be a particular magnet, says Groves. In 2019, it introduced a new tax regime designed to attract particularly high net worth individuals, which charges a flat 100,000 (85,500) tax on all foreign income. Italy I think has got its nose in front on this, says Groves. There was a time when if you wanted to be in a low-tax regime youd need to go and live in the Channel Islands or the Caribbean or somewhere. But thats no longer the case. Its not just a question of saying well no ones going to move to Barbados because they wont want to live there. They can go live in Milan, not too different from London. In 2019, Italy introduced a new tax regime designed to attract particularly high net worth individuals - Westend61 Of course, island life may still hold some appeal. In Jersey, income tax is charged at a flat 20pc rate, there is no capital gains tax, and non-residents pay no tax on company dividends. Malta and Ireland also offer a remittance basis of taxation, akin to the existing non-dom system in the UK, says de Souza. Singapore may be popular, says Craggs. Here, residents generally pay no tax on foreign income, including dividends from foreign companies and rent from overseas properties. This is even the case where the foreign-sourced income is remitted to Singapore, he adds. Cyprus also offers a broad range of big tax exemptions for non-doms which mean they effectively pay no tax on worldwide dividend and interest income, says Craggs. One key concern is the direction of travel. According to the polls, Labour are poised to win the general election this year. Clients are asking do you think Labour would stick with this if they win an election or do you think theyll make it more difficult for me? Thomas Adcock, tax partner at Gravita. The impact of Mr Hunts policies could extend far beyond the international elite. The regime change might also encourage British people to leave for inheritance tax purposes, says Chris Etherington, private client partner at RSM. Scrapping the concept of domiciled for tax purposes will likely mean that tax will be tied to residency, says Etherington. People in their 70s may become much more inclined to leave the UK. Its not confirmed, but it looks like if they leave the UK then they will be outside the inheritance tax net entirely. Perhaps it will not just be the super-rich jetting off for sunnier climes after all. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A North Las Vegas man found at a cemetery in California is facing arson charges after a home fire, according to police. On Tuesday, fire crews arrived at the scene of a home engulfed in flames in the 6000 block of Wood Thrush Place near North Decatur Boulevard and Elkhorn Road. Investigators later reviewed nearby security video of a man starting the fire before quickly leaving the area. He was later identified as Dean Huggins, the homeowner, and also named a person of interest in the case, according to police. This embedded content is not available in your region. He was later located at a cemetery in Santa Barbara County, California after friends and family received word that he was there threatening to commit suicide. North Las Vegas Fire Department, North Las Vegas Police, and Las Vegas Metro police teamed up to find Hugginss exact location. The Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office was then able to take him safely into custody on March 5 around 2 p.m. While in their custody, Huggins made incriminating statements regarding his involvement in the arson and was found to have sustained minor burns consistent with his activities during the incident, according to police. As of Thursday, Huggins was being held by Santa Barbara County and charges of first-degree arson were filed with the North Las Vegas Justice Court. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Commander Jeff Lomprey with the North Las Vegas Fire Department Fire Investigation Division at 702-669-3339. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A man who pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in a fatal stabbing at a Bakersfield motel was sentenced Thursday to 17 years in prison, according to court records. David Nutt, 52, pleaded no contest last month to stabbing Moses Lee Campbell, 47, at La Mirage Motel on May 18. Campbell suffered a stab wound to the neck and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigation launched after man was found dead in a Planet Fitness parking lot in central Bakersfield: BPD A motel resident told police she heard a fight during which a man said, You done (expletive) up now. Another person told police he witnessed the stabbing, which occurred just outside a room as Campbell leaned against a railing. He said the suspect walked downstairs and east toward Union Avenue. Nutt was taken into custody without incident about 30 minutes later, according to police reports. A large kitchen knife was found on a roof near the motel, the reports say. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A 32-year-old man who fatally stabbed his grandmother, saying he wanted to escape her control, was sentenced Thursday to a life term in prison. Juan Valdez was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison plus one year, according to court records. A jury last month found him guilty of second-degree murder. Maria Magdalena Valdez, 70, had two stab wounds to her head when police arrived at her Flower Street home on July 13, according to court documents. She was taken to Kern Medical, where she died on July 21. Man gets 17 years for deadly motel stabbing Juan Valdez told police hed lived with his grandmother since he was 3, was unemployed and received disability benefits for anxiety, nervousness and insomnia. His grandmother controlled his money, which angered him, prosecutor Larry Fields said at trial, and he decided to attack Maria Valdez as she slept. Deputy Public Defender Julius Cruz told jurors Juan Valdezs mental health issues which included hearing voices led to the attack. He said Valdez only meant to hurt his grandmother, not kill her. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Mo. Deputies arrested a man in possession of methamphetamine in rural Missouri just moments after he blew past a stop sign. Prosecutors have charged Evan Dam, 32, of New Haven, Missouri, with first-degree drug trafficking, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to stop at a stop sign in connection with the investigation. The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office reports that Dam was arrested Tuesday in the southern part of the county. New details revealed in head-on collision that killed 12-year-old A deputy pulled over a driver, later identified as Dam, who accused of blowing a stop sign and using lanes improperly. The sheriffs office says deputies asked Dam to leave his vehicle, to which he complied. A bulge in his pants concerned authorities and led to him being patted down. Authorities later determined the bulge was a sock that contained four plastic bags holding of methamphetamine and a glass meth pipe. The bags had approximately 12 ounces of methamphetamine total. Dam is currently being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond. The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office says Dam has an extensive history of convictions for meth offenses in Missouri and Illinois. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) A man in Green Bay with a one-of-a-kind first name was taken into custody after an alleged disturbance on the citys east side. According to a criminal complaint obtained by Local 5, 42-year-old Deez-Nuts Kroll was arrested following an incident involving a gun. On March 5, around 10 p.m., officers were sent to the 900 block of East Walnut Street for a reported disturbance. When officers got to the scene, two people were brought to a squad car and placed in the back. Additionally, officers took Kroll into custody, and he was reportedly standing outside with no shirt on. Wisconsin woman found with meth, heroin/fentanyl, and cocaine arrested for 3rd OWI The complaint says that Kroll appeared to be highly intoxicated, but he did follow officers commands. It is always mentioned that authorities identified Kroll by his Wisconsin ID card, which said Deez-Nuts Lee Kroll. The two people who were originally brought to a squad car said they were arguing with Kroll over the phone around 8 p.m. About two hours later, around 10 p.m., they found the door to the residence was locked. One person said that Kroll opened the door and punched them with a closed fist in the shoulder. This led to a physical altercation, according to the complaint. At one point, Kroll allegedly got a gun. Authorities later took the gun into evidence and found out it was a CO2 BB gun. It was reportedly loaded and had eight silver 4.5mm BBs. When authorities interviewed Kroll, they claimed that it was apparent he was talking in circles. Throughout the official complaint, Kroll was referred to as Deez-Nuts. Kroll is charged with: Battery Misdemeanor Up to nine months in prison Disorderly Conduct, Use of a Dangerous Weapon Misdemeanor Up to 90 days in prison (can be increased by six months due to having a dangerous weapon) Court records show that Kroll had his initial appearance on March 6 at 2 p.m. A signature bond was set at $1,000 for Kroll, and he will be back at the Brown County Courthouse on April 24 for a status conference. Three Fond du Lac men arrested, deputies find stolen gun during traffic stop No additional information was provided. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Rodney Shires reacts after being sentenced Thursday to four years in prison without the possibility of parole. He was charged in 2023 for leaving the scene of an accident causing physical injury, a collision in which a Springfield woman died after she also hit by another vehicle. Sandra Brown was only a few feet from her Springfield home when she attempted to cross North Fremont Avenue near Lindberg Street, but the 59-year-old woman was met by the impact of a 1994 Honda motorcycle. The collision that reportedly occurred about 10 p.m. April 29, 2023, caused the motorcyclist, Rodney Shires, a series of minor injuries before police say he fled on foot. The woman, according to police, was lying in the street before she was subsequently hit by another vehicle. Brown died at the scene, a stone's throw from Mercy Hospital. "Nobody should have to go through such an unimaginable death as Sandra did," family friend Linda Grubes said at Shires' sentencing hearing on Thursday. "You did nothing to show that you cared or that she mattered. You didn't go back. You got yourself home, to the hospital, instead of going back to help." Sandra Brown Shires, 57, avoided death-related criminal charges based on evidence, but he pleaded guilty Feb. 7 to a Class E felony of leaving the scene of an accident causing physical injury, an offense that carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. Greene County assistant prosecuting attorney Zach McFarland and Shires' public defender Darlene Villalobos agreed on the maximum four-year sentence. Judge Kaiti Greenwade approved the sentence recommendation at Thursday's hearing and gave Shires credit for time served. He is eligible for parole. Three of Brown's relatives gave victim impact statements, including Frank Ferguson. The wheelchair-bound man cried as he spoke to the court. "He killed her, he's the one who put her there," Ferguson said. "He was wrong. He shouldn't have been out there driving." Police said Shires had no valid drivers license in Missouri at the time of crash and that his license was suspended in Arkansas. He reportedly had 10 driving while revoked or suspended convictions out of Arkansas. Shires told investigators last year, according to a police report, that he saw a body on the ground while riding his motorcycle on Fremont Street and accidentally hit it before a truck behind him also hit the body. He said that he flipped over, broke his hand and "freaked out" before going home. There was no crosswalk at the area of the crash. While waiting for the sentencing hearing to begin on Thursday, Shires, wearing blue overalls and plaid shirt, shed tears in anticipation of his sentence. He did not speak in court but made a request at its conclusion. "Can I hug my wife before I go?" an emotional Shires asked the bailiff. Greenwade obliged before Shires was taken away by a bailiff and sent to the Missouri Department of Corrections. The Greene County Prosecutor's Office said it received a law enforcement referral on the driver of the second vehicle that hit Brown, but no criminal charges have been filed. Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Shires is not eligible for parole. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Man sentenced in collision that led to Springfield woman's death The DeKalb County District Attorney announced that an Atlanta man has been convicted of several crimes and murder. DA Sherry Boston said on Wednesday, that a jury convicted Alexander Amarion Rolax, 21, for a series of crimes within a quarter mile of each other. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Rolax was convicted on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, three counts of Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery, Criminal Attempt to Commit Armed Robbery, and three counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. The charges stemmed from a series of incidents on June 17 and June 22, 2020. According to the investigation, on June 17, 2020, Rolax went to a convenience store in the 3000 block of Chamblee Dunwoody Road around 9:30 p.m. just before the store closed. He pretended he was going to buy something and when the clerk opened the cash register, he pulled out a handgun. The clerk ran to the back of the store to hide, and Rolax grabbed cash from the register and ran out. On June 22, 2020, Rolax went to a convenience store in the 5000 block of Buford Highway in Doraville just after it opened at around 5 a.m. He, again, pretended he was going to buy something and demanded money when the clerk opened the cash register. When the clerk did not follow his orders, Rolax shot at the clerk and left the scene. TRENDING STORIES: At around 10 p.m. the same night, Rolax shot and killed Santiago Lucas-Lopez, 44, as Lucas-Lopez stood in his driveway on Pearl Lane Court in Chamblee. Investigators determined Rolax and Lucas-Lopez were strangers and the motive for the shooting was not clear. Using surveillance video, witness accounts, and evidence from the three scenes, police were able to identify Rolax as the suspect. Rolax was sentenced to life plus 40 years. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: (PUEBLO WEST, Colo.) A 62-year-old man from Pueblo West has been sentenced to probation for shooting a teen who was riding an ATV in June of 2023. According to the Pueblo County Sheriffs Office (PCSO), John Kosovich was sentenced to five years probation after he was charged with Second Degree Assault. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Arrest made in shooting of teen riding ATV in Pueblo West Kosovich was arrested on Sept. 25, 2023, after he was identified by PCSO detectives as a suspect in the shooting, in which a teen was shot in the chest and had to be taken to a hospital in Denver. Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office The teen was riding an ATV with a group in an easement in the area of Platteville Boulevard and Littleton Drive in Pueblo West on June 18, 2023, when the shooting occurred. PCSO said the teen is recovering from their injuries. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) A 26-year-old man was shot in the head inside The Music Building in Manhattan overnight Friday, according to the NYPD. Violence broke out on the 11th floor of 584 8th Ave. around 12:41 a.m., police said. The Music Building rents space to local bands, artists and musicians who are starting in the industry, according to its website. Its been a staple on 8th Avenue since 1979. Artists such as Madonna, Blondie, Billy Idol and Metallica have rehearsed in one of the buildings 69 studio spaces, according to The Music Buildings website. An employee told PIX11 News that studio spaces are only rented monthly and there is 24/7 security plus cameras in the lobby and on every floor. Teen girl attacked on BK train caught on video: No one should put hands on females Police describe one of the suspects as a man in his 20s wearing a black Nike sweatshirt. Three others allegedly involved in the shooting fled the scene, according to authorities. The man is in critical condition at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, police said. Police are still working on a motive and the suspects relationship with the victim. They also havent recovered a gun at the scene. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Man taken into custody after officer-involved shooting in Sauget SAUGET, Ill. New information about a shooting earlier this morning: police are now saying the shooting involved a police officer. It happened in the parking lot of Route 3 Fuel and Liquor on Mississippi Avenue around 3:00 a.m. Police shared that someone who was committing a crime at the convenience store fired his weapon when the officer arrived. New details revealed in head-on collision that killed 12-year-old The officer fired back. No one was injured. Illinois state police are investigating the incident. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Two sought-after accolades picked up, proving the brand's popularity among consumers Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2024) - Beyond Collagen, Malaysia preferred brand of collagen products, left its mark at the recent Natural Health Readers' Choice Awards event this year, bagging two prestigious awards in the categories of 100% Natural Freshly Brewed Collagen and Fish Scale Collagen Jelly. Delighted, adoring cheers could be heard from all around for the acclaimed brand as its representatives made their way to the podium to receive their trophies. The Natural Health Readers' Choice Awards reaches consumers all over the country as it honours the top brands of products and services associated with health and wellness. The annual event has been taking place since 2011 and has grown to become an esteemed platform for validation of quality and performance from those whose opinions matter the most, the readers/consumers. It is, therefore, an exceptionally trusted testimonial representing the collective votes of discerning consumers whose priorities include quality, reputation, and excellence. The announcement of winners was held in Kuala Lumpur on the 31st of January, 2024, which saw Beyond Collagen shine among the brands of products deemed as top choices of its conscientious, quality-savvy readers. Made to be 100% free from preservatives, and containing no harmful hormones and additives, Beyond Collagen+ Deep Sea Marine Collagen offers an astounding 10,000mg of health and beauty-producing collagen which is freshly brewed. An obvious plus point for this award-winning product is the rate at which results start to be visible, which is in just a few days. Founder Kelvin Chee sharing his thoughts on winning two categories during the recent event. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/200679_18089bef24fa8a56_002full.jpg Story continues Receiving the Awards on behalf of Beyond Collagen was Mr Kelvin Chee from Virtue Dynamic Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd, who is also the founder of Beyond Collagen. Mr Chee stated, "Receiving this recognition from Natural Health is a testament to our brand's dedication. This award validates our efforts and solidifies our position as Malaysia's top fish scale jelly brand. Additionally, we're honored to also receive the 100% Natural Freshly Brewed Collagen award. I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to my team and our supporters, and following this award, we hope that the next development will be even greater. Currently, we have sold our products throughout Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and the UK, and we hope to penetrate the market in the United States and other countries. About Beyond Collagen A relatively new brand, Beyond Collagen first emerged on the market two years ago, and has quickly found its way into the hearts of health- and beauty-conscious Malaysian consumers. Beyond Collagen is produced using active ingredients sourced from deep sea marine life, hence offering the highest, most easily absorbed collagen which human bodies can utilise to keep us looking and feeling great from the inside. Apart from maintaining beautiful, youthful-looking skin, Beyond Collagen collagen products go further to help support joint health, bone health while promoting healthier blood vessels as well as internal organs. Please visit http://facebook.com/beyondcollagenplus for more information. About Natural Health Magazine Natural Health Magazine is Malaysia's leading media platform for healthy and holistic living, reaching more than 120,000 readers every month on digital, print, and social media platforms. It offers comprehensive resources covering health, beauty, wellness, home, and living, empowering readers with expert advice and practical tips. To view the complete list of winners of Natural Health & Readers' Choice Awards 2023, please visit: https://naturalhealth.my/naturalhealth2023awards/ Contact Info: Name: Kelvin Chee Email: Vdmarketingasia@gmail.com Organization: Virtue Dynamic Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd Address: No. 7, Jalan 4/118C, Desa Tun Razak, 56000 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Website: http://facebook.com/beyondcollagenplus To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/200679 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A second person has been arrested in connection with a February shooting that left a Mt. Juliet man dead. Metro police said Patrick G. Cathey, 31, is accused of shooting and killing Steven Yates, 34, on Old Franklin Road in Antioch last month. Patrick Cathey (Source: Metro Nashville Police Department) Nicole Tishma (Source: Metro Nashville Police Department) Investigators believe Yates was killed during a drug-related robbery that saw him meet with Cathey and Nicole Tishma, 37. Tishma was arrested Feb. 20, in Oak Grove, Kentucky, where she is currently being held as a fugitive. Woman wanted for deadly shooting in Antioch arrested in Kentucky Cathey was located and taken into custody in the Robertson County community of Coopertown, according to Metro police. He was booked in the Metro jail on a criminal homicide charge. Tishmas return to Nashville is pending, police said, but she will also face a criminal homicide charge. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Police cars parked outside a school. A 22-year-old man was arrested at the school for carrying a knife and a firearm. Christophe Gateau/dpa A man with a knife and a gun was arrested at a school in Petershagen near the German capital Berlin on Friday morning. Police said a security alarm had been triggered at the school at around 7:15 am (0615 GMT), when a man with a weapon was seen to have entered the school. Specially trained emergency services then searched the school building and overpowered the man. A police spokesman said he had been arrested, and was found to have a firearm and a knife. It is not yet clear whether the weapon was capable of firing live ammunition. The man was injured during the arrest, the spokesman said. No other injuries have been reported. It is not yet known whether and how many pupils were already in the building, but it's thought most of the people in the school at that time were members of staff. The police cordoned off the school. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) More than 150 different pieces that detail Nelson Mandelas life will be on display starting Saturday at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Some are artifacts that have not been displayed outside of South Africa. Mandela: The Official Exhibition first opened in London in 2019. The curator said its stop at the Grand Rapids Public Museum will be the seventh or eighth stop in the United States. Grand Rapids Public Museum construction unearths pieces of history The exhibit follows the life of Mandela, South Africas first democratically elected president, a freedom fighter and humanitarian. You can learn more about his childhood, what inspired him to be a leader, see what life would have been like for him while incarcerated at Robben Island Prison for 27 years, see original letters he wrote, famous clothing he wore and more. Letters on display at the Grand Rapids Public Museum from Mandela: The Official Exhibition. Sara Hougan, the curator of the exhibit, worked with Mandelas family and assistant to curate some of the displays, as well as traveling to South Africa to speak with people who knew Mandela and his childhood. She hopes the exhibit will inspire people to learn more about Mandela and how his teachings can help bring change today. Making sure that you treat people the way you want to be treated. I think thats a message weve heard all of our lives, and its something that Nelson Mandela lived by and just really celebrating who he was, which is just really an amazing, inspirational person we can all learn from, Hougan said. Display at GR Public Museum celebrates Black inventions The exhibit runs until May 26. Tickets are included with general admission. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. MANHATTAN (KSNT) Police in Manhattan have made two arrests in the death of a one-year-old girl from last year. The Riley County Police Department (RCPD) announced in a press release on Friday, March 8 that Matthew Paul Wesley Miller and Sonya Simone Lark Williams were arrested in connection to the death of their daughter Ziya Miller. Both parts are facing charges of first-degree murder. RCPD spokeswoman Ashley Tokoi said police in Junction City were called on a report of a child not breathing in April 2023. Upon arrival, they found the girl had died in Manhattan before being taken to Junction City by Miller. Miller is charged with murder in the first degree, aggravated endangering of a child and distribution of opiates. Williams is facing charges of murder in the first degree and aggravated endangering of a child. Both are currently confined at the Riley County Jail. Fake cash pushes police to issue warning in Manhattan For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing held a Women in Manufacturing Symposium on Friday to celebrate the contributions of women to the regions manufacturing base. Lennie Gail Mitcham with The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing said about 30% of the manufacturing workforce are women in Southwest Virginia, and the event aims to increase that. Thats what were doing here today, Mitcham said. Were celebrating women. Were celebrating women that are already in manufacturing. Were encouraging women who might be interested in careers in manufacturing to pursue those careers. Buckys Food Pantry at ETSU helps fight food insecurity The event featured a discussion with women from companies across the region who work in the field. A lot of the time, women arent aware of the opportunities that they have to succeed in a career in manufacturing, and thats what were trying to do today, Mitcham said. Were showing people today not only are there jobs, but we want we want you females, women. We want you to take those jobs because we know that you can succeed at them. Several middle school, high school and college students attended the symposium. Cat from Gray named semi-finalist in 2024 Cadbury Bunny Tryouts We have people who work with the Virginia Employment Commission, who work with the general population to help them find jobs, Mitcham said. Its important to have those folks here so that when theyre placing people in jobs, they can say, you need to work for manufacturing. For more information on manufacturing careers in the area, click here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. WISCONSIN (AP) This years warmer winter temperatures have allowed some maple syrup producers across the U.S. to begin tapping their trees as much as two months early. In Wisconsin, the fourth-largest maple syrup producing state, many farmers started production in January and February, earlier than they can ever remember doing it. Jeremy Solin, who farms a forest first tapped by his family in 1917 in Deerbrook, WI, said typically they wouldnt be talking about tapping trees until March and that he is concerned about the long-term impact of climate shift on the health of maple trees. As climate change leads to warmer temperatures, these unpredictable winters may become more and more common in parts of Wisconsin. But many producers are committed to the traditions that strengthen their bonds with their sugarbushes, making this practice more resilient than others that are threatened by the slow melting of the North American winter. Experts say that the shift in maple syrup season could be one clear indicator of the ways climate change is affecting trees, but they also think the practice serves as an important motivation to preserve forests. Producers have deeply personal ties to their land, whether they are Indigenous producers serving their community or have family-run operations and want to leave a legacy for the next generation. That relationship between people and their maple trees may ultimately make people more willing to adapt and be resilient in the face of seasonal changes. With the arrival of spring, maple trees start to wake up from the dormant state that keeps them alive through the winter. But during the critical few weeks of early spring where its above freezing during the day and below freezing at night, the trees use their sugar in sap as a kind of antifreeze. Humans have been taking advantage of that process for millennia, collecting the clear, watery sap that flows in early spring and boiling it down to condense it into maple syrup or maple sugar. But timing is everything. Tapping the trees too soon, especially with the spile-and-bucket method, doesnt work, because the holes start to close up after a few weeks. The more common commercial method, which involves a series of plastic tubing often called lines that snake from tree to tree and ferry the sap in huge quantities, is a bit more forgiving of tapping early but still requires strategic planning. Thats why producers were caught by surprise this year they typically plan for mid-March or April, but as they checked the weather this unprecedentedly warm January, they realized the sap had already started flowing. About 40 miles away from Solin, syrup producers missed the first run of sap on Bodwewadmi Ktegan, the farm of the Forest County Potawatomi tribe. Joe Shepard, the assistant farm manager there whos lived in northern Wisconsin his whole life, said he cant remember a winter like this, with no snow. Neither can Karl Martin, dean of University of Wisconsin-Madisons Division of Extension. Martins family taps about 4,500 trees, and this year they lost out on about 25% of their production. With drier summers and less snowfall contributing to groundwater, Solin, who also works for the University of Wisconsins division of extension, says the unpredictability is the biggest challenge for sustaining maple syrup operations like his. And the lengthening of the trees growing season, with an earlier start and later end to warmer weather, could affect the sap too. So Solin is concerned about water, about the increasingly dry summers in his area and what that could mean for continuing to make quality syrup. He thinks that producers with smaller operations, and particularly Indigenous producers, will be well-suited to handle the changes that are coming. And the trees, too, especially older, more established trees, will find ways to adapt. Thats something Forest County Potawatomi members working on Bodwewadmi Ktegan are prioritizing: finding innovative ways to produce food independently in pursuit of food sovereignty. Shepard explained that his area is considered a food desert the nearest Walmart is 45 minutes away and having fresh food to provide for elders in the community is a project they hope to expand. That includes maple syrup and sugar, which is a traditionally important product for some members. On the spectrum of maple syrup producers, Solin places himself on the end most concerned about climate change and what it may mean for the future of his area. But as he walks beneath the trees, taking the metal cover off each pail, he feels gratitude for the recurring, in-depth experience with his sugar maple grove. Its the best way, he says, to intimately, or even obsessively, watch the changes in the weather from year to year. With his family warming up in the sugar shack that pumps sweet-smelling steam into the sky, he gets to take walks here beside the imposing 250-year-old sugar maple his family calls Grandpa Tree. And for another season, he gets to watch as the forest springs back to life. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. A sea corridor to Gaza could begin as soon as this weekend, Ursula von der Leyen says A maritime corridor to Gaza could begin operating this weekend to boost aid to the territory, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says. It comes a day after President Biden said the US planned to build a floating pier to Gaza's shoreline. However, that could take up to 60 days to built, the Pentagon said on Friday. A quarter of Gaza's population is on the brink of famine and children are starving to death there, the United Nations reports. Getting aid into the Gaza Strip has been difficult and dangerous. On Friday reports said five people had been killed by airdropped aid whose parachutes did not deploy properly. The US and other nations have resorted to dropping aid in by air as conditions become increasingly dire, but aid organisations say the tactic is a last resort and can't meet the soaring need. Speaking in Cyprus, Ms von der Leyen said Gaza was "facing a humanitarian catastrophe" and the sea corridor would enable the delivery of large quantities of additional aid. A joint statement from the European Commission, Cyprus, the US, UK and UAE said operating a sea corridor would be "complex" and they would continue to press Israel to expand delivery of aid by road, facilitating more routes and opening additional crossings. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: "We continue to urge Israel to allow more trucks into Gaza as the fastest way to get aid to those who need it." Israel welcomed the initiative and urged other countries to join it. A foreign ministry spokesman said aid would be delivered after security checks were carried out "in accordance with Israeli standards". However, the leader of aid agency Refugees International told the BBC that while welcome, the maritime route was unlikely to be able to deliver anything like enough food. "This does not sound like it will come anywhere close to the scale that would be required to reverse the trajectory into famine that Gaza is now in," Jeremy Konyndyk said. Israel denies impeding the entry of aid to Gaza and accuses aid organisations of failing to distribute it. On Thursday, Mr Biden said the US military would construct a pier to transport supplies from ships at sea to the shore, but US officials said it would take "a number of weeks" to set up. The operation - which he said would not include US troops on the ground in Gaza - would enable large ships to deliver food, water, medicine and temporary shelters. The US military said on Friday that it could take up to 60 days to complete the port, and more than 1,000 personnel to build it - but none would go ashore. The Pentagon says the US eventually aims to provide two million meals a day to Gazans. Mr Biden said the pier would enable a "massive difference" in the amount of aid reaching Gaza, but added that Israel must "do its part" by allowing more aid to enter into the territory and to "ensure that humanitarian workers aren't caught in the crossfire". But on Friday, an independent UN expert told a briefing in Geneva that it was "absurd" that a close ally of Israel was resorting to such measures. Michael Fakhri, the special rapporteur on the right to food, said the port plan was likely to be a "performance" aimed more at a domestic US audience as the US presidential campaign gets under way. Aid lorries have been entering the south of Gaza through the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing and the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing. But the north, which was the focus of the first phase of the Israeli ground offensive, has been largely cut off from assistance in recent months. An estimated 300,000 Palestinians are living there with little food or clean water. On Friday, Mr Biden said it was "looking tough" for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas to be reached before the start of Ramadan on Sunday. It had been hoped that a 40-day truce would help desperately needed aid to enter Gaza. Last week more than 100 people were killed trying to reach an aid convoy amid the growing desperation. Palestinians said most were shot by Israeli troops. The Israeli military, which was overseeing the private aid deliveries, on Friday said its troops did not fire at Palestinians around an aid convoy but at "suspects" nearby who they deemed a threat. Israel's military launched an air and ground campaign in Gaza after Hamas's attacks on Israel on 7 October, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 253 others were taken hostage. More than 30,800 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the territory's Hamas-run health ministry says. WASHINGTON Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) put on a red Make America Great Again hat as President Joe Biden entered the House chamber to give his State of the Union address on Thursday. Greene grabbed a seat near the center aisle so she could make a video of herself greeting Biden. She handed him a pin bearing the name of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old college student who was murdered last month. Laken Riley, Green said in her video. I know how to say the name, Biden said as he accepted the pin, with Greene responding, Say her name. The president carried the pin with him as he greeted Supreme Court justices and military officials on his way to the House rostrum, where he placed it next to a glass of water. Earlier on Thursday, the House passed a symbolic bill named after Riley requiring federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants who commit theft or burglary. Rileys suspected killer, who crossed into the U.S. illegally in 2022, was previously charged with endangering a minor and was arrested in connection with a shoplifting case. Unprecedented numbers of migrants have been apprehended at the border, and Republicans have made it their top political issue. Joe Biden has no excuse. I handed him a pin to remember Laken Riley. He refused to SAY HER NAME! pic.twitter.com/jxv8uD6uqK Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) March 8, 2024 After Biden had passed, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) had an animated conversation with Greene, gesturing with his hands and appearing to demand she remove her MAGA hat. House rules say members may not wear non-religious headdress or a hat when the House is in session. The rules also say anyone on the House floor may not smoke or use a mobile electronic device that impairs decorum. Dozens of lawmakers used their phones to take selfies before Biden arrived. During his speech, Biden picked up the pin and seemed to mispronounce Rileys name as Lincoln Riley before describing her as an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. It was a striking off-script moment, both for the fact that Biden was essentially engaging with Greene, one of his most outspoken House antagonists, and because Democrats generally dont call immigrants illegal. Biden said his heart went out to Rileys parents, but that Congress could help stymie illegal immigration by approving Biden-backed legislation that would speed up the processing of asylum claims. My Republican friends owe it to the American people. Get this bill done, Biden said. Related... Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene has been handing out Laken Riley pins ahead of the State of the Union even after the murdered students parents turned down an invite to attend. The parents of Ms Riley declined an invitation from Rep Mike Collins, Republican of Georgia. Ms Riley, 22, a nursing student, was allegedly murdered while jogging on the campus of the University of Georgia. I invited Laken Rileys parents to the State of the Union address, but understandably, they have chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter, Mr Collins wrote on X. Therefore, the seat reserved for my guest will remain vacant to honor Laken and all American victims of illegal alien crime. As Joe Biden attempts to paint a rosy picture of the crime-ridden country he has created, he will look up at an empty seat that memorializes those weve lost because of his open border policies. Ms Riley was found unconscious last month and a 26-year-old man from Venezuela was later detained. Police have referred to it as a crime of opportunity and the man, Jose Ibarra, has been charged with felony murder, kidnapping, and false imprisonment. Republicans have been using Ms Rileys death to lambast the Biden administrations border policies. The president may use part of his speech on Thursday night to criticise Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan border security bill after former President Donald Trump came out against it. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is passing out these Laken Riley pins to other members ahead of the State of the Union pic.twitter.com/QORTYzHgr5 Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) March 7, 2024 While handing out the pins, Ms Greene told Fox News that My district was fine with me calling him a liar last year, adding that Ill decide in the moment if shell make a similar outburst this year. On Thursday afternoon, the House passed the Laken Riley Act following its introduction by Mr Collins. the legislation requires the detention of any migrant committing burglary or theft. Police have said that the suspect in Ms Rileys death crossed the border illegally. Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson has said that Ms Riley died from blunt force trauma to the head. Democratic Rep Jerry Nadler criticized the bill on the floor of the lower chamber, saying that the Republicans were exploiting her death for a partisan stunt and throwing together legislation to target immigrants in an election year, CNN reported. Laken Riley would still be alive if the Biden Administration had done its job, House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed. House Republicans are not going to stand by quietly while the President and his administration release dangerous criminals into our communities, he added. The Laken Riley Act would help prevent future tragedies. If Senator Schumer and President Biden care to protect Americans and are serious about securing the border, they will bring this legislation up for a vote and sign it into law immediately. BOONSBORO, Md. (DC News Now) Marylanders are in anticipation outside the beltway about what President Joe Biden will have to say to the American people in his State of the Union address Thursday night. In southeastern Washington County, bookshop manager Anita Colliere is placing pocketbook issues at the top of her concerns about the White House and Capitol Hill. Increased wage floor for tipped workers may go to Maryland voters in November Our small town out here in Boonsboro, with the prices going so high, Colliere said. The cost of living has skyrocketed. But shopkeeper Suzanne Thackston doesnt blame President Biden for that. As far as she is concerned, the president is not getting the credit he deserves because his heart is in the right place. I think hes done a lot of really good things and is trying really hard, Thackston said. But Colliere says she was more hopeful about things in Washington when Biden took office. She hopes he can turn things around in his speech. Hagerstown police find aerial drones to be effective in fighting crime I think a lot of people who voted for Joe Biden expected more, Colliere said. Customer Derek Ellis, who lives closer to the beltway, was browsing in Collieres bookshop Thursday. He thinks politics is a disarray. My honest opinion? Politics is a mess, he told DC News Now. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Net Sales : Reported at $103.0 million, nearly flat year-over-year. Net Income : Increased by approximately 6% to $15.9 million year-over-year. Gross Profit Margin : Improved by 330 basis points to 56.6%. Adjusted EBITDA : Rose by approximately 10% to $42.7 million. Guidance: Fiscal Year 2024 guidance updated, reflecting cautious outlook for H2. The Duckhorn Portfolio Inc (NAPA) Reports Steady Earnings Amidst Industry Headwinds On March 7, 2024, The Duckhorn Portfolio Inc (NYSE:NAPA), a leading producer of luxury wines, released its 8-K filing, announcing financial results for the fiscal second quarter of 2024. The company, known for its prestigious brands such as Duckhorn Vineyards and Decoy, reported net sales of $103.0 million, which remained relatively stable compared to the same period last year. Despite broader industry challenges, the company's net income saw an increase to $15.9 million, up approximately 6% year over year. Financial Performance and Challenges The Duckhorn Portfolio's performance this quarter reflects its resilience in a competitive market. The company's gross profit margin experienced a significant increase, rising to 56.6% from 53.3% in the prior year, attributed to improved cost of sales and reduced trade spend. This margin expansion is particularly noteworthy in the Beverages - Alcoholic industry, where margins can be pressured by various factors including production costs and market pricing dynamics. However, the company faced challenges with a slight decrease in net sales, primarily due to lower shipment volumes which were nearly offset by positive price/mix contributions. This indicates a challenging demand environment, which The Duckhorn Portfolio has navigated with effective cost management and strategic pricing. Financial Achievements and Importance The Duckhorn Portfolio's financial achievements this quarter, particularly the growth in net income and adjusted EBITDA, are critical indicators of the company's ability to generate profit and manage expenses efficiently. The adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 400 basis points, underscoring the company's strong operational performance and its ability to enhance profitability in a subdued sales growth environment. Story continues Key Financial Metrics Important metrics from the financial statements include the leverage ratio, which stood at 1.9x net debt to trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA, reflecting a healthy balance sheet. The company's cash position was reported at $13.1 million as of January 31, 2024. "We delivered strong profitability in the second quarter and continued to take share amidst broader industry headwinds," said Deirdre Mahlan, Interim President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson. She highlighted the company's robust gross margins and strong operating cost management as key drivers of the improved adjusted EBITDA margin. Jennifer Fall Jung, Chief Financial Officer, noted, "We delivered second quarter profitability well above expectations as we managed through a softer demand environment." She also emphasized the company's updated full-year fiscal 2024 guidance, which anticipates a second half growth rate of low-to-mid single digit net sales growth. Analysis of Company's Performance The Duckhorn Portfolio's ability to maintain stable net sales amidst a softer demand environment and to increase its net income and adjusted EBITDA is commendable. The company's focus on luxury wine markets, where it continues to outpace competition, positions it well for sustained growth. The updated guidance suggests a cautious but optimistic outlook, reflecting confidence in the company's strategic direction and market positioning. For value investors, The Duckhorn Portfolio Inc's consistent performance, strong margin profile, and prudent financial management signal a potentially attractive investment opportunity, particularly for those interested in the luxury goods and specialty beverages sector. For further details on The Duckhorn Portfolio Inc's financial results, including the full financial tables and additional commentary, investors are encouraged to review the complete 8-K filing. Stay informed on the latest financial news and analysis by visiting GuruFocus.com for comprehensive coverage on The Duckhorn Portfolio Inc and other investment opportunities. Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from The Duckhorn Portfolio Inc for further details. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Massachusetts servicewoman who was shot, killed alongside daughter remembered for her 'dedication of duty' A Massachusetts mother who was shot and killed alongside her 11-year-old daughter was a decorated service representative who was "brilliantly intelligent and destined for success." Worcester police confirmed that Chastity Nunez, a Connecticut Army National Guard member, and her daughter, Zella, were shot and killed while they were sitting in their car on a city street around 3 p.m. Tuesday. "Upon arrival, officers located a parked vehicle with two female gunshot victims inside," they added. "The victims were identified as a mother and her daughter, and they were both pronounced deceased at the hospital." National Guard spokesperson Maj. David Pytlik told Fox News Digital that Nunez was "incredibly resilient, brilliantly intelligent, destined for success." MASSACHUSETTS POLICE LAUNCH MANHUNT FOR SUSPECT LINKED TO DOUBLE MURDER OF MOTHER, DAUGHTER Chasity Nunez, here working as a member of the Connecticut National Guard, and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella, were shot and killed while sitting inside a parked SUV in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Tuesday afternoon. "I'd describe Chasity as incredibly resilient, brilliantly intelligent, destined for success in her civilian and military careers, and more full of compassion than anyone I know," Pytlik said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Nunez has received honors such as the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Army Achievement Medal since joining the service in 2020, Pytlik said. Chasity Nunez was remembered for her "wit, social nature and dedication to duty." Pytlik said that she was killed in "senseless violence" and will be remembered for her "wit, social nature and dedication to duty." "Our hearts are broken because we lost Specialist Chasity Nunez to senseless violence. She and her daughter were killed while sitting in their vehicle in their own neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon," Pytlik said. "Chasity was beloved by her fellow soldiers in the 142nd Medical Company." 1 DEAD, 3 INJURED IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SHOOTING "Her wit, social nature and dedication to duty made her one of the best soldiers in our unit. I cannot begin to make sense of why this happened and why her family, friends, co-workers and fellow soldiers have been robbed of her and Zella," Pytlik added. "What we can, and must do now, is support one another as we grieve, process this profound loss and honor their memory." The Worcester Police Department says the two gunshot victims were found inside a parked vehicle on Tuesday afternoon. Nunez's daughter, Zella, was also killed by the gunman and was remembered as a "high-achieving" student who was well liked and well respected. "At the school Zella attended, she was known as a high-achieving sixth-grade student who had many friends and was well respected by her teachers," a spokesperson from the Worcester Public Schools told Fox News Digital. In a letter to the community that was issued yesterday, Superintendent Rachel Monarrez said, "There are no words to describe the pain this students family is feeling as a result of this terrible tragedy. We offer them our deepest condolences as they endure unimaginable grief." The spokesperson said that counselors were available for students who are grieving the loss. Dejan Belnavis, 27, is "considered armed and dangerous," the Worcester Police Department said. Prosecutors alleged that 27-year-old Dejan Belnavis and 28-year-old Karel Mangual were responsible for Nunez and Zella's death after the men were spotted getting out of a vehicle in Hartford, Connecticut, around an hour after the deadly shooting took place in Worcester. Police said in court documents that surveillance video showed "the victims parked in their vehicle and that two people walk up to the vehicle and start shooting," the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported. Video also showed a car consistent with a witness description circling the area before the shooting and leaving afterward, the documents said. The vehicle was later found in Hartford. Belnavis is still wanted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm without a license. Police noted that he also had a pre-existing arrest warrant. On Wednesday, Mangual was arrested and charged. "He is charged with Armed Assault to Murder and Carrying a Firearm without a License," according to Worcester police. "He also had a preexisting arrest warrant. He will be arraigned in court." Belnavis, who is being sought on the same charges, is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Authorities did not immediately release a potential motive for the killings. It also was not released whether there was any relationship between the suspects and the victims. "Today we mourn the senseless loss of two Worcester residents, a mother and daughter whose lives were taken far too soon and far too tragically," the city's mayor, city manager, police chief and school district superintendent said in a joint statement. "Collectively, we ask for patience and privacy on behalf of the victims family and friends and for the Worcester Public Schools who are grieving the loss of a student. An act of such violence has no place in our city." Original article source: Massachusetts servicewoman who was shot, killed alongside daughter remembered for her 'dedication of duty' U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana,leaves a candidate forum with House Republicans to hear from members running for U.S. Speaker of House in the Longworth House Office Building on Oct. 10, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Joe Raedle | Getty Images) Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale said Friday he will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives another twist in a two-month saga in which the eastern Montana representative has announced his run, and departure, in two federal races. Rosendale announced his decision to drop out of the 2nd Congressional District race on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying that a rumor that has spread since he dropped his Senate bid which has not been substantiated about his personal life has made it impossible for him to focus on his work. Since that [U.S. House] announcement, I have been forced that have law enforcement visit my children because of a death threat against me and false and defamatory rumors against me and my family. This has taken a serious toll on me, and my family. Additionally, it has caused a serious disruption to the election of the next representative for MT-02, Rosendale said in the statement. To me, public service has truly always been about serving, not titles or positions of power. The current attacks have made it impossible for me to focus on my work to serve you, Rosendale continued. So, in the best interest of my family and the community, I am withdrawing from the House race and will not be seeking office. It has been my honor to serve you and may God bless each and every one of you. The decision to step away from public office after this year follows a rollercoaster of a past year for Rosendale, 63, who has served in the Montana state House and Senate, as the state auditor, and then as a congressman from Montana since 2021. He raised his profile last year as a member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, successfully ousting former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, in an attempt to put a leader in place who would not cut deals with Democrats or the Biden White House, particularly on spending bills. He for months teased a run for U.S. Senate, a seat he ran for and lost in 2018 to Sen. Jon Tester, but Sen. Steve Daines, leading the National Republican Senatorial Committee, had picked Bozeman businessman Tim Sheehy as the Republican that leadership wanted for the race and urged Rosendale not to run, Rosendale has said. But after a fundraising tour across Montana with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, in January, Rosendale said he had heard from enough supporters to move forward with a Senate run. He launched his bid in the primary against Sheehy on Feb. 9, but hours later, former President Donald Trump endorsed Sheehy an endorsement Rosendale had long sought if he were to run for Senate but Trump said he would endorse Rosendale in a House re-election bid. Just six days later, Rosendale said he was dropping out of the Senate race and considering his next moves after speaking with Daines earlier in the week. Rosendale at the time said Trumps endorsement in the Senate race and his own lack of campaign money were to blame for the abrupt exit. But in the days afterward, rumors swirled in Montana and in Washington, D.C., political circles about Rosendale having a possible affair, and former North Dakota Democratic U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp threw gas on the rumor and put it into the public sphere when she mentioned it on a podcast. The Daily Montanan has been unable to substantiate any part of the rumor. Rosendales lawyer also threatened Heitkamp with a cease-and-desist letter and further legal action, but has so far not filed any lawsuit. For two weeks, there were questions about whether Rosendale would even seek re-election to his current House seat, as more than 10 other candidates have declared their candidacy, but he announced his re-election bid Feb. 28 and endorsed Sheehy in the Senate race. Over the last few days, I have been humbled by the outpouring of support I have received to run for Montanas 2nd Congressional District so we can continue our work to cut spending, secure the border, and restore Americas energy dominance, Rosendale said in a statement at the time. At the urging of my family, friends, constituents, and President Trump, I announce my intention to seek re-election. In a statement Friday afternoon, Daines thanked Rosendale for his service to Montana and said he only hopes the best for Rosendale as he gets to spend time with his family. During his time in public service, he has been a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, the Second Amendment and pushing back against federal overreach, Daines said. I thank him for his service and wish him well as he gets to spend more time with his wife Jean and their grandchildren. Rosendale said Friday that some of the other Republicans in the 2nd Congressional District field had urged him to run for re-election, as Rosendale has broad name recognition and the support of Montana Republicans more aligned with his right-wing values. He also won the seat in 2022 by more than 70,000 votes over the runner up. As of Friday, five other Republicans had registered their candidacy for the 2nd Congressional District primary with the Secretary of States Office ahead of Mondays 5 p.m. filing deadline. Several others, including current State Auditor Troy Downing and former Congressman Denny Rehberg, have announced their candidacies and filed with the Federal Election Commission. Rosendale in his statement Friday called it an honor and privilege to serve Montana in public service for 14 years, and again said that he believes the power structure in Washington which he often refers to as the uniparty puts pressure on outspoken politicians like himself. When I took on the task of running for Congress, I knew, as many of you do, that the system is severely broken and badly in need of reforms, Rosendale said. Unfortunately, there is immense pressure from those who benefit from the current structure to keep things as they are. And the limited few of us who are willing to try and force true reforms are subject to severe retribution. Editors note: This story has been updated to include comments from Sen. Steve Daines. The post Matt Rosendale drops House re-election bid, citing death threats and family toll appeared first on Daily Montanan. Red Bull Racing Team principal and CEO Christian Horner was cleared of inappropriate behavior accusations by an independent investigator brought in by Red Bull. (Chandan Khanna / Getty Images) The consternation is evident halfway around the world. Max Verstappen, the Formula One World Driver's champion three years running and winner of last week's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, isn't so much reveling in his accomplishments as he is begging for silence. And he's not referring to the ear-piercing, 130-decibel sound coming from his Red Bull Racing 20 car. What I want and that doesnt matter who is involved in the team or not is to have a quiet environment where everyone is happy to work, Verstappen said Thursday in Jeddah ahead of this weekends Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Strap sound mufflers on the media, on embattled Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner, and even on Verstappen's father, Jos. That'd please Mad Max. A month ago, Red Bull Racing received a complaint from a female employee alleging inappropriate behavior by Horner, who is married to Geri Halliwell-Horner, formerly known as Ginger Spice of the Spice Girls. Red Bull Racing brought in independent investigator King's Counsel, which found no wrongdoing by Horner. Read more: Max Verstappen wins spirited Las Vegas Grand Prix, which exceeded expectations The woman who made the accusation was suspended with pay by Red Bull Racing on Thursday, reportedly as a direct result of the investigation, just before a news conference in Jeddah, where Horner said it was time to "move on" and focus on racing. As for the allegations, he said, Out of the respect to the company and of course the other party, were all bound by the same restrictions. So even if I would like to talk about it, I cant, because of those confidentiality restrictions. Case closed? Hardly. Several media outlets were anonymously sent a batch of text messages supposedly between Horner and his accuser bearing the subject line "Christian Horner Investigation Evidence." None appeared to be criminal in nature, but some could be deemed inappropriate. Horner believes competitors are using the drama to break up Red Bull Racing, which has dominated Formula One for several years. At least two principals of other teams commented on the investigation into Horner's behavior as well as how the episode reflects on the sport. Read more: Long Beach Grand Prix to provide drama for '100 Days to Indy' docuseries Toto Wolff of Mercedes wanted to know details of the investigation, saying: "If it is done in the right way with transparency and rigor, we need to look at the outcomes and what it means for F1 and how we can learn from that. '"F1 and the teams, we stand for inclusion, equality, fairness, diversity. And it is not only talking about it, it is living it day in and day out. It is not just a team issue. It is an issue for all of F1." James Vowles of Williams took a similar stance, telling Bloomberg: "We all have to look at each other in the mirror and make sure that we are posing the right questions internally and acting in a way that we can only be proud of, not today but in the next 10 years." Competitors taking shots could be expected. But Jos Verstappen, father of Red Bull Racing's star driver and himself a former Formula One champion driver, also spoke out against Horner. "There is tension here while he remains in position," he told the Daily Mail after the Bahrain Grand Prix. "The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can't go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems." Read more: Formula One in Las Vegas off to a bumpy start, but don't call it a 'black eye' The comment stoked rumors that Max Verstappen would move to Mercedes in 2025. However, this week he insisted he intends to remain with Red Bull at least until his contract expires in 2029 as long as "the performance is there." And, presumably, as long as the "quiet environment" is restored. Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Mayday declared as Chicago firefighters battle house fire in Belmont Cragin CHICAGO A mayday was declared as firefighters battle a house fire Thursday afternoon in the citys Belmont Cragin neighborhood. The fire is in the 2500 block of North Luna Avenue. Read more: Latest Chicago news headline According to the fire department, no injuries were reported. The mayday was declared because firefighters experienced a flashover, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Because a mayday was declared, more ambulances were requested to come to the scene. The cause of the fire hasnt been determined. Additional details havent been released at this time. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency will not offer the public a detailed view of its fiscal 2025 budget when the president releases his spending request on March 11, breaking a decades-long tradition. Air Force Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, the agencys director, said March 7 at the McAleese & Associates conference that the agency was told by the Pentagon it would not conduct its usual briefing as part of Mondays formal rollout. He referred questions to the Defense Department. Collins noted hes working with his staff on finding another forum to detail its budget request, adding that the agency would still make sure to get the appropriate information out. Several reporters and analysts recalled MDA budget briefings took place as long ago as the early 2000s. When asked about the decision, Pentagon spokesman Chris Sherwood declined to confirm it. We will not preview content or briefers before the presidents budget release, he said. The undersecretary of defense (comptroller)/chief financial officer will decide which departments and agencies brief their respective budgets during the DoD budget rollout press conference. This year marks the first budget cycle in which Collins is leading MDA. President Joe Biden tapped Collins to be MDA director in May 2023; he succeeded Vice Adm. Jon Hill, who had served as the agencys leader since 2019. Collins did not officially take command of the agency until Congress confirmed him in December, after Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., released a lengthy blanket hold on military officer confirmations. Last year, MDA sought a budget of $10.9 billion, prioritizing regional and homeland missile defense with a major focus on building an air and missile defense architecture in Guam. The agency is in the midst of major modernization efforts to keep up with the pace of emerging, complex threats. This includes developing a Next Generation Interceptor to replace Ground-Based Interceptors that make up the roughly 20-year-old Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System. That system protects the homeland from potential intercontinental ballistic missile attacks from countries like North Korea and Iran. The agency is also working on a Glide Phase Interceptor to defeat hypersonic missile threats farther from intended targets. Noah Robertson contributed to this story. WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe speaks at a Keep Our Republic voting education event in La Crosse on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. MANITOWOC Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe will speak at the Manitowoc Public Library this month on the election system in Wisconsin, how it differs from other states and why voters can trust it. The presentation, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Manitowoc County and the Manitowoc Public Library, will take place at the library at 6 p.m. March 27 in the Balkansky Community Room. The library is at 707 Quay St. Wolfe's presentation is titled "You Can Trust Wisconsin's Election System" and it will also be livestreamed on the Manitowoc Public Library's Facebook page and YouTube channel. Wolfe is the state's chief election official, was appointed by the Wisconsin Elections Commission in 2018 and approved by the Wisconsin State Senate in 2019 for a four-year term. "Serving as an election security advocate and ambassador for the needs of Wisconsin's clerks and voters are among her highest priorities," a news release from the League of Women Voters of Manitowoc County said. Manitowoc County election: Here's who's moving on to the general election after Tuesday's primary in Manitowoc County According to the press release, Wolfe previously served as WEC's deputy administrator and IT director and managed the teams that develop and maintain the statewide voter registration system, election security and all other IT applications of the commission. She started as the state's voter outreach coordinator in 2011 and later as an elections IT project manager leading a major redesign of the MyVote Wisconsin voter information portal. The presentation is taking place the week before Wisconsinites head to the poll for the April 2 spring election and presidential primary. Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Meagan Wolfe of Wisconsin Elections Commission to speak in Manitowoc A child staying at a migrant shelter on the Lower West Side developed a confirmed case of measles, Chicago public health officials announced Friday. It was the second case of measles reported in the city this week. Officials said the child has recovered and is no longer infectious. The city of Chicago is responding with a host of resources, a city spokesperson said in a statement Friday morning. Those who have been vaccinated can go about their normal business while those who have not been vaccinated will have to remain indoors to watch for symptoms, the statement said. Chicago Public Schools issued a statement that said the child was not a CPS student. All families residing at the shelter were advised to remain in place and and school-aged children were told to not attend school Friday, according to CPS. The site of the newly confirmed case is the most crowded shelter in the citys web of 23 buildings currently housing over 11,600 migrants, thousands who have arrived on buses sent by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott many of them fleeing a failed economy and health infrastructure in Venezuela. It is a large warehouse that has received skepticism from health advocates and volunteers helping migrants after a 5-year-old staying there died in December. Migrants outside the shelter Friday said theyd been told by shelter staff about the measles case at around 12:30 a.m. They were told to quarantine for 10 days, but migrants said theyd received mixed messages about what that meant. They werent sure if they could go to work or school. The news and confusion led to several fights breaking out in the shelter, said Tibisay Luna, 43, from Valencia, Venezuela. Her daughters 9-year-old Franmaris Luna and 11-year-old Frayeli Luna hugged her legs and cried as they waited for a bus. I received a call from the school that they were missing from class this morning, said Luna, who moved into the shelter with her family at the end of December. So were going to talk to their teachers to tell them whats going on. She said her daughters arent vaccinated for measles but she hoped they would be soon. Early Friday morning, several doctors arrived at the shelter to begin a round of vaccinations. Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, said in a statement Friday that he had just visited the shelter site on Tuesday and that his office continues to hold biweekly meetings with the city and shelter staff to coordinate efforts for preventive care, vaccination, and treatment. Historically, communities of color experience a lower rate of vaccinations due to generational systemic barriers, in many instances not aided or even exacerbated by government-run institutions. We understand the intersectional needs that our communities face, therefore we implore the county, state and federal government to provide immediate assistance to the city of Chicago, Sigcho-Lopez said. Our city continues to face a public health crisis created by the lack of support from the federal government and agencies, and all the aforementioned entities who have not stepped up to support our new arrivals mission in the same way they previously supported migrant communities dignified integration such as Ukrainian refugees. The citys Department of Public Health is working with other city agencies to ensure all migrants at the shelter who may have come in contact with the child are informed and vaccinated. Officials said migrants and staff who have been asked to remain in place will be given increased meal services and protective equipment. Thursday, officials identified the first case of measles in the city since 2019 on the citys Northwest Side. Though the source of the infection was unknown, officials said people who were at the Galter Medical Pavilion at Swedish Hospital or riding the CTA 92 Foster bus the morning of Feb. 27 may have been exposed. That contagiousness period ended Wednesday. Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It is particularly dangerous to babies and young children. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or when a person comes into contact with an infected persons mucus or saliva, according to state public health information. Health officials say children with measles may experience unpleasant symptoms like high fever and a rash. A small proportion of children can develop complications from measles that can be life-threatening, usually an infection of the lungs or brain. Since 2011, there have been several confirmed cases of measles in Chicago, many related to international travel. Most people born in the United States are vaccinated against the disease, but city officials are urging anyone not vaccinated against measles to do so immediately. Larry Kociolek, an infectious diseases physician at Lurie Childrens Hospital, said infections that are spread through the air like measles and chickenpox can spread quickly in congregate settings like shelters. And Kociolek said that many migrants dont have vaccine records. Families tend to be good historians and can accurately report whether or not theyve gotten vaccines If you wanted to confirm, you can check a blood test for measles immunity, he said. But thats not always feasible particularly in a situation like this. The vaccine is available at most doctors offices and pharmacies. More information is available on the Chicago Department of Public Health website. Keywell Barrios, 30, said his wife worked as a nurse in their home city of Valera, Venezuela. Because of that, their family had their vaccinations and immunization records. But Barrios said many inside the shelter on the Lower West Side dont. People were panicked when they heard the news, he said. They thought they would be put out on the street and have to start from ground zero, he said. Barrios rolled a suitcase of dirty laundry from the door of the shelter. His son Johangel Barrios, 5, followed closely behind. Chicago Tribunes Caroline Kubzansky contributed. A measles outbreak at a Broward elementary school is officially over, the school district confirmed Friday. The 21-day infectious period at Manatee Bay Elementary, 19200 Manatee Isles Dr, in Weston ended on March 7, John Sullivan, chief communications and legislative affairs officer for the Broward public school district, told the Miami Herald in an email Friday. We appreciate the tremendous support of the schools administrators, staff and families as well as the guidance and collaboration from the Florida Department of Health Broward throughout this time. How many kids are vaccinated at your Broward school? Check the rates here Broward County confirmed nine cases of measles in February, and seven of them were students at the Weston K-5 elementary school. At Manatee Bay, three percent of its student body are not vaccinated. The other two Broward measles cases involved children age 4 or younger, though the kids did not attend school in the district. Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily by coughing and sneezing. While its rare for those who are vaccinated to get infected, up to 90% of people who arent vaccinated will get measles if exposed to someone with the disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. READ MORE: Did you get the measles vaccine before? Heres how to check your immunization status Florida has so far recorded 10 cases of measles this year. All but one of them were in Broward County. The other was an adult age 20-24 who lives in Polk County, Central Florida. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR vaccine, is about 93% or 97% effective, depending on whether you get one or two shots of the vaccine, according to the CDC. The public health agency says kids should get the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age. At Broward County Public Schools, 90% of students in public and charter schools managed by the district are fully vaccinated with the mandatory vaccines needed to attend school for the 2023-2024 school year. This is below the 95% vaccination threshold public health experts say is needed to reduce the outbreak risk of diseases such as measles, polio and chickenpox. And while some Broward schools met this threshold, many are below it. READ NEXT: How quickly could measles outbreak spread? Heres what worst-case scenario looks like The rash of measles outbreaks around the country has sparked concerns that the U.S. risks losing its status as a country where the disease has been eliminated, a distinction held since 2000. As of last week, 41 measles cases have been confirmed across 15 states and New York City, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That puts the nation already on track to surpass ing the 58 total cases that were detected in 2023. I think the year is not off to a great start. And definitely I think there is concern that this trend will continue and that we will see more cases. It is early, but I think it is cause for concern, said Sarah Lim, an infectious disease physician and member of the Infectious Disease Society of America. Much of the attention concerning measles cases has focused on Florida, where 10 cases have been detected across two counties so far. But infections also have been confirmed in states including Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana and Maryland. When reached for comment, the Florida Department of Health said in a statement, While details of epidemiological investigations are confidential, many media outlets are reporting false information and politicizing this outbreak. The department emphasized that while vaccination rates are falling nationally, at least 97 percent of students at Manatee Bay Elementary in Weston, where most Florida measles cases have been detected this year, have received at least one dose of the vaccine. The concentration of Floridas cases in schools, as well as Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapos response to the outbreak, have drawn heightened scrutiny. In a letter to parents, Ladapo recommended keeping unvaccinated children at home for three weeks, as the CDC advises, but did not mandate it. The CDC recommends people without immunity to measles should isolate after potential exposure for 21 days. Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) cited Ladapos letter as reason for him to be removed from his position. In his letter, Ladapo referenced the high immunity rate in the community as part of why the state would not require unvaccinated students to stay at home. That high immunization rate affords the U.S. the status of being a country that has eliminated measles, but if outbreaks like the one in Florida keep happening, experts worry that could change. Once youve lost that status, it just means that cases are transmitting locally, which they are, not imported. And so were already in that status, where we have local transmission, and if it keeps on going up, we have to say its not eliminated, said Monica Gandhi, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and associate division chief of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine. Comparable First World countries such as the U.K. have lost their measles elimination status in recent years, having only regained its status in 2021 after losing it in 2018. As the CDC notes, the World Health Organization defines measles elimination as the absence of endemic measles virus transmission in a defined geographical area (e.g. region or country) for at least 12 months in the presence of a surveillance system that has been verified to be performing well. If a measles outbreak continues for a year or more, the United States could lose its measles elimination status, the agency notes on its website. Federal health authorities maintain a Healthy People 2030 target of achieving 95 percent MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) immunization coverage. That rate among children has been on a slight decline since 2019, falling from the ideal 95 percent to 93.1 among kindergarteners nationally in the 2022-23 school year. The CDC estimated this vaccination rate leaves roughly 250,000 kindergarteners at risk of a measles infection. Unlike vaccines for the flu or COVID-19, a complete schedule of the measles vaccine is nearly completely effective at preventing infections. Lim emphasized that eliminated does not mean eradicated. The COVID-19 pandemic has been blamed for interrupting vaccination rates among children, but Lim noted that an increase in people catching up on travel could concurrently be contributing to cases, as travelers return from countries where measles is not eliminated. According to Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, two major events following the elimination of measles in the U.S. significantly impacted vaccination rates: the debunked study linking vaccines to autism, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Offit cites these as having bred sentiments adverse to public health. We leaned into this libertarian left hook, and youve seen now hundreds of legislative bills introduced to basically eliminate vaccine mandates, for masking mandates, for isolation mandates, quarantining mandates. Its kind of, you know, this pushback against the weapons of public health, which are vaccination and isolation in the case of measles. And I think Florida represents that in a sense, Offit said. If people arent too concerned about a measles infection, Offit suggests it may be because they dont have a good idea of what measles means, especially for children. I think not only have we largely eliminated measles, weve eliminated the memory of measles. I dont think people remember just how sick measles can make you, Offit said. A measles infection usually presents with cold-like symptoms and a characteristic rash that forms a few days after symptoms begin. Offit emphasized that measles is not a disease you want in a hospital due to just how contagious it is, posing a threat to immunocompromised patients. If you let your guard down, measles will come back. I am scarred by the 1991 Philadelphia measles epidemic, Offit said, recalling how an outbreak originating from local religious communities quickly spread out into the surrounding areas, ultimately killing nine children. When asked what public health measure he would advise in light of the recent outbreaks, Offit, who recently authored a book on COVID-19 misinformation titled Tell Me When Its Over, bluntly stated, vaccination. At 93 percent coverage, the U.S. can still boast a robust population protection against widespread measles outbreaks. But for people like Gandhi, the professor of medicine, any case of a vaccine-preventable illness is cause for concern. Gandhi notes the paralytic case of polio also considered to be eliminated in the U.S. that occurred in New York last year as an example of why strong population immunization is so important. The concerns are that these are vaccine-preventable illnesses. It can help high mortality rates, especially in children, and theres just no reason for it, Gandhi said. I think it makes infectious disease people really weary and scared to see old diseases resurfacing when we have to not have that occur at all. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Rishi Sunak is considering making changes after ministers raised concerns about the takeover - Carl Recine/AFP Rishi Sunak is considering an overhaul of Britains media ownership laws to restrict foreign state influence, after the UAE-backed bid for The Telegraph sparked an outcry across Parliament. An urgent write-round has been issued to government ministers, asking for their opinion on potential amendments to the Enterprise Act. One of the options would require a public consultation on any merger where a foreign state is involved, and require Parliament to approve any such deal. A second option would prohibit foreign state ownership of newspapers or determine a threshold for the Government to intervene based on the level or type of investment. Mr Sunak is expected to finalise the government position this weekend. Ministers will vote on Baroness Stowell's amendment this week - Jeff Gilbert/Jeff Gilbert It comes after Baroness Stowell tabled an amendment which would give Parliament a veto on foreign states taking over UK news organisations. It is due to be voted on this coming Wednesday and has already been backed by more than 100 MPs across the political divide. Publicly the Government is yet to express a view on the amendment. However, it is understood that under the plans being drawn up by the Government, Baroness Stowell would then be encouraged to withdraw her amendment, in return for promises at the Despatch Box in the Lords by a government minister. It is possible the Governments plans, if approved, could be applied retrospectively if a proposed takeover was still live. Spokesmen for No 10 and the Culture Department declined to comment. A dangerous Rubicon we should not cross That the Government is considering stepping in is a major development in the debate about the future of The Telegraph. The proposed takeover of the newspaper is in limbo pending investigations by Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). RedBird IMI, a fund 75 per cent backed by Abu Dhabis Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the vice-president of the UAE, has positioned itself to take control of The Telegraph in a complex 1.2 billion debt deal. Lady Stowell, the Tory chairman of the Communications and Digital Committee, has tabled an amendment to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill that would give Parliament a veto on foreign states taking over UK news organisations. On Thursday, she wrote to Mr Sunak seeking support for the amendment. Earlier this week, more than 100 MPs pledged their support for the amendment. Led by Robert Jenrick, the MPs wrote: If major newspaper and media organisations can be purchased by foreign governments, the freedom of the press has the potential to be seriously undermined. No other democracy in the world has allowed a media outlet to be controlled by a foreign government. This is a dangerous Rubicon we should not cross. The Labour Party is planning to abstain on the measure, according to a party source who spoke to this newspaper. This means that peers will be free to back the amendment without fear of party punishment, but also that the leadership is not ordering its Lords to turn out and vote for it. Ofcom is scheduled to deliver its report to Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, by Monday. She would then be able to block the deal following further investigation by the CMA of its potential threat to press freedom. 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. 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. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. 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 Helvetia Holding (VTX:HELN). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide Helvetia Holding with the means to add long-term value to shareholders. View our latest analysis for Helvetia Holding How Fast Is Helvetia Holding Growing? Generally, companies experiencing growth in earnings per share (EPS) should see similar trends in share price. That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors. Shareholders will be happy to know that Helvetia Holding's EPS has grown 28% each year, compound, over three years. If the company can sustain that sort of growth, we'd expect shareholders to come away satisfied. It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. It's noted that Helvetia Holding's revenue from operations was lower than its revenue in the last twelve months, so that could distort our analysis of its margins. EBIT margins for Helvetia Holding remained fairly unchanged over the last year, however the company should be pleased to report its revenue growth for the period of 6.4% to CHF11b. That's progress. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart. Story continues Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want to check this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for Helvetia Holding. Are Helvetia Holding Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? Owing to the size of Helvetia Holding, we wouldn't expect insiders to hold a significant proportion of the company. But we do take comfort from the fact that they are investors in the company. To be specific, they have CHF11m worth of shares. That's a lot of money, and no small incentive to work hard. Despite being just 0.2% of the company, the value of that investment is enough to show insiders have plenty riding on the venture. Does Helvetia Holding Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist? If you believe that share price follows earnings per share you should definitely be delving further into Helvetia Holding's strong EPS growth. Further, the high level of insider ownership is impressive and suggests that the management appreciates the EPS growth and has faith in Helvetia Holding's continuing strength. On the balance of its merits, solid EPS growth and company insiders who are aligned with the shareholders would indicate a business that is worthy of further research. You still need to take note of risks, for example - Helvetia Holding has 2 warning signs (and 1 which can't be ignored) we think you should know about. Although Helvetia Holding 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 Swiss 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. While everyone around her celebrated an at-large seat victory in the Democratic primary for the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Tuesday night, Yvette Townsend-Ingram analyzed the results. Despite pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the night, knocking off longtime incumbent Pat Cotham for one of three seats, Townsend-Ingram couldnt help but focus on the precincts she didnt win. According to the unofficial results, Townsend-Ingram received 23.76% of the total votes, while Cotham received 17.58%. Townsend-Ingram was the top vote-getter in a couple of precincts in north Charlotte, including 212 where she got 1,024 total votes, and precinct 211 where she won 875 votes. In south Charlotte, Townsend-Ingram came in fourth at a couple precincts, including 110, where she received 88 votes, and precinct 8 where she received 101 votes. What do they not know about me? Why did they not vote for me? Why did they overwhelmingly vote for another candidate over me? Townsend-Ingram recalled in an interview with the Observer on Thursday. If I didnt get even 100 votes in that precinct, I was like, Oh, what did I do? Or not do? Because thats the type of person I am. Im kind of a perfectionist. Eventually, after some convincing from those around her, Townsend-Ingram began to soak it all in. Because there is no Republican opposition in November, Townsend-Ingram, the director of foundation relations at Johnson C. Smith University, is nearly guaranteed to be one of the next county commissioners. Service-oriented since the beginning For Townsend-Ingram, servant leadership is not just one of her goals, she said, but a way of life. I think that where I come from led me down a path to servant leadership, she said. The daughter and granddaughter of West Virginia coal miners, Townsend-Ingram said she grew up watching income sources dry up in her area as coal mines and steel mills shut down. Her parents would often take her with them to polls even before she could vote. So she understood the importance of being civic-minded. In college, while attending the historically Black West Virginia State University, Townsend-Ingram said she immediately became involved in community service, joining the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. There, she won a community service award for helping raise money to contribute to Sojourners Womens Shelter. Life and career change After college, Townsend-Ingram moved to the West Virginia state capital, Charleston. But making a living was difficult, she said. When I graduated college in 1993, I began working for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. We were called economic services workers, she said. I was barely making above the minimum required to obtain food stamps. Townsend-Ingram realized so much was broken in the system particularly when the person responsible for helping people make ends meet was having trouble doing the same. Her caseloads were massive, and she often found she couldnt help the people she wanted to help. They were always eligible based on their condition, but sometimes, financially, they werent eligible because they fell through a crack, she said. One case in particular pushed her to reevaluate her life and career. One day, a 6-month-old baby came in with vaginal warts. I completely broke down. I had to go home for the day, Townsend-Ingram said. Thats when I decided that I was moving out of West Virginia to pursue a career otherwise. I wanted to do something else. Move to North Carolina In 1997, she moved to North Carolina to work as a call center manager, which provided an anonymous hotline for workers to report financial malfeasance. She made more money in North Carolina compared to her home state, but income for service-oriented jobs was still low, even after obtaining a masters degree in business administration. There are times when Ive had to benefit from county services here in Mecklenburg County, so I can definitely relate, Townsend-Ingram said. As her life and career grew, so did Townsend-Ingrams affirmation that she wanted to continue service work. Career turning point A major turning point in her career, she said, was working in a Charlotte-Mecklenburg high school as a business teacher, where she saw issues facing students and teachers up close. Students were embedded with trauma, she said. Teachers served as social workers, too. Even though thats not their job, and not their skill set, she said. So in addition to money out of their pocket, theyre pouring heavily emotionally to support our young people in schools, and thats what a lot of people dont understand. The pieces behind Townsend-Ingrams decision to run for the Board of County Commissioners began to fall into place as she also became more involved in politics directly. She began canvassing for candidates, including in Barack Obamas first presidential run, as well as former Mayor Patrick Cannons first campaign. Political involvement grows Her network and relationships in politics expanded, and she became more involved. Townsend-Ingram said she really caught the fever when working on Justin Harlows City Council campaign for District 2 in 2017. She went on to manage Emmitt Terrell Buttss campaign when he ran for school board, and state Sen. Joyce Waddell, a Mecklenburg Democrat Townsend-Ingram said serves as her mentor. Working with Waddell strengthened my knowledge of campaigns, of how government operated, and what truly you needed to focus on, like the issues more so than political party, Townsend-Ingram said. Waddell also encouraged Townsend-Ingram to run for the Board of County Commissioners. She knew what my skill set was, she knew how good I was with numbers and data and things of that nature, Townsend-Ingram said. 2022 and 2024 county commissioner elections In 2022, Townsend-Ingram made her first run for an at-large seat on the Board of County Commissioners. She came in fourth out of six. But I beat someone who had raised a whole lot more money than me, so I think thats when the community took notice and said, OK, she can do this. Shes up for this, she said. This year, Townsend-Ingram and her opponents, incumbents Arthur Griffin, Leigh Altman, Cotham, as well as fellow challenger Blake Van Leer, all pointed to a range of topics as being the biggest issues facing Mecklenburg County. Griffin homed in on the disappearing middle class, while Altman focused on the countys public transit system and expanding the light rail and bus service. Cotham pointed to accommodating the countys growing population. Van Leer looked at topics like job creation and maintaining public parks. Townsend-Ingram focused on issues such as education and housing, as well as food security and reducing gun violence. I say often that we cannot solve for any of these challenges, and certainly not maintain solutions, if we work separately, Townsend-Ingram said in an Observer questionnaire ahead of the primary. Our government entities work independent of the other too often and place all the responsibility on one agency. That must change. And now that shes secured her place on the board, shes looking forward to tackling these issues. One of her priorities is communicating services the county offers to residents. I had no idea the number of services. Even still, theres some that I just am not familiar with because there are just so many, Townsend-Ingram said. There are so many services that are out there that the county hosts or sponsors that can help families. She also wants to help create pipelines for succession, so that there are more qualified candidates to run for office in the future. The community is now trusting me and I have huge shoes to fill. Huge, she said. Its critically important to me to do succession planning, to build a mentoring program that will lead young people so that they can hit the ground running when they get elected for office. Townsend-Ingram said she also wants people to pay close attention and hold her accountable. If theres something thats needed, you see that Im not doing, I will either try to incorporate that or Ill tell you why I cant, she said. Several of the women interviewed by AFP expressed hope that men fighting on the front would return after the war and take up their old jobs again (Anatolii STEPANOV) Even though Anya Karkachova grew up in the heartland of Ukraine's industrial east -- dotted by coal mines and their smoking chimneys -- she never imagined she would be working underground herself. But the 31-year-old is now one among hundreds of Ukrainian women who have taken on new roles below the surface of the war-battered country as its men fight off Russian forces on the front. "Of course it's hard. The air isn't like in the mountains, is it?" Karkachova told AFP in a mine 400 metres beneath the Dnipropetrovsk region in eastern Ukraine. "But because there's a shortage of guys and we have this situation in Ukraine, we have to help in some way," she added. Ukraine introduced historic changes to its labour laws just weeks after Russia invaded to allow women to take on work previously restricted to men. They point to sweeping social shifts in the country brought on by the war, which has seen tens of thousands of women join the armed forces and take on jobs that used to be limited to men, as Kyiv strives to keep its struggling economy afloat. Karkachova fled to Dnipropetrovsk from the eastern mining region of Lugansk, now occupied by Russia, and her ex-husband is among those fighting on the front. The move with her children from one industrial territory to another felt natural and the prospect of working in a mine didn't feel entirely alien. - 'It was an oddity' - "And so, I went to try to work. In life you have to try everything. I like it." DTEK, the Ukrainian energy company that operates the facility where Karkachova has been working for one year requested its location be withheld for security reasons. Inna Kobozeva, head of human resources at the mine told AFP that out of a total of around 2,800 employees, some 600 were now fighting on the front. She noted that more than two dozen staff have been killed in fighting with Russian forces since 2014, when Kremlin-backed separatists seized swathes of eastern Ukraine. At least 183 women since the war have begun working underground at this particularly facility. They are among around 500 in a broader group of DTEK mining facilities in the region, making up around 15 percent of staff, a press officer said. But not everyone welcomed women underground -- particularly the men -- when they took on the roles. "At first, they were pessimistic. They couldn't even believe it. But then they changed their minds," said Kobozeva, the HR chief. "It was an oddity," said Dmitry, a 33-year-old operator of the mine's underground transport network. - 'Indispensable' work - But when one of his colleagues who was deployed to the front was replaced by one of the new female recruits, his scepticism fell away. "She works no worse than the boys. There's a lot of boys missing. Yeah. Their help is indispensable," he said. Even before the war, Ukraine's economy ministry said there were workforce shortages, a problem exacerbated by the flight of some six million Ukrainians from the country due to the conflict. Adding to that, the military has said it hopes to mobilise some 500,000 men to reclaim territory captured by Russia. "We haven't stopped recruitment. I wouldn't say the situation is critical but we do have a staff shortage," Kobozeva said. Several of the women interviewed by AFP expressed hope that men fighting on the front would return after the war and take up their old jobs again. "We went to work to help our husbands. They'll come back and return to their places," said Tetiana Tarasova, a 36-year-old machine operator whose partner is fighting in the Donetsk region. Victoria, 33, who also works in the mine's underground transport network, said it was important for women to help at a time of national crisis but ultimately the subterranean work is "a man's job". "I understand that our women are strong and can handle anything," she said, but it was the circumstances of the war that had pushed her to take on the work underground. "I probably wouldn't have agreed to do it if the moment hadn't forced me to". afptv-bur-jbr/jc/yad Chris Kaba was shot through the windscreen of a car in Streatham, south London, on Sept 5 2022 - INQUEST/PA An armed police officer accused of shooting dead a 24-year-old black man in south London has pleaded not guilty to murder. The officer appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday morning, where an anonymity order was lifted and he was named for the first time as Martyn Blake. Flanked by a single dock officer, he confirmed his name and his date of birth as Nov 3 1983. He was arraigned on a single charge of murder. Asked how he pleaded to the charge, he replied: Not guilty. Kaba was shot dead on Sept 5 2022 as he drove an Audi Q8 through the Streatham Hill area. Mr Blake, who fired the fatal shot, was charged with murder following a lengthy investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. A temporary anonymity order was granted when the officer first appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court last year, but that was varied by Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London, meaning the defendants name and date of birth can now be published. The judge ordered that the address of the defendant must not be made public and no photograph, drawing or other description should be published until further notice. Granted conditional bail In a direction to those in court, the judge said: Should anyone be foolish enough to try and take any image during the course of these proceedings, they would face their own problems. The officer was granted conditional bail ahead of a three-week trial due to begin on Oct 2, and is currently suspended from duty. Kaba, a rapper, died when he was struck by a single bullet fired by a police marksman through the windscreen of the car in Streatham. Members of his family were present in court 5 at the Old Bailey for the brief plea hearing. Rick Prior, the acting chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: The Metropolitan Police Federation and the colleagues we represent are hugely shocked, saddened and concerned over the decision to name the firearms officer involved in this incident. We still await the results of the Home Offices accountability review into operational policing, but it goes without saying that our police officers must have full confidence that they have the protection needed to do this difficult and dangerous job society expects of them. Being a firearms officer in London is one of the worlds toughest jobs. Officers who volunteer for the role know the responsibility and accountability that comes with it. It is a job like no other, and they need fairness when it comes to scrutiny. As a federation, we can reassure our members that we continue to support the officer and his family at this difficult time, and will work to mitigate any risks this decision from the courts might bring. We also continue to provide support to those brave colleagues who willingly undertake this challenging firearms role every day to keep Londoners safe. 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. Adam Merriman resigned from the Met after admitting seven offences A Metropolitan Police officer has admitted making and distributing indecent images of children. PC Adam Merriman appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with three counts of making an indecent image of a child, three counts of distributing an indecent image of a child and resisting arrest. He pleaded guilty to all seven offences and was remanded in custody. He resigned from the Met and misconduct proceedings will now take place. Merriman is due at Southwark Crown Court at a date to be arranged. The case has been referred to the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards. Ch Supt Sara Leach said: "I recognise and share the shock and concern this news will cause among our local community and across London. I will be speaking to our partners and community forums to listen to their views in the coming days. "Investigating officers worked quickly to charge PC Merriman after his arrest for these incredibly serious offences." 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 LAS VEGAS, N.M. (KRQE) New Mexicos attorney general is looking to help New Mexicans struggling to recover from the devastating wildfires that impacted Northern New Mexico in 2022. The attorney general is doing so with a new consumer complaint office in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The [New Mexico] Department of Justice is here to protect consumers and those impacted by the fire that ravaged northern New Mexico, Attorney General Raul Torrez said in a press release. For the victims of the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire, we recognize how important it is to meet with our staff in person and how difficult it is to travel to Albuquerque or Santa Fe. We thank District Attorney Clayton for recognizing this significant need and this opportunity to work together to serve the community. New Mexico adopts 180-day school calendar after public feedback The new consumer advocate office is located in the Fourth Judicial District Attorneys Office in Las Vegas. Walk-in hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1800 New Mexico Avenue, Las Vegas, NM 87701. At the office, there is an advocate ready to help victims of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon wildfire, the attorney generals office says. They can help file complaints and get more information about ways to get help while recovering from the fires damages. More info about wildfire recovery rights can be found at this link. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) Nearly a billion dollars in taxpayer money, guaranteeing free college for generations of New Mexicans; thats what the governor signed into law this week. With the Lottery Scholarship and the Opportunity Scholarship, New Mexico has been investing in providing tuition to New Mexicans for years. But, what does this actually mean for New Mexico students? News 13 asked the experts. A lot of the times in New Mexico, we have a very negative story when it comes to education, but were moving in a positive direction in this administration, said Stephanie Rodriguez, secretary for the New Mexico Higher Education Department. Now, with an enormous first-of-its-kind investment, sponsor of the bill Senator Pete Campos (D-Las Vegas) sums it up: This is going to be a game-changer for New Mexico. New Mexico students will find more money set aside for tuition assistance from the state. By creating this fund, New Mexico is keeping our original promise of tuition-free college for residents and cementing our status as the nations leader for college equity and access, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a press release. Our monumental investments from early childhood education to college and career are already making a life-changing difference for tens of thousands of New Mexicans and setting the example for every other state. La Cieneguilla and La Cienega communities sue over PFAS contamination The state will move $959 million from the tax stabilization reserve fund into a trust fund set up specifically to pay for college tuition. The State Investment Council is tasked with investing the money and making distributions from the trust fund. The fund was proposed in Senate Bill 159. The governor put her signature of approval on the bill earlier this week. The governor signed the New Mexico Higher Education Trust Fund. It is the largest Higher Education Trust Fund for tuition-free college in the nation, Rodriguez said; all to fund tuition for college in perpetuity, according to Campos. Behind us is Tennessee at a little over 700 million. And then of course we have seven other states with similar trust funds, but those range from 33 to 400 million dollars. So nobody is even reaching the level that we are here in New Mexico in investing in tuition-free college, Rodriguez said. What did Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham veto in 2024? Each year, lawmakers will allocate money from the trust fund to pay for scholarships and tuition at public colleges. The fund is scheduled to make its first payout of nearly $50 million on July 1, 2024. That money will go into a newly created Higher Education Program Fund. This is a landmark piece of legislation, Campos said. Lawmakers then have the ability to distribute those funds to cover public tuition as laid out in New Mexicos laws (i.e., the money will flow through programs like the Lottery Scholarship). The $959 million that will be applied to this with fiscal year 25 seeing about $47 million of that coming in. Again when we really talk about an investment in education this is the bill that really ties things together with the Lottery Scholarship, with the Opportunity Scholarship, Campos said. Lawmakers approved $146 million in recurring funding for the Lottery Scholarship in fiscal year 2024, but the Legislative Finance Committee estimates the cost for fiscal year 2024 exceeds those appropriations by about $10 million. The Lottery Scholarship covers roughly 10,000 New Mexico students. We were the first state in the nation in 1996 to approve free college for recent high school graduates. Were making history again and were doing it for any New Mexico resident and we are really seeing the return on investment, Rodriguez said. The Opportunity Scholarship, created two years ago, is funding more than 42,000 New Mexico students, and got $162 million this year. We have seen a seven percent increase in enrollment since 2021 after a decade of declines. On top of that, certificates have seen a 39% increase, Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said these opportunities are benefitting New Mexico students across the board: More than 60% of our students on the Lottery and Opportunity Scholarships are students of color. The primary demographic is Hispanic students, followed by White students, and then Native American students and then others. We are seeing more students of color, were also seeing that more women are receiving the Opportunity Scholarship and more Pell Grant recipients are also receiving the Lottery and Opportunity Scholarship. The governor said New Mexico is the first state to invest so heavily in education: a whopping $32.4 billion earmarked for Early Childhood and Higher Education. A couple of years ago, we established the Early Childhood Trust Fund, its mechanics is very similar to the Higher Education Trust Fund. That trust fund already has $5.5 billion. We also have the Land Grant Permanent Fund which is helping students in Pre-K through 12. Thats over $27 billion, Rodriguez said. In the long run, what this is going to do, it is going to serve as the attraction, first of all, to keep our young people here at home, to keep the adult learners continuing with the process so that they go to school, they continue to better themselves, Campos said. To learn more about college tuition scholarship opportunities, visit the New Mexico Higher Education Departments website here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. HOBBS, N.M. (KRQE) Should a person be able to get out of prison if they are appealing their conviction? The New Mexico Supreme Court has agreed to hear that argument sparked by a Hobbs mother who was convicted of throwing her newborn in a dumpster in 2022. Alexis Avila was convicted of child abuse and attempted murder last April and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Avilas lawyer immediately appealed the verdict, and a district court judge ruled that she would remain behind bars during the appeal process. The appeals court eventually ruled that Avila should be released. Those judges suggested the convicted felons appeal raised substantial questions of law that were likely to result in a reversal or a new trial, but didnt explain its reasoning. Story continues below The appeals court judges based their decision to let Avila out on the case of daycare owners Mary and Sandi Taylor, who left two 1-year-old girls in a hot car for three hours outside of their Portales home daycare in 2017. One child died, and another suffered permanent brain damage. The Taylors were convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison. The two are appealing their sentence and conviction, and theyve been out of prison waiting for a ruling since September 2020. Van Snow, the New Mexico Department of Justices deputy solicitor general of criminal appeals, hopes the Supreme Court rules to put Avila back behind bars. Currently, Avila remains out of jail on house arrest. There is no timetable for when the Supreme Court might rule on this issue. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. For the last decade, two words have haunted Li Eryou - lost contact. It's what Malaysia Airlines told him when flight MH370 disappeared, with his son Yanlin on board. "For years I have been asking what do you mean by 'lost contact'? It seems to me that if you lose contact with someone, you should be able to reconnect with them," Mr Li says. He and his wife, Liu Shuangfeng - farmers from a village south of Beijing - have struggled to make sense of what has become one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. On 8 March 2014, less than an hour into a routine night-time flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, the pilot said goodnight to Malaysian air traffic control. The Boeing 777, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members, was about to cross into Vietnamese air space. It then abruptly changed direction, and all electronic communications were cut. It turned back, first over Malaysia, and then out into the remote southern Indian Ocean until it is presumed to have run out of fuel. The biggest and most expensive search operation ever mounted lasted four years but failed to find any trace of the missing airliner. Thousands of oceanographers, aeronautical engineers and amateur sleuths have pored over the fragmentary data from the flight, trying to calculate where it ended its journey. For the families of those on board these have been 10 years of inescapable grief, battling to keep the search going, to find out exactly what happened to MH370, and why. Short presentational grey line Mr Li has crisscrossed the world in support of that campaign. He says he has used up his savings travelling to Europe and Asia, and to beaches in Madagascar, where some debris from the missing plane has been found. He says he wanted to feel the sand in a place where his son might have washed up. He remembers shouting out at the Indian Ocean, telling Yanlin he was there to take him home. "I will keep travelling to the end of the world to find my son," he says. Families of those who were on board MH370 gathered in Kuala Lumpur on the 10th anniversary of the flight's disappearance The couple, now in their late 60s, live in a rural part of China's Hebei province. Most of their income went to pay for their children's schooling, and they never had the money to travel. Yanlin was the first person in their village to go to university, and the first to get a job overseas, working in Malaysia for a telecom company. He was returning to China for a visa appointment when the flight disappeared. "Before this incident happened, we had never even been to the nearby city of Handan," Mr Li says. Now seasoned travellers, they came back to Malaysia to mark the 10th anniversary with other families. Yanlin was one of 153 Chinese passengers on the flight. His parents are among around 40 Chinese families who have refused settlement payments from the Malaysian government, and have filed legal cases in China against the airline, the aircraft manufacturer and other parties. Over 10 years, the lives of those affected have moved on, yet they also feel chained to the missing plane. A message from Grace Nathan's husband to his mother-in-law who was on MH370 when it disappeared Grace Nathan was doing her final law exams in the UK when MH370 disappeared. Her mother Anne was on board. Today she is a barrister with her own practice in Malaysia, and a mother of two young children. At the anniversary commemoration in Kuala Lumpur, she recalled holding her mother's photograph as she walked down the aisle at her wedding, and missing her advice while she was going through two difficult pregnancies. Short presentational grey line On display there were a few battered pieces from the plane, the only physical evidence ever to be recovered from it. There were parts of the wing, corroded from their long immersion in the sea, with the surprisingly flimsy-looking internal honeycomb structure exposed. In the crowd was Blaine Gibson, who has found more pieces of MH370 than anyone else. One of a colourful cast of characters drawn into the MH370 saga, Mr Gibson can best be described as an amateur adventurer. He dresses in the style of Indiana Jones and has used the proceeds of the sale of his family home in California to fund his love of travelling, with a personal goal of visiting every country in the world. "When I attended the one-year anniversary event I learned that there was no organised search of shorelines for floating debris. It simply hadn't been done. They were spending millions of dollars back then searching underwater. And I just thought, well, probably the first piece of this plane is just going to be found by someone walking on the beach. And since nobody was doing that, I thought I could do it myself." He says he searched for a year, on beaches from Myanmar to the Maldives, before finding his first piece, from the rear stabilizer of the plane, on a sandbar in Mozambique. By that time another large piece, known as a flaperon, from the wing, had already been found on Reunion Island, confirming to the families that MH370 had indeed crashed into the Indian Ocean. The parts that were found were all discovered 16 months or more after MH370 vanished, washed up on various East African beaches. Battered pieces from the plane were on display at the commemoration in Kuala Lumpur Analysis of the prevailing currents in the southern Indian Ocean showed they were likely to have come from where MH370 was believed to have crashed into the sea. The former lead Malaysian investigator Aslam Khan explained how they identified them. Serial numbers on some parts were matched with records held by the manufacturer to confirm beyond doubt that they came from the Malaysia Airlines Boeing. Distinctive fonts used in the stencil markings on others showed they were near certain to have come from it. No other Boeing 777 has ever crashed in the Indian Ocean. Until the flaperon was found, the only evidence for the plane turning back on itself was data from military radar in Malaysia and Thailand, which spotted the plane flying west over the Malay peninsula. Then a British company, Inmarsat, detected a series of six pings or "handshakes" made every hour between one of its satellites and MH370 as it headed south. All other communication on the aircraft had been switched off. This sparse data was used to triangulate the distance between the plane and the satellite at each hour along a series of circular arcs, giving an approximate crash location. But this was still a huge area of very rough and very deep sea. A years-long search in the seas and skies yielded several clues and theories - but not answers The search, involving 60 ships and 50 aircraft from 26 countries, lasted from March 2014 until January 2017. It was resumed in early 2018 for five months by a private US-based company called Ocean Infinity, using underwater drones to scan the seabed. The lack of hard information has fuelled many theories, some quite wild, about what happened on board MH370, from it being hijacked and flown to Russia, or perhaps to the US airbase on the island of Diego Garcia, to it being shot down. Short presentational grey line "This is obscene," French journalist Florence de Changy muttered looking at the pieces of MH370 on display. Ms Changy has written a meticulously researched book, one of more than 100 published on MH370. She argues that the entire hypothesis that the plane turned and went south has been faked. She believes that the debris which has been found is not from MH370. She raises questions over the cargo on board, and in her book suggests that it may have been shot down by US aircraft over the South China Sea because of this cargo. If, however, the radar and satellite data presented by Malaysia and Inmarsat is accepted at face value - and most experts do - and that the airliner kept flying south, there is only one plausible explanation. That someone flew it there deliberately. Malaysian Airlines aircraft are seen through a window as they stand on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. In a new BBC documentary, "Why Planes Vanish", two French aerospace experts, one an experienced pilot, have used a flight simulator to recreate the sharp turn the Boeing 777 made over the South China Sea, right after the last contact with Malaysian air traffic control. They have concluded that this could only have been done manually by a skilled and experienced pilot. The fact that this was done just as MH370 was moving from Malaysian to Vietnamese air space suggests to them that the pilot was trying to conceal the manoeuvre. And that he knew it would be some time before Vietnamese air traffic control reported that they had not yet been contacted by the plane. There are other theories - that everyone on board was knocked out by hypoxia, lack of oxygen, after an undetected depressurisation, or that a sudden catastrophic fire or explosion cut communications and forced the pilots to turn back. But the difficult manoeuvres, followed by continued, steady flight south for seven hours, make these very unlikely. Yet the idea that one of the pilots deliberately flew the plane and all its passengers to a watery death is also hard to accept. Neither pilot had any history that could explain such an action. All this feverish speculation has exacted a toll on the families. "I would not wish this on my worst enemy," says Jaquita Gonzalez, wife of Patrick Gomes, the Inflight Supervisor on MH370. "We have been going through such a rollercoaster. When they first started the search we would hear that they saw something, and then our hopes would be up high. And then after that we would hear no, it's not MH370. And we landed back on ground. Each time it was as if somebody had stood on top of us and taken our breath away." From the start the Malaysian government was criticised by the families. First for its confused handling of the initial response, with blunders like the failure to act quickly on the military radar tracking of MH370. And later, for its apparent reluctance to authorise further searches, after the last operation by Ocean Infinity ended in mid-2018. The company has offered to resume the search on a no-find, no-fee basis, but needs the government's approval. Privately some Malaysian officials acknowledge that the government could have done more. Some of this can perhaps be explained by the country going through a period of extraordinary political turmoil in recent years. Then there was the pandemic, a huge distraction which also prevented the families from holding their annual commemoration. The current transport minister, Anthony Loke, sought to address this by attending the 10th anniversary event in Kuala Lumpur, and promising the families he would do everything possible to find the missing plane. He announced that he was now discussing with Ocean Infinity the possibility of resuming the search later this year. Ocean Infinity scanned an area of 112,000km, back in 2018. This though, encompassed some extremely challenging terrain, like deep underwater canyons, and it is possible it might have missed the aircraft. Retired British aerospace IT specialist Richard Godfrey, another person who has been pulled into the MH370 vortex, believes he has now pinpointed a much smaller search area, using innovative analysis of short-wave radio test transmissions made routinely by ham radio enthusiasts. This should allow a more concentrated search by the drones, making several passes over the same area. "They record 1.7 billion records a year in their database. Imagine a huge fisherman's net, across the globe, full of radio signals. Every time an aircraft passes through this net, it breaks a hole in the net. That tells me where an aircraft was at a particular time. Over the six hours of MH370's flight into the southern Indian Ocean I have been able to find 313 anomalies in the radio signals at 95 different points in time. That gives you a much more refined flight route, and a more accurate determination of a crash location." Richard's method is currently being tested by the University of Liverpool, which expects to establish how valid it is later this year. Ten years on, Li Eryou and his wife, Liu Shuangfeng, are still waiting to find out what happened to their son The families say they are encouraged by the latest promises made by the transport minister - a much-needed change of tone from the Malaysian government, they say. But they remain wary. Their hopes have been raised many times before. "I just want the plane to be found," Ms Gonzalez says. "At least then I can let my husband rest in peace. Right now, I have not done anything for him, you know, to give him a memorial. I can't, because we don't have anything tangible from him." At the commemoration a large board had been put up, on which people could write messages, of hope, of sympathy, or of grief. Li knelt down to write a message to Yanlin in large Chinese characters, and then sat in tears, looking at it. "Son, it's been 10 years", he had written. "Your mum and dad are here to bring you back home. March 3rd, 2024." BBC iPlayer Why Planes Vanish: The Hunt for MH370 Ten years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 and its 239 passengers and crew vanished, can new evidence help locate the plane and finally solve aviation's greatest mystery? Watch now on BBC iPlayer (UK Only) BBC iPlayer It's common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story even if these companies are loss-making. 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. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up. In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide Chipotle Mexican Grill with the means to add long-term value to shareholders. Check out our latest analysis for Chipotle Mexican Grill How Fast Is Chipotle Mexican Grill Growing? 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. So it makes sense that experienced investors pay close attention to company EPS when undertaking investment research. To the delight of shareholders, Chipotle Mexican Grill has achieved impressive annual EPS growth of 52%, compound, over the last three years. Growth that fast may well be fleeting, but it should be more than enough to pique the interest of the wary stock pickers. 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. The good news is that Chipotle Mexican Grill is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 2.5 percentage points to 16%, over the last year. Ticking those two boxes is a good sign of growth, in our book. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart. You don't drive with your eyes on the rear-view mirror, so you might be more interested in this free report showing analyst forecasts for Chipotle Mexican Grill's future profits. Story continues Are Chipotle Mexican Grill Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? Owing to the size of Chipotle Mexican Grill, we wouldn't expect insiders to hold a significant proportion of the company. But we do take comfort from the fact that they are investors in the company. We note that their impressive stake in the company is worth US$511m. This comes in at 0.7% of shares in the company, which is a fair amount of a business of this size. This should still be a great incentive for management to maximise shareholder value. Does Chipotle Mexican Grill Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist? Chipotle Mexican Grill's earnings per share have been soaring, with growth rates sky high. This level of EPS growth does wonders for attracting investment, and the large insider investment in the company is just the cherry on top. At times fast EPS growth is a sign the business has reached an inflection point, so there's a potential opportunity to be had here. So at the surface level, Chipotle Mexican Grill is worth putting on your watchlist; after all, shareholders do well when the market underestimates fast growing companies. We should say that we've discovered 1 warning sign for Chipotle Mexican Grill that you should be aware of before investing here. While opting for stocks without growing earnings and absent insider buying can yield results, for investors valuing these key metrics, here is a carefully selected list of companies in the US with promising growth potential and insider confidence. 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. Miami baker Jesus Brazon keeps a history of bread failure on his phone. The proprietor of the family-owned Caracas Bakery, who taught himself to bake via YouTube, scrolls back years through hundreds of photos with a critical eye, pointing out the imperfect loaves he has loathed. They are not like the perfectly sculpted baguettes now gracing the bakery shelves. No. The photos tell a different story. This loaf was too dense. That one tasted bitter, while another had too many holes. And dont even get him started on his first seedy bread: It tasted like a rug. Standing in the newest Caracas Bakery, which opened in 2023 in Miamis MiMo neighborhood, Brazon marvels now at his mistakes and the improvements he made with dogged precision and the fact that the painstaking journey he embarked on after fleeing Venezuela in 2008 has led to a nomination for a James Beard Award. Its actually a little unreal to be nominated, he admits. I didnt know anything about this five years ago. And so many people have been working their way up from the bottom of a bakery who havent had the chance to do their own thing like I did. Miamis beloved Blue Collar restaurant, famous for its comfort food, is moving Baker Luis Rondon and co-owner Manuel Brazon prepare sourdough at Caracas Bakery in MiMo on Biscayne Boulevard. Pedro Portal Along with his father Manuel, with whom he opened the first Caracas Bakery in Doral, Brazon is a semifinalist for a 2024 James Beard Award in the outstanding pastry chef or baker category. Manuel Brazon, who with his wife Scarlet Rojas arrived in Miami in 2014, worked at Zak the Baker in Wynwood also a 2024 Beard semifinalist in the category of outstanding bakery for four years before the first Caracas Bakery opened in 2020. That first bakery was tiny, just 1,000 square feet. Even after years of perfecting his sourdough his phone will corroborate the fact hes been working on it since 2014, inspired by a bakery in New York Citys Chelsea Market Brazon wasnt quite prepared for the onslaught of customers both before and after the pandemic shutdown. It was just my dad and my mom and me, Jesus Brazon recalls now. We had a barista helping out in the front. The lure of freshly baked bread drew the curious, and quickly long lines formed outside the bakery every morning. Bread often sold out by noon. An overwhelmed Brazon lured his father away from Zak the Baker to make the business a true family affair and was able to add pastries and other items to the menu. The lines still exist at the Doral location, which is a takeout-only venue, but Brazons dreams have only grown bigger and so has the menu. The MiMo Caracas is a busy, bustling sit-down breakfast and lunch spot, tucked away in an unassuming strip mall next to a Doggis Arepa Bar. Jesus Brazon says the move to MiMo was a bit of a test for him. A lot of our clients were from other parts of Miami, Aventura, even West Palm Beach, he says. I wanted to try and open a bigger place. I didnt want to do it in a Latin community. I thought, Let me test myself and prove I can work anywhere. Baristas Gabriela and Andrea prepare coffee at Caracas Bakery in Miami. Pedro Portal He noted many businesses opening in Coral Gables and Brickell, but the locations didnt seem quite right. Imagining the sorts of neighborhood bakeries found in his hometown of Caracas, he wanted a place that would draw locals and would be a steady, popular presence. To that end, he has expanded the menu beyond bread, pastries and ham-and-cheese stuffed cachitos (Venezuelan pastries). Youll find full breakfasts from creamy scrambled eggs, pan con tomate, salmon or mushroom toast. There are breakfast and lunch sandwiches, too, from the popular B.E.C. (bacon, eggs and cheese on a sweet potato bun topped with caramelized onions) to the new and unique broccoli sandwich (roasted broccoli, sun-dried tomato pesto aioli, white cheddar and mozzarella). That one was inspired when Brazon was watching someone dip toast into broccoli cheese soup. I am chubby, he jokes, but I still love broccoli. Pan Canilla, a typical Venezuelan artisanal bread, at Caracas Bakery in Miami. Pedro Portal The James Beard Award finalists will be announced April 3, with the winners announced June 10 in Chicago. But whatever happens, Brazon is already hard at work on the next big step for Caracas: opening a location in New York. He has been traveling north to look for space with the dream that he could spend half his time there and half his time in Miami. But leaving Miami for good is not on the table. Hes got family here, a son. And hes grateful to Miami for the success he has had. I took a risk starting this, he says. Since Ive come to the U.S. Ive thought: If I lose everything, I lose everything. But it all paid off. Caracas Bakery Where: 7283 Biscayne Blvd., Miami (Doral takeout location at 7884 NW 52nd St.) Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday More information: www.caracasbakery.com Pastries and bread at Caracas Bakery in Miamis MiMo neighborhood. Pedro Portal If Miami-Dade County ends up evicting the Miami Seaquarium, what happens to the attractions dolphins, seals, sea lions and manatees? County officials and park managers declined to speculate on that question Thursday as Mayor Daniella Levine Cava launched a lease termination process that she said was demanded by poor animal care and shoddy conditions at the Seaquarium. READ MORE: Miami-Dade County moves to evict Miami Seaquarium, gives park until April to vacate Executives at the Seaquarium, which has operated under a county lease, deny the allegations and say theyre victims of a misguided attempt to cast the attraction in a negative light. Dolphins with their trainers at Miami Seaquarium, which now faces an eviction fight by Miami-Dade County. On Thursday morning, the mayors office sent a company executive a termination notice that gives the Seaquarium until April 21 to vacate the county waterfront land where it cares for about 100 birds and mammals, plus another 400 or so fish. To be clear, the animals belong to the company, Levine Cava said at a press conference, responding to multiple questions about the fate of the Seaquarium animals if the park vacates the premises. They do not belong to the county. Seaquarium executives came to County Hall during the mayors press conference to emphasize that they had no plans to comply with the countys request and would fight eviction in court. If successful, the theme park could remain at the rented Miami waterfront location it has occupied since 1955. Asking to meet with Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Eduardo Albor, CEO and chairman of the Dolphin Company speaks to reporters inside the Government Center right after Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and County Commissioner Raquel Regalado spoke to reporters during a press conference on the lease termination for the Miami Seaquarium and a demand that the marine theme park vacate its county premises no later than April 21. The Dolphin Company, a Mexico-based conglomerate that runs marine-mammal attractions around the globe, took over the Seaquarium lease in Miami-Dade from the former operator in 2022. Miami-Dade commissioners approved the switch after a deal negotiated by the Levine Cava administration that included provisions requiring that the park comply with federal animal-care rules. The county is citing those rules as one basis for a lease termination outlined in the letter Miami-Dade sent to the Dolphin Company on Thursday morning. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, right, and County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, at the podium, speak to reporters during a press conference on Thursdays lease termination for the Miami Seaquarium and a demand that the marine theme park vacate its county premises no later than April 21. Should the dispute end in the Seaquarium vacating the 38-acre parcel, one likely scenario is that the Dolphin Company would simply pay to move its animals, including nearly 20 dolphins, to one or more of its existing parks. The head of training for the Seaquarium, Andrew Scullion, cited the Dolphin Companys resources in pushing back against recent complaints by federal inspectors that the parks animal-care operation was short-staffed. While we might have only one veterinarian on site now, we have a whole corporation of support, he said. When we need it, they send it to us. Raquel Regalado, the Miami-Dade commissioner whose district includes the Seaquarium site, said the Dolphin Companys status as an established operator was appealing in deciding to support the 2022 transfer. One of the reasons we agreed to this lease when it was brought to us is this is a company that has resources, Regalado said in an afternoon press conference she and Levine Cava held at the Stephen P. Clark Center. They do have resources they could move to other sites that they own that are accredited. Should the Seaquarium need local homes for its living assets, Miami-Dade owns Zoo Miami and the administration has tapped veterinary staff there for expertise in the Seaquarium dispute. Levine Cava declined to say if she explored any scenarios about animal relocation in deciding to terminate the Seaquarium lease. We want to be prepared for whatever may ensue. And we have experts available to us, she said. The animals, again, are not ours. Were hopeful and well be monitoring to ensure that they continue to have basic care and that, whatever happens next, theyre safe. Alliance councillor Michael Long has suffered a "massive seizure" on Sunday, according to his wife, Stormont's Justice Minister Naomi Long. Ms Long revealed the details of the incident on social media on Thursday evening, as she thanked paramedics and hospital staff for their response. "It was a terrifying experience, but they got us through it and provided the reassurance and care we needed," she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Mr Long also had a seizure in 2020. Replying to a well-wisher on X, Ms Long said: "He has no memory of it at all. I can see nothing else when I close my eyes. "He had a seizure in August 2020 for the first time and we'd hoped that was it, but I think now we just need to accept this might be an ongoing issue." The couple had attended the Alliance Party's annual conference last weekend, where Alliance leader Ms Long gave a keynote address. Mr Long represents the Lisnasharragh area on Belfast City Council and is also a former lord mayor of the city. He spent just 23 days in the post in 2022, briefly replacing party colleague Kate Nicholl who had to leave the role early when she was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. He holds the record as the lord mayor with the shortest term of office in Belfast's history. His wife has led the Alliance party since October 2016 and is currently serving a second term as Stormont's justice minister. Revealing the news on X, she said it had been "quite a week for us". It's been quite a week for us. After a fantastic @allianceparty conference, @CllrMichaelLong had a massive seizure on Sunday afternoon. Thanks to the paramedics from @NIAS999 and the ED and neurology staff in the @setrust Ulster Hospital for all their help. Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) March 7, 2024 She thanked paramedics from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and staff at emergency department of the Ulster Hospital for caring for her husband. She also thanked neurology staff at the Ulster for treating him. "Still processing everything that this means for us, but grateful to everyone for their understanding and support in the meantime," Ms Long wrote. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A man from Flushing faces stalking charges for alleged unsolicited contact with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and her wife, Plymouth City Commissioner Alanna Maguire. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced the charges against 40-year-old Dean Baldwin on Thursday. Sign up for breaking news alert emails According to Worthy, Plymouth police were called at 8:34 a.m. Tuesday and told that Baldwin came to the Nessel familys home, rang their doorbell and was sitting on their front porch. He was still there when officers arrived, and they placed him under arrest. Baldwin also attended Mondays commission meeting in Plymouth Township, approximately 70 miles away from his residence in Genesee County. He faces two misdemeanor charges of stalking. He was arraigned Thursday and given a $100,000 bond with a GPS tether. Baldwin is also ordered to have no contact with the victims, no alcohol or controlled substances and must surrender all firearms. The Wayne County Prosecutors Office will always take any and all threats against public officials very seriously. This simply will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, in todays climate threats to elected and other officials have become normalized, Worthy said in a statement. Worthy says more specific details on what led to criminal charges being filed will be released in future court documents. If convicted, Baldwin could face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000. Neither Nessel nor Maguire have publicly addressed the charges. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Michigan teachers were more likely to leave the classroom and Michigan public schools altogether during the pandemic than before, according to a new study. But school finance experts also say districts are heading for a perfect storm financially and schools could lose more staff members as federal pandemic relief aid is fully spent. Teacher turnover in Michigan schools continued through the pandemic, and Michigan teachers were 28% more likely to leave the public school system following the 2021-22 school year than in the last full pre-pandemic school year, according to new research from the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice in collaboration with the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative at Michigan State University. Researchers say the loss creates a long-term problem for the state in retaining and hiring qualified teachers in public school classrooms, particularly in crucial subject areas such as special education and science. "The teachers who were most likely to leave were the novice teachers in their first three years," said Katharine Strunk, one of the researchers formerly with MSU, now dean of the graduate school of education at the University of Pennsylvania. "So those are the teachers that we know we will need to keep on rejuvenating our workforce. We saw them leave at large and higher rates in Michigan." But staffing levels in schools may be further complicated in the coming months as school districts and boards begin setting next year's budget as federal pandemic relief funds dry up. The third and largest bucket of relief funds sent to schools through the American Rescue Plan Act must be committed by schools by September 2024. The funds' expiration, coupled with declining enrollment, might mean fewer schools will be on the hunt for teachers and other staff members this year, forecasts Marguerite Roza, director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University. Districts this year might be "crossing their fingers and hoping this will be a big year for attrition, because they can't afford all the staff they just hired," Roza said. "There will be a lot of people who moved or ... quit and are now looking for a job going, 'Wait a minute, I thought we were in a teacher shortage. I can't find a job because no one's hiring.' " A complex financial picture Possible financial calamity has been foreshadowed by some layoffs and layoff notices at districts across the state in the past year. Detroit Public Schools Community District approved a budget in June 2023, eliminating 300 positions from the district, Chalkbeat Detroit reported. Planned layoffs in the Wayne-Westland Community School District were put on hold in December, but the district is still grappling with budget issues. Many school leaders have lamented that declining enrollment across the state is partly to blame for cuts, and it has put some districts under considerable financial stress. The number of students enrolled statewide at public schools from pre-K-12 has declined 5% between this school year and 2018-19, according to state data. Some districts have been hit harder: Enrollment at Wayne-Westland, for example, has declined by 12% in those years. Detroit public schools has lost a significant number of students a 63% decline in a longer stretch of time, from 131,568 students in the 2005-06 school year to 48,476 students this year. Michigan's schools are funded on a per-student basis currently at $9,608 for the 2023-24 school year so fewer students means less funding. And even though losses like Detroit's have been over many years, managing sustained funding losses is difficult for school finance offices. And the decline in enrollment creates a complicated dynamic with staffing. "In urban districts across the country, we've seen declining enrollment for a decade, and you don't see a commensurate decline in number of teachers," Strunk said. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gives fives after taking a photo with first grade students after stopping in their classroom during a visit at Forest Park Elementary in Eastpointe on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. An Edunomics analysis of state data shows that while enrollment has declined in Michigan, the number of full-time equivalent employees in the state's schools have increased, from 195,501 employees in the 2013-14 school year to 213,990 employees in the 2022-23 school year. But those numbers largely show growth in noninstructional staff members: The number of full-time equivalent teachers in the state's schools has hovered around 100,000 in recent years, according to state data. While some teacher attrition is expected with declining public school enrollment, the departures aren't even and research has shown shortages of educators in critical subject areas. Rural areas of Michigan, in particular, have long struggled to hire. "The problem is when, even if you have attrition, it's not the right people, right?" Roza said. "You end up losing all your math and science teachers, and you don't have anyone to teach math and science and you've got too many ceramics teachers." An impending financial cliff Across all three rounds of COVID-19 relief funding, public schools received $6 billion. Schools have about $1.2 billion more to spend, according to the Michigan Department of Education's COVID spend dashboard, nearly all of it from the third and final round of aid. About 48% of the money that has already been budgeted went to what was categorized as salaries and benefits. Some districts hired additional tutoring or aids to help stem learning loss. Other districts awarded bonus payments to staff members. Flint, for example, awarded $22,500 payments to staff members. But relief money was always one-time, and once it's gone, it's gone. Which means schools will soon if they haven't already have fewer financial levers to pull to try to incentivize key staff members to stay or hire in concentrated high-need areas. "We saw a lot of districts actually put that money toward maintaining teachers jobs," Strunk said. School districts with the highest levels of students living in poverty received the most funding. And that could present a major problem for those districts as the money dries up, said Jen DeNeal, director of policy and research at The Education Trust-Midwest. EdTrust is a nonprofit advocacy organization that promotes advancement in education. "These districts with high concentrations of poverty, they got the most money, meaning that they have had the greatest ability to shore up their staffing and shore up their programs and resources," she said. "Now they're the ones facing the biggest cliff." The solution to saving districts from financial chaos is complicated, DeNeal said. Long term, the state should direct more funding to districts through an opportunity index, which would concentrate funding to districts with higher numbers of vulnerable students, such as English learners and those in poverty. The money going away is "creating some havoc for school districts," Roza said. And conditions have long been complicated, particularly in hiring during the pandemic as schools flush with relief funding competed with other schools to hire the best to stem learning loss and help students academically rebound. The growing "financial headache" is not good for kids, she said. "I'm sympathetic with how we got here," she said. "And I do think it's going to be pretty messy." Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan's teacher shortage is about to get more financially complicated Mick Moon, who has died aged 86, was the youngest of four associated and internationally respected English painters who, born in the 1930s, came to prominence from the 1960s: the elder three, in order of age, were Howard Hodgkin, John Hoyland and Patrick Caulfield. They were friends, and all despite stylistic difference were chosen by their contemporary, Leslie Waddington, to join his vaunted Waddington Gallery in Londons Cork Street. Moons development as a painter was the most complex of the four. As an art teacher one of his students, (Sir) Christopher Le Brun, became President of the Royal Academy and artist, he honed his skill as a painter, printmaker, collagist and imprinter to arrive in large part Fat paintings, inspired by the later work of Georges Braque. Braque, in turn, had been inspired by his memory of an incident as a soldier in the First World War, when his batman, with some coke and a few thrusts of his bayonet, turned a bucket into a brazier. Sassoon Docks I, 2019, by Mick Moon: the grain of imprinted floorboards evokes the waves and ripples of his childhood by the sea - Courtesy estate of Mick Moon and Cristea Roberts Gallery, London Everything, I realised, is subject to metamorphosis, everything changes according to circumstances, wrote Braque. Co-founder of Cubism with Picasso, from the age of 60 he took his workplace, the studio, as the trigger for, as Moon wrote, immersion in his own private obsessions. This obsession with memory and metamorphosis suited Moons resolute and exploratory nature. Moons last dealer, Alan Cristea, of the eponymous gallery, and earlier as his print publisher at Waddingtons, has described him as a truly radical artist whose achievements were obscured by his own modesty. Those achievements included Senior Lecturer at the Slade School of Art, 1973-90; a solo exhibition at the Tate Gallery, 1976; first prize, John Moores 12 Exhibition, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, 1980; Gulbenkian Print Award, 1984; and Royal Academician, 1994. New Colonial, Singapore, 1996, by Mick Moon: his later works reflected his fascination with the displacement of people - Courtesy estate of Mick Moon and Cristea Roberts Gallery, London Michael Moon was born in Edinburgh on November 9 1937. When the war took his father to India, his mother, a gifted amateur artist, moved with her two sons to lodge with her mother in Blackpool. The beach became his playground, a memory which contributed to the elegiac seascapes of his final exhibition. After the war they moved to London, where his now-divorced mother worked as staff artist at the Daily Mirror. The boys went to a private boarding school in Shoreham-on-Sea, West Sussex. Moons first job, thanks to his mother, was for Amalgamated Press doing lettering in speech bubbles. National Service in Germany with the Education Corps was followed by Chelsea School of Art, where Patrick Caulfield was a fellow student. His most influential teacher was Michael Andrews, who taught him useful painting techniques, in particular masking off a surface to concentrate on one section at a time. Crucially, he discovered Braques studio paintings, which he chose as the subject for his thesis. In the monograph by the late Mel Gooding, Moon wrote that an artists own concerns are very important and more likely to prove valuable than an awareness of what is going on artistically, socially and politically. He proceeded to the postgraduate Royal College of Art, returning to teach at Chelsea, where Caulfield and Hoyland were also teaching. Mick Moon's studio: he shared Braque's obsession with his immediate studio surroundings and their metamorphosis in art - Courtesy estate of Mick Moon and Cristea Roberts Gallery, London Moons first exhibition was of paintings, mostly done on formica strips slatted vertically with one-inch intervals and fixed to form an overall impression of subtly suffused colour. They were shown in a room at Hodgkins London house. Hoyland brought Leslie Waddington to see it, and Moons artistic career was launched. In 1972 he showed with Caulfield and Hodgkin at Galerie Stadler, Paris. A year later they were included in La peinture anglaise aujourdhui, Musee dArt Moderne, Paris. The same year Moon was poached from Chelsea by William Coldstream to teach at the Slade School of Art. The cool clarity of the strip paintings was replaced by Braque-influenced engagement with the studio and metamorphosis. Moons printmaking was a stimulus: process and content were literally fused by imprints, in the way of brass rubbing or monotype printing, of the studios contents (notably floorboards, providing grained backgrounds), which became the basis for paintings of concentrated incident. They were hung loose, rather than stretched, to create unforeseen combinations. These Hanging Paintings formed his Tate exhibition in 1976. Table, 1978, by Mick Moon, acrylic on canvas: he covered the underside of his studio table with pigment which ranges from red to orange, and took a print onto canvas; the other panels are cast from the table top and bear the traces of earlier workings and earlier castings - Tate collection, courtesy estate of Mick Moon Moons first marriage, to Carola Kline, had ended in divorce, and in 1977 he married the painter Anjum Khan. Visits to her relations in India encouraged him to introduce vivid colours. He became fascinated by displacement of people, artefacts and goods. All was grist to the mill of his studio paintings. On a 1982 flight with his family, now including his sons Timur and Adam, to be artist-in-residence at Prahran School of Art, Melbourne, the Boeing 747s four engines cut out, choked by ash from a volcanic eruption. A terrifying half-hour ensued. Three engines re-started in time for an emergency landing at Jakarta. There was much kissing of the runway was his typically laconic comment. The Jakarta Incident is aeronautical history. Green Spice, 1990-91, by Mick Moon: he began to introduce Indian and other still-life elements into his studio paintings - Courtesy estate of Mick Moon and Cristea Roberts Gallery, London Moons evolution was marked by dramatic changes. In 1992 he exhibited studio paintings which, instead of making imprints of floorboards, doors, and so on, introduced even more complex Indian and other still-life elements. These paintings further enlarged Braques subject, materially and in scope. Nevertheless, as Gooding wrote, for all their diversity, Moons prints and paintings function in each case as the focus for quiet and reflexive contemplation. Having divorced a second time, in 2000 he met his third wife, the Swedish artist Philippa Stjernsward. They travelled widely, including to India, his contentment mirrored in his final exhibition (Cristea Roberts Gallery, 2019). England your England, 2019, by Mick Moon - Courtesy estate of Mick Moon and Cristea Roberts Gallery, London Cool clarity returned, not abstracted but in the form of large seascapes. Bare of colour and collage, the grain of imprinted floorboards evoked the waves and ripples of his boyhood seas. Serene intimations of mortality, content is reduced in one instance to a single figure in distant silhouette; in another, to a monochrome fleet of small anchored boats diminishing to misty invisibility; and finally, only to the dots of their single lights in the blackness of night. Mick Moon is survived by his wife Philippa Stjernsward, and two sons from his second marriage. Mick Moon, born November 9 1937, died February 13 2024 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. FILE PHOTO: Smartphone is seen in front of Microsoft logo displayed in this illustration taken By Zeba Siddiqui and Raphael Satter (Reuters) -Microsoft said on Friday that hackers linked to Russia's foreign intelligence were trying again to break into its systems, using data stolen from corporate emails in January to gain new access to the tech giant whose products are widely used across the U.S. national security establishment. The disclosure alarmed some analysts who cited concerns about safety of systems and services at Microsoft, one of the world's largest software makers which provides digital services and infrastructure to the U.S. government. Analysts have expressed worries about national security risks. Microsoft has said a Russian state-sponsored group called Midnight Blizzard, or Nobelium, is behind the intrusions. The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Microsoft's statement, and has also not responded to Microsoft's previous statements about Midnight Blizzard activity. Microsoft disclosed the breach in January, saying the hackers had tried breaking into corporate email accounts including those of senior company leaders as well as cybersecurity, legal, and other functions. "In recent weeks, we have seen evidence that Midnight Blizzard is using information initially exfiltrated from our corporate email systems to gain, or attempt to gain, unauthorized access," the tech firm said in a new blog. Given Microsoft's vast customer network, it is not surprising it is being targeted, said Jerome Segura, principal threat researcher at the cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes' Threatdown Labs. He added it was unnerving that the attack was still underway despite Microsoft's efforts to thwart access. "That one of the largest software vendors is itself kind of learning things as they go is a little bit scary," Segura said. "You don't have the reassurance that if you're a customer, that there isn't something bigger going on." The attacks are also a testament to how aggressive the hackers are, he added. Among the data the hackers stole was access to source code repositories and internal systems, Microsoft said. The company owns GitHub, a public repository of software code for various applications, said Malwarebytes' Segura. "This is the kind of thing that we're really worried about," Segura said. "The attacker would want to use (Microsoft's) secrets to get into production environments, and then compromise software and put backdoors and things like that." Previously, Microsoft said the hackers had broken into staff emails by using a dormant account through a "password spray" attack -- using the same password on multiple accounts until they break into one. Such attacks increased as much as tenfold in Midnight Blizzard's latest attempts, compared the January breach, Microsoft said in its blog. "This seems like it's something very targeted, and if (the hackers) are that deep inside Microsoft, and Microsoft hasn't been able to get them out in two months, then there's a huge concern," said Adam Meyers, a senior vice president at the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, who tracks nation-state hacking. 'SECRETS OF DIFFERENT TYPES' Midnight Blizzard is known to target governments, diplomatic entities, and non-governmental organizations, according to various analysts who track the group. In its January statement Microsoft said Midnight Blizzard was probably targeting it because the company has done robust research unraveling the hacking group's operations. Microsoft's threat intelligence team has been investigating and sharing research on Nobelium since at least 2021, when the group was found to be behind the SolarWinds cyberattack that compromised a raft of U.S. government agencies. The persistent attempts to breach Microsoft are a sign of "sustained, significant commitment of the threat actors resources, coordination, and focus," the company said on Friday. "It is apparent that Midnight Blizzard is attempting to use secrets of different types it has found," it added. "Some of these secrets were shared between customers and Microsoft in email, and as we discover them in our exfiltrated email, we have been and are reaching out to these customers to assist them in taking mitigating measures." Microsoft did not name affected customers. (Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in San Francisco and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar, Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio) Russian hackers have been attempting to breach Microsofts systems in recent weeks, using stolen information they acquired in an earlier hack, the company said Friday. The hackers, which Microsoft identified as a Russian state-sponsored group known as Midnight Blizzard, have been using information initially exfiltrated from our corporate email systems to gain, or attempt to gain, unauthorized access to the companys systems. Microsoft previously revealed in January that it had detected a nation-state attack on its corporate systems from Midnight Blizzard. The hackers were able to gain access to a very small percentage of corporate email accounts, including some belonging to members of Microsofts senior leadership team, the tech giant said at the time. It is apparent that Midnight Blizzard is attempting to use secrets of different types it has found, Microsoft said in Fridays blog post. This includes secrets shared between customers and Microsoft via email. The company said it is informing customers and assisting them in taking mitigating measures, as it discovers this information in its exfiltrated email. In February, the Russian hacking group increased the volume of certain types of attacks, such as password sprays, by as much as tenfold, according to Microsoft. Password sprays are a type of cyberattack in which hackers repeatedly use the same password on different accounts in an attempt to gain access. Midnight Blizzards ongoing attack is characterized by a sustained, significant commitment of the threat actors resources, coordination, and focus, Microsoft said. It may be using the information it has obtained to accumulate a picture of areas to attack and enhance its ability to do so. This reflects what has become more broadly an unprecedented global threat landscape, especially in terms of sophisticated nation-state attacks, it added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A West Yorkshire hospital trust has been told by the health regulator it requires improvement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected the urgent and emergency care departments at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield and Dewsbury and District Hospital in September. Both sites, which are run by the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, were given a "requires improvement" rating. The Trust said it was "committed to the continuous journey of improvement". Both hospitals were previously rated as requiring improvement following a 2022 inspection. The CQC's deputy director of operations in the north, Sheila Grant, said it was "encouraging to find there were some improvements", but "further work was needed". In both hospitals inspectors found people's risk "wasn't always assessed by staff in a timely manner" and facilities for people with mental ill health did not meet national standards. Medical care was also inspected at the sites, where inspectors found there were not always enough staff on duty to keep people safe. "People were sometimes at risk of deterioration because staff didn't always respond quickly enough," they said. Infection risks were not always controlled "well", nor was the management of medicines, inspectors added. 'Kindness and compassion' However, staff at the hospitals were praised for the "compassion and kindness" they showed to patients. In medical care, which included care for older people, the emotional support staff provided was described as "good". Ms Grant said the CQC would "continue to monitor the trust closely" and would return to carry out another inspection "to ensure any further improvements are sustained and embedded". In response to the report's findings, chief nursing officer at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Talib Yaseen said it remained "committed to the continuous journey of improvement we are on". "I'm proud that we are recognised for treating our patients and their loved ones with kindness and compassion and I want to thank everyone for everything they do to care for our patients every day," she added. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. Mike Johnson continues to get tongue-tied when trying to talk about IVF, with his latest bonkers comments coming during an interview on Thursday. Republican lawmakers have rushed to portray themselves as defenders of in vitro fertilization after the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that classified embryos as children. But Johnson appears to be struggling to reconcile his partys newfound talking points with his avowed far-right Christian and antireproductive rights beliefs. In an interview on Thursday, CBS host Tony Dokoupil asked Johnson whether destroying embryos constituted murder for someone who believes life begins at conception, as the House speaker does. Its something that weve got to grapple with, Johnson said. Its a brave new world. IVFs only been invented, I think, in the early 70s. Q: Do you see standard IVF practices as murder? Mike Johnson: Its something that we've got to grapple with. Its a brave new world. IVFs only been invented in the early 1970s pic.twitter.com/URPibDJE3m Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) March 7, 2024 The 1970s were half a century ago, so the technology on this one isnt exactly up for debateas many of Johnsons own colleagues who have relied on IVF to start a family know quite well. Johnson has refused to explicitly say whether he believes that the destruction of an embryo constitutes murder. But his past actions speak plenty loud. Johnson has long argued that life begins from the moment of fertilization, the same logic applied in the Alabama ruling. He has repeatedly voted against increasing reproductive rights, ranging from abortion access to contraception. He also co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, alongside most of the rest of his caucus, which would federally enshrine fetal personhood. But when asked in November about his history on legislating against fertility treatments, Johnson claimed he couldnt remember any of those measures. Since the Alabama ruling, Johnson and his Republican colleagues have talked plenty about supporting IVF, but they have done very little to actually protect access to the treatment. A group of seven GOP representatives introduced a resolution last week expressing support for IVF and calling on elected officials to protect the treatment, but the measure is nonbinding and doesnt actually achieve anything. Five of the co-sponsors represent swing districts and are likely just trying to appeal to their constituents. Johnsons comment Thursday also echoes the logic in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health, the landmark Supreme Court case that rolled back the nationwide right to abortion. The courts conservative justices determined that abortion was not a fundamental right because abortion is not deeply rooted in the Nations history and tradition. Essentially, because modern medicine has progressed, people do not have the right to bodily autonomy. But its unclear how far back something has to go to be considered history. Again, IVF has now been around for half a century. The first record of abortion in the world is from 1550 BCE, and the procedure was definitely being performed in the American colonies. For what its worth, Johnson himself was also only invented in the 1970s. He was born in 1972, and now, 50 years later, were all having to grapple with his policy choices. BlackRocks Spot Bitcoin ETF Casts Big Shadow This weeks Spotlight ETF may eventually turn out to be ETF of the year, but lets not get ahead of ourselves and for now have a look at the record-setting debut of the iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT). Launched Jan. 11 along with 10 rival spot bitcoin ETFs, each vying for the eager dollars of investors and financial advisors looking for an easy onramp to cryptocurrency investing, IBIT in short order pulled away from the pack. While currently up to more than $12 billion in assets under management, IBIT entered March by reaching the $10 billion in assets mark faster than any other ETF in history. For some perspective, it took the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) more than two years after its 2004 launch to hit $10 billion. For even more perspective, the next largest spot bitcoin ETF among the 11 launched in January is the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin ETF (FBTC) at $7.6 billion. BlackRock's Heft Pushes IBIT to the Top Weekly Flows since fund launched Flow chart The why behind the breakout popularity of IBIT is at least two-fold. For starters, were talking about New York-based BlackRock Inc., which at more than $10 trillion in total assets under management, has the kind of resources to overshadow whatever it wants to overshadow in the financial services industry. BlackRocks iShares ETF brand manages $2.7 trillion. Compare that to Boston-based Fidelity Investments, which is no slouch at $3 trillion in total assets, including nearly $700 billion in ETF assets, but still a third the size of BlackRock. When you see stuff fly out the door, thats where your attention goes, said Mark Connors, head of research at the Canadian digital asset management firm 3iQ. Right now, the BlackRock sales force is no longer talking about ESG or bonds, he added. Theyre looking at IBIT. The second part of the two-fold growth spurt of IBIT is the rallying price of the underlying bitcoin, which touched an all-time high earlier this week and is up more than 55% over the past 30 days. Story continues Granted, the bitcoin rally is lifting all spot bitcoin ETFs, but when price appreciation accounts for about 40% of the asset growth in those ETFs, bigger just gets bigger. Permalink | Copyright 2024 etf.com. All rights reserved FILE -In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, Aviation Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Nicholas Hawkins, signals an MV-22 Osprey to land on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea on May 17, 2019. The military has greenlighted its Osprey to return to flight, three months after a part failure led to the deaths of eight service members in a crash in Japan in November. Naval Air Systems Command announced it on Friday. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Amber Smalley/U.S. Navy via AP, File) WASHINGTON (AP) The Osprey, a workhorse aircraft vital to U.S. military missions, has been approved to return to flight after an unprecedented part failure led to the deaths of eight service members in a crash in Japan in November, Naval Air Systems Command announced Friday. The crash was the second fatal accident in months and the fourth in two years. It quickly led to a rare fleet-wide grounding of hundreds of Ospreys across the Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy. Before clearing the Osprey, which can fly like an airplane and then convert to a helicopter, officials said they put increased attention on its proprotor gearbox, instituted new limitations on how it can be flown and added maintenance inspections and requirements that gave them confidence it could safely return to flight. The entire fleet was grounded Dec. 6, just a week after eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members were killed when their CV-22B Osprey crashed off Yakushima island. Before lifting the flight restrictions the military also briefed officials in Japan, where public opinion on the Osprey is mixed, on the crash findings and new safety measures. In a statement Friday, Japan defense minister Minoru Kihara said his nation would likewise return its 14 Ospreys to flight status following an "adequate analysis of the cause of the crash, extremely detailed information on the accident and the steps to mitigate the issue in the future. Kihara said Japan and the United States will closely coordinate the timeline for resuming flights in Japan, to give the government time to thoroughly explain the issue to its citizens. However, Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki did not support the return to flight. Okinawa is home to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and its 24 MV-22B Ospreys and is where the public has been most vocal in its opposition to the aircraft. It would be best if they stay on the ground, as we have all along requested scrapping of the Osprey deployment, Tamaki said. Officials who briefed reporters Wednesday ahead of the flight restrictions lifting said that they quickly grounded the entire fleet in December because it became clear that the way the Osprey part failed in that crash was something they had not seen before on the tiltrotor aircraft. While the officials did not identify the specific component, because the Air Force's crash investigation is still not completed, they said they now have a better but not complete understanding of why it failed. This is the first time that weve seen this particular component fail in this way. And so this is unprecedented, said Marine Corps Col. Brian Taylor, V-22 joint program manager at Naval Air Systems Command, or NAVAIR, which is responsible for the V-22 program servicewide. However, the decision by the Department of Defense to return to flight before separate congressional investigations on the Osprey program are complete drew criticism from the chair of the House Oversight Committee. DoD is lifting the Osprey grounding order despite not providing the Oversight Committee and the American people answers about the safety of this aircraft, said Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican. Serious concerns remain, such as accountability measures put in place to prevent crashes, a general lack of transparency, how maintenance and operational upkeep is prioritized, and how DoD assesses risks. A former Osprey pilot familiar with the investigation confirmed that the component in question is part of the proprotor gearbox, a critical system that includes gearing and clutches that connect the Ospreys engine to the rotor to turn it. The services have done a deep dive into the proprotor gearbox, and the new safety measures will address the issues we saw from that catastrophic event, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, said Wednesday. I have confidence that we know enough now to return to fly, he said. The proprotor gearbox system as a whole is a recurring trouble spot for the Osprey. Service safety data obtained by The Associated Press show dozens of instances among the Marine Corps and Air Force Ospreys in which power surges, sudden loss of oil pressure due to leaks, engine fires or chipping when the metal components inside the gearbox shed sometimes dangerous metal chips have damaged the proprotor gearbox in flight, sometimes requiring emergency landings. Other components of the proprotor gearbox, including the sprag clutch and input quill assembly, have been factors in previous crashes, and the services have made changes, such as replacing those parts on a more frequent basis. The services are also looking closely at the material that the failed part is made of and how it is manufactured, Bauernfeind said. NAVAIR is also running further tests to give the services more insight into why the component failed. It was a single component that failed in such a way that led to catastrophic consequences, Bauernfeind said. After that testing is complete, he said, some of the operational safety controls now placed on the Osprey may be lessened to give us greater flexibility with the platform." The investigation, known as an accident investigation board, will be made public and is expected to be completed within the next two months. The proprotor gearbox failure was first reported by NBC News. Crews have not flown now for more than 90 days a factor that will make their return to flight more dangerous. The services said Wednesday they are taking a cautious approach that could last from 30 days to several months to retrain their crews before their Osprey squadrons are back to normal flight operations. The Osprey has been in development for four decades but only became operational in 2007. The U.S. military has flown the Osprey about 750,000 hours and relied on its ability to fly long distances quickly like a plane and then convert to a helicopter to conduct operations in the Middle East and Africa, where some Marine Corps squadrons received an exemption to the flight ban because it was so critical to the mission. In future needs to counter China, the military has planned on using the Osprey in the Indo-Pacific to operate throughout islands that lack the airfields necessary for traditional aircraft. But it has also been a controversial, first-generation design of military tiltrotor technology that has recorded more than 14 major accidents that have killed 59 people and in some instances led to the loss of the aircraft, which costs between $70 million and $90 million depending on the variant. None of the services is planning on new production orders of the V-22, which is produced by a joint venture between Bell Flight and Boeing. The Army has contracted with Bell Flight to buy the Ospreys successor, the Bell V-280 Valor, which is a tiltrotor like the Osprey but smaller and with an important design change the engines stay in a fixed, horizontal position. On the Osprey, the rotors and entire nacelle that houses the engine and proprotor gearbox tilt to a vertical position when it flies in helicopter mode. The Marine Corps operates the vast majority of the Ospreys, with more than 240 currently assigned to its 17 squadrons. Its aviation mission is dependent on the aircraft returning to flight, and the Marine Corps is committed to the Osprey remaining in its fleet through the 2050s, said Marine Corps assistant deputy commandant for aviation Brig. Gen. Richard Joyce. There is no taking our eye off of V-22 and the years of service life that it has in front of us, Joyce said. The Air Force, which has the second most Ospreys in the fleet, with about 50 assigned to its special operations mission, however, suggested on Wednesday it may start to consider other options. The early concepts for the Osprey date back to the 1980s, when the Iran hostage crisis exposed a need to have an airframe that could move fast and hover or land like a helicopter, Bauernfeind said. And its met that need quite well, but it is still an older platform, he said. I do think that its time for us to start talking about what is that next generation of capability that can replace what the V-22 does. ___ Yamaguchi reported from Japan. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Alaska Airlines is once again making headlines after a flight arrived at Portland International Airport with its cargo door slightly ajar on Thursday, but this certainly isnt the first time the airline has faced criticism for customer safety. Within the past year, its planes have been associated with a missing door plug incident that caused a door to detach mid-flight, an off-duty pilot accused of stalling plane engines mid-flight, and in-cabin fumes forcing a plane to re-route. Lake Oswego man accused of drugging pre-teens at sleepover out on bail With one incident after another, it can be difficult to keep track of what and when events took place. The following timeline lists these events as they happened, starting with the incident involving an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot in October 2023. Alaska Airlines Timeline October 2023 An Alaska Airlines flight was rerouted to PDX after an off-duty pilot allegedly shut off the planes engines mid-flight while traveling from Everett, Wash. to San Francisco. The now-ex pilot, 44-year-old Joseph David Emerson, had been riding in the flight deck jumpseat not piloting the plane when the incident happened on Oct. 22, 2023. Emerson is accused of pulling down the aircrafts red fire handles that activate a fire suppression system, effectively shutting off the planes fuel supply. Flight attendants say he also attempted to open an emergency exit door while in handcuffs. Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (KOIN) The pilot who flew the aircraft told authorities there was zero indication of anything wrong at the beginning of the flight until Emerson threw his headset across the cockpit and said Im not OK. According to a court affidavit, one on-duty pilot grabbed Emersons wrist to stop him as a second pilot declared an in-flight emergency. Authorities estimated that Emerson had resisted for about 90 seconds before leaving the cockpit. Court documents allege Emerson told flight attendants that he had just been kicked out of the flight deck as he walked to the back of the plane. The documents also report that he told the flight crew, You need to cuff me right now, or its going to be bad. Rising gas prices in Oregon amplified by locks closures on Columbia River After the incident, police officers reported that Emerson hadnt slept in 40 hours and was having a nervous breakdown at the time of the flight. According to officials, the pilot said he began feeling depressed six months prior and had used psychedelic mushrooms for the first time 48 hours prior to getting on the plane. Emerson first faced 167 charges related to the incident, including 83 counts of aggravated attempted murder. However, a Multnomah County jury decided not to charge Emerson with attempted murder instead charging him with 83 counts of recklessly endangering an aircraft. In December 2023, Emerson was released from custody to return to his home in California until his trial date with the following restrictions: He cannot possess or use any controlled substance, including alcohol; he must submit to drug tests; he cannot be within 30 feet of any operable aircraft; and he must participate in mental health counseling. Hillsboro Hops announce their new stadium is fully funded January 2024 Another Alaska Airlines returned to PDX within a half hour of departing from the airport after a door plug blew off the plane, which had apparently been missing the bolts necessary to keep the door in place. Flight 1282 headed to Ontario, Calif. had taken off around 5 p.m. but quickly turned around after reaching an altitude of 16,000 feet on Jan 5, 2024. Airline officials originally cited a pressurization issue. A door plug area of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft awaiting inspection is pictured with paneling removed at the airlines facilities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Jan. 10, 2024, in SeaTac, Wash. Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners will carry passengers in the United States again, starting this weekend, for the first time since they were grounded after a panel blew out of the side of one of the planes. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File) This image taken Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, and released by the National Transportation Safety Board, shows a section of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that is missing panel on a Boeing 737-9 MAX in Portland, Ore. Federal officials are investigating Boeings oversight of production of a panel that blew off a jetliner in midflight last week. (NTSB via AP) This image from video provided by Elizabeth Le shows passengers near the damage on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9, Flight 1282, which was forced to return to Portland International Airport on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (Elizabeth Le via AP) This photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board shows the door plug from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Portland, Ore. A panel used to plug an area reserved for an exit door on the Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner blew out Jan. 5, shortly after the flight took off from Portland, forcing the plane to return to Portland International Airport. (National Transportation Safety Board via AP) This photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board shows a gaping hole where the paneled-over door had been at the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Portland, Ore. A panel used to plug an area reserved for an exit door on the Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner blew out Jan. 5, shortly after the flight took off from Portland, forcing the plane to return to Portland International Airport. (National Transportation Safety Board via AP) (Courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board) Passenger Elizabeth Le told KOIN 6 said a mom and her teenage son had been sitting in the aisle seats at the time, adding that the mother saved her son from getting pulled out of the plane. I looked up and saw that the sons shirt was completely off and his skin was very red, most likely due to the cold air, Le said. I heard after from the sons friend that the mom had to drag him back into the plane after the piece flew off. The door was discovered the next day on Barnes Road near Highway 217 in the Cedar Hills neighborhood. Officials reported that the headrests were missing from seats 25A and 26A, and investigators found some clothing in the area. Some are now suing Boeing and Alaska, claiming the flight caused them trauma and injury. After the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a temporary grounding of all 737 Max 9 aircrafts for an inspection. The planes have since made their way back into transit. Woman accused of animal cruelty after dog shot in the head execution style survives A month later, a report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board found that four bolts meant to hold the door plug in place were missing when the plane took off. These bolts exist to prevent the door plug from sliding up from the frame when pressurization changes in the cabin mid-flight. Boeing has since faced heavy criticism for the incident. On Feb 21, Ed Clark, once the head of Boeings 737 Max program, was ousted from his role. Two weeks later, Washington state Sen. Maria Cantwell accused Boeing of stonewalling an ongoing federal investigation. Boeing has until Friday, March 8 to respond. March 2024 Two incidents involving Alaska Airlines have taken place at PDX in March, including one flight that passengers say smelled like fumes and another with a slightly ajar cargo door. On Wednesday, a Phoenix-bound Alaska Airlines flight returned to PDX after multiple people reported smelling fumes in the cabin. Fire crews from the Port of Portland and Portland Fire and Rescue responded to investigate the cause of the smell, but were unable to identify a cause, officials say. Seven people including passengers and crew members requested medical evaluation, but no one was taken to the hospital, according to the Port of Portland. Deadly shooting in Bushs Pasture Park prompts South Salem High School lockdown In a statement to KOIN 6, Alaska Airlines said the aircraft in question is being inspected by our maintenance team. We apologize to our guests for the inconvenience. KOIN 6 then received reports that Alaska Airlines Flight 1437 from Los Cabos, Mexico arrived at PDX with what appeared to be an incorrectly sealed cargo door, according to photos of the plane earlier this month. Alaska Airlines Flight 1437 cargo door ajar as it landed at PDX from Los Cabos, Mexico on March 1, 2024. Photo was exclusively obtained by KOIN 6 News. Alaska Airlines Flight 1437 cargo door ajar as it landed at PDX from Los Cabos, Mexico on March 1, 2024. Photo was exclusively obtained by KOIN 6 News. Alaska Airlines Flight 1437 cargo door ajar as it landed at PDX from Los Cabos, Mexico on March 1, 2024. Photo was exclusively obtained by KOIN 6 News. Its unclear how long the Boeing 737 door was open, but sources say passengers pets were inside and lived. It is not clear whether the circumstances could have put the flight at risk, but a source told KOIN 6 the flight did not require an emergency landing. In a statement to KOIN 6 News, Alaska Airlines said there was no indication to the crew that the door was unsealed during flight and all indications point to the door partially opening after landing. Our maintenance teams inspected the aircraft, replaced a spring in the door, tested the door and reentered it into service. Stay with KOIN 6 as this story develops. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) An at-risk woman was reported missing this week, the San Francisco Police Department said in a news release. Carmen Aleman, 78, was last seen Tuesday around 5:30 a.m. on the 100 block of Lexington Street in the Mission District. Aleman is described as a Hispanic woman, 5-foot-3 and 150 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a grey and black sweater and black pants. United flight from SFO loses tire during takeoff, diverted to LAX: video She is considered at-risk because of her condition with Alzheimers disease, according to SFPD. Aleman primarily speaks Spanish, and her English is limited. Anyone who has information about Alemans location is asked to call SFPDs Tip Line at 415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.: For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Missing Wisconsin 3-year-old's mother hit with more charges as police ask for video of car in disappearance As the search for a missing Wisconsin three-year-old extends into its third week, his mother faces additional criminal charges, and police are searching for a vehicle of interest in his disappearance. An Amber Alert was issued in Manitowoc County for Elijah Vue on Feb. 20. His mother, Katrina Baur, 30, and her boyfriend Jesse Vang, 39, appeared in court this week on child neglect charges. On Thursday, prosecutors upgraded Baur's charge to chronic child neglect and added an additional child neglect charge. "We have now changed count one to chronic neglect as party to the crime. We have also added count four, which involves neglect to another child who is 6 years old from Feb. 14," Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre told WISN. WISCONSIN AUTHORITIES BELIEVE MISSING 3-YEAR-OLD ELIJAH VUE ABDUCTED FROM HOME Elijah Vue, a three-year-old Wisconsin boy, was last seen around 8 a.m. in Two Rivers on Feb. 20. This is the fourth charge levied against the mother she also faces two counts of resisting an officer, Fox 6 reported. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Baur's attorney, Ann Larson, requested that her client's $15,000 bail be lowered on Thursday in Manitowoc County Circuit Court: "She's been worried sick, not knowing where her son is," Larson said, according to WISN. But Baur's own mother, Jodi Baur, argued against reduced bail in court, WISN reported. LaBre read a written statement from the child's grandmother in court on Thursday. "I have known Katrina Baur longer than anyone else as I am her mother," said the statement, read aloud by LaBre. TEXAS GIRL'S WEEKLONG DISAPPEARANCE HIGHLIGHTS 'RISK TO CHILDREN' USING DATING APPS, EXPERT SAYS "Katrina has struggled with depression and anxiety for many years, has a history of erratic behavior. She has been suffering from traumatic brain injury and is highly likely to forget mandatory appearances. "I dont feel its worth the risk to lower her bond, especially as a victim has not been found and many questions have not been answered. She does need to be held accountable for what rules out in the future and I feel releasing her she would be a flight risk." Vang, who qualifies for public defender representation but has not yet been assigned counsel, also requested that his bail be reduced: "Yeah, I just got a question," Vang said, according to WISN. "I want to put in a motion for bail reduction." Vang was charged with one felony count of party-to-a-crime child neglect and is being held on a $20,000 cash bond. Prosecutors said Baur would send Elijah to her boyfriend, Vang, for disciplinary purposes because she wanted to teach her toddler to "be a man." Wisconsin authorities announced an Amber Alert for missing three-year-old Elijah Vue more than two weeks ago a vehicle of interest in his disappearance has since been seized. Among "punishments" Elijah endured were cold showers and standing for hours while praying in time-out, authorities said. An amended criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital gives insight into Elijah's abuse and the days before his disappearance. After reviewing Baur and Vang's messages via text and Facebook, prosecutors say the two were discussing meeting at Vang's apartment to have sex on Feb. 13. Vang told Baur that the three-year-old could "be placed in the bathroom while they have sex," per the complaint. Elijah Vue is three feet tall, weighs 45 pounds and has blond hair and brown eyes, according to authorities. Anyone who has information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911. When Baur arrived at Vang's apartment at 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 13, prosecutors said, she left her older six-year-old child unsupervised in her car. At 3 a.m. the next day, according to the complaint, a photograph from Baur's phone was taken of Elijah "laying down on a bed" with a "blindfold over his eyes." The toddler appeared to "have bruising on his jawline and neck on the left side, as well as bruising on his upper arm." Elijah was reported missing on Feb. 20 by Vang, who told police he had taken a nap and took the boy into the bedroom with him, but that the child was gone when he woke up about three hours later, the Associated Press reported. Combined rewards for Elijah's recovery have risen to $25,000, with Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers offering $10,000, and the FBI offering $15,000, for information leading to the location and return of the child or the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his disappearance. TENNESSEE POLICE SEARCHING KENTUCKY LANDFILL IN CONNECTION WITH DISAPPEARANCE OF MISSING AUTISTIC TEEN On Monday, police said they had seized a car of interest a beige 1997 Nissan Altima with WIsconsin plates beginning with "A" and ending in "0" in the child's disappearance. Now, police are asking home and business owners to scour any surveillance footage taken on Feb. 19 between 2 and 9 p.m. for the vehicle, according to Fox 6. Vue, who is of Hmong descent, is three feet tall, has dark blond hair and brown eyes and weighs about 45 pounds, police say. He has a birthmark on his left knee and was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a long-sleeved, dark-colored shirt, and red-and-green dinosaur slip-on shoes. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 844-267-6648 or 920-686-7200. You can also submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Original article source: Missing Wisconsin 3-year-old's mother hit with more charges as police ask for video of car in disappearance A federal judge on Friday took the rare step of declaring a mistrial for two west suburban men accused in a juice loan extortion scheme after an FBI agent testified he investigated organized crime matters, a term that the judge had explicitly barred to avoid prejudicing the jury. Gene Gino Cassano, 55, and Gioacchino Jack Galione, 47, both of Addison, are charged with conspiring to collect a debt by extortionate means, which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. Galione is also charged with using violence to collect a debt. The decision by U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman to halt the trial came after three tumultuous days of testimony, including one witness who accused a defense attorney in front of the jury of being a liar who is paid to represent criminals and others with lengthy rap sheets who had to be dragged into court under threat of incarceration. There were a total of six motions for a mistrial by the two defense teams for various alleged infractions, culminating with the organized crime comment late in the day Thursday that the judge said left her no choice but to discharge the jury and start anew. A status hearing to figure out next steps was set for Monday. A spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office had no immediate comment. The case is limited to a single incident involving a victim who was allegedly punched by Galione in an attempt to collect a juice loan debt. Federal court records show its tied to a wider investigation of the Chicago Outfit, including gambling and prostitution rackets allegedly being run by the mobs notorious Elmwood Park crew. But Johnson had barred mention of the mob connections to avoid prejudicing the jury. The issue that led to the mistrial occurred late in the day Thursday, when prosecutors called FBI Special Agent David Patch to give routine testimony about a download from a witnesss cellphone. Under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hogan, Patch told the jury hed worked in the FBI Chicago field office for his whole career and investigated national and international organized crime matters. Several members of the defense teams immediately shouted objections, prompting Coleman to abruptly end the trial for the day. In arguments outside the presence of the jury, lawyers for both Cassano and Galione accused Hogan of intentionally disregarding Colemans orders, saying he either knew or should have known that Patchs response to the question about his background would have mentioned organized crime. In a written motion filed early Friday, attorneys Damon Cheronis, who represents Galione, and Todd Pugh, who represents Cassano, accused the prosecution team of trying to creatively insert references to the mob into the trial. The government has been attempting to find ways to inject organized crime gloss to this case from the jump, the motion stated. Of course, nobody is entitled to a perfect trial but there must be a line and this court has to be standing on that line and protecting the rights of these two men because the government has abandoned its post. In a motion of their own, prosecutors apologized and suggested it was a misunderstanding, writing they did not believe the bar on organized crime testimony included routine questions about an agents work history. Going forward, the government will be sure to instruct all witnesses that they cannot use the term organized crime in any context, including to describe their own backgrounds, the motion stated. The case focuses on the Aug. 1, 2016, assault of Luigi Mucerino inside Galiones garage in Addison, which prosecutors allege was over a $10,000 juice loan Mucerino had taken out from Cassano and failed to pay back. Mucerino, who was granted immunity by the U.S. attorneys office, testified Tuesday that he was driving back from a business trip to Lake Geneva on the night of the assault when he got a panicked call from his wife that someone was banging on the windows and doors of their home. After Galione called him and said he was at the home, Mucerino agreed to meet him and they drove to Galiones garage. Before Mucerino could ask what it was all about, something slammed into his eye, knocking him unconscious, Mucerino testified. When he woke up, he was on the ground, his face broken and bloody, and Galione was standing over him with a towel. I got cold-cocked, Mucerino, 39, told the jury in a matter-of-fact tone. He said Galione never told him why hed hit him, saying only that it was just business. Attorneys for the defendants told the jury theyre not denying Galione roughed up Mucerino that night. But they said the victim and key witnesses have changed their stories repeatedly and have so many credibility problems its impossible to determine the motive for the assault, which is an element prosecutors have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Mr. Cassano did not send anyone, hire anyone to go there, Pugh said in his opening statement. Gene had nothing to do with what occurred in that garage. The defense has also painted Mucerino as an admitted drug trafficker, degenerate gambler and marijuana abuser, who acknowledged feeding a series of half-truths and outright lies to police and later to the FBI about the loan to throw them off the case. The flap over the agents organized crime statement was far from the only issue in the trial. Just hours earlier on Thursday, the defense had requested a mistrial after a prosecutor objected to a witness, who was a paid FBI informant, being asked where he currently lives. Coleman overruled the objection, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Guzman blurted out in earshot of the jury that there were safety concerns with the witness. Defense attorneys argued the statement was completely inappropriate and certainly suggested that the government believes the witness life could be endangered. In response, prosecutors said it was clear the witness had cooperated against many individuals other than Cassano and Galione and it does not follow that they were the reason for the safety concern. The jury heard that the witness was a prior FBI confidential informant who had cooperated against many other individuals and was outed because of this trial, prosecutors wrote in a motion Friday. It does not follow that the governments concerns for the witnesss safety stem from perceived threats from the defendants. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Russian troops have attacked Myrnohrad, Shakhove and Novohrodivka in Donetsk Oblast, injuring four people. Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office Details: At 02:20 on 8 March, the Russians carried out a massive missile attack on Myrnohrad. A local resident, 64, was wounded while at home. In addition, a business, a hospital, at least 10 apartment buildings, a shopping centre and eight cars were damaged in the town. Less than half an hour after the first attack, the Russians attacked the village of Shakhove in the Pokrovsk district. A Russian projectile hit a school where a guard, a 48-year-old woman, was present at the time. She was diagnosed with haematomas. At the same time, the Russians struck the town of Novohrodivka twice. A woman, 38, and a man, 77, were taken to a medical facility with concussions, shrapnel wounds and blast injuries. At least 64 private households, five cars, four administrative buildings, a medical facility, and four two-storey residential buildings were reportedly damaged in the city. Almost 4000 power consumers were left without electricity. The Russians attacked these settlements, supposedly using S-300 missiles, KAB-250 guided bombs and Smerch (Tornado) multiple-launch rocket systems. Aftermath of Russian attack on 8 March Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office Aftermath of Russian attack on 8 March. Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office Residential buildings were reportedly damaged after Russian attack on 8 March. Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office Quote: "Prosecutors continue to take all possible and appropriate measures to record Russian war crimes against the civilian population of the oblast." Support UP or become our patron! A sleeping habit considered dangerous for infants by some medical experts led to the death of a baby in North Carolina, authorities said. The infant, who was found unconscious and not breathing by officers on Oct. 3, was pronounced dead after responders couldnt revive the baby, according to a March 7 Wilmington Police Department news release. Now, the babys mother, Mackenzie Katlyn Reed, has been charged in her childs death. During the monthslong investigation by police and the New Hanover County District Attorneys Office, investigators determined the infant suffocated while co-sleeping with Reed, authorities said. But it wasnt the first time a child of the 24-year-olds died, according to police. In 2022, another child Reed co-slept with died, police said. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents sleep in the same room as their child for the first six months, but not in the same bed, according to its 2022 safe sleep guidelines. Instead of co-sleeping also known as bed-sharing the academy strongly encourages the use of cribs or bassinets without soft toys, pillow, blankets or other bedding. About 3,500 babies die because of sleep-related issues every year, according to the organization. Putting infants in unsafe sleeping environments such as sharing the same bed as a parent can increase their risk, the academy said. Reed was arrested on charges of involuntary manslaughter, child abuse with serious injury and child abuse/neglect with serious physical injury on March 6, according to New Hanover County Sheriffs Office jail records. Reed was booked at the New Hanover County Detention Facility and is being held on $500,000 bond as of March 8, according to jail records. 2-week-old dies after mom falls asleep while breastfeeding, cops say. I did it again Womans boyfriend blamed his dog and young girl for babys injuries, MN cops say New dad beats baby to death while mom works, Florida cops say. Beautiful baby girl 10-year-old dies from abuse sustained as a baby, Florida cops say. Man now charged With four kids under the age of 7, Australian influencer Bronte Towns deserves an uninterrupted bubble bath. But as it turns out, she actually prefers family tub time. In a viral Instagram post titled Why I shower with my children, Towns explains that its a natural way to teach her kids biology and to model and monitor body hygiene practices. Another benefit of communal bathing, according to Towns, is that it normalizes everyday bodies that have stretch marks, veins and body hair. So many questions pop up naturally when you shower together. We normalize open conversations in the shower, theres no silly questions, nothing too awkward to ask, etc., Towns wrote. She also uses the time to educate her children on bodily autonomy, personal boundaries & consent. Dr. Wendy Lane, a child abuse pediatrician at the University of Maryland Childrens Hospital, agrees that bathing with one's child provides an opportunity for important conversations. It can be a way to learn accurate names for body parts, explain the physical difference between genders, explain that bodies change while growing up and teach children about personal boundaries, Lane tells TODAY.com. Letting children know that their bodies are their own is important, she adds. No one should be touching their private parts, unless providing assistance with toileting or bathing, if needed, and parents should be aware. Towns did not specify which children she bathes with, but she has 18-month-old boy-girl twins and two sons ages 2 and 7. When should kids transition to bathing on their own? Bathing with children should always stop if the child asks to stop, Lane says. But in general, children develop increased modesty between the ages of 3 and 5, according to Lane. At this time, neurotypical children can clean themselves independently. Townss Instagram reel, which has been seen nearly 12 million times, drew both praise and criticism. who ever thought it was a good idea to teach their child about human anatomy by using their own naked body needs serious psychological evaluating. I showered with my mom growing up and was often in the same room as she changed up until I was a teen, I never had the thought of it being weird or gross until I saw post like these with people being judgmental in the comments, its so normal! and knowing what cellulite, stretch marks and sagging skin looked like at a young age made me feel so much more comfortable in my body when I started to see these things. Mom had this and shes still beautiful and so am I! You can have literally all these conversations without taking a shower with your kids. When I was younger I showered with my grandma. It saved time and water and she showed me how to wash my hair and my body. My daughter is almost two and takes a shower with Dad almost every night since she was a newborn. Gives mom a break and its a great bonding experience. When will we stop? When our daughter wants to. "nopetotally inappropriate." Towns believes the unkind comments are a result of Western society struggling to separate nudity from sexuality. "I believe if people havent grown up with family showers or baths, or do not have children of their own, its extremely difficult for them to comprehend how it could not be sexual but a normal part of everyday life," she told TODAY.com in an email. Towns says a family shower inspired one child to ask, Why are your nipples bigger than Dads? Its an opportunity to explain biology, Because mine are designed to feed babies, she explains to TODAY.com. But most of the time, When I shower with my children, they barely even notice Ive got no clothes on because this is a normal practice in our lives, and always has been. Towns notes that there are boundaries, of course. I will only answer questions that are asked, Towns says. She also keeps her responses simple and age-appropriate. My kids love having family showers and they get super excited playing together in the water, Towns says. When theyre too old or outgrow it we will have a conversation with them father to son, mother to daughter. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Monster Jam returns to the Sun City this weekend EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Monster Jam is back in the Sun City this weekend and tickets are still available for Sunday, March 10. According to the Monster Jam managing partner Neil Barraclough, tickets are sold out for Saturday but theres still an extra day to enjoy the show at the Sun Bowl Stadium. On Saturday, March 9, the Monster Jam pit party will begin at 2:30 p.m. with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the show starting at 7 p.m. As for Sunday, March 10, doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 3 p.m. There will not be a pit party on Sunday. Shows are expected to last a little over two hours. Expect to see the following monster trucks: Son-Uva Digger, Grave Digger, Soldier Fortune, El Toro Loco, Megalodon, Zombie, ThunderROARus, and many more. To purchase your tickets, click here: Monsterjam.com For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Members of the 11th Airborne Division kneel and watch a mushroom cloud stemming from an atomic bomb test at Frenchmans Flat, Nevada Test Site, in November 1951. (Photo: Library of Congress) Members of the 11th Airborne Division kneel and watch a mushroom cloud stemming from an atomic bomb test at Frenchmans Flat, Nevada Test Site, in November 1951. (Photo: Library of Congress) Just months before the program is set to expire, both of Montanas U.S. senators voted Thursday to pass a standalone bill that would extend and expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include Montanans affected by nuclear testing in Nevada decades ago. The full Senate voted 69-30 to pass the bill, sponsored by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, over to the House of Representatives, where Republicans stripped the extension and expansion of RECA out of the National Defense Authorization Act in December. Both Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, and Steve Daines, a Republican, said they were pleased to support the measure. Hawley led the Missouri, New Mexico, and Idaho delegations in introducing a standalone bill last month to try to push the extension and expansion of the program over the finish line, as the program and window for new claims is set to expire in June, following the Houses decision in December to kill the measure as part of the National Defense Authorization Act over alleged cost concerns. The Daily Montanan and other States Newsroom outlets partnered with investigative journalism outlet MuckRock to publish a national series of stories in January called The Radius investigating the effects of the radiation fallout on Americans in the states that were affected. The Daily Montanans reporting featured a woman who grew up on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation who believes its possible radiation could have caused her to develop thyroid cancer and an ovary malady, as well as a woman who now lives in Billings but who grew up in New Mexico and lost several family members to illnesses believed to have been caused by radiation from the Trinity test. Both said they believe any victims of the governments nuclear testing deserve fair compensation. Regions covered by RECA as it stands without expansion. (Map from the U.S. Department of Justice) President Joe Biden extended RECA in 2022 by executive order just ahead of another expiration deadline, and last summer, the Senate included a 19-year extension of the program, and an expansion to include other states, including Montana, in the National Defense Authorization Act before the House stripped it out just before the end-of-year deadline to pass the $800 million defense package. Hawleys bill would only extend RECA through the next six years, until 2030. But it would expand the program to include people in Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico, Guam, and parts of Arizona, Utah and Nevada that were not previously covered under the program who were downwind of the Nevada and New Mexico nuclear testing sites and who later suffered from certain cancers or other illnesses. The bill also expands coverage for uranium mine workers. Downwinders covered under RECA currently can apply for $50,000 if they were present in covered states during certain timeframes in the 1950s and 1960s. A 1997 report showed that 15 counties in Montana were in the top 25 that received the most radiation from nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site, but Montana was never previously included for RECA coverage. Since 2005, senators from both parties from Montana, Idaho, and New Mexico have led the charge to include their states under RECA, but the effort picked up steam with Hawleys push to have Missourians affected by radioactive waste dumps in the St. Louis area included over the past year. The Montana state Senate passed a resolution last year as well urging Congress to pass a RECA expansion to include Montana. U.S. senators were unhappy in December with the Houses decision to strip out the funding, which led to the standalone bill and Hawley urging his Republican colleagues last week to support the reauthorization and expansion. On Wednesday, after Hawley announced hed secured a standalone vote on the bill Thursday, President Bidens White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy urging lawmakers to support the bill. The President believes we have a solemn obligation to address toxic exposure, especially among those who have been placed in harms way by the governments actions, the message said. The Administration looks forward to working with Congress to ensure sufficient resources are made available to cover the costs of administering the expanded benefits program to ensure we can honor that obligation. That set up Thursday afternoons vote on the bill, which needed approval from 60 senators to move on to the House for consideration. The Missouri and New Mexico delegation had downwinders and people affected by radioactive waste present in the Senate gallery for the vote, and Hawley and Sens. Ben Ray Lujan and Martin Heinrich, both New Mexico Democrats, spoke on the floor about what the expansion and extension would do for their constituents. Heinrich said a vote in support would mean senators were standing on the right side of history. All but two Democrats supported the bill, along with both independents and 20 Republicans. Tester, who has supported a RECA expansion for Montana since he took office in 2007, said he was happy the bipartisan effort is moving forward. Montanans who were exposed to dangerous radiation of their own governments actions deserve to be compensated for any suffering caused by that exposure, he said in a written statement. This is about doing right by Montanans, and Im proud to have joined Republicans and Democrats to help right this wrong. Im glad to support a bill that will help so many Montanans who are negatively impacted by radiation exposure, said Daines, who also voted for the National Defense Authorization Act that included the measure last July. Now that the measure has passed the Senate, its prospects are unclear in the House, where spending has become a primary target for the Freedom Caucus-led House Republicans. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the version included with defense spending would have cost $147 billion over the next 10 years. Hawleys office said his version, which includes a much shorter extension, would cost an estimated $50 billion. The Radius series is a collaboration between MuckRock and States Newsroom outlets, including The Daily Montanan, Colorado Newsline, Source New Mexico, Arizona Mirror, The Missouri Independent, Idaho Capital Sun and Utah News Dispatch. The post Montanas US senators vote to pass RECA extension, expansion to include Montana appeared first on Daily Montanan. (Bloomberg) -- A majority of European Union countries are urging the blocs executive to speed up its review of agricultural policies and develop a concrete plan for measures to ease unrest among farmers across the region. Most Read from Bloomberg Agriculture ministers from 22 of the EUs 27 states say they want to see strong and immediate action with specific milestones to resolve issues including conditions for financial support, according to a letter sent this week to the European Commission and seen by Bloomberg News. It is crucial for us to be able to communicate to farmers about the mid-term changes before autumn and to make them as visible as possible, said the ministers from countries including France, Spain, Poland and Italy. The letter was addressed to commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic and Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski. European farmers have been protesting falling incomes and rising costs, unfair competition from countries outside the bloc, as well as climate-focused legislation under the EUs Green Deal to zero out emissions by 2050. Meanwhile, the commission is working on new legislative proposals to loosen the burden on the sector resulting from the environment-related demands in the EUs Common Agricultural Policy. The executive is expected to present its proposals on March 15, days before EU leaders meet in Brussels where they will discuss agriculture and other topics. The ministers are seeking more flexibility on conditions for receiving financial aid under the CAP, simplifying the management of national plans and relieving pressure of controls in the sector, among other issues. Story continues Given the level of farmers expectations, it is of utmost importance that we know quickly what changes will be made and in what time frame, they wrote. New and even higher standards have become increasingly difficult for farmers to accept. The commission told EU ambassadors on Wednesday that it is assessing proposals made in the ministers letter, according to people familiar with the matter. Last month it signaled readiness to simplify rules for farmers and cut the red tape as thousands employed in the agriculture sector blocked the streets in European cities to demand legislative changes. We have worked on the just transition for coal workers, but weve not done so much on what is the impact of all this deep transformation for farmers, Teresa Ribera, Spains environmental minister, said in a Bloomberg interview earlier this week. --With assistance from John Ainger. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Looking to save money, Fresno schools board voted to eliminate more than 100 positions in the next school year at a savings of $7.5 million. A resolution approved by the Fresno Unified board at its Wednesday night meeting cites funding issues and workload as reasons for the planned reduction. The cuts might not happen, but the board passed the resolution because it needs to be ready to meet a March 15 deadline required under state law for any layoff notices, said spokesperson Nikki Henry. We have put these on the agenda to ensure we have the flexibility necessary to continue our budget process, said Henry, the districts chief communications officer, in an emailed reply to The Fresno Bee. No final decisions have been made, though the employees in those positions will be notified, said Henry. She added that Fresno Unified used to notify all employees every year in spring and then rescind about 90% to 100% of those notices. The Board has until June to discuss the final budget. The proposed positions reduction will be effective June 30. Some employees could be moved to other positions, David Chavez, chief of human resources, told the Bee. And any of the changes could involve demotion and salary cuts. Henry said the cuts are tied to the agreement FUSD negotiated with the Fresno Teachers Association in the fall and the decreasing enrollment and average daily attendance, which determines how much money the district could receive. The district has been struggling with declining enrollment, from 70,852 students in the year 2019-20 to 68,362 in the current school year. The ADA for last school year was 90% and climbed to 91.3% this year as of mid-February, but its still 3% below pre-pandemic levels, the district data shows. We knew wed be looking at cuts of about $30 million-$40 million in the budget to accommodate the increased costs of the agreement, said Henry. We are doing what we must to balance our budget with as minimal of impact to classrooms as possible and ensuring our staff are continued to be employed with Fresno Unified. The new contract that FTA signed in December last year, enables a 16% gradual increase over three-year terms and 5% in one-time payments for new and veteran teachers. The agreement also includes approaches to lowering class size, reducing special education caseload, and more. FTA president Manuel Bonilla said this is an old unfortunate irresponsible narrative that the district continues to push to educators and employees. The reality is that theyve had record-ongoing revenue, record-reserve levels, and have had some very wasteful allocations and mismanagement of money, said Bonilla. So its frustrating to hear when theyre trying to blame educators for any potential cuts that they may be budgeting. He said redeploying educators to other positions has an negative impact on teachers and students because the district is not being fully funded and fully staffed in the way it should be to help students. We still dont think it needs to happen, because even when you look at the three-year projections, theyre going to be operating an ending fund balance of approximately 11% of the operating budget, said Bonilla. We believe that they have enough money to be able to utilize reserves in a way that doesnt negatively impact anybody. According to the passed resolution, a total of 66.76 full-time equivalent permanent classified positions will be impacted, including 24 vacant positions, 1.76 retirements, 19 positions to Change in assignment, and 22 filled positions. The district lists 12.9375 full-time equivalents of classified reductions. Also, 41 full-time equivalent positions for certified services will be discontinued, including 8 vacant positions. 18 impacted positions are due to the Farber consolidation, a new campus site that hosts three schools - JE Young Academic Center, Cambridge High, and eLearn Academy - to open in August 2024. More than half of Asian American residents of New York City say they have experienced hate due to race or ethnicity, according to a recent survey. The survey by The Asian American Foundation, found that 54 percent of Asian American New Yorkers said they had experienced either insults, harassments, threats, or physical attacks in the past 12 months. It also found that 62 percent of Asian American New Yorkers said they had witnessed someone else experience either insults, harassments, threats, or physical attacks in the past 12 months. The anti-Asian hate rhetoric and violence that targeted the AAPI community in 2020 has not stopped, foundation CEO Norman Chen said in a press release on the survey. Were seeing this in the continued hate, violence, and distrust towards Asian Americans New Yorkers. The othering of our community contributes not only to discrimination and prejudice in public spaces, but also erodes any efforts toward equity and inclusivity for AAPIs, Chen continued. A survey last year found that increasing rates of violence and anti-Asian sentiment were having a negative effect on Asian and Asian American professionals mental and physical health, with 63 percent of respondents saying ongoing violence negatively affected their mental health and 45 percent saying it negatively affected their physical health. In 2021, President Biden signed legislation targeting the rise in hate crimes against the Asian American community that happened in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The bill was designed to better the tracking and reporting of hate crimes and strengthen support for state and local officials investigating hate crimes. My message to all of those of you who are hurting is we see you and the Congress has said, we see you. And we are committed to stop the hatred and the bias, Biden said at a signing ceremony. We have to change the hearts of the American people. I mean this from the bottom of my heart, hate can be given no safe harbor in America. I mean it, no safe harbor. It cant be dismissed, like well thats just what happens, he added. The Asian American Foundation commissioned BSP Research to conduct the survey, which featured 1,000 Asian American residents of New York who were interviewed between Nov. 30 and Dec. 19, 2023, and has an overall sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Thousands of voters in Alabama who were moved to a congressional district redrawn by a federal court to strengthen Black voting power received mail that misidentified which district they belonged to. Ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries, 6,593 voters who are now part of the newly reformed 2nd Congressional District received postcards stating they still belonged to the 7th District, The Associated Press reports. The Southern Poverty Law Center previously reported that 5,604 voters received those postcards, and 4,513 of them are Black. : A voter leaves a polling place after casting their ballot in the states primary on March 5, 2024 in Mountain Brook, Alabama. 15 States and one U.S. Territory hold their primary elections on Super Tuesday, awarding more delegates than any other day in the presidential nominating calendar. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images) One Black voter told the Montgomery Advertiser she received one of those postcards even though she knew she was part of the 2nd District. She said she even got anonymous calls that misinformed her of which day to vote. A lot of people probably fell for the bait, but I didnt, Adigale Brooks said. James Snipes, the chair of the Montgomery County Board of Registrars, told AP a glitch in the countys election software was to blame for the error, but it did not impact voters ability to vote for the correct candidates. Everyone who came to their precinct was able to vote for the correct candidates, Snipes said. This was a good-faith effort. Even though the postcards were mailed by the Montgomery County Board of Registrars, the SPLC blamed the Secretary of States Office for the error. Officials from the Secretary of States office told multiple outlets they were not responsible. The information in the statewide voter file is inputted at the county level. The Secretary of State simply maintains the database, Laney Rawls told AL.com. If the information in the file was incorrect, it would have been inputted incorrectly by the county, not the Secretary of States office. The county sent updated notices to all the voters who received the mail with the incorrect information. This is more than a misstep. Providing erroneous information to thousands of voters on the eve of a hotly contested primary election could very well impact the turnout and the results of the election, for both Republicans and Democrats, Bradley Heard, the SPLCs deputy legal director for democracy and voting rights told the Montgomery Advertiser. There needs to be an immediate audit and public accounting from Secretary Wes Allens office on the scope of the problem. Montgomery County now belongs to the 2nd Congressional District, Alabamas newest majority-Black district. The county is home to nearly 160,000 voters. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that Alabama lawmakers had to create a second majority-Black district after finding that their old congressional map diluted the power of the Black vote. Only one of Alabamas seven congressional districts was majority Black in a state where the population is 28 percent Black. State legislators twice ignored the court order, so a panel of federal judges appointed a special master to redraw the state district lines in November. Now, nearly 49 percent of voters in the newly reformed 2nd District are Black, which gives them the opportunity to elect another Black congressional representative. For many Black voters in that district, this is the first election where they have the opportunity to elect a representative who looks like them, Camille Wimbish, national director of campaigns and field programs for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, told the AP. This could have caused many Black Alabamans to stay home and not vote at all. A similar error was caught in January when another set of postcards were sent. Election officials thought they had fixed the error in their software then. It is disappointing to see that voters in Montgomery County are facing classic disenfranchisement, state Rep. Napoleon Bracy Jr. said. This Is More Than a Misstep: Thousands of Black Voters In Alabama Congressional District Redrawn to Increase Their Voting Power Receive Mail with Incorrect District Info SAN DIEGO (Border Report) Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero says she will not challenge her partys decision not to support her quest for re-election. The Morena party, entrenched as Mexicos ruling party and led by Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, instead chose to endorse Ismael Burgueno Ruizs candidacy. Im not going to challenge, I would never raise my hand against the president, Caballero said in a statement issued through her social media. On Wednesday, Morena Party leaders issued a list of preferred candidates and Caballeros name was not on it. Because she was considered a virtual lock for a second term, the omission has come as a surprise to many. The mayor has always been a staunch party supporter and was seen as a rising star within Morena. Initially, Caballero said on Facebook she would seek a legal challenge to what she considered the snatching of her project in favor of Burgueno. Caballero had said she was baffled because she had won the partys straw poll for mayor of Tijuana, which traditionally determines who gets the partys endorsement, support and funding. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border I will respect my partys decision, she said. I will continue to be a militant for Morena, and Im grateful to President Lopez Obrador who allowed me to become mayor of Tijuana. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. President Biden tried to reassure Democrats and confronted Republican foes and former President Trump during a Thursday night speech filled with sharp partisan rebukes attached to gossamer calls for unity and vision. Biden made his opening pitch for a second term by taking Trump on during his State of the Union address without naming him and while unabashedly championing a progressive agenda that would be impossible to enact without electing more Democrats to the House and Senate. Repeatedly referring to my predecessor, Biden used some of Trumps recent statements to attack him as a danger to democracy and a risk on the world stage. You cant love your country only when you win, Biden said. Speaking rapidly and raising his voice, the president outlined his economic loyalties to the middle class and challenged House Republicans to back a bipartisan border security bill, approve more international aid, shift tax breaks away from corporations and the wealthy and craft a federal legal shield for in vitro fertilization all issues that divide the GOP. The Washington Post: Bidens exchanges with Republican lawmakers in the House chamber turned the address into a form of political theater. The Atlantic: Republican members of Congress repeatedly heckled the president, who was happy to mix it up with them. Biden reached out to younger voters, independents, seniors, women, minorities, union workers and veterans on issues they care about. Without their support in November, polls suggest Biden could lose to Trump. He has eight months to bolster a coalition that has frayed since 2020 because of economic anxieties and fears that Biden is too old. The president joked about his age, but left that vulnerability to the end of his speech. The Hill: Five takeaways from the State of the Union address. The Hill: Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) went after dithering, diminished Biden in her State of the Union response. Biden began with a smile and handshake followed by an implicit rebuke for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), the conservative lawmaker seated behind him. Emphasizing that freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and abroad, Biden urged House Republicans to approve stalled funding that would provide Ukraine with more than $60 billion in military and humanitarian aid to defend against Russia. The Hill: Speaker Johnson and colleagues reacted to overly partisan Biden remarks. Biden quoted Trump with alarm for boasting that he would encourage Russia and Vladimir Putin to do whatever the hell they want to NATO allies if those countries did not spend enough on defense. The president said Trump urged Republicans to oppose a bipartisan border security bill in the Senate because it would hand Biden a legislative win in an election year. Turning to the plight of Palestinians and escalating calls from Americans for a cease-fire in Gaza, Biden challenged the Israeli government, explained his efforts to secure a deal between Israel and Hamas and pledged more humanitarian assistance by air and sea. This war has taken a greater toll on innocent civilians than all previous wars in Gaza combined, Biden said, noting the deaths of 30,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7. Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers arent caught in the crossfire. To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. The administration in recent weeks has worked with Egyptian and Qatari officials to broker a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, and U.S. troops have airdropped food aid into Gaza. Biden announced Thursday that the U.S. military will build a temporary maritime pier to transport food, water and provisions by sea. Biden will travel today to Philadelphia for a campaign event as Vice President Harris and Cabinet members begin a media blitz and fan out to at least a dozen states this month to trumpet administration accomplishments and draw contrasts with Republicans. The president and Trump will separately headline campaign events in Georgia Saturday. The Hill: Biden sparred with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) over immigration. He mentioned the late Laken Rileys name at the lawmakers urging. Find text of the presidents speech as prepared for delivery HERE. Trumps review of the speech: Using Truth Social to provide some play-by-play of Bidens address, the former president revived criticisms of his successor and Bidens record as president, fact-checked by The Independent HERE. 3 THINGS TO KNOW TODAY Theres always a catch! Healthy gains on high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit will bite in 2023 tax bills for savers. Its International Womens Day. The Washington Post has kept track of some of the key events that affected women in different parts of the world over the past year. Can you tell which piece of audio was made by AI? Check out this quiz with nine familiar voices. Hearing is not believing anymore. LEADING THE DAY CONGRESS Border issues: The House Thursday approved legislation that would require the detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement of any migrant who commits burglary or theft. The bill cleared the chamber 251-170, with 37 Democrats joining Republicans. Some Democrats who supported the measure are in tough races this year, including Senate contests (The Hill). Conservatives, pointing to the administrations policies at the U.S. southern border, named the immigration bill after Laken Riley, a Georgia student allegedly murdered by an undocumented migrant from Venezuela who was charged last month with felony murder, kidnapping and false imprisonment. Referring to news accounts about crimes allegedly committed by migrants, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said, Theyve all been victimized by those whom the Biden administration has released into our country. He is releasing them into your state. Fact check for this weeks talking points: Stanford University researchers last year noted that immigration opponents assert that migrants drive up crime. Myth, according to a detailed historical study of incarceration rates of migrants nationwide relative to U.S. born individuals, and regardless of immigrants legal status. Far from the rapists and drug dealers that anti-immigrant politicians claim them to be, immigrants today are doing relatively well and have largely been shielded from the social and economic forces that have negatively affected low-educated U.S.-born men, wrote Stanford economist Ran Abramitzky. IVF: The House will not tackle legislation dealing with the nationwide controversy over in vitro fertilization, which erupted following an Alabama Supreme Court decision that frozen embryos are children, Johnson told CBS Mornings during a Thursday interview. Johnson previously said he supports IVF (It needs to be readily available), adding Thursday that he believes its a states issue. The Hill: Among Senate Republicans, the risk of a partial shutdown reemerged with a sudden skirmish over earmarks. Also, nuclear waste reprocessing, revived after decades, is in the House spending measure as an earmark. TikTok: A House panel unanimously advanced a bipartisan bill Thursday that could ban TikTok. It passed days after introduction by two lawmakers on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (The Hill). Radiation: The Senate voted 69-30 Thursday to update existing law to compensate Americans exposed to radiation by the federal government. Sponsor Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) previously said he would factor his colleagues vote on his bill while weighing his choice to be the next Senate Republican leader. Two aspirants seeking to succeed Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) are Minority Whip John Thune (S.D.) and Sen. John Cornyn (Texas). They voted against Hawleys measure. McConnell voted in favor (The Hill). Demoted: Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), a Trump ally and former Navy physician assigned to the White House medical team during the Obama years, was demoted by the Navy in 2022 to retired captain from rear admiral, a change retroactively applied to his 2019 retirement but not publicly disclosed at the time. The demotion followed a Pentagon inspector general report and a decision that Jacksons behavior was not in keeping with the standards the Navy requires of its leaders (The Washington Post). The lawmaker has continued to publicly describe himself as a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral. He maintains that the Inspector General probe was politically motivated. 2024 ROUNDUP Republican National Committee members are expected to vote today on new leadership during a Houston meeting where Chair Ronna McDaniel says shell step down. The change is fresh evidence that political alliances with Trump often include an expiration date. Trumps impending takeover of the RNC could give him access to cash at a time when he is beset by legal bills, making some committee members nervous. Biden won the Hawaii presidential primary Wednesday, according to The Hills projection with Decision Desk HQ. His win in the Aloha State will likely add most of the states 22 pledged delegates to his total. Hawaii Republicans will hold their caucuses Tuesday. Bidens campaign called a new ad released by a super PAC supporting Trump sick and deranged on Thursday. It includes this voiceover: If Biden wins, can he even survive until 2029? Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) is doubling down on her claim that Californias Senate race was rigged by billionaires after she lost the chance to advance to the general election. Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who was expelled from the House last year and succeeded by a Democrat in the seat he left, announced Thursday in Washington that hes running for Congress again. His new target: GOP Rep. Nick LaLota in New Yorks 1st Congressional District. ZOOM IN MORE POLITICS Who would those third-party contenders be? The centrist group No Labels is expected to push forward today with plans for an independent presidential unity ticket this year, The Wall Street Journal reports. We expect our delegates to encourage the process to continue, said Ryan Clancy, the groups chief strategist. No Labels still has a lengthy process ahead as delegates aim to debut a formal selection process this month and proceed from there. The groups plans could still change, The Associated Press reports. Group officials have said they are communicating with potential candidates but have not disclosed any names. Nikki Haley said shes not interested. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who is retiring from the Senate, says he wont be a presidential candidate. Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland is seeking a Senate seat. WHERE AND WHEN The House will convene at 10 a.m. The Senate will meet at 10 a.m. The president will receive the Presidents Daily Brief at 10 a.m. Biden and first lady Jill Biden will leave the White House at 1:40 p.m. to travel to Philadelphia for a campaign event at 5 p.m. They will later depart Philadelphia to fly to New Castle, Del., and remain overnight. On Saturday, the Bidens head to Atlanta for a campaign event and return again to Delaware. Biden is scheduled to return to the White House on Sunday. The vice president will be interviewed by NBC News for its Nightly News broadcast. Harris will fly to Phoenix to speak about reproductive rights at an event at 4:25 p.m. MST. She will be accompanied by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Harris will depart Phoenix for Los Angeles, where she will remain overnight. The vice president will be in Las Vegas Saturday to again speak about reproductive rights. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets this morning with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the State Department and hosts a reception this afternoon for International Womens Day. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will travel to Colorado today to highlight clean energy manufacturing as part of the presidents agenda. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will speak about transportation infrastructure and the economy during an event at the Albuquerque, N.M., airport at 12:30 p.m. MT. He will visit Barelas Coffee Shop and then Bow and Arrow Brewing Co. in Albuquerque in the afternoon. ELSEWHERE INTERNATIONAL HAMAS LEFT GAZA CEASE-FIRE TALKS Thursday in Cairo with no sign of progress just days before the start of Ramadan. The U.S. which is brokering the talks alongside Qatar and Egypt said the onus was on the Palestinian militant group to strike a deal on Israeli hostages. Israel and Hamas blamed each other for the lack of agreement after four days of talks to secure a 40-day ceasefire amid fears violence could escalate during the Muslim holy month. Egyptian sources told Reuters that the talks, taking place without an Israeli delegation in Cairo, would resume on Sunday, the deadline mediators have set for the two sides to respond to the truce proposal. Regardless, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not give in to international pressure to stall an attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah and will continue its offensive against Hamas (The Guardian). There is international pressure and its growing, but we need to stand together against the attempts to stop the war, the prime minister said Thursday, adding that Israels forces would operate against Hamas all through the Gaza Strip including Rafah, the last Hamas stronghold Whoever tells us not to act in Rafah is telling us to lose the war and that will not happen. Al Jazeera: The U.S. plan to build a temporary port off Gazas coast to step up the delivery of humanitarian aid has been criticized as an attempt to divert attention from Israels consistent blocking of assistance to the enclave. The New York Times: Since October, organizers and Palestinian cooks working with the World Central Kitchen the aid organization founded by the renowned Spanish chef Jose Andres have served more than 32 million meals in Gaza. Reuters: Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories have expanded by a record amount and risk eliminating any practical possibility of a Palestinian state, the U.N. human rights chief said Friday. When Israels war on Hamas ends, its conflict with Iran-backed militias may rage on, reports The Hills Brad Dress. Israeli officials are increasingly concerned with the constant artillery and rocket fire at the northern border with Lebanons Hezbollah and have said they will fight to push the group back from bordering territory. The clash with Hezbollah is driving up the stakes in the Middle East, having already created a messy dilemma that will have to be resolved one way or another regardless of the Israel-Hamas war. A The New Yorker Q&A with Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) focused on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and his pressure on the administration to use the leverage of U.S. law: I do think that the [Biden] administration recognizes how bad it looks to repeatedly request the Netanyahu government take action and to repeatedly be ignored, while at the same time the administration has been providing a substantial amount of military aid thats being used in Gaza. I think the administration recognizes the contradictions, but has not yet resolved those contradictions. Sweden officially joined NATO on Thursday after Russias invasion of Ukraine spurred it to rethink its defense policy and abandon its long held position of neutrality (CNN). TRUMP WORLD JUDGE AND JURORS: The judge overseeing Trumps upcoming hush money trial in New York City agreed Thursday to limit the disclosure of the names and other identifying information of jurors, finding there is a likelihood of bribery, jury tampering, or of physical injury or harassment of juror(s). Jury selection is to begin March 25 (ABC News and The Hill). TRUMP HAS BEEN ORDERED TO PAY a six-figure legal bill to Orbis Business Intelligence, a company founded by former British spy Christopher Steele, that he unsuccessfully sued for making what his lawyer called shocking and scandalous false claims that harmed his reputation. A London judge, who threw out the case last month saying it was bound to fail, ordered Trump to pay legal fees of $382,000, according to court documents released Thursday (ABC News). OPINION In his State of the Union, Biden plays the age-old hits, by David Von Drehle, deputy opinion editor and columnist, The Washington Post. Bidens partisan State of Disunion, by The Wall Street Journal editorial board. THE CLOSER And finally Standing O for this weeks Morning Report Quiz winners! We asked about trivia tied to past State of the Union addresses and readers delivered. Heres who went 4/4, demonstrating that the state of their puzzle acumen is strong: Pam Manges, Lynn Gardner, Patrick Kavanagh, Phil Kirstein, Peter Sprofera, Randall S. Patrick, Mary Anne McEnery, Bill Moore, Carmine Petracca, Ned Sauthoff, Linda Field, Clare Millians, Roger Barnaby, Chuck Schoenenberger, Ki Harvey, Harry Strulovici, John Trombetti, Frank Garza, Robert Bradley. Jack Barshay and Steve James. They knew that in 1947, Harry Truman was the first president to give a State of the Union speech on television. Former President Bill Clinton set a record with an 89-minute State of the Union address in 2000. My fellow Americans was a phrase coined by President Lyndon Johnson in the opening of his annual address to a joint session of Congress in 1964 (text HERE). Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) memorably became parched in 2013 while delivering a live, televised response to the State of the Union address. He briefly paused for a big swig from a water bottle. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Milwaukee parent pleaded guilty Thursday to charges she beat up a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher in front of more than a dozen students. Tangreanna Shanks-Wallace, 25, of Milwaukee, was charged in Nov. 9, 2022 of battery to a school district officer, a Class-I felony. Prosecutors agreed to drop a misdemeanor count of bail jumping against Shanks-Wallace, but the charge will be read into the record for sentencing purposes, online court records show. Sentencing is scheduled for May 9 before Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Kori Ashley. How did things unfold? According to a criminal complaint, police were called to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School on a complaint that a parent who was talking to the principal and a teacher began shouting and yelling expletives at the teacher outside the school. Roughly 15-20 students were present at the time of the incident. According to the complaint, the parent, later identified as Shanks-Wallace, was with a man, an older woman and a student at the time. A staff member told police she heard the man had a firearm, but she didn't see one. More: Former Oak Creek teacher lied to investigators, tried to have report, suspension removed, report says The complaint said Shanks-Wallace punched a teacher in the head when the staff member called police to report "people were attacking the staff." The teacher fell to the ground and was punched 15-20 times in the head, and later was treated for a concussion. Shanks-Wallace was charged after she was identified from a photo array as the attacker, according to the complaint. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mother pleads guilty to punching Milwaukee teacher BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Liliana Jimenez and her brother Christian were good friends. They spent a lot of time together, their mother said. They were with each other the night of July 17, 2021, when shots were fired from a vehicle toward them and their father. Liliana, 10, died from her injuries. Her brother, then 12, and father were hit but survived. Its very hard to be happy, a tearful Adriana Santos, the childrens mother, said of her life since that night. When she starts experiencing happiness, she said, feelings of guilt creep in because her daughter is gone. Investigation launched after man was found dead in a Planet Fitness parking lot in central Bakersfield: BPD She and her son will never be the same, Santos testified Thursday during a transfer hearing to determine whether a man who was 17 when charged in Lilianas killing will have his case transferred to adult court. Now 20, Jesus Everardo Rodriguez can be held in custody until hes 25 if his case is adjudicated in juvenile court. If found guilty of murder in adult court, he would receive a life term in prison. Prosecutor Richard Choi on Thursday said Rodriguez meets the requirements, such as criminal sophistication, prior criminal history and seriousness of the offense, to be transferred. He planned this, Choi told Judge Marcus Cuper. On the night of the killing, Rodriguez and others drove from Lamont to Arvin to hunt rival gang members, the prosecutor said. As the driver, Rodriguez tailed a vehicle occupied by Liliana, her brother and father after noticing the father wore a hat commonly worn by Arvina gang members, Choi said. The father parked at his home, the vehicle driven by Rodriguez pulled up alongside and a passenger opened fire, Choi said. The shooter has not been identified. Only Rodriguez is charged. Efforts to rehabilitate Rodriguez since his arrest more than two years ago have been an absolute failure, Choi told court. Hes been written up in 40 special incident reports, the vast majority for fighting. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News The prosecutor argued Rodriguez cant be rehabilitated by the time hes 25. Rodriguezs attorney, Jesse Whitten, said theres evidence his client, who didnt fire a gun, did not expect the nights events to go as they did. Its unknown, he said, if Lilianas father was armed during the incident and later disposed of the gun. As for the dozens of fights, Whitten said his client has been targeted by others in custody because of publicity surrounding the case and was forced to defend himself. Cuper has three months to issue a ruling but said he expects to file one within days. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Memphis Police officer is in critical condition and a 22-year-old man is in custody after a shooting Friday during a traffic stop on Interstate 240. According to Memphis Police, the incident happened a little before 4:30 a.m. on I-240 near South Parkway. During a traffic stop, the officer was going over citations when the suspect began firing shots, striking the policeman approximately four times. A backup officer returned fire on the vehicle, and the driver fled the scene in a black Nissan. MPD said later Friday morning that the suspect had been captured. He was identified as Geronimo Kee, 22. Kee is now facing charges of criminal attempt first-degree murder, intentionally evading arrest in auto, employing firearm with intent to commit felony, and speeding. Who is Geronimo Kee, suspect in MPD officers shooting? Download the WREG App today and stay up to date with breaking news and weather. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. The officer was out of surgery at Regional One hospital and was in critical condition, but stable, Interim MPD Chief CJ Davis said at 9 a.m. This mornings shooting of an MPD officer is an unfortunate reminder of the dangerous situations that our officers face each day, and we stand with them in support, Mayor Paul Young said in a statement. We are praying for the officer to make a speedy recovery. Kee had an injury to his hand. It is unknown if it was from gunfire or glass fragments. The suspects car was found on Dempster Street in South Memphis, about a mile from the initial incident. It was damaged, indicating it was possibly struck by gunfire, Davis said. WREG looked into Kees background and found that he does not have previous records for Shelby County adult court, but in Fayette County, Kee was one of 11 charged in a disturbance at Wilder Youth Development Center when he was 18 years old. He faced charges of vandalism, escaping custody of an officer, and inciting a riot after a disturbance. Authorities say several housing pods were damaged in the incident and cinder blocks were used to break windows, doors, security mirrors and security cameras. We asked Shelby County Juvenile Court what landed him in Wilder, but under state law, there was no information they could release. This is the second shooting connected to a traffic stop in the Memphis area this week. TBI investigating deadly officer-involved shooting in Collierville Sunday night, a Collierville police officer fatally shot a driver during a traffic stop after the man allegedly grabbed his gun. The TBI is investigating. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. MARSHALL, Mich. (WOOD) A Michigan State Police dog died this week of a medical condition. The MSP Marshall Post says K-9 Solo died Wednesday. He had a twisted stomach, which German shepherds are prone to. Veterinarians tried to perform surgery to fix it, but decided during the procedure that it would not work. As a result, Solo was euthanized. He was 6 years old. Solo had been partnered with Trooper Jereme Miller for five years; the anniversary of their graduation from training was this week. Together, they tracked down 68 missing or wanted people and find about 40 pounds of narcotics. A file image of Michigan State Police K-9 Solo and his handler, Trooper Jereme Miller. (Courtesy MSP) A file image of Michigan State Police K-9 Solo, courtesy MSP. This is a huge blow to the Marshall Post family, and as you can all imagine, a bigger impact on Trooper Miller and his family, MSP Post Commander 1st Lt. Barry Schrader said in a statement. In speaking with Trooper Miller, Solo finished his career like a trooper would. He assisted our Southwest Enforcement Team (SWET) with a hit on 4 kilos of methamphetamine during a search warrant hours before his medical emergency. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post with more information as it becomes available. WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) Multiple people have been detained after a shooting in West Valley City Thursday evening, according to the West Valley City Police Department. Officers said it appeared people from two different vehicles fired shots near 3500 S 3200 W at around 7 p.m. Lt. Jason Vincent of WVCPD later told ABC4.com that Based on all the parties involved, I think we only have one person that was doing the shooting. The other parties were just vehicles that were general motoring public that got bumped into. No injuries have been reported, and an investigation is ongoing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Friday, March. 8. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our live updates file on the war for Saturday, March. 9. The European Union announced a maritime humanitarian corridor Friday in partnership with the United States, the United Arab Emirates and others to deliver desperately needed aid into Gaza where reports of malnutrition-related deaths among children are rising. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, speaking at Cyprus, where preparations were being inspected, said a ship carrying humanitarian aid will head to Gaza on Friday to test the sea corridor, which could officially open this weekend. The announcement comes after President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military, in coordination with international partners, to build a temporary port on the coast of Gaza that could take in large amounts of humanitarian aid. Construction of the pier will likely take several weeks, U.S. officials said. The new strategies to get aid into Gaza, including humanitarian airdrops by the U.S. and other counties, signals increased involvement in the war by Israel's top ally and growing frustration in the West with how Israel is conducting its offensive. Meanwhile, negotiations for a temporary cease-fire ahead of the start of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, appeared to break down. On Thursday, Hamas said its delegation left Cairo, Egypt, where talks were being held until next week. Palestinians pray in front of a mosque destroyed by the Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Friday, March 8, 2024, ahead of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. Developments: An estimated 8,000 people need to be evacuated from Gaza, including over 6,000 trauma patients and 2,000 others suffering from serious chronic conditions, such as cancer, according to the World Health Organization. Since the war began, more than 30,870 Palestinian have been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The health officials do not differentiate between combatant and civilian deaths. Story continues The Israeli military said in a post on X that troops killed 30 militants in Gaza, destroyed several tunnel shafts and struck a weapons storage facility believed to be a source of rockets fired toward communities in southern Israel. An Israeli operation in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza where more than 1 million people have taken shelter from the war, "would incur massive loss of life and would heighten the risk of further atrocity crimes," Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said on Friday. "This must not be allowed to happen." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will evacuate the crowded city before launching an invasion to dismantle what Israeli officials say is Hamas' final stronghold. U.N. human rights office calls Israeli settlements in West Bank a 'war crime' The U.N. human rights office called Israel's establishment and expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem a "war crime" under international law in a new report released on Friday. According to the report, about 24,300 housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank were advanced from the start of Nov. 2022 to the end Oct. 2023, the most since the office began monitoring the situation in 2017. The report also documents 603 attacks on Palestinians by settlers in the area since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. In the same time period, at least nine Palestinians have been killed by settlers using firearms, and at least 396 have been killed by Israeli security forces. The West Bank is already in crisis. Yet, settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian State, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said in a press release. U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank had reached 'shocking new levels.' Biden on hot mic: he needs 'come to Jesus' meeting with Netanyahu Biden was caught on a hot mic saying he would tell Netanyahu the two needed a "come to Jesus meeting" after his State of the Union address. Biden made the comment to a group that included Colorado Sen. Michael Bennett, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, as he greeted the audience after the annual presidential address on Thursday evening. Bennett congratulated Biden on his speech and asked him to keep pushing for humanitarian aid for Gaza. "I told him, Bibi, and dont repeat this, but you and I are going to have a come to Jesus meeting," Biden said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. When an aid informed Biden that he was on a hot mic, Biden said, "Im on a hot mic here. Good. Thats good. Palestinian children receive cooked food rations as part of a volunteer youth initiative in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on March 5, 2024, amid widespread hunger in the besieged Palestinian territory as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continues. Five people killed by airdrop in northern Gaza, reports say At least five people were killed and several others were wounded in northern Gaza when a parachute attached to a pallet carrying humanitarian aid failed to open, multiple media outlets reported Friday. The boxes reportedly crushed people crowded near the al-Shati refugee camp as they awaited the arrival of food, water and other supplies. Those killed in the incident were taken to Gaza Citys Shifa Hospital, the Guardian reported, citing the facility's head nurse, Mohammed al-Sheikh. It's unclear what country is responsible for the airdrop. Beginning last week, Egypt, Jordan, the U.S. and others have carried out air deliveries to parts of northern Gaza, where people, including children, have begun to starve to death. An aircraft airdrops humanitarian aid over Gaza the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, March 8, 2024. Islamic Relief describes suffering of pregnant women in Gaza In a statement released this week, Islamic Relief said tens of thousands of pregnant women and new mothers in Gaza are struggling to "keep themselves and their babies alive amidst life-threatening shortages of food, water and medical care." The humanitarian organization said there are about 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza and, each day, about 180 women give birth in "unimaginable conditions." The agency's staff reported women enduring C-sections without anesthetic, newborns starving to death and a shortage of hygiene supplies leading to diseases. Pregnancy now is like women used to have it 100 years ago, without medical care, checkups, scans or good nutrition," the statement said. "Many women ... have had miscarriages and problems due to the lack of medical care. Of the 36 hospitals in Gaza, a dozen are partially functioning, one is minimally functioning and 23 have been forced to stop operations completely, according to the U.N. humanitarian affairs office. Palestinians react as they gather to collect aid food in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 26, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. U.N. Security Council to hold emergency session on Oct. 7 sexual violence report The United Nations' Security Council will hold an emergency session on Monday to discuss a report that Hamas committed acts of sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attack, reported the Times of Israel. The session, requested by the U.S., United Kingdom and France, will center around a report released this week by the U.N. envoy focusing on sexual violence, which said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe Hamas militants committed rape, sexualized torture and other sexual abuses in the Oct. 7 attack and in the months since the war started. The report was based on accounts of released hostages who were interviewed during multiple visits to Israel and the West Bank earlier this year. The U.N. envoy was unable to meet with victims of sexual violence despite concerted efforts to encourage them to come forward," said Pramila Patten, a member of the team that assembled the report. Patten recommended that the security council urge Israel to grant access to the U.N. to carry out full-fledged investigations into the alleged violations." Hamas has previously denied allegations that its militants committed sexual assault. Reports of malnutrition-related deaths rise across the Gaza Strip The U.N. has warned for months of a looming famine in Gaza, especially in the North, which has largely been cut off from humanitarian aid. In recent days, such warnings were met as the health ministry in Gaza and hospital officials throughout the enclave reported that over two dozen people have died of malnutrition. At least 20 people have died from malnutrition and dehydration at Kamal Adwan and Shifa hospitals in northern Gaza, according to the Health Ministry. Most of the dead are children, including ones as old as 15 and as young as 14 days. At the Emirati Hospital in Rafah, 16 premature babies have died of malnutrition-related causes over the past five weeks, one of the senior doctors told The Associated Press. The child deaths we feared are here, as malnutrition ravages the Gaza Strip, Adele Khodr, UNICEF's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said earlier this week. These tragic and horrific deaths are man-made, predictable and entirely preventable." Biden says Israel cannot use humanitarian aid as a 'bargaining chip' President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address said Israel must do more to get desperately needed aid into Gaza and, in a statement directed at Israel's leadership, said "humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip." "More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of whom are not Hamas. Thousands and thousands are innocent women and children," Biden said before Congress. "Nearly 2 million more Palestinians under bombardment or displaced. Homes destroyed, neighborhoods in rubble, cities in ruin. Families without food, water, medicine. Its heartbreaking." During his speech, Biden said Israel has a right to defend itself but has a "fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza." Biden also addressed families of hostages taken on Oct. 7, when Hamas launched its incursion into southern Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and triggering the war. "I pledge to all the families that we will not rest until we bring their loved ones home," he said. "Hamas could end this conflict today by releasing the hostages, laying down arms, and surrendering those responsible for October 7th." Contributing: Associated Press; John Bacon, Jorge L. Ortiz This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel war news updates: US, EU announce port, sea corridor for aid Murray, Utah (ABC4) The owner of a Murray auto repair shop was arrested Wednesday in a federal drug distribution investigation, according to Taylorsville Police. Muayad Kareem, 47, was arrested on two counts of distribution/offer/arrangement of a controlled substance (second-degree felony) and purchase, transfer, possession, or use of a firearm by a restricted person (third-degree felony). Kareem was allegedly distributing synthetic cathinones, also known as Alpha PVP or bath salt, and Oxycontin pills out of his Taylorsville auto shop and White City residence, according to a joint investigation between the Drug Enforcement Administration and Taylorsville Police. On March 6, authorities executed two search warrants at Kareems home and place of business. Prior to serving the warrant at Kareems home, police found Kareem leaving the home in a grey Mercedes and initiated a traffic stop. Nations first sky dome resort promises pristine stargazing views near Bryce Canyon National Park Police found Kareem in possession of a prescription bottle of M30 Oxycontin pills and a large quantity of money. Police also found a laptop bag containing a revolver and three bags of bath salt. The amount and packaging indicated that the drugs were meant for distribution and not personal use, according to a probable cause affidavit. Police also found multiple unmarked prescription bottles of pills and large quantities of money at Kareems auto shop. Kareem was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on the charges previously mentioned. No further information is available at this time. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A 19-year-old college student is accusing a Lyft driver of sexually assaulting her after a ride back to her Conway apartment. She is now suing him and Lyft, doing business as Lyft Drives South Carolina, the company he was a driver with. The man, MD Soriful Islam, 32, of Myrtle Beach, was arrested by police a few days after the alleged incident on charges of third-degree assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct. A message left with Lyft was returned with an automatic response and a representative had not returned the message as of publication. An email sent to Islam also was not immediately returned. The womans name is not revealed in the suit, only listing her as Jane Doe. Doe, a full-time student pursing a bachelors degree in biology, was out with roommates on Oct. 21, 2023, at the Crooked Floor Tavern, located on Highway 544 in Conway, according to the suit filed March 4. A little after midnight, Doe got tired and decided she wanted to go home. She logged on to the Lyft app and ordered a ride to take her to her apartment, which was about 1 1/2 miles from the tavern. Islam, who was using the Lyft app as a driver, accepted Does ride request and picked her up at 12:52 a.m. on Oct. 22, 2023, the suit said. Doe sat in the front passenger seat of the vehicle and Islam immediately began making unwanted, concerning and repetitive sexually suggestive remarks to Doe, according to the suit. Islam missed the first turn into Does apartment complex and disregarded the GPS directions, in addition to Does notice that the turn was approaching. Because of Islams suggestive comments and his deviation from the set route, Jane Doe became increasingly concerned for her safety, the suit said. Doe informed the driver that there was another route ahead that would also lead to her apartment. Islam made the turn and pulled into an empty parking space near Does apartment building. Once he put the the vehicle in park, Islam grabbed Does arm and forcefully and repeatedly demanded kiss me to Doe, the suit said. Doe tried to push Islam away while retreating. Islam locked the doors to the vehicle so that she could not escape and began groping Does leg, moving upward between her legs, the suit said. Doe was eventually able to get the door unlocked and escape finally, the suit said. Once in her apartment, Doe notified police. She also notified Lyft of the sexual assault. Lyft responded with the following message: We received your phone support request. Lyft wont match you with this driver again. Thanks for letting us know, according to the suit. Lyft refunded Does fare but has not contacted her regarding the incident or update her on whether Lyft has initiated an investigation into the assault, the suit said. The suit said that the Lyft company was negligent in its hiring, training and supervision of its drivers. It accused the company of creating such situations by matching drivers with riders who are strangers to one another and failing to require cameras to be placed in drivers vehicles to record interactions. The company also fails to conduct comprehensive background screenings on prospective drivers, instead performing the bare minimum required by law. It is unclear if Islam is still driving for Lyft. It also is unclear if Islam has any prior complaints with the company. He was released from the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on a $30,000 bond. The Irish podcast that sought to solve the whereabouts of a Rochester man accused of fatally poisoning his wife nearly 60 years ago may have the answer: "Runaway Joe" Maloney is dead. In the final episode of the "Runaway Joe" podcast, released today (March 9) on Ireland's RTE radio network, the investigative reporters revealed that Joseph Maloney likely died in 2005 at the age of 70. The podcasters learned "in the final days of recording ... that Joseph Maloneys third wife Sheila Chandler informed her family in Dublin around 2005 that Joseph Maloney had in fact died before Sheila then returned home to Ireland, where she died in 2010," according to an RTE news release. Chandler did not reveal where Maloney was buried. June Fisk Maloney The investigative team traveled extensively on the hunt for Maloney, going to Cyprus, his apparent last home and a location he chose because there was no extradition treaty with the United States. Before that, according to RTE, he was in East Berlin, Germany, before the fall of the Wall and German unification, also because of the lack of an extradition pact. Maloney was accused of murdering his estranged wife, June Fisk Maloney, by poisoning her at their son's fifth birthday. While readying for trial, he was able to convince a judge of the need for a psychiatric evaluation and he managed to escape from the Rochester State Hospital, where he was being held. He then fled to Ireland, where he lived under the name Michael O'Shea. His identity was discovered in the mid-1980s, but an extradition was temporarily blocked and he disappeared again. Democrat and Chronicle article on manhunt for Joseph Maloney According to RTE, the reporters, with the help of DNA technology, learned that Maloney had fathered at least six children at the time he was accused of poisoning his wife. He had two children with June. "And with the help of DNA, the series has also discovered that Joseph Maloney fathered six children; two daughters to his first wife Joan Howland, a son and daughter to his second wife June Fisk and two more boys with two women he had affairs with while married to June," according to RTE. "Almost none of these children knew about each other and are only now beginning to reunite." The series producer, Liam O'Brien, said in a statement, Whilst we may have thought at one stage there was a chance we could find Joe alive, and help bring him to justice, what weve found over the last 18 months has amounted to overwhelming indications, from numerous sources, that Joe Maloney is dead weve not found a single indicator that hes alive so for us, the case is now closed. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Mystery Solved? 'Runaway Joe' Maloney's fate revealed by Irish podcast A man was arrested on Friday morning in Yulee after deputies said a domestic dispute almost turned deadly. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Dennis McCabe, 76, called 911, telling emergency services someone in the home was bleeding and needed help. The suspect said the victim was bleeding from her face and eyes after he attacked her over a fight regarding a utility bill. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] When deputies arrived, they confronted McCabe yelling at them in the front yard. He was detained and placed into a patrol car. Upon entering the home, deputies found the victim lying in a puddle of blood on the kitchen floor, in and out of consciousness. The victim was placed on a Life Flight and transported to UF Health Downtown Jacksonville. READ: Jacksonville police make an arrest in a 2022 murder McCabe was placed under arrest for attempted felony murder. According to the incident report, the victim is in critical condition and being treated for her injuries. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) Utahns will soon have the opportunity to walk among the nations largest herd of photorealistic model dinosaurs. Jurassic Quest will open at the Mountain America Exposition Center in Sandy for one weekend, March 29-31. A flamingo on Great Salt Lake? At the event, visitors will have the opportunity to walk through 165 million years of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods to learn more about the creatures that once ruled the Earth, the press release states. In addition to the life-like dinosaur models, Jurassic Quests experiences reportedly include some of the largest ridable dinosaurs in North America, live dinosaur shows, and interactive science and art activities including a fossil dig, a Triceratots soft play area for children, and inflatable attractions. While Jurassic Quest has come to Utah before, event officials said this years attraction will be different. The 2024 experience will include an expanded Excavation Station and more Jurassic-themed rides and inflatables. Additionally, the events animatronic herd will reportedly include the Utahraptor and Giganotosaurus. The herd has dinosaurs ranging from the largest predators to playful baby dinos displayed in realistic scenes, the release states. Some dinosaurs even move and roar, allowing guests to experience them as they were when they roamed millions of years ago. Jurassic Quest officials said they work with leading paleontologists to ensure each dinosaur is painstakingly replicated in every detail, from coloration to teeth size, to textured skin, fur or feathers, drawing on the latest research about how we understand dinosaurs looked and moved, the release states. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. JOPLIN, Mo. March 7 marks a special day in the hearts of breakfast enthusiasts across the U.S. National Cereal Day 2024. This day is dedicated to celebrating one of the most iconic breakfast choices: Cereal. With the breakfast cereal market recording a yearly revenue of $22.53 billion in the U.S. alone (the highest of any country in the world), the likes of Lucky Charms and Cheerios remain a popular choice to start the day across the states. But, which cereals are the most popular in Missouri? The folks at BetMissouri.com analysed all Google shopping data for Americas most well-known cereals over the last 12 months, to reveal Missouris go-to brand. Coming out on top was the timeless classic Lucky Charms, which recorded 42,000 total shopping searches. Here are the top 10 most search for cereals in Missouri: # CEREAL GOOGLE SHOPPING SEARCHES (last 12 months) 1 Lucky Charms 42,000 2 Cheerios 40,500 3 Cinnamon Toast Crunch 37,500 4 Honey Bunches of Oats 21,600 5 Count Chocula 20,100 6 Froot Loops 18,900 7 Frosted Flakes 17,700 8 Corn Flakes 15,400 9 Special K 15,100 10 Wheaties 14,400 For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Authorities in Massachusetts are searching for a second suspect in the deaths of a National Guard member and her 11-year-old daughter who were fatally shot inside their vehicle on Tuesday, Worcester police announced. Karel Mangual, 28, was arrested in connection to the death of Chasity Nunez, 27, and her daughter Zella, both of whom were found inside their parked SUV with serious gunshot wounds, police announced. The two were immediately taken to the hospital where they were pronounced dead. Mangual is charged with armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license, police said. According to a separate release, another suspect, Dejan Belnavis, 27, was also involved in the incident but is on the run and should be considered armed and dangerous. Chasity Nunez, right), a Massachusetts woman who was killed with her daughter Zella, left, via Instagram Instagram According to a criminal complaint obtained by HuffPost, surveillance footage showed two people who police believe to be Belnavis and Mangual walking up to Nunezs car and firing multiple shots at the mother and daughter before running away. Nunez had numerous gunshot wounds throughout her body and her daughter in the passenger seat was not breathing, the document stated. One witness told investigators they saw the suspects drive off in a white sedan following the incident. Police were able to locate the vehicles registered owner, but the owner told officers that he had let Belnavis, who is his girlfriends son, borrow the car for the past year, according to the complaint. The vehicle was soon located in Hartford, Connecticut, where police said Belnavis may have relatives. A spokesperson for the Connecticut National Guard told HuffPost that Nunez was a decorated patient administration specialist of the 142nd Medical Company. She served in the military for four years, and during that time was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Army Achievement Medal. Nunezs supervisor, Maj. David Pytlik, told local news outlet MassLive that she was beloved by her fellow soldiers. I cannot begin to make sense of why this happened and why her family, friends, co-workers and fellow soldiers have been robbed of her and Zella, Pytlik said. What we can, and must do now, is support one another as we grieve, process this profound loss and honor their memory. Zellas cousin and godfather, Tyrae Sims, told NBC affiliate WBTS that Zellawas legally blind. Sims is now mourning the two as he tries to understand why they were targeted. I just hope they know the gravity of what they just did, they took two beautiful souls senselessly, Sims told the outlet. The best mom she could possibly have been, she loved those girls with all her heart. Zella was just the best, she was the best, so full of life, such a good little girl, she didnt deserve it at all. Related... Korzeniewo, POLAND We are ready. The three-word statement was highlighted in bold letters at the opening of NATOs March 4 briefing, on the occasion of the Polish-leg of the alliances largest military exercise since 1988. But even amid the resolute and calm tone of officials in the room, there was a palpable sense of apprehension among reporters. A core theme of the speeches presented by NATO representatives revolved around transparency, specifically in showcasing what the Steadfast Defender exercise and its subsidiary drill Dragon, led by Poland would involve. Yet many were wary of answering questions related to Russia or lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. On several occasions, officials were pressed about whether they had concerns over revealing their plans to Russia through events such as these, or even the possibility the Kremlin could intercept operational details. Of course we are concerned, everyone is concerned, Brig. Gen. Gunnar Bruegner, assistant chief of staff at NATOs Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, told Defense News. [We need] to make sure we are safeguarding the critical information, but it does not relieve us from the requirement of making these exercises happen. It is quite a balance you need to keep; you cannot showcase everything, he said. During a March 4 news conference, Maj. Gen. Randolph Staudenraus, director of strategy and policy at NATOs Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, told reporters that while the alliance does protect its communications, we are also really trying to be transparent. The fine line between accountability and information security is one that some NATO members have recently grappled with. A notable example is the leak of a German discussion about potentially providing Ukraine iwth Taurus missiles. Russia intercepted audio from the web conference between German Air Force officials. Through this, Moscow was able to get its hands on information regarding the potential supply of cruise missiles to Ukraine as well as operational scenarios of how the war could play out. Russian officials said last month that the country views Steadfast Defender as a threat. When it comes to that training event, Bruegner said, details provided to the media during briefings are meant to illustrate the bigger picture, but only in broad terms. The plans themselves and the details in there will not be made available to everyone. What youre seeing here are slides NATO has unclassified, he explained. He also noted that an objective of the exercises is to showcase the integration of capabilities, and not necessarily what NATO would do in a contested setting. We for sure would not fly banners on the amphibious devices in a contested exercise, which would have involved having an opponent on the other side of the eastern benches of the river and wouldve looked different [than what we saw in the Dragon drill], Bruegner said. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Plenty of Arkansans are spread across pro sports, the music industry and especially Hollywood. With the Oscars this weekend, FOX 16 News is taking a look through some of the biggest Natural State names to grace the silver screen. Steven Spielberg, Ariana Grande, Anya Taylor-Joy added to Oscars lineup. Heres more on how to watch Billy Bob Thornton Billy Bob Thornton attends the world premiere of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP) Born in Hot Springs, Billy Bob Thornton is famous for acting and directing Sling Blade, which he filmed in Benton. Because of the film, he was nominated for Best Actor and won Best Screenplay at the 1997 Oscars. Thornton also garnered praise for his roles in A Simple Plan and Fargo, being nominated for another Academy Award and an Emmy respectively. Mary Steenburgen arrives at the LA premiere screening of The Last Man On Earth on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Academy Award-winning actress Mary Steenburgen was born in Newport and attended Hendrix College in Conway. Steenburgen won an Oscar for her performance in Melvin and Howard and had other roles in Back to the Future Part III and Step Brothers. Wes Bentley, a cast member in the Paramount Network television series Yellowstone, poses at the Paramount Network, Comedy Central, TV Land Press Day 2019 at the London West Hollywood, Thursday, May 30, 2019, in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Wes Bentley was born in Jonesboro, raised in Little Rock and graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood. Bentley is best known for his role in American Beauty, for which he got several nominations and a Screen Actors Guild award. He also has notable roles in Yellowstone, The Hunger Games and Interstellar. Josh Lucas Josh Lucas arrives at a special screening of Ford v Ferrari on Monday, Nov 4, 2019, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Josh Lucas was born in Little Rock and has notable performances in Ford v. Ferrari, Sweet Home Alabama and Glory Road. Like Bentley, Lucas also has a role in the show Yellowstone. U.S director Joey Lauren Adams poses for a photocall to promote her film Come Early Morning at the 32nd American Film Festival in Deauville, Normandy, France, Tuesday Sept. 5, 2006. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) Joey Lauren Adams was born in North Little Rock and is most famous for her Golden Globe-nominated performance in Chasing Amy. She also had notable performances in Dazed and Confused and Big Daddy with Adam Sandler. Adams made her directorial debut with the 2006 movie Come Early Morning. Clark Duke Clark Duke arrives at the LA Premiere Of Hot Tub Time Machine 2 held at the Regency Village Theater on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Clark Duke is a native Arkansan and had roles in several comedy movies including the Hot Tub Time Machine movies and both of the Kick-Ass movies. Duke also made his directorial debut with the movie Arkansas which was shot in and features the Natural State. LAS VEGAS JULY 27: Actor Rudy Ray Moore, creator and star of the classic Dolemite films, poses at the Video Software Dealers Associations annual home video convention at the Bellagio July 27, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Moore was on hand to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the making of Dolemite. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Born in Fort Smith, comedian and actor Rudy Ray Moore is most famous for his creation and portrayal of the character Dolemite in the Dolemite movies. Moore passed away in October of 2008 Arkansas will be seeing some representation at the 2024 Oscars. Nominated for the Best Documentary Short Film category, The Barber of Little Rock focuses on the racial wealth gap and how local barber Arlo Washington aims to combat the issue in his hometown by opening a nonprofit community bank. The Barber of Little Rock documentary nominated for Oscar The 2024 Oscars will be held on Sunday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Leaders of state law enforcement agencies said on Thursday its never been this difficult to hire and retain people, as they urged lawmakers to take action to help fill jobs. NC State Bureau of Investigation Director Bob Schurmeier said agencies like his are struggling to compete with local law enforcement and the private sector as employees leave for better pay. Ive been in law enforcement since 1975, and Ive never seen anything like what were facing now. The challenges are incredible, said Schurmeier. Were competing in a pool, and its a very small pool to begin with. One after another, Schurmeier and other law enforcement leaders told state lawmakers about the same issue, with some saying its their chief concern in the next five to 10 years. While the General Assembly approved pay raises in the budget that passed last year, agency heads said those salaries are not competitive when it comes to recruiting. The SBI director said his agency recently trained and lost 10 intelligence analysts over the last two years. He said three of them went to private sector jobs where their salaries more than doubled. Its been an issue across state government, where the most recent data shows the vacancy rate is about 23%. Were like every other state agency, I get that. But, we perform a lot of critical roles. Any shortage impacts a lot of people outside our organization, said Schurmeier. Col. Freddy Johnson Jr., commander of the NC State Highway Patrol, also pointed to the climate surrounding law enforcement as a key challenge. He said from 2021-2023, use of force incidents increased 20% and that injuries to troopers due to assault by the violator increased by 50%. He said there are nearly 300 trooper positions vacant statewide, and a vacancy rate among sworn officers of about 15%. Basically, anybody thatll listen to us, we go and talk to them and try to get folks to come in the door and join our agency, said Col. Johnson. He mentioned the shooting last year on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, which the Highway Patrol was among many agencies involved in the response. If were not fully staffed and were not hiring, it impacts our ability to respond to incidents of that nature, he said. The leaders of the State Capitol Police and Alcohol Law Enforcement echoed these concerns. ALE Director Bryan House also pointed out as lawmakers consider legalizing video lottery terminals statewide during the upcoming session, it will further increase the workload for his agency. Sen. Danny Britt (R-Robeson) brought up a bipartisan bill filed last year, which did not pass, that would increase the pay scale for the Highway Patrol with the goal of recruiting and retaining troopers. Col. Johnson noted that Tennessee recently made such a move, boosting starting pay to $65,000. WKRN-TV reported last August the Tennessee Highway Patrol received a record number of applications for its cadet class after that pay hike. The budget North Carolina leaders adopted already includes pay increases beginning July 1. But, with ongoing hiring challenges, there could be further changes when the legislature convenes in April. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. FILE - Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a Super Tuesday election night party Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. Fake images of Trump surrounded by smiling Black voters are circulating online, highlighting the potential dangers posed by artificial intelligence ahead of the 2024 election. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) WASHINGTON (AP) At first glance, images circulating online showing former President Donald Trump surrounded by groups of Black people smiling and laughing seem nothing out of the ordinary, but a look closer is telling. Odd lighting and too-perfect details provide clues to the fact they were all generated using artificial intelligence. The photos, which have not been linked to the Trump campaign, emerged as Trump seeks to win over Black voters who polls show remain loyal to President Joe Biden. The fabricated images, highlighted in a recent BBC investigation, provide further evidence to support warnings that the use of AI-generated imagery will only increase as the November general election approaches. Experts said they highlight the danger that any group Latinos, women, older male voters could be targeted with lifelike images meant to mislead and confuse as well as demonstrate the need for regulation around the technology. In a report published this week, researchers at the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate used several popular AI programs to show how easy it is to create realistic deepfakes that can fool voters. The researchers were able to generate images of Trump meeting with Russian operatives, Biden stuffing a ballot box and armed militia members at polling places, even though many of these AI programs say they have rules to prohibit this kind of content. The center analyzed some of the recent deepfakes of Trump and Black voters and determined that at least one was originally created as satire but was now being shared by Trump supporters as evidence of his support among Blacks. Social media platforms and AI companies must do more to protect users from AIs harmful effects, said Imran Ahmed, the centers CEO and founder. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then these dangerously susceptible image generators, coupled with the dismal content moderation efforts of mainstream social media, represent as powerful a tool for bad actors to mislead voters as weve ever seen, Ahmed said. This is a wake-up call for AI companies, social media platforms and lawmakers act now or put American democracy at risk. Story continues The images prompted alarm on both the right and left that they could mislead people about the former presidents support among African Americans. Some in Trumps orbit have expressed frustration at the circulation of the fake images, believing that the manufactured scenes undermine Republican outreach to Black voters. If you see a photo of Trump with Black folks and you dont see it posted on an official campaign or surrogate page, it didnt happen, said Diante Johnson, president of the Black Conservative Federation. Its nonsensical to think that the Trump campaign would have to use AI to show his Black support. Experts expect additional efforts to use AI-generated deepfakes to target specific voter blocs in key swing states, such as Latinos, women, Asian Americans and older conservatives, or any other demographic that a campaign hopes to attract, mislead or frighten. With dozens of countries holding elections this year, the challenges posed by deepfakes are a global issue. In January, voters in New Hampshire received a robocall that mimicked Bidens voice telling them, falsely, that if they cast a ballot in that states primary they would be ineligible to vote in the general election. A political consultant later acknowledged creating the robocall, which may be the first known attempt to use AI to interfere with a U.S. election. Such content can have a corrosive effect even when its not believed, according to a February study by researchers at Stanford University examining the potential impacts of AI on Black communities. When people realize they cant trust images they see online, they may start to discount legitimate sources of information. As AI-generated content becomes more prevalent and difficult to distinguish from human-generated content, individuals may become more skeptical and distrustful of the information they receive, the researchers wrote. Even if it doesn't succeed in fooling a large number of voters, AI-generated content about voting, candidates and elections can make it harder for anyone to distinguish fact from fiction, causing them to discount legitimate sources of information and fueling a loss of trust thats undermining faith in democracy while widening political polarization. While false claims about candidates and elections are nothing new, AI makes it faster, cheaper and easier than ever to craft lifelike images, video and audio. When released onto social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook or X, AI deepfakes can reach millions before tech companies, government officials or legitimate news outlets are even aware of their existence. AI simply accelerated and pressed fast forward on misinformation, said Joe Paul, a business executive and advocate who has worked to increase digital access among communities of color. Paul noted that Black communities often have this history of mistrust with major institutions, including in politics and media, that both make Black communities more skeptical of public narratives about them as well as fact-checking meant to inform the community. Digital literacy and critical thinking skills are one defense against AI-generated misinformation, Paul said. The goal is to empower folks to critically evaluate the information that they encounter online. The ability to think critically is a lost art among all communities, not just Black communities. Nearly a year after shutting down and laying off more than 1,000 workers, the owner of Canton's former paper-making plant wants millions in local taxes returned. Pactiv Evergreen, the Illinois-based owner of the paper mill site paid $2.8 million in 2023 property taxes to Haywood County and the town of Canton. But the company is now saying the property they own was overvalued by the county assessor's office and they should get back $2.5 million. The Citizen Times reached out March 7 to Pactiv spokesperson Beth Kelly. In seeking to reduce its taxes, the company first appealed to the county's Board of Equalization and Review but was denied. Pactiv is now appealing to the North Carolina Property Tax Commission. A commission spokesperson referred questions about pending dates to Haywood County officials. County Tax Assessor Judy Hickman said there was no date yet scheduled. She said the tax values of $238 million for equipment and other property inside the mill plus the $19.8 million in real estate were determined Jan. 1, 2023. That was before the mill shut down May 24 of that year, ending a century of paper making operations in Canton. The closure and layoffs caused economic and social shocks throughout the area. "They are the biggest taxpayer in the county," Hickman said. The attempt to reduce its local tax payments comes at the same time as a conflict between Pactiv and top state officials over $12 million in taxpayer incentives. The company received the help to update equipment. In exchange the plant was to maintain at least 800 employees. At the time of the incentives, employees were making an average annual salary of $78,300. Gov. Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat running in the Nov. 5 gubernatorial race against Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, have said they are seeking to claw the money back and are in negotiations with Pactiv. Canton Deputy Tax Collector Wanda Lurvey said it was difficult to say exactly what the impact would be on the town and its operations. "But, obviously, it would hurt us." The county has a budget of $129 million with $59 million coming from property taxes, according to financial documents. One of the biggest pieces of that budget goes to public safety, including $8.7 million for sheriff's deputies pay and other department costs. It also spends $1.9 million on 911 emergency communications. Canton has a $12 million budget with $3.4 million coming from property taxes. It spends $2.3 million on its police department and $1 million for its fire fighters. Pactiv also drew the ire of officials when last year before announcing the closure, corporate officers declared they would pay a bonus to shareholders and sold more than $600,000 in stock. Then the price nosedived. Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards, whose 11th District covers most of Western North Carolina, including Canton, called for a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation. It's not clear if the SEC has taken any action. Investigations by the regulatory body are done privately and only become known to the public with the filing of an enforcement action. Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 9 mo. after shutdown, Canton paper plant wants millions in taxes back Indian law enforcement officers have busted a large human trafficking network that lured young men to Russia with the promise of work and then forced them to fight in the war against Ukraine. Source: Reuters Quote: "About 35 people have been sent to Russia in the scheme so far, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said late on Thursday, almost double the figure of 20 people that the Indian foreign ministry had earlier mentioned." Details: It is said in the report that traffickers operating in several Indian states recruited people through social media and local agents. "The trafficked Indian nationals were trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes," the statement said, adding that some of the victims were also "grievously injured" in the war zone. The Central Bureau of Investigation noted that searches are being conducted in several locations, including the Indian capital New Delhi and the financial capital Mumbai, and cash worth 50 million rupees (US$605,000), as well as some documents and electronic records, have already been seized. "Certain suspects have also been detained for questioning at various locations," it said. At the same time, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that every case of deception of Indians to participate in the war is "strongly taken up" together with Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. Previously: Before that, Uma Sudhir, a journalist for the Indian channel NDTV, posted a video on Twitter (X), where seven Indian citizens say in an appeal that they are being forced to participate in the war with Ukraine on the side of Russia. 23-year-old man who said he is from #Gurdaspur #Punjab #GagandeepSingh called @ndtv @ndtvindia to appeal to @MEAIndia @states_mea @DrSJaishankar to help them return to India; says 7 of them who met in Russia may be deployed any time, without any training, to fight war in #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/re6eFuyY1v Uma Sudhir (@umasudhir) March 4, 2024 Background: In January 2023, Ukraines National Resistance Center reported that Russia was recruiting mercenaries in the Balkans for a war against Ukraine. In March 2023, the Media Line reported, citing sources, that Russia was recruiting young Palestinians and was also looking for Syrians to participate in the war against Ukraine. Also in March 2023, Ukraines National Resistance Center noted that the Russians aim to involve 2,000 mercenaries from Belarus and about 100 from Angola in the war in Ukraine. CNN and opposition Nepalese MP Bimala Rai Paudyal stated that Russia had recruited about 15,000 Nepalese citizens to participate in the war against Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Newtown Police Chief Tom Synan is suing the village and its mayor over allegations of harrasement and retaliation. Newtown's police chief is suing the village and its mayor, alleging a years-long "vendetta" targeting the chief, his reputation and his career, according to a complaint filed Friday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. Mayor Mark Kobasuk has engaged in "relentless harassment, bullying, retaliation and defamation" against Chief Tom Synan as punishment for the chief's refusal to permit conduct he believed was illegal and reported to the village council, the lawsuit says. "I am extremely disappointed that Chief Synan has decided to take this unnecessary and unwarranted course of action. The Village Council and I have done nothing more than ask Chief Synan to be accountable, present, and act in the best interests of Newtown," Kobasuk said in a written statement. "The claims he has asserted in this lawsuit are frivolous and without merit, and we intend to defend them vigorously in Court." Synan issued a statement and referred questions to his attorneys when reached by The Enquirer. It all began with a September 2016 private meeting, the lawsuit says, during which Kobasuk asked the chief to "go along with" timesheet policy changes because he wanted to set up a specific employee for timesheet fraud. Kobasuk wanted to use the threat of a felony charge to knock the employee down to a part-time schedule, a plan the chief stated he was uncomfortable with, according to the suit. Synan said in his suit that he reported his concerns to council members and thus ensued an eight-year-long feud, which has culminated in Kobasuk now trying to force Synan to resign or be removed from office. A few months after that 2016 meeting, Kobasuk told Synan he would be placed on a disciplinary action plan, adding that he expected to have a tight reign on his police chief, the lawsuit states. The action plan included removing Synan, a nationally renowned figure in the fight against the opioid crisis, from participating in any activities that would take him from his normal duties. Synan then met with the chief of another police department in Hamilton County, who relayed to Synan that Kobasuk was investigating him for misuse of funds and of a police cruiser, the suit states. Even after the mayor apologized to Synan saying there was no evidence of wrongdoing and the chief was not under investigation, the suit states, Kobasuk accused Synan of having a "morale problem" within his department. However, tensions calmed for a few years until 2022 when new council members were sworn in. Believing no one was left to stand up for Synan, Kobasuk continued his campaign of harassment, the lawsuit states, specifically after officers complained of the mayor creating a hostile work environment and expressed their concerns to the council. Kobasuk reprimanded Synan in part over statements the chief and his officers made to council members, as well as for his "alleged dishonesty," according to the suit. Synan was denied the ability to appeal. The lawsuit says Kobasuk singled out the chief by requiring Synan to give a detailed timeline of his daily activities and that the mayor has made new accusations of Synan stealing time from the village. Synan also alleged in his suit that the mayor and village council have held secret deliberations over Kobasuk's desire to discipline the chief and force him out of office. The chief came away from a February meeting with Kobasuk believing his firing to be imminent. "I am saddened and disturbed that one persons personal agenda based on ego and power is damaging the work I and the officers do," Synan said in a written statement. "It has been my and the officers resiliency and determination to serve others that has given me solace that our department has minimized the day-to-day impact on our community." Synan is asking the court to: Invalidate any decisions or formal action resulting from secret meetings, and issue an injunction prohibiting the village council and their successors in office from conducting secret meetings or otherwise violating Ohios Open Meetings Act. Award penalties, forfeitures and compensatory damages over $25,000 plus interest and costs. Issue an injunction requiring defendants to publicly retract their false and defamatory statements and cease and desist their alleged illegal adverse employment actions. Award punitive damages, interest, costs, attorney fees; and any other relief to which Synan may be entitled. Court records do not list when Synan's case will go before a judge. He's asking for a trial by jury. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Newtown police chief: Mayor has 'vendetta' threatening job, reputation A national LGBTQ youth nonprofit group said crisis calls from Oklahoma more than tripled in the weeks after transgender student Nex Benedict died there on Feb. 8. Lance Preston, founder of the Indianapolis-based Rainbow Youth Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization, said the groups crisis hotline for LGBTQ young people received 1,097 contacts, including calls and online messages, from Oklahoma in February an increase of more than 200% from its monthly average of 350 contacts. The group received just under 1,000 of those contacts after Feb. 16, when Nexs death began to receive widespread media attention. Of the 1,097 contacts, 87% reported incidents of bullying in Oklahoma schools. The high volume of contacts underscores the pressing need for intervention and support services support services that are far too often unavailable, especially in rural areas of the country, Preston said at a news conference Thursday hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, the countrys largest LGBTQ advocacy organization. In an email following the news conference, Preston said he believes the spike in contacts is partly due to an increase in awareness of the group and its crisis services. Nex who was transgender and used he and they pronouns, according to friends and family died a day after a fight at Owasso High School. The Owasso Police Department released a series of videos that show the hours following the fight, including body camera video from a police officers interview with Nex, in which he described how three students jumped him after he threw water on them because they were bullying him and his friend for the way they dressed. On Feb. 21, police released preliminary information from an autopsy report that they said shows Nexs death was not the result of trauma. However, days later, a spokesperson for the department clarified that the fight hasnt been ruled out as having contributed to or caused his death. An official autopsy and cause of death will be released after the toxicology exam, which is still pending. Now, a month after Nexs death, his name has become a rallying cry among activists in Oklahoma and the rest of the country, some of whom argue that anti-LGBTQ state laws and school policies contributed to his death. Preston said the surge in crisis contacts to the Rainbow Youth Project shows that LGBTQ youths in Oklahoma are scared. On Wednesday, members of Westboro Baptist Church, which is known for protesting funerals with signs that say God Hates Fags, among other derogatory slogans, protested outside Nexs school. Ahead of the protest, the group released a statement on its website that misgendered Nex and said he stirred up a hornets nest, purposefully fighting with other girls at the school, committing criminal acts in the process, and got the trouble that he went looking for. In the 24 hours ahead of Westboros act, the Rainbow Youth Project received 124 calls from students in Oklahoma specifically noting the upcoming protest, Preston said. They were concerned about the violence that that would bring or would encourage to the community and to the school, Preston said. Ahead of the protest, the Rainbow Youth Project partnered with Parasol Patrol, a group that shields children from protesters with umbrellas, and other local and national advocacy groups to create a counterprotest. Preston said the group drew more than 400 people, while the churchs had fewer than 10, according to NBC affiliate KJRH of Tulsa. During Thursdays news conference, Chasten Glezman Buttigieg, author, advocate and the husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, criticized the statement Owasso Public Schools issued before Westboros demonstration. In a statement to KOKI-TV on Friday, Margaret Coates, the districts superintendent, said, OPS is aware that Westboro Baptist Church, an activist organization based in Kansas that routinely engages in disruptive protests, has plans to visit Owasso on Wednesday, March 6. She added that OPS takes all safety and security matters seriously and that district leaders are working closely with our law enforcement partners to monitor the situation. Buttigieg noted that the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that tracks extremist groups, has labeled Westboro Baptist Church a hate group. In 1998, the church picketed the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a gay 21-year-old University of Wyoming student who died after being brutally beaten and tied to a fence. This is not an activist group, Buttigieg said, adding that the superintendent wouldnt speak to that fact and the type of hatred that is invited into a community when people in positions of power allow it to happen. Brock Crawford, a spokesperson for Owasso Public Schools, declined to comment on Buttigieg's remarks. The Education Department has opened an investigation into Owasso Public Schools for allegedly failing to address previous complaints of discrimination from students. The investigation was opened following a complaint from the Human Rights Campaign. Crawford confirmed in an email Friday that the district received notice of the investigation and pushed back against the allegations. The district is committed to cooperating with federal officials and believes the complaint submitted by HRC is not supported by the facts and is without merit, Crawford said. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. If you are an LGBTQ young person in crisis, feeling suicidal or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the TrevorLifeline now at 1-866-488-7386 or the Rainbow Youth Project at 1-317-643-4888. For more from NBC Out, sign up for our weekly newsletter. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A patient holds a mifepristone pill, one of two drugs in a two-drug regimen for a medication abortion, the most common form of abortion care in the US (REUTERS) After the US Supreme Court revoked a constitutional right to abortion care, tens of thousands of women who are not pregnant have ordered abortion drugs in the event they could need them if, or when, that access is taken away from them. A wave of state-level anti-abortion laws that followed the Supreme Courts 2022 decision to reverse the decades-long precedent established by Roe v Wade appeared to fuel an increase of advance provision prescriptions of medication abortion drugs across the country. But another looming Supreme Court decision on abortion rights threatens the availability of a widely used abortion drug that was approved by the federal government more than 20 years ago and is used in more than half of all abortions nationwide. A decision to revoke federal approval of the drug mifepristone, less than two years after the courts far-reaching decision in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization, could further upend abortion access for millions of Americans, and potentially force patients to seek surgical care in a country where the procedure is effectively now illegal in more than a dozen states. What weve been seeing is that the need has not gone down as the restrictions have gone up, Lauren Jacobson, a nurse practitioner who works with telehealth provider Aid Access, told The Independent. Restricting abortion doesnt make it less necessary. Lawyers for President Joe Bidens administration will defend mifepristones government approval when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the case on 26 March. In prepared remarks for his State of the Union address, the president vowed to restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land but hes facing a Republican-controlled Congress that has firmly rejected abortion rights and a balkanized landscape of state and local restrictions targeting millions of Americans reproductive healthcare. The Biden administration has also warned that a Supreme Court decision that targets the FDAs approval process could open the door for other right-wing-fuelled legal challenges to other drugs, including HIV prevention medication, gender-affirming care, contraception and Covid-19 vaccines. Its not just a reproductive health issue, Ms Jacobson said. People also need to look at the bigger picture there. Pulling the rug out from under abortion patients Before the June 2022 decision that reversed Roe v Wade, Aid Access received roughly 6,000 advance provision requests for abortion drugs, or roughly 25 per day since the group began offering medication in the US, according to a study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine this year. That daily figure spiked to roughly 118 per day, amounting to more than 42,000 requests. Requests spiked in the weeks after a leak of the Supreme Courts draft opinion was published and after court rulings in 2023 took aim at the drug mifepristone. In 2023, roughly 30 per cent of the groups requests came from Texas alone, according to Aid Access. Texas, home to roughly 30 million people, has effectively outlawed most abortions, including medication abortions. Roughly 80 per cent of requests to Aid Access have come from states where abortion is outlawed or under severe restrictions, and so what this shows us is that the restrictions being put in place are not decreasing the need its just changing how people access care if theyre able to access it at all, Ms Jacobson told The Independent. The need is still there. Removing the most commonly used abortion drug from the market would be pulling the rug out from under people who are seeking abortions, she said. Up to 16 per cent of all abortions relied on telemedicine last year, according to the Society of Family Planning. How mifepristone became a target Mifepristone was first approved for use by the FDA in most cases up to 10 weeks of pregnancy in 2000. A vast majority of all abortions occur within the first nine weeks of pregnancy, and more than half of all abortions in the US are medication abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute. From 2019 through 2020, nearly 93 per cent of all abortions were performed before the 13th week, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A medication abortion typically involves a two-part protocol mifepristone, which blocks the hormone progesterone, which stops a pregnancy from growing, followed by misoprostol, which helps the uterus contract. The medication also is used for miscarriage treatment. In 2022, shortly after the Supreme Courts decision in the Dobbs case, the right-wing legal group Alliance Defending Freedom filed a federal lawsuit in Texas to challenge the FDAs approval of mifepristone and overturn a rule from the Biden administration that expanded telehealth access. The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine incorporated in Amarillo within the month that the complaint was filed, increasing the likelihood that the complaint would land in a federal court district with an ideologically like-minded judge. Alliance Defending Freedom, among the most influential conservative Christian legal advocacy groups in the US, also helped draft anti-abortion laws used to overturn Roe and has championed litigation and legislation targeting birth control and LGBT+ rights. Last year, in response to the groups lawsuit, US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk a former right-wing activist lawyer who was appointed to the federal judiciary by Donald Trump suspended the FDAs approval of mifepristone. Abortion rights advocates, providers, major medical groups and legal analysts condemned the ruling, and the US Department of Justice and Danco Laboratories, which manufactures mifepristone, filed an appeal, which landed at the right-wing Fifth Circuit, which has jurisdiction over the Amarillo court. That panel partially upheld Judge Kacsmaryks ruling, and an appeal to the nations highest court followed. A major medical journal retracted two papers from 2021 and 2022 that the plaintiffs cited in their case to the nations high court, throwing into doubt any medical basis for their position, while anti-abortion groups, Republican officials from 25 states and more than 140 members of Congress have signed briefs with the Supreme Court to block mifepristones availability. Alliance Defending Freedoms senior counsel Erin Hawley, wife of Republican US Senator Josh Hawley, has argued that the FDAs approval of mifepristone does not reflect scientific judgment but rather a politically driven decision to push a dangerous drug regimen. Abortion rights advocates and providers have warned that a Supreme Court ruling that eliminates or further restricts access to mifepristone could drastically impact an already fragile landscape for abortion care. Worst-case scenario, the ruling would likely push abortion seekers later into gestation, which requires them to pursue surgical abortions, which are less accessible and more expensive than medication abortions, according to Serra Sippel, interim executive director of The Brigid Alliance, which provides logistical support to abortion patients forced to travel often long distances for care. Then you have the travel barriers and the financial barriers that people will face, barriers that they wouldnt face if they had access to medication abortion, she told The Independent. Last year, the group supported more than 1,400 people, who travelled an average of 1,300 miles roundtrip marking a 30 per cent increase since the Dobbs ruling and the wave of anti-abortion laws that followed. Those travel costs have also surged by 27 per cent, up to an average of $2,300 per patient. There are resources out there, and I think the challenge is going to be communication, and how do we make sure that people know that even with a ban on medication abortion, there are ways to get to abortion providers, Ms Sippel said. Threats to the gold standard of telemedicine For patients using Aid Access, that requires filling out a consultation form on its website, and then a provider reviews the request before the group packages and ships out the medication through the US Postal Service. The costs are roughly $150. The group has allowed physicians in Democratic-led states with so-called shield laws for providers to prescribe and mail pills directly to patients in anti-abortion states. Such laws adopted in Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Washington and Vermont protect abortion providers who mail pills to restricted states from inside their borders, allowing a breakthrough expansion of abortion care in anti-abortion states. After the publication of the JAMA study, Aid Access saw another spike in advance provision requests. If the Supreme Court strips mifepristones approval, its going to make it harder for people to access the pills, and its going to make it harder for providers to access them and give them to people, and it might change the way that people prescribe, Ms Jacobson said. Telehealth is becoming a gold standard in healthcare now, and since you no longer have to see people in person to give mifepristone its been shown for three decades that its safe and effective and its no different with telemedicine, she told The Independent. Some providers might find ways to get mifepristone and prescribe it and send it anyways there are avenues for that. But I think more than anything, these kinds of things instil a sense of fear in patients that their rights and autonomy over their bodies are being further limited and taken away. Patients will need help travelling to their appointments, but its going to get worse, Ms Sippel said. But even when it gets better, there are still people who are at the margins who dont have the resources to access the care they need. Meanwhile, major pharmacy retailers Walgreens and CVS are beginning to offer prescription mifepristone in stores across the US, a move that could significantly expand access to abortion care. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, abortion drugs could only be obtained in person from a health provider who prescribed them. In 2021, the FDA removed that in-person requirement, allowing the pills to be shipped through the mail like many other prescription medicines. The agency also opened a certification process for retail pharmacies to dispense the drug, opening the door for some of the most common brick-and-mortar stores in cities and towns across the country to make abortion drugs available to millions of Americans. A phased rollout of the drugs availability in two of the largest pharmacy chains will reduce unnecessary delays to accessing care, and potentially the number of women who will be forced to travel out of state, Ms Sippel said in the wake of that announcement. But the drug still wont be available for abortion care in those stores in states where abortion is effectively illegal, underscoring the patchwork state of reproductive healthcare even among some of the biggest pharmacy brands in the country. Hundreds of thousands of pregnant people who live in states where abortion is banned and mifepristone is illegal will not be impacted by this decision, Ms Sippel said. A major NHS fertility centre has been reported to police over fears embryos are being destroyed. Homerton Fertility Centre in east London has been ordered to suspend services on the orders of the regulator after repeated cases in which embryos did not survive the freezing process. The regulator intervened after The Telegraph raised concerns from whistleblowers, with the trusts chief executive on Friday telling staff that the police had now been contacted. The trust said it had increased security and access points in the unit amid concern about which staff had access to the storage areas for eggs, sperm and embryos. Regulators were warned of a risk that 153 embryos, which have been frozen, may not survive its processes, with 45 patients affected, and fears from whistleblowers that the true numbers involved may be much larger. The crisis is the latest to hit NHS fertility services, after two clinics last month told patients that their embryos may not be viable because a faulty solution was used. Three separate incidents involving the storage of embryos have occurred at Homerton University Hospital - JULIO ETCHART/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO Homerton, one of the leading units in London, that treats around 360 patients a year, began contacting all fertility patients on Friday night and has opened a helpline. Those who are currently undergoing treatment will be given the option to continue their cycles at the trust, with attempts expected to be made to find room for others at different clinics. The clinics patients include those undergoing cancer treatment who may have lost their chance of having children. So far 20 cases are understood to have been identified in which embryos did not survive the process or were not retrievable. The chief executive of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said it had suspended the centres licence to operate with immediate effect because of significant concerns about the clinic. Emails and incident reports seen by The Telegraph suggest that the trust made the HFEA aware of the risk that 153 embryos could end up destroyed or lost. An incident report form examining four cases in which embryos went missing suggests that potential contamination of processes and handling of key equipment may be among contributory factors. A whistleblower from the trust also raised concerns about experimental techniques used for embryo freezing. An email from the HFEA to the trust on Jan 19 this year said: I understand that it looks like potentially 45 patients (153 embryos that might not be found on thaw) could be affected. In a statement, the trust said: Staff at Homerton Healthcares fertility centre are currently investigating issues relating to the storage of embryos. There have been three separate incidents within the unit which have highlighted errors in a small number of freezing processes. This has resulted in the tragic loss of a small number of embryos either not surviving or being undetectable altogether. The trust said it had made the HFEA aware of an external investigation being carried out and contacted affected patients to apologise for any distress caused. Catalogue of failings The regulator said it had made provisions so patients who have already started medication as part of a treatment cycle can complete their treatment if they wish to. The trust has also been told it must ensure that eggs, sperm and embryos, which it holds in storage, are secure. The trust said that while investigators had not been able to find the direct cause of the errors, it had made changes in the way the unit worked in an attempt to prevent such incidents. All staff now work in pairs, to ensure all activity is scrutinised by another health professional, with checks on the competencies of all staff and increased security of access points in the unit. Louise Ashley, the chief executive of Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation trust said: We are sending a letter to all our fertility patients this afternoon apologising for the errors and for the concern this may have caused even if their eggs, embryos or sperm are unaffected. We will continue to keep them informed. Current patients may continue to be treated at the unit despite the licence suspension by the HFEA and our very dedicated staff are keen to support patients in whatever way they can. In April 2022, the trust suspended fertility services for months, forcing desperate couples to endure lengthy waits for treatment, blaming staff shortages. Around 300 patients were subjected to delays. Many of those affected had already had treatment put on hold during the pandemic and feared NHS IVF age limits meant they could run out of time. An inspection of the facility in May 2023 found a catalogue of failings and multiple concerns from whistleblowers, with failures to report adverse incidents and near misses, and to carry out basic checks to prevent swabs being left inside patients. The crisis comes just weeks after another major London hospital admitted that the eggs of 136 women may never be viable after it used a faulty solution during the freezing process. Guys Hospital in London contacted affected patients after discovering it may have inadvertently used some bottles of a faulty freezing solution, which may mean eggs and embryos are not viable. A second clinic in Sheffield used the same fluid but after examining 29 cases of women who had eggs or embryos stored during the period where the product batch by US firm CooperSurgical, only one was found to be affected. The problems at Homerton do not relate to the use of the solution. Peter Thompson, the chief executive of the HFEA, said: The HFEA has suspended Homerton Fertility Centres licence to operate with immediate effect, due to significant concerns about the clinic. The HFEA Licence Committee made this decision because of the potential risk to patients, gametes and embryos if the clinics licence is not suspended with immediate effect. We appreciate this may cause concern to patients who are undergoing treatment at the clinic, or have eggs, sperm and/or embryos stored there. We do not want to disrupt patients treatment if they have already started medication as part of a treatment cycle, so we have made provisions to allow them to complete their treatment if they wish to do so. The clinic must continue to store eggs, sperm, and embryos safely. All HFEA licensed clinics can be found here and they will be able to advise patients further on transporting their eggs, sperm or embryos if they would like to do so. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: On March 8 officers from the Metropolitan Police attended Homerton Fertility Clinic after concerns were raised by the Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust has set up a helpline: 020 8510 5211 open 8am to 6pm seven days a 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. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) The Niagara County Sheriffs Office is investigating after a dead body was found on Rhode Island Avenue on Thursday afternoon, they said. Police responded to the 3000 block of Rhode Island just after 4:20 p.m. Thursday, due to an unresponsive male lying in a field. The man, who police said was in his 50s, was found dead in the field. The identity of the man is being withheld pending notification of the family. The death is still under investigation. Latest Local News Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Former Rhode Islander Nicholas Alahverdian appeared before a Utah judge on Friday, only to hear that his lawyer wanted his rape case continued until April 19. Then, he wanted to ask the judge a question. He was frustrated, his lawyer explained to District Court Judge Barry G. Lawrence, that Utah County Jail officials were referring to him not by the alias he wants to use, Arthur Knight, but by the name hes charged under, Nicholas Rossi. Rossi is the surname of his Johnston, Rhode Island, stepfather, who adopted him when he was an adolescent. Alahverdian is his birth name. The 36-year-old captured fugitive, who faked his death in 2020 until his capture in Scotland a year later, is charged with two Utah rapes in 2008. The two cases are playing out in different courts. Nicolas Alahverdian, also known as Nicholas Rossi, appears before a Utah judge. Did the judge comply with Alahverdian's request? Alahverdians lawyer, Samantha Dugan, suggested that perhaps the judge could order jail officials to refer to her client as Mr. Knight. Judge Lawrences reply? No. Heres the thing, Judge Lawrence said. This case is filed against you as Nicholas Edward Rossi. Mr. Knight is an AKA [also know as] ... Im not inclined to issue an order requiring Utah County to use a certain name. Lawrence said hed refer to Alahverdian as Knight in his courtroom if thats what the defendant preferred. But thats as far as it goes. So, Mr. Knight," the judge said, "Ill see you on April 19. This isn't the first time Alahverdian has complained about his treatment in jail. In Scotland, he made a habit of complaining to an extradition judge about his fellow prisoners making fun of him. Contact Tom Mooney at: tmooney@providencejournal.com This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Nicholas Rossi asks if Utah jailers can call him Arthur Knight behind bars Families of kidnapped victims demanded local kaduna governor help them free the pupils (-) Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday sent troops to rescue more than 250 pupils kidnapped by gunmen from a school in the country's northwest in one of the largest mass abductions in three years. The Kaduna state attack was the second mass kidnapping in a week in Africa's most populous state, where heavily armed criminal gangs on motorbikes target victims in villages and schools and along highways in the hunt for ransom payments. Local government officials in Kaduna State confirmed the kidnapping attack on Kuriga school on Thursday, but gave no figures as they said they were still working out how many children had been abducted. At least one person was shot dead during the attack, local residents said. Sani Abdullahi, a teacher at the GSS Kuriga school in Chikun district, said staff managed to escape with many students when the gunmen known locally as bandits attacked early Thursday firing in the air. He told local officials 187 pupils had been snatched from the main junior school along with another 100 from the primary classes. "Early in the morning... we heard gunshots from bandits, before we knew it they had gathered up the children," local resident Musa Mohammed told AFP. "We are pleading to the government, all of us are pleading, they should please help us with security." Another resident Muhammad Adam also told AFP more than 280 have been kidnapped. Two more locals said around 200 were abducted. The Kaduna abduction and the mass kidnapping a week ago from a camp for people displaced by jihadists in northeast Borno illustrate the challenge facing Tinubu who promised to make Nigeria safer and bring in more foreign investment. "I have received briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued," Tinubu said in a statement ordering armed forces to track down the kidnappers. "Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered." The two mass kidnappings also came almost ten years after Boko Haram jihadists triggered huge international outcry by kidnapping more than 250 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno state. Some of those girls are still missing. More than 100 people are reported missing after militants carried out a mass kidnapping last week targeting women and children in camps for those displaced by the jihadist conflict in Borno. Officials have given conflicting accounts of whether that attack took place on Thursday or Friday and exactly how many people were missing. - 'No child left behind' - Police did not provide figures for the Kuriga kidnapping. Often the numbers of those reported kidnapped or missing in Nigeria are lowered after people fleeing the attack return home. "As of this moment we have not been able to know the number of children or students that have been kidnapped," Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani told reporters in Kuriga on Thursday. "No child will be left behind." Hundreds of schoolchildren and college students have been kidnapped in mass abductions in the northwest and central region, including in Kaduna, in the last three years. Almost all were released for ransom payments after weeks or months spent in captivity at camps hidden in forests that stretch across northwestern states. UN child welfare agency UNICEF condemned Thursday's attack and called on the government to more to protect students. "Schools are supposed to be sanctuaries of learning and growth, not sites of fear and violence," UNICEF Nigeria director Christian Munduate said in a statement. "This latest abduction, as any previously, is highly condemnable and part of a worrying trend of attacks on educational institutions in Nigeria." Nigeria's armed forces are battling on several fronts, including against armed criminals in the northwest and the long-running jihadist insurgency in the northeast that has killed 40,000 and displaced more than two million since 2009. Fighting in Borno has eased as militants have been pushed back from the territory they once controlled, but they still carry out attacks and raids in remote areas. Last September, gunmen abducted more than 30 people, including 24 female students, in a raid around a university in northwest Zamfara State. In February 2021, bandits raided a girls' boarding school in the town of Jangebe in Zamfara, kidnapping around 300 students. Months earlier, gunmen snatched more than 300 students from a boys school in Kankara in Katsina state before releasing them days later. Between July 2022 and June 2023, 3,620 people were abducted in 582 kidnap-related incidents in Nigeria, according to local risk analysts SBM Intelligence. In January, SBM said 3,964 people had been abducted since Tinubu took office in May last year. pma/bp Whats happening Nikki Haley dropped out of the Republican presidential race on Wednesday following a wave of losses to Donald Trump in primary contests across the country on Super Tuesday. The former South Carolina governor waged a vigorous campaign that was ultimately no match for Trumps march to the GOP nomination. But she was able to capture 20% to 40% of the Republican primary votes in a handful of key states, more than enough to turn her supporters into one of the most crucial unclaimed groups that will decide whether Trump or President Biden wins the 2024 presidential election. Historically, voters who backed a losing primary candidate have tended to rally behind the partys nominee en masse. But todays Republican Party is uniquely fractured, and exit polls from the primaries suggest that Trump cant simply assume Haleys voters will come back into the fold. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him, Haley said Wednesday. And I hope he does. She also declined to endorse Trumps bid for the presidency. Shortly after Haleys announcement, both candidates took their first stab at courting her voters. Donald Trump made it clear he doesn't want Nikki Haley supporters. I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign, Biden wrote in a statement. Trump also invited Haley voters to join his movement, but only after mocking her for being TROUNCED on Super Tuesday. Why theres debate Haleys voters will have three choices in the general election, none of which may be particularly appealing to them: Support Trump, vote for Biden or sit out the race entirely. Many political analysts believe that the vast majority of her supporters will ultimately fall in line because, in todays deeply polarized political environment, most GOP voters would still rather back a Republican they dislike than a Democrat especially when that Democrat is someone they also strongly disapprove of. Now that the primary is effectively over, Trump also has plenty of opportunity to earn the support of Haleys more moderate voters by cooling his rhetoric and shifting to the center on a few key policies. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement But other experts say theres a strong anti-Trump coalition within Haleys voter base who wont be persuaded under any circumstances to back him in the general election, particularly after he attacked her so aggressively in the later stages of the primary. While its not clear how many never Trumpers there really are, they could prove to be incredibly important in tight swing state races. The situation is also complicated by the fact that some states held open primaries, meaning voters with any party affiliation can participate in the GOP race. In these states, a fair share of Haleys support likely came from independents or even Democrats who would never consider voting for Trump, but were instead using the primary as a chance to damage Trump or express their discontent with Biden. Whats next With Haley now out of the race, the remaining states on the GOP primary calendar might not provide much new insight into how strong opposition to Trump is within his own party. Polls could create a slightly clearer picture in the coming weeks and months, but the true answer of where Haleys voters end up likely wont be revealed until Election Day in November. Perspectives Anti-Trump sentiment in the GOP is mostly just talk Right now, the numbers are really high for Haley voters to say 'I would never vote for Trump. But almost certainly most of them will come around. Hans Noel, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University, to Reuters ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Most Haley voters are loyal to the GOP, but the small share who arent could be a problem for Trump Even if most of those voters hold their noses and vote for Mr. Trump in a race against Mr. Biden, the question is how many stay home, vote for a third party, or go over to Mr. Biden. Even a 10% defection could be decisive. Mr. Trump is making no such effort. Editorial, Wall Street Journal Trump really does need to earn their support If Republican partisans tell themselves that the anti-Trump vote in the primaries is attributable only to resistance libs heaping scorn on the enterprise when theyre not outright dismissing its significance, and insisting that those who are not sold on Trumps candidacy are welcome to leave the GOP Republicans will miss the message these voters are sending. Noah Rothman, National Review The fact that they like Haley means theyre foundationally opposed to someone like Trump Her key voters may have a powerful afterlife. Anyone capable of supporting an intelligent, accomplished and confident Brown woman, the daughter of immigrants, in a Republican primary is likely a serious threat to abandon MAGA. And if there is one thing we know about Trump, he will almost certainly give them additional reason to flee. Francis Wilkinson, Bloomberg ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The voters who decide they have no one worth supporting could make a huge impact Many will vote for President Joe Biden. Many will indeed hold their nose and vote GOP again. But what will probably make the difference will be how many of them just stay home. Chris Stirewalt, The Dispatch The independents and disaffected Dems in Haleys coalition will flock to Biden in the end Many of these Haley votes are likely coming from people who already cast ballots against Trump in 2016 and 2020 and who are committed to doing so again in 2024. To them, these primaries amount to a bonus opportunity to cast yet another vote against Trump. Steve Kornacki, MSNBC Trump seems to be doing everything he can to push Haleys supporters away All the indications are that Haley isnt creating strong loyalists in her element of the primary vote that will follow her wherever she goes. Killing her with kindness would make much more sense for Trump than, in irate speeches and unhinged social media posts, reminding her voters why they dont like him in the first place. Rich Lowry, Politico ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Thanks to Haley, Trump now knows exactly which voters he needs to court Although nothing in politics is as obvious as the need to turn out ones base, actually doing so requires recent, reliable information of the kind that primary contests provide. The primaries are a dry run for the general election, and the more Trump perfects his get-out-the-vote operation now, the more formidable hell be in the main event. Daniel McCarthy, CNN Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images The "Magnificent Seven" have been market leaders since 2023 but are not quite an artificial intelligence (AI)-focused group. While many within the cohort have AI products, they aren't pure plays. Instead, I'm proposing a new group of three that informs investors on how strong AI demand is. That group, consisting of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), which is also a member of the "Magnificent Seven," Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI), and Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM), gives investors a look at the hardware side of AI. So, if you're looking for a basket of stocks to track AI infrastructure buildout, this "Terrific Trio" is the way to go. This trio has their hands in most AI products Starting at the base, computing hardware requires semiconductor chips, and Taiwan Semiconductor produces the vast majority of them. To produce more powerful chips, manufacturers place the conductive traces closer together, which allows more components to be packed onto a board. To describe these chips, chip manufacturers name them based on how far apart the traces are. Currently, the smallest TSMC can go is 3 nanometers (nm), but it's already working on its 2 nm technology as well. Taiwan Semiconductor makes chips for some of the world's biggest companies and is one of Nvidia's key suppliers. Nvidia gets the most attention of this trio, as its parabolic rise since early 2023 resulted in the stock increasing nearly 500%. This excitement is due to Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs), which are best-in-class for training AI models. GPUs are built to process complex calculations like training AI models. But what benefits Nvidia is the number of GPUs purchased when a supercomputer is built. These devices require thousands of GPUs to provide users with top-end computing power, and with the rumored price of an H100 GPU coming in at around $30,000 a piece, that generates a lot of revenue for Nvidia. Story continues Lastly is Super Micro Computer. Haphazardly assembling a few hundred or thousand GPUs together without the networking or architecture experience is a recipe for disaster. Many companies without the experience necessary to get the most out of their GPUs go to Supermicro to build their servers. With Super Micro Computer's highly modular system, it can spec in a server of just about any size and focus that a client could want. Together, these three offer a great pulse on the AI movement, as their products are essential table stakes for getting into the AI game. But they've each had a strong 2024, so is this a good trio to buy right now? The trio has had a strong 2024 This group has been a fantastic one to own in 2024. Supermicro's led the charge, rising more than 280%. NVDA Chart After those numbers, many investors may be worried about overpaying for any of the stocks in this group. However, that argument breaks down if you examine the forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio (which uses analyst projections over the next 12 months). NVDA PE Ratio (Forward) Chart The forward P/E ratio is important when the company you're assessing is going through a massive transformation, like these three are due to AI demand. Additionally, when comparing this metric to a more typical price-to-earnings ratio (which uses trailing earnings to value the company), it's best to take a few points off because these are only projections. With that in mind, it's clear that Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor are still within the realm of buying, although Supermicro has gotten quite expensive. However, Nvidia's stock also traded for more than 50 times forward earnings in 2023, so Supermicro could grow into its valuation through sustained outsize growth. So, should you buy the "Terrific Trio?" I'd say yes if you want an absolute pulse on the AI market. But, if you're looking to maximize your portfolio returns, I'd only buy Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor, as Supermicro might be due for a pullback after its stellar run to start the year. Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now? Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Nvidia wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of February 26, 2024 Keithen Drury has positions in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Super Micro Computer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Forget the "Magnificent Seven." Consider the "Terrific Trio." was originally published by The Motley Fool Move over, Andy Kim and Tammy Murphy. Parsippany resident Ken Kaplan is joining a field of political heavyweights in the race to replace Bob Menendez in the U.S. Senate. Kaplan, a commercial real estate broker, was nominated by acclamation last Sunday by the New Jersey Libertarian Party and needs only 800 petition signatures to get his name on the November ballot. Ken Kaplan, a commercial real estate broker from Parsippany, was nominated by the state Libertarian Party to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Bob Menendez. A veteran underdog of state campaigns, Kaplan, 76, has represented the party in previous New Jersey elections for the Senate and the governor's office. He said he went to the Libertarian convention in New Brunswick last weekend with no plans to run. "It was a surprise to me," he said. The New Jersey Libertarian Party had 24,438 members in 2023, state records show. That's a fraction of the registered Democrats (2,547,517) and Republicans (1,555,014) in the state but significantly more than any other party. There were almost 2.4 million unaffiliated voters registered in 2023, according to the state. Three times in race for governor A graduate of Brandeis University and NYU Law School, Kaplan finished third with 7,935 votes in the 1993 race for the governor's office, when Republican Christine Todd Whitman bested incumbent Jim Florio to become New Jersey's first female governor. Kaplan ran again in 2009 and 2013, losing both times to Chris Christie and receiving a high of 12,155 votes in 2013. Between those campaigns, he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2012, finishing third behind Menendez with 16,803 votes. With a certified petition bearing the necessary signatures, Kaplan will again appear on the general election ballot. New Jersey law allows only the Democratic and Republican parties to conduct primary elections. More: Tammy Murphy beats Andy Kim for the Bergen County Democratic Party line Libertarian on taxes, immigration, pot He is still in the process of forming a campaign committee but already has his platform outlined. Reflecting libertarian priorities, Kaplan said he is emphasizing individual liberty and wants to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. If we want to shrink the deficit, we have to shrink the government, Kaplan said. He favors what he sees as a Constitution-supported process to fund the federal government with existing excise taxes. He would eliminate the federal income tax. He also emphasizes a "reasonable" approach to immigration. All four of my own grandparents were immigrants, so I certainly value what immigrants can contribute to this country," he said. But the process to enter the country should include background checks to screen out criminals and terrorists, he said. (Such checks are already required for those seeking asylum, green cards, refugee status and other official channels to immigrate to the country, according to the U.S. State Department.) Kaplan's platform also includes declassifying marijuana as a Schedule I drug, exempting it from a category that includes heroin, and making pot available by prescription. "Congress has the power to do that, and I would go further, making it legal for recreational purposes as well, as New Jersey has already done," he said. Kaplan, right, spoke against developer tax breaks at a Parsippany town hall forum last November. Who's running for Senate? Kaplan will have to wait until June to see the general election field completed. Menendez, under indictment for alleged corruption, has not announced whether he will seek the Democratic Party's nomination again. In his absence, New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy and U.S. Rep. Andy Kim are waging a high-profile primary battle to collect county endorsements. The Democratic field also includes Patricia Campos-Medina, Kevin Cupples, Lawrence Hamm and Patrick Merrill. On the GOP side, Mendham Mayor Christine Serrano-Glassner is seen by some as the front-runner in a large field that also includes former News 12 reporter Alex Zdan. Curtis Bashaw, Michael Estrada, Albert Harshaw and Justin Murphy also are declared candidates. Primary election day is June 4. The deadline for candidates to file for the primary is March 25. Voters have until May 14 to register. William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter: @wwesthoven This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ Libertarian Party nominates Morris County man for US Senate race The third-party organization No Labels held a virtual 800-person delegate meeting Friday, where the members voted to move forward with the process of forming a presidential ticket to run in the 2024 election against President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. While the vote reaffirmed No Labels' longstanding project, it's still unclear what happens next. An official ticket was not announced at this meeting, but the group says it is moving forward with discussions with potential individuals. They voted near unanimously to continue our 2024 project and to move immediately to identify candidates to serve on the Unity presidential ticket. Every one of our delegates had their own explanation for wanting to move ahead," said No Labels convention chairman Mike Rawlings. The organization said in a statement that it will be "accelerating" its candidate outreach and announcing a process for how candidates will be selected on March 14. A number of people discussed as potential No Labels candidates have taken themselves out of the running. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced last month that he would not be seeking a bid for the White House, though he is currently on a listening tour speaking to voters across the country. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, recently launched a campaign for Senate in his state. No Labels chief strategist Ryan Clancy said that No Labels has not yet chosen a ticket and any names floating around are being put out there by someone else. And while the discussion of potential candidates is ongoing, No Labels is still working on its goal of getting ballot access in all 50 states for the fall. No Labels is currently on the ballot in 16 states, their organization says, including key swing states Arizona and Nevada. No Labels was founded in 2010 to promote bipartisanship in Washington, but it took a dramatic turn in the runup to the 2024 election by announcing it would put forward a unity ticket for president as an alternative to the major parties. With many Americans unhappy with either of their likely choices for president and frustration with politics rampant among voters, the time is ripe for another option, they argue. Indeed, 2024 has seen a bumper crop of high-profile third-party presidential efforts, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and civil rights activist Cornel West, in addition to No Labels and the familiar Libertarian and Green Party tickets. Kennedy is currently working on his own ballot access mission across the country. He is currently on the ballot in Utah and is actively gathering and submitting signatures for multiple others, though he faces a campaign finance complaint alleging improper coordination with the super PAC American Values 2024 in those efforts. No Labels entry into presidential politics alienated some former officials, donors, and allies, especially among Democrats, who worry that any third party candidate will just syphon anti-Trump votes away from Biden. No Labels has denied those allegations, saying it would only support a third-party slate if it had a real chance of winning. The organization has have vowed to halt its activities if data suggests its candidate would be a mere spoiler. But most of No Labels decision-making has been kept private, as have its donors, and officials have occasionally made contradictory statements, making it difficult for people outside the organization to understand its methods and motives. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com No Labels is moving forward with its plan to offer a third-party ticket in the 2024 election, despite its failure to attract top-tier candidates and struggles to make good on its state-level ballot access goals. On Friday, the dark-money groups unnamed delegates voted to proceed with a so-called unity ticket even as a No Labels official acknowledged they have not managed to find a candidate yet and may not be able to, according to Politico. The No Labels pitch is, on its face, fair: Americans want and deserve an alternative to the presumptive 2024 nominees, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. But while No Labels presents itself as a centrist voice for Americans who feel politically homeless, in reality the group is a front for billionaires and corporate executives a Washington influence machine that fights for their financial interests in the halls of Congress. With Robert Kennedy Jr. also running as an independent, Democrats believe the No Labels third-party effort could undermine Biden and help throw the election to Trump. Over the past year, the dark-money group has been leading a reported $70 million campaign to secure ballot access nationwide for a potential 2024 unity ticket. No Labels has refused to disclose whos funding this effort, claiming that this is to protect its donors from agitators and partisan operatives. Thanks to a quirk in Americas broken system of campaign finance laws, the group will never be required to disclose who funded its ballot access effort and would only have to start reporting donors if it were to formally back candidates. So far, No Labels has secured ballot access in 16 states, and is trying to do so in 17 other states. The group has given no concrete hints as to which two divide-spanning politicians might run on its unity ticket, or to what party they might belong. The organization has waffled between floating one Democratic candidate and one Republican, or one Republican candidate and one independent, or even two Republicans. The event Friday was not about selecting a candidate, but rather about deciding to move ahead with the unity ticket effort more broadly. And the groups 800 delegates selected by No Labels decided the third-party effort is a great idea. (No Labels has refused to share information about its delegates, warning that opponents would try to bully them.) We are disappointed but unsurprised that No Labels hand-picked delegates voted in secret to proceed with their profoundly dangerous and unwise third-party efforts, says Matt Bennett, executive vice president for public affairs at the centrist Democratic group Third Way. As our new poll makes clear, even a No Labels dream ticket led by Nikki Haley garners under 10 percent of the vote and comes in a dismal fourth behind Biden, Trump, and RFK Jr. But as the group works to move its unity ticket effort forward, the pool of nationally known politicians who could run on the No Labels ballot line is shrinking dramatically. No Labels is holding a convention to nominate any credible candidate, and none want to run with them, says Ron Gunzburger, a longtime political operative who runs Politics1.com. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a No Labels co-chair who is retiring from the Senate, was seen as a top contender for the groups third-party ticket, as he had repeatedly refused to rule out a bid and launched a listening tour in New Hampshire. Last month, though, Manchin declared that he has no intention of running for the presidency in 2024. Another No Labels co-chair, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, was also viewed as a strong contender for its unity ticket. He instead chose to run for Senate. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said Thursday, Im going to support Donald Trump. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) officially shut the door on a third-party presidential run this week, too. Sinema, who left the Democratic Party in 2022 and was facing steep reelection odds, announced this week she will retire from the Senate at the end of her term. I believe in my approach, but its not what America wants right now, she said in a video. On Thursday, she told Bloomberg News, Im not running for president. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who ran a long and doomed bid against Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination, has said she will not run on the No Labels ticket. I have said many, many times, I would not run as an independent, Haley said this week, before she dropped out of the race. I would not run as No Labels because I am a Republican. In a call with supporters in January, a No Labels official said Haley would not make much sense for the group because sore loser laws would disqualify her from running on a presidential ticket in many states though she noted Haley could still potentially run for vice president. Sore-loser laws could also rule out the possibility of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie leading a No Labels ticket, according to its founding chairman, former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). Since they apparently do not yet have a candidate, we encourage anyone considering this nomination to take the path of No Labels co-chairs Larry Hogan and Joe Manchin and decline, says Bennett. Their nomination is a path only to embarrassing defeat that could serve as a spoiler that returns Trump to power. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone No Labels says it's about to jump into the 2024 presidential race. A day prior to a secret delegate meeting that's not a convention, the centrist nonprofit that isn't a political party indicated Thursday that the members whom it won't name are almost certainly going to agree with the backers it refuses to disclose that a non-existent unity ticket to be chosen via undetermined process should nonetheless be green-lit to enter a presidential contest that No Labels swears it can plausibly win and definitely not tip to Donald Trump. "We expect our delegates to encourage the process to continue," No Labels Chief Strategist Ryan Clancy told The Wall Street Journal. The Joe Liebermanchaired organization remains convinced, all contrary evidence notwithstanding, that what disgruntled voters most crave as an alternative to Beltway politics as usual is a centrist coalition of establishment office-holders who can out-hawk both major parties on foreign policy. "The far left wants to abandon Israel," former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings warned in an awkward March 5 No Labels State of the Union prebuttal that had 2,600 views in its first two days on YouTube. "And the far right wants to abandon Ukraine." Is Rawlings a potential candidate to leverage No Labels' ballot access, currently tabulated at 16 states plus the District of Columbia on the way to a projected 32 (with the eventual candidate expected to go after the remaining 19)? Who knows! "The right candidate is out there," group founder Nancy Jacobson insisted in The Dallas Morning News on February 29. "That's the last piece we need." What we do know is that the list of politicians rebuffing No Labels' advances grows almost as fast as the organization floating candidate names to the press: former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Sen. Joe Manchin (DW.Va.), vanquished Republican contender Nikki Haley, and steamrolled Biden-challenger Dean Phillips (DMinn.). On Thursday afternoon, The Wall Street Journal reported that "One candidate the group is interested in, according to a person familiar with its discussions, is Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I., Ariz.), a former Democrat who said this week that she wouldn't run for re-election." Less than three hours later, Sinema ruled it out. Why wouldn't a brand-name politician jump at the chance to mount a longshot entry into a polarized, razor-thin White House race? Besides the persuasive cooing of good cops (like Bill Clinton) and out-and-out threats from bad cops like the Lincoln Project ("If you have one fingernail clipping of a skeleton in your closet, we will find itWe are going to come at you with every gun we can possibly find"), there is the cruelty of electoral math. Manchin, one of the best-known names associated with the organization, appeared in presidential polls in December and January. The showing both times: 3 percent. Third Way, a center-left think tank playing point on antiNo Labels agitation, released a national poll Thursday testing a name-recognition best-case scenario for the unity ticket, Nikki Haley and Dean Phillips. The duo came in fourth place in a four-way race, at 9 percent, behind Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 13 percent. Now imagine that instead of a high-profile former governor and United Nations ambassador who had been campaigning for the past year, you had at the top of the ticket one of the last whispered names that hasn't yet said no, likeformer Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. Brutal. For nine years running, the establishment centrist hawkish lane for presidential politics inside the GOP has been narrow and littered with bones, from Haley's to Bill Weld's all the way back to Jeb Bush's. Attempts to assemble a new "common sense" coalition in the patriotic centerEvan McMullin, Howard Schultz, Michael Bloomberghave largely exploded on the launch pad in a conflagration of dollar bills. While I may prefer this category's comparative sobriety and willingness to prioritize the long-dead project of tackling America's looming entitlements catastrophe, a decent respect for the opinions of the electorate requires facing that voters just aren't into stentorian Problem Solvers who fret that Washington isn't interventionist enough. And those voters who do finally break free of the two-party grip tend to gravitate toward candidates, issues, and parties that represent a clean break from the recognizable Washington past. Though No Labels, ever opportunistic on public relations, is expected to formally announce after today's postSuper Tuesday Zoom call that the organization is finally in it to win it, one of its officials' many contradictory quotes about the quest gives a possible future way out. "If the rank and file of No Labels says to us tomorrow, 'Go for it,'" Lieberman told Newsmax Thursday, "we'll do some last polling to see whether we can actually win, and then we'll choose the best ticket we can." It's hard to imagine even the most skilled masseuse making any such poll numbers look viable. But the underlying political weirdness of 2024 has yet to manifest in the presidential campaign, and you should never underestimate the intoxicating force of visualizing oneself at the vanguard of power. The post No Labels, With No Candidate, Says Yes to a 2024 Presidential Campaign appeared first on Reason.com. The centrist group No Labels has decided that it will plow ahead with its so-called unity ticket in the presidential election, promising to open Pandoras box ahead of the November vote. Nearly 800 No Labels delegates convened virtually on Friday and voted nearly unanimously to move forward with their presidential ticket, according to No Labels National Convention Chair Mike Rawlings. The third-party movement has not named who its presidential and vice presidential nominees are. It will announce its candidate selection process on Wednesday. The group, which has repeatedly been accused of running a pro-Donald Trump spoiler campaign, wants to offer a bipartisan ticket, with the presidential nominee from one major party and the vice presidential pick from the other. No Labels has repeatedly positioned itself as a viable alternative to both Trump and Joe Biden, and promised only to run a ticket if the group believed it had a candidate that could actually win. Until now, No Labels reportedly preferred candidates have either been generally unpopular or have said noand in some cases, both. The group reportedly courted Nikki Haley, Joe Manchin, and former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. Haley dropped out of the Republican presidential primary earlier this week after a terrible performance. Manchin is one of the most unpopular senators nationwide. Both turned down No Labels before a formal offer could be made. Hogan, who left office with record-high approval ratings, had weighed a presidential run on a No Labels ticket. But he ultimately decided to run for Maryland senator instead. The only person who has actually offered to be on a unity ticket is Dean Phillips, who ran a painfully cringey Democratic campaign and who does not appear to have even made it onto No Labels radar. Its unclear just who No Labels will pick now, but Fridays decision has definitely revealed one thing: No Labels just wants attention. Political strategists and even former allies have warned that No Labels is dangerous. Jim Messina, who ran Barack Obamas reelection campaign, suggested to The New Republic in May that No Labels CEO Nancy Jacobson and her husband, Mark Penn, are sort of no longer relevant within the [Democratic] Party. So now theyre going outside the party looking for relevancy, Messina said. Historically, third-party candidates perform poorly in presidential elections, typically receiving (at best) a sliver of the electorate. The exceptions (Theodore Roosevelt in 1912; Ross Perot in 1992) prove the rule. But a third-party candidate could peel critical votes away from Biden while Trump cruises to victory. Another outcome could be that a third candidate prevents anyone from getting 270 electoral votes, meaning that state delegations in the House of Representatives pick the winner. If Republicans maintain their state-delegation majority in the next Congress, it would almost certainly swing for Trump. So while No Labels says it doesnt want either Biden or Trump in power, it could be the thing that ensures Trump gets back to the White House. For a group that bills itself as nonpartisan, No Labels seems to court connections exclusively with right-leaning figures. The organization has accepted donations from a man with close financial ties to Jared Kushner, as well as Nazi memorabilia collector Harlan Crow. And one of the groups members is former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, who oversaw a contentious, highly partisan, and decidedly far-right four years. He defended voter ID laws, rejected the Obamacare expansion of Medicaid, and backed a bill that banned people from using the bathroom that matched their gender identity. On March 8, there is no Russian ship in the Black Sea There are no enemy ships in the Black Sea, Ukrainian Navy reported on Facebook on March 8. There is one enemy ship in the Sea of Azov. There are three enemy ships in the Mediterranean Sea, including one Kalibr cruise missile carrier, with a total volley of up to four missiles. During the day, in the interests of Russia, the Kerch Strait was passed by: six ships sailed to the Sea of Azov, one of them from the Bosphorus six vessels entered the Black Sea, none of which continued to the Bosphorus Read also: Crimea and the Battle for the Black Sea are keys to victory in 2024 Zelenskyy NV Patrol ship Sergey Kotov destruction: What is known The $64 million USD Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship Sergey Kotov was destroyed by MAGURA V5 maritime drones on the night of March 5 in the territorial waters of Ukraine near the Kerch Strait. The ship sustained damage to the stern, starboard and port sides in the surface drone attack. Read also: Ukrainian intelligence publishes a conversation between Russians about Sergey Kotov sinking This ship was guarding our Kerch Strait, in our territorial waters, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said. A helicopter might have been on board the destroyed Sergey Kotov, he said on national television on March 5, without identifying the type of helicopter. However, Ukrainian media, citing sources in the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), suggest it could have been either a Ka-29 or Ka-27. Ukrainian forces have been regularly destroying Russian Black Sea Fleet ships since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Pletenchuk said on Feb. 15 that only five of the 13 large landing ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet remained. Read also: Ten Russian missile carriers remain in Black, Azov seas, says Ukraines Navy 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 Police responded to two schools on Friday morning after reported threats were. According to Norwood Police, non-specific threats were made at the Coakley Middle School as well as Norwood High School. Authorities staffed both schools with additional officers as a precaution. Both the school district and police are looking into the incidents. Our investigation makes us confident that these threats are non-credible, police wrote in a social media post. The Norwood Police and the Norwood Schools continue to investigate this matter and will post more information as it becomes available. There were no reports of any injuries. Boston 25 News has reached out to Norwood Public Schools for comment. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) The North Face store in Union Square will close its doors for good, a company spokesperson told KRON4. The outdoor apparel company has been located at 180 Post St. for years. The North Face stores last day of business will be on March 31. The company sent a statement when asked why it decided to close its downtown San Francisco location. Despite the closure, The North Face will continue to operate and thrive in these remaining communities. We remain dedicated to providing quality gear and fostering exploration for our community members, The North Face said in a statement to KRON4. The North Face was born in San Francisco, and we have cherished the time spent here, building roots, and creating lasting memories. The North Face was founded in San Francisco in 1966. The Post Street store is the only location in the city. The news comes a week after Macys announced it will be closing its iconic Union Square location. The closures add to the growing list of retailers leaving the San Francisco downtown area, especially in the Emporium Centre (formerly called SF Centre and Westfield). See below for a list of closures to begin 2024. San Francisco Centre: Stores closing to begin 2024 The North Face began when two hiking enthusiasts opened up a small mountaineering retail store in North Beach, according to the companys website. Two years later, the store moved to Berkeley as The North Face was on its way to becoming a global brand. Since its inception nearly 60 years ago, The North Face now has reportedly more than 3,500 stores across the globe. It is considered one of the leading brands for outdoor apparel. Other The North Face locations in the Bay Area include Walnut Creek, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Milpitas and Livermore. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Spring storm season has arrived, which means hail a threat to roofs, cars, and solar panels across North Texas. Storm alerts from the National Weather Service Fort Worth office in the past two days have warned of up to quarter-sized hail and damaging winds for the area. A recent study by home service site, Roof Gnome, ranked counties across Texas who were the most at risk from hail damage. Dallas and Tarrant counties landed among the top five. The highest annual total expected economic loss in North Texas came out to over $59 million to nearly $103 million. Texas falls in the central region of the U.S. most prone to severe storms. More trending stories: Texas to 'spring forward': When daylight saving time begins How a six-pack of beer, $100 got rescuers to pull pig out of thorns. Want to make $359K a year working from home? Here's a list of jobs. Tarrant County is quite familiar with storm damage. A study by Stacker.com, a digital data journalism outlet, last year shows the county has the worst weather in all of Texas based on the number of extreme weather events occurring in the area. The cost of damage to cars, buildings, and crops from U.S. hailstorms averages about $15 billion a year, compared with about $1.2 billion in the 1990s, the report states. One reason for the higher price tag is the development in regions prone to hail storms like Tarrant County, Texas, where Ft. Worth is located. Texas counties most at-risk from hail damage Here;s how the latest study was done: Based on three categories, the study evaluated more than 600 counties in the United States that had a moderate to high risk of hail. It considered the number of homes with solar panels and garages, the projected economic loss from hail storms, and the overall danger of hail among seven other metrics. Dallas county ranked as number 1 for the most at risk and Tarrant county ranked at number three. Here are the Texas counties as ranked: Texas counties most at-risk from hail damage, Rank among U.S. counties Dallas (1) Tarrant (3) Denton (11) Childress (16) Collin (20) Potter (22) Bexar (32) Travis (38) El Paso (49) Morris County (56) According to the studys website, nearly 7,000 hail events occurred in 2023. Scientists predict that the U.S. will see stronger and more frequent hail storms in the coming years due to climate change. Hail can cause flooding, break windows and roofs, clog storm drains, and harm people and animals. It can also harm other pricey components of your house like your HVAC system, solar panels, and gutters. The site recommends people repair or replace damaged windows and make sure gutters are covered by insurance to prepare for damage by storms. According to the National Weather Service, people should also listen for Severe Thunderstorm Watches for the county and consider pulling over or delaying travel when a storm arrives. Norway on Wednesday reached an agreement with the Sami people, ending a nearly three-year dispute over Europes largest onshore wind farm and the Indigenous right to raise reindeer. Under the agreement, the partially state-owned farm's 151 turbines stay in operation. Energy Minister Terje Aasland said the deal includes "a future-oriented solution that safeguards the reindeer farming rights." The agreement also has compensation for the Sami - including a share of energy produced - along with a new area for winter grazing and a grant of 5 million kroner (439,000) for strengthening Sami culture. 'The violation of human rights has been brought to an end' The speaker of the 39-seat Sami Parliament, Silje Karine Mutoka, said "there is reason to believe that the violation of human rights has been brought to an end, and that the agreement lays a foundation for the violation of human rights to be repaired." Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said "the state must learn from this case and ensure that violations do not happen again. Its about better dialogue." In October 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that the turbines' construction violated the rights of the Sami, who have used the land for reindeer for centuries. Since the ruling, Sami activists have demonstrated repeatedly against the wind farms continued operation and said a transition to green energy shouldnt come at the expense of the rights of Indigenous people. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg is carried away during a protest outside the Norwegian Ministry of Finance, in Oslo, on 1 March 2023. - Cornelius Poppe/NTB Scanpix via AP, File Greta Thunberg joined protests against the wind turbines The protests drew support from Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who was carried away during a demonstration outside the Norwegian Ministry of Finance, in Oslo, on 1 March 2023. In June, Sami activists protested outside Gahr Stres office. They occupied the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy for four days in February and later blocked the entrances to 10 ministries. Further protests in October saw activists wearing traditional Sami outfits sit outside the entrance of Statkraft, a state-owned company that operates 80 of the wind turbines. The farm is located in central Norways Fosen district about 450 kilometres north of the capital, Oslo. (Bloomberg) -- French prosecutors have opened their own preliminary probe into potential corruption linked to telecom group Altice, just months after the detainment of co-founder Armando Pereira and other business associates in Portugal, people familiar with the investigation said. Most Read from Bloomberg Frances Parquet National Financier is looking into suspicions of corruption of individuals who dont hold public office, money laundering and attempts to conceal these offenses, according to one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the investigation isnt public. The French investigation, which hasnt been previously reported, was opened in September, the person said. The early probe shows scrutiny is spreading across the telecommunications group controlled by billionaire Patrick Drahi. In Portugal, a three-year investigation into alleged corruption, tax fraud and money laundering culminated last summer in the temporary detention of Pereira, the co-founder and former chief operating officer of Altice. He was released on a 10 million ($11 million) bail. Armando Pereira wants only one thing: for this investigation to move forward quickly and effectively, his lawyer Jean Tamalet said. He hopes to be heard so that his honor can be washed clean. Tamalet said he wants Altice contracts with suppliers in France to be audited to see if Altice was penalized, whether they led to kickbacks and, if so, who benefited from them. An Altice spokesperson declined to comment. Altice has said its a victim of the alleged wrongdoings in Portugal and that it would collaborate with the judicial authorities. Story continues Read More: Billionaire Drahi Cornered by Debt Mountain, Corruption Scandal The French investigation comes at a difficult time for Drahis empire as the French billionaire attempts to sell off assets to help pay down an approximately $60 billion debt pile. Nearly every part of the sprawling telecommunications and media empire hes built up in the last 30 years is for sale. Altice France, including French carrier SFR, is Altice groups largest unit in revenue, with 11.3 billion in 2022. Bonds issued by Altice Frances holding company fell by 1.6 cents to 64 cents on the euro on Friday, according to CBBT pricing compiled by Bloomberg. Pereira was detained along with two other Portuguese men who allegedly set up businesses that won supply contracts with Altice. Portuguese prosecutors suspect that procurement decisions taken at Altice were rigged in a way that harmed the groups own companies and competitors. Those investigators looked at contracts with dozens of Altices suppliers in the country, but the probe questioned broader procurement practices, since some Portuguese suppliers also served Altice in France. Altice has suspended the contracts and completed internal audits in every region in which it operates, the company said last year. Altice had also previously cut ties with its US head of procurement Yossi Benchetrit Pereiras son-in-law. Alexandre Fonseca, chairman of Altice USA, has also left the company, along with about ten other employees, the company said. Read More: Billionaire Drahi Cornered by Debt Mountain, Corruption Scandal Drahi founded Altice with Pereira and another partner in France in 2002 and expanded it through high-profile acquisitions of companies including French carrier SFR Group SA, and Suddenlink Communications and Cablevision Systems Corp. in the US. Years of aggressive acquisitions fueled by cheap borrowing have saddled the businesses with more than $60 billion of debt. Set up in 2014 to tackle complex financial crimes, the Parquet National Financier or PNF has conducted investigations into corporate giants such as Google, McDonalds Corp., UBS Group AG or Airbus SE and has extracted billions of dollars in fines. --With assistance from Giulia Morpurgo. (Adds additional details on Drahis empire throughout) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Afonso Mestre proudly displays the Portugal-shaped pin badge for the Chega party on his green knit sweater, as he greets people on a sunny and crisp morning in Cartaxo, an hours drive from the capital, Lisbon. The 20-year-old took time off his bachelors degree to be here, campaigning for the man who he believes will change Portugal. I dont believe in parties, I believe in people, Mestre says. Before Chega, I already identified with Andre. By Andre, Mestre means Andre Ventura, the populist former football pundit at the helm of Portugals radical right-wing party, Chega. Chega translates to Enough, and it has been the countrys third-most popular political force, since winning more than 7% of votes in the last elections, in 2022. Portugal is one of dozens of countries that are holding elections this year, making 2024 a pivotal year in international affairs. There are signs that a lurch to the right is brewing in many European nations, just as Donald Trump leaps toward the Republican nomination in the US election in November. Founded in 2019, polls suggest that the fledgling Chega party may get 15% in Sundays snap general elections, called after a corruption scandal that implicated members of the countrys ruling party forced the prime minister to resign. Chega is polling third, behind what are, historically, Portugals two main parties the center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD), which is running as part of a right-wing coalition named Democratic Alliance (AD), and the incumbent center-left Socialist Party (PS). I think were on a great path, Mestre says. Afonso Mestre, 20, stands next to a Chega party campaign booth. - Vasco Cotovio/CNN While 15% wont be enough to rule Portugal, it may be enough to split the vote and shake things up, and put Chega in the powerful position of kingmaker. If the right-wing AD coalition is unable to form a government on its own, or with the remaining center or right-wing parties, it may be forced to enter talks with Chega. AD leader, Luis Montenegro, has been campaigning on a platform for change, following eight years of government by the center-left. His version, he says, is positive, safe and stable and contrasts with other options, chief among them Chega. He has sought to present his coalition as the rights credible choice and has said he has no intention of aligning himself with the radical right. However, others in his party have refused to rule out the idea of bringing Chega into the fold. The ambiguity has kept the PS and its leader, Pedro Nuno Santos, in the race. The incumbents have used the potential threat of what they say is the far-right coming into power to sway voters their way. Emulating Trumps drain the swamp Venturas brand of populism is not exactly new, but it was a sort that Portugal seemed immune to. While populists like Marine Le Pen in France or Matteo Salvini in Italy made huge gains nearly a decade ago, in Portugal, that surge didnt happen straight away. Now the right-wing populism is having its moment. I am a radical against corruption, Ventura said, shouting, angrily, in a pre-recorded radio campaign ad. Im a radical against cronyism. Venturas promise that he can clean up Portuguese politics of corruption is reminiscent of Trump and his vow to drain the swamp in the US political elite. And a series of corruption scandals involving several politicians from the two main parties is what has helped Chega gain its foothold. And its an issue that resonates. A recent EU study found 93% of people in Portugal believe corruption to be widespread, the third-highest in Europe, behind only Greece and Croatia. University of Lisbon political scientist Pedro Magalhaes, says Venturas narrative has flourished in the Portuguese political environment. This perception [on corruption] has been prevalent for quite some time, so the demand was there what wasnt there was the supply, Magalhaes said. Chega has filled that gap. Very much like other radical parties across Europe, Venturas Chega has also attacked the idea of gender equality, and played on voters fears on issues of security, crime and immigration. The party has flirted with extremism and has been accused racism. Ventura himself has been tried and convicted for making offensive, racist remarks in reference to a Black family from one of Portugals poorest neighborhoods, a conviction that the Supreme Court upheld. The party has denied accusations of racism, but some members, and many of its supporters, openly flaunt hateful narratives on social media. Ventura also once wrote on social media that a fellow MP, who holds dual Portuguese-Guinean citizenship, should return to your own country. But as with like-minded movements, Chega seems to have brushed the criticism aside and has continued to grow. They fight on a different axis, Magalhaes explained, saying the anti-system message remains at the core. [Venturas] discourse is one that frequently places the people, against a political class seen as immoral and corrupt. Young, conservative and proud Back in Cartaxo, Mestre smiles as he hands out fliers, talking up his party. The town sits on the boundary between the districts of Lisbon and Santarem between the cosmopolitan and trendy capital, and the gateway into Portugals often forgotten rural heartland. This is a prime hunting ground for Chega and theyre hoping to elect three of the electoral districts nine members of parliament. Mestre knows this. He is young but says politics has been a calling for some time. When other kids were watching cartoons, I was paying attention to politicians, he says. He always leaned towards the right-wing parties, but there was no party that fully convinced him. His parents asked him to wait until he turned 18 before he joined any of them and, by then, Ventura and Chega had reeled him in. I joined Chega on December 5, 2021, one day after my 18th birthday, he says. It was best decision I couldve made. Social Democratic and Democratic Aliance leader Luis Montenegro speaks to supporters during a campaign rally ahead of the snap elections, in Lisbon, Portugal, on February 20. - Pedro Nunes/Reuters Mestre is not the kind of voter Chega usually appeals to. Magalhaes says populist parties usually attract conservative men, with some education but, theyre usually much older than Mestre. But all new parties tend to attract younger people, he adds. And Chega has been able to capitalize on that, relying on a savvy communication strategy and wide-ranging presence on most social media platforms. A study by the University of Beira Interior found that in Portugal, parties have a combined 2.1 million followers on social media. Chega alone has 590,000 unique followers, nearly 30% of the total. On YouTube alone, Chega has 155,000 followers, more than all other parties combined. It also leads on TikTok, with 32,000 users following the partys account. Venturas own account has nearly 222,000 followers, more than any other candidate. Catia Moreira de Carvalho, a senior researcher with a focus on psychology and extremism at Leiden University and the University of Porto, believes Chegas social media presence, along with their simple, attractive language, is a cocktail that can be hard for young people to resist. These narratives have an impact with young people because they also have a need to affirm themselves, a need to find themselves, to understand what their place in the world, Moreira de Carvalho says. And one topic in particular is resonating gender equality. Theres too much of it, according to some young Portuguese men. Chega presents itself as a party that supports that regression, that nostalgia for those more traditional norms and gender roles, Moreira de Carvalho adds. And after eight years of Socialist rule, Portugal seems primed for change. But a win on the right may come at the cost of allowing Chega into government. Both Magalhaes and Moreira de Carvalho say that could open a dangerous precedent and help normalize some of the radical narrative Ventura has employed, and which many say is extreme. But some young people like Mestre dont see it that way. We are not extremist, we simply want the good of the country, he says. We are the future, the future will go through the Chega party. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, considers it possible that the West may start helping Ukraine not only with armament but with troops as well. Source: Danilov in a broadcast of the Ukrainska Pravda.Pidsumky ("Summary") programme Quote: "We definitely do not rule out the possibility of some military units of some countries being deployed on our territory, if they [the countries ed.] make a corresponding decision." Details: At the same time, Danilov noted that the issue of deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine is very sensitive and cannot always be publicly discussed. Danilov mentioned that at the moment Ukraine is waiting first and foremost for timely armament supplies from its Western partners. Background: Macron stated that "it should not be ruled out" that Western troops might be sent to Ukraine. Later he added that his remarks, which have caused a stir, were carefully thought through. These remarks caused a negative reaction of the governments of some allied states, the leaders of which stressed that they would not send troops to Ukraine. While the majority of NATO member states excluded the sending of troops to Ukraine, including such powerful players as Germany, the UK and the US, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, said on 28 February that he was thankful to Macron for the debates he had started. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian president, stated that the presence of NATO troops on the territory of Ukraine would lead to a direct conflict between the Alliance and the Russian Federation, escalating the situation. Support UP or become our patron! Rep. John Curtis said the bipartisan bill requiring TikTok to divest from its parent company, ByteDance, is not a ban on the app. Curtis spoke to the Deseret News on the phone Friday about a bill advanced from the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. The legislation stipulates that TikTok needs to be sold from ByteDance within a six-month time frame or else itll be removed from the app store. This is a very limited scope and very targeted, Curtis said, adding that it wasnt typical for legislation to pass out of committee unanimously. He emphasized that politicians on both sides of the aisle have indicated their support of the bill. In a statement issued to the Deseret News on Thursday, TikTok said this legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States. Curtis said thats not the case and described the social media apps response to the legislation as disingenuous. Hes not on TikTok, but he does use other social media apps and he said he recognizes theres a lot of good that comes from social media. Its not a ban. Its simply an unwillingness to let the Chinese government be in control of this, Curtis said, saying the impetus for the legislation is national security concerns, not an attempt to cut back on freedom of expression. Were not saying anything about free speech. The national security concerns stem from data collection and how algorithms could be used to manipulation behavior. Pertaining to data collection, Curtis spoke about a notice some users have received on the TikTok app. The notice asked users to input their zip code to call their congressional representative. The Deseret News confirmed the notices were sent via notifications. Curtis took issue with it. Thats fine if that is a private entity, but its not acceptable if it is a foreign entity, Curtis said. Entering zip codes to call a congressional representative wasnt Curtis only data concern he said he had broader concerns about the app having the ability to collect geographical data. According to TikToks website, when a user has location services turned on for TikTok in their phones settings, then TikTok will receive your approximate location from your devices GPS data. If location services are turned off, then TikTok will continue to collect your approximate location information based on your device or network information, such as SIM card and IP address. Where data collection and algorithms meet is a cause for Curtis. Those who understand algorithms understand that with AI and enough data that they have the ability to manipulate behaviors and we see that its a huge problems for very young teens or kids using these apps, Curtis said. Curtis said he and other members of Congress do not want the Chinese Communist Party to have the ability to influence the outcome of a U.S. election. During a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in 2023, Curtis asked TikTok CEO Shou Chew if it was possible that TikTok could use artificial intelligence and algorithms to change who would see a policy issue. Chew responded The way we look at it is our users come in and express whatever view they want. This isnt the first time the U.S. government has considered or requested that an app divest from its parent company. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. told Beijing Kunlun Tech that its ownership of an online dating app sparked national security concerns. It was sold to a California-based group. Curtis also brought up other issues he sees with TikTok such as its potentially negative impact on teen mental health. If you simply talk about the mental health issues, this bill is a tiny step forward, he said. I applaud the state of Utahs efforts to try to reign this in. I think the lawmakers in Utah are seeing the same things that were seeing with mental health, Curtis said. He explained that while he has concerns about how the app impacts adults, he has much more serious concerns about how it impacts children. Utah has been at the forefront of states aiming to protect children from potential harms of social media. After passing the Social Media Regulation Act in 2023, the state amended its social media laws during the 2024 legislative session. Curtis added that he hopes people will be more careful with sharing their data online as a result of this latest House bill highlighting the issue. Were not trying to take decisions away from people, Curtis said. But I personally hope they really understand the consequences of their decisions particularly parents with children. Regulators are once again putting the spotlight on Boeings 737 Max 8. A new preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that a United Airlines flight from Nassau, Bahamas, to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey experienced "stuck" rudder pedals on its landing roll on Feb. 6. According to the report, the captain told investigators that the rudder pedals did not move in response to the normal application of foot pressure while attempting to maintain the runway centerline. The pedals remained stuck in their neutral position. United received the plane involved in the incident from Boeing on Feb. 20, 2023, and removed it from service for maintenance after the incident. The NTSB said it is continuing to investigate the incident, but early tests suggest cold temperatures may have been a factor in the fault. We appreciate the NTSBs work on this preliminary report and will continue to fully support their investigation. We worked closely with United Airlines to diagnose the rudder response issue observed during two 737-8 flights in early February. With coordination with United, the issue was successfully resolved with the replacement of three parts and the airplane returned to service last month, a Boeing spokesperson told USA TODAY in a statement. The company also pointed out that 737 Max jets use the same rudder controls as the previous generation of the plane. According to Boeing, two similar incidents occurred in 2019, both of which were resolved by replacing components. While seemingly less serious than earlier issues, this is just another headache for Boeing as it tries to assure travelers and airlines that its 737 Maxes are reliable airplanes. The jets were involved in two high-profile crashes that killed 346 people and left them grounded for more than a year. Then, earlier this year, the Max 9 fleet was grounded for a number of weeks after an Alaska Airlines flight experienced an explosive decompression when a door plug ripped out mid-flight. In the wake of those incidents, Boeing has been under intense scrutiny and pressure from regulators to improve its manufacturing processes and safety standards. A Boeing 737 MAX 8 for United Airlines parked at Renton Municipal Airport adjacent to Boeing's factory in Renton, Washington, on Jan. 25, 2024. Boeing called out in Senate hearing Boeing and the National Transportation Safety Board argued Wednesday over whether the company has cooperated with investigators looking into the blowout of a door-plug panel on one of its planes during a flight in January. The safety board's chair, Jennifer Homendy, told a Senate Committee that for two months Boeing repeatedly refused to identify employees who work on door panels on Boeing 737s. Investigators want to interview them. Homendy also said the company has failed to provide documentation about a repair job that included removing and reinstalling the panel on the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 that suffered the blowout or even whether Boeing kept records. It's absurd that two months later we don't have that, Homendy said. Without that information, that raises concerns about quality assurance, quality management, safety management systems at Boeing. Shortly after the Senate hearing ended, Boeing responded that it gave the NTSB the names of all employees who work on 737 doors and had previously shared some of them with investigators. Early in the investigation, we provided the NTSB with names of Boeing employees, including door specialists, who we believed would have relevant information, a company spokesman said in a statement. We have now provided the full list of individuals on the 737 door team, in response to a recent request." NTSB fired back, saying that Homendy stands behind her accurate testimony" to the Senate Commerce Committee. It is still unclear whether Boeing kept records about who removed the pluga panel that replaces extra emergency doors when they are not requiredon the Alaska plane last September. If the door plug removal was undocumented there would be no documentation to share, Boeing said. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight NTSB probe on stuck 'rudder' pedals NEW YORK (PIX11) A state lawmaker put New York City Public Schools on blast for serving horrifying and moldy food items to students for lunch. State Sen. Iwen Chu, who represents southern Brooklyn, said she sent a letter to Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor David Banks criticizing the quality of lunches being served to New York City students. 8-year-old boy caught with gun at Brooklyn school: NYPD Chu said she received complaints from parents and students about school lunches. Chu shared several photos of the lunches that she said were provided by students at Brooklyn Tech High School, Staten Island Tech High School, Murrow High School and Midwood High School. It is unacceptable to see the quality of school lunches being provided to our students. No student should be presented with moldy, unappetizing, slimy, and incomplete food options, Chu said in a statement Monday. As a public-school mom myself, I am appalled at the quality of food options and demand urgent action to improve school lunches. State Sen. Iwen Chu criticized the quality of lunches being served to New York City public school students. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Iwen Chu) State Sen. Iwen Chu criticized the quality of lunches being served to New York City public school students. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Iwen Chu) State Sen. Iwen Chu criticized the quality of lunches being served to New York City public school students. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Iwen Chu) State Sen. Iwen Chu criticized the quality of lunches being served to New York City public school students. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Iwen Chu) State Sen. Iwen Chu criticized the quality of lunches being served to New York City public school students. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Iwen Chu) State Sen. Iwen Chu criticized the quality of lunches being served to New York City public school students. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Iwen Chu) State Sen. Iwen Chu criticized the quality of lunches being served to New York City public school students. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Iwen Chu) After facing backlash, New York City Public Schools will be bringing back some of the popular school lunch items that were eliminated earlier this year, Chalkbeat reported. PIX11 News reached out to the New York City Department of Education and the mayors office for comment. Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NEW YORK (PIX11) An 8-year-old boy was caught bringing a gun to a Brooklyn school twice in the past two days, authorities said. Officers found the weapon in the students backpack at PS 158 at 400 Ashford St. near Pitkin and Belmont avenues at around 10:35 a.m. Thursday, according to the NYPD. The child threatened a student with the same gun on Wednesday, police said. There were no injuries in either incident Teen girl attacked by 2 suspects on Brooklyn train: NYPD The school does not have metal detectors, according to the union that represents school safety officers. Department of Education Deputy Press Secretary Jenna Lyle said the school will send a letter about the incident to all its families and that it is working with the NYPD and ACS in this case. It is extremely worrying when a child this young has access to such a dangerous weapon, and we are grateful for the partnership of our school communities in keeping our young people safe each day. All safety procedures were followed in response to this incident, and all students and staff are safe, Lyle said. Many parents at the school expressed frustration and anger over learning about the incident from PIX11 News, rather than having been notified by the school. At least send us out an email or a text, said Gwendolyn Simmons, the mother of a fifth grader and a first grader at P.S. 158. They can send us out an email and a text for everything else, she added. Other parents said that finding out about what had happened had rattled them, and the fact that they had had to learn about it from a source other than the school made it all the more disturbing. I have two kids that [are eight years old], in the second grade, said Octavia Peyton, another parent at the school. So, its kind of scary, because its possibly their classroom, you know, their classmate. She said that every aspect of the incident disturbed her. Thats scary, she said. Makes me want to go back to homeschooling. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NEW YORK (PIX11) Finding affordable apartments can be tough in New York City and getting landlords to do repairs can also be a struggle. Some New York City Council members are proposing new tenant protections after neighbors raised some concerns. Maribel Lopez lives and works in Brooklyn as a tenant protection advocate. She got involved because she needed services when she and her neighbors had to leave their homes. Mentally, it was stressful and its a burden on families. If we didnt force them, the city would not have done anything, Lopez said. Affordable housing lottery in Brooklyn features free rent for seniors Andrew Sokolof Diaz lives in the Jackson Heights apartment building that was ravaged by an eight-alarm fire in April 2021. We are talking about bringing dignity to tenants. There needs to be a more humane process to help, he said. Five hundred residents were displaced, and it took years to get back. The proposed tenant protection legislation would require the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development to relocate tenants in the same or neighboring communities. 131 spacious units available in Staten Island affordable housing lottery It also creates a team of relocation specialists to assist tenants, facilitate access to their apartment and oversee landlord repairs. The department would initiate legal action against landlords who do not conduct repairs and report on its use of the so-called special repair fund to rehabilitate buildings. Shekar Krishnan is the sponsoring council member from Jackson Heights, Queens. Krishnan rallied with tenants on the steps of City Hall and other council members, including Carlina Rivera, Lincoln Restler, Erik Bottcher, and Lynn Schulman. When landlords refuse to do the work necessary, our bills require legal action to bring tenants home quickly, Krishnan said. When a part of a building collapsed in the Bronx last year, Councilmember Pierina Sanchez worked to help her neighbors and connect them with services. How much worse is it when disaster comes and you dont know what comes next? Sanchez said. The legislation will be introduced and discussed in committee. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NEW YORK (PIX11) What started as an investigation into ghost gun manufacturing turned into a larger case that the Manhattan district attorney described as street crime and white-collar crime intertwined. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said that two employees for the New York City Department of Homeless Services were allegedly manufacturing ghost guns, using parts they bought off eBay and Amazon. That led investigators to discover a massive web of financial fraud, involving five Department of Homeless Services employees, two U.S. postal workers, an NYPD school safety officer, an MTA employee and a NYCHA employee. Prosecutors said Department of Homeless Services employees used their jobs to access the digital and paper files of shelter residents and then use their personal information to apply for pandemic assistance. They allegedly submitted 170 fraudulent applications that netted nearly $1.2 million but reportedly attempted to collect more than $5 million in benefits, authorities said. Investigators said the defendants had many of the payouts sent to an address along the mail route of a letter carrier who was reportedly in on the scheme and could intercept the mail. The payouts reportedly helped to fund lavish lifestyles. 8-year-old boy caught with gun at Brooklyn school: NYPD Stealing the identity of New Yorkers many of them homeless and defrauding a critical social safety net program during one of the most challenging times in our citys history is downright shameful and we allege criminal, Bragg said. Multiple defendants were also charged with burglary for allegedly breaking into the apartment of another defendant who they thought was taking more than their fair share of the stolen proceeds. All of the suspects are due back in court on April 4. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A judge overseeing the first-ever criminal trial of a US president is allowing members of the jury to remain anonymous. Donald Trump is due to begin trial in New York on 25 March over claims he led a hush-money cover-up in 2016. The judge's order on Thursday said that Mr Trump "has an extensive history of publicly and repeatedly attacking trial jurors and grand jurors." Mr Trump denies the charges, describing the case as a political witch hunt. In his protective order, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan said the decision to keep the jury anonymous is appropriate because "there is a likelihood of bribery, jury tampering, or of physical injury or harassment of juror(s)". Mr Trump faces 34 counts of fraud alleging that he falsified business records to disguise payments he made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels as legal fees. Ms Daniels said she was paid $130,000 (103,000) in 2016 to stay quiet about having sex with the then-presidential candidate. Mr Trump denies they ever had an affair. This is one of four criminal cases against the former president. The judge's order allows for the names to be known to both side's legal teams, as well as to legal consultants hired by each side to assist in the jury selection process. Prosecutors had asked for the jurors' identities to be shielded, a rare request that is mostly made in high-profile cases or ones involving the mafia and other violent organizations. The trial, which could last around six weeks, could affect Mr Trump's ability to campaign for the White House ahead of the November election. Jury selection is expected to be one of the most contentious and time-consuming portions of the trial. Bench trials for felony charges in New York require 12 jurors with up to six alternates. Prospective jurors could face a range of questions when the trial kicks off, from where they get their news to whether they have ever put a political bumper sticker on their car. They may also be asked if they believe the 2020 election was stolen, if they have read any of Mr Trump's books or if they have listened to anything from Michael Cohen, Mr Trump's former fixer who is expected to be the prosecution's star witness. It remains unclear how much of the trial Mr Trump will attend in person. He is required to be present on the first day, but after that the court has limited discretion to approve a defendant not attending. The judge could allow Mr Trump to skip portions of it, but only if he agrees with the new and untested legal argument that a criminal defendant needs to be on a campaign trail speaking to voters who will choose the next president. Ultimately, Mr Trump may choose to attend, using the case as an opportunity to continue campaigning. A new design concept showcasing Mercedes-Benz's vision for the future of automotive retail makes its Canadian debut at Mercedes-Benz Kelowna. The new retail concept turns the showroom into a theatre stage, making customers and vehicles the true stars of the show. To support a seamless experience centred around customer interactions and vehicles not paperwork digital solutions are incorporated throughout the facility and the role of retail staff has evolved to better serve today's luxury consumers. Just ahead of International Women's Day, Mercedes-Benz Kelowna celebrated the new facility by welcoming girls from the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters to learn about career opportunities in automotive. This special event featured tours of the dealership as well as an appearance and Q&A session with B.C. race-car driver Nicole Havrda. KELOWNA, BC, March 8, 2024 /CNW/ - The new Mercedes-Benz concept for automotive retail makes its Canadian debut at Mercedes-Benz Kelowna. The brand-new facility boasts a design concept developed by the Mercedes-Benz Design Team in Stuttgart, Germany, to immerse guests in modern luxury. Throughout the sales and service journey, the design turns the showroom into a true brand experience with a combination of spatial design, innovative processes, and seamlessly integrated digital platforms. To celebrate International Womens Day, Mercedes-Benz Kelowna invited local women and girls to visit its state-of-the-art new facility and enjoy the premier screening of a new documentary about women in motorsports. The facility in Kelowna is the first-of-its-kind in Canada and showcases Mercedes-Benzs vision for the future of automotive retail. (CNW Group/Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.) In the new retail concept, everything on the showroom floor is there to enhance the customer's interactions with the vehicles. For example, administrative tasks are reduced or streamlined via integrated digital platforms, allowing customers to enjoy the world's most desirable cars without visual distraction or interruption. The latest Mercedes-Benz concept also incorporates features and processes that combine personal interactions and traditional services with digital touchpoints that centralize information, allowing a smooth and efficient experience across all departments, from sales to financing and service. Story continues In addition, customers can interact with the retail team in a variety of settings, depending on their needs and preferences. For example, throughout the showroom a variety of specially designed lounge areas allow sales and service conversations to take place in a relaxed setting. Closed offices are also available, for customers who prefer a more private setting. "Customers at Mercedes-Benz Kelowna now have the opportunity to experience the brand on a new level with every visit to the dealership," says Andreas Tetzloff, CEO, Mercedes-Benz Canada. "Mercedes-Benz makes the world's most desirable cars by taking a customer-centric approach and focusing on three key pillars: aesthetics, technology, and sustainability. Our new retail concept applies the same approach to the automotive showroom. The team at Mercedes-Benz Kelowna has invested in the future of automotive retail and enhanced the dealership experience for our customers in the process. We thank them for their partnership and extend our heartfelt congratulations on being the first location in Canada to apply the new retail concept in this beautiful new facility." "The team at Mercedes-Benz Kelowna has always been passionate about providing an ownership experience that is equal to the iconic vehicles we sell," says Adam Rich, General Manager, Mercedes-Benz Kelowna. "Now, we are proud to be the first location to introduce this new retail concept in Canada. Not only is it a beautiful facility, but its thoughtful, innovative design facilitates a premium Mercedes-Benz experience for every customer who visits our location." New Architecture and Design Features Combine Analogue and Digital Elements for an Enhanced Customer Experience In the new design concept, a largely transparent building facade creates a flowing transition between interior and exterior spaces. The 4,645 m2 interior is largely open concept, with spatial boundaries deliberately kept to a minimum to maintain a feeling of spaciousness. From the moment the visitor enters the showroom, the architecture of the new concept is evident. In place of a traditional reception desk, customers are welcomed into an informal and relaxing seating area by a "Star Assistant" a newly created role that is responsible for ensuring positive first impressions. The "Star Assistant" creates a welcoming atmosphere at reception by confirming the customer's needs and goals, setting them on their dealership journey by introducing them to the appropriate team members. The new Mercedes-Benz retail concept experience combines the benefits of in-person and digital touchpoints to optimize the customer experience. For example, during a vehicle walk-through, sales and service consultants can use media surfaces or mobile devices to enhance their presentation. Alternating the use of media surfaces and in-person demonstrations supports effective explanation of Mercedes-Benz's portfolio of products and services. Throughout the facility, eight large digital screens complement the display vehicles with dynamic video content. The largest screen is approximately 1.2 metres wide by 0.6 metres tall and can be used as a focal point for a variety of presentation formats. An Enhanced Service Experience with Drive-Up Service Reception Customers arriving at the dealership for service appointments also enjoy an enhanced experience. Upon arrival, they drive their vehicles into an indoor service-reception area within the dealership, park, and are greeted by the Service Advisor, who is already aware of the details of their appointment with the help of the dealership's integrated digital platforms. There are 17 service bays at the facility. Charging Infrastructure Mercedes-Benz dealers across the country have invested significantly to prepare for the transformation to EVs. In 2023, 88 Level 3 DC fast chargers and 694 Level 2 Chargers were installed across the company's network of 59 dealerships. Mercedes-Benz Kelowna has two DC fast chargers and 20 Level 2 chargers for EV customers. A Space Designed To Be Experienced The open floorplan and inviting design elements featured in the new retail concept allow showrooms to easily transform into event spaces capable of hosting large groups for unique brand experiences. Just ahead of International Women's Day, Mercedes-Benz Kelowna hosted just such an event, designed to highlight potential career paths in automotive for women. Attendees included girls from the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as women from the Kelowna business community. The event featured tours of the new dealership, an exclusive screening of a new documentary about women in motorsport, and a Q&A and meet-and-greet with one of the drivers featured in the film: Nicole Havrda, an 18-year-old from Comox Valley, B.C., who is currently racing in Formula 3, with the goal of eventually competing in Formula 1. Havrda was excited to get involved and inspire more girls to explore opportunities in the automotive space, and to encourage women in general to continue to push boundaries and challenge the status quo. Her appearance at Mercedes-Benz Kelowna was part of Mercedes-Benz Canada's "Driving Your Future" Corporate Citizenship initiative, which focuses on empowering the next generation of Canadians through a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters. "Our team at Mercedes-Benz Kelowna put in a lot of hard work to bring this new retail concept to Canada. It was extremely rewarding to showcase the facility by hosting such a unique and exciting International Women's Day event. I'm proud that we could create an inspirational evening for women and girls from our community," says Pamela Pearson, Director of Internal Operations, Mercedes-Benz Kelowna. About Mercedes-Benz Canada Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, and G-Class, including combustion, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric models, as well as Mercedes-Benz Vans. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Mercedes-Benz Canada employs approximately 250 people across Canada. Through a nationwide network of 59 authorized dealerships, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 35,949 vehicles in 2023. Further information from Mercedes-Benz Canada is available at media.mercedes-benz.ca Nicole Havrda, a professional racecar driver from B.C., engages with girls from Big Brothers Big Sisters programs at an International Womens Day event hosted by Mercedes-Benz Kelowna. The girls were invited to visit Mercedes-Benz Kelownas state-of-the-art new facility and explore careers in automotive as part of Mercedes-Benz Canadas Driving Your Future initiative, which focuses on empowering the next generation. (CNW Group/Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.) To celebrate International Womens Day, Mercedes-Benz Kelowna invited local women and girls to visit its state-of-the-art new facility and enjoy the premier screening of a new documentary about women in motorsports. The event encouraged girls to explore careers in automotive as part of Mercedes-Benz Canadas Driving Your Future initiative, which focuses on empowering the next generation. The facility in Kelowna is the first-of-its-kind in Canada and showcases Mercedes-Benzs vision for the future of automotive retail. (CNW Group/Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.) SOURCE Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2024/08/c8224.html NEW YORK (AP) The first NYPD: Most Wanted video was meant to be intimidating. Over a pounding soundtrack, the montage cuts among stock images and body-camera footage of actual police raids. A fake gun discharges. Real officers break down a door, barking orders at a man asleep on a couch. As a key turns in a jail cell lock, a New York City police deputy appears on screen to announce the arrest of a teenage suspect not the person seen in the video moments earlier in a shooting on a Bronx subway platform. Produced in-house by the New York Police Department and promoted across its official social media channels, the dramatic two-minute clip reflects a concerted effort by the nations largest police force to engage the public and influence policy through a more aggressive online presence. Watch: NYPD cops save woman from jumping off Brooklyn Bridge The strategic shift has brought criticism from former NYPD officials and civil liberties groups who say police leaders shouldnt use public resources to advance their own policy agenda or attack other civil servants. But the NYPD hasnt backed down. We want to go on social media and push back on the misinformation thats out there, Tarik Sheppard, the NYPDs top spokesperson, said in an interview. Because if we dont, it could cause damage to the reputation of our cops and the work that were doing. In recent months, the department has added production-savvy staff to its communications arm, with plans to release a long-form documentary series later this year. At the same time, it has encouraged police chiefs to be more vocal on social media, giving them the green light to go after judges and prosecutors seen as too lenient on crime and to criticize public policies that police oppose. In a post shared on X last week, Chief of Patrol John Chell lashed out at a state judge by name, saying she had released a man he deemed a predator who had been accused of stealing a cellphone and carrying drugs. The message was later found to have misidentified both the judge and prosecutor involved, though not before it generated dozens of hateful comments, some of them featuring the judges photograph. More Local News Its a naked form of intimidation against the judiciary, which is dangerous and scary, said Steven Zeidman, director of the criminal defense clinic at the City University of New York School of Law. Their job is to investigate crimes, not to act as a mouthpiece to spew hate and fearmonger. Chell later issued an apology for the error, though it remains published on the departments official Instagram and X accounts. NYPD officials said they would continue to hold judges accountable. The NYPD has long used social media to solicit tips on crimes and to share news of arrests and emergencies. But close observers of the department see an escalation in both content and rhetoric under New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain. In recent weeks, official NYPD accounts have gone after journalists by name, threatened to flood the jails with disruptive protesters, and highlighted instances of low-level transit crime a push that coincided with a decision by Gov. Kathy Hochul to send hundreds of National Guard members to the subway system. One video from last month featured Adams rallying officers before an early-morning raid on a public housing building. Three men are hauled away in handcuffs, described by Kaz Daughtry, the deputy commissioner of operations, as migrants preying on vulnerable New Yorkers. Zachary Tumin, a former NYPD official who oversaw the rollout of social media accounts to precinct commanders and chiefs beginning in 2015, said police officials were initially instructed to maintain a positive tone. The basic guidelines were: Dont attack, dont personalize and dont name, Tumin said. Picking fights on social media with members of the public was something we wanted to stay away from. Its not uncommon for law enforcement officials to use social media to assail judges and specific policies, such as changes to bail laws. Elected sheriffs from Arizona to Florida have increasingly embraced social media as a tool to push their own narratives. An analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice, a think tank at the New York University School of Law, found that very few departments maintain public-facing guidance spelling out how police are making use of the platforms. The section of the NYPDs administrative guide dealing with department social media accounts is not available online. Under the patrol guide, uniformed police a group including chiefs are prohibited from publicly expressing opinions about any public policy matter or legislation pending before any government body. In January, several chiefs shared a video opposing a City Council bill that would require officers to record additional data about their interactions with the public. The three-minute clip, described as a simulation, showed a frantic mother asking police to help locate her missing child. It claimed the law would require officers to record the race and gender of each witness they asked for help a characterization the council disputed. Another set of posts shared by top police leaders going after a freelance journalist for allegedly spreading false narratives about the treatment of pro-Palestinian protesters were later deleted without explanation. A spokesperson for the NYPD declined to answer questions about why the posts were deleted. They also didnt respond to inquiries about the amount of money spent on the departments social media budget, including the added video production staff. The NYPDs new social strategy will soon extend beyond written posts and short video clips, moving into what Sheppard described as long-form YouTube. In the coming months, he said, the department will resume production of a short-lived series, True Blue: NYPDs Finest, that premiered last year without much attention. The previous two episodes of the series relied heavily on body-worn camera footage of dramatic pursuits narrated by police officials, resembling a municipally crafted version of the long-running TV series Cops. Michael Hallett, a professor of criminology at the University of North Florida who studied the effects of Cops, said he viewed the NYPDs forays into social media as a natural response to a digital media ecosystem that rewards speed and sensationalism. The proliferation of body-camera footage and, increasingly, drones, have made it easy for police to create their own reality series, free of delays imposed by the TV gear and network schedules, he said. They now have a proactive and sophisticated messaging system that is designed and intended to deliver messages on behalf of the police agenda, Hallett added. In the negotiation for control of the message, that gives them the upper hand. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) The officer involved in a crash that killed a 5-year-old girl in Auburndale has been issued a citation, according to the Polk County Sheriffs Office. On Nov. 25 around 10 p.m., Sergeant Danny Swan with the Auburndale Police Department was traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 92 with his emergency lights activated. Swan was responding to an emergency call to assist a Polk County deputy engaged with a combative suspect at Old Winter Haven Road. Family of 5-year-old girl killed in crash with Auburndale police truck demand accountability As Swan went through the red light at the intersection of Havendale Boulevard, he struck a Kia occupied by Jermanica Anglin and her 5-year-old daughter, Jalina. Anglin had a green traffic light and was traveling northbound when her vehicle was struck. Officials said Swan was traveling at approximately 105 mph, before slowing to 68 mph when he struck the Kia, traveling at 22 mph. Swans police truck hit Anglins car on the front drivers side. Anglin and her child were wearing a seatbelt, but the child was not in a booster seat. The mother and daughter were taken to nearby hospitals with injuries, where Jalina later died. Anglin told investigators she heard a siren but thought it was far away. However, authorities said other cars at that light did not go through the intersection when the light turned green. Should never have happened: Loved ones grieve 5-year old killed in crash with Auburndale police truck After the investigation, deputies issued an unlawful speed citation for Sergeant Swan on Thursday. Due to the result of the crash, Anglin was not issued a citation. However, she did violate two Florida State Statutes: Child restraint requirement and failure to yield to an approaching emergency vehicle with sirens and lights activated. This was a terrible, tragic accident. My heart goes out to Ms. Anglin and the loss she and her family have experienced from the death of Jalina, Auburndale Police Chief Terry Storie said. On behalf of our whole department and our city, I offer my sincere sympathies and prayers to the family and all those affected. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Day 1 of testimony in James Crumbley's trial was almost an instant replay of his wife's case, but it ended on a dramatic note, with the jury being sent home early and a visibly irritated Crumbley mouthing "no" emphatically to his lawyer. Turned out, Crumbley was caught making threatening statements on a jailhouse telephone and in electronic messages, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office confirmed to the Free Press late Thursday, noting "his access to a phone or electronic messaging is now limited to communication with his lawyer." Authorities did not disclose the nature of the threats or toward whom they were made. This new information surfaced late in the day Thursday during Crumbley's trial, in which prosecutors are seeking to hold him responsible for the 2021 school shooting carried out by his son. The prosecution raised the issue in open court, though Crumbley's lawyer immediately objected to the issue being made public, and the judge also warned that the media would be writing about it suggesting something embarrassing or incriminating was about to be exposed, potentially involving his jailhouse calls. The two sides, however, came to an agreement that the prosecutor explained like this: Crumbley's communications privileges will be revoked, but not his ability to talk to his lawyer or research information to help his defense. Other than that, the start of Crumbley's involuntary manslaughter trial was a rehashing of his wife's case, which ended with Jennifer Crumbley being convicted of involuntary manslaughter over her role in the 2021 Oxford High School massacre that left four students dead and six other students and a teacher injured. She will be sentenced next month. Their son, Ethan Crumbley, pleaded guilty to all his crimes and is serving life without parole. Key difference: Jury will not see son's texts about demons Thursday started on a positive note for James Crumbley, who got some good news from the judge. Before the jury came in, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews ruled that the prosecution will not be allowed to show the jury text messages that the shooter sent his mom months before the massacre. In a handful of texts, which were shown during the mom's trial, the teenager told his mom he was seeing a demon throw bowls around the house, hearing toilets flush and seeing doors open. Jennifer Crumbley testified that her son was messing around and had an ongoing joke with his dad that the house was haunted, and that ghosts nicknamed Veronica and Boris lived there. The prosecution has argued the texts show the son was hallucinating and mentally struggling, though the mom testified that no such thing was happening. Either way, the judge has concluded that James Crumbley's jury will not see those texts because there's no evidence the dad knew about them or saw them. Matthews also excluded from the dad's trial a text the shooter sent his friend at 8:21 a.m. on the day of the shooting. Hey man, times have gotten rough ever since you left. I dont know if you died or you moved away but I hope youre doing well. Im about to do something really bad and there is no turning back so Ill probably never be able to see you again. I hope the best for you and Im sorry for anything Ive ever done. Prosecution sets out to show James Crumbley's carelessness During jury selection, the prosecutor and judge told prospective jurors repeatedly that this case is not the same as the one involving his wife, and that there would be different witnesses and different evidence. Day 1 of testimony in the dad's case, however, included the same allegations, the same journal entries, gun photos, videos and social media posts used in the mom's case and two of the same witnesses who helped convict Jennifer Crumbley. The first witness to testify in both cases was the same: a teacher who was shot by the couple's son, and came eye-to-eye with the gunman. Opening statements also featured the same themes in both trials, from both sides. Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Marc Keast makes opening statements, in the trial of James Crumbley in the Oakland County courtroom of Cheryl Matthews on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The prosecution portrayed James Crumbley as a careless and neglectful father who bought a troubled son a gun and failed to secure it, while the defense maintained the father never saw any signs that his son was dangerous or mentally ill, and that he did not know of his son's plans to shoot up his school or that he had access to the gun. Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast was the first to address the jury, an all-white panel of nine women and six men, most of them parents, including six who have guns in their homes. "On November the 30th, 2021, James Crumbley's 15-year-old son walked out of a boy's bathroom holding a 9mm handgun," Keast began. " he pointed. He aimed and fired that weapon at students and teachers. Killed four. Wounded seven." Keast then told the jury that Crumbley gifted his son that gun, "even though he knew" his son was in distress "and had been in a downward spiral," and that he failed to secure the weapon. He then introduced the victims murdered by Crumbley's son: Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17. Oxford High School students Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Tate Myre, 16, at top, and Justin Shilling, 17, and Hana St. Juliana, 14, were killed in a school shooting on Nov. 30. "These are the four students who never made it home that day. What happened inside that school was truly a nightmare come to life but that nightmare was preventable," Keast said, stressing that three people are responsible: the shooter, his mom and his dad especially the dad. 'The adult out of anyone in the world' who could have prevented deaths "He was the adult out of anyone in the world to prevent these kids' deaths," said Keast, maintaining the students would still be alive today if James Crumbley "seized on any small opportunities" to prevent the shooting. "The shooter didn't snap. The shooting was foreseeable, especially to his father." Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast, left, speaks with Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald and Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor David Williams during James Crumbley's trial on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Keast also introduced to the jury perhaps the most damning evidence against the father: the troubling drawing Ethan Crumbley drew on a math worksheet on the morning of the shooting. It featured a gun, a human body bleeding and the words: 'The thoughts won't stop. Help me.' "It took that counselor all but 20 minutes that parental involvement was required," Keast told the jury before explaining what happened when the shooter's parents arrived at school. James Crumbley never mentioned the gun they had purchased four days earlier or that their son's best friend had just moved away, Keast told the jury. Rather, the parents left their son at school and went back to their jobs. James Crumbley went on a DoorDash run. Two hours later, their son fired his first shot. An active shooter alert went out to all school parents, Keast said, noting James Crumbley went home to check for the gun. "You will never hear any allegation that James Crumbley knew what his son was going to do there is no claim that James Crumbley gave him that gun hoping he would kill four students." Rather, Keast said, James Crumbley is accused of engaging in gross negligence, for failing to use "ordinary care" when he was the one who knew the background of the drawing. "Him sitting in the counselor's office, looking at this drawing his failure to act, right there, is his willful disregard of danger," Keast said, stressing "no one is suggesting" that every parent should be held responsible for their child's misdeeds. Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Marc Keast presents a photo to the jury of the math test sheet drawn on by Ethan Crumbley before Ethan Crumbley's deadly mass shooting at Oxford High School in 2021 that killed four people and wounded seven others. His father James Crumbley is on trial in the Oakland County courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews on Thursday, March. 7, 2024. Crumbley is being tried on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for his son's shooting. But in this situation, he said, James Crumbley bought a deadly weapon that his son had begged for, and reasonably knew what his son was going to do with it. "This case is not about guns this case is about this gun, for this kid, with these issues why we're here." Defense: If jurors follow the law, the father will be acquitted Defense attorney Mariell Lehman acknowledged to jurors that the shooting undeniably changed peoples lives and wrecked families. But this case is not about what happened inside of Oxford High School, she said in her opening statement. This case is about what happened outside of Oxford High School. She refuted the prosecution's claims that James Crumbley knew that his son was a danger to others, yet failed to take steps to protect others from him. Ladies and gentlemen, Lehman said, that simply is not true. She told jurors they will hear about James Crumbleys relationship with his son, the troubling drawing his son made in school, the gun he bought, how it was stored, and whether the shooter knew where it was located. Pay attention also to what you dont hear, Lehman said. She stressed James Crumbley "was not aware" that his son had access to the gun, or knew what he was going to do, or suspected he was a danger. "He didnt know, she said, arguing James Crumbley did not buy a gun thinking his son would use it to harm people. She also brought up Crumbley's job. "Yes, James Crumbley was a DoorDash driver being a DoorDash driver doesnt mean that your job isnt important," she said as she sought to explain why her client went DoorDashing after meeting the school counselor on the morning of the shooting. "When youre not aware of an imminent, immediate danger why would you do anything different than you normally do? Mariell Lehman, attorney for James Crumbley, makes opening statements in the Oakland County courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews during his trial. Crumbley is being tried on four counts of involuntary manslaughter on Thursday, March. 7, 2024. In closing, she implored jurors to follow the law, stating: "If you follow the law, you will find James Crumbley not guilty." Wounded teacher: 'He was aiming to kill me' The first witness to testify Thursday was Molly Darnell, a teacher at Oxford High School who was shot in the arm by Crumbleys son and came eye-to-eye with the gunman during his rampage. Through tears, her voice shaking, she detailed the horror as it started to unfold. According to her testimony: Oxford High School educator Molly Darnell becomes emotional during her testimony at the trial of James Crumbley on Thursday, March 7, 2024 in the Oakland County courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews. Darnell sustained a gunshot wound while working at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. Darnell was in her room when she saw a rush of students go past her door. She was confused. It was quiet. Then she heard three sounds. An announcement over the PA stating "Were headed into lockdown. This is not a drill. Then a pop pop pop. Then doors slammed so she closed her door as well and grabbed a "night lock" to secure the door when through a window she saw someone in a hoodie, mask and skull cap. She saw his eyes. I realize that hes raising a gun to me. I remember thinking in my head, Theres no orange tip on that gun, she said, explaining she realized it wasnt a BB gun, which she remembered being told have orange tips. She jumped and then felt as if she had been stung by hot water. She had been shot in the arm though she was focused on barricading the door. She couldnt move a filing cabinet, so she got on her hands and knees and crawled to the door and put the night lock in place. She then pushed a rolling cart in front of the door. She felt blood going down her arm and used her cardigan as a tourniquet. I texted my husband, I love you. Active shooter. " She also texted with her daughter, but did not tell her that she had been shot, only that she was barricaded and safe. Police eventually showed up. On her hands and knees, she opened the door, was pulled to safety and taken to a hospital, where she saw nurses and doctors lining the hallways. They were prepared for a disaster, she said through tears, adding: He was aiming to kill me. 'I have a missing gun and my son was at the school' Prosecutors played the 911 call James Crumbley made at 1:34 p.m. on the day of the shooting. He told the dispatcher that he heard of an active shooter situation at the high school, that his son was at the school and that a gun was missing at his house. I have a missing gun and my son was at the school and we had to go meet with the counselor this morning because of something that he wrote on a test paper, Crumbley said, adding that he was in town and saw numerous emergency vehicles going somewhere and then learned of the active shooter situation. He said: I raced home just to find out, and I think my son took the gun, I dont know. Earlier that day, the parents had been summoned to the school by officials to discuss troubling drawings and messages their son had made on a math worksheet. The school had emailed Jennifer Crumbley about it that morning and she sent her husband messages: Call NOW. Emergency and again: Emergency. She then sent him pictures of the worksheet. James Crumbley responded: My god, WTF. The parents arrived at the school at 10:39 a.m. that day. They left 14 minutes later, without their son, and returned to their jobs. James Crumbley made a DoorDash delivery. Two hours after that school meeting, his son fired the first shot. Shooter's text messages recounted for jurors Edward Wagrowski, who worked in the computer crimes unit of the Oakland County Sheriffs Office at the time of the shooting, testified about messages the shooter sent to his friend in the months before the shooting, about hearing voices and having insomnia and paranoia. Forensic expert Edward Wagrowski becomes emotional as he testifies during James Crumbley's trial in the Oakland County courtroom of Cheryl Matthews on Thursday, March 7, 2024. In April 2021, the shooter wrote to his friend that he had asked his father to take him to the doctor but he just gave me some pills and told me to suck it up and that his mother laughed when I told her. In other messages, he wrote to his friend that he needed help, thought about calling 911 so he could go to the hospital and planned to ask his parents again about going to the doctor, but this time I am going to tell them about the voices. He wrote that he was mentally and physically dying. Defense attorneys sought to admit evidence that Ethan Crumbley told a psychiatrist that he lied about having asked his parents for help, but Matthews ruled that the comment was contained in confidential medical records and disallowed them. Prosecutors also showed two videos the shooter sent to his friend in August 2021 of him holding a handgun. The gun in one video had a round in the chamber, Wagrowski said. My dad left it out so I thought, Why not lol, the shooter wrote to his friend. According to Wagrowski, the shooter's friend abruptly left Michigan in October 2021, one month before the massacre. More than two years later, the tragedy still haunts Wagrowski, who was overcome with emotion Thursday as he described for jurors the horrifying images he saw hundreds of times while reviewing surveillance footage of the massacre. "The shooter came out of the bathroom, Ill never forget it," Wagrowski said, choking up. "His shoulders were back." And then he started firing. The terror would last nine minutes before the gunman surrendered on his belly to police. Testimony resumes Friday morning. Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Officials: James Crumbley made threats over jailhouse phone VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Connecticut-based Avangrid is touting the economic benefits of a proposed wind-energy project off the Corolla coast, with the offshore cables for it coming ashore in Sandbridge, in Virginia Beach. This region really needs some big-scale clean energy solutions, big enough to power the new homes and businesses that are coming to it, said Ken Kimmell, Avangrids chief development officer. Its capable of providing 3.5 gigawatts of clean, renewable energy to the Central Atlantic, Virginia and North Carolina. The project would install 180 wind turbine generators off the coast of Corolla. The largest offshore wind farm to date in the U.S., to be located about 27 miles off the Virginia Beach coast, received federal approval last fall. Avangrid released a new economic study it commissioned about the projects benefits. It suggests the project would bring jobs and millions in tax revenue. Theres a lot of surveying, design and engineering work that will happen in order to get all the onshore construction work ready, Kimmell said. Then, there are hundreds, if not thousands of jobs building the substation, putting the electric cables in the ground, all of those types of activities. Then, there are operations and maintenance theres also very significant offshore work. Kimmell said that for the city of Virginia Beach in particular, just the tax revenue alone is predicted to be $275 million, so its going to provide the city with a very predictable stream of revenue that would find welcome at this point. Avangrid says the $275 million in tax revenue would average about $7 million per year over 40 years. Avangrids economic study said the impact on the Commonwealth could be $4.8 billion and create more than 12,000 jobs, more than 9,500 of which would be right here in Hampton Roads. The study said the economic impact for Hampton Roads could be $4 billion and $1.2 billion in Virginia Beach. However, residents in Sandbridge are concerned about the project. It would require offshore wind cables to come ashore and put underneath the parking lot close to the Sandbridge Market. Residents raised those concerns in a Virginia Beach City Council meeting last year. Some push back on plan to bring wind energy cables ashore at Sandbridge while others say its needed to protect the beach Their project puts our investment at risk, said resident Joe Bourne. The proposed construction will have a direct impact on property values tourism and tax revenues, despite the assurances. As much as 500 million during construction and beyond. This is a major disruption to our life and livelihoods. Some residents talked about the potential health impacts. Kimmell said the construction impacts of putting the cables underground would be temporary. There are temporary construction impacts, Kimmell said. There will be some noise and some disruption. We think we can get it all done in one construction season. It wont happen over the summer, for example, so its a temporary impact. Once all that work is done, though, its buried under the ground, you wont see it, you wont hear it, you wont experience it. In terms of the health effects, there are these things called electromagnetic fields that people are talking about, but thats really something that you see from overhead electric wires. These are going to be cables embedded in concrete well under the ground, Kimmell said. He told 10 On Your Side they hope to build support for the project. We need to build support, Kimmell said. Theres no doubt about that. I think one of the things is to show what the benefits are, because were hearing about the construction impacts, and thats real, although its temporary. We need to look at the flip side. What are the benefits of this project? And I think that all the tax revenue, all the jobs, and other things that were putting on the table should compensate for those impacts. He said he would like to have a conversation with residents in the area. Wed especially be interested in a conversation with folks in Sandbridge about whether some of those revenue streams could be devoted to things that would improve the quality of life in Sandbridge, he said. So I think theres a win, win here thats still to be negotiated. Kimmell said the project still needs the federal government to give the OK. He said Avangrid needs the Virginia Beach City Council to approve the cables that have to go underground. The upcoming city council agenda doesnt mention a time to discuss the project. The council previously signaled it would not let the cables come ashore. Another wind energy project in jeopardy after Virginia Beach signals they wont let cables come ashore Theyve stated that they are going to go back to the drawing board and see what they can do to address some of the concerns that theyve heard, City Manager Patrick Duhaney said in a November city council meeting. But I think from right now, weve basically more or less communicated to them that we dont tend to see there is a tremendous amount of support for that project moving forward. 10 On Your Side contacted the Sandbridge Beach Civic League about their thoughts on the economic impact but havent heard back. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) State officials are urging Ohioans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to be extra cautious amid a rise in benefits theft and fraud. More criminals are using credit card skimmers attached over top of card readers at checkout registers to steal beneficiaries SNAP info and drain their accounts, according to a Friday news release from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Last day to order free COVID-19 tests The credit-scoring agency FICO reported incidents of credit-card skimming rose 368% from 2021 to 2022, according to the release. ODJFS takes fraud very seriously, and we are committed to identifying and eliminating fraud in the SNAP program, ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder is quoted in a Friday news release. From increased fraud monitoring efforts to helping SNAP cardholders lock their cards, were aggressively working to reduce fraud. How to protect yourself from SNAP benefits theft Here are some ways SNAP recipients can protect themselves: Use the ConnectEBT app to manage your benefits. The phone and tablet app allows users to lock the card from being used, then unlock it only when theyre ready to make a purchase. Create a unique PIN that is hard to guess. You should change that pin monthly, before each scheduled deposit. Never share your card number or PIN. ODJFS will never ask for these numbers. Before you swipe your card, check the reader for evidence of tampering. When entering your PIN, cover the keypad with your body or hand to hide it from others. Get more fraud and theft prevention tips on the departments website. Have you bought groceries at Walmart? You may be entitled to part of $45M class-action settlement What to do if your SNAP benefits have been stolen SNAP recipients whose benefits were stolen between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2024, can contact their local Department of Job and Family Services. Find yours here. First, recipients should get themselves a new EBT card they cant keep using the one that was stolen. The new card is expected to come in two days. They can then fill out and sign a form explaining how their benefits were stolen and listing the transactions they believe to be fraudulent. It must be returned within 90 days to their county JFS office in person or by mail, fax or email. Find the form here. The department is then supposed to approve reimbursements for stolen benefits and deposit those funds back in the account within 30 days, according to a department manual. The funds wont be issued until the recipient has a new EBT card. ODJFS has issued more than $1.4 million in reimbursements for stolen benefits to about 3,400 Ohioans since October 2022, according to the release. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Security footage captured a February tornado that caused heavy property damage in Madison County, including at the Marion County AIrport and Ohio State's Molly Caren Agricultural Center. One of Ohio State University's agricultural centers is recovering after the property was "significantly damaged" by one of last month's tornadoes, according to the university. Ohio State's Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London in Madison County was hit by an EF2 tornado in the early morning Feb. 28 that caused heavy damage to the center as well as the Madison County Airport along Route 40. It was among a total of nine tornadoes in Ohio that morning confirmed by the National Weather Service, including seven that touched down in central Ohio. There were three EF0 tornadoes (65-85 moh), one each in the city of Groveport and Darbydale in Pleasant Township, Franklin County, and Harrisburg village in Franklin and Pickaway counties; three EF1 tornadoes (86-110 mph), one each hitting between east of London and West Jefferson, in Hilliard and in Riverside between Dayton and Springfield; and three EF2 tornadoes (111 to 135 mph), including the one that traveled between Clark and Madison counties, one that struck in the Blacklick area of Jefferson Township in eastern Franklin County before weakening to an EF1 in Pataskala and Jersey Township in Licking County, and in Malaga Township in Monroe County, eastern Ohio. Severe weather: Sixth Ohio tornado now confirmed. See the paths they took during Wednesday's storms At least 10 university-owned buildings on the agricultural center property in Madison County were damaged or destroyed by severe weather, said Graham Cochran, associate dean for operations at Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. We immediately started the recovery process, which will include clearing the debris field and assessments of each building damaged," he said. The site is currently closed to the public due to safety and structural concerns. No individuals or animals were in the impacted buildings at the time of the storm, and there were no reported injuries. Ohio State is assessing the extent of the damage and will determine contingency plans once the evaluation is complete. Cochran said some privately-owned buildings on Farm Science Review grounds were also damaged. Annual Farm Science Review will still take place The Molly Caren Agricultural Center is the site of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences' annual Farm Science Review. Ohio State University's Molly Caren Agricultural Center in Madison County, site of the annual Farm Science Review, shown here in 2021, was badly damaged by a February tornado. The college is still "fully committed" to hosting Farm Science Review as scheduled, which this year will run from Sept. 17-19. Events will take place at either new or temporary facilities in place for the event. The show will go on, said Matthew Sullivan, superintendent of the Molly Caren Agricultural Center. Farm Science Review is an annual destination for many and a premier education showcase for the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences," Sullivan said. "Farmers and industry leaders come here to see the latest and greatest in farming equipment and agricultural research. Thats our job to ensure that when they show up, its the best farm show in the United States. On the opposite side of Columbus, another well-known agricultural site, Lynd Fruit Farm, was also damaged by a tornado. According to a posting on Lynd's Instagram account, the farm's packing house "took quite a bit of damage, but the market and trees are fine." The farm, located north of Pataskala in Licking County, was still holding its monthly warehouse sale at the market Friday and Saturday, March 8 & 9. Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here. shendrix@dispatch.com @sheridan120 This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OSU's Farm Science Review site 'significantly damaged' by tornado A picture showing the aftermath of a cyclone that hit Myanmar in 2023 has been falsely linked to a deadly blast at a market in February 2024 in the Rakhine state -- a region in western Myanmar where clashes have broken out between junta forces and rebel groups. The picture was published by local media outlets in Myanmar in May 2023 and showed the destruction caused by the storm. "The scene of the damages and wounded people at Korean Seikkan (port) market in Sittwe as dogs shelled at the market," reads an Arakanese-language post shared on Facebook on February 29, 2024. The post also contains a picture showing people next to market stalls with damaged roofs and debris scattered on the street. Screenshot of the false post, taken on March 6, 2024 Social media users critical of the Myanmar junta often refer to government soldiers as "dogs". The claim circulated online shortly after an explosion killed a dozen civilians and wounded several on February 29 in Sittwe, Rakhine state's capital city. The Arakan Army (AA) said the blast was caused by shelling by a Myanmar junta vessel that "targeted the civilian population", while the military blamed it on "careless heavy artillery shooting" by the AA (archived link). Founded in 2009, the AA has fought an on-off war for years seeking more autonomy for the state's ethnic Rakhine population. Clashes have rocked the state since the group attacked security forces in November, ending a ceasefire that has largely held since the junta's 2021 coup. The same image was also shared along with similar claims on Facebook here, here, here, here, and here. However, the photo does not show the Sittwe market after the blast in 2024, but scenes of a coastal area in Rhakine in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha in May 2023. Photo from Cyclone Mocha A reverse image search on Google found the photo was published here by the Irrawaddy magazine on May 15, 2023 in a report about the ground situation in the Rakhine state after Cyclone Mocha hit the area (archived link). The Burmese-language caption of the photo in the report reads: "The scene of the central market in Sittwe after Cyclone Mocha made landfall". Below is a screengrab comparison between the image in the false post and the photo from Irrawaddy's report: A screenshot comparison between the image in the false post and the photo from The Irrawaddy's report The photo was also published in this report by pro-junta media about Cyclone Mocha in May 2023 (archived link). Cyclone Mocha made landfall in southeastern Bangladesh and neighbouring Myanmar, packing winds of up to 195 kilometres (120 miles) per hour, setting records as the biggest storm to strike the Bay of Bengal in over a decade. Myanmar junta authorities reported 145 casualties as a result of Cyclone Mocha. AFP had previously debunked claims in Myanmar related to clashes between rebels and the military here and here. Strikers march from the Lufthansa Aviation Center to Terminal 1 with banners and Verdi flags during a protest. With renewed warning strikes by several professional groups, the Verdi union is paralyzing important parts of German air traffic on Thursday and Friday. Lando Hass/dpa A one-day nationwide railway strike could cost up to 100 million ($109 million) a day in economic output if production and business activities are disrupted across sectors, according to an estimate by the Institute of German Business (IW). "This also depends on the economic situation and the general functioning of supply chains," said IW economic expert Michael Gromling. "However, the costs of a strike lasting several days may not increase linearly, but in some cases multiply. Experience with the coronavirus lockdowns has shown this to some extent." The strike is affecting the economy in various ways, he said, noting railways account for 40% of Germany's freight traffic. As a result, there would be business losses in the logistics sector and losses for its cooperation partners. In addition, supply and production processes in industry are expected to be impaired, as well as consumer and service losses, he said. Sebastian Dullien, head of the Macroeconomic Policy Institute (IMK) at the Hans Bockler Foundation, which is close to the trade unions, said he was unable to quantify the costs of the strikes. There are complex interactions that can increase, reduce or even largely neutralize the economic impact, he notes. A company directly affected by a strike may have disadvantages, but alternative providers can often benefit. If train drivers or public transport companies go on strike, car hire companies or petrol stations benefit and travel is postponed, he said. "Past experience shows that limited strikes in Germany, but also in other countries, do not have any macroeconomic consequences that would be visible in the quarterly or annual data," said Dullien. The lost production or turnover could usually be made up for either by the same companies or by other companies, if necessary in extra shifts, he added. In Dullien's view, the labour strikes could also have positive effects in the medium term. An improved collective labour agreement as a result of a strike would help to boost consumer demand. This would have a positive effect on the economy, he said. Strikers march from the Lufthansa Aviation Center to Terminal 1 with banners and Verdi flags during a protest. With renewed warning strikes by several professional groups, the Verdi union is paralyzing important parts of German air traffic on Thursday and Friday. Lando Hass/dpa Strikers march from the Lufthansa Aviation Center to Terminal 1 with banners and Verdi flags during a protest. With renewed warning strikes by several professional groups, the Verdi union is paralyzing important parts of German air traffic on Thursday and Friday. Lando Hass/dpa ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) One victim is dead and another is injured after a shooting in south Abilene. UPDATE: Homicide investigation underway after south Abilene shooting The incident happened on the 4300 block of Mary Lou Lane around 3:00 p.m. Thursday. Police at the scene told KTAB and KRBC that two victims were shot at the property, and a suspect is currently in custody. First responders arrived and found one victim deceased and rushed the other to the hospital for treatment. Their current condition is not known at this time. Police confirmed that the two victims were sisters. The suspect is the ex-husband of the woman who was declared deceased. The investigation is ongoing. Police say there is currently no threat to the public. No further information, including the identities of the individuals involved, has been released. Stick with BigCountryHomepage.com for any additional information on this breaking news. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. HOPKINTON Gov. Maura Healey toured RoslinCT's campus Thursday on South Street to tout her administration's new legislation aimed at strengthening the state's global leadership in life sciences and technology. Healey, along with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao, joined Hopkinton officials for the tour. RoslinCT (formerly Lykan Bioscience) develops cell therapies based on a broad range of cell types; it also has operations in Edinburgh, Scotland. After touring the facility and being welcomed by Select Board Chair Muriel Kramer, Healey discussed the Mass Leads Act, a $1 billion, 10-year reauthorization of the state's Life Sciences Initiative that's designed to lengthen Massachusetts' lead as a global leader in the life sciences. Gov. Maura Healey meets employees at RoslinCT during a tour of the Hopkinton facility on South Street, March 7, 2024. The company develops cell-based technologies. TIF agreement sought: Lykan Bioscience seeks $400,000 tax break in Hopkinton Among other things, it proposes significant capital investment to support communities in local economic development initiatives. These include a number of grants and tax incentives for life sciences and business competitiveness. "This is about empowering Massachusetts," Healey said during a news conference Thursday in the lobby of RoslinCT. "This is about growing our economy. This is about building on our history and our future of innovation, of science, of entrepreneurship. We want to be even better and grow more here in Massachusetts and we've seen over the last few years what that kind of investment in life science has meant." RoslinCT USA CEO Patrick Lucy praises Mass Leads Act Patrick Lucy, president and CEO of RoslinCT's American operations, praised the bill, saying it would continue MetroWest and statewide legacies for being technology hubs. "This town (Hopkinton) has been incredibly friendly to biotech, as much as the Commonwealth has been to biotech," he said. "The life sciences initiative is going to help continue to fuel that growth and continue Massachusetts as the global leader in biotechnology and developing therapies." Story continues Hao spoke about the Mass Leads Act as well as the work of RoslinCT. She previously served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer of PillPack Inc., a subsdiary of Amazon that provides an online pharmaceutical delivery service. Patrick Lucy, left, CEO of RoslinCT USA, said Hopkinton "has been incredibly friendly to biotech." He praised Gov. Maura Healey's legislation aimed at strengthening the state's leadership in life sciences. Beside him are Town Manager Norman Khumalo and Select Board Chair Muriel Kramer. "I think we see this is just the beginning for Roslin, and there are so many other future Roslins and Lykans out here that we want to find to go out and grow for our state and for the world to solve these problems," Hao said. In an interview after the event, Select Board Chair Muriel Kramer said the bill would "raise all boats." State Rep. James Arena-DeRosa, D-Holliston, also praised the bill. "I'm old enough to remember when Massachusetts led the way with high tech," he said, adding that Massachusetts needs to lead not just the country in life sciences development, but also the world. Healey unveils details of her Mass Leads Act Healey's Mass Leads Act is a five-year economic development bond bill with the intention of strengthening life sciences, climate technology and artificial intelligence applications. The bill recommends $1.75 billion in the reauthorization of existing programs and another $1 billion in new capital initiatives. The proposal is focused on three main priority areas: investing in economic growth fundamentals; retaining and attracting the world's best talent; and supporting business sectors that power the state's economy. Gov. Maura Healey speaks during a visit to RoslinCT USA in Hopkinton, March 7, 2024. The company develops cell based technologies. 'Sense of purpose': Healey proposes increased spending on disability services Alongside the bill, Healey signed two executive orders. One establishes a Cultural Policy Development Advisory Council, which is charged with developing recommendations to the administration for how to support and grow the state's arts and culture sector. The second establishes a council tasked with reviewing existing procurement laws and related processes for public building construction projects. "We're about making Massachusetts more affordable, more competitive and more equitable," Healey said. "That's why the bill also leans in and makes sure that every region of the state from MetroWest out to the far west is covered." This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Gov. Maura Healey discusses biotech legislation at RoslinCT Hopkinton NAVARINO, Wis. (WFRV) Authorities in Shawano County are investigating a brush fire that turned into an uncontrolled blaze and resulted in the death of a Wisconsin man. According to the Shawano County Sheriffs Office, deputies were sent to Wildwood Road near Townline Road in the township of Navarino for a fire-related incident. Feds investigating suspected smuggling at Wisconsin prison, 11 workers suspended in probe Upon arrival, deputies said they found an active wildfire burning a large amount of acreage. Deputies were met by the caller, who suffered burn-related injuries. She reported her husband was still in the area where the fire was active. Shawano County Sheriffs deputies rushed into the area and found the man, who had suffered fatal injuries from the flames. The female was transported to the hospital for her injuries. Preliminary investigations reveal the two were burning brush in a burn pit prior to the fire spreading and becoming out of control. Firefighters arrived on the scene and were able to contain the flames. Click here for more sounds and stories from Wisconsins Hometown Heroes Detectives are handling the death investigation portion of this incident. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division responded and is handling the fire investigation side of this incident. At this time, both portions of this incident are still under investigation, and no further information was provided. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. FALKVILLE, Ala (WHNT) The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) says a woman is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Falkville. ALEA said 37-year-old Kayla R. Haynes, of Crane Hill, was fatally injured when the 2005 Toyota Corolla she was driving struck a 2016 Peterbilt tractor-trailer at mile marker 322 on Interstate 65 within Falkville city limits. Man charged with Harvest murder worked in Sen. Tom Butlers campaign office The agency said the crash occurred around 10:13 a.m. Friday. Haynes was pronounced dead on the scene according to authorities. ALEA said no other information is available at this time as state troopers continue to investigate. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Joe Biden may have handed Republicans a massive win when he went off script and referred to an undocumented migrant as an illegal during his State of the Union address. At one point during the speech, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene began heckling Biden about Laken Riley, a college student who was murdered. A Venezuelan national named Jose Ibarra has been charged for her death. In a back and forth with Greene, during which Biden repeated into his microphone what the Georgia MAGA Republican was shouting, the president said, Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. Thats right. To Bidens credit, he immediately then said, But how many thousands of people being killed by legals? To her parents I say, my heart goes out to you having lost children myself. But the damage was already doneand Republicans are reportedly planning to capitalize on it. Punchbowl News reporter Mica Soellner reported Friday that a Republican aide, speaking anonymously, had told her Bidens comments would be used in upcoming Republican ads. Republican lawmakers were particularly delighted that he had used the term illegal and said thousands have been killed, the aide said. It was good of him to acknowledge that, the aide also told Soellner. For what its worth, Biden did not actually say that thousands of Americans have been killed by migrants. But the damage may have already been done. Republicans have continually accused Biden of allowing an unchecked flow of undocumented migrants into the country. They falsely claim that immigration is the cause of rising crime levels and the deadly fentanyl epidemic. Biden has responded by trying to get tougher, even cruel, on immigration, including supporting a draconian bill that would have increased security regulations on the bordera measure that the GOP promptly killed, at the behest of Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump. While Bidens campaign co-chair tried Friday to brush off using the word illegal as a small mistake, many progressive Democrats are concerned about the damage Biden has wrought with just one word. Soon after he said it, Representatives Ilhan Omar and Delia Ramirez both tweeted that no human being is illegal. Many lawmakers reportedly grew visibly upset while sitting in the chamber. Representative Joaquin Castro said the comment was ugly and uncalled for. Castros guest to the speech was Priscilla Martinez, the widow of North Texas rancher Aaron Martinez. Martinez was killed by a neighbor who had repeatedly harassed the family over their Latino ethnicity. Across Texas, many families can tell similar stories of hate and harassment inspired by the rhetoric of Donald Trump, Castro tweeted after the State of the Union. The rhetoric President Biden used tonight was dangerously close to language from Donald Trump that puts a target on the backs of Latinos everywhere. Democrats shouldnt be taking our cues from MAGA extremism. UPDATE 3/8/24, 3:08 p.m.: The deceased suspect in this incident has been identified as 40-year-old Joshua Watson. Authorities said Watson was a Riverton resident and had a criminal history well-known to Riverton Police. Next of kin has been notified. No further information is available at this time. ORIGINAL POST: RIVERTON, Utah (ABC4) One man is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Riverton on Friday, March 8. The incident reportedly started in Sandy around 5 a.m. as a carjacking. Authorities tell ABC4 the suspect led officers on a pursuit across the valley, ending in Riverton in the area of 138th South. Officers in the area reportedly used spike strips to stop the vehicle. Humane Society of Utah overwhelmed with puppies in desperate need of adoption As officers approached the suspect, he allegedly presented a weapon, prompting officers to open fire. The unidentified suspect was struck and pronounced dead at the scene. It is unclear if the suspect fired any shots, however, no officers were injured in the incident. An Officer Involved Critical Incident team from Salt Lake City responded to the scene to conduct an investigation into the shooting. Officers from Riverton, Herriman and Sandy were all involved in the incident. ABC4 has a crew on the scene and will update this article with more information as it becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. One teenager was killed and another was wounded in separate shootings just over an hour apart in the Bronx and Brooklyn on Thursday, according to police. Gunfire rang out on Cauldwell St. near near E. 158th St. in the Woodstock section of the Bronx around 4:15 p.m., cops said. When police arrived at the scene, a 17-year-old boy was suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. Medics took him to Lincoln Hospital in critical condition, but he could not be saved. His name was not immediately released. Police are searching for a teen gunman wearing a black and purple hoodie who ran off after he shot the boy, sources cop said. Just over an hour later, more gunfire erupted outside the Howard Houses near the corner of East New York Ave. and Mother Gaston Blvd. in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Two men took off on foot after the shooting, police said. When cops arrived at the scene, they found an 18-year-old shot in the torso and grazed in the neck, they added. The youth was taken to Brookdale University Hospital, where he was expected to recover from his injuries. There were no immediate arrests in either shooting as cops continued to investigate. Im Brian Gordon, tech reporter for The News & Observer, and this is Open Source, a weekly newsletter on business, labor and technology in North Carolina. The largest business advocacy group in North Carolina issued a stark warning the day after this weeks primary election. In a blog post Wednesday, the NC Chamber deemed certain outcomes, specifically on the GOP side, a startling warning of the looming threats to North Carolinas business climate. The chamber, which tends to give money to more establishment candidates, identified two primary winners as particularly problematic. One is Michele Morrow, a homeschool mother who bested incumbent Republican Catherine Truitt in the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Morrow attended the Jan. 6 rally to support then President Donald Trumps unfounded claims of election fraud. We are here to stop the steal, Morrow said in a video that she posted online while attending the protest. We are here to ensure that President Trump gets four more years. The other candidate the NC Chamber cautioned against is Luke Farley, who edged out Jon Hardister in the primary for labor commissioner. Luke Farley, is a far-right candidate whose two main campaign platform items were banning vaccine requirements for employees and Making Elevators Great Again, the chamber wrote. But these platforms appealed to Republican voters. On X, formerly Twitter, Farleys campaign spokesperson David Capen fired back against the chamber, saying, There is nobody more qualified than @LukeFarleyNC to serve as Labor Commissioner. Capen was commenting on an article from Business NC, which first reported the NC Chambers stance. He emphasized Farley had earned the support of longtime labor commissioner Cherie Berry. In its post, the chamber said it fears having such polarizing, populist figures head the education and labor departments would dent the states sterling business reputation. CNBC has ranked North Carolina best for business each of the past two years. Open Source At his primary victory party Tuesday night, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein also warned that Republican nominee Mark Robinson would scare away businesses and cost the state billions of dollars. The NC Chamber also more generally warned against polarizing candidates on both sides of the aisle. But only Farley and Morrow were identified. I asked the NC Chamber this week about its endorsement plans for the general election. A spokesperson said it is too early to make determinations. Onto the rest of this weeks news: Why did 63 workers lose their jobs without warning? An entire Wake County warehouse abruptly shut down last Friday, which isnt normal. Under federal law, plant closures affecting at least 50 workers typically requires the employer file a WARN notice at least 60 days in advance, giving employees time to land somewhere new. So why werent the 63 workers at The Body Shop distribution center in Wake Forest warned? The reason involves private equity and British insolvency procedures. In January, the UK-based Body Shop International was acquired by the German private equity firm Aurelius Group, and after selling certain parts of the ethically-tested cosmetics company, Aurelius sent The Body Shop into administration, a system for UK businesses facing debts they cant pay. Aurelius was not only the companys owner but also its top secured creditor, which allowed it to appoint the administrators who would take control of The Body Shops finances. Aurelius picked the private firm FRP Advisory. Its the administrators job to maximize the proceeds of creditors, Julian Franks, a finance professor at the London Business School told me in an interview this week. Their job is not to preserve employees. Believed to be the largest secured creditor, Aurelius is set to be paid back first as Body Shop assets are sold. The Body Shop distribution center in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Employees learned they would be out of jobs as the cosmetic company lacked funds to continue operating. The Body Shop in the United States was a subsidiary of its UK-based parent, and they shared a centralized cash system. Starting in January, employees at the North Carolina warehouse began to hear from vendors who complained they werent getting paid. Then last Friday, The Body Shop in North America announced its parent company, controlled by UK administrators, had halted its funding. On March 1, Wake Forest employees were called to an early morning meeting where they were told theyd be out of a job without severance. Its just not fair, said Nataly Guerra, an operations supervisor at the plant. SAS keeps layoff number secret SAS Institute made more job cuts this week as it confirmed layoffs in its retail solutions division. The prominent Cary software analytics giant reduced its workforce by around 1% last year, and while SAS didnt share how many employees lost jobs this week, a spokesperson reaffirmed the company has been slowly shifting some divisional structures to better align with corporate priorities. How companies communicate layoffs varies. Some, like Red Hat and Epic Games, posted messages online after making large cuts last year. SAS in contrast has kept its reductions vaguer. It certainly isnt the only business to do this, but the gap of public messaging has created a steadier drip of speculation. The entrance to the SAS corporate campus in Cary, North Carolina. The feud continues Apple and Carys Epic Games are fighting again if they ever really stopped. The spat started in August 2020 when the North Carolina video game company briefly bypassed Apples payment system (and its 30% fees) to sell in-game Fortnite currency directly to players. Three years of court cases ensued. Under the European Unions Digital Markets Act, Epic was working to return the Epic Games Store to iOS devices on the continent. But Apple terminated the companys developer account, Epics launch point into the EU, claiming the Triangle-based gaming company was verifiably untrustworthy and cited a past tweet from Epics co-founder/CEO Tim Sweeney that was critical of Apple. Sweeney and Epic were incensed by the decision. This is a serious violation of the (Digital Markets Act) and shows Apple has no intention of allowing true competition on iOS devices, Epic spokesperson Natalie Munoz said in a statement Wednesday. Short Stuff: Keeping it clean Veep in Bull City. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Durhams historic Black Wall Street district last Friday to announce $32 million in federal funding for North Carolina women- and minority-led businesses. The money will go to 10 venture capital firms who have women or minority leaders. Spiffy getting busy. Research Triangle Parks mobile cleaning startup Spiffy acquired the vehicle cleaning company NuVinAir Global, for an undisclosed amount. Spiffy CEO Scot Wingo, who also leads the Triangle Tweener Fund, said Spiffy now has a staff of 70 at its North Carolina headquarters. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks while visiting Durhams historic Black Wall Street district on Friday March 1, 2024. Vice President Harris is joined by Gov. Roy Cooper. National Tech Happenings The prices of Ethereum and Bitcoin are rising again, with each crypto coin up more than 50% since Jan. 1. A deepfake AI-generated image showing former President Donald Trump surrounded by not-real Black supporters has been circulating online. And in a story that wouldve seemed like futuristic satire a decade ago, Spain has banned an eye-scanning company headed by OpenAI founder Sam Altman that pays people cryptocurrency for their biometric data. Thanks for reading! SAN DIEGO (Border Report) When the San Ysidro Port of Entry was remodeled nine years ago, a few of the southbound lanes were left in place even after the new traffic pattern into Tijuana was introduced. Almost a decade later, with commuters facing two to three-hour waits nightly to cross into Mexico, there has been calls to reopen the old traffic lanes, which are also known as Puerta Mexico, or Mexicos door. One of the proponents is Baja Californias Secretary of Economy and Innovation, Kurt Honold Morales. But he says the city is blocking the idea. New technology could ease southbound delays at San Ysidro Port of Entry We turned over the plan to the city after it urgently asked for it; were still waiting for them to authorize it so we can begin, said Honold Morales. He says opening the extra lanes would help 87,000 people who live in Tijuana and cross the border daily to work in the United States. This is something thats needed, and we need to do it. Since November, when the Mexican government decided to remodel southbound traffic lanes adding new face-recognition technology, long traffic delays have become a nightly occurrence. The work was supposed to end last week, allowing all lanes of traffic to be open and improving flow. But the work is still stalled, and some lanes remain closed. Honold Morales says he hopes the issue gets resolved soon and the city greenlights the project. Everyone wants it, especially the ones who live here, but work there, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Editors Note: Peter Bergen is CNNs national security analyst, a vice president at New America, a professor of practice at Arizona State University, and the host of the Audible podcast In the Room with Peter Bergen, also on Apple and Spotify. Erik German is the senior producer of In the Room. The opinions expressed in this commentary are their own. View more opinion at CNN. A former Pentagon official driven, he says, by his duty to the truth goes public with an explosive allegation. Facing a scrum of TV cameras and members of Congress, this official claims that the US government has been keeping crashed alien spaceships under wraps for decades. It sounds like a pitch for a Hollywood movie. But last year, Americans saw it happen on the news. The former Pentagon official, David Grusch, had been an Air Force intelligence officer. He told a congressional committee that hed learned of a decades-long Pentagon program focused on crash retrieval and reverse engineering of UFOs from other planets. Grusch also said that remains found at the spacecraft crash sites were non-human biologics. Thats right. Crashed alien spacecraft and dead extraterrestrials, right there in the Congressional Record. If it wasnt the wildest thing ever broadcasted on C-SPAN, it mustve been close. Someone should look into this, right? It turns out that someone already had. In 2022, the Pentagon tapped a veteran scientist and intelligence officer named Sean Kirkpatrick to set up a new office tasked with investigating UFO sightings by the US military. Named the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office by the US Department of Defense, Kirkpatrick told us his team dug into UFO cases and interviewed US service members who said they had knowledge about encounters with UFOs. David Grusch, former member of the Defense Department's Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force, testifies during the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs hearing on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. - Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images/File Kirkpatrick recently retired from his job at the Pentagon and spoke with us for the Audible podcast In the Room. Kirkpatrick and his team investigated every US government UFO sighting going back to Roswell in the 1940s, putting the findings in a report that the Pentagon released publicly on Friday. That report debunks multiple claims of alien visitations to Earth and of any purported cover up of those visits. In the most extensive media interview hes given, Kirkpatrick laid out a convincing case that the stories swirling for decades about the alleged government cover-up of alien-related UFOs may well have been fueled largely by true believers inside the US government or with close ties to it. Since the term flying saucer was first coined, much of the conspiratorial thinking about UFOs has been spawned by people catching glimpses of highly secret US aircraft and wanting answers. And when the government doesnt provide answers, the public imagination takes over. US Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence Scott Bray explains a video of an unidentified aerial phenomena, as he testifies before a House Intelligence Committee subcommittee hearing at the US Capitol on May 17, 2022. - Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images But, in fact, Kirkpatrick says, his investigation found that most UFO sightings are of advanced technology that the US government needs to keep secret, of aircraft that rival nations are using to spy on the US or of benign civilian drones and balloons. Theres about two to five percent of all the (UFO reports that are) what we would call truly anomalous, says Kirkpatrick. And he thinks explanations for that small percentage will most likely be found right here on Earth. The Roswell incident This is how Kirkpatrick and his team explain the Roswell incident, which plays a prominent role in UFO lore. Thats because, in 1947, a US military news release stated that a flying saucer had crashed near Roswell Army Air Field in New Mexico. A day later, the Army retracted the story and said the crashed object was a weather balloon. Newspapers ran the initial saucer headline, followed up with the official debunking, and interest in the case largely died down. Until 1980, that is, when a pair of UFO researchers published a book alleging that alien bodies had been recovered from the Roswell wreckage and that the US government had covered up the evidence. Kirkpatrick says his office dug deep into the Roswell incident and found that in the late 1940s and early 1950s, there were a lot of things happening near the Roswell Airfield. There was a spy program called Project Mogul, which launched long strings of oddly shaped metallic balloons. They were designed to monitor Soviet nuclear tests and were highly secret. The US Air Force released this photo on June 24 of an aeroshell of a NASA Voyager Mars space probe prior to launch at Walker AFB, New Mexico (formerly Roswell AAF) as part of its report on the so called "Roswell Incident" of 1947. - Reuters At the same time, the US military was conducting tests with other high-altitude balloons that carried human test dummies rigged with sensors and zipped into body-sized bags for protection against the elements. And there was at least one military plane crash nearby with 11 fatalities. Echoing earlier government investigations, Kirkpatrick and his team concluded that the crashed Mogul balloons, the recovery operations to retrieve downed test dummies and glimpses of the charred aftermath of that real plane crash likely combined into a single false narrative about a crashed alien spacecraft. Kirkpatrick also lays out a convincing case that something similar is happening today. He says new technology taking flight now could help explain a lot of the modern era of UFO sightings from the early 2000s on. Its not just secret government technology, either. Lots of observers get flummoxed when they catch sight of cutting-edge drones and even odd-looking balloons. Whats more likely? asked Kirkpatrick. The fact that there is a state-of-the-art technology thats being commercialized down in Florida that you didnt know about, or we have extraterrestrials? he said. And it even makes me scratch my head more when you show them; heres the company in Florida that builds exactly what youve described. And their response is, well, no, no, no, its gotta be extraterrestrials, and youre covering it up. Nevertheless, UFOs remain a genuine national security concern mainly because they are flight hazards. As Kirkpatrick put it, military pilots that are flying at greater than Mach 1; if they run into a balloon with a tether on it, its going to rip a wing off. Since 2020, the Pentagon has standardized, de-stigmatized and increased the volume of reporting on UFOs by the US military. Kirkpatrick says thats the reason the closely covered and widely-mocked Chinese spy balloon was spotted in the first place last year. The incident shows that the US governments policy of taking UFOs seriously is actually working. The true believers So in the face of the actual evidence, why are people in and around government promoting the unsupported idea of alien invaders being covered up by the US government? True believers are not just outside of government; many of them are inside government, Kirkpatrick told us, including the late US Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat who was Senate Majority leader. Another key player was Reids longtime friend Robert Bigelow, a Nevada billionaire and the owner of a company called Bigelow Aerospace, both of whom shared a long-running interest in UFOs. Kirkpatrick says, Senator Harry Reid was a true believer and thought that Hey, the government is hiding this from congressional oversight. Then-Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) holds a news conference to announce the inclusion of the "public option" in the Senate's version of the health care reform legislation October 26, 2009 in Washington, DC. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/File In 2007, Senator Reid got funding for a US Defense Intelligence Agency program that paid $22 million to his buddy Bigelows aerospace company money the company spent on investigations into paranormal phenomena. Among other investigations, Bigelows team looked into sightings of UFOs by US military personnel and proposed setting up laboratories to study the purported physical remains of alien spacecraft. (On 60 Minutes in May 2017, Bigelow said he was absolutely convinced that aliens exist and that UFOs have visited Earth.) Reid told a reporter in Nevada in 2021 that even though this was a secret program to look into UFOs, Bigelow didnt benefit from some sweetheart deal it was put out to bid. Reid also told The New York Times, Im not embarrassed or ashamed or sorry I got this thing goingI think its one of the good things I did in my congressional service. Yet, Kirkpatrick points out, none of that actually manifested in any evidence of alien spacecraft. But stories about these secret programs spread inside the Pentagon, got embellished and received the occasional boost from service members whod heard rumors about or caught glimpses of seemingly sci-fi technology or aircraft. And Kirkpatrick says his investigators ultimately traced this game of top-secret telephone back to fewer than a dozen people. It all goes back to the same core set of people, Kirkpatrick said. This is both deeply weird and richly ironic. Because, for decades, UFO true believers have been telling us theres a US government conspiracy to hide evidence of aliens. But if you believe Kirkpatrick the more mundane truth is that these stories are being pumped up by a group of UFO true believers in and around government. Sadly, for all the UFO lovers out there, that may be the biggest takeaway from Kirkpatricks report to Congress, which is expected to be published later this month. Plenty of outsiders have long speculated about whether the Pentagons alien-focused programs were coming up empty and perhaps were suspiciously self-perpetuating. But now, highly credible people inside the Pentagon with really high-level security clearances are finally saying, we looked at every single piece of secret evidence about supposedly alien UFOs. And as far as we can tell, its humans all the way down. Although Kirkpatrick concedes that for those who truly believe that there are alien visitations here on Earth, little will convince them otherwise: There is absolutely nothing that Im going to do, say, or produce evidentiary that is going to make the true believers convert It is a religious belief that transcends critical thinking and rational thought. This article has been updated with the Pentagons release of a report on UFOs. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com With primaries underway, and voters returning in the fall for a high-stakes presidential election, it is likely that many people will be knowingly or unknowingly using artificial intelligence platforms to answer questions of where, when and how to vote. In a recent study , we found misleading information about elections abound on these AI platforms. Its up to tech companies to rein in these discrepancies, but we also need government regulation to hold them accountable. Voters may use bots like ChatGPT, or search engines that incorporate AI, or the vast array of new AI-based apps and services such as Microsoft Copilot, which is integrated into office software such as Word and Excel, and was found last year to be spewing election lies . Read more: Opinion: Your body, your work? Hollywood is scanning actors' moves. What that could mean for the rest of us In January, we gathered about 50 experts local and state elections officials, researchers, journalists, civil society advocates and tech industry veterans to test five of the leading closed and open AI models responses to common election queries. Among the election officials were two from Los Angeles County, who helped evaluate L.A.-specific responses. We tested the AI models by connecting to their backend interfaces that were made available to developers. These interfaces don't always provide the same answers as the chatbot web interfaces, but they are the underlying infrastructures on which the chatbots and other AI services rely. Read more: As a writer I don't despair about AI it can't replicate our imaginations The results were dismal : Half of the AI models' responses to questions voters might ask were rated as inaccurate by our experts. They made all sorts of errors and made stuff up. Metas Llama 2 declared that voters in California could vote by text message (untrue) and even dreamed up a fictional service called Vote by Text, adding a wealth of credible-sounding detail. Read more: What AI will bring in 2024: 4 predictions A Meta spokesperson said that Llama 2 is a model for developers, and isnt an outlet the public would use to ask election-related questions. Yet Llama 2 is used by easily accessible web-based chatbots such as Perplexity Labs and Poe . Mixtral, a French AI model, managed to accurately assert that voting by text is not allowed. But when our tester persisted by asking how to vote by text in California, it returned with an enthusiastic and bizarre Hablo espanol! Mixtrals maker did not respond to requests for comment. Read more: Op-Ed: Beware a world where artists are replaced by robots. It's starting now Meanwhile, Google said in December it would prevent its AI model, Gemini, from responding to some election-related queries. We found Gemini to be quite chatty, producing lengthy, definitive-sounding and often inaccurate answers, including links to nonexistent websites and references to imaginary polling places. Asked where to vote in the ZIP Code 19121, a majority Black neighborhood in North Philadelphia, Gemini argued that no such voting precinct exists although, of course it does. Such an answer raises concerns about voter suppression. A Google representative told us the company is regularly making technical improvements. In January, OpenAI also pledged to not misrepresent voting processes and to direct its ChatGPT users to a legitimate source for voting information called CanIVote.org, which is run by the National Assn. of Secretaries of State. In our testing, however, it never once pointed to CanIVote.org and was inaccurate about 19% of the time, such as when it asserted that Texas voters could wear a MAGA hat at the polls (not true). An OpenAI spokesperson said in response that the company is committed to elevating accurate voting information. There was only one query that all the AI models got right, according to our expert testers: They all were able to provide accurate evidence that the 2020 election was not stolen, probably because the companies have set up content filters to ensure that their software doesnt repeat conspiracy theories. Many states are trying to address the problem by passing laws to criminalize the dissemination of disinformation or use of deepfakes in election contexts. The Federal Communications Commission also recently banned AI-generated robocalls . But those laws are hard to enforce, because its difficult to identify AI-generated content and even more difficult to track down who made it. And these bans would be aimed at intentional deception, not the routine inaccuracies we discovered. The European Union recently passed the AI Act , which requires companies to label AI-generated content and develops tools for the detection of synthetic media. But it doesnt appear to require accuracy for elections. Federal and state regulations should require companies to ensure their products provide accurate information. Our study suggests that regulators and lawmakers should also scrutinize whether AI platforms are fulfilling their intended uses in critical areas like voter information. From tech companies, we need more than just pledges to keep chatbot hallucinations away from our elections. Companies should be more transparent by publicly disclosing information about vulnerabilities in their products and sharing evidence of how they are doing so by performing regular testing. Until then, our limited review suggests that voters should probably steer clear of AI models for voting information. Voters should instead turn to local and state elections offices for reliable information about how and where they can cast their ballots. Elections officials should follow the model of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson who, ahead of that states Democratic primary election, warned that misinformation and the ability for voters to be confused or lied to or fooled, was the paramount threat this year. With hundreds of AI companies sprouting up, lets make them compete on the accuracy of their products, rather than just on hype. Our democracy depends on it. Alondra Nelson is a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study and a distinguished senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. She served as a deputy assistant to the president and acting director of the White House Office of Science and Technology. Julia Angwin is an award-winning investigative journalist, bestselling author and founder of Proof News , a new nonprofit journalism studio. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Dodgers dont usually get any intentional help from their archrivals, the Giants. But something that strange just happened in Californias primary: Former Dodgers great and current Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Garvey advanced to the general election along with Democratic Rep. Adam B. Schiff after being elevated almost entirely by the other team. The former National League MVPs long-shot bid for the Senate benefited from an estimated $35 million in television ads from a surprising source: Schiff and his allies. Why did the Burbank Democrat spend a small fortune boosting Garveys name recognition and blanketing the airwaves with ads that touted the former first basemans conservative credentials? You might call it a squeeze play: Schiff wanted to keep his two closest Democratic competitors out of the fall race, and he succeeded. Garvey claimed the second-highest vote total in the top-two primary, while Democratic Reps. Katie Porter of Irvine and Barbara Lee of Oakland finished in third and fourth, leaving them out of the running. This is a classic example of a problem that could be solved by ranked-choice voting, a tested, nonpartisan reform that discourages this sort of gamesmanship and more accurately represents what a majority of voters want. Read more: Opinion: Can California's top-two primary handle the race for Feinstein's seat? Don't count on it Schiffs skulduggery was unfortunate but totally rational under the current system. In Californias unusual jungle primary, every candidate runs in the same preliminary election, and the top two vote-getters move on to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Schiff seemed certain to claim one of the two spots from the beginning, but he faced a potentially competitive race in the fall against a progressive Democrat such as Porter or Lee. So Schiff decided to try to choose an easier opponent. California Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 , and the states voters havent sent a Republican to the Senate in 35 years. Schiffs beneficence deserves much of the credit for ensuring what has become an all too common feature of California's general elections: a statewide contest in which a Democrat will probably trounce a sacrificial Republican instead of facing real competition from within his own party. Garveys largely quiet campaign did not air television ads of its own, and his campaign appearances were few and far between . The Republican spent just $1.4 million through mid-February, a small fraction of what Schiff and his allies spent boosting him. Read more: Opinion: California got rid of partisan primaries. Here's why other states should too Porter decried the contest as rigged because of Schiffs tactics, but her allies got up to similar trickery. They tried to elevate a more conservative Republican, perennial candidate Eric Early, as way more dangerous than Steve Garvey. Their evident hope was to peel enough votes away from Garvey to allow Porter to finish second. Our politics need not be this underhanded. It would be easy to end this chicanery and ensure that the candidates with the widest and deepest support face off in the fall. Ranked-choice voting, whose renaissance started in the Bay Area and is quickly spreading across the country, is the best tool for reflecting the wishes of voters in any race with more than two candidates. It allows voters to rank their chosen candidates first, second, third and so on and enables an instant runoff: If no one secures a majority of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated and their votes awarded to their supporters next choice, a process repeated until one candidate gets more than 50%. This eliminates spoiler candidates, wasted votes for eliminated candidates, winners with relatively small pluralities, and duplicitous tactics like Schiffs and Porters. One option is for California to adopt a final four model such as the one being used successfully in Alaska . Instead of advancing just two candidates from the primary, the state admits the top four to the general election, which is then decided by ranked choice. This allows multiple candidates of different ideological stripes within a party to run against one another without splitting the field, which is particularly important in an overwhelmingly blue state like California. It also helps ensure that both major parties have at least one candidate in the general election. That could have allowed Schiff, Garvey, Lee and Porter to all make their cases before a much larger and more representative November electorate. Voters, meanwhile, would be able to choose their actual favorite from a wide field along with their second and subsequent choices without any fear of playing spoiler. The winner would be the candidate with the deepest and broadest support among all California voters. And the election would have a completely different vibe: Instead of ignoring his strongest Democratic opponents, Schiff would have had to compete to be their supporters second choice. California has long been at the vanguard of electoral reforms that produce fairer results, and the top-two primary was an important innovation. But theres no reason to stop there. Ranked-choice voting would make the states elections even fairer. The Dodgers dont get to decide which teams they play, and politicians shouldnt be able to get away with it either. Marcela Miranda-Caballero is the executive director of the California Ranked Choice Voting Coalition . David Daley is a senior fellow at FairVote and the author of Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy . If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. London, UK --News Direct-- GoviEx Uranium Inc GoviEx Uranium Inc (TSX-V:GXU, OTCQX:GVXXF) head of investor relations Isabel Vilela joins Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with more details of the due diligence process for debt financing of its Madaouela Uranium Project in Niger. Vilela said SLR Consulting has been appointed by a prospective lender to conduct environmental and social due diligence for the project. The debt financing process is expected to take several months, during which GoviEx Uranium will continue advancing other project areas, including early-stage field work at Madaouela and discussions with off-takers. The company has also received expressions of interest amounting to approximately $200 million in project-related debt finance. These expressions of interest were secured when uranium spot prices were around $50-$55, but with current prices at $90, the project's attractiveness has increased. Concerning the political situation in Niger, Vilela said logistical challenges due to border closures are being resolved following ECOWAS's sanction lifting. The government, owning 20% of the Madaouela project, supports it, and efforts towards local employment and development continue, with 100% of employees being locals. Meanwhile, Vilela said the company is progressing with its Muntanga Project in Zambia, aiming to finalise its feasibility study in the second half of the year. She said GoviEx Uranium is in a unique position with two uranium assets close to development, with Muntanga holding one of the world's largest known uranium resources. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/goviex-uranium-advances-in-niger-and-zambia-amid-rising-uranium-prices-544534730 Opinions are clashing in Worcester over the potential of a safe injection site opening in the second largest city in Massachusetts. Worcester is now the first municipality in the Commonwealth to officially approve a safe injection pilot program. The Board of Health voted 4-0 on Monday night to approve a safe injection site, also known as an overdose prevention center. It will now have to go through the state legislation process before any possible plans move forward. Worcester takes a step toward opening the states first safe injection site Theres still no indication of how soon one of these sites could potentially open in Worcester. Were doing all this stuff to save people who dont want to be saved, said Worcester resident Crystal Acquah. As a taxpayer, I do not want to spend my tax money on that. Somerville had previously been the only city in the Commonwealth pushing forward with specific plans for a site where people can consume illicit drugs under the supervision of medical personnel. New York City is currently home to the only two safe injection facilities operating in an official capacity in the U.S. We have a high population of people in Worcester who are addicts, said Worcester resident Lisa Correa. When you hear about it at first, you think enabling. Why are we helping these people stay high? Critics believe the sites, which are federally illegal, encourage illegal drug use. Supporters say research shows they cut overdose deaths and save lives. What I hope the example in Worcester will show is overdose prevention centers are really for all cities in America, whether youre a mid-sized city or a large city, said Abdullah Shihipar with the Brown University School of Public Health. Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty said he welcomes a greater discussion as a community on the topic. The City of Worcester is fully aware of the ongoing opioid crisis and we are working to address this on a daily basis, said Petty. This program is something the City will continue to study and analyze for potential outcomes to make sure we are thoughtful in doing this. A spokesperson for City Manager Eric Batista told Boston 25 News that the administration is working on a report that includes more data on safe injection sites. No action will be taken on the potential operation of an OPC in the City of Worcester until further guidance is provided by the State of Massachusetts, said a statement from the City Manager. At such time, further conversations will be had among City officials, City Council, health providers, stakeholders, and the community at large. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW 'Oppenheimer' fact v. fiction: What the movie got right and wrong according to a nuclear historian Warning: Minor spoilers ahead for Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer", which has 13 Oscar nominations. J. Robert Oppenheimer was an immensely complex figure, and the movie's based on a biography of him. While the movie is historically accurate in many ways, there are a few bits of fiction mixed in. Christopher Nolan's movie "Oppenheimer" tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer. As the director of the Manhattan Project's Los Alamos Laboratory in the 1940s, the physicist is known as the "father of the atomic bomb." Though mainly focused on a handful of years of his life, the film packs in a good deal of science, politics, and romantic relationships. "Historians sometimes call him a complicated figure," Alex Wellerstein, a historian of science and nuclear technology and professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology, said of Oppenheimer. "You cannot come up with a simple version of him." Heavily based on "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer" by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin, the movie stays pretty faithful to the man's eventful, unusual life. But that doesn't mean there aren't some exaggerations or inconsistencies. Wellerstein helped us separate fact from fiction in "Oppenheimer." Fact: Oppenheimer did try to poison his tutor (but Niels Bohr wasn't there) While studying at Cambridge in the mid-1920s, Oppenheimer was able to meet many important physicists, including Patrick Blackett, "whom I liked very much," he later wrote. In "American Prometheus," Bird and Sherwin write that Oppenheimer admired Blackett, who would become his tutor. But the future Nobel Prize winner was a practical, hands-on physicist who pushed his student to do lab work that Oppenheimer found difficult. He preferred going to lectures and reading. During his time in England, Oppenheimer was living in a "miserable hole" of an apartment and would roll around on the floor in agony some days. Finally, he got so fed up that he put chemicals in Blackett's apple. Oppenheimer's grandson has disputed the incident, saying there's no record of it. In the movie, Niels Bohr nearly takes a bite out of the apple, but that scene was invented for dramatic effect. (It was Ernest Rutherford who introduced Oppenheimer to Bohr.) One of Oppenheimer's biographers wrote that Cambridge officials learned of the incident, and Oppenheimer's father convinced them not to press charges. Instead, Oppenheimer was put on probation and had to see a psychiatrist. Cillian Murphy in "Oppenheimer." Universal Fact: Oppenheimer did deliver a lecture in Dutch According to "American Prometheus," "Oppenheimer astonished his peers by giving a lecture in Dutch," only six weeks after he arrived in Leiden, Holland. "I don't think it was very good Dutch, but it was appreciated," Oppenheimer said. He had a short-lived relationship with a woman there, who may have helped him learn the language, biographer and physicist Abraham Pais wrote. In the movie, it only takes Oppenheimer six weeks to learn Dutch. But Wellerstein points out that he could have spent time learning the language ahead of time. That summer, Oppenheimer spent a couple of weeks in New Mexico recuperating from tuberculosis. In between reading Baudelaire and e.e. cummings, who's to say he wasn't brushing up on his Dutch? Fact: The Oppenheimers had Haakon Chevalier raise their son, Peter, for a while In 1941, when Peter Oppenheimer was just two months old, Robert and Kitty left him with Haakon and Barbara Chevalier for two months, according to "American Prometheus." Robert explained that his wife was exhausted, and the two went to the family's ranch, Perro Caliente, near Los Pinos, New Mexico. But the movie links the arrangement with Kitty's drinking by showing Robert dropping Peter off after a scene in which Kitty is drunk and frustrated with having to care for the baby all day, alone. Fact: Germany wasn't ready to build an atomic bomb In September 1943, Niels Bohr made a narrow escape from Nazi-occupied Denmark via Sweden. A few months later, Bohr arrived in Los Alamos, ready to tell Oppenheimer and the rest about his 1941 meeting with German physicist Werner Heisenberg. In the movie, after peppering Bohr with questions, Oppenheimer is satisfied that Heisenberg took a "wrong turn" somewhere, and the Germans were sufficiently far enough behind the Americans if they were indeed making an atomic bomb. It's a simplified version of reality, but it's mainly correct, Wellerstein said. "They do have a very small-scale nuclear reactor project, which is never going to make a bomb at its present size," he said. But it wouldn't be until nearly a year later, in November 1944, that the Allies would find definitive proof that the Germans were still in the early stages of development. Fact: Oppenheimer mocked Strauss about isotopes J. Robert Oppenheimer testifies before the Senate in October 1945. AP Physicist David Hill testified at a Senate hearing for Lewis Strauss' nomination to President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Cabinet. He said that most scientists would prefer Strauss no longer be in government, as "Oppenheimer" depicts. But it was David Inglis, chairman of the Federation of American Scientists, who said Strauss, out of "personal vindictiveness," had targeted Oppenheimer, Time magazine reported. Inglis also discussed Strauss' opposition to shipping isotopes to Europe for medical purposes. Much is made in the film about Oppenheimer mocking Strauss' concerns, saying that "you can use a bottle of beer for atomic energy" and that isotopes were less important than electronic devices but "more important than a sandwich." The line comes from an Atomic Energy Committee joint committee session in 1949. What Oppenheimer actually said was isotopes were "less important than, let us say, vitamins, somewhere in between." The line did get laughs. Likely fact: Oppenheimer estimated only 20,000 people would die from an atomic bomb When discussing the potential effects of the atomic bomb in the movie, Oppenheimer estimates the number of dead at 20,000 to 30,000. "I've never seen anything that suggested they had any real methodology," Wellerstein said. He notes that it's hard to find references to that number beyond physicist Arthur Compton saying that Oppenheimer told him he thought the number would be around 20,000. Fact: A big thunderstorm delayed the Trinity Test Cillian Murphy standing next to atomic bomb Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) stands next to the test bomb in "Oppenheimer."Universal It wasn't just for dramatics that "Oppenheimer" depicted a heavy thunderstorm as the scientists and military rushed to prep the bomb for the Trinity Test. It was initially scheduled for 4 a.m. and was pushed an hour and a half because of the weather. Oppenheimer makes an oracle-like prediction in the film that the storm will pass, but there was a meteorology team, led by Jack Hubbard, who said the same thing in real life. Army Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves apparently threatened to hang Hubbard if his weather predictions were wrong, but the skies did clear. Fact: Feynman did watch the Trinity Test from behind a windshield Physicist Richard Feynman recalled getting into a truck to watch the atomic bomb test from behind a windshield because he said it would protect him from the ultraviolet radiation. "I'm probably the only guy who saw it with the human eye," he said, while everyone else watched through dark glasses. Fact: Oppenheimer never said publicly he regretted dropping the bomb Strauss rages in the film that Oppenheimer would "do it all over" and never said he regretted dropping the atomic bomb. "That's 100% true" that Oppenheimer never said anything like that publicly, Wellerstein said. But he wishes the film depicted someone else saying it, instead of "the guy who you're painting as a totally unreliable snake." But, Wellerstein said, Oppenheimer did feel remorse about not being able to stop the arms race: "He regretted what came next, and he did a lot of work to try and avoid that." Fact: Oppenheimer was a dilettante When listing the concerns fellow scientists raised about Oppenheimer being named director of the Los Alamos lab in the movie, Groves calls Oppenheimer a "dilettante" who "couldn't run a hamburger stand". Wellerstein calls that a fair assessment. Oppenheimer would often jump from topic to topic, depending on what his students were working on. "Oppenheimer was interested in everything," Robert Serber, one of his students, said. A single session might include a discussion of electrodynamics, cosmic rays, and nuclear physics. If it weren't for the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer would likely be best known for bolstering theoretical physics at the University of California, Berkeley. Many of his students went on to do important work, including David Bohm, Philip Morrison, and Willis Lamb. "That's a big legacy," Wellerstein said. Fact: Oppenheimer was ahead of his time on black holes The day Hitler invaded Poland, Oppenheimer and his student Hartland Snyder published an important paper about "heavy stars" running out of fuel and collapsing. The paper followed up on the work of several other scientists, but Oppenheimer didn't publish on the topic again. Theoretical physicist Kip Thorne describes how "truly strange" other scientists found this concept at the time. Even John Wheeler, who popularized the term "black hole" in 1967, fought against the idea in the 1950s. Roger Penrose described black holes in 1964, for which he would win the Nobel Prize in 2020. After his win, Penrose cited Oppenheimer and Snyder's paper as one of the inspirations for his research. Fact: The sound of the bomb came long after the explosion during the Trinity Test Cillian Murphy in a scene from "Oppenheimer" where Oppenheimer is seen wearing a set of googles and looking through a porthole while a bright light illuminates his face. Oppenheimer (Murphy) watches the Trinity test with dark glasses on in "Oppenheimer."Universal The film recreates the Trinity Test with a ball of fire and plumes of smoke and Cillian Murphy reciting Oppenheimer's famously quoting the Bhagavad Gita, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." It's eerily silent. Then comes the blast wave that knocks some onlookers over and a tremendous, startling boom. There really was quiet after the bomb exploded. "Finally, after about a minute and a half, there's suddenly a tremendous noise BANG and then a rumble, like thunder," Feynman remembered later. Fiction: People didn't notice an explosion in the middle of the desert "Oppenheimer" doesn't zoom out beyond the scientists and military members who watch the Trinity Test at various distances, but the brightness of the flame, the sound of the explosion, and the shaking caused by the blast wave didn't go unnoticed. The force blew out windows in nearby cities. Amarillo, Texas, residents could see the flash from over 280 miles away. The government planted a story that an ammunition magazine had exploded but that no one was hurt. The massive explosion of Oppenheimer's Trinity test was first explained away as an ammo dump explosion. Clovis News-Journal/Newspapers.com / National Security Research Center Fiction: They knew the bomb was going to end the war "In the movie, they make it seem like that the reason they're using the bomb is because they don't want to invade Japan, and that is just not actually how it was discussed at the time," Wellerstein said. "That's an after-the-fact rationalization that was created later." In December 1946, physicist Karl T. Compton wrote in The Atlantic that dropping the bombs was a "calculated gamble" and that Secretary of War Stimson and others hoped it would end the war. Fiction: Stimson spared Kyoto because he honeymooned there Selecting the targets for the atomic bombs was a complicated process that involved many people, including Oppenheimer and Secretary of War Henry Stimson. "Stimson is a very interesting character, and he gets turned into a sort of caricature" in the movie, Wellerstein said. During the meeting depicted in "Oppenheimer," Stimson says they shouldn't bomb Kyoto because of its cultural significance and because he and his wife went there after they got married. "He visited Kyoto, that's for sure, but I don't think he took a honeymoon there," Wellerstein said. The decision was more nuanced and complicated, he said, and had far-reaching consequences for the cities that were bombed. Fiction: Oppenheimer was sidelined because he was thinking about the long-term implications of nuclear weapons "Oppenheimer" also sets up its main character as a bit of a lone wolf, the only one in the meetings with Groves and Stimson asking questions about the long-term implications of nuclear weapons. "This was not some sort of fringe position that only Oppenheimer had," Wellerstein said. "He definitely played a role in advocating it, but it was very well received and other people had the same idea and lots of people took it really seriously at the highest levels of government." That included Stimson, who brought those concerns to President Harry Truman, Wallenstein said. Fiction: Oppenheimer consulted Einstein about Teller's calculations Einstein and Oppenheimer talking in Oppenheimer movie (L-R) Tom Conti as Albert Einstein and Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in "Oppenheimer."Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Edward Teller, who went on to invent the hydrogen bomb, certainly did raise concerns that a nuclear weapon could ignite the Earth's atmosphere with devastating consequences. "I didn't believe it from the first minute," Hans Bethe later said. But it wasn't Albert Einstein who Oppenheimer went to. "Einstein wouldn't have been any good for that anyway," said Wellerstein. "It's the wrong kind of science." Instead, Oppenheimer consulted Compton, according to "American Prometheus." Bethe's calculations did show there was a "near-zero" possibility of such a catastrophe happening. And Enrico Fermi really did take bets on Teller's theory before the Trinity Test, according to Bethe. Fiction: Oppenheimer remained anti-H-bomb In the movie, Roger Robb, the special counsel at Oppenheimer's security clearance hearing, shouts at Oppenheimer over his contradictory positions on the hydrogen bomb. Oppenheimer did support Teller's research and later changed his mind. There were a few reasons why Oppenheimer was hesitant about an H-bomb, including that there were limited resources for weapons development after the war. "He's not saying don't make weapons," Wellerstein said. "He's saying, 'Let's make more of the weapons we already have and not waste material on weapons that might not work.'" But then, Teller and Stanislaw Ulam made a breakthrough on their hydrogen bomb research, and Oppenheimer was "almost thrilled," according to AEC commissioner Gordon Dean. "When he is in favor again, it's already sort of a fait accompli," Wellerstein said. At that point, Oppenheimer felt it was better to be the first once again. Fiction: Charlotte Serber was Oppenheimer's secretary Charlotte Serber's badge photo for the Manhattan Project. National Security Research Center At one point in the film, Oppenheimer asks Charlotte Serber to make a call for him, implying she's his secretary. But Serber worked as a librarian for Los Alamos' "secret library." In real life, Oppenheimer recruited the wife of physicist Robert Serber because she wasn't a professional librarian and therefore wouldn't mind cutting "the necessary corners." While Charlotte Serber spent a brief time working with Oppenheimer's secretary, she eventually became busy enough with the library and classified files to have a staff of 12. Because of Charlotte's political leanings and that of her family, the FBI kept a file on her and her husband and wiretapped the couple. It was actually Oppenheimer who told Groves that she might have been a communist, though he didn't think she was affiliated with the party any longer. "It's one of the things that makes him a complicated guy," Wellerstein said, "is he's ratting out all the people around him to try and look reliable to the security people." Read the original article on Business Insider Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and US President Donald Trump meet at the White House in 2019 (Brendan Smialowski) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban travels to Florida on Friday to meet his "good friend" former US president Donald Trump, the shoo-in for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Orban has frequently expressed hope for Trump's return to power, insisting it would improve bilateral relations and enhance security in Europe -- unlike most of his EU colleagues, who fear the exact opposite. "It is not gambling at all, but the only sane approach for Hungary is to bank on the return of president Donald Trump," he said earlier this week in an address to the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Hungary's nationalist premier was the only EU leader to endorse the real-estate mogul's campaign during the 2016 US presidential election, later betting on his re-election in 2020 and publicly heaping praise on him ever since. Trump has applauded Orban during his recent campaign speeches as a "strong leader", although he misidentified him as the "leader of Turkey" once. Following US media reports on the upcoming meeting between the two politicians, Hungary confirmed it would take place on Friday. Although the exact agenda is unknown, the meeting at the tycoon's luxurious Mar-a-Lago residence is aimed at "further strengthening the diplomatic and strategic ties between Hungary and the United States", Zoltan Kovacs, a government spokesperson, wrote on X. Ukraine is expected to feature prominently in the discussions as both politicians oppose sending military aid to help the war-torn country defend itself against Russia's ongoing offensive. Hungary is the only EU member that has maintained close ties with the Kremlin following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Orban regularly advocates for immediate ceasefire and peace talks, arguing the former US president is best qualified to find a way out of the conflict. - Frosty relations - Orban is not known to have scheduled talks with any officials of the current US government, as relations between the two countries have been frosty since Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021. The United States frequently criticised the Hungarian government for its close relations with Russia, holding up Sweden's NATO bid and democratic backsliding. Washington also cancelled a bilateral tax treaty and rolled back a visa waiver programme. Meanwhile, Orban listed the Biden administration as one of his adversaries last year according to a report by the pro-government Magyar Nemzet daily newspaper. In an August interview with conservative TV commentator Tucker Carlson, the Hungarian leader seemingly agreed with the suggestion that US taxpayers' money had been used to fund a six-party opposition alliance's 2022 election campaign to oust him. Shunned by many of his Western colleagues, Orban is seen cultivating ties with many prominent right-wing politicians, anticipating their eventual electoral breakthrough. This April, Budapest will host another offshoot of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) -- an event linked to the US Republican Party -- for the third straight year. During the past two years, Trump sent short pre-recorded videos to greet attendees of the gathering. At the last CPAC Hungary, Orban denounced the "progressive virus" propagated by "Western liberals", boasting that he had the "serum" for it in his country. ros/imm/smw PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) Oregons first bills dealing with artificial intelligence are on their way to Gov. Tina Kotek. Senate Bill 1571 won final approval Wednesday, March 6, on a Senate vote of 24-5. The House cleared an amended version the previous day, 52-3. It requires disclosure of artificial intelligence, described as synthetic media, when used in campaign advertising and other communications. South Salem High School on lockdown due to possible shooting in Bush Park area The bills chief sponsor was Sen. Aaron Woods, a Democrat from Wilsonville and a former technology executive. House Bill 4153 also won final legislative approval Wednesday on a Senate vote of 26-3. The House passed it 52-0 earlier in the week. Sponsored by Rep, Daniel Nguyen, D-Lake Oswego, it sets up a 14-member task force to look at its ramifications. A task force includes members other than legislators. Disclosure of AI use would be enforced by the Oregon secretary of state, who is the states chief elections officer. If the secretary, a candidate for the job, or a supporting or opposing political committee were the subject of a complaint, the attorney general would be empowered to investigate it. Woman accused of animal cruelty after dog shot in the head execution style survives The AI disclosure bill got political momentum prior to the New Hampshire presidential primary Jan. 23, when a voice mimicking President Joe Biden urged voters not to cast ballots but await the Nov. 5 general election. Biden won the Democratic primary despite his name not being on the ballot, and his campaign said it did not initiate the robocalls to voters. A Democratic political operative, Steve Kramer, later identified himself as the originator of the robocalls. Read more at PortlandTribune.com. The Portland Tribune and its parent company Pamplin Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek will sign a bill recriminalizing small amounts of illicit drugs again, according to a statement from the governor's office on Thursday, subsequently ending the liberal state's short-lived drug policy. House Bill 4002 will reverse the short-lived Measure 110, a 2020 law that voters approved to decriminalize most illegal possession of controlled substance offenses and redirect much of the state's marijuana tax revenue to fund grants for addiction services. "I intend to sign House Bill 4002 and the related prevention and treatment investments within the next 30 days. As governor, my focus is on implementation," Kotek said in a statement. OREGON LAWMAKERS CONSIDER CHANGING BELOVED ANTI-URBAN SPRAWL LAW TO FIGHT HOUSING CRISIS Portland, Oregon, and drugs in a photo illustration. Lawmakers made a U-turn on the controversial 2020 measure this week in the legislature, after addiction and overdose deaths skyrocketed in Oregon over the last two years. HB 4002 will now give illicit users an ultimatum: Be criminally charged or get treatment if caught with hard drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine. It also makes the possession of small amounts of drugs such as heroin or methamphetamine a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail. It enables police to confiscate the drugs and crack down on their use on sidewalks and in parks. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Additionally, the bill aims to make it easier to prosecute people who sell drugs and increase access to addictive medication. LIBERAL OREGON U-TURNS, PASSES BILL TO RECRIMINALIZE HARD DRUGS AS OVERDOSE DEATHS SKYROCKET A man smokes on the sidewalk in Portland, Oregon, on Jan. 10. "My office will work closely with each implementing authority to set expectations, specifically in response to the Criminal Justice Centers Racial Equity Impact Statement, which projected disproportionate impacts to communities of color and the accompanying concerns raised by advocates. House Bill 4002 will require persistent action and commitment from state and local government to uphold the intent that the legislature put forward: to balance treatment for individuals struggling with addiction and accountability," Kotek's statement read. Kotek, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson last month declared a 90-day state of emergency for downtown Portland over the public health and public safety crisis fueled by fentanyl. CRISIS IN THE NORTHWEST: POLICE STRUGGLE AS FENTANYLS GRIP IN RURAL OREGON BECOMES NEXUS OF DAILY RESPONSES Fifty-four percent of Oregon voters believe Measure 110 increased homelessness in their communities. Portland private security guard Michael Bock told Fox News last month that fentanyl overdoses rose by 533% in Multnomah County, the state's most populous county, between 2018 and 2022. Dealers act with "absolute impunity," he said, and hand out drugs like they are a "7-Eleven." "With this bill, we are doubling down on our commitment to make sure Oregonians have access to the treatment and care that they need," said Democratic Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber of Portland, one of the bills authors, adding that its passage will "be the start of real and transformative change for our justice system." Fox News' Michael Dorgan contributed to this report. Original article source: Oregon governor to sign bill recriminalizing illicit drugs, ending liberal experiment Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) said she will sign a bill that will reverse an important portion of the Beaver States drug decriminalization law Thursday. I intend to sign House Bill 4002 and the related prevention and treatment investments within the next 30 days, Kotek said in a statement Thursday. Both the Oregon state Senate and House passed the bill last Friday, which lets law enforcement seize drugs if they are used in parks or on sidewalks. The small possession of drugs like heroin could also result in a misdemeanor and up to six months in prison. However, there is also an alternative to penalties by way of drug treatment. House Bill 4002 will require persistent action and commitment from state and local government to uphold the intent that the legislature put forward: to balance treatment for individuals struggling with addiction and accountability, Kotek continued in her statement. In 2021, Oregon became the first state to sign a drug decriminalization law. However, the state has recently faced a large rise in overdose deaths and had the second-highest rate of substance abuse disorder in the U.S., per a 2023 audit report. The decriminalization law has also resulted in criticism and pressure from the right due to the drug problems the state has been dealing with as of recent. The legislation has faced scrutiny from some lawmakers for not creating enough recovery opportunities for people. Sen. Law Frederick (D-Portland) said that it would employ failed methods from the past. Im concerned that it (the bill) will attempt to use the same tactics of the past, and fail, only to reinforce the punishment narrative that has failed for 50 years, Frederick said, according to AP. Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) said in a statement in the wake of the bills passage that he was proud to stand on the right side of history by casting my vote in favor of the legislation. In this historic vote to reimpose criminal penalties for drug possession, we are making it clear that Oregon is no longer a drug tourism state, Knopp said in his statement. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. This story was updated at 7:50 p.m. Thursday. It has been 28 years since Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, introduced Oregon stalking laws. On Thursday, he celebrated the overwhelming passage of a new bill modernizing stalking statutes in the House of Representatives. The bill was approved by the Senate later in the evening. Mannix began work on House Bill 4156 months ago, convening a work group to discuss updating stalking laws in Oregon after connecting with Amber Rosenberry. "The harrowing reality of being stalked in Oregon is that law enforcement cannot do much until an assault or homicide occurs," Rosenberry told lawmakers during a public hearing in February. "Victims usually know who is stalking them but cannot obtain a protection order until the source can be proven in a court of law. Modern technology requires a lengthy series of warrants and evidence gathering." Amber Rosenberry, Ms. Oregon, looks on as the Oregon House votes Thursday on House Bill 4156, which would modernize Oregon's stalking laws. Rosenberry, Ms. Oregon, said she would sleep at other people's houses and changed her job, routines, friends and car when she was stalked. She referred to herself as "lucky" to have an extensive support network, no children to protect and financial independence. "Can you imagine what the more vulnerable victims go through? The emotional and psychological toll is immeasurable and irreversible," Rosenberry said. "This update is the critical first step to bringing Oregon into the modern era." Rosenberry thanked Mannix and Matthew Smith with the St. Helens Police Department for their work on the bill. Smith, who went to high school with Rosenberry, told lawmakers current law has lagged in addressing the transformation of stalkers' behaviors. How does House Bill 4156 modernize Oregon's stalking laws? House Bill 4156 expands the definition of "contact" in Oregon's stalking statute to include obtaining, transferring, creating, uttering or converting a victim's identification to another person's own use. It also includes sharing an intimate image of another person without their consent, commonly known as "revenge porn," and using electronics to monitor or interfere with the location, communication or activities of another person without consent. Causing a third person to harass, humiliate or injure the other person by sharing the other persons name, image or personal information, known as "doxxing," also would be considered prohibited "contact." Felony-level stalking and felony violations of stalking protective orders would be expanded to include a person having a prior stalking or stalking protective order violation in another jurisdiction or if the accused has another case against another person active for stalking, intimidating, molesting or menacing. It also would be a felony if one instance of unwanted contact was a felony, unlawful sharing of an intimate image or unlawful use of GPS. "Unfortunately, it (1995's stalking law) was passed during the era of faxes and landlines and did not address the invention of modern technology," Mannix said on the House floor. "This bill today gives us an opportunity to modernize our law to better protect these victims from the nasty, corrupt, predatory actions of stalking." Other lawmakers who spoke in support of the bill on the floor included Rep. Susan McLain, D-Hillsboro, who said a family member was unable to get necessary support while being stalked. She echoed the need for modernization. There was no debate on the bill in the Senate, but Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, acknowledged concerns raised by the ACLU of Oregon. Prozanski said a note had been sent to the governor to allow for further consideration of the bill and to allow the Department of Justice further time to assess definitions closely. The bill that passed the House on a 54-2 vote and 25-3 in the Senate. Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon stalking laws would be modernized under House Bill 4156 EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Faculty across the New Mexico State University System is seeking union representation and was scheduled to deliver union authorization cards to the Public Employee Labor Relations Board in Albuquerque on Friday, March 8, according to a news release sent out by union organizers. Hundreds of faculty representing the three NMSU Community Colleges: Grants, Alamogordo and DACC campuses, along with each of the colleges on NMSUs Las Cruces campus, have signed cards to create their own local branch of the National Education Association, which has over 3 million members nationwide, according to the news release. This effort has been four years in the making, according to organizers. According to union organizers, under New Mexico law, once more than 50 percent of the employees in a defined representation unit have submitted union authorization cards, union recognition is automatic. While the upper administration at NMSU is often in flux, faculty in the NMSU system demonstrate their commitment to the mission of the university by working there for decades, said Jamie Bronstein, a member of the organizing committee who has taught history at NMSU since 1996. If we really want to build a robust university system, we must strengthen the collective voice of the faculty who support student success. Our working conditions are their learning conditions. Union organizers at NMSU say that as the upper administration has changed over regularly in recent years, drastic changes have been made to community college administrative and reporting structures without input from the faculty, staff or students from those campuses. Unionizing will help ensure that faculty at the community colleges have a voice in how we restructure with consideration for how each restructuring option may impact students, faculty, and staff at our various colleges, said Tanya Allred, an English professor at NMSU-Alamogordo since 2006. NMSU sent the following statement about the faculty unionization effort: NMSU recognizes the critical importance of our faculty and the roles they serve across our university system. We look forward to continuing discussions on how the university as a whole can advance our land-grant mission of providing education, research and outreach to our region. We are hopeful that all of those engaged will work together to achieve positive results for our students and propel us forward in the coming years. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. Indeed, Amaero International (ASX:3DA) stock is up 109% in the last year, providing strong gains for shareholders. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com? Given its strong share price performance, we think it's worthwhile for Amaero International shareholders to consider whether its cash burn is concerning. In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'. Check out our latest analysis for Amaero International How Long Is Amaero International's Cash Runway? A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. When Amaero International last reported its December 2023 balance sheet in February 2024, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$12m. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$11m. That means it had a cash runway of around 13 months as of December 2023. Importantly, the one analyst we see covering the stock thinks that Amaero International will reach cashflow breakeven in 3 years. Essentially, that means the company will either reduce its cash burn, or else require more cash. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below. How Is Amaero International's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Whilst it's great to see that Amaero International has already begun generating revenue from operations, last year it only produced AU$839k, so we don't think it is generating significant revenue, at this point. As a result, we think it's a bit early to focus on the revenue growth, so we'll limit ourselves to looking at how the cash burn is changing over time. With cash burn dropping by 10% it seems management feel the company is spending enough to advance its business plans at an appropriate pace. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years. Story continues Can Amaero International Raise More Cash Easily? Even though it has reduced its cash burn recently, shareholders should still consider how easy it would be for Amaero International to raise more cash in the future. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive 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. Amaero International's cash burn of AU$11m is about 6.3% of its AU$175m market capitalisation. 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. So, Should We Worry About Amaero International's Cash Burn? Amaero International appears to be in pretty good health when it comes to its cash burn situation. Not only was its cash burn reduction quite good, but its cash burn relative to its market cap was a real positive. Shareholders can take heart from the fact that at least one analyst is forecasting it will reach breakeven. Cash burning companies are always on the riskier side of things, but after considering all of the factors discussed in this short piece, we're not too worried about its rate of cash burn. Taking a deeper dive, we've spotted 4 warning signs for Amaero International you should be aware of, and 2 of them don't sit too well with us. Of course Amaero International may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Emma Stone won best actress for her performance in Poor Things The Oscars have been handed out at a ceremony in Los Angeles, honouring the best films of the past year. Here are the main winning films, and details of where UK audiences can watch them. Oppenheimer What's it about? J Robert Oppenheimer leads a team of scientists who design and develop the atomic bomb during World War II, but later struggles with his conscience over what he has created. Who's in it? Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr and Florence Pugh. What did it win? Best picture, actor (Murphy), supporting actor (Downey Jr), director (Christopher Nolan), score, cinematography and editing. Where can I see it? Available to buy or rent from digital platforms including YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. Read more: Cillian Murphy wins best actor as Oppenheimer sweeps Oscars Poor Things What's it about? A woman is kept alive when a mad scientist transports the brain of her unborn child into her head. The infant in a woman's body then goes on an adventure across the world. Who's in it? Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe and Ramy Youssef. What did it win? Best actress (Stone), hair and make-up, production design and costume design. Where can I see it? In cinemas, on Disney+, and available to buy from other digital platforms. Read more: Emma Stone: Sex scenes in Poor Things are 'honest' The Zone of Interest What's it about? An Auschwitz commander and his wife build an enjoyable family life, ignoring and dismissing the horrors taking place in the concentration camp across the road. Who's in it? Christian Friedel and Sandra Huller. What did it win? Best international feature and best sound. Where can I see it? In cinemas and available to rent or buy on digital platforms. Read more: How Oscars-nominated Auschwitz film borrows from Big Brother The Holdovers What's it about? A grumpy history teacher must stay at his boarding school to look after the pupils who aren't going home for the holidays - a group known as the holdovers. Who's in it? Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa and Da'Vine Joy Randolph. What did it win? Best supporting actress (Randolph). Where can I see it? In cinemas, and available to rent or buy from digital platforms. Read more: The Holdovers: Could it be a new Christmas classic? American Fiction What's it about? A black author becomes frustrated when publishers only want him to write about issues relating to his race. He jokingly writes a novel which plays up to black stereotypes, only to find it becomes a bestseller. Who's in it? Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae and Sterling K Brown. What did it win? Best adapted screenplay. Where can I see it? In cinemas and on Amazon Prime Video. Read more: White audiences 'too comfortable with black cliches' Anatomy of a Fall What's it about? A woman is accused of murdering her husband, after he is found dead in the snow outside their house. The only other person nearby when he fell to the ground from the top storey was her visually impaired son. Who's in it? Sandra Huller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner. What did it win? Best original screenplay. Where can I see it? Available to rent or buy on digital platforms. Barbie What's it about? The famous doll leaves her kingdom of toys and enters the real world with her partner Ken. They are confronted with the realities of human life, and when they return, Ken uses what he's learned to set about implementing a patriarchy. Who's in it? Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera and Will Ferrell. What did it win? Best original song for What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish. Where can I see it? Available to rent or buy on digital platforms. Read more: Barbie movie added 80m to UK economy, studio says The Boy and the Heron What's it about? The last film (probably) from master Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki centres on a young boy who meets a mysterious speaking heron after losing his mother during World War Two. Who's in it? The voices of Soma Santoki and Masaki Suda. What did it win? Best animated feature. Where can I see it? Was released in UK cinemas in December. Read more: Japan's Hayao Miyazaki wins second Best Animated Film award 20 Days in Mariupol What's it about? A harrowing but important account of life and death in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, filmed during the brutal Russian siege in 2022. What did it win? Best documentary feature. Where can I see it? On Channel 4 at 22:30 GMT on Monday, 11 March, on Channel 4 online, and available to rent or buy from other digital platforms. Godzilla Minus One What's it about? A gritty and gripping Japanese addition to the many films about he mutant monster, with special effects that were done on a relatively low budget compared with its Hollywood rivals. Who's in it? Ryunosuke Kamiki and Hidetaka Yoshioka. What did it win? Best visual effects. Where can I see it? Was released in UK cinemas in December. Messi, the four-legged star of the Oscar-nominated Anatomy of a Fall, will not be at Sundays Hollywood ceremony. The Border Collie, who appeared alongside Sandra Huller in Justine Triets crime thriller, made quite a splash at Februarys Oscar Nominees Luncheon when attendees, such as Ryan Gosling and Billie Eilish, lined up to cuddle him. Its crazy, I think hes much more famous here than in France, Triet, who is up for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at the 96th Academy Awards, said at the time. While Messi isnt technically an Oscar nominee, his presence still appeared to irk several movie companies that have titles in contention at the 2024 Oscars. According to a source who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter, multiple companies felt that Messi provided Anatomy of a Fall an unfair advantage during the open voting window. The Independent has contacted the Academy for comment. At the annual lunch, Messi was greeted by Barbie star America Ferrera, who knelt beside him and said: You did a fabulous job. ryan gosling's star struck meeting messi.pic.twitter.com/lPIGthVjz6 aidan (@AlDANS_) February 12, 2024 Meanwhile, a video of Ryan Gosling, who appeared to be overcome with emotion while chatting with Messi and his trainers, went viral on social media. The big moment was with Billie Eilish, who bonded with Messi for almost 10 minutes, Messis dog trainer Laura Martin told THR. They were hugging and petting and they really had a vibe. Then Bradley Cooper bumped into him in the hallway. The dog went right to him, so they also had a connection. Messi starred in the Best Picture nominee as Snoop, an emotional support dog for an 11-year-old boy called Daniel (played by Milo Machado Graner) who is blind. In the film, Daniel is caught in the middle of a legal battle and media spectacle as his mother, a German novelist played by Huller, is accused of murdering his father (Samuel Theis). Snoop acts as a source of support and guidance for Daniel as he deals with the fallout and grief. Anatomy of a Fall is up for five Oscars. It will compete in the Best Picture category against Oppenheimer, Barbie, Poor Things, American Fiction, The Holdovers, Maestro, Past Lives, Killers of the Flower Moon and The Zone of Interest. The Oscars will broadcast live on Sunday (10 March), beginning an hour earlier than usual at 4pm PT/7pm ET. All US viewers will be able to tune into the broadcast on ABC, while UK viewers can watch on ITV. WASHINGTON (AP/BOSTON 25) The Osprey, a workhorse aircraft vital to U.S. military missions, has been approved to return to flight after an unprecedented part failure led to the deaths of eight service members, including a Massachusetts native, in a crash in Japan in November, Naval Air Systems Command announced Friday. The crash was the second fatal accident in months and the fourth in two years. It quickly led to a rare fleet-wide grounding of hundreds of Ospreys across the Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy. Before clearing the Osprey, which can fly like an airplane and then convert to a helicopter, officials said they put increased attention on its proprotor gearbox, instituted new limitations on how it can be flown and added maintenance inspections and requirements that gave them confidence it could safely return to flight. The entire fleet was grounded Dec. 6, just a week after eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members were killed when their CV-22B Osprey crashed off Yakushima island. One of the U.S. Air Force members who was killed in the crash was identified as Staff Sgt. Jacob Jake M. Galliher, 24, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Galliher, a father of two, was a Direct Support Operator assigned to the 43rd Intelligence Squadron, Detachment 1, Operating Location Alpha, 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan, according to the U.S. Air Force. 43 IS Det 1 OL-A is a tenant unit in support of the 353rd Special Operations Wing. Galliher, a 2017 graduate of Taconic Vocational High School in Pittsfield, served his country proudly, Pittsfield Police said in a Facebook post. He enlisted in the Air Force in 2017. U.S. Air Force member Jacob Jake Galliher Jake was an amazing father, son, and brother dedicated to his family and friends and we look forward to telling his story when the time is right, his family said. Officials who briefed reporters Wednesday ahead of the flight restrictions lifting said that they quickly grounded the entire fleet in December because it became clear that the way the Osprey part failed in that crash was something they had not seen before on the tiltrotor aircraft. While the officials did not identify the specific component, because the Air Forces crash investigation is still not completed, they said they now have a better but not complete understanding of why it failed. This is the first time that weve seen this particular component fail in this way. And so this is unprecedented, said Marine Corps Col. Brian Taylor, V-22 joint program manager at Naval Air Systems Command, or NAVAIR, which is responsible for the V-22 program servicewide. However, the decision by the Department of Defense to return to flight before separate congressional investigations on the Osprey program are complete drew criticism from the chair of the House Oversight Committee. DoD is lifting the Osprey grounding order despite not providing the Oversight Committee and the American people answers about the safety of this aircraft, said Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican. Serious concerns remain, such as accountability measures put in place to prevent crashes, a general lack of transparency, how maintenance and operational upkeep is prioritized, and how DoD assesses risks. A former Osprey pilot familiar with the investigation confirmed that the component in question is part of the proprotor gearbox, a critical system that includes gearing and clutches that connect the Ospreys engine to the rotor to turn it. The services have done a deep dive into the proprotor gearbox, and the new safety measures will address the issues we saw from that catastrophic event, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, said Wednesday. I have confidence that we know enough now to return to fly, he said. The proprotor gearbox system as a whole is a recurring trouble spot for the Osprey. Service safety data obtained by The Associated Press show dozens of instances among the Marine Corps and Air Force Ospreys in which power surges, sudden loss of oil pressure due to leaks, engine fires or chipping when the metal components inside the gearbox shed sometimes dangerous metal chips have damaged the proprotor gearbox in flight, sometimes requiring emergency landings. Other components of the proprotor gearbox, including the sprag clutch and input quill assembly, have been factors in previous crashes, and the services have made changes, such as replacing those parts on a more frequent basis. The services are also looking closely at the material that the failed part is made of and how it is manufactured, Bauernfeind said. NAVAIR is also running further tests to give the services more insight into why the component failed. FILE - U.S. MV-22B Osprey transport aircraft are parked at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, south of Okinawa, southern Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. Air Force Special Operations Command said Tuesday it knows what failed on its CV-22B Osprey leading to a November crash in Japan that killed eight service members. But it still does not know why the failure happened. Because of the crash almost the entire Osprey fleet, hundreds of aircraft across the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, has been grounded since Dec. 6. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, File) It was a single component that failed in such a way that led to catastrophic consequences, Bauernfeind said. After that testing is complete, he said, some of the operational safety controls now placed on the Osprey may be lessened to give us greater flexibility with the platform. The investigation, known as an accident investigation board, will be made public and is expected to be completed within the next two months. The proprotor gearbox failure was first reported by NBC News. The government of Japan has also been briefed on the findings and the militarys plan to address the issue, the officials said. Japan also grounded its fleet of 14 Ospreys after the crash. Crews have not flown now for more than 90 days a factor that will make their return to flight more dangerous. The services said Wednesday they are taking a cautious approach that could last from 30 days to several months to retrain their crews before their Osprey squadrons are back to normal flight operations. The Osprey has been in development for four decades but only became operational in 2007. The U.S. military has flown the Osprey about 750,000 hours and relied on its ability to fly long distances quickly like a plane and then convert to a helicopter to conduct operations in the Middle East and Africa, where some Marine Corps squadrons received an exemption to the flight ban because it was so critical to the mission. In future needs to counter China, the military has planned on using the Osprey in the Indo-Pacific to operate throughout islands that lack the airfields necessary for traditional aircraft. But it has also been a controversial, first-generation design of military tiltrotor technology that has recorded more than 14 major accidents that have killed 59 people and in some instances led to the loss of the aircraft, which costs between $70 million and $90 million depending on the variant. None of the services is planning on new production orders of the V-22, which is produced by a joint venture between Bell Flight and Boeing. The Army has contracted with Bell Flight to buy the Ospreys successor, the Bell V-280 Valor, which is a tiltrotor like the Osprey but smaller and with an important design change the engines stay in a fixed, horizontal position. On the Osprey, the rotors and entire nacelle that houses the engine and proprotor gearbox tilt to a vertical position when it flies in helicopter mode. The Marine Corps operates the vast majority of the Ospreys, with more than 240 currently assigned to its 17 squadrons. Its aviation mission is dependent on the aircraft returning to flight, and the Marine Corps is committed to the Osprey remaining in its fleet through the 2050s, said Marine Corps assistant deputy commandant for aviation Brig. Gen. Richard Joyce. There is no taking our eye off of V-22 and the years of service life that it has in front of us, Joyce said. The Air Force, which has the second most Ospreys in the fleet, with about 50 assigned to its special operations mission, however, suggested on Wednesday it may start to consider other options. The early concepts for the Osprey date back to the 1980s, when the Iran hostage crisis exposed a need to have an airframe that could move fast and hover or land like a helicopter, Bauernfeind said. And its met that need quite well, but it is still an older platform, he said. I do think that its time for us to start talking about what is that next generation of capability that can replace what the V-22 does. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A glaring omission from the Budget was any increase in defence spending. Despite a major war in Europe and UK promises to defend Ukraine whatever it takes, the Chancellor had just a passing reference to the conflict and its consequences. Spending on defence would stay at 2 per cent of GDP and rise to 2.5 per cent when economic conditions allowed. Judging by the forecasts for growth and debt, that will not be any time soon. Jeremy Hunt also said our Armed Forces remain the best funded in Europe among major countries, but that will shortly no longer be true. By next year, Germanys defence spending will outpace the UKs for the first time since 1981, according to projections from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The funding for defence, not just here but in France and elsewhere on the Continent, does not match the urgency of the political warnings about the threat posed by Russia. Either those warnings are being exaggerated or we are underprepared. Conservative MPs pressing for greater commitment to defence were frustrated that the Budget did not address this. Mark Francois, a member of the House of Commons defence committee, said: The Defence Secretary recently warned that we are moving from a post-war to a pre-war world, but nobody seems to have told HM Treasury. Germany, with a much bigger economy, has for decades failed to step up to the mark on defence spending but has had to change tack following the invasion of Ukraine. The prospect of another Donald Trump presidency has prompted uncertainty over Americas future commitment to Nato. The end of the Cold War after 1990 saw a sharp decline in defence spending as governments sought to divert the so-called peace dividend to domestic programmes that they are now unwilling to unravel for fear of losing votes. But governing is about choices and we are making the wrong ones. 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 demonstrator holds up an Haitian flag during protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 1, 2024. If President Biden wont commit U.S. troops to rein in the gangster violence destroying Haiti, maybe Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis should step up and send in his military especially since the Gunshine State is the chief source of the firearms terrorizing Haitians. Its great to see DeSantis has found his martial mojo again after the Trump-spanking he took in the Republican presidential primary. Floridians are all behind his order this week to send 140 state troopers around the peninsula to interdict criminal spring breakers. But, frankly, chasing down inebriated Delta House brothers from Wisconsin seems like small fry. DeSantis, after all, has created an expensive civilian military force, the Florida State Guard, to confront what he calls the national security threats resulting from Biden policy failures like immigration. Its why he recently deployed his Florida guard to Texas to help stop the invasion at the southern border. More from Tim Padgett: Haiti military-style guns trafficking case has ties to South Florida Now DeSantis could turn his militias sights to a nobler mission: Haiti, which this week is staring into the failed-state abyss after the gangs that control much of its territory staged a bloody offensive that shut down the country and left it teetering on the brink of criminal governance. First, it gives DeSantis the opportunity to politically grandstand another Biden failure, since critics say Haitis meltdown is one of the administrations biggest foreign policy shambles. Second, it offers Florida a chance to atone for its role as an unscrupulous gun show vendor arming the gangs that have kidnapped, hijacked and murdered their way to power in Haiti. Hoodlums whose chokehold is so terrifying they may now force interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign. As of Wednesday night, Henry still couldnt return to the country because the military rifle-toting terrorists had shut down the airports. More from Tim Padgett: Padgett: Will Biden's release of accused Venezuelan corruption king backfire? | Opinion Report after report by groups like the U.N.s Office on Drugs and Crime cites Florida as the gangs go-to gun-trafficking source. The states notoriously lax gun laws make it a candy store for smugglers shipping high-power weapons to Haiti, like the 17 semi-automatic rifles ferried to the monstrous 400 Mawozo group in a bizarre case I reported on last year. So if, at this point, somebodys got to storm the beaches to dislodge gang rule in Haiti, shouldnt it be Floridas Marines? Doesnt the Gunshine State bear responsibility for putting out the firearms conflagration it helped fuel in an impoverished country that doesnt even manufacture guns? And think of the political payoff for 2028, Governor. Instead of bullying desperate Latin American migrants, which didnt get you all that far in this years presidential bid, this time you could reap credit for bringing down actual villains. Like Haitis gang coalition leader, former cop Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier. Or better yet, former police commander and ex-convict Guy Philippe, who just might fill the countrys power vacuum if Henry bows out. I met Philippe 20 years ago, when he and a thug army led a putsch against then Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, himself an unhinged despot-in-the-making. I sat on a hotel balcony with Philippe in Haitis coastal city of Cap Haitien as he prepared to descend on Port-au-Prince and I listened to him ludicrously insist for hours that he was a French Enlightenment-inspired democrat instead of a Colombian cartel-employed coup-monger. Philippe was unmistakably the latter, which is why he later spent six years in U.S. prison for drug-trafficking. But after his release last fall, he returned to Haiti and quickly huckstered himself into leading a political opposition movement. Hes now vying to be the gang-supported transitional head of state as Henrys hollow caretaker government collapses. Why mess around with undocumented immigrants and high schoolers flashing fake IDs, Gov. DeSantis, when you and your military could score glory for the Free State of Florida by going Navy Seals on a creep like Philippe? Im of course not seriously suggesting a Florida State Guard invasion of Haiti. And I of course know that even if that operation were feasible, it would never happen because Florida, like the rest of America, really doesn't care about Haiti. Just as it really doesn't care about all those Florida guns in Haiti. Tim Padgett is the Americas Editor for WLRN, covering Latin America, the Caribbean and their key relationship with South Florida. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Governor DeSantis needs to act against weapons flowing to Haiti A convicted paedophile tricked undertakers into organising a fake funeral in one of Londons most venerated churches using young actors as mourners. Jacky Jhaj, 38, is believed to have paid more than 10,000 to a funeral director for the service at the Brompton Oratory in South Kensington on Monday. No expense was spared with a horse-drawn carriage, two luxury cars and a full choir. However, when Father Rupert McHardy, 49, arrived in his robes to conduct the ceremony, he realised something was awry. The dozen or so guests who arrived for the ceremony had turned up late, with many wearing black puffer jackets and face masks. Father McHardy had been told the funeral was being held for Lauris Zaube, a 23-year-old Latvian man who went missing after a New Years Eve party near an iced-over dam west of Riga. Jhaj is said to have posed as the missing mans brother, wearing dark glasses and giving his name as Clyde, while refusing to respond to Father McHardys requests for more information. Lauris Zaube, a Latvian man who went missing after a New Year's Eve party near Riga, whose funeral was supposedly being held Father McHardy cancelled the funeral after the mourners revealed that they were actors and began complaining they had not been paid. Footage of the service shows a crowd of actors wearing black bomber jackets inside the church, with cameras on tripods set up behind the pews. Father McHardy told The Telegraph that many of those hired appeared young and suspected they may have been sent from an acting school. He said: I arrived in my full robes and nothing struck me as strange until the guests arrived 15 minutes late. People are usually early or on time for funerals. The funeral directors then told me there was no body. There was a lot of confusion at the time about what was really going on. The service was due to take place at the Brompton Oratory in South Kensington on Monday - Eric James/Alamy When presented with a police mugshot of Jhaj, who was jailed for four years in 2016 for a string of sexual offences with 15-year-olds, Father McHardy confirmed it was the same man at the service. Police in Latvia said that they are still actively investigating the disappearance of Mr Zaube and no death certificate has been issued. T Cribb and Sons, a family-run funeral directors in east London, said that they had received 10,000 via bank transfer five days beforehand to arrange the funeral. The firm were told it would be a cremation burial and that the deceaseds family would bring an urn with the ashes to the church that would then be buried in the coffin. John Harris, a partner at the company, said that all correspondence had been via email or phone, and that they had been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement [NDA]. He said that the company suspected the Russian cremation certificate they received was a fake. Latvian police said that they are still actively investigating the disappearance of Mr Zaube Mr Harris said: I didnt sign [the NDA] and told him I had been in the business for a long time. We had a bit of a stand-off about that. It was only when we turned up on the day that we realised something was off. There was no one at our meeting point and normally people arrive early. Then the actors and professional mourners turned up and we started to wonder just what was happening. I spoke to the priest and he said he was feeling uneasy and I said I was feeling the same way. We met outside the church and we decided the funeral shouldnt go ahead. He said that the police were called to the church and had passed the organisers details to Scotland Yard. Rubin Italia, a solicitor at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors, said that the organiser could be charged with forgery for handing over a fake death certificate Any funeral directors would need a death certificate to arrange a funeral with the church. The offence could be using a false instrument, he said. The Metropolitan Police and Jhaj have been 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. A court in Pakistan has sentenced a 22-year-old student to death on charges of blasphemy over Whatsapp messages. The court in Punjab Province said he had shared blasphemous pictures and videos with the intention to outrage the religious feelings of Muslims. A 17-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment as part of the same case. Both have denied wrongdoing. Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. Some people have been lynched even before their cases go on trial. The complaint was filed in 2022 by the cybercrime unit of Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Lahore, the capital of Punjab. The case was referred to a local court in the city of Gujranwala. In the ruling this week, the judges said the 22-year-old was sentenced to death for preparing photos and videos which contained derogatory words about Prophet Muhammad and his wives. The younger defendant was given a life sentence for sharing the material. The plaintiff had alleged he had received the videos and photos from three different mobile phone numbers. The FIA said that it had examined the plaintiff's phone and established that "obscene material" had been sent to him. In August dozens of homes and churches were torched in eastern Pakistan after two Christians were accused of damaging the Quran Defence lawyers argued that the two students had been "trapped in a false case". The father of the death-row convict, whose identity has not been disclosed, told the BBC that he was filing an appeal in the Lahore High Court. The other student was sentenced to life imprisonment instead of the death penalty because he is a minor, the court said. Laws against blasphemy were first codified by India's British rulers and expanded in the 1980s under Pakistan's military government. Last August, scores of churches and homes were burnt in the eastern city of Jaranwala after two Christian men were accused of damaging the Quran. Intimaa Salama was walking through the halls of Congress when she learned that another friend at home in Gaza had been killed. It was a stark reminder why she had flown from St. Louis to attend President Joe Bidens State of the Union address as the guest of Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.). I feel like I need to do this. I need to be here, Salama told HuffPost. Im doing it for my family and for my people, who need an immediate and permanent cease-fire. Thirty-five of Salamas family members have been killed in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, including her grandmother, two of her brothers and their families, and three of her uncles and their families. The war has so far killed an estimated 30,000 Palestinians since Israeli forces began their assault on Gaza in retaliation for the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks that left 1,200 Israelis dead and about 250 taken hostage. Biden is expected to announce in his address Thursday night that the U.S. military will establish a temporary port on the Mediterranean at Gaza to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to the area, including water, food and medicine, senior administration officials told reporters. The plan comes a week after the announcement of a temporary cease-fire to facilitate an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Meanwhile, a humanitarian crisis has reached apocalyptic conditions, according to Refugees International, with reports of babies and children dying of starvation. Bush welcomed the news of the port but said the White House needed to do more, including backing a permanent cease-fire, calling for the release of Palestinians detained in Israeli jails and reinstating the funding to the United Nations relief agency that provides aid for Palestinians in and around the region. You dont get to put water and fuel on a fire and then call yourself a firefighter, Bush told HuffPost. We dont want this military spending as war crimes are happening right now on the ground in Gaza. Salama, a dentist pursuing her masters St. Louis University who was born and raised in Gaza, said the White House had blood on its hands for its role in the war. They cant undo this, but they have the power and responsibility to save lives, she said. Salama said it had been painful watching her family live amid bombardments as their home city has been flattened. The school she once attended was destroyed by airstrikes. The situation in Gaza will only get worse if Biden doesnt immediately change course, Salma said, and she hopes her presence at his annual address sends that message. We deserve to live a life, Salma said. We deserve to have our dignity. We deserve to be treated as humans. Related... In 2023, a record 520,000 people crossed through the Darien, 120,000 of them children (Luis ACOSTA) Doctors Without Borders said Thursday the Panamanian government has halted its humanitarian activities in the notorious Darien Gap after it criticized a sharp rise in sexual violence against migrants who pass through there. Last week, the NGO that goes by its French initials MSF, reported an "extreme" level of brutality against migrants who undertake the dangerous trek through the jungle between Colombia and Panama on their way to the United States. And it urged the Panamanian authorities to redouble efforts to protect the most vulnerable people "on their territory." On Thursday, MSF said it was "forced to suspend all medical activity for the migrant population in the Darien by order of the Panamanian authorities." It said the government cited the lack of a valid "collaboration agreement" with the health ministry to operate in Panama. The NGO said it had been trying in vain to renew the agreement since October 2023. AFP has reached out to the government for comment. In just one week in February, the NGO said last week, it had treated 113 people, including nine children, who had been sexually assaulted by criminal groups operating in the lawless Darien Gap. For the whole of January, the number was 120. "The level of brutality is extreme," Luis Eguiluz, the group's head of mission in Panama and Colombia, said in a statement, and expressed outrage at the "impunity" with which criminal groups operate. MSF has volunteers stationed to help migrants as they emerge from the jungle. It says it provides medical and psychological care to about 5,000 people a month, with a focus on survivors of sexual violence. Despite its dangers, the 165-mile (265-kilometer) Darien Gap has become a key corridor for migrants heading from South America through Central America and Mexico in hopes of reaching the United States and a chance at a better life there. They face treacherous terrain, wild animals and violent criminal gangs that extort, kidnap and abuse them. In 2023, a record 520,000 people crossed through the Darien, 120,000 of them children. In 2022, 62 people died on the trek, and a provisional count for 2023 stands at 34. Keeping count is difficult as many deaths are never reported, and jungle animals sometimes devour the bodies of those who perish along the way. In the first two months of this year, 72,000 people are known to have crossed the Darien: mainly Venezuelans but also Haitians, Ecuadorans, Colombians and Chinese, according to official data. Panamanian authorities, with international support, have installed care centers in populated areas of the Darien to provide basic services to migrants. MSF said Thursday it was "extremely concerned about the consequences of the suspension on the migrant population." The International Organization for Migration and the Red Cross have also denounced an increase in violence against migrants in the Darien. jjr/fj/mlr/mdl Hong Kong Monetary Authority Launches New CBDC Project To Support Tokenization The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has announced Project Ensemble, a new initiative to create a wholesale central bank digital currency (wCBDC) specifically designed to support the burgeoning field of asset tokenization. This project could eventually culminate in the issuance of a full-fledged "live" CBDC, according to the HKMA. Project Ensemble will focus on developing innovative financial market infrastructure (FMI) to streamline interbank settlements using wCBDC. Initially, the project will explore tokenized deposits, essentially digital representations of commercial bank money, for transactions involving tokenized real-world assets. These assets could encompass a wide range, including green bonds, carbon credits, and even physical assets like aircraft and electric vehicle charging stations. Hong Kong has always championed innovation and international collaboration. Project Ensemble will provide fresh impetus to our vibrant financial industry and reinforce our forefront position in tokenized money and assets," stated the HKMA's chief executive, extending an invitation for international collaboration. To facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing, the HKMA will establish a wCBDC Architecture Community. This group will comprise local and international banks, key industry players, and the HKMA's CBDC Expert Group. The Expert Group, formed in October 2023, brings together academics from various disciplines across Hong Kong's universities. Additionally, the HKMA is seeking participation from other central banks and international organizations. Sixteen and 17-year-olds in Florida could work more than 30 hours per week with parental approval. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Quality Journalism for Critical Times The Florida Legislature passed a bill Friday allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to work more than 30 hours per week with their parents approval. The measure lawmakers approved on the last day of this years session is a scaled-back version of the proposal that had garnered criticism from worker advocacy groups. The bill, HB 49, passed on a 76-33 vote in the House and a 27-11 vote in the Senate. Gov. Ron DeSantis will consider the bill next. If it becomes law, Florida minors older than 16 would be able to work more than 30 hours per week if a parent, guardian or school superintendent fills out a waiver. Teens of those same ages could work more than eight hours on weekends and holidays. Homeschoolers and students attending virtual schools, who are 16 and 17 years old, would be able to work any hours without limitations. Broward County Democratic Rep. Robin Bartleman said the bill had good guardrails but raised concerns about the exception for homeschoolers and virtual school students. My fear is that youre going to now put a child in a situation where their parent or guardian can exploit them to work as much as an adult, she said. While the final version of the bill establishes a 30-minute break requirement every four hours for teens working more than eight hours per day, employers could still schedule 16- and 17-year-olds to work for more than six consecutive days. Originally, the House GOP proposal would have allowed minors older than 16 to work the same hours as adults with no required breaks. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said the bill was too broad before the chambers settled on the final bill. What you look at when youre talking about children being able work. I think the original thought was there are some 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds that want to be able to work longer than just the few after-school hours, and I support that, she told reporters on Thursday. They get parents permission, thats really critical. Its something they want to do. Id like to see them not working at fast food restaurants, Id like to see them working in places that give them skills and knowledge and would give them a basis for what they may want to do in the future. House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell connected the effort to roll back child labor laws to a shortage of workers. Ive been very disappointed and disturbed to see the Republicans trying to solve the labor shortage by relaxing child labor laws. And oftentimes they try to talk about this in terms of apprenticeship programs, but I think theres a better way to solve the labor shortage and that is to pay people what they are worth and make sure that they can afford health care. Groups such as the Florida Policy Institute have contended that the bill is not as harmful as the proposal discussed during committee meetings. Weve been a staunch opponent of HB 49 since the bill was first introduced last fall. While we do not support any rollback of long-held child labor protections, the bill passed last night rightly preserves the existing work curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds in state law, maintains breaks for longer shifts, and does not completely remove current daily and weekly work limits, the groups CEO Sadaf Knight wrote in a statement. Florida Policy Institute, our partners in the child well-being and labor spaces, educators, and parents had worked hard to build awareness around and advocate against the legislations most concerning provisions. Thanks to that sustained upswell of opposition, the final bill in terms of child labor provisions does not pose the same degree of risk to Floridas youth as the original version. The post Parents could let teens older than 16 work 30+ hours per week, if Gov. DeSantis signs this bill appeared first on Florida Phoenix. Mobilization 2024 is it possible to be registered again after exclusion by the decision of the Military Medical Commission and do such men have to go to the TRC General mobilization and martial law have been in effect in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022, allowing any man between the ages of 18 and 60 to be called up for military service. However, there are questions about the registration and drafting of people who have been exempted from the military registry. At the end of August, Ukraine amended the list of diseases approved by the Defense Ministrys Order No. 402, reducing the number of conditions that deem someone unfit for military service. Read also: Ukraines Verkhovna Rada passes Zelenskyys demobilization bill The Verkhovna Rada (Ukraines Parliament) is currently reviewing conscription bill No. 10449, which contains provisions that may violate the Constitution of Ukraine. More than 4000 amendments have been submitted and are being considered. The second reading is expected to take place by the end of March. Current laws and regulations on military registration and mobilization are in effect. All men between the ages of 18 and 60 are considered liable for military service and must be registered for military service, unless the law exempts them from registration. Anyone liable for military service may be served with a draft notice and is required to register. Who is exempt from military registration? Exemption from military registration means that a person is no longer considered a conscript, serviceman or reservist. Exempt individuals are no longer required to fulfill military registration obligations. Read also: Defense Committee rejects some controversial mobilization bill provisions The following individuals are exempt from military registration: Previously sentenced to imprisonment for a serious or particularly serious crime Unfit for military service for health reasons under martial law and are excluded from the military registry Those who have reached the maximum age limit for reserve duty Drafted or accepted for military service Those undergoing military service (education) in higher military educational institutions and military departments of higher educational institutions Deceased servicemen or conscripts Those who have renounced Ukrainian citizenship and left Ukraine. Can exempted persons receive draft notices and be re-registered? According to lawyer Maryna Tokmach, if a person is declared unfit for military service and exempted from military registration, he/she is no longer liable for military service and is not subject to the rules of military registration, including the responsibility to refuse conscription, undergo military registration, update his/her data, and report to a territorial recruitment center. Read also: Draft dodgers may lose drivers licenses under new mobilization bill The person has no obligations as a conscript, so he cannot be held accountable for refusing to undergo a medical examination or for refusing a draft notice. Moreover, the issuance of such draft notices would be illegal, she said. Exempted individuals cannot be reinstated for military registration because, according to Part 1, Article 37 of the Law of Ukraine On Military Duty and Military Service, individuals can be registered for military service only if they are REMOVED by an order of the Defense Ministry, not EXCLUDED according to Part 3, Article 37 of the Law. The current legislation does not provide for the reinstatement of persons exempted from military registration. Laws and other regulatory acts do not have retroactive effect, and state authorities, their officials and local self-government bodies shall act only on the basis of the Constitution and laws of Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Sean Craig says the latest government changes to paternity leave are "pointless" New paternity-leave rules come into effect on Friday, for fathers in England, Wales and Scotland. But campaigners say they do not go far enough and are calling on the government to give all new fathers more time off at better pay. Short presentational grey line When Sean Craig was preparing for the arrival of his baby girl, he had hoped to use two weeks' paternity leave to spend time with his daughter. But he and his partner, Bethany Lee, realised they would not be able to afford the "massive" drop in his wages. Statutory paternity leave, which is government-funded, allows most new fathers in the UK to take up to two weeks off work. It applies to all partners, regardless of gender, after the birth, surrogacy or adoption of a baby. Those eligible receive 172.48 a week or 90% of their average earnings, whichever is lower. For most fathers this is 172.48 a week, which is less than half of Sean's weekly salary. "That's not even two shifts a week," says Sean, who works night shifts in a casino. "I wouldn't have been able to afford my rent." Sean chose to take two weeks of annual leave instead - almost half of which was spent looking after baby Isla, who had jaundice, in hospital. A survey from parenting charity Pregnant Then Screwed (PTS), in 2024, found of more than 500 new fathers and secondary parents who did not take their full paternity or parental leave allowance, 70% said they could not afford to. In a similar survey, in 2023, 43% said they could not use their full parental-leave entitlement because of financial concerns. Fathers are ineligible for statutory paternity leave if they are self-employed, earn less than 123 a week or have not been continuously employed by the same company for at least 26 weeks. The changes to the law will apply to babies born after 6 April: The 172.48 weekly maximum is rising to 185.03 Fathers can take two weeks' leave in separate one-week chunks They can take their leave at any point within the baby's first year Employers only need four weeks' notice, instead of 15. But Sean says the changes are "pointless" for fathers like him. "I couldn't take it then - and even now, I still couldn't take it," he says. The Fatherhood Institute says the changes "fail to address the reality of hard-working families' financial challenges". And PTS founder Joeli Brearly, calls them "a missed opportunity". PTS wants all fathers, including those self-employed, paid 90% of their salary for six weeks, however long they have had their job. 'Greater flexibility' Research by PTS, the Centre for Progressive Policy and Women in Data suggests countries with more than six weeks' paid paternity leave have a 4% smaller gender pay gap. "Paternity leave is really good for gender equality, it's really good for the economy and it's really good for the whole family," Ms Brearly says. And the "impetus" to fix the problem lies with the government. The government says its changes "provide greater flexibility" for families. Fathers can also take advantage of shared parental leave, which lets parents split 37 weeks' paid leave between them. But most other European countries have more generous statutory policies. Chart showing how many weeks paid paternity leave fathers are entitled to in 10 European countries - full pay Spain 16 weeks, Norway 15, Italy, Poland and Germany all 2 weeks; reduced pay Sweden 13 weeks, Netherlands 6, France 5, Switzerland and the UK both 2 Some companies offer enhanced paternity leave, however, giving fathers more time off work or topped-up pay. Tom Mills was given 13 weeks off work at full pay by his employer, Monzo, when his daughter, Heidi, was born. "It's given me the chance to be a better dad," says Tom, who lives near Swindon. "I certainly feel much more confident having had that solid space of time to bond together." Monzo also allows employees to split their leave into chunks, so Tom took six weeks when Heidi was born, last year, and is spending the remaining seven with family in Australia. Michele and Tom Mills have taken their nine-month-old daughter, Heidi, to visit her grandparents in Australia But for small companies such as Production Park, which employs about 30 people, at its base, in West Yorkshire, extending statutory paternity leave to six weeks would be a "shock", owner Jim Farmery says. It tops up paternity pay to full salary for two weeks - but any longer "would be difficult to manage". "If you're a huge bank or a huge retailer, you could absorb this," Jim says. "You can't do that in a little company." But Tom's wife, Michele, says his enhanced leave was "a gamechanger" and she would back a change in statutory rules "with everything I've got". "If statutory paternity leave can be increased to six weeks and at a good, healthy pay rate, women will feel so much more supported in those early days," she says. A Nampa man could spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl in what the prosecution called a path of destruction. Third District Judge Randall Grove sentenced 37-year-old Nicholas Vallard to at least 25 years in prison Thursday, according to a news release from the Canyon County Prosecutors Office. Vallard will become eligible for parole in 2047, but he could spend the rest of his life in prison depending on what the parole board decides. You seem unable or unwilling to control these desires, Grove said in court. So Im going to protect the community from you. Vallard was convicted of two counts of lewd conduct with a minor and one count of sexual abuse of a minor after a three-day trial in July 2023, according to court records. Hes been in custody at the Canyon County Jail since his arrest, so hell be given credit for 736 days served. Grove also issued a no-contact order preventing Vallard from contacting any minor children for the next 50 years, the release said. Hell have to pay $263 to the Idaho Crime Victims Compensation Fund and a $5,000 civil penalty that will go to the victim, according to the release. Authorities said Vallard trapped the 9-year-old girl in a tent, masturbated in front of her, forced her to perform oral sex on him and touched her genitals. He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of felony injury to children in 2011, the release said. Grove questioned during sentencing whether Vallard could be rehabilitated in light of the staggering contempt Vallard exhibited toward the court, the release said. Grove said Vallard presented a significant threat to this community. A vaccine manufactured in North Carolina and the only one given to protect against human papillomavirus in the U.S. is facing hundreds of lawsuits filed in Charlotte. The FDA has long approved Merck & Co.s Gardasil vaccine, which has prevented cancer and protected individuals against HPV the most common sexually transmitted infection among women since 2006. But a series of at least 185 lawsuits 20 of which involve minors filed in Charlotte since 2022 question the CDC and allege the shots could come at a cost: autoimmune disorders, premature ovarian failure and the same cancer they claim to ward off. Nothing is more important to Merck than the safety of our products and the patients who take them, Julie Cunningham, a Merck spokesperson, wrote in an email to The Charlotte Observer. ...We will vigorously defend against these cases. Since 2016, Gardasil 9 has been the only HPV vaccine distributed to preteens and young adults in the country. It prevents diseases related to nine of the most common types of HPV, according to Merck. Its original version protected against four strands of the genital infection and was made available to those between the ages of 9 and 26. The CDC and FDA say the vaccinations are safe, and more than 15 years of research and monitoring back up that claim. Since HPV vaccination was first recommended in 2006, infections with HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 88% among teen girls and 81% among young adult women, according to the CDC website. Gardasil was studied in clinical trials with more than 29,000 females and males, and Gardasil 9 was studied in clinical trials with more than 15,000 females and males, according to the CDC. More than 135 million doses have been distributed since 2006, and data continues to show the vaccines are safe and effective. But in court documents filed in Charlottes U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, lawyers claim too much research was overlooked or never completed. Gardasils approval While Gardasil awaited the CDCs regulatory process, then director Julie Gerberding, obligingly ushered it through following the drugs 2006 approval from the FDA, the complaints allege. In 2010, they say, she was rewarded and named president of Merck Vaccines. She retired in 2022. According to the CDC, clinical trials can take years, but an application to the FDA is either approved or denied within six months. A review from the CDC follows shortly after. According to a 2000 U.S. House of Representatives investigation report, the majority of the CDCs eight Committee on Immunization Practices members had conflicts of interest, the lawsuit says. The chairman served on Mercks Immunization Advisory Board and a number of the other members had received grants, salaries, or other forms of remuneration from Merck. Lawyers say the quickness of Gardasils approval ultimately landed 185 plaintiffs in hospitals and, now, in court. They allege their medical issues ranging from autoimmune disorders to cancer arose after they were vaccinated. The CDC refutes that the vaccines cause cancer, and no studies have found any association between the HPV vaccination and autoimmune conditions. The vaccine is made from one protein from the virus and is not infectious, meaning it cannot cause HPV infection or cancer, the agency stated in a 2021 fact sheet on the inoculation. It acknowledges minor side effects caused by the vaccine, like fainting, nausea and headache, and maintains that the vaccine does not cause fertility problems. CDC is aware of public concern about the safety of HPV vaccine, it says on its website, but ...there is no current evidence that HPV vaccines cause reproductive problems in women. Between 2014 and 2017 the CDC received three reports of premature menopause following Gardasil 9 vaccinations. Each was determined to be a hearsay report based on secondhand information, meaning there was not enough information to confirm a diagnosis of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The same happened between 2009 and 2015, when the CDC received 17 reports of early menopause. Only two were based on a physicians diagnosis, but neither could be tied to the vaccine, the CDC says. Premature menopause is defined by the Mayo Clinic as reaching menopause before the age of 40. It affects about 1% of women. Mercks Gardasil lawsuit While the complaints against Merck were filed in North Carolina, the alleged issues are widespread. Many plaintiffs have never lived in the state, and the pharmaceutical companys U.S. headquarters are in Rahway, New Jersey. The company operates a 262-acre facility in north Durham, so Charlottes court is fair game, the complaints say. In late February, a judge ruled the 185 cases filed since 2022 be consolidated under one case. In the most recent lawsuit, filed Tuesday, plaintiff Shanie Roman of Illinois claims she began experiencing uncharacteristic, excruciating pain before and during her period only after she was vaccinated. Shes since had her reproductive organs removed after being diagnosed with endometriosis, according to the complaint. Shes also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or long-lasting, pervasive pain throughout the body and ovarian remnant syndrome. which causes pelvic pain. She got her first dose of the Gardasil vaccine at 25 and a second dose at 26. Her current age is not listed in the complaint. In late February, the New Jersey parents of a minor identified as E.H. filed their complaint against Merck. Before receiving her second dose of Gardasil in 2020, their 13-year-old daughter was self-possessed and fearless despite the pandemic, they say. After the dose, they allege, her moods shifted erratically, and she was soon diagnosed with phase 3 Type 1 diabetes. The second Gardasil vaccination provoked an intense & potent auto-immune response that stimulated E.H.s immune system to wage war against the insulin producing B cells in her pancreas, the parents allege. The rest of the cases are filled with similar stories of serious autoimmune, autonomic, and neurological dysfunctions developed only after Gardasil vaccinations. In every instance, they ask the pharmaceutical company to award compensation related to plaintiffs economic and non-economic damages, including medical and psychological expenses. It also asked the court for preliminary injunction relief against Merck, which would prevent it from continuing its business. Plaintiffs say Merck failed to exercise ordinary care in research, development, marketing and distribution of Gardasil when it used a toxic placebo and failed to sufficiently test the targeted patient population (pre-teens between the ages of 9 and 12). According to the CDC, large studies have concluded that HPV vaccines do not cause autoimmune disorders, including GuillainBarre syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. Gardasil and misinformation Last year, a Facebook post circulated misinformation alleging Merck was already on trial for a cancer-causing HPV vaccine and saying the drug had been banned in other countries. The post was not true. Gardasil has not been banned anywhere and federal health officials say the vaccine cannot cause cancer, spokespersons for Merck and a law firm representing various plaintiffs previously told the Associated Press. More than 20 years of research and development supports both the safety and efficacy profile of Mercks HPV vaccines, spokesperson Bob Josephson wrote in an email to the AP. We will vigorously defend against these cases, the company reiterates. Merck sues the US government In 2023, Merck sued the U.S. government, trying to halt drug price negotiations under Medicare. With Americans paying more for prescription medicines than any other country, President Joe Bidens reform looked to save $25 billion through negotiations for drugs paid for by Medicare. Mercks lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues Bidens plan violates part of the Fifth Amendment which requires the government to pay just compensation for private property taken for public use. A 50-year-old man was struck and killed while walking on Highway 33 near McCracken Road on Thursday morning, the California Highway Patrol reported. Byron Gonzalez was killed at about 5 a.m. Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and found a pickup with damage and Gonzalez lying in the southbound lane. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Gonzalezs place of residence was not verified. CHPs initial findings show that a Nissan pickup driven by a Stockton resident struck Gonzalez as it was traveling south on Highway 33. Drugs or alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the collision. The investigation was still trying to determine the specific location of the pedestrian prior to the collision as of Friday morning. No arrests were made in connection with the collision. In 2021 and 2022, there were 62 pedestrian vs. vehicle collisions on state highways in Stanislaus County, nine of which were fatal, according to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety. Severe injuries as a result of these collisions accounted for over 29% of the total. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) slammed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells (R-Ky.) endorsement of former President Trump, calling it a sad, professional tragedy given their history. Pelosi acknowledged that over the years, she and McConnell were able to find common ground on some issues. But, the former Speaker stated that it is sad for him to support Trump after the upper chamber was close to removing him from office for his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. For him to know how bad the presidents predecessor was on all of this, and then come to the conclusion that he would endorse him, when we thought he was going to convict him, the word was he was close to conviction, and now hes endorsing, Pelosi said during a Friday appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe. Its really very, very sad. And its a sad conclusion to a career of strategic again mostly we didnt agree, but I was respectful of the view that he brought forth and how we could work together, she continued, adding Its really in my view, a sad, professional tragedy that he had to come around. Her comments come just days after McConnell, who announced late last month that he would step down from Senate GOP leadership, gave his full endorsement of Trump for president after the two hadnt spoken in more than three years due to differences. Pelosi argued McConnell knew full well that Trump was guilty for the attack on the Capitol and that the Kentucky Republican even spoke about it on the Senate floor. He knew that what was happening was wrong in terms of this beautiful Capitol being assaulted but not just the physical building, what happens here, our Constitution, our ability to honor our oath of office to have a peaceful transfer of power, Pelosi said. He even spoke to that eloquently on the floor, but then he wouldnt allow a bipartisan commission to be formed. Why would he do such a thing? Perhaps hell explain it to the world, she added. McConnells backing of Trump also follows the suspension of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haleys White House bid. Haley was Trumps only remaining challenger in the race, and her withdrawal will now pave the way for the former president to secure the GOP nomination. The former governor has not endorsed Trump, despite pressure from other Republicans to do so. Instead, she claimed he would have to earn the votes of her supporters. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A spike in UFO sightings since the 1960s was caused by the US military testing spy planes and space technology, according to a Pentagon report. The report, which was presented to Congress on Friday, also found that there is no evidence that the US government had interactions with aliens, adding that most sightings of UFOs or unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) were ordinary objects. It added that public opinion surrounding UFOs has been influenced by pop culture. The proliferation of television programmes, books, movies, and the vast amount of internet and social media content centred on UAP-related topics most likely has influenced the public conversation on this topic, and reinforced these beliefs within some sections of the population, the report said. The report lists classified government programmes including the Manhattan Project and the secret development of the Air Forces stealth drone, the RQ-170 Sentinel, that may have contributed to increased reports of unidentified objects or phenomena. It also found that an alleged 1961 leaked memo about UFOs was inauthentic, and that an alien spacecraft sample collected by a UAP investigating organisation was not made of an other-worldly material but instead was made mostly of magnesium, zinc and bismuth. A new Pantagon report has found that there is no evidence that the US government had interactions with aliens (AFP via Getty) A Pentagon spokesperson said that officials had approached the report in an open-minded way, but had simply found no evidence of extraterrestrial visitors. All investigative efforts, at all levels of classification, concluded that most sightings were ordinary objects and phenomena and the result of misidentification, Major General Pat Ryder said. The report also found that more recently, government and commercial drones, new kinds of satellites and errant weather balloons have led to a new surge in reports. Reported UFO sightings in the US surged in the 1960s the same decade that saw the first man walk on the moon and Yuri Gagarin orbit the planet. Since then, UFO sightings have continued to grow, with the Pentagon receiving 800 reports of unidentified objects as of April 2023, up from 650 reports in August 2022. Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the Pentagon office established to investigate potential UFO sightings, told CNN at the time that about half of the objects sighted are determined to be mundane things such as balloons or drones. He added that between two and four per cent of reports are truly anomalous and require further investigation. Meanwhile, a very small percentage of reports have interesting signatures, such as high-speed travel or unknown morphologie, he said. Public interest in UFOs has grown rapidly in recent years. A July 2023 hearing in Congress on the matter drew significant attention from the public after veteran and former member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency David Grusch testified during a congressional hearing that the US government is in possession of intact craft of non-human origin from UAP crash sites. However, his claims were dismissed by Mr Kirkpatrick, who said Mr Grusch has no evidence that suggests anything extraterrestrial in nature. Meanwhile, public interest in UFOs was stirred up again in September when self-described UFO expert Jaime Maussan testified in front of the Mexican Congress that he had discovered two non-human corpses that are not part of our terrestrial evolution. Mr Maussans claims have not been proven and he has previously been associated with claims of discoveries that have later been debunked. A formal office to investigate reports of UAPs, which Mr Kirkpatrick heads up, was established under the Biden administration. According to a 2021 Gallup poll, just over 40 per cent of Americans think alien spacecraft have visited Earth, a number that increased from 33 per cent in just two years. Even as Congress tries to wrap up the drawn-out appropriations process for the 2024 fiscal year, which started back in October, lawmakers are also eager to turn the page to the 2025 budget. That process kicks off this month with President Joe Biden expected to release his request next week. House Republicans released their own budget resolution this week, and they passed it through the House Budget Committee after a markup hearing on Thursday. An overview of the Republican plan: Republicans, led by Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington of Texas, say their plan balances the federal budget in 10 years, resulting in a budget surplus in 2034, and would reduce deficits by a total of $14 trillion over the coming decade. They insist they can achieve those savings through spending cuts and rosy projections of 3% annual economic growth, higher than other forecasts and without cuts to Medicare, Social Security and veterans benefits. They would still have a bipartisan fiscal commission propose ways to preserve those programs while also addressing their long-term financial imbalances. Our deficit spending is out of control, our national debts are unsustainable, and the fiscal state of the Union is in rapid decline, Arrington said in opening remarks at the hearing. Today, while President Biden talks about the State of the Union, Republicans on the Budget Committee today here in this room are taking action to revive the fiscal state of our union by passing our fiscal year 25 budget resolution, a budget blueprint to restore fiscal responsibility by reining in spending, reigniting economic growth and putting our nation on a path to balance. Democrats warn of colossal cuts: Democrats countered that the GOP plan sells out American families by making huge cuts to crucial programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, all to protect the wealthy and corporate interests. This MAGA budget is an assault on everything from health care to education. It would strip funding for food assistance for those in need, attack Medicaid, and make indiscriminate cuts to many government programs upon which Americans rely, said Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the top Democrat on the panel. Whether it's making it harder to put food on the table or keep shelter over your head, this budget does plenty of harm, and it does this all while paving the way for an extension of the Trump tax cuts, 83% of which went to the richest 1%. Story continues Boyle also warned that the Republican budget only balances because of overly optimistic economic assumptions: even after trillions of dollars in draconian cuts they make to programs that help the most in need, this Republican budget still doesn't balance. In order to achieve that, they jettisoned the assumptions of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and other reputable sources to rely on astonishing predictions of economic growth that somehow creates three extra trillion dollars out of thin air. What budget watchdogs say: The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonprofit that advocates for deficit reduction, lauded Arrington for issuing a budget plan and doing it ahead of schedule, calling it a basic but important step. This budget includes many important objectives such as improving our fiscal trajectory, specific reforms to lower and equalize Medicare payments, acknowledgment that continuation of expiring tax cuts should be designed to be deficit neutral, calls to improve the budget process and reduce gimmicks, and a bipartisan fiscal commission, CRFB President Maya MacGuineas said in a statement. But, she added, the plan is unrealistic. The goal of reaching a balanced budget in ten years is completely unrealistic and counterproductive by perpetuating the myth that that is plausible. To get there, this budget combines genuine savings, which we applaud, along with large unspecified cuts including to appropriations and improper payments which will almost certainly not materialize. Aggressive assumptions about economic growth account for more than one-fifth of its savings. And while it is good that the budget calls for deficit-neutral tax policy rather than tax cuts, it lacks specifics on how expensive tax cut extensions will be offset. The bottom line: House Republicans have laid down a marker. Bidens budget is expected to be released on Monday. Were not quite done with 2024 appropriations, but the 2025 budget season is heating up. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. "From the beginning, I always meant for the web to be a platform for creativity and collaboration," says Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web. "The first decade of the web lived up to that promise, but that's not what we've seen in the last 20 years or so." Sir Tim says a particular problem is the way personal data is handled. When you log in and store data in a website, it can only be used within that website. But an open source software project, called Solid, is designed to reverse that situation. The idea of Solid is that people have a private data store, and they get to choose which organisations can access it, for what purpose, and for how long. Called a Personal Online Data Store, or Pod, it gives users control over their data, and the freedom to combine it or share it between applications. Sir Tim is co-founder of Inrupt, a company that provides Solid-based technologies. He says using the technology would mean that data storage would be "centred around people, instead of around apps". Other companies providing Solid-based solutions include Graphmetrix and Digita. In Flanders, Belgium, Athumi is working on several projects using Solid. The company was set up by the Flemish government to help re-launch the economy after the Covid-19 emergency. The company acts as a neutral intermediary, connecting businesses in different sectors and enabling them to access sensitive company and citizen data. Athumi's first Solid project launched last year in collaboration with recruitment company Randstad, prior to a rollout with other recruitment firms. During 2024, Athumi plans to scale this application to 30,000 users. Bjorn De Vidts believes Solid will be hugely disruptive to todays business models The application solves a common problem for job applicants in Belgium. They often have to submit copies of their diplomas, typically as photocopies by mail. Sometimes people struggle to find their certificates and getting replacements causes delay and costs money. "We made the process very easy," says Bjorn De Vidts, chief executive of Athumi. "The first step is to activate your pod. That is legally required because we cannot deliver services for a person who hasn't given us the authority to activate their pod. The second step is that you give permission to load your diploma into the pod. The third step is giving access to Randstad for a certain period of time to use the diploma in your pod for the specific job application." Citizens access and manage their pods through a web browser. For some roles, the recruiter needs to verify that the claimed qualification is genuine. This can be time-consuming when dealing with paperwork. In the Solid application, the diploma has a token that guarantees the data is authentic and hasn't been changed. More technology of business The tech is also being piloted in healthcare. Starting this year, five Belgian hospitals will store information about hospital visits in patients' Solid pods. The idea is that it will make it easier for patients to share their medical data. For example, they could share proof of a recent medical examination when applying for a job, so they don't need to have another one. Athumi is also working with several media companies to create shared user profiles that span streaming services, so viewers can get better personalised services. The pods store data in standard formats, so that it can be reused in multiple contexts. "What I call the real fun stuff of the data economy is when we will be able to combine these different data elements," says Mr De Vidts. "That will generate use cases that we cannot even predict today. When you have enough interesting data points, application builders will, we believe, come to the pod to build new applications." Research commissioned by the Flemish government indicates that citizens would be willing to use the pods if they save time or money, or they help them to improve their health. Research suggests people would use pods if they saved time or money The Flemish pods are hosted using Enterprise Solid Server, provided by Inrupt. John Bruce, Inrupt's co-founder and CEO, says you could have multiple pods hosted for you by companies such as internet service providers or travel firms you use frequently. All the pods can be accessed through one login. Pods could potentially make life harder for hackers. Even though pods may share a server, each one has its own access controls, set by the user. By contrast, a company database has one set of access controls that grants access to all customer records. "Today you exist in big databases," says Mr Bruce. "Your credit card is in there with 10 million others. "That database is a high value target. [Hackers] will put months of work in to get that database. When the data value exists only in your pod, it is like the difference in the kind of attack one would get on a bank versus you getting mugged on the street. You're not going to get a team of people following you around for three months to nick your wallet," he says. Amanda Finch, CEO of The Chartered Institute of Information Security, says Athumi's plan to create a centralised data platform will have benefits. As well as easing the flow of data through the economy it could boost security. "From a security standpoint, it should help to create a safer environment. With fewer platforms to secure, and responsibility lying with one, overarching party, you'd expect fewer vulnerabilities compared to multiple different solutions." She adds a note of caution, though, as the new architecture means citizens take responsibility for more sensitive data than they might previously have held. "Putting security into the hands of users and citizens is a risk when you consider how many breaches have a human element," she says. "If someone is duped into sharing their pod with a fraudster, then that's it - they've potentially lost everything. Users need to make their own conscious decisions on whether they share data. But this can only happen if citizens are educated on how they can reduce risk by instilling security best practices such as strong passwords or multi-factor authentication." Would all those companies used to hoarding data give it up easily? "Companies don't want it," says Mr Bruce. "If they could live in a world where they don't have to be responsible for your data, but they can have access to it, they'd take that in a heartbeat." Back at Althumi, Mr De Vidts thinks Solid could be the start of a data revolution. "I've been working 25 years in B2B data collaboration, and this is the first time I've seen a data sharing technology that has this kind of potential to disrupt existing business models," he says. "A citizen can decide what data goes to which consuming application. The data subject becomes the data controller." U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and other Democrats attacked Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach after he suggested the benefits of federal regulations on lead pipes were speculative. The Republican state attorney general on Thursday night criticized a line in President Joe Bidens State of the Union address touting the removal of lead pipes across the country as a victory. Biden wants to replace lead pipes. He failed to mention that the unfunded mandate sets an almost impossible timeline, will cost billions, infringe on the rights of the States and their residents all for benefits that may be entirely speculative, Kobach said in a post to X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. Kobach linked to a letter he and 14 other state attorneys general sent the Biden administration last month objecting to proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules requiring more aggressive removal of lead pipes than was previously mandated. The letter says the new rules leave the brunt of the removal cost on homeowners and municipalities. Existing rules, which allow for the monitoring of lead levels in water and removal only when a certain threshold is reached, are more reasonable, the state attorneys general wrote. Buttigieg, one of Bidens top deputies, criticized Kobach on Friday after Kansas Democrats had already begun attacking him over the post. The benefit of *not being lead poisoned* is not speculative. It is enormous, Buttigieg said in an X post that linked to Kobachs. And because lead poisoning leads to irreversible cognitive harm, massive economic loss, and even higher crime rates, this work represents one of the best returns on public investment ever observed. But Kobach responded that Buttigieg had failed to understand his point. Whats speculative is that the admins EPA rule will have ANY EFFECT AT ALL on lead in tap water, Kobach said in a subsequent post. It doesnt touch the pipes in buildings where most lead pipes are. Youd know that had you bothered to click the link. Kobach also called the proposed EPA rule an example of unnecessary overreach by the administration. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Rich Sugg/rsugg@kcstar.com The EPA proposed rule requires replacement of every lead pipe in public water service lines within 10 years. Use of lead pipes was banned in the 1980s but, according to the EPA, more than 9 million lead service lines remain in use across the country. The bipartisan infrastructure law enacted in 2022 included $15 million for the removal of the pipes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lead exposure can cause permanent brain damage in children stunting their development and resulting in lower intelligence and academic achievement. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat who represents much of the Kansas side of the Kansas City metro area, has spent the past several years touting projects in Kansas that helped replace lead pipes. One challenge, Davids has said, is that officials are still trying to figure out which pipes might be contaminated. No amount of lead exposure is safe, and we have a responsibility to ensure that every Kansan has access to safe and clean drinking water, Davids said in a statement on Friday. Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, were making that a reality and Im proud to work with local officials to protect our most vulnerable. Kobachs letter focused on the EPA rules potential to require individual homeowners to replace lead pipes that connected to their home and insufficient funding for the removal. It suggested the rules would have limited effect because they wouldnt impact lead pipes in internal plumbing for homes. Ultimately, this proposed rule is unworkable, underfunded, and unnecessary, the letter said. The Stars Daniel Desrochers contributed to this report. Philadelphia police continue to piece together a Wednesday afternoon shooting in which eight high school students were shot, with one sustaining nine gunshot wounds and being listed in critical condition. The shooting happened at about 3 p.m. on Wednesday at a SEPTA bus station near the intersection of Cottman and Rising Sun avenues, in the northeast portion of the city. Several students from Northeast High School were getting ready to board a bus when three gunmen got out of a blue Hyundai Sonata, ran toward the students and opened fire with about 30 rounds before fleeing the scene. Eight students, including one girl and seven boys between the ages of 15-17, were struck multiple times by gunfire. PHILADELPHIA BUS STOP SHOOTING CRITICALLY INJURES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, 7 OTHERS WOUNDED Eight high school students were struck by gunfire while boarding a SEPTA bus in Philadelphia on Wednesday. FOX 29 in Philadelphia reported that seven of the victims were listed in stable condition, while a 16-year-old boy who was shot nine times in the torso was critically wounded, according to police. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "He's still in critical, we checked on him [Thursday]. I am told that the doctors are optimistic, we have to get through today, but they're looking to upgrade him at some point," Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore told reporters Thursday. Now, more than 24 hours after the shooting, police are putting the pieces together. PHILADELPHIA BUS STOP SHOOTING ENDS WITH TEEN DEAD, 4 OTHER PEOPLE WOUNDED, POLICE SAY Eight high school students were struck by gunfire while boarding a SEPTA bus in Philadelphia on Wednesday. "Things are starting to come together," Vanore said. "We are moving toward knowing more about what happened yesterday and who we may be looking for." The Philadelphia Police Department released footage that shows the suspects pulling into a handicap parking space in a lot at about 2:53 p.m. before three individuals get out via the front passenger door and two rear doors. The driver remains in the vehicle as the other three run toward the bus stop. The next shot from the video shows the three men running toward a bus as people are getting on, and within seconds, they are seen running back to the Hyundai Sonata and getting back inside before the car drives off. PHILADELPHIA POLICE SEEK SUSPECT WHO STOLE $100K IN SPINE IMPLANTS FROM CAR Eight high school students were struck by gunfire while boarding a SEPTA bus in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Vanore told reporters police recovered the Hyundai they believe was used by the gunmen and the getaway driver. The car was abandoned in a dark alley on West Fern Street in Olney, the station reported. An investigation found the car was stolen this month from the citys 7th District, and when police responded to make a report on the vehicle, they found a stolen Kia Sportage parked in its place. Police said they are processing both vehicles for evidence. Police are investigating whether Wednesdays shooting was in retaliation or connected to a deadly shooting on Tuesday in the city's Ogontz neighborhood. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In that shooting, Imhotep Charter School 17-year-old Dayemen Taylor was killed while a 15-year-old, a 14-year-old and two women riding a SEPTA bus were wounded, FOX 29 reported. "These are individuals shooting at a crowd of kids," Vanore said. "Total between the two incidents, 11 kids were shot at. Thats really concerning, so we need people to see that, be as angry as everyone else is and let us know who did this, so we can end this rather quickly." Original article source: Philadelphia police continue piecing together bus stop shooting that injured 8 students Phillips defends father of Marine killed in Afghanistan for State of the Union outburst Former Democratic presidential primary candidate Rep. Dean Phillips (Minn.) defended the father of a Marine killed in Afghanistan who shouted at President Biden and was arrested during the State of the Union address Thursday. As a Gold Star Son myself, I can only imagine the pain he has felt since losing his son in Afghanistan, Phillips said Friday in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in response to a post by The Hill on the incident. No one should interrupt a State of the Union Address, but if Marjorie Taylor Greene wasnt arrested for her outbursts, why should he? Phillips continued. Steven Nikoui, whose son died during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, was arrested for disrupting the presidents address around 10:15 p.m. EST, U.S. Capitol Police confirmed. Our officers warned him to stop and when he did not, the man was removed from the House Galleries, Capitol Police said in a statement. According to Capitol Police, Nikoui was arrested for crowding, obstructing or incommoding. He had been invited to the State of the Union by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), with the Florida Republican posting online before the address that he was honored to have Nikoui as his guest. He is the father of Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, who was KIA due to Joe Bidens disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Mast said. Joe Biden may try to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but NOT ON MY WATCH. When Biden entered the chamber for his address, he passed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who was wearing a red Make America Great Again hat and handed him a pin that read say her name Laken Riley, in reference to a Georgia college student authorities say was killed by a man who crossed the border illegally. During Bidens speech, Greene yelled, Its about Laken Riley, and other Republicans shouted, Say her name. Biden then held up the pin and responded to Greene. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, he said. To her parents, I say my heart goes out to you. Having lost children myself, I understand. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Pittsburgh police released a new photo of the man they say sexually assaulted a woman Sunday morning near the University of Pittsburgh campus. >> Woman sexually assaulted near Pitts campus while walking home early Sunday morning, police say The assault happened in the 200 block of Melwood Avenue between Centre Avenue and Bayard Street. >> Police search for man in sexual assault investigation near Pitt campus 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. >> Surveillance video released of man accused of sexually assaulting woman near Pitt campus Police described the suspect as a man with a thin build, approximately 30-40 years old, around 5 feet, 6 inches or 5 feet, 7 inches tall. Investigators said he was last seen wearing a long-sleeve black shirt, cargo pants and a ski mask. A surveillance video released early this week video shows a man running down an alleyway. Anyone with information on the mans identity is asked to call 911. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Man, 19, killed in McKees Rocks shooting Man from upstate New York murdered in Station Square Nurse practitioner accused of writing fake oxycodone prescriptions VIDEO: Road crews start work on Glenwood Bridge DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts President Biden delivered his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress Thursday night, wearing a classic dark blue suit and light blue tie. In the event watched by millions of Americans nationwide, many lawmakers took the chance to make bolder statements with their clothing. Here are the five most memorable fashion moments. Border crisis pins A Republican attending the State of the Union address March 7 shows his thoughts on immigration. (Greg Nash/The Hill) Some GOP lawmakers wore large red pins that criticized Bidens handling of the southern border. One pin read Stop the Biden border crisis, while others included pictures of Laken Riley, the Georgia college student who, according to police, was killed by a man who illegally crossed the border. In one of the most heated parts of the night, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) yelled, Its about Laken Riley, and other Republicans shouted, Say her name, while Biden was discussing the border situation. Biden held up a pin Greene had given him while he walked into the chamber that read, Say her name Laken Riley, while he addressed the congresswoman from the dais. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, he said. To her parents I say my heart goes out to you having lost children myself. I understand. The president was criticized by immigrant advocates and some within his own party for using the term illegal to describe a person. Wearing white for reproductive rights Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) reacts to President Biden giving his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 7. Viewers could see a sea of white clothing on one side of the chamber, with many House Democrats choosing to wear suffragette white in support of reproductive rights. We are standing up for your right to make your own health care decisions including abortion, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) posted on X, formerly Twitter, before Bidens speech with a picture of a large group of House Democratic women standing together. Keffiyehs for a cease-fire Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) hold up stop sending bombs signs as they react to President Biden giving his State of the Union address. Some progressive House Democrats wore keffiyehs, a patterned Arab headdress that has become a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians. The scarfs are part of an ongoing effort by some Democratic lawmakers to urge Biden to facilitate a cease-fire. Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) also held up signs that read Lasting Ceasefire Now during Bidens speech. Bold accessories for Trump Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is seen after President Biden gives his State of the Union address. Although Biden never mentioned him by name, former President Trump was a recurring topic in the presidents State of the Union speech and he showed up on the clothes of some of his biggest supporters in Congress. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) wears a shirt featuring former President Trumps mug shot during President Bidens State of the Union address. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Greene wore a Make America Great Again hat signed by Trump while Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) sported a T-shirt with Trumps mug shot. The shirt read Never Surrender! and was paired with an American flag bow tie and black jacket. Yellow and blue for Ukraine Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) holds up four fingers for four more years as President Biden delivers the State of the Union address. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) wore a Ukrainian flag draped around his shoulders to the State of the Union address in support of the country that has been in a two-year-long war with Russia. Biden called for more military support of Ukraine during his speech and specifically called out Russian President Vladimir Putin in an attack meant to contrast him with Trump. House GOP leaders largely say they support Ukraine, but they have refused to move a $60 billion funding request for the country over border demands. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address criticized Trump without mentioning his name. Photos show moments Biden was heckled by Marjorie Taylor Greene and another lawmaker's guest. Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush held signs calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. With statement outfits, interruptions by hecklers, and President Joe Biden's swipes at his "predecessor," this year's State of the Union featured several standout moments. Here's a photo recap of some of the most memorable scenes from the 2024 address on Thursday. President Joe Biden delivered a fiery State of the Union address, criticizing former President Donald Trump several times without mentioning his name. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address in 2024. Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Referring to him only as "my predecessor," Biden slammed Trump's deference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, support for overturning Roe v. Wade, and continued false claims of a "stolen" election. Biden also alluded to Trump while addressing concerns about his age. "Now some other people my age see differently, the American story of revenge, resentment, and retribution," he said. "That's not me." Members of the Democratic Women's Caucus wore white in a statement supporting women's rights and reproductive freedom. Members of the Democratic caucus wear white at the 2024 State of the Union. Alex Wong/Getty Images "Our message is clear: women must be able to access the healthcare they need to control their own lives and futures," Lois Frankel, the chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, said in a statement. The block of white outfits created a noticeable divide in the House chamber. Vice President Kamala Harris applauds as President Joe Biden delivers the annual State of the Union address. Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images Members of the Democratic Women's Caucus have also worn white to the State of the Union in past years in nods to the women's suffrage movement. George Santos crashed the State of the Union and announced he's running for Congress again despite his expulsion last year. Former Rep. George Santos the 2024 State of the Union. Win McNamee/Getty Images Former members of Congress can still walk onto the House floor. In between mingling with Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Tim Burchett of Tennessee, the disgraced ex-congressman announced he's launching a primary campaign to unseat Rep. Nick LaLota of New York's 1st district. In his speech, Biden acknowledged women whose lives have been impacted by the overturning of Roe v. Wade and vowed to restore it as 'the law of the land.' Kate Cox, second from left, and Latorya Beasley, third from left, wave from the First Lady's Box at the 2024 State of the Union address. Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images In February, an Alabama judge ruled that frozen embryos are people, halting in-vitro-fertilization treatments throughout the state. Latorya Beasley, a social worker from Alabama, was unable to proceed with her IVF treatments for a second child. In December, Kate Cox sued the state of Texas for the ability to end her pregnancy when her fetus was found to have a fatal condition that could endanger her ability to get pregnant again. She ultimately had to seek care out of state. Both women were guests of first lady Jill Biden at the State of the Union. As she has in past years, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene heckled Biden during his address. This time, Biden responded. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene shouts at President Joe Biden as he delivers the State of the Union address. Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images As Biden discussed the bipartisan border deal that was blocked by Senate Republicans, Greene repeatedly shouted, "Say her name," in reference to Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia in Athens who was killed in February. A Venezuelan man who entered the US illegally in 2022 was charged with murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and kidnapping in connection with her death, The New York Times reported. As Greene continued yelling, Biden went off-script and responded to her directly, holding up a pin with Riley's name worn by several Republican lawmakers in the House chamber. "Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. That's right," Biden said, mispronouncing her name as "Lincoln." He also expressed his condolences to Riley's parents, "having lost children myself." Biden's use of the term "illegal" dismayed some Democrats. "As a proud immigrant, I'm extremely disappointed to hear President Biden use the word 'illegal,'" Rep. Chuy Garcia, a Democratic lawmaker from Illinois, wrote on X. Republican lawmakers weren't the only ones shouting at Biden. A disruptive guest invited by Rep. Brian Mast of Florida was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. A protester shouts at President Joe Biden as he delivers the annual State of the Union address. Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images As Biden said, "All Americans deserve the freedom to be safe, and America is safer today than when I took office," Mast's guest, Steve Nikoui, yelled "Abbey Gate" and "United States Marines" and was removed from the gallery. Nikoui, whose son was killed in a 2021 bombing at Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan, was arrested and charged with the misdemeanor of crowding, obstructing, or incommoding, Axios reported. "The Sergeant at Arms is holding my State of the Union guest for yelling at @POTUS in protest because his son was killed in action at the Abbey Gate due to Biden's incompetence," Mast wrote on X. "So much for the right to petition our government for the redress of grievances." Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush held signs calling for a cease-fire as Biden spoke about Israel and Gaza. Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush hold signs as President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images Wearing traditional Palestinian keffiyehs, Tlaib and Bush held signs reading "Stop Sending Bombs" and "Lasting Ceasefire Now." Tlaib was also seen wiping away tears during the speech. In his address, Biden called on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and expressed support for a two-state solution. "There is no other path that guarantees Israel's security and democracy," he said. "There is no other path that guarantees Palestinians can live with peace and dignity. There is no other path that guarantees peace between Israel and all of its neighbors." US support for Israel amid the war with Hamas and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains a divisive issue among the Democratic party's progressive wing, with some primary voters casting "uncommitted" ballots in protest. Read the original article on Business Insider Pierce Brosnan has backed Cillian Murphy to take on the iconic role of James Bond. The 70-year-old Irish actor, who portrayed the international spy across four films from 1995 to 2002, was asked who he thought should take over from Daniel Craig who retired from the part in 2021. Cillian would do a magnificent job as James Bond on His Majestys Secret Service, Brosnan told the BBC on Thursday (7 March) at the Oscar Wilde Awards in Los Angeles. However, according to Murphy, 47, that ship has sailed. Im a bit old for that, the Oscar nominee told Variety when asked about Brosnans recommendation. Ever since the now-56-year-old Craig hung up his tux after 2021s No Time to Die, the rumour mill has been rife with speculation about who might succeed him in the forthcoming 26th Bond film. Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, Rege-Jean Page and Paul Mescal have all been touted as supposed frontrunners, while Greta Gerwig suggested Barbie and Bob Marley: One Love star Kingsley Ben-Adir would be perfect for the role. Last year it was even rumoured that two actors could be chosen, with Bond 26 starring two 007s one younger and one older. Nothing has been confirmed, and the film has yet to receive a release date. Pierce Brosnan and Cillian Murphy (Getty Images) Whoever is next to take on the role will join a strong legacy of actors: the big screens first James Bond star was Sean Connery, followed by David Niven in the 1967 spoof Casino Royale. Since Connery, the official Bond franchise has starred George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Brosnan and Craig. Brosnan first entered the world of James Bond in 1995s GoldenEye. He reprised the role three more times in 1997s Tomorrow Never Dies, 1999s The World is Not Enough and 2002s Die Another Day. Craig picked up the role shortly afterwards, making his James Bond debut in 2006s Casino Royale, followed by 2008s Quantum of Solace, 2012s Sky Fall, 2015s Spectre and 2021s No Time to Die. Murphy, meanwhile, is at an all-time career high. Hes currently favourite to win the Best Actor Oscar at Sundays ceremony for his title role in Christoper Nolans Oppenheimer, for which hes already landed a Bafta, Golden Globe and SAG award. Nolans atomic bomb epic also leads the 96th Oscars with a whopping 13 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Follow all The Independents coverage of the 2024 Oscars here. The board of directors for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will keep its current 15-member structure, as a bill that would have overhauled the agency died in the Florida Legislature Thursday morning. The bill, sponsored by St. Pete Beach Republican Rep. Linda Chaney, would have downsized the board to 11 members, among other measures. It passed the state House of Representatives on Monday. But Chaneys proposal was a local bill it would have affected only Pinellas County and such bills can be pulled from consideration by a single state senator after passing the House. Thursday, Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, nixed it. In an emailed statement Thursday evening, Chaney criticized the legislative process for local bills, the transit authoritys ridership numbers and its continuing use of buses rather than smaller micro transit vehicles. She also said shed gotten some measures from her bill, including one that requires a two-thirds vote to approve lane eliminations, into a state transportation bill that applies to all public transit agencies. That bill has passed both houses. Chaney had described her bill as an effort to increase transparency and accountability at the transit authority. But it also would have reoriented power over the agency by taking away several seats, including those of appointed citizen members and some that are dedicated to elected officials from various cities, including St. Petersburg. The version of the bill Chaney filed in January would have also moved some power out of Pinellas by having Floridas Senate President and Speaker of the House appoint members, though that measure was changed while the bill was in committee in February. Rouson said Thursday that hes open to future bills concerning the transit authority, but that they would need to be more narrowly focused on business principles meeting the demands of the ridership and increasing efficiency. They need to be accountable and transparent, and Im for all that, he said. Im just not for totally upsetting the apple cart. The earliest version of Chaneys bill, which she previewed in October, would have restructured the transit authority even more dramatically by reducing the board to nine members and giving county commissioners much more power over the agency. She narrowed its scope after backlash from people including sitting board members, some who said they saw the proposal as revenge for the SunRunner, the rapid bus line between downtown St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach. Chaneys district has been a locus for complaints about the route, particularly concerning its homeless ridership and the designation of some lanes as bus-and-turn lanes. PSTA will continue to have conversations with elected officials at every level on how to keep bringing the best possible public transit service to residents and visitors of Pinellas County, Stephanie Weaver, a spokesperson for the transit authority, said in a statement Thursday. HARRISON COUNTY, Texas (KETK) The Harrison County Sheriffs Office said an Alabama man was arrested on Thursday for breaking into a house and drinking two beers while at the residence. Got tired of waiting: Man arrested for burglary of East Texas Family Dollar Mugshot of Alex Ortiz. Courtesy of the Harrison County Sheriffs Office. The sheriffs office said Alex Ortiz, 29 of Horton, was detained after a caller reported a man had broken into their home. Ortiz reportedly admitted he drank two beers and threw a hammer at a window. Before he left, he became angry from things that happened in his past. Once he thought about it, he decided to throw a hammer through the window and departed the location, the sheriffs office said. Ortiz was taken to the main Harrison County Jail and was charged with burglary of habitation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. President Biden departed from his own script numerous times during Thursday night's State of the Union address to talk about economic issues. He blasted big banks for credit card fees. He inserted a real-world example of "shrinkflation." He teased GOP colleagues about infrastructure money headed to their districts. Perhaps most importantly, from the White House's perspective, the president's repeated additions to his prepared remarks gave him an opportunity to provoke the Republicans seated before him. Many of the initial reviews of Biden's intense performance have been positive, but Biden being Biden, it wasnt always smooth sailing. "Im going to get in trouble for saying that," he said at one point while offering an aside on prescription drug prices. He then accidentally suggested a striking image of the president flying seniors on Air Force One to Toronto and Berlin as well as Moscow in order to obtain cheaper medications. "Well, even Moscow probably," he added, undeterred, "and bring your prescription with you, and I promise Ill get it to you for 40% of the cost you are paying now." Whether the combative tone helps with his sagging poll numbers remains to be seen. But the asides underlined how important the economy is to Bidens message as he prepares to take on former President Trump in the November election and his willingness to mix it up in an unscripted back and forth after weeks of debate about his age and vitality. He has used this tactic before. One year ago, a similar ad-lib on Social Security during last years address provoked loud GOP jeering and was seen as a successful gambit by Biden's aides and many political observers. President Joe Biden's prepared remarks are visible before him as he delivers his State of the Union address on March 7. He often veered from those remarks. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) (The Washington Post via Getty Images) A range of asides During this year's speech, as part of a section devoted to the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Biden looked away from the teleprompter to tease Republicans who voted no but touted the incoming money anyway. Story continues "I noticed some of you who have strongly voted against it are strongly cheering on that money," he told the audience, eliciting a mix of cheers and boos. "I like it, Im with you," he added with a grin, joking, "If any of you dont want that money in your districts, let me know" before returning to his prepared remarks. Other times Biden seemed to use the asides to burnish his moderate credentials and ties to the business community. He went out of his way as he often does to mention that his home state of Delaware is where many large companies are incorporated to argue he's not the enemy of the business community. Left unmentioned was Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musks recent issues with incorporating in Delaware and his recent move of SpaceXs paperwork to Texas. During a discussion of education, Biden paused to recount a meeting with the Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs based in Washington. "I asked them what they need most. The CEOs ... they say a better-educated workforce," he said. He also offered ad-libbed comments on other financial issues, from the national debt to executive pay to so-called junk fees. Thats why the banks are so mad, its $20 billion in profits, he said to punctuate one of his proposals around cutting credit card costs. Read more: What are bank fees, and how do I avoid them? Perhaps the most striking aside came on the non-economic topic of immigration when under loud heckling from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia Biden held up a pin showing a murdered nursing student named Laken Riley, who was allegedly killed by an undocumented immigrant. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia flashes a Laken Riley button while wearing her Make America Great Again hat as President Joe Biden arrives to deliver his speech. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Bill Clark via Getty Images) The pin was one that Republicans themselves had brought to the event, with Biden saying, "To her parents, I say, my heart goes out to you having lost children myself, I understand." Biden also used the term "an illegal" in those comments. Thats a term most Democrats avoid saying and one that drew immediate criticism from immigrant advocates. For their part, Republicans criticized Biden's free-wheeling address for being too political, especially after Biden opened the speech with a focus on democracy both in Ukraine as well as closer to home. "Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault here at home as they are today," Biden said at one point. Biden was also squarely focused on Trump, who he will face on the ballot this fall. Biden mentioned him as "my predecessor" at least 13 times. He also sought to blunt concerns over his age by contrasting himself with what he described as Trumps "old ideas." Trump himself offered an array of reactions online, including on some of those ad-libs. "Biden talked about the SNICKERS Bars, before he talked about the Border!" Trump posted during the speech. It was a reference to an aside from Biden on "shrinkflation" and the decreasing size but persistent cost of the popular candy bar. And before the night was done, Biden had one last aside to offer on what else Social Security. GOP leaders have said that most Republicans dont support ideas to trim the social safety net program for seniors, but Biden again charged Thursday night in nearly identical terms as last year that Republicans as a party want to cut the program in order to give tax breaks to the wealthy. When the boos predictably followed, Biden feigned surprise. "I kind of thought that was what your plan was," he said. "Well, thats good to hear." Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a 14-year-old boy and two 13-year-old boys for several robberies and carjackings. MPD said that one such carjacking happened on Feb. 19 around 4:30 p.m. The victim was sitting in a car in the 3200 block of Buena Vista Terr. SE when two people approached him. Police said that those two stole the victims car at gunpoint before a third suspect assaulted him. All three then drove off in his car. US Capitol Police announces road closures in DC for State of the Union Another carjacking happened on March 2 around 9:40 p.m. in the 5200 block of Just St. NE. MPD said that four people approached the victim and robbed him at gunpoint before driving away in the victims car. MPD said that all three boys all of whom are from Southeast, D.C. were arrested for those offenses. The 14-year-old and one of the 13-year-olds were also arrested for another carjacking and armed robbery. The carjacking happened on Feb. 21 around 10:40 p.m. in the 3000 block of 30th St. SE. MPD said that the victim was waiting to pick up customers when four people got into her car and assaulted her. She got out of the car, and the suspects drove off in it. Are you serious? Alexandria police give citation to driver going 112 mph in 55 mph zone The armed robbery took place on March 2 around 9:05 p.m. MPD said that the victim was walking in the 5100 block of Sheriff Rd. NE when three people assaulted her, stealing her personal items at gunpoint. Anyone with information about any of these cases is asked to call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Police have identified the 43-year-old man shot and killed at a home in the Kenton neighborhood on March 1. Authorities found Eric D. Toner II at the 3000 block of North Terry Street while responding to reports of a shooting around 7:45 p.m. Portlands Popina Swimwear will close brick-and-mortar boutique in July When officers arrived they located evidence of gunfire in the house. They learned that a man had been shot and was en route to the hospital by private vehicle. Despite lifesaving efforts, the man died, police said. A medical examiner determined that Toner died of homicide by gunshot wound. A legitimate hazard: Stores call for bottle return exemption amid fentanyl crisis One man was detained for further investigation on the night of the shooting. Officials say no other suspects are being sought at this time, but their investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Portland police. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. A funeral director is being investigated "following a report received of concern for care of the deceased", Humberside Police said. Officers are in attendance at three branches of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull and Beverley. A force spokesperson said it received a report on Wednesday and inquiries were continuing "to ascertain the exact details, concern and circumstances". Detectives invited anyone worried about the investigation to contact them. Cordons have been put in place at the firm's premises in Hessle Road and Anlaby Road in Hull, and Beckside in Beverley. "At this stage, we don't believe these to be connected to any other Legacy Funeral Directors," police said. Det Ch Supt Simon Gawthorpe said: "Whilst we are in the very early stages of our investigation, I completely understand this information will be of concern to a number of families and individuals who have lost loved ones and have utilised the services of this business. "We have already been in contact with a number of people and are working closely with His Majesty's Coroner, Hull City Council and East Riding Council to establish the facts. "I would encourage anyone to please call us, as we are very mindful of the distress this [investigation] may cause. "A direct telephone line has been established for anyone who is worried or wants to speak to us about Legacy Independent Funeral Directors." The detective said an investigation was continuing "to understand the precise nature of what may have occurred and if any criminal offences have taken place". He also called for people to be "respectful and refrain from speculation". "...At the core of this investigation will potentially be heartbroken and devastated families and loved ones and we want to provide them with the consideration and support they need and are fully entitled to," he added. The police force has set up two helpline numbers for anyone worried about the news - one from within the UK and one for people who are abroad. According to its website, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors is a family-run business that was established in 2010. The company has been contacted for comment. Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastyorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk A vehicle was set on fire in Chilpancingo in southern Mexico as tensions flared between police and students (EDUARDO GUERRERO) A student was killed in a confrontation with police in southern Mexico, authorities said Friday, as tensions flared over the case of 43 students from the same college who disappeared nearly a decade ago. A second student from the Ayotzinapa teacher training college was wounded in the incident on Thursday night in Guerrero, the circumstances of which were disputed. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told reporters that the pair were traveling in a stolen car when police ordered them to stop near the entrance to the state capital Chilpancingo. "The police say that the young men opened fire, the police responded and unfortunately a young man lost his life," Lopez Obrador said, adding that the second person was not seriously hurt. "It wasn't a clash between police and protesters," he said. According to the Guerrero public security secretariat, a firearm was found in the vehicle. But Clemente Rodriguez, father of one of the 43 students who disappeared in 2014, rejected the official version and said that the two men were unarmed. He said that security camera footage showed them taking cover behind a vehicle while police shot at them. "You see in the video the young men are hiding and protecting themselves from the police aggression," Rodriguez told local radio station Grupo Formula. After the incident, students from Ayotzinapa went to protest in Chilpancingo, allegedly setting fire to at least one vehicle. The shooting took place a day after protesters smashed open a door to Mexico's presidential palace demanding to meet Lopez Obrador to discuss the case of the 43 students -- one of the country's worst human rights atrocities. The students had commandeered buses to travel to a demonstration in Mexico City -- a common practice in their radical left-wing school. Investigators believe they were kidnapped by a drug cartel in collusion with corrupt police, although exactly what happened to them is unclear. In 2022, a truth commission set up by the government branded the case a "state crime" and said the military shared responsibility, either directly or through negligence. jla-dr/sms A large-scale operation transferred about 200 "high-risk" inmates out of state prisons in Juarez and the Chihuahua City area to federal prisons in other parts of Mexico this week, authorities said. The surprise action at midnight on Tuesday, March 5, was carried out by a small army of more than 1,000 Mexican army soldiers, National Guard troops and state police officers, including SWAT team members and police in riot gear, Chihuahua state officials said. Borderland: 'I can't live with this pain': Fort Bliss soldier accused of killing Juarez woman The overwhelming show of force prevented any potential rescues and escape attempts and resulted in zero violence, Gilberto Loya, Chihuahua state public safety secretary, said at a Tuesday news conference. More than 200 inmates were transferred from Chihuahua state prisons in Juarez and the Chihuahua City area to federal prisons in other parts of Mexico on Tuesday during a large-scale state police and Mexican military operation. Loya was joined by two colonels with the Mexican army and the Mexican National Guard and a retired general who serves as the undersecretary for state prisons. The mass transfer was done to maintain peace and security within state prison walls while also helping reduce homicides on the streets, Loya said. Imprisoned drug cartel and gang leaders often continue issuing orders from inside prisons in Mexico, which can be hotbeds of criminal activity, including phone scam "factories." Archives: Juarez prison gang leader 'El Neto' killed in shootout with Mexican security forces There were about 120 inmates transferred out of Cereso No. 1 in Aquiles Serdan outside Chihuahua City, more than 80 from Cereso No. 3 in Juarez and 10 from Cereso No. 2 in Chihuahua City, officials said. Cereso is an acronym for Centro de Readaptacion Social, or Center for Social Re-adaptation. Chihuahua inmates taken to prisons across Mexico The inmates were flown on military planes to the Altiplano maximum security federal prison near Mexico City as well as federal prisons in Guadalajara and the states of Sinaloa, Sonora, Durango and Michoacan, officials said. The transferred prisoners were serving sentences for crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, drug and migrant trafficking, authorities said. The measure was part of tightened security in the wake of a deadly breakout and riot at the Cereso No. 3 in Juarez that left more than a dozen dead on New Year's Day 2023. Of 30 escapees, all but three have been recaptured, Loya said. The state public safety department took control of the prisons from the state prisons department following the breakout. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 200 'high-risk' prisoners taken out of Juarez, Chihuahua City (KRON) Authorities are looking for a suspect who allegedly robbed Luckys store last week, according to the Daly City Police Department. Police say the robbery happened on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at the Lucky on 6843 Mission St. The suspect is described as a Black man between 25 and 30 years old, police said. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head and a black ski mask. SF public restroom installed in Noe Valley neighborhood Around 2:05 a.m. at the front entrance, the suspect pointed a gun at the grocery store employee and demanded his wallet. The victim reached into his pockets, grabbed his keys and banged on the doors of the entrance in hopes someone would hear him, police said. The suspect then shot the employee in the foot. The suspect then escaped in a silver Toyota Avalon and remains at-large. The condition of the victim is unknown at this time. DCPD says the investigation is ongoing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. UPDATE: As of early Friday morning, police are pleased to announce that Jaleya has been located safe. JSO thanked all who assisted with getting this information out to the community. ORIGINAL STORY: The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is asking the community to be on the lookout for a missing and endangered teenager. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Fifteen-year-old Jaleya S. Kemp was last seen walking near the 500 Block of 55th St. E. Police are concerned because of her ongoing medical concerns. Jaleya is described as 5-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 120 pounds. She has hazel colored eyes and red curly hair. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, white/black jacket, and white/black pajama pants. Anyone having seen Jaleya, or who may know her whereabouts is asked to immediately contact the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office at 904-630-0500. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. WOODBRIDGE, Va. (DC News Now) The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said a 70-year-old man was arrested after he pepper sprayed a boy and his dog. On Feb. 27 around 8 a.m. PWCPD said animal control officers responded to the 3900 block of Forestdale Ave. for an assault that was reported to have happened on the previous day at around 4:30 p.m. Virginia Gov. Youngkin: Cutting Alexandria arena deal from budget colossal mistake Police said that the victim, a 16-year-old boy, was with his unleashed dog in a nearby yard when James Timberlake, of Woodbridge, who was walking his dog, encountered them. As the two dogs were interacting with each other, Timberlake pepper sprayed the victims dog. The victim took his dog, and Timberlake followed them to the victims property where he pepper sprayed the dog again along with the boy, according to PWCPD. The victim reported having minor injuries. His dog did not appear to be injured. Police arrested Timberlake on March 4 and charged him with assault with a caustic substance and animal cruelty. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. The Sejm (House of Representatives) of the Republic of Poland has adopted a resolution that will impose sanctions upon the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products into the European Union. Source: Polskie Radio Polskie Radios reporter Tomasz Zielenkiewicz said that 441 members of parliament voted in favour, with two abstentions. The draft resolution was prepared by the Presidium of the Sejm. The lower house of the Polish parliament calls upon the European Commission to impose sanctions on the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products into the European Union. In the resolution, the Polish Sejm points out that the import of agricultural products from Russia and the Republic of Belarus continues to bring significant revenues to the producers and traders in, and national budgets of, these countries. Representing the position of the Civic Coalition political alliance, MP Marta Vtsislo noted that Poland should persuade the entire European community to resist authoritarian regimes and show solidarity with Ukraine. Quote: "The resolution meets the needs of Polish and European farmers, represents the voice of the Polish parliament, and at the same time strengthens the position of the Polish government in negotiations with the European Union. The document calls on the European Union to return to the rules that applied to trade with Ukraine and other non-community countries before the start of the full-scale war, meeting the basic requirements of Polish farmers," stated the politician. Background: The Polish government believes that the EU should adopt a joint decision to ban the import of Russian and Belarusian grain. It was previously reported that Poland would "carefully" analyse the consequences of Latvia's decision to ban the import of Russian food products, and wont rule out taking similar measures itself. Read more: How Poland replaces Ukrainian agricultural products with Russian ones investigation by Ukrainska Pravda Support UP or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Huawei Technologies Co. and its partner Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. relied on US technology to produce an advanced chip in China last year, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg Shanghai-based SMIC used gear from California-based Applied Materials Inc. and Lam Research Corp. to manufacture an advanced 7-nanometer chip for Huawei in 2023, the people said, asking not to be named as the details are not public. The previously unreported information suggests that China still cannot entirely replace certain foreign components and equipment required for cutting-edge products like semiconductors. The country has made technological self-sufficiency a national priority and Huaweis efforts to advance domestic chip design and manufacturing have received the backing of Beijing. Representatives of SMIC, Huawei and Lam did not respond to requests for comment. Applied Materials and the US Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security, which is responsible for implementing export controls, declined to comment. Lauded in China as a major leap in indigenous semiconductor fabrication, last years SMIC-made processor powered Huaweis Mate 60 Pro and a wave of patriotic smartphone-buying in the Asian country. The chip is still generations behind the top components from global firms, but ahead of where the US hoped to stop Chinas advance. The machinery used to make it, however, still had foreign sources including technology from Dutch maker ASML Holding NV as well as the gear from Lam and Applied Materials. Bloomberg News reported in October that SMIC had used equipment from ASML for the chip breakthrough. Story continues Leading Chinese chip equipment suppliers including Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. and Naura Technology Group Co. have been trying to catch up with their American peers, but their offerings are still not as comprehensive or sophisticated. Chinas top lithography system developer Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment Group Co. still lags a few generations behind what industry leader ASML is capable of. Why Making Computer Chips Has Become a New Arms Race: QuickTake SMIC obtained the American machinery before the US banned such sales to China in October 2022, some of the people said. Both firms were among the American suppliers that began pulling their staff from China after those rules went into effect and prohibited US engineers from servicing some machines in the Asian country. ASML also told American employees to stop working with Chinese customers in response to the US curbs, but Dutch and Japanese engineers are still able to service many machines in China much to the chagrin of their American rivals. Companies are now prohibited from selling cutting-edge, US-origin technology to either SMIC or Shenzhen-based Huawei. Both tech firms have been blacklisted by the US for alleged links to the Chinese military, while Washington has been tightening Chinas overall access to chipmaking equipment and advanced semiconductors. Those trade curbs pushed Huawei and SMIC to pursue avenues for building a domestic chip supply chain, and the Mate 60 Pro marked a surprising advance in that effort. Read More: China Secretly Transforms Huawei Into Most Powerful Chip War Weapon After Huawei released the new phone, Washington launched a probe into its processor and US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo vowed the strongest possible actions to ensure national security. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have called for the Biden administration to completely cut off Huawei and SMICs access to US technology. Department of Commerce officials have said they havent seen evidence that SMIC can make the 7nm chips at scale, a point echoed by ASMLs Chief Executive Officer Peter Wennink. If SMIC wants to advance its technology without ASMLs state-of-the-art extreme ultraviolet lithography systems, the Chinese chipmaker will not be able to produce chips at a commercially meaningful volume due to technical challenges, Wennink told Bloomberg News in late January. The yield is going to kill you. Youre not going to get the number of chips that you need to have high volume chip production, he said. ASML has not been able to sell its EUV systems to China as the Dutch government has not issued a license allowing those exports. The US, meanwhile, is pressing allies including the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea and Japan to further tighten restrictions on Chinas access to semiconductor technology. That effort is proving controversial and meeting resistance in some countries, as it imposes limits on trade at a time that Chinese businesses are investing in equipment and computational power to compete in the artificial intelligence race. Huawei may be Chinas most promising candidate to develop AI chips to compete with the US. Industry leader Nvidia Corp.s CEO, Jensen Huang, in December called the Shenzhen firm a formidable rival. Read More: US Urges Allies to Squeeze China Further on Chip Technology --With assistance from Gao Yuan, Vlad Savov and Edwin Chan. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers State of the Union address at U.S. Capitol in Washington U.S. President Joe Biden delivers State of the Union address at U.S. Capitol in Washington By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Some were clad in white for reproductive rights. One donned red to represent Washington's desire to be a state. And former Representative George Santos wore a bedazzled collar. Lawmakers and their guests used fashion to make a statement on Tuesday as Joe Biden's State of the Union address gives not just the president, but also his audience, their biggest platform of the year. Yellow and blue was the choice for some lawmakers, the bicolor of Ukraine. Legislation that includes $60 billion in aid for Ukraine has been held up by House Republicans for months, a delay that has contributed to some setbacks for Kyiv on the battlefield. Santos, who was expelled from Congress after a dizzying array of lies about his biography led to his indictment on fraud charges, nonetheless appeared at the speech in what looked like a rhinestone-studded collar, a black blazer and white trousers. He also chose a more subtle touch favored by several lawmakers: a pin. His and that worn by other Republican lawmakers was red and in tribute of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia, who was allegedly murdered last month by an undocumented immigrant who had been released on parole. Republicans, who blame Biden and his administration's border policies for the deaths of Americans killed by illegal migrants, have seized on the case. Firebrand U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene wore a "Say Her Name" t-shirt, a reference to Riley. She handed Biden a Riley pin, which he accepted and later held up during his speech. Rep. Troy Nehls wore a t-shirt emblazoned with former President and Biden challenger Donald Trump's face and the words "never surrender." On the other side of the aisle, a handful of Democratic U.S. lawmakers including Representatives Greg Casar and Maxwell Frost showed their support for a break in the war in Gaza on Thursday night by wearing red-and-white lapel pins reading "CEASEFIRE." "Win Without War," a network of activists and organizations that advocates for a more peaceful U.S. foreign policy, said before the speech that about 15 offices had requested the pins but it did not know how many members of Congress would wear them to the speech. Representatives Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib also wore Palestinian keffiyeh scarves. Tlaib wore watermelon earrings, a show of support for the Palestinian cause. Former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was gravely wounded in a 2011 shooting rampage, wore orange to symbolize ending gun violence. Members of the Democratic Women's caucus are wearing white outfits with pins reading "Fighting for Reproductive Freedom" to emphasize their support for reproductive rights. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Patricia Zengerle, Gabriella Borter; Editing by Heather Timmons and Stephen Coates) An injured Palestinian child is brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al Balah for treatment following the Israeli attacks in Khan Yunis. Ali Hamad/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Half of Germans believe that Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip in response to the terrorist attack by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement on October 7 goes too far. Fifty per cent of respondents expressed this view in a survey published on Thursday by the Infratest dimap Institute for German public broadcaster ARD. The figure is nine percentage points more than in a comparable survey carried out in November. According to the survey, 28% consider the reaction to be appropriate, while a further 5% do not think it goes far enough. Only 23% are of the opinion that Israeli military actions are justified even if the Palestinian civilian population is also affected, while 61% do not consider such actions to be justified. When asked who is responsible for the catastrophic conditions in the Gaza Strip, around three quarters of respondents named Hamas, with 39% regarding it as fully responsible and 34% as somewhat responsible. Responsibility was attributed to Israel by 62% of respondents, with 19% saying that Israel was fully responsible for the situation, and a further 43% considering the country to be somewhat responsible. The Gaza war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out in Israel by militants from Hamas and other extremist groups on October 7. Israel responded with massive bombardments and shortly afterwards with a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas-controlled health authority has since put the number of dead at 30,800 and the number of injured at almost 72,300. Palestinians bury the bodies of 48 Palestinians, handed over by the Israeli army through the Kerem Shalom border crossing, in a mass grave in the city of Rafah. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, most of the bodies are Palestinians who were martyred during the siege of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Mohammed Talatene/dpa Polls have closed in two referendums on changing Ireland's constitution regarding family and care. Voters were asked if they wish to expand the definition of family to include those not based around marriages. They were also be asked if they wish to remove a reference to the role of women in the home, and put in one recognising care provided by family members. Polls opened at 07:00 local time and closed at 22:00. The Irish Electoral Commission said 3.3m polling information cards were delivered in advance of polling day. In order to vote, a person needed to be aged 18 or over, an Irish citizen, registered to vote and ordinarily residident in Ireland. The Irish government announced in December that the referendums would take place on International Women's Day. Turnout figures Turnout across the country is understood to have been low early in the day, with some polling stations said to be quiet. As of 12:30 on Friday, the turnout was reported as 4.5% in the Dublin North West constituency and 12.8% in Dublin Bay North, according to RTE, the national broadcaster. Turnout is as low as 5% in some parts of county Donegal, rising to around 10% in Letterkenny and Donegal town. Polls remained open until 22:00 for most of the country, with earlier closing on some coastal islands. Counting gets under way at 09:00 on Saturday morning. What are Irish voters being asked? At the polling stations on Friday, voters were given two ballots - one white and one green. The white ballot asked if voters wanted to accept or reject the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution Bill - otherwise known as the family amendment. This proposes inserting the words "whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships" into the constitution. The existing protection afforded to families under the constitution, as currently written, only extends to families built around a marriage. However, if the amendment is passed, different family units would have the same constitutional rights and protections. If rejected, the current wording will remain the same. Voters were also given a green ballot. This referred to the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill - or the care amendment. This amendment proposes to delete wording which references the role of women in the home. It also proposes inserting the following wording with gender-neutral language: "The state recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision." In the Republic of Ireland, a referendum must be held if the government wishes to change something in the Irish constitution. The constitution, known as Bunreacht na hEireann, was first ratified in 1937 but has seen many changes over the years, including the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2015 and the repeal of the country's abortion ban in 2018. A Daytona Beach Shores man already facing 10 fraud charges was re-arrested late Wednesday night after Port Orange police alleged he took more than $30,000 from a 97-year-old veteran of three wars. It was the third time in six months that Steve Parker, known as a former TV news "hero" for his volunteerism after Hurricane Ian and as the administrator of a popular Facebook group, has been arrested on fraud charges and bilking at least five people. Steven Ray Parker, 52, of Daytona Beach Shores, was booked into the Volusia County Jail late Wednesday and released early Thursday morning on charges he exploited an elderly or disabled adult for an amount between $10,000 and $50,000 and impersonating a contractor during a state of emergency to land home repair work. Daytona Beach Shores man Steve Parker, shown in a Volusia County Jail mugshot, is facing a new set of charges related to what police have said was a scheme to use a different man's general contractor's license to land home repair jobs, then do incomplete or shoddy work. The victim, whose name was redacted, is a 97-year-old veteran with limited physical and mental capabilities, according to an arrest affidavit. Police were contacted by the victim's nephew, who has power of attorney. The nephew told police Parker did contract work on the veteran's home between October and December 2022. The home had been flooded and damaged during Hurricane Ian in September of that year. The alleged victim met Parker when he was doing work on a neighbor's home. Parker offered to repair the victim's home. "When (the victim) asked for an estimate of the work, Steven would not provide him an estimate and told (the victim) he would make sure that he was taken care of," according to the affidavit. Parker collected funds from the victim sporadically between Oct. 27 and Nov. 26, 2022, then set up a Gofundme page to crowdsource money. On the page, Parker wrote that he has "the honor and privilege to help a local veteran" return to his home after Hurricane Ian. The page noted the victim served in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. "This man gave so much to our country and now it's time to help him," the Gofundme states. It generated $5,041 that Parker added to the payments for his work. Some of the work Parker did repairing drywall on load-bearing walls, replacing sinks and faucets, removing and installing a dishwasher, removing and mitigating mold and electrical work requires a license through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations, the report notes. As work progressed, Parker told the victim he wanted to have a homecoming celebration, which the victim told police was a "form of exploiting him to get the notoriety Steven wanted for the work he did," the report states. "... After the celebration occurred, Steven stopped work on the residence and never completed it." In all, Parker obtained or used $31,200 of the victim's funds while acting as a contractor without a license, the report states. Parker, who ran a power-washing business, was the administrator of "What's Happening in Port Orange?" a Facebook group with more than 40,000 members. He was celebrated on "Getting Results," a feature on Channel 6 WKMG-TV, Orlando, for donating his time and money to help others whose homes were damaged during the hurricane. And in March 2023 he was honored with the local Elks' Lodge Distinguished Citizenship Award. After his first arrest in October, Parker took to Facebook to declare his innocence, writing: "I will say this only once. I am innocent of the charges. This is an accusation that was made by one person that took it to the extreme when she was not happy with the work that was being done." Neither Parker nor his attorney, Carlos Vidal-Colazzo, responded immediately to a request for comment on the arrests last week and Wednesday involving four additional victims. The exploitation and fraud charges are listed as second-degree felonies. That makes a total of 12 felony charges Parker is facing. Parker is scheduled to be arraigned on the case involving the veteran on April 16. He is due in court on March 19 for arraignment on seven other charges, while the remaining three charges to which he has pleaded not guilty are on a separate track. 'What's Happening in Port Orange?": Facebook page administrator arrested on fraud charges This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Authorities continue unwinding fraud trail they say was left by 'hero' PORTAGE, Ind. Police in Northwest Indiana are asking for help after shots were fired at a driver and his passenger. According to the Portage Police Department, shots were fired around 5:15 p.m. at a car near U.S. Highway 6 and County Line Road. Man killed in road rage shooting on WB I-80/94 in NW Indiana; person in custody: ISP The driver, a 19-year-old, of Portage, and his passenger, a 31-year-old man, of Pines Township, were driving east on U.S. Highway 6 and turning north on County Line Road when they heard gunshots and were passed by another car, according to police. The men said they also saw gunshot damage to the rear of the dark-colored SUV that passed them and their vehicle, according to police. The men said they saw a dark-colored sedan behind them turn into Lukes Gas Station and then went west onto U.S. Highway 6. No injuries were reported. Police said they do not believe the men were intended victims of the shooting. With assistance from the Lake Station and Gary police departments, Portage police said detectives are following up on several leads. Anyone who witnessed or has information on the shooting is asked to call Det. Chris Burch at 219-764-5769. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. [Source] A city commissioner in Portland has paused odor complaints tied to restaurants after a Vietnamese eatery was forced to close due to fines. Driving the news: Pho Gabo, a popular Vietnamese restaurant in Northeast Portland, was forced to close after escalating odor complaints from a neighbor led to mounting fines. The city's odor code prohibits "continuous, frequent or repetitive odors" from restaurants. Despite efforts to mitigate the issue including attempting to grill meat at other locations the financial strain forced Eddie Dong to shut down his business. How the community reacted: The closure prompted concerns about the fairness and objectivity of Portland's odor code, reported KATU. Critics argue that it disproportionately affects minority-owned small businesses and undermines the city's cultural diversity. "We believe...the city's odor code is discriminatory...and not objective by any known standards," said a joint statement by Rep. Daniel Nguyen, Rep. Hai Pham, Rep. Thuy Tran, Rep. Hoa Nguyen and Rep. Knanh Pham of the Oregon House of Representatives. Trending on NextShark: Indian painter gets brain-dead woman's hands in rare bilateral hand transplant How the city responded: In response to the criticism, Commissioner Carmen Rubio's office met with Dong and initiated an evaluation of the city's odor codes, reported WW. While any proposed change will need to go through the Planning Commission and City Council for final approval, Rubio's office has pledged to expedite this review process to address the issue as soon as possible. This week, Rubio ordered an immediate suspension of odor complaint inspections against restaurants. Jillian Schoene, Rubios chief of staff, said the commissioner was "concerned and is raising serious questions about the negative impacts of this policy." What's next: Rep. Nguyen, who is also a restaurant owner, welcomed the temporary pause, saying "I'm glad to see this and Commissioner Rubio is looking at addressing this; this was quite concerning." Trending on NextShark: Asian family donates $5 million to Black students in honor of family who helped them Meanwhile, Dong has decided to not reopen his Northeast restaurant and instead focus on two other locations in the area: one in Happy Valley and another in Hillsboro. Trending on NextShark: Portland Commissioner halts odor complaints after closure of pho restaurant Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Portland Community College launched a pilot program to admit all graduating seniors from Beaverton High School in an effort to increase access to higher education. The direct admissions pilot will allow all Beaverton High School and Early College High School graduates from the 2024-25 school year to be directly enrolled at PCC starting in the fall of 2025. School officials said the program targets vulnerable, and underrepresented students including low-income, first-generation, foster youth, and students from minority backgrounds. Rising gas prices in Oregon amplified by locks closures on Columbia River The move is a significant step toward creating equality of opportunity for students in underserved communities, said PCC Executive Dean for K12 and Community Partnerships Vicky Lopez Sanchez. By streamlining the admissions process, PCC aims to save students valuable time and remove the potential barrier of a daunting application process. This approach ensures that students, often overwhelmed by the complexities of taking their first step, can embark on their educational journey with the assurance of admission to PCC. The one-year pilot will eventually expand to include all Beaverton schools and other districts within PCCs service area, officials said. According to PCC, the program will help students save time in preparing for admissions, removes potential barriers to higher education during the application process, and can reduce students stress while navigating college. At the very least, students will know they are admitted to PCC. Staff can help them navigate their next steps to get a successful start at the college and help them explore our career and academic pathway options, said Bridget Jones, PCCs director of admissions and recruitment. A legitimate hazard: Stores call for bottle return exemption amid fentanyl crisis School officials hope the pilot will increase college attendance, bring a sense of belonging in college environments, and provide more access to job training skills. The Beaverton School District is pleased to be partnering with PCC on this important pilot project, said Superintendent Dr. Gustavo Balderas. We value this opportunity that grants automatic access to college and career training for our graduating seniors, especially those who have been historically underrepresented in higher education. We are hopeful that this new initiative will alleviate some of the stress and struggles associated with the college admissions process for both our students and their families. PCC, Oregons largest community college, has several partnerships with local school districts, including dual enrollment programs with Portland State University, Oregon State University, Oregon Institute of Technology, and Linfield College. PCC also offers dual credit agreements with local school districts so students can earn college credit while in high school. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. An unidentified protester from Palestine Action sprays a painted portrait of Lord Balfour with red spray paint before slashing the canvas A portrait of Lord Balfour, the former prime minister, at the University of Cambridge has been damaged by a pro-Palestinian protester. In video posted on social media by Palestine Action, a member of the group is seen spray-painting and slashing the portrait at Trinity College. A woman can be seen defacing the work with red paint before slicing the canvas with a sharp object. Balfour was one of the chief supporters of creating a Jewish homeland in Palestine, cemented by the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which gave British backing to the movement. A nephew of Lord Salisbury, he succeeded his uncle as prime minister in 1902 and subsequently became foreign secretary. The Palestine Action protester sprays a painted portrait of Lord Balfour with red spray paint before slashing the canvas The Instagram video was accompanied by a caption that read: Palestine Action spray and slash a historic painting of Lord Balfour in Trinity College, University of Cambridge. Written in 1917, Balfours declaration began the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by promising the land away which the British never had the right to do. After the Declaration, until 1948, the British burnt down indigenous villages to prepare the way; with this came arbitrary killings, arrests, torture and sexual violence including rape. The British paved the way for the Nakba and trained the Zionist militia to ethnically cleansed over 750,000 Palestinians, destroy over 500 villages and massacre many families. The Nakba never stopped, and the genocide today is rooted and supported by British complicity. Now Elbit Systems, Israels biggest weapons manufacturer, uses Britain as a manufacturing outpost to build arms which are battle-tested on Palestinians. A Trinity College spokesman said: Trinity College regrets the damage caused to a portrait of Arthur James Balfour during public opening hours. The police have been informed. Support is available for any member of the College community affected. A spokesman for Cambridge Police said: This afternoon we received an online report of criminal damage today to a painting at Trinity College, Cambridge. Officers are attending the scene to secure evidence and progress the investigation. No arrests have been made at this stage. Palestine Action were contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. No more face masks or social distancing rules. For the first time in four years, thousands of delegates attending Chinas biggest political event of the year were able to mingle and sip tea like the old days in the sprawling foyer of Beijings Great Hall of the People. While some Covid testing requirements remain in place, on the surface, everything else seems back to pre-pandemic normal at the annual meetings of the rubber-stamp national legislature and Chinas top political advisory body. But this years event also provides a fresh window into persisting controls and increasing opaqueness of the political system under leader Xi Jinping, who has prioritized security and strengthened the ruling Communist Partys grip over everything including the so-called two sessions itself. More than ever, Xi is looming large over the gathering, which had traditionally been a stage for the Chinese premier and the central government to shine. Beijing sent what observers say was a strong signal of that a day ahead of the opening of the National Peoples Congress earlier this week announcing that it was scrapping an annual press conference led by the premier a three-decades-old political tradition that has long been a key landmark of the meeting, typically televised and highly anticipated. A government representative claimed the change was due to other opportunities for interviews. But observers saw one fewer chance for the worlds media, international observers, and Chinese citizens to get first-hand insight into the thinking of the countrys nominal No. 2 official, who is charged with running its economy and one more move for Xi to cement his control over the official narrative. The press conference is typically the only channel for any senior official in China to have a direct communication with the outside, especially with foreign media, said Liu Dongshu, an assistant professor focusing on Chinese politics at City University of Hong Kong. If you think about our image of past premiers, a lot of our understanding of their personality, reputation, authority is actually based on what they said in the press conference removing this channel for the premier is consistent with the change that Xi Jinping is the only one that they want to signal to the outside (and) everyone else is to some extent just a follower, he said. China's Premier Li Qiang speaks during a press conference after the closing session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 13, 2023. - Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images While the press conferences themselves are carefully stage-managed, they have in the past provided moments for premiers to inject their own persona and views or make departures from official lines, providing rare insight into thinking or even debates among Chinas elite leaders. Former Premier Li Keqiang famously noted in his 2020 conference that, as Xi hailed Chinas efforts in in poverty alleviation, 600 million people in the country still had a monthly income of just 1,000 yuan ($137). Current premier and Xi protege Li Qiang, who was expected to lead the closing event this time, however, has not appeared to have such an inclination. He used his first and likely last press conference last year to highlight the prominence of the Communist Party over the state government. And on Tuesday, Li mentioned Xis name 16 times when delivering the governments work report to delegates. We owe our achievements in 2023 to General Secretary Xi Jinping, who is at the helm charting the course, and to the sound guidance of Xi Jinping Thought, Li said. That only makes it all the more telling that the conference has been scrapped, especially in an environment when Beijing is aiming to bolster business confidence, observers say. It is a gesture to show that the government cares about the perception of the outside and trying to establish an image of being open, being transparent, said Liu in Hong Kong. Keeping the press conference may not give us something new, but removing it is a bad signal in terms of transparency and keeping outsiders confidence in Chinas commitment to its opening up. Changhao Wei, a fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center of Yale Law School, noted an NPC spokesperson had strongly implied that the premiers presser wasnt necessary because the news conferences attended by other government officials would be adequate substitutes. I dont find this reason particularly convincing because this year the NPC scheduled only 3 themed press conferences, compared to 13 themed press conferences in 2019 attended by not only administrative officials, but those from the courts and the legislature as well, he said. The axing of the premiers press conference came alongside a shortening of the two sessions overall first imposed during the pandemic to prevent the spread of Covid. The move also reduces opportunities for journalists to ask questions of delegates or government officials, either in designated briefings or doorstepping them as they enter and exit the building. But even the nature of those encounters, which in recent decades saw reporters able to grab telling comments from officials, has changed as delegates are widely seen by reporters as much less willing to say too much in the current political climate. Delegates arrive at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on March 5 to attend the opening session of the National People's Congress annual meeting. - Tatan Syuflana/AP Heavy security Meanwhile, even as Covid-19 curbs were lessened, signs of heavy security, though typical for the two sessions period, were visible throughout the political heart of the city. For event attendees, usual security checks at certain entry points were augmented by facial recognition scanners that determined if people were cleared for entry. In Tiananmen Squares subway stations and nearby streets, where security is tight regularly, police presence was heavy, with security vans parked roadside and officers holding muzzled police dogs monitoring crowds of people making their usual commutes. Traffic slowed due to checkpoints on surrounding streets, with security officials even stopping and checking IDs of some cyclists riding on a major throughfare along the square. In surrounding neighborhoods, red-clad community volunteers were also out in force keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity. Even mail was getting a stricter treatment, with Chinas postal authority issuing a notice late last month outlining a system of double inspection for incoming packages during the two sessions period with residents taking to social media to complain of delays. Tightened security is typical of the political gathering and many around the world but apart from concerns about safety, Chinese authorities during major events are typically on high alert for showings of dissent and are known to ramp up repressive measures to ensure that dissidents or people petitioning the government stay silent. As public frustration mounts around financial hardships linked to an ailing economy and the Communist leadership seeks to block negative narratives and project confidence, officials this year may be particularly wary of any showing of discontent. Xis government already had to face large-scale demonstrations once when rare protests broke out across the country in late 2022 as anger boiled over about on-going Covid-19 controls. That movement followed a single act of protest in Beijing before a major Communist Party meeting, when an unidentified person hung a banner from a highway bridge protesting Xi and his Covid-19 policies prompting heighted security on overpasses throughout the city in its wake. Many measures around Tiananmen this week were expected to last only for the gathering. But when asked whether open access into an area near the square would return following the events close, one security guard responded: youll have to see. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com PENANG, Malaysia, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 45th IAA World Advertising Congress, Huawei's terminal advertising platform, Petal Ads, showcased its cutting-edge technology and creativity in the advertising field under the theme "Go Beyond Without Boundaries". During the keynote speech of the summit, Petal Ads signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Malaysia Tourism Board. The two parties will jointly promote the national tourism brand image of Malaysia in the Chinese market. This cooperation case also won the 2024 IAA World Advertising Congress Golden Camel Bell Award for China's Most International Influence and Innovation Breakthrough at the 45th World Advertising Congress China Brand and Golden Camel Bell Award Ceremony. Petal Ads will leverage its advertising capabilities to help the Malaysia Tourism Board spread the national tourism brand image of Malaysia to the Chinese people. Through precise advertising, Petal Ads will assist in attracting more Chinese tourists to travel to Malaysia and explore its beautiful natural scenery, rich cultural heritage, and unique tourism experience. Petal Ads expressed great pride in being able to showcase Petal Ads' advertising innovation at the IAA World Advertising Summit. 'Go Beyond Without Boundaries' is not only a theme but also a mission. "We look forward to exploring broader areas with the Malaysia Tourism Board and bringing more wonderful tourism experiences to the people of both countries." Ybhg. Dato' Yeoh Soon Hin Deputy Chairman Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board: "The strategic cooperation agreement signed with Huawei's terminal advertising platform is of great significance to the tourism industry in Malaysia. We believe that through Huawei's advertising capabilities, we can better show the charm of Malaysia to Chinese tourists and attract more people to visit our beautiful country." He stated that in December last year, after the implementation of the visa-free policy for Chinese tourists by both Malaysia and China, it brought actual economic benefits to the tourism development of both parties. During the Lunar New Year this year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia increased by 53.9% compared to last year. According to the Trip.com website, since the implementation of the visa-free policy for Chinese tourists, a total of 1.47 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia last year, an increase of 593.4% compared to the 212,603 Chinese tourists in 2022. At the same time, Malaysia is one of the top five countries for Chinese tourists to travel abroad. In the first week of the Lunar New Year, Chinese tourists' consumption expenditure in Malaysia was twice that of the 2019 Lunar New Year and more than ten times that of 2023. He believes that this strategic cooperation agreement signed with Huawei's terminal advertising platform will bring greater benefits to the tourism industry in Malaysia. Story continues It is worth mentioning that 2024 is also the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China. Therefore, the strategic partnership signed by Petal Ads and the Malaysia Tourism Board is of historical significance. The two parties will work together to build a more solid bridge for friendship and cooperation between the people of the two countries. Petal Ads looks forward to making a positive contribution to the development of Malaysia's tourism industry through this cooperation, and also providing a better tourism experience for Chinese tourists. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/huaweis-petal-ads-signs-mou-with-malaysia-tourism-board-wins-international-honor-and-jointly-promotes-the-national-tourism-brand-image-of-malaysia-302083656.html SOURCE Huawei Mobile Services From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch Super Tuesday was a bad day for political norms, and not just because two men who have no business being president again locked up their parties respective nominations. For the third cycle in a row, a prominent candidate ended up whining that an election they lost had been rigged. And this time it wasnt one of the usual suspects, or even a Republican. Rep. Katie Porter entered the race for Californias open Senate seat last year hoping to leverage progressive enthusiasm into an upset over the well-known and very well-funded Rep. Adam Schiff. It didnt work: She finished third in Tuesdays jungle primary, eliminating her from the general election and probably ending her political career. In a tweet afterward, she blamed her defeat on billionaires who had spent millions to, and I quote, rig this election. She ended up almost 20 points out of the running, mind you. That must have been some seriously hardcore rigging. Her party has spent three years arguing that Donald Trump is unfit for office because he doesnt respect the democratic process; now here was one of its own, a member of Congress no less, normalizing disrespect for the process herself. The backlash that followed caused her to retreat from her claim in a second statement in which she clarified that she didnt mean actual rigging, just, yknow, metaphorical rigging. Still, not great. And not a total outlier when it comes to Democrats reacting to Trumps ethos of norms-busting by busting norms themselves. There is, of course, the small matter of Joe Bidens Department of Justice having indicted his presidential opponent not once but twice. Theres also the effort among Democratic officials at the state level to disqualify Trump from the ballot under the 14th Amendment. Theres even been loose talk on Capitol Hill lately about House Democrats possibly seeking to disqualify him after hes been reelected if the Supreme Court doesnt squarely endorse his eligibility to be president again. There are more pedestrian examples too. On Thursday I woke up to discover that New Yorks Democratic governor had deployed the military to New York Citynot to cope with an emergency, like a riot, but to fight routine crime. Seems like a really bad new norm to set with Donald Trump, Insurrection Act admirer, likely to take power in Washington less than a year from now. The most consequential norm that Democrats are apt to shatter sooner rather than later, though, is the Senate filibuster. The 60-vote threshold for cloture in that chamber is a brake on rash legislative action, preventing major changes to national policy without firm bipartisan support. If the Senate is a cooling saucer of reasoned deliberation that tempers the hot, popular passions of the House, the filibuster is its version of an ice cube. We do not live in an age that values reasoned deliberation over hot, popular passions, alas. The filibuster is on borrowed time. And thats never been clearer than it has this past week. The three foremost guardians of the filibuster in the Senate are Mitch McConnell, Joe Manchin, and Kyrsten Sinema. McConnell refused to ditch the practice when his party enjoyed total control of the government in 2017 and 2018. Manchin and Sinema returned the favor when their partyafter regaining control of the White House and both chambers of Congressmoved to pass sweeping legislation on voting rights and abortion. All three have offered institutional arguments to defend their position: If the majority is permitted to steamroll the minority, comity will suffer and cooperation will break down. Never again will the Senate function as a mechanism of consensus-building. But if they were being honest, I suspect all three would admit that their fondness for the filibuster is driven by their distaste for policies favored by the ideologues in their respective bases. If you fear and loathe the populist right, as McConnell does, or the progressive left, as Manchin and (weirdly) Sinema seem to, having a 60-vote threshold is a convenient excuse for why legislation favored by those blocs cant pass. So long as the filibuster exists, resistance from the other party can be blamed for thwarting that legislation; once its gone, blame for failing to advance it will fall squarely on the majority party itself. McConnell, Manchin, and Sinemathree champions of the filibusterwill be out of power when the next Senate convenes in January. Manchin announced his retirement in November, surmising that he was unlikely to win a third term in blood-red West Virginia with Trump at the top of the ballot this fall. McConnell revealed last week that hell resign as Republican leader in November after 17 years in the role. Then, on Tuesday, Sinema declared that this will be her first and last term in the Senate, departing at the ripe old age of 47. Her Democratic colleagues immediately grasped the implications. Its time to get rid of the filibuster. The filibuster has been anti-democratic and has done a whole lot more harm than good, Elizabeth Warren said. John Fetterman, an unlikely ally of Republicans lately on issues like immigration and Israel, reverted to partisan form and said he too favors ditching the practice. Ruben Gallego, the Democrats nominee to replace Sinema in Arizona, criticized her repeatedly for defending the filibuster in 2022 and would presumably vote to eliminate it as well upon joining the Senate. In short, if the left retains control of the White House and Senate next year, the 60-vote threshold is probably gone. Whereas if Republicans regain the White House and Senate, the 60-vote threshold is also probably gone. John Thune, a contender to replace McConnell as conference leader, told Politico this week that he supports keeping the filibuster. But John Thune doesnt lead the Republican Party, of course; the man who does also happens to believe that its time to dump the 60-vote rule. And he has good reason to do so given whats happened on immigration since he left office. Had Trump been able to lock in his policies as president with federal statutes instead of resorting to executive orders that were easily undone by his successor, the crisis at the border might never have grown as dire as it has. McConnells successor will hear that argument from the MAGA base over and over next year: No more executive orders. To make America truly great again it must be made great durably, and durable change requires legislation. If that means getting rid of the filibuster to overcome Democratic opposition, thats what it means. Lacking the sort of power base that McConnell had amassed from years of being in charge, a newbie leader like Thune or John Cornyn will have a harder time ignoring that argument than his predecessor did. Democratic lawmakers will hear the same thing from their own base if they retain power in Washington, especially concerning abortion. The only way to restore the right to choose in red states that have banned it is to codify that right in federal law and trust that the supremacy clause or commerce clause will carry the day in court. Democrats will never find 60 votes for cloture on a bill like that, but if they manage to keep the Senate majority, they can certainly find 51. But theres more. The bases of both parties have what Id call intangible reasons to want to nuke the filibuster. For grassroots Republicans, politics in Washington is essentially an extended litmus test of their leaders resolve to fight. Whether a 51-vote threshold for legislation will help or hinder the rights agenda long-term will matter less to them than whether Trump supports getting rid of it (hint: yes), whereupon the focus will shift to whether figures like Thune are willing to take his side or not. Refusing to do so, even for sound prudential reasons, will be treated as proof of a lack of nerve. When theres a big fat juicy norm like the filibuster thats sitting in Trumps crosshairs, a loyal Republican must pull the trigger or be thought a RINO. For grassroots Democrats, eliminating the filibuster is part of a broader rebellion against minority rule by the GOP. Despite having won the national popular vote just once since 1992, Republicans have prevailed in three presidential elections and are poised to win again with a minority of the vote this fall. Democrats have controlled the White House for two-thirds of that time, yet its conservatives who control two-thirds of the Supreme Court. The nature of the Senate is such that states with a fraction of the population of Los Angeles County enjoy the same amount of representation as the entire state of California. Amid all that, allowing Republicans to go on roadblocking Democratic legislation in the Senate is tantamount to abetting a grand-scale GOP veto over the preferences of the great American majority. Left and right may have different reasons to oppose the filibuster but one thing that unites them, I think, is the logic of hyper-polarization. In a less partisan era, when the stakes of politics are low, the cost of the other party blocking your agenda in the Senate is similarly low. In an era like ours, when both sides catastrophize manically about governance by the other threatening the countrys existence, the urgency to lock in your sides agenda by hook or by crook is intense. If every election is a Flight 93 election then by definition your representatives in the Senate should do whatevers necessary to break into the cockpit and take command. Theres also a cold, hard logical calculation to moving first in nuking the filibusternamely, status quo bias. Conventional wisdom has it that each party secretly wants the other to be the first to go nuclear. That way, it can attack the first-mover for its affront to norms and capitalize legislatively once it regains the majority by retaining the new 51-vote threshold. But Democrats eagerness to ditch the filibuster proves that thinking is outdated, just as it proved outdated for judicial nominees more than a decade ago. The benefit of going first and getting your preferred policies on the books is that American voters will gradually adapt to them and normalize them as the new status quo. Later, when the out-party takes power and moves to repeal or reform those policies, it may find that voters have gotten used to them and will resent the effort to upset their new expectations. That seems especially likely to happen with abortion. If Democrats eliminate the filibuster first and codify the Roe regime on abortion, Republicans might find voters unhappy about subsequent GOP efforts to roll back that law. But if Republicans eliminate the filibuster first and enact a middle-ground 15-week ban, Democrats might find voters wary of subsequent liberal efforts to extend abortion rights through the duration of pregnancy. Whoever sets the baseline on policy has an enormous advantage in making sure that policy endures. Thats the story of almost every entitlement America has ever created, most recently and notably with Obamacare. So, its settled then: The filibuster is dead next year no matter which side wins, right? Eh, not really. We start as we often do, with math. How likely is it that either party will control both chambers of Congress and the White House in 2025, the only scenario in which eliminating the filibuster would make sense? Not very. For Democrats the odds are close to zero, as the Senate map this fall appears too difficult for them not to lose a few seats. The odds of a GOP takeover are better with Trump leading in presidential polls, but the tiny advantage Republicans have in the House and the comic dysfunction of their conference makes it easy to imagine the lower chamber flipping. Especially, perhaps, if Trump is en route to a second term: Voters who worry about what he might do with power have an obvious reason to make sure the lower chamber of Congress will provide a check on him by electing Democrats. Lets say Republicans do win back control of the government, though. Then the filibuster is dead, yes? Maybe not. It depends on how many Senate seats they end up with. Contrary to popular belief, Trump doesnt yet own 100 percent of the Republican Party. Among the sliver of opposition that remains are Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, both of whom voted to convict him at his second impeachment trial, both of whom supported Nikki Haley in this years primary, and both of whom have enough crossover support in their home states to make them viable electorally despite MAGA antagonism. Oh, and both of them are pro-choice. If the GOP ends up with 51 seats and moves to end the filibuster for the sake of passing a 15-week abortion ban, Collins and Murkowski might slide into the Manchin and Sinema roles of the next Congress. Even 52 seats wouldnt guarantee the end of the filibuster depending on who the 52nd Republican in the Senate is. Trump enemy Larry Hogan stands a chance of winning in deep blue Maryland, and he almost certainly wont join an effort that would infuriate the majority of voters in his home state. There are other reasons to think Republicans might not push as hard to end the filibuster as we assume. Although populists should, and will, prefer to see Trumps policies formalized in federal legislation, an authoritarian movement built around a messianic strongman is inevitably more comfortable with executive action than it should be. Some Republicans might conclude that it doesnt matter what the Senate does or doesnt do because the GOP is never leaving power; others might reason that its actually better if the Senate doesnt act, as the RINOs there would inevitably water down Trumps agenda in doing so. Cynical types might even prefer to keep the filibuster around as a meaningless nod to norms and proper procedure to placate normie Republicans as Trump goes about wrecking the executive branch. Its also possible, if not likely, that traditional Republicans like Thune will decide that defending the filibuster is a hill worth dying on if Trump makes a strong push to end it. The reason is simple: The right has more to lose in the long run than the left does from ditching the 60-vote threshold because Democrats have a more robust policy agenda than Republicans do. The easier it is to enact legislation, the better it is for the side with the more ambitious program. A party like the GOP that now exists mainly to keep the other party out of power doesnt gain as much from procedural reforms that remove obstacles to wielding power. Granted, ending the filibuster would theoretically make it easier for Republicans to repeal new Democratic laws that were passed in the prior Congress, but I direct you again to my point about status quo bias and Obamacare. The one-way ratchet is a real thing, as every conservative should know. As if all that werent enough, Republicans keen to end the filibuster will shortly run into an electoral problem. If they cant muster the votes to get rid of it in 2025 or early 2026, theyll confront the possibility of another Trump-fueled Democratic wave election in the 2026 midterms and/or a Democratic presidential takeover in 2028. The closer they get to losing power, the weaker the argument for eliminating the 60-vote threshold will become. If they want to do it and reap the benefits, they wont have much time. What about Democrats, though? If, against all odds, they control the entire federal government next year, is the filibuster dead for sure? Its probably dead, but not surely. We shouldnt assume from the fact that Manchin and Sinema have been outspoken in the filibusters defense that theyre the only members of their conference who support retaining it. Some of their colleagues have a habit of hiding behind them on tough issues: A Senate Democrat who disliked the lefts voting-rights reforms or the ambitions of the Build Back Better plan could nonetheless safely vote yes and please progressives in their base knowing that the legislation wouldnt advance thanks to Manchins and Sinemas opposition. Without those two in the Senate next year, therell be nowhere left for those colleagues to hide. So what will, say, Jon Tester of deep-red Montana do if Chuck Schumer asks him to provide the deciding vote to end the filibuster in the name of resurrecting Roe v. Wade as a federal statute? I think its even possible that some moderate Democrats will begin to develop a strange new respect for the filibuster as the long-term threat from a radicalizing, illiberal grassroots right rises. Its one thing to prefer a lower 50-vote threshold when there are two normal-ish parties and your side has the more ambitious legislative agenda among them. Its another thing to prefer it when youre no longer sure what the other side is capable of and what the Jacobins whove seized control of it might want to do with power in five or 10 years time. The Jacobins will end the filibuster when they have the chance no matter what Democrats do! a liberal might reply, fairly enough. But this is the point of the Katie Porter and Kathy Hochul examples from earlier: If, when the time comes, you want the public to see the Jacobins for what they are and to turn against them, it would help a bunch not to normalize their excesses preemptively with your own behavior. So, while the filibuster is doomed eventually, it might spend a bit more time on death row than we think. And when it does eventually go, we might not end up with the sort of legislative ping-pong from one congressional term to another that everyones expecting. You know what I mean by ping-pong. First the Democrats codify Roe, then the Republicans take over Congress and codify a 15-week ban, then Democrats take over again and re-codify Roe again, and so on. That would be absurdalthough, it must be said, pretty classically democratic. I dont think that would happen long-term. Eventually the parties would converge on a broadly popular position, with the next majority concluding that tinkering with the extant policy is more trouble than its worth. If voters warmed up to a new 15-week ban, and polls reflected that, Democrats might think better of spending political capital to repeal it and extend legal abortion to the moment of crowning. Convergence on a broadly popular position would be a classically democratic outcome too. So, to the extent that our politics remains a process for enacting policies that most voters prefer, ending the filibuster might not be the disaster most of us imagine. And to the extent that its become a battlefield for performative culture-war jihad, in which the point is simply to own the other side by erasing its governing legacy to the fullest extent possible, uh oh. 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. A media adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu recently claimed that a video he shared on social media showed opposition leader Peter Obi making a case for online scammers. The claim is misleading: while the original footage showed Obi comparing the activities of internet swindlers to the alleged embezzlement of public funds by the countrys leaders, he outrightly condemned online fraud. Peter Obi makes case for Yahoo Yahoo boys. Incredible he could use one wrong to justify another (sic), reads the caption of the video shared on X by Bayo Onanuga, a media adviser to the Nigerian president. Yahoo is Nigerian slang for internet fraud. The post, published on February 29, 2024, has been shared more than 850 times, with many in the comment section criticising the Labour Party's Obi for his perceived support of internet fraud. A screenshot of the misleading claim, taken on March 6, 2024 In the 43-second clip, Obi is heard saying that the authorities were "chasing young boys with computers and say they are doing yahoo-yahoo when people are stealing billions, which we have as a government. The same short clip was posted here, here and here. Obi ran against Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria's presidential election in February 2023. Nigerian internet fraud More than 2,800 people were convicted of cybercrime in 2022, according to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (archived here). The agency is yet to publish the figures for 2023. Several high-profile cyber-fraud cases have also been linked to Nigerians outside the country. For instance, Nigerian Instagram influencer Ramon Olorun Abbas was handed an 11-year jail term in the United States in 2022 after being found guilty of conspiring to launder tens of millions of dollars through a series of online scams (archived here). Abidemi Rufai, a politician and aide to the Ogun state governor in southwest Nigeria, was also convicted in the US for a similar crime in 2022 (archived here). He was sacked after his crime came to light. However, the claim that the video showed Obi publicly backing internet fraudsters is misleading. Full video Using the InVID-WeVerify video verification tool, AFP Fact Check found the original, longer version of the footage. The video was published on YouTube by Nigerian broadcaster Channels Television on February 26, 2024 (archived here). In the clip, Obi commented on the government's recent clampdown on bureaux de change operators (BDCs), calling the move ill-advised. The Nigerian government is in a stand-off with foreign exchange players, including BDCs and the cryptocurrency platform Binance, as it battles a currency crisis that has eroded the value of the naira (archived here). The crackdown on Binance took a drastic turn when Nigeria detained two of its executives (archived here). Three minutes and 3o seconds into the original footage, AFP Fact Check found the full extract used in the misleading posts (archived here). Today, we spend more time chasing young boys with computers saying they are doing Yahoo Yahoo when people are stealing the billions, which we have as a government," Obi said. At 0421, he stated that he was not excusing any crime but added that the priority should be holding government officials accountable for stealing public funds (archived here). I am not encouraging anybody to steal, but well deal with those stealing our common resources first, he said. One of the accounts sharing the misleading clip in Nigeria is called George Udom. It has a history of posting disinformation and pro-government content to its more than 222,000 followers. AFP Fact Check has previously debunked false claims shared by this account including here, here and here. In contrast to the GOP narrative of a too old, too sleepy, too-weak-to-lead 81-year-old president, Biden was often fierce, fast and forceful. On the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, President Joe Biden channeled the civil rights activists, one of whom sat in the first ladys box, who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to force America to do right by all of its citizens. He was defiant declaring, I will not bow down, referring to the war in Ukraine. Addressing Jan. 6 insurrectionists, he was patriotic, bellowing, You cant love your country only when you win. And name checking one of the most well-known bridge marchers, he was demanding: It is time to do more than talk. Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. With a tone of strong optimism Biden pronounced, the state of our union is strong and getting stronger. What quickly ensued was a chant accompanied by a standing ovation of mostly democrats of Four more years! President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Washington. Seated at left is Vice President Kamala Harris and at right is House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. (Photo by Shawn Thew/Pool via AP) In contrast to the GOP narrative of a too old, too sleepy, too-weak-to-lead 81-year-old president, Biden was often fierce, fast and forceful as he addressed abortion rights, the IVF ruling in Alabama, banned books and the attempts to eradicate Black history. His declarations were repeatedly met with applause, primarily from Democratic congressional members. That support in the Capitol continued at the White House, reportedly celebrated into the early morning. The clap in for President Biden was said to be resounding when he returned to the White House following the State of the Union Address. His staff lined a corridor to receive Biden with welcoming applause for what they described as a victorious speech. The Bidens were said to have stayed up until early morning celebrating after an extended stay at the capitol. White House sources confirmed the administration met with civil rights leaders in the lead up to Bidens address. Those leaders talked with speech writers to contribute to the overall themes for Black, Latino and Asian American communities. And notable Black guests attended the speech in the U.S. House of Representatives at the request of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Bidens. Darryl George, the Texas student kicked out of school for his hairstyle, was the guest of the Congressional Black Caucus. Democratic Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents Georges district, said prohibiting George from attending school because of the length of his locs should not have been condoned and is racist. The CBC is rallying around George and his mother to take his case to the Department of Justice and Education to seek a remedy. In attendance in the first ladys box was Bettie Mae Fikes of Selma, Alabama. Fikes is known for her rendition of This Little Light of Mine on Bloody Sunday. Joining her was fellow Alabamian Latorya Beasley of Birmingham. According to the White House, Beasley and her husband had their first child through in vitro fertilization in 2022 and were in the process of expanding their family when her embryo transfer was abruptly canceled as a result of the recent Alabama Supreme Court decision. In discussing domestic policy, the president referenced the Alabama IVF controversy, in which that states Supreme Court has ruled that embryos produced via in vitro fertilization are children. Beasleys presence highlighted the issue that has often left millions of Black women out of the conversation. For the Black community, whose salaries are often not equal to white Americans, expanding their families is a costly socio-economic issue with a price tag that can exceed $20,000 for each IVF attempt. Additionally, Black women are disproportionately afflicted with fibroids, which can affect fertility. Beyond Beasleys attendance, Biden amplified his commitment to reproductive freedom and womens health care with a vow. I will restore Roe v. Wade, he promised during the domestic portion of his 6,500-word speech. In the second row, Latorya Beasley of Birmingham, Ala., stands to the right of first lady Jill Biden as President Joe Biden speaks during the State of the Union address on Capitol Hill, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Washington. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein/AP) Addressing another domestic issue, this time related to education, Biden said, Banning books is wrong. Instead of erasing history, make history. In assessing the speech, California Democratic U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler said, Honoring John Lewis, recognizing the sacrifices of Bloody Sunday, historic investment in HBCUs, Black entrepreneurship, lowest ever Black unemployment, reducing college debt, calling for the passage of voting rights legislation, President Biden, while he acknowledged there is more to do, made clear that he is listening the voices of Black Americans and is working hard to move our community and our country forward. Never miss a beat: Get our daily stories straight to your inbox with theGrios newsletter. The post President Bidens fiery State of the Union addresses voting rights, banned books and HBCUs appeared first on TheGrio. US President Joe Biden delivers 2024 State of the Union address at the US Capitol. Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa President Joe Biden has said the United States must continue to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "My message to President Putin who I've known for a long time is simple. We will not walk away," Biden said in his State of the Union address to both chambers of Congress on Thursday evening. "If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you he will not," the Democrat politician warned. Biden is once again calling on Congress to authorize further US aid for Ukraine. "Ukraine can stop Putin - if we stand by Ukraine and supply the weapons," said the 81-year-old. Ukraine is not asking for US soldiers and he will not send any, the US president emphasized. The Republicans wanted the US to relinquish its leading role in the world, he said. Biden also condemned statements made by his predecessor Donald Trump on the NATO defence alliance. "It's dangerous and it's unacceptable," he warned. Trump recently said at an election campaign appearance that he would not provide any US support to NATO allies with low defence spending in the event of a Russian attack. "We have to stand up to Putin," said Biden. The US has been considered Kiev's most important ally over the past two years since the start of the Russian war against Ukraine. The US government has supplied Ukraine with huge quantities of weapons and ammunition. For some time now, however, there have been no more supplies from the US. A new aid package of around $60 billion for Ukraine has passed the Senate. However, it is now stuck in the second chamber, the House of Representatives, where Republicans are blocking it. US President Joe Biden (C) delivers 2024 State of the Union address at the US Capitol. Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again suggested his country as a platform for negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, including for a "peace summit" with the participation of Russia. Source: Erdogan at a joint press-conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda Erdogan stated that during the conversation with the Ukrainian president, he shared his observations and sincere thoughts about the Russo-Ukrainian war and stressed that Turkiye supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and a stable peace. Erdogan stressed that the war "has an increasingly negative influence" and expressed his frustration about the fact that the potential of the negotiations platform created by Turkiye in March 2022 had not been used. "Since the beginning we were making and are currently making a contribution into ending the war through negotiations. We are ready to hold a peace summit involving Russia," Erdogan said. He added that Ankara offered its support for new agreements between Ukraine and Russia like the Black Sea Grain Deal. Zelenskyy noted that he had discussed the forthcoming peace summit in Switzerland with Erdogan and he counted upon Turkiyes leadership in the implementation of this initiative. Zelenskyys statement implied that Erdogan was trying to convince him to involve Russia in this format during the talks, even though he did not say it directly. "On the format of the inaugural summitWe do not understand how people who block and destroy everything and kill everyone can be invited. We want results: a just peace for Ukraine. So let the civilised countries work out a detailed plan and achieve results with it first, and then we can involve Russian representatives ready for just peace," Zelenskyy stressed. Background: Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara continues to support a peaceful settlement of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is ready to offer a platform for relevant "negotiations". Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye, stressed the necessity to hold negotiations on a ceasefire in Ukraine as soon as possible. Support UP or become our patron! NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 7, 2024 / A&S Investment Holding , a family-owned holding company based in Turkey, has revealed that its Founder/CEO, Ugur Akkus, has been awarded an EB1A visa to the United States. With his new visa status, Akkus will implement A&S Investment Holding's plans to increase its operations across the USA as well as leverage this accessibility to grow in Canada. Billionaire Ugur Akkus, the CEO and founder of A&S Investment Holding For decades, A&S Investment Holding has been transforming multiple sectors in Turkey, including I.T., retail, real estate, banking and finance, construction, mining, and energy. Akkus, who is listed as one of Turkey's youngest billionaires, and his team have increased the impact of A&S Investment Holding across Europe and other international markets, particularly during COVID, the lockdown, and the global recovery. Now worth over $5B, A&S Investment is a global name and focuses on ethics, value, innovation, and service in business. In 2023, A&S Investment Holding increased its investments in North America when it acquired three gold mining companies in Canada and one in the USA. After these strategic purchases, A&S Investment Holding was poised to implement the next phase of its expansion in North America. With the new EB1A visa for Akkus, these plans are now being implemented. After receiving the EB1A visa, which requires proof of extraordinary ability, Akkus will now be focused on meeting with potential new business partners within the United States, with an eye on leveraging the investment landscape to scale A&S Investment Holding even further. The company will be scouting more potential gold mining investments around North America, along with exploring advantageous opportunities that will help to cement its legacy in international business. "We are excited to be here in America. A&S Investment Holding has already proven what it can do in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia," says Akkus. "Now it is time for us to show the United States why we are a global leader in investments across multiple industries." Story continues About A&S Investment Holding A&S Investment Holding is a highly respected holding company that for nearly 50 years has been contributing to Turkey's development and stable economy. Its mission is to integrate new businesses based on the principles of quality, value, service, and excellence. For more information on Ugur Akkus, A&S Investment Holding Company, and the company's expansion into worldwide industries, please visit the company's website or contact: Ugur Akkus, A&S Investment Holding Company Email: info@asinvestmentholding.com Phone: 0212 801 48 64 SOURCE: A&S Investment Holding View the original press release on accesswire.com President Joe Biden is expected to make a trip to New Hampshire next week. The President will deliver remarks on lowering costs for American families, he will later participate in a campaign event. The Biden-Harris campaign launched its Im on Board Month of Action on Friday, designed to engage and mobilize voters and volunteers in the fight for the soul of the nation. The campaign will also launch a $30 million, six-week paid media campaign, dramatically expand volunteer engagement, multiply battleground staff, and launch key coalition groups. Thanks to the historic, grassroots enthusiasm were seeing for this president and vice president, Team Biden-Harris is making big, early investments to connect directly with voters on the issues that will define this election with an all-out show of force headed into the general election, said Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign Manager Julie Chavez-Rodriguez. This will be the presidents first visit to New Hampshire since April 2022. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Pool Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI March 7 (UPI) -- Talking about historical threats to democracy, President Biden launched his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress Thursday evening, during which he listed his achievements, set his future agenda, and forcefully made his case to voters to elect him for a second term. He began by promising Ukrainians that the U.S. would not back away from defending them in the face of the ongoing oppression and war by Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying of the Russian president's actions: "It's outrageous. It's dangerous. It's unacceptable." "We have to stand up to Putin," Biden said. "We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down. In a literal sense, history is watching." He also talked early about threats closer to home, referencing the January 6th, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Pool photo by Alex Brandon/UPI "My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth of January 6th. I will not do that," Biden said. "This is a moment to speak the truth and bury the lies. And here's the simplest truth. You can't love your country only when you win." The president also vowed to restore Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. President Joe Biden prepares to deliver the State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Pool photo by Shawn Thew/UPI "In its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court majority wrote 'Women are not without electoral or political power,'" Biden said in the House chamber. "No kidding. Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024. If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again." Kate Cox, who attended as first lady Jill Biden's guest, was more than 10 weeks pregnant when she learned of her fetus' fatal anomalies. Cox sued Texas for the right to terminate the nonviable pregnancy and later had to leave the state to receive abortion care. President Joe Biden arrives to deliver the State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Pool Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI An Indiana doctor who provided abortion care for a 10-year-old girl after she was raped and was denied an abortion in Ohio is also scheduled to attend. Broader healthcare issues also were also a centerpiece of the president's speech. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. (L), and expelled former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., talk as they wait for President Joe Biden to deliver the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Pool Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI "Americans pay more for prescriptions drugs than anywhere in the world," Biden said. "It's wrong and I'm ending it." Biden also called for lowering insulin costs to a maximum of $35 a year and capping drug and other costs for seniors on Medicare. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (L) talks to a colleague as he arrives before President Joe Biden delivers the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Pool Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI He also called on wealthy Americans and corporations to pay additional taxes, but promised his administration would work to make the tax code more equitable, taking a swipe at former President Donald Trump. "Do you really think the wealthy and big corporations need another $2 trillion in tax breaks?" Biden said, referring to a tax break enacted by the Trump administration. "I sure don't. I'm going to keep fighting like hell to make it fair! Under my plan, nobody earning less than $400,000 will pay an additional penny in federal taxes. Nobody. Not one penny." Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., talks to a colleague as she waits for President Joe Biden to deliver the annual State of the Union speech in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Pool Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI Biden jokingly sparred with Republicans who openly disagreed with some of his points about Trump's previous actions. "Oh, you won't want another $2 trillion tax cut? That's good," Biden chided GOP members, looking at their side of the chamber while responding. President Joe Biden delivers the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI Some in the chamber seemed to ignore Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson's pleas for decorum, which he had laid out for his party rank and file on Wednesday. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, wearing a red MAGA hat, openly yelled and gestured toward Biden during a part of his speech. Biden seemingly ignored her. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (R) chats with Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, before President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Pool Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI Security officers arrested at least one protester after that person shouted over Biden at one point. Biden also addressed the war in Gaza an different parts of his address. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown arrives before President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Pool Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI The president officially announced the construction of a temporary port along the coast of Gaza to allow more humanitarian aid into the region as the war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza continues. "No U.S. boots will be on the ground," he said. "This temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day. But Israel must also do its part. Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren't caught in the crossfire." President Joe Biden delivers the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI Also Thursday night, the families of American hostages being held in Gaza attended the speech to call attention to their loved ones who have been held by Hamas since Oct. 7. Many wore white and the number 153, the number of days the hostages have been held. Biden also put forth his proposal on immigration and border security issues. Biden said his proposal would give him emergency authority to close the border when the number of migrants at the crossing is "overwhelming." President Joe Biden arrives to deliver the State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Thursday. Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI It would add 1,500 more border security agents and officers, 100 more immigration judges to help focus on a back load of 2 million cases, and 4,300 more asylum officers, allowing the judicial system to address cases "in 6 months instead of 6 years," Biden said. Biden also said his proposal would add 100 more high-tech drug detection machines to increase the ability to screen and stop vehicles from smuggling fentanyl into America. President Joe Biden delivers the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI "This bill would save lives and bring order to the border," Biden continued. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the the U.S. Border Patrol both endorsed the bill, Biden continued. Republicans, at the behest of Trump, have refused to vote for the bill. A protester shouts as President Joe Biden delivers the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Thursday. Pool Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI The president's speech largely served as the kickoff for Biden's presidential re-election campaign against the presumptive Republican nominee, Trump, who won sweeping victories in primaries on Super Tuesday this week. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., shouts as President Joe Biden delivers the annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Thursday. Pool Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI The Office of the President of Ukraine has announced details of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Turkiye, which will take place on Friday, 8 March. Source: European Pravda Details: The Presidents Office stated that Zelenskyy will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The leaders will discuss the Peace Formula, the organisation of the Peace Summit, the safety of shipping in the Black Sea, global food stability and the release of Ukrainian prisoners, political and otherwise, held in Russia. "Special attention will be paid to joint projects in the defence industry during the visit," the statement said. Zelenskyy will also visit shipyards where corvettes are being built for the Ukrainian Navy and meet with representatives of Turkish defence companies. Background: The previous day, Zelenskyy's visit was announced by the Turkish side. The Turkish presidential office said that during the meeting, Zelenskyy and Erdogan would discuss the course of the war, the Black Sea grain deal and bilateral relations. The meeting between Zelenskyy and Erdogan comes after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan insisted on the need for negotiations on a ceasefire in Ukraine. Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara continues to support a peaceful settlement of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is ready to offer a platform for relevant "negotiations". Support UP or become our patron! One of the alleged doubles of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, Ruslan Yunusov, reportedly died at the end of January in the war against Ukraine, the Telegram channel Agency.News reported on March 7. Ruslan Yunusov, who changed his name to Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin several years ago, died at the end of January in the war in Ukraine. His personal information appeared on the list of killed near the village of Robotyne paratroopers from the Pskov 76th Guards Air Assault Division. The wife of his brother confirmed Yunusovs (Prigozhins) death to the Agency. Read also: Prigozhins alleged death deliberate terrorist act, Ukrainian intelligence believes A list containing 296 names, including Yunusovs, was published by the one of the Russian propagandist Telegram channels. Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin, listed under number 195, turned out to be the only one with a second surname, name, and patronymic indicated Yunusov Ruslan Fetikhovich, the message stated. Terengulsk regional authority in Russias Ulyanovsk Oblast reported Yunusovs death in February. According to his brothers wife, Yunusov served in the Pskov Airborne Division and joined the occupation forces voluntarily. Yunusov changed his name, surname, and patronymic in 2018 to match Prigozhins fully, according to Russian media outlet Fontanka. Before his arrest for robbery in 2019, he explained the surname change due to his line of work as a security guard. Read also: Prigozhin likely killed over control of Wagners Africa business Bellingcat In 2020, Yunusov was sentenced to eight years in prison for robbery and was still serving his sentence as of August 2023. The BBCs Russian service mentioned him as one of the three most famous Prigozhin doubles. Prigozhin used doubles to conceal his movements, The New York Times reported on July 7, 2023, citing an anonymous Pentagon official. During a search at the Trezzini hotel in Saint Petersburg, believed to be Prigozhins office, fake passports with his photos were found, Russian media reported on June 25. On June 24, the Wagnerites, led by Prigozhin, halted their one-day mutiny after discussions with the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. Following the talks, Putin presented the Wagnerites with three options, one of which was exile to Belarus. Recently, an insider at the Pentagon, cited by U.S. newspaper the New York Times, stated that it was uncertain if Prigozhin had actually been to Belarus, as he might be using doubles to conceal his movements. Read also: Prigozhin among passengers of crashed plane Russian state media 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 When Prince Jackson was young, his father, Michael Jackson, gave him valuable advice. My dad used to say, I dont care what you want to be when you grow up, you just have to be the best at it,' Jackson explained on the KTLA 5 Morning News. The eldest son of the King of Pop has taken that advice to heart and has used it to launch the Heal Los Angeles Foundation, a play off his fathers former Heal the World Foundation. Jackson is continuing his fathers philanthropic legacy but focusing on the Greater Los Angeles area. He and a classmate, John Muto, came up with the concept while they were both students at Loyola Marymount University. His goal with that foundation was to end child hunger, child abuse and homelessness on a global scale, Jackson said. So we took that model and we wanted to emulate it and inspire kids within our campus to do the right thing to go out and make the world a better place. So thats why we call it Heal Los Angeles. The once student service organization is now an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We did pivot our mission statement. Our mission is to provide programming and extracurricular activities for the youth of Los Angeles that encourage them to pursue their dreams while also building fundamental life skills, he explained. One of the highlights of the program is its cooking class. The foundation sends participants a box of groceries, spices, a chef hat and an apron so they can whip up the meal at home while following along online in a virtual class. Its so engaging because youre not just staring at a screen, youre actually cooking, he said about the program. These kids were learning new skills and eating nutritious meals, but also bonding with their families. What happened with this program, and it was such a beautiful externality that we couldnt have anticipated, is that we had family spending more time together, he revealed. So mom and dad were in the kitchen, grandma was helping out family, brother, sister, they were all making this meal together. And at the end of the day, spending time as a family eating that meal. The foundation also launched a Career Day initiative, which does what Jacksons father did for him, exposing them to different career paths. If you like art, you dont necessarily have to be a painter, he said. There are so many different things you can do. So the point of this is to expose kids to new career opportunities, and if theyre inspired, they can go up and talk to our professionals and ask questions. This year will mark 15 years since the legendary performers passing. However, his legacy as a musical icon is alive and well today with the MJ The Musical, the Las Vegas spectacular Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil and the upcoming biopic Michael. Jaafar Jackson, Jermaines son, will portray his uncle in the biopic. So far, his performance has blown his cousin away, and the production of the film has allowed him to know another side of his father. Working on my fathers biopic, you meet so many people who knew him at a time when I wasnt even born yet. And you get to learn about this man that I grew up with that I love. But I get to see him in a new light, he explained. I get to see what it was like working with him or what it was like being his friend. Its just such a gratifying experience for me. Heal Los Angeles is joining forces with Charity Buzz, an internet auction company, for a unique opportunity thats also for a good cause. The prize is a featured walk-on extra role on my fathers upcoming biopic, he revealed. The production company was really gracious to donate this package to us. For more information on how you can participate in the upcoming auction, visit charitybuzz.com/michaelmovie. The deadline is March 11 at 12:01 p.m. PST. The Michael biopic is slated to be released in April of 2025. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The Princess of Waless brother, James Middleton, is to publish a memoir, it has been announced. Mr Middleton has written a vulnerable account of his life, including his battle with clinical depression, and the help he found from his beloved dog Ella. Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life is described as a unique memoir which will surprise and chime with readers far and wide. Mr Middleton is very close to his family, including parents Michael and Carole, and sisters Catherine and Pippa. The memoir seems unlikely to ruffle royal feathers, and is said to focus closely on Jamess relationship with Ella and how it changed his own life. It follows the controversial best-selling royal memoir by Prince Harry, Spare. Gary Goldsmith, the Princess of Waless uncle, is currently in the Celebrity Big Brother house. Ella was my therapist Mr Middleton said of the book: Ella was so much more than just a dog she was part of me, a true companion, my closest confidante, and very often my therapist. My life would not have been the same without her and I wanted to commemorate her and the way that she helped me reconnect with the world at a time when I felt lost. I know that many other people will have had their own Ellas, or are perhaps in need of one right now, so I hope that this book will also help us to talk more openly about our mental health, our need for connection, and the way in which the animals that we think we are taking care of are always looking after us in return. James Middleton says his life would not be the same without Ella - Chris Terry Promotional material for the book describes how Ella bounded into James life when he was just 20 years old, forming an unbreakable bond which saw them go everywhere from Scottish mountain sides to royal weddings together. The dog later helped James introduce himself to his future wife, Alizee, with whom he now has a child. Mr Middleton paid tribute to the pet in an Instagram post in January last year, in which he revealed Ella had died. Threaded through this life-affirming story of one mans love for his dog is an honest account of Jamess battle with clinical depression, said a spokesman. During his most difficult times, Ella was the most devoted of friends, who loved James unconditionally, read his moods, and knew just when and how to intervene to help him. Ella was even the reason that James went to therapy. Book left me sobbing on the Tube The book will be published by Octopus on Sept 26. Briony Gowlett, publisher, said: There have already been several memorable moments in this books life: James lifting spirits to dizzying heights by bringing five of his six dogs to our pitch meeting; followers lighting up the comments section of James Instagram at merely the hint of James writing this book, and me, audibly sobbing on the Tube as I read the final chapters. And I expect thats just the start for this unique memoir. What has struck me most when editing Meet Ella, is how little we (the public) really know James, and therefore how lucky we are that he has been so generous and vulnerable in sharing a story that I believe will surprise and chime with readers far and wide. 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. Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images The US unemployment rate was 3.9% in February, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The release out Friday also showed there were 275,000 jobs added, larger than the forecast. Average hourly earnings in February also rose by 4.3% from a year earlier. February's job growth was strong and similar to January's revised job gain. According to Friday's news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US experienced job growth of 275,000 in February. That was above the forecast of 198,000. That also was larger than January's revised growth of 229,000. January's prior estimate was 353,000, as noted in the news release published in February. "This is exactly the progress that we want to see," Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su told Business Insider. "And exactly the definition of stable, strong economic growth." Additionally, December's job growth of 333,000 stated in the February release was updated to 290,000 in the new report. Leisure and hospitality saw large job growth in February, with an increase of 58,000. "Employment in food services and drinking places increased by 42,000 in February, after changing little over the prior 3 months," the latest news release from BLS stated. Government employment also increased by 52,000. Manufacturing and wholesale trade experienced a decline in their employment levels. "I think that the labor market is still quite resilient, but it is cooling and slackening," Julia Pollak, the chief economist at ZipRecruiter, said. "I think that these figures may even overstate the strength of the labor market and definitely overstate the breadth of job gains because of changing seasonal patterns in employment in America since the pandemic." Pollak also pointed out the large job gains seen in December and January were revised downward and an increase in the unemployment rate in February. The unemployment rate ticked up from 3.7% in January to 3.9% in February, per Friday's news release. This rate was expected to come in at 3.7%. Story continues "We know that increases in the unemployment rate can snowball quite quickly and turn into bigger increases," Pollak said, adding "that when people lose their jobs, they pull back on spending, businesses see their revenue decline and cut jobs more." "So I think that's definitely something to keep watching both business perceptions of consumer spending and actual hard data on consumer spending as well as this unemployment rate," Pollak added. The labor force participation rate remained at 62.5% in February, which was also the rate a year prior. The employment-to-population ratio also fell from 60.2% to 60.1%. Additionally, the new data release noted average hourly earnings increased 4.3% from February 2023 to this past February. Year-over-year wage growth has been pretty similar in recent months, with most of the recent year-over-year increases in average hourly earnings being around 4.3%. Additionally, average hourly earnings increased from $34.52 in January to $34.57 in February. "I think this is a labor market that's sort of returned to some familiar trends," Nick Bunker, Indeed Hiring Lab economic research director for North America, told BI. "One where job gains are strong but not as robust as a couple years ago, but strong enough to keep the labor market pretty strong." Bunker added that despite the increase in the unemployment rate in February, it could end up being what was seen last year "where it rose but then came back down." The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported on job openings and other data for January earlier this week. Job openings fell by 26,000 from December's level to 8.9 million in January. The number of hires also ended up falling, dropping from around 5.8 million to 5.7 million. The number of quits declined as well, and the quits rate ticked down from 2.2% in December to 2.1% this past January. That's also way below the most recent high of 3.0% in April 2022. "The once high-flying quits rate continues to fall and is now below its pre-pandemic level, which could signal both that workers that found good opportunities over the past few years and are happy to stay in their new role, and that workers are feeling less confident about their prospects for finding a new job," Bunker said in written commentary earlier this week. Amid the data seen this week, job seekers and workers "should still feel generally positive," Bunker told BI. "If you have a job right now, you're in a good position when it comes to job security," Bunker said. "That layoff rates are very low, moves from having a job to unemployment were still quite low in this report as well. Now, if you are someone who has a job, is looking to switch jobs or wants to switch jobs right now, it's going to be tougher than the past." Read the original article on Business Insider The US Army analyst accused of selling military secrets to China including details about advanced aircraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles pleaded not guilty at his first appearance in court Friday morning in Nashville, Tennessee. Sgt. Korbein Schultz, 24, was arrested at his post Thursday hours before the six-count federal indictment against him was unsealed. Prosecutors allege that since June 2022, Schultz, an intelligence analyst, had been selling sensitive U.S. military information to someone in Hong Kong who worked for a geopolitical consulting firm. He shared information about advanced military helicopters, high-mobility artillery rocket systems, defensive missile systems and Chinese military tactics, according to the indictment. He is accused of receiving $42,000 in exchange for the information, prosecutors said. Schultz walked into U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara D. Holmes' courtroom just before noon Friday wearing a dark khaki shirt, black pants and tan boots. His shirt was stretched and distressed at the neck. His hair was in a typical Army cut, and he had tattoos on both forearms. He was shackled at the ankles in orange cuffs. Schultz appeared despondent when entering and kept his eyes down when seated before the hearing began except for glances to the gallery where four reporters, a handful of lawyers and a defendant for an upcoming case were seated. None of Schultz's family was present in the courtroom. U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Henry C. Leventis announces Thursday the indictment of Sgt. Korbein Schultz, who faces charges of selling military secrets to China. Schultz on Friday pleaded not guilty. Holmes read the charges against Schultz and the maximum sentence each count carries if convicted. Conspiracy to gather, transmit or lose defense information, count 1 in the indictment, carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence if convicted. All three counts of unlawful export of defense articles, as well as the corresponding conspiracy charge, carry a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The count of bribery of a public official carries a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Read the indictment: Tennessee soldier accused of selling military secrets to China Schultz was represented by Mary-Kathryn Harcombe, a public defender in Nashville, but he will likely be appointed new counsel. Harcombe told Holmes she believed Schultz qualified based on income and assets for a court-appointed lawyer. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Kurtzman was there for the government. Holmes said that a hearing over whether Schultz will remain in custody until trial will be held before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alistair Newbern. That hearing will likely occur sometime next week. Prosecutors wrote in a motion that they worry that if released, Schultz may flee to the alleged coconspirator in China. As late as Thursday, prosecutors said they learned Schultz and the conspirator began using cryptocurrency to further hide their tracks. "[I]t appears that Schultz has a valid passport, (the conspirator) has unlimited resources to enable Schultz' flight from prosecution, and, based on the seriousness of the charges he is facing, Schultz has every incentive to flee," they wrote. "... Were the defendant to flee to Hong Kong, it would be practically impossible to extradite him back to the United States." FILE- In this May 16, 2018, file photo, a U.S. F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet lands as South Korea and the United States conduct the Max Thunder joint military exercise at an air base in Gwangju, South Korea. They also worry that Schultz may threaten or intimidate potential witnesses if released. Federal agents interviewed several people with professional or personal connections to Schultz on Thursday who provided information "material to the investigation," prosecutors said. Schultz was handcuffed and exited the court less than 30 minutes after entering. Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean, part of the USA Today Network. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on X @EvanMealins. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: US: Soldier Korbein Schultz sold military secrets to China used crypto New Jersey's longest-serving Muslim mayor has announced a campaign to challenge incumbent Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. in the June primary elections for the Democratic nomination in the 9th Congressional District. Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah officially declared his candidacy on Thursday, touting his background as an educator and former volunteer firefighter with more than 30 years of public service. "Now more than ever, our nation requires leaders who genuinely listen to the diverse voices of their constituents; leaders who are dedicated to building bridges and building a better future," a statement from Khairullah reads. "I firmly believe that by working together and engaging with communities at the grassroots level, we can create meaningful change." Mohamed Khairullah, mayor of Prospect Park, speaks during the a press conference and rally in solidarity with Palestinians on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Paterson. Pascrell, 87, served as mayor of Paterson in the 1990s before winning election to Congress in 1996. If he wins reelection, he would be the oldest member of the House of Representatives and the second-oldest person in Congress. Congressman Pascrell is eager to run for reelection against any challenger on his broad record of supporting the American economy, defending women's health freedom, and protecting American democracy. He has always had a good relationship with the mayor, including being the first in line to demand an explanation from the Secret Service when the mayor was banned entry to the White House, said Pascrell campaign spokesman Ben Rich. Since he was first elected Prospect Park mayor in 2005, Khairullah has advocated for his constituents through policies such as affordable housing, modernized infrastructure, green initiatives and artificial intelligence, according to the statement. The mayor, it reads, aims to continue serving the public in Congress by addressing a range of issues in local communities while innovating the government for the 21st century. "My campaign is dedicated to promoting peace, rebuilding trust with the community, and championing the values of unity and progress," Khairullah said. "Its time to move forward." Khairullah is so far the lone primary challenger to Pascrell, who received the endorsement of Democratic leaders in Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties last month. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh had been contemplating a run against the incumbent but decided not to seek the seat a week before the endorsements. More: These famous people were not born in New Jersey, but are buried here Khairullah made national news last May when he was abruptly disinvited from a White House Eid al-Fitr celebration. At the time he said he was stunned after getting a call disinviting him while he was in his car just miles away from the event. Khairullah said he was informed that the Secret Service denied him security clearance and he could no longer attend the gathering of prominent Muslim leaders and President Joe Biden. The mayor was not on the federal terrorism watchlist when the U.S. Secret Service denied his security clearance, his attorneys said at the time. Khairullah was placed on the watchlist in 2019, but his name was later removed from the list, said attorneys with the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Still, federal agencies have continued to use the list to scrutinize and surveil Khairullah and other Muslims even after their names are cleared, they said. In September, CAIR filed a lawsuit in federal court in Boston against the FBI and other federal agencies on behalf of a dozen plaintiffs, including Khairullah. The group alleges that the agencies are violating its clients' rights to due process and equal protection under the law and that they were subjected to unreasonable search and seizure. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: North Jersey mayor challenges Rep. Bill Pascrell in primary A group of protesters calling for a cease-fire in the war in Gaza on Thursday gathered near the White House and the U.S. Capitol ahead of President Joe Bidens State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress to show their opposition to the presidents handling of the ongoing conflict. Protesters blocked Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., along the route Bidens motorcade usually takes from the White House to the U.S. Capitol, reportedly forcing the president to take a longer route. Demonstrators staged a sit-in on Pennsylvania Avenue, with many holding banners reading CEASEFIRE and BIDENS LEGACY IS GENOCIDE, as they demanded an end to the violence that has so far killed over 30,000 Palestinians, according to local officials. This comes as talks between Israel and Hamas for a temporary truce ahead of the holy month of Ramadan have so far stalled. A Hamas spokesperson said those talks would continue next week, according to The Associated Press. Hundreds of demonstrators demanding an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip unfurled a large Palestinian flag and staged a sit-in on a major roadway President Joe Biden would normally use to reach the U.S. Capitol, just minutes before he is set to address a joint session of Congress on March 7, 2024. Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images Hundreds of demonstrators demanding an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip unfurled a large Palestinian flag and staged a sit-in on a major roadway President Joe Biden would normally use to reach the Capitol building, just minutes before he is set to address a joint session of Congress on March 7, 2024. Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images A pool report prepared by reporters traveling with the president said his motorcade did not pass by any large protest groups on its way to the Capitol but said protesters could be heard from the White House during his departure. Earlier Thursday, according to The Washington Post, police arrested a man who allegedly revved his cars engine toward those gathered to call for an end to the war. Im only 18 years old! Im only 18 years old! the man was heard shouting, the Post reported. A young man drives his Fort convertible right in front of a protest where advocates of a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war protest at different locations in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 2024. The man was immediately surrounded by law enforcement and arrested. Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post via Getty Images On the House floor, progressive lawmakers, including Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the only Palestinian-American representative in Congress, and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) held signs reading lasting ceasefire now and stop sending bombs, respectively. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) hold up signs reading "Lasting Ceasefire Now" as President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill on March 7, 2024. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images Bush also brought Intimaa Salama, a masters student at St. Louis University who was born and raised in Gaza, as her guest at Thursdays event. Salama, who has lost 35 members of her family since the war began, told HuffPosts Rowaida Abdelaziz the White House has blood on its hands over its approach to the conflict. They cant undo this, but they have the power and responsibility to save lives, Salama added. Some lawmakers also wore white labels with the number 153 written on them, in reference to the number of days Hamas has held on to hostages it took during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which also killed about 1,200 people. Apart from Washington, protesters took to the streets in cities across the country, including Los Angeles and Boston, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, Biden during his address said he has ordered the U.S. military to establish a temporary port in Gaza to increase the flow of urgently needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians. This comes as a movement for Democrats to vote uncommitted in primaries to send a message to Biden over his handling of the war has been picking up steam. Over 19% of voters in Minnesotas primary on Super Tuesday voted uncommitted, after about 12% of Michigan Democrats did the same last week. Related... This is a locator map for Syria with its capital, Damascus. (AP Photo) IDLIB, Syria (AP) A powerful al-Qaida-linked group that dominates much of rebel-held northwestern Syria released Friday one of its founders after he spent months in jail on suspicion of having links with forces outside the country. The release appears to be a move by the militant group's top leader to appease the public as many have been protesting over the past week, demanding he leave and asking that the detainees be released. On Friday, hundreds marched in a show of defiance against the militant chief, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who runs the al-Qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. The protests took place in the city of Idlib, the capital of the province with the same name, and surrounding towns and villages. Al-Golani, we dont want you, chanted some of the protesters in Idlib. The al-Qaida-linked group has crushed several rival groups in the enclave over the past few years and violently suppressed any protests against it. But public anger against the militants' wrongdoings has escalated. The released militant is one of the group's co-founders, Maysara al-Jubouri, better known as Abu Maria al-Qahtani. He had been jailed since August over misuse of social media. The group said he was released after an investigation proved he was innocent. Earlier in the week, the militant group released 420 detainees from its jails, following similar demonstrations sparked by the recent death of a member of a rebel faction, allegedly while being tortured in a jail run by the al-Qaida-linked group. There have been allegations that the jails run by al-Golani targeted the group's own members suspected of allegedly having provided intelligence to the U.S.-led coalition, which over the years led to the killing of top al-Qaida commanders in drone strikes in different parts of Syria. During a rally on Tuesday night in the town of Daret Azzeh, al-Qaida-linked militants opened fire at the protesters but no casualties were reported. Public sentiment against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's leader has been rising since it arrested several senior members of the group, previously known as Nusra Front. The group has sought to distance itself from al-Qaida over the past years. Al-Jubouri, an Iraqi citizen, had been a longtime al-Qaida member who fought against U.S. forces in Iraq following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. In 2011, he was one of several al-Qaida figures who moved to Syria, months after the countrys ongoing deadly conflict began. ___ Mroue reported from Beirut. Gillian Keegan told head teachers she believed educators should not have to face disrespect from inspectors - JUSTIN NG/AVALON Gillian Keegan has said she would have punched rude Ofsted inspectors who visited a school in her constituency if she had been a teacher there. The Education Secretary told a conference of head teachers on Friday that she had spoken to teachers at the school in Chichester, Sussex, after it had been inspected. They told me how their Ofsted experience had gone and I was shocked, she told the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) conference in Lliverpool. I was actually shocked. I thought, God, if I had met these people, I would probably have punched them. They were really rude. I mean you expect people to be rude to you when youre a politician, you kind of sign up for that. But when you are trying to run a school and educate children and change lives, you dont expect somebody to come in and not be respectful. Responding to her comments, Sir Martyn Oliver, the chief inspector of Ofsted, called for a calming of tensions. Chief inspector wants fresh start He said: I am much more interested in a fresh start and calming down tensions. Thats in far better interests for the children and the professionals in the country going forward. I think people should act with professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect on both sides. Sir Martyn has been seeking to reset the relationship between Ofsted and teachers after the death of Ruth Perry, a primary school head who took her own life last year after receiving a poor Ofsted rating. A Berkshire coroner found in December that an Ofsted inspection of Caversham Primary School in Reading in November 2022 contributed to Ms Perrys suicide. A photograph of Ruth Perry on the fence at another Berkshire school, where the head planned to refuse Ofsted entry after Ms Perry's death - ANDREW MATTHEWS/PA WIRE Heidi Connor said the inspection was at times rude and intimidating and that this likely had an effect on Ruths ability to deal fully with the inspection process. Mrs Keegan sought to charm school leaders on Friday, a year after she shunned their last conference amid threats of teacher strikes over pay. She credited head teachers for rising standards in schools and pitched herself as more a businesswoman than a politician, referring to her 30-year career in business, starting as an apprentice at a car factory in Liverpool. She told the head teachers: The most important thing is the people in your organisation, they are the only thing that really matters, getting good people and retaining good professionals, continuing developing good people, listening and respecting good people. Union says ministers comment not becoming A union leader criticised Mrs Keegan over her punching comment following the speech on Friday. Mike Short, head of education at Unison, said: Clearly theres much that can and should be improved in the way Ofsted inspections are carried out. But to suggest punching people is an appropriate reaction is not becoming of a government minister. At the conference, Sir Martyn also addressed the school leaders and told them Ofsted can do more to recognise the challenging circumstances you face. The Ofsted chief added that it isnt fair to expect teachers to combine their roles with being a social worker, or an educational psychologist. On Friday, Ofsted launched a 12-week big listen consultation, asking parents, carers and teachers about their views of the inspectorate. However, Prof Julia Waters, Ms Perrys sister, warned: Sir Martyn will need to move from a big listen to a big change pretty quickly, or this exercise will be a big waste of time. Prof Waters is campaigning for high-stakes one-word Ofsted judgments to be scrapped because of the pressure they create for school leaders. Call to speed up sex education guidance Meanwhile, Geoff Barton, the ASCL general secretary, called on the Department for Education to release its consultation on new relationships and sex education guidance. Rishi Sunak brought forward a review of sex education in schools in March last year after The Telegraph revealed evidence of widespread teaching of radical gender ideology in classrooms. However, the proposed new framework, which is expected to tell schools they must treat gender identity as a contested belief, has yet to be published. Mr Barton said the sex education guidance for schools should have been done by Christmas, so we are still waiting. He added: It needs to be done to take away some of those contentious issues about at what age do you teach particular issues to young people. We would want to have enough flexibility that you can customise that to the young people in their context in front of you. But that guidance, frankly, could they get on with it? The Department for Education has been contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Frappy, the pintsize pit bull puppy discovered in a larceny suspect's pocket, is back in the care of authorities after Eastpointe Police investigated allegations that the dog was abused. Eastpointe Police Chief Corey Haines told the Free Press in an email that Frappy was surrendered to the city's animal control after authorities started a forfeiture proceeding. "We have custody of Frappy and will be turning this wonderful puppy over to one of our rescues so that (she) can be adopted out to a loving family," Haines wrote. Frappy came into the care of Eastpointe authorities Feb. 21. The city attorney filed the complaint for forfeiture against Brian Askin and Shatoria Lane, each of whom faces a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals, according to online district court records. Lane also is charged with misdemeanor hindering and obstructing. Both are scheduled for arraignment April 1, according to online court records. An approximately 5-week-old pit bull puppy that was found in a jacket pocket of larceny suspect out of Roseville on Jan. 16, 2024. The puppy was turned over to Macomb County Animal Control after Roseville Police officers found it. Haines said that both appeared in court Wednesday, but Lane was removed from the complaint for forfeiture. He said the dog was Askin's, and Askin surrendered the dog. He stated both were issued misdemeanor violations because, at the time of the incident, authorities couldn't confirm the owner. Video of alleged puppy abuse Eastpointe authorities became involved after video was brought to them appearing to show the puppy being dragged across a sidewalk and grass, hurled into the air numerous times by her leash and collar and slapped on the backside by a man, with the dog barking afterward, according to Haines and video obtained by the Free Press through a Freedom of Information Act request. Haines stated in an email last month that authorities received videos from an anonymous source, sent to them about 7:45 a.m. Feb. 21. Authorities spoke with the occupants of a home on Dale Avenue about 9:30 a.m. to confirm the puppy was there, and a search warrant was executed at the residence about noon that day. Haines stated the city's animal control officer assisted the detective bureau "with the drafting of a search warrant to take Frappy into our protective custody and away from the alleged abuser. The search warrant was executed and Frappy was safely taken into our custody." Haines said the city attorney filed the complaint to have Frappy forfeited from the current owner because of the allegations of abuse. He stated the puppy did not have obvious signs of injury, but was monitored and taken to a foster home for further care and housing until the case was to be resolved. A police report obtained through the Freedom of Information Act states an anonymous neighbor contacted the city's animal control officer about a man "throwing, dragging and smacking" a small, gray pit bull puppy. Owners deny harming pit bull pup An officer who went to the home about 9:20 a.m. wrote in the report that a woman there refused to open the door, but indicated a puppy lived at the address when the officer asked if any dogs lived there. When the officer indicated he was looking into a recent complaint about animal cruelty, "the female opened the front door and stated her puppy was fine while pointing at a small gray pit bull puppy in front of the door." She told the officer her name was Star Harris, per the police report, and hesitated, but then told the officer only she lived inside the home. An officer who assisted with the search warrant served at noon indicated talking with Lane, who said her name was Star Harris, the police report said. When questioned about her identity, she "advised she was in a protection program out of Minnesota that allows her to not provide her legal name to police officer" and that she had paperwork from a prosecutor's office because she was a victim of domestic violence. When the officer explained she had to provide her legal name, she closed the door and would not speak with officers any further, the report said. It indicated she was mailed a citation for hindering and obstructing. More: 6 sibling dogs at Macomb County Animal Control are at center of custody battle The animal control officer wrote that when authorities served a search warrant at noon, Askin and Lane "stating they loved their dog and have never harmed the dog," according to the police report. It states the animal control officer advised the couple they would receive a court day for a forfeiture hearing. The officer took the dog to a veterinary hospital to be checked for health issues and to receive vaccinations since the owners were unable to say when the dog received shots. Frappy's rap sheet Haines said Eastpointe authorities advised Macomb County Animal Control about the abuse allegation because the county office had taken custody of Frappy after the dog was discovered in Askin's jacket pocket after the incident in Roseville. Eastpointe Police Chief Corey Haines, speaking about an unrelated case when he served as police chief in Madison Heights. Roseville Police on Jan. 16 found Frappy zipped into Askin's jacket pocket while patting him down in connection with the theft of money from a bank. Estimated to be about 5 weeks old at that time, Frappy was a palm-sized bundle of gray fur and blue eyes, and had ears cropped with stitches. Askin, 24, was charged with larceny from a person in the alleged theft of about $5,200 in a bag at the bank, Roseville Police Chief Mitch Berlin said. A probable cause conference for Askin in the Roseville case was adjourned until March 27, with a preliminary exam set for April 3, according to online records in 39th District Court in Roseville. Askin's attorney in the Roseville case, Robbie Lang, said March 1 that he was unable to comment on the Eastpointe matter because he was unaware of it. Lang could not be reached Thursday afternoon. No attorney was listed for Lane in online court records. Askin is not facing animal neglect or animal cruelty charges in the Roseville case. The county's animal control returned Frappy to him after he was released from the county jail after the Roseville charge was filed and he paid an impound fee. At that time, the county's Chief Animal Control Officer Jeff Randazzo said he met with Askin after he was released from jail and talked with him about caring for the puppy. He indicated that the office wanted to help with vaccines and microchipping and said Askin and the puppy would be on the office's radar. He was "hoping to take a bad situation and (make) it better." Randazzo said he was "extremely disappointed" to hear of the recent allegations and "our whole team is crushed." He said his office returned Frappy because Askin had not been charged with animal abuse or animal neglect in the Roseville incident and it did not have proof as to whether Askin had the puppy with him at the time of the alleged larceny, as the puppy was found on him at the time of his arrest in Detroit. Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Frappy, pit bull puppy in larceny suspect's pocket, dragged in video (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin heaped praise on Russian women on Friday, International Women's Day, singling them out for providing the gifts of motherhood, charm and beauty, part of a long-running campaign to boost the country's birth rate. The 8th March holiday has been one of the most popular in Russia since Soviet times, marked by gifts of flowers and sweets -- and effusive speeches extolling the feminine qualities of women and their skills in making households run. "Today in Russia, the family - its interests and needs - is the focus of our attention, our absolute priority," Putin said in a video greeting to mark the holiday. "We will do everything so that families with ... multiple children and young parents feel the state's help and concern." Addressing women directly, Putin said they took on complex tasks "and so impress us men with your ability to do it all quickly, in a timely fashion, while also taking great care. "You cope with a great pile of problems and worries while all the while remaining charming and beautiful. How can one not simply admire this?" Putin has intensified a drive to boost Russia's birth rate, saying in his annual address to parliament last week that large families "must become the norm, our society's philosophy of life and a benchmark for government strategy". Families with three and more children, he said, were "our great pride". And this year's version of presidential greetings included a special mention of women involved in the two-year-old conflict, or "special military operation" in Ukraine, with praise for those women who "perform military tasks" or "await our heroes". The theme of upholding family values has become a rallying point for Putin while decrying what he describes as declining moral standards in the West and a legal framework for liberal views of sexuality and same-sex marriage. Russia's Supreme Court banned the LGBT movement last November, continuing a pattern of increasing restrictions in Russia on expressions of sexual orientation and gender identity. (Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Sandra Maler) (Bloomberg) -- JPMorgan Chase & Co. will continue hiring in China for its asset management business as it targets growth in the worlds second-largest economy. Most Read from Bloomberg Chinas mutual fund industry remains an irreplaceable growth market for global asset managers, Desiree Wang, JPMorgan Asset Management China chief executive officer, said in an interview on Friday. It offers a great certainty of growth. JPMAM China kicked off 2024 with an ETF tracking the new CSI A50 index, raising 2 billion yuan ($278 million) in less than 10 days. It was the only global asset manager among 10 such companies that created similar products. The fund will be listed on Tuesday. Wang said the company will keep hiring in China, focusing on investment, research and distribution talent. The company has no major downsizing plan for the asset management business in the country, Wang said. JPMAM China plans to keep its headcount largely the same throughout the year. Wall Street banks are navigating an increasingly challenging terrain, as China tightens scrutiny over its financial sector. Despite the countrys promises of opening up its asset management and pension sector for foreign firms, many have found it hard to increase market share, while others including Vanguard Group Inc. have retreated. Read More: BlackRock, Fidelity Lose Out in $1 Trillion China Pension Market Other asset managers have also dialed back. Matthews International Capital Management LLC is closing it Shanghai office, the company said on Friday. Earlier this month, the chief investment officer of Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s wealth management business said that one should not invest in China. Story continues JPMorgan Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said in January that calculating the potential upside for US firms investing in China has became more complicated, even though the country has been very consistent in opening up to financial-services companies. The lender has invested significant resources in the asset management sector in China. It gained full control of its China mutual fund joint venture last year, after buying out local partners to expand in the 27 trillion yuan market. It also bought a stake in China Merchants Bank Co.s asset management subsidiary for about 2.67 billion yuan. Based in Shanghai, JPMAM China has been operating in China for 20 years. Originally known as China International Fund Management, the company changed its name last year. It offers more than 90 mutual fund products covering equities, fixed income and outbound investments via the Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor program. JPMAM China serves 64 million retail and institutional clients in the country and oversees about 160 billion yuan. Read More: JPMorgan, StanChart Approved for Fully-Owned China Ventures Wang says that Chinas mutual fund sector will continue to grow as more people shift investments into assets beyond property. Only 10% of household wealth is in equity and mutual funds in China, compared with about 33% in the US, she said. The company is among a number of global asset managers trying to win a bigger slice of the market. Nine foreign companies have won approval for wholly-owned mutual fund operations in China, according data compiled by Oliver Wyman. Meanwhile, at least five foreign companies have set up collaborations with local partners to offer wealth management services approved by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, now known as National Administration of Financial Regulation. Among them, Amundi SA in December 2019 became the first foreign firm to win a 55% majority stake in a wealth management services firm. The joint venture with Bank of China Wealth Management turned a profit in 2022, marking a milestone for Europes largest asset manager. BlackRock Inc. and Temasek Holdings Pte have also started a wealth-management business in China along with China Construction Bank Corp. Schroders has set up a joint venture with Bank of Communications Co. --With assistance from Joanne Wong and Zhang Dingmin. (Updates with comments from Goldman, Matthews Capitals retreat) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Regina, who identifies as non-binary, speaks at the Sagrada Familia church in Mexico City before a mass that promotes the inclusion of the LGBTQ community (CARL DE SOUZA) As a teenager, Victor Rodriguez felt excluded from his religion for being gay, but now he's welcome at inclusive masses in a Mexico City church, where same-sex couples have also begun receiving blessings with the pope's endorsement. Speaking during the sermon, the 39-year-old said that when he was younger he was pressured to leave the seminary because of his homosexuality. Accompanied by his husband, he asked the congregation to pray for people who reject them: "For the priest who took me out of the church for being the way I am." The inclusive masses at the majestic Sagrada Familia in Mexico City's Roma district have taken on added significance following the Catholic Church's approval in December of blessings for same-sex couples. The following month, the first two such blessings were given in the Sagrada Familia after the inclusive mass. "It was a miracle from God. We're very Catholic. I never thought that a church would accept me with my partner, my sexuality," said Arturo Manjarrez, accompanied by his husband Carlos Sanchez. Mexico City approved same-sex marriage in 2010, becoming a pioneer in Latin America. Twelve years later the Supreme Court legalized it throughout the Catholic-majority country. Jesuit priest Gonzalo Rosas has worked with the LGBTQ community for more than a decade, officiating a monthly inclusive service at the Sagrada Familia that is now replicated in three churches in the capital. When he arrived at the church in 2013, he "found a lot of sexual diversity," said the 68-year-old priest, who uses inclusive language in his sermons. "I looked for organizations, young people to talk to. They told me 'father, the church excludes us' ... I invited them to see what path we could take together and the idea of a mass arose," he said. - Reconciliation with church - There was already a choir made up of young members of the LGBTQ community who had left the seminary and used to meet to pray in a house, said choir director Eduardo Andrade. After the arrival of Father Gonzalo, the choir felt able to be more open about its members' sexual orientation, said Andrade, an activist with Colectivo Teresa, a theological organization aimed at LGBTQ people. Wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the word "blessed" in rainbow colors -- a symbol of LGBTQ pride -- he described the inclusive mass as a "unique" experience in Latin America because of their frequency and openness. Some parishioners, however, were uncomfortable and distanced themselves, said Andrade, a member of the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics, which works for the inclusion of the LGBTQ community in the Roman Catholic Church. Father Gonzalo recalled that his superiors authorized inclusive events on the condition that they did not become politicized. The choir's members include Regina, a teacher who identifies as non-binary and remembers attending the mass for the first time dressed more like a straight person. "They said to me, 'where's the outfit, where's the makeup?' And when I entered, I saw that it was totally different. I reconciled with the Church," Regina said, wearing makeup and holding a fan. - 'All human beings' - But change is now in the air. In December, the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, its department for Roman Catholic doctrine, said priests could bless "irregular" and same-sex couples under certain circumstances. Priests can only perform blessings for same-sex couples, divorcees, or unmarried couples in "non-ritualized" contexts, and never in relation to weddings or civil unions. A third of Mexico's 32 states accept adoption by same-sex couples, and Father Gonzalo says he has baptized a couple of babies with two mothers. Andrade acknowledged that for some members of the LGBTQ community the blessings authorized by Pope Francis did not go far enough. But "it's better to take a small but safe step," he said. In a neighboring district, Vincent Schwahn, a retired Anglican priest from the United States whose husband is Mexican, welcomed one step "in 2,000 years of homophobia." But he criticized the restrictions on same-sex blessings, which he described as "like blessing a car," and said that "all parishes must be inclusive." Although the majority of the attendees at the inclusive mass are members of the LGBTQ community or their friends and family, others were also participating for the first time. "This is what we have to learn -- we're all human beings. We all have to respect each other," said 77-year-old Irma Juarez. sem/dr/des Muslims across the world are preparing for a month of fasting, spirituality and reflection this Ramadan. Each year millions of Muslims will begin fasting from sunrise to sunset and engaging in activities that challenge their self-restraint and bring them closer to God. The holiday is celebrated on different dates each year. Every year, the holiday starts approximately 11 days before it did the previous year. The exact date always depends on the sighting of the crescent moon. This year the moon was sighted on the night of Sunday, March 10, and fasting began on Monday, March 11. Fasting can last for 29 or 30 days, depending on when the moon signifying the start of the next month is spotted. People stand at a store selling decorations at the Souq Ramadan in Dubai on March 20, 2023 ahead of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. What is Ramadan? Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic or Hijri, calendar. Muslims believe that it was during this month that God revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad. Tyler Mallari, a spokesperson with the Zakat Foundation told USA TODAY that Ramadan "is a time for Muslims to come together, focus on their spiritual and personal development and spend time giving charity and gathering with their community for prayers and events." When is Ramadan? Muslim holy month and Eid al-Fitr dates to know for 2024 Muslims gather along a street-long table for break their Ramadan fast together in a mass "iftar" meal on the 15th day of the Muslim holy month, in the Matariya suburb in the northeast of Egypt's capital Cairo on April 16, 2022. Why do Muslims fast? Muslims who have reached puberty and who are physically capable will fast from sunrise to sunset. Fasting not only means abstaining from food and drink, but also from sexual relations, and ill behavior. Those who are sick, or traveling are exempt from fasting. "The idea is to cultivate awareness of God. Taqwa in Arabic," Imam Ebad Rahman, Religious Life Associate for Muslim Life at Columbia University told USA TODAY. During Ramadan, Muslims may engage with the Quran more, with some even challenging themselves to complete reading the religious text in its entirety, Mallari said. Rahman said Muslims will also reflect on the meaning of the Quran, engage in extra prayers, and "also come together as a community by caring for the needy and sharing their wealth, resources and food, especially in feeding folks," during the month. The idea of "the nearness of God, that God is always near and that God listens to the supplications and prayers of people is really emphasized" during this month, meaning that many Muslims will focus on increasing their good deeds. "It's considered a period where God will multiply rewards and people who try to be on top of their game, try to be especially considerate and especially devout," Rahman said. Fasting during crisis: Biden: 'Very dangerous' not to have a cease-fire in Gaza before Ramadan Volunteers prepare Iftar food plates for Muslim devotees to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan along a street in Karachi on April 23, 2021. The last ten nights The last ten nights of Ramadan are considered to be especially sacred with the holiest night of Ramadan, Laylat Al-Qadr, falling on one of those nights. It's not known when Laylat al-Qadr, known as the Night of Power will be, but many believe it most likely falls on any of the odd nights in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Good deeds are believed to be significantly multiplied on that night, and Muslims may spend the night in reflection, prayer and doing other good deeds. Additionally, the month is also known to be a time when Muslims increase the charity they give. "Muslims are encouraged to embody a charitable spirit in Ramadan in order to benefit their local and broader communities alongside their own personal spiritual development. Through their Ramadan charity, Muslims strive to take care of their neighbors and those around the world in need," Mallari said. People prepare food for Iftar, the fast-breaking meal eaten by Muslims at sundown during the holy month of Ramadan, at a parking lot in Osdorp neighbourhood, on April 14, 2023. How else do Muslims celebrate during Ramadan? Beyond fasting, the month is also a time when communities come together. Mallari said mosques all across the country will host iftars, meals breaking the fast, for their communities. These events can be attended by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. "Iftars are away for Muslims to connect with others in their local Muslim community and engender the spirit of sharing," Mallari said. Indonesian Muslims perform Tarawih prayers to mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan at the Sheikh Zayed Solo Grand Mosque on March 22, 2023 in Solo City, Indonesia. Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, marked the beginning of Ramadan on Thursday with Tarawih prayers. Families and friends also host their own iftars, gathering together to break their fasts, enjoy each other's company, and engage in religious activities together. "In Muslim families, communities, and societies, there's even more attention to what folks are going to break their fasts with and sometimes there's special cuisines or favorite dishes," Rahman said. Rahman said it's a time for coming together and praying together, "especially for those we know are being deprived and are experiencing injustice and oppression, especially at this moment." When does Ramadan end? When is Eid Al-Fitr? This year, it's predicted that Ramadan will end on April 9, with the following day being the first day of Eid Al-Fitr. However, like the start of Ramadan, the ending of the month is also contingent on the sighting of the moon. Muslims end the month of Ramadan with the celebration of Eid Al-Fitr, one of the two celebratory holidays in the Islamic faith. Eid Al-Fitr is a time when Muslims come together in prayer, and also celebrate completing Ramadan. Traditions vary across the world, but it's not uncommon for families to buy new clothes, get dressed up, gather together, and give presents or money to each other. "It's a festive holiday to look forward to," Rahman said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Ramadan 2024? What is it? Muslim month of fasting, explained The Holy month of Ramadan begins this year on March 11. As Muslims around the world prepare to observe Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer and reflection, the plight of the people in Gaza weighs heavily on the hearts and minds of many. In the besieged enclave, where conflict and hardship persist, the arrival of Ramadan serves as a stark reminder of the enduring struggle for justice, dignity and peace. Muslims are called upon to reflect on the situation in Gaza and elsewhere and to reaffirm their commitment to solidarity, compassion, and advocacy for those who are suffering. Ramadan is not only a time of personal spiritual growth but also a time to reflect on the broader struggles for justice and human rights around the world. The situation in Gaza, where Palestinians endure daily hardships due to the ongoing conflict, resonates deeply within Muslim communities. Its a reminder of the injustices faced by Palestinians and the urgent need for a just and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. During Ramadan, Muslims are called upon to reflect on their role in addressing the plight of the people around the world, especially in Gaza, and to take concrete action to support our brothers and sisters in their time of need. To this effect, this year Muslim communities in South Florida have decided to forgo Open Houses to reflect on the suffering of people in Gaza and West Bank. The South Florida Muslim community will work to raise awareness about the situation in Gaza and elsewhere within our communities and advocate for policies that promote peace, justice, and human rights everywhere. It also involves supporting humanitarian efforts to provide much-needed aid and assistance to the people of Gaza. This year South Florida Muslims have decided to support a Grand Iftar to raise funds to help those suffering in Gaza and the West Bank. Moreover, Muslims are reminded during Ramadan of the importance of empathy, compassion and solidarity with those who are suffering. As we fast from dawn till dusk, we are called upon to remember the millions of people around the world and in our local community who go hungry every day. The experience of fasting serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all humanity and the shared responsibility of alleviating the suffering of those in need. In the spirit of Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to come together as a community to support one another and to work towards a more just and compassionate society. This involves organizing interfaith iftars and community events to raise awareness about the suffering, and to foster dialogue and understanding among our diverse communities. It also involves engaging in acts of service and charity to uplift those who are marginalized and oppressed. Locally, South Florida Muslims will be working to alleviate hardship in underserved communities by providing free health services through UHI CommunityCare Clinic (www.uhicares.org) along with providing healthy food baskets in partnership with local Muslim food pantries. As Muslims embark on this sacred journey of Ramadan, let us remember the people who continue to endure unimaginable hardships with courage and resilience. Let us stand in solidarity with them, amplifying their voices and advocating for an end to their suffering and the realization of their fundamental rights. In doing so, we honor the true spirit of Ramadan a spirit of compassion, solidarity and justice for all. Shabbir Motorwala is a founding member of the Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organizations and UHI CommunityCare Clinic based in Opa-locka. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., wants federal employees to disclose royalties they receive from new innovations, an issue he says he's been "concerned about for years." "During COVID, we had vaccines that were developed by Pfizer and Moderna. And then these vaccines were mandated on people throughout government, throughout the military, by different governors around the country, and yet, we don't know whether the people that were approving either the vaccines or the mandates were receiving money from big Pharma," Paul told Fox News Digital in an interview Thursday. Paul's bill, the Royalty Transparency Act of 2024, unanimously passed in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee markup on Wednesday. PETA PLEADS WITH NIH TO STOP FUNDING FOR ANIMAL STUDY, CALLS SLEEP EXPERIMENT CRUEL AND HORRIFIC If passed, it would require that royalties paid out to federal employees be made public on their financial disclosures for anyone to view in an online database. "This is something that I inquired when I had [Dr.] Anthony Fauci in our committee," Paul said. "I'd said, you know, we need to know this, this is a basic conflict of interest problem, and he basically thumbed his nose at the American people." Fauci is the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and former chief medical adviser to the president. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Paul said the bill will allow people "to know whether or not any of the people" approving drugs are "receiving money from the same companies that manufacture the vaccines." For decades, there's been controversy surrounding the transparency of National Institutes of Health (NIH) royalty payouts because they have refused to disclose how much its researchers are getting paid. NEW ALZHEIMERS TREATMENT ACCELERATES REMOVAL OF PLAQUE FROM BRAIN IN CLINICAL TRIALS A physician holds a COVID-19 vial for immunization against virus mutation. NIH scientists have reportedly received $400 million in royalty payouts from third-party companies for medical inventions they produced. Some were even found to be linked to foreign entities, including the Chinese Communist Party. Last summer, the government watchdog group OpenTheBooks found that more than 1,800 government scientists collected 27,244 royalty payments totaling hundreds of millions of dollars from 2009 to 2016. It's not the first time that royalty payments have come under scrutiny. In 2005, an Associated Press investigation laid bare the potential conflict of interest arising when a government employee works on clinical trials for a product while simultaneously receiving royalty payments for it. FAUCI ADMITS SOCIAL DISTANCING NOT BASED ON SCIENCE, SORT OF JUST APPEARED After that report, the NIH promised that scientists would fully disclose the payments to patients, but some lawmakers are now pushing for more transparency. "So, it's not a small amount of money," Paul said. "It's a significant amount of money to scientists, and so some of them are getting million-dollar paydays from big pharmacy companies, and it's not being disclosed to the public." Paul's bill would need to pass the full Senate and the House of Representatives and be signed by the president before it becomes law. Fox News Digital has reached out to the NIH and Fauci for comment but did not hear back at press time. Fox News' Paul Best contributed to this report. Original article source: Rand Paul demands Fauci, NIH scientists disclose pharmaceutical royalties INDIAN CREEK, Utah (ABC4) Nesting season is upon us, and raptors are set to return any day to the Indian Creek corridor to raise their young. While the return of eagles, falcons, and hawks is an exciting time in the state of Utah, it brings with it restrictions that affect rock climbers in particular. READ NEXT: Nations first sky dome resort to open near Bryce Canyon National Park Indian Creek, which is located within the Bears Ears National Monument, attracts expert climbers from around the world and is often referred to as a rock climbing mecca. However, during the spring and early summer months, officials ask climbers to avoid several major climbing routes to help protect wildlife. Officials from the Bureau of Land Management in Monticello say raptors often nest on the same ledge, cliff, or rock wall year after year. Using information from past years, they have determined several areas along the Indian Creek corridor that have a high probability of hosting raptors preparing to raise their young. Officials say by late April or early May they will have determined which areas are actively being used by raptors and the other areas will be cleared for regular use. Climbing areas that have served as nesting locations in the past, and thus will be deemed protection areas, include the following: The Wall, Far Side, The Meat Walls, Cliffs of Insanity, Public Service Wall, Disappointment Cliffs, Fin Wall, Broken Tooth, Cat Wall, Slug Wall, Reservoir Wall and Critics Choice. A map of the Indian Creek areas affected by raptor nesting season. (Courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management Monticello Field Office) The BLM asks climbers, campers, and hikers to completely avoid areas with active nests until the young birds have fledged, which is usually by late summer, a press release says. The release says these efforts, among others, have aided in the recovery of the species within the state. Indian Creek is not the only location expected to see raptors and climbing restrictions during this season. Zion National Park has released a list of areas that are now closed to climbers to protect raptors and their young. Information from Zion National Park says raptors view climbers as predators and any disturbances in the area can lead to the birds acting aggressively or abandoning their nests. For that reason, officials have closed several locations, including popular climbing areas such as Angels Landing (the non-hiking route), The Great White Throne, The Sentinel, and Mount Spry. Closed routes in both Indian Creek and Zion National Park will be reopened after the young birds leave the nest in July or August. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. I learned the importance of voting from my paternal grandmother. For her, as it was for many immigrants and first-generation Americans, voting was a solemn responsibility, a duty of her citizenship. The right to vote is among the most cherished privileges of being a citizen. Many of us considered it a solemn duty but not everyone. Unfortunately, more than half of those eligible to vote never or seldom use their cherished right. Currently, there is legislation being reviewed at the State House that would change who is eligible to vote. Allowing felons to vote As it stands today, in Massachusetts, anyone who is in jail for a misdemeanor or awaiting trial in jail is allowed to vote, typically by mail. But those who are in jail or prison convicted of a felony are prohibited from voting while they are incarcerated. It wasnt always that way. In 2000, voters approved a statewide ballot question making it illegal to vote from prison while serving a felony sentence. Once they have completed their sentence, a former prisoners right to vote is reinstated. Now, some legislators want to change that. A proposal to amend the state constitution to restore the right to vote for incarcerated felons was favorably voted by a legislative committee hoping to put the measure to the 2026 statewide ballot. State Sen. Liz Miranda, one of the sponsors of the bill, said taking away a felons right to vote was a stain on our commonwealths history. For me, heres the best way to decide an issue like this. Think of the most heinous crime imaginable. Should that person be allowed to vote while theyre in prison serving their sentence? I understand the rationale behind the proposal. But I have no stomach for anyone convicted of a crime against a child, abuse of a woman or a hate crime, not to mention murderers and other serious offenders enjoying the privilege of voting while they are still in prison. Their actions have taken that right away from them until they have completed their sentence. Allowing immigrants with legal status to vote For the first 150 years of our countrys history, most states at some point allowed noncitizens with legal status, most often those who owned property, the right to vote in state and local elections. Today, no state allows noncitizens to vote in state elections but at least 13 separate communities across the country in Maryland, Vermont, Illinois and California have given noncitizens the right to vote in some or all local elections. When New York City authorized more than 800,000 noncitizens with legal status the right to vote in its municipal elections, it gave a boost to other communities seeking to do the same thing. In Massachusetts, Amherst, Brookline, Cambridge, Newton, Somerville, Wayland and more recently Boston have all passed local ordinances to allow noncitizens with legal status the right to vote in local elections. But unlike New York, in Massachusetts the state Legislature and the governor must approve a home rule petition before those ordinances could be enacted. Now, it appears that there is some movement in the Legislature to do that. The argument in favor of allowing noncitizens the right to vote in local elections is straightforward. Noncitizens with legal status pay state and local taxes and rely on the same local services as everyone else trash collection, public parks, police and fire support. Many also have children attending local schools. They are invested in the community. However, those who oppose extending voting rights to noncitizens counter that the right to vote has nothing to do with who does or doesnt pay taxes and that voting should be reserved only for actual U.S. citizens. Further, citizenship is open to immigrants who are here legally if they want it. The Constitution and the laws of the United States give certain rights only to citizens. Highest among these is the right to vote. While I understand the rationale for allowing noncitizens the right to vote in local elections, it seems to me that doing so diminishes the privilege of voting the highest right and responsibility of citizenship. Three of my childrens four grandparents were immigrants who initially could not vote. I remember watching my mother study for her citizenship test. And I especially remember how proud and excited she was when she became a citizen and voted for the first time. While she had lived in America for decades, the day that she cast her first vote was the day that she truly felt that she belonged. The experience of working toward citizenship and the pride that comes with achieving it, one shared by millions of immigrants over the years, is worthy of protecting. Allowing noncitizens to vote may even discourage immigrants here legally from pursuing U.S. citizenship. Additionally, it waters down the value of citizenship. All voting should remain a right reserved only for citizens. Crumbling streets contest The ides of March are upon us. The 74th day of the Roman calendar, March 15 corresponds to the day that Julius Caesar was assassinated. In Worcester, it also corresponds to the time of year when city streets begin to erupt with cracks and potholes. Since the Telegram & Gazette likes to run contests (best pizza, favorite ice cream stand, best breakfast place, coolest school mascot), I thought we should run a contest for the Top 10 most neglected city streets. Send me the street youd like to nominate and the reason for it. I may run a future column with some of the winners. Email Raymond V. Mariano at rmariano.telegram@gmail.com. He served four terms as mayor of Worcester and previously served on the City Council and School Committee. He grew up in Great Brook Valley and holds degrees from Worcester State College and Clark University. He was most recently executive director of the Worcester Housing Authority. His column appears weekly in the Sunday Telegram. His endorsements do not necessarily reflect the position of the Telegram & Gazette. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Ray Mariano allowing felons and immigrants with legal status to vote FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Several local heroes were recognized by the American Red Cross during the 2024 Central Valley Heroes Awards event held in Fresno on Thursday. KSEE24 Anchor Emily Erwin and CBS47 Brian Dorman hosted the Central Valley Heroes Awards Breakfast held in Downtown Fresno. Several local heroes were honored at the event. We appreciate everything the Red Cross has done for us and this honor is amazing, we werent expecting it at all, said Sgt. Michael Torres for the Tulare Sheriffs Department. Those are the officers who dashed into a burning home to save a family of six during the Strathmore fire. Awards were handed out to life-saving first responders, innovative non-profit leaders, and life-long Fresno humanitarians like Patricia Amparano Rivera. Ive seen the low of the lows and the best of the best, Rivera said. The Lord will send you people that he wants you to communicate with, and he always puts you there for a reason. You know, like a guiding light through him. This marks the return of the Central Valley Heroes Awards after a seven-year break. The hope is to bring it back in 2025 to highlight more local heroes. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. The American Red Cross is asking the public to check their smoke alarms as they turn the clock ahead for daylight saving time this weekend. Daylight saving time is March 10 at 2 a.m., which is when most people in American will spring forward an hour. The Red Cross said daylight saving time is a good time to check smoke alarms to make sure theyre working. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half as you only have about two minutes to get out, said Jorge Martinez, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. Every second counts when theres a home fire and the sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get to a safer place. When you turn your clocks forward this weekend, test your smoke alarms too to help prevent a tragedy in your home. Over the past year, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help nearly 5,800 people in Pennsylvania affected by more than 1,400 home fires, the organization said. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information if you cannot afford to buy smoke alarms or need physical help to install one. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Pittsburgh Penguins trade Jake Guentzel to Carolina Hurricanes Butler Township woman released from hospital after bear attack, reunites with beloved dog Man says he was badly injured while riding Mon Incline VIDEO: Jim Roddey, 1st-ever Allegheny County Executive, dies at 91 DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) The results are in University of Illinois students overwhelmingly want to keep the UI Ice Arena. University administrators were unsure of the future for the 93-year-old ice arena. So, they put three referendum questions for input on different proposals on the student Spring Election ballot. Olympians reflect on UI Ice Arena during competition Election results from the Illinois Student Council show 88% of students said they would be in favor of keeping and renovating the current ice arena in exchange for an increase of $13 in student fees. In the same results, 90.1% of students disapproved of replacing the ice arena with multipurpose courts for a $5 fee per student. The student body also voted down the Campus Recreation office partnering with a community group to host an off-campus ice arena, with 68.6% of students saying no to that idea. More than 6,350 students participated in the election. The full unofficial election results for all races can be found on Illinois Student Councils website. The chair of the Campus Student Election Commission told WCIA the unofficial results mean write-in votes for candidates havent been certified and any ties have not been resolved. Otherwise, all other results will stay the same. The chair also said it took a week to release the results to resolve any potential voting complaints and for CSEC to compile the data in one readable document. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. The remains of a Navy sailor who was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II has been identified, the Defense Department reported Thursday. Navy Fire Controlman 2nd Class Lawrence J. Overley was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was on Battleship Row in Pearl Harbor when Japanese forces attacked on Dec. 7, 1941, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said in a news release. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, the crew "did everything they could to fight back." An undated photo of Navy Fire Controlman 2nd Class Lawrence J. Overley. / Credit: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency The ship ultimately capsized after being hit by multiple torpedoes, killing 429 people on board, including Overley, the DPAA said. The Los Angeles native was just 21 years old at the time. In 1947, the Navy disinterred the unidentified remains of the Oklahoma crewmen killed in the attack from two cemeteries in Hawaii, and transferred them to the Central Identification Laboratory at Schofield Barracks for identification, the DPAA said. The laboratory was able to identify 35 of them. The 46 who were unidentified were buried in plots at Honolulu's National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, which is also called the Punchbowl, and classified in 1949 as "non-recoverable." The USS Oklahoma floats capsized near the USS Maryland. The ships were destroyed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on September 7, 1941. / Credit: A CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images In another attempt to identify the victims, the DPAA in 2015 exhumed the unidentified remains of the Oklahoma crew from the Punchbowl. In July 2021, the agency was able to use dental, anthropological and DNA analysis to identify Overley, the DPAA said. Overley's name is listed on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl, alongside the names of other missing servicemembers. To indicate he was identified, a rosette will be added next to his name, the DPAA said. Overly will be buried in the Punchbowl on March 27, the agency said. Simply Recipes announces winners of the inaugural "Freezies" awards New York governor deploys National Guard to subways following string of violent attacks Election dynamics unfold as Nikki Haley suspends campaign following Trump victory Revenue Growth : Limoneira Co (NASDAQ:LMNR) reported a 5% increase in net revenues to $39.7 million in Q1 FY2024. Strategic Business Model Shift : The company's move towards an "asset-lighter" business model resulted in a notable 84% improvement in agribusiness operating loss. Cost Reduction : Agribusiness costs and expenses decreased by 5%, reflecting the company's cost management efforts. Real Estate Development : Limoneira Co continues to progress with its Harvest at Limoneira project, with expectations to increase the total number of residential units. Balance Sheet Strength : Long-term debt stood at $51.4 million as of January 31, 2024, with the company maintaining a net debt position of $51.6 million. Guidance: The company reiterated its lemon and avocado volume guidance for FY2024, expecting strong organic growth in the coming years. On March 7, 2024, Limoneira Co (NASDAQ:LMNR), a leading agribusiness and real estate development company, released its 8-K filing, detailing financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024. The company, known for its fresh lemons, lemon packing, avocados, and other agribusiness operations, saw a modest increase in net revenues, which rose to $39.7 million, a 5% increase compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. Limoneira Co (LMNR) Reports Modest Revenue Growth Amid Strategic Shift in Q1 FY2024 Performance and Strategic Shift Limoneira's strategic shift towards a more "asset-lighter" business model is beginning to bear fruit, as evidenced by the significant improvement in agribusiness operating loss, which improved by 84%. This shift is also reflected in the 5% decrease in agribusiness costs and expenses. The company's President and CEO, Harold Edwards, expressed optimism about the impact of this new model on future operating results. Despite the positive trend in revenue and cost management, the company faced challenges due to increased rainfall in California, which delayed lemon picking from the first to the second quarter. However, this is not expected to affect the overall harvest or the quality of the fruit. The company also anticipates the avocado harvest to begin in the second quarter, with favorable market conditions due to reduced import pressure. Story continues Financial Achievements and Metrics Limoneira's financial achievements in the first quarter include an increase in brokered lemons and other lemon sales to $2.9 million and farm management revenue of $2.0 million. These figures are particularly important for a company in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, as they indicate a diversification of revenue streams and an ability to leverage its agribusiness expertise. Key financial metrics from the income statement show a net loss applicable to common stock of $3.7 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $15.5 million, or $0.84 per diluted share in the first quarter of the previous fiscal year. This decline is primarily due to the gain on the sale of the Northern Properties in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA improved to a loss of $4.8 million compared to a loss of $7.9 million in the same period of fiscal year 2023. "We are very encouraged to see the Companys strategic shift towards an 'asset-lighter' business model reflected in our results," said Harold Edwards, President and CEO of Limoneira. Balance Sheet and Liquidity Limoneira's balance sheet shows a net cash used in operating activities of $10.3 million, an improvement from $21.2 million in the prior year. The company's long-term debt increased slightly to $51.4 million, up from $40.6 million at the end of fiscal year 2023. The sale of the Northern Properties in the previous year significantly strengthened the company's liquidity position. Real Estate Development and Guidance The company's real estate development project, Harvest at Limoneira, is expected to yield approximately 1,500 residential units, with negotiations underway to increase this number to 2,050 units. For fiscal year 2024, Limoneira expects fresh lemon volumes to be in the range of 5.0 million to 5.5 million cartons and avocado volumes to be between 7.0 million to 8.0 million pounds. Limoneira's first quarter results reflect a company in transition, with a strategic shift towards a more efficient business model that is beginning to show in its financials. While there are challenges ahead, the company's diversified operations and real estate development projects position it for potential growth in the coming years. For more detailed information and analysis, investors are encouraged to review the full 8-K filing and listen to the conference call scheduled for March 7, 2024. Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Limoneira Co for further details. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. It was a cheerful morning in December of 1908, in Danbury, Connecticut. Clara Clemens, the daughter of Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain), was out for a sleigh ride with her future husband, Russian pianist Ossip Gabrilowitsch. While they were riding the horse took fright at a newspaper whipped about by the wind and bolted. Mr. Grabilowitsch, who was driving, lost control of the horse and held helplessly to the reins. At the top of a hill the sleigh overturned, and Miss Clemens was thrown out. "At the summit of the hill is a sheer drop of 50 feet. When the sleigh turned over the Russian leaped to the ground and caught the horse by the head, stopping it as it was about to plunge over the bank dragging Miss Clemens, whose dress had caught in the runner, over to her death. Clara Clemens was uninjured but in shock, while Gabrilowitsch sprained his ankle. (Elmira Star-Gazette, Dec. 21, 1908) Clara and Ossip had met in Vienna in 1898 while they were both studying piano under Theodor Leschetizky. Apparently they had some attraction to each other which continued after Clara returned to the United States. When he arrived in this country for the first time in 1900, Clara wrote in her biography of him, My Husband, Gabrilowitsch, We had each done a little flirting on the side during the year and a half of separation, and so like airplanes we rolled along the ground before soaring into rosy skies again. Clara Clemens, daughter of Mark Twain, studied piano and was a singer. She performed at Park Church in Elmira in 1907. As things warmed up between them messages were exchanged. One of the messengers was Katy Leary, the faithful Irish maid of the Clemens family. Clara discovered that Katy spoke of Ossip as Count Gabrilowitsch. When she asked Katy her reason, Katie replied, "Well isnt he of great account? In late 1902 they became engaged. Ossip wrote to Clara Chills of joy course through my being with a mighty power the power of infinite ecstasy I am thinking constantly of my fantastic happiness. We are engaged Engaged! The engagement did not last. Apparently these two strong personalities were in love but the challenge of marriage was formidable. It would be in September of 1909, while both were performing at the home of her father in a benefit for the Redding, Connecticut Library, that Ossip asked her once more to marry him, and she accepted. According to Clara, when she told her father he said, What! Again? Well, anyway, any girl could be proud to marry him. He is a man a real man. Katy Leary praised the Lord and asked when? The date was set for 10 days hence on Oct. 6, 1909. The Reverend Doctor Joseph Twitchell, who had married Claras parents, would perform the service. Prior to the ceremony Clara spoke with him, There is one great favor I have to ask you just one my very last. Please exclude the word Obey from my marriage vows. With a laughing kiss he agreed to this intrigue against my future husband. Clara was given away by her father and she was attended by her younger sister Jean. (Sadly, Jean would die on Dec. 24 a little over two months after the wedding.) Her cousin Jervis Langdon was the Best Man. The Star Gazette reported the following about the wedding: Mr. Clemens prepared the following characteristic interview to avoid any delay in the ceremony as he expressed it. Speaking of the bride and groom Mr. Clemens said, Clara and Gabrilowitsch were pupils together under Leschetizky in Vienna ten years ago. We have known him intimately ever since. Its not new the engagement. It was made and dissolved twice six years ago. Recovering from a perilous surgical operation, two or three months passed by him here in this house ended a week or ten days ago in a renewal. The wedding had to be sudden for Gabrilowitschs European season is ready to begin." (Star-Gazette, Oct. 7, 1909) In 1910, Ossip and Clara would welcome their only child, Nina. It would also be the year of her fathers passing. Clara wrote in My Husband, Gabrilowitsch, While Fathers soul was preparing its escape into the beyond, another spark of life was on its way to earthly birth. Mark Twains grandchild, whom he would never see. When the final hour had struck, the curtains drawn, the gates of separation locked we veered to the expectancy of new life and thanked God for a fresh source of love. Ossip and Clara would be married until his death in 1936. At the time of his passing he had been conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since 1918. His obituary noted that, Orchestras responded to his skilled baton in Munich, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Manchester, Philadelphia and Detroit. At the piano he won critical acclaim in all great cities of the world although Gabrilowitsch achieved his highest triumph as pianist and director of orchestras, he was celebrated also as a composer, lecturer, linguist and connoisseur of the seven arts. (Star-Gazette, Sept. 14,1936) On Dec. 13, 1937, the Star-Gazette reported that, seven men worked hours in the bitter cold Sunday afternoon to erect the five and one-half ton monument of Mark Twain and Ossip Grabilowitsch (sculpted by Ernfred Anderson) in the Langdon plot at Woodlawn Cemetery the shaft is exactly 12 feet high or two fathoms the measurement called Mark Twain on the Mississippi . Clara commissioned the monument and the stone for her husbands grave at the foot of Mark Twains grave as he had wished it to be. In 1940, Clara sought counsel from a medium about her love life. He told her that a fresh husband was in transit. According to Thomas Larson in the San Diego Reader of May 8, 2003, she soon met and started dating a dashing Russian emigre musician, who claimed to have conducted many of the worlds greatest orchestras and to be well acquainted with several U.S. presidents. (Nearly all his claims were lies.) In 1944 she married Jacques Samossoud. He was 50, and she was 70 Clara was in love and Jacques was in clover. Clara Clemens, daughter of Mark Twain, pictured at age 85 in 1959 in San Diego, California. When Clara died in 1962 at age 88, Samossoud had blown through assets that had at one time been valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars by gambling and betting on horses. According to Irene Langdon, the late widow of Mark Twains great nephew Jervis Langdon, in Claras declining years Samossoud refused permission for Langdon family members to visit her. Claras daughter Nina accused him of manipulating Clara. Clara is buried next to Ossip at the foot of her mothers grave. When Samossoud died on June 14, 1966 he was buried in an unmarked grave next to Clara. Nina Clemens Grabilowitcsh, the last direct descendant of Samuel Clemens and Olivia Langdon Clemens, died at age 55 on Jan. 19, 1966 and is buried in the Langdon plot at Woodlawn Cemetery. More: The Leaning Tower of Elmira: Did Mark Twain write at West First Street residence? Clara Clemens was born at Quarry Farm on June 8, 1874. She spent many summers at the farm for the next 20 years. When her parents traveled around the world in the 1890s to pay off Mark Twains debts, Clara was the only daughter to travel with them. Although she met Ossip Grabilowitsch while studying piano, her mother noted in a letter dated Oct. 7, 1898, that Clara has left the piano and is taking singing lessons. Eventually she would perform in Elmira. The Gazette and Free Press reported on June 11, 1907 a large audience of music lovers attended the recital in Park Church last evening and greatly enjoyed the program of Miss Clara Clemens, contralto. ... Her voice is full and sweet, splendidly cultivated and perfectly controlled. It is plain to see that a splendid career on the concert stage awaits this charming young woman. Jim Hare writes a monthly Chemung County history column. This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Mark Twain's daughter Clara Clemens studied music, performed in Elmira JOPLIN, Mo. Friday marked two years since two Joplin Police officers were shot and killed by a man with a long criminal record. Joplin Police Corporal Ben Cooper and Officer Jake Reed responded to a disturbance call near 4th & Range Line Rd. where they encountered 40-year-old Anthony Felix. Felix, who was armed, fatally shot both officers. He then stole one of the officers guns and jumped into a patrol car leading other officers on a chase through town. Felix continued to fire on other officers as he drove through peoples yards crashing the patrol car. JPD and witnesses give details into shooting When officers found him he was attempting to steal a van. Thats where they confronted him, and fatally shot him We told you last October when two bridges in Joplin were dedicated and named after Officer Reed and Corporal Cooper. Memorial funds in their honor are now helping others. One helps pay for students attending Missouri Southerns criminal justice program We told you last year officer Reeds wife, Bayley, was pregnant with the couples child. Were happy to share she had their baby boy Charlie and hes doing great. And our thoughts remain with Officer Reeds and Corporal Coopers families and Joplin Police. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) Almost five years ago, the height of the border wall went from 17 to 30 feet in many areas along the US-Mexico border, especially in San Diego. Since then, migrant deaths off the coast of San Diego have increased by 3,200 percent, according to a report in the Times of San Diego. Severe injuries from falls skyrocket since taller border wall installed The article is based on a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA. It was written by Dr. Anna Lussier of the UC San Diego School of Medicine, and Dr. Peter Lindholm, the Gurnee Endowed Chair of Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine Research and professor in residence in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UCSD School of Medicine. The Times of San Diego article says the UC San Diego personnel hypothesized that the change in wall height may have resulted in an increase in marine and maritime migration attempts, resulting in more frequent drownings. Report: Jet skis and surfboards used to cross border illegally into San Diego According to the researchers, drownings in the San Diego region of the Pacific Ocean rose from 1 in the four years before the wall height changed to 33 in the four years after, an increase of more than 3,000 percent. Were trying to determine the actual cause of death: hypothermia? Hypoxia? Swimming-induced pulmonary edema? Lindholm said. UC San Diego issued a statement saying researchers end goals is to better understand medical outcomes among migrants who survive drowning, such as infections from contaminated water, lung injuries even impacts on mental health. Special Report: CBPs Air and Marine Branch busier than ever The statement went on to say, Scientists are also hoping to provide data that can inform decision-making for policymakers and EMS systems, as well as those who provide medical care to migrants who survive marine migrations. On the other hand, researchers have also found that the taller border walls have also led to more injuries from falls in the past four years. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border A Texas Tech surgeon told Border Report last year that based on emergency room and hospital data, the injuries are more severe. There was a wall prior to 2019, but it was shorter, and we saw five to 10 patients a year. For the last two years, we have seen around 250. So, there are more patients, and the injuries are more severe, said Dr. Susan McLean, professor of surgery at Texas Tech University. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) A West Michigan-based truck part company is expanding with a facility in the Wyoming area, Crains Grand Rapids Business reports. Weller Truck Parts has renovated the 131,000-square-foot building at 1250 60th Street near Burlingame Avenue in Byron Township to include remanufacturing space for electric vehicle components, according to News 8 partner Crains Grand Rapids Business. Weller Truck Parts President and COO Terry Stranz told Crains that electric vehicles will be a large part of the companys future growth. As we expand into newer products, both on the electronic side and non-electronic products in the EVs that are coming, we know thats going to take an expansion of people, Stranz told Crains. The facility is expected to add 130 new jobs over the next three to five years, Crains reports. This embedded content is not available in your region. The company was first started in Muskegon in 1928, before moving to Grand Rapids in 1949. It has now grown to include more than 30 locations throughout the country, according to its website. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Abortion and reproductive rights took center stage at the 2024 State of the Union, as President Joe Biden sought to overcome concerns about his re-election chances by emphasizing an issue that has energized voters again and again since the overturning of Roe v Wade. Related: Kate Cox case reveals toll of US abortion bans on women in medical emergencies My predecessor took office determined to see Roe v Wade overturned and he brags about it, said Biden, referring to former president Donald Trump, his presumptive rival for the presidency. Look at the chaos that has resulted. Biden has in large part pinned his hopes for re-election on the passions stirred by threats to abortion rights and, in particular, on his vice-president, Kamala Harris, who has embarked on a nationwide tour to trumpet the threat to reproductive freedom posed by another Trump presidency. The demise of Roe, which was overturned with the help of three justices appointed by Trump, has led more than a dozen states to enact near-total abortion bans. Many do not have exceptions for rape or incest, and doctors across the country have said that exceptions for cases of medical emergencies are unworkable in practice, prompting a stream of high-profile cases of women needing to flee their home states for life-saving medical care. A number of guests attending this years State of the Union address have ties to post-Roe disputes over reproductive rights that are now roiling the US. The first lady, Jill Biden, invited Kate Cox, a Texas woman who had to leave the state for an emergency abortion, as well as LaTorya Beasley, an Alabama woman whose in vitro fertilization treatment was halted after the state supreme court ruled that frozen embryos are extrauterine children. Abortion foes who believe life begins at fertilization have long worked to enshrine protections for embryos and fetuses into law even though such rights can conflict with the rights of people carrying them. Outrage over the overturning of Roe is credited with preventing a widely expected red wave of Republican victories in the 2022 midterms. Abortion rights have also repeatedly won when the issue is put directly to voters in ballot referendums, including in traditionally red states such as Kansas, Ohio and Kentucky. But during the segment of his address about abortion, Biden did not actually utter the word, instead referring to reproductive freedom. Biden, a devout Catholic who has previously said he is not big on abortion, has been criticized by reproductive rights advocates for shying away from using the word. Many of you in this chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom, Biden said. My God, what freedoms will you take away next? Biden singled out Beasley in his speech, urging members of Congress: Guarantee the right to IVF. Guarantee it nationwide. Last week, the Republican Tennessee senator Cindy Hyde-Smith blocked the passage of a bill by the Illinois senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat, to establish federal protections for IVF. On Thursday night, no Republicans appeared to stand in support of Bidens plea for IVF, despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of Americans support access to the treatment. In his speech, Biden also quoted the supreme court majority opinion that overturned Roe. In the opinion, the supreme court justice Samuel Alito ruled that, in demolishing Roe, the nations highest court was returning the issue of abortion to state legislatures and female voters. Women are not without electoral or political power, Alito wrote. And, on Thursday night, Biden agreed. With all due respect, justices, women are not without electoral or political power, Biden said. Youre about to realize just how much. Republican lawmakers mobilized behind the Gold Star father arrested after heckling President Biden during the State of the Union address on Thursday. Steve Nikoui, the father of a U.S. Marine killed by a suicide bomber during the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, stood up and repeatedly shouted, "Abbey Gate!," in reference to the attack at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport that occurred during the military's exit from the country. Nikoui shouted after Biden said, "America is safer today than when I took office." Capitol Police escorted Nikoui out of Biden's address and arrested him. Republicans have since taken to social media to rally around the Gold Star father. GOLD STAR DAD STEVE NIKOUI ARRESTED AFTER HECKLING BIDEN AT SOTU ADDRESS Steve Nikoui yells as President Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Florida Republican Rep. Brian Mast, who invited Nikoui to the address, criticized Biden after the ordeal. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Steve Nikoui, the father of fallen Marine LCpl. Kareem Nikoui, was my guest to {the State of the Union address]," Mast wrote on X. "He was arrested because he cried out to [Biden] to remember his son." "Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success!" Mast said. Rep. Mike Waltz, also a Florida Republican, posted a picture of himself alongside Nikoui and took aim at Biden. DID BIDEN PASS OR FAIL? FORMER PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHWRITERS GRADE THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS "This Gold Star father - Steve Nikoui - lost his son Kareem Nikoui at Abbey Gate Afghanistan," Waltz wrote on X. "Then Kareem's older brother committed suicide over the loss." "To this day, Biden has never apologized or said Kareem's name in public," he continued. "And Steve was ARRESTED for demanding Biden do so at SOTU. Seriously?" Likewise, California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa threw his support behind Nikoui. "I stand with the Gold Star families from Afghanistan especially my friend Steve Nikoui. He gave the only poignant speech I heard last night," Issa wrote Friday morning on X. "The President and First Lady will always honor the sacrifices of the 13 servicemembers who were killed in that attack," a National Security Council spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "We mourn with them, we remember their loved ones, and we will continue to support these Gold Star families." The surprise Abbey Gate attack killed 13 U.S. service members and injured at least 170 civilians, including Nikoui's son. Nikoui was charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding, a misdemeanor. He has since been released. Original article source: Republican lawmakers rally around Gold Star father arrested after heckling Biden at SOTU (Bloomberg) -- Asset manager Matthews International Capital Management LLC is closing its Shanghai office, adding to the list of global firms that have cut back in mainland China. Most Read from Bloomberg The San Francisco-based company will centralize its regional research business in Hong Kong and remains committed to conducting China analysis, it said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg on Friday. The firm had fewer than 10 people in the Shanghai office focusing mostly on research about the mainland stock market and opportunities for expansion, a person familiar with the matter said. Some of the people were offered the chance to relocate to Hong Kong, the person said, asking not to be named because the information is private. A spokesperson for Matthews declined to comment on the details. Matthews joins Vanguard Group Inc. and Van Eck Associates Corp. in pulling back from mainland China in recent years, even as other global firms led by BlackRock Inc. step up efforts to tap the growth potential of the 127 trillion yuan ($17.7 trillion) asset management market. Aside from stock-market declines that are hurting investment returns, regulators are tightening scrutiny of the private fund management industry and cutting fees for mutual funds, adding to challenges for money managers. Asset managers views on China are diverging as they navigate an increasingly challenging market. Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s chief investment officer for its wealth management business said this month that one should not invest in China partly due to expectations for a steady economic slowdown in the next decade. JPMorgan Chase & Co., however, said on Friday that the country remains an irreplaceable growth market. Story continues Despite the countrys promises of opening up its financial sector, many have found it hard to make forays, while others lost money betting on assets related to the country. Matthews set up a private fund management company in Shanghai in 2018. Its not registered for a license to manage onshore assets yet, according to public records. The company has a Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor license, which allows it to invest in mainland stocks. By centralizing its regional research capabilities in Hong Kong, Matthews clients will benefit from closer collaboration among investment team members, the firm said in the statement. This decision reinforces our commitment to conduct in-depth fundamental research in China while continuing to deliver high-quality client service within Asia. The move came after the company suffered setbacks on China-related funds and while assets there also shrank. The 26-year-old Matthews China Fund lost 23% in the 12 months through Feb. 29, underperforming the 14% decline in the MSCI China Index, according to information posted on its website. Assets of the $425 million fund have slumped from the $3 billion peak seen at the end of 2010 and $1.8 billion as recently as June 2021, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Vanguard sold its stake in a robo-advisory venture with Ant Group Co. late last year and said it would close its Shanghai office. Van Eck disbanded a team for its planned China mutual fund business early last year and let go of more than 10 people in the country, Bloomberg reported then. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The Scoop House Republican leadership is moving forward with a vote on a bipartisan bill that would force ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban next Wednesday, despite former President Donald Trumps public opposition to the measure. House Republican leaders huddled Friday morning to confirm the House would move forward on the TikTok bill with plans to bring it to the House floor under suspension, a maneuver that speeds the process and limits amendments to bills that can win a two-thirds majority vote, according to two sources familiar with the plans. The legislation from Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis. and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., the leaders of the House Select Committee on China, would force Beijing-based ByteDance to sell off TikTok within 180 days or otherwise would effectively ban the app in the U.S. by penalizing app stores that host it. If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business, Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg. I dont want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People! The post initially prompted some worries on Capitol Hill about the bills fate next week, when Majority Leader Scalise said he would bring the bill for a vote on the House floor. Know More Trumps comments Thursday night supporting TikTok represented a reversal for the former president, whose administration tried unsuccessfully to ban the platform. The former president recently name-checked a Republican donor, Jeff Yass, who invests in ByteDance at a Club for Growth retreat. Club for Growth has opposed efforts to restrict TikTok. The legislation from Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi, introduced Tuesday, is backed by the Biden White House and designed to address longstanding national security concerns voiced by U.S. officials about the apps Chinese ownership. It has broad bipartisan support in Congress, and on Friday President Biden whose campaign joined the platform recently in a bid to reach younger voters said he would sign the bill into law if it passes. On Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the legislation in a 50-0 vote, in spite of or, perhaps, in part because of an aggressive campaign by TikTok to get its users to call congressional offices to object to the proposal. House Speaker Mike Johnson also endorsed the bill earlier this week. This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States, a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement following that vote. The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country. The View From The Senate The bills fate is uncertain in the Senate, where there is not currently companion legislation. Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said in a statement Thursday that she is very concerned about foreign adversaries exploitation of Americans sensitive data and their attempts to build backdoors in our information communication technology and services supply chains and that she plans to talk to colleagues in both chambers to try to find a path forward that is constitutional and protects civil liberties. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., who had his own broader measure to address national security concerns related to TikTok and other foreign-owned platforms last year, told Semafor on Friday that he is talking to the Biden administration about whether the bill can pass legal muster but is open to supporting it. Im not going to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. If this is a vehicle thats going to really be moving in the House, Im going to take a good, solid look at it, he said. Room for Disagreement Not everyone sees TikTok as a national security threat. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told Semafor he doesnt want to curtail the First Amendment right to free speech of its American users. Paul said he believed TikTok was attempting to assuage the U.S. governments security concerns in ongoing talks over its operations in the country. He also wasnt concerned about the flood of calls that House offices received on Thursday from users galvanized by the app to call their congressmen. Why would I want to restrict Americans right to call their congressmen and say, You suck, youre voting the wrong way? Paul said. I think the main threat is a new dance move will come out that somebody doesnt like, he added. Theres no national security threat to TikTok. Its a bunch of dance videos for the most part. Notable Human rights groups told Semafor they have backed the TikTok bill, as a high-stakes battle heats up in Washington. A campaign by TikTok to encourage users to call their congressional officers to protest the ban backfired, as offices were deluged with calls. A phenomenon known as TikTok voice may be the future of English, the BBC reports. Donald Trumps takeover of the Republican National Committee is now official. The RNC voted on Friday to elect Michael Whatley an election denier as its new leader, and Lara Trump, the former presidents daughter-in-law and campaign surrogate, as co-chair. The move comes after chairwoman Ronna McDaniel stepped down from the job following a MAGA pressure campaign. The RNC officially elects Michael Whatley as its new chairman, elevating the North Carolina GOP chair who has made a name for himself promoting debunked election fraud conspiracy theories. pic.twitter.com/cFu7bbbZ5I The Recount (@therecount) March 8, 2024 Beth Bloch, an RNC member from West Virginia, essentially admitted that Lara Trump is not qualified to hold the position. In a world where qualifications are often measured by titles and years of experience, we are reminded of a powerful truth: God does not call the qualified; he qualifies the called. Lara Trump is the embodiment of this truth, Bloch said while introducing Trumps daughter-in-law. Lara Trump nomination: In a world where qualifications are often measured by titles and years of experience, were reminded of a truth: God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called. Lara Trump is the embodiment of this truth pic.twitter.com/gnFK5Mjt2E Acyn (@Acyn) March 8, 2024 The New York Times reported last month that Trump was tapping Whatley and Lara Trump to succeed McDaniel whom the former president didnt feel adequately support the conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was rigged against him. Whatley very much does support the lie, and the Times added this week that Trump believes he will stop Democrats from cheating this November. The RNC could do a lot more for Trump than support the false claim that he won the 2020 election. The committees members are reportedly warming to the idea of paying Trumps legal fees as he tries to fight off an array of legal trouble including four criminal indictments. Henry Barbour, a committee member from Alabama, started pushing a resolution last month holding that the RNC will not pay the legal bills of any of our candidates for any federal or state office. Reuters reported earlier this week that the resolution is dead. Republican senators reportedly support the idea of the RNC paying Trumps bills. I believe so, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said this week when asked by HuffPost whether the committee should bail the former president out of legal trouble. Theyre trying to drain the guy dry, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) added. Ill leave it up to the RNC to figure out whats the best way forward. I just think we need to help our nominee as best we can. The RNCs purview is supposed to extend beyond the presidential nominee, though. The committee is in position to support all of the partys candidates running for office and money ferried to Trumps lawyers is money not spent on key races in the Senate and House of Representatives. Its why Jaime Harrison, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, took very kindly to a clip of Lara Trump talking about the prospect of the RNC paying her father-in-laws legal expenses. I want her to spend every single penny they get on Donald Trumps legal fees, he said earlier this week. Go, Lara, go! Lara Trump seemed excited to raise money in her new role on Friday. We have to raise a lot of money, she said before brandishing a fresh check for $100,000. Were starting today, folks. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone No question who the loser was in Fort Worth and Tarrant County on Super Tuesday: Women. Republican women were purged from three state judgeships, a state school board seat, a local Texas House seat and a countywide office Tuesday, and one of the staunchest Republican women in the Texas House was pushed into a May 28 runoff. Lets look at the names of incumbents on local ballots who lost Tuesday night: Wendy Burgess, Pat Hardy, Barbara Hervey, Sharon Keller, Michelle Slaughter, Kronda Thimesch. Five of the six were defeated by men. In a party where belligerence, aggressiveness and testosterone are now prized, women have become disposable. Im not talking about Nikki Haley losing the presidential race. Or about U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, talking doom and gloom Thursday night in a State of the Union response from her kitchen in Montgomery, Alabama. Im talking about Texas and Tarrant County. Im talking about a party that needs women voters to win elections but instead has systematically purged women from local and county office for the last two elections. Republican women here wont talk publicly about this. Theyve been told to shut up. But their own party doesnt support women having an equal role or say. Republicans claim diversity, inclusion or anti-discrimination policies that have helped women for years now need to be wiped out along with racial affirmative action. Men claim the policies arent fair ... to men. Hey as far as I can tell, men are not victims around here. Five of the six statewide elected executive officials are men. From left: County Judge Tim OHare of Southlake, Colleyville Commissioner Gary Fickes and Commissioner Manny Ramirez of rural northwest Tarrant County at the Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting .Oct. 3, 2023. With the ouster of Burgess, the county tax office chief, five of the six executives elected countywide will be men. Burgess was defeated Tuesday by Rick Barnes, a North Richland Hills Republican. He is supported by County Judge Tim OHare and will face Democrat KC Chowdhury in November. In the months after OHare, a lawyer from Southlake, and Commissioner Manny Ramirez took office in 2023, county commissioners made 11 prominent hires or appointments. All 11 were men. Commissioners also stopped requiring anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training. Pat Hardy of the State Board of Education spoke April 21, 2010, at the Tarrant Alliance for Responsible Government meeting held at the Arlington George W. Hawkes Central Library. At the state level, Hardy lost her State Board of Education seat after 22 years. She was defeated by Weatherford Republican Brandon Hall, an independent fundamentalist Baptist pastor. That is an entire profession where women are not hired or paid fairly compared to men. Hall will face Fort Worth Democrat Rayna Glasser in the fall in that mostly Republican district. Statewide, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton certainly showed they support women. Abbott supported three Republican women in winning Texas House races to oust incumbent men who opposed school vouchers, and Paxton supported another. Abbott also is supporting Glen Rose Republican Helen Kerwin in a May 29 runoff against Rep. DeWayne Burns. Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed Lewisville Republican Kronda Thimesch Jan. 13, 2024, for re-election, but she lost. But Abbott campaigned for Thimesch, and she still lost her seat representing far north Fort Worth and much of Denton County. The winner was one of Paxtons defense attorneys, Frisco lawyer Mitch Little. He will face Democrat Detrick Deburr in November. It was only last year when another Denton County Republican House candidate said openly that America must do away with democracy because women are just too strong. Flower Mound Republican Jeff Younger wrote that laws and the Constitution should be changed so America is only led only by good, strong ... Godly men. He came within 2,000 votes of winning a seat in the Texas House. Jeff Younger stands outside the Denton County Republican Party Headquarters in Denton, Texas on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Paxton and former President Donald Trump also wiped three women judges off the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Trumps endorsement for challengers spurred the defeat of Hervey, Keller and Slaughter. All had joined in ruling that Paxton, primarily a civil lawyer under the Texas Constitution, could not prosecute local criminal cases of election fraud. (A woman will remain in Herveys seat. Trump and Paxton supported Republican Gina Parker and she will face Democrat Nancy Mulder in November.) Judge Sharon Keller at work in her Austin office Monday September 25, 2000. In a House seat in Tarrant County, state Rep. Stephanie Klick, staunchly conservative and pro-life in line with Republican orthodoxy, was pushed into her second runoff election. She again faces challenger David Lowe. Lowe is known for praising a bill to punish abortion as a capital crime subject to the death penalty. He is supported by two West Texas oil billionaire men. They fund PACs to pour money into candidates, pay campaign consultants and finance political sites that are faked to look like news. It should not come as a surprise that all are run by men. Do you have an opinion on this topic? Tell us! We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news and to publish those views in the Opinion section. Letters should be no more than 150 words. Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days. Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions. You can submit a letter to the editor two ways: Email letters@star-telegram.com (preferred). Fill out this online form. Please note: Letters will be edited for style and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed. The best letters are focused on one topic. The Richland City Council approved a 10-year, $20 million property tax break for Atlas Agro, the third such break given in the past year to companies promising to build green manufacturing plants in the city. The councils 7-0 vote this week waived certain property taxes. Atlas Agro only benefits if it follows through with plans to build a $1.1 billion green fertilizer plant on a 150-acre site at 1500 Horn Rapids Drive, which is under contract with the Port of Benton. The site is part of a zone the port and city call the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park former Department of Energy property being used to diversify the local economy. The city previously waived nearly $9 million in property taxes for ATI Specialty Alloys and Component and for Framatome under a new new state law designed to promote investment in Washington called Targeted Urban Areas, or TUAs. The 2022 Legislature adopted the program, which allows cities and counties to waive some property taxes for businesses that invest at least $800,000 in new facilities and create at least 25 new jobs that pay family wages at the outset. Richland is the first local government to employ the TUA rules to woo clean energy investment. Council members said they were thrilled Atlas is seriously considering making Richland the home for its proposed Pacific Green Fertilizer Plant. The plant will produce 700,000 tons of carbon-free fertilizer annually from water, air, limestone and vast amounts of electricity. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray have expressed support for Atlas Agros plan to build a $1.1 billion carbon-free fertilizer plant at Stevens Drive and Horn Rapids in north Richland. First public discussion It was the first time city council members spoke publicly about TUA projects. The ATI and Framatome breaks were approved in the past as part of the councils consent agenda, where routine matters are passed on a single vote without discussion. Atlas Agros request was on the councils business agenda, which prompted a public discussion that offered a view to how council members view the trade off between tax breaks and future economic activity. This is exactly the type of project I was hoping to see when I got on the city council, said Councilman Ryan Whitten. Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Kent cast the plant as a win for food production. Thats just a noble cause, she said. The plants future rested on the property tax request, according to Mandy Wallner, the citys economic development director. Without it, the company would go elsewhere, she told the council. Karl Dye, president and CEO of the Tri-City Development Council, previously told the Port of Benton that Atlas Agro could consider Oregon. Business Oregon, the states economic development agency, could not be reached to comment on what if any efforts it has made to attract Atlas Agro. Gina Zejdlik, Atlas Agro director of policy and government relations, left and Dan Holmes, Atlas Agro North America executive director, middle, greet Gov. Jay Inslee last year in Richland. 350 megawatt challenge Securing enough power to run the plant will be one of the biggest hurdles. Atlas Agro has told the city it needs up to 350 megawatts, or three times the power consumed by the entire city. The company will have to find the power on its own, said Clint Whitney, Richlands electric utility manager. While the city is working with Atlas on transmission connections, the company will have to secure non-federal power. This power will not be from federal BPA resources, Whitney told the council. Atlas Agro told the Tri-City Herald its Pacific Green Fertilizer plant will use locally sourced renewable energy. and that it is working to determine a mix of resources. Richland previously approved a $2.56 million property tax waiver for for ATI in exchange for a $111 million investment at its 100-acre campus at 3101 Kingsgate Way. The plant will add 93 jobs, with 87 paying $23 or more an hour, the state-set minimum. It also waived $6.7 million in property taxes for French nuclear fuels manufacturer Framatome, for a two-phased investment in fourth-general nuclear fuel production at its Richland campus, 2101 Horn Rapids Road. The combined investment totals nearly $360 million and will support about 225 new jobs, if Richland is selected. Sign Up: Boom Town Tri-Cities Stay up to date on Tri-Cities growth and development with our weekly business newsletter. Get the latest on restaurant and business openings and closings, plus the regions top housing and employment news. Click here to sign up. In your inbox every Wednesday. Key Insights The projected fair value for Melrose Industries is UK11.13 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Melrose Industries' UK6.17 share price signals that it might be 45% undervalued The UK6.53 analyst price target for MRO is 41% less than our estimate of fair value How far off is Melrose Industries PLC (LON:MRO) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. 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 Melrose Industries Crunching The Numbers We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK130.0m UK236.3m UK364.0m UK465.6m UK558.8m UK639.8m UK707.9m UK764.2m UK810.4m UK848.8m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Est @ 27.90% Est @ 20.02% Est @ 14.51% Est @ 10.65% Est @ 7.94% Est @ 6.05% Est @ 4.73% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 6.0% UK123 UK210 UK305 UK368 UK417 UK450 UK470 UK479 UK479 UK473 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK3.8b We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 6.0%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = UK849m (1 + 1.6%) (6.0% 1.6%) = UK20b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK20b ( 1 + 6.0%)10= UK11b 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 UK15b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK6.2, the company appears quite undervalued at a 45% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf Important Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Melrose Industries as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Melrose Industries Strength Net debt to equity ratio below 40%. Weakness Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Aerospace & Defense market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the British market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Melrose Industries, we've put together three additional items you should explore: Financial Health: Does MRO have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does MRO's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every British stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Scene The concept of AI safety has been expanding to include everything from the threat of human extinction to algorithmic bias to concerns that AI image generators arent diverse. Researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky, whos been warning about the risks of AI for more than a decade on podcasts and elsewhere, believes that lumping all of those concerns into one bucket is a bad idea. You want different names for the project of having AIs not kill everyone and have AIs used by banks make fair loans, he said. Broadening definitions is usually foolish, because it is usually wiser to think about different problems differently, and AI extinction risk and AI bias risk are different risks. Yudkowsky, an influential but controversial figure for his alarmist views on AI (he wrote in Time about the potential necessity of ordering airstrikes on AI data centers), isnt alone in his views. Others in the AI industry worry that safety in AI, which has come to underpin guardrails that companies are implementing, may become politicized as it grows to include hot button social issues like bias and diversity. That could erode its meaning and power, even as it receives huge public and private investment, and unprecedented attention. Its better to just be more precise about the concerns that you have, said Anthony Aguirre, executive director of the Future of Life Institute, which has long focused on existential risks posed by AI. If youre talking about deepfakes, talk about deepfakes. And if youre talking about the risk of open-source foundation models, talk about that. My guess is were maybe at maximum safety coverage before we start using other adjectives. What, exactly, should be included under the AI safety umbrella was the subject of a panel discussion Tuesday at the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, which is made up of business executives, academics and others who advise the White House. One attendee told Semafor that the meeting reinforced the growing emphasis in the industry on making sure the term encompasses a broader array of harms than just physical threats. But the attendee said one worry with the expanded definition is that it lumps inherently political concepts like content moderation in with non-political issues like mitigating the risk of bioweapons. The risk is that AI safety becomes synonymous with what conservatives view as woke AI. For most of the past decade, the term AI safety was used colloquially by a small group of people concerned about the largely theoretical, catastrophic risks of artificial intelligence. And until recently, people working in other fields focused on issues like algorithmic bias and surveillance viewed themselves as working in entirely separate fields. Now, as generative AI products like ChatGPT have put the technology on the forefront of every industry, AI safety is becoming an umbrella term that lumps nearly every potential downside of software automation into a single linguistic bucket. And decisions like which ethnicities AI image generators should include are considered part of AI safety. The newly created government agency, the AI Safety Institute, for example, includes in its mandate everything from nuclear weapons to privacy to workforce skills. And Google recently folded 90% of an AI ethics group, called the Responsible Innovation Team, into its Trust and Safety team, a company spokesman told Wired. Mike Solana, a vice president at Founders Fund and author of the newsletter Pirate Wires, is a frequent critic of content moderation policies at big tech companies. The purposeful confusion of terms here is totally absurd, he said. Obviously there is a difference between mitigating existential risk for human civilization and the question of whether or not there are enough Muslim women in headscarves turning up when you try to generate a picture of an auto mechanic. But that confusion of terms benefits people obsessed with the DEI stuff, and theyre very good at navigating bureaucracies, so here we are. Know More Some leading figures in the AI world have advocated in support of a bigger AI safety tent. Alondra Nelson, who spearheaded the White House argued in a July article in : Years of sociotechnical research show that advanced digital technologies, left unchecked, are used to pursue power and profit at the expense of human rights, social justice, and democracy. Making advanced AI safe means understanding and mitigating risks to those values, too. When incidents like Googles Gemini model depicting Americas founding fathers as Black occur, advocates worry it hurts the overall AI safety movement. Most people in the field of AI bias have been very scornful of extinction risk from AI, Yudkowsky said. My guess is that this faction is trying to broaden the definition of any word used to describe AI anti-extinction efforts, in an effort to kill anti-extinction efforts. Reeds view AI has always had a vocabulary problem, from the term itself to words like neural networks, borrowed somewhat dubiously from terms around the human brain. The mystique around AI has clouded our judgment on how to deal with what, at its core, this really is: automation. One day, we might create software that is truly intelligent, but until that day comes, what weve got are automation tools. They have major implications for humanity but thats nothing new. Every time we automate any part of human labor, the ripple effects are felt in every corner of society. In other parts of industry, we deal with safety very differently. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, for instance, is tasked with making workplaces safe from physical harm. Imagine if OSHA were also responsible for preventing workplace discrimination, retraining workers who are laid off, ensuring that all the products made at businesses are safe, and reducing carbon emissions at workplaces. Thats similar to what some people are suggesting we do with AI safety. No one agency, organization, or profession has the bandwidth to focus on every potential impact of AI. So we should probably not lump all those impacts into one blanket term. The same people tasked with making sure we dont accidentally trigger a nuclear holocaust or allow criminals to easily create bioweapons probably shouldnt be the same ones making sure chatbot image creators reflect ethnic diversity. Lumping those things together exposes them to toxic political discourse, reducing their chances for success. Room for Disagreement Professor Alondra Nelson of the Institute for Advanced Study said the term AI safety has always included a hodgepodge of issues and that, in reality, some people want to make it more narrow. The crucial issue of safe algorithmic systems was first scoped by academic researchers and, building from this, by trust and safety teams at tech companies, she said. This foundational AI safety work always included a broad definition of safety. The U.K. AI Safety Institute announced last fall attempted to constrict to these existing efforts by narrowing them to technical issues concerning future advanced AI systems. But the Vice Presidents speech on that same weekend made clear that the U.S. approach to AI safety included this broader definitionfrom mental health issues involving our youth, to consumer fraud issues impacting seniors, to algorithmic surveillance of workers. These issues all have some bipartisan support. Given this history and stated U.S. policy, broadening out from the narrow U.K. conception, shows consistency. Notable The trouble with trying to content moderate LLM chatbots is that prompt engineers continuously figure out ingenious ways to break those protections, so chatbots end up saying things theyre not supposed to say. Research conducted by Scale AI and The Center for AI Safety showed that a better method might be unlearning, Time reports. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Less than a day after abc27 News first reported the disappearance of already-deposited biweekly severance payments from employee bank accounts and hours after Pennsylvania legislators said they would investigate the company and involve the states attorney general the company told employees it would return the payments within days. It is not uncommon in the Chapter 11 process for extraordinary challenges to arise that require difficult actions to be taken, the company wrote in the email message to employees. An example of this was the short delay in severance payments that we previously communicated. We have been able to remedy the issue and can resume severance payments as intended. You can expect to receive your severance payment by Wednesday, March 13, at the latest. Going forward, we intend to make the payments without any future disruption. Multiple employees who first reported the unusual withdrawals Thursday confirmed they had received the new message at about 1:15 p.m. Friday. Rite Aid made a difficult decision to delay severance payments to a group of former associates in order to preserve cash in the short-term, the company confirmed to abc27 News Friday afternoon in a statement. Fortunately, we have resolved the matter and are resuming severance payments. Those who were impacted are being notified and can expect to receive their payments by the middle of next week. And I believe thats solely due to abc27, said one of the employees, who asked not to be named. We reached out to you to help, and you helped the little guy. And I cant thank you enough. We deeply regret any inconvenience this has caused, the Rite Aid statement continued. We remain focused on making Rite Aid a stronger, healthier company for the benefit of all our stakeholders, including our associates. Laid-off Rite Aid workers told abc27 News Thursday the company made its usual biweekly severance payments to workers but then withdrew the money from their accounts. The company told the employees in an email message the payments were delayed because of cash-preservation efforts. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Rivian generally had a good day yesterday, launching the R2 SUV along with the surprise R3 crossover and dune buggy-esque R3X that were met with general acclaim. Buried in that press release, however, was the news that the automaker is halting production of its $5 billion Georgia plant in order to save money. Instead of building the R2 in Georgia as originally planned, the company will start production of the electric SUV at its existing Normal, Illinois plant. "Beyond significantly reducing the amount of capital needed to bring R2 to market, the company believes this approach considerably reduces risk to the launch and associated ramp," the company said. The move will also allow Rivian to bring the R2 to market sooner, in the first half of 2026, while saving the company $2.25 billion in capital spending in the short term. That's important since it has been burning through cash of late, according to recent reports. The Rivian R3 and R3X will eventually be built at the company's Georgia plant (Elliot Ross Studio) Of all the EV startups to come along of late, Rivian has been one of the most promising thanks to significant investments from Amazon, Ford and others. The company's electric R1T pickup and R1S SUV were also widely praised for their attractive designs, healthy range and more. Ramping up an automotive startup is no easy feat, though, especially in a market that's been tough on EVs of late with even stalwart Tesla feeling the pinch. It doesn't help that startup rivals like Fisker are having serious cash flow issues, as it may spook consumers wary of untested EV brands. Rivian selected Georgia as the site for its second EV factory back in 2021, receiving up to $1.5 billion in state incentives. At the time, the company said it hoped to eventually produce 400,000 electric vehicles there annually. With plant changes, the Normal, Illinois facility will augment capacity to 215,000 units annually across R1T, R1S, EDV, RCV, and R2. The Georgia location remains in the picture, but Rivian only said it construction would restart later. "Rivians Georgia plant remains an extremely important part of its strategy to scale production of R2 and R3," it said in a statement. The Republican National Committee (RNC) on Friday officially voted to make Michael Whatley and Lara Trump its new chair and co-chair, respectively, cementing former President Trumps remaking of RNC leadership as he sets his sights on November. RNC officials gathered in Houston for the groups leadership meetings, where they agreed to replace outgoing chair Ronna McDaniel, who resigned amid discord with Trump during the primary process. Speaking to RNC members, Whatley vowed that the organization will be focused like a laser on getting out the vote and protecting the ballot. In less than eight months, we are going to determine the fate of not only the United States but of the entire world, he said. And this body, the RNC, is going to be the vanguard of a movement that will work tirelessly, every single day to elect our nominee Donald J. Trump as the 47th president of the United States, flip the Senate, expand our majority in the House of Representatives. Whatley, who has served as chair of the North Carolina GOP and RNC general counsel, is a Trump loyalist who has echoed the former presidents rhetoric about election integrity in the wake of the 2020 election, which Trump has falsely claimed was fraudulent and stolen. In a 2021 appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference panel on protecting elections, Whatley spoke at length about his efforts to recruit hundreds of attorneys and volunteer poll watchers in North Carolina. He has also spoken skeptically about mail-in and absentee voting unless they are paired with voter ID requirements. Trump would likely exert pressure on the RNC to pursue legal challenges if Novembers election doesnt go his way, just as he did in 2020. Lara Trump will serve as co-chair and will have a major focus on fundraising. The RNC has lagged far behind Democrats in bringing in cash over the past year, a setback heading into what will be a lengthy and bruising general election campaign. Speaking to RNC committee members on Friday, Lara said the RNC had already received a check for $100,000 and pointed to the importance of fundraising and encouraging early voting, something that the GOP has at times struggled to rally around. Weve got to play the game a little bit differently. We have to encourage people to do things like early voting, she said. The ex-presidents daughter-in-law told Newsmax last month she would spend every single penny to ensure Trumps election. Trump has coasted through the GOP primary, winning all but two contests through Super Tuesday. He is expected to cross the delegate threshold this month to make him the presumptive nominee, formally setting up a rematch against President Biden. It is typical for a candidate to merge with the party apparatus once they are the presumptive nominee, and Trumps campaign and the RNC will be able to jointly fundraise and share data and other resources once he has the requisite number of delegates. A major question moving forward is whether the party will pay Trumps legal bills. The former president is facing 91 felony charges across four investigations, and he recently was ordered by a New York judge to pay $355 million in a civil fraud case. Trumps campaign has spent millions of dollars on legal fees over the past year, leaving his operation at a significant cash disadvantage compared to President Bidens campaign. Chris LaCivita, a top Trump campaign adviser who is moving over to the RNC to oversee day-to-day operations, dismissed the idea that the party would foot the bill for his legal costs, though it has done so in the past. The fact of the matter is not a penny of the RNCs money or, for that matter, the campaigns money has gone or will go to pay legal fees, LaCivita told The Associated Press. Some RNC members have expressed reservations about the possibility of the party covering Trumps legal costs. Mississippi committeeman Henry Barbour proposed a non-binding resolution stating RNC funds could not be used for Trumps legal bills, but it failed to garner enough support. Updated: 12:43 p.m. ET For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Read the full story on The Auto Wire Road Rage Doesnt End Well For Ford Escape Chances are where you live youve noticed road rage is an increasing problem. Most people believe where they are is one of the worst, if not the worst place in the country for drivers targeting others aggressively as they rage out. But few have caught on camera a road rage incident like this one in Dallas, Texas. Watch a Tesla and diesel pickup get into a road rage fight. The battle on a highway transition ramp involves someone in a Ford Escape crossover deciding theyre going to try stopping a Ram truck pulling an empty trailer from passing. The little Ford brake checks the much larger, heavier truck and swerves as the other driver tries angling into the other lane. This standoff causes traffic behind to back up, with our initial camera car honking its horn as that driver is obviously frustrated by the dangerous stoppage on the highway. That isnt enough to shame the Escape driver into just dropping things as that person keeps swerving to keep the Ram from passing. Finally, the Ram guns it and the Escape moves to block late, the truck ramming it (and living up to its name). As the pickup slides past the Ford, the trailer catches on the front bumper cover, tearing it off. A lot of people are having trouble feeling sympathy for the Ford driver. While we dont know what happened before, even if the Ram driver had done something dangerous or rude, this kind of behavior is inexcusable. Ultimately, the Ford driver couldnt escape the consequences of his actions and now will face a likely steep repair bill. Local news station WFAA said it to the Dallas Police Department to see if anyone had been charged in the incident, but they hadnt received a response. Image via WFAA/YouTube Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook. ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) The Roanoke County Public School (RCPS) district is welcoming three new principals and a supervisor to the team. The school board selected Travis Anderson, Sheree Anderson, and Laura Bell to lead as principals at three schools in the district. Travis Anderson was appointed as the principal of William Byrd High School. Anderson was selected to succeed Tammy Newcomb, who is now the new executive Director of Administration for the school district. He graduated from Virginia Tech with two degrees in curriculum and administration. He started his career with RCPS in 2012 as a math teacher at Cave Spring High School. Eight years later, he became the Assistant Principal at William Byrd High School. The district also selected Sheree Anderson to lead the Green Valley Elementary School. She began working in the school district as a teacher at W. E. Cundiff Elementary in 2006. Since then, Anderson worked her way up and served as the Assistant Principal at Glenvar Valley Elementary. She studied at the University of Virginia where she earned a certification in curriculum. Bedford County deputy jumps into pool to rescue dog stuck in tarp Lastly, Laura Bell is now the new principal at Clearbrook Elementary School. She studied at Radford University and James Madison University where she earned her masters degree in educational leadership. In 2005, Bell joined RCPS and began teaching at Green Valley Elementary. In 2022, she took the role as the assistant principal. In addition, the school board also selected Philip Martin as the new supervisor of social studies for the district. Martin was previously the dean at William Byrd High School and taught with the Roanoke City school district for nine years. All principals will start their new positions on July 1. The caliber of the individuals moving into these roles is a testament to the fact that we have talented, well-prepared talent within Roanoke County Public Schools, said Dr. Ken Nicely, superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools. I am completely confident in their ability to take our schools and programs to the next level, and I look forward to what they will accomplish for our students and our community. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. Officers with the Port Royal Police Department responded to a report Wednesday of a suspicious person entering the stockroom of Roses Express at 1347 Ribaut Rd. Brandon Givens, 36, of Colleton County was found hiding behind boxes, armed with a handgun and waiting for the right moment to rob the store, Port Royal police said in a press release. Roses Express is a discount-store chain stocking toys, furniture, housewares, clothing, accessories and cosmetics. Givens faces one count of attempted armed robbery and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. As of 1:15 p.m. Friday, Givens was still confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. NATICK If the Massachusetts Parole Board was looking for clarity on Tuesday from Robin Murphy, the alleged mastermind of Fall River's notorious "Satanic cult" triple-murder mystery in 1979 and 1980, they did not get it. Parole Board member Dr. Charlene Bonner began the round of questioning in Murphy's latest bid for freedom. Bonner has been on the board since 2011, and has seen Murphy before for several hearings seeking release since 2012. I think were at the point now where theres been so much confusion, and there is not an easy way to say why, and there is a lack of candor. Im not sure you can untangle the web, said Bonner. But this is an opportunity to really try. A triple murder mystery: 'Fall River' true crime documentary is a compelling study of 'Satanic cult' murders Murphy claims Carl Drew didnt kill her girlfriend Convicted murderer Robin Murphy is led into her parole hearing in Natick on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Murphy has told several different versions of the story over 44 years. Murphy, 61, yet again changed her story, and now says that Carl Drew, the man she implicated in the murder of her girlfriend, Karen Marsden, in 1980, was not to blame. Drew is currently serving a life sentence for first-degree murder without the possibility of parole. He has been incarcerated since 1981. As you sit here today, do you feel that Mr. Drew is incarcerated appropriately? asked Bonner. No, responded Murphy. I felt at the time that he was responsible. He said he was going to kill her, and she ended up dead. A lot of other things have come out since that time. My testimony should not have been false against him. Robin Murphy says new information has changed her mind Murphy sat before five members of the parole board in a two-hour hearing on Tuesday, as she has before, most recently two years ago, when she was denied release. Shackled and with a dozen supporters looking on, Murphy said that within the past two years new information has been presented to her that changed her mind about Drews participation in the murder of Marsden, then a 19-year-old single mother of a young boy. Convicted murderer Robin Murphy is led into her parole hearing in Natick on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. However, Murphy declined to identify the source of the potentially new information. Murphy was featured in a 2021 documentary series called Fall River that chronicled the infamous murders of Marsden, 17-year-old New Bedford runaway Doreen Levesque and 19-year-old single mother Barbara Raposa. All three women were sex workers at the time of their murders. Murphy, then 17, and Drew, then 26, were rival pimps in a turf war around the Bedford Street neighborhood near the former Fall River police station at the time the three victims went missing and later discovered brutally murdered. Murphy was convicted in 1980 for Marsdens murder after testifying against Drew, the alleged head of a Satanic cult, in exchange for a second-degree murder conviction with the possibility of parole. Convicted murderer Carl Drew is interviewed from the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Shirley for the Epix documentary "Fall River." She told police she severed Marsdens head in a cult ritual, but later recanted her involvement in the murder, claiming she testified against Drew believing he would not be brought to justice for her girlfriends murder. Andrew Maltais, an alleged cult member, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Raposa, with Murphy assisting prosecutors in that case. He died in prison in 1988. Murphy has also alleged that Maltais molested her as a child. No one has been convicted in the killing of the first of the three murder victims, Doreen Levesque, whose battered body was found under the bleachers at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School. True crime tales: From body parts in Tiverton to murderous moms, local mysteries unsolved Convicted murderer Robin Murphy smiles during her parole hearing in Natick on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Murphy denies there was a Satanic cult under questioning Was there a cult? asked Bonner. Not to my knowledge, Murphy responded. While her testimony regarding the three murders indicated Satanic rituals, it was Fall River police who had suggested they were the result of a Satanic cult led by Drew. Bonner also questioned why Murphy would not only insert herself in the three murders, shed told investigators she was in the car when Maltais murdered Raposa, and claimed she participated in Marsdens murder. In the 2022 parole hearing, Bonner noted, Murphy said she did not blame the police or the Bristol County District Attorneys Office, but that she tailored her testimony to match their evidence. Its kind of hard to have it both ways if you want the parole board to understand that part of the reason why you lied is to benefit the District Attorneys office stories and that you were coerced into doing it, but I dont blame them, said Bonner. I would blame them if that were true. True crime tales: Poisoned Jell-O, a killer mom, and a career-criminal murderer So, Im getting a lot of that, said Murphy. I dont want to blame anyone else for my actions, I just dont want to do that. I felt that I let Karen down when she was killed. Murphy said when Marsden ended up dead, she felt responsible. I didnt think Carl was going to kill her. I didnt think anyone was going to kill her, said Murphy. The night Marsden was killed, Murphy claimed, she had cheated on her girlfriend. So that became my responsibility, so I didnt care what happened to me, said Murphy. State Rep. Alan Silvia speaks at Robin Murphy's parole hearing, testifying against her release, in Natick on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Fall River detective speaks in opposition to Murphys release As he has in Murphys past parole hearings, state Rep. Alan Silvia petitioned against her release, indicating she was a threat to the publics safety. Silvia was a young Fall River police detective who worked on the Satanic cult murders for three years of his life, he said. I know this case cover to cover, said Silvia. Robin Murphy was at every homicide and participated in all of those homicides. The first one under the bleachers, where I saw the nude body tied with a fishing line, with her head crushed, Robin Murphy was there and committed that act of murder. As Silvia spoke, Murphy stared at the ceiling. Silvia said there was never any organized Satanic cult, and that Murphy used the notion to intimidate the sex workers, including Marsden. Karen Marsden was killed, actually, because she was speaking with me, said Silvia. In fact, Silvia was the last person to see Marsden alive after she declined to have Silvia place her in witness protection, and he dropped her off on the steps of a church. Carol Fletcher, who set up the meeting between Silvia and Marsden and was a key witness to her murder, told Murphy that Marsden and the police had met. Silvia said Marsden was murdered three hours later. Fletcher was given immunity, placed in protective custody, and sent to Seattle. Silvia said Maltais was wrongfully convicted based on Murphys testimony. She did the same thing with Carl, said Silvia. Patricia DeSouto speaks at Robin Murphy's parole hearing, testifying against her release, in Natick on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Speakers testify that Murphy isn't telling the truth Patricia DeSouto, who was friends with Raposa, testified, as she did two years ago, to urge the parole board to keep Murphy incarcerated. Carl was prosecuted falsely and convicted solely on this evil persons testimony and full-out lies and hatred of this man, said DeSouto. She said Murphy hated Drew because he was in control of the city and the girls. She wanted to do that, that was her goal, said DeSouto. She liked the power. One day, she disrespected Carl in front of his people, and he slapped her, and that was the end for Carl. He made her angry, and that was the end of his life. Dennis Collins, chief of the Bristol County District Attorneys Homicide Division, said he was confident in saying that Murphy was incapable of telling the truth about Marsden's death. Miss Murphys claims and recantations have been going on for 40 years, said Collins. Miss Murphy is unable to accept the person she was in 1979 and 1980 and continues to manipulate to get her way without taking responsibility. Dennis Collins of the Bristol County District Attorney's office speaks at Robin Murphy's parole hearing in Natick on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Murphy was out on parole before; why she says she should be released again Murphy spent more than 20 years in prison before being released on parole in 2004 to a long-term treatment facility. She was sent back to prison in 2011 after being accused of violating her parole when she allegedly started a relationship with a convicted felon; Murphy was reportedly with the woman during a drug deal. Attorney Courtney Kenyon, who has represented Murphy since 2015, said over the years there has been a shift in her client in terms of acknowledging her own issues. When I first met her, she was very shut off and did not acknowledge any of the trauma from her past. She just boxed it up and put it away, said Kenyon. Since Murphys last parole hearing in 2022, Kenyon said, shes really delved into her co-dependency issues, abuse, and what had happened to her, relating it to her relationships with Marsden and the woman she was involved with during her parole release. I think that in itself is a big movement for her, to recognize what went wrong last time she was on parole. Shes a very good inmate, does what she needs to do and has the programming. Shes actually learned how to apply that programming in the past few years, said Kenyon. Theres definitely been a shift for her and an acknowledgement. Murphy had supporters at the parole hearing, including her stepmother, but Kenyon said they would not publicly address the board because of the publicity the murder cases have generated. However, the parole board did receive letters in support of her release. Murphy told the parole board that she wasnt sure if shed clarified the story of the murders, but I promise you I will do my best. As far as being a risk to come back to prison, recidivism, its not going to happen, said Murphy. Despite what people think, I am a good person. Im definitely a caring person and Im not going to be lying to people anymore. Its unclear when the parole board will render their decision. In 2022, it took the board eight months to decline her release. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: 'Satanic cult' murderer Robin Murphy asks parole board for release Key Insights The projected fair value for Mohawk Industries is US$196 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of US$122 suggests Mohawk Industries is potentially 38% undervalued Our fair value estimate is 58% higher than Mohawk Industries' analyst price target of US$123 Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Mohawk Industries, Inc. (NYSE:MHK) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Mohawk Industries The Method We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$693.6m US$692.9m US$817.5m US$970.7m US$984.1m US$999.5m US$1.02b US$1.04b US$1.06b US$1.08b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x5 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 1.57% Est @ 1.78% Est @ 1.94% Est @ 2.04% Est @ 2.12% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 9.2% US$635 US$582 US$629 US$684 US$635 US$591 US$551 US$515 US$481 US$450 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$5.8b We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.3%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.2%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$1.1b (1 + 2.3%) (9.2% 2.3%) = US$16b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$16b ( 1 + 9.2%)10= US$6.7b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$12b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$122, the company appears quite undervalued at a 38% 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 Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Mohawk Industries as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.493. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Moving On: 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. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Mohawk Industries, we've compiled three fundamental items you should assess: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Mohawk Industries . Future Earnings: How does MHK's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) criticized President Biden for taking cheap shots against Republicans during his State of the Union address Thursday night. Romney praised the bits of Bidens speech that covered foreign policy, when the president spoke about the importance of helping Ukraine and getting humanitarian aid into Gaza. But the Utah senator was not a fan of the way the president addressed domestic policy and his criticism of GOP lawmakers. Romney pointed to promises that Biden will not be able to deliver on since he wont have Republican backing in Congress, and accused the commander in chief of falsely claiming that members of the Republican conference are talking about gutting entitlement programs. When he got into domestic policy, Im afraid it was the same old liberal playbook, at least thats the way I saw it, Romney said in a video posted following the speech on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. I mean, there was some new chapters, but the same idea, which is, Heres some things Im gonna give you, heres some more things Im gonna give you, heres why Im gonna crack down on big companies and rich people, and I think people have gotten tired of that. They know he cant deliver all those promises, because any promise he makes has to get Republican votes, and hes not gonna get Republican votes for those things. Romney said some of Bidens criticism toward Republican lawmakers misfired since no GOP member in either chamber has discussed touching Social Security. And I think they also know that the cheap shots on Republicans are probably missing the mark, Romney said in the video. You know, he once again claimed Republicans are going to cut Social Security. Thats just simply wrong. And everybody knows that theres not a Republican in the House or the Senate that is talking about cutting Social Security or is in favor of cutting Social Security. Thats just, you know, off the mark. In the senators view, Bidens biggest mishap of the night was not addressing the debt, which surpassed $34 trillion for the first time early this year. I think the greatest mistake was that he really never talked about how were gonna deal with the deficit and the debt, Romney said. But then again, Democrats dont like to do that. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. One of Donald Trumps former fixers has turned into a headache that just wont go away. Attorneys for Rudy Giulianis creditors negotiating his Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed a request on Thursday, demanding that Giuliani reveal his financial secrets, including details on his cable TV earnings, the origin of his legal defense fund (led by his son), and even the nature of his work for Trump. The far-reaching order is only possible thanks to allegations that Giuliani participated in discovery misconductthat is to say, he failed to spill all the beans the first time around when he was sued by Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. Indeed, it was Giulianis discovery misconduct in the Freeman Litigationconcerning Giulianis defamatory statements about two Georgia 2020 election workersthat led U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell to enter a $148 million default judgment against Giuliani, reads the motion, obtained by Law & Crime, Judge Howell found Giulianis misconduct in the Freeman Litigation so egregious that she further ordered immediate dissolution of the automatic thirty-day stay of enforcement of the judgment, allowing the plaintiffs in the Freeman Litigation to take immediate steps to enforce the judgment, the motion continued, noting that Giulianis willful shirking of his discovery obligations effectively lost him the case by default. The attorneys argue that Giuliani has every reason to continue to lie and hide his assets without a court order, especially as he wrestles with the multimillion-dollar judgment for defaming Freeman and Moss. Meanwhile, Giulani has several other legal woes, including other defamation suits from Hunter Biden, Dominion Voting Systems, and Smartmatic, not to mention the Georgia election-interference case in which Giuliani is one of more than a dozen co-defendants. And on top of all that, theres still one more lawsuit against Giulianione of his former business associates, Noelle Dunphy, has accused him of sexual assault. Attorneys for Giulianis creditors argue that all those threats could pose up to $4 billion in potential damagesan extremely tall order for anyone to contend with, but especially for an unpaid attorney with a reported $10 million in assets. As results continue to trickle in for the California presidential primary election, four candidates are neck and neck in the closely watched race for Sacramento mayor. With the mayoral race and other local elections too close to call, would it be possible for someone to request a vote recount? What are the rules for retallying ballots? Heres what California law says: Who is running for Sacramento mayor? Whos in the lead? Mayor Darrell Steinberg, whos been serving the city since 2016, did not seek re-election. Competing to replace him as Sacramento mayor are candidates including former Councilman Steve Hansen and former state Sen. Richard Pan. Epidemiologist and activist Flojaune Flo Cofer, Assemblyman Kevin McCarty are also leading contenders. According to preliminary election results posted Tuesday, Election night, Pan led the race with 23.67% of the vote. Hansen was following closely behind with 23.66%. McCarty was third in the lead with 23.18% of ballots counted so far, while Cofer had just over 21% of the vote. Another batch of results was expected Friday afternoon. Theres no closer race in the whole state between four candidates, Paul Mitchell, vice president of bipartisan voting data firm Political Data Inc., told The Sacramento Bee on Wednesday. We could be in a crazy situation where this race could get closer before anybody develops a lead. The county has until the end of the month to count all the ballots and certify the result. The race will go to a runoff in November since no one candidate is likely to receive a majority of votes. During the primary election, the City of Sacramento Charter says registered voters will select two candidates when the mayors term is expiring. If any candidate receives a majority of votes in the primary election for council member or mayor, they will be deemed elected into office. In California, the Elections Code applies to local and statewide elections. Who can request a vote recount in California? If youre a registered voter in California, you can request a ballot recount in any statewide election, the law says. According to the California Secretary of State website, there are no state rules that automatically require a vote recount without someone requesting it. California Elections Code 15621 says requests to tally ballots again can be made within five days beginning on the 31st day after an election. Requests must specify which county or counties the recount is being asked for. How do you submit a recount request? In Sacramento County, recount requests must be filed to the countys Voter Registration and Elections office. How much does a recount cost? California Elections Code 15624 says the voter who submits the request is responsible for covering the cost of the recount. Recount costs can vary in each county. For instance, a manual recount of ballots cast in the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors District 4 race cost about $103,000 in 2022. According to the Sacramento County website, a vote recount which requires legal notices, a recount board, security and staff time is actual cost. Estimated prices are not given. What happens after someone asks for a recount? Once someone has asked for a recount, the Secretary of State forwards a copy of the request to the election officials in the county where the recount is wanted. The county elections official then verifies that the person asking for the recount is a registered voter in California, according to the Secretary of State website. How long does a ballot recount take? After notifying all the candidates and the Secretary of State, the recount must begin within seven days of receiving the request. The county elections official must then notify the public at least a day before the recount to share when and where it will take place each day. The recount must be conducted daily (not including weekends and holidays) for a minimum of six hours each day until completed, the Secretary of State website says. Can the state request a recount? In the five days starting from the 31st day after an election, the governor of California could order a state-funded vote recount for a statewide office or state ballot measure under the following circumstances: In a statewide primary election, the second and third candidates for an office are very close by less than or equal to the lesser of 1,000 votes. In a statewide general election, the top-two candidates for an office have a very close margin of votes by less than or equal to the lesser of 1,000 votes. In a statewide election on a ballot measure, the yes and no votes vary by less than or equal to the lesser of 1,000 votes. What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. Rupert Murdoch will embark on his fifth marriage later this year aged 92, after proposing to his girlfriend Elena Zhukova. The media mogul will marry Ms Zhukova, a 67-year-old retired molecular biologist, in an early summer ceremony a year after they met. Mr Murdoch has been married four times and engaged on six occasions. Last year, he broke off his engagement to his previous fiancee, Ann Lesley Smith, just two weeks after he proposed. He met Ms Zhukova last summer through Wendy Deng, his third wife, and quickly decided he intended to marry her, a spokesman told the New York Times on Thursday. Wedding invitations for a ceremony on Moraga, Mr Murdochs California vineyard and estate, have already been sent out. The ceremony will be Mr Murdochs fifth, after a series of tumultuous relationships that have frequently graced the pages of tabloid newspapers that rival his own. The magnate, who owns The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times, married his first wife, Patricia Booker, in 1956 but the pair divorced 11 years later. They share one daughter. He then married Anna Murdoch Mann, a Scottish novelist, and the couple had three children before separating in 1999. Less than three weeks later, he married Wendi Deng, a television producer who was working on the Murdoch-owned Star TV in Hong Kong. They remained together until 2013, when Mr Murdoch filed for divorce, arguing that their relationship had been irretrievably broken for six months. The post-divorce settlement reportedly cost him 1.1 billion. Three years later, he married ex-model Jerry Hall, who had been separated from her first husband Mick Jagger since 1999. They too divorced in 2022 a decision he notified her about via email. Jerry, sadly Ive decided to call an end to our marriage, he said. We have certainly had some good times, but I have much to do My New York lawyer will be contacting yours immediately. In August 2023 Mr Murdoch was introduced to Ms Zhukova, a former molecular researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is originally from Moscow and was previously married to Alexander Zhukov, a Russian-born British billionaire energy investor. They have three children. Mr Murdochs latest engagement comes five months after he stepped down as chairman of his media empire, News Corp, which owns hundreds of local and national outlets across the world. They include Fox News, the Wall Street Journal and the publishing house HarperCollins. While he continues to take an active role in his business interests, the day-to-day chairman role is now performed by his son Lachlan. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Russian forces fired at the Sumy Oblast border 32 times on March 7, striking 11 communities, the regional military administration reported. A civilian was injured in Sumy as a result of shelling. A reported missile attack on Sumy also damaged a school, a central hospital, a regional emergency medical center, and a water utility facility. The attacks caused over 233 explosions in the area. The communities of Sumy, Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Khotin, Krasnopillia, Myropillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Esman, Seredyna-Buda, Svesa, and Znob-Novhorodske. Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, artillery, drones, and grenade launchers. At least 15 mines were dropped onto the Velyka Pysarivka community. Earlier this week, a Russian drone strike in Sumy during the early hours of March 6 injured four people and caused damage to multiple homes, schools, and medical centers. Smaller towns along the Sumy Oblast border were also targeted in Russian attacks throughout March 6. Russian forces reportedly dropped four aerial bombs over Seredyna-Buda, including one that contained cluster munitions. The residents of Sumy Oblast's border villages are subject to near-daily 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. Colonel Ants Kiviselg, the head of Estonian intelligence, has stated that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are still maintaining the initiative on the battlefield in Ukraine and are trying to increase the intensity of their operations. Source: ERR citing Kiviselgs statement at a briefing on 8 March, as reported by European Pravda Details: Kiviselg explained that previously, the activity of the Russian forces had been gradually decreasing, but started intensifying again over the past week, specifically the ground forces. He added that Russia had focused on detecting possible weak spots in Ukraines defence, mainly on the Luhansk (Kupiansk-Kreminna-Svatove) and Donetsk (Bakhmut and Avdiivka) fronts. "In both areas the armed formations of the Russian Federation have advanced. Luckily, the scale of this advance was quite limited. The Russian forces are gradually advancing on the northwest and west near Bakhmut. There were no significant changes to the operative situation near Avdiivka," Kiviselg stated. Kiviselg reported that Russias combat actions in the south of Ukraine have been less intense lately. The Russian forces continue advancing in the direction of Robotyne and Verbove. The Ukrainian forces continue to hold their positions and counteract Russian attacks on the left (east) bank of the Dnipro River, Kiviselg summed up. Earlier, Estonian intelligence estimated that the occupation of the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast had not resulted in the positive media coverage the Russian leadership needed ahead of presidential elections. UK intelligence believes that the current goal of Russian forces is occupying the city of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast but they are unlikely to conduct an offensive. Support UP or become our patron! Two people were killed and 26 injured, with six of them hospitalized, in Russia's missile strike against Sumy on March 7, the regional military administration reported. Russia launched missiles at Sumy at around 2:40 p.m. local time, damaging a school, a central hospital, a regional emergency medical center, and a water utility facility. It was the first missile attack against the regional capital since July. Sumy Oblast Governor Volodymyr Artiukh previously said that "nearly ten people" were injured due to the attack. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on March 7 that there were "killed and injured" without specifying the numbers of casualties. Sumy Oblast borders Russia and is regularly targeted by daily Russian attacks. Throughout the day, Russian forces fired at the Sumy Oblast border 32 times, striking 11 communities on March 7. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Allies collect funding to purchase 800,000 shells for Ukraine, Czech president says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Maki Shiraki TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nissan Motor may bring production of its ultra-compact electric vehicles in-house, five people familiar with the matter said, emboldened by the success of its Sakura model currently built by junior partner Mitsubishi Motors. The automaker is considering moving production to its factory on the southern island of Kyushu in the business year starting April 2028, said two of the people, who declined to be identified as the information was private. Nissan and Mitsubishi denied the plan. The Nissan Sakura was Japan's best-selling vehicle in the passenger EV market in 2023 with a 42% share, showed Reuters calculations based on auto associations' data. Sales have hit almost 64,000 vehicles since its introduction in mid-2022. The performance of the Sakura - meaning "cherry blossom", Japan's national flower - is a bright spot for Nissan whose EV efforts have been eclipsed by the likes of U.S. rival Tesla and Chinese leader BYD which, in China, have pushed the Japanese automaker out of the top 10 brands. Bringing production in-house would allow Nissan - an EV pioneer with its Leaf compact car - to boost its profit margin which is below that of domestic peers Toyota Motor and Honda Motor. The Sakura is sold only in Japan where it is classed as a "kei car" - boxy vehicles that are smaller and less powerful than regular cars, primarily made for the domestic market. It is manufactured at Mitsubishi's Mizushima plant in western Japan. Nissan will continue to rely on the plant for production of its other kei cars, the people said. Nissan expects kei EV sales to expand, the people said, as kei cars are relatively inexpensive compared to regular cars and their size makes them suitable for short-distance trips. By bringing light EV production in-house, it hopes to "raise production efficiency and reduce costs", one of the people said. Nissan and Mitsubishi will continue to handle the planning and development of kei EVs through 50-50 joint venture NMKV, the person said. Story continues Nissan's Kyushu plant has an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles. The automaker expects to use about 80% of that capacity in the current business year, one of the people said. Nissan will free capacity for kei EVs by shifting production of its North America-bound Rogue SUV to another part of the site, the person said. (Reporting by Maki Shiraki; Writing by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Russian missile strike on Sumy killed two people and injured 26, six pit of whom have been hospitalized, Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on Facebook on March 8. Read also: Russian drones target Sumy: Seven injured including a child, structural damage The missile damaged several crucial facilities, including a school building, the central city hospital, the oblasts emergency medical center, the blood center, the communal institution, the educational and production center, the service center, and the water supply system. Emergency rescue operations have concluded. Sumy Oblast Military Administration Sumy Oblast Military Administration Sumy Oblast Military Administration Volodymyr Artiukh, the head of Sumy Oblast Military Administration earlier said that seven people, including a 10-year-old boy, were injured after Russian forces deployed drone attacks on Sumy, Radio Liberty reported on March 6. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on March 7 that casualties resulted from the Russian strike on Sumy but did not specify the number of fatalities. Read also: Russian targets southern and eastern Ukraine with missiles and drones, Ukraine shoots down 33 of 37 drones Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine One of the downed Shaheds, archival photo An infrastructure facility was damaged and set on fire by a Shahed kamikaze drone hit in a massive Russian overnight attack on southern Ukraine, focusing primarily on Odesa Oblast, the Southern Defense Forces reported on March 8. For three hours, air defense units repelled waves of Shaheds coming from different directions and maneuvering in a difficult way, terrorizing civilians, the report said. Read also: Reminder of Ukraines need for air defense USA on Russian strike on Odesa during Zelenskyy, Greek PM visit Thirty of the 33 downed kamikaze drones were intercepted in the operational zone of the Joint Forces Operation South, including 18 over Odesa Oblast, 8 in Kirovohrad Oblast, and 4 over Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts. A total of 37 Shahed drones were launched by Russia in its overnight attack on Ukraine, according to an earlier Air Force report. Unfortunately, we could not avoid the hits, the Southern Defense Forces said. In Odesa Oblast an infrastructure facility was damaged, the buildings of which had been mothballed for a long time. A fire broke out in an open area and was quickly extinguished. There were no reports of casualties. Read also: Russian ballistic missile strikes 500 meters from Zelenskyy, Greek PM in Odesa Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian military targeted southern and eastern Ukraine, deploying one S-300 surface-to-air missile, two guided aviation missiles X-59, and 37 drones from the occupied territory of Balaklava, Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram. Ukrainian air defense missile units, mobile fire groups, and Defense Forces repelled the aerial assault, using electronic warfare systems. 33 drones were shot down over the Kirovohrad, Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Kharkiv oblasts as a result of combat operations. Two people were wounded in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast, during a Russian attack, according to earlier reports. Read also: Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Russians attacked the village of Bilozerka near the city of Kherson on the night of 7-8 March, injuring an 81-year-old woman. Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration Quote: "Bilozerka came under heavy Russian attack at night. Fifteen residential buildings, three administrative buildings and an educational institution were damaged. An 81-year-old local resident was injured. She was taken to hospital, where she was diagnosed with a blast injury and a craniocerebral injury, as well as wounds to her head." Details: Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported that doctors assess the woman's condition as moderate. Support UP or become our patron! The Russians attacked the village of Olhivka in the Tiahynka hromada of Kherson Oblast with mortars on the afternoon of 8 March, killing one person and injuring another one [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories]. Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported that a woman has been killed and her brother has been injured. Source: press service of Kherson Oblast Prosecutor's Office; Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "The investigation states that on 8 March, at about 12:00 (Kyiv time), the Russian army attacked the village of Olhivka in the Tiahynka hromada, presumably with mortar weapons." Details: It is reported that one person was killed and another was injured as a result of the explosion of shells. The data is being updated. Update: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, later clarified that the village is thought to have been attacked by a drone. Quote from Prokudin: "Two people were injured when the explosive was dropped. A woman, 58, died of her injuries. Her brother, 49, was injured." Background: On the night of 7-8 March, the Russian military attacked the village of Bilozerka near Kherson, injuring a woman of 81. Support UP or become our patron! By Maggie Fick and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen BAGSVAERD, Denmark (Reuters) -Novo Nordisk is very comfortable it will be able to launch the pill version of its experimental weight loss drug amycretin this decade, the drugmaker's head of development told Reuters on Friday, a day after it announced strong early trial data on it. "I never commit to timelines but I would be very comfortable to say at the very least within this decade," Martin Holst Lange said in an interview. Novo shares surged more than 8% to record highs on Thursday when the company told investors a Phase I trial of the pill version of amycretin showed participants lost 13.1% of their weight after 12 weeks, a bigger reduction early on than from Wegovy. Shares in the drugmaker, which surpassed Tesla Inc in market value on Thursday, were down 0.9% on Friday but were still set for a 7.1% gain this week. Investors said the news shows the Danish company, originally known as an insulin maker, has more in its pipeline beyond its hugely successful Wegovy. Its shares have risen more than three-fold since June 2021 when it launched Wegovy in the United States. It hopes both its new experimental obesity drugs cagrisema and amycretin will have higher efficacy in terms of weight-loss than Wegovy. CARDIAC BENEFITS After 12 weeks on amycretin in the trial, more than 80% of the participants were still on the drug, Lange said, describing it as an "impressive" retention rate which would suggest that the doses were safe and patients were tolerating it well without major side effects. Lange added that it also "would be a likely scenario" that the new drugs would have similar cardiac benefits as Wegovy. Wegovy belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists, originally designed to treat Type 2 diabetes, that have been shown to regulate blood glucose levels and suppress appetite. Following the success of Wegovy, companies are working on other promising weight-loss therapies such as amycretin, which in addition to binding to the same gut hormone as Wegovy -- GLP-1 -- also targets a hormone called amylin in the pancreas that affects hunger. Story continues Novo in August said a large study had shown Wegovy also had a clear cardiovascular benefit, boosting the company's hopes of moving beyond its image as a lifestyle drug. Those results have led to a debate over whether the long-term medical benefits of weight-loss drugs are enough to reduce the overall burden on healthcare systems and the cost of treating heart disease in overweight and obese people. Novo's current plan is to advance the development of amycretin in its oral and injectable form simultaneously, and it gives a regulatory advantage to deliver safety data on both versions at the same time, Lange said. (Reporting by Maggie Fick and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, writing by Stine Jacobsen and Louise Rasmussen, editing by Terje Solsvik and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Russian forces injured four people in Donetsk Oblast on 8 March. Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office Quote: "On 8 March 2024, Russian troops attacked the village of Pivdenne in the Bakhmut district with artillery. A 23-year-old man standing on his porch was injured. He received medical treatment. An FPV-drone struck a civilian vehicle, injuring two people: a 64-year-old driver was hospitalised with burns in critical condition, and his 85-year-old passenger with a contusion and an arm injury." Details: The Russians attacked the village of Berdychi in Ocheretyne hromada and injured a 68-year-old woman [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.]. The woman was in the cellar of her home at the moment of the attack. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces launched attack drones from the south on the evening of 8 March. Source: Ukrainian Air Force; public broadcaster Suspilne Details: Late in the evening, the military reported that several groups of UAVs from Kherson were heading towards Kryvyi Rih. Suspilne later reported explosions in the suburbs of Kryvyi Rih. At 23:19, the Air Force reported several groups of UAVs from Dnipropetrovsk Oblast entering Kirovohrad Oblast on a northwesterly course. Support UP or become our patron! MOSCOW (Reuters) - Dmitry Medvedev, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, called Joe Biden a "mad" disgrace to the United States on Friday and said the U.S. president had no right to compare himself to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Biden opened his State of the Union address on Thursday with a reference to a 1941 speech to Congress in which Roosevelt said the union faced an unprecedented turning point in history. Biden also accused Republican rival Donald Trump of kowtowing to Russia and, just over two weeks after calling Vladimir Putin a "crazy SOB", said he had a message for the Russian President on Ukraine: "We will not walk away." "Even though Roosevelt was an infirm man in a wheelchair, he raised America from the Depression; Biden, on the other hand, is a mad, mentally disabled individual who set his mind on dragging humanity to hell," Medvedev, a former president who is now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, wrote on X. "Roosevelt together with allies including the U.S.S.R., was fighting for peace; yet, Biden is actively and persistently trying to start WWIII." "Roosevelt was fighting against fascists, but Biden is fighting for them," Medvedev wrote in English. "He is the United States disgrace!" Medvedev, who cast himself as a liberal moderniser when he was president from 2008-2012, now presents himself as an anti-Western Kremlin hawk. Diplomats say his views give an indication of thinking at the top levels of the Kremlin elite. The war in Ukraine has triggered a deep crisis in Russia's relations with the West, and Biden angered Russian officials with his "crazy SOB" comment. Putin, with an ironic smile, said the remark showed why the Kremlin felt Biden was a preferable future president to Trump. Biden made that remark in a sentence about threats to the world including "that guy Putin and others," the risk of nuclear conflict and the existential threat to humanity from climate change. Putin portrays the U.S. and its allies as a crumbling empire that wants to destroy Russia and steal its natural resources. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by Timothy Heritage) Sacramento State is partnering with California Tribal College in an effort to increase Native American student enrollment and success in higher education. The universitys Faculty Senate approved for California State University, Sacramento to start having conversations about assisting the tribal college with accreditation, the body agreed in a vote Thursday. After receiving accreditation, California Tribal College will have the authority to award degrees to its students independently, since it cannot on its own. Thomas Lozano, the deputy executive director of California Tribal College, said this partnership is momentous. He said this collaboration will be an important pathway for Native students to be successful. Its a very joyous event for us, said Lozano, who is also a member of the Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe of Enterprise Rancheria. As a Sacramento State alum, Lozano said as undergraduate students, him and his peers did recruitment efforts for other Native students. Now, with this partnership, a pathway into higher education is more attainable. What is a tribal college? A tribal college is a minority-institution centered on Native communities. Tribal colleges offer curriculum based in cultural knowledge and degrees that aims to support tribal sovereignty and Native communities, said Juliet Maestas, the executive director of California Tribal College. The way our college operates is not only by offering culturally relevant degrees that really help Native students get the skills and knowledge to work in tribal government, but a range of jobs all over the place, said Maestas, who is Hupa and Yurok. We have the cultural understanding. We know the needs of our people, said Mikela Jones, a board member of California Tribal College. But we need the support of an institution like Sac State, who has the ability to run a college, to be able to go hand in hand and partner. Jones, who is also a member of the Little River Band of Pomo Indians, said this collaboration will be a positive change for Native students, who already face academic obstacles. Systematically, Native students struggle with graduation and degree attainment. Out of any ethnic group in the state, Native students have lowest high school graduation and college-going rate. Sacramento State currently has 201 students who identify as American Indian said Rena Horse, the Native Success Program coordinator for the Esaktima Center, the universitys Native student center which opened Friday. This partnership could also support Native student retention. Native students who transfer from tribal college are also more likely to earn a degree from a four-year institution. California Tribal College is among one of three emerging tribal colleges in California. Originally based in Woodland, the college has been an initiative 13 years in the making, said Lozano. At Sacramento State, Native students are among one of the populations who felt least welcomed and served in their universitys campus survey, said Annette Reed, the chair of the Ethnic Studies Department. Through collaborating with California Tribal College, she said it helps Native students feel like they belong. Its about time Sac State steps up and looks around at our California Native communities, said Reed, who is a member of the Tolowa Dee-ni Nation. These institutions have shown to be beneficial for Native communities, with 88% of Native students saying they feel represented at tribal college, according to the Center of Community College Engagement. At mainstream institutions, Native students often lack of sense of belonging on campus and dont feel represented by their faculty. Sacramento State, for example, currently has 17 faculty members who identify as American Indian according to the universitys employee demographics. Thats about 0.9% of the universitys entire faculty population. Having that sense of belonging (at tribal colleges) makes students feel that theyre recognized on that campus and within the institution, Maestas said. Theres teachers, staff administration, that represents that culture, that looks like them, that understand that students existence. Tribal leaders are also involved with this collaboration, said Marilyn Delgado, the president of California Tribal College. There are currently 66 tribal governments and organizations who support California Tribal College. (Bloomberg) -- The United Nations atomic watchdog reiterated demands for Russia to return Europes largest nuclear power plant to Ukrainian control amid concern that deteriorating safety could lead to a meltdown. Most Read from Bloomberg A majority of the International Atomic Energy Agencys 35-member board of governors passed a formal resolution of censure against Russia late Thursday. That came a day after Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi lauded the country for being the No. 1 vendor of nuclear technology in the world and held talks with President Vladimir Putin in Russias Sochi. While the IAEA resolution is largely symbolic, it underscores official concern that Russias occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant could threaten a broader revival of atomic power as part of a shift away from carbon energy sources. Even a small nuclear accident at Zaporizhzhia could destroy development of the nuclear industry in the world, Ukraine Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in an interview before the vote. It is not in anybodys interest. Support for nuclear power has only slowly recovered 13 years after a tsunami triggered the triple meltdown at Japans Fukushima Dai-Ichi atomic plant, which is still laden with tens of billions of dollars in clean-up costs. Ukraine is home to historys biggest nuclear-power disaster, the 1986 meltdown at Chernobyl under the Soviet Union that rendered more than 1,000 square miles uninhabitable. Russia has repeatedly failed to take the necessary and prudent steps to minimize nuclear safety and security risks, US Ambassador Laura Holgate said. We reiterate our longstanding call on Russia to withdraw its military and civilian personnel from the plant and from all of Ukraine. Story continues Russias state-owned Rosatom Corp. took control over Zaporizhzhia home to six reactors built to supply a fifth of Ukraines electricity in September 2022, after Russian forces occupied the area during the early stages of the invasion Putin ordered. Ukraines military is fighting to push back Russian forces and regain control over its territory, though its counteroffensive has stalled in recent months. Building a new plant with Zaporizhzhias capacity would cost at least $40 billion. Even after two years of war in Ukraine that have triggered unprecedented international sanctions on other parts of Russias economy, the Kremlin continues to dominate key nuclear markets. Rosatom is the biggest exporter of reactors, supplying new projects in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Iran and Turkey. Russia is also the top producer of uranium fuel, which it transports to Europe and the US. During his trip to meet with Putin, which came a month after visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, the IAEAs Grossi said the nuclear energy industry was at a very important moment. Amid worldwide military conflict and political fragmentation, theres international consensus that nuclear power needs to grow, he said. I must talk to both sides to help reduce the danger of a potentially severe nuclear accident that would recognize no borders, Grossi said Friday in a statement. No one stands to gain from a nuclear disaster, and we must do everything possible to prevent it. This was also my message to President Putin. A range of safety issues including frequent cuts to critical external power supplies and low water levels continue to plague Zaporizhzhia. Even as all six reactors are in a state of shutdown, Ukrainian engineers have warned that critical components need to be serviced and fuel must be replaced. European Union envoys warned Russia against any attempt to restart the plant. Zaporizhzhia must remain in a shut down state, the EU said in a statement. Russias attempts to illegally take ownership of Ukraines ZNPP have no validity under international law. (Updates with IAEA statement in the 11th paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (ABC4) A Saratoga Springs man was arrested Thursday in relation to a gas station shooting, according to Saratoga Springs Police. Matthew Kyle Ward, 33, was arrested on three counts of felony discharge of firearm in the direction of a vehicle (third-degree felony) and criminal mischief recklessly endanger human life (third-degree felony). On Feb. 8, at around 4 a.m., police responded to a gas station on Crossroads Blvd. in Saratoga Springs. The victim an employee at the gas station told police he walked outside to find bullet holes in the drivers side of his vehicle. The vehicle was parked directly in front of the gas station, police said. Upon review of surveillance video, officers learned the incident happened sometime between 1:23 a.m. and 1:28 a.m. that morning. They also believed the bullets were fired from the west. Employees at the gas station reportedly told police that they believed a former disgruntled employee identified as Ward had committed the crime, and that this employee had been arrested previously for stealing beer at the gas station. Humane Society of Utah overwhelmed with puppies in desperate need of adoption Officers later reviewed surveillance from a nearby business, and found a person on a bicycle with drop bar-style handlebars riding near the gas station at the time the crime was believed to have been committed. The person allegedly stopped, pulled out a gun, and fired three rounds at the vehicle. Police said the individual had paused between each round, indicating that the person was using a revolver-style handgun. Police said Redwood Rd. was located behind the vehicle, and that the road, as well as other businesses and a residential neighborhood, was within the line of fire. Detectives believe that the person firing these shots, did so recklessly and endangered lives and public safety in the process, a probable cause affidavit states. After conducting surveillance on Wards apartment, they found him to be in possession of a bicycle with the same drop bar-style handlebars, a revolver-style handgun, and a jacket that matched the one seen on video. Ward was arrested on the charges previously mentioned. 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. A South Carolina man who made sex videos with underage teens has been sentenced to 18 years in prison, prosecutors said. Seth Headley, 33, of Lancaster County, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, and one count of second-degree assault and battery, according to the S.C. Attorney Generals Office and court records. Headley has been in custody since March 2023 when he was arrested by Lancaster County Sheriffs Office deputies. The investigation showed Headley had videos and pictures of the underage victims in sexually explicit acts, prosecutors from the attorney generals office said in a statement. Headley befriended one victim who had run away from home in North Carolina in 2021, then took the minor on trips to California and Florida, according to prosecutors. He gave the teen money in exchange for sex, prosecutors said. When police searched Headleys Lancaster County home in 2023, they found a second, younger victim living there, according to officials. Headley had sexually assaulted that child and made sex videos, prosecutors said. Headley also was convicted of attacking a corrections officer with a pair of glasses at the Lancaster County jail while in custody, officials said. TOPEKA (KSNT) The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) says some people are in danger of being duped by fake agents this March. The KBI issued a warning on social media Thursday letting people know the law enforcement organization is being impersonated by scammers. This scheme involves scammers pretending to be KBI agents who are using lies to steal money from their victims. In these calls the scammer is identifying themselves as detectives or agents with the KBI, or from the offender registry. They are seeking payment to close a criminal case. KBI social media statement excerpt To avoid getting scammed, the KBI encourages Kansans to use the following tips: You will not receive an unexpected call from the KBI making a request for your social security number, credit card information, date of birth or other personal information. Never give personal information or transfer funds over the phone unless you initiated the call to a known agency or service. If the caller is urgent or is acting suspicious, hang up. Look at the published number for the agency or service and call to verify whether the call was legitimate. Fake cash pushes police to issue warning in Manhattan You can report scams to the Kansas Attorney Generals Office by filing a complaint. More information on this can be found by clicking here. For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. An Army spy operating at the heart of the IRA during the Troubles in Northern Ireland probably cost more lives than he saved, a report has found. Operation Kenova investigated the agent known as Stakeknife. It said speculation he had saved hundreds of lives was wrong; it was more likely between high single figures and low double figures. It found the security forces failed to prevent some murders to try to protect their agents in the IRA. But, the report pointed out that it was the IRA leadership that had "commissioned and sanctioned" the actions of its so-called internal security unit - of which Stakeknife was a member - and "committed brutal acts of torture and murder". The 40m investigation took seven years to examine the activities of Stakeknife, who was Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci. The interim report called for apologies from the UK government and Irish republican leadership on behalf of the IRA. Lawyer Kevin Winters, who represents the families of 12 victims, said the report was "a damning indictment of the state". "The staggering takeaway message is that the state could have intervened to save lives," he said. "We are left with the horrendous conclusion that both state and the IRA were co-conspirators in the murder of its citizens." The report's author, senior police officer Jon Boutcher, highlighted many failings of the security forces and the UK government, but acknowledged they were acting in an extremely stressful and violent environment. Multiple murders Operation Kenova linked Stakeknife to at least 14 murders and 15 abduction incidents. Despite it being widely known that Scappaticci was Stakeknife, the Kenova Report did not officially confirm that. A further, more detailed report is due to be published by the Kenova team later this year. However, the interim report said Stakeknife was "undoubtedly a valuable asset" to the security forces who "provided high-quality intelligence about PIRA [Provisional IRA] at considerable risk to himself". The 208-page report added: "Albeit that his intelligence was not always passed on or acted upon and if more of it had been, he could not have remained in place as long as he did." Mr Boutcher, who is now chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), said claims Stakeknife saved hundreds of lives were based on "unreliable and speculative" assessments. Mr Boutcher said murders that could, and should, have been prevented were allowed to take place with the knowledge of the security forces. 'You were not mad' "Morality and legality of agents doing any harm - with the knowledge of the state - is something that we would never, ever allow today," he said. Mr Boutcher also referred to the decision not to confirm Stakeknife's identity in his report. "Stakeknife's identity has been exposed to Kenova, subject to confidentiality which I remain bound by and I cannot make his name public without official authority," he said. So far the government has refused to give such authority. Sir Iain Livingstone, the officer in charge of Operation Kenova, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, who previously led the investigation, and PSNI temporary Deputy Chief Constable Chris Todd at a press conference in Belfast on Friday But Mr Boutcher added that in his view this position was "no longer tenable" and he expected the "government to authorise Kenova to confirm Stakeknife's identity in the final report". Referring to Stakeknife's victims, Mr Boutcher said many of them had endured "endless delays, setbacks and unfulfilled promises in their search for the truth". He said his report confirmed what many families had suspected - patterns of state intervention and non-intervention in the torture and murder of people accused of being state agents during the Troubles. "You were not mad. This was happening and this should not have happened," Mr Boutcher told them. Among the cases investigated by Operation Kenova was the killing of Caroline Moreland, a Catholic mother of three who was abducted and murdered by the IRA in July 1994. Speaking before the report was published, her daughter Shauna said her main goal was to "get someone to say that her life mattered". "I didn't want prosecutions, I didn't care about that. I just wanted answers," she said. The report called for an apology from the "republican leadership" for the IRA's "abduction, torture and murder of those it accused or suspected of being agents during the Troubles" and for the acknowledgement of "the loss and unacceptable intimidation bereaved families and surviving victims have suffered". Sinn Fein was the political wing of the IRA throughout the Troubles. Since the IRA ended its violent campaign in 2005, the party is now considered the dominant voice representing Irish republicanism. Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O'Neill, the first minister of Northern Ireland, was asked by the BBC if she would apologise. Ms O'Neill apologised "for every single loss of life, and that is without exception" - something she also said in her first speech after becoming first minister. Party president Mary Lou McDonald echoed Ms O'Neill's comments. "To all those who have suffered such grievous loss, I am sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict and the hurt and loss endured, without exception," she said. NI Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, of the DUP, called on the republican leadership "to step up and own what has been done". She asked for an acknowledgement for victims that "the murder and torture of people, informer or not, was absolutely wrong". She added: "It's one thing to say, 'We are sorry for all deaths but that's very different to saying, 'It was wrong, it should not have happened, there was always an alternative'". Ms Little-Pengelly said the informer and agent system was "a necessary part in tackling terrorism" but added that it is "also clear that things could have been done differently and there are serious lessons to be learned". Michelle O'Neill apologised "for every single loss of life, and that is without exception" Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the report contained "several specific, very serious allegations that remain subject to consideration by the courts". "It would not be right for the government to make any comment on the substance of the interim report until the conclusion of litigation related to it," he said. "I would like to put on record again my deepest sympathy with all the families who lost loved ones during the Troubles - including as a result of the actions of the Provisional IRA," he added. Tanaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheal Martin said Sinn Fein "should unreservedly apologise and state unequivocally that the PIRA's activities and actions were wrong". "The report makes clear the challenging circumstances facing those who worked to keep people safe throughout the Troubles," he added. "However, it also states that serious crimes "were not prevented when they could and should have been" by the elements of the security forces, and said this was "a profound failure and an appalling dereliction of duty". Scappaticci died in England in 2023 at the age of 77. The report said speculation he was still alive was "unhelpful". Mr Boutcher said: "I have independently verified when, where and how Mr Scappaticci died and can confirm he died of natural causes following an illness." Prior to his death, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) was considering whether to charge Scappaticci with murder and other offences, after receiving files of evidence from the Operation Kenova team. Mr Boutcher wrote in the report: "I believed (the files) contained strong evidence of very serious criminality on the part of Mr Scappaticci. "We first attempted to submit these in October 2019 and it will never be known whether an earlier decision by the PPS [Public Prosecution Service] would have resulted in prosecution and, if so, conviction." Nobody will be prosecuted as a result of the report. In December, the PPS said 15 other people would not face any action. Following this, there were further decisions not to prosecute anyone, including people who are alleged to have been IRA members and retired soldiers involved in agent handling. Director of public prosecutions Stephen Herron said that "the PPS has not been funded adequately to progress legacy casework". "The reality is that the PPS did not have sufficient resources to progress the Kenova decisions more quickly and that remains the position in relation to legacy cases more generally," he said. He said that "skilled and experienced prosecutors and counsel" dedicated "the majority of their time, since 2020, to working on these cases". "As is acknowledged within the report, any delay in decision-making was related to inadequate resources," he continued. "I hope that the funding requirements of all parts of the justice system are recognised in future discussions about potential prosecutions in legacy cases and the need to progress these more quickly." Who was Freddie Scappaticci and what did he do? Freddie Scappaticci joined the IRA in the 1970s and towards the end of that decade was recruited by the Army as an agent. Throughout the 1980s he operated within the IRA's so-called internal security unit - known as the "nutting squad". Its primary purpose was to identify informers who were then kidnapped, tortured and shot dead. Scappaticci himself was implicated in multiple killings while at the same time working as a spy, passing on intelligence about the IRA. The IRA became suspicious of him around 1990 and stood him and his unit down. He was unmasked in the media in 2003 and although he denied the allegation, he moved into hiding in England where he died in 2023. What else does Operation Kenova report say? The investigation found that the use of agents by security forces "undoubtedly saved lives during the Troubles" and "significantly degraded and debilitated the effectiveness of terrorist groups". "Less frequently", it said, preventable and serious crimes took place and went unsolved and unpunished as security forces tried to protect their agents. These included: Murders committed by agents - including some cases where one agent murdered another Murders of alleged or suspected agents, including cases where the murder was carried out as a punishment and to deter others from acting as agents - in some cases the victim was not actually an agent Murders in some of these cases which were known about by the security forces in advance and could have been prevented The report acknowledged some of these cases were "uniquely challenging" for the security forces, who were acting under "exceptionally stressful conditions and extreme time pressures". The report said victims and families were failed both by the authorities and their communities, that victims were not protected and terrorists were not subjected to criminal justice. It said the republican leadership had "failed to acknowledge and apologise for PIRA's murderous activities and the intimidation of families". The IRA's so-called internal security unit noted, was responsible for "inhumane and degrading treatment and murder, including of children, vulnerable adults, those with learning difficulties and those who were entirely innocent of the claims made against them". It said the unit sometimes accused people of being agents because its members wanted to "eliminate rivals" or kill the partners of those involved in extra-marital affairs. It recommended that the longest day - 21 June - should be a day of remembrance for everyone injured or harmed during the Troubles. YATES CENTER, Kan. Woodson U.S.D. 366 in Yates Center cancelled school Thursday (3/7) after authorities received a threat of violence. Wednesday night, Yates Center Police Department and the Woodson County Sheriffs Office were made aware of a threat directed at the high school. Those agencies contacted the school district about the threat and the district decided to cancel school just in case the threat was real. Officials are still trying to figure out who is responsible for making the threat, but they say there is no risk to the public at this time. They say its an ongoing investigation and they are working with other agencies to track down those responsible. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Counselors from more than a dozen Kennewick schools have signed a letter urging the districts top brass to keep a contract that has provided critical mental health and therapy services for students. The Kennewick School District plans to end its contract with Yakima-based Comprehensive Healthcare starting next school year in a cost-cutting move the counselors say will have serious detrimental effects on students in crisis. That means there will be nine fewer school-based therapists working full-time in Kennewick schools. The absence of mental health therapists in our middle and high schools means that many students will not have access to the crucial support and intervention they may desperately need during this critical period of development, that could pose long-term effects, said the letter sent this week to Superintendent Traci Pierce. Under Kennewicks $1.1 million contract with Comprehensive Healthcare, the nine masters level therapists provide student screenings for various mental health conditions, conducting assessments and implementing treatment plans. The therapists also offer help for deaths and crisis events. And they refer students to Comprehensive Healths crisis clinic in Kennewick when specialized treatment is needed and serve as consultants to district employees. In two separate incidents in the last couple months, Kennewick counselors and therapists were assigned to help middle school students traumatized by neighborhood gun violence. The mental health impact of shootings presents a wide range of struggles and trauma for students who reside in a neighborhood where catastrophe happens, said the letter to Pierce. In a response sent to counselors, the superintendent said the contract was part of a short-term strategy to support student social-emotional well being during the pandemic. It was funded with one-time COVID relief money the district received from the federal government, which expires this September. We are looking at opportunities to continue to partner with Comprehensive Healthcare in terms of providing a process for student and family referrals, she wrote in the letter obtained by the Tri-City Herald. We know that our students face a variety of challenges and needs, and we are making it a priority to use the funding we receive to provide our KSD students with the best support possible and maintain our valuable KSD staff. In a statement to the Herald, Board President Gabe Galbraith reiterated the short-term aspect of the funds. But he also took aim at the bad policies coming from Olympia and Washington, D.C., noting the past couple years that have resulted in rising costs that strain school districts like Kennewick. As a result, we prioritize using the resources we receive to maintain our excellent KSD team and give our kids the greatest support possible, taking into account the diverse needs and challenges they experience, he wrote. 1,200 students use Hazel Health Kennewicks decision underscores wider financial stresses local school districts are under as they begin forming budgets for the 2024-25 school year. With the last of ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds due to expire in fall 2024, school districts across the U.S. will be making some tough choices about which pandemic-era mental health programs to continue funding and which to abandon. Its unclear how many Kennewick students used Comprehensive Healthcares services, but telemedicine services have proved popular in Pasco and Richland. Hazel Health provides virtual mental health services and six therapy sessions to all 19,000 Pasco students for free. The students can use the services at school or at home with their family. Pasco pays $300,000 annually for the service, at cost of about $15 per student, which is paid for with ESSER funds. The program has mostly served as a form of triage, with families being referred out to Comprehensive Healthcare for longer term needs. So far, more than 600 Pasco students have completed 3,000 visits with Hazel Health tele-therapists. Richland School District has also used Hazel Health for its 14,000 students since September 2022. From October 2022 to January this year, about 600 Richland students completed more than 1,400 visits. Half of those visits occurred just this last fall. Richland administrators expect the number of visits and students receiving referrals to rise considerably. Unlike Pasco, Richland is not using its one-time funds to pay for its Hazel Health contract. Mental health contract Pierce says they continue to invest in strategies and programs that support student well being in Kennewick schools and are working to implement a comprehensive school counseling program. The district recently hired more school counselors at each of its comprehensive high schools Kennewick, Kamiakin and Southridge. Each school now has five counselors doing guidance and counseling work that helps students with their academic, career, personal and social needs. But nearly all Kennewick counselors are catering to about 300-400 students. And they argue the services provided by Comprehensive Healthcares mental health professionals are a crucial tool for addressing the more intricate and holistic needs of students. Removing the services, counselors say, sends a troubling message to students and families about the importance placed on mental health within our educational community. While we strive to address the diverse needs of our students to the best of our abilities, the expertise of specialized services offered by mental health therapists are invaluable in addressing complex mental health issues. School counselors, school-based mental health therapists and Communities in Schools (of Benton-Franklin) work together to create safe and welcoming school environments, Kennewick counselors wrote in their letter. Having those services in schools removes barriers to access caused by transportation and the financial ability of parents to pay costs out of their pocket. The amount of youth mental health care services in the Tri-Cities also hasnt kept up with rising demands, which has led to longer wait times for local families. Roughly one-in-five Washington youths age 12-17 have reported a major depressive episode in the last 12 months, which is higher than the national average. Students spend most of their waking hours in schools, and we know that our youth have suffered serious declines in access to mental and behavioral health care services in our area, the counselors wrote. The wait time to receive outside therapy is anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Research shows that schools are the most common place young people seek and receive mental health services. Kennewick budget deficit In addition to the end of ESSER money, Kennewick School District is also undergoing severe budgetary woes, which started with enrollment decreases during the COVID pandemic and were exacerbated greatly after voters rejected two levy initiatives in 2022. As a result, the district expects to operate on an annual budget deficit of about $5 million to $10 million the next few years. The school district collected nothing in local funding in 2023 due to its double levy failure. And while voters agreed in February 2023 to a smaller three-year $71.5 million levy to support basic education beginning that following year, skyrocketing property values reduced the total state match the district expected to collect. That accounts for $2.5 million less the district expects to see in the 2024-25 school year, and possibly more in the years after. Its expected that Kennewick will have spent about one-third of its ESSER funds about $20 million of its total $58.7 million allocation covering programs, teacher salaries and other expenses that should have been covered by levy dollars it lost in 2023. A 62-year-old man who claims to have received 217 COVID-19 vaccinations shows no signs of adverse events linked to the shots and appears to have stronger immunity against the virus than others, researchers said as they cautioning others to not get more than the recommended vaccinations. In a study published Monday in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, researchers in Germany said they were surprised by the findings, expecting the mans immune cells to be less effective after becoming used to the antigens administered through eight different vaccines. Over all, we did not find any indication for a weaker immune response, rather the contrary, Katharina Kocher, one of the leading authors of the study, said in a news release. A healthcare worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. The man studied in Germany said he received the vaccination 217 times, though only 134 of those instances were proven by local officials. Associated Press Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg (FAU) and Universitatsklinikum Erlangen in Germany said they reached out to the man, who is not identified in the study, after seeing his unusual story in newspaper reports. According to the study, a public prosecutor had collected evidence to officially support 130 of his claimed 217 vaccinations while investigating him for possible fraud. No criminal charges were filed against him. The researchers invited the man, who said the shots took place over 29 months, to undergo various testing, and he was very, very interested in doing so, said Dr. Kilian Schober from FAUs Institute of Microbiology. As part of the study, the man, who said he received the multiple shots for private reasons, permitted researchers to study various blood tests that he had undergone in recent years, including samples that had been frozen. They also took samples of blood from him after he received yet another vaccination dose, which was done at his own insistence, Schober said. We were able to use these samples to determine exactly how the immune system reacts to the vaccination, Schober said. The study ultimately found no change to the effectiveness of the mans immune system in fighting other pathogens. The man also did not have any noticeable side effects from the vaccinations and showed considerably higher concentrations of certain immune cells and antibodies that fight SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, than people who have only received three vaccinations. While we found no signs of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in [the man] to date, it cannot be clarified whether this is causally related to the hypervaccination regimen. Importantly, we do not endorse hypervaccination as a strategy to enhance adaptive immunity, the study concludes. Last month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, advising adults 65 and older to receive an additional, updated vaccine dose. People who are immunocompromised had already been eligible for the additional dose. Data continues to show the importance of vaccination to protect those most at risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19, the CDC said. An additional dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine may restore protection that has waned since a fall vaccine dose, providing increased protection to adults ages 65 years and older. Related... The Amazon rainforest was hit with a historic drought in 2023, raising concerns that the complex ecosystem was on the verge of collapse. Scientists are now warning that there may be less time to turn things around than initially believed. What's happening? New research published in the journal Nature found that 10% of the Amazon was highly vulnerable to transitioning into a degraded state or grasslands. Meanwhile, as much as 47% of the forest was at "moderate" risk (or "transition potential"), including remote parts of the jungle with less human interference. Unlike other major studies, which mostly looked at deforestation, researchers zeroed in on the "cumulative effects of a range of threats" while poring through the data, as reported by the New York Times. Some of the factors taken into account were legal protections, forest cover, rainfall patterns, and the threat of extreme weather events. "This study adds it all up to show how this tipping point is closer than other studies estimated," Brazilian Earth systems scientist Carlos Nobre, an author of the study, told the outlet. Why is this important? It is difficult to map exactly what a collapse of the Amazon would mean, as some intersecting factors are still being investigated, but it would certainly be heavily disruptive to not only the world but also the millions of people who live there. The Times wrote that as much as 20 years' worth of plant-warming carbon pollution could be released by a partial or total collapse. A loss of the trees could also negatively impact global temperatures and rainfall patterns in ways that are unclear. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the forest sends roughly 22 billion tons of water into the atmosphere every day. What can be done to help? The study concluded that at least 5% of the Amazon should be restored, and large-scale deforestation should be eliminated. Limiting the warming of our planet to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial levels is also key. Over the summer, as reported by CNBC, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Guyana, Venezuela, and Suriname signed a pact to support sustainable development and end illegal deforestation in the Amazon. Some other nations outside of South America, including the United States, have also invested in Amazon conservation efforts. However, the work is ongoing. Making your voice heard in elections, holding corporations accountable by supporting eco-friendly brands, and choosing less polluting modes of transportation when possible are several ways to contribute to the protection of the forest directly or indirectly. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Fresh plans for the Star of Caledonia are being submitted at a new site Fresh plans are being submitted for a multi-million pound landmark sculpture near the border between Scotland and England. The revised Star of Caledonia scheme would be on a new site near Gretna Green less than a mile further up the M74 than previous proposals. The winning design for the project was selected 13 years ago but building work has never started. If the latest revamped plans are approved it is hoped the 11m artwork could be in place by next year. The idea of the landmark - hoping to emulate the success of the Angel of the North - first surfaced in the wake of the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001. It aimed to celebrate the area's role as a "gateway" between Scotland and England while also helping to boost the economy. A competition to design the massive structure was won in 2011 by Cecil Balmond's Star of Caledonia. Planning permission was secured but the project never made progress due to funding issues. It has now been backed by Community Windpower, South of Scotland Enterprise and the Borderlands Growth Deal but costs have risen steadily from an early estimate of 4m. The size of the star has also been reduced slightly from 40m (130ft) to 35m (115ft). The latest plans are at a slightly different location and include a visitor centre designed to promote Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders. Susan Houston, chair of the Star of Caledonia Trust, told Good Morning Scotland the structure of the artwork remained unchanged and they now hoped to get it "over the line" to build it. "It is the most beautiful half circles of steel and archways that go up into the sky but it is also sitting on the most beautiful land formation as well," she said. "It will be higher than the Angel of the North." Ms Houston - whose late father Alasdair initiated the competition for the design -said it should have a "dramatic wow factor" both at day and at night. Follow the BBC for the South of Scotland on X. Listen to news for Dumfries and Galloway on BBC Sounds. Net Income : Soared to $12.4 million in Q2, a 221% increase over the previous year. Revenue : Grew by 4% in Q2 to $105.7 million, and 8% year-to-date to $217.1 million. Earnings Per Share (EPS) : Diluted EPS for common stock jumped to $1.70, up 204% from the prior year. Gross Margin : Improved significantly to 29.3% in Q2 from 22.6% in the previous year. Cash and Cash Equivalents : Increased to $27.8 million, reflecting a $13.8 million rise from the prior year. Segment Performance: Business to Business segment's operating income up by 42%, while Retail and Wholesale segment's operating income increased by 37%. On March 7, 2024, Oil-Dri Corp of America (NYSE:ODC) released its 8-K filing, announcing a remarkable performance for the second quarter and first half of fiscal year 2024. The company, known for its diverse range of sorbent products, including popular brands like Cat's Pride and Jonny Cat, has reported a significant increase in net income and revenue, attributing success to strategic initiatives and a diversified product portfolio. Oil-Dri Corp of America Triples Net Income in Q2, Sees 8% Revenue Growth Year-to-Date Financial Highlights and Operational Performance ODC's consolidated net sales for the second quarter reached $105.7 million, marking a 4% increase over the previous year, and an 8% increase year-to-date to $217.1 million. The company's net income attributable to ODC more than tripled to $12.4 million in the second quarter, compared to $3.9 million in the prior year. Excluding nonrecurring events, net income still showed a remarkable increase of 120% for the quarter. The company's gross profit hit an all-time high for the second quarter at $30.9 million, a 34% increase over the prior year, with gross margins expanding to 29.3%. This growth was primarily driven by increased sales of renewable diesel and cat litter products, as well as higher selling prices across multiple products and improved product mix. ODC's Business to Business Products Group reported a 3% increase in net sales to $36.2 million, while the Retail and Wholesale Products Group saw a 4% increase to $69.4 million. Segment operating income for both groups also saw substantial increases, with the Business to Business segment up by 42% and the Retail and Wholesale segment up by 37%. Story continues Challenges and Strategic Initiatives Despite the positive results, ODC faced challenges in the animal health and agricultural businesses, with sales declines in these areas. However, the company's strategic initiatives to improve gross margins and invest in manufacturing infrastructure have yielded positive results, enabling the company to overcome these hurdles. President and CEO Daniel S. Jaffee commented on the results, stating: I am pleased to report another exceptional quarter, marked by growth in consolidated net sales, gross profit, and net income... These achievements can be attributed to our teams ongoing dedication and the diverse product offerings derived from our unique minerals. In the periods ahead, we remain committed to sustaining this momentum, investing in our manufacturing infrastructure, and delivering our value-added products and services to our loyal customers. Looking Forward Looking ahead, ODC plans to continue investing in its manufacturing infrastructure and delivering value-added products to its customers. The company's strong cash position, with cash and cash equivalents totaling $27.8 million, provides a solid foundation for future investments and growth initiatives. ODC's record results for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 demonstrate the company's ability to navigate market challenges and capitalize on strategic opportunities. With a focus on innovation and customer service, ODC is well-positioned to maintain its growth trajectory and continue delivering value to its shareholders. For more detailed information and to participate in the earnings discussion, interested parties can access the live webcast on the company's website on March 8, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Oil-Dri Corp of America for further details. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A longtime seafood restaurant in Castro District is set to close this weekend after 22 years of operating in San Francisco, the business announced in a press release Wednesday. Catch will serve its final meal on Saturday, March 9. Catch owner Sanjay Gujral decided to retire. The restaurant is located at 2362 Market St. Closing Catch is one of the hardest decisions Ive ever had to make, Gujral said in a statement. This restaurant isnt just a business to me. Its a home, a family, and a legacy that Im proud to have nurtured along with my incredible team over the years: behind the bar, on the floor, in the kitchen and of course, our loyal customers. San Francisco Mayor London Breed delivers State of the City address Thursday Catch, a seafood restaurant in the Castro District, is closing in March after 22 years (Photo courtesy of David Perry & Associates, Inc.). Chevys to close waterfront East Bay location after 25 years Before becoming the home of Catch, the site was the home for a camera shop dedicated to LGBT icon Harvey Milk, according to a press release. The building was later the birthplace of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. KRON4 reached out to District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who oversees the Castro, for comment on Catchs closure. We are waiting to hear back. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Two teenagers are now facing homicide charges after a man was killed in a shooting at a Madison apartment complex last month, according to authorities. The Metro Nashville Police Department said 21-year-old Emanuel Scott died at the hospital after he was shot during an attempted robbery on Feb. 25 at Charter Village Apartments in the 300 block of Rio Vista Drive, where he lived. ORIGINAL STORY | Metro police: Man dead following shooting along Rio Vista Drive Raymond Alexander Harris (Source: Metro Nashville Police Department) On Wednesday, March 6, officials said 15-year-old Jakari Pirtle, who also lives at Charter Village, was taken into custody after detectives jammed his vehicle which had two guns inside at the intersection of 11th Avenue North and Jo Johnston Avenue. Then, on Thursday, March 7, authorities said they found 16-year-old Raymond Alexander Harris, another Charter Village resident, at North 5th Street and Vernon Winfrey Avenue. Detectives from the Specialized Investigations Division reportedly arrested him without incident. PREVIOUS: Teen charged with homicide after shooting at Madison apartment complex As of Friday, March 8, both Pirtle and Harris are being held at juvenile detention for criminal homicide, according to police. However, investigators said a third suspect in the fatal shooting has yet to be identified. If you have any information about him, you are asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A security guard in an upscale Orange County community was brutally attacked earlier this week and residents, who are just now learning about the assault, are even more alarmed to learn that the suspects may have been teenagers. The incident at East Lake Village in Yorba Linda unfolded at around 9 p.m. on March 3, according to a post in a private social media group obtained by KTLAs Shelby Nelson. According to the post, security cameras captured the parking lot attack on the security guard, who had asked the suspects to leave because they were fishing after dark. The severity of the attack, which included a headlock that rendered the security guard unconscious, indicates that at least one of the boys has some kind of training, the post reads. While its unclear just how many attackers there were, the suspects were described as males between the age of 16-17, one of whom had shaggy blonde hair and another who was filming the attack on his cellphone. Security guard brutally attacked in upscale O.C. community Cherry Allen and Darlene Case, who live in the community, told KTLA that this was their first time hearing about the violent incident and expressed dismay about not having been informed. You cant keep this quiet, thats not fair to us, one of the women said. We pay our dues, literally. Thats not right. Residents say the reported assault happened in an area where people usually go fishing, and some believe the victim is the same security guard whos often seen driving around at night in a white truck. Many people also said theyd like to see surveillance footage of the incident so that they know what the suspects look like and can be aware. Another East Lake Village resident, Jonathan Donovan, said he was also unaware of the alleged assault. Now I have to be aware of my surroundings and everything, he said. Security guard brutally attacked in upscale O.C. community KTLA reached out to the general manager of the community, but they would only provide minimal details, saying that it was reported to authorities and that the guard is expected to be okay. Prowling mountain lion spotted in Southern California neighborhood Officials with the Orange County Sheriffs Department confirmed that theyre investigating the alleged assault, but that it was only recently reported Wednesday night, two days after the incident occurred. Still, it is unclear how badly the guard, who was reportedly attacked from behind, was injured or if the victim required hospitalization. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office is conducting an investigation into a Wichita Police Department officer-involved shooting that claimed the life of one man in north Wichita on Wednesday. The shooting happened shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday in the 700 block of W. 21st St., near the intersection of 21st Street and Arkansas Avenue. Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said the incident started when a caller reported to 911 that someone was in their house with a gun. The SCSO said officers arrived and located a man walking down 21st Street for several blocks while officers walked with him, trying to de-escalate the situation. Several people injured in Butler County crash As officers approached 21st Street and Arkansas Avenue, they deployed a less lethal round of ammunition in an attempt to get him to drop the weapon. The SCSO said this was a 40mm foam projectile. A news release from the SCSO says while the officer was announcing the deployment of the less-lethal round, the suspect stated he was going to make it lethal. The SCSO said the suspect turned toward the officers, leveling his gun toward the officers, and fired multiple rounds. Eight officers returned fire and struck the suspect multiple times. Easter said during a news conference that based on the facts, (the man) was in a mental health crisis. On Friday, Sheriff Easter reviewed the Axon body-camera footage and gave a minute-by-minute breakdown of the footage. Minute-by-minute breakdown 7:44 p.m.: Call received by 911 saying someone was in a house pointing a gun at another person. 7:46 p.m.: Officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of N. Fairview Ave. for the report of a disturbance with a weapon. 7:47 p.m.: WPD units check en route to the location. 7:54 p.m.: Officers arrive on scene. 7:56 p.m.: WPD officer advises a Hispanic male with a gun to his head is walking south. 7:59 p.m.: The man is heading westbound on 21st Street. 8:00 p.m.: The man is walking in the middle of the road heading toward Waco Avenue. 8:01 p.m.: WPD officers radio in the man was heading west toward the QuikTrip near the intersection of 21st Street and Arkansas Avenue. 8:04 p.m.: The WPD supervisor calls for the use of less-lethal weapons. 8:05 p.m.: The suspect heads southbound on Arkansas Avenue toward more officers. 8:07 p.m.: Shots are fired, the man is down. 8:14 p.m.: Wichita Fire Department arrives and triages code blue, which means the man is unresponsive. 8:17 p.m.: EMS also triages code blue. 8:21 p.m.: EMS pronounces the man dead. Kansas troopers ticket more 100 mph drivers Sheriff Easter said during the news conference the Axon body camera footage would be made available to KSN at a later date. The SCSO said once the departments investigation is complete, the findings will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office for review. You can watch Easters news conference in full below: KSN will continue to follow this investigation and will provide updates as they are received. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Sen Bob Menendez will not seek re-election in November after obstruction of justice charge: report Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., whos been hit with a slew of indictments in a bribery scheme involving Egypt and Qatar, will not be seeking re-election this November, according to a report. A source close to the matter told The New York Post that Menendez "will not be running." The news comes after new obstruction charges were added earlier this week to a rewritten indictment returned against Menendez and his wife, Nadine. The couple are being investigated over allegations that they accepted bribes of gold bars, cash and a luxury car from three favor-seeking New Jersey businessmen. Menendez, 70, has maintained his innocence, calling the additional charges "a flagrant abuse of power." After his fall arrest, Menendez was forced to relinquish his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but said he would not resign from Congress. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP DEMOCRAT THWARTS GOP EFFORT TO PASS BILL DETAINING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIME The senator and his wife are scheduled to go on trial in May on an array of corruption allegations. Among other things, Menendez is accused of taking actions that benefited the governments of Egypt and Qatar as a way of helping two New Jersey associates get financial deals linked to those two countries. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., arrives at the Senate Chambers of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 25. According to an indictment, Menendez and his wife accepted gold bars and cash from a real estate developer in return for the senator using his clout to get that businessman a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund. Menendez was charged with helping another New Jersey business associate get a lucrative deal with the government of Egypt. An FBI raid on the couple's home in 2022 resulted in the discovery of over $100,000 in gold bars and more than $480,000 in cash, much of it hidden in closets, clothing and a safe, prosecutors said. Menendez said the cash found in the house was personal savings he had put away for emergencies. Fox News Digital has reached out to Menendezs office for further comment. Original article source: Sen Bob Menendez will not seek re-election in November after obstruction of justice charge: report Assessing the Sustainability of Omnicom Group Inc's Upcoming Dividend Omnicom Group Inc (NYSE:OMC) recently announced a dividend of $0.7 per share, payable on 2024-04-09, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-03-08. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Omnicom Group Inc's dividend performance and assess its sustainability. What Does Omnicom Group Inc Do? Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Sign with OMC. High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock? Omnicom is a holding company that owns several advertising agencies and related firms. It provides traditional and digital advertising services that include creative design, market research, data analytics, and ad placement. In addition, Omnicom provides outsourced public relations and other communications services. The firm operates globally, providing services in more than 70 countries; it generates more than one half of its revenue in North America and nearly 30% in Europe. Omnicom Group Inc's Dividend Analysis A Glimpse at Omnicom Group Inc's Dividend History Omnicom Group Inc has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 1984. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. Omnicom Group Inc has increased its dividend each year since 1994. The stock is thus listed as a dividend aristocrat, an honor that is given to companies that have increased their dividend each year for at least the past 30 years. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends. Breaking Down Omnicom Group Inc's Dividend Yield and Growth As of today, Omnicom Group Inc currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.03% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 3.03%. This suggests an expectation of the same dividend payments over the next 12 months. Story continues Over the past three years, Omnicom Group Inc's annual dividend growth rate was 2.50%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate increased to 3.10% per year. And over the past decade, Omnicom Group Inc's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 5.50%. Based on Omnicom Group Inc's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Omnicom Group Inc stock as of today is approximately 3.53%. Omnicom Group Inc's Dividend Analysis The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-12-31, Omnicom Group Inc's dividend payout ratio is 0.40. Omnicom Group Inc's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Omnicom Group Inc's profitability 8 out of 10 as of 2023-12-31, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each of year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability. Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Omnicom Group Inc's growth rank of 8 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors. Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Omnicom Group Inc's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Omnicom Group Inc's revenue has increased by approximately 6.20% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 64.44% of global competitors. The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Omnicom Group Inc's earnings increased by approximately 16.50% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 61.1% of global competitors. Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of 4.30%, which outperforms approximately 48.18% of global competitors. Next Steps Considering Omnicom Group Inc's reliable dividend payment history, its status as a dividend aristocrat, and its consistent dividend growth, investors may find assurance in the company's ability to maintain its dividend payments. The payout ratio of 0.40 indicates a healthy balance between distributing profits to shareholders and retaining earnings for future growth. Coupled with the company's strong profitability and positive growth metrics, Omnicom Group Inc presents an attractive profile for value investors focused on dividend income. For those seeking investment opportunities with stable and growing dividends, Omnicom Group Inc's track record could be a compelling reason to consider it for their portfolio. However, as with any investment, it's important to review the most recent financial statements and company news to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the current situation. GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener to find similar investment opportunities. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) The San Francisco Fire Department was on the scene of a water main break Friday morning on the 1700 block of Wawona Street. Firefighters were assessing risks to structures and residents, according to the SFFD on X, formerly Twitter. San Jose Junior Sharks hockey coach sued for sexual assault The break occurred in the vicinity of Pine Lake Park near Stern Grove. Crews from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission responded to repair the large water main break. (Citizen app) (KRON4) The cause of the break appears to be the failure of an 8-inch valve connected to a 60-inch water transmission line, SFPUC told KRON4. That transmission line feeds water from our treatment plant on the Peninsula to the Sunset Reservoir. Residents in the area did not face issues with water service, according to SFPUC. Future follow-up repairs are being planned, according to officials. The scope and schedule for all repairs, including for the hillside into the park, are still being determined, SFPUC said. People were advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes before the main was repaired. Muni service was not impacted, according to SF Muni. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. A Shahed drone that hit a wind turbine in Mykolaiv Oblast failed to detonate, becoming lodged in the structure. The police extracted the UAV from the turbine. Source: Mykolaiv Oblast police Quote: "Experts from the police explosive ordnance disposal unit said that the impact of the drone did not trigger the detonation of its warhead. However, the explosive payload remained inside the power generation station, posing a potential threat to the public. The dismantling of the Shahed drone was complicated by the fact that part of it was situated in a challenging location within the wind turbine blade and at a height of 55 metres above the ground. Police demolition specialists made a plan of action, prepared the necessary explosive ordnance disposal equipment, and came up with multiple ideas for extracting the UAV." Details: The police report that having used specialised tools and a lifting crane, policemen ascended to a height of 55 metres. Employing a metal detector, they successfully identified the location of the explosive payload. When the Shahed drone struck the wind turbine blade, it broke into multiple pieces, triggering the metal detector in several places. The police drilled holes using specialised equipment and, after a thorough inspection, carefully extracted the hazardous drone component to avoid causing damage. Once back on the ground, they safely destroyed it in a controlled detonation. Support UP or become our patron! TOPEKA (KSNT) County Commissioner Kevin Cook joined the 27 News Morning Show to discuss property values, the recent opioid settlement and severe weather awareness week. Starting on Friday, March 1, 2024 Change of Value Notices were sent to more than 67,000 property owners in the county. Morning Anchor David George asked the Cook to explain the notices. Cook said there are about 76,000 parcels of land and the county appraiser determines what they believe the value of the property is. Everyone who had their property value changed was sent a notice. If you believe that your property evaluation is wrong, Cook said. Either too high, or too low, you do have between March 1 and April 1 to appeal that. How squatters can take your property in Kansas Cook was asked if property values are a double-edged sword; if property values go up, property owners must pay more in taxes. You know, it is a double-edged sword, Cook said. But I think in this point what youre looking at is what is the value of the property. Thats what you should really be focused in on. What is the value of your property if it was to go on the real estate market today? Regarding recent opioid settlements, Shawnee County has received $475,000. Cook said the county is looking at the best use for the money with some funds planned to go towards addiction services. Cook spoke on severe weather awareness week. He said this is the time for the county to make sure all the systems and sirens are working and to make sure everything is where it needs to be. This is our check before we get into the severe weather season, Cook said. Did you know today is lightning day? Were supposed to learn about lightning today. So if thunder roars, go indoors. Every day this week has been focused on one part of severe weather and on how we can be safe during severe weather season. You can watch the full interview with Cook above. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Another election year, and its going to get ugly. As the citizen of a liberal democracy, I know we must have elections, but as the pastor of a church I came to dread them. People I have known to be kind and polite undergo a metamorphosis. They criticize, rant, and make snide remarks about politicians and all those foolish enough to vote for them. During general election years, it seems as if people develop vision problems: one eye goes blind and the other develops X-ray vision. With their X-ray vision eye, they can see right through people, especially those who hold political views that differ from their own. They see right down to their opponents evil motives. Shayne Looper At the same time, they are blind to the failures of their political favorites. Does this candidate lie? Well, everyone lies; thats just politics. Are their morals suspect? Well, no one is perfect. Do they use foul language, level threats, and act out of anger? Well, we need someone who is strong to fight for us. Perhaps it is going too far to call them blind. It is not exactly that they cannot see these things; they choose not to look at them. They remove the things that make them uncomfortable from sight. They know they are there, but as long as they do not have to see them, they can ignore them. I write as if this condition were true of other people but that I have somehow transcended it. I have not, and I doubt that anyone else has either. For me, this intellectual double vision does not manifest itself in the political realm as much as in other areas. For example, someone elses character flaws might be crystal clear to me. My own, which are so clear to others, can escape my notice. This troubling condition extends beyond politics and character flaws. It also affects people in their religious and spiritual lives. Ive seen this in people who call themselves Buddhist. They have an image of the Buddha somewhere in their home and practice a couple of minutes of meditation when it is convenient. But the disciplines and attitudes that characterize serious Buddhists the practices of the eight-fold path are missing. I am sure this kind of thing is true in all religions, but because I am a Christian, I have seen it most often among my own people and most troublingly in my own life. Jesus was aware of this all too human tendency and addressed it on numerous occasions. In the Gospel of Mark, some religious leaders initiate a conflict with Jesus by caviling about his disciples behavior. He responds by pointing out something they were blind to: their habit of setting aside biblical instruction when it proved inconvenient. He said to them, You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! Setting aside what is inconvenient. Not exactly denying it, but putting it on the shelf, removing it from sight. If it is on the shelf, we can say that we own it, have benefitted from it and value it, but we do not need to be bothered by it. Jesus went even further when he spoke to the crowds at one of Judaisms greatest religious festivals: the Passover. In this context, he did not speak of setting aside Gods commands but of setting aside Gods own Son. He warned, There is a judge for the one who rejects me. That is the way the majority of modern Bible versions translate it, but the verb is identical to the one Jesus used when he accused the religious leaders of setting aside the commands of God. Most people, even those who have rejected institutional Christianity, would not say they have rejected Jesus. But what about setting him aside, putting him on the shelf, where he is not in the way? Putting Jesus on the shelf manifests itself in many ways, including political hysteria, moral failure, and ordinary fears. It is the opposite of what it means to confess Jesus Lord, and it always leads to trouble in the lives of those who claim to be his followers. Shayne Looper is a writer and speaker based in Coldwater, Michigan. Contact him at salooper57@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Shayne Looper: Faith, politics, and the problem of selective sight FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. The dramatic move by state Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried to suspend three of the states county Democratic chairs, including Mindy Koch in Palm Beach County, has generated an angry reaction from some local veteran party activists and some high-level praise of Fried for taking decisive action. The tone of the criticism and the nature of the support illustrate the stakes for a party that is attempting to rebuild itself. Also clear: The divisions and infighting Fried said she was acting to staunch have continued to flow. Turmoil continues in the Palm Beach County Democratic Party with just eight months until critical elections. And that could affect the ability of Democrats to effectively compete in November as they attempt to win back control of the Palm Beach County Commission and regain recent losses in state legislative districts. Feelings are so raw, that one faction in the Palm Beach County party said the opposing faction was operating like a left-wing MAGA movement, an exceedingly unflattering comparison to the style and tactics of former President Donald Trumps Make America Great Again supporters. Chairs action On Monday, Fried announced she had suspended Koch, plus the chairs in Miami-Dade and Franklin counties, effective immediately. This is part of a year-long effort to get the Palm Beach County party back on track, said Eden Giagnorio, the state partys communications director. The Palm Beach Democrats have failed to meet their basic obligations that govern all (county parties) so were not going to continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. Palm Beach is too important, she said. The letter from Fried to Koch notifying her of the suspension said the county party was out of compliance with party rules. It faulted her for, among other things, not adequate addressing reported conflicts between the membership and leadership, and stated that an inability to find compromise within your membership have altogether created an environment that prohibits the (county party) from being compliant and successful. Fried criticized Democratic allies of Koch were enraged by Frieds move. Nikkis action was misplaced during a very important presidential election, when the party needs unity, not division. I was disappointed that Nikki did not consider that point when she made her decision. What was she thinking? longtime Democratic activist Ira Raab said via email. Raab is a former co-chair of the state Democratic Partys Rules Commission, was the county partys parliamentarian for 10 years, and is a retired judge from New York. He isnt alone. Allies of Koch have been calling, texting and emailing Fried since she announced Monday she was removing Koch. On Wednesday afternoon, they sent Fried a scorching letter urging her to reconsider her action, asserting that your decision may be the result of miscommunication. Chair Koch has been subjected to vile personal attacks, the letter said. The MAGA-left has mounted vicious personal attacks not only on Chair Koch but also on other (Democratic party) leaders supporting her. The abuse includes public Facebook attacks, vile and outrageous personal attacks, gutter language attack emails and personal intimidation, emails shared widely with numerous people to defame the targeted person as much as possible, and face-to-face nastiness unbecoming for professional adults. The letter asserted an opposition group within the party acted to disrupt operations. All have refused numerous calls to unify, including from you, and instead have chosen to obstruct, obstruct, obstruct, the letter said. It was signed by 15 longtime party leaders including the county party treasurer and recording secretary, multiple committee chairs, as well as people who have led caucuses and run and held public office. These MAGA-left organizers have unfortunately borrowed a page from the MAGA-right and utilized the same nastiness against our own Democratic leaders. The MAGA playbook is to refuse to recognize a legitimate election; obstruct that leaders efforts to unify at every turn; organize opposition to drive the elected leader out; and install their own leadership, they wrote. Giagnorio said state Democrats do not approve of personal attacks. We condemn personal attacks. (But) this is not personal. She also said Fried would not reconsider her decision. Decision praised Frieds moves received some high-level support. Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Committee, weighed in with approval within hours of Frieds actions. @NikkiFried is focused like a laser and is doing everything & whatever is necessary to help @FlaDems #TakeBackFlorida, Harrison wrote on the social media platform X. U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat representing Broward and Palm Beach counties, also praised the Frieds move. The state Democratic Party has been broken for a decade. We have been doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Nikki is trying something new, Moskowitz said in a statement provided by his spokesperson. Or we can continue to watch Republican governors get reelected by 19 points. He has an especially keen awareness of the issues confronting the Palm Beach County Democratic Party. In the 2022 election, in which Moskowitz won his first term in Congress, he lost the Palm Beach County part of the 23rd Congressional District, going to Washington on the strength of a stronger Democratic performance in the Broward part of his district. Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Republican he was referring to, won the territory encompassed by the congressional district. Koch wasnt in charge of the party at the time; she was elected in December 2022 after the midterm elections. State Sen. Tina Polsky also has a district that crosses county lines and won because of Broward Democrats. She said via text that she didnt have any comment on the suspension, but I know there has been a lot of tumult so I hope things will straighten themselves out very quickly. A county political party can provide vital functions, registering voters and reaching out and keeping them engaged. If its doing well at those functions, it benefits all the partys candidates, freeing up the people on the ballot to use their time and resources to reach out to even more potential voters. If not, it can give the other side an advantage. Deep divisions Until the party leadership elections in December 2022, Palm Beach County Democrats had been led for 10 years by Terrie Rizzo, who also served as state Democratic Party chair for part of that time. When it came time to pick a successor, the countys Democratic committeemen and committeewomen, who represent political precincts from throughout the county, were divided. Koch, who received 160 votes, had been the previous vice chair of the county party. Her opponent, Maria Cole, received 159 votes. Cole was at the time and still is the state Democratic committeewoman, which puts her in local party leadership. Rolando Barrero, president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, said there was never a coming together after that election. Barrero who voted for Cole for party chair said the continued division is a power play from factions that have infiltrated the Democratic Party. As soon as the election was over, I changed t-shirts, which is what I tell everybody we should be doing. You have a fair and democratic election, and you move on after the elections are done, he said. I tell everybody during the primaries make sure you have two t-shirts, the one of the candidate that you want and the one of whoever may win just in case. And as soon as the numbers are tallied, you change shirts and you unify. Palm Beach (County Democrats) have a problem with that. After Koch won, Barrero said people from the side that lost the election for chair acted as an internal roadblock. Nobody tried to work with her. What they keep finding as soon as an issue is resolved, they find another issue to derail her administration. Barrero said Fried was correct that the situation had gotten out of hand and something had to be done. I am 100% upset that they have done this to Mindy, but I am 100% in accord with Nikki Fried that this cant go on. Sean Rourk, the party vice chair who is now acting chair after Frieds action, said it was prompted by the party breaking state rules under Koch. Rourk ran for vice chair along with Cole. he defeated Kochs running mate for the No. 2 job by one vote just like in the top race. Asked if Fried did the right thing, he said, I believe so. But he said he didnt want to focus on Koch, Frieds action, or the past. My focus is on the upcoming municipal elections and general election, he said, declining to address the question of whether it is a story of rule violations or a faction trying to undermine Koch. He said, however, that Koch could have done more to unify the party after she was elected. Giagnorio acknowledged there is factionalism at play in the Palm Beach County party. Thats exactly why something needs to change. The dysfunction needs to stop. We need to get our act together because 2024 is too critical. What next Its not entirely clear what happens now, and when. The county parties are in the hands of the vice chairs, filling in for their suspended predecessors. But no one at the county or state level seems to have a precise handle on just how much authority the acting chairs have to conduct party business. A state Democratic Party committee will meet to decide whether to uphold the suspensions. As of Thursday, Fried had not yet set a date for that gathering. Rourk said he thinks it would be better to have the state act sooner rather than later, so local activists can concentrate fully on election-year work, regardless of who is in charge. If the suspensions are upheld, committeemen and committeewomen will elect a new party chair. Theres also minor unresolved business. As of Thursday afternoon, some 72 hours after Frieds action, the Palm Beach County Democratic Partys website still had Kochs picture and listed her as county party chair. ______ Kelsey Russell tried to find some copies of The Charlotte Observer when she passed through Charlotte Douglas International Airport last fall and came up empty-handed. It made the heart of every Observer staffer hurt. What a buzzkill, Russell said on TikTok on Sept. 23. But I did get a Barbie Time instead. But still I wanted to see what was going on in Charlotte, what was cute there. The Charlotte Observer has been publishing since 1886, and it has been a vital part of the community ever since. But our world is changing. Chances are, youre reading this on an electronic device rather than a printed broadsheet. Local newspapers are still an important part of our world and crucial to how informed we all are, but a recent Pew Research study said one-third of adults ages 18-29 get news from TikTok. Russell is not one of them. Instead, shes bringing newspapers to TikTok, and hoping to teach her generation media literacy. Kelsey Russell tried to find some copies of The Charlotte Observer when she passed through Charlotte Douglas International Airport last fall and came up empty-handed, so she make a TikTok about it. A subscription and an idea It started last year when Russells father gave her a subscription to The New York Times for her 23rd birthday gift. She took to TikTok to tell what was already a substantial following about all that she was learning from this curious new medium. I think that Gen Z should read the newspaper, she told the TikTok world. She then proceeded to break down stories in her copy of the Times in a conversational way. When she explains anything from the war in Ukraine to a shortage of firefighters in New York City where she lives and attends graduate school she summarizes the stories like shes gossiping with a bestie. Its kind of what works for me and my audience because thats how I talk, she told CharlotteFive recently. Im also a gossip fan. I love to gossip. I love to hear a story, tell it to somebody and use my hands and use pauses to get them engaged. So I think part of it is just naturally how I tell stories. It feels FINITE At first, some of her followers were skeptical. Its just so hard to hold it! one follower commented on the challenges of newspapers. So unruly. But she struck a chord with others. I love print newspaper cuz it feels FINITE, someone wrote. I can close it up and go about my day without falling into an endless pit of headlines and discourse. Which is exactly what Russell loves about the newspaper, too. I just feel like being 23, Im on my phone so much, Russell said. And its very difficult for me to consume news and also be getting text messages and also want to flip to Instagram. I feel like when Im reading the paper, its my time. Like, I own my time. I sit down. Also, its in person. So no ones using my thoughts that are turning into an algorithm. No ones using the way I think and what Im clicking on to promote what I should click on next. Its really up to me to decide what I want to read next. And I dont feel like we get that as much in the digital world anymore. My big break or the reason I get fired Russell has turned reading newspapers into what she says on her TikTok bio will be either my big break or the reason I get fired. Shes up to four newspaper subscriptions The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the New York Post and she spends an hour or two each night reading. She reads local newspapers whenever she can get her hands on a copy. And then she relays what shes learned to her 89,000 followers. Shes talked about her newspaper-reading hobby on The Today Show and The Drew Barrymore Show. Shes been written about by Slate.com and Business Insider. And she thinks she understands why her TikToks summarizing newspaper stories have been so popular. I think Ive learned how much people really want to learn, she said. People really are yearning to learn, and the newspaper is a great way to connect generations. Younger generations still remember our parents reading the newspaper, we remember our grandparents reading the newspaper. People just really have a yearning for learning kind of corny. TikTok creator Kelsey Russell is known for reading print newspapers and talking about them on social media. Can TikTok save newspapers? Its tough times in the world of newspapers these days. In January, The Los Angeles Times laid off about a quarter of its staff. The Baltimore Sun recently was bought by a new conservative television magnate, and staffers fear cuts and news direction. Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism released a study late last year that said an average of 2.5 newspapers were lost per week in 2023, and more than half the country lives in a news desert. Since 2005, the United States has lost nearly 2,900 newspapers and is on pace to lose one-third of all newspapers by the end of next year. And when the lovable blue Muppet named Grover posted on X recently that he is, in fact, a news reporter (who knew?), an avalanche of replies both praised him for joining the journalism ranks and worried about his life choice. After a 40-year career in journalism myself, I sure hope youll be able to continue to afford to live on Sesame Street! one person wrote. UPDATE: Unfortunately, Grover was part of the latest round of newsroom cuts, wrote the account Stuff Journalists Like. All of it is concerning and, frankly, downright depressing. But Kelsey Russell is a glimmer of hope. If a 23-year-old can understand the value of newspapers and relay it to her generation on TikTok, maybe this old-fashioned medium will be cool, again. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada OTTAWA, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist of Canada (SOGC) recognizes and celebrates the incredible contributions of women in Canadian society part International Womens Day! UN Women has identified the 2024 theme as invest in women: accelerate progress and there are few greater investments in a womans future and a societys collective progress than investments in womens healthcare. Which is why the SOGC recently applauded efforts by the federal government to include free access to contraceptives as part of a National Pharmacare Framework- a historic step forward for womens healthcare and womens economic participation in this country. Access to contraception is not only a matter of reproductive rights but also a fundamental aspect of public health and equity. As C-64: An Act Respecting Pharmacare begins to make its way through Parliament, the SOGC urges all parties to work together to ensure thoughtful examination of this important legislation and for this bill to receive Royal Assent as expeditiously as possible. As part of the SOGCs mission to help empower a womans ability to be her own health advocate, the SOGC has a suite of six websites devoted to education and knowledge. For more information, please visit our Public Resource page. Happy International Womens Day! As we do each year, we pause on IWD to recognize the incredible contributions of women in Canadian society, and more specifically, the healthcare and medical community. In that spirit of celebration, we hope all parties in Parliament can come together to ensure speedy passage of C-64 to allow women to have free access to contraceptives as soon as possible, given it is a key tool to help them take control of their own futures. Afterall, womens healthcare is a non-partisan issue! Dr. Diane Francoeur, Chief Executive Officer, SOGC. Media Inquiries: Kelsey MacDonald Director of Communications and Public Affairs Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada kmacdonald@sogc.com 613-730-4192 x 228 DENVER (KDVR) The comedic duo that makes up Saturday Night Lives Weekend Update segment is headed to Denver. Colin Jost and Michael Che will bring a night of laughter to Denvers Bellco Theatre on Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. Jost and Che are most notably known for their weekly Weekend Update segment where they provide satirical comments and parodies about current events. Both comedians have also been head writers for SNL for several years. The Bellco Theatre show will benefit the Zarlengo Foundation, which is a nonprofit located in Wheat Ridge that supports schools and programs for learning-disabled children in and around the Denver community. Cheyenne Frontier Days announces 2024 concert lineup If you plan to attend this funny duos show, be sure to put your phone and devices on Do Not Disturb. According to AXS, the event will be a phone-free experience. Use of phones, smartwatches, and accessories will not be permitted in the performance space. Upon arrival at the venue, all phones, smartwatches, and accessories will be secured in individual Yondr pouches that will be opened at the end of the event. Anyone seen using a device during the performance will be escorted out of the venue by security. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a phone-free viewing experience, said AXS. Tickets available soon If you are ready to see Jost and Che live in Denver, get your credit cards ready because tickets go on sale on Friday. Tickets will be available for purchase on AXS beginning at 10 a.m. on March 8. The Bellco Theatre is located inside the Colorado Convention Center, and it can seat up to 5,000 people for a staged event. So, if you want to be among those 5,000 people, be sure to get your ticket at 10 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Philippines Central Bank Details Plans for Wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency The Philippine central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), has shared more details regarding its exploration of a wholesale central bank digital currency (wCBDC). Mamerto Tangonan, the BSP's deputy governor for payments and currency management, announced at a press conference that Project Agila, the wCBDC pilot project, is expected to conclude by the end of 2024. Tangonan emphasized the project's role as a "learning exercise." "We envision a Philippines where everyone has access to securities and investment instruments," Tangonan said. "This means they could be purchased in smaller denominations and at significantly lower fees, allowing ordinary Filipinos to not only dream of owning these assets, but to actually own them." Six domestic banks are participating in the pilot alongside the BSP: BDO Unibank, China Banking Corp., Land Bank of the Philippines, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Union Bank of the Philippines, and Maya Philippines. The project focuses on utilizing the wCBDC for interbank fund transfers. In February, BSP governor Eli Remolona clarified that the bank was solely considering a wCBDC due to concerns about potential risks associated with a retail CBDC, such as bank disintermediation. He also confirmed that the digital currency wouldn't utilize blockchain technology. A demonstrator shouts as President Biden delivers the State of the Union address at the Capitol in Washington. (Shawn Thew / EPA via Getty Images) Steve Nikoui had a few words for President Biden on Thursday night, and they led police to escort him out of the U.S. Capitol. Nikoui, the father of a U.S. Marine killed in 2021 when U.S. military forces withdrew from Afghanistan, was arrested for shouting two words, again and again, during Biden's State of the Union address. Nikoui's son, Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, was one of 13 U.S. Marines killed during a suicide bombing on Aug. 26, 2021, at Hamid Karzai International Airport. Nikoui, 20, was from Norco and was assigned to a Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton. Thursday night, Steve Nikoui was in the House of Representatives' visitor gallery as the guest of Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.). About an hour into Biden's speech, Steve Nikoui interrupted Biden as the president said, "America is safer today than when I took office." "Abbey Gate," the 51-year-old Norco resident shouted as he stood up from his seat. A military base outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport, Abbey Gate was the scene of a frantic evacuation as U.S. forces pulled out of the Afghanistan. A suicide bomber carrying 20 pounds of explosives packed with ball bearings killed more than 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. service members at the base. U.S. Capitol Police warned Nikou to stop, but he refused. He was removed from the chambers and arrested for "crowding, obstructing, or incommoding," according to a statement from the Capitol Police. "Disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is illegal," the statement said. Afterward, Mast gave this reaction in a social media post on X: "For the last three SOTU speeches, Joe Biden REFUSED to say the names of the 13 U.S. servicemembers who were killed by his disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. I couldnt support this effort more. Say their names! "Americans deserve to know the truth about how Biden killed 13 U.S. servicemembers with his disastrous withdrawal," Mast wrote in another post. "Theyre so afraid of you knowing the truth that they ARRESTED my #SOTU guest." Nikoui was detained by the House sergeants-at-arms, Mast wrote. The Capitol Police said that typically the misdemeanor offense that Nikoui allegedly committed carries a $50 fine, but it's unclear whether he was forced to pay. A month after Nikou's death, his mother told the Times that she laid all the blame on Biden. Shana Chappell had just returnedfrom Dover Air Force Base, where she watched caskets carried gently off a C-17 cargo plane and where she met with Biden, the man she will not call president. She told him that she didnt want to talk to him but was doing so out of respect for her dead son. She told him she was never going to get to hug her son again. She told him that it was his fault. My sons blood, she told him, is on your hands. Kareem Nikoui was one of five children and his mother would drive the 80s miles or so every weekend to pick him up while he was stationed at Camp Pendleton. When she returned from Pendleton after dropping him off on her birthday in 2020, she found a note on her pillow. He said he was sorry he hadnt bought me anything for my birthday, Chappell recounts, but money was tight for him at the moment. Then just a month before he was killed, Chappell received a steady stream of gifts from her son who was stationed in Kabul. Slippers and shoes. Soaps and lotions. Paintings hed commissioned of her dogs, Niko, Komodo and King. This birthday, he had money to spend, she said. He just wanted to do something nice for his mom. Nikou was one of four Marines killed in the 2021 bombing who hailed from Southern California. The other three included Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, and Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20, and Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22. Los Angeles Times reporters Robin Estrin, Maria L. La Ganga and Brittny Mejia contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. An Army soldier has been arrested on accusations of selling sensitive information related to U.S. military capabilities, Justice Department officials said Thursday. Sgt. Korbein Schultz, who is also an intelligence analyst, was accused in a six-count indictment of charges including conspiring to obtain and disclose military defense information and bribery of a public official. The 24-year-old was arrested at Fort Campbell, which straddles the Tennessee-Kentucky border, shortly after the indictment was released Thursday. The men and women of the United States Armed Forces dedicate their lives to maintain our national security, Henry C. Leventis, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, told reporters. Our laws protecting national defense information are critical to that mission, and they must be enforced. Illegal dissemination of national defense information puts our country, our fellow citizens, members of our military and our allies at risk. U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Henry C. Leventis, left, announced the arrest and indictment of U.S. Army Intelligence Analyst Korbein Schultz for conspiracy to obtain and disclose defense information on March 7, 2024. (George Walker IV/AP) The indictment alleges Schultz who had a top-secret security clearance conspired with an individual identified only as Conspirator A to disclose various documents, photographs and other national defense materials since June 2022. The indictment claims that Schultz was recruited by the individual not only due to his security clearance but also because he was tasked with gathering sensitive U.S. military information. Some of the information that Schultz supposedly gave to the individual included information related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, hypersonic equipment, studies on future developments of U.S. military forces and studies on military drills and operations in major countries like China. The indictment outlines that Schultz was initially asked to provide documents detailing lessons that could be learned from Russias war with Ukraine and how those lessons could be applied to the U.S. helping Taiwan in the event of an attack. Schultz was paid $200 for that information, which then prompted Conspirator A, to ask for a long-term partnership. Conspirator A, who was described in the indictment as a foreign national purporting to reside in Hong Kong, later suggested that Schultz could earn more money if he handed over internal only material rather than unclassified documents. In total, Shultz received at least 14 payments totaling $42,000. The defendant and his co-conspirator also discussed recruiting another member of the U.S. military to join their conspiracy and to provide additional national defense information in order to conceal their illegal conduct, Leventis said. Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ruth Castro said in a statement that Schultz has been in the Army since November 2018 and his hometown is Wills Point, Texas. Schultz was previously assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, and was deployed once to Eastern Europe, according to Lt. Col. Tony Hoefler, a spokesperson for Fort Campbell. The case is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions of current or former military members accused of illegally disclosing sensitive government secrets. For instance in April 2023, Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was charged with leaking highly classified military documents about Russias war in Ukraine on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. He pleaded guilty on Monday in a deal with prosecutors that calls for him to serve at least 11 years in prison. In August, two U.S. Navy sailors were charged with providing sensitive military information to China including details on wartime exercises, naval operations and critical technical material. And more recently, the Justice Department announced charges this week against a civilian Air Force employee and retired Army lieutenant colonel for allegedly sharing classified information about the war in with Ukraine on a foreign dating site. ___ Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. The term solitary confinement conjures up images of an inmate being held alone in a dark, dank, windowless concrete cell with nothing more than a thin mattress. That is not the case in the California prison system, where the term solitary confinement can be more accurately described as restricted housing. I know; I worked for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for more than 30 years. During that time, the restricted housing program was known as the Security Housing Unit, more commonly referred to as SHU. During my tenure as an assistant director at CDCR, with responsibility for gang management, the use of SHU was critical to control gang violence. SHU was not solitary confinement most inmates in SHU were double-celled, with some exclusions. Opinion There have been two bills recently introduced to address the use of restricted housing: Assembly Bill 280 (Holden, D-Pasadena) would further reduce the use of restricted housing, and Senate Bill 733 (Glazer, D-Orinda) calls for more data acquisition to improve the use of restricted housing. Gov. Gavin Newsom also wants CDCR to develop new guidelines for the use of restricted housing. These well-meaning proposals, however, need to confront the reality that these facilities need the ability to isolate inmates who commit violent acts in order to operate safely and securely. Inmates have to feel safe in order to take advantage of available self-help programs. The use of restricted housing is a critical correctional tool to control violence, particularly while CDCR moves toward a more rehabilitative model. It makes sense for CDCR to limit the amount of time an inmate spends in restricted housing. But each case is different. What CDCR must do is avoid the mistakes of the past. Too many inmates were left in solitary confinement for too long. In fact, prior to the 2012 class action lawsuit brought on by a coalition of inmates, a few CDCR administrators, including myself, were instrumental in moving to a behavior-based model for SHU confinement. The new policy meant that an inmate had to commit a violent act or be involved in serious misconduct to be placed in SHU. Gang members could no longer be placed simply because they were identified and validated as a prison gang member. I was personally involved with the implementation of the path out of solitary confinement, which included a multi-phased step-down program. That policy change was followed by the lawsuit settlement agreement in 2015, and agreement that led to the release of thousands of gang members from SHU to the general population (and other reforms). However, having gang leaders and members in the general population mixed together has created its own set of problems: These prisoners use smuggled cell phones to conduct criminal activities, including directing murders, assaults and drug trafficking both in the prisons and in the community. Prison violence disrupts daily programs and rehabilitation. According to a review of CDCR statistics, from October 2022 to October 2023 there were more than 500 assaults on staff with or without a weapon and more than 2,500 batteries on staff. There was also more than 200 inmate-on-inmate assaults and more than 3,000 batteries between inmates. There were 14 riots and 25 inmate homicides during the last 14 months. Drug smuggling into the prisons is one of the contributing factors to the increase in inmate drug overdoses. Gang conflicts can cause program disruptions and lock-downs. Critics of the prison system have to remember that criminal justice reforms like realignment sent non-violent offenders to the county jails. The state prison population has been distilled down to inmates with violent backgrounds. This makes the temporary use of restricted housing necessary to keep the programming inmates and staff safe. Politicians need to keep these things in mind when they call for drastic changes in the use of restricted housing. I believe SB 733 is the better way to go, in addition to the governor working with CDCR on additional policy reforms. Brian Parry is a retired California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation assistant director and a former consultant to numerous law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the California Attorney Generals Office. He is currently a commissioner with the Placer County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission. Family members of victims onboard MH370 demand the search for the missing plane be resumed, 10 years since the aircraft's disappearance, in Beijing Family members of victims onboard MH370 demand the search for the missing plane be resumed, 10 years since the aircraft's disappearance, in Beijing By Mandy Leong KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Every spring, China observes the Qingming tomb-sweeping festival, where families visit and clean the graves of their ancestors, making ritual offerings and paying respects. But for Chinese national Jiang Hui, 50, Qingming presents a dilemma: how to honour his mother, Jiang Cui Yun, who vanished 10 years ago aboard missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. "It feels wrong to go and pay respects to my mother because she hasn't been declared dead. But if I don't pay respects, I miss her terribly and feel unable to do anything else in her memory," Jiang told Reuters in the Malaysian capital. "There doesn't seem to be any alternative method available. Therefore, on that day, it's like being in an unbearable situation where neither doing nor not doing feels right." Jiang's mother, who was 71 when she went missing, was among 239 passengers and crew, including 153 Chinese citizens, aboard Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 which disappeared on March 8, 2014, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries. Two underwater searches conducted between 2015 and 2018 in the southern Indian Ocean, where the plane was believed to have crashed, have proved fruitless. Jiang said he has struggled to explain his mother's whereabouts to his young son and often breaks down emotionally. He and loved ones of other passengers have consistently pushed for authorities in Australia, China and Malaysia to reopen investigations. On Friday, he and three other Chinese nationals visited the office of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to submit a letter pleading for the government to mount a fresh search. Anwar said this week Malaysia was willing to reopen a probe if there was compelling new evidence. "Ten years have passed, but the goal of the family members, their original intention, remains unchanged: to find their loved ones, to find the plane. It's as simple as that," Jiang said. "Bring them back to us, whether they are dead or alive." (Writing by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Nick Macfie) House Representatives listen to Gov. Kristi Noem deliver the state of the state address on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 at South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. PIERRE School districts may soon be required to raise average teacher compensation each year by a rate nearly equal to the increase in state education funding. The Senate and House of Representatives sent a bill to the governor Wednesday that would require school districts raise average teacher compensation which includes salary and benefits by 97% of the increase approved by the Legislature and governor each year. That requirement would begin July 1, the beginning of fiscal year 2025. The three-point reduction from the previously proposed 100% is intended to allow flexibility for school districts to spend that money on needs outside teacher pay, such as programming, transportation or other staff salary increases. Right now we are 49th in the nation for average teacher salaries. This is unacceptable, Sen. Sydney Davis, R-Burbank, said on the Senate floor. We need real accountability. Its time to keep our promise to teachers. A group of legislators met with state officials, lobbyists, superintendents and other stakeholders throughout the 99th legislative session, which ends Thursday, to work toward the final version of the bill. The legislation would also set a statewide minimum teacher salary of $45,000, beginning July 1, 2026. That minimum standard would increase each year by a percentage equal to the annual increase in state education funding approved by the Legislature and governor. The bill does not include any additional money for schools beyond the regular, annual increases in state funding. School districts that fail to meet the bills requirements could risk an accreditation review or suffer a $500-per-teacher deduction in state education funding. But they could also request a waiver and work with the state School Finance Accountability Board to come into compliance. The bill passed 64-5 in the House and 25-9 in the Senate. Opponents are skeptical itll provide enough flexibility for school districts and say it will have unintended consequences due to declining enrollment in public schools across the state, especially rural areas. As time moves on, its going to become a little more restrictive, Sen. Kyle Schoenfish, R-Scotland, told South Dakota Searchlight after the bill was amended and passed out of a conference committee Tuesday. Schoenfish voted against the bill on the Senate floor on Wednesday. Senate President Pro Tempore Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, said the Legislature will continue working on the mechanics of raising teacher pay in future sessions. Schoenbeck is not running for reelection. I dont know if this is the right answer or the perfect answer. It is an answer, Schoenbeck said during the Republican leadership conference Wednesday morning. The Legislature is going to be back here every year. If this misses and it takes too many waivers or its too hard for rural schools, were going to have to look at it because we have to be accountable for all the schools, from the rural ones to the large ones. Davis said the state Department of Education plans to work with districts to navigate challenges or access waivers. Lawmakers plan to increase state funding to public education by 4% this session. House Majority Leader Will Mortenson, R-Fort Pierre, said the Legislature will work to give as many dollars as we can to education in future sessions. Were not trying to create an undue burden, he said. We are trying to create a real expectation. The bill now heads to Gov. Kristi Noems desk. Noem has spoken repeatedly in the last few months about her desire for action on teacher pay. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Legislature passes bill aiming to increase teacher salaries, compensation SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea plans quick measures to improve pay and working conditions for young doctors, the government said on Friday, addressing a key demand by medical trainees who have walked off the job, but denying there was a full-scale healthcare crisis. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the current practice of forcing young doctors to work 36 hours at a stretch was partly responsible for their protest walkout and must be changed. "We will start the trial as soon as possible," he said, adding that the government would consider limiting to 24 hours the period that resident doctors and interns must work continuously. More than 10,000 medical interns and resident doctors are protesting against a government plan to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 a year to tackle a shortage of doctors. The country has one of the world's fastest-ageing populations. The striking doctors argue that simply adding medical students will not address pay and work conditions, and could possibly exacerbate the problems. While not backing off the government's plans for more medical students, the proposals outlined by Han appeared aimed at finding common ground with the protesters. The striking doctors and medical associations that have been critical of the government did not immediately publicly comment on the proposals. From this month, trainee doctors in paediatrics will receive an additional allowance of 1 million won ($757), and the government plans similar payments for other trainee doctors, Han said. It will start with those in essential specialisations such as emergency medicine and general surgery and will allocate additional government funds, he said. President Yoon Suk Yeol has taken a hard line against the protesters, taking steps toward suspending their medical licences for defying return-to-work orders. The president said on Wednesday their action had created "chaos" in major hospitals that employ trainee doctors as a key share of their staff. However, officials said on Friday the situation has stabilised, partly because other doctors and nurses took on extra work. "To suggest, as some have done, that we have a healthcare crisis, is an exaggeration," said Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo. On Friday the government began allowing nurses to perform some procedures restricted previously to doctors, such as CPR and giving some medicines. ($1=1,319.5400 won) (Reporting by Jack KimEditing by Clarence Fernandez and Frances Kerry) SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea is waiting for Montenegro to extradite Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon, the justice minister said on Friday, after reports that a court in the Balkan nation had overturned a decision to hand over the jailed crypto entrepreneur to the United States. Justice Minister Park Sung-jae said Montenegro had yet to contact his country but his ministry would take the necessary measures once they received an official notice. "I understand there's not a lot left in Kwon Do-hyung's detention period so whatever measures need to be taken swiftly," Park said, referring to Kwon by his full Korean name. Montenegro news service Vijesti reported that the Court of Appeals had overturned a High Court decision to extradite Kwon to the United States. Kwon has said that he would prefer to be extradited to South Korea. A civil trial on U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission fraud charges against Kwon was scheduled to start on March 25 although he was expected to miss at least the start of the proceedings because of the delay in extraditing him from Montenegro. Kwon and his company Terraform Labs were sued by the SEC last February over the May 2022 collapse of the TerraUSD and Luna cryptocurrencies, which authorities have said caused about $40 billion of losses in crypto markets. The SEC said Terraform and Kwon deceived investors about the stability of TerraUSD, a "stablecoin" designed to maintain a constant $1 price, and how a popular Korean mobile payment app used the Terraform blockchain to settle transactions. Kwon has denied wrongdoing. He also faces related U.S. criminal charges, and has been held in Montenegro since his arrest last March. Kwon is separately under indictment in South Korea which has also sought his arrest. Kwon had appealed a ruling by a court in Montenegro's capital of Podgorica that he should be extradited to the United States instead of his native South Korea, which he preferred. Legal analysts have said Kwon would face a relatively lighter sentence if convicted in South Korea where the longest prison term sentence for financial crimes is 40 years. (Reporting by Jack Kim and Jihoon Lee; Editing by Ed Davies and Miral Fahmy) PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) South Salem High School went into lockdown as Salem police investigated the shooting of three people in the Bushs Pasture Park area Thursday afternoon. Authorities closed the entrance at Lefelle Street as an active search commenced at the park Thursday afternoon, according to a post on social media. By Thursday evening, nearly eight hours of police gathering evidence at the scene has left officers still looking for the shooter. A legitimate hazard: Stores call for bottle return exemption amid fentanyl crisis Officers arrived to High Street SE and Leffelle Street around 1:45 p.m. to find three people had been shot and one of them had died. I was talking to some neighbors and suddenly heard 15-20 shots coming from the south end of Bush Park, said Tom Sieg, a witness. Suddenly theres 30-40 police cars arriving, fire trucks, ambulances. The age of the man shot has not been released, though police did say the two other victims were juveniles. An investigation is ongoing. We lived here for almost 13 years its been relatively quiet, Sieg said. In an email to parents, officials at South Salem High School said that while they are beginning to deescalate our condition, the school will remain in a heightened level of security until further notice. Gov. Kotek to sign bill to criminalize possession of small amounts of illicit drugs No students or staff members have been harmed. We thank our families, staff and students for their continued cooperation and patience during this lockdown as we prioritize the safety of all within our schools, the school said in a notice to families. Salem police said this was a targeted shooting involving people who knew each other. This all unfolded just one day after an inaugural Community Violence Reduction Initiative aimed at preventing gun violence and violent crime. I was really disheartened, honestly. It was so disappointing and frustrating, said Salem Mayor Chris Hoy. More concerns as Alaska Airlines flight arrives at PDX gate with open cargo door Both the Mayor Hoy and Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack are working on ways to break the five-year gun violence trend in the city. Were focused on making sure we solve this crime, who did it, Womack said. But were gonna have to continue to communicate this conversation with our community about how we intervene and prevent future incidents. No arrests have been made but anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to contact Salem police. Authorities said police will be in the area and nearby schools Friday, with extra support offered to students at South Salem High School. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The Space Force said it may develop a new constellation of domain awareness satellites to detect and track objects in geosynchronous orbit, about 22,000 miles above Earth. Space Systems Command the services acquisition arm is in the early phases of planning for the capability, according to March 5 notice, and is seeking industry feedback as it studies the prospect of increasing its portfolio of observation satellites. Domain awareness is a top priority both for the Space Force and U.S. Space Command as they look to better characterize and deter threats from adversaries like Russia and China. As the service prepares to release its budget request for fiscal 2025 next week, Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein on March 7 called for more funding for space domain awareness capabilities, among other areas. We must invest more in test and training, space domain awareness, command and control, and in the ability to control the domain, he said in a March 7 speech at the McAleese & Associates annual defense forum in Washington. The service already operates a fleet of Geosynchronous Space Situation Awareness Program, or GSSAP, satellites that serve a kind of neighborhood watch function. They also perform rendezvous and proximity operations, drawing close to other satellites to observe and provide data on them. Details on GSSAPs full suite of capabilities are slim as the program is largely classified. The service first launched the Northrop Grumman-built spacecraft in 2014 and in 2022 fielded two more to replenish the constellation. Last year, it deactivated one of the six GSSAP satellites in orbit. Its not immediately clear how the additional GEO satellites would be distinct from GSSAP. However, one key difference is that the service wants the spacecraft to carry carry a Space Force-supported, in-orbit refueling port that would allow them to extend missions. In recent years, Space Command leaders have pushed for the service to field more refuelable spacecraft to support more dynamic operations, noting that satellites like GSSAP are somewhat limited due to their fixed fuel supply. Last year, then-deputy Space Command commander Lt. Gen. John Shaw called on the Space Force to equip all space observation satellites to be equipped for refueling by the end of the decade. The notice indicates the satellites would be highly maneuverable and would carry an electro-optical payload. The service is also looking for low-cost systems that require minimal development and could be quickly built and launched. The spacecraft wouldnt need bespoke ground systems or operational units but would instead rely on existing capabilities. In Spain's traditional way of life, people dine late, often at 10:00 pm (JAIME REINA) An integral part of Spanish culture or a longstanding tradition that needlessly burdens staff? Spain's late working hours -- predominantly in bars, shops and restaurants -- have sparked heated debate over the government's wish to curb "unreasonable" excesses. Regularly denounced by unions, Spain's working hours hit the headlines this week after some highly critical remarks by Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz. "It is unreasonable that a country should have its restaurants open until 1:00 am. It's crazy to keep extending the working day indefinitely," said Diaz, head of the radical left-wing Sumar which is part of Spain's Socialist-led coalition. "It's clear that the working hours in Spain are very different" from the rest of Europe, but "from 10:00 pm, these are night hours which present certain risks" for employees' mental health, said Diaz, a lawyer with roots in the Communist Party and who specialises in employment law. Her remarks to a group of journalists on Tuesday, sparked a backlash from the right, who immediately pounced on her remarks as advocating a boring, stay-at-home lifestyle. Diaz wants "everyone to go home and read the Communist manifesto by lamplight with a cup of tea," ironised Alfonso Serrano of the right-wing opposition Popular Party. "Spain has the best nightlife in the world, with its streets full of life and freedom. They want to turn all of us into socialist puritans, with no soul, no light and no restaurants," jeered Isabel Diaz Ayuso, Madrid's hardline right-wing regional leader. And their point was quickly echoed by the nightlife industry. "We reject any proposal which questions Spanish lifestyle, which distinguishes and sets us apart in the tourist market," said Espana de Noche (Spain at Night), an association representing the Spanish nightlife sector. - Long, drawn-out days - According to Eurostat, the number of weekly working hours in Spain is in line with the European average. But the day is more spread out and ends later, Spain being the European country with the most people working after 6:00 pm. "The problem is that working hours can be very spread out throughout the day" with long lunch breaks that don't give workers time "to organise their personal lives properly," Alfonso Serrano, a labour law expert at Alicante University told AFP. That's linked to Spain's traditional way of life where people dine late, often at 10:00 pm, he said, meaning they have "even later leisure hours" which has a "knock-on effect" on other sectors, notably shops which end up closing late. Diaz started a debate on the issue in 2022 in connection with a draft bill on "use of working time", commissioning a report from 60 experts who recommended consolidating working hours and closing shops earlier. The bill was ultimately put on hold because of the July 2023 snap elections, but Diaz reopened the debate during talks on reducing the working week from 40 to 37.5 hours as outlined in Sumar's coalition agreement with the Socialists. But it's a tricky proposal in a country which is proud of its nightlife. The risk is that Spain ends up being "more boring than the Nordic countries, where you go home at 6:00 pm because nothing is open," warned Jose Luis Yzuel, head of Hosteleria de Espana, which represents the hotel and restaurant industry. For Miguel Basterra, one of the experts involved in writing the report commissioned by Diaz, bars and restaurants "are responding to a demand in the market" which complicates the issue. But improvements are "possible", he said, notably ensuring a better application of "laws and collective labour agreements" which are being sidestepped by some players in the sector. vab/hmw/gv DUBLIN, March 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Growth Opportunities in Polyurethane" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research_and_Markets_Logo This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the global polyurethanes (PU) market, with a detailed focus on regional segmentation, revenue, and volume metrics from 2019 to 2029. By examining historical data and projecting future trends, the study offers a seven-year forecast from 2023 to 2029, using 2022 as the base year. In the Americas, the study covers the United States, Canada, and Latin America, including Mexico. This region demonstrates diverse market dynamics, with the United States leading in consumption and innovation. Canada's market is characterized by its focus on sustainable and eco-friendly PU products. Latin America shows significant growth potential, driven by its expanding manufacturing and construction sectors. The European segment encompasses the European Economic Area, European Free Trade Association states, the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth of Independent States, including Ukraine and Israel. Europe's PU market is distinguished by its stringent environmental regulations and advanced technological landscape. The region's focus on sustainability and the development of eco-friendly PU variants are key factors influencing market growth. For the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, the study includes Africa, Middle Eastern countries (including Turkey), and South Asian countries (comprising India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal). This diverse region is witnessing rapid industrial growth, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia. The demand for PU in construction, automotive, and other industrial applications is propelling the market forward in these areas. Analysis of Asia-Pacific focuses on China, Japan, South Korea, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area, Australia, New Zealand, and other Southeast Asian countries. This region is a significant player in the global PU market, with China leading in volume and innovation. Japan and South Korea are recognized for their technological advancements and high-quality PU products. The ASEAN countries are emerging as key markets due to their growing industrial and construction sectors. Story continues The study's methodology involves an in-depth analysis of the volume and revenue for each system and region, providing insights into the factors driving growth as well as potential challenges. The forecast is based on the expected compound annual growth rates, offering a strategic view of the market's evolution. The global PU market is poised for robust growth, with each region contributing uniquely to the industry's expansion. This study offers valuable insights for stakeholders, investors, and industry participants, helping them make informed decisions in a dynamic and evolving market. Key Growth Opportunities: PUs for EV Applications Reshoring to MEASA Partnerships in 5G Infrastructure Healthcare Applications Circular Economy Initiatives 3D Printing Key Topics Covered: Growth Opportunity Analysis Scope of Analysis Market Definitions by System Geographic Scope Key Competitors for PU Raw Materials Chemistry of PUs Value Chain Analysis Value Chain Analysis Discussion Systems Houses Universe PU Raw Material (Alternate Sources, Recycled Feed Stock, and Bio Feedstock) Growth Metrics Revenue and Volume Forecast Average Price Forecast Revenue Forecast by System Volume Forecast by System Revenue, Volume, and Average Price Forecast Analysis Revenue Forecast by Region Volume Forecast by Region Forecast Analysis by Region Competitive Environment Competitive Environment - MDI Revenue Share - MDI Competitive Environment - TDI Revenue Share - TDI Competitive Environment - Polyether Polyols Revenue Share - Polyether Polyols Growth Opportunity Analysis - Rigid Foam Segment Characteristics and Overview Types of Rigid Foams Available MDI Glycol Ratio Stoichiometric Ratios of Rigid Foams Key Growth Metrics for Rigid Foam Growth Drivers for Rigid Foam Growth Restraints for Rigid Foam Summary of Growth Drivers and Restraints Revenue and Volume Forecast Average Price Forecast Forecast Analysis Revenue Forecast by Region Volume Forecast by Region Forecast Analysis by Region Growth Opportunity Analysis - Flexible Foam Segment Characteristics and Overview Growth Metrics Growth Drivers Growth Restraints Summary of Growth Drivers and Restraints Types of PU Flexible Foams PU Flexible Foams - Stoichiometric Ratios Revenue and Volume Forecast Average Price Forecast Forecast Analysis Revenue Forecast by Region Volume Forecast by Region Forecast Analysis by Region Growth Opportunity Analysis - Adhesives, Sealants, and Binders Segment Characteristics and Overview Growth Metrics Growth Drivers Growth Restraints Summary of Growth Drivers and Restraints Revenue and Volume Forecast Average Price Forecast Forecast Analysis Revenue Forecast by Region Volume Forecast by Region Forecast Analysis by Region Growth Opportunity Analysis - Coatings Segment Characteristics and Overview Growth Metrics Growth Drivers Growth Restraints Summary of Growth Drivers and Restraints Revenue and Volume Forecast Average Price Forecast Forecast Analysis Revenue Forecast by Region Volume Forecast by Region Forecast Analysis by Region Growth Opportunity Analysis - Elastomers and TPU Segment Characteristics and Overview Growth Metrics Growth Drivers Growth Restraints Summary of Growth Drivers and Restraints Revenue and Volume Forecast Average Price Forecast Forecast Analysis Revenue Forecast by Region Volume Forecast by Region Forecast Analysis by Region For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/e8v5ae About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/polyurethane-market-key-growth-opportunities-eco-conscious-solutions-and-pu-products-support-circular-economy-principles-to-enhance-growth-pipeline-302084008.html SOURCE Research and Markets Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said GOP lawmakers who heckled President Biden during his State of the Union address Thursday evening were responding to an overly partisan speech. A handful of Republicans shouted out at Biden throughout his remarks in the House chamber, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), whose yells prompted an unusual back-and-forth between herself and the president about Laken Riley, the Georgia student who police say was killed by a man who had illegally crossed the border. Asked about that exchange, Johnson said people listening to the address grew very emotional because of the overly partisan nature of Bidens remarks. People got very emotional tonight because it was an overly partisan speech and it was filled, full of information that is just objectively not true. And so you saw the visceral reaction, I think, from people in the chamber and I suspect that a lot of people at home were feeling that same frustration, Johnson told reporters. The exchange between Biden and Greene broke out when the president discussed the border, at one point prompting the Georgia Republican to yell its about Laken Riley, and others to shout say her name. Biden responded, holding up a Laken Riley pin he had received from Greene. Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, Biden said. To her parents I say my heart goes out to you having lost children myself. I understand. Ahead of Thursdays speech, the Speaker had urged members of his conference to maintain decorum during the presidents remarks, a request that came after last years State of the Union speech saw a large amount of heckling from GOP lawmakers. Johnson said he felt that his pleas were mostly followed Thursday. We emphasized decorum. I think mostly that was respected tonight, and that was a good thing for the country, he said. Bidens speech, which ran for just more than one hour, was a largely political address, drawing contrasts between himself and former President Trump on an array of policy issues including foreign policy and border security. Republicans of all stripes criticized the political nature of Bidens speech, I thought it was a partisan stump speech, not a dignified State of the Union address, moderate Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told The Hill, calling it the worst State of the Union address I have heard. Because it was partisan, he added. It was like a campaign speech you expect to hear two weeks before the election. It was not unifying at all. Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), the chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, described Bidens remarks as an angry, elderly gentleman with a poor memory yelling at people to get off his lawn. It really was a terrible tone the whole speech. It was certainly divisive, he continued. He claimed when he ran the first time hed be the uniter in chief. Hes been anything but; he certainly continues to be the divider in chief. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Special counsel Jack Smith is forcefully opposing former President Donald Trumps sweeping claim of presidential immunity in the criminal case over his handling of classified documents, urging the judge to cut off Trumps ability to appeal the issue in a way that would delay his trial. The immunity claim here is so wholly without merit that it is difficult to understand it except as part of a strategic effort for delay, Smiths office wrote in one of a host of legal filings Thursday afternoon. Trump is charged with taking classified national defense documents from the White House after he left office and resisting the governments attempts to retrieve the materials. He has pleaded not guilty. The indictment against Trump in Florida, prosecutors said, does not charge Trump for any acts that he undertook as President, let alone an official presidential act. Smiths office asked Judge Aileen Cannon to certify Trumps new immunity claim as frivolous, which would foreclose the former presidents avenue for an immediate appeal that would delay the trial. An immunity claim is one of the few issues that, if appealed, could derail a trial. The timelines leading to trial have become a flashpoint in Smiths two prosecutions. Trumps presidential immunity claim in his separate January 6, 2021-related federal case, which is largely about actions he took while president, wasnt deemed to be frivolous by the courts, and his case has been on hold for weeks while the courts consider the issue. The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for April 25. In separate court filings Thursday, Smith responded to Trumps other arguments for dismissing the classified documents case, including allegations of selective and vindictive prosecution as well as claims that the former president was allowed to take classified material to his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left the White House and that the special counsel was unlawfully appointed. Cannon set a hearing for March 14, and told the parties to reserve a full day for argument on two motions from the defendants covering their argument that Trump was legally allowed to take classified material to his Mar-a-Lago residence. Vindictive prosecution claims Smith pushed back strongly on Trumps claim that hes the victim of selective and vindictive prosecution, and being treated differently than others who have allegedly mishandled classified material including President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence. He has not identified anyone who has engaged in a remotely similar battery of criminal conduct and not been prosecuted as a result, prosecutors wrote in their filing. Smith leaned heavily on former special counsel Robert Hurs report on Bidens handling of classified documents, saying the Trumps comparison between the two probes fails. Hur declined last month to bring charges against Biden in the matter. Trump, unlike Biden, is alleged to have engaged in extensive and repeated efforts to obstruct justice and thwart the return of documents bearing classification markings, the special counsel wrote. Smith said that the former presidents arguments do not satisfy the legal elements required to prevail on such a claim, which include showing that prosecutors acted with genuine animus toward a defendant. Instead, prosecutors said, the conduct at issue in the case made it so that Trump in effect selected [himself] for prosecution. Personal records argument Trump has also repeatedly asserted both on the campaign trail and in court that his handling of classified material is allowed under the Presidential Records Act, but prosecutors say nothing in the federal law permitted Trump to take and store classified material. His claim that obviously presidential records highly sensitive government documents bearing classification markings that were presented to Trump during his term in office can be transformed into personal records by the alchemy of removing them from the White House is false, prosecutors wrote. And while Trumps attorneys have argued that as president, he could designate records as personal and lawfully keep them after leaving office, prosecutors said Thursday that, Nothing in the PRA remotely suggests that the President can lawfully convert presidential records into personal ones simply by removing them from the White House at the end of his term. The PRA says the moment a president leaves office, the National Archives and Records Administration gets custody and control of all presidential records from their administration. Personal records are described in the PRA as things like personal notes, materials relating to private political associations or materials relating exclusively to the presidents own election to the White House. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Six Rockford area teachers were showered with appreciation, recognition and Golden Apple Awards Thursday. The Golden Apple Foundation of Rockford and its caravan of volunteers, well-wishers, friends and family and media hand-delivered the annual awards for excellence in teaching during surprise visits to schools across Winnebago and Boone counties. Although each recipient knew they were among a field of 20 finalists, most were still overwhelmed with emotion when their classroom doors burst open and award was placed in their hands. Things were changed up a bit for the last presentation of the day when Kennedy Middle School special education teacher Michael Davis was asked to come to the school library without explanation and was greeted with a room of cheering family members, friends and co-workers. Davis told the crowd, "I thought I was in the doghouse." More: Your turn: Golden Apple aims to keep great teachers teaching Kennedy Principal Kourtni Gray said the award validates Davis' passion for education and his students. "He pours love, sweat and tears into his students," Gray said. "He comes early and stays late. He goes above and beyond for them." Golden Apple Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Stark called Golden Apple Day "the best day of the year." "It's a culmination of a seven-month process," Stark said, "and we get to treat the winners like rock stars." The royal treatment continues April 26 when the red carpet is rolled out for the winners at the Golden Apple Awards banquet held at the Tebala Event Center, 7910 Newburg Road. Each teacher will give a speech stating why they chose the challenging but rewarding profession. Here are this year's Golden Apple Award winners. Leann Burmeister-Juliano Leann Burmeister Juliano School: Belvidere North High School Subject: English language arts Years teaching: 15, three at Belvidere North High School. Education: Bachelor's degree in English from Rockford University, master's degree in differentiated instruction from Concordia University in Chicago. From a nominator: "She was the absolute best at making English fun. She always shows that she cares about her students. She made me very comfortable in her class and helped in any way she could." Michael Davis Michael Davis School: Kennedy Middle School Subject: Special education Years teaching: 26, 10 in Rockford Public Schools Education: Bachelor's degree in elementary education from Rockford College, master's degree in special education from Rockford University. From a nominator: "Mike Davis is the best. He always greets us with a smile. He treats the kids so good and helps them so much. He gets so excited to teach them new things and help them in the gym and plays with them. He is very kind and gentle, and I'm glad the kids have him as a teacher." Alex Hartz Alex Hartz School: Hononegah High School Subject: Algebra/calculus Years teaching: 15, all at Hononegah Education: Bachelor's degree in math and secondary education from Augustana College, master's degree in educational design and technology from Concordia University in Wisconsin. From a nominator: "Mr. Hartzs passion for mathematics is truly inspiring. His eyes light up when he discusses calculus concepts, and that enthusiasm is contagious. It made me and my classmates genuinely excited to learn." Molly Kettelhut Molly Kettelhut School: Galapagos Rockford Charter School Subject: Seventh grade English language arts and social studies Years teaching: Seven, five in Rockford Public Schools Education: Bachelor's degree in elementary education from Northern Illinois University, master's degree in learning design and leadership from University of Illinois. From a nominator: "Miss Kettelhut gave me the courage and the mindset to try my hardest and to push and achieve my goal. She made me believe in myself and have confidence in the person I am. I never knew another human being could have a huge impact on me as a person and encourage me as much as she does." Yuritzi "Yuri" Moctezuma Yuri Moctezuma School: Belvidere South Middle School Subject: Seventh grade English language arts and social studies Years teaching: 10, two in the Belvidere School District Education: Bachelor's degree in psychology from DePaul University, master's degree in elementary education from Rockford University. From a nominator: "She challenges students each day to grow as readers, writers and critical thinkers. She gives students a voice, so they may develop their belief in themselves as capable, confident bilingual young adults." Cara Wolfe Cara Wolfe School: Flinn Middle School Subject: Eighth grade English Language Arts Years teaching: Nine, three in Rockford Public Schools Education: Bachelor's degree in secondary education from Saint Ambrose University. What she does: She incorporates science-based learning strategies in her classroom to help students trick their brain into optimal performance. She engages students in daily information retrieval exercises. Chris Green is a Rockford Register Star general assignment reporter. He can be reached at 815-987-1241, via email at cgreen@rrstar.com and Twitter @chrisfgreen. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Six Rockford-area teachers win Golden Apple Awards London, UK --News Direct-- Premier African Minerals Ltd Premier African Minerals Ltd (AIM:PREM, OTC:PRMMF) chief executive George Roach joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with the operational status of the processing plant at the company's Zulu lithium project in Zimbabwe. Despite facing some setbacks, the major components of the plant are installed and functional, enabling production to proceed from front to back. Issues encountered during commissioning are considered normal by the plant suppliers and Roach believes they are resolvable within the commissioning process, emphasizing that no major equipment replacements are necessary. Currently, the plant is producing concentrates from the Mica and Spodumene flotation sections, with analysis of these concentrates underway. Initial spot analysis suggests that spodumene is adequately liberated and recoverable at correct percentages, though attention is needed for managing pH levels during flotationa challenge that is being actively addressed. Roach anticipates that the issues with pH management and control systems will be resolved within "hours or days," not weeks. The next steps for the Zulu project include ensuring the spodumene produced meets grade requirements and ramping up production rates to design levels, expected to take a couple of weeks. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/premier-african-minerals-zulu-lithium-project-produces-first-concentrates-prepares-for-ramp-up-965542771 Another high-ranking official at the Oklahoma State Department of Education the leader of its team that determines accreditation for the states public schools has joined the agencys top attorney in resigning. Friday was the final day at the agency for Ryan Pieper, its executive director of accreditation. He confirmed to The Oklahoman both he and the agencys general counsel, Bryan Cleveland, are stepping away from their posts. Both have held key positions in the administration of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, who took office in January 2023 and has seen since a steady exodus of employees from the agency. The resignations continue a pattern of disarray within a department that has been constantly in the spotlight and the subject of multiple legal challenges since Walters became superintendent. A job posting for Clevelands position could be found on Indeed.com on Thursday. On Thursday, Education Department spokesman Dan Isett would not confirm Cleveland or Pieper's departures. In response to multiple requests for comment, Isett responded: At this time, OSDE is not ready to make any public announcements regarding personnel. The Oklahoman has requested the resignation letters submitted by Pieper and Cleveland, which are public documents as defined by the Oklahoma Open Records Act, but has not received them yet. Bryan Cleveland at the November meeting of the Oklahoma State Department of Education at the Oliver Hodge Building in the Capitol complex, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 Accreditation is one of the key functions of the state Education Department School accreditation is among the core functions of the Education Department. According to the agency website, its accreditation standards division is to provide service to increase student learning and achievement, leadership to promote the improvement of the common Schools of Oklahoma, and regulation to maintain necessary Standards. Every Oklahoma public school goes through the accreditation process annually. Pieper said he believes the accreditation division is the heart of the agency. All of the other divisions work through us. Since Walters took office, he has used the accreditation process as a weapon, threatening to lower the accreditation rating of districts that have drawn his ire, including Tulsa, Western Heights and Edmond. Pieper has worked in the agencys accreditation division since October 2014, when Janet Barresi was state schools superintendent. He has served as the agencys executive director of accreditation since August 2019, when Walters immediate predecessor, Joy Hofmeister, was superintendent. Hes continued in that role under Walters, making Pieper one of only a handful of top-level employees at the agency whos worked for the past three state superintendents. Piepers office is a primary point of contact for local school district officials from across Oklahoma. I have had the most amazing team, Pieper said. The people Ive had the chance to work alongside every day are fantastic. I am proud of the work weve done during the last four years. There still are a lot of great people working at the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Pieper said his new job will be working for Cognia, an Alpharetta, Georgia-based company that serves education providers including public, private, early learning, digital and charter schools, as well as state education agencies with accreditation, assessment and improvement services. According to its website, Cognia serves about 40,000 institutions in 90 countries. Pieper said he will continue to live in Oklahoma. He said Brent Meeks, one of the Education Departments current accreditation officers, has been selected as the interim director of the agencys accreditation division. The Education Department has lost numerous key personnel since Walters took over. Among them are Terri Grissom, who wrote applications for competitive federal grants for the state Education Department for five years. She left the agency April 18 and testified the next month at a legislative hearing. In May, the agencys executive director of prevention and intervention services, Michelle Strain whose work focused on crisis counseling, suicide and bullying prevention, school climate, homeless student services and more resigned. In October, the agencys program manager for grant development and compliance, Pamela Smith-Gordon, left after only months on the job, complaining about a lack of access to Walters. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters' administration: Top accreditation official leaving post Members of the Democratic Women's Caucus wear white for woman's rights at the State of the Union address. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) From the scarves draped across their necks to the buttons they affixed to their blazers and blouses, many of the State of the Union attendees fashion choices made deliberate political statements. Not unlike years before, the guests attending President Bidens address Thursday night inside the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol made their feelings known about issues domestic and international with their sartorial choices. Heres a breakdown. Democratic lawmakers don white in support of reproductive rights Reproductive freedom was front and center at the State of the Union. The 94 Democratic women of the House who make up the Democratic Womens Caucus tweeted on Thursday that theyd be dressed in all white in support of womens rights. For tonights State of the Union address, were in white and wearing Fighting for Reproductive Freedom pins. Our message is clear: we won't stop fighting until all women can access the health care they need to control their own lives and futures. pic.twitter.com/A7nEOjI51l Democratic Women's Caucus (@DemWomenCaucus) March 7, 2024 While members of Congress have worn white in years past, including in 2019, this year female Democratic lawmakers added a black button that read Fighting for Reproductive Freedom. House Democratic women in suffragette white: We are standing up for your right to make your own health care decisions including abortion #SOTU2024 pic.twitter.com/7MKYLsyBIK U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (@USRepKCastor) March 8, 2024 Tonight my @DemWomenCaucus colleagues & I are wearing white to the State of the Union to demonstrate our fight for reproductive health care. MAGA Republicans will stop at nothing to control womens bodies and reproductive health care and together we must fight back. pic.twitter.com/aN3MV8dril Rep. Linda Sanchez (@RepLindaSanchez) March 7, 2024 Proud to stand with @DemWomenCaucus in the fight to ensure reproductive freedom for every woman in America. The right to control our own healthcare and reproductive decisions is a fundamental right. Won't stop fighting until every woman has power over their own bodies. pic.twitter.com/k7arTXnGCZ Nanette D. Barragan (@RepBarragan) March 7, 2024 Laken Riley Beneath her red blazer, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene had a message on her white T-shirt: Say her name Laken Riley. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green listens to President Biden deliver his State of the Union address. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) The Republican lawmaker from Georgia was calling attention to the 22-year-old University of Georgia nursing student, who was killed after going out for a run near the Athens campus. The suspect, who is in custody, is a man who crossed the U.S. border illegally. As Biden entered the Capitol, Greene attempted to hand Biden a button that had Rileys name on it. Rileys parents were invited to attend Thursdays speech by Rep. Mike Collins, but declined the invitation. Blue and yellow for Ukraine Among the sea of white outfits, many Democratic lawmakers had pops of blues and yellows in a nod to Ukraines flag as a sign of support amid the countrys ongoing war with Russia. N.J. Rep. Mikie Sherrill tweeted a photo of herself in a scarf with sunflowers, which is the countrys national flower, to signal her support for Ukraine and shout out her Ukrainian constituent who gave her the symbolic accessory. Tonight, Im proudly wearing a Ukrainian scarf given to me by a Ukrainian constituent to the Presidents State of the Union Address. Support for the Ukrainian people means standing up to Putin, protecting our national security, and fighting for democracy. pic.twitter.com/5RIeuQ6jxt Rep. Mikie Sherrill (@RepSherrill) March 8, 2024 She posed with Democratic representatives Abigail Spanberger, Elissa Slotkin and Chrissy Houlihan, who also sported the colors. .@POTUS is absolutely right. The United States cannot back down from our role as a beacon of support for democracy. Its time for @SpeakerJohnson to bring support for Ukraine for a vote on the House floor. Lead, follow, or get out of the way. pic.twitter.com/PYjgSiMYvi Rep. Mikie Sherrill (@RepSherrill) March 8, 2024 Keffiyehs in support of Palestinians Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the sole Palestinian American lawmaker, Rep. Cori Bush and Rep. Summer Lee were dressed in black-and-white keffiyehs in the House chamber. From left, Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Rep. Cori Bush. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The traditional Palestinian scarves were meant to call attention to Palestinian people amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. As is customary, when President Joe Biden delivered the State of the Union address, he declared, The state of the Union is strong. The same can be said of the state of accountability for Donald Trump. The legal cases against the former president and his enablers are making significant progress in achieving consequences. He is facing mammoth civil liability and he will likely soon join some of his closest associates in sustaining his first criminal convictions. While there is also considerable uncertainty in some of the cases, the overall pattern points to accountability. Just this week, Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer at the Trump Organization, pleaded guilty to perjury, admitting that he repeatedly lied in an apparent effort to protect his former boss. This was the second guilty plea secured by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg against Weisselberg, following an earlier one to 15 counts of tax fraud in his dealings with Trump. Weisselberg is just the latest occupant of Trumps collapsing house of cards; a long list of people and entities associated with him have been convicted. The Trump Organization and another business bearing his name were convicted of criminal tax fraud in 2022 with prosecutors telling the jury that the misconduct was explicitly sanctioned by the former president. In the Fulton County election interference case, Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, and Jenna Ellis all pleaded guilty in October. Other examples of legal accountability abound, including for Trumps former White House advisors Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro, and Michael Flynn, his erstwhile political guides Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, and many more. Now Trump himself is being hit by the courts, starting with major financial ramifications for his actions. He was found by a civil jury in 2023 to have sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll. Following the multi-million dollar verdict in that case, Trump was in January ordered to pay a staggering $83.3 million in damages for defaming Carroll, and then commanded to pay more than $450 million last month (including prejudgment interest) in the civil fraud case brought by New York attorney general Letitia James. The damages levied against Trump were important steps for holding him accountable. They are so large that his lawyers have said he may have to sell properties to pay them. Even more serious consequences likely loom in New York, where Trump made his home and his reputation for most of his life. DA Braggs 2016 election case lies just ahead, with jury selection beginning on March 25. Trump is alleged to have hidden information about a sex scandal from voters following an eruption of controversy over his Access Hollywood tape. The evidence that Trump falsified records to cover up that campaign corruption is damning. If found guilty of the 34 felonies, Trump could face incarceration. Each count carries a penalty of up to four years in prison. It is when we get beyond the New York case expected to take about 6 weeks that the state of accountability becomes murkier. But with three additional serious criminal cases on the docket, it is more likely than not that at least one more makes it through to trial. While there are no guarantees when it comes to criminal cases especially ones against the notoriously slippery former president the likelihood that at least one of those cases is tried makes the state of accountability stronger still. In the January 6 federal case, while the decision to give a hearing to Trumps claims of absolute presidential immunity by the justices of the Supreme Court that Trump helped to shape will delay the case, there is still more than enough time for a trial if the justices resolve the case on the same timetable as they applied in the 14th Amendment case, where a decision came less than a month after oral argument. The immunity question can be decided quickly if the Supreme Court makes this as much of a priority as they just did with Trumps ballot status in Colorado in advance of the Super Tuesday primary. If the justices care that much about finishing that case before an intermediate primary date, they should care a whole lot more about finishing the immunity case in time for a verdict before the presidential election in November. The American public needs to know whether Trump is guilty of abusing the very powers he seeks to recover before they decide whether to restore him to office. In Fulton County, the case against Trumps election interference in Georgia has been delayed for weeks by a distraction manufactured by Trump and his co-conspirator, Michael Roman to focus on the DA in the case. After nearly twenty hours in court, however, Trump and his allies have failed to make the legal or evidentiary case to disqualify DA Fani Willis. A decision is expected on disqualification shortly. The steep legal hurdle to prove disqualification has not been met and time to move past this distraction now, to a swift trial before a jury. The DA had requested an August start date and if the federal election overthrow case is not moving theres no reason not to grant that request. Perhaps the most dubious prognosis is in the Mar-a-Lago case but even there a trial is possible. After prior indications of favoritism toward Trump by Judge Aileen Cannon, who Trump appointed, and numerous delays invited by the judge, she is considering putting the case before a jury this summer. The prosecution is asking for a July 8 trial and Trump has counter-offered the option of August 12, although he would strongly prefer kicking the can to 2025. And no wonder: If that happens and he is elected, he will likely try to dismiss the case, pardon himself or both. Despite Cannons partiality so far, we should not write off this prospect until we see what happens. The chances of holding former President Trump accountable in the 2016 campaign corruption and cover up case election case plus at least one of these three possible prosecutions still look good. Polling indicates that Americans would take the conviction and sentencing of Trump seriously. The American people want answers from a jury of Trumps peers from their own fellow Americans. I believe they can still get those answers this year before it is too late. If they do, then the state of accountability in our nation will, like the rest of our union, be strong indeed. From the Dispatch Politics on The Dispatch Happy Friday! Let us know in the comments how, if you were president, you would have reacted to seeing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in her MAGA get-up at last nights State of the Union address. Up to Speed No Labels, the bipartisan organization, announced Friday that nearly all of its 800 delegates voted to continue to pursue an alternative presidential ticket to compete against the Republican and Democratic tickets. In a statement from No Labels convention chair Mike Rawlings, the group said it would be moving immediately to identify candidates to serve on the Unity presidential ticket. Maryanne Martini, a spokeswoman for No Labels, told Dispatch Politics there will be a public announcement of the groups selection process on Thursday, March 14. President Joe Biden is hitting the campaign trail on the heels of Thursdays State of the Union address, with events planned in the Philadelphia and Atlanta metro areastwo key micro battlegrounds in two crucial swing states. Biden is scheduled to be in Pennsylvania on Friday and Georgia on Saturday according to a campaign press release. According to a White House press release, Biden is dispatching more than a dozen administration officials and members of his Cabinet throughout the country to tout proposals he unveiled during last nights State of the Union address. They will visit red states and blue states, battleground states and safe states. Among them: Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump also is hitting the campaign trail this weekend. The former president is scheduled to be in Georgia the same day as Biden to host an evening campaign rally in Rome, a rural community roughly 70 miles northwest of Atlanta. With Nikki Haley out of the race, endorsements of Trump from Republican party figures continue to pour in. On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced his support for Trump even after years of a strained relationship between the two men. On Thursday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin endorsed Trump in a statement two days after the former president won the Old Dominions GOP primary. Its time to unite around strong leadership and policies that grow our great nation, not four more years of President Biden, Youngkin said. Not every prominent Republican politician is backing Trump with that much enthusiasm. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a terse statement when asked by Dispatch Politics if he would endorse Trump for president. The governor supports the Republican nominee, said Cody Hall, a Kemp spokesman. Trump tried unsuccessfully in 2022 to oust Kemp by backing his primary challenger, but Kemp went on to win the GOP nomination overwhelmingly and win reelection soundly. Georgia voted for Biden in 2020, turning blue for the first time in a presidential race since 1996. Disgraced Republican George Santos is attempting a political comeback, announcing Thursday in the middle of Bidens State of the Union address that he is mounting a primary challenge to GOP Rep. Nick LaLota in New Yorks 1st Congressional District. Santos was expelled midway through his first term in the House of Representatives back in December, amid a federal indictment for conspiracy, wire fraud, false statements, falsification of records, aggravated identity theft, and credit card fraud. Santos previously represented New Yorks 3rd Congressional District, which Democrats captured in a special election after his expulsion. LaLota was among the New York Republicans who pushed for Santos expulsion out of concern that he would be a drag on their 2024 reelection prospects. The Labor Department reports that 275,000 jobs were created in the United States in February, surpassing expectations. The unemployment rate inched up slightly to 3.9 percent and revisions of the job gains in December showed somewhat less growth than originally reported. The Biden campaign is already touting the jobs numbers. Be sure to read a new editorial from The Dispatch, which looks at the choices facing voters in this Novembers election and urges Americans to demand better. Look where the lesser-of-two-evils mindset and the traditional GOP way have gotten us, it reads. A contest between the most unpopular presidential nominees in the history of polling. Bidens Energetic and Partisan State of the Union President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill on March 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) President Joe Biden sought to prove during Thursday nights State of the Union address that he could deliver an energetic speech, and he certainly accomplished that goal! As University of Southern California journalism professor Christina Bellantoni observed, last year there were zero exclamation points in Bidens prepared State of the Union remarks. But in 2024? There were 80! For an 81-year-old president dogged by concerns and criticism over his age and frailty, the style of Thursdays State of the Union had its obvious upsides. But Bidens remarks often resembled a typical campaign speech, more so than weve come to expect from a presidents annual address before Congress. The modern State of the Union usually capitalizes on stories of American heroes or foreign dissidents who sought freedom in the United Statesthe kind of moment that elicits a unanimous standing ovation in the House chamber and makes the hearts of viewers at home swell with American pride. Such stories were almost entirely absent from Bidens 2024 address. Rather, Biden drew attention to Americans in the gallery he portrayed as victimsor potential victimsof Republican policies on a range of issues. While he opened his speech by invoking Ronald Reagan and making an appeal to Republicans to aid Ukraine, he quickly pivoted to the issue of abortion by highlighting the story of Kate Cox, a Texas woman who sought an abortion because her unborn child had Trisomy 18a condition that is often fatal in the first year of lifebut had to travel out of state to obtain one due to Texas abortion law. Later, Biden drew attention to Jasmine, whose 9-year-old sister Jackie was murdered with 21 classmates and teachers at her elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Im proud we beat the NRA when I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years because of this Congress, Biden said. We now must beat the NRA again! The only bipartisan heroes in the gallery Biden highlighted were those who marched for civil rights in Selma, Alabamabut he quickly pivoted to saying that 59 years later, there are forces taking us back in time: voter suppression, election subversion, unlimited dark money, extreme gerrymandering. Other Americans in the gallery mentioned by Biden included an IVF patient from Alabama, United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain (whom Biden described as a great friend and a great labor leader), and a UAW worker. Again, it was closer to a stump speech. Republicans will cut Social Security and give more tax cuts to the wealthy, Biden said. He warned they were also banning books. As for policy proposals, in addition to the old laundry listfrom the PRO Act to the Equality ActBiden discussed two significant new measures. On domestic policy, he proposed a $10,000 tax credit for homebuyers, saying: I want to provide an annual tax credit that will give Americans $400 a month for the next two years as mortgage rates come down, to put toward their mortgage when they buy a first home or trade up for a little more space. On foreign policy, he announced a U.S.-led emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters. All in all, the State of the Uniondelivered just two days after Super Tuesdayseemed like Bidens opening salvo in the 2024 campaign. It revealed a candidate committed to shoring up the Democratic base but concerned above all else with showing the American people he has the energy to do the job for four more years. For the DNC, Kennedy Poses a Threat to Biden The Democratic Party is accelerating attacks on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the general election campaign gets underway in earnest, revealing a growing anxiety that the independent White House contender threatens to derail the reelection of President Joe Biden. In recent weeks, the Democratic National Committee filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing the super PAC supporting Kennedys presidential bid of illegally coordinating with the candidates campaign. American Values 2024 is in the process of makingand the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaign accepting$15 million worth of unlawful, in-kind contributions to get on the ballot in multiple states, the DNC said in a press release. Gaining ballot access across 50 states is a cumbersome, expensive process. This is yet another example of AV24 playing fast and loose with election law, DNC senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill said in a statement. Its clear that they, along with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his campaign, dont believe that the rules apply to them. Just last week, the DNC targeted Kennedy again, this time as the 70-year-old prepared to sit for a Saturday question-and-answer session at ETHDenver, a cryptocurrency industry conference. (Attendees gave his performance mixed reviews.) The DNC used the occasion to create a non-fungible token, a limited type of digital currency known as an NFT, highlighting Democratic allegations that Kennedy is running for president as a stalking horse for former President Donald Trump. The DNC rests that claim on the fact that Republican megadonor Timothy Mellona top Trump political financier who has given at least $15 million to the former presidentis also among the biggest donors to the pro-Kennedy super PAC, American Values 2024. Mellon has contributed $20 million to the group, according to FEC filings. That entity is doing the legwork to obtain a presidential ballot line across the country for the independent presidential contender. Democrats are crying foul. Its critical that the American people know that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is not what he seems in this race, DNC spokesman Alex Floyd said in a statement. His candidacy is being propped up by megadonor Timothy Mellon, who is also Donald Trumps largest contributor this cycle. (Mellon is certainly among Trumps largest contributors to date, per FEC filings, although its unclear as of this point in March if he is the largest.) This week, the Kennedy campaign announced it has collected enough signatures to put the independent candidate on the ballot in Nevada, a key swing state Biden won only narrowly over Trump in 2020. The Kennedy campaign additionally claims that it is on track to put Bobby on the ballot in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., although some political observers remain doubtful hell reach that threshold. Still, the Democratic Partys growing anxiety about his candidacy is understandable given public opinion polling. Nationally, Trump leads Biden by 1.8 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics average in a head-to-head matchup, 47.6 percent to 45.8 percent. In a three-way race with Kennedy, the president trails his predecessor by 4.3 points: Trump 39.8 percent; Biden 35.5 percent; Kennedy 15 percent. As revealed by these numbers, both Trump and Biden suffer from Kennedy being in the race. But as the Democratic and Republican nominating processes end and the fall campaign begins following this weeks Super Tuesday primaries, its Biden who takes the bigger hit from Kennedys presence in the White House contest. Granted, that could change in the months ahead given the independent candidates populist appeal. Kennedy is the scion of perhaps the most famous 20th-century Democratic family. His uncles include former President John F. Kennedy, assassinated in 1963, and Ted Kennedy, the longtime senator from Massachusetts who died in 2009. His father was Robert F. Kennedy, the onetime U.S. attorney general and later a New York senator who was assassinated in Los Angeles in 1968 while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination. RFK Jr., as Kennedy is often called, has always been something of a political gadfly, albeit a prominent one. An attorney, he is known mostly for his virulent opposition to vaccines (all vaccines, not just of the COVID-19 variety) and ardent environmentalism. After initially entering the 2024 sweepstakes as a candidate for the Democratic nomination, Kennedy abandoned that campaign in favor of an independent bid after it became clear Biden was untouchable. The catch? Running as essentially a third-party candidate means he has to do the painstaking, legally complicated, and costly work of getting his name on November ballots. Its unclear whether Kennedy will beat state deadlines for doing so. And its similarly unclear that federal prohibitions against super PAC coordination with campaigns allow American Values 2024 to do the work for him. American Values 2024 did not respond to a request for comment. The Kennedy campaign acknowledged our request but did not provide a comment at press time. Notable and Quotable He should have said undocumented, but thats not a big thing, okay? Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, referring to President Bidens apparently ad-libbed remark during the State of the Union about an illegal immigrant who killed a Georgia student last month, March 7, 2024 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. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -President Joe Biden delivered his third State of the Union address before Congress and the nation. This speech comes at a critical time as it is the presidents last State of the Union address before Election Day. The State of our Union is strong and getting stronger, Biden said. Biden laid out his vision for the country. A future where the days of trickle-down economics are over, he said. The president called on Congress to pass more funding for Ukraine. We have to stand up to Putin! Send me a bipartisan national security bill! President Biden also announced plans to add a port in Gaza that will be used by the U.S. and partners to get aid to Palestinians. No U.S. boots will be on the ground. A temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance, he said. While just outside protesters called for a cease-fire. Israel also has a fundamental responsibility though to protect innocent civilians in Gaza, Biden added. Democrats rallied behind the president as he criticized Republicans efforts to decrease access to reproductive healthcare. Like most Americans, I believe Roe v. Wade got it right. Alabama Republican Senator Katie Britt delivered the Republicans rebuttal focusing on where she says the administration fell short. The president hits the road Friday to Philadelphia for a campaign event. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Retail traders have been ditching the Magnificent 7 for pharma stocks like Eli Lilly, says JPMorgan Retail investors have been pivoting to pharma names like Eli Lilly in the last week, JPMorgan said. The makers of popular obesity drugs have seen their stock prices soar in recent months. Bank of America this month predicted Eli Lilly stock could soar 30% as sales of its obesity drug skyrocket. Retail traders were net sellers of most stocks that make up the Magnificent Seven last week, with focus shifting to pharmaceutical names like Eli Lilly, JPMorgan said in a note on Wednesday. Individual traders sold $1.4 billion worth of individual stocks in the past week, dumping titans like Tesla, Apple, Alphabet, and Microsoft, according to JPMorgan analysts. While Nvidia still looks to be a cash magnet for the retail cohort, inventors' focus shifted in the last week to big pharma players like Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Novo Nordisk, the note said. Retail investors poured $4.7 billion into funds as they were net sellers of single-name stocks, the bank said. Individual traders' appetite for pharma stocks comes as companies including Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk see a wave of bullish commentary around the impact of obesity drugs that have soared in popularity in the last year. Eli Lilly this month was given a street-high price target of $1,000 per share from Bank of America, signaling a potential upside of 30%. The drug maker's GLP-1 weight loss drug is poised for success, the bank said, projecting over $60 billion in sales by 2030. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention putting the US obesity rate at around 40%, drugs from Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer are expected to keep soaring in popularity in the coming years, and analysts have said they predict their use could jump from 1% to 15% of Americans taking these drugs by 2035. Meanwhile, the AI-driven frenzy has shown some signs of cooling recently. Goldman Sachs said in late February that hedge funds were selling tech stocks at the fastest pace in seven months, following a six-week buying streak leading up to Nvidia's quarterly earnings. Some have said recently that it may be time for the Magnificent Seven moniker to be retired. Mike O'Rourke, the analyst who coined the term, has noted that their fortunes have diverged sharply in recent months and that they can no longer be thought of as a single cohort. Read the original article on Business Insider A 27-year-old man who Melbourne police say killed a man and then stole a car was slated to go before a judge Friday for a hearing at the county jail. Chase Michael Wilson Smith was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and grand theft of a motor vehicle following an ongoing investigation into the death of Kenneth Johnson, a 32-year-old Melbourne resident found dead in a Melbourne home. Smith was arrested early Thursday, taken to the Brevard County Jail Complex and ordered held without bond. Johnsons body was found Feb. 24 in a home located in the 700 block of McDermott Avenue. Melbourne man arrested in county's 11th reported homicide of the year. Officers were called to the site about 2:05 p.m. to investigate reports of a death and found Johnson's body during a search of the home. Detectives focused on Smith described by police as homeless early on in the investigation. Detectives did not immediately release information about Smiths connection to Johnson or how exactly Johnson was killed. More: Police suspect homicide in case of 32-year-old man found dead over weekend in Melbourne Court records show Smith was previously charged with assaulting his pregnant girlfriend in front of the couples two children during a car ride in February 2020. The state attorneys office later dropped those charges. A charge involving Smith pointing a weapon at another motorist in Melbourne in 2018 was later filed. Smith was later released with time served. A motive in the case involving Johnson was not released. Johnsons death was the 11th reported homicide in Brevard County this year. An investigation is ongoing. J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Melbourne man suspected in homicide arrested; held without bond An Indianapolis man is in custody after police allege he conspired to steal rent money from locked rent-deposit boxes in Davenport, court records show. Adrian Bussey faces felony charges of second-degree theft and conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony, court records show. Adrian Bussey (Scott County Jail) On June 27, 2023, detectives with the Davenport Police Department conducted an investigation into a series of thefts reported from various apartment complex rent deposit boxes throughout the city, according to arrest affidavits. Video surveillance shows Bussey using a long roll of sticky tape to steal rent-deposits from within locked rent deposit boxes at several locations within the city of Davenport, police allege in affidavits. Video shows him on video being transported in a dark-colored Nissan SUV with a Florida license plate from location to location, including the 2900 block of Harrison Street and the 1800 block of Winding Hill Road, affidavits show. Management from each complex provided a total dollar amount taken from their respective lock boxes, according to affidavits. The total value taken was $4,880.88, affidavits say. Bussey was found to have a co-defendant who conspired in furtherance of this theft. The co-defendant did arrange the transportation of the associated vehicle via a third party in Indianapolis which both defendants used to travel to the affiants jurisdiction, police allege in affidavits. In affidavits, police say that cell-phone mapping of the co-defendants cell phone records indicated the co-defendant was in and around the areas of the thefts at the time (Bussey) committed the thefts. The above thefts are of the same methodology in which the two defendants are captured on video in other jurisdictions conducting the same criminal conduct together, police say in affidavits. Bussey, who has pleaded not guilty and has waived his right to a speedy trial, is set for pretrial conferences May 1 in Scott County Court. He was being held Thursday on $5,000 bond in Scott County Jail. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Douglas Rissing / Getty Images/iStockphoto If youre a Republican, you may not be a big fan of President Biden. However, there are a few ways that Bidens economic and fiscal policy proposals could be good for your wallet. Trending Now: How Much Is President Joe Biden Worth As He Seeks Re-Election? Read Next: One Smart Way To Grow Your Retirement Savings in 2024 Keep reading as we look at five ways that Bidens economic policies in a potential second term could be good for Republicans as well. Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity. Job Creation As of January 2024, the U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7%. Except for a few instances when it dropped to 3.5%, thats the lowest since the early 1950s. The Biden administration has done a lot to help the country recover from the record-high employment we saw during the COVID pandemic. Plus, his second-term plans involve more job creation. For example, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a $2 trillion bill passed by Congress and signed by Biden in November 2021. It designates $1.2 trillion for investment in repairing and rebuilding roads, bridges and rail lines, as well as providing clean drinking water and high-speed internet access. The White House said the law would create 1.5 million jobs per year for a decade. Try This: How Much Is Vice President Kamala Harris Worth? The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a key component of Bidenomics, emphasizes significant investments in American infrastructure, said Olivia Tian, a business owner who founded Raise3D. This policy could certainly appeal to Republicans who value job creation and economic growth stimulated by robust infrastructure development. By focusing on repairing and building roads, bridges, and rail lines, this initiative aligns with traditional Republican themes of investing in national infrastructure for the benefit of businesses and communities alike. Supporting such projects may lead to job opportunities, especially in industries related to construction and manufacturing. Story continues Cheaper Medical Costs Under the current Biden administration, regulations were changed to allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter instead of via prescription. For those who need to purchase hearing aids out of pocket, especially those with Medicare Parts A and B which typically dont cover the purchase, will save a lot of money. President Biden also supported efforts to lower prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices. This effort will save taxpayers $160 billion across 10 years. Cheaper Education Costs Biden aims to invest in registered apprenticeships and career technical education programs at a higher rate than any prior administration. He also wants free community college tuition. If you want higher education or technical training to achieve a certain career or change careers, these moves could save you significant money. Universal Pre-Kindergarten Will Save Parents Money Free universal pre-kindergarten has long been a priority for Biden. Although Biden has failed to push pre-kindergarten programs through Capitol Hill, hell likely try again if elected for a second term. Free universal pre-kindergarten would save parents hundreds or thousands of dollars. It also would allow stay-at-home parents to return to the workforce earlier if they want, helping their career growth. Currently, some states offer free state-funded pre-kindergarten using a first-come, first-serve or lottery system. However, this is not a country-wide standard, and many families must fund the pre-kindergarten program themselves. Reduced Taxes for Families With Children One of President Bidens initiatives is reducing taxes for families with children. Currently, the Child Tax Credit is under review in Congress. The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 would overhaul the child tax benefit since the previous Child Tax Credit expired two years ago. Expanding the Child Tax Credit would make it easier for more families to qualify. Plus, the refundable portion of the credit would gradually increase over the first couple of years. Adjustments also would be made to create a fairer system for families with more children. You also could choose your current or previous years income to determine credit eligibility. However, one of the most positive pieces of the bill would make it so the credit would automatically be adjusted each year for inflation. With so many families currently struggling with higher prices, this could provide some relief moving forward. While Bidenomics includes proposals to increase taxes on wealthy individuals and large corporations, it also aims to reduce taxes for middle-class workers and families, Tian said. I believe this approach aligns with certain Republican principles of tax relief and reducing the burden on everyday Americans. This policy seeks to strike a balance between addressing economic inequality and supporting the financial well-being of the middle class. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Ways Bidens Economic Policies Could Be Good for Republicans Wallets, Too An armed man who tried to pull another man from a vehicle during a confrontation early Friday in Sauget fired shots during the incident and has been arrested, according to Police Chief James Jones. Before the arrest, a police officer fired at the suspect and missed after the man refused to drop his gun, the chief said. He immediately surrendered. No one was injured. The incident happened in the 2400 block of Mississippi Avenue at 2:30 a.m., Jones said. A man went to a liquor store in the area, the chief said. He then tried to pull someone from the rear of his car after the two of them got into a confrontation. The armed man, who was not identified by police pending charges, started shooting his gun, Jones said. Officers were in the area, heard the gunshots and proceeded to the location. They ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. He refused to obey. The officer fired his weapon several times, not striking the subject, Jones said. The suspect surrendered and is in custody at the Sauget Police Department, pending charges. Illinois State Police are assisting in the investigation, which is standard procedure when an officer fires his weapon on the job. Other details were not immediately available. The upper house of the Swiss parliament voted on March 7 to approve three measures that would open the door for the future confiscation of Russian state assets frozen in Switzerland and redirect them to Ukraine's reconstruction. The lower house has already voted for the measures. Western countries and other partners immobilized around $300 billion of the Russian Central Bank's assets at the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Debates over the legality of channeling these funds into Ukraine's reconstruction have prevented allies from transferring the money, but ongoing delays in U.S. military aid have prompted heightened urgency. The Swiss government estimated in December 2023 that it had frozen $8.8 billion in Russian state assets as part of its sanctions against Russia. The figure is much smaller than the total amount of money from Russian nationals and legal entities held by Swiss banks, which was estimated by the Swiss government to be around $48.15 billion. The Swiss government previously said in February 2023 that it would not confiscate Russian assets held in the country because it was against the country's constitution and could "violate Switzerland's international obligations." Now that both houses of Switzerland's parliament have endorsed the measures, the government will try to obtain a legal framework grounded in international law to proceed with redirecting the funds. "Russia has seriously violated international law. It must therefore repair the damage caused," Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told parliament. "International discussions are under way regarding compensation mechanisms and Switzerland is participating with its knowledge, its skills, and all its history in this area." Switzerland, a historically neutral country, has supported Ukraine with economic and humanitarian aid since the beginning of the full-scale invasion but has refrained from sending military support. A Swiss law prevents the export of Swiss weapons to combat zones, even when supplied by an intermediary country. Read also: Bloomberg: Seizure of frozen Russian assets legal, experts say Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Nancy J. Stetler lived her final 23 years not knowing if the man convicted of killing her daughter in Philipsburg is dead or alive. Found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1974 for slashing the throat of 12-year-old Tracy Stetler as she walked home from the Moshannon Valley YMCA, George Allen Keith was sentenced to spend the rest of his life at a state hospital. Instead, the war veteran who later testified he thought Stetler was a Viet Cong woman carrying a homemade bomb exited a state hospital in rural northwestern Pennsylvania through an unlocked door four days before Christmas in 1999. He had been given permission to go outside, but was told not to leave the hospital grounds. The hospital had no perimeter fence. He never returned and hasnt been heard from since. Could he have died from winter exposure in the vast wooded area near Warren State Hospital? Could he have gone to Mexico, where he fled before he was arrested for Stetlers killing? Or is Keith, who would be 77, still alive? Nancy Stetler, who died in August at 88, went to her grave unsure like everyone else. My mother deserved an apology for everything that happened after the fact, her son and Tracys brother Zane Stetler told the Centre Daily Times. It was handled very poorly. Monday marks 50 years since the killing. Stetler crossed paths with Keith on a night he told investigators he heard voices in his head after leaving a bar. She wore sneakers and jeans, and carried a soft drink in her hand. Keith thought it was a bomb and falsely said she was wearing a straw hat and carrying a weapon, according to past newspaper accounts. He followed her until she saw him. I thought she was going to destroy the depot, Keith told police. Had to grab her so she wouldnt warn the other VCs that there were Americans in the area. That was my first time I ever killed a woman. It made me sick. A memorial for Tracy Stetler behind the Philipsburg borough office. Stetler was 12 years old when she was killed in 1974. Abby Drey/adrey@centredaily.com After he killed her that night, Keith dragged her into a yard off Hillcrest Street. Her clothed body was found by two high school boys the next day. The violent attack stunned the rural community and still resonates a half-century later. Former resident Sim Ziff, 58, described it as a frightening time. He said his parents who owned a home on Hillcrest got a German shepherd for protection after the killing. The attack, he said, changed everything. Nothing ever happened like this, Ziff told the CDT. Its just such a sleepy town. Allen Muir, who was 10 and lived in a house about two blocks from where her body was found, said in a text message to the CDT that he still remembers having an eerie feeling upon hearing the news. He and his friends often walked through the woods by themselves on their way to the high school for wrestling practice, but were joined by his father the evening after Stetlers body was found. It was daylight on the walk to practice, Muir wrote, but dark and silent on the way back. I remember thinking about the murdered girl and how her killer could still be around. I was so glad my dad was with me, Muir wrote. The impact that I remember is how the calm and peaceful feeling went away for awhile. A murder happening in Philipsburg seemed so surreal. Keith was found about a month after the slaying in Mexico. He was brought back to Centre County for his trial. Instead of choosing to present evidence and leave the verdict to a jury, Keiths public defender opted for an unprecedented panel of three judges from as many counties. Each of the three psychiatrists who evaluated Keith said he has schizophrenia and epilepsy, but only two found him to meet the legal definition of insanity when he killed Stetler. Keith testified and told the judges he dropped out of school at 16, worked on a farm and joined the Army. He was sent to North Korea and was trained in guerrilla warfare. Its unclear if he served in the Vietnam War, but nine years after he was honorably discharged, he maintained he believed he was still fighting in a war zone. I believe she would have recognized me as an American soldier when I am up in that area, Keith testified. I knocked her out and killed her and stuff. George Allen Keith was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the killing of Tracy Stetler, a 12-year-old Philipsburg girl. He escaped in 1999 from a state hospital in rural northwestern Pennsylvania and has never been found. U.S. Marshals Service/Photo provided State police at Warren Cpl. Jason Wagner oversees the ongoing investigation into Keiths escape. Calls from the public about possible sightings, he said, have diminished over the years, leading much of the probe to be department generated. Troopers, Wagner said, are hopeful advancements in DNA technology could provide insight into Keiths whereabouts. He struck the tone one might expect from a veteran police officer when asked what he believed happened to Keith. I dont really want to speculate on that. Its, obviously, possible that he is still alive and out there, but its also possible that he is deceased, Wagner said. Just based on the report file, he was last seen walking out the door and thats the last that anythings been confirmed as far as a sighting of him. Zane Stetler, who was 8 when his sister was killed, represents the last of her immediate family. His father died in 1982. His sisters death has shaped him in ways both big and small. He still remembers his mothers wail after the state police told her what happened to her daughter, describing it as the most horrific scream Ive ever heard in my entire life. But he also recalls trying to complete a Superman puzzle as investigators shuffled in and out his childhood home. As a teen, he said hed occasionally wake up to his mother standing over him to make sure he was OK. Other times, she would pay him a visit while he was hanging out with his friends. He described her as very protective, a trait he struggled to understand as a teen when his friends parents may not have employed the same approach. But now, as a father of three adult daughters, Stetler said he caught himself doing many of the same things. He came to appreciate her level of care. I say that just to emphasize how long-lasting the effects of one event can be on more than one generation and the ripple effect of what it did to my family and my family members, Stetler said. ... People dont think beyond that part of it. They dont think about all the indirect consequences of those actions of that one person and how it can affect a person for life. Stetler has been the bearer of his sisters torch for most of his life, but especially after his mothers death. Finding closure has proven elusive. Stetler, who now lives in North Carolina, hopes a weekend pilgrimage to his hometown offers some degree of healing. He, his daughters and some of his sisters closest friends plan to gather 11 a.m. Sunday at the boroughs office. After, he plans to burn all of the old newspaper articles, petitions and other documents he accumulated over the years. I got to let it go. Ive done everything I can to try to bring this man to justice, Stetler said. Ive had enough. There just comes a time when youve got to give it up. Were his mother still alive, Stetler said he would continue to press forward, joining her search for answers that he knows may never come but could offer closure for Nancy and justice for Tracy. My mother went to her grave never knowing what happened to this man, Stetler said. The system failed her miserably. An undated photo of Tracy Stetler, who was killed in March 1974 by George Allen Keith. He escaped a state hospital in December 1999 and has never been seen since. Zane Stetler/Photo provided By Trevor Hunnicutt, Jarrett Renshaw and Nandita Bose (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Thursday attacked former President Donald Trump's vision for America, criticized Israel and was challenged on immigration in his last State of the Union speech before the two men face off in the November U.S. election. Here are some takeaways from the State of the Union address on Thursday. TOUGH WORDS FOR ISRAEL Biden issued a sharp directive to Israel's leaders, telling them not to hold up humanitarian aid to Palestinians for political purposes. "To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip," Biden said. "Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to this situation is a two-state solution." Biden has faced increasing pressure from fellow Democrats over his support for Israel's response to the Oct. 7 attacks by Palestinian Hamas militants. "Ive been working non-stop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last for six weeks," he said, reiterating U.S. policy but using the word "ceasefire" that his administration once shied away from. LAKEN RILEY AND IMMIGRATION Goaded by Trump-allied Republican U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Biden went off script to address the case of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from the U.S. state of Georgia, who was allegedly murdered last month by an undocumented immigrant who had been released on parole. Republicans, who blame Biden and his administration's border policies for the deaths of Americans killed by illegal migrants, have seized on Riley's death as a symbol of Democrats' failure. "It's about Laken Riley," shouted Greene during the speech, interrupting Biden as he talked about the border. "Say her name!" Biden picked up a button Greene thrust into his hand as he walked to the podium, and repeated Riley's name, saying she was an innocent woman killed by "an illegal." He said thousands are killed by "legal" U.S. residents before sending his thoughts to Riley's family. BYE BIDENOMICS One word missing from the speech was "Bidenomics," the White Houses previous slogan for his economic agenda that was the centerpiece of a cross-country tour last year. Democrats running for office in congressional races have avoided the phrase and senior Democrats have been encouraging the White House to ditch the catch-all slogan and focus instead on specific details, like price caps on prescription drugs, data on job growth and unemployment figures. It seemed Biden took their advice. BIDEN TEASES REPUBLICANS Biden used levity to jab at his Republican opponents. He greeted Greene's donning of a Trump campaign hat on the House floor with a face of mock surprise before turning away. Appearing to go off script, the president ribbed Republicans for enjoying, and taking credit for, Biden-backed federal investments that they voted against. "If any of you dont want that money in your districts, just let me know," he said to laughs from Democrats. He also cracked a joke about Republicans being close to Russia, while talking about how expensive prescription drugs are in America compared to other countries. "Any of you want to get in Air Force One with me and fly to Toronto, Berlin, Moscow? I mean, excuse me - and, well, even Moscow, probably." He said drugs there would be far cheaper than in the United States. And he hinted at a profane comment he once made on a hot mic about the 2010 healthcare reform law passed when he was vice president. "The Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare, is still a very big deal," Biden said, omitting the original expletive. MIKE JOHNSON'S 'POKER FACE' A visibly annoyed Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson sat behind Biden's left shoulder throughout the one-hour, eight-minute speech. It's the traditional seat for the speaker of the House - who is second-in-line to the presidency after the vice president - and made the Louisiana Republican's expressions highly visible to television viewers. "People are saying that I made funny facial expressions. I tried to keep a poker face," Johnson told reporters. "But it was very difficult. I disagreed so vehemently with so much of what he said." Johnson's reactions were more subdued than those of former Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who at the end of then-President Donald Trump's 2020 address took her copy of the text and ostentatiously ripped it in two. VIGOROUS OR YELLING? Through most of the speech, the 81-year-old president's delivery was energetic and forceful enough to exceed even some Democrats' expectations. He spoke for over an hour. "Trump and the Republicans have spent months going after Biden's energy and stamina and in front of the whole country, Biden giving them an absolute and well deserved scolding," said Democratic strategist Eric Koch. The hashtag "yelling" trended on X, the former Twitter, in postings about his speech, and his slight cough seemed to become more persistent toward the end of his delivery. "In my career, Ive been told I was too young," he said, to laughter, adding "and Ive been told Im too old." Whether young or old, he has always known America's "North Star," he said - the American idea that "we're all created equal." Some people have old ideas, he said, in an apparent nod at Trump. "Hate, anger, revenge, retribution, are the oldest of ideas," he said. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Jarrett Renshaw, Nandita Bose, Steve Holland and David Morgan; Editing by Heather Timmons and Howard Goller) TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Tampa man has been charged with with second-degree murder for a deadly shooting at a local dog park, according to prosecutors. Friday, the State Attorneys Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit announced that it has filed charges against Gerald Declan Radford, 65, of Tampa for the murder of John Walter Lay, 52. It took 35 days for this to happen, which is scary to imagine, someone out with so much hatred in their heart that they were able to do that, said Angel DAngelo, with Restorative Justice Coalition. Officer cited in Polk crash that killed 5-year-old girl: deputies According to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, Radford shot the victim on Feb. 2 at the West Dog Park, Lay died at the hospital. At the time, Radford said he called 911 and shot Lay in self-defense after a scuffle, prosecutors said. Due to a lack of witnesses or sufficient evidence, no charges were filed at the time. What we start to learn is they have a very strained relationship from some point on. We dont have a good timeframe of when that period is, it could be six months, it could be a year, Said Colonel Frank Losat, with the Sheriffs Office. Related video: Friend of victim speaks about feud leading up to shooting However, the state attorneys office said several community members later came forward and informed investigators that Radford used bigoted slurs against Lay, who was a gay man, and made threats toward him. The Coalition said they understand things take time, but they want to see change. We have a right, an absolute right to protect ourselves and live full, long lives and become queer elders, DAngelo said. After the shooting, 8 On Your Side spoke to Albert Darlington, a friend of the victim, who said Lay told him he felt threatened by the defendant for about a year. Darlington said Lay sent him videos of encounters between him and Radford. Hes making a statement saying the shooter made a statement to him: Youre going to die, thats the victim talking into his own phone making a selfie video of what hes saying what the shooter said to him the day earlier, Losat said. John Walter Lay, the victim in the dog park shooting Ive heard him say many times, Id like to just punch him right in the face, Darlington said on Feb. 9. Other dog owners at the park said both men had tempers and continually argued with one another. Im shocked that it led to his death, Darlington said. If it had been a fight, I would not have been surprised at all. But how in the world it escalated to this? I am flabbergasted. According to prosecutors, Lay recorded a video 24 hours before the shooting warning his friends that Radford threatened his life, saying Youre gonna die. We should all be able to enjoy a day at the dog park without the fear of gunfire, State Attorney Suzy Lopez said. This victim also deserved to live free from fear and discrimination based on his sexual orientation. The evidence shows the defendants actions were motivated by hate, and he will be held accountable. My heart is with the victims family and large group of friends as we fight for justice together. Deputies arrested Radford at 1:50 p.m. Friday, booking him on the murder charge. State Attorney Suzy Lopez she is seeking a hate crime enhancement in this case. Gerald Declan Radford (Courtesy: Hillsborough County Jail) After analyzing the evidence, it was clear that this man acted from hatred within his heart, Sheriff Chad Chronister said. A hatred that will not be tolerated within our strong and diverse community. Thank you to State Attorney Suzy Lopez for allowing our detectives the time needed to conduct a thorough investigation. We hope the arrest brings some peace to the family of a man taken from us too soon. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. A lot has changed at the Tarrant Appraisal Distinct over the past couple of months, and the website will soon be added to that list. The Star-Telegram got an exclusive look at it on Wednesday. The new website is reminiscent of a previous version for the sake of familiarity and to cut costs, new Chief Appraiser Joe Don Bobbitt said. Were kind of going back to that, a lot of that is it makes it quicker for us to implement, going back to an older version compared to a complete redesign. It also saves us a lot of money because we already had a version that people liked, Bobbitt said. The website was designed by a consulting and software firm, Improving Dallas, and the appraisal district. The new one provides a sleek and more modern look, trading in many of the drop down menus for longer pages with more scrolling and information provided farther down page. Taxpayers will have an opportunity to test the new website this weekend as a popup option on the appraisal districts website. They will be able to test the site and provide feedback. Alan Blaylock, a Fort Worth city council member and newcomer to the appraisal district board, said the cosmetics of the website are improved but that many changes to the back end are important as well. Blaylock said data is now backed up to a cloud server instead of the districts servers. This is going to be a cloud based solution now. So it is more secure. It will be more scalable as as as we move forward, Blacylock told the Star-Telegram in an interview Thursday. And those are really important. We dont want the issues that we saw in the past where the website crashed because it couldnt handle the load. The website allows the owners of the countys nearly 680,000 residential and commercial properties to view their values and protest their values online. Last year, a new website was overwhelmed when it launched. Property owners were unable to access their TAD accounts, the website timed out and the protest function was missing for weeks, forcing the district to extend deadline for protests. Blaylock, who has an extensive background in computer science, said the trial run will help determine if it can handle the volume of usage necessary during protest season. Before I as a board member say pull the trigger and go live, I want to know that, that we have properly addressed load and we know it will handle the demand thats going to be placed on it, Blaylock said. Security is at the forefront of Blaylocks and Bobbitts minds after a cyberattack in October 2022 exposed taxpayer data, though none of it was compromised. We want to make sure that security isnt an issue. Thats kind of the whole main goal, is to make sure that its stronger, more secure, Bobbitt said. The struggles we faced last year directly influenced our new direction. Video above: Couple gets engaged at Taylor Swifts concert in Tampa TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) There will be no teardrops on this Tampa brides guitar, all thanks to the help of Taylor Swifts loyal fans, also known as Swifties. Devoted Swiftie and future bride Emily Harris planned on selling her Swift-signed guitar to help pay for her upcoming wedding, but some very nice and hardcore Swifties were against the sale. TikTok could be banned from U.S. phones under this bill that the House advanced Swifties instead proposed Harris create a GoFundMe so they can help raise funds for her November wedding. We are so excited to celebrate together this November, and in order to make sure our family and friends can be together with us, there are expenses that continue creeping up. I was hoping to find someone who would benefit from this signed guitar as much as I can use the sale to pay for our wedding. Countless fans told me to start a Go Fund Me instead, so here we are! Harris wrote on GoFundMe. After creating her GoFundMe, donations from Swifties began to pour in, with amounts ranging from $13 (Swifts famous lucky number) to $333, and sure enough, Harris goal of $1,813 was quickly met. (Courtesy of Emily Harris) From one Swiftie to another, I hope your wedding meets your wildest dreams! a donor wrote. Another coined a line from Swifts hit Paper Rings, saying, Im sure you two would marry each other with paper rings, but maybe enjoy some shiny things too. Dairy Queen sets next Free Cone Day for first day of spring Keep the guitar. The wedding is one moment. The marriage and the love you share is forever. May it grow into many beautiful gestures of love like the gift of that guitar. Your father is setting a great example of demonstrating love by finding meaningful moments for you. Keep that kind of love throughout your marriage and you will have the best Love Story! another Swiftie added. Harris, a board-certified behavior analyst who specializes in non-speaking children and teens with autism, said she and her fiance Jake have been engaged since April 2023 and have been excitedly planning their wedding ever since she said Yes! This is a very, very kind suggestion and we will definitely pay it forward when we can, she said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Riot police clashed with students during a protest in front of the Greek Parliament (Aris MESSINIS) Greek students clashed with police in Athens Friday as thousands protested a controversial bill on private universities, which they say will favour the rich. Riot police fired tear gas and used batons to keep students away from parliament ahead of a vote on the bill. Some protesters hurled stones and Molotov cocktails and setting bins on fire. Media reported that at least eight people had been injured and nine arrested. The proposed measure will make degrees from approved private institutions equivalent to public university diplomas. The bill will also allow foreign universities to open in Greece using a nonprofit status despite charging tuition fees. Police said around 17,000 people marched to parliament in central Syntagma Square for the latest in weeks of student protests against the reform. Organisers put the turnout at 30,000. "No to education for the few and chosen, free education for all," many chanted. Demonstrator Iraklis Marinopoulos, 19, said the reform would "undermine" public university degrees and threaten regional colleges in smaller Greek cities. "Wealthier students will be able to enrol with lower grades. They will just pay and obtain a degree," he told AFP. Athina, a 20-year-old engineering student, said private institutions would eat into the meagre funds for public universities and devalue public university degrees. The government says the new bill will enable Greek public universities to enter into partnerships with foreign academic institutions, improving their international appeal. It has also said it will introduce stricter rules for private institutions. - 'New horizons' - Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament the reform would enable Greek students "to study at international universities without leaving home". It was "a step that opens new horizons to the new generation," he argued. "We are establishing something that exists even in North Korea. Sadly, we are probably the last alongside Cuba to have a hard state monopoly on higher education". Ahead of the vote, which the ruling majority is expected to carry, opposition parties accused the government of chronically underfunding public universities. Parliament spokesman for the main opposition Syriza party, Sokratis Famellos, said Greece spent just 7.1 percent of its budget on education when the European Union average is 9.6 percent. And while the European average is one lecturer per 13 students, in Greece the average is 1 to 47, he said. "You are doing this so that a few of your friends, some funds and colleges, can make a profit," Famellos told the debate. Public Greek universities are plagued by run-down infrastructure, political meddling in student affairs, and random violence and vandalism. Efforts by previous conservative governments to reform higher education have floundered in the face of student protests, many of them marred by violence. hec-jph/jj/tw HEBRON, Ohio (WCMH) Highway patrol investigators released some details Friday on a crash that left a teenage girl dead in Licking County. Megan Hart, of Baltimore, Ohio, was heading east on Thursday in a 2003 Toyota Corolla on Refugee Road, near Canyon Road in Hebron. Around 5:48 p.m., her car veered off the left side of the road and into a ditch before striking a concrete abutment head-on. This embedded content is not available in your region. Sexual assault victim speaks out after $10 million verdict in Lancaster Authorities at the scene pronounced Hart dead on arrival and she was taken to the Licking County Morgue. She was 16 years old. Just a great teammate, said Jon Griffith, head softball coach at Lakewood High School. She was just one of those kids. She was funny. She was intelligent. She was super hard working, which was well respected around here. She was one of the kids that like I said was the center of the program or the heart of the program was Megan Hart for sure. The OSHP said it didnt suspect alcohol or drugs to be involved but continued to investigate what may have led to the crash. Were not playing for wins and losses this year, Griffith said. Were playing for Megan. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. When parents try to shield their kids from financial hardship, they may be doing them a favor: Teens views about their families economic challenges are connected to their mental health and behavior. Thats the main finding of a study into household income and child development that I recently conducted with my colleagues. As a professor of psychology, I know theres a good deal of research showing that young people who experience more household economic hardship tend to have more behavioral problems. But most studies on this issue rely heavily on caregiver reports that is, what adults say about their kids. Fewer researchers have asked young people themselves. To fill this gap, my colleagues and I asked more than 100 Pittsburgh-area teenagers, as well as their parents, about their family income, their views about their financial challenges, and their mental health. We checked in with them multiple times over nine months. Doing this, we found a few important things. First, we found that many families economic situations varied over time they were doing fine with money in some months and struggling during others. And second, we found that when teenagers said they and their family were experiencing hardship, those teens had more behavioral problems. For example, many teens said that they couldnt afford school supplies or that their caregivers worried because they lacked money for necessities. In the months when teens reported experiencing these hardships, they were more likely to feel depressed and get in trouble at school. Why it matters Other researchers have found that economic hardship is related to differences in parenting, academic achievement and many other developmental outcomes but prior studies havent always captured the complexities and challenges that struggling families face. For example, researchers studying links between economic hardship and youth behavioral development have historically looked at family income on a yearly basis. But bills come due weekly or monthly. Our work shows that looking at the annual data alone risks missing an important part of the story: Many families experience brief spells of financial instability. Our work also shows that teens are acutely affected by economic conditions in their daily lives and understand their families circumstances. This has important implications for research. Given that adolescence is a time of major emotional and cognitive changes, our team believes that researchers should center on the perspectives of young people directly affected by economic challenges. For example, we have previously found that how young people view stress and support in their lives may have implications for their brain development. This work also has important implications for public policy. For example, lawmakers assume that economic hardship is fairly stable and set anti-poverty policies accordingly. Our research offers fresh evidence that many people see large income swings throughout the year. This kind of economic instability has been found to affect child development, especially when families lose large amounts of income. To lessen the impact of poverty, policymakers may need to think about economic hardship more dynamically. Whats next Our research team wants to continue putting young peoples voices front and center. Were also interested in more complex ways to make sense of socioeconomic status. While we know that income matters for families, were increasingly focused on household wealth, which is a households assets minus its debts. Wealth may influence child development in ways that are different from income. Were just starting to collect data for a new project examining how both of these factors affect teen mental health. The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work. 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: Jamie Hanson, University of Pittsburgh Read more: Jamie Hanson and his colleagues receive funding from the National Institutes of Health. Hanson is also a board member of the Pittsburgh Non-Profit, Project Destiny. A Comprehensive Overview of Rogers Communications Inc's Dividend Rogers Communications Inc (NYSE:RCI) recently announced a dividend of $0.5 per share, payable on 2024-04-03, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-03-08. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Rogers Communications Inc's dividend performance and assess its sustainability. What Does Rogers Communications Inc Do? Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with RCI. High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock? Rogers Communications is the largest wireless service provider in Canada, with its more than 11 million subscribers equating to one third of the total Canadian market. Its wireless business accounted for more than half of total revenue and has increasingly been providing a bigger portion of total company sales over the last several years. Rogers' cable segment, which provides about 35% of total revenue after acquiring Shaw, offers home internet, television, and landline phone service to consumers and businesses. Remaining sales come from Rogers' media unit, which owns and operates various television and radio stations and the Toronto Blue Jays. Rogers' significant exposure to sports also includes ownership stakes in the Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, FC, and Argonauts. Rogers Communications Inc's Dividend Analysis A Glimpse at Rogers Communications Inc's Dividend History Rogers Communications Inc has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2003. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. Rogers Communications Inc has increased its dividend each year since 2004. The stock is thus listed as a dividend achiever, an honor that is given to companies that have increased their dividend each year for at least the past 20 years. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends. Story continues Breaking Down Rogers Communications Inc's Dividend Yield and Growth As of today, Rogers Communications Inc currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.35% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 3.34%. This suggests an expectation of stable dividend payments over the next 12 months. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate increased to 0.60% per year. And over the past decade, Rogers Communications Inc's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 1.20%. Based on Rogers Communications Inc's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Rogers Communications Inc stock as of today is approximately 3.45%. Rogers Communications Inc's Dividend Analysis The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-12-31, Rogers Communications Inc's dividend payout ratio is 0.44. Rogers Communications Inc's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Rogers Communications Inc's profitability 8 out of 10 as of 2023-12-31, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability. Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Rogers Communications Inc's growth rank of 8 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors. Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Rogers Communications Inc's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Rogers Communications Inc's revenue has increased by approximately 10.20% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 72.51% of global competitors. The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Rogers Communications Inc's earnings increased by approximately 11.00% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 60.77% of global competitors. Concluding Thoughts on Rogers Communications Inc's Dividend Prospects In conclusion, the dividend profile of Rogers Communications Inc is characterized by a long history of consistent payouts, a commendable growth rate, and a sustainable payout ratio. Backed by a strong profitability rank and promising growth metrics, Rogers Communications Inc appears well-positioned to maintain its dividend payments. Investors should consider these factors when evaluating Rogers Communications Inc as a potential addition to their dividend portfolios. For those seeking to find more high-dividend yield opportunities, GuruFocus Premium users can utilize the High Dividend Yield Screener for their investment strategies. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Bitcoin - Chart - Coins The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission delayed its decision on a rule change that would allow exchanges to list and trade options on spot bitcoin ETFs, the agency said in a filing earlier this week. The SEC said that it would hold off weighing in about the listing of these options on the CBOE Exchange and the Miami International Securities Exchange until late April. The delay relates to multiple spot bitcoin ETFs, which are based primarily on the price of the largest cryptocurrency by market value. "The Commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period within which to take action on the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider the proposed rule change," the SEC filing said. The exchanges first applied to list options on bitcoin funds in January around the time that the SEC gave its seal of approval to 10 new spot bitcoin products. Since then, investor interest in cryptocurrency has skyrocketed with the spot bitcoin ETFs netting more than $9.3 billion in inflows as of the closing of equity markets on March 7, despite more than $10 billion in outflows from the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC). That fund is a conversion from a trust so differs from the other spot bitcoin products. BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) last week became the fastest ETF in history to surpass $10 billion in assets under management. Bitcoin hit a record high above $69,000 earlier this week, according to crypto data platform CoinMarketCap, breaking its previous high mark set in November 2021. Analysts and financial advisors see using call and put options on bitcoin ETFs as a key strategy to address crypto's inherent volatility. Using put and call options hedge risk. Options on ETFs work the same way that options on stocks do, since ETFs can be traded throughout the day. Investors use options by entering an agreement in which they buy or sell the asset at a specified price over a certain period. Options on bitcoin funds would apply an increasingly popular strategy to the successful spot bitcoin ETFs. Story continues CBOE said in a statement in January that while it usually is able to list options on a new exchange traded product three days after it hits the market, it has to seek special permission from the SEC for commodity products, such as bitcoin. In a blog post Wednesday, Grayscale Investments called "access to exchange-listed options on GBTC and other spot Bitcoin ETPs...vital to the interests of investors." Options would facilitate price discovery in the ETPs shares, provide investors with greater choice and help investors navigate varying market conditions or achieve desired investment outcomes, such as generating income, hedging, or reducing volatility," the firm said. Cryptocurrency Mania While the SEC has allowed ETFs that give exposure to bitcoin futures since 2021, it only approved the spot bitcoin ETFs in January after a decade-long regulatory saga. But even before the approvals, Wall Street had increasingly been exploring the potential for other cryptocurrency-based investment products. On March 4, the SEC delayed a decision on a BlackRock proposal for an exchange traded fund based on ether, the second largest digital asset in market capitalization. Ether has surged this year even more strongly than bitcoin, cracking $4,000 on Friday, the first time in two years that it has risen above this level, according to crypto publication CoinDesk. Contact Lucy Brewster at lucy.brewster@etf.com. Permalink | Copyright 2024 etf.com. All rights reserved DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The third-party presidential movement No Labels decided Friday to field a presidential candidate in the 2024 election after months of weighing the launch of a so-called unity ticket and discussions with several prospects. Delegates voted in favor of moving forward during an online convention of 800 of them from every state, said Mike Rawlings, a former Dallas mayor who is affiliated with No Labels. No Labels was not expected to name its presidential and vice presidential nominees Friday. Instead, the group will announce its candidate selection process on March 14, Rawlings said in a statement. Even though we met virtually, their emotion and desire to bring this divided nation back together came through the screen, Rawlings, Friday's convention chair, said about the delegates in a written statement. The decision to move forward comes as a number of would-be candidates have already turned down the idea of running, including former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who suspended her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination after former President Donald Trump won big across Super Tuesdays GOP primary map. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan had weighed running for president under the No Labels banner but has since decided to seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate from his state. Retiring West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, has said he will not run for president. Romps by Trump and President Joe Biden, a Democrat, on Super Tuesday all but ensured a November rematch of the 2020 election. Polls suggest many Americans dont have favorable views of Biden or Trump, a dynamic No Labels sees as an opening to offer a bipartisan ticket. But Biden supporters worry No Labels will pull votes away from the president in battleground states and are critical of how the group wont disclose its donors or much of its decision-making. The executive director of the group MoveOn, which is aligned with Democrats, said a No Labels ticket would help Trump win. Any candidates who join the No Labels presidential ticket will be complicit in making it easier for Donald Trump and MAGA extremists to win a second term in the White House," Executive Director Rahna Epting said in a written statement. Third Way, another group that is aligned with Democrats and opposes a No Labels ticket, noted No Labels was moving forward without having first found a candidate. Time and again, voters, candidates, and election experts have told No Labels that a third-party presidential ticket cant win and would help Trump, Third Way Executive Vice President Matt Bennett said in a written statement. No Labels had been weighing whether to present a ticket aimed at appealing to voters unhappy with Biden and Trump. The groups strategists have said theyll give their ballot line to a bipartisan ticket, with a presidential nominee from one major party and a vice presidential nominee from the other, if they see a path to victory. Group officials have said they are communicating with several potential candidates but have not disclosed any names. No Labels has stockpiled cash from people it has declined to name, including former Republican donors who have become disenchanted with the partys direction in the Trump era, and has worked to secure ballot access in every state. No Labels' decision was first reported by Politico. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024. Participants stand on the street Unter den Linden during a demonstration to mark International Women's Day, holding a placard reading "Stop the genocide". Several more demonstrations and rallies are planned in the capital until the evening. Christophe Gateau/dpa Several thousand people took to the streets of the German capital Berlin on Friday to mark International Women's Day. At midday a demonstration organized by an alliance of trade unions and community initiatives started at Oranienplatz in the city's Kreuzberg district with around 4,500 people, according to a police spokeswoman. Participants were demanding better living and working conditions for women. Many people carried home-made signs, some carried large banners. Accompanied by music, the protest marched to the Brandenburg Gate. On the neighbouring Unter den Linden boulevard, around 5,000 people were expected for another gathering. Several more demonstrations and rallies were planned to take place in the capital by the evening. Demonstrations were also organized by the radical left-wing scene in Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, each with several hundred people in attendance. The police described the various daytime events as "calm." The police spokeswoman said several hundred officers were deployed throughout the city to accompany the gatherings. The traffic information centre warned of road closures, especially in the centre of the city and Kreuzberg. International Women's Day is a public holiday in Berlin. It was first organized in Germany and neighbouring countries on March 19, 1911, at the suggestion of the German Social Democrat politician Clara Zetkin. It has been celebrated annually on March 8 since 1921. Participants stand on the street Unter den Linden during a demonstration for International Women's Day, holding a placard reading " Our answer resistance!". Several more demonstrations and rallies are planned in the capital until the evening. Christophe Gateau/dpa Participants stand on the street Unter den Linden during a demonstration for International Women's Day and hold a banner with the slogan "Class Struggle Is Feminists' Struggle". Several more demonstrations and rallies are planned in the capital until the evening. Christophe Gateau/dpa (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of women marched in demonstrations across Spain on Friday to protest against gender inequality and to mark International Women's Day. To mark the occasion, Spain's Equality Minister Ana Redondo announced on Friday the government would revive a human trafficking law which was proposed last year but was not passed because of July's general election. The new legislation will mean that, among other things, victims will not be obliged to make an official report which can sometimes deter them from making claims about alleged traffickers. In Madrid, the Plaza Cibeles fountain was turned purple with lights to mark the colour of the feminist movement while protesters wearing white masks and disguises took to the streets. "We women, we havent been heard for a long time and we are so tired of not having the same benefits and having to struggle to the basic needs," Natalia Hofmann, 34, a psychologist, said in an interview in Barcelona. Protests were held by thousands of feminist groups in 40 Spanish cities. (Reporting by Graham Keeley, Guillermo Martinez, Marco Trujillo, Miguel Gutierrez, Horaci Garcia and Catherine Macdonald; editing by Jonathan Oatis) NEW YORK (PIX11) Every day for a week, thousands of New York City public high school students are getting a hands-on look at exciting potential careers, from engineering artificial intelligence at Google to driving an MTA bus. Daren Marajh, 17, from Jamaica, Queens, is a senior at Thomas Edison Career and Technical Education School. His school has a special program, and he can major in automotive collision repair. Thousands of NYC jobs available on citys website Marajh and more than thirty classmates are on a special field trip to the MTAs Zerega bus facility in the Bronx. For him this experience its personal, his dad is a bus operator for decades. His teacher and advisor, Jessie Kalloo, said the experience is life-changing for many of his students, who dream of getting behind the wheel or helping make the system run. Its part of Career Discovery Week. Thanks to the partnership for New York City, thousands of New York City public high school students get a chance to visit their dream workplaces every day of the weekmore than 100 of New York Citys biggest and most important employers, from JPMorgan to JetBlue. A priority is green jobs. More Monica Makes It Happen The MTAs Vice President and Chief Maintenance Officer, Daniel Cardoza, said its a full circle moment. He was in their seat 39 years ago, as a high school student visiting, and the rest is history. His daughter is now taking part, too. Sonia Khan, 18, is also on the field trip on Thursday and wants to be a mechanic one day. Friday, students will be visiting Google. If you have a story, reach out to Monica Morales at monica@pix11.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. LORE CITY As honors band season and the school year comes to a close, three students at Buckeye Trail are gearing up for the experience of a lifetime in France. Kaila Paden, a senior percussionist, Carter Carpenter, a junior trombone player, and Megan Yeckley, a sophomore clarinet player, will play in the All-American D-Day Band, paying tribute to D-Day. June 6 will mark the 80th anniversary D-Day, when the United States and its allies landed along the coast of Normandy during World War II, which ultimately led to the liberation of Europe. Kaila Paden and Carter Carpenter were two of three Buckeye Trail students selected to participate in the All-American D-Day Band. Megan Yeckley, not pictured, was also chosen for the honor. The students were each nominated by their band director Doug Hanna. Each then had to secure an invitation to apply and submit an application and audition video before being chosen. Roughly 200 students from across the nation were selected for the honor. "Going into it I didn't have too many goals. I was more like, let's just do it and see if I get in, and I got in. I was like, 'Wow! I'm going to France!'" Carpenter said. Megan Yeckley, a sophomore clarinet player, was chosen for the All-American D-Day Band. Yeckley says, "Honestly, the fact that I'm even able to be in the band as a sophomore is truly unbelievable. Plus, being able to perform in France with people from all over the world is hard to mentally grasp. Out of everything, I'm probably most excited to be able to talk to people who we're alive during D-Day. I'm really interested in hearing their stories and thanking them for serving our country. I'm also pretty excited to see the Mona Lisa in person." "I knew we had talent here," Hanna said. "I believe anywhere you go band students are some of the hardest-working kids a lot of times. In this rural district, where we don't necessarily have a cultural center close where kids can be taking private lessons every week or go see professional organizations perform, I think it's pretty neat to get three in the area, let alone three in the same school for something like this." The trip is scheduled for June when the students will travel to Washington D.C, before heading to France for their performances. According to the All-American D-Day Band website, "As musical ambassadors to France, the All-American D-Day Band will perform the ceremonial music for the officially recognized commemoration and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Brittany and Normandy American Cemeteries and Memorials. In the historic village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the band will perform in the International Salute to Liberation and lead the D-Day Memorial Parade." The downside of such an opportunity for these students is the cost and the tight timeline to come up with funding. The initial down payment for the trip is $2000, with the total cost of approximately $5,000 per student. Hanna is positive the students will be able to come up with the funds. Those organizations or individuals wishing to contribute to the students' trip can do so by visiting the GoFundMe page, reaching out to Doug Hanna, or by calling the high school at 740-489-5005. In addition, the entire band will also travel to Chicago over the St. Patrick's Day weekend to sightsee and march in the 2024 Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade. A performance by the Blue Man Group, dining at Medieval Times and visiting the Museum of Science and Industry will round out the trip. This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Buckeye Trail band students selected to perform in France Three escaped inmates from the Caribbean island of Grenada have been charged with the murder of a US couple who went missing in late February. Police said the suspects hijacked a catamaran owned by Virginia couple Ralph Henry and Kathy Brandel while they were aboard. The couple is believed to have been thrown overboard. The suspects then sailed away to the island of St Vincent, police said, where they were arrested. Ron Mitchell, 30, Atiba Stanislaus, 25, and Trevon Robertson, 23, were each charged with capital murder, escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery and kidnapping by authorities in Grenada. Mr Stanislaus is also facing rape charges, though police did not specify who he is accused of raping. Police said the trio escaped prison on 18 February before hijacking the US couple's catamaran and sailing 80 miles (128 kilometres) to St Vincent, where they were arrested on 21 February. Grenada police commissioner Don McKenzie said at a news conference last week that the suspects allegedly committed "several criminal acts including bodily harm to the couple". The suspects appeared in court on Thursday and will be held in prison until their hearing in late March. The Salty Dawg Sailing Association, of which the American couple were long-time members, said the couple's boat, named Simplicity, was found anchored and abandoned off a beach on the south coast of St Vincent. They said the boat displayed signs of "apparent violence", and that the couple was not aboard. Police did not say whether their bodies have been recovered, but the couple's family said Mr Henry and Ms Brandel are presumed to be dead. The sailing association said that the couple were spending the winter cruising the Eastern Caribbean. They had spent 10 years living on their boat after selling their home in Alexandria, Virginia, close to Washington DC. In a statement, the couple's sons, Nick Buro and Bryan Hendry, said that the couple "lived a life that most of us can only dream of, sailing the eastern coast of the United States, living on their home Simplicity, making friends with everyone they encountered". The sons had previously said in interviews that blood was found on the boat and the couple's possessions were strewn about. "While the end of their life may have been dark, they brought light, and that light will never be extinguished from the hearts and minds of the people who knew, loved and cared so deeply about them," the family added. A new Burlington store will open later this month where a Bed Bath & Beyond used to be at 412 S Bryant Ave., Bryant Square Shopping Center, in Edmond, still showing the former store's signage at a shopping cart corral. Burlington has leased numerous spaces left vacant by bankrupt Bed Bath & Beyond. EDMOND Another new Burlington store is opening in the OKC area, this one in Edmond, as the chain continues to fill in former locations of Bed Bath & Beyond, which went online only after e-commerce retailer Overstock.com bought that brand and other trademarks out of bankruptcy. That makes a dozen Burlingtons in Oklahoma, said Michael OSullivan, CEO of Burlington Stores, the discount department store chain formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory. Two more will open on May 31, one in Shawnee and one in Tulsa. The chain said it will have more than 1,000 stores nationwide by this summer. The one in Edmond is at 412 S Bryant Ave. in Bryant Square Shopping Center. Grand opening weekend will be March 22-24 with gift card giveaways and door prizes. Edmond Burlington means school donation, jobs Burlington said it will donate $5,000 to a nearby school, to be named later, through its partnership with national nonprofit AdoptAClassroom.org. Also, with the company's growth come jobs. Apply at BurlingtonStores.jobs. Our goal is to continue to offer area residents low prices on brand name merchandise for the entire family and home, OSullivan said. Were continuing to expand our footprint across the country and are excited to be opening a new store in Edmond. We look forward to giving local customers the chance to discover big savings on a wide range of products. RELATED:: Here are the stores replacing closed Bed, Bath & Beyond, Tuesday Morning and others in OKC Burlington stores in the Oklahoma City metro area Other new Burlington stores open or soon to open in the Oklahoma City area include: Burlington replacing Bed Bath & Beyond at Parkway Plaza in Norman. Burlington replacing Office Depot at Westgate Marketplace, Interstate 40 and S MacArthur Blvd. Burlington filling empty space at Rockwell-Northwest Shopping Center at Northwest Expressway and N Rockwell Avenue. Other Burlington stores in the OKC area are at 2898 NW 63, 7401 S Shields Blvd., 5929 SW 3, 821 N Czech Hall Road, 5735 SE 15 in Midwest City, and 790 SW 19 in Moore. Story continues RELATED: Could Shake Shack, Peloton or Savage X Fenty come to OKC? These retailers likely for 2024 New stores are not 'your parents' Burlingtons,' OKC specialist says A Burlington store is pictured Feb. 13 at the Westgate Marketplace in Oklahoma City. The new Burlingon stores are improvements over older ones, said Jim Parrack, retail specialist and senior vice president at OKC commercial property brokerage Price Edwards & Co. "These arent your parents' Burlingtons huge, dirty, hard to navigate," he said. "Burlington has stepped up its game with better merchandising and much more modern stores. Most of their old stores were 50,000 square foot plus, and while they still do some larger stores, most of their new prototype is around 25,000 square feet." Sign Up: Weekly newsletter Real Estate with Richard Mize A Burlington store is going into the space that formerly housed the Edmond Bed Bath & Beyond, at 412 S Bryant Ave. in Bryant Square Shopping Center. Senior Business Writer Richard Mize has covered housing, construction, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com since 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Real Estate with Richard Mize. You can support Richard's work, and that of his colleagues, by purchasing a digital subscription to The Oklahoman. Right now, you can get 6 months of subscriber-only access for $1. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Burlington stores keep replacing Bed Bath & Beyond locations in OKC Army officials and law enforcement were both warned that Lewiston shooter Robert Card was suffering from deteriorating mental health in the months before the Army reservist shot and killed 18 people last year in the worst gun massacre in Maines history. A special commission investigating the 25 October shootings held a public hearing on Thursday where they grilled the shooters former Army Reserve superiors, after questions were raised about whether they could have done more to prevent his actions. The extensive questioning by the commission comes one day after the shooters family revealed that his brain had significant evidence of traumatic injuries, most likely from his time in the military. Card, 40, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a two-day manhunt. He had shown signs of mental health decline before the massacre, but now, evidence shows that he suffered from traumatic brain injuries, according to an analysis by Boston University researchers. Sgt Kelvin Mote from the Army Reserves, who was questioned at Thursdays hearing, defended his efforts to contact the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office regarding Cards mental state and threatening behavior in the weeks before shootings. When asked by the commission about how he felt when he found out the identity of the shooter, he appeared to fight back his emotions. It broke my heart, he said. We gave him options, we took him to a hospital. Nobody else did that. New York State police interview Robert Card months before he shot and killed 18 people Sgt Mote, who is also a police officer, said he had removed someones weapon under Maines yellow flag law just eight days before the shooter came to his attention. Sgt Mote testified that he believed he could have legally removed Cards weapon, too. But he said he never mentioned that to sheriffs deputies who had been asked by the Army to perform a welfare check. Under the law, the welfare check had to take place before any weapons could be seized. Sgt Mote also recalled how the shooter reacted when law enforcement told him that the Reserve unit leaders had concerns about his mental state. I remember it clear as day, him saying, Yeah, because theyre afraid I am going to do something, Sgt Mote said. And then he said the words that I put in my statement to Sagadahoc County: I am capable. That was enough for me. At that moment, I decided he was going to the hospital, one way or another. Androscoggin Sheriffs Deputy Matthew Noyes told the commission on Thursday that he attempted to brief a Maine State Police detective about Card the night of the shooting, but claimed he was only given a couple of minutes to do so. Some of the shooters relatives warned police that he was displaying paranoid behavior and they were concerned about his access to guns. Body camera video of police interviews with reservists before the shooters two-week hospitalization in upstate New York last summer also showed fellow reservists expressing worry and alarm about his behavior and weight loss. Card was hospitalized in July after he shoved a fellow reservist and locked himself in a motel room during training. Later, in September, a fellow reservist told an Army superior he was concerned his Army colleague was going to snap and do a mass shooting. Cards Reserve unit commander Capt Jeremy Reamer was also questioned about his efforts to follow-up with the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office (AP) Mr Noyes, who served with the shooter in the Army Reserves, said he was part of the team that escorted him to that psychiatric evaluation in New York a few months before the shootings. I felt good about what we did, Mr Noyes said about getting Card to a hospital in July. I thought he got the help he needed." He told the commission that he believed it was law enforcements responsibility to remove the reservists weapons, because they had no authority to do it themselves. Cards Reserve unit commander Capt. Jeremy Reamer was also questioned about his efforts to follow-up with the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office. Card had been an instructor at an Army hand grenade training range, where it is believed he was exposed to repeated low-level blasts. It is unknown if that caused Cards brain injury and what role brain injury played in Cards decline in mental health in the months before he opened fire at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston on 25 October. Rain soaked memorials for those who died along the roadside by Schemengees Bar & Grille (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiners office refused to comment on the results, which were released by Cards family Wednesday. The analysis showed degeneration in the nerve fibers that allow for communication between different areas of the brain, inflammation and small blood vessel injury, according to Dr. Ann McKee of Boston Universitys Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center. Dr McKee made no connection between the brain injury and the shooters violent actions. While I cannot say with certainty that these pathological findings underlie Mr. Cards behavioral changes in the last 10 months of life, based on our previous work, brain injury likely played a role in his symptoms, Dr McKee said in the statement. The shooters family members also apologized for the attack in the statement, saying they are heartbroken for the victims, survivors and their loved ones. We are hurting for you and with you, and it is hard to put into words how badly we wish we could undo what happened, they said in the statement. While we cannot go back, we are releasing the findings of Roberts brain study with the goal of supporting ongoing efforts to learn from this tragedy to ensure it never happens again. The Maine mass shooting victims: (top row l-r) Ronald G Morin, Peyton Brewer-Ross, Joshua A Seal, Bryan M MacFarlane, Joseph Lawrence Walker, Arthur Fred Strout; (second row l-r) Maxx A Hathaway, Stephen M Vozella, Thomas Ryan Conrad, Michael R Deslauriers II, Jason Adam Walker, Tricia C Asselin; (bottom row l-r) William A Young, Aaron Young, Robert E Violette and Lucille M Violette, William Frank Brackett, Keith D Macneir (Maine Department of Public Safety via AP) Commission chair Daniel Wathen said at a hearing with victims earlier this week that an interim report could be released by April 1. Wathen said during the session with victims that the commissions hearings have been critical to unraveling the case. This was a great tragedy for you folks, unbelievable, Wathen said during Mondays hearing. But I think it has affected everybody in Maine and beyond. In previous hearings, law enforcement officials have defended the approach they took with Card in the months before the shootings. Members of the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office testified that the states yellow flag law makes it difficult to remove guns from a potentially dangerous person. Democrats in Maine are looking to make changes to the states gun laws in the wake of the shootings. Mills wants to change state law to allow law enforcement to go directly to a judge to seek a protective custody warrant to take a dangerous person into custody to remove weapons. Other Democrats in Maine have proposed a 72-hour waiting period for most gun purchases. Gun control advocates held a rally for gun safety in Augusta earlier this week. Gun violence represents a significant public health emergency. Its through a combination of meaningful gun safety reform and public health investment that we can best keep our communities safe," said Nacole Palmer, executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) With March 7 officially recognized as National Cereal Day, BetVirginia.com has analyzed Google shopping trends and found Virginias top 10 most searched cereals. According to their research, the breakfast cereal market recorded a yearly revenue of $22.53 billion in the U.S. alone, with the likes of Lucky Charms and Cheerios remaining a popular choice to start the day across the country. Virginia State Parks looking to hire over 1,000 rangers for the summer Based on the last 12 months of provided data, BetVirginia found the most-searched-for cereal in the state was the timeless classic Cheerios, which recorded over 96,000 shopping searches. Here is the full list: Cheerios 96,800 Lucky Charms 96,400 Cinnamon Toast Crunch 77,200 Fruity Pebbles 70,400 Frosted Flakes 62,400 Honey Bunches of Oats 60,400 Froot Loops 54,800 Corn Flakes 50,8000 Count Chocula 44,400 Honey Nut Cheerios 40,800 For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasian affairs, visited Kyiv on March 7 for a meeting with Ukrainian officials, the Ukrainian President's Office reported. The Chinese envoys arrival was part of his second tour to Europe in order to promote a political settlement of Russias full-scale invasion on the basis of an agreement reached during a phone call between President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in April 2023. Visiting Russia, Poland, France, Germany, and the EUs headquarters in Brussels was also on his list. Ukrainian officials briefed the Chinese delegation on the situation on the battlefield, the work of the Black Sea grain corridor, the return of prisoners of war, Russia's violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the treatment of POWs, measures to implement Ukraines peace formula, and preparations for the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. "We value our partnership with China and hope that today's talks will be another step towards deepening and strengthening our relations," Andriy Yermak, President's Office head who led the briefing, said. President's Office Head Andriy Yermak and Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui talk in Kyiv on March 7. (President's Office) The parties also discussed the possibility of Beijing's assistance in stopping Russia's deportation of Ukrainian children, demilitarization and liberation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine's south, and nuclear safety. In addition, Ukrainian officials showed the Chinese delegation fragments of downed North Korean missiles and other weapons that Russia received from third countries and used to attack Ukraine, according to the statement. The Chinese foreign ministry said Li Hui "held frank and friendly talks" with Yermak, First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, without giving further details. 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: Chinese foreign minister claims China is force for peace, praises Russia-China relations Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. FILE - In this photo provided by the French Army, a soldier gestures before air-dropping some material over the Gaza Strip, on Jan. 4, 2024. A top European Union official is Cyprus on Friday, March 8, 2024, to inspect preparations for sending desperately needed aid to war-ravaged Gaza by sea, just hours after President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. military will set up a temporary port off Gaza's Mediterranean coast in support of such efforts. (Etat Major des Armees via AP) LARNACA, Cyprus (AP) A ship bearing humanitarian aid was making preparations to leave Cyprus and head for Gaza, the European Commission president said Friday as international donors launched a sea corridor to supply the besieged territory that is facing widespread hunger after five months of war. The opening of the corridor, along with the recent inauguration of airdrops of aid, showed increasing frustration with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a new international willingness to work around Israeli restrictions. The vessel belonging to Spains Open Arms aid group will make a pilot voyage to test the corridor in the coming days, Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Cyprus, where she's inspecting preparations for it. The ship has been waiting at Cypruss port of Larnaca for permission to deliver food aid from World Central Kitchen, a U.S. charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres. Israel said Friday it welcomed the maritime corridor, but cautioned it would also need security checks. The Cypriot initiative will allow the increase of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, after a security check according to Israeli standards, Lior Haiat, spokesperson for Israels foreign ministry, said on X, formerly Twitter. The European Union, together with the United States, the United Arab Emirates and other involved countries were launching the sea route in response to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, Von der Leyen said at a news conference with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with innocent Palestinian families and children desperate for basic needs," she said. Open Arms founder Oscar Camps told The Associated Press the ship is scheduled to depart Saturday and would take two to three days to arrive at an undisclosed location where the group World Central Kitchen is constructing a pier to receive it. The group has 60 food kitchens throughout Gaza to distribute aid, he said. The ship will pull a barge loaded with 200 tons of rice and flour close to the Gaza shore, he said. Pontoon boats will then be used for the complicated final leg to tow the barge up to the pier. Camps said his group has been planning the delivery for two months, long before the EU Commission chief declared the launch of the safe corridor. He said he's not as concerned about the security of the ship as about the security and lives of the people who are in Gaza. I dont know if nations plan to do something bigger, but we are doing everything we can" with the group's 3 million euros budget from private donations, Camps said. In Brussels, commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said the Open Arms ship's direct route to Gaza raises a number of logistical problems" which are still being worked out. He said United Nations agencies and the Red Cross will also play a role. Efforts to set up a sea route for aid deliveries come amid mounting alarm over the spread of hunger among Gazas 2.3 million people. Hunger is most acute in northern Gaza, which has been isolated by Israeli forces for months and suffered long cutoffs of food supply deliveries. On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced a plan to build a temporary pier in Gaza to help deliver aid, underscoring how the U.S. has to go around Israel, its main Mideast ally and the top recipient of U.S. military aid, to deliver aid to Gaza, including through airdrops that started last week. Israel accuses Hamas of commandeering some aid deliveries. Aid officials have said that deliveries by sea and by air are far more costly and inefficient than sending trucks by land in getting the massive amounts of aid needed to people. Five people in Gaza were killed and several others were injured when airdrops malfunctioned Friday and hit people and landed on homes, Palestinian officials said. After months of warnings over the risk of famine in Gaza under Israels bombardment, offensives and siege, hospital doctors have reported 20 malnutrition-related deaths at two northern Gaza hospitals. While reiterating his support for Israel, Biden used his State of the Union speech to reiterate demands that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allow in more aid to Gaza. To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, Biden declared before Congress. He also repeated calls for Israel to do more to protect civilians in the fighting, and to work toward Palestinian statehood as the only long-term solution to Israeli-Palestinian violence. United States officials said it will likely be weeks before the Gaza pier is operational. Aid groups have said their efforts to deliver desperately needed supplies to Gaza have been hampered because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of public order. It is even more difficult to get aid to the isolated north. Sigrid Kaag, the U.N. senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, told reporters late Thursday that air and sea deliveries cannot make up for a shortage of supply routes on land. Von der Leyen said the EU would continue exploring different ways of getting aid to Gaza. She said the bloc would consider "all other options, including airdrops, if our humanitarian partners on the ground consider this effective." Meanwhile, efforts to reach a cease-fire before Ramadan appeared stalled. Hamas said Thursday that its delegation had left Cairo, where talks were being held, until next week. International mediators had hoped to alleviate some of the immediate crisis with a six-week cease-fire, which would have seen Hamas release some of the Israeli hostages it is holding, Israel release some Palestinian prisoners and aid groups be given access to get a major influx of assistance into Gaza. Palestinian militants are believed to be holding around 100 hostages and the remains of 30 others captured during Hamas Oct. 7 attack, in which militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took some 250 hostages. Several dozen hostages were freed in a weeklong November truce, and about 30 are believed to be dead. Gazas Health Ministry says at least 30,878 Palestinians have been killed. It does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tallies but says women and children make up two-thirds of those killed. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, maintains detailed records and its casualty figures from previous wars have largely matched those of the U.N. and independent experts. Egyptian officials said Hamas has agreed to the main terms of such an agreement as a first stage but wants commitments that it will lead to an eventual more permanent cease-fire, while Israel wants to confine the negotiations to the more limited agreement. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations with media. Both officials said mediators are still pressing the two parties to soften their positions. ___ Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 8, 2024) - Showcase Minerals Inc. (CSE: SHOW) ("Showcase") is pleased to announce that for its upcoming drilling exploration program at the Dixie Flats - North Star Gold Project, the Company has contracted the services of Rangefront Geological ("Rangefront") to design and oversee the program, including drilling management, core logging, and related geological services. Rangefront has assigned Steven McMillin, P.Geo., to manage the Dixie Flats - North Star drill program, and he will also act as the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 to review and approve technical information in future news releases regarding this exploration project. Mr. McMillin will be ably assisted by Patrick Mullinger, a seasoned four-year veteran of Rangefront, who brings a wealth of experience from work with over 20 clients. Mr. Mullinger will log the drill chips on site, manage the drill crew, and supervise sample quality. Mr. McMillin is a highly-experienced and well-respected exploration geologist with over 35 years of practical mineral exploration experience in the United States, and experience with many different exploration projects in Nevada. Mr. McMillin is currently a field operations manager at Rangefront Geological and is primarily responsible for the set-up and management of Rangefront client drill programs. At Rangefront, his responsibilities include liaising with vendors and federal/state regulators, establishing drill safety, supervising drilling and sampling protocols, and overall site reclamation. Previously, Mr. McMillin was chief mine geologist at Jerritt Canyon Gold LLC., where he led underground near-mine exploration and resource development. During his tenure at Jerritt Canyon, 12 new orebodies were discovered, and most were developed. Prior to 2016, Mr. McMillin was chief mine geologist at Fire Creek with Klondex Mines Ltd., senior exploration geologist with Midway Gold Corp. at the Spring Valley and Pan-Goldrock deposits, senior mine geologist at Jerritt Canyon with AngloGold and Queenstake Resources, and project geologist with Newmont Exploration in Nevada. He is an AIPG (American Institute of Professional Geologists) certified professional geologist and a member of the Geological Society of Nevada and the Society of Economic Geologists. Story continues About the Dixie Flats- North Star Gold Project: The Dixie Flats-North Star Property (the "Property" or "Dixie Flats") is located on the east side of the Pinon Mountains, 21 air-miles south of the City of Elko in northeast Nevada. It is a combination of two claim blocks, the Dixie Flats group of claims and the North Star group of claims. The Property is comprised of a total of 236 total unpatented mineral claims on Federal land administered by the US Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"). The Property lies on the southern margin of the Carlin Trend, a northwest-trending belt of sediment-hosted gold deposits that makes up the greatest geographic concentration of gold deposits in North America, with reported production of more than 92.5 million ounces of gold since 1961 (Muntean, 2019). The Dixie Flats-North Star Property is underlain by rocks known to host gold mineralization on the Carlin Trend, and surface sampling has shown anomalous gold, silver, arsenic, antimony, and mercury levels in rock, soil, and biogeochemical samples from the Property, which is a characteristic geochemical signature of Carlin-Type gold deposits. The Dixie - North Star Gold Project is approximately three miles south of Newmont Mining Company's Emigrant Springs Mine, which finished production in 2018, and approximately 4.5 miles southeast of the past producing Rain Mine. Both deposits are hosted in dissolution breccia zones at the contact between the Webb mudstone, the basal unit of the overlying assemblage, and the underlying Devils Gate limestone. Prior exploration on the Dixie -North Star Property has been focused on delineating this contact at depth and discovering possible extensions to the regional structures controlling mineralization at the Rain and Emigrant Mines and their demonstrated extension to the Dixie - North Star Property. The information on the adjacent projects is taken from publicly available sources and is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization within the Dixie Flats - North Star Property. Additional information on the Dixie -North Star Gold Project can be found in the National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Dixie Flats-Northstar Gold Exploration Property", Elko, Nevada, dated September 21, 2022, which has been filed on SEDAR at www.Sedarplus.ca. Qualified Person: Mr. Steve McMillin, M.Sc., C.P.G. is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. About Showcase Minerals Inc. Showcase is a Canadian mineral exploration company with an exclusive option to acquire a 100% interest in Dixie Flats-Northstar Gold Project and the Woodruff Gold-Vanadium Project (subject to various net smelter returns royalties ranging from 2.25% to 4.25%), which collectively consist of unpatented 254 lode mining claims covering approximately 1,818 hectares located in Elko County, Nevada For further information, please contact: Kirk Reed, President Showcase Minerals Inc. Telephone: 1-800-982-0670 Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in CSE policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/201088 TOPEKA (KSNT) A local organization honored businessmen and women in the 22nd Annual Business Hall of Fame. People gathered at the Townsite Towers in downtown Topeka Thursday to celebrate the 2024 Business Hall of Fame recipients, also known as laureates. The Topeka laureates were chosen for their accomplishments in the business world and their generosity throughout the community. This event is hosted by Junior Achievements of Kansas and its president Bill Blazing. He told 27 News Thursday it is a celebration of the business community as a whole, while highlighting some key influential people. $186 million highway projects added to IKE Development Plan To recognize their accomplishments just as businesspeople as one thing, but to take it to the next level of the influence they have on the community and what they do to give back is just so important, I think, because the local community needs to know about these folks that are out there doing this, Blasing said. This year four men and one woman were recognized and inducted into the Topeka Business Hall of Fame. Those inductees are Jeff Russell, Terry and Nick Xidis, Gary Yager and Mark Yardley. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. George Osborne said it would be absolutely nuts for Rishi Sunak to call a general election in May as he claimed the idea has been considered by No 10. The former chancellor told his Political Currency podcast: There are a surprising number of Tory MPs who think [Downing Street] are considering a May election. Theres quite a lot of Tory MPs who would like a May election because they think things will only get worse politically for the Tories over the coming months. He continued: They are definitely thinking about it. The centre has thought about a May election. But I think it would be absolutely nuts. They are 26 points behind in the opinion polls. You do not call a general election when youre 26 points behind in the opinion polls and you still have nine months left of your mandate to run. If I was Sunak, I wouldnt have ruled out an election in January 2025. You want to give yourself maximum room for manoeuvre. The comments came after Mr Sunak yesterday refused to rule out a May contest. He has previously said his working assumption is the election will be in the second half of this year. You can follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments section here. 04:00 PM GMT That is all for today... Thank you for joining me for todays politics live blog. I will be back next week. 03:29 PM GMT Rishi Sunaks mother-in-law appointed to Indian parliament Rishi Sunaks mother-in-law has been awarded a seat in Indias parliament, president Droupadi Murmu announced on Friday. Sudha Murthy, 73, is the former chairman of the philanthropic arm of Infosys, the global tech firm she co-founded with her husband in 1981. Their daughter, Akshata, married Mr Sunak in 2009. Prime minister Narendra Modi said he was delighted with Mrs Murthys nomination to the Rajya Sabha - the upper house. You can read the full story here. 03:13 PM GMT Poll: Labour extends lead over Tories to 27 points Labour has extended its poll lead over the Tories to 27 points, according to a new YouGov survey. Labour was on 47 per cent of the vote and the Tories were on 20 per cent in the poll conducted between Mar 6-7. The poll put Labour up by one point when compared to the companys previous survey conducted between Feb 28-29 while the Conservatives were unchanged. Reform UK was down by one point to 13 per cent and the Lib Dems were up two points to nine per cent. Latest YouGov Westminster voting intention (6-7 Mar) Con: 20% (unchanged from 28-29 Feb) Lab: 47% (+1) Lib Dem: 9% (+2) Reform UK: 13% (-1) Green: 7% (=) SNP: 3% (=)https://t.co/mcvGCfDGA0 pic.twitter.com/sBf7h2NMYo YouGov (@YouGov) March 8, 2024 02:49 PM GMT Jeremy Hunt said Theresa May had been an excellent boss when she was prime minister as he wished her the best following her announcement that she will stand down at the next general election. The Chancellor tweeted this afternoon: @theresa_may is the best kind of public servant and was an excellent boss when she was PM! I wish her the best in her future career. The House of Commons will miss you. Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) March 8, 2024 02:36 PM GMT UK will do all we can to get aid into Gaza, says Shapps Grant Shapps said the UK will do all we can to get more aid into Gaza following the announcement of combined efforts with the US to establish a maritime corridor. The Defence Secretary tweeted: The UK is working with allies to open a maritime corridor to accelerate the delivery of lifesaving aid into Gaza. Our Armed Forces in the region are already supporting aid deliveries by land & air and we will continue to do all we can to get aid to those in need. 02:15 PM GMT Foreign Secretary: Current level of Gaza aid not good enough Lord Cameron said it was incredibly frustrating Israel was not taking steps to allow more aid into Gaza. The Foreign Secretary told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme on Friday: Right now theres a crisis. We need 500 trucks a day or more going into Gaza. In the last five days, weve been averaging 123 trucks a day. Thats not good enough and that needs to be fixed now. And that can be fixed if Israel opens more crossing points, if they allow more UN staff into Gaza to help process the aid and get it round the different bits of Gaza. And they could also do things like full resumption of the water and the electricity that goes into north and south Gaza. Weve set out these points repeatedly and its incredibly frustrating that these things havent happened when you think of the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza. 02:01 PM GMT Tories triggering election in May would be absolutely nuts, says Osborne George Osborne said it would be absolutely nuts for Rishi Sunak to call a general election in May as he claimed the idea has been considered by No 10. The former chancellor told his Political Currency podcast: There are a surprising number of Tory MPs who think [Downing Street] are considering a May election. Theres quite a lot of Tory MPs who would like a May election because they think things will only get worse politically for the Tories over the coming months. He continued: They are definitely thinking about it. The centre has thought about a May election. But I think it would be absolutely nuts. They are 26 points behind in the opinion polls. You do not call a general election when youre 26 points behind in the opinion polls and you still have nine months left of your mandate to run. If I was Sunak, I wouldnt have ruled out an election in January 2025. You want to give yourself maximum room for manoeuvre. The comments came after Mr Sunak yesterday refused to rule out a May contest. He has previously said his working assumption is the election will be in the second half of this year. The Budget has sent rumours of a May election swirling in the Tory party - even at the very centre. George makes it clear what he thinks of the idea... LISTEN: https://t.co/9qA6ffpP8h pic.twitter.com/vB1W7uiLdU Political Currency (@polcurrency) March 8, 2024 01:38 PM GMT Pictured: Rishi Sunak talks to staff during visit to Byworth Boilers in Keighley, West Yorkshire Rishi Sunak talks to staff during a visit to Byworth Boilers at the Parkwood Boiler works in Keighley, West Yorkshire - Darren Staples/PA 01:04 PM GMT No 10 points to largest defence budget in history after blackhole claims Downing Street said the Government had ensured the UK has the largest defence budget in history as it responded to claims by MPs of a significant blackhole in funding. A No 10 spokeswoman said: The Prime Minister has overseen the largest sustained defence spending increase since the end of the Cold War and a 24 billion uplift in cash terms over the spending review period. We are ensuring that we have the largest defence budget in history, increasing spend and ensuring that we have the funding that we need to protect UK national interests. 01:02 PM GMT Some of the behaviour that weve seen in recent weeks is unacceptable Downing Street said the Prime Minister takes extremely seriously concerns that London has become a no-go zone for Jews during weekend protests. A Number 10 spokeswoman said: I think the Prime Minister would want to make clear it is very important to take people who feel this way extremely seriously and he is acutely aware of the fear and distress that many people have been feeling and communities across our country. Thats why hes very clear that some of the behaviour that weve seen in recent weeks is unacceptable and it doesnt reflect the values that we have as a society. While its not his experience of the UK, and he spoke to that as well in his speech, he does believe its really important to take peoples concerns extremely seriously and thats why were acting accordingly. 12:44 PM GMT Scrapping NI will not happen overnight, says No 10 Downing Street said abolishing National Insurance will not happen overnight amid questions over how committed the Government is to the policy (see post below at 07.48). A No 10 spokesman told reporters: As the Chancellor has said, our long term ambition is to abolish it entirely. And to end the unfairness of double taxation on work. Clearly, we cannot do this overnight and we can only do this when it can be done in a fiscally responsible way. But we will look to make significant progress in the next parliament. 12:30 PM GMT Laura Trott hits back at Labour amid unfunded spending commitments row Laura Trott has hit back at Labour as the row over the potential scrapping of National Insurance rumbles on. Labour said the Tories needed to explain how they would pay for the move (see the post below at 10.56). But Ms Trott, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said that Labour wont say now how they are paying for any of their commitments. She said: Labour cannot say how theyd pay for their unfunded spending commitments because they dont have a plan to pay for them. That means higher taxes for families across the UK taking us back to square one. Were sticking to the plan under Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives, and the economy has started to turn a corner. This means weve been able to cut the double tax on work and put 900 in the pockets of the average worker. 12:09 PM GMT Tice: Reform coming for Tories as poll gap narrows to five points Richard Tice said Reform UK is coming for the Conservatives after a new poll put the Tories just five points ahead of the insurgent party. A People Polling survey (see the post below at 11.49) put the Tories on 18 per cent and Reform on 13 per cent. Mr Tice tweeted: Just 5 % behind.. Tories: you have broken Britain, we are coming for you. https://t.co/JaRopWe5Fg Richard Tice (@TiceRichard) March 8, 2024 11:49 AM GMT Labour hold 28 point poll lead over Tories Labour hold a 28 point poll lead over the Conservative Party, according to a new survey conducted by People Polling. The poll, conducted on behalf of GB News on Mar 7, put Labour on 46 per cent of the vote and the Tories on 18 per cent. Reform were in third place on 13 per cent and the Lib Dems were fourth on 10 per cent. 11:29 AM GMT Lord Cameron: Theresa May did much to help modernise Tory Party I wish @theresa_may well as she stands down. As well as serving as my Home Secretary and then as PM, she did much to help modernise the Conservative Party and promote women in public life. She has been the most dedicated of public servants. The House of Commons will miss her. pic.twitter.com/fhrBYds9LC David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 8, 2024 11:13 AM GMT Telegraph readers weigh in on Theresa May standing down Theresa May stunned Westminster this morning with the announcement that she will stand down at the next general election. Telegraph readers have weighed in on the news in todays comments section: 10:56 AM GMT Tories must explain how scrapping NI will be paid for, says Labour Labour said the Tories need to explain how they would pay for scrapping National Insurance after a Treasury minister said it could take several parliaments to achieve (see the post below at 08.59). Darren Jones, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said: Another day, another new claim from a Treasury minister over their 46 billion unfunded tax cut. And yet we still havent heard a word about how they plan to pay for it. If they are going to continue to confirm it is their policy, they should explain where the money is coming from. Another five years under Rishi Sunak risks re-running the disastrous Liz Truss experiment, which crashed the economy and sent mortgages rocketing for working people. 10:35 AM GMT Theresa May defines what it means to be a public servant, says Sunak Rishi Sunak has hailed Theresa May as a relentless campaigner and a fiercely loyal MP as he responded to the announcement that she will stand down at the next general election. The Prime Minister said Mrs May defines what it means to be a public servant. He also predicted she will continue to make a positive impact on public life. Here is his tweet: A relentless campaigner, a fiercely loyal MP to the people of Maidenhead, and Britain's second female Prime Minister.@theresa_may defines what it means to be a public servant. I have no doubt Theresa will continue to make a positive impact on public life. Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) March 8, 2024 10:31 AM GMT UK to help US establish maritime corridor for Gaza aid, says Cameron The UK will help the US establish a maritime corridor to help deliver more aid to Gaza, Lord Cameron has announced. The Foreign Secretary twitter: People in Gaza are in desperate humanitarian need. Alongside the US, the UK and partners have announced we will open a maritime corridor to deliver aid directly to Gaza. We continue to urge Israel to allow more trucks into Gaza as the fastest way to get aid to those who need David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 8, 2024 10:20 AM GMT Tory MPs pay tribute to Theresa May Tory MPs have been paying tribute to Theresa May this morning following her announcement that she will stand down as an MP at the next general election. Andrew Bowie, a current minister and Mrs Mays former parliamentary private secretary, tweeted: I'm so sorry to see the woman I was proud to call boss and remain proud to call a friend standing down from Parliament. It will leave the House of Commons a lesser place. Her dedication to her constituency, her country and her Party is unmatched. Thank you Theresa. pic.twitter.com/xtDVPPU3RH Andrew Bowie MP (@AndrewBowie_MP) March 8, 2024 Julian Smith, who served as Mrs Mays chief whip, said: I am very sorry to see that Theresa May is standing down as an MP. Our second female Prime Minister is an exceptional public servant with the highest integrity, relentless work ethic & total commitment to all parts of the United Kingdom in addition to her passionate campaigning for vital causes around the world. Caroline Nokes, immigration minister under Mrs May, said: On (International Womens Day) I want to celebrate a colleague who showed us all the importance of hard work, commitment to your constituency and integrity. Parliament will be poorer (and Im a bit sad too many women standing down). 10:04 AM GMT Mays decision to quit not too surprising Sir David Lidington said Theresa Mays decision to stand down is not too surprising given her long stint in the Commons. The former minister for the Cabinet Officer who quit the Commons in 2019 told Times Radio: Theres no doubt that she was not exactly a close ally or great admirer of Boris Johnson. But I think that her relationship with Rishi Sunak, I think, is a perfectly good one. As you say, shes played a really constructive, and active role as a very senior backbencher for the PM. But I think the decision to stand down is not too surprising, that she has been a member of Parliament since 1997. Thats a good long stint. 09:49 AM GMT Theresa May will be a loss to the Commons, says Sir David Lidington Sir David Lidington, who was a senior figure in the Cabinet during Theresa Mays premiership, said her exit will be a loss to the House of Commons. He told Times Radio: Shell be a loss to the House of Commons shes been somebody who, in my experience, has had her politics more rooted in a genuine ethic of public service than many, many others that I have worked with over the years. He added: All the time that I was working with her in Cabinet, whether you agreed or whether you disagreed with her on a particular issue, you couldnt be in any doubt that she was trying to take the decision that in her mind, she thought was best for the country and in line with her ethical approach to how she saw public service. 09:22 AM GMT Treasury minister does not recognise claim of MOD budget black hole A Treasury minister has rejected the findings of the Public Accounts Committee that there is a significant black hole in the Ministry of Defences budget. Gareth Davies told Sky News he did not recognise the PACs findings and that defence spending was going up. He said: We have got record funding going into our defence. Its vital that we do that, the war in Ukraine showed how important it is that we have a resilient and ready armed forces because you never know where the next conflict is around the corner. We have got, I think, over 50 billion being spent this year on defence, it was uplifted by 11 billion at the last spring Budget, so money is going into our defences. But the nature of conflict has also changed in that we need technology and a different way of tackling conflict and being ready to do so. 08:59 AM GMT Could take several parliaments to scrap NI, says minister The Conservatives ambition to eliminate National Insurance could take several parliaments to achieve, a minister has admitted. Gareth Davies, a Treasury minister, told Sky News: The starting point is that we think theres a fundamental unfairness that if you work in a job you pay two types of tax, you pay income tax and you pay National Insurance contributions. So what we want to do, what weve demonstrated at the last two fiscal events, is that we want to get National Insurance contributions down to the extent that we remove the unfairness over time. The long-term ambition, it may take several parliaments, but the long-term ambition is to remove that unfairness. Asked whether the Government wanted to merge income tax and national insurance, he said: We keep all these things under review, but we want to remove the unfairness of having two taxes for those in work. 08:39 AM GMT Minister denies Tory MPs are quitting due to lack of confidence in partys prospects Gareth Davies denied that the number of Conservative MPs standing down indicated a lack of confidence in the partys prospects. The Treasury minister told Sky News: This is what happens when you approach a new election, and [it is] completely reasonable for people to decide that its time to go, particularly when theyve been in the House of Commons for a long time. Each one has made their own decision for personal reasons and I respect every single persons decision to do so. 08:17 AM GMT Treasury minister very sad to see Theresa May leave Commons A Treasury minister said he was sad to see Theresa May stand down. Gareth Davies, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, told Sky News: How appropriate on International Womens Day, the countrys second female prime minister is standing down after a pretty good innings, 27 years of service not just to her constituents but I think as one of our longest serving home secretaries and then obviously prime minister as well. Im personally sad to see her go. I think its very good when former leaders stay in the House of Commons and contribute to debates. Shes certainly brought a lot to debates since shes stood down, and so Im very sad personally, but wish her well and I think shes justified in moving on after 27 years. 08:05 AM GMT Theresa May statement in full Theresa May has now posted the full statement announcing she is stepping down as an MP on Twitter. Here it is: 07:57 AM GMT Tory exodus at next election shows no confidence in Sunak, claims Labour Labours Anneliese Dodds claimed Theresa Mays decision to stand down was further evidence of a lack of confidence in Rishi Sunak. The Labour Party chair told GB News: This is obviously a very significant decision from Theresa May to stand down at the next election. As you said, it is a surprise but of course weve heard this from a large number of Conservative sitting MPs. Theyve decided not to stand for the next election, and I think that does reveal that frankly theres no confidence in Rishi Sunak, nor indeed in the Conservative Party, to be a party of government for the future. I think this really strengthens those calls for change, those calls for a general election. 07:48 AM GMT Government plan to scrap National Insurance plunged into confusion The Governments plan to get rid of National Insurance has been plunged into confusion after a Cabinet minister said it is only an aspiration and failed to commit to scrapping the levy entirely. Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said that there is an aspiration generally to bring down National Insurance. His comments were noticeably softer than those made by Bim Afolami, a Treasury minister, who said after the Budget that the plan was to eliminate that double tax on work. Asked about Mr Afolamis comments, Mr Stride told Sky News: Well, my understanding, having seen what the Prime Minister said, and I think hes absolutely right, and the Chancellor in his speech, incidentally, was that it is a very clear aspiration to bring National Insurance down. This will be in the next parliament. It will take time. Down covers a whole variety of different possible end points. Told that eliminating a tax and bringing it down were not the same thing and asked if he wanted to get rid of NI or not, Mr Stride said: Well, my understanding, and all I can tell you is my understanding, is that we have an aspiration to get it down. Jeremy Hunt said yesterday that scrapping NI will be a huge job and it is not going to happen any time soon. 07:26 AM GMT Lord Barwell: Constituents and Commons will miss Theresa May Lord Barwell, who served as Theresa Mays chief of staff in No 10, praised the former premier and said he hoped other ex-PMs opt to follow her example and stay in the House of Commons after leaving Downing Street. Responding to the news Mrs May will stand down at the next election, the Tory peer tweeted: Very sorry to hear this - both her constituents and the House of Commons will miss her. I hope future PMs will follow her example of remaining as an MP after they leave Number 10 - she has made a number of important contributions over the last five years. 07:07 AM GMT Exit of Theresa May takes Tory election exodus to 60 Theresa Mays decision to stand down takes the number of Tory MPs to announce they are quitting at the next general election to 60. More Conservative MPs are standing down at the next contest than at any point since Labours landslide victory in 1997. Some 75 Tories quit ahead of the 1997 general election, falling to 22 in 2001 and 16 in 2005. 07:01 AM GMT Ex-PM believes the Conservatives can win the election Theresa May said the causes she has been championing (see the post below at 06.57) have been taking an increasing amount of my time and as a result she felt she would no longer be able to do my job as an MP in the way I believe is right. In a statement to the Maidenhead Advertiser, Mrs May said: Because of this, after much careful thought and consideration, I have realised that, looking ahead, I would no longer be able to do my job as an MP in the way I believe is right and my constituents deserve. I have therefore taken the difficult decision to stand down at the next General Election. Mrs May also said that she believes the Tories can win the next election: As I pass the baton on I will be working with my successor to secure a Conservative victory in Maidenhead. I remain committed to supporting Rishi Sunak and the Government and believe that the Conservatives can win the election. 06:57 AM GMT Theresa May to step down at next general election Theresa May, the former prime minister, has announced she will stand down as an MP at the next general election. Mrs May, who led the country between 2016 and 2019, said she had taken the difficult decision to step down from her position after 27 years representing the constituency of Maidenhead. Speaking to the Maidenhead Advertiser, Mrs May said: It has been an honour and a privilege to serve everyone in the Maidenhead constituency as the Member of Parliament for the last 27 years. Being an MP is about service to ones constituents and I have always done my best to ensure that I respond to the needs of local people and the local area. Since stepping down as Prime Minister I have enjoyed being a backbencher again and having more time to work for my constituents and champion causes close to my heart including most recently launching a Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. 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. On April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross through the U.S. for the first time since Aug. 21, 2017. In addition to the U.S., the eclipse will pass over Mexico and Canada. States in the path of the eclipse are Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. This will be the last total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. until 2044. Thousands of people will celebrate the total solar eclipse by attending festivals. In Rochester, New York, there will be a three-day ROC The Eclipse Festival, which will feature dozens of exhibitors with hands-on activities, planetarium shows and a post-eclipse concert. Rochester is about 400 miles from Norwich. The total solar eclipse Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 in Madras, Oregon. Emotional sky-gazers stood transfixed across North America as the Sun vanished behind the Moon in a rare total eclipse that swept the continent coast-to-coast for the first time in nearly a century. What is a total solar eclipse? According to NASA, a total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. NASA says that people located in the center of the Moons shadow when it hits Earth will experience a total solar eclipse, and the sky will darken. According to NASA, weather permitting, people in the path of the total solar eclipse can see the Suns corona, the outer atmosphere, which is otherwise usually obscured by the bright face of the Sun. More: Total solar eclipse occurs on April 8. How far must southern New England residents travel to see it? What will the eclipse look like in Norwich? A partial solar eclipse will be visible in Norwich beginning at 2:14 p.m. on April 8. At that time, the moon will become visible over the suns disk, according to TimeAndDate.com. The moon will be most visible and the sun will be most hidden at 3:28 p.m. The partial eclipse will end at 4:38 p.m. The website eclipse2024.org has a link to a video of what the eclipse will look like in Norwich and in 2,500 other cities. Closest places to see the total solar eclipse Though Norwich is not in the path of the total solar eclipse, here are some of the closer municipalities where the eclipse will be visible. Burlington, Vermont: 3:26 through 3:29 p.m. Montpelier, Vermont: 3:27 through 3:29 p.m. Rangeley, Maine: 3:29 through 3:31 p.m. Kingfield, Maine: 3:30 through 3:32 p.m. Syracuse, New York: 3:23 through 3:24 p.m. Rochester, New York: 3:20 through 3:23 p.m. Buffalo, New York: 3:18 through 3:22 p.m. Plattsburgh, New York: 3:25 through 3:29 p.m. Watertown, New York: 3:22 through 3:26 p.m. Auburn, New York: 3:22 through 3:24 p.m. April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse path over North America Proper eyewear to view total solar eclipses NASA recommends people wear eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality. NASA says it is safe to view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the Moon completely obscures the Suns bright face during the period known as totality. Viewers will know it is safe when they can no longer see any part of the Sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer, according to NASA. NASA recommends that as soon as the sun reappears after totality, viewers should immediately put their eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the sun. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Norwich Bulletin subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: How to watch the total solar eclipse on April 8 in Norwich CT, Vermont Nearly three years after his official predecessor got abruptly fired, a move that stirred a national wave of criticism at the time, the University of Miami law school dean will step down in April. I am stepping down as dean at the end of the month, David Yellen, the current dean, told the Herald when reached Friday afternoon, adding he would take a one-year sabbatical and then return as a faculty member to the law school. UM President Julio Frenk abruptly pushed out the last dean, Anthony Varona, in May 2021. Frenks decision sparked outrage among professors, students and alumni, and prompted Varona to hire a lawyer who denounced the move at the time as an egregious violation of the deans rights. Varona is now the law dean at Seattle University, a private Jesuit Catholic institution in Washington state. Estudiantes y ex alumnos de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Miami reaccionaron con indignacion este verano por el repentino despido del decano Anthony Varona el 25 de mayo de 2021. FROM 2021: UM fires its law school dean, setting off outrage among faculty, alums and students Yellen declined to explain why he resigned, but said he chose to hand in his notice. This was totally my decision, said Yellen, a New Jersey native who joined UM in July 2022. Frenk announced the news to the UM community in an email Friday but didnt offer any motives. As we prepare to depart for Spring Break, I write to inform you of two important changes in our academic leadership, Frenk wrote. I have accepted the resignation of Dean and M. Minnette Massey Professor of Law David Yellen, effective April 1, 2024. During his time as Dean, he laid the groundwork for Miami Law to fully embrace the Universitys strategic priority of facilitating lifelong learning, with a planned expansion of online offerings, he added. FROM 2022: UM hires Cornell Law grad as its law school dean, following tumult after Varona demotion UM President Julio Frenk became embroiled in a controversy over his sudden firing of UM School of Law Dean Anthony Varona. Frenk said the university would begin a national search for a world-class law school dean, but didnt provide a clear timeline. The president named Patricia Sanchez Abril, the interim dean of the UM Graduate School and a business law professor at the Miami Herbert Business School, as the interim dean of the law school. As a result, he said, Nicole Leeper Piquero, the chair of the sociology and criminology department at the College of Arts and Sciences, will move in as the interim dean of the UM Graduate School. Sanchez Abril will become the fifth acting, interim or official dean at the UM law school in the past three years. After Varona left, Frenk named UM law professor Steve Schnably as acting dean in June 2021. Then Frenk named outsider Nell Jessup Newton, who had served as dean of the University of Notre Dame Law School for a decade, as the UM law school interim dean for a year in August 2021. Then Frenk hired Yellen in May 2022. Last May, for the first time ever, the law school at Florida International University surpassed the UM law school in national rankings. FIUs was ranked third in the state, besting the private UM, which was founded in the 1920s and whose annual tuition is nearly three times higher than what an in-state law student pays at the state-funded FIU. A Tallahassee Police Department officer was shot by his own firearm and injured Friday afternoon after a "violent physical altercation" with a man at a North Monroe Street hotel. The officer, whose name was not released, was shot in the hand during the incident, which occurred at the Loyalty Inn, 2738 N. Monroe St. The officer was taken to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, listed in stable condition and is expected to recover. During a news briefing Friday night at TPD headquarters, Chief Lawrence Revell said that the suspect, Willis Adams, 36, was involved in a trespassing incident at the hotel around 2 p.m. Officers told Adams to leave and that he would be arrested if he came back. However, he returned to the hotel about two hours later and was spotted by one of the officers who was still on scene. The officer tried "multiple times" through verbal commands and using his Taser "to bring the situation under control," Revell said. But a fight ensued. Tallahassee Police officers work the scene of a shooting that occurred on North Monroe Street on Friday afternoon, March 8, 2024. "The officer drew his firearm and a struggle ensued over that firearm," Revell said. "During that struggle, the firearm discharged, striking the officer in the hand. The officer immediately lost control of the weapon at that point." Adams, armed with the officer's handgun, retreated, but was intercepted by another arriving officer. Adams allegedly reached for that officer's gun, too, as the officer tried to take him into custody. "The suspect was eventually taken into custody with assistance of officers from the Gadsden County Sheriff's Department and the Leon County Sheriff's Office, who saw this altercation happening and stopped. So thank you very much to those individuals." Adams was arrested on a charge of attempted homicide of a police officer and was expected to be booked into the Leon County Detention Facility. He has a long history of arrests in Wakulla and Leon counties on charges that include domestic battery, battery on a person 65 or older, burglary, grand theft and possession of a controlled substance, according to court records. He served at least three stints in state prison. Willis Adams was arrested Friday, March 8, 2024, on a charge of attempted homicide of a police officer after a violent encounter that left a Tallahassee police officer with a gunshot wound to his hand. The incident marked the second time in less than a year that a TPD officer was shot and injured on the job. On Sept. 25, 2023, an officer was shot in the leg in an ambush after responding to a drug-related home-invasion robbery on West Tharpe Street. He was struck in a major artery and nearly lost his life but went on to recover. Revell noted that incident during the press conference. The Tallahassee Police Department is working an incident in the 2700 block of North Monroe Street where an officer was injured. pic.twitter.com/qhXw8SQ6zJ Tallahassee Police (@TallyPD) March 8, 2024 "And I'm here to tell you, violence against our officers will not be tolerated," the chief said. "Violence in our community will not be tolerated. We take very seriously violence in our community, and it is totally unacceptable." The shooting also marked the second year in a row in which a shocking incident of gun violence marred the waning moments of the Florida legislative session. Last year, TPD responded to a broad-daylight shooting in the Envision bank parking lot after two people were shot in a dispute over drug money. The chief praised the officers who responded to the latest incident. Tallahassee Police officers work the scene of a shooting that occurred on North Monroe Street on Friday afternoon, March 8, 2024. "I am very thankful to the men and women who dedicate their lives each and every day to serve this community," he said. "This is just one example of what our officers face each and every day and what their families face." Revell also thanked the Tallahassee Fire Department, Leon County Emergency Medical Services and TMH emergency room personnel for providing "great care" to the officer. "Our officers displayed unbelievable courage tonight, and thank God they're all coming home," Revell said. Tallahassee Police officers work the scene of a shooting that occurred on North Monroe Street on Friday afternoon, March 8, 2024. The citys latest shooting continues a violent start to the first few months of 2024. So far eight people have been killed and at least 13 injured in at least 17 serious shootings, according to a Tallahassee Democrat analysis of gun violence. Last year, there were only two fatal shootings by this time in March. After Friday's shooting, officers scoured the hotel and surrounding area, where crime scene tape went up and evidence markers were placed on the ground. TPD alerted the public on social media that an officer was injured but shared no details until hours later in the livestream. One lane of North Monroe was shut down as investigators worked the scene. Traffic is snarled amid a heavy police presence on North Monore and Lakeshore Drive. Officers swarmed the scene after an officer was injured. The Florida Highway Patrol also responded to the shooting, said FHP Master Corporal P.J. Shaw. Raa Middle School sent a note to parents about a heavy police presence near the campus, which is located south of the scene. "This was because police were escorting an ambulance to the hospital due to an incident involving a law enforcement officer not near the school," the school said. "Raa Middle School was not placed on Lockout or Lockdown because there was never a threat to the school, its students or staff." Revell, during the news conference, pleaded for the public for its help in preventing crime and gun violence. "Policing in this community does not come without your assistance," he said. "We need compliance. We need people to speak up when they see something. We need people to know that justice will be served to those who commit any illegal activity in this city." Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee Police officer shot with own gun during struggle with suspect Are you wearing the c? Canvas mini-tote bag from Trader Joes? Yeah, I am. A miniature version of the grocers signature reusable shopping bag has taken the internet by storm, causing shoppers to line up for restocks, swarm the product with a fervor reminiscent of the pink Stanley cup that went viral in January and resell them for black market-like prices. Trader Joes describes the bag, sold in navy, green, red and yellow for $2.99, as ideal for smaller shopping trips. It can contain a dozen apples or a small paperback paired with a cheese and a baguette, according to the chains website. Adriana Sosa, 26, can fit her iPad, a set of Apple AirPods Max, a cosmetics pouch, water bottle, wallet and more. The bags have been for sale since at least Feb. 27 when the Instagram account @traderjoeslist dedicated to highlighting notable products from the grocer posted about the mini-tote. Our Mini Canvas Tote Bags certainly sold more quickly than we anticipated. Before we had the opportunity to promote them in any way, customers across the country found them at their neighborhood Trader Joes, a spokesperson for Trader Joes tells TODAY.com. Y.J. Wang, 28, was able to snag a bag in all four colors on March 1 with little trouble at her local store in New York. She learned of the new item, fittingly, through an Instagram video about it. Pretty much as soon as I saw the video, I was like, I have to go to Trader Joes to see if its in stock, Wang tells TODAY.com. When when I got there, they they were actually out of the blue and the green already, which I felt really bad about because I really wanted those colors ... But then I waited maybe 10 more minutes, and they actually restocked, thankfully. Wang posted a video about snagging the totes. In it, a Trader Joes employee restocks the bags, a couple customers take pictures and customers check out with ease. There were people waiting around the stall while there was only two colors, Wang adds. But when she went back to the store March 2, and there were still plenty of bags in stock, she says. Videos of the scene inside Trader Joes stores shared to social media just days later painted a different picture. On March 4, TikTok users @angela.cisneros and @elinorxkim shared videos from inside stores demonstrating the mayhem the viral bag created at store locations as people scrambled to get their hands on one. In the videos, customers stand by waiting for employees to restock the bags. Once the product is set out, the swarm begins, as people grab any of the bags in sight. Elinor Kim told the New York Times she purchased seven of the bags, adding, I wasnt really sure what I was going to use it for, but I felt like with everyone grabbing, it made me want to get it, too. In @angela.cisneros post, a small carton with the mini-totes stood at the front of the store, filled the brim, when customers started walking in en masse, surrounding the stand as most people grab several bags. Caroline Hernandez posted a video from a store in Chino Hills, California, arriving before the store's 8 a.m. opening on March 2. After waiting in the line that had formed in front of the doors, Hernandez entered the store with a mass of people, collectively beelining for the totes. This was my first time ever experiencing people running and circling an item, Hernandez says. In Nashville, Sosa was able to purchase two bags in green and blue on March 2. No one was going crazy about it, she says. Sosa and Wang credit the virality to two factors: a preexisting popularity of tote bags and the price. From the evergreen New Yorker tote bag to Baggu, tote bags have become staple wardrobe pieces in recent years, and high fashion brands like Marc Jacobs and Dior are joining in. Tote bags have been very trendy and popular for the younger generation for like the past couple of years, so its just always so fun when you see brands coming out with their own tote bag or like your favorite influencer, Sosa says. But ... theyre very expensive. Influencer Emily Mariko faced backlash for selling an oversized farmers market tote $120, though it sold out almost immediately. Some social media users say stores have now limited the number of Trader Joes mini-tote bags customers can purchase at checkout. The mini-totes have already hit resale sites. On eBay, a set of the bags in all four colors a less than $20 value altogether was listed for $999.99. Another listing offers only the red mini-tote for $280. Our customers, in our stores, are our focus; we do not endorse the re-sale of any of our products, anywhere. We do have more Trader Joes Mini Canvas Tote Bags coming. Customers can expect to see them in our stores in late summer, the Trader Joes spokesperson says. Wang says after she posted her video about buying four of the totes, several strangers sent her DMs asking if she could ship a bag to them. Instead of keeping all four colors, Wang and her friends plan to do a draw and each keep one for themselves. As fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, a show centered around benders who can control an element, each persons blind pick out of the bunch will serve as a way to sort the group. Its been like a joke among my friends, like, Oh, are you a Waterbender? Are you an Earthbender? she says. Ive seen people do it with Harry Potter, too. The mad dash to snag another a viral product took over social media earlier this year. Are trader Joe bags supposed to be the new Stanley cup craze? Im confused, one X user posted March 1. The pink Stanley Quencher, sold exclusively at Target, caused long lines outside and some fights inside of stores, leaving many onlookers asking, Why? This article was originally published on TODAY.com A brand-new system to block traffic for big events in Daytons Oregon District has been installed. As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, traffic bollards are essentially traffic safety barriers. In the Oregon District, this new safety feature is removable and can be locked in place. >> Car crashes through Captain Ds in Kettering The underground sleeves are already installed and covered when they arent in use. When the barriers are needed, city workers will come in and drop the metal bollard in and lock it in place. This will create a solid, safe barrier to stop vehicles, but allow people to walk through and enjoy any event. Its going to look a lot better down here, not look like a construction zone, Derailed Hair Salon owner Ali Matta said. Mattas business is in the Oregon District, and shes looking forward to a more efficient way to block the streets. Derailed Salon client Brandie Bogumill is excited about this new addition. I think its a great idea, definitely be much safer for people coming down here, Bogumill said. Bogumill enjoys visiting the Oregon District for weekend events, so this extra precaution makes her feel safer. >> Third person facing arson charges in Miami County house fire Coming down here, knowing you dont have to look both ways, not going to get hit by a car, definitely it will be much better, Bogumill said. Dayton Police Major Christopher Malson said when it comes to blocking traffic, the installation of bollards is the best solution they have had. It makes it a lot safer for the pedestrians, if someone accidentally or purposefully tries to drive in, theyll be stopped, Malson said. Before the bollards, the city used signs, barricades, and heavy equipment like dump trucks to close roads and keep pedestrians safe. Makes it a lot easier, its less manpower, dont have to move as much equipment around, Malson said. Many businesses in the Oregon District think this change is for the better. And maybe a little more inviting for everyone to make their way in, is what were hoping, Matta said. The permanent bollard is painted black, but the removable pieces will be painted yellow, so drivers wont be able to miss them. SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's antitrust agency will consider imposing sanctions on Meta Platforms for allegedly failing to protect some users of online marketplaces operated by Facebook and Instagram against fraudulent transactions, news reports said on Friday. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) had investigated possible violations of the country's e-commerce law and had sent an examination report to Meta late last year, Yonhap news and the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources. The report is a step before the agency's commissioners meet to consider the findings and formally decide on measures. The agency alleged Meta has failed to implement adequate measures to protect and provide a remedy to users of Facebook and Instagram marketplaces when disputes arose over sales transactions, as required for e-commerce outlets, Yonhap said. The FTC declined to confirm the report citing its policy of not commenting on an ongoing investigation. Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While Facebook and Instagram are social media platforms and are not registered as e-commerce businesses, the marketplaces they operate effectively require them to comply with the law, Yonhap said. The news reports came after a South Korean consumer protection watchdog said it was reviewing the practices of major overseas shopping platforms, including Alibaba's AliExpress and Temu. (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Ed Davies) Lara Trump, the former president's daughter-in-law, was elected co-chair of the Republican National Committee on Friday Donald Trump has cemented his take-over of the Republican Party with the ascent of two loyalists to the top leadership positions in its national organisation. The former president earlier endorsed Michael Whatley and Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, for chair and co-chair of the Republican National Committee. Their elections were formalised on Friday at the RNC's spring training gathering in Houston, Texas. Mr Trump, 77, is slated to soon become the party's presidential nominee again. Ahead of what will be his third consecutive election to the Republican nomination, allies and supporters had piled pressure on him to remove long-time RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. Ms McDaniel was chosen by Mr Trump in 2017 and, in January 2023, won election to a record fourth term that was due to last until 2025, but offered in February to step aside. She has long faced complaints that the RNC was not aggressive enough in backing up the ex-president's debunked claims that the 2020 election was rigged against him. Mr Trump, whose final weeks in the White House were pre-occupied by a frantic and sprawling effort to "stop the steal", has reportedly said that not enough resources were poured into finding lawyers, filing lawsuits, training poll-watchers and investing in election-integrity efforts. The latter portion of Ms McDaniel's tenure has also overseen an anaemic period of fundraising on behalf of Republicans, with the party coffers last year taking their worst beating in a decade and entering 2024 with about half as much cash on hand as Democrats. Criticism of Ronna McDaniel has been ramping up for months That has been to the detriment of the former president, whose legal bills have been soaring for months as he faces 91 felony charges across four upcoming criminal trials, the first of which begins later this month. Mr Trump is also currently on the hook for roughly half a billion dollars as a result of civil trial rulings against him in his home state of New York over sexual assault, defamation and business fraud. On Friday, he posted a nearly $92m (72m) bond in the defamation case he lost to writer E Jean Carroll. In recent months, Mr Trump has also lashed out at the RNC for hosting a series of debates ahead of the primary election. Though he easily qualified to attend every event, the Republican frontrunner declined to participate each time, arguing that he was so far ahead in the polls that he did not need to face challengers who were far behind him. The five RNC-sanctioned debates provided a platform to rivals like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley to criticise Mr Trump, largely unrebutted, between August and January. Though their efforts did not significantly narrow Mr Trump's polling advantage, they helped extend the primary season and force him to keep spending campaign cash. In his new hand-picked recruits, Mr Trump has found both an ally committed to backing his election fraud claims and a family member apparently devoted to supporting him with party funds. "President Trump deserves to have the team that he wants in place at the RNC," Ms McDaniel said in emotional farewell remarks. Her second-in-command, RNC co-chair Drew McKissick, also stepped aside on Friday. Michael Whatley has impressed Donald Trump with actions to protect election integrity in his home state Mr Whatley, who takes over Ms McDaniel's role, is the current chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and a former party general counsel. He is said to have boasted to Mr Trump about his actions to protect election integrity in his state. Mrs Trump, the wife of Eric Trump, is expected to play a major role in fundraising and media appearances as the new co-chair. She has previously said the RNC must "spend every single penny" to re-elect Mr Trump, including by supporting his legal costs. In their acceptance speeches, they promised to work "hand in glove" with the presumptive nominee, with Mrs Trump flashing a $100,000 cheque she had just been donated to the committee. "If a dollar that we have is not directed towards winning this November, that dollar will not be spent," Mr Whatley said. The former president is also planning to install two of his senior campaign advisers, Chris LaCivita and James Blair, to senior positions at the RNC. Remaking the party in his image comes as Mr Trump needs the full weight of its infrastructure behind him in a general election rematch with President Joe Biden that is forecast to become the most expensive election in US history. Polls show the two men locked in a statistical dead heat eight months out, but the Democrat has been on a record fundraising blitz since the start of the year and has roughly twice the cash reserves of his opponent. FILE - E. Jean Carroll leaves Federal court after a jury awarded her $83.3 million in a case against former President Donald Trump, Jan. 26, 2024, in New York. Former President Donald Trump has secured a bond sufficient to support an $83.3 million jury award granted to Carroll during a January defamation trial stemming from rape claims she made against Trump, his lawyer said Friday, March 8, 2024, as she notified the federal judge who oversaw the trial that an appeal was underway. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File) NEW YORK (AP) Donald Trump has secured a $91.6 million bond sufficient to cover the money he owes to writer E. Jean Carroll in a defamation lawsuit while he appeals the jury's verdict, the former presidents lawyer told a court on Friday. Attorney Alina Habba filed papers with the New York judge to show that Trump had secured the bond from the Federal Insurance Co., a unit of the insurance giant Chubb. The bond would cover the $83.3 million judgement in the lawsuit, plus interest. Habba simultaneously filed a notice showing Trump, the likely 2024 Republican presidential nominee, is appealing the verdict. The posting of the bond was a necessary step to delay payment of the award until the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals can rule on Trump's legal challenge. The filings came a day after Judge Lewis A. Kaplan refused to delay a Monday deadline for posting a bond to ensure that Carroll, 80, can collect the judgement if it remains intact following appeals. Trump faces financial pressure to set aside money to cover both the judgment in the Carroll case and an even bigger one in a lawsuit in which he was found liable for lying about his wealth in financial statements given to banks. A New York judge recently refused to halt collection of a $454 million civil fraud penalty while Trump appeals. He now has until March 25 to either pay up or buy a bond covering the full amount. In the meantime, interest on the judgment continues to mount, adding roughly $112,000 each day. Trumps lawyers have asked for that judgment to be stayed on appeal, warning he might need to sell some properties to cover the penalty. A civil jury in New York last May found that Trump had sexually abused Carroll in 1996 in the dressing room of a luxury department store in Manhattan. Trump, 77, vehemently denies the claims, saying that he didnt know Carroll at the time and that the encounter at a Bergdorf Goodman store never took place. That jury awarded Carroll $5 million to compensate her for both the alleged sexual assault and for damage to her reputation when Trump said publicly that she made up the attack to help sell a memoir. A second trial was held in January to decide how much more Trump might owe Carroll for derogatory comments he made about her in 2019 while he was president. Kaplan instructed the jury that it must accept the earlier jury's findings that the sexual abuse had happened. Trump did not attend the May trial. He testified briefly and regularly sat with defense lawyers at the January trial, held in Manhattan, though the judge threatened to banish him from the courtroom for muttering disparaging comments about the case that were potentially loud enough for jurors to hear. Tanishq Chicago store launch event (Photo: Business Wire) (Photo: Business Wire) CHICAGO, March 08, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tanishq, a revered jewelry brand under the Tata Group, has inaugurated its Chicago store, marking a significant milestone in its international expansion strategy. Having previously established a presence in New Jersey and Texas, the brand's Chicago store, situated at 4300 E New York Street, Aurora, Illinois 60504, opposite Fox Valley Mall, was formally launched on the 29th of February 2024. The launch event was given credence with the presence of distinguished figures including The Consul General of India, Chicago, Somnath Ghosh; Mayor of Aurora, IL, Richard C. Irvin; Kuruvilla Markose, CEO, Titan International Business; and Michael McCabe, Resident Director, North America, Tata Sons, Chicago. Expressing enthusiasm about the brands North American expansion, Mr. Kuruvilla Markose, CEO of Titan International Business, said, "Having already captured the imagination of the discerning consumer in New Jersey and Texas, Tanishq is excited to be entering another iconic American city with a diverse customer base who can now enjoy our unrivalled offering right at their doorstep. Our stunning Chicago store plays a pivotal role in Tanishq's global expansion, aiming to cater not only to the Indian diaspora but also to the broader American and international communities residing in the city, with an unrivalled offering of over 2,000 unique designs." Emphasizing Tanishq's reputation for superior craftsmanship and product quality, he added, "Tanishq, known for blending elegance with tradition, operates on the principles of authenticity, innovation, and trust. As a Tata brand, it also upholds values of giving back by preserving and promoting the timeless craftsmanship of Indian jewelry making, and this is beautifully celebrated in-store." The Chicago store will also showcase a specialized and exclusive workwear collection tailored for the diverse needs of women, straddling professional and casual occasions. Additionally, unique collections such as Tales of Mystique and Rhythms of Rain showcase international and contemporary jewelry inspired by the cultural richness of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and Kerala. Story continues Mr. Amrit Pal Singh, Business Head for Jewelry North America, Tanishq International Business, spoke about the brand's commitment to understanding and meeting the varied preferences of the diverse American audience. He highlighted Tanishq's superior quality, ethical sourcing, and the personalized retail experience that remains a hallmark of the brand. Customers can visit the physical store at 4300 E New York Street but can also explore and purchase select products through the e-commerce-enabled website, https://www.tanishq.com/. Tanishq, with over 420 stores in India and international expansion in Dubai, the U.A.E., Qatar, Singapore, and the USA, continues its journey as a renowned jewelry brand, blending traditional charm with contemporary appeal. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307547199/en/ Contacts Shweta Suratkar - Shweta@mikadointl.com BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - FEBRUARY 23: Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban (R) and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (L) hold a press conference following their meeting in February 23, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. The meeting comes as Hungary's ruling party has indicated it's prepared to ratify Sweden's accession to NATO. After Turkey dropped its objection, Hungary remained the only NATO member to oppose Sweden's bid, which was launched in the wake of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Janos Kummer/Getty Images) (Getty Images) Its basically an aphorism at this point that American voters almost never make a decision about their choice for president based on foreign policy. The only exception comes when Americans are in harms way, as Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George W Bush and Barack Obama can all attest. At the same time, presidential candidates foreign policy reveals plenty about how what they value at home. Harry Trumans desegregation of the US military reflected Democrats larger shift away from being the party of Southern racists to becoming the party of civil rights. Reagans ardent opposition to communism abroad reflected his desire to slash government spending at home. That makes President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trumps choices of foreign heads of state to meet this week particularly interesting. They reflect much about what values they want to promote at home. During his State of the Union Address to Congress on Thursday, Biden invited Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, in order to celebrate the Scandinavian nations acceptance into NATO. Bidens decision to welcome the head of state for a country that has historically remained neutral in numerous world conflicts reflected his efforts to actively promote democracy at home and abroad. Indeed, during his address, Biden tied the efforts to defend democracy abroad with his efforts to defeat the authoritarian creep of Trumpism at home. He pointedly mentioned how Trump had killed legislation that would have provided aid to Ukraine and how his predecessor had incited a riot to overturn the 2020 election results. History is watching just like history watched three years ago on January 6 when insurrectionists stormed this very Capitol and placed a dagger to the throat of American democracy, Biden said. Biden has good reason to tie the two together, given Trumps fond words for Putin and the fact that Russia intervened in 2016 to help Trump become president. Most notably, in a 2018 press conference with Putin in Helsinki, Trump said, President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be. Conversely, Trumps decisions about which foreign leaders visit him indicate what kind of president he will be. In recent months, he has gone from spewing anti-immigrant rhetoric to spouting outright white nationalist talking points about migrants bringing disease and poisoning the blood of the United States. He has also promised to carry out the largest deportation in the history of our country. These words have not appeared to repel Republican voters. Trump reportedly met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach this week. That shouldnt be surprising. Trump has routinely praised the Hungarian far-right leader and Orban has become a darling of many in the conservative movement for his hard-right policies on everything from immigration to his opposition to LGBTQ+ rights. The Conservative Political Action Conference even recently hosted an event in Hungary. Orban has also said about Hungary that We do not want to become a mixed race. Not surprisingly, Orban also has severely curtailed democracy, rewriting the nations constitution and school textbooks. He has implemented laws that specifically benefit his Fidesz Party. According to Freedom House, a nonprofit that monitors democracies across the globe, Hungarys status as a democracy has severely diminished since Orban took power. Orban is also a critic of supporting Ukraine. Last year, he told Tucker Carlson, a hero of extreme forces within the GOP, that a Trump presidency would be the only way out of Russias war with Ukraine and the idea that Kyivs military could beat Russia was a lie. This is not unfamiliar rhetoric. Many Republicans such as Senator JD Vance of Ohio and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin have made similar comments. Carlson and others have also praised Hungarys illiberal democracy model that values conservative Christian hegemony over liberal democratic values. All of this gives an idea of the type of government Trump would provide were he allowed to return to office. Hes previously said he would only be a dictator on his first day in office and for the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and censors and imposters who have commandeered our government, it will be their judgment day. Who Biden and Trump choose to acquaint themselves with offers a glaring relief about what they value. While most voters may not understand the depth of these choices, they reveal as much about their domestic policy proposals as their foreign policy ones. The judge and district attorney involved in former President Trumps Georgia election racketeering criminal case this week drew challengers in their reelection contests. Though both Judge Scott McAfee and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) remain heavy favorites, their challengers raise the possibility that either could be taken out of office before Trump heads to trial in the historic case. Both Fulton County officials face challenges from the left, and Willis also faces a Republican challenger. It comes at a precarious point in the prosecution, as McAfee weighs whether to disqualify Willis and her office from Trumps case over her past romance with Nathan Wade, a top prosecutor overseeing it. A ruling from McAfee is expected in the coming days, well before his nonpartisan election scheduled for May 21. Williss Democratic primary is also scheduled for that day, though she must subsequently face voters in Novembers general election. Candidates could qualify for Georgias May primary this week, and the deadline was Friday at noon McAfee, a former Fulton County and federal prosecutor, was appointed to the bench by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) in 2022. Hes seeking a four-year term, running on issues like clearing the states COVID-19 case backlog, holding violent offenders accountable and maintaining transparency. On his campaign website, the judge pointed to his YouTube channel where the proceedings he oversees, including Trumps, have been livestreamed as proof of his effort to be fully transparent with all public matters that come before him. He has not explicitly mentioned Trumps case. McAfee faces two challengers so far. The May 21 election is officially nonpartisan, and a runoff will be held June 18 if necessary. The first challenger is Robert Patillo, an attorney and civil rights activist who is executive director of the Rainbow PUSH Coalitions Peachtree Street Project. Established in 1999, the project is charged with researching equal opportunity in the American Southeast and is a subsidiary of the Rev. Jesse Jacksons Citizenship Education Fund. Unlike McAfee, who has ties to the conservative Federalist Society and has earned high praise from defense attorneys for being even-handed in Trumps case, Patillo is an outspoken critic of the former president online. His social media is flooded with memes poking fun at Trumps legal woes, mental acuity and campaign including Trumps gilded sneaker line. Yall these judgements got #Trump so broke hes selling Chinese bootleg Uptowns, Patillo wrote in one Facebook post, sharing an image describing the sneakers as Air Treasons. Though Trump has attacked many of the judges involved in his legal woes, he has not shown the same ill-will toward McAfee. Steve Sadow, Trumps lead Georgia attorney, has publicly expressed confidence in the judge as Patillos challenge surfaced. In our democracy, anyone can choose to run for public office. But does anyone following the Willis-Wade Fulton County fiasco really believe it is a coincidence that this particular gentleman has (been) chosen to run against Judge McAfee? I dont, Sadow wrote on LinkedIn. And, if choosing this particular judicial candidate is intended by the pro-Willis faction to put political pressure on the court to rule in her favor, I truly believe they completely underestimate the character of Judge McAfee, he continued. In a later post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sadow wrote, Mr. Patillo, President Trumps Fulton County defense team is not afraid of you. We are only sorry your obvious pro-Willis bias and motive for running makes a mockery of your candidacy. Tiffani Johnson, a staff attorney for another judge in McAfees court, is also challenging McAfee this spring. Johnson who previously served as a Fulton County solicitor general, according to her campaign website describes herself as a champion for fairness, equity and accountability in the judicial system. Willis, meanwhile, is set to face challengers in the primary and general election. In November, Williss Republican challenger is Courtney Kramer, a self-described MAGA attorney who worked in Trumps White House counsels office and later for his 2020 presidential campaign on election integrity matters, according to her LinkedIn. Kramers LinkedIn shows she also worked for Smith & Liss LLC the law firm at which Ray S. Smith III, a co-defendant of Trump in the 2020 election interference case, is a partner. Kramer has vocally opposed Willis on social media, sharing posts that describe the district attorney as a disgrace to the legal community and urging she be held criminally liable for failing to disclose vacations paid for by Wade, the special prosecutor with whom Willis had a relationship. But before going on to the general election, Willis first faces a challenge from her own party: Christian Wise Smith, a former prosecutor and father of four who founded a nonprofit aimed at ending police brutality. In 2020, Smith unsuccessfully ran against Willis in a three-way primary, landing in last place with just less than 23 percent of the vote. Willis that year ousted six-term incumbent Paul Howard, Williss longtime mentor who was implicated in multiple scandals. After losing to Willis, Smith published a childrens book titled WISEUP Adventure Series: Chris and Key Go Vote! that he said was inspired by his run for Fulton County district attorney and people who believed their vote didnt matter. Smith wrote on his website that he was the first in his family to graduate from college after a police officer took interest in helping him break free of the low expectations inherent in his upbringing. Smith later unsuccessfully ran for Georgia attorney general, earning a little more than 22 percent of the vote in the races 2022 Democratic primary. The weeks-long detour in the Trump case into Williss personal relationship with Wade, the special prosecutor, could make her more vulnerable to a challenge to her role. Defense attorneys contend Willis hired her romantic partner to prosecute Trump and has since benefitted from his large salary in the form of lavish vacations. Willis and Wade have maintained that they began dating in early 2022 after Wade was hired to the team. McAfee previously said that the allegations against Willis and Wade could result in their disqualification if evidence shows an actual conflict of interest or the appearance of one. This story was updated at 3:15 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Cathie Wood. David Swanson/Reuters Cathie Wood's outlook for Nvidia is slower growth, weaker demand, and fiercer competition. The Ark Invest CEO compared the chipmaker's stock surge to Cisco's during the dot-com bubble. Wood has cut her exposure to Nvidia as she believes the market's hopes may be overblown. Cathie Wood has sounded the alarm on Nvidia, warning its spectacular growth is likely to slow, and comparing its stock surge to Cisco during the dot-com bubble. The tech evangelist and Ark Invest CEO made the striking comments in a letter to her shareholders on Thursday. She drew a parallel between Cisco riding high on demand for network hardware during the internet boom in the early 1990s, and Nvidia selling record amounts of graphics chips to companies developing artificial intelligence today. It's a "similar technology moment in time," Wood said. She recalled that Cisco stock soared by 31 times in the 3.5 years to March 1994, then tanked 51% over the next four months as recession fears and the release of rival offerings caused customers to cut back on orders. The stock rebounded to rise 71-fold by the peak of the internet bubble in March 2000, but then crashed about 90% over the next few years and hasn't come close to its dot-com highs since. "Today, Nvidia is that company," Wood said. She highlighted that the microchip stock has jumped 117-fold in the nine years since February 2015, and 23 times since October 2018, when the crypto winter hammered chip sales and sent Nvidia stock down 56% in three months. Blistering growth Wood's point seemed to be that just as Cisco's routers and switches enabled the internet revolution, Nvidia has emerged as the AI era's defining company. And when a company plays such a key role in a new tech paradigm, it can see dramatic swings in its stock price. Indeed, Nvidia has grown at a blistering pace in recent quarters as companies like Tesla and Oracle have scrambled to buy its chips. But the mad rush could mean its customers end up with double or triple the amount they need, Wood said. Story continues She also noted that Nvidia is guiding toward a growth slowdown this quarter, and the wait time to secure its chips has shrunk from up to 11 months to as little as three months, signaling supply is catching up with demand. "Without an explosion in software revenue to justify the overbuilding of GPU capacity, we would not be surprised to see a pause in spending," Wood said. Nvidia's customers might also spend less on chips as they begin working through and reducing their inventories, she continued. "Longer term, unlike the history with Cisco, competition could intensify, not only because AMD is finding success but also because Nvidia's customers cloud service providers and companies like Tesla are designing their own AI chips," she added. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images Wood clearly sees the shine coming off Nvidia in the face of slowing growth, slimmer spending, and stiffer competition. But she made sure to caveat that the major AI advances in recent years have shown "anything is possible." The fund manager has grown increasingly wary of Nvidia in recent months. She disclosed in February she was cutting Ark's exposure to the stock as "expectations could be getting ahead of themselves." Indeed, Nvidia stock has soared almost 90% this year, boosting the company's market capitalization to more than $2 trillion. It's now more valuable than Amazon or Alphabet, and only 13% behind Apple after being 1/47th as valuable as the iPhone maker a decade ago. Ark's website shows it holds just $64 million of Nvidia across its various funds, compared to $1.3 billion of Coinbase and $788 million of Tesla, its two largest holdings. Nvidia now ranks as its 41st biggest holding out of nearly 200. Read the original article on Business Insider By David Shepardson and Nandita Bose WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden said on Friday he would sign legislation that gives China's ByteDance about six months to divest the popular TikTok short video app as his rival Donald Trump raised concerns about a ban of the service used by 170 million Americans. The U.S. House of Representatives plans to vote on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week on the TikTok crackdown bill after a committee on Thursday unanimously approved the measure. The House will vote on the proposal under rules requiring two-thirds of members to vote "yes" to win approval. "If they pass it, I'll sign it," Biden, a Democrat, told reporters. The bill faces an uncertain outcome in the Senate, where some lawmakers say they want changes to the legislation. Republican Trump, who is seeking a return to the White House in the November election, expressed objections to banning TikTok, saying on social media: "If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook ... will double their business," and added he does not want Facebook "doing better." Trump previously criticized Facebook parent Meta Platforms for revoking his access to Facebook and Instagram after removing two of his posts during the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. His accounts were reinstated in February 2023. The Trump campaign did not immediately comment on whether he has a position on the legislation. Meta Platforms declined to comment. The Justice Department told the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that a divestiture bill, rather than a bill banning TikTok, would put the government in a stronger legal position, according to a document seen by Reuters. Mike Pence, who served as vice president under Trump, endorsed the proposed House legislation on TikTok. "China is poisoning the minds of American children. Enough is enough," he wrote on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. The bill would give ByteDance 165 days to divest TikTok. If it failed to do so, app stores operated by Apple, Alphabet's Google and others could not legally offer TikTok or provide Web hosting services to ByteDance-controlled applications. In 2020, Trump sought to ban TikTok and Chinese-owned WeChat but was blocked by the courts. Republican Senator Rand Paul, who previously blocked attempts to fast-track a TikTok ban, responded to Trump's statement that said the former president helped address concerns about U.S. users of TikTok through a $1.5 billion company project. "So why is the House GOP siding with Biden and still trying to ban Tik Tok?" Paul wrote on X, using an acronym for Republicans. "If Congress bans TikTok, they will be acting just like the Chinese communists who have also banned TikTok ... Why not just defend the first amendment?" Trump said in an August 2020 executive order that TikTok data collection "threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans personal and proprietary information potentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage." TikTok, which says it has not and would not share U.S. user data with the Chinese government, argues the House bill amounts to a ban. It is unclear if China would approve any sale or if TikTok it could be divested in six months. "This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States," the company said after the House Energy and Commerce Committee vote. "The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression." The app is popular and getting legislation approved by both the House and Senate in an election year may be difficult. Last month, Biden's re-election campaign joined TikTok. Trump's campaign has not joined TikTok. (Reporting by David Shepardson and Nandita Bose in WashingtonEditing by Nick Zieminski and Matthew Lewis) Donald Trump, an adjudicated rapist who attempted a coup to remain in power after losing reelection, on Friday retook control of the Republican National Committee, potentially opening up vast new streams of money he can use to pay his mounting legal bills. At a meeting in Houston, the 168-member group voted to install the former presidents handpicked choice, Michael Whatley, as chair, and his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as vice chair. Trump forced out Ronna McDaniel from the top job after she refused to cancel debates for the 2024 presidential primaries and otherwise did not accede to his demands. McDaniel, who Trump chose for the position after his surprise election win in 2016, has been blamed by Trump and many of his followers for poor election results even though polls show that it has been Trumps leadership of the party that led to Democratic wins in 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022. President Trump deserves to have the team he wants in place at the RNC, McDaniel said in a 25-minute farewell speech. Whatley, who had been the North Carolina state chair, repeated Trumps lies after the 2020 election, claiming that Joe Biden won because of massive fraud. At some point after Jan. 6, 2021, when a Trump-incited mob assaulted the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to install Trump for a second term, Whatley apparently deleted a social media post he wrote that day calling the violence unjustified and unacceptable. Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump, waves to the crowd before speaking at the North Carolina Republican Convention, June 5, 2021, in Greenville, North Carolina. Chris Seward via Associated Press In his acceptance speech Friday, Whatley said that protecting the vote that is, guarding against fraud would be just as important to the RNCs mission in 2024 as turning out the vote. If our voters dont have confidence that our elections are safe and secure, nothing else matters, he said. Trumps campaign and the party can now start raising money jointly, allowing a single donor to contribute upward of $1 million, with the overwhelming majority all but $6,600 going to the party. That capability has led to some Republicans, most notably Trumps last rival to drop out of the race, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, to warn that party money would go to pay the various lawyers defending Trump in his civil lawsuits and four criminal indictments. Top Trump campaign aide Chris LaCivita, who is now taking day-to-day control of the RNCs operations, did not respond to HuffPosts queries on the matter. He has said in media interviews, including most recently with The Associated Press, that the RNC would not pay for Trumps legal problems. The fact of the matter is not a penny of the RNCs money or, for that matter, the campaigns money has gone or will go to pay legal fees, LaCivita said. That assertion, though, is false. In fact, in 2023 alone, Trump spent $54.2 million on legal fees through his various political committees all of it raised with the stated purpose of helping Trump and other Republicans win elections, with zero disclaimer that some of the money could be used for his legal fees. And between summer 2021 and autumn 2022, the RNC in fact did spend $1.6 million to pay some of Trumps legal bills, and only stopped when he officially announced his candidacy for the 2024 nomination. Lara Trump herself has said that Republican voters would approve of the party paying for Trumps legal woes, as did GOP senators who claim that all of his problems including the criminal prosecutions based on his 2021 coup attempt are politically motivated. A resolution floated by Henry Barbour, an RNC member from Mississippi, to disapprove of paying for legal bills failed to win enough sponsors to get a floor vote. Oscar Brock, who like Barbour is one of the few RNC members openly critical of Trump, said that even if the RNC does not pay legal bills by itself, it could take over many or most of the Trump campaigns expenses. More colloquially, use the RNC as a piggy bank, Brock said. That, in turn, would let Trumps Save America Joint Fundraising Committee alter its allocation formula so that a larger percentage goes to his leadership PAC and less to his campaign. A leadership PAC is allowed to spend money on non-campaign expenses, while a campaign committee cannot. In 2022, Trump without public fanfare increased the share going to Save America tenfold as legal bills piled up, from 1% to 10%. Trump campaign aides did not respond to HuffPosts queries about whether the formula was going to be changed again to increase the share going to Save America. Related... NEW YORK With days to go before the deadline, Donald Trumps lawyers said Friday that he had secured the $83.3 million he owes writer E. Jean Carroll, ensuring she will be paid if he loses his appeal. In Manhattan Federal Court filings, Alina Habba informed Judge Lewis Kaplan that Trump had secured a bond for $91.6 million from Federal Insurance Co. and also filed a notice of appeal of the jurys January findings that Trump defamed Carroll, 80, when he was president when he denied her rape allegations. The presumptive Republican nominee for president had until March 11 to come up with the cash, which Carroll wont see until Trump has exhausted his appeals. Kaplan gave Carrolls lawyers until 11 a.m. Monday to oppose or consent to Trumps bond application before he decides whether to approve it. If they have objections, the judge said he would hear arguments that afternoon. Carrolls lawyer, Robbie Kaplan, who is not related to the judge, declined to comment. Habba couldnt be reached. Trump notified the court hed meet the deadline to secure the funding after Kaplan denied his request Thursday to temporarily push back the due date until three days after hed ruled on outstanding post-trial motions, including Trumps request for a new trial. Kaplan took no pity on Trumps request for a delay, writing that his current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions. The entity through which Trump secured the bond is a member of the Chubb Group, a property and casualty insurance giant whose CEO, Evan Greenberg, he tapped to serve on his presidential trade policy advisory committee in 2018. The damages a jury awarded Carroll in January added to the $5 million Trump already owed her after another jury last May found he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s and defamed her as a complete con job and other pejoratives on Truth Social in 2022. Shortly after that verdict, Judge Kaplan found Trump further liable for defaming Carroll during similar comments when he was president, leaving the jury impaneled in the other of Carrolls two Trump lawsuits to decide only how much more he owed. Trump, 77, didnt attend the first trial, but he turned up for several days in the damages case, earning a scorning from Judge Kaplan when he defamed Carroll in front of the jury while she was testifying. Trump spent just a few minutes under oath at the trial, prohibited from disputing the settled facts that hed sexually assaulted and defamed her. The $88.3 million Trump owes the former Elle columnist represents a fraction of his debt to be paid this month. He has until around March 25 to shell out nearly half a billion dollars in his civil fraud case brought by state Attorney General Tish James. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron on Feb. 16 found the GOP front runner and his former top Trump Organization execs liable for multiple fraud claims for egregiously misrepresenting his net worth while applying for loans and in the course of other lucrative business deals. In addition to imposing hundreds of millions of dollars in fines proliferating with interest, Engoron issued yearslong and permanent bans against Trump and his crew, prohibiting them from doing business in New York. By the time the ruling came down, Trumps majority share of the fines $355 million had climbed to $454 million with interest and is expanding by $112,000 daily. His lawyers failed to convince an appeals court to let him secure that judgment with a fraction of the total as he appeals. AG James has said she wont hesitate to seize Trump-owned assets if he doesnt pay up. ------- Former President Donald Trump has secured a $91,630,000 bond for the judgment in his defamation case brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll. The former president obtained an appeals bond from the Virginia-based Federal Insurance Company totaling $91,630,000 to cover the $83 million judgment in the case plus interest, according to a court filing Friday morning. Trump on Friday also filed a notice of appeal of the judgment to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Either paying the judgment or posting a bond for the judgment's full amount was required for him to move ahead with the appeal. MORE: Judge won't let Trump delay E. Jean Carroll penalties, leaving him with days to cover $83M judgment "President Trump respectfully requests that this Court recognize the supersedeas bond obtained by President Trump in the sum of $91,630,000.00 and approve it as adequate and sufficient to stay the enforcement of the Judgment, to the extent that the Judgment awards damages, pending the ultimate disposition of President Trump's appeal," Trump attorney Alina Habba said in Friday's filing. In a statement to ABC News, Habba said they are confident that their appeal will result in the judgment being overturned. "Due to the numerous prejudicial errors made at the lower level, we are highly confident that the Second Circuit will overturn this egregious judgment," Habba said. The conditions of the bond did not specify what assets Trump used to secure the bond. PHOTO: In this June 9, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump is shown at the White House in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, FILE) By posting a bond, Trump guaranteed that Carroll can collect the judgment if the former president exhausts his appeal, former federal prosecutor Josh Naftalis told ABC News. The appeal process could take more than a year, Naftalis said. Trump is still appealing the $5 million judgment a jury awarded to Carroll last May after determining the former president had sexually abused her. The former president in January was ordered to pay $83.3 million in damages to Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, for defaming her in 2019 when he denied her allegation that he sexually abused her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. Trump, who said Carroll was "totally lying" and that she was "not my type," has denied all wrongdoing. On Thursday, the judge overseeing the case denied Trump's request for a temporary delay of the penalties. "Mr. Trump's current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions," Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote in his order Thursday. "He has had since January 26 to organize his finances with the knowledge that he might need to bond this judgment, yet he waited until 25 days after the jury verdict ... to file his prior motion for an unsecured or partially secured stay pending resolution of post-trial motions." Kaplan said that Trump failed to show how the judgment constitutes an "irreparable injury" or demonstrate the expenses he faces by posting a bond in the case. "The expense of ongoing litigation in the absence of a stay does not constitute 'irreparable injury' in the relevant sense of that term," Kaplan wrote. The judge on Friday took note of Trumps bond but declined to immediately stay enforcement of the judgment pending appeal, until he hears from Carroll. If she opposes the arrangements, the judge said he will hear oral arguments on Monday. Trump secures $91 million bond for judgment in E. Jean Carroll defamation case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com NEW YORK Donald Trumps Hail Mary pass seeking more time to secure $83.3 million owed to E. Jean Carroll failed Thursday, giving the former president less than four days to come up with the colossal judgment weeks out from a deadline to find half a billion dollars more in his historic fraud case. In a one-page decision, Manhattan Federal Court Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected the former presidents request to halt collection of the damages a jury awarded Carroll in January as compensation for his defaming her while in office. Mr. Trumps current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions. He has had since January 26 to organize his finances with the knowledge that he might need to bond this judgment, yet he waited until 25 days after the jury verdict, Judge Kaplan wrote. Nor has Mr. Trump made any showing of what expenses he might incur if required to post a bond or other security, on what terms (if any) he could obtain a conventional bond, or post cash or other assets to secure payment of the judgment, or any other circumstances relevant to the situation. Trump lawyer Alina Habba on Wednesday asked Kaplan to temporarily delay the deadline until three business days after he rules on Trumps post-trial motions to give him time to finalize bond arrangements, saying requiring him to come up with the total threatens to impose irreparable injury. Habba did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether and how Trump was prepared to pay on time. Once secured, the money Trump owes Carroll will remain in an account under the courts purview until hes exhausted his appeals. The damages come on top of $5 million a different jury awarded the former Elle columnist last year in the other of her two lawsuits against Trump after finding he sexually assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman changing room in 1996 and defamed her on Truth Social after his presidency. The debt to Carroll pales in comparison to the more than $454 million Trump owes in a judgment secured by the New York attorney general, which he has to secure by March 25. The presumed Republican presidential nominee has similarly tried to delay or reduce the growing sum Judge Arthur Engoron ordered him pay in a Feb. 16 ruling finding him and his top Trump Organization executives liable for rampant fraud and barring them from doing business in New York for three years. Story continues The mammoth judgment in the fraud case is due the same day Trumps 2016 election interference trial starts in Manhattan. Hes pleaded not guilty to 34 felonies in the case alleging he covered up reimbursement to his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen for a hush money payoff to porn star Stormy Daniels to disguise a catch and kill scheme illegally orchestrated to secure his presidential victory. The charges carry up to four years in prison, and the trial may be the only one Trump sees before the November presidential election, with his out-of-state cases stagnating amid his appeals and various sideshow developments. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments regarding Jack Smiths election subversion case on April 25 before deciding whether Trumps actions as president were above the law. _____ By Nathan Layne and Alexandra Ulmer HOUSTON, Texas (Reuters) -Donald Trump cemented his grip on the Republican National Committee on Friday after his daughter-in-law and another ally assumed top leadership posts amid a debate among members over whether the organization should help pay his legal bills. RNC members meeting in Houston voted to appoint North Carolina Republican Party head Michael Whatley and Lara Trump as chair and co-chair of the organization, which will play a key role in marshaling voters and funds for the Nov. 5 general election. The move comes after Trump swept the Super Tuesday primary contests, prompting Nikki Haley to drop out of the Republican race and all but assuring the former U.S. president will be the nominee and face off against President Joe Biden, a Democrat. "The goal on November 5th is to win, and as my father-in-law says 'bigly'," Lara Trump said, promising that "every single penny of every dollar raised" would go toward the goal of winning the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate for Republicans. The reshuffling sees Ronna McDaniel replaced atop the organization. McDaniel was a staunch Trump ally but faced pressure to step aside following sluggish fundraising and a weaker-than-expected performance for Republicans in the 2022 congressional midterm elections. A number of RNC members have called for the committee to help pay for Trump's legal expenses, which along with penalties have ballooned to hundreds of millions of dollars. In speeches on Friday, neither Whatley nor Lara Trump directly addressed the issue, which has made some donors wary of writing checks. "Donors don't want to pay some other rich guy's legal bills. They want to help win elections, because that's the RNC's job," said Henry Barbour, an RNC member from Mississippi who drafted a resolution barring using funds for that purpose. The resolution failed to gain enough support to be put to a vote on Friday. Trump's push to have the wife of his younger adult son Eric as second-in-command symbolizes his takeover of a political institution whose mission is to get Republicans elected up and down the ballot. Not since President Ronald Reagan's daughter Maureen Reagan was RNC co-chair in the 1980s has a family member of a president or nominee served in such a position of power. One of the new leadership's most pressing tasks will be money. After recording its lowest fundraising year in 2023 in a decade, the RNC had less than $9 million in the bank at the end of January, a little more than a third of the Democratic National Committee's $24 million, federal filings show. "We have to raise a lot of money," Lara Trump said, showing a check for $100,000 she said had been donated on Friday. TRUMP'S LEGAL BILLS Lara Trump created a stir last month by saying she believed Republicans have a "big interest" in paying the former president's legal bills and by not ruling out using RNC funds. Trump's legal costs are expected to mount this year as he grapples with 91 criminal counts across four cases and faces more than $500 million in damages tied to civil case judgments in New York. On Friday Trump posted a $91.6 million bond to cover the defamation verdict in favor of writer E. Jean Carroll. With Friday's vote, Trump's campaign and the RNC will start working more closely together, including on fundraising. That will be overseen in part by Chris LaCivita, a co-manager of the campaign set to double as the RNC's chief operating officer. LaCivita has repeatedly said RNC funds would not be used for legal costs, a stance he reiterated to reporters on Friday. Oscar Brock, an RNC member from Tennessee, said there wasn't enough money in the budget for Trump's legal bills and that he was personally against it. However, Brock said some of his constituents want the RNC to help Trump and that he could see it coming up for debate if fundraising exceeded expectations. Solomon Yue, an RNC committeeman from Oregon, said he had spoken with some 20 members who agree with him that the organization should pick up the bill for Trump's legal troubles. Two RNC donors who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said they planned to wait to see the impact of the leadership changes before contributing funds. Both expressed concerns about their money going to pay legal bills. (Reporting by Nathan Layne, Alexandra Ulmer and Jason Lange; editing by Ross Colvin and Jonathan Oatis) While pretty much everybody unanimously hated the Republican response to President Joe Bidens State of the Union address on Thursday, at least one conservative loved it albeit for all the wrong reasons. Republicans tapped one of their youngest lawmakers, Alabama Senator Katie Britt, to helm the response. Over the course of 17 choked-up minutes, Britt, holed up in a kitchen somewhere, staccato-skipped her way through heavy topics, including immigration, sex trafficking, the curtailing of human rights (but not womens), national security, and foreign affairs. Between the awkward pain behind her voice that most viewers read as disingenuous, and the Steven Kingesque smile glitched between forced sorrows, Bette Midler rated Britts performance a D-, and her policies an F. But amid the frenzy of criticism, Alabamas other senator, Tommy Tuberville, attempted to pass along a compliment to the 42-year-old. Still, even he couldnt see past the image of a little woman tucked away behind her big kitchen table. She was picked as a housewife, not just a senator, somebody who sees it from a different perspective, Tuberville told HuffPost, apparently seeing the diminished image as a good thing. I mean, she did what she was asked to do. I thought she did a good job. And its hard when youve never done anything like that. Tuberville said much the same during a Newsmax appearance on Friday, claiming Britt was the right choice (to be used by the party hell-bent on stripping abortion access) because shes a mom and a housewife. Tuberville essentially said the same thing during a Newsmax appearance today: "I thought she did very well. You know, shes a mom, shes a housewife... I thought Katie was a was a very good choice. She did a very good job." pic.twitter.com/xU8dfI6tY2 Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) March 8, 2024 People were, unsurprisingly, aghast at the patronizing message. Journalists should just ask Tommy Tuberville about everything; hes always going to say the dumbest fucking thing possible, posted Hysteria podcast host Erin Gloria Ryan. Picked as a housewife. Britt is a United States senator. Just like Tuberville is, wrote Punchbowl Newss Jake Sherman. Its just another of a dozen such blunders that Tuberville has made in recent memory, highlighting his complete disregard for how the other half of the human race lives. Last month, Tuberville let slip that he couldnt be bothered to read up on a court decision that stripped in vitro fertilization access within his state, even in the days that followed the ruling. Turkeys Dortyol oil terminal, managed by Global Terminal Services (GTS), will no longer accept Russian imports amid increased sanctions pressure from the United States, Reuters reported on March 5. Read also: Russia forced to halt gasoline exports for six months as domestic supply chain crippled GTS decided to cut all possible connections to Russian oil and declared accordingly to its customers in late February 2024 that even if there is no breach of any laws, regulations or sanctions, it would not accept any product of Russian origin or any products loaded from Russian ports as an additional measure to the sanction rules in effect, GTS told Reuters. All pervious operations were in full compliance with sanctions including the G7s price cap. GTSs new approach is an additional measure to eliminate the effects of activities that are beyond its reach and control despite the efforts to comply with all applicable sanctions. The last tanker to discharge at Dortyol arrived on Feb. 19, delivering a 511,000-barrel diesel cargo from the Russian Baltic port of Primorsk. Read also: Russian oil tankers abandon Liberian and Marshall Islands flags due to U.S. sanctions GTS said it would still accept Russian cargoes that had been nominated before the ban took place in late-February. The GTS Terminal which imports, exports, and stores fuel and crude in Turkeys southeastern Hatay province - received 11.74 million barrels of Russian crude oil and fuel last year, data from shipping analytics firm Kpler show. It became Turkeys seventh largest import terminal by volume, rising from No.10 in 2021. Its 2023 Russian crude and fuel imports were around seven times higher than the total volume it received from all origins in 2021, the last full year before Russias invasion of Ukraine. Common destinations for oil exported from Dortyol included the Greek ports of Corinth, Elefsis and Thessaloniki, and the Northwest European oil trading, refining and storage hubs of Rotterdam and Antwerp. Turkey has become one of the biggest importers of Russian crude and fuel since 2022, after the West imposed sanctions on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. Russia responded by re-routing oil away from Europe and the U.S. to Asia, Turkey and Africa. Read also: Austria and Slovakia abandon Druzhba pipeline connection project with Russia Ankara opposes Western sanctions against Moscow, although it criticized Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Throughout the war, it has managed to maintain close ties with both Moscow and Kyiv. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine By Can Sezer and Yuliia Dysa ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkey is ready to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Istanbul. In a meeting lasting about an hour, Erdogan and Zelenskiy discussed developments in the Ukraine-Russia war, shipping security in the Black Sea including the defunct grain deal, and defence industry cooperation, according to the two sides. NATO member Turkey supports Ukraine's territorial integrity, but also maintains cordial relations with Russia, and regularly speaks with both sides in the conflict, notably as a sponsor of the Black Sea deal that lifted a de facto Russian blockade of Ukrainian grain exports. "We discussed developments about the war in detail today, I stated our observations with all my sincerity," Erdogan said at a press conference alongside Zelenskiy, whose trip comes before an expected visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin following elections in Russia on March 15-17. "We are giving our utmost contribution for the war to end on the basis of negotiations. We are ready to host a peace summit that Russia will attend too," he said, adding he had reiterated Ankara's support for Ukraine's sovereignty. Turkey had hosted peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, but has since complained that no diplomatic step has been taken to advance these discussions. It has repeatedly offered to host further talks, saying a summit of leaders was needed. Zelenskiy said Russia would not be invited to the first peace summit due to be held in Switzerland in the coming months, but that a Russian representative could be invited to the next meeting after a roadmap for peace had been agreed upon with Ukrainian allies. "We do not see any representatives of Russia at this summit. We don't see how you can invite people who block, destroy, and kill everything. We want to get a result - a just peace," he said. Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said after meeting Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that it was time for Ukraine and Russia to start ceasefire talks, but added that this must not mean the recognition of Russia's occupation. DEFENCE INDUSTRY COOPERATION Turkey has provided Ukraine with armed drones and also inked an agreement for their joint production at a factory near Kyiv, but progress has been hindered by the war. It has provided Kyiv with other forms of military support, but opposes the Western sanctions on Russia. After arriving on Friday, Zelenskiy visited a shipyard near Istanbul to inspect construction work on two corvettes for the Ukrainian navy. He later said he had discussed the joint production of some arms and ammunition with Erdogan. "Today, we have reached agreements on joint defence projects both at the government level and between companies," he said on the social media platform X after meeting Erdogan. "I met with the Turkish defence industry representatives. We are prepared to move quickly to put everything we discussed into action," he added, without elaborating. Talks also touched on the Black Sea grain deal, which was brokered by Turkey and United Nations and allowed Ukraine to safely export grain from its ports. Ankara has pushed to revive it, but Russia, which said its requests for better terms for its own food and fuel exports were ignored, has said it is not interested. As part of its balancing act, Turkey maintains its defence industry ties with Ukraine while deepening energy cooperation with Russia. It also inked an accord to take part in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Reuters exclusively reported last month that a U.S. threat to hit financial firms doing business with Russia with sanctions had chilled Turkish-Russian trade, disrupting or slowing some payments for both imported oil and Turkish exports. (Reporting by Can Sezer in Istanbul, Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay in Ankara, Yuliia Dysa in Gdansk, and Olena Hamarsh in Kyiv; Writing by Daren Butler and Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Ece Toksabay, Hugh Lawson and Ros Russell) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived on an official visit to Turkey on the afternoon of March 8, a photo of his meeting at the airport was shown by Telegram channel FREEDOM TV on March 8. As previously reported, Zelensky will meet with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. Zelenskyy will also visit shipyards where corvettes for Ukrainian Navy are being built and meet with representatives of Turkish defense companies. Zelenskyy has already visited Turkey since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion. He came there in July 2023 and had lengthy talks with Erdogan. At that time, they managed to return five commanders of the Mariupol garrison from Russian captivity, including officers of the Azov regiment. Read also: Putin-Erdogan meeting delayed amid Russian elections preparations Peskov 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 In March 2013, while Carissa Carroll was in a hospital room recovering from an emergency Caesarean section, her husband, Chris, sat in the waiting room until he was allowed to go in. A nurse practitioner approached Chris and asked whether he was aware of a condition called trisomy 21. Trisomy 21 is another name for Down syndrome. The Carrolls' newborn was showing physical signs of having it, the nurse practitioner told Chris. "Well, just enjoy your baby," she added, and walked away. The Carrolls were left with the "shock, confusion and fear" of absorbing that unexpected news, lacking advice on what to do about it, and stunned by the "abrupt and insensitive" way it was delivered. "What I would have liked to have heard is, 'Congratulations on your baby boy. We have some news that may be unexpected,'" said Carissa Carroll, 43. The couple adjusted and now celebrate what their son Jack contributes to the family. "It has been a beautiful journey of growth, loving and learning from him," Carissa Carroll said. People tell the couple Jack is lucky to have them as parents, but she sees things the other way around. "Honestly, we have been so blessed by what he has taught us about life," she said. The Carrolls sympathized with other parents receiving that same news in a blunt or even negative way. So when Jack turned 1 year old, they took action. They heard about a family in a local hospital who'd just had a baby with Down syndrome. They visited the family, bringing a basket of gifts and resources for supporting children with Down syndrome. "I wanted to make sure that they knew that their baby was worthy of celebration," Carroll said. "Although it's shocking and unexpected, life is good, parents need to know there's a loving and supporting community out there." The Carrolls kept it up, getting names of new families and presenting them with gift baskets, attending medical conferences to connect with doctors. They became a nonprofit with many volunteers. In the past decade, Jack's Basket, headquartered in Arden Hills, has acquired a staff of six and delivered baskets to families with new Down syndrome babies in all 50 states and 46 countries. "What started as an idea has evolved into a movement that is changing the way the world welcomes babies with Down syndrome," Carissa Carroll said. 'Unexpected news' Jack's Basket celebrated the organization's 10th birthday (and the real Jack's 11th birthday) on March 3 with a gathering of volunteers and families who received baskets. Meanwhile, the nonprofit has presented a new curriculum for health care providers called Communicating Unexpected News. The program teaches how to sensitively deliver news of a baby with Down syndrome (or other unexpected, but not necessarily negative news) "and being able to discuss that piece with all the joy and happiness that a child can bring to a family," said Dr. Erin Plummer, a neonatologist at Children's Minnesota in St. Paul who developed the curriculum. About one in 700 babies is born with Down syndrome, or about 6,000 a year in the United States. The condition comes with mild to moderate intellectual ability, and children with Down syndrome are slower than other children to meet developmental milestones, such as walking and talking. About half of children born with the condition have congenital heart defects. It also can cause hearing and vision issues and other health problems. Doctors receive little training in medical school on how to deliver such news, Plummer said. Before she learned about Jack's Basket, "even though I was trying to do my very best and I thought I was doing a good job in delivering a diagnosis, I was not," she said. "I just didn't know what I didn't know." She heard about Jack's Basket, though, and in 2019 attended the organization's annual gala. "I just fell in love with the mission," Plummer said. Afterward, she contacted the organization to ask how she could become more involved. The curriculum's objective is to teach health care providers how to be supportive of new parents feeling "a wave of raw emotions," she said. Much of what parents feel is fear of the unknown, but a health care provider can help prepare them by offering resources available to families. "The one consistent thing that we tend to hear from parents is that they do not want to change their child's diagnosis but they would change the way it was given," Plummer said. Shifting the narrative "We're now of the mindset that everyone should have a child with Down syndrome," Lisa Nevin said. In 2018, 10 weeks into her pregnancy, a genetic counselor called and said she was "sorry to share" the news that a test had showed a 93% chance her baby would have Down syndrome. Abortion or adoption were options, the counselor said. Nevin wasn't interested in either. "The conversation left me feeling a little tarnished," Nevin said. "I felt like I had been judged and a value had been placed on my unborn baby." Once Grace was born, Nevin's outlook changed. "I look at her and I don't see a diagnosis," she said. "I see a child that's just ready to learn and love." Nevin, who lives in California's Marin County, received a basket from Jack's Basket and volunteered with the organization. Last year, she left a 15-year career in human resources to become its director of programs and development. At one point, Nevin contacted the genetic counselor who'd called. She told the counselor about Jack's Basket. "She responded right away and was very open to it," Nevin said. "She wrote in the email back to me that she wanted to apologize to me that when she delivered our diagnosis she was new in her role." Grace "has been the best gift for our family," Nevin said. She "teaches us to appreciate the simplest wonders of the world. She shows us that love is a language, she makes us laugh." When Jonathan and Allison Alexander of St. Paul learned during her pregnancy that their baby had a 73% chance of having Down syndrome, their "world just kind of froze," Allison said. "We were pretty shook." But when Ella was born, a nurse told them about Jack's Basket. "It was incredibly timely because we were in such a vulnerable moment," she said. "We were happy to learn there were people to support us." By then, though, their worries were already slipping away. "Here we just had this normal baby who just happened to have Down syndrome, and it was almost like it was meant to be," Allison said. "These kids are capable of a lot if we shift the narrative. I feel very lucky to be her mom and be a part of her life, and I wouldn't change anything about who Ella is." Multiple insiders secured a larger position in United Security Bancshares (NASDAQ:UBFO) shares over the last 12 months. This is reassuring as this suggests that insiders have increased optimism about the company's prospects. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. Check out our latest analysis for United Security Bancshares United Security Bancshares Insider Transactions Over The Last Year The Director Jagroop Gill made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$511k worth of shares at a price of US$6.47 each. Even though the purchase was made at a significantly lower price than the recent price (US$7.50), we still think insider buying is a positive. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices. In the last twelve months insiders purchased 139.44k shares for US$926k. On the other hand they divested 19.20k shares, for US$133k. In total, United Security Bancshares insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! United Security Bancshares is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. United Security Bancshares Insiders Bought Stock Recently We saw some United Security Bancshares insider buying shares in the last three months. Insiders shelled out US$40k for shares in that time. It's good to see the insider buying, as well as the lack of recent sellers. But the amount invested in the last three months isn't enough for us too put much weight on it, as a single factor. Story continues Does United Security Bancshares Boast High Insider Ownership? Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 20% of United Security Bancshares shares, worth about US$26m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At United Security Bancshares Tell Us? Our data shows a little insider buying, but no selling, in the last three months. Overall the buying isn't worth writing home about. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Overall we don't see anything to make us think United Security Bancshares insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. While conducting our analysis, we found that United Security Bancshares has 1 warning sign and it would be unwise to ignore it. But note: United Security Bancshares may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday said "Israel's actions against the Palestinian population must cease immediately" as the commission released a report saying its plans to expand settlements in the West Bank amount to war crimes. File Photo by UPI March 8 (UPI) -- The United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk criticized Israel on Friday for announcing this week that it will build 3,426 new settlement homes in the West Bank, charging the increase will increase harm to Palestinians living there. Turk said the settlement plans marked a clear escalation of pushing new Israeli homes into Palestinian land against international law and increased patterns of oppression, violence, and discrimination against them. "Israel's actions against the Palestinian population must cease immediately," Turk said in a statement. "The only way forward is to find a viable political solution that finally ends the occupation, establishes an independent Palestinian state and guarantees the realization of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people." The Human Rights Council on Friday released a report saying that the expansion of settlements "amount to the transfer by Israel of its own civilian population into the territories that it occupies, which amounts to a war crime under international law." The report said that about 24,300 housing units in existing Israeli settlements, including 9,670 in East Jerusalem were advanced from Nov. 1, 2022, through Oct. 31, 2023, which was the most on record since 2017 when the process began being monitored. It further said that the Israeli government's goals appeared aligned "to an unprecedented extent" with the Israeli settler movement which it said aims to expand long-term control over the West Bank and "to steadily integrate this occupied territory into the State of Israel." "They also run counter to the views of a broad range of states aid out during hearings just two weeks ago at the International Court of Justice," Turk said in reference to proceedings examining Israel's occupation of Gaza. Earlier this week, Israel said it will build 2,402 homes will be built in Ma'ale Adumim, another 694 in Efrat, and 330 homes in Keidar. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich suggested that the new settlements were an" appropriate Zionist response" to a terrorist attack there last month that killed one and injured 11. In that incident, three gunmen opened fire on cars lined up at a checkpoint outside of Jerusalem last month in the West Bank. "The enemies try to harm and weaken us but we will continue to build and be built up on this island," Smotrich said on social media, according to The Times of Israel. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the settlements will do more the increase tensions and conflict in the West Bank. "Settlements continue to be a barrier to peace," Miller said on Wednesday. "These settlements continue to be inconsistent with international law. "And, so the point that we will make to the government of Israel is that these settlements don't just harm the Palestinian people, but that they ultimately weaken Israel's security and weaken the prospects for a lasting agreement that would provide real peace and real security for the Israeli people." The U.N. report noted that there have been 603 settler attacks against Palestinians since the Oct. 7, Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza while 1,222 Palestinians from 19 herding communities have been displaced "as a direct result of settler violence." "The West Bank is already in crisis. Yet, settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian State," said Turk. (Bloomberg) -- The Biden administrations pause on new liquefied natural gas export licenses could last months as the Department of Energy reviews the issue, according to a US energy official. Most Read from Bloomberg We anticipate the analysis thats underway now taking several months because this is an issue of such significant importance, Brad Crabtree, assistant secretary for the departments Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, said in an interview. Responding responsibly to comments and analysis will take a significant period of time, he said in Tokyo on Friday. The DoE stopped approving new licenses in January to study the potential effects of increased gas production and exports on climate change, the economy and national security. The review wont affect previously granted authorizations, and after a report is published and made available for comment it will be finalized and incorporated into the agencys public interest determinations. The move strikes at the heart of the debate over LNGs role in a decarbonizing world. While advocates contend its crucial for getting developing nations to stop using coal and enabling Europe to power its economy without Russian gas, environmentalists warn that building the enormous infrastructure required to ship LNG ensures it will be burned for generations to come. White House energy advisor Amos Hochstein said in an interview with Al Arabiya English posted on X in February that the pause on LNG permits could last between 10 and 14 months, which suggests the entire process is likely to stretch well past the US presidential election in November. Story continues The US shipped about 90 million tons of LNG last year, the most of any nation, and its export capacity is slated to nearly double by the end of the decade. Japans trade minister, as well as Jera Co., the nations biggest importer, raised concerns about energy security following the White Houses move. Part of the purpose of Crabtrees trip to Tokyo was to convey to Japanese partners that we are 100% focused on their energy security, he said. They understand that in the near to medium term, we are going to be bringing substantially additional natural gas to market, Crabtree said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- The US government is stepping away from its effort to collect data on home insurance prices and availability at the Zip code level as premiums soar and climate risks to property intensify. Instead, it will join in a collaborative effort with state insurance regulators. Most Read from Bloomberg When the Treasury Department announced in October 2022 its plans to collect such information through the Federal Insurance Office, it said detailed information on premiums and policy non-renewals and cancellations was needed to understand which geographical areas could be subject to major disruptions in insurance coverage due to climate change. Read More: A Hidden Crisis in US Housing The insurance industry opposed the move, saying that collecting the data would be a huge drain on companies resources and manpower. Republicans in Congress agreed, and GOP members of the House of Representatives introduced a bill to eliminate the FIO. Now, even though the agency had already asked and recently received permission from the Office of Management and Budget to make its own request for data, FIO will instead get data from state insurance commissioners who regulate the private market and their trade organization, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. States have the authority to request insurers data and can impose fines on companies that do not participate. In a press statement, NAIC said that more than 80% of the US property insurance market, by premium volume, would be covered by the information request. A Treasury official said on a Thursday press call that the agency will end up with more data this way than if it acted on its own. Story continues Officials said they would start receiving preliminary data this spring. The possibility of the data being made public is still under discussion, they said. The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen said the move could leave the government with an incomplete picture of risk if disclosures are selective. For financial regulators, comprehensive, granular data is key to understanding the localized and nationwide risks posed by impacts caused by climate change, said Carly Fabian, an insurance policy advocate with the group. The success of the NAICs efforts, and Treasurys reliance on them, hinges on an accessible data source that is updated regularly with data from every state. Storms, floods and fires fueled by climate change have been upending the home insurance market in the US. As the risks mount, some insurers have stopped writing new homeowners policies in California, Florida and other states. Read More: Americans Are Moving Toward Climate Danger in Search of Cheaper Homes That has resulted in a huge transfer in liability from private insurers to state-created insurance programs. Currently, such insurers of last resort have over $1 trillion in exposure. Even when private insurance is available, it is increasingly expensive. Twenty-five states saw double-digit increases in home insurance rates last year, largely due to insurers poor underwriting results, according to a January analysis by S&P Global. The NAIC said it will be collecting more than 70 points of data at the Zip code level, with information going back five years. Among the data it will gather will be on policy non-renewals and cancellations; deductible sizes; and whether any mitigation discounts are offered to customers who protect their properties against extreme weather impacts. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Two Indians have died after being allegedly sent to the battlefield Authorities in India say they have busted a network of agents sending people to fight for Russia in Ukraine under the pretext of giving them jobs. The agents were luring people through social media, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said. The network stretches across several states and about 35 people have fallen victims to the racket, the agency said. The development comes after two Indians, who were duped into traveling to Russia, were killed in the war. The CBI said in a statement that the traffickers were operating under an "organised network". It said that agents were using social media channels such as YouTube and their local contacts to lure "gullible" youth to travel to Russia by promising them "lucrative jobs". Earlier, a man from Uttar Pradesh state living in Moscow had told the BBC that he had been lured to Russia by a YouTube channel, promising a monthly salary of 150,000 rupees ($1813; 1,415). "We were not told that we are being drafted in an army," he said. The CBI said it had found that trafficked Indian nationals were being trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in the Russia-Ukraine war zone "against their wishes, thus, putting their lives in grave danger". The agency has filed cases against several private visa consultancy firms and agents, conducting searches at 13 locations, including Delhi and Mumbai. The CBI said it has seized cash worth 5m rupees, "incriminating documents" and electronic devices from these places and have detained some people for questioning. India's foreign ministry had earlier acknowledged "that some Indian nationals have enlisted for support roles with the Russian army". It added that it was working with Russian authorities to get Indian nationals discharged from the army. The ministry has also urged "all Indian nationals to exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict". Key developments on March 8: Zelensky arrives in Turkey, meets Erdogan French defense minister says no plans to deploy combat troops in Ukraine India identifies 'major human trafficking network' luring Indians to fight for Russia in Ukraine Governor: Russian drone attacks car in Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, kills 2 Czech official: Allies yet to collect full funding for 800,000 shells earmarked for Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Turkey on March 8 to meet his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Among the topics the Ukrainian and Turkish leaders were planning to discuss were Ukraine's peace formula, the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, as well as the release of Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia, the President's Office said. This is Zelenskys second visit to this country since Russia launched its full-scale invasion against Ukraine. After the previous trip in July 2023, Zelensky brought home five commanding officers who defended the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, and had been kept in Turkey under the personal guarantees of Erdogan after a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. Zelensky also said he had visited a shipyard to inspect the building of corvettes for the Ukrainian Navy, and had spoken with Ukrainian Navy personnel. President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to Turkey on March 8, 2024 (The Ukrainian Presidential Office) The Associated Press, citing an unnamed Turkish government official, reported that during the talks in Istanbul, Erdogan was planning to "press for negotiations to end Russias war in Ukraine." Following the meeting with Ukraine's president, Erdogan said at a joint press conference that Turkey was ready to hold a peace summit with the participation of Russia in the future. He noted that Ankara supports the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Zelensky ruled out this idea, saying that a summit with Moscow would be possible only after a just peace for Ukraine. "We do not see Russian representatives at such a summit. We do not see how we can invite people who block, destroy and kill everything. We want to get a result, a just peace for Ukraine. Therefore, first, civilized countries will develop a plan, and only then Russia's representatives will be involved," Ukraine's president added. The final rounds of unsuccessful peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow in 2022 took place in the Turkish city of Antalya. Maintaining close ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, Ankara sought to position itself as a mediator in the war. In late January, Russian state-run media reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin was making preparations to visit Turkey in February and meet with Erdogan. Soon after this, the Kremlin said that Putin would arrive to Turkey after the Russian presidential election set on March 15-17. Read also: Top Chinese envoy visits Kyiv, meets Ukrainian officials French defense minister says no plans to deploy combat troops in Ukraine French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the idea of sending combat troops to Ukraine is "not on the table" in an interview with the French broadcaster BFMTV on March 8. The comments came after French President Emmanuel Macron recently said that sending Western troops to Ukraine could not be "ruled out" in the future. The U.S. and many European allies have distanced themselves from Macrons statement. Lecornu said that while the deployment of combat troops is not currently being discussed, there is the possibility that France will send military personnel to Ukraine to train Ukrainian troops or participate in mine-clearing operations. French arms manufacturers are planning to set up partnerships with Ukrainian companies and produce military equipment, potentially including ammunition, on Ukrainian soil, Lecornu added. We are no longer in the same situation as two years ago," he said, emphasizing that "We don't want to show weakness to Moscow." Czech President Petr Pavel also said recently that he is in favor of looking for new ways to support Ukraine, including potentially sending troops for "non-combat engagement." The Czech leader reportedly emphasized that he was not talking about sending combat units. According to Pavel, Kyivs allies could send a training mission to Ukraine. "Ukraine, despite being attacked, is still a sovereign country," he said, adding that such a training mission would not violate any international norms. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, as well as leaders of Germany, the U.K., Sweden, Poland, and other European NATO member states, ruled out sending Western troops to Ukraine. During a two-hour State of the Nation address on Feb. 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened "tragic consequences" if NATO troops were sent to Ukraine, claiming the West's support for Kyiv "risks a conflict using nuclear weapons." Read also: Polish FM: NATO forces presence in Ukraine is not unthinkable India identifies 'major human trafficking network' luring Indians to fight for Russia in Ukraine The Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced on March 7 that it had busted a "major human trafficking network" that used false pretenses to entice Indian nationals to fight with Russian forces in the war in Ukraine. The news came after multiple media reports said that Indian men who came to Russia for work or tourism were then coerced or tricked into joining the war against Ukraine. Russia's war against Ukraine has resulted in heavy casualties for the Russian military. Seeking to limit unpopular conscription among the domestic population, Moscow has been attracting foreign recruits from countries in Central or South Asia and elsewhere. The CBI said the trafficking network was "luring Indian nationals through social media channels like Youtube etc., and also through their local contacts/agents for highly paid jobs in Russia." "Thereafter, the trafficked Indian nationals were trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in (the) Russia-Ukraine war zone against their wishes, thus, putting their lives in grave danger. It has been ascertained that some of the victims also got grievously injured in the war zone." The Guardian and other media outlets have also reported that some Indian nationals have been killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine. The CBI said it had conducted raids in 13 different locations in cities around India and had identified at least 35 instances of Indians being sent abroad. It did not specify if all 35 had been sent to Ukraine. "We are aware... the Indian Embassy has taken up their early discharge with the relevant Russian authorities. We urge all Indians to stay away from this conflict," a spokesperson of the Indian government said. "An appeal is made to the general public not to fall prey for such false promises of jobs by the dubious recruitment agencies and agents," the CBI said. India's neighbor, Nepal, stopped issuing work permits for its citizens to work in Russia in January after growing numbers of Nepalese fighters have been reported killed fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine. India and Russia have long had close ties. The Soviet Union was a critical supplier of military equipment to India as it faced off with its primary foe, Pakistan, which was backed by the U.S. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, India has largely maintained a neutral stance, declining to condemn Moscow's military aggression or join the West in isolating Russia. India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that Indo-Russia ties are "very strong, very steady" at a press conference during his visit to Moscow in December 2023. Governor: Russian drone attacks car in Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, kills 2 Russian forces attacked a civilian car in the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast on March 8, killing a 58-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, according to preliminary data, Governor Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. The strike was carried out by a first-person view (FPV) kamikaze drone at around 3 p.m. local time, the governor said. "According to witnesses, there could have been another person in the car," Syniehubov reported. The town of Vovchansk, with a pre-war population of around 17,500 people, lies some 60 kilometers northeast of Kharkiv and less than 10 kilometers from the border with Russia. Along with other front-line settlements, Vovchansk suffers from near-daily attacks by Russian forces. Earlier the same day, a Russian guided aerial bomb attack on a private house in Vovchansk killed a 40-year-old woman and injured a 67-year-old woman, damaging at least 12 houses, the authorities said. Read also: Update: Russian missile strike on Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast injures 7, including 3-year-old girl Czech official: Allies yet to collect full funding for 800,000 shells earmarked for Ukraine Czech National Security Advisor Tomas Pojar placed doubt on President Petr Pavels statement about acquiring all the funds needed to purchase 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine, Czech outlet Denik reported on March 8. Pavel said in February that Prague had identified 500,000 155mm shells and 300,000 122mm shells outside Europe that could be bought and sent to Ukraine after the necessary funds were allocated to the initiative. On March 7, the president announced that once Norway had joined the Czech-led allied initiative, the required funds had been collected. "I assume that Mr. President meant the first batch's coverage, not our entire initiative. In any case, we do not have it covered yet," Pojar told Denik. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala wrote earlier on X that raised funds would be enough to buy the first batch of 300,000 artillery shells. "Our work and our help to Ukraine do not end here. We keep seeking partners so that we can continue to support Ukraine in its brave fight against the Russian aggressor," Fiala said. The Czech Defense Ministry also published a statement on March 7, saying that Czechia is "working on various forms of artillery ammunition deliveries." "The speed with which we manage to raise the necessary money is great," Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said. "The initiative continues, and we are continuously looking for other ways to get ammunition for western and eastern origin. It is necessary to use the potential of this broad coalition," Cernochova added. The Kyiv Independent made a request to the Czech Defense Ministry on the current status of the funds allocation for the initiative but was not provided with the details. According to Pavel, 18 states have already contributed to the initiative, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Latvia, Canada. As $60 billion in aid for Ukraine from the U.S. remains stalled in Congress, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to face critical ammunition shortages. Ukraine has already withdrawn from Avdiivka, a key front-line city in Donetsk Oblast, on Feb. 17 and from other nearby villages weeks later. Read also: Luxembourg joins Czech-led ammunition initiative for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine war: UK to provide 10k drones to Ukraine as dismissed commander to become new ambassador UK to provide 10,000 drones to Ukraine The British government said on Thursday that it will provide 10,000 drones to Ukraine in its continued fight against the Russian invasion. The announcement was made by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps during a visit to Kyiv with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The pledge corresponds to a new investment of 125 million (146.3 million) on top of 200 million (234.2 million) which had been previously committed to drones. The weaponry delivered will include 1,000 one-way attack drones and models that target ships. Ukraines Armed Forces are using UK donated weapons to unprecedented effect, to help lay waste to nearly 30% of Russias Black Sea Fleet, Shapps said. Zelenskyy also announced on Thursday that dismissed Ukrainian commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi will become Kyiv's new ambassador to London. Our alliance with Britain should only strengthen, Zelenskyy said. The president removed Zaluzhnyi from his top role as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military as part of a shake-up aimed at reigniting momentum in the conflict, which many have seen as stalling since last summer. Zelenskyy visits Turkey The Ukrainian president is set to visit Turkey on Friday, meeting with his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders are expected to discuss the conflict in Ukraine, the Black Sea Grain Initiative - a deal which Turkey helped broker - and bilateral relations. New decree for Ukrainian conscripts Zelenskyy has issued a decree calling for conscripts who have been serving in the now over two-year war against Russia to be discharged into the reserves within the next two months. The conscripts wont be called up again for 12 months. In his marquee State of the Union address last night, Joe Biden made an argument that democracy at home in the US is threatened like no time since the Civil War signalling a clear line of attack he will use against Donald Trump in this year's election while also insisting that aid must be passed to assist Ukraine. He criticised Trump, whom he referred to only as my predecessor, for his assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin can do whatever the hell he wants with respect to NATO allies, and he implored Congress to pass additional aid for Ukraine. Speaking with a vigour that his supporters have said has been lacking, Biden set up a contrast between his internationalist view of the world and Trump's increasingly isolationist leaning. Other major NATO countries have increasingly focused on ways to shore up the alliance's support for Ukraine in case Trump is re-elected and tanks the US's support for the counteroffensive. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on allies to increase and speed up their support for Ukraine, and in particular, to send their training teams if necessary. Source: Kuleba during a speech at a videoconference of allied foreign and defence ministers on support for Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda. Details: Kuleba urged the participants to make decisions based on two principles: faster and more. In particular, he stressed the need to produce and purchase more ammunition and missiles for Ukraine and to create opportunities to repair damaged equipment in the country. Quote: "If it is possible to train more Ukrainian soldiers more effectively and more efficiently in Ukraine rather than abroad, then these are the solutions we need," the Foreign Minister stressed. The minister also emphasised the need to increase the pace of arms production in Europe as soon as possible to meet the needs of Ukraine and its European partners. He called for the removal of all obstacles to the development and cooperation of European defence industries and the allocation of all necessary resources to create new production facilities. Reminder: Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said that his remarks about Russias full-scale war against Ukraine, including the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine, which have caused an uproar, had been carefully thought through. Macrons words drew criticism from the governments of the allied countries, whose leaders have stressed that they do not intend to send troops to Ukraine. Moscow was outraged by Macrons remarks, warning that the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine would inevitably lead to a conflict between Russia and NATO. Support UP or become our patron! TBL Logistics of Appomattox, Virginia, recently filed its petition seeking bankruptcy liquidation. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) Trucking, logistics and truck stop chains are collectively owed millions of dollars after a Virginia-based logistics firm recently shuttered operations and filed for bankruptcy liquidation. TBL Logistics, headquartered in Appomattox, Virginia, filed its petition on Feb. 29 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia. In its filing, TBL Logistics listed its assets and liabilities as between $1 million and $10 million. The company stated that it has up to 49 creditors and maintains that no funds will be available for unsecured creditors once it pays administrative fees. Christopher Bradner and Melinda Bradner are listed as the owners of TBL Logistics, a small, family-owned trucking firm, which hauled refrigerated and oversize loads. As of publication, the Bradners attorney, Stephen E. Dunn, had not responded to FreightWaves request for comment. Several companies are among TBL Logistics creditors. They include Motive Technologies of Dover, Delaware; Loves Travel Stops of Oklahoma City; and the IRS, although no amounts are given. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations SAFER website, TBL Logistics common carrier authority was granted in June 2021, and its operating authority was revoked in January 2024. The company had four power units and seven drivers before ceasing operations after TBL Logistics Bodily Injury Property Damage Coverage (BIPD) was canceled on Jan. 20. The company had two injury crashes over the past 24 months, according to the FMCSA data. A creditors meeting is scheduled for March 26. Do you have a news tip to share? Send me an email or message me @cage writer on X, formerly known as Twitter. Your name will not be used without your permission. Read more articles here: Feds charge Illinois trucking company owner in alleged CDL fraud Feds charge Massachusetts state troopers in alleged CDL bribery scheme Ex-Slync CEO Chris Kirchner guilty of wire fraud, money laundering The post Virginia logistics company files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy appeared first on FreightWaves. Anton Shevchuk, who had requested that the military medical forces replace poor-quality Chinese tourniquets, was transferred to a lower position in another unit after receiving a severe reprimand from the command of the head of the medical service of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade. Source: Anton Shevchuk in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda; Slidstvo.Info Quote: "I'm not sorry things turned out this way. A position does not make a person; rather, a person makes a position. After the VSP [Ukrainian Military Law-Enforcement Service - ed.] stated that the unacceptable quality of the tourniquets was my own opinion, some brigades replaced them, and I met with several heads of medical services. Hanna Maliar then stated a week later that the military had received 80,000 high-quality tourniquets, giving 40,000 people a chance to survive. It's unfortunate that after that, I was placed in a position where I can do nothing to ensure that. The state invested heavily in my studies, and now I will be the department head. However, I hope that my example showed others that you can fight for the provision of high-quality first-aid kits and tourniquets. I was not the only one who saw these problems." Details: According to Slidstvo.Info, when Shevchuk was hospitalised, he was replaced by another military officer and assigned to a reserve command post where he was instructed to await further orders. He remained there for nearly a month before being transferred to the lower position of head of the evacuation department of a medical company in the Ground Forces' new mechanised brigade. Shevchuk previously served with the Air Assault Forces. In addition, Shevchuk claims that law enforcement officers searched him, allegedly looking for unregistered weapons. Shevchuk also told Slidstvo.Info reporters that they attempted to prosecute him, claiming he went AWOL while in the hospital. Background: The story of poor-quality Chinese tourniquets in the 82nd Brigade, which was brought to the attention of social media on 20 July by volunteer Oksana Korchynska, launched a large public discussion of the problems facing the tactical medicine field in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Medical Forces Command "confirmed the effectiveness of the tourniquets." On 31 July, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence listened to a report from Medical Forces Command on the situation with tactical medicine and gave it two weeks to check all first-aid kits issued to military personnel in Ukraine. In mid-August, it was revealed that law enforcement officers were investigating criminal proceedings regarding possible violations in the preparation of first-aid kits for the Armed Forces. On 26 August 2023, Anton Shevchuk, Head of the Medical Service of the 82nd Separate Air Assault brigade, who requested that Medical Forces Command replace poor-quality Chinese tourniquets was given a "severe reprimand." Officially, the order states that the medical commander of the 82nd Brigade violated five points of the Charter of the Internal Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and one of the points of the Disciplinary Charter of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, the document, referring to the decision by the commission that visited the brigade from Medical Forces Command, states that "[allegations of] the inadequate quality of tourniquets [are] the unconfirmed personal opinion of the head of the Medical Service A. A. Shevchuk." Support UP or become our patron! Russia is sending large groups of troops to capture Novomykhailivka (Donetsk Oblast), as well as Heorhiivka, Pobieda and Krasnohorivka along the Novopavlivka front. Source: Dmytro Lykhovii, the spokesman for the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group, on the air of the joint national 24/7 newscast, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine Details: Lykhovii said that Russian troops are also attacking from both sides of the Robotyne salient, but they are not successful. Quote: "Novopavlivka, located west of Marinka, is the most active sector of the front. After Ukrainian troops left Avdiivka, the enemy focused their main efforts there. In particular, they are sending large groups of troops to capture the villages of Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast, as well as Heorhiivka and Pobieda, and Krasnohorivka (near Marinka). Twenty-seven Russian assault attempts were recorded there yesterday." Details: Lykhovii added that the Russians are acting in a "slightly strange way" on the Orikhiv front. "They occasionally gather basic resources for a major attack, such as armoured columns made up of dozens of pieces of equipment. They are destroyed during this attack, and then they proceed with the usual tactics of small assault groups, sometimes with the use of armoured vehicles that transport infantry to the centre of the village Robotyne," Lykhovii explains. He noted that Ukrainian Armed Forces have fire control over Robotyne. "Yes, the enemy does not stop trying. This, presumably, is the political goal: to keep going in this area. This is the territory de-occupied by Ukrainian Defense Forces during last summer's offensive campaign. This is likely to be a critical issue for the Russians. That is why they throw significant reserves and resources at Robotyne, fighting for it like there's no tomorrow. They suffer significant losses there, but they do not abandon their efforts." Lykhovii emphasised that Robotyne is still under Ukrainian control, even though there is "nothing to cling to, it is not suitable for fortification". Support UP or become our patron! The Ukrainian peace formula is at the top of President Volodymyr Zelenskyys agenda during his March 8 visit to Istanbul to meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Erdogan, according to his offices report on Telegram. The visit was announced on March 7 by the public relations department of the Turkish Presidents office. Read also: Turkeys Mediterranean oil terminal halts Russian imports amid U.S. sanctions Zelenskyy will meet with Erdogan in Istanbul to discuss various issues, including the Peace Formula, the organization of the Peace Summit, the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, global food stability, and the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war and political prisoners held by Russia. Special attention will be paid to joint projects in the defense industry, with Zelenskyy to visit shipyards where corvettes are being built for the Ukrainian Navy and meeting with representatives of Turkish defense companies. Read also: Azovstal heroes homeward bound: Freed commanders returning to Ukraine During his previous visit to Turkey in July 2023, the leaders agreed the return of five commanders of the Mariupol garrison, including officers of the Azov Battalion. The five Azov Battalion commanders had been in Turkey under the personal protection of President Erdogan as part of an agreement following the large-scale prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia in September 2022. Five Azov Battalion commanders were exchanged for 55 Russian military personnel, while the remaining prisoners were traded for a suspected Putin ally and Ukrainian ex-lawmaker, Viktor Medvedchuk, who faced charges of state treason. 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 Elias Gedeon, Senior Vice President of Westinghouse Energy Systems Commercial Operations, spoke this week at the Slovenia Supplier Symposium. (Photo: Business Wire) KRSKO, Slovenia, March 08, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Westinghouse Electric Company and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia recently welcomed more than 40 vendors to a Supplier Symposium in Krsko. The event builds upon the decades long partnership between Westinghouse and the Slovenian nuclear industry to discuss new opportunities for AP1000 reactor and AP300 small modular reactor projects in country and globally. Danijel Levicar, Slovenias State Secretary for the National Nuclear Programme, and Matej Skocir, Deputy Director General, Directorate for Industry, Entrepreneurship and Internationalization attended the event, in addition to leadership from Slovenias GEN Energija and representatives from the U.S. Embassy. "The United States and Slovenia value our strong partnership on civil nuclear energy. We are proud to support Slovenias efforts to invest in a sustainable and secure energy future through world-class, advanced nuclear technology," said Jamie L. Harpootlian, U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia. "The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is strongly committed and encouraged to involve as many domestic subcontractors as possible in the construction of NPP 2, who would be involved in the supply chains of design, engineering, logistics, supply, equipment installation and construction services. That is why events like todays are very useful and a good basis for achieving our strategic energy goals," said Vesna Nahtigal, general director of the Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia. "For more than 50 years, Westinghouse has been a proud partner to support the production of clean, safe and reliable nuclear energy at Slovenias Krsko Nuclear Power Plant, which is based on Westinghouse design," said Elias Gedeon, Senior Vice President of Westinghouse Energy Systems Commercial Operations. "We are pleased to further engage the countrys experienced, local supply chain to deploy Westinghouse new reactor technologies in Slovenia and across Central and Eastern Europe." Story continues Westinghouse has already signed memorandums of understanding with key Slovenia suppliers for cooperation in potential AP1000 plant projects in Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on engineering, construction and maintenance services, electrical equipment, and project planning and management services. The AP1000 reactor is the only operating Generation III+ reactor with fully passive safety systems, modular construction design and the smallest footprint per MWe on the market. In the U.S., at the Vogtle site in Georgia, one AP1000 unit is in commercial operation while a second unit is projected to come online during the second quarter of 2024. Four AP1000 reactors are currently setting operational performance and availability records in China with eight additional reactors under construction. It has been selected for the nuclear energy programs in Poland, Ukraine and Bulgaria, and is also under consideration at multiple other sites in Central and Eastern Europe, the UK, India and North America. The AP300 small modular reactor is the only SMR based on an advanced, large Generation III+ reactor already in operation globally. Westinghouse is targeting design certification for the AP300 SMR by 2027 and for construction to begin by 2030. The first operating unit is planned to be available in the early 2030s. The AP300 SMR has been downselected by the U.K.s Great British Nuclear program and is under further customer consideration in Europe and North America. Westinghouse Electric Company is shaping the future of carbon-free energy by providing safe, innovative nuclear and other clean power technologies and services globally. Westinghouse supplied the worlds first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 and the companys technology is the basis for nearly one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants. Over 135 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle. For more information, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308790852/en/ Contacts media@westinghouse.com Sweden and Canada have said they will resume aid payments to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. They were among 16 countries that paused funds after Israel accused at least 12 UNRWA staff of involvement in the 7 October attack by Hamas. The UN is investigating, and France's foreign minister is leading a review. Sweden said on Saturday it would send 200 million kronor (15m; $19m) initially, after UNRWA agreed to more checks on its spending and staff. "The government has allocated 400 million kronor to UNRWA for the year 2024. Today's decision concerns a first payment of 200 million kronor," it said in a statement. It comes after Canada said on Friday that it would re-start funding for UNRWA while investigations into the agency's staff continue. On 7 October, Hamas gunmen stormed across Gaza's border into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage. In response, Israel launched a campaign of air strikes and a ground invasion of the territory. More than 30,900 people have since been killed in Gaza, the territory's Hamas-run health ministry says, and the amount of aid reaching civilians has plummeted. The UN has warned that a quarter of the Strip's population is on the brink of famine and children are starving to death. UNRWA is the biggest UN agency operating in Gaza. It provides healthcare, education and other humanitarian aid, and employs about 13,000 people there. Its chief Philippe Lazzarini said he was "cautiously optimistic" donors would start funding it again within weeks. He said the agency was "at risk of death" after major donor countries suspended funding following allegations in late January that a number of staff members were involved in the 7 October attack. Within days, Mr Lazzarini said an investigation was being carried out, and "to protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance" these staff members had been sacked. "What is at stake is the fate of the Palestinians today in Gaza in the short term who are going through an absolutely unprecedented humanitarian crisis," Mr Lazzarini said. The European Commission said earlier this month that it would release 50m in UNRWA funding. Sweden is the fourth largest contributor to the agency's budget, and Canada the 11th largest, 2022 data shows. UNRWA donors Canada's decision was announced in a statement on Friday by the country's Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen. He said it was made so that "more can be done to respond to the urgent needs of Palestinian civilians", and "in recognition of the robust investigative process under way". The Canadian Armed Forces will also donate about 300 cargo parachutes to Jordan, so they can be used to airdrop supplies into Gaza. On Friday the EU, UK, US and others said they planned to open a sea route to Gaza to deliver aid that could begin operating this weekend. Meanwhile an internal draft document compiled by UNRWA and seen by the BBC has detailed widespread abuse of Palestinians, including UNRWA employees who were released into Gaza from Israeli detention. In the document, former detainees describe an extensive range of ill-treatment. It says: "Agency staff members have been subject to threats and coercion by the Israeli authorities while in detention, and pressured to make false statements against the Agency, including that the Agency has affiliations with Hamas and that UNRWA staff members took part in the 7 October 2023 atrocities." In a statement provided to the BBC, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) rejected specific allegations and said: "The mistreatment of detainees during their time in detention or whilst under interrogation violates IDF values and contravenes IDF and is therefore absolutely prohibited." (Reuters) - The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said some employees released into Gaza from Israeli detention reported having been pressured by Israeli authorities into falsely stating that the agency has Hamas links and that staff took part in the Oct. 7 attacks. The assertions are contained in a report by the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reviewed by Reuters and dated February 2024 which detailed allegations of mistreatment in Israeli detention made by unidentified Palestinians, including several working for UNRWA. UNRWA communications director Juliette Touma said the agency planned to hand the information in the 11-page, unpublished report to agencies inside and outside the U.N. specialised in documenting potential human rights abuses. "When the war comes to an end there needs to be a series of inquiries to look into all violations of human rights," she said. The document said several UNRWA Palestinian staffers had been detained by the Israeli army, and added that the ill-treatment and abuse they said they had experienced included severe physical beatings, waterboarding, and threats of harm to family members. "Agency staff members have been subject to threats and coercion by the Israeli authorities while in detention, and pressured to make false statements against the Agency, including that the Agency has affiliations with Hamas and that UNRWA staff members took part in the 7 October 2023 atrocities, the report says. UNRWA declined a Reuters request to see transcripts of its interviews containing allegations of coerced false confessions. In addition to the alleged abuse endured by UNRWA staff members, Palestinian detainees more broadly described allegations of abuse, including beatings, humiliation, threats, dog attacks, sexual violence, and deaths of detainees denied medical treatment, the UNRWA report said. OPERATIONS IN CRISIS UNRWA, which provides aid and essential services to Palestinian refugees, is at the centre of a crisis over Israeli allegations made in January that 12 of its 13,000 staff in Gaza took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The Israeli accusations led 16 countries including the United States to pause $450 million in UNRWA funding, throwing its operations into crisis. UNRWA fired some staff members, saying it acted in order to protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, and an independent internal U.N. investigation was launched. Norway, which has continued to finance the agency, said on March 6 that many countries that paused their funding are likely having second thoughts and payments could resume soon. Reuters could not independently confirm the accounts of coercion of UNRWA staff and mistreatment of detainees, although the allegations of ill-treatment accord with descriptions by Palestinians freed from detention in December, February and March reported by Reuters and other news media. Asked by Reuters for comment on the range of allegations in the report, an Israeli military spokesperson didn't specifically respond to allegations of UNRWA staff being coerced, but said the Israeli Defense Forces acts in accordance with Israeli and international law to protect the rights of the detainees. Concrete complaints of inappropriate behaviour are forwarded to the relevant authorities for review, and an investigation is conducted for each death of a detainee by the military police, the spokesperson said, adding Israel denies general and unsubstantiated claims about sexual abuse of detainees. The spokesperson said freed detainees are subject to Hamas' control and can be forced to denounce Israel or risk "harm". Responding to that assertion about the detainees' credibility, Touma said the report was based on "first-hand testimonies that people told us. In some cases there were clearly some physical impact on people's bodies. And also psychological impact. So this is what's also been documented." UNRWA provides education, health and relief services to about 5.7 million registered Palestinian refugees around the Middle East. The U.S. has been by far the biggest donor to its $1.4 billion annual budget. The Israeli army levelled new accusations at UNRWA on March 4, saying it employed over 450 "military operatives" from Hamas and other armed groups, and that Israel has shared this intelligence with the United Nations. INTERROGATION Later that day, the head of UNRWA warned of "a deliberate and concerted campaign" aimed at ending the agency's work, citing comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and destruction of the agency's infrastructure in Gaza. Asked about the latest Israeli accusations, Touma said UNRWA encouraged any entity with information on the allegations against UNRWA staff to share it with the investigation, which is being conducted by a U.N. oversight body. Touma told Reuters the document was based on interviews the agency had conducted with dozens of Palestinians freed from Israeli detention to whom UNRWA provided assistance. She said she could not provide a more detailed figure and did not know how many of the detainees made the allegations about abuse or being coerced into saying UNRWA has Hamas links. The report focuses on detainees who were taken out of Gaza for extended periods of interrogation before being returned to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing from December to February. ISRAEL SEEKS UNRWA'S CLOSURE The report said UNRWA had documented the release of 1,002 detainees at Kerem Shalom aged from six to 82 years-old as of Feb. 19. The Hamas-led Oct. 7 assault killed 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in another 253 being abducted, according to Israeli tallies. More than 30,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip during the Israeli offensive launched in response, according to health authorities in Hamas-controlled Gaza. UNRWA has condemned the Oct. 7 attacks, saying the Israeli allegations against the agency - if true - are a betrayal of U.N. values and of the people UNRWA serves. The U.N. investigators said on Feb. 29 they expected to receive materials soon from Israel relating to its accusations that UNRWA staffers are members of Hamas. Israel says UNRWA should be shut down. Reuters has previously interviewed Palestinians detained by Israel during the conflict who have reported mistreatment. They include three men who said they and fellow detainees had been beaten, stripped to their underwear, and burnt with cigarettes. The copy of the report viewed by Reuters did not contain any photographs or identify any of the detainees by name. (Reporting by Tom Perry, Angus MacDowall and James Mackenzie, Writing by Tom Perry, Editing by William Maclean) By Sarah Mills LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles will on Monday miss the first major royal event since his cancer diagnosis, but there is no sign of the monarch vanishing from public view let alone contemplating stepping down from his role, experts say. Charles, 75, has been forced to postpone all public engagements since Buckingham Palace revealed just over a month ago he was to undergo treatment for an unspecified form of cancer. The news shocked the nation coming less than 18 months after he became king on the death of his mother in September 2022 following her 70-year reign. His absence will be keenly felt on Monday when he misses events to celebrate the Commonwealth, a club of 56 countries which evolved out of the British Empire. Commonwealth Day, which sees senior royals attend a service at London's Westminster Abbey where he was crowned last year, is an important annual fixture in the royal calendar as Charles heads the organisation which was very dear to his mother. STILL WORKING Although he will not be there in person, with his wife Queen Camilla leading the way instead, Charles will deliver a video message, the latest demonstration of how he is still carrying out his official state duties. Since his illness was disclosed, he has been shown hosting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for their regular meeting, and in the last week was pictured greeting foreign dignitaries and on a video call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "We're in a sort of similar situation, rather, to the one the queen was in at the start of the COVID pandemic, where she was trying to juggle her duties as monarch while being detached from the public," said royal commentator and Charles biographer Robert Hardman. "And that's really the model. We'll see plenty of the king. We'll hear from him, but it'll just be by remote video conferencing rather than in the flesh." Where Charles has broken with usual royal protocol though, is in his willingness to give some insight into his health, an indication of his desire for a more open, less formal monarchy, commentators say. Prior to the cancer news, he had also disclosed he would undergo a "corrective procedure" in hospital for an enlarged prostate, a benign condition common among men over 50. "I think it does mark a departure from the tone in the style of his mother, the late queen," said Anna Whitelock, professor of the History of Monarchy at London's City University. "On some level, he had to say something. But of course, he didn't have to disclose that it was actually a cancer diagnosis." Britain's royals usually do not disclose details of illnesses, regarding all medical issues as private, and little was said about a condition which kept the late queen from public duties towards the end of her reign. Charles, on the other hand, had been keen to share details of his prostate treatment to encourage other men experiencing symptoms to have a medical check, aides said. However, there is one issue on which experts are agreed: Charles will follow his mother's example and reject the idea of stepping down as king in favour of his son, Prince William. Abdication is not uncommon among other European monarchies - Queen Margrethe II of Denmark handed over the throne to her son King Frederik X in January after a 52-year reign - but no one expects Charles to follow suit. "There's no question of an abdication," said Hardman, while Whitelock said Charles would want to protect William and his three children from being in the limelight for as long as possible. "He wants to rule till his death. He's waited for this role. I'm sure he's had big, big ideas in mind, things he wants to do as king," said Stephanie Petit, royal editor of U.S. magazine People. "And for this to just come so soon after he has started his reign must be devastating for him." (Reporting by Sarah Mills; writing by Michael Holden; editing by Nick Macfie) With the latest updated results from Tuesdays primary election in Fresno County, most of the local contests in the city of Fresno and Fresno County are all but determined. The latest tally added about 24,000 votes to the overall turnout, but there are approximately 40,000 more ballots yet to be counted that have arrived in the mail and have postmarks of Election Day (March 5) or earlier. Unless the remaining ballots provide a significant departure from the trending returns since Tuesday, likely nothing will change from the current unofficial results. Those include the contests for Fresno mayor and city council, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, and a trio of county ballot measures. See below for details. There are still an unknown number of ballots postmarked by March 5 but yet to be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to the Fresno County elections division. The updated figures indicate that of about 146,000 vote-by-mail ballots had been received by the county, almost 106,000 have been counted through Thursday afternoon. That equates to a turnout of about 29% of the Fresno Countys 507,000 registered voters. County Clerk / Registrar of Voters James Kus said the next update is expected before 5 p.m. March 12. The fresh load of ballots created no substantial changes in the results of local races in Fresno County and the city of Fresno from those reported late on Election Night. Fresno mayor: Incumbent Jerry Dyer continues to hold a commanding lead with almost 82% of votes cast, ahead of challengers James Barr, a high school teacher, at 12.9%, and stay-at-home mother Samantha Dussell at 5.5%. Fresno City Council District 2: Incumbent Mike Karbassi leads with 73.9% in his re-election bid to represent northwest Fresno, ahead of challenger nonprofit executive Matthew Gillian at 26.1%. Fresno City Council District 4: Incumbent Tyler Maxwell was unopposed in his bid for a second four-year term representing east-central Fresno. Fresno City Council District 6: Since none of the four candidates received an outright majority of 50% plus one vote, the top two vote-getters in a race to replace term-limited incumbent Garry Bredefeld appear likely to head to a November runoff. Attorney Roger Bonakdar leads with 36.7% of the votes, followed by fund-raising consultant Nick Richardson at 27.1%. Out of about 12,000 votes counted so far, about 500 votes separate Richardson from the third-place candidate, businesswoman Molly Fagundes-Johnston, at 22.8%. Bank executive Raj Sodhi-Layne has 13.4%. Fresno County Supervisor District 2: Challenger Bredefeld continues to lead incumbent Supervisor Steve Brandau in a race that is destined for a November runoff to determine who will represent the district that includes north Fresno. Bredefeld, termed out from the Fresno City Council, has 36.8%, while Brandau has 24.8%. Rounding out the field are county Assessor-Recorder Paul Dictos at 16.4%, business owner Bryce Herrera at 9.4%, and social worker Dion Bourdase at 7.2%. Fresno County Supervisor District 3: Incumbent Supervisor Sal Quintero maintains a lead in his bid for re-election to represent southeast and southwest Fresno on the county board, but challenger Luis Chavez, currently a member of the Fresno City Council, has enough votes to make it to a November runoff. Quintero has 40.3% while Chave has 25.8%. Lagging in the race are Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias at 18.4% and teacher E.J. Hinojosa at 15.6%. Fresno County Supervisor District 5: Incumbent Supervisor Nathan Magsig is winning in his bid for a new four-year term representing eastern Fresno County with 71.3%, ahead of challenger Jennifer Cruz, a nonprofit manager, at 28.7%. Fresno County Measure A: The measure to keep Fresno Countys elections for sheriff and district attorney in non-presidential election years is passing with 55.9% of the votes counted so far, compared to 44.1% of voters who said no. Fresno County Measure B: A proposal to reserve authority for the county Board of Supervisors to rename places within the county was being soundly rejected by voters, with 63.6% voting no against 36.4% voting yes. The measure was put on the ballot by the Board of Supervisors as an effort to assert local control over state and federal mandates to rename the foothill town of Squaw Valley to Yokuts Valley. Fresno County Measure E: An attempt by backers of California State University, Fresno, to enact a countywide 0.25% sales tax to support facilities improvements at the university, was also losing. As of Thursday evening, 55.6% of voters were saying no to the measure, against 43.4% who voted yes. A similar measure for a 0.2% sales tax was defeated by voters in 2022. Palestinians wait to receive food amid shortages of food supplies, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) - A U.N. expert on Friday criticised U.S. efforts to boost humanitarian aid to Gaza, such as plans for a temporary port and recent air drops, which he said were "absurd" and "cynical" methods so long as military aid to Israel continues. Amid warnings of looming famine five months into Israel's campaign against the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, the U.S. military has carried out air drops of meals into Gaza and plans a temporary port for aid imports on its Mediterranean coast. Air drops in particular "will do very little to alleviate hunger malnutrition, and do nothing to slow down famine," Michael Fakhri, U.N. special rapporteur on the right to food, told reporters in Geneva. He warned of chaos as starving people joust for supplies. As for the port, he said no one had asked for it. He called the port and air drops methods of "last resort". "The time when countries use air drops, and these maritime piers, is usually if not always, in situations when you want to deliver humanitarian aid into enemy territory," he said. The U.S. diplomatic mission in Geneva was not immediately available to respond to the remarks made late on Friday. Fakhri, a Lebanese-Canadian law professor mandated by the U.N. Human Rights Council to document and advise on global food security, said such methods made little sense while Washington continues to provide military support to Israel. U.S. legislation envisages an additional $17.6 billion in new military assistance to Israel as its war against Hamas continues in response to their deadly Oct. 7 attacks. "That's more than allyship. That's a marriage ... It's almost incomprehensible," he said of U.S. support to Israel, calling the recent aid measures a "performance to try to meet a domestic audience with (U.S. presidential) elections around the corner". "That's the only rational coherent interpretation (for these aid announcements) because ...from a humanitarian perspective, from an international perspective, from a human rights perspective, it is absurd in a dark, cynical way," he said. Fakhri, who has been critical of Israel on social media, on Thursday told the Geneva Human Rights Council that Israel was destroying Gaza's food system as part of a broader "starvation campaign". Israel's envoy called this a lie and it strongly denies restricting aid into Gaza. (Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by William Maclean) Staff have suggested the building's 'dragonscale' solar panel roof could be to blame - Peter Dasilva/REUTERS When Google opened its latest campus in Silicon Valley in 2022, it boasted about the buildings space-age design and high-tech features including a roof made entirely of solar panels. But employees at the office have a more prosaic complaint: the internet giants WiFi does not work. Multiple employees speaking to Reuters complained for several months that their laptops had been unable to connect to WiFi. Some staff have suggested the issues are related to the buildings billowing roof, which is made up of a dragonscale design of 90,000 silver solar panels and may be responsible for trapping wireless signals. Employees are able to plug into wired internet connections at their desks on the ground floor, designed for focused work. But when they take their laptops to the offices first floor, which has comfortable chairs for meetings and collaborative work, many find they are unable to access wireless internet. Google has issued some staff with laptops featuring more powerful WiFi receivers while others have been encouraged to sit outside at the offices cafe, where there are stronger connections. Others have taken to using their phones mobile signal as a hotspot rather than relying on the companys WiFi. The spotty internet signals have jeopardised Googles effort to get staff to return to the office three days a week, some employees said. A Google spokesman told Reuters: Weve had WiFi connectivity issues in Bay View. He added that the company had made several improvements to address the issue. Googles Bay View campus, which sits near its headquarters, is described by the company as the first built by the business itself from the ground up. It is powered by solar and wind energy 90pc of the time and is designed so that every employee has a view of a window. It was designed by the Danish architects Bjarke Ingels Group and Heatherwick Studio, run by the English designer Thomas Heatherwick. It houses around 4,000 staff including those working on its latest artificial intelligence systems. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. President Joe Biden arrives for the State of the Union address on Capitol Hill, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Washington, as Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., watch. | Mark Schiefelbein Several members of Utahs all-Republican congressional delegation took to social media after President Joe Bidens State of the Union address Thursday night to give their take on what was said. Sen. Mitt Romney called the speech highly political and was frustrated by the presidents remarks on Republicans and Social Security. He also had some praise for the presidents remarks on foreign policy. Sen. Mike Lee also criticized the presidents remarks, disagreeing with his takes on foreign policy, the border and the economy. Read more to see how members of the delegation responded to Bidens remarks. Sen. Mike Lee Lee shared reactions to Bidens address throughout the evening on X. After Bidens remarks, Lee released his response, where he said President Biden painted a picture untethered from reality. What we saw is a president who puts America last. Lee expressed frustration over Bidens request for additional funding for Ukraine and said Biden wasnt doing enough to protect Americas border using laws already on the books. He spoke about the tragic case of Laken Riley, a young woman who was killed in Georgia. He said her death was a reminder of the human cost of this utter abdication of duty to protect the border. On Bidens positive remarks about the economy, Lee said, The presidents claims of presiding over the strongest economy in the world ring hollow very hollow in the ears of Americans still reeling from the rampant federal spending thats become a hallmark of his administration. Lee said the middle class has been squeezed with prices soaring to unprecedented heights. The state of our union is in shambles and we need a strong leader, said Lee, who has endorsed former President Donald Trump. We need a president who will put America first, lead with strength, secure our borders, and ensure the next generation of Americans wont bear the burden of our fiscal irresponsibility. Sen. Mitt Romney After the speech, Romney shared his reaction to Bidens speech on X, where he said, My own view is that what you saw tonight was a highly political speech. And its not going to move the needle. Romney praised Biden for calling for additional aid to Ukraine, and for expressing support for Israel in its war with Hamas. I think on foreign policy he did a good job. It is very much in Americas interest to see Ukraine push back against (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, said Romney. He also spoke, I thought, well, with regards to Israel and also with regards to the need to help the Palestinian individuals and Gaza with humanitarian aid, he said. Romney had a different view on Bidens take on domestic policy, calling it the same old liberal playbook. I mean, there were some new chapters, but the same idea, which is heres some things Im going to give you. Heres some more things Im going to give you. ... Im going to crack down on big companies and rich people. Romney said Biden took cheap shots at Republicans over Social Security. Thats just simply wrong. And everybody knows that theres not a Republican in the House or the Senate that is talking about cutting Social Security, or is in favor of cutting Social Security. Bidens greatest mistake, said Romney, was he really never talked about how were going to deal with the deficit and the debt. And the debt is enormous. It poses a threat to us. Rep. Blake Moore, 1st District In a statement, Moore said he found Bidens address divisive. I was expecting President Biden to use tonights State of the Union address to find common ground and inspire a shared vision for America, he said. Instead, the President delivered a divisive campaign speech. If we want to find real solutions to our nations most pressing challenges, we must come together. Moore said he agreed with Biden on supporting the military and finding a solution on Ukraine, but said he was disappointed Biden blamed Republicans for his border crisis. Rather than wasting time with convenient political posturing, President Biden could and should reinstate the many effective, data-driven border policies from the Trump-Pence Administration and end the most catastrophic border crisis our nation has ever seen, said Moore, who is in a leadership position in the House. On foreign aid, Moore said the governments focus must be on safely returning the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. They must be reunited with their families as soon as possible. I am glad the administration has worked with Israel to develop stronger aid corridors for innocent civilians while Israel continues to fight to defeat Hamas. However, we cannot forget that other regional players have a responsibility to step up as well, said Moore. Last week, I led a bipartisan letter to Secretary Blinken outlining the major logistical issues within Egypt that are hurting faith-based and humanitarian groups on the ground and preventing them from getting aid into Rafah. It is incumbent on Egypt and regional players to assist in this critical situation, not solely the U.S. Moore said he still believes lawmakers can come together to build meaningful solutions, pointing to the work thats been done in the House Ways and Means and Budget committees. Rep. Burgess Owens, 4th District Owens released a statement on social media, criticizing the president. No speech will change what Americans know: with President Joe Biden in the White House, our nation is less prosperous, less safe, and less free, Owens said on social media. From the crisis at our southern border, the rise in violent crime and lawlessness, to skyrocketing prices and a weaponized government, the state of our union is undoubtedly in decline because of this administrations failures. President Joe Bidens detachment from the harsh realities Americans face every day speaks volumes. November cant come soon enough. The families of the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, are furious at a new report that defended the actions of local police on May 24, 2022, when 19 students and two teachers were killed. The local report, which follows a more harshly critical one from the federal government, acknowledged the police failure that resulted in nearly 400 members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies standing outside the elementary school for 77 minutes while the gunman was inside but found that the citys officers did not violate policies. Family members of the victims, enraged with the reports results, shouted cowards during a City Council meeting, KENS5 reported. The families also scolded the investigator hired by local officials for leaving the room before they had the chance to speak with him, The Associated Press reported. In some cases, the report and Uvalde officials actually praised the actions of the law enforcement. You said they did it in good faith. You call that good faith? They stood there 77 minutes, said Kimberly Mata-Rubio, who lost her daughter, according to the AP. Jesse Prado, a former police detective from Austin, conducted the report for the Uvalde City Council. During the council meeting, he emphasized the failures law enforcement had on the day of the shooting. Communication problems, poor training for live shooter situations, lack of available equipment and delays on breaching the classroom were among the issues he reportedly cited. There were problems all day long with communication and lack of it. The officers had no way of knowing what was being planned, what was being said, Prado said during his presentation. The Department of Justice (DOJ) released a scathing report earlier this year that found law enforcement had a lack of preparation, communication and initiative in their response to the shooting. Following the DOJs investigation, the families of victims renewed their calls for police officers to face charges. The report cited unnecessary deaths, as officers detained parents who attempted to enter the school but did not go in themselves. Criminal charges have not been presented to any member of law enforcement. Since the shooting, at least five officers have lost their jobs, including two from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the on-site commander. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The U.S. military will allow its fleet of V-22 Ospreys to fly again, three months after it grounded the entire inventory of more than 400 aircraft following a fatal crash off the coast of Japan in November. The Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy will immediately start refreshing troops training and changing maintenance procedures as prerequisites for resuming normal operations, leaders from each of the services told reporters Wednesday. But they acknowledged it will be months before the tiltrotor aircraft are fully back to flying real-world missions. The Ospreys will receive no equipment modifications before they return to the air. What is the Osprey, the aircraft at the center of multiple tragedies? Marine Corps Col. Brian Taylor, the V-22 joint program manager, told reporters his office and the services have high confidence that we understand what component failed and how it failed. Its still unclear why the part in question did not perform as intended. Taylor and other service officials declined to say which components failure caused an Air Force Special Operations Command Osprey to crash into the sea during a training mission Nov. 29, killing all eight airmen aboard. They also declined to answer whether the aircraft would be restricted from flying under certain conditions or in certain areas due to the risk of a repeat problem. The accident is still under investigation. The Air Force has shared its findings with the joint program office which manages V-22 acquisition and maintenance for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and the other services to better understand the material failure that led to the crash. Because the wreckage of the Osprey sat under the Pacific Ocean for about a month before being recovered, the drive system is corroded such that engineers may never understand why the unnamed component failed, Taylor said. But investigators created a fault tree to map out potential causes, which are addressed in the services mitigation plan. The main change will increase the frequency of an inspection that is already done on the aircraft like upping the number of oil changes on a car, Taylor said. He said the change gives the component a greater perimeter of safety during operations. Though Taylor repeatedly declined to offer information about the component, he said it is not the input quill assembly that attaches the Ospreys engine to its proprotor gear box the component that began wearing out early and caused a series of clutch malfunctions for Marine Corps and Air Force pilots in 2022. A portion of the Air Force and Marine Corps fleets were grounded in 2023 as those services studied how to mitigate the risk of so-called hard clutch engagements and when to replace worn-out parts. NBC reported Feb. 19 the November crash may have involved chipping, where tiny pieces of metal wear off during use and can damage the engine. Taylor did not specify whether chipping played a role in the crash, but characterized it as a normal phenomenon for a mechanical system and said the V-22 has a sophisticated monitoring system that looks for small metal bits and alerts the pilot if any are detected. Taylor made clear the November crash was unrelated to other previous V-22 mishaps. This is the first time that weve seen this particular component fail in this way, and so this is unprecedented in the 750,000 flight hours amassed over the life of the V-22 program, he said. Due to that long track record, Taylor said: We are confident in the system. The Gundam 22 crash The Nov. 29 accident was the deadliest Air Force mishap since 2018, and the fourth fatal Osprey crash in a two-year span. Twenty U.S. troops have died in Osprey incidents since March 2022. The downed crew of Gundam 22 included Osprey pilots Maj. Jeff Hoernemann, Maj. Luke Unrath and Capt. Terry Brayman; medical personnel Maj. Eric Spendlove and Tech. Sgt. Zach Lavoy; flight engineers Staff Sgt. Jake Turnage and Senior Airman Kody Johnson; and airborne linguist Staff Sgt. Jake Galliher. Six were stationed at Japans Yokota Air Base; two worked at Kadena Air Base. All were assigned to the Air Forces 353rd Special Operations Wing. The weeks-long, multinational search effort successfully recovered the bodies of all but Spendlove. The U.S. military now flies hundreds of V-22s, largely operated by the Marines. The tiltrotor aircraft is known for its towering nacelles that allow it to launch and land like a helicopter, and speed forward like a fixed-wing plane. Troops use the unique aircraft to slip in and out of areas without established runways, where fixed-wing planes may not be able to land with troops and supplies. The Marine Corps owns nearly 350 Ospreys; the Air Force and Navy operate smaller fleets at around 50 and 30 aircraft, respectively. Beyond the safety and accident investigation boards studying the most recent crash, Air Force Special Operations Command is also conducting a deep-dive into its CV-22 Osprey program to determine whether it provides adequate training, resources and other factors to ensure airmens safety. The Government Accountability Office and House Committee on Oversight and Accountability have also launched their own probes into the V-22. On Wednesday, Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican who chairs the House oversight committee, said it had not yet received information from the military as it looks into the aircrafts safety and performance. Serious concerns remain, such as accountability measures put in place to prevent crashes, a general lack of transparency, how maintenance and operational upkeep is prioritized, and how DOD assesses risks, Comer said in a statement. We will continue to rigorously investigate the DODs Osprey program to attain answers to our questions on behalf of American taxpayers and protect U.S. service members defending our nation. Marines prepare As the biggest user of the V-22 platform by far, the Marine Corps has been most affected by the monthslong grounding. It relies on the Osprey to move people, supplies and weapons, and operates from ship decks and from ground bases. Brig. Gen. Richard Joyce, the assistant deputy commandant for aviation, told reporters the Marine Corps has focused on keeping up troops proficiency on the Osprey since the grounding began in early December so the service could resume flights as quickly as possible. Our simulator utilization has been maximized to keep proficiency as much as possible in the virtual environment, he said. How the Osprey grounding affected a Marine unit in the Indo-Pacific The service has gone as far as sending MV-22 pilots in Djibouti thousands of miles away to use simulators in Japan, and shipping MV-22 pilots who are deployed to the Middle East with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit back home to North Carolina for simulator training. Now that the program office has cleared the aircraft to fly, the Corps most experienced pilots and aircrew will begin maintenance-check flights to get the Ospreys up in the air, then retrain on core and basic skills, Joyce said. Once those top personnel have brushed up on the fundamentals, theyll pair with junior pilots and crew for additional basic training. Joyce said it would take about a month for a squadron to get everyone back up to speed basic skills. However, it will take more time for the personnel to retrain on more advanced skills and mission-specific tasks for combat assaults, transport flights and other missions. The general said it would take until late spring or early summer to get back to pre-grounding readiness levels. V-22 squadrons will go through more consumable parts, like filters, as they take on additional inspections and maintenance, he said. Those parts and training support will first go to deployed units, followed by squadrons with upcoming deployments, squadrons participating in key exercises or service-level training events, and eventually to test-and-evaluation units and those farthest from a future deployment. The amphibious assault ship Boxer and the 15th MEU are set to deploy from California this spring, and Joyce said its not clear yet if theyll be ready to bring the V-22 along. Its one of the most pressing decisions related to resuming V-22 flight operations, he said. Air Forces ongoing studies Airmen have done the work required to keep the Air Forces Osprey fleet healthy during the three-month standdown, but theres only so much they can do with aircraft that are not flying, Air Force Special Operations Command boss Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind told reporters Wednesday. He described a 12-week road map to getting the Ospreys back in the air that adds new maintenance requirements and allows experienced airmen to lead the way. The service will deviate from that plan as needed if work isnt progressing on schedule. Returning the aircraft to service begins with ground and simulator training that will include new safety controls and briefings, a review of aircraft maintenance records and refining squadron-level training plans to implement the new safety protocols, Bauernfeind said. The Air Force did not elaborate on what new safety protocols will be introduced. AFSOC held an all-hands for Osprey crews Feb. 22-23 at Hurlburt Field, Florida, to explain the new safety protocols. We received very positive feedback that it was very beneficial to the crews, Bauernfeind said. The second phase will focus on returning air crews and maintainers to basic proficiency, initially targeted at senior aviators, instructors, evaluators and weapons officers. Simulator training has helped keep skills sharp during the standdown. The phased approach gives the service time to absorb findings from the services initial safety investigation, an internal report meant to root out the cause of a mishap and prevent future occurrences. Bauernfeind received and accepted the findings of the safety board March 1. He expects it will take the service more than three months to reach the level of proficiency it had on the Osprey before the Nov. 29 crash. Bauernfeind said hes confident in the services ability to safely resume Osprey operations before wrapping up two ongoing investigations. The Air Force has kept the families of the downed crew informed about the process, but has not told them the results of the recently completed safety investigation board. I have confidence that we know enough now to return to fly, he said. Navys path to at-sea missions The Navy will take a similarly cautious approach to resuming its flights, putting only its most experienced personnel in the air first for basic flights in daytime-only conditions, Commander of Naval Air Forces Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever told reporters. Those top personnel will then pair with junior sailors and eventually resume night operations and other, more complex training. The Navy will lastly resume training new pilots and aircrew at the fleet replacement squadrons. But Cheever warned that returning to flight wasnt the same as returning to mission: It may be several more months until the Navy sees its CMV-22Bs flying operational missions to haul cargo and people to aircraft carriers at sea. Cheever said the Navy would avoid long, over-ocean flights until all personnel had built up sufficient proficiency. But when asked about any restrictions on the aircraft regarding duration of over-water flights, he deferred to NAVAIR. Taylor, from the V-22 program office under NAVAIR, declined to say whether there were or were not any operational limitations for the planes under the new return-to-flight plan. Cheever highlighted the Navys flexibility and said all carriers at sea had fared well during the V-22 grounding. The Navy relied on its C-2A Greyhound, which is set to sundown in 2026 as its replaced by the CMV-22B, to resupply carriers at sea, including the Theodore Roosevelt deployed in the Indo-Pacific today. He said the Navy also relied more heavily on its replenishment ship fleet and looked to load more goods onto carriers when they were in port. But he noted the importance of getting the CMV-22 back to its mission, saying it can conduct medical evacuations and haul large F-35C engine components unlike its aging predecessor. Dr. Emily Murphy of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine receives prestigious fellowship to integrate social determinants of health learning into resident training. Dr. Emily Murphy The 2024-2026 Recipient of the Jeremiah A. Barondess Fellowship in the Clinical Transaction New York, NY, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM), in collaboration with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), is pleased to announce that the 2024-2026 Jeremiah A. Barondess Fellowship in the Clinical Transaction is awarded to Dr. Emily Murphy, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Murphys educational intervention supported by the Fellowship focuses on teaching residents to integrate social determinants of health (SDoH) into clinical reasoning and developing patient-centered plans. In short, she will teach clinicians at the bedside how they should interpret and apply social determinants of health data in the clinical care of patients to affect meaningful change in patient outcomes. The ACGME will recognize Dr. Murphy at its Annual Educational Conference, to be held in Orlando, Florida, from March 7 to 9, 2024. The Barondess Fellowship is awarded to junior faculty members in internal medicine to enhance medical students and residents training in the clinical transaction, a fundamental element of clinical care. The two-year, $50,000 fellowship aims to improve the patient experience by innovating and strengthening the critical skills that characterize the clinical transaction, including communicating with patients, conducting the physical exam, and applying clinical reasoning. Preparing clinicians to address the social determinants of health for their patients couldnt be more critical toward advancing patient health and health equity, said NYAM President Ann Kurth, PhD, CNM, MPH. Meeting the training needs of residents will help strengthen their understanding of patient needs and providing necessary care. Story continues The ACGME is proud to co-present the Barondess Fellowship to Dr. Murphy for her important intervention to integrate social determinants of health into resident training, said ACGME President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas J. Nasca, MD, MACP. Her work in this area is more important than ever in promoting patient-centered care. SDoH Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residents Data suggest that at baseline, internal medicine residents have significant performance gaps in integrating the SDoH into clinical reasoning, indicating a need for formal education. To meet this need, Dr. Murphy will develop a curriculum for internal medicine residents in the Osler Medical Residency Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. This proposed curriculum will include multidisciplinary problem-based learning and supervised clinical experiences, and will assess impact on resident education and patient outcomes. In 2024, we will learn more about the social determinants of health impacting our patients than ever before due to required inpatient SDoH screening. If met with appropriate education, we have the opportunity to effectively incorporate SDoH into clinical reasoning to improve patient outcomes. I am thrilled to have been awarded the Barondess Fellowship to create a curriculum to meet this educational need and am grateful to NYAM and the ACGME for their support, said Emily Murphy, MD. Dr. Murphy is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM). Born in Massachusetts, she completed her medical education at JHUSOM and her residency at the Harvard Brigham & Womens Hospital/Boston Childrens Hospital Medicine Pediatrics Residency. Dr. Murphy practices as an academic Med-Peds hospitalist and is a clinician educator for both undergraduate and graduate medical learners. She is interested in how to teach future and current physicians to address social determinants of health. She is the 2023-2024 recipient of the Society of Bedside Medicine Fellowship, during which she designed and implemented a novel SDoH curriculum for the medicine clerkship. She plans to use the Barondess Fellowship to develop a practical, patient-facing SDoH curriculum for the Osler Medical Residency Training Program at JHUSOM. About The New York Academy of Medicine The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) is a leading voice for innovation in public health. Throughout its 177-year history, NYAM has uniquely championed bold changes to the systems that perpetuate health inequities and keep all communities from achieving good health. Today, this work includes innovative research, programs, and policy initiatives that distinctively value community input for maximum impact. Combined with NYAMs trusted programming and historic Library, and with the support of nearly 2,000 esteemed Fellows and Members, NYAMs impact as a health leader continues. To learn more,visit www.nyam.org and follow @NYAMNYC on social media. About the ACGME The ACGME is a private, nonprofit, professional organization responsible for the accreditation of approximately 11,700 residency and fellowship programs and the approximately 850 institutions that sponsor these programs in the United States. Residency and fellowship programs educate approximately 140,500 resident and fellow physicians in 181 specialties and subspecialties. The ACGMEs mission is to improve health care and population health by assessing and advancing the quality of resident physicians education through accreditation. Attachment CONTACT: Gina Ravosa The New York Academy of Medicine 212-822-8275 gravosa@nyam.org Susan Holub Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education 312-755-5066 sholub@acgme.org A Caroline County elementary school has become the first in Virginia to have more than 200 students and staff complete training for a heart-related challenge while the Rappahannock Area YMCA recently was recognized as the first organization in the Fredericksburg area and the first YMCA nationwide to be designated a Stroke Smart Organization. Lewis and Clark Elementary School in Ruther Glen recently set a goal of having at least 100 students and staff members complete Finns Mission through the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge. The school then doubled the goal as they learned hands-only CPR, warning signs of stroke and how to share these lifesaving skills with others. Its the most impactful thing any participant can do, said Marjorie ChurchBourne, the AHAs director of school engagement. There is so much heart within this amazing school and community. Finns Mission is in honor of Finn Blumenthal, who was living in Stafford County in 2018 when he was selected the associations national ambassador. Born in January 2015 with multiple congenital heart defects, he underwent open-heart surgeries as an infant and 2-year-old. The Blumenthal family currently lives in Henrico where Finn, 9, and his mother, Kelly, continue to raise awareness about life-saving measures, including hands-only CPR, according to a story in the Henrico Citizen. ChurchBourne held an assembly for the Lewis and Clark Grizzlies whose reward was pouring slime on Principal Cindy Brown and the schools physical education teachers, Shelby Foltz and Kyle Cooper. Meanwhile, the YMCAs efforts to raise awareness of the signs of stroke, educate staff and community about the symptoms and ensure the prompt activation of emergency medical services is commendable, said Susan Halpin, the stroke coordinator at Mary Washington Hospitals Primary Stroke Center. We hope other organizations look to them as an example and want to become a Stroke Smart Organization as well, she said. Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability and a major cause of death in the United States. Efforts to enhance stroke awareness and education have led to the rapid growth of a statewide public health initiative called Stroke Smart Virginia. Collaborating with the Rappahannock Emergency Medical Services Council and the Community Outreach Patient Engagement Program, Mary Washington Healthcare and the Virginia Department of Health, the City of Fredericksburg was proclaimed a Stroke Smart city in 2022, making it the first locality in the region to receive the designation. The Stroke Center also has worked to improve outcomes and has provided education to the Rappahannock Area YMCA locations. Staff members are trained on being stroke smart and what steps to take to prevent and respond to strokes. Barney Reilly, CEO of the Rappahannock Area YMCA, said he was grateful to MWHC for the training and proud of the staffs abilities to recognize stroke symptoms and take immediate action to not only save a life, but to improve someones quality of life. The Walgreens on Hoover Avenue in Dayton is among the locations that will close across the nation because of corporate downsizing, a decision that is drawing attention again to concerns that low-income, Black and Latino Americans have been abandoned and left to exist in a pharmacy desert. >> Dayton identified as a top city to view April 8 solar eclipse Dont take away the things that we need, you know, this has been one of the main things that we need, TJ Jackson, a Walgreens shopper at the Hoover Avenue store, told News Center 7s Taylor Robertson on Thursday night. Thats a shame that, you know, were losing the things that we need here on the west side, he said. Walgreens corporate offices issued the following statement to News Center 7 in confirming that the Hoover Avenue location is scheduled to close April 1: This locations closure is due to a decline in foot traffic leading to an unsustainable business performance, according to the statement, communicated through Martin Maloney, a company media representative. We are sorry for the inconvenience. We know that our customers and patients rely on our stores and trust our team members for their healthcare needs. And, when we must close a store, it affects them and their community. Our priority is to ensure a smooth transition for our customers and team members during this time. When faced with the difficult decision to close a location, Walgreens said, several factors are taken into account including the existing footprint of stores, dynamics of the local market, and changes in the buying habits of our patients and customers, among other reasons. We are committed to our patients in Dayton, and have provided them with options to ease the transition as this store closes so we can continue to serve their needs. All of our team members have been offered employment at other nearby Walgreens, and we will continue to operate five locations in Dayton, the company said in its statement. >> Ohio No. 5 in nation for internet crime, FBI says Grant, a Dayton resident who asked that his last name not be used, said he was disappointed when he learned the reason for the decision to close the west side Walgreens. I know theres a lot of older people who frequent this Walgreens and some, they can barely walk here, Grant said. According to this reporters GPS, the Walgreens nearest the Hoover Avenue location is on Salem Avenue -- more than an hours walk. I wish they would take the time to really consider what theyre doing as far as closing because it makes the area you know you have older people and they really dont have cars or they have to travel here by RTA, Grant said. And now they even have to go further. Making the situation potentially even more dire is the January announcement by CVS, the nations biggest drugstore chain, that it, too, is closing dozens of the about 1,800 pharmacies it operates inside Target stores. Its an effort, Target officials have said, to cut back on its retail footprint driven by increasing expenses in its pharmacy and insurance business that will hurt profit in the next couple of years, cbsnews.com has reported. The pharmacies will transfer prescriptions to other CVS locations. There has been no word yet on which Target locations will lose their CVS pharmacies. The closures started in February and are expected to end by early April, cbsnews.com reported in January. Walgreens and CVS have joined Rite Aid in closing more than 1,500 locations over the last two years. according to cbsnews.com, Forbes and other national media organizations, and experts in those same reports have said minority communities likely will be the first to lose pharmacy access. Today, Ukraine announces a mandatory evacuation from Kupyansk, as Russian forces draw nearer. Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron attempt to build more support for Ukraine and we analyse the history and changing role of women in Ukraines armed forces on International Womens Day 2024. Listen to Ukraine: the Latest, The Telegraphs daily podcast, using the audio player at the top of this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app. War in Ukraine is reshaping our world. Every weekday The Telegraphs top journalists analyse the invasion from all angles - military, humanitarian, political, economic, historical - and tell you what you need to know to stay updated. With over 70 million listens, our Ukraine: The Latest podcast is your go-to source for all the latest analysis, live reaction and correspondents reporting on the ground. We have been broadcasting ever since the full-scale invasion began. Ukraine: The Latests regular contributors are: David Knowles David is Head of Audio Development at The Telegraph, where he has worked for nearly three years. He has reported from across Ukraine during the full-scale invasion. Dominic Nicholls Dom is Associate Editor (Defence) at The Telegraph, having joined in 2018. He previously served for 23 years in the British Army, in tank and helicopter units. He had operational deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. Francis Dearnley Francis is Assistant Comment Editor at The Telegraph. Prior to working as a journalist, he was chief of staff to the Chair of the Prime Ministers Policy Board at the Houses of Parliament in London. He studied History at Cambridge University and on the podcast explores how the past shines a light on the latest diplomatic, political, and strategic developments. They are also regularly joined by Telegraph reporters and correspondents around the world, including Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent), James Kilner, (Foreign Correspondent and Editor of the Central Asia & the South Caucasus Bulletin), Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent), Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Colin Freeman (Foreign Correspondent), Danielle Sheridan (Defence Editor), and Tony Diver (US Editor). Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Last week the Russian patrol ship Sergei Kotov was the thirteenth ship of Russias Black Sea Fleet to be sunk or crippled. Why they keep hanging individual ships out to dry remains a mystery when the infamous Kalibr missile has the legs to cover the whole Black Sea but they do and yet again, Ukraines use of maritime drones has proven decisive. Emerging body cam footage from the Sergei Kotov under attack from five Magura V5 drones also shows how many basic elements are still missing. To me this is one of the more remarkable elements of this. Historically, ships have often been caught out by the first attack. The USS Stark, hit by two Exocets fired from an Iraqi jet in 1987, is a good example of this but lessons were quickly learned and assimilated across the US Navy. Similarly, the USS Cole getting hit by a suicide boat whilst alongside in Aden in October 2000 is another example of an attack that caught the ship by surprise but resulted in a pan-Nato rethink about warship vulnerability and protection when alongside. The body cam footage shows three fundamental things to defend against a fast-moving surface threat are missing in the Black Sea Fleet. First is speed and manoeuvre. When operating without layered defence as smaller ships often will, this is perhaps your greatest ally. The ship should be doing 30 knots and weaving as though lives depend on it, because they do. Instead, the Kotov appears to be doing about half that and mainly in a straight line. These drones have a low freeboard which makes them difficult to detect on radar, but that same low freeboard will make them easy to outrun in anything other than the calmest waters. I led a multi-ship exercise against this threat off the west coast of Scotland and the USS Forrest Sherman, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer assigned to my task group, created a seven-metre wake that the attacking jet skis were physically unable to cross. Meanwhile, the other British frigate in the group and I launched our helicopters which then picked the attackers off at their leisure. The top speed of the Magura is around 40 knots. This will drop to 30 in a sea state 2 and well below that in anything above a sea state 4. Spot them early then run away calling in combat air to deal with them once youre clear. The second is mounted weapons. Its hard to describe how much more effective a mounted weapon is than one you are holding, even more so if it is rough or the captain is throwing the ship around (see above). Its also one of the easiest weapon modifications to do. The body cam footage shows someone running side to side then firing from their shoulder. Not badly as it happens, but this would be so much more effective with a series of simple mounts, welded to the deck in key locations aft of the bridge. Third is weight of fire. A Royal Navy frigate has six mountings down each side, seven if you count the main gun, of varying rates of fire and calibre sizes including a 30mm cannon that can be controlled from inside the ship. This gives you options as the situation escalates. I was lucky during my time and managed to head off all potential attacks with timely and well-aimed shots across the bow. Granted, there isnt much point in doing this with a drone but there was still a significant weight of fire to bring to bear if that failed. Firing from a moving platform to hit another moving platform is not an exact science and frankly, the more lead in the air the better. And if there is more than one target, as there was in this instance, it is important to be able to allocate separate gun mountings to each one and then switch mid-engagement as and when they are neutralized. Doing this well whilst under attack, at night, from a ship being thrown around at max chat requires hours, days and weeks of practice and dedication. Of course, this shouldnt all be about the final few miles and white-of-the-eyes defence. Intelligence gathering, the ability to spot incoming attacks from the air, layered defence, automated weapons, soft-kill measures i.e. defeating the threat by jamming its uplink (if it has one) and confusing its targeting or control systems all form part of the defensive equation that from all videos seen so far, seems to be missing in the Black Sea Fleet. However, the real lesson from the Black Sea now isnt how to defend against this threat we have been practising that for decades it is the value of offensive drone operations. Ukraines success has not suddenly revealed this to maritime planners; it has banged the nail out of sight though. With so many systems and companies emerging that specialise in this area, all with competitive products and options, the key will be defining the requirement quickly and coherently enough to attract precious defence funds. This makes me nervous because, frankly, there arent any. In fact, as of Tuesdays budget, there are fewer. The RAFs 216 squadron exemplifies this dislocation between requirement and money. Formed in April 2020, it was set up as an experimental unit to test drone swarms. A good idea until it was revealed last week that zero tests have taken place since due to a lack of funds. US efforts are more advanced and in January, the US Navy reached out to industry looking for, small Unmanned Surface Vehicle (sUSV) interceptors, capable of autonomously transiting hundreds of miles through contested water space, loitering in an assigned operating area while monitoring for maritime surface threats, and then sprinting to interdict a noncooperative, manoeuvring vessel. How this develops will be one to watch as funds are similarly squeezed over there. Upper deck weapons crew aboard Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose during an exercise against fast attack craft. There's no substitute for plenty of lead in the air - PO(Phot) Jim Gibson RNR/Royal Navy The other risk is that pursuit of technological solutions becomes an altar at which perfectly serviceable existing equipment is then sacrificed. The premature disposal of our minehunter fleet, an area where we genuinely led the world for decades, is a good example of this. There is no doubt that uncrewed is the answer to the mine hunting problem but not for many years until the technology is mature and the support infrastructure to get it there fully developed. Neither of these is the case now. Overtly saying no need to put a person in the minefield anymore whilst covertly saying and look at the money well save won the day. Daft when you consider how prevalent this threat is and always will be. Globally, the ability to move cargo, energy and communications around the world by and under the sea unhindered remains up for grabs as potential state and non-state adversaries all jump on the disruption bandwagon. The lessons of the Black Sea are that offensive drone operations, above, on and below the waves are where the smart money should now be. Imagine how useful a Type 31 frigate in the Red Sea with a full suite of Mk41 housed missiles, including land attack, lasers and guns with proximity ammunition for drone defence would be just now. Add to that mission bays brimming with offensive drones for surveillance and strike. This is the vision captured by the project team and any number of future maritime warfare graphics. The trouble is, we need it now and not in 20 years time when it will be ready. There is a debate to be had over whether we are entering a new maritime era or whether we were always in one and only now are people starting to realise it. However, until that realisation manifests itself in votes and therefore money, it is moot. Ukraine is delivering a masterclass in delivering offensive and decisive maritime effects with uncrewed systems and limited resources. We need to do the same as it seems thats all were going to get. Tom Sharpe is a former Royal Navy officer who commanded four of Her Majestys warships (during the reign of the late Queen) 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 Haitis slow-motion crisis unfurled last week as gangs united to attack the countrys core institutions, White House officials turned to national security and intelligence agencies to answer a critical question: Would the potential collapse of Haitis government prompt a surge of desperate Haitians to take to the seas for South Floridas shores? U.S. officials monitoring online chatter, U.S. Coast Guard tracking and some intelligence collection found that a surge has not yet materialized. No signs have emerged of bottlenecks of new arrivals at Cap-Haitien or Port-de-Paix, northern port cities that have most often been used as launch sites for ocean journeys. Interdictions across the Florida Straits and the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic have remained steady. We have not seen any indications of a mass movement of people north, a tell that a mass migration by sea could take place, a U.S. official said. But officials who spoke with McClatchy on the condition of anonymity to discuss the U.S. assessment fear that trend could rapidly change. For now, violence around key roadways has frightened most civilians off the streets, paralyzing public transportation in and out of the capital. But gang leaders may soon determine they need to offer secure highway passage to buses in order to increase revenue from gang-imposed tolls, facilitating a potential rush to the exits, two senior administration officials told McClatchy. Further escalating concerns is the neighboring Dominican Republic, which has been in an escalating border dispute with Haiti for months. President Luis Abinader, who had been tightening the border before the crisis began, said this week that his country will not accept any Haitian refugees. Any further escalation of violence, if coupled with a crackdown on Haitians in the Dominican Republic, could trigger a wave of people taking to the treacherous Mona Passage toward Puerto Rico. The United Nations Office for Migration plans to establish a monitoring post as of Friday to begin monitoring flows, a U.N. official told the Miami Herald. We are clear-eyed that economic, political and security instability are key drivers for migrants around the world. We are always monitoring trends and routes frequently used by migrants to try to address migration surges before they reach our southwest border, a National Security Council official told McClatchy. We urge Haitians to seek out the many safe and lawful pathways available to migrate to the United States, the official said. Concerns over a surge in sea crossings one of the most perilous paths an individual can take to migrate abroad have persisted in the Biden administration ever since the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise nearly three years ago. Such a worrying surge was observed when, four months after Moises murder, a rickety wooden sailboat ferrying 63 Haitian migrants washed up in the Florida Keys the first large group in more than two years. It was also the beginning of the largest maritime migration crisis from Haiti in almost two decades. Various wooden sailboats in different stages of construction and repair line the bay on March 24, 2022, in Bodin on the outskirts of Port-de-Paix, Haiti. Thousands of migrants evaded Coast Guard patrols as they traveled the 600-mile stretch through the Florida Straits to South Florida. Other Haitians left the Dominican Republic for Puerto Rico. As in previous migration waves, the U.S. government responded by forcefully returning most migrants back to Haiti. PEOPLE GET HURT Through Feb. 29, the Coast Guard had intercepted 41 undocumented Haitians in the waters near Puerto Rico and the Mona Passage since October, compared to 264 Haitians during the governments fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30, 2023. The Coast Guard 7th District, headquartered in Miami, reported in mid-February that it had repatriated 53 people back to Haiti during that same time period. In March of last year, asked by McClatchy what he feared most about the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, President Joe Biden said he feared a massive loss of life among migrants at sea. People get hurt in mass migrations, and I worry about that, Biden said. Haitian voyages bound for Florida and Puerto Rico often turn deadly. In May 2022, 11 Haitian women drowned when their boat capsized near the U.S. territory. Since 2014, more than 800 people have died in the Caribbean on boat trips to the United States and Puerto Rico, according to the International Organization for Migration. To counter a potential migration flow, the Biden administration in January 2023 included Haiti in a list of four countries whose nationals would be allowed to come to the United States legally as part of a two-year humanitarian program, so long as they had a financial sponsor in the U.S and passed a background check. Through January of this year, 138,000 Haitians had already arrived out of 144,000 approved to travel through the process, according to federal government data. Since January 2023, Haitians are eligible for the Presidents Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan initiative, which provides a lawful pathway for vetted Haitians with sponsors to come to the United States in a humane and orderly way, the National Security Council official said. Those who cross unlawfully are ineligible for this process and instead are subject to prompt removal, consistent with our protection obligations. But for those seeking to come legally or as part of the program, options remain limited. Operations at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince are at a standstill, and flights from major U.S. carriers to the international airport in the capital are indefinitely canceled. The border with the neighboring Dominican Republic has also been tightened. Bidens immigration policy is already feeling the effects of the crisis. A deportation flight that was scheduled to fly from Miami to Port-au-Prince last Thursday never took off after the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the capital came under heavy gunfire. Since the gang assault began on Feb. 29, at least 10 police substations have been attacked and at least six police officers have been killed, according to human-rights activists. Another police substation was taken over by gangs overnight. The United Nations said since the new escalation in violence, more than 15,000 people have been internally displaced. They were among more than 314,000 Haitians who had already been forced out by gangs, raising concerns that the next mass movement may be toward the countrys coastlines. Agricultural producers and private landowners can sign up for the general Conservation Reserve Program through March 29. This conservation opportunity gives producers tools to conserve wildlife habitat while achieving other conservation benefits, including sequestering carbon and improving water quality and soil health. The competitive program, administered by the United States Department of Agricultures Farm Service Agency, provides annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes. As one of the largest private lands conservation programs in the United States, CRP offers a range of conservation options to farmers, ranchers, and landowners. It has been an especially strong opportunity for farmers with less productive or marginal cropland, helping them reestablish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and support wildlife habitat. General CRP helps producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Additionally, General CRP includes a Climate-Smart Practice Incentive to help increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by helping producers and landowners establish trees and permanent grasses, enhance wildlife habitat and restore wetlands. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recognizes the importance of CRP for wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities. When managed appropriately, CRP provides cover for pheasants, quail and other grassland species. Additional incentives through the Berggren Pheasant Plan or Open Fields and Waters Program may be available to CRP participants who are interested in going above and beyond minimum CRP requirements or providing public hunting access. You can read more about the Berggren Pheasant Plan or Open Fields and Waters Program at OutdoorNebraska.gov. To learn more about CRP, interested landowners and producers should contact their local USDA Service Center, where they can apply for the program before applicable deadlines. Four different suspects are facing felony criminal charges in Dodge County Court after allegedly using fraudulent identification documents to obtain and maintain jobs at Lincoln Premium Poultry, Wholestone Farms and Fremont Beef. Investigations into three of the four suspects were initiated by the State of Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles Fraud Unit, two of which were aided by investigators from the Dodge County Sheriffs Office as well as the federal Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The fourth suspect was investigated by the Fremont Police Department following a citizen complaint of alleged identity theft. In assorted court documents filed by authorities against all four suspects, state officials described the efforts in investigating and charging the suspects as part of a wider probe into fraudulent, fake or stolen identification documents used for various purposes in Nebraska, including for employment. A message for officials at the state DMV Motor Vehicles Fraud Unit, which is tasked with investigating identity theft, was not returned by press time. Officials with the Dodge County Attorneys Office did not respond to telephone calls seeking comment. Of the four suspects, court documents allege two were employees of Lincoln Premium Poultry, one was a worker at Wholestone Farms and another was an employee for more than 10 years at Fremont Beef. One of the suspects is alleged to have obtained jobs at both Wholestone and LPP using the same fake documents. Representatives from two of the three slaughterhouses Lincoln Premium Poultry and Fremont Beef told the Tribune they were unaware of the four suspects being charged and stated they cannot discuss private employee personal matters due to company policies. One suspect worked at Fremont Beef 10 years One suspect Judi Del Carmen Arriola Lopez, 39, of Fremont is accused of working for Fremont Beef for 10 years using a variety of fake identification documents in the name of a different woman who is from Round Rock, Texas. According to court documents, officials allegedly found a passport issued by El Salvador with Lopezs real identity, State DMV Investigator Marcus A. Siebken said during the probe into Lopez. He claimed in court papers that Lopez had in her possession a fake Nebraska drivers license with her real facial photograph but the identity of the Texas woman. Siebken also wrote in his report that his investigation allegedly uncovered that Lopez had applied for a job at Fremont Beef in the Texas womans name and possessed a fake social security card, an IRS I-9 form using the Texas womans identity and a Fremont Beef employee ID card in the Texas womans name but with Lopezs facial photograph. Lopez is alleged to have earned $185,995.57 while working at Fremont Beef under the Texas womans identity. An arraignment hearing is set for Lopez at 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 19. Fremont Beef CEO Matt Taylor said he was unaware of the investigation into Lopez, but stressed the company complies with all state and federal laws and regulations in regard to hiring new employees. Fremont Beef Company has not been notified of any issues regarding illegal or improper work practices within our company. Fremont Beef Company scrutinizes all applicants documentation to the fullest of our ability and continues to use EVerify as we have since its inception as a pilot program by the U.S. government in the early 2000s, Taylor said in an email. We pride ourselves in our positive impact to the communities where our families live and work, and continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement regarding investigations of any crimes that have occurred. Two suspects were employed at Lincoln Premium Poultry Two of the four suspects that have recently been charged by Dodge County Attorney Pamela Hopkins were employees of Lincoln Premium Poultry. Jessica Kolterman, a senior spokesperson and executive with LPP, said in a telephone interview with the Tribune that she was not aware of either case involving the reported employees of the chicken slaughterhouse and processing facility. I am not aware of any employees being charged, and otherwise, I cannot comment, Kolterman said in a telephone interview. She did say that the company robustly follows all state and federal employment laws, uses EVerify and also follows other legal protocols when hiring new staff. Byron Adolfo Xiloj Vicente, 33, was charged on Feb. 21 with five different crimes in relation to allegedly using fake documents: one charge of suspicion of identity theft, $5,000 or more, a Class 2A felony; two counts of criminal impersonation, both Class 4 felonies; suspicion of criminal impersonation, under $500, a Class II misdemeanor; and suspicion of false reporting, a Class I misdemeanor. Xiloj Vincente is accused of working at both Lincoln Premium Poultry as well as at Wholestone Farms under the name and identify of a man from Phoenix, Arizona. Xiloj Vincentes case was investigated by State DMV Investigator Jessica Wenzl, who said in court documents that she confronted Xiloj Vincente at his Fremont home on Dec. 12, 2023, and said she was aware of his identity due to a governmental document from Guatemala. She said he denied working at Lincoln Premium Poultry. Wenzl said she followed Xiloj Vincente to LPPs facility in Fremont, where she alleges he entered as an employee with the name Jesus Gutierrez. In her report, Wenzl said a forensics analysis of the identification documents Xiloj Vincente allegedly used were those of a man named Jesus Gutierrez. During the subsequent investigation, Wenzl said officials found fraudulent identity documents reportedly used by Xiloj Vincente, including a fake resume in Gutierrezs name, a North Dakota ID card also in Gutierrezs name, a fake social security card with Gutierrezs name on it and employee identity cards for both LPP and Wholestone Farms facilities. Another suspect Tomas Simaj Luis, 40, of Fremont is accused of one felony charge of suspicion of identity theft over $5,000, a Class 2A felony; and suspicion of criminal impersonation, under $500, a Class II misdemeanor. According to papers submitted by Dodge County Sheriffs Investigator Ryan Smith, a search warrant was executed on Simaj Luis Fremont home, during which authorities allegedly found a long list of suspected fake or stolen identity documents. Smith stated that among the items found included fake identification cards in the name of a Pflugerville, Texas, man named Jesus Diaz. Simaj Luis was accused of having an application to work at LPP under Diazs name, a California state ID card with Diazs name but Simaj Luis facial photograph, an I-9 IRS form filed with LPP in Diazs name and a social security card. Simaj Luis is accused of earing $34,313.94 while working at LPP under Diazs identity. An arrest warrant for Simaj Luis was issued by Dodge County Court Judge Thomas J. Klein on Tuesday, March 5. Fremont Police probe leads to womans arrest Catarina Chicaj Tino, 33, is charged with suspicion of identity theft, $5,000 or more, a Class 2A felony; and criminal impersonation, under $500, a Class II misdemeanor. She was charged in Dodge County Court on Feb. 29. According to a FPD report submitted to county prosecutors, officers were contacted by a woman named Maria Cortez, who told police she discovered an unusual W-2 IRS tax form in the ADP computer website under her name as an employee of Wholestone Farms. Cortez told an FPD investigator that she resides in another state and it was impossible that she worked at the pork slaughterhouse because she had never been to Nebraska. An FPD officer went to Wholestone Farms facility in Fremont and asked to speak to the employee using the identity of Maria Cortez. After taking the woman to the Fremont Police Station, officers allege she admitted to being Catarina Chicaj Tino and had been using Cortezs identity in order to gain employment at Wholestone for the prior 10 months. She allegedly told police she obtained the identification documents from a lady at the Guatemalan store in Omaha. Multiple telephone calls to Wholestone Farms seeking comment for this article were not returned. If found guilty of identity theft or criminal impersonation, Nebraska law allows for a range of possible punishments depending on the amount of possible money that the alleged fraud was used to obtain. Guilty suspects can face penalties including jail or prison sentences, monetary fines as well as restitution of fraudulently earned income obtained by identity theft. Semafor Signals Insights from the Royal United Services Institute, Central European Institute of Asian Studies, and Politico The News Chinese police will be stationed in Hungary as part of a security deal between Beijing and Budapest, Germanys Die Welt newspaper first reported this week. The agreement, which deepens cooperation in areas including counter-terrorism, combating transnational crimes, security and law enforcement capacity building under the Belt and Road Initiative is raising alarm bells that Hungary, a NATO and EU member, is undermining European security goals. China has previously stationed police in countries including Italy and Serbia, although Italy pulled out of its agreement following uproar over the secret police stations across the world monitoring Chinese citizen dissent overseas. China watchers and human rights groups are worried China is amping up transnational repression in Hungary as Budapest becomes more economically linked to Beijing. But the police situation could also be a more symbolic gesture of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans more radical foreign policy approaches compared to the EU and NATO. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Hungary becomes Europes hub for Chinese investment Source: Politico China is already Hungarys largest foreign investor, and Orban wants more. After signing Beijings Belt and Road Initiative Chinas global infrastructure investment project the country has become a hub for Chinese electric vehicle and battery production: Chinese firms like CATL, Nio, Eve Energy, Huayou Cobalt, BYD, and Ningbo Zhenyu Technology have all announced plans to build factories in Hungary. But it should be very concerning that Hungary is trying to position itself as a bridgehead for China, one Hungarian economist told Politico. Beijing could ultimately use any kind of economic vulnerability for blackmailing, the economist added. Is the security deal a guise for transnational repression or simply symbolic? Sources: Royal United Services Institute, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Central European Institute of Asian Studies The increased presence of Chinese firms in Hungary means more mainland workers in Hungary, meaning the security deals primary incentive is for Beijing to monitor and control their citizens, China analyst Sari Arho Havren of the Royal United Services Institute, a security think tank, told Semafor. Budapest has been very accommodating towards Chinese demands, she added: The Hungarian government in 2022 dismissed concerns about discovered overseas Chinese police stations in Hungary all while other EU countries launched investigations within their own borders. But police presence in Hungary could also merely be a symbolic diplomatic gesture to the EU and NATO, China analyst Sebestyen Hompot of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies told Semafor. In previous patrolling agreements with Italy and Serbia, China has mostly sent police to tourist hotspots, and Hompot said that Chinese police would likely mostly help with minor things like helping translate for mainland tourists. Although the official number of police transplants is unknown, Hompot said he does not believe it will be many, and their presence will not make a big difference to Hungarys larger security goals. Rather, the deal is sending a signal to the EU and NATO that Budapest is taking a different approach when it comes to dealing with authoritarian powers like China and Russia, he added. Orban is courting both Trump and China, leading to potential clashes Sources: The Guardian, Sebestyen Hompot On a trip to the U.S. this week Orban skipped the White House and instead visited former President Donald Trump, the likely Republican nominee in Novembers general election. EU watchers told The Guardian that Orban is likely helping Trump craft Kremlin-friendly foreign policy should he be reelected, but the meeting between the two leaders also raised eyebrows about their diverging views on Beijing. If Trump really was the China hawk he claims to be, he would be grilling Orban about cozying up to Beijing, a Hungarian opposition lawmaker told the paper. Hompot said that Trump and Orbans relationship is the result of double faced Hungarian politics, where Orban wants to maintain close ties with any authoritarian figure regardless of wider animosities. For almost an hour, members of Idahos execution team searched to find a suitable vein in the body of death row prisoner Thomas Creech to deliver the dose of deadly drugs needed to fulfill his death sentence. They were unable, and the states first execution in nearly 12 years was aborted. In fact, Creechs attorneys had warned of likely vein access problems with their 73-year-old client in federal appeals filings ahead of last weeks failed attempt to end his life. They contended that Creechs complex and serious medical situation, which includes an abdominal aortic aneurysm, uncontrolled high blood pressure and vascular disease, stood to make a lethal injection especially risky. At a minimum, they are part of the constellation of risk factors creating a perfect storm for a botched execution of Mr. Creech, his attorneys wrote. Idaho carried out its last execution by lethal injection in 2012. It failed in its bid to do so again after nearly 12 years with death row prisoner Thomas Creech, 73, on Feb. 28. The circumstances that led to halting the execution of Idahos longest-serving death row prisoner are rare, but not unprecedented, according to data from the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center. Creech is now at least the seventh documented case since 2009 of a called-off execution because executioners could not establish an IV line, according to Robert Dunham, former executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit. The single-digit total compares to 401 lethal injections carried out across the U.S. over that same time frame, the data showed. Thats just 1.7% of lethal injection attempts. Hes not an anomaly, Dunham said in a phone interview with the Idaho Statesman. To say that this was an execution that had unanticipated problems, though, would be wrong. Simply given the fact that Mr. Creech is in his 70s and has been under the stress of a death sentence since 1982, he fits the profile of somebody who is likely to have compromised veins. Creechs attorneys angry, but not surprised Most of the instances since 2009 when a lethal injection was stopped because executioners couldnt establish an IV happened in the past seven years. That indicates a rising frequency, based on fewer executions in the U.S. in recent decades, which has given way to an aging death row population, Dunham said. The three prior cases all took place in Alabama: one in 2018 and two more in 2022. Alabama has since adopted use of nitrogen gas as an execution method and in January executed one of the two death row prisoners whose lethal injection had to be called off in 2022 because a vein couldnt be located. The other from 2022 could be next. Creech, whos been incarcerated for almost a half-century, was first convicted in Idaho for a November 1974 double-murder in Valley County. He was later sentenced to death in 1982 after a murder conviction for beating a fellow prisoner to death. Creech was also convicted of a fourth murder in Oregon and a fifth in California, which designates him as a serial killer under the FBIs definition. He is suspected of killing several other people, including the victim in a 50-year-old cold case in Southern California. Creech had avoided execution 11 times dating to his first conviction. It was the 12th time he was served with a death warrant in January that ultimately saw him strapped to a gurney last week before an audience as executioners explored eight different locations for a vein on Creechs body. Idaho Department of Correction Director Josh Tewalt testified before an Idaho House committee the day after last weeks unsuccessful execution. He said that members of the states execution team physically examined Creech before his Feb. 28 execution date and were confident they would be able to locate a vein, with one caveat. What that examination couldnt tell was the quality of that access, Tewalt said. So what they found is when they could establish an IV, the vein would collapse, and they would be unable to continue down that path. Josh Tewalt, director of the Idaho Department of Correction, defended members of the execution team last week after the failed lethal injection of Thomas Creech, the states longest-serving death row prisoner. Under Idahos execution procedures, the medical team members tasked with carrying out the lethal injection are volunteers with training and experience administering IVs. The executioners must have at least three years of medical experience and cannot have blood or legal relationships to either the prisoner, the prisoners victims or their respective families. Beyond that, little else is known about who they may be, and Tewalt declined to answer questions about their specific qualifications immediately after Creechs failed execution. Idaho has on the books a law shielding any identifying information of execution participants from release in court or through public records. Creechs attorneys with the nonprofit Federal Defender Services of Idaho said they were angry but not surprised that state prison officials were incapable of locating a vein to execute their client by lethal injection. This is what happens when unknown individuals with unknown training are assigned to carry out an execution, Deborah A. Czuba, supervising attorney of the legal nonprofits unit that oversees death penalty cases, said in a statement. Executioners had prior lethal injection experience Every U.S. medical professional association including for doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses, pharmacists and EMTs asks members not to participate in capital punishment, according to Dunham and the associations position statements. Some medical practitioners risk losing their licenses if they ignore the guidance. During Creechs attempted execution, three members of the execution team were dressed in blue scrubs and caps and a white cloth covering their faces, except their eyes, which hid behind safety glasses, according to media witnesses. The team tried eight times to establish an IV, with each attempt taking four to six minutes. Two attempts were made in Creechs right arm, then one in his right hand, before one in his left arm and four attempts in his lower left leg. Because of execution secrecy, we dont know who was attempting to find the veins and how much of the difficulty is attributable to incompetence of execution personnel and how much is attributable to the problems with the defendants veins, Dunham said. In a number of the cases its clearly a combination of both, and with the aging of death row, its not surprising that it is happening with greater frequency now. At least one of the executioners for Creechs lethal injection previously was involved in Idahos two most recent executions, in 2011 and 2012, Tewalt told the House committee. Every single member on our medical team is there for the right reasons. Theyre there because they believe it is a sense of duty and that it is a process that deserves to be treated with dignity, Tewalt said. They have my complete trust and confidence and nobody took yesterday harder than they did. What may come next for Creech is unclear. Despite Tewalts assurances otherwise last week, the state prison system offered no additional information more than a week after the states first-ever failed lethal injection. Idaho last year approved a law to make a firing squad the states backup execution method when lethal injection drugs are unavailable. But the construction renovation of the prisons execution chamber to provide for a firing squad has yet to be designed, let alone built, Tewalt said. We dont have an update or a timeline for when we will have answers, Sanda Kuzeta-Cerimagic, IDOCs spokesperson, said in an email to the Statesman. Thomas Creech, 73, is Idahos longest-serving death row prisoner after nearly 50 years of incarceration. The state failed to execute him by lethal injection on Feb. 28. Creechs attorneys secured a stay of execution for their client immediately following his attempted execution and have since alleged violations of his constitutional rights against cruel and unusual punishment in new legal filings. This is precisely the kind of mishap we warned the state and the courts could happen when attempting to execute one of the countrys oldest death row inmates in circumstances completely shielded in secrecy, Czuba said. Unfortunately, what is absurd is Idahos continuing efforts to kill this harmless old man, who by this point surely has suffered enough. In our Reality Check stories, Star-Telegram journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? RealityCheck@star-telegram.com. The Tarrant County Republican Party opposed holding joint primaries out of a belief that the Democratic Party cheats in elections, according to an email from county GOP Chairman Bo French that was shared with the Star-Telegram. Given that democrats routinely cheat in elections, the Republicans in Tarrant County do not trust democrats to touch any part of our election, French said in an email reply to Democratic Election Judge Bob Dawson. For that reason, we will only conduct our election separately from the democrats. I hope this makes it crystal clear. An audit of the four largest counties in Texas following the 2020 election found few problems in Tarrant County. An initial report released in December 2021 stated that there were 12 instances of people possibly voting out of state and one case in which a vote may have been cast by a dead person. Tarrant County administers a quality, transparent election, said the final report of the audit published in December 2022. Dawson emailed French in December to ask him why the county does not hold joint primary elections, in which voters from either party can use any machine available to cast their ballots. Instead, Tarrant County held split primaries, forcing Republicans and Democrats to use separate voting machines. The Tarrant County Republican Party opposed the idea of joint primaries in November when news broke that a Texas law inadvertently could require twice as many election day polling locations. The Tarrant GOP told Gov. Greg Abbott that it did not have the equipment, supplies or personnel for that many locations. A joint primary was out of the question, French said at the time. We dont want people that are not on our team involved in our elections, French told the Star-Telegram. These are our elections. Were going to handle them ourselves. French did not respond to a request for comment. In a response that he wrote but did not send, Dawson said that French appeared to misunderstand how secure elections in Tarrant County are. Were seeing in so many places where Republicans want to take control, they do it just for more their own benefit than what democracy is all about, Dawson said in a phone interview. Dawson worked the polling station at Brookside Center in Hurst. His Republican counterpart was Election Judge Bob Harper. While Harper and his team were able to get Republican voters checked in with relative ease, some people had to wait as long as 30 to 40 minutes for a voting machine to open up. The problem was worsened by the fact that he had only 10 machines for Republicans most of the day after one broke down. The wait never got long enough to force the line outside the convention center, but voters did grow irritated as they waited while machines on the other side of the room sat unused. They would look at me and say why cant I use one of those machines over there on the other wall that hasnt been used all day, Harper said in a phone interview. He had to explain to them the split primary system. The line to vote in the Republican primary at the polling station located at the White Settlement Public Library extends onto the sidewalk outside on primary Election Day March 5, 2024. Both Harper and Dawson said they could not understand why Election Day voting was split, unlike the manner in which early voting was conducted. We both just kind of were dismayed as to why we had to do it that way, especially since the early voting had all been done jointly, Harper said. Harper stressed that he could only speak for himself and not for anyone else in his party, but he said that he fully trusted his Democratic counterparts to run elections freely and fairly. Ive never seen any poll worker or judge trying to do anything underhanded at the election site, and even if they wanted to it would be very, very difficult, he said. We were working together all day through mutual problems and stuff. Those people are there to ensure that people are allowed to vote just like I am. Harper is not the only Republican election judge to express this frustration to the Star-Telegram. Todd Hedgcoths polling place at the public library in Bedford was swamped all day, with lines that occasionally snaked out the door and around the building. Although no voter reported waiting longer than an hour, it was still needlessly frustrating, he said. That wait time could have been virtually eliminated had the Republicans been able to use the 11 ballot marking devices dedicated to the Democrats which went largely unused for most of the day, Hedgcoth said in an email. Hedgcoth also attributed the long lines to the fact that Tarrant County did not publicize wait times, even though election workers were reporting wait times to county election administrators. The presence of what he called useless ballot propositions also made Republican lines longer, said Hedgcoth, adding that they have no legislative weight. Many/most voters assume they are voting for or against some sort of amendment to the Texas constitution or other legislative measure, Hedgcoth said. In reality, its nothing more than a survey that provides the predictable 95%+ partisan agreement. Republican Election Judge Kal Silverberg also saw long waits paired with empty Democratic voting machines at the Southwest Regional Library in Fort Worth. A joint primary would have made things smoother, because we would have had 18 machines available for use by both parties, he said. Wait times got to be about 30 minutes in his line. Silverberg, whose wife Karen served as the Democratic election judge at the same location, said joint primaries would actually serve as a safeguard against cheating. What better way to guard against cheating than to put the other party where they can watch them? he said. Still, that does not mean that he thinks any cheating is going on in Tarrant Countys elections. There is so little opportunity for voter fraud, its not funny, Silverberg said, denouncing baseless claims of unethical poll workers, like the one French made in his email. Its not the allegations, per se, its the lack of defense for the election judges, he said in a phone interview. Were having trouble recruiting people because the perception is now, since nobody is saying anything to the contrary, that elections are full of fraud, and who wants to be part of a fraudulent organization? Tips from witnesses helped lead to arrests in two fatal shootings in the span of two days in Lawrence, the city announced Thursday. Officers arrested 21-year-old Dawson Paine on Thursday with the help of the Topeka Police Department in connection to a shooting that killed 18-year-old Davin Kerr. The search for Paine began shortly after the shooting. Police responded around 10:40 p.m. on March 5 to the 2900 block of Crestline Drive and rendered aid to Kerr. He was taken to a Kansas City area hospital where he later died from his injuries. Officers also arrested 32-year-old Nicholas Beaver on Wednesday night in connection to a shooting that killed 39-year-old Vincent Walker. Officers responded shortly after 5:10 p.m. on March 6 near the Lawrence Public Library. Police said the shooting took place in the street in front of the library. Walker was pronounced dead at the scene. Laura McCabe, a spokesperson with Lawrence police, said in a statement Thursday that calling on the community for witness tips proved instrumental in identifying and tracking down Paine. Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart thanked the community Thursday for its tips and commended the response from law enforcement. He said shootings like this dont happen often in Lawrence and that back-to-back is very rare. RAFAH, Gaza Strip It's not just Israeli bombs that have killed children in war-ravaged Gaza some are now dying of hunger. Officials have warned for months that Israel's siege and offensive were pushing the Palestinian territory into famine. Hunger is most acute in northern Gaza, which has been isolated by Israeli forces and has suffered long cutoffs of food supplies. At least 20 people have died from malnutrition and dehydration at the north's Kamal Adwan and Shifa hospitals, according to the Health Ministry. Most of the dead are children including ones as old as 15 as well as a 72-year-old man. Particularly vulnerable children are also beginning to succumb in the south. At the Emirati Hospital in Rafah, 16 premature babies died of malnutrition-related causes over the past five weeks, one of the senior doctors told The Associated Press. "The child deaths we feared are here," Adele Khodr, UNICEF's Middle East chief, said in a statement. Israel's bombardment and ground assaults have already wreaked a high toll among children, who along with women make up nearly three-quarters of the more than 30,800 Palestinians killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Malnutrition is generally slow to bring death, striking children and the elderly first. Other factors can play a role. Underfed mothers have difficulty breastfeeding children. Diarrheal diseases, rampant in Gaza due to lack of clean water and sanitation, leave many unable to retain any of the calories they ingest, said Anuradha Narayan, a UNICEF child nutrition expert. Malnutrition weakens immune systems, sometimes leading to death from other diseases. The siege Israel largely shut off entry of food, water, medicine and other supplies after launching its assault on Gaza after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. The fighting killed about 1,200 people and Palestinian militants took about 250 hostages. It has allowed only a trickle of aid trucks through two crossings in the south. Israel blames the burgeoning hunger in Gaza on U.N. agencies, saying they fail to distribute supplies piling up at Gaza crossings. UNRWA, the largest U.N. agency in Gaza, says Israel restricts some goods and imposes cumbersome inspections that slow entry. Also, distribution within Gaza has been crippled, U.N. officials say convoys are regularly turned back by Israeli forces, the military often refuses safe passage amid fighting, and aid is snatched off trucks by hungry Palestinians on route to drop-off points. Desperation in the north Conditions in the north, largely under Israeli control for months, have become desperate. Entire districts of Gaza City and surrounding areas have been reduced to rubble by Israeli forces. Still, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain. Meat, milk, vegetables and fruit are nearly impossible to find, according to several residents who spoke to the AP. The few items in shops are random and sold at hugely inflated prices mainly nuts, snacks and spices. Most people eat a weed that crops up in empty lots, known as "khubaiza." Fatima Shaheen, a 70-year-old who lives with her two sons and their children in northern Gaza, said boiled khubaiza is her main meal, and her family has also ground up food meant for rabbits to use as flour. "We are dying for a piece of bread," Shaheen said. Dr. Husam Abu Safiya, the acting head of Kamal Adwan Hospital, told the AP his staff treats 300 to 400 children a day, and that 75% of them are suffering from malnutrition. Recent airdrops of aid by the U.S. and other countries provide far lower amounts of aid than truck deliveries, which have become rare and sometimes dangerous. UNRWA says Israeli authorities haven't allowed it to deliver supplies to the north since Jan. 23. The World Food Organization, which had paused deliveries because of safety concerns, said the military forced its first convoy to the north in two weeks to turn back Tuesday. When the Israeli military organized a food delivery to Gaza City last week, troops guarding the convoy opened fire as thousands of hungry Palestinians mobbed the trucks. Some 120 people were killed in the shooting, as well as by being trampled in the chaos. Worsening south At Emirati Hospital, Dr. Ahmed al-Shair, deputy head of the nursery unit, said the recent deaths of premature babies was rooted in malnutrition among mothers. Malnourishment and extreme stress are both factors causing premature, underweight births, and doctors say anecdotally cases have risen during the war, though the U.N. does not have statistics. Al-Shair said premature babies are treated for several days to improve their weight. But then they are released home, which is often a tent with not enough heat, with mothers too malnourished to breastfeed and milk difficult to obtain. Parents sometimes give newborns plain water instead, which is often unclean, causing diarrhea. Within days, the babies "are brought back to us in a terrible state. Some were brought already dead," al-Shair said. He said 14 babies at the hospital died in February and two more so far in March. Currently, the hospital's wards have 44 babies under 10 days old with weights as low as 4 pounds, some on life support. Every incubator has at least three premature babies in it, raising the risk of infection. Al-Shair said he fears some will meet the same fate when returned home. "We treat them now but God knows what the future will be," he said. Are most employers tracking diversity in hiring and recruitment? Are most employers tracking diversity in hiring and recruitment? DE&I tracking limited beyond hiring practices EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) A Maryland woman has been sentenced to prison, followed by a term of supervised release for passing fraudulent checks. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennyslvania annouced that Lucy Annette Alexander, 37, of Maryland and Washington D.C. was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Two sent to hospital in Scranton, police investigating U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam says Alexander pleaded guilty to bank fraud on May 2, 2023, after admitting that she wrote hundreds of checks between 2012 and 2021 at numerous stores including: PetSmart Sears Dollar Tree Weis Market Food Lion MOMs Organic Market Giant Food Harris Teeter The Home Depot Sally Beauty Advance Auto Parts Costco Barnes & Noble Hobby Lobby BJs Wholesale Club CVS Pharmacy Party City SHOE SHOW Bed Bath & Beyond Roses Discount Store Karam adds that the bank accounts from which Alexander wrote the fraudulent checks were from a closed account, meaning there werent any funds to cover the purchases made and the stores listed above. In May 2020, Alexander also used seven checks from Chase Bank totaling over $17,000, even though she was aware she had insufficient funds in the account to cover the checks, officials say. U.S. Attorneys say Alexander passed over $300,000 in fraudulent checks during the above time period. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. State lawmakers gave first-round approval to a measure requiring the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse language translation and interpretation services for Medicaid patients who need them. Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who introduced the bill (LB62) in the 2023 session and prioritized it this year, said it was a needed step to ensure everyone has the health care they need even if English is not their first language. Early last year, health care providers including psychologists who work with Lincolns Yazidi population learned interpreter services would no longer be covered after reimbursements went unpaid. A 2017 bulletin from HHS to providers participating in the Nebraska Medicaid program indicated that interpretation services could be reimbursed, but it was not required. (N)either the Heritage Health plans nor Medicaid is responsible for providing or reimbursing this service for provider interaction, the bulletin read. Providers who spoke with the Journal Star in 2023 said the change came as a surprise and left them in the tough position of paying for those services out of their own pockets or referring patients needing care elsewhere. Cavanaugh said Thursday that her bill would provide support to providers persisting through a workforce shortage, and it directs the state government to maximize federal funding to carry out its provisions. And an amendment that was adopted on the floor by senators indicates the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund would be the source of funding for the reimbursements. This bill will require coverage and ensure stability and consistency across managed care organization practices, which is really important for patients and providers, she said. Sen. John Arch of La Vista, a longtime health care administrator, said the requirement to provide services without a mechanism to fund them was a behind-the-scenes issue that has plagued the health care industry. I believe it is unfair to continue to burden the provider with additional cost not being recognized, Arch said, adding he supported the bill. Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth asked Cavanaugh if the state should enforce the contracts it has in place to reimburse for interpreter services rather than shift the costs to a cash fund controlled by the Legislature. It absolutely would and I would love for DHHS to do that, Cavanaugh responded, noting the department had not taken a position for or against the bill when it was heard in committee. However, I introduced this bill a year ago, and that was after a year of this happening and DHHS has not done anything to rectify the situation, she added. Arch asked Cavanaugh if she would be willing to meet with representatives from HHS to discuss the issue, to which she agreed. Lets do good government, she told Arch on the floor. Yes, lets do good government, he replied. If DHHS is obligated to do this, perhaps this bill isnt necessary, but that conversation sounds like it may be necessary. The Legislature advanced the bill on a 28-2 vote, with 11 senators who were present not voting. Thursday marked Day 39 of the 60-day legislative session. Senators will reconvene on Tuesday after a long weekend recess. Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 Anxiety took hold of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and she took an action that is, quite literally, insane. Im not here today to talk to you about numbers and tell you stats and statistics about whats going up and what's going down. Im here to take action, Hochul said in her surprise announcement on Wednesday deploying 750 heavily armed National Guard members to search riders bags before they go through the turnstiles inside of New York Citys 472-station, 665-mile train system used by nearly 2.5 million people a day. Dont you love farce? Tom Cotton does! (You may recall a certain New York Times op-edpenned in summer 2020 by the Arkansas senatorthat called for National Guard troops to quell riots caused a bit of a commotion.) Tom Cotton Says The New York Times Is Run by Woke Mob for Slapping Op-Ed With Editors Note Hochuls public safety anthem is Send in the Troops, to the tune of Send in the Clowns. The goal, Hochul explained, is to change the vibes and create a psychological effect on would-be wrongdoers. But her real goal is to create a psychological effect on straphangers, as Hochul explained in a Morning Joe interview Thursday: If you feel better walking past someone in a uniform to make sure that someone doesn't bring a knife or a gun on the subway, then that's exactly why I did it, she said. I want to change the psychology around crime in New York City because we are the safest big city in America. So were already safe, she says, but the military is here to keep us feeling safe. As former Burlington Police Chief Brandon Del Pozo, a 19-year veteran of the NYPD, put it at Vital City, short of dystopian martial law, we did not think for a moment that the infantry could help us deter pickpockets, mentally ill assailants, fare-beaters and the other everyday criminals and people in crisis who degrade safety and quality of life on the citys subways. No wonder Mayor Eric Adams wasnt at Hochuls announcement, and NYPD Chief of Department John Chell tweeted in response to the governors plan that Our transit system is not a war zone! What Hochul is doing, however ineptly, is narrative warfare. Thats not me saying so; the governor is, remarkably, saying the quiet part out loud: My job is to protect the people of this state, and I'll do it, she said on Morning Joe. And Im also going to demonstrate that Democrats fight crime as well. This narrative that Republicans have said and hijacked the story that we're soft on crime, that we defund the policeno. Hochuls plan, I should mention, also involves deploying state police and increasing the number of outreach teams that deal with mentally ill people inside of the subway system. National Guard to Check Bags on NYC Subways After High-Profile Crime Spree But she knew what the headlines would be, if maybe not how overwhelmingly skeptical they would be across the ideological spectrum. Ive quit posting on social media, but went on Twitter yesterday to check for DMs and the lead item Happening Now was an audio stream with the subject line: Troops Flood NYC Subway Amid Surge of Illegals as Biden Erects Fences Around Capital Ahead of SOTU. In a cursed election year where Republicans are going to put a spotlight on every crime committed by an undocumented immigrant, or in a city, the soldiers outside the turnstiles will do little if anything positive in terms of public safety or the perceptions of New Yorkerswho arent easily fooledof their own commutes. But this Democratic governors insane scheme will go a long way to reaffirming a Republican vision of Americas cities as dystopian hellscapes that can only be saved or at least made safer through extraordinary measures. 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. State of the Union guests spotlight divide on abortion and immigration but offer some rare unity The guest list for President Joe Biden's State of the Union address speaks volumes about what Democrats and Republicans want to focus on as the 2024 election season heats up If Jeffrey Wright wins a best actor Oscar for his role in "American Fiction," he will have won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award and a Tony Award. (Claire Folger / MGM-Orion via AP) In just the first half of this week, nine new students who were identified as homeless entered the work world of Bridget Donovan, the McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program specialist for Colorado Springs School District 11. That seems to be a trend; its three new families and they have three or four kids, she said. Its a lot of Colorado Springs residents who have not been able to make ends meet and have been evicted. After falling during the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers of students sleeping in shelters, motels, transitional housing, tents, cars or doubled up with relatives or friends are rising again statewide, according to updated statistics from the Colorado Department of Education. Thats not to say there werent as many students who were homeless amid the public health crisis, officials say. We were working through remote learning and school districts were getting their feet under them, said Lisa Zimprich, director of mental health for Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8. We didnt have fewer families (who were homeless), but we werent able to find them and identify them as we did pre-COVID and as we are doing now. Statewide, Colorado counted 17,894 homeless preschool through high school students for the school year that began in the fall of 2022 and ended in the spring of 2023. Thats up from 15,347 homeless students in 2020-21, the first full school year of the pandemic, the new data shows. In all, El Paso County had 1,181 homeless public school students in 2022-23 and 1,048 in 2020-21. Numbers for seven of El Paso Countys 15 districts were too low to report under privacy laws, so no figures were given in the most recent release. The local population was much larger in 2017-18, with 2,142 homeless students countywide. Under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, students are considered homeless if they are lacking a fixed and adequate nighttime residence, said Paula Gumina, state coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program at the Colorado Department of Education. In general, that means they are living in temporary settings without a lease agreement. About three-quarters of Colorados homeless students sleep doubled up in someone elses home, about 12% in shelters or transitional housing, roughly 10% in motels and hotels, and 3% in tents or vehicles. Those percentages have not varied significantly statewide in recent years. School districts work to help keep kids stabilized, said Dana Scott, the state education departments director of the Office of Student Support, which includes the McKinney-Vento program. Not only is stability in childrens lives an imperative to have basic needs met and have kids learn, she said, but also education is a ladder out of poverty. The primary goal of the federal program is to ensure that barriers are removed so students can attend school, whether they need transportation, free meals and the natural resources that the general population of students have access to, said Promis Bruno, school social worker and homelessness prevention coordinator for Fountain-Fort Carson D-8. After removing those obstacles, school districts point families to community resources, including their own food pantries and clothing closets, as well as professional assistance. Some might need guidance with overcoming a domestic violence situation, Bruno said, while others are struggling with finding a job or signing up for free health care. For example, D-11 contracts with a car company to drive children to and from school, Donovan said, so they can attend their school of origin and maintain some constancy in their lives, during what can seem like a chaotic time. Prior to COVID, D-8 averaged between 300 and 350 homeless students per year, Bruno said. Last year, D-8 counted 169. This semester its 274. Colorado Springs D-11 had 500 students who were homeless in 2022-23; the number was 1,168 in 2017-18. Featured Local Savings Sometimes when you think of homelessness, you dont think of families you think of the people pushing shopping carts around town or standing in the medians or sitting outside of 7-11, and thats typically not this population, D-11s Donovan said. They are under the radar for a ton of different reasons, and it all revolves around financial things or domestic situations, she said. If people look at how much it costs to actually live in Colorado Springs right now and the price increases and what the wages are, you can see how its impossible to live on minimum wage. Homeless children are undercounted, Donovan said, because some families do not want to be flagged: There is a stigma with being called homeless, she said. No kid is going to walk into their classroom and say, Yeah Im homeless. Fountain-Fort Carson D-8s Bruno said people who dont want to sign up for the program have a right to not be identified, and we respect that. The pandemic affected families' housing situations for the three years between the fall of 2020 through the fall of 2023. Nearly 40% of students statewide became homeless due to eviction, foreclosure or inability to pay for housing, as of October 2023 state education statistics. That percentage has been increasing since the pandemic; in the 2020-21 academic year, housing issues were the top problem for just over 25% of students. Theres a checklist, and for a lot of families, they lost their housing, which made them lose their job, and now theyre doubled up with economic instability, Bruno said. Domestic violence and other household challenges was the second-leading cause last year. Colorado typically receives $1 million to $1.2 million yearly in federal aid for the McKinney-Vento program, Gamino said. School districts also were eligible for pandemic-relief funding to help families of school-aged children pay for additional stays in motels, gas vouchers, clothing, food, propane, sleeping bags and utilities assistance. Whether the amount of homeless kids goes up or down, Colorado consistently has 11-12% who are unaccompanied minors teens who do not live with a parent or legal guardian, Gumina said. In El Paso County, 147 students were unaccompanied at the end of the 2022-23 school year, representing 12% of homeless students. Statewide, there were 2,146 students on their own. Also, Colorado had more Latino and Hispanic homeless students than any other ethnic group, with nearly 10,000 last school year. Nearly 5,000 White children were homeless, Gumina said, which constituted the second-largest group. Another point: 20% of homeless kids statewide are English language learners, and 20% qualify for assistance through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Under federal law, school districts cannot ask for immigration status upon enrollment, and students can qualify for McKinney-Vento benefits regardless of whether they are documented or undocumented immigrants, Gumina noted. Building relationships and trust with the families is a huge part of it, Donovan said of her job. Being available to address their needs on an individual, consistent basis is really important to figure out how can they get to a place that is more permanent. We approach it as a team or village of people who are there to support them. Snowflakes start to fall while kids ride a school bus near Roosevelt Elementary School in Yakima, Wash., on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. After months of concerns by parents both in favor and against removing certain books from school libraries, Academy School District 20s board of education Thursday night explored expanding access to the districts entire catalog to them. During the boards regular meeting, D-20s library and media specialist Carol Bramschreiber presented a draft of an online platform known as Destiny Discover, an online interface for all library materials in participating districts. Though typically used for students and faculty, Bramschreiber presented it as an option for parents to view and access all library materials in the district available to students. Parents with access to Wi-Fi and an internet device would be able to log into their students account to view all materials currently and previously checked out in addition to blocking out young adult titles or all titles from their library. The goal is to maintain consistent communication with parents and the district in addition to increasing parental choice, Bramschreiber said. It can help you (the parent) talk together about what your child might read independently, she said. She added that the interface has been presented to various school staff and library faculty and should be accessible within the next few weeks. Later in the evening, the board voted on whether or not to consider an appeal to a book recently challenged in a school entitled "This Book is Gay." Featured Local Savings The nonfiction novel, written by Juno Dawson and published in the U.S. in 2015, is described as a guide for people on discovering ones sexual identity and how to navigate through any uncomfortable conversations or scenarios. It does so by detailing the history and perspectives of members of the LGBTQIA+ to readers. Recently, it was tied for 10th-place on the American Library Associations 2022 list of most challenged books. According to the ALA, it was challenged 48 times for LGBTQIA+ content and providing sexual education that was claimed to be sexually explicit. According to booklooks.org, a website that identifies and rates previously challenged books on an age-appropriateness scale of 1-5, This Book is Gay received a 4 not for minors rating due to excerpts and illustrations depicting explicit nudity and sexual activities. The website was previously suggested to serve as the rating metric for a library review board proposed by Superintendent Jinger Haberer in January. After a brief discussion, the board ultimately voted 3-2 to not review the book. Individual board members said that although they may not like the books content personally, they agreed that the decision should ultimately be left to students and their parents and urged them to make informed decisions regarding book selection. This feels like a massive responsibility, board director Lauren Yanez said. Im a fervent believer of the First Amendment, and I know it works both ways. During the previous school year, the five books were formally challenged to the board, with each ultimately remaining on their librarys shelves. Last summer, several other titles were later temporarily removed without following the districts procedure. All were returned to their libraries prior to the current school year. 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. Karateka de la Dojokan Activ Aiud, 23 de medalii la Cupa Hara, desfasurata la Sighsoara In zileie de 16 si 17 martie 2024 a avut loc la Sighisoara, Cupa Hara unde au participat 851 sportivi de la 59 cluburi din Romania. De la clubul Dojokan Activ Aiud au participat 44 sportivi care au obtinut 23 de medalii. [citeste mai departe] Colorado's winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories remain in effect across the eastern-most mountains from New Mexico to Wyoming until 5 p.m., Friday, with additional accumulations between 3-6 inches. Eldora Mountain Resort (8") west of Boulder received the most snow for Friday. Recap: On Thursday, snow showers were on and off starting mid-morning for most mountains around Colorado. In the northern mountains around Eldora, light snow showers began steadily around 1 p.m., and some flakes were falling at Wolf Creek around 2 p.m. A small but definitive circular rotation over south central Arizona could be seen shortly before sunset Thursday as the low pressure pushed eastward, pushing some moisture into Colorado. A second low pressure stationed itself in the Texas panhandle by late afternoon, wrapping showers and snow counter-clockwise from the north and northeast into Colorado's mountains (upslope), giving the Front Range and I-25 corridor its accumulations as well. Accumulations in the northern mountains were between 2-8 inches, central mountains between dusting-4 inches and southern mountains between 1-3 inches. Forecast: More snow will continue Friday and into Saturday, with soft or even powder conditions for Saturday's first chairs in the east-central mountains (Monarch) and San Juan (Wolf Creek, Silverton and Telluride) and Sangre de Cristo (Cuchara) mountains. On Friday afternoon, the ECMEF high resolution model forecasts snow showers to make their way from north to south over the mountains, with the central and southern mountains receiving additional snow accumulations of between 3-5 inches. On Saturday, snow showers are forecast to linger and be light in the southern mountains with 1-3 inches more accumulation in the San Juan mountains mainly. Otherwise Saturday's and Sunday's weather are forecast to be dry, sunny and warm, with highs in the low 30s Saturday and mid-30s Sunday at most base areas. Long Range: On Monday, a return to high clouds drifting overhead from the west and northwest is forecast, but mostly warmer temperatures ahead of a larger storm beginning Tuesday night into Friday. On Tuesday after sunset it starts to get interesting as a larger and stronger storm moves its way toward Colorado. The ECMWF and ICON models' run from Thursday evening forecast a lot of moisture entering the state Tuesday night into Wednesday as a low pressure system dips southward through Nevada, pulling moisture in from the Pacific and funneling it into the Four Corners area. This storm is forecast to be be a good snow event for the southern mountains and eastern mountains along the Front Range from Wednesday to Friday morning. Further details will become more clear over the next few model runs as the storm nears. Today's 24 hour snow total from Colorado resorts: Arapahoe Basin - 2" Aspen Mountain - 3" Aspen Highlands - 4" Featured Local Savings Beaver Creek - 0" Breckenridge - 2" Buttermilk - 2" Cooper - 1" Copper Mountain - 1" Crested Butte - 0" Echo Mountain - 6" Eldora Mountain - 8" Granby Ranch - 1" Hesperus - Closed for season Howelsen Hill - 2" Kendall Mountain - 5", open weekends Keystone - 2" Loveland - .5" Monarch - 2" Powderhorn - 1" Purgatory - 2" Silverton - 5" Snowmass - 4" Steamboat - 2" Sunlight - 0" Telluride - 4" Vail - 1" Winter Park - 2" Wolf Creek - 2" DRDP introduce restrictii de circulatie pe Centura Timisoara Directia de Drumuri si Poduri Timisoara introduce restrictii de circulatie in doua zone din Centura de ocolire a Timisoarei. Se vor efectua lucrari de reparatii. Pe centura Timisoarei au demarat lucrari de reparatii si inlocuire a rosturilor de dilatatie. Vor fi doua zone unde [citeste mai departe] The Budapest Spring Festival will feature over forty events at thirty venues, including theatres, exhibition and concert halls between April 29 and May 12. The festivals organiser, Budapest Brand, said the event was tied to the 20th anniversary of Hungarys European Union accession, with many of the programmes reflecting on our intellectual and emotional relations with Europe. New venues will include the recently reopened Merlin theatre and the City Hall passage, the statement said. A concert by the Chamber Orchestra of Europe will open the festival on April 29, followed by an open-air concert launching the Budapest Jazz Festival marking the 20th anniversary of Hungarys EU accession on April 30. International theatre performances will include Rimini Protokoll from Germany, Roger Bernat/FFF from Spain, Cirque Inextremiste from France, Hooligan Art Community from Ukraine, and Sarajevo War Theatre from Bosnia. More: Spring Festival ******************************************************************************************** You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories, via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! China will offer visa-free travel to Hungarians from March 14, and starting next month, airlines will again operate 13 weekly flights between Budapest and four major Chinese cities, Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister, said on Facebook. Tourism is one of the most successful sectors of Hungarian-Chinese cooperation, Szijjarto said, noting that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Hungary reached 277,000 in the year before the pandemic, and came close to 100,000 last year. The resumption of direct flights is also helpful, he said, noting that from April, airlines will go back to operating 13 flights a week between Budapest and the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Ningbo. The minister said it was good news for Hungarian tourists and businesspeople that the Chines authorities will offer visa-free travel to Hungarian nationals between March 14 and November 30. He said that in the spirit of reciprocity, Hungary issues long-term visas for the leaders of Chinese companies investing in Hungary. These steps will further strengthen the economic and tourism cooperation between the two countries and their citizens, Szijjarto added. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said earlier in Beijing that China will offer visa-free travel to citizens of Hungary, Switzerland, Ireland, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg from March 14 on an experimental basis. He expressed hope that more countries would ease visa rules for Chinese nationals, too. ******************************************************************************************** You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories, via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! Hungary has signed a framework agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) on cooperation in its national research astronaut programme, the foreign ministrys commissioner for space science said. The Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR)research astronaut programme has reached a new milestone, Orsolya Ferencz said in a video posted on Facebook. Under the agreement, ESA will offer support for astronaut training as well as for aerospace medicine training and ground control activities, she said. The training of Hungarian astronauts will take place in ESAs centres in Cologne and in the Netherlands, Ferencz added. She said the agreement offered a unique opportunity for Hungary to be the first among the 22 member states to execute its programme as ESAs official partner. Hungary will send an astronaut to the ISS, with the cooperation of US-based Axiom Space, for a 30-day research mission at the end of 2024 or in early 2025. ******************************************************************************************** You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories, via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! Hungarian-American bilateral trade set a new record, exceeding 9 billion dollars last year, while US investments continue to flow into Hungary, Peter Szijjarto, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Washington, DC, noting that the United States is Hungarys biggest export market outside the European Union. Since 2014 the Hungarian government has provided financial support to 111 big American investments, a foreign ministry statement quoted Szijjarto as saying. Currently 1,700 US companies employ a local workforce of over 100,000, the minister said, highlighting substantial US investments in car manufacturing, electronics and services sectors as well as in research and development, including the pharmaceutical and IT segments. US companies now form the second biggest group of foreign investors in Hungary and have always played an important role in keeping the economy on a growth path with their broad range of activities, Szijjarto said. He added that those companies were drawn to Hungary by the low tax rate and political stability in the country. Szijjarto said he will meet members of the US-Hungary Business Council later in the day to discuss future investments in Hungary. He called US-Hungarian cooperation a real success story, with the exception of political cooperation. ******************************************************************************************** You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories, via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! YORK A North Carolina man is accused of attempted murder in York. Jonah Jewell, 22, of Fort Liberty, North Carolina is accused of trying to kill his parents on Monday, according to information in a charging document filed by the York County Attorneys Office and News-Times research. The York Police Department said around 7:32 p.m. on Monday officers were called to a home in the 1300 block of Meadow Lane on the report of a burglary. Police said there was physical evidence of an attempted break in at the home, and through surveillance footage officers determined Jewell was the suspect. The homeowners were not at the residence at the time. He was arrested by a York County Sheriffs Department deputy a short distance from the home. The charging document notes Jewell is accused of using a handgun while trying to kill a man and woman. York police said an investigation determined had allegedly been sending threatening texts to a family member, stating he was going to kill that person. Police said Jewell was in possession of loaded gun. That physical evidence and further investigation determined he intended to kill family members residing at the house he broke in (to). The charging document lists Jewells parents as the alleged intended victims. Jewell is charged with two counts of attempted murder, a Class II felony, possession of a deadly weapon (firearm) during the commission of a felony, a Class II felony, two counts of terroristic threats, a Class IIIA felony and burglary, a Class IIA felony. Hes being held at the York County Jail. A bond wasnt posted as of Friday afternoon. Jewell was also issued a citation for speeding on March 1. That document lists a Texas address for the suspect. Fort Liberty is a military installation in North Carolina, formerly known as Fort Bragg. Jewell is scheduled to appear in York County Court on the attempted murder charges on March 11. Carie Hallford, one of the co-owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home, will return to court next week after failing to appear for a court-ordered sobriety test. Kate Singh, a spokesperson for the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office, confirmed with The Gazette that Hallford missed a required sobriety test that is part of her bond agreement. As a result, a show cause hearing has been scheduled for March 14 at 1:30 p.m., when Hallford could have her bond raised or revoked. Carie and her husband Jon Hallford are facing hundreds of charges related to the discovery of 190 bodies improperly stored at the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose. Court records show that Carie Hallford posted a $100,000 surety bond to be released from custody on Feb. 27. Continued sobriety tests as well as GPS monitoring are terms of her bond agreement, according to previous court hearings. Jon Hallford has been out on bond since Jan. 29 and has reportedly continued to maintain his requirements for release. Singh stated that she was unaware if any other terms of Carie Hallford's bond had been violated other than the missed sobriety test. Featured Local Savings Carie Hallford's attorney, Michael Stuzynski, in a brief phone conversation with The Gazette, stated that due to the gag order placed on the case he was unable to provide any additional information regarding Carie Hallford's alleged bond violation, or if any further terms of her bond had been violated. "All I can say is that there's a court date where this will be addressed, and we will have answers," Stuzynski said. Jon and Carie Hallford both face more than 250 felony counts, including abuse of a corpse, money laundering, forgery and theft. The couple has arraignments scheduled for March 21. Return to Nature Funeral Home came under a multi-agency investigation in October following reports of a complaint about a foul odor in the area. Investigators said they found more than 180 bodies in various states of decomposition inside the building that were not properly stored. The two were arrested in Oklahoma in November 2023. Both appeared in court and had cash bonds set at $2 million. BENGALURU: The announcement of her nomination to the Rajya Sabha was a double surprise as it came on Women's Day, philanthropist and author Sudha Murty said on Friday. The former Chairperson of Infosys Foundation, the philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Infosys, said that she has never sought the position and had "absolutely no idea" why the government chose to nominate her. "It came on Women's Day and that's a double surprise. I am very happy. I am grateful to our Prime Minister," Murty, who is currently on a visit to Thailand, told PTI over phone. I am delighted that the President of India has nominated @SmtSudhaMurty Ji to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Ji's contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy and education have been immense and inspiring. Her presence in the Rajya Sabha is a powerful testament to pic.twitter.com/lL2b0nVZ8F Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2024 On her role as a member of the Upper House, the wife of Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy said, "I have to see what are the things...What I can do. This is a new area to me. So, I have to first sit and study and then I will be able to do it." She said she was pleasantly surprised by the announcement. India's startup ecosystem has been thriving - be it e-commerce, trading or education, the new startups are helping change the lives of commoners in the country. Many of these startups are founded by the IITians. In a success for one such startup, 29 students associated with the IIT Madras startup 'Melvano' have achieved scores surpassing the 99 percentile mark in the JEE Mains 2024 Session 1. According to reports, K Vignesh secured an exceptional score of 99.89 percentile. Following closely are Sanjay Bishnoi (99.68), Soumyaneel Mukherjee (99.64), Rehan Farishta (99.52), and Rohit Kumar (99.52 percentile). Other students who secure over 99 percentile include Atharva Singh, Parameshwar Nath, Mohit Garg, and Suraj Kumar have also surpassed the 99 percentile threshold. Also, over 80 Melvano students has scored at or above the 98 percentile mark and all of these students got a cash reward as a mark of encouragement from Melvano. Melvanos CEO Taran Singh said that the startup is transforming students exam approach practice questions. He said that Melvano uses Artificial Intelligence to help students practice efficiently. Melvano was incubated at Nirmaan, IIT Madras and has raised over Rs 4 crores in seed funding from prominent Angel Investors. With its unique Artificial Intelligence engine in their Question Bank, Melvano promises to make practicing questions efficient for aspirants by helping them focus on their weak areas. In the NTA JEE Mains 2024 exam, a total of 12,25,529 students participated, while the number of registered candidates for JEE Main 2024 reached 12,31,874. Currently, there are 23 operational IITs in India. Recently, the total number of seats for the B. Tech program in IITs has been raised to 17,385. New Delhi: A festive occasion turned into a nightmare for 14 children who were taking part in Shiv Barat on Mahashivratri in Kota on Friday, news agency PTI reported. The children, aged between 10 and 16 years, suffered burn injuries after coming in contact with a high-tension power line overhead in the Sakatoura area under the Kunhari police station. Two of the children were critically injured with 100 and 50 per cent burns, while the others had minor injuries, a senior police official said. The injured children were immediately taken to the MBS hospital in Kota. Addressing the media after the incident, Kota SP Amrita Duhan said, "It's a very sad incident. People from the Kaali Basti were gathered here with their Kalash, a child was carrying a pipe of 20-22 ft that touched the high-tension wire. In an attempt to save that child, all the children present there were electrocuted." #WATCH | Rajasthan: Several children were electrocuted during a procession on the occasion of Mahashivratri, in Kota. Further details awaited. pic.twitter.com/F5srBhO9kz ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 "The priority is to give them proper treatment. One is in serious condition with 100% burns. An investigation has been initiated and if there has been any negligence from anyone, it will come out in the report. Except for the one who is 25 years of age, the rest children are below 14 years," Duhad added. Reported By- Ajay Kashyap Bareilly police have busted a factory manufacturing pistols and arrested two accused on Friday for selling illgal weapons under Izzat Nagar police station of Bareilly Uttar Pradesh. The arrested accused have been identified as Akash and Karan, residents of the village Kila Chandan Nagar, Rampur Road. Under custody accused has told the name of his master to the police. During police interrogation, the accused disclosed that the leader of the gang was Aman, known for his involvement in robbery and stunts. Aman would steal bikes and use them to commit robberies. Additionally, Aman was running an arms factory along with his friend Akash. In between the investigation, the police also found many photographs related to arms factories and illegal activities on the mobile phones of Aman and Akash. The accused used to sell one pistol for four to five thousand rupees to young boys and criminal gangs. Additionally, Aman's girlfriend Preeti was sent to jail at Kila police station about three months ago in the case of firing from an illegal weapon. During to interogation the accused said that their leader Aman has set up his gangafter being inspired by the movie Dhoom and Bunty Babli. Upholding the freedom of speech and right to dissent, the Supreme Court has ruled that every citizen of India has the right to criticise any decision of the State. The SC was hearing a plea filed by a professor who was booked for his WhatsApp status criticising the abrogation of Article 370. The apex court also quashed the FIR registered against the professor. "Describing the day the abrogation happened as a 'Black Day' is an expression of protest and anguish. If every criticism or protest of the actions of the State is to be held as an offence under Section 153-A, democracy, which is an essential feature of the Constitution of India, will not survive," said the top court. What Is The Case? According to PTI, the Maharashtra Police had registered an FIR at Hatkanangale police station against Hajam over his WhatsApp status in which he said, "August 5-Black Day Jammu & Kashmir" and "14th August-Happy Independence Day Pakistan". The professor also used a photo of the moon while wishing Pakistan. Overturning a Bombay High Court order upholding the FIR registered in the case, the Supreme Court dismissed the charges filed under Section 153A (promotion of communal disharmony) of the Indian Penal Code against Professor Javed Ahmed Hajam. 'Wishing Pakistan Gesture Of Goodwill' On Hajam wishing Pakistan, the top court said every citizen has the right to extend good wishes to the citizens of other countries on their respective independence days. The apex court observed that if a citizen of India extends good wishes to the citizens of Pakistan on 14th August then there is nothing wrong with it and it's a gesture of goodwill. "The Constitution of India, under Article 19(1)(a), guarantees freedom of speech and expression. Under the said guarantee, every citizen has the right to offer criticism of the action of abrogation of Article 370 or, for that matter, every decision of the State. He has the right to say he is unhappy with any decision of the State," said a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan. 'Right To Dissent With Reasonable Restriction' The apex court said the right to dissent in a legitimate and lawful manner is an integral part of the rights guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a). "Every individual must respect the right of others to dissent. An opportunity to peacefully protest against the decisions of the Government is an essential part of democracy....The right to dissent in a lawful manner must be treated as a part of the right to lead a dignified and meaningful life guaranteed by Article 21," it said. However, the bench maintained that the protest or dissent must be within four corners of the modes permissible in a democratic set-up and added it is subject to reasonable restrictions imposed in accordance with clause (2) of Article 19. The apex court also noted that the time has come to enlighten and educate police machinery on the concept of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and the extent of reasonable restraint on their free speech and expression. New Delhi: Congress election committee, headed by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, met on Thursday night and finalised most of the candidates for six of the ten states it was considering for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The first list of candidates will be released on Friday, sources said to Zee News Television. Senior party leader KC Venugopal, who attended the meeting along with former chief Sonia Gandhi, said that a formal announcement will be made soon. We finalised seats from Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Lakshadweep The procedure is going on, formal announcement will be made very soon, he told reporters. Zee News' sources said that Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the partys Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Jaipur, did not join the meeting virtually as he was expected to. His name for the Wayanad seat in Kerala has been suggested by the partys screening committee. He is likely to contest from the seat again, as he is the sitting MP from there. However, it is not clear yet if Rahul Gandhi will also contest from Amethi, his old bastion, or if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the partys general secretary, will make her electoral debut. There is a strong demand among Congress workers for Priyanka Gandhi to contest from Raebareli, the seat vacated by her mother Sonia Gandhi to contest Rajya Sabha polls. Some of the likely names in the first list are Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon, Tamradhwaj Sahu from Durg, Jyotsna Mahant from Korba, and Shiv Dehariya from Janjgir-Champa in Chhattisgarh. All the key leaders from Chhattisgarh will be in the fray, sources said to Zee News TV. In Karnataka, which has a Congress government, the party has not decided on 4-5 seats yet. The party will not field state ministers, sources said, as most of them are reluctant to contest the national elections. Two ministers have openly expressed their reservations. Only one minister could be a candidate if he chooses to contest, sources added. Among the candidates from Karnataka is DK Suresh, the brother of state party chief DK Shivakumar and a party MP. The party has not taken a decision on Kalburgi, the seat of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. There were reports that Kharges son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani was a frontrunner for the ticket, but the seat was not discussed at the meeting The Delhi Congress unit submitted a long list of candidates for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the capital. The high command asked the unit to shortlist some names and come back for the final approval. Sources said that the names of JP Agrawal, Sandeep Dikshit, and Alka Lamba were considered for the Chandni Chowk seat. From Northeast Delhi, the names of Arvinder Singh Lovely and Anil Chowdhary were proposed. From Northwest Delhi, the names of Rajkumar Chauhan and Udit Raj were in contention. The committee will meet again on Monday to finalise the remaining candidates. NEW DELHI: In a major setback for the Congress party, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on Friday declined its plea seeking a stay against the Income Tax Department's actions to recover and freeze the party's bank accounts. Senior Advocate Vivek Tamkha, representing the Congress, urged the tribunal to postpone the order for ten days, allowing the party to approach the High Court. However, the bench rejected this request, citing the absence of such provisions or prayers before them. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) dismisses the plea moved by the Congress Party which sought a stay against Income Tax Department proceedings of recovery and freezing of their Bank accounts. Senior Advocate Vivek Tamkha who appeared for Congress requested to keep the pic.twitter.com/mPpja89ayy ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024 Vivek Tankha, who is also the Congress legal cell head, said that he was extremely disappointed with the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal's order which did not follow its own past precedents. He added that the party is exploring all legal options on the I-T Appellate Tribunal's order and will move to the high court against it soon. Financial Terrorism By BP: Congress Reacting to the development, Congress leader Ajay Maken said, ''The I-T tribunal order freezing Congress's funds is an attack on democracy as it has come ahead of national elections.'' Reiterating its accusations of misuse of central agencies by the BJP, Congress labelled the tax demand as "politically motivated." It claimed that the timing of the tax demand was aimed at disrupting the party's election preparations. Additionally, the Congress accused the BJP government of engaging in "financial terrorism" and attempting to "cripple" its primary opposition. Tax Dispute On February 16, the Congress publicly disclosed that the Income Tax department had frozen its bank accounts due to a dispute over a tax demand amounting to Rs 210 crore. While the Income Tax department did not issue an official statement regarding its actions against the Congress' bank accounts, official sources maintained that it was a routine procedure applied to individuals or entities failing to pay income tax dues. Subsequently, the Congress alleged that the Income Tax department had "withdrawn" Rs 65 crore from its accounts in various banks, describing the act as "undemocratic." This withdrawal occurred despite the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the Congress' income tax returns from previous years. NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday assured that it is actively involved in efforts to assist Indian nationals who have been deceived into working with the Russian Army. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underscored the government's commitment to bringing these individuals back home and ensuring their safety. Working With The Russian Govt: MEA Jaiswal highlighted that the Indian government has taken a firm stance on the matter and is pursuing swift action against agents and entities responsible for recruiting Indian citizens under false pretences. The MEA has engaged with the Russian government, urging them to facilitate the prompt release of the duped Indian nationals. "Several Indian Nationals have been duped to work with the Russian Army. We have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian government for the early discharge of such Indian nationals. Strong action has been initiated against agents and unscrupulous elements who recruited them on false pretexts and promises." #WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Several Indian nationals have been duped to work in the Russian army. We have strongly taken up the matter for the early discharge of such Indian nationals. Strong action has been initiated against agents who recruited them on pic.twitter.com/4o9Puxxm9Y March 8, 2024 CBI Probing Human Trafficking Network Recent actions by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have resulted in the busting of a major human trafficking network. Through coordinated efforts and extensive investigations, incriminating evidence has been gathered, leading to the registration of cases against multiple agents involved in illicit recruitment. Concerned About The Well-Being Of Affected Individuals: MEA Expressing concern for the safety and well-being of the affected individuals, Jaiswal cautioned Indian nationals against succumbing to offers from deceptive agents promising support jobs with the Russian Army. He emphasized the inherent risks associated with such arrangements and reiterated the government's commitment to facilitating the safe return of those involved. The MEA remains in constant communication with Russian authorities, advocating for the swift release and repatriation of the duped Indian nationals. Efforts are underway to locate and assist approximately 20 individuals who have reached out to the MEA seeking assistance in this regard. The CBI's investigation revealed a widespread human trafficking network operating across multiple cities in India. Victims were lured through various means, including social media platforms and local contacts, with promises of lucrative jobs abroad. However, they were ultimately coerced into combat roles in the Russia-Ukraine war zone, endangering their lives. Ongoing Investigation And Appeal To The Public The investigation into this trafficking operation is ongoing, with additional victims being identified. The public has been urged to exercise caution and vigilance, avoiding false promises of employment from dubious recruitment agencies and agents. Certain suspects have been detained for questioning, and the CBI continues its efforts to ensure justice for the victims, the MEA officials added. New Delhi: The world is celebrating International Women's Day today, with discussions on women's empowerment, gender equality, and increasing opportunities for women happening globally. However, achieving true equality for women requires addressing various aspects of their lives, from birth and education to career and mental health. To create a better world where women have equal opportunities, we must start by addressing fundamental issues that are often overlooked. For example, the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles across various sectors, disparities in opportunities for women in science worldwide, and other aspects of women's personal and professional lives are not solely due to gender disparity but also stem from numerous other contributing factors. To delve into the factors affecting women's lives from schooling to higher education and throughout their professional trajectories, Zee News English conducted conversations with women in leadership roles. During these discussions, the first question that arose: why is there such a lesser representation of women in higher positions across all sectors? Lesser Representation Of Women In Leadership Roles Answering this question, Smita Chaturvedi, Vice Principal of The Scindia School, said that the low presentation of women in leading roles can be attributed to persistent patriarchal structures of society and the uneven expectations from females of balancing personal and professional life, which does not result in a work-life balance. "Despite possessing equal qualifications and competencies, women encounter barriers in higher education and various sectors primarily due to persistent patriarchal structures. In many spheres, society still favours a male-dominated narrative where men's opinions and actions hold more weight," said Chaturvedi. Equal Qualifications, Fewer Opportunities Despite possessing equal qualifications and competencies, women encounter barriers in higher education and various sectors primarily due to persistent patriarchal structures. In many spheres, society still favours a male-dominated narrative where men's opinions and actions hold more weight. Shedding light on the aspect that women are seen leading educational institutes at the school level, but the trend declines when higher educational institutes come into the picture, Smita Chaturvedi said it highlights systemic challenges and societal biases. "In the educational landscape, women indeed often flourish in leadership roles at the school level, showcasing exceptional capabilities in understanding, teaching, and nurturing children. Their higher emotional intelligence (EQ) often contributes significantly to their success as school leaders. However, the transition to higher education institutes and other sectors presents a different narrative highlighting systemic challenges and societal biases," said Chaturvedi. Uneven Expectations Increasing The Burden "Additionally, the demands of higher education institutes and certain sectors often disrupt work-life balance, placing greater pressure on individuals, especially women who are expected to juggle professional careers and household responsibilities. This expectation creates an uneven playing field, limiting women's upward mobility," she added. The uneven playing field for women does not appear suddenly in their adulthood but starts from the very beginning of their life. Traditionally, women are known for making sacrifices and and prioritize paths dictated by factors such as family expectations and societal norms. The effect of these factors is seen at as basic a level as the decision of educational and professional trajectory of a woman's life. Stark Difference Between The Opportunities For Women From Rural & Urban Backgrounds Agreeing that there exists a stark difference between the number of enrolments of girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) from rural and urban backgrounds at the college level, Aditi Chaturvedi, Director of AISECT, said that one of the key factors behind this trend is the societal norms that prioritise traditional gender roles. She also added that lack of awareness about STEM opportunities plays a significant role. "There are many factors that contribute to this difference, such as limited access to quality education and infrastructure in rural areas. Also, societal norms that prioritise traditional gender roles and lack of awareness about STEM opportunities play a significant role," said Aditi Chaturvedi. "Conversely, urban areas typically offer better educational facilities and exposure to diverse career options with a more progressive mindset that encourages girls to pursue STEM fields," she added. How does the college environment differ for girls from rural and urban backgrounds? "The college environment for girls from rural and urban backgrounds can differ significantly. In urban colleges, there might be more resources, advanced facilities, and a broader range of academic and extracurricular opportunities," said Aditi Chaturvedi. Bridging the Gender Gap in Science According to Aditi Chaturvedi, creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where female students feel valued, respected, and empowered to pursue their academic and career aspirations is essential in closing the gender gap in STEM fields. "Institutes can play a crucial role in bridging the gap of women in science at the lower level of education through proactive measures. Firstly, colleges can collaborate with schools and educational institutions to promote STEM awareness and encourage girls to develop an interest in science from an early age," said Chaturvedi. "Providing scholarships, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities specifically targeted towards female students can also help in attracting and retaining women in science programs," she added. Factors Influencing Female Students' Educational Trajectory It is evident that societal norms and family priorities do influence decision-making and shape the educational trajectory of a woman, but Devyani Jaipuria, Pro Vice Chairperson of Delhi Public School Jaipur, says students, regardless of gender, often select subjects based on their interest and perceived talent. Impact Of Availability Of Resources And Socioeconomic Background "External factors also play a significant role in this decision-making process. While societal expectations and gender stereotypes can impact educational choices, these influences are gradually diminishing with progress towards gender equality," said Jaipuria. "Access to resources and opportunities, which can be influenced by socioeconomic background and exposure to diverse career options, can significantly affect educational trajectories," she added. A Long Way To Go It seems like there are infinite difficulties for women to make their way in this world, but there is a ray of hope; there are encouraging trends where women are breaking the glass ceiling. However, there is a long way to go to reach a level where gender remains a biological aspect of life and does not dictate one's role in life. Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts to dismantle patriarchal structures, promote inclusive policies, and foster supportive environments that empower women to thrive professionally and personally. New Delhi: With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections just months away, the political landscape of the country is witnessing some major shifts. One of them is the imminent return of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The TDP, headed by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, had quit the NDA in March 2018, accusing the BJP of ignoring its pleas to grant Special Category Status (SCS) to the state, which was bifurcated to create Telangana in 2014. The TDP had also moved a no-confidence motion against the Modi government in the Lok Sabha. However, after almost six years of separation, the TDP is all set to join NDA, news agency ANI reported quoting a TDP spokesperson. TDP National Spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain said on Friday that the TDP, BJP and Jana Sena Party (JSP) will come to power in Andhra Pradesh in the next Assembly elections, which will be held along with the Lok Sabha polls. The JSP, which is led by actor Pawan Kalyan and has been a member of the NDA, has already joined hands with the TDP. The state has 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats. The Lok Sabha elections are expected to be held in April-May. On Thursday, Naidu and JSP chief Pawan Kalyan, who is also a popular actor, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda in Delhi. The meeting was seen as a precursor to the formal announcement of the alliance. Why TDP Wants To Ally With BJP According to political analysts, the TDPs decision to re-enter the NDA fold is a win-win situation for both the parties. For the TDP, an alliance with the BJP will boost its electoral prospects and help it challenge the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. A TDP MP told Indian Express that once the alliance is declared, Reddy will have to take on the BJP directly in the state, instead of supporting or helping it. Currently, YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy is helping or supporting the BJP. Once a TDP-BJP alliance is formally announced, he will be forced to take the BJP head-on in the state, the MP said. The TDP also wants to secure the Centres support, as Naidu faces several corruption cases in the state. He was arrested in September last year in connection with the alleged Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation scam. The TDP-JSP alliance was announced while he was in jail. How BJP Will Gain From TDP Tie-Up? The BJP, on the other hand, will also benefit from the alliance with the TDP. The party believes that Naidu will help the NDA perform well in the state, which is dominated by the YSRCP. The BJP wants to expand its presence in the southern state, which is the only region where it has not established its electoral strength. A BJP leader told The Telegraph, To achieve the 400-plus tally we need to win a good number of seats in southern states in addition to achieving saturation in the north, west and central states. The BJP, which has not been able to make a mark in Andhra Pradesh, is eyeing to increase its vote share and seat tally in the state. The party has set an ambitious target of winning 370 Lok Sabha seats on its own and 400 with allies, under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership. The TDP, while not a significant vote-catcher in Andhra, will bolster the BJPs election machinery with its organisational might and experience. BJP-TDP Alliances Past Performance In LS Polls In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and the TDP had fought together as part of the NDA and had won 19 seats 16 by the TDP and three by the BJP in undivided Andhra. After the formation of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh has 25 seats, of which the BJP hopes to contest on six-eight seats. In 2019, when the two parties parted ways and fought separately, the TDPs vote share remained almost intact but its seats dropped to just three. The BJP drew a blank and got only 0.98% of the votes, less than NOTAs 1.5%. A Fountain city councilwoman is running for an El Paso County Board of Commissioners seat as the sole Democrat in the race to represent the southeast portion of the community. Detra Duncan, 53, said, if elected, she would work on advocating for better access to health care and veterans services, ensuring residents have safe water, reducing crime, supporting small business, and working with builders on affordable housing. The small business owner was recently reelected to the Fountain City Council in November and expected to bring her experience working on community issues to the board. There is more that I can do for District 4 at the county commissioner level, she said. District 4 covers Fort Carson, Fountain, the Security-Widefield area all the way east to the county line. Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez represents the district and he is term-limited from running again. The open seat has drawn six candidates, one unaffiliated and four Republicans. Another Fountain City councilman Cory Applegate is among the Republican candidates. If the councilwoman remains unopposed through the June primary, she would face the victorious Republican in November. If chosen, Duncan said she would bring a fresh perspective to the seat to tackle issues such as affordable housing, which she described as the biggest issue facing the county. She noted that as local children grow up they are choosing to move to states, such as Oklahoma and Texas, where their money can go further. We have to be in collaboration with the builders to make sure we are building houses in our area that people can afford, she said. Featured Local Savings She would also like to see well managed growth and effort put in to revitalize older areas of the county. The county also needs to ensure new developments have enough water to support the homes. Fountain has been among the communities in the county facing a water shortage to support new growth. Advocating for improved access to health care in southeast El Paso County, particularly for veterans, is another priority for Duncan. While many believe veterans can visit Fort Carsons Evans Army Community Hospital that is not true for all of them. The distance residents have to travel to seek emergency care at a hospital puts them at greater risk for dying, she said. We are in a health care crisis, she said. On the board, she would also support small business that create jobs, through steps such as tax incentives. Small business owners, they understand the community, they give back to the community, Duncan said. Duncan said she wouldnt support tax increases at this time, but she would like to reevaluate the budget to ensure that Sheriffs Office and road maintenance are well-funded. Contact the writer at mary.shinn@gazette.com or 719-429-9264. The Mahashivratri celebrations at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore have commenced with grandeur, bringing together individuals transcending language, nationality, religion, and culture. Vice President of India Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, along with his wife Dr. Sudhesh Dhankhar, graced the event as the guest of honor. Speaking at the festivities, Shri Dhankhar hailed the inclusive nature of the celebrations, emphasizing the unique methods offered at Isha Yoga Center, encompassing the paths of Bhakti, Kriya, Karma, and Gyan. Addressing the gathering, Shri Dhankhar praised Sadhguru for his compassion and inclusiveness in a divided world, underscoring the significance of the issues championed by him. The evening unfolded with a series of rituals and cultural performances, marking the 30th anniversary of the Mahashivratri festival at Isha. Sadhguru recounted the humble beginnings of the festival and its evolution into the largest event globally, with millions of participants worldwide. A Tower of Light and Adiyogi's limitless Grace. Our fortune to be celebrating #Mahashivratri in the ambience of "Kashi" at Adiyogi! -Sg pic.twitter.com/2CjiVIwOps Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) March 8, 2024 Highlighting the theme of Kashi for this year's celebrations, Sadhguru revealed the majestic ambiance recreated at the Isha Yoga Center, reminiscent of the ancient city's splendor. Performances by renowned artists, including Padma Shri Shankar Mahadevan, Dharavi rappers Paradox Tanishq Singh and MC Heam, Punjabi folk sensation Gurudas Maan, and others, captivated the audience, adding to the festive fervor. Thousands of devotees, including international participants from 72 nations, and over 4,000 volunteers, gathered at the Isha Yoga Center to partake in the festivities. The event, broadcast in 22 languages worldwide and streamed by over 200 television channels and digital platforms, promises to be a memorable spectacle for all participants. NEW DELHI: In December 2021, the Lok Sabha passed the 'Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021,' aiming to connect electoral roll data with the Aadhaar ecosystem and introduce significant poll reforms. Despite a brief debate and the opposition's call to refer the bill to a standing committee, it was cleared by the Lower House. Government's Defence: Long-Awaited Reforms Defending the bill, the government highlighted that it encompasses various electoral reforms that have been long-discussed. The Union Cabinet had previously cleared the bill on electoral reforms, permitting the Election Commission to voluntarily seed Aadhaar numbers with electoral rolls. Key Reforms And Opposition Criticism The bill introduced several crucial reforms, including making electoral law gender-neutral for service voters and allowing new voters to enrol on four different dates annually. Despite the Opposition's criticism, the government emphasized that linking Aadhaar with electoral rolls would address the persistent issue of multiple enrollments, contributing to the enhancement and cleansing of the voters' list. Crucial Reforms Proposed In The Bill Voluntary Aadhar Linkage: The primary proposal among the four reforms allowed the Election Commission to link Aadhaar numbers with electoral rolls voluntarily. Quarterly Voter Registration: The second significant proposal involved conducting the voter registration process four times a year, offering more opportunities for individuals turning 18 after January 1 to participate in elections held in the same year. Multiple Cut-off Dates: Recognizing the limitation of the current January 1 cut-off date, the Election Commission sought multiple cut-off dates for voter enrollment - January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Gender Neutrality For Service Voters: The reforms also called for gender neutrality in service voters, addressing the disparity where an army mans wife is entitled to enrol as a service voter, but not a woman army officers husband. Empowering ECI: The final proposal empowered the Election Commission to take over any premise for the conduct of elections, addressing objections raised against the poll body's use of schools and similar premises. The Rationale Behind Aadhar Seeding The Union Law Ministry conveyed that the Election Commission aimed to utilize the Aadhaar database to ensure the preparation of an error-free electoral roll and prevent the duplication of entries. The move was considered essential for the deduplication of electoral data, requiring amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Aadhaar Act, 2016. Challenges And Objections The Supreme Court's intervention in August 2015, citing privacy concerns, halted the National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP) using Aadhaar numbers. Despite a temporary collection of Aadhaar numbers during that period, the legal constraints prompted the Election Commission to approach the Law Ministry in 2019 with a fresh proposal. The Standing Committee, in its 101st report, acknowledged the potential intrusion into privacy but emphasized the necessity of an error-free electoral roll for free and fair elections. Concerns over the misuse of personal data and disenfranchisement were raised, aligning with the Supreme Court's cautious approach towards Aadhaar usage within government agencies. Recent Developments And Law Ministry's Response The Election Commission's recent proposal to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and voter enrolment forms has been reportedly rejected by the Union Law Ministry. The proposed changes, seeking to eliminate the requirement for voters to provide reasons for not seeding Aadhaar with the voter ID card, were deemed unnecessary in the absence of specific directions from the Supreme Court. EC Seeks Amendments Amid Ongoing Debate The exchange between the Election Commission and the Law Ministry continues, with the EC proposing amendments to Sections 23(6) and 28(2) (hhhb) of the RP Act 1950, seeking the deletion of the "sufficient cause" requirement. Additionally, changes are sought in Form 6 for new voter enrolment to ensure prospective voters aren't compelled to declare their reason for not providing UID details. As the debate persists, the Election Commission is hoping to strike a balance between electoral integrity and privacy concerns, navigating the evolving landscape of Aadhaar integration in the electoral process. Weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal-United have reached a seat-sharing deal in Bihar, reported Zee News TV. According to the sources, the JDU is getting 14-15 seats out of the 40 seats in the state. The development came at a time when Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) remains undecisive over its future with the NDA. Last night, Paswan held a meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda but a formal decision of seat-sharing is yet to be announced. According to the TV, the BJP may contest on 16-17 seats, Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM and Upendra Kushwaha's RLSP on one seat each. Chirag's Twin Trouble In NDA Chirag Paswan is reportedly facing a twin dilemma while being a part of the NDA. While the terms between Paswan and his uncle Pashupati Paras are yet to get smooth, he has yet not resolved his issues with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. While Paras led a rebellion leading to the split of the LJP in 2021, Paswan contested the 2020 Bihar assembly polls against the JDU. Now, since Nitish Kumar is back with the NDA once again after the 2021 split, Chirag is reportedly finding it difficult to set equations right with Paras and Kumar while being with the BJP. Another problem is that the BJP is reportedly offering six seats to Paswan which he will have to share with Paras. This includes the Hajipur seat. It's likely that Chirag will contest from the Hajipur seat and Paras from the Samastipur seat if the deal gets finalized. INDIA Bloc's Offer To Chirag Sensing discontent within the LJP-RV, the INDIA bloc led by Congress has offered eight seats to Chirag Paswa in Bihar and two seats in Uttar Pradesh. Both, the BJP and the Congress are in the wait-and-watch mode for announcing seats for Bihar Lok Sabha polls. Both parties are waiting to finalize a seat-sharing deal with their allies. The parties may announce their seats as soon as the suspense over Chirag Paswan's LJP-RV ends. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah today disapproved of Lalu Yadav's 'parivarvaad' jibe aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that such slogans harm the opposition alliance. Reacting to RJD chief Lalu Yadav's remark, Abdullah said that it allowed the PM to score a goal and the opposition doesn't have a reply to the BJP's 'Modi Ka Parivaar' poll plank. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference are partners in the opposition INDIA bloc led by the Congress. "I have never been in favour of such slogans and we have never benefited from them. Whenever we use such slogans, it harms us," he said. He also slammed the Prime Minister for not talking about restoring democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah said that if Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul or Priyanka decide to contest from Anantnag, then the National Conference will vacate the seat for them. Abdullah added, Nothing new came from the PMs visit. There was no word from the Prime Minister on the restoration of democracy and people expected him to talk about the restoration of statehood, elections, employment, and other local issues. But the PM remained silent and kept speaking only the same old language of 'Parivarvaad'." Abdullah further said that Article 370 is an emotional issue for Kashmiris but for the Prime Minister, it is a political issue. "Why is the PM selling movie tickets?" he remarked. On the issue of alliance with other parties in the Lok Sabha elections and not accommodating PDP in seat sharing, Abdullah said, "How can we give seats to a party which was in third position in the last election? Maintaining the alliance is not only mandate of the National Conference but also of others." Abdullah said, We did not keep the PDP away from alliance but from the ground reality. How can we give the Anantnag seat to the PDP which stood third in the last elections? PDP has been targeting NC and they talk about alliance. We cannot forget that...Doors are open for PDP in Assembly elections but there is no scope for Parliament elections he added. Talks have been held with Congress on Lok Sabha seat sharing. We have reached an agreement with Congress on one seat in Jammu and one seat in Ladakh. And we are also ready to leave Anantnag seat for Congress and if Sonia, Rahul, or Priyanka contest the elections from here. SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday accused the National Conference (NC) of reducing the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to a joke after the Farooq Abdullah-led party unilaterally decided to contest all three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir. The PAGD alliance in Jammu and Kashmir has been disbanded, she said. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also announced that she will move forward independently. She attributed the demise of the PAGD to the National Conference. Hours after National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah stated that there would be no alliance with the PDP for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti shifted the decision-making responsibility to the Congress, which is part of the INDIA bloc. She mentioned that a decision would be made after consulting with the party. During a press conference at the party headquarters in Srinagar, Mehbooba expressed her disappointment with the NC's decision, stating that they had achieved what the BJP could not by damaging the PAGD ( Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Deceleration). She also indicated that discussions with Congress were forthcoming, and a decision would be made soon. "I am a fighter. We will engage with Congress on this matter and announce our decision soon," she stated. Earlier, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah had remarked, "The situation has excluded the PDP, not the National Conference." He questioned how they could abandon south Kashmir for the PDP, which placed third in the last LS polls. "They (PDP) speak of alliances but only target NC in their rallies and tweets," Omar added. No understanding of seat sharing in Lok Sabha elections has put two big political parties of Jammu and Kashmir face to face, which will benefit BJP in Jammu and Kashmir in forthcoming parliamentary elections. The eligibility for admission to colleges in Canada for PG Diploma varies by the specialization chosen and specific requirements set by each institution. The requirements typically include academic qualifications, work experience, language proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Another important requirement is a Canada Student Permit which allows students to study at designated learning institutes in Canada for the duration of the program. The average tuition fee for pursuing PG Diploma in Canada ranges from 8,000 to 20,000 CAD (5 lakhs to 12 lakhs INR). After graduation, you can pursue some of the highest-paying jobs in Canada and earn around 35,000 to 90,000 CAD (21 lakhs to 55 lakhs INR). 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New Delhi: Roughly three decades ago, in the year 1995, a political drama unfolded in Andhra Pradesh that changed the fate of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its founder NT Rama Rao (NTR), the actor-turned-politician who was the Chief Minister of the state. The plot was hatched by his son-in-law Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who was then a low-profile leader in the party. Naidu, who was married to NTRs daughter Bhuvaneswari, joined hands with NTRs eldest son-in-law Daggubati Venkateswara Rao and all his sons, including actors Harikrishna and Balakrishna, to overthrow NTR from the party and the government. Naidu accused NTR of being under the influence of his second wife Lakshmi Parvathi, whom he had married in 1993 after the death of his first wife Basava Tarakam in 1985. How Naidu Executed The Coup Against NTR? NTR, who had attended the release of his biography on August 16, 1995, was unaware of the revolt brewing within his party. He was shocked when he learnt that Naidu had taken most of the TDP legislators to Viceroy Hotel in Hyderabad and claimed their support. NTR appealed to the MLAs to come out of the hotel and join him, but he was greeted with chappals (slippers). NTR then sought the help of then Governor Krishna Kant and asked him to dissolve the Assembly. He also sent his resignation letter to the Governor and the Speaker from a hospital bed, where he was admitted with his wife Lakshmi Parvathi by his side. However, Naidu had already secured the majority of the TDP MLAs and staked claim to form the government. On September 7, 1995, when the Assembly met, only 28 out of the 219 TDP legislators supported NTR. Speaker Yanamala Ramakrishnudu did not allow NTR to speak and suspended all the MLAs loyal to him from the House for unruly behaviour. NTR, who was still the leader of the TDP Legislative Party, was not invited for the business advisory meeting on August 29 at the Assembly, even though he was technically the Chief Minister of the state. Naidu's Rise As Andhra CM Naidu, who became the new Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, organised a public meeting in Hyderabad on September 11 to seek the peoples endorsement. NTR, on the other hand, embarked on a whirlwind tour of the then united Andhra Pradesh to expose Naidus betrayal and regain his lost glory. However, he failed to attract the attention of the people, who had given him a massive mandate in the past. Naidu and the NTR family succeeded in portraying Lakshmi Parvathi as the villain who had tricked the lonely widower into marriage while trying to write his biography. This was not the first time that NTR had faced a challenge to his leadership. In 1984, when he was away in America for a heart surgery, his then Finance Minister Nadendla Bhaskar Rao had attempted a coup against him with the apparent support of then Governor Thakur Ram Lal. However, NTR had managed to foil the coup and return to power with a massive public support. But in 1995, NTR could not repeat his comeback. He never recovered from Naidus coup and passed away in January 1996. Naidu went on to become the longest-serving Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and the president of the TDP. He also became a key ally of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. NTRs legacy was taken forward by his sons and grandsons, who became prominent actors and politicians in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. New Delhi: The tales of individuals who refuse to surrender in the face of adversity, persisting relentlessly towards their ambitions, possess a captivating allure that resonates deeply within us, serving as a wellspring of inspiration. It is their unwavering resolve and unwavering commitment that sets them apart from the ordinary. An exemplary embodiment of such resilience and unwavering dedication is found in the remarkable odyssey of Anukriti Sharma, whose journey embodies the essence of perseverance and steadfast pursuit of her aspirations, even at the cost of forsaking a lucrative career opportunity at NASA to chase her lifelong dream of joining the Indian Police Service (IPS). Originating from the vibrant cityscape of Jaipur in Rajasthan, Anukriti commenced her academic journey at the Indo-Bharat International School. Following her intermediate education, she embarked on a quest for knowledge, enrolling in the BSMS program at the prestigious Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Kolkata. However, fate intervened unexpectedly when she received an enticing offer of admission to Rice University's Ph.D. program in volcano research, located in the bustling metropolis of Houston, Texas. Concurrently, she was also presented with a tempting opportunity to join the esteemed ranks of the NASA Institute. Despite these alluring prospects, Anukriti resolved to return to her homeland, realizing that her true calling lay in serving her nation through the IPS. Thus, she initiated her arduous journey of preparation for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations in 2014. Nevertheless, Anukriti's path was fraught with challenges, as she encountered numerous setbacks along the way. Despite performing commendably in the Preliminary examinations during her initial attempt in 2015, she faltered in the subsequent Mains. Undeterred, she persisted, only to face disappointment once more in her second endeavor. Despite advancing to the interview stage in her third attempt, she was ultimately not selected. Yet, Anukriti refused to relinquish her aspirations. Securing a position in the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) during her fourth attempt was undoubtedly a significant achievement, but her heart remained steadfast on donning the coveted IPS uniform. Her relentless perseverance finally bore fruit during her fifth attempt, culminating in the realization of her lifelong dream. Today, Anukriti stands as a shining testament to the indomitable spirit of resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment, earning acclaim as one of the finest IPS officers to have graced the corridors of Indian bureaucracy. New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest elections from Wayanad has sparked tensions within the India Alliance, as the Communist Party of India (CPI), part of the ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala, has already fielded Annie Raja for the same seat in the upcoming general elections. Despite all these parties aligning under the India Block once they reach Delhi, the local political dynamics in Kerala are showcasing a different scenario. Political observers speculate that neither the CPI nor the Congress likely consulted each other before finalizing their respective candidates. The prospect of Rahul Gandhi facing off against Annie Raja, the wife of CPI General Secretary D Raja and a prominent figure in CPI's National Women's Federation, adds an intriguing dimension to the electoral landscape. Annie Raja's entry into the electoral fray marks her first foray into Lok Sabha elections, adding anticipation to the contest. Her assertion that Kerala politics operates distinctly from national blocs reflects the nuanced dynamics at play. While the state's political arena traditionally pits the Left Democratic Front (LDF) against the United Democratic Front (UDF), the convergence of these parties in national politics poses a moral challenge. Despite Rahul Gandhi's previous victory in Wayanad by a significant margin, the upcoming elections present a fresh challenge. With the CPI securing four seats in Kerala, including Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram, within the CPM-led LDF, the electoral landscape appears poised for intense competition, extending to Shashi Tharoor's constituency as well. New Delhi: As per the RBI's bank holidays calendar, March will see bank closures on several days, including the second and fourth Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays. While all banks close on public holidays, some states additionally observe local holidays. Festivals like Holi and Mahashivratri will be observed in March 2024. Read on further to find out when the banks are closed on account of these festivals. (Also Read: Good News For Job Seekers! Elon Musk's Firm X Has Over 1 Million Openings) Before going forward, one thing that may be informative for you is that even though bank branches could be closed in your state on certain days, internet banking services will still be available everywhere. Apart from this, ATMs and online platforms will also provide access to financial services. Now come to the question that is making rounds in your mind i.e. whether banks are closed today or not? (Also Read: Good News For Central Government Employees; Union Cabinet Approves 4% DA Hike) Bank Holiday On Mahashivratri Today, on March 8, 2024, banks will be closed in several Indian states in commemoration of Mahashivratri. All states except Tripura, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Itanagar, Rajasthan, Nagaland, West Bengal, New Delhi, Goa, Bihar, and Meghalaya will have their banks closed on Mahashivratri. Three-Day Extended Weekend Since the second Saturday and Sunday fall on March 8, many folks will have a three-day extended weekend. Full List Of Bank Holidays In March 2024 March 8, 2024 Mahashivratri will be observed as a bank holiday except in New Delhi, Bihar, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal, Mizoram, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland, Itanagar, and Goa. March 9, 2024 Banks will remain closed on the second Saturday of March 2024. March 10, 2024 Sunday, as usual, will be a non-working day for banks. March 17, 2024 On another Sunday, banks will be closed. March 22, 2024 Bihar Diwas will be celebrated in Bihar, leading to a bank holiday in the state. March 23, 2024 Banks will be closed on the fourth Saturday of March 2024. March 24, 2024 Sunday, yet again, will be a non-working day for banks. March 25, 2024 Holi will be observed as a bank holiday except in Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Kerala, Nagaland, Bihar, and Srinagar. March 26, 2024 In Odisha, Manipur, and Bihar, Yaosang second day/Holi will be observed as a bank holiday. March 27, 2024 Holi will be observed as a bank holiday in Bihar. March 29, 2024 Good Friday will be a bank holiday except in Tripura, Assam, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh. March 31, 2024 The month concludes with another Sunday, resulting in banks being closed. WASHINGTON The U.S. House on Thursday approved legislation named after a nursing student killed in Athens that would require federal immigration agents to lock up people in the country illegally who have been accused of theft or shoplifting. The Laken Riley Act was approved in a bipartisan vote of 251-170. Thirty-seven Democrats joined with Republicans to sign off on the measure, which now heads to the Senate where it is unlikely to gain traction with Democrats in charge. Georgias delegation split strictly along party lines with all nine GOP members in favor and the five Democrats opposed. The man charged with murder last month in Rileys death, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, is a Venezuelan who authorities say entered the country illegally in 2022. In October 2023, Ibarra and his brother Diego Jose Ibarra, 29, were issued citations after being accused of shoplifting in Athens-Clarke County. Republicans say changes to federal law are needed to keep potentially dangerous migrants off the streets. U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, whose district includes Athens, filed the legislation less than a week ago. It was fast-tracked to the floor so that passage would precede President Joe Bidens State of the Union address tonight. The measure would also allow states to sue the federal government for failing to enforce immigration laws. Featured Local Savings I now urge the Senate to take up this bill immediately, Collins, a Republican from Jackson, wrote on social media after the vote. Please help us ensure justice for Laken and give ICE more tools to detain and deport criminal illegal aliens before they commit more serious crimes. Most Democrats oppose the legislation and accused Republicans of politicizing Rileys death. They said if Republicans were serious about stemming illegal immigration, they would consider the bipartisan border security package that was introduced in the Senate. Mandatory detention of innocent people is not a reasonable or sensible policy choice, said U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. ... It is important to remember that this bill would subject more people to mandatory detention at a time when Republicans refused to give the Department of Homeland Security the resources it needs to carry out its policies. 2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In commemoration of International Women's Day, the Northern Railway has designated Delhi's Safdarjung Station as a 'pink' railway station. This symbolic gesture aims to underscore the pivotal role women play across various sectors within the Indian Railways. According to a report by NDTV, a special train staffed entirely by women, comprising a loco pilot, two assistant loco pilots, and two guards, departed from the station at 10 am. This initiative serves to highlight and honor the significant contributions made by women within the Indian Railways framework. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has also joined in the festivities, expressing their commitment to empowering women. In a statement shared on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the DMRC affirmed, "Empowering every journey, celebrating every milestone. DMRC honors the spirit of womanhood this International Women's Day, recognizing their invaluable contributions in shaping our world." In addition to the symbolic gesture at Safdarjung Station, the DMRC has organized various activities for both its female commuters and employees. The theme for this year's Women's Day celebrations is "Count her in: Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress." Delhi Metro held International Women's Day celebrations today at Prakriti Park with the theme Count Her In: Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress. The winners of various competitions held were also honored with prizes. There was a colourful cultural programme as well. pic.twitter.com/04nSln3mZW Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) March 7, 2024 Empowering every journey, celebrating every milestone. DMRC honors the spirit of womanhood this International Women's Day, recognizing their invaluable contributions in shaping our world.#DelhiMetro #IWD2024 #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/DClQv81bjM Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) March 8, 2024 Notable events include celebrations held at Prakriti Park, featuring esteemed guests such as para-athlete Deepa Malik and DIG, CISF Meghna Yadav. The event was attended by the First Lady of DMRC as well. Furthermore, a quiz on social media platform X was conducted, engaging participants from February 26 to March 1. The DMRC also hosted a live theme-based Art Work competition at several Metro stations, including Hauz Khas, Rajiv Chowk, and Vishwavidyalaya, on February 29. The theme, "Metro has empowered women," aimed to showcase the integral role women play in the Metro's operations. Moreover, the DMRC organized an essay competition titled "Shattering the glass ceiling: rising participation of women in the workplace," along with a live art competition on the topic "Many roles of women" at Metro Bhawan and Shastri Park. New Delhi: Google has introduced a new feature for its AI-powered chatbot, Gemini, offering users more control over the responses generated by the bot. This feature allows users to modify specific portions of text within the response, providing a more tailored experience. In the latest update, users can now select and adjust particular parts of the text generated by Gemini. This feature empowers users to make changes to the response's content, and length, or completely remove certain sections. (Also Read: Good News For Job Seekers! Elon Musk's Firm X Has Over 1 Million Openings) Initially available in English on the Gemini web app, this feature enhances the precision of response tuning. (Also Read: India AI Mission: Check 8 Key Components Of Cabinet's Newly Launched Plan) Editing Process Google described the new feature as a more precise way for users to fine-tune Gemini's responses. By simply selecting the portion of text they want to modify and providing instructions, users can obtain an output that aligns more closely with their preferences. Creative Control Explaining the motivation behind the feature, Google emphasized its commitment to providing users with greater control over their creative process. This new functionality allows users to iterate on content and ideas within the context of the original response, fostering a more collaborative and customizable experience. Editing Options After generating a response, users can highlight any part of the text and access editing options by hovering over a pencil icon with the Gemini logo. The options available include 'Regenerate,' 'Shorter,' 'Longer,' and 'Remove,' each serving a specific purpose to modify the selected text as per the user's preference. User-Friendly Interface The interface is designed to simplify the editing process, allowing users to seamlessly adjust the length or content of the response with just a few clicks. Users can also add prompts to further customize the selected text as needed. LONDON (Reuters) - A pro-Palestinian activist slashed a painting of the early 20th-century British foreign minister Arthur Balfour at Cambridge University on Friday, saying his 1917 declaration was the reason the Palestinians had lost their homeland to Israel. A video posted on social media by the Palestine Action protest group showed a woman spraying red paint over the life-size portrait before cutting it repeatedly with a knife - the latest in a flurry of protests prompted by the Israel-Hamas war. Balfour's declaration, made as Ottoman rule was crumbling in the Middle East and Britain a global power, said London would "view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people" and work toward it - albeit without prejudicing "the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities". It was the first time a major power had publicly expressed support for a Jewish homeland, gave a boost to the growing worldwide Zionist movement - and shaped what was to become interim British "mandate" rule of Palestine from 1918 onward. Palestinians have long demanded that Britain apologise for the 67-word statement. British oversight of Palestine ended traumatically in 1947-48 with war between Jews and Arabs, the declaration of the State of Israel and the exodus of some 750,000 Palestinians who were forced out or fled. "Balfours declaration began the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by promising the land away which the British never had the right to do," Palestine Action said in a caption accompanying the clip. Last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for tougher policing of protests in light of an increase in hate speech. His government has particularly alleged threatening behaviour by some of those attending a wave of protests against the thousands of civilian deaths and the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip. Sunak said people had the right to protest, but could not use support for Gaza's Palestinians to justify backing Hamas, the armed movement that rules Gaza, which Britain considers a terrorist group. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel's military since Oct. 7, when Palestinian militants led by Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted 253, by Israeli counts. Cambridge's Trinity College said it regretted the damage, and that support was available for college members. (Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by Kevin Liffey) China's top political advisory body holds 2nd plenary meeting of annual session Xinhua) 08:07, March 08, 2024 The second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body on Thursday held its second plenary meeting of the annual session. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attended the meeting. During the meeting, 14 members of the CPPCC National Committee shared their views. Ning Jizhe said more policies should be rolled out to maintain steady economic growth, calling for making every effort to expand domestic demand. Chen Qun said it was necessary to give enough room for a free-exploration style of basic research, and encourage researchers to find valuable scientific or technological issues. Yi Gang called for the promotion of high-level opening up in the financial sector to safeguard the country's financial and economic security. Sima Hong said the high-quality development requires the support of a modern industrial system, highlighting the need to build an industrial system with sci-tech innovation as the guide and advanced manufacturing as the backbone. Describing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta as a major undertaking, Che Jun said efforts should be made to further synergize regional strategies and promote the construction of demonstration zones. Wang Lu shared his views on boosting the industry of new materials. He highlighted the need to speed up the forming of a sci-tech innovation layout covering the main categories of new materials and clusters of key industries. Other political advisors shared their views on agricultural modernization, new types of consumption, grain production, sci-tech financial system, education, private enterprises, elderly-care services, and childbirth services. Ning Jizhe, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Chen Qun, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Yi Gang, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Sima Hong, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Che Jun, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Wang Lu, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Shen Yueyue presides over the second plenary meeting 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 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Nan Cunhui, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Ma Jiantang, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Xia Jie, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Tao Zhi, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Zhao Jing, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Lan Shaomin, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Kong Changsheng, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Xu Xiaolan, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) The second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) The second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua) The second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Li He) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) The second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) The second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) The second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Li He) The second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Li He) This photo taken on March 7, 2024 shows the Great Hall of the People ahead of the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Love Endures, a popular drama aiming to portray the post-1990 generation in a new era, has proved to be hugely popular, garnering over 1.5 billion views on the streaming site Youku, an executive of the site revealed during a symposium held at Peking University on Monday. Starring actress Yang Zi and actor Fan Chengcheng, the drama begins in 2008, as the country prepares to host the Summer Olympics. Yang and Fans characters, both third-grade students at a middle school, are preparing, along with four other childhood friends who grew up in the same neighborhood in a northern city, for a stage play to commemorate their final year before entering adulthood. As time swiftly approaches their thirties, the six young people reunite only to confront their respective struggles and stresses, ultimately discovering their true loves after being separated for many years. Xie Ying, vice-president of Youku, said that the dramas popularity index passed 8,000 on its debut day, making it the first phenomenal hit on the site this year. Xie revealed that as an online platform, they normally receive more than 1,000 dramas and typically select around 100, or 10 percent, to stream, adding that what most attracts them is whether the story can resonate widely with young audience. Zhang Jun, the producer, said that the primary goal behind creating this drama is to encapsulate the era in which the post-1990 generation came of age, spanning from the rapid expansion of the internet to Chinas extensive integration with the world. He added that this generation, largely being the only children in their families, has cultivated distinctive bonds with their neighbors and childhood companions, hence making their collective memories particular to their own generation. Zhang Dexiang, vice-chairman of the China Literature and Art Critics Association, said the show has accurately reflected the societal environments of the post-1990 generation, demonstrating how they are influenced by the prevailing popular cultures of that time, such as K-pop and computer games, while also yearning for and striving toward their dreams. Dai Qing, a professor at the Academy of Drama and Film of the Communication University of China, said that despite the domestic market producing many youth-themed dramas, Love Endures has distinguished itself with a nonlinear narrative that intertwines two timelines, focusing on the characters at 17 and 30 years old respectively. Zhong Chengxiang, a veteran researcher at the China Central Institute for Culture and History, described the drama as a mirror that can assist the post-1990 generation in recognizing their own joys, sorrows, aspirations, and challenges. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli officials have discussed arming some civilians in Gaza to provide security protection for aid convoys into the besieged enclave, as part of wider planning for humanitarian supplies after fighting ends, the Israel Hayom daily said on Friday. With civil order increasingly strained in Hamas-run Gaza and municipal police refusing to provide security to convoys because of the risk of being targeted by Israeli forces, the issue of secure distribution of supplies has become a major problem. The civilians would not be linked to militant groups including Hamas but it remained unclear who they might be, the newspaper said. It said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had postponed a decision on the issue. The Prime Minister's office declined to comment on the report, which came a week after dozens of Palestinians were killed in an incident in which crowds surrounded a convoy of aid trucks entering northern Gaza and troops opened fire. The incident underlined the chaotic conditions in which aid has been delivered into Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of the growing threat of famine after more than five months of war. "We were not carrying weapons or anything, we are civilians. We wanted to get food because we are starving here in Gaza," said Mustafa Lolo, who said he was shot in the legs trying to get aid. On Friday, the Israeli military released the results of a review of the circumstances behind the Feb. 29 truck convoy incident and repeated that troops had only fired at individuals they felt posed a threat. "The command review found that IDF troops did not fire at the humanitarian convoy, but did fire at a number of suspects who approached the nearby forces and posed a threat to them," it said in a statement. Hamas rejected the report which it said was an attempt to exonerate soldiers from the "horrific crime". Palestinian health authorities said that more than 100 people were killed in the incident, most shot by Israeli troops. Israel has previously said most of the dead and wounded were trampled or run over as people scrambled for supplies. BREAKDOWN OF CIVIL ORDER UN agencies had no connection with the convoy, which was operated by private contractors and overseen by the Israeli military, however they have said aid deliveries have become increasingly difficult amid a general breakdown in civil order. "When fighting continues, when people are desperate, when the social fabric is torn down and lawlessness is on the rise, it gets harder and harder for us on the other side - once it's been checked and verified - to receive and distribute safely," U.N. Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, told reporters this week. In a report on Wednesday, the United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA pointed to "the diminished presence of local police, following a spate of attacks by Israeli forces that led to police casualties". Israel says its goal in the war is the destruction of Hamas, following the militant Islamist group's rampage into its territory on Oct. 7 in which Israeli officials say it killed 1,200 people and abducted 253. The ground and air offensive launched by Israel in response against the densely populated Gaza Strip has killed at least 30,878 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says. As part of plans for running Gaza after the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has considered empowering local representatives not affiliated to Hamas or other militant groups, but it is unclear who such people may be. Gaza has a number of large traditional family clans, affiliated with political factions including Hamas and Fatah, the rival group that dominates the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank. Some of the larger clans in Gaza City and elsewhere are believed to be well-armed but they have a long history of clashing over rival interests and there has been no indication that they would consider working with Israel. (Reporting by James Mackenzie in Jerusalem, Michelle Nichols in New York and Nidal Al-Mughrabi in Cairo; Editing by Alex Richardson) By Yimou Lee and Fabian Hamacher TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's top China policy-making body urged China on Friday not to change the "status quo" around waters near Taiwan's frontline islands by sending coast guard boats into restricted areas, saying tension should be "controllable". Last month Beijing began regular coast guard patrols around the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands, which hug the Chinese coast, after two Chinese fishermen died trying to flee Taiwan's coast guard. "The current situation across the Strait should be controllable," Jan Jyh-horng, the deputy head and spokesperson of the Mainland Affairs Council, told a press conference. "We don't want to see any action that breaks the status quo." China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory, over the island's strong objections. In recent years it has stepped up military activities near Taiwan, with almost-daily incursions into air defence identification zones. This week, China said it would boost its defence spending by 7.2% this year, fuelling a military budget that has more than doubled during President Xi Jinping's 11 years in office as Beijing hardens its stance on Taiwan. When asked if China has toughened its tone on Taiwan in a government work report released this week, Jan said Taipei believed Beijing still wants to use "peaceful means" to engage with Taiwan. He urged China to have "more confidence" in doing so, and to allow Chinese students and tourists to visit the island, an arrangement suspended after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted travel. Taiwan's National Security Bureau said "peaceful unification" and "cross-strait exchanges" remain Beijing's top priorities in efforts regarding Taiwan, it said in a report sent to parliament that was reviewed by Reuters. The bureau believes, however, that Beijing would continue to step up its "multi-front" pressure on Taipei, using military activities to economic coercion to change the status quo. "They are waiting for an opportunity to change the status quo in the Strait, hoping to pressure and influence our government's policy on the mainland," the report said. (Reporting by Yimou Lee and Fabian Hamacher; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Clarence Fernandez) By Andrew Goudsward WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors on Thursday accused Donald Trump of bringing a frivolous claim of presidential immunity in the criminal case accusing him of mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House. The move by Special Counsel Jack Smith is an effort to block the former president from using an immunity claim to delay trial, after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments next month on his claims of immunity in a separate case accusing him of trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. "Because Trump advances an entirely meritless claim that could not provide him any relief even if correct, the Court should deny his immunity claim," Smith argued in a court filing. "That frivolous claim is offered for one transparent purpose to delay the trial." Immunity claims, unlike other legal issues addressed before a trial, can usually be immediately appealed. Trump's immunity appeal in the election-related case has caused months of delay. Smith said all the conduct charged in a 40-count indictment against Trump occurred after he left the White House in January 2021 and would not be covered even if presidents are entitled to protection against criminal prosecution for official actions. Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, has argued that the charges stem from official decisions he made in his final days as president, including a purported move to designate certain records as personal rather than belonging to the U.S. government. Prosecutors have said the documents related to issues including nuclear weapons capabilities and U.S. vulnerability to military attack and could not be construed as personal records. Smiths filing came as he responded to an array of legal motions to dismiss the case brought by Trump and his two co-defendants, personal aide Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, a property manager at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort. Prosecutors responded to Trumps not-yet-public filing alleging Trump was selectively targeted because other former U.S. officials, including Democratic President Joe Biden, were not charged for mishandling classified information after leaving office. A different special counsel, Robert Hur, last month concluded that there was evidence Biden willfully retained national security information after he left the vice presidency in 2017, the same offense facing Trump. But Hur opted not to bring criminal charges, noting Biden had cooperated with the investigation and a conviction would be difficult to obtain. Trumps filing remains sealed while Cannon determines whether some portions should be redacted. Smiths prosecutors acknowledged superficial similarities between the two cases, but said Trumps alleged repeated and flagrant obstructive efforts distinguished his case from Bidens. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis) Former President Donald Trump's takeover of the Republican National Committee was finalized Thursday when Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the North Carolina GOP, replaced former Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. Whatley is joined by Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as co-chair. She replaces former RNC co-chairman Drew McKissick as committee members are holding their spring meeting in Houston, Texas. The new leadership of the RNC comes after Trump vanquished his final 2024 Republican primary challenger, Nikki Haley, his onetime ambassador to the United Nations, to become the presumptive nominee. The RNC officially recognized this marker during their spring meeting. Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita is also expected to become the RNC's chief operating officer. Another senior adviser James Blair is expected to help the RNC's political strategy as Trump seeks to meld the committee with his reelection campaign against President Joe Biden. "I'm stepping aside today because I have long promised to put the nominee and their plans for the RNC first. Winning the White House back is just too important for me to do otherwise," McDaniel said. "President Trump deserves to have the team he wants in place at the RNC." McDaniel grew emotional as she thanked members, Trump, and her family for her record tenure chairing the RNC over the last seven years. The former chairwoman touted her record including establishing an election integrity unit, launching the "Bank Your Vote" initiative, increasing minority voter outreach, and electing the most Republican women to Congress in history. Whatley also grew emotional in his first speech as chairman when he thanked his family for supporting him. He then went on to make the case for his vision over the RNC. "In less than eight months, we are going to determine the fate of not only the United States but of the entire world," Whatley said. "And this body, the RNC is going to be the vanguard of a movement that will work tirelessly every single day to elect our nominee, Donald J. Trump as the 47th president of the United States, flip the Senate, expand our majority in the House of Representatives." Featured Local Savings McDaniel announced she would step down as chairwoman just two days after South Carolina's Feb. 24 GOP primary clearing the way for Whatley's election. It has been the honor and privilege of my life to serve the Republican National Committee for seven years as Chairwoman to elect Republicans and grow our Party," McDaniel said at the time. That same day, McKissick also announced his intention to step down. "I look forward to working with the RNC and President Trump's team to make sure that we WIN this November by taking back the White House, the Senate and maintaining our majority in the House of Representatives," he said. In the lead-up to the RNC leadership shake-up some committee members fretted over covering Trump's legal fees as he faces 91 criminal charges across four cases. Lara Trump raised eyebrows when she said the committee would spend every single penny to get her father-in-law reelected. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Under McDaniel's charge, the RNC faced its worst fundraising haul since 2013, with only $8 million in cash on hand after raising $87.2 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings from 2023. But a resolution from Henry Barbour, a national committeeman from Mississippi, to block the RNC from covering Trump's fees gained little traction and will not come up for a vote. The former president's donors helped his two political action committees pay out over $50 million on legal fees in 2023. Although Trump's pressure for McDaniel to step down and install his allies into RNC leadership came before he defeated his GOP primary rivals, it's not unusual for the presidential nominee to merge with the RNC. President Joe Biden used his State of the Union speech to blame congressional Republicans for not acting to resolve a border crisis that has led to more than 8 million illegal crossings. The GOP has made immigration central to their critique of the president as polls show he is vulnerable on the issue heading into the November election. However, Biden cited Republicans' rejection of a border deal that he crafted with a bipartisan working group in the Senate to claim that the party is playing politics with the crisis. "The result was a bipartisan bill with the toughest set of border security reforms weve ever seen in this country," Biden said in the House of Representatives on Thursday night. "But unfortunately, politics have derailed it so far." The rebuttal also served as an opportunity to knock Donald Trump, his likely presidential rival, in a speech laden with references to the former president. "Im told my predecessor called Republicans in Congress and demanded they block the bill. He feels it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him," Biden said. "Its not about him or me. Itd be a winner for America. My Republican friends, you owe it to the American people to get this bill done. We need to act." Republicans booed at Biden's mention of the border deal, which Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and James Lankford (R-OK) spent months developing before rolling it out in February. Biden touted how the Border Patrol union, the National Border Patrol Council, endorsed the border deal. But Senate Republicans claimed the deal was insufficiently conservative and would have given Biden political cover without actually solving the border crisis. Featured Local Savings The plan would have funded the hiring of 1,500 more immigration and customs personnel, roughly 2% of the total 80,000 employees currently on the books. Another 100 immigration judges would have been added to the approximately 700 struggling to make a dent in the 3 million cases waiting to be heard nationwide. Biden also used the speech to attack Trump for views and actions as president that he said alienated immigrants. I will not demonize immigrants saying they poison the blood of our country, as he said in his own words. I will not separate families. I will not ban people from America because of their faith, said Biden. Unlike my predecessor, on my first day in office, I introduced a comprehensive plan to fix our immigration system, secure the border, and provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and so much more. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The border crisis and illegal immigration have surged past all other voter concerns, including foreign policy, the economy, and abortion, to become the greatest concern, according to primary and caucus exit polling in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. This growing sentiment among early state voters was reaffirmed by new polling from Monmouth Universitys Polling Institute found that 8 in 10 voters from all parties see illegal immigration as either a very serious or somewhat serious problem. President Joe Biden will draw distinctions between himself and President Donald Trump during his 2024 State of the Union address, while drawing parallels between their respective ages. "My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy," Biden, 81, will say Thursday, according to excerpts of his remarks as prepared for delivery provided by the White House. "A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor." "Now, some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me," he will add of Trump, 77. While Biden is expected to use his State of the Union to defend his administration's first term as he prepares to ask the public to support him for a second, he is under pressure from Democrats to also demonstrate he is physically and mentally ready to be president for another four years. Aside from Trump, who after Super Tuesday this week took one step closer to becoming the 2024 Republican presumptive nominee, abortion access is similarly poised to be a prominent talking point for Biden, a message punctuated by the people invited to watch the address from first lady Jill Biden's box in the House of Representatives's chamber. "In its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court majority wrote, 'Women are not without electoral or political power,'" Biden will say. "No kidding. Clearly, those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024. Featured Local Savings "If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again," he will continue. Biden will deliver his State of the Union address, described even by White House chief of staff Jeff Zients as a "particularly big moment," as Trump averages a three percentage point lead in polls when third-party and independent candidates are considered. Part of that takes into account the public's perception of the economy, another topic the president will broach during his speech. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nations history," Biden will say. "And we have. It doesnt make the news, but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told. So lets tell that story here and now. Americas comeback is building a future of American possibilities, building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up not the top down, investing in all of America in all Americans to make sure everyone has a fair shot and we leave no one behind." The White House previewed earlier Thursday that Biden would announce during the State of the Union he is ordering the U.S. military to construct a temporary seaport in Gaza, creating another entry point for humanitarian aid amid the Israel-Hamas war. Checks from the Permanent Fund Dividend are set to be sent out to another swath of residents who have yet to receive their payments from the Alaska Department of Revenue in two weeks. Eligible residents in Alaska with the Eligible-Not Paid status as of Wednesday who have yet to get their PFD payments for 2023 or earlier will get their payments on March 21. To be eligible for the program, an applicant must intend to remain an Alaska resident indefinitely and may not be a convicted felon, among other requirements to qualify. The Permanent Fund Dividend sets its payment amounts on the states annual mineral revenues for that year, with payments being sent to eligible residents each year. The 2023 PFD check was worth $1,312, and distribution began in October. The 2023 PFD marks the 42nd year Alaskans have received their share of the states natural resource wealth, Alaska Department of Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum said in a statement about the 2023 payment. I would like to thank our Permanent Fund Dividend Division for their tireless work year-round in administering the program and processing the applications. Featured Local Savings This year, we processed over 8,000 more applications than in 2022, Crum added. The 2023 PFD will inject nearly $1 billion into the states economy and directly into the hands of Alaskans. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Applications for the 2024 Permanent Fund Dividend are open until March 31 and may be filled out online or via paper form. More information about the state program, including eligibility requirements and where to apply, can be found on the PFD website. A United Airlines flight was interrupted Thursday when a tire came off the airplane during takeoff. The plane was headed to Osaka, Japan, from San Francisco International Airport, but upon losing one of its 12 tires, it changed course to land safely at Los Angeles International Airport. There, 249 passengers and crew members disembarked to wait for a new plane to get to their destination. The tire fell into an employee parking lot and damaged several cars. No one was injured. San Francisco International Airport did not respond to the Washington Examiner's request for comment. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident. This is the second incident this year in which a Boeing plane's tire came apart. While Thursday's involved a Boeing 777-200, last month, a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 plane had its front tire roll off while taxiing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The FAA is also investigating that instance. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Earlier this year, the FAA ordered Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes to be temporarily grounded on the terms of an emergency airworthiness directive for the planes, which required immediate inspections on the aircraft before they were allowed in the air again. The directive instructed operators on what to look out for to ensure the safety of passengers. The directive was born out of the incident of an Alaska Airlines flight that was forced to make an emergency landing when its door plug was blown out mid-flight. Goldeer, renowned for its mosquito-repellent incense, has long been a household name in China. Operating from Quanzhou, a significant manufacturing hub in southeastern China, the company has traditionally relied on combining low prices with high quality to compete in the domestic market. However, this strategy is now being tested in the fiercely competitive daily chemicals market. A worker works at a production line in Goldeer in Quanzhou, southeastern China's Fujian province. [Photo provided to China.org.cn] Like many companies in traditional manufacturing industries, whose added value constitute nearly 80% of China's total manufacturing sector, Goldeer is actively accelerating its efforts to upgrade and transform. The company has prioritized research and development to encourage continuous innovation, according to Zhang Hongzheng, the company's general manager. It established a provincial-level R&D center in 2008 and formed a dedicated team to develop cutting-edge technological products. So far, it has yielded more than 70 patented new technologies. To boost the competitiveness of its flagship products, Goldeer upgraded the drying processes of its mosquito-repellent incense, thus increasing production efficiency by 15%. In 2022, the firm launched new projects for insecticide aerosols and baits targeting red fire ants and flies. One of the products, a cockroach killer gel bait, became highly popular on e-commerce platforms, selling 300,000 units a month on the short-video platform Douyin alone. Goldeer is just one example of a traditional manufacturing enterprise striving for innovation to remain competitive. According to a government report, in 2022, Chinese enterprises above the designated size in the textile manufacturing industry, including textile, apparel, and chemical fiber manufacturing, spent a total of 53.5 billion yuan ($7.4 billion) on R&D. This marked an increase of 1.97 billion yuan compared to the previous year, representing a growth rate of 3.82%. China's total R&D spending in 2023 grew 8.1% year on year to over 3.3 trillion yuan, with R&D intensity rising to 2.64%, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. Zhang from Goldeer mentioned that their new products, which feature novel functionalities and distinctive packaging, have gained popularity across numerous countries in South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. "The company will further boost its R&D capabilities, striving to explore higher-value-added fields to expand its industrial chain," he said. Galanz, a home appliance manufacturer, is another vivid example of traditional Chinese manufacturers pursuing sustainable growth. Since 2012, Galanz has accelerated its transformation toward smart manufacturing, progressively increasing investment in automation and intelligent manufacturing across its entire industry chain. Galanz Industry 4.0 Base in Shunde, southern China's Guangdong province. [File photo] In 2019, the company unveiled the world's first proprietary Internet of Things home appliance chip, the "BF-Xijiang," marking a pivotal step in its digital technology transformation and further ensuring the stability of its industrial chain. Liang Zhaoxian, president of Galanz, stated that the company has achieved a high level of autonomy and control over the entire industry chain, from microwaves to comprehensive home appliances, to secure its sustainable future development. In 2022, Galanz reported a 5.1% year-on-year increase in total sales across all categories in the Chinese market. Notably, microwave oven sales rose nearly 10% year on year, while sales of built-in steam ovens surged 75% compared to the previous year. The Chinese government has long been focused on upgrading and transforming traditional industries. According to a guideline jointly released late last year by eight departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China aims for its traditional manufacturing sector to achieve notable advancements in high-end, intelligent, green, and integrated development by 2027. This initiative is designed to consolidate the sector's position and competitiveness in the global industrial division of labor and cooperation. The guideline outlines several areas crucial for this transformation, including innovation, digital technology empowerment, green and low-carbon development, industrial integration, and policy support. Jin Zhuanglong, minister of the MIIT, stated in a recent article that China will place a greater emphasis on transforming its traditional industries. It will do this by employing a comprehensive strategy that includes providing financial support, promoting technological upgrades, nurturing brands, and facilitating industrial transfers both within and outside the country. Fu Wei, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, suggested that local governments offer more support for developing and transforming traditional industries. He also encouraged traditional manufacturers to embrace digital technologies to accelerate their transformation. A London judge has ordered former President Donald Trump to pay a six-figure legal bill of a U.K. company he sued over claims he participated in sex parties and gave bribes to Russian officials which his lawyers said harmed his reputation. Christopher Steele, a former British spy who ran the Secret Intelligence Services Russia desk, founded the U.K.-based company Orbis Business Intelligence, which Trump filed a lawsuit against, claiming that the company violated British data protection laws and damaged his reputation. The former president was ordered to pay $382,000 in legal fees, according to documents that surfaced Thursday, the Associated Press reported. The disproven dossier, which was created by Steele and indirectly financed by Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign, alleged the Trump campaigns cooperation with the Russian government and claimed they had possession of information that Trump partook in sexual activities with sex workers in Moscow. The dossier was published by BuzzFeed without permission just before Trumps inauguration in 2017, resulting in a surge of false rumors that later investigations debunked. The Steele dossier contributed to rumors and accusations throughout Trumps presidency that he had colluded with the Russian government. Trump suffered personal and reputational damage and distress from the allegations in the dossier which were egregiously inaccurate, the former presidents attorney Hugh Tomlinson said at a hearing in October. Featured Local Savings The judge dismissed the case last month as "bound to fail," saying that Orbiss possession of the memos could not inflict distress on Trump. In his witness statement, Trump reinforced that he brought the lawsuit against Orbis not to destroy the company or drain its finances, but to prove that the allegations in the dossier were false. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Until there is such a judgment, I continue to suffer damage and distress as a result of people wrongfully believing that the data in the dossier is accurate, Trump said in the statement. The order comes just before President Joe Biden is set to give his high-stakes State of the Union address Thursday evening, where he will have a chance to distinguish himself from Trump and steer the public away from concerns about his age and mental fitness in an effort to convince voters he is ready for a second term. Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter. We have big-name open spaces in Colorado Springs. Names like Red Rock Canyon, Stratton and Blodgett. And then there are smaller names. Names like High Chaparral. However small, they speak to a big truth a need for a little nature and fresh air. Nikki Haley has suspended her presidential campaign. Haley did not endorse former President Donald Trump on Wednesday and called on him to bring people into the conservative cause. The decision by the former South Carolina governor and former U.N. ambassador leaves Trump as the last remaining major candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination. Haley was Trumps first GOP challenger and the only woman in the race. She argued she was a fresh alternative to Trump and said it was time to move past his chaos." Haley's candidacy was slow to attract support. But Haley outlasted other high-profile candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence. A reception in the run-up to International Women's Day, which falls on March 8, was held in Beijing on Thursday. Chinese State Councilor and President of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) Shen Yiqin addresses a reception to mark the International Women's Day in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin, also president of the All-China Women's Federation, addressed the event and extended greetings to females both at home and abroad. Noting the endeavor of Chinese women in building China into a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, Shen said China will work together with other countries to advance the global agenda of gender equality and strive to build a better world for all women and all people. The event was attended by over 1,000 guests, including officials from relevant central Party and government departments, female lawmakers and political advisors at the country's ongoing "Two Sessions," female representatives from various sectors and ethnic groups, as well as from Hong Kong and Macao, diplomatic envoys, international organization representatives and foreign female experts. Realtor Associate Jessica Sears has joined Realty ONE Group Welcome Home, according to a press release Sears said in a statement that she "looks forward to continuing to help North Iowans love where they live and live where they love." Sears can be reached by calling or texting 641-251-1625, or via email at Jessica@Iowa-Roots.com." The Realty ONE group has offices at 2227 19th St SW in Mason City and 700 Buddy Holly Place in Clear Lake. CHATHAM A natural gas corporation hosted a community meeting Wednesday on plans to expand its current Transco pipelines capacity through roughly 26 miles of Pittsylvania County. Roughly half of those at the Pittsylvania County Community Center in Chatham were with the Williams company, all identified by blue shirts. We do these essentially to engage the community in the area where we have the projects, Michael Atchie, the director of community outreach for Williams, told the Register & Bee on Wednesday night. The company runs the Transco pipeline, a network of pipelines that extend from Texas to New York City. From time to time, we have opportunities to expand the system, he explained. Its grown over the years. Williams has multiple lines that have operated in Pittsylvania County for about 75 years. The project is basically an extension of the current corridors and facilities to allow the company to feed natural gas to Mid-Atlantic and Southern states. Most of the landowners involved already have a pipeline running through their property. This project would grant an extra easement to Williams. For that easement, the owners of the land receive a payment from Williams. Essentially what we do, we call this a loop, Atchie detailed of the countys part of the project. A loop allows us to add an additional segment of pipe just by broadening the current right of way to accommodate an additional string of pipe. That way they dont have to come in and create a whole new line. A new line basically runs beside the existing one. Its a really efficient way for us to add capacity without having to create a whole new energy corridor.They can deliver more options for customers in the growing Southeast market, he said. It allows to meet that growing demand for natural gas, Atchie explained. Whats known as a pre-filing environmental review has launched with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions office of Energy Projects. A company timeline calls for the official application to be filed with the federal agency in the third quarter of this year. Construction is planned to start in 2026 and wrap up in 2027. Aside from the portion in Virginia, the project includes work in four states to the south. Atchie said some times the regulatory process takes longer than the actual construction. We feel this is a pretty good schedule, he said. Also at the open house were members of FERC the acronym for the federal group mainly to have a presence and answer questions It can be a very long process, Dawn Ramsey, a representative with FERC, explained. We are very much at the beginning FERC will host further meetings and thats when some of the more in-depth questions from landowners will surface. Again they are getting most of their information from the applicant at this point, she said. A representative from the Sierra Club an environmental organization also attended, pointing to the groups stance against pipelines. Willie Fitzgerald, a member of the Pittsylvania County School Board, was one of the community stakeholders there Wednesday night. Fitzgerald, who represents the Banister District, said he doesnt have land involved with the pipeline project. Instead, he was there to learn more about it. It caught me off guard, he explained of the project. I try to stay ahead of things, this is a little surprising. Williams will host more sessions with other communities in addition to a . Landowner feedback has been pretty solid, as has our engagement with other stakeholders, Atchie said when asked about reaction so far. He also pointed to economic benefits to the locality by the way of taxes and temporary job creation during construction. With Danvilles River District already experiencing a renaissance, the city as a whole is about to embark on a new world by the end of the year. When the Caesars Virginia casino and resort opens on the spot that used to house thousands of Dan River Inc. mill workers, the Danville is expected to become a tourism magnet. A temporary facility is already drawing travelers mostly for day trips. However, when the full operation and hotel is up and running, longer stays will mean more opportunities for visitors to explore. Whether it will up the ante for downtown Danville remains a mystery. I think theres too much still unknown, Diana Schwartz, CEO of the River District Association, told the Register & Bee in a February interview. Shes not sure if they have enough data at the moment to project the impact. In general terms, she noted one or two business owners have said theyve gotten more foot traffic since the temporary casino housed in a giant tent-like structure opened last May. My understanding is that a lot of the traffic is coming from out of state, so thats good, Schwartz said, referencing North Carolinians venturing over the border to spend time and cash at Danville Casino. Will Mackaman, programs and services manager for the nonprofit River District Association, said the vibe from a few businesses is that its a mixed bag. I think a lot of businesses are figuring out how they can adjust to it, Mackaman said of his interaction with downtown establishments. Theres no way yet to know what the impact is going to be, but that makes part of our job to ensure that we can provide the one thing you cant get inside the casino, Schwartz said, which is the great outdoors and all of the opportunities that it provides. The River District the name of downtown Danville since the Dan River runs through it soon will be home to a new park fronting the waterway. Also, Danville Riverwalk Trail is nestled in the River District as a path that borders the Dan River. Its only a few feet from some of the busy streets of downtown, but once on the trail, the experience turns to one of a direct connection with nature. When we talk about what the future looks like, part of that is ensuring we are making the best case that we can of why people do need to come downtown, Schwartz told the newspaper. With a conference center planned at the casino and hotel site, that could be a driver for families to come to Danville on what would normally be a routine business trip. But families may not want to remain in the confines of the casino space, instead choosing to explore the city. Its our job to make sure we are providing as many opportunities for access and knowing what we have downtown, she said. Current challenges The same issues mounting in the community notably a housing shortage and workforce worries are mirrored in the River District, but the transformational impacts with the casino puts it in unchartered territory. The community is changing rapidly, Schwartz said. That can bring its own set of problems. She bluntly admitted that change isnt comfortable. But you can either be part of the change and try to help mold that or you can let change happen to you and be a victim of it, she said. We very much want to be part of that change. Lashawn Farmer, programs and services director for the association, said beyond the casino, downtown businesses are forever on a path to evolve with modern-day life. That means constant changes in technology, but also putting an eye toward sustainability in retail, housing and eateries. The association also must evolve. Our organization doesnt stand on any kind of history, Schwartz said. We have to remain flexible to the needs of the downtown. For example, years ago the mission was to fill the empty storefronts, which has happened with more than 190 establishments now in downtown. Now the focus shifts to not only continue to bring new businesses to the River District, but to make sure the current ones are able to survive and thrive. To keep in step with changes, the association gets input from stakeholders and the community. Then they look at the resources that are available, including grants.This organization exists to reflect and provide connectivity, access and empowerment for what the community needs now, she said. So this organization will never look the same. Flexibility in this kind of work is critical, and the decisions arent always easy. We are making decisions on what the community wants and needs, Schwartz said. And its a mix of whats needed combined with what will bring long-term sustainability. Our purpose is to support and grow the downtown, Rachael Covington, president of the River District Association board, said. The work is always going to change and how we do the work, based on those values, will always stay consistent. Going unnoticed The main mission of the River District Association is to provide connections and resources for all things downtown. Schwartz said its not easy for people to grasp the value the River District Association brings to the communityWe are really not that visible, she explained. Thats one reason a study is underway to show the tangible impacts from an economic and quality of life standpoint. Just matching up and connecting to resources and people, Schwartz said. Thats probably the other big thing that we do that you cant necessarily measure, but its been a huge part of why weve been part of the success of downtown. Those connections have come because of trust. Everything is about people, Schwartz said. We can talk about buildings all day long. We can talk about money all day long. Those are important things. But none of those things happen without people behind them. Farmer described the association as being all about collaboration, partnerships and building relationships. It makes it a place where people want to reach out and connect, she said, whether its an investor or people who really need the services. That is the foundation of what River District Association is, she continued. The work is the work, the job is the job, but the people that work and do the job are the ones who are the foundation of trust and collaboration and trust and integrity, she said. And those are core values that a lot of times you dont see in this type of work. To her, thats why the group stands outs. Kirsten Aherron, communications and events manager, is the one responsible for delivering the messages of connections. For example, she puts together a newsletter that provides resources business owners have asked about. But also making an effort to speak to people in person, is another value, she shared. A lot of the work we do to help people is not a program, Schwartz explained. Its the fact that someone is here to answer the phone and make a connection. Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones believes that the River District Association is in fact a visible organization, especially to those linked to downtown. Merchants and developers have working relationships with the organization and entrepreneurs participate in the very popular Dream Launch program, which provides a wealth of information to help build a strong foundation for new businesses, Jones told the Register & Bee. What the public might not see is when RDA staff works with city staff to work through issues of concern to their members.The group also hosts a few events through the year, but Schwartz was quick to note that those gatherings arent necessarily a way to make money. Instead, the push goes to linking other organizations with downtown venues when an event idea pops up. That means the River District Association provides the connections and helps spread the word via publicity. It brings more events downtown without necessarily putting a taxing burden on the organization, she said. It helps everybody that way. Money for the organization The Danville Regional Foundation provides the primary source of funds for the River District Association. According to the latest 990 form in 2022, the group had net assets of $859,279. A 990 is a form for the Internal Revenue Service that provides the public with financial details of a nonprofit organization. Danville Regional Foundations most recent 990 also from 2022 shows $1.27 million in grants given to the River District Association. Grants for $1 million and $250,000 were earmarked for the River District Revitalization Expansion and $24,100 went for a Consultant for Black Business Collaborative. The city also supports the association. The group is currently looking to figure at how it will be able to be sustained in the future. Its not wise as a nonprofit to have all of your eggs in one basket, Schwartz said. You need to diversify your funding just like a city would. She also said it wouldnt be fair to other community organizations that could use money from the foundation nor would it be wise to be wholly dependent on it. So we are currently looking at exploring ways to diversify our funding, she said when asked what the financial future holds. Its real easy to forget were a nonprofit. But the foundation itself has been a driving force for the transformation of downtown Danville, she stressed. The Danville Regional Foundation was established in 2005 with proceeds of the sale of what was then called Danville Regional Medical Center to Lifepoint. I do not believe that downtown Danville would have revitalized without DRFs deep involvement for decades now, Schwartz explained. Seeing is believing The association is often viewed as the party, event and promotion people without anyone realizing that revitalizing downtown is economic development. We are economic development, Schwartz said. Without the work that we do, we would not be able to draw in the workforce needed for all of these huge projects coming in.Danville not only is in the national spotlight, but the international one as well. On Feb. 23, Schwartz got an email from Main Street Australia wanting to interview her about Danville. They found out about Danville because the Australian group called Main Street America to see who would be the best voice to talk about progress in America. Main Street America pointed to Schwartz and the River District. Its hard for people to understand, even what we do, much less the impacts, she said. I dont know that everyone in our community is fully aware of just how recognized our community is for the downtown revitalization work we do. To that end, shed like to see more tourists in our own town explore the River District. They still come across people who havent seen the progress of the River District in recent years. They dont realize theres an urban pocket park on South Union.They also dont realize the art and sculpture tour thats available. Theres a lot, she said. You have to want to see it. Danvilles mayor sees it. The growth we continue to experience in our downtown provides profound satisfaction each time we celebrate the restoration of another building or the opening of a new business, he said. For me, seeing so many people walking around downtown, whether its because they work here, live here or shop here, is my favorite part of downtown. Hes also eager for the riverfront park to open in the summer, adding another amenity to the River District. Schwartz has a simple philosophy she tries to use to highlight the success stories. Peoples attention goes to where you point, she explained. So, when theres a new business, the River District Association arranges a ribbon-cutting celebration thats often attended by River City TV, the city governments media arm. And we bring a lot of attention to it, she said, even though some residents may just view it as a new establishment. This is somebodys life, she said, with her voice growing louder, slower and more stern. And their livelihood and their familys livelihood. She then explained that the only way the community will work is if everyone supports one another. We cant wait for somebody to come and save us, she said. We have to do it ourselves. China's top legislature on Friday pledged to pursue the high-quality work of people's congresses to provide legal guarantees for building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. Delivering a work report of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee to the annual legislative session, Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, vowed to strengthen the implementation of the Constitution and the oversight of constitutional compliance in the year ahead. The NPC Standing Committee will compile a draft environmental code to submit for deliberation, Zhao said. In order to accelerate the creation of a new development pattern and deepen reform across the board, the NPC Standing Committee will formulate a financial stability law and a private sector promotion law, among others, he said. With a focus on improving public well-being and ensuring social stability and harmony, the legislature will formulate a civil compulsory enforcement law and a social assistance law, among others, Zhao said. The legislature will formulate a tariff law and revise the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law and the Anti-Money Laundering Law, in an effort to strengthen legislation in areas involving foreign affairs and develop a system of laws for extraterritorial application, he added. The NPC Standing Committee has prepared 35 oversight programs for this year. It will conduct inspections into the implementation of five laws, including the Yellow River Protection Law, Zhao said. He added the legislature will also formulate guidelines on how to improve the competence of NPC deputies and strengthen the exchanges and cooperation with parliaments of other countries. A salary study for city schools should be completed by April or May, the Danville School Board learned Thursday night. In a work session presentation, Andrea Gillus, the chief financial officer with Danville Public Schools, outlined the process so far. The study will see how Danville stacks up with neighboring localities when it comes to pay. Following a recommendation by the city of Danville, the school system enlisted the services of The Berkley Group, a consulting firm. Their primary objectives are to review the current pay system, Gillus told board members, in reference to making sure salaries are competitive. The group reviewed the job descriptions, which vary by locality, along with the current pay systems. The underlying goal is to make sure teachers and other school employees are receiving adequate pay when compared with other employers in the area. The Berkley Group is looking at 10 other localities including Halifax and Pittsylvania counties. These were selected by the internal team of the places we normally recruit from, Gillus explained. They are still collecting the data and expect to have the project finished in April or May, she said. Gillus also highlighted points in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year to board members. The budget request was made public Feb. 16 when it was delivered to the city of Danville. Its based on details from Gov. Glenn Youngkins budget proposal. However, on Thursday, General Assembly budget negotiators released their two-year budget deal that includes a 3% raise for teachers and state employees. Overall, the $107.96 million budget for the 2024-25 year is nearly 6.7% more than the current year. Virginia will contribute an increase of $2.48 million and the school system is asking the city to fund $2.48 million more for this cycle. No one spoke during a public hearing of the proposed budget during the regular meeting Thursday evening. On 7 March 2024, Defence Minister Yuriko Backes participated in a joint meeting of Foreign and Defence Ministers, held via videoconference at the initiative of the French Government, to discuss and coordinate support for Ukraine in exercising its right to self-defence. MAEE Yuriko Backes, ministre de la Defense In her speech, Yuriko Backes highlighted Luxembourg's lead nation role, alongside Estonia, in the IT coalition aimed at modernising the IT infrastructure and communications capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces. The Minister of Defence shared the analysis that support for Ukraine requires new approaches. In this context, she announced Luxembourg's participation, within the Benelux framework, in the Czech initiative to acquire 155mm ammunition outside the European Union and announced the recent delivery by Luxembourg Defence of 6,000 155mm shells to Ukraine. Press release by the Directorate of Defence The second part of the working visit by Xavier Bettel, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Lex Delles, Minister for the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism, to California in the United States focused on the space sector. MAEE (fr. l. to r.) Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism; Xavier Bettel, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Nicole Bintner-Bakshian, Luxembourg Ambassador to the United States; Daniel Da Cruz, Consul General, Executive Director, Consul General of Luxembourg and LTIO - San Francisco; Mario Grotz, Director General of Industry, New Technologies and Research, Ministry of the Economy; M. Shawn Villaron, VP & GM for PowerPoint, executive sponsor of the MTC Silicon Valley MAEE (fr. l. to r.) n.c; Dr. Eugene Tu, Center Director; Xavier Bettel, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism MAEE (fr. l. to .r) Dr. Eugene Tu, Center Director; Xavier Bettel, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism; n.c; n.c. MAEE (fr. l. to r.) Dr. Eugene Tu, Center Director; n.c.; Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism MAEE (fr. l. to r.) Dr. Tony Colaprete, VIPER Project Scientist; Dr. Eugene Tu, Center Director; Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism. MAEE Illustration MAEE (fr. l. to r.) Dr. Tony Colaprete, VIPER Project Scientist; Dr. Eugene Tu, Center Director; Romain Martin, Senior Government Advisor, Ministry of Research and Higher Education; Francoise Schlink, Head of Cabinet, Ministry of the Economy; Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism; Xavier Bettel, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. The delegation visited the Ames Research Center of NASA, the US government agency in charge of the civil space programme and aeronautical research. Located in Silicon Valley, this research centre has been active in aeronautics, exploration technology and science since 1939. The Ames Research Center houses unique facilities, including the world's largest wind tunnel and NASA's fastest supercomputers. It should be noted in this context that the space sector is one of the priorities of the Luxembourg government, which aims in particular to further promote the use of space technologies and applications to meet societal challenges and to bring Luxembourg technologies to the surface of the moon. The fruitful collaboration between NASA and the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) has a number of objectives, including the commercial use of space through the sharing of scientific data and the sustainable use of space resources. Luxembourg was also one of the first signatories to the 'Artemis' agreements under NASA's manned space programme, which aims to lay the foundations for a permanent human presence on the moon. During their visit to the Ames Research Center, ministers Bettel and Delles underlined the close ties between Luxembourg and NASA and expressed their support for deepening the existing cooperation. Eugene Tu, Director of the Ames Research Center, is planning to visit space-related sites in Luxembourg in April 2024. Minister Delles stated in this context that he is convinced that "the use of space technologies has enormous potential. Space has a major role to play in meeting societal challenges and in resolving problems specific to other sectors. To promote Luxembourg's space sector, it is important for the country to be visible and competitive at international level. Close cooperation with the major space nations will be particularly beneficial for Luxembourg's space ecosystem. The delegation also visited Microsoft, one of the world's leading information technology companies. During this meeting, Microsoft and the Luxembourg Post Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding defining the principles of their cooperation and aimed at promoting innovation and facilitating the use of artificial intelligence technology in Luxembourg. Press release by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade On 8 March 2024, Max Hahn, Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, together with Dr Serge Allegrezza, Director of Statec, presented data on people with disabilities. MFSVA (de g. a dr.) Jean Ries, ministere de la Famille, des Solidarites, du Vivre ensemble et de lAccueil ; Max Hahn, ministre de la Famille, des Solidarites, du Vivre ensemble et de lAccueil ; Dr. Serge Allegrezza, directeur du Statec MFSVA Group photo "To enable everyone to live an inclusive life and play an active part in our society, Luxembourg is committed to various inclusion projects, including accessible buildings, accessible elections, accessible communication and the introduction of silent hours in various shops. And we will continue to work towards inclusion with the people concerned and their families", Max Hahn emphasised at the press conference. "The 2021 population census addressed the issue of disability for the first time, on the initiative of the Ministry," explained Dr Serge Allegrezza. The census would also be the best way of analysing phenomena that are not common. Key figures The census provides unprecedented information on the population concerned. The following figures and conclusions emerge: Nearly 15% of the population of Luxembourg is disabled. 14% of men and 15.2% of women are disabled. Disabilities in the categories of vision (8.7%), mobility (3.9%) and hearing (2.5%) are the most common types of disability (8.7%). The prevalence of disability increases with age. It is well over 50% among people aged over 85. Nearly 7% of the population, or almost half the people concerned, consider their disability to be moderate (4%) or severe (2.9%). People with disabilities have a lower level of education. The employment rate among disabled people is relatively low: 57.1% of disabled people aged between 20 and 64 say they have a job. Nevertheless, the employment rate among these people is well below the rate observed for the population, which according to Eurostat was 74.1% in 2021. People with disabilities are under-represented in the finance and insurance sector (5.5% compared with 10.3% for the rest of the population). All the census figures are available in a dedicated section on the statistics portal: https://statistiques.public.lu/fr/recensement.html. Press release by: Ministry for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees / National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (Statec) GREENSBORO Members of the Greensboro City Planning Department will host a March 21 Open House where the public is invited to discuss plans for the proposed Randleman Road Corridor, according to a news release from the city. Residents are urged to share their perspectives with planning officials during the event that will run from 5-7 p.m. at New Goshen United Methodist Church at 3300 Randleman Road. The meeting is the start of Phase 2 of the citys Randleman plan, which builds on the progress and recommendations from Phase 1. The initial phase focused chiefly on transportation improvements and encouraging reinvestment. Phase 2 covers a 2.3-mile stretch of the Randleman Road area from the I-40 interchange on the north, to citys southern border. Phase 2 is expected to be completed by fall, the release said. For more information, visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/RandlemanRoad or email Kelly Larkins or call 336-412-5739. () Go World Travel is reader-supported and may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this piece. Hafa Adai! When arriving in the northern Pacific island of Guam, visitors are greeted with this traditional Chamorro welcome as they step off the plane and begin their journey into the islands ancient culture. Located in the Western Pacific Ocean between Japan and Australia, Guam is one of the U.S.s five inhabited island territories. It sits on the edge of the Marianas trench, the deepest surveyed point in the world, and is only 900 miles north of the equator in the region known as Micronesia. First settled more than 4,000 years ago by people arriving from the Philippine Islands to the west and subsequently from the Caroline Islands and Southeast Asian islands including Indonesia, the ancient Chamorro culture that evolved from those early settlers is still much in evidence today with 37% of the population identifying as Chamorro. CHAMORRO CULTURE OF GUAM Theres no better place to experience the food, music, arts and crafts of the Chamorros than at Guams night markets and village festivals that bring together residents and visitors alike to celebrate the culture of this far-away but accessible tropical island. One of the most popular night markets is held every Wednesday night in Chamorro Village. Located in the capital city of Hagatna, its open every day of the week, but Wednesday evening is when the mouth-watering smoke of barbeque permeates the center court where Guam food trucks and stalls offer a veritable buffet of local foods and fresh fruit juices amid the Spanish-inspired buildings. Farmers sell their produce and dance groups often entertain the crowd while a karabao, or water buffalo, one of the most well-known images of Guam pulling a two-wheeled cart, is on hand to give rides to children and stand calmly chewing its cud for selfies. Originally from the Philippines, karabao were Introduced to Guam during the Spanish occupation (1668-1898) for farming and today are the image of a slower-paced and less populated time prior to World War II. Join the crowd and swing and sway to a local band that plays both modern and traditional island music in the villages main pavilion where families and friends gather to enjoy the warm night air. CHAMORRO VILLAGE IN GUAM The mission of Chamorro Village is to promote made-on-Guam products and small businesses that are much in evidence among the shops and booths where handmade jewelry, clothing, food products including locally produced honey, bath products like fresh-pressed coconut oil, and arts and crafts are on display. Some of the islands master wood carvers also sell their artwork and furniture made from the durable ifil tree with its rich, dark red wood that is the territorial tree of Guam. The authentic Ancient Chamorro crescent-shaped sinahi, or moon, necklace is also available at the market and comes in many sizes and materials including giant clam shell, whale bone and basalt. Just look for the Made on Guam label and strike up a conversation with the friendly artisans to learn more about their crafts. Each of Guams 19 villages also has its own lively, annual feast day, or fiesta, to celebrate its patron saint. MALESSO GUPOT CHAMORU-CRAB FESTIVAL One of the most popular fiestas is the Malesso Gupot Chamoru/Crab Festival in the southern village of Merizo. A three-day event starring the local land crab, its held annually in March and features great food and barbeque, live music and dancing, carnival games, culinary competitions and contests that includes a crab-catching contest. More than 2,000 crabs are released and contestants ages 8 and up scramble to catch as many as they can. Children receive small cash prizes, and the adults get to take home their haul. Get there early because the stuffed crab and crab cakes sell out before the end of the day. Other festivals throughout the year include Agats three-day Mango Festival in late May that celebrates Guams unofficial fruit. Whether pickled, juiced, or straight off the tree, this festival is dedicated to the juicy, red-gold fruit. The donne, or hot red pepper, is a staple of Chamorro cuisine, adding heat and spice to almost all dishes from pickled mango and papaya to barbeque marinades and the signature dipping sauce, finadene. Mangilaos Donne Festival takes place in September with cooking competitions challenging everyone to see who can stand the most heat. The hotter, the better. MORE FUN GUAM FESTIVALS The village of Talofofo is a favorite place for hikers where cascading waterfalls rush through green valleys into rivers that run past caves full of stalagmites and ancient cave drawings. Held annually in April at Ipan Beach Park, the Talofofo Banana Festival celebrates the villages signature fruit. Among the favorite offerings is a deep-fried banana wrapped in a crunchy lumpia wrapper and covered with caramelized brown sugar. The coconut, or niyok, is the star of two festivals that take place in Agana Heights in March and Inarajan in May. The fruit is one of Guams most important native plants and appears on the Guam seal and flag. Inarajan is known for its historic district with narrow streets lined with houses built over a hundred years ago. Residents fill front yards and porches, and music pours out as they walk to Gef Pago Cultural Village along the sea where vendors, tours and games take place. Buy a young coconut bursting with fresh coconut juice and sip the refreshing nectar. At the height of the festival, a Coconut Queen is crowned and seated at the center of the parade on a Coconut Throne pulled behind a truck to the cultural village where families cheer on their relatives as they compete in various competitions. Among them is coconut husking with adults racing to tear apart coconut husks using a traditional husker, or heggao, made from a pointed wooden stick. IF YOU GO Although Guam is now a melting pot of many cultures including Filipino, Micronesian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, American, Mexican and Spanish, as a U.S. Territory, English is spoken everywhere, and the American dollar is the currency. The popular markets and festivals were on hold during the pandemic but are now coming back. For more information and a current calendar of events, contact the Guam Visitors Bureau at the website. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Authors Bio: Writer/photographer Joyce McClure joined the Peace Corps as a Response Volunteer in August 2016 and traded the island of Manhattan for the island of Yap after a long career as a senior executive in marketing communications. When her service ended, she stayed on for five years and recently moved to Guam. Youth Dynamics of Montana, a provider of youth mental health services, on Wednesday had a groundbreaking of a group home at its Boulder campus. This development marks a significant milestone in the organization's commitment to providing exceptional care and support to young Montanans facing mental health challenges, officials with the Billings-based nonprofit said in a news release. The new facility at 105 Venture Way will feature eight individual rooms and offer increased privacy for its residents. Construction of the first group home is underway and is slated for completion in August, Youth Dynamics officials said. This design reflects Youth Dynamics' dedication to creating a nurturing and healing environment where every child can feel safe and respected, officials said. "This new group home will enable us to better serve our youth, providing them with the privacy and the personalized care they deserve," Dennis Sulser, CEO of Youth Dynamics of Montana, said in a news release. There are four homes already at the campus, but they are in institutional buildings. These new additions will be replacement homes for two of the existing buildings, he said. "It's been a dream for years to have homes on the campus," Sulser said. Youth Dynamics also announced a fundraising campaign to complete a second group home, having raised $958,512 toward their $1.6 million target for new construction. Sulser said Thursday that Youth Dynamics has 10 groups homes within the state, however two of those are now closed. He said they are making efforts to reopen them. Youth Dynamics states it has been at the forefront of youth mental health services in Montana for over 40 years, offering care such as therapeutic group homes, foster care, home support services and outpatient therapy. For more information, visit youthdynamics.org. YWCA Helena is relaunching its Empowered awards luncheon on April 16, which celebrates the achievements of women in the greater Helena Area. "We tried a 2021 virtual event and it was difficult," Executive Director Jenifer Gursky said. "Through the COVID-19 years, it just fell off due to prior partners' capacity ... we decided to relaunch with our agency's growing capacity because community members and donors really wanted to see it return." The event, held at the Helena Civic Center, will honor women in five categories and include a "State of the Woman" address by Gursky. The five categories include the Innovator Award, She Speaks Power Award, Pathmaker Award, the Woman of the Future Award and the Maria Dean Woman of the Year Award, named for the first woman licensed in 1889 to practice medicine in Montana. She also served on the Helena board of education and state board of health. Gursky said Dean was also a founding member of YWCA Helena. Nominations for the awards are open until March 22 and can be submitted by peers or community members who know the nominee. Information on the event and nominations can be found at http://www.ywcahelena.org/ or by calling 406-442-8774. Were excited to bring back this important event to Helena. The slate of awards we have this year will center womens efforts that reflect the mission of YWCA Helena, Gursky said. She said that partners in the community asked to bring back the event to honor women in the community and the organization was happy to oblige. Each winner of the awards will be given a $500 grant, donated by local women-owned businesses, to donate to a Helena nonprofit of their choice. I sit on the YWCAs fundraising committee, and when the opportunity to give grants to nonprofits I care about came up, I jumped at the opportunity, Sandy Schull, owner of downtown business Birds & Beasleys, said in a news release. A committee of community leaders will select the winners of each award with the use of the organization's eligibility standards. Nominees can be any "outstanding" women or girls in the greater Helena area with ineligible nominees being YWCA Helena staff and current members of the YWCA's board of directors, posthumous nominations and individuals running for political office. A development in Big Sky received further approval from the Gallatin County Commission on Tuesday for its second preliminary plat application despite concerns over the impact on nearby water sources. The Quarry project, just south of Montana Highway 64 along U.S. Highway 191, will provide the Big Sky community with new housing availability as it seeks to build 12 residential lots containing 135 single-family and 130 multi-family dwellings and 170,000 square feet of commercial space across another 11 lots. Big Sky Rock, LLC., represented by Scott Altman on Tuesday, received initial approval for the planned unit development in 2019 and preliminary approval for an eight-lot subdivision in 2021. This weeks approval will add four additional lots for 45 dwellings that Altman said would allow developers to more efficiently begin construction before their eventual final plat approval. In essence, what were talking about is 12 lots (and) to get the lots in the final plat, weve got to get the roads in, Altman said. Putting the infrastructure in with the one that youve already approved, really helps the project in the long run. Much of the discussion around the project, however, was spent fixated on septic and sewer plans for the development and its potential impacts on water supply, a contentious topic in recent years. Although the development is not a party to it, a lawsuit was filed by Upper Missouri Waterkeeper against Montanas Department of Environmental Quality for its alleged failure to consider the impact of septic systems in close proximity to the Gallatin River. Most recently, a Gallatin County judge rejected an attempt to dismiss the case. Altman said this week that, as far as hes aware, the lawsuit is continuing to move through the courts. Ultimately, Altman said the plan is to connect The Quarry to the recently founded Gallatin Canyon County Water and Sewer District but until that district of which Altman is the president is completed, The Quarry will rely on a SepticNET system. The Gallatin Canyon Water and Sewer District was formed in 2020 and seeks to remove homes from their septic systems within Gallatin Canyon near the entrance to Big Sky. Eventually, the plan to filter the districts water through Big Skys new central treatment facility, making use of a planned pump station. Recently, the Chronicle reported that the Big Sky Resort Area District board is considering a $10 million purchase of two properties at the intersection of highways 64 and 191 to construct a new traffic circle to ease congestion and a potential location for the new pump station. After Tuesdays meeting, Altman told the Chronicle that the pump station will be key for the districts eventual success but that other locations are possible if the BSRAD property purchase were to fall through. In regard to The Quarry, by building both systems, the septic system and connections for the eventual sewer district, Altman said itll be able to ensure that people can move into some of the units as soon as possible, without getting caught up in issues that may delay the water districts launch. We really want to try and get people in there right now. We really want to get that infrastructure all at once if we can put the lots in and roads in without having to put the septic systems ye, thatd be great but it seems to be that we have to have sewer on each lot in order to get final plat. He specified that The Quarry will eventually be connected to the district, he just didnt have a clear timeline on when that would happen. Still, the commissioners voiced their abhorrence to The Quarrys long-term dependency on the septic system, providing their support with the understanding that eventually, the development will be connected to the water and sewer district. I appreciate all the effort that is going on up there to eventually connect this development as well as neighboring properties that are on well and septic many of which are deteriorating to central water and sewer district and my support for The Quarry project is contingent upon that eventual connection. Brown said. This would be a really inappropriate place to (stay on septic) given the underlying groundwater and health and safety concerns. Commissioner Jennifer Boyer said that when it comes to water quality and health and safety, shed have no problem nixing the project. I understand the importance of getting housing its pants on fire time to do it the community is backing it, theres a ton of public comment supporting it, Boyer said. But the long-term health of our river system is a really high bar and I would delay the housing to make sure that secured. Xu Qingmin, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, at this year's "two sessions" in Beijing, March 6, 2024. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn] During this year's "two sessions," a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress called for enhanced conservation of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, with particular emphasis on the Sanjiangyuan area in southern Qinghai province. Xu Qingmin, deputy director of the Qinghai Province Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center, suggested continuing to bolster ecological restoration and protection initiatives within ecologically fragile areas of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and introducing policies to support long-term and comprehensive observation of ecological restoration efforts. He also recommended designating the Sanjiangyuan National Park as a pilot area for this conservation work. Located on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in western China, the Sanjiangyuan area serves as the headwaters for the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers, and is known as the "Water Tower of Asia." In 2021, the Sanjiangyuan National Park was officially designated as one of China's first batch of national parks. Covering a total area of 190,700 square kilometers, its average altitude exceeds 4,700 meters. According to a report on the park's development released last year, the park delivered over 60 billion cubic meters of high-quality freshwater downstream every year, while its grassland coverage had increased by over 11% and grass yield had risen by more than 30%. In order to put forward targeted and workable suggestions for further ecological protection in the area and the wider Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Xu Qingmin visited Sanjiangyuan and met with farmers and herdsmen last August, gaining first-hand information on the development of this crucial ecological security barrier in China. He said that as early as 2016, Qinghai began to build a networked, remote, real-time observation system to strengthen the monitoring and protection of key ecological areas. As of 2023, a monitoring network comprising nearly 800 cameras and spanning an area of 20,000 square kilometers had been established. However, Xu argued that it is imperative to establish a national-level monitoring system to provide comprehensive data support for tracking the ecological progress and biodiversity conservation efforts in the Sanjiangyuan area. Sanjiangyuan National Park has prioritized ecological restoration over the past several years, with 13,000 hectares of degraded grassland restored, 7,333 hectares of land having undergone treatment for desertification, and the Tibetan antelope population growing from less than 20,000 to over 70,000. Xu Qingmin highlighted that the positive ecological outcomes have made significant contributions to advancing the ecological, cultural and tourism industries, along with the organic livestock sector in Sanjiangyuan. "The integration of ecology, culture and tourism is mutually reinforcing, which leads to high-quality economic development and increased incomes for residents," Xu said. "This, in turn, contributes to the improvement of people's living standards." "With an enhanced ecological environment and elevated incomes for locals, a natural sense of pride emerges, fostering greater confidence and awareness in ecological protection. This then strengthens unity among the diverse ethnic groups in Qinghai," Xu added. Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen urged Cascade County commissioners not to hire certain applicants for the county's elections administrator position in a mid-February email sent from her state account. A previous county clerk, Rina Moore, and a member of her administration both interviewed for the position, along with two other candidates. "Please do not hire Ms. Moore or a member of her administration as Cascade County's election administrator," the email started. "Doing so would directly undermine the voters of Cascade County, among other reasons." Moore, a Democrat, held the clerk and recorder seat in Cascade County before losing to Republican Sandra Merchant by 31 votes in 2022. Cascade County had created the elections administrator position after Merchant, a Republican, had her elections duties stripped from her office by the commissioners in a 2-1 vote. The meetings on the subject drew hundreds of people to the fairgrounds at the time. Merchant's elections duties were taken away after she sowed doubt about the integrity of the 2020 election and her office received complaints over elections administration and got hit with lawsuits. "I have no idea why SOS Jacobsen would involve herself in the local hiring processes of Cascade County and especially when she is a candidate that will be on the 2024 ballot," Moore said in an email to the Montana State News Bureau on Thursday. One of the other candidates interviewing before the county commissioners, Lynn DeRoche, worked in the clerk's office when Moore held the seat. It is unclear if that is who Jacobsen was referring to when she referenced "a member of her administration" in the email. The email was sent on Feb. 14, and by that time the commissioners had finished conducting and scoring interviewees, according to Joe Briggs, one of the Cascade County commissioners. The group chose not to go with either Moore or DeRoche, but Briggs said Jacobsen's email had "zero impact" on the outcome. "I found the whole thing very weird," Briggs said. When Briggs inquired about the nature of the email and forwarded it to the county attorney's office, he was told that her email was "a form of personal opinion," but did not receive clarification as to why it came from Jacobsen's state account. "If it was a personal email it should have been personal correspondence," Briggs continued. The email, which was first reported by The Electric, came from Jacobsen's state email and signed with her official title and state seal. "I'm unclear if she's commenting as Secretary of State, or Christi Jacobsen the person," said Eric Bryson, executive director of the Montana Association of Counties. "Our response would be dramatically different based on those two different scenarios." Secretary of State Communications Director Richie Melby blamed the scenario on the "Democratic Party's PR machine." "The bottom line is that the Democratic Party's PR machine is attempting to play political games and create distractions, while the secretary and her office are focused on working with Cascade County's new election administrator, Terry Thompson, and her team to run a very successful election on behalf of Montana voters," Melby wrote in an email. Neither Melby nor Jacobsen explained how the state's Democrats played a role in this story. This news comes as the November ballots include statewide races in which Cascade County voters will play a consequential role in deciding the outcome, namely Democrat Sen. Jon Tester's reelection bid against GOP frontrunner Tim Sheehy. That race is being called a "toss-up" and will likely decide which party has control of the U.S. Senate. Jacobsen is also on the ballot in November, as is Moore, who has since filed for House District 20 in central Great Falls. The elections administrator is now a permanent, unelected position. The clerk and recorder position will still be elected by Cascade County residents, but it will not include election oversight duties. Those who were against removing elections tasks from the job description argued that Merchant did not get adequate training from her predecessor and pointed out that she was fairly elected by voters, the Associated Press reported at the time. "[Can I remember a time] when the secretary of state formally or informally weighed in on a local hiring decision?" Bryson said. "The answer is 'no.'" NOXON Six inches of fresh snow covered the charred rubble of what used to be the core of this small lower Clark Fork town last Saturday morning, a natural white pall draped over blackened timbers that had been three beloved businesses until about 6:30 a.m. Feb. 27. Distressed as Noxon's 250-or-so residents are about the loss of the town's only store, cafe and tavern, they seem united in their resolve: Their tiny town, they said, would not become a ghost town. Fundraisers have been launched; "Noxon Strong" cups, hats and shirts are for sale; cash collection jars are deployed in businesses around Sanders County. But some still fear a ghost-town future. Jim Byler, chief of the Noxon Rural Fire Department and originally from "back East," described how fires like Noxon's extinguished many a small town in the rolling, green mountains of Appalachian coal country. "My concerns with this town is everybody gives up, leaves town, our grandkids read about how this became a ghost town," Byler said to about 100 people at a community meeting in the Noxon school gym Saturday. "Im not going to let that happen." The crowd cheered. But the applause was much louder for another of Byler's commitments: "Fourth of July parade is on." Residents described the Fourth as Noxon's reunion, when anybody who grew up there and left town comes back to visit alongside the tourists. Losing that annual rite, they said, was what happened in other small towns they'd seen atrophy after a major fire. When the general store closed and later burned down in Heron, about 10 miles northwest, they recalled, people there began to travel to Noxon for supplies. No more Fourth celebration, either; they just joined Noxon's. Noxon is a town that helps its neighbors. The town's Lil' Fighters Fall Festival raises tens of thousands of dollars annually for a family in need, generally one with a terminally ill child. Last year's beneficiary was a 2-year-old with leukemia. The families Noxon supports each year often aren't from Noxon. Last year's was from Trout Creek. Now Noxon needs help. 'It means everything' Where the Clark Fork runs slow and wide toward Idaho they used to pull timber from the hills instead of coal. These days they try to pull travelers across a century-old, one-lane bridge from Highway 200, which sits across the river from town. Unless travelers have a reason to get off the highway and cross the bumpy bridge to Noxon to fish, to camp, or to visit any of three businesses that no longer stand they'll miss the town entirely. Noxon is not the most remote town in Montana or the nearby Idaho Panhandle, but it is certainly isolated, now more than ever. It's a 20-minute drive to the small Trout Creek Local Store down Highway 200 toward Thompson Falls. It's an hour's drive to a supermarket or other stores in Sandpoint, Idaho. State and federal data show high rates of food insecurity and poor access to supermarkets in Sanders County, particularly its western half around Noxon. With an aging population Noxon's median age of 46 is years older than the state average and meager economy, many people aren't able to make the drive to what are now the nearest stores. Many don't even cross the bridge out of town. And in a town where streets aren't plowed on weekends, Saturday's surprise snow was a reminder of how badly people need local businesses. Only a couple are left: a small post office, an unstaffed laundromat and Johnson Hardware, which takes up most of the block next to the one that burned. There's a gas station with a small convenience store across the river along the highway. "It means everything to the community," said Kevin Johnson, owner of the hardware store. "We rely on this, the local businesses here, we rely on them. Its the elderly community that really does, because theres some people on this side of the bridge that dont cross the other side. Theyre elderly, they drive down here, pick up their bread, butter, milk, eggs, come to Johnson Hardware and get some stuff to fix something in their house, and they go home." At the Trout Creek Local Store on Saturday, deli worker Donna King made the same observation. "Thats a town of older people," she said, noting that the store was now Noxon's closest. "Ive seen people I havent seen in years. Theyre older and they dont get out and drive." Ross and Michelle Fitchett, originally from Noxon, own the store. King, who also grew up in the area, said the Fitchetts instructed staff the morning of the fire to prepare burritos, cookies and water to deliver to firefighters working the blaze, which smoldered for days. The most gratifying part of the awful day came when a Trout Creek firefighter walked into the store on his way back from the fire to say thank you. Still clad in his turnouts, he hadn't even been back to the station yet. "To get a thank-you like that means everything," she said. That firefighter had a relatively short day. Byler, the fire chief, said 29 firefighters and 16 trucks from Trout Creek, Noxon and Heron fought the blaze. Most went home that day. But Byler stayed at the site nonstop from the morning of Feb. 27 through Feb. 29 three days of sleeping in a truck, monitoring the fire and watering hot spots. Having already aggressively pushed back on social media rumors online, he reiterated at the meeting: "Nothing points toward arson. Nothing." Desperate needs Byler and other officials also outlined nascent plans to rebuild if, of course, private business and property owners elect to do so. One said she absolutely would. Teresa Jackson bought the Angry Beaver General Store a little more than a year ago. Her fiance, Ryan Borgmann, is a handyman. The store sold groceries, fresh baked goods, homemade bread, desserts and sandwiches alongside camping and fishing gear. The pair were remodeling the second floor into a rental apartment Borgmann lost all his tools in the fire and hoped to start renting kayaks and bicycles this summer. Now they just hope to someday have a store and livelihood again. "I feel like its a nightmare that I cant wake up from, in all honesty," Jackson said. Tony Cox, a Sanders County commissioner representing the western part of the county, including Noxon, said at the meeting that the county would do anything it could to facilitate rebuilding. "Hopefully out of the ashes a store would come back," he said. "Noxon desperately needs that." Amy Klaschik, owner of Noxon Mercantile & Cafe, politely declined to discuss what she might do with her business. She said she wasn't ready to talk about it yet. Gail Therrian, owner of Toby's Tavern and daughter of the late Toby Therrian, was in Sandpoint the day of the meeting. Friends said she wasn't ready to talk about the fire and her loss in such a large crowd. Regardless, the community is rallying support for the businesses' owners and employees, and those of The Hereford restaurant on Highway 200 toward Heron, which burned down in January for a second time in recent years. The Noxon Strong Recovery Fund on GoFundMe is raising money to clear the burned rubble and make the Noxon lots ready for rebuilding, according to organizers Tim Wanamaker and Sherry Sutherland. On Friday, the fundraiser had collected $3,800 of its $50,000 goal. It's available at gofundme.com/f/noxon-strong-recovery-fund. Local agents with North West Landmark Real Estate are collecting cash donations at businesses across the area. All of that money will be divided equally among employees of the Noxon businesses and The Hereford. Meanwhile, Byler and Sanders County Sheriff Shawn Fielders have been working with the governor's office and other elected officials to explore aid possibilities from higher levels of government. And after they fought the fire that gutted the soul of their town, Noxon firefighters personally donated $1,500 cash split evenly between the Mercantile & Cafe, Angry Beaver General Store and Toby's Tavern. Byler handed the money to the business owners in person. "This is a small community and this is what this event is about, is our community," Johnson said after the meeting. "Were going to lift it up and rise up through this, and were going to support each other, and were going to get through this. We are not turning into a ghost town. This is going to stay a great community and we will support one another through it." The speed limit on Interstate 81 in Northeast Tennessee was lowered more than a decade ago due to air quality issues but is now being raised back to 70 miles per hour. Last week, officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation said it was modifying the speed limit on I-81 in Sullivan County. The change was made based on recent spot speed studies, crash analysis and the continuity of speed zones, TDOT said in a news release. Previously, the speed limit was 65 miles per hour for vehicles and 55 miles per hour for large trucks. In addition, TDOT spokesman Mark Nagi noted that the speed limit along the interstate in both Southwest Virginia and elsewhere in Tennessee was set at 70 miles per hour. Nagi said the study was conducted as a result of public comments, as well as partners in law enforcement and local municipalities. TDOT crews were expected to begin replacing signage this week along the corridor depending on the weather. The state originally lowered the speed limit in an effort to improve the air quality in Sullivan County and the Tri-Cities region. In 2004, Sullivan County fared poorly on federal air-quality standards and drew a warning from the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce lung-damaging emissions from industrial plants and cars. The EPA told state and local officials to develop new pollution controls to reduce ground-level ozone, a precursor to smog. Sullivan County was labeled a non-attainment county, an area that exceeds pollution limits for one or more pollutants, including particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and lead. Since the late 1990s, the regions officials have been working to curb pollution and in 2001, the Ozone Action Partnership was created. The partnership included local health organizations, governments, industries and others. Under federal guidelines, Sullivan County had to meet air quality standards by 2007. As a result, the county began looking at ways to improve the air quality. In 2006, the Sullivan County Commission voted in favor of changing the speed limit, a change that also required TDOTs approval. The change was expected to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide emitted into the air by 1.65 tons per day, according to a University of Tennessee study cited in the Sullivan County resolution. Commissioners at the time hoped the change would help the county come into compliance with the EPA. By 2012, officials with the Ozone Action Partnership reported that air quality was improving and was considered acceptable at the time. The air quality has improved, but there are many variables associated with the improvement, said Gary Mayes, director of the Sullivan County Regional Health Department. Most of the improvements could be attributed to improved emissions from fixed source points. Improved emissions from automobiles as emission standards are upgraded and the fleet used by the population is newer with lower emissions. Mayes served on the Ozone Action Partnership and continues to monitor air quality in the region and its effect on health. I see no reason to be alarmed with the state changes on Interstate 81, Mayes said. As I mentioned, a lot of improvements and gains have been made regarding air emissions over the last 15 years. TDOT has the authority to change the speed limit on interstate highways in Tennessee, according to state code. Nagi said TDOT often works closely with local officials when making such decisions. Local metropolitan planning organizations, which work with TDOT, originally supported the changes in 2006. MPOs work with local and state partners on various transportation projects, including road planning, speed limits and air quality. By early this week, officials with the Bristol and Kingsport MPOs said they had not been notified about the changes, nor were they aware of the plan to change the speed limits. Officials with both MPOs said they learned about the speed limit increase through the news media. Nagi said TDOT was planning to inform the MPOs regarding the changes. He noted that MPOs in Bristol, Kingsport and Knoxville had entered an agreement with TDOT to conduct long range transportation planning and transportation conformity for the entire non-attainment area showing that the projects proposed in non-attainment counties would not result in additional emissions that will worsen air quality. Friday, March 8 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St., S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785. A GriefShare Support Group will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, room 23. Sessions will be Saturdays through May 11. Register at GriefShare.org, use ZIP code 28075. The church is at 200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. For more information, call 704-455-2763. The Fishers of Men BBQ will be held at Rodgers Park Baptist Church from 10:30 a.m. until sold out. Whole pork rack $22, pork rack plate $15. Beef rib plate $18. Chicken quarter plate $8. All plates come with homemade potato salad. Smoked beans, soda and slice cake (based on availability). The church is located at 309 E 24th Street, Kannapolis. Sunday, March 10 A Griefshare program will be hosted by Cold Springs Global Methodist Sundays through April 21 from 3:30-5 p.m. for those dealing with life stresses following the loss of a loved one. For more information and to register go to griefshare.org/findagroup or call the church office at 704-782-1811. Monday, March 11 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner. Tuesday, March 12 TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome. How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details. Wednesday, March 13 The Sportscenter weekly Bible study will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter 233 Country Club Drive, NE, Concord. Hosted by Pastor Debbie Frye. Centering Prayer Weekly via Zoom meets at 7:30 p.m. For the Zoom link, check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or call the church office at 704-782-6923. How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details. The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary will hold a League of Mercy workshop at 9:30 a.m. to make Easter favors for nursing home residents. The workshop will be held at The Salvation Army of Cabarrus County headquarters at 216 Patterson Ave SE, Concord. Visitors are welcome to participate as well as Women's Auxiliary members. There will be pre-owned books available for sale, with proceeds to be used to buy new books for the Christmas Angel Tree project. Thursday, March 14 Epworth United Methodist Church will have a hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Epworth is at 1030 Burrage Road, NE, Concord. Credit cards accepted. For deliveries, call 704-786-5500. Friday, March 15 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Center United Methodist Church will hold it's Chicken BBQ on Saturday, March 16, from 4 p.m. until sold out. The cost is $12 per plate which includes 1/2 chicken, beans, slaw, roll and a dessert., Brunswick Stew will also be available. Dine in or carry out. Center United Methodist is located at 1119 Union Street S, Concord. Call 704-782-1785 for details. A GriefShare Support Group will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, room 23. Sessions will be Saturdays through May 11. Register at GriefShare.org, use ZIP code 28075. The church is at 200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. For more information, call 704-455-2763. New Gilead Reformed Church will have a BBQ Chicken Dinner fundraiser from 11 a.m.until sold out. Dine in or carryout. The church is located at 2400 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Concord. A plate includes: half BBQ Chicken, beans, slaw, roll, chips, drink, and dessert for $11, a whole chicken: $9 and a quart of slaw: $5. Sunday, March 17 A Griefshare program will be hosted by Cold Springs Global Methodist Sundays through April 21 from 3:30-5 p.m. for those dealing with life stresses following the loss of a loved one. For more information and to register go to griefshare.org/findagroup or call the church office at 704-782-1811. The Piedmont Community Band will perform "Seasons of Love" at 4 p.m. at the Hickory Ridge High School Auditorium. Admission is free. Donations are graciously accepted. The concert includes songs about love including, Besame Mucho, Tango Corazon, Seasons of Love, along with a few surprises. Also, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day the band will perform A Longford Legend, a collection of Irish Street Ballades. Monday, March 18 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner. Tuesday, March 19 TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome. How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details. Wednesday, March 20 The Sportscenter weekly Bible study will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter 233 Country Club Drive, NE, Concord. Hosted by Pastor Debbie Frye. Centering Prayer Weekly via Zoom meets at 7:30 p.m. For the Zoom link, check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or call the church office at 704-782-6923. How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details. The Cabarrus Senior Center Photo Club is alive and clicking away. If you like taking photos, come join the members on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Cabarrus Senior Center, 331 Corban Ave., SE, Concord, and share your photographic creativity. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or strictly amateur, all are welcome. Thursday, March 21 Epworth United Methodist Church will have a hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Epworth is at 1030 Burrage Road, NE, Concord. Credit cards accepted. For deliveries, call 704-786-5500. Pancake Day at the Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County will be held at the club on Spring Street in Concord from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p..m. Tickets are $9 and can be purchased online at www.bgclubcab.org, at the club weekedays or at the door. Friday, March 22 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. 18th Annual BBQ at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., eat-in or takeout, $12 a plate or three sandwiches for $12. David Childers entertaining at noon and 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St., S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785. A GriefShare Support Group will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, room 23. Sessions will be Saturdays through May 11. Register at GriefShare.org, use ZIP code 28075. The church is at 200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. For more information, call 704-455-2763. The United Methodist Men and the United Women in Faith will be sponsoring a hot dog sale at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Delicious homemade desserts will also be available for $2 a slice.The church is located at 301 Mt. Olivet Road, Concord. Sunday, March 24 A Griefshare program will be hosted by Cold Springs Global Methodist Sundays through April 21 from 3:30-5 p.m. for those dealing with life stresses following the loss of a loved one. For more information and to register go to griefshare.org/findagroup or call the church office at 704-782-1811. Monday, March 25 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner. Tuesday, March 26 TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome. How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details. Wednesday, March 27 The Sportscenter weekly Bible study will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter 233 Country Club Drive, NE, Concord. Hosted by Pastor Debbie Frye. Centering Prayer Weekly via Zoom meets at 7:30 p.m. For the Zoom link, check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or call the church office at 704-782-6923. How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, NC 28025. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details. Friday, March 29 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Saturday, March 30 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St., S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785. A GriefShare Support Group will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, room 23. Sessions will be Saturdays through May 11. Register at GriefShare.org, use ZIP code 28075. The church is at 200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. For more information, call 704-455-2763. Does your community group or nonprofit agency have an upcoming event that would be of interest to the public? Email it to mplemmons@independenttribune.com. CHARLOTTE Daylight saving time begins today and the American Red Cross encourages everyone to test their smoke alarms as they turn their clocks forward to make sure the devices are working. Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half, said Allison Taylor, regional CEO, North Carolina Region. Every second counts when theres a home fire and the sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get to a safer place. When you turn your clocks forward this weekend, its also a great time to test your smoke alarms. Over the past year, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help more than 8,500 people in the North Carolina region affected by more than 2,500 home fires. Home fires account for most of the about 65,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually across the country. Smoke alarms When turning your clocks forward this weekend, test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to create and practice with your family, or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching American Red Cross in app stores. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarms manufacturer instructions. Practice your two-minute home fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home before its too late. Include at least two ways to get out of every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbors home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet. If you need help If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Contact your local Red Cross for help. Home fire campaign saves lives Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2,030 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires. About the American Red Cross The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nations blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. FORT FISHER Its Astas Sweet 16 and the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is throwing an otterly amazing birthday party befitting the elder stateswoman Tuesday, March 5, from 11-11:25 a.m. The community is invited to join Sweet Astas Sweet 16 in person at Otters on the Edge or on Facebook Live. Asta, an Asian small-clawed otter, has been at the aquarium since February 2020 and is beloved for her endearing traits of juggling pebbles and looking after her son, Ray. Asian small-clawed otters live up to 12 years in professional care, with some individuals living longer than 20 years. Their lifespan in the wild is unknown. A conversation with lead otter keeper Shannon Anderson provides some unique perspectives on what it is like to care for a special otter like Asta even as she ages. Can you share some of Astas special traits? If you come to the aquarium and see a small otter with a little grey smudge under her right nostril, juggling and rolling a small rock, shell, or both at once between her forepaws with amazing dexterity, thats our Asta. What challenges has she overcome? As she ages, Astas overcome some health concerns, starting with a spay after seeing some abnormalities in her reproductive organs. She also has had dental surgery. Dentists with the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine came onsite to extract two teeth. She has and will continue to receive the best care from our team, and the amazing veterinarians and their colleagues. What makes Asta so special? Through it all, Asta has always been so confident and strong. Through voluntary, medical-based training she continually chooses to participate in her own healthcare, making her an ideal patient. Ive never worked with an otter like Asta. For her age, shes very easy to read and work with; shes predictable in her wants and needs and has a lot of patience for her son, Ray. How special is her relationship with her son, Ray? She keeps a close eye on him, always making sure she knows where he is in the habitat. She also allows him to take the lead in exploring enrichment and new items that are in their habitat. How are we celebrating her birthday? We are making her a giant cake with new shells and rocks and some of her favorite treats. Asian small-clawed otters at the Aquarium Asian small-clawed otters are native to Indonesia, southern China, southern India, Southeast Asia, and the Philippines. They are the smallest of the otter species and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List of Threatened Species. Population numbers are declining because of many threats, including residential and commercial development, deforestation, the illegal pet trade, pollution, climate change, and poaching. The two otter families at the Aquarium are part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan Program (SSP). Aquarium tickets required Sweet Astas Sweet 16 is part of the Aquarium experience. Online tickets are required prior to arriving at the Aquarium. Reservations are available at NCAFF Admissions. About the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is just south of Kure Beach, a short drive from Wilmington, on U.S. 421. The site is less than a mile from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: $12.95 ages 13-61; $10.95 children ages 3-12; $11.95 seniors (62 and older) and military with valid identification; EBT card holders: $3. Free admission for children 2 and younger and N.C. Aquarium Society members and N.C. Zoo members. Australias competition regulator, the ACCC and its Vietnamese counterpart, the Viet Nam Competition Commission (VCC), have committed to even closer collaboration in securing strong regulatory and economic outcomes by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The new agreement will facilitate cooperation and information sharing between the two competition and consumer protection authorities, as well as promoting the delivery of technical assistance activities. Australian Ccompetition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb and VCC Chair Le Trieu Dung signed the MOU on 6 March 2023, before it was exchanged by the two governments on 7 March during H.E. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Vietnams official visit to Canberra. Prime Minister Chinh was hosted for his visit by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The visit took place during the week of the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, hosted by Prime Minister Albanese in Melbourne, and which celebrated 50 years since Australia became the first Dialogue Partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ACCCs relationship with the Viet Nam Competition Commission is a key element in co-operation across the ASEAN region in the implementation of competition and consumer law, ACCC Chair Cass-Gottlieb said. We welcome this latest achievement and the opportunity it provides for further cooperation, consultation, and coordination between our two agencies. The ACCC looks forward to continuing its close work with the VCC in our joint purpose to protect competition and consumers, both at home and in our shared regions. The new MOU articulates the common objectives and approaches shared between the two agencies and includes arrangements to collaborate on bilateral activities, such as: sharing best practices through the exchange of officials, non-confidential information, and experiences on matters of mutual interest conducting periodic study visits, workshops, or training courses for staff of the ACCC and VCC, as well as other officials. Both the ACCC and VCC remain steadfast in our mutual commitment to champion competition and consumer protection in the ASEAN region, Cass-Gottlieb said. We are eager to embark on this next phase of close interagency collaboration as we continue to deliver better regulatory and enforcement outcomes for our increasingly connected economic markets. In April 2023 the VCC formed from an amalgamation of the Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority (VCCA) and the Vietnam Competition Council and is responsible for implementing the countrys national competition and consumer laws. The ACCC has collaborated with the VCC in supporting consumer law reform in Vietnam through the Vietnam-Australia Consumer Protection Partnership (VACPP), launched in April 2021. The VACPP is a bilateral cooperation program supporting consumer advocacy and post-pandemic social and economic recovery in Vietnam, and has facilitated consumer law reform in Vietnam and strengthened the productive relationship enjoyed by the ACCC and VCC, the ACCC notes. The ACCC continues to build strong connections with the VCC and other competition and consumer protection authorities in the ASEAN region and New Zealand through its Competition Law Implementation Program (CLIP) and the Consumer Affairs Program (CAP) which was created pursuant to the agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA). Aerospace company Space Machines has launched Optimus, which it touts to be Australias largest-ever private satellite and the companys first Orbital Servicing Vehicle (OSV). The future satellite servicing infrastructure departed at 9:05am AEDT on 5 March from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket during the Transporter-10 mission. Following its liftoff, Optimus, weighing 270kg, will prioritise reaching its orbital slot where it will then commence its full testing campaign. The satellite will provide existing space infrastructure and life-extension services, inspections, repairs, and assistance on-orbit. According to Australian media, the satellite was designed to repair and refuel other space infrastructure and will also test printed solar cells developed by CSIRO. The satellite features technology created by other Australian organisations including an inertial navigation system from Advanced Navigation, fiducial markers from Orbit Fab to help orient the vehicle, and non-Earth imaging camera from HEO, ABC reported. The satellite launch is part of the growing number of launches heralded by Australian organisations. ABC reported Canberra-based firm Skykraft launched five satellites in January as part of its plan to build a network of 200 to monitor air traffic. Last December, the University of Melbourne launched a research satellite. Gold Coast company Gilmour Space is planning to launch a rocket into low-earth orbit in 2024 after gaining approval for its spaceport in Bowen, in north Queensland. The successful launch of Optimus opens up new possibilities for how satellites are launched and operated. We believe it will transform the economics of space infrastructure. As the foundational asset in our architecture of servicing vehicles designed to repair, refuel, upgrade and relocate other satellites, Optimus enables us to provide services to extend satellite lifetimes, reduce space debris and sustainably scale space activities, Space Machines CEO Rajat Kulshrestha said. We are thrilled that our vision of robotic satellites sustaining our space infrastructure is one step closer to becoming a reality, Kulshrestha said. And this is just the beginning. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 06 March 2024. (Takahiro Takiguchi) Though there is a chill in the air and snow on the ground in many areas, picking strawberries, called Ichigogari (literally, hunting strawberry) is a popular activity this time of year in Japan. Strawberry farms across the country offer opportunities for visitors to pick the sweet berries and enjoy all-you-can-eat-as-you-pick feasts with time limits. Around this time there are also many travel agencies running tours to famous strawberry areas like Tochigi and Shizuoka Prefectures. Originally, strawberries were harvested in early summer. However, improvement of plant breeding and the introduction of greenhouses has allowed for earlier harvests. The best time to pick berries is from late December to late April-early May depending on the variety of strawberry and farm. At Tsukuihama Kanko Farm, a 40-minute drive from Yokosuka Naval Base, you can enjoy ichigogari now and until early May. Although you can enjoy the activity from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., I encourage you to come and pick strawberries in the morning as you can enjoy fresh and tasty berries well chilled during the night. Just like many other fruits and vegetables, early morning is the best time to pick strawberries. When we paid the fee of 2,000 yen ($13) per person at the entrance of the Farm, we entered a large greenhouse to pick and eat as much as we could for 30 minutes. While walking around in the greenhouse, I probably ate 50 or more strawberries within the 30 minutes. It was really fun, and the berries tasted great. The fee changes depending on the time of year. So, be sure to check on farm websites for updated fees and other important info like berry conditions and hours for ichigogari. Happy, sweet strawberry hunting! Tsukuihama Kanko Farm Location: 5-15-20 Tsukui, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa prefecture Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (until early May) Fee: all-you-can-eat (30 minutes), 2,000 yen ($13). URL: https://ja-yokosukahayama.or.jp/tourism/ Tel: 046-849-5001 In his takeover of the GOP Senate delegation signaled by his successful efforts to hasten Mitch McConnell's retirement he has infused the ranks of his most zealous supporters with a new understanding of power and how to get it. In 2022, the watchword in MAGA was purity. Candidates were evaluated according to their scores on litmus tests of ideological fidelity. Wary of Republicans who go to Washington, grow a horn, and turn RINO, GOP voters and leaders embraced the likes of Pennsylvania's Dr. Oz and Georgia's Hershel Walker ideologically pure but politically inexperienced and inept. Now there is a new team in town the tandem between Montana Senator Steve Daines and President Trump. Daines, the new chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Steve Daines, has brought a new wisdom and acuity to the job of running the Republican campaign for the Senate in 2024. The new watchword is: electability. Sacrificial lambs need not apply. Harking back to the bare knuckle tactics of legislative leaders like Sam Rayburn and Lyndon Johnson, Daines has promoted winners and told losers to, well, get lost. But the weapon behind Daines' leadership is Donald Trump's endorsement.Trump is so dominant and popular with the MAGA base that his word, alone, can make or break candidates. But in 2022 Trump often bestowed his endorsement on candidates, with whom he empathized, but who couldn't win. Senator Daines is the perfect compliment to Donald Trump. They both have been burned by unelectable candidates and share a new pragmatic determination to endorse winners. In state after state, the duo are working together with Daines winnowing the field and while Trump enforces discipline with his endorsement. The Montana Senate race exemplifies how these two lions hunt together. Republicans found a superstar candidate in Tim Sheehy, a purple heart, bronze star combat veteran, but his path to the nomination against John Tester, long time Democratic senator, was blocked by congressman Matt Rosendale the at-large congressman for Montana. Rosendale had taken on Tester in 2018, losing by six points even though Trump had carried Montana by twenty points. Daines realized that he needed to sweep Rosendale aside, deployed the big man Donald Trump to do so in dramatic fashion. Hours after Rosendale announced his Senate candidacy Trump swooped in and endorsed Sheehy calling him an "American hero". Rather than criticize Rosendale, Trump publicly urged him to run again for Congress instead saying "I also respect Matt Rosendale, and was very happy to Endorse him in the past and will Endorse him again in the future should he decide to change course and run for his Congressional Seat." Oops! Rosendale withdrew from the Senate race, embraced Trump's hint, and declared his candidacy for re-election for Congress. Now Sheehy has every prospect of beating Tester. In Arizona, Republicans were reluctant to rally in support of their defeated 2022 governor candidate Kari Lake. But Daines made clear that the party was backing Lake and, using Trump's endorsement as a cudgel, forced Republican Blake Masters who was also considering running, to follow Rosendale's path and run instead for Congress. In Nevada too, Daines is clearing the GOP field to make way for Sam Brown, a former Army captain whose face was shredded by an Iraqi roadside bomb. Brown, initially reluctant to back Trump, came around to back the former president in Nevada's primary. But Daines' magical performance was inducing Marylands' two- term RINO governor, Larry Hogan to run for Senate in one of the bluest states in the union. Despite his opposition to Donald Trump Hogan once even ran (briefly) against Trump for president Hogan decided to run for an open seat in Maryland. Now the GOP's likely candidate Hogan holds a ten point lead in the general election. A steal for Senate Republicans. The Trump/Daines combo is the new game in town and it gives every promise of delivering a Senate majority to President Trump. (COMMENT, BELOW) Dick Morris, who served as adviser to former Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and former President Clinton, is the author of 16 books, including his latest, Screwed and Here Come the Black Helicopters. Ever since Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced the term "new quality productive forces" in September, it has been among the priorities for China's economic work in 2024. During this year's "two sessions," the concept has once again taken the spotlight, with deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) sharing their insights into its implications and targeted practice. The opening meeting of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, March 5, 2024. [Photo by Wang Yiming/China.org.cn] China's national economy is currently transitioning from high-speed growth to high-quality development, necessitating a solid material foundation provided by critical and disruptive technologies, said Huang Maoxing, an NPC deputy and vice president of the Fujian Academy of Social Sciences. Huang emphasized that traditional economic models focus on economies of scale and resource-intensive production. In contrast, new quality productive forces prioritize technological innovation, intelligent manufacturing and the creation of high-value-added products, meeting the demands for transitioning to a model of high-quality development. Advancing strategic emerging industries "By taking the lead in cutting-edge technologies such as next-generation information technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, new energy and aerospace, we aim to cultivate and boost new engines of industrial growth, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of our industry," Huang elaborated. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reveals a significant uptick in the contribution of strategic emerging industries to China's GDP from 7.6% in 2014 to over 13% in 2022. Ambitious plans are underway to boost this figure to above 17% by 2025. Group discussions at the ongoing NPC session have underscored the imperative to develop new quality productive forces suited to local conditions. For instance, Xia Linmao, executive vice-mayor of Beijing, emphasized the capital's commitment to strengthening its digital economy and fast-tracking sectors like artificial intelligence and high-level autonomous driving. Meanwhile, Feng Fei, secretary of the Communist Party of China Hainan Provincial Committee, highlighted leveraging the island's ecological assets to advance industries in seed technology, deep-sea exploration and aerospace. New energy and intelligent connected vehicles on display at the exhibition center of Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone, Beijing, May 26, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Highlighting the role of quantum technology, Guo Guoping, an NPC deputy from Anhui province and deputy director of the Key Laboratory of Quantum Information at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, presented 10 proposals focused on addressing bottleneck issues in quantum computing to enhance China's independent quantum computer manufacturing chain. "Quantum technology, represented by quantum computing, will give rise to a batch of new quality productive forces," he said. Echoing the sentiment on innovation, Shi Haofei, director of the Center for Nanofabrication and System Integration at the Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, who leads a team that specializes in researching new materials, pointed out that the key to developing new quality productive forces lies in disruptive technologies. He believes that technology companies should leverage their strengths to solve critical technical issues from the ground up, suggesting a bolstering of foundational research capabilities in leading tech enterprises. Upgrading traditional industries "The emergence of new quality productive forces involves nurturing and fortifying emerging and future industries, as well as facilitating the iterative upgrading of traditional industries," Huang Maoxing explained. He emphasized the need to develop clear transformation and upgrading plans for traditional industries, with a particular focus on providing support and investment in key areas such as technology, talent and capital. This strategic approach aims to guide traditional industries toward intelligent, environmentally friendly and high-end development. During the ongoing "two sessions," NPC deputy Wang Zugang echoed the call for upgrading traditional industries, specifically highlighting the construction sector. Wang, a staff member from China Railway Group Limited, proposed the vigorous promotion of the digital transformation and high-quality development of the construction industry. He underlined the need to accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces tailored to this sector. "The construction industry, as a pivotal sector of the national economy, constitutes a crucial component of industrial modernization," Wang said. He added that with the current focus on new quality productive forces, a fresh focus, intelligent, green and digital construction is a sure path toward achieving high-quality development. Wang pointed out that the adoption of new construction methods and management models can enhance design and production efficiency by over 30% and 40%, respectively, with a corresponding reduction in project timelines of over 30%. This, he argued, would effectively address environmental sustainability and energy scarcity challenges in construction. To facilitate the upgrading of the construction industry, Wang recommended that government departments introduce plans and policies aligned with new construction methods and management models. Simultaneously, he stressed the importance of nurturing the industry chain by selectively fostering technological innovation enterprises in design, equipment and materials. This can be achieved by providing targeted support for automation equipment and advanced intelligent technologies that enhance production efficiency and quality. Agricultural modernization is also closely tied to the development of new quality productive forces. The annual Chinese government work report emphasized making breakthroughs in key agricultural technologies and launching an initiative to address weaknesses in agricultural machinery and equipment. Liu Jiguo, an NPC deputy and president of YTO Co. Ltd., a major agricultural machine manufacturer in China, proposed cultivating new quality productive forces in the field of agricultural machinery, focusing on producing greener, more intelligent and high-end agricultural equipment. An unmanned tractor performs baling operations in a demonstration field of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co. Ltd. in Weifang, Shandong province, June 17, 2023. [Xinhua/Zhang Haobo] "Promoting innovation in the agricultural machinery and equipment industry is an essential choice to accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces," Liu said. In terms of specific approaches, Liu suggested expediting key technology R&D to overcome core technological barriers hindering the development of high-end agricultural power equipment. This approach aims to propel advancement toward middle and high ends of the industrial and value chains. Additionally, he proposed advancing labor reduction and unmanned operation of agricultural machinery, and concurrently nurturing green agricultural technologies. ROBINSON The attorney for a woman charged with concealing the murder of a Lerna man says he needs time to review evidence in the case. Angela Newcomb, 58, of Robinson, one of three charged in connection with Ryan Waggoners death, was in Crawford County Circuit Court on Wednesday. During the hearing, defense attorney Jim Lane said he had just received a hard drive filled with evidence back from Crawford County States Attorney Cole Shaner. Lane stated he would like some time to go back over the material on the hard drive to see if anything was added by the prosecution before he moves to suppress any evidence. Waggoner, 55, of rural Lerna in Cumberland County, was reported missing on June 9 and confirmed dead in July. The investigation into Waggoners death led Illinois State Police and local law enforcement to speak to Angela Newcomb, her son Lance Newcomb and Hiley Schulte. Angela Newcomb and Schulte, 52, were arrested at the end of June, and both charged with concealment of a homicide. Angela Newcomb was also charged with obstructing justice/destroying evidence. Schulte had a charge of unlawful possession of methamphetamine added in September after test results for meth came back positive the night officers spoke with her at her home, south of Oblong. Both women posted $10,000 cash bond after being arrested. Authorities allege that Angela Newcomb helped her son transport Waggoners body to her home on North Lincoln Street in Robinson and parked the vehicle in the garage with the body in it. The younger Newcomb then allegedly took Waggoners body to Schultes property, hiding the remains under a tarp for several days before burning the remains. Schulte testified in court that she did not know what Lance Newcomb was doing besides burning something. She also stated she never saw Waggoners body on her property but offered him information to where he could find a shovel in her garage. Waggoners remains, which had been burned and found in a couple different burn sites on the Schulte property, were positively identified on July 6. Prior to the ISP investigation being completed, Lance Newcomb, 25, of Robinson was arrested in Crawford County for concealment of homicidal death. Cumberland County subsequently charged Lance Newcomb with first degree murder. The charge alleges that the fatal shooting occurred at Waggoner's home. Shaner then announced he would take no further action on the Crawford County charge. Angela Newcombs next court appearance is scheduled for June 12. Schulte will return to court on for a pretrial conference on March 27. Lance Newcomb will be in Cumberland County Circuit Court on March 25 for a status hearing. SPRINGFIELD A state commission created in 2021 has issued a new report calculating that public universities in Illinois are underfunded by approximately $1.4 billion. The Commission on Equitable Public University Funding is made up of 34 members, including legislators, representatives from public universities, and members of advocacy organizations. Among the downstate educational leaders serving on the commission are Aondover Tarhule, interim president of Illinois State University; Dan Mahony, president of Southern Illinois University; Lisa Freeman, president of Northern Illinois University; Guiyou Huang, president of Western Illinois University; and Matt Bierman, vice president of business affairs at Eastern Illinois University. It found that dedicating an added $100 million to $135 million annually to public universities would allow the state to bridge the funding gap in 10 to 15 years. The commissions co-chair, Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Westchester, was among several of its members to outline its findings at a Capitol news conference Wednesday. When institutions are underfunded, they are unable to provide the necessary resources and support to all students, Lightford said. This perpetrates a cycle of inequalities, where those from affluent backgrounds have access to better education, and subsequently better opportunities, while others are left behind. Without state funding, the financial burden has fallen on students. Ralph Martire, executive director at the left-leaning Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, said the amount of operational funding covered by the state has decreased from 72% covered in 2002 to 35% in 2021. Martire said as the cost to students goes up, college becomes less accessible. Lack of access to higher education perpetuates systemic issues such as income inequality. We are making higher ed more unaffordable for everyone in Illinois generally, said Martire, who served on the commission. But in particular, for low-income families and families that have been marginalized for decades. Higher education has seen increased funding under the Pritzker administration, notably for the Monetary Award Program, or MAP grants. In the current fiscal year, the state allocated over $700 million in MAP funding, up from about $401 million when Pritzker took office in 2019. The states total higher education budget is just over $2.5 billion in the current fiscal year. Commission co-chair Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, said that while investments including MAP have helped students and universities, more needs to be done. For decades, the state has used a system that largely provides resources based on the negotiations that happen across the board, Ammons said. But all institutions are not the same. Janice Jackson, CEO of Hope Chicago, said in an interview that the commission looked at student needs as well the support and funding that first generation, low-income, and minority students may need not only to get in college, but more importantly to persist and complete college. The commission has been working to develop a formula to bridge the gap in funding. By setting targets for each university and subtracting their established resources, the commission calculated the gap in funding for each public university. Public universities, including all sources of available funding, are currently at 68.5% funding adequacy collectively. The single most important driver of student success and of equity in higher education is in our control. We can control what we invest and how we invest it, Robin Steans, a commission member and president of the education advocacy group Advance Illinois, said. And you may be wondering, why haven't we done that before? And part of it is we didn't have a roadmap. We do now. The commission looked at funding models from five states including Tennessee and California as well as Illinois K-12 Evidence-Based Funding model. The commission decided to base the higher education formula on the K-12 model. This may sound familiar, by the way, because this is what we did in K-12, to remarkable success to national acclaim, Steans said. It's more complicated to do it in higher education. The K-12 model sets an individual funding adequacy target for each district and calls for an added $350 million in state funding each year. The bulk of that money is directed to districts that are furthest from the adequacy target. The commission laid out three possible time frames for bringing districts closer to funding adequacy. In the first, if the state increased funding by $135 million annually, or 12% all public universities would be fully funded in 10 years. If the state invested $100 million more annually, a 9% annual increase, all institutions would be fully funded in 15 years. If the state committed a 5% funding increase or about $60 million each year the statewide target would increase from 68.5% to 79%, according to the report. Gov. J.B. Pritzkers budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year 2025 would increase public university funding by about $24.6 million. The commissions report will be part of subject matter hearings next week. SPRINGFIELD Democrats in the Illinois Senate have advanced a measure that would prohibit Illinois companies from requiring employees to attend work-related meetings about politics or religion. Senate Bill 3649, which is backed by organized labor, passed the Senate Labor Committee 11-4 on Wednesday. Backers have dubbed it the Worker Freedom of Speech Act. Tim Drea, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO labor organization, said the bill would help Illinoisans avoid unnecessary and potentially uncomfortable gatherings in which workers are forced to be a captive audience for their employers political or religious speech. They go to work for a paycheck and to make a profit for the employer, period, Drea said. Not to be indoctrinated by anyone's religious or political beliefs. Under the proposal, it would be illegal for a business to discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize an employee who declines to attend or participate in an employer-sponsored meeting about religious or political matters, according to the bills language. Employees who believe their workplaces violated the law would be able to file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Labor and sue their employer to reverse any illegal punishment, like being fired for not attending a meeting. Opponents of the bill, like National Federation of Independent Business Illinois State Director Noah Finley, said the legislation would infringe on employers civil liberties by creating content-based discrimination. He also claimed the measure would prevent employees from getting new points of view from their employer like which legislation their union dues could support. Republicans on the committee expressed concerns that the bills definitions of religious and political speech were too broad. The bill defines political matters as anything pertaining to elections, changing laws or regulations, or joining advocacy groups, fraternal organizations, unions or political parties. Religious matters include anything pertaining to belief, affiliation, practice or decision to join any religious organization or association. Opponents also argued the General Assembly has no authority to pass the legislation because its preempted by the National Labor Relations Act, but no official ruling has been made in any of the five other states with similar laws. Frances Orenic, legislative director for Illinois AFL-CIO, said the bill does not prohibit employees from exercising their right to free speech. It will just protect employees if they decide not to engage, Orenic told the panel. The bill was introduced by Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago. He said he filed it in response to a 2022 memorandum from the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board. The memo advocated for making captive audience meetings for political or religious matters a violation of the National Labor Relations Act. But the NLRB has not taken such an action. With no response from the federal level, Illinois must step in to promote employee-friendly environments, Peters said in a news release. While the bill passed committee, Orenic said negotiations on final bill language will continue in the coming weeks. She noted the AFL-CIO was working with groups such as the ACLU of Illinois, Equality Illinois and Planned Parenthood. A Charlotte man was arrested Thursday in connection with a bank robbery inside of a Walmart in southwestern Winston-Salem, authorities said. Ray Anthony Brooks, 49, is charged with common law robbery, Winston-Salem police said. Brooks is scheduled to appear Friday in Forsyth District Court. Brooks was being held Friday in the Forsyth County Jail with his bond set at $50,000, the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office said. Officers responded at 2:28 p.m. Thursday to a reported robbery at the Woodforest National Bank inside the Walmart at 3475 Parkway Village Circle, police said. Bank employees told police that a man approached the teller, demanded that they give all of the money in the cash drawers or he would shoot them, police said. When one of the drawers was opened, the man stole an undisclosed amount of money and ran from the scene, police said. No injuries were reported. Brooks is accused of stealing $60 from the bank, according to an arrest warrant. Seven minutes later, an officer saw a man matching the suspects description nearby in the 5100 block of Edgefield Drive and arrested Brooks, police said. Anyone with information regarding this robbery can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904. Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is on Facebook. The Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717 allows people to text tips, photos and videos to the police. Happy Friday. Perhaps more than familiar and old photos, aroma transports Brenda Sloan back in time to her childhood growing up on 20th Street. A handful of families lived on the block near Thurmond Streets during the 40s and 50s. The adults were neighborly and the kids naturally became friends. People looked out for one another, and a tight-knit community formed around common experiences. But it was the culinary talent of one man, Adam Scott, a preacher from Goldsboro, that ultimately drew them closer. When the Rev. Scott cooked, we could smell it all over the hill, Sloan said. You could just about taste it. We all waited to hear him call out Its ready. Time moved on, the way it always does, and the families mostly scattered. But the memories especially of that aroma remained strong. Sloan kept in touch with Ava Scott, the youngest of the Scott kids, and a series of recent events in a long friendship led them back to all things barbecue. As legend and longtime residents have it, the Rev. Scott moved to Winston with his family at the behest of some of the citys most famous residents. The Reynolds and the Hanes, to be specific. According to the N.C. African American Heritage Association, the young Rev. Scott operated a restaurant in Goldsboro called Scotts Barbecue also known variously as Scotts Famous Barbeque, Scotts Cafe or the Scottereta. He began by selling barbecue slathered in his own secret sauce out of the back door to primarily white customers. As word of his creation spread, he enclosed the porch and turned it into a restaurant; its reputation grew to the point where Scotts Barbecue rated a listing in the Green Book a travel guide that told African Americans where they might stay (and dine) in the segregated South. As the business was taking off, Scott was lured to Winston-Salem to cook for a few private clients. A son stayed in Goldsboro to run three restaurants and a company that sold sauce. After settling on 20th Street, Scott and his wife, Adele, a gifted piano teacher, welcomed Ava into the family as he turned his attention to cooking for his clients. Daddy always overcooked whenever he was catering, Ava Scott said. It was by design. He wanted to take care of his neighbors, too, and not sharing barbecue after the aroma had wafted down the block could have been considered culinary torture. Thats just who he was, Ava Scott said. Despite an age gap of 20 years, Ava Scott and Sloan built a strong friendship. Big sister Brenda, Sloan said with a laugh. So when Sloan learned that Ava, whod moved to Florida with her mother, had launched a business selling her fathers sauces, she couldnt wait to tell others. I told her Id bet there are people in Winston-Salem who remember the Rev. Scott, Sloan said. And they need to know that his legacy is living. Ava Scott started down the path into the family business when her mom gave her a copy of the Rev. Scotts secret recipe. She framed it as a keepsake, and following her mothers death in 2020 she began thinking about making the sauce herself. She gave it a shot in 2022. I dont know if it was her voice or a higher power, but there I was in the kitchen trying to make it on my own, Ava Scott said. After an initial one-batch success, she decided to go one step further. She ordered glass bottles, labels and launched a kitchen table business that she calls her birthright. She has several different flavors mango, peach and the like and barbecue sauces with such names as Adams Fire Hot Sauce and A Taste of Carolina. (Following the death of her older brother, Ava Scotts nephews remained in the sauce business, too, by selling Scotts Barbecue Sauce.) I just want to carry on my fathers legacy and make sure its true to his wishes, Ava Scott said. Thats good enough for Big Sister Brenda Sloan. She never forgot the aroma and the tastes from her childhood. I tried barbecue all over looking for something close, she said. I was always disappointed because I was looking for the same taste. His sauces made it (special.) Manager saga gets stranger GREENSBORO The slow-burning saga involving the resignation of City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba took another bizarre twist this Thursday when city officials couldnt agree about the cause. One set of elected officials hinted earlier this week that Jaiyeoba had been asked to resign over an unspecified violation of city policy. On Wednesday, Councilwoman Tammi Thurm told a colleague at The News & Record that Jaiyeoba resigned because of violations of city policy that have cost other employees their jobs. Other media outlets, including YES! Weekly and WXII 12, have reported that Mayor Nancy Vaughan said the same thing. Smart speculators floated the idea that the manager had sought his own attorney a prudent move considering the controversy over the citys handling of a domestic disturbance call at his home in December. And yet Thursday, the city felt compelled to contradict its own elected officials, saying in writing that officials had not investigated Jaiyeoba for policy violations and could not determine whether he had in fact violated policy whatever that may be. The statement, per The News & Record, went on: Furthermore, the City of Greensboro is bound by strict protocols and state statutes regarding personnel privacy. As such, the City is legally unauthorized to disclose details surrounding the resignation of the City Manager or provide verification on the circumstances prompting his departure. Only officialdom knows for sure and theyre not saying but thats the kind of exchange that often results when lawyers wade into a dispute. The whole affair began when police were summoned to the managers house Dec. 28 for a 911 call about domestic disturbance. Police said that Jaiyeobas adult daughters were involved and reported minor injuries. No charges were filed, however, giving the appearance that the manager received preferential (and deferential) treatment. Vaughan and Police Chief John Thompson swore that wasnt the case but opposed a judges order to release police body-cam footage that could clear that up. That decision, by the way, has been appealed. Then came this weeks dispute over Jaiyeobas resignation developments that made a bad look appear worse. Councilman Zack Matheny waded in Thursday and called for another investigation. Two lessons can be learned or relearned from these developments. First and foremost, transparency from the outset about the incident at the managers home and the unnecessary fight over the release of body cam footage easily could have averted a lot of trouble. Sunlight is the best disinfectant after all. And second, as anyone whos ever watched Law & Order can tell you, if city officials were going to talk about Jaiyeobas resignation, they perhaps needed to get their story straight first. Nearly 10 years ago, Donald Trump rode down a gaudy, golden escalator from his high perch atop Trump Tower down to the masses to announce his run for president. That moment would dramatically change the trajectory of the Republican Party in America for the worse, and maybe irreparably. That was the fear amongst many conservatives, including myself, who saw in Trump a dangerous, ignorant, narcissistic, demagogue and grifter who was untethered from the thing that mattered most to us conservatism. Wed later learn he was untethered from other things, too a moral compass, ethical standards, the U.S. Constitution, American law and even reality at times. Wed watch Trump convince previously principled conservatives to abandon their principles. Wed watch Republicans jettison policy for culture wars, democracy for division, political competence for conspiracy theories. Wed watch Trump convince an angry mob to storm the U.S. Capitol in a brazen and violent attempt to overturn democracy. Wed watch him tempt the legal system to hold him accountable for dozens of alleged felonies, including fraud and obstruction. And wed watch his once-mighty empire crumble as he faces hundreds of millions in legal fines and fees. Now, years later, despite everything weve watched, Trump is poised to be the Republican nominee once again after nearly sweeping the primaries on Super Tuesday. The one ray of hope inside the Republican Party, a party that Trump has wholly remade in his crooked image, was Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and Trumps ambassador to the United Nations. After knocking out bigger spenders and buzzier candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, she became the last woman standing between Trump and the nomination. She impressively won 40% of the vote in numerous Republican primary and caucus states, and won outright Vermont and Washington, D.C., making her the first Republican woman ever to win a primary and the only Republican to beat him anywhere since 2016. She wasnt a perfect candidate, but she spoke to a growing number of Republicans, moderates and independents who desperately wanted a Trump alternative. She represented a return to normalcy, conservative principles and problem-solving, and promised a new generation of leadership at a time where both frontrunners are noticeably old and slipping. But just as Trump bragged about ridding the GOP of good conservatives like Sen. Mitt Romney, and reducing it to 100% MAGA, shed ultimately suffer the fate of every other Republican since 2016 who has lost to Trump. The Republican Party is, as Trump says, 100% MAGA now. Theres no going back. And with Haleys departure, that becomes even clearer. But Trump is wrong in one sense. The GOP may be condensed and purified of apostates. But Republican voters are not united around Trump. No one losing 40% of the Republican vote in places like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina could claim voters are united. In North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, less than 40% of Republican voters consider themselves MAGA. And a huge majority of Haley voters in North Carolina, South Carolina and California say they wont support Trump in the general, according to exit polling. That makes Trump a considerably weak candidate in the general election and Haleys campaign has a lot to do with that. Lucky for him, President Biden is just as weak, facing low approval numbers and increasing concerns over his age. Unluckily for us, one thing is clear after Super Tuesday: Well end up with someone deeply unpopular no matter who wins. As for Nikki Haley, her political future is unclear. Certainly, something could happen to Trump you can fill in the blank. Her candidacy could be resurrected at some point. But the Republican Party isnt with Haley, its with Trump. And there are some early indications she might end up returning to him after all of this. As she said when withdrawing: It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party, and beyond it, who did not support him. And I hope he does that. And I asked her campaign on Wednesday morning if there was a world in which she could eventually endorse him, and, alas, they implied that there was. Its disappointing, but predictable and probably politically smart if she wants a future in todays GOP theres simply no surviving outside of Trumps orbit. Tinsley Ellis will be back at the Zoo Bar, his oldest venue," on Friday, rolling into Lincoln on what Alligator Records is calling his Two Guitars and a Car tour. That name comes from the fact that Ellis, a powerhouse electric blues/rock guitarist, is touring behind Naked Truth, his first acoustic album, driving himself around the country with the 1969 Martin D-35 acoustic guitar that his father gave him when he graduated from high school and a shiny 1937 National steel guitar. And Ive got a truckload of vinyl and CDs that I sell, Ellis said. Theyre forgetting about that. But I definitely wanted to make sure I had a big enough truck to carry a lot of vinyl and CDs around. Released in February when it immediately climbed the blues charts, Naked Truth, is the 21st album of Ellis now more than 40-year career, and the first hes done entirely on acoustic guitars. I've got a bucket list of albums I want to make, Ellis said. One of them was certainly a live album and I did that in 2005. Another one on my bucket list was to do an all-instrumental album. I did that in 2013. So this is my acoustic album and my acoustic tour. ... I played there at the Zoo Bar last year, before the album came out, and it went great. It was a perfect venue for an acoustic show. Playing acoustically, Ellis has learned, is different from hitting the stage with a band. It's a little scary when I first go up there to play because I'm so used to going up there and being able to rely on the drum beat and the thumping bass, and now it's just me, Ellis said. It's the first time I've really been challenged musically in a long time and I think that's a good thing. Over the course of the show, Ellis said, hell do the entirety of Naked Truth, mixing songs like the Skip James-inspired Windowpane and "Tallahassee Blues and covers of Son Houses Death Letter Blues and Muddy Waters' Dont Go No Farther with selections from throughout out his career that take his blues rock acoustic. It's pretty high energy really, it's not a mellow thing, Ellis said of the acoustic show. Its just more personal. Another aspect of it that I really like, that people also like, is I talk about how I wrote certain songs, give a little backstory to the songs and also talk about experiences from the road. I talk about maybe some old blues people that I crossed paths with and in some cases played (with) and intersperse for some stories." So give me an example of one of the stories. I always want to talk about the first time I saw B.B. King, Ellis said. I was a teenager and that's the first time I saw real blues and I got to meet him. It was a teen show. And he greeted all the kids in the lobby, I think it was like 1972, a long time ago, over 50 years ago. He was the nicest man. After that, I really got hooked on the blues and I got to like literally sit at the feet of people like B.B., Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf. Over the years, Ellis has shared the stage with the likes of Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins and Koko Taylor. But hes always carved his own path, veering away from the straight Chicago blues for a fervent brand of electric-guitar-driven blues rock. "I'm really fortunate to be with Alligator Records, Ellis said. They're known for house rockin blues, like Hound Dog Taylor and Son Seals. That just happens to be the music I love the most. But on the other side of the coin is rock n roll. Rock n roll blues is my love but rock n roll is definitely my heritage. So I like to mix it up. Ellis will be stirring up his musical mix that will include some Leo Kottke-style folk at 5 p.m. Friday at the Zoo, where, he said, he will deliver the latest installment of what has become a very crowd-pleasing show. "I've never seen so many smiles on an audience in my life than when I do this," he said. "I kind of feel that an entertainer's in the smile business. So a lot of smiles makes me happy and that lets me know I'm on the right track. Photos: The Zoo Bar celebrates 50 years The first meeting of the Lincoln Airport's Air Service Advisory Council has Rachel Barth optimistic over what the group might accomplish. Barth, the airport's director of air service development and strategic marketing, said the formation of the new committee is nearly complete after a dozen members were named on Thursday. She said she plans to bring aboard two more community members. Sam Levy of United Airlines, Ken Strickland, a consultant with engineering and transportation firm CMT, and Bruce Tartletsky, the president and managing partner of aviation consulting company Team Insight and Associates, gave presentations that spurred a lot of discussion about the realistic possibilities of airlines that might consider flying out of Lincoln, Barth said. "I left feeling hopeful and excited," she said. "Everyone seemed really engaged. They asked a lot of questions. You could tell they wanted to do a deep dive into the topic." The group briefly discussed last summer's Red Way airlines failure and United's decision to discontinue its flight to Houston, but "most of the conversation was very future-forward," Barth said. At this point, Barth is thinking the group will meet every three months or so. The next meeting is scheduled for June, she said. Between now and then, Barth said the goal is for the airport to hire a new air service consultant, who will accompany a Lincoln Airport group to the JumpStart Air Service Development Conference in Washington, D.C., next month. JumpStart will give Barth and Lincoln Airport Executive Director David Haring the chance to make presentations to attending airline representatives. Having a consultant in place will make that process more efficient, Barth said. Seated Thursday onto the Air Service Advisory Council were Todd Ogden, Downtown Lincoln Association; Jamie Sanks, Vacation Vibes Travel; Katie Bohlmeyer, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce; Tony Doran, IBA Group; Kimberly Paseka, Anthony Travel; Mike Losee, Firespring; Chad Doehring, Duncan Aviation; Huong Dao Burling, AMVNX; Bob Selig, a former Airport Authority member; Tut Kailech, NeighborWorks Lincoln; Jasa Rhone, SportsTrip; and Laurie Frazer, Doorstep Diner Catering. They join Barth and Haring, along with Lincoln Airport Authority board members Nicki Behmer Popp and Vanessa Emlich on the board. Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 A measure pushed by Nebraska State Board of Education member Kirk Penner to remove so-called pornographic materials from school libraries failed at a packed meeting Friday afternoon. After hearing dozens of public comments both for and against the proposal, the board voted 5-3 against proposed changes to Rule 10, which details many regulations for accredited schools in the state, including those for school libraries. Board members Patsy Koch Johns, Lisa Fricke, Patti Gubbels, Jacquelyn Morrison and Deborah Neary voted against the proposal, while Kirk Penner, Sherry Jones and Elizabeth Tegtmeier voted for it. The changes would have banned books with content pertaining to sexual intercourse or related topics, whether that be in the format of text or images, and removed a requirement for schools to purchase a minimum number of new materials each year. Debate became somewhat heated as members of the crowd began calling out while board members were speaking, leading Tegtmeier, the board president, to remind the audience multiple times to remain quiet and to reach out to board members after the meeting with any additional comments or concerns. Penner, who announced the proposed changes on social media in January, gave a presentation to the board prior to the vote detailing some examples of books in Nebraska schools with sexually explicit content, including the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series, "The Bluest Eye" and "Lucky." In his presentation, he read portions of the books that contained sex scenes or discussions of sex. "Ultimately, the question is why do adults feel the need to present this type of content to my children?" he said. While Neary agreed there should be no pornographic materials in school libraries, she said she's concerned that measures such as the one proposed by Penner are often used to attack books about race, racism, gender, sexuality and the LGBTQ+ community. "I definitely believe parents need to have control over what their kids are learning and what their kids are reading, but there is never a time where I believe that a smaller group of parents, very loud, vocal parents, should be deciding what all kids read," she said. "There is local control in this state for a reason." More than 30 people most of whom supported the changes spoke at the board meeting, while 175 more submitted written comments, both for and against the changes. Additionally, two people spoke against the measure at the board meeting last month, and seven more submitted written comments against it. Terri Cunningham-Swanson was one of around 20 people who spoke to the board in favor of the proposed changes. She said sexually explicit content can be damaging for students and that she's surprised this is still a conversation. Cunningham-Swanson was previously a member of the Plattsmouth Community Schools Board of Education but was voted out of her position by the community in January after her attempt to ban dozens of books there. "I'm sorry, but the time for niceties is over. And the time has come to maybe start flipping some tables and maybe flipping some board seats," she said. "Of course, our library should not have obscene content. It should not contain graphic description of naked body parts, depictions of violent rape." Another woman from Kearney told the board she wished it would focus on stimulating the minds of children, not their genitals, which she believes some content in school libraries has the ability to do. Heather Hall, who also spoke in favor of the changes, said that if she had not been proactive, her child would have been exposed to sexually obscene content at school. "I'm not a proponent of banning books, but that's not what this rule changes," she said. "This is about curating material that is age appropriate for our kids." Jamie Bonkiewicz, who spoke against the measure, said the decision of what content is deemed appropriate or inappropriate should be left up to the individual parents and certified school personnel, not to the board. "This is setting a dangerous precedent for our state board of education. Once again, your beliefs are your beliefs, your religion is your religion. Reach out to your own kids and your grandkids. My kids are not yours," she said. "I trust the teachers and administrators in my children's schools." Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 Assemble Lincoln, the group created to bring a convention center to downtown Lincoln, will consider four architect-design groups that submitted proposals to be part of the project. Assemble Lincoln voted Thursday to analyze the proposals and have a recommendation on the selection by its next meeting in two weeks. The world-class caliber of the design respondents speaks to the clear demand for a Lincoln Convention Center, said state Sen. Eliot Bostar, chair of the Assemble Lincoln committee. Im proud that this project represents an opportunity that both national firms and the very best local leaders in architecture and design are seeking to join. At the groups meeting Thursday, several members of the committee said they want to have an architect on board to help with the selection of a site. The committee also submitted requests for proposals for sites for the downtown convention center and got four responses. Theyre also looking at public sites they may want to consider. Bostar said the committee hasnt had a chance to look at the sites submitted as part of the RFP process or gather all the potential public sites, but once they do, theyll make the options public. Michael Delano Jr., Senior Vice President of Commercial Project Development at Legends, the consultant hired to work with Assemble Lincoln, said he was pleased with the submissions. Legends is very happy with the quality of the responses, as all four respondent teams contain highly reputable local and national firms that specialize in convention center design, he said. We feel that this is indicative of not only the great work by the Assemble Lincoln team in conducting the RFP but also of the national attention that this project has received. Delano said during the Assemble Lincoln meeting that while eight or nine firms responded to an initial outreach to gauge interest, the four that submitted proposals are teams made up of two or three of those firms. All have extensive convention center experience, he said. Its a conglomeration of super teams, he said. Im very happy with the responses. The four teams that submitted proposals are: * HDR-LMN-Olsson. HDR (Omaha) and Olsson (Lincoln) are Nebraska-based engineering and design firms; LMN is a Seattle-based architecture firm. * BVH-TVS. BVH is a local architecture firm; TVS is headquartered in Atlanta. * Populous-Clark & Enersen. Populous is based in Kansas City, Missouri; Clark & Enersen is based in Lincoln. * Fentress-Sinclair Hille. Fentress is an architecture firm based in Denver; Sinclair Hillie is based in Lincoln. Assemble Lincoln held a public open house on Feb. 19 for residents, business owners and stakeholders to learn more about the process and plans. For more information on the process, go to www.assemblelincoln.com. Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 Lincoln Mayor Leiron Gaylor Baird on Thursday announced a new partnership between the Lincoln Emergency Communications Center and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Lincoln becomes the first city in Nebraska to partner 911 services with 988's mental health services, which Gaylor Baird said will boost the number of mental health calls serviced. "The 911/988 partnership enables our 911 emergency dispatchers to connect people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress to the 988 lifeline, to trained mental health professionals and resources," she said. Calls received by 911 dispatchers that are deemed mental health crises will be transferred to trained professionals with 988. Nebraska's 988 number had a soft launch in July 2022 and since then, the call center located in Boys Town has received more than 42,000 calls, chats and texts from people experiencing crises caused by mental and behavioral issues, substance use or suicidal thoughts, said program manager Kyle Kinney. The organization's goal is to provide the correct services at the right time, allowing police and other emergency services to respond to other calls. "Since implementation, 97% of calls to 988 Nebraska were able to successfully de-escalate the situation," Kinney said. When someone communicates with 988, they speak with counselors who help people find resources and follow up to ensure their needs are being met. Lincoln Emergency Communication Center manager Jessica Loos said the center is eager to begin working with 988 to help identify calls that may be better handled through the new partnership. In the last six months, the communication center has answered just under 6,000 calls from people experiencing a mental health crisis. "Each of those times, we were limited to sending a law enforcement officer when officers were available to respond," Loos said. "Most of these calls were ones in which the expertise of a crisis counselor would be more effective in addressing the callers' needs." Research shows that when officers make contact during a mental health crisis, the chances of a situation escalating increase, as does the likelihood of someone ending up in jail. Certain circumstances may still result in officers being called to a scene of a mental health crisis. For example, if someone is threatening to not only harm themselves but also others, police will be called. The number of calls to 988 is expected to increase, with 911 calls in Lincoln being connected quickly to the service line. According to Kinney, the average wait time is under 10 seconds. If the call volume becomes too great for the current staff at 988, the organization will look to hire to fill the necessary gaps. The Department of Health and Human Services funds 988 Nebraska and will work with the organization to maintain a satisfactory service level if additional funding for staffing becomes necessary. Staffing has steadily increased since the beginning of the program, Kinney said. Gaylor Baird touted Lincoln's continued dedication to increase public safety. "We are so pleased to be piloting this program here in Lincoln as we work to become the safest and healthiest capital city in the country," Gaylor Baird said. Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 A late-season winter storm slammed into western Nebraska on Thursday and Friday, bringing more than a foot of snow to the North Platte area. The National Weather Service office in North Platte reported a two-day total of 17.4 inches of snow, most of which fell on Thursday. The 15.3 inches the office recorded Thursday set an all-time record for most snow in a single day. Some areas near North Platte recorded even higher amounts, with one unofficial report of 19 inches about a mile west of the city. The heaviest snow appeared to fall in a narrow band in an area stretching from the Colorado border to north and northeast of North Platte. The systems slow-moving nature led to the high amounts of the wet and heavy snow, said Jaclyn Gomez, a meteorologist with the North Platte office. It just kind of stalled out over the area, she said. It was very slow moving it didnt really move too much kind of along areas of Lincoln County into Custer County. Thats what created these higher amounts. The North Platte weather service office wasnt the only place to see prolific amounts of snow. Gomez said Big Springs in the Panhandle had a report of 14 inches and a report from the Custer County community of Merna in central Nebraska relayed 12 inches of snow had fallen. Most of the snow fell between 6 p.m. and midnight Thursday, Gomez said. The heavy snow led to the shutdown of Interstate 80 for most of the day. Westbound lanes were closed from Kearney to Paxton and didn't reopen until about 3:30 p.m., while eastbound lanes remained closed from Sidney to Gothenburg until after 4 p.m. U.S. 30 from Ogallala to Gothenburg also was closed for several hours, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. To the east, snow amounts were lighter. Areas around Grand Island picked up 2-4 inches, while the Omaha area got 1-3 inches. Lincoln received only a trace of snow. There were numerous reports of semi trucks sliding off I-80 on Friday, but State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas said he was not aware of any major crashes in the state. The snow that did fall won't stick around long, with most areas of the state expected to see temperatures in the 50s and 60s this weekend. Lincoln's forecast calls for a high in the low 50s on Saturday, the low 60s on Sunday and the 70s Monday through Wednesday, which is the start of spring break for Lincoln Public Schools and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Omaha World-Herald contributed to this story. Photos: Lincoln students enjoy second snow day sledding at Holmes Lake RAYMOND A complaint alleges that a current and a former Raymond School Board member committed election fraud related to the School Boards Feb. 27 recall election. Mitchell Berman, a parent with children attending Raymond School, filed the complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission against Gwen Keller and Janell Wise in their individual capacities. It alleges that, as part of their challenges to the recall petitions, Keller and Wise perpetrated felony election fraud by misleading people who signed recall petitions to falsely claim that the purpose of the recall election was misrepresented to them. As a result of Keller and Wises misrepresentations, 11 people unlawfully signed affidavits asking to have their names removed from the recall petitions, the complaint argues. The complaint does not advocate for charges against the people who signed affidavits. Rather, the focus is on holding Ms. Keller and Ms. Wise accountable for their deliberate orchestration of a campaign rife with falsehoods and deceit, aimed at coercing residents into falsely swearing for their own political advantage, the complaint states. Keller resigned from the School Board in January before the recall election. In a text message, Keller wrote that the complaint is malicious and a waste of WEC resources. In a Facebook comment in February responding to Bermans post about his plans to file a complaint with the WEC, Keller wrote, There is no felony election fraud. I personally spoke with the WEC many times about this topic. Wise was reelected to the School Board in the recall election. Her term ends in April 2025. The complaint was filed Feb. 14 with the WEC, about two weeks before the recall election. In an email, Wise wrote that she believed the complaint was filed and shared on social media in an attempt to influence the recall. Wise said she expects the WEC to rule in her favor. I pride myself in being a person that acts with integrity in all aspects of my life, Wise wrote. It saddens me that these tactics are still being used with all we have gone through as a community. The recall occurred, the community voted and now we need to focus on moving forward and putting the needs of our students first. Background According to Wisconsin state law, a recall requires a reason related to the official responsibilities of the official. Recall supporters argued that, as School Board members, Keller and Wise discriminated against Raymond School Principal Jeff Peterson and did not follow Wisconsins open meeting laws. They also argued that Keller, who was board clerk at the time, did not follow state election law related to an April 2023 recount. In a statement about alleged discrimination against Peterson, Keller and Wise said any notion that the school district or its board members would tolerate any discrimination, including that which is based on sex, sexual orientation, or any other protected classification, is ridiculous and extremely disappointing. In fall 2023, the Racine County Sheriffs Office closed its investigation and did not recommend charges regarding an open meeting law complaint against the Raymond School Board. A decision has not been issued about a complaint filed in fall 2023 with the WEC related to the April 2023 Raymond School Board election recount. Signed recall petitions against Keller and Wise were submitted to the Raymond School Board before its Dec. 18 meeting. Keller and Wise then challenged the recall petitions, arguing that the reasons for the recalls were based on falsehoods and misrepresentations. In January, Robin Gavigan filed a response to Kellers challenge, and Deb Mikolajczyk filed a response to Wises challenge. Both responses asked that Keller and Wises challenges be rejected and the recall petitions be certified, which ultimately happened. In their responses, Gavigan and Mikolajczyk wrote that the misrepresentation accusations from Keller and Wise were baseless and unfounded. It is crucial to clarify that the purpose of the petition was to remove (Keller and Wise) from (their) school board seat(s) through a recall election, Gavigan and Mikolajczyk wrote. This purpose was never misrepresented to anyone who signed the petition It is evident that (Keller and Wise are) conflating the reasons for the recall with the purpose of the petition. In doing so, (they are) misleading constituents and misrepresenting the process for the legal removal of petition signatures. Gavigan and Mikolajczyk were members of the Raymond Community for Truth and Transparency Recall Committee, the group that organized the recalls starting in October. The recall committee, which Berman was a member of, adamantly refutes any insinuation that misinformation was propagated among residents, the WEC complaint states. It is abundantly clear that (Keller and Wise) orchestrated a campaign to persuade residents into attesting to a purported misrepresentation of purpose. Multiple people informed Keller and Wise that they were conflating the reasons for the recall with the purpose of the recall petition, according to the complaint. However, Keller and Wise persisted in propagating the notion that individuals could retract their names from the petitions based on disagreement over the presented reasons, the complaint states. According to the complaint, Keller and Wise posted on social media about people being misled regarding the recall petitions. They also organized a Dec. 28 meeting at Raymond Village Hall at which a notary was present and people could fill out and sign sample affidavits created by Keller and Wise. These affidavits purportedly attested to the misrepresentation of the petitions purpose to the signers, resulting in 11 residents falsely swearing before the clerk, the complaint states. If convicted of felony election fraud, Keller and Wise could be sentenced to up to three-and-half years of prison and fined up to $10,000. Wise would also lose her School Board seat. Their calculated efforts to undermine the fundamental tenets of the recall process cannot be allowed within the framework of legal jurisprudence, the complaint states. As such, it is imperative that appropriate measures be undertaken to address these egregious violations and safeguard the integrity of our democratic institutions. Six photos of Raymond School Board recall voting Residents voted Tuesday in a Raymond School Board recall election. Diane Nameth Election worker Diane Nameth checks in a voter Tuesday during voting for a Raymond School Board recall election at Raymond Village Hall, 2255 Raymond election worker Election worker Gail Rygiewicz checks in a voter Tuesday during voting for a Raymond School Board recall election at Raymond Village Hall, 225 Voter Tammi Kortendick submits her ballot Tuesday during voting for a Raymond School Board recall election at Raymond Village Hall, 2255 76th St. Raymond School Board recall voters Voters check in Tuesday during voting for a Raymond School Board recall election at Raymond Village Hall, 2255 76th St. Janell Wise defeated J Vote this way A sign directs voters Tuesday during voting for a Raymond School Board recall election at Raymond Village Hall, 2255 76th St. Janell Wise defe Raymond recall election A sign informs voters Tuesday during voting for a Raymond School Board recall election at Raymond Village Hall, 2255 76th St. Janell Wise defe Raymond School Board recall voting Wisconsin legislators claimed more than $1.4 million in state funds for food and lodging last year, marking an increase from allowances claimed in 2021, the previous non-election year. Lawmakers in the Assembly claimed about $1 million in expenses in 2023, while their Senate colleagues claimed more than $405,000, according to reports first posted by WisPolitics.com. The daily allowances, known as per diems, cover expenses lawmakers accrue while in Madison on legislative business and are paid out in addition to their annual salary of $57,408. Per diem claims had been on a downward trend in recent years, with lawmakers claiming more than $1.25 million in per diems in 2019 and about $1.16 million in 2021 due in part to limited legislative activity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Last years claims mark a 22% increase in claims compared with those filed in 2021 as lawmakers spent more time in the state Capitol building. In the Assembly, Rep. Peter Schmidt, R-Bonduel, topped the list at $19,210. Its over 240 miles and a five-hour round trip for me, and I have never missed a floor session or a meeting for any of my five committees, Schmidt said in an email. The people elected me to represent them in Madison, and I take that responsibility very seriously. Rep. Calvin Callahan, R-Tomahawk, claimed $18,525 and Rep. Karen Hurd, R-Fall Creek, rounded out the top three with $17,887 in claims. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, claimed $10,803. The Assembly speaker receives an additional stipend of $25 per month. Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, claimed the least in the Assembly with $1,401. Knodl was elected to the Senate in a special election last April and claimed an additional $7,700 in that chamber. Rep. Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, claimed $1,946 last year. Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, claimed the most in the upper chamber, with $19,320. Sen. Melissa Agard, D-Madison, who spent most of last year as the Senates minority leader, claimed $17,360. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, claimed $17,080 in expenses. Sen. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield, claimed the least with $4,715, followed by Senate President Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, who claimed $5,040 in expenses. In the Assembly, lawmakers can collect $77.85 per day for non-overnight stays and $155.70 for overnight stays. Representatives can claim up to 153 days in the first year of the biennium. In the Senate, the cap for the daily allowance is $115 for lawmakers who live outside of Dane County and $57.50 for those who live within the county. Per diems cover room, board and meals on days lawmakers are in Madison on legislative business, excluding Saturdays and Sundays unless a special session or committee meeting is called. Lawmakers can also be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred when attending a committee meeting outside Madison. Top five legislator per diem payouts for 2023: Senate LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee: $19,320 Melissa Agard, D-Madison: $17,360 Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg: $17,080 Eric Wimberger, R-Green Bay: $16,800 Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee: $15,960 Assembly Peter Schmidt, R-Bonduel: $19,210.95 Calvin Callahan, R-Tomahawk: $18,525.60 Karen Hurd, R-Fall Creek: $17,887.50 Alex Dallman, R-Green Lake: $17,731.80 Darin Madison, D-Milwaukee: $17,049.15 Introducing the Fordham II The Fordham II floorplan is an up to 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2-story home by William Ryan Homes.. This floorplan features a dramatic 2-story foyer entrance and up to 2,630 square feet of living space. Enjoy your new home in the Fordham II model with a flex room that is easily transformed into a study for work or at home schooling and the spacious chefs kitchen and breakfast area. The open concept floor plan leads into the expansive family room perfect for entertaining. Upstairs boasts a large master bedroom complete with master bath, with the option to convert into a garden bath, featuring an ample shower, freestanding tub, and walk-in closet as well as the convenience of a 2nd floor laundry room. Add the finishing touch to the master bedroom with the optional tray ceiling.Personalize Your Home to Fit Your LifestyleThe Fordham II can be personalized to your liking. For families looking to grow, add a 4th bedroom to the 2nd Floor or get the most out of the open concept with the family room extension. Choose from one of two optional finished basement layouts to get extra storage space, a recreation room, or an extra bedroom and bath. For entertaining, enjoy the added space featured in the optional morning room or take it easy next to a cozy fire with one of three fireplace options. At William Ryan Homes, there is plenty to choose from!Energy Efficiency & Smart Home Technology in Your New HomeEngineered energy systems and smart home technology can be found in each William Ryan Home. A smart home control hub is included, featuring a video doorbell and WiFi control features. Our homes also rate lower than the average new home on the HERS index. The HERS index is an industry standard which measures your homes energy efficiency. The lower your homes rate, the lower your monthly energy costs, giving you the added value and functionality without the extra cost. View More 1. Yes. It will be convenient and the fares are cheap. I plan to use the transit system often. 2. Yes. I have a vehicle, but I may still use the service now and then, especially in bad weather. 3. No. I dont use the current bus service, and I dont plan to use the micro-transit service either. 4. No. It may be fine in town, but it still involves a transfer for longer trips. That wont work. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say. It depends on how well the service works once its in place. Vote View Results Employees work on the assembly line of an NEV manufacturer in Wuhan, Hubei province. [Photo/Xinhua] China's 2024 "two sessions," taking place at a crucial point in the country's economic recovery, are expected to provide insights into the nation's economic direction for the coming year. Assessments by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund show that the Chinese economy performed better than expected in the last months of 2023, though challenges remain. The government work report has set a growth target of around 5% for 2024. Although trade remains a critical component of China's GDP, there is an increased focus on boosting consumption. This shift reflects the Chinese government's effort to adjust the economy's growth model and persist in supply-side reforms. Adopting this approach is seen as a way to effectively achieve sustainable development goals in the medium to long term. China is in the process of becoming a leader in innovation and technology. The quality of manufactured products can increase consumers' desire to spend and purchase. Electric vehicles are a significant example. In 2023, Chinese automaker BYD became the global champion in new energy vehicle sales and retained its position as the Chinese market's best-selling car brand and manufacturer. Innovation and technology require investments in research, development and infrastructure. The Chinese government continues to invest in this direction. The work report highlights an anticipated government investment of 700 billion yuan ($97 billion) in 2024. Additionally, special national and local bonds will be issued to finance well-prepared projects where investments are more effective. China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for National Economic and Social Development has already outlined sectors of particular interest. The empowerment of supply is certainly significant. However, supply alone, despite its quality, cannot necessarily stimulate domestic consumption. Incentives must be provided to encourage citizens to spend. The Chinese government has announced various measures to boost consumption, and this year's "two sessions" may lead to the announcement of new policies for 2024. Obviously, the purchasing power of citizens matters. The government report includes a reference to the planned creation of over 12 million urban jobs in 2024, a goal similar to that achieved in 2023. Reuters reported in January that 12.44 million urban job positions were created last year in the country. In conjunction with this, salaries play a critical role. When the national economy performs well, both state-owned and private companies can afford to increase wages modestly. The surge in domestic travel during the 2024 Spring Festival holidays can be seen as an initial sign of the Chinese people's willingness to spend more. The opening-up and reform process remains the cornerstone of China's economic policy. One of the most noteworthy parts of the government report was the mention of removing market access restrictions for foreign investments in manufacturing and services such as telecommunications and healthcare. These measures send a clear signal of China's firm commitment to further opening up. While more details are expected to be shared, there is a sense of long-term optimism. Policy support and structural reforms are instrumental to securing China's growth momentum, and the "two sessions" are framed within this context. George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Adam Schneider is studying the root cause of a parasitic weed that has the potential to wreak havoc on Californias $1.5 billion processing tomato industry. Schneider, UW-La Crosse assistant professor of biology, received a $52,680 research grant from California Tomato Research Institute to study the genetic material in branched broomrape, an invasive weed that is under the highest level of scrutiny by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Despite its outward appearance as a delicate purple flower, branched broomrape is a menace in tomato farm fields where its seeds grow into the roots of host plants and suck out the nutrients. The problem is particularly troublesome in California where 95% of all processing tomatoes in the U.S. are grown. The weed, native to Eurasia but first discovered in the U.S. in 1890, can reduce crop yields by up to 80%, causing a significant expense to farmers and the state government. The weed has intermittently appeared in California tomato crops over the last century sometimes with no reports for decades at a time. But more contemporary outbreaks of the weed in 2009, 2014 and 2017-23, have left farmers and policy makers puzzled about how to eliminate the plant for good. Enter Schneider who has spent the past two years studying the genetic variability of branched broomrape, or scientifically known as Phelipanche ramosa. Just like any population of a particular species, be it giraffes or maple trees, have minor differences in characteristics within their species, so too does this weed. If Schneider can use these minor variations to identify some unique genetic subgroups of branched broomrape, these subgroups could provide clues regarding its ability to endure over a century and evade mitigation efforts. The crucial question on Schneiders mind is whether the current branched broomrape outbreak is a modern resurgence of these earlier outbreaks or if it has been reintroduced to California from other countries through contaminated seed stock. Such knowledge could help determine the best management strategies to control the spread whether improving California agricultural hygiene practices or enforcing stricter controls on seedstock imports. Regardless of what I find, the data will be useful in making better management decisions., says Schneider. The direct economic and human benefits are personally motivating and complement other ongoing research projects in my lab focused on native plant species. Based on Schneiders previous CTRI-funded research, no clear genetic differences within the species have emerged so far, implying that despite the time gap between infected fields, all outbreaks may have originated from the same original seed introduction. In other words, the hypothesis that seeds were re-introduced to California from outside of the state is so far not supported. But with the renewed grant, Schneider can take a more comprehensive look at the current outbreak, incorporate new locations within California and internationally from 2023 and 2024, widening his sample sizes and therefore the validity of these results. Specifically, the new grant aims to: Compare previously unstudied branched broomrape populations in Chile to the California populations. Add genetic data from seven new infected fields in 2023 or 2024 from California, to determine if those samples are characteristic of what is seen in other parts of the state and region. Determine if published data on several Eurasian branched broomrape populations on different hosts can be analyzed together with the existing California data set. To get at the genetic makeup of the plant, Schneider and his research team use a machine with steel beads that allows them to grind up individual flowers from the parasite into tiny pieces so they can extract the DNA and purify it. From there the samples will go to a specialized DNA analysis lab at another campus. Schneider has involved students in his research since the beginning. Ellie Euler, a senior at Holmen High School, is a research assistant to Schneider spring semester. Enrolled at UWL as a special student in the Early College Credit Program (ECCP), she is able to conduct research as part of an independent study course. The genetics focus of the research is what intrigued her most. I was looking to gain research experience, especially since I plan to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. degree, she says. The field of genetics is very interesting to me and this research project is all about DNA research, which aligns with my interests. In addition to the California Tomato Research Institute grant, Schneider also received a UWL faculty research grant that will allow him to analyze branched broomrape samples across the U.S. Taxonomists have speculated that branched broomrape consists of two distinct species, one that is more threatening to crops. He will be comparing the genetic material in the pathogenic samples from California with samples from other parts of the U.S. outside of agricultural farm fields to determine if they are the same species. The selection process for a new UW-La Crosse chancellor continued this week as finalists Christopher Olsen and Betsy Morgan held community forums on campus. A final candidate will be selected by the UW Board of Regents in late March. Candidates were given nine pre-arranged questions from the chancellor search committee with a short Q&A session afterwards. Questions were asked by students and faculty. Candidates were not made available for more questions after the forum. Christopher Olsen Olsen is the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Indiana State University. He has served both roles since February 2021. He previously served as dean of Indiana States College of Arts and Sciences from 2016-2021 and chair of its Department of History from 2002-16. He is an affiliated faculty member in African and African American studies and continues to teach on campus. Olsen said teaching helps him stay in the flow of university life. It helps him stay in sync with his coworkers and students as well as make more campus connections. I really felt disconnected whenever I wasnt teaching, Olsen said. Its not very complicated to stay connected. You just need to go to things. Thats it. Olsen applauded UW-Ls current enrollment numbers and compared the La Crosse market to his own region in central Indiana. Indiana State is in Terre Haute, Indiana, a city comparable in size to La Crosse. Indiana State competes for enrollment with Purdue, Ball State and Indiana University. I would work with the university to anticipate the next thing, whats coming next as we evolve, he said. UW-Ls numbers are already great, and I wouldnt want to shake that. Olsens work with DEI programming has focused on making efforts better understood in his community. Because DEI is important to Olsens efforts in retaining students, he said his focus is making the importance understood to others as well. Betsy Morgan Betsy Morgan is the interim chancellor at UW-L. Morgan has worked at UW-L since 1993 as a psychology professor, department chair, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. Morgan is also a fellow of the American Psychological Association and previously served as president of the Psi Chi International Honor Society. She has authored two textbooks, several peer-reviewed journal articles and presented over 50 conferences across the nation. Morgan spoke about the passion for community engagement she found from working at UW-L. Her process of strategic planning involves lots of stakeholders on campus because she believes goals will reveal themselves with input from others. She brought up her work on trying to fund Prairie Springs Science Center 2 as an example of this process. By bringing others such as former Tribune publisher Rusty Cunningham and scientific industry partners to the table, she could amass a team of motivated people to work on a common goal of gathering community support. Morgan said she would further apply this philosophy to her political work. In her previous work, she mentioned how helpful it was to have a correspondent for each major information channel when big decisions were made. Sometimes we forget were partners in the community, she said. Someone needs to be in that room with us that can go and pick up a phone to tell the right people whats happening with us. UW-L chancellor candidate James Beeby also held a community forum earlier in the week. The search committee will bring a final recommendation to the UW Board of Regents in late March. The regents vote to approve a final pick for the chancellor role. Flash The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on Thursday condemned the deaths of 27 Gaza prisoners in Israeli prisons. Earlier the day, the Hebrew newspaper "Haaretz" reported the deaths of the prisoners who were arrested after the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 last year in camps near Beersheba and Jerusalem. According to the report, the Israeli army did not provide information about the causes of the deaths. "The crime is part of the genocide being committed in the Gaza Strip, as well as forced disappearance, extrajudicial execution, deliberate destruction, and starvation as a weapon of war," the Palestinian foreign ministry said in a statement received by Xinhua. The Israeli army has arrested hundreds of Palestinians during its ongoing ground operation in the Gaza Strip, according to local sources and Palestinian human rights organizations. The city of La Crescent will soon begin work to restore the water quality of Pine Creek as officials seek to improve the habitat for cold water trout. A $500,000 Minnesota DNR grant will be used to fix high sediment deposits that have lowered the creeks water quality for cold water trout and restore floodplain banks that have washed away over the years. Better public access trails for hikers and recreational fishers also will be built. Funds were awarded through the states Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, sediment solids and water temperature in the restoration zone are at unsafe levels due to water stress on soils and habitat damage. Rock rapids, large boulders and a narrower stream are all part of the restoration plans to fix the sediment pollution. The design of narrowing the stream channel and using features in the water, particularly in the water, speeds up the flow so that sediments arent dropping, said La Crescent sustainability coordinator Jason Ludwigson. If you get slow water then they just deposit instead of carry through. The project will restore 2,625 linear feet of Pine Creek and add 50 feet to the stream. Floodplain banks also will be re-created for future high water events. The current banks are extremely steep and have no floodplain benches for excess water. By digging out the more gradual banks for a new stream, the city can use the old stream path as a floodplain bench at the same time. What is typical now when there is high water is trees in the water and other things will carve out banks and rip away those banks, which contributes to more sediment in the water, Ludwigson said. To ensure more stability in the banks, excavators will cut down nearby trees and create toe wads, sections of trees embedded under hard bank corners that add structure to the shores. Other trees will be replanted along the creek away from flood benches and stream banks. With more tree shade, water temperatures will be less vulnerable to heat from the sun. Helping trout With the restorations, the city hopes water temperatures and quality will stabilize. Pine Creek is not a source for drinking water, but is habitat to many cold water trout species. Cold water trout are highly sensitive to temperature, and parts of Pine Creek are too warm for some fish to pass. By mitigating sediment deposits, the project aims to stabilize and return the creek to colder temperatures that trout thrive in. A total fish study of Pine Creek has not happened recently, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Trout Unlimited have expressed interest in conducting studies while the restoration develops. Fish population could take a dip in the first year, but that is expected and accounted for with any stream change. Change in the landscape with these projects is very dramatic, Ludwigson said. Sometimes thats kind of shocking for members of the public, but the projects are rooted in really good science in what the streams should be doing. A project start date is yet to be determined, but the funds will expire on June 20, 2027. Wisconsin Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden shouted lies! as President Joe Biden criticized former President Donald Trumps handling of the COVID-19 pandemic during his State of the Union address on Thursday. Van Orden, of Prairie du Chien, loudly accused Biden of lying when, discussing the pandemic, the president said Trump failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to the American people: the duty to care. Biden slammed Trump over his handling of the Covid pandemic, claiming Trump failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to the American people: the duty to care. Someone in the crowd yelled: Lies! Live State of the Union updates: https://t.co/b7CYerh9vv pic.twitter.com/selINb4WmA POLITICO (@politico) March 8, 2024 After the address, Van Orden told reporters, What he said there in the State of the Union a tremendous amount of it was just flat-out fabrication, according to Politico. Biden delivered an angry, divisive campaign speech, he added in a statement. He added that the speech should have been an update on our nation and (Bidens) recommendations for addressing our challenges, not a blatantly partisan series of attacks on the former President. I will not sit passively while President Biden lies to the nation and will never apologize for protecting Americans. Van Orden is an unstable person, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Black Earth, said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Certainly not capable of his job on Congress. Im furious hes such an embarrassment to Congress. Makes WI look like its full of drunken fools. It wasnt Van Ordens first notable public confrontation. Last July, Van Orden reportedly cursed at teenagers working as assistants in the U.S. Senate. Angry the young workers were lying down in the Capitol building, Van Orden reportedly told them to get the f- up and called them pieces of s-, according to a transcript obtained by The Hill. Two years before then, Van Orden reportedly berated a teen library worker over a display of fiction and nonfiction books about homosexuality in the childrens section, then checked out all of the books so they wouldnt be on display, according to the La Crosse Tribune. Van Orden is facing a reelection battle in the competitive 3rd Congressional District, which before Van Ordens win in 2022 had long been represented by Democrats. The district now leans slightly Republican, but Democrats have been targeting the seat in their efforts to win the U.S. House of Representatives. Today in history: March 7 1911: William Howard Taft 1926: Radio-telephone 1936: Adolf Hitler 1965: Edmund Pettus Bridge 1994: Roy Orbison 1999: Stanley Kubrick 2005: George W. Bush 2012: The Indianapolis Colts 2016: Peyton Manning 2017: CIA 2021: Team LeBron 2021: Oprah Winfrey Flash The UN Security Council holds a meeting on Sudan, at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 7, 2024. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for the cessation of hostilities during the holy month of Ramadan in Sudan. [Photo/Xinhua] A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on the international community to promote a political solution to the conflict in Sudan. Continued conflict has caused massive civilian casualties and a grave humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The international community should work together to seek a political settlement and bring about peace at an early date, said Dai Bing, the charge d'affaires of the Chinese mission to the United Nations. Fighting has erupted in many parts of Sudan recently, leading to inestimable losses and growing spill-over effects. The most urgent task now is to end fighting as soon as possible, he told the Security Council. "We call on the relevant parties to work with each other to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible and to create conditions for peace talks," he said. "We call on the international community, especially traditional donors, to continue to increase their assistance to the country and help Sudan and regional countries in humanitarian relief." In the meantime, as Sudan's conflict has triggered a grievous humanitarian crisis, it is critical to ensure humanitarian access, he said. Regional mediation efforts must be supported, said Dai. China welcomes the mediation efforts of the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and Sudan's neighboring countries. The international community should continue to support those regional efforts, respect Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and avoid the imposition of solutions from outside, he said. The UN Security Council should strengthen coordination with the AU and other regional organizations and work in synergy with regional mediation efforts. The council's actions should be conducive to diplomacy and avoid exacerbating tensions, he said. The United Nations should continue to play a constructive role in Sudan. The UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) has just completed its withdrawal from Sudan. However, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said, the withdrawal does not mean the end of cooperation between the world body and Sudan. China hopes that the United Nations and Sudan will have candid communication to explore cooperation that can meet the country's actual needs. It is also important to draw lessons from UNITAMS' experiences so as to further mutual trust in future cooperation with Sudan and provide tangible support for its peace and development, said Dai. We continue the story of The Open Boat by Stephen Crane. As we told you last week, the story is based on true events. In eighteen ninety-six, Crane was traveling to Cuba as a news reporter. On his way there, his ship sank in the Atlantic Ocean. Crane climbed into the last remaining lifeboat. Three men got into the boat with him. They were the ships captain, the cook and a sailor named Billie. For three days, the men steered the small boat through high waves along the coast of Florida. At last, they saw land. Here is Shep ONeal with the final part of the story. A long stretch of coast lay before the eyes of the men. Slowly, the land rose up out of the mountainous sea. The men could see a small house against the sky. To the south, they could see a lighthouse. Tide, wind and waves were pushing the lifeboat northward. The men thought someone on land would have seen the boat by now. Well, said the captain, I suppose well have to attempt to reach the shore ourselves. If we stay out here too long, none of us will have the strength left to swim after the boat sinks. So Billie the sailor turned the boat straight for the shore. If we dont all get ashore, said the captain, I suppose you fellows know where to send news of my death? The men then exchanged some information. There was a great deal of anger in them. They thought: If I am going to be drowned, why, in the name of the seven mad gods who rule the sea, was I permitted to come this far and think about sand and trees? The waves grew stronger. They seemed always just about to break and roll over the little boat. The coast was still far away. The sailor said: Boys, the boat wont live three minutes more, and were too far out to swim. Shall I take her to sea again, captain? Yes! Go ahead! said the captain. The sailor turned the boat and took her safely out to sea again. Its funny those life-saving people havent seen us, one of the men said. Maybe they think were out here for sport! Maybe they think were fishing. Maybe they think were fools. Once more, the sailor rowed the boat and then the reporter rowed. Suddenly, they saw a man walking along the shore. The man stopped walking. He moved his hand in the air to wave at them. He saw them! Now he was running to the house. The captain tied a cloth to a stick and waved it. Now there was another man on the shore. The two men waved their hands in the air, as if they were saying hello to the men in the boat. Now, what was that moving on the shore? It was a bus a hotel bus. A man stood on the steps of the bus and waved his coat over his head. The men in the boat wondered what he wanted to say. Was he attempting to tell them something? Should they wait for help? Should they go north? Should they go south? The men waited and waited but nothing happened. The sun began to go down. It got dark and cold. They could no longer see anyone on the beach. The sailor rowed, and then the reporter rowed, and then the sailor rowed again. They rowed and rowed through the long night. The land had disappeared but they could hear the low sound of the waves hitting the shore. This was surely a quiet night. The cook finally spoke: Billie, what kind of pie do you like best? Pie, said the sailor and the reporter angrily. Dont talk about those things! Well, said the cook, I was just thinking about ham sandwiches, and A night on the sea in an open boat is a long night. The sailor continued to row until his head fell forward and sleep overpowered him. Then he asked the reporter to row for a while. They exchanged places so the sailor could sleep in the bottom of the boat with the cook and the captain. The reporter thought that he was the one man afloat on all the oceans in the world. The wind had a sad voice as it came over the waves. Suddenly, there was a long, loud swishing sound behind the boat and a shining trail of silvery blue. It might have been made by a huge knife. Then there was another swish and another long flash of bluish light, this time alongside the boat. The reporter saw a huge fin speed like a shadow through the water, leaving a long glowing trail. The thing kept swimming near the boat. He noted its speed and power. The reporter wished the men would wake up. He did not want to be alone with the shark. The reporter thought as he rowed. He was angry that they had come so close to land and yet might still die at sea. Then he remembered a poem that he had learned as a child. It was a poem about a soldier of the French Foreign Legion. The soldier lay dying in Algiers. Just before he died, he cried out: I shall never see my own, my native land. And now, many years after he had learned this poem, the reporter for the first time understood the sadness of the dying soldier. Hours passed. The reporter asked the sailor to take the oars so that he could rest. It seemed like only a brief period, but it was more than an hour later, when the sailor returned the oars to the reporter. They both knew that only they could keep the boat from sinking. And so they rowed, hour after hour, through the night. When day came, the four men saw land again. But there were no people on the shore. A conference was held on the boat. Well, said the captain, if no help is coming, we might better try to reach the shore right away. If we stay out here much longer, we will be too weak to do anything for ourselves at all. The others agreed. They began to turn the boat toward the beach. The captain told them to be careful that when the boat came near the beach, the waves would sink it. Then everyone should jump out of the boat and swim to the shore. As the boat came closer to land, the waves got bigger and more violent. At last, a large wave climbed into the air and fell on the small boat with great force. The boat turned over as the men jumped into the sea. The water was like ice. The reporter was tired. But he swam toward the beach. He looked for his friends. He saw Billie, the sailor, in front of him, swimming strongly and quickly. The cook was near him. Behind, the captain held on to the overturned boat with his one good hand. Soon, the reporter could swim no longer. A current was carrying him back out to sea. He thought: Am I going to drown? Can it be possible? But the current suddenly changed and he was able to swim toward the shore. The captain called to him to swim to the boat and hold on. The reporter started to swim toward the boat. Then he saw a man running along the shore. He was quickly taking off his shoes and clothes. As the reporter got close to the boat, a large wave hit him and threw him into the air over the boat and far from it. When he tried to get up, he found that the water was not over his head, only half way up his body. But he was so tired that he could not stand up. Each wave threw him down, and the current kept pulling him back to sea. Then he saw the man again, jumping into the water. The man pulled the cook to the shore. Then he ran back into the water for the captain. But the captain waved him away and sent him to the reporter. The man seized the reporters hand and pulled him to the beach. Then the man pointed to the water and cried: Whats that? In the shallow water, face down, lay Billie, the sailor. The reporter did not know all that happened after that. He fell on the sand as if dropped from a housetop. It seems that immediately the beach was filled with men with blankets, clothes and whiskey. Women brought hot coffee. The people welcomed the men from the sea to the land. But a still and dripping shape was carried slowly up the beach. And the lands welcome for the sailors body could only be its final resting place. When night came, the white waves moved in the moonlight. The wind brought the sound of the great seas voice to the men on the shore. Quiz - The Open Boat by Stephen Crane, Part Two Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _______________________________________________ For Teachers This lesson plan, based on the CALLA Approach, teaches the strategy, predicting, to help students understand the story of four men struggling to survive in a small boat on the sea. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story afloat - adj. floating on water shark - n. a large and often dangerous sea fish with very sharp teeth row - v. to move a boat through water using oars Russia and China are considering putting a nuclear power station on the moon in about 10 years. The head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, made the statement recently. He added that such a project could support the building of moon settlements one day. Borisov said that Russia and China had been working on a moon program together. The former deputy defense minister explained that Russia was able to help with its expertise in "nuclear space energy. "Today we are seriously considering a project - somewhere at the turn of 2033-2035 - to deliver and install a power unit on the lunar surface together with our Chinese colleagues," Borisov said. Solar panels would not be able to provide enough electricity to power future moon settlements, he said, while nuclear power could. He said the possible plan should be done "without the presence of humans." Borisov also spoke about Russian plans to build a nuclear-powered spaceship to carry cargo. He said all the technical questions concerning the project had been solved, except for finding out how to cool the nuclear reactor. He said the ship would be a large structure that would be able, thanks to a nuclear reactor and ... high-power turbines...to transport large cargoes from one orbit to another. He added that such a ship could collect objects for many other projects. Russian officials have spoken before about plans to mine minerals on the moon. But the Russian space program has suffered a series of problems in recent years. Its first moon mission in 47 years failed last year after Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft lost control and crashed. Russian officials have said they will launch further lunar missions and then explore the possibility of a joint Russian-China crewed mission and even a lunar base. Last month, China said it aimed to put the first Chinese astronaut on the moon before 2030. Russian President Vladimir Putin last month said a warning by the United States that Russia planned to put nuclear weapons in space was false. Putin said the warning was part of a plan to force Russia into arms negotiations on the West's terms. Im John Russell. John Russell adapted this story from a Reuters report. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story expertise n. special knowledge that relates to field or an industry deliver v. to take something from one place to another in order to fulfill a request install v. to put equipment or software in a place where it is to be used lunar adj. of or relating to the moon solar panel n. a large, flat piece of equipment that uses the sun's light or heat to create electricity cargo n. products or objects carried by a vehicle from one place to another for a price that is often based on weight turbine n. an engine that has a part with blades that are caused to spin by pressure GRAND ISLAND Spanish-speaking community members interested in starting or improving their child care businesses are invited to attend a free conference presented in Spanish. The Growing Together: Spanish Child Care Educators Conference is set for Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at College Park, 3180 W. U.S. Highway 34, in Grand Island. This years conference has been carefully curated to provide valuable insights and resources for child care professionals, said Brissa Borjas Esparza, senior business development specialist with the Center for Rural Affairs. The lineup of workshops is truly comprehensive and designed to address key aspects of child care operations and development. These workshops collectively contribute to a holistic approach to child care business development. Sessions will focus on emergency evacuation planning, healthy use of social media with children and families, self-care for early educational professionals, supporting children with challenging or difficult behavior, helping child care business owners get organized with accounting and bookkeeping, becoming an early child care educator, and best practices. Anyone with a child care business is welcome, from aspiring entrepreneurs to those seeking to improve existing businesses. Limited stipends are available for participants traveling more than 100 miles. Organizers of the conference include Center for Rural Affairs, Central Region Early Learning Connection, Education Service Unit 10, Nebraska Department of Education, Multicultural Coalition, First Five Nebraska, Communities for Kids, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, University of Nebraska Extension, Buffett Early Childhood Institute, Child Saving Institute, Por Todos Los Ninos, Karime Child Care LLC, Lexies Little Sunshines Childcare, and Community Action of Western Nebraska. Registration is required by April 22. Visit cfra.org/events to register and for more information. For questions or assistance in registering, contact Brissa Borjas Esparza at brissabe@cfra.org or 402.870.2749. Gov. Jim Pillen's pick to lead Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services will be debated on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee advanced the appointment of Steve Corsi as the department's new CEO in a 4-2 vote Thursday. It will take at least 25 votes to either affirm or reject Corsi's appointment. Pillen appointed Corsi in August to replace former HHS CEO Dannette Smith, and Corsi promptly drew criticism for his past social media activity. Corsi didnt write any of the posts that were questioned, but he had liked messages that cast doubt on COVID-19 treatments, referred to homosexuality as a sin, and claimed that transgender individuals were mentally ill. Corsi made his Twitter account private after critics began to highlight his activity on the social media platform now known as X which he said he had considered a private matter. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha pressed Corsi about the posts during his confirmation hearing in February. Corsi said he didn't want people to jump to conclusions about him based on the posts he liked, and said he doesn't judge anyone. However, when Cavanaugh referenced specific posts, Corsi indicated his agreement with most of the opinions, including that abortion isn't health care and that there is only one race. Cavanaugh also questioned Corsi about the job he held immediately before his appointment: executive leader for Utah consulting company Epiphany Associates. She said he should have disclosed the job publicly, given that he was employed at Epiphany just four days before he began his role at HHS. Pillen entered Nebraska into a $10 million contract with Epiphany to work on ways to reduce government waste. Although news of the contract broke after Corsi stopped working at the company, the contract had been signed in June. Cavanaugh said it was an emergency contract, which meant the state didnt consider any other bids. Are you the right person for this position when you are working in darkness with an organization that you yourself did not disclose that you were employed by, days before you received this position? Cavanaugh asked at the hearing. Its very, very concerning. HHS Committee Chair Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair postponed a committee vote for a month after Corsi's hearing to give members time to digest all of the information. Days after the hearing, Cavanaugh distributed more information about Corsi's past, including a timeline of his employment with Epiphany, articles about his previous government roles and a list of 15 lawsuits he's been named in. Cavanaugh said she would prefer that Pillen withdraw Corsi's nomination, but did not push committee members to reject his confirmation Thursday. Even if the committee had voted to reject his appointment, the matter still would have been debated on the floor. Cavanaugh and Sen. Jen Day of Omaha voted no on Corsi's confirmation, and Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont opted not to vote. Besides Hansen, Sens. Brian Hardin of Gering, Beau Ballard of Lincoln and Merv Riepe of Ralston voted yes. Riepe said he only voted yes "to give the governor his person." Pillen should be able to choose the members of his team, Riepe said, and also must deal with the results of those choices. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024 Australian and Vietnamese prime ministers yesterday discussed ways of improving an already booming economic relationship, as part of Australias strategy to diversify trade away from China. Vietnamese Pham Minh Chinhs official state visit came after he attended a summit of Southeast Asian leaders this week co-chaired by his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese and Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. The Vietnam bilateral relationship has proved a success in Australias hedge against Chinese economic moves. Australia says Chinas official and unofficial trade barriers have cost Australian exporters up to 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion) a year since 2020, though those steps have been relaxed gradually since Albaneses government came to power in 2022. Albanese said trade between Australia and Vietnam had increased 75% in two years to AU$25.7 billion ($16.9 billion) in 2022, the most recent year for which data was available. Vietnam had become Australias 12th-largest trading partner. Prime Minister Chinh and I discussed our shared determination to grow our trade and investment links to support both our countries economic prosperity, Albanese told reporters. The leaders agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership which Chinh said was the highest level of cooperation Vietnam enjoyed with any country. The improved relationship was the result of increasing political trust and diplomatic cooperation, Chinh said. MDT/AP A former software engineer at Google has been charged with stealing artificial intelligence trade secrets from the company while secretly working with two companies based in China, the Justice Department said yesterday [Macau time]. Linwei Ding, a Chinese national, was arrested in Newark, California, on four counts of federal trade secret theft, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The case against Ding, 38, was announced at an American Bar Association conference in San Francisco by Attorney General Merrick Garland, who along with other law enforcement leaders has repeatedly warned about the threat of Chinese economic espionage and about the national security concerns posed by advancements in artificial intelligence and other developing technologies. Todays charges are the latest illustration of the lengths affiliates of companies based in the Peoples Republic of China are willing to go to steal American innovation, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. The theft of innovative technology and trade secrets from American companies can cost jobs and have devastating economic and national security consequences. Google said it had determined that the employee had stolen numerous documents and referred the matter to law enforcement. We have strict safeguards to prevent the theft of our confidential commercial information and trade secrets, Google spokesman Jose Castaneda said in a statement. After an investigation, we found that this employee stole numerous documents, and we quickly referred the case to law enforcement. We are grateful to the FBI for helping protect our information and will continue cooperating with them closely. A lawyer listed as Dings defense attorney had no comment yesterday. Artificial intelligence is the main battleground for competitors in the field of high technology, and the question of who dominates can have major commercial and security implications. Justice Department leaders in recent weeks have been sounding alarms about how foreign adversaries could harness AI technologies to negatively affect the United States. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a speech last month that the administrations multi-agency Disruptive Technology Strike Force would place AI at the top of its enforcement priority list, and Wray told a conference last week that AI and other emerging technologies had made it easier for adversaries to try to interfere with the American political process. Garland echoed those concerns at the San Francisco event, saying that, As with all evolving technologies, (AI) has pluses and minuses, advantages and disadvantages, great promise and the risk of great harm. The indictment unsealed in the Northern District of California alleges that Ding, who was hired by Google in 2019 and had access to confidential information about the companys supercomputing data centers, began uploading hundreds of files into a personal Google Cloud account two years ago. Within weeks of the theft starting, prosecutors say, Ding was offered the position of chief technology officer at an early-stage technology company in China that touted its use of AI technology and that offered him a monthly salary of about $14,800, plus an annual bonus and company stock. The indictment says Ding traveled to China and participated in investor meetings at the company and sought to raise capital for it. He also separately founded and served as chief executive of a China-based startup company that aspired to train large AI models powered by supercomputing chips, the indictment said. Prosecutors say Ding did not disclose either affiliation to Google, which described him Wednesday as a junior employee. He resigned from Google last Dec. 26. Three days later, Google officials learned that he had presented as CEO of one of the Chinese companies at an investor conference in Beijing. Officials also reviewed surveillance footage showing that another employee had scanned Dings access badge at the Google building in the U.S. where he worked to make it look like Ding was there during times when he was actually in China, the indictment says. Google suspended Dings network access and locked his laptop, and discovered his unauthorized uploads while searching his network activity history. The FBI in January served a search warrant at Dings home and seized his electronic devices, and later executed an additional warrant for the contents of his personal accounts containing more than 500 unique files of confidential information that authorities say he stole from Google. ERIC TUCKER, WASHINGTON, MDT/AP Malaysias prime minister said yesterday that the United States has become more transactional, using rewards and punishments to achieve aims with other countries, and should be encouraged to enhance cooperation with China in the Asia-Pacific region. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim advocated against taking sides in U.S.-led Western rivalries against China for strategic influence in the region. He also rejected Western criticism that Malaysia is too accommodating of China as it becomes increasingly assertive in the South China Sea. Anwar, in a speech at Australian National University yesterday, promoted empathy toward China, which he said regarded negative reactions to its rise as an attempt to deny their legitimate place in history. I believe that Malaysia and Australia have a duty to try the utmost to encourage the United States, China and other major players in the Asia-Pacific to conduct themselves in a manner that is conducive to the enhancement of regional cooperation and economic integration, Anwar said. Without Southeast Asian nations intervention, the region would be principally dictated by the calculations and designs of the major powers. Anwar outlined globally significant societal and political shifts in the U.S. over the past three decades such as globalization that benefited the Asian working class and reduced the U.S. industrial base. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had also impacted Americans psyche. The upshot is a preference for leaders who are more transactional with the rest of the world, said Anwar, referring to U.S. politicians. The Washington consensus is gradually eroding, if not altogether disappeared, he added. Western perspectives on the future of global order should not be expected to be embraced universally, Anwar said. MDT/AP Chinese leaders attend deliberations at annual legislative session Xinhua) 08:09, March 08, 2024 Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, joins the deliberation with deputies from the Taiwan delegation at the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese leaders Wang Huning and Ding Xuexiang, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Thursday attended deliberations at the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature. Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, joined the deliberation with NPC deputies from the Taiwan delegation. During the deliberation, Wang said under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Taiwan-related work was effective over the past year in safeguarding general stability in the Taiwan Strait and strengthening the strategic initiative for China's complete reunification. He emphasized the importance of unswervingly advancing the cause of national reunification, and firmly opposing separatist moves toward "Taiwan independence" and interference by external forces. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday joined deliberations of delegations of NPC deputies from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Macao SAR, respectively. Noting that new major progress has been made in the implementation of "one country, two systems," Ding said Hong Kong has entered a new stage in which it has restored order and is set to thrive, and both Hong Kong and Macao have maintained good momentum in their stable development. Ding said that the legislation of Article 23 of the HKSAR Basic Law is a constitutional duty of the HKSAR, and should be completed as soon as possible. He urged efforts to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests and ensure the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. As this year marks the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, it should be taken as an opportunity to further advance the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics to yield new positive results, Ding said. Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, joins the deliberation with deputies from the delegation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, joins the deliberation with deputies from the delegation of the Macao Special Administrative Region at the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Angelo Musa, a world champion pastry master and author, was invited by MGM to showcase his pastry-making expertise at the CHOCOLART Culinary Demonstration to over 80 patissiers and small enterprise owners from Macau, as well as chefs and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and mainland China. During the event yesterday, Chef Musa shared his insights towards pastry-making, followed by demonstration of four types of French chocolate pastries, by using eight different types of chocolate from Chocolaterie de lOpera, a French artisanal chocolatier established nearly a century ago. Geoffrey Simmons, vice president of Food and Beverage at MGM, expressed, MGM endeavors to bridging cultures around the world through artistic initiatives including performing arts, music, visual arts and more. This collaboration is part of MGMs initiatives to encourage culinary exchange, and to strengthen Macaus positioning as the Creative City of Gastronomy, he added. The Pritzker Architecture Prize has been awarded to Japans Riken Yamamoto, who earns the fields highest honor for what organizers called a long career focused on multiplying opportunities for people to meet spontaneously, through precise, rational design strategies. Yamamoto, 78, has spent a five-decade career designing both private and public buildings from residences to museums to schools, from a bustling airport center to a glass-walled fire station and prizing a spirit of community in all spaces. By the strong, consistent quality of his buildings, he aims to dignify, enhance and enrich the lives of individuals from children to elders and their social connections, the jury said, in part, in a citation released this week. For him, a building has a public function even when it is private. In an interview from Yokohama, where he is based, Yamamoto said he was both proud and amazed to win the prize, seen as the Nobel of architecture, at this point in his career. Soon I will be 79 years old, he said. This prize is a big moment for me. In the near future I think many people will listen to me very carefully. Maybe I can say my opinion more easily than before. The architect explained that his craft is not simply to design buildings, but to design in the context of their surroundings, and hopefully to impact the surroundings as well. A key example: Yamamotos virtually transparent Hiroshima Nishi Fire Station, designed in 2000, with a facade, interior walls and floors made of glass. The building invites the public to experience the daily activities of firefighters, something it rarely sees. The result encourages passersby to view and engage with those who are protecting the community, resulting in a reciprocal commitment between the civil servants and the citizens they serve, organizers said. Normally, Yamamoto said, a fire station would be built from concrete. He had a different perspective, which he submitted in a competition with other architects. I proposed a very radical idea, Yamamoto said. The idea was that the fire house should be the center of the community. Not only their fire work but their daily life should be the center, because they are living at the place, for 24 hours they have activities. He described firefighters training with ropes and ladders in a central atrium visible from outside. Many young children come to see, he said. Its very interesting for them. A more recent design with a similar concept is The Circle at Zurichs airport, designed in 2020, a major commercial center for shops, restaurants, hotels and a convention hall. Yamamoto said he aimed to create an open, 24-hour hour environment, a space to welcome city residents as well travelers. I proposed a very open system, he said, no gate, no entrance, no door. He said snow or rain sometimes enters the space via a partially open roof. Another noted design is the Hotakubo housing project in Kumamoto, Japan, Yamamotos first social housing project, made up of 110 homes in 16 clusters. How do you make a community out of 110 family houses? he mused in an interview about the 1991 design. It is very difficult. Most apartments, he noted, are boxes inside of a bigger box. Its very easy to create privacy, but very difficult to make a community because each house is independent, he said. The architects solution: a tree-lined plaza at the center that can only be entered via a residence. In this way, he explained, he was able to combine the private with the public, giving individual families their privacy while promoting connections between them. Terraces also overlook the common space. Yamamoto was born in China in 1945 and raised in Japan from early childhood. He said he first grew attracted to architecture while still in high school. He received a masters degree in architecture from Tokyo University in 1971, and founded his own practice two years later. Many of his ideas on community were inspired by three extensive trips he took early in his career not to famous monuments but instead to villages around the world, he said, in Europe, North Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. In such villages, he examined the relationship of the family unit to the broader community and explored the idea of a threshold between public and private space. He also said he was inspired by the writings of philosopher Hannah Arendt. A book by Yamamoto, The Space of Power, The Power of Space, is due to be published next month, an English translation of his 2015 work. Yamamoto, who lives and works in Yokohama and has held numerous teaching positions, is the 53rd laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, established in 1979 by the late entrepreneur Jay A. Pritzker and his wife, Cindy. Winners receive a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion. JOCELYN NOVECK, MDT/AP Spains privacy watchdog has ordered for Worldcoin, the company created by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman that scans eyeballs to make digital IDs in exchange for crypto, to cease its operations in the country for three months amid concerns over what it is doing with users personal information. The stated goal of Worldcoin is to give people a form of identification that could never be stolen or duplicated. It says the way it can do this is by creating a World ID by scanning someones eyeballs through orbs a device that captures an image of their irises, the colored parts of the eyes. In exchange, people who sign up get Worldcoin cryptocurrency. Spains Agency for Data Protection told Worldcoins parent company Tools for Humanity Corporation yesterday [Macau time] to stop collecting personal data and keep hold of all information already collected. The agency said in a statement that it had received various complaints against the company that range from gathering the personal information of minors to not allowing for people to withdraw their consent to sharing personal data. People have lined up at points where these orbs are placed in cities like Madrid and Barcelona in recent months. More than 360,000 people in Spain have signed up for Worldcoin, according to the most recent company data from November. While Worldcoin argues that the data is used to create a unique, secure form of identification, privacy experts have concerns that the company may use the information in other ways, like personalized marketing. That has led other countries to investigate Worldcoins operations, including France and Germany. The Kenyan government has likewise suspended new sign-ups for Worldcoin as it investigates whether peoples information is being properly protected. Worldcoin responded that their operations preserve privacy. The Spanish data protection authority (AEPD) is circumventing EU law with their actions today, which are limited to Spain and not the broader EU, and spreading inaccurate and misleading claims about our technology globally, Jannick Preiwisch, Worldcoins data protection officer, said in a statement. MDT/AP Chinas foreign minister accused the U.S. yesterday of devising tactics to suppress Chinas rise and criticized the Biden administration for adding more Chinese companies to its sanctions lists. Wang Yi, speaking to media during the annual meeting of Chinas legislature, said Chinas relations with the U.S. have improved since Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden met in November, but America has not fulfilled its promises. If the U.S. always says one thing and does another, where is its credibility as a major power? If the U.S. gets nervous and anxious when it hears the word China, where is its confidence as a major power? he said. If the U.S. is obsessed with suppressing China, it will eventually harm itself. Wang, a 70-year-old veteran diplomat who has earned Xis trust, returned to the foreign ministers post last summer after his successor, Qin Gang, was abruptly dismissed without explanation after a half year on the job. Wang is also the ruling Communist Partys top foreign affairs official, a more senior position that he moved to when Qin became foreign minister at the end of 2022. Wang also reiterated a Chinese call to make Palestine a full member of the United Nations. Analysts had speculated the Communist Party might use the weeklong meeting of the National Peoples Congress to name a new foreign minister, but that appeared off the table after an agenda released on the eve of the opening session did not include personnel changes. Chinas U.N. ambassador, Zhang Jun, said during a Security Council debate in January that China supports Palestine becoming a full member as soon as possible, as a first step toward creating a Palestinian state, according to Chinese media reports. Wang called yesterday for a major international conference to draw up a roadmap and timetable for a two-state solution. We support Palestine becoming a full member of the United Nations and call on individual members of the Security Council not to set obstacles for this any more, he said. He accused the United States, without mentioning it by name, of stirring up trouble in Taiwan and the South China Sea. China says that self-governing Taiwan is part of China and should be under its control, and it claims a wide swath of the South China Sea, putting it at odds with the Philippines, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian neighbors. The Philippines and the U.S. have accused China of aggressive tactics in trying to block Philippines ships from reaching reefs and other outcroppings that both sides claim, most recently in a collision between coast guard vessels of both countries this week. For unreasonable provocations, we will take just countermeasures, Wang said. We also advise certain countries outside the region not to stir up trouble, choose sides, and not to become disruptors and troublemakers in the South China Sea. He said countries that insist on maintaining official ties with Taiwan are interfering in Chinas domestic affairs. Most countries, including the United States, dont have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but China objects to visits by U.S. lawmakers to the island and U.S. sales of military equipment for its defense. China will continue to work for peaceful reunification with Taiwan, Wang said, but warned that anyone who supports independence for Taiwan would pay a price. Most Taiwanese prefer to remain separate from China without antagonizing it. They fear Chinese rule could endanger their freedoms and democracy, particularly after the crackdown on Hong Kong. Our bottom line is also very clear, Wang said. That is Taiwan will never be allowed to split from the motherland. Wang praised Chinas growing ties with Russia, noting that trade between the two reached $240 billion last year, beating a target to hit $200 million in trade by the end of 2024. The U.S. and EU say that China is giving Russia an economic lifeline at a time when they are trying to pressure its government with sanctions over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which sparked a devastating war that has continued for more than two years. Russian natural gas has entered thousands of households in China, and Chinese cars are driving in the streets of Russia, which fully demonstrates the strong resilience and broad prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation, Wang said. Polands deputy foreign minister, Wladyslaw Bartoszewsk, told a Chinese diplomat the country should not provide political, economic and military support to Russia, a Polish government statement said. Bartoszewsk made the comment at a meeting on Wednesday with a Chinese diplomatic envoy, Li Hui, who is visiting several European countries this week for talks on the conflict. The U.S. and EU expanded sanctions on companies and individuals from China and several other countries two weeks ago for allegedly aiding Russias war effort. KEN MORITSUGU, Beijing, MDT/AP A trial set to begin a week from Monday for three animal rights activists accused of breaking into a controversial town of Blue Mounds dog breeding facility and stealing three beagles was canceled Friday after a judge dismissed the charges at the request of prosecutors. Assistant District Attorney Lexi Keyes wrote in a motion filed late Thursday that the owners of Ridglan Farms contacted the Dane County District Attorneys Office on Monday and indicated a desire to no longer have the case proceed to trial, citing concerns for their physical safety, as well as for their business if the trial were held. They confirmed on Wednesday that they wanted the case dismissed, Keyes wrote. Circuit Judge Mario White, over the objections of defendants Wayne Hsiung and Paul Picklesimer, granted the motion to dismiss. White noted that the dismissal is without prejudice, which would allow prosecutors to refile the charges in the future. White said while it is entirely his decision whether to grant the motion to dismiss at this stage in the case, by state law the wishes of the victims, which had been made clear, must be considered. Payal Khandhar, attorney for co-defendant Eva Hamer, of Boulder, Colorado, didnt take a position on the request for dismissal but took issue with the timing, on the eve of trial three years after charges were filed, for events that were alleged to have happened in 2017 and after her client had spent at least $100,000 defending herself. An inconvenience is an understatement, Khandhar said. Hsiung, of San Francisco, an attorney who represented himself in the case, expressed outrage that issues he had hoped to raise at the trial would never be heard by a jury, particularly about the conditions that he said have existed at Ridglan during multiple inspections by state and federal regulators. Those conditions, he said, necessitated the rescue of the dogs from the farm. He said he was shocked to hear Friday morning of the motion to dismiss the charges, which turned into a profound feeling of disappointment. Once again, he said, the Dane County District Attorneys Office was denying the public a chance to hear about deplorable and cruel conditions at facilities that raise and perform research on animals. The most profound disappointment, he said, was that important issues that would have been partly addressed would not be addressed. We did what we did because the government is not acting to protect the most vulnerable beings on the planet, Hsiung said. That has to change. Friday mornings hearing was originally intended to set ground rules for a trial that would have begun on March 18. Hsiung, along with Picklesimer, of Berkeley, California, sought to introduce defenses to show jurors that they had to do what they did on April 17, 2017, when it was charged they broke into Ridglan and took three dogs valued at $3,600. They also wanted jurors to hear testimony about conditions at Ridglan as they existed at the time and to consider government reports that illustrated those conditions. Hsiung also wanted jurors to hear testimony that, as a Buddhist, he has a religious justification for his actions. Hamer contended she wasnt present during the incident. In a written response, Keyes called a motion by Picklesimer disturbing attempts by the defendant to convert this criminal proceeding into an illegal and shameful publicity event. She also sought a ruling from White keeping the defense from arguing for jury nullification that despite a defendants guilt in committing a crime a jury would acquit because it believes the law to be unjust. White didnt rule on any of the motions. In his comments Friday, he noted that the trial has garnered some significant attention because of the nature of the accusations. But the trial was designed to determine whether the state could prove beyond a reasonable doubt whether (the defendants) were guilty of the crime, White said. A Madison developer is proposing a roughly $40 million, 12-story housing and commercial project with condominiums on a big chunk of the 100 block of State Street thats largely been a vacant eyesore for the better part of a decade. JD McCormick Properties is proposing to redevelop five buildings from 118 to 132 State St. that were emptied by other owners in the mid-2010s in anticipation of constructing a nine-story boutique hotel that stalled amid financial challenges in 2019. In 2022, McCormick acquired buildings from 122 to 132 State on the block next to Capitol Square and kitty-corner from Overture Center. The developer is negotiating to buy 118 State St. Right now, its kind of downtrodden, Joe McCormick said. This could revitalize the upper part of State Street. It could turn into a pretty dynamic area. McCormicks team made a presentation to the Mansion Hill District of Capitol Neighborhoods Inc. on Thursday evening that drew about a dozen people, and afterward the neighborhood associations vice president, Colin Barushok, said he was encouraged by the process so far. Neighbors are happy that something is being proposed for the 100 block of State Street, and everyone recognizes the need for more housing, in particular condos, he said. The developers committed to continued engagement with the neighborhood, and the height of the project is sure to be among the main issues in negotiations, he said. Minds arent made up yet, but were enthusiastic about working together on this project, he said. Ald. Mike Verveer, 4th District, who represents the site, said I certainly support redevelopment here. The block has been in blighted condition for way too long, he said. I love the land use. I love the developer is aiming for condos. But I think the height and massing is a bit too much and needs to be brought down. It would also be nice to see a study of trying to retain some of the historic facades of existing buildings, he said. The buildings are a mix of vacancies and two month-to-month leases with low rent and two upper floor apartments occupied. McCormick acknowledged the proposal is ambitious and complex. Theres a long way to go on this thing, said McCormick, a Madison native who is also pursuing a six-story redevelopment on the 400 block of State Street. I dont know if well be able to overcome the obstacles. As a simpler alternative, McCormick said he could preserve and renovate the largest, six-story building at 122 State St. into apartments, and demolish the others he owns for a four-story apartment building, all with first-floor commercial space. Apartments, needed condos Under preliminary concepts, the new, big building would be four stories facing State Street with a rooftop deck overlooking the bustling thoroughfare. It would step back from State Street and rise to 12 stories midblock and on its frontages on North Carroll and West Dayton streets. The step back allows the building to retain the rhythm and flow of State Street while the tower still meets restrictions to preserve views of the state Capitol, said Colin Smith, McCormicks director of business development. The height allows for more units and makes the project more financially feasible, Smith said. City plans and zoning allow four stories along State Street and six stories at the rest of the site, with perhaps up to two additional stories under certain circumstances. The developer, however, could seek a zoning change to allow 12 stories midblock. On the first floor, the structure would feature 6,927 square feet of commercial space facing State and West Dayton streets, an exercise room facing West Dayton Street, and a lobby at the corner of North Carroll and West Dayton streets. The main commercial space could hold a restaurant with outdoor dining along State Street to the corner and a secondary space on West Dayton Street for another use, likely an art gallery, Smith said. Above, it would offer 10 studios, 15 one-bedroom, 30 two-bedroom and nine three-bedroom units for a total 64 units. Twelve of the one- and two-bedroom units would have dens. Under a preferred option, the second through fourth floor would be apartments and the fifth through 12th floors would be condominiums to meet a demand for them Downtown, McCormick said. Under another option, the second through 12th floors all would be apartments, Smith said. Currently, all of the units are envisioned as market rate, but McCormick is willing to consider options to include lower-cost units, Smith said. McCormick would like to retain a second-story skywalk the only one crossing a street Downtown between the existing structure at 122 State St. and the State Street Capitol Parking Garage, 214 N. Carroll St., but city staff have expressed interest in removing it, Smith said. The developer is still exploring options to create parking for the project, he said. Early estimates suggest the project could cost more than $40 million, he said. If the neighborhood and city dont want the redevelopment, McCormick is also exploring an option that would preserve the six-story structure at 122 State St., renovate it, and convert it to apartments, and demolish its other buildings for a four-story apartment building, Smith said. In that scenario, McCormick would no longer seek to acquire 118 State St., he said. Were just at the beginning of this, Barushok said. We have an open mind. People know these areas need redevelopment and are excited for the future. Twelve stories, thats a bit scary for neighbors. Verveer said that it was clear from the neighborhood meeting that the primary concern is the projects height, although there were also some concerns about historic preservation and saving some of the existing building facades. The jurys still out if theres a comfort level for a taller building there or not, he said. If approvals for the larger project are secured, McCormick would hope to start construction in mid-2025 and complete the building 18 months later. Boutique hotel project failed In October 2016, Ascendant Holdings of Madison and a development team announced the boutique hotel project, which also promised a revitalization of the block. Two years later, after a lengthy city review and project changes, Ascendant won City Council approval to demolish two buildings and partially raze two others at 118-126 State St. for a nine-story, 133-room hotel with a first-floor restaurant and a top-story bar and lounge. The council approved a zoning change for the hotel despite opposition from city staff over the buildings height. The hotel was to be operated by Provenance Hotels of Portland, Oregon, which runs boutique hotels with a local flavor in many cities in the United States. Ascendant and partners struggled to secure financing for the project, and Park Bank eventually filed a lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court seeking to foreclose on mortgages. State Journal reporter Chris Rickert contributed to this report. Madison appears on a lot of 'best of' lists. Here are 24 of them Happiest city Most caring city Most dog-friendly city Best place to live Best Beer Best biking Best city for the young and broke Best state capitals Best remote work situation Best city for recent grads Best city to rent with pets Best School Best place for kids Best food truck Best college football Sportiest city Best outdoor activities Best work-life balance Best city for runners Best scientists Best place to walk Most successful women Greenest city Best place to retire The Madison Fire Department is launching an internship program aimed at recruiting more fire and emergency medical service professionals from underrepresented backgrounds. Over two years, interns will learn operational and administrative aspects of the Madison Fire Department and earn an associate degree from Madison College, according to a news release from the fire department. After completing the internship, participants also will be eligible to be hired by the Madison Fire Department as a firefighter or emergency medical technician. The program is expected to begin in June. Applications open Wednesday. The primary goal of the program is to diversify the public safety workforce. Several studies have demonstrated that more diverse medical teams give more accurate diagnoses, identify critical illness more effectively and have higher patient satisfaction scores, according to the release. The department said it hopes to hire two interns each year. Interns will earn $17.50 an hour and work 40 hours a week. The project is funded by the Wisconsin Partnership Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. A 20-year-old Madison woman was arrested after leading authorities on a high-speed chase Thursday morning, said Sheriffs Office spokesperson Elise Schaffer. The incident began after the deputy tried to stop the Dodge Charger the woman was driving because it had no license plates, Schaffer said. The driver didnt stop and a pursuit started, but it was soon ended by the deputy. A Wisconsin State Patrol plane spotted the vehicle, which had become disabled at the roundabout at Highways 51 and 138, Schaffer said. Highway 138 runs westeast between Oregon and Stoughton. The driver was tentatively charged with eluding police, second-degree recklessly endangering safety and felony bail jumping, along with citations for possession of THC and drug paraphernalia, Schaffer said. The deputy pursued the vehicle for about a mile before ending the chase, Schaffer said, adding that the driver had hit speeds of 90 mph or more. The driver had one female passenger, but Schaffer said she didn't know the passenger's age. The driver was still being held in the Dane County Jail Friday. Federal authorities have been investigating an apparent smuggling operation involving employees at a troubled Wisconsin prison, Gov. Tony Evers office said Thursday. The probe has resulted in the suspension of nearly a dozen Waupun Correctional Institution employees to date, according to the state Department of Corrections. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first reported the investigation. Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback told The Associated Press in an email Thursday that the governor and Department of Corrections officials asked the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal authorities in June 2023 to launch the probe. Cudaback said they made the request after multiple sweeps of Waupun housing units revealed people in the prison were obtaining prohibited items such as cellphones and illegal drugs. An initial investigation by the Department of Corrections uncovered allegations that prison employees were involved, including information suggesting financial crimes may have occurred, Cudaback said. Inmates locked down, guards investigated as progress stalls over Green Bay prison Since 2019, 10 guards at the prison have been investigated by law enforcement for inmate abuse, drug smuggling and other misconduct. She did not elaborate on the nature of those allegations and didnt immediately respond to a follow-up email seeking details. The governor and the DOC decided to ask federal authorities to investigate given the potential involvement of employees and the multi-jurisdictional nature of the allegations, Cudaback said. According to the DOC, 11 prison employees have been placed on administrative leave since May 2023. Three of them were placed on leave without pay; the others were placed on leave with pay. Any roles in the alleged smuggling ring were unclear. A U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson didnt immediately respond to an email Thursday seeking comment. Four inmates have died at Waupun since June. The first was Dean Hoffmann, who killed himself in solitary confinement that month. Tyshun Lemons died of a fentanyl overdose on Oct. 2 and Cameron Williams died of a stroke on Oct. 30. Donald Maier was found dead at the facility on Feb. 22. His death remains under investigation. The Department of Corrections instituted lockdowns at Waupun as well as at prisons in Green Bay and Stanley last year due to a shortage of guards. A group of Waupun inmates filed a federal lawsuit in October saying lockdown conditions at the facility amount to cruel and unusual punishment. And last month Hoffmanns daughter filed a federal lawsuit alleging Waupun officials failed to provide her father with adequate mental health care and medications. Those cases are pending. Stanley resumed normal operations in late November. Movement restrictions have eased at Waupun and Green Bay, but some remain in place. The name Pat Logue may not be familiar to many of us, but her work is. From establishing the right of same-sex parents to adopt children to challenging the merits of the militarys dont ask, dont tell policy, Logues accomplishments as a lawyer for Lambda Legal were instrumental in changing the way society treats LGBTQ+ people. She died last month. It is because of Logues work that the family of Nex Benedict may get some iota of justice. Nex was the nonbinary 16-year-old in Oklahoma who died in February one day after a group of students beat them up in a school restroom. One of Logues landmark victories Nabozny vs. Podlesny in 1996 was the first legal challenge to antigay violence in public schools. Jamie Nabozny had been tormented for years at his Wisconsin high school for being gay. That would include being beaten up in the restroom. He sued his former district in Ashland for refusing to do anything to stop the attacks. Officials were not only aware of the abuse Nabozny faced but reportedly told him that boys will be boys and that he should expect the bullying because he was gay. After the verdict, Nabozny was awarded $1 million. More important, school districts around the country were put on notice: Every student regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity deserves a safe learning environment. Benedict did not get that. Instead, the student faced an environment very similar to the one Nabozny encountered 25 years earlier. It was an environment our courts have already ruled was unacceptable, and it may have cost Nex their life. Police body-cam video shows Nex on a gurney after the attack in school. The details of their death the following day are murky, and an official cause of death has yet to be made public. But the history of abuse leading up to the death is clear. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., has already called for a federal investigation into Nexs death. Vice President Kamala Harris posted on social media: to the LGBTQI+ youth who are hurting and are afraid right now: President Joe Biden and I see you, we stand with you, and you are not alone. Lambda Legal recently joined 350 other local, state and national organizations in an open letter calling for the removal of Oklahomas state superintendent of public instruction, Ryan Walters. In the letter, Walters is accused of creating an environment in Oklahoma schools hostile to LGBTQ students, which the organizations say led to the attack on Nex. In addition to Walters anti-trans rhetoric, he appointed a conservative social media influencer to the states library board after that person harassed educators online who were supportive of LGBTQ+ students. Walters dismissed the open letter as a standard tactic of the radical left adding, they will stop at nothing to destroy the country and our state. And yet it was Walters not the radical left who appointed an anti-LGBTQ TikTok pseudo-celebrity to his states library board, someone who didnt even live in Oklahoma and whose anti-gay social media posts incited bomb threats against school libraries accused of containing books that refer to gay people. Walters should never have been entrusted with overseeing the education and safety of children, and now that the mistake has been made and the damage done, I hope he will be swiftly removed and replaced by someone with an agenda to protect the learning environment. Whether the state replaces him, a civil suit against the district where Nex attended school, in the Tulsa suburb of Owasso, seems likely. In a statement to ABC News, the victims family said: The Benedicts know all too well the devastating effects of bullying and school violence, and pray for meaningful change wherein bullying is taken seriously and no family has to deal with another preventable tragedy. Thats why Nabozny said he sued his school district in the 1990s: to prevent other kids from being targeted in school the way he was. That is also supposed to be a part of local and state administrators jobs. In the past, gross failures to protect LGNTQ+ children might have been normal and tolerated. Certainly they had few repercussions. Thanks to Logue, that part of the story has changed. These kids are still targeted in school. But instead of accepting the premise of boys will be boys, theres hope for accountability. Many events in history have united Americans, such as our founding in 1776, the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to name a few. 2024 is shaping up to be another such year. While America today is divided in many ways, we are united in many ways, too. For example: 60% to 70% of Americans do not want to see a Biden-Trump rematch in the presidential election, according to an NBC News poll . 71% of Americans are dissatisfied with how democracy is working, according to a . 65% the Pew Research Center they are exhausted when thinking about politics. 63% have little or no confidence in the future of the U.S. political system, according to another . This is not the kind of unity that we need to have. We need a unity that offers hope. The good news is that we have a solution: an independent, unity presidential ticket that joins a moderate Republican with a moderate Democrat. This is the vision of No Labels, a political organization that has been successfully fighting for bipartisan solutions since 2010. Critics of No Labels say an independent ticket will simply take votes away from President Joe Biden, causing the election of former President Donald Trump. The truth is that Biden is already losing to Trump, and Biden is no longer capable of mounting a vigorous come-from-behind campaign to change that result. The only way to ensure Trump will not be elected is a No Labels unity ticket. Such a ticket will absolutely take votes away from Biden, but it will also take votes away from Trump. It will capture the majority of independent voters, who now make up about 40% of the electorate, according to a Gallup poll. Critics say an independent candidate can never win a presidential election. While an independent has never won before, we are seeing history in the making. According to a HarrisX poll commissioned by No Labels, 59% of American voters say they would seriously consider voting for an attractive independent candidate. Critics note that Ross Perot was the most successful independent candidate, and he only got 19% of the vote in 1992. While that is true, Perot was polling stronger in July 1992, before he dropped out of the race for 10 weeks. He reentered in October and still got 19% while running against two candidates that people actually liked. National pollster Frank Luntz recently said an independent ticket could start out with around 20% support, and he sees no ceiling for public support. Imagine what a unity ticket can do with that kind of a head start, with a platform of commonsense policies a majority of Americans support. Imagine a unity ticket running against two candidates who people do not want to see in the race. A unity president will provide cover for all of the good politicians in Washington who want to do the right thing, but who get vilified if they cast a bipartisan vote. The angry politics will be replaced by respectful dialogue and bipartisan solutions. The teetering faith in our political institutions will be replaced by overwhelming pride once again with how great this country can be. Americas silent majority is ready to raise its voice. 2024 will indeed be a year like no other. - Advertisement - Advertising and marketing solutions firm FCB Manila announced the appointment of multi-awarded Jenny Nadong as its new chief creative officer beginning Jan. 4, 2024. Nadong brings with her decades of experience, leading campaigns for top brands in FMCG, telco, real estate, travel and banking industries. Nadong joined FCB Manila to reinforce the agencys pool of creative talents with a strategic point of view to sharpen creative output, beginning with streamlining processes, internal dynamics and relationships that will lead them to fortune, culture and fame. It will be a year of reboot and refresh for FCB Manilas creative team spirit-wise, work-wise, anchored on true integrated marketing thinking and discipline and guided by our never finished mantra, Nadong said. Nadong intends to lead the FCB creative team with eyes wide open to current situations that affect the advertising industry. - Advertisement - Geopolitics and a growing search for meaning and purpose impact marketing and communication. We are duty-bound to get involved in discussions about sustainability, peace, diversity, equality and inclusion and other pressing matters, Nadong said. We are seeing a creative industry arming itself for that, rebuilding itself towards the goal, she said. FCB Manila chief executive Lizette Santos expressed confidence in the kind of leadership that Nadong brings to the table. Through Jennys unique vision, energy and talent, I am very sure that FCB Manila will soar to the heights that we are dreaming of. Our goals for FCB Manila in the future are set and we are excited to be guided by Jenny as we move forward, Santos said. Being part of the current Creative Guild of the Philippines board, Nadong sees a rekindling of the community that transcends disciplines, crossing barriers, hurdling known limitations in order to arrive at meaning and to inspire meaning. Prior to joining FCB Manila, Nadong started her career at Lowe and was at the creative helm of agencies such as Crush, Saatchi, VMLY&R and Evident. - Advertisement - President Marcos is expected to bolster the Philippines trade and investment opportunities in his upcoming trip to Germany and the Czech Republic next week, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Maria Algabre said on Friday. In a pre-departure briefing held in Malacanang, Algabre said the President will attend business forums with various corporate executives aside from his scheduled meetings with respective leaders of both countries. The DFA official told reporters there are major companies, which intend to take advantage of the Philippines impressive economic performance and conducive economic investment. She noted that partnership agreements will also be signed during the business forums. PH, Germany to boost maritime, tech-voc education On the Presidents trip to Germany, Algabre said a joint declaration of intent on strengthening cooperation in the maritime sector will be signed by both countries transportation agencies. The declaration seeks to facilitate maritime trade and mobility of Philippine- and German-owned commercial vessels. - Advertisement - Moreover, there will also be a signing of a cooperation program between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education to boost technical and vocational education and training. Czech Republic to allow entry of 10K OFWs In the Czech Republic, the President will sign a joint communique on the establishment of a labor consultations mechanism to improve the collaboration between Manila and Prague in helping the migration of Filipino workers. Algabre stated that with the Czech Republic pushing for more Filipino workers, Prague has set a yearly quota for Filipinos starting this May, which would allow the entry of 10,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW). There are also other agreements in the pipeline that we are closely working on with the Czech side, Algabre said. She also noted that President Marcos would personally meet with Filipino communities living in Germany and the Czech Republic. The President will leave for Europe on March 11 (Monday) and will return by March 15 (Friday). - Advertisement - UNITED NATIONS, New York The number of female genital mutilation survivors tops 230 million worldwide, UNICEF said in a new report Thursday, an increase of 15 percent since 2016 despite progress against the practice in some countries. It is indeed bad news. This is a huge number, a number that is bigger than ever before, said Claudia Coppa, lead author of the report released to coincide with International Womens Day. Female genital mutilation, known as FGM, can include partial or total removal of the clitoris as well as the labia minora, and suturing of the vaginal opening to narrow it. FGM, which can cause fatal bleeding or infections, can also have long-term consequences such as fertility problems, childbirth complications, stillbirth and painful sexual intercourse. Africa is home to the most number of FGM survivors with more than 144 million, ahead of Asia (80 million) and the Middle East (six million), according to the survey of 31 countries where the practice is common. - Advertisement - The overall increase is largely due to population growth in certain countries but the report highlighted progress in reducing its prevalence in other places. In Sierra Leone, the percentage of girls aged 15 to 19 who have undergone genital mutilation has fallen in 30 years from 95 percent to 61 percent. Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Kenya also recorded strong declines. But in Somalia, 99 percent of women between 15 and 49 have undergone genital mutilation, as well as 95 percent in Guinea, 90 percent in Djibouti and 89 percent in Mali. Were also seeing a worrying trend that more girls are subjected to the practice at younger ages, many before their fifth birthday, UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said in a statement. That further reduces the window to intervene. We need to strengthen the efforts of ending this harmful practice. Progress needs to increase to 27 times the current level to eradicate the practice by 2030, as called for in the UNs Agenda for Sustainable Development. But even if perceptions are evolving, FGM has been in existence for centuries. So changing social norms and practices that are related to this norm takes time, Coppa said. In some societies, for example, it is considered a necessary rite of passage, in other contexts it is a way of preserving, for example, the chastity of girls. Its a way of controlling girls sexuality, she said. Mothers may personally oppose the procedure and remember the pain but sometimes the pain is less than the shame, is less than the consequences that they will have to witness, them and their daughters, if they do not conform to expectations. These are not cruel mothers, Coppa said. Theyre trying to do what they think is expected of them and their daughters. Girls who have not undergone FGM, for example, might face repercussions such as not being considered for marriage. UNICEF, the UN childrens agency, continues to push for laws prohibiting FGM, but also the importance of girls education in its eradication. As for the role of men and boys, while in some countries they favor the continuation of FGM, in others women and girls are the ones reluctant to abandon the age-old practice. But the men and boys remain silent. And this silence gives the impression that there is active acceptance of the practice. So everybody needs to take a stand, Coppa said. AFP - Advertisement - Unemployment rate in the Philippines climbed to 4.5 percent in January 2024 from a record low of 3.1 percent in December 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Friday. Results of the Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed, however, that on a year-on-year basis, the jobless rate improved from 4.8 percent in January 2023. The Marcos administration remains committed to creating a favorable business environment to attract both local and foreign investments in the country, aiming to generate more high-quality employment opportunities, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said in a statement. The underemployment rate in January 2024 also eased to 13.9 percent 14.1 percent reported in the same month last year. The government sustains its push to attract more job-generating investments by creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment. At the same time, linkages between industry, the academe and the public sector will be strengthened to address skill mismatches in the labor market, said NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. - Advertisement - Results of the newly-released Jobstreet by SEEK 2024 hiring, compensation and benefits report show that the Philippine job market is expected to remain positive in the first half of 2024, driven by continued strong hiring activity and low unemployment. The current age of employment is here, and it is progressing exponentially day by day, and as we see it, 2024 is a very promising year for the job market. We hope this new report will be able to guide our hirers and candidates in navigating the ever-dynamic world of work, said Jobstreet Philippines managing director Dannah Majarocon. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the quality of jobs in the Philippines continued to improve as more Filipinos are engaged in formal and stable workrepresenting the largest portion of the employed workforce in the country. Wage and salary workers enjoy more stable employment conditions, including perks such as health insurance and social welfare benefits. The fact that they are continuously increasing and accounting for the largest share of employed persons in the country indicates that the majority of our workforce is engaged in formal jobs, Recto said. The PSA revealed that the labor force contracted in January, as the overall labor force participation rate (LFPR) declined to 61.1 percent from 64.5 percent in January 2023. This translated to about 1.6 million fewer individuals in the labor force. Most of the contraction was recorded among women (-1.3 million), the youth cohort (-1.0 million), and junior high school graduates (-652,000), it said. The top reasons cited for not joining the labor force are household duties, age-related restrictions, such as being too young/old or having a permanent disability, and schooling. The return to onsite work also limited womens participation to 49.3 percent from 53.7 percent in January 2023. Completely on-site schooling brought the youth LFPR down to 29.6 percent from 34.8 percent in the same period last year. We will remain responsive to the needs of vulnerable groups, including women, youth, older individuals, and those with disabilities. Our existing policy framework governing alternative work arrangements will be revisited, Balisacan said. More than half of the total employment in January 2024 was provided by services (60.2 percent) followed by agriculture (21.4 percent) and industry (18.4 percent). The top sub-sectors that recorded annual increases in the number of employed persons in January 2024 were construction; transportation and storage; administrative and support service activities; and fishing and aquaculture. - Advertisement - The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday justified the foreign trips of President Marcos, saying these are part of the administrations development goals. The President is expected to bolster the Philippines trade and investment opportunities in his upcoming trip to Germany and the Czech Republic next week, DFA Assistant Secretary Maria Algabre said on Friday. The President will leave for Europe on March 11 (Monday) and will return by March 15 (Friday), and will have visited five countries so far this year. Mr. Marcos is fresh from a back-to-back trip to Australia. He was in Canberra for a state visit last Feb. 28-29 and then participated in a special summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Australia from March 4 to 6 in Melbourne and Sydney. The Presidents international engagement is, of course, in support of his development agenda, security, economic that will redound to the benefits of our countrymen, Algabre told reporters. - Advertisement - And for Germany and the Czech Republic, the visit will focus, as we have said earlier, in strengthening partnership with like-minded countries in Europe especially the promotion of a rules-based international order, she added. In a pre-departure briefing held in Malacanang, Algabre said the President will attend business forums with various corporate executives aside from his scheduled meetings with respective leaders of both countries. The DFA official told reporters there are major companies, which intend to take advantage of the Philippines impressive economic performance and conducive economic investment. She noted that partnership agreements will also be signed during the business forums. On the Presidents trip to Germany, Algabre said a joint declaration of intent on strengthening cooperation in the maritime sector will be signed by both countries transportation agencies. The declaration seeks to facilitate maritime trade and mobility of Philippine- and German-owned commercial vessels. Moreover, there will also be a signing of a cooperation program between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education to boost technical and vocational education and training. In the Czech Republic, the President will sign a joint communique on the establishment of a labor consultations mechanism to improve the collaboration between Manila and Prague in helping the migration of Filipino workers. Algabre stated that with the Czech Republic pushing for more Filipino workers, Prague has set a yearly quota for Filipinos starting this May, which would allow the entry of 10,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW). There are also other agreements in the pipeline that we are closely working on with the Czech side, Algabre said. She also noted that President Marcos would personally meet with Filipino communities living in Germany and the Czech Republic. According to her, the trips were not a waste of governments funds. Since assuming the presidency on June 30, 2022 and until end-2023, Marcos went abroad 19 times11 over the past 12 months of last year. This year, aside from the two trips to Australia, Marcos went to Brunei to attend the wedding of Prince Abdul Mateen, Vietnam for a state visit. Last month, the Presidential Communications Office said that 46 projects worth $14.2 billion in foreign investments have already been actualized from the trips of Marcos in various countries over the past 16 months. - Advertisement - BUREAU of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have prevented seven illegally recruited Filipinos from boarding their flights while disguised as tourists. Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the suspected recruiter and her victims tried to depart on board a Philippine Airlines flight to Bangkok, Thailand. The victims initially claimed to be a group going overseas for a vacation. However, a careful scrutiny of their documents revealed inconsistencies, prompting the Immigration officer to remand them to secondary inspection. During further investigation, the victims admitted to be bound for Laos where they were purportedly promised work as customer service representatives. They admitted they are set to fly to Chiang Mai, Thailand before traveling to Laos by boat. They said they were offered a monthly salary of around P40,000. - Advertisement - The victims said they received the job offer through Facebook and online messaging service Telegram. They admitted that fake identification cards and other documents were given to them by their escort right outside the airport before their flight. The escort claimed to be traveling alone to Thailand when she went through Immigration. We were able to intercept her, and she was positively identified as an accomplice of the recruiter, the agents said. The suspected trafficker was turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against trafficking for filing of appropriate charges against her. - Advertisement - Eleven more Filipino seafarers on board the Iran-seized oil tanker ST Nikolas will return to the Philippines in the next few days, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday. DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said the Filipino seafarers contracts have officially expired and their manning agency has already replaced them with foreign crewmembers. Nine will arrive in the Philippines on Sunday while the other two will fly next week, March 13, he added. For some piece of good news, more Filipino nationals are now returning so we have another batch of 11 who will be coming home, he said in an interview Thursday. There were originally 18 Filipinos aboard the oil tanker when it wasseized by Iranian authorities in January in the Gulf of Oman while in transit between the Iraqi port of Basra and Turkey. One was released by Iran in February. - Advertisement - Last year, the United States confiscated the oil ST Nikolas was carrying in a sanction enforcement operation. The Iranian Navy said the January seizure was in retaliation for this action. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said the killings of two Filipino seafarers on board a ship crossing the Gulf of Aden on Thursday was a reason to ensure the immediate enactment of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers. Villanueva said this will guarantee Filipinos rights in situations like this. Earlier, President Marcos backtracked in signing the measure into law on its supposed schedule last February, saying it was up for further review. A Catholic prelate on Friday urged the faithful to pray for the victims of the March 6 attack of rebels at the Gulf of Aden where three crew members, two of them Filipinos, were killed. In this moment of war, chaos, and uncertainty, let us all turn to God for His divine intervention. Let us pray for peace in the Middle East, entrusting everything in His power and mercyWe are one and united with the families of the victims. We urge them to be strong and lift up everyone and everything to God, Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos said in an interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas. We call on the Huthis to stop all the attacks, aggression, and intrusion in the Red Sea. This incident underscores the danger to human life, property, and the marine environment in the area, the Catholic prelate added. The attack on MV True Confidence was the first fatal assault due to the tension at the Red Sea, one of the important trade routes from Europe, Middle East, and Asia. We also call on the agencies to look into repatriating our seafarers sailing through the Gulf of Aden to avoid a repeat of this horrific incident, Villanueva said, to which Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Imee Marcos and Sherwin Gatchalian agreed. Party-list Rep. Ron Salo of Kabayan also condemned the Yemen rebels behind the rocket attacks on ships. I strongly condemn the attack perpetrated by the Houthi rebels against a merchant vessel navigating the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that led to the tragic death of two Filipino seafarers and injured several other crew members, including two Filipinos who sustained severe wounds, he said. As chair of the House committee on overseas affairs, Salo urged the Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure immediate assistance for the repatriation of the victims remains. He also called on the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to provide immediate assistance to the bereaved families, as well as the injured Filipino crew members and their families. In addition, Salo called on the shipowner or manning agency concerned to extend immediate assistance to the victims and their families. We appeal to the United Nations, world powers and other international organizations to take prompt measures to deter any recurrence of such attacks. More than the economic toll that these attacks have caused, are the lives of innocent civilians, like our Filipino seamen, at stake, he added. - Advertisement - Billions of women and girls face marginalization, injustice and discrimination, as millennia of male domination continue to shape societies By United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres The fight for womens rights over the past 50 years years is a story of progress. Women and girls have demolished barriers, dismantled stereotypes and driven progress towards a more just and equal world. Womens rights were finally recognized as fundamental and universal human rights. Hundreds of millions more girls are in classrooms around the world. And pioneering leaders have smashed glass ceilings across the globe. - Advertisement - But progress is under threat. And full equality remains light years away. Billions of women and girls face marginalization, injustice and discrimination, as millennia of male domination continue to shape societies. The persistent epidemic of gender-based violence disgraces humanity. Over four million girls are estimated to be at risk of female genital mutilation each year. Discrimination against women and girls remains perfectly legal in much of the world. In some places, that makes it difficult for women to own property, in others, it allows men to rape their wives with impunity. Meanwhile, global crises are hitting women and girls hardest. Wherever theres conflict, climate disaster, poverty or hunger, women and girls suffer most. In every region of the world, more women than men go hungry. In both developed and developing countries, a backlash against womens rights, including their sexual and reproductive rights, is stalling and even reversing progress. New technologies which have such potential to dismantle inequalities too often make matters worse. That can be because of unequal access, algorithms with baked-in bias, or misogynistic violence from deep fakes to targeted harassment of specific women. At our current speed, full legal equality for women is some 300 years away; so is the end of child marriage. This rate of change is frankly insulting. Half of humanity cant wait centuries for their rights. We need equality now. That means accelerating the pace of progress. And that relies on political ambition, and on investment the theme of this years International Womens Day. We need public and private investment in programs to end violence against women, ensure decent work, and drive womens inclusion and leadership in digital technologies, peace-building, climate action, and across all sectors of the economy. We must also urgently support womens rights organizations fighting against stereotypes, battling to make womens and girls voices heard, and challenging traditions and cultural norms. Currently they receive a paltry 0.1 percent of international development spending. That must change. Investment may sound far removed from womens everyday lives. But it takes investment to give schoolgirls the same opportunities as schoolboys. It takes investment to provide digital education and develop skills. It takes investment to provide the childcare that enables caregivers, who are mainly mothers, to do paid work outside the home. And it takes investment to build inclusive communities and societies with the full participation of women and girls of all backgrounds. Putting money behind equality is the right thing to do, but it also makes financial sense. Supporting women to enter formal labour markets grows economies, boosts tax revenues and expands opportunities for all. Securing the investment we need in women and girls requires three things. First, increasing the availability of affordable, long-term finance for sustainable development, and tackling the debt crisis strangling many developing economies. Otherwise, countries simply wont have the funds to invest in women and girls. We need immediate action to provide breathing space for countries with unbearable debt repayments looming, and to encourage multilateral development banks to leverage far more private finance at affordable costs. Over the long term, we must reform the international financial architecture and make it far more responsive to the needs of developing countries. Second, countries must prioritise equality for women and girls recognizing that equality is not only a matter of rights but the bedrock of peaceful, prosperous societies. That means governments actively addressing discrimination, spending on programmes to support women and girls, and ensuring policies, budgets and investments respond to their needs. Third, we need to increase the number of women in leadership positions. Having women in positions of power can help to drive investment in policies and programmes that respond to women and girls realities. I am particularly proud that since early in my tenure and for the first time in history we have equal numbers of women and men in senior management across the entire United Nations system. Equality is overdue. Ending the patriarchy requires money on the table its time to cough up. - Advertisement - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has laid down the Philippine card when he expressed support this week for Australias possible inclusion in the largely economic bloc Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The President was responding to newsmens questions on the idea of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ebrahim to allow Australia, which hosted the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit this week, which became ASEANs dialogue partner in 1974, to become a member state. The current ASEAN countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Timor-Leste, which applied to be a member in 2011, was admitted in principle in 2022 as the regional blocs 11th member but its full membership remains pending. Australia considers ASEAN, founded on Aug. 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration). as its key trading partner, expecting its two-way trade with the regional bloc to reach US$400 billion by 2040, an increase from the US$178 billion posted in 2022. - Advertisement - President Marcos said: Well, I cannot see why that would not be a good idea. Australia has already been a very active part of ASEAN. And for all intents and purposes, really, in all but name, they are already members of ASEAN. We join President Marcos in acknowledging Australias consistent support for all ASEAN-led mechanisms, noticeable in the 50 years of its dialogue partnership with the region. We appreciate the evolution of Australias strategic approach towards the region from the mere confines of the Asia-Pacific to our now wider common interests in the Indo-Pacific, President Marcos told Australia and the ASEAN leaders. We thus encourage Australia to continue its active engagement both bilaterally and through ASEAN to ensure the primacy of peace and stability through confidence building, preventive diplomacy, and conflict resolution in the region, he added. We note Australia has consistently supported the rule of law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the 2016 Arbitral Award to the Philippines through statements of support and capacity-building and academic initiatives to mainstream appreciation of international law. President Marcos and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last year signed an agreement, elevating the bilateral relationship, born on July 4, 1946, from comprehensive to strategic partnership during Albaneses visit to the Philippines in September last year leading to the two countries conduct of the first bilateral maritime exercises over the West Philippine Sea in November last year. We also note Australia serves as the second home to around 408,000 Filipinos and Australians of Filipino descent. Strategic policy observers have noted, and we agree with them as we rally behind President Marcos own declaration, that Australia, with a population of 25.69 million, would be a game changer for the 10-nation economic alliance, considering the geopolitical and security this bloc of nearly 690 million people is facing. Undoubtedly, that huge market, with its growing strength as an economic powerhouse, would likewise boost the Australian economy. - Advertisement - Five Films For Freedom, the worlds widest-reaching LGBTQIA+ digital campaign, returns on March 13, bringing five new films from the Philippines, India, Spain, the UK and USA to audiences across the world. Over two weeks or until March 24, 2024, audiences worldwide are invited to dive into the world of LGBTQIA+ cinema from the comfort of their own homes and watch the films online for free. The film program continues the British Councils partnership with BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, with the short films promoted across the British Councils global digital networks and BFI Player for free. Its tenth anniversary edition will showcase global LGBTQIA+ stories that resonate with strength and spirit, from the historic defiance of Comptons 22 in San Francisco to the heartfelt journey of love and understanding in Halfway. This years selection, including Little One a movie from the Philippines directed by Clister Santos, Cursive, and The First Kiss, dives deep into themes of family, identity, and the universal quest for acceptance. The Little One is a nine minute film about a pregnant mother who is unsure of how to raise a child and arranges an interview with her two gay dads. However, fate intervenes when her dad suffers a heart attack. It is a privilege to showcase the exceptional work of these immensely talented filmmakers to audiences worldwide and we are truly proud to have a Filipino film included in this years selection, said Lotus Postrado, British Council in the Philippines Country Director. - Advertisement - Throughout the ten-year journey of Five Films For Freedom, weve been able to reach over 23 million viewers globally with these remarkable films. We take pride in our ongoing commitment to supporting this initiative, which not only sheds light on new narratives but also fosters new connections and understanding. Audiences in the Philippines are encouraged to watch the films online for free and share their experiences using the hashtag #FiveFilmsForFreedom. We are immensely proud to mark the tenth anniversary of Five Films for Freedom, said British Council Director of Film, Briony Hanson. This platform has not only provided a vital space for LGBTQIA+ stories to be heard but has also fostered a global movement for equality and acceptance. As we celebrate this milestone, we invite audiences everywhere to join us in championing love in all its forms. (For more information and to access the films, visit the British Arts YouTube channel) - Advertisement - Your Baguio Food Adventure Starts Here! While Baguio shines as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, its equally celebrated for its vibrant food scene. Embark on a culinary road trip indulging from breakfast until dinner with these curated food guide at SM City Baguio. Immerse yourself in a symphony of flavors ranging from hearty breakfasts to savory lunches, delightful meriendas, and satisfying dinners. At SM City Baguio, explore a mosaic of local delicacies and international cuisines, each dish promising to tease your taste buds and leave you craving for more. Join us as we uncover the gastronomic treasures awaiting you, ready to elevate your dining experience within Baguios picturesque charm. Hill Station Bistro Location: Level 2, Sunset Terraces, SM City Baguio Legendary Hill Station lands at SM City Baguio! Soak in stunning city views while savoring their cult-favorite dishes like Tortang Talong, Inihaw Liempo, and Chicken Tonkatsu, all served with veggies and red rice. Dive into all-day breakfast, homemade treats, and smoked deli delights like the Saigon Steak sandwich, a taste of Baguio tradition right here! - Advertisement - Coffee and Pine Location: Lower Ground, North Terrace, SM City Baguio Looking for the perfect pick-me-up to kickstart your Baguio adventure? Grab a cup of Baguios warm brews at Coffee & Pine, a local favorite, offers signature coffee like the milky Atok Haze Latte. They also have refreshing alternatives such as the Northern Blossom Purple Latte and Blueberry Smoothies. Pair your drink with their decadent Mac & Cheese or Triple Decker for a filling stop. Greyhound Cafe Location: Upper Ground, Sunset Terraces, SM City Baguio Experience the vibrant flavors of Thailand without leaving Baguio! Greyhound Cafe, perched atop SM City Baguios Sunset Terraces, offers an authentic Thai culinary experience with a unique twist. Savor authentic flavors & their secret Baguio menu: Pineapple Fried Rice & Three Musketeers (taro, sweet potato, pumpkin). Ask for the black book to unlock hidden gems. Sip on Pink Journey (strawberry, apple, lime) or coffee Jello, all with a breathtaking panorama of Baguio City! Botejyu Location: Upper Ground, Sunset Terraces, SM City Baguio Explore the exquisite flavors of Japan at Botejyu! Start your taste bud adventure with crispy Gyoza, then dive into the creamy goodness of California Rolls. Dig-in on a culinary journey with the Sakura Bento Box. Its the perfect fuel for your SM Baguio food crawl! Mango Tree Cafe Location: Upper Ground, Sunset Terraces, SM City Baguio Mango Tree Cafe brings its world-renowned menu to SM City Baguio, offering authentic Thai flavors crafted with high-quality ingredients. Enjoy a diverse selection of appetizers, salads, curries, and more, all prepared by talented Thai and Filipino chefs. Experience the warmth of Thai hospitality amidst a cozy ambiance, and discover the unique charm of regional dishes from Northern Thailand. Wingzone Location: Sky Terrace, Level 3, SM City Baguio Sink your taste buds in the many flavors of Wingzones chicken dishes like Salted Egg, Thai Chili, Garlic Parm, Lemon Zinger, and Honey Q. Choose between the naked wings or boneless bites to go with your plate of piping hot rice, or have both so you can fully enjoy the Wingzone experience. Highland Brew Location: Sky Terrace, Level 3, SM City Baguio Seeking a comforting thirst-quencher from exploring Baguio? Highland Brew, a local favorite atop SM City Baguio, awaits. It offers stunning views and soul-warming brews like the Mt. Ulap Tiramisu. Unwind with calming lavender or refreshing hibiscus tea. Its more than coffee, its an experience. Yogorino Location: Sky Terrace, Level 3, SM City Baguio Sky-high indulgence! Ascend to SM Baguios Sky Terrace and treat yourself to Yogorinos Italian frozen yogurt with panoramic views. Imagine creamy swirls, fresh fruit, and decadent toppings a royal treat! They even have Japanese crepes for a sweet twist. Dont miss out! Nabe Japanese Izakaya and Hotpot Location: Level 2, Sunset Terraces, SM CIty Baguio Warm up after Baguio adventures! Nabe Japanese Izakaya and Hotpot offers endless hotpot to share with loved ones. Choose from 16 soup base flavors, add premium meats, fresh vegetables, and scrumptious hotpot balls, and umami sauces. Chilis Location: Level 2, Sunset Terraces, SM City Baguio Indulge in authentic American comfort food at Chilis! Try their refreshing Classic Chicken Salad or indulge in savory favorites like Bacon Ranch Beef Quesadilla and Loaded Boneless Chicken, all dip-ready! James Wright Cafe Location: Lower Ground, North Terrace, SM City Baguio Make James Wright Cafe a must-add to your food crawl! Its the perfect spot to cap off your culinary adventure with a delicious and affordable drink like their Greek Frappe, Hot Mocha, or Cheesecake Latte. The warm and inviting atmosphere makes it ideal for both unwinding and getting some work done. Vizcoss Restaurant And Cake Shop Location: Lower Ground, North Terrace, SM City Baguio A trip to the North isnt complete without a stop at the famed Vizcos. The crowd-pleasing Strawberry Shortcake, undoubtedly the all-time favorite, is a must-try (or take home), as is the decadent Tres Leche. While they have several main dish options, the rich Baked Chicken Penne stands out as the most popular. H.O.Y. House of Yogurt Location: Lower Ground, North Terrace, SM City Baguio H.O.Y. House of Yogurt elevates yogurt in Baguio! They craft unique blends with local and highland ingredients, a must-try for yogurt lovers. Enjoy delectable pasalubong ideas like hopia, cheesy pie, and more! Treat your gut and taste buds for an enjoyable experience. Food and fun at the fullest whats not to love at SM City Baguio? Indulge with our delectable offerings and follow us on social media for more foodie adventures and festive updates! - Advertisement - The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) has for 70 years played a pivotal role in enhancing economic diplomacy between the Philippines and various nations. The focus has been to boost economic engagements with our neighbors the ASEAN countries, our traditional ancient trade partner and rising 21st century economic superpower China, our east Asian neighbors South Korea and Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, the Western countries of USA and EU, etc. With its focus on fostering trade, exports, investments, tourism, and goodwill, FFCCCII has become a key player in strengthening international relations and promoting Philippine economic growth. From March 8 to 10, 2024 during its 70th anniversary celebration, FFCCCII led by President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro has invited many foreign investor delegations from different continents to come and visit the Philippines. FFCCCII sees this as a golden opportunity to promote the Philippines as a progressive country focused on trade, investments and economic cooperation. Trade and Exports - Advertisement - FFCCCII has been instrumental in facilitating trade partnerships between the Philippines and other countries, most especially the urgent need to increase Philippine exports. By leveraging its extensive network of businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors, the organization has actively engaged in trade promotion activities. This involvement has not only opened new avenues for Filipino products in the global market but has also attracted foreign investments, contributing significantly to the countrys economic development. Apart from sending trade missions and joining trade fairs in ASEAN countries, FFCCCII has also supported the governments Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), CITEM and other agencies to promote Philippine products in the increasingly affluent market of 1.4 billion consumers in China. FFCCCII doesnt want the Philippines to lose out to our ASEAN neighbors in the competition to sell to China an d other vast foreign markets. Investments Through its commitment to economic diplomacy, FFCCCII has attracted foreign investments into the Philippines from all over Asia and other continents in the past 70 years. The organizations initiatives provide a platform for dialogue between local entrepreneurs and foreign investors, fostering an environment conducive to investment. This collaborative effort has led to the establishment of joint ventures, technological exchanges, and the infusion of capital that fuels innovation and development. Tourism FFCCCIIs involvement in economic diplomacy extends to the Philippine tourism sector, which Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs believe still has vast untapped growth and development potentials. Recognizing the economic impact of a vibrant tourism industry, the organization has actively promoted the Philippines as a prime tourist destination. By fostering cultural exchanges and showcasing the countrys attractions, FFCCCII has contributed to the growth of tourism, bringing in foreign visitors and enhancing the nations image on the global stage. Goodwill and Cultural Exchange Beyond economic interests, FFCCCII places a strong emphasis on fostering goodwill and cultural exchange. The organization has initiated numerous programs aimed at strengthening people-to-people connections with all our Asean and Asian neighbors, promoting mutual understanding, and building lasting friendships. These efforts go beyond business transactions, contributing to a more interconnected and harmonious global community. In conclusion, FFCCCIIs multifaceted approach to economic diplomacy has positioned it as a key driver of the Philippines international economic engagement. Through its initiatives in trade, exports, investments, tourism, and goodwill, FFCCCII has not only strengthened economic ties but has also played a vital role in building bridges between nations. As the global environment continues to evolve and faces numerous challenges, the organizations commitment to fostering stronger international cooperation and mutual prosperity remains essential for the sustained growth and development of the Philippines. - Advertisement - ON its 9th run, Cyberzone officially launched its annual Cyberzone Game Fest at SM Megamall on March 1, supporting the grassroots gaming community, together with its brand partners and special guests from the esports scene. Cyberzone has built gaming programs that have been recognized all over the country since 2016 on its first edition of Cyberzone Game Fest, and has continued to innovate tournament events and exhibitions in collaboration with global esports organizations and trusted brand partners. During the Mega Launch of the highly-anticipated gaming event, Cyberzone Game Fest was mainly presented by Predator Gaming in the Philippines, co-presented by realme and PC Express, and powered by PLDT Hometo collaboratively bring an immersive gaming experience for all. Transcending Boundaries, Solidifying Tech Leadership This year, Cyberzone is dedicated to transcending boundaries, aiming to further solidify our leadership as the countrys premier tech destination through Cyberzone Game Fest 2024; putting this evolving consumer segment at the forefront of esports, says Mr. Joaquin L. San Agustin, Senior Vice President, Head Marketing of SM Supermalls, at his welcoming speech. - Advertisement - Cosplayers in action The official opening of the 8-part series of Cyberzone Game Fest was also graced by the presence of Predator Ambassador, and Valorant gamer himself, Josh Cullen of SB19; alongside Team Secret Ambassador for the Philippines, Razzie Binx. Both Josh and Razzie led the Celebrity Match with invited Valorant gamers and fans on stage where they battled it out for fun and glory, bringing more thrills for their respective supporters. Valorant Battle Arena: Best 4 Team Hailed for Glory 32 Teams of 5 all came together to clinch their own victory in the Online Qualifier held on Feb 28, Wednesday. For a seamless experience, participants were given a comprehensive platform with specially designed redeemable coupons on SM Malls Online app. At the first leg of Cyberzone Game Fest 2024, 16 victors have entered the Semi-Finals and 8 teams for the Finals. These two-part gaming tournaments were both held on Saturday, March 2 at SM Megamall, Event Center, Mega A. Four winning teams (Team Meow, Scatter, Vertex Lumina, and No Org) were hailed for glory as they took home a total prize pool of P30,000. Game Fest Kids Game Fest Kids: Roblox Tournament for the Young Providing an immersive adventure for fun and creativity, Cyberzone Game Fest Kids was held, Mar 3. The first leg was closed off with a meet-and-greet opportunity among kids, supported by their parents and guardians, with Roblox Star Junell Dominic, aka Juneru. Juneru graced the stage and made the gaming experience for kids a memorable one as they navigate their way to SM Super Kids Zone on Roblox. The best 4 kid players were rewarded with a total prize pool of Php5,000 during the event run. The fun continues as the kids, along with other gaming aficionados, take the free plays and mini challenges into the next level. Catch Cyberzone Game Fest until April 2024 The gaming adventure continues at select SM Supermalls, during mall hours, every Friday to Sundays. Catch Cyberzone Game Fest on these datesSM Southmall March 8-10, SM North EDSA March 15-17, SM City Baguio March 22-24, SM City Clark April 5-7, SM City Sto. Tomas April 12-14, SM Seaside Cebu April 19-21, SM City General Santos April 26-28. Always make sure to #CheckCyberzone at an SM Mall near you for the latest and best #TechAssured gadgets! You can also locate competitive gadget deals through the SM Malls Online app. Keep informed regarding the latest tech updates and gaming events like Cyberzone Game Fest 2024 by following SM Cyberzone on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or by visiting our website at www.smcyberzone.com. Local author Julia Nunnally Duncan will discuss and sign copies of her new book of poetry, When Time Was Suspended, on Saturday, March 23, at the Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort. The book-signing event will happen from noon to 1 p.m. at the museum and heritage center at 24 Water St. in Old Fort, according to a news release from the Mountain Gateway Museum. Other book-signing events are scheduled in Marion, Old Fort and Black Mountain later in 2024. Duncan grew up in western North Carolina, and her work is inspired by the history and nature of her roots. An award-winning author, she has written several books and two essay collections: All We Have Loved and A Place That Was Home. Part of Duncans essay collections document her life in McDowell County during the 1960s and explore her mothers life in the area during the Great Depression. When Time Was Suspended has been praised by North Carolina Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti, who described it as a fascinating, richly imagined conflation of history, ethnography, genealogy, ancestry, family Bible, and a suite of ekphrastic masterpieces. Bathanti added, Duncans books are dazzling, indisputable knockouts, and this might be her best. In addition to writing, Duncan taught English and humanities at McDowell Technical Community College in Marion for more than 30 years. She lives with her husband, Steve, and they have a daughter, Annie, according to the news release from the Mountain Gateway Museum. As a retired English and humanities instructor from McDowell Tech, where she dedicated over 30 years to education, Duncan is not only a seasoned professional but also a prolific author. In addition to her extensive career as an educator, she has established herself as a respected figure in the literary world with 11 previously published books, starting with her debut, Blue Ridge Shadows, in 2002. When Time Was Suspended is a unique exploration of Duncans personal history, intricately weaving together moments from her childhood and the lives of earlier generations in her family and in history, according to a news release from her publisher. The inspiration for this collection struck Duncan as she reflected on family pictures and 19th century photographs, stating, It came about after reflecting upon family pictures and 19th century photographs that have touched me deeply and I think will touch others. A distinctive feature of this collection is its ability to preserve family stories that might have otherwise been lost to time. Duncan expresses, I seem to be the keeper of my familys history, which is not all that different from others history in my region. I think this is why a lot of readers have told me my stories and poems trigger their own memories of life in western North Carolina. When Time Was Suspended consolidates two series of poems that Duncan previously published in separate collections, focusing on 19th-century medical photographs from the Burns Archive. The themes encompass illness and death, as well as Civil War injuries, offering readers a unique perspective on historical events and human experiences, according to the news release from her publisher. Duncans poetry, characterized by its narrative quality, invites readers into her world, making it accessible to those who may feel distant from the world of poetry. She reassures potential readers, saying, Even if you think you dont understand poetry, you will understand mine. This collection is expected to resonate particularly with readers interested in western North Carolina or Southern life and culture, as well as those who enjoy exploring themes of family relationships, life in the 1960s, World War I, the Civil War and photography. For more information about the March 23 event, visit the Mountain Gateway Museums website at www.mgmnc.org or contact Brittany Joachim at 828-668-9259 or brittany.bennett@dncr.nc.gov. The museum is open year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from 2-5 p.m. Sunday; closed on Monday and state holidays. Admission is free. When Time Was Suspended will be available in late March and is currently available for presales at http://tinyurl.com/JuliaNunnallyDuncan. The publisher, Redhawk Publications, is an artistic initiative of the Catawba Valley Community College, publishing written works of interest for the local community, North Carolina, and the entire United States. Old Fort Mayor Rick Hensley died late Thursday afternoon after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He celebrated his 60th birthday last month. The towns Police Chief and Alderman Melvin Lytle confirmed the death of the mayor Thursday night. Hensley had undergone treatments for cancer and had been unable to preside over some of the Old Fort Aldermen meetings last year. But he served as the grand marshal for Old Forts Christmas parade in December and presided over the January meeting. However, he was unable to attend the February meeting, according to Town Clerk Renee Taylor. A native of Old Fort and a graduate of McDowell High, Hensley worked as a maintenance mechanic for Baxter Healthcare. He earned two certificates in business management and held degrees in industrial maintenance. In 2013, Hensley first ran for the office of Old Fort mayor. At that time, he told The McDowell News he had a deep desire for our town to do well, prosper and to unify. I along with my wife have raised our children here in Old Fort and would love for them to return to our wonderful town to raise our grandchildren, he said in 2013. I care about the town I grew up in and want to see growth and new opportunity for future generations to come. Rick had the towns interests at heart, said Taylor on Friday. He really loved the town of Old Fort. I am sad his time was short. He cared very much for the town and growth of the town. Hensley believed in the future of Old Fort and worked hard to make things happen. Old Fort is a gold mine of opportunity with its rich history and abundant natural resources, he said in 2013. With the residents help we can as a town promote, revitalize and encourage our economy. We have three rivers, and many beautiful trails and our phenomenal history that in itself could create a tourist attraction like never before. We have the resources to be amazing, if we just roll up our sleeves and go to work. He also talked to The McDowell News in 2013 about encouraging Old Fort residents to become more involved with their town. I would love for Old Fort residents to tell me their concerns, he said at the time. I will always remember that I serve the public and will not take the public for granted. I will pay attention when citizens talk to me about concerns and issues regardless of how large or small. I will go out of my way to attend neighborhood meetings and events to communicate with the residents of Old Fort, and make my presence be known. I am not one to hide behind a door. I will support citizens in efforts to get honest, prompt and complete responses to their questions and concerns. In his first run for mayor, Hensley spoke about what he would bring to the town. I will bring to this office a strong dedication to God and country, to never falter or comprise my beliefs, he said in 2013. I am strong willed and only for the benefit of Old Fort will I ever change my mind. I care very much for the town I love. I am not a perfect man, but want to do everything possible to keep my children and grandchildren home in our town, Old Fort. In 2017, Hensley sought another term as mayor. At that time, The McDowell News asked him what he envisioned Old Fort to be 10 years in the future. Like I mentioned in an earlier question, the interest in Old Fort is amazing, he said in 2017. If we can achieve reasonable property prices and a lot more housing, Old Fort will grow tremendously. The economy is strong and our tax rate is very low and we still have that small-town feel. I have many letters and emails from visitors saying They love the charm of our town. I agree because our children can play outside without fear of danger, families walk our sidewalks like a Norman Rockwell painting. I know we will begin to grow fast, but I hope we will never lose that down-to-earth hospitality and true Southern charm. In 10 years, I will feel the same way about Old Fort as I do now: It is the greatest little town in the United States. God bless each of you. McDowell Countys other mayor is attorney Steve Little. The mayor of Marion said Friday he didnt know Hensley before he was elected mayor of Old Fort. But Little said he was impressed with how well Hensley represented the office of mayor and the town. We had a very cordial, professional relationship, said Little of Hensley. Rick was very approachable, very interested in learning things that could promote Old Fort and McDowell County. Little said one thing he will always remember about Hensley is how he would wear his suit whether it was at a school or a ribbon-cutting or any other special event. He would wear his suit and speak in a way that promoted respect and dignity to the town, Little said of Hensley. Little added Hensley was a very soft-spoken and confident in a good way. On Friday, longtime Alderman and former Mayor Wayne Stafford said Hensley will be greatly missed. Rick was a good Christian man and he was a good mayor and he did a lot for the town of Old Fort, Stafford told The McDowell News. He always helped with decorations and worked to get new businesses for the town of Old Fort. Alderwoman Iretha Hancock serves as the mayor pro tem and she will preside over the meetings until a decision is made by the Old Fort Board of Aldermen regarding a new mayor, Lytle said Thursday night. Hancock could not be reached for comment on Friday. Likewise, Alderwoman Erin Adams and Alderman Jamie Grindstaff could not be reached for comment on Friday. Stafford said the next aldermen meeting will be held Monday, March 18, at 5:30 p.m. at the Town Hall. I just ask that everyone keep Tonia, his mother and the family in their prayers, he said Friday. These findings support current CDC recommendations and the benefit of at least annual boosters to people 65 and older and immunocompromised populations, and suggest that public health strategies to increase booster uptake could get the most bang for their buck by focusing on the high-risk populations. A thorny question In this study we focused on a goal of reducing severe COVID-19 leading to hospitalization, but there are numerous other considerations that influence vaccine decisions, Lo said. The team considered how novel variants and overall transmission play into decisions on how frequently to receive booster vaccines. They looked at the effect of new viral variants with regard to evasion of the immune system and found that the benefit of more frequent boosters for all groups was larger if new vaccine formulations were better matched to the latest variants. In addition, the team looked at the impact of transmission: Compared with more restricted booster programs targeting only higher risk populations, more inclusive frequent booster programs (for all age and risk groups) led to lower transmission, with additional benefit for the highest risk groups. The researchers note that frequent vaccination also helped reduce non-severe cases in all risk groups. There are a multitude of considerations here, and the optimal vaccine recommendations will depend on what is factored into the decision, Lo said. The scientists also included prior COVID-19 infection in their model, finding less benefit from frequent vaccination to prevent severe disease for those who had previously had a case of COVID-19 compared with those who hadnt. Prior infection gives a short window of protection against infection, so the boosters protection on top of that is smaller. Due to a lack of data and to simplify the model, some variables werent accounted for in the study: The likelihood of infection for each group was assumed to be the same over time, even though infection risk differs in real life. The model was also based on data from earlier circulating variants and vaccine formulations. Immunocompromised people were clustered into two groups in the model, although these populations are actually much more variable, and the model did not address vaccine hesitancy or the risks of long COVID. Lo and his colleagues plan to share their findings with policy makers and will update the model with new data as it becomes available, hoping to shed even more light on the tricky question of vaccine frequency. In science, there are some questions that get easier over time and some that get more challenging over time, Lo said. This is one of the latter. Researchers from the Yale School of Public Health; the University of California, San Francisco; and the California Department of Public Health also contributed to the study. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grant DP2 AI170485) and the California Department of Public Health. Over the last three years 2021, 2022 and 2023, 93% of decisions have not been implemented, the African Union Commission chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, lamented recently, highlighting a crucial problem facing the pan-African organization, whereby fixing the problem requires political willingness by member states to gradually sacrifice their sovereignty for the greater good of continental integration, according to experts. In his recent speech, Mahamat accused member states of getting in the way of the commission doing its work, and failing to match rhetoric with action. Experts largely agree with him and call for action on the AU powers. In a recent analysis with an apt title The African Union is Weak Because its Members Want it That Way published in The Conversation, experts point out that the real power within the AU lies in the hands of its assembly, composed of heads of state and government, but the assembly has refused to transfer meaningful powers to any of the AU organs. The experts also highlight the key difference between the AU and the European Union, whereby in the latter, supranational, binding powers are exercised by organs such as the European Commission and the European Parliament. The AUs aim of deepening continental integration in Africa is not matched by the powers of its organs. As various AU-mandated reports have shown, the organization is dysfunctional and not fit for purpose. According to the analysis, fixing the problem requires political willingness by member states to gradually sacrifice their sovereignty for the greater good of continental integration. Also, more innovative and creative ways are needed to see how powers can be transferred to weak AU organs. The experts behind the analysis thus call on the AU member states to commit to coming up with a feasible plan that shows how, in the short to medium term, they intend to transfer meaningful powers to the AU Commission and the Pan-African Parliament. The head of the United Nations refugee agency issued a fresh warning on Thursday regarding the plight of over 780,000 displaced individuals in Mozambique. The vast majority of these people have been forced to flee due to a seven-year insurgency led by a militant group, causing turmoil in the northern region of the country. Filippo Grandi, the U.N.s high commissioner for refugees, visited Mozambiques northern Cabo Delgado province, where an insurgent group affiliated with the Islamic State has been carrying out attacks since 2017. These attacks have forced approximately 1.3 million people to flee their homes to escape violence and brutality. Around 600,000 individuals have since returned to communities devastated by the destruction of infrastructure, including houses, markets, churches, schools, and health facilities. Grandis visit coincided with a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State group in Cabo Delgado since January, following a period of relative calm in 2023. These recent attacks have resulted in 80,000 new displacements, pushing the total number of displaced individuals in Mozambique to over three-quarters of a million. Some aid agencies suggest that the number of those displaced by violence in the north since January is closer to 100,000. Of those displaced, approximately 700,000 are in Cabo Delgado, while the remaining 80,000 are in the central Sofala province, which was severely affected by Cyclone Idai in 2019. Grandi emphasized the need for continued international support to address the crisis in Mozambique, highlighting a significant funding gap in the U.N.s humanitarian plan for the country. The U.N. requires $400 million to assist Mozambique this year alone but has only received pledges amounting to 5% of that sum, according to Robert Piper, the special adviser on internally displaced people to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Piper stressed that while some resources are available, additional funding is urgently needed to address the ongoing crisis. Invictus Energy, an Australian company, anticipates finalizing a production sharing agreement (PSA) with the Zimbabwean government for its Cabora Bassa project within weeks, marking the culmination of years-long delays. This crucial agreement is essential for Invictus to exploit gas discoveries in northern Zimbabwe, with one significant find, Mukuyu, ranked second in sub-Saharan Africa last year by energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie. Robin Sutherland, a non-executive director at Invictus, disclosed that recent discussions with senior Zimbabwean officials, including central bank governor John Mangudya, indicated a commitment to expedite negotiations, aiming for a swift resolution in weeks rather than extended periods. Despite efforts to obtain comment, Mangudyas office remained unresponsive. The PSA, delayed for about four years, is pivotal for Invictus as it seeks to commercialize its discoveries, potentially supplying energy to miners in Zimbabwe amid persistent shortages. Invictus plans to conduct 3D surveys and test the Mukuyu-2 well to assess its flow rate. Additionally, the company has secured a gas sales agreement with Mbuyu Energy for a 500-megawatt gas-to-power project. Sutherland mentioned plans for a small gas processing facility near the grid to cater to high electricity demand. While Sutherland expressed optimism about initiating commercial activities within a year or two, he emphasized that nothing has been finalized. 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: There are notable concerns relating to the use of currently available artificial intelligence (AI) dermatology mobile applications (apps), according to a study published online March 7 in JAMA Dermatology to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, held from March 8 to 10 in San Diego. Shannon Wongvibulsin, M.D., Ph.D., from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles, and colleagues conducted a scoping review to identify and characterize current English-language AI dermatology mobile apps available for download. A total of 909 apps were identified initially; after removal of duplicates, 391 apps remained. A further 350 apps were excluded on subsequent review, yielding 41 apps available for detailed analysis. The researchers identified several concerning aspects relating to AI apps in dermatology. None of the apps were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; disclaimers for lack of regulatory approval were included in only two apps. The apps lacked supporting evidence, input from clinicians and/or dermatologists, and transparency in terms of development of algorithms, data usage, and user privacy. "The use of these apps has risks associated with a lack of consistent validation and transparent user communication," the authors write. "These findings are important to increase awareness of the current limitations and the need to further develop methods for creation of AI dermatology apps with effective regulation, validation, and standardized evaluation criteria." One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical and dermatology industries and has a related patent pending. More information: Shannon Wongvibulsin et al, Current State of Dermatology Mobile Applications With Artificial Intelligence Features, JAMA Dermatology (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.0468 Journal information: JAMA Dermatology 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: Electron microscope image of viral particles produced in HIV-infected human immune cells (macrophages). Credit: Kathleen Collins and Michael Mashiba A team of University of Michigan researchers has successfully modified a naturally occurring chemical compound in the lab, resulting in advanced lead compounds with anti-HIV activity. Their results, published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, offer a new path forward in the development of drugs that could potentially help curerather than treatHIV. Although effective treatments are available to manage HIV, a cure has remained elusive due to the virus's ability to hide from the immune system, lying dormant in reservoirs of infected cells. "With most viruses, when people get infected, they get sick for a while, and then the immune system kicks in, and the virus is cleared," said Kathleen Collins, professor of microbiology and immunology at the U-M Medical School. "But with HIV, once a patient is infected, that virus will persist for their entire lifemeaning they must remain on treatments indefinitely." One key to HIV's ability to remain hidden in patients' cells is a protein that the virus makes called Nef. This protein shuts down a system that the cell would normally use to alert the immune system to an infection, thus preventing the immune cells from recognizing and clearing the virus. Collins and her lab have studied this protein for more than 15 years, investigating how it works and how it can be disabled. She and David Sherman, professor at the U-M Life Sciences Institute, previously discovered that a chemical found in nature can inhibit HIV Nef, allowing the immune system to find and eliminate virally infected cells: a compound called concanamycin A (CMA), which is produced by a soil-derived microorganism. In its natural form, however, CMA presents several challenges as a potential therapeutic. The first challenge the team had to overcome was supply. While CMA is a naturally occurring compound, the original bacteria that produces it does so in quantities far too small to be useful for testing and modification in the lab. Another major challenge with developing CMA as an anti-HIV drug is that Nef is not CMA's primary target. "CMA's main job in human cells is to inhibit an enzyme called V-ATPase, which we absolutely do not want to block in this case," said Sherman, who is also a professor at the U-M College of Pharmacy, Medical School, and College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. "So, we needed to find a way to modify CMA's activity, widening the effective dosage gap between when it starts to inhibit the target we're aiming forHIV Nefwithout affecting V-ATPase, its typical cellular target." With this latest research, the team has overcome both of these challenges. Using bioengineering, Sherman's team was able to develop a bacterial strain that increased CMA production 2,000-fold. Synthetic chemists in the lab then created more than 70 new variations of the compound, swapping out different chemical groups to test for their potency against HIV Nef. Collins' lab team ran the new compounds through a battery of tests to measure their toxicity to cells, as well as how they affected the activities of both HIV Nef and V-ATPase. "Even though we know that CMA is extremely active against the HIV Nef protein, all drugs have side effects," said Collins, also a professor of internal medicine at the Medical School. "And so we wanted to ensure we've done everything we can to minimize the side effect profile of the drug before we consider putting it into an animal or human." The team now has several CMA analogs that show high potency in blocking HIV Nef at very low dosage levels without interrupting off-target effects or causing toxicity in human cells. They caution, however, that several important steps remain before the compounds would be ready for further testing in a clinical setting. "We are really encouraged, though, because our groups have solved some very important problems," Sherman said. "We have engineered microorganisms to produce sustainable supplies of the natural product molecules and have really good chemical methods to make new analogs. And we have the methodologies in place to continue tracking the critical toxicity and potency parameters to reduce off-target effects further." More information: Morgan McCauley et al, StructureActivity Relationships of Natural and Semisynthetic Plecomacrolides Suggest Distinct Pathways for HIV-1 Immune Evasion and Vacuolar ATPase-Dependent Lysosomal Acidification, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01574 Journal information: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 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: Multiple Sclerosis Journal (2024). DOI: 10.1177/13524585241228739 Awareness about a disease in at risk-population improve outcomes. That's the simple idea behind a new, bilingual resource for both patients, medical students, and providers to help them overcome cultural barriers and recognize the early and critical symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Social determinants of health, such as education, awareness, cultural, language, socio-economic or access obstacles, can cause unintended delays in diagnosing and treating MS, which result in patients missing out on timely interventions to avoid the onset of disability and progression. Dr. Jaime Imitola, chief of UConn Health's Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Translational Neuroimmunology, says the intention is to address a lack of education in medical students and general neurologists, and empower the community to remember the early signs of MS that require immediate attention. "We have worked for the last five years to improve the care of the MS patients of the state of Connecticut, and we have created several strategies and research and build a national recognized MS center," Imitola says. "In the last two years, with input of medical students, scientists and patients, we created a bilingual tool that collects, in a very clear, succinct manner, both compelling graphic and in words, the most relevant and alarming symptoms in early MS. We put it together in a framework that helps anyone to be educated about the initial red flags for multiple sclerosis." That led to the mnemonic "VISIBL-MS," which is the basis for "VISIBLY" in English and "VISIBLE" in Spanish. Spelling out the English example: VISI: Vision changes, including painful vision loss of color vision, or double vision B: Belly or back numbness or balance problems L: Limb weakness or numbness Y: Young people Imitola reports on this novel framework in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, with UConn medical student co-authors Shivam Patel and Seamus Rafferty and collaborators from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida. Noting how the acronym BEFAST has become synonymous with how to recognize signs of stroke, Imitola is hopeful VISIBL-MS will help the community identify people who may have early signs of multiple sclerosis. As the authors explain, early MS symptoms are not often recognized by patients and general practitioners, and many patients are dismissed because of the transient nature of the initial symptoms or the belief that only Caucasian people get MS, only to come back with another attack contributing to delays in diagnosis and treatment. "We hope to integrate our new tool into medical students' education, but also that it can be helpful for patients and families, since the design is simple but very informative and the mnemonic can be used in English or Spanish," Imitola says. He notes that Connecticut has an increased prevalence of MS, around 280 per 100,000 people, "and there is enough evidence that diverse patients have worse MS due to intrinsic biological aggravated by social factors. UConn Health serves as the flagship safety net institution for the state and we need to make an effort to raise awareness in our populations that are minoritiesAfrican Americans, Hispanics, and othersbecause early awareness leads to early treatment and leads to prevention and changing the trajectory of the disease process." The VISIBL-MS tool is published as open access and free to all. "These tools, developed by my team, encompass the strategic vision and identification of gaps in the real-world for our patients in Connecticut, harmonizing the mission of UConn Health, to bring solutions to the people of Connecticut through care, education and research," Imitola says. More information: Shivam Patel et al, VISIBL-MS: A bilingual educational framework to increase awareness of early multiple sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis Journal (2024). DOI: 10.1177/13524585241228739 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Study device and location for applying pads. a Actual photo of the AT-04. The appearance of the test device (AT-04) and the sham device (S-02) is identical, and it is impossible to distinguish the two based on their external features. b Location for applying pads. Participants will attach the pads themselves to both sides of their lower abdomens. The gray circle indicates the basic location for applying the pads. Credit: Reproductive Health (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s12978-024-01739-8 Endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting women, often resulting in painful symptoms such as menstrual cramps and pelvic pain. Pain caused by endometriosis significantly lowers the quality of life and reproductive health of affected women, with around one-third of women still experiencing pain and discomfort despite treatment. While hormonal therapies and surgeries are common treatments, they often do not result in complete alleviation of symptoms. Effectively managing pain is, therefore, crucial for managing the profound impact of the condition on daily life and work productivity, with challenges persisting even after treatment. Now, in a recent study published in Reproductive Health, researchers investigate the effectiveness and safety of a new portable pain relief device known as the Angel Touch device (AT-04). The device, developed by Peace of Mind Co., Ltd. in Japan, emits a mix of magnetic fields that target pain in specific areas. Previous research on animals has shown that the device works by adjusting nerve growth factors, reducing inflammation, and activating the body's natural pain relief mechanisms. Building upon this existing body of knowledge, Associate Professor Hiroshi Ishikawa and Professor Kaori Koga from Chiba University's Graduate School of Medicine, along with their team, are now undertaking a study to investigate the potential of AT-04 in managing endometriosis-related pain by utilizing its unique combination of alternating magnetic fields. "We focused our study on AT-04 since it is an exceptionally minimally invasive device suitable for premenopausal women, as it does not disrupt ovulation. Its method of pain management differs significantly from current treatments, indicating promising potential for effectively addressing endometriosis-related pain," says Dr. Ishikawa, underscoring the efficacy of AT-04 in managing endometriosis-related pain. Approved by the Clinical Study Review Board, this study involves premenopausal women above the age of 18 with moderate to severe endometriosis-related pain. Fifty participants will be randomly divided to either receive genuine electromagnetic wave treatment from AT-04 or use a placebo device for a "double-blind" period lasting 16 weeks. Following this, both groups will wear the AT-04 for an additional four weeks. The researchers then aim to measure changes in pain levels using a pain scale and also look at other factors such as pelvic pain, participants' quality of life, and safety. In addition to assessing pain levels using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the study also evaluates the participants' Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) using the Endometriosis Health Profile-30 and the EuroQol 5-Dimension scoring systems. These tools can provide insights into various aspects of HRQoL, including pain, emotional well-being, and social support. Despite the potential benefits of AT-04, the study still has several limitations which require further consideration. For instance, determining the device's sole efficacy in treating endometriosis-related pain can be challenging since most participants would have already undergone treatment for the condition. Furthermore, hormonal fluctuations associated with the menstrual cycle can impact pain and HRQoL assessments during the research period. Additionally, the effectiveness of pain relief by AT-04 can vary among participants with moderate pain levels. Despite these limitations, however, Dr. Ishikawa is optimistic about the future potential of this study. Elaborating further, he says, "Women experiencing persistent endometriosis-related pain often endure mental strain such as depression. This stress, alongside the condition itself, can exacerbate future fertility issues." "By effectively managing long-term pain with minimal side effects using AT-04, the device is expected to enhance the quality of life for women with endometriosis-related pain and also to potentially safeguard against future declines in fertility." In summary, the potential of AT-04's benefits offers hope for those enduring persistent endometriosis-related pain unresponsive to existing treatments. Promisingly, this study underscores physicians' commitment to enhancing reproductive health and quality of life for women battling this condition. More information: Hiroshi Ishikawa et al, Efficacy and safety of a novel pain management device, AT-04, for endometriosis-related pain: study protocol for a phase III randomized controlled trial, Reproductive Health (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s12978-024-01739-8 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain University of Queensland research has led to the development of a practical framework to help medical professionals around the world diagnose and manage early menopause. Led by Professor Gita Mishra from UQ's Faculty of Medicine, the study found women who go through early menopause are often unable to access timely diagnosis and effective treatment and maybe at higher risk of chronic disease, like osteoporosis and heart disease. The research paper, "Optimising health after early menopause" has been published as part of The Lancet 2024 Series on menopause. "Early natural menopause affects around 12% of women globally and is defined as the cessation of periods between the ages of 40 and 44 years," Professor Mishra said. "The diagnosis of early menopause is often not straightforward unless a clear medical cause, like surgery or cancer treatment, is identified. The study recommends that instead of applying distinct age thresholds, early menopause should be seen on a spectrum between premature ovarian insufficiency (menopause before 40) and menopause at the average age of 5051 years. "We recommend a more holistic and individualized care approach to managing early menopause," Professor Mishra said. "This approach could be part of a broader attitude to reproductive health that ideally engages with individuals, especially those at risk of early menopause, well before it occurs. "This would raise awareness of the short and long-term risks of early menopause and provide an opportunity for a broader discussion with patients about heart and bone health, and whether the use of hormonal and non-hormonal therapies are appropriate to treat vasomotor symptoms." The study also highlighted the need for more research in the areas of early menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency. "There are important evidence gaps, particularly in middle- and low-income countries, around the causes, the associated health risks, and optimal management of early menopause," Professor Mishra said. "This is particularly important for Australia because we have a diverse population." "Governments should be encouraged to look beyond reproductive and child health programs and consider the health consequences of aging and the management of menopause-associated conditions, including menopause support in the workplace." Senior-author Professor Martha Hickey from The University of Melbourne said more information was urgently needed about the unmet needs of people going through early menopause. "It would be valuable to know whether they experience more severe symptoms and for a longer duration, than those who go through menopause at the average age," Professor Hickey said. More information: Gita D Mishra et al, Optimising health after early menopause, The Lancet (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02800-3 Journal information: The Lancet This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain New research from Oregon Health & Science University describes the science behind a promising technique to treat infertility by turning a skin cell into an egg that is capable of producing viable embryos. Researchers at OHSU documented in vitro gametogenesis, or IVG, in a mouse model through the preliminary steps of a technique that relies upon transferring the nucleus of a skin cell into a donated egg whose nucleus has been removed. Experimenting in mice, researchers coaxed the skin cell's nucleus into reducing its chromosomes by half, so that it could then be fertilized by a sperm cell to create a viable embryo. The study is published in the journal Science Advances. "The goal is to produce eggs for patients who don't have their own eggs," said senior author Shoukhrat Mitalipov, Ph.D., director of the OHSU Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy. The technique could be used by women of advanced maternal age or for those who are unable to produce viable eggs due to previous treatment for cancer or other causes. It also raises the possibility of men in same-sex relationships having children who are genetically related to both parents. Rather than attempting to differentiate induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs, into sperm or egg cells, OHSU researchers are focused on a technique based on somatic cell nuclear transfer, in which a skin cell nucleus is transplanted into a donor egg stripped of its nucleus. In 1996, researchers famously used this technique to clone a sheep in Scotland named Dolly. In that case, researchers created a clone of one parent. In contrast, the OHSU study described the result of a technique that resulted in embryos with chromosomes contributed from both parents. The process involves three steps: Researchers transplant the nucleus of a mouse skin cell into a mouse egg that is stripped of its own nucleus. Prompted by cytoplasmliquid that fills cellswithin the donor egg, the implanted skin cell nucleus discards half of its chromosomes. The process is similar to meiosis, when cells divide to produce mature sperm or egg cells. This is the key step, resulting in a haploid egg with a single set of chromosomes. Researchers then fertilize the new egg with sperm, a process called in vitro fertilization. This creates a diploid embryo with two sets of chromosomeswhich would ultimately result in healthy offspring with equal genetic contributions from both parents. OHSU researchers previously demonstrated the proof of concept in a study published in January 2022, but the new study goes further by meticulously sequencing the chromosomes. The researchers found that the skin cell's nucleus segregated its chromosomes each time it was implanted in the donor egg. In rare cases, this happened perfectly, with one from each pair of matching egg and sperm chromosomes. "This publication basically shows how we achieved haploidy," Mitalipov said. "In the next phase of this research, we will determine how we enhance that pairing so each chromosome-pair separates correctly." Laboratories around the world are involved in a different technique of IVG that involves a time-intensive process of reprogramming skin cells to become iPSCs, and then differentiating them to become egg or sperm cells. "We're skipping that whole step of cell reprogramming," said co-author Paula Amato, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the OHSU School of Medicine. "The advantage of our technique is that it avoids the long culture time it takes to reprogram the cell. Over several months, a lot of deleterious genetic and epigenetic changes can happen." Although researchers are also studying the technique in human eggs and early embryos, Amato said it will be years before the technique would be ready for clinical use. "This gives us a lot of insight," she said. "But there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to understand how these chromosomes pair and how they faithfully divide to actually reproduce what happens in nature." More information: Aleksei Mikhalchenko et al, Induction of somatic cell haploidy by premature cell division, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk9001. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adk9001 Journal information: Science Advances This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A large percentage of adolescents meet eligibility criteria for metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), according to a study published online Feb. 27 in Pediatrics. Warren L. Shapiro, M.D., from Southern California Permanente Medical Group in San Diego, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study of electronic health record data for 603,051 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years to examine eligibility and characteristics of those who qualify for MBS. Overall, 22.2 percent of the 603,041 participants evaluated had obesity (12.9, 5.4, and 3.9 percent had class 1, 2, and 3, respectively). The researchers found that gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were the most frequently diagnosed comorbid conditions (3.2, 0.5, and 0.5 percent, respectively). A total of 9.1 percent of the adolescents with class 2 obesity had one or more comorbidities qualifying them for MBS; the eligibility criteria for MBS were met by 4.4 percent of all adolescents. Male adolescents, Black and Hispanic adolescents, and those living in more deprived neighborhoods were more likely to meet the criteria for MBS in multivariable modeling. "The large number of eligible adolescents presents challenges for primary care and subspecialty pediatrics, as well as pediatric health care systems," the authors write. "The availability of MBS needs to be addressed by pediatric specialists and health care systems to determine how to prioritize the best candidates for surgery and make it more widely available to pediatric patients in the community." More information: Warren L. Shapiro et al, Prevalence of Adolescents Meeting Criteria for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Pediatrics (2024). DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-063916 Journal information: Pediatrics 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: Credit: Markus Winkler from Pexels An experimental new weight loss pill from Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk could be twice as effective as its blockbuster Ozempic and Wegovy jabs, early results from a small trial have suggested, sending the firm's shares soaring. The drug amycretin caused people to lose 13 percent of their body weight over three months, according to the results of a phase one trial announced by the company. Previous trials have found that Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy drugs lead to around six percent body weight loss over the same period. However experts emphasized that significantly more research was needed to establish the long-term effectiveness and safety of amycretin. Nonetheless, the announcement at an investor event on Thursday sent Novo Nordisk's shares shooting up more than eight percent. The immense popularity of this new generation of drugs called GLP-1 agonists have already made Novo Nordisk Europe's most valuable company, even as overwhelming demand has sparked major stock shortages. Unlike other semaglutide drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and US firm's Mounjaro, amycretin was taken as a pill, rather than a once-weekly injection. Similar to those drugs, amycretin mimics the appetite-reducing gut hormone GLP-1. But it also mimics another hormone called amylin. "This approach seems to be a little bit more exciting, from the limited data that we have," Daniel Drucker, a researcher at the Canada's University of Toronto, told New Scientist. But far more data was needed, he said, adding that amycretin has not been directly compared to other drugs in a head-to-head trial. Novo Nordisk's executive vice president for development Martin Holst Lange told the investor event that amycretin has the "potential of showing the same efficacy and safety as CagriSema," another of the firm's GLP-1 agonist drugs which targets amylin. The results from a trial of an injectable form of amycretin are expected at some point next year, he said. The firm would then look into an "ambitious further development program," he added. For the amycretin trial, which involved 16 people with an average weight of 89 kilograms, those given a placebo lost one percent of their body weight over 12 weeks. GLP-1 agonists have been found to cut the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with obesitybut they also heighten the risk of gastrointestinal problems, studies show. Research has also demonstrated that once people stop taking the drugs, they largely regain the weight they had lost. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Just one in five women in Europe are aware that alcohol is a risk factor for developing breast cancer, a "major" health concern in the region, the World Health Organization warned Friday. "Only 21 percent of women across 14 European countries were aware of the connection between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing breast cancer," the European branch of the WHO said in a statement, noting that awareness was even lower among men. "Just 10 percent of the men surveyed knew of this link." The WHO Europe comprises 53 countries and includes Central Asia. Some 600,000 cases of breast cancer were reported in Europe in 2022. The WHO did not provide its own data on how many cases were alcohol-related. But it cited 2020 data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which showed that of 575,917 new breast cancer cases, 39,248 were alcohol-attributable, about seven percent. "The role of alcohol as a preventable risk factor for breast cancer is critical," the WHO said. For women in Europe, breast cancer is "the primary cancer caused by alcohol, making up 66 percent of all cases of alcohol-attributable cancers," it said. Alcohol consumption affects levels of oestrogen, which plays a significant role in the development and progression of many breast cancers. Even relatively low levels of alcohol consumption can contribute to the risk of developing breast cancer, the agency warned. "More than half of all breast cancer cases attributable to alcohol in Europe are not due to heavy drinking, and about one third of new cases every year are due to drinking the equivalent of up to two small glasses of wine per day." The WHO called for new national policies to change drinking habits in Europe, noting that per capita consumption has barely changed since 2010. To prevent cancer risk factors the WHO "urges countries to place clear warnings on alcohol products as they already do for tobacco products," the organization's Europe director Hans Kluge told AFP. Europe "has the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the worldwith one in 10 alcohol-related deathsreducing or limiting our alcohol consumption is an excellent starting point for reducing the adverse effects and prioritizing health," he added. Breast cancer is the second-most detected cancer, with 2.3 million cases worldwide in 2022, according to the WHO. The 14 countries included in the European study were Austria, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. 2024 AFP As part of an educational exercise on a recent snowy Saturday afternoon, a mother reported her 4-year-old daughter "Anna" missing to a group of a dozen Scouts. Anna, played by a 5-foot, 11-inch tall adult with a bushy beard, was last seen on the University of Montana campus after a lunchtime picnic. Circled around a counselor, Scouts were reminded of their searching methods they had just learned that morning. After everyone quickly paired up with a buddy and a patrol leader, they set off to find Anna, heading out into the brisk, late winter air. Shouts of the name were heard across campus as pairs split up, occasionally returning evidence, like a lost doll, to the improvised command center. Eventually, We found Anna! was heard near one of the universitys science buildings, and soon a grinning Scout appeared, carrying Anna on his shoulders, heading toward the counselor leading the simulation, John Hall. The learning experience was part of several events held last weekend for the Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge University, sponsored by UM and UM ROTC. More than 200 Scouts and nearly half of all Montana troops from as far as Great Falls came to UM to learn new skills and earn merit badges. Hall congratulated the now beaming Scouts on their hasty find and praised them for how they managed to cover such a large space an the university in only 15 minutes. This is a scenario that you guys could encounter because I've encountered it before, Hall, a retired police deputy, said. We expect Scouts and Scoutmasters to know what they're doing and help us when something like this happens. You could be at a campsite, and somebody comes up and says, 'My baby wandered off.' So, how easy would it be to walk away from a picnic table for a 4-year-old, to be unable to be seen? To keep from having more victims, you have to be organized, and all things considered, you all did really good here. Thus, the dozen Scouts complete one of their badge requirements for the Search and Rescue Merit badge, with another simulated rescue planned later that afternoon. It was one of 28 different badge options offered in the third year of the event. Other badges, like a dentistry badge, could be earned through a tour of the Curry Health Centers dental office. There was a welding badge offered at UMs west campus, and one for astronomy in the star-gazing room at the Payne Family Native American Center. Scouts Advancement Chair Duane Adelson of the Montana Council, which includes troops from Missoula and Ravalli counties, said the university makes for a great environment to learn new merit badges. What the merit badge classes represent to scouting is new careers and new futures, Adelson said. When they take a merit badge, not only will they learn something new, but it gives them that exposure. I dont know if theres a merit badge that doesnt give them a specific high-level look into that skill set or job or function. Adelson said his son, now a graduated Eagle Scout enrolled at UM, found his career direction through scouting. After earning several badges around business and entrepreneurship, his son decided to focus on operating psychology clinics in the future. Adelson said thats not an uncommon story for Scouts. MBU (Merit Badge University) is a place where they can get concentrated knowledge into subjects they havent approached before, he said. The career exploration is part of the everlasting appeal for the organization, Adelson said. After a dip during COVID-19, scouting has experienced unprecedented enrollment growth in Montana over the past couple years. Theres currently 2,950 Scouts registered statewide, with new girl troops being a part of the former Boy Scouts since 2019. Eight of the 32 troops at the Merit Badge University this weekend consisted of girls. One of the newer badges offered was the filmmaking merit badge. In a four-hour session, Scouts were taught camera and storytelling techniques by experts at Missoula Community Access Television. Teamed up with one or two partners, they were expected to make an original film, from shooting to editing. Films produced ranged from comedy to horror to documentary. Susanne Hughes, the filmmaking merit badge leader, said the badge is getting Scouts introduced into topics that wouldnt be in school. At the end of the filmmaking session, the final requirement expected of participants in the session is to identify careers where the skills they learned can be used. Every merit badge ends with that career requirement, Hughes said. And so thats why it really helps further interest in the industry and really teaches them life skills in the process. The top official for Missoula's public transportation system will depart his position next month after nine years with the department, the Missoula Urban Transportation District announced on Friday. Mountain Line CEO and General Manager Corey Aldridge will leave Missoula for the top transportation job at Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District in California. "It was an incredibly difficult decision," Aldridge said in a statement. "I have been honored to lead an extraordinary team in working on MUTD's growth and success, and I will always treasure my time in Missoula and at Mountain Line." The Missoula Urban Transportation District, which runs Mountain Line, said in a statement that Aldridge was instrumental in transitioning the bus fleet to electric, expanding routes and bettering transportation infrastructure. Under Aldridge, Mountain Line increased its service to residents by 30% after the city approved a ballot levy increase in 2020. In 2023, the district won a $40 million federal grant for new maintenance, administration and to boost its operating base. The transportation district also made significant progress in adding electric buses to its fleet since 2017. Mountain Line still has a plan to eliminate tailpipe emissions by 2035, the release said. Corey has been an exemplary leader for Mountain Line, not only because of his vision for public transit in Missoula, but also because of his character, Director of Operations Jennifer Sweten said in the release. He understands the importance of an empathetic, inclusive workplace, and that has fostered a truly welcoming environment at Mountain Line over the last nine years. Aldridge's last day at the job will be April 12, the release said. The Missoula Urban Transportation District Board of Directors plans to pick Aldridge's replacement during its March 28 meeting. In a letter to Lake County commissioners last week, Gov. Greg Gianforte outlined what he said was the only potential tool available to me regarding a law enforcement dispute with Lake County. The dispute pertains to federal Public Law 280, which was enacted in 1953 and grants certain states criminal jurisdiction over some Indian reservations. Some states Alaska, California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon and Wisconsin were mandated to adopt Public Law 280. Other states, like Montana, were given the option to do so. Of the 12 tribes in Montana, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are the only group to opt in to Public Law 280, which means that on the Flathead Reservation, felonies committed by tribal members are handled by local county law enforcement not the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs or FBI. And since 1990, CSKT has been prosecuting misdemeanor crimes committed by tribal members on the reservation helping shoulder the burden of jurisdictional responsibility. But Lake County has claimed for years that it has not been adequately reimbursed by the state for assuming this job. And county commissioners say the law is burdensome to taxpayers. This legislative session, leaders from the Lake County area proposed three bills to remedy the law enforcement agreement. Two bills died, and Gianforte vetoed the third, which would've appropriated $2.5 million each year in the biennium for Lake County to offset costs for law enforcement activities on the reservation. When that bill was vetoed, sponsor Rep. Joe Read, R-Ronan, said the drama will play out in court, referring to a lawsuit in which the county claimed it had not been adequately reimbursed for services provided. In November, however, a judge ruled in favor of the state, saying the state is obligated to reimburse the county only to the extent the Legislature sees fit. The judge added, If the financial burden Lake County bears is unacceptable, which by all accounts it appears to be, its remedy is to withdraw. Lake County commissioners have already initiated a withdrawal from the Public Law 280 agreement, and the governor is expected to issue a proclamation of that withdrawal on May 20. What happens now? In his letter to the Lake County Commission, Gianforte acknowledged the countys withdrawal from the agreement and stated, the only potential tool available to me is to initiate retrocession of felony criminal jurisdiction to the United States. In plain terms, that means the federal government not the state and not Lake County would assume jurisdiction over major crimes committed on the Flathead Reservation. In the letter, Gianforte wrote that neither his office nor the Montana Department of Justice have authority to appropriate funds or change the existing law enforcement regime. County Commission Chair Gale Decker said the commission was disappointed in the letter. He said the retrocession process could take years, So the question is, what happens in the interim as far as public safety? As of now, when a tribal member is charged with a felony on the Flathead Reservation, the individual will likely be detained in the Lake County jail and prosecuted in Lake County court. But after May 20, when the county officially leaves the agreement, Decker said its unclear where tribal offenders will go and who will prosecute their cases. The governor has shown absolutely no leadership on this issue, Decker said, adding that Gianforte called the Public Law 280 agreement a model of success in his veto letter. It seems almost irrational that he would call it a model of success and on the other hand appear to really have no interest in seeing that model of success continue into the future. Responding to Gianforte's letter, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes issued a statement saying the tribes will "continue to collaborate with all jurisdictions across the reservation to provide robust law enforcement services." After four hours of sitting through the second meeting of Missoula's newly formed Urban Camping Working Group, Ward 6 City Councilor Kristen Jordan could not stay quiet. As members of the group considered what Missoula can do to reduce homelessness, she kept hearing the assertion that unhoused people are not held accountable for criminal activity, a notion she strongly disagrees with, she said. "I have a stack of cases of homeless people who are being convicted of felonies for stealing food and makeup and yelling at people," Jordan said. "They are being hit with felony charges. So where is it coming from that our court system is not holding people accountable? I am pretty upset about this." Some members of the 24-person board that filled a large back room of the Missoula County Elections Center Wednesday evening disagreed with Jordan. They said they see unhoused people get away with crimes all the time. "I have seen many, many crimes over the years in my area, I have only once seen someone arrested," Western Cider co-owner Matthew LaRubbio said, referencing his business on California Street. But according to Missoula Municipal Judge Jacob Coolidge, who attended the meeting, the issue with punishing unhoused residents for potential crimes is much more nuanced. "One thing we find quite challenging in terms of this accountability, is the punishment for municipal ordinance violations is fines, and by state law, judges are not allowed to impose fines they believe the defendant does not has the ability to pay," Coolidge said, silencing the room. "We're left with a tool that we're not allowed to use by law." The back-and-forth was a glimpse into one of many discussions the working group is having to find solutions to urban camping in Missoula, reach a point of agreement and recommend action to get people off the city's streets. The workshop has a lofty goal of creating a new plan to solve homelessness in just five meetings with city leaders, businesses, lawyers, residents and members of the unhoused community. Missoula's unhoused population has declined from its peak numbers during the COVID pandemic, but there are still hundreds of people sleeping in the city's two shelters, according to city data. Dozens of other unhoused people sleep in tents or on the street. Former Mayor Jordan Hess declared a state of emergency over homelessness and sheltering in the city in June 2023. While the first meeting last week was largely focused on introductions and finding consensus, the urban camping workshop met for five hours on March 6 to pitch ideas and priorities that it can form into a policy later this spring. Consensus at 30,000 feet The meeting started with a lengthy, two-hour roundtable introduction on each member's goal. Some people focused on youth safety. Others laid out proposals like authorized campsites that should be operated by the city. What all members agreed on is Missoula's current system for getting people off the streets has not been successful and new systems need to be implemented. Ward 5 City Councilor Bob Campbell said more accountability is needed in three ways: make a consensus solution that the city council can implement, have both public and private stakeholders follow through, and hold the "end users," or unhoused people, accountable. "We should have accountability from those folks that they are not going to cause problems in our facilities like the Poverello Center," Campbell said. Heather Schwenk, the vice president of Missoula Property Management, said the solution needs to cover multiple areas of concern, including urban camping, affordable housing and services for the homeless. Others offered more specific solutions, like an authorized outdoor campsite where unhoused people can have a clean space away from the public. Missoula previously had an authorized campsite located on the south side of town near Walmart that operated for one year. SJ Howell, a state lawmaker and the executive director of Montana Women Vote, said multiple outdoor spaces for unhoused people, including a space to park vehicles, would be a good start, but a new system should also provide case management services. "Folks can really provide support for people who are going to different services and make it effective and sustainable," Howell said. While the future of the temporary Johnson Street shelter was not directly addressed, neighbors around the shelter said the area has become more unsafe and needs a change. Kevin Farmer, a neighbor to the shelter, said better sanitary conditions, less garbage and a central location for camping away from the area could alleviate some of the problems around the shelter. "We have been heavily impacted," Farmer said. "Our neighborhood has taken a serious toll." Brad Carlson, one of the two unhoused members of the workshop, said he looks to find a positive solution while protecting the rights of homeless people. He also acknowledged that the city and nonprofits are short on resources. "Maybe somehow we can increase our ability for outreach in terms of 'housing first and harm reduction,'" Carlson said. "We have a lot of organizations that do that already, but from my perspective they seem underfunded." "Housing first and harm reduction," an approach that emphasizes the need for a place to live first and foremost regardless of a person's stability or drug use, was discussed as an option to get people into shelter. Multiple members of the workshop said the method has worked in other states like Washington. Grant Kier, the CEO of the Missoula Economic Partnership, said he would like to see urban camping as limited as possible, but also said unhoused people need to be part of the community and be taken care of. He agreed the status quo has not worked for the last few years and compassion is needed to fix the issue. He said he also found himself agreeing with many points made by unhoused representative Tully Sanem. "The things that I heard him saying that a lot of the population were looking for weren't that different from what I think some of the business community is looking for in terms of stability, predictability, safety," Kier said. "There's a lot we agree on." Where's the money? In regard to the financial costs of some of the ideas suggested at the meeting, Ward 4 Councilor Amber Sherrill joked that "robbing a bank" might be the only solution to pay for them. But funding for homelessness is lacking, and many temporary funds run out this year. Missoula's city and county governments spend roughly $4 million on homelessness each year, the Missoulian reported last month. Almost half of that money will disappear after this year. Both the city and the county used federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to run the Johnson Street shelter for fiscal year 2024, October 2023 to October 2024. The total cost for the shelter's operation is $1.7 million. Sherrill, while joking about robbing the bank, said securing state money for homelessness should be a top priority, and Missoula has already made progress in getting state money. Last year the Legislature allocated $5 million for homelessness statewide. Poverello Director Jill Bonny said the money was spread across 10 Montana shelters. "This is like a foot in the door for something that historically has never happened before," Bonny said. Bonny added that the financial strain has increased after the state of Montana limited Medicaid reimbursements for homeless shelter case managers in 2017. The loss of case managers was a serious challenge for many unhoused people who relied on the managers to get financial and social support, she said. Some discussed getting money from other revenue sources, like state marijuana tax sales. A majority of weed revenue is transferred into the state's general fund. Missoula also has had a 3% local tax on dispensary sales since 2021, split almost equally between city and county governments. Whatever the funding, other members of the workshop questioned Missoula's financial efficiency. Councilor Jordan recommended a coordinated approach to the situation, combining state and federal agencies into one group that could limit unnecessary and similar funding going to multiple agencies. "We may be wasting money," Jordan said. "With a coordinated approach, we could save money." There are several collaborative efforts underway to limit overspending, including the Coordinated Entry System, which is a multi-agency database that tracks homeless people's needs and updates from social workers. What's next Despite all of the talk, no plan has been ruled out or specifically ruled in. Workshop administrator Ginny Tribe said she will take all the notes from the meeting, form them into sentences and have a working document for the next meeting. "Every single person has got a different interest," said Tribe, a private facilitator hired by the city. "So there may be some overall things to define an issue like that, but we heard earlier that we have 29 things going on, and what part of those 29 things can the city influence into some kind of system?" After two weeks of back-to-back meetings, the urban camping workshop will meet next on March 27. Discussion ground rules say that if a consensus on a project is not reached, the workshop could split into majority and minority groups, each having the possibility of creating a report to be reviewed by city council. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The first fatal attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels on shipping threatens to further sever a crucial maritime artery for global trade and carries with it risks beyond those just at sea. The White House warned there will be a response to Wednesday's attack on the Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden. What that will look like remains unclear, but the U.S. has already launched round after round of airstrikes targeting the Houthis, a rebel group that has held Yemen's capital since 2014, and more are likely on the way. A wider economic, humanitarian and political impact is looming from the attack. It also further highlights Yemen's yearslong war, now overshadowed by Israel's grinding war on Hamas on the Gaza Strip that could reach into the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, raising the danger of worsening regional anger. High-seas crisis Since the onset of the Houthi attacks, the rebels have framed them as a way to pressure Israel to stop the war, which has killed more than 30,700 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. But as shippers began avoiding the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, the rebels began attacking ships with tenuous or no ties to Israel or the war. Meanwhile, U.S. and coalition warships have shot down any Houthi fire that's come near them. That's left the rebels targeting commercial ships whose only protection has been armed guards, barbed-wire fencing and water cannons good enough to deter pirates, but not an anti-ship ballistic missile. Wednesday's attack underlines the danger to those not even involved in the war. The Houthi missile that hit the True Confidence killed two Filipinos and one Vietnamese national. "We demand the relevant sides stop immediately armed activities for the safety and freedom of navigation on international maritime routes according to international law," Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said Thursday. The Iranian-backed Houthis have not acknowledged those deaths and sought to distance themselves from any consequence of their actions. "We hold America responsible for the repercussions of everything that happens," Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam wrote online Thursday. Another ship sank last weekend after being abandoned following a Houthi attack. Aid, economies harmed Already, the Houthis have attacked at least one ship carrying aid bound for territory they hold. The Greek-flagged, U.S.-owned bulk carrier Sea Champion, full of grain from Argentina, was bound for Aden and then rebel-held Hodeida when it was hit in February. As hunger stalks the Gaza Strip during the Israel war, so too does it still grip Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country. "The escalation of the crisis in the Red Sea is likely to worsen the food insecurity situation in Yemen in 2024, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis," the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization warned. Then there are the conflicts gripping East Africa. The World Food Program issued a warning Tuesday regarding its operations in Somalia, saying the shipping crisis is hindering its ability to "maintain its regular flow of humanitarian aid." In war-torn Sudan, the International Rescue Committee says it suspended its operations to Port Sudan over hiked costs and other concerns rising from the Houthi attacks. Then there's the economic pressure. While Israel has described its economy as so far unaffected, the same can't be said for neighboring Egypt. Traffic in its Suez Canal linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea onward to Europe has dropped by nearly half, according to U.N. figures. Those shipping fees provide crucial revenue for Egypt's government, which has allowed the Egyptian pound to rapidly devalue as it reached a deal with the International Monetary Fund to increase its bailout loan from $3 billion to $8 billion. Further economic turmoil could spark unrest in Egypt, less than 15 years on from the 2011 Arab Spring. Regional peace Since beginning its campaign of airstrikes in January, the U.S. military claimed it destroyed more than 100 Houthi missiles, according to an Associated Press analysis of its statements. However, that hasn't halted the rebels' ability to launch attacks. That's something a Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis learned after launching its own campaign against the rebels in 2015 in support of the country's exiled government. But the American involvement has rubbed Saudi Arabia and its main partner, the United Arab Emirates, the wrong way particularly after President Joe Biden in 2021 came into office and promptly declared that Yemen's war "has to end." Both countries have avoided actively taking part in the U.S.-led campaign now targeting the rebels. And Saudi Arabia reached a detente a year ago with Iran it hoped would lead to a peace deal, something that still hasn't happened. For the Houthis, the fight against Israel and the U.S. may be everything they've wanted. Their Zaydi Shiite group ran a 1,000-year kingdom in Yemen until 1962. Their slogan has long been: "God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse the Jews; victory to Islam." Fighting against two of their archenemies allows the rebels to shore up their own support with Yemen, as well as gain international recognition in an Arab world otherwise enraged by the killing of Palestinians in Israel's campaign in the Gaza Strip. If fighting there goes into Ramadan, a time in Islam for peace and reflection, it may inspire a further spread of militant violence. How Houthi attacks crimp global trade Why are Houthis attacking ships? Why is the Red Sea important? How are Houthi attacks affecting trade? What does it mean for oil prices? How is the world responding? A man accused in a botched bounty hunt in Butte told police that he and a bondsman were being threatened and seemingly attacked before he fired a handgun twice. The shots killed homeowner William Harris - not the fugitive they were after - but Nicholas Jaeger said a man later identified as Harris had scissors or a knife and kept encroaching despite repeated warnings to get back. The police interview was played for jurors Thursday during a homicide trial for Jaeger and bondsman Jay Hubber, who are accused in the shooting death of Harris at his house on Dec. 19, 2021. Hubber was wrestling with bail-jumper David Sandoval and there were others in the room with sticks, Jaeger said, and he grabbed Hubber's gun and told Harris to get back or "you're going to get shot." Harris kept coming toward he and Hubber and was within 3 feet of them when Jaeger said he pulled the trigger. "He jumped up like he was going to stab Jay," Jaeger told police, also saying, "The last thing I wanted to do was shoot him." But prosecutors played a second police interview of Hubber the day after the shooting and he told officers Sandoval had calmed down and seemed willing to give up when shots rang out. "Everything was going fine and all of a sudden pop, pop," Hubber said. According to prosecutors, Hubber and Jaeger barged into Harris home on South Main Street looking for Sandoval. Hubber started tasing Sandoval and as they wrestled, Jaeger either grabbed or was handed Hubbers gun and shot Harris. There were several other people in the house at the time. Hubber and Jaeger are each charged with deliberate homicide and aggravated burglary, though jurors can consider an alternative charge of homicide by accountability for Hubber. Their trial started Monday and is expected to last into next week. District Judge Robert Whelan is presiding. Defense attorneys say the home was a "trap house" where drugs are sold and used, but prosecutors say Hubber and Jaeger had no right to go inside and their unlawful and reckless actions got an innocent man killed. Hubbers defense attorney, Palmer Hoovestal, says his client had posted bonds for Sandoval and had a right to apprehend him that night because he had skipped court appearances and had outstanding bench warrants. Jaegers defense lawyer, David Maldonado, says Jaeger agreed to assist Hubber that night but was not a trained bondsman and only fired the gun in self-defense. In a taped police interview prosecutors played for jurors Wednesday, Sandoval said Harris was not armed. Hubber told a detective he was being kicked in the face and they were in danger, but he referred to Jaeger as a f****** idiot who didnt know what to do. I dont think he did the right thing shooting him, he told the detective, and also said, Dude (Harris) got shot for no reason. Maldonado told jurors Tuesday that Sandoval has a different account now, saying Harris had a knife and jumped at Jaeger before he was shot. Sandoval picked up the knife, fled the house and ditched the knife, Maldonado says. Detective Chris Snyder testified Thursday that Sandoval gave that account months after the shooting. Police interviewed Jaeger several hours after the shooting and he was still visibly shaken. He had his arms folded, rocked up and down and spoke fast through much of the interview. He said he agreed to help Hubber that night and as they walked into the house, Jaeger told everyone they were there to apprehend Sandoval. They located him in a back bedroom and after Hubber tased him, they got into a struggle. At least two others in the room had sticks and the man later identified as Harris had a beer bottle in one hand and what appeared to be scissors in the other, Jaeger said. He said later in the interview it was scissors or a knife. "Jay was getting hit all over the place," Jaeger said, "and at one point it seemed like they were all attacking us." He said he grabbed Hubber's gun, told everyone including Harris to get back, but Harris kept yelling and coming toward them. Jaeger said he had both arms extended and both hands on the gun when he fired. During cross-examination of Detective Snyder on Thursday, Hoovestal as he has done several times during the trial noted that Sandoval had two outstanding, no-bond bench warrants among others. He has suggested the deadly events would not have occurred had police served the warrants themselves. One warrant was issued in November 2021 and another a week before Dec. 19 and Hubber had called police that night seeking assistance but got no help. The warrants were addressed to police, signed by Judge Whelan and said Sandoval "shall" be arrested, Hoovestal said. "It doesn't say may be arrested or might be arrested ... it's an order " Hoovestal told Snyder. Snyder said police have discretion on when to serve warrants and manpower also comes into play. He said it was his understanding police had a small crew on duty that night. Earlier this week, an officer who knew about Hubber's call that night said he didn't trust information from Hubber or approve of tactics he used in apprehensions. Prosecutors have suggested through questioning that everything Hubber and Jaeger did that night was careless and reckless. Lead prosecutor Kelli Fivey noted Thursday that neither had training from the Law Enforcement Academy, suggested there was no need to tase Sandoval immediately and said they could have waited until he was outside to apprehend him. She also noted that Hubber asked Jeager to be his backup even though Jeager had no experience in such things. Would you bring me as a backup? Fivey asked Detective Snyder. No, he said. No offense to Judge Whelan," Fivey said, looking up to the judge, "but would you bring him as a backup? No, he said. Who would you bring as a backup? she asked. Trained law enforcement, Snyder said. Hoovestal followed up by saying that was precisely what Hubber was seeking when he called police for assistance that night, but was explicitly rejected. The homicide charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison or 100 years and aggravated burglary is punishable by up to 40 years in prison. A tribal leader, military veteran and a photojournalist were guests of the Montana congressional delegation for Thursdays state of the union address. Blackfeet tribal member Marvin Weatherwax attended President Joe Bidens state of the union address as a guest of Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke. In a statement before the event, Weatherwax, a member of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council and Chairman of the Coalition of Large Tribes, said he worked with Zinke on the fentanyl scourge affecting the tribe. The Blackfeet share 70 miles of border with Canada where our border patrol is completely understaffed and underfunded, Weatherwax said. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Border Patrol have blocked resources for us to be able to take care of the issue, and meanwhile the DOJ is nowhere to be found. Zinke has been a fighter in Congress for the Blackfeet Nation during our struggle against the fentanyl coming through Bidens open borders. Air Force Veteran Fred Hamilton, of Columbia Falls, who this year started receiving medical benefits for exposure to toxins while serving in Vietnam. Hamiltons benefits flow from the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, a Tester bill, which Biden during his address called a major bipartisan victory. Hamilton struggled to get the Veterans Administration to recognize his exposure to toxins as the cause for the health problems because there were no records. Testers PACT Act follow up is the Fred Hamilton Veterans Lost Records Act that assures lost military records dont mean lost benefits for veterans. Theres still more work to do, but Im grateful for Sen. Testers persistent efforts and advocacy to get the PACT Act across the finish line which finally allowed me to access VA benefits and services, Hamilton said in a press release. Im still fighting for additional benefits because my service records were lost by the federal government, and I want to thank Senator Tester for listening to Montana veterans like me and taking this issue seriously by championing a new bill that will help me and other veterans whose records were lost by the government, so this never happens again. Billings Gazette photojournalist Larry Mayer was U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendales guest. Mayer captured one of the first images of the high-altitude Chinese spy balloon as it sailed over the Billings area in early 2023. The spy balloon has become a central theme in Rosendales political messaging. In late December 2023, Rosendale demanded that President Joe Biden hold a town hall meeting with residents of Great Falls. The Eastern District Republican has said Biden violated the U.S. Constitution for not shooting the balloon down over Montana. In January, Rosendale introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III for alleged high crimes and misdemeanors related to the spy balloon. Its unlikely that Austin will be impeached for the balloon incident. Rosendales demands for a Great Falls town hall meeting have been ignored. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines didnt have a state of the union guest and didnt attend the event. A spokesperson for Daines said he planned to watch the speech on television from his office. Voter interest in Republican newcomer Tim Sheehy appears to be closing the gap on incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, according to new polling released Wednesday. The poll captured current figures for the governor's approval rating and voters' top issues, as well. Polling in Montana is rare due to sparse population samples but the state's U.S. Senate race holds as much interest as any Congressional contest in the country, as Republicans aim to shave off Democrats' slim majority and reclaim the upper chamber. The poll was conducted after Sheehy's highly anticipated primary with Congressman Matt Rosendale dissolved last month. Emerson College Polling reported results from 1,000 registered voters between Feb. 26 and March 2 to find 44% of them support Tester while 42% support Sheehy, CEO of a Belgrade aerial firefighting and drone surveillance company. Fourteen percent were undecided. "Independent Montana voters break for Senator Tester by 10 points, 44% to 34%," Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said. Kimball added that 14% of 2024 Trump voters plan to split their ticket and vote for Tester, while 71% support Trump-endorsed Sheehy. "Jon Tester has a strong coalition of support across the state, including independent voters and Republicans, because he relentlessly defends Montana every day," Tester spokesperson Monica Robinson said in a text Thursday. The Sheehy campaign reveled in the momentum Thursday. "More and more Montanans are ready for a political outsider who cant be bought, knows what it means to serve our nation, and will deliver the America First common sense we desperately need, but Tester hasnt delivered, Sheehy said in a provided statement. Native Americans account for 6.7% of the state's population but were seemingly not captured, or at least not identified, in the Emerson poll's report of respondents' ethnicity. Those categories included white (88%), Hispanic or Latino (4%), Black (2%), Asian (1%) and "other or multiple races" (5%). Of the respondents in Wednesday's poll, 40% identified as Republicans, 26% said they were Democrats and 34% claimed independent or other. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, also up for re-election this year, received a 37% approval rating, level with his critics who gave a 37% disapproval rate. However, 41% of respondents said things in Montana are on the wrong track, compared to 31% who said things are headed in the right direction. Asked what they believed to be "the most important issue" facing Montana, the economy (27%) and housing affordability (26%) were the highest respondents scored. Immigration was the top issue for 9% of voters, while 11% said "threats to democracy" were their biggest priority in the poll. Democratic President Joe Biden, who claimed 41% of the vote in 2020, has a 28% approval rating among Emerson's respondents. Sixty-two percent said they disapprove of the president's job, and 10% had no opinion or were neutral. Donald Trump, meanwhile, would win in a mano-e-mano rematch with Biden held today, claiming 56% of respondents vote over Biden's 35%. Less than 10% of respondents were undecided in that hypothetical. "The 21-point margin Trump leads by in Montana is more reflective of Trumps 20-point win over Clinton in 2016," Kimball said. Trump's total share slipped just to 49% when respondents were also asked to consider Robert Kennedy, Cornel West and Jill Stein. His criminal indictments were not a serious consideration for 50% of respondents, while 49.8% said the indictments "raise serious doubts" about voting for him. Biden's age, however, raised serious doubts in 68% of respondents, while 32% said it was not a consideration in their decision to vote at this time. A woman from Vilas landed several drug charges Thursday after a traffic stop in Morganton. Hannah Nicole Miller, 29, of Vilas, was charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana, according to a release from the Morganton Department of Public Safety. The charges came after an MDPS officer stopped a vehicle Miller was driving for an equipment violation, the release said. A probable cause search of the vehicle yielded substances that tested positive for fentanyl, methamphetamine and marijuana, the release said. Miller was held under a $10,000 secured bond. She was set to appear in court Friday morning. She did not appear to have any previous convictions in North Carolina, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. The Fifer Gulch stream and a spring creek nearby bear the scars of Anacondas industrial past. Decades ago, guided primarily by hubris, many people believed turning a meandering creek into a straight channel rendered an improvement over natures unruly asymmetry. Now, a project shepherded by the George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Anaconda-Deer Lodge County will address a channelized stretch of Fifer Gulch in the vicinity of its confluence with Warm Springs Creek. The outcome could benefit trout, other wildlife and kids with fishing poles. Meandering creeks and rivers feature bends, curves and loops that help manage the energy of moving water and provide riffle-and-pool habitat for fish and other critters. The Fifer Gulch drainage west of Anaconda emerges on the flanks of Mount Haggin and the Anaconda Range. The creeks upper portions flow through an aspen forest before traversing beaver habitat and eventually crossing beneath Montana Highway 1. At this point, the stream is channelized all the way to its confluence with Warm Springs Creek, according to the application that sought and received project funding from Montanas Future Fisheries Improvement Program. A free-flowing spring creek nearby another tributary to Warm Springs Creek was also gouged and channelized in decades past and will be linked to the new version of Fifer Gulch. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks seeks public comment on the stream restoration projects environmental assessment. The sections of Fifer Gulch and the unnamed spring creek slated for intervention are a short walk from the intersection of North Cable Road and Montana Highway 1. As envisioned, the endeavor will restore more than 1,000 feet of stream and establish 5 acres of wetlands. The goals of the project are to enhance fish habitat and support robust populations of wild fish while also providing angling opportunities to the Anaconda community, the application reports. Specifically, the vision is to create places where young people could cast a line. Alex Leone, a board member for the George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited, said construction likely wont start until the spring of 2025. He said the permitting process is complex because the project is in the municipal floodplain and is located adjacent to public water infrastructure. Anaconda-Deer Lodge County owns the property along this stretch of Fifer Gulch and controls all senior water rights. As envisioned, the total project cost is estimated to approach $300,000, though construction costs could rise before completion. The Future Fisheries grant totals $143,730 of that total, with anticipated matching funds from varied contributors and in-kind contributions by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County to cover the balance. The Future Fisheries Improvement Program is funded from the sale of Montana fishing licenses and the states Resource Indemnity Trust Fund. Eligible projects demonstrate potential to improve fisheries and riparian habitat and restore naturally functioning stream channels. The Fifer Gulch Stream Restoration project has been backed by Montana Trout Unlimited, the Anaconda Sportsmens Club, the Anaconda Trail Society, the Public Land Water Access Association, FWP and others. The Anaconda Sportsmens Club, long flush with more gumption than money, has pledged $1,000. The George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited is contributing money. The Clark Fork Coalition secured a $20,000 grant through the Charlotte Martin Foundation. A letter of support from Randy Arnold, a regional supervisor for FWP, said past stream sampling indicates Fifer Gulch currently supports low densities of westslope cutthroat trout, brown trout, brook trout and several native non-game species in the lower channelized reach. Trout production in the channelized stretch is inhibited by poor habitat and lack of riparian cover, Arnold observed. Caleb Uerling, a regional fisheries biologist for FWP, also supports the stream restoration project. Leone said more funding will be needed before construction begins. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting public comment on the environmental assessment for the Fifer Gulch Stream Restoration project until March 16. Email comments can be sent to Michelle McGree at FWP at mmcgree@mt.gov A trial in Lake County for the woman suspected of killing Mika Westwolf last year was rescheduled for this upcoming fall. Sunny K. White is facing five felony charges, including vehicular homicide, in connection to the death of Westwolf, a young Indigenous woman who was hit and killed by a car along Highway 93 near Arlee last year. March 31 will be the one-year anniversary of Westwolfs death. A tribal police officer was on duty when he found Westwolfs body on the highway around 4:15 a.m. on the morning of March 31, 2023. Authorities tracked down White, according to the crash report, and found the suspect's Cadillac Escalade in Polson roughly an hour later using a description of damage the vehicle sustained from the collision. White reportedly told troopers she thought she struck a deer, according to charging documents. She had her two young children, named Aryan and Nation, in the car, according to the crash report and case affidavit. Their ages were 2 and 4. Evidence collected from the crash site indicates Westwolf was walking in the northbound lane of traffic when she was struck. She was hit head-on by the cars passenger side, the case affidavit states. Westwolf died on scene from multiple blunt-force injuries. White, who previously pleaded not guilty to all five charges, originally had a jury trial scheduled for May, but court filings show the trial is now scheduled to start on Sept. 30, 2024. Court documents also show White has a new attorney, Public Defender Meghan Benson. She was previously represented by Sterling Laudon from the Montana Office of Public Defenders. Following Whites arraignment in November, Carissa Heavy Runner, Westwolfs mother, vocalized wanting the case to go to trial as opposed to White being offered a plea deal by prosecutors. The news of Westwolfs death has drawn national attention. Westwolfs family led a statewide campaign, with awareness walks, rallies and other events, calling for justice and awareness in her case as well as other cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Whites next hearing is scheduled for April 10. Lake County Attorney James Lapotka is prosecuting for the state. Montana congressman Matt Rosendale has withdrawn from the U.S. House race following a series of whiplash political events. He cited death threats made against him as well as "false and defamatory rumors" in a statement announcing his decision. "In the best interest of my family and the community, I am withdrawing from the House race and will not be seeking office," Rosendale said in a post to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Friday. In early February Rosendale made good on a long-teased entrance into Montanas high-profile U.S. Senate race, defying party bosses who pushed hard to keep him from entering the contest. But he was a candidate only briefly, ending his campaign after just six days. When Rosendale quit the Senate race, he cited an endorsement of his opponent Tim Sheehy by former President Donald Trump as too much to overcome. That endorsement, however, was not unexpected and came the same day Rosendale joined the race. Rumors swirled online about other reasons for Rosendale's departure and culminated in former North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat, saying the congressman had impregnated a staffer. Rosendale has strongly denied the rumor, as has his wife, and hes threatened Heitkamp with legal action. Just last week, Rosendale answered another will-he, wont-he question when he joined the crowded GOP primary for his current eastern House seat, pushing the primary field to nine. "Over the last few days, I have been humbled by the outpouring of support I have received to run for Montana's second congressional district so we can continue our work to cut spending, secure the border and restore America's energy dominance. At the urging of my family, friends, constituents and President Trump, I announce my intention to seek re-election," he posted at the time to the platform X. In Friday's post, Rosendale said since the Senate announcement, "I have been forced to have law enforcement visit my children because of a death threat against me and false and defamatory rumors against me and my family. This has taken a serious toll on me, and my family. Additionally, it has caused a serious disruption to the election of the next representative for MT-02." In Congress, Rosendale found a home in the far-right Freedom Caucus of the U.S. House, playing a significant role by banding with seven other Republicans to oust former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy last fall. Rosendale was also prominent in the 15 rounds of voting it took to elect McCarthy by holding out his support and at one point during the voting process turning down a call from Trump. Still, Rosendale has pledged his loyalty to Trump at every opportunity, including not voting to certify the 2020 election. Rosendale has often found himself among small factions of the GOP in the House, such as being among less than two dozen Republicans who voted against issuing Congressional Gold Medals to officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, opposing intervention in Ukraine and voting against making Juneteenth a federal holiday. He has also peddled in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, such as running a fundraising ad claiming the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases brought the virus to Montana a year before the start of the pandemic. The claim earned a "pants on fire" rating from KFF Health News. In his statement Friday, Rosendale said said he faced pressure from leadership that also played a factor in his decision not to run. "The system is severely broken and badly in need of reforms. Unfortunately, there is immense pressure from those who benefit from the current structure to keep things as they are. And the limited few of us who are willing to try and force true reforms are subject to severe retribution," Rosendale wrote. In an interview with ABC-Fox Montana on Friday, Rosendale said again that he'd been encouraged to run for the Senate, but the resources for the campaign did not materialize and that Trump's endorsement of Sheehy surprised and disappointed him. He then said he was encouraged to run for the House. He continued, providing more information about the death threats in that interview. "I've had a death threat," Rosendale told reporter Bradley Warren. "Law enforcement had to go out to my two sons' homes. They're in Great Falls where my grandchildren live. I've had false and defamatory statements made against me. And this has weighed very heavily on me." Rosendale also cited frustrations with Congress as part of his reason for ending his tenure, saying that though Republicans held the majority in the House they did not use it to reduce the deficit or spending. He pointed to the minibus spending bill which passed both houses of Congress with GOP support as evidence of that. "I asked myself, why am I coming up here and spending the time to try and do this work when even in the majority I don't see us not only not holding the line, but we literally increased spending by an additional $16 billion," Rosendale said in the interview. "I'm out of gas. The tank is empty. I've been fighting this for three years. I understood when I came in under the minority that we were not going to be able to make much progress. But when you gain the majority back and you still aren't even able to hold the line ... " Rosendale again denied any rumors of misbehavior, calling them "false and defamatory." At one point recently, a poll circulated referring to the rumors. "When you take on the most powerful people on earth, when you try to challenge the status quo, you are subject to retribution from the very people that are invested in that system. ... You make enemies with a lot of people in very, very powerful positions that can put any kind of information out about you that they so desire. ... There's no other environment where someone could spread that type of information and even have it repeated except (if) it's against an elected official." Rosendale did not say who those enemies were. At one point in the interview, he expressed frustration at not being able to accomplish what he wanted in Congress. "When I come up here, and I attempt to do this work, and I am not moving the needle one bit, and then all of these attacks come upon me and my family, it makes it impossible for me to focus on the work to effectively represent the people in Montana," he told Warren. Rosendale said after 2025, he'd be done with politics. "Matt Rosendale is going back to the ranch and grandchildren," Rosendale said, pointing to his work on veterans affairs and improving operations at the Montana VA as the highlight of his career. Rosendale's office did not reply to an email requesting an interview for this story. Party division Though Rosendale did an about-face and later endorsed Sheehy, he did not hold back in his criticisms earlier this year about party leaders hand-picking the Belgrade CEO of an aerial firefighting company as the preferred candidate to run against incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. The leadership is trying to select, instead of allowing the people of Montana to select, who's going to be their next U.S. senator. ... I think it's offensive to the people across the state, Rosendale told reporters after he filed in the Senate race. That leadership includes Montanas junior U.S. Sen. Steve Daines in his role as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who Rosendale said threatened him with fundraising hurdles if the congressman ran for Senate. The NRSC also at one point accused Rosendale of being a Democratic plant. After Friday's announcement, Daines issued a statement via email thanking Rosendale for his "long record of public service for the Treasure State" but making no mention of this year's election-season whiplash. "During his time in public service, he has been a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, the Second Amendment and pushing back against federal overreach," Daines wrote. "I thank him for his service and wish him well as he gets to spend more time with his wife, Jean, and their grandchildren. Rosendale was also the target of about $182,000 in recent ad buys by a group called Montana Policy Action, which ran a spot on TV stations around Montana saying Rosendale "sabotaged" an effort to secure the southern U.S. border. On Friday after Rosendale announced he was dropping out of the GOP primary, state Auditor Troy Downing's campaign sent a press release saying he was officially filing for the seat, saying he's raised about $350,000. The campaign of Elsie Arntzen, the state Superintendent of Public Instruction, pointed to her campaign raising more than $700,000. Earlier in the week Arntzen had issued a statement saying any statements made by Rosendale that implied she was dropping out of the race while he was still running were a "blatant lie." And former congressman Denny Rehberg, who has said he's running but not yet filed the paperwork with the Secretary of State to do so before Monday's deadline, issued a statement thanking Rosendale for his service and saying President Joe Biden's State of the Union address the night prior "strengthened our resolve to send Joe Biden packing and fight in Congress alongside President Trump to save America and our Montana way of life for our kids and grandkids. Rosendale told ABC-Montana there were several qualified individuals in the race but did not endorse a candidate in that interview. Political past Rosendale moved to Montana from Maryland, where he was not involved in politics, in 2002. As a real estate developer on the East Coast, he built a fortune that financial disclosures from his 2018 Senate bid pegged at between $7 million and $32 million. The money allowed him to start exploring a move west in the 1990s. Rosendale picked Dawson County, buying a ranch outside Glendive. Rosendale made his first run for the state Legislature in 2010, winning a seat in the House. In 2012, he successfully ran for the state Senate. Two years later, in 2014, he made a bid for Montana's only U.S. House seat, coming in third in a crowded Republican primary. The next year, 2015, Senate Republicans elected him majority leader. And in 2016, he ran again, winning the statewide contest for auditor. In 2018, he emerged from a crowded GOP primary to face off against Tester in what was at the time the most expensive race in state history. Trump made four visits to Montana that year in support of Rosendale, who lost to the incumbent by about 3 percentage points. After now-Gov. Greg Gianforte in 2019 said he would run for governor instead of trying to keep his seat in the U.S. House, Rosendale announced his candidacy for the congressional seat. He emerged from a six-candidate primary and won the general election against Kathleen Williams by 13 points. In 2022 redistricting placed him in the newly drawn eastern House district, which he won easily with 56% of the vote. Photos: Matt Rosendale in Montana politics As blood centers and hospitals face critically low levels of blood supplies, many people with heart disease may wonder if they can help by donating. For the most part, they can do so safely, experts say. Typically, someone in the U.S. needs blood about every two seconds for reasons that may include surgery, cancer treatments, childbirth, anemia, serious injury or blood disorders. In fact, a surprising number of potential blood donors are those with a history of medical conditions, including heart disease, who remain steadfast in their desire to give blood, said Dr. Alcinda Flowers, medical director of Versiti, a Milwaukee-based blood center. "They're often the ones that want to donate because they've been in the hospital and they've been affected themselves by the need for blood," she said. "And they can empathize with others." Every year, more than 11 million units of whole blood are donated in the U.S., according to the Food and Drug Administration. However, only about 3% of eligible individuals donate blood, says the American Red Cross, which in January reported an emergency blood supply shortage after reaching a 20-year low in the number of donors. Winter storms and a surge in COVID-19 cases likely further disrupted supplies. The FDA regulates the safety of blood products primarily to protect blood recipients, and donation requirements may vary at blood centers. Blood centers screen all potential donors with a questionnaire to determine which people can safely give blood, Flowers said. According to the National Institutes of Health, people with a cold or the flu can't donate blood until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours, with different limitations for COVID-19 and other conditions. However, people who have heart disease can be considered for blood donation, Flowers said. In addition, most people with high blood pressure, or hypertension, can donate blood and do so if their systolic blood pressure (top number) is below 180 millimeters of mercury and diastolic (bottom number) is 100 mmHg at the time of donation. The Red Cross recommends a six-month wait or longer for those who have had a heart attack, a recent episode of angina, bypass surgery or angioplasty, or if a change in their heart condition resulted in a medication change. People who use blood thinners or other anti-clotting or antiplatelet medications must disclose all their medications during their health screenings because donating blood may be harmful to them, as well as the recipients, Flowers said. Bottom line: It's a good idea for those with heart conditions to check with their health care team before donating blood, Flowers said. Dr. Tochi Okwuosa, a cardiologist and director of the cardio-oncology program at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said as a general rule of thumb, individuals with a low hemoglobin count should not donate blood. The Red Cross requires female donors to have a minimum hemoglobin level of 12.5 grams per deciliter, and male donors a minimum of 13 g/dL. That's because hemoglobin determines the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, Okwuosa said. And donors could run a risk that not enough oxygen will be carried to their tissues and organs. Such donors with heart failure could experience an episode or those with coronary artery disease could have a heart attack, Okwuosa said. People with heart conditions also may feel more fatigued or short of breath after donating blood, or if they are on diuretics, they may become more dehydrated and fainter, she said. But donating blood should be fine for people whose high blood pressure or high cholesterol are well controlled, Okwuosa said. Ultimately, if you're healthy enough to do so, giving blood can be beneficial for everyone because it can feel good to help others, she said. "It's just the right thing to do." covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. A postmortem conducted on Juanitor Mbula Nzomo, 20, revealed that she succumbed to injuries sustained from falling off the balcony of a tenth-floor apartment in Thome, Kasarani, Nairobi. The young womans lifeless body was discovered on the ground floor of the building on Saturday, March 2, where she had spent the previous night. Dr. Peter Muriuki, who performed the autopsy on the deceased on Tuesday, March 5, reported that Ms. Nzomo experienced multiple force trauma injuries, consistent with a fall from a significant height. The autopsy took place at the City Mortuary in the presence of both the police and the family. Half-naked at the time of the incident, the woman fell from the 10th floor of the White House apartments, with only a red T-shirt on when her body was recovered. Primary Suspect Witnesses reported hearing her pleas for help from the balcony before the fall. Investigations established that she had been in the company of a man identified as Lawrence Gitonga. Mr Gitonga, currently hospitalized, informed the police that the lady had allegedly stabbed him. The 33-year-old man, regarded as the primary suspect by detectives, was found in the bathroom with eight stab wounds. The origin of their dispute is yet to be determined but it has been disclosed that the two initially met at a joint located within Mirema Drive in Kasarani on Friday night. The two were then seen dropping off a friend before proceeding to the White House apartments and later to a nearby bar, where they continued drinking inside a car. At approximately 3 am on Saturday, the pair checked into the short-stay apartment they had previously booked. Detectives are currently investigating whether she was thrown or jumped to her death. Nairobi region police commander Adamson Bungei confirmed that detectives are awaiting Gitongas stabilization before questioning him and recording his statement. John Matara, the primary suspect in the murder of socialite Starlet Wahu, was on Wednesday charged with violently robbing and sexually assaulting a woman in Kahawa Wendani last year. Matara faced charges of robbing the woman of Kes.30,000, withdrawing Kes.18,300 from her M-Pesa account, and stealing two mobile phones valued at Kes.40,000, along with an ATM card and an international passport totaling Kes.88,300. The alleged incident occurred on May 16, 2023, in Kahawa Wendani, Ruiru sub-county, Kiambu County. Prosecutors informed Ruiru magistrate Charles Mwaniki that Matara allegedly used a knife to threaten the victim, warning her of dire consequences if she resisted. Matara denied all three charges, with his lawyer, Samuel Ayora, applying for his release on bail. Ayora raised concerns about the alleged torture and physical assault inflicted on the accused by police officers while being escorted to answer the charges. The advocate informed the court that the police pulled his genitals, emphasizing the urgent need for careful medical attention for Matara. However, a prosecutor contended that a formal complaint regarding the allegations of torture should be filed at a police station. This would enable the recording of an Occurrence Book (OB) entry and facilitate an investigation into the matter. Magistrate Mwaniki ordered that the accused be transported to the hospital for treatment, and a report on his condition should be generated. He also directed the hospital responsible for the suspects treatment to obtain a sample from the accused for a DNA swab. The results of the DNA analysis will be presented as evidence in the case. The Magistrate reserved his order for March 8, 2024. President William Ruto has urged Kenyan men to take initiative and shield women from the menace of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Addressing the audience during the launch of the G7 strategy to enhance womens leadership in devolved units, Ruto emphasized the crucial role of men as champions against FGM, highlighting its adverse effects on womens well-being. Men should be champions against FGM because you know what it is. FGM destroys everything that would be good in a woman, said Ruto. I know we have set targets on the subject of FGM. I want to tell men to come forward and protect our women from FGM even if it is for selfish reasons. FGM destroys women, makes them less confident, less effective and creates many challenges, he added. Expressing further concern, the President highlighted alarming statistics on early pregnancies, emphasizing the necessity to address the underlying issues contributing to the challenge. He extended his plea to both male and female leaders, urging them to collaborate in safeguarding children, especially girls, from the adverse impacts of FGM, early marriages, and early pregnancies. I am asking women leaders as I do men leaders to work in concert all of us to protect our children, especially from FGM, early marriages, and early pregnancies because it is destroying the future of many of our children, Ruto implored. The Kenyan Demographic & Health Survey (KDHS) data for 2022 reveals that the prevalence of FGM in the country is 15%, indicating that 15% of girls and women aged 15 to 49 years have undergone circumcision. Kenya Wildlife Service officers sprung into action to rescue a Hyena cub that was found hiding in a Miraa shop in Nakuru town. Residents of the Sewarage area in Rhonda Estate, Nakuru town, awoke to news of a stray hyena as dozens of excited townsfolk gathered around the entrance to the miraa shop to see the animal. The owner of the stall, Fredrick Wamungu, reported that the hyena brought business at the center to a standstill. I closed my miraa shop yesterday at 8 pm after finishing my stock. But this morning I was called and informed that there was a hyena on my shop counter, said Wamungu, as quoted by NTV on Thursday. Kenya Wildlife Service officers faced difficulty in dispersing the crowd eager to kill the animal. The hyena is believed to have strayed from Lake Nakuru National Park. Samuel Kamau, a resident of the area, stated that this is not the first occurrence of hyenas being found in the area. Also Read KWS Urges Kenyans to Adopt Hyenas to Quell Further Attacks The first time it came, we saw it and let them (KWS) catch it and take it back to the park, said Kamau. He and other youths were reportedly eager to sell the animals organs, influenced by former Roots Party presidential candidate George Wajackoyas claims during campaigns that the hyenas testicles could fetch up to Kes. 6 million. We should not allow this animal to be released back into the wild, let the chief have his share and the rest of us have our share. Why should the Nyumba Kumi elders stop us from taking this animal? he posed. The locals urged the Kenya Wildlife Service to install electric fences along Lake Nakuru National Park to prevent animals from crossing into public land. Watch a video of the rescue mission below. Video Courtesy/NTV. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa) announced that Liz Burrell Russell, the former manager of The Pathway Home in Yountville, will be his guest to the State of the Union Thursday evening. Gun violence is an epidemic that impacts every American, and on March 9, 2018, our community experienced a mass shooting that took the lives of three innocent people and left a lasting scar throughout our region, Thompson said in a statement. Liz lived this nightmare and channeled the trauma into advocacy. She is a leader in gun violence prevention and I am proud that she is my guest to President Bidens State of the Union. Russell, for her part, said she was honored to be Thompson's guest, given the congressman's work on reducing gun violence. "As a survivor of gun violence myself, I am proud to work with him on Rock the Ride for Gun Violence Prevention, as a volunteer with California Moms Demand Action, and through local initiatives in Napa County focused on means safety suicide prevention and safe storage education," she said. Following the tragedy, Russell has partnered with Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action to advocate for gun violence prevention policies. She is also a co-organizer of Rock the Ride, a benefit walk and bike ride to end gun violence. Thompson is the chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force which works to advance gun violence prevention priorities in Congress. He is the author of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. Photos: Pathway Home Celebration of Life Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Celebration of Life Service Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs discuss new logistical opportunities Armenia 2041 Foundation launches Galvanizing Diaspora program Kazakhstan FM notes Armenias Crossroads of Peace projects importance for Middle Corridor Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs sign 2024/25 action plan Armenia PM is in Tavush Province, meeting with residents of Voskepar, Baghanis, neighboring villages Archaeologists find inscription of King Antiochus I of Armenian Yervanduni Dynasty, in Turkey Kazakhstan FM is in Armenia (PHOTOS) Rolls-Royce Ghost to be retired and replaced by new Alpina sedan Ardshinbank cardholders can now enjoy a 10% cashback! Withdrawal from lawsuits against Azerbaijan in international courts will cause irreparable damage to Armenia, Armenians EU Council to discuss assistance to Armenia, Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization 7,825 Karabakh residents who left Armenia since September 2023 have not returned, new data say Armenia to submit application for EU membership? Archaeologists discover where legendary British warship that disappeared in 17th century sank Large number of Russians came from Georgia to Armenia to vote in presidential election, envoy says Stoltenberg: NATO hopes to have stable peace between Azerbaijan, Armenia Belgorod attacked by two rockets during the day: there are dead and injured Media: Elon Musk's company is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites for US intelligence Shooting in Pennsylvania: at least three dead, gunman took hostages MEPs appeal to EU leadership to protect cultural heritage of Artsakh Armenians New talks between Israel and Hamas are scheduled in Qatar on Sunday India's national elections will be held from 19 April to 1 June Aliyev: Azerbaijan and Georgia have always supported each other's sovereignty Iran calls for formation of international coalition against Israel Biden told Aliyev of US commitment to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Stoltenberg will meet in Yerevan with the President and Prime-minister of Armenia Turkish Foreign Ministry issues anti-Russian statement on Crimea issue Zakharova: There is a historical answer to Armenia's doubts about sincerity of Russia's intentions Zakharova: Moscow discusses with Armenia dragging Yerevan into anti-Russian course Zakharova: Armenia's withdrawal from CSTO should be based on real needs of the country, not on "flirting" with West Amazon and Microsoft suspend their cloud products in Russia Dollar, euro lose value in Armenia Armenia deputy FM: There has been considerable regress regarding visa facilitation with EU Deputy FM: As landlocked country, Armenia recognizes vital importance of inclusive connectivity, open borders FM: Armenia made every effort to prevent de-Armenianization in Karabakh FM to reporters: You will be the first to know when Armenia intends to apply for EU membership Ararat Mirzoyan: All Armenia authorities have negotiated on territorial concessions to Azerbaijan FM: Deepening of Armenia's relations with the West, EU not directed against Russia Mirzoyan: Unprecedented number of senior French officials visited Armenia in 2023 Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan are close to mutual understanding on recognition of 1991 borders Armenia made very active efforts to have minimal mutually acceptable wording with CSTO partners, FM assures FM: Georgia ready to contribute to process of establishing peace in South Caucasus Armenia FM: Events have occurred that have made it impossible to do certain things Armenia FM: Ultimate goal not materialized yet in relations with Turkey FM: There are international players interested in Armenia ceasing to exist Mirzoyan: No agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan to withdraw international lawsuits against each other Armenia FM reiterates PM's arguments on handover of 4 villages in Tavush Province to Azerbaijan FM: Armenia still doesnt understand how CSTO partners present their area of responsibility in South Caucasus Mirzoyan: EU monitoring mission in Armenia has become factor of stability on Azerbaijan border Dennis Francis: UN hopes for signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty FM: 23 Armenians still kept in custody in Azerbaijan Armenia FM: Still not many tangible results on fundamental issues, we are still negotiating with Azerbaijan European Commission official underscores provision of assistance to people affected by Karabakh conflict Peter Stano: Armenia can apply for EU membership MFA: Genocide prevention agenda is among Armenias priorities Russia holding presidential elections US intelligence warns of potentially devastating new pandemic Newspaper: Birth rate in Armenia 19% lower than last year Stoltenberg: NATO sought to maintain stronger relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan Georgian Prime Minister to visit Armenia Premier receives IMF Armenia mission chief Anne-Laurence Petel-led delegation to arrive in Armenia FM: Armenia looks into prospects of further deepening partnership with EU New technologies at the core of rural infrastructure development Russia is world leader in nuclear technology, Putin says Vardges Sureniants Salome painting returns to National Gallery of Armenia exhibition Dollar drops, euro rises in Armenia Sunak: There is historic opportunity to put an end to Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict Armenia authorities, who paid $6M for Snoop Dogg concert, still dont know when this postponed event will be held Deputy economy minister: Matter of opening India-Iran-Armenia trade corridor being discussed Armenia official: Trade with India amounted to $380M in 2023 ICC NCA head: India considers Armenia an important bridge to enter larger markets Anne-Laurence Petel welcomes resolution on EU-Armenia relations India ambassador: We are happy that our relations with Armenia are developing in defense sector also Indians are now 2nd largest community in Armenia after Russians, envoy says India-Armenia business forum kicks off in Yerevan Armenia parliament speaker on European Parliament resolution: We thank European partners for this important step PM: European Parliament resolution is another opportunity to discuss vision of Armenia's future Azerbaijans next target in Karabakh is Artsakh State University Russia deputy FM in Turkey, discusses process of normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations 14-karat gold LEGO piece sells for over $18,000 Newspaper: Armenia to leave CSTO on Putin's reelection day? Young lords 1,200-year-old tomb with treasure discovered in Panama European Parliament resolution demands Azerbaijan troops withdrawal from Armenia territory European Parliament adopts resolution proposing to consider possibility of Armenia's candidacy for EU membership Russia MFA spox: We are concerned by Armenia leaderships sometimes offensive rhetoric on CSTO topics Armenia government plans to have Kapan city airport serve international flights as well Zakharova on Russian border guards removal from Yerevan airport: Hardly meets Armenia security interests Armenia defense minister, Austria envoy, military attache discuss enhancing cooperation (PHOTOS) Armenia official: Those 4 villages in Tavush Province are not in our administrative territorial division European Parliament passes resolution proposing to consider possibility of EU membership candidacy to Armenia The Kremlin comments on PM Pashinyan's statements about possibility of Armenia leaving CSTO US envoy to Armenia underscores empowering women to participate meaningfully at all levels of conflict prevention RFE/RL: Armenia ready to find solutions, including in most problematic areas of Tavush Province, government says The number of Team mobile subscribers is over 1 million French writer Sylvain Tesson to visit Armenia Spain MP: Addressing Karabakh Armenians rights should always be at international community focus Mirzoyan, Bono confer about discussions on Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty EU monitoring mission in Armenia hosts Austria ambassador to Georgia, defense attache US Congressman Frank Pallone joins call to hold Azerbaijans Aliyev accountable The authorities of Armenia are leading the country in the Ukrainian scenario; they are trying to place the country in the sinking "Titanic" called the European Union. Ambassador Dzyunik Aghajanyan stated this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am. She believes that under the current Armenian authorities, the Russian negotiation platform will not be desirable for Armenia because they came with the obligation to withdraw Russia from the region. "The authorities of Armenia have carried out consistent activities in this direction since the very first day, and this clearly started showing especially after the 2020 war. They understand that the majority of the [Armenian] population does not support their approach, as this is an artificial agenda. The [incumbent Armenian] authorities are simply fulfilling the conditions dictated by the West. The West is putting pressure on the Armenian authorities to intensify anti-Russian sentiments and provoke Russia to take retaliatory steps to further strengthen anti-Russian sentiments [in Armenia]. All this is aimed at creating grounds for forming actions on the legal level," Ambassador Aghajanyan emphasized. However, according to her, Armenia withdrawing from the CSTO and EAEU will mean severing relations with Russia, and this, in turn, will mean putting Armenia under the attack of Azerbaijan and Turkey. "According to the Western plan, after the withdrawal of the Russian [military] base from Armenia, the European monitors should have turned into peacekeepers; but this is not happening due to the lack of sufficient level of anti-Russian sentiments due to public resistance in Armenia. The [Armenian] society cannot come to terms with the idea that its eternal enemies, Turkey and Azerbaijan, which constantly threaten Armenia, can suddenly become guarantors of security. Therefore, the [Armenian] authorities are not able to ensure the adequate speed of fulfilling their obligations. This, in turn, does not coincide with the wishes of the West. The only question is why the [Armenian] authorities doubted the existence of Armenia because of the commitments it took on to the West and Turkey," added Ambassador Dzyunik Aghajanyan. Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs discuss new logistical opportunities Armenia 2041 Foundation launches Galvanizing Diaspora program Kazakhstan FM notes Armenias Crossroads of Peace projects importance for Middle Corridor Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs sign 2024/25 action plan Armenia PM is in Tavush Province, meeting with residents of Voskepar, Baghanis, neighboring villages Archaeologists find inscription of King Antiochus I of Armenian Yervanduni Dynasty, in Turkey Kazakhstan FM is in Armenia (PHOTOS) Rolls-Royce Ghost to be retired and replaced by new Alpina sedan Ardshinbank cardholders can now enjoy a 10% cashback! Withdrawal from lawsuits against Azerbaijan in international courts will cause irreparable damage to Armenia, Armenians EU Council to discuss assistance to Armenia, Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization 7,825 Karabakh residents who left Armenia since September 2023 have not returned, new data say Armenia to submit application for EU membership? Archaeologists discover where legendary British warship that disappeared in 17th century sank Large number of Russians came from Georgia to Armenia to vote in presidential election, envoy says Stoltenberg: NATO hopes to have stable peace between Azerbaijan, Armenia Belgorod attacked by two rockets during the day: there are dead and injured Media: Elon Musk's company is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites for US intelligence Shooting in Pennsylvania: at least three dead, gunman took hostages MEPs appeal to EU leadership to protect cultural heritage of Artsakh Armenians New talks between Israel and Hamas are scheduled in Qatar on Sunday India's national elections will be held from 19 April to 1 June Aliyev: Azerbaijan and Georgia have always supported each other's sovereignty Iran calls for formation of international coalition against Israel Biden told Aliyev of US commitment to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Stoltenberg will meet in Yerevan with the President and Prime-minister of Armenia Turkish Foreign Ministry issues anti-Russian statement on Crimea issue Zakharova: There is a historical answer to Armenia's doubts about sincerity of Russia's intentions Zakharova: Moscow discusses with Armenia dragging Yerevan into anti-Russian course Zakharova: Armenia's withdrawal from CSTO should be based on real needs of the country, not on "flirting" with West Amazon and Microsoft suspend their cloud products in Russia Dollar, euro lose value in Armenia Armenia deputy FM: There has been considerable regress regarding visa facilitation with EU Deputy FM: As landlocked country, Armenia recognizes vital importance of inclusive connectivity, open borders FM: Armenia made every effort to prevent de-Armenianization in Karabakh FM to reporters: You will be the first to know when Armenia intends to apply for EU membership Ararat Mirzoyan: All Armenia authorities have negotiated on territorial concessions to Azerbaijan FM: Deepening of Armenia's relations with the West, EU not directed against Russia Mirzoyan: Unprecedented number of senior French officials visited Armenia in 2023 Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan are close to mutual understanding on recognition of 1991 borders Armenia made very active efforts to have minimal mutually acceptable wording with CSTO partners, FM assures FM: Georgia ready to contribute to process of establishing peace in South Caucasus Armenia FM: Events have occurred that have made it impossible to do certain things Armenia FM: Ultimate goal not materialized yet in relations with Turkey FM: There are international players interested in Armenia ceasing to exist Mirzoyan: No agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan to withdraw international lawsuits against each other Armenia FM reiterates PM's arguments on handover of 4 villages in Tavush Province to Azerbaijan FM: Armenia still doesnt understand how CSTO partners present their area of responsibility in South Caucasus Mirzoyan: EU monitoring mission in Armenia has become factor of stability on Azerbaijan border Dennis Francis: UN hopes for signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty FM: 23 Armenians still kept in custody in Azerbaijan Armenia FM: Still not many tangible results on fundamental issues, we are still negotiating with Azerbaijan European Commission official underscores provision of assistance to people affected by Karabakh conflict Peter Stano: Armenia can apply for EU membership MFA: Genocide prevention agenda is among Armenias priorities Russia holding presidential elections US intelligence warns of potentially devastating new pandemic Newspaper: Birth rate in Armenia 19% lower than last year Stoltenberg: NATO sought to maintain stronger relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan Georgian Prime Minister to visit Armenia Premier receives IMF Armenia mission chief Anne-Laurence Petel-led delegation to arrive in Armenia FM: Armenia looks into prospects of further deepening partnership with EU New technologies at the core of rural infrastructure development Russia is world leader in nuclear technology, Putin says Vardges Sureniants Salome painting returns to National Gallery of Armenia exhibition Dollar drops, euro rises in Armenia Sunak: There is historic opportunity to put an end to Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict Armenia authorities, who paid $6M for Snoop Dogg concert, still dont know when this postponed event will be held Deputy economy minister: Matter of opening India-Iran-Armenia trade corridor being discussed Armenia official: Trade with India amounted to $380M in 2023 ICC NCA head: India considers Armenia an important bridge to enter larger markets Anne-Laurence Petel welcomes resolution on EU-Armenia relations India ambassador: We are happy that our relations with Armenia are developing in defense sector also Indians are now 2nd largest community in Armenia after Russians, envoy says India-Armenia business forum kicks off in Yerevan Armenia parliament speaker on European Parliament resolution: We thank European partners for this important step PM: European Parliament resolution is another opportunity to discuss vision of Armenia's future Azerbaijans next target in Karabakh is Artsakh State University Russia deputy FM in Turkey, discusses process of normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations The Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, issued a message on International Womens Day. The message reads as follows: From the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, we extend our Pontifical Blessings and congratulations to our mothers, women and girls from Armenia and Diaspora on the occasion of March 8. A woman's role has always been valued in the life of our people, especially her mission in raising children in the family and educating generations. Today, when the spheres of women's activities have expanded, the contribution of our mothers and sisters in national and church life is truly great. Currently, our homeland and all Armenians are facing complex challenges. In these difficult times, more dedication and care are required for the sake of strengthening national-spiritual values, strengthening the solidarity and unity of our people around the world, and building a peaceful and prosperous future for our country. Dear ladies and women, in front of the Holy Altar of Descent, Our prayer is that God, under His blessing, will keep you full of hope and faith, steadfast in good deeds and virtues, and healthy and happy with your families and loved ones. May the love and Mercy, Graces and Blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us and all, today and always Amen. With Blessings Hamas has rejected Israel's conditions for having the displaced population returned to Gaza, reports Al Arabiya television. Hamas's refusal to accept these terms is linked to Israel's doubts about allowing the returning of the youngunder 45population to northern Gaza. It is also reported that Hamas demands the withdrawal of Israeli troops from beyond the dividing line, which must be decided by the mediators. In turn, Israel has refused to comply with Hamas' demands for the release of a number of persons. Before this, the Hamas delegation had gone to Cairo for consultations on the truce after negotiations with Israel. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the European Parliament of "Islamophobia." Such an insulting reaction has followed the removal of the powers of the Azerbaijani delegation to the PACE and a resolution by the European Parliament. In Aliyev's address to the participants of the international conference, themed Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024, being held in Baku, it is noted that, "Today, the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have become platforms that promote Islamophobia and pursue policies based on this ideology." Also, noted that, "The present negative trend is also evident in the operations of some global media entities." At the same time, Aliyev accused Armenia of Destruction of Azerbaijans Islamic historical and cultural heritage in Armenia. "Azerbaijan has raised this matter with UNESCO, calling for a technical mission to be sent to that country for assessing the conditions of our cultural and religious sites subjected to destruction in Armenia for years. Unfortunately, to this day, UNESCO is yet to respond to our request," the aforesaid address added. Azerbaijan makes such baseless accusations on a regular basis, as well as no less baseless demands against Iranian cultural monuments that are protected at the state level in Armenia. High-tech minister on removing Russia TV channels from multiplex: Armenia's dignity is at core of decisions Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs discuss new logistical opportunities Armenia 2041 Foundation launches Galvanizing Diaspora program Kazakhstan FM notes Armenias Crossroads of Peace projects importance for Middle Corridor Armenia, Kazakhstan FMs sign 2024/25 action plan Armenia PM is in Tavush Province, meeting with residents of Voskepar, Baghanis, neighboring villages Archaeologists find inscription of King Antiochus I of Armenian Yervanduni Dynasty, in Turkey Kazakhstan FM is in Armenia (PHOTOS) Rolls-Royce Ghost to be retired and replaced by new Alpina sedan Ardshinbank cardholders can now enjoy a 10% cashback! Withdrawal from lawsuits against Azerbaijan in international courts will cause irreparable damage to Armenia, Armenians EU Council to discuss assistance to Armenia, Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization 7,825 Karabakh residents who left Armenia since September 2023 have not returned, new data say Armenia to submit application for EU membership? Archaeologists discover where legendary British warship that disappeared in 17th century sank Large number of Russians came from Georgia to Armenia to vote in presidential election, envoy says Stoltenberg: NATO hopes to have stable peace between Azerbaijan, Armenia Belgorod attacked by two rockets during the day: there are dead and injured Media: Elon Musk's company is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites for US intelligence Shooting in Pennsylvania: at least three dead, gunman took hostages MEPs appeal to EU leadership to protect cultural heritage of Artsakh Armenians New talks between Israel and Hamas are scheduled in Qatar on Sunday India's national elections will be held from 19 April to 1 June Aliyev: Azerbaijan and Georgia have always supported each other's sovereignty Iran calls for formation of international coalition against Israel Biden told Aliyev of US commitment to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan Stoltenberg will meet in Yerevan with the President and Prime-minister of Armenia Turkish Foreign Ministry issues anti-Russian statement on Crimea issue Zakharova: There is a historical answer to Armenia's doubts about sincerity of Russia's intentions Zakharova: Moscow discusses with Armenia dragging Yerevan into anti-Russian course Zakharova: Armenia's withdrawal from CSTO should be based on real needs of the country, not on "flirting" with West Amazon and Microsoft suspend their cloud products in Russia Dollar, euro lose value in Armenia Armenia deputy FM: There has been considerable regress regarding visa facilitation with EU Deputy FM: As landlocked country, Armenia recognizes vital importance of inclusive connectivity, open borders FM: Armenia made every effort to prevent de-Armenianization in Karabakh FM to reporters: You will be the first to know when Armenia intends to apply for EU membership Ararat Mirzoyan: All Armenia authorities have negotiated on territorial concessions to Azerbaijan FM: Deepening of Armenia's relations with the West, EU not directed against Russia Mirzoyan: Unprecedented number of senior French officials visited Armenia in 2023 Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan are close to mutual understanding on recognition of 1991 borders Armenia made very active efforts to have minimal mutually acceptable wording with CSTO partners, FM assures FM: Georgia ready to contribute to process of establishing peace in South Caucasus Armenia FM: Events have occurred that have made it impossible to do certain things Armenia FM: Ultimate goal not materialized yet in relations with Turkey FM: There are international players interested in Armenia ceasing to exist Mirzoyan: No agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan to withdraw international lawsuits against each other Armenia FM reiterates PM's arguments on handover of 4 villages in Tavush Province to Azerbaijan FM: Armenia still doesnt understand how CSTO partners present their area of responsibility in South Caucasus Mirzoyan: EU monitoring mission in Armenia has become factor of stability on Azerbaijan border Dennis Francis: UN hopes for signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty FM: 23 Armenians still kept in custody in Azerbaijan Armenia FM: Still not many tangible results on fundamental issues, we are still negotiating with Azerbaijan European Commission official underscores provision of assistance to people affected by Karabakh conflict Peter Stano: Armenia can apply for EU membership MFA: Genocide prevention agenda is among Armenias priorities Russia holding presidential elections US intelligence warns of potentially devastating new pandemic Newspaper: Birth rate in Armenia 19% lower than last year Stoltenberg: NATO sought to maintain stronger relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan Georgian Prime Minister to visit Armenia Premier receives IMF Armenia mission chief Anne-Laurence Petel-led delegation to arrive in Armenia FM: Armenia looks into prospects of further deepening partnership with EU New technologies at the core of rural infrastructure development Russia is world leader in nuclear technology, Putin says Vardges Sureniants Salome painting returns to National Gallery of Armenia exhibition Dollar drops, euro rises in Armenia Sunak: There is historic opportunity to put an end to Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict Armenia authorities, who paid $6M for Snoop Dogg concert, still dont know when this postponed event will be held Deputy economy minister: Matter of opening India-Iran-Armenia trade corridor being discussed Armenia official: Trade with India amounted to $380M in 2023 ICC NCA head: India considers Armenia an important bridge to enter larger markets Anne-Laurence Petel welcomes resolution on EU-Armenia relations India ambassador: We are happy that our relations with Armenia are developing in defense sector also Indians are now 2nd largest community in Armenia after Russians, envoy says India-Armenia business forum kicks off in Yerevan Armenia parliament speaker on European Parliament resolution: We thank European partners for this important step PM: European Parliament resolution is another opportunity to discuss vision of Armenia's future Azerbaijans next target in Karabakh is Artsakh State University Russia deputy FM in Turkey, discusses process of normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations 14-karat gold LEGO piece sells for over $18,000 Newspaper: Armenia to leave CSTO on Putin's reelection day? Young lords 1,200-year-old tomb with treasure discovered in Panama European Parliament resolution demands Azerbaijan troops withdrawal from Armenia territory European Parliament adopts resolution proposing to consider possibility of Armenia's candidacy for EU membership Russia MFA spox: We are concerned by Armenia leaderships sometimes offensive rhetoric on CSTO topics Armenia government plans to have Kapan city airport serve international flights as well Zakharova on Russian border guards removal from Yerevan airport: Hardly meets Armenia security interests Armenia defense minister, Austria envoy, military attache discuss enhancing cooperation (PHOTOS) Armenia official: Those 4 villages in Tavush Province are not in our administrative territorial division European Parliament passes resolution proposing to consider possibility of EU membership candidacy to Armenia The Kremlin comments on PM Pashinyan's statements about possibility of Armenia leaving CSTO US envoy to Armenia underscores empowering women to participate meaningfully at all levels of conflict prevention RFE/RL: Armenia ready to find solutions, including in most problematic areas of Tavush Province, government says The number of Team mobile subscribers is over 1 million French writer Sylvain Tesson to visit Armenia Spain MP: Addressing Karabakh Armenians rights should always be at international community focus Mirzoyan, Bono confer about discussions on Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty EU monitoring mission in Armenia hosts Austria ambassador to Georgia, defense attache The Emory University Emergency Hardship Fund has been watching out for Emory faculty and staff since 2010. Now, theres a call for help from the university community as the fund faces a critical shortage. The fund was established to assist employees who are going through a difficult time or dealing with a sudden life-changing event. These events can vary greatly, from natural disasters (such as fires or tornadoes) to ruptured pipes, loss of income, death in the family or medical expenses. What doesnt change is the difference the Hardship Fund makes in the lives of employees and their families. Taking care of employees The Emory University Emergency Hardship Fund is largely employee-funded, with 100% of monies going to faculty and staff who are granted assistance. Other funding is through one-time donations from the broader Emory community. To be eligible, an employee must be a regular faculty or staff member working at least 20 hours for at least a year. The employee also must not have violated Emorys Standards of Conduct Policy within the past twelve months. The process for applying for assistance is completely confidential. After completing the application form on the Emory Work-Life website, applicants work with the funds coordinator, Mary Ellen Eady, to gather all the necessary paperwork and supporting evidence of financial need. My job is to help people apply, Eady notes. To help people review the information so they can try to receive as much as they can with the proper documentation. Eady presents each applicants case anonymously to a small committee of representatives from Emory Staff Council and Human Resources. Though any eligible staff or faculty member at Emory can apply, not every applicant will be approved to receive funding. Those who do may be awarded up to $2,500. Awards categorized as Tier 1 address catastrophic events such as a death in the family or losses from a natural disaster. Tier 2 awards are for temporary emergencies such as unexpected car repairs or help with housing issues. Many individuals who have received funding send statements to Eady expressing their immense appreciation. You really have no idea what a relief this is, one recipient shared. The last few months years, really have been so stressful. This is a huge weight off my shoulders. Building a fund to last Between 2020-23, the fund awarded more money ($224,360) than it collected in donations ($132,959). That led to the realization that the fund was in critical need of help if it was to continue aiding employees. This is the first year that [the fund has] really been in trouble, and I think that has a lot to do with the COVID effect, says Eady. Staff turnover, retirements and a general lack of employee awareness have all been noted as reasons for the drop in donations. Dawn Francis-Chewning, past president of the Emory Staff Council, agrees. My observation is that there has been so much turnover and anyone who had a recurring donation and has since left Emory [the money is] just lost, she says. She adds that many new employees arent necessarily aware of the fund and may not know how to donate. Thats a significant number, she says. Emorys top leadership recently stepped in to help. Working in partnership with the Staff Council, the Offices of President Gregory L. Fenves and Chris Augostini, executive vice president for business administration, donated a $25,000 match for the fund. Both offices hope to keep it going and inspire others to give. Staff Council President Shervon Lewis is grateful for the contribution from leadership. She notes that larger donations can help address the funds immediate need and give more staff members a chance to benefit but that any size donation makes a difference. How to donate to the fund Francis-Chewning served on the University Senate when then-Staff Council President Matt Engelhardt first presented the concept of the Hardship Fund. She didnt hesitate to donate, especially after dealing with personal loss herself. I wanted to be a part of that because everybody needs help. And I thought, who would I love to help more than my Emory family? That's what I've always considered Emory to be, says Francis-Chewning. Shes been giving to the fund ever since its creation through payroll deductions. Staff, faculty, or community members have several options for supporting the Emory Hardship Fund. Individuals or groups can make a single donation through the funds website. Emory staff and faculty can also opt for a recurring payroll deduction of any amount via PeopleSoft Self-Service. The fund will also be featured in the upcoming Emory Day of Giving (March 27-28). If you would like to support the fund and have your early gift count for Day of Giving, use this special donation link before March 26. Nina Acosta, current Staff Council member and Hardship Fund chair, sums up the need for the fund: You don't know who [the fund is] going to help. It could help the person sitting in the cubicle next to you. Learn more about the Emory University Hardship Fund and get answers to your questions by emailing Emory Staff Council. 23:51 According to police, the waitress, Amritpal Kaur, was arrested late evening on Thursday and was questioned for an hour before she was let off on bail. "During interrogation, the waitress revealed that the incident happened by mistake," said Surender Sheoran, ACP, Manesar. The police said the manager of the cafe was arrested by police on Monday and sent into jail while the owner of the cafe is still absconding. The restaurant is yet to be reopened, they added. Five diners vomited and suffered bleeding in the mouth after consuming the dry ice served to them in an apparent mix-up at the eatery. According to the complaint lodged by one of them, they had gone to the La Forestta restaurant on the night of March 3. A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, showed the five friends purportedly vomiting blood. The police said earlier that two of the five people were still hospitalised. Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide, a cooling agent that is toxic. An FIR under sections 328 (causing hurt by means of poison) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code was lodged on the matter at Kherki Daula Police Station last Sunday. -- PTI A waitress of La Forestta cafe-cum-restaurant where five people were allegedly served dry ice instead of a mouth freshener was arrested on Friday, the police said, adding that she was later let off on bail. Sea aid for Gaza could start this weekend: EU Ursula von der Leyen says aid will begin arriving in Gaza by sea within days. Photo: AP A sea corridor to take desperately needed aid from Cyprus to besieged Palestinians in Gaza could start this weekend, the European Union said on Friday. US President Joe Biden said on Thursday that a temporary port would be built in Gaza to facilitate a flow of aid by sea, initially from Cyprus. "We are now very close to opening this corridor, hopefully this Saturday-Sunday, and I'm very glad to see an initial pilot operation will be launched today," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in the Cypriot port town of Larnaca, alongside Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. A shipment of food was due to be dispatched by the charity World Central Kitchen from Cyprus on Friday, with support from the United Arab Emirates. The quantities of aid envisaged and the distribution logistics in Gaza were not immediately clear. Gaza has been under an Israeli naval blockade since 2007, when the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas seized control. A joint communique signed off by the EU, the US, Britain, the UAE and a number of European countries said: "The delivery of humanitarian assistance directly to Gaza by sea will be complex, and our nations will continue to assess and adjust our efforts to ensure we deliver aid as effectively as possible. "This maritime corridor can and must be part of a sustained effort to increase the flow of humanitarian aid and commercial commodities into Gaza through all possible routes. We will continue to work with Israel to expand deliveries by land, insisting that it facilitate more routes and open additional crossings to get more aid to more people." Cyprus is the closest EU member state to Gaza, some 370 km away. It has lobbied for months to launch the corridor, but faced challenges ranging from the lack of port infrastructure in Gaza to security issues. "The maritime corridor can make a real difference ... but, in parallel, our efforts to provide assistance to Palestinians through all possible routes of course will continue," Von der Leyen said. The United Nations has said at least 576,000 people in Gaza one quarter of its population are on the brink of famine. (Reuters) Britain's top IRA mole 'cost more lives than he saved' A Belfast native denied being "Stakeknife". File image: Shutterstock The actions of a senior British informer in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) codenamed "Stakeknife" probably cost more lives than they saved in Northern Ireland's sectarian conflict, an independent inquiry found on Friday. The nationalist IRA, which opposed British rule in the province, was responsible for more than half the 3,600 deaths during three decades of guerrilla conflict, which were largely ended by a peace accord in 1998. Operation Kenova's interim report found that British security forces were frequently aware of imminent abductions and murders, yet failed to protect those at risk. As a result, it said, murders that should have been prevented were allowed to take place, and those responsible were left free to reoffend. "This report leaves little doubt that the Republican leadership was responsible for numerous dreadful crimes, many of which the government failed to prevent," former Kenova lead Jon Boutcher said. Boutcher led the eight-year probe before becoming head of Northern Ireland's police last year. He presented the findings to reporters alongside his successor, former Scottish police chief Iain Livingstone. The 212-page report did not reveal the identity of the agent alleged to have belonged to the IRA's feared "Nutting Squad", which interrogated suspected informers. Freddie Scappaticci, a Belfast man who died last year, denied being "Stakeknife" but lost a legal bid to force British ministers to state that he had not been a double agent. The report said it was well known that Scappaticci had been a member of the IRA's internal security unit. (Reuters) The artistic talents of six seniors in SIU Carbondales School of Art and Design will be on display April 15-20 during the annual Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award exhibition. (Photo provided) Six finalists vie for SIUs 2024 Rickert-Ziebold Award by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. Six graduating seniors in Southern Illinois University Carbondales School of Art and Design are preparing to compete for the universitys most prestigious art prize the Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award. The finalists were announced on March 7 and come from a variety of disciplines art education, blacksmithing, communication design and metalsmithing. The exhibition is from April 15 through April 20 in the SIU Surplus Gallery, 432 S. Washington St., Carbondale. Winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m. April 15. A reception will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 19 in the Surplus Gallery, with the awards presentation at 6:30 p.m. The gallery is in the Studio Arts Building, formerly known as the Glove Factory. Media Advisory Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the 2024 Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award reception and award presentation on April 19 at the SIU Surplus Gallery. The reception is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with the award presentation at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Sun Kim at sunkim@siu.edu or the Surplus Gallery at 618-453-7548 or sgallery@siu.edu. Each year, seniors in the School of Art and Design, part of the College of Arts and Media, graduating from the fall semester to the end of the summer term apply for the competition displaying their knowledge and creativity gained throughout the years at SIU. The honor includes a substantial scholarship. Sun Kyoung Kim, chair of the Rickert-Ziebold committee and associate professor of metalsmithing and jewelry, noted that in many cases this can be the students first experience with peer competition and professional evaluation. I am very pleased with the efforts by these students to put together a portfolio and showcase their work for the exhibition. I hope that many students and community members will visit the show and join us at the reception, Kim said. Award finalists The finalists are: Lauren Clark, communication design, Murphysboro, Illinois. Clayton Curry, blacksmithing, Monticello, Illinois. Tam Gilker, metalsmithing, Webster Groves, Missouri. Carson Slaughter, metalsmithing, Chicago. Jessica Tosti, communication design, Clearwater, Florida. Nicole Zralka, art education, Frankfort, Illinois. Longtime award The purpose of the trust is to promote excellence in visual arts. The award was established 50 years ago by the Rickert family in honor of the late Joseph Rickert, an attorney and former state senator from Waterloo, to encourage young artists. Because of the Rickert familys vision, love of art, and confidence in the future, the School of Art and Design is able to annually present cash awards to Rickert-Ziebold scholars. Gallery hours The exhibition in the Surplus Gallery will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 15-19 and 10 a.m. to noon April 20. For more information, contact Sun Kyong Kim at sunkim@siu.edu or the Surplus Gallery at 618-453-7548 or sgallery@siu.edu. PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 8: On the occasion of International Women's Day, 2nd edition of I Inspire Awards 2024 is graced by His Excellency Shri Ramesh Bais, Hon'ble Governor of Maharashtra as Chief Guest. PMK FOUNDATION, a Maharashtra based Not for Profit organization to host the second edition of I Inspire Awards 2024 on March 8, 2024. The awards are constituted to rewards the Cancer Warriors who fought their cancer battle with much positive spirit and living a healthy life post treatment. Further, acknowledge the remarkable contribution of various individual and organization which are supporting the cancer ecosystem in the country. As we celebrate the spirit of womanhood, it is crucial to recognize the pivotal role that women play in shaping our homes, societies, and contributing significantly to nation-building. In our culture, a woman is often referred to as 'Janani,' signifying her role as a nurturer and the foundation of our families. Amidst our celebrations, we cannot ignore the shadow cast by cancer, a disease that knows no boundaries and affects millions worldwide. Globally, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, with millions of lives lost each year. In India alone, the burden of cancer is staggering, with over 1.5 million new cases reported annually. These numbers are not mere statistics; they represent individuals, families, and communities grappling with the devastating impact of this disease. However, amidst the darkness, there is light. The collective efforts of our government, medical research organizations, and private entities in establishing advanced infrastructure and initiatives to combat cancer and strive towards finding a cure. From pioneering research to state-of-the-art treatment facilities, we are witnessing remarkable progress in our fight against this formidable adversary. Yet, the battle against cancer extends far beyond medical intervention. It requires a holistic approach that addresses the emotional, psychological, and financial challenges faced by patients and their families. Here, the role of civil society organizations becomes indispensable. From offering guidance and support to providing financial assistance, solidarity and counselling, these entities serve as beacons of hope for those navigating through the darkest of times. The celebration of hope and resilience reflect through the initiative such a I Inspire Awards constituted by PMK Foundation. In its second edition, His excellency Shri Ramesh Bais, Hon'ble Governor of Maharashtra presides over the awards ceremony and felicitating many cancer warriors who survived their cancer battle and still fighting for it. Besides, recognizing critical role of cancer ecosystem is welcomed by key stakeholders through awards and recognition. Among the dignitaries receiving lifetime achievement awards are some prominent names from the medical fraternity such as Dr Suresh Advani, Dr Rajendra Badwe Ji, Dr Shripad Banavali and Shri Prakash Tata. The other awardees in Cancer Warriors categories are Parvati Gadge, Jyoti Ambekar, Dharna Mehta, Nilima Zope, Teena Kaur Parsicha, Shashibala Bhatnagar, Nidhi Verma, Rupal Chowdhury, Vashu Kanal, Ruby Ahluwalia. Many renewed oncologists and medical experts getting recognized for their outstanding services, support, treatment for various cancer Care in third category, "Cancer Ecosystem" are Dr. Sandeep Bipte,Dr. Shivam Singla, Dr. Ehsan Shaikh, Atul Oza, Mrs Rita Gupta, Sanjay Patil, Santosh Jogi, Pradeep Rathod, Nityanand Sharma, Mrs Archana Sharma, Mrs Tanya, Ninad Despande, and Ratul Lahiri. This initiative is supported by many private sector organizations for its cause to fight cancer and support the families. Cello, Medline, Lilac Insight, bright Outdoor Media, Times Applaud, Radio City FM 91.1, Omnipresent group, Dainik Bhaskar, Reid & Tylor were among many. PMK Foundation President Nayna D Kanal said, "We believe that recognizing and rewarding great efforts in education, healthcare, and social welfare can motivate others to get engaged and work towards improving their communities. The Inspire Awards are an essential part of our organization, which aims to honor and support cancer warriors. We are grateful to all the people and organizations who helped the I Inspire Awards platform and look forward to working together to help people live a healthy life. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch has got engaged to a retired molecular biologist, Elena Zhukova. The 92-year-old is set to marry Zhukova, 62, on June 1 in a ceremony on his California vineyard and estate, Moraga, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Murdoch reportedly began seeing Zhukova during the summer after meeting her through his third wife, Wendi Deng. Zhukova is described as a retired molecular biologist who studied diabetes at the University of California, Los Angeles. The New York Times first reported the new engagement. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the news comes nearly a year after Murdoch announced his engagement to Ann Lesley Smith, a retired dental hygienist, in the spring of 2023. But he broke it off a few weeks later. The upcoming June nuptials would make it Murdoch's fifth marriage. He was previously married to model Jerry Hall from 2016 to 2022. He married Patricia Booker in 1956, but they divorced eleven years later, in 1967. They have one child. He later married his second wife, Anna Maria Torv, in 1967, and the couple had three children. After 32 years of marriage, the couple parted in 1999. Murdoch and his third wife, Deng, were married in 1999 but divorced in 2013. They also have two children together. Zhukova, who moved to the United States from Moscow, was formerly married to billionaire energy investor Alexander Zhukov. Last year, Murdoch revealed that he was stepping down as the chairman of his empire, Fox Corp. and News Corp, transitioning to the role of chairman emeritus. His son Lachlan Murdoch took over the top title at the two companies. "For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change," he wrote in a letter to employees in September. "But the time is right for me to take on different roles, knowing that we have truly talented teams and a passionate, principled leader in Lachlan who will become sole chairman of both companies," as per The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI) Makers of the upcoming web series 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' starring Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Manisha Koirala, Sharmin Segal, and Sanjeeda Shaikh are all set to unveil its first track. Titled 'Sakal Ban' the song will be out on March 9. Taking to Instagram, Bhansali Productions shared a poster of the show's first track that they captioned, "This spring, the flowers of strength and beauty blossom. #SakalBan the first song from #HEERAMANDI OUT TOMORROW! Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is coming soon, only on Netflix!" https://www.instagram.com/p/C4PkvqRRfvq/ The upcoming series is set in the midst of multiple power struggles in Heeramandi, Lahore (now part of Pakistan), and more generally in undivided, pre-independence India, where anti-colonial freedom movements were emerging. 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' is set to stream on the OTT platform Netflix. It also marks the OTT debut of Sanjay Leela Bhansali who is known for his larger-than-life sets and opulent costumes. Recently, at the 24th edition of FICCI Frames in Mumbai, Sonakshi heaped praises on Bhansali for his portrayal of women characters on screen. "Sanjay sir and I have been trying to collaborate for many years and I'm glad it happened with Heeramandi. The way he portrays his women on screen, nobody is able to do that. He has got a very different vision for it in spite of it being all magnum opus... He takes good care of how his female characters are portrayed on screen, and that's something I appreciate about him" Sonakshi said. The official streaming date of the series has not yet been announced. (ANI) Speaking to ANI, Karan opened up about his experience working on this important subject. "I learned so much through this film. The film addresses colourism. The issue is still very prevalent in society. The preference for fair skin became deeply entrenched in the psyche of the Indian populace due to Britishers. We should not give importance only to surface level beauty," Karan said. Helmed by Balwinder Singh Janjua, the film also stars Randeep Hooda, Ileana D'Cruz and Pawan Malhotra. Balwinder Singh also opened up about his experience helming 'Tera Kya Hoga Lovely'. "It's a social comedy. The film aims to spark conversation about colourism and societal biases. We have tried our best to address important issues in an entertaining manner. Hope our film raises awareness among the audience...We shot the entire film in Karnal. I had a great time working with all the actors," he said. Randeep Hooda essayed the role of a police officer in the film. (ANI) Actor Ayushmann Khurrana celebrated Maha Shivratri in a special way. He sang a rendition of the Shiv Kailash hymn, something his father had longed to hear from him. His father P Khurrana passed away on May 19, 2023. He was popularly known in North India for his contribution to the field of astrology. Hailing from Chandigarh, he had written books based on his knowledge of the subject. Taking to Instagram, he uploaded the hymn and captioned, "#Mahashivratri has always been a family affair in our household. Papa mama @aparshakti and I used to visit sector-6 Panchkula temple every year during our childhood. Last year when my father was diagnosed, he still had the courage to visit the temple during Shivratri all alone, being an ardent disciple of Lord Shiva." He added, "This is our first Shivratri without him. During his last days, he had requested me to send @paddyshivoham's rendition of this hymn to him. Jab bhi papa yeh sunte thhe kehte thhe ki beta aapki aawaaz mein yeh bahut achcha lagega..." https://www.instagram.com/p/C4PdWyjNckY/?hl=en Maha Shivratri is considered auspicious for spiritual growth. The festival, also known as 'the great night of Shiva', celebrates the overcoming of darkness and ignorance. It also celebrates the grand marriage of Lord Shiva -- with the goddess of fertility, love, and beauty -- Parvati, who is also known as Shakti (power). According to Hindu mythology, on the night of the marriage, Lord Shiva had a very diverse group of acquaintances including Hindu gods, goddesses, animals, and demons escorting him to the house of the goddess. The duo of Shiv and Shakti is considered to be the epitome of love, power, and togetherness. The festival marking the initiation of their bond - 'Maha Shivratri' - is celebrated with great fervour across India. (ANI) Bhumi Pednekar has received applause for her performance in her latest release, 'Bhakshak', cementing her strong presence in Bollywood. In the film, she portrays the role of an investigative journalist and a cop who join forces to expose heinous crimes against minor girls in a shelter home. Her performance has garnered positive responses from both critics and the audience. She dedicated the success of the film to the media fraternity, calling them "unsung heroes who sacrifice everything to bring out the truth." "I'm deeply grateful to the media and all the journalists who have given so much love to Bhakshak that is now a global hit. No matter whichever state of my country I have travelled to since its release, whenever I have engaged with the media recently, they have all told me how passionately I have represented them in Bhakshak," Bhumi said. She added, "They have told me how they feel proud to see Bhakshak because it shows how a reporter can swim against the tide to uncover the truth as if her life depends on it. Media is the fourth pillar of our democracy. Journalists are the force of nature that stands in the way of injustice, always striving to better society." Bhumi said that the film is her "tribute to these unsung heroes living across the country, sacrificing everything to bring out the truth." "Bhakshak is my tribute to these unsung heroes living across the country, sacrificing everything to bring out the truth. It is not easy being in the media. The threat to their lives, the bullying, the red tape, the attacks on social media or in real life - we know of too many cases. But what is astonishing is how the media doesn't back down from bringing culprits to justice.I have always been fascinated by their willpower. Lives and tales of crime journalists are also inspiring. What journalists have done for our society, for our country, is simply incredible and they do it without chasing glory. They do it just to do good. I salute this fraternity for protecting people, for protecting democracy and for protecting those in need," she shared. 'Bhakshak' also stars Sanjay Mishra. It is streaming on Netflix. (ANI) Haryana Chief Secretary, Sanjeev Kaushal, on Thursday said that the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam has issued appointment letters to 118,880 youth so far. Among the appointees, 32,189 are from the Scheduled Caste, 29,288 from the Backward Class, and 44,270 from the general category. The Chief Secretary highlighted the expansion of opportunities by adding 30 new job activities to the portal, ensuring a wider reach for youth to avail benefits in various categories. Giving this information after presiding over the 6th meeting of the board of HKRNL, Kaushal said that the appointment letters issued so far comprise 30.43 per cent of youth from the SC category, 27.69 per cent from the BC category, and 41.86 per cent from the general category. Additionally, salary structures have been determined by categorizing all districts of the state into three categories. The Corporation has verified the EPF of 110,814 individuals and the ESI benefits of 86,215 appointees. Furthermore, 111,842 youth have enrolled in the Labour Welfare Fund. Sanjeev Kausha urged for a final opportunity to be extended to those employees not yet uploaded on the portal. Highlighting the corporation's role in providing employment opportunities in the private sector, both within the state and internationally, he emphasized the importance of sending a copy of the charges taken by the corporation to the finance department. Efforts are underway by the Corporation to make 8,169 youth proficient in the skill test. Additionally, employees drawing a salary of Rs 21,000 have been authorized to avail the benefits of the Chirayu Scheme, with a lump sum amount of Rs 1,500 per employee and family for one year being deposited. Opportunities have also been created for Haryana's youth to work in countries such as Dubai, Finland, Israel, and Japan. Advertisements have been released to facilitate employment opportunities for the youth in foreign countries, he added. The meeting was attended by several senior officers, including Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Principal Secretary Vijendra Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary Urban Local Bodies Vikas Gupta, Special Secretary Aditya Dahiya, and Director Dheeraj P Sharma. (ANI) The meeting took place on Thursday. There are speculations that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is likely to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh. The TDP which was part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance till 2018, evinced interest in reviving the alliance after suffering crushing defeat in 2019 elections. There has been talk of a triparty alliance between the regional parties and BJP for some time. Actor Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party, which has been a member of the NDA, has already joined hands with the TDP. The state has 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats. Elections for Lok Sabha is expected to be held in April-May. The ruling party is eyeing a third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has set a target for winning 370 seats on its own and 400 with allies. (ANI) TDP National Spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain on Friday said that TDP, BJP and Jana Sena Party will this time come to power in Andhra Pradesh when Assembly elections are held in the southern state. Speaking on the possibilities of a tie-up between BJP and TDP for the Lok Sabha elections, he told ANI, "As per the information, undoubtedly, there is going to be an alliance between the BJP and TDP. At any time, we may get the information (its confirmation)." He also lashed out at the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government. "Whatever the Andhra Pradesh public has seen during the five years of misgovernance under the YS Reddy government, undoubtedly, the government will have to pay its price (when the people will come out to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections). "TDP, BJP and the Jana Sena will this time come to power in Andhra Pradesh," Jain added. Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party President N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP Chief JP Nadda in Delhi. The meeting took place on Thursday. There are speculations that the TDP is likely to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh. The TDP which was part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance till 2018, evinced interest in reviving the alliance after suffering a crushing defeat in the 2019 elections. There has been talk of a triparty alliance between the regional parties and BJP for some time. Actor Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party, which has been a member of the NDA, has already joined hands with the TDP. The state has 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats. Lok Sabha elections are expected to be held in April-May. The ruling party is eyeing a third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has set a target for winning 370 seats on its own and 400 with allies. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav along with his wife offered prayers at the renowned Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri on Friday. "I have sought blessings from Baba Mahakal to bless everyone. From my side, I wish Mahashivratri to the people of the country," Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said while speaking to the media. Extending his wishes on the prestigious occasion, in a social media post on X, Yadav wrote, "May happiness, prosperity and well-being come in the lives of all the people of the state with the blessings of Adidev Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. May the blessings of Baba Bholenath continue to be upon all of us. Best wishes to all the people of the state on the festival of Maha Shivaratri". Earlier today, Veteran BJP leader and state minister Kailash Vijayvargia also offered prayers at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. "I always pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi our country stands among the topmost countries in the world and today we pray that Mahakaal keeps us blessing in the same manner," Kailash Vijayvargia said while speaking to ANI. A massive display of devotion and religious fervour was seen across the country as hundreds of devotees gathered at various temples across the nation to grant prayers to Lord Shiva. The occasion drew worshippers from far and wide, forming long queues as they eagerly sought the blessings of Lord Shiva. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted fellow Indians on the occasion of Mahashivaratri. "Best wishes to all my family members of the country on Mahashivratri. I wish that this great festival brings new energy in everyone's life and also gives new strength to the resolutions of the country in Amritkaal. Jai Bhole Nath!," PM Modi posted on X. (ANI) The Delhi High Court has dismissed the default bail plea moved by the Supertech promoter RK Arora in a money laundering case. The bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, in an order passed on March 5, 2024, dismissed the bail plea and said, in the present case, that the Enforcement Directorate has already submitted the requisite documents for obtaining expert opinion from FSL. The preparation of the FSL report is not in the control of the investigating agency, though it can take steps to expedite the process. "As already noted above, it is the categorical stand of the ED that the investigation against the present petitioner is complete. With the mere issuance of summons to another person or seeking leave of the Court to file additional evidence, without there being any other sufficient material to challenge, the petitioner cannot be held to be entitled to a default bail. Consequently, I find no merit in the petition and the same is accordingly dismissed", said the Court. Default bail is enshrined in Section 167(2) of the CrPC, which states that when an accused is arrested and detained in custody, the investigation must be completed within a specified time frame, failing which the accused shall be released on bail. Trial court Judge on January 24, 2024, while dismissing the regular bail plea of RK Arora, stated that, after the dismissal of the previous bail application via detailed order dated July 22, 2023, I am not inclined to entertain the present bail application moved under Section 439 Cr. PC on behalf of accused Ram Kishor Arora. Accordingly, the same is dismissed, said the trial Court Judge. Earlier, the trial Court took cognizance of the prosecution complaint (chargesheet) filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him and others and also issued summons to all accused named in the chargesheet and firms through their representatives. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against Supertech's Chairman, RK Arora in relation to a money laundering case in Delhi's Patiala House Court. Arora was arrested on June 27 under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Earlier, ED apprised the court that 23 FIRs were registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Delhi Police; Haryana Police and UP Police against Supertech Limited and its group companies under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 406(criminal breach of trust)/420 (cheating)/467/471 IPC having allegations of cheating at least 670 home buyers for an amount of Rs 164 crore. ED also alleged that the amount collected by Supertech Ltd. was diverted to their group companies for the purchase of properties, with the company with land having much lesser value. ED alleged that the accused persons have acquired properties, and made illegal/wrongful gain arising out of the said proceeds of crime by involving, indulging and commissioning criminal activities related to scheduled offences. It is stated that the prima facie case for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 3 punishable under Section 4 of the PML Act has been made. (ANI) Several parties of Puducherry that are part of the INDIA bloc and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIDMK) state unit held protests on Friday as part of their call for a dawn-to-dusk bandh to condemn the brutal sexual assault and murder of a girl. The 12-hour bandh called by opposition AIADMK and the INDIA bloc condemned the failure of the Puducherry government in preventing the murder impacted normal life. They demanded a strong punishment for the culprits involved in the murder of the nine-year-old girl. Commercial and trade establishments and shops across the state of Puducherry are closed due to this total blockade. All the commercial establishments in Anna Road, Gandhi Veedi, Nehru Veedi etc. which are known as Vartha Dal are closed. Also, no buses are running in Puducherry state. Protests have erupted in Puducherry after the discovery of a nine-year-old girl's body, in a drain near her house three days after she had been reported missing. This crime led to a wave of public anger in the Union Territory. Police have arrested two people in connection with the case and a special investigation team (SIT) has been formed. The girl was reported missing last Saturday (March 2), and on Tuesday, her body was discovered with her limbs tied and wrapped in cloth. Soon after, police arrested a 56-year-old man and a 19-year-old man under charges of murder, kidnapping, and violations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) and SC/ST Acts. An SIT, spearheaded by Senior Superintendent of Police, was also formed. Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan also visited the family. The LG consoled the family members. Speaking to reporters, she said that a fast-track special court would be set up to try the case. "The government will ensure that the culprits get maximum punishment. A fast-track special court will be set up immediately. They (the family members of the victim) said that the culprits should be given the death penalty. We can't take the laws into our hands, but emotionally, I'm on their side," Soundararajan said. (ANI) Devotees throng Shankaracharya Mahadev Temple in Srinagar to offer prayers, on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. The temple, located atop the Shankaracharya Hill is dedicated to Lord Shiva and holds great spiritual and cultural importance for the people of Srinagar. On this auspicious day, devotees from different places of the country gather to offer their prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. The atmosphere is filled with the sounds of devotional songs and the fragrance of incense as devotees perform traditional rituals and offer holy water, milk, and flowers to the sacred Lingam. Vidhu Sharma (Incharge of Shankaracharya temple) told ANI, "We all are the devotees of the Bholenath (god Shiva). The occasion provides us with an opportunity to serve him. I wish Maha Shivratri celebrations to all the people across the country". Ritu Thakur, a devotee who came along with her husband from Delhi told ANI, "We had been planning to visit Shankaracharya temple on the occasion of Shivratri. But it didn't work out. My husband is a Supreme Court lawyer. He remains busy". "But this time, we came here with the blessings of the god Shiva," She added. The Shankaracharya temple becomes a hub of religious fervour and celebration, with the faithful staying up all night to participate in the night-long vigil and witness the grandeur of the Maha Shivaratri celebrations. Chandi Sharma, another devotee from Jammu said, "Everyone knows today is Maha Shivratri. We came here to offer prayers at 4 am early in the morning". As the day breaks the temple resonates with the echoes of hymns and prayers creating a mystical and enchanting ambience. The Maha Shivaratri celebrations in Shankaracharya temple are a beautiful display of faith and devotion, uniting people in prayer and worship of the divine. It is a time for spiritual renewal and enlightenment, as devotees seek the blessings of Lord Shiva for peace, prosperity, and happiness in their lives. (ANI) After President Droupadi Murmu nominated Sudha Murty for the Rajya Sabha, philanthropist and author Murty said that she is happy that she is getting a bigger platform to work for the poor adding that her nomination and work had nothing to do with politics. President Droupadi Murmu nominated author and philanthropist Sudha Murty to the Rajya Sabha on Friday. "I'm happy, at the same time I feel I have been given more responsibility. I'll work my level best. On a personal level, I am happy that I'm getting a bigger platform to work for the poor," Sudha Murty told ANI on Friday. When asked about whether this could be considered a step into the political arena, Sudha Murty was clear that she did not consider herself a politician. "I don't think that I could consider myself as a politician and I'm not a politician. I'm a nominated Rajya Sabha member. My son-in-law's (UK PM Rishi Sunak) politics is for his country and it is different, and my work is different. I'm a government worker now," she responded. Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appreciation of her being nominated to the upper house Murty said, "It's very nice of him he appreciated my work, I want to thank the Prime Minister very much." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated philanthropist and author Sudha Murty on being nominated to the Rajya Sabha and termed the announcement on International Women's Day a "powerful testament" to India's "Nari Shakti." "I am delighted that the President of India has nominated Sudha Murty to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Ji's contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy and education have been immense and inspiring. Her presence in the Rajya Sabha is a powerful testament to our 'Nari Shakti', exemplifying the strength and potential of women in shaping our nation's destiny," PM Modi posted on X on Friday. BJP chief JP Nadda also congratulated Sudha Murty and said that her commitment to making a positive impact in society is truly commendable. "Congratulations to Smt Sudha Murty ji for the prestigious nomination as a member of the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Ji's unwavering dedication to community service, her tireless efforts in the field of education, and her remarkable philanthropic endeavours serve as a beacon of inspiration for countless individuals. Her commitment to making a positive impact on society is truly commendable. You embody the strength of 'Nari Shakti.' Wishing you success on your parliamentary journey," Nadda posted on X. The well-known author, Sudha Murty has contributed to English and Kannada literature and had retired as the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation on December 31, 2021. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2023 for her contribution in the field of social work. In 2006, she was conferred the Padma Shri. Murty is married to the co-founder of Infosys, NR Narayana Murty and is the mother-in-law of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. (ANI) On the occasion of International Women's Day, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) announced a new scholarship scheme for the girl students of the BBA, BCA and BMS programs. The scheme was announced as a part of AICTE's ongoing efforts to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive technical and management education ecosystem in India. Financial assistance of Rs 7.5 crore will be provided to 3000 girl students annually, according to the AICTE release. The scheme was announced by AICTE Chairman Prof. T.G. Sitharam in the presence of Rohini Bhajibhakare, Private Secretary, who were present at the celebration of International Women's Day at AICTE . Under the scheme, a total of 3000 scholarships will be provided annually to female students of economically weaker backgrounds who are enrolled in AICTE-approved institutions. The annual grant under the scholarship will be Rs 25000 per student. In total, AICTE will spend Rs 7.5 crore annually for three years to provide financial support to girl students. The new scholarship is dedicated only to female students pursuing BBA, BCA and BMS courses from AICTE-approved institutions. Announcing the scheme, the AICTE Chairman Prof. T.G. Sitharam said, "AICTE takes measures to empower women and unlock their full potential in technical and management education. For girl students in engineering, we have a PRAGATI scheme. Since, BBA, BCA and BMS undergraduate management courses have come under the AICTE umbrella from this year onwards, we decided to announce a special scheme for girl students of UG management to promote gender equality, provide affordable education and empower girls in management education as well.". Prof. T.G. Sitharam further said that at AICTE, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where women not only thrive but also lead the charge in shaping the future of engineering and management. "In recent years, we saw a significant increase in women enrollment in AICTE approved institutions. In 2022-23, 39 per cent of women enrolled themselves in AICTE-approved courses as compared to 36 per cent in 2021-22 and 30 per cent in 2020-21. The percentage of women enrolled in engineering diplomas and UG has also witnessed a significant increase. In 2022-23, 29 per cent women enrolled in engineering diplomas and 44 per cent got enrolled in UG Engineering courses. The women's enrollment in UG engineering was 29 per cent in 2019-20 which increased to 31 per cent and 40 per cent in the two consecutive years. The increasing percentage of women enrollment over the years underscores the growing recognition of women's capabilities and the need for diversity in the engineering and management workforce". quoted Chairman. "On this International Women's Day, AICTE reaffirms its commitment to empowering women in engineering and technology through its new and reformative initiatives. Encouraging and supporting women in engineering and management is not only the right thing to do but also essential for India's progress and prosperity for Viksit Bharat by 2047." added the release. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a 'Viksit Assam' and said that the leader brings cheers to the people through his development measures. Taking to his social media handle, Chief Minister Sarma posted a thread on Assam's development milestones ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to the tea state. "Spurring a wave of development in Assam worth Rs 7,606 crore. Whenever Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modiji visits us, he brings cheer to the people through his welfare measures for a #ViksitAssam. A thread on the development milestones during his visit," read the post. Chief Minister Sarma in another post spoke on the central government's investment in the railway infrastructure in the northeast. "In a big boost to rail connectivity, Hon'ble PM will dedicate two railway line doubling projects worth Rs 1328cr from Dhupdhara- Chhaygaon and New Bongaigaon-Sorbhog. This is part of the Rs 10,000 cr the Modi Govt is investing for rail infra in NE in 2024-25," said the post. CM Sarma also announced that the Prime Minister will unveil projects worth Rs 1,555 crore to enhance domestic oil refining capacity in multiple facilities across Assam. "Marching towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat, Hon'ble PM will lay the foundation of 3 projects costing Rs 1,555cr to enhance domestic oil refining capacity in multiple facilities across Assam. These 13 transformative projects will give wings to a #ViksitAssam," stated the post. Meanwhile, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Assam, State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora said that the people of Assam are ready to welcome the most dynamic, visionary leader to Kaziranga. Notably, this will be the Prime Minister's first visit to Kaziranga. The Prime Minister will arrive in Kaziranga on March 8 evening and will stay overnight at Kaziranga National Park. The Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several development projects for Assam, including the Rs 3,992 crore project of pipeline from Barauni to Guwahati on Saturday as part of his two-day visit to the state. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for the expansion of Digboi Refinery from 0.65 Million MT to 1 Million MT with a cost of Rs 768 crores. He will also lay the foundation stone of the expansion of Guwahati Refinery from 1 million MT to 1.2 million MT with a cost of Rs 510 crore. As the Lok Sabha polls draw near, the Prime Minister will also address a rally at Meleng Meteli and inaugurate several projects of both centre and state government. In view of PM Modi's visit to Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam, the jeep safari and elephant ride will remain closed in the Kaziranga range of Kohora from March 7 to 9. (ANI) India has been bestowed with the prestigious 'Measles and Rubella Champion Award' by the Measles and Rubella Partnership at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington, DC, US in recognition of the country's tireless efforts to combat these diseases. The award was received on March 6th. Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Washington, DC, received the award on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. "The Measles and Rubella Partnership comprises a multi-agency planning committee, including the American Red Cross, BMGF, GAVI, US CDC, UNF, UNICEF, and WHO, all dedicated to reducing global measles deaths and preventing rubella illness," as per a Ministry of Health and Family Welfare press release. This accolade celebrates India's unwavering commitment to public health and its outstanding leadership in curbing the spread of these infectious diseases among children. It further recognizes India for providing regional leadership to the measles & rubella elimination programme by using 'measles as a tracer' to strengthen routine immunization under the country's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). "Despite facing numerous challenges, India has demonstrated remarkable progress in reducing measles and rubella cases and preventing outbreaks through a series of comprehensive interventions," the release stated. The Government of India's proactive MR vaccination campaign in high-risk areas and innovative strategies to reach underserved populations, robust surveillance systems, and effective public-awareness initiatives have played a key role in safeguarding the health and well-being of its population. "The award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the country's frontline health workers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and communities across the nation. These efforts have resulted in 50 districts consistently not witnessing any measles cases, while 226 districts have not reported rubella cases over the past 12 months," as per the release. Measles and Rubella are vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and MR Vaccine has been part of India's Universal Immunization Programme since 2017. The government of India is working towards eliminating measles and rubella from the country. (ANI) Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighting his decision-making skills, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said on Friday that it is the former's nature to take bold decisions and take them to their conclusion. Shah was addressing the launch ceremony of the National Cooperative Database here in the National Capital. "It is PM Modi's character to take bold decisions and take them to their conclusion. He made the decision to create the Ministry of Cooperation. In the last two years, all Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) have become computerised, and all States have accepted PACS model bylaws," said Amit Shah. Underscoring the various activities being performed by the PACs, Shah stated, "We connected PACs with 20 varying activities; now they are earning profits. Today, they are getting railway or airline tickets booked for a poor farmer; they are working as 'Bank MITRA' for the poor, and they are performing various activities. The computerization of PACs paved the way for their development. Modiji has brought unprecedented change to the rural economy and the lives of rural people." The Union Home Minister also threw light on the Narendra Modi-led government during the past 10 years. "During the last 10 years, 25 crore people came out of poverty. The economists are now astonished. Around 60 crore people procured basic amenities like gas cylinders, food, houses, medicines, etc," he said. Shah also asserted that the National Cooperative Database will ensure 'Sahkar se Samriddhi', Digital se Development' and 'Database se Lakshyon ki delivery'. "This is like a compass, which will provide the right direction for development," he further said. Collaborating with state governments, National Federations and stakeholders, a National Cooperative database has been developed to foster a cooperative-centric economic model. Around 1,400 participants including Secretaries and other senior officers of central ministries and departments, additional chief secretaries and principal secretaries of cooperation from States and UTs, Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCSs), cooperative societies, and cooperative federations and unions across the country attended the event. A technical workshop was also organized in the forenoon session to brief and enlighten the participants about the use and application of the National Cooperative Database (NCD) and its potential to improve the cooperative landscape in India. The launch of the National Cooperative Database (NCD) is a milestone in the cooperative sector. The growth of cooperatives in rural areas holds the promise of addressing economic, social, and community challenges, empowering individuals, alleviating poverty, and contributing to the overall well-being of rural communities. This initiative signifies a positive transformation at the grassroots level, aligning with the vision of a prosperous and 'AtmaNirbhar Bharat. The data of cooperatives was collected on the National Cooperative Database in a phased manner from the various stakeholders. In the first phase, mapping of about 2.64 lakh primary cooperative societies of three sectors such as Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS), Dairy and Fisheries was completed. In the second phase, data of various National Federations, State Federations, State cooperative banks (StCB), District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs), State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (SCARDB), Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (PCARDB), Sugar Cooperative Mills, District Unions and Multi State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) were collected and mapped. In the third phase, data of more than 5.3 lakh primary cooperative societies was mapped from all the remaining other sectors through the office of state, UTs RCS, and DRCS offices. National Cooperative Database is a web-based digital dashboard wherein data of cooperative societies including national, state federations have been captured. The data of cooperative societies have been entered and validated by states Nd UTs nodal officials at RCS and DRCS offices and data of federations have been provided by various national and state federations. The National Database has collected and mapped information of about eight lakh cooperatives with collective membership of more than 29 crores spread across various sectors in the country. The information collected from cooperative societies are on various parameters such as their registered name, date, location, number of members, sectoral information, area of operation, economic activities, financial statements and status of audit. National Cooperative Database serves as a crucial tool for efficient communication between the central ministry, states, UTs, and ooperative societies, benefiting all stakeholders in the cooperative sector. Database provides comprehensive contact details for registered societies, facilitating smooth communication between government entities and these societies. National Cooperative Database offers a myriad of benefits that contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the cooperative sector like single point access, comprehensive and updated data, user-friendly interface, vertical and horizontal linkages, query-based reports and graphs, Management Information System (MIS) reports, data analytics and Geographical Mapping. The success of this initiative relies on effective collaboration, accurate data collection, and strategic utilization of the database to identify the sectoral gaps and accordingly make suitable policy and informed decision making for filling the vacuum. Overall, Database promotes transparency and collaboration within the cooperative sector. (ANI) With a lack of consensus over the allotment of seats across states baring chinks in the Opposition armour, senior Congress leader Mukul Wasnik on Friday asserted that all partners in the INDIA bloc were together and will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 'together'. While the Congress reached a broad seat-sharing agreement with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat, Goa, Haryana and the Union Territories (UTs) of Delhi and Chandigarh, as well as the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh, talks are still underway with other partners for similar deals elsewhere. Speaking to ANI on Friday, the senior Congress leader said there has been progress in seat-sharing talks with allies that are happening in a 'respectful manner', unlike the 'differences' between the BJP and its ruling partners in Maharashtra. "While we have already announced seat-sharing deals with our partners in some states, discussions on similar arrangements in other states are in their final stages. We will contest some seats in other states, setting aside the rest for our allies. However, we will contest the upcoming elections together," Wasnik told ANI on Friday. On a seat-sharing deal with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, which has been under a cloud of uncertainty after Mamata Banerjee said her party has the strength to go it alone in all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the Congress leader claimed that talks were still ongoing. "The talks are still underway. The situation (around seat talks in Bengal) isn't like what it is between the BJP and its ruling partners Shiv Sena of CM Eknath Shinde and the NCP of deputy CM Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra. We still holding discussions in a respectful manner and will hopefully arrive at a seat-sharing arrangement soon," he added. Wasnik informed further that discussions with the National Conference (NC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir were also underway and announcements on seat allotments could be made soon. Earlier this week, Congress general secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the party has finalised seat-sharing deals with INDIA partners in all states barring West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir. Taking a further swipe at the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, the Congress leader said sensing danger after the coming of the INDIA bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made attempts to 'revive' a 'dead' alliance, referring to the return of some estranged partners to the NDA. On whether INDIA stands vis-a-vis the NDA as the Lok Sabha polls draw near, the Congress leader said, "INDIA alliance, as we all know, was founded in Patna on June 23, last year. Our second meeting was hosted in Bengaluru over two days, on July 17 and 18. The third meeting of the alliance was held in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 and the fourth in Delhi on December 19 last year. It was after the INDIA bloc took shape that the Prime Minister started making efforts to infuse new life into the dead National Democratic Alliance (NDA). All the talk around the resurgence of the NDA started after INDIA came to the fore. If you take out the two 'I's -- Imandari (honesty) and Insaniyat (humanity)--from INDIA, you are left with NDA." "There were a total of 28 parties in INDIA when it was founded. Now, 26 parties are with us and one or two more in Maharashtra might join us. We are strong and united and are in the process of finalising a seat-sharing formula in Jammu and Kashmir. There's been some delay (with respect to seat talks) in West Bengal but the Congress has reached a broad understanding with all the other partners. The only states where a seat-sharing arrangement is still a work in progress are West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir," Wasnik added. The Lok Sabha elections are likely to be held sometime between April and May this year. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state is not only taking care of the welfare of its citizens but also taking care of their religious beliefs. "Today the government is not only thinking about your household but also respecting your faith. Hasn't the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya been constructed? How many of you have gone for darshan at Ayodhya?...On one hand, we respect your faith and on the other hand, we initiate big projects for development," Adityanath said while speaking at the inauguration of a Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plant in Gorakhpur. Urging people present at the program to vote for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, the Chief Minister said, "This is why in 2024, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi we need to bring double-engine government in the country again so that the speed of development continues and we can move towards the goal of Vikshit Bharat. You have to determine India's future." The Chief Minister said that India has changed under the leadership of PM Modi and the nation is moving forward giving importance to both development and heritage. "Our country has changed. We are seeing a new India. Under the leadership of PM Modi, the world respects us and there is a positive environment of security in the country. People's faith is being respected and we are providing employment opportunities for our youth. With the combination of heritage and development, the nation is moving fast towards becoming one of the major economies of the world," Adityanath said. Listing out several welfare schemes and development projects implemented by his government in the state, the Chief Minister said, "Has anyone imagined such rapid development here? Roads are being widened, investments are coming, employment opportunities are flourishing, famers are getting Kisan Samman Nidhi, poor are getting the benefits of Garib Kalyankari schemes." Speaking about the Compressed Biogas plant in Gorakhpur, Adityanath said that the facility is an example of how to convert waste to wealth and increase the income of farmers. "Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has inaugurated a compressed bio-gas plant worth Rs 165 crore under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in south Gorakhpur. I would like to congratulate the people of Gorakhpur for having the first compressed biogas plant in east Uttar Pradesh," he said. Thanking PM Modi and the Union Minister for inaugurating the CBG plant on the occassion of Maha Shivratri, Adityanath said, "30 years ago there was a sugar mill that had to close in one year due to lack of sugarcane. People used to think that nothing could happen in this area. I would like to thank Hardeep Singh Puri and Indian Oil Corporation and the Prime Minister because his policies have led to the inauguration of this new project in this dry land, that too on the day of Shivratri." Uttar Pradesh contributes the most number of seats in the Lok Sabha elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party won 62 out of 80 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Bahujan Samaj Party won 10, the Samajwadi Party five, Apna Dal (Soneylal) two seats and the Congress got one seat. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Barauni-Guwahati Natural Gas Pipeline (BGPL) of GAIL (India) Limited remotely from Jorhat on Saturday. It is a milestone project linking the North Eastern part of India to the National Gas Grid on Saturday, an official statement said. This was announced here today by GAIL Executive Director (Projects) A K Tripathi at a press conference. According to the statement released by GAIL, the inauguration program will be held in the presence of Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways & Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas & Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli and Member of Parliament Queen Oja.The 718 km long BGPL passes through the states of Bihar, West Bengal and Assam and has been laid with an investment of Rs 3,992 crore by GAIL, a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. It is an integral part of the Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline project, popularly known as Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga. It will link the North Eastern Gas Grid (NEGG) to the National Gas Grid (NGG).BGPL passes through six districts of Bihar (Begusarai, Khagaria, Madhepura, Purnia, Araria and Kishanganj), five districts of West Bengal (Uttar Dinajpur, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar) and nine districts of Assam (Kokrajhar, Chirang, Barpeta, Baksa, Nalbari, Kamrup, Darrang, Bongaigaon and Kamrup Metropolitan).The 24-inch diameter pipeline has a capacity to transport around 2.5 MMSCMD of Natural Gas. The project will create vital infrastructure to supply Natural Gas, which is environment-friendly and cost-effective, to domestic households, industries, commercial units and automobile sectors in the region, leading to more investments and employment generation.BGPL will supply Natural Gas to 9 GAs (Geographical Areas), covering 31 districts of Bihar, West Bengal and Assam, of City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities authorized by the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board along the pipeline route. This will facilitate around 29 lakh domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections under these GAs in the coming days. In addition to this, more than 614 CNG stations will be established in these GAs. As per the statement, this Natural Gas Pipeline will prove to be a major asset for the development of Bihar, West Bengal and North East India. It will provide a reliable source of clean energy, economic growth and the overall well-being of people in this region.The transportation of Natural Gas through BGPL will substitute the use of other fossil fuels and contribute to a reduction of around 7.67 lakh tons per annum of carbon dioxide emission when operated at its full capacity.During the implementation of BGPL, direct and indirect employment of about 15.8 lakh man-days were generated during the construction phase and around 70,000 man-days during the operation and maintenance phase.BGPL is a unique Natural Gas Pipeline project in terms of application of technology. The topographical challenges encountered were diverse such as uneven land, hilly terrain, muddy turf and even deep water which were overcome efficiently by the GAIL team while meeting strict deadlines.The pipeline passed across four rivers - Teesta, Raidak, Sankosh and Kanamakra - with a wider width. The execution team worked with the application of micro tunnelling, adopted for the first time in GAIL. The mighty Brahmaputra river was crossed over a width of 3.6 km by adopting the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) process, besides two rigs intersection technique from both sides, the statement added.All mitigation measures were adopted to minimize the environmental impact of deteriorating water quality, loss of topsoil and vegetative cover along the route. GAIL is India's largest natural gas company with diversified interests across the natural gas value chain of trading, transmission, LPG production and transmission, LNG re-gasification, petrochemicals, city gas, E&P, etc. (ANI) The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on Friday dismissed the plea moved by the Congress Party which sought a stay against Income Tax Department proceedings of recovery and freezing of their Bank accounts and said the Stay Application is without merit. ITAT bench of GS Pannu, Vice President and Anubhav Sharma, Judicial Member on Friday passed the order and said, "We do not find that the recovery notice under Section 226(3) of the Act issued by the Assessing Officer on February 13, 2024 is lacking in bona fides, so as to require us to intervene." At this stage, we may also refer to the reliance placed by the Senior Counsel on various judgments of the Coordinate Benches in order to support the proposition that it was an accepted practice at the level of the Tribunal that the taxpayer is entitled to a stay on the recovery proceedings on payment of 20 per cent of the demand during the pendency of the Appeal before the Tribunal. The aforesaid argument, in our view, is too general and does not merit acceptance, the bench said. Moreover, as we have already discussed in each application for a stay has to be decided on its own facts and circumstances, and there can be no generalized approach. The Stay Application is without merit and, it is dismissed accordingly, said the bench in order. The Bench in its order further stated that even after the rejection of the Appeal by the CIT(Appeals) on March 28, 2023, no recovery action seems to have been initiated by the Assessing Officer to recover the demand by February 13, 2024. On the other hand, the assessee has also not demonstrated its keenness to expeditiously settle the issue inasmuch as the Appeal of the assessee pending with the Tribunal had come up for hearing on three occasions, viz., 21st September 2023, 28th November 2023 and 5th February 2024 and, on each of the occasion, the record of proceedings reveal that the appellant- assessee was not prepared and sought adjournment, the bench said. Senior Advocate Vivek Tankha who appeared for Congress on Friday also requested the bench to keep the order in abeyance for 10 days so that the Indian National Congress (INC) can approach the concerned High Court. However, the bench declined the same saying that we have no such provision or prayer before us. Zoheb Hossain, Vipul Agrawal, Sanjeev Menon and Vivek Gurnani, Advocates appeared for the Income Tax Department in the matter before ITAT. During arguements earlier, Congress's senior lawyer submitted that the hardship created for the assessee, which is a National Political Party, in view of the forthcoming Parliamentary Elections, alleging that the initiation of the recovery proceedings under section 226 (3) of the Act on 13th February 2024 are so timed that the assessee would not be left with enough resources to contest the Parliamentary Elections. Attributing malice to the action of the Assessing Officer in exercising his power of recovery under Section 226(3) of the Act, the Senior Counsel Vivek Tankha further submitted that the intention is not merely to recover the outstanding demand, but to bring the activities of the assessee to a standstill, as it would not be able to meet out even the basic maintenance and establishment expenditure, noted the bench. "If a stay is not granted then the party would be under a grave financial crunch ahead of the General Elections. So we need a protection order at this moment of time.Parties and elections will come and go but Revenue is a department of Govt of India, it has to go by law. If there's only one party then how will democracy survive?" asked the Advocate Tankha. Senior Advocate Vivek Tankha had also submitted that the compliance requirements have been met. "Wrong interpretation has been given by Income Tax. Our bank account has been frozen and on February 16 our accounts were made lien. Last evening, they went and withdrew Rs 65 crore. We are one of the largest parties and we are on the eve of the election. If our accounts are frozen like this, how a democracy will survive," he said. Advocate Zoheb Hossain appeared for the Income Tax Department had submitted that this is a regular recovery proceedings and no propoganda ahead of polls. IT Department also argued that the conduct of Congress is not correct as they have not paid these dues from several. The counsel for the Income Tax Department defended the decision to recover the amount and submitted that there has been a breach of rules by Congress and, in such a scenario, the entity must be treated as a normal assessee. He submitted that on July 6, 2021, the first notice of recovery was given. He said the Congress party filed an appeal for a complete stay on October 28, 2021, but for this, they had to deposit 20 per cent of the dues as per the IT Act. He said they were requested to pay 20 percent of the demand but it was not done. The Income Tax Department further submitted before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) that they acted with responsibility and their action was fully in line with the law to obtain demand drafts of Rs 65 crore from the bank accounts of the Congress party. The Income Tax Department had recovered Rs 65 crore from the accounts of the Indian National Congress out of the total outstanding tax dues of Rs 115 crore. The Congress has recently approached the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) against the recovery and has filed a complaint and sought a stay against Income Tax Department proceedings of recovery and freezing of their Bank accounts. In the complaint, Congress said the Income Tax Department has enforced its law by encashing some of the balances lying with the banks without waiting for the outcome of the hearing scheduled before the bench. Congress appealed that the department should not proceed further till the disposal of the stay application. (ANI) Commentary: More countries are rejecting U.S. calls to take sides, why? Xinhua) 08:15, March 08, 2024 A man is pictured at the venue of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) More Southeast Asian countries are prioritizing their independence and development, saying "no" to Washington and refusing to kowtow to Western interests. HONG KONG, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has recently rejected pressure by the United States and its allies on regional nations to take sides in the West's rivalry with China. Attending a summit of Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held in the Australian city of Melbourne, Anwar emphasized that the West should not preclude Malaysia from being friendly to China, criticizing the West for suffering from "China-phobia." For Malaysia, a sound relationship with China is in its interests. Described as a "fiercely independent" country by its leader, Malaysia has no reason to compromise its own interests to satisfy the United States' hegemonic appetite. That is why Anwar has rejected U.S. calls to take sides against China. The Southeast Asian country was among the first countries to embrace the Belt and Road Initiative. Projects like the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park and Xiamen University Malaysia have benefited the peoples of both countries. Since 2009, China has remained Malaysia's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, while Malaysia is China's second-largest trading partner within the ASEAN framework. In the future, further cooperation with China will undoubtedly provide Malaysia with more opportunities for development transformation. Globally, Malaysia's stance resonates with a growing sentiment among many developing countries, which are becoming aware of Washington's intention to contain China's development by selling "security anxiety" and promoting camp confrontation. During the 43rd ASEAN Summit in September last year, Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged the regional group to stay united and not be a proxy to any power. Policemen stand guard near the venue of the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue at Singapore's Shangri-La Hotel on June 2, 2023. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua) Similarly, at Shangri-La Dialogue 2023, leaders of countries including Indonesia and Singapore said they do not want to see a "new Cold War" or be forced to choose sides between China and the United States. These voices once again manifest the mainstream consensus of the international community -- China is an opportunity and a partner, not a threat or rival. An analysis by the International Monetary Fund showed that when China's growth rate rises by 1 percentage point, growth in other countries increases by around 0.3 percentage point. Meanwhile, since the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership came into effect, China, as a significant participant and active promoter of the agreement, has injected confidence into free trade, multilateralism, and regional economic integration. Moreover, for developing countries, China has set an example of pursuing a path to modernization suitable for its national conditions, breaking the myth that modernization means Westernization. Additionally, the three major global initiatives proposed by China focus on global development, security and the coexistence of civilizations, gaining widespread recognition across the globe. In contrast, the United States, to maintain its global hegemony, clings to a Cold War mentality, constantly creating imaginary enemies and provoking bloc confrontation, which runs counter to the global trend of peace and development. In Southeast Asia, the United States seeks to weaken the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation architecture and attempts to create a hegemonic system under its control. The sharp contrast can well explain why more countries, prioritizing their independence and development, are saying "no" to Washington and refusing to kowtow to Western interests. Just as the Malaysian prime minister has told U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, "I want to focus on what is best for us." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived at the Tezpur airport in Assam's Sonitpur district, as part of his two-day visit to the state, where he received a warm welcome from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. PM Modi is headed to the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve for an overnight stay. "Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi has arrived at Tezpur. He was received by HCM Dr @himantabiswa. Hon'ble Prime Minister is en route to Kaziranga National Park for an overnight stay and safari tomorrow morning," an official statement from the Chief Minister's Office said in a post on 'X'. Kaziranga National Park, Assam's crowned jewel is home to the largest habitat of rhinos Over 600 species of birds; A thriving population of dolphins; and One of the highest densities of tigers. Kaziranga National Park, one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in India, is home to more than 2200 Indian one-horned rhinoceros, approximately 2/3rd of their total world population. Formed in 1908 on the recommendation of Mary Curzon, the park is located in the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots - Golaghat and Nagaon district. In the year 1985, the park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Prime Minister is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various development projects in the state. PM Modi will inaugurate the Tinsukia Medical College and lay the foundation stone of Sivasagar Medical College under the PM-DIVINE scheme on Saturday. He will lay the foundation stone for the expansion of Digboi Refinery from 0.65 million MT to 1 million MT at a cost of Rs 768 crore. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the expansion of Guwahati Refinery from 1 million MT to 1.2 million MT with a cost of Rs 510 crore. PM Modi will inaugurate the project with a cost of Rs 3,992 crores for the pipeline from Barauni to Guwahati. PM Modi will also address a rally at Meleng Meteli and inaugurate several projects of both centre and state governments. In addition, he is set to perform the 'Griha Pravesh' (house-warming) ceremony for the 5.5 lakh houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), lay the foundation stone of Sivasagar Medical College, and address a public gathering at Meleng Meteli Pothar in Jorhat. On March 9, he will take a Jeep Safari or elephant ride inside the national park. Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO Heritage Site renowned for its one-horned rhinos. The visit is crucial as the BJP has started boosting up its preparations in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday lauded the organisational strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during his visit to West Bengal's Malda division ahead of Lok Sabha elections. "A cohesive organization is the greatest strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party. To re-strengthen Modiji's hand, I gave directions in the organizational meeting organized with the responsible leaders and functionaries of the four Lok Sabha constituencies of Malda division. I firmly believe that the Bharatiya Janata Party nominees will win in these four centres by overcoming all hurdles," CM Saha said in a post on X. https://x.com/DrManikSaha2/status/1766037190260449471?s=20 The Tripura Chief Minister, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal's South Malda to campaign for the Lok Sabha candidate of the BJP in the South Malda Lok Sabha constituency, arrived here on Thursday. Earlier in the day, he participated in the party's Lok Sabha 'wall writing' poll campaign programme and door-to-door campaign in Ward 21 of South Malda, West Bengal for the party's Lok Sabha candidate from the area. Talking to ANI here, CM Saha said that there is no doubt that the BJP will win from the four seats here (in the Malda division). "I have spoken to various officials who have come here and I understand that there is a lot of enthusiasm among them that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will win and the BJP will form a government. PM Modi has given a target of 370 seats and I am hoping that NDA will get more than 400 seats," he said. Tripura CM, while speaking about the upcoming Sabha Polls in 2024, exuded confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would get more than 400 seats. The Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May this year. (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) president Farooq Abdullah said on Friday that men never allowed women to progress in society, adding that both men and women have to be given equal opportunities for the betterment of the nation. Farooq Abdullah attended a party function on International Women's Day in Jammu's Bishnah. Addressing the party workers, Farooq Abdullah said, "Why is this day being celebrated today? It is because men never allowed women to progress. This is the truth. They always restricted them to domestic chores. Many women face domestic violence but opt to remain silent as they want to protect the dignity of their house." Asserting that a man alone cannot run his house in current times due to the rising prices of essential commodities, Farooq said, "Look at the prices of vegetables and gas, dal. Till the time women do not join the workforce, a man cannot run his house alone. There will always be issues in the family." He further appealed to National Conference workers to encourage women candidates for the ensuing panchayat polls in the Union Territory. "Women's participation should be encouraged in upcoming panchayat elections. Prepare those women for the upcoming elections who can work for society, and who can listen to issues of public. We want both men and women to have equal opportunities," he said. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on International Women's Day. He has also saluted the strength, courage, and resilience of Nari Shakti and lauded their accomplishments across various fields. "Greetings on International Women's Day! We salute the strength, courage, and resilience of our Nari Shakti and laud their accomplishments across various fields. Our government is committed to empowering women through initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, agriculture, technology and more. This is also reflected in our accomplishments in the last decade," PM Modi posted on X. This year, International Women's Day is celebrated under the theme "Invest in women: Accelerate progress". (ANI) The Congress released its first list of 39 candidates for Lok Sabha elections on Friday with party General Secretary KC Venugopal asserting that his party's priority is to win the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats. "Our priority is to win the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats to defeat PM Modi in the next elections. Our target is to win the maximum number of parliament seats for the Congress party," Venugopal told ANI. The names have been announced for Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshwadeep, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Telangana, and Tripura. Of the total 39 candidates announced, 16 are from Kerala, seven from Karnataka and six from Chhattisgarh, four from Telangana. Two from Meghalaya and one each from Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim and Lakshwadeep. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal informed that senior party leader Rahul Gandhi will again contest from the Wayanad constituency, the seat won by him in 2019. The list of 39 candidates was released after the party held its Central Election Committee meeting on Thursday. A total of six seats were announced from Chhattisgarh, Shivkumar Dahariya has been fielded from Jangir-Champa, Jyotsana Mahant will contest from Korba, Bhupesh Baghel has been fielded from Rajnandgaon, Rajendra Sahu from Durg, Vikas Upadhay from Raipur, Tamradhwaj Sahu from Mahasamund. Following the announcement of his candidature for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel thanked the party's high command and said that the fielded candidates would live up to the trust shown by the party. "I thank the Party High Command for having faith in me. We will live up to the trust shown in all of us. It is a good list of candidates," Baghel told ANI. Congress leader Vikas Upadhyay will contest from the Raipur Lok Sabha seat. [{fe60692b-70d4-4637-b024-f2f2690ca0c7:intradmin/ANI-20240308172917.jpg}] "Rahul Gandhi ji's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will reap benefits for the Congress party. BJP had lied to the public and garnered their votes in Chhattisgarh. This election will determine the direction in which India will head," he said. On his candidature from Durg, Congress leader Rajendra Sahu said, "I thank the party High Command for giving me the opportunity." Congress leader Jyotsana Mahant, who is set to contest from the Korba parliament seat in Chhattisgarh, said, "I don't think of it as a challenge. I am a common person who will fight in the elections based on the work that was done by our government." Also, Congress announced names for seven seats in Karnataka, including DK Suresh contesting from Bangalore Rural. A total of 16 candidates have been announced from Kerala, including Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram. Tharoor, who will contest against the BJP's Rajeev Chandrashekhar in Thiruvananthapuram, thanked the grand old party on Friday for the opportunity to 'defend his seat' after he was named a candidate for a seat he has held for three terms. He further said that the "BJP is going to find it very tough to even repeat the 303 they had". He also pointed to the leaders jumping ship ahead of the polls and said that those shifting to other parties doesn't mean that there is some conflict or confusion; rather, "individuals have their own ambitions in politics." "I am honored and humbled that the Congress party has given an opportunity to defend my seat. I have had the privilege of serving the people of Thiruvananthapuram for 15 years and I look forward to an opportunity to continue this process of service once more," Shashi Tharoor said while addressing the media after the party's announcement. Some of the party's prominent names fighting elections in Kerala are K Suresh from Mavelikara, the party's general secretary, KC Venugopal, who will contest from Alappuzha. Kerala Congress President K Sudhakaran will battle from Kannur. Anto Antony will contest from Pathanamthitta. He will face Congress veteran AK Antony's son Anil Antony, from Pathanamthitta. S Supongmeren Jamir will contest from the Nagaland Lok Sabha constituency in the upcoming General elections. In Karnataka, Anandaswamy Gaddadevara Mat will contest from Haveri, Geetha Shivarajkumar has been fielded from Shimoga, Shreyal Patel from Hassan, SP Muddahanumegowda from Tumkur and Vekanataramegowda (Star Chandru) from Mandya. Addressing the press conference, KC Venugopal said, "Out of these 39 candidates, 15 are from General category and 24 are from SC, ST, OBC, and minorities." [{2a4cbbe4-8062-4279-b1d3-03a6aefa8cef:intradmin/ANI-20240308173535.jpg}] Congress leader Balram Naik Porika will contest Lok Sabha polls from Mahabubabad-ST constituency. "Congress is a party for the welfare of the poor. BRS and BJP could not do any development in the Mahabubabad area. I will work for the development of the area," he said. Congress leader K Sudhakaran, who is set to contest from the Kannur Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, said, "We will face the elections as a team and win all 20 seats in Kerala. CPM is facilitating the BJP in Kerala. Padmaja's entry into the BJP was facilitated by Pinarayi Vijayan. The problem is not her departure from the party. We are saddened because K Karunakaran's daughter left the Congress party." The Congress party's second Election Committee meeting will be held on March 11 in Delhi to discuss the candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The BJP has already released its first list of 195 candidates. On the release of Congress's list for the Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar said, "All the best to them (Congress). Rahul Gandhi cannot contest from any other seat anywhere in the country. He can only come to Wayanad and we all know why. I think the people of Kerala this time will not give the Congress the mandate they gave in the last election. The people of India want a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi." On the release of the first list of Congress candidates for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, Congress leader Pawan Khera said, "There are such names which show that the Congress party is fighting this election only to win." Earlier today, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met Mallikarjun Kharge. After coming out of the meeting, Shivakumar said, "I met Mallikarjun Kharge Ji as he's our national president, and I am the state President, we discussed and spoke about organizations as for ticket concerns for Lok sabha, we have discussed 50 per cent seats. Ultimately, the party high command will decide. Mallikarjun Kharge himself has to decide whether he'll contest or not because we have proposed only a single name for him. He has to travel around the country to ultimately and he will decide ultimately." On the Dalit Chief Minister issue in Karnataka, he said, "There is nothing wrong is demanding or aspiring for any post." The Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May this year. (ANI) Intending to empower the farmers of the country by equipping them with information, services and facilities using digital technology, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda inaugurated the Agriculture Integrated Command and Control Center established at Krishi Bhawan in Delhi on Friday. On this occasion, Munda said that this is an innovation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the farmers self-reliant across the country. The Union Minister said that work is being done with the basic mantra of PM Modi - Minimum Government-Maximum Governance so that it can be ensured that the life of a common man is not unnecessarily affected and they do their work wholeheartedly, independently and impartially, and empower the nation by making themselves self-reliant, capable and empowered. With this aim in mind, the Agriculture Ministry has today added this new digital dimension for the benefit of common farmers. He said that today technology has become an integral part of everyone's life and the government has its responsibility as a partner while technology further empowers it. He said that the government intends to further support people so that everyone can benefit from the technology. Munda said that with complete transparency, commitment and goal, the government wants that even a common farmer living in a village can make themselves self-reliant on technology. He said that the Prime Minister always emphasizes how we can provide better information, services and facilities to the farmers, and how we can increase their production capacity and potential by acting as partners. No matter how proficient we are in any field, agriculture is a particularly important task because humans cannot live without food. That is why; we have given importance to the agricultural sector and called farmers Annadata because it is through them that food grains are stored in the country. He said that the objective of the new initiative is to provide farmers with information about the reality of the farm and also to find out what the real challenges are that our agriculture sector is facing. He said that with the availability of real-time data and its analysis, their problems can be resolved, capacity will be expanded and crops will be good, which will ultimately benefit the agriculture sector in the country. The Union Minister said that the farmers will also be able to avail the benefits of government schemes. This digital innovation is an important opportunity to reflect India in the 21st century. He said that trust is a strong foundation in human life and these efforts of the government will establish trust and a safe environment among the farmers. Munda said that PM Modi has resolved to make India a developed nation by the year 2047, but such an India should not only be seen but should also be experienced. He said that India should not only become developed but also a prosperous India should be created and through self-reliance, the vision of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' should be realized. Then every person will feel proud and respected and our culture will reflect itself. He said that citizens living in any part of the country are connected to every part of India's soil and our farmers are participating in the development of the country through farms. In this sequence, Agri Stack is an important initiative in digital agriculture. Under this, a digital crop survey has been started, in which the exact details of the crops of the farmers are being ascertained. While congratulating on the occasion of Women's Day, Munda said that the Prime Minister has given a special gift to women by giving a subsidy on LPG, while declaring this year as the Year of Women Power on Republic Day, the strength of women of the country has been presented before the world. He said that we can say with pride that India truly respects women. Munda said that the innovations taking place in the agricultural sector can also be truly dedicated to women's power. At the start of the event, Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja also presented his views. Additional Secretary of the Ministry, Pramod Mehrada gave detailed information about the new initiative. According to a government release, at the Command Centre, it will be possible to see all the digital innovations being made in the agriculture sector by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare on a big screen simultaneously in one place. By seeing plot level data obtained from the soil survey, information obtained from the crop survey through remote sensing technology, the information given by the meteorological department, data obtained from the digital crop survey, information available on the agricultural map, information available on the produce (Upag) portal created for agricultural statistics, at one place, it will be possible to analyze and take accurate decisions based on them, which will be very useful, it added. (ANI) Union Minister and BJP candidate from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram for Lok Sabha elections, Rajeev Chandrasekhar took a dig at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday after he was named candidate from Kerala's Wayanad, a seat he won in 2019. MoS Chandrasekhar claimed that Rahul Gandhi cannot contest from anywhere else in the country but Wayanad. He further claimed that this time the people of Kerala will not give their mandate to the grand old party. "All the best to them (Congress). Rahul Gandhi cannot contest from any other seat anywhere in the country. He can only come to Wayanad and we all know why. I think the people of Kerala this time will not give the Congress the mandate they gave in the last election. The people of India want a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Rajeev Chandrasekhar said. Chandrasekhar will be contesting against Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram, a seat Tharoor has held for three terms. Speaking on his candidature, Tharoor earlier in the day thanked the grand old party on Friday for the opportunity to 'defend his seat' and said that the "BJP is going to find it very tough to even repeat the 303 they had". He also pointed to the leaders jumping the ship ahead of polls and said that leaders shifting to other parties doesn't mean that there is some conflict or confusion rather the "individuals have their own ambitions in politics." Congress released its first list of candidates for 39 Lok Sabha constituencies. The names have been announced for Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshwadeep, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Telangana and Tripura. Of the total 39 candidates announced, 16 are from Kerala, seven from Karnataka and six from Chhattisgarh, four from Telangana. Two from Meghalaya and one each from Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim and Lakshwadeep. The list was released after the party held its Central Election Committee meeting on Thursday. A total of 16 candidates have been announced from Kerala, including Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram and Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad, seat he won in 2019. Congress party's second Election Committee meeting will be held on March 11 in Delhi to discuss the candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The BJP has already released its first list of 195 candidates. The Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May this year. (ANI) Dubai [UAE], March 8 (ANI/WAM): In his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, issued Law No. (1) of 2024 on taxation of foreign banks operating in Dubai. The Law applies to all foreign banks operating in Dubai, including special development zones and free zones, with the exception of foreign banks licensed to operate in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). According to the law, foreign banks are subject to a 20 per cent tax on their annual taxable income. However, if these banks pay corporate tax in accordance with Federal Law No. (47) of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses and its amendments, the amount of corporate tax will be deducted from their total tax liability. The Law specifies the principles governing the calculation of taxable income, tax filing and payments, procedures for the audit of tax filing, voluntary disclosure, and responsibilities and procedures related to tax auditing. The law also outlines the rights of foreign banks and their branches licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE. It specifies the steps for notifying the results of the tax audit. Further, it allows the taxable entity to lodge objections with Dubai's Department of Finance regarding the amount of tax or fines imposed on them, subject to certain conditions detailed in the law. According to the Law, the Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai will issue a decision on acts deemed as violations of this Law and penalties imposed for violations. The total penalties imposed should not exceed AED500,000. The fine will be doubled in case of repeat violations within two years up to a maximum of AED1 million. This new Law applies to the tax year beginning after its enactment.The Director-General of the Department of Finance will also issue the necessary decisions to implement the provisions of this Law, which will be published in the Official Gazette. The new Law annuls Regulation No. (2) of 1996 or any other legislation that may contradict it. Decisions and memos issued to implement Regulation No. (2) of 1996 will remain in place till the issuance of new decisions that replace it. Law No. (1) of 2024 on taxation of foreign banks operating in Dubai is effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. (ANI/WAM) A month after Valerii Zaluzhnyi was ousted as the nation's top military commander, Ukraine has named him as the new envoy to the United Kingdom, reported Al Jazeera. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine sent a request to the British side for an agreement," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday. Ukraine has not had an ambassador in the UK since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed former envoy Vadym Prystaiko in July 2023 after he publicly criticised the leader. Since the beginning of the war with Russia, Zaluzhnyi had commanded the Ukrainian army, which in the early going had successfully repelled an invasion force that was far more formidable. Zaluzhnyi, who the Ukrainian media dubbed the "Iron General," came to represent the nation's resistance and had very high popular approval ratings, according to Al Jazeera. However, the collapse of a highly acclaimed counteroffensive in the previous summer and a public disagreement with Zelenskyy damaged his standing in the president's office. Oleksandr Syrskii, who oversaw Ukraine's fast autumn 2022 counteroffensive in the northern Kharkiv region, took over in February. Zelenskyy took to X after Zaluzhnyi was fired to express gratitude to the military chief for his two years of service and to declared then that it was time for the military leadership to change. After almost two years after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, even Zaluzhnyi acknowledged that the country's military approach "must change," according to Al Jazeera. Notably, Zaluzhnyi's appointment as the new envoy to UK has come at a time when UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps travelled to Kyiv on Thursday. "We prioritized strengthening Ukraine's air defence and long-range capabilities, in addition to fulfilling other pressing requirements for armaments and ammunition and advancing cooperative weapon manufacturing," Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X. Following the meeting, the UK Ministry of Defense said that it will provide over 10,000 drones to Ukraine to support its counteroffensive against Russia. (ANI) According to the police authorities, the victims, identified as Hafeezullah and Zarm Khan, were on duty when the incident occurred. Zarm Khan, critically injured in the firing, was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, while, the other police officer died on the spot. However, the reason behind the killing is yet to be known. The law and order situation in Pakistan continues to remain deteriorated. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the police successfully prevented an attempted attack on Central Jail Adiala, detaining three terrorists on Thursday night, reported Dawn. "Along with heavy weapons and ammunition, police officials claim to have found them among the terrorists who were captured and later relocated to sites that are not publicly known," police officials stated."Authorities intercepted a potential assault on Central Jail Adiala, detaining three terrorists who belong to Afghanistan," shared a spokesperson for the Rawalpindi police, as per Dawn. The apprehended suspects, reportedly of Afghan origin, were found in possession of a cache of heavy weapons and ammunition. Meanwhile on Wednesday, a firing incident was reported in which an officer appointed on the security of polio workers was injured in Quetta. The early reports stated that an on-duty police was hurt in a firing incident that happened close to Eastern Bypass School. In the meantime, the wounded party was sent to the closest hospital for emergency care. (ANI) The Embassy of India in Kathmandu in association with Maiti Nepal celebrated International Women's Day. The event on the premises of Maiti Nepa was organised to honour and recognise the contributions of women under the themes of "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" and "Inspire Inclusion," a release from the embassy said on Thursday. Ashta Lakshmi Shakya, the first woman chief minister of Nepal, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Prasanna Shrivastava, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Kathmandu, also attended the celebrations along with Anuradha Koirala, founder of Maiti Nepal. Speaking on the occasion Shrivastava highlighted the significance of the occasion and applauded the extraordinary efforts of Maiti Nepal for the welfare and prosperity of the women of Nepal. Maiti Nepal is a non-profit organization in Nepal dedicated to helping the victims of human trafficking. He also mentioned that Koirala's endeavours in this regard have been well recognised by the Government of India, noting that in 2017, she was bestowed with the prestigious 'Padma Shri' award by the Government of India. Ashta Lakshmi Shakya highlighted the importance of the unique India-Nepal relationship and advocated greater collective efforts for the empowerment of women in Nepal. Addressing the event, Anuradha Koirala spoke about the initiatives and wide range of activities being conducted by Maiti Nepal. She also thanked the Embassy for its continued support and cooperation. On the occasion, Ashta Lakshmi Shakya and Deputy Chief of Mission, Prasanna Shrivastava felicitated Menuka Paudel and Ratna Kumari Sunuwar for their inspiring achievements. Menuka Paudel, hailing from Kathmandu, through her singing talent has won accolades in Nepal and India, and most recently at the Indian Idol (2023). Ratna Kumari Sunuwar captured headlines last year after she passed class 12 at the age of 80, showing that age is no barrier for learning. The Embassy of India also gifted books to the students of Maiti Nepal on this occasion. The celebrations witnessed musical performances by women instrumentalists from Kathmandu organised by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Embassy of India, Kathmandu and cultural performances by the girl students of Maiti Nepal. Menuka Paudel also captivated the audience with her melodious songs. "The Embassy of India, Kathmandu, is committed to promoting stronger ties between India and Nepal and supporting the efforts of the Government of Nepal for the empowerment of girls and women," the release stated. Several other political leaders, representatives of social organisations, girl students of Maiti Nepal, and distinguished women from different walks of life participated in the event. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Secretary-General of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Toshimitsu Motegi, in Tokyo on Friday and held a fruitful conversation on ways to strengthen ties in an uncertain world. EAM Jaishankar further appreciated his friendship and support for their partnership. Sharing on social media X, Jaishankar posted, "Very good to meet @moteging, Secretary General of LDP again. Appreciate his friendship as well as support for our partnership. Fruitful conversation on ways to strengthen ties in an uncertain world." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1765982391557050474?s=20 Earlier in the day, he spoke at the Nikkei Forum on the India-Japan partnership and stressed that India and Japan today are convergent on the big picture and the key concerns. He said that India-Japan ties will draw strength from our larger activities together, especially Quad. Moreover, he also stressed that our inclination and ability to respond in a more coordinated manner has also improved. "Pleased to speak at the Nikkei Forum on India-Japan partnership. India and Japan today are convergent on the big picture and the key concerns. Our inclination and ability to respond in a more coordinated manner has also improved. Our partnership has identified more avenues for increased cooperation as well. Our ties will draw strength from our larger activities together, especially Quad. As the world, the Indo-Pacific and our two countries evolve, in the - relationship lie many solutions for us nationally, for the region and for the world," he shared on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1765951789999026300?s=20 At the Nikkei forum, Jaishankar further emphasized India-Japan relations and said that the bottom line is that the world is changing, the Indo-Pacific is changing, and India and Japan are changing, but in our relationship, many solutions for us nationally, as well as region and for the world lie there. EAM highlighted that there will always be new complexities but equally fresh opportunities will also be there. "This is how India and Japan should approach each other today," he said. Jaishankar is on a visit to Japan from March 6-8. (ANI) The Permanent Representative of France to the UN, Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere, extended support for the candidacy of the G4 countries -- India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, stressing that France is in favour of a reform of the UNSC. Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere further supported the strengthened participation of African countries as permanent and non-permanent members of the UNSC. "France is in favor of a reform of the UN Security Council to make it more representative of today's world. We support the candidacy of G4 as permanent members, and a strengthened participation of African countries as permanent and non-permanent members," Ambassador Riviere posted on social media X. https://x.com/NDeRiviere/status/1765833100112617952?s=20 Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while speaking at the Nikkei Forum in Japan, highlighted that if the most populous countries in the world and some of the biggest resource providers for the UN are kept out, it is not good for the United Nations Security Council. He emphasised the need for the realization to give India and Japan the kind of seats or positions they deserve in the council. "If the most populous countries in the world are kept out, or if some of the biggest resource providers for the UN are kept out, that's not good for the organization. So we want that realization to really grow," he said. EAM Jaishankar stressed that most of us actually understand that there is a great need to reform the United Nations because, when the United Nations was founded, there were roughly 50 countries that were members. Meanwhile, today, there are almost 200 countries that are members. He further said that today, on many of the key issues in the world, the UN is not playing the role that it should be playing. He added that these discussions are going on. However, in many ways, the discussions have not progressed because those who are opposed to any change have found ways of delaying it. In September last year, the Foreign Ministers of the G4 countries met on the margins of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and discussed the reformation of the UN Security Council. The ministers underscored that multilateralism is under significant strain due to multiple and complex crises. Moreover, they concurred that the UN Security Council's inability to effectively and timely address contemporary global challenges reinforces the urgent need for its comprehensive reform so that it better reflects contemporary geopolitical realities. They further reiterated that the expansion of the UNSC into both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership is essential to making the body more representative, legitimate, effective and efficient. (ANI) President Droupadi Murmu is set to embark on a State visit to Mauritius from March 11 to 13, where she will attend the National Day celebrations on March 12 as the chief guest. The official invitation was extended by the Government of Mauritius. Announcing the upcoming visit during a weekly press briefing, Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, shared details of the president's tour. "President of India Droupadi Murmu will undertake a State visit to Mauritius from March 11 to 13 to attend the National Day celebrations of Mauritius on March 12 as a chief guest on the invitation of the Government of Mauritius," Jaiswal said. "President Murmu will hold bilateral meetings with the President of Mauritius, Prithvirajsing Roopun, and Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth," he added. Highlighting the depth of India's development partnership with Mauritius, Jaiswal also said that President Murmu and Prime Minister Jugnath will jointly inaugurate 14 India-assisted projects during the visit. "As the 6th Indian president to grace the Mauritian National Day as a Chief guest since 2000, President Murmu's state visit underscores the longstanding and enduring ties between India and Mauritius," stated the MEA spokesperson. As a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian freedom struggle, the National Day of Mauritius is celebrated on March 12 every year (the date on which the Dandi Salt March was launched), according to the Ministry of External Affairs. Diplomatic relations between India and Mauritius were established in 1948. A brief stopover by Mahatma Gandhi en route to India from South Africa (October 29 to November 15, 1901), while awaiting departure of his ship SS Nowshera, is still etched in the consciousness of Mauritius. Barrister Manillal Doctor, who came to Mauritius in 1907 on the suggestion of Gandhiji, helped the Mauritian Indian community to organise themselves and laid the foundation for their struggle for political and social rights, the MEA also said in a statement. (ANI) In a post on X, Jaishankar conveyed the warm greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kishida as he concluded his three-day visit (March 6-8) to Japan. "Honoured to call on Japanese PM @kishida230 as I conclude my visit to Tokyo. Conveyed warm greetings from PM @narendramodi," said Jaishankar in the post. During the meeting, Jaishankar apprised PM Kishida of the progress made in the Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue between the two nations. The dialogue reflects the ongoing commitment to strengthening the global and special strategic partnership shared by India and Japan. "Apprised him of the progress made in the Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue. Value his guidance on the further strengthening of our Global and Special Strategic Partnership," Jaishankar also said in his post. Prior to meeting Kishida, the EAM met with former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Japan-India Association. EAM Jaishankar expressed his pleasure at the meeting and commended Suga's impactful leadership in advancing the bilateral relationship between India and Japan, as well as their collaborative efforts within the Quad. "Pleasure to meet former PM Yoshihide Suga, now Chairman of the Japan India Association. His leadership was impactful in advancing India-Japan ties as well as the Quad. Count on his continued support for these endeavours," said Jaishankar in the post. Jaishankar was in Japan to attend the 16th India-Japan Foreign Minister's Strategic Dialogue. Before this, he visited South Korea, where he met the top leaders during his stay. (ANI) Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, received the mortal remains of the late Patnibin Maxwell at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on Friday, who lost his life in the Hezbollah attack in Israel. In an official statement shared on X, Minister Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) expressed his heartfelt condolences and shared the profound sorrow and anguish experienced by the family members of the deceased. https://twitter.com/MOS_MEA/status/1766107116035854601/photo/3 "Received mortal remains of the late Shri Patnibin Maxwell, who was killed in an attack in Israel, at Thiruvananthapuram Airport and paid my respects. I share the deep sorrow and anguish experienced by his family members," the post on X read. Recently, Moshe Arbel, the Israeli interior minister, visited India on Thursday to pay tribute to Patnibin Maxwell, an Indian killed by a Hezbollah rocket while working on a farm. Ambassador of Israel to India, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, Naor Gilon, took to Twitter to announce the Israeli interior minister's visit and express condolences to the Maxwell family and the Indian nation. In an official tweet on X, Naor Gilon tweeted, "A high-level delegation from the @IsraelMFA Ministry of Agriculture, led by Minister of Interior Moshe Arbel, and his senior team, went to pay respects to Patnibin Maxwell, the Indian national who was killed by a Hezbollah rocket while working on a farm. Om Shanti" The Israeli embassy confirmed on March 5 that the deceased has been identified as 31-year-old Pat Nibin Maxwell, son of Pathrose Maxwell, from Kollam district in Kerala. Maxwell had arrived in Israel two months ago and was working on a farm there. In its statement, the Israeli embassy said, "We are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of one Indian national and the injury of two others due to a cowardly terror attack launched by Shia terror organisation Hezbollah, on peaceful agriculture workers who were cultivating an orchard at the northern village of Margaliot yesterday early afternoon. Our prayers and thoughts naturally go to the families of the bereaved and those of the injured." According to the Israel Defense Forces, at least 10 rockets were fired from Lebanon at the Western Galilee. Some of the projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defence system. Fighting also continues in Gaza, with the Israeli Defense Forces claiming that they eliminated Islamic Jihad terrorists who fired rockets towards Kibbutz Be'eri and Kibbutz Hatzerim. Fifteen terrorists were eliminated using snipers, tanks, and aerial fire. IDF forces also struck terrorist targets and eliminated terrorists operating from civilian areas in Western Khan Yunis. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday, who currently serves as the chairman of the Japan-India Association. Jaishankar expressed his pleasure at the meeting and commended Suga's impactful leadership in advancing the bilateral relationship between India and Japan, as well as their collaborative efforts within the Quad. "Pleasure to meet former PM Yoshihide Suga, now Chairman of the Japan India Association. His leadership was impactful in advancing India-Japan ties as well as the Quad. Count on his continued support for these endeavours," said Jaishankar in a post on X. The EAM also met the Secretary-General of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Toshimitsu Motegi, in Tokyo and held a fruitful conversation on ways to strengthen ties in an uncertain world. EAM Jaishankar further appreciated his friendship and support for their partnership. Sharing on social media X, Jaishankar posted, "Very good to meet @moteging, Secretary General of LDP again. Appreciate his friendship as well as support for our partnership. Fruitful conversation on ways to strengthen ties in an uncertain world." Earlier in the day, he spoke at the Nikkei Forum on the India-Japan partnership and stressed that India and Japan today are convergent on the big picture and the key concerns. He said that India-Japan ties will draw strength from our larger activities together, especially Quad. Moreover, he also stressed that our inclination and ability to respond in a more coordinated manner has also improved. "Pleased to speak at the Nikkei Forum on India-Japan partnership. India and Japan today are convergent on the big picture and the key concerns. Our inclination and ability to respond in a more coordinated manner has also improved. Our partnership has identified more avenues for increased cooperation as well. Our ties will draw strength from our larger activities together, especially Quad. As the world, the Indo-Pacific and our two countries evolve, in the - relationship lie many solutions for us nationally, for the region and for the world," he shared on X. At the Nikkei forum, Jaishankar further emphasized India-Japan relations and said that the bottom line is that the world is changing, the Indo-Pacific is changing, and India and Japan are changing, but in our relationship, many solutions for us nationally, as well as region and for the world lie there. EAM highlighted that there will always be new complexities but equally fresh opportunities will also be there. "This is how India and Japan should approach each other today," he said. Jaishankar is on a visit to Japan from March 6-8. (ANI) Harivansh is accompanied by two Rajya Sabha members, Ashok Bajpai and Lt Gen (Retd) DP Vats, along with the Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha, PC Mody. According to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the main engagements of the delegation included a meeting with Istvan Jakab, interaction with the Hungarian-Indian Friendship Group of the Hungarian National Assembly chaired by Peter Cseresnyes, and a comprehensive parliamentary tour to get detailed insights into the parliamentary traditions of Hungary. In his interaction with the Dy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, Harivansh highlighted the importance of parliamentary cooperation as one of the key pillars of vibrant bilateral relations between India and Hungary. He also underlined the strong bilateral economic partnership and discussed ways to enhance it further. During interaction with the Hungarian-Indian Friendship Group, the two sides discussed various opportunities to further deepen bilateral relations and emphasised the importance of cultural as well as people-to-people interactions in boosting bilateral relations. "Our cultural cooperation has a long history. I am happy to note that there is a huge interest in Yoga, Indian music, dance, and Ayurveda in Hungary. Our friendship extends to the people-to-people connections that have been nurtured over the years," Harivansh said. The Friendship Group headed by Cseresnyes also talked about collaborations, including in the areas of artificial intelligence (ANI), water management, and space research. The diplomatic relations between India and Hungary are warm, friendly, multi-faceted and substantive, which marked the 75th anniversary of the agreement in 2023. There have been regular parliamentary exchanges between the two countries. Zsolt Nemeth, President of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Hungarian Parliament, visited India in January 2024. Earlier, Istvan Jakab visited India in February 2023. The strong Indian diaspora of around 9000 acts as a strong bridge between the two countries. (ANI) US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti engaged in discussions on US-India Defense strategy and foreign policy formulation with India's military leaders and educators at the Army War College, Mhow. https://twitter.com/USAmbIndia/status/1766030062233751932/photo/1 In an official post on X, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti @USAmbIndia says, "I had a great discussion on #USIndiaDefense strategy and foreign policy formulation with some of India's military leaders & educators at the Army War College, Mhow. Our joint commitment to a secure, free, and open #IndoPacific is stronger than ever. #USIndiaFWD." During the dialogue, both sides reaffirmed their joint commitment to fostering a secure, free, and open Indo-Pacific region. US Ambassador to India Garcetti emphasised the enduring strength of the US-India partnership, particularly in the realm of defense cooperation and regional security. Additionally, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, inaugurated the Foreign Agricultural Service Taste of America Booth at Bharat Mandapam on Friday. At the event, Eric Garcetti emphasised the strong ties between India and the US. He said, "Better together, stronger together--I would say even more delicious together. So we are so excited to launch this booth to encourage our Indian friends to think with us, to cook with us, to plan with us." Garcetti said that he wanted to make this bridge two-way, bringing more Indian products to the United States and more American products to India. Earlier, Garcetti had talked about Indian food and how much he liked it. He visited the Tamil Nadu Bhawan in New Delhi and tried some South Indian delicacies on a banana leaf and shared his experience tasting various Maharashtrian delicacies. At the event in Bharat Mandapam, Eric said, "We know that this is more than just bringing good food. This is about Indian jobs. We know that when there's more American agriculture here, there'll be more Indian jobs. And that's a real win-win for everybody." Additionally, the Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) will manage a rather large booth (18 square meters) at the USA pavilion to promote various US foods and ingredients. Along with our FAS booth, this year's USA pavilion will feature various FAS trade associations/cooperators, representing various US products, including the California Walnut Commission, US Cranberries, US Pecans, US Eggs, the Poultry Export Council, and more. Participation in this trade show provides a great opportunity to create awareness about US ingredients, as there is a growing demand and interest for tree nuts and berries from general consumers and importers. (ANI) Chief of Naval Staff, R Hari Kumar, highlighted the significance of the recently commissioned INS Jatayu at Minocoy Island, stating that it reinforces the nation's commitment to safeguarding its maritime interests in the strategic Lakshadweep region. The commissioning ceremony marked a pivotal milestone in India's naval capabilities, with INS Jatayu poised to play a crucial role in enhancing maritime domain awareness and bolstering the Indian Navy's sustenance and surveillance capabilities in the region. Kumar underscored the strategic importance of Lakshadweep, saying, "The commissioning of INS Jatayu at Minicoy holds immense significance for our nation's maritime security and underscores the strategic significance of Lakshadweep." "The Naval Base will serve as a vanguard, providing crucial maritime domain awareness while enhancing the Indian Navy's sustenance & surveillance in the region," he added. The Indian Navy on Wednesday commissioned its second naval base, INS Jatayu, at Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep to strengthen its foothold in the region, the Indian Navy said in an official statement. The INS Jatayu was commissioned in the presence of Adm R Hari Kumar, the Chief of Naval Staff, Administrator of Lakshadweep, Praful K Patel, V Adm V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. According to the statement, "This milestone event strengthens the Indian Navy's foothold in the Lakshadweep island while extending capacity building, operational reach and sustenance in the region. The establishment of the Naval Base at Minicoy will augment connectivity with the mainland, focusing on the comprehensive development of the islands." The INS Jatayu will be functioning under the operational control of the Naval Officer in Charge (Lakshadweep), Southern Naval Command. On the occasion, the Chief of Naval Staff was presented with a 50-man Guard of Honour and Commander Vrat Baghel, the first commanding officer of the unit, recited the invocation in Sanskrit, followed by the reading of the commissioning warrant. After the unveiling of the commissioning plaque, the Naval Ensign was hoisted to the tune of the National Anthem. With the last note of the National Anthem, the commissioning pennant was broken on the mast. The commissioning ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command, senior Naval officers and distinguished guests. On completion of the commissioning ceremony, the Maritime Operations Center at Minicoy was inaugurated and the Chief of the Naval Staff, interacted with the officers and men of the unit and commended them on this momentous occasion. INS Jatayu will play a significant role in the Indian Navy's operational surveillance while embracing the vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). (ANI) Tye and Melynda Small stand with their 5-year-old daughter, Madalyn, in front of the ruins of their home in Otis after the Echo Mountain Fire swept through, burning nearly 300 homes, in September 2020. Oregons state Legislature this week unanimously passed two bills aimed at financially helping survivors of wildfires. Both bills make tweaks to Oregons tax code to help wildfire survivors. One allows survivors to keep more of their money from lawsuit awards while the other is aimed at making rebuilding a home more affordable. To have both pass unanimously speaks volumes at how much this tax relief was the right thing to do for victims, Jami Cate, R-Lebanon, who sponsored one bill and supported both, said in a Facebook post. There is lots that still needs done, and so many victims who still need to get back home, but every step in the right direction matters, and we'll keep fighting for the next steps! Both bills still need to be signed into law by Gov. Tina Kotek. Tax exemption for wildfire awards passes Senate Bill 1520, sponsored by Sen. Brian Boquist, I-Dallas, creates a tax exemption for awards stemming from lawsuits related to wildfires. Multiple lawsuits have resulted in millions in settlements and awards to survivors over the past year, primarily from legal action against PacifiCorp, which a jury found at fault for igniting four of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires Santiam/Beachie, Echo Mountain Complex, 242 and South Obenchain. The problem? State and federal tax laws created a situation where survivors only received a small amount of the payout as little as 20-30%, according to a lawyer who helped negotiate a $299 million settlement for survivors of the Archie Creek Fire in southern Oregon. The legislation exempts any awards or judgments from state taxes, Boquist said. He added there is currently a bill in Congress to exempt awards from federal taxes as well. SB 1520 is the result of a yearlong bipartisan effort to give wildfire victims financial relief needed rebuild their homes and get their lives back on track, Boquist said in a previous statement. Bill to reduce property tax for those rebuilding homes passes A bill to help wildfire survivors by providing property tax relief moved quickly and passed both chambers. Senate Bill 1545, sponsored by Cate and Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton, grants a property tax break to destroyed homes rebuilt after the 2020 wildfires. The bill authorizes counties to allow homeowners who rebuilt after the 2020 Labor Day wildfires to pay property taxes based on pre-fire assessed value. Cate said previously the bill "allows counties to gradually increase tax bills based on the pre-fire valuations of properties before homes were lost, and avoid the devastating sticker shock victims have when they receive their adjusted tax bill after a rebuild." Mia Mohr, who testified in favor of the bill, said her property taxes nearly doubled when she attempted to rebuild after the fires. This is a significant financial burden for homeowners who had always been able to anticipate and budget for property taxes and now suddenly find their homes unaffordable, she said in testimony. This is detrimental to the county's efforts to support rebuilding and restoring the local economy. Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Urness is the author of Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon and Hiking Southern Oregon. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon passes bills to help wildfire survivors with tax issues A woman was finally visited by lottery luck after using the same numbers for almost 40 years, Missouri officials said. The woman bought the 9-Spot ticket at a convenience store in Waynesville, according to a March 7 news release by the Missouri Lottery. She had no clue it was carrying a prize of $80,000. The Pulaski County players son went to get the ticket checked when the cashier told him she couldnt cash it. She said, Give me your phone, the winner told lottery officials. So he gave her the phone, and she took a picture of it and said, This is what your mom won, and thats why we cant pay her! Thats when the womans son called her to share the good news, officials said. The woman had matched all nine numbers of her Club Keno ticket, lottery officials said. The woman wouldve won $30,000 but because she added the Bulls-Eye option, the prize jumped to $80,000 when she matched the Bulls-Eye number, officials said. The woman plans to use some of the money to buy a new car, officials said. Waynesville is about a 200-mile drive southeast from Kansas City. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. Lottery player changed his plans after car needed repairs. He won big in Maryland Lottery player cut back from playing games twice a day in Maryland. Then she won big Lucky casino visitor hits huge win on slot machine then hours later wins even more A Delaware judge handed down seven life sentences plus an additional 297 years in prison for a man convicted of killing two in Delaware and accused of murdering multiple others in Philadelphia. Keith Gibson received multiple life sentences legally mandated by his first-degree murder convictions by a jury after a two-week trial in November. In handing down the sentence, Presiding Judge Ferris Wharton told Gibson that he "deserves to die in prison." "I will do everything in my power to see that happens," Wharton said. Last year, Gibson was convicted of murdering 28-year-old Leslie Ruiz-Basilio at an Elsmere T-Mobile store in May 2021 and 42-year-old Ronald Wright at a residence in Wilmington the following month. He was also convicted of a slew of robbery and weapons charges as well as attempted murder for shooting a convenience store clerk in Wilmington and robbing a city Rite Aid around the same time. Signs, photos, candles and balloons adorn the entrance of the Metro by T-Mobile store in Elsmere in remembrance of Leslie Lizet Basilio, 28, on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. Prosecutors spent about two weeks presenting a series of what they described as "puzzle pieces" linking him to the crimes, as well as the murder of a woman working at a Dunkin' Donuts in North Philadelphia around the same time. He was not on trial for the Philadelphia killing, but the evidence in that case was used to link him to the Delaware crimes. Law enforcement in Philadelphia confirmed earlier this week they will charge him with four additional homicides that occurred in that city around the same time as his Delaware crimes. Shattered lives The families of Ruiz-Basilio and Wright gathered in the Wilmington courtroom Friday morning. At the hearing, family members told Wharton how the murders had taken their loved ones and shattered their lives. Wrights' brother lamented that Gibson could have simply robbed his brother, but chose to kill him. "He got what he wanted," the man said. "He could have just gone on his way." Through a translator, Ruiz-Basilio's mother told the court that her daughter helped support their family and her death left her questioning the purpose of existence. Wharton told her she had much to live for and asked that she not let Gibson further victimize her family. 'Horrible human being' Deputy Attorney General John Downs recounted the evidence and said it at least inferred that Gibson shot his male victims immediately, while killing Ruiz-Basilio after a period of leading her through the store and handling the proceeds of the robbery. Downs called him cowardly and said there are no mitigating factors for a lesser sentence. He added that Gibson is a "despicable, horrible human being," who deserves to "die in jail." Given a chance to address the court, Gibson did not address the victims' families. He disputed Downs' characterization of the evidence in the case and a family member's statement that he was smiling as the jury viewed autopsy photos of Wright during the trial. As a character reference, he also noted a video of Gibson's transfer to disciplinary housing while being held in a Delaware prison before he was convicted. In the video, Gibson tells officers he will shoot and kill again and refers to himself as "the beast," Downs said. Surveillance photo from 2021 that police believe depicts Keith Gibson at a Dunkin' in North Philadelphia, where officials say the man robbed and killed a woman. "Otherwise, I don't have much to say," he told Wharton. Wharton reminded Gibson that he presided over his jury trial and knew the evidence well. Sending a message Wharton also addressed the families, stating that the law is made by humans and therefore is "not perfect," explaining that it cannot address Wright's brother's desire that Gibson be executed by the state nor return their family members to them. He said the court is "is not big" on sending messages through sentence orders because nobody hears those messages. He said he was going to attempt to make an exception in this case for anyone "foolish" enough to believe that Gibson should ever receive any reprieve that would free him in the future. Four of Gibson's life sentences were mandatory as he was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for each victim under separate legal theories of liability: that he killed intentionally and that he killed recklessly during the commission of a felony. Prosecutors also filed a habitual offender petition based on Gibson's previous manslaughter conviction from more than a decade ago as well as other lesser convictions. The petition amplifies the potential sentences. And so, Wharton also sentenced Gibson to life for one of his robbery charges, life for one of his weapons charges and life for one of his attempted murder charges. The judge also sentenced Gibson to the maximum imprisonment under the law for the other weapons and robbery charges, tallying to 297 years of incarceration on top of the seven separate life sentences. "I have given you as much as I can," Wharton told Gibson. "It is not enough." After the sentence was handed down, Gibson tried to argue with Wharton as he left the court, stating it was unfair and unlawful to sentence him to multiple life sentences for each murder. "This is some bulls--t," he said as he was led from the courtroom. Here are links to previous coverage about the case: Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 7 life sentences for man convicted of 2 Delaware murders President Joe Biden plans to order the U.S. military to establish a temporary port along the coast of Gaza in the coming weeks to allow more humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian civilians, senior administration officials said Thursday. Biden plans to announce the emergency mission during his State of the Union address on Thursday evening. We are not waiting on the Israelis," a senior official told reporters, signaling the administrations growing frustration with its ally. We know the aid flowing into Gaza is nowhere near enough and nowhere near fast enough. The operation will establish a port on the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that will be able to receive large ships with food, water, medicine and temporary shelters. Officials on Thursday insisted the Biden administration is "not planning for this to be an operation that would require U.S. boots on the ground," saying the U.S. will be able to carry out the work "from just offshore." The shipments of supplies would come from the port of Larnaca in Cyprus, and be delivered from the pier in Gaza with the help of U.S. partners including the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies. The U.S. forces required to carry this out "are either already in the region or will begin to move there soon," officials said. Read More:For Antony Blinken, the War in Gaza Is a Test of U.S. Power The announcement comes amid growing criticism from Bidens own party, and calls for him to take a more aggressive stance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring the war to an end as quickly as possible. Still, in Thursday's address, Biden is set to defend his administration's approach to Israel's war in Gaza, which has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians according to the health ministry there, and displaced what the UN estimates is 80 percent of the population. He will speak about the Oct. 7 attacks and the war "in a very personal way," a senior administration official told reporters, and will reiterate "Israel's right to go after Hamas and those responsible." Since the beginning of Israel's military offensive after the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, senior U.S. officials have implored Israel publicly and behind the scenes to allow humanitarian aid to reach the enclaves increasingly desperate population. In the early days of the war, Secretary of State Antony Blinken used a visit by President Biden as leverage to allow the first trucks to cross into Gaza, U.S. officials told TIME last year. In an interview in December, Blinken acknowledged that the amount of aid reaching Gazans was totally insufficient in terms of what was actually needed." Since then, the need has only grown more dire despite the Biden administration's increasingly sharp rebukes. People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane," Vice President Kamala Harris said on March 4, a day before she was due to meet with Benny Gantz, a member of Netanyahu's war cabinet. "The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses. Senior United Nations officials last month warned that one quarter of Gaza's population is one step away from famine." In a recent visit to northern Gaza, World Health Organization confirmed at least 10 child deaths from starvation. On Feb. 29, more than 100 Palestinians were killed after witnesses say Israeli troops fired on a crowd that was trying to access trucks of food aid. In what amounted to further acknowledgement that the situation is spiraling out of control, the U.S. began to deliver food to Gaza through military airdrops last week. It has been an unusual operation, dropping aid into a territory that is controlled by a close ally that the U.S. is continuing to arm. None of thesemaritime corridor, airdropsare an alternative to the fundamental need to move assistance through as many land crossings as possible, a different senior administration official told reporters March 2. That's the most efficient way to get aid in at scale. Its the most efficient way to flood the zone." Write to Vera Bergengruen at vera.bergengruen@time.com. When the Colorado Constitution was amended in 1902 to allow counties with over 70,000 residents to have up to five county commissioners, just one county in the state met that threshold. In the past 120 years, as the states population has grown tenfold, some counties have expanded the size of their governments. But others, including Pueblo County, are still represented by just three commissioners. A bill to expand county commissions in larger counties and include some district-specific seats died on second reading in the Colorado House of Representatives Friday morning. The gold-covered dome on the Colorado Capitol building shines in the late afternoon sun in downtown Denver in this Associated Press file photo. The bills sponsor, Rep. Bob Marshall of Highlands Ranch, said that the bill would lead to better representation in Colorado local governments, ensuring that political minorities and diverse geographic areas are equally represented on county commissions. But some county commissioners, including two of the three leading Pueblo County, argued that the bill would be an unfunded mandate and that local communities should decide for themselves. This bill would have affected Pueblo County under the first draft of the bill. Boulder, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer and Mesa counties would have also expanded to five commissioners. Sponsor surprised by bills demise Marshall introduced this bill because of what hes noticed from living in Highlands Ranch, the largest unincorporated town in the state. Highlands Ranch is in Douglas County, but the communitys needs arent adequately represented by the three county commissioners, Marshall told the Chieftain. Marshall said that county governments are some of the most powerful governments in Colorado. Two commissioners on a three-person body have ample power to pass budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars and craft local zoning regulations. Some commissioners are required to live in specific districts but are elected by all county voters. That at-large voting leads to issues that Marshall has noticed in Douglas County and has been historically linked with suppressing racial minorities. A similar bill died in committee last year on a 5-5 vote, but Marshall reintroduced it this year with a few changes. For example, under the new version of the bill, counties would've had until January 2032 to take action. Colorado Representative Bob Marshall, a Democrat from Highlands Ranch. Marshall also introduced an amendment on the House floor Friday to increase the threshold to 250,000 inhabitants, which wouldve effectively excluded Pueblo and Mesa counties from the bill. But that amendment was defeated. Marshall told the Chieftain in a text message after the vote that he was surprised the bill was killed, especially after another amendment passed to lower the threshold of local petition signatures to place this question on the ballot. Very disturbing, he wrote. He said he would consider re-introducing the bill again, but the powers that be certainly do not want any change despite how well known these at-large elections discriminate against minority groups. Colleague said it was the s---tiest thing theyd seen in six years. Killed the commissioner bill on the floor (in) seconds. No honor in politics I know, Marshall said, adding that he saw another representative clapping when it went down. How did Pueblos legislators vote? The votes Friday morning were taken as a head count, so it is currently unclear how specific legislators voted. Rep. Ty Winter, the GOP assistant minority leader, lives near Trinidad and his district represents parts of Pueblo County. Winter told the Chieftain in a text message Thursday that he was a no on the legislation because individual communities should make that decision. If (constituents) feel that commissioners need to be added they could tell their commissioners to put it on the ballot and let the voters decide, Winter said. Its unclear how either of Pueblos Democratic representatives felt about this legislation. Reps. Tisha Mauro and Matt Martinez did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Chieftain about the legislation on Thursday or Friday. State Representatives Matt Martinez (left) and Tisha Mauro (right). Before the legislation died in the House, Pueblos state Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, a Democrat, told the Chieftain in a text message Thursday that he was inclined to support it. The larger a jurisdiction becomes, the more diverse the needs become, Hinrichsen said, adding that communities throughout Pueblo County often have slightly differing needs. I think having representation by district allows elected officials to focus their efforts on the unique needs of that community, and thats a good thing, Hinrichsen said. The bill received some bipartisan support and backlash during the committee vote on Feb. 26. Rep. Judy Amabile, a Democrat representing parts of directly affected Boulder County, voted no on the bill. On the other hand, Rep. Ken DeGraff, a Republican from El Paso County, voted to approve the bill. What Pueblo County commissioners thought Pueblo County Commissioners Epimenio Eppie Griego and Zach Swearingen testified against the bill at its first appearance in late February. They argued that the bill would be expensive to implement and was emblematic of an unfunded mandate from the state legislature. This approach not only challenges the autonomy of local communities, but also sets a concerning precedent for the states interference in local governance, Griego said. Pueblo County Commissioner Eppie Griego Commissioner Daneya Esgar previously voted against a county resolution to oppose the bill. Esgar told the Chieftain before the bill was defeated that she hadnt made a final decision about the legislation but felt expanding the size of the BOCC could be a good idea. Since the Pueblo BOCC is so small, commissioners need to communicate via county officials and arent supposed to speak one-on-one to adhere to sunshine laws, Esgar said. Adding additional commissioners could allow them to get more work done since they would be able to directly collaborate. Pueblo County Commissioner Daneya Esgar on Feb. 29, 2024. Swearingen told the Chieftain Friday after the bills demise that he was happy it failed, partially because the bill could have cost the county an extra half-million dollars per year if passed. He said that he has not heard any high demand for expanding the BOCC in Pueblo but could support referring the question to voters if constituents show interest. If theres demand to do so, then yeah, Im all for it, Swearingen said. Pueblo County Commissioner Zach Swearingen speaks at a town hall meeting regarding the future of nuclear energy in Pueblo on Thursday, February 29, 2024. Esgar and Griego did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Bill to expand county commissioners dies in Colorado House Weeks after announcing a plan to address retail theft in California, Assembly Democrats on Thursday unveiled the bill specifics. Assembly Bill 2943, by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Salinas, and Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Hollywood, is part of the legislatures response to tackle the problem of retail theft, mirroring an effort by the state Senate as well as the stated intentions of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The bill adds a criminal penalty of up to three years for possession of stolen property with the intent to resell it, and spells out that repeated conduct or possession of large quantities of merchandise can be used as evidence of intent. In addition, it requires online sellers to maintain records showing the lawful chain of custody for goods that they sold. The bill also specifies that individual thefts from different victims can be aggregated in order to reach the threshold for felony theft. Diversion and rehabilitation programs, such as drug courts, would get a boost from the bill, by requiring increased supervision for shoplifting and petty theft. The bill would empower police to arrest people for shoplifting based on sworn witness statements or video footage, and also extends their ability to keep repeat offenders and those committing organized retail theft in custody. Crime, like everything, evolves, and criminal enterprises are using new and different ways to skirt the law. Thats not acceptable to me or to the public. We have to ensure Californias laws are addressing the situation at hand, Rivas said in a statement. What the bill doesnt do is make changes to Proposition 47, the 2014 voter-approved initiative that raised the threshold for felony theft to a minimum of $950. Thats been a point of contention for some, including law enforcement groups and legislative Republicans. However, Assemblyman Juan Alanis, R-Modesto, who vice-chairs the Assembly Public Safety Committee, said that proposals like AB 2943 are necessary and cant wait for another year. He told The Bee in an interview that while he wants to see Prop. 47 get reformed, that has to be done at the ballot box and that this bill represents a good start for what lawmakers can do. I think this is just part of the puzzle, he said. There are probably only a few commercial buildings that have such a violent and deadly history, but none are quite as haunting those that occurred in downtown Los Angeles Cecil Hotel. And now, the haunting building has landed on the real estate market. Situated in Downtown Los Angeles, this high-rise, boasting a historical landmark designation, comprises 15 floors and offers a net rentable area of approximately 105,407 square feet, the listing on Loopnet describes. The property is currently in the lease-up phase and is 60% occupied, ownership projects occupancy levels of 80-90% by mid-2024. While the listing shies away from the buildings dark past, many myths, tales, and true stories that folks have been subjected to have been highlighted in popular media, including FXs hit series American Horror Story and the Netflix documentary, Crime Scene: Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel. The documentary revolves around 21-year-old Elisa Lam, a woman who was visiting Los Angeles from Canada when she went missing in 2013. Her body was discovered over two weeks later in the hotels water tank. Elevator footage showed Lam getting into the lift and demonstrating odd behavior. Its still unclear how her body ended up on the roof where her body was discovered. The hotel sits in whats referred to as Skid Row among other abandoned buildings that were once a part of LAs upscale financial district. But Lams disappearance isnt the only mystery surrounding the hotel. The Cecil has seen more than its share of violence over the years: at least 16 people have died there, and it has been the location of countless other brutal crimes, Town and Country said. Serial killer Richard Ramirez even called it home during much of his 1985 murder spree. The hotel was also the inspiration for Season 5 of FXs American Horror Story, which took place at an LA-based building named Hotel Cortez. Much like the Cecil, Cortez had multiple deaths and paranormal activities going on, Cosmopolitan says. The price for the building is not listed. Im sorry how much? Price and layout of NY studio for rent has people in shock Beer Can Island a pricey Florida haven is for sale. See how it got its name The election for Ashland County sheriff includes two political newcomers who have approached this campaign in very different ways. Chad Enderby built a team of local people to help guide his campaign. Chads expectations for his supporters were that they be honest, hard-working and respectful to the voters. His opponent took a different direction by hiring two outside political consulting firms that are based in the Washington D.C. area. Per the Ashland County Board of Elections public filings, that campaign has spent $21,300 (as of the end of December) to help craft an image. That helps to explain the phone surveys, the unsolicited text messages and the often-annoying robocalls. But dont be fooled by a campaign that has been advised by self-described tough as nails political veterans. Look past the rhetoric and look deeper into the facts and youll see why Chad Enderby is the best sheriff candidate for the people of Ashland County. Letter to the editor Chad Enderby spent 30 years in the Ohio State Highway Patrol. During his OSHP career, Enderby received multiple promotions as he moved up through the ranks of supervision and administration. He ultimately was selected to be the Assistant District Commander, Cleveland District OSHP. There Chad managed 240 employees, administered an annual budget in excess of $10 million, and oversaw seven individual highway patrol posts. He has had real, high-level responsibilities and actual management experience. Take a careful look at the endorsements of both candidates. Chad Enderbys endorsements include local people with names you already recognize: the Ashland Fire Local 1386, elected city and county officials, business people and retired law enforcement officers. Enderby is developing carefully thought out plans for the future of Ashland County. He has not made rash, simple, politically-expedient claims on 911 dispatch. He understands that the hardware, software, communications, and legal complexities will require the collaborative efforts of many individuals and entities to improve 911 dispatch. There is no quick-fix, easy solution. Electing Chad Enderby brings us a sheriff with extensive experience, relevant local endorsements, and the understanding that is needed to develop a cooperative, comprehensive, common sense plan for 911 dispatch. Please vote for Chad Enderby for sheriff on Tuesday, March 19. Tom M. McNaull, Ashland This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Chad Enderby has background to lead Ashlalnd County Sheriff's Office Clarke County Sheriff John Q. Williams. Clarke County Sheriff John Q. Williams said Thursday that his office is strengthening its procedures on documenting what happens when an immigrant is jailed on criminal charges. Williams office also issued a news release to clarify its policy, which was instituted in 2018 by former sheriff Ira Edwards. Williams came under fire by some citizens at a rally in downtown Athens where the issue of undocumented immigrants was a core cause of protest. An immigrant who entered the U.S. unlawfully now sits in the county jail, charged with murdering 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley as she jogged on the University of Georgia campus last month. That slaying has put a national focus on the immigrant issue and on Athens. Various media outlets, including Fox and the New York Post, reported that when Williams was campaigning for office in 2020 he said he had no intention of cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers. Williams responded to the negative coverage on Thursday by saying a lot of facts are being left out. Its being painted one way. The biggest thing is we realize there are some weaknesses in reporting. We tried to get data (on cases reported in Athens) back from ICE and thats taking quite a few days and we still havent gotten it, he said. We realize we need to track it better as far as anyone who comes in and out of the jail, he said about efforts now underway to improve record keeping on immigrants who come into the jail. Williams said it was also important to note that the Laken Riley murder suspect, Jose A. Ibarro, 26, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela living in Athens, was never booked into the jail prior to his arrest for murder. Williams said his office does notify ICE of undocumented immigrants because it is part of the normal booking process. He also objected to any suggestion that his office supports Athens as a sanctuary city. There is no sheriff that has the authority to declare a sanctuary city. That is not in the sheriffs purview. And one policy does not affect that either, he said. Williams has worked under a policy in place when he assumed office. Immigrants: Brother of Laken Riley murder suspect ordered to remain in federal custody Our policy reflects that ICE detainers are requests, not a court order or warrant. Holding a person based solely on an ICE detainer constitutes a warrantless arrest, according to his statement. The policy does allow for detaining if a warrant or court order signed by a judge is issued, the statement reads, adding that the sheriffs office does not prevent ICE from picking up undocumented persons. The issue now, according to the sheriffs office, is to improve the record-keeping practices used to identify and track responses to any interactions with subjects determined to be undocumented. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Clarke County sheriff says office is improving tracking of immigrants Floridians know the pain of eagerly looking forward to an amazing celestial spectacle meteor showers, rocket launches, super moons and only seeing clouds or even just a gray, featureless, overcast sky. Now one of the most amazing sights you can see is coming: a solar eclipse when the moon blots out the sun and leaves the land in eerie darkness. Will anyone in Florida be able to tell? According to AccuWeather's preliminary forecast, it's a qualified maybe. There's a risk of a storm system in April which may affect visibility, and a potential cold front. Will it be cloudy or overcast in Florida during the solar eclipse on April 8? What's the weather forecast? AccuWeather's first cloud forecast, issued on March 7, along the path of totality for the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. There is a good possibility that a cold front will be moving across the central and eastern U.S. near the time of the eclipse, said AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok in an email. The timing and location of that front could mean clear or cloudy skies. There's also a risk of a slow-moving storm system over the Southeast next month. If one of these systems forms, the duration of cloud cover can be longer with any system, leading to poor viewing, Pastelok said. Will El Nino affect the weather during the solar eclipse? El Nino, a pattern of warmer than usual water in the Pacific Ocean that tends to reinforce a more moderate climate, is rapidly fading but still a factor in predicting eclipse weather, Pastelok said. Severe weather and rainstorms tend to ramp up in April as well. Generally speaking, AccuWeather and the National Weather Service both predict a higher-than-usual chance for rain in Florida for the next three months. AccuWeather stresses that we are still a month out and any weather predictions must be taken with a huge grain of salt. Anyone living in Florida knows how quickly the weather can change. If it's cloudy in Florida, will I be able to see the solar eclipse? Unless it's completely overcast or raining, you still should be able to some part of the eclipse. Even on a cloudy day, the sun peeks out between the clouds, and while it'll take a few hours from start to finish you only need a clear view of the eclipse for the three or four minutes the moon actually covers the sun. Remember, Florida won't get to see the total eclipse, we're not in the path of the totality which will move from the coast of Mexico diagonally northeast across continental North America. But everyone in Florida will see a partial eclipse with half to over 3/4 of the sun covered depending on where you are in the state. The closer to the western Panhandle, the more of an eclipse you'll see. If it's not too cloudy, of course. But if you miss it, there's a total solar eclipse coming to Florida in 2045. 2024 eclipse in the Sunshine State: Can you see the 2024 solar eclipse in Florida? Here are the best places to watch it Which states will see the total solar eclipse? Path of the April 8, 2024 eclipse Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, plus parts of Tennessee and Michigan, are all in the 115-mile-wide path of totality. To see the exact path of totality, check out an interactive map created by French eclipse expert Xavier Jubier. So far, AccuWeather predicts the best views of the eclipse may be in Southern Texas, areas of the Ohio Valley, and the Great Lakes region. Odds for cloudy weather are higher in the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys, with the Northeast U.S. having the worst odds of clouds on eclipse day. Do I need safety eclipse glasses if the sky is cloudy? How to keep your eyes safe during a solar eclipse. YES. Do not look directly at the sun under any conditions. The cloud cover may not be enough to shield your eyes from immediate damage, and clouds might open up at any time. Always wear ISO 12312-2 international standard eclipse safety glasses to look at an eclipse. Never look at an eclipse through a camera, a phone camera, a telescope or binoculars without rated lens filters on them. The American Astronomical Society offers links on its website of vendors selling approved solar eclipse glasses. StarNet Libraries offers free solar glasses for libraries through its Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries program. The organization sent out 5 million solar-viewing glasses to 10,000 libraries, including several in Florida. Eyeglass company Warby Parker will be handing out free eclipse glasses in April. When is the 2024 solar eclipse? The total eclipse will hit the coast of Mexico on April 8, 2024, around 11:07 a.m. PDT and leave the continental North America at 5:16 NDT. The partial eclipse will begin first as the edge of the moon becomes visible, and then about an hour and 20 minutes later the totality will begin and last for three or four minutes before the sun begins to appear again. In Florida, residents should start to see the eclipse beginning around 1:35 p.m. EDT, with the midpoint at 2:55. Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida, contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Solar eclipse could see cloudy skies in Florida, AccuWeather says The city of Beaufort is offering something rarely heard these days: positive news for commuters. Beginning March 25, the historic Woods Memorial Bridge in Beaufort will be open to uninterrupted vehicle traffic every weekday during the morning and afternoon commutes. This trial period will last six months and end with a review of the findings. At least temporarily, the closing of the bridge for 8 to 10 minutes at a time for a passing boat and longer for multiple vessels during the days busiest commutes will be one fewer headache commuters will be forced to endure. The city announced the bridges big schedule change Friday. The passage is the essential connection between Beaufort and the Sea Islands used by thousands of cars. Beaufort City Manager Scott Marshall said it has been a common plea we have heard from residents even before I arrived in the city about the opening schedule and sitting and waiting during rush-hour when traffic is heavier. The Coast Guard, which is responsible for managing the passage as a navigable waterway, has authorized the states department of transportation, which operates the bridge, to allow for the passage of vehicular traffic from 6 a.m. to 9:29 a.m. and 3:31 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday from March 25 to Sept. 29, Marshall said. The Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge, a swing span bridge, opens to allow a vessel to pass. A new opening schedule allow continuous motor vehicle traffic over the bridge during rush our. Shawn Hill photo Shawn Hill Currently, the swing mechanism on the bridge opens once an hour on the half hour to let boat traffic through. During these periods, but especially during rush hours, there is considerable traffic backup on both sides of the bridge and can be exacerbated by the number of boats needing to pass through. During non-rush hour periods from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, the bridge will continue to open once an hour on the half hour, as needed. Its a huge deal Marshall called the Coast Guards decision to allow the schedule change a huge deal. They have purview over the Intercoastal Waterway and marine traffic through it, Marshall said. First, the process involved the city and the county getting SDOTs support in submitting a request to the Coast Guard for the schedule modification. Its not easy to get an opening schedule for a draw bridge changed in the state of South Carolina, Marshall said. The temporary change will test the feasibility of the schedule, and could result in a permanent change after the evaluation period, SCDOT said. The draw tender, who operates the opening and closing of the bridge, will still be authorized to modify the bridge schedule in dire situations, the city noted. Those reasons include a vehicle in distress, where a delay would endanger life or property, commercial vessels engaged in rescue or emergency salvage operations and vessels seeking shelter from severe weather. Concerned about the extensive traffic backup caused by the openings of the swing bridge during rush hours, the City of Beaufort, Beaufort County, and SCDOT, with help from state Rep. Shannon Erickson, worked on possible solutions for about six months, Assistant County Administrator Jared Fralix said. SCDOT requested that the Coast Guard change the bridge opening to a schedule similar to the Wappoo Creek Bridge near James Island, Fralix said. Thanks to that request, Fralix said, the Coast Guard has agreed to a temporary deviation from the existing opening schedule for a 6-month trial period. After the trial, they will assess the changes to determine if permanent changes are acceptable, Fralix said. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington March 7, 2024. Seeking to draw a contrast, President Joe Biden made over a dozen allusions to his "predecessor" in his State of the Union address on Thursday night, including one with an Iowa reference and a partial quote from the man he was referring to, former President Donald Trump. But did Biden get Trump's quote right? Mostly. After speaking about his effort to combat domestic violence, Biden turned to gun violence. "With us tonight is Jasmine, whose 9-year-old sister Jackie was murdered with 21 classmates and teachers at her elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Soon after it happened, Jill and I went to Uvalde and spent hours with the families," he said, referring to first lady Jill Biden. "We heard their message, and so should everyone in this chamber: Do something," he said. "I did do something by establishing the first-ever Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the White House that Vice President Harris is leading. "Meanwhile, my predecessor told the NRA hes proud he did nothing on guns when he was president. After another school shooting in Iowa he said we should just 'get over it.' "I say we must stop it." More: Trump sends 'deepest sympathies' over Perry school shooting: 'But we have to get over it' Joe Biden's reference adds a word Donald Trump didn't say Biden's partial quote of Trump added the word "just" before "get over it." Trump, while holding a rally in Sioux Center Jan. 5 as he campaigned ahead of the Iowa Caucuses, spoke of the shootings at Perry High School the day before, when a student opened fire in the cafeteria and killed another student, fatally wounded the principal and wounded five other people before taking his own life. Election 2024 Trump Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center, Iowa on Jan. 5. Trump said he sent his support and deepest sympathies to the families and victims touched by the terrible school shooting. To the entire community, we love you, we pray for you, and we ask God to heal and comfort, really, the whole state, he said. Were really with you as much as anybody can be. Its a very terrible thing that happened. It's just terrible, he said. Thats just horrible. Its so surprising to see it here. "But we have to get over it. We have to move forward," he said. To all the relatives, and all the people who are devastated right now, to the point they can't breathe, they cant live, we are with you all the way. In the transcript released by the White House after the speech, the quoted words were solely "get over it." The word "just" was not part of the quote, as written in the text. But the audience listening to the speech could not know when Trump's quote began. Thursday's address wasn't the first time Biden called out Trump's comment. On Jan. 8, he rejected Trump's call to "get over it, saying, "My response is we have to stop it." This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Did Biden in State of the Union quote Trump right on school shooting? While hovering over a beach in Australia, a drone captured footage of a dogs close scrape with a crocodile lurking just offshore. The incident, which took place at Seisia Wharf in Queensland, was recorded by drone photographer Jerry Ahmat and uploaded online March 3. In the video, a crocodile can be seen floating in the shallow surf, while an unleashed dog wanders along the beach, just several feet away. For a few seconds, the crocodile appears to follow the dog, before it eventually walks further inland seemingly unaware of its close encounter with the large reptile. My partner and I tried to chase [the dog] away from the water, Ahmat told Yahoo News Australia. The dog was miraculously not harmed, according to 9 News Gold Coast, a local news outlet. While this particular dog escaped without a scratch, others in the area arent always so lucky, Ahmat told Yahoo, noting that similar incidents happen every day. In April, a crocodile was recorded snatching a dog from a beach in Queensland before dragging it underwater, according to the outlet. And in 2012, another crocodile was caught in the countrys Northern Territory after killing and eating as many as nine pet dogs, according to NDTV. Crocodiles are commonly found along the coast of Queensland, a large state spanning the continents northeast, according to the Queensland government. No waterway in [the area] can ever be considered crocodile free, the governments website states. Because of this, people with pets dogs in particular are advised to always keep them on leashes and far from the water. Long-tailed creature with large red eyes found on island. Its a new species Ancient board game dating back over 3,000 years discovered in Spain. Take a look Hairy creature covered in babies found at campsite in Thailand. Its a new species Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Friday, March. 8. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our live updates file on the war for Saturday, March. 9. The European Union announced a maritime humanitarian corridor Friday in partnership with the United States, the United Arab Emirates and others to deliver desperately needed aid into Gaza where reports of malnutrition-related deaths among children are rising. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, speaking at Cyprus, where preparations were being inspected, said a ship carrying humanitarian aid will head to Gaza on Friday to test the sea corridor, which could officially open this weekend. The announcement comes after President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military, in coordination with international partners, to build a temporary port on the coast of Gaza that could take in large amounts of humanitarian aid. Construction of the pier will likely take several weeks, U.S. officials said. The new strategies to get aid into Gaza, including humanitarian airdrops by the U.S. and other counties, signals increased involvement in the war by Israel's top ally and growing frustration in the West with how Israel is conducting its offensive. Meanwhile, negotiations for a temporary cease-fire ahead of the start of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, appeared to break down. On Thursday, Hamas said its delegation left Cairo, Egypt, where talks were being held until next week. Palestinians pray in front of a mosque destroyed by the Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Friday, March 8, 2024, ahead of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. Developments: An estimated 8,000 people need to be evacuated from Gaza, including over 6,000 trauma patients and 2,000 others suffering from serious chronic conditions, such as cancer, according to the World Health Organization. Since the war began, more than 30,870 Palestinian have been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The health officials do not differentiate between combatant and civilian deaths. The Israeli military said in a post on X that troops killed 30 militants in Gaza, destroyed several tunnel shafts and struck a weapons storage facility believed to be a source of rockets fired toward communities in southern Israel. An Israeli operation in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza where more than 1 million people have taken shelter from the war, "would incur massive loss of life and would heighten the risk of further atrocity crimes," Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said on Friday. "This must not be allowed to happen." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will evacuate the crowded city before launching an invasion to dismantle what Israeli officials say is Hamas' final stronghold. U.N. human rights office calls Israeli settlements in West Bank a 'war crime' The U.N. human rights office called Israel's establishment and expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem a "war crime" under international law in a new report released on Friday. According to the report, about 24,300 housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank were advanced from the start of Nov. 2022 to the end Oct. 2023, the most since the office began monitoring the situation in 2017. The report also documents 603 attacks on Palestinians by settlers in the area since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. In the same time period, at least nine Palestinians have been killed by settlers using firearms, and at least 396 have been killed by Israeli security forces. The West Bank is already in crisis. Yet, settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian State, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said in a press release. U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank had reached 'shocking new levels.' Biden on hot mic: he needs 'come to Jesus' meeting with Netanyahu Biden was caught on a hot mic saying he would tell Netanyahu the two needed a "come to Jesus meeting" after his State of the Union address. Biden made the comment to a group that included Colorado Sen. Michael Bennett, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, as he greeted the audience after the annual presidential address on Thursday evening. Bennett congratulated Biden on his speech and asked him to keep pushing for humanitarian aid for Gaza. "I told him, Bibi, and dont repeat this, but you and I are going to have a come to Jesus meeting," Biden said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. When an aid informed Biden that he was on a hot mic, Biden said, "Im on a hot mic here. Good. Thats good. Palestinian children receive cooked food rations as part of a volunteer youth initiative in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on March 5, 2024, amid widespread hunger in the besieged Palestinian territory as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continues. Five people killed by airdrop in northern Gaza, reports say At least five people were killed and several others were wounded in northern Gaza when a parachute attached to a pallet carrying humanitarian aid failed to open, multiple media outlets reported Friday. The boxes reportedly crushed people crowded near the al-Shati refugee camp as they awaited the arrival of food, water and other supplies. Those killed in the incident were taken to Gaza Citys Shifa Hospital, the Guardian reported, citing the facility's head nurse, Mohammed al-Sheikh. It's unclear what country is responsible for the airdrop. Beginning last week, Egypt, Jordan, the U.S. and others have carried out air deliveries to parts of northern Gaza, where people, including children, have begun to starve to death. An aircraft airdrops humanitarian aid over Gaza the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, March 8, 2024. Islamic Relief describes suffering of pregnant women in Gaza In a statement released this week, Islamic Relief said tens of thousands of pregnant women and new mothers in Gaza are struggling to "keep themselves and their babies alive amidst life-threatening shortages of food, water and medical care." The humanitarian organization said there are about 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza and, each day, about 180 women give birth in "unimaginable conditions." The agency's staff reported women enduring C-sections without anesthetic, newborns starving to death and a shortage of hygiene supplies leading to diseases. Pregnancy now is like women used to have it 100 years ago, without medical care, checkups, scans or good nutrition," the statement said. "Many women ... have had miscarriages and problems due to the lack of medical care. Of the 36 hospitals in Gaza, a dozen are partially functioning, one is minimally functioning and 23 have been forced to stop operations completely, according to the U.N. humanitarian affairs office. Palestinians react as they gather to collect aid food in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 26, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. U.N. Security Council to hold emergency session on Oct. 7 sexual violence report The United Nations' Security Council will hold an emergency session on Monday to discuss a report that Hamas committed acts of sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attack, reported the Times of Israel. The session, requested by the U.S., United Kingdom and France, will center around a report released this week by the U.N. envoy focusing on sexual violence, which said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe Hamas militants committed rape, sexualized torture and other sexual abuses in the Oct. 7 attack and in the months since the war started. The report was based on accounts of released hostages who were interviewed during multiple visits to Israel and the West Bank earlier this year. The U.N. envoy was unable to meet with victims of sexual violence despite concerted efforts to encourage them to come forward," said Pramila Patten, a member of the team that assembled the report. Patten recommended that the security council urge Israel to grant access to the U.N. to carry out full-fledged investigations into the alleged violations." Hamas has previously denied allegations that its militants committed sexual assault. Reports of malnutrition-related deaths rise across the Gaza Strip The U.N. has warned for months of a looming famine in Gaza, especially in the North, which has largely been cut off from humanitarian aid. In recent days, such warnings were met as the health ministry in Gaza and hospital officials throughout the enclave reported that over two dozen people have died of malnutrition. At least 20 people have died from malnutrition and dehydration at Kamal Adwan and Shifa hospitals in northern Gaza, according to the Health Ministry. Most of the dead are children, including ones as old as 15 and as young as 14 days. At the Emirati Hospital in Rafah, 16 premature babies have died of malnutrition-related causes over the past five weeks, one of the senior doctors told The Associated Press. The child deaths we feared are here, as malnutrition ravages the Gaza Strip, Adele Khodr, UNICEF's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said earlier this week. These tragic and horrific deaths are man-made, predictable and entirely preventable." Biden says Israel cannot use humanitarian aid as a 'bargaining chip' President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address said Israel must do more to get desperately needed aid into Gaza and, in a statement directed at Israel's leadership, said "humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip." "More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of whom are not Hamas. Thousands and thousands are innocent women and children," Biden said before Congress. "Nearly 2 million more Palestinians under bombardment or displaced. Homes destroyed, neighborhoods in rubble, cities in ruin. Families without food, water, medicine. Its heartbreaking." During his speech, Biden said Israel has a right to defend itself but has a "fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza." Biden also addressed families of hostages taken on Oct. 7, when Hamas launched its incursion into southern Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and triggering the war. "I pledge to all the families that we will not rest until we bring their loved ones home," he said. "Hamas could end this conflict today by releasing the hostages, laying down arms, and surrendering those responsible for October 7th." Contributing: Associated Press; John Bacon, Jorge L. Ortiz This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel war news updates: US, EU announce port, sea corridor for aid As Haiti appears to be descending into anarchy, the families of the 17 former Colombian soldiers accused of participating in the 2021 assassination of the countrys president said Friday they fear for their lives, particularly now that they have been taken to a jail near where armed gangs are fighting police. They are totally exposed, said Milena Carmona, wife of retired Lt. Jheyner Alberto Carmona, one of the imprisoned Colombians. I dont know what the authorities are waiting for. They need to be taken out of there because where they are being held is very close to the airport and that area has been taken over. Armed gangs, which in the past few days have moved quickly to take control of the countrys infrastructure, have surrounded the international airport in Port-au-Prince, prompting the cancellation of all international flights, including a U.S. deportation flight that had been scheduled for Thursday. The gangs had already blocked the roads to the capital and on Thursday, they attacked the seaport, looting hundreds of food containers and othe shipments. The violence has left Haitians in the capital running low on food, fuel and water. Carmona, a spokesperson for the Colombian families, told the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald that they have not heard from their loved ones since they emerged unharmed from a massive gang-led prison break of the National Penitentiary Saturday. Most of the prisons 3,696 inmates, including kidnappers and high-profile gang leaders, escaped. The Colombian soldiers were among only a handful who stayed behind, not daring to step out fearing they would be killed. Late Sunday night, they were transferred to a detention center inside the headquarters of the judicial police. The facility is located not far from the international and domestic airports, which have been targeted by gangs since last week. This July 8, 2021, file photo, shows suspects in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, some of them former Colombian soldiers. Odelyn Joseph/ASSOCIATED PRESS The former soldiers families claim that the detention center is also where their loved ones were tortured by police after they were captured hours after the July 7, 2021, slaying of President Jovenel Moise. Last month, after being imprisoned for over two years without formal charges, the 17 Colombians were among dozens of individuals in Haiti indicted by an investigative judge in the assassination plot. While not outright accused of killing the president, the former soldiers are charged with participating in the plot, which in Haiti carries a potential sentence as severe as the one for murder, according to lawyers advising the families Carmona said there is no chance of getting a fair trial in a country where the government is falling apart. She is urging the government of President Gustavo Petro of Colombia to intervene and secure the mens transfer to be tried in their home country. Haiti is a disaster and does not have a legitimate government. Even its own prime minister has not been able to return, she said, referring to Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who remains in Puerto Rico as the countrys airports remain closed to international air traffic. They cannot ensure their safety and there are legal means the [Colombian] government can use to bring them back. That is what we are asking, because there is nothing else that can be done for them inside Haiti. WASHINGTON President Joe Bidens fourth and possibly last speech to a joint session of Congress on Thursday night was the feistiest and most direct of his presidency, telling Americans he has delivered on many of his promises while warning them of the threat that predecessor and potential successor Donald Trump poses to democracy itself. From its start, Bidens speech put Republicans on defense, leaving House Speaker Mike Johnson to sit in silence as the president rallied in favor of a slew of popular causes: the war in Ukraine, in vitro fertilization and defending American democracy against the man who inspired the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Jan. 6 lies about the 2020 election and the plots to steal the election posed the gravest threat to our democracy since the Civil War. But they failed. America stood. America stood strong, and democracy prevailed, Biden said to cheers from Democrats and silence from Republicans gathered in the House chamber in the Capitol. My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6. I will not do that. This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Heres the simplest truth: You cant love your country only when you win, he said. Biden never mentioned Trumps name, but a half dozen times he lit into his predecessor for praising Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and abandoning Americas allies in NATO. For bragging about being able to overturn Roe v. Wade. For mismanaging the COVID pandemic response. For trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act. For boasting about doing nothing to crack down on assault rifles. And for telling his allies in Congress to kill a border security bill that would have given Republicans most of what they have been demanding for years. This bill would save lives and bring order to the border, Biden said. Im told my predecessor called members of Congress and the Senate to demand that they block the bill. He feels it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him. President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One on Tuesday in Hagerstown, Maryland, before traveling back to Washington. Alex Brandon/Associated Press Biden came into the State of the Union speech narrowly trailing Trump in many national polls as well as in surveys of the seven key states that will likely determine the outcome of the November election. One of the biggest concerns voters have expressed is Bidens age. At 81, he is already the oldest U.S. president in history, and he would be 86 at the end of a second term. Biden addressed the issue, as he has done regularly of late, by acknowledging it with humor. I know I may not look like it, but Ive been around awhile. And when you get to my age, certain things become clearer than ever before, he said, explaining that he believed in fundamental American values. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America. Honesty. Decency. Dignity. Equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Biden delivered the speech with intentional energy: There were more than 80 exclamation points in the prepared text sent out by the White House. He then once more contrasted his vision with that of Trump, who has openly said he would use the regained power of the presidency to seek retribution. Again, Biden didnt mention his name. Now other people my age see a different story. An American story of resentment, revenge and retribution. Thats not me, Biden said. Its unclear how Bidens 67-minute performance Thursday night will affect voters view about his fitness for the job. Though the speech brought his biggest television audience so far this year, likely until his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention this summer, just how many undecided voters who tend to be the least politically engaged watched live or will see clips in the coming days is unknown. One factor in Bidens favor, though, may be the incessant ridicule Republicans heap upon him for his gaffes, his gait and his physical appearance. Trump routinely claims that Biden cant put two sentences together potentially lowering expectations so much among casual political observers that even an average performance would appear to excel. Further, Republican primary voters may have helped Biden counter an age argument by nominating someone who is not only nearly the same age but who is facing 91 felony counts across four criminal indictments, two of them for his coup attempt culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by a mob of his followers. Trump has suffered from verbal miscues himself for years and of late seems to be having more trouble pronouncing words as he reads from a teleprompter difficulties that may get more scrutiny now that he is the presumptive Republican nominee. Biden is planning to ramp up his travel around the country following Thursdays speech, with visits to Pennsylvania and Georgia on Friday and Saturday and more expected next week. Related... After two former Williamson County sheriff's deputies were acquitted in the death of Javier Ambler II, the father of the deceased did something that a defense attorney later called "rare": Javier Ambler, who shared a name with his late son, embraced both defendants and told one of them, "No hard feelings." In the manslaughter trial against Zach Camden and J.J. Johnson, a Travis County jury heard eight days of testimony and deliberated for about four hours before delivering the verdict Thursday. In addition to manslaughter, jurors were told they could consider charges of criminally negligent homicide and assault. Ambler II, a 40-year-old father of two, died March 28, 2019. That night, he led deputies on a 20-minute, high-speed car chase after failing to dim his headlights to oncoming traffic. After crashing his white Honda Pilot, Ambler came to a stop. Johnson and Camden used their Tasers on Ambler multiple times, while they and Austin police officer Michael Nissen attempted to restrain him. On body-worn camera footage, Ambler can be heard shouting that he had a heart condition and could not breathe. He died moments later. The encounter was captured by crews from the A&E reality show "Live PD," who were in both Camden's and Johnson's patrol vehicles. The case brought a national spotlight on the Williamson County sheriffs office, led Texas to ban partnerships between law enforcement and TV reality shows and torpedoed the political career of a popular sheriff. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Ambler was attempting to comply with officers' orders when he exited his car. Their case centered on convincing jurors that Camden and Johnson behaved recklessly during their confrontation with Ambler, risking his life. After eight days of testimony and about four hours of jury deliberations, former Williamson County Deputies Zach Camden, left, and J.J. Johnson were found not guilty in their trial over Javier Ambler II's death. Defense attorneys Doug O'Connell and Ken Ervin insisted that Camden and Johnson were acting reasonably and following police protocol during the arrest. After the verdict was read, defense attorneys spoke to reporters outside of the courtroom. O'Connell called the case "another political prosecution" by Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza. He also discussed the moment when the elder Ambler showed forgiveness to his clients. "In a case like this, there are no winners," O'Connell said. "The Ambler family is going to continue to grieve. We're thankful that our clients, Zach and J.J., can move on with their lives." Defense attorney Doug O'Connell questions Rachael Carter Lentez of the Williamson County sheriff's office last week during the manslaughter trial of two former deputies. "Our hearts continue to break for the family of Javier Ambler," Garza said in an emailed statement Thursday night. "We hoped that the outcome of this trial would bring justice and closure to the family. We are grateful to our community members who served on the jury for this case, respect their decision, and thank them for their service." The elder Ambler was a constant presence in the courtroom throughout the trial. During a pretrial hearing, he told the American-Statesman that he wanted justice for his son. "That was my best friend," he said. The case was the second time during his four-year term that Garza has tried a law enforcement officer for an in-custody death. Last year, a jury deadlocked in the murder trial of Austin police officer Christopher Taylor for the shooting of Michael Ramos. A recent Statesman analysis found that, in the past five years, officers tried for in-custody deaths were rarely convicted. Prosecuting police officers poses unique challenges, law professors told the Statesman. Police officers are often called as witnesses in such cases and might be reluctant to give detrimental testimony about their colleagues, some professors said. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Javier Ambler trial: Zach Camden, J.J. Johnson found not guilty President Emmanuel Macron has stressed France's "unwavering support" for Moldova as tensions mount between Chisinau and pro-Russian separatists. Moldova's pro-EU government fears that the breakaway region of Transnistria, on the border with Ukraine, could become the region's next flashpoint. "France restates its unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders," he said in a joint statement with Moldovan President Maia Sandu as she visited Paris on Thursday. Moldova, a western neighbour of Ukraine, has a tiny defence budget. Relations with Moscow have long been tense and have worsened as Chisinau backs Ukraine in the war against Russia. In a separate statement, Sandu said: "France has stood by us, offering us support during the last two years of turmoil caused by Russia's actions. France stands with us as we move forward on our path to joining the European Union." Defence neglected "For thirty years, we didn't pay enough attention to our security," Vaeceslav Ionita, a former MP and now researcher with the Viitorul think tank in Chisinau, told RFI. France, he believes, can throw Chisnau a lifeline. Read more on RFI English Read also: EU chief's visit a boost for Moldova's hopes of joining bloc Macron visits Romania, Moldova as show of support for Ukraine France's Macron wants 'quick opinion' on Moldova request for EU membership A day ahead of the most recent November election, Moore County Clerk Brenda McKanna traversed the backroads of her rural community in the Texas Panhandle to ready her seven precincts for the coming Election Day. Anticipating a modest voter turnout, with only state amendments on the ballot, McKanna opted to close five polling sites, and throughout the day, journeyed between each precinct, affixing signage on doors to inform constituents. Notably, the farthest sat about 45 miles southwest of Dumas the Moore County seat in the modest town of Fritch. Only a small sliver of the 1,200-population town fell within the county's jurisdiction in Double Diamond Estates, a residential neighborhood perched on a bluff overlooking the expansive Lake Meredith. Five months later, when the March primaries were underway, McKanna retraced the same journey. Remnants of the Windy Deuce Fire are seen between Fritch and Amarillo on Friday, March. 1. But things were much different this time: The ranches and farmland she had passed along the way vibrant from the recent rainfall ahead of the November election are now charred fields, blanketed in ashes and devoid of cattle. And the Double Diamond Estates clubhouse, which serves as Fritch's voting site in Moore County, gazes upon the remnants of wildfires stretching as far as the eye can see. Although she noted in November her expectation of a busier Super Tuesday, she said she didn't anticipate that preparing a backup plan amid tragedy would become a part of her everyday routine. It's a decision that many county clerks in the Panhandle have been tasked with for the last 11 days as five wildfires began to engulf the region in the final week of early voting. "Wildfires or not, we're going to get it done," McKanna said. As wildfires continued in the Panhandle, so did voting Five fires have ravaged the Texas Panhandle since Feb. 26, scorching more than 1.2 million acres in total, destroying hundreds of homes and taking the lives of at least two residents, in addition to thousands of head of cattle. As thousands of cattle die in Panhandle, ranchers across Texas unite to help In Hutchinson County, the Smokehouse Creek Fire is one of five wildfires that ignited in the Panhandle last week and it made history as the largest wildfire on record in state history. This fire, alone, has burned more than 1,078,000 acres, or equivalent to 1,700 square miles growing to a size five times as large as New York City and bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island. Heading into Election Day on Tuesday, the fire remained only 15% contained. Even then, polling sites in the Panhandle still saw little interruption as residents picked their candidates for the Presidential Election in November and local government officials. In fact, aside from a brief interruption at a polling site on the Hutchinson County side of Fritch when the wildfires reached their peak late last week, voting went mostly unaffected in the Panhandle. "We've been in touch with all the election offices in counties that are affected, and the stories are amazing," Alicia Pierce, Texas' Assistant Secretary of State for Communications, said on the final day of early voting. "There has been very limited interruption, and polling locations, they are making it work they're keeping people there safe. And the cases where there had to be evacuation, they had contingency plans. "It's been very remarkable to watch these counties work together to make plans for what can happen in disaster, and they really executed that," she added. Although McKanna didn't need to put anything into action for the voting site in the Double Diamond clubhouse, she made sure to have a backup plan ready in case the situation evolved and evacuations became necessary. She had also communicated with neighboring county clerks, each of whom had their own unique contingency plans, varying slightly from one another. "I talked with one county clerk about (their) plan, and I wouldn't have done the same thing," McKanna said. "If they had to evacuate, they'd have to come over to Dumas to vote, and if the wildfires hit closer, I'd pull all my ballots, and everywhere I went, my election stuff would go with me. "You've got to think with common sense, and us in the Panhandle know how to do it," she added. Though the turnout for early voting in Hutchinson County dropped for the same election in 2020, down from 17.67% to 9.26%, business mostly continued as usual on Election Day. In typical fashion for the March primary, residents in the Texas Panhandle filed in from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., ready to cast their ballots for the candidates of their selected party. More than 1,900 residents of Hutchinson County voted throughout the day, reaching a 15% in-person turnout on Election Day, in which Texans overwhelmingly voted for former President Donald Trump on the Republican ballot. Voters go to the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. For this same election in 2020, the local polling centers saw only about 300 additional voters. Despite the slight effect on turnout of registered voters during early voting, the situation could have been significantly different if evacuations had occurred on Election Day instead in terms of numbers and laws, said Michael Morley, a professor of law at Florida State University. "There's a big difference between certain days of early voting versus the last day of voting being shut down," Morley said. "If a jurisdiction has early voting over an extended period of time, and due to a natural disaster, some of those polling places became inaccessible, or people become unable to vote, if that's occurring during an early voting period, I think courts are much less likely to grant relief than if it happens on the last day of voting, simply because those voters still have the opportunity to either vote by mail or another day, depending on the jurisdiction." What happens if tragedy strikes on Election Day? The United States is no stranger to Election Day emergencies. Perhaps the most infamous day in American history, Sept. 11, 2001, stands out as just one tragic occurrence that has coincided with Election Day. In New York City, more than 50 city council and mayoral candidates were vying for positions on the primary ballot. There were no indications of trouble as polls opened for voting at 6 a.m., but as the early morning unfolded, a plane hit the first tower, marking the onset of a day that shattered any hope for a hassle-free Election Day. Even as the towers fell to crumbles, the local elections authorities had already begun to discuss the new date for the city's election. "All branches of government got involved there," Morley said. "As an initial matter, a court issued an ex parte temporary restraining order to enjoin voting in New York City, basically to suspend elections in the area that was affected by the terrorist attacks. The governor then stepped in and issued an executive order, which suspended voting for the day, and the legislature stepped in and passed the statute that set up an alternate day for voting. "So, anyone who had not cast an absentee ballot by the original Election Day and had been planning on casting a ballot in person that day was able to vote in person on an alternate day two or three weeks later," he added. There have also been a number of natural disasters that have impacted elections, and several states have already passed election emergency laws as a result. "Unsurprisingly, it tends to be the states that are impacted with disasters," Morley said, "but this has certainly been something that's gotten a lot more among election administration officials and disaster preparedness officials in the last 20 to 30 years." For instance, the State of Florida took legislative action in response to the impact of Hurricane Andrew, a category five hurricane that killed 65 people on the coast of South Florida. The storm significantly influenced voter turnout in the worst-hit area of Homestead and Leisure City, with only 1.5 percent of eligible voters participating in the election that included races for three congressional seats and numerous state and local offices. In what Morley characterized as a "wakeup call," state officials in Louisiana also implemented new laws after the impact of Hurricane Katrina. The category five storm struck New Orleans in 2005, five months ahead of the scheduled municipal elections, and even still, former Gov. Kathleen Blanco postponed the election by an additional two months. As the global frequency of natural disasters rises, reaching a record 18 billion-dollar disasters in the United States last year, Morley anticipates more states will begin to evaluate the impact of natural disasters on elections in due time. "Whether (it's) blizzards, earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes or tornadoes, large swaths of the country are under risk from at least some sort of natural disaster," Morley said. "And certainly not enough states have these laws. It's something I would like to see in every jurisdiction of the country." In a more recent circumstance, the late-season Hurricane Zeta made landfall in Mississippi and eastern Louisiana just days ahead of the presidential election in 2020, leaving 2 million people without power and taking the lives of at least six people. Had the category two storm made landfall on Nov. 3 instead, Morley said it was unlikely that officials would reschedule to a later date. The General Election is governed by additional restrictions imposed by federal law and provides limited flexibility because of the constitutional requirement that all presidential electors nationwide must cast their electoral votes on the same day. Congress typically schedules this critical vote in mid-December, imposing constraints on any attempts to reschedule the election without encroaching on the Electoral College vote. Morley also emphasized, that in the context of a presidential election, the decision to reschedule should be approached with caution, given the potential for one major jurisdiction to significantly influence the outcome of the entire election. "I think that there's tremendous pragmatic reasons to be very cautious about having an additional day of voting just in one jurisdiction in the country that potentially the entire election can hinge on," Morley said. "On the other hand, if the tally in the Electoral College is such that it doesn't matter what the outcome of the election in that state, then I think there's a serious question as to whether a court would even order it if no matter what happens, if ultimate outcome in the Electoral College couldn't change." But in the scenarios of the recent wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, experts echoed that the disaster's impact on voting was essentially a non-issue. "When you're evacuating, the least of your worries is voting (anyway)," McKanna said after she returned from one of her precincts during voting. In the Texas Secretary of State's office, Pierce said it is possible the state would have reassessed under a disaster declaration if the evacuations occurred on Election Day as was the case when COVID-19 impacted voting during the November 2020 Presidential Election. (At the time, the state's changes created an extended voting period, expanded mail-in ballot access and offered the option of drive-through voting.) "There's no automatic way to do it, but what could happen is some things are done through a disaster declaration," Pierce said. "And then more importantly, especially if you're talking about like redoing an election or extending hours or some of those things, that would be done via court order." While Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration across 60 counties, existing law already offers voting alternatives for smaller-scale emergencies such as the ongoing wildfires. Gov. Greg Abbott visits Canadian for West Texas wildfire update Tuesday For instance, countywide voting which Pierce said 90 of the state's 254 counties offer gives residents the flexibility to cast their votes at any polling place within their home county, departing from the traditional practice of voting in their local precinct on Election Day. In the event of a natural disaster, as long as the entire county is not impacted, residents can rely on this option. There is also the option of provisional voting or reasonable impediment declaration, said Matt Lamb, an assistant professor in the department of political science at Texas Tech. "Say you left in a rush, and you had to leave behind your ID," Lamb said. "You can go up to your voter registrar's office, vote provisionally, and then either sign an affidavit or come back within six calendar days of Election Day (with an ID)." But if the issue was larger, Morley said, Texas law allows for extensions of polling periods due to unexpected disasters, and it's possible that the county would have rescheduled the election on a subsequent day. "If there is no statutory remedy, I would expect that either a candidate or a political party or potentially even voters would go to court to argue that, as applied in the unique circumstances of widespread wildfires, that their right to vote has been substantially burdened, and that they are constitutionally entitled to an additional opportunity to vote," Morley said. "In which case, the court would most likely engage in balancing of the opportunity that they've had to vote, the obstacles that they had that the wildfires presented, certainly the extent of any destruction or impediments to transportation or risks to life. And it would it would decide under this test, whether there's been an unconstitutional burden on voting rights." This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Wildfires in Texas had little impact on voting for March Primary BOSTON - The reality in Massachusetts, revealed at a legislative action day Thursday hosted by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, is that Bay Staters are couch surfing, living in their cars, sleeping hard and in need of more state supports. Jack Diaz, a senior at Northwestern University and chronically homeless since 19, discussed the challenges of exiting the cycle that keeps people trapped in homelessness at the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless legislative action day Thursday. Anyone can become homeless, said Jack Diaz, a senior at Northeastern University, a formerly unhoused student who relied on the universitys dormitory system, on the kindness of friends, relatives and strangers for housing, either through a whole semester of classes or overnight. Currently housed, Diaz works at Breaktime, a Boston-based advocacy organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of youth and young adult homelessness. Diaz said they had been chronically homeless since 19. I was part of the invisible homeless, Diaz said. Lawmakers attending the legislative action day organized by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless Thursday, hosted by representatives Kay Khan, D-Newton, and James ODay, D-West Boylston, heard Diazs story, and several others. They learned the slide into homelessness can be triggered by common circumstances missed rent or mortgage payments due to unemployment, sky-high medical bills, death of spouses, divorce or other emergencies. The lived experience that stories served to highlight proposed legislation that streamlines certain programs and codifies or makes them permanent. These include programs that benefit unhoused residents of Massachusetts such as Residential Assistance for Families in Transition; HomeBASE, a family rehousing program; and a measure that would allow for local-option rent stabilization and rent control. Other sponsored measures include identification cards for unhoused people and for those exiting carcel facilities and a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness. Without an ID, people cannot normalize their lives Donnie Lee, a Boston resident, learned the hard way that without having identification he could not get his life on track after serving time and being released from a federal penitentiary. Upon release, he was given money, anything he had earned or had been sent to him by family, and a prison ID. But that wasnt valid anywhere else, Lee said. He needed a real ID to establish himself in society, find a place to live, apply for services, get a job and a bank account, cash a check. But without an ID, he couldnt get housed; without an address, he couldnt get a copy of his birth certificate to apply for an ID. There are enough bumps in the road for people released from jail. Getting an ID should not be one of them, Lee said. Without an ID, youre a ghost. Khan, who has a bill waiving fees for identification cards for certain populations in Massachusetts, pointed out that there are so many things people cannot access without having an ID. She noted that while the cost of a state-issued Massachusetts ID is $25 and seemingly affordable, that fee can be an insurmountable barrier for a person who is homeless. Her bill, Everyone Needs an ID, would waive fees for IDs for homeless adults and teenagers, allowing residency verification through alternate means rather than a permanent address. Sen. Lydia Edwards, D-Boston, reminded her colleagues that the fault of homelessness does not lie with the people who become unhoused but rather within the system the lack of a secure safety net for people living through emergency situations in the richest country in the world. Homelessness systemic problem, not character flaw It is not a character flaw, Edwards said, adding that for every dollar spent to avert homelessness, there is a $10 savings for future service needs. Even if you have no moral compass, its a question of simple mathematics. Marybeth Bacigalupo-Worden, formerly unhoused, now volunteers as an advocate for the homeless and told her story to legislators at the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless legislative action day Thursday. On Wednesday, legislators in the House passed a supplemental budget bill adding $245 million to the state's emergency shelter system that also limited the length of time families were allowed to stay in the shelter to nine months, with some exceptions. The system has been taxed by the influx of migrants into Massachusetts. About half the 7,500 families currently in the system are Massachusetts residents, with the remainder new arrivals. The bill is now in the hands of the Senate. Marybeth Bacigalupo-Worden, who now lives in Worcester, has transitioned in and out of homelessness her whole life, surrendering a child to her sister and mother as a young adult because of her living situation. Having regained shelter, she now volunteers as an advocate for homeless people and spends Thursdays feeding all comers with the Worcester Fellowship. While she appreciates the services provided by Massachusetts, some provisions can be frustrating, such as the monthly housing stipend that fails to cover even a single-occupancy room in a boardinghouse, and decreases in the stipend if a person is in a shelter. It is challenging, she said, to find a way out of the cycle of homelessness. Diaz offered her life as a prime example of the circumstances that keeps people trapped. Diaz said their chronic homelessness was somewhat mitigated when they were accepted into college. I jumped at the chance to live in the dorms. The invisible homeless However, dorms close during school breaks and Diaz was once again left wondering where the next meal or place to sleep was coming from. Its frustrating, as an educated young person, to have barriers to housing, Diaz said. Working full time and attending university full time, Diaz saved and budgeted yet still could not get ahead. The most they ever managed to save $2,000, funds that were repeatedly wiped out by one emergency after another. Even if Boston-area rents were affordable by working people, the need to have first and last months rent in order to sign a lease, to have an acceptable credit score, a work history, at 18, who has that? Diaz asked. A quilt on display at the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless legislative action day. I took pride in my work ethic, my intelligence, my will power, my ambition, but I was still not able to afford rent by myself or with roommates, Diaz said. Advice to spend wiser, eschew coffee out, stop purchasing video games frustrated Diaz even more: Make coffee at home? What home? Video games? Diaz laughed at the suggestions. I have no money to spend. Salvation came through a shelter placement. Two years in the shelter allowed Diaz to save money and find housing through state services. A case manager now advocates for Diaz in questions of rent. Being homeless is traumatic, Diaz said, explaining that there is little a person can do when unhoused except worry about their next meal, shower and shelter. My grades reflect my living situation. Housing is a human right. Anyone can become homeless. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Advocates flood State House to support bills mitigating homelessness A rare affordable apartment complex one that would dedicate all of its units to low-income families making between $35,000 and $62,000 annually is coming to Caldwell. Affordable housing is needed in Caldwell, where a market study found a shortage of 2,000 affordable apartments. A Washington state developer hopes to meet some of that need with 152 apartments targeting families who make between 30% and 70% of area median income. The Domes Church Apartments would be located near downtown Caldwell and Interstate 84, between 14th and 16th avenues. The property is owned by Assembly of God Church of Caldwell, which plans to relocate with the proceeds from the land sale, the developer said. This embedded content is not available in your region. The developer, DevCo Residential Group, plans to use low-income-housing tax credits, which are allocated each year by the federal government to the states, to build the apartments. The Idaho Housing and Finance Association allocates Idahos credits through a competitive application process. The average rent for a three-bedroom apartment in Caldwell is $1,850, said Nicolette Womack, a planner with Kimley-Horn, a planning consulting firm that represents DevCo. The Domes Church Apartments are expected to rent for 25% less than that, Womack said. The complex will have a one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments. The average rent for a three-bedroom Domes apartment would be about $1,387 a month. A family would have to make around $55,000 annually to rent that without spending more than 30% of its income on rent. Ben Cushman, spokesperson for the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, told the Idaho Statesman by email that it is not unheard of that for an apartment complex to be 100% affordable. Typically developers use a method called income averaging, he said. This allows households to qualify to live in a LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credit) property if their income is no greater than 80% of AMI, if the average income limit in the property is at or below 60% of AMI, Cushman said. AMI is area median income, the midpoint of a city or metro areas income distribution. It is calculated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For the Boise metropolitan area, the overall median income is $76,402, according to the Census Bureau. HUD calculates the area median income based on household size. % of AMI 1 person 2 people 3 people 4 people 100% $68,865 $78,653 $88,511 $98,300 Max rent $1,722 $1,966 $2,213 $2,458 60% $37440 $42,780 $48,120 $53,460 Max rent $936 $1,070 $1,203 $1,337 30% $18,750 $21,400 $24,100 $26,750 Max rent $469 $535 $603 $669 During a Caldwell City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24, Jay Hanz, acquisition manager for DevCo, said some tenants of the Domes Church Apartments could make up to 80% AMI. The apartments would be in four four-story buildings. Three would include 32 apartments each, and the fourth would have 56 apartments. There would be 56 one-bedroom units, 48 two-bedrooms, 32 three-bedrooms and 16 four-bedrooms. The Domes Church Apartments would be centrally located near Indian Creek Plaza and within a mile of 10th Avenue, which has restaurants and coffee shops. The Domes Church Apartments will add to a now growing list of affordable apartments in Canyon County. Cushman said two apartment developments in Canyon County secured funding with IHFA last year with 60% AMI limits: Prospector Pointe Apartments in Caldwell and White Pines Apartments in Nampa, each with more than 260 units. Hanz said DevCo will apply for the housing tax credits in April. Alas, you cant sign up for any of these affordable apartments yet. Both developments approved last year are still early in the process, Cushman said, and it will be a while until they begin leasing. DevCo hopes to begin construction on the Domes Church apartments in late 2025, Womack said, and to begin leasing to tenants in 2026. This Boise law aimed to house poor residents. The Legislature could take that away New mobile homes in Idaho are more costly than anywhere else in the nation. Heres why When a homeowner in northern Florida looked out at her bird feeders the first weekend in March, she thought she saw a red-headed woodpecker. There was a brown bird nibbling at the wild bird seed with a bright red head, she told McClatchy News in an interview. The only problem was its size. It was much too small to be a woodpecker. Then it turned around. While one side of the bird was a muted brown color, the other side was bright red, matching the color of its head. The bird is half male, half female, showing the bright red colors on the right side and the muted brown colors on the left. Photos provided to McClatchy News Its very, very rare, ornithologist and ornithology collections manager for the Florida Museum of Natural History, Andy Kratter, told McClatchy News. A curator of the museums bird collection, Kratter has seen hundreds of thousands of specimens, he said, and he has never seen a bird like this. The rare coloration is called bilateral gynandromorphism, Kratter said, and causes the animal to be male on one side of its body and female on the other. For the cardinal, the bright red side and the head is male, and the brown side is female. Whats going on is that the bird has both male and female gonads, and they are both actively expressed, one on one side and one on the other. There is a hiccup in the developmental process where most animals are one sex and then the hormones eventually come and develop the other sex if those hormones are released, Kratter said. For some reason, in these gynandromorphs, its only released on one side to change the sex. Kratter, who viewed the photos of the cardinal from Levy County, said hes been birdwatching for 50 years around the world and has not seen a gynandromorph before. Ive read about them, because when they do pop up, people write papers about them, Kratter said. Of the split birds that have been spotted before, cardinals rank as one of the most seen, Kratter said, mainly because they regularly go to bird feeders and near homes where observant eyes catch their unique colorations. It is also more commonly seen in birds like cardinals because they have obvious sexual dimorphism, Kratter said. A typical male northern cardinal is completely bright red, with some brown on its wings, and has a pointed crest on its head. Joshua J. Cotten via Unsplash Sexual dimorphism is when the male and female of a single species look very different physically. This is relatively common in birds, such as peacocks, turkeys and birds of paradise. But for species that look the same no matter the sex, it may be impossible to identify a gynandromorph from observation alone. Kratter said this bird in particular, whose head is also male, is even more unusual among gynandromorphs. Its a little bit unusual, if you look at some of the other pictures online, the birds are really half and half. This one is a little bit more male, kind of the male plumage creeps over onto the left side of the bird on the head, Kratter said, But the breast has that nice, even divide, which is a good sign its a gynandromorph. It looks like someone painted it or something, its so weird and striking looking. Kratter said he wouldnt be surprised if birders went out to look for the distinctive bird because hes seen crowds flock to once-in-a-lifetime sightings before. McClatchy News is not identifying the homeowner or her specific location to protect the bird. A few years ago, a golden cardinal was spotted on the University of Florida campus, Kratter said. The golden color comes from a genetic mutation in male cardinals and gives the bird rich, yellow feathers instead of red. Kratter said hundreds of bird enthusiasts traveled to the university for their chance to see the bird. (The gynandromorph) I think is even more striking than one of those yellow cardinals and is probably even rarer, and so I think if people had the opportunity to go see it, they would, Kratter said. The bird was spotted in central Levy County, about a 120-mile drive north from Tampa. Huge sea creature breaches as ranger is puzzled by rare silence off California island Unusual creature found in dark underwater cave turns out to be a new species. See it Humongous creature vanished from Atlantic Ocean centuries ago. Now ones been spotted Rare sea creatures on impressive journey excite officials in New Zealand. See them Copyright 2024, Des Moines Register and Tribune Co. Majorities of Iowans oppose changing Iowas law to allow presidential candidates convicted of felonies to appear on the ballot or to ban the use of drop boxes to return absentee ballots. A narrow majority also oppose efforts to restrict challenges to whether presidential candidates can appear on the Iowa ballot, like the kinds of efforts states around the country have attempted to disqualify former President Donald Trump from running for president again. But a majority of Iowans favor requiring mail-in ballots to be received by the county auditor by the close of business the day before Election Day, one day earlier than current law. The results from the new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll come as lawmakers consider a wide-ranging election bill that would make all four changes to state law. More: Iowa House passes new voting restrictions. How they would affect you: The bill, House File 2610, passed the Republican-controlled Iowa House on March 5 on a party-line vote. Similar legislation has passed out of a committee in the Iowa Senate and could soon be debated by the full chamber. The legislation would allow candidates with felony convictions to run for federal office in Iowa, ban the use of ballot drop boxes, set an earlier deadline for returning mail-in absentee ballots and make it harder to challenge presidential candidates place on Iowas ballot. The poll of 804 Iowa adults was conducted Feb. 25-28 by Selzer & Co. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Majority oppose allowing candidates convicted of felonies to run for president Of the four election-related policy changes tested in the poll, allowing presidential candidates convicted of felonies to run for office receives the largest opposition. The poll found nearly three-fourths of Iowans (74%) oppose efforts to change Iowa law to allow convicted felons to appear on the ballot for president, while one fourth (25%) are in favor. Another 2% are not sure. The results show little variation among Republicans, Democrats and political independents. Trump faces 91 felony charges in four criminal cases around the country related to his handling of classified documents after leaving office and his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. He has pleaded not guilty. None of the cases has gone to trial. Rene Hanlon, a 70-year-old poll respondent from Anamosa, cites Trump as the reason she opposes changing the law to let people convicted of felonies run for president. Hes a crook, hes a liar and hes a thief, she said. If we allow that, that means if he finally does get convicted that means he could still run for president. I dont think so! Hanlon is a retired U.S. Navy Reserve officer and a registered Democrat who considers herself more of an independent. If it werent for Trump, she said she thinks shed feel differently about the issue. People make mistakes, she said. They pay for it, and they should be able to move on. Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a Super Tuesday election night party March 5, 2024, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Matt Taylor, a 29-year-old Republican poll respondent from Altoona, generally opposes changing state law to allow felons to run for president. Maybe Im just more strong-headed, but I think if youve gone down the road and if youve been convicted of a felony, its probably the price you pay, in my opinion, he said. But Taylor, who works in telecommunications, said he feels differently about the 91 felony charges Trump is facing. I think thats just a political move to try to keep him under wraps, he said. I know hes facing those, but I dont feel like theres a lot of evidence. He said he doesnt think Trump will be treated fairly by the judicial system. I think Id make an exception for a former president just because he in my opinion wouldnt get the fair trial other people would, he said. Majority oppose restricting challenges to presidential candidates appearing on the ballot A majority of Iowans also oppose efforts to restrict challenges to the names of presidential candidates on election ballots, like those Donald Trump has faced in other states. Just over one-third (36%) favor restricting such challenges against candidates, while 51% are opposed and 13% are not sure. Taylor said he doesnt agree candidates should be able to be removed from the ballot. No state should have the power to take a name off the ballot, he said. Everyone should have the right to choose who they want to. More: What to know about Iowa GOP bill to limit ballot challenges against Trump, ban drop boxes Trump has faced challenges in several states under Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, which bars former officials from holding office again if they "have engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday in a 9-0 opinion that Colorado must include Trump on its primary ballot, saying states do not have the power to enforce the 14th Amendment against candidates for federal office. The decision effectively cuts off the potential of using the insurrection clause to remove Trump from other states' ballots around the country, either in the primary or general election. Patrick Bengford, a 77-year-old poll respondent from Sioux City, said he thinks Trump plainly should be disqualified from holding office again under the 14th Amendment. More: Democrats walk out as GOP advances election bill that helps keep Donald Trump on ballot Bengford, who is retired from working at Iowa Beef Packers, is a registered Democrat who considers himself more of an independent. He called the Supreme Courts decision very disappointing news. If youve taken an oath and violated it, then you should not be allowed to take that oath again, he said. I think its pretty clear. But apparently Im not as intelligent as the Supreme Court, and I wasnt appointed to my cushy job by Trump. Majority oppose efforts to ban ballot drop boxes Fifty-six percent of Iowans oppose banning the use of ballot drop boxes for Iowans returning absentee ballots, while 41% favor a ban, and 3% are not sure. Hanlon said she thinks drop boxes are a convenient way to return ballots and said the mail system is too uncertain. You cant count on the mail, she said. I might mail something today here from Anamosa, and you might get it in Des Moines a week later, so thats not reliable anymore. Republicans opinions on the question are the inverse, with 56% in favor and 41% opposed. The overwhelming majority of Democrats oppose a ban, at 77%, with 22% in favor. A majority of independents are also opposed, at 56%, while 39% are in favor. Majority favor earlier deadline to return mail-in ballots A majority of Iowans support setting an earlier deadline to return mail-in absentee ballots. The bill would require mail-in ballots to be received by the county auditor by close of business the day before Election Day to count. Under current law, ballots count as long as they are received by the time the polls close on Election Day. Sixty-one percent of Iowans favor the change, 35% oppose it and 3% are not sure. Among Republicans, 73% are in favor and 24% are opposed. For Democrats, 43% are in favor and 54% are opposed. And independents match the state overall, with 61% in favor and 35% opposed. Taylor said hes concerned about the integrity of mail-in voting in general. I dont trust the authenticity of it as much as I do with an in-person system, he said. Id be in favor of a better way of verifying the mail-in ballots. Hanlon opposes the earlier deadline, saying she resents remarks from Trump and others who claim without evidence that theres widespread fraud. Why are they making us do it a day early? Hanlon said. Thats not democratic. Thats not what voting was supposed to be all about. Everybodys vote is supposed to count. Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller. 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. This embedded content is not available in your region. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Poll shows opposition to 3 of 4 potential election law changes A Biden administration humanitarian parole program that has let hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians come to the U.S. can continue, after a federal judge on Friday turned back a legal challenge from several Republican-led states, including Florida and Texas. The Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed to establish that they have standing on any of their claims, said the final judgment by Judge Drew B. Tipton, who issued the decision from a courthouse in the Texan city of Victoria. The Biden administration launched the parole process for Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua in January 2023, after first launching the program in October 2022 for Venezuela. It allows people from the four countries to come to the U.S. for two years, as long as they have financial sponsors and pass background and health checks. READ MORE: Florida, other states sue feds over parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans But the fate of the program had been uncertain since Texas, Florida, and over a dozen other states sued the administration less than a month after it was announced. They argued that the program was illegal because it was an overstep of federal government authority and burdened the states with millions of dollars in costs. On Friday, Tipton who was appointed to the federal bench by President Donald Trump and has previously ruled against the Biden administration on immigration matters dismissed the case and denied any relief to the states in a 27-page opinion. The ruling is a huge win for Bidens White House, which has used executive authority to grant humanitarian parole to several countries, including to Ukrainians after Russia invaded their country. Tiptons decision is also a relief for parole program recipients and their sponsors, many of whom are family members. Following Fridays development, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement that the parole program was a key element of our efforts to address the unprecedented level of migration throughout our hemisphere, and other countries around the world see it as a model to tackle the challenge of increased irregular migration that they too are experiencing. Since the end of January, over 357,000 people from the four countries have arrived in the United States. That includes over 138,000 Haitians, 58,000 Nicaraguans, over 74,000 Cubans, and more than 86,000 Venezuelans, according to federal government data. DHS launched the program as part of its package of policies to reduce irregular immigration and increase legal pathways for people from the four countries. Its an incredible victory to ensure that the parole programs that have reunited so many families and provided protection for so many can continue, said Karen Tumlin, founder and director of the Justice Action Center, which represented seven U.S. citizen sponsors of parole program beneficiaries in the lawsuit. This is a great day for them because they wanted to have the freedom to welcome, the freedom to exercise their own religion, to reunite families. I hope that the hundreds of thousands of other people who are waiting in line for this program find confidence in this decision, she told the Miami Herald. Valerie Laveus, a middle school teacher in Broward County, brought her brother and 15-year-old nephew from Port-au-Prince through the parole program in August. She is among the sponsors Tumlins group represented. Her family had been living in uncertainty since the case went to trial in August. The fear that the program could go away had only deepened as the crisis in Haiti worsened in recent days. On Friday, Laveus said she was overjoyed. I want to thank God for this. It was definitely scary, to think that the program was going to be completely obliterated. Not just for my brother, but for everybody that has been given the opportunity to come here, she said. We dont have to live in fear that they are going to be sent awayThey can do what they came to do, which is live with peace and learn as much as they can and live with freedom. Back in Haiti, Laveus relatives couldnt work or go to school because of the continuing gang violence. Her brother had long been approved for a green card, but it was a years-long wait for a visa to become available. It was becoming harder for U.S.-based family members keep sending money while hoping it would last them long enough to eat and survive. Then the parole program offered another way out. When my brother came he was half of a man. Now hes joyful, and looking forward to life. My family came with a lot of adversity.... That adversity has shifted. This is a new life, a new experience, she said. Her brother found a job in construction since moving to Florida. Her nephew is attending a magnet school. Hes learning, he rides his bike, and plays with friends. He doesnt have to look behind his back, she said. Parole program for Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela goes to trial. Will it survive? Tipton issued a final order, which means that if Texas and the other states want to challenge his ruling, they will have to go to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans. In reaching this conclusion, the Court does not address the lawfulness of the Program. The Court may only reach that question after a plaintiff has established that it has standing, wrote Tipton in Fridays ruling. Its unclear what will happen to parole recipients for the Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua program once the two years are up. But Laveus hopes that the parole program will lead to more permanent immigration solutions for families like her. What Im praying for is a pathway that can offer other opportunities for people who are here, to not only prove themselves but to contribute, because they are contributing, she said.Its an amazing thing thats happened. Independence Day fireworks are returning to the downtown Minneapolis riverfront after a five-year absence. The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board announced the "Red, White and Boom" will take place starting with live music and food trucks at 6 p.m. July 4, with pyrotechnics at 10 p.m. Festivities will take place on the west side of the Mississippi River at Water Works and the Stone Arch Bridge parking lot. "People love Fourth of July fireworks on the Downtown Minneapolis riverfront," said park board superintendent Al Bangoura. "We heard that from communities we serve, partners we work with, and our own staff, so we're excited to bring back this beloved tradition." The park board suspended the celebration in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions prevented large gatherings. The park board held smaller July 4 celebrations at various sites across Minneapolis in 2021 and 2022. Last year the park board celebrated the nation's birthday with a laser light show on Boom Island. As the fireworks return, a popular viewing spot will not. This summer, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will begin a two-year reconstruction of the historic Stone Arch Bridge, which will be closed to the public during the celebration. Two men face up to 30 years in prison after they were accused of bombing a womans home in south Georgia, according to federal prosecutors. A grand jury indicted Stephen Glosser, 37, and Caleb Kinsey, 34, on multiple charges including stalking and use of an explosive to commit another felony offense, according to a March 7 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Georgia. Glosser and Kinsey hatched a plan to kill, intimidate, harass, or injure the victim, then blew up her home in Richmond Hill on Jan. 13, 2023, investigators said. The indictment also accused the duo of conspiring to harass the woman in several ways, including scalping her, shooting arrows through her front door, and letting a python loose in her home to eat her daughter, according to prosecutors. Glosser and Kinsey spent a month following the woman, who had a prior relationship with one of them, Bryan County Sheriff Mark Crowe told WJCL. Crowe said the woman and her daughter moved into the home one day before it was bombed, according to the station. They were not harmed, Bryan County Fire & Emergency Services Battalion Chief Sean Curry said at the time, WJCL reported. Using internet searches, Glosser found the womans home while Kinsey helped build an explosive device using Tannerite, a brand of exploding targets used in shooting practice, prosecutors said. If convicted, Glosser and Kinsey could spend 20 years in prison on the conspiracy charge, prosecutors said. The charge of using an explosive to commit a felony carries a 10-year penalty, according to authorities. Neither of the men would be eligible for parole. Bryan County is about a 30-mile drive east of downtown Savannah. 96-year-old killed in murder-for-hire plot while prepping birthday cookies, cops say Buckets of human remains found in Pennsylvania mans home, police say. Hes sentenced Principal used school money to hire hitman to kill teacher he impregnated, feds say North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson is no stranger to controversy. For years, the ultra-conservative Republican has defended, justified, apologized for, and grappled with the fallout from his well-documented history of offensive and outrageous statements. First elected in 2020, Robinson quickly became one of the highest profile conservatives in the perennially purple state, despite having previously disseminated antisemitic conspiracy theories, labeled the Holocaust "a bunch of hogwash," and denounced survivors of the Parkland high school shooting as "media prosti-tots." As lieutenant governor, Robinson's premier accomplishment was launching the Fairness and Accountability in the Classroom for Teachers and Students (FACTS) task force, designed to investigate what he described as "indoctrination" and "politicizing the classroom." This week, Robinson secured the North Carolina Republican Party's gubernatorial nomination in the Super Tuesday primaries, earning 66% of the votes cast while beating his nearest competitor by more than 3:1. He will now face state Attorney General Josh Stein in November in a race that is being watched with extra scrutiny due to Robinson's history of hateful rhetoric. Could Robinson's candidacy tip North Carolina blue once more in an election year for which Democrats are eager to make conservative extremism a central theme, or does the man who believes "God formed me" to fight against LGBTQ+ communities have a real shot at the governor's mansion? 'Crackpots can excel in electoral politics' Even some of his fellow Republicans have "recognized the fact that Robinson is simply too extreme," said MSNBC's Steve Benen. That means there's "no shortage of relevant angles" to a race in which Robinson's "absurd candidacy" could hurt GOP chances in other races across the state. Ultimately, however, "which Republicans other than Donald Trump are going to take a firm stand in support of Robinson's candidacy?" His platform deserves to be a "genuine scandal for the contemporary GOP" even in an era where "crackpots can excel in electoral politics." Already the Republican Governors Association has come out in full support of Robinson as someone who will "put the people of North Carolina first." In a statement released shortly after Robinson's primary victory, RGA chair Gov. Bill Lee (R-Tenn.) congratulated Robinson on his win, and said he looked forward to "supporting him in the general election." Criticizing HuffPost for selectively quoting Robinson saying he wanted to return to the "America where women couldn't vote" (the broader context of his remarks were referencing how late-19th and early 20th century Republicans fought for women's suffrage), Luther Ray Abel in the conservative National Review said the candidate was "already unfit for office" in a way that supersedes the "standards for decency [which] have taken lefts and rights of late." The dominant MAGA strain of conservatism isn't "in this to make friends or build community," Salon's Amanda Marcotte said. Otherwise, they "wouldn't nominate someone like Robinson, who is bound to turn off swing voters." 'He is a fighter' The looming matchup between Robinson and Stein is, to many observers, a microcosm of the presidential election between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, and of the dominant ideological conflict in national politics at large. Robinson "is a fighter," in the same vein as Trump, GOP consultant and pro-Robinson super PAC leader Jonathan Felts said to USA Today, adding that the race is "definitely going to resemble the national election" in that regard. North Carolina's governor's race is "shaping up to be one of the most competitive and closely watched faceoffs in the battleground state," ABC News said. The stark contrast between the candidates could ultimately serve as "precedent for voters' choices in the polling booth for the November general election, particularly on the federal level." With both Robinson and Stein "planning to portray each other in politically extreme terms," their contest could "boost turnout not only for their elections, but also for the presidential race in the hotly contested state," The New York Times said. Robinson ultimately will "become a liability," said one GOP consultant, and could "create a toxic red tide for Republicans" statewide. Sen. Katie Britt delivered the GOP's official response to the 2023 State of the Union. Britt was expected to lean into the generational contrast she has with Joe Biden. At 42, Britt is viewed as a rising star in Republican politics. Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, the youngest Republican woman to be elected to the US Senate, gave the GOP's official response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union on Thursday night. Britt, who turned 42 about a month ago, is just over a year into her first term in the chamber. Her appearance stands to further her status as a rising star in the party. While delivering the State of the Union response is considered a thankless task, then-Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Marco Rubio, and Sen. Rand Paul all delivered their responses before later running for the Republican presidential nomination. As a rising star in the House, Rep. Paul Ryan delivered the GOP's 2011 response and less than two years later was tapped to be Mitt Romney's running mate. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who was Trump's second White House press secretary, delivered the 2023 response and there's some speculation she might join Trump on the ticket this November. There are potential pitfalls with the assignment. Unlike the president, most responses are not delivered in front of live crowds that can interrupt a speech for rousing applause. Responses are also far shorter than the lengthy State of the Union addresses. Rubio and the then-Rep. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III found out the hard way that a speaker can go viral for just about anything other than what they actually say. Here's a look at Britt's rapid rise. Katie Britt grew up in Enterprise, Alabama, the oldest of four daughters. Sen. Katie Britt Jemal Countess/Getty Images Britt's parents owned a series of small businesses, including a hardware store and a dance studio, the Montgomery Advertiser has reported. In 1999, the future senator, then Katie Boyd, competed in Girls State a political-education program that featured a mock election and was elected governor. Nationwide, the contest is known as a proving ground for future leaders; Alabama's current governor, Kay Ivey, is also an alum of the program. Boyd went on to attend the University of Alabama, where she was the president of the student government association. While in Tuscaloosa, she met her future husband, Wesley Britt, who played offensive line for the Crimson Tide. Katie Britt told AL.com in 2021 that the pair were "best friends" for seven years before dating a few years after they both graduated. Britt, who was a football All-American, was drafted in 2005 by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round. He briefly played for the New England Patriots. They were married in 2008 and now share two children. The future senator's first job took her straight to Capitol Hill Sen. Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican, talks to reporters in 2019. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Right out of college, Britt set the foundation for her future career by joining Sen. Richard Shelby's office. A longtime fixture on the Hill, Shelby was first elected to the Senate in 1986 as a Democrat before switching parties, a common occurrence for many southern Republicans who came of age when the GOP was starting to amass power in the region. Shelby built a reputation as a conservative dealmaker, rising to lead the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. Britt began as his deputy press secretary. She left the Hill to pursue her law degree and to work for firms in Alabama before returning to his staff. In 2016, she was hired as Shelby's chief of staff. Her relationship with Shelby proved vital in helping her win the difficult Republican primary to replace him. Britt left Shelby's office for a final time in 2018 when she became the head of the Business Council of Alabama. She was the first woman to lead the group, according to AL.com. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Britt led a campaign to keep the state's small businesses open and to resist any additional shutdowns. In June 2021, Britt resigned from the group and announced her Senate campaign. Britt was not favored when she entered the Senate race, but Donald Trump gave her an opening Katie Britt talks to her husband, Wesley Britt, at an event for her 2022 Senate campaign Kim Chandler/AP Her campaign was anything but easy. Then-Rep. Mo Brooks, a loyal Trump ally, was considered the favorite. Trump had already endorsed him before Britt even announced. Despite her extensive political experience, Britt had never run for office before. Trump derisively called her Shelby's "assistant." But Brooks' candidacy worried more establishment-minded Republicans who didn't want a repeat of Roy Moore's disastrous candidacy that allowed Doug Jones, a Democrat, to pull off a monumental upset in a 2017 special election. Britt turned things around quickly. Within a few months of announcing, she was outraising Brooks. Brooks also began to grate on some in Trump's orbit, including when he was booed at an August 2021 rally for suggesting that Trump fans should put concerns about the 2020 election behind them. During her candidacy, Britt leaned into the generational contrast, arguing that the state was eager for "new blood." She portrayed herself as a "mama on a mission." In contrast, Brooks' candidacy continued to languish. In March 2022, Trump dealt him a devastating blow by withdrawing his support, a virtually unprecedented action for the former president. Shelby also pledged to spend as much as $6 million from his campaign account to help Britt. Brooks and Britt were later forced into a June 2022 runoff, and Britt emerged victorious. She later made easy work of her general-election opponent. Britt's risen quickly since joining the Senate Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell poses with the 2022 Senate GOP freshman class, including Britt, in January 2023. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Britt was one of five new GOP freshmen senators to join the chamber in 2023. Their class was expected to carry the Republican Party back to the majority, but Democrats managed to expand their razor-thin margin in the 2022 midterms. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wasted little time in helping Britt gain a foothold. He quickly tapped her to join his leadership team as an informal advisor, according to the Hill. Britt stood out from some of her fellow Republican newcomers, including Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, in expressing support for McConnell's leadership. Like her former boss, Britt has built relationships with some Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. She has maintained a staunchly conservative voting record, even voting against a homeland-security spending bill she helped negotiate, per the Associated Press. Read the original article on Business Insider March 11, 2024, is the fourth anniversary of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams first public health emergency dealing with what was then the start of the COVID 19 pandemic. Although restrictions varied widely throughout the next three years, the public health emergency did not end until March 31, 2023. Under New Mexicos public health emergency laws governors have wide discretion to make policies unchecked by the Legislature or any other elected body. Objectively, it is hard to see any significant achievements thanks to the Gov.s restrictive COVID policies. New Mexico suffered the third highest COVID death rate among US states; New Mexico students lost over a year in classrooms helping to push students already poor academic performance down even further to dead-last nationally; Businesses of all types (especially small ones) were closed, often arbitrary reasons and lost forever, while big chains were able to gain market share and continue operations; Thousands of workers (including in hard-to-fill health care jobs) were forced to receive vaccines and boosters regardless of age, health condition, and natural immunity. These and many other decisions made by Gov. Lujan Grisham (and the health establishment) during COVID are widely seen as mistakes today (especially the school shutdowns). And, while the Legislature may or may not have pushed back against her, the lack of debate and justifying data presented at the time should at least highlight problems with one-person rule. Paul Gessing It is long past time for the Legislature to re-assert its seat at the table as a coequal branch of our government when it comes to emergencies. This is made all the more important thanks to the Gov.s further abuse of New Mexicos broad public health orders issued during 2023 (some of which are still in effect) relating to guns. While numerous other public officials made the same mistakes as Lujan Grisham did during the pandemic. But, she is the only one that tried to use a public health order to overturn the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution by banning the carrying of a gun in her States most populous county. Her overreach was quickly overturned by the courts (and rightly so), but what if it wasnt? What if next time she or another Gov. decides that climate change is the next public health emergency and place restrictions on travel or energy use? These are not far-fetched examples and there is nothing in current law restricting this or any future governor from doing it. And, since travel and energy are not explicitly spelled out as rights in the US Constitution, New Mexicos liberal courts could easily rubber stamp such moves. New Mexico desperately needs to reform its public health emergency statutes. Attempts have been made by Republicans in the Legislature (with a few courageous Democrats) to require legislative approval after an emergency has been in effect for 90 days. These have been killed by majority Democrats before even a single floor vote in every session. But even a 90-day restriction isnt enough. There need to be protections to ensure that a public health emergency means a real emergency. There was no COVID emergency by March of 2023. Crime has been a problem for decades here in New Mexico. It should be dealt with by the Legislature and courts. And climate change is a long-term challenge that again must be dealt with legislatively, not via one-person rule thanks to an emergency declaration. All 112 members of the Legislature are up for election this fall. While there are many pressing issues facing New Mexico laws relating to how and for how long public health emergencies are declared should receive significant attention. Paul Gessing is president of New Mexicos Rio Grande Foundation. The Rio Grande Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan, tax-exempt research and educational organization dedicated to promoting prosperity for New Mexico based on principles of limited government, economic freedom and individual responsibility This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: New Mexico emergency laws still need reform A Mississippi Coast man pleaded guilty this week to the execution-style murder of a teenager in a Harrison County field, the District Attorneys office announced Friday. Johnte Pouerie, 23, of Gulfport, pleaded guilty in Harrison County Circuit Court to second degree murder in the shooting death of Lazarius Smith. Pouerie also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in a shooting at the River Chase Apartments in Gulfport, according to a news release. Pouerie will spend 25 years in prison. Judge Lawrence Bourgeois sentenced him to 40 years on second degree murder and 20 years for aggravated assault but suspended part of that sentence, according to the release. Authorities arrested Pouerie and a teenager from Gulfport in December 2021 after they found Smith dead near Highway 15 and Posey Bridge Road in Saucier -- a part of the county where, the release said, individuals were known to go shooting. Smith was 16 when he died. Police accused Pouerie and the teenage co-defendant of an execution-style slaying, according to testimony in the case from 2022. Sheriffs investigator Michael Giardini testified then that the pair were connected to a group of rappers tied to gun and drug crimes on the Mississippi Coast. Investigators found social media posts and photos that showed both defendants performing in a rap group called Wicked with guns and ski masks, according to the 2022 testimony. The ski masks matched those Pouerie and the teen had when U.S. Marshalls arrested them at the end of 2021, Giardini said in his testimony. Other footage showed Pouerie in the field on Highway 15 where the group would gather to shoot guns, according to the testimony. Pouerie also pleaded guilty this week to aggravated shooting after police said he fired five bullets into a car in which his daughter was riding in December 2021. The girls mother and a male acquaintance were also in the Dodge Charger, records show. The girl and her mother were leaving the Gulfport apartment complex for dinner when the acquaintance heard Pouerie yell, My baby better not be in that car, according to the records. Pouerie ran toward the car and fired multiple gunshots, the records say. No injuries were reported. Pouerie shot Smith days later. Witnesses told police they saw a car flee the area after the Highway 15 shooting, the release said. Officers with the Harrison County Sheriffs Department and Gulfport Police identified the car as Poueries, the district attorneys office said. Investigators also found surveillance footage and electronic location data that placed Pouerie at the murder scene, the release said. Authorities said Pouerie fled to Houston after the murder but was arrested when he returned to Harrison County at the end of the year. Police never recovered the murder weapon, the release said. Pouerie told the court he had been arguing with Smith over the April 2021 death of a friend, the release said. Pouerie said the argument ended when he shot Smith. Pouerie apologized, according to the release, and told Smiths family the shooting was the worst mistake of his life. The judge condemned the killing at sentencing. People who play with guns either end up in the penitentiary, Bourgeois said, or in a pine box. Staff Writers Margaret Baker, Anita Lee and Mary Perez contributed reporting. Indian and Nepalese men say they were tricked into fighting for Russia in Ukraine and can't return home Indian and Nepalese men are being coerced into fighting for Russia against Ukraine, a report said. The men were apparently deceived by fake job ads and forced to sign military contracts. India and Nepal have responded differently to their citizens being trapped in the conflict. Countless Indian and Nepalese men have been forced into joining Russia in its fight against Ukraine, according to multiple reports. At least 20 Indian men were reported by The Telegraph as being trapped on the front lines after being tricked with the false promise of job opportunities. But the total number could be much higher, according to The Guardian, which noted that some estimates are in the hundreds. Indian and Nepalese men told The Guardian that they had been pressured into signing military contracts written in Russian and that they couldn't leave because their passports had been taken. A Russian soldier stands guard at the Luhansk power plant in the town of Shchastya in April 2022. ALEXANDER NEMENOV/Getty Images The family of Hemil Mangukiya, a 23-year-old from the Indian state of Gujarat, spoke of the confusion and fear their son felt after being tricked onto the front lines. Mangukiya traveled to Russia last December after watching a recruitment video on YouTube, The Guardian reported. He believed he was going to work in security but when he arrived, he was taken to a military training camp and then to the front lines. He died in a missile strike in Ukraine in late February, his family said. Mangukiya's father, Ashwin, told The Guardian that the family is "devasted" and that they are "still trying to get back his dead body." At least 26 Indian men have been tricked by recruitment videos by the YouTube channel Baba Vlogs, run by the Dubai-based Indian recruiter Faisal Khan, The Guardian said. The channel falsely advertised military helper jobs that would not involve fighting on the front lines. Khan told The Guardian that he had been "misled" by a Russian intermediary about the position and said he had "no idea they would be sent to a war zone." "We are trying to get these people out of there now," he said. Similar tactics have been used on Nepalese citizens. Speaking to The Guardian from an army hospital in Russia, Nandaram Pun, from the Rolpa district in Nepal, said that he had been offered a job in Germany and was told to go to Russia as a transit stop. But like many others, he said he was taken to a military camp shortly after arriving in Moscow. He was later sent to Bakhmut in Ukraine, where he became injured in a drone attack. "We had no idea about the drone attacks. My legs, thighs and right hand were hit by shrapnel," he said. "I don't want to be cured, because if they think I am better, then they will send me back to war again." Pun said he had attempted to contact the Nepalese authorities in the hope of being rescued, but he had received no help. India and Nepal's reactions have been completely different The apparent coercive tactics used by Russia are significant, not just for those involved, but for Russia's respective relations with India and Nepal. While Nepal has historically had a friendly relationship with Russia, the government has pushed back against its citizens being recruited. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Nepal's then-Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in 2010. ALEXEY DRUZHININ/Getty Images In December, a spokesperson for the Nepal government said in a statement that it had requested the Russian government to "immediately return" the bodies of six Nepalese nationals killed in the war and pay compensation to their families, Reuters reported. In February, the government barred citizens from working in Russia or Ukraine after the death toll increased to 12, and countless others were reported missing from the front lines. A spokesperson for Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Guardian they were working "constantly" to bring its citizens home. While the exact number of Nepalese people still fighting in Russia is not known, the spokesperson said 245 families had filed petitions claiming that they had a relative trapped in the army, while five others have been recorded as prisoners of war by Ukraine. India's reactions to the situation appeared to be less confrontational. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images "We are aware that a few Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the Russian army," a spokesperson for the Indian Government said in a statement on February 23. "The Indian Embassy has regularly taken up this matter with the relevant Russian authorities for their early discharge." The spokesperson urged all Indian nationals to "exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict," but did not make an official ban. India's relationship with Russia has only appeared to strengthen since the invasion of Ukraine, as it did not join the EU, the US, and other Western countries in imposing sanctions. The leaders of the two countries have also made public exchanges during this period. Most recently, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone call in January, where they discussed "the situation in Ukraine," Reuters reported. Representatives for the Russian army, the Indian government, and the Nepalese government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Authorities believe the Michigan vaping supplies distributor that went up in flames Monday night in Clinton Township was illegally storing canisters of butane and other materials, township officials said Tuesday. A 19-year-old man was killed by flying debris and a firefighter was injured as explosions took place, officials said. Clinton Township Supervisor Robert Cannon said the business was not permitted to have the canisters of butane, which is highly flammable. They were illegally in that building, Cannon told reporters at a news conference Tuesday evening. In a news release on the township website, officials said: According to the (fire department), stored in the facility, among other items, were containers of butane, nitrous oxide, lighter fluid, and vape pens. Containers, or canisters, were 12 to 18 inches in size, weighing 10 to 15 pounds. Authorities continue to investigate what materials were stored on site and in what quantities, Clinton Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan said. The shop, identified as Goo LLC, was permitted to operate as a retail mercantile business with some storage in a former supermarket location, property records and authorities confirm. But in the past week, the retailer which authorities estimate to have been storing more than 100,000 vape pens had received a truckload of butane and still had over half of that left, in addition to nitrous oxide, propane and other products, Duncan said at an earlier news conference. When Goo received its permit, it was designated as a storefront with a back room to store retail products, Barry Miller, Clinton Township building superintendent, told reporters earlier. CNN has reached out to one of the known business owners of Goo to seek comment. Clinton Township Emergency Management Coordinator Paul Brouwer said the owners have been cooperative and forthright so far. The business was closed but employees were on site fulfilling online orders when the incident began, authorities said. The fire is under control but there are still some debris piles that are smoking with occasional canisters exploding, Brouwer said. The township is under a state of emergency, he added. Business was inspected in 2022 Clinton Township building authorities inspected Goo in September of 2022 and while they were aware of vape pens, they found no canisters, Miller said. Without those tanks we dont have this issue, so thats really the core of it, the fire chief said. There is an allowable quantity of canisters the shop could have stored. Obviously with what happened last night, they (Goo) were well over what would have been allowable for that site, Miller said. In addition to canisters, butane and lithium batteries, switch blades and knives that had flown through the air during the explosions were found, Duncan said. Police and the ATF interviewed two business owners Monday night, authorities said. Its hard to estimate how much product was inside the building that shouldnt have been, Cannon said, because a lot of it blew up and is now strewn around the township. Officials said there was debris as far as 2 miles away. Duncan was 7 to 8 miles from the scene when he got the call about the blaze, the fire chief said. The explosions at the scene were so intense they could be heard from that distance and shook his vehicle as he approached the scene, he added. Flames lit up the sky as the inferno released massive plumes of smoke and showers of embers into the air, while bright flashes occasionally burst through the blaze, footage from CNN affiliate WXYZ shows. Authorities worked through the night and early morning Tuesday, where fire could still be seen smoldering, clearing debris from the roadways and area parking lots, police said. Youll see some of these products where the actual top is blown off and the canister went up like a missile. And then you have other ones that blew up in place and then came over. So youre seeing a variety of full canisters and then ones that are totally blown apart and basically shrapnel going through the air, Duncan said. 19-year-old killed was a quarter-mile away The 19-year-old man who died has not been named but he was a Clinton Township resident, officials said. He was around a quarter of a mile from the fire when he was struck on the head, Duncan said. He was pronounced dead at around 4 a.m., the chief said. Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of death. A firefighter was injured from flying glass shrapnel but is expected to recover, the chief said. The inferno broke out near 15 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway, police said. The large intersection includes a gas station, hardware store and a building belonging to an automotive supplies manufacturer. At least three ladder trucks with Snorkel apparatus, platforms at the end of ladders with fire hose nozzles, were pouring water on the blaze as more firefighters wielded hoses and other gear on the ground, aerial footage from CNN affiliates WDIV and WXYZ shows. As firefighters, your first thought is, you see fire, you want to go put it out, he said. They (firefighters) were trying to approach it and obviously with the explosions, there was absolutely no way that we could do that. Duncan said Tuesday morning there was no danger to the community, no drinking water issues or air quality concerns after a hazmat team assessed the zone, but urged residents to stay clear of the area as authorities investigate further. Well give it some additional time to see if we have any more explosions, Duncan said. Were going to probably bring a piece of apparatus over here to help with some of the additional suppression on it involve the ATF and then once we get that clear, well get our people on site and start digging through. Its still too unstable, too unsafe for our people to get over on the scene, so were probably gonna have to bring another engine over here to suppress the smoke and stuff going on, so obviously safety is crucial for our people, he said. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Steve Almasy, Paul P. Murphy, Nic F. Anderson and Amanda Jackson contributed to this alert For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The south side of the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge offers a view of the Colorado River snaking through the canyon. What a difference a year makes. This time last year, Arizona and Nevada were united with Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah on the idea that everyone (well, everyone who gets water from Lake Mead) must cut water use to help shore up the Colorado River. California was the odd state out, clinging tight to its position that it didnt have to. Now, a year later, the Lower Basin states of California, Arizona and Nevada are united on the idea that everyone and by everyone, they mean everyone should be expected to pitch in when stored river water drops dangerously low. While the Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah remain united on the idea that theyve already given up enough water to Mother Nature, and that since the Lower Basin effectively drained much of the water in storage, it should shoulder the burden of building it back. Colorado River plans are wildly different A year ago, the federal Bureau of Reclamation was pressing all seven states to figure out how they would cut up to 4 million acre-feet of water use a third or more of what flows through the Colorado River each year for the next several years. Yet, for now, the agency is staying mum while the two factions argue over how to best manage the river over the next couple of decades. And only Carnac the Magnificent knows how this might go. But despite all the uncertainty and how at polar opposites the proposals from these two factions appear to be a few things are clear for Arizona: Lower Basin water use will be cut Both factions agree that the Lower Basin should be required to use far less than the law allocates to them, even when there is far more water in the lakes than there is now. Both call for 1.5 million acre-feet in cuts in what Id call the decent times like now, after a wet winter and a heavily funded water conservation effort have radically improved the short-term outlook. The system would have to be mostly full to stop these reductions in both plans, even if how they measure full is wildly different. But there is wide agreement now that the Lower Basin should own these cuts. And thats light-years ahead of where we were at this time last year. Arizona will get less water, either way The Lower Basin spells out how that 1.5 million acre-feet in cuts might break down by state. As youd expect, given our junior water-rights status, Arizona could end up shouldering 760,000 acre-feet of it. Which is roughly equivalent to the amount of water that the Central Arizona Project delivered to metro Phoenix cities, tribes and farmers last year. And, again, thats just the status quo. Both factions contemplate making up to another 2.4 million acre-feet of cuts to water use on top of that, should the reservoirs dip to dangerously low levels. The Lower Basin says all seven states and Mexico should share in that pain. The Upper Basin says that only the Lower Basin should be responsible for it. But either way we go, Arizona would have to learn to live without a ton of water. This will require a major investment This is a key point that, after years and billions of dollars in federal investment, few have learned. Weve put tons of water back in Lake Mead, but mostly by paying people to temporarily not use it. That hasnt produced the lasting kinds of changes the Lower Basin will need to save 1.5 million acre-feet (or more) year-in and year-out. If thats the goal, well need to invest even more in efficiency measures, talk seriously about transitioning some less productive farmland to other uses and develop additional water supplies, such as recycled or desalinated water. And no, I dont know how we even begin to find that kind of cash. Just know that getting there will require not only a sizable but sustained investment. And that could be a tough pill for a lot of folks to swallow, particularly after the current federal largesse is spent. Pressure is on for groundwater reform No matter how this shakes out via some seven-state compromise, Reclamation laying down the law or (lets hope not) litigation there is a lot of work before us. Work that, if past is prologue, will eclipse everything else as we move closer to 2026, when the current rules expire. That doesnt leave a ton of time to put rural groundwater basins on a more sustainable path or find better ways to balance groundwater use and growth in metro Phoenix. Both of which well need to survive the Colorado River maelstrom that lies ahead. Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. On X, formerly Twitter: @joannaallhands. If you love this content (or love to hate it hey, I won't judge), why not subscribe to get more? This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What dueling Colorado River plans could mean for Arizona Pennsylvania lawmakers have a mixed record when it comes to transparency. Monthly expenses for members of the state Senate are regularly posted on the upper chamber's website as PDF files for easy public access. But some senators feel this practice is susceptible to repeal because it's not codified by law or a formal resolution. The situation is more opaque in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where mileage and per diem reports are only posted if individual lawmakers choose to make their expenses readily available. "Any time an agency can proivide proactive public access it saves time for the requesters and it also saves resources," said Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. "It's a win-win." What is a per diem? In Pennsylvania, legislators are eligible for per diem pay, which is essentially reimbursement for their job-related travel. Some lawmakers refuse to accept these taxpayer funds. Others have drawn criticism for racking up these kinds of expenses. State Rep. Pat Harkins (D-Erie), for example, recently acknowledged that the $154,687 he's been paid for mileage since 2018 may be excessive. More: Pa. state Rep. Harkins to curtail travel after report of $154,000 in mileage reimbursements In July 2021, then-Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman and other GOP leaders made it mandatory for the chief clerk to make all senators' expense information readily available to the public. "I think it's something that, at least in the Senate, everyone was supportive of and felt that we should do," said Corman, who left public office for a lobbying job at the end of 2022. "There was no pushback at all." "By putting them online and being public about it, it puts a check on legislators." The goal, according to Corman, was to improve lawmakers' accountability to taxpayers. He believes it's an easy way to help prevent abuse of the system. "I think you're far less likely to have a case where someone runs up a significant amount of per diems or a significant amount of mileage if they know people are looking at them," Corman said. 'There are some limitations to it' Others want to solidify the current practice. State Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) drafted a resolution and a bill, later co-sponsored by several Democratic colleagues and state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), that would've done just that. "What the Senate is doing right now is nice, but there are some limitations to it," Williams told the USA TODAY Network. When Williams first took office several years ago, she learned that the clerk's office had slow-walked and redacted some public information requests about her expenses. She said she found this unacceptable, and has since posted her expenses monthly to her website. "We should all want all of this stuff to be seen and easily accessible for people," Williams said. Senate Bill 275 represents her attempt to make this the reality for both the Senate and House. It has yet to move from the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, who chairs this committee, did not respond to a USA TODAY Network inquiry about his stance on the bill. Nicole Reigelman, the press secretary for Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, acknowledged that there's no centralized source for the public to review monthly expenses for members of the lower chamber. She noted that individual members post them to their websites on their own. Reigelman did not respond to questions about whether McClinton would push for a more transparent system such as the one used in the Senate. 'People have a right' Eugene DePasquale, a former state representative and auditor general who is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for attorney general, once launched an effort to have all lawmakers' expenses posted online. He said it came on the heels of a legislative pay raise that generated backlash from taxpayers, and that he thought it would help restore public confidence. "My joke is is that I united 202 members of the Legislature against me and 12 million Pennsylvanians for me," DePasquale said. Though he's no longer a lawmaker, DePasquale said he still hopes officials in Harrisburg will do the right thing by proactively sharing their expenses with the public. He scoffed at the idea that it would create too much extra work for legislative staffs, calling this "a lot of nonsense." Eugene DePasquale "They get all the bills introduced on time, and that's more complicated than posting your expenses," DePasquale said. "It's taxpayer money. People have a right to know where it's going." How to find state legislators' expenses To find a Pennsylvania senator's monthly expense reports, visit the "Right-to-Know Law" link at the bottom of the pasen.gov webpage. The next page contains a "Monthly Expense Reports" icon. Visitors can then select the fiscal year, month and senator about whom they'd like information. They can also select "All Monthly Expenses" to see an aggregate of all senators' reimbursement requests in a single document. These reports can be searched by keyword and are available for download or printing. To find the per diem and mileage expenses for members of the state House of Representatives, people are required to file a formal Right-to-Know request with the chamber's chief clerk. This can be done by filling out a form found by clicking the "Open Records" link at house.state.pa.us. Bruce Siwy is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Pennsylvania state capital bureau. He can be reached at bsiwy@gannett.com or on X and Instagram at @BruceSiwy. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: PA Legislature per diems are online for Senate, not House KENNEBUNK, Maine The old Pilot House restaurant is demolished. The new one is on track to be finished. The countdown to its grand opening is under way. Kylie Raymond, who owns the business on Harbor Lane, said on March 7 the new Pilot House will open in early May. Its exciting to be building something new while at the same time, holding on to the connection weve made in the community, she said. The Pilot House in Kennebunkport is temporarily closed due to reconstruction and the tearing down of the old structure. The new restaurant is two stories tall, doubling the size of the original that for years served patrons nearby. The first floor will be set up much like the original restaurant to preserve the atmosphere customers love, according to Raymond. The second floor will be a wide-open dining area that seats 160 patrons, offers them a new, slightly more upscale seafood menu, and provides them with surrounding views of the Kennebunk River and more, Raymond added. The restaurants core staff will be returning, Raymond said, and given the larger operation, more employees will be hired in the weeks ahead. Michael Somerset, the restaurants longtime chef, also is returning, she added. The Pilot House in Kennebunkport is temporarily closed due to reconstruction and the tearing down of the old structure. The project, which began last summer, has three phases. So far, crews have checked off two of them: the old Pilot House has been torn down, and the Spirit of Massachusetts has been relocated from the river onto dry land. In November, onlookers were treated to this feat, when crews and cranes hoisted the schooner from the water and set it down onto a cradle next to where the new Pilot House was being built. Raymond said the Spirit of Massachusetts will reopen as a restaurant a short while after the new Pilot House does. Once the main restaurant is finished, crews will turn their attention to the land-locked ship. We want to get her all fresh and painted, Raymond said. The Pilot House in Kennebunkport is temporarily closed due to reconstruction and the tearing down of the old structure. The Spirit of Massachusetts will have a bar, a raw bar, and sushi rolls, she added. The 125-foot Spirit of Massachusetts was built at the Charlestown Naval Shipyard in the state that is its namesake. The schooners launch was celebrated during a Tall Ships festival in Boston Harbor in 1984. From there, the ship served as a goodwill ambassador, sailing around the globe as an educational vessel. It was restored and brought to Kennebunk in 2014 and later became a popular floating restaurant on the river. And then theres that third and final phase. Curbing will be added on the site to direct stormwater runoff to bio-clean catch basin filters, which will be a new feature on the property, according to Raymond. The basins will intercept and treat stormwater before it goes into the Kennebunk River. Raymond said this third phase will begin in the spring, once the weather is warm and the boats of the on-site marina can return to the water. The project has largely enjoyed community support since Kylie and Nick Raymond, who comprise Kyick Holdings, LLC, saw their proposed reconfigurations through the towns planning process. At the polls in 2022, voters approved a contract zone that allowed the project to proceed. Laura Dolce, the executive director of the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce, spoke of the excitement around the Pilot House reopening and rejoining the local dining scene. The new Pilot House was built in the same spirit as the old one, and Im sure will be a draw for locals and tourists alike, Dolce said. Kylie Raymond knows who her customers are and what they need: good food, great service, and the same friendly crowd. Im sure the new Pilot House will be just as beloved as the old one. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Pilot House restaurant on track for May opening in Kennebunk Wichita County followed a statewide trend in having a relatively low turnout in the March 5 primary elections. A total of 6,039 voters turned out in the county, according to unofficial results from the county Elections Administrator's Office. In the last party primaries to include a presidential election in 2020, 17,589 voters turned out in the county. The number of voters in the March 5 primaries dropped considerably compared to 2020. Statewide, about 3.2 million Texans voted Tuesday compared to 4.1 million in 2020 when Democrat Joe Biden won his partys nomination to challenge the incumbent Republican Donald Trump. More: Wichita County residents pick candidates in Tuesday primaries A Texas Tribune analysis showed almost all the drop in 2024 came from Democrats. A total of 2.3 million Republicans went to the polls while only 975,000 Democrats did. In Wichita County, 5,254 Republicans voted and 785 Democrats cast ballots. The drop occurred even though the number of registered voters in Texas has grown since 2020. Texas now has 17.9 million registered voters compared to 16.2 million in 2020. The Texas Tribune analysis showed the biggest dip in turnout came in the states most populous counties: Harris, Bexar, Dallas and Travis. 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, Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, told the Texas Tribune. Weve been there, done that, and I think a lot of voters are kind of sitting on the sidelines until things change. More: A new Mexican-Puerto Rican food restaurant opens in Wichita Falls This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Primary voters in Texas, Wichita County, decline in 2024 A protester who interrupted Thursday's State of the Union by shouting "Remember Abbey Gate" has been identified as the father of one of 13 service members killed outside the airport in Kabul on Aug. 26, 2021. About one hour into President Joe Biden's speech, in which he drew sharp contrasts between himself and the Republican Party, the man began shouting causing Biden to pause briefly. The heckler was identified by a Florida congressman Friday as Steve Nikoui, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, one of the service members killed during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Remember Abbey Gate! US Marines! Nikoui shouted. Steve Nikoui was a guest of Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), the congressman's deputy communication's director Jinwook Wong confirmed to USA TODAY Friday morning. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, I am honored to have Steve Nikoui as my guest to #SOTU. He is the father of LCpl. Kareem Nikoui, who was KIA due to Bidens disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.@JoeBiden may try to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but NOT ON MY WATCH. pic.twitter.com/wE3uKrMlEa Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 7, 2024 Capitol Police arrested Nikoui Thursday night on a misdemeanor charge in connection to the outburst and he was released from custody at 12:30 a.m. Friday, Wong said. Video circulating on social media Friday showed Nikoui after being released from custody, greeted by members of congress including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) inside a restaurant. South Carolina rep dons MAGA hat: Biden's reaction to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's garb at SOTU goes viral Why did the protester shout 'Remember Abbey Gate?' In a post on X, Mast said the father was arrested because he cried out to Biden "to remember his son." "Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success," the congressman wrote. Abbey Gate is a reference to a 2021 suicide bombing during the evacuation of Afghanistan. Nikoui was handcuffed and arrested after being escorted out by security from the House gallery as seen in a photo shared with USA TODAY. NYC man found dismembered in apartments: Sheldon Johnson, Joe Rogan podcast guest, arrested after body parts found in freezer Who was State of the Union heckler? Nikoui and his wife, Shana Chappell, have been vocal critics of President Bidens decisions leading up to the deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan, the office wrote in the release. Their son was 20 years old when he died. Joe Biden has been trying to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but not on my watch, Mast wrote in a statement released by his office prior to Thursday night's event. For the last three years, Joe Biden has done nothing but tried to deflect blame as terrorists have taken hold of Afghanistan, repressed women, and killed those who supported America. I will continue to call out President Biden to remind him of the damage he has done to national security and American families. Steve Nikoui, the father of fallen Marine LCpl. Kareem Nikoui, was my guest to #SOTU2024. He was arrested because he cried out to @JoeBiden to remember his son. Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success! pic.twitter.com/m8Y0sUPLY6 Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 8, 2024 Who was Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui? Nikoui's son joined the Marine Corps where he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines unit stationed at Camp Pendleton after graduating from high school in 2019. He was deployed to Afghanistan where he participated in Operation Allies Refuge to evacuate U.S. citizens, American allies and others at risk and died in action with 10 other Marines, one soldier and one sailor during the withdrawal. What is Abbey Gate? Nikoui referred to an assault during the 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan that fatally wounded more than 170 people and 13 U.S. troops. A suicide bomber killed Afghans who had clustered near one of the entrances to Hamid Karzai International Airport and the U.S. troops screening them. The bomb contained 20 pounds of military-grade explosives and 5-millimeter ball bearings. The blast wounded 45 more U.S. troops, including some who suffered traumatic brain injuries. In 2023 a U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed to USA TODAY that the Taliban killed the mastermind behind the attack. Contributing: Janine Santucci, Tom Vanden Brook and Ken Tran. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SOTU 'Abbey Gate' heckler identified as Steve Nikoui: Who is he? On the heels of a Senate campaign that lasted less than a week, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) has announced he will not seek reelection for his House seat in 2024. Tom Williams via Getty Images Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) had high political aspirations. Then, suddenly, he had none. In the span of a month, the hard-right MAGA conservative launched a repeat Senate campaign, promptly ended it, filedfor reelection in the House, and then on Friday dropped that bid, citing death threats to his family and defamatory rumors about an alleged affair with a member of his staff. In a statement Friday, Rosendale said hes been forced to have law enforcement visit my children because of a death threat against me and false and defamatory rumors against me and my family. This has taken a serious toll on me, and my family, he went on. Additionally, it has caused a serious disruption to the election of the next Representative for MT-02. Rosendales political nosedive was as quick as it was messy. On Feb. 9, after months of speculation, Rosendale launched a second bid to try to oust Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in November, vowing to take on the Washington establishment and emphasizing his loyalty to former President Donald Trump. Hours later, however, Trump endorsed Rosendales primary opponent Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and wealthy businessman, in the race. That blow came on the heels of U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) backpedaling on his planned endorsement of Rosendale, reportedly after he received blowback from high-profile Republicans who have rallied around Sheehy. Six days after mounting his Senate campaign, Rosendale shut it down and blamed Trump. By my calculations, with Trump endorsing my opponent and the lack of resources, the hill was just too steep, he said in a statement at the time, adding that he would be taking time with his family to consider next steps. Trump endorsed Rosendale in 2018 when he ran for Senate, and again in 2022 when he was reelected to the House. But in a post to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said Sheehy was best positioned to defeat Tester in November. I also respect Matt Rosendale, and was happy to Endorse him in the past and will endorse him again in the future should he decide to change course and run for his Congressional Seat, Trump wrote. That was Rosendales plan until Friday. Late last month, Rosendales office threatened to sue former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) for defamation after she claimed that Rosendale ended his Senate bid because hed gotten a member of his staff pregnant. Just to gossip a little bit, theres a reason why Rosendale backed out of that Senate race, Heitkamp said during an interview on the podcast Talking Feds with Harry Litman released Feb. 26. The rumor is that he impregnated a 20-year-old staff person. Rosendales office called the allegation 100% false and defamatory and threatened legal action. The current attacks have made it impossible for me to focus on my work to serve you, Rosendale said Friday. So, in the best interest of my family and the community, I am withdrawing from the House race and will not be seeking office. Rosendales exit follows a lengthy political career in Montana and Washington. Prior to his two terms in the U.S. House, he served in both Montanas state House and state Senate, and held the office of Montana state auditor. He ran unsuccessfully for Testers Senate seat in 2018. Trump traveled to Montana to campaign for Rosendale several times during that race. In Congress, Rosendale made his mark as an ultraconservative firebrand. He is a member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and last year joined seven other House Republicans in voting to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). He also made headlines last year when he posed for a photograph outside the U.S. Capitol alongside two well-known white supremacists. The race for Montanas 2nd Congressional District, which covers the states central and eastern regions, has drawn a crowded field of candidates. At least seven Republicans and two Democrats have announced bids. Most recently, former congressman and Montana lieutenant governor Dennis Rehberg launched a campaign for Rosendales seat. Related... This story is published in partnership with Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for the ICN newsletter here. Texas regulators last month approved water rights for a new, 2,500-acre reservoir to meet the growing needs of chemical plants, refineries and other industries on the Gulf Coast. A draft permit issued Feb. 23 by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality authorizes the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority (LNRA) to divert up to 31 billion gallons per year from the Lavaca River. It would go into a reservoir proposed on property Formosa Plastics owns, about two miles east of its massive Point Comfort chemical complex, where the company has quietly pursued permits to expand in recent years since its Louisiana megaproject has been stalled by legal complaints. The draft will undergo a 30-day period of public comment before being adopted. Its the first time in 50 years the small river authority has sought additional water rights, according to general manager Patrick Brzozowski. There is interest in our area to develop industrial plants, he said. Thats where the demand is going to come from. The 20-year-old fracking boom in Texas continues to fuel a downstream buildout on the coast, where pipelines deliver oil and gas to enormous facilities that refine it into chemical products or prepare it for export by sea. Around Lavaca Bay, this mostly rural middle section of the Texas Gulf Coast still lacks the great conglomerations of chemical manufacturers that ring the water at Houston and Port Arthur to the north and Corpus Christi to the south. Here, a single actor reins supreme: Formosa Plastics, a $460 billion Taiwanese company, and its 2,500-acre complex on Lavaca Bay, which turns Texas shale gas into the materials for common single-use plastics. The company has incurred hefty fines and complaints for years over unpermitted discharges into air and water. It currently faces steep opposition over its proposed new chemical complex in Louisiana, which has mired the project in challenges over environmental justice, climate impacts and wetlands destruction. Now, its prospects for expansion in Texas trouble environmental advocates. Formosa got such hell from people in Louisiana stopping them that they keep it very quiet when they are trying to expand, said Diane Wilson, a retired Gulf Coast fisherwoman who won a $50 million settlement in 2019 from Formosa over its routine dumping of plastics into Lavaca Bay over decades. They want water for expansion. Formosa declined to answer questions about expansion plans or the proposed reservoir. Since the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority (LNRA) applied for the water permit, we feel you should contact LNRA, a Formosa spokesperson wrote in an email. Industrial water demand According to Brzozowski, two customers account for 98% of water demand in the Lacava-Navidad basin, the smallest major river basin in Texas. One is the City of Corpus Christi, 100 miles to the southwest, where a single new plastics plant owned by ExxonMobil and the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation accounts for up to 25% of regional water demand (and where a 2018 city ordinance exempts industrial water users from restrictions during drought). The other is Formosa Plastics. The two customers consume roughly equal amounts, according to the regions latest water plan. The LNRA currently supplies about 28 billion gallons of water each year from its only reservoir, Lake Texana on the Navidad River, with none left to spare. Its pending water rights permits would add to its portfolio an additional 31 billion gallons per year from the neighboring Lavaca River, to be stored at the 16 billion gallon reservoir (medium-sized by Texas standards) planned on Formosa property in Jackson County. Formosa would get first rights to a portion of the water, Brzozowski said, but the details havent been negotiated. Expansion plans For Formosa, the opportunity for growth in Texas comes after legal challenges have stalled its plans for a new, $9.4 billion chemical complex in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revoked that projects permit to build on wetlands in 2020, and in 2022, a state judge struck down its air pollution permits, citing concerns over environmental justice and climate. Seventeen days later, Formosa applied with Texas regulators for permits to build a new hexene plant at Point Comfort and expand its adjacent polyethylene plant. The two projects together were approved in September 2023 to emit about 170 tons of regulated pollutants per year. The company has also applied for amendments to nine of its air permits to authorize four new ground flares large facilities used for burning off unwanted chemicals and to sharply increase emissions limits at its existing flares. Formosa has not explained why it is seeking to increase flaring limits, said official comments filed with the TCEQ by the Environmental Integrity Project in February 2023. They could definitely be laying the groundwork for expansion, said Colin Cox, the attorney who wrote the comments. According to a report this month by the business intelligence website Offshore Technology, upcoming projects at Formosa Point Comfort include expansions at its caustic soda plant, chlorine plant, propylene plant #2, PVC plant and its vinyl chloride monomer plant. That follows 40 years of steady growth for Formosa at Point Comfort. According to the company's website, it began operations at the 2,500-acre complex in 1983, then underwent major expansions in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2012. In 2016 it applied to add a new polyethylene plant, then in 2020 retroactively doubled the plants authorized emissions of volatile organic compounds after it was built. Formosas first contract with the Lavaca Navidad River Authority, in 1980, secured 1.6 billion gallons of water per year. Today Formosa holds contracts for 13.4 billion gallons of water per year. A history of polluting The facility also has a history of illegal pollution. Wilson, the fisherwoman, previously sued Formosa over its large-scale dumping of plastic chemicals into Lavaca Bay. In 2019, she won the largest settlement ever awarded in a case brought by a citizen under the Clean Water Act, $50 million. Diane Wilson in Port Lavaca, across Lavaca Bay from the Formosa Plastics Corp. plant on July 23, 2023. Wilson sued Formosa over plastics pollution and won a large judgment. Credit: Christopher Baddour/Inside Climate News In the settlement, Formosa agreed not to dump any more plastic into the bay. However, it has reported 584 violations of that agreement to the TCEQ, most recently on Feb. 26, incurring $15.5 million in additional penalties. Formosa also regularly reports violations of its air pollution permits, most recently on Jan. 22, when an emergency shutdown caused the release of 27 chemicals, including benzene (a known human carcinogen) at 33 times Formosas permitted rate, butadiene (a probable human carcinogen and a known neurotoxin) at 70 times the permitted rate, and gaseous ethylene (which can be used as a commercial pesticide) at 758 times the permitted rate, according to the companys report to TCEQ. On Jan. 17, freezing weather prompted Formosa to release almost 250 tons of air pollution, including gaseous ethylene at 500 times its permitted rate. They are still polluting, and now they are trying to expand, Wilson said. The draft water rights permit will undergo a period of public comment in which affected citizens may request a hearing before an administrative law judge. If that happens, it could be several years before the project breaks ground, said Brzozowski, the river authority manager. We dont have a timeline right now, were trying to get a permit and we dont know how long it will take, he said. We do know there is future demand. They are interested in how long its going to take. 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. St. Patricks Day was the late Cece Williams favorite holiday and a group of guys from New York City active and retired police officers who march every year in Savannahs annual parade were among her biggest fans. When she died of acute pancreatis last August, Cece received a graveside sendoff in Bonaventure Cemetery from a few of the New York guys a bagpiper, a drummer and an honor guard who are members of the Rockland County Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums Band. She was buried wearing the bands patch and pin, along with her Clan Bailey kilt skirt. The Rockland County police officers have been participating in Savannahs St. Patricks Day festivities for more than 20 years and at some point during those local appearances, Cece being the gregarious soul that she was, established a good, solid friendship with the band members, recalled her mother, Julia Williams. As the years went by, Cece became their local ambassador, she added. Every St. Patricks Day Cece stayed at The DeSoto and always had a hospitality suite stocked and ready for (the Rockland group). Julia and her husband, Charlie, known affectionately to the Rockland guys as Mama and Papa Williams, were humbled earlier this year when they received an email from the band asking if they could perform a graveside tribute for Cece the afternoon before this years parade. At 3:15 p.m., March 15, the men in full regalia, who received permission from the city-owned Bonaventure Cemetery, will march in formation to Ceces grave. The next day the Rockland Bands parade banner will include a ribbon honoring Cece and other deceased family members. Cece Williams, middle, hoists a red cup amid friends and family on her favorite holiday, St. Patrick's Day. Her mother, Julia Williams, is to her right in the green sweater. The beginnings of a beautiful friendship Julia and Charlie still cant believe that Ceces unofficial adopted brothers are going to such extremes to honor their beloved daughter. We were speechless to think that they think that much of Cece, Julia said. They are absolutely the greatest people. Prior to the March 15th graveside ceremony, the Williamses will host a luncheon for the band, in appreciation of their ongoing love for Cece. Joe Cottone of the Rockland group remembers how he met Cece a few days before St. Patricks Day that first year the band travelled to Savannah. The men dropped their bags at The DeSoto and made a beeline to McDonoughs to unwind, grab some lunch and beverages, he said. We started doing our thing (slowly taking over the place) and through the door came this (woman) full of confidence and Southern charm. One of our drummers was quick to introduce Miss Cece Williams, he said, adding that she quickly tuned into their humor and encouraged the men to move to the next room to meet her parents. From that moment on, a beautiful relationship was born between the Williams family and the members of the Rockland County Emerald Society Police Pipes and Drums Band, he explained. Extended family members including Cottones son became Cece fans and University of Georgia followers because of her love for all things UGA. Other traditions also were established when Cece met the Rockland guys. Every year the band would buy a low-end cooler to carry along on the parade route, Cottone said, adding the inexpensive cooler always would be thrown away at the end of the route. One year, the band purchased a rugged, industrial-strength cooler with inflatable tires that also was to be abandoned after the parade. Cece would have none of that, Cottone said. She quickly asserted that she would take custody of the coolah and that it would be waiting for us at The Desoto the following March. Sure enough, a few days before we were to arrive in Savannah, without fail, I would receive a text announcing that the coolah would be awaiting our arrival (that year and every year after). Each March 17, it became Miss Ceces law for the band members to stop by the hotel to have the obligatory pre-parade mimosas, Cottone said. Then, during every parade, Miss Cece would enter our ranks and leave a bright red token of her love for us on our cheeks, he remembered. She followed through even that one year when she had to hop over a metal barrier and yell to the police officer who had told her she couldnt. Cece promptly stated, Oh no, these are MY BOYS. Cece quickly became one of us, as did the rest of her family, Cottone said. When Cece traveled to New York City with her cousin, I called her and was instructed to come to the bar in their hotel in Times Square, he recalled. While driving through the Lincoln Tunnel, I called her back and asked if they wanted to have a good time or a great time? Cece promptly chose a great time. Cottone drove Cece and her cousin to an Irish pub where Cece made a donation in honor of her late aunt Barbara Jones. Whenever Mama and Papa Williams would visit New York, a few of the band members would meet up with them and enjoy dinner at some of the fine restaurants throughout the city. When Cottone heard of Ceces death, there was no question that I would make the trip to pay my respects to Cece and the entire Williams Family, he said. Because of police scheduling and other factors, only three band members could make the trip for her wake and funeral. I havent attended any band functions due to several injuries back, knee and hip for more than three years, but I dropped everything, linked up with one of the pipers, grabbed my drum and headed to Savannah where we met with one of the members of the bands honor guard to attend the services for Cece. It was the least that we could do to mourn, celebrate and honor our own family member, Miss Cece Williams. As their flight descended into Savannah, the men were full of sadness, not joy, Cottone recalled. We knew we had a job to do, and we were focused on doing it well, he said. We were there to tend to all of the Williams familys needs and to send Cece home to our Lord, he said. The next day, as their flight climbed out of Savannah, Cottone said he was hit with the reality that Savannah and the world had been changed forever with the loss of our sister. This St. Patricks Day in Savannah certainly will be different for the Rockland Band, but no doubt, the men will toast Miss Cece more than a few times, and recall the good times they had with one of their own. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: New York police band to celebrate Savannah woman's life Malea Wallace takes college courses as a sophomore, and at her pace shes on track to graduate high school with her associate degree. Wallace attends Rex and Margaret Fortune Early College High School in Elk Grove. It is her hope to go to a historically Black college or universityupon graduation. She was afforded an opportunity to visit multiple campuses during Voice of the Youths Black Excellence College Tour in spring 2023. Voice of the Youth is a nonprofit organization that was created in 2008 to provide mentorship and support to youth in the Sacramento region. The organization has hosted college tours, starting with Southern California institutions, since 2013, according to founder Berry Accius. On her tour last year, Wallace visited Virginia State, Morgan State, Howard, Hampton, Norfolk State and Coppin State. After touring all the schools, Wallace said she was intrigued with Hamptons campus and is looking into attending the school. She wants to major in architectural engineering. (It) helped by showing me the real experience from a students perspective, Wallace said. Our tour guides really helped and walked us through the campuses, showing us all the different resources and centers built for us. The whole experience made me feel more comfortable and ready to go to college, knowing that I wont be alone. Wallace said she recommends the tour for the friendships formed and having an eye-opening experience of seeing different colleges and universities and the cities theyre in. While some students have social anxiety issues or some have just never been away from home, these tours help to push you out of your comfort zone and into a place of growth, Wallace said. Origin of the tours Accius said the tours began with taking four students from the Sacramento area on a journey through different colleges and universities starting in their home state. He wanted to offer them a glimpse into campus life, academic programs and potential career paths. Accius always believed it was important to expose Black children to colleges. He also wanted to ensure they were in places that served them well. So in 2022, he added historically Black colleges and universities to the tour guide. This annual tour has since become an important tool for empowering youth and helping them make informed decisions about their future education, Accius said. Our motto (is) expose, experience, excel. We have a 90% success rate from students who have gone on the tour, attended college and graduated from the college they attended. Accius most recently took students on a SoCal College Tour last month visiting San Diego State, UCLA, USC, UC Irvine and UC San Diego. He anticipates taking students on tours next month for the organizations HBCU edition visiting Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M, Xavier (Louisiana), Dillard, Southern and Grambling State. The trip is planned for April 21-27. The tours can last up to a week, depending on where they travel. There is no cost to students, parents and members of VOY for travel expenses, according to Accius. Voice of the Youth pays for the tours through sponsorships and direct donations. Some of those sponsors include Double Popcorn, Applebees, Sees Candies and VOYs annual crab feed and snack bar. A new family tradition? Amiya Davis is a freshman currently attending Wallaces dream school, Hampton. Shes majoring in architecture, which Davis said takes most of her time. She went on VOYs Black College Excellence Tour last year before graduating from Monterey Trail High School in Elk Grove. It was her first time visiting Hampton. Davis is the first in her family to attend an HBCU. Its something she always wanted to do, she said. I wanted to learn and experience more of my Black culture, Davis said. Of nearly 63,000 students in the Elk Grove Unified School District, 10% are Black, according to the districts website. HBCUs are defined as historically Black colleges or universities established prior to 1964, whose mission is the education of Black Americans, according to the U.S. Higher Education Act of 1964. There are more than 100 HBCUs in the U.S., according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Sacramento-area high school students pose for a photo at Hampton University, a historically Black university, during a recent tour with Voice of the Youth. The recent tour, Davis said, exposed her to more options and educational opportunities. Her advice: dont limit yourself. Davis tells her younger sister, Layliah, to research and learn about the schools. She encourages her to attend VOYs Black Excellence College Tour to experience different schools and make the best decision for her. Layliah is currently a junior at Las Flores High School, an independent study program in the Elk Grove Unified School District. She is contemplating either going to San Diego State or following in her sisters footsteps and attending an HBCU. She said if she does go to an HBCU, it wont be with her sister. Layliah is interested in Texas Southern University, Grambling State and Xavier. Shes hoping to go on her first VOY Black Excellence College Tour this spring. The nonprofit intends to visit her desired colleges, among others in Texas and Louisiana. She wants to major in nursing and hopes the tour helps her narrow down her college choice. Im looking forward to seeing life around campus and if they offer my major because I havent found a school that I can call home, Layliah said. Knowing my junior year is ending and senior year is approaching, I think (the tour) will help me choose where I want to apply. A different culture Emoni Durham is a senior at Laguna Creek High School in Elk Grove. She went on VOYs SoCal college tour last month. However, she said she felt an eye-opening experience after attending the Black Excellence College Tour with the nonprofit organization last year. Shes since applied to 11 HBCUs: Norfolk State, Howard, Hampton, Virginia State, Morgan State, Jackson State, Coppin State, Florida A&M, Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M and Southern. So far, shes been accepted into Jackson State, Virginia State and Norfolk State. I just wanted to keep my options open as a senior, Durham said. I just wanted to be able to explore the different options that were out there instead of the pipeline of applying to only UCs or California state schools. She added: its a different type of culture and its a different education or feeling that you experience at an HBCU versus a PWII feel like an HBCU brings you closer to your people and deeper to your roots as being African-American. Josiah Hayes Garcia, a junior at Laguna Creek, has never been on a tour with VOY, but hes excited to go. In previous years he was either too young or too afraid to leave home, he said. Now Hayes Garcia is looking to get over that phobia and see different cultures in other states. He doesnt have any specific HBCUs in mind. He just wants to get out and venture to different campuses. (Just) getting to be on my own, Hayes Garcia said about leaving California for an HBCU. I want to make connections with people who have similar interests, as well as finding people who support me and my future. VOY is still accepting sponsorships and donations for its college tours. More information is available at www.voiceoftheyouth.org. A southbound orca surfaces off of Point Loma Monday Jan. 29, 2024, in San Diego. In a new study published in the African Journal of Marine Science, scientists revealed new footage of a lone orca hunting and killing a great white shark off the coast of South Africa. | Denis Poroy Great white sharks have a new predator: the orca. Also known as the killer whale, orcas are changing from their traditional prey (such as seals) to unnatural prey. In this case, the great white shark. Scientists have noticed this change and theres a new video released by researchers that shows a lone orca whale hunting and killing a great white shark. And its surprising scientists. Traditional orca habits Orca hunting habits are well known to scientists. Orcas normally hunt in groups, called pods, and use echolocation to find their prey, according to Smithsonian Magazine. If orcas in the Antarctic Ocean find a seal on an ice floe, theyll create their own waves in an effort to wash the seal off the ice, per Smithsonian Magazine. Another common hunting habit orcas use is intentional stranding, where orcas will beach on coastlines, grab their prey and drag it back into the ocean, per Smithsonian Magazine. Mothers teach this to their young by forcing them onto the beach and repeating it until their young can return to the water on their own. So when scientists found out a lone orca killed a great white shark, it went against everything they knew about orcas hunting patterns. Why the change in hunts In a new study published in the African Journal of Marine Science, scientists revealed new footage of a lone orca hunting and killing a great white shark off the coast of South Africa. The orca managed to kill the shark in less than two minutes. The team of researchers had been following a pair of orcas, known as Starboard and Port, when they noticed a juvenile shark approach the surface of the water, followed by Starboard, per The Guardian. The scientists watched, as did a group of tourists doing shark cage dives nearby, as Starboard grabbed one of the sharks fins before ripping out its liver. Scientists have several hypotheses as to why orcas are now killing sharks. One hypothesis is that Starboard and Port are part of a group of orcas that normally stay in the open ocean, but fishing is depleting their natural food source so theyre forced to come closer to shore, per National Geographic. One of the lead authors of the study, Alison Towner from Rhodes University, told CNN, While we dont have solid evidence on the specific drivers, the arrival of the killer whale pair could be linked to broader changes in the ecosystem. Its clear that human activities, such as climate change and industrial fishing, are stressing our oceans. To fully grasp these dynamics, additional research and funding are essential. The co-author of the study, Primo Micarelli, told The Guardian, Despite my awe for these predators, Im increasingly concerned about the coastal marine ecology balance. This change in hunting habits can cause a major imbalance in the ecosystem. Towner told BBC, Disruptions in the balance of apex predators can affect other species too. Endangered African penguins could face increased predation by cape fur seals (if the fur seals are not being eaten by) white sharks. Great white sharks are at risk According to National Geographic, shark populations have been declining in South Africa and overfishing has increased a threat against great white sharks. Orcas have also been known to scare off shark populations, but researchers arent sure where those shark populations go, per CNN. One such example of sharks fleeing is in the Farallon Islands off Californias coast, according to Smithsonian Magazine. This area is a hot spot for great white sharks to come feed on elephant seals, but its been noted that if an orca appears in the area, great white sharks will flee and not return for at least a year. Shark corpses have been spotted on beaches without their livers since 2015, according to National Geographic. In South Africa, sevengill sharks have disappeared, along with great white sharks, and are being replaced as top predators by other species such as the copper shark. Shasta Groene, the woman best known for being the sole survivor of a kidnapping by an Idaho serial killer in 2005, is asking for the communitys help after her home burned down in a house fire earlier this week. A friend of Groenes, Robbin Lassen, set up a GoFundMe on March 6. The fundraisers goal is $100,000, and by early Friday afternoon on March 8, over $16,000 had been raised. The funds will help Shasta and her children with much-needed relief and support as they navigate this traumatic time, the GoFundMe description reads. Contributions will secure temporary housing, clothing, daily necessities, and eventually, the rebuilding of their home. Lassen told the Idaho Statesman that one of Groenes five children alerted her to a fire in one of the bedrooms. Groene, all five children, and the family dog safely escaped the house but couldnt prevent the fire from spreading. Firefighters told Groene that, although it cant be confirmed yet, the fire likely started from the furnace, according to Lassen. She had stuff in that house that is irreplaceable, Lassen told the Statesman. Things from her parents, her brothers that were murdered. Its just so heart-wrenching. Groenes parents and older brother were murdered by a man named Joseph Edward Duncan in 2005 at their home about 8 miles outside Coeur dAlene. Groene, who was 8 years old at the time, and her brother, Dylan, were kidnapped by Duncan, but the burned remains of Dylan were later found by the side of a Forest Service road. Groene was saved 48 days after the killings and kidnapping when a Dennys waitress recognized Groene with Duncan at a table in Dennys and called the police. You can donate to Groenes GoFundMe using the link below. * "China is ready to work with all countries to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated. * Wang expounded on China's approaches to resolving global hotspot issues and achieving lasting peace and common security. * Looking forward, Wang said China will continue to uphold justice and advance win-win cooperation. BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday expressed the country's resolve to unswervingly promote peace, stability and progress in a world overshadowed by protracted conflicts and lukewarm economic recovery. All countries rise and fall together in today's world and the sure path to meeting challenges is mutual assistance and win-win cooperation, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, goes beyond the obsolete zero-sum game mentality and points the right direction for humanity, Wang said at a press conference held on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress. "China is ready to work with all countries to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity. The road ahead may be tortuous, but the future is bright," the top diplomat stated. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) SOLUTIONS TO HOTSPOT ISSUES During the 1.5-hour press conference, Wang expounded on China's approaches to resolving global hotspot issues and achieving lasting peace and common security. On the turbulent Middle East, Wang highlighted that China supports Palestine's full membership in the United Nations (UN) and calls for a more broad-based, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference to work out a timetable and road map for the two-state solution. "Restoring justice to the Palestinian people and fully implementing the two-state solution is the only way to break the vicious circle of Palestinian-Israeli conflicts," Wang said. Turning to the Ukraine crisis, the foreign minister renewed calls for early talks as all conflicts have to end at the negotiating table. China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans, he said. In the face of multiple global challenges, Wang praised the UN's role as the core mechanism to realize peace and development on the planet, stressing that the role of the UN should be strengthened, not weakened, and the status of the UN must be upheld, not replaced. REFUTING "TABLE OR MENU" MINDSET It shouldn't be the case that those with the bigger fist have the final say and it is definitely unacceptable that certain countries must be "at the table" while some others can only be "on the menu," Wang told reporters. On China-U.S. relations, the senior official urged the United States to take an objective and rational view of China's development and match its words with actions to honor its commitments on bilateral ties. "In today's world, hegemonism finds no support and division leads nowhere. Major countries should not seek confrontation and the Cold War should not be allowed to come back," Wang stressed. China is always willing to strengthen dialogue and communication with the United States, and believes that the two sides can certainly find a proper way for two different major countries to get along in this world, he said. Wang lauded China-Russia relations for their great value in maintaining global strategic stability, promoting positive interaction among major countries and strengthening cooperation among major emerging countries. Such functions are part of the significance of China-Russia ties, which have "forged a new paradigm of major-country relations that differs entirely from the obsolete Cold War approach," as he put it. Wang also expressed hope for smoother ties and closer partnership between China and the European Union (EU) because "as long as China and the EU engage in mutually beneficial cooperation, no attempt to create bloc confrontation will succeed; as long as China and Europe stay committed to openness and win-win, deglobalization will not prevail." A journalist with Xinhua News Agency raises a question at a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) OPPORTUNITIES PAINFUL TO MISS Looking forward, Wang said China will continue to uphold justice and advance win-win cooperation. China will maintain stable relations with major countries, work with its neighbors for progress, and strive for revitalization with the Global South, according to him. This year will be a year of harvest for Global South cooperation and a new starting point for unity among Asian, African and Latin American countries, Wang said, adding that a new meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be held in autumn this year in Beijing. To usher in a second golden decade of Belt and Road cooperation, China will promote the upgrading of physical connectivity, the strengthening of institutional connectivity and the deepening of people-to-people connectivity. Underlining China's role as a strong engine for growth, Wang noted that China's economy grew 5.2 percent last year, contributing one third of the world growth, and China's super large market with over 1.4 billion people is opening wider to the world. At the press conference, Wang announced a trial visa-free policy for Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, starting March 14. He stated China's readiness to well develop international cooperation platforms including the China International Import Expo and the China International Fair for Trade in Services, and optimize its business environment. "Spreading pessimistic views on China will end up harming oneself, and misjudging China will result in missed opportunities," Wang said. (Reporting by Shi Hao, Cao Peixian, Zhang Bowen, Zhang Zhongkai; Video reporters: Liu Chunhui, Li Hengyi, Mei Yuanlong, Hao Xiaojiang, Li Shuting, Tao Ye, Ruan Shuai; Video editors: Jia Xiaotong, Zhang Li, Zhang Nan, Yang Zhixiang, Wei Yin, Luo Hui, Yin Le, Zhang Yuhong, Li Qin, Lin Lin) Foreign policy figured highly in Joe Biden's annual address to Congress, which highlighted US involvement in conflicts around the world. So how was his speech received in those places? It was notable that the president chose to begin his State of the Union by discussing Ukraine. He later went on to spend a few minutes on the Israel-Hamas war and finished by talking about "standing up" to China. We asked three BBC correspondents to analyse his comments in each area. Nazi comparison will annoy Putin By Sarah Rainsford, Eastern Europe correspondent A year before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Biden agreed with an interviewer that Vladimir Putin was a "killer", enraging the Kremlin. Three years later, Mr Biden has now compared him to Adolf Hitler. In his State of the Union address, he referred to Hitler being "on the march" in 1941 in Europe and then said that the Russian leader was "on the march" himself, warning that Russian aggression would not stop at Ukraine. His message to President Putin, he said in his speech, was simple. "We will not bow down." The Russian leader has claimed, falsely, that his invasion of Ukraine is aimed at "de-Nazifying" Russia's neighbour and he has elevated the Soviet Union's defeat of Hitler in World War II to near-cult status. So Moscow won't like this comparison at all. Putin chairs Security Council meeting But Mr Biden wasn't addressing Russia alone. He stressed the urgent need for the US to continue supporting Ukraine as it battles to defend itself and he called on Congress to unblock the bill that would release the funding Kyiv needs. I've heard politicians and analysts in Ukraine describe losing US financial backing as "catastrophic". The delay is already damaging, forcing soldiers to ration ammunition on the frontlines. As Moscow smarts at the comparison with Nazi Germany, Ukraine will welcome a State of the Union speech that opened with a rallying cry for democracy and support for Kyiv. President Biden said the US wouldn't "walk away". Such words are important and appreciated. But similar calls have been uttered before and all the time Ukraine is losing more territory and more soldiers. Unease in China as Biden talks tough By Laura Bicker, China correspondent It's hard to know which candidate China would prefer as it watches the discord on display in Washington during the State of the Union. The contrast with its own rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress, is stark. Nearly 3,000 delegates are meeting in Beijing this week in the Great Hall of the People where speeches are watched with quiet nods, a reverent hush and unwavering approval from the Communist Party elite. There will be a level of unease from China's business sector that President Biden sees the need to show how tough he will be on Beijing. He said he wanted "competition - not conflict" with China, but business leaders may ask what form that competition will take. He has already expanded sanctions against China on a range of issues, from human rights abuses to its relations with Russia. Relations are also strained over China's behaviour in disputed areas of the South China Sea, its military intimidation of Taiwan and growing technological competition. Beijing will not see Mr Biden's competitor as a more promising prospect. While president, Donald Trump started a trade war with China and recently threatened to impose a 60% tariff on Chinese goods if he wins in November. But Beijing might like the idea of another Trump presidency. The Biden administration has built an alliance to counter the might of China and he has been clear that the US would defend Taiwan if China tried to take the self-governing island by force. In contrast, Mr Trump has refused to say he would help Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. China can exploit these differences in Washington and use them to appear as a safer, long-term diplomatic bet for countries around the world as the two compete for global influence. Biden's rebuke picked up in Israeli media By Yolande Knell, Middle East correspondent President Biden called events of the past five months "gut-wrenching" in his address. While he blamed Hamas for starting the Gaza war, he stressed the high civilian death toll among Palestinians and had a sharp message for Israel about the need to allow basic supplies to reach the besieged territory, amid UN warnings of mass starvation. Aid, he said, "cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority." This rebuke featured prominently in the Israeli media on Friday morning. Driven by domestic politics in an election year - the need to show stronger American action - as well as deep humanitarian need, Mr Biden announced a plan for a new floating pier off Gaza to bring in food and basic supplies on ships via Cyprus. In many ways, this ambitious idea - which the president was careful to say would not involve US military boots on the ground - is a measure of frustration with a key ally. Israel officially welcomed the plan. It has stopped aid from entering via its own Mediterranean container port, Ashdod, 35km from northern Gaza, and also resisted opening more border crossings. This is a locator map for Afghanistan with its capital, Kabul. (AP Photo) GHAZNI, Afghanistan (AP) Afghanistan's ruling Taliban carried out a double public execution Thursday at a stadium in the country's southeast, where relatives of the victims of stabbing deaths fired guns at two convicted men while thousands of people watched. The Talibans Supreme Court ruled that the two men were responsible for the stabbing deaths of two victims in separate attacks, according to a court statement. It identified the two as Syed Jamal from central Wardak province and Gul Khan from Ghazni though it was unclear who carried out the stabbings, the two convicted men or others. The statement also said that three lower courts and the Talibans supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, had ordered the executions in retribution for their purported crimes. On Thursday, people crowded outside the stadium in the Ali Lala area of the city of Ghazni, clambering to get in. Religious scholars pleaded with relatives of the victims to forgive the convicts, but they refused. Abu Abu Khalid Sarhadi, a spokesman for Ghazni police, said that relatives of the victims executed the two men. He did not say what type of guns they used. The executions started shortly before 1 p.m. There were 15 bullets fired, eight at one of the men and seven at the other. Supreme Court spokesman Abdul Rahim Rashid said the men were shot from behind. Ambulances then took their bodies away. The killings were the third and fourth public executions since the Taliban seized power in 2021 amid the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan. The United Nations has strongly criticized the Taliban for carrying out public executions, lashings and stonings since seizing power, and called on the countrys rulers to halt such practices. On Thursday, the U.N. said it was strongly opposed to the death penalty, saying it was inconsistent with the fundamental right to life. Its mission in Afghanistan urged Taliban authorities to establish an immediate moratorium on the death penalty as a step toward its abolition. During their previous rule of Afghanistan in the late 1990s, the Taliban regularly carried out public executions, floggings and stonings. Temu is the biggest advertiser on Meta. What could go wrong? Temu spends tons on advertising reportedly nearly $2 billion last year on Facebook and Instagram. That's great for Meta, where Temu was the No. 1 advertiser in 2023, a new report says. But Temu's Chinese parent company is quite mysterious a potential risk for Meta and Google. Temu, the e-commerce app of whimsical, boomer-pleasing bargain-bin delights, has been very good to Meta. It spent about $2 billion last year on Facebook and Instagram ads, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal that cited people familiar with the matter and it was the No. 1 advertiser by revenue on Meta. So much so that some Meta employees joked they should thank Temu by giving it a gift card. Other Big Tech companies have also enjoyed the benefits of Temu's swollen ad budget. The company made its way into Google's Top 5 advertisers, too, according to the Journal's report. And Pinterest's CEO pointed out the Temu effect during a recent earnings call, calling it "a nice contributor." (It also spent tens of millions of dollars on three Super Bowl ads.) Temu is a division of China-based PDD Holdings, which also operates Pinduoduo in that country. It's deployed a well-known playbook of doing a massive ad spend on social to acquire customers and get app downloads. This is all apparently in hopes that such a big ad spend will pay off later. Sometimes, this works; sometimes, it doesn't. Wish, a Chinese e-commerce app, made this same move in the late 2010s, but it fizzled out. It seems to be working now: Temu was the second fastest-growing website for 2023, only second to OpenAI. One report found that nearly 1 out of 3 shoppers in the US had used Temu. A representative for Temu told Business Insider that it disputed the $2 billion figure reported by the Journal. The company wouldn't disclose what it said was Temu's actual ad spend budget. Temu's ad spending is lining Meta's and Google's pockets Meta and Google are probably pleased with the ad revenue for now. Meta just posted record profits for last quarter and has a soaring stock price, with a brief mention in its earnings report that 10% of its global ad revenue came from Chinese e-commerce and gaming ads. But there's something strange there. John Herrman in New York Magazine noticed a paradox in how Big Tech is very happy to publicly distance itself from connection to China. (Meta has been happy to throw Tiktok under the bus.) From Herrman: At the same time, Chinese-American tech interdependence has by many measures increased. Ad-supported firms like Meta and Google have benefited from massive spending from firms like Shein and Temu; online retailers including but not limited to Amazon have become, effectively, conduits for a new form of direct, loophole-enabled cross-border commerce. I've shopped at Temu, and as someone who loves cheap junk, I see the appeal. But there are serious concerns about potential forced labor practices at its suppliers and also how the addictive nature of cheap, gamified shopping can lead to our junk pile. (A representative for Temu told Business Insider, "Temu's commitment to full compliance in the markets it operates in has been unwavering since inception.") Temu is an online marketplace and mobile shopping app that offers daily flash deals. Screenshot/Temu But there's something else going on that might worry companies like Google and Meta that are enjoying the Temu ad bonanza. The Financial Times published a big investigation into Temu's parent company PDD and concluded that it's mysterious in ways that publicly traded companies normally aren't. Mystery surrounds basics like who owns the company, where its offices are located, and straightforward aspects of its business model and financials, like what the gross value of its merchandise is: Why does PDD look like much smaller peers when staff levels and research spending are compared? Why haven't competitors described the impact of PDD's rise? Why do balance sheet metrics move at a different pace to revenues? How does a $200bn company own less than $150mn worth of hard assets? The Financial Times investigation makes a strong case that Temu's parent company is indeed mysterious and very unlike other Chinese e-commerce competitors like Alibaba. But it's not clear what conclusion we should draw. (A PDD spokesperson told the FT that it "disagreed" with the characterization of its company as opaque.) Mysterious advertisers might raise red flags However, for Meta and Google, I would humbly suggest that it may not be a great thing if one of your top advertisers has an opaque and mysterious business model that is the subject of a splashy media investigation into how no one seems to know how it makes money. But it all may not matter too much anyway. According to a Business Insider report, the recent ad blitz from Temu and Shein is expected to cool: Ad industry insiders expect the retailer ad spend to continue through much of 2024, before tapering off by next year. Far from being a new category of heavy ad spenders, experts expect the spike from retail marketplaces to be short-lived, like the temporary surges created by the cryptocurrency and buy now, pay later firms a few years ago. Even at $2 billion, Temu's ad spend may not make it stand out. Meta's CFO, Susan Li, told the Journal that of the China ad revenue, Temu, and the other Top 10 ad spenders only accounted for a third of that country's bucket. Ultimately, Meta and Google will be able to handle losing Temu ad revenue, if and when that day comes and they have bigger existential crises on their plates, like Meta's lawsuits over child harm and Google's Gemini bungle. But Temu has quickly become a company with reverberations across all of Big Tech. March 8, 2024 This article has been updated to add comment from a Temu representative. Read the original article on Business Insider The Fort Campbell soldier accused of selling military secrets including details about advanced aircraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles to China made his first appearance in court Friday morning in Nashville. Sgt. Korbein Schultz, 24, was arrested Thursday at his post hours before the six-count federal indictment against him was unsealed. He entered plea of not guilty Friday. Prosecutors allege that since June 2022, Schultz, an Army intelligence analyst, had been selling sensitive U.S. military information to someone in Hong Kong who worked for a geopolitical consulting firm. He shared information about advanced military helicopters, high-mobility artillery rocket systems, defensive missile systems and Chinese military tactics, according to the indictment. Catch up: US Army soldier from Tennessee accused of selling aircraft, missile secrets to China Schultz walked into U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara D. Holmes' courtroom at the Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse in downtown Nashville just after 11:40 a.m. CT Friday. U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Henry C. Leventis announces Thursday the indictment of Sgt. Korbein Schultz, who faces charges of selling military secrets to China. Schultz on Friday pleaded not guilty. He was wearing a plain dark khaki shirt with no design or lettering, black pants and tan boots. His shirt was stretched and distressed at the neck. His hair was in a typical Army cut, and he had tattoos on both forearms. He was shackled at the ankles in orange cuffs. Schultz appeared despondent when entering and kept his eyes down when seated before the hearing began except for glances to the gallery. Four reporters, a handful of lawyers and a defendant for an upcoming case were seated in the gallery. None of Schultz's family was present in the courtroom. Holmes read the charges against Schultz and the maximum sentence each count carries if convicted. Conspiracy to gather, transmit or lose defense information, count 1 in the indictment, carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence if convicted. All three counts of unlawful export of defense articles, as well as the corresponding conspiracy charge, carry a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The count of bribery of a public official carries a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Read the indictment: Tennessee soldier accused of selling military secrets to China: Read full indictment here Schultz was represented by Mary-Kathryn Harcombe, a public defender in Nashville, but he will likely be appointed new counsel. Harcombe told Holmes she believed Schultz qualified based on income and assets for a court-appointed lawyer. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Kurtzman was there for the government. Holmes said that a hearing over whether Schultz will remain in custody until trial will be held before U.S. District Judge Alistair Newbern. That hearing will likely occur sometime next week. Schultz was handcuffed and exited the court at 11:58 a.m. CT. Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EvanMealins. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Korbein Schultz in court: TN soldier accused of selling secrets to China Brooke McQuiddy sorts through some of her mother's possessions in Canadian on March 5, 2024. The mobile home her mother, Melanie McQuiddy, lived in, was on the lot in the background when the fire swept through. Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune Before it burned to a pile of ashes, Melanie McQuiddys house on the outskirts of Canadian was her familys home base. Her daughter and grandchildren flocked there for holidays. At Christmastime, she put a tree in every room and transformed herself into Mimi-Claus, complete with a wig and red costume dress. The family considered the home a place of joy, laughter and shenanigans, she said. Now after the states largest wildfire in history tore across a million acres in the Texas Panhandle the house is gone. So is McQuiddys Steinway piano. Her christening gown. Her family Bible. We have those memories, McQuiddy said, her voice straining with emotion. Ill rebuild again so that my family can return. Part of moving forward is figuring out who is accountable for the damage. McQuiddy, 60, and her lawyers quickly identified what they argue is the culprit: a utility pole that fell over and that appeared rotten at its base. The lawyers filed a similar suit on behalf of another set of plaintiffs on Wednesday. On Thursday, the Texas A&M Forest Service said its investigators determined that power lines caused the Smokehouse Creek fire that burned McQuiddys house, as well as another fire called Windy Deuce. Utility company Xcel Energy said it appeared that its equipment was involved in igniting the Smokehouse Creek fire. But the company denied that it was negligent in maintaining it. The fire was another in a series of man-made catastrophes across the western United States, McQuiddys suit alleged, caused by utility equipment. Xcel Energy already faced hundreds of lawsuits after an official investigation found a loose utility wire caused one ignition point in late 2021 in a destructive Colorado fire, the Denver Post reported. A review of portions of the states electricity code shows utilities have to plan for maintaining their equipment and responding in emergencies, but how they do so is largely left to the companies. State filings from Xcels subsidiary that operated in the area, Southwestern Public Service Company, reveal the company did submit information about how it handles pole inspections and its emergency operations. Even without knowing the fires exact cause, experts say the Panhandle fire shows utilities need to be ready for more extreme weather. This could be a challenge in a state where discussing climate change is often taboo, and where regulators are already stretched as they make sweeping changes to the main electric grid that failed spectacularly during a deadly 2021 freeze. Linemen work on repairing electrical lines near Stinnett on March. 1, 2024. Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune We dont have last centurys climate right now, and we wont have last centurys climate for the many decades ahead, as the impacts of climate change accelerate, said Costa Samaras, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Much of the countrys utility infrastructure went up in the middle of the 20th century, which would mean wood utility poles are reaching the end of their useful lives, Samaras said. Those poles and wires also were built for less extreme weather than what the state is now experiencing. Reinvesting in the system offers a chance to improve for the future. The National Electrical Safety Code generally says that utilities should follow good practices, but doesnt necessarily define what they are, said Alison Silverstein, an energy consultant. And many of the specifics that do exist, such as wind resistance standards, werent written for climate-change-fueled extreme weather. The state rules refer to the national code and also require utilities to file and maintain emergency operation plans that say how they identify weather hazards and how they respond to wildfires. Utilities must file summaries of storm hardening plans that detail construction standards, vegetation management plans and infrastructure improvement plans. And utilities must file plans that say how the utility is inspecting poles and protecting areas that theyve identified where severe weather could cause damage. Utilities have to go beyond baseline standards to address a regions changing risks, said Scott Aaronson, senior vice president of security and preparedness at Edison Electric Institute, a trade association. That involves considering how much risk policymakers will tolerate and how much customers will pay to lower that risk. For example, utilities can wrap poles with fire retardant material, cover wires so theyre less likely to spark if something hits them or use devices to shut power off in a line as soon as it breaks. But that costs money. And engineering has limits, said Brandon Grainger, associate director of the Energy GRID Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. Engineers do the best they can with certain constraints. We're always trying to make life better for everybody, Grainger said. But there's always going to be certain circumstances that the engineers just don't predict that's going to happen, right? In the Panhandle, McQuiddy and her attorneys focused blame on Xcel Energy, its subsidiary Southwestern Public Service Company and a contractor called Osmose that was allegedly responsible for inspecting and maintaining poles and wires including the one that fell. Xcel Energy issued an earlier statement saying it would cooperate with officials and conduct its own investigation. Osmose CEO Mike Adams in another statement said the same. We stand by the quality and accuracy of our utility pole inspections, Adams said. Filings with the state utility commission show that Southwestern Public Service serves around 390,000 customers over 52,000 square miles in Texas and New Mexico. It monitors for fire weather and fire threats. The emergency plan section detailing how was redacted. Last year, the utility reported to the commission that it inspected wood utility poles on a rotating basis and that all poles older than 15 years got a more thorough inspection than someone just looking at them, and were treated to stop or prevent any problems with insects or fungi. Poles out of compliance with the national code were prioritized for replacement or reinforcement, the company said in its report. Dealing with fires comes with life on the Texas plains, said Mcquiddy, who runs a boutique motel. She nervously watched the fire the night before it changed her life. The next day, daylight plummeted to dark. White ash dusted the trees. McQuiddy put three fur coats, four pairs of cowboy boots and her shotgun in the car. She told the house goodbye, and thank you, and she left. A Baptist Southern Convention volunteer drives a Skid Steer to clear Melanie McQuiddy's property. The fence posts are all that remain. Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune Melanie McQuiddys daughter Brooke holds a gold chain recovered from her mother's property after the fire. Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune We cant wait to welcome you to downtown Austin Sept. 5-7 for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival! Join us at Texas breakout politics and policy event as we dig into the 2024 elections, state and national politics, the state of democracy, and so much more. When tickets go on sale this spring, Tribune members will save big. Donate to join or renew today. A United Airlines flight lost one of its tires during takeoff from San Francisco on Thursday, causing the Japan-bound plane to be diverted to Los Angeles, the airline said. United Flight 35 landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport at 1:30 p.m. ET, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. PHOTO: A United Airlines flight loses a landing gear tire as it takes off from San Francisco Airport, Mar. 7, 2024. (Cali Planes) The flight lost a portion of the landing gear tire during takeoff at approximately 11:35 a.m. PT, according to the San Francisco International Airport. Footage from Cali Planes shows the tire falling off seconds after takeoff. The tire debris landed in an employee parking lot at the airport. No one was injured and the runway was briefly closed to clear debris, the airport said. At least one car in the parking lot appeared to be damaged following the incident, footage shows. PHOTO: Damaged cars are seen in a parking lot after a United Airlines airplane lost a landing gear tire while taking off from San Francisco Airport, Mar. 7, 2024. (Buffy Bartley) "We're grateful to our pilots and flight attendants for their professionalism in managing this situation," United said in a statement. "We're also grateful to our teams on the ground who were waiting with a tug to move the aircraft soon after it landed and to our teams in the airport who assisted customers upon their arrival." United said it will work with the owners of the damaged vehicles at the San Francisco International Airport "to ensure their needs are addressed." MORE: 'Thought we were going to die': United Airlines jet makes emergency landing after flames break out in engine The tire was one of 12 on the Boeing 777-200's two main landing gear struts, according to United. "The aircraft is designed to land safely with missing or damaged tires," United said. PHOTO: A United Airlines flight that lost a portion of its landing gear tire is diverted to Los Angeles International Airport, March 7, 2024. (KABC) PHOTO: A United Airlines flight that lost a portion of its landing gear tire is diverted to Los Angeles International Airport, March 7, 2024. (KABC) MORE: Boeing has not handed over key documents in Alaska Airlines door plug probe: NTSB chair The FAA said it will investigate the incident. The flight was bound for Osaka. United said it arranged for a new aircraft to continue the trip for the passengers Thursday evening. There were 235 customers, 10 flight attendants and four pilots on board at the time of the incident, United said. Tire falls off United Airlines flight after takeoff from San Francisco originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Supporters of President Donald Trump gather outside the GovernorOs mansion to protest the election results, in Raleigh, N.C., on Nov. 7, 2020. (Travis Dove/The New York Times) After the 2020 election, one story out of North Carolina had a powerful effect on Donald Trump. A proactive Republican, the story went, had worked behind the scenes to stop Democrats from stealing the election in the state and helped secure Trumps victory there. That Republican was Michael Whatley, the chair of the North Carolina GOP. He had pushed the state party to recruit what he described as thousands of poll observers and hundreds of volunteer lawyers as part of an election-protection program. Trump called Whatley after the election, and Whatley boasted to him about that programs success. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Thats great, Trump replied, as Whatley recounted the conversation in a speech to North Carolina Republicans last year. Why the hell didnt they do that in Arizona and Georgia? Whatley, who became the Republican National Committees general counsel last year, is now poised for a far bigger and more consequential role: Trump hand-picked him to succeed Ronna McDaniel as the committees chair. McDaniel is expected to step aside Friday. Trumps selection of Whatley, whose appointment still awaits a formal vote, sums up the former presidents vision for the new RNC. He wants it to share his obsession with the false idea that President Joe Biden and Democrats stole the 2020 election from him and are working to do it again in 2024. Trump believes Whatley is more in sync with his views about voter fraud than McDaniel, and he has insisted that Whatley will stop Democrats from cheating in November, according to two people who have spoken to Trump and who insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations. But the story that stuck with Trump that his victory in North Carolina had hinged on Whatleys election-watchdog work was just that: a story, based only loosely on reality. Local election officials and national Republican leaders saw the North Carolina GOPs 2020 election-protection program as well organized, but hardly as the reason for Trumps victory there. Despite Whatleys boasts to Trump, in the days after the election, he and other party officials publicly attributed the victory in North Carolina to their robust efforts to get out the vote and to Trumps own appearance there before Election Day. Moreover, Whatley himself has a more mixed record than Trump may realize on the former presidents No. 1 issue. While he often sounds like a loyal soldier in the effort to falsely discredit Bidens win, at other times he has distanced himself from the most extreme conspiracy theories promoted by Trump and his allies. The RNC leadership changes expected to start Friday serve as yet another example of an institution being shaped to fit the mold of what Trump wants it to be rather than what it was actually built for. It remains unclear whether everything will fall into place as he and his supporters envision it. Guard the Vote In November and December 2020, a frantic Trump was scrounging to find lawyers to file increasingly audacious lawsuits to challenge his election loss. His demands were so outlandish that Washingtons elite class of Republican lawyers suddenly became unavailable to the president of the United States. There was perhaps no more anxious place at that time than the Republican Partys headquarters in Washington. Officials there tried to insulate themselves from what many saw as a clownish scheme unbound from law and evidence. Of the 65 lawsuits that Trump and his allies filed after the 2020 election, the RNC attached its name to only four, according to Democracy Docket, which tracks the cases. This time around, Trump wants the RNC to be far more aggressive in training poll watchers and filing lawsuits, both before and after the November election. He is already claiming, without evidence, that Democrats are plotting to steal the presidential election. The committee has invested substantially in so-called election integrity efforts, at Trumps insistence. But it has not been enough to satisfy him, or some of his allies. On the campaign trail Trump has praised a plan first pushed by his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn to guard the vote during the 2024 election, with an emphasis on heavily Democratic cities with large Black populations. Michael Whatley will bring in active leadership in the form of election integrity, as opposed to a passive-slash-reactive approach, said Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump campaign adviser who is expected to soon move over to the RNC to run its operations in the general election. A spokesperson for Whatley declined to answer questions for this article. If theres another tight race in swing states this fall, the RNC will be far more active after Election Day than it was in 2020, said Steve Bannon, a far-right podcast host and former chief strategist to Trump. Its the MAGA takeover of the RNC, Bannon said in an interview. Whatley is no doubt familiar with the RNCs existing efforts on election integrity, having served as its general counsel. He has kept an eye on, but has not played a direct role in, the dozens of lawsuits the committee has filed to challenge voting laws in key states ahead of the 2024 election. And he has worked with state parties to bolster their own election integrity work. His work in North Carolina setting up the poll observers, which he claimed served as a deterrence for voter malfeasance, has also drawn attention from Trump and his associates, though there is no evidence of mass voter fraud attempted in North Carolina or elsewhere. As RNC chair, Whatley will face intense pressure to embrace the most extreme versions of Trumps obsession with the false idea that the 2020 election was stolen. To some of the activists leading that movement in North Carolina and beyond, Whatley is viewed as insufficiently hard-line for that role. He is an understated lawyer who worked in the George W. Bush administration and lobbied for energy companies before showing up in Florida as a volunteer during the 2016 campaign and later endearing himself to key Trump aides. He has broadly embraced the notion that Democrats cheated in elections in states outside of North Carolina. But he has also negated the conspiracy theory spread by Trump that election machines were hacked to switch votes. According to a North Carolina party leader who insisted on anonymity to speak freely about Whatley, he privately told people that, contrary to the conspiracy theory, election machines are not connected to the internet and do indeed have a paper trail. In 2021, Whatley said in an interview with National Public Radio that he agreed with the Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, that Joe Biden was the rightfully elected president since he got the most electoral votes. That same year, under Whatleys leadership, the North Carolina GOP resisted calls for a so-called forensic audit in the style of the discredited effort organized by Republican Arizona legislators. At one event, held on a farm outside Greensboro, North Carolina, in September 2021, hecklers booed Whatley as he tried to explain to the crowd that unlike in Arizona and Georgia, the election in North Carolina had gone smoothly, according to a video posted by the right-wing website Gateway Pundit. Thats a lie, Michael! one person in the crowd shouted, the video showed. Whos Our Enemy? As Whatley prepares to lead the RNC, the pressure on him from those who falsely believe the 2020 election was stolen from Trump is likely to be even more intense. The movement that has organized around that notion has already permeated the partys official structure and has helped reshape what was once a bastion of old-guard Republicanism. For decades, the committee was sharply limited from directly engaging in election protection work because of a consent decree it signed in the 1980s after it was sued for racist practices. Those alleged practices included setting up a ballot security task force of armed off-duty police officers to patrol polling sites in Black and Latino neighborhoods and trying to remove vast numbers from the voting rolls. After the consent decree expired, the RNC developed a program ahead of the 2022 midterms that funded and placed election integrity trainers and lawyers in state parties around the country, to recruit and train election observers and temporary poll workers based on the local laws and rules. These new election integrity RNC officials have often been involved with a national network of activists organized by Cleta Mitchell, a Trump legal ally who played a key role in the former presidents effort to overturn the 2020 election. Mitchell was knitting together many of the groups that had sprung up in swing states in response to Trumps 2020 election lies and conspiracy theories. She offered them a way to get more closely involved in election offices, election board meetings and polling places. But the RNC officials were also operating out of some caution, mindful of not wanting to create the conditions for another legal battle that had limited their election integrity work for decades. The RNC then became a convenient dumping ground for recriminations after disastrous 2022 midterms for Republicans. Republicans fared far worse than expected, but instead of focusing on the liabilities of candidates backed by Trump who had pushed lies about the election system and been rejected by voters, Trump allies blamed the RNC. They pressured the committee to take more aggressive and expansive actions to stop what they falsely claimed was mass voter fraud. Mitchell sent the committee a letter last year asking for closer coordination with her group. When asked about the letter, she said she also sent one on the topic to the Democratic National Committee. Earlier this year, Turning Point Action, the political arm of a prominent conservative organization with close ties to Trump, organized a shadow RNC event standing for Restoring National Confidence for hundreds of local party chairs and state party officials from swing states timed to coincide with the official RNC annual winter meeting in Las Vegas. The event was aimed at pressuring the RNC to be more aggressive. Mike Lindell, the pillow salesperson and vocal Trump ally who has spent millions of his own dollars spreading conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, was there. He and his associates spent hours speaking at the event. They ran through conspiracy theories about election machines and implored the party leaders present to demand practices such as hand-counting ballots without any election machines actions deemed disruptive and unnecessary by many election officials. Doug Frank, an elections activist promoting conspiracy theories, gave a presentation as a member of Lindells team. He said he showed people how election fraud is disenfranchising them from their constitutional rights, which empowers them to nullify any state law or any state policy that does that. The Republican Party is his biggest opposition, he said during his presentation, foreshadowing the pressure that will come to bear on the incoming RNC chair. Whos our enemy? Frank asked. Is our enemy the Democrats? No. Its our own party, the Republican Party. c.2024 The New York Times Company Trump says hes going to do a Play by Play of State of the Union (The Hill) Former President Trump said he will do a Play by Play of President Bidens upcoming State of the Union address. I am pleased to inform you that tomorrow night we will be doing a LIVE, Play by Play, of Crooked Joe Bidens State of the Union Address, Trump said in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, not clarifying as to what platform the Play by Play would happen on. Former President Trump speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., on Saturday, February 24, 2024. (Greg Nash/The Hill) I will correct, in rapid response, any and all inaccurate Statements, especially pertaining to the Border and his Weaponization of the [Department of Justice], FBI, [attorney generals], and District Attorneys, to go after his Political Opponent, ME (something never done before in this Country!), Trump continued. We did this once before to tremendous success Beating All Records. It is important for the Country to get the TRUTH! The former president made a similar announcement last year about doing a Play by Play of Bidens address, saying that if the speech was properly done, and if Joe has just a modestly good night, this speech has the opportunity to rival any of the Worlds great orators, including, Lincoln, Washington, and, of course, the late, great, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Winston Churchill. Watch Truth Social tonight, Trump continued. Enjoy! The former presidents announcement follows a successful Super Tuesday in his bid to regain the presidency, sweeping most of the Republican primary contests. His only remaining GOP primary rival, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, dropped out of the race Wednesday. Haley said it is up to Trump to earn the support of her voters. At its best, politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away. And our conservative cause badly needs more people, Haley said. This is now his time for choosing. Biden welcomed Haley supporters to his campaign Wednesday in a statement, saying that [t]here is a place for them in my campaign. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Back in 2016, as journalists grappled with the challenge of covering Donald Trumps campaign, some turned for inspiration to legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow, whose televised report about Joseph McCarthybroadcast 70 years ago this Saturday, on the CBS series See It Nowis often cited as the beginning of the end for the Wisconsin senator. If Murrows courageous truth-telling succeeded in taking down one infamous American demagogue, the thinking went, perhaps his successors today could do the same to Trump. Todays media seems to be having a bit of its own Murrow moment, directly confronting presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and his high-level supporters with charges of racism, Ryan Grim, The Huffington Posts D.C. bureau chief at the time, wrote in June 2016. A month later, professor David Mindich wrote at Columbia Journalism Review that modern-day journalists are acting a lot like Murrow, pushing explicitly against Donald Trump. After Trump won the White House nonetheless, calls for a Murrow moment grew more desperate. Perhaps if a Murrow arises with an ability to capture Trumps indecency in a clear, coherent, resonant way, former Congressman Steve Israel wrote in 2018, that indecency will join the history books next to McCarthys, where it belongs. Were waiting. Six years later, we are still waiting. Once again, our media must cover a presidential campaign with the highest possible stakes, but this time the race feels both unprecedented and painfully familiar. It remains tempting to hope for a Murrow moment, when a brave journalistor, more realistically in this age, an overwhelming chorus of journalistscould change the course of history by exposing Trump once and for all. But a fresh look at the evidence reveals that our collective memory of Murrows famed McCarthy broadcast is false, or at least incomplete, thereby obscuring the lessons that we might learn from it. Though it seems the only episode of See It Now remembered well today, the Report on Senator McCarthy was an unusual installment of the landmark television newsmagazine, which Murrow co-produced with Fred Friendly from 1951 to 1958. Using what Murrow and Friendly called the little picture, a human-sized narrative that illuminates a larger issue, See It Now in 1953 had explored the evils of McCarthyism without ever naming the senator, profiling an Air Force lieutenant who suffered guilt by association and dramatizing the public debate over whether to let the American Civil Liberties Union start a chapter in Indianapolis. But on March 9, 1954, Murrow and Friendly explicitly challenged McCarthy, stringing together clips of the senator to expose his lies and highlight his repulsive behavior. The technique they developedindicting a mendacious politician with his own wordshas become so commonplace that its difficult to appreciate how new and surprising it was seven decades ago. But did it have the intended effect? Two days after the broadcast, CBS said it had been flooded with letters, telegrams, and phone calls from grateful viewersthe largest spontaneous response we have ever known, running 15-to-1 in support of Murrow. Later analyses, however, raised questions about whether the program actually changed a significant number of minds. See It Now had a relatively small audience; fewer than two-thirds of American homes with televisions could even tune in to CBS for the McCarthy broadcast. While opinion leaders such as The New York Times praised the program, a broader survey of newspaper coverage conducted by media historian Brian Thornton found no more than a handful of editorial responses to the show, suggesting it had a more limited impact on the American consciousness. Murrow himself consistently denied that See It Now brought down McCarthybecause, as the journalism scholar W. Joseph Campbell has noted, the senator had already started losing popular support before the broadcast. McCarthy had set his own downfall in motion the year before by making the U.S. Army the target of his latest investigation. This put him on a collision course with the leader of his party, President Dwight Eisenhower, and eventually led to the Army-McCarthy hearings, which would prove the senators Waterloo. Ahead of those hearings, Murrows attack gave McCarthy what he needed: a platform. Before the March 9 episode of See It Now, the senator had tried and failed to pressure the Federal Communications Commission into forcing the television networks to give him free airtime. But the Murrow broadcast included an offer of what McCarthy wanted: equal time to respond on CBS. McCarthy used that half hour on April 6 not just to falsely accuse Murrow of aiding the Communist Party, but to claim the existence of a vast, anti-American conspiracy that, he implied, included J. Robert Oppenheimer. The controversy surrounding Murrows program ensured McCarthys response enjoyed a larger audiencereaching more than 5.7 million homes, according to one estimate, which was at least 2.4 million more than the original show. In some retellings of the Murrow-McCarthy conflict, this was the moment when the senator destroyed himself, giving such a repulsive performance that viewers could only recoil. But a contemporary survey conducted by the Roper Organization suggests a different, more muddled reaction. Two-thirds of respondents said theyd either watched or learned of McCarthys broadcast. Of those, nearly half said McCarthy had either Proved Murrow pro-Communist (17 percent) or Raised doubts about him (32 percent). Another 26 percent said McCarthy had falsely accused Murrow; the rest couldnt say one way or the other. Of course, one would expect an unusually high number of McCarthy supporters to have tuned in to See It Now for his response, thus distorting the comparison with the more typical audience for Murrows March 9 show. Yet these results reveal the central problem with the myth of the Murrow moment, and the false expectations it creates. The idea that Murrow tackled Senator McCarthy when he was his most powerful and exposed him as a fraud, as the historian William Manchester put it, is appealing because it suggests that truth is powerful enough to topple a demagogue. But facts and rational argument can never adequately counter demagoguery; the public always responds more strongly to emotional truths than factual ones. McCarthys reply, like Murrows original report, had been a Rorschach test; viewers believed whom they were predisposed to believe. Even after the senators popularity cratered following the Army-McCarthy hearings, polls showed he still enjoyed the support of more than one-third of the public, which had been the stubborn core of his base all along. Murrow understood that McCarthyism was bigger than the actions of a single senator, as he explained near the end of his March 9 broadcast. McCarthy, he said, didnt create this situation of fear; he merely exploited itand rather successfully. The roots of that fear, Murrow believed, could be traced to a public that had forgotten its democratic heritage. As he often did, he encouraged his audience to draw strength and inspiration from American history, reminding them they came from a nation built on the free and open exchange of ideas, before suggesting such fearless dialogue offered the only antidote to McCarthyism. We can deny our heritage and our history, Murrow warned, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result. Murrows devotion to these principles came from experience; in covering World War II from the Blitz to Buchenwald, he saw what happens when democracy fails. His best work sought to involve the audience in the democratic process, and when he criticized a politician like McCarthy for betraying American ideals, he did so having first communicated why those ideals matter. In a 1961 speech, his last before leaving CBS, Murrow warned his colleagues that the future of American democracy depended on whether the public remained convinced that that system still worked. Journalists, he suggested, had a responsibility to show them it could. If a deceived or confused public is betrayed into creating an America in which it loses its faith, democracy will not survive, Murrow said. Neither will it survive if the efforts to inform people, to enlighten them, to argue with themfinally convince them that the nations problems are beyond their grasp. If the people finally believe either that they cannot cope with Americas problems, or that those who inform, those who argue, and those who act are inept or malign or both, then distrust, dissatisfaction, fear and laziness can combine to turn them in desperation to that strong man who can take them only to destruction. Seventy years after the McCarthy broadcast, we should remember Murrow not for the mythological notion that he single-handedly brought down a demagogue, but for understanding and combatting the conditions that empower all demagogues. We need journalism that holds dishonest leaders to account, but we also need true Murrow moments that show our democratic system when it works, and communicate how it can work better. If we expect the American people to resist the global lure of authoritarianism, we need to show them why our democracy is worth renewing. Murrows example teaches that in order to rebuild public trust in the news media and other American institutions, todays journalists cannot simply be democracys chroniclers or watchdogsthey must also be its advocates and defenders. [Source] Noh theater, a traditional Japanese art form with a deeply rooted male-dominated history, has seen a notable rise in female participation in recent years. About the art form: Noh, an intricate theatrical art originating in 8th-century Japan, features elaborate costumes, handcrafted masks and mythical narratives. While contemporary Noh has gradually opened its doors to female performers, they still comprise a small minority of professional practitioners, according to Agence France-Presse. Breaking barriers: Actor Mayuko Kashiwazaki is one of the few actively working to increase the visibility of female Noh performers. This is evident in her recent staging of classic Noh play "Dojoji" with a primarily female cast. However, a lack of female specialists has resulted in certain roles, such as the "waki" (often a priest or monk), still being exclusively played by men. Why it matters: Although women represent only 15% of registered Noh actors and musicians, their presence signifies a shift towards inclusivity. Kashiwazaki emphasizes the limited opportunities for female performers, attributing it to Noh's predominantly older audience perceiving it as a masculine art form. Trending on NextShark: Godzilla Minus One earns historic win at the Oscars "'Dojoji' is an extremely important piece for Noh actors," Kashiwazaki told the AFP. She added that one would, "have to be very lucky to get a chance to perform it, even once in your life. Because I was lucky enough to have this opportunity, I thought it would be great to stage it with other female Noh actors." Other facets of the art form: Women are also making strides in the traditionally male-dominated craft of Noh mask carving, according to the New York Times. Mitsue Nakamura, a celebrated mask carver, breaks barriers by mentoring a new generation of female apprentices. While Nakamura still adheres closely to centuries-old standards, artisans Keiko Udaka and Shuko Nakamura have been creating innovative masks outside the traditional designs. In Japanese comic theater: The Kyogen theater, which is historically intertwined with Noh performances, also grapples with gender disparities. While no formal bans exist, a legacy of male exclusivity also endures in this traditional Japanese comic theater. The duo of Junko Izumi and Tokuro Miyake, descendants of a kyogen lineage spanning 19 generations, are now challenging male dominance in this comedic art form. Trending on NextShark: Elodie Yung on power of storytelling in shaping perspectives on undocumented immigrants in The Cleaning Lady Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! JERUSALEM, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel said Friday that it "welcomed" the inauguration of the maritime corridor from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip aimed at boosting the humanitarian aid to the embattled Palestinian enclave. "The Cypriot initiative will allow the increase of humanitarian aid to Gaza," Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lior Haiat said in a statement, without specifying the time frame for the arrival of the first shipment. Haiat noted that Israel will control the entry of aid into Gaza by "conducting security checks in accordance with Israeli standards." During a visit to the Cypriot port of Larnaca, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Friday it is hopeful that the maritime corridor for providing humanitarian aid to Gaza would open this Sunday, according to a press release by the Cypriot Ministry of Interior. The EU chief noted that an initial pilot operation will be launched Friday for the maritime corridor initiated by Cyprus, the EU, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Britain, and the United States. The delivery of aid to Gaza is of critical urgency as the humanitarian crisis in the enclave has been worsening since Israel launched a large-scale offensive in Gaza to retaliate against a deadly Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 last year. The Israeli offensive has so far killed more than 30,800 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. A North Carolina man will serve 27 years in prison after he was convicted of second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and use of a firearm in the commission of a murder. Michael Anthony Cerillo, 54, was sentenced to 48 years total, with 21 years suspended, for the July 2022 murder of Rustburg man Robert William Staton. During a jury trial on Feb. 23, Cerillo, of Lexington, North Carolina, testified he shot Staton, 33, in self-defense during an encounter at the entrance of the parking lot of First St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church on U.S. 501 in Campbell County. However, Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Eric Harrison said Cerillo was motivated by revenge after believing Staton had stolen thousands of dollars worth of marijuana from him. The stolen drugs were not recovered, according to testimony from the two-day jury trial in Campbell Circuit Court. Donna Staton, mother of Robert Staton, testified Thursday that she and her family may never get over his death. She said Robert leaves behind his sister and daughter, who Staton said made him happier than anything has his whole life. I have moments when I still dont want to get out of bed, she said. Losing a child is something you never get over. Jim Cerillo, father of Michael Cerillo, testified his son was a caring and loving kid, a person who cared a lot about helping other people. Its been a painful situation, Jim Cerillo said. Walking off the stand, Jim Cerillo turned to Robert Statons loved ones and said, Im truly sorry for your family. During closing arguments, Harrison said this case was about a drug dealer getting revenge on someone who had taken from him. Harrison went on to describe Cerillos previous convictions and a felony drug charge from 2019, adding Cerillo hunted Staton down and shot him in the face. He said Cerillo had a chance to better himself and he didnt do it. Gary Straw, defense attorney for Cerillo, said during closing arguments testimonies show the defendant doesnt have a violent history. Straw asked the court for a lesser sentence so Cerillo can have time in the later parts of his life to enjoy family time. Theres another side to this man, Straw said in court. After court, Straw told The News & Advance that Cerillo fully intends to appeal the decision, but the sentence was within the guideline range. Harrison told The News & Advance the case was gut wrenching for the family; and he remained consistent that the events leading to Statons death were driven by revenge, rage and anger. Its an impossible thing to say what a persons life is worth, Harrison said of the sentence, but added the commonwealth is happy to get some justice for Statons family. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Three escaped inmates from the eastern Caribbean island of Grenada were charged in the killing of a U.S. couple whose catamaran they hijacked, police said Thursday. Ron Mitchell, a 30-year-old sailor; Atiba Stanislaus, a 25-year-old farmer; and Trevon Robertson, a 23-year-old unemployed man, were charged with capital murder, escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery and kidnapping. Stanislaus also was charged with one count of rape, according to a statement from the Royal Grenada Police Force. The men appeared in court on Thursday and were ordered held in prison until their hearing in late March. They were accused of escaping from a police holding cell on Feb. 18 and hijacking a catamaran owned by Ralph Henry and Kathy Brandel while they were aboard. Authorities said they believe the couple was thrown overboard as the suspects sailed to nearby St. Vincent, where they were arrested on Feb. 21. The three men were ordered deported from St. Vincent on Monday. The nonprofit Salty Dawg Sailing Association described Hendry and Brandel as veteran cruisers who participated in last years Caribbean Rally from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua, and had planned to spend the winter cruising in the eastern Caribbean. Their bodies have not been found. TOKYO, Mar 08 (News On Japan) - Hotel prices in Japan have shot through the roof, leaving locals struggling to find affordable accommodation, while foreign tourists seem unfazed. A tourist from Australia mentioned spending about 30,000 yen per night for a three-week stay, totaling 600,000 yen, which they consider normal. Meanwhile, a European visitor staying in Tokyo for a week finds the rate of 70,000 yen per night surprisingly affordable compared to European prices, which can be double that amount. On the other hand, a woman from Aichi Prefecture finds the rates in Tokyo's city center, exceeding 10,000 yen per night, too steep. She was shocked to find a seafood bowl in Tsukiji priced over 5,000 yen, joking that it seemed one zero too many for their budget. The average hotel price in Tokyo has surged from around 6,000 yen during the pandemic to nearly 16,000 yen now. The era of fixed prices has given way to dynamic pricing, where rates fluctuate in real-time based on supply and demand. This aggressive pricing is supported by strong inbound demand, but it's the business travelers who are feeling the pinch. A male company employee noted that the influx of foreign guests makes it difficult for domestic business travelers to afford the rates, sometimes resorting to capsule hotels or manga cafes when budgets are exceeded. TOKYO, Mar 09 (News On Japan) - Renowned manga artist Akira Toriyama, known for iconic works such as "Dragon Ball" and "Dr. Slump," has passed away due to an acute subdural hematoma. He was 68 years old. Toriyama left an indelible mark on the industry with his imaginative creations and dynamic storytelling. His series "DRAGON BALL" not only captivated readers in Japan but also gained a massive international following, contributing significantly to the global popularity of Japanese manga and anime. Toriyama's work on "Dr. Slump," which predated "DRAGON BALL," showcased his unique sense of humor and set the foundation for his future success. His distinct art style, characterized by vibrant characters and detailed worlds, became a staple of his storytelling and influenced generations of manga artists. Fans and industry professionals have taken to social media to express their condolences and share how Toriyama's work touched their lives. On Twitter, tributes are pouring in, with one fan writing, "Akira Toriyama's 'DRAGON BALL' was a huge part of my childhood. His passing is a great loss to the manga community." The impact of Toriyama's work extends beyond manga; "DRAGON BALL" was adapted into a highly successful anime series and spawned numerous video games, movies, and merchandise. His influence can be seen in the countless manga and anime that have followed in his footsteps, incorporating elements of his action-packed sequences and character designs. A private funeral was held with close family members. Announcement from the production company: To all fans and associates, It is with sudden and profound sadness that we announce the passing of manga artist Akira Toriyama on March 1, 2024, due to an acute subdural hematoma. He was 68 years old. Toriyama was passionately involved in numerous projects and undoubtedly had many more aspirations to fulfill. His loss is deeply regrettable. However, as a manga artist, he left behind an indelible legacy with his numerous creations. His work has been supported and cherished by people worldwide for over 45 years. We sincerely hope that Akira Toriyama's unique world of art will continue to be loved and cherished by many for years to come. We express our deepest gratitude for the kindness shown during his lifetime and humbly inform you of his passing. The funeral was conducted privately with close family members. In accordance with the wishes of the deceased for privacy, we respectfully decline visits, condolence money, offerings, flowers, and other expressions of sympathy. We also kindly request that you refrain from interviewing the family. Details regarding any future memorial service are currently undecided and will be announced in due course. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time. Source: Yahoo! Japan The Luther College Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Daniel Baldwin, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs. The concert, which is open to the public with a freewill donation at the door, is part of the Symphony Orchestras spring 2024 tour, according to a news release. The program begins with Three Dance Episodes" from Leonard Bernsteins On the Town. The orchestra will once again perform "Pelleas et Melisande Suite, Op. 80" by Gabriel Faure along with Introduction and Gopak from The Fair at Sorochinsk by Modest Mussorgsky, Siegfried Idyll by Richard Wagner and Huapango by Jose Pablo Moncayo. Hailey Carlson, a 2023 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School who is majoring in economics, is a member of the orchestra, according to a Council Bluffs Community Schools spokesperson. The group is the Decorah-based college's and oldest orchestral ensemble and is one of four main touring ensembles. In addition to domestic appearances, the symphony maintains a three-week residency in Vienna every four years. More than 70 student musicians perform with the orchestra. Many are also involved in chamber music, choir, band or a jazz ensemble. The symphony had month-long residencies in Vienna, Austria, in 2019 and 2023. Pottwattamie County Emergency Management requested the State Fire Marshall lift the current ban in effective Friday afternoon following morning precipitation. Open burning is now allowable throughout the county except in any municipal city limits where there is a standing ordinance prohibiting open burning on a regular basis, according to a news release. Council Bluffs has such an ordinance. Residents are to continue using extreme caution whenever burning. The county is still experiencing abnormally dry conditions and seasonal outlooks indicate that will continue. Additionally, all residents are encouraged to sign up for Alert Iowa emergency notifications at pcema-ia.org. Previous coverage Pottawattamie County under burn ban due to dry conditions Pottawattamie County Emergency Management declared a ban on burning across the county. When I was trying to acquire all the Pulitzer Prize winners of fiction, I spent a lot of time in used bookstores hunting for copies of older, out-of-print books. It was an enjoyable enterprise, and I managed to track down quite a few of the books I wanted, but a couple of them eluded me, so The European Union is planning to offer 210 million euros to help Mauritania curb illegal migration to the Canary Islands, which reported a record number of arrivals last year. The batch includes 60 million to be allocated to migration management, the Financial Times reported. The rest will be invested in security, economic development, and humanitarian aid in Mauritania, which emerged as the main departure point for West African migrants bound for the Canary Islands. In the first two months of 2024, almost 12,000 people arrived on the Canary Islands by boat, according to the Spanish interior ministry, compared to fewer than 2,000 in the same period last year. EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson, Spanish interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Belgiums asylum state secretary Nicole De Moor will travel to Nouakchott to sign the migration cooperation deal, the Financia Times reported. Spanish officials say that 8 out of ten migrant boats depart from Mauritania. Last year, the Canary Islands accounted for most arrivals in Spain with near 40,000, compared with 56,852 migrants that entered the country by land or sea in 2023. In contrast, thanks to increased monitoring by Moroccan patrols, the number of arrivals into Spanish occupied enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla dropped by 62% to six attempts involving 1400 migrants in 2023. France has said it will keep its 1,000 troops in junta-run Chad amid waning French influence after it was ousted from several African countries over the past few years, just as apparent calm has returned to Chads capital NDjamena following the assassination of an opposition leader. Of course we will stay in Chad, said Jean-Marie Bockel, French President Emmanuel Macrons envoy, on Thursday (7 March) following a meeting with General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno who has de facto ruled the country since 2021. According to Bockel, the French president had requested talks with Chadian authorities on an evolution of his countrys military deployment to better adapt it to growing regional security and military issues. The envoy also said he conveyed Paris admiration to Deby Itno for the countrys transition to civilian rule after he took power following his fathers three-decade iron-fisted rule. France will thus keep troops in Chad after French soldiers and diplomats were expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger last year after the three countries the military staged coups against governments that aligned with the West, mainly Paris. All three military-run governments also formed a military alliance, and declared a number of economic steps revoking previous French exploitation of their countries resources. While French influence has waned in its former West African colonies that have strengthened ties with Russia, the de-facto Chads ruler has since pursued stronger ties with Paris. Meanwhile, Deby Itno has announced he planned to run in this years long-delayed presidential race days after his main opponent was killed in murky circumstances. The authorities have also confirmed that Debys uncle, Gen Saleh Deby Itno, had been arrested in the wake of the recent events. The abduction of more than 100 Nigerian school students reportedly occurred in the town of Kuriga in the north-western region. Witnesses stated that armed individuals on motorcycles entered the schools assembly area around 08:30, taking away students aged between eight and 15, along with a teacher. This incident marks a resurgence in mass abductions of children, contrasting with a recent decline in such events. One student was injured and is receiving medical treatment at Birnin Gwari Hospital. The state government of Kaduna confirmed the incident without providing detailed information. Recent kidnappings, including the killing of a school principal and abduction of his wife in January, have heightened concerns. Although unrelated, this incident follows fears of Boko Harams involvement in the abduction of women and children in northeastern Nigeria. The criminal gangs responsible for kidnappings in the northwest operate separately from Boko Haram, although occasional collaboration has been reported. Efforts to combat kidnapping, including legislation criminalizing ransom payments, have been implemented, though enforcement remains a challenge. In a separate incident, a family denied police claims of their daughters rescue, indicating payment of ransom. Rani Kolhi, a professional dump truck driver, poses for a photo in south Pakistan's Sindh province. (Thar Coal Block-II Coal Electricity Integration project/Handout via Xinhua) by Misbah Saba Malik ISLAMABAD, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Adeela Rehman works as a human resource manager in Thar Coal Block-II Coal Electricity Integration project with her Pakistani and Chinese colleagues to play a part in the development of her country. In talks with Xinhua, Rehman said that she got an equal opportunity as men to showcase her professional skills and make a mark, adding that the project not only enhances her managerial skills but also positions her as a beacon of empowerment for women in her community. The project, located in the remote Thar district of Pakistan's south Sindh province and built by China Machinery Engineering Corporation, has a major power plant under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to help the country meet its electricity demands by using locally available coal. "During my work experience at the project, I found that empowering women resonates deeply with CPEC as it provides good opportunities for skillful women to pursue their dreams and break through societal barriers," Rehman added. Launched in 2013, CPEC, a flagship project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a corridor linking Pakistan's southwest Gwadar port with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, highlighting energy, transport, and industrial cooperation. On International Women's Day, Rehman, along with hundreds of women linked directly or indirectly with CPEC in Pakistan, was celebrating her empowerment, socio-economic advancement, and professional growth arising from economic cooperation between the two countries. Zaitoon Abdullah, a prominent female social activist from Gwadar, is greatly impressed by opportunities offered to local women through CPEC's vocational training center. Women in Gwadar are skilled at basic stitching and sewing, but they haven't had many chances to use them because of limited opportunities in the area, Abdullah, head of the training center, told Xinhua. "The training center established under CPEC aims to empower these talented but underprivileged women by offering them a platform to enhance their skills and utilize them for financial benefits," she said. In its initial phase, the center focused on producing uniforms for employees of Chinese companies. Equipped with modern machinery, the center is poised to evolve into a garment factory, wherein locally crafted dresses will be distributed and sold throughout Balochistan province. Abdullah said that women who were previously earning meager incomes from home-based work are now able to secure substantial earnings, and are contributing significantly to their families' financial well-being. CPEC's Thar Coal Block-II Coal Electricity Integration project also provided local uneducated women farmers an opportunity to break stereotypes by incorporating them in a skilled workforce after a six-month rigorous training as dump truck drivers. Rani Kolhi, a mother of three, defeated hunger and distress by standing up for herself and her kids to be a professional dump truck driver, a job many strong men in her area hesitated to do. "I knew it would be challenging to stand up against stereotypes, but CPEC acted as a driving factor to help me recognize my worth and strength. The journey was hard, and I had to face skepticism from the society and challenges both on professional and personal fronts, but I believed in success, and today working as a senior driver I am not only financially independent but also a source of inspiration for other women," Kolhi told Xinhua. A woman works at Pak-China Technical And Vocational Institute in southwest Pakistan's Gwadar. (Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute/Handout via Xinhua) The Algeria-backed armed militia of Polisario should be prosecuted for war crimes committed by recruiting child soldiers in blatant violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention. At a meeting held Thursday on the sidelines of the ongoing 55th session of UN Human Rights Council, participants urged the international community to take firm action to put an end to the recruitment and use of children as fighters by Polisario in Tindouf camps in violation of childs rights to a normal and safe life. Abdelkader Filali, Head of the International Research Center for the Prevention of Child Soldiers, said the Polisario members abduct children from their families and enlist them in paramilitary schools. They inculcate them violence and delusional of heroism, turning them into unbalanced persons suffering from major psychological disorders. For his part, human rights activist Pedro Altamirano deplored the deteriorating living conditions in the Tindouf camps, the violation of the basic rights of children and the embezzlement of humanitarian aid by the Polisario leaders. He urged Algeria to allow UNHRC to conduct a census of the Sahrawis held in the Tindouf camps, denouncing the obstruction of the return of the sequestered Sahrawis to their motherland, Morocco. Human rights activist Gajmoula Boussif decried the abuse, ill-treatment, violence and sexual exploitation of Sahrawi women and girls by the Polisario militiamen in the camps in connivance with Algerian military officers, saying it is high time to hold accountable the Polisario separatists for the crimes they committed and bring them to justice. The Geneva meeting was organized by the Independent Human rights Commission for North Africa. Photo: Shawn Thew/Bloomberg via Getty Images Every State of the Union address is a big opportunity for the president in office to speak at length to an unusually large audience under the guise of assessing the countrys condition. This one, however, could be crucial to Joe Biden because of its timing. The intraparty rivals to his and Donald Trumps nominations withdrew from contention earlier this week. Theres been a recent flare-up of worry about Bidens age. The incumbents standing in general-election trial polls has deteriorated significantly. The gap between perceptions of the economy and perceptions of the presidents economic stewardship is now getting large. There are also very real questions about what the country is doing on multiple fronts internationally as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East reach critical junctures. So Biden took the podium before a joint session of Congress facing two critical political tasks if he hopes to win a second term in November: improving his job-approval ratings and vividly reminding people of the many risks associated with returning Trump to power. The very aggressive address Biden delivered showed the premium his camp places on the latter task. He got around to touting and defending his record. But he began with a scorching attack on Trump for bowing down to Putin, for burying the truth of January 6, and for being responsible for reversing Roe v. Wade, bragging about it, and planning to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom. He ended this last line of attack by exclaiming: My God, what freedoms will you take away next? In a departure from his prepared text, he even warned the U.S. Supreme Court that they might soon feel the political power of women. Biden: My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6th. I will not do that. This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here's the simple truth. You can't love your country only when you win. pic.twitter.com/Iy6yZGeqZi Acyn (@Acyn) March 8, 2024 When Biden did turn to his own record of accomplishments, he regularly jabbed and mocked Trump and Republicans for their unpopular positions and obstructionism. Some attack lines were familiar, such as taunting the GOP for its ill-suppressed desire to cut Social Security and Medicare and vowing to stop a renewal of Trumps efforts to repeal Obamacare, protect Big Pharma, cut taxes on the wealthy, deny climate change, and stop gun-safety efforts. Some lines were new, including Bidens attack on my predecessor for not matching his tough talk on China with action. Taking on his greatest policy vulnerability, the president also blasted Trump for blocking a bipartisan border deal. This last passage led to an extended, direct presidential confrontation with Marjorie Taylor Greene, who broke every rule of decorum by wearing a MAGA hat in the House chamber and had already accosted Biden before his address, handing him a button referring to the murder of University of Georgia student Laken Riley, allegedly by an undocumented immigrant. As she shouted at him, Biden challenged MTG, Trump, and congressional Republicans to forget about election-year politics and pass the border bill. Marjorie Taylor Greene confronts Joe Biden during the State of the Union address about border security. She shouted out the name of a woman allegedly killed by an undocumented immigrant https://t.co/K8HpzUjUse pic.twitter.com/ihtfR9tBPM Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) March 8, 2024 In perhaps the quietest section of the speech, Biden restated his position on the Israel-Hamas war, emphasizing not only his commitment to a two-state solution but his order for the U.S. military to surge humanitarian aid into Gaza, as a few Democrats silently held up Ceasefire Now signs. He saved perhaps his cleverest gambit for near the end, mentioning his own age (very much the elephant in every room Biden enters this year) but identifying Trump as the dark side of his own generation: My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America. Honesty. Decency. Dignity. Equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a different story. An American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. Thats not me. Bidens delivery was fiery, a bit rushed, and he occasionally stumbled over his words, but it was anything but low energy. (Democratic senator Raphael Warnock, a Baptist minister, told him immediately afterward that you were a Baptist preacher tonight!) The address began what will clearly be a general-election campaign full of sharp contrasts and sharper elbows, even as the incumbent seeks to battle a sour public attitude and connect his administration to improving conditions in the country. Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Photo: C-SPAN Senator Katie Britt of Alabama knows her place. Characterizing herself as a wife and mother of two, the 42-year-old Republican delivered the partys response to the State of the Union seated alone in her kitchen. This is where our family has tough conversations, she said. Its where we make hard decisions. Perhaps thats true, but there was no sign of life in that empty room. Britts kitchen looked like a stage, and as she faltered through her speech, she looked like an actor a bad one. What, though, was her performance meant to convey? Tommy Tuberville, her fellow Republican senator from Alabama, got at the truth. She was picked as a housewife, not just a senator, somebody who sees it from a different perspective, he said on Friday. I mean, she did what she was asked to do. I thought she did a good job. And its hard when youve never done anything like that. In pre-speech notes disseminated by her team to conservative influencers, Britt fashioned herself a Reagan-esque but relatable figure. She came off like Americas mom she gets it, the document reportedly said. Shes one of us. Thatll be families takeaway watching this. Doubtful. Britts breathy delivery was pitched to be inoffensive, but the result was somehow menacing. Punctuated by the occasional yall and at least one bless his heart, her demeanor seemed alien. She may be the GOPs ideal woman a white mother who is loyal to Trump but the gap between the partys gender politics and those of the average American has never seemed wider. To the American people: Our future starts around kitchen tables just like this. With moms and dads just like you. pic.twitter.com/3lEUPCsmYB Katie Britt (@KatieBrittforAL) March 8, 2024 She tried to bridge that gap a few times. Britt appealed, early, to racist fears of immigrants crossing the border. A cartel trafficked a woman in Texas who was gang-raped from the age of 12, she said. She later cited the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who last month was allegedly killed by an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela. Although theres no evidence that undocumented immigrants are any more dangerous than native-born Americans, Britt was uninterested in facts. Her job was to sell the GOPs racial politics to America, and thats what she did. To do so, she needed to appear as a concerned mother: Riley could have been her daughter, she said, or ours. Her maternal guise carried over to abortion politics. Britt carefully avoided the word abortion (as did Biden in his address) and spoke only of in-vitro fertilization. We want families to grow, she explained, and thats why the GOP supports IVF or so she says. The Supreme Court of her own state forced several IVF clinics to suspend treatment last month. Not long afterward, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi blocked a bill that would have protected IVF nationwide. Britt hasnt criticized Hyde-Smith or explained why she supports IVF even though she believes life begins at conception. (Some embryos can be discarded during a conventional IVF treatment.) Britt isnt the only woman politician to broadcast from a kitchen. Some Democrats have done so as well, including Representative Katie Porter and Vice-President Kamala Harris, and men will occasionally join in. Senator Mark Warner once filmed himself making a dubious tuna melt sandwich. But Britt emits a more sinister aura. Moms, she said, wonder how theyre going to be three places at once and still get dinner on the table. Do Americas moms have a choice in this scenario? Where exactly are the dads, and what injury prevents them from cooking? For women, the kitchen can be a place of exile, too; a location they inhabit out of necessity rather than choice. Should Britt and her party get their way, women may find themselves exiled again. If she believes women can be anything but the wives of men that unmarried women, or queer women, might lay claim to equality its not obvious. We are steeped in the blood of patriots, she said toward the end of her speech. Its violent imagery, suitable for the party of insurrection. When she said it, her kitchen became even less inviting; became, briefly, contested territory a place secured through brutality. Americas ideal woman serves her family atop a heap of bodies. Like Britt, she knows her place, and is willing to fight for it. Shell never know equality, but she may win power. Britt showed America what that looks like on Thursday. The face she presented was unpleasant, off-putting, and therefore truthful. This is all the GOP has to offer women, and everyone else, too. Freedom to choose who? Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP In an unsurprising yet unusual maneuver, the nonpartisan group No Labels has announced a decision by a group of delegates from around the country to move forward with a 2024 presidential ticket, despite having no discernible candidates lined up. Former Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings, the chairman of the virtual convention that made this decision on Friday, put out a statement saying: They voted near unanimously to continue our 2024 project and to move immediately to identify candidates to serve on the Unity presidential ticket. At some point in the next couple of months, assuming the group can identify qualified candidates to fill out the unity ticket, it is expected to reconvene the delegates for an up-or-down vote that will conclude the deliberative process. Says Rawlings: Now that No Labels has received the go-ahead from our delegates, well be accelerating our candidate outreach and announcing the process for how candidates will be selected for the Unity Ticket on Thursday, March 14. The political logic of this two-step process is pretty simple: The idea of a bipartisan third option has always been more popular than any actual ticket. A poll from Monmouth last summer showed support for such a ticket dropping by half when specific candidates (in that case, West Virginia senator Joe Manchin and former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, both No Labels leaders) were identified. And just this week, Third Way, a centrist Democratic group that has been relentlessly warning that No Labels may pave the way to a second Trump administration, released new polling with the same bottom line: Only a third of the electorate would even entertain voting for an unnamed No Labels ticket. (Again, we tested this before we named Haley.) That recedes quickly when details are added When we asked about a third-party ticket led by Nikki Haley, we found it to be non-competitive. Indeed, it performs worse than an unnamed moderate, independent ticket: Nikki Haley has 80% name ID and boosts a better net approval rating than either Biden or Trump. Despite her strengths, a No Labels ticket with Haley as the nominee gets just 9% of the vote, losing badly to Trump and Biden and trailing even RFK Jr. (13%). Thus, a No Labels ticket led by one of the most well-known and respected GOP leaders available is more likely to finish fourth than win a single electoral vote. Nikki Haley, of course, spent a good part of her last week as an active presidential candidate disclaiming any interest in a No Labels candidacy, reminding everyone that she is a lifelong conservative Republican who would never consider running on a ticket with any kind of Democrat. But if her name isnt capable of mobilizing support for a unity ticket, whose would? No one comes to mind. The presidential general election has just entered a new phase, with Joe Biden and Donald Trump dispatching their final opponents on Super Tuesday and the incumbent throwing down the gauntlet in a State of the Union Address that seemed to galvanize Democrats. This contest is too volatile to tell exactly how a future No Labels ticket would affect the outcome, though Third Way and other Democrats will continue to warn of its perils. For now, it does make sense for No Labels to make every effort to show support for a no-name presidential ticket before taking the final plunge, even if it knows an identified ticket is likely to lose altitude once the blanks have been filled in. At the moment, No Labels claims presidential ballot access in 16 states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah. ABC News reports the group believes it is still on a trajectory to secure a post on the ballot in 33 states ultimately. Its a high-stakes, dangerous game No Labels is playing, and there remains a chance it will flip the board at the crucial moment and back off the unity-ticket plans. Everyone connected to No Labels claims to be revolted by the idea of playing spoiler, and most say theyre particularly horrified by the idea of Trump as the 47th president. But the lack of empirical data that their third option would actually work with real candidates is a problem these self-styled problem-solvers need to address definitively very soon. Donald Trump arrives for a rally in Sioux Center, Iowa, on January 5. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images During his State of the Union address on Thursday night, President Joe Biden laced into Donald Trump, criticizing him directly more than a dozen times (though he referred to Trump as my predecessor rather than using his name). At one point, Biden accused Trump of responding to a deadly school shooting this year by saying people should just get over it. Its such an appalling comment that Bidens quote seems almost unbelievable but it was mostly accurate. While laying out his agenda on curbing gun violence, Biden accused Trump of bragging about his inaction on the issue and even shrugging off another shooting. My predecessor told the NRA hes proud he did nothing on guns when he was president. Oof, Biden said. After another shooting in Iowa recently, he said, when asked what to do about it, he said, Just get over it. Theres his quote, Just get over it. I say, stop it. Stop it, stop it, stop it. Biden on Trump: "After another shooting in Iowa recently he said, when asked to do about it, 'just get over it.' I say stop it." pic.twitter.com/K0C1iMl34Q Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 8, 2024 Biden inserted the word just into the Trump quote, but the former president did make both of these comments recently. While addressing the National Rifle Association on February 9, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Trump bragged about his inaction on guns. During my four years, nothing happened! he said. And there was great pressure on me having to do with guns. We did nothing. We didnt yield. And once you yield a little bit, thats just the beginning. Thats [when] the avalanche begins. Trump: During my four years, I did nothing on guns pic.twitter.com/SYrBIpbXE7 Acyn (@Acyn) February 9, 2024 And this is what Trump said in Sioux Center, Iowa, on January 5, a day after a shooting at a nearby high school killed Ahmir Jolliff, an 11-year-old middle-school student, and principal Dan Marburger, who died ten days later. (Four other students and two staffers were injured.) I want to send our support and our deepest sympathies to the victims and families touched by the terrible school shooting yesterday in Perry, Iowa, Trump said. Its just horrible, so surprising to see it here. But we have to get over it, we have to move forward. The prepared text of Bidens speech released by the White House accurately quotes Trump as saying people should get over it. Bidens emphasis made it sound like Trump said just get over it, then he repeated the quote with just inserted as an ad-lib. With us tonight is Jasmine, whose 9-year-old sister Jackie was murdered with 21 classmates and teachers at her elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Soon after it happened, Jill and I went to Uvalde and spent hours with the families. We heard their message, and so should everyone in this chamber do something. I did do something by establishing the first-ever Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the White House that Vice-President Harris is leading. Meanwhile, my predecessor told the NRA hes proud he did nothing on guns when he was President. After another school shooting in Iowa, he said we should just get over it. I say we must stop it. Im proud we beat the NRA when I signed the most significant gun-safety law in nearly 30 years! Now we must beat the NRA again! Im demanding a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines! Pass universal background checks! None of this violates the Second Amendment or vilifies responsible gun owners. Trumps quote on the Perry school shooting was part of a flurry of bizarre remarks he made while campaigning in Iowa ahead of the Republican caucus in early January. That same weekend, he glorified the January 6 insurrectionists; mocked Bidens stutter and the injuries John McCain sustained as a prisoner of war in Vietnam; claimed the Civil War could have been negotiated; bragged about his ability to put on pants; and claimed magnets dont work underwater. In context, its clear Trump was attempting to express his sympathies to the victims of the Perry shooting. But Biden wasnt lying; Trump did make the callous comment but we have to get over it in Iowa, and just a month later he bragged that he did nothing on guns. Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Across the southwest, the bank of the Rio Grande is speckled with objects. There are things that people left behind before wading into the river the final hurdle before reaching the U.S. and other things they were forced to leave after being apprehended by Border Patrol agents, who instruct migrants to scrap anything nonessential. Mostly, there are clothes. But there are also hypothermia blankets, and baby bottles, and wallets, and prayer books, and toothbrushes, and headphones, and floaties small enough to fit a child. In January 2024, photographer Alex Hodor-Lee set out to collect and photograph some of these objects after nearly a year of documenting migrants lives in New York and across popular border crossings in Texas. He scoured a popular crossing site in the small Texas town of Eagle Pass, saving anything that wasnt too damaged a spoon, a pair of red boxers, a green lighter. Abandoned belongings have always been somewhat common at border-crossing sites between the U.S. and Mexico, but it wasnt until 2019, and the Trump administrations Remain in Mexico policy, that volunteers began to notice migrants arriving at shelters with next to no belongings, often having lost critical identification documents. Others have speculated that agents are confiscating or forcing them to dump valuables. At one point, Hodor-Lee came across the very same shoe he was wearing, an orange Nike ACG. He brought the items back to New York in a giant duct-taped laundry bag as checked luggage. Hodor-Lee had spent the previous year learning how to photograph luxury fashion goods, and saw a commercial ubiquity in many of the items that migrants left behind. He was tired, he says, of seeing photos of migrants that emphasized their pain and strife, and, in turn, fueled a kind of political fantasy of what immigration looks like: a swarm of people wading through the Rio Grande; tearful good-byes between parents and their children after being detained by Border Patrol agents; rows of bodies piled into a caravan. Where photos of migrants that publications chose to circulate often forced a narrative, Hodor-Lee says the objects acted as blanker canvases. On his first visit to the border, in March of last year, Hodor-Lee recalls asking a Venezuelan man that hed met in El Paso if he could take his photo. The man agreed, but he hadnt showered in a few days and was worried that if someone took a photo of him, wearing his unwashed clothes, it would perpetuate a stereotype. He was a lawyer in his home country, but people who saw the photo wouldnt know that. For the first time, Hodor-Lee says, it kind of occurred to me that, maybe, not taking these kinds of photos would be more helpful. From that point on, he began first taking instant polaroids of subjects, so they could see what they looked like before taking their portraits. He let them keep them. Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Alex Hodor-Lee for New York Magazine Photo: Andres Kudacki/Andres Kudacki On Wednesday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a five-point plan to target transit crime in the wake of several recent violent incidents throughout the citys subway system. As part of that agenda, the governor called for cameras in conductor cabs and raised the idea of a three-year subway and bus ban on passengers convicted of violent crime. Hochul also allocated $20 million in state funds toward boosting a pilot program intended to provide housing assistance and mental-health support to those in crisis on the subway. But it was her decision to direct 1,000 members of state law enforcement including 750 National Guard personnel to conduct bag searches in subway stations that sparked the strongest critique from both Democrats and some Republicans. Local progressives quickly and predictably condemned the governors move. Militarizing the subway with the National Guard and suggesting a wholesale ban on individuals from accessing public transportation are dangerous misuses of resources which could be better spent addressing these issues at their root, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said in a statement. On social media, the City Councils Progressive Caucus likened the bag searches to controversial stop-and-frisk policies. Riders in distress need mental-health workers and nurses, not cops and military personnel. Stop-and-frisk tactics have failed before, and will fail again. The Governors plan will do little to actually keep New Yorkers safe. https://t.co/NWLp7imTZK NYC Progressive Caucus (@NYCProgressives) March 7, 2024 The reaction from Hochuls more moderate colleagues was decidedly less negative. During an interview on CNN, Democratic Congressman Pat Ryan called the decision to deploy the National Guard a strong move. But the Army vet and West Point graduate noted some concern about how they might be used. Frankly, the way I think about it, youre putting young soldiers with relatively limited training in really tough spots. I mean, theyre not trained really to do law enforcement, he said. So, I hope they get a lot of training on rules of engagement and theyre not put in tough situations. Democratic congressman Tom Suozzi, who was just reelected to his former seat in Long Island and Queens following a special election, praised Hochul for trying to address crime. Suozzi had knocked the governor on the issue when he embarked on a primary bid against her in 2022. I applaud the Governor for continuing to lean into the crime issue. She is right.https://t.co/x93zsCfblB Tom Suozzi (@RepTomSuozzi) March 7, 2024 Meanwhile, New York Republicans, who have made crime the centerpiece of their campaign argument against Democrats, did not seem willing to hand the governor a win. So you handcuff police with cashless bail and criminal justice reform and think the best way to fix that is to call in more police? Repeal cashless bail NOW. https://t.co/7iPO5avLt9 Rep. Anthony DEsposito (@RepDesposito) March 6, 2024 Republican Joe Borelli, the City Councils minority leader, wrote on social media, Pretty big leap from the subways are safe to CALL THE EFFING ARMY AND SEARCH EVERYONE! In an interview with Politico, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis categorized Hochuls action as an attempt to defuse ongoing criticism of Democrats on the issue of public safety. Theyre feeling the heat, theyre feeling of pressure, she told the outlet. New Yorkers know theyre responsible for illegal immigration, for supporting criminals and making our streets less safe. Theyre just desperately trying to figure out a way to look like theyre doing something. During a Thursday appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe, Hochul seemed eager to change the narrative surrounding the Democratic Party and crime. My job is to protect the people of this state and Ill do it. And Im also going to demonstrate that Democrats fight crime as well, she said. Richard Davis, the president of the TWU Local 100, which represents tens of thousands of city transit workers, commended Hochul for mentioning the recent slashing attack on an MTA conductor during her announcement of her crime plan. But, in a statement, he suggested that more was needed to address the concerns of transit employees. The measures announced today do not go far enough. We want to see pre-trial conditions on those who assault transit workers and passengers, prohibiting them from entering the system. This can be done effectively immediately. This promised surge of 1,000 MTA Police Officers and National Guardsmen cannot be just a temporary measure. It must remain in place, he said. John Chell, the NYPD chief of patrol, appeared to criticize the decision to mobilize the National Guard into the subway system. The extra manpower was intended by Hochul as support to the NYPD officers already operating in the stations. Transit crime is [down] 12% in the last 5 wks because of extra cops deployed, a planned commitment by [Police Commissioner Edward Caban]. [Mayor Eric Adams], he said on X. Our transit system is not a war zone! Bag checks have been around since 2005??? Reactions among subway riders seems to vary. Daniela Blini, a rider at Grand Central Station, said in an interview with Gothamist that the National Guard having carrying rifles in subway stations terrifies her. No, I dont feel safe, she told the outlet. No one does. The New York Post spoke to Yaneth Palomo who said he was happy about the move. Its a good opportunity for New Yorkers to walk around the train stations without thinking that something will happen to them, he said. He might pardon his son Hunter. He also might pardon Donald Trump. Photo: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images If you were president, would you pardon your own child? How about your worst enemy? Joe Biden might end up doing both. Before we get to the thorny material, lets start with something we can all agree on: The pardon power must be the most fun of all the presidents executive prerogatives. Its entirely up to you, the heavy hitter behind the Resolute Desk. You dont need squat from Congress, or the courts, or your own subordinate agencies. (DOJ does have an official pardon attorney whos there if you need advice, but theres nothing mandatory about it.) Its point-and-click. No vetting, no review, no recourse. Indeed, theres something uniquely Trumpian about the pardon power, in its brutish, simplistic application. Much as a second-grader believes that the president can do whatever he wants ice cream for dinner, unicorns replace cars, students assign homework to teachers the pardon power actually works that way. You get out of prison. Because I say so. It might surprise you, then, given the quasi-dictatorial nature of this raw exercise of power, that Donald Trump actually issued fewer acts of clemency 237 total than most of his presidential predecessors. (This includes pardons, which wipe out a case altogether, plus commutations, which keep a conviction in place but reduce or eliminate the accompanying sentence.) Since 1900, only two presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, have granted fewer acts of clemency. Barack Obama pardoned or commuted over 1,900 people, and every other non-Bush chief executive dating back to William McKinley doled out clemency at least 400 times. Of course, the raw numbers lie here to the extent they carry a connotation of cronyism; Obama pardoned or commuted mostly low-level, nonviolent drug offenders serving outlandish sentences, while Trump forgave Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon, and other well-connected, bizarrely clad ass-kissers. As he nears the end of his first term, President Biden has begun to take the pardon power out for an earnest spin, carefully following the Obama-ian path. In December 2023, he issued an open-ended pardon to thousands of people who had been convicted for low-level marijuana offenses. (He had previously granted about a dozen other noncontroversial pardons.) But generations from now, few will recall any of Bidens acts of clemency to date. Instead, history will remember two that await him. The easier one to predict is Hunter Biden, who faces one federal indictment in Delaware on a dubious gun charge and another more substantial case for tax fraud in federal court in California. Ill spoil the ending: Hes getting a pardon, if he needs one. The only real question is when. Again, the answer seems fairly plain: as soon as Joe Biden can afford it politically more precisely, sometime after November 5, 2024. If the president wins reelection, then he can take his time. Lay back, see if Hunter manages to beat the cases in the normal course, and, if not, then ride to the rescue before he has to surrender to the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. And if Joe Biden loses the election, then count on a pardon before he leaves office in January 2025. The president has declared publicly that Hunter Biden is his heart (which is genuinely touching) and that Hunter has done nothing wrong (which is somewhere between wishful thinking and outright hogwash). No parent would stand by and allow his child to get locked up even an adult child, even if he deserved it if he could prevent it with an unreviewable, irreversible, one-sentence declaration, whatever the merits of the case might be. Id do it. If Biden does end up granting clemency to his son, hell join an exclusive club of familial pardoners. On his final day in office in January 2001, Bill Clinton gave his half-brother, Roger Clinton, a free pass on a cocaine conviction from the mid-1980s. And lets not forget Trump himself, who pardoned Charles Kushner, father of Trumps son-in-law, Jared. (The technical name for this relationship, between one in-law and another, is machatunim; sometimes Yiddish is the only way to properly express an idea.) Trumps pardon of Kushner was, of course, entirely well justified. All poor Charlie had done was commit massive tax fraud and then innocently hire a prostitute to seduce his own brother-in-law, to intimidate the brother-in-law from testifying in the financial investigation. Pretty standard stuff. And then theres this more perplexing dilemma: Might Joe Biden end up forgiving Donald Trump? It wouldnt take much for the pieces to fall in place. Lets say Biden wins the 2024 election; thats currently a 50-50 chance, roughly. And assume Trump eventually gets convicted on one or both of his pending federal indictments (for election subversion in D.C. and classified documents in Florida) also well within reasonable contemplation, more likely than not, on balance. By the time this all comes to pass, including the exhaustion of Trumps post-trial appeals, itll be late 2025 or 2026. Consider the world at that point. Youd have an 83-year-old, second-term Biden in the White House and a 79-year-old, twice-defeated Trump facing the prospect of years behind bars. Cant you envision the public statement?: My fellow Americans: Earlier today, I issued a commutation to former president Donald Trump. His conviction will not be erased; it remains on the books for history and as a permanent reminder of his disloyalty and criminality. But, in the national interest, I have exercised mercy. The courts have done their job, and Trump has appropriately been held criminally responsible. Now, he will live out his life under court supervision and with the earned stigma of being a convicted felon. In the name of national unity, however, I do not think it necessary that he be locked up in federal prison, potentially for the rest of his life. Imprisonment of the former president also would create complications for the Secret Service and the Bureau of Prisons. This is not an exoneration. Donald Trump has wrought great harm to this country and has been found accountable for his actions by a jury of his peers. History will remember what he has done. Whenever Ive floated the hypothetical of Biden granting a commutation to Trump this is primo greenroom fodder, by the way it elicits one of two responses: (1) Oh gosh, I dont like it but I can see it, or (2) Are you f***ing nuts, why would he do that? People who have actually worked for or around Biden tend toward the former. As strong as the evidence appears to be in the federal prosecutions, Trumps still got a turnpikes worth of off-ramps that can keep him out of an orange jumpsuit. (Though most federal prisons use drab greens or grays; sorry to disappoint.) He might win the 2024 election, which would essentially kill or indefinitely delay all the criminal cases. Even if Trump loses the presidential race, he will fight vigorously at trial, where he might catch a sympathetic (or fanatical) juror or two who could hang a jury. Even if he gets convicted, a judge would then have to sentence him to prison. After that, hed get to appeal to an intermediate circuit court, and then perhaps to the U.S. Supreme Court (which, over the past few decades, has been notably hostile to broad or novel applications of federal criminal laws). And if all else fails, Trumps final chance to avoid lockup will run through the man who wields the pardon pen who also happens to be his own avowed political enemy, a man whom Trump has, over the years, publicly called stupid, insane, corrupt, incompetent, senile, and a criminal, to name a few. Nobody ever said it was easy being president. Even as Joe Biden goes about exercising the most straightforward of executive powers, he faces a vexing conundrum: His most consequential pardons may go to the person he loves the most and the person he despises the most. Listen to this article. For more analysis of law and politics with Elie Honig, Preet Bharara, and other contributors, sign up for the free CAFE newsletter or become a member of CAFE Insider. When Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker last year, Tehran said the transporter had collided with and damaged an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman. Now, nearly one year later, Tehran said it will confiscate the cargo of the Advantage Sweet, which was transporting oil from Kuwait to the U.S. state of Texas, in retaliation for crippling American sanctions against the Islamic republic. The Mizan news agency, which is affiliated with Iran's judiciary, reported on March 6 that a Tehran court had ruled in favor of confiscating the oil, which is valued at around $50 million. The 55th branch of the Tehran Court of Justice said funds from the sale of the oil will be used to compensate patients suffering from epidermolysis bullosa, a rare skin disease. The court ruled that U.S. sanctions have prevented a Swedish company from selling medicine to Iran that is used to treat the disease and caused Iranian patients severe emotional and physical damage. EB Home, an Iranian nongovernmental organization representing over 300 epidermolysis bullosa patients, had brought a case against the United States in the Tehran court. In a statement following the court ruling, the NGO described U.S. sanctions as criminal and unilateral. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller criticized the ruling and demanded that the tanker be immediately released. Related: 2 Companies That Could Help Europe Win Its Energy War With Russia Irans continued harassment of vessels and interference with navigational rights and freedoms in the regions vital waterways is a threat to maritime security, regional stability, and the global economy, he said in a press briefing on March 6. The U.S. military said in January that Iran was holding five ships and over 90 members hostage from vessels it seized in 2023. Most Iranian tanker seizures are carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the elite branch of Irans armed forces. Iran said it seized the Advantage Sweet in April 2023. The tanker was chartered by U.S. oil giant Chevron and was carrying oil to the U.S. port of Houston, according to ship tracking data. Irans capture of the Advantage Sweet came days after the United States seized Suez Rajan, an oil tanker that was transporting sanctioned Iranian oil to China. Months after seizing the Suez Rajan, and despite Tehrans threats, Washington begun unloading the ships oil in August 2023. Sanctions And 'Butterfly' Patients The Tehran courts ruling has put the spotlight on the impact of U.S. sanctions on the health sector in Iran. In 2018, then-U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed sanctions against Tehran. Iranians have witnessed rising prices and faced shortages of life-saving medicine -- including drugs for cancer treatment and insulin -- in recent years due to U.S. sanctions and corruption. Related: How To Profit From Europes $800 Billion Energy Crisis U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran exclude food and medicine. But in practice, the restrictions have made it difficult for Tehran to purchase some drugs, according to human rights groups. That includes specialized bandages produced by Swedish firm Molnlycke that are used to treat epidermolysis bullosa patients, who often develop painful blisters and wounds, similar to third-degree burns. They are sometimes referred to as butterfly patients due to the fragility of their skin. State Department spokesman Miller told reporters on March 6 that U.S. sanctions have always had a carveout for humanitarian purchases. We have never prevented medicine from reaching the Iranian people, he added. EB Home, the Iranian NGO, had previously filed an unsuccessful complaint against Molnlycke in Sweden in 2021. In its failed complaint, the NGO claimed that Molnlycke had informed it in March 2019 correspondence that it had decided not to conduct any business with relation to Iran for the time being. This also applies to business conducted under any form of exceptions to the US economic sanctions. In a 2021 report, United Nations experts warned about the consequences of over-compliance with U.S. sanctions on butterfly kids, who they said can no longer enjoy the right to health. The following year, the Swedish government provided financial support to the United Nations Children's Fund to procure and deliver specialized bandages to Iran. The lack of availability of certain medicines and health products in Iran is a humanitarian concern, affected by the impact of the sanctions regime on financial transactions, Swedens then-ambassador to Iran, Mattias Lentz, said. We do hope a solution will be found and will continue to support such a solution. ADVERTISEMENT By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: